A strip of heat activated structural adhesive film is sandwiched between two thin strips of tempered steel shim stock, and the combined strips are placed into a semi-cylindrical cavity defined by a female mold member or block. A mating male mold member or metal bar presses the strips into the cavity while the parts are heated within a heated platen hydraulic press to form a laminated curved shoe body. After the shoe body is cooled, a semi-cylindrical collar is attached by another strip of the adhesive to one end portion of the laminated shoe body and with similar mold members heated within the press. The attached collar seats within a mating recess formed within a semi-circular mounting member and is removably secured by screws to provide for conveniently replacing the shoe body.

In the assembly of a product which forms no part of the present invention, it is necessary to insert a first cylindrical article or part into a second cylindrical or tubular article or part in close fitting relation while protecting the inner cylindrical surface of the second part. To assist in the assembly, it is known to use a pair of opposing thin semi-cylindrical shoes each constructed of stainless sheet steel or molded of composite plastics material. The opposing semi-cylindrical shoes are inserted into the second part, after which the first part is inserted between the opposing shoes. After the insertion of the first part into the second part, the pair of opposing shoes are retracted from the assembled parts. If the outer cylindrical surface of the first part and/or the inner surface of the second part is rough and abrasive, the thin shoes wear quickly and thus have a relatively short service life so that the shoes must be frequently replaced. This requires the assembly operation to be disrupted, and the replacement of the shoes significantly increases the cost of assembling the parts.

Guide shoe assembly and method of production


A combined tongue depressor and oral spray adapted to be connectable to a container containing an oral spray material to enable material contents contained within the container to be dispensed through the tongue depressor and oral spray to reach a throat cavity and a rear portion of the tongue, including a universally moveable longitudinal tube member having an inner passageway extending from a proximal and thereof to a distal end thereof; the proximal end being connected to the container for permitting universal movement of the longitudinal tube relative to the container; and a material exit associated with the distal end of the longitudinal tube for permitting material contained in the container to exit from the container and pass through the tube and out of the tube to reach the rear of the tongue and the throat cavity and the rear of the mouth.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is concerned with a combined tongue depressor and oral spray mechanism which is used to dispense or spray a solution or fluid, such as a liquid, a gel, a gel paste or any other material so that the rear portion of the throat area, and the rear portion of the tongue, tonsil area or pharynx can be reached by the material being sprayed.
2. Description of Prior Art
Conventional oral spray devices use a spray head which just about enters the forward or opening mouth portion, and the spray or material dispensed does not reach the throat portion, tonsil area or the dorsal or rear portion of the tongue or the pharynx area. Specifically, the spray may also be blocked by the tongue raising its position in the mouth cavity. Moreover, when a conventional spray head is used, the spray portion or item dispensed spreads and contacts the posterior portion of the tongue and does not reach the rear of the mouth and the effectiveness of the oral spray, i.e. item dispensed is dissipated. It has also been found that when a conventional spray head or dispenser is used the user's tongue also tends to prevent the spray or dispensed item from reaching the pharynx, tonsil area, throat or rear portion of the mouth where the tonsils are located, and as well as the dorsal portion of the tongue.
To use a conventional tongue depressor, together with a dispensing mechanism or spray device, both individually would be cumbersome for a user.
It has also been found that heretofore conventional spray devices may be difficult to manipulate because the orientation of the spray nozzle may be difficult to adjust based on the connection between the spray nozzle and the material container.

Combined tongue depressor and oral spray device


Methods and systems for determining fluid levels in a tank comprise a mmWave Control unit configured to generate a millimeter wave chirp that ramps linearly from a starting frequency to a higher frequency within a specified time span. The mmWave Control unit transmits the chirp into the tank and receives one or more chirp reflections from the tank. The mmWave Control unit mixes the chirp with the chirp reflections to generate one or more intermediate frequency signals and processes the one or more intermediate frequency signals to derive one or more distances, each distance representing the distance from the top of the tank to one of the one or more fluids in the tank or an obstruction in the tank. A Telemetry Control unit automatically selects intermediate frequency signals having a signal strength above a predefined minimum or distances within a predefined distance window for further processing.

Storage tanks are used to store many types of liquids, such as oil, water, liquid fuels, liquid chemicals, and the like. It is important in many applications to be able to accurately measure the level of such fluids in a storage tank, for example, to detect loss due to leakage and/or theft, for automatic customer billing based on usage, and also to ensure a sufficient quantity of such fluids is available. Measuring a storage tank's fluid levels typically requires matching the liquid being stored with a particular sensing technology in order to accurately determine tank level. Chemical attributes, viscosity, pressure, temperature, environment, cost constraints, power-on time, power requirements, accuracy requirements, and other considerations may dictate what type of sensor can be used for a given liquid. This is made even more difficult when the tank contains multiple types of fluids with different attributes.
Accordingly, advancements are continually needed in the art of measuring storage tank levels.

Tank multi-level measurement using through the air millimeter wave radar


A disc drive includes a disc, a voice coil motor with an arm and a beam having a first end attached to the arm and a second end including a window frame and a gimbal region. A bridge of a gimbal strut underlies the gimbal region. A flex circuit is attached to the gimbal strut. A read/write head has a preload region under the bridge and a slider surface on the disc. A microactuator has a main body and has microactuator arms bonded to the read/write head and mount arms bonded to the bridge. The microactuator has electrical contacts connected to the flex circuit. The electrical contacts are disposed between the microactuator main body and the gimbal region.

The present invention relates to disc drive data storage devices. In particular the present invention relates to suspension and electrical connections for heads used in disc drive storage devices.
In a prior art disc drive storage device illustrated in FIG. 1, a slider 12 with a read/write head slides over an air bearing on a disc surface. An arm on a head assembly (not illustrated) provides a load force at gimbal point 13 on the slider 12. The load force is generally perpendicular to the disc surface and presses the slider toward the disc surface. A pitch axis 24 that is generally perpendicular to the direction of disc movement under the slider 12 passes through gimbal point 13. The load force holds the slider 12 in close proximity to the disc. The slider 12 is mounted to a microactuator 16, and the microactuator 16 is mounted by way of microactuator mounting arms 14 to a flexible strut (not illustrated in FIG. 1). The microactuator 16 has microactuator electrical contacts 22 along a microactuator contact axis 26 that is general parallel with pitch axis 24. The microactuator 16 is placed between the slider 12 and the electrical contacts 22. When the pitch of slider 12 is adjusted around the pitch axis 24, the electrical contacts 22 deflect an amount 28 as a result of the adjustment around the pitch axis 24. The deflection 28 is large because of the relatively large spacing between the pitch axis 24 and the contact axis 26.
A first flex circuit 18 is connected to the slider 12 near the pitch axis 24 and flexes a relatively small amount with pitch adjustments of slider 12. A second flex circuit 20, however is connect to the microactuator electrical contacts 22 along axis 26. The second flex circuit 20 deflects a larger amount 28. When the second flex circuit 20 is deflected this larger amount 28, it exerts an undesired restraining force tending to resist or interfere with the pitch adjustment of slider 12. The adjustment of the slider 12 around the pitch axis 24 is restrained and pitch alignment of the slider 12 with the underlying disc is compromised.
A method and apparatus are needed to allow pitch adjustment of a read/write head with reduced interference from a flex circuit connected to a microactuator in which the read/write head is mounted.
A disc drive is disclosed that includes a disc and a voice coil motor having an arm. Attached to the arm is a first end of a beam. The beam has a second end that includes a window frame and a gimbal region. The disc drive also has a gimbal strut that includes a bridge underlying the gimbal region of the beam. A flex circuit is attached to the gimbal strut. The disc drive also includes a read/write head that has a preload region under the bridge and a slider surface on the disc.
The disc drive further includes a microactuator that has a main body, microactuator arms bonded to the read/write head, and mount arms bonded to the bridge. The microactuator has electrical contacts connected to the flex circuit. The electrical contacts are disposed between the main body of the microactuator and the gimbal region.
The electrical contacts are positioned close to the pitch axis, and little deflection of the flex circuit is present during pitch adjustments of the read/write head. Mechanical interference from the flex circuit is reduced and an improved adjustment of the pitch is obtained. Additional features and benefits will become apparent with a careful review of the following drawings and the corresponding detailed description.

Disc drive with improved head pitch adjustment


Methods for determining whether a chemotherapeutic treatment is appropriate for patients afflicted with gastrointestinal cancers, comprising;. (a) obtaining a solid tumor tissue sample from the patient; PA1 (b) measuring a thymidylate synthase expression level in the tissue sample; and PA1 (c) comparing the thymidylate synthase expression level with a group of standard tumor tissue samples, the standards having known thymidylate synthase expression levels and known responses to the chemotherapeutic treatment, to determine if that chemotherapeutic treatment is appropriate for the patient.

Gastric adenocarcinoma is characterized by an extremely virulent behavior and for which the mortality approximates the incidence (see, Alexander, et al. CANCER OF THE STOMACH IN CANCER: PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ONCOLOGY, DeVita, et al. (Eds.), J. B. Lippincott Co., Philadelphia, Pa., p. 818-848 (1993)). The vast majority of patients with gastric cancer are diagnosed with advanced stage disease and even after "curative" gastrectomy, most will die from recurrent disease. Recently, there has been increasing interest in the use of neoadjuvant or primary chemotherapy, frequently using fluoropyrimidine-based combination chemotherapy, in an attempt to increase resectability and improve survival for patients with locally advanced gastric cancer. Neoadjuvant chemotherapeutic treatment provides an early opportunity to assess individual patient response using the in situ primary tumor. Overall response rates in studies using neoadjuvant 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) based regimens in locally advanced gastric cancer range from 24 to 45% (see, Ajani, et al., Cancer 68:1501-1506 (1991); Leichman, et al., J Clin Oncol 10:1933-1942 (1992); and Ajani, et al., Proc ASCO 11:165 (1992)). Therefore, at least half of all patients treated in this setting are being subjected to unnecessary toxicity and delay in operation with no therapeutic benefit. Strategies that would accurately predict tumor responsiveness to 5-FU therapy would provide an opportunity to selectively treat patients most likely to benefit from treatment and avoid unnecessary toxicity in those who would not.
The fluoropyrimidines are an important group of antineoplastic agents used widely in the treatment of gastrointestinal as well as other tumors. An important mechanism of 5-FU cytotoxicity is through the inhibition of thymidylate synthase (TS), the enzyme that catalyzes the methylation of 2'-deoxyuridine-5'-monophosphate (dUMP) to 2'-deoxythymidine-5'-monophosphate (dTMP), an essential step in DNA biosynthesis. The level of TS within an experimental tumor has been shown to correlate with 5-FU sensitivity; further, the acute overexpression of TS after 5-FU exposure is associated with resistance to the cytotoxic effects of the drug (Spears, et al., Cancer Res 42:450-456 (1982); Keyomars, et al., J Biol Chem 263:14402-14409 (1988); Berger, et al., Mol Pharmacol 28:461-467 (1985); Clark, et al., Cancer Treat Rep 71:261-265 (1987); and Swain, et al., J Clin Oncol 7:890-899 (1989)). Recently, TS monoclonal antibodies have been developed and characterized that are highly specific and sensitive (K.sub.d range 0.3-11.0). One of these antibodies, TS106, can detect femtomolar concentrations of cytosolic free (Mr 36,000) and complexed (Mr 38,000) TS enzyme by Western immunoblot analysis (see Johnston, et al., Cancer Res 51:6668-6676 (1991) and Johnston, et al., Cancer Res 52:4306-4312 (1992)).
We have conducted a study of neoadjuvant 5-FU, leucovorin, and interferon-.alpha. followed by resection and consolidation therapy in 22 patients with locally advanced gastric adenocarcinoma. Tumor specimens were obtained endoscopically in 13 patients prior to treatment and during the second or third day of cycle 2 for TS protein quantification and to assess the relationship between clinical response of the primary tumor and patient survival with free, total, or complexed TS protein expression before and after exposure to 5-FU.

Methods for predicting the efficacy of a chemotherapeutic regimen for gastrointestinal cancers using antibodies specific for thymidylate synthase

The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services


A bioreactor is provided. The bioreactor is a multi-scalable bioreactor, which comprises a culture vessel for seeding and culturing cells by adding a cell-culture media, wherein the culture vessel comprises at least a side wall and a bottom surface, a specific heat transfer area and a specific gas transfer area; wherein the culture vessel is configured to accommodate the cell-culture media volume up to 10 liters, and wherein the specific heat transfer area and the specific gas transfer area are independent of cell-culture media volume. A kit for culturing cells in a large scale is also provided which further comprises disposable tubings, culture bag or combinations thereof. A method for culturing cells is also provided.

Cell culture technology has advanced significantly over the last few decades and has contributed immensely in therapeutic applications, clinical studies, pharmaceutical research and development, and the bioprocess industry by expanding various cell lines and synthesizing different biomolecules of interest. To meet an increasing demand of therapeutic protein candidates (such as monoclonal antibodies) or viable cells (such as mammalian cell lines) for therapeutic applications, large scale manufacturing facilities and high throughput technological developments for culturing large quantities of cells are highly desirable.
Bioreactors have long been practiced as the preferred scale-up method for cell expansion in bioprocess industry. Use of a seed train for cell expansion from a cryo-preserved inoculum is a significant process step to initiate a large scale manufacturing campaign. For manufacturing biotherapeutics, maintaining a desired quality of cells or biomolecules is a key requirement. A seed train expansion is significant since the use of cryopreserved inoculum can directly be used for expansion of cells, which may ensure a desired quality.
In a typical seed train expansion process, cells are initially cultured from a cryopreserved small inoculum (e.g., 1-2 mL). The cryopreserved cells are thawed and seeded to culture vessels, such as T-flasks or spinner flasks and cultured by adding culture media under controlled incubation. To achieve a desired cell number, the cells are usually distributed in multiple culture vessels, followed by transferring to larger culture vessels with additional growth medium. The process of transferring cells into multiple vessels, adding growth medium and culturing cells are repeated until a determined cell mass is obtained for large scale production, and finally the cells are seeded to a bioreactor, such as Cellbag™ for WAVE Bioreactor™ or an Xcellerex™ for XDR stirred-tank bioreactor with single-use bag. However, the current seed train expansion process is disadvantageous as the process requires labor intensive and complex manual handling and generates a risk of contamination when using multiple culture vessels and repeated inoculum transfer. In addition, the lack of control of different parameters, such as pH or dissolved oxygen during scale-up may result in batch-wise variation of cell expansion. Further, the existing process and the set-up for the seed train expansion from a cryo-preserved cell sample requires a well trained personnel.
In bioreactor, change in volume of a media in a bioreactor vessel introduces changes on internal parameters of a bioreactor, such as pH, DO or temperature, the change may be compensated by having a vessel geometry that compensates for media volume increase and thus a simple more robust controller can be used to maintain the system parameters. Due to large volume change, control performance of standard controllers, such as a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller may not be sufficient. Therefore, there is a need to develop a robust system and process for seed train expansion at different scales that provides an optimization of parameters and culture conditions that achieve requisite productivity and desired quality with minimum human intervention and ensures a smooth scale-up.

Devices, systems and methods for automated cell culturing


The disclosure describes plastic formed products comprising:. one selected from the group consisting of a thermoplastic resin and a thermosetting resin; and. 0.1 to 10 wt % of at least one selected from the group consisting of ferric oxide hydroxide particles, hematite particles, magnetite particles and maghemite particles;. wherein (1) the average major axial diameter or the plate diameter of said ferric oxide hydroxide particles is 0.02 or 2.0 .mu.m and the average aspect ratio or the plate ratio thereof is 2 to 20, (2) the average particle size of said hematite particles, magnetite particles and maghemite particles is 0.01 to 1.0, the BET specific surface area thereof is 1 to 120 m.sup.2 /g and the water content on the surfaces thereof is not less than 0.02 wt %/m.sup.2 /g.

The present invention relates to plastic formed products, and more particularly, to plastic formed products which are capable of reducing the amount of residual ash after the plastic formed products are incinerated even under the conditions of a low temperature and a low oxygen concentration due to the incineration-accelerating operation thereof.
Since plastics are capable of being freely molded and have excellent properties of all kinds, a large amount of the plastic formed products are used in industries of all sorts. After accomplishing the using purposes, these plastic formed products are scrap-treated. It is difficult to decompose physically, chemically or biologically a large number of the plastic formed products in materials circulation in natural and since the materials of all kinds are to be used, a huge cost for recovering and recycling the plastic formed products is required. As a results, the reclamation or incineration of the plastic formed products is performed.
However, it is well known that a greater parts of refuse problems is a refuse disposal of the plastic formed products because of the social expense and technical difficulty for refuse disposal thereof.
The plastic formed products are divided broadly into two categories such as (1) industrial materials and durable consumer goods used for a relatively long period (e.g. from several years to several tens years), and (2) goods used for a short period (e.g. from several days to one year) utilizing the serviceability by the specified properties and at the time of using. However, with a recent change in the mode of living to mass consumption-type living, a large amount of the plastic formed products in uses for one way-type for reducing the distribution cost and for disposal-type for the serviceability at the using time are used, and as a result, the amount of the refuse discharged from homes has increased.
In European countries, a maker should recover the plastic wastes discharged from consumers. It is considered that the plastic wastes are reused as energy resource by generating electricity by utilizing the combustion heat. However, at this time, the plastic wastes in many countries are disposed by the incineration and reclamation.
The present invention will be explained in the following with plastic bags cited as an example.
In supermarkets, large specialty stores and retail shops, plastic bags which are printed or colored for the respective stores are generally supplied to the customers at the counters. After such shopping bags are used to carry the goods, they are reused in homes as sorting bags, refuse bags or the like, because they generally have holding portions which facilitate carrying them or closing the mouth portions thereof.
With a recent change in the mode of living and a recent rise in the living standard and an income level, many new commercial goods have been introduced and an affluent material society is realized. On the other hand, with an increase in new commercial goods, the amount of refuse discharged from homes has been increasing, so that refuse disposal has now become a large social problem.
In a method of disposing combustible refuse, the refuse which is generally put into a black or blue plastic bag composed of a thermoplastic resin such as polyethylene and a pigment added thereto is incinerated in an incinerator, and the residual ash after incineration and unburned refuse are used for reclamation.
However, a conventional method of incinerating the combustible refuse has various problems such as air contamination due to NOx generated during incineration, shortage of sites for reclamation into which a large amount of residual ash after incineration and unburned refuse are buried, leakage of a harmful ingredient of residual ash in the reclaimed land, and generation of harmful dioxins. In addition, when a large amount of plastic waste and plastic bag which have a high calorific value is contained in combustible refuse, the temperature in the incinerator is raised so much that the incinerator is broken.
As a method of solving these problems, various methods are proposed. They are, for example, a method of suppressing the generation of NOx by incinerating combustible refuse under the condition of a low oxygen concentration, a method of preventing the breakage of an incinerator due to a rise in temperature by so controlling the incinerator as to be not higher than a predetermined temperature by spraying water during incineration, and a method of insolubilizing the residual ash containing harmful ingredients and cementing it before burying it. In some municipal corporations, it is a duty of the inhabitants to use a translucent plastic refuse bag which contains a large amount of calcium carbonate in place of a conventional refuse bag in order to reduce the amount of refuse and lower the calorific value. It is reported that many municipal corporations appeal to supermarkets and the like for adoption of translucent shopping bags containing calcium carbonate like a refuse bag, because the shopping bags are often reused as refuse bags in homes.
Plastic bags containing iron oxide are also proposed. For example, a method of dispersing a fine ferromagnetic powder in a thermoplastic resin so as to separate plastic wastes by the magnetic action (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (KOKAI) No. 52-68247/1977), and a method of producing a plastic bag from polyethylene or polypropylene containing titanium oxide, aluminum oxide, nickel oxide and iron oxide such as ferrous oxide and ferric oxide so as to prevent the generation of an offensive odor from the refuse in the bag (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (KOKAI) No. 3-212353/1991) are proposed.
As described above, since the original use of shopping bags is to accommodate goods therein for carrying and they have a function of advertising the supermarket or the retail store which supplies them to the customers, the shopping bags are required to have an excellent color tone and a high mechanical strength, to use no harmful ingredient, and further to be produced at a low cost. It is very difficult to produce a shopping bag which meets all these demands while taking the problem of refuse disposal into consideration.
The suppression of the NOx content generated during incinerating refuse, the prevention of the breakage of an incinerator and a reduction of unburned refuse and residual ash are now in the strongest demand. If the refuse is incinerated under the conditions of a low temperature and a low oxygen concentration, although it is effective for the suppression of the NOx content generated during incinerating refuse and the prevention of the breakage of an incinerator, since the combustion efficiency is lowered, the residual ash and the unburned refuse disadvantageously increase.
If a thermoplastic resin for shopping bags contains a large amount of calcium carbonates not only is the external appearance bad, but also the mechanical strength is lowered and the calcium carbonate adhered to the film surface is apt to adhere to clothes and commercial goods. In addition, although such bags are effective for the prevention of the breakage of an incinerator due to a high temperature, the amount of residual ash and unburned refuse disadvantageously increases by the amount equivalent to the amount of calcium carbonate added.
The method of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (KOKAI) No. 52-68247/1977 is aimed at providing plastics with magnetism by mixing and dispersing a fine ferromagnetic powder such as magnetite with and in the plastics so as to collect the plastics, and a method of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (KOKAI) No. 3-212353/1991 is aimed at preventing an offensive odor in the garbage in a plastic bag by adding a gas decomposing material containing at least titanium oxide, aluminum oxide, nickel oxide and iron oxide to polyethylene or polypropylene which constitutes the bag. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (KOKAI) No. 3-212353/1991 is silent on the disclosure or suggestion of the technical problem that the combustion efficiency should be maintained and the unburned refuse, residual ash and an harmful ingredient should be reduced as much as possible even under the conditions of a low temperature and a low oxygen concentration.
At the time of incineration of plastic formed products, the plastics are molten and become blocks and combustible volatile compounds vaporize from the plastics in which the solid form thereof is maintained, the necessary amount of oxygen for incinerating the plastic formed products is in short supply, so that harmful unburned refuse sometimes remains or the incineration takes a long time.
Accordingly, provision of plastic formed products which are capable of a high combustion efficiency even if they are incinerated together with combustible refuse, and which are capable of reducing the amount of unburned refuse and residual ash is strongly demanded.
Especially, provision of plastic formed products which are capable of providing an excellent color tones a high mechanical strength and safety, and which are also capable of maintaining a high combustion efficiency for a long time even if they are incinerated together with combustible refuse, and reducing the amount of unburned refuse and residual ash is strongly demanded.
As a result of studies undertaken by the present inventors so as to meet the demand, it has been found that by mixing and kneading 0.1 to 10.0 wt % of ferric oxide hydroxide particles and/or iron oxide particles with a thermoplastic resin or a thermosetting resin and forming the resultant mixture, the combustion efficiency of the obtained plastic formed products does not lower even if the plastic formed products are incinerated together with combustible refuse under the condition of a low temperature and a low oxygen concentration, and generates only a small amount of unburned refuse and residual ash. The present invention has been achieved on the basis of this finding.

Plastic formed product containing specific particles of ferric oxide hydroxide or iron oxide


A game apparatus for alternative participation by a plurality of players using a pair of dice, markers, and a game card formed into intersecting columns, rows, and diagonal locations. A game object requires that any row, column, or diagonal locations be appropriately designated with markers upon a series of throws of the dice; and, a winner is determined by the first player to complete a required number of such locations each one of which has an assigned value for calculating a score.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates in general to a game apparatus for use by two or more individuals who alternate in active participation. in particular, the invention relates to a game for use by at least two players where dice are thrown to fill certain spaces upon a play board.
In known prior art games where a pair of dice are utilized by the participants in an alternate play mode and, where markers and numbers are placed upon a play board in certain spaces comprising rows, columns, and diagonals of a checkerboard-like game board, no showing has been found that demonstrates a relationship between the board numbers with the numbers on the side faces of the dice. Furthermore, there are no known games in the marketplace or prior art where a winner's score is determined by a summation of the above mentioned board numbers with the first player to fill rows, columns, or diagonals with markers after a series of thrown dice has been executed.


The present invention relates to providing a banquet hall reservation management system for managing reservation and vacancy status of divisible banquet halls even when a partition pattern of a banquet hall is changed without changing the application program. Hence, the work load of the banquet hall provider is reduced, and the quality of service increased. The banquet hall reservation management system includes a management table where conflicting areas due to using a banquet area are registered, a management information input means to input names of new banquet areas and their conflicting areas in the event of changing partition pattern, and a management table generating means that creates a new management table based on the management information obtained by the management information input means.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system of managing reservation and utilization of banquet and conference halls.
2. Prior Art
Large banquet and conference halls are infrequently used to their maximum capacity, and are often used by less than half the number of guests that the halls are planned to hold. In other words, it is inefficient that a banquet hall capable of holding a hundred people is used for twenty people, as only one quarter or one fifth of the space is sufficient for twenty people, leaving the three quarters or four fifth of the space unused. Thus, a banquet hall of a certain size is structured so that the hall can be divided into a plurality of smaller areas. Adopting this structure allows a few groups of guests to simultaneously use the banquet hall, thereby increasing the efficiency of space utility. It is to be desired that the reservation status and occupancy status of such banquet halls are accurately managed by a program logic in order to decrease the work load of the banquet hall provider. Furthermore, it is also to be desired that a program logic can not only manage a regular pattern of division of a banquet hall, but also can manage a irregular pattern of division. For example, it is desirable that a program logic does not only manages a banquet hall capable of being partitioned into three areas to be used as one room or three smaller rooms, but also manages irregular partition pattern such as to divide the banquet hall into one third area and the other taking two thirds area. Therefore, the program logic is advantageously for decrease risk for making errors, because the provider is not required to handle the complicated task of managing the pattern on paper. The present invention is designed in cosideration of the demand mentioned above. It is an object of the present invention is to provide a reservation/vacancy management system with a technology that can handle regular partition patterns and irregular partition patterns in order to decrease the work load of the banquet hall provider and improve the quality of service.

Banquet hall reservation management system


An implementation efficient video decoder suitable for use as a picture in picture decoder is described. In one embodiment, the video decoder receives primary and secondary bitstreams with the secondary bitstream including the video data intended to be displayed as inset pictures. The decoder uses many of the same circuit components on a time shared basis to decode both the main and inset pictures reducing the amount of circuitry required to implement the decoder. In one embodiment a preparser discards the majority of DCT coefficients in the secondary bitstream and the remaining data is variable length decoded and then variable length encoded using a non-MPEG compliant coding scheme prior to storing the inset picture data in a coded data buffer. Re-encoding of the selected inset picture data in this manner greatly reduces data storage requirements and simplifies the circuitry required to subsequently decode the inset picture data. To reduce frame memory requirements inset picture data is downsampled, stored and then upsampled prior to display thereby reducing inset picture frame memory buffer requirements.

The use of digital, as opposed to analog signals, for television broadcasts and the transmission of other types of video and audio signals has been proposed as a way of allowing improved picture quality and more efficient use of spectral bandwidth over that currently possible using analog NTSC television signals.
The International Standards Organization has set a standard for video data compression for generating a compressed digital data stream that is expected to be used for digital television. This standard is referred to as the ISO MPEG (International Standards Organization--Moving Picture Experts Group) ("MPEG") standard. In accordance with the MPEG standard, video data is encoded using discrete cosine transform encoding and is arranged into variable length encoded data packets for transmission.
Generally, digital television signals can be either standard definition signals having a resolution approximately that of current NTSC television, or high definition television signals which have a resolution that is greater that of current NTSC television signals.
One version of the MPEG standard, MPEG-2, is described in the International Standards Organization--Moving Picture Experts Group, Recommendations H.222.0 and H.262, ISO/IEC 13818-1 and 13818-2, respectively, titled "Information Technology--Generic Coding Of Moving Pictures and Associated Audio" (hereinafter "the November 1994 ISO-MPEG Committee International Standards") hereby expressly incorporated by reference. Any references made in this patent application to MPEG video data is to be understood to refer to video data that complies with MPEG-2 standards as defined in the November 1994 ISO-MPEG Committee International Standards unless otherwise indicated.
Picture-in-picture capability has become a widely accepted and often desired feature of modern analog televisions. To meet anticipated demand for picture-in-picture capability in digital televisions, it will be necessary for a digital television, e.g., an MPEG-2 compatible television, to decode video data representing two pictures. The two pictures can then be displayed as a picture within a picture to achieve the desired picture-in-picture effect.
In known analog picture-in-picture systems, during picture-in-picture operation, a first full resolution decoder is normally used to decode the TV signal used to produce a main picture and a second full resolution decoder is used to decode the television signal which is used to provide the second, e.g., inset, picture displayed within a small area of the main picture. Thus, in current analog systems a complete additional tuner and decoder is normally used to provide picture-in-picture capability. The picture-in-picture capability featured by current analog televisions typically produces an inset picture whose size is approximately 1/4.times.1/4 to 1/3.times.1/3 of the full size display.
The cost of providing two full resolution digital video decoders and, in particular, the memory required to implement two such decoders, in the case of digital video signals is likely to be significant.
In order to achieve customer acceptance in home video systems, it is desirable that the cost associated with adding picture-in-picture capability to a digital television set be minimized.
Accordingly, there is a need for methods and apparatus that can be used to provide picture-in-picture capability in, e.g., video decoding and display devices such as digital television sets, at a minimal cost.

Methods and apparatus for re-using decoder circuitry


A process and device for producing sterile-packed bone cement, wherein the powder component is gas-sterilized in containers that are used for packing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process and a device for producing sterile-packed bone cements. It relates in particular to a process in which a cement powder component is subjected to gas sterilization in the containers that are used for packing.
2. Description of the Related Art
The natural joints in the human body are often subject to degenerative changes resulting, inter alia, in some cases from defects following surgical interventions occasioned by disease or accidents. If these defects have progressed too far, are irreversible or can no longer be treated, it becomes necessary to replace the natural joints or bones by corresponding implants. Examples of bone replacement materials that may be mentioned are shaped implants of a wide variety of kinds, or bone-connecting elements in the form, for instance, of medullary nails, bone screws or osteosynthetic plates. For implantation, these bone replacement materials are anchored in the natural bone using bone cements.
Customary bone cements are composed of a solid component, which consists of a finely divided polymer of acrylic and/or methacrylic esters and of further additives, such as polymerization catalysts, together, if desired, with X-ray contrast media, fillers and colorants, and of a liquid component, which consists of an acrylic and/or methacrylic ester monomer and of further additives such as polymerization accelerators and stabilizers. The polymer powder component of the cement consists preferably of granular particles with a spherical shape. The particle size preferably lies within a narrow range or is substantially uniform.
For use, the solid component and the liquid component are combined to form a liquid to semisolid paste. This paste is optionally brought in to a desired shape or is applied at the implantation site of a prosthesis in order to cement it in. The composition cures by means of the polymerization reaction induced with the mixing of the components. The bone cement is judiciously provided in a form which brings together separate containers, with matched amounts of the two components, in a single pack unit.
There are various possibilities for the separate packing of the individual components for preparing bone cement. For example, the sterile polymer powder can be packed into polyethylene pouches, while the liquid component is subjected to sterile filtration and dispensed, for example, into glass ampoules.
There are also packs which consist of flexible films and which possess two or more separate chambers separated from one another by removable seals. To mix the ready-to-use bone cement, the seal is removed or opened and the components are mixed homogeneously by kneading the flexible pouches. A system of this kind is described, for example, in the document WO 94/16951.
Also known are packs which are constructed as just described but which additionally possess a vacuum reservoir, attached to the powder container, and where the powder is packed under vacuum. The vacuum pack has the advantage that when the cement is mixed less air is incorporated into the bone cement, which has a positive effect on the porosity of the cement. Furthermore, the presence of a vacuum reservoir makes the full mixing of the polymer powder with the monomer, after the sealing device has been opened, much simpler and more effective, since the reduced pressure in the powder container draws the monomer right in under suction.
The individual components for preparing the bone cement must of course be packaged in a sterile manner. The customary sterilization techniques include chemical sterilization techniques, such as gassing with ethylene oxide, and sterilization by means of high-energy radiation, usually .gamma. radiation or .beta. radiation.
In the case of the closed cementing systems, and especially in the case of vacuum-packed cement powders, the individual components have, to date, either been sterilized by one of the above sterilization techniques, prior to dispensing, and then dispensed into the respective containers by way of sterile filters--in other words, aseptic dispensing is practiced--or the components have been sterilized within the packs by irradiation.
It is known, however, that high-energy radiation has a great effect on the properties of the bone cement. In particular, the viscosity is altered for the worse, and the shelf life has also been found, by our own investigations, to suffer a decrease.
It is known, however, that high-energy radiation has a great effect on the properties of the bone cement. In particular, the viscosity is altered for the worse, and the shelf life has also been found, by our own investigations, to suffer a decrease.

Process and device for producing sterile-packed bone cement

Merck Patent Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung


The invention provides a rubber composition prepared by mixing, per 100 parts by mass of the rubber component comprising at least 50% by mass of a diene-based rubber, from 20 to 150 parts by mass of a filler, and from 0.05 to 30 parts by mass of a compound A which has a specific amidine structure and has a functional group reactive with the diene-based rubber. The rubber composition improves both a high elastic modulus and a low tan δ. The invention also provides a pneumatic tire using the rubber composition.

While running, heavy-load pneumatic tires for trucks, busses and the like, or off-road tires, especially the rubber composition arranged in the tread part thereof are repeatedly given a great strain amplitude, and the tire temperature is thereby turned up. Consequently, for prolonging the life of tires, the tire temperature increase must be prevented. For preventing the tire temperature increase, it is desirable that the tire tread rubber is prevented from being deformed by increasing the elastic modulus thereof in a high-temperature range, and/or the low-heat-generation property of the tire tread rubber composition is improved, or that is, tan δ thereof is lowered.
In already-existing pneumatic tires, the amount of the filler such as carbon black or the like in a rubber composition is increased or an additive such as a resin or the like is added to the composition for improving the elastic modulus of the composition. In this case, however, there occur problems in that the viscosity of the unvulcanized rubber composition increases owing to the increase in the amount of the filler so that the workability during kneading of the composition worsens, or tan δ of the vulcanized rubber composition increases.
On the other hand, for lowering tan δ, the type and the amount of the carbon black to be in the rubber composition are changed, for example, the particle size of the carbon black is increased or the amount of the carbon black is decreased. However, these methods lower the abrasion resistance of the tread rubber and lower the fracture resistance such as cutting resistance and chipping resistance thereof, and after all, it is difficult to improve the low-heat-generation property of the rubber composition by changing the type and the amount of carbon black to be in the composition. In addition, it is known that, when carbon black is substituted with silica and is used along with a silane coupling agent, then tan δ can be reduced; however, the abrasion resistance and the fracture resistance of the rubber composition are lowered and the durability of tires is thereby worsened.
As opposed to this, in PTL 1, it has been found that addition of a hydrazide compound can improve the low-heat-generation property with neither increasing the Mooney viscosity of the resultant composition nor lowering the abrasion resistance and the fracture resistance thereof.
However, it is desired to provide a rubber composition satisfying a high elastic modulus and a low tan δ both on a further higher level.

Rubber composition, and pneumatic tire using same


A plotting system for a sheet, includes a stretching device for stretching a sheet, a plotting device, positioned at one side of the sheet for forming images on the sheet stretched by the stretching device, and a travelling hold device for holding the plotting device such that the plotting device travels back and forth in a first direction along the sheet stretched by the stretching device. The travelling hold device travels back and forth in a second direction along the sheet. A travelling pressure receiving device is positioned on another surface of the sheet, and the traveling pressure receiving device travels back and forth in the second direction at the same time as the travelling hold device travels in the second direction. The plotting system also includes a pressure receiving surface, extending in the first direction, that receives a pressing force of the plotting device through the sheet, and a first supporting device for supporting the plotting device, a second supporting device for supporting the stretching device and the traveling pressure receiving device and coupling means for coupling the first supporting device to the second supporting device so that the first supporting device and the second supporting device are separable from each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to plotting systems, and more particularly to plotters of the fixed sheet type, sheet cutting devices and similar devices.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There have been conventionally proposed plotters and sheet cutting devices of the fixed sheet type, in which a sheet is fixed on a flat bed by utilizing the adhesion effects of static electricity, or held between a magnetic band and a flat bed utilizing the magnetic effects. A pen, used for writing or cutting, is held on a traveling rail which travels in both directions, i.e., back and forth along the X-axis such that the pen travels in both directions, and back and forth along the Y-axis on the sheet held and fixed on the flat bed, whereby images are formed on the sheet using the pen for writing or cutting.


A method for an asset tracking system is provided. An example method includes receiving data messages from an asset coupled to the asset tracking system and attempting to obtain asset information from data messages with reference to a local set of signal definitions indicating how data messages received from the asset are to be decoded into asset information. Upon failing to obtain the asset information the asset tracking system requests from an asset data analysis system the generation of a generated signal definition indicating how the data message of the outstanding type is to be obtained from the asset. The asset tracking system provides access to at least one undecoded data message of the outstanding data type to the asset data analysis system, receives the generated signal definition from the asset data analysis system, and adds the generated signal definition to the local set of signal definitions.

In the field of telematics, the location of an asset and other data pertaining to the asset may be monitored by an asset tracking system in the form of a device placed onboard the asset or a system integrated within the asset itself. The location of the asset may be tracked through the use of a satellite navigation system, such as a Global Positioning System (GPS), Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), cellular tower network, or other system. Other data may be collected through sensors (e.g., accelerometers, temperature sensors), or by decoding data messages received from Electronic Control Units (ECUs) of the asset. In cases where the asset being tracked is a vehicle, a variety of vehicle information may be obtained from such ECUs, such as engine speed, battery temperature, fuel level, tire pressure, odometer reading, and other data. Such data may be made available over a Controller Area Network (CAN), through a communication port (e.g., an OBD2 port), and/or by direct connection to systems onboard the asset. In any case, such data may be transmitted to, and recorded at, an asset data analysis system to be used in the provision of a telematics service, such as a fleet management tool, or for analysis.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Systems and methods for data message decoding and asset type fingerprinting


In order to test provisioned data and functionality of a network, the operations personnel input data via an operations interface to an originating network element. The originating network element constructs a test query based on the data and selects a receiving network element to be tested. When the originating network element sends the test query to the receiving network element, the test query is processed as if it is a normal network query. A response to the test query is returned to the originating network element and reported to the operations personnel. The reported response contains not only the test results of the provisioned data in the receiving network element but also the routing functionality of the network.

This invention relates to a method for testing a communication network. More particularly, the invention relates to a method for testing network application's call processing and routing of network queries and responses.
In the early 1980's, centralized databases called network control points (NCP) were introduced into signaling networks by AT&T to support the credit card calling service and 800 service. The network architecture with these network control points allowed intelligent network services for providing call handling information in response to network queries.
The network control points for the 800 service, for example, are deployed throughout the United States to support the Data Base 800 Service mandated by the Federal Communication Commission. In the network architecture for such 800 service, 800-number calls are routed from a local router or end office to a network switch which launches network queries to the network control point. The network control point translates the 800 number to a plain old telephone number and returns the plain old telephone number to the network switch. The network switch subsequently routes the call to an appropriate network carrier based on this plain old telephone number.
The network control points are designed to accommodate growth and additional services other than 800 and calling card services. For example, the network control points are designed as high-capacity systems handling more than one million queries per hour. Further, modifications for additional service enhancements may be carried out without interrupting existing services by loading the new software programs into the network control points, without service interruption. In fact, alternate billing services (ABS) such as a collect calling service and a bill-to-third-number calling service have been implemented using the network control point architecture.
With an increasing number of communication services introduced into the network and increasingly sophisticated services, developing a test to insure that these network facilities with newly installed software programs function in an anticipated manner is a critically important task.
Many types of test simulators are known in order to satisfy the needs of testing a network. Most such systems employ hardware that has been programmed to emulate actions and responses of network elements. However, due to increasing complexity of the network and more sophisticated software, developing simulators with the hardware resembling the actual network has become a costly and difficult task.
Further, there are many types of test querying methods available for a network test. However, these test methods require either special processing for the test queries or additional hardware to process test queries which adds significant burden to the already complex network architecture.
Therefore, it is desirable that network testing does not require neither additional hardware nor data structures built specifically for the test query capability. It is also desirable that network elements or service processors do not need to reprogrammed to perform special application processing for the test queries.
It is also desirable that actual hardware and software of the network are tested so that problems associated with the actual routing data as well as provisioned data located in the network elements are identified.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a useful network testing method to the operations personnel to verify and troubleshoot processing and routing functions of the network applications without prompting needs for special hardware or processing.


A vehicle seat which has a container holder that is not disfigured when subjected to load is provided. The vehicle seat comprises a seat body and a cup holder attached to a side of the seat body. The cup holder comprises a base member, a saucer member of which a base edge portion is turnably supported to a lower portion of the base member, engaging claws formed on the saucer member, and engaging tips which hold the saucer member in an approximately horizontal position by engaging with the engaging claws. When the engagement between the engaging claws and engaging tips is released by an accidental load, the saucer member turns downward. The abutment of the front edge portion of the saucer member with the floor of the interior stops the turn. A lower edge portion of the side of the seat body is provided with a projection.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle seat which is provided with a container holder which holds a container, such as a can, a PET bottle, a cup or the like for drinks.
2. Description of Related Art
The interior of a vehicle or the like is provided with a container holder which is the so-called cup holder for holding a can or the like for drinks. The container holder comprises a base member extending vertically and a saucer member for holding a bottom surface of the container. A base edge portion of the saucer member is connected to a hinge which is disposed to a front surface of a lower edge portion of the base member, so that the saucer member is turnable up and down on the hinge. When the saucer member is housed, the saucer member is approximately parallel to the base member and disposed in the standing position. On the other hand, when the passenger or occupant opens and levels off the saucer member in order to use the container holder, a first stopper which is provided to the saucer member is brought into contact with a second stopper which is integrally formed with the base member. Thereby, the saucer member is maintained in an approximately horizontal position.
When the saucer member is disposed in the horizontal position, if the passenger pushes the saucer member in the direction of turning downward the saucer member by accident, an excessive load is applied to the first stopper, the second stopper or the hinge, thereby the first stopper, the second stopper or the hinge breaks. For handling such a problem, when the first stopper or the second stopper is made to have flexibility, even if the excessive load is applied to the saucer member in the direction of turning downward, the first stopper or the second stopper bends, releasing the contact between the first stopper and the second stopper. Accordingly, the saucer member turns downward beyond the horizontal position, so that the breakage of the first stopper, the second stopper or the hinge is prevented. The container holder having the above-described structure may be attached to a side portion of a seat on which the passenger sits. In this case, when the saucer member is held in the standing position, since the saucer member is approximately parallel to the base member, there is a gap between the base member and the saucer member at a lower portion of the container holder. That is, because the hinge is viewed from under the container holder, and because there is the gap between the base member and the saucer member, they may cause disfigurement of the seat as a whole. Then, if a cover or the like is attached to the side portion of the seat in order to cover the lower portion of the container holder, the cover interferes with the downward turning of the saucer member.
The present invention was developed in view of the above-described problems. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle seat that has a container holder which is not broken even if a saucer member turns downward beyond a horizontal position by an accidental load, and that is not disfigured.
In order to accomplish the above-described object, in one aspect of the present invention, a vehicle seat having a container holder comprises a container holder and a seat body. The container holder comprises a base member extending vertically, and a saucer member which is turnable up and down, of which a base edge portion is supported to a lower portion of a front surface of the base member. The container holder also comprises a first engaging portion provided to the saucer member, and a second engaging portion which is attached to the base member and which holds the saucer member in a horizontal position which is approximately horizontal by engaging with the first engaging portion. A container can be placed on the saucer member when the saucer member is held in the horizontal position. When at least one of the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion bends, engagement between the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion is released, so that the saucer member turns downward. The seat body is mounted on a floor of an interior of a vehicle. The base member is attached to the seat body in a side portion thereof. The seat body is provided with a projection on a side cover of the seat body. The projection projects below a bearing between the base member and the saucer member. The saucer member is set such that a downward turning of the saucer member is stopped when the saucer member turns downward beyond the horizontal position and another edge portion of the saucer member is brought into contact with the floor. Further, the projection has a shape along a surface of the saucer member when another edge portion of the saucer member abuts with the floor.
For example, a distance between the floor and the container holder (or between the floor and the base member), which is a distance in the vertical direction, may be set so that another edge portion of the saucer member will be brought into contact with the floor when the saucer member turns downward beyond the horizontal position. A distance between the floor and the bearing (that is, the base edge portion) of the saucer member, or a distance between the base edge portion and another edge portion of the saucer member may be set instead of the distance between the floor and the container holder.
According to the vehicle seat, the first engaging portion engages with the second engaging portion, thereby the saucer member is maintained in the horizontal position. Thus, the container can be placed on the saucer member. When the saucer member which is held in the horizontal position receives an excessive load in the direction of downward turning because of, for example, carelessness of the passenger, at least one of the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion bends. Thus, the engagement between the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion is released, so that the saucer member can turn downward further. Accordingly, the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion do not receive the excessive shearing force, so that the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion are not broken.
When the saucer member turns downward beyond the horizontal position, another edge portion of the saucer member is brought into contact with the floor of the interior, so that the turn of the saucer member is stopped. Thus, the angle of downward turning of the saucer member becomes small, and the projection can project to the lower side of the bearing of the saucer member. That is, the projection covers the space between the saucer member and the base member from the lower side. Accordingly, since the projection covers the bearing of the saucer member, it does not cause disfigurement of the vehicle seat with container holder. Therefore, the appearance and merchantability of the vehicle seat having container holder is improved, and the touch with the hand, finger or the like of the passenger or the like on the bearing of the saucer member is prevented. Further, in case the saucer member turns downward beyond the horizontal position, the floor of the interior receives another edge portion of the saucer member. When the saucer member abuts with the floor, the projection follows the front surface of the saucer member. Thus, the saucer member is not hit against the projection with great force, suppressing the hurts of the projection and the saucer member. The breakage of the projection and the saucer member can also be suppressed.
In the vehicle seat having a container holder, an angle of turn of the saucer member from the horizontal position of the saucer member to a position of the saucer member when the another edge portion of the saucer member is brought into contact with the floor is smaller than 90 degrees.
According to the vehicle seat having a container holder, the angle of turn of the saucer member between the horizontal position to a position when the another edge portion of the saucer member abuts with the floor is smaller than 90 degrees. Thus, the projection covers larger area of the bearing of the saucer member and covers larger area of the space between the saucer member and the base member from the lower side. Therefore, the appearance and merchantability of the vehicle seat having container holder is improved.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a vehicle seat having a container holder comprises a container holder and a seat body. The container holder comprises a base member extending vertically, and a saucer member which is turnable up and down, of which a base edge portion is supported to a lower portion of the base member. A container can be placed on the saucer member when the saucer member is held in a horizontal position. The saucer member is capable of turning downward from the horizontal position. The seat body is mounted on a floor of an interior of a vehicle. The base member is attached to the seat body in a side portion thereof. The seat body is provided with a projection on a side cover of the seat body. The projection projects below a bearing between the base member and the saucer member. The saucer member is set such that a downward turning of the saucer member is stopped when the saucer member turns downward beyond the horizontal position and another edge portion of the saucer member is brought into contact with the floor. The projection has a shape along a surface of the saucer member when another edge portion of the saucer member abuts with the floor.


A system and apparatus to provide remote interactive access to multiple databases and, specifically, related to a system and apparatus to provide remote interactive access to real estate information related databases using a portable, voice interactive computing device with GPS capabilities and “smart” computer features. The system combines access to search engines configured to retrieve real estate listings, publicly available statistics about a specific geographic area, and retrieval of stored forms specific to completing an offer for real estate. The device can have several components in various combinations including a touch sensitive screen, a keyboard, a processor, GPS circuitry, a microphone, an audio device, wireless circuitry, cellular circuitry, a data jack, a wireless remote, and a camera. Software utilizing those components maximizes efficiency for a real estate agent in the field.

In today's fast paced service industries, time and efficiency are critical. Nowhere is this more evident than in the buying and selling of real estate. In "hot" real estate markets, the ability to get a signed offer to a seller often decides who gets a property and, for the agent or broker, the commission. Despite this "need for speed," it is still important for the buyer to have a property that suits their needs and their budget.
Various types of informational processing systems are known for acquiring and displaying information related to a specific industry or interest, such as real estate and related goods and services. These systems typically are server based, which have an input/output device for receiving and transmitting data, database files, and database storage. The compilation of information in the databases can include demographic statistics and are known in the art. Unfortunately, a major disadvantage of known prior art is that the user has to be directly connected to a server, requiring a stationary terminal such as a desktop computer. For example, it is known that the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) database is updated continuously. However, as a practical matter, real estate agents do not have continuous access to the MLS, even with access to wireless laptop computers. Consequently, real estate agents, and therefore their clients, generally only learn about new or updated listings during an MLS database access session conducted at the agent's office or home.
Sealand et al (U.S. Pat. No. 6,484,176) discloses a system and process for providing remote interactive access to a real estate database using a portable computing device. However, this system cannot interact with a real estate agent, clients, and homeowners selling real estate simultaneously utilizing available technology such as voice activation, global positioning, integrated smart key card with camera and voice recorder, electronic signature capability, integrated voice activated phone, pre-loaded real estate forms and contracts, network of service professionals in a subscriber's geographic area such as: home inspectors, termite inspectors, insurance brokers, mortgage companies, moving and storage companies, settlement attorneys, and the like.
There is a desire and need in service industries, and particularly the real estate transfer industry, to optimize time and efficiency. Thus, it is desirable to provide a single, all-in-one real estate system, method, and apparatus that is portable and provides a flexible solution for remotely accessing real estate related databases in an interactive fashion and in communication with all parties involved with a real estate transaction.

Interactive remote wireless system and method to assist in real estate transactions, and the like


The present invention provides various methods and apparatus for the production of fullerenes and other carbon-containing materials. In some aspects, the invention provides an arc chamber comprising a graphite element support, wherein the support comprises a rotatable frame adapted for moving each graphite element towards and away from an arc discharge position. In other aspects, the invention provides a collection chamber for collecting carbon-containing materials produced in an arc chamber, wherein the collection chamber comprises an inlet and a rotatable element arranged to direct the carbon-containing material to a wall of the collection chamber, wherein the sectional area occupied by the rotatable element increases with distance from the inlet. In other aspects, the invention provides a collection chamber comprising means for isolating the collection chamber from an arc discharge apparatus and an inlet for the introduction of solvent into the collection chamber.

Fullerenes are a relatively recently discovered class of carbon-based materials and are spherical molecules with a "hollow" interior. Such cage-like structures can trap atoms and molecules inside. Such molecules are known as endohedral fullerenes. To date, some success has been achieved in encapsulating group III metals (Sc, Y), lanthanides (Ce, Gd, Pr, Ho and others), group II metals (Ca, Sr, Ba), group V elements (N, P) and noble gases (He, Ne, Ar, Kr and Xe) in fullerenes. The main problem for the commercial exploitation of these new molecules is their limited production and their unavailability in truly macroscopic quantities.
Existing methods for fullerene synthesis include the Krätschmer-Huffman method (W. Krätschmer, L. D. Lamb, K. Fostiropoulos and D. R. Huffman, Nature, 347, (1990) 354-358). By this method, graphitic carbon soot is produced by evaporating graphite electrodes in an atmosphere of helium; the soot is shown to contain fullerenes.
Endohedral fullerenes are generally sensitive to ambient conditions and a fullerene collection chamber for the anaerobic collection of fullerenes has been proposed by H. Shinohara (H. Shinohara, Rep. Prog. Phys., 63, (2000) 843-892), but the use of the proposed collection glove box has proved time consuming to use. There is considerable downtime for the apparatus while removing the soot from the collection chamber.
Moreover, in known arc discharge systems, a collection vessel may comprise a condensing wall which is cooled, for example, using liquid nitrogen. The hot carbon-containing vapour entering the chamber is cooled at the condensing wall and soot comprising the target carbon-containing compounds is deposited onto the condensing wall. In conventional collection vessels, a gas outlet is provided in the collection vessel. For example where helium gas flows into the collection vessel with the carbon-containing vapour, the helium gas exits the vessel through the outlet. The outlet is normally provided with a filter for capturing carbon-containing material which might otherwise pass through the outlet. It would be advantageous for more of the carbon-containing material to be deposited in the vessel rather than reaching the filter.
It is an object of one or more aspects of the present invention to solve or at least mitigate one or more of these or other problems. In particular, one or more aspects seek to provide a continuous or semi-continuous process for the production of fullerenes and other carbon-containing materials.

Methods and apparatus for the production of carbon-containing materials


The combustion device includes a burner, a combustion chamber downstream of the burner, a lance projecting into the burner for fuel and air injection, and a plenum that at least partly houses the burner. The plenum is connected to the inside of the lance to supply an oxidiser to it.

With reference to FIG. 1, gas turbines 1 have a compressor 2, a combustion device 3 and a turbine 4; the compressor 2 generates high pressure air that is supplied together with a fuel to the combustion device 3 where they are combusted to generate hot gases that are expanded in the turbine 4 (high pressure turbine); from the turbine 4 exhaust gases are discharged.
Sequential combustion gas turbines have a second combustion device 5 downstream of the high pressure turbine 4 where additional fuel is supplied into the exhaust gases and it is combusted to generate hot gases that are then expanded in a second turbine 6 (low pressure turbine).
Within the second combustion device 5, together with fuel, also air is injected; this air has mainly the functions of helping fuel penetration into the exhaust gases flowing through the second combustion device, and preventing an early fuel combustion immediately after injection.
Since the exhaust gases that pass through the second combustion device 5 have a large pressure (because only partial expansion occurs in the high pressure turbine 4), the air that is injected into the second combustion device 5 is drawn from the last stage of the compressor 2.
This cooling scheme has some drawbacks.
In fact, since at the last stage of the compressor 2 the air has a large pressure, drawing air (and thus preventing this air from combustion and expansion) has a large negative impact on the performances and efficiency of the gas turbine.

Combustion device having a distribution plenum


A method for accomplishing a handoff between mobile communication systems includes: a first mobile communication system having means for matching elements of a low generation mobile communication system; a second mobile communication system having means for matching elements of a high generation mobile communication system; a gateway connected with each of the mobile communication systems and having means for performing protocol conversion and address mapping. The method includes: adding, to each mobile communication system for which the handoff is performed, at least a message and a handoff process in a target system; transmitting, at the low mobile communication system for receiving a handoff request from a mobile station, a handoff request message to the gateway by performing the message process; transmitting, at the gateway, to the second mobile communication system by performing at least a different address mapping and a protocol conversion between the mobile communication systems in order to transmit and receive at least a signaling message and a traffic data between the mobile communication systems; and assigning, at the high mobile communication system, the message process and a relevant channel.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a handoff of a mobile communication system, and particularly to an apparatus and a method for accomplishing a soft handoff between mobile communication systems of different generations using a gateway
2. Background of the Related Art
The elements for mobile communication system could be roughly divided into a base station and a mobile station. The base station is divided into a base transceiver station (referred to BTS hereinafter) for performing wireless connection among the mobile stations, a base station controller (referred to BSC hereinafter) for controlling a plurality of the BTSs and performing call mobility management related to a call process.
Also, the mobile communication system could include a mobile switching center (referred to MSC hereinafter) that is responsible for a transmission and reception path for data and control signals to and from another communication network, and a base station manager responsible for operation and maintenance of the whole mobile communication system.
The communication between the mobile station and the base station/controller is performed in accordance with the standard IS-2000, while the communication between the base station/controller and the switching center is performed in accordance with the standard 3G-IOS.
CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) mobile communication systems have developed on the basis of the standard 2G system such as the standard IS-95 mainly intended for transmission and reception of voice signal, and have been developed in accordance with the standard 3G such as the standard IMT-2000 (International Mobile Telecommunications-2000) where transmission of data in high and ultra high speed as well as voice signal is possible.
However, there is no international standard defined for accomplishing a handoff between the 2G system (referred to low generation system hereinafter) and the 3G system (referred to high generation system hereinafter). Therefore, a method for providing service between the high generation system and the low generation system currently in service, without interruption, is required.
Recently, a soft handoff between the MSCs using a router was realized and provided, which is similar to the soft handoff between the BSCs. In this system, the router performs routing of a signaling message, a traffic message, etc. necessary for the soft handoff between each MSC for the soft handoff to a processor of the system in the target side.
As mentioned above, presently there is no international standard defined for accomplishing a handoff between the low generation system and the high generation system, and the low generation system and the high generation system are different in their backbone, so that a soft handoff between systems of different generations could not be realized using the router currently in use.
In order for the variety of messages necessary for the soft handoff to be transmitted and received between two systems, protocol conversion and paths for a signaling message between the systems and a traffic message should be provided.
The above references are incorporated by reference herein where appropriate for appropriate teachings of additional or alternative details, features and/or technical background.

Apparatus and method for accomplishing handoff between mobile communication systems of different generations


A clamping fixture slides between a pair of guide rails and includes a pressure plate between the guide rails. Lock plates with internal openings for receiving the guide rails are held captive on the pressure plate. An operating bar with stepped ends, one adjacent each locking plate, is deflected by a cam mechanism to incline the lock plates relative to the guide rails, thus wedging the lock plates to prevent further sliding along the guide rails. Return springs are provided to urge the lock plates to an unlocked position when pressure on the operating bar is released. A mixing apparatus using the clamping fixture is also disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to apparatus for mixing liquid and pulverulent materials, and especially to mixing apparatus having a clamp plate for securing a container.
2. Description of the Related Art
An increasing variety of products offered for sale today are made available in slightly different compositions, requiring mixing at the point of sale to complete preparation of the product. For example, paint and paint products are mixed at the point of sale to provide a particular color chosen by the customer. This typically involves mixing a small quantity of tints or colorants in a much larger quantity of a relatively colorless base material. Thorough mixing of the colorants and base material is required to assume uniform color characteristics throughout the resulting paint product.
A variety of vibratory mixers have been proposed for use either at a manufacturing site or at points of sale. One particularly successful vibratory mixer is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,834,548 which vibrates a container clamped in the apparatus in a generally conical motion. The mixing motion has been found to be quite successful in producing uniform paint compositions. However, improvements have been desired in miniaturizing the apparatus and improving the clamping arrangement employed.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,134,689 discloses mixing apparatus having a different, vibratory motion with an inner frame driven from below by horizontally oriented cam members. A clamping plate is provided for the inner frame, by a pair of twin lead screws driven from above by a transmission shaft. The clamping plate travels up and down along the lead screws, as the lead screws are rotated. The twin lead screw design is costly to manufacture and adds to the weight of the mixing apparatus. Improvements in weight decrease for small, countertop units have prompted investigations for other mixer designs.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,789,245 discloses a disc-type mixing apparatus having a crank-operated clamping plate. The clamping plate and associated mechanism are attached to a rotating disc, leading to a relatively large, bulky package unsuitable for some applications such as a countertop mixing unit. British Pat. No. 1 310 655 discloses a mixing apparatus having a clamping plate moved up and down by an operating rod attached to the plate. The rod passes through a frame member to which a quick-locking device is mounted. The locking device is actuated by a horizontal shaft which is rotated about the rod between unclamped and clamped positions. The clamping plate is supported at the center by a single rod to which a clamping force is applied to maintain the pressure plate in a fixed position. It is desired to provide a quick-acting pressure plate clamped at least two spaced apart points.


A novelty device to simulate use of a remote control unit is provided with a housing having side walls, a first end wall spaced from a second end wall, and a top wall. A plurality of end wall slots arranged in a parallel relationship are directed through the second end wall, with the top wall having a like number of top wall slots, where each top wall slot includes as associated projection in mechanical relation to a drive link and projection plate, wherein each projection plate is arranged for projection through one of the second end wall slots upon directing an associated link guidingly along an associated top wall slot.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of invention relates to pacifier structure, and more particularly pertains to a new and improved remote control pacifier novelty device wherein the same is arranged to effect soothing and engagement of an individual to employ the novelty device of the invention when a further party employs an operative remote control unit.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Typically in operation of various electronic units such as television sets, stereos, and the like, the advent of the remote control has effected the dual social configuration of one individual employing an operative novelty device with a further individual having no control over such electronic units. The instant invention attempts to address the psychological needs of individuals by providing for a remote control pacifier novelty device addressed to the soothing manipulation of a simulated remote control organization. While remote control devices of various types are utilized throughout the prior art and exemplified by the U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,916,446; 4,959,810; and 4,897,883, the prior art has heretofore failed to set forth a remote control simulator for manipulation by individuals and in this respect, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


The present invention relates to a novel pharmaceutical composition and process for preparing swallowable rapidity disintegrating methylcellulose and lipstatin derivatives together in combination with a suitable diluent and excipients.

Orlistat, tetrahydrolipostatin, is a hypolipaemic lipstatin derivative, presently under development by Roche under the tradename Xenical®. Orlistat is a potent and selective inhibitor of pancreatic lipase. It also creates a fat phase in the intestine and removes endogenous cholesterol from bile in the intestine (Scrip, 1993, 1850, 12 & 1996, 2135, 22; Ann Rep, Roche, 1993). The lipase inhibitors act within the GI tract to inhibit the enzymes which hydrolyze dietary fat to glycerol and fatty acids. This hydrolysis is the required first step for fat digestion, and enables the absorption of lipids and fats, and their subsequent utilization for energy metabolism. Inhibition of fat digestion by lipase inhibitors such as orlistat, prevents fat absorption and hence, the availability of calories from ingested lipid.
Orlistat prevents the absorption of about one third of the fat contained in food (Ann Rep, Roche, 1995). The drug has undergone numerous placebo-controlled clinical studies, involving over 5000 obese patients. Orlistat resulted in significant weight loss and had no major adverse side-effects. During the first year of a two year study, 3-times as many patients on orlistat (with a moderately reduced calorie diet) lost 10% or more body weight as compared to patients treated with placebo and diet alone. Most patients who continued into the 2nd year of the study kept the lost weight off (Scrip, 1996, 2188, 17; Press release, Roche, May 1997). The drug is also being studied in patients with Type II diabetes (Ann Rep, Roche, 1992). The first year results of a 2 year study have shown that 228 patients receiving orlistat 3× daily as well as following a mildly hypocaloric diet have lost 65% more weight than the placebo controlled group, with almost ⅓ having lost >10% of their bodyweight (Scrip, 1996, 2135, 22).
In diet-induced obese rats, orlistat at 27 mg/kg/day caused a marked loss of body weight (65 g) and a decrease in carcass fat (54 g), despite occurrence of mild hyperphagia (1 1%). Fat absorption decreased from 93-94% to 17-19%. Orlistat—treated rats showed decreases in liver (13%) and retroperitoneal (RP) pad weight and an increase in small (27%) and large (38%) intestine weight (Fed Proc, 1987, 46, 1537).
The class of lipstatin inhibitors, which includes orlistat, inhibit enzymatic cleavage of fat within the intestinal lumen and largely prevents fat absorption from the intestine. Lipstatin inhibitors may be added at 0.1-100 mg ranges as a dietary additive to feedstuffs (esp. for dogs or cats) to prevent or treat adiposity and to optimize the weight of the animal. Use of these inhibitors with water insoluble fiber may further reduce fat resorption and is the subject of U.S. Pat. No. 5,540,917. Dose of orlistat plus water insoluble fiber reduces absorption of fat from the feedstuff by 1-100 (esp. 40-70) %. U.S. Pat. No. 5,540,917 does however, require large amounts of crude fiber to fat as the desired fiber content is 2-3× the fat content intake.
The lipase inhibitors act peripherally to inhibit fat digestion, and lack CNS side-effects. Their major side-effect is the potential to cause steatorrhea, anal oil leakage and incontinence, flatulence, and GI distress.
There exists in the art, the need to develop a product which would allow human patients to sustain a treatment regiment of the lipostatin derivatives, but reduce the potential side effects, such as anal leakage, or at least minimize them. A combination a product which would reduce these side effects would also provide for an easily administered product, which is convenient to take and transport.

Lipstatin derivative—soluble fiber tablets


A system for keeping track of an employee's attendance is described that allows the employee to be creative which also helps morale. An employee sets up an employee account and provides identification. A full body image is taken of the employee that is analyzed. Facial features may also be analyzed and stored. The employee then can create his/her own unique gesture which is captured and stored as a unique clock in gesture. He/she may also set up passwords and/or security questions if the gesture is not recognized. The employee then performs the unique clock in gesture to notify the system when he/she is beginning or leaving work. During clock in, the system checks human resource rules, accumulated work hours and characteristics of the employee's employment and clocks in the employee if it determines that the employee meets the rules and is allowed to clock in and work additional hours.

An entity, such as an employer must keep track of when personnel, such as employees, subcontractors, and others working on the premises (collectively referred to as "employees") arrive at a work location and when they leave a work location. This may be for a number of reasons. The most common reason is that employees are paid on an hourly basis which is based upon when they check in to begin work ("clock in"), and when they check out indicating that they have ended a shift, or a portion of the shift ("clock out"). Typically, the employee is paid for the time between clock in and clock out.
Employers must also keep track of clock in and clock out of employees to account for them in case of emergency or disaster. Information about employees that have clocked in but have not clocked out, and are possibly on the premises, may be used to aid emergency personnel in finding and rescuing employees.
Employees may also clock out for lunch, then clock in again after lunch, depending upon their employment agreement. In some cases, employees must clock out if they are driving to another location or going on a business trip. In any case, employees clock in and out at least twice a working day, and in some cases several times more.
Typically clocking in or clocking out will involve presenting some form of identification to a reader which would identify the employee, then determine if the employee was clocking in or clocking out and store this information along with an official time and date. In some cases, the identification would be a card given to the employee.
A system with a card for identification can be inaccurate. If someone brought in a card of an employee and clocked the card in and then later clocked the card out, it would appear that the employee associated with the card was present and worked that day.
There also have been various types of identification which use visual recognition, such as facial recognition of the employee. Even though this is fairly accurate, it can be time-consuming. Therefore, if a number of employees are entering or leaving at the same time, it can cause long lines and frustration for the employees.
Since the employees clock in and clock out often, and the process is very repetitive and mundane, it can become quite boring. This routine can contribute to a loss of morale.
Currently, there is a need for a system which quickly clocks employees in or out that is accurate and allows the employee to be creative.


A boat lift locking apparatus is disclosed for releasably fastening a cable to a structural component of a boat lift. The apparatus includes a bracket secured to the structural component and having a channel, which has a relatively wide portion and a relatively narrow portion. A locking element is slidably mounted in the channel. The cable extends through the channel between the locking element and the bracket. The locking element is urged selectively toward the narrow portion of the channel to frictionally lock the cable between the locking element and the bracket and toward the wide portion of the channel to unlock the cable and permit the cable to slide longitudinally through the channel between the locking element and the bracket.

Conventional salt water boat lift mechanisms typically employ one or more winch driven cables to raise and lower a boat-supporting platform. In a single or three-stage lift, the distal or terminal end of each cable is normally fastened to one of the cradle beams of the platform. Two-stage boat lifts connect the cables to the platform by pulleys which are themselves mounted to the cradle beams. Each cable in the two stage lift is fastened at its terminal end to a cable beam, which accommodates a winch or winder. In either case, the cable is fastened to a respective beam at essentially a single point of attachment.
Currently, when a boat lift is constructed, the terminal end of each cable must be attached at the factory. This operation is required to ensure that the terminal connection is absolutely secure. On site attachment by often unsophisticated or poorly trained installers is simply too unreliable. Therefore, the lift manufacturer itself secures the terminal end of each cable to its desired attachment point, typically by means of a connecting loop, which is formed at the terminal end of the cable.
It is very difficult, if not impossible, to string the above described cable loop through the pulleys of a multiple stage boat lift. Accordingly, most boat lift cables are strung and installed in a rearward direction. After being fastened at its terminal point, the cable is strung through the various pulleys. Finally, the proximal end of the cable is attached to the cable winder. This operation is normally performed on site. Fastening security is less critical at the proximal end of the cable. As the winder is operated and the cable is wrapped thereon, the winder circumferentially absorbs and distributes the lifting load. Little or no load is experienced at the proximal end of the cable.
Stringing the cable rearwardly from the terminal point of attachment to the winder presents several problems for the boat lift installer. This technique forces the installer to "field wind" the cables onto the winder during the installation process. Engaging the cable with the winder on site or in the field is awkward, as the installer must typically work over water at inconvenient heights. It would be far preferable to prewind the cables onto the winder at the factory, where this procedure could be performed faster, more conveniently and at far less expense. However, to date, this operation has not been widely used because of the reluctance to secure the terminal end of the cable in the field.
Securing the terminal end of the cable to its respective point of attachment and stringing the cable rearwardly to the winder also complicates cable adjustment. Following installation, it is often necessary to adjust the cable lengths to compensate for settling of the cable beam support pilings. Such settling normally occurs when a boat is first elevated by the lift. When the terminal end of the cable is permanently fixed at the factory, it is extremely difficult to make the necessary length adjustments. The cable must be detached from the winder and totally restrung. This is an extremely time consuming, awkward and inconvenient procedure.
Replacement of worn cables is another commonplace problem. Once again, the new cable must first be attached at its proximal end and then strung in a rearward direction to the winder. When a new cable is installed, its length almost always requires adjustment due to previous settling of the support pilings. The new cable must be detached and restrung to adjust that length.
Accordingly, the currently accepted practice of permanently attaching the terminal end of the boat lift cable to its respective point of attachment and stringing the cable rearwardly toward the winder complicates boat lift installation considerably and adds to the difficulty, time and expense of such installation. The need exists for a means of boat lift cable attachment, which enables the proximal end of the boat lift cable to be factory wound, the terminal end of the cable to be attached in the field, and the length of the cable to be adjusted quickly and conveniently, without having to totally restring the cable.