Described is novel apparatus for rendering a watercraft propulsion system universal. One embodiment of the invention comprises a rotary shaft; a propeller detachably attached to one end of the rotary shaft, the other end of the rotary shaft being configured for detachable and either direct or indirect connection to, and rotational relationship with, a drive shaft of the engine; a plate which is directly or indirectly pivotally attached to a stern portion of the watercraft and which, during normal operation, is disposed in a substantially horizontal plane above the propeller, the plane of the plate traversing the rotary shaft; and a hollow heat-conductive loop integral with or connected to the apparatus and connected to the cooling system for circulating a flow of the fluid from the cooling system through the loop and thence back to the cooling system, the loop being adapted to be disposed in thermally-conductive heat exchange contact with the water when the watercraft is being propelled by the engine. Preferably, during normal operation, the plate is substantially disposed in a plane parallel with, but no lower than, the bottom of the watercraft. The apparatus may be detachably and pivotally attached to the stern of the watercraft at a front side of the apparatus opposite the propeller, and may be adapted to permit vertical and lateral control of a rear side of the apparatus proximate to the propeller by an operator of the watercraft. Complete universal propulsion systems and universal watercraft apparatus are also described.

Propulsion systems powered by internal combustion engines are commonly used on boats and other watercraft. Typically, these systems have been designed for use either in deep water conditions or shallow water conditions, but not both. Most often, such propulsion systems are not adapted for conditions in which floating debris is suspended in the surrounding water. Regardless of the type of use which is intended, many of these systems employ a power source which is connected to a drive shaft which, in turn, is connected to a propeller in physical contact with the water. Variations of this typical configuration include, for example, systems which employ forced water (i.e., water jet propulsion) or forced air (i.e., air propulsion) without the use of a propeller in physical contact with the water. As one might expect, different advantages are presented by the various system configurations. A principal means of assessing a particular propulsion system is its versatility in varying water conditions. For example, deep, clean bodies of water present different operating conditions for a propulsion system as compared to bodies of water which are partially or substantially shallow, or bodies of water in which vegetation or other debris may be suspended. Systems which employ a fixed propeller which cannot be removed from the water during operation are not compatible with use in shallow waters, since the probabilities of watercraft grounding and/or damage to the propeller are greater. Those which employ water jet propulsion are also vulnerable under such conditions or in conditions where vegetation or other debris is suspended in the water, since these systems typically require a water intake port which can become clogged in such circumstances, thereby causing the system to fail. Even air boats or other craft which are propelled by large rotating fans powered by internal combustion engines present disadvantages for the user because of, for example, increased noise, excessive size (as it affects space available on the watercraft), increased danger (due to the large rotating blades), and significant limitations on reversing the direction of propulsion. Moreover, such air boat configurations typically are not stable enough for proper functioning in deep water conditions.
Regardless of the propulsion system, the internal combustion engine component generates significant heat during operation, and such heat in large part must be transferred away for the engine to perform properly. In marine applications, including both fresh, salt and brackish water conditions, such engines commonly are engineered to include a cooling system which circulates water from outside the watercraft through the engine block to transfer heat away from the engine. Such cooling systems are often referred to as open cooling systems, since these systems permit the inflow of a heat-conductive fluid from an external source, and the outflow of the heated fluid from the system without any recirculation. This is contrasted with closed cooling systems which recirculate a heat-conductive fluid through the engine into an accompanying radiator or other apparatus which transfers heat from the fluid to the surrounding air. Open cooling systems have been preferred in marine applications because of limitations posed by closed cooling systems that require a significant influx of air for heat transfer purposes. Such systems are typically avoided in marine applications in favor of the open cooling systems because of the requirement in closed systems of loud cooling fans or the like to provide air for cooling.
However, a major disadvantage of open cooling systems in internal combustion engines for marine applications is highlighted when the water being traversed is shallow and/or filled with vegetation or other floating debris. Under such circumstances, the inflow of fresh water to the open cooling system or the outflow of heated water from the open cooling system can be significantly impaired when mud, silt, sand, or other debris clogs the system's water flow path. Engine overheating is often the result because the cooling system becomes inoperative as the flow of fresh water through the system is impaired. Additionally, when the water being traversed is salt water or brackish water, corrosion of the various component parts of the cooling system becomes a legitimate concern.
Hence, a need exists for a universal watercraft propulsion system employing an internal combustion engine which enjoys the advantages of open cooling systems in internal combustion engines for marine applications in deep water conditions, while avoiding the disadvantages of such open cooling systems when applied in waters which are shallow and/or filled with vegetation or other floating debris.
In addition, notwithstanding recent advances in reversible pitch propeller technology, propulsion systems employing reversible pitch propellers heretofore have failed to effectively control water flow around the propeller in both forward and reverse pitch settings, especially during application of moderate to high system throttle. Thus, a need also exists for a universal propulsion system which employs, in a highly effective manner, weedless and reversible pitch propeller technology. This need is especially evident in shallow waters, where effective reversive thrust is imperative for maneuvering watercraft around and over sand bars, tree stumps, thick patches of floating vegetation, and the like.

Universal marine drive apparatus and uses thereof


In various embodiments, techniques for secure problem resolution associated with complex data response networks are provided. Error messages associated with an executing problem service are trapped and hidden from a principal. The error messages are associated with a randomly generated incident identifier. The incident identifier is supplied to the principal. The principal gains access to the error messages when the principal successfully authenticates for access and supplies the incident identifier.

It is common practice in today's highly networked environment for remote software systems or services to be made available to end users over the Internet from geographically disperse locations, which can originate from potentially all over the entire globe. Sometimes these systems fail or encounter errors of some kind. Typically, this results in error codes and messages being sent to the end users over the Internet. In many cases, these error codes contain valuable information about the remote service and/or its configuration. Moreover, the mere presence of this information can create unsuspecting security vulnerabilities for the remote software systems.
In fact, it is common practice to embed system information into display screens presented to end users (e.g., login screens, error screens, etc.) that can aid system administrators or help desks in identifying software elements, system devices, and the like involved in processing events leading up to the screen presentation of error information. The information when relayed from an end user to help desk personnel or when obtained by a system administrator can prove to be invaluable when trying to resolve problems occurring within complex and often geographically dispersed processing environments in which multiple devices and/or services participate in the delivery of content to end users.
However, the mere presence of such informative error messages may also pose a substantial security risk if these messages convey information that can be used in a malicious or nefarious manner by intruders to compromise the back-end system or service being remotely supplied to an end user.
For example, some Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) messages include a common port identification for which a communication error occurred. Although this may seem on the surface to be fairly innocuous, it actually can provide specific port identification to an intruder. Thus, the intruder can identify the port over which Internet communications are occurring for a specific environment. This is but one example where seemingly innocent error messages, which have been standardized to some degree across platforms and environments, can supply useful configuration information about a backend system to intruders.
Accordingly, what is needed are more secure problem resolution techniques for complex data response networks.

Secure problem resolution techniques for complex data response networks


One embodiment of the present invention is a compliant thermal contactor that includes a resilient metal film having a plurality of first thermally conductive, compliant posts disposed in an array on a top side thereof and a plurality of second thermally conductive, compliant posts disposed in an array on a bottom side thereof.

Heat spreaders are commonly used in the integrated circuit ("IC") packaging/assembly industry to dissipate heat generated by high power (for example, >100 W) ICs (ICs are also referred to as chips). Typically, a heat spreader is attached to a back of a chip or an IC package using different types of thermally conductive materials. Such thermally conductive materials are typically provided in a sheet form that has thin adhesive layers on both sides of a pad—the adhesive layers are used to bond the pad (on a first side) to a heat spreader and (on a second side) to a chip or IC package.
The prior art discloses thermally, and non-thermally, conductive elastomeric posts being used in IC packaging applications. In such applications, to create an IC package: (a) posts are formed on a surface of a flexible or a rigid substrate interposer such as a printed circuit board; (b) the posts are then permanently bonded to a chip; (c) the chip is then electrically interconnected to the interposer using standard wire bonding or other interconnect methods; and (d) a dielectric material is then dispensed or injected between the posts to fill voids between the posts.
The prior art also discloses the use of a thermally conductive material, in sheet form, having a series of groves or channels on a first and/or a second surface, which groves or channels are created, for example, by embossing. The groves or channels are disclosed to provide a means for removing air during a bonding process wherein a chip is bonded to the first surface of the thermally conductive material, and a heat sink or a heat spreader is bonded to the second surface.
Thermally conductive pads disclosed in the prior art typically comprise a low modulus material, for example, silicone, that is soft and compliant but which is relatively incompressible—as indicated by a Poisson's ratio of 0.49-0.50. As a result, such thermally conductive silicone pads, with or without embossing, require a high pressure (for example, a pressure between 40 and 50 psi) to bring a heat source and a heat dissipater into intimate contact over a full area of their interface. Such a high pressure is required to distort the silicone pad laterally by an amount sufficient to fill voids at interfaces between: (a) the pad and a surface of the heat source; and (b) the pad and a surface of the heat dissipater. In addition to the use of high pressure to provide intimate contact, the thickness of the low modulus material must be relatively large to enable it to distort laterally to fill voids at the interfaces. However, a large pad thickness is problematic to providing good thermal conductivity. In addition, a problem exists whenever prior art thermally conductive silicone pads are used in device testing applications calling for releasable thermal contactors because prior art contactors have been known to leave residues after high temperature operation of chips.
In light of the above, there is a need in the art for method and apparatus that solves one or more of the above-identified problems.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A computer-implemented method for characterizing circulatory blood volume is disclosed. The method has the steps of acquiring a biological signal that emulates the arterial pulse wave from a sensor. Two derived parameters, circulatory stress, which reflects a harmonic of heart rate, and circulatory blood flow, which reflects the amplitude of the unprocessed biological signal, are extrapolated from the biological signal, and are each compared to a threshold value and assessed to determine an adequacy of circulatory blood volume. In embodiments, the assessment of circulatory blood volume is used to manage a patient's cardiovascular autoregulatory function or the adequacy of transfer of fluids to and from the circulatory system, with the ultimate goal of achieving a circulatory blood volume that adequately supplies the demands of the patient's tissues and organs.

Circulatory blood flow delivers oxygen and nutrients to tissues and organs and removes toxins and wastes therefrom. Such delivery and removal is essential to maintaining cellular function and tissue and organ health. Broadly defined, stress is the aggregate impact of physical, cognitive, pathological, and environmental factors to which an organism must adapt in order to remain in a physiologically homeostatic state. Adequate circulatory blood flow must be maintained under varying forms and degrees of stress, or else homeostasis is compromised. Accordingly, in the healthy state, the autonomic nervous system continuously adjusts circulatory blood flow in order to meet these constantly changing demands. In situations where the ability to adjust circulatory blood flow is inadequate, the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to tissues and organs and the removal of toxins and wastes therefrom is inadequate to meet the cellular demands and, as a result, overall physiological function is compromised.
Systems and methods for evaluating the condition of the autoregulatory components of the cardiovascular system are known in the art. Unfortunately, while these systems and methods are good predictors of the overall cardiovascular condition resulting from long-term pathological and age-related structural changes, they cannot characterize the functional adequacy of circulatory blood flow in the short-term. As such, in the face of stress, any resultant deficiencies in supplying the demands of the tissue and organs is often not detected until physiological function is so compromised that tissue and organ dysfunction become symptomatic and sustainability is at risk. Furthermore, while levels of certain metabolites are indicative of inadequate circulatory blood flow, such metabolites are only present after prolonged inadequate circulatory blood flow has occurred and therefore cannot characterize the functional adequacy of circulatory blood flow in the pre-symptomatic stages to avoid a compromised physiological state that may be irreversible. Thus, there is a need for systems and methods that characterize the adequacy of circulatory blood flow over contiguous, finite time intervals in order that circulatory blood flow may be assessed and any deficiencies in supply may be detected and treated before the patient's sustainability is at risk.

System and method for characterizing circulatory blood flow


A broad class of photosensitive compounds having enhanced in vivo target tissue selectivity and versatility in photodynamic therapy. Many furocoumarin compounds, such as psoralens, exhibit cytostatic activity when photoactivated but exhibit little in vivo specificity for selectively accumulating in any particular target tissue such as atheromatous plaques. Reactive Oxygen Producing Photosensitizers ("ROPPs") are photoactivatable compounds having an affinity for hyperproliferating cells (such as atheromatous plaque cells), which when photoactivated, produce cytotoxic reaction products. The photoactivity of a ROPP, such as a porphyrin, may be reduced by metalating the porphyrin while the selective affinity of the metalized ROPP for hyperproliferating tissue remains substantially unchanged. By linking a furocoumarin compound to a ROPP to form a F-ROPP, the cytostatic properties of the furocoumarin portion of the F-ROPP can be exploited while the selective affinity of the ROPP portion of the compound for hyperproliferating cells such as atheromatous plaque provides enhanced tissue selectivity without cytotoxicity. In vivo, certain F-ROPPs may be forced to selectively accumulate in a target tissue by illuminating only the target tissue with light having a wavelength operable for photoactivating the F portion of the F-ROPP thereby causing the F-ROPP to either form a monoadduct with or crosslink the cellular DNA in the target tissue. Light of a second wavelength can then be delivered to the target tissue to photoactivate the ROPP portion causing further interference with cellular activity.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to photoactivatable compounds and to methods for using the compounds for diagnosing and treating medical conditions.
2. Prior Art
Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is used for treating various diseases including cancer, psoriasis, vascular disease, non-cancerous hyperplastic disease such as benign prostatic hyperplasia, macular degeneration, glaucoma, and certain viral infections. PDT requires concentrating a photosensitizer drug in a target tissue then photoactivating the compound with a device which includes a light source providing light at a particular wavelength and power level. The drugs administered for PDT are commonly known as photosensitizers (PS) due to their inherent ability to absorb photons of light and transfer that energy to oxygen which then converts to a cytotoxic or cytostatic species. Table 1 presents a list of classes of photosensitizer compounds commonly employed in PDT, which PS's are referred to hereinafter in the alternative as "ROPPs" (Reactive Oxygen Producing Photosensitizer molecules) and "LEPs" (Light Emitting Photosensitive molecules). While not exhaustive, the list of PDT photosensitizer drugs presented in Table 1 is exemplary of the variety of ROPPs and LEPs currently used in the art.
The photoactivating device employed for PDT usually comprises a monochromatic light source such as a laser, the light output of which may be coupled to an invasive light delivery catheter for conduction and delivery to a remote target tissue. Such interventional light delivery catheters are well known in the art and are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,169,395; 5,196,005; and 5,231,684. Other devices which are frequently used in conjunction with a light source and light delivery catheter include drug delivery devices and/or a balloon perfusion catheter (U.S. Pat. No. 5,213,576) and/or various medicament-dispensing stents for the slow localized release of the photosensitizer. PDT is presently an approved procedure in Canada, Japan, and The Netherlands for the treatment of various cancers.
In addition to cancer therapy, PDT is being tested for the treatment of psoriasis. Extra-corporal PDT of blood is being evaluated for the prevention of intimal hyperplasia following transplant surgery. PDT is also being evaluated for the treatment of vascular disease; most commonly the prevention of intimal hyperplasia following angioplasty. ROPPs are presently in clinical trials for the treatment of cutaneous cancers such as basal cell carcinoma, basal cell nevus syndrome, squamous cell carcinoma, and AIDS related Kaposi's sarcoma. ROPPs are also being investigated for the treatment of a cancer precursor, Barrett's esophagus. In addition, ROPPs may have utility for treating invasive cancers, cancer precursors, psoriasis, non-cancerous urological disorders, viral inactivation, macular degeneration, glaucoma and various vascular diseases.
TABLE 1 ______________________________________ ROPPs and LEPs ______________________________________ Pyrrole-derived macrocyclic Texaphyrins and derivatives compounds thereof (11) Naturally occurring or synthetic Phenoxazine dyes and derivatives porphyrins and derivatives thereof (12) thereof (1)* Phenothiazines and derivatives Naturally occurring or synthetic thereof (13) chlorins and derivatives thereof (2) Chalcoorganapyrylium dyes and Naturally occurring or synthetic derivatives thereof (14) bacteriochlorins and derivatives Triarylmethanes and derivatives thereof (3) thereof (15) Synthetic isobacteriochlorins and Rhodamines and derivatives derivatives thereof (4) thereof (16) Phthalocyanines and derivatives Fluorescenes and derivatives thereof (5) thereof (17) Naphthalocyanines and derivatives Azaporphyrins and derivatives thereof (6) thereof (18) Porphycenes and derivatives Benzochlorins and derivatives thereof (7) thereof (19) Porphycyanines and derivatives Purpurins and derivatives thereof (8) thereof (20) Pentaphyrin and derivatives Chlorophylls and derivatives thereof (9) thereof (21) Sapphyrins and derivatives Verdins and derivatives thereof (22) thereof (10) ______________________________________ *(m) refers to the compound having molecular structure indicated at (m) i the specification where m is an integer between 1 and 22.
ROPPs and LEPs such as those indicated in Table 1, and as illustrated in FIGS. 1-23, have been shown to selectively accumulate, both in vitro and in vivo, in catheter induced atheromatous plaques in rabbit and swine models as evidenced by laser induced fluorescence and chemical extraction (H L Narciso, et al, Retention of tin ethyl etiopurpurin (SnET2) by atheromatous plaques: Studies in vitro & in vivo rabbits, Proceedings of SPIE: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Cardiovascular Interventions IV, 1994, 2130:30-41). In vitro studies utilizing human cadaver aortas demonstrate the passive accumulation of photosensitizers such as ROPPs and LEPs into naturally occurring atheromatous plaques. Certain ROPPs and LEPs have the ability to penetrate the nuclear membrane within a cell and to intercalate into the nuclear DNA, particularly ROPPs bearing a positive charge (cationic).
Psoralen-type compounds have also been investigated for their ability to prevent intimal hyperplasia. Psoralens and other furocoumarins (furane fused to coumarin and derivatives thereof) are also photosensitive compounds which have been used in the treatment of psoriasis for over 40 years. Such psoralen-based phototherapy is alternatively referred to herein as PUVA; Psoralen activated with UltraViolet A light. An exemplary list of some furocourmarin compounds is presented in Table 2. Systemically administered psoralen-type compounds penetrate the nuclear membrane of cells and may intercalate with the nuclear DNA in target tissue cells. Following intercalation with the target tissue's nuclear DNA, the psoralen compound is photoactivated with ultraviolet light or short wavelength visible light (see, for example, F P Gasparro, et al, The excitation of 8-Methoxypsoralen with visible light: Reversed phase HPLC quantitation of monoadducts and cross-links, Photochem. Photobiol., 1993, 57(6):1007-1010.), which UV light is preferably delivered only to the target tissue by a light delivery catheter or similar delivery device, to cause DNA crosslinking and ultimately a mutagenic effect in the cells comprising the target tissue. (K L March, et al, 8-Methoxypsoralen and longwave ultraviolet irradiation are a novel antiproliferative combination for vascular smooth muscle, Circulation, 1993, 87:184-91; B E Sumpio, et al, Control of smooth muscle cell proliferation by psoralen photochemotherapy, J Vasc. Surg, 1993, 17:1010-1018; K W Gregory, et al, Photochemotherapy of intimal hyperplasia using psoralen activated by ultraviolet light in a porcine model, Lasers in Surg. Med, 1994, (Suppl 6):12 Abstract).
Furocoumarins are photochemical agents showing potential for both diagnostic and therapeutic applications in medicine. The DNA cross-linking by furocoumarins such as described above proceeds by a two step process. Following injection of the fuorocoumarin into the body of an animal, the (planar) furocoumarin molecule first intercalates within the double helix of intracellular DNA or RNA Following intercalation, the covalent addition of the furocoumarin to the polynucleic acid is achieved through the addition of light energy within the absorption band of the specific furocoumarin. Either furocoumarin -RNA or -DNA monoadducts or cross-links may be created upon illumination of the intercalated species. By forming covalent cross-links with base-pair structures, furocoumarins can alter the metabolic activity of a cell and induce cytostasis (G D Cimino, H B Gamper, S T Isaacs, J E Hearst, Psoralens as photoactive probes of nucleic acid structures and function: Organic chemistry, and biochemistry Ann. Rev. Biochem., 1985, 54:1154-93).
TABLE 2 ______________________________________ Furocoumarins.dagger-dbl. ______________________________________ Compounds containing Furocoumarin sub-components (23)* Psoralens and derivatives thereof (24) Isopsoralens (angelicins) and derivatives thereof (25) Pseudopsoralens and derivatives thereof (26) Pseudoisopsoralens and derivatives thereof (27) Allopsoralens and derivatives thereof (28) Pseudoallopsoralens and derivatives thereof (29) ______________________________________ *(m) refers to the compound having the structure indicated at FIG. m in the appended figures where m is an integer 23 .ltoreq. m .ltoreq. 29. .dagger-dbl.The furocoumarins may be either naturally occurring or synthetic.
Coronary artery disease is thought to be initiated by a disruption of fatty streaks which form early in life on the vessel wall which disruption, in turn, promotes thrombus formation. Over time the thrombus becomes organized and provides structure for the accumulation of fatty lipids, foam cells, cholesterol, calcium, fibrin, and collagen. A fibrous cap forms over this collection of lipid-rich material. Periodically this fibrous cap ruptures; releasing some of the lipid-rich material and exposing the remaining plaque materials to the circulating blood. Growth factors within the blood initiate the migration of smooth muscle cells (SMCs), from the media to the intima where proliferation of the SMCs begins. The ulcerated plaque induces the deposition of platelets and thrombus formation in a "response to injury" mode. This cycle recurs until eventually the plaque ruptures, the distal coronary artery is occluded by an thrombus and a heart attack occurs (V. Fuster, et al, Clinical-Pathological Correlations of Coronary Disease Progression and Regression, Supplement to Circulation, Vol. 86, No. 6, 1992:III-1-III-11 and J J Badimon, Coronary Atherosclerosis, A Multifactorial Disease, Supplement to Circulation, Vol. 87, No. 3, 1993:II-3-II-16).
Restenosis occurs when coronary disease is treated with an interventional therapy such as Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty, PTCA, or atherectomy, or laser angioplasty, or stenting, or a myriad of newer technologies. Restenosis refers to the over-aggressive autogenous repair of an injury to a blood vessel by the body. Intimal hyperplasia or the hyperproliferation of medial (and possibly adventitial) smooth muscle cells (SMCs,) is a major contributing factor to restenosis. Hyperproliferating SMCs form a neo-intima which can reduce the bore of the arterial lumen and thus the capacity of the artery to deliver oxygen rich blood. This reduction in cross-sectional luminal area can be more severe than the original constricted area which was treated. The foregoing problems are representative of some medical conditions which the compounds of the present invention may have particular application.
DNA cross-linking by furocoumarins results in the reduction of smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation and, since their DNA cross-linking activity is cytostatic, furocoumarins may have certain advantages over cytotoxic photosensitizers (ROPPs and LEPs) in the prevention of intimal hyperplasia as described by March, et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,116,864 and Deckelbaum, et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,354,774 the teachings of which patents are incorporated herein by reference thereto. The cytotoxicity of ROPPs and LEPs currently used in PDT results in the extravasation of intracellular organelles, cytoplasm, and cytokines which, in turn, elicits an inflammatory response. The inflammatory response elicited by extravasation of cellular contents is hypothesized as a key contributing factor to restenosis. The disadvantage of employing psoralens to prevent restenosis (when compared to photosensitizers such as ROPPs and LEPs) is that psoralens do not exhibit a selective affinity for atheromatous plaques over normal intimal tissue.

Photoactivatable compounds comprising benzochlorin and furocoumarin


A multilayer positive temperature coefficient thermistor that has a BaTiO3-based ceramic material contained as a primary component in semiconductor ceramic layers, the ratio of the Ba site to the Ti site is in the range of 0.998 to 1.006, and at least one element selected from the group consisting of La, Ce, Pr, Nd, and Pm is contained as a semiconductor dopant. In this multilayer positive temperature coefficient thermistor, a thickness d of internal electrodes layer and a thickness D of the semiconductor ceramic layers satisfy d≧0.6 μm and d/D<0.2. Accordingly, even when the semiconductor ceramic layers have a low sintered density such that an actual-measured sintered density is 65% to 90% of a theoretical sintered density, a multilayer positive temperature coefficient thermistor having a low rate of temporal change in room-temperature resistance can be obtained without performing any complicated processes, such as a heat treatment. When the content of the semiconductor dopant is 0.1 to 0.5 molar parts with respect to 100 molar parts of Ti, a low-temperature firing at 1,150° C. can be realized, and a low room-temperature resistance and a sufficiently high rate of resistance change can be obtained.

In recent years, the sizes of electronic devices have been progressively downsized, and concomitant therewith, the downsizing in size of positive temperature coefficient thermistors mounted in the above-mentioned electronic devices has also been implemented. The positive temperature coefficient thermistor described above has a positive resistance temperature characteristic, and as a downsized positive temperature coefficient thermistor, for example, a multilayer positive temperature coefficient thermistor is known.
This type multilayer positive temperature coefficient thermistor described above generally has a ceramic body which includes a plurality of semiconductor ceramic layers each having a positive resistance temperature characteristic and a plurality of internal electrode layers formed along interfaces between the semiconductor ceramic layers, the internal electrode layers are alternately extended to two end portions of the ceramic body, and external electrodes are also formed so as to be electrically connected to the internal electrode layers thus extended. In addition, as the semiconductor ceramic layer, a material primarily containing a BaTiO3-based ceramic material is used. Furthermore, in order to obtain a positive resistance temperature characteristic by a BaTiO3-based ceramic material, an extremely small amount of a semiconductor dopant is added thereto, and as this semiconductor dopant, in general, samarium (Sm) has been widely used.
In addition, as an internal electrode material used in the multilayer positive temperature coefficient thermistor, Ni has been widely used. In general, the ceramic body of the multilayer positive temperature coefficient thermistor is formed by the steps of performing screen printing of an internal electrode conductive paste on ceramic green sheets to be formed into the semiconductor ceramic layers to form conductive patterns, laminating the ceramic green sheets provided with the conductive patterns in a predetermined order, and simultaneously firing the ceramic green sheets and the conductive patterns.
Moreover, when Ni is used as the internal electrode material, the simultaneous firing must be performed in a reducing atmosphere since Ni is oxidized when simultaneous firing is performed in an air atmosphere. However, when the simultaneous firing is performed in a reducing atmosphere, the semiconductor ceramic layers are also reduced. As a result, a sufficient rate of resistance change cannot be obtained. Accordingly, in general, after the simultaneous firing is performed in a reducing atmosphere, a re-oxidation treatment is additionally performed in an air atmosphere or in an oxygen atmosphere.
However, in this re-oxidation treatment, a heat treatment temperature is difficult to control, and it is not easy to diffuse oxygen sufficiently to a central portion of the ceramic body; hence, oxidation is irregularly performed thereby, and as a result, a sufficient rate of resistance change may not be obtained in some cases.
Accordingly, in Patent Document 1, a multilayer positive temperature coefficient thermistor has been proposed in which a void ratio of semiconductor ceramic layers is set in the range of 5 to 40 percent by volume, and among thermistor layers, which are effective layers provided between two internal electrodes located at the outermost sides in the lamination direction, the void ratio of a thermistor layer located at a central portion in the lamination direction is higher than that of a thermistor layer located outside in the lamination direction.
According to the Patent Document 1, although the void ratio of the semiconductor ceramic layers are set in the range of 5 to 40 percent by volume, when this void ratio is converted into a sintered density, the sintered density thus converted approximately corresponds to 60% to 95% of a theoretical sintered density. In addition, according to this Patent Document 1, an actual-measured sintered density of the semiconductor ceramic layers is decreased to 60% to 95% of the theoretical sintered density, and the void ratio of the thermistor layer located at the central portion is increased larger than that of the thermistor layer located outside, so that oxygen can be easily diffused sufficiently to the central portion of the ceramic body; hence, as a result, by preventing the generation of irregular oxidation, it is intended to obtain a desired rate of resistance change.
On the other hand, after ceramic green sheets to be formed into the semiconductor ceramic layers and conductive patterns to be formed into the internal electrode layers are simultaneously fired in a reducing atmosphere, heat treating is performed in an air atmosphere or an oxygen atmosphere. Since many thermal and atmospheric histories are applied to the semiconductor ceramic layers, strains are generated therein. As a result, the rate of temporal change in room-temperature resistance may be increased in some cases.
Accordingly, as a method for decreasing the rate of temporal change in room-temperature resistance described above, as disclosed in Patent Document 2, a method for manufacturing a multilayer positive temperature coefficient thermistor has been proposed in which a heat treatment is performed on a ceramic body provided with external electrodes at a temperature of 60 to 200° C.
In this Patent Document 2, by performing the heat treatment at a temperature of 60 to 200° C. after the external electrodes are formed on the ceramic body, it is attempted to gradually reduce the strains generated in the semiconductor ceramic layers and to stabilize the rate of temporal change in room-temperature resistance.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-93574
Patent Document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-134744
According to the manufacturing method disclosed in the Patent Document 2, the heat treatment is performed at a temperature of 60 to 200° C. However, in order to stabilize the rate of temporal change in room-temperature resistance, it is believed that a heat treatment for approximately 100 hours be required (see paragraph [0023] of the Patent Document 2). Hence, the heat treatment takes a long period of time, and the production efficiency is degraded, and a problem of inferior mass productivity may be caused.
In addition, as disclosed in the Patent Document 1, in the case in which Sm is used as the semiconductor dopant, when the sintered density of the semiconductor ceramic layer is low, the inter-particle bond thereof is also weak, and the crystal lattice becomes unstable; hence, even when the heat treatment is performed as disclosed in the Patent Document 2, it is difficult to sufficiently stabilize the rate of temporal change in room-temperature resistance.

Multilayer positive temperature coefficient thermistor


Lifting devices for positioning a lift actuator in a high range position and a low range position are disclosed. The lifting devices may include a lift mast, a lift arm pivotally coupled to the lift mast, a lift actuator having a first end and a second end, and a linkage member having a first end and a second end. The first end of the lift actuator is pivotally coupled to the lift mast. The first end of the linkage member is pivotally coupled to the lift arm and the second end of the linkage member is pivotally coupled to the second end of the lift actuator such that the lift actuator includes a high range position relative to the lift arm and a low range position relative to the lift arm.

Lifting devices, such as patient lifts used in the health care industry, may generally comprise a lift actuator, such as an electric motor or similar actuator, which may be coupled to a mechanical lift arm or a cable lifting system. The lift actuator facilitates actuation of the mechanical lift arm or the cable lifting system thereby raising and/or lowering a load coupled to the lift arm or the cable lifting system. For example, when the lifting device is a patient lift, a sling or other support apparatus may be coupled to the mechanical lift arm or the cable lifting system. A subject may be positioned in the sling and a lift control system coupled to the lift actuator may be used by an operator to activate the lift actuator, which, in turn, raises and/or lowers the subject by actuating the mechanical lift arm or the cable lifting system.
Due to the lift actuator being fixed to the lift arm at a single pivot point, the height to which the lift arm raises and lowers is limited by the degree of extension and retraction of the lift actuator. Lift actuators having a greater range of extension and retraction are more expensive than those with a lesser range as they must be constructed to provide increased stability upon extension. In addition, lift actuators capable of adjusting the speed of extension and retraction contributes to an increased cost of the lift actuator. Thus, lifting devices seeking to reduce costs typically utilize less expensive lift actuators in a lift arm that is restricted to a reduced range of vertical motion and restricted to moving at a single speed during raising and lowering of the lift arm.
Accordingly, a need exists for a lifting device including a lift arm that is positionable between a higher range of vertical motion and capable of adjusting the speed of motion of a lift arm without replacing an existing lift actuator with a more expensive lift actuator.

Lifting devices positionable in high range positions and low range positions


A roll-up body support cushion is disclosed. A cushion having first and second opposed surfaces is filled with pillow fill. The cushion has a length and a width and is flexible such that it can be rolled up in a direction substantially parallel to its long sides. At least one strip of a releasable fastening device is secured to the first opposed surface of the cushion. The strip of releasable fastening material is positioned substantially parallel to the length of the cushion. At least one strip of a complementary releasable fastening device is secured to the second opposed surface of the cushion. The strip of complementary releasable fastening device is positioned substantially parallel to the length of the cushion and in juxtaposition to the respective strip of releasable fastening device secured to the first opposed surface.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to body supports, and more particularly, to a roll-up body support cushion.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is common for people such as travelers, commuters, office workers, truck drivers, and the disabled to be sitting down for long periods of time in automobiles, airplanes, trains, offices, beds and wheelchairs. As is well known, sitting down for long periods of time can cause back and neck fatigue due to lack of support on those portions of the body. Such fatigue in the back is particularly noticeable when support is lacking in the vicinity of the lumbar region of the back.
It has long been recognized that one way to prevent such fatigue is to support the neck and back while the person is seated or lying down. Most chairs, seats, and many beds, however, are inadequately designed to provide the proper support to the fatigue sensitive portions of the body. In order to overcome these inadequacies, conventional support devices such as bolster pillows, cylindrical lumbar supports, semicylindrical lumbar supports, and cervical supports have been used to provide support to a person's body while he or she is seated or lying down. Some of these devices are directed to support of the head, and others are directed to support of the lumbar portion of the back.
Conventional support devices, however, suffer from a number of disadvantages. First, conventional support devices have predetermined shapes, thicknesses, and firmnesses that cannot be adjusted. Because people have many different shapes and sizes, most of the conventional devices cannot be used by everyone. Second, although the predetermined shape, thickness, and firmness of a conventional device may be adequate for a person under some circumstances, it may not be appropriate for that person under all circumstances, such as during more severe or minor cases of fatigue. Third, many conventional support devices cannot accommodate a hot or cold pack. Finally, many conventional support devices have no convenient way of being positioned on a seat or chair.
Thus, there is a need for a body support device that overcomes the disadvantages of conventional support devices.


Methods and systems have been provided that allow a user to access a file in a computational device. The location of the file is made transparent to the user. The request for the file includes the filename. The filename is mapped to the location of the file in the computational device. The file is returned if it is present in the cache of the computational device. Otherwise, the file is retrieved from a storage device. The cached files are, deleted from the cache on the basis of a policy-based-cache-deletion mechanism.

1. Field of Invention
Embodiments of the invention relate, in general, to file systems in a computational device. More specifically, embodiments of the invention relate to methods and systems for accessing a file from a memory or a local device in the computational device.
2. Description of the Background Art
A typical file system stores and organizes computer files and data in a computational device. The file system records the location of all the files and directories present in, for example, the hard disk, CD-ROM and other data storage devices. Moreover, the typical file system helps a user to manipulate, navigate, access and retrieve desired files from a computational device.
Conventionally, various file systems are used to access a file from any location in a Computational device. One conventional file system is a LINUX™-based, buffered file system. This file system requires virtual memory (VM) support to function. Virtual Memory is a computer design feature that permits software to use more main memory than the computer physically possesses. In the VM-based file system, VM buffers disk pages and files. Whenever a user wants to access a file, it is checked if the file is present in a buffer cache. The file is fetched from the disk if it is not present in the buffer cache. The files are automatically stored in the buffer cache and are deleted from it on the basis of a Least Recently Used (LRU)-based mechanism. According to the LRU-based mechanism, a file is deleted from the buffer cache when it is marked least recently used among a given set of files. This can sometimes lead to the deletion of files, which might be needed after the file has been deleted.
Moreover, the VM-based file system is a disk-block-based system, therefore, the user needs to know the location of the file in the computational device in order to access it. Therefore, the location of the file is not transparent to the user. This can make accessing a file difficult and time-consuming for the user.

Method and system for file retrieval using image virtual file system


The present invention relates to an optimized fermentation process of coenzyme Q10, particularly to a fermentation process of coenzyme Q10 via flow feeding based on cooperative control of changes of online oxygen consumption rate and conductivity. During the fermentation process of coenzyme Q10 production strains, the oxygen consumption rate is controlled between 30-150 mmol/L·h and the conductivity is maintained between 3.0-30.0 ms/cm via flow feeding, so as to facilitate strain growth and the start of coenzyme Q10 synthesis and accumulation. The present invention can substantially increase output of coenzyme Q10 and greatly reduce the production cost with simple process control and strong operability, thus being applicable to large-scale industrial production.

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), also known as ubiquinone or ubidecarenone, has a chemical name of 2,3-dimethoxy-5-methyl-6-decyl isopentenyl benzoquinone. As a kind of metabolism activating agent, the bioactivity of coenzyme Q10 comes from the redox characteristic of its quinone ring and the physicochemical property of its side chain, thus having such function as oxidation resistance, elimination of free radicals, improvement of immunity of the organism and anti-aging. Clinically, it is extensively applied for the treatment of various heart diseases, cancers, diabetes, acute chronic hepatitis, Parkinsonism and other diseases. In addition, it is also widely used in cosmetics and anti-aging health care products.
Production of coenzyme Q10 in microbiological fermentation process is mainly adopted at home and abroad because of its high bioactivity, no limit on raw material and improvement of fermentation production capacity through strain breeding and optimization of fermentation process. However, the biological fermentation process is difficult to be controlled and it is very hard for such control parameters as pH, DO, strain concentration and content in traditional fermentation process to accurately reflect and control the entire fermentation process. Therefore, it is very necessary to introduce more reliable and rapid parameters to reflect the fermentation state, so as to take positive and effective measures to control the entire fermentation process based on these parameters.
Previously reported technical research related to fermentation of coenzyme Q10 mainly focuses on the improvement of coenzyme Q10 production level through technical innovation of a genetic process, or the investigation of influences on product synthesis through mutagenesis of strain, simple nitrogen source optimization or optimization and adjustment experiment of such single factor as the addition amount of phosphate during process. Some patent literatures also reported the control and optimization of fermentation process through adjusting the glucose feeding rate during process. These researches and technologies only focus on the improvement of output of coenzyme Q10 from single factor with certain effects. However, there is absence of fundamental analysis on dynamic physiological process and nutritional requirements of coenzyme Q10 production strains, and no appropriate method has been found to study and control the two most important parameters for coenzyme Q10 fermentation-oxygen consumption and nutrition supply level to achieve the purpose of improving production capacity.
Previously reported feeding processes are generally in the manner of feed-batch or flow feeding. However, the feeding time and feeding amount are guided by empirical value or offline sampling test of substrate concentration, which may objectively give rise to delayed feeding and excessive or insufficient feeding. Conductivity can be used to represent ion concentration in fermentation system, so as to directly reflect the nutrient consumption of strain in cultivation system, especially the consumption of inorganic ion. Online conductivity electrode can be used to achieve real-time online reflection of the nutrient consumption level of strain so as to guide the feeding time and feeding rate in the feeding process. Previously reported conductivity during fermentation process can only be used to monitor changes of the fermentation process, but is rarely seen in feedback of feeding control.
Coenzyme Q10 production strains have different demands on oxygen and nutrition in different stages. Through reasonable control of oxygen and nutrition supply level during the process, the entire fermentation can be controlled from the source and the process can be easily controlled to ensure stable production and reduced production cost.
Patent CN102876743A disclosed an online staged control process based on oxygen consumption rate and the accumulation of coenzyme Q10 has been significantly improved.

Coordinated-control coenzyme Q10 fermentation production process based on online oxygen consumption rate and electrical conductivity

SHANGYU NHU BIOLOGICAL CHEMICAL CO., LTD.


Compounds of the of the general formula La.sub.3-z Me.sub.z Ba.sub.3 Ca.sub.1-v Nc.sub.v Cu.sub.7 O.sub.16+x, wherein Me can be a rare earth metal or an alkaline metal ion selected from the group consisting of yttrium (Y), ytterbium (Yb), sodium (Na) and Nc can be a 2+ion selected from the group consisting of magnesium (Mg) and cadmium (Cd) have been prepared as the HTSC in thin film superconductors. These compounds can be used as thin film high critical superconductors in thin film high critical temperature superconducting structures and antennas and in multilayered structures and devices such as Josephson junctions, broadband impedance transformers and both flux flow and field effect transistors.

Heretofore, a most useful HTSC in thin film superconductor technology has been YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.6+x, (YBCO). However, there have been problems with the use of YBCO, including the fact that it undergoes a phase transition leading to twinning and stress. A more significant shortcoming with YBCO is the loss of oxygen when heated, which causes a difficult problem in the fabrication of multilayered devices. While it has been well-known that all HTSC cuprate materials lose oxygen upon heating, typically in the range around 450.degree. to 500.degree. C., up until now there has been no effective or practical superconductor material that retains oxygen when heated above about 500.degree. C. This oxygen loss is significant because superconducting properties, critical currently transition temperatures (T.sub.c) depend upon oxygen stoichiometry. The compounds of the general formula La.sub.3-z Me.sub.z Ba.sub.3 Ca.sub.1-v Nc.sub.v Cu.sub.7 O.sub.16+x, where Me is a rare earth or alkaline metal ion and Nc is a 2+ion selected from the group consisting of magnesium (Mg) and cadmium (Cd) overcome the shortcomings, drawbacks and limitations of other cuprate HTSC materials by being significantly more stable regarding oxygen loss, particularly in the temperature ranges at which thin film multilayered structures are fabricated. Typically for growth of multilyered structures, temperatures in the range about 550.degree. to 750.degree. C. are required for epitaxial growth of the dielectric and a temperature range of about 650.degree. to 800.degree. C. is required for the HTSC (YBCO).
The HTSC system La.sub.3-z Me.sub.z Ba.sub.3 Ca.sub.1-v Nc.sub.v Cu.sub.7 O.sub.16+x of the present invention is not only attractive for numerous device applications because of its superior oxygen stability as compared with YBCO, further such compounds do not undergo phase transition between the sintering and room temperatures. Additionally, thermal cycling in La.sub.3-z Me.sub.z Ba.sub.3 Ca.sub.1-v Nc.sub.v Cu.sub.7 O.sub.16+x compounds has demonstrated reversible oxygen losses of less than 1% when heated up to 1000.degree. C. in bulk samples, according to M. Nicolas et. al, which should permit easier preparation of multilayered structures and multilayered devices such as Josephson junctions, broadband impedance transformers and both flux flow and field effect transistors. The inventors herein have prepared thin films with compounds of the general formula La.sub.3-z Me.sub.z Ba.sub.3 Ca.sub.1-v Nc.sub.v Cu.sub.7 O.sub.16+x, where Me is a rare earth or alkaline metal ion and Nc is a 2+ion selected from the group consisting of magnesium (Mg) and cadmium (Cd), with substitutions for lanthanum (La) and calcium (Ca) and have been able to increase T.sub.c. The compounds of the present invention solve the oxygen loss problem of cuprate HTSC materials without suffering from any of the disadvantages, drawbacks and limitations of prior art compounds.
A superconducting bulk compound in the system La.sub.3-z Me.sub.z Ba.sub.3 Ca.sub.1-v Nc.sub.v Cu.sub.7 O.sub.16+x where z=0 and v=0, namely La.sub.3 Ba.sub.3 CaCu.sub.7 O.sub.16+x, known as La3317, was first prepared by Engelsbereg and the material was found to be a superconductor with a T.sub.c =80.2 K and to have a triple perovskite structure. The compound was tetragonal with c=3a (c=11.61, a=3.87). An earlier study by H. Fujishita et. al performed on a composition close to La3317 deduced that most of the calcium atoms occupy the central position of the unit cell occupied by the yttrium atoms in YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.6+x (YBCO). Recently, Kao et. al reported that about half of the calcium atoms enter the yttrium sites and that the remainder are on barium (Ba) sites. Similar results have been achieved in studies of other La--Ba--Ca--Cu oxides by Fujishita and Wang, where much of the lanthanum is found in the barium sites. Engelsberg already studied the substitution of magnesium (Mg) and scandium (Sc) for calcium and he found a slight increase in lattice parameter when magnesium is substituted, c=11.71 .ANG. and a=3.91 .ANG., and he observed superconductivity below 30 K. Additionally, scandium substitution led to a multiphase material with no observed superconductivity. Wu et. al also investigated rare earth substitution for lanthanum in bulk samples. Based on these superconductor studies, the prior art only indicates a search for higher T.sub.c materials, while still not satisfactorily resolving the long-felt shortcomings and disadvantages of cuprate HTSC materials' oxygen loss and phase transition problems. The compounds of the present invention now resolve those problems by being more stable with respect to oxygen such that these compounds can provide more effective, practical, cheaper and longer lasting superconductors.
Prior art describing similar compounds is found at A. W. Sleight and R. Ward, Inorganic Chemistry, 3 rd edition, p. 292 (1964);
S. Engelsberg, 176 Physica C. 451, 1991; PA1 H. Fujishita et. al, 28 Japanese Journal of Applied Physics 754 (1989); PA1 H. C. Kao et. al, 9 Superconductor Science Technology 10 (1996); PA1 M. Nicolas et. al, 249 Physica C 377 (1995); PA1 C. M. Wang et. al, 39 Journal of Chinese Chemical Society 67 (1992); and PA1 D. S. Wu et. al, 212 Physica C 32 (1996).

High critical temperature superconductors in the system La.sub.3-z . Me.subz Ba.sub.3 Ca.sub.1-v Nc.sub.v Cu.sub.7 O.sub.16+x where Me=a rare earth or alkaline metal ION and Nc is a Mg, Cd ION

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


A surface wave transducer has measures for suppressing internal reflections on terminal fingers of a transducer having other transducer fingers, which are arranged interdigitally adjacent to the terminal fingers, which are arranged corresponding to a specified acoustic wavelength of the transducer at intervals specified by a predetermined scheme and which are designed with finger widths that are likewise specified by the predetermined scheme. On each end of the transducer only a plurality of terminal fingers, which are connected to one busbar of the transducer, are positioned deviating from the scheme for positionings and finger widths of the other transducer fingers and are positioned deviating in their finger strip width. Phases and amplitudes of wave components, which would otherwise be reflected by the terminal transducer fingers and by an adjacent final transducer finger of the other transducer fingers, which corresponds to the scheme of the transducer, are modified such that the wave components intrinsically interfere destructively with one another.

The present invention relates to a surface wave for suppressing reflections of terminal transducer fingers transducer.
In order to suppress undesired reflections of the acoustic wave in the transducer and on its transducer fingers, it has been known for a long time for such (transmitting/receiving) transducers to be constructed with interdigitally arranged transducer fingers, especially as split finger transducers. In comparison with a simple interdigital transducer with adjacent transducer fingers having alternating polarity, such transducers have in each case two (if required, also in each case three) adjacent fingers which have the same polarity, that is to say they are electrically connected to one and the same busbar. In a normal, regular design of such a split finger transducer, there follow alternating with one another two (or three) transducer fingers connected to the one busbar and two (or three) transducer fingers connected to the other busbar. The center distances between successive transducer fingers (irrespective of which polarity, that is to say including the fingers within a "split finger" and apart from points at which transducer fingers are omitted) are a quarter (or a sixth) of the acoustic wavelength of the surface wave to which the relevant transducer is tuned, to be precise the wavelength of the acoustic wave in the substrate material of the transducer. The center distances of adjacent groups of two (or three) adjacent fingers of the same polarity, that is to say the center distances between alternating split fingers, is once again equal to half the wavelength, as in the case of simple transducers.
A further transducer type with suppression of internal reflections of the ultrasound waves is the third-lambda finger arrangement. This is likewise an interdigital transducer in which, as in the case of the split finger transducer, the one finger comb (with the busbar) has doubled transducer fingers and there is in each case a single finger of the finger comb of the other busbar between adjacent groups of such double transducer fingers.
For the internal regions of such a split finger transducer or third-lambda transducer, the neutralization or suppression of internal reflections in the transducer is virtually complete with correspondingly precise dimensioning. However, this unfortunately does not apply to the terminal split finger groups and finger groups. In order to achieve suppression of reflections for these as well, it is known (European reference EP-A-0,088,400) for the relevant transducers to be provided with terminal transducer fingers which are dimensioned such that their finger length is reduced in steps, in such a manner that terminal transducer fingers interact in an interfering manner with one another with respect to the reflections. A disadvantage of such an (additional) measure is, however, that such an end of stepped construction of a transducer causes distortions in the phase front of the acoustic wave of the transducer. In addition, not all the fingers of a transducer which is weighted in an overlapping manner, as is often the case, are affected completely by the acoustic wave which is received by the transducer which is operated as the receiving transducer. The efficiency of such a measure for suppressing undesired reflections occurring at the end of a transducer is also only limited.
Another method of suppressing reflections occurring on terminal fingers of an interdigital transducer is that which is described in German reference DE-B-2,839,851. Weighted fingers in the region of the transducer end are directed with essentially longitudinal components of these fingers at an oblique angle with respect to the major axis of the wave propagation, so that these fingers reflect ultrasound waves which impinge on them away in an oblique direction, by means of these obliquely positioned components of their finger lengths, that is to say said fingers do not intrinsically reflect back.
A further method (Trans. IECE Jap. Vol 64-C (1981) pages 437-438) is to design some of the terminal fingers to be shortened with respect to the mutual distance between busbars which are opposite one another, and to replace the "missing" finger length by a floating finger in each case. However, floating potentials are highly problematic in many applications.
Finally, reference should also be made to a method of suppressing reflections of terminal fingers which consists of the outermost finger of the two fingers of the terminal (consisting of these two fingers) split finger being designed to be directed obliquely with respect to the major axis direction of wave propagation. With this measure, it must be accepted that interference occurs in the phase front of the acoustic wave of the useful signal.
Reference should also be made here to U.S. Pat. No. 4,162,465 which is apparently similar to the invention which is also described in the following text. This document describes a split finger transducer in which, in contrast to split finger transducers which were known at that time and in which wave reflections are suppressed in an artificial manner at the fingers, such mechanical reflections are caused deliberately. The purpose of this measure is to compensate for, that is to say to eliminate (reflected) waves which are reflected on the electrical load by means of such deliberately caused waves. To this end, according to the teaching of this document, it is necessary, to be precise within in each case one of the two transducer combs of the interdigital transducer, to provide fingers with a finger width which deviates from the other fingers, and a deviating finger separation, one or more such fingers of the one comb being adjacent to one or more fingers of the other comb. The mechanical (MEL) wave, which compensates for the wave which is reflected electrically (regenerated) by the other load, is produced in the interior of the thus modified transducer. The dimensioning, which for this purpose is dependent on the impedance of the load, of these deviating fingers is specified. This has nothing to do with the suppression of reflections of terminal fingers of a transducer and the fingers, dimensioned according to U.S. Pat. No. 4,162,465, of the transducer described there are also not effective for this purpose.

Surface wave transducer, especially of split finger design, with suppression of reflections of terminal transducer fingers


Methods, systems, and computer readable media for providing precise timing in a virtual data network or storage network test environment are provided. One method includes providing at least one peripheral device or peripheral device emulator including a timing source. The method further includes connecting the at least one peripheral or peripheral device emulator to a peripheral interface of a computing platform hosting a hypervisor on which at least one test or application under test virtual machine executes. The method further includes making the timing source available to the at least one virtual machine. The method further includes executing a test and using the timing source to provide precise timing for the test.

Network test systems test data network and storage network equipment by executing tests that measure latency, throughput, roundtrip time, jitter, and other metrics of device performance. All of these tests require precise timing and, in some instances, synchronized timing sources between the test system and the device(s) under test. When the test system is implemented on hardware dedicated to testing and the devices under test include precise timing sources, accurate timing measurements can be obtained from the tests. However, in many instances dedicated testing hardware is not available. For example, when testing data center equipment, physical access to the test environment may be limited. Instead, testing can be performed by loading test software onto data or storage network equipment physical machines. Because the data or storage network physical machines may not have reliable clocks, the test software may not have access to accurate, synchronized clock sources.
The difficulties in executing tests that require precise timing sources is further complicated by the introduction of virtualization in data network and storage network equipment. For example, applications under test in a data network or a storage network may run on top of hypervisor layers which virtualize the underlying physical hardware. In addition, applications under test may be moved among virtual machines after a test is initiated, which may further complicate timing measurements. Similarly, when the test application also runs on top of hypervisor, the test application may not have direct access to the underlying hardware, including clocks, and may also be moved among physical machines. Thus, even if the clock sources on some data network or storage network equipment are accurate, there is no way to guarantee on which physical machine a given application under test or test application will execute. As a result, virtualization increases the difficulty in obtaining accurate timing measurements during equipment testing.
One possible solution to this problem is to connect test equipment and equipment under test with synchronization cables. The clocks on all of the equipment could then be synchronized via signals transmitted over the synchronization cables. However, running synchronization cables throughout a facility is time consuming and may not be possible in the case where the tester does not have physical access to the test facility. Even when the tester has physical access to the facility, running synchronization cables may be difficult, especially when the test system and the system under test are located in different rooms and/or on different floors.
Accordingly, there exists a long felt need for methods, systems, and computer readable media for providing precise timing in a virtual data network or storage network test environment.

Methods, systems, and computer readable media for providing precise timing in virtual data network or storage network test environment


A scroll compressor is provided with a motor protector mounted at a location remote from the motor. The motor protector is of the sort which operates to stop operation of the motor both when the temperatures in the scroll compressor increases, and when the electrical characteristics of the power supplied to the motor depart from those from which are expected. Preferably, the motor protector is mounted in the non-orbiting scroll. Further, the invention includes means to increase the sensitivity of this motor protector to conditions indicative of an outdoor fan failure. In several embodiments, these means include a valve which opens to communicate hot discharge pressure refrigerant over the valve. In one other embodiment, this means is a heat sink operable to take heat away from the motor protector. In this last embodiment, when the volume flow of refrigerant decreases, the amount of heat taken away also decreases.

This application relates to a scroll compressor having a motor protector incorporated into the compressor at a location remote from the motor, and further having structure for enhancing the flow of refrigerant across the protector in the event of a high discharge pressure condition.
Scroll compressors are becoming widely utilized in refrigerant compressor applications. As known, a scroll compressor includes two scroll members each having a base and a generally spiral wrap extending from the base. The wraps interfit to define compression chambers. One of the two scroll members is caused to orbit relative to the other, and as the two orbit the size of the compression chambers decrease, compressing an entrapped refrigerant.
There are many design challenges in the use of scroll compressors. One design challenge occurs when there is a loss of charge in the refrigerant cycle. In such situations, the pressure ratio of the discharge pressure to suction pressure increases greatly. This results in additional heat, and is detrimental to the operation of the compressor, and the entire refrigerant system. It is desirable to sense such a condition as quickly as possible and stop operation of the compressor.
Modern compressors are typically powered by an electric motor. The electric motor is provided with a motor protector which stops operation of the motor should anyone of a number of conditions be sensed. One particular condition is excess heat in the compressor housing which is sensed by the motor protector. In addition, anomalies in the electric current or voltage being supplied to the motor will also cause the protector to stop operation.
Recently, the Assignee in the above-referenced invention has invented the concept of locating the motor protector at a location remote from the motor. In this way, the protector can sense the occurrence of high temperature causing conditions more rapidly, and thus can stop the compressor more rapidly. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/527,428 entitled xe2x80x9cMotor Protector on Non-Orbiting Scrollxe2x80x9d and filed on Mar. 16, 2000 is disclosed in the base of the non-orbiting scroll. While this location is quite beneficial, it would be desirable to increase the efficiency of this motor protector identifying the improper conditions and stopping operation of the motor.
In disclosed embodiments of this invention, a scroll compressor is provided with a motor protector located at a location remote from the motor. Further, valving is preferably provided to identify conditions indicative of an outdoor fan failure, and in particular, high pressure differentials. When such conditions are identified, discharge pressure refrigerant is allowed to flow over the motor protector. Under outdoor fan failure or blocked fan conditions, the discharge refrigerant will be hotter than normal. The motor protector will promptly stop operation of the motor. More broadly, the invention could be said to include a number of ways of providing increased sensitivity to conditions indicative of the outdoor fan failure at the motor protector.
Again, in preferred embodiments, a relief valve which is open when the discharge to suction pressure differential exceeds a predetermined value, is positioned to allow discharge refrigerant to pass over the protector when opened. In embodiments, this valve may be located in the base of the non-orbiting scroll, may be located in a protective cover on the non-orbiting scroll, or may be located in an outer suction passage leading to the beginning of the compression chambers in the non-orbiting scroll. In this latter embodiment, the motor protector is further located in this outer suction area. With this embodiment, no additional height is required for either the motor protector or the relief valve.
In a further embodiment, a heat sink is provided both above and below the motor protector. As the discharge refrigerant passes over this heat sink, heat is taken away from the motor protector. However, in a loss of charge situation the volume flow of this refrigerant will decrease. Further, the refrigerant will typically have a higher temperature. Thus, the heat transfer from this heat sink will also decrease. The motor protector will thus increase in temperature, and soon trips and stop operation of the motor.
These and other features of this invention can be understood from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a brief description.

Scroll compressor with motor protector in non-orbiting scroll and flow enhancement


Personal computers and a printer are linked via an image processing apparatus. A first memory stores data received from computers. A second memory stores data received from an original. An output interface receives the data from the transfer data buffer and the image buffer and outputs the data to the printer. A printer status detector obtains the status of the printer to determine whether the printer is unable to print. A cancel commanding section commands the printer to clear the data received from the output interface when the printer is unable to print. A data identifier identifies whether the data output through the output interface is the data from the image buffer. When the data identifier identifies that the data outputted from the output interface is data from the image buffer, the cancel commanding section commands the printer to clear the data received from the output interface.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming system and more particularly to an image processing apparatus linked to a host apparatus and a printer in the image forming system.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional apparatus having a scanner and a printer is capable of performing a copying operation. The scanner reads an original and transfers the read data of the original directly to the printer, which in turn performs a copying operation.
When trouble occurs in the printer in the middle of a printing operation of the data received from the scanner, the printing is stopped and the data remains in the printer. When an abnormal condition occurs in the scanner during a printing operation, the copying operation can be ceased and the data read through the scanner is erased but the data that has been received in the printer cannot be erased. Therefore, the data remaining in the printer must be printed out once the abnormal condition is removed from the printer.

Image processing apparatus and image forming system


The invention relates to a microorganism, of the order of lactic acid bacteria or analog, fragment, derivative, mutant or combination thereof. Said microorganism, or analog, fragment, derivative, mutants or combinations thereof can be co-aggregated with at least Staphylococcus aureus or Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The main function of the skin is to protect the underlying tissue from the external environment. It thus prevents among other things the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms into the body. The skin and mucous membranes are of course populated by a wide variety of microorganisms which often live as commensals in a relatively stable composition on the surface and support the protective function of the skin. In the ideal case bacteria having a positive health effect will be dominant over harmful microorganisms occurring at the same time. If this system gets out of balance, negative effects on the person's health and well-being are virtually predestined.
Pathogenic microorganisms have the ability to adhere specifically to the structures of the epidermis through binding proteins. For example, the presence of adhesins with which the microorganism can adhere to fibronectin structures is known to occur with the pathogenic strain Staphylococcus aureus (Bingham, R. J. et al. 2008, O'Neill, E. et al., 2008).
Pathogenic microorganisms usually have a higher potential for adhering to the host, which thus explains the increased virulence. The presence of extremely small lesions or other injuries in the top layers of skin increases the risk of invasion of pathogenic microorganisms.
Furthermore, bacterial infections of the wound surfaces especially in healing of wounds may lead to complications. There is the risk first that acute wound will not heal and will lead to chronic wounds. The microflora of these chronic wounds is highly complex and it is known that a variety of microorganisms can have a deleterious effect on the wound healing process (Davies et al. 2004, Kirketerp-Moller et al. 2008).
Aerobic bacteria, e.g., Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus have be identified as the main pathogens in wounds. The inflammatory phase of wound healing normally serves to combat potentially pathogenic microorganisms and for cell regeneration. However, poorly healing or refractory wounds often occur in patients who are already immunosuppressed and have a reduced inflammatory response. This weakened immune response can no longer provide effective defense against primary wound bacteria, so the bacteria penetrate into the wound and form colonies, which are organized as biofilms (James et al. 2008).
The biofilms are not only resistance to the defense system of the host but also planktonic cells or microcolonies (Fux et al. 2005, Sheldon 2005). Due to the impaired immune system, the biofilm keeps the wound healing process in the inflammation phase with the result that there are elevated concentration of matrix metalloproteins such as elastase, plasmin and thrombin, for example, which in turn degrade the growth factors and their receptors that are essential for healing (Mast and Schultz 1996).
Furthermore, the elevated concentrations of free oxygen radicals and inflammatory cytokines led to severe damage to the host cells (James et al. 2003, Moseley et al. 2004).
Therapeutic agents capable of eliminating the biofilm and thus combatting the causes of chronic and refractory wounds have been described in the prior art.

Lactic acid bacteria that co-aggregate with pathogenic bacteria


A method and apparatus for controlling network service parameters in a cell based communications network. A plurality of input signals are received on input ports of a communications device and a plurality of output signals are sourced from output ports, wherein at least one input signal and at least one output signal comprise, respectively, at least one virtual connection. The communications device is part of a cell based communications network and each virtual connection comprises a series of data cells comprising a header portion and a data portion. A first virtual connection is assigned to an input queue of an input port and an output queue of an output port. Each queue is associated with a first buffer space dedicated to the respective queue. Each queue is also associated with a second buffer space that is shared between the respective queue and other queues. The second buffer space is utilized after the first buffer space becomes full. Data associated with the first virtual connection is queued in the input and output queues. The communications device also includes a switching fabric intermediate the input ports and the output ports. Bandwidth into the switching fabric is allocated by the input port, and bandwidth out of the device is allocated by the output port.

Cell based communications networks such as asynchronous transfer ("ATM") networks are used to transfer audio, video, and data. ATM networks transfer data by routing data units such as ATM cells from a source to a destination through switches. Switches include input/output ports through which ATM cells are received and transmitted.
Existing ATM switches can be divided into several classes. One type of switch uses one large queue as a buffer and controls the access of individual virtual connections to bandwidth on a statistical basis. As a general matter, each virtual connection through this type of switch shares one large buffer and each virtual connection statistically shares the available bandwidth of the switch and/or on an output link connected to the switch. This approach suffers from several disadvantages. Depending upon the type of traffic traveling through an ATM network, one may want to control certain network service parameters associated with that traffic type. Examples of parameters that may be desirably controlled by an ATM network include a connection's delay variation, its end-to-end delay, its maximum data loss, its access to guaranteed bandwidth, its access and priority of access to shared bandwidth, and its delivery priority. Unfortunately, ATM switches employing the above approach cannot create quality of service guarantees on a per connection basis or even provide quality of service (QOS) guarantees on a per traffic type basis. Instead, quality of service guarantees can only be statistical in nature. In addition, head of line blocking in this approach can block connections behind the blocked connection.
A second approach employs a plurality of queues in each switch and allocates switch bandwidth statistically. Further refinements of this approach may assign particular connections to a particular queue based upon a characteristic of the connection such as the traffic type of the connection or the group from which the connection originated. In general, this approach is characterized by sharing each of a plurality of queues by a plurality of connections and sharing the switch bandwidth and/or output link bandwidth among all connections. This approach also has several disadvantages. Quality of service based upon the above parameters can only be guaranteed on a per queue basis and the guarantees that can be made for low priority traffic are not strong guarantees. In addition, the quality of service guarantees for multiple queues can only be made on a statistical basis rather than on a per connection basis. This approach also suffers from head of line blocking in each individual queue. Thus, certain connections may block other connections behind it.
A third approach uses a plurality of queues and assigns a plurality of connections to each queue and allocates either switch bandwidth and/or link bandwidth on a per queue basis. This approach also suffers from several disadvantages. Again, the quality of network service can only be guaranteed on a per queue basis rather than on a per connection basis. Also, unused allocated switch bandwidth and/or link bandwidth cannot be used by another queue. Accordingly, this bandwidth remains unused, resulting in an inefficient use of system resources.

Method and system for controlling network service parameters in a cell based communications network


A system advantageously populates Flowsheet data fields with predetermined exemplary patient parameter data in response to user selection of a designated displayed trigger parameter and enables user preview of Flowsheet format including the exemplary data resulting from tentative configuration settings without exiting a configuration window. A user interface display system supports entry of medical information concerning administration of treatment to a patient. A display generator generates at least one display image for use in configuring a display image to be used in supporting entry of information concerning administration of medication to a patient. The at least one display image includes data entry elements supporting user selection of a plurality of predetermined data item values associated with an individual parameter and a display window including particular user entered predetermined data item values in a format substantially the same as the format the particular predetermined data item values are to have in a configured display image.

Patient medical parameter data is acquired, collated, stored and displayed for use in providing patient clinical care in hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare delivery settings. Patient medical parameter data may include vital signs ventilator information, infusion pump data associated with fluid delivery and other data. Such patient medical parameter data is typically displayed on a patient monitoring device screen in a trend indicative chart with a time axis. This type of chart is commonly termed a Flowsheet. A patient monitoring device is usually located at a patient bedside or nursing station in a hospital ward or in an intensive care, surgical or other location and may be connected to a network such as the Internet, a LAN, a WAN or an intra-net for acquiring patient parameter data from local sources (e.g., patient attached sensors) or remote sources (e.g., a remotely stored electronic patient record). The Flowsheet is an electronic chronological chart of patient parameter information that substitutes for a paper vital sign Flowsheet.
It is desirable that an electronic Flowsheet offer similar or better features and flexibility than a paper Flowsheet chart that it replaces. Such paper Flowsheet charts are used by healthcare personnel to record patient Fluid Intake and Output information and other parameters in many different ways. Known electronic Flowsheet systems are limited in the features they offer. Such feature limitations include limited user capability to specify default or exemplary values for patient parameters and the manner of exemplary value presentation. Such exemplary parameter values may identify medication amount, medication units of measure, fluid type, fluid volume, dose units of measure, and drip rate for each medication of a medication drip parameter, for example. Known systems typically constrain a user to configure a Flowsheet to include exemplary parameter values for a limited, fixed set of parameters, and a limited, fixed set of data items (data fields) associated with the parameters components or fields within those parameters. Such limitations on the use of exemplary values compromise Flowsheet usability since the presentation of exemplary values in a Flowsheet reduces Flowsheet configuration time and reduces error by providing guidance for data entry.
Known systems are further limited in Flowsheet data format preview capability. The complexity of Flowsheet configuration means that it is difficult for a user to envision the look of a Flowsheet resulting from selected configuration options. Known systems typically require a user to exit a configuration popup menu (saving the configuration setting upon exit) and enter data for a test patient, for example, in order to view a resultant Flowsheet presentation and verify that the configuration conformed to requirements. This is a clumsy and burdensome procedure involving saving a configuration setting in a configuration menu, navigating to a test Flowsheet and entering test data for display and review in this test Flowsheet. Further, if amendment is necessary, a user needs to navigate back to an appropriate configuration popup menu and make alterations and repeat the review procedure. These restrictions mean that known systems provide electronic Fluids Flowsheet that fail to replicate the look, features and flexibility of Flowsheet paper charts. A system according to invention principles addresses these limitations and derivative problems.

Medical information system and user interface supporting treatment administration


A sensor for a spectrometer is provided, which includes at least one optical element onto which an excitation light source beam is directed and from which a target beam is emitted towards a sample to be analyzed. The at least one optical element can move, thereby enabling the direction of the target beam to be varied.

In the field of the disclosure, various types of optical fibre sensors are used for Raman spectrometry and fluorescence spectrometry.
Their common characteristic is receiving external exciting light, such as a laser beam from a spectrometer, for example by means of an optical fibre, in order to route it to the sample to be analysed. The sensor then receives the light diffused by the sample to be analysed on the same fixed focal point from where the exciting light leaves the sensor, and then returns this light diffused by the sample to the spectrometer by means of a second optical fibre.
Conventionally, the sensors comprise several optical elements, such as lenses, mirrors, filters or optical fibres.
However, at the present time, sensors are of the so-called single axis type. In other words the optical elements are fixed, which implies a single fixed point situated either perpendicular or parallel to the axis of the sensor. This limits the use of the sensors according to the location of this focal point.
In fact, under certain conditions, it is desirable to be able to modify the position of the focal point. This is possible with known sensors only by modifying the position of the sensor overall (which involves relatively long adjustment times) or by having recourse to two different sensors (which of course tends to considerably increase the cost of the device).
Moreover, each spectrometer must have its own light excitation source that is integrated in it or use an external light excitation source situated close to this spectrometer.
This proves to be fairly impractical in terms of installation.
In addition, these spectrometers are generally limited to a single wavelength for the light excitation source.

Spectrometer sensor comprising moving optical means and corresponding spectrometer


A portable frame is configured to be transported by the forks of a fork lift truck and has hydraulic lines releasably connectable to the auxiliary hydraulic fluid pressure system of the fork lift truck. A valve and a set of hydraulic lines are mounted on the portable frame for releasable connection to the hydraulic fluid lines of a tillage machine so that an inexpensive fork lift truck may be utilized to test operation of hydraulically actuated tillage components.

Agricultural implements such as tillage implements are large and difficult to test without a pressurized hydraulic fluid control system. Typical tillage machines can reach up to 60 feet spans that are lateral to the direction of movement through a field. To achieve this span, but still enable the implement to be transportable on public roads, the frames for such implements are articulated having center sections and one or more wing sections pivotally connected to the center section. Since the wing sections are heavy and carry heavy tillage components, hydraulic actuators are required to fold in between the deployed field position and the folded transport position. The actuators for such wing sections, as well as the actuators for establishing the height of the equipment, have pairs of hydraulic fluid lines connectable to the opposite ends of an actuator piston. This is to alternately pressurize the actuator to extend or retract it, thus pivoting the wing sections. In field operation, the hydraulic fluid under pressure is supplied from a control system mounted on a tractor and multiple quick disconnect connections for each of the pairs of hydraulic fluid lines for the tillage implement.
While this is appropriate and effective for operation in the field as well as transport operation, there are times when tillage implements need to be moved and/or tested within the storage area of a dealer or other facility. While the functionality of testing the apparatus may be performed by a tractor in the storage area of such a facility, the tractor is an extremely expensive piece of equipment and in many cases it can be difficult to maneuver around the sometimes confined spaces of a storage area.
Accordingly, what is needed in the art is a portable hydraulic control system that that is inexpensive and can be easily maneuvered in a dealership or manufacturing facility.

Portable hydraulic connection and control assembly


A crystalline salt according to formula (1): or the opposite enantiomer thereof, wherein X+ is a cation. Such salts are useful in preparing chiral scaffolds, in particular of formulae (a)–(d)

Drug discovery may utilise, for screening, a library in which individual compounds are single isomers. This generates 3-dimensional information that can be enhanced by applying computational methods for lead optimisation. In order to prepare single isomer libraries, the appropriate chiral scaffold precursors should be in isomerically pure form, in which relative and absolute configuration is defined across all stereogenic centres. It is equally important that, for a scaffold having a particular bond connectivity, all possible stereoisomers can be prepared. Thus a series of scaffolds of this type can be elaborated chemically into different but defined directions of 3-D space, to give isomeric compounds which may have very different properties in a chiral biological environment.
An important consideration in the development of synthetic routes towards scaffolds is that the chemistry should have the potential for scale-up. Then, in the event that the library screens generate useful lead compounds, the appropriate scaffold can be produced in sufficient quantity to support any subsequent drug discovery and development.
Pipecolic acid and 4-hydroxypipecolic acid are natural non-proteinogenic amino acids found in plants. In addition to the free amino acid, pipecolic acid is also found in complex biologically active molecules (for an example, see Nicolaou et al.; J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1993, 115, 4419–4420). Derivatives of pipecolic acid are known to display anaesthetic (GB-A-1166802), NMDA agonist and antagonist (Ornstein et al.; J. Med. Chem. 1989, 32, 827–833), anticoagulant (Okamoto et al.; Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 1981, 101, 440446) and glycosidase activity (Bruce et al.; Tetrahedron 1992, 46, 10191–10200). Pipecolic acids have also been used in peptide chemistry as analogues of proline (Copeland et al.; Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 1990, 169, 310–314). In the light of the diverse activities displayed by such pipecolic acid derivatives, single enantiomer libraries using such compounds as the scaffold would be a highly desirable tool for screening.
For a recent review of the synthesis of pipecolic acids, see Couty, Amino Acids 1999, 16, 297–320. A common synthetic route to racemic 4-hydroxypipecolic acid derivatives, has been to use an acyliminium ion cyclisation on a suitably protected homoallylic amine (Hays et al.; J. Org. Chem. 1990, 56, 4084–4086). This approach has been adapted to furnish enantiomerically pure cis 4-hydroxypipecolic acid derivatives provided a chiral protecting group is used in the synthesis (Beaulieu et al.; J. Org Chem. 1997, 62, 3440–3448). However, the protecting group does not offer any asymmetric induction, and the enantiomers have to be separated by a laborious co-crystallisation with (−)-camphorsulphonic acid. A similar approach to the synthesis reports a separation by recrystallisation of a diastereoisomeric intermediate (Skiles et al.; Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 1996, 6, 963–966).
Another common theme in the synthesis of enantiomerically pure cis 4-hydroxypipecolic acid derivatives has been to fix the stereochemistry of the carboxylate group using a (L)-aspartic acid, and use this stereocentre to direct reduction of a ketone at the 4-position (Golubev et al.; Tetrahedron Lett. 1995, 36, 2037–2440; Bousquet et al.; Tetrahedron 1997, 46, 15671–15680). Two routes derived from carbohydrate starting materials have been reported, an atom inefficient synthesis starting from D-glucoheptono-1,4-lactone (Di Nardo and Varela; J. Org. Chem. 1999, 64, 6119–6125) and from D-glucosamine (Nin et al.; Tetrahedron 1993, 42, 9459–9464). All of these approaches yield only the cis-diastereoisomer. In particular, it remains a challenge to synthesise the two stereoisomers of trans-4-hydroxypipecolic acid in conveniently protected form, especially the N-Boc derivatives (i) and (ii)

The most common approach has been to synthesise the cis-diastereoisomer, followed by a tedious inversion of the 4-hydroxy group. An alternative approach has utilised a ring expansion of 4-hydroxy-L-proline (Pellicciari et al.; Med. Chem. Res. 1992, 2, 491–496) and provides access to both diastereoisomers of 4-hydroxy-L-pipecolates. However, this route is unattractive on a large scale, owing to the two chromatographic steps needed for the separation of regio- and diastereomeric mixtures, and also the requirement for the hazardous reagent ethyl diazoacetate to effect ring expansion.
Both enantiomers of 2-acetamidopent-4-enoic acid are readily available in large quantities via bioresolution of a racemic mixture, and as such are valuable chiral building blocks. Using standard literature chemical methods, it is possible to convert both enantiomers of suitably protected 2-acetamidopent-4-enoic acid into mixtures of diastereoisomers (A) and (B)

These diastereoisomeric ester mixtures (A) and (B) may be convenient intermediates for the preparation of scaffolds if their separation could be readily achieved. Although selective crystallisation can often provide a simple means to achieve scaleable separation of diastereoisomers, this technique is not applicable to mixtures (A) and (B), which are obtained as oils.
There are isolated reports in the literature that biocatalysis can be used as a means to effect separation of diastereoisomeric mixtures. For example, see Wang et al.; J. Org. Chem., 1998, 63, 4850–3; Hiroya et al.; Synthesis, 1995, 379–81; Mulzer et al.; Liebigs Ann. Chem., 1992, 1131–5.