Modified ceramides are defined, together with their synthesis and compositions comprising them for topical application to human skin, hair and nails. The modified pseudoceramides have a structure: ##STR1## and an approximate summary is that R and R.sup.1 are aliphatic hydrocarbon, A is CH.sub.2, CHOR.sup.2, CH.dbd.CH or CHOY, and at least one of R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 is sulphate, phosphate or similar. The presence of phosphate or sulphate facilitates skin absorption, after which the phosphate or sulphate is removed by enzymes present in vivo.

It is generally understood that ceramides present within the intercellular lipid lamellae of the stratum corneum play an important role in the production and maintenance of the water permeability barrier of the skin. Ceramides, or substances closely related to them, have been disclosed as components of skin care compositions. In particular, Kao Corporation in GB 2 178 312 and GB 2 213 723 disclose the use of natural ceramides extracted from skin in topical products. Also, Unilever in EP 97059 disclose -linoleoyl ceramides and emphasize their role in the water barrier function of the skin.
It is believed that one of the causes of dry skin and ageing skin is a reduction in the amount of lipid contained within these intercellular lipid lamellae. It is therefore desirable to be able successfully to replace these depleted lipids via the topical route.
One of the problems associated with the topical application of skin and hair care products containing ceramides or their synthetic analogues, is devising a suitable method for delivering them effectively to the lipid lamellae, without causing permanent disruption of the stratum corneum. It is accordingly apparent that permanently disrupted stratum corneum is unable to retain molecules of this sort, as they are simply washed out again when the stratum corneum (skin) is contacted with water.
This problem has not successfully been solved to date.
Kao Corporation have reported in GB 2 178 312, EP 227 994 and EP 282 816, that co-surfactants such as glyceryl ethers assist synthetic ceramide, to penetrate into the stratum corneum. However, these co-surfactants tend to disrupt the stratum corneum, so that when penetration occurs allowing the synthetic ceramide access to the lipid lamellae, there is nothing to prevent them being washed out again on contact with water.
Certain phosphorylated and sulphated derivatives of ceramides have been prepared in the course of scientific investigation of natural metabolism or to make liposomes for drug delivery.
Thus Karpyshev, Bushnev et al Bioorg Khim 5(2) 238 (1979) and 5(9) 1381 (1979) describe preparation of phosphorylated derivatives of ceramides by routes which entail the use of protective groups which are eventually removed.
Japanese published application JP-A-89/299265 discloses the preparation of ceramide sulphates to be used for liposome production.

Elizabeth Arden Co., Division of Conopco, Inc.


A cast tape or medical bandaging product formed from a resin-coated or impregnated fabric material that includes a knitted substrate having a combination of non-fiberglass high and low tenacity yarns such as polypropylene, polyester and elastomer. The polypropylene and polyester yarns have a high number of filaments, typically 48 to 90 filaments. This significantly improves the surface area of the fabric, that helps help to hold the curable resin onto the fabric and avoids pooling. This in turn improves lamination layer-to-layer and gives the substrate high strength.

This invention relates generally to the field of orthopedic medicine and more specifically to the design of an improved medical bandaging product and material that includes a fabric substrate impregnated with a moisture-curable resin, a method for constructing such an improved bandaging product, and a method of constructing and applying an improved bandaging product. More particularly, the present invention relates to an orthopedic cast tape formed from a resin-coated fabric substrate featuring a unique combination of non-fiberglass high and low tenacity yarns.
Conventional moisture-curable bandages incorporate substrates impregnated with plaster-of-paris or formed from flexible fiberglass fabric layers impregnated with a moisture-curable resin. Bandages formed from these materials possess several disadvantages. In particular, casts formed using plaster-of-paris bandages have a relatively low strength to weight ratio. This results in a finished cast that is very heavy and bulky. Furthermore, plaster-of-paris splints are slow to harden, requiring 24 to 72 hours to reach maximum strength. Because plaster-of-paris breaks down in water, bathing and showering are difficult. Even if wetting due to these causes can be avoided, perspiration over an extended period of time can break down the plaster-of-paris and create a significant problem with odor and itching.
Although medical bandages utilizing moisture-curable substrates formed from fiberglass fabric layers are lighter, waterproof and permeable to X-rays, cured casts made using such bandages can become brittle, break down during wear and often need to be replaced. Furthermore, fiberglass is a composition that is highly irritating to mammalian skin. When fiberglass casts are removed, irritating dust or fibers are often generated and become embedded in the skin of the patient.
This invention overcomes the disadvantages of prior art fiberglass substrates by providing a medical bandage formed from a resin-impregnated substrate formed from a knitted fabric that incorporates low modulus, inelastic and elastic fibers. The unique substrate of the present invention results in a bandage that exhibits good conformability compared to prior art fiberglass substrates, possesses sufficient rigidity when cured, and shows no loss of strength compared to casts formed from fiberglass substrates. This novel substrate is less brittle and more durable than prior art fiberglass substrates when cured, and does not disintegrate into irritating dust and/or fibers when removed from the injured body part of a patient.
As used herein, the terms "fiber" and "yarn", whether appearing in singular or plural form, are used interchangeably and refer to the material that is used to form the substrate of the present invention, regardless of whether that yarn or fiber is formed of monofilament or multifilament fibers.

Knitted substrate with high and low tenacity yarns for use in bandaging product, bandaging product and method of forming same


A connector having a housing with mating face. A slide assembly has a cam pin receiving opening on the mating face with a width W1 measured along the mating face. A slide has cam grooves in communication with the cam pin receiving opening. A cam pin on a mating housing is engageable with the cam pin receiving opening, having a width W2 measured along the mating face being less than the width W1, and a width W3 measured at an angle to the mating face being greater than the width W1.

Sliding connectors offer the advantage of allowing multipole connectors to be engageable by a small force. In a sliding connector, a slide is provided on a housing of one connector to be engaged, and cam pins, which are inserted into cam grooves in the slide, are formed on a housing of a second connector. When the slide is inserted from a starting point and urged to an ending point, both of the connectors engage with each other in a camming motion by the interaction of the cam grooves with the cam pins.
For a general connector, if one connector is inserted at oblique angle relative to an axial mating direction (M), the housing of the one connector can stub the contacts of the second, and may bend the contacts upon mating. To prevent damage to the contacts, guide ribs extending along the mating direction on the housings of both the connectors have been used to guide the mating of the connectors.
For the guide ribs to be effective, the corresponding guide ribs must be formed on both connectors to be mated. Therefore, while the guide ribs can effectively prevent contact damage, this approach is not universal and is limited to connectors already having the guide ribs.
Additionally, the distance between the guide ribs can be relatively large, even if the connector somewhat tilts during initial engagement of one of the guide ribs prior to engaging a second guide rib, the guide ribs work in a concerted effort with each other to start guiding and correcting the connector posture during the time when the end portion of the housing arrives at the ends of contacts, preventing damage to the contacts. However, if the first guide rib extending to the front beyond the ends of contacts is too short in length, the inserted connector can damage the contacts before additional guide ribs are engaged and proper alignment is achieved. On the other hand, if the length of guide rib is too long in length, the connector becomes undesirably large in size.
Additionally, a pair of guiding protrusions have been used to prevent contact damage. These guiding protrusions project from a front surface beyond a lock part of a lock arm that locks two corresponding connectors to each other in an engaged state (see Japanese Patent Publication No. 2008-305607). If an attempt is made to engage one of the corresponding connectors in a tilted posture, an end portion of the guiding protrusion interferes with a lock receiving portion of the corresponding second connector, preventing the engagement of the two corresponding connectors. The lock receiving portion must be guided between the pair of protrusions at the correct angle, thereby preventing damage to the contacts.
The disadvantage of the guiding protrusions disclosed by Japanese Patent Publication No. 2008-305607 is the same as described for the guiding portions, namely that the effectiveness is not universal, and is limited to designs whereby both corresponding connectors already incorporate the guiding protrusions. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a sliding connector capable of preventing contact damage without forming a guide rib.


A toy and exercising device that utilizes a rounded body, such as a sphere, a pair of cord segments through said sphere on each side, and a pair of handles attached to the ends of the cord segments. The cord segments are spaced to allow twisting of the cord upon itself on each side of the device to cause the sphere to be rotated in a forward and reverse direction by pulling against the twisted cord with the handles. The exercising device can be adjusted to require variable force to successfully rotate the sphere in both directions by providing for variable spacing of the apertures that receive the cord on each side of the sphere. The device may also include a variable illuminating device inside the sphere that will illuminate above a certain predetermined rotational velocity. The device can also include variable audible sounds generated by surface elements disposed in or on the surface of the sphere. Alternatively, a whistle-like sound can be generated by a sound box and slot mounted at one end of the rotatable shaft. A rotatable shaft in the sphere allows the cord to be rolled up and stored inside the sphere when the device is not in use.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to an apparatus for play and exercise that utilizes a ball for manual rotation through the manipulation of a string or cord passing through the ball, and specifically, to a hand-actuated, rotatable ball attached to a twistable cord, that is grasped between the hands of the user and that can be reversibly rotated by moving the hands away from and toward each other, causing a series of reversible rotations for either amusement as a toy or physical conditioning as an upper torso exercising device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Manually actuated and string manipulated toys are known to exist in the prior art. For instance, the toy known as a "yo-yo" has been used for many years. The "yo-yo" is a rotatable device suspended from or tethered to a string at one end and rotated through single hand actuation at an opposite end. Similarly, paddle balls found in the prior art provide a ball tethered at one end of an elastic member with the other end connected to a paddle. The paddle is manipulated back and forth so that the ball bounces off the paddle in a continuous reciprocal action.
Additionally, manually actuated exercising devices are in existence today for physical conditioning. These devices normally comprise hand-maneuvered, stretchable or elastic material, incorporating a handle on each end of the material for stretching in front of the user. The handles are grasped with the hands and pulled apart against the stretch tension to build upper torso and arm strength. Such exercise is considered boring and repetitious because of the static nature inherent in the exercising device.
The present invention provides a dynamic toy and exercising device that utilizes the momentum of a sphere or ball that can be manipulated with two hands disposed out in front of the operator through the action of a twisted cord. When twisted, the cord stores potential energy that is subsequently converted into kinetic energy of rotation as the user pulls and releases the cords, causing the ball to rotate. When the tension in the cords is released, the sphere changes direction and the cord, through the kinetic energy and momentum of the ball, winds itself up again. Handles are disposed at each end of the cord for grasping by the user so that the device may be stretched and released in a repetitious fashion.
The present invention also provides for self-contained storage of the cord when the device is not in use.
The present invention can also be constructed to dynamically generate sounds based on the rotational velocity of the ball and can utilize interior visual indicia for observation through apertures in the sphere based on rpm or rotational speeds of the ball. A centrifugal force gauge can be provided on the sphere to measure objectively the maximum velocity or force achieved with the device.
Thus, the present invention provides both an amusement toy and an exercising device for the upper torso that is dynamic in nature and requires manipulative exercise and skill to sustain the rotation of the device in a dynamic state.


A method for testing blood samples for determining lead content therein. The method utilizes filter collection paper that is spotted with a blood sample; the blood sample spotted thereon is allowed to dry. The dried blood sample on the paper is punched out in a predefined manner to obtain a uniform volume equivalent to a predefined volume of whole blood. A dilute aqueous acid reagent containing a surfactant wetting agent is utilized to remove the part of the blood sample containing the lead. The filter collection paper retains the hemoglobin and blood proteins thus yielding a protein free solution that is suitable for direct analysis of the trace lead elements. The dried blood sample may be easily stored and economically transported to testing laboratories where the dried blood sample may be eluted into a hemoglobin and protein free solution that is stable for weeks under proper storage conditions. The method allows easy, economical and accurate testing of blood samples using standard analytical chemical measurement of trace elements such as lead.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to collecting and analyzing blood samples and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for collecting blood samples for determining the amount of heavy metals such as lead contained therein.
2. Description of the Related Technology
The Center for Disease Control ("CDC") in Atlanta has published new guidelines for preventing and treating lead poisoning in children. CDC is dropping the "threshold of concern" blood level from 25 to 10 micrograms per deciliter for children younger than age six, and is recommending direct blood lead measurement over the currently used erythrocyte protoporphyrin assay for detecting these lower lead levels.
Medical research has found that exposure to lead and consequent lead poisoning is devastating in developing children, especially from birth to six years of age. The investigation has disclosed that the currently acceptable blood lead level cut-off of twenty-five micrograms per deciliter still causes a significant decrease in the intelligence quotient (IQ) of children. The proposed 10 microgram per deciliter acceptable standard makes current screening methods for lead poisoning ineffective because of the lack of sensitivity. Currently, free erythrocyte protoporphyrin (FEP) and zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP) are commonly used mass screening methods of detecting lead poisoning. At 10 micrograms per deciliter of blood lead, the FEP and ZPP methods are not effective diagnostic measurements.
Testing blood for lead content is not, however, limited to just children. Workers exposed to lead in the work place must also be screened for excessive levels of lead in their blood. Testing of blood for lead content is generally considered the most incontrovertible evidence of lead absorption. Thus, there is need for blood testing of both children and adults for excessive lead levels in their blood.
Some of the currently used methods of blood lead analysis are graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAA), anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV), atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) with methylisobutylketone (MIBK) extraction, and filter paper Delves cup (FPDC) with AAS. These blood lead analysis methods, however, each have their drawbacks.
GFAA provides a sensitive and accurate procedure for testing for lead content in blood, however, the GFAA-method requires expensive instrumentation and supplies such as graphite tubes.
The ASV method uses less expensive instrumentation but is still relatively slow and the instrument stability is difficult to maintain, especially at low concentrations of lead in the blood. Relatively long analysis time and expensive sample preparation materials make the ASV procedure cumbersome and unacceptably costly for large volume laboratories. The MIBK method requires two to four milliliters of blood and such a large sample volume is not desirable in screening programs for children.
A preferred method for blood lead testing is the FPDC which requires a small volume of blood and minimum sample preparation. A typical analysis time of 15 seconds for a sample is readily obtainable. The FPDC method is simple and rapid in processing and yields a sensitive, reproducible and accurate result.
The FPDC method utilizes filter collection paper that is spotted with a blood sample taken from a finger prick or earlobe puncture. The blood sample taken is of capillary blood from the surface of the skin and is of minimal amount. Blood from a vein is not required and the capillary blood drawn from the shallow skin prick is easily applied to the filter collection paper by spotting with a capillary tube (heparinized) that is used to collect the blood sample from the subject. A petri dish may be used to contain the filter collection papers and also to reduce the paper exposure when the blood is not being spotted onto the paper.
Once the filter collection paper is spotted with the blood sample, the paper is allowed to dry. The filter collection paper containing the dried blood sample may be stored in a glassine open-end envelope for transportation to the testing laboratory.
To analyze the blood sample, it is first necessary to obtain a disk of filter collection paper of an area which, when spotted with blood, holds a known volume of blood. A procedure to do this is more fully described in an article by Carl Vereby et al., Rapid, Sensitive, Micro Blood Lead Analysis: A Mass Screening Technique for Lead Poisoning, 15 Journal of Analytical Toxicology 237 (1991). This article describes a procedure for punching out the paper containing a dried blood sample. A hole punch is used to punch out one-quarter inch diameter disks that define a standard area of collection paper containing the dried blood sample. These punched out dried blood samples are next placed in a Delves cup and introduced into a high temperature means such as a flame. The collection paper ignites and burns creating an ash. This ash of paper and dried blood are then atomized by heating in a crucible of an atomic absorption spectrometer ("AAS") in which the lead concentration in the blood may be determined.
The AAS method for determining concentrations in blood samples is highly accurate for detection of lead in the 5-200 microgram per deciliter range, however, the burning of the paper to ash results in smoke and soot that carbonizes the heating crucible used to atomize the sample for testing in the AAS system. The resulting soot requires that the AAS system crucible be cleaned frequently, thereby increasing testing costs and slowing the number of tests that are possible in a given time period. In addition, when the paper is burned in the crucible, the formation of smoke from the paper burning tends to mask those spectral peaks which indicate the presence of trace amounts of lead.
What is needed is a method and apparatus which does not produce undesirable by-products that tend to mask the lead trace in the heated vapor, yet allows a simple, efficient and cost-effective means for testing lead concentration in blood samples utilizing a lead detection system such as, for example, an AAS system. It is therefore an object of the present invention to obtain the desired components of a blood sample containing lead in a solution that may be placed directly into a lead determining system, such as an AAS furnace, for spectral measurement of the lead atoms which may then be used to determine the amount of the lead concentration in a given volume of blood.


A new cultivar of Agastache named ‘Agapd’ that is characterized by its good performance in humid climates, its numerous flowers that are purple in color, its foliage that is dark green in color, its compact and well branched plant habit, its good winter hardiness, and its ability to be readily and quickly produced by cuttings.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Agastache hybrid and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, 'Agapd'. 'Agapd' is an herbaceous perennial grown for landscape use.
'Agapd' arose as part of an ongoing breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Hazerswoude, The Netherlands with the goal of developing new cultivars of Agastache with well-branched and compact plant habits, healthy foliage, resistance against fungal diseases, long flower spikes and unique flower colors.
'Agapd' derived from open pollination of an unnamed and unpatented proprietary plant of Agastache from the Inventor's breeding program in August of 2009. The male parent is therefore unknown. The new cultivar was selected from amongst the resulting seedlings as a single unique plant in July of 2010.
Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by the Inventor by stem cuttings in May of 2011 in Hazerswoude, The Netherlands. Asexual propagation of the new cultivar by stem cuttings has determined that the characteristics of the new cultivar are stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.


In one aspect, a method for automatically adjusting temporal creation data for a plurality of images is disclosed. The method may generally include receiving a plurality of image files associated with the plurality of images, wherein each of the plurality of image files includes an initial creation time. In addition, the method may include determining a baseline creation time by analyzing the plurality of image files based on their association with at least one of daytime hours or nighttime hours and adjusting the initial creation time for at least one of the plurality of image files based on the baseline creation time.

When capturing images with a digital camera, the camera generates an image file associated with each image. Typically, each image file includes metadata containing various types of information, such as information related to the model and/or serial number of the camera and/or information related to the camera settings. In addition, the metadata typically includes temporal creation data corresponding to the time and/or date at which the image was captured, which is provided by an internal timing mechanism or clock of the camera. For example, when an image is captured, the associated image file is typically time-stamped with the current time and/or date provided by the internal clock.
However, it is often the case that the internal clock of a camera is never set, is improperly set or is accidentally reset. As a result, the temporal creation data assigned to the image files may be incorrect and, thus, may not accurately reflect the actual times and/or dates at which the image files were created. These inaccuracies can make it difficult or even impossible to organize such image files into timelines and/or specific time periods within a local photo album application or a web-based photo service (e.g., Picasa Web Album).

Systems and methods for automatically adjusting the temporal creation data associated with image files


A pulse generation circuit of a memory comprises a first logic operation unit for performing a logical operation on an address transition detection pulse and a delayed address transition detection pulse to produce first and second pulses, a switching unit controlled by an externally applied write enable signal for selecting one of the first and second pulses as an output pulse and for inverting the write enable signal, and a second logic operation unit for performing a logical operation on the output pulse and the inverted write enable signal from the switching unit to generate a word line enable signal and a sense amplifying enable signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pulse generation circuit, and particularly, to a pulse generation circuit of a memory.
2. Description of the Related Art
As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional static RAM circuit includes a read/write control unit 1 provided for outputting first and second control signals CS and WE so as to control a read/write operation in a static RAM circuit in accordance with a chip selection signal CSB, a write enable signal WEB and an output enable signal OEB, an address input unit 2 provided for outputting signals ADS0 and ADS1 each corresponding to first and second address signals AD0 and AD1, respectively, which are applied from an externally connected element by a first control signal CS outputted from the read/write control unit 1, a data input unit 3 provided for outputting data corresponding to data DATA IN outputted from an externally connected element in accordance with a second control signal outputted from the read/write control unit 1, an address decoding unit 4 provided for decoding signals ADS0 and ADS1 outputted from the address input unit 2, an address transition detector 5 provided for detecting the transition of the signals ADS0 and ADS1 outputted from the address input unit 2 and for outputting an address transition detection pulse ATP, a pulse generator 6 provided for outputting a word line enable signal WLE and a sense amplifying enable signal SAE in accordance with an address transition detection signal ATF outputted from the address transition detectors, a logic operator 7 provided for logically operating a signal outputted from the address decoding unit 4 and a word line enable signal WLE outputted from the pulse generator 6, a data transfer unit 9 provided for transferring the data stored in a memory cell 8 to bit lines BL and BLB and for transferring the data outputted from the data input unit 3 to the memory cell 8 through the bit lines BL and BLB after it is enabled by a sense amplifying enable signal SAE outputted from the pulse generator 6, a sense amplifier 10 provided for amplifying the data outputted from the data transfer unit 9 after it is enabled by a sense amplifying enable signal SAE outputted from the pulse generator 6, and an output buffer 11 provided for buffering the data SAO and SAOB outputted from the sense amplifier 10 and for outputting the buffered data DATA OUT.
The address decoding unit 4 includes inverters I1 and I2 provided for inverting the signals ADS0 and ADS1 outputted from the address input unit 2, an AND gate A1 provided for logically ANDing the signals outputted from the inverters I1 and I2, an AND gate A2 provided for ANDing the signal outputted from the inverter I1 and the signal ADS1 outputted from the address input unit 2, an AND gate A3 provided for ANDing the signal ADS0 outputted from the address input unit 2 and the signal outputted from the inverter I2, and an AND gate A4 provided for ANDing the signals ADS0 and ADS1 outputted from the address input unit 2.
The address transition detector 5 includes first and second address transition detectors 5a and 5b, respectively, for detecting the transition of the signals ADS0 and ADS1 outputted from the address input unit 2 and for outputting the address transition detection pulses ATP0 and ATP1, and an OR gate 5c provided for ORing the address transition detection pulses ATP0 and ATP1 outputted from the first and second address transition detectors 5a and 5b, respectively, and for outputting the address transition detection pulse ATP.
The logic operator 7 includes AND gates A5, A6, A7, and A8 each of which provides for ANDing the signal outputted from AND gates A1, A2, A3, and A4, respectively, of the address decoding unit 4 and the word line enable signal WLE outputted from the pulse generator 6.
The operation of the conventional static RAM circuit will now be explained with reference to FIG. 2.
To begin with, when an address is designated to readout data stored in the memory cell 8, as shown in FIGS. 2A through 2C, a chip selection signal CSB of a low level signal, an enable signal WEB of a writing high level signal, and an output enable signal OEB of a low level signal are applied to the read/write control unit 1, respectively, from the outside of the static RAM circuit.
Thereafter, the read/write control unit 1 recognizes the operational state of the static RAM as a read cycle in accordance with the signals CSB, WEB, and OEB applied thereto and applies a first control signal CS of a high level signal to the address input unit 2, and applies a second control signal WE of a low level signal to the data input unit 3.
The first control signal CS is an inverting signal of the chip selection signal CSB applied to the read/write control unit 1, and the second control signal WE is an inverting signal of the enable signal WEB applied to the read/write control unit 1.
Thereafter, the data input unit 3 is disabled by the second control unit WE of a low level signal outputted from the read/write control unit 1.
Meanwhile, as the first control signal CS of a high level signal is applied to the address input unit 2 from the read/write control unit 1, the address input unit 2 is enabled and receives first and second address signals ADO and AD1 shown in FIGS. 2D and 2E, respectively, and outputs the signals ADS0 and ADS1 corresponding to the first and the second address signals AD0 and AD1.
The address decoding unit 4 decodes the signals ADS0 and ADS1 outputted from the address input unit 2. That is, the inverter I1 inverts the signal ADS0 and the inverter I2 inverts the signal ADS1.
The AND gate A1 ANDs the signals outputted from the inverters I1 and I2 and applies the ANDed signals to one terminal of the AND gate A5 of the logic operation unit 7. The AND gate A2 ANDs the signal outputted from the inverter I1 and the signal ADS1 and applies the ANDed signals to one terminal of the AND gate A6.
In addition, the AND gate A3 ANDs the signal outputted from the inverter I2 and the signal ADS0 and applies the ANDed signal to the AND gate A7. The AND gate A4 ANDs the signals ADS0 and ADS1 and applies the ANDed signal to one terminal of the AND gate A8 in the logic operation unit 7.
Meanwhile, in the address transition detection unit 5, the first and second address transition detection units 5a and 5b, as shown in FIGS. 2F and 2G, respectively, receive the signals ADS0 and ADS1 and detect the transitions of the signals ADS0 and ADS1, and apply the address transition detection pulses ATP0 and ATP1 of a low level signal to the AND gate 5c. Thereafter, the AND gate 5c, as shown in FIG. 2I, ANDs the address transition detection pulses ATP0 and ATP1 of a low level signal each outputted from the first and second address transition detection units 5a and 5b and applies the address transition detection signal ATP of a low level signal to the pulse generation unit 6.
The pulse generation unit 6, as shown in FIG. 2J, detects a descending point of the address transition detection pulse ATP of a low level signal outputted from the AND gate 5c and generates the word line enable signal WLE of a low level signal and outputs the word line enable signal WLE of a high level signal. In addition, the pulse generation unit 6, as shown in FIG. 2K, detects an ascending point of the address transition detection signal ATP outputted from the AND gate 5c and generates the sense amplifying enable signal SAE of a low level signal and applies the sense amplifying enable signal SAE of a high level signal to the data transmission unit 9 and the sense amplifier 10, respectively. Therefore, the sense amplifying enable signal SAE of a low level signal is generated after a predetermined time T after a word line enable signal WLE of a high level signal is generated.
Meanwhile, in the logic operation unit 7, the AND gates A5, A6, A7, and A8 receive the signals outputted from the AND gates A1, A2, A3, and A4, respectively, of the address decoding unit 4 and also receive and logically operate the word line enable signal WLE outputted from the pulse generation unit 6 and outputs the logically operated data. In addition, one word line out of the word lines is enabled by a result of the above described logic operation. In FIG. 1, there is shown one occasion that a word line WL is enabled by the signal outputted from the AND gate A5. That is, as shown in FIG. 2L, the word line WL becomes a high level signal when a word line enable signal WLE is a high level signal. At this time, the reason that there is shown a dotted line is because when a word line WL is enabled, an undesired word line is instantly enabled since the address signals ADO and AD1 are inputted with a predetermined delay time. Therefore, the data stored in the memory cell 8 is applied to the data transmission unit 9 through the bit lines BL and BLB, as shown in FIG. 2M.
Thereafter, the data transmission unit 9 is enabled by the sense amplifying enable signal SAE of a low level signal and applies the data, outputted from the bit lines BL and BLB, to the sense amplifier 10. The sense amplifier 10 is enabled by the sense amplifying enable signal SAE of a low level signal outputted from the pulse generation unit 6 and amplifies the data outputted from the data transmission unit 9 by a predetermined level and applies the amplified data SAO and SAOB to the output buffer 11, as shown in FIG. 2N. The output buffer 11 stores the data SAO and SAOB outputted from the sense amplifier 10 and at the same time outputs the data SAO and SAOB--DATA OUT.
Meanwhile, in order to store desired data into the memory cell 8, when a certain address is designated, a chip selection signal CSB, a write enable signal WEB, and an output enable signal OEB outputted from the outside of the static RAM for a predetermined time T1+T2+T3 are applied to the read/write control unit 1. When a chip selection signal CSB of high and low level signals, a write enable signal WEB of a high level signal, an output enable signal OEB of a high level signal for a predetermined time T1 are applied to the read/write control unit 1, the write/read control unit 1 recognizes the signal applied thereto as a read cycle by the signals CSB, WEB, and OEB and outputs the first control signal CS of a high level signal and the second control signal WE of a low level signal. The operation of the static RAM for a predetermined time T1 is the same as the operation of the read cycle described above and, therefore, a description of that operation is omitted.
When a chip selection signal CSB of a low level signal, an enable signal WEB of a low level signal, and an output enable signal OEB of a high level signal for a predetermined time T2 is applied to the read/write control unit 1, respectively, the read/write control unit 1 recognizes the signals applied thereto as a write cycle in accordance with the signals CSB, WEB, and OEB and applies the first control signal CS of a high level signal to the address input unit 2 and applies the second control signal WE of a high level signal to the data input unit 3. As the first control signal CS of a high level signal is applied to the address input unit 2, the description of the operations of the address input unit 2, the address decoding unit 4, and the address transition detection unit 5 is omitted because the operations thereof are the same as the read cycle.
Meanwhile, the pulse generation unit 6, as shown in FIGS. 2J and 2K, applies the word line enable signal WLE of a high level signal t the logic operation unit 7 and applies the sense enable signal SAE of a high level signal to the data transmission unit 10. Also, the data input unit 3 is enabled by the second control signal WE of a high level signal outputted from the read/write control unit 1 and applies the data corresponding to the externally applied data DATA IN to the data transmission unit 9. The data transmission unit 9 is enabled by a sense amplifying enable signal SAE of a high level signal outputted from the pulse generation unit 6 and stores the data outputted from the data input unit 9 into the memory cell 8 through the bit lines BL and BLB. Meanwhile, in a write cycle for a predetermined time T3, a chip selection signal CSB of low and high level signals, a write enable signal WEB of a high level signal, and an output enable signal OEB of a high level signal are applied to the read/write control unit 1, respectively. The read/write control unit 1 recognizes the signals applied thereto as a read cycle.
In the conventional static RAM circuit, since an address enable signal is generated at a descending point on a line of the address transition detection signal in a read cycle and since a sense amplifying enable signal is generated at an ascending point of the address transition detection signal, there are disadvantages in that the word line enable point and the sense amplifying enable point are delayed by a predetermined time T, so that the access time to the data stored in the memory cell is delayed. In addition, the word line enable points of the read cycle and the write cycle are the same, and an address cycle changes in a relation between the write enable signal and the address signal, and a writing operation is performed in an undesired address when a word line is enabled by a new address signal when a write enable signal changes to a read cycle.

Pulse generation circuit and memory circuit including same


In construction of an apparatus for innoxious disposal of medical wastes, the medical wastes containing meltable components such as plastic resins, and unmeltable components such as syringe needles and residues are thrown into a compression hopper and compressed under application of heat by piston operation into a compact cake. Sharp unmeltable components such as syringe needles are totally embraced by the meltable components such that they are not exposed outside the obtained cake, thereby removing the danger in subsequent handling of the cake. Pathogenic germs in the residues are killed during application of heat and the residues are fully evaporated due to heating in an evaporation dish arranged below the compression hopper.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for innoxious disposal of medical wastes, and more particularly relates to improvement in innoxious disposal, i.e. disposal after making the waste harmless to the environment, of medical wastes such as syringe tubes, serum bottles, laboratory dishes and transfusion tubes mainly made of thermoplastic resins.
In general, for innoxious disposal of medical wastes, heat melting processes and crush sterilization processes have conventionally been employed.
The heat melting processes are further classified into two systems. In the first system, medical wastes are thrown into a heating bath arranged within an apparatus and are cooled into a solidified block after heat melting . In the second system, the solidified block is crushed into pieces. When disposed in block form, sharp articles such as syringe needles contained in the medical wastes tend to project from the block, which endanger subsequent handing of the block. In addition, plastic resins in the medical wastes maintain in bulky states during heat melting, thereby making handling difficult during the operation. When crushed, sharp articles such as syringe needles tend to remain in the crushed pieces without destruction, which again endangers subsequent handling of the pieces.
In the crush sterilization processes, medical wastes are first crushed in a crusher and next immersed into a sterilizer bath or subjected sterilizing spray in order to kill or paralyze pathogenic germs contained in the medical wastes. For reliable sterilization of residues in, for example, a syringe needle, complete mixing or replacement of the residue with a sterilizer is required. This is , however, very difficult in practice due to the small syringe needle spaces. In addition, these processes are also inevitably accompanied by the problem of residual sharp articles such as syringe needles.

Apparatus for innoxious disposal of medical wastes


Methods are disclosed which discourage formation of destructive corrosion on or about circuit traces of printed circuit boards, and/or mitigate electronic circuit degradation and or destruction through corrosion of the circuit traces, whereby said corrosion produces changing characteristics of the circuit, and/or shorting to other adjacent circuit traces. Aspects and embodiments of the present disclosure include or provide for forming at least a portion of a circuit trace or traces with fractal and/or self-complementary geometries, or self complementary geometry alone.

Decades of progress on creation of circuits have been based on printed traces of conductor, usually on layered substrates, as so-called "printed circuits." These traces act as substitutes for wires, combining discrete electronic components, and or function, on occasion, as components themselves. Inherent in this progress has been the quest for closer positioning of these traces to one another, either vertically and/or horizontally, so as to enable use of smaller components (that is, for example, surface mount components) and or integrated circuits as components, to be utilized in smaller areas, and/or combine more circuitry in a fixed area.
The downside of this progress has been the relative placement of these traces themselves. Such close placement of traces produces a coupling effect of a capacitive nature that is usually accommodated in the actual construction of the overall circuit. However adjacent traces also have differential AC/RF voltages, and these voltages will attempt to drive current charges between and to the adjacent traces. In addition it will be noted that when diverse metals are used such as solder on copper traces, and these traces are closely spaced one another, the galvanic voltage difference from the metals will also drive charges from one trace to an adjacent trace. With these galvanically-different metals the proximity of air will cause oxidation of the metals, from one trace to an adjacent one. This oxidation and subsequent shorting of the traces is highly deleterious to the circuit and is considered a profound failure mode. This voltage driven oxidation process and shorting is a manifestation of corrosion and is an inherent property of galvanically-different metals, and/or voltages on metals, in the presence of air.
The seriousness of such corrosion on circuit boards is mitigated by the use of various coatings acting as insulators and trying to prevent the oxidation. However such coatings do break down with time and UV exposure. Thus this corrosion dominated shorting of traces on circuit boards and the like is a major problem that requires new approaches for solutions.
What is needed is an additional means to deter such corrosion and trace shorting, so disclosed in the present invention.

Corrosion mitigation for etched and/or printed circuits


One or more programs of instruction configure networking-enabled electronic devices to communicate in a ring communication network with a network controller. One or more startup files in one or more devices are configured to enable IP Forwarding, local system monitoring, and signal transmission processes on device startup. Data packets are sent from the network controller to each device coupled to the ring network, where each device processes a separate data packet to configure itself for ring network communication using IP Forwarding. Monitoring devices over a ring network includes using receipt of signals to determine if one or more devices have dropped from the network, modifying IP Forwarding by one or more devices on the network to compensate for a device dropping out, receiving data associated with one or more device parameters, launching one or more read-only interfaces providing device data, and updating various device elements over the network.

Organizations such as on-line retailers, cloud computing providers, Internet service providers, search providers, financial institutions, universities, and other computing-intensive organizations often conduct computer operations from large scale computing facilities. Such computing facilities house and accommodate a large amount of server, network, and computer equipment to process, store, and exchange data as needed to carry out an organization's operations. Typically, a computer room of a computing facility includes many server racks. Each server rack, in turn, includes many servers and associated computer equipment.
Because the computer room of a computing facility may contain a large number of servers, a large amount of electrical power may be required to operate the facility. In addition, the electrical power is distributed to a large number of locations spread throughout the computer room (e.g., many racks spaced from one another, and many servers in each rack). Usually, a facility receives a power feed at a relatively high voltage. This power feed is stepped down to a lower voltage (e.g., 110 volts). A network of cabling, bus bars, power connectors, and power distribution units, is used to deliver the power at the lower voltage to numerous specific components in the facility.
Some systems include dual power servers that provide redundant power for computing equipment. In some systems, an automatic transfer switch ("ATS") device provides switching from a primary power system to a secondary (e.g., back-up) power system. In a typical system, the automatic transfer switch automatically switches the computing equipment to the secondary system upon detecting a fault in the primary power. To maintain the computing equipment in continuous operation, the automatic transfer switch may need to make the transfer to secondary power system rapidly (for example, within about 16 milliseconds).
In some systems, if the ATS device coupled to a rack system fails (for example, due to an overcurrent condition in the automatic transfer switch), the system may no longer be able to automatically switch to back-up power during a primary system failure. Monitoring and maintenance of ATS devices thereby can mitigate risks of such a loss of capability.
In some cases, ATS devices, as well as various other devices in a data center, may be physically monitored and manually maintained by technicians at the data center. For an organization that operates multiple data center devices, such as ATS devices, at multiple locations, such as multiple data centers, monitoring and maintaining all of the devices may require multiple technicians for the multiple locations and may be time-consuming, due to the quantity and distribution of the devices.
Furthermore, where a finite number of technicians are available, monitoring of a given device may occur infrequently, occasionally, etc. For example, an ATS device may be tested and monitored during installation of a new rack computing system, but otherwise may simply be visually inspected at other times. In addition, in some data centers, devices such as ATS devices may be installed underneath a raised floor, making visual inspection more difficult.
In some cases, maintenance is performed manually on a data center device, such as an ATS device. As a result, maintenance, such as firmware upgrades, may need to be implemented on each device one-by-one. For an organization that operates multiple data center devices at multiple locations, such manual maintenance may be time-consuming and costly.
In addition, with regard to many data center devices, such as ATS devices, health issues with an individual device, such as performance losses, absent physical monitoring by a physically-present technician, may become evident to a technician until the device fails to perform one or more functions, at which point an alarm may be generated from a device in a rack computing system, such as a Top of Rack ("TOR") switch. Such an alarm may indicate a general performance issue associated with the rack computing system but may not indicate with particularity the nature of the failure, nor the particular cause, such that a technician arriving at the rack computing system may be required to manually access the failing device to diagnose the cause of the failure.
While embodiments are described herein by way of example for several embodiments and illustrative drawings, those skilled in the art will recognize that embodiments are not limited to the embodiments or drawings described. It should be understood, that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit embodiments to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope as defined by the appended claims. The headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be used to limit the scope of the description or the claims. As used throughout this application, the word "may" is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Similarly, the words "include," "including," and "includes" mean including, but not limited to.


Apparatus for providing drinking water to an animal includes inner and outer annular walls which define a water supply reservoir. The inner wall forms a draw reservoir that is in communication with the water supply reservoir to replenish water in the draw reservoir and maintain the level of water in said draw reservoir equal to the level of water in said water supply reservoir.

It is generally known to incorporate water reservoirs of various types with bowls to gravity feed water to the bowl to replenish water removed from the bowl due to consumption by an animal, spillage, evaporation, etc. Many such prior art arrangements are relatively large and do not readily lend themselves to use when traveling with a pet. Many such devices also spill all or nearly all of the water in the apparatus when tipped or inverted. Because of the structural configuration and high center of gravity of some of these prior art systems, they are inherently unstable and not suitable, for example, for placement on an uneven surface or use in a moving vehicle. Then too, the structural nature of some prior art systems incorporating a reservoir do not allow complete consumption of water in a water supply reservoir nor provide or maintain other than a minimal amount of water available to an animal.
The following patent publications disclose prior art devices of this nature which are believed to be representative of the current state of the prior art in this field: U.S. Pat. No. 3,076,435, issued Feb. 5, 1963, U.S. Pat. No. 6,467,428, issued Oct. 22, 2002, U.S. Pat. No. 5,791,287, issued Aug. 11, 1998, U.S. Pat. No. 5,284,173, issued Feb. 8, 1994, U.S. Pat. No. 6,067,935, issued May 30, 2000, U.S. Pat. No. 6,101,974, issued Aug. 15, 2000, U.S. Pat. No. 7,089,881, issued Aug. 15, 2006, U.S. Pat. No. 6,463,880, issued Oct. 15, 2002, U.S. Design Pat. No. D454,234, issued Mar. 5, 2002, U.S. Design Pat. No. D454,990, issued Mar. 6, 2002, U.S. Design Pat. No. D497,041, issued Oct. 5, 2004, U.S. Pat. No. 6,142,101, issued November, 2000, U.S. Pat. No. 6,019,244, issued February, 2000, U.S. Pat. No. 4,655,171, issued April, 1987, U.S. Pat. No. 169,735, issued November, 1875, U.S. Pat. No. 1,048,344, issued December, 1912, U.S. Pat. No. 5,297,504, issued March, 1994, U.S. Pat. No. 3,044,209, issued July, 1962, U.S. Pat. No. 4,920,362, issued April, 1990 and Japanese Patent Abstract No. 2003299419, issued Oct. 21, 2003.


A transesophageal probe with variable stiffness has a probe head connected to a distal end of an endoscope. A flexible tube is secured to the endoscope. Finally, a semi-rigid rod is slidably disposed within the flexible tube. Advancing or retracting the semi-rigid rod within the flexible tube allows the operator to vary the stiffness of the transesophageal probe.

This invention is directed to transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) probes used for imaging human organs, particularly the heart. TEE probes are well known in the art and comprise an ultrasonic transducer mounted at the end of a semi-flexible endoscope. The endoscope typically has an articulation section at its distal end that allows the operator to rotate or move the distal end of the endoscope such that the ultrasonic transducer is optimally positioned for imaging the relevant organ. Movement of the articulation section is effected in a controlled manner through mechanical controls (e.g., handles or knobs) positioned on a handle located on the proximal end of the endoscope.
In prior TEE probes, the semi-flexible nature of the endoscope enabled physicians or clinicians to introduce the ultrasonic transducer through the esophagus of a patient to a position where the heart or other relevant structure could be ultrasonically imaged. This was particularly useful during open-heart surgery, when conventional ultrasonic imaging was impractical due to the existence of an open chest cavity. In addition, TEE probes were useful when obesity or other anatomical anomalies precluded the use of conventional ultrasonic imaging. However, because of their uniform stiffness, introducing prior TEE probes into the esophagus was difficult and required significant clinical skill because of the variations in esophageal anatomy. Also, once introduced, there was no means for changing the stiffness characteristics of the TEE probe.
Therefore, there is a need for a TEE probe with variable stiffness characteristics that address these prior problems.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a transesophageal probe with variable stiffness includes an endoscope with a probe head connected to a distal end of the endoscope. A flexible tube is secured to the endoscope and has a semi-rigid rod slidably disposed within the flexible tube.
In an alternative embodiment of the invention, a transesophageal probe with variable stiffness includes an endoscope having an articulation section. The endoscope has a probe head connected to its distal end. A flexible tube is secured within the interior of the endoscope. A semi-rigid rod is slidably disposed within the flexible tube.
The preferred embodiment has a number of advantages. In particular, the semi-rigid rod can be advanced or retracted by an operator to vary the stiffness of the endoscope. This configuration permits the operator to vary the stiffness of the endoscope in order to better accommodate variations in anatomy, particularly esophageal anatomy. Use of different structure for the flexible tube (e.g., a helical structure) or different materials for the semi-rigid rod (e.g., metal) permit additional variations in the stiffness characteristics of the transesophageal probe. Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description that follows.

Transesophageal probe with variable stiffness

GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC


An apparatus and process for forming particles.

There are a variety of approaches for forming particles from flowable masses. Often the flowable mass is a melt. Melts are commonly prepared by providing one or more raw materials in a molten form into a batch mixer. The mixer is sized and dimensioned to provide for a desired residence time for the raw material or materials in the mixer to sufficiently mix and/or react the raw material or materials and provide a uniform temperature to the melt. After exiting the batch mixer, the melt can optionally be passed through one or more filters to remove deleterious matter. The melt is then fed into a feed pump that moves the melt via a feed pipe from the feed pump to the apparatus that dispenses the melt to form particles.
There are a variety of uses for particles and the utility of particles for such uses can depend on the unit weight of the particles. For instance, in some uses it can be desirable for the particles to able to be suspended in a liquid. In other uses, it can be desirable for particles that sink in a liquid. Still in other uses, it can be desirable for particles to float in a liquid.
With these limitations in mind, there is a continuing unaddressed need for an apparatus and process for forming particles that provides for the ability to manufacture particles having a desired unit weight.

Apparatus and process for forming particles


A burial vault including a base and a cover or dome molded from moldable plastic resinous material. The base and cover or dome have reinforcing ribs formed integrally therewith on the inner surfaces of the side and end walls thereof. The base has a pattern of reticulated reinforcing ribs formed integrally with and on the inner surface of the bottom of the base, and the cover or dome has a comparable pattern of reticulated reinforcing ribs formed integrally with and on the inner or lower surface of the top wall of the cover or dome, and the base has reinforcing structures formed integrally therewith at the bottom corners of the base. The base and the cover or dome have reinforcing ribs formed on the inner surfaces of the side and end walls thereof. The base and the cover or dome have outwardly projecting marginal or peripheral sealing flanges formed integrally therein at the upper and lower edges thereof, respectively, and these sealing flanges have mating and coacting sealing tongues and grooves formed therein. At least certain of the walls of the base and the cover or dome have geometrically shaped recesses formed in the outer surfaces thereof and these recesses are adapted to receive correspondingly geometrically shaped decorative colored panels or inserts adhesively mounted therein. At least certain of the reinforcing ribs on the inner surfaces of the side walls of the base and the dome or cover have coacting latching grooves and tongues formed therein for securely latching the base and the cover or dome together in assembled relationship.

Molded plastic resinous burial vaults have been known heretofore and the prior art of such vaults is represented by U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,208,186 and 3,208,188 and certain of the references cited therein. However, molded plastic resinous burial vaults have, in many instances, not been entirely satisfactory due, in some instances, to lack of adequate structural strength, lack of proper sealing, and other deficiencies.


The invention provides an adhesive composition for conduction between electrical elements, comprising 25 to 46 parts by weight of nitrile-butadiene rubber with Mooney viscosity ranged from 50 to 75 (ML 1+4@100)° C., 25 to 45 parts by weight of acrylic oligomer, 16 to 32 parts by weight of thermoplastic resin, two organic peroxides having different one-minute half-life temperatures from each other, and a coupling agent. The thermoplastic resin is selected from the group consisting of phenoxy resin, poly(methyl)methacrylate copolymer, polystyrene copolymer and Novolak resin.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an adhesive composition. More particularly, the adhesive composition is used for bonding electrical elements.
2. Description of Related Art
Recently, with the increase in integration density of IC chips, the space between bumps of an IC chip is being narrowed to a finer pitch. The bump surface areas are also being reduced. In this regard, an anisotropic conductive film is more likely suffering from a conducting problem in the longitudinal direction (z-direction) in that the narrower bump surface areas become more difficult to trap conductive particles in the anisotropic conductive film. Moreover, the finer pitch between bumps increases the short-circuit probability of an electric element because the conductive particles in the anisotropic conductive film also facilitate the conduction in the transverse direction (x- or y-direction).
Taiwanese patent publication No. 201012890 discloses an acrylic insulating adhesive used for bonding electric elements, e.g. the bumps of IC chip to connection pads of a circuit board. However, there is still a need to develop a novel adhesive composition to address the disadvantages of the anisotropic conductive film mentioned above.


The invention features a method of introducing nucleic acid molecules into eukaryotic cells by (a) depositing a nucleic acid molecule-containing mixture onto a surface, (b) affixing the nucleic acid molecule-containing mixture to the surface, and (c) plating eukaryotic cells onto the surface under appropriate conditions for entry of the nucleic acid molecules into the cells.

Genome and expressed sequence tag (EST) projects are rapidly cataloging and cloning the genes of higher organisms, including humans. The emerging challenge is to uncover the functional roles of the genes and to quickly identify gene products with desired properties. The growing collection of gene sequences and cloned cDNAs demands the development of systematic and high-throughput approaches to characterizing the gene products. The uses of DNA microarrays for transcriptional profiling and of yeast two-hybrid arrays for determining protein-protein interactions are recent examples of genomic approaches to the characterization of gene products (Schena, M. et al., Nature, 10:623 (2000)). Comparable strategies do not exist to analyze the function, within mammalian cells, of large sets of genes. Currently, in vivo gene analysis can be done—on a gene-by-gene scale—by transfecting cells with a DNA construct that directs the overexpression of the gene product or inhibits its expression or function. The effects on cellular physiology of altering the level of a gene product is then detected using a variety of functional assays.
A variety of DNA transfection methods, such as calcium phosphate coprecipitation, electroporation and cationic liposome-mediated transfection (e.g., lipofection) can be used to introduce DNA into cells and are useful in studying gene regulation and function. Additional methods, particularly high throughput assays that can be used to screen large sets of DNAs to identify those encoding products with properties of interest, would be useful to have available.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Transfection method and uses related thereto

Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research


A device for detecting tachycardiac rhythm disturbances, has a measuring unit for picking up and reproducing a measurement signal dependent on intracardial impedance at its output and an evaluation unit connected at the input to the measuring unit. The evaluation unit is adapted to output both a first signal which corresponds to the difference of a maximum and a minimum measurement signal within at least one predeterminable period of time and also a second signal which is dependent on the integral of the measurement signal over at least one predeterminable period of time.

The invention further concerns an implantable electrostimulation device for the treatment of tachycardiac rhythm disturbances, comprising a detection unit, a control unit and a therapy unit which is adapted to produce a cardioversion or defibrillation electrotherapy to be transmitted to the heart, wherein the detection unit has a measuring unit for picking up and reproducing a measurement signal corresponding to intracardial impedance at its output and an evaluation unit connected at the input to the measuring unit and the control unit receives output signals from the evaluation unit and controls the activity of the measuring unit, the evaluation unit and the therapy unit.
By virtue of the lower specific resistance of blood in comparison with the myocardium tissue intracardial impedance varies with the volume of blood in the chambers of the heart, which changes in the course of the cardiac cycle. Thus, the pump activity of the heart can be monitored by evaluation of an intracardial impedance measurement and the existence of cardiac rhythm disturbances such as tachycardia or fibrillation can be inferred from variations in the amplitude pattern or the frequency of the periodic impedance signal.
Such a monitoring device is known from European patent application No. 0 009 255 A1, to Geddes, published 2 Apr. 1980. That publication discloses an implantable defibrillator having two measuring electrodes arranged at an axial spacing from each other at the distal end of a catheter which is introduced into the right ventricle. A control logic unit starts an intracardial impedance measurement procedure when automatic evaluation of an ECG signal indicates the possible existence of fibrillation. Impedance is determined by means of voltage measurement between the electrodes with an alternating current flow with a constant modulation amplitude and subsequent demodulation of the voltage signal. If the amplitude of the impedance signal indicates excessively low pump activity on the part of the heart defibrillation therapy is initiated.
A disadvantage with that device is that the signals from the measuring electrodes react sensitively to interference effects by virtue of their arrangement in a ventricle. Thus, body movement can already give rise to contact between the electrodes and the myocardium tissue. That means however that the measurement voltage and thus impedance measurement are falsified. Unnecessary defibrillation shocks which are painful to the patient can be the consequence of defective impedance measurement.
It is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,427,112, to Noren, issued 27 Jun. 1995, for increasing the reliability of detection of cardiac rhythm disturbances, to record two signals and to monitor the in-phase periodic recurrence thereof, which is coupled to the heartbeat. In addition to measurement of the intracardial impedance signal, that known device also provides for determining the derivative thereof in respect of time. The impedance signal is recorded in a parameter representation as a function of its derivative in respect of time. The curve recorded in that way is compared to stored pattern curves, whereupon a decision is made about the necessity for and possibly the nature of a therapy. That procedure suffers from the disadvantage that it is highly costly in terms of computation and memory; it is firstly necessary to determine the derivative in respect of time of the measurement signal. The measurement value together with the derivative in respect of time have to be stored over at least the duration of a cardiac period. Then the phase position of the stored data has to be determined, in comparison with a previously stored pattern curve, and that requires extensive computations. Finally it is then necessary to form the difference of the measured pairs of values and corresponding pairs of values of the pattern curve, and ultimately evaluate same on the basis of a mathematical criterion.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,179,946, to Weiss, issued 19 Jan. 1993, discloses an implantable defibrillator in which, to increase the level of reliability of detection of cardiac rhythm disturbances, the intracardial impedance between two defibrillation electrodes fixed to the outside of the heart is measured. Adequate pump activity on the part of the heart is monitored on the basis of the impedance signal, by means of an amplitude discriminator. As an alternative to amplitude discrimination that known defibrillator provides for integration of the measured impedance signal. That device is complicated and expensive in circuitry terms because impedance measurement and tachycardia therapy are effected by way of the same electrodes. Therefore, avoiding destruction of the measuring unit by the high electrical voltages which are produced in a cardioversion or defibrillation procedure requires a protective circuit which is to be connected between the defibrillation electrodes and the measuring unit prior to application of the therapy. A disadvantage with that known defibrillator is also major operative involvement which stresses the patient when implanting the epicardial electrodes.

Device for detecting tachycardiac rhythm disturbances


A shirt is provided in a can-like presentation arrangement. The arrangement includes a tube-shaped stabilizing element having an outer side and two open ends. Two lid-shaped end elements are fixed on these open ends and fixing devices are provided for fixing areas of the shirt around the lid-shaped end elements. A middle area of the shirt is rolled onto the outer side of the tube-shaped stabilizing element. Additional areas of the shirt extend beyond the open ends of the tube-shaped stabilizing element and are arranged to be stuffed within the open ends of the tube-shaped stabilizing element before the lid-shaped end elements are fixed on the tube-shaped stabilizing element.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a shirt packed in a can-like presentation arrangement.
Usually, shirts are packed by folding them twice along their longitudinal axis, which runs from the shoulder to the bottom end of the shirt. The shirt is then folded across the longitudinal axis into a more or less rectangular packet. The upper surface of this rectangular packet displays the collar and the front side of the shirt below the collar.

Shirt packed in a can-like arrangement for presentation


A miniature flashlight device includes a housing having a cavity, a pair of magnets mounted to the housing, and a light generating assembly disposed in the cavity of the housing. The light generating assembly includes a lamp, at least one battery and a spring-loaded switch connected in an electrical circuit with the lamp and battery and activatable to electrically connect and disconnect the battery with the lamp. The magnets are arranged such that when the housing is placed on a ferromagnetic surface the magnets attract the surface with sufficient force to activate the spring-loaded switch and open the circuit, turning the device off. When the magnets are disengaged from the surface, the spring brings the switch into the closed circuit position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to portable lighting devices and, more particularly, is concerned with a miniature flashlight device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Miniature flashlight devices which can be stored in a pocket or attached to a key chain are known in the prior art. Examples of such miniature flashlight devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,359,411 to Schwartz, U.S. Pat. No. 4,085,315 to Wolter et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,521,833 to Wolter, U.S. Pat. No. 4,644,451 to Chabria, U.S. Pat. No. 5,158,356 to Guthrie, U.S. Pat. No. 5,893,631 to Padden and French Pat. No. 1,443,787 to Teisseire.
Some common components of miniature flashlight devices include a housing, a battery disposed in the housing, an electric lamp supported in the housing, electrically conductive contact members positioned in the housing and electrically interconnecting spaced contact portions of the lamp with spaced contact portions of the battery of respective positive and negative polarities, and an actuating element mounted on the housing and being movable for closing and opening an electrical circuit between the electrically conductive contact members, the battery and the lamp.
The housings of these devices have various configurations and constructions. However, a common theme of the housings as well as other components is that they are mostly utilitarian in character. Miniature flashlight devices are increasingly popular with consumers because of their utilitarian character. The inventor herein has perceived an innovative way to expand the attractiveness of miniature flashlight devices to consumers without sacrificing their utilitarian character.
The present invention provides a miniature flashlight device which combines the utilitarian features of a flashlight with the ornamental appearance of a common item of apparel, such being a hat. The specific embodiment of a hat whose ornamental appearance is incorporated in the device of the present invention is a helmet or hardhat such as worn commonly by construction and other workers.
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a miniature flashlight device which comprises: (a) a housing shaped to simulate a hat, the housing including (i) a main portion simulating a crown of the hat having a bottom opening and a side with a hole defined therethrough, the main portion defining an interior cavity in communication with the bottom opening of the main portion and the hole in the side of the main portion, and (ii) an extension portion simulating a bill of the hat disposed exteriorly of and attached to the main portion such that the bill extends at least partially about the main portion adjacent to the bottom opening thereof and outwardly from the main portion; (b) a cover adapted to interfit with the housing so as to close the bottom opening of the main portion thereof; (c) means for detachably attaching the cover to the housing; and (d) a light generating assembly disposed in the cavity of the housing when the cover is attached to the housing, the light generating assembly including an electric lamp module supported on the housing through the hole in the side of the main portion of the housing such that the lamp module extends both exteriorly from the main portion of the housing and interiorly into the cavity of the main portion of the housing. The main and extension portions of the housing together define a continuous bottom rim on the housing encompassing the extension portion and the bottom opening of the main portion. The cover is adapted to interfit with the continuous bottom rim on the housing so as to underlie the main and extension portions and close the bottom opening of the main portion of the housing.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described an illustrative embodiment of the invention.


This invention is related to a novel sugar-like chemical composition and its use for diabetes therapy. Particularly, the present invention teaches the use of monosaccharide-like glycylated sugar alcohol compounds to block or reduce sugar absorption in diabetes patients, so as to prevent the risk of hyperglycemia symptoms. Glycylation of sugar alcohols is a totally novel reaction that has never been reported before. Therefore, the novelty of the present invention is that for the first time glycylated sugar alcohols not only was found but also was found to be useful for treating Diabetes mellitus. In addition, the present invention teaches a method for producing these glycylated sugar alcohols. In sum, the present invention includes not only a kind of novel sugar-like chemical compositions and its use for treating diabetes but also a state-of-the-art protocol and methodology for producing such a novel composition via glycylation of sugars and sugar alcohols.

Diabetes mellitus (DM), also known as diabetes, is a group of metabolic diseases that cause long-lasting hyperglycemia symptoms in humans as well as some other mammals, such as mice. These hyperglycemia symptoms include high blood sugar levels (i.e. >140 mg/dL), frequent urination, increased thirst and hunger, and more severely diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperosmolar coma. Long-term hyperglycemia often leads to heart diseases, stroke, kidney failure, ulcers in extremities, eye damages and obesity. There are two types of diabetes: type-I DM results from lack of sufficient insulin production in pancreas (or called insulin-dependent DM; IDDM), and type-II DM results from body's failure to respond to insulin (or called insulin resistance; non-insulin-dependent DM; NIDDM). For treatment, type-I DM must be managed with insulin injections while type-II DM may or may not be treated with insulin, depending on the pathological causes of insulin resistance.
Current medications for type-II DM can be categorized into five groups: first, drugs increase insulin production in pancreas, such as Sulfonylureas, Meglitinides and Stitagliptin; second, drugs decrease sugar production in liver, such as Metformin; third, drugs increase sugar excretion via urine, such as Canagliflozin; forth, drugs reduce insulin resistance in fat tissues and muscles, such as Thiazolidinediones; and last, drugs delay and/or reduce sugar absorption in intestines, such as alpha-glucosidase inhibitors. However, due to the kinetic properties of these drugs directed against certain natural metabolic pathways of the body, they often present various degrees of side effects, including hypoglycemia (Sulfonylureas, Meglitinides, Stitagliptin and alpha-glucosidase inhibitors), kidney failure (Metformin and Canagliflozin), heart failure (Metformin and Thiazolidinediones), gastrointestinal problems (Metformin and alpha-glucosidase inhibitors), edema and anemia (Thiazolidinediones). In some worst cases, death has been reported.
To prevent the lethal problems of kidney and heart failure, the best way of treating type-II diabetes is to delay and reduce sugar absorption in intestines; yet, without losing the supply of energy. The current anti-diabetic drugs of this kind such as alpha-glucosidase inhibitors function through inhibition of intestinal enzymes that convert carbohydrates into monosaccharides and hence can block sugar uptake in intestines. Nevertheless, the undigested carbohydrates may then interact with colon bacteria to cause gastrointestinal problems, such as flatulence and diarrhea. From the beneficial view, this side effect may help to reduce obesity; yet, the drawback is that blocking sugar uptake also means loss of energy supply to the body. As a result, overdose of alpha-glucosidase inhibitors can lead to acute hypoglycemia in diabetes patients.
Recently, it is further noted that the use of sugars and sugar substitutes such as artificial sweeteners may worsen the sugar intolerance conditions of Diabetes mellitus in patients (Suez et al., (2014) Nature in press, doi:10.1038/nature13793).
In sum, there is currently no safe drug agent or sugar substitute that can treat type-II DM while still maintaining the supply of normal body energy. Therefore, it is highly desirable to have a novel anti-diabetic composition that is able not only to reduce sugar absorption in intestines but also to provide an alternative energy source to the body.

Use of novel monosaccharide-like glycylated sugar alcohol compositions for designing and developing anti-diabetic drugs


A hydroelectric system for disposal in a continuous flowing water vein includes at least one generator and a housing configured to include a venturi flow restriction for accelerating flow to the generator.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hydroelectric system and, more particularly, to a hydroelectric system which is operably disposed in a river which uses a turbine generator which receives water accelerated past a venturi flow restriction.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Relatively small, non-navigable rivers flow through, or in close proximity to, each and every major U.S. city. A pressure force is exerted at each and every point along such a river. U.S. Geological Survey flow rate data suggest that U.S. rivers flow continuously. For example, the Mad, Stillwater and Great Miami Rivers which flow through Dayton, Ohio, United States of America were studied for design purposes and it was found that there has never been a time over the last eighty-eight years when an appreciable flow was not manifest. These observations imply that such rivers provide a readily-available energy source.
This readily-available energy source has been overlooked because existing methods applied to low flow rates, low head, shallow channel depths and slow flow velocities do not generate substantial amounts of power, nor are they cost effective. Existing methods also posed regulatory concerns, primarily because of their potentially negative affect on fish and other marine life. An additional problem or concern with rivers is their inherent level changes due to rain and in turn flooding which introduces significant debris into the river and can pose potential damage to hydroelectric sources in their flow path.
Thus, there remains a need in the art for hydroelectric system designed for use in relatively small, non-navigable rivers which addresses deficiencies inherent in the prior art.


A pedicure easel is described including a first inverted U-shaped member which is adapted to be placed on a bathroom floor and extended upwardly therefrom. A second U-shaped supporting member is pivotally secured adjacent its forward end to the upper end of the first supporting member and is adapted to have its rearward end extended over the forward lip of a toilet bowl. A supporting foot plate is pivotally secured adjacent its rearward end to the second support member forwardly of the rearward end thereof and has its lower forward end detachably secured to the upper end of the first supporting member. The easel may be selectively folded from the position just described to a flat folded position. The foot plate has a central storage cavity formed therein adapted to receive an accessory tray which may be selectively secured to the opposite side edges of the foot plate during the use thereof.

This invention relates to a pedicure easel and more particularly to a folding pedicure easel.
Many persons find it difficult to perform pedicure operations. The primary difficulty in performing the pedicure operations is the positioning of the foot during the trimming, filing, etc.
Therefore, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a pedicure easel.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a folding pedicure easel.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a pedicure easel which may be secured to a toilet bowl so that the person utilizing the easel may sit upon the toilet lid and position their foot on the easel.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a pedicure easel having an accessory tray associated therewith.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a pedicure easel which properly positions the foot for the pedicure operation.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a pedicure easel which is durable in use, refined in appearance and economical of manufacture.


In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, an information handling system may include a processor and an access controller communicatively coupled to the processor. The access controller may be configured to, when locally coupled to a second information handling system determine if the second information handling system is authorized to perform virtual crash cart operations on the information handling system and, responsive to determining that the second information handling system is authorized to perform virtual crash cart operations on the information handling system, permit the second information handling system to perform virtual crash cart operations on the information handling system whereby the second information handling system implements one or more virtual information handling resources such that each virtual information handling resource behaves at least in part as a physical information handling resource present at the information handling system.

As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to users is information handling systems. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.
Many traditional information handling systems (e.g., servers and enterprise equipment) offer front panel access to various user interface functions (e.g., input/output ports, video ports, interactive display panels, storage media drives, etc.) that allow a set of management features accessible to a user physically interacting with such front panel. These interfaces are often in accordance with well-defined industry standards with defined mechanical and electrical standards that leave little or no ability to improve the amount of physical space they consume.
Additionally, there is an industry trend towards server front ends that are substantially consumed by hard disk drives and/or non-impeded air paths for cooling. This competing desire leads to tradeoffs that may lead to loss of front-panel user interface functionality. In addition, traditional approaches to providing such front panel access often require the use of bulky crash carts comprising a wheeled cart, keyboard, mouse, and display monitor.
Another disadvantage to traditional approaches to front-panel access is that security settings for many access features require set up at the time of deployment and/or remote configuration of such settings. This often leads to cumbersome configuration and management of an information handling system.
Many other disadvantages to traditional approaches to front-panel access may also exist but are not discussed in detail here.

Systems and methods for providing virtual crash cart access to an information handling system


An electronic component device includes a printed wiring board having a side surface terminal portion formed of a recessed groove, filler, and plating conductor. The recessed groove is formed in a side surface, or a corner adjacent to the side surface, of a board and extending from an upper surface to a lower surface. The filler fills the groove and has a plating catalytic function. The plating conductor covers an exposed surface of the filler. A method of manufacturing the electronic component device is also disclosed.

The present invention relates to an electronic component device and, more particularly, to an electronic component device, which has a side surface electrode or terminal portion in a recessed groove formed in a side surface or corner of a printed wiring board to extend from an upper surface to a lower surface, and on which a plurality of electronic component elements are mounted, and a method of manufacturing the same.
In general, as the device size decreases, not only components used by the device but also a printed wiring board on which the components are to be mounted must be downsized. Various improvements have been made to satisfy this requirement.
For example, as a method of mounting a plurality of electronic component elements, e.g., semiconductor elements or chip components, on a mother board, a method of temporarily mounting these plurality of electronic component elements on a printed wiring board (module board) and then mounting the printed wiring board on a mother board is available.
FIGS. 15 and 16 show a conventional printed wiring board manufacturing method and a state wherein a printed wiring board is mounted on a mother board, respectively.
Referring to FIG. 15, a two-sided metal laminated board 1 or so-called a large-sized board has a large outer shape. A large number of (nine in this example for the sake of convenience) printed wiring boards 2 are formed from the metal laminated board 1, and are mounted on a mother board 10, as shown in FIG. 16.
The conventional printed wiring board manufacturing method will briefly be described. A large number of through holes 4 are formed in the metal laminated board 1 by drilling along cutting lines 3 of the printed wiring boards 2 to be formed.
The metal laminated board 1 is plated, and is cut at the cutting lines 3, including the through holes 4, to form individual printed wiring boards 2 on the upper surface (if necessary, the lower surface as well) of the metal laminated board 1. On each printed wiring board 2, circuit conductors 5 and connection lands 6 are formed. The through holes 4 have been plated to form connection grooves 7 (by cutting along the through holes) at side surfaces, or corners adjacent to the side surfaces, of the resultant printed wiring boards, to extend from the upper surface to the lower surface, and to serve as plated side surface electrodes.
Electronic component elements 8 are attached to the connection lands 6 of each printed wiring board 2, formed in this manner, through solder 9. After that, solder 12 is heated to connect the side surface electrodes 7, formed in the side surfaces, or corners adjacent to the side surfaces, of the printed wiring boards 2, to lands 11 of the mother board 10, thereby mounting the printed wiring boards 2 on the mother board 10 such that they are connected to necessary portions on the mother board 10.
In each conventional printed wiring board 2 described above, since the connection grooves 7 serving as the side surface electrodes are hollow, as shown in FIG. 17, when the printed wiring board 2 is to be cut at the cutting lines 3 by press or router machining, a metal portion 7a to be cut may partly electrically deform and peel. The peeled metal portion 7a may form a metal burr 7b and enter the corresponding connection groove 7 which is to serve as a side surface electrode. The metal burr 7b may remain in the connection groove 7, as shown in FIG. 18. As a result, a plating conductor for forming the connection groove 7 of the side surface electrode tends to peel easily from the base material of the printed wiring board 2 due to the metal burr 7b. Then, the adhesion strength becomes short, and the conductor resistance of the connection groove 7 increases, thereby decreasing the reliability of electrical connection.
Since the connection grooves 7 to serve as the side surface electrodes are hollow, it is difficult to mount the electronic component elements 8 directly on the connection grooves 7. For this reason, in order to mount the electronic component elements 8 in other than the connection grooves 7, as shown in FIG. 19, lands 14 for mounting are formed independently of the lands of the connection grooves 7.
Accordingly, a distance L1 between the side surface of the printed wiring board 2 to the far end of the electronic component element 8 increases by a length AL of the corresponding land 14, and consequently the outer size of the printed wiring board 2 increases.
To allow each connection groove 7 to serve as the side surface electrode, a width C of the land (conductor) of the connection groove 7 cannot be decreased more than necessary, and a land diameter D1 of the connection groove 7 becomes larger than the connection hole diameter by twice (2C) the land diameter. Therefore, to decrease a pitch 11 among the connection grooves 7 is limited. As a result, downsizing of the printed wiring board 2 is interfered with.
As described above, since the conventional plated connection groove 7 which is to serve as the side surface electrode is hollow, when the electronic component element 8 is to be mounted in the connection groove 7 and encapsulated with a mold resin or the like, resin leakage occurs from the connection grooves 7, degrading the reliability.
It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention to provide an electronic component device in which the connection reliability of a side surface terminal, formed in the side surface, or in a corner adjacent to the side surface, of a printed wiring board so as to continuously extend from the upper surface to the lower surface of the printed wiring board, is stabilized, and a method of manufacturing the same.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an electronic component device which can be downsized to be smaller than that of the prior art and which can enable high-density mounting of electronic component elements, and a method of manufacturing the same.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an electronic component device which can be efficiently manufactured to improve productivity, and a method of manufacturing the same.
In order to achieve the above objects, according to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an electronic component device comprising a printed wiring board including a side surface terminal portion formed of a recessed groove formed in a side surface, or a corner adjacent to the side surface, of a board and extending from an upper surface to a lower surface, a filler which fills the groove and has a plating catalytic function, and a plating conductor covering an exposed surface of the filler.

Electronic component device and method of manufacturing the same