A process for producing electrical power, chemicals, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen is provided. One or more feedstocks and one or more oxidants can be combined in a fluidized reaction zone heated to a temperature from about 1050° F. to about 1900° F. to provide a synthesis gas comprising carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and hydrogen. In one or more embodiments, at least a portion of the synthesis gas can be used as a fuel source for one or more turbines to drive one or more electrical generators. In one or more embodiments, at least a portion of the synthesis gas can be introduced to one or more gas converters to provide methanol, alkyl formates, dimethyl ether, ammonia, Fischer-Tropsch products, derivatives thereof or combinations thereof.

Gasification is a high-temperature process usually conducted at elevated pressure to convert carbon-containing materials into carbon monoxide and hydrogen gas. Since this gas is often used for the synthesis of chemicals or synthetic hydrocarbon fuels, the gas is often referred to as "synthesis gas" or, more succinctly "syngas". Syngas can be used as a fuel to generate electricity or steam and as a source of hydrogen.
Typical feeds to gasification include petroleum-based materials that are neat or residues of processing materials, such as heavy crude oil, bitumen recovered from tar sands, kerogen from oil shale, coke, and other high-sulfur and/or high metal-containing residues; gases; and various carbonaceous waste materials. Dry or slurried feedstock is reacted in the gasifier in a reducing (oxygen-starved) atmosphere at high temperature and (usually) high pressure. The resulting syngas typically contains about 85 percent of the feed carbon content as carbon monoxide, with the balance being a mixture of carbon dioxide and methane.
Three basic types of gasifiers are: fixed bed, fluidized bed and entrained flow. The fixed bed gasifier is operated at relatively low outlet temperature (425° C.-600° C.) and requires a lesser amount of oxygen compared to the other two types of gasifiers; however, the product syngas contains substantial unconverted methane, and by-product tars and oils. The fluidized bed gasifier operates at more moderate outlet temperatures (900° C.-1050° C.) and requires a greater amount of oxygen than a comparable fixed bed gasifier. While the synthesis gas from a fluidized bed gasifier is of higher purity, the carbon conversion is lower than a comparable entrained flow gasifier which operates at much higher temperatures (1250° C.-1600° C.) and requires significantly higher energy input, but from which synthesis gas of the highest purity can be obtained.
The high temperature in the entrained gasifiers and in the lower zones of certain fixed bed gasifiers converts the inorganic materials in the feed into a molten vitrified material which solidifies when removed from the gasifier, producing a material resembling coarse sand and generally referred to as slag. Fluid bed gasifiers produce dry ash which is not vitrified but only consolidated or agglomerated. Depending on the gasifier, it is desirable either to remove ash at lower temperatures (non-slagging gasifiers) or as a low viscosity liquid at high temperatures (slagging gasifiers). This inert slag or ash has a variety of uses in the construction and building industries.
The raw syngas can be treated using proven commercial technologies to remove trace elements and other impurities for recovery or recycle to the gasifier. Sulfur can be recovered as marketable elemental sulfur or sulfuric acid. In addition to a fuel source, syngas can be used as a raw material in the production of fuels, chemicals, fertilizers, and industrial gases.
The present embodiments are detailed below with reference to the listed Figures.


A motorcycle tire comprises a radial carcass ply (1), the carcass in each bead region being turned axially outward around a bead hoop (7) to form a turnup ply portion (8), the tire having a camber value C/L in the range 0.5 to 0.7 characterized in that the tread (6) is provided with a bandage ply (2) disposed radially outward of the carcass ply (1) and comprising cords disposed parallel to the circumferential direction and in the tread central portion the bandage ply (2) is adjacent to the carcass ply (1) and in the axial edge portions of the tread the bandage ply (2) is spaced apart from the carcass ply (1) by a reinforcing strip (3) comprising at least one reinforcing ply comprising textile reinforcing elements disposed at an angle to the tire circumferential direction, the radially outer edge (10) of each turnup portion is separated from the adjacent edge of the reinforcing strip (3) by a distance of at least 5 mm.

Present radial motorcycle tyres have short sidewalls which extend to the tread edges radially and axially outwardly from the tyre beads. The beads provide engagement to the wheelrim on tapered bead seats. The sidewalls are reinforced by radial carcass plies which when tensioned by the inflation pressure act together with sidewall geometry to provide location of the curved tread regions to withstand cornering forces.
The sharply curved tread region of the conventional motorcycle tyre is specially reinforced by a reinforcing belt or breaker to give the required structural rigidity to allow for banking over of the motorcycle when cornering whilst giving sufficient flexibility to allow localized tread flattening in the ground contact patch for good road grip. Conventionally such a belt comprises two plies of tyre fabric each being reinforced by parallel cords disposed at an angle to the tyre circumferential direction with the cords crossed with respect to the adjacent ply.
Such tyres however, due to their uniform breaker structures, do not provide fully optimum stability and lateral grip.
A motorcycle tyre having in the tread region a bandage ply and in each tread edge region an additional reinforcing ply is known from EP-B-0 628 435. However in this known tyre the ply turnup edge extends fully radially outward to overlap the additional ply. However in such a structure the sidewall stiffness is increased which decreases riding comfort.
Therefore an object of the present invention is to improve the properties of such tyres.

Motorcycle radial tyre with bandage ply and edge reinforcing strips


Mesoporous articles and methods for making mesoporous articles are disclosed.

Mesoporous materials, such as mesoporous silica and other metal oxides, are of great interest for application in numerous fields. For example, these materials are useful for separation and catalysis applications, and are also attractive candidates for low K dielectric applications. Literature reports indicate these structures can exhibit dielectric constants that can range between 1.3 and 2.1, making them desirable to the microelectronics industry.
To date, most mesoporous metal oxide materials have been prepared using aqueous media. For example, low K dielectric films are typically prepared by spin-casting a water/alcohol solution onto a substrate. These solutions contain a surfactant and a precursor, which develop mesoscale structure through a coordinated self-assembly, usually during evaporation of the solvent. As the solvent evaporates, the surfactant self-assembles into a template to which the precursor simultaneously associates. Removal of the template yields the mesoporous material. This approach is exemplified in U.S. Pat. No. 5,858,457, granted to Brinker.
D. A. Loy et al. (Chem. Mater., 9, 2264, 1997) describes silica aerogels that are prepared by condensation of tetramethoxysilane in supercritical CO2. Formic acid is used as a condensing agent, because agents commonly used for initiating the condensation of silica from a silicon alkoxide, such as H2O, typically have low solubility in CO2.
Porous metal oxides can also be prepared through a casting process using activated carbon as a support material (see, e.g., Wakayama and co-workers (Chem. Mater., 13, 2392 (2001) and Chem. Mater., 12, 756 (2000)). In this method, the activated carbon structures are coated by contact with CO2 solutions of metal alkoxide precursors, and precipitation is induced. The metal oxide precipitates onto the activated carbon structures, conforming to the structures' shape.


A card connector which prevents a card from popping out when the card is discharged and is not easily broken. The card connector includes a base having a slot into which a card can be inserted, a slider which is provided at a position in the base to be abuttable on the card and which can be caused to slide, a spring forcing the slider in the discharging direction of the card, and a lock spring including a plate spring having a tip end engageable with an engagement recess of the card and a base end mounted on the slider. The tip end can be displaced in a direction away from the card, and base is provided with a first rib which abuts on the tip end of the lock spring to prevent the tip end from being displaced when the slider is positioned at the card pop-out preventing position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a card connector into which a card such as an SD (Secure Digital) memory card is inserted.
2. Description of the Related Art
As this kind of card connector, there is one in which a heart cam mechanism which locks the inserted card at a card insertion position and at a card discharging position is provided on an inner wall of a base having a slot (patent document 1) and one which comprises an elastic lock member which engages with an engagement recess formed on a side face of the card at a card insertion position (patent document 2).
Such a card connector is formed such that a part of the card pops out of the slot so that a user can easily take out the card when the card is discharged.
Patent document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-85089
Patent document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-134224


Scan electrode potential detected by a feedback switch is inputted into a negative-phase input terminal of an amplifier, reference selection potential from a reference-selection-potential-signal generation circuit is inputted into a positive-phase input terminal of the amplifier, and the reference-selection-potential-signal generation circuit delays reference potential of a reference voltage source, thereby scan electrode potential without overshooting components can be achieved.

The present invention relates to an image display device and a driving method of the device, and particularly relates to the device and the method which are effective for use in an image display device using a multiple electron sources in which electron emitters are disposed in a matrix pattern.
Much attention has been attracted on a self-luminous, matrix-type display in which electron sources are provided at intersections between electrode groups perpendicular to each other, and applied voltage or applied time to respective electron sources are adjusted, thereby the quantity of electrons emitted from the electron sources are controlled, and then the emitted electrons are accelerated by high voltage and thus irradiated to phosphors.
As the electron sources used for this type of display, electron sources using field emission cathodes, thin-film electron sources, carbon nano-tubes, surface-conduction electron emitters and the like are given.
In this type of display panel, line-sequential scan is generally performed. FIG. 7 shows a structural drawing of a display panel in which electron emitters are disposed in a matrix pattern.
In FIG. 7, electron emitters 201 configure respective pixels, and the electron emitters 201 are disposed in the matrix pattern. Respective electron emitters in a vertical direction are connected to data lines 202, and respective electron emitters in a horizontal direction are connected to scan lines 203.
The display panel includes horizontal m dots and vertical n lines, and D1 to Dm are data electrodes for applying data signals on respective data lines, and S1 to Sn are scan line electrodes for applying selection voltage on respective scan lines.
When the line-sequential scan is performed, driving current for all electron emitters connected to selected scan lines flow into a selected scan-line electrode.
FIG. 8 shows a configuration of a drive circuit for driving the display panel using the electron emitters. In FIG. 8, an image signal 210 and a synchronization signal 205 are inputted into a timing controller 206.
The timing controller 206 outputs a control signal 213 for controlling a data-electrode drive circuit 207 that drives data electrodes, a control signal 214 for controlling a scan-electrode drive circuit 208, and image data 212 for generating driving waveforms for driving the data electrodes.
The scan electrode drive circuit 208 selects one scan line among respective scan lines. One of scan selection switches SH1 to SHn is into an on-state, and selection voltage VH is applied to a selected scan line electrode.
Conversely, non-selection operation is performed using non-selection switches SL1 to SLn. A plurality of switches corresponding to scan lines to be in a non-selection state are into the on-state, and consequently non-selection potential LH is supplied to electrodes of the scan lines.
High voltage is supplied from a high-voltage circuit 211 to the display panel 209, and the emitted electrons are accelerated by the high voltage and then irradiated to the phosphors.
FIG. 9 is an operation wave form diagram of the drive circuit shown in FIG. 8. In the line-sequential scan, at the beginning of vertical scan, selection operation is started from a scan line connected to a scan line electrode S1, and then scan is performed sequentially.
The scan selection switch SH1 is into the on-state during a period T1, so that a first scan line is selected. At that time, data voltage Vd11 to Vd1n are supplied to respective data lines by the data electrode drive circuit 207.
Next, the scan selection switch SH2 is into the on-state during a period T2, so that data voltage Vd21 to Vd2n are supplied to respective data lines. The operation is sequentially performed to display an image corresponding to one field.
U.S. Patent Publication No. 2004/001039 (JP-A-2004-86130) describes an image display device having a correction circuit for correcting voltage variation in a row selection signal due to voltage drop caused by on-resistance of an output stage of a row drive circuit and current flowing into a selected row line according to gray-scale information, and a column drive circuit that generates a modulation signal modulated according to the gray-scale information such that abrupt change in current flowing into the selected row line is restrained.

Display device and driving method of the same


A ratchet wrench having an annular wheel mounted within one box end thereof, the annular wheel having a plurality of longitudinal teeth equiangularly spaced around the inside for grasping and turning nuts, bolts, etc., and two symmetrical pairs of grooves longitudinally disposed on the outside at two oppoiste locations, two pairs of stop plates respectively mounted in the grooves within the box end, and four springs respectively connected between the stop plates and the grooves to forced into engagement with the teeth of the box end when the wrench is turned in one direction, causing the annular wheel to be turned with the box end; the stop plates are forced backwards into the V-grooves when the wrench is turned in the reversed direction, causing the wrench to run idle.

The present invention relates to wrenches, and more particularly to a ratchet wrench which comprises an annular wheel mounted in one box end thereof and having teeth on the inside for grasping and turning nuts, bolts, etc., and a ratchet mechanism mounted between the annular wheel and the box end to force the annular wheel into engagement with the box end when the wrench is rotated clockwise, or to disengage the annular wheel from the box end when the wrench is rotated counter-clockwise.
Regular combination wrenches are commonly comprised of an elongated handle having two opposite ends respectively terminating in an open end and a box end. The box end has axial teeth equiangularly spaced around the inside for positively grasping and turning nuts, bolts, etc. Because the box end cannot be ratcheted, it must be released from the nuts, bolt, etc. after one turn, then attached to the nut, bolt, etc. again, and then turned forwards for another stroke. Therefore, it is not efficient to use such a wrench to turn nuts, bolts, etc.
The present invention has been accomplished to proivde a box end wrench which eliminates the aforesaid drawbacks. According to one aspect of the present invention, the box end wrench comprises an annular wheel mounted within the box end, the annular wheel having a plurality of longitudinal teeth equiangularly spaced around the inside for grasping and turning nuts, bolts, etc., and two symmetrical pairs of grooves longitudinally disposed on the outside at two opposite locations, two pairs of stop plates respectively mounted in the grooves within the box end, and four springs respectively connected between the stop plates and the grooves to force the stop plates outwards, wherein two of the stop plates are forced into engagement with the teeth of the box end when the wrench is turned in one direction, causing the annular wheel to be turned with the box end; the stop plates are forced backwards into the grooves when the wrench is turned in the reversed direction, causing the wrench to run idle. According to another aspect of the present invention, the stop plates include a first diagonal pair and a second diagonal pair alternatively forced into engagement with the teeth of the box end.


The invention is related to a fusion polypeptide involving transcription regulation of a target gene. Said fusion polypeptide consists of (i) a zinc finger domain that recognizes and binds to the corresponding nucleic acid recognition sequence in the vicinity of a promoter of the target gene; (ii) a dimerization domain of a tetracycline (tet) repressor which contains a drug (e.g., tetracycline)-dependent switch, and (iii) an accessory domain which alters the expression of the target gene (such as an transcriptional activation or repression domain). This fusion polypeptide can be administered to, or expressed in, a cell harboring the target gene to be regulated.

Proteins containing the eukaryotic Cys2His2 zinc finger DNA-binding motif are relatively flexible with respect to their sequence specificity (Wolfe et al., 2000, Ann. Rev. Biophys. Biomol. Struct. 29:183–212; Pabo et al., 2001, Ann. Rev. Biochem. 70:313–340). DNA recognition typically involves a tandem array of two or more zinc fingers. Fingers with a desired sequence specificity can be created by randomizing the residues involved in base-specific DNA recognition sequences and then selecting fingers with the desired specificity from the resulting library or by designing fingers based on understood principles of zinc finger-DNA recognition (Liu et al., J. Biol. Chem., 2002, 277(6):3850–6). For example, fingers with novel specificity have been selected using phage display (Rebar et al., 1996, Meth. Enzymol. 267:129–149) or using a bacterial two-hybrid system (Joung et al., 2000, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci USA 97:7382–7387). Proteins with a desired sequence specificity are created by making an assembly of fingers that have been selected to have the desired sequence specificity.
Zinc finger proteins have been used successfully in vivo to alter gene expression by attaching repression or activation domains (Beerli et al., 2000, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 97:1495–1500; Zhang et al., 2000, J. Biol. Chem. 275:33850–3360; Liu et al., 2001, J. Biol. Chem. 276:11323–11334). Regulation of a gene by zinc fingers has also been made drug-dependent by using two types of accessory domains: 1) a zinc finger-homeodomain fusion protein wherein the association of an activation domain with this protein was rendered drug-dependent (Rivera et al., 1996, Nature Med. 2:1028–1032; Ye et al., 199, Science 283:88–91). This was accomplished by fusing protein domains to the activation and DNA-binding domains that could associate only in the presence of the drug rapamycin; and 2) a zinc finger-steriod receptor fusion protein that binds to DNA only in the presence of synthetic steroid receptor antagonists (Beerli et al., 2000, J. Biol. Chem. 275:32617–32627; Xu et al., 2001, Mol. Ther. 3:262–273).
The tetracycline receptor (TetR) is a component of the tetracycline resistance system (Tn10) in bacteria that represses expression of the tetracycline exporter pump (TetA) (Saenger, 2000, Angew Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 39:2042–2052). This protein binds to an operator DNA sequence (tetO) as a homodimer in the absence of tetracycline (Tc), but in the presence of the drug it can no longer bind to DNA. Consequently transcription of TetA is no longer repressed. The structure of TetR bound to DNA containing the tetO sequence has been determined (Orth et al., 2000, Nat. Struct. Biol. 7:215–219), as has the structure of TetR with Tc bound (Hinrichs et al., 1994, Science 264:418–420). Examination of these structures suggests that an allosteric mechanism of inactivation of TetR occurs upon binding by Tc (Orth et al., 2000, Nat. Struct. Biol., 7:215–219). TetR is composed of two domains with different functions: the dimerization domain, which has at its core a four helix bundle, and the DNA-binding domains which folds into a helix-tum-helix (HTH) motif. These two domains are rigidly connected by an α-helix. Tc binds in a pocket in the dimerization domain of each monomer, and this results in a conformational change in the dimerization domain that translates down the connecting α-helix, and increases the distance between the helix-turn-helix motif of each monomer by about 3 Å. This is believed to be the reason that the TetR•Tc dimer can no longer bind to DNA containing the tetO sequence.
TetR has been used to form the basis for a drug-regulatable gene regulation system in eukaryotes (Williams et al., 2000, J. Appl. Physiol. 88:1119–1126). TetR is a bacterial protein and consequently, it should not interact with any of the components of the eukaryotic machinery. Moreover, most eukaryotic systems can tolerate Tc (or a similar derivative that binds to TetR) at high concentrations. A specific gene can be rendered drug-inducible simply by attaching a repression or activation domain to TetR, and introducing multiple copies of tetO in front of the gene of interest (Gossen et al., 1995, Science 268:1766–1769). This system has been further augmented by the creation of a modified TetR (rTetR) that cannot bind in the absence of tetracycline, but that binds the operator sequence (tetO) in the presence of the drug (Urlinger et al., 2000, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 97:7963–1768). The primary limitation of this system is the necessity to introduce the tetO operator into the promoter of the gene of interest.

Zinc finger-based drug-dependent gene regulation system


A large aperture wide-angle lens includes first and second lens groups separated by a stop. The first lens group includes more than one lens element and the second lens group includes, in order from the object side, a first lens component having at least one aspheric surface, having negative refractive power, and having increasingly negative refractive power toward the periphery, a second lens component having a convex surface on the image side, and a third lens component having at least one aspheric surface and having decreasingly positive refractive power or increasingly negative refractive power toward the periphery. The large aperture wide-angle lens includes six or seven lens components and seven lens elements, and preferably satisfies specified conditions related to f-number and focal length of the wide-angle lens, the maximum image height at the image surface, and the index of refraction of the object-side lens element of the second lens group.

In recent years, as a compact camera, a camera using an image pickup device such as a CCD, has become common. In response to the popularity of such cameras, various compact imaging lenses using a relatively small number of lens elements and lens components have been developed.
One ultimate objective in camera development is for a camera that produces a finished image that is the same as the original scene viewed by the human eye. However, with compact cameras using an image pickup device, such as a CCD, it is difficult to produce a picture of a bright image which is the same as the image viewed by the human eye, even with high performance imaging capabilities, and the desired objective has not been achieved.
It is generally possible to take a bright picture of a short-range object by using stroboscopic lighting and recording techniques. However, distant objects are not adequately lit in stroboscopic lighting arrangements, and therefore images as bright as those seen by the human eye cannot be produced. This has also been proven by many photographers who have been unable to record beautiful night views. Furthermore, in the case of stroboscopic arrangements, there is also the problem that continuous imaging is difficult in order to secure the time required for stroboscopic exposures.
At the same time, the sensitivity of photographic films has recently been rapidly improved, and films with high sensitivity through super high sensitivity, such as ISO400, ISO800 or ISO1600, are commercially available. It is predicted that in the future, if a film with additionally higher sensitivity is sold in the marketplace, it will become possible to take a picture of a bright image which is the same as the image viewed by the human eye.
Compact imaging lenses for mounting in compact cameras that use photographic film are disclosed, for example, in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Applications H9-236746, H11-326756, 2000-321490, and 2001-124985. The lenses described in these applications satisfy conditions such as a short back focus, short length when retracted, and a small lens diameter, to some extent, and, for example, the lens described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application H9-236746 includes four lens components that, from the object side, have negative, positive, positive and negative refractive powers, providing a compact large aperture wide-angle lens with excellent performance when implemented in an F2.8, 28 mm focal length imaging lens.
However, it is known that the improvement of the sensitivity and graininess of a silver salt film has a so-called inverse proportional relationship, that is, as the film sensitivity is increased, improving brightness of an image, the image becomes grainier, creating a rough appearance that is unattractive. Additionally, the image becomes less sharp and problems in color reproduction occur, making it difficult to achieve the desired objective mentioned above of producing an image that looks the same as when the scene is viewed directly by the human eye.
As a result of many studies of the above problems by the inventor of the present application, the conclusion has been reached that it is possible to respond to the desired objective mentioned above by enhancing the film sensitivity to some extent so as to not cause any problem from the viewpoint of granularity while at the same time dramatically improving the brightness of the imaging lens used in photographic film cameras that use a silver salt photographic film.
Specifically, it is possible to reproduce an image that is the same as the image viewed by the human eye by using a silver salt photographic film with high sensitivity or with commercially available super high sensitivity in conjunction with an imaging lens having approximately 83 degrees or greater field angle and an f-number of approximately 2.0.

Large aperture wide-angle lens and camera including large aperture wide-angle lens


A system and methods for trapping animals including an enclosure adapted to be suspended above a trap area. The enclosure may be movable from the suspended position to a lowered position to enclose a trap area. The system further includes a user-directed control system to remotely control the position of the enclosure in order to trap animals within the enclosure.

Overpopulation of wild animals, such as wild or feral hogs, can be problematic in a number of ways. Feral hogs may damage trees, vegetation, agricultural interests, and other property. The extent of property damage associated with feral hogs has been estimated to be as high as $800 million annually in the United States alone. In addition, feral hogs may prey on domestic animals such as pets and livestock, and may injure other animal populations by hunting them, destroying their habitat, and spreading disease.
The size and number of feral hogs in the United States contributes to their ability to cause damage to property and other animal populations. Mature feral hogs in the United States may be as tall as 36 inches and weigh from 100 to 400 lbs. Feral hog populations are also staggering. A publication by the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation of Ardmore, Okla. estimated there were between 617,000 and 1.4 million feral hogs in Oklahoma in 2007, and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department estimates that there are more than 1.5 million feral hogs in Texas, citing the animals' limited number of natural predators and high reproductive potential as underlying factors in the large population. Sows can produce up to ten piglets per litter and may produce two litters per year. Piglets reach sexual maturity at six months of age, allowing the hog population to quickly reach a state of overpopulation.
Because feral hogs are so numerous and have virtually no natural predators, in some areas it is desirable to artificially control their populations by trapping them. However, feral hogs are difficult to trap because they are relatively intelligent, have keen senses of hearing and smell, and quickly become suspicious of traps. In addition to being difficult to trap, the hogs' bulk and strength may render many traps unsuitable for capturing and holding multiple hogs.
A number of feral hog or animal traps and trapping systems exist today. Many trap designs are intended to trap one or only a small number of animals, commonly, animal-actuated traps. These traps are largely ineffective in controlling or impacting exploding feral animal populations. A smaller number of trap designs provide for a large corral-like structure to be constructed with the intention of capturing larger numbers of feral animals; however, these traps require considerable space, time and effort to construct and deconstruct. And, while such structures may be assembled on site, they are not readily portable. Given the fixed nature of these corral-systems (which include fixed panels that extend up from the ground), these systems typically require many days of visiting the site, baiting and training animals to overcome their suspicion. Lastly, there are a very small number of suspended trap systems that include animal-actuated systems (which have limited effectiveness) and/or require heavy-duty lift systems that require impractical or costly structures or complex cabling/pulleys as well as considerable applications of force to effect the raising and maintenance of a suspended trap above a trap site.
In addition to feral hogs, it may be desirable to trap a variety of other animals (e.g. burros, bears, and deer) and birds (e.g. geese) for purposes of urban encroachment, relocation, research or eradication.

Systems and methods for trapping animals

The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Inc.


The present invention provides for in vivo gene transfer to adipocytes mediated by adenovirus and, in particular, the in vivo transfer of toxic genes as a means of reducing adiposity, as well as the transfer of genes encoding angiogenic substances to induce new blood vessel growth. The present invention also provides for the in vivo gene transfer to adipocytes to supply a source of proteins to be used in the local milieu of the adipocyte tissue or to be secreted and used systemically. Further, the present invention provides for the transfer of the adipocytes to other sites within a host, following adenoviral-mediated transfer of genes to the adipocytes in vivo, to allow for the exploitation of the modified adipocytes as a transferable means for the production of protein.

Gene therapy entails the use of genetic information as the pharmacologic agent. While originally conceived as a means of treating hereditary disease, gene therapy is now recognized as a powerful tool for delivering therapeutic mRNA or proteins for local and/or systemic use (see, e.g., Friedmann, Science, 244, 1275-1281 (1989); Miller, Nature, 357, 455-460 (1992)). Generally, there are two approaches to gene therapy: ex vivo and in vivo. In the ex vivo approach, cells removed from a host are genetically modified in vitro before being returned to the host (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,399,346 (Anderson et al.)). In the in vivo approach, the genetic information itself is transferred directly to the host, without employing any cells as a vehicle for transfer.
Both approaches have been employed to transfer a so-called "therapeutic" gene to a host. Broadly considered, a therapeutic gene is a gene that corrects or compensates for an underlying protein deficit or, alternately, a gene that is capable of regulating another gene, or counteracting the negative effects of its encoded product, in a particular disease state, condition, disorder or syndrome. For instance, the ex vivo approach has been used for the modification of T lymphocytes in the treatment of adenosine deaminase deficiency, modification of hepatocytes in the treatment of familial hypercholesterolemia, and modification of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in the treatment of neoplastic disease (reviewed in Setoguchi et al., J. Investig. Dermatol., 102, 415-421 (1994)). The in vivo approach has been used, among others, for the treatment of cystic fibrosis and neoplastic disease (Setoguchi et al., supra). For the majority of these applications, the coding sequence of the therapeutic gene to be expressed has been placed under the control of an alternative promoter (in particular, a constitutive or inducible promoter), generating a recombinant therapeutic gene.
The predominant approach to gene therapy has employed the retrovirus as a vehicle for gene transfer. However, retroviruses have a number of drawbacks which severely limit their application, particularly in vivo (Mastrangeli et al., J. Clin. Invest., 91, 225-34 (1993); (Burns et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 90, 8033-37 (1993)). Consequently, many researchers have turned to the adenovirus as a vector for gene therapy (Horwitz, In: Virology, 2nd Ed., Fields et al., eds., (NY: Raven Press, 1990) 1679-1721; Berkner, K. L., BioTechniques, 6, 606-629 (1988); Ginsberg (ed.) The Adenoviruses (NY: Plenum Press, 1984); Horwitz, supra; Rosenfeld et al., Science, 252, 431-434 (1991); Rosenfeld et al., Cell, 68, 143-155 (1992); Quantin et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 89, 2581-2584 (1992); Crystal et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 21, 1607-12 (1993)). Replication-deficient, recombinant adenovirus vectors are highly efficient at transferring genes in vitro and in vivo, and currently are used in a wide variety of applications (see, e.g., Rosenfeld et al. (1991), supra; Rosenfeld et al. (1992), supra; Crystal et al., Nat. Genet., 8, 42-51 (1994); Lemarchand et al., Circ. Res., 72, 1132-1138 (1993); Guzman et al., Circ. Res., 73, 1202-1207 (1993); Bajocchi et al., Nat. Genet., 3, 229-234 (1993); Mastrangeli et al., supra).
Adenoviruses exist as non-enveloped double-stranded DNA viruses (Horwitz, supra). The adenovirus provides an efficient means for transferring biological materials to target cells (Otero et al., Virology, 160, 75-80 (1987); FitzGerald et al., Cell, 32, 607-617 (1983); Seth et al., Mol. Cell Biol., 4, 1528-1533 (1984); Yoshimura, Cell Struct. Funct., 10, 391-404 (1985); Defer et al., J. Virol., 64, 3661-3673 (1990); Rosenfeld et al. (1991), supra; Curiel et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 88, 8850-8854 (1991); Rosenfeld et al. (1992), supra; Quantin et al., supra; Curiel et al., Hum. Gene Therapy, 3, 147-154 (1992)). The adenovirus enters cells by a receptormediated endocytosis pathway. In the initial virusreceptor interaction, the adenovirus binds specific receptors present on the cell surface via fibers on its outer surface (Ginsberg, supra; Horwitz, supra; Seth et al., In: Virus Attachment and Entry into Cells, Colwell et al., eds., (DC: American Society for Microbiology, 1986) 191-195). Following attachment, the receptors with bound adenovirus cluster in coated pits, and the virus is internalized within a clathrin-coated vesicle and, subsequently, into an endosomal vesicle, termed an endosome, or receptosome (FitzGerald et al., supra). The adenovirus ultimately is translocated to the nucleus, where it directs the synthesis of nascent nucleic acids (FitzGerald et al., supra; Seth et al. (1984), supra; Seth et al. (1986) supra; Seth et al., J. Virol., 51, 650-655 (1984a); Seth et al., J. Biol. Chem., 259, 14350-14353 (1984b); Seth et al., J. Biol. Chem., 260, 9598-9602 (1985); Seth et al., J. Biol. Chem., 260, 14431-14434 (1985); Blumenthal et al., Biochemistry, 25, 2231-2237 (1986); Seth et al., J. Virol., 61, 883-888 (1987)).
The ability of the adenovirus to easily enter cells has been seized upon as a means of transporting macromolecules into cells (Otero et al., supra; FitzGerald et al., supra; Seth et al. (1984), supra; Yoshimura, supra; Defer et al., supra; Rosenfeld et al. (1991), supra; Curiel et al. (1991), supra; Rosenfeld et al. (1992), supra; Quantin et al., supra; Curiel et al. (1992), supra). There are two means by which such transfer has been effected. First, the adenovirus has been employed to transfer non-viral macromolecules packaged within the adenovirus either in place of, or in addition to, normal adenoviral components (Rosenfeld et al. (1991), supra; Rosenfeld et al. (1992), supra; Quantin et al., supra; Berkner, supra). Second, the adenovirus has been employed to mediate the transfer of non-viral macromolecules either linked to the surface of the adenovirus (e.g., by means of conjugation of the nucleic acid through a polylysine residue to an antibody to adenoviral capsid protein (Curiel et al. (1992), supra)) or in a "bystander" process where the macromolecule is cointernalized and taken along as cargo in the adenoviral receptor-endosome complex (Otero et al., supra; FitzGerald et al., supra; Seth et al. (1984), supra; Yoshimura, supra; Otero et al., supra; Defer et al., supra). Such a bystander process has been employed to enhance the transfer of a variety of non-viral macromolecules including plasmid DNA linked to ligands (Curiel et al. (1991), supra; Curiel et al. (1992), supra; Cotten et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 89, 6094-098 (1992)); Rosenfeld et al. (1992), supra; Quantin et al., supra; Cotten et al., J. Viroloqy, 67, 3777-3785 (1993); Wagner et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 78, 144-145 (1981)), and plasmid DNA unmodified by nonspecific linkers or by linker-ligand complexes (Yoshimura et al., J. Biolog. Chem., 268, 2300-303 (1993); PCT Application WO 95/21259 (Seth et al.)).
Recently, Setoguchi et al. (Setoguchi et al., supra) disclose adenoviral-mediated gene transfer to adipocytes in vivo of a replication-deficient recombinant adenoviral vector carrying the coding sequence of the .beta.-galactosidase reporter gene under the control of the Rous sarcoma virus long terminal repeat as a promoter. Similarly, Clayman et al. (Clayman et al., Cancer Gene Therapy, 2, 105-111 (1995)) disclose that submucosal injection in mice of a recombinant adenoviral vector carrying a .beta.-galactosidase reporter gene produces scattered staining of adipocytes along the needle track.
Other investigators working with vectors and means of delivery other than adenovirus have transferred genes other than reporter genes to adipocytes in vivo. Specifically, Ross et al. (Ross et al., Genes Devel., 1318-1324 (1993)) disclose the reduction of adiposity via gene transfer to adipose tissue of an attenuated diphtheria toxin A chain under the control of the adipocyte-specific adipocyte P2 (aP2) promoter. Yamaizumi et al. (Yamaizumi et al., Cell, 15, 245-50 (1978)) disclose cell killing through the introduction of diphtheria toxin fragment A, and Gregory et al. (Gregory et al., PCT Application WO 95/11984) disclose means of inducing cell death, such as with use of the conditional suicide gene thymidine kinase. Similarly, Graves et al. (Graves et al., Genes & Development, 5, 428-37 (1991)) and Ross et al. (Ross et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 89, 7561-65 (1992); Ross et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 87, 9590-94 (1990)) each disclose an adipocyte-specific enhancer located in the 5'-regulatory region of the aP2 gene.
Other references similarly disclose methods for deleting specific cell lineages by cell-specific expression of a toxin gene (Palmiter et al., Cell, 50, 435-43 (1987); Bernstein et al., Mol. Biol. Med., 6, 523-30 (1989); Behringer et al., Genes & Development, 2, 453-61 (1988); Hughes et al., PCT Application WO 92/09616)). The method employed typically calls for microinjecting into fertilized eggs a chimeric gene in which a cell-specific enhancer/promoter is used to drive the expression of a toxic gene product. In a modification of this approach, Hughes et al. (Hughes et al., supra) disclose reduction in the amount of fatty tissues of a host due to introduction of a vector encoding the chicken c-ski protein, which induces myogenic differentiation.
References not involving adenovirus as a means of gene transfer suggest further ways in which adipocytes can be modified in vivo to achieve specific therapeutic aims. Specifically, Spiegelman et al. (Spiegelman et al., J. Biol. Chem., 268(10), 6823-26 (1993)) review the regulation of adipocyte gene expression and suggest "influencing metabolism by controlling adipogenic gene expression" and "interfering! with adipogenesis and systemic metabolism by targeting these key regulators" associated with cell differentiation or obesity. Graves et al. (Graves et al., supra) suggest "the relationship between obesity and diabetes in several obese/diabetic mouse models . . . could be probed by directly suppressing adipose cell formation and/or lipid accumulation through the delivery of toxins or various receptors affecting lipid accumulation". Ross et al. (Ross et al. (1990), supra) disclose the production of transgenic mice containing the adipocyte-specific aP2 gene regulatory region linked to the coding sequence of a reporter gene as a means of monitoring tissue-specific expression and suggest "adipose-directed expression of exogenous genes may be an effective method to alter fat storage and thus directly manipulate the fatness of transgenic animals". Ross et al. (Ross et al. (1992), supra) further disclose the production of transgenic mice containing the adipocyte-specific aP2 gene regulatory region linked to the simian virus 40 (SV40) transforming genes as a means of directing expression of linked exogenous genes, such as oncogenes, to adipose tissue.
Other references also are relevant to adipocyte modification. Specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 5,268,295 (Serrero) relates to a mammalian adipocyte-specific polypeptide, termed p154, which is expressed in high quantities in adipogenic cell lines after differentiation. The '295 patent discloses the murine and human p154 polypeptide, as well as the DNA and RNA molecules coding therefor, methods for its preparation, and antibodies specific for the polypeptide. Flier et al. (Flier et al., Science, 237, 405-8 (1987)) disclose that expression of an adipsin gene and, correspondingly, circulating levels of the serine protease homolog are decreased in obesity. More recently, researchers have demonstrated that the protein product (Ob) of the mouse obese gene causes weight loss, and maintenance of the weight loss, when injected into animals (e.g., reviewed in Barinaga, Science, 269, 475-76 (1995)).
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved means of modifying adipocytes by transferring genes in vivo. It is an object of the present invention to provide such means, as well as vectors for effectuating such means. These and other objects and advantages of the present invention, as well as additional inventive features, will be apparent from the description of the invention provided herein.

Adenoviral-mediated gene transfer to adipocytes


The present invention is directed to an adjustable user interface. A method of configuring a user interface of an information handling system based on utilization of ports included with the information handling system may include monitoring a plurality of ports included on the information handling system. Utilization by a device of a port of the plurality of ports is monitored, the device communicatively coupled to at least one port of the plurality of ports. A user-interface operating on the information handling system is configured based on the determined utilization by the device of the port of the plurality of ports.

With the proliferation of electronic devices, users have access to a wide range of functionality. From digital cameras and camcorders, to digital music players, digital video disc players, the Internet, and the like, users may access content from a wide variety of sources. However, these sources may not be readily combinable and accessible by a user in an efficient manner.
Media-editing programs are typically created for a given media type, such as photo-editing software for electronic photos, video-editing program for digital video, and the like, and are typically ill-suited for the inclusion of content types not specifically designed for by the system. Although the media-editing program in some instances may import other media types, the manipulation of the imported content may have undesirable results.
For example, a user may wish to combine video from a home movie and audio from an audio source, such as from a network connection over the Internet. Further, the user may wish to also combine still photos from a digital camera into an integrated viewing and listening experience. Accessing the content from these various systems and sources may be difficult to perform in a unified manner. For instance, a user may need to access a browser, access software provided by the digital camera to obtain the content, as well as access a digital videodisc player. Additionally, the importation of content may result in changing the content from its previously desired state. Thus, the user must progress through a multi-step process to even access the content, much less manipulate the content in a desired manner.
Further, previous interfaces do not provide access to the content in an intuitive manner, and may require the user to navigate through various screens to access desired manipulation tools, and the like. This is especially true in instances when a media type is imported into a program that was not designed to access the content.


A system compatibility method and apparatus are disclosed. The system compatibility method includes sending, according to a downlink resource configured in a new frame structure of a first system, information of a downlink resource carrier. The information of the downlink resource carrier includes information of a downlink resource carrier compatible with a second system. Information of an uplink resource carrier is received according to an uplink resource configured in the new frame structure of the first system. The information of the uplink resource carrier includes information of an uplink resource carrier compatible with the second system.

Long term evolution (LTE) proposed by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) is the largest new technology R&D project of the 3GPP in the recent two years. The LTE project focuses on the orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) and multi-input multi-output (MIMO) technologies. The main performance objectives of the 3GPP LTE project include: a downlink rate of 100 Mbps and a peak uplink rate of 50 Mbps can be provided at a 20 MHz spectral bandwidth, and may be used to improve the performance of cell edge users, so as to increase the cell capacity and reduce the system delay. When the internal unidirectional transmission delay of the user plane is shorter than 5 ms, it takes the control plane less than 50 ms to transition from the sleep state to the active state, and less than 100 ms to transition from the camping state to the active state. In addition, a cell coverage with the radius of 100 km may be supported; over 100 kbps access services can be provided for users who move at the speed of 350 km/h; paired or unpaired spectrums can also be supported; and various bandwidths ranging from 1.25 MHz to 20 MHz may be flexibly configured.
To support a higher system bandwidth and achieve larger capacity and higher spectrum efficiency, the LTE-advanced (LTE-A) system introduces an important feature, that is, carrier aggregation (CA). CA depends on the terminal capability, service requirement, and network configuration. CA may be CA of continuous spectrums or CA of discontinuous spectrums. The bandwidths aggregated by CA may be the same or different, for example, the aggregation of 5 MHz and 10 MHz.
The LTE-A system is evolved from the LTE system and also represents the evolution direction of communication systems in the future. To implement the evolution from the 802.16e system to the time division duplex (TDD) LTE-A system, one carrier may be used to carry 802.16e system, and another carrier may be used to carry TDD LTE-A. The 16e system needs to occupy a carrier even if there are only few users in the 802.16e system, thereby causing a waste of resources. To reduce the waste of resources, the physical layer of the 16e system may be integrated with the physical layer of the TDD LTE-A system. However, because the TDD LTE-A system cannot satisfy the synchronous transceiving requirement on the entire network, large interference may occur between systems, so that the systems cannot work normally.

System compatibility method and apparatus


An image forming apparatus includes a setting unit configured to set a prohibition timer that prohibits shutdown when the image forming apparatus returns from a power saving state, and a control unit configured, when a shutdown time set in advance has passed, to control the shutdown of the image forming apparatus to be delayed until a time of the prohibition timer set by the setting unit is up, and to control the shutdown of the image forming apparatus to be forcibly performed when the time of the prohibition timer has been up.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an information processing method, and a storage medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, a multifunction peripheral having a function to automatically shut down when not used by a user has been available with the progress of power saving. There are various methods of automatic shutdown. For example, an auto shutdown timer function (hereinafter, referred to as auto shutdown timer) is a function to start a timer upon entering a sleep state, and to automatically shut down a system when the timer is up after being left for several hours. In addition, an auto shutdown time function (hereinafter, referred to as weekly shutdown) is a function to designate a time of each day of the week by the user and to automatically shut down the system at the designated time.
Meanwhile, a server that manages the multifunction peripheral has been required to gather information for system optimization, that is, to create a base for reduction of the entire cost, which is the issue to be addressed by customers. Therefore, the server automatically gathers information on states of the multifunction peripherals at a designated time, and outputs data indicating, for example, usage conditions of the customers. In addition, a sales person proposes optimum arrangement, number, speed and the like of multifunction peripherals based on the data from the server.
These functions do not raise any problem in terms of the multifunction peripheral or the server alone. However, when considering the functions as a system, there is a problem. For example, if the multifunction peripheral automatically shuts down while the server is gathering information of the multifunction peripheral through a network, acquisition of the information ends halfway, that is, the acquisition fails.
Shutdown during data communication or disconnection upon entering sleep is not a mere bug but a normal operation. This is because the data communication occurs at various timings such as an inquiry of a state of a device by the server at a predetermined time interval using a simple network management protocol (SNMP). Therefore, if the connection cannot be cut during the data communication, there is little chance to shut down or to enter sleep. As a result, power consumption increases.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-64206 discusses a technology for extending a time to shut down if a device has already logged in to the network when shutdown is performed by pressing a power source button.
As described above, if the multifunction peripheral is shut down in the middle of the data acquisition by the server, the data acquisition by the server fails in the middle of the acquisition. In addition, if the failure of the server continues for several days, data missing happens, and data may not be updated.
Further, the server cannot learn what kind of setting has been made to the multifunction peripheral. If the server is self-developed, it can notify the multifunction peripheral of the data acquisition, and the multifunction peripheral can notify the server of a time to shut down, so that the problem can be avoided. However, in a case where the server is not self-developed, it is necessary to disclose a protocol and to ask the server to take measures, and thus, it is not so easy. In addition, even in the case of the self-developed server, it is necessary to take measures every time a new server is added. Therefore, the multifunction peripheral needs some measures.

Image forming apparatus, method for controlling image forming apparatus, and storage medium


A wired circuit board has an insulating layer extending in a longitudinal direction, a conductive layer having a plurality of signal wirings covered with the insulating layer and arranged in mutually spaced-apart and parallel relation in a perpendicular direction to the longitudinal direction and a thickness direction of the insulating layer, and connecting terminals provided on both longitudinal ends of each of the signal wirings and exposed from the insulating layer, and a ground layer covered with the insulating layer and formed to surround each of the signal wirings in a perpendicular direction to the longitudinal direction. A slit along the longitudinal direction is formed between each of the signal wirings in the insulating layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wired circuit board and an electronic device and, more particularly, to a wired circuit board such as a flexible wired circuit board and an electronic device using the wired circuit board, such as a cellular phone.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, flexible wired circuit boards have been used in the movable members of various electronic devices such as a cellular phone, a notebook personal computer, and a video camera.
In recent years, in terms of higher data density, an increase in the frequency of a signal has been required in such a flexible wired circuit board. However, when the frequency of the signal is increased, a transmission loss in a signal wiring increases undesirably.
To reduce such a transmission loss, it has been proposed that, e.g., in a wiring board including a line, a shield pattern disposed generally in parallel with the line, a conductor layer (upper conductor layer) disposed to face each of the line and the shield pattern via an insulating layer (upper insulating layer), a conductor layer (lower conductor layer) disposed to face each of the line and the shield pattern via an insulating layer (lower insulating layer), and conductive pillars connecting the upper conductor layer and the lower conductor layer, a ground potential is supplied to each of the shield pattern, the upper conductor layer, the lower conductor layer, and the conductive pillars which surround the line along an extending direction of the line over 360° around the circumference thereof (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,353,189).
It has also been proposed that, e.g., in a connector in which a base shield layer, a base insulating layer, a conductor layer composed of a plurality of conductors, a cover insulating layer, and a cover shield layer are successively laminated, the base shield layer and the cover shield layer continuously surround the conductor layer via the base insulating layer and the cover insulating layer (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,926,007).

Wired circuit board and electronic device


Methods are provided for detecting the formation of complexes of molecules, especially proteins, in a sample, such as a cell or tissue lysate. In one aspect, a cleaving probe specific for a first protein in a complex and one or more binding compounds specific for one or more second proteins in a complex are provided. Upon binding, the cleaving probe is induced to generate an active species, such as singlet oxygen, that cleaves molecular tags attached to the binding compounds only in the local region of the cleaving probe. The released molecular tags are separated from the assay mixture and from one another to provide a readout that is related to the number and types of proteins present in the complex.

The formation and disassociation of molecular complexes are crucial to regulatory processes in living organisms. In particular, signaling pathways between the surface and nucleus of cells involve the formation of many molecular complexes in which multiple proteins are assembled to directly or indirectly induce molecular events, such as phosphorylation or dephosphorylation, which are steps in the signaling process, Gomperts et al, Signal Transduction (Academic Press, New York, 2002). Such pathways and their components have been the subject of intense investigation because of the role aberrant pathway behavior plays in many disease conditions, especially cancer, e.g. McCormick, Trends in Cell Biology, 9: 53-56 (1999); Blume-Jensen and Hunter, Nature, 411: 355-365 (2001); Nicholson et al, Cellular Signalling, 14: 381-395 (2002); and the like. It has been observed that many cancers are associated with an accumulation of mutations or other genetic alterations that affect components of signaling pathways, e.g. by over expression, particularly those pathways involved with cell proliferation, cell motility, differentiation, and cell death, e.g. Blume-Jensen and Hunter (cited above). Unfortunately, such signaling pathways have been difficult to study not only because of their complexity and interconnectedness, but also because of the disruptive procedures required for analysis of intracellular complexes, e.g. Weng et al, Science, 284: 92-96 (1999); Machida et al, Molecular & Cellular Proteomics, 2.4: 215-233 (2003); Price et al, Methods in Molecular Biology, 218: 255-267 (2003). In particular, the study of phosphorylation states of signaling proteins has been difficult because during sample preparation the phosphorylation state is rapidly altered by the actions of enzymes, such as phosphatases.
A wide variety of techniques have been used to study cellular protein-protein interactions and complexes, including immunoprecipitation, chemical cross-linking, bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET), fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), and the like, e.g. Price et al (cited above); Sorkin et al, Curr. Biol., 10: 1395-1398 (2000); McVey et al, J. Biol. Chem., 17: 14092-14099 (2001); Salim et al, J. Biol. Chem., 277: 15482-15485 (2002); Angers et al, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 97: 3684-3689 (2000). Unfortunately, such techniques are difficult to apply, and generally lack sufficient sensitivity to provide an accurate picture of the state of a signaling pathway.
In view of the above, the availability of a convenient, sensitive, and cost effective technique for simultaneously detecting or measuring one or more molecular complexes, particularly those in signaling pathways, would advance many fields where such measurements are becoming increasingly important, including life science research, medical research and diagnostics, drug discovery, and the like.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Detecting and profiling molecular complexes


A method according to one embodiment includes communicating a wireless advertisement that identifies a clock status of a real-time clock of the access control device, wherein the clock status includes a clock status value indicating that the real-time clock has not been set, establishing a wireless communication connection with a computing device in response to the wireless advertisement, transmitting a session random value to the computing device, receiving a clock update token from the computing device, wherein the clock update token is indicative of an authority of the computing device to update the real-time clock of the access control device, authenticating the clock update token based on at least the session random value, and updating the real-time clock based on a received update time in response to successful authentication of the clock update token.

Access control systems typically involve the use of credentials to manage the operation of an access control device (e.g., a lock device). Such credentials may be assigned to a particular user or device and are often physical in nature, forming at least a portion of, for example, a smartcard, proximity card, key fob, token device, or mobile device. Additionally, an access control database that identifies which credentials (e.g., which user devices) are permitted control over the access control device (e.g., lock/unlock functions) is typically stored on the access control device or a server in communication with the access control device. As such, an update to the access control database to change the credentials associated with the access control device, if even possible, often involves an update (or even a factory reset) of the access control device itself.
Access control systems that rely on time-based credentials often assume that access control devices (e.g., lock devices) and/or other secure devices have an accurate time basis. However, battery replacement, certain hardware malfunctions, and various other conditions may cause the real-time clock of those devices to be reset. As such, various errors may occur when a time-based credential is presented to an access control device with a real-time clock that has been reset.

Secure real-time clock update in an access control system


The present disclosure relates to method for underground installation of a pre-ducted optical fiber cable assembly. The method includes a first step of drilling a first pilot bore from a second manhole to a first manhole. In addition, the method includes a second step of pulling the pre-ducted optical fiber cable assembly. Further, the method includes a third step of drilling a second pilot bore from a third manhole to the second manhole. Furthermore, the method includes a fourth step of pulling the pre-ducted optical fiber cable assembly from the second manhole to the third manhole. Moreover, the method of underground installation of the pre-ducted optical fiber cable assembly eliminates the need for blowing the pre-ducted optical fiber cable assembly with a cable blowing machine.

The use and demand for optical fiber cables has grown tremendously in the past few years. One such type of optical fiber cable is micro optical fiber cable. The micro optical fiber cable is used in micro duct applications and is installed in micro ducts. Traditionally, the micro optical fiber cable is laid inside the micro ducts by broadly performing two steps. The two steps involve burying the micro duct inside the ground followed by blowing the cable into the micro duct using a blowing machine. In the conventional methods, two kilometer cable drum is kept at the centre of a track that is at around one kilometer down the track. The duct pieces are laid between the manholes for the entire two kilometer of the track. Generally, one kilometer of cable is pulled from the drum through the duct to a first manhole. Two hundred meter of cable is laid in the duct and the remaining eight hundred is laid on the ground in figure 8 shape. Eight hundred meter of the cable is pulled from the second manhole and twenty meter of coil is stored in manhole one. Two hundred meter of cable is laid in the duct and the remaining six hundred meter is laid on the ground in figure 8 shape. In a similar manner, cable is laid till one kilometer on one side of the track. One kilometer of cable left on the drum is laid on ground in figure 8 shape and the same method is followed again on the other side of the track. The currently available micro optical fiber cable has certain limitations. The existing micro optical fiber cable is installed by performing two different steps. This increases the overall installation time and the cost of installation. There is a need for eliminating the blowing cable step in order to reduce cost and overall time of installation. In addition, there is a need of a solution to install pre-ducted cable assembly using HDD installation. In light of the foregoing discussion, there exists a need for an optical fiber cable assembly which overcomes the above cited drawbacks of conventionally known optical fiber cables.

Installation of pre-ducted optical fiber cable assembly


The present application provides stable peptide-based Akt capture agents and methods of use as detection and diagnosis agents and in the treatment of diseases and disorders. The application further provides methods of manufacturing Akt capture agents using iterative on-bead in situ click chemistry.

Ligands that selectively bind to proteins with single amino acid point mutations are becoming increasingly important for both diagnostics and therapeutics. In a diagnostic setting, such binders can be used to assay for the mutant protein within diseased tissues, and thus potentially provide clinical guidance for treatment decisions. A more ambitious application is the development of drugs that can selectively inhibit mutant proteins, and thus avoid those toxic side-effects that stem from the inhibition of the wild-type (WT) variants that reside in non-diseased tissues.
A challenge of drug targeting a single point mutation is that the mutation may not be directly associated with a binding pocket. The presence of a binding pocket is traditionally required for small molecule inhibitor development. This requirement does not hold for antibodies and, in fact, several examples of monoclonal antibodies directed against epitopes containing single amino acid mutations do exist. However, antibodies do not readily enter the living cells that can harbor the mutated proteins, and so mutation-selective antibodies are typically only used as diagnostic reagents for staining fixed cells or tissues. Thus, there is a need for an approach that can identify small molecules that can be generally targeted against epitopes containing single amino acid point mutations, and which can potentially be developed into cell-penetrant inhibitors.
Akt1 kinase plays a critical role in the PI3K signaling pathway—the activation of which is closely linked to tumor development and cancer cell survival. The recently discovered E17K mutation in the Pleckstrin Homology Domain (PHD) of Akt1 results in an increased affinity for the phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-trisphosphate (PIP3) substrate at the cell membrane. Consequently, this deregulated recruitment of Akt1 to the cell membrane causes constitutive activation of the PI3K pathway, which has been shown to induce leukemia in mice. The oncogenic properties of the driving E17K single point mutation make it a target for both detection and inhibition.

Mutant Akt-specific capture agents, compositions, and methods of using and making


A pair of eyeglasses includes an elongated lens unit, a pair of connectors, and a pair of elongated bows. The lens unit has opposite end portions, each of which has an upright lateral edge formed with a positioning notch and is further formed with a positioning hole spaced apart from the upright lateral edge. Each of the connectors has a base portion, and longer and shorter clamping plates which extend from a front end of the base portion and which cooperatively form a receiving groove therebetween for receiving a respective end portion of the lens unit such that the longer clamping plate abuts against a front side face of the lens unit and such that the shorter clamping plate abuts against a rear side face of the lens unit. The receiving groove is provided with a retaining protrusion therein to engage the positioning notch in the respective end portion. The longer clamping plate is provided with a resilient positioning stud which extends releasably into the positioning hole in the respective end portion to engage removably the lens unit. Each of the elongated bows is mounted pivotally on a respective one of the connectors.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a pair of eyeglasses, more particularly to a pair of frameless eyeglasses with detachable bows that can be easily assembled to and detached from a lens unit thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 illustrates a pair of conventional frameless eyeglasses 1 which includes a unitary lens piece 11, a pair of connectors 12 secured on two opposite ends of the lens piece 11, and a pair of bows 13 mounted pivotally and respectively on distal ends of the connectors 12. The connectors 12 are secured to the lens piece 11 by means of a pair of screws 14.
Since the screws 14 are relatively small, the threading operation of the screws 14 for fastening together the connectors 12 and the lens piece 11 must be conducted with the use of a tool, and is thus relatively time consuming.
When the bows 13 are to be replaced with a new pair of bows, or when the lens piece 11 is to be replaced with a differently colored one, the screws 14 must be unthreaded with the use of a screw driver, and then be threaded again after installation of the new bows or the new lens piece. In addition, the threading and unthreading operation might result in damage to the screws 14 and in wearing of the screw threads on the screws 14. This results in considerable inconvenience to the user.


The present invention relates to the isolation and characterization of CEL I and CEL II endonuclease proteins. Methods and kits for identifying mismatches in double-stranded DNA are also provided.

A novel family of DNA mismatch-specific endonucleases from plants have been found (Oleykowski, et al. (1998) Nucl. Acid Res. 26:4597–4602; Yang, et al. (2000) Biochem. 39:3533–3541). Celery was found to be enriched in this endonuclease activity and the purified enzyme was accordingly named CEL I (Oleykowski, et al. (1998) supra; Yang, et al. (2000) supra). CEL I cleaves DNA at the 3′-side of sites of base-substitution mismatch and DNA distortion.
CEL I is useful in mismatch detection assays that rely on nicking and cleaving duplex DNA at insertion/deletion and base-substitution mismatches (Oleykowski, et al. (1998) supra; Yang, et al. (2000) supra; Kulinski, et al. (2000) BioTechniques 29:44–48; Colbert, et al. (20001) Plant Physiol. 126:480–484; Sokurenko, et al. (2001) Nucl. Acids Res. 29:e111; U.S. Pat. No. 5,869,245).
Purified preparations of CEL nuclease identified as CEL I contain two different protein species, CEL I and CEL II (Yang, et al. (2000) supra; U.S. Pat. No. 5,869,245). One species, called CEL I, has an apparent molecular weight of 43 kDa as determined by SDS-PAGE. Removal of N-linked oligosaccharides with Endo Hf reduces the molecular weight to 29 kDa. CEL I was partially sequenced and the gene encoding CEL I was isolated from a celery cDNA library, sequenced, and cloned into E. coli (Yang, et al. (2000) supra; U.S. Pat. No. 5,869,245). CEL II has an apparent molecular weight of 39 kDa as determined by SDS-PAGE and removal of N-linked oligosaccharides reduces the molecular weight to 37 kDa. Chromatographic separation of CEL I and CEL II has not been described and isolated preparations of CEL I nuclease contain varying ratios of CEL I and CEL II enzymes.
The present invention relates to the isolation and characterization of CEL I and CEL II from preparations of CEL I nuclease mixtures of celery. CEL I and CEL II enzymes are differentiated in a DNase solubilization assay; CEL I prefers acidic conditions whereas CEL II prefers alkaline reaction conditions.


A pet food composition having at least two carotenoids. The carotenoids can include a keto-carotenoid and at least one non-keto-carotenoid. The keto-carotenoid can include astaxanthin. The keto-carotenoid can include astaxanthin ester. The non-keto-carotenoid can include beta-carotene and/or lutein.

The bioavailability of carotenoids from diets can be affected by a complex number of factors such as physicochemical properties of the various carotenoids (free vs. esterified; hydrocarbon vs. oxygenated); their physical state (crystals vs. protein bound vs. solubilized in oil); dietary factors, e.g. amounts and types of fat and fiber; nutritional and physiologic status of the subject, and genotype. Additionally, carotenoid interactions at the intestinal level may reduce absorption of either of the carotenoids. Competition for absorption may occur at the level of micellar incorporation, intestinal uptake, lymphatic transport, or at more than one level. For example, beta-carotene was reported to decrease lutein absorption, whereas lutein decreased beta-carotene absorption in some human subjects but increased it in others (See Kostic D, White W S, Olson J A. Intestinal absorption, serum clearance, and interactions between lutein and β-carotene when administered to human adults in separated or combined oral doses. Am J Clin Nutr. 1995; 62:604-610). In another study, lutein impaired beta-carotene absorption by human subjects but did not affect the secretion of retinyl esters in chylomicrons (See van den Berg H, van Vliet T. Effect of simultaneous, single oral doses of 13-carotene with lutein or lycopene on the β-carotene and retinyl ester responses in the triglyceride-rich fraction of men. Am J Clin Nutr 1998; 68:82-89). In contrast, beta-carotene absorption was not affected by lycopene in these subjects. Additional reports of interactions between pure carotenoids that affect their postprandial appearance in plasma of humans and animals have been reviewed by van den Berg (See van den Berg H. Carotenoid interactions. Nutr Rev. 1999; 57:1-10.). Tyssandier et al. reported that the absorption of beta-carotene, lutein, and lycopene from a single vegetable was greater when the food was administered alone than when it was co-administered with either a second carotenoid-rich vegetable or the purified carotenoid that was enriched in the second vegetable (See Tyssandier V, Reboul E, Dumas J, Bouteloup-Demange C, Armand M, Marcand J, Sallas M, Borel P. Processing of vegetable-borne carotenoids in human stomach and duodenum. Am J Physiol (Gastrointest Liver Physiol). 2003; 284:G913-G922).
Early studies have reported that both the canine and domestic feline are unable to absorb beta-carotene from the diet (Goodwin T. Mammalian carotenoids. In: Goodwin T W, ed. The comparative biochemistry of the carotenoids. London: Chapman and Hall Ltd., 1952; 229-269). Recently, several systematic studies indicated that dogs and cats can absorb beta-carotene and lutein (Weng B C, Chew B P, Park J S, Wong T S, Combs R L, Hayek M G, Reinhart G A. β-Carotene uptake by blood plasma and leukocytes in dogs. FASEB J 1997; 11:A180 Kim H W, Chew B P, Wong T S, Park J S, Weng B B, Byrne K M, Hayek M G, Reinhart G A. Dietary lutein stimulates immune response in the canine. Vet Immunol Immunopathol. 2000 May 23; 74(3-4):315-27. Chew B P, Weng B C, Park J S, Wong T S, Combs R L, Hayek M G, Reinhart G A. Uptake of β-carotene by blood plasma and lymphocytes in cats. FASEB J 1997; 11:A447. Kim, H. W., Chew, B. P., Wong, T. S., Park, J. S., Weng, B. C., Byrne, K. M., Hayek, M. G. & Reinhart, G. A. Modulation of humoral and cell-mediated immune responses by dietary lutein in cats. Vet. Immunol. Immunopath. 2000, 73:331-341). However, it is unknown how carotenoids interact with each other in dogs and cats. A beneficial effect between the carotenoids is desired if used in companion animals because it is believed that each individual carotenoid has a potential role in contributing to the health of dogs and cats. Thus, a product is desired that would combine carotenoids in a way to positively affect the absorption of those carotenoids. Such a product could then exhibit more beneficial effects on the animal.

Compositions and methods relating to carotenoids


A method modulates data for optical communication by first encoding the data using a forward error correction (FEC) encoder to produce encoded data, which are encoded using a block encoder to produce block encoded data such that Lee distances between code words that represent the block encoded data are increased. The block encoded data are mapped to produce mapped data such that Euclidian distances between the constellation points are increased. Then, the mapped data are modulated in a transmitter to a modulated signal for an optical channel.

Optical coherent communication systems are naturally suited for modulation with four-dimensional (4D) signal constellations. Four-dimensional modulation formats can achieve substantial gains compared with conventional formats, such as dual-polarization quaternary phase-shift keying (DP-QPSK) and 16-ary quadrature amplitude modulation (DP-16 QAM). Polarization-switched QPSK (PS-QPSK) and set-partitioned 128-ary QAM (SP-128 QAM) are known to be practical 4D constellations, and they can achieve 1.76 dB and 2.43 dB gains in asymptotic power efficiency, respectively. Gains of up to 1.5 dB can be achieved with forward-error correction (FEC). While some higher-dimensional modulation formats are known, their application to optical communications has been limited to the 4D case because of their increased complexity.

Quaternary block-coded high-dimensional modulation for coherent optical communications

Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.


A technique for spectral widening in a communication system may divide respective symbols of a block of symbols into symbol pieces of shorter duration than a symbol. The symbol pieces may be scrambled. The resulting scrambled symbol pieces may optionally be further spread using direct-sequence spreading prior to transmission. Error-control coding may also be used prior to dividing the symbols into symbol pieces and scrambling the symbol pieces. Additionally, the number of symbol pieces per symbol may be adjustable, based on channel characteristics, performance, or both.

In communication systems, one may need a symbol to contain a certain received energy, usually termed Es, in order to correctly decode the information carried by the symbol. However, in some situations, one may also need the transmitted power per Hertz (Hz) to be below some ceiling. This is often required to avoid interfering with other signals in the same frequency band. One way to do this may be to widen the spectrum of the transmitted signal, i.e., to transmit the same energy over a wider bandwidth, in order to be able to meet such a constraint. For example, if one would like to transmit 10 kbps and would need somewhere in the 13-20 kHz range to send it, one may need to spread that power across, e.g., 1 MHz of bandwidth.
One known way to do this is direct-sequence (DS) spreading. In a DS spread-spectrum (DSSS) system, each symbol to be transmitted may be multiplied by a spreading sequence, which may be, for example, but is not limited to, a pseudo-random sequence (to be referred to as a "PN sequence" herein). As a result, for a particular symbol, one may multiply by, for example, an 80-chip PN sequence, and the resulting increase in the number of transitions (which may be in phase, frequency or amplitude or some other characteristic) between those chips may serve to widen the spectrum.
An issue in using DSSS is that it may make acquisition more difficult, and the longer the PN sequence used, the more difficult acquisition becomes. As a result, long training sequences may be needed to provide synchronization/acquisition for DSSS systems using long PN sequences. Therefore, it may be desirable to use another technique to shorten the length of the PN sequence needed or instead of using DSSS.

Breaking up symbols for spectral widening


A stacked film of a first insulation film being a silicon oxide film with an extremely low moisture content, and a second insulation film being a silicon oxide film with a higher moisture content than the first insulation film, therefore, with a low in-plane film thickness distribution rate is formed, and this is polished by CMP. Polishing is performed until the second insulation film is wholly removed directly above a ferroelectric capacitor structure and a surface of the first insulation film is exposed to some extent. At this time, surface flattening is performed for a top surface of a first portion in the first insulation film and a top surface of the second insulation film, and an interlayer insulation film constituted of the first insulation film and the second insulation film remaining on a second portion of the first insulation film is formed.

In recent years, development of a ferroelectric memory (FeRAM) that holds information in a ferroelectric capacitor structure by using polarization inversion of ferroelectrics has been pursued. A ferroelectric memory especially attracts attention because it is a nonvolatile memory which does not lose information held therein even when the power supply is cut off, and realization of high integration density, high-speed drive, high durability and low power consumption can be expected from it.
As the material of the ferroelectric film constituting the ferroelectric capacitor structure, a ferroelectric oxide having a perovskite crystal structure such as a PZT (Pb(Zr, Ti)O3) film with a large remnant polarization amount, for example, of about 10(μC/cm2) to 30(μC/cm2), and an SBT (SrBi2Ta2O9) film is mainly used.
In a capacitor structure, especially, in a ferroelectric capacitor structure, it is known that the characteristics of a ferroelectric film degrades by moisture entering from an outside through an interlayer insulation film having high affinity with water such as a silicon oxide film. Namely, the moisture entering from the outside is decomposed into hydrogen and oxygen in the high-temperature process at the time of deposition of an interlayer insulation film and metal wiring. If the hydrogen enters the ferroelectric film, it reacts with oxygen in the ferroelectric film to form oxygen deficiency in the ferroelectric film to degrade crystallinity. A similar phenomenon occurs due to long-term use of a ferroelectric memory. As a result, performance degradation of the ferroelectric capacitor structure such as reduction in the remnant polarization amount and dielectric constant of the ferroelectric film, or the like occurs. Further, such entry of hydrogen sometimes degrades the performances of not only the ferroelectric capacitor structure but also the transistor and the like.
Accordingly, in order to prevent entry of moisture/hydrogen into the ferroelectric capacitor structure, the ferroelectric capacitor structure is covered with a thin film (hydrogen diffusion prevention film) of alumina (Al2O3) or the like, having the function of preventing diffusion of hydrogen, and in order to form an insulation film with an extremely low moisture content as an interlayer insulation film covering the ferroelectric capacitor structure via the hydrogen diffusion prevention film, a silicon oxide film is formed by a plasma CVD method using a source gas including, for example, TEOS. By forming the silicon oxide film as the interlayer insulation film under a so-called extremely low moisture content condition, entry of moisture/hydrogen into the ferroelectric capacitor structure can be prevented as much as possible in corporation with the hydrogen diffusion prevention film.
However, the silicon oxide film formed under the above described extremely low moisture content condition has the in-plane film thickness distribution of about 5%, and even when the silicon oxide film is formed to cover the ferroelectric capacitor structure as the interlayer insulation film, and thereafter, surface flattening is performed for it by polishing it with a Chemical Mechanical Polishing method (Chemical-Mechanical Polishing: CMP method), its in-plane film thickness distribution is large. Therefore, the influence of the ferroelectric capacitor structure on the ferroelectric characteristics, variation in the contact resistance, and the like become problems.

Semiconductor device and manufacturing method of the same


The invention intends to provide a memory card conforming to an HS-MMC mode in a standard of a multimedia card, while securing compatibility of both standards of the multimedia card and an SD card. In a normal MMC mode, the data is outputted at a fall edge of a clock signal. A frequency of the clock signal is about 20 MHz. When the data is outputted at the fall edge of the clock signal, data output is in time for a next clock signal. When a parameter ‘1’ is set to a timing register provided in a host interface, the memory card is transitioned into the HS-MMC mode. In the HS-MMC mode, a clock signal frequency is increased to about 52 MHz. Here, the data is outputted at the rise edge of the clock signal, whereby the data output is brought in time for the rise edge of the next clock signal.

The present invention relates to a technique for improving the compatibility in the memory card, specifically to a technique effective in use for securing the compatibility in the card memory conforming to the HS-MMC (High Speed-Multimedia Card) mode.
The market has accepted the memory cards such as the multimedia card (registered trademark) standardized by the MMCA (Multimedia Card Association) being a standardization association, and the SD (Secure Digital) card (registered trademark) standardized by the SDA (SD card Association), as one of the external storage media for personal computers and multi-function terminals, etc. These memory cards are used for recording static images by a digital camera, recording communication data by a mobile telephone, and recording reproduced music by a portable music player, etc.
Many host computers including personal computers and multi-function terminals and so forth conform to both of the multimedia card and the SD card. Although the multimedia card and the SD card are different in the number of the external terminals (7 terminals in the multimedia card/9 terminals in the SD card), the multimedia card is thinner than the SD card, and the external terminal position thereof is compatible with that of the SD card. Therefore, the multimedia card can be used on the host computer that permits using the SD card.
In the normal mode of the multimedia card, as for the data output timing, the setup time/hold time of the data output is stipulated to the rise edge of the clock signal, as shown in FIG. 25 (refer to the standard specification by the MMCA for the details of the multimedia card).
On the other hand, in the case of the SD card, the timing of the data output is stipulated by the delay time from the fall edge of the clock signal, as shown in FIG., 26 (refer to the standard specification by the SDA for the details of the SD card).
In the case of using the multimedia card on the host computer conforming to the SD card, the data output timing is different; accordingly, the data differs from that of the SD card, and there arises an impossibility of the compatibility with each other.
Thus, some multimedia cards secure the compatibility with the host conforming to the SD card, by taking the timing being in time for the setup time and executing the data output at the fall edge of the clock signal.

Memory card conforming to a multiple operation standards