Privacy-preserved retrieval of contextualized mobile device data. A context of a query may be determined. A dissemination point device may be determined based on the context to which to disseminate the query. The query may be transmitted to the dissemination point device, which causes the dissemination point device to trigger a point-to-point communication among mobile devices in search of data that is responsive to the query. That data may be received from one or more of the mobile devices that are determined to be within a geographical range, that store the data that is responsive to the query in the one or more of the mobile devices, and have chosen to provide the data. The data may be received without identifications of the one or more of the mobile devices.

Mobile devices can serve as sensor devices that collect various types of data from wherever and whenever their owners carry them. Applications on these devices may be used to automatically capture data such as environment audio and video indexed by location and time. Discovering and retrieving such data kept in the mobile devices currently require a central server to access and transfer the data to a common remote location. However, if made accessible to a central server or transferred to a remote location the privacy of the user that collected the data may be compromised.

Mobile device to device communications for privacy-preserved retrieval of contextualized mobile device data

International Business Machines Corporation


An enteral nutritional product for a person having a neurological injury is very low in carbohydrate, but high in fat. The fat is supplied by a lipid blend having a ratio of n-6 to n-3 fatty acids in the range of 1 to 6. Preferably the nutritional product contains nutrients having antioxidant properties, for example beta-carotene, vitamin E, vitamin C, taurine, molybdenum and selenium.

The phenomena of head injury is well described in "Intensive Management of Severe Head Injury", Borel et al, CHEST, July, 1990, pages 180-189, at page 181. Cerebral injuries may be of either the penetrating or non-penetrating varieties, both of which cause damage to the brain and vasculature structures. Secondary injury to the brain indicates a vicious circle of escalating injury. Cerebral injury causes cerebral edema, cerebral edema raises intracranial volume which increases intracranial pressure, raised intracranial pressure compresses brain tissue and decreases cerebral perfusion pressure further increasing cerebral injury. Decreases in cerebral perfusion pressure result in cerebral blood flow falling below the level necessary to prevent neurologic ischemia and cell injury. When compartmental pressure gradients are established by local areas of injury, transcompartmental herniation of brain tissue results in catastrophic neurologic injury.
Nutritional support of the patient with a neurological injury is a complex problem. Patients with a severe head injury are hypermetabolic and catabolic, and they require early and intensive nutritional support to minimize malnutrition-related complications. Nutritional support may, however, adversely affect neurological recovery. Experimental studies have shown that hyperglycemia due to glucose infusion or to the postprandial state worsens neurological recovery from cerebral and spinal cord ischemia. The mechanism of this detrimental effect is not completely understood, however, in many studies hyperglycemia has been associated with increased accumulation of lactic acid. Development of a diet which would supply protein and caloric needs without adversely affecting neurological recovery would have widespread use in patients with central nervous system ischemia or trauma.
Glucose tolerance of critically ill patients receiving nutritional support is an important concern of nutritional support personnel. Several studies have demonstrated that injured and critically ill patients have increased rates of glucose production and glucose oxidation which are not easily suppressed by exogenous glucose administration. It has been demonstrated that accelerated gluconeogenesis can not be reduced by administration of exogenous glucose at rates which would normally suppress glucose production. Very high levels of blood glucose can result with the administration of an exogenous source of carbohydrate because the patient is in a persistent gluconeogenic state and has a blunted insulin response, a decreased tissue sensitivity to insulin and/or an impaired peripheral utilization of glucose.
As with critically ill patients in general, hyperglycemia is frequently associated with severe head injury. In the course of alimenting patients with a severe head injury, the hyperglycemic response can be exaggerated by the feeding of conventional alimentation formulas which use glucose as the major nonprotein caloric source. Hyperglycemia has been associated with poor neurological outcome. The late neurological sequelae of cerebral ischemia are consistently worse when the blood glucose level is elevated during ischemia, suggesting that lactic acidosis or other metabolic consequences of glucose metabolism damages nervous tissue.
Fasting has been used as a means to reduce blood glucose following head injury. However, it has been reported that malnutrition can lead to suppression of immune responses and poor wound healing. Also, failure to treat the hypermetabolic response in head injury is probably undesirable, since head-injury deaths are often due to infection, which could be related to malnutrition. Previous studies have suggested that alimentation with nonglucogenic (not converted to glucose in the body) energy substrates, such as ketone bodies, may have a less detrimental effect on neurological recovery from ischemia than alimentation with glucose Peek et al., "Ketone precursors as nutritional substrates may improve neurological outcome following ischemia", Journal of Neurotrauma, 1989 6:205-206.
Considering the negatives associated with fasting, there is a need for a nutritional product which will provide nutritional support after injury, yet not exaggerate the hyperglycemic response after injury. A nutritional product in accordance with the present invention: (a) is very low in, preferably free of, carbohydrate; (b) contains a lipid blend formulated to minimize the hypermetabolic response and reduce the frequency of ischemic events after severe head injury; and (c) an antioxidant system that restores antioxidant status in a head trauma patient and prevents or minimizes peroxidation of highly unsaturated fatty acids in the lipid blend.

Nutritional product for persons having a neurological injury


An erection-facilitating sleeve for counteracting the effects of erectile dysfunction. The erection-facilitating sleeve includes two open ends at each distal end spaced apart by a plurality of inflatable, semi-rigid passages that extend in a braided, or crisscross, configuration from the base to the top of the sleeve. The sleeve is inserted onto the penis and is made of a resilient material that wraps tightly around the sex organ of a user. The semi-rigid passages are of a predetermined material and thickness so that a user's sex organ maintains at least partially erect even while suffering from erectile dysfunction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a medical device for a penis and, more particularly, to a semi-rigid sleeve used to maintain the penis in an erect position during sexual intercourse. Such is advantageous in relieving symptoms of mild to moderate erectile dysfunction.
2. Description of the Related Art
The male impotence or erectile dysfunction is a widespread problem. It is the persistent inability of a man to get an erection and to maintain it long enough for satisfying sexual intercourse. The erectile dysfunction occurs mainly in older men; approximately 30% of men in their forties and 67% of men in their seventies are affected. Present treatments comprise vacuum pumps, penis protheses, vascular surgery, and the use of vasodilatory medicaments.
Several designs for condoms have been designed in the past. None of them, however, include an erection-facilitating sleeve made of flexible material allowing for movement that enhances comfort and pleasure having a plurality of semi-rigid resilient members that can be inflated to a sufficient rigidness to support an erection. Optionally, the present invention can also be implemented with an exoskeleton having a predetermined tensile strength to support an erection.
Applicant believes that a related reference corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 7,972,263 issued to Runyan, Donald. The Runyan reference discloses of a penis rigidity stabilizer using a plurality of rigid strips. However, it differs from the present invention because the present invention uses a sleeve having semi-rigid resilient members configured in a braided, or crisscross, longitudinal configuration that supports to a user's penis during sexual intercourse. Also, the semi-rigid resilient members can be hollow and filled with air or water using a valve and a syringe to enhance the support to a user's penis. Additionally, the Runyan reference does not teach or motivate one of ordinary skill in the art to include a prophylactic membrane to a resilient sleeve permitting uni-directional and bi-directional movement that increases stimulation and comfort to a user. Moreover, the Runyan reference does not disclose the use of a manual pump that can be used to fill the semi-rigid resilient members of the present invention with air or water.
Other documents describing the closest subject matter provide for a number of more or less complicated features that fail to solve the problem in an efficient and economical way. None of these patents suggest the novel features of the present invention.

Medical device for erectile dysfunction and joint immobilization


This invention is directed toward a system for driving a wire loop cutting element. More particularly, the disclosed invention employs a frame and pulleys to drive a wire loop cutting element.

Prior art systems exist for cutting subsea structures. One such system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,361,748 to Matteucci. Prior art cutting systems have employed multiple component cutting means comprising pulleys, a cutting blade and related structure, which must move so as to traverse the diameter of the object to be cut. The movement of such multiple component cutting means is often cumbersome and requires significant clearance on multiple sides of the object to be cut.
The present invention overcomes such drawbacks by providing a cutting system wherein traversal of the diameter of the object to be cut by a multiple component cutting means is not required.

System for driving a wire loop cutting element


A housing-side structure of a turbomachine, in particular of a gas turbine, including an in particular segmented jacket ring (16), which carries an abradable lining for radially outer ends of rotor-side moving blades of a moving blade ring, wherein the jacket ring (16) carrying the abradable lining is connected by means of at least one constriction (18) to a stator-side housing part (19), which is radially adjacent to the jacket ring (16) on the outside and the jacket ring is thermally decoupled from said stator-side housing.

DE 10 2004 037 955 A1 describes a turbomachine having a stator and a rotor, the rotor having moving blades and the stator having a housing and guide blades. The rotor-side moving blades form at least one moving blade ring, which is adjacent to a radially inner housing wall of the housing on a radially outer end, is surrounded by same, and restrains a radial clearance with same. The radially inside housing wall of the housing is also referred to as the inner ring or the jacket ring and functions in particular as a carrier for an abradable lining. The inner ring or jacket ring of a compressor or a turbine may be segmented and may thus be composed of multiple jacket ring segments; a jacket ring segment may also be referred to as a shroud. It is also known from DE 10 2004 037 955 A1 that the clearance between the jacket ring of the housing and the radially outer end of the/each moving blade ring may be adjusted or adapted to provide a so-called active clearance control via control elements in its clearance, to thereby automatically influence the clearance and ensure an optimum clearance control and thus an optimum surge margin and optimum efficiency across all operating conditions. According to this prior art, a control element, preferably designed as electromechanical actuators, is assigned to each jacket ring segment of the jacket ring. An active clearance control principle may thus be provided in this way.

Housing-side structure of a turbomachine


A cable pulling system comprising a lower pulley assembly, an intermediate pulley assembly, and an upper pulley assembly. The system allows for a cable to be pulled through a range of angle and elevation without damage to the cable.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a CABLE PULLING SYSTEM and more particularly pertains to a device for pulling cable.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of devices for pulling line or cable is known in the prior art. More specifically, devices for pulling line or cable previously devised and utilized for the purpose of placement or replacement of cable around obstacles are known to consist basically of familiar, expected, and obvious structural configurations, which has been developed for the fulfillment of the objectives and requirements.
While the prior art devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the prior art does not describe a cable pulling system that allows a device for pulling cable through a range of angles and elevations, as is herein described.
In this respect, the cable pulling system according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of pulling cable.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved cable pulling system which can be used for a device for pulling cable. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


The present embodiment relates to an optical fiber preform producing method for effectively suppressing breaking of symmetry of refractive index profile defined on a cross section of an optical fiber preform. In the present embodiment, when producing a center glass rod forming a part of the optical fiber preform, prior to grinding an outer peripheral portion of an intermediate glass rod in which an element-doped region is formed by collapse, an non-defective article determination regarding the intermediate glass rod to be a grinding target is performed.

Various techniques regarding optical fiber preform producing techniques have been currently known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a producing method of an optical fiber in which A1 is doped to a core. In particular, in Patent Document 1, as a producing method of a center glass rod forming a part of an optical fiber preform, an example is disclosed in which deposition of a glass particulate deposit including A1 (glass layer) in a glass pipe (hollow glass rod), transparentization of the glass layer, and solidification of a hollow portion of the glass pipe are sequentially performed.
In addition, in Patent Document 2, as a producing method of the center glass rod forming a part of the optical fiber preform, an example is disclosed in which production of a glass rod to which an alkali metal element is doped, deposition of a glass layer on an outer periphery of the glass rod, diffusion of an alkali metal element to the glass layer by thermal processing, removal of holes in the glass rod to which alkali metal is doped, and solidification (collapse) of the glass layer in which alkali metal is diffused are sequentially performed.
Furthermore, in Patent Document 3, as one step of the producing method of an optical fiber preform, an example is disclosed in which a hollow of the glass pipe is solidified by heating the glass pipe formed of quartz glass in which an alkali metal element is doped to an inner surface.

Method for producing optical fiber preform


Prepare sintered aluminum nitride bodies having a thermal conductivity of at least 200 W/m-K by sintering under non-reducing conditions and controlling interrelated parameters such as binder burnout atmosphere, heating rate, sintering temperature, time at sintering temperature, cooling rate and cooling temperature. Sintered bodies having thermal conductivities in excess of 200, especially in excess of 270, W/m-K result from this process.

The present invention relates generally to a process for preparing sintered aluminum nitride bodies and to bodies resulting from the process. The present invention relates more particularly to a process for preparing sintered aluminum nitride bodies having a thermal conductivity as high as about 285 watts/meter.multidot..degree.K (W/m-K).
Aluminum nitride (AlN) is subject to increasing interest as a microelectronic substrate material. With a thermal conductivity approaching that of berylia (BeO) and a thermal expansion coefficient well matched to silicon, AlN represents an attractive alternative in high power or multi-chip module applications.
At room temperature, single crystal AlN has a theoretical thermal conductivity of 319 W/m-K. Polycrystalline ceramics tend to have lower thermal conductivities than single crystal AlN due to a number of factors. The factors include random orientation of AlN grains, crystalline lattice impurity levels and existence of crystalline grain boundary phases with even lower thermal conductivities.
F. Miyashiro et al., in "High Thermal Conductivity Aluminum Nitride Ceramic Substrates and Packages", IEEE Transactions on Components, Hybrids, and Manufacturing Technology, Vol 13, No 2, 313-19 (June 1990), suggest that three key technologies are very important if one is to realize the highest thermal conductivity by sintering. The technologies are: reducing or minimizing oxygen content of AlN powders; proper choice and quantity of additives; and sintering conditions in terms of temperature, time and atmosphere. They show, in FIGS. 8-10: sintering at 1800.degree. Centigrade (.degree.C.) and 1900.degree. C. for two hours with three weight percent (wt-%) yttria (Y.sub.2 O.sub.3); sintering at 1800.degree. C. in the presence of varying amounts of Y.sub.2 O.sub.3 ; and sintering at 1800.degree. C. for 24 hours with three wt-% Y.sub.2 O.sub.3 with and without a reductive atmosphere. They suggest, in FIGS. 10 and 11, that a reducing atmosphere yields the highest thermal conductivity
H. Buhr et al., in "Phase Composition, Oxygen Content, and Thermal Conductivity of AlN(Y.sub.2 O.sub.3) Ceramics", J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 74[4], 718-723 (1991), disclose sintering cold isostatically pressed cylindrical compacts under a pressure of 0.2 MPa nitrogen. They employ heating rates of 16 to 30K per minute, sintering temperatures of 1750.degree. to 1790.degree. C., and sintering times of between one and three hours.
A. V. Virkar et al., in "Thermodynamic and Kinetic Effects of Oxygen Removal on the Thermal Conductivity of Aluminum Nitride", J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 72[11], 2031-42 (1989), fabricate polycrystaline AlN ceramics with various rare earth oxides and alkaline earth oxides. They sinter/anneal samples of the ceramics at 1850.degree. C. for up to 1000 minutes. They obtain thermal conductivities as high as 200 W/m-K.
K. Watari et al., in "Sintering Chemical Reactions to Increase Thermal Conductivity of Aluminum Nitride", J. Mater. Sci. 26, 4727-32 (1991), discuss chemical reactions to increase thermal conductivity by decreasing oxygen contents during AlN sintering with an Y.sub.2 O.sub.3 additive in a reducing nitrogen atmosphere with carbon. They wrap cold isostatic pressed bodies formed from admixtures of AlN powder and Y.sub.2 O.sub.3 powder and sinter the wrapped bodies at temperatures of 1773, 1873, 1973, 2073 and 2173K for one hour in a 0.1 MPa nitrogen gas atmosphere. They also sinter at 2173K in the same atmosphere for two, three and five hours. They use a heating rate of 15K/minute and report thermal conductivities as high as 220 W/m-K.
T. A. Guiton et al., in "Optimization of Aluminum Nitride Thermal Conductivity Via Controlled Powder Processing", Mat. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc., Vol 271, 851-56 (1992), suggest that thermal conductivity is strongly dependent on oxygen chemistry and sintering parameters. They disclose two sets of sintering parameters, denominated as "Cycle 1" and "Cycle 2" in Table II (page 852). Cycle 2 includes a heating rate of 2.5.degree. C./min, a sintering temperature of 1850.degree. C., a sintering time of 3 hours, a cooling rate of 1.degree. C./min and a cooling temperature of 1500.degree. C.
Y. Kurokawa et al., in "Highly Thermal Conductive Aluminum Nitride Substrates", ISHM Proceedings, 654-61 (1987), report thermal conductivity measurements of 160 to 260 W/m-K for AlN substrates. They prepare substrates by firing an admixture of AlN powder and a CaC.sub.2 powder reductant at 1900.degree. C.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,847,221 discloses a process for preparing sintered AlN bodies as well as the resultant bodies. The process comprises firing an admixture of AlN powder and one or more rare earth compounds in an amount of 0.01 to 15 wt-% in a reducing atmosphere at a temperature of 1550.degree. C. to 2050.degree. C. for four hours or more. The reducing atmosphere preferably contains at least one of CO gas, H.sub.2 gas, and C (gaseous or solid phase). The resultant bodies have thermal conductivities as high as 272 W/m-K.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,778,778 reports, at column 2, lines 10-26, a particular sintering cycle that is described in a copending application. The cycle provides high thermal conductivities without using very high purity aluminum nitride powder. The cycle includes: increasing the temperature of a compacted AlN body from room temperature to a sintering temperature at a rate of no more than 250.degree. C. per hour (.degree.C./hr); sintering the body in an inert atmosphere at a temperature of 1600.degree. C. to 1900.degree. C.; and cooling the sintered body at a rate of no more than 300.degree. C./hr. The '778 patent discloses an improvement upon this cycle. The improvement includes introducing an amount of hydrogen gas along with the inert gas up to a temperature of 1200.degree. C., after which pure inert gas is introduced. The heating rate is 10.degree. C./hr to 200.degree. C./hr, preferably 20.degree. C./hr to 80.degree. C./hr. The cooling rate is preferably between 100.degree. C./hr and 275 .degree. C./hr. The sintering cycle used in the example is as follows: 25.degree. C./hr to 800.degree. C., 33.degree. C./hr to 1000.degree. C., 80.degree. C./hr to 1500.degree. C., 300.degree. C./hr to 1800.degree. C., soak for six hours, and cooldown at 140.degree. C./hr.

Process for sintering aluminum nitride to a high thermal conductivity and resultant sintered bodies


Provided is a packet processing device for an information-centric network. The packet processing device includes a packet transceiver configured to transmit and receive packets, and a packet processing unit configured to process a transmitted or received packet including a forwarding identifier that identifies information present in the ICN and corresponds to an IP address of a network node holding the information, and at least one sub-identifier that identifies child information of the information, in which the forwarding identifier is used to forward packets.

1. Field
The following description relates to information-centric networking, and more particularly, to IP-based information-centric networking.
2. Description of the Related Art
Information-centric networking (ICN) is a communication method using an identifier of information to be obtained other than an address of a communication target host. When the information-centric networking method is used, a client provides the identifier of information to be obtained instead of obtaining information by connecting to the host which holds information. Then, the network finds information using a corresponding identifier and returns the information to the client. A variety of information-centric networking methods, for example, a data-oriented network architecture (DONA), a content-centric network (CCN), and publish-subscribe internet technology (PURSUIT), are available. However, there is no method of realizing high scalability without any changes to an existing IP network. For example, although the CCN may be seamlessly integrated into the existing IP network, it is inappropriate for high-speed processing in transmission equipment due to a variable size of the information identifier. Moreover, due to a large amount of information to be maintained in network equipment, there are scalability issues as an amount of identifiers present in the network increases.
As the related art, a paper discussing a CCN structure (V. Jacobson et al., Networking Named Content, CoNEXT 2009) is well known. In this paper, the CCN in which content and locations are decoupled was proposed. For this purpose, a universal component of an IP of a network stack was replaced by named content. However, since this paper did not specifically explain integration with the IP network and employed a variable length identifier, it is difficult to accommodate in the network equipment and scalability issues occur.

Packet processing device for IP-based information-centric network

ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE


A multi-component detergent, including at least two components, that is contained in a container having at least two chambers, wherein a first component K1 is a first liquid composition, containing at least one catechol metal complex compound of formula (I)

While the formulation of powdered detergents and washing and cleaning agents containing bleaching agent no longer poses any problems, the formulation of stable liquid washing and cleaning agents containing bleaching agent continues to be problematic. Due to the usual absence of the bleaching agent in liquid washing and cleaning agents, stains of this kind which are normally removed in particular due to the bleaching agents contained, are thus frequently only inadequately removed. A similar problem also exists for bleaching agent-free color detergents in which the bleaching agent is omitted in order to protect the dyes in the textiles and prevent them from fading. If there is no bleaching agent, the situation is aggravated by the fact that, instead of removing the bleachable stains which are normally at least partly removed by using peroxygen-based bleaching agent, the washing process often intensifies the stain and/or makes it harder to be able to remove the stain, which may be due to initiated chemical reactions which may consist, for example, in the polymerization of particular dyes contained in the stains.
Such problems occur in particular in stains which contain polymerizable substances. The polymerizable substances are primarily polyphenolic dyes, preferably flavonoids, in particular from the class of anthocyanidins or anthocyanins. The stains can in particular have been caused by food products or beverages which contain the corresponding dyes. The stains can in particular be stains from fruits or vegetables or also red wine stains which in particular contain polyphenolic dyes, especially those from the class of anthocyanidins or anthocyanins.
International patent application WO 2011/023716 A1 discloses the use of gallic acid esters, such as propyl gallate, in washing and cleaning agents for improved removal of stains which contain polymerizable substances.
The international patent application WO 2013/092263 A1 relates to the improvement of the performance of washing and cleaning agents by using oligohydroxybenzoic acid amides.
German patent applications DE 102016214660 A1 and DE 102014222833 relate to the use of dihydroxyterephthalic acid derivatives in washing and cleaning agents in order to improve washing or cleaning performance. The washing and cleaning agents in these publications have an alkaline pH.
Appearance plays an important role in liquid detergents, in particular in transparent or translucent bottles or in pre-portioned products such as pouches. In particular, products with strong, intense colors are wanted by the consumer. A risk when using new dyes and/or high amounts of dyes is that these dyes are absorbed onto textiles during the washing process and that a local or uniform discoloration occurs. The effect can be measured in laboratory tests by the "staining tendency" and can also be perceived visually by the consumer. The washed garment may be irreversibly damaged and the discoloration may not be able to be removed even if the garment is washed again.
If the components of a multi-component detergent are enclosed separately from one another in different chambers of a water-soluble container, it is also advantageous if the color of the components does not transfer onto the wrapping and color said wrapping at the point of contact or even migrate through the material of the wrapping into another chamber and discolor the composition contained therein.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Multi-component detergent comprising catechol metal complex

Abstract: and at least one free catechol compound of formula (II) or the salt thereof

Abstract: with the proviso that the catechol compound of formula (II) and the salt thereof are different from the compounds of formula (I), and a second component K2 is a second liquid composition, containing at least one surfactant. The present invention further relates to the use of the multi-component detergent for removing bleachable stains and a method for washing textiles using the multi-component detergent.


A computer system according to the present invention comprises a processor, a priority table for storing an address indicative of the original location of each of data items to be read by the processor, and a priority corresponding to the frequency of access by the processor to read each of the data items, a cache memory for storing, in units of cache blocks, part of the data items to be read by the processor, the cache memory having a tag which stores an address and a priority corresponding to each of the data items, and a controller including means for obtaining, when a cache miss has occurred, a priority corresponding to data whose reading is requested by the processor, by referring to the priority table and using an address included in the data-reading request of the processor, and means for comparing the obtained priority with a priority of data stored in a predetermined cache block in the cache memory, thereby to determine whether or not data replacement should be performed in the predetermined cache block.

The present invention relates to a computer with a cache function and to a cache memory control method.
In the field of computers, a cache function means a technique for storing data whose reading is requested by a processor (e.g. a CPU) of the computer, and data which is expected to be read next to the first-mentioned data, in a cache memory (which may consist of a SRAM expensive but capable of high speed operation) located near the CPU, and then reading target data first from the cache memory (if it is stored in the cache memory), not from its original memory area. This cache function can reduce the time required to read data and increase the total processing speed of the computer.
Since the memory capacity of the cache memory must be set much smaller than that of a main memory, an auxiliary storage device (e.g., a hard disk drive (HDD)), or a floppy disk drive (FDD), from which data is read, it is necessary to erase old data stored in the cache memory, in order to store new data read from such a storage device.
In the conventional cache memory control method, to erase data stored in the cache memory and store new data therein, the data to be erased is unconditionally erased.
It is evident that the higher the frequency of access for reading data, the greater the advantage of a high-speed operation realized by the cache memory, if the data is stored therein. Accordingly, the advantage of the cache memory which has a small memory capacity can be made the most of by storing therein, for as long time as possible, data to be read at high frequency.
In the conventional cache memory, however, old data stored therein is necessarily erased each time new data is written. In other words, there are many cases where new data to be read at low frequency is replaced, in the cache memory, with data to be read at high frequency. This being so, the advantage of the high-speed operation realized by the cache memory cannot be made the most of.

Computer with a cache controller and cache memory with a priority table and priority levels


An electrostatic supercharger screen (10) is within an air flow duct (12) in front of a standard air filter (14), between a furnace/cooling unit (16) and an air vent grill (18) in a wall (20) of a building (22). The screen (10) includes an element (24) for removing small microns of particles in air that goes past the standard air filter (14) within the air flow duct (12), so as to help clean the air of pollens, smoke, odors and bacteria. A structure (26) is for supporting the removing element (24) parallel to the standard air filter (14). A component (28) is for confining the removing element (24) and the supporting structure (26) in a juxtaposed relationship.

1. Field of the Invention
The instant invention relates generally to air filtering devices and more specifically it relates to an electrostatic supercharger screen. The electrostatic supercharger screen will remove small micron particles in an air flow duct that will normally flow through the air filter located behind the electrostatic supercharger screen.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Numerous air filtering devices have been provided in prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,724,457 to Besser; 2,992,700 to Silverman et al.; 4,115,082 to Newell; 4,880,448 to Scherrer and 5,525,145 to Hodge all are illustrative of such prior art. While these units may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described.


A method of handling signaling congestion for a machine type communication (MTC) device and/or a MTC server in a wireless communication system is disclosed. The method comprises receiving system information from a network; and stopping a triggering operation in a communication window according to the system information, wherein the system information indicates occurrence of a signaling congestion situation in the network.

1. Field of the Invention
The application relates to a method and a related communication device used in a wireless communication system and related communication device, and more particularly, to a method of handling signaling congestion and a related communication device in a wireless communication system with machine type communication.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Machine to Machine (M2M) communication (also referred to as "machine-type communications" or "MTC") may be used in a variety of areas. In the area of security, M2M communication may be used in surveillance systems, in backup of telephone landlines, in the control of physical accesses (e.g. to buildings), and in car/driver security. In the area of tracking and tracing, M2M communication may be used for fleet management, order management, Pay As You Drive (PAYD) applications, asset tracking, navigation, traffic information applications, road tolling, traffic optimization, and steering. In the area of payment systems, M2M communication may be used in point of sales, vending machines, customer loyalty applications, and gaming machines. In healthcare, M2M communication may be used for remotely monitoring vital signs, supporting the elderly or handicapped, in web access telemedicine points, and in remote diagnostics. In the area of remote maintenance/control, M2M communication may be used in programmable logic controllers (PLCs), sensors, lighting, pumps, valves, elevator control, vending machine control, and vehicle diagnostics. In the area of metering, M2M communication may be used in applications related to power, gas, water, heating, grid control, and industrial metering. Additionally, M2M communication based on machine type communication (MTC) technology may be used in areas such as customer service.
Depending on its implementation, M2M communication may be different from some current communication models. For example, M2M communication may involve new or different market scenarios. M2M communications may also differ from some current technologies in that M2M communication may involve a large number of wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs), and/or may involve very little traffic per WTRU. Additionally, relative to some current technologies, M2M communication may involve lower costs and less effort to deploy.
M2M communications may take advantage of deployed wireless networks based on Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) technologies such as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Long Term Evolution (LTE), Long Term Evolution Advanced (LTE-Advanced), and/or other technologies such as WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) or those developed by the Institute for Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and 3GPP2. M2M communications may use networks based on these technologies to deliver business solutions in a cost-effective manner. In a circumstance involving ubiquitous deployment of wireless networks, the availability of the wireless networks may facilitate and/or encourage the deployment and use of M2M WTRUs. Additionally, further enhancements to these technologies may provide additional opportunities for the deployment of M2M-based solutions.
Referring to 3GPP TS 22.368, the requirements related to MTC Device triggering operation include the following: the network shall be able to trigger MTC Devices to initiate communication with the MTC Server based on a trigger indication from the MTC Server; a MTC Device shall be able to receive trigger indications from the network and shall establish communication with the MTC Server when receiving the trigger indication. The MTC Feature Time Controlled is intended for use with MTC devices and/or MTC Applications that are delay tolerant and can send or receive data only during defined time intervals and avoid unnecessary signaling outside these defined time intervals. The network operator may allow such MTC devices and/or MTC Applications to send/receive data and signaling outside of these defined time intervals but charge differently for such traffic. For the Time Controlled MTC Feature:                The network operator shall be able to reject access requests per MTC Device (e.g. attach to the network or set up a data connection) outside a defined access grant time interval.        The network operator shall be able to allow access (e.g. attach to the network or set up a data connection) outside a defined access grant time interval and charge this differently.        The network shall reject access requests per MTC Device (e.g. attach to the network or set up a data connection) during a defined forbidden time interval (e.g. to allow maintenance of a MTC Server).        The local network shall be able to alter the access grant time interval based on local criteria (e.g. daily traffic load, time zones). The forbidden time interval shall not be altered.
In the prior art, the solutions of time-controlled mechanisms, including network access control by the PLMN and randomized triggering of time-controlled MTC operations, for MTC in wireless network are not taken signaling congestion/overload control into account. This may cause some issues as described below. The possible solutions to tackle these issues shall not add extra signalling burden to the network.
The triggering operation is randomized for the time-controlled MTC devices by MTC devices or the network including MTC server. However if signaling congested/overloaded situation happens in the network, the triggering operation performing by the MTC devices or the network would make the congested/overloaded situations worse.
A MME (mobility management entity) Load Balancing functionality permits UEs that are entering into an MME Pool Area to be directed to an appropriate MME in a manner that achieves load balancing between MMEs. This is achieved by setting a Weight Factor for each MME, such that the probability of the eNodeB selecting an MME is proportional to its Weight Factor. The Weight Factor is typically set according to the capacity of an MME node relative to other MME nodes. The Weight Factor is sent from the MME to the eNodeB via S1-AP messages (see TS 36.413 [36]). If a HeNB GW is deployed, the Weight Factor is sent from the MME to the HeNB GW.
The major challenge of the machine type communication is simultaneous network access from the massive MTC devices. Even though the network is not congested/overloaded, the load rebalancing function acting on massive MTC devices may induce great volume of signaling overhead, e.g. S1, or RRC release procedures, or TAU procedures.
If the MTC device does not have valid communication window, the new communication window is provided to the MTC device by randomly initiating NAS signaling or application level, which may be outside of communication window. However the network operator may charge differently for sending/receiving data and signaling outside of a defined grant time interval.
The network retrieves grant time interval and forbidden time interval from HLR/HSS (Home Location Register/Home Subscriber Server) where the subscriptions of the MTC devices are stored. The communication window is not stored and would be randomized and configured at SGSN/MME (serving GPRS support node/mobile management entity). If the grant time interval needs to be altered, the SGSN/MME determines the new grant time interval along with new communication window and shall notify HLR/HSS and MTC devices via NAS signaling or application level. The MTC devices are allowed to access network within allotted communication window, otherwise the network can reject accesses. The MTC device can obtain allocated communication window via NAS signaling, e.g. attach or TAU procedure, or application level. Please refer to FIG. 1, which illustrates successful completion of communication task.
In the case of using NAS signaling for updating communication window, if there is no valid communication window, the MTC device might initiate NAS signaling outside of communication window and obtain the communication window from accept or reject message. However there are situations that the MTC devices do not have valid communication windows and need to initiate NAS signaling randomly, which increase signaling overheads as shown in FIG. 2:                e.g1. the altered communication window is not successfully sent to the MTC devices via accept or reject message.        e.g.2. the MTC device is barred by RAN during its allocated communication window.        e.g.3. the MTC device or the network ceases triggering operation due to congestion/overload situation.        e.g.4. the MTC device is forced to detach from the network with network congested cause and a backoff timer before it completes its communication task. In this case, the NAS signaling may be initiated outside of the communication window when the backoff timer is expired if applied.
The above mentioned situations would result in unpredictable signaling overheads to SGSN/MME. Latter three cases might further jeopardize the network in a congested/overloaded network.

Handling signaling congestion and related communication device


It is profitable to oscillate a beam on objects when a high power CO.sub.2 laser beam or a high power YAG laser beam welds or anneals the objects. In order to let a laser beam scan, a device for reciprocating a lens or a device for rotating two mirrors synchronously has been proposed. These devices suffer from the difficulty of cooling. Prior devices are not applicable to a high power laser. A parallel laser beam is first reflected by a parabolic mirror. Then a mirror which is reciprocally swaying by a galvanometer reflects the beam toward the objects. A water inlet and an outlet are mounted on a rear surface of the swaying mirror. Cooling water is carried out through coiled tubes. Excellent heat diffusion prevents the galvanometer from malfunction.

FIG. 10 exhibits a basic structure of an optics of a CO.sub.2 laser for letting a beam scan on objects. The structure has proposed, e.g. by Japanese Patent Laid Open No. 61-292122. Any laser optics which guides a beam from a laser to an object is provided with two mirrors even in the case of static mode. In the static mode, the mirrors are fixed. In the case of a spinning mode, two mirrors (32) and (32') are synchronously rotated around axes (33) and (34). The angular velocities and the phases of the mirrors are in a special relation. It seems miraculous that the rotations of the mirrors allow the beam to oscillate right and left without rotation. But the conversion from the rotations to the oscillation is surely realized by the way described by the cited Japanese Patent Laid Open No. 61-292122. The apparatus enjoys an advantage of small load upon a driving device because of small inertia of the mirrors. However, the apparatus suffers from a drawback that two mirrors must be rotated synchronously. Furthermore, it is difficult to cool the mirrors by circulating cooling water in mirror holders, because the mirrors are fully rotating.
FIG. 11 demonstrates another related art for letting a laser beam scan on objects. Slide bearings are omitted in the figure for simplicity. A link (38) and a lens holder (41) are supported by slide bearings which allow them to slide left and right. A motor (35) rotates an eccentric cam (36) connected via a bearing to a crank (37). The crank (37) is connected to a link (38) at the other end with a pin (39). The link (38) is combined by another pin (40) with a lens holder (41) supporting a lens (42). Eccentricity of the cam (36) converges the rotation into an oscillation of the crank (37) and the link (38) right and left. Thus, the lens (42) oscillates right and left repeatedly. A laser beam (5) which has been a parallel beam between points B and C and points R and S is converged by the lens (42) on the objects (13) and (13) near a butting line (15). When the lens (42) moves reciprocally left and right, the focused beam also moves reciprocally. Such a scanning device has been explained by, e.g. Hirosaki et al., "Application of a beam scanner to laser welding", Japanese Society of High Temperature vol.15, No.6, p 286 (1989).
This lens type scanner has an advantage that the driving apparatus is simpler than the double-mirror scanner already described. However, the lens type scanner is annoyed by drawbacks. A heavy lens induces an increase of the motor load. A stain of the lens incurs increment of absorption of infrared light and generates a large amount of heat. The heat expands the lens. Dilation of the lens deviates the focus of beams from the determined point on the objects. This phenomenon is called "thermal lens effect". A fatal weak point is incapability of cooling, because the lens cannot be cooled by circulating water in an inner cavity perforated in the lens. Applicable cooling is only either circulating water in a cavity of a lens holder or blowing wind on the lens itself. Namely, direct water cooling is forbidden to the lens type scanner. Only indirect water cooling or wind cooling is available.
Besides the double-mirror scanner and the lens type scanner, an oscillating mirror type scanner has been proposed. A galvanometer rotates a mirror reciprocatively within a small amplitude. A galvanometer was originally a sensor for detecting a current which is provided with a permanent magnet, a coil and a rotor. If a current is supplied into the coil, the rotor rotates in proportion to the current. Application of an alternate current will rotate the rotor clockwise and counterclockwise. This is a usage of a galvanometer not as a sensor but as a driver. There are already some scanning devices making use of a galvanometer. However, such a scanner driven by the galvanometer is suitable for only a small-power laser, but it is not suitable for a wide-power laser, which emits a wide bean more than 1 kW in power.
When the diameter of a beam is large, the mirror must be wide. A wide mirror will increase the load of the galvanometer, because of the heavy weight. When the laser output power is high, heat generation at the mirrors increases drastically. A large amount of heat transmits from the mirror via a mirror shaft to the galvanometer. Shafts or bearings of the galvanometer expand thermally. Thermal expansion of the shafts or bearings will heighten the resistance against rotation.
When a ferromagnetic material is heated, the permeability decreases. Thus, the electromagnets in the galvanometer lose the magnetic power when they are heated. By these reasons, strong heat generation on the mirror is likely to kill the oscillation motion of the mirror. Forced cooling would remove the inconvenience incurred by the heat generation. However, it is difficult to cool the mirror by circulating cool water in an inner space of the mirror, since the mirror is rotating reciprocally with a high frequency. Thus, the mirror is cooled by blowing wind on the surface thereof.
The problem of the prior invention relates to a beam scanning device of an optics of a CO.sub.2 laser or a YAG-laser with output power more than 3 kW for welding, cutting or annealing. The beam diameter is wide. The optics of the laser must treat with a wide, strong beam. A lens type scanner would be heavy and bulky as a whole, because of the wide lens. The sliding portions, i.e. a lens, a lens holder, a crank device, etc. would also become heavy. Big load would impose upon a motor. Strong friction force would abrade the sliding portions. The crank mechanism would invite loud noise. Ordinary glass lens cannot be used in the scanning device, since ordinary glass absorbs infrared light of a CO.sub.2 laser. Even if a ZnSe lens would be employed to the converging lens, more than 0.4% of light power would be absorbed by the ZnSe lens. The large power more than 3 kW would induce a large dilation of lens accompanied by a big thermal lens effect. Furthermore, a lens cannot be fully cooled by the structural restriction.
The reciprocal mirror type scanner which oscillates reciprocally a mirror by a galvanometer has been employed for a small power laser. Application of the reciprocal mirror type scanner to a high power laser will require more complete cooling. Otherwise the heat yielded at the mirror is conducted to the shafts and the bearing of the galvanometer and the expanded shafts and bearing will stop the reciprocal motion.
The purpose of this invention is to provide a device for letting a laser beam scan enough even for high power laser more than 3 kW emitting a wide beam larger than 50 mm .phi. in diameter.


A natural draft cooling tower for condensing turbine steam of a power plant is comprised of identical sectors assembled to form the cooling tower. A central steam inlet line terminates in radial distributing lines. Each sector has one of the radial distributing lines. Each sector has first heat exchanger elements operating in a condensational manner and second heat exchanger elements operating in a dephlegmational manner, with the second heat exchanger elements arranged downstream of the first heat exchanger elements. The second heat exchanger elements are each provided with a fan. Each sector has an inert gas line connected to the second heat exchanger elements and a condensate removal line connected to the first and the second heat exchangers. Each sector further comprises an independent support frame for supporting the first and the second heat exchanger elements. The first heat exchanger elements are connected to the support frame such that their longitudinal axis is perpendicular to the radial distributing line and extends in a plane parallel to the radial plane of the radial distributing lines.

The present invention relates to a natural draft cooling tower with a plurality of heat exchanger elements, preferably in the shape of a pitched roof, for condensing turbine exhaust steam of a power plant, wherein the heat exchanger elements, supplied with the exhaust steam by a common central steam inlet line and radially extending distributing lines, operate in part in a condensational and in part in a dephlegmational manner, with the dephlegmationally operating heat exchanger elements arranged downstream of the condensationally operating heat exchanger elements, the heat exchanger elements distributed over a plurality of identical sectors, each sector having complete lines for steam distribution as well as inert gas and condensate removal lines.
Such natural draft cooling towers for condensation of turbine exhaust steam of a power plant are known from German Offenlegungsschrift 34 41 514. Since the collection of inert gases within the heat exchanger elements must be prevented, the final condensation is performed in the dephlegmationally operating, forced-vented heat exchanger elements from which the inert gases are removed. In order to provide the dephlegmationally operating heat exchanger elements with a sufficient& amount of cooling air during all conceivable load situations and during unfavorable weather conditions, these dephlegmationally operating heat exchanger elements are provided with their own fans. These fans ensure a complete final condensation of the entire turbine exhaust steam to be condensed within the dephlegmationally operating heat exchanger elements even under unfavorable weather conditions such as strong lateral winds and inversion situations and provide also the option that, due to the resulting additional draft power within the cooling tower that is otherwise operated only by natural draft, the cooling tower shell can be designed with a respectively reduced height to thereby lower construction costs.
From German Auslegeschrift 19 60 619 a symmetrically designed natural draft cooling tower is known in which the heat exchanger elements which are essentially in the shape of a pitched roof are arranged radially with respect to the Iongitudinal axis of the cooling tower. The steam to be condensed is supplied via a centrally arranged steam inlet line from which radially extending steam distribution lines branch off to the ridge of the respective pitched roof-shaped heat exchanger elements. These operate in part in a condensational and in part in a dephlegmational manner whereby the dephlegmationally operating heat exchanger elements are arranged on an inner circle about the steam inlet line. One dephlegmationally operating heat exchange element is coordinated with two condensationally operating heat exchanger elements which are arranged in the radial extension of the dephlegmational heat exchanger element so that essentially an arrangement of heat exchanger elements within individual segments results. All of the heat exchange elements as well as their corresponding lines are arranged on a single common support construction which is supported on shoulders of the outer shell of the natural draft cooling tower.
From German Offenlegungsschrift 24 05 999 a natural draft cooling tower with a radial arrangement of the individual heat exchanger elements is known. The condensationally operating heat exchanger elements are arranged on an outer circle and the dephlegmationally operating heat exchanger elements are arranged on an inner circle close to the central steam inlet line. The arrangement of the condensationally operating heat exchange elements is two-stepped. A first condensational step is embodied by heat exchanger elements arranged adjacent to the outer wall of the cooling tower, and a second condensational step is provided by heat exchanger elements radially inwardly arranged and staggered relative to the heat exchanger elements of the first step. The second step is on a lower level than the first step. The heat exchanger elements of the second condensational step thus take over the remaining steam of two neighboring heat exchanger elements of the first condensational step. It is disadvantageous in this embodiment that due to the connection of the condensational heat exchanger elements with the respective neighboring radially displaced heat exchanger elements a reduced operation of the device with only a portion of the total number of heat exchanger elements present is not possible.
In a natural draft cooling tower known from German Offenlegungsschrift 22 42 058 condensationally operating heat exchanger elements are arranged on a plurality of circles about the central longitudinal axis of the cooling tower. The steam to be condensed is fed via steam inlet lines circularly arranged about the central longitudinal axis of the cooling tower. All heat exchanger elements of one circular arrangement are positioned on a common support construction in order to provide a staircase-like arrangement in the radially outwardly oriented direction by selecting respective suitable heights for the various circular arrangements.
Based on the disclosure of German Auslegeschrift 19 60 619 it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a natural draft cooling tower which provides for a favorable adaptation of the respective condensation power to different operational conditions and/or to changing weather conditions and which, at the same time, provides for an optimal use of the base surface area of the cooling tower.


To provide a lightning protection fastener or the like, that can reliably seal an arc between the cap and a member such as a wing panel. An end part 30A of a cap 30 on an opening side, the end part 30 A facing a member 22 (or member 21), includes a plane 30d orthogonal to an axis line of the cap 30A and a tapered face 30c formed on an outer circumferential side of the plane 30d. A sealant 34 that spills out of the cap 30A upon mounting the cap 30A is present between the tapered face 30c and a surface 22f of the member 22 (sealant 34S).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lightning protection fastener for use in an airframe of an aircraft, in particular, in a wing, and relates to a cap for a lightning protection fastener.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, each of wings for constituting an airframe of an aircraft has a hollow structure, and each of wing panels forming the wing surface is secured to a structural member located inside of the wing with a fastener member (a fastener).
The fastener member includes a pin-shaped fastener main body and a fastening member (collar). The fastener member fastens the wing panel and the structural member with each other through processes in which, by inserting the fastener main body into through-holes formed in both of the wing panel and the structural member located inside the wing from the outside of the wing and by securing its tip portion by using the fastening member from the inside of the wing.
Moreover, in addition to these, with respect to the wing inner portions and the fuselage portions, structural members other than the wing panels and securing members for equipments are also fastened and secured by the fastener members.
In this case, the fastener member fastens two members through processes in which, by inserting a pin-shaped fastener main body into through-holes formed in both of the members to be secured to each other and by securing its tip portion by using a fastening member (collar).
Additionally, the wing panels or members to be secured are not limited to two.
On the other hand, in the aircraft, it is necessary to provide thoroughgoing countermeasures against a lightning strike for explosion proof. Upon occurrence of a lightning strike in an aircraft, a large current flows through a wing panel such as a main wing, or a structural member, or the like. In this case, part of or whole of the large current flows through the portion fastened by the fastener main body and the fastening member depending on cases. When the current value exceeds a limited value of a passage permissible current in each of the fastened portions, a discharge referred to as an electric arc (or a thermal spark) is generated (hereinafter, referred to as "arc" in the present specification). This is a phenomenon in which an abrupt temperature rise occurs in the fastened interface between members mainly composed of conductive members constituting the fastened portion due to a current passing through the fastened portion, with the result that the members are locally fused to cause a discharge in the air in the vicinity thereof. In most cases, scattering fused matters, referred to as "hot particles", are generated from the fused portion. In general, since the inner space of a wing is compatibly used as a fuel tank, it is necessary to provide explosion-preventive measures. Therefore, at the time of a lightning strike, by suppressing the generation of an arc or sealing the arc, arc discharge needs to be prevented, and the scattered hot particles are prevented from contacting a combustible fuel vapor, for prevention of ignition. Here, portions at which a combustible fuel vapor might exist include the inside of each of fuel tanks in the wings and fuselage, the inside of a surge tank (a tank where a bent scoop, a burst disk, and the like are placed), which is placed on the wing tip side of the fuel tank, the inside of each of fuel system equipments, etc.
Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 5A to 5E, a structure has been proposed in which a cap 3, made of an insulating material, is attached so as to cover the tip 1a of the fastener member 1 and the metal fastener 2 fastened to the fastener member 1, and a sealant 4 is filled in the cap 3 so as to seal gaps among the tip 1a of the fastener member 1, the metal fastener 2 and the cap 3 (see Patent Literature 1 (JP-A No. 2010-254287).
In a fastening work site in which the fastener member 1 is used, as shown in FIG. 5A, upon attaching the cap 3 to the tip 1a of the fastener member 1 and the metal fastener 2, the sealant 4 is preliminarily filled into the inner space of the cap 3. Then, as shown in FIG. 5B, the cap 3, filled with the sealant 4, is mounted on the tip 1a of the fastener member 1 and the metal fastener 2. Consequently, an excessive sealant 4 inside the cap 3 spills out of an opening of the cap 3. As shown in FIG. 5C, in the case when the end face 3a on the opening side of the cap 3 is pressed onto the surface of the member 5 such as a wing panel, the spilled-out sealant 4 is present between the cap 3 and the member 5, and located on the outer circumferential side of the cap 3 in a raised ring shape, so that an arc is sealed in the interface between the cap 3 and the member 5.

Lightning protection fastener and cap for lightning protection fastener


A process for manufacturing a ceramic implant with a surface which forms a permanent bonding to bone cell tissues, the surface providing improved osseointegration, the process comprising the step of:—a pretreatment of the ceramic material with the surface wherein said surface of the ceramic material is exposed to a conditioning plasma, which is produced by means of direct current (DC) or alternating current (AC), such as high or radio frequency (HF, RF), or microwaves (MW) at a low pressure, followed by a second step;—a treatment with a reactive plasma in which an organic compound is added to the plasma for the at least partial application of an organic phase to said surface wherein the organic compound is selected from the group consisting of aliphatic amines, cyclic amines, unsaturated and aromatic amines as well as combinations thereof.

The design of ceramic surfaces in implants, especially dental implants, is still in its beginnings in contrast to metallic implants. Commercially available products are mostly roughened by sandblasting and ensure thus a better mechanical anchoring in the cell tissue in comparison to smooth surfaces. However, they require relatively long times for osseointegration compared to the highly developed surfaces of titanium implants. Thus, in combination with one-part ceramic implants as usual today, there is an additional risk in the osseointegration of these implants.

Process for preparing ceramic implants for medical purposes


A support perpendicular to a rotational axis of a housing is secured to one of one of first side gears. One pair of second planet gears are rotatably mounted on the support shaft. The one pair of second planet gears are meshed with one pair of second side gears. A second and a third output shaft are connected respectively to the one pair of second side gears. A first output shaft is connected to the other first side gear.

This invention relates to a differential gear assembly suited to be used for four-wheel drive vehicles.
In general, four-wheel drive vehicles each have three kinds of differential gear assemblies called a center differential, a front differential, and a rear differential. The center differential is disposed between the front wheels and the rear wheels, the front differential between the left front wheel and the right front wheel, and the rear differential between the left rear wheel and the right rear wheel, respectively. Those three kinds of differential gears are individually installed.
However, if such three kinds of differential gear assemblies must be installed separately as in the prior art, much time and labor is required for installation and in addition, a large installation space is required for installing the three differential gear assemblies as a whole.


The invention relates to supports comprising inorganic oxide particles coated with magnesium chloride and a method for making them. The inorganic oxide has a mean particle diameter of less than 5 microns and is used as a seed to crystallize magnesium chloride from solution. The magnesium chloride-coated inorganic oxide is useful for supporting transition metal compounds; the supported transition metal compounds are used as catalysts for polymerizing olefins.

Interest in catalysis continues to grow in the polyolefin industry. There are several known processes to polymerize olefins including solution, slurry, and gas phase processes. For some processes, it is preferred to use a solid catalyst and one common strategy is to support a transition metal compound on magnesium chloride. The surface area affects the availability of the transition metal compound and therefore the activity of the catalyst. The greater the activity of the catalyst, the less the residual transition metal which is left in the polyolefin. High levels of residual transition metal can have adverse effects on such properties as color and thermal stability.
There have been several approaches to obtaining magnesium chloride with high surface area. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,421,674 discloses a spray drying method and compares it with several other methods. They are able to prepare small particle size magnesium chloride by heating a concentrated solution of magnesium chloride in ethanol and spray drying the solution with a stream of hot nitrogen. Spray drying has advantages versus other techniques that can give low particle size such as milling. Unfortunately, milling yields irregular particles. When these particles are treated with titanium tetrachloride, the catalysts have lower activity than titanium tetrachloride supported on spray-dried magnesium chloride.
The '674 patent also teaches to dissolve commercially available flake magnesium chloride with an average particle size of from 0.1 to 2 mm in anhydrous ethanol and heat to concentrate the solution. The magnesium chloride precipitates as elongated needles with an average size of 30 microns. This is treated with titanium tetrachloride, but again gives poorer results than those obtained by using spray-dried magnesium chloride. Spray drying requires extra equipment and it would be desirable to have a simpler process.
Further, as noted in U.S. Pat. No. 5,173,465, there are difficulties and complications inherent in the spray drying operation. They attempt to overcome these difficulties by impregnating porous silica having a mean particle size of between 10 and 100 microns. The silica is slurried in an ethanol solution of magnesium chloride to impregnate the porous silica and then the slurry is heated to remove the ethanol to a level of between 1.5 to 4 moles ethanol per mole magnesium chloride. The silica represents 50-90% by weight of the solid catalyst component with the remaining 50-10% containing titanium, magnesium, chlorine, and alkoxy groups. Even at 50%, this doubles the weight of solid that must be added to the polymerization.
It would be desirable to have a particle of magnesium chloride that can be used as a support for transition metal compounds to form highly active catalysts without the difficulties associated with spray drying and without using high levels of silica having a large particle size.
There has been considerable work with other systems regarding crystal size. Much of the work involves ensuring a large uniform crystal. One technique used to influence crystal size is to seed a supersaturated solution. The crystallization of potassium alum, KAI(SO4)2.12H2O, has been studied extensively by Kubota et al, as reported in Powder Technology 121 (2001) 31. They state that while "seeding has been known for a long time as an effective technique . . . . No one can predict what amount of seeds and what size of seeds should be added into a crystallizer to produce a product of desired size, or to stabilize crystallization. No methodology has been proposed. Seeding seems to be treated as an art."
In the study of potassium alum, Kubota made two key findings. There is a critical seed concentration. Above that seed concentration, the crystals of potassium alum were unimodal in size distribution and bimodal below that concentration. Also, the mean size of the potassium alum crystals increased linearly with the mean mass size of the seeds. The sizes of the seeds studied were from 40 microns to 300 microns.
Magnesium chloride has been used for more than 20 years and the concept of seeding to influence crystallization has been known for more than 100 years. However, there remains a need to make magnesium chloride of uniform and small particle size without the complications of spray drying.


A card wire comprises an elongated rib portion and teeth. The teeth have a front portion and a back portion. The teeth hang over towards their front portion. The front portion and back portion merge at the tip of the tooth. The front portion comprises at least three sections: a first section extends from the tip of the tooth in the direction of the rib portion, a second section extends below the first section in the direction of the rib portion and a third section extends from the end of the second section in the direction of the rib portion. The second section comprises a straight part and a curved segment, wherein the straight part has a minimum length of 0.10 mm and the straight part has an angle between 10 and 30 degrees relative to the length direction of the card wire.

The invention relates to card wires (or carding wires). The card wires have an improved tooth shape. The front of the tooth is designed in order to have excellent fiber retention properties combined with good strength and fatigue resistance of the teeth. The card wires can e.g. be used on doffers on cards for short fiber spinning (so called revolving flat cards as used in e.g. cotton fiber spinning) and on workers, doffers and condensers on roller cards as e.g. used in nonwoven industry.


Multiple poly(vinyl butyral) layer interlayers that can be used in multiple layer glass panel type applications that require a high level of impact protection, for example in hurricane protection applications or in bullet proof glass applications. This effect is achieved by forming a poly(vinyl butyral) interlayer that has a relatively stiff poly(vinyl butyral) inner layer disposed between two relatively soft outer poly(vinyl butyral) layers, where the stiffness difference is achieved by a plasticizer differential that is achieved at least in substantial part by a residual hydroxyl content difference among the poly(vinyl butyral) layers.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is in the field of polymer interlayers and multiple layer glass panels comprising polymer interlayers, and, more specifically, the present invention is in the field of polymer interlayers comprising multiple thermoplastic layers
2. Description of Related Art
Poly(vinyl butyral) (PVB) is commonly used in the manufacture of polymer layers that can be used as interlayers in light-transmitting laminates such as safety glass or polymeric laminates. Safety glass often refers to a transparent laminate comprising a poly(vinyl butyral) layer disposed between two layers of glass. Safety glass often is used to provide a transparent barrier in architectural and automotive openings. Its main function is to absorb energy, such as that caused by a blow from an object, without allowing penetration through the opening or the dispersion of shards of glass, thus minimizing damage or injury to the objects or persons within an enclosed area. Safety glass also can be used to provide other beneficial effects, such as to attenuate acoustic noise, reduce UV and/or IR light transmission, and/or enhance the appearance and aesthetic appeal of window openings.
Safety glass is particularly desirable in architectural glazing applications that are intended for use in areas prone to hurricane activity. During hurricanes, wind-borne debris will be present. To protect a building during hurricane from being damaged, windows and doors, typically the weakest link in a building's envelope, must be safeguarded from penetration by wind-borne debris, and they must also remain in the place through the remainder of the storm. Therefore, an interlayer that can safeguard a window against significant impacts and remain in the opening during cyclical wind loading even if the glass is cracked is particularly desirable.
Attempts to create such an interlayer for hurricane protection have usually involved balancing the benefit to high impact resistance obtained from using a relatively softer and lower glass adhesion polymeric interlayer with the benefit of high cyclical wind loading resistance after glass cracking which is obtained from using a stiffer and high glass adhesion polymeric interlayer.
If an interlayer is too soft or adhesion to glass is too low, then the interlayer will not have the strength to resist high wind loading after an impact. On the other hand, if the interlayer is too stiff and adhesion to glass is too high, then the interlayer will not have a high level of impact resistance—i.e., the interlayer will have low penetration resistance.
Therefore, further improved interlayer compositions are needed to provide multiple layer safety glass that has high impact resistance and high cyclical wind-loading resistance for, among other things, hurricane protection.


The invention relates to a connecting member for maintaining the spacing between at least two anchor members screwed into vertebrae. It comprises two rigid rod-forming parts (12, 14) made of a first material and each having a fixing, first portion (16, 18) adapted to be fixed into an anchor member and a fastening, second portion (20, 22), said rods (12, 14) being aligned with each other and said fastening portions (20, 22) facing each other, and a connecting body (24) made of a second material which is more elastically deformable than said first material and which interconnects said rigid parts (12, 14) by means of the facing fastening portions (20, 22) so that said connecting body (24) is able to deform elastically, whereby the vertebrae, which are held spaced from each other, are movable relative to each other.

Fields of application of the invention include stabilization and arthrodesis of segments of the vertebral column in degenerative pathologies of the spine.
Systems for stabilizing the vertebral column by bracing at least two consecutive vertebrae by means of anchor members fixed into said vertebrae and connected by rigid connecting rods are well known in the art. Systems of this kind are generally coupled systems such that two consecutive vertebrae are interconnected by two substantially parallel rods fixed one on each side of the spinous processes. The anchor members are screwed into the posterior portions of the vertebrae and pass through the pedicles and a substantial portion of the vertebral bodies and therefore provide a fixed and durable connection.
The above stabilizing systems are routinely used to consolidate several consecutive vertebrae. Thus the vertebrae are interconnected by rigid rods over a substantial length of the vertebral column. Such assemblies hold the vertebrae correctly relative to each other; however, they considerably stiffen the spine in terms of bending. It has been shown that a more flexible stabilizing system, which confers greater relative mobility on the vertebrae, is beneficial in some pathologies.

Flexible linking piece for stabilising the spine


An improved neurological testing apparatus 10 for examining a person's neurological system has a body housing 12, one or more separate specific taste testing substances 20, one or more separate specific smell testing substances 30, one or more vision charts 40, 42 and a light source 50. The body housing 12 includes a front surface 12A, a rear surface 12B, an upper end 14, a bottom end 16 and an interior chamber 18 for holding a battery 100. The separate specific taste testing substances 20 are attached to the front or rear surfaces. The separate specific smell testing substances 30 are attached to either the front or rear surface. The vision charts 40, 42 lie on one of the front or rear surfaces opposite the smell or taste testing substances 20, 30. The light source assembly 50 is mounted in the body structure 12 and includes a light 50A connected to a battery 100 via an on/off switch 60 located in the body 12, wherein said light source 50 is used to analyze pupillary reflex as seen through an eye examination lens 4 located directly above the light 50A and for examining the fundus of the eye (retina).

The neurological examination is accomplished by examining in succession, the higher functions by testing memory, intelligence, orientation in time, place and person, and speech, the cranial nerves, the motor and sensory systems, cerebellar functions and the reflexes. In practice, those skilled in the art of testing the nervous system have been required to carry numerous separate testing devices. This variety of testing devices carried by the clinician is costly and cumbersome and if not done in a sequential methodology oftentimes the testing of certain sensory aspects can be missed.
The present invention is designed with the express intent of providing in one small device many of the essential ingredients for a thorough neurological examination. The device which can be carried in a lab coat pocket or shirt pocket, is made in a simple and relatively inexpensive fashion so that the device can either be used as a disposable device or as a low cost tool by the clinician.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,233,988 a neuro-aid satisfying some of the above requirements was granted a patent on Aug. 10, 1993. This original neuro-aid device provided a portable, inexpensive tool which the clinician could use to examine a patient for neurological responses. While being an efficient device for neurological examinations it lacked several features which are considered to be essential in proper neurological examinations.
The present invention is an improved neuro-aid device which provides low cost solutions to neurological examinations while providing additional capabilities. The improved device adds features that will enable the clinician to examine the fundus (retina) and sensitivity to light as well as providing an improved aseptic method of conducting touch responses using a sterile, detachable pin system. Provisions have also been made for metric scale for measuring the size of pupil and for carrying charts and/or tables within the device.
It is currently recognized that in many athletic sports and other activities head injuries often occur. These head injuries can be rated from minor to severe. Commonly referred to as concussions or mild traumatic brain injuries (MTBI), these are the most common and least serious of this type of traumatic brain injury. These concussions involve a transient loss of mental functions that can be caused by acceleration or deceleration forces or by a direct blow. Concussions are generally not associated with penetrating head injuries. Patients with concussions may act confused for example repeatedly asking the same question or forgetting where they are. Patients may have focal neurological deficits, signs that a specific part of the brain is not working correctly. While such trauma are considered mild generally, the brain is adapted in such a way that after a mild concussion, a repeated secondary impact on the brain can lead to serious and permanent brain damage and potentially death. As a result in such sports as football, head injuries are reviewed by a trainer immediately and certain sensory responses are tested to see if the player has been injured seriously enough that he should no longer play. It is not uncommon for a player who has had a head injury to return to play within a week and upon receiving a secondary head injury, of dying. As a result many high school and college programs by state law are required to have medically trained physical trainers onsite to look for these types of head injuries. One of the best ways of indicating whether a person has received a concussion is an examination of the eyes. If the eyes show aberrant movement or one pupil is dilated more than the other or if the eyes fail to respond to light sensitivity may be strong indications that the player has had a concussion. As a result it is now normal practice to remove such players from further contact. It is accordingly very important that these trainers have tools that will enable eye reflexes to be easily examined. Checking the peripheral vision was available on the prior art device, however, this device was lacking in that light sensitivity and fundus could not be examined. Accordingly, a need to improve the device incorporating such a feature was determined necessary.
In addition, in checking an injured person's response to touch to determine if any nerve damage had occurred to any limbs or any portion of the nervous system has been essential in these neurological examinations. The prior art device of U.S. Pat. No. 5,233,988 provided an integrally molded sharp point at one end of the device which could be used to poke into the patient to determine if the sense of pain was felt in the location where the device was pushed. This exposed the person conducting the test and the subsequent patient's to the increased risk of contracting blood transmitted diseases from the person being examined. As such the entire device typically had to be thrown away. It was determined that had this touch test been one that could be provided by a removable needle or pin, the device could then be used on multiple patients without the risk of either transmitting blood-borne diseases. These and other beneficial improvements have been provided in the improved inventive device as described below.


A gripping device includes carriages or pivot arms carrying gripping elements. The carriages or pivot arms are mounted and guided in a base body and are drivable by at least one cylinder-piston unit. A switching module is mounted on the base body. The switching module includes at least one pressure medium connection and at least one electrical connection. At least one electrically controllable valve, which is switching a pressure medium, and at least one electronic controller for implementing external and internal control signals are arranged in the control module. The internal control signals originate from at least one sensor which detects at least one physical characteristic variable of the carriage(s) and/or the cylinder-piston unit at least in or on the base body. The gripping device can be adapted to at least one machine control system with a minimum interconnection and programming effort.

Such a gripping device is known from DE 10 2015 004 404 A1. Its housing with the integrated driving cylinder-piston unit is externally supplied with compressed air via two pneumatic lines. A signal cable also leads away from an assembled position sensor. The valves required for wiring the cylinder-piston unit are accommodated in an externally arranged switching cabinet. The gripping device is controlled from there.
DE 10 2007 055 460 A1 describes a valve block that can be attached to a consumer. The valve block is connected to a switching cabinet via a compressed air line and several cables.

Gripping device having a switching module


A load sensing system inexpensively monitors the weight and temperature of stored nuclear material for long periods of time in widely variable environments. The system can include an electrostatic load cell that encodes weight and temperature into a digital signal which is sent to a remote monitor via a coaxial cable. The same cable is used to supply the load cell with power. When multiple load cells are used, vast inventories of stored nuclear material can be continuously monitored and inventoried of minimal cost.

Remotely monitoring weight or force is typically accomplished with a conventional load cell that utilizes a strain gauge element mounted on some sort of bending beam. The strain gauge element is connected to a bridge circuit to monitor minute changes in resistance that occur as the mounting surface strains. This type of system can be relatively expensive and typically has an analog output which is susceptible to interference in remote applications. A less expensive load cell design approach is to monitor the electrical capacitance between two spring loaded parallel plates. With increased applied force or weight, the plates move closer together and the capacitance between the plates increases which can be electrically monitored.
One problem with this capacitive approach is that the dielectric constant of the air between the plates changes as humidity and temperature change. The capacitance changes resulting from a changing dielectric constant between the plates cannot be distinguished from capacitance changes resulting from plate movement. Sealing the area between the plates and back-filling with a stable, inert gas is prohibitively expensive and negates the advantage of the capacitive approach.


In the present image forming system, when a digital copying machine having no specimen image judging section makes a copy, it transfers an input image to an image processing apparatus having the specimen image judging section within the system to request to judge whether the input image is a copy-prohibited image on its behalf. When the judging result is returned within a predetermined period, the digital copying machine controls the copying operation based on the judging result: when the judging result is negative, a normal copying operation is carried out; when the copying is totally prohibited, the image processing apparatus ends the copying operation after informing the user that the copying operation is terminated because the copying of the subject image is prohibited. Consequently, whether the subject image data are a specimen image like paper money can be discovered at the image processing machine, thereby preventing a crime, such as forgery of paper money or securities. Also, if the specimen image judging section is installed in the image processing apparatus, each digital copying machine connected to the same does not have to include the specimen image judging section, thereby suppressing a cost increase.

A digital copying machine, which is an example of a commercialized image forming apparatus, makes a copy of an original image in the following manner. Firstly, an image reading section reads an original image, secondly, an image processing section processes the read image in a specified manner, and finally, a recording section outputs information of the processed image on a sheet. In case the where a single digital copying machine is used, only the pre-installed image processing functions are available to form an image on a sheet.
On the other hand, an idea of forming a network by interconnecting a plurality of image recording apparatuses or the like has been proposed recently. For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 116834/1978 (Tokukaisho No. 53-116834) discloses an arrangement to interconnect a plurality of image reading apparatuses and a plurality of image recording apparatuses through a single control section. This arrangement enables each image recording apparatus to print out the original image read by any of the image reading apparatuses. Thus, the idle time of the image recording apparatuses while replacing the original documents at the image reading apparatus can be reduced.
Also, Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 198958/1986 (Tokukaisho No. 61-198958) discloses an image forming system including a plurality of copying machines interconnected through a single control device, and each copying machine is furnished with an image read section and an image record section. In this image forming system, image signals to be recorded are distributed to more than one copying machine furnished with a specific image copying mode the user wishes to use, and all the copying machines that received the image signals carry out the copying job in parallel.
Also, Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 285977/1989 (Tokukaihei 1-285977) discloses an image forming system, in which an image processing section is furnished with judging means for judging whether the image information read by an image read section can be copied or not, in other words, whether the copying of the subject image information is prohibited or not. In short, this image forming system is furnished with a function to control the copy output job of the original image based on the output from the judging means.
However, the above conventional image forming systems have the following problem.
Each image processing function of the digital copying machine depends on software programs which have been developed at an increasing pace. Thus, the image processing function is upgraded in a short period and new models with additional functions have been steadily commercialized. Therefore, the state-of-the-art digital copying machine with the desired image processing functions becomes an outdated, relatively low-level model soon after the user purchases it.
Because the user can neither upgrade the functions pre-installed in his digital copying machine nor simply add new functions, he has to purchase a new model if he wants higher level or new functions. This is an economic burden to the user and a manufacturers' problem conflicting with their efforts in trying to always meet users' demands.

Image forming apparatus having a specimen image judging section and an image information suitability judging section


The disclosure describes a novel method and apparatus for testing different types of TSVs in a single die or different types of TSV connections in a stack of die. The testing is facilitated by test circuitry associated with each type of TSV. The test circuitry includes a scan cell adapted for testing TSVs.

Integrated circuit die may be designed for stacking using TSVs. TSVs are vertical conductive paths formed between the bottom surface of the die and top surface of the die. TSVs may be formed in the die using conductive material, such as but not limited to copper. TSVs allow thousands or tens of thousands of vertical connections to be made between the dies in a stack. The advantage of stacking die using TSVs over older approaches, such as die stacking based on peripheral bond wire connections, is a greater number of higher speed interconnects may exist between die in a stack. Also the physical size of the die stack is reduced since the TSV connections are made between the bottom and top surfaces of the die, i.e. the die do not need a periphery connection area.
FIG. 1 illustrates a die 100 including various forms of TSVs 102-110. Each TSV forms a signaling path between the bottom surface 114 of the die and the top surface 112 of the die. The signals propagated on the paths may be analog or digital signals. As seen each TSV 102-110 is coupled to a contact point 118 on the bottom surface of the die and a contact point 116 on the top surface die. The contact points could be for example, but not limited too, a metal pad or a micro bump.
TSV 102 forms a non-buffered input and/or output (I/O) path between contact point 118 on the bottom surface 114 of the die and contact point 116 on the top surface 112 of the die. TSV 104 and buffer 120 form a buffered input (I) path from contact point 118 of the bottom surface 114 of the die to contact point 116 on the top surface 112 of the die. TSV 106 and buffer 122 form a buffered input (I) path from contact point 116 of the top surface 112 of the die to contact point 118 on the bottom top surface 114 of the die. TSV 108 and buffers 124 and 126 form a doubled buffered input (I) path from contact point 118 on the bottom surface 114 of the die to contact point 116 on the top surface 112 of the die. TSV 110 and buffers 128 and 130 form a doubled buffered input (I) path from contact point 116 on the top surface 112 of the die to contact point 118 on the bottom surface 114 of the die.
During the manufacture of Die 100, each TSV 102-110 path should be tested for connectivity to insure signals may be passed between contact points 118 on the bottom surface of the die and contact points 116 on the top surface of the die. If die 100 had ten thousand TSVs to test, a die tester would have to have the resources to test all ten thousand TSVS, which can be a very expensive proposition.
FIG. 2 illustrates an example of an upper die 100 stacked on top of a lower die 100. The die are connected via the TSV 102-110 contact points 116 on the top surface 112 of the lower die and the TSV 102-110 contact points 118 on the bottom surface 114 of the upper die. TSVs 102 of the lower and upper die form a non-buffered I/O path between the contact point 118 of the lower die and the contact point 116 of the upper die. TSVs 104 of the lower and upper die form a buffered input path from the contact point 118 of the lower die to the contact point 116 of the upper die. TSVs 106 of the lower and upper die form a buffered input path from the contact point 116 of the upper die to the contact point 118 of the lower die. TSVs 108 of the lower and upper die form a double buffered input path from the contact point 118 of the lower die to the contact point 116 of the upper die. TSVs 110 of the lower and upper die form a double buffered input path from the contact point 116 of the upper die to the contact point 118 of the lower die. While this example shows two die 100 being stacked, additional die 100 may also be included in the stack.
After stacking the Die 100, each stacked TSV 102-110 path should be tested for connectivity to insure signals may be passed between contact points 118 of the bottom surface of the lower die and contact points 116 on the top surface of the upper die. If the two die 100 had ten thousand TSVs to test, a stack die tester would have to have the resources to test all ten thousand TSVS, which can be a very expensive proposition.