A system for arranging and displaying guided recommendations via a graphical user interface based on biological extraction, the system comprising a computing device configured to receive, from a wearable device located at a user, at least a biological extraction and at least a datum of user activity data, classify the biological extraction and the at least a datum of user activity as a function of at least a datum of a user fingerprint, select at least a compatible element as a function of the training data and the user fingerprint, wherein the compatible element comprises a guided recommendation, and generate a representation via a graphical user interface of the compatible element.

Physiological determinations generated are oftentimes cumbersome due to the volume of data associated with the output. Accurately and cleanly arranging and displaying the myriad of data associated with a user's physiology is a monumental task for graphical user interfaces, and especially so for guiding user recommendations as a function of the physiological data.

Methods and systems for arranging and displaying guided recommendations via a graphical user interface based on biological extraction


A contour trimmer apparatus for potted plants includes a crank and connecting rod mechanism for moving a pair of transversely opposed pot engagement heads between open and closed positions. A gap between the pot engagement heads in their closed position may be adjusted via a lead screw arrangement which adjusts an operating position of the crank of the crank and connecting rod assembly.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to contour trimmer apparatus for the automated trimming of potted plants.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A frequent task in a nursery is the trimming of potted plants into symmetrical shapes such as cone shaped, ball shaped etc. Such trimming is often done by hand which is a tedious and time consuming task.
There have been some prior attempts to automate this contour trimming operation. One such example is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,151,876 to Van Der Burg.
There is a continuing need for improvements in such automated contour trimming equipment.


A camera system is provided for use in a high-radiation environment includes a camera assembly with a housing enclosing an image sensor for generating a digital signal of a detected image and a first serializer/deserializer (SERDES) for converting the digital signal from the image sensor into a serial bit stream. A transmission medium transmits the serial bit stream to an image processing module located outside of the high-radiation environment where a second SERDES deserializes the serial bit stream to generate a decoded image signal which is processed by an image processor to generate an output at a display device corresponding to the detected image.

Nuclear plant operators and service companies perform in vessel visual inspections (IVVI) in conjunction with reactor refueling operations to inspect reactor components for flaws or damage to the reactor vessel and components within the reactor including submerged pipes and bores. For example, a reactor pressure vessel (RPV) of a boiling water reactor (BWR) typically has submerged bores that need to be inspected during maintenance routines. Hollow tubular jet pumps having internal bores are positioned within an annulus to provide the required reactor core water flow. During operation of the reactor, components including their weld joints within the reactor can experience inter-granular stress corrosion cracking (IGSCC) and irradiation assisted stress corrosion cracking (IASCC) which can diminish the structural integrity of the reactor components, such as jet pumps, by way of example. It is important to periodically examine the reactor core components and all welds contained therein to determine whether any cracking or failure has occurred.
The ability to accurately and quickly perform the IVVI visual inspections can impact the outage associated with the nuclear reactor. Thus, improvements to the accuracy and speed with which visual inspections can be performed can reduce the outage period and save the nuclear plant operator significant expense.
A visual inspection system typically includes one or more cameras positioned on a remotely operated vehicle that can be moved to various locations within the reactor vessel. Each camera is coupled to a video transmission system that provides an image signal to a remotely located visual display device or storage system. These visual systems are used to inspect the reactor components for damage and/or to look for debris that may have accumulated in the reactor. A number of cameras are used for various tasks including inspections of the outer surface of pipes and inner bores of pipes, apertures and bores. Generally, each visual inspection system (camera, transmission system, and display) is required to meet predefined imaging standards to ensure that the visual inspection is capable of identifying and delineating the necessary specificity in flaw and damage identification. The requirements for IVVI visual inspection systems include visual Testing (VT) standards such as a rigorous EVT-1 standard, by way of example. The EVT-1 standard provides that the imaging system be capable of resolving a 0.0005″ (½ mil) wire on an 18 percent neutral gray background. The EVT-1 standard as well as other known visual inspection standards rely on personal evaluation by an operator to ensure that the imaging system is providing the appropriate image quality to the remote display from which the inspection is performed. Any inconsistencies can result in the failure of the visual inspection system in providing an image for viewing in which the operator can identify a potential flaw or damage which can result in failure to identify such, or can require re-inspection, and therefore added time and costs for the IVVI inspection.
Several systems have been developed for performing IVVI inspection. An example of currently available systems is the Diakont D40 Camera (Diakont Advanced Technologies, San Diego, Calif.), which is considered to be state-of-the-art for visual inspection. This system uses a tube sensor that generates a monochrome image that is converted to color through the use of colored LEDs, which are used to illuminate the area under inspection in a rapid sequence. A computer program uses the colors to convert the monochrome image into color. Even though the sequencing of the colored LEDs is rapid, the cycling of the LEDs, along with the processing time, results in delays that may be manifested as blurred images when the camera is moved. This can be problematic when resolution is important for identifying small defects. Further, the use of a tube limits the size of the camera, preventing the miniaturization needed for close inspection in tightly spaced structures.
Another drawback of existing systems is that the camera sensor, whether tube or solid state (e.g., CCD, CID, CMOS), produces an analog signal that is communicated to the image processing system. The use of analog signals presents a disadvantage since the signal must be digitized within the processor, often requiring additional processing to interpret the image using statistical methods. While many such techniques can produce good results, the additional processing can produce delays that extend the time required for accurate inspection.
Accordingly, the need remains for a radiation-hardened camera that can be used for high resolution visual inspection of high radiation environments such as nuclear reactors.

Camera system for hazardous environments


An adjustable steering apparatus includes: a movable bracket to which a steering jacket having a steering wheel is fixed and to which a movable telescopic member having a tooth portion is fixedly mounted; a stationary bracket which is disposed externally of the movable bracket and fixed to a vehicle body, and to which a stationary tilt member having a tooth portion is fixedly mounted; a movable tilt member having a tooth portion meshingly engageable with the tooth portion of the stationary tilt member; and a stationary telescopic member having a tooth portion meshingly engageable with the tooth portion of the movable telescopic member. Both the movable tilt member and the stationary tilt member have openings. The tooth portion of the stationary telescopic member is designed to be meshed with the tooth portion of the movable telescopic member as penetrating through the movable tilt member and stationary tilt member.

The present invention relates to an adjustable steering apparatus. More particularly, the invention relates to an adjustable steering apparatus which utilizes a tooth-to-tooth meshing engagement for fixing or releasing a steering jacket including a steering wheel.
A tiltable, telescopic steering apparatus has been known which permits a steering wheel in front of a driver to be tilted upward or downward for tilt adjustment and to be axially extended or retracted for adjustment in order that the driver may drive in an optimum position.
Such a steering apparatus generally has a constitution wherein the steering jacket (jacket tube) rotatably supporting a column shaft having the steering wheel mounted to its distal end is fixed to a movable bracket vertically movable as clamped by an upper clamp (stationary bracket) fixed to a vehicle body. An operation lever is fixed to a nut in threaded engagement with a clamp bolt penetrating through these brackets. The operation lever is turned thereby operating a cam mechanism for causing the stationary bracket to clamp the movable bracket. A frictional force occurring between these brackets is used to fix the steering jacket to place.
By the way the following problem exists in the case where the frictional force between the stationary bracket and the movable bracket is used to fix the movable bracket to place, thereby to fix the steering jacket to place. If a greater force than the frictional force is applied to the steering jacket, the steering jacket slidably moves within the stationary bracket forwardly or upwardly, so that the steering wheel is shifted from an initial set position. For instance, if the driver hits against an air bag at collision so that an excessive input is applied to the steering jacket via the air bag, the fixation position of the steering jacket is displaced. As a result, the air bag may be deployed in an improper position. The air bag may not work sufficiently effectively unless the driver hits against the air bag squarely. If the driver hitting against the air bag displaces the steering jacket from its fixation position so that the air bag is shifted forwardly or upwardly relative to the vehicle body, the air bag may not be able to exhibit its performance fully.
In this connection, a steering apparatus has been proposed which adopts a fixing method based on the tooth-to-tooth meshing engagement in place of the fixing method based on the frictional force.
As shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 99640/1996 discloses a tiltable, telescopic steering column wherein an operation lever (not shown) is axially movably fitted with a clamp bolt 110 penetrating through an elongated hole 108 for tilting formed in an upper clamp 101 and through an elongated hole 109 for telescoping formed in a distance bracket 103. A tilt-lock tooth portion 114 is formed on an edge of the elongated hole 108 for tilting, whereas a telescopic-lock tooth portion 115 is formed on an edge of the elongated hole 109 for telescoping. A first movable member 118 having a lock tooth portion 116 meshingly engageable with the tilt-lock tooth portion 114 and a second movable member 121 having a lock tooth portion 119 meshingly engageable with the telescopic-lock tooth portion 115 are assembled to the clamp bolt 110 in such a manner that the movable members may be pressed against the upper clamp 101 and the distance bracket 103, respectively. The clamp bolt 110 penetrates through bolt-through holes 117, 120 formed in the first movable member 118 and the second movable member 121. The first movable member 118 is formed with a vertical groove 122 for engagement with the second movable member 121.
The steering column disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 99640/1996 operates as follows. When the operation lever is turned to clamp the distance bracket 103 by means of the upper clamp 101, the lock tooth portion 116 of the first movable member 118 is meshed with the tilt-lock tooth portion 114 so as to inhibit the vertical movement of the clamp bolt 110. In the meantime, the lock tooth portion 119 of the second movable member 121 is meshed with the telescopic-lock tooth portion 115 so as to inhibit the distance bracket 103 from moving forwardly or rearwardly relative to the vehicle body. As a result, the steering wheel is prevented from shifting from the set position in spite of the excessive input overcoming the clamping force of the clamp bolt 110.
According to the steering column of the above patent publication, however, the first movable member 118 for tilting and the second movable member 121 for telescoping are adapted to move in unison so that the meshing relations between the respective tooth portions of the movable members and individually corresponding tooth portions affect each other. This dictates the need to set high dimensional accuracies of the finished tooth portions. With low dimensional accuracies, the tooth portions are in poor meshing engagement, failing to achieve a positively fixed condition. That is, such high dimensional accuracies as to simultaneously establish the meshing engagements between the lock tooth portion 116 of the first movable member 118 and the tilt-lock tooth portion 114 and between the lock tooth portion 119 of the second movable member 121 and the telescopic-lock tooth portion 115 are required, which results in difficult manufacture process and assembly process.


An integrated starter generator device comprising a housing, a stator and a rotor contained within the housing, the device further comprising control electronics operable to configure the device as either a starter or generator and contained entirely within the housing. The device may include a high current terminal having brass and rubber bonded together. The rubber forms both a sealing and an insulating function.

The present invention relates to an integrated starter generator (ISG) device comprising a housing, a stator and a rotor contained within the housing. The device is preferably used in motor vehicles but may also be used in other applications. It is preferably mechanically coupled, via a pulley, to the ancillary belt of such a vehicle.
As the demand for electrical power in vehicles has increased, the trend in alternator (generator) design has been towards greater power capacity. At the same time there has been a requirement to make the alternator housing more compact, such that it takes up less space in the vehicle's engine bay.
Furthermore, a growing need for the reduction of fuel consumption by the internal combustion engine has led to the development of the Integrated Starter Generator (ISG), which represents an alternative to the conventional alternator. Like an alternator, the ISG generates electric power when the engine is running, for supplying the vehicle's electrical system and charging its battery. However, the ISG combines the functions of the conventional alternator/generator with those of the starter motor in a single ISG. Thus, it is capable of being switched from an alternator mode to a starter mode and vice versa. The weight of the ISG is typically less than that of the combined weights of separate alternator and starter motor components and the ISG can automatically stop and then rapidly restart the engine to avoid periods of unnecessary engine idling, such as when a vehicle is waiting at a traffic light. This reduces fuel consumption and exhaust emissions. Furthermore, in starter mode, the ISG is able to spin the engine at higher speeds than a conventional starter motor which further aids in fuel efficient and more reliable starting of the engine.
Like an alternator, the ISG includes a stator and rotor. However, the dual function of the ISG described above means that it requires other components in addition to those usually found in an alternator. In particular, the ISG includes various electrical components for producing the high current needed for starting the engine. Furthermore, complex electronics are necessary to control efficiently the start-stop function of the ISG or to communicate with the engine management systems of a vehicle. Moreover, the ISG faces the same requirement for compactness as the conventional alternator.
A typical belt-driven ISG (BISG) has a housing containing a rotor and a stator. The electrical connections for the rotor and stator exit the housing and lead to a separate control unit which is preferably located nearby. The rotor and stator electrical connections typically carry high currents of the order of several hundred amps and in a switched reluctance arrangement are also switched many thousands of times a second during operation. Thus the cabling between the ISG housing and the control unit is bulky, inflexible and heavy because of the high current requirements, and presents a significant EMC challenge due to the rapidly-switched high currents flowing in the cables. Furthermore, the relatively long cabling introduces electrical losses. Also, the need to mitigate these problems by minimizing the length of the cabling and mounting a control unit near to the BISG in what is typically a crowded area of an engine bay, presents further challenges. These aspects of conventional ISGs have hindered the uptake of these devices despite their significant advantages.


The invention presents a method for the culturing of mammalian cells. This method involves the use of a bioreactor, which contains a sample of mammalian cells in a culture medium containing large molecules. Positioned inside the bioreactor is a semipermeable membrane which defines a space separated from the bioreactor by the semipermeable membrane. A nutrient medium flows through this separated space and, via virtue of the semipermeable nature of the separating membrane, nutrient pass therethrough into the culture medium, while cellular waste products pass into the separated space. The semipermeable membrane is selected so that the cells and large molecules, such as proteinaceous materials, cannot pass through the membrane, but remain in the bioreactor.

In the scope of biotechnology, there are produced biological products, for example monoclonal antibodies, interferons, vaccines, plasminogen activators and the like, with the help of cells and especially of mammalian cells. However, the economics of such processes depend essentially upon the cells multiplying as much as possible and upon the highest possible concentration of the desired substance being produced in the interior of the cells. In order to achieve these objects, special requirements are demanded of the processes and devices used for the large scale culturing of cells. Thus, in particular, provision must be made for a sufficient supply of nutrients, as well as of gases, particularly oxygen. Waste products, i.e. cell metabolic products, which are not needed in the cell culture and which frequently inhibit growth of the cells, must be removed. All other environmental conditions, for example temperature and pH value, must also be as optimal as possible.
In an article entitled "Mammalian cell culture: engineering principles and scale-up" by M. W. Glacken et al. in the periodical "Trends in Biotechnology", pp. 102-108/1983, there are discussed these problems and a number of constructional principles for appropriate apparatus for the culturing of cells.
As can be seen from this article, it is necessary to differentiate between suspension cells and carrier-dependent cells. Whereas the suspension cells float freely in the cell culture medium and can grow therein, carrier-dependent cells, which are also called adherent cells, require a solid carrier in order to be able to survive and grow.
In this article, besides the above-mentioned problems, there are, in particular, discussed the problems of "upscaling". Thus, it has been found that methods which function adequately on a laboratory scale are unsuitable for large-scale production.
Traditionally, mammalian cells, as well as bacterial cells, are primarily cultured as suspension cultures in bioreactors which are also called fermenters. The environmental conditions can be precisely controlled in such vessels. A stirring means moves the culture medium in the interior of the reactor and thus provides for a homogeneous distribution of the cells. A corresponding culture technique is also possible for adherent cells in that they are present on small carrier spheroids which are referred to as "micro-carriers". These float in the culture medium.
The supply of nutrients to the cells and the removal of waste materials takes place, in the case of suspension cultures in bioreactors, according to one of the following three processes:
In a batch operation, the reactor is operated discontinuously. At the beginning of a batch, the culture medium usually contains a serum, for example fetal calf serum (FCS), and the necessary nutrients, for example glucose, vitamins, amino acids and minerals. In operation, these are consumed so that the medium becomes more and more impoverished in nutrients. At the same time, the concentration of waste products increases which finally results in a prevention of the cell growth. The result of this is a course of cell density curve such as is shown in FIG. 1a of the accompanying drawings. The cell density achieves a maximum value of about 10.sup.6 cells/ml. and thereafter decreases again. Consequently, the culturing is discontinued when the maximum cell density is achieved. The contents of the reactor is then passed on for further working up. This process is unsatisfactory insofar as the environment of the cells changes continuously so that, during most of the time of the fermentation procedure, it is by no means optimal.
This could be improved by repeatedly refreshing the culture medium without thereby removing cells. However, for this purpose, a part of the culture medium must be repeatedly removed even though it has by no means been consumed. Such a process is extremely expensive because the known culture media are difficult to obtain and, consequently, are expensive.
Better in this regard is the so-called "feedbatch process" in which, during the fermentation procedure, fresh culture medium is not supplied in its totality but only the consumed nutrients are continuously supplied. However, in practice this process does not provide any substantial advantages because the increase of the waste materials leads to a characteristic course of the cell density during the culturing procedure similar to that in the case of the purely batch process.
The third process is the continuous process in a so-called chemostat or cytostat. Here, the environmental conditions can be uniformly adjusted so that the cells can grow optimally. However, the process is very laborious and expensive because culture medium must be continuously supplied and removed. Furthermore, in the case of this process too, there is not achieved a substantially higher cell density than in the case of the above-mentioned processes because cells are also continuously removed from the reactor with the running off of cell culture medium.
Regardless of which of the three described operational processes is chosen for the suspension cultures, the results are not satisfactory especially because the consumption of valuable culture medium is too high and because a higher maximum cell density is desirable. This latter criterion is of especial importance because present experience shows that the concentration of the desired products in the cells increases with increasing cell density. Therefore, an increase of the cell density leads to an overproportional increase of the yield of product.
In order to achieve a further improvement, new processes have been suggested.
The so-called "systems with artificial capillaries" consist essentially of a bundle of hollow dialysis fibres which are arranged in the interior of a hollow cylinder. They are especially recommended for the culturing of adherent cells. The cells are thereby applied to the outer side of the hollow fibres and are present in the intermediate spaces between the hollow fibres within the cylindrical housing. A culture medium flows through the inner side of the capillaries and air is supplied to the cells through the outer side of the housing. With such a process, there is achieved a comparatively uniform and economic supply of the nutrients to the cells. The cell density can also be slightly increased. Although the supply of nutrients is uniform, nevertheless it has been shown that the cells are supplied to a varying extent. This is especially due to the fact that they are positioned on the capillaries in several layers. The supply of oxygen is thereby also limited which can result in an increased production of waste products.
Such hollow fibre fermenters are described in European Patent Specifications Nos. 0,112,154 and 0,112,155. In the latter Specification, the system is varied insofar as the cells are pumped by means of a pump in circulation through the culturing module.
Hollow fibers, the walls of which consist of a membrane material, are also used in the cell culturing process described in published Japanese Patent Specification No. 60-207581. The hollow fibers are present in the culture medium in the inner chamber of a fermenter. The inside of the hollow fibers is connected with the outside of the fermenter via a single pipe which serves not only for the supply but also for the removal of liquids. With the help of a pump, waste materials of the cells are sucked off through this pipe through the wall of the hollow fibres or, in a cycle chronologically separate therefrom, sterilized water, which does not harm the cells, is introduced. Nutrients for cells can possibly also be added to this sterilized water. In operation, pumping into the culture liquid and sucking out therefrom is carried out alternatingly. This cycle is repeated continuously. In order to avoid the disadvantages of this discontinuous method of operation, there is preferably used an even number of hollow fibre bundles which are operated alternatingly, i.e. while sucking off from the culture medium through one half of the hollow fibre bundles, liquid is introduced through the other half of the fibre bundles. This process is comparatively laborious and involves the danger that the hollow fibres are damaged by the continuously alternating pressure loading from one side to the other.
Another novel technique involves the enclosure of the cells in spheroidal microbodies made of a semipermeable membrane material. This is indicated in the cited article as the sole new process for the culturing of suspension cells. It leads to an increase of the cell density in the small spheroidal bodies which, in turn, results in an increase of the product yield. The harvesting of the cells is simple because the spheroidal bodies settle out due to gravity, whereas individual cells must, as a rule, be centrifuged. These advantages are countered by the very high costs for the encapsulation of the cells. Furthermore, the supply of oxygen to the cells is limited which, in turn, reduces the success of the culturing.


An organic electroluminescence display device is provided in which circuit components can be installed at a high density and which can reduce power consumption. The organic electroluminescence display device of the present invention comprises a display part including a first display area including a plurality of first pixels and a second display area including a plurality of second pixels, and a switch unit formed from a plurality of transistors and switching between display in the first display area and display in the second display area. The switch unit does not drive the plurality of second pixels during a frame time period for driving the plurality of first pixels in the display part and drives the plurality of second pixels during a vertical retrace time period in which the plurality of first pixels are not driven in the display part.

In recent years, the development of organic electroluminescence display devices which use organic electroluminescence materials in light emitting elements (organic electroluminescence devices) of a display part has become particularly active. Unlike liquid crystal display devices and the like, organic electroluminescence display devices realize a display by making organic electroluminescence material emit light and are thus known as self-luminous type display devices which can be used in mobile terminal devices such as smartphones for example.
In addition to the main image display area in mobile terminal devices such as smartphones, various components such as microphones, a camera, light modulation sensors or proximity sensors and the like are being installed with increase in functionality of such devices. While there is demand for an expansion of the main image display area, there is also demand for a decrease in edge periphery regions except the main image display area and high density of components to be installed.
In mobile terminal devices such as smartphones, a configuration is known which flashes an icon section which notifies a user of a received email or which functions as a touch button by using LEDs as shown in FIG. 1 (a) for example. In this case, as is shown in FIG. 1(b), apart from a data signal for displaying a main image output from a CPU to an OLED control IC, a signal for driving the LEDs of the icon section is output from the CPU to an LED control IC via a serial interface, and since the LED control IC is required to be installed in addition to the OLED control IC, high density is obstructed.
As is shown in FIG. 2 (a), there are configurations for expanding display areas using organic electroluminescence devices, not only a main display area but also as far as an icon section in order to achieve high density when installing circuit components in a mobile terminal device such as a smartphone. In this case, as is shown in FIG. 2 (b), an icon section signal together with a data signal is output to the OLED control IC via the serial interface. However, the load on a signal line is increased, the driving frequency increases and power consumption is increased due to the need to increase the number of signal lines for transmitting data.
The present invention is arrived at in view of the problems described above and aims to provide an organic electroluminescence display device which can be installed with circuit components at a high density and can reduce power consumption.

Organic electroluminescence display device


An interactive contest system is provided which permits competition among a plurality of remote participants. The system includes a central controller, storage devices for storing a Contest Roster from which each participant selects a team roster, a plurality of Touch-Tone.TM. telephones linked to the controller, and a publication such as a newspaper distributed to all participants. Each participant's team roster is evaluated on a periodic basis according to a formula for calculating each member's score employing a database of variable performance statistics which reflect the roster members' actual performances. Team roster totals are compared for discrete periods of competition to determine which participants have accumulated the highest score.

This invention relates to contests, and more particularly to an interactive sports contest system which allows remotely located participants to compete by optimizing the performance of their team rosters through the selection and trading of players.
Professional or college sports support a broad range of secondary competitions ranging from betting on the outcome of particular games to betting on a particular performance of a given player. Contests based upon player performances include the fantasy sports leagues such as fantasy baseball and fantasy football. In the fantasy sports leagues, sometimes called "rotisserie leagues", participants assume the position of an owner of an imaginary team. Prior to the beginning of a professional sport season, the owners conduct a "draft" of professional athletes to fill the roster of their team. As the imaginary teams usually employ the actual player positions in the sport, spots on the rosters are filled with players who play the particular position.
The drafting of players may take a variety of forms, including a bidding draft and a rotation draft. In the bidding draft, each owner is initially provided with a specific bankroll of bidding units which may be used to bid against other owners in an attempt to obtain a specific player. Alternatively, in the rotation draft, the owners determine an order of selection, and proceed through a number of rounds to fill out the rosters. However, under either draft structure, once a player has been drafted by an owner, that player is no longer available to other owners. Therefore, each owner must reprioritize the available players throughout the draft process. As in the professional sports leagues, the owners may trade players during the contest. Typically, after the draft, and throughout the season, the trades are made between owners, and between the players not selected in the initial draft. The teams in a fantasy sports league typically accumulate a "won-lost" record by competing head to head against each of the other teams in the league. In a "game" between two teams, the team whose players performed better in the previous week is declared the winner. Typically, each team competes on the cumulative statistics of the drafted players.
Other contests based upon sporting events have included officiating a given contest, as disclosed in the patent to Tovar (U.S. Pat. No. 4,722,526). Tovar discloses a contest based upon the signaling of infractions of the rules during a live sporting event. The infractions as perceived by the participants are compared to the actual calls made by an official, or referee of the game. The first participant to signal the occurrence of an infraction, that the official also signals, is awarded multiple points, while subsequent participants to signal the infraction are awarded a lesser number of points. The individual scores of the participants are accumulated, and the one having the highest score at the end of the sporting event is declared the winner.
Another game which may be played in conjunction with a sporting event is disclosed in Fascenda (U.S. Pat. No. 4,592,546). Fascenda discloses a game of skill playable by several remote participants in conjunction with a live sporting event, such as a televised football game. The Fascenda disclosure requires participants to predict a future variable of the live sporting event, wherein the participant's prediction is stored over the life of the live event. Subsequent to the live event, the participant's accumulated predictions are processed and compared to the actual occurrences of the game. The winner is the viewer most accurately predicting the events throughout the live sporting event.
These previous contests are really limited to participants that have an in-depth understanding of the relevant sport. In addition, the drafting of the fantasy sports leagues does not permit interactive competition by a large number of participants. Also, some interactive systems require the remote participants to use specialized equipment such as a transmitter/receiver used to interact while the sporting event is being played. When special equipment is required, the availability of the contest is further limited. In addition, the draft in the fantasy sports leagues requires at least one collective meeting of all the participants during the course of the contest. The necessity of these meetings makes it difficult for remote participants to compete.
Therefore, a need exists for a sports contest which provides interactive competition among a plurality of remote participants. There is a need for a contest in which participation does not require specialized equipment in order to enter or compete. In addition, a need exists for an interactive competition which does not hinge upon the simultaneous monitoring of a specific live event. There is also a need for an interactive competition which does not require a slavish time commitment by the participants to a predetermined professional sports schedule. A further need exists for an interactive sports contest which provides a periodic incentive for the application of skill and foresight.


A pull-start engine includes a crankcase unit, a pull-start unit, a gearbox unit, and a lubricating unit. The crankcase unit includes a crankcase and a crankshaft. The gearbox unit includes a gearbox and a drive shaft. The pull-start unit is sleeved fixedly on the crankshaft. A surrounding wall of the pull-start unit has an inner wall surface formed with an annular inner slot communicated with a lubricant passage in the crankshaft, an outer wall surface formed with a through hole communicated with the inner slot, and two annular flanges flanking the through hole so as to define an annular outer slot therebetween. The lubricating unit includes an entrance passage formed in the crankcase and communicated with the outer slot, and a connecting passage formed in the crankcase and the gearbox and communicated with the outer slot and a lubricant passage in the drive shaft.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a pull-start engine, and more particularly to a pull-start engine that includes a lubricating unit.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional pull-start engine includes a crankcase unit 11, a pull-start unit 12, a gearbox unit 13, a first conduit unit 14, a second conduit unit 14′, and a starter motor 15. Normally, the engine is started by means of the starter motor 15. When a battery unit (not shown) for providing electricity to the starter motor 15 is fully discharged, or when the starter motor 15 malfunctions, the pull-start unit 12 can be used to start the engine.
The crankcase unit 11 includes a crankcase 111, and a crankshaft 112 journalled within the crankcase 111 and formed with a lubricant passage 113 that permits a lubricant to flow therein for lubricating and dissipating heat from the crankshaft 112.
The pull-start unit 12 is disposed rotatably on the crankcase 111, and is operable to rotate the crankshaft 112 to thereby start the engine. A surrounding wall 121 of the pull-start unit 12 is sleeved fixedly on an end of the crankshaft 112 of the crankcase unit 11.
The gearbox unit 13 includes a gearbox 131 connected fixedly to the crankcase 111 of the crankcase unit 11, and a drive shaft 132 journalled within the gearbox 131. The drive shaft 132 is formed with a lubricant passage 133 that is communicated with the second conduit unit 14′ and that permits the lubricant to flow therein for lubricating and dissipating heat from the drive shaft 132.
The first conduit unit 14 is disposed in the crankcase unit 11. The lubricant is fed into one end portion of the lubricant passage 113 in the crankshaft 112 via the first conduit unit 14, and then flows from the other end portion of the lubricant passage 113 in the crankshaft 112 into the lubricant passage 133 in the drive shaft 132 via the second conduit unit 14′.
As a result, a significant amount of time is necessary for the lubricant to reach the lubricant passage 133 in the drive shaft 132. Furthermore, since heat is transferred from the crankshaft 112 to the lubricant during flow of the lubricant in the lubricant passage 113 in the crankshaft 112, when the lubricant reaches the lubricant passage 133 in the drive shaft 132, the temperature of the lubricant is high, thereby reducing the heat dissipating effect.

Pull-start engine with a lubricating unit


Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communication between a PDU and one or more devices within a limited communications range are described. A power distribution unit may be provided with a wireless communications module that may operate to communicate with user devices within a relatively close proximity. The wireless communications module may provide information reporting and may, in some examples, provide a user of the user device with configuration and other command capabilities.

A conventional Power Distribution Unit (PDU) is an assembly of electrical outlets (also called receptacles) that receive electrical power from a source and distribute the electrical power to one or more separate electronic appliances. Each such unit has one or more power cords plugged in to one or more of the outlets. PDUs also have power cords that can be directly hard wired to a power source or may use a traditional plug and receptacle connection. PDUs are used in many applications and settings such as, for example, in or on electronic equipment racks. One or more PDUs are commonly located in an equipment rack (or other cabinet), and may be installed together with other devices connected to the PDU such as environmental monitors, temperature and humidity sensors, fuse modules, or communications modules that may be external to or contained within the PDU housing. A PDU that is mountable in an equipment rack or cabinet may sometimes be referred to as a Cabinet PDU, or "CDU" for short.
A common use of PDUs is supplying operating power for electrical equipment in computing facilities, such as data centers or server farms. Such computing facilities may include electronic equipment racks that comprise rectangular or box-shaped housings sometimes referred to as a cabinet or a rack and associated components for mounting equipment, associated communications cables, and associated power distribution cables. Electronic equipment may be mounted in such racks so that the various electronic devices are aligned vertically one on top of the other in the rack. One or more PDUs may be used to provide power to the electronic equipment. Multiple racks may be oriented side-by-side, with each containing numerous electronic components and having substantial quantities of associated component wiring located both within and outside of the area occupied by the racks. Such racks commonly support equipment that is used in a computing network for an enterprise, referred to as an enterprise network.
As mentioned, many equipment racks may be located in a data center or server farm, each rack having one or more associated PDUs. One or more such data centers may serve as data communication hubs for an enterprise. Furthermore, many PDUs include network connections that provide for remote control and/or monitoring of the PDUs. Such PDUs may include power control relays that may be actuated by a remote user to interrupt power to one or more of the outputs of a PDU. Furthermore, such PDUs may include the ability to report information related to the PDU to a user or system located remotely from the PDU. For example, a PDU may report a total amount of power being provided by the PDU to a power management system, which may monitor such information and provide such information to one or more users of the power management system, such as network administrators. PDUs may monitor one or more of several different parameters related to the power provided through the PDU, such as current, voltage, and/or some other power-related parameter. Many PDUs have local displays that may be used to provide information to a user. In some cases, additional information and/or functionality not available through the local display may be desired for a user of a user device (or smart device) that is located adjacent to the PDU. Additionally, in some wireless communications environments, wireless devices broadcast network information to facilitate discovery. Accordingly, a user device that wants to connect to a particular PDU needs to know the network identification information associated with that PDU to establish communications. Unfortunately, identifying a particular PDU from any number of PDUs in a datacenter based solely on broadcasted network information can be an arduous task.
Furthermore, in one traditional system, information from one or more PDUs may be transmitted wirelessly to a gateway that may collect PDU information and provide such information to a user, such as an operations user in a data center. Such systems may include an RF tag that is coupled with a serial port of a PDU, for example, and may receive information from a PDU and transmit the information wirelessly to the gateway. Such a system, however, does not provide a user adjacent to a PDU with the ability to perform any configuration or related functions with a PDU, and does not provide capability to provide interactions between a user of a device and a PDU. An example of a system is an RF tag and related system provided by RF Code of Austin Tex.

Wireless communications capable power distribution unit and techniques for communicating therewith


There are provided an injection molding system, a computer program, a method of injection molding, and an injection molding machine capable of performing precise temperature control of a mold even when there is a delay in temperature increase of the mold in heat supply with a heating medium. The temperature control is performed so that temperatures of a fixed mold and a movable mold are maintained between an upper limit TU and a lower limit TL of a predetermined temperature range after start of injection of resin during an injection molding cycle. The temperature control of the fixed mold and the movable mold is performed only by switching ON/OFF supply of the heating medium, and cooling with a cooling medium is not performed. In a process of cooling the resin, the temperature control is performed so that the temperatures of the fixed mold and the movable mold are maintained between an upper limit TUa and a lower limit TLa of a temperature range effective for resin annealing by stop of supply of the cooling medium and the supply and stop of the heating medium.

When a temperature of a mold is low in an injection filling step of an injection molding machine, a surface of molten resin filled in a cavity of the mold is rapidly solidified. In this case, a cavity surface of the mold may be insufficiently transferred to a molded product, and a defect referred to as a weld line or a silver streak may occur on a molded product surface.
In order to prevent the defect, a molding method has been proposed in which a heating medium is supplied to a medium passage of a mold during a time between mold opening and completion of resin filling, and a cooling medium is supplied during a time between the completion of resin filling and mold opening in a series of steps including injection filling, pressure retention, cooling, and mold opening and closing. Thus, molten resin is filled in a mold previously heated to a temperature equal to or higher than a thermal deformation temperature of resin to delay solidification of a resin surface, and after the resin filling, the mold can be cooled to a temperature equal to or lower than a glass transition temperature or the thermal deformation temperature of resin before mold opening, thereby preventing the above described defect.
However, taking a long pressure retaining time for a thick molded product or the like may cause a molding defect such as a sink mark if a temperature of a mold is reduced during pressure retention after completion of injection and cooling and solidification of the molded product proceed. Also, increasing a heating temperature of the mold to increase the time for pressure retention may increase a cooling time to reduce productivity and waste heating energy consumed. Further, a low heating temperature of the mold cannot provide a sufficient pressure retaining time.
Some molded products are molded from crystalline resin by injection molding. The crystalline resin is resin crystallized during injection molding. The crystalline resin includes resin with high crystallization speed such as polypropylene or polyethylene and resin with low crystallization speed such as polylactic acid. The crystalline resin can be increased in the degree of crystallization and thus increased in strength, and can be applied to a functional component. Thus, a molding method for increasing the degree of crystallization is much needed.
However, for the crystalline resin with low crystallization speed, the resin sometimes cannot be sufficiently crystallized during injection molding, and temperature control during injection molding has been improved to ensure crystallization (for example, see Patent Document 1).
In the technique described in Patent Document 1, crystallization of crystalline resin is more efficiently performed during temperature increase than temperature decrease, and thus the temperature is reduced to a temperature range or lower where the crystalline resin is crystallized and then the temperature is again increased to promote crystallization of the crystalline resin.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.

Injection molding system, computer program, method of injection molding, and injection molding machine

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Plastics Technology Co., Ltd.


Target mounting apparatus for use in a conventional physical vapor deposition system includes a target assembly, a source mounting plate, means for removably mounting the target assembly on the source mounting plate, and a keying system for preventing mounting of a target assembly which is incompatible with the deposition process intended to be carried out. The keying system includes a male portion formed on either the target assembly or the source mounting plate, and a female portion formed on the other of the target assembly and the source mounting plate. Keying of the target assembly to the source mounting plate is achieved by either forming the male and female portions with unique, mating cross sectional shapes, or by varying the spatial orientation or alignment of the male and female portions. In an alternate embodiment, a key pin is positionable in any of a plurality of positions on the source mounting plate, respectively corresponding to differing target assemblies. A target assembly can only be mounted on the source mounting plate when the key pin is in a corresponding correct position, thus acting as a positive reminder to the equipment operator to install the correct target assembly for the process to be carried out.

Physical vapor deposition (PVD) is a frequently used processing technique in which a metal is deposited onto a substrate. The most common forms of PVD are evaporation, e-beam evaporation, plasma spray deposition, and sputtering. Evaporation and e-beam evaporation were used extensively in the manufacture of earlier generations of medium and large scale integrated circuits, but have since been replaced by sputtering, in which semiconductor wafers are produced by the deposition or "sputtering" of a metallic layer on the surface of a silicon wafer.
Sputtering possesses a number of advantages over other types of PVD processes, including relatively high deposition rates, the ability to deposit and maintain complex alloy compositions, the ability to deposit high temperature and refractory metals, the ability to maintain well-controlled, uniform deposition on large wafers, and the capability in multi-chamber systems to clean the contact before depositing metal.
In a sputtering process, inert gas particles are first ionized in an electrical field to produce a gas plasma within a sealed deposition chamber. The ionized particles are then directed toward a source or target where the energy of these gas particles physically dislodges, or "sputters" off, atoms of the metallic source material.
In a typical PVD process chamber, major components include a stainless steel chamber that is certified vacuum-tight with a helium leak detector, a pumping capacity that is capable of reducing the chamber pressure to about 10.sup.-6 Torr or below, pressure gauges, a sputter source or target, a power supply, and a wafer holder. The sputter source and wafer holder are normally positioned facing each other. The target may be, for example, an aluminum (Al) or titanium (Ti) disc used as the sputter source for the process. The target has different sizes, for instance, a 13-inch (330 mm) target is normally used for processing an 8-inch (200 mm) wafers. The target is bonded to a backing plate and has a life expectancy depending upon the power consumption of the process and the target material used.
In recent years, more stringent requirements of film quality and increasing wafer sizes have driven the manufacturing technology away from very large batch systems toward single-wafer processing system. Many integrated process systems that combine several process technologies in a single machine are becoming available in the marketplace. In such integrated process systems, a wafer can be transported from one single-wafer process chamber or module to another through a central transfer chamber without breaking vacuum. Consequently, much of the modern processing equipment is being designed for single-wafer use in multi-chamber clustered integrated processing systems.
In a typical multi-chamber clustered integrated processing system for PVD, thin or thick metal or barrier metal films can be deposited on silicon wafers of various sizes. For instance, four PVD process chambers can be connected to a transfer chamber which is then connected to other chambers such as a pre-clean chamber, a cool down chamber, a buffer chamber for wafer handling, and a load-lock.
PVD systems of the type described above are often used to carry out different kinds of processes, i.e., different types of metals are deposited onto different kinds of substrates. Consequently, when switching between different processes, it is typically necessary to purge and clean the deposition chamber, and change target sources so that a different metal can be deposited. This presents a number of problems in assuring that the correct target material is used in the intended deposition process. When there is a change to a different deposition step or process, it may be necessary to change the target material so that the target material being deposited is properly matched to the step or process.
The problem of installing a target assembly with the correct target materials is compounded by the fact that different target materials possess essentially the same physical characteristics, thus making it difficult, and sometimes impossible for an operator to distinguish between target materials. The similarity in appearance between target materials sometimes results in the incorrect target assembly being installed on the source mounting plate, i.e., the target material is incompatible or incorrect with the process or step to be carried out.
The present invention is intended to overcome each of the deficiencies of the prior art mentioned above.
It is therefore an important object of the present invention to provide a target mounting apparatus which eliminates or reduces a possibility of installing an incorrect or unintended target assembly in a PVD process chamber.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a target mounting apparatus which provides a reminder to the equipment operator that a target assembly possessing a specific type of target material must be installed prior to commencement of the next deposition process.
Another object of the present invention is to provide target mounting apparatus that includes physical indicia which acts as positive identification of the target material carried on a particular target assembly.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide target mounting apparatus as aforesaid possessing a simple keying arrangement in which target assemblies are physically keyed to a mounting plate, consistent with the deposition process desired to be carried out.
These, and further objects and advantages of the present invention will be made clear or will become apparent during the course of the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Target mounting apparatus for vapor deposition system

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd.


A dispensing assembly wall bracket for mounting an operable dispensing assembly to an essentially vertical surface. The bracket includes a base fixable to the vertical surface, and defining a plane which is substantially parallel to the vertical surface when the base is fixed thereto. A fitting is fixed to the base, and has an inlet and an outlet. The inlet defines an axis substantially parallel to the plane, and the outlet defines an axis which intersects the inlet axis. At least one support arm extends from the base, and has a proximal end fixed to the base and a distal end. A receptacle is supported by the support arm distal end, and aligned with the outlet axis, wherein a dispensing assembly having an inlet received in the receptacle is positioned for connecting the dispensing assembly inlet to the fitting outlet.

Not Applicable.
Not Applicable.
The present invention relates to wall brackets, and more particularly to wall brackets for use with a fluid dispensing assembly.
Dispensing assemblies which dispense chemical concentrates mixed with water typically include a container containing the concentrate and a valve assembly fixed to the bottle. Pressurized water, for example supplied by a hose, connected to the valve assembly flows through the valve assembly, and draws the concentrate into the valve assembly which mixes the water and concentrate in a predetermined ratio. The stream of water and concentrate exits the valve assembly through a nozzle which can be designed for spraying a mist of the mixture into the atmosphere, directing the mixture into another container, and the like.
The dispensing assembly is often used to fill another container with the mixture. Filling another container often requires lifting the dispensing assembly, or attaching tubing, or another hose, to the dispensing assembly spout, such that the mixture exiting the valve assembly is directed into the other container. Therefore, it is desirable to maintain the operable dispensing assembly a distance above the floor for ease of operation.
A facility may also have a plurality of dispensing assemblies which are used to fill buckets and other containers with the diluted mixture. If the plurality of dispensing assemblies are each connected to a source of water by a separate hose, the hoses can get tangled and crimped which degrades the operation of the affected dispensing assembly. Therefore, a need exists for a means to supply a plurality of dispensing assemblies in an orderly fashion.
The present invention provides a dispensing assembly wall bracket for mounting an operable dispensing assembly to an essentially vertical surface. The bracket includes a base fixable to the vertical surface, and defining a plane which is substantially parallel to the vertical surface when the base is fixed thereto. A fitting is fixed to the base, and has an inlet and an outlet. The inlet defines an axis substantially parallel to the plane, and the outlet defines an axis which intersects the inlet axis. At least one support arm extends from the base, and has a proximal end fixed to the base and a distal end. A receptacle is supported by the support arm distal end, and aligned with the outlet axis, wherein a dispensing assembly having an inlet received in the receptacle is positioned for connecting the dispensing assembly inlet to the fitting outlet.
A general objective of the present invention is to provide a wall bracket which supports a dispensing assembly which is operable while mounted on the bracket. This objective is accomplished by providing a wall bracket which includes at least one support arm which can support the dispensing assembly and supplies a fitting for connecting the dispensing assembly to a fluid source for dispensing assembly operation.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a wall bracket which is easily connectable to a dispensing assembly. This objective is accomplished by providing a wall bracket with a receptacle which guides a portion of the dispensing assembly for connecting the dispensing assembly to a fluid source.
Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide an assembly which can be connected in series to provide a plurality of operable dispensing assemblies. This objective is accomplished in some embodiments by providing an additional outlet for connecting to another wall bracket.
This and still other objectives and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the description which follows. In the detailed description below, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in reference to the accompanying drawings. These embodiments do not represent the full scope of the invention. Rather the invention may be employed in other embodiments. Reference should therefore be made to the claims herein for interpreting the breadth of the invention.


[Object] To cause the transmission efficiency of the entire system to be significantly improved.

Wireless access schemes and wireless networks of cellular mobile communication (hereinafter also referred to as Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), LTE-Advanced Pro (LTE-A Pro), New Radio (NR), New Radio Access Technology (NRAT), Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (EUTRA), or Further EUTRA (FEUTRA)) are under review in 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). Further, in the following description, LTE includes LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, and EUTRA, and NR includes NRAT and FEUTRA. In LTE and NR, a base station device (base station) is also referred to as an evolved Node B (eNodeB) in LTE, as gNode B in NR, and a terminal device (a mobile station, a mobile station device, or a terminal) is also referred to as a user equipment (UE). LTE and NR are cellular communication systems in which a plurality of areas covered by a base station device is arranged in a cell form. A single base station device may manage a plurality of cells.
NR is a different Radio Access Technology (RAT) from LTE as a wireless access scheme of the next generation of LTE. NR is an access technology capable of handling various use cases including Enhanced Mobile broadband (eMBB), Massive Machine Type Communications (mMTC), and ultra reliable and Low Latency Communications (URLLC). NR is reviewed for the purpose of a technology framework corresponding to use scenarios, request conditions, placement scenarios, and the like in such use cases. The details of the scenarios or request conditions of NR are disclosed in Non-Patent Literature 1.
Next, signal waveform in a wireless communication system such as LTE or NR will be described. In LTE, cyclic prefix-orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (CP-OFDM) is used in downlink communication, and single carrier-frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) is used in uplink communication. In NR CP-OFDM is used in downlink communication, and CP-OFDM and SC-FDMA are both supported in uplink communication. The details of the signal waveform of the uplink communication in NR are disclosed in Non-Patent Literature 2.

Terminal device, base station device and communication method

Abstract: [Solution] A terminal device configured to perform communication with a base station device, including: a wireless transmitting unit configured to transmit an uplink channel using a first signal waveform or a second signal waveform on the basis of control information notified by the base station device. The first signal waveform is a multicarrier signal, and the second signal waveform is a single carrier signal.


A brake control apparatus includes a fluid pressure sensor to sense an actual master cylinder pressure, a pump to suck a brake fluid from the master cylinder through a hydraulic circuit connecting the master cylinder to a wheel cylinder and a controller to perform a brake assist control to supply a discharge pressure of the pump to the wheel cylinder in accordance with the sensed actual master cylinder pressure signal. The controller calculates a modified master cylinder pressure by modifying the actual master cylinder pressure in accordance with an operating condition of the pump, calculates a base pressure in accordance with a variation of the modified master cylinder pressure, and calculates a target wheel cylinder pressure in accordance with the base pressure, to control a braking force by controlling an actual wheel cylinder pressure of the wheel cylinder in accordance with the target wheel cylinder pressure.

The present invention relates to apparatus and/or process for controlling a braking force for brake assistance.
A brake assist control system is arranged to produce a braking force greater than a braking force corresponding to a driver's brake operation, by supplying, to a wheel cylinder, a brake fluid sucked from a master cylinder with a pump. During the brake assist control, the brake fluid is drained from the master cylinder by the pump, and hence the output signal of a fluid pressure sensor for sensing the master cylinder pressure does not represent a driver's brake operation quantity properly. Therefore, a driver's brake operation quantity can not be reflected adequately in a target wheel cylinder pressure in a braking force control system setting the target wheel cylinder pressure from the sensor signal of the fluid pressure sensor without using a brake stroke sensor for sensing a driver's brake operation quantity directly.
Therefore, in order to reflect a driver's brake operation in a brake assist control, a braking force control system proposed in a Published Japanese Patent Specification Publication No. 11-20638 is arranged to modify the output signal of a fluid pressure sensor with a correction quantity corresponding to a decrease of the master cylinder pressure (represented by the output signal) not attributable to the driver's brake operation.


A controller executes temperature rise control on a catalyst device by retarding ignition timing that is set based on engine operating conditions. The controller reaches a diagnosis that the temperature rise control is normal if an advance angle side accumulated time for which the ignition timing is set exceeding a threshold value to an advance angle side during execution of the temperature rise control is less than an accumulated time determination value. When the advance angle side accumulated time is greater than or equal to the accumulated time determination value, the controller reaches a diagnosis that the temperature rise control has an anomaly.

The present invention relates to an internal combustion engine controller designed to raise the temperature of a catalyst device by retarding ignition timing.
A catalyst device used in an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine for purifying exhaust gas demonstrates its purification function when the temperature is raised to a predetermined activation temperature. Therefore, when the temperature of the catalyst device is low such as when the engine is started, temperature rise control is performed on the catalyst device by retarding the ignition timing to raise the exhaust gas temperature so that the catalyst device is activated rapidly.
To diagnose whether or not a command value that is set by an ignition timing controller is set to an appropriate value for warming up the catalyst device, that is, to determine whether or not the temperature rise control of the catalyst device is actually being carried out, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication 2001-132519 describes an example of an apparatus that monitors whether or not an ignition timing set to a predetermined timing when warming up a catalyst device is within a predetermined range.
In the apparatus described in the above patent publication, the temperature rise control is performed using a crankshaft angle value, which indicates the ignition timing. This may lead to the problems described below.
The ignition timing is set basically in correspondence with engine operating conditions. Thus, the crankshaft angle, which indicates the ignition timing, may temporarily assume a value outside the predetermined range even if the temperature rise control is being executed. If a sufficient period is ensured for retarding the ignition timing during the temperature rise control, the temperature of the catalyst device is sufficiently raised even if the amount of retardation of the ignition timing temporarily falls below the required level. However, the apparatus described in the above patent publication may erroneously diagnose that there is an anomaly in the temperature rise control due to temporary fluctuation of ignition timing even though the temperature of the catalyst device is being raised sufficiently by the temperature rise control.

Controller for an internal combustion engine


A technique efficiently notifies EIGRP neighbors when destroying adjacencies in a computer network. A goodbye notification packet is provided that enables an EIGRP router to inform one or more of its neighbors of its intention to destroy their existing adjacencies. The goodbye notification packet comprises an EIGRP packet header with variable-length fields embodied as an appended goodbye attribute. The appended goodbye attribute is illustratively tagged according to a TLV encoding format that defines a new type (T) field called “a goodbye” having a predetermined type that distinguishes it from a conventional EIGRP Hello packet. A value (V) field of information conveyed within the goodbye attribute contains a list of neighbor (peer) identifiers (IDs). The peer IDs on this list instruct those neighbor routers to “go away” so that their adjacencies can be destroyed.

A computer network is a geographically distributed collection of interconnected communication links and sub-networks (subnets) for transporting data between nodes, such as computers. Many types of computer networks are available, with the types ranging from local area networks (LANs) to wide area networks (WANs). A LAN is an example of a subnet that provides relatively short distance communication among the interconnected nodes, whereas a WAN enables long distance communication over links provided by public or private telecommunications facilities. The nodes typically communicate by exchanging discrete frames or packets of data according to predefined protocols. In this context, a protocol consists of a set of rules defining how the nodes interact with each other.
Computer networks may be further interconnected by an intermediate node, called a router, to extend the effective "size" of each network. Since management of a large system of interconnect computer networks can prove burdensome, smaller groups of computer networks may be maintained as routing domains or autonomous systems. The networks within an autonomous system are typically coupled together by conventional intradomain routers. These routers manage communication among local networks within their domains and communicate with each other using an intradomain routing (or an interior gateway) protocol. An example of such a protocol is the Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP) described in Cisco TCP/IP Routing Professional Reference, 2nd Addition, Chapter 4, pgs. 104-108 (1999) and Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol.
The EIGRP protocol is a hybrid of distance vector and link state routing protocol technologies. A distance vector protocol computes a best path to a destination using distance ("cost" or hop count) and vector (the next hop) information. For EIGRP, the distance information is represented as a composite of available bandwidth, delay, load utilization and link reliability information that allows "fine tuning" of link characteristics to achieve optimal (or best) paths. Unlike most link state protocols that maintain information or "state" of the entire network topology, an EIGRP router only maintains state pertaining to reachable neighboring routers. As used herein, neighboring routers (or "neighbors") are two routers that have interfaces to a common network, wherein an interface is a connection between a router and one of its attached networks. The state of each neighbor is stored in a neighbor data structure of the EIGRP router.
An adjacency is a relationship formed between selected neighbors for the purpose of exchanging routing information and abstracting the network topology. One or more router adjacencies may be established over an interface. Adjacencies are generally established, maintained and destroyed through the use of a conventional Hello protocol. Broadly stated, the Hello protocol ensures that communication between neighbors is bi-directional by periodically sending Hello packets out all router interfaces. Two routers become neighbors when they see each other's Hello packets over the common network.
The EIGRP protocol includes a Neighbor Discovery process that routers use to dynamically learn of other routers on their directly attached networks. Routers also use this process to discover when their neighbors become unreachable or inoperative. The Neighbor Discovery process is achieved with low overhead by periodically sending small Hello packets at a rate called the "HelloInterval". The "HoldTime" is the amount of time, i.e., a multiple of the HelloInterval, that an EIGRP router will consider a neighbor alive without receiving a Hello packet. As long as the Hello packets are received from a neighbor within the HoldTime, the EIGRP router determines that the neighbor is alive and functioning; this, in turn, allows both neighbors to exchange (and update) routing information to thereby reach routing convergence. However, if the Hello packets are not received within the HoldTime, the router assumes that the neighbor no longer exists and "tears down" (destroys) the adjacency with the neighbor.
Often, it is desirable for a router to unilaterally decide to destroy an adjacency with its neighbor. In the case of a routing protocol that can maintain adjacencies over point-to-point interface connections, there may be electrical characteristics of the physical connection that disappear when the router "goes away" so that the neighbor can quickly detect that the router is gone. However, there are some point-to-point connection networks that do not provide electrical notification when a neighboring router disappears.
For a routing protocol that maintains adjacencies over multi-access interfaces, such as an Ethernet subnet interface, there are typically no electrical characteristics to inform the neighbors sharing that subnet that their neighboring router has disappeared. One way the router can inform the neighbors of its impending disappearance is to send an unreliable, "terminate" message over the multi-access interface indicating that the router is going away. Routing protocols that have unreliable (e.g., broadcast) capabilities can use this type of terminate mechanism to destroy adjacencies. Yet it is often undesirable to destroy all neighbor adjacencies using such an unreliable mechanism because there may be only a subset of adjacencies that needs terminating.
As noted, another conventional method of detecting neighbor (also referred to as "peer") loss and, subsequently, destroying an adjacency is "time-based" through the absence of communication with the neighbor for a predetermined period of time. As with the case of the EIGRP protocol, it can be assumed that the neighbor no longer exists after expiration of that time period. However, it is also undesirable to assume the delay/latency associated with waiting the entire predetermined period of time, such as the HoldTime, to detect peer loss in order to destroy an existing adjacency. Rather, it is desirable to promptly notify neighbors of an intention to destroy adjacencies so that the adjacencies can be quickly removed, thereby "speeding-up" routing convergence and improving network stability.

Technique for notifying EIGRP neighbors when destroying adjacencies in a computer network


A forward osmosis water treatment device may use a separation membrane including a polymer layer introduced with a functional group having an affinity for an osmosis draw solute present in an osmosis draw solution.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates to a separation membrane and a water treatment device including the separation membrane.
2. Description of the Related Art
In order to acquire fresh water or gray water from sea water, sewage, and waste water, floating or dissolved components should be removed in conformity with the standards for drinking water. At present, reverse osmosis is widely used as a water treatment method for desalinating or making gray water out of sea water or sewage and waste water.
According to the water treatment method using a reverse osmotic membrane, a pressure corresponding to an osmotic pressure caused by the dissolved component is applied to the raw water to separate a dissolved component, such as a base (NaCl), from water. For example, the concentration of the base dissolved in sea water ranges from about 30,000 to about 45,000 ppm and the osmotic pressure caused by the concentration ranges from about 20 to about 30 atm, and a pressure of about 20 to 30 atm or higher is applied to the raw water to produce fresh water from the raw water. Typically, energy of about 6 to about 10 kW is required to produce about 1 m3 of fresh water from sea water.
Recently, an energy recollection device has been developed and applied to save energy consumed for a reverse osmosis process, but in this case, about 3 kW or more of energy is required to drive a motor of a high-pressure pump to produce about 1 m3 of fresh water from sea water.
In order to resolve the problem, a water treatment process based on forward osmosis has recently been suggested as an alternative. The forward osmosis process is economical compared with the reverse osmosis process, because the forward osmosis process does not require pressure but uses a natural osmosis phenomenon. Therefore, researchers are actively studying development of the forward osmosis process.

Separation membrane and water treatment device including the same

IUCF-HYU (Industry-University Cooperation Foundation Hanyang University)


A sample solution is sent into a concentration column through a three-way joint and a three-way switching valve to trap and concentrate the sample components on the concentration column, followed by injecting the sample solution into an injector by operating a first dilution solvent pump. When a large volume of the sample solution is to be sent or when the sample solution has a high solvent strength, trapping and concentration on the concentration column may be facilitated by replacing the sample solvent with a second dilution solvent by allowing the second dilution solvent to flow into the three-way joint after setting the flow rate of the second dilution solvent from a second dilution solvent vessel to a prescribed flow rate using a second dilution solvent pump.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid chromatograph.
2. Description of the Related Art
A Liquid chromatograph involves little qualitative information. Accordingly, eluted components have been fractionated and subjected to qualitative analysis using other analytical instruments after optionally concentrating the eluate for correct identification and recognition of sample components.
While an analytical method in which the liquid chromatograph is used with on-line connection to another analytical instrument, such as a mass spectrometer, has been employed, most of the eluate has been split and discharged because the volume to be introduced into the other analytical instruments is limited. While a micro-liquid chromatograph using a column with a column inner diameter of 1 mm or less is effective for reducing the consumed solvent volume, a precise injection of the solvent with an injection volume of as small as 1 microliter or less is required.
However, it costs much labor for the liquid chromatograph to fractionate eluted components and inject them into a qualitative instrument, besides involving a risk of denaturation and loss of the sample components during the concentration process as well as mingling of foreign substances.
In addition, splitting of the eluate for on-line connection of the liquid chromatograph to another instrument such as the mass spectrometer may adversely affect quantitative analysis and sensitivity, although this method is effective for the analysis by the mass spectrometer.
Since the injected solution should form a band as narrow as possible for attaining high resolution among the chromatographic peaks, a large volume of the sample solution cannot be injected even when the sample concentration is low.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid chromatograph that is able to assay a sample after concentrating the sample solution containing low concentration of components.
The present invention provides a liquid chromatograph comprising a first solvent flow line for diluting a sample solution with a first dilution solvent pump via an injector and for sending the diluted sample solution, and an analytical line for flowing an elution solvent into a flow passageway connecting through an analytical column to a detector using a solvent pump. The first solvent flow line and the analytical line are connected to a switching valve, respectively. The switching valve comprises a concentration column, the concentration column being freely connected to the first solvent flow line and analytical line by switching the switching valve. A second solvent flow line for sending a dilution solvent with a second dilution solvent pump is connected by providing a joint between the injector and switching valve. The sample solution as used herein refers to a solution containing a sample.
In order to omit off-line fractionation and concentration processes that involve much labor, a micro-liquid chromatograph that enables the volume of split solvent to be reduced is utilized with on-line connection to another analytical instrument such as a mass spectrometer, wherein injection of a large volume of low concentration sample solution is enabled by providing a sample concentration step.
In addition, the mixing ratio between the solvents from the first dilution solvent pump and the second dilution solvent pump at the joint may be adjusted by controlling the flow rates of the first and second dilution solvent pumps, enabling the degree of dilution of the sample solution to be freely determined.
It is known in the liquid chromatograph that the solvent used for the sample solution may affect separation of the sample components. Therefore, the volume and composition of the injected solvent introduced into the analytical line should be modified to the preferable composition of the solvent upon analysis using the liquid chromatograph. Appropriate analytical conditions may be employed in the liquid chromatograph according to the present invention, because the solvent for the sample to be trapped on the concentration column, i.e., the solvent to be introduced into the analytical line, can be diluted or substituted with the dilution solution.
The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


A transmission allocation method is disclosed for a network node of a wireless communication system configured to communicate using an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) signal comprising sub-carriers in a frequency domain and a symbols in a time domain. The network node is associated with a network node bandwidth comprising a network node direct current (DC) sub-carrier. The network node is configured to communicate with a wireless communication device (WCD) associated with a WCD bandwidth comprising a WCD DC sub-carrier which is different from the network node DC sub-carrier. The method comprises acquiring, in relation to an upcoming communication between the network node and the WCD, at least one of an indication of a receiver DC frequency and an indication of a transmitter DC frequency, determining a transmission allocation for the upcoming communication based on the acquired indication(s), and performing communication based on the transmission allocation.

In OFDM, information is distributed on sub-carriers spread out along the transmission bandwidth (BW). By mathematical manipulation, the sub-carriers will appear to be orthogonal to each other, implying that one sub-carrier does not interfere with another. The sub-carriers in OFDM are typically represented in a baseband representation as ranging from a frequency equal to −BW/2 to a frequency equal to +BW/2, and one sub-carrier is typically defined at the zero frequency point of the baseband representation. When the baseband representation is up-converted to the carrier frequency of the OFDM communication, the frequency where the zero frequency point of the baseband representation ends up is termed the direct current (DC) frequency herein.
Imperfections that affect the DC frequency sub-carrier in the form of DC noise may be present in an OFDM transmitter (e.g. in the form of direct local oscillator (LO) leakage and/or a frequency offset in the baseband representation used to modulate the LO frequency) and/or in an OFDM receiver (e.g. in the form of analog DC imperfections that may occur in down-conversion and filtering processes).
The sub-carrier at the DC frequency, in which the DC noise presents itself, is orthogonal to the remaining sub-carriers. Hence, the DC noise does not affect the other sub-carriers.
Furthermore, the DC noise may to some degree be mitigated in the baseband. However, information that was transmitted on the DC sub-carrier may be severely affected by the DC noise and/or by the DC noise mitigation and may become indistinguishable from the DC sub-carrier noise at the OFDM receiver.
In Long Term Evolution (LTE)—a concept advocated by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP)—a User Equipment (UE) is assumed to either cover the whole carrier bandwidth or (for UE:s which only support a bandwidth lower than the carrier bandwidth) is assumed to have its communication signals centered in the carrier bandwidth. In the downlink (DL), the DC sub-carrier is omitted from transmission. Since the DC sub-carrier consequently does not contain any information, it may simply be discarded at the OFDM receiver.
New Radio (NR) is a wireless communication concept developed to, inter alia, provide more flexible solutions than LTE. NR is designed to suit a wide variety of communication needs; e.g. wideband enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), ultra-reliable low latency communications (URLLC), and narrowband massive machine type communications (mMTC) for the Internet of things (IoT). One approach to provide suitability for such varying needs is to allocate UE:s to different parts of the network spectrum (comprising one or more network bandwidths). For example, one eMBB UE may be allocated a wideband part of the network spectrum, an IoT device may only be capable of covering a small sub-band part of the network spectrum, and an URLLC device may be allocated a separate network bandwidth due to its very specific needs.
As a consequence of the flexibility of NR, the position of the DC frequency may differ between different devices connected to a network, and some or all of these positions may differ from the DC frequency of the network node. Furthermore, a frequency range scheduled for communication of data (allocated sub-carriers) during a certain communication to a UE may either coincide with the position of the DC frequency of the UE or not. Two examples of such scenarios are illustrated in FIG. 1.
FIG. 1(a) shows a position of the network DC frequency 101 which is centered in the network bandwidth 111, a position of the a UE DC frequency 102 which is centered in the UE bandwidth 112, and a scheduled frequency range 113. In the example of FIG. 1(a), the network DC frequency 101 differs from the UE DC frequency 102, the scheduled frequency range 113 comprises both the network DC frequency 101 and the UE DC frequency 102, and neither the network DC frequency 101 nor the UE DC frequency 102 is centered in the scheduled frequency range 113.
FIG. 1(b) shows a position of the network DC frequency 151 which is centered in the network bandwidth 161, a position of the a UE DC frequency 152 which is centered in the UE bandwidth 162, and a scheduled (allocated) frequency range 163. In the example of FIG. 1(b), the network DC frequency 151 differs from the UE DC frequency 152, and the scheduled frequency range 163 comprises neither the network DC frequency 151 nor the UE DC frequency 152.
The flexible frequency allocation for UE:s in NR leads to that a fixed DC sub-carrier cannot be defined that would apply to all UE:s (and the network node). Therefore, the solution to the problem of DC noise used in LTE (i.e. that the DC sub-carrier is omitted from transmission) is not applicable to NR, and NR defines that all sub-carriers of an allocation are used to convey data. Therefore, impaired receiver performance may be expected when the DC frequency of the receiver and/or the transmitter is included in the scheduled frequency range (compare with FIG. 1(a)).
Therefore, there is a need for approaches that decrease the impact of DC noise in such situations.


Methods, devices and systems are disclosed for chemically bonding antibiotics to selected substrate materials which are not dissolved in normal physiological processes so that high local concentrations can be achieved during the inflammatory response. The antibiotics will remain permanently bonded to the substrate material until an infection occurs which releases the antibiotic in high concentrations to help control the infection. The high local concentrations may be much higher than systemic toxic levels, and can never reach toxic levels because the local dose is much less than needed to reach systemic toxicity if completely dissolved.

Controlled release of antibiotics has been studied all around the world for use in both systemic and local applications. The rate of release from a carrier system for a wide variety of diseases or infections depends on many factors including carrier solubility, acid-base relationships, structure and porosity of the carrier, mixed carriers of different solubilities to control or extend release rates of the mixture, etc. These are all based on short term release that is usually on days or weeks of release, not on long term protection. Release typically starts at a high concentration and falls off exponentially with time and/or is parabolic with time. Bacteria are constantly evolving so some strains in the mixture will have lower minimum effective concentrations than others. At some point the concentration will fall below the therapeutic level such that those with the low minimum effective concentration will be inhibited but those with the higher minimum effective concentration will survive. The slow rate of antibiotic release below the lower minimum effective release concentration allows the most resistant strains to survive and multiply leading to the development of antibiotic resistant bacteria. High local concentrations of antibiotics are often used but their activity is gone as soon as they are dissipated.
All implants used in surgical repair under load-bearing conditions are walled off by the patient's foreign body response. Examples include, but are not limited to, metals such as 310-L stainless steel, cobalt chrome alloys, titanium alloys; aluminum oxide; polyethylene and polymethylmethacrylate. Local infections sometimes occur after surgery, either from sepsis during surgery or by localization of systemic infections after surgery. For example, Staphylococcus aureus may produce a biofilm on the surface of implants that acts as a barrier which prevents antibiotics at systemic levels from curing the infection. Endotoxins are released from Gram-negative bacteria when undergoing autolysis. The endotoxins invoke inflammatory response including local reduction of pH. Resorption of tissue often accompanies these infections.
Many infections associated with orthopedic implants which are difficult to treat systemically are classified as Gram-negative bacteria. They have a tough outer capsule that is resistant to antibiotic penetration. They can secrete cytokines and induce toxic immune responses such as endotoxins. They induce the tissue inflammatory response such as proliferation of monocytes, macrophages, fibroclasts, and osteoclasts that lysis proteins, connective tissue and bone by lowering the pH or by humoral components. This cause redness, swelling and pain and results in resorption of tissue, including bone.
Using orthopedic surgery as an example, but not to exclude other surgical procedures, joint replacements, such as knees or hips, are plagued by "deep infections" where a local infection occurs at the implant site that cannot be cured by systemic antibiotics. About 750,000 knee and hip implants are implanted each year in the United States. About 2% experience deep infection. These are very painful and are accompanied by inflammatory responses that can cause bone resorption and loosening of the implant. This requires removal of the implant, use of systemic antibiotics to cure the infection and allow healing that may require several months, followed by revision surgery to insert a new joint implant. Revision surgeries are more difficult than primary surgeries. There are many other examples such as infection accompanying an open fracture, osteomyelitis, spinal and oral facial surgery.
Other examples occur in dentistry. For example, root canals are required when a tooth becomes infected. If the root canal does not control the infection, the tooth must be removed. Crowns on teeth are cemented in place with luting cement. If the exposed cement at the margins is eroded and caries occurs under the crown, the crown must be removed, the caries damage repaired, a new restoration prepared, and a new crown placed. If periodontal disease occurs sufficient to require debridement of the tooth/or bone, local antibiotics are often administered to prevent re-infection. This may not be successful and the tooth may need to be removed. These examples show the need for a local antibiotic that will be released if infection occurs. There is an urgent need to prevent and/or control local infections in soft and hard tissues.
In studying the mechanisms of tissue response to implants, fluorescent labels may be used to analyze the healing process. Using bone as an example, not to exclude other applications, the fluorescent label is a dye that can be given at a specific time that is absorbed by the bone only at sites where new bone is forming. More than one label can be used at specific times. Then, when the specimen is recovered, sections can be cut from the site of interest and examined with a fluorescent microscope. Each color of fluorescent dye can be visualized so that the precise areas where new bone was forming at the time the dye was given can be mapped. And the spacing between each dye can be used to determine the rate that the bone was forming. This is a powerful tool for understanding bone formation and tissue response.
The tetracycline family of antibiotics is very extensive, all based on four fused hexagonal "Rings" in a linear array, generally in a linear planar construction. When tetracycline was introduced as an antibiotic in the 1940s, it was a wonder drug, broad spectrum to inhibit growth of many bacteria whether gram negative or gram positive, and even inhibited rickettsia diseases like Rocky Mountain Scarlet Fever. There were only about three variants but bacterial resistance developed. Many variations of tetracycline have been developed to improve performance. But the resistant strains have limited its use. The simplest form is shown in Diagram 1 as a planar molecule. The rings are labeled A B C D and the branches off the rings appear to be in the plane also. Actually, in the three dimensions the branches are kinked so that extensions off the A ring look like bent thumb and index fingers. The spacing is steric (correct geometry) for chelating a calcium ion (as though the ion was caught in the fingers grasp). This is held tightly as a strong chemical bond composed of steric, covalent and ionic components. When this happens the molecule is no longer effective as an antibiotic. The bond is difficult to break.
The original tetracycline was infused (welcomed into) bacteria cells where it interfered with the ribosomes that manufacture proteins for cell multiplication. Resistance by bacteria includes modifications that pump the tetracycline out of the cell before it can interfere with the protein manufacture; or modify the ribosome RNA to allow manufacture of proteins in the presence of tetracycline.

Ciprofloxacin is a member of the quinolone family of drugs. Early quinolones were not as effective as the fluoroquinolones. Ciprofloxacin is a second-generation fluoroquinolone antibiotic that had a wide spectrum of applications in clinical use in the 1980s and 1990s. In 2000 it was the fifth most commonly prescribed drug in the U.S. Increased resistance and the structure of the molecule (Diagram 2) allow many variants to be investigated. In general the improved drugs avoid some of the mechanisms for antibiotic resistance and research is still being conducted. There are now thousands of derivatives.
Ciprofloxacin prevents bacteria growth by targeting two essential bacterial enzymes, DNA gyrase and DNA topoisomerase IV that are essential to cell reproduction. The quinolones bond to aluminum ions by a chelating complex similar to the bonding of calcium ions to tetracycline described above. The bond is very stable and prevents antibiotic activity.

Systems and methods of using chemically bound antibiotics activated by infections