A programmable logic device test generation tool is provided that produces test configuration data and test vectors for testing programmable logic device integrated circuits. A graph generation tool converts a netlist or other circuit description of a programmable logic device integrated circuit into a graph having nodes and edges. A timing analysis tool may be used to help produce test constraints. Based on the test constraints, an automatic test generator processes the graph to produce the test configuration data and test vectors. In processing the graph with the automatic test generator, the graph may be divided into multiple testable subgraphs. Each subgraph may be processed using an iterative approach in which a cost function threshold is adjusted in a number of steps until a target test coverage is obtained or processing saturates.

This invention relates to programmable logic device integrated circuits, and more particularly, to testing programmable logic device integrated circuits.
Programmable logic devices are a type of integrated circuit that can be customized by a user to implement a desired logic design. In a typical scenario, a logic designer uses a logic design system to design a logic circuit. The logic design system uses information on the hardware capabilities of a given programmable logic device to help the designer implement the logic circuit using the resources available on the given programmable logic device. The logic design system creates configuration data. When the configuration data is loaded into the programmable logic device, it programs the logic of the programmable logic device so that the programmable logic device implements the designer's logic circuit.
It is generally desirable to test programmable logic device integrated circuits during manufacturing. If a fault is detected, a programmable logic device integrated circuit can be repaired or discarded.
During testing, a programmable logic device is loaded with sets of test configuration data. After each set of test configuration data has been loaded, test vectors are applied to the device and the resulting operation of the device is monitored to identify faults.
Unless a programmable logic device design contains only simple patterns of conductive interconnects and programmable connections, it can be computationally intensive to generate appropriate sets of test configuration data and test vectors to be applied to the device during testing. Modern programmable logic devices often have complex architectures and are highly programmable. The highly-programmable nature of these devices makes it challenging to efficiently produce test configuration data and test vectors that will provide an acceptable level of test coverage.
It would therefore be desirable to provide improved ways in which to test programmable logic device integrated circuits.

Constraint-driven test generation for programmable logic device integrated circuits


A Eu-doped CsBr-type storage phosphor screen or panel has been disclosed, providing ratios of ultraviolet luminescence intensities of at least 10/9 after having been exposed to radiation having a wavelength in the range from 150 to 400 nm, measured at same sites without and with pretreatment exposure of said storage phosphor screen or panel with short ultraviolet radiation in the range from 150 to 300 nm and having an energy of 10 mJ/mm2, as well as a method of producing a stimulable phosphor screen or panel, characterized in that during or after at least one of the manufacturing steps a radiation exposure treatment is given with radiation sources emitting short ultraviolet radiation in the range from 150 to 300 nm with an energy of at least 10 mJ/mm2.

When manufacturing stimulable (storage) phosphor plates for digital imaging, all parameters are controlled with the highest care possible, as images should be obtained with the best information possible, i.a. an optimized signal to noise ratio. One of the most important factors related with that signal to noise ratio is speed (sensitivity) of the storage phosphors in the storage phosphor plate or panel.
A higher speed stands for detection of higher amounts of photons by the photomultiplier. Noise is directly related with the number of detected quanta and is proportional therewith.
Speed of a plate or panel for computed radiography, also called CR, is determined by the number of emitted photons per dose unit, set free by photostimulation of energy, stored in the stimulable phosphors after exposure to X-rays.
Improving speed for X-rays of imaging plates by heat treatment has already been described before in literature: such a treatment, known as "annealing" e.g. by heating during a time between 10 minutes and 15 hours at a temperature between 80 and 220° C. as exemplified in EP-A 1 217 633, requires quite a lot of time and such an application demands presence of heat resistant substrates as it should withstand at least such high temperatures, set forth.

Radiation pretreated stimulable phosphor screen or panel


Network node and method therein for assignment of Physical Cell Identities (PCIs) to Radio Base Stations (RBSs) in a wireless communication network. The method includes determining a most densely located RBS, based on the distances from each RBS to a certain number of other RBSs of the plurality of RBSs. The method further includes, for each RBS, i, for which a PCI is to be assigned: assigning a Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS) to the RBSi from a set of SSSs, based on a distance from the RBSi to another RBS in the communication network associated with the same SSS, and a number of tiers between the RBSi and, at least, the other RBS. Further, a Primary Synchronization Signal (PSS) is assigned to the RBSi, based on the number of cells associated with the RBSi; and a PCI is assigned to the RBSi, based on the SSS and the PSS.

In order to function in a wireless communication network, a UE (User Equipment) must connect to a cell provided by an RBS (Radio Base Station). In order to access a cell, the UE performs a so-called cell search procedure. By performing a cell search procedure, the UE acquires time and frequency parameters needed in order to correctly demodulate data from an RBS. The parameters acquired during this procedure are in particular e.g.: a symbol start position, a carrier frequency and sampling clock synchronization.
The cell search procedure depends on whether the UE is performing an initial synchronization, i.e. a first detection of a cell and decoding of information needed in order to register to it, or is performing a new cell identification, i.e. the detection of neighboring cells, e.g. as a preparation for handover, when the UE is already connected to a serving cell.
In each cell in an LTE-type system, at least two signals are broadcasted by the eNB serving the cell in order to facilitate the cell search procedure: the so-called Primary Synchronization Signal (PSS) and the so-called Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS).
Primary Synchronization Signal (PSS)
During an initial cell search, a UE first searches for the primary synchronization signal (PSS) which is transmitted in the last OFDM symbol of the first time slot of the first subframe (subframe 0) in a radio frame, cf. FIG. 1. The PSS enables the UE to acquire the slot boundary independently from the chosen cyclic prefix selected for this cell. Based on the downlink frame structure, e.g. Type 1, FDD (Frequency Division Duplexing), the PSS is transmitted twice per radio frame, e.g. first in subframe 0, and is then repeated in subframe 5 (in time slot 11). This enables the UE to get time synchronized on a 5 ms basis. The location of the PSS within the bandwidth is also illustrated in more detail in FIG. 2.
Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS)
After that a UE has found the 5 ms timing by use of the PSS, it needs to obtain the radio frame timing and the cell's group identity. This information can be derived from the SSS. When regarded in the time domain, the SSS is typically transmitted in the symbol before the PSS, which is also illustrated in FIG. 1. The SSS, like the PSS, also has a 5 ms periodicity. When the SSS is transmitted in the symbol preceding the PSS, this means that the SSS is transmitted in the first and sixth subframes, denoted subframes 0 and 5. Like the PSS, the SSS is typically transmitted on 62 of the 72 reserved subcarriers around the DC subcarrier.
A PCI to be used in a cell could be derived and assigned to an RBS based on a PSS and an SSS, e.g. according to the formula: PCI=3×SSS+(Spacing×PSS); where "spacing" is a parameter which is selected in order to avoid that adjacent cells get the same frequency shift.
Various strategies may be used to assign or allocate a PCI (Physical Cell Identity) to a cell, e.g. in an LTE network. The choice of the allocation scheme has impact on processing requirements and synchronization performance at the UE. There are a number of PCI planning tools available in the market. However, the performance of these tools is unsatisfactory, and may result in PCI confusion in a system where they are used. The algorithms of these existing PCI planning tools are often based on coverage prediction.

Method and arrangement for PCI assignment


A dual port memory device has two input/output ports. These ports involve address circuits having different coordinate conversion tables. The dual port memory device can quickly respond to access signals prepared on different coordinates and is applicable for graphics processing, etc., which require high-speed memories.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a random access memory, and particularly to a dual port memory having an address conversion function.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As VLSI technology develops, various memory systems have been proposed. One of such memory systems used in the microprocessor technology is a dual port memory which has two data reading/writing systems (ports). For example, a Transputer-type CPU employs two microprocessors connected to a common memory to simultaneously access it to exchange data. This technique is useful in forming a parallel processing system.
The dual port memory has quite different configuration from a single port memory and it has a possibility of being applied for various fields. This possibility, however, has not been developed yet.

Dual port memory having address conversion function


The present invention relates to the use of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) in the treatment of brain tumor.

According to the publications of the World Health Organism (WHO), there are nine types of brain tumors. Glioma is the most frequently found brain tumor, and cannot be easily diagnosed at its early stage, and it grows quickly. Although glioma can be removed through a surgical operation, the effect of the operation is generally unsatisfactory. Up to the present, glioma is still considered clinically as a problematic neurodisease. Glioma may result from mutation of normal glial cells in various brain regions. The growth of the tumor is accompanied with pathological symptoms such as elevated brain pressure, headache, vomiting, loss of sight and epilepsy. Most patients die within one year after the onset of glioma (Benedetti et al., 2000).
A previous study indicates that glioma cells release a large amount of glutamate, resulting in an elevated glutamate concentration in the periphery. The elevated glutamate concentration results in excitotoxicity to the surrounding neurons, and the damage to the neurons in turn promotes the growth of the glioma cells (Takano et al., 2001). Therefore, the reduction of the damage resulting from the excitotoxicity to neurons should be able to inhibit the growth of glioma cells.
Another study indicates that the elevated Ca2+ concentration within glioma cells increases cell activity and thus contributes to the migration of glioma cells. Therefore a Ca2+ channel blocker, such as MK801, can effectively inhibit the proliferation of glioma cells (Ishiuchi et al., 2002). However, MK801 is an antagonist of NMDA receptors, and will result in serious side effects when administered to patients.
Chuanxiong, a Chinese herbal medicine, is generally used in the treatment of brain vascular or cardiovascular embolism. Tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) is one of the major components in chuanxiong. Most of the TMP-related research focuses on the cardiovascular system. Relevant studies indicate that TMP can inhibit the increase of the concentration of calcium (Pang et al., 1996). As to the effect of TMP on neurons, we find TMP can reduce the excitotoxicity to neurons induced by kainite through protecting mitochondria and inhibiting the free radical generation (Shih et al, 2002).
It has also been reported that TMP can cross the blood-brain barrier (Tsai and Liang, 2001).

Use of tetramethylpyrazine in the treatment of brain tumor


A pump for providing a pressurized fluid flow. The pump includes a pump casing that defines a pump chamber. A pump shaft is has a head end in the pump chamber; the head end has a circumferential outer surface. The pump shaft head end has inwardly extending piston chambers. A discharge manifold is formed in the pump shaft head end. The discharge manifold has one end in fluid communication with the piston chambers and a second end in fluid communication with a discharge conduit that extends outside of the pump casing. A piston is mounted in each piston chamber. The pistons are formed with flow-through bores that provide fluid communication between the pump chamber and the piston chambers. A suction valve associated with each piston regulates fluid flow from the pump chamber through the flow-through bore into the associated piston chamber. Discharge valves regulate fluid flow from each piston chamber into the discharge manifold. The head end of the pump shaft is axially offset from the center axis of the pump chamber. As the pump shaft is rotated, the pistons engage in reciprocal motion in their piston chambers. Fluid is introduced into the pump chamber. When each piston is in its extended position, the suction valve allows fluid flow into the piston chamber. When each piston is retracted, it forces the fluid in the associated piston chamber through the discharge valve, through the discharge manifold and out the discharge conduit.

Pumps are used in many industrial processes to force liquid-state fluid from a first location to a second location. Some processes require pumps that are able to discharge fluid under high pressure, 100 psi or more, and to discharge relatively large amounts of fluid, 20 gpm or more. For example, such pumps are employed in reverse osmosis systems, waste and fresh water processing plants and in pressure cleaning systems. In the past, a number of different pumps have been developed that cause the fluid to develop the requisite pressure head required to cause it to flow from its source to a destination location. Many pumps include one or more piston units that provide the pumping force that causes liquid movement.
While current pumps work reasonably well, there are some disadvantages associated with their use. Many of the current pumps include one or more linkage members that connect the pistons to the complementary drive motors. These linkages need to be lubricated and the heat they generate during use must be extracted. Consequently, it is necessary to supply many current pumps with lubricating systems in order to both lubricate and cool the internal components of the pumps. It is even necessary to provide some pumps with supplemental cooling systems to prevent the internal components of these pumps from overheating. Having to add these lubricating systems and cooling systems can significantly add to the overall cost of providing a pump. Moreover, these sub-systems, like most mechanical systems, need to be subject to periodic maintenance and have the potential to malfunction.
Moreover, many pumps are designed so that the length that their pistons travel, i.e., the piston stroke, is relatively long. For example, it is not uncommon for a piston in a conventional pump to have a 3 inch stroke. If the pump is operated at 400 RPM, the rate at which a 50 horsepower pump can operate, the total travel of an individual piston works out to approximately 2400 inches/min, (the piston stroke doubled and multiplied by the strokes per minute). Pistons traveling at these rates of speed can impose significant wear on both the pistons themselves and the associated components, the packing and the throw bushings. This high-speed piston travel also inevitably generates a significant amount of heat which further contributes to the wear of the pistons and associated components. Collectively, this heat generation and wear increase the amount of maintenance that needs to be performed on a pump.


Battery management systems with dual CAN messaging. In at least one embodiment of a battery management system (BMS) of the present disclosure, the BMS comprises at least two, dual, controller area network (CAN) transceivers, wherein a first CAN transceiver is for a vehicle bus and a second CAN transceiver is for a charger bus, and a computer program operable to communicate with the two, dual, CAN transceivers to toggle back and forth between vehicle intended, and charger intended, messaging states to improve battery operating efficiency.

Within vehicle battery management systems, end customers want a battery that has a CAN (Controller Area Network) bus capable of communicating with both the vehicle system and the battery system quickly and efficiently. In order to accomplish this and send CAN messages only in an intended state (i.e., either charger or vehicle), a dedicated CAN transceiver will need to be added to the integrated circuit (IC) on the BMS printed circuit board (PCB) for each bus and a mechanism in the battery management system (BMS) software will toggle the messaging to occur only when in the expected state. Only two CAN transceivers may be used; a first CAN transceiver can be used for a vehicle bus and a second CAN transceiver may be used for the charger bus. The use of two (i.e., dual) transceivers on the PCB or IC of the BMS along with its accompanying software, will allow CAN messages to be transmitted to and from the vehicle bus and charger bus quickly and efficiently, resulting in improved battery charging capability and performance.
Additionally, the use of two (i.e., dual) transceivers on the PCB of the BMS along with its accompanying software, will provide the BMS with improved ability to determine baud rate settings automatically. Currently, CAN messages intended for both the battery charger and vehicle bus are sent at the same time, at the same baud rate, by one CAN transceiver, regardless of the device's state, making it difficult for the vehicle and charger bus to communicate quickly and efficiently and resulting in poor battery performance. The use of two CAN transceivers will eliminate the need for the BMS to modify/translate the CAN messages and/or come up with a common baud rate. Additionally, some customers do not want the BMS to send CAN messages intended for the battery charger on the vehicle bus (and at a different baud rates). Thus, the use of two (i.e., dual) transceivers on the PCB of the BMS along with its accompanying software, to more efficiently communicate with the battery charger CAN bus and vehicle CAN bus, will provide a competitive advantage for serving customers.
While CAN messaging for a charger interface and a vehicle interface is possible with only 1 transceiver on the BMS PCB (and currently, it is typical to use only 1 transceiver on a BMS PCB), it is not optimal or efficient for certain vehicle-battery applications, and thus would not have been an obvious improvement. Adding another (second) CAN transceiver to a PCB of a BMS consumes a lot of overhead in terms of circuit board, software, and firmware design, testing, and integration, and thus, has not historically been done/implemented. For example, in order to implement the second CAN transceiver on the PCB, other features of the PCB, such as the power supply components/circuits, microcontroller I/O, firmware and software, all needed to be redesigned. Furthermore, it would not have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to simply add a second CAN transceiver, because until very recently, battery chargers were not even CAN bus capable, and because it is very uncommon (in the motive power industry) to have a BMS utilize two CAN buses.

Battery management system with dual can messaging


A sectionalized flood control barrier (10) for mounting on top of a levee or a river bank to prevent flooding. The barrier (10) consists of a footing (20) with a series of support channels (24) that are butted end to end attached to the footing. The support shells are sealed watertight at the interface with each other and also to the footing. A series of primary channel bridge assemblies (32) and secondary channel assemblies (46) are disposed within the support channels (24) and are also butted end to end. Wind protectors (60) contiguously engage each support channel (24) and rest upon the footing for diverting the wind over the barrier. Stepped fastening risers (62) are attached to the footing on each end and over the channel assemblies, and wind protectors hold them securely in place.

Previously, many types of barriers have been used to provide an effective means to prevent overflowing of a body of water such as a river.
A search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that possess the novelty of the instant invention; however the following U.S. patents are considered related:
U.S. Pat. No.InventorIssue Date4,321,774FishMar. 30, 19825,971,661Johnson et al.Oct. 26, 19995,984,576ZetzschNov. 16, 19995,993,113DarlingNov. 30, 19996,042,301SovranMar. 28, 20006,390,154HallMay 21, 2002
Fish in U.S. Pat. No. 4,321,774 teaches a flood barrier consisting of a flexible membrane with a base having an end terminating in a bead of polypropylene rope. The sides of the barrier are located on a vertical channel that is further located on the side walls, and a base that is located on the barrier's floor. Typically, the barrier is stowed in a collapsed position and is erected in the event of a flood warning.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,661 issued to Johnson et al. is for a water containment device for impeding the flow of water which includes a two-sided body, a base and ends. A valve is disposed in the end and a flap is provided formed as an extension of the base. The flap receives another device impeding the movement of water and is also used to divert the to flow away from a levee should the water level exceed the height of the levee.
Zetzsch in U.S. Pat. No. 5,984,576 discloses a mobile demountable flood barrier having stackable sections. The individual sections engage together by means of horizontal S-shaped toothed projections, thereby transmitting part of the load caused by the pressure of the flood water.
Darling in U.S. Pat. No. 5,993,113 teaches a flood barrier having water fillable tube and cylindrical portions with drain outlets, air relief valves, and anchors. The ends of the tube portions are held in watertight contact with cylindrical junctions. Straps are threaded through the anchors and a saddle on the cylindrical portions prevents rolling.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,042,301 issued to Sovran teaches a temporary barrier having extractable piles that are fitted into holes in the ground, with removable water tight members mounted in between the piles. The water tight members may be made of a stack of metal beams and thick bars.
Hall in U.S. Pat. No. 6,390,154 discloses a portable levee system in the form of a bag having a pre-selected shape. A top portion of the bag is open for receiving fill material. The bag may be deposited by a dispenser towed behind a tractor or a truck for emergency levee construction.
For background purposes and as indicative of the art to which the invention is related reference may be made to the remaining cited patent issued to Bennet in U.S. Pat. No. 6,443,655.


Disclosed herein is a detachable side step assembly for use with a vehicle. The side step assembly comprises a side step with a first elongate section and a second elongate section. Each section has longitudinal edges attached to each other by a plurality of hinges. The side step is pivotal about the hinges into a first position wherein the bottom surface of the first elongate section faces the bottom surface of the second elongate section, and a second position wherein the top surfaces of the first and second elongate sections are planar. The side step is configured for releasable attachment to the vehicle when the side step is in the first position and configured for releasable attachment to a tailgate of the vehicle when the side step is in the second position. Also disclosed are a method of using the side step assembly and a vehicle comprising the same.

Side steps are a standard feature on many trucks and sport utility vehicles, such as pickup trucks, vans, delivery trucks, and four wheel drive vehicles. These vehicles are designed with the frame and body having a relatively high clearance from the ground. This higher clearance allows these vehicles to travel adverse road conditions such as deep snow, muddy and rutted roads and other off-road conditions. This higher clearance increases the height of the passenger compartment. To aid in entering the vehicle, side steps have been installed to the undercarriage of the vehicle to provide an intermediate step between the ground and the floor of the vehicle. Typically, side steps are permanently fastened to the vehicle and cannot easily be removed.
Many of these same vehicles are used to transfer cargo from one place to another. Examples of cargo can include ATVs, motorcycles, snowmobiles, jet skis, heavy boxes and the like. Due to the weight of the cargo and the elevation of the floor of the cargo compartment, much cargo must be loaded into or onto the cargo area with loading ramps. The cargo must then be unloaded from the cargo area also using ramps. However, transporting the ramp decreases the effective cargo space of the vehicle. The ramps also increase the weight of the vehicle. Storing the ramps in the back of an open bed pickup truck, for example, may not be practical due to the likelihood of theft.

Detachable side step assembly and method of use

Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.


A restraint system for restraining a person in a vehicle includes a cam release assembly with an open strap lug chamber. Right and left shoulder straps are anchored to a vehicle frame and attached to the release assembly. Right and left lap straps are anchored to the frame and attached to the release assembly. A leg strap is attached to the right lap strap and the left lap strap, and has a center portion attached to the cam release assembly. An adjustable length sternum strap is attached to the shoulder straps. A kidney belt is attached to the lap straps. Right and left chest pads are attached to the shoulder straps and have enlarged portions that overlap under the sternum strap and may overlap under the shoulder straps. A pelvic pad is positioned between the cam release assembly and the person being restrained. The strap lugs can pivot about 15.degree. about the axis of the retainer pins. Separate length adjusters are provided for each shoulder strap, each lap strap and for the kidney belt. Two length adjusters are provided for the leg strap.

Restraint systems are used to reduce injuries to drivers and passengers in all types of vehicles. The design of a restraint system depends upon the vehicle the restraint system is used in and the expected use of the vehicle. Restraint systems used in off road vehicles and race cars are very well developed. Drivers of race cars involved in high speed crashes frequently walk away from the vehicle following a crash or escape with relatively minor injuries due to protection provided by the driver cage and the restraint system which holds the driver in a safe area defined by the driver cage.
The primary functions of restraint systems are to hold the driver or passenger within a safe area in the vehicle, to hold the driver in a position from which he can operate the vehicle controls, and to reduce injury to drivers and passengers. Restraint systems are currently available which hold a person within a safe area inside a vehicle. Some restraint systems that are currently available allow a person to move to positions from which it is difficult to operate vehicle controls. It is also known for current systems to cause some injury to the person restrained.
Restraint systems normally include straps made from nylon or other suitable material. When these straps are placed under a load they tend to straighten and become hard. The pressure exerted on these straps by a human body during a crash can be sufficient to break bones. Shoulder straps can break collar bones, for example. After the collar bone breaks, the sternum may hyperextend and the upper body may force the shoulder straps apart and move between the shoulder straps.
The lap belt portion of a restraint system can also cause injury to the person being restrained. If a lap belt is too low, the hip joints can be injured. If a lap belt is too high, the abdomen may be injured. To prevent these injuries, the lap belt should restrain the pelvis and the pelvis should not slide out of the lap belt in either direction.
During a sudden deceleration, a person tends to submarine, or slide down and through the lap belt portion of a restraint system. When a person submarines, the lap belt moves up above the pelvis and into contact with the abdomen. The movement of the lap belt on the abdomen toward the thorax tends to move organs in the abdomen toward and into the chest cavity thereby making breathing difficult or impossible.
Straps have been run from the lap belt down between the legs of a person being restrained, over the forward edge of a seat, and to an anchor point on the floor of the driver or passenger compartment. These straps limit submarining, but do not prevent the problem. Such straps generally allow a person to slide down and forward until the pelvis reaches the forward edge of the seat. Such movement may result in injury and will likely place the person in a position which makes it difficult or impossible to operate vehicle controls.
Fire is a possibility in any vehicle crash due to the presence of fuel for internal combustion engines. A body restraint system must, therefore, allow a quick exit from the restraint system. Even in a battery powered vehicle it may be necessary to make a quick exit following a collision due to the presence of chemicals in the batteries. Cam release assemblies have been used with restraint systems to allow quick exits. Some of the currently available release assemblies require frequent cleaning and lubrication to ensure that the release pins do not stick, making it difficult for a person to get out of the restraint system.
Pads in the form of sleeves have been provided that slide over the shoulder straps of a restraint system. The primary purpose of these pads is to prevent the shoulder straps from rubbing the shoulder or neck of a person being restrained. These sleeves frequently slide up or down on the shoulder straps to positions which allow contact between the shoulder strap and a person's shoulder and neck.


A device for determining the presence and/or amount of at least one analyte contained in a liquid sample, includes a capillary diffusion element (2) materialized on which are a zone (3) for depositing the liquid sample, an upstream release zone (4) and at least two capture zones (5). The device (1) also includes at least one downstream release zone (6) located downstream of at least one of the capture zones, which downstream release zone (6) includes at least one detection reagent conjugated to a visible and/or measurable marker; and the detection reagent of a release zone and/or the capture reagent of the additional capture zone(s), located directly downstream of the release zone, are suitable for binding specifically with the analyte and/or for binding specifically with one another, in order to form a complex that enables the determination of the analyte in the liquid sample at the additional capture zone(s).

Most of the techniques for determining analyte(s) have gradually evolved into devices which are increasingly simple to use, allowing the development of rapid and low cost routine diagnostic methods.
This change was particularly significant in the medical field, with the emergence of the diagnostic by "point of care" or "home testing", in which a diagnostic is directly carried out next the patient bed or at home, without the need for using analytical laboratory automated techniques.
Immunoassays are Part of the Technologies Used for this Type of Rapid Diagnostic.
These immunoassays encompass devices and methods of diagnostic based on affinity binding reactions between specific binding pair members.
Globally, these immunoassays are divided into two well known main approaches.
In the so-called "competition" approach, the desired analyte and a labeled detection reagent are in competition for specifically binding to a capture reagent. The presence or the absence of the desired analyte in the sample is measured, respectively, by the absence or the presence of a visible (or measurable) signal at the capture reagent.
In the so-called "sandwich" approach, a labeled detection reagent binds to the desired analyte, the latter being immobilized on the solid support via the capture reagent. The presence or the absence of the analyte in the liquid sample is measured, respectively, by the presence or the absence of a visible (or measurable) signal at the capture reagent.
Among these immunoassays, the so-called "immunochromatographic" devices which particularly lend to certain analytes are known.
The immunochromatography consists in a solid phase diagnostic method, using dry chemistry and lateral migration on an inert membrane.
This kind of immunoassay implements a porous support in a strip form, in which and/or on which are inserted in a dry form the reagents required for performing the test.
The porous support is treated so that a recognition reaction between specific binding partners (generally antigen/antibody) occurs at a capture zone and can be revealed at this level.
In practice, when the liquid sample to be analyzed is deposited on the support, the same migrates along the membrane by a capillary action. The desired analyte is generally captured by a specific capture reagent immobilized on a given zone of the membrane.
The reaction is revealed by a labeled specific detection reagent according to the sandwich method principle.
It is also possible to use a competition type reaction. Generally in this case is used a detection reagent consisting in a labeled analyte which is competitor of the desired analyte for the specific binding with the immobilized capture reagent.
These immunochromatographic devices are generally suitable for a single and domestic use. Indeed, they are of easy and rapid use, requiring only minimal handling since all of the reagents are inserted or comprised in the device.
However, in some particular situations, these immunochromatographic devices are capable of providing results that are not fully reliable.
On one hand, when determining an analyte by a "sandwich" format test, a "hook effect" is observed for certain analytes.
The hook effect is an unwanted effect well known in immunological tests. It occurs when the analyte is present in the sample at a very high concentration.
The hook effect can then result in false negatives, leading to the aberrant conclusion that there is no analyte or it is present at a low concentration in the sample.
Analytes having a hook effect in sandwich type immunoassays generate signal/concentration curves of the Gauss curve type.
For a given signal, two concentrations are then possible, one being low and the other high, for the desired analyte when reading the result at a defined time.
A competition test allows for two different signals to be obtained for two concentrations respectively different from the analyte to be dosed.
But very rapidly, the competition tests also show their limitations, since there is signal extinction at relatively low concentrations of the analyte of interest.
A solution commonly adopted to overcome the drawbacks of these sandwich and competition tests consists in dosing the analyte from a dilution range of the liquid sample.
But the use of such a dilution range is not suitable for domestic use. Furthermore, the use of a dilution range of the sample requires additional handlings and an increased consumption of single use test devices because each sample is tested at the different dilutions.
A solution for that purpose is for example described in WO 2007/023372, relating to a device for determining an analyte in a liquid sample, comprising a capillary diffusion means on which are materialized:
a) a sample depositing or receiving zone;
b) an upstream release zone comprising an analyte-specific detection reagent conjugated to a visible and/or measurable marker, which is free to migrate by capillary diffusion in a wet state in the capillary diffusion means; and
c) two downstream capture zones comprising, successively in the capillary diffusion direction, on one hand, an analyte-specific capture reagent and, on the other hand, the analyte or an analogue of the analyte, which is immobilized.
The detection reagent and the capture reagent, specific of the analyte, allow for the determination of the analyte in the liquid sample by a sandwich test; then the same analyte-specific detection reagent and the analyte, or the analyte analogue, immobilized, allow for the determination of the analyte of interest in the liquid sample by a competition test.
In such a device, the detection reagent is deposited in excess at a single release zone which is formed upstream of the complementary capture zones.
Despite of its interest, the inventors found that this excess of detection reagent upstream of the capture zones is not satisfactory, in that non specific reactions, a strong background and migration problems are frequently observed.
On the other hand, certain immunochromatographic devices are structured for the simultaneous determination of several analytes.
Such an immunochromatographic device, for example, described in EP-1 657 550, comprises advantageously a capillary diffusion means on which are materialized:
a) a sample depositing or receiving zone;
b) an upstream release zone comprising a mixture of detection reagents, each specific of one of the analytes, conjugated to a visible and/or measurable marker, which are free to migrate by capillary diffusion in a wet state in the capillary diffusion means; and
c) downstream capture zones each comprising a capture reagent which is specific of one of the analytes, said downstream capture zones being distributed successively according to the direction of migration.
Again, the detection reagents are deposited at the single release zone which is materialized upstream of the capture zones, taking into account the capillary migration direction.
However, the inventors found again that this mixture of detection reagents, upstream of the different capture zones, is not satisfactory because of cross reactions between the different detection reagents and also mutual specific activity inhibition between reagents.
Immunochromatographic devices comprising a release zone of the detection reagent(s), which is formed upstream of a plurality of capture zones, are not thus satisfactory.
There is therefore a need for new capillary diffusion determination devices both for the determination of a single analyte and for the determination of several analytes, allowing to alleviate the problems generated especially by the excess and/or the mixture of detection reagent(s) reported upstream of a plurality of successive capture zones.

Device for determining at least one analyte capable of being contained in a liquid sample


An ACELP speech coding method according to ITU-T Recommendation G.729. When coding a random component vector, each of random component vector forming together the random codebook is formed of three or less pulses having a unit amplitude for each 6f a pair of subframes which form together a frame. The positions of the pulses are determined from a plurality of predetermined positions which a pulse can assume in a subframe so that distortion is minimized. The method allows speech coding at a lower bit rate.

The invention relates to a method of speech coding which is based on the ITU-T recommendation G.729 for 8-kbit/s speech coding scheme CS-ACELP (hereinafter referred to in the specification and claims as "G.729") and which allows speech coding at a lower rate.
Various efficient coding schemes are attempted in the field of digital mobile communications for an efficient utilization of radio waves. Known schemes for speech coding at information rate on the order of 8 kbit/s include CELP (code excited linear prediction), VSELP (vector sum excited linear prediction), CS-ACELP and the like.
For details of these coding schemes, refer to "Code-Excited Linear Prediction (CELP): High Quality Speech at a Very Low Rates" by M. R. Schroeder and B. S. Atal in Proc. ICASSP' 85, 25.1.1, pp 937-940, 1985 (literature 1), "Vector Sum Excited Linear Prediction (VSELP) Speech Coding at 8 kps" by I. A. Gerson and M. A. Jasiuk in Proc. ICASSP' 90, S9.3, pp 461-464, 1990 (literature 2), and "ITU-T 8 kbit/s Standard Speech Codec for Personal Communication Services" by A. Kataoka et al in Int. Conf. On Universal Personal Communication, pp 818-822, 1995 (literature 3). For details of 8 kbit/s International Standard G.729 (CS-ACELP), refer to ITU-T Recommendation: G.729 Coding of speech at 8 kbit/s using conjugate-structure algebraic code excited linear prediction (herein after referred to in the specification and claims as "CS-ACELP") COM 15-152-E, July 1995 (literature 4).
FIG. 1 shows an example of a coder used in such schemes, including an input terminal 11, an adder 12, a subtractor 13, a filter coefficient determination part 14, a filter coefficient quantizer 15, a synthesis filter 16, a perceptual weighting filter 17, a distortion power calculator 18, a code output part 19, an adaptive codebook 21, a random codebook 22, a estimated gain part 23, a gain part 24, a gain estimation part 25, a codebook search part 26, a gain codebook 27 and an LSP codebook 28.
Referring to FIG. 1, an input speech signal waveform is applied to the input terminal 11, and a given number of samples (hereafter referred to as speech waveform vectors) are extracted from the sample train of the waveform every frame of 10 ms to be fed to the filter coefficient determination part 14 where linear prediction coefficients (or LPC coefficients) are calculated. The LPC coefficients are converted into LSP coefficients in the filter coefficient quantizer 15 where they are quantized by reference to the LSP codebook 28. The quantized LSP coefficients have their quantized codes I.sub.sp delivered and are also converted back to LPC coefficients to be set up in the synthesis filter 16 as filter coefficients.
The adaptive codebook 21 stores exciting vectors over a plurality of past frames as pitch component vectors which adaptively change. A pitch component vector candidate P is chosen from the plurality of pitch component vectors, and a random component vector candidate C is chosen from a plurality of fixed random component vectors (or random number vectors) contained in the random codebook 22. Gains g.sub.P, g.sub.N chosen from the gain codebook 27 and forming a gain vector candidate g=(g.sub.P, g.sub.N) are applied to the candidates P, C in multipliers 24P, 24N, respectively, of the gain part 24, and the resulting products are added together in the adder 12 to be fed to the synthesis filter 16 as exciting vectors, thus synthesizing a speech. The gain estimation part 25 predicts from past random component vectors an approximate gain, which is then set up in the estimated gain part 23.
A synthesized speech is subtracted from the input speech waveform vector X, and a resulting error vector is perceptually weighted in the perceptual weighting filter 17 to be fed subsequently to the distortion power calculator 18. The distortion power calculator 18 calculates the power of a perceptually weighted error (or distortion), and the codebook search part 26 is effective to select respective candidate vectors from the adaptive codebook 21, the random codebook 22 and the gain codebook 27 so that the power in the distortion is minimized. Code output part 19 delivers indices I.sub.P, I.sub.N, I.sub.G, representing these selected vectors, together with code I.sub.sp which represents the quantized LSP coefficients as coded outputs.
FIG. 2 shows an example of a decoder corresponding to the coder shown in FIG. 1, including an input terminal 31, an adder 32, a filter coefficient decoder 33, a synthesis filter 34, an adaptive codebook 35, a random codebook 36, a estimated gain part 37, a gain part 38, a gain estimation part 39, and a gain codebook 41. In the arrangement of FIG. 2, the received code I.sub.sp is fed to the filter coefficient decoder 33 where LSP coefficients are decoded and then converted into LPC coefficients, which are in turn fed to the synthesis filter 34 to be used as filter coefficients therein. The received code I.sub.G is decoded into gain vector (g.sub.P, g.sub.N) in the gain codebook 41 for use as gains g.sub.P, g.sub.N in the multipliers 38P, 38N of the gain part 38.
On the other hand, pitch component vector P and random component vector C are read out from the adaptive codebook 35 and the random codebook 36, respectively, in a manner corresponding to the received codes I.sub.P and I.sub.N. The pitch component vector P is multiplied by the gain g.sub.P in the gain part 38 while the random component vector C is initially multiplied by the estimated gain from the gain estimation part 39 in the estimated gain part 37 to be adaptively gain adjusted and is then multiplied by the gain g.sub.N in the gain part 38. The gain controlled pitch component vector and random component vector from the gain part 38 are synthesized in the adder 32 to be fed to the synthesis filter 34 as exciting vectors, whereby a decoded speech is delivered.
FIG. 3 shows a bit allocation for coding individual parameters used in G.729. In G.729, a frame length is equal to 10 ms, using 80 bits per frame. Of these, 18 bits are allocated to coding LSP coefficients. The coding of LSP coefficients takes place by way of a vector quantization in two stages as illustrated in FIG. 4. In the first stage vector quantization, a 10-th order vector quantization is effected using a first stage LSP codebook having 128 candidates (7 bits). In the second stage, a 10-th bit vector quantization is effected using a pair of LSP codebooks, a higher order and a lower order one, each having 32 candidates (5 bits) to enable a 5-th order vector quantization. One bit is allocated for selection of prediction coefficients.
For coding a pitch component vector using the adaptive codebook 21, the frame is divided into a first 5 ms subframe and a second 5 ms subframe. 8 bits and one parity bit are allocated to the first subframe while 5 bits are allocated to the second subframe. For coding a random component vector using the random codebook 22, 17 bits, inclusive of 4 bits for the polarities of four pulses, are allocated to each subframe.
FIG. 5 shows predetermined positions which the four pulses can assume when a random exciting pulse structure to be used in coding the random component vector with the random codebook according to G.729 is realized by using four pulses in each subframe. Specifically, positions from No. 0 to No. 39 are defined in the 40 ms subframe at a spacing of 1 ms, for example, and such 40 positions are allocated to pulses #0 to #3 as shown in the chart of FIG. 5 which conforms to G.729. As will be evident from the chart, eight positions are available for each of the pulses #0, #1 and #2 in tracks 0, 1 and 2, and thus a position can be specified by three bits. For pulse #3, sixteen positions are available in two tracks 3 and 4. Thus the position can be specified by four bits. Hence, information representing the positions of the four pulses in each subframe can be given by 13 bits. In addition to the 13 bits, the sign (polarity) of each of the four pulses is given by one bit, thus using a total of 17 bits for each entire subframe.
For coding a gain vector with the gain codebook 27, 7 bits are allocated to each subframe as indicated in FIG. 3, thus using a total of 14 bits.
It is to be noted that when performing a communication with Codec according to the ITU International Standard G.729, it is possible that a sufficient transmission capacity may not be secured depending on the condition of a transmission path, presenting a problem that the communication may be disabled. While it may be contemplated to achieve the communication by using a coding scheme which requires a less transmission capacity, this presents another problem that an entirely distinct coder and decoder combination is necessary. Accordingly, it is desirable in such instance to reduce the bit rate of the signal without a significant degradation in the speech quality while allowing a code structure similar to that of the International Standard G.729 to be retained. However, it has been unknown how it is possible to reduce the bit allocation to a particular part of the code structure effectively without accompanying a degradation in the speech quality.

Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation


The invention provides seed and plants of the habanero pepper line designated PX11423486. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of habanero pepper hybrid PX11423486, and to methods for producing a habanero pepper plant produced by crossing a plant of pepper hybrid PX11423486 with itself or with another pepper plant, such as a plant of another line. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of a plant of habanero pepper hybrid PX11423486, including the fruit and gametes of such plants.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of plant breeding and, more specifically, to the development of habanero pepper hybrid PX11423486.
2. Description of Related Art
The goal of vegetable breeding is to combine various desirable traits in a single variety/hybrid. Such desirable traits may include greater yield, resistance to insects or pests, tolerance to heat and drought, better agronomic quality, higher nutritional value, growth rate and fruit properties.
Breeding techniques take advantage of a plant's method of pollination. There are two general methods of pollination: a plant self-pollinates if pollen from one flower is transferred to the same or another flower of the same plant or plant variety. A plant cross-pollinates if pollen comes to it from a flower of a different plant variety.
Plants that have been self-pollinated and selected for type over many generations become homozygous at almost all gene loci and produce a uniform population of true breeding progeny, a homozygous plant. A cross between two such homozygous plants of different varieties produces a uniform population of hybrid plants that are heterozygous for many gene loci. Conversely, a cross of two plants each heterozygous at a number of loci produces a population of hybrid plants that differ genetically and are not uniform. The resulting non-uniformity makes performance unpredictable.
The development of uniform lines requires the development of homozygous inbred plants, the crossing of these inbred plants, and the evaluation of the crosses. Pedigree breeding and recurrent selection are examples of breeding methods that have been used to develop inbred plants from breeding populations. Those breeding methods combine the genetic backgrounds from two or more plants or various other broad-based sources into breeding pools from which new lines are developed by selfing and selection of desired phenotypes. The new lines are evaluated to determine which of those have commercial potential.
One crop plant which has been subject to such breeding programs and is of particular value is the habanero pepper. Peppers are commonly broken down into three groupings: bell peppers, sweet peppers, and hot peppers. Most popular pepper varieties fall into one of these categories, or as a cross between them. However, these groupings are not absolute, as both "hot pepper" and "sweet pepper" encompass members belonging to several different species. Additionally members of each of the three groups may be different cultivars of the same species. For example, the bell pepper, the jalapeño pepper, and the "Thai sweet" all belong to the species Capsicum annuum L.
Hot pepper refers to both the fruit and the plant. Hot peppers are the smaller hottertypes of chile peppers, which are the fruit of the plant Capsicum from the nightshade family, Solanaceae. The chile pepper originated in the Americas; however, today chile peppers are grown around the world. Primarily, they are used as spices and vegetables in cuisine. Hot peppers, including some inedible varieties, are also grown for ornamental and medicinal uses. While there are other pungent varieties of C. annuum, many well known hot peppers are members of different species. For example, both the cayenne pepper and the tabasco pepper are varieties of Capsicum frutenscens, while the hottest peppers, including the habanero and naga varieties, are members of Capsicum chinense.
The hot pepper fruit is eaten cooked or raw. Its fiery hot flavor is concentrated along the top of the pod. Capsaicin (8-methyl-N-vanillyl-6-nonenamide) is the main active ingredient along with several related chemicals—collectively called capsaicinoids, that give hot peppers their characteristically hot flavor. The stem end of the pod has glands which produce the capsaicin, which then flows down through the pod. The "heat" or pungency of chile peppers is measured in Scoville units. Bell peppers rank at zero Scoville units, jalapeños at 3,000-6,000, and habaneros at 300,000. Pure capsaicin has a reference value of 15,000,000 Scoville units.
C. chinense is usually cultivated as a herbaceous annual, although it can be grown as a perennial. The plant is typically bushy, has a densely branched stem, and grows to about 70 to 90 cm in height. The fruit is green when unripe, usually then changing to red or orange, but may turn brown, white, or pink. The fruit size varies, but is typically 2-5 centimeters in length at maturity. The species can grow in many climates; however, they thrive in warm and dry climates.
Habanero pepper breeding efforts have naturally focused on growing the hottest, most pungent line of peppers. The Red Savina Habanero at 577,000 Scoville units is among the hottest. However, some breeding programs have concentrated on retaining the flavor and aroma of the habanero pepper, while reducing the heat. Some lines with resistances to several pests and diseases are available. In the case of bell peppers, the development of molecular markers and a molecular linkage map for C. annuum has eased some of the problems associated with selecting simultaneously for multiple resistances and other desirable characteristics.
Tetraploidy and haploidy are relatively easy to induce in Capsicum species and an octaploid Capsicum annuum has been reported (Pandal et al., 1984). Capsicum species exhibit barriers to interspecific gene transfer. These include unilateral incompatibility, post-fertilization abortion, and nucleo-cytoplasmic interactions leading to male sterility or other abnormalities (Pickersgill and Barbara, 1997). However, the development of a pepper line resistant to the anthracnose fungal pathogen using interspecific crossing between Capsicum baccatum and C. annuum has been reported (Chae et al., 2003).
Hybrid vigor has also been documented in habanero peppers, and hybrids are gaining increasing popularity among farmers throughout the world, especially in countries with lower skilled labor costs (Berke, 1999).
While breeding efforts to date have provided a number of useful habanero pepper lines and varieties with beneficial traits, there remains a great need in the art for new varieties with further improved traits. Such plants would benefit farmers and consumers alike by improving crop yields and/or quality.


A writing instrument shaped to resemble a flower on a stem with leaves comprised of a hollow tubing housing, a top portion of hollow tubing, an adapter for detachably connecting the top portion to the housing, and a stylus. One portion of the housing is curvilinear, having a plurality of loops shaped to resemble leaves. The top portion is shaped to resemble a flower or bud. The adapter allows the top portion to be detachably connected to either end of the housing. The overall effect is to suggest a flower or bud on a stem with leaves. A second embodiment of the writing instrument uses a base formed of hollow tubing bent into shapes to complement the flower and stem suggested by the housing and top portion. A third embodiment includes a plurality of top portions which are interchangeable and can be detachably connected to the housing using the same adapter.

Various types of ornamental and utility writing instruments have been designed. One example of a novel writing instrument by Whitright, U.S. Pat. No. 4,986,683, which teaches a writing instrument contained in a hollow tube shaped to resemble an animal. Flexible colored materials are inserted into the tubing and other ornamental materials are attached to suggest eyes. Another embodiment of Whitright shows a base of hollow tubing which is curved to complement the appearance of the animal housing. Whitright also teaches placing a notepad in the upper portion of the writing instrument. Leahan, U.S. Pat. No. 4,678,206, shows a combination notepad and pen holder in which the pad is shaped as a flower. Huang, U.S. Pat. No. D283,516 shows the design for a pen with an elongated curvilinear tail piece.
Schreiber, U.S. Pat. No. 4,016,982, teaches an elongate holder which can be bent by hand into any desired shape. The holder consists of a core made of flexible metal which is surrounded by a flexible covering.
Lipson, U.S. Pat. No. 4,687,306, teaches an eyeglass frame formed from a continuous hollow transparent tube filled with a colored liquid.
None of these prior devices suggests a tubular writing instrument comprising a housing for a stylus which is formed in the shape of a stem with leaves and a tubular top portion shaped to resemble a flower which is detachably connected to either end of the housing with an adapter. None of the devices teach a plurality of tubular top portions which are interchangeably and detachably connected to a tubular housing.


In a parallel pulse signal processing apparatus including a plurality of pulse output arithmetic elements (2), a plurality of connection elements (3) which parallelly connect predetermined arithmetic elements, and a gate circuit (5) which selectively passes pulse signals from the plurality of connection elements, the arithmetic element inputs a plurality of time series pulse signals, executes predetermined modulation processing on the basis of the plurality of time series pulse signals which are input, and outputs a pulse signal on the basis of a result of modulation processing, wherein the gate circuit selectively passes, of the signals from the plurality of connection elements, a finite number of pulse signals corresponding to predetermined upper output levels.

As a scheme for implementing a large-scale neural network by small-scale circuits, an arrangement is conventionally known which executes time-sharing multiplexing by using a conventionally disclosed neuron model to generate a pulse signal (e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-47870 and Japanese Patent No. 2679730). Another arrangement is also disclosed previously which can solve wiring problems by forming a neuron element by using an element to output a pulse train and a primary storage means (e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-93249).
In the field of image recognition, a pattern recognition method (method to execute hierarchical template matching) is proposed which implements a recognition processing algorithm specialized to a specific recognition target by using a neural network model whose concept is obtained from the information processing mechanism of a living body (e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 60-712, and Fukushima & Miyake, "1982 Neocognitron: A new algorithm for pattern recognition tolerant of deformation and shifts in position, Pattern Recognition, Vol. 15, pp. 455-469).
As an attempt to more faithfully adopt an information processing mechanism based on the neural network of a living body, a neural network model circuit is proposed which transmits and expresses information by a pulse train corresponding to an action potential (e.g., Murray et al., 1991 Pulse-Stream VLSI Neural Networks Mixing Analog and Digital Techniques, IEEE Trans. on Neutral Networks, Vol. 2, pp. 193-204, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 7-262157, 7-334478, and 8-153148, and Japanese Patent Nos. 2624143 and 2879670).
As a method of recognizing and detecting a specific target by a neural network formed from pulse train generation neurons, there is a scheme using a model of a high order (second or higher order) by Eckhorn et al. which is premised on linking inputs and feeding inputs (e.g., Eckhorn et al. 1990, Feature linking via synchronization among distributed assemblies: Simulation of results from cat cortex, Neural Computation, Vol. 2, pp. 293-307), i.e., a pulse coupled neural network (to be abbreviated as PCNN hereinafter) (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,664,065, and Broussard, et al. 1999, Physiologically Motivated Image Fusion for Object Detection using a Pulse Coupled Neural Network, IEEE Trans. on Neural Networks Vol. 10, pp. 554-563).
Of the neural networks according to the prior arts, the arrangement which executes time-sharing multiplexing has a problem that the processing time increases along with an increase in number of synapse connections. The remaining arrangements can hardly be implemented as an electronic circuit because the increase in circuit scale and the wiring problems become conspicuous as the number of synapse connections increases, and the dynamic range of information (e.g., weight sum value) to be held increases as signals are added through synapse connections.

Parallel pulse signal processing apparatus with pulse signal pulse counting gate, pattern recognition apparatus, and image input apparatus


A method of transmitting data via a network of computers comprises receiving, at a first node of the network and from a second node of the network, first suggested routing information to a destination node, where the first suggested routing information defines at least one node through which data will be transmitted to the destination node. First data is sent to the destination node via the first suggested routing information, and a processor associated with the first node determines whether the first data was received at the destination node. Further second data may be received at the first node of the network, where the second data is intended to be sent to the destination node, and the second data may be sent to the destination via the first suggested routing information depending on the determination of whether the first data was received at the destination.

Many computer networks, including the Internet, may establish connections between a source and a destination through one or more routers. These routers may operate according to one of a variety of protocols, most commonly Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), Exterior Gateway Protocol (EGP), Intermediate-System to Intermediate-System (ISIS), Open Shortest Path First (OSPF), or Routing Information Protocol (RIP). BGP is the de facto routing protocol of the global Internet, connecting Autonomous Systems (AS) belonging to different administrative domains. According to BGP, routing decisions are made based on local preference, multiple exit discriminator (MED), AS path length, and other network policies or rulesets.
Usually, and in particular with BGP, the routers communicate with one another to exchange routing information. For example, a router may "advertise" a particular route to peer routers. The peer routers may receive the advertised route, and may adopt the advertised route to replace existing route information if, for example, the advertised route is shorter or the advertising router is a trusted source. In turn, these peer routers may further advertise the particular route to other routers.
Known methods of exchanging such routing information are insecure. For example, according to BGP, routes may be received and adopted without verification of their accuracy or authenticity. If an invalid route is adopted, it may result in failure to establish communication between a source and a destination. Worse, the invalid route may be advertised to peer routers and adopted by the peer routers. For networks such as the Internet, where numerous routers are involved and thousands of people may attempt to access a website at one time, such failure to establish communication can be widespread. Accordingly, a security model for use in such networks is desired.

System and method for enhancing network security


A method of performance monitoring according to an embodiment of the invention includes, in a passive optical network (PON), sending system time of an optical line termination (OLT) to an optical network unit (ONU). The method further includes retrieving, by the OLT, network data collected at the ONU and associated with the sent OLT system time. The retrieved network data is stored at the OLT.

The following acronyms may appear in the description below: APON, asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) passive optical network (PON); ASIC, application-specific integrated circuit; ATM, asynchronous transfer mode; B-PON or BPON (broadband PON); CATV, community access television (cable television); CPU, central processing unit (e.g. microprocessor); EPON (Ethernet PON); FPGA, field-programmable gate array; ISDN, integrated services digital network; PON, passive optical network; POTS, plain old telephone service; PPV, pay per view; RAM, random-access memory; ROM, read-only memory; VoIP, voice over Internet Protocol; VoATM, voice over ATM; VoD, video on demand.
Optical access systems offer a potentially large bandwidth as compared to copper-based access systems. A broadband optical access system may be used, for example, to distribute a variety of broadband and narrowband communication services from a service provider's facility to a local distribution point and/or directly to the customer premises. These communication services may include telephone (e.g. POTS, VoIP, VoATM), data (e.g. ISDN, Ethernet), and/or video/audio (e.g. television, CATV, PPV, VoD) services.
FIG. 1 shows examples of two optical access network (OAN) architectures. The first example includes an optical line termination (OLT), an optical distribution network (ODN), an optical network unit (ONU), and a network termination (NT). The OLT provides the network-side interface of the OAN (e.g. a service node interface or SNI), and it may be located at a carrier's central office or connected to a central office via a fibre trunk (e.g. the OLT may include an OC-3/STM-1 or OC-12c interface).
The OLT may be implemented as a stand-alone unit or as a card in a backplane. The AccessMAX OLT card of Advanced Fibre Communications (Petaluma, Calif.) is one example of a superior OLT product. Other examples of OLTs include the 7340 line of OLTs of Alcatel (Paris, France), the FiberDrive OLT of Optical Solutions (Minneapolis, Minn.), and assemblies including the TK3721 EPON media access controller device of Teknovus, Inc. (Petaluma, Calif.). The OLT may communicate (e.g. via cable, bus, and/or data communications network (DCN)) with a management system or management entity, such as a network element operations system (NE-OpS), that manages the network and equipment.
On the user side, the OLT may be connected to one or more ODNs. An ODN provides one or more optical paths between an OLT and one or more ONUs. The ODN provides these paths over one or more optical fibres which may have lengths measured in feet or in kilometers. The ODN may also include optional protection fibres (e.g. for backup in case of a break in a primary path).
An optical network unit (ONU) is connected to an ODN and provides (either directly or remotely) a user-side interface of the OAN. The ONU, which may serve as a subscriber terminal, may be located outside (e.g. on a utility pole) or inside a building. One or more network terminations (NTs) are connected to an ONU (e.g. via copper trace, wire, and/or cable) to provide user network interfaces (UNIs), e.g. for services such as Ethernet, video, and ATM. Implementations of such an architecture include arrangements commonly termed Fibre to the Building (FTTB), Fibre to the Curb (FTTC), and Fibre to the Cabinet (FTTCab).
One example of an ONU includes the XN230 APON media access controller device of BroadLight Ltd. (Ramat-Gan, Isreal) combined with an external CPU (and possibly other devices including an optoelectronic interface and interfaces for one or more of ATM, Ethernet, T1, video, and POTS). The XN230 device may be used to provide up to five logical ONUs. Another example of an ONU includes the MC92701 BPON layer termination device of Motorola Inc. (Schaumberg, Ill.) combined with an external CPU.
The second architecture example in FIG. 1 includes an OLT, an ODN, and one or more optical network terminations (ONTs). An ONT is an implementation of an ONU that includes a user port function. The ONT, which may be active, serves to decouple the access network delivery mechanism from the distribution at the customer premises (e.g. a single-family house or a multi-dwelling unit or business establishment). Implementations of such an architecture include arrangements commonly termed Fibre to the Home (FTTH). In some applications, an ONT may be wall-mounted.
The AccessMAX ONT of Advanced Fibre Communications (Petaluma, Calif.) is one example of a superior ONT product. Other examples of ONTs include the Exxtenz ONT of Carrier Access Corporation (Boulder, Colo.), the FiberPath 400 and 500 lines of ONTs of Optical Solutions, the 7340 line of ONTs of Alcatel, and assemblies including the TK3701 device of Teknovus, Inc.
As shown in FIG. 1, an OAN may include a number of ODNs connected to the same OLT. As shown in FIG. 2, an ODN may connect an OLT to multiple ONUs. An ODN may also be connected to both ONUs and ONTs. In some applications, the nominal bit rate of the OLT-to-ONU signal may be selected from the rates 155.52 Mbit/s and 622.08 Mbit/s.
An ODN that contains only passive components (e.g. fibre and optical splitters and/or combiners) may also be referred to as a passive optical network (PON). Depending e.g. on the particular intended application, a PON may also be referred to as a B-PON (broadband PON), EPON (Ethernet PON), or APON (ATM PON). A OAN may include different OLTs and/or ONUs to handle different types of data traffic (e.g. Ethernet, ATM, video), and/or a single OLT or ONU may handle more than one type of data traffic. The OLT and/or one or more of the ONUs may be provided with battery backup (e.g. an uninterruptible power supply (UPS)) in case of mains power failure.
FIG. 3 shows an example of a OLT connected to a PON that includes a four-way splitter 20 and four eight-way splitters 30a–d. In this example, each of up to thirty-two ONUs may be connected to the PON via a different output port of splitters 30a–d (where the small circles represent the PON nodes depending from these ports). Other PON configurations may include different splitter arrangements. In some such configurations, for example, a path between the OLT and one ONU may pass through a different number of splitters than a path between the OLT and another ONU.
The protocol for communications between the OLT and the ONUs may be ATM-based (e.g. such that the OLT and ONUs provide transparent ATM transport service between the SNI and the UNIs over the PON), although embodiments of the invention as disclosed herein may also be applied to optical access networks in which such communications are based on other protocols (e.g. Ethernet). Embodiments of the invention may also be applied to optical access systems that comply with one or more of ITU-T Recommendations G.983.1 ("Broadband optical access systems based on Passive Optical Networks (PON)," dated October 1998 and as corrected July 1999 and March 2002 and amended November 2001 and March 2003, along with Implementor's Guide of October 2003) and G.983.2 ("ONT management and control interface [OMCI] specification for B-PON," dated June 2002 and as amended March 2003, along with Implementor's Guide of April 2000) (International Telecommunication Union, Geneva, CH). Additional aspects of optical access systems to which embodiments of the invention may be applied are described in the aforementioned Recommendations.

Optical line termination, passive optical network, and method and apparatus for performance monitoring


A cleaner for swimming pools includes a housing having a pressure differential chamber with an opening defined by opposing walls and an oscillator pivotally mounted within the opening on a pivot axis extending between the walls. A seal is loosely fitted within a recess along a side of the oscillator for movement outwardly across a gap between the oscillator and the wall of the opening to close the gap when necessary for purposes of starting the oscillator and for opening the gap when required to allow grit, leaves and the like to pass through.

This invention relates to self-propelled swimming pool cleaners.
Prior to November 1989, Mr. Pavel Sebor conceived of and built prototypes for a swimming pool cleaner having a motor using a vibratory oscillator. In November 1989 at Orlando, Fla. Mr. Sebor disclosed his vibratory oscillator pool cleaner prototypes to Mr. Dieter Rief in confidence and granted to Mr. Rief certain rights to develop the vibratory motor into a working device. Mr. Sebor and Mr. Rief entered into a related written agreement on Sep. 10, 1990.
Between November 1989 and November 1990, Mr. Rief built approximately 20-30 prototypes of swimming pool cleaners using Mr. Sebor's vibratory oscillator motor. In December, 1990 in Orlando, Mr. Rief disclosed in confidence one of his later prototypes to a prospective manufacturer. While Mr. Rief's prototypes at that time cleaned certain areas of a swimming pool into which it was placed, the prototypes were unable to consistently move from the deep end of the pool to the shallow end, and were unable to climb from the bottom of the pool onto a vertical wall. Representatives of the prospective manufacturer explained to Mr. Rief that these technical deficiencies would preclude the design of these prototypes from becoming a commercially viable pool cleaner.
Mr. Rief's later prototypes also suffered from an inability to be self-starting under all circumstances, and would frequently become jammed with the leaves or grit often found in swimming pools.
This patent is directed to certain technical improvements developed by Mr. Sebor to solve the problems noted above with respect to the self-starting and jamming difficulties of swimming pool cleaners using Mr. Sebor's vibratory oscillator design.

Vibratory oscillator swimming pool cleaner employing means for facilitating self starting and for avoiding clogging


A method and system to identify skills and tools needed to address a process. The method comprises the steps of storing in a computer database a series of templates identifying pre-given sub-processes, managed elements, skills and tools; and accessing the computer database to use the templates to identify a set of sub-processes for a process, and to identify a set of managed elements. The set of sub-processes and the set of managed elements are used to form a matrix having a multitude of cells. The templates are also used to identify a set of skills and tools for each of the cells of the matrix.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to methods and systems to help solve business problems. More specifically, the invention relates to methods and systems to identify the specific skills and tools needed to address effectively business problems. Even more specifically, the invention relates to such methods and systems particularly well suited to assist in the design and management of business information technology infrastructures.
2. Prior Art
Many business problems are very complex. Many such problems not only involve extremely complex equipment, but also involve many different people of varying skills, educational levels and abilities. One area of business that can be particularly vexatious is the design and management of the computer infrastructure of a business. Generally, this infrastructure includes the computer and computer related equipment of a business and the way in which that equipment are connected and used together.
Over the last several years, the capabilities and importance of this infrastructure have increased very substantially. At the same time, this infrastructure has become exceedingly complicated. The design and management of this infrastructure to meet the requirements of heterogeneous technology require the definition and analysis of requirements for skills, tools and data.

System and method for identifying skills and tools needed to support a process utilizing pre-defined templates

International Business Machines Corporation


The present invention provides a method and a device for controlling and evaluating at least one sensor device jointly used by a plurality of applications, in particular occupant-assistance/occupant-protection applications in an apparatus of locomotion, having the following steps: the measuring of certain locomotion apparatus parameters by a situation-detection device for determining the situation of the apparatus of locomotion with respect to its surroundings; the querying of the locomotion apparatus situation by a control device connected to the situation-detection device; and the activation of an application corresponding to the locomotion apparatus situation, by the control device.

In order to make it easier to drive a motor vehicle and prevent collisions with a vehicle or other objects in the way, it is well-known that, at certain points of the motor vehicle, sensors are provided, which emit signals in order to receive the signals reflected by the obstacle again. In this context, the distance between the sensor positioned on the vehicle and the obstacle is determined from the propagation time of the signal from the sensor to the obstacle and back again. Various devices, which, e.g. function on the basis of radar, lasers, ultrasonics, or video analysis, are known for detecting objects, and in particular, for measuring distance. The different sensor technologies are used as a function of the required measurement. Because of their very high resolution, ultrasonic sensors are especially useful in close range.
The data from the sensor measurements are needed for various applications, such as a park-distance control system, a stop-and-go assistance system useful in a traffic jam, or a pre-crash detection system.
In known methods heretofore, each application functions as a separate system having its own set of sensors, its own control electronics, and its own software. The controllability of measurements is limited to the activation and deactivation of the corresponding sensors. Therefore, the concurrent use of several applications causes conflict situations.
In addition, one cannot just position as many sensors on a vehicle as one would like because of the limited space available and the complicated wiring.
Therefore, the general objective of the present invention is to render the sensor signals received by a sensor device, useful several times, i.e. render them useful for several applications running concurrently.
In addition, the controllability of the sensors should be improved, so that objects in the monitoring range can be selectively tracked.

Method for controlling and evaluating a sensor device shared by a plurality of applications


Methods and formulations are disclosed for the in vitro formation of a histologically complete human epidermis in a serum-free, companion cell or cell feeder layer-free, and organotypic matrix-free culture system commencing with the isolation and cultivation of a unique population of clonally-competent basal epidermal cells and ending with the formation of a functional, histologically complete, human squamous epithelium. The formation of a histologically complete human epidermis is accomplished in a serum-free medium, without companion-cells or feeder layer cells or any organotypic support using a multi-step process that is controlled by manipulating the growth and differentiation factors requisite to the sequential development of a usable, functional, and completely differentiated epidermis. The entire culture process can be accomplished in a relatively short time (3 to 4 weeks) with complete reproducibility and can supply copious amounts (2 to 3 square meters) of viable reformed human epidermis for a variety of experimental, clinical and commercial purposes where a histologically-complete living skin substitute is required.

The serum-free culture of normal human epidermal keratinocytes without the use of companion-cells,, cell feeder layer or organotypic substrate, e.g. collagen or gelatin, is disclosed in this invention. Traditionally, tissue culture of normal epithelial cells has been attempted in a variety of commercially available media designed for the growth of less fastidious types of cells, i.e., malignant cells transformed in vitro from cell lines derived from human or nonhuman tissues, cell lines developed from human or nonhuman tumors, or cell lines developed for human or nonhuman embryonic mesenchymal cell types. In contrast, the culture of normal human epithelial stem cells has presented many difficulties not the least of which is the inexorable tendency for these cells to undergo uncontrolled, irreversible, terminal differentiation with the consequent loss of cell division capacity. A significant development which permitted the growth of human epidermal cells in culture was the formulation of a selective basal nutrient medium and its supplementation with specified growth factors and hormones [Tsao, M. C., et al., J. Cellular Physiol. 110:219-229 (1982)]. This selective medium was designated MCDB 152. Further refinements of this medium lead to the formulation of MCDB 153 [Boyce, S. T. and Ham, R. G., J. Invest. Dermatol. 81:33-40 (1983) ]. The use of these media permitted a more accurate characterization of the necessary growth factors, hormones and Ca.sup.2+ requirements for retention of high cloning efficiency necessary to maintain proper genetic programming for continued subculture of pluripotent basal epidermal stem cells [Wille, J. J., et al., J. Cellular Physiol. 121:31-44 (1984)].
The actual role of serum in cell culture medium as a complex mixture of both growth factors and differentiation-inducing factors was resolved by careful clonal growth, cell division kinetics, and flow cytofluorography [Pittelkow, M. R., et al., J. Invest. Dermatol. 86:410-417 (1986) ]. These findings indicated that serum, known to contain fibroblastic cell growth factors, e.g.,, 5 platelet-derived growth factor, was an inhibitor of basal epidermal cell growth. Further, the differentiation-inducing factors in serum could be equated with serum's content of 8-transforming growth factor, (.beta.-TGF) , [Shipley, S. D., et al., Cancer Res. 46:2068-2071 (1986)]. Recently, the inventor and colleagues reported that normal human keratinocytes actually produce their own growth factors. That is, proliferating basal cells are stimulated to secrete .alpha.-transforming growth factor (.alpha.-TGF) in response to the presence of added epidermal growth factor (EGF) and decrease production of .alpha.-TGF at high cell densities near confluence. Under the latter condition, the arrested cells secrete an inactive form of .beta.-TGF [Coffen, R. J., et al. , Nature 328:817-820 (1987)]. These considerations recently led the inventor to the idea that the natural mechanism of growth stimulation and its regulation in intact epidermis involved coordinated secretions of .alpha.- and .beta.-TGF's, and that the provision of such factors would eliminate the need for any organic substrate as well. Further experimentation to verify this surmise resulted in the findings in the present invention.
Previously, a patent [Green, H. and Kehinde, O., U.S. Pat. No. 4,304,866, 1981] was obtained for an in vitro method for the formation of epithelial sheets from cultured keratinocytes. This method uses a serum-containing medium and a feeder layer of murine (mouse) fibroblast cells to accomplish cell growth and differentiation. This procedure has serious limitations for large scale production of genetically-defined (autologous) human skin substitute. For example, the use of serum inextricably confounds the culture of purely basal cells with the dynamics of serum-induced differentiation. The net result is that subcultivation of such cultures yields low (<5%) clonal efficiencies preventing step-wise large scale build up of uncommitted pluripotent basal cells as a prelude to their conversion into usable sheets of transplantable, histologically-complete, human epidermis. moreover, the process of Green, H. and Kehinde, O. [U.S. Pat. No. #4,304,866, 1981] does not describe a histologically-complete epidermis. i.e. an epidermis which is formed of all six major identifiable layers of a complete human epidermis. Rather, the procedures therein can only form an epidermis lacking a stratum corneum (SEE: FIG. 1E], this being necessary for maximizing the utility of the tissue, and, thus, this limits the product uses. In a more recent methodology, a complete epidermis has been achieved, but only in the presence of a complete skin starter sample and serum-containing media that are combined with an organotypic substratum containing growth factors produced by companion cells [E. Bell, U.S. Pat. No. 4,485,096, 1984; and E. Bell & L. Dubertret, U.S. Pat. No. 4,604,346, 1986]. Although it is conceivable that these latter processes may be used in the absence of serum, the continued use of any organotypic substrate as well as feeder or companion cell types, e.g. fibroblasts, seriously limits, in an immunologically safe manner as well as an economic manner, their large-scale use, e.g. burn patients [Nanchahal, J. , et al., Lancet II (8656) :191-193, (1989)]. In order to remedy these deficiencies the inventor has dispensed with serum-containing media, eliminated any substratum support, dispensed with the requirement for innumerable skin starter samples, and designed a new basal nutrient medium capable of supporting the growth and development of a complete epidermis. Moreover, the identification of essential process steps leading to a functional epidermis has been discovered and can be monitored with specific monoclonal antibodies. In retrospect, the culturing of epidermal keratinocytes in medium containing undefined serum and/or feeder cell factors and/or organotypic substrates, and millimolar concentrations of ca 21 were not designed for the unlimited proliferation of undifferentiated basal cells. Such cultures can spontaneously undergo maturation and uncontrolled differentiation. The result was that an incomplete epidermis was produced. By contrast, the design of serum-free culture process described in this invention produces a complete epidermis by an orderly sequence at will, from a defined starting point in the culture process.

Method for the formation of a histologically-complete skin substitute


A secondary battery, including a bare cell, a protective circuit module (PCM) disposed on a top surface of the bare cell, the PCM comprising an external terminal a top surface thereof, and a printed circuit board (PCB) terminal disposed on the external terminal, the PCB terminal being electrically connected to the external terminal and an external device.

1. Field of the Invention
Aspects of the present invention relate to a secondary battery.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the rapid development of electronics, communication and computer industries, portable electronic devices are now in widespread use. Rechargeable secondary batteries are mainly used as power sources of portable electronic devices.
Batteries having a pack configuration are now widely used as secondary batteries. A secondary battery having a pack configuration includes a bare call for providing electric energy and a protective circuit module (PCM) for stably controlling charge/discharge operations, which are coupled to each other. An external electrode terminal connecting an external device to the secondary battery is disposed on the PCM.


This invention provides an article, compositions, methods of making and uses of vapor-deposited metal compounds immobilized on porous substrates. The substrate is a porous substrate having an average pore size of at least about 8 xc3x85 and a surface area of at least about 10 m2/g. The methods describe the vapor-deposition of an inorganic compound onto the substrate where the deposition is accomplished with a relatively small amount of ligand loss. The substrate can be pre-treated to achieve a uniformly dispersed metal compound deposited on the substrate. The inorganic compound can decompose into a metal compound. The article can also function as a catalyst for carbon-heteroatom coupling reactions such as carbon-carbon coupling reactions, most notably, the Heck reaction.

This invention provides an article comprising a vapor-deposited metal compound immobilized on a porous substrate. The invention also provides methods for depositing the metal compound. The article can also function as a catalyst for carbon-heteroatom coupling reactions such as carbon-carbon coupling reactions, most notably, the Heck reaction.
1. Background of the Invention
High-surface-area, porous substrates are of great interest in the field of catalysis. In particular, substrates with large and uniform pore sizes allow sterically-hindered molecules easy diffusion to internal active sites. Typically, catalytic species are immobilized within pores of porous substrates by depositing a catalyst from solution within pores of the substrate. In general, it is a challenge in the art to provide good deposition techniques for secure immobilization of catalysts on porous substrates, and the fabrication of substrates having large pore sizes has in many cases been challenging. It is among the objects of the present invention to provide techniques for secure immobilization of species on porous substrates, articles produced thereby, and methods of reactive chemistry using such articles.
2. Discussion of Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 5,391,528 (Benazzi, et al.) describe deposition, from vapor, from organometallic compounds onto alumino-silicates.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,723 (Bonnemann, et al.) describe a technique for preparing highly-active doped supported catalysts from an organic or inorganic support material and a catalyst metal precursor. Deposition occurs from solution phase.
The invention provides methods of making surface-immobilized, metal-based catalysts, articles that can be useful for catalyzing organic reactions, and catalytic reactions involving metal-based catalysts.
According to one aspect, the invention involves methods of making articles. One method involves volatilizing an inorganic compound, and allowing the inorganic compound to become immobilized on a porous oxygen-containing substrate. The immobilization occurs to the extent that it is immobilized under sublimation conditions.
Another method of the invention involves pretreating a substrate having a plurality of chemically active sites of a first chemical functionality such that about 1-25% of the sites retain the first chemical functionality and about 75-99% of the sites have a second functionality. The sites retaining the first chemical functionality are uniformly dispersed. An inorganic compound then is volatilized to cause it to covalently bond to the pretreated substrate.
Another method of the invention involves providing a porous substrate having an average pore size of at least about 8 xc3x85 and depositing a metal compound on the substrate. Then, a carbon-heteroatom coupling reaction is carried out involving the metal compound.
Another method of the invention involves performing a carbon-heteroatom coupling reaction in air, wherein at least about 5% conversion, of the reaction, is achieved within about 1 h.
Another method of the invention involves carrying out a reaction catalyzed by a surface-immobilized catalyst having a surface area of at least about 50 m2/g, in air, at a temperature of at least about 50xc2x0 C. Catalyst degradation, defined by reduction of activity of catalysts, is allowed in an amount of less than about 30% of a period of time of at least about 1 h.
In another aspect the invention involves compositions and articles. One composition of the invention comprises the structure SUBSTRATExe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94Mxe2x80x94Lx, wherein a bond between O and M is a covalent bond.
In another embodiment an article is provided that comprises a vapor-deposited metal compound immobilized on a porous substrate. The substrate has an average pore size of at least about 8 xc3x85.

Synthesis and application of vapor grafted porous materials