A process for repairing combined heavy erosion and thermal fatigue cracks and/or other defects, such as large cracks, in a high temperature superalloy component, such as a vane in a turbine section of a gas turbine engine, that does not require mechanical grinding to prepare the defect site. The process includes depositing a loose finely granulated superalloy powder or a low viscosity superalloy slurry in the crack up to a suitable level and then depositing a superalloy putty layer on the superalloy powder or slurry at the top of the crack A braze putty layer is then deposited over the superalloy putty layer and the component is sintered in a vacuum furnace to harden the superalloy putty and powder or slurry to repair the defect.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a technique for repairing defects in a component made of a high temperature superalloy and, more particularly, to a technique for repairing cracks and/or high temperature oxidation/hot corrosion induced material losses in a vane for a turbine section in a gas turbine engine that includes depositing a superalloy powder or slurry in the cracks and then depositing a superalloy putty layer and a braze putty layer over the powder or slurry.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
The world's energy needs continue to rise which provides a demand for reliable, affordable, efficient and environmentally-compatible power generation. A gas turbine engine is one known machine that provides efficient power, and often has application for an electric generator in a power plant, or engines in an aircraft or a ship. A typically gas turbine engine includes a compressor section, a combustion section and a turbine section. The compressor section provides a compressed air flow to the combustion section where the air is mixed with a fuel, such as natural gas, and ignited to create a hot working gas. The working gas expands through the turbine section where it is directed across rows of blades therein by associated vanes. As the working gas passes through the turbine section, it causes the blades to rotate, which in turn causes a shaft to rotate, thereby providing mechanical work.
Gas turbine engines of this type are periodically serviced for maintenance purposes. One of the maintenance operations is to detect erosion, mechanical fatigue and cracking in various turbine parts including high pressure and low pressure vanes in the turbine section of the engine. The hot working gas paths for the first and second rows of vanes in the turbine section is directly from the combustion section of the engine, which frequently causes erosion of the vanes at various locations and triggers thermal mechanical fatigue cracking. This causes the vanes to be reshaped, thus possibly directing the working gas in a non-optimal direction and could cause catastrophic failure. As the consequences of the erosion and cracking damages of the turbine vanes, engine operation efficiency is reduced and operation safety is jeopardized.
Because turbine vanes are made from either Ni or Co based vacuum investment cast grade superalloys, they are very expensive, and thus it is usually desirable to repair the above described erosion and cracking during turbine service instead of replacing the vane. Known processes in the art to repair erosion and cracks in turbine vanes include high temperature vacuum brazing or sintering and different types of fusion welding. Because fusion welding repair can cause base alloy cracking and component distortion issues, preferred repair technologies are vacuum furnace brazing/sintering technologies
Different furnace brazing/sintering technologies have been developed in the art to address defects of different types and sizes. For small size cracks, it is known in the art to employ transient liquid phase (TLP) bonding to repair the cracks. For large size cracks, three different approaches all employing wide gap brazing technologies have been employed in the art. Unlike TLP bonding, which uses an active diffusion braze alloy as a filler material, wide gap brazing or sintering is more complicated. One of the wide gap brazing techniques uses a single mixture of a braze/superalloy powder and organic binder formed as a slurry for large crack repair to reduce the total amount of Si, P or B eutectic phases at the braze layer location. Another wide gap sintering process is known, referred to as pre-sintered preforms (PSP), where braze/alloy mixtures are pre-sintered at certain temperature in a vacuum furnace to form a sheet type of preforms for subsequent component repair usage.
The third type of wide gap brazing technique is very different from the other two methods. Instead of mixing a braze with superalloy powders to form a single mixture filler, the method separately applies a braze material and a superalloy material to construct a two-layer filler structure. In the two-layer repair process, both the braze powder and the superalloy powder are applied in a putty form, where the putty is a mixture of the powder and an organic binder. The layers of the superalloy putty and the braze putty are then sintered in a vacuum furnace that causes the braze material to melt and infiltrate and consolidate the superalloy layer to be hardened. Hardening of the superalloy layer then will be realized through an active element diffusion process. As an extension of the double layer putty/putty method, double layer flexible braze tapes are also made using a similar approach in which more sophisticated organic binders are used for a long shelf life.
The TLP bonding process is typically suitable for repairing cracks with a gap size in the range of 0.05-0.25 mm and the single mixture wide gap repair process can be used to repair cracks with a gap size up to 1.5 mm. However, if the crack gap size is in the 0.3-1.5 mm range, the capillary effect of the crack weakens significantly, where inconsistent braze crack filling, formation of large shrinkage holes and the development of a centerline eutectic phase become difficult issues to overcome. In addition, as the gap size increases, a higher percentage of a brittle eutectic phase with a low re-melt temperature becomes a problem at the braze joint. As a result, TLP and the one mixture wide gap brazing approach are usually considered as cosmetic repairs. The pre-sintered preform method can only be used for a flat surface overlay repair as the PSP sheets are hard and brittle.
Wide gap crack repair techniques using the two-layer repair process have traditionally been preferred for damage sites that are widely open and easily to access. This is because both braze and superalloy powders are inserted into the damage sites in a putty form, where small and deep damage sites present challenges to get the putty within the damage cavities. Typically, it is necessary to open up the small defects through a mechanical grinding operation in order for the two-layer wide gap repair process to be performed where the defect size is increased. The grinding operation also removes component service induced oxides inside the cracks or on the surface of the erosion damage site so as to expose clean base metal for the brazing/sintering operation
The process of mechanical grinding converts small cracks into large cavities especially if the cracks are deep so that the superalloy putty filler material can be easily inserted into the opening formed by the grinding process However, the mechanical grinding process adds complexity and cost to the repair operation, and can significantly weakens the integrity of the original cast structure and increases the total amount of braze alloy required for the repairs. Increasing the total amount of braze alloy at the repair site can reduced the potential of any repeat repairs applicable to the same site. The outcomes are higher repair cost and lower repair quality. As hydrogen fluoride cleaning can effectively remove oxides from the damaged site with minimum negative impact to the base alloy, using mechanical blinding to serve solely for oxide removal is considered as an outdated method.

Plural layer putty-powder/slurry application method for superalloy component crack vacuum furnace healing


An ink-jet printhead chip in which digital image data is submitted to circuitry on a printhead, "mode signals" are periodically loaded into the printhead circuitry along with the image data. The mode signal can determine which of a plurality of subsets of ejectors in the printhead are to be activated at any given time. By iteration or manipulation of these mode signals, various specific print-quality techniques, such as entering a "draft mode" or altering the order of ejector activation across the array, can be carried out.

Ink-jet printers, in which an array of small ejectors are operated by digital data in real time to eject droplets of ink onto a sheet to create an image, are well-known. For high-quality ink-jet printing, certain improvements in the ultimate appearance of a print can be made by detailed manipulation of the timing of the activation of individual ejectors. For example, for a printhead having an array of ejectors arranged in an order 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, activating the ejectors in order may result in droplets emitted from neighboring ejectors splashing against each other, thus resulting in undesirable print defects, such as satellite droplets. Within the short time frame in which a set of ejectors accesses a particular small area on a print sheet it may be more desirable to alter the ejection order along the array, such as an order over time of 1, 5, 2, 6, 3, 7, 4, 8: this order will ensure that an ejector to be activated is a number of ejectors away from the previous ejector that was activated, thus avoiding the splashing problem. Alteration of the specific activation order of ejectors in an array, of which the above is only one example, can be used to increase either throughput speed and/or print quality.
Another possible ink-jet printing method is to make available a "draft mode," in which only a subset of ejectors which would ordinarily be activated to print an image are in fact used. While such a draft mode will of course result in lower print quality, it may have the advantage of consuming less ink. One typical draft mode is "checkerboarding" the ink droplets in what is originally intended to be a full-black area. With checkerboarding, with every pass of ejector activations through the linear array, in one pass only even-numbered ejectors are enabled, while in a subsequent pass, only odd-numbered ejectors are enabled. This alternation of odd and even-numbered ejectors as the printhead moves across the sheet creates this checkerboarding effect.
It is a purpose of the present invention to provide an ink-jet printhead having circuitry thereon, which enables the selection of these and other various print modes. According to the present invention, various modes can be selected by sending certain mode signals to the printhead circuitry along with image data signals.

Ink-jet printhead with on-chip selection of print modes


A wheel spinner for mounting on a rim of a vehicle wheel and enhance ornamental features of a tire. Direct current motors cause rotation of the spinner independently from rotation of the tires. A user operates a remote control for sending a sending to the drive motors to regulate the speed and direction of rotation of the spinner independently from the tire rotation. A cover plate secures the spinner to the rim of the vehicle wheel.

This invention relates to automotive wheel covers, and more particularly to a wheel cover provided with a spinner assembly that rotates at a speed different from the rotating wheel.
Wheel covers and outer surfaces of the wheel are used for providing additional ornamentation to an automobile. For instance, many car wheels are provided with decorative nuts that may have a particular color or lighting capabilities to enhance the ornamental features. The nuts may have a contrasting color or illumination, which is highly visible against the background of an otherwise dark wheel assembly.
Many automobile enthusiasts mount special wheel cover assemblies that have weights secured thereon to prevent rotation of the wheel cover as the automobile wheel rotates. Such covers may have advertising indicia imprinted thereon or special graphics to distinguish the car and attract attention to the advertising. Other known devices use an air current for stabilizing the display portion of the disk of the wheel cover to retain the disk stationary and to allow the display of graphics on the disk. Still others provide illumination assemblies that are mounted on the side of the wheels to enhance the aesthetic effect of a rotating tire and make it highly visible during nighttime. Still other known modifications include the use of decorative attachments for the tire rims that are painted with reflective paint to enhance visibility of the automobile and provide an additional ornamental feature to the vehicle.
Most of the known devices are attached to the wheel to rotate at the same speed as the wheel while enhancing the decorative features of the wheel. The present invention contemplates provision of a wheel spinner assembly that is adapted for mounting on a conventional tire rim and is adapted for rotation at speeds and directions of rotation different from the speed and direction of rotation of the vehicle wheel.


An electric actuator has a housing with an electric motor mounted on the housing (2). A ball screw mechanism converts rotational motion of the electric motor to an axial linear motion of a drive shaft. A side-cover (13) is detachably mounted to the housing (2). A guide member (14) is mounted on the inner wall of the side-cover (13). The guide member (14) has a substantially “C”-shaped cross-section and includes a recessed groove (14a) axially extending opposite to the drive shaft (7). A rotation-preventing pin (9), mounted on the outer circumference of the threaded screw shaft (15), engages with the guide member (14) to support the threaded screw shaft (15) so that it can be axially moved relative to the housing (2) but cannot be rotated.

Generally, gear mechanisms, such as a trapezoidal thread worm gear mechanism, or a rack and pinion gear mechanism are used as the mechanism to convert rotary motion of an electric motor to an axial linear motion in an electric actuator used in various types of driving sections. These motion converting mechanisms involve sliding contact portions and thus power loss. Accordingly, they are obliged to increase the size of the electric motors and power consumption. Accordingly, the ball screw mechanisms have been widely adopted as more efficient actuators.
In general, in electric actuators with a ball screw mechanism where a nut is contained in a housing of the electric actuator, it is necessary to provide a groove to prevent rotation of the nut. Alternatively, the inner circumference of the housing includes a profiled configuration (non cylindrical configuration) in order to prevent rotation of the nut. However, since it is difficult to machine an elongate housing with the groove or profiled configuration, the whole length of the housing should be limited. Thus, it is impossible to obtain a long stroke of the actuator. The groove or profiled configuration may be formed by a method other than machining such as by a molding method using dies. However, the molding method is complicated and leads to an increase of the manufacturing cost. In addition, the nut should have a projection to engage the groove if the groove is formed on the inner circumference of the housing. Thus, this also increases the manufacturing cost of the nut. Furthermore, both the inner circumference of the housing and the nut has complicated configurations and thus increase the configuration of the actuator.
To solve these problems, an electric actuator is known and shown in FIG. 6. The electric actuator has a housing 51, a threaded screw shaft 56, a nut 51, a plurality of balls 57 and a guide member 63. The threaded screw shaft 56 is formed with an external thread 56a. The nut 53 is formed with an internal thread 53a on its inner circumference to engage the threaded screw shaft 56 so as to be axially moved. The plurality of balls 57 are rollably arranged along a rolling passage formed between the opposite threads 56a and 53a. The guide member 63 includes a guiding portion 63a, extending along the inner circumference of the housing 51, and an engaging portion 63b, engaging the housing 51.
The housing 51 has a main body 51a with a substantially hollow configuration. A cup-shaped cover member 51b is secured to the main body 51 to close the end of the main body 51a. A cylindrical output shaft 52, forming a driven member, and a nut 53, connected to the output shaft 52, are contained in the main body 51a. They have a cylindrical inner circumference. The left-hand end of the output shaft 52 projects from the main body 51a of the housing 51. The right-hand end of the output shaft 52 is formed with a blind bore 52a. The outer circumference of the output shaft 52 is slidably supported relative to the main body 51a by a bushing 54. A sealing member 55, arranged adjacent to the bushing 54, seals a gap between the output shaft 52 and the main body 51a to prevent entry of dust from the outside.
The threaded screw shaft 56 passes through the nut 53 and extends freely movably into the blind bore 52a of the output shaft 52. The nut 53 is arranged around the threaded screw shaft 56. The nut 53 has an axially extending groove 53b at the bottom of its outer circumference. Also, the nut 53 includes a tube-type ball circulating member. The ball screw mechanism is formed by the nut 53, the threaded screw shaft 56, balls 57 and the guide member 63.
The threaded screw shaft 56 is rotationally supported by a ball bearing 59 arranged at the end of the main body 51a, via a bearing spacer 58. An outer ring of the ball bearing 59 is secured on the bearing spacer 58 by a securing member 60. An inner ring of the ball bearing 59 is secured on the threaded screw shaft 56 by a securing ring 61. Accordingly, the threaded screw shaft 56 is supported so that it is only able to rotate and not able to move axially. A gear 62 is integrally connected to the right-end of the threaded screw shaft 56 via a serration connection.
The guide member 63 is press-formed from a metal sheet. The guide member 63 has the straight guiding portion 63a and the engaging portion 63b. The straight guiding portion 63a is adapted to engage the groove 53b of the nut 53. The engaging portion 63b is bent perpendicularly to the guiding portion 63a. In addition, the right-hand end of the main body 51a of the housing 51 is formed with a recessed groove 51c to receive the engaging portion 63b. The engaging portion 63b has substantially the same width as that of the recessed groove 51c that it engages (see FIG. 7). The surface of the guiding portion 63a is coated by manganese phosphate salt or zinc phosphate.
When an operator turns the switch "ON", a motor (not shown) is actuated and rotational power is transmitted to the nut 53. Accordingly, the threaded screw shaft 56 is rotated. The nut 53 is smoothly guided only in the axial direction by the guide member 63. The guide member 63 exhibits the rotation-preventing function. The rotational motion of the threaded screw shaft 56 can be efficiently converted to linear motion of the nut 53. Thus, the output shaft 52 to which the nut 53 is connected can be moved in the axial direction.
The electric actuator can be assembled first by inserting the guide member 63 into the main body 51a of the housing 51. The bushing 54 is assembled from the right-hand end of the main body 51a. The bent engaging portion 63b then engages the recessed portion 51c of the main body 51a. Such a structure enables easy mounting the guide member 63 to the main body 51a without using any special tool. The nut 53 and the output shaft 52 can be inserted into the main body 51a by engaging the guiding portion 63a via the groove 53b. The other parts, such as the threaded screw shaft 56, ball bearing 59 etc. can be orderly assembled.
The tip end of the guiding portion 63a engages a notch 54a of the bushing 54. Thus, both ends of the guide member 63 are firmly secured to the main body 51a. Accordingly, torsion of the guide member 63 can be effectively prevented even though the guiding portion 63a is long. Thus, the rotation-preventing function of the guide member 63 can be effectively exhibited (see, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 232338/2008).
According to the prior art electric actuator, the rotation-preventing function can be achieved by engaging the guiding portion 63a with the groove 53b formed on the outer circumference of the nut 53 and by engaging the tip end of the guiding portion 63a with the notch 54a of the bushing 54. This increases the number of parts, assembling steps and the degree of complication. Also, it requires surface properties, such as hardness, surface roughness etc., to be sufficient to stand the sliding motion between the output shaft 52, nut 53 and guiding portion 63a. Accordingly, this increases the manufacturing cost of the electric actuator.


Occurrence of mechanical noise and tape damage due to operation of a pinch roller is avoided when the system is switched from the tape playback mode to the radio mode or vice versa. On playback of the tape, an interrupt signal 33 from a microcomputer 34 is low. Transistors 28 and 13 are thus turned on. A drive motor 14 in the tape deck 11 is energized by power from a (+B) terminal 45. When the cassette tape is loaded into the tape deck, a plunger 15 is energized directly by power from a (TAPE+B) terminal 12. Thus, a pinch roller 41 in a head drive mechanism 16 is brought into contact with the tape 43. If the microcomputer 34 detects any interrupt signal such as traffic or emergency information signals multiplexed with FM broadcasting waves, it changes the interrupt signal to high so that the transistors 28 and 13 are turned off. Therefore, the drive motor 14 is de-energized, but the power continues to be supplied to the plunger 15. Consequently, the pinch roller 41 and the tape 43 will be maintained in contact with each other and will not influenced by the switching between the tape and radio modes.

1. Field of the Invention:
The present invention relates to a radio receiver and particularly to a radio receiver containing a cassette tape deck therein.
2. Description of the Related Art:
Many car or domestic radio receivers include a cassette tape deck contained therein so that a user can easily play back cassette tapes in addition to radio broadcastings. Recently, multi-functional radio receivers have been developed. For example, a radio receiving system has been now developed which has a radio broadcasting interrupt function for offering a radio broadcast announcing traffic or emergency information during the playing-back of a tape, if necessary. This is accomplished by transmitting broadcasting waves containing an interrupt signal which is multiplexed with general broadcasting waves and by receiving and demodulating them into the desired radio broadcast, in accordance with an FM multiplex broadcasting technique such as RDS.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the primary parts of a radio receiver with a tape deck which is constructed in accordance with the related art. The radio receiver comprises a tape deck 11 which is adapted to detect the insertion of a cassette tape (not shown) thereinto and to be actuated by electric power supplied from a (TAPE+B) terminal 12 to the tape deck 11 through a transistor 13. The collector of the transistor 13 is connected with a drive motor 14 and plunger 15 in the tape deck 11. The plunger 15 is connected with a head drive mechanism 16 which in turn is connected with a head 17. On powering on, a head holding latch (not shown) in the head drive mechanism 16 is actuated to hold the head 17 in contact with the tape. Playback signals outputted from the head 17 are fed to a radio/tape output switching circuit 22 through an equalizer circuit 21 and then outputted from a speaker 24 through an amplifying circuit 23.
The emitter of the transistor 13 is connected with the (TAPE+B) terminal 12 through a drive resistor 26 while the base thereof is connected to the emitter through a resistor 29 and also to the collector of a transistor 28 through a drive resistor 27.
The emitter of the transistor 28 is grounded with the base thereof being grounded through a resistor 31. The base of the transistor 28 is also connected with the interrupt signal output terminal of a microcomputer 34. The interrupt signal outputted from the interrupt signal output terminal is a negative logic (active "L") signal which is inputted to the base of the transistor 28 and also to the radio/tape output switching circuit 22. The radio/tape output switching circuit 22 selects either the cassette tape signal or the radio reception signal, depending on the logical level of the interrupt signal 33.
In the apparatus, the radio receiver further comprises a radio receiving circuit 37 which includes various conventional circuits such as a high-frequency amplifier, a local oscillator, a mixer, an intermediate frequency amplifier, a detector, a noise killer, a multiplexer and so on. The radio receiving circuit 37 provides radio waves containing FM broadcast signals and the like received by an antenna 38 to the radio/tape output switching circuit 22 and at the same time feeds data multiplexed with the FM broadcast signals to a data demodulating circuit 39. The data demodulating circuit 39 demodulates the data, the demodulated data being outputted therefrom to the microcomputer 34.
On operation, the electric power is applied to the transistor 13 through the (TAPE+B) terminal 12 when a cassette tape is inserted into the tape deck 11 through its tape inlet (not shown). Since at this time, the active "L" interrupt signal 33 from the microcomputer 34 is in a "H" state in the tape signal prefered mode, the transistors 28 and 13 are also turned on to energize the drive motor and plunger 14, 15. At the same time as the drive motor 14 is actuated, the head holding latch of the head drive mechanism 16 is actuated to bring the head 17 into contact with the tape. Tape voice signals read out from the cassette tape are supplied to the radio/tape output switching circuit 22 through the equalizer circuit 21.
When the radio/tape output switching circuit 22 senses the tape voice preferential mode "H" in the interrupt signal 33, the circuit 22 selects the tape voice signals from the equalizer circuit 21 which in turn are outputted therefrom to the amplifying circuit 23 to drive the speaker 24.
If the traffic or emergency information signals multiplexed with the FM broadcasting signals are received during such a playback of tape voice signals, these multiplexed signals are demodulated by the data demodulating circuit 39 after being received by the radio receiving circuit 37 through the antenna 38. The demodulated signals are received by the microcomputer 34 which in turn changes the interrupt signal 33 from "H" to "L". Thus, the transistors 28 and 13 are turned off to shut off the power to the drive motor and plunger 14, 15. At the same time as the drive motor 14 is stopped, the head drive mechanism 16 is unlatched to move the head 17 away from the tape.
As the interrupt signal 33 is changed to "L", the system is switched from the tape voice prefered mode to the radio voice prefered mode. In other words, the radio/tape output switching circuit 22 selects the radio receiving circuit 37 to cause the received traffic or emergency information signals to be output through the speaker.
On termination of the transmission of traffic or emergency information signals, this is sensed by the microcomputer 34 which changes the interrupt signal 33 back to "H" so that the tape voice prefered mode will be selected.
FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the relationship between tape, capstan and pinch roller in the tape desk 11. In the tape voice prefered mode, the head holding latch of the head drive mechanism 16 (FIG. 1) is held by the plunger 15 (FIG. 1) such that the tape 43 is nipped between the pinch roller 41 and the capstan 42, as shown in FIG. 3. This will be referred to as the "pinching-on state".
In the radio voice prefered mode, the tape 43 is released between the pinch roller 41 and the capstan 42 as shown in FIG. 4 since the plunger 15 is deenergized. This will be referred to as the "pinching-off state".
In the related art radio receiver with the tape deck, thus, both the drive motor and plunger 14, 15 are deenergized when the system is shifted to the radio voice prefered mode due to the interrupt caused by traffic or emergency information signals. If the traffic or emergency information signals are unstably received by the radio receiver in a bad radio wave reception area such as between mountains, the interrupt signal 33 from the microcomputer 34 will be frequently changed from "H" to "L" or vice versa. Thus, the plunger 15 will be frequently energized and deenergized. This results in frequent repetition of the pinching-on and pinching-off states. As a result, mechanical noise will be undesirably generated and the tape will eventually be damaged.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved radio receiver with tape deck which can prevent the occurrence of undesirable mechanical noise and also tape damage due to the frequent switching between the radio and tape prefered modes.

Radio receiver with tape deck having interrupt capability


The invention relates to a compressive system for reducing edge bleeding in classical hysterotomy in cases of placenta praevia, said system comprising: a compressive device formed by two compressive bars and bracketing members; and a clamp for applying the compressive device, said clamp comprising two handles, two jaws, a rotation nut, two protuberances and a threaded adjustment nut. The clamp allows the opening of the compressive bars. The device is applied to the edges of the hysterotomy and, subsequently, the clamp is withdrawn.

There is not a specific tool that compresses the edges that are generated by a classical hysterotomy during a cesarean practiced due to placenta praevia. Although there is a clamp called Allis clamp (see FIG. 1), the latter has an oppressive part that is very small, which occludes an equally small section of the edges of the hysterotomy, in this place there are blood vessels that have a large diameter, leaving them only partially occluded; also because the hysterotomy edges are too thick, the pressure exerted by the Allis clamp is limited. Also, this clamp is too long and is technically difficult to suture the edges of the hysterotomy and also requires an exaggerated number of clamps in this type of surgery.

Compressive system for reducing edge bleeding in classical hysterotomy in cases of placenta praevia


A method for managing commerce contexts between a direct commerce context and a temporary commerce context in a client session. Commerce context parameters are associated with the direct and temporary commerce contexts. The commerce context associated with a client request is determined according to the commerce context parameters associated with the client request.

Modern Internet and web applications commonly require information about the user and user's activities to be maintained across multiple requests. For example, in a typical online store, the user is provided with a browseable catalog from which items can be selected and added to a shopping cart. Once the user has added all the desired items to the shopping cart, the user may proceed to the checkout where an order for the items contained in the shopping cart may be placed. To accomplish this process, multiple client requests are required and the information from each request must be maintained across requests.
A hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) is used to access many resources on the Internet. However, HTTP is a stateless protocol that defines the format of requests and corresponding responses but does not currently define a mechanism for maintaining state information. In a typical request, an HTTP user or client opens a connection with a server and requests some information or a resource. The server responds with the requested resource, if available, or an HTTP error status page. After the server's response, the connection is closed and the server does not maintain any information about the client. Any subsequent request by the client is considered a fresh request with no relation to the previous request.
Several approaches have been developed to maintain user information across requests and responses. These approaches use the notions of sessions and states. A session is a series of HTTP requests originating from the same client in the same browser instance or "working session." State refers to information relating to the previous requests and other business decisions that may be made in relation to these requests. Utilizing these approaches, an Internet or web application should be able to associate a state with each session. Two common methods of session management are cookies and Universal Resource Locator (URL) rewriting. Cookies and URL rewriting are known in the art. Other session management strategies are also known in the art. Generally, session management strategies use an associated session area to store information about the user session.
Many modern Internet and web applications are modular in design. Modularity allows different aspects of an application to be developed independently from one another. The Model-View-Controller (MVC) design pattern is a common design paradigm used in developing modular applications. The MVC design pattern is known in the art.
In many Internet and web applications, a user will typically have to navigate through a number of organizations. These organizations may be located in different domains. For example, in an electronic marketplace or e-marketplace environment, a buyer in a supply channel may move between a manufacturer or supplier and distributors or resellers. Each of these organizations is referred to as a store. Each store will typically have its own commerce context, for example, a store context. Thus, when navigating between stores, it is necessary to manage the switch between store contexts. A simple shopping flow illustrates this problem.
A typical shopping scenario for a supply channel may involve the following steps:
(1) A buyer visits the channel store main page;
(2) Browses through the catalog;
(3) Places an order for a product;
(4) Receives a confirmation for the order;
(5) Continues browsing for other products.
The process steps described above may be given the following names:
Step (1)—StoreFrontDisplay
Step (2)—ProductDisplay
Step (3)—OrderProcess
Step (4)—OrderDisplay
Step (5)—ProductDisplay
In this shopping scenario, the buyer moves back and forth between the channel and a supplier store. In step (1), the StoreFrontDisplay displays the main page of the channel store. In step (2), ProductDisplay involves retrieving the product(s) from the catalog of the channel store and rendering the product description(s). In step (3), OrderProcess involves placing the order in the supplier store. In step (4), OrderDisplay retrieves the order and displays the order. This step can be performed in the channel store or the supplier store. In step (5) ProductDisplay, the buyer is in channel store browsing products from the catalog.
To create a smooth shopping experience, there needs to be a way to manage the switch between these store contexts. Several methods of managing store contexts are known in the art. One method involves creating a store identifier or store ID for each store, and appending the store ID as a parameter in each of the URLs that are called. The URLs would look something like this for the process steps described above:
Step (1) . . . /StoreFrontDisplay?StoreID=c_store1
Step (2) . . . /ProductDisplay?StoreID=c_store1&ProductID= . . .
Step (3) . . . /OrderProcess?StoreID=s_store2 . . .
Step (4) . . . /OrderDisplay?StoreID=s_store2
Step (5) . . . /ProductDisplay?StoreID=c_store1&ProductID= . . .
where c_store1 is the store ID for the channel store and s_store2 is the store ID for the supplier store.
A disadvantage of this approach is that it requires web designers to hard code the store ID into URLs used in the Internet or web application. This additional complexity further complicates modular application design. For example, hard coding URLs in an MVC application may affect the design of each of the model, view, and controller components.
In view of these shortcomings, there exists a need for another method of managing commerce contexts.

International Business Machines Corporation


Polysaccharide based thermosetting systems and compositions which utilize such thermosets are disclosed. The composition comprises a polysaccharide having a weight average molecule weight of at least 10,000 and a polycarboxylated polymer having at least two carboxylic acid functional groups and a weight average molecular weight of at least 1,000.

Synthetic polymers are used in a wide variety of applications. In many applications, these synthetic polymers are crosslinked in order to achieve the required performance properties. For over sixty (60) years, a large class of commercially important thermoset polymers has utilized formaldehyde-based crosslinking agents. Such crosslinking agents based on formaldehyde traditionally have provided an efficient and cost-effective means of curing a wide variety of materials. Examples of formaldehyde-based crosslinking agents include melamine-formaldehyde, urea-formaldehyde, phenol-formaldehyde and acrylamide-formaldehyde adducts. With growing toxicity and environmental concerns, there has been an ongoing search to replace formaldehyde-based crosslinking systems. However, these alternative systems have suffered from significant deficiencies including low or slow cure, requiring end users to change their commercial high speed application equipment, and emission of toxic components or volatile organic compounds other than formaldehyde.
A particularly attractive crosslinking reaction involves the esterification of a carboxylic acid functional polymer with a hydroxyl functional molecule. This is an attractive reaction since water is the only product of the crosslinking reaction. In EP 583 086 A1, for example, small molecule polyol or alkanolamine crosslinkers are cited as crosslinkers for carboxyl-functional polymers. However, this reaction is difficult to conduct effectively since it is slow under conventional time and temperature conditions of cure.
Outside of the investigations surrounding non-formaldehyde crosslinking agents, graft copolymers of starch and acrylic acid have been described in the literature. Graft copolymers of starch and acrylic acid have been used as water absorbing agents. Also, starch-stabilized binder compositions containing starch-polymer grafts derived from low molecular weight starch hydrolyzates have been described.
To address the need for a formaldehyde-free crosslinking system, we have found unexpectedly that selected polysaccharides in combination with selected polycarboxylated polymers provide a safe and facile crosslinking system, as described herein below.

National Starch and Chemical Investment Holding Corporation


A laser processing system can be utilized to produce high-performance interdigitated back contact (IBC) solar cells. The laser processing system can be utilized to ablate, transfer material, and/or laser-dope or laser fire contacts. Laser ablation can be utilized to remove and pattern openings in a passivated or emitter layer. Laser transferring may then be utilized to transfer dopant and/or contact materials to the patterned openings, thereby forming an interdigitated finger pattern. The laser processing system may also be utilized to plate a conductive material on top of the transferred dopant or contact materials.

A desirable solar cell geometry referred to as an interdigitated back contact (IBC) cell comprises a semiconductor wafer and alternating lines (interdigitated stripes) of regions with p-type and n-type doping. This cell geometry has the advantage of eliminating shading losses altogether by putting both contacts on one side of the wafer. Further, contacts are easier to interconnect with both contacts on the rear. A laser-transfer process developed by Mei et al. at Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) is discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,871,826 entitled "Proximity Laser Doping Technique for Electronic Materials" was issued on Feb. 16, 1999. The patent describes a method of altering the electrical characteristics of a material through a laser ablation process, which can achieve high doping levels and shallow junctions at low temperatures. The invention utilizes a rapid interaction between a laser and a non-transparent thin source film deposited on a transparent plate (typically glass or quartz), which is placed in close proximity (typically about several microns) to a substrate. A process is described where a laser, such as a YAG laser, with a pulse duration of typically about 50 ns can be used to form a semiconductor junction with a depth of about 0.1 μm by using from 16 to 400 shots at a laser energy density ranging from 150 to 450 mJ/cm2. This proximity laser ablation technique can be used to deposit thin films over a large area substrate at low temperature, and one may also use a mask to block off the laser energy in areas where deposition is not desirable.
More recently, Roder et al. (Proc. of the 35th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, pp. 3597-3599, (2010)) at the University of Stuttgart used a similar process, which they called "Laser Transferred Contacts" (LTC) or "Laser Induced Forward Transfer" (LIFT) to laser transfer a thin layer of Ni through a silicon nitride antireflection coating to form a contact to a laser-doped selective emitter region. The laser-transferred Ni contact was then electroplated with 3 μm of Ni, and then plating continued with Cu to increase the conductivity of the fingers. With this technique, a 17.4% efficient silicon solar cell was fabricated with 30 μm wide finger contacts.
Scientists at the University of Stuttgart (Hoffmann et al., Proc. of the 38th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, pp. 1059-1062 (2012)) also demonstrated a self-doping laser transferred contact process where Sb contacts were laser transferred through a silicon nitride antireflection coating to provide a self-aligned n-type selective emitter and simultaneously formed the contacts to the front side of the solar cell. The antimony doped contacts were used as a seed layer for subsequent nickel and copper plating, and were able to produce a fine line front metallization with a finger width of 20 μm and contact resistivity as low as 30 μΩ-cm2 on a 110 Ω/sq. emitter. A green (532 nm) Nd:YAG laser was used with a pulse duration of 30 ns, as well as a green Nd:YVO4 laser with a pulse duration of 6 ns, in conjunction with an optical system that shaped the beam into a line focus in order to minimize defect creation during the recrystallization of the Si. Contact lines with widths of ˜7 μm were obtained, and Ni/Cu electroplating was used to increase the conductivity of the fingers. Solar cells with efficiencies as high as 17.5% were demonstrated.
Presently, Si solar cells with the highest efficiency are those based on combining an interdigitated all back contact structure with silicon heterojunction contacts. Panasonic recently reported obtaining a record conversion efficiency of 25.6% with such a device structure (Masuko et al., 40th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, Jun. 8-13, 2014, Denver, Colo.). At the same conference, Sharp reported obtaining an efficiency of 25.1% with a similar device structure (Nakamura et al., 40th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, Jun. 8-13, 2014, Denver, Colo.), and SunPower obtained an efficiency of 25.0% with an interdigitated back contact (IBC) silicon solar cell made using conventional diffusion processes (Smith et al., 40th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, Jun. 8-13, 2014, Denver, Colo.). While the processing of these high efficiency IBC solar cells were not discussed in any detail, the manufacturing costs are likely to be relatively high since the processing in each case appears to be somewhat complicated with various masking and vacuum processing steps required.
Laser processing has also been used to fabricate relatively high efficiency silicon solar cells. Benick et al. (40th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, Jun. 8-13, 2014, Denver, Colo.) obtained conversion efficiencies as high as 23.2% in a PERL (Passivated Emitter and Rear Locally-diffused) solar cell structure by laser doping localized rear contacts. In this process, a rear surface passivation layer consisting of a phosphorus-doped amorphous silicon carbide (a-SiCx:P) as the doping source was utilized. The front surface emitter was formed by boron diffusion, and the front side contacts were formed using photolithography and evaporating a seed layer of Ti/Pd/Ag and then plating with Ag.
Dahlinger et al. (Energy Procedia 38, 250-253 (2013)) used laser doping to fabricate an interdigitated back contact silicon solar cell with an efficiency of 22.0%. A frequency doubled (532 nm) Nd:YAG-laser with a line shaped beam (<10 μm wide) and a pulse duration of ˜50 ns was used. A thin boron precursor layer was sputtered on the rear side of the wafer, and then a laser doped p+ emitter pattern was formed. After wet chemical cleaning, a lightly phosphorus doped region was formed on both sides of the wafer using POCl3 furnace diffusion. Another laser doping process (utilizing the phosphosilicate glass grown during the POCl3 diffusion as the doping source) was used to create the n+ pattern on the rear side of the wafer. Thermal oxidation was used to drive in the diffused regions and to passivate the surface, and a plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposited (PECVD) silicon nitride was used to form an anti-reflection coating on the front side and also an infrared reflection coating on the rear side of the wafer.
Hofmann et al. (Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications; 16 509-518 (2008)) fabricated 21.7% Si solar cells used laser firing of Al through a rear surface passivation stack of amorphous silicon and PECVD silicon oxide to form localized p+ contacts. The front surface emitter was formed using phosphorus diffusion at elevated temperatures, and a thermally oxidized anti-reflection coating was used that also served as front passivation layer. The front contacts were formed by evaporating a TiPdAg finger pattern.
While it is clear that laser processing can be used to make relatively efficient silicon solar cells, the processing used to date is somewhat complicated and in all cases uses some high temperature processing along with vacuum processing. High temperature processing can create defects in the silicon wafer, which can limit solar cell performance, and vacuum processing requires relatively expensive vacuum equipment, which can limit throughput and add to the manufacturing costs.


A method and apparatus for conserving power of a mixed-signal system-on-a-chip having analog circuitry, involving determination of an analog variation parameter that is representative of an integrated circuit fabrication process variance of the integrated circuit, and an operational temperature associated with the analog variation parameter. With the analog variation parameter and the operational temperature, an adjustment signal is determined for a power supply level of the integrated circuit, such that power consumption of the integrated circuit is optimized. Further, in mixed-signal integrated circuits with digital and analog circuitry, a digital variation parameter is determined, where the adjustment signal determination is based on the digital variation parameter and the analog variation parameter with respect to the operational temperature. With such a method and apparatus, power consumption is optimized on an IC-by-IC basis such that power consumption of each IC is optimized.

As is known, integrated circuits are used in a wide variety of electronic equipment, including portable, or handheld, devices. Such handheld devices include personal digital assistants (PDA), CD players, MP3 players, DVD players, AM/FM radio, a pager, cellular telephones, computer memory extension (commonly referred to as a thumb drive), etc. These handheld devices include one or more integrated circuits to provide the functionality of the device. For example, a thumb drive may include an integrated circuit for interfacing with a computer (for example, personal computer, laptop, server, workstation, etc.) via one of the ports of the computer (for example, Universal Serial Bus, parallel port, etc.) and at least one other memory integrated circuit (for example, flash memory). As such, when the thumb drive is coupled to a computer, data can be read from and written to the memory of the thumb drive. Accordingly, a user may store personalized information (for example, presentations, Internet access account information, etc.) on his/her thumb drive and use any computer to access the information.
As another example, an MP3 player may include multiple integrated circuits to support the storage and playback of digitally formatted audio (that is, formatted in accordance with the MP3 specification). As is known, one integrated circuit may be used for interfacing with a computer, another integrated circuit for generating a power supply voltage, another for processing the storage and/or playback of the digitally formatted audio data, and still another for rendering the playback of the digitally formatted audio.
Integrated circuit technology has led to a plethora of handheld devices; however, to be "wired" in today's electronic world, multiple handheld devices would be needed. For example, one may own a cellular telephone for cellular telephone service, a PDA for scheduling, address book, etc., one or more thumb drives for extended memory functionality, an MP3 player for storage and/or playback of digitally recorded music, a radio, etc. Thus, even though a single handheld device may be relatively small, carrying multiple handheld devices on one's person can become quite burdensome.
Such handheld devices use a battery (or batteries) to supply power to the circuitry of the device. The greater the circuit power consumption, the shorter the battery life (that is, the length of time a device can be operated before having to replace or charge the battery).
With the goal of extending battery lifespan for portable devices, various techniques had been used. One technique has been to turn off circuitry that is not needed to support the present function and to put the device in a "sleep" mode when the entire device is not in use.
Another technique is related to improvements in integrated circuit fabrication that allows for smaller devices to be developed and to be operated at lower voltages, thus consuming less power. For example, 0.18 micron Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor ("CMOS") integrated circuit technology is currently the most accepted process, which uses supply voltages of 1.8 volts. Several years ago, however, 0.35 micron and 0.50 micron CMOS integrated circuit technologies were the prevalent processes, which could use supply voltages of about 3.3 volts. In the near future, 0.10 and 0.13 micron CMOS integrated circuit technology will likely become the technology of choice because of lower supply voltages of about 1.0 volts.
While these design techniques worked to reduce power consumption generally, they had been designed assuming the worst-case operation of an integrated circuit. As such, integrated circuit circuits would be consuming more power than needed because the power reducing techniques were under a worst-case assumption and not individually optimized on a chip-by-chip basis.
Generally, digital components and analog components are operated under different processes, techniques, or parameters for their desired functional results. Because digital component operation is based on clock speed, and analog component operation is based on bias factors such as threshold voltage, different operational parameters or conditions may be more favorable for one over the other. For example, lower operational temperatures raise the threshold voltage level for analog components, affecting signal performance, while favorable for digital component operation. Conversely, higher operational temperatures lower the threshold voltage level for analog components, while slowing digital gate response for digital components. Accordingly, power consumption considerations for each type of component would differ.
Therefore, a need exists for an integrated circuit that provides multiple functions through mixed-signal operation and architectures for handheld devices with appropriate optimized power-consumption and with a minimal requirement of external components.

Power optimization of a mixed-signal system on an integrated circuit


In one embodiment, a method comprises: detecting, by a constrained network device in a low power and lossy network, a loss of synchronization with a neighboring network device based on a determined absence of a prescribed transmission activity by the neighboring network device within a prescribed listening interval that is limited to a prescribed guard time according to a wireless time-slotted transmission protocol; and executing, by the constrained network device, localized sync recovery based on shifting a next listening interval to a shifted listening interval based on selectively shifting, based on a selected shift amount, the prescribed guard time of a corresponding next instance of the prescribed listening interval, enabling the constrained network device to recover synchronization with the neighboring network device based on detecting the prescribed transmission activity that is outside the prescribed listening interval and within the shifted listening interval.

This section describes approaches that could be employed, but are not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or employed. Hence, unless explicitly specified otherwise, any approaches described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application, and any approaches described in this section are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
Large-scale low power and lossy networks (LLNs) rely on reliable time synchronization between wireless resource-constrained (e.g., low-power) network devices (also referred to herein as Low Power and Lossy Network (LLN) devices). For example, LLNs allow a large number (e.g., tens of thousands) of resource-constrained devices to be interconnected to form a wireless mesh network, based on deployment using wireless link layer protocols such as IEEE 802.15.4e Time Slotted Channel Hopping (TSCH) over Internet Protocol version 6(IPv6), also referred to as "6TiSCH"; such large-scale LLNs can be used for deployment of, for example, a connected grid mesh (CG-mesh) network advanced metering infrastructure (AMI).
LLN devices suffer from the problem of encountering difficulty in maintaining synchronization with neighboring LLN devices, hence the loss of synchronization can cause a "lost" LLN device to initiate a "restart" or "reboot" operation to attempt resynchronizing with a neighboring LLN device: hence, an entire subtree of the LLN may be lost during the "restart" operation of the "lost" LLN device acting as parent of the subtree; moreover, since neighboring LLN devices can have a relatively long sleep interval (e.g., hours or days), use of a randomized search in the "reboot" may cause the "lost" LLN device to continue its resynchronization for days or weeks before resynchronizing with the LLN.

Fast sync recovery in a wireless time-slotted low power and lossy network based on localized search using successively-shifted guard time


A well system can include an accumulator in communication with a wellbore, whereby the accumulator applies pressure to the wellbore. A method of maintaining a desired pressure in a wellbore can include applying pressure to the wellbore from an accumulator in response to pressure in the wellbore being less than the desired pressure. Another well system can include a dampener in communication with a wellbore isolated from atmosphere, whereby the dampener mitigates pressure spikes in the wellbore.

The present disclosure relates generally to equipment utilized and operations performed in conjunction with a subterranean well and, in an embodiment described herein, more particularly provides for wellbore pressure control with optimized pressure drilling.
It is important in drilling operations to control wellbore pressure. Excessive wellbore pressure can cause undesired fracturing of an earth formation penetrated by a wellbore being drilled, breakdown of casing shoes, and loss of valuable drilling fluids. Insufficient wellbore pressure can cause formation fluids to flow into the wellbore, and can cause wellbore instability.
Therefore, it will be appreciated that improvements are continually needed in the art of wellbore pressure control.

Wellbore pressure control with optimized pressure drilling


A disk file includes an expansion ring attached to the wall of the hub and which is located between the lowermost disk of the disk stack and the hub flange. A circular ridge concentric with the hub is formed on the ring and engages the underside of the disk. The ring is adapted so that the thermal expansion of the ring is substantially equal to that of the aluminum disk at the position of contact between the two. A washer interposed between ring and flange allows the ring to move freely relative to the flange. During thermal cycling, the ring and disk move at the same rate at the point of contact, the ring ensuring that the disks remain concentric with the hub throughout the range of disk file operating temperatures.

The trend in disk file design is constantly towards higher track densities allowing a greater amount of information to be recorded on a single disk. In a common type of disk file, a number of disks are arranged in a stack with spacers in between each disk. This stack of disks is then supported on a surface e.g. a shelf extending radially from the hub for rotation about an axis passing through the spindle of the disk motor. An axial force is applied to clamp the disk stack in position. In such disk drives, it is important to ensure that once information has been written to each of the disks or to a dedicated servo disk, there is minimal or no shift of the disks out of concentricity with the axis of rotation.
In disk files where the disks and the portion of the hub supporting the disks are made of materials having different coefficients of thermal expansion, the different expansions during thermal cycling cause large forces to be generated at the hub to disk interface. When the thermal expansion forces become large, the friction force generated by the clamp load is insufficient to restrain the expansion forces and the disks can shift radially. This movement is usually unpredictable in magnitude and direction and can cause the disks to move off the axis of rotation. The resultant track eccentricity may lead to data already on the disk becoming irretrievable.
There have been several attempts described in the art directed to solving this problem.
GB 2 163 525 describes a washer made from MYLAR (registered trade mark) located between the lowermost disk and the hub flange (the flange and the disc having different coefficients of thermal expansion). Changes in temperature result in relative movement between the disc and the flange which results in shearing of the washer. The washer acts (by resilience) to restore the disk to its original position when the temperature returns to its original value however this has been found not to be repeatable in practice.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,754,351 describes a different solution wherein axial strips define a clearance between the spindle and the disc and act so as to maintain a substantially uniform clearance upon thermally induced differential expansion of the disk.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,717,977 describes the use of an aluminum sleeve located around the steel motor cylinder, the engagement between the two parts being limited to one section near the centre of the overlapping surfaces. In this case, motor size is restricted by the need for the additional aluminum sleeve.
PCT application WO 88/06781 describes an in-hub motor assembly for a disk drive wherein the disks are mounted on a hollow aluminum spindle which contains a removable steel sleeve within which the motors magnets are mounted. Because the spindle is aluminum, thermal distortion caused by differential thermal expansion is eliminated but again, motor size is restricted.

Disk file having thermal expansion ring for ensuring disk/hub concentricity

International Business Machines Corporation


A cylindrical polycrystal silicon rod formed of a high-purity polycrystal silicon, characterized in that a crystal having a grain diameter smaller than that of a crystal at a location where the distance from the center of deposition is 50% of the length from the center of deposition is existent in an area where the distance from the center of deposition toward the periphery is more than 50% of the length in the same lengthwise direction.

The present invention relates to a polycrystal silicon rod. More specifically, it relates to a polycrystal silicon rod formed of a high-purity polycrystal silicon of a semiconductor grade having a reduced number of surface pores.
The most common process for producing a high-purity polycrystal silicon comprises the steps of heating a filament of a high-purity silicon with an electric current to cause a reaction of trichlorosilane on the filament, thereby depositing a rod-shaped polycrystal silicon.
In the deposition of polycrystal silicon, a factor having the greatest influence on its productivity is deposition speed. It has been known that the higher the deposition temperature is, the higher the deposition speed of polycrystal silicon is. However, it has also been known that when the deposition temperature is increased, the morphology of the surface of a deposited rod is degraded and the silicon rod surface has objects very similar in shape and size to a popcorn. Polycrystal silicon having a bad morphology (to be simply referred to as "popcorn" hereinafter) easily takes in impurities, an etching solution tends to remain after etching, and pores exist inside the polycrystal silicon, and in consequence, an adverse effect is exerted on monocrystals in particular at the time of pulling up the monocrystals and monocrystals not desirable as a product are produced. Because of the above reasons, the deposition temperature cannot be increased much. JP-A 55-16000 (the term "JP-A" as used herein means an "unexamined published Japanese patent application") describes that the throughput and the morphology of polycrystal silicon conflict with each other.

Polycrystal silicon rod having an improved morphyology


Disclosed herein, in part, are liquid pharmaceutical formulations comprising furosemide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients, and a pharmaceutically acceptable buffer. Methods of treating congestion, edema, fluid overload, or hypertension in a patient in need thereof are also provided.

Furosemide, an exemplary loop diuretic, can be used in the treatment of hypertension, edema and related conditions, including decompensated heart failure. Furosemide is commonly used in the treatment and/or management of edema associated with cardiac, renal, and hepatic insufficiency or failure, for example, congestive heart failure. H. Bundgaard, T. Norgaard, N. M. Nielsen, "Photodegradation and hydrolysis of furosemide and furosemide esters in aqueous solutions," International Journal of Pharmaceutics 42, 217 (1988).
Oral bioavailability, and therefore oral efficacy, of furosemide is limited. Furosemide is commonly administered both parenterally and orally, although highly variable oral absorption is observed due to the combined effects of limited solubility and decreased stability at acidic pH. B. Devarakonda, D. P. Otto, A. Judefeind, R. A. Hill, M. M. de Villiers, "Effect of pH on the solubility and release of furosemide from polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer complexes," International Journal of Pharmaceutics 345, 142 (Dec. 10, 2007). Accordingly, furosemide typically is administered intravenously or intramuscularly for most patients with decompensated heart failure or other forms of more advanced edema.
Intravenous administration of a pharmaceutical drug, such as furosemide, requires a trained healthcare professional for placement of the catheter and administration of the drug solution. In contrast, subcutaneous administration of a pharmaceutical drug can be accomplished with the aid of auto-injection devices and/or minipumps or subcutaneous injections or infusions, which can permit administration to be performed by the patient or caregiver, for example, at home. Subcutaneous administration of furosemide by the patient or caregiver also can allow for more optimal therapeutic administration and total dose to provide a more appropriate pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profile and patient outcome.
For subcutaneous administration, discomfort and pain during administration should be minimized so as to avoid poor patient compliance with the treatment regimen. Factors that can contribute to pain and discomfort perceived by a patient upon, during, or after subcutaneous administration include the injection volume, the pH of the formulation, and the osmoticity or tonicity of the formulation. Moreover, such a formulation should be stable in solution so that it readily is available for use and/or can be pre-loaded into a variety of dispensing devices.
Therefore, a need exists for improved pharmaceutical formulations containing furosemide that contain a sufficient concentration of furosemide, and are at an appropriate pH and osmolality, for example, to permit subcutaneous administration of furosemide.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Concentrated liquid pharmaceutical formulations of furosemide


An electro-optic device includes a semiconducting layer in which is formed a waveguide, a modulator formed across the waveguide comprising a p-doped region to one side and an n-doped region to the other side of the waveguide, wherein at least one of the doped regions extends from the base of a recess formed in the semiconducting layer. In this way, the doped regions can extend further into the semiconducting layer and further hinder escape of charge carriers without the need to increase the diffusion distance of the dopant and incur an additional thermal burden on the device. In an SOI device, the doped region can extend to the insulating layer. Ideally, both the p and n-doped regions extend from the base of a recess, but this may be unnecessary in some designs. Insulating layers can be used to ensure that dopant extends from the base of the recess only, giving a more clearly defined doped region. The (or each) recess can have non-vertical sides, such as are formed by v-groove etches, A combination of a vertical sidewall at the base of the recess and a non-vertical sidewall at the opening could be used.

Electro-optic modulators influence an optical mode and are understood to work by affecting the complex refractive index of a semiconductor waveguide and thereby affecting the transmission of light propagating therein. In such a device, a p-i-n diode normally is formed across the waveguide and injects charge carriers into the region in which the mode is propagating. The presence of significant numbers of charge carriers affects the local refractive index and thus the speed of light transmission. This effect can be used in switches, interferometers etc.
In SOI (Silicon On Insulator) optical devices the mode propagates in a silicon layer over an insulating layer supported on a substrate. The insulating layer can then act as a confinement layer for the charge carriers in the vertical direction. However, it has been found that significant numbers of charge carriers still escape laterally, and this adversely affects both the performance of the device and its reproducibility.


An intelligent electronic device with multiple functionalities that may include multiple secure accesses includes a sensor coupled with a processor. The sensor may sense electrical parameters in an electrical circuit and generate signals indicative of the electrical parameters for the processor. The processor may be configured to concurrently operate multiple intelligent electronic device functionalities. The intelligent electronic device functionalities may each include one or more functions. The functions within one of the intelligent electronic device functionalities may be mutually exclusive. Secure access to one or more of the intelligent electronic device functionalities may be enabled by entry of a user identification.

The present invention relates to the control and monitoring of power systems. More specifically the present invention relates to secure access to a current sensing intelligent electronic device capable of performing multiple power system related functions.
Presently power systems are often controlled and protected by individual protective relays. Each relay generally protects a portion of the power system generally referred to as a zone. The settings of the protective relays are fixed after being configured during the commissioning of the power system. The settings may be input into the protective relays manually through the front panel of the protective relay or via a communications link in which case the person commissioning the system inputs the settings via a terminal or other similar interface. Once the protective relays are setup, the settings are generally not changed or if they are changed, the new settings are once again manually input.
Protective relays sometimes have an output trip signal indication that can be provided to an upstream relay to indicate that a fault has been sensed. The upstream relay may implement a hold off delay before tripping an associated breaker when this signal is received. This signal can be a dedicated digital signal or may be implemented in a communications protocol, but is generally limited to indicating an impending trip of a downstream breaker.
Protective relays often implement some power metering or monitoring functions. Such functions include the monitoring of voltage, current, power, frequency, power factor, energy, etc. Due to the fact that the protective relay may have a wide amplitude range and a narrow frequency response, the measurement accuracy is generally not as high as power meters dedicated to metering and/or monitoring.
Protective relays are generally unable to perform most power quality functions due to their limited measurement bandwidth. Power quality functions include the measurement of the harmonics of the power system frequency present in the voltage and current, power harmonics, symmetrical components, detection of sags, transients and surges, waveform captures, etc.
A consultant study is typically only done once every 10 to 15 years for a power distribution system. At the time of the consultant study, the appropriate settings for each protective relay and other related devices are determined. As the power distribution system changes and/or loads are added or changed, it typically becomes difficult to correlate the information from the last consultant study with the actual operational information of the system during use.

Multi-function intelligent electronic device with secure access


Embodiments of the invention include methods of determining the allergen content of a composition. Embodiments of the invention may include providing a composition comprising an allergen; at least partially purifying the allergen from the composition to form an extract; and determining the amount of allergen in the extract using liquid chromatography with ultraviolet and mass spectrometric detection.

Lipid transfer proteins (LTPs) are low molecular weight proteins that were previously thought to play an important physiological role in transferring lipids between membranes in vitro. The proteins have been characterized in many plant species and are found in a variety of tissues and developmental stages1. They form a multigenic family and more than 50 amino acid sequences of plant LTPs are registered in the genome data banks. Two main families with different molecular masses have been isolated. One is composed by proteins with molecular mass of about 9 kDa and the other, by proteins with molecular mass of 7 kDa, referred to as LTP1 and LTP2, respectively. The LTP1 proteins are basic, presenting isoelectric points (pI) of between 9 and 10. Among the known sequences of LTP 1, all are characterized by having 90 to 95 amino acid residues, of which eight are cysteines conserved in similar positions along the primary structure. These cysteine residues are involved in intramolecular disulphide bridges that have been strictly conserved among LTP1s1. Furthermore, LTPs do not contain aromatic tryptophan or phenylalanine residues. Two well-conserved tyrosine residues are located toward the N- and C-termini of the polypeptide backbone. Proteins in both families are synthesized as precursor proteins and enter into the secretory pathway following a signal peptide cleavage. LTP1s from various plant species are localized at the cell wall in Arabidopsis thaliana2, Zea mays3, Ricinus communis4, and Vigna unguiculata5,6 seeds.
The functional role of LTPs in plants has been extensively debated. In R. communis kernels, a LTP isoform has been found inside an organelle, which was characterized as the glyoxosome. This LTP was shown to increase the activity of the acetyl-CoA oxidase enzyme in in vitro tests, suggesting involvement in βoxidation, possibly in the regulation of the catabolism of lipid storage6. In Brassica oleracea var. italica, LTP was found associated with the waxy surface of the leaves. The expression pattern suggests a role of the LTP in the transport of monomers of cutin4. In addition, abiotic stress factors such as drought, cold, and salt, have been described to upregulate members of the LTP family in some plant species1,7-9. Stabilization of membranes, cuticle deposition and/or changes in cell wall organization have been claimed as their putative roles in the responses to these stress factors7,9,10. In addition, LTPs have a potential role in plant growth and development, including embryogenesis1, germination11, and pollen-pistil interaction12. While the role of LTPs still remains obscure, the role in plant defense mechanisms against phytopathogens such as bacteria, fungi and viruses seems to be well established1,13,14. This has led to the classification of LTPs as pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins, which are included in the PR-14 family14.
Furthermore, LTPs have recently been identified as plant food allergens. They have been identified as complete food allergens, in that they are capable of sensitizing, i.e., inducing specific IgE, as well as eliciting severe symptoms. LTPs appear to be a strong food allergen that are resistant to proteolytic attack and food processing. Stability allows the allergen to reach the gastrointestinal immune system in an immunogenic and allergenic conformation, allowing sensitization and induction of systemic symptoms. LTPs have been reported in fruits of Rosaceae15,16,17 and Vitaceae18 as well as in other plant species such as Aspargus officinalis and B. oleracea var. capitata19,20. Recently, a comprehensive study on maize allergens was conducted by Pastorello's group21. LTP was confirmed to be the major maize allergen by screening sera from 22 patients with systemic symptoms after maize ingestion with 19 (86%) of the patients recognizing the LTP 9 kDa protein. In a follow-up study, LTP was found to be an extremely stable protein, and maintains IgE-binding activity even after cooking at 100° C.22. In addition, maize LTP appears to also be resistant to gastrointestinal digestion23. Collectively, these properties enable members of the LTP class of proteins to be a strong food allergen that can cause severe reactions. Interestingly, maize LTP has been found to be a relevant allergen only in Southern Europe and also in a small group of patients from the U.S., suggesting that sensitization to LTP is relatively uncommon24. It is widely known that eight foods account for over 90% of food allergies, including peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, milk, eggs, crustaceans, soybean, and fish.
The role of LTP is, in many instances, still obscure because accurate absolute quantitation of the protein is difficult. Many of the previous studies are challenged by extensive sample preparation or inadequate, nonsensitive, and nonspecific in vitro bioassays. The commonly employed analytical methods for this purpose are based on immunological approaches. Although immunochemical methods generally are highly sensitive and compatible with high throughput, they suffer from limited specificity. Moreover, the development of antibodies for the target protein is a time-consuming process.

Quantification and characterization of allergens


The disclosure relates to compositions exhibiting a UV resistance of ΔE ranging from more than 0 to less than or equal to 10 units after exposure to ultraviolet light for 300 hours, per ASTM D-4459 protocol. The compositions can include at least 15 wt % of a polyetherimide; at least 35 wt % of a polycarbonate; a polyetherimide siloxane; and optionally, at least one UV stabilizer. The disclosure also relates to methods of shaping such compositions and articles produced from such compositions.

High heat thermoplastics such as polyetherimides are known as outstanding high performance materials. Polyetherimides can have a high glass transition temperature (Tg) of 217° C., high modulus, and strength at elevated temperatures and excellent chemical resistance, according to ASTM D543-06. Polyetherimide has an amber color with yellowness index greater than 50. This physical characteristic of polyetherimide limits its colorability to dark colors and fairly light colors, but not to very light colors such as certain white colors. Further, polyetherimide has low impact strength at room temperatures.
Lower heat materials such as polycarbonates and modified versions thereof (example, but not limited to polycarbonate esters) have excellent colorability, high impact strength and very good flow properties. However, these materials have poor resistance to harsh chemical reagents, susceptible to environmental stress cracking, poor UV resistance for light colors and relatively lower strength and modulus compared to polyetherimides.
Thus there exists a need to have a polymer system that can combine the above challenging, but desirable characteristics, all-in-one such as a chemically resistant, high flow, white-colorable, and good impact performance.
Blends of polyetherimide and PC have been evaluated for higher heat, improved ductility, and flame retardance. However, the specific combination of a polymer system that simultaneously imparts excellent chemical resistance, according to ASTM D543-06, to harsh chemical reagents (e.g., concentrated sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid etc.), high flow (thin wall less than 1 mm), colorable to certain 'white' colors (defined by L, a, b values), being UV resistant (color shift dE (DE* or ΔE) less than 6-7 units after 300 hrs exposure to ASTM D4459) with good notched impact strength (minimum 50 J/m at 23° C./2 lb hammer weight at greater than 15 wt % TiO2 pigment loading levels) and environmental stress cracking resistance to many chemicals such as hand sanitizers, moisturizers, sunscreen, cooking oil, e.g., olive oils, hand creams, and the like.
Further, there is a clear need for plastic materials, in addition to possessing all of the above desired characteristics, to also be able to be metallized with a metal such as, but not limited to aluminum, preferably wherein the aluminum is deposited and anodized to provide desirable characteristics such as corrosion resistance and wear resistance, better adhesion to paints and dyes vs. bare metal.
However, most polymeric materials may not survive the various mechanical/chemical treatments (such as, but not limited to, pre-treatment, etching, milling, desmutting, anodizing, coloring, sealing) on the plastic material typically involved during the anodization process
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a plastic material that can possess the aforementioned desired characteristics as well as be able to endure the anodization process by maintaining it properties and structural integrity.


A flexible light emitting array includes a flexible substrate, pluralities of first wires, second wires and light emitting components. The flexible substrate has a first surface and an opposite second surface. The first wires and the second wires penetrates across the first surface and the second surface to form pluralities of first conductive wire segments and second conductive wire segments on the first surface side and the second surface side. The light emitting components are arranged on the first surface side and electrically connected to the first conductive wire segments and the second conductive wire segments. The flexible light emitting array not only increases the reliability of bonding between the light emitting component and the flexible substrate but also drives the light emitting components with programmable control to achieve the dynamic effects.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light emitting array, and more particularly to a flexible light emitting array.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The conventional fabric is made of proper materials of animals, plants or chemical fibers. Mounting the desired pattern on the fabric by means of printing, dyeing, sewing, embroidering or directly weaving during the process so as to beautify the fabric and increase its aesthetic appearance. By incorporating the fabric with active light emitting components will not only be able to increase the space impression and uniqueness of the fabric, but also have the additional effect of increasing the visibility to serve as warning.
Referring to FIG. 1, Taiwan patent No. M325346 discloses a structure of light emitting fabric, wherein the light emitting pattern 12 comprising of a conductive layer, a light emitting layer, and a transparent electrode layer is arranged on the surface of fabric 11. The power supply 13 provides the requested power for light emitting pattern 12 while emitting light. The style of light emitting pattern 12 can not be changed as the light emitting pattern 12 is fixed on the surface of the fabric 11. Therefore, this would be less appealing and less attractive to the consumer as the light emitting pattern 12 lacks the dynamic effects.
Referring to FIG. 2, Taiwan patent No. M283952 discloses a cloth with light emitting device, wherein the light emitting pattern 12 is incorporated with the fabric 11 via a connecting component 20. According to foresaid structure, the user may change to the favorite light emitting pattern 12 anytime for satisfying the user's need. However, the light emitting pattern 12 is still fixed in position and lacks the dynamic effects.
One approach to increase dynamic effects of light emitting fabric would be to incorporate a flexible light emitting array into fabric. Taiwan patent No. I246037 discloses a flexible light emitting array which comprises of a flexible substrate and light emitting components, wherein the flexible substrate is made by high molecular weight polymer, such as plastic, polyimide (PI), or polyethylene (PE). It is not suitable for incorporating with ordinary fabric as the flexible substrate made of high molecular weight polymer is airproof and has a hard texture impeding its application for making wearable clothes.
To sum up, the above-mentioned disadvantages exist in the prior arts. Therefore, how to incorporate the flexible light emitting array with fabric to beautify the fabric, increase its esthetic appearance and dynamic effects is a current goal to be achieved.


The preferred embodiments described herein make possible to use lower cost, fixed flow components, such as critical orifices, which are fast to stabilize to a steady flow. These cannot be adjusted to achieve equal flows but are selected to be sensibly close to their desired flow values. This embodiment determines the true ratios of the flows of all of the flow controlling components. Actual flows are not measured but near equal flows are each fed to a common flow meter and the ratio of the indicated flow meter readings is taken to be the same as the ratio of the flows. Two, near equal flows are then combined and compared to a single flow of approximately the same value, and so on. The flow meter is used only to compare near equal flows so does not need to be calibrated nor linear over a wide range.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and system for calibrating gas flow dilutors.
Standard gas mixtures are available in gas cylinders containing a fixed concentration of an analyte gas (for instance carbon monoxide) in a matrix gas (for instance nitrogen). Gas flow dilutors combine a flow of standard gas mixture with an additional flow of the relevant matrix gas (referred to as diluent gas) to provide a dilution. Adjustment of the ratio of the two flow rates provides a means of adjusting the concentration of analyte in the combined flow.
The present invention seeks to provide improved calibration of gas dilutors of a type which functions by turning "on" or "off", in various combinations, a number of fixed flows of standard gas mixture and diluent gas. Such gas dilutor types are well known and often use capillaries, orifices or critical orifices as the fixed flow controlling components.
Gas dilutors are generally calibrated by measuring the actual flows of the flow controlling components with respect to external reference standards of flow. Such calibrations of commercially available gas dilutors are often performed annually, in calibration laboratories. This is expensive, time consuming and the accuracy may not be maintained throughout this period.
2. Description of the Related Art
However, calibration of actual flows is unnecessary since dilution is a function of flow ratios and knowledge of actual flow values is not required. British patent GB-B-2,333,614 describes a method of calibrating a number of flow controlling devices to accurately set their flow ratios by adjusting a series of flow combinations to give equal readings on a common flow meter. A detailed description of a "high-accuracy gas flow dilutor using mass flow controllers with binary weighted flows", which utilises this method, was published in Measurement Science and Technology 13 (2002) 1138-1145. The method may be used to perform calibrations practically at frequent intervals at the point of use.
The method of British patent GB-B-2,333,614 is only applicable to dilutors which use flow-controlling components that are adjustable and can be set to a desired flow, such as mass flow controllers. Mass flow controllers are large, expensive and slow to stabilise to an adjustment of their flow. An accurate calibration, which depends upon adjusting flows to be equal, can therefore be protracted.

Method of and system for calibrating gas flow dilutors

LNI SCHMIDLIN SA (LNI SCHMIDLIN AG) (LNI SCHMIDLIN LTD)


A system for enhancing an activated sludge process that includes at least one aeration tank subsystem for receiving a flow a wastewater and for introducing dissolved oxygen to a population of microorganisms to promote growth of biological flocs in a mixed liquor defined by a concentration of mixed liquor suspended solids. A weighting agent impregnation subsystem includes an impregnation tank for mixing the mixed liquor, virgin weighting agent, and recycled weighting agent to impregnate the weighting agent into biological flocs suspended in the mixed liquor to form weighted biological flocs. A flocculant injection port located downstream from at least one aeration tank for introducing a flocculant to the mixed liquor for enhancing settling and thickening of the weighted biological flocs and for providing agglomeration of non-impregnated biological flocs and/or partially impregnated biological flocs with weighted biological flocs. At least one clarifier separates and collects the weighted biological flocs from the mixed liquor to provide a secondary effluent and a settled sludge. A return activated sludge subsystem recycles the majority of the settled sludge to the at least one aeration tank. A weighting agent recovery subsystem removes and shears the remaining settled sludge and recovers the weighting agent therefrom and reintroduces the weighting agent to the at least one aeration tank. A wasting subsystem wastes the remaining sludge of the weight agent recovery subsystem to control the population of the microorganisms in the mixed liquor.

Municipal and industrial wastewater treatment facilities often include primary, secondary and tertiary processes to treat wastewater to remove contaminants, such as suspended solids, biodegradable organics, phosphorus, nitrogen, microbiological contaminants, and the like, to provide a clean effluent. The clean effluent is typically subject to strict local, state and federal regulations.
The primary treatment processes often includes screens, grit chambers and/or primary clarifiers to remove large solids and other suspended matter to provide a primary effluent. Activated sludge is one type of secondary process which utilizes an aeration tank(s) which contains a large population of microorganisms that ingest contaminants in the primary effluent to form biological "flocs." Oxygen is typically fed into the aeration tank(s) to promote growth of these biological flocs. The combination of primary effluent, or in some cases raw sewage, and biological flocs is commonly known as mixed liquor. The population or concentration of microorganisms in the mixed liquor is often referred to as mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS).
After sufficient treatment in the aeration tank(s), the biological flocs in the mixed liquor are then typically sent to a secondary clarifier where the biological flocs are separated by gravity from the mixed liquor to provide a secondary effluent and a settled sludge. The secondary effluent, or "clean" effluent, may be discharged back to the environment or processed by additional tertiary treatment processes. The majority of the settled sludge in the secondary clarifier is typically recycled back to the aeration tank(s) by a return activated sludge subsystem. The remaining, excess sludge is wasted from the system to control the concentration of mixed liquor suspended solids.
However, separation of the biological flocs from the mixed liquor in the secondary clarifier is difficult because the biological flocs are only marginally heavier than water, and therefore settle very slowly. As a result, the secondary clarifier of a typical activated sludge process is the bottleneck in most wastewater treatment processes that utilize activated sludge as a secondary process. The crucial solids separation step of the biological flocs from the mixed liquor in the secondary clarifier is therefore typically the rate limiting process which is governed by a variety of factors, most notably the specific gravity, or density, of the biological flocs.
Moreover, solids separation in the secondary clarifier in a typical activated sludge processes is often unreliable due to the many types of settling problems that are caused by inter alia: overgrowth of filamentous organisms, viscous bulking caused by the overgrowth of either zoogleal organisms or exocellular polysaccharide material, pin floc, straggler floc, excessive solids loading on the secondary clarifiers, excessive secondary clarifier surface overflow rate, and the like.

System and method for enhancing an activated sludge process