Methods and systems are provided for maintaining a database with details of frequently travelled routes and selecting a travel route for a vehicle from the database based on particulate filter regeneration requirements. In one example, a method may include selecting one or more routes from the database based on a current particulate filter soot level, fuel efficiency, travel time, operator behavior, etc., ranking the routes based on the particulate filter regeneration efficiency of each of the one or more routes. At vehicle key-off, the database may be updated with information regarding the travelled route including a level of particulate filter regeneration achieved during the drive cycle.

Emission control devices, such as particulate filters (PF), may reduce the amount of soot emissions from an internal combustion engine by trapping soot particles. Such devices may be passively regenerated during operation of the engine to decrease the amount of trapped particulate matter. Regeneration is typically achieved by raising a temperature of the PF to a predetermined level for a sustained period, while flowing exhaust gas of a defined composition through the PF in order to burn or oxidize the trapped particulate matter. However, during vehicle operation, conditions for sustained full regeneration of the PF may not be available. For example, during urban driving conditions which include frequent idle stops and light load engine operation, frequent premature terminations of regeneration may occur. The premature terminations may result in the need for active regeneration, leading to an increased regeneration fuel penalty.
Various approaches are provided for regenerating a PF during a vehicle drive cycle. In one example, as shown in US20160075333, Sujan et al. disclose a method to compute a recommended route for vehicle travel taking into account the regeneration requirement of an exhaust after-treatment device. Factors that are considered during route computation include load information of the vehicle, traffic information, and a cost strategy. Simulations are carried out to select a preferred route which is then provided to the vehicle operator.
However, the inventors herein have recognized potential disadvantages with the above approach. As one example, in the approach of Sujan et al., when the driver does not provide a destination, it may be difficult to suggest a route of travel that enables sufficient regeneration. Also, during conditions when an operator starts on the recommended route but takes a detour, the resulting route may have a lower regeneration efficiency than was intended. Further, operator driving history, driving characteristics, and driving preferences may significantly affect the decision of the operator to accept the route that is recommended by the vehicle controller. As a result, the PF may remain insufficiently regenerated.
In one example, the issues described above may be addressed by an engine method, comprising: learning, after each drive cycle, a particulate filter regeneration efficiency as a function of one or more characteristics of a travelled route and operator behavior over the travelled route, updating a database based on the learning, and at onset of a drive cycle, displaying to an operator one or more routes selected from the database, the selection based on a particulate filter soot load at the onset of the drive cycle. In this way, by providing route recommendations to a vehicle operator to enable sufficient exhaust after-treatment device regeneration based on operator driving characteristics and history, PF regeneration may be better scheduled.
As one example, a vehicle controller may develop a route database for a vehicle operator as a function of routes that are frequently used, along with operator driving characteristics on each route. Each time a trip is completed, the database may be updated with drive information including origin and destination details, route details such as route terrain, grade, day of week and time of day at which travel occurs, vehicle stops incurred during the route and duration of each stop, traffic information for the route as a function of time of travel, engine operating conditions on route, fuel consumption, duration of travel, possible or actual degree of PF regeneration achieved on traveled route, operator driving characteristics (e.g., aggressiveness and pedal actuation frequency), etc. The different routes may be stored in the database and ranked in terms of one or more parameters such as fuel efficiency, duration of travel, and achievable PF regeneration level. On each drive cycle, the controller may receive input regarding a final destination from the operator (such as via a navigation system). Responsive to the operator input, and further based on the current soot level of the PF, one or more routes may be selected from the database and hierarchically displayed to the vehicle operator.
For example, when the PF soot level is lower than a threshold and PF regeneration is not desired during the upcoming drive cycle, the selected routes that are displayed may be ranked based on the time taken to reach the destination and/or fuel cost, and the recommended route may be selected independent of its ability to complete PF regeneration. Thus, the recommended route at the top of the list may be a route that enables the destination to be reached in the shortest amount of time or using the least amount of fuel. As another example, when the PF soot level is higher than a threshold and PF regeneration is desired during the upcoming drive cycle, the selected routes that are displayed may be first ranked based on their ability to complete PF regeneration. Then routes may be further weighted based on their fuel economy. Thus, the recommended route at the top of the list may be a route that enables the destination to be reached while providing the highest degree of regeneration and while providing some degree of fuel economy. The subsequent route may provide a relatively lower degree of regeneration while still providing some degree of fuel economy, and so on. Navigational instructions may then be provided based on the operator selection. However, if a final destination is not provided by the operator, an expected destination may be predicted based on the operator's drive history (e.g., based on destinations commonly frequented on the given day of the week, and the given time of the day) and a route selection may be provided based on the expected destination. The vehicle controller may divide the route into route segments and predict an expected destination for an initial route segment and provide a recommended route that enables PF regeneration on the initial route segment. Then, as the operator starts driving, the expected destination for one or more subsequent route segments, and a recommended route for each route segment, may be dynamically updated using stochastic dynamic programming. Similarly, when the operator starts on the recommended route and takes a detour, upcoming route segments may be predicted based on the drive history in the database, and one or more routes may be recommended from the database using stochastic dynamic programming.
In this way, by maintaining a database of frequently traveled routes with information including the actual degree of PF regeneration attained on each route, it may be possible to select one or more routes from a database based on PF regeneration requirement during a future drive cycle. By dynamically selecting and suggesting a travel route that enables PF regeneration while taking into account an operator's driving history and the operator's driving preferences, the likelihood that an operator will follow the recommended route is increased. Consequently, a higher degree of PF regeneration may be facilitated without substantial increase in fuel consumption and travel duration. The technical effect of using stochastic dynamic programming to predict segments of an upcoming route based on drive history and drive statistics stored in the route database is that it may be possible to schedule PF regenerations even during trips where a final destination has not been specified by the operator or when the operator has taken a detour from the selected route. In this way, by opportunistically regenerating the PF, over-loading of soot in the PF may be reduced, thereby improving engine performance and PF health.
It should be understood that the summary above is provided to introduce in simplified form a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description. It is not meant to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, the scope of which is defined uniquely by the claims that follow the detailed description. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages noted above or in any part of this disclosure.

Systems and methods for particulate filter regeneration


Polypeptide compositions that mimic the activity of glucocorticoid induced leucine zipper (GILZ) on the immune system are described. Also described is a method of treating multiple sclerosis using compositions comprising GILZ or lower molecular weight polypeptides with structural relationships to GILZ.

Glucocorticoids act by interacting with the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in the cytoplasm, which then translocates to the nucleus and binds the GR responsive elements (GRE) in the promoter regions of target genes. Glucocorticoid induced leucine zipper (GILZ) (SEQ ID NO: 1) is a glucocorticoid-inducible gene with six GRE elements. Overexpression of GILZ suppresses activated T cells by inhibiting transactivation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), the master regulator of inflammatory responses. The anti-inflammatory activity of synthetic glucocorticoids mediated by preventing NF-κB transactivation has been attributed to the induced upregulation of GILZ (SEQ ID NO: 1).
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a common chronic inflammatory and demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. MS affects young and middle aged adults, and women in particular, imposing significant economic costs on individuals and the community in terms of loss of productivity and efficiency. MS is widely recognized as a complex disease driven by dysregulated immunity accompanied by relapsing and remitting clinical manifestations. There are many symptoms associated with MS, including weakness, fatigue, sensory loss, paresthesias, optic neuritis, diplopia, ataxia, vertigo, pain, lhermitte, demenital, visual loss, and inflammation. The pivotal role played by NF-κB in the pathogenesis of MS is well established. Peptides derived from the NF-κB essential modulator (NEMO), the NEMO binding unit (NBD) of IKKβ proteins and the phosphorylation sites of p65 have been evaluated to directly target the NF-κB multisubunit complex.
The ability of currently available therapeutic agents to modify the disease course in MS is modest at best. Hence, there is a need for developing more effective disease-modifying therapies. MS is widely recognized as a complex disease driven by dysregulated immunity accompanied by relapsing and remitting clinical manifestations. Since the antigenic trigger of MS is not definitively identified, most disease modifying agents are designed to modulate the inflammatory response in the periphery and in the brain. Therapies under development include strategies that deplete lymphocytes and those that mediate immunomodulation. Since depletion could potentially cause global immunosuppression, strategies of immunomodulation are preferable.
The profound anti-inflammatory activity of synthetic glucocorticoids, combined with their ability to induce lymphocyte apoptosis place them among the most commonly prescribed drugs in the management of relapse in MS. However, poor efficacy in reducing the frequency or severity of relapse and the complications of serious side-effects compromise the continuous or long-term use of steroids. Hence, treatments that harness the therapeutic effects of glucocorticoids with a better benefit-to-risk ratio than traditional steroids are needed.
GILZ, originally identified as a glucocorticoid-inducible gene, has been shown to interact with the p65 subunit of NF-κB in activated T cells. Since activated p65 is present only in stimulated cells, the GILZ mimetics may mediate selective inhibition of activated cells without causing widespread immunosuppression. Preliminary results suggest that treatment with exogenous GILZ (SEQ ID NO: 1) suppresses antigen activated T cell responses in vitro. Low molecular weight GILZ mimetics that bind the p65 protein with optimal kinetics are characterized. Advantages of peptides such as GILZ mimetics as therapeutics include non-immunogenicity with potential for long-term use, greater permeability to cross tissue barriers, and cost-effectiveness.
One of the actions of glucocorticoids is to modulate the transcription of multiple genes involved in immune response. The anti-inflammatory effect is largely attributed to the inhibition of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), a regulator of inflammatory responses. GILZ having an amino acid sequence MNTEMYQTPMEVAVYQLHNFSISFFSSLLGGDVVSVKLDNSASGASVVAIDNKIEQAM DLVKNHLMYAVREEVEILKEQIRELVEKNSQLERENTLLKTLASPEQLEKFQSCLSPEEP AP ESPQVPEAPGGSAV (SEQ ID NO: 1), is a glucocorticoid induced gene that binds the p65 subunit of NF-κB to inhibit its nuclear translocation.
NF-κB is a heterodimer of p50 and p65 that remains as an inactive complex with inhibitory proteins such as IκB in the cytoplasm of resting T cells. Following T cell activation, p65 is released from the inhibitory complex, translocates to the nucleus and mediates transactivation of inflammatory genes. Gene profiling studies revealed the presence of elevated p65 in the peripheral blood monocytes and in the pathologic lesions in MS. It is believed herein that therapeutic agents that sequester activated p65 within the cytoplasm will suppress transactivation of inflammatory cytokines and ameliorate disease in MS. Based on analysis of mutational and functional studies, it is believed herein that the proline rich carboxy terminus of GILZ (SEQ ID NO: 1) interacts physically with the p65 subunit of NF-κB. Proline rich regions (PRR) are often localized in the solvent exposed regions of proteins involved in transient interactions such as signaling or cytoskeletal rearrangements. Hence PRRs provide target sites for developing inhibitors of transient protein-protein interactions. Rationally designed peptide mimetics of the proline rich p65 binding interface of GILZ (SEQ ID NO: 1) may sequester p65 within the cytoplasm in activated T cells and suppress inflammation related to MS. Without being bound by any particular theory, such peptide mimetics may act as a glucocorticoid mimetic and/or as an NF-κB inhibitor.
Knowledge derived from the primary structure of GILZ (SEQ ID NO: 1) and its interaction with the p65 subunit of NF-κB is applied to the design of novel peptide agents, the GILZ mimetics. The carboxy terminus of GILZ (GILZ-COOH) consists of 35 residues (residues 100-134 of GILZ); LASPEQLEKFQSCLSPEEPAPESPQVPEAPGGSAV (SEQ ID NO: 2). Significantly, it has three "PXXP" motifs: PEEP (SEQ ID NO: 3), PESP (SEQ ID NO: 4), and PEAP (SEQ ID NO: 5). The structural and functional significance of this motif in transient intermolecular interactions such as cytoskeletal rearrangement and signaling is well established. Secondary structure prediction of GILZ-COOH by the nearest neighboring neural network suggested a helical conformation between 103P-S111 indicating a region with significant propensity to bind DNA. Hence, synthetic peptides corresponding to one or more proline rich regions of GILZ may be effective GILZ mimetics.
Localized in the solvent exposed domains, the role of PRRs is to bring proteins together so as to make subsequent interactions more probable. This is particularly true for interactions between functionally important proline and conserved hydrophobic residues in the interface of its binding partner. Notably, the transactivation domain of p65 that potentially interacts with the GILZ protein presents two highly conserved phenylalanine residues; F534 and F542 which together with the conserved acidic residues at Asp531 and Asp533 and phosphorylation sites at Ser529 and Ser536 constitute the critical residues for p65 transactivation. Data from these observations are integrated with that from residue interface propensity to introduce rational amino acid substitutions and/or truncations in the GILZ-WT so as to design GILZ mimetics with optimal p65 binding efficacy. Additional parameters considered to increase the drug like properties of GILZ mimetics include solvent mediated contact potential, accessible surface volume/residue, log interface residue propensity, weighted hydrophobicity and solvation potential.
Conventionally, the proof of therapeutic manipulation of specific intermolecular interactions is derived from studies using fusion proteins and/or monoclonal antibodies of the interacting molecules such as Abatacept (CTLA4 IgG1Fc), Alefacept (LFA-3-IgG1Fc), Denileukin diftitox (recombinant IL-2) and Etanercept (TNFR-IgG1Fc) or adalimumab/Certolizumab pegol/infliximab (anti-TNF-α mAb), Natalizumab (anti-α4 integrin,) and Efalizumab (anti-CD11a mAb) respectively. These agents target interactions occurring at cell surface and/or in the extracellular environment. In contrast, the GILZ:p65 interaction occurs in the cytoplasm necessitating intracellular delivery of potential modulating agent(s). In this context, low molecular weight peptides that are permeable and better amenable for intracellular delivery than large proteins represent attractive alternatives.
Without being bound by any particular theory, it is believed that because activated p65 is present only in activated T cells, intracellular delivery of GILZ mimetics will suppress pro-inflammatory responses by sequestering activated p65 and facilitate skewing towards anti-inflammatory responses. An advantage of lower molecular weight peptides as therapeutic agents include increased permeability for intracellular delivery compared to larger proteins.
The following numbered embodiments are contemplated and are non-limiting:
1. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a polypeptide from about 6 to about 35 amino acid residues, the polypeptide comprising 1 to 3 tetrapeptides having the sequence of PXXP, wherein                P is proline; and        X is any amino acid.
2. The pharmaceutical composition of clause 1, wherein at least one tetrapeptide comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3.
3. The pharmaceutical composition of clause 1 or clause 2, wherein at least one tetrapeptide comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4.
4. The pharmaceutical composition of any one of clauses 1 to 3, wherein at least one tetrapeptide comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5.
5. The pharmaceutical composition of clause 1, wherein the polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence of CLSPEEPAPESPQVPEAPGGSAV (SEQ ID NO: 6).
6. The pharmaceutical composition of any one of clauses 1 to 5, wherein the polypeptide comprises a polyproline helical conformation.
7. The pharmaceutical composition of any one of clauses 1 to 6 further comprising a cell penetrating peptide.
8. The pharmaceutical composition of clause 7, wherein the cell penetrating peptide is selected from the group consisting of Penetratin, Pep-1, Pep-2, VP22, pVEC, pISL, hCT derived peptide, LL-37, Mouse PrP, Transportan, TP10, Arg11, MAP, MPG, KALA, ppTG1, and ppTG20.
9. The pharmaceutical composition of clause 7, wherein the cell penetrating peptide is a bipartite peptide (K16ApoE) consisting of a polylysine segment linked with the apolipoprotein-E peptide.
10. The pharmaceutical composition of clause 7, wherein the cell penetrating peptide is Pep-1.
11. The pharmaceutical composition of any one of clauses 1 to 10, wherein the composition suppresses p65 binding.
12. The pharmaceutical composition of any one of clauses 1 to 11, wherein the composition suppresses p65 activation.
13. The pharmaceutical composition of any one of clauses 1 to 12, wherein the composition inhibits NF-κB translocation to the nucleus of a cell.
14. The pharmaceutical composition of any one of clauses 1 to 13, wherein the composition suppresses T cell response.
15. The pharmaceutical composition of any one of clauses 1 to 14, wherein the composition suppresses T-bet transcription.
16. The pharmaceutical composition of any one of clauses 1 to 15, wherein the composition suppresses a pro-inflammatory cytokine.
17. The pharmaceutical composition of any one of clauses 1 to 16, wherein the composition suppresses a cytokine associated with Th-1 response.
18. The pharmaceutical composition of clause 17, wherein the cytokine is selected from the group consisting of IL-12, IL-17, IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-23.
19. The pharmaceutical composition of clause 17, wherein the cytokine is IL-12.
20. The pharmaceutical composition of clause 17, wherein the cytokine is IL-17.
21. The pharmaceutical composition of clause 17, wherein the cytokine is IFN-γ.
22. The pharmaceutical composition of clause 17, wherein the cytokine is TNF-α.
23. The pharmaceutical composition of clause 17, wherein the cytokine is IL-23.
24. The pharmaceutical composition of any one of clauses 1 to 23, wherein the composition enhances a cytokine associated with Th-2 response.
25. The pharmaceutical composition of clause 24, wherein the cytokine is selected from the group consisting of IL-4, IL-10 and TGF-β.
26. The pharmaceutical composition of clause 24, wherein the cytokine is IL-4.
27. The pharmaceutical composition of clause 24, wherein the cytokine is IL-10.
28. The pharmaceutical composition of clause 24, wherein the cytokine is TGF-β.
29. The pharmaceutical composition of any one of clauses 1 to 28, wherein the composition upregulates a Th-2 specific transcriptional factor.
30. The pharmaceutical composition of clause 29, wherein the Th-2 specific transcriptional factor is STAT-6.
31. The pharmaceutical composition of clause 29, wherein the Th-2 specific transcriptional factor is GATA-3.
32. The pharmaceutical composition of any one of clauses 1 to 31, wherein the composition is associated with a Th-2 bias in the Th-1/Th-2 balance.
33. The pharmaceutical composition of any one of clauses 1 to 32, for use in the treatment of multiple sclerosis.
34. The pharmaceutical composition of any one of clauses 1 to 33, wherein the composition reduces a symptom associated with multiple sclerosis.
35. The pharmaceutical composition of clause 34, wherein the symptom associated with multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory symptom.
36. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a polypeptide from about 6 to about 35 amino acid residues, the polypeptide comprising 1 to 3 tetrapeptides having the sequence of PEXP, wherein                P is proline;        E is glutamic acid; and        X is any amino acid.
37. The pharmaceutical composition of clause 36, wherein at least one tetrapeptide comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3.
38. The pharmaceutical composition of clause 36 or clause 37, wherein at least one tetrapeptide comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4.
39. The pharmaceutical composition of any one of clauses 36 to 38, wherein at least one tetrapeptide comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5.
40. The pharmaceutical composition of clause 36, wherein the polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6.
41. The pharmaceutical composition of any one of clauses 36 to 40, wherein the polypeptide comprises a polyproline helical conformation.
42. The pharmaceutical composition of any one of clauses 36 to 41 further comprising a cell penetrating peptide.
43. The pharmaceutical composition of clause 42, wherein the cell penetrating peptide is selected from the group consisting of Penetratin, Pep-1, Pep-2, VP22, pVEC, pISL, hCT derived peptide, LL-37, Mouse PrP, Transportan, TP10, Arg11, MAP, MPG, KALA, ppTG1, and ppTG20.
44. The pharmaceutical composition of clause 42, wherein the cell penetrating peptide is a bipartite peptide (K16ApoE) consisting of a polylysine segment linked with the apolipoprotein-E peptide.
45. The pharmaceutical composition of clause 42, wherein the cell penetrating peptide is Pep-1.
46. The pharmaceutical composition of any one of clauses 36 to 45, wherein the composition suppresses p65 binding.
47. The pharmaceutical composition of any one of clauses 36 to 46, wherein the composition suppresses p65 activation.
48. The pharmaceutical composition of any one of clauses 36 to 47, wherein the composition inhibits NF-κB translocation to the nucleus of a cell.
49. The pharmaceutical composition of any one of clauses 36 to 48, wherein the composition suppresses T cell response.
50. The pharmaceutical composition of any one of clauses 36 to 49, wherein the composition suppresses T-bet transcription.
51. The pharmaceutical composition of any one of clauses 36 to 50, wherein the composition suppresses a pro-inflammatory cytokine.
52. The pharmaceutical composition of any one of clauses 36 to 51, wherein the composition suppresses a cytokine associated with Th-1 response.
53. The pharmaceutical composition of clause 52, wherein the cytokine is selected from the group consisting of IL-12, IL-17, IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-23.
54. The pharmaceutical composition of clause 52, wherein the cytokine is IL-12.
55. The pharmaceutical composition of clause 52, wherein the cytokine is IL-17.
56. The pharmaceutical composition of clause 52, wherein the cytokine is IFN-γ.
57. The pharmaceutical composition of clause 52, wherein the cytokine is TNF-α.
58. The pharmaceutical composition of clause 52, wherein the cytokine is IL-23.
59. The pharmaceutical composition of any one of clauses 36 to 48, wherein the composition enhances a cytokine associated with Th-2 response.
60. The pharmaceutical composition of clause 59, wherein the cytokine is selected from the group consisting of IL-4, IL-10 and TGF-β.
61. The pharmaceutical composition of clause 59, wherein the cytokine is IL-4.
62. The pharmaceutical composition of clause 59, wherein the cytokine is IL-10.
63. The pharmaceutical composition of clause 59, wherein the cytokine is TGF-β.
64. The pharmaceutical composition of any one of clauses 36 to 63, wherein the composition upregulates a Th-2 specific transcriptional factor.
65. The pharmaceutical composition of clause 64, wherein the Th-2 specific transcriptional factor is STAT-6.
66. The pharmaceutical composition of clause 64, wherein the Th-2 specific transcriptional factor is GATA-3.
67. The pharmaceutical composition of any one of clauses 36 to 66, wherein the composition is associated with a Th-2 bias in the Th-1/Th-2 balance.
68. The pharmaceutical composition of any one of clauses 36 to 67, for use in the treatment of multiple sclerosis.
69. The pharmaceutical composition of any one of clauses 36 to 68, wherein the composition reduces a symptom associated with multiple sclerosis.
70. The pharmaceutical composition of clause 69, wherein the symptom associated with multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory symptom.
71. A method of treating multiple sclerosis, the method comprising the step of administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of the pharmaceutical composition of any one of clauses 1 to 70.
72. The method of clause 71, wherein the method suppresses p65 binding in the patient.
73. The method of clause 71 or clause 72, wherein the method suppresses p65 activation in the patient.
74. The method of any one of clauses 71 to 73, wherein the method inhibits NF-κB translocation to the nucleus of a cell in the patient.
75. The method of any one of clauses 71 to 74, wherein the method suppresses T cell response in the patient.
76. The method of any one of clauses 71 to 75, wherein the method suppresses T-bet transcription in the patient.
77. The method of any one of clauses 71 to 76, wherein the method suppresses a pro-inflammatory cytokine in the patient.
78. The method of any one of clauses 71 to 77, wherein the method suppresses a cytokine associated with Th-1 response in the patient.
79. The method of clause 78, wherein the cytokine is selected from the group consisting of IL-12, IL-17, IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-23.
80. The method of clause 78, wherein the cytokine is IL-12.
81. The method of clause 78, wherein the cytokine is IL-17.
82. The method of clause 78, wherein the cytokine is IFN-γ.
83. The method of clause 78, wherein the cytokine is TNF-α.
84. The method of clause 78, wherein the cytokine is IL-23.
85. The method of any one of clauses 71 to 84, wherein the method enhances a cytokine associated with Th-2 response in the patient.
86. The method of clause 85, wherein the cytokine is selected from the group consisting of IL-4, IL-10 and TGF-β.
87. The method of clause 85, wherein the cytokine is IL-4.
88. The method of clause 85, wherein the cytokine is IL-10.
89. The method of clause 85, wherein the cytokine is TGF-β.
90. The method of any one of clauses 71 to 89, wherein the method upregulates a Th-2 specific transcriptional factor in the patient.
91. The method of clause 89, wherein the Th-2 specific transcriptional factor is STAT-6.
92. The method of clause 89, wherein the Th-2 specific transcriptional factor is GATA-3.
93. The method of any one of clauses 71 to 92, wherein the method is associated with a Th-2 bias in the Th-1/Th-2 balance.
94. The method of any one of clauses 71 to 93, wherein the administration is an injection.
95. The method of clause 94, wherein the injection is selected from the group consisting of intraarticular, intravenous, intramuscular, intradermal, intraperitoneal, and subcutaneous injections.
96. The method of clause 94, wherein the injection is an intravenous injection.
97. The method of any one of clauses 71 to 96, wherein the administration is performed as a single dose administration.
98. The method of any one of clauses 71 to 96, wherein the administration is performed as a multiple dose administration.
99. A pharmaceutical formulation comprising the pharmaceutical composition of any one of clauses 1 to 70.
100. The pharmaceutical formulation of clause 99 further comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
101. The pharmaceutical formulation of clause 99 or clause 100 optionally including one or more other therapeutic ingredients.
102. The pharmaceutical formulation of any one of clauses 99 to 101 wherein the formulation is a single unit dose.
103. A lyophilisate or powder of the pharmaceutical formulation of any one of clauses 99 to 102.
104. An aqueous solution produced by dissolving the lyophilisate or powder of clause 103 in water.

Glucocorticoid induced leucine zipper mimetics as therapeutic agents in multiple sclerosis

Indiana University Research and Technology Corporation


Data communication is performed appropriately.

Recently, a high-definition moving image is distributed in broadcasting. Also, along with development of a communication technology, a high-definition moving image is distributed in a wired/wireless communication network. In this distribution of a moving image, a real-time property is important in addition to reliability.
For example, there is the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 as a standard related to a wireless local area network (LAN). For example, in the IEEE 802.11, there is a mechanism of a retransmission request for recovery of a dropped packet, or a mechanism of a forward error correcting code in a physical layer (layer 1 (L1)) in order to improve reliability of communication (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 1).
However, there is no mechanism of an error correcting code in a MAC layer (layer 2 (L2)). Thus, in a case where a code error generated due to interference of a packet or the like is not corrected in an L1, an acknowledgement (ACK) is not transmitted back and the packet is retransmitted.
Also, with respect to a hierarchy of a layer 3 (L3) or higher, a technology of providing an error correction function in a higher layer which technology is called an application layer error correction (AL-FEC) is proposed. It is possible to recover from an error in a higher layer by using this technology. However, even if it is possible to recover from an error in a higher layer, it is not possible to recover from an error in an L2. Thus, it is not possible to transmit an ACK back to a communication partner. Thus, even in a case where it is possible to recover from an error in a higher layer, retransmission is performed by the communication partner.
Also, for example, a data transmission/reception system that determines a forward error correction capability on the basis of a transmission error rate of data and that assigns, to the transmitted data, a forward error correcting code corresponding to the forward error correction capability is proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Also, for example, a technology of controlling an operation of a plurality of communication layers in a hierarchized communication system is proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 2 and 3).

Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a control unit. In a case of transmitting data by using wireless communication, the control unit performs control of performing transmission while including determination information with which a device in a transmission destination of the data determines in a data link layer whether to pass the data to a higher layer of the data link layer into the data. Also, in a case of receiving data by using wireless communication, the control unit performs control of determining whether to pass the data to a higher layer of a data link layer on the basis of information included in the data (determination information that can be grasped in data link layer).


An electronic equipment for recording information signals on a video camera, an audio recording device or the like system. This electronic equipment includes a main body unit for recording the information on a memory member having a solid-state storage element, a memory holder provided on the main body unit of the equipment, a holder container formed on the outer periphery of the casing for accommodating the memory holder and a holder operating mechanism for causing movement of the memory holder between a loading/unloading position enabling loading/unloading of the memory member for the memory holder and a housing position for housing the memory holder in the holder container in a manner such as not to permit loading/unloading of the memory member. The memory holder has a terminal section for connection to a terminal of the memory holder, and is adapted for detachably holding the memory member. The holder operating mechanism maintains contact between the memory member and the terminal section in a state in which the memory holder having the memory member loaded on it has been moved from its position within the holder container to the loading/unloading position. This maintains the state of electrical connection to the main body unit of the device unless the memory member is not withdrawn from the memory holder.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an electronic equipment, such as a video camera device employing a recording medium accommodating a solid memory element and, more particularly, to a loading unit having a recording medium detachably loaded thereon.
2. Description of Prior Art
As a recording medium for a video camera for recording video signals or an audio recording apparatus for recording audio signals, there is employed a memory device having enclosed therein a solid memory element.
If this sort of the memory member is used in an information recording apparatus, such as a video camera, it is used as an auxiliary recording medium for a tape cartridge or a disc cartridge having a large recording capacity.
The video camera, employing this memory member along with the tape cartridge, is provided not only with a cartridge loading unit on which to load the tape cartridge, but also with a memory loading unit on which to load the memory member. This video camera includes a recording and/or reproducing unit for recording and/or reproducing the information on or from a tape cartridge and a memory member, a cartridge holder adapted for movement between a cartridge loading/unloading position for holding and loading/unloading the tape cartridge and a cartridge loading position enabling recording and/or reproduction of the information on or from the tape cartridge, and a memory loading mechanism for detachably holding the memory member. The memory loading unit, provided on the video camera, is provided on a main body unit of the video camera or on a casing adapted for covering the main body unit. The memory loading unit includes a memory inserting/ejecting opening, via which to insert or eject the memory member, and a memory housing portion in which to accommodate the memory member inserted via the memory inserting/ejecting opening. The memory loading unit includes a terminal portion, to which is connected a terminal of the memory member to be loaded, and an ejection lever for ejecting the memory member housed and loaded in the memory housing portion from the memory insertion/ejection opening.
The above-described video camera records the video information and the audio information on a tape cartridge at the time of imaging to record the picture information of e.g., a still picture on the memory member. The memory member, housed in the memory housing unit, is ejected from the memory insertion/ejection opening on actuating an ejection lever.
With the memory loading unit, provided on a video camera, the memory member is forcibly disconnected from the terminal member if the operation of ejecting the memory member from the inside of the memory housing unit is performed during the recording of the information on the memory member, so that the recording processing is interrupted in the course of the recording processing of information signals on the memory member.
If the recording processing on the memory member is interrupted, the information previously recorded thereon is destroyed to render it impossible to correctly record the information signals.
On the other hand, the memory loading unit, provided on the video camera, is poor in the degree of freedom in casing shape designing because the memory insertion/ejection opening of the memory holder needs to face the outside of the casing to enable the memory member to be inserted into or ejected from the insertion/ejection opening.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Electronic equipment for loading thereon a recording medium employing a solid-state memory element


The portable box includes a housing forming four sides of an enclosure, with a front panel pivotally mounted to the enclosure and a support bar pivotally mounted in the upper end of the enclosure. The support bar includes an elongated strut and a clamping arm adjustably secured to the strut to selectively secure a display item in an upright position projecting upwardly from the support bar. The front panel is pivotally mounted on the enclosure to swing between an open position, wherein the support bar may pivot to store the display items within the enclosure, and a closed position securing the support bar in either an upright display position or an inverted storage position.

Flower boxes to beautify the windows of homes have been enjoyed for many years throughout this country and the world. The advent of travel trailers and RVs has permitted the traveler to enjoy the comforts of home while on the road. However, the use of flower boxes on motor homes and RVs has, to date, been impractical. The only way a traveler could enjoy a window box for floral or greenery display was to mechanically install the flower box while the RV was stationary, and then removing the flower box before resuming travel-a lengthy procedure not practical for continuously moving travelers.


A frequency discriminator is described. The frequency discriminator comprises a power splitter (2) for splitting a signal into a plurality of paths (40, 41, 42, . . . , 4n). At least two of the plurality of paths (41, 42, . . . , 4n) include respective filters (121; 122, . . . , 12n) having different frequency characteristics which are configured to provide respective filtered signals to respective power detectors (161, 162, . . . , 16n. The frequency discriminator comprises an analogue-to-digital conversion section (8) which is configured to receive values of measured powers from the power detectors, to generate digital values of measured powers and to provide the digital values of measured powers to a digital processing section (10). The digital processing section is configured to estimate a value (11) of at least one frequency in the signal in dependence on the digital values, for example the ratio of the digital values, of measured powers and on frequency responses (201, 202, . . . , 20n; FIG. 2) of the filters.

In many applications, such as radar warning receivers (RWRs), there is a need to detect short-pulse signals with high probability.
Frequency-swept detectors and spectrum monitors are not well-suited to being short-pulse signal detectors since they suffer low dwell times in each frequency band.
Short-pulse signals can be detected using a digital instantaneous frequency measurement (IFM) technique based on an analogue frequency discriminator and reference is made to P. L. Herselman and J. E. Cilliers: "A Digital Instantaneous Frequency Measurement Technique using High-Speed Analogue-to-Digital Converters and Field Programmable Gate Arrays" (2007). A conventional frequency discriminator typically comprises a splitter, a delay line, a mixer and a low-pass filter. Using the splitter, delay line and mixer, an input signal is mixed with a delayed copy. The product is fed through a low-pass filter. The frequency of a single input tone can be found using a look-up table. However, one drawback of such a system is that it can "blinded" by an extra input tone. Another drawback is that such a system tends to suffer from having a limited dynamic range.
US 2011/0053538 A1 describes a high-speed frequency sensor. The sensor comprises a plurality of filters allowing passage of signals over a different band of frequencies and a plurality of detectors, each associated with a respective filter. If the incident RF signal results in a signal in the band of frequencies passed by a particular filter, the detector associated with that filter generates an output signal. This indicates in which of the frequency bands the incident RF signal has been detected. The precision of the frequency estimate is limited to one bin per filter, that is, the sensor determines only a range of frequencies within which the single frequency exists, the range being equal to the band of frequencies passed by the filter.


An irrigation system is composed of a mobile sprinkler cart; a system water supply pipe supporting a plurality of hydrants adapted to be engaged by the mobile sprinkler cart and to supply water to a sprinkler supported on the cart; and an addressable electronic ID tag mounted on each hydrant. A main controller is programmed to control operation of the mobile sprinkler cart, and the ID tag is adapted to send at least hydrant identifying data to the main controller to thereby enable the main controller to move the mobile sprinkler cart to the hydrant.

Mobile irrigation systems having elevated boom or truss assemblies carrying multiple sprinklers are typically of the center pivot-type or the linear- (or lateral-) move-type. In a center-pivot machine, the elevated truss assembly pivots about an upright standpipe that supplies water to the sprinklers attached to the truss assembly. In a linear-move machine, the elevated truss assembly is carried on mobile, wheeled towers that move the machine linearly along a path that is perpendicular to the elevated boom or truss. Typically, the linear-move machine travels from one end of a field to the other and back again, and sprinkling typically occurs in both directions, with water supplied by hose, spaced hydrants or adjacent water-filled ditch or culvert.
In still other systems, a mobile traveler or cart moves along an above-ground pipe, docking with hydrants spaced along the pipe. See, for example, commonly-owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,300,004 and 7,140,563 incorporated herein by reference. In a variation of this arrangement, the pipe is below ground, eliminating the primary steering component used by the cart to move between hydrants. In some cases, buried guide wires are used to steer the cart. There remains a need, however, for a relatively simple and reliable system for guiding a mobile sprinkler cart along an above-ground pipe or across a field to engage a plurality of hydrants (in sequence) in accordance with a programmed sprinkling policy that controls the application of water to the field at each hydrant.

Irrigation system with smart hydrants and related method


A method for presenting information and a digital storage oscilloscope are disclosed in which primary measurements of a signal are performed and displayed. Parameters are also derived for the signal based upon the primary measurement data. These derived parameters are then also displayed as a function of time on the display, preferably with a common time axis. This enables the oscilloscope operator to correlate features found by reference to the derived parameters directly to the primary measurements of the signal. Moreover, since the data from the primary measurements are stored in the oscilloscope, multi parameter calculation and parameter recalculation can be performed.

Oscilloscopes are one of the more common examples of electrical test and measurement equipment. This class of devices makes primary measurements of time varying signals. In most instances, these measurements are of the signal's voltage as a function of time, even though the detected voltage may be indicative of some other measurement of interest such as electrical current through a resistive element or temperature in the case of a thermistor, in two arbitrary examples. The oscilloscope is useful because it enables the visualization of the time varying character of signals, using a vertical axis representing level and horizontal axis representing time.
The digital storage oscilloscope (DSO) is a subclass of oscilloscopes in which the time varying nature of the sampled signals is represented digitally within the device. The main advantage is that non-simultaneous signal events can be stored in the device for subsequent comparison. Additionally, parameters can be derived from the digital data of the primary measurements, such as statistical features of the signals.
In the typical implementation, the DSO works by waiting for the satisfaction of some trigger condition. When the trigger event is received, the primary measurements of the voltage, for example, of the signal are made, and the resulting measurement data are stored in a waveform memory. Successive positions in the waveform memory hold the digitized level of the signal at increasing time delays from the triggering event. Under current technology, DSOs can capture signals at a rate of up to 8 gigasamples/second (GS/s) with waveform memories of up to 16 million storage locations.
Where oscilloscopes are time domain instruments, spectrum analyzers make primary measurements in the frequency domain. In the typical configuration, these devices plot the magnitude of the signal energy as a function of frequency--signal magnitude or level being on the vertical axis with the frequency on the horizontal axis. These devices typically operate by scanning a very narrow notch-bandpass filter across the frequency spectrum of interest and measuring energy in the frequency bins. In this way, spectrum analyzers are useful in identifying the spectral distribution of a given signal.
For certain signal analysis problems, however, oscilloscopes and spectrum analyzers are not well suited to the task. For example, when trying to isolate infrequent anomalies in a signal such as that required for digital/analog circuit analysis/debugging or when trying to identify trends in signals such as when analyzing modulated signals, both oscilloscopes and spectrum analyzers are less useful. Since spectrum analyzers operate by scanning filters across the spectrum, any short term changes in the signals are lost; and in most oscilloscopes, such infrequent anomalies will scroll by on the display at a rate that is too fast for the operator to analyze. Only DSOs retain the relevant information on the signals, but in order to analyze it, the operator must scan through long arrays of data to find events that may not be readily apparent from the primary measurements alone.
In order to fill this gap, electronic counters such as modulation domain analyzers have been developed. These devices operate by performing primary measurements of the signal, i.e., detecting the signal's crossing time of a set threshold, and then generating plots of parameters derived from the primary measurements, such as the signal's frequency, phase, or time interval as a function of time. For example, the frequency/phase versus time analysis are very useful in analyzing frequency-shift-key and phase-shift-key, respectively, modulated transmissions; time interval analysis is useful for analyzing pulse-width modulated signals.

Digital storage oscilloscope with simultaneous primary measurement and derived parameter display on common time axis and method therefor


Process for preparing dry broke in one of a paper, cardboard or coating machine. The process includes diluting the dry broke to a consistency of between about 15 to 60%, and slushing the dry broke with shear forces sufficient to crush filler particles in the dry broke.

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. xc2xa7119 of German Patent Application No. 101 35 699.4, filed on Jul. 21, 2001, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a process for preparing dry broke of a paper, cardboard or coating machine.
2. Discussion of Background Information
It is known that operating conditions can occur with a paper or cardboard machine where the paper produced during paper production cannot be reeled as a finished web, but has to be removed from the area of the paper machine beforehand as a so-called broke. Something similar can also occur with coating machines in which the paper already produced and dried is provided with a layer called a coating. Even with trouble-free operation, material is constantly accumulating in the form of trimmings which have to be slushed and recirculated into the paper making process. Large amounts of dry broke can also occur during reeling or because certain quality demands of the finished paper were not met. As a rule, the material present as broke contains high-quality fibers and is sorted. It is usually crushed and suspended with water.
As a rule, dry broke is only slightly contaminated and is sorted. For these reasons, the emphasis in the reprocessing processes in the prior art is on the mechanical crushing of the already hardened paper web and its suspension in water. In addition to the actual paper fiber, dry broke also contains a relatively large number of mineral fillers. If dry broke is slushed from coated paper, they come to a considerable extent from the substance applied as coating composition. In general, these fillers should be used again for paper making. They can therefore remain at least in part in the recycled dry broke. The suspension obtained in this manner is then guided into the machine chest from which the stock is removed again to produce this paper grade.
A process is known from EP 0 711 369 B1 in which the filler-containing paper material is fractionated in a complicated manner in several steps in order to concentrate the fillers. They are subsequently dispersed and at least partially reused. DE 19532301 describes a process in which coated dry broke is first slushed and possibly cleaned and deflaked. After another thickening, it is also dispersed in a certain embodiment of the process. The process is complex and essentially aimed at treating the filtrates occurring during thickening.
The present invention provides a process with which it is possible to carry out the preparation of the dry broke without too great an expense or effort, thereby avoiding the problems that could arise due to the abundant fillers, in particular coating colors.
The present invention provides that the dry broke is slushed at a consistency of at least about 15% and no more than about 60% and is thereby mechanically processed by shear forces so that the filler particles contained therein are crushed.
The possibility of being able to process the resulting dry broke as a whole with high shear forces is particularly advantageous. Its consistency is already high enough from the outset, and its dirt content is minimal. Complex fractionating steps which presuppose a dilution can therefore be dispensed with as well as a subsequent thickening. The high shear forces are also mostly useful for treating the fibers contained in the dry broke, as they dissolve fiber lumps and activate the fiber surface, thus preparing for reuse in an optimal way.
The present invention is directed to a process for preparing dry broke in one of a paper, cardboard or coating machine. The process includes diluting the dry broke to a consistency of between about 15 to 60%, and slushing the dry broke with shear forces sufficient to crush filler particles in the dry broke.
According to a feature of the invention, the shear forces can be applied to the dry broke in a kneader pulper. Further, the kneader pulper can include a single-screw grinding machine operated at a solids content between about 20 and 50%. The single-screw grinding machine may include kneading tools, and the shear force can be applied by a mechanical process that includes moving the kneading tools relative to each other at a distance of at least about 10 mm at a speed of no more than about 15 m/sec.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, the dry broke may be slushed in one of a kneader pulper, a disk disperser, and a slushing drum.
Further, the shear forces can be applied to the dry broke in a slushing drum at a solids content of between about 20 and 50%.
According to still another feature of the invention, the shear forces can be applied to the dry broke in a rapid-action disk disperser at a solids content of between about 20 and 50%.
Still further, the shear forces can be produced at a stock temperature of below about 60xc2x0 C.
In accordance with a further feature of the instant invention, a specific energy of at least about 80 kWh/t can be applied to the dry broke during slushing.
According to the invention, a majority of the dry broke can include coated paper and the fillers may include coating colors of the coated paper. The crushing of the fillers can prevent the coating colors from forming agglomerates that interfere with the reuse of the dry broke in the machine.
In accordance with the present invention, between formation of the dry broke and the slushing, the dry broke may not be mechanically processed.
Moreover, between formation of the dry broke and the slushing, the dry broke may not be thickened.
In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the dry broke can be composed of first and second dry broke, and the process may further include slushing the first dry broke into a pumpable suspension, diluting the second dry broke with the pumpable suspension, and jointly slushing the first and second dry broke with shear forces sufficient to crush the filler particles. The first dry broke can be formed under the machine. Further, the first dry broke may be substantially immediately slushed. The amount of first dry broke is less than the amount of second dry broke. Still further, a slusher may be located in direct proximity to the machine, and the process can further include slushing of the first dry broke in the slusher. The slusher may be located underneath the machine. Moreover, the machine can include a receiver vat, and the process may further include storing the pumpable suspension is in the receiver vat. The pumpable suspension can be produced with a consistency of between about 4 and 10%.
Between the formation of the dry broke and the slushing, the process can further include shredding the dry broke.
In accordance with yet another feature of the present invention, the shear forces can grind the filler particles to a grain size of not more than about 60 xcexcm. Further, the shear forces may grind the filler particles to a grain size of not more than 40 xcexcm.
Other exemplary embodiments and advantages of the present invention may be ascertained by reviewing the present disclosure and the accompanying drawing.


An exhaust gas treatment apparatus includes a device (A) which is provided in an exhaust system and which selectively reduces NOx in an exhaust gas and a device (B) which is disposed upstream of the device (A) and which decomposes urea and supplies ammonia as a NOx reducing gas, the device (B) including a urea decomposition catalyst. The catalyst is [1] a zeolite catalyst which is composed of granular molded bodies including zeolite particles or which includes a catalyst layer composed of zeolite particles disposed on a support, or [2] a honeycomb catalyst or a membranous catalyst in which metal oxide particulates adhere to a conductive honeycomb substrate or netlike support, and the metal oxide particulates are composed of at least one oxide of a metal selected from the group consisting of Na, Mg, Ca, Ba, La, Ce, Ti, Zr, V, Cr, Mo, W, Mn, Zn, Al, Si, P, Sb, Cu, Fe, Ru, Co, and Re.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an exhaust gas treatment apparatus for treating exhaust gases from internal combustion engines in which exhaust gas treatment efficiency is enhanced.
2. Description of the Related Art
Exhaust gases discharged from diesel engines contain pollutants, such as HC (hydrocarbons), CO (carbon monoxide), NOx (nitrogen oxides), and PM (particulate matter). Among these pollutants, NOx is difficult to purify using oxidation catalysts or three-way catalysts which are practically used for gasoline-fueled automobiles. As promising catalysts capable of purifying NOX, selective reduction type NOx catalysts (hereinafter referred to as "SCR catalysts") are under development.
Examples of known SCR catalysts include catalysts which have a honeycomb structure including an active component, such as V, Cr, Mo, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Ag, Au, Pd, Y, Ce, Nd, W, In, or Ir, carried on a carrier composed of TiO2, a binary oxide, such as SiO2—TiO2, WO3—TiO2, or SiO2—TiO2, or a ternary oxide, such as WO3—SiO2—TiO2 or MoO3—SiO2—TiO2, and in which NOx is reduced, in the presence of a reductant, such as ammonia, into nitrogen gas to perform purification.4NO+4NH3+O2→4N2+6H2O  (1)NO+NO2+2NH3→2N2+3H2O  (2)6NO2+8NH3→7N2+12H2O  (3)
In addition, a catalyst in which a support layer composed of particulates having catalytic activity, such as zeolite, is disposed on a monolith carrier is also known.
As the method of supplying ammonia as a reductant, a method is known in which urea is added from an aqueous urea tank to an exhaust system at a location upstream from an SCR catalyst thereby to generate ammonia. Urea is hydrolyzed by heat of exhaust gas or by a hydrolysis catalyst to generate ammonia. However, thermal decomposition of urea by heat of exhaust gas may generate high-melting-point materials, such as cyanuric acid, isocyanic acid, and melamine, resulting in a decrease in decomposition efficiency or a decrease in NOx reducing performance at the downstream location. Furthermore, these materials are known to be toxic.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-344597 (Patent Document 1) proposes that aqueous urea is vaporized for feeding, the fed urea is hydrolyzed to ammonia by a honeycomb, plate-shaped, or granular catalyst, and the resulting ammonia is used.
A method is also disclosed in which stored water is fed, under heating, to a cartridge in which urea in the solid state together with zeolite is stored, and urea is hydrolyzed to ammonia to be supplied (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-89241, Patent Document 2).
Furthermore, a method is disclosed in which using a metal complex resin or urease enzyme as a catalyst, at a reaction temperature of 70° C. or lower, urea is converted to ammonium carbonate which is highly soluble in water and generates ammonia at a relatively low temperature, the resulting ammonium carbonate being used (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-273509, Patent Document 3).
However, although generation of high-melting-point materials can be suppressed, when such a complex catalyst or enzyme catalyst is used even in the form of blocks, the catalyst is disintegrated into powder as operating time passes, which may result in clogging of pipes, and also the catalytic performance gradually degrades, which makes longtime stable use impossible.
On the other hand, many metal oxides have been used as heterogeneous catalysts, and used at high space velocity (SV) depending on the type of reaction. In such a case, in fixed bed reaction, most of the catalysts are used as molded bodies, such as granular, pellet-shaped, or honeycomb bodies. In the case where a catalyst is used in the form of granular or pellet-shaped molded bodies, when the size of the catalyst is small, the activity is relatively high, but a differential pressure may occur, for example, at high SV, resulting in difficulty in operation. When the size of the catalyst of the granular, pellet-shaped is large or the catalyst is honeycomb-shaped, the effectiveness factor decreases, resulting in insufficient performance. This necessitates an increase in the amount of the catalyst, use of a large reaction tower, or the like. In either case, disintegration into powder occurs when the catalyst is filled in or taken out of a reactor or the like, which is a problem Therefore, there has been a requirement for molded bodies which are excellent in terms of strength, abrasion resistance, etc.
With respect to such granular or pellet-shaped molded bodies, for example, a catalyst component is kneaded and subjected to extrusion molding, and the extrusion-molded material is cut into an appropriate length thereby to obtain pellet-shaped molded bodies. Before drying, the pellet-shaped molded bodies are granulated with a Marumerizer or the like to thereby obtain granular molded bodies.
Furthermore, in order to obtain honeycomb molded bodies, for example, a catalyst component is kneaded and subjected to extrusion-molding using multi-hole dies. However, distortion and deflection may occur, and cracks are easily generated during drying and firing, giving rise to a productivity problem. For this reason, it is difficult to obtain large honeycomb molded bodies. Another method is known in which a catalyst layer is formed on the surface of a honeycomb substrate composed of metal or ceramic. However, in this method, adhesion to the substrate is not very good.
In recent years, as in the case of fuel cells and the like, incorporation of a system including a reaction system into an apparatus has been under study. In such a case, in order to reduce the size of the apparatus and enhance the performance of the apparatus, membrane reactors have been actively developed.
For example, a fluorocarbon resin-containing porous body for a gas diffusion electrode has been disclosed in which a dispersion liquid, as a gas diffusion electrode material, containing fluorocarbon resin particulates, carbon black particulates, and as necessary, metal particulates selected from gold, silver, and platinum metals, and alloys of these metals, or metal oxide particulates thereof, is prepared, the pH of the dispersion liquid is adjusted, the zeta potential of the particulates is adjusted by addition of an ionically dissociative compound, and the gas diffusion electrode material is deposited on the surface of a conductive substrate, such as a wire gauze, by electrophoresis. That is, deposition of particulates on a conductive substrate by electrophoresis has been disclosed (refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-121697, Patent Document 4).


Copper and vanadium catalyst components are recovered and dialkyl esters of dicarboxylic acids are synthesized by precipitating the catalyst metals with an alcohol selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, and isopropanol removal of the precipitate, and then heating the mixture.

In a commercial process for the manufacture of adipic acid, cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone are oxidized with nitric acid in the presence of copper and vanadium catalysts. The resulting product contains adipic acid, as well as glutaric acid, and succinic acid. Conventionally, most of the adipic acid is removed from the product by crystallization, and the remaining portion of the product has in the past been treated in various processes to recover other useful products and the copper and vanadium catalyst metals. For example in U.S. Pat. No. 4,375,552 to Kuceski the stream after crystallization and removal to most of the adipic acid is treated with an alcohol to form esters which are not soluble in the aqueous phase. The esters are then removed from the stream and the catalyst metals which remain in the aqueous phase are recycled to the nitric acid oxidation step. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,316,775 to Nash the stream after crystallization and removal of most of the adipic acid is treated with methanol to form the dimethylesters of the acids, the stream is then treated with an organic solvent which extracts the acid esters, and the aqueous phase is stripped of methanol, and the remainder, containing the catalyst metals is recycled to the nitric acid oxidation of cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone step.

Catalyst recovery and dialkyl ester synthesis


A solid state drive includes a controller with a hardware interface to fewer planes of memory cells than included in the nonvolatile storage. For example, a controller hardware interface can include a 1N plane interface coupled to a nonvolatile storage device with 2N planes of memory cells. For data access transactions between the controller and the nonvolatile storage device, first and second consecutive 1N plane command sequences are interpreted as a single 2N plane command sequence.

Solid state nonvolatile storage (e.g., semiconductor circuit based memory cells) continues to improve in performance while dropping in price. Solid state drives (SSDs) now have comparable price points to rotating magnetic disk storage for similar capacities, which continues to expand the penetration of SSDs. Even so, designers continue to make performance improvements in SSD architectures and implementations. SSDs traditionally have memory cells organized as "planes," which refer to resources grouped together and addressed together. Multiple planes enables multiple resources to be accessed in parallel within the SSD.
The push for increasing performance and storage capacity in SSDs has driven an increase in the number of planes of memory cells. It is understood that hardware interfaces to the storage resources provide improved performance over software-based or firmware-based interfaces. However, changes in nonvolatile media, and in particular to the hardware organization of the storage resources into more planes, traditionally requires a corresponding change in the nonvolatile storage controller. Traditionally, manufacturers design a new controller for each new generation of nonvolatile media. However, design and build of the controller tends to require more time than making hardware changes to the nonvolatile media. When the controller is custom-designed for each iteration of nonvolatile media hardware changes, the controller tends to be a bottleneck in product release.
Descriptions of certain details and implementations follow, including a description of the figures, which may depict some or all of the embodiments described below, as well as discussing other potential embodiments or implementations of the inventive concepts presented herein.

N plane to 2N plane interface in a solid state drive (SSD) architecture


A method for analysis of the curvature of the surface of a cornea using a checkered placido comprises, projecting the image of the checkered placido onto a patient's cornea, detecting the image of the checkered placido reflected off of the cornea, detecting a plurality of nodal points from the reflected image, determining the mean curvature at a plurality of nodal points and analyzing the mean curvature at a plurality of nodal points in order to produce a graphic display of the estimated actual curvature of the cornea.

A number of forms of eye surgery including lamellar corneal surgery, keratomileusis, epikeratophakia, cataract surgery, penetrating keratoplasty, corneal transplantation radial keratotomy as well as laser refractive keratectomy involve a consideration of corneal surface topography. In radial keratotomy, for example, a number of cuts are made into the cornea in order to change its curvature and correct refractive power so that images focus closer to the retina, if not upon it for best visual acuity. It has been reported that after radial keratotomy "about 55 percent of the patients function without glasses and the remaining 45 percent have some degree of improvement." Origination of the technique of radial keratotomy and other techniques in refractive surgery are generally credited to Dr. Svyatasklav Fyodorov of the Soviet Union who is reputed to have performed thousands of such operations.
While ophthalmic surgery is often successfully performed, the results obtained have been subject to variation occasioned by the particular operating "style" of the individual surgeon which dictates the number, location and depth of incision. Elements of subjective judgment are paramount. It would be useful to provide a device that could assist the surgeon in more quantitatively assessing pre-operative and post-operative corneal contours.
The present system relates to improvements in the art of photokeratometry and more particularly to the use of digital image processing techniques to ascertain the radius of curvature, refractive power and contour of the cornea. A keratometer is an instrument for determining the curvature shape of the corneal surface which generally uses a Placido or other illuminated target that is centered around the patient's line of sight. The reflection of a Placido or other illuminated target by the patient's cornea or by the tear film on the anterior surface of the cornea is subsequently analyzed to determine the surface contour of the eye.
The technique in modern form dates from the early thirties when the Zeiss optical company of Germany introduced a "Photo Keratoscope". In general, the art has required the image reflected by the eye to be photographed and the image on the film measured in a second step to derive the quantitative data from which the contour map is generated.
Recent improvements have been in the area of automating this photogrammetric analysis by re-imaging the photograph with a television apparatus and digital signal conversion. After digitization, computer analysis of the resultant information is performed with conventional image analysis algorithms. This type of data analysis is computer intensive and the image formed by the television system contains a large amount of redundant and extraneous information. For adequate resolution the sampling rate must exceed the data frequency by at least three to one, thus generating a huge number of data points for mathematical analysis. Consequently the systems are costly, complex, slow and often lack real resolution in the image analysis. Other means have been used for clinical measurements such as direct casting of the eye surface in plastic or wax and coating the cornea with talcum powder and projecting a grid on this surface for photogrammetric analysis.
The initial development in keratometry came from Gullstrand in 1896. Gullstrand disclosed the foundation for the current technology but his apparatus had no provision to compensate for aberrations in the optical system other than limiting the photographic coverage of the cornea to a 4 mm area. As a result, multiple exposures and calculations were necessary to map the corneal surface. Much of the modern technique was developed by Amsler in 1930 and embodied in his "Photo-Keratoscope" which also required measurement and calculation as a separate step to derive the corneal shape data.
At present, the clinical standard is the Bausch and Lomb Keratometer, which is sold commercially. The Bausch and Lomb Keratometer only measures the average of the corneal radius in two meridians of the central 3 mm "cap" of the cornea. The standard technology does not provide total surface topography of the cornea and thus is inadequate for many diagnostically significant abnormalities, contact lens fitting, or the needs of ophthalmic surgical procedures. In addition, the prior art technique is cumbersome and involves great potential for error.
The standard instrument which is in most common use for central optical zone shape measurement is the Bausch and Lomb Keratometer. Several companies offer similar devices with similar principles of operation. In these devices a single Mire image is projected on a small central portion of the anterior surface of the cornea usually 3 mm in diameter. The user is required to operate several controls to bring the optically split Mire images reflected from the cornea simultaneously into focus and alignment. In addition, the operator manually records the data obtained at two perpendicular axes. Other instruments are also available, such as the Haag-Streit Javal Schiotz device which measures only one axis at a time, but is slightly easier to use and tends to be more accurate in practice than the Bausch and Lomb system. In addition there exists a photographic system made by International Diagnostic Instrument Limited under the trademark "CORNEASCOPE" (and a similar system made by Nidek in Japan), as well as autokeratometers by several manufacturers. The CORNEASCOPE produces instant photographs of the reflection of a Placido disc and requires a second instrument separate from the camera assembly to analyze the data. This system is fairly accurate, but expensive and tedious to use. The autokeratometers all are limited to a single zone of approximately 3 mm diameter and, in cases where the magnitude of the astigmatism is low, are inaccurate in their assessment of axes of astigmatism. Also available are three computer-direct systems which use conventional image analysis algorithms in conjunction with a mini-computer. These are the Corneal Modeling System (CMS) introduced in 1987 by Computed Anatomy, Inc. of New York, N.Y. and the ECT-100, introduced into the market by Visioptic of Houston, Tex. and a system using light emitting diodes disposed in concentric rings built by Zeiss of Germany. The Placido disc-photo technique is superior to the Bausch and Lomb Keratometer because of the much greater amount of corneal surface analyzed from the Placido reflection as opposed to the mires of the Keratometer.
A number of patents have been issued that relate to keratometers. U.S. Pat. No. 3,797,921 proposes the use of a camera to record the Placido reflection from a patients eye. From this photograph, the radius of surface curvature of the cornea is determined at several points and calculated using a complex computer system. The use of a ground glass focusing screen with the small aperture of the optical system and large linear magnification makes use difficult and requires a darkened room for operation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,440,477 proposes a method and device for measuring the corneal surface, comprising a slit lamp for illuminating the corneal surface, a camera for recording the reflection from the corneal surface, and a processor to calculate the image distance and the radius of curvature of the eye. The operation of the processor is not detailed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,440,477.
A more recent entry into the market is the "Corneal Modeling System" manufactured by Computed Anatomy Incorporated of New York which uses a light cone Placido target in conjunction with a "frame grabber" to digitize and store for conventional image analysis the pictorial data. The Placido is in cylindrical form and illuminated from one end. This cylindrical Placido maintains a small aperture optical system creating a large depth of field of focus for the imaging system and, consequently, requires a sophisticated focus determining apparatus to assure accurate and reproducible image evaluation. This system is said to produce corneal thickness data using a scanning laser, as well as the surface contour but is very expensive and does not lend itself to clinical applications which are increasingly cost driven.
The prior art systems discussed above tend to be both expensive and difficult to use. Many of the prior art devices have a significant potential for error, due to complexity of the calculation, the imaging of the corneal surface and the difficulty in operating these systems.
Since even a normal human cornea will not be perfectly spherical, the illuminated rings will generally be reflected from the corneal surface as a pattern of shapes variously distorted from the circular. The data pertaining to the coordinates of points in the two-dimensional video image is processed to define a three-dimensional corneal surface yielding the equivalent spherical radius of curvature (or dioptric power) for each of the acquired points.

Method of corneal analysis using a checkered placido apparatus


A method for determining an increased risk of death of a patient includes receiving ECG data of the patient generated during a first time period; receiving EEG data of the patient generated during the first time period; composing a feature of the ECG data and a feature of the EEG data over a common time frame and determining a statistical measure of association between the ECG data and the EEG data; and determining whether the degree of association exceeds a predetermined threshold, thereby indicating whether an increased risk is present.

This application relates to diagnosing and treating conditions which potentially lead to sudden death, normally from cardiorespiratory arrest, in persons who are not otherwise recognized as being at risk for imminent death. One form of this sudden death syndrome is sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). Prevention of SUDEP is complicated by the inability to accurately predict which patients are at risk. Many SUDEP risk factors have been proposed based on demographic parameters (e.g., early onset epilepsy, generalized tonic-clonic seizures, and male sex) and physiological parameters (e.g., heart rate variability and postictal EEG suppression). However, these risk factors have limited predictive value as many patients with low risk profiles still die of SUDEP while some patients with higher risk profiles do not. More reliable methods for determining which persons are at risk for SUDEP would provide significant live-saving benefits.

Biomarkers for determining susceptibility to SUDEP

Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College


A vehicle control apparatus includes a collision time calculation section configured to calculate a time-to-collision; an activation region setting section configured to set an activation region to an area present ahead of and in the travelling direction of an own vehicle, the activation region having a predetermined width in a lateral direction that is orthogonal to a path of the own vehicle; a timing setting section configured to set timing activating a safety device; a determination region setting section configured to set a determination region to an area present diagonally ahead of and in the travelling direction of the own vehicle, the determination region having a predetermined width in the lateral direction; a timer section configured to measure a time for which a target stays in the determination region; a correction section configured to perform, in a case where the time measured by the timer section is long, a process for decreasing the width of the activation region and a process for decreasing activation timing; and an activation determination section configured to activate the safety device in a case where a position of the target is in the activation region and the time-to-collision falls below the activation timing.

Conventionally, pre-crash safety (PCS) has been realized, which reduces or prevents damage due to a collision of an own vehicle with an obstacle (a target) positioned ahead of the own vehicle and in the travelling direction thereof, such as another vehicle, a pedestrian, or a road structure. In the PCS, a time-to-collision (TTC) as a time until a collision between the own vehicle and the obstacle occurs is obtained based on a relative distance between the own vehicle and the obstacle and a relative speed or a relative acceleration between the own vehicle and the obstacle. Based on the time-to-collision, a warning device informs the driver of the own vehicle of the approach to the obstacle, or a braking device of the own vehicle is activated.
Regarding the PCS, there is a vehicle control apparatus described in Patent Literature 1. In the vehicle control apparatus described in Patent Literature 1, a blind region is defined ahead of a own vehicle and in the travelling direction thereof, and the control of decelerating the own vehicle is performed in the case where a target stays in the blind region for a predetermined time or longer.

Vehicle control apparatus and vehicle control method


A system for providing caller interaction within a queue. In response to receiving a call, it is determined whether a wait time exists before a caller is connected to a customer service representative. In response to determining that the wait time exists, it is determined whether the caller is interested in an interaction. In response to determining that the caller is interested in the interaction, a profile associated with the caller is loaded. In response to detecting a connection with an interactive system, interactive options are loaded from the interactive system and presented to the caller based on the profile. In response to receiving a selection from the interactive options, it is determined whether the selection includes a group interaction. In response to determining that the selection includes the group interaction, the group interaction is loaded based on the profile. Then, the caller is entered into the group interaction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an improved communication device. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a computer implemented method, system, and computer usable program code for providing interaction among a plurality of communication device users within a queue system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Today, telephones are one of the most widely-used communication tools in the world. In the early stages of development, telephones were merely a convenient tool to allow people to communicate while physically separated. Currently, however, many organizations use telephones to market products and services, provide technical support to customers, allow customers to access financial data, and much more. Thus, telephone systems have become a widely used major business tool.
Telephone call centers have been developed in order to bring about effective use of telephone systems for business purposes. Typically, a call center has a large number of customer service representatives to handle telephone communication with customers. As telephone access to customer service staff increases, problems associated with waiting on hold also has increased. Problems include, for example, excessively long wait times, full hold queues that cannot accept additional callers, and accidental call disconnects. These types of hold queue problems engender a high level of caller frustration and ill will.
One method used by businesses today to decrease caller frustration is to inform calling customers as to the current estimated wait time before a customer service representative is available to take the call. However, even though the calling party is informed of an extended wait time for a customer service representative to answer the call, the calling party may still choose to wait in the hold queue with nothing to do but listen to prerecorded music or messages, which the calling party may not desire to hear.
Therefore, it would be beneficial to have an improved computer implemented method, system, and computer usable program code for providing interaction among communication device users while the users wait in a hold queue for an extended period of time.

Method and system for user interaction within a queue

International Business Machines Corporation


A method, apparatus and computer program product relating to software license tokens is presented. A client system requests launching of a software application and retrieves a first software license token associated with the software application. The client system determines whether the license token associated with the software application is valid, wherein when the license token is valid, the client system launches the software application. When the license token is not valid then the client system requests a replacement license token. The client system receives the replacement license token and stores the replacement license token. The client system then retrieves the stored license token and determines whether the license token is valid. When the license token is valid, then the software application is launched, when the software license token is not valid then the client system refrains from launching of the software application.

A software license is a legal instrument governing the usage or redistribution of software. A typical software license grants an end-user permission to use one or more copies of software. There are several types of software licenses. One type of software license is freeware (sometimes referred to as shareware). Freeware software is created by an author and put into the public domain; there are no copyright restrictions. Freeware can be copied and distributed freely. Shareware is copyrighted software that the developer encourages you to copy and distribute. This permission is explicitly stated in the documentation. The developer usually requests a registration fee if you like the software and plan to use it. Registering the software usually ensures that program and documentation updates are sent to you.
Another type of software license is a Limited License (LL). An LL is an agreement whereby software is purchased with limits and/or restrictions on the number of copies available for installation or use. LL's are sometimes limited to a designated number of computers (up to the number of group copies purchased) or as many users operating a program at any given time as the number of concurrent copies purchased. Some LL's for educational institutions are restricted to use in connection with on-campus computing facilities that are used solely in support of classroom instruction and research activities of students, teaching faculty and staff, and research staff.
Another type of software license is an Unlimited Site License (USL). A USL is an agreement whereby software is purchased with no limit on the number of copies available for installation. USL's are sometimes limited to specific people (such as state-funded faculty and staff). The only cost that an individual or department may have to bear is the cost of burning a CD and/or purchasing documentation. Some USL's are available for checkout, usually for one to three days, others are downloadable via the Internet. Documentation for some USL's may be found on limited loan in the Library's Reserve Book Room or in PDF format on the Internet.
Yet another type of software license is referred to as desktop license/perpetual license. This type of software license permanently binds the license to customer's system. A customer can transfer the license to another system by explicitly deactivating the software from first system and then provisioning the second system. Still another type of software license is known as online service license, wherein a user always need to be connected with a backend licensing system in order to use the entitled products/services.

Method and apparatus for desktop product license portability with user identity subscription using durable tokens


A fuel drip retention system includes a computer programmed to actuate one of a pump or a starter motor to generate a vacuum in an evaporation line between a fuel nozzle receiving port and a vapor canister. The vacuum is generated upon determining that fuel has stopped flowing into a fuel tank.

A fuel station pump may include a fuel nozzle with a lever handle for controlling fuel flow from the fuel nozzle. A fuel nozzle is placed into a desired fuel receptacle, such as a fuel nozzle receiving port of a vehicle, and fuel is caused to flow from the fuel nozzle. For example, a user can squeeze the lever or the like to initiate fuel flow, or an automated robot could be used to place a fuel nozzle in a vehicle receiving port. Fueling may stop when a user releases the lever, when an electronic controller stops a pump and removes a fueling arm including a nozzle, etc. In one example, especially if a fuel pump is manually operated, a fuel station pump may automatically stop the fuel flow in response to detecting a back pressure in the fuel nozzle above a threshold amount. In any case, residual fuel droplets may remain on the fuel nozzle after fueling is stopped.


A mold for horizontal continuous casting of steel to form large-format slab cross sections, particularly flat products, includes a water-cooled metal casing forming the mold cavity for a slab and a brake ring for the melt feed which is supported at the mold on the pour-in side and connects the mold with a melt supply vessel (distributor) via a connecting casting tube. In order to provide an inexpensive and particularly stable mold, the mold is closed on the pour-in side by a metal plate along a part of the free cross-sectional area of the mold cavity. The plate has one or more openings for receiving a break ring. An end plate which overlaps the metal plate is arranged in front of the metal plate in surface contact with the metal plate. The end plate is provided with openings which coincide with the openings in the metal plate with respect to position and number. Ducts for guiding cooling water are incorporated in the end plate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mold for horizontal continuous casting of steel, in particular for producing fiat products such as slabs. The mold includes a water-cooled metal casing forming a mold cavity for a slab and a breaking ring for the supply of melt. The breaking ring is supported at the mold on the pour-in side thereof and connects the mold with a melt supply vessel or distributor via a casting tube.
2. Description of the Related Art
In horizontal continuous casting plants, the molds are generally fastened to a side wall of a distributor. In many cases, the inlet cross section of a connecting part of first-class material between the distributor and mold is identical to the cross section of the mold (see DE-OS 25 20 091).
On the other hand, it is known from U.S. Pat. No. 3,593,778 to arrange a heat-conducting graphite plate having a plurality of through-flow openings between the distributor and a metal mold with a greater cross section than the feed channel of the distributor for the melt. In this way, heat is apparently conducted out of the melt in the transitional area between the distributor and mold to prevent cracks in the slab shell.
A more recent practice is to arrange a so-called break ring, preferably of boron nitride, between the feed nozzle and mold. The break ring is constructed in such a way that it forms the front boundary surface for the melt in the inlet region of the mold (see EP 0187 513 B1). The outer diameter of the breaking ring corresponds at least to the casting cross section of the mold and, as a result of its smaller inside diameter, forms a flange-like reduced diameter portion of the casting cross section of the mold. In contrast to the metal mold, this break ring is a part which is subject to wear and must be replaced frequently. However, break rings of boron nitride are expensive to produce and in large-site casting cross sections are costly and not very mechanically stable.


In order to increase safety, flexibility and simplicity when handling a wind turbine nacelle compared to known solutions and devices, there is disclosed a wind turbine nacelle including a supporting structure, a nacelle housing and a plurality of handling devices to be used when handling the wind turbine nacelle. The four handling devices are connected to the supporting structure, and each of the handling devices includes an integrated moveable part. The integrated moveable part is moveable between a first position and a second position, and the integrated moveable part is inside or is flush with the nacelle housing in the first position and is extending out of the nacelle housing in the second position.

In a modern wind turbine, a nacelle is a more or less rectangular housing adapted to be positioned on top of a wind turbine tower and finally to house and cover elements such as main bearings, a main shaft, a gearbox, a generator and a supporting structure for such elements. In some wind turbine constructions, one or more of the mentioned elements, such as the gearbox, may not be needed. When a wind turbine is assembled on a site, the nacelle is positioned on top of the wind turbine tower by connecting the supporting structure or intermediate elements such as a yaw bearing of the nacelle with the tower.
During and after production of the nacelle, the nacelle has to be handled a number of times. It is necessary to move the nacelle one or more times, such as in the following situations; within the production facility, from the production facility to a storage facility, from the storage facility to a transport device, from the transport device to another intermediate transport or storage device, and from a final transport device or even from a position on the ground at an erection site and to its final position on top of the wind turbine tower.
Typical length, height and width of the nacelle are around 15000 mm×4000 mm×3300 mm. A typical weight of the wind turbine nacelle is in the interval of 50 to 150 tons, among others depending on the size of the wind turbine for which the nacelle is provided and the materials used for the nacelle.
When handling the nacelle in a plurality of situations as described, it is of utmost importance that handling takes place as safely as possible for personnel and for the nacelle itself. Furthermore, it is of utmost importance that handling the nacelle can be carried out rapidly and precisely.
A way of handling a nacelle is to attach soft slings to lifting points of the nacelle. The nacelle is subsequently lifted by a crane or the like by pulling the soft slings.
The inventors of the present invention have found that known solutions, at least to some extent, fail to provide either a safe handling of the nacelle or a fast or precise handling of the nacelle. Attempts to succeed in providing one or more of these factors have often led to a decrease of an ability to succeed in providing one or more of the other factors. It has also been seen that known solutions increase the cost of the handling devices or that they decrease the flexibility of how to handle the nacelle to a level which is not satisfactory to the wind turbine companies or the companies handling the nacelle. In consequence, the present invention is provided.