Disclosed herein is a vehicle (1)—preferably a tractor—with a trailer (2) operatively connected thereto with a cardan (3), said cardan (3) comprising a power take-off, said power take-off being switched off when said cardan (3) builds with said vehicle (1) and/or with said trailer (2) an angle (ε) smaller than a first threshold value (a) and/or larger than a second threshold value (β) and being switched on when said angle (ε) exceeds again said first threshold value (β) thanks to suitable actuators, including detection means of the angle formed between the cardan (3) and said vehicle and/or trailer. According to the present invention, said angle (ε) is detected by a detector consisting of a magnetic device (4) placed on the trailer (2) or the vehicle (1) and an electronic compass (5) placed on the vehicle (1) or on the trailer (2). Preferably, the angle (ε) insisting on the cardan (3) is obtained according to the formula: ε=180−Y−arcsen (l/m sen y) (3) where y is the angle the compass (5) forms with respect to the straight travel with the magnet (4), I is the distance between the cardan (3) and the compass (5), m is the distance between the cardan (3) and the magnet (4).

Agriculture is one of the earliest productive activities in human history. The discovery of the possibility of re-obtaining a certain plant, dropping its seeds into the soil and selecting from time to time the seeds from the plants with the best fruit, had a huge impact on man, who could thus dramatically change his lifestyle, being able to settle in a place he felt most appropriate and no longer having to continue to chase animals as they were extinct in an area. Moreover, the discovery of agriculture has made it possible to preserve more animal species in places where such discovery occurred earlier, thus ensuring a greater biodiversity.
Agriculture has always required the preparation of a soil to receive a crop. Generally, all plants that can damage the crop (commonly called weeds) are eliminated, after which the soil is tilled by turning it over, so that it becomes accessible for seeds that will be planted in it; the final step is irrigation, in order to satisfy the need of the plants for water.
Soil was originally tilled by hand, with tools such as hand ploughs, still used in poor areas, where agriculture is of a very traditional or even old-fashioned type and where the economic resources needed to purchase the most varied equipment are scarce.
A first improvement was when the plough was pulled by animals, especially oxen, extremely strong and at the same time very patient and governable animals, so that they could be guided without risks and with excellent results, even by a single person.
With the discovery of the combustion engine, oxen were progressively replaced by tractors and other similar agricultural machines, which today have actually replaced working animals.
Tractors are of different types. As for the movement, they can be wheeled or tracked, according to what is needed. They may have trailers that can be carried or towed. A carried trailer is a trailer that is placed on the tractor's fork and is lifted and lowered, usually carried in front of the tractor. A towed trailer is a trailer that is fastened to a towing eye and dragged passively, usually behind.
Today it is common practice that trailers carry other agricultural machines, such as sprayers, lawn mowers and others. They are normally driven by the force transmitted by a cardan, operatively connected to the power outlet of the tractor. The cardan is able to rotate, due to the action of the power outlet, while the trailer is pulled, easily compensating for small rotations and bumps of limited magnitude. Nevertheless, the cardan, although it allows to perform safely small curves, tends to break at angles between the tractor and the trailer below 145° (measured both clockwise and counter-clockwise) if it continues to rotate. For this reason, it is a normal practice to switch off the power outlet of the tractor, placing it in the idle state whenever a relatively sharp bend is present, to prevent the rupture of the cardan, which would result in stopping the processing and in replacing the cardan, with the consequent downtime and replacement costs.
This operation, although conceptually simple, is part of a series of operations that require a lot of concentration on the part of the operator, also taking into account the difficulty related to the terrain normally encountered by tractors, which are sometimes even dangerous to operators. For this reason, it is not uncommon that the operator, being distracted by other tasks, forgets to switch off the power outlet, breaking the cardan, or to switch it back on once the bend is completed, leaving the job incomplete and often having to repeat it with increased costs and prolonged times.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,320,186 describes a system for changing the position and the speed of a connection for the power outlet in a tractor with a carried tool. The term "carried tool" means, as already explained, that the tool is carried on the hydraulic lifting device of the tractor. Carried loads and trailed loads have very different characteristics between each other. While driving, the operator can raise or lower the connection position to connect a trailer tool. The connection position and, as a consequence, the speed of the same are detected. By means of an algorithm, the error of the speed measurement is calculated and, according to the result, the connection is raised or lowered via a solenoid valve. The system records the optimum values, so as to accelerate the calculations. Finally, a potentiometer for the speed drop allows to obtain the desired speed. This system is very useful, but it still requires the fully conscious and voluntary action of the operator for the disengagement and engagement of the power outlet and does not solve the previously-mentioned issues.
GB 1088954 discloses an energy transmission through a shaft assembly, to be connected to the power outlet of a tractor by means of a universal joint, with a resilient suspension system on the joint, so as to allow a movement without obstacles.
WO99/56 978 discloses a process for the control of a cardan for power transmission. It provides an insertion/exclusion valve of the cardan. Through this valve, the cardan can be inserted/excluded.
US2014/0303849 discloses a method for detecting the position of a trailer with respect to a vehicle. In this way, the trajectory that can be inserted in a curvature control device is determined.
To overcome these drawbacks, the Applicants of the present application have filed patent application PCT/IB2017/050265, wherein described is a vehicle with trailer operatively connected thereto with a cardan, said cardan comprising a power outlet, said power outlet being switched off when said cardan builds with said vehicle and/or with said trailer an angle smaller than a first threshold value and/or larger than a second threshold value and being switched on when said angle exceeds again said first threshold value or goes below said second threshold value, thanks to suitable actuators, comprising angle detection means between the steering wheels and the vehicle axle and means apt to correlate said angle between the steering wheels and the vehicle axle with the angle comprised between the cardan and said vehicle and/or trailer. The angle (ε) to be compared with the threshold value is calculated according to the relation:ε=δ−arcsen(m/l*sen δ)   (1)
wherein:
m=length of an arm of the cardan
l=length of another arm of the cardan
δ=angle between the steering wheels and the vehicle axle.
This vehicle, although it solves almost all the experienced drawbacks, cannot, however, work in the case of a tracked vehicle, because this tracked vehicle is steered by blocking a number of tracks and not turning the wheels around their support, which is why there is no possibility to evaluate the angle δ. Also, it is normally not suitable for use with a carried load.

Simplified system for disconnecting a power outlet of a cardan in a vehicle with a trailer


A foam backed precured joint seal comprising a strip of precured elastomer wider than the joint to be sealed, the strip centrally adhered along its length to an elongated foam backing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns joints utilized in structures. Even more particularly, the present invention concerns the application of a premanufactured joint seal system (a joint seal system with a finished, dry surface) allowing expansion and contractions of different construction members.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the construction of buildings and roads having multiple panels therein, there has long existed the need for joints and other similar means to connect substrates and accommodate the expansion and construction of these substrates due to thermal conditions. Such joints used in highways have been termed horizontal joints. Those utilized in buildings notably in skyscrapers, have been termed vertical joints. Those joints within buildings which interconnect with vertical joints or other vertical members are termed vertical-horizontal joints.
In selecting among the known materials to form a vertical joint, architects and specifiers have suggested the use of elastomeric sealant such as silicone sealant or organic based sealant. These types of sealants are normally applied wet into a joint opening. Before solidifying, some sealant types would readily sag and slump within the joint especially wider joints and/or collect dirt due to its wet surface in the uncured stage and/or are permanently deformed due to movement of the construction members while the sealant has not totally cured. This produced an uneven joint, which could not perform in the needed manner nor insure a watertight seal.
An example of one method of attempting a silicone seal over a wide vertical joint is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,335,466 to Langohr. Langohr utilizes an open foam backer to maintain the position of an in place cured sealant strip; the backer and cured sealant strip cooperate to form a pair of grooves which are then filled with an uncured silicone sealant. This system requires a time consuming and labor intensive manufacturing process of depositing and curing a strip of silicone on the foam backing and then an installation process of dual beads of silicone sealant after the foam backing is installed (exposing uncured sealant during application). The resulting seal relies upon four bonds formed by the two beads (each bead forms one bond with the structure and one bond with the cured sealant). Contact between the cured sealant and the structure is only effected by the application of the bead sealant (Col 3, Line 67-Col 4, Line 1). The Langohr system is very wasteful of silicone sealant. The depth of the cured sealant strip (and thus two sealant beads) is substantial to permit sufficient uncured sealant to be added to assure the beads are sufficiently uniform to effect a watertight seal even with flow between application and cure and a smoothing operation for appearance. Further, the three bead appearance is not preferred, particularly where the center bead width differs from the width of the beads of uncured sealant applied. Further still, the foam backer remains adhered to the cured sealant and the bead sealant to provide structural stability to the joint. Another disadvantage is the appearance of the joint if there has been shifting and the space is uneven; the cured sealant will be uniform but the bead sealant will be uneven. Further, wet sealant can collect dirt or debris while curing, creating an unsightly appearance.
The present invention provides a decorative and easily formed sealing strip for wide vertical joints, which covers the joint with a performed uniform strip or forms a U-shaped seal by inserting the sealing strip deeper into the joint. The present invention also provides a xe2x80x9cdryxe2x80x9d outer seal for all types of joints, wide or narrow, vertical or horizontal, which will not deform due to shifting and which will not collect surface debris as the adhesive dries.
The seal of the present invention comprises:
a) a resilient backing member for compression insertion into a joint
b) an elastomeric sealing strip disposed on the backing member and wider than the joint, and
c) an adhesive joining a central elongated portion of the sealing strip to the backing member.
The backing member holds the sealing strip in place during installation and centers the strip relative to the joint, holding the strip in place while an added adhesive sets. There are various configurations for the backing member to reduce cost, to facilitate insertions, and if needed to minimize adhesion between the backing member and the sealing strip. It is preferred that the sealing strip is adhered to the backing member in a way so that the reaction to expansion or contraction in the joint does not effect the sealant strip. The sealing strip is adhered directly to the structure below the edge on either side with an added adhesive. Thus, adhesive is never exposed to the open. The resultant seal is watertight and yet flexible enough to endure the expansion and contraction of the joint.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


Methods of stapling a nasal septum using a nasal septal stapling apparatus comprising obtaining a nasal septal stapling apparatus comprising a body, at least one arm extending from the body and comprising an end distal from the body, a staple bank comprising a plurality of staples proximal to the end of the at least one arm, and a staple moving member configured to discharge a staple from the staple bank, and a trigger. The methods comprise placing the at least one arm against a nasal septum of a patient and moving the trigger, wherein moving the trigger causes the staple moving member to discharge a staple from the staple bank and through the nasal septum of the patient.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to septal surgery. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved septal stapler apparatus that places surgical staples in a patient's septal tissue responsive to a trigger pull that moves two elongated spaced apart appendages together, one pushing a staple toward the other and through the selected tissue.
2. Background of the Invention
The following US patents, which contain background information, are incorporated herein by reference:
TABLE IPAT. NO.TITLEISSUE DATE5,540,240Intranasal Septal Fastener Driving30 Jul. 1996Method5,361,782Intranasal Septal Stapling Method8 Nov. 19945,370,294Intranasal Septal Stapling Device and6 Dec. 1994Method6,283,121Manual Pump and Ambu Bag4 Sep. 20016,131,790Surgical Stapler and Cartridge17 Oct. 20005,351,871Intranasal Septal Stapling Device4 Oct. 19945,915,615Tissue Fastening Device29 Jun. 1999

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A bottle support for an injection or infusion device with a main body, which has at least one bottle holder for the holding of a neck of a supply bottle. In order to bring about as simple and quick an equipping as possible of the injection device with supply bottles with different sizes and to hold the supply bottles securely in the bottle support, provision is made so that a shaft is formed in the main body, in which a tension slide, pretensioned with a spring, is supported so it can be displaced linearly. In a first position, the tension slide locks the neck of the supply bottle, and in a second position, the neck of the supply bottle is released.

From the state of the art, injection devices are known, which are used in the area of medical technology for the injection of liquids into the body of a patient. Such injection devices can, for example, be used to administer contrast agents during the carrying out of imaging processes, such as computer tomography, ultrasound investigations, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The liquids to be injected, such as various contrast agents and NaCl rinse solutions, are thereby poured into supply bottles. The bottles with the liquids to be injected are, for example, suspended on the upper end of a rack, which is, as a rule, mounted on roller bearings, or they are supported in a bottle support with a bottle holder and connected with an injection device via a supply tube.
Such a device is known from U.S. Pat. No. 6,070,761 A. This has several bottle supports for supply bottles, wherein each bottle support is composed of two outer arms and two inner arms. The outer arms are rigidly placed on a panel and have an arch-shaped bottle holder to hold the head or neck of a supply bottle. In the outer arms, the inner arms with a likewise arch-shaped bottle holder to hold the neck of the supply bottle are supported in such a way that they can swivel. In order to be able to hold supply bottles of various sizes, the bottle holders of the outer and the inner arms differ in their diameter. To hold the larger supply bottle, the neck of the bottle of the large supply bottle, which is introduced headfirst, is inserted into the holding section of the outer arms. The inner arms are thereby swiveled out from the outer arms. To hold a smaller supply bottle, the inner arms are swiveled into the outer arms, wherein the neck of the small supply bottle, introduced headfirst, is inserted in the bottle holder of the inner arms. The two different diameters of the bottle holders of the outer and inner holding arms allow two supply bottles of different sizes to be held.
The non-variable diameters of the bottle holders of the outer and inner arms permit only the use of two supply bottles of a certain size. It is therefore not possible to use smaller or larger supply bottles with diameters that deviate from this.
Another disadvantage of the known bottle holder is found when using the outer and inner arms. Thus, when inserting a large supply bottle into the bottle holder of the outer arms unintentionally, the inner arms cannot swivel into the outer arms, since they are not reliably held in the swiveled-out position and thus the insertion of the large supply bottle is additionally complicated.
Moreover, the neck of the supply bottle is not fixed in the bottle holder, but rather is only inserted in the bottle holder.

Bottle support for an injection or infusion device


The present invention relates to a process for producing a buten-1-based polymer satisfying the following requirements (a), (b) and (c): (a) a crystalline resin having a melting point (Tm-D) of 0 to 100° C., the melting point being defined as a top of a peak observed on a highest-temperature side in a melting endothermic curve obtained by a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) when a sample is held in a nitrogen atmosphere at −10° C. for 5 min and then heated at a temperature rise rate of 10° C./min; (b) a stereoregularity index represented by (mmmm)/(mmrr+rmmr) of 20 or less; and (c) a weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of 10,000 to 1,000,000 and a ratio (Mw/Mn) of weight-average molecular weight to number-average molecular weight of 4.0 or less; a modified buten-1-based polymer produced by modifying the buten-1-based polymer with a radical polymerization initiator and an organic acid; and an adhesive composition containing the modified buten-1-based polymer. The modified buten-1-based polymer of the present invention is capable of imparting a high adhesiveness, a high strength and a good softness to polyolefins, and providing sealants having a high adhesiveness, or polyolefins having an improved compatibility to inorganic fillers, etc., in particular, is useful as resins for hot-melt adhesives.

Hitherto, olefin-based polymers obtained by graft-modifying a polyolefin such as polyethylene and polypropylene with an unsaturated carboxylic acid or an acid anhydride thereof have been used as modifiers for various resins or tackifiers.
Meanwhile, it has been expected that a blend of low-stereoregular polybuten-1 produced in the presence of metallocene-based catalysts with polypropylene produced in the presence of magnesium-titanium-based catalysts, is usable to control an elastic modulus of the polymer, or form a heat-seal layer in multilayer films, etc. However, the polybuten-1 has been further required to show much higher strength and adhesiveness.
Under these circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a modifier that is useful for imparting a high adhesiveness, a high strength and a good softness to polyolefins, and for obtaining sealants having a high adhesiveness, or polyolefins having an improved compatibility to inorganic fillers, etc., as well as an adhesive composition containing the modifier.

Process for producing modified butene-1 polymer and modified butene-1 polymer obtained by the process


Synthesizable code representing first-in-first out (FIFO) memories may be used to produce FIFO memories in a hardware element or system. To more efficiently use a memory element that stores the data in a FIFO, a code generator may generate a wrapper that enables the FIFO to use a memory element with different dimension (i.e., depth and width) than the FIFO's dimensions. For example, the wrapper enables a 128 deep, 1 bit wide FIFO to store data in a memory element with 16 rows that store 8 bits each. To any system communicating with the FIFO, the FIFO behaves like a 128×1 FIFO even though the FIFO is implemented using a 16×8 memory element. To do so, the code generator may generate a wrapper which enables the folded memory element to behave like a memory element that was not folded.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to designing first-in first-out (FIFO) memories, and more specifically, to folding the depth and width of the FIFO memory to identify the dimensions of a corresponding memory element.
2. Description of the Related Art
Integrated circuits designed to process data typically use FIFO memories to store data between processing stages. These FIFO memories may have different widths, depths, and different input and output clock frequencies. Conventionally, generators that produce synthesizable code have been used to produce different variations of FIFO memories. However, different physical characteristics of the FIFO memory may lead to inefficiencies. For example, in response to a request, the generator may produce synthesizable code corresponding to a 128×1 FIFO (i.e., a FIFO that has 128 entries that are 1 bit each). However, if this FIFO is implemented using RAM, the width of a RAM cell may be at least 8 bits wide. Accordingly, a 128 deep FIFO would require 128 rows of RAM that are each 8 bits wide. Because each entry stores only one bit, the other seven bits of the row are unused. This inefficiency may lead to the hardware system consuming additional power and requiring more space than is otherwise necessary.


The invention relates to a process for preparing a microporous membrane from an unsulfonated poly(phenylene sulfide) polymer by forming a mixture of an unsulfonated poly(phenylene sulfide) polymer, an amorphous polymer, and optionally a plasticizer, heating the resulting mixture, extruding or optionally casting the mixture into a membrane, controlled cooling (quenching) or coagulating the membrane, and leaching the membrane, while optionally drawing the membrane before, during, and/or after leaching.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a process for preparing microporous membranes from a blend containing an unsulfonated poly(phenylene sulfide) (PPS) polymer, an amorphous polymer, and optionally a solvent and/or optional non-solvent. Such membranes are useful in the treatment of liquids by the membrane separation processes of ultrafiltration, microfiltration, depth filtration, macrofiltration, membrane distillation, and membrane stripping. The membranes of this invention are also useful as microporous supports for composite liquid and/or gas separation membranes.
2. Description of Related Art
In the past, microporous membranes have been fabricated from polyolefins such as polyethylene and polypropylene. One typical method of preparing such polyolefin membranes is by an extrusion process which involves dissolving the polyolefin in a solvent or a mixture of solvent and non-solvent, extruding the polyolefin/solvent/non-solvent mixture into membranes, and immersing the membranes into a leach bath. Another method of preparing such polyolefin membranes is by a melt-extrusion process which involves extruding the membranes from the molten polyolefin, followed by cold drawing the membranes. However, polyolefins, while inexpensive and easy to process, exhibit relatively low heat distortion temperatures.
Poly(phenylene sulfide) polymers are high performance thermoplastics which possess high glass transition temperatures, high crystalline melting points, high thermal stability, and high solvent resistance. Such properties make poly(phenylene sulfide) polymers useful for membranes employed in liquid separations, particularly membrane separation processes which involve treatment of organic, acidic, or basic liquids at elevated temperatures.
The very properties which make poly(phenylene sulfide) polymers desirable materials for use in applications which require high temperature and/or solvent resistance also render such polymers very difficult to process into membranes, particularly since poly(phenylene sulfide) polymers exhibit relatively low solution viscosities at the high membrane fabrication temperatures, in excess of about 250.degree. C., frequently required to fabricate membranes. The low solution viscosities exhibited by poly(phenylene sulfide) polymers are particularly problematic with extrusion or casting blends containing less than about the 40 weight percent polymer required to produce high flux microporous membranes. Such low solution viscosities also render extrusion of hollow fiber microporous membranes from poly(phenylene sulfide) polymers especially difficult.
Furthermore, poly(phenylene sulfide) polymers are extremely solvent resistant and are therefore considered to be insoluble in all common solvents. Therefore, to form membranes, PPS, for example, is expected to be dissolved in very strong acids such as concentrated sulfuric acid to sulfonate the poly(phenylene sulfide), which renders the sulfonated poly(phenylene sulfide) soluble in common solvents such as dimethylformamide and dimethylacetamide. The problem associated with such a process is that the fabricated membrane comprises not poly(phenylene sulfide), but rather sulfonated poly(phenylene sulfide), which is soluble in common solvents. Thus the high solvent resistance of poly(phenylene sulfide) is lost.
What is needed is a process of preparing microporous membranes from unsulfonated poly(phenylene sulfide) polymers using plasticizers, that is, solvents and optional non-solvents, which do not chemically modify or degrade the unsulfonated poly(phenylene sulfide) polymer during fabrication so that the high strength, temperature resistance, and solvent resistance of the unsulfonated poly(phenylene sulfide) polymer is retained by the fabricated membranes.
What is further needed is a method of increasing the solution viscosities of the poly(phenylene sulfide) polymers, so that membranes can be more easily fabricated at the high temperatures required to fabricate membranes from such polymers, while retaining the high temperature and solvent resistance of the unsulfonated poly(phenylene sulfide) polymer.
What is especially needed is a process for preparing microporous membranes having high flux from unsulfonated poly(phenylene sulfide) polymers.
The membranes of the present invention accomplish these objectives and exhibit excellent solvent and temperature resistance. The membranes also possess high tensile strength. The membranes are useful as microporous membranes for liquid separations such as ultrafiltration, microfiltration, depth filtration, macrofiltration, membrane stripping, and membrane distillation and as microporous supports for composite liquid or gas separation membranes.

Process for making a microporous membrane from a blend containing a poly (phenylene sulfide) polymer, an amorphous polymer, and optionally a solvent


The subject invention concerns non-degradable three dimensional porous collagen scaffolds and coatings. These scaffolds can be prepared around sensors for implantation into a body. A specific embodiment of the invention concerns implantable glucose sensors. Sensors comprising a collagen scaffold of the invention have improved biocompatibility by minimizing tissue reactions while stimulating angiogenesis. The subject invention also concerns methods for preparing collagen scaffolds of the invention. The subject invention also concerns sensors that have a collagen scaffold of the invention around the exterior of the sensor.

Chronically implantable devices may provoke inflammation and/or fibrosis from tissue trauma or tissue response to the foreign body. See, e.g., Reichert et al., Handbook of Biomaterial Evaluation, Ch. 28 Biosensors, pp. 439-460, (Von Recum A., editor) (1999); Wisniewski et al., J Anal Chem 2000; 366 (6-7) (p. 611-621).
Implanted devices may also cause other unwanted bioreactions. For example, recently, researchers have stated that drug-coated stents might cause adverse reactions leading to blood clot formation in some patients. See Lagerqvist et al., Long-Term Outcomes with Drug-Eluting Stents versus Bare-Metal Stents in Sweden, New England Jnl. Of Medicine, Mar. 8, 2007.
Other chronically implantable devices that may invoke unwanted bioreactions are biosensors. For example, in order to maintain near normal blood glucose levels (70-120 mg/dL), diabetic patients widely use over-the-counter glucose meters, which require finger pricking to obtain blood samples several times a day. The pain (Lee et al., 2005), inconvenience, and discomfort of self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) are frequently obstacles to effective patient compliance and optimal management of diabetes. During the past 20 years many kinds of continuous glucose monitoring systems have been studied including sensors implanted in the subcutaneous tissue (Moussy et al., 1993; Johnson et al., 1992; Koudelka et al., 1991; Bindra et al., 1991; Pickup et al., 1989; Shichiri et al., 1986; and Ertefai et al., 1989), sensors implanted in the vascular bed (Armour et al., 1990; Frost et al., 2002), and determining glucose concentration in interstitial fluid sampled using a micro dialysis device (Ash et al., 1992; Meyerhoff et al., 1992; Moscone et al., 1992). Although several studies of implantable glucose sensors have been reported, it is believed that none of these biosensors are reliably capable of continuously monitoring glucose levels during long-term implantation. Progressive loss of sensor function occurs due in part to biofouling and to the consequences of a foreign body response such as inflammation, fibrosis, and loss of vasculature (Reichert et al., 1992; Reichert et al., 1999; Sharkawy et al., 2007). Some researchers have modified the surface of the sensors to reduce membrane biofouling in vivo. In an approach to reduce protein adsorption, Quinn et al., 1995 used poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) in a polyhydroxyethylmethacrylate (PHEMA) matrix. Since the PEG chains tend to stand up perpendicular to the membrane surface, they provide a water-rich phase that resists binding of many protein molecules. Rigby et al., 1995 and Reddy et al., 1997 reduced protein adsorption by using diamond-like carbon, so-called "inert" materials. Shichiri et al., 1988 incorporated an alginate/polylysine gel layer at the sensor. Shaw et al., 1991 reported improvement in biocompatibility of a biosensor coated with PHEMA/PU (polyurethane). Wilkins et al., 1995 and Moussy et al. introduced NAFION (perfluorosulphonic acid) membrane (Du Pont), to reduce "biofouling" on the surface of the sensor and reduce interference from urate and ascorbate (Moussy et al., 1993; Moussy et al., 1994a; Moussy et al., 1994b; Moussy et al., 1994c). Armour et al., 1990 coated their sensor tips with cross-linked albumin and Kerner et al., 1993 developed cellulose-coated sensors to improve sensor blood compatibility. However, it is believed that none of these approaches has been satisfactory for long term, stable glucose monitoring.
Collagen and its derived matrices are used extensively as natural polymers in the biomedical field including tissue engineering due to its low antigenicity, its biodegradability and its good mechanical, haemostatic and cell-binding properties (Sheu et al., 2001; Pieper et al., 2002; Chvapil et al., 1973; Pachence et al., 1996; and Lee et al., 2001). In order to devise strategies for using collagen in the development of advanced biomaterials for biomedical engineering, it is typically desired to confer mechanical strength and resistance to enzymatic (collagenase) degradation resistance with chemical or physical cross-linking strategies. There are several strategies for cross-linking collagen-based biomaterials. Glutaraldehyde (GA) is the most widely used as a cross-linking agent for collagen-based biomaterials (Sheu et al., 2001; Barbani et al., 1995). However, GA and its reaction products are associated with cytotoxicity in vivo, due to the presence of cross-linking byproducts and the release of GA-linked collagen peptides during enzymatic degradation (Huang-Lee et al., 1990; van Luyn et al., 1992).
In order to avoid in vivo cytotoxicity and subsequent calcification of GA cross-linked collagen, several alternative compounds have been examined as potential collagen cross-linking agents (Khor et al., 1997; Sung et al., 1996) such as polyepoxy, hexamethylene diisocyanate (HMDI), 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylamino-propyl)carbodiimide (EDC), and ultra-violet (UV) or gamma-ray irradiation. Koob et al. recently described a process for cross-linking of type I collagen fibers with nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), a plant compound with antioxidant properties (Koob et al., 2002a; Koob et al., 2002b; Koob et al., 2001a; and Koob et al., 2001b). Koob et al. showed that NDGA significantly improved the mechanical properties of synthetic collagen fibers. In addition, they showed that NDGA cross-linked collagen fibers did not elicit a foreign body response nor did they stimulate an immune reaction during six weeks in vivo.
The extent of cross-linking and choice of cross-linking agent may also affect the porosity and pore size of the scaffold and may influence fibrous capsule thickness, blood vessel density, and the location of vessels within the three-dimensional porous scaffold (Joseph et al., 2004). Large pore scaffolds (greater than 60 micron pore size) allow deep penetration of capillaries and supporting extracellular matrix (ECM). Sharkawy et al., 1997 showed that after four weeks of subcutaneous implantation in rat, a well-organized collagen matrix typical of a foreign-body response encapsulated non-porous implants, while the porous polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) implants produced less fibrous and vascularized tissue capsules.

Collagen scaffolds, medical implants with same and methods of use


A CATV system includes a broadcasting station, a satellite, and a local center. Scrambled television signals transmitted from the broadcasting station to the local center through the satellite are descrambled and re-scrambled at the local center, and the re-scrambled TV signals are transmitted to terminal devices. A non-scrambled TV signal included in the TV signal transmitted from the broadcasting station to the local center is detected. The detected non-scrambled TV signal is transmitted to terminal devices without scrambling.

A CATV system using a communication satellite or a broadcasting satellite is consisted of a broadcasting station, the satellite, a local CATV center, and a plurality of terminal devices of subscribers.
The television (TV) signal from the broadcasting station to the local CATV center through the satellite is scrambled with a high level encoding. In order to descramble the highly scrambled TV signal, an expensive decoder is necessary. Such an expensive decoder is not suitable for subscribers. Therefore, the local center descrambles the TV signal and re-scrambles it with a low level encoding suitable for the subscribers. However, if the TV signal for the commercial program is scrambled, non-subscribers cannot watch the commercial program. Therefore, the broadcasting station must transmit the TV signal for the commercial program without scrambling, and the local CATV center must not scramble the TV signal.

System for transmitting a commercial program in a CATV system


An enterprise grade data mapping application enables collaboration and reuse of many data integration components by leveraging metadata, enterprise transformations, and improves the process by creating automation, versioning, traceability, and impact analysis via its web enabled portal. This solution bridges this gap by leveraging metadata, and making the process automated, disciplined, predictable, and gives insight to the data lineage to both IT and business stakeholders via its web enabled portal. Mapping Manager brings standardization, collaboration, versioning, traceability, regulatory compliance and auditability, impact analysis, management visibility, and programmatic control where there is none now.

In data migration/integration projects, data is moved from files at a source location to files at a target location. Typically, the data to be moved is stored in tables of some kind, organized by table and by column within the data. This data may need to be integrated with existing data at the target location, and therefore transferring the source files in full and maintaining their existing table and column names, etc. is not an option. Rather, it is necessary to determine which tables and columns within those tables at the target location correspond to given tables and table columns of the source data. This process of mapping source data to target data is referred to as data mapping.
Existing data mapping applications lack standardization, collaboration, versioning, traceability, impact analysis, management visibility, auditability and programmatic control. The data integration industry creates data mappings manually, using manpower and spreadsheets and manually typing and copy/pasting tables and columns and typing transformation rules into spreadsheets. The manual mapping process lacks control, auditability and visibility into the mappings, is non-standard, time consuming, error-prone, and costly and makes management of the mappings and tracking of changes very difficult or impossible. Inaccurate and incomplete mapping rules negatively impact data integration projects by driving up costs and delivery timeframes. Organizations managing large amounts of data and data migration projects frequently end up with hundreds or thousands of manually-created data mapping spreadsheets and/or document files, each tailored to a given data migration project and lacking any centralization or organization. Building mapping specifications for the ETL process is manual.
Needs exist for improved data mapping applications.

Enterprise grade metadata and data mapping management application


An exercise device having an anchor with multiple components is described. In one embodiment, the anchor includes one or more interlocking components, such as rigid or flexible loops. Rigid loops such as gated rings may advantageously be used to connect the different components. Embodiments permit for replacing, interchanging, or adding components to an exercise device anchor.

The present invention generally relates to exercise devices, and in particular to an exercise device having an anchor that formed from components that can be removed, replaced, and/or interchanged.
Resistance exercise devices allow a user to exercise by providing a resistance to the movement of a user's arms, legs, or torso. Thus, for example, such devices allow a user to exercise by working one muscle against another, or by working against the weight of the user, by providing a resistance to the movement of a user's arms, legs, or torso. Resistance exercise devices typically include either elastic bands or inelastic straps.
Resistance exercise devices having inelastic straps are typically attachable to a structure, such as, for example, a door. In general, the anchors for such devices are not very flexible in that that they are attachable to one type of structure and/or are permanently attached to the exercise device.
There is a need to provide an anchor for an exercise device that is capable of being attached to a variety of structures. There is also a need to provide an anchor for an exercise device that is easily adaptable for attaching to a variety of structures. There is a further need to provide an anchor for and exercise device having easily replaceable components.

Exercise device having inelastic straps and interchangeable parts


The present invention relates to novel compounds, termed serpentemycins, of the formula (I)

A large number of antibiotics are used therapeutically for treating infectious bacterial diseases. However, the pathogens are becoming increasingly resistant to the pharmaceuticals employed, and there is even the threat of a serious risk due to what are termed multiresistant organisms, which have not only become capable of resisting single antibiotic groups, such as β-lactam antibiotics, glycopeptides or macrolides, but also carry several resistances at one and the same time. There are even pathogens which have become resistant to all the commercially available antibiotics. Infectious diseases that are caused by these organisms can no longer be treated. There is, therefore, a great need for novel agents which can be used against resistant organisms. While thousands of antibiotics have been described in the literature, most of them are too toxic to be used as pharmaceuticals.
A relatively large number of polyene antibiotics, most of which are macrolides, that is their structures belong to the macrocyclic structure type, have already been described. These macrolides act antimycotically by means of interactions with biological membranes, and are, therefore, toxic to warm-blooded animals (homeotherms). The most important representative of this antibiotic type is amphotericin B, which is used as a therapeutic agent in humans despite its toxicity. An example of a nonmacrocyclic polyene antibiotic which has been described (Ritzau et al., Liebigs Ann. Chem. 1993, 433-435) is serpentene, which contains a phenyl ring which is substituted in the 1,2 position by polyene side chains. In tests directed against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, serpentene only exhibited a weak antibiotic effect against Bacillus subtilis.
The cell wall of Gram-positive bacteria is composed, inter alia, of murein, which is composed of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and N-acetylmuramic acid, which are linked to each other like a disaccharide, and contains amino acids and peptides, such as D-glutamine, D- and L-alanine, L-lysine and pentaglycyl units, and which is strongly cross-linked. The biosynthesis of the bacterial cell wall takes place using enzymes which are not found in homeotherm metabolism. These enzymes are, therefore, suitable sites of attack for developing antibiotics which are well tolerated by homeotherms. Furthermore, inhibitors of murein biosynthesis should not be poisonous to humans. Glycosyltransferase (Transglycosylase, GT) is a key enzyme in peptidoglycan biosynthesis and, consequently, of cell wall construction. A specific inhibitor of this enzyme, i.e. moenomycin (Kurz et al., Eur. J. Biochem. 1998, 252, 500-507), has been known for a relatively long time. Moenomycin is an antibiotic which exhibits very powerful activity and which is well tolerated; however, it is not absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, and elimination from the blood following intravenous administration is also difficult. For these reasons, it has thus far not been possible to use moenomycin systemically in medicine. Further, only a very few additional glycosyltransferase inhibitors have been described in the literature; for reasons of pharmacokinetics or tolerance, none of these agents has found its way into therapy. For this reason, novel GT inhibitors are still being sought, as has recently been reported by Goldman & Gange in Current Medicinal Chem. 2000, 7, 801-820. Screening for GT inhibitors employs specific biochemical GT test systems; such assays have been described repeatedly, for example, by Vollmer & Höltje in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 2000, 44, 1181-1185.
Darby et al. (J. Org. Chem. 1977, 42, 1960-1967) describe the synthesis of phenyl compounds which are substituted by trans-polyene side chains in the 1,2 position for analyzing the π system of macrocyclic annulenes.

Polyenecarboxylic acid derivatives, processes for preparing them, and their use

Abstract: in which Y, R, R2, R3, R4, X, X2, X3, n, m and o are as defined in the specification, which are formed by the microorganism Actinomycetales sp. DSM 14865 during its fermentation, to chemical derivatives of the serpentemycins, to a process for preparing them, and to their use as pharmaceuticals, in particular for the treatment and prophylaxis of infectious bacterial diseases.


Provided are compounds of Formula I:

Viruses are responsible for many infectious diseases in animals, including mammals and humans in particular. Unlike infections with bacteria, relatively few agents are effective for the prevention and treatment of viral infections. The biology of viral diseases is now well understood, including viral genome transcription, translation, and replication. In RNA-containing viruses an important enzyme is RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, which is responsible for viral genome replication. RNA-dependent RNA polymerase is an essential protein encoded in the genomes of all RNA-containing viruses with no DNA stage that have negative-sense RNA. The enzyme catalyzes synthesis of the RNA strand complementary to a given RNA template. Because replication of the virus depends on RNA polymerase, this enzyme is a promising target in the development of new anti-viral compounds.

Compositions and methods for inhibiting viral polymerase

Abstract: Provided are compounds of Formula I:

Abstract: as described herein. Compounds of Formula I are useful in methods of inhibiting viral RNA polymerase activity and viral replication. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions comprising compounds of Formula I, as well as methods of treating viral infections using compounds of Formula I.


Provided is a solubility-controallable compound being soluble in a solvent due to a solvent-philic group thereof, of which solubility in the solvent is irreversibly lowered when the group is removed by retro-Diels-Alder reaction.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a compound of which molecular structure and solubility in a solvent can be changed by retro-Diels-Alder reaction and a method for producing the same. The present invention also relates to an ink for use in recording such as ink-jet recording, an ink cartridge, a recording unit, an ink-jet recording apparatus, a recording method and a recording medium. The present invention also relates to a pattern-forming method for use in, for example, production of a DNA chip and a liquid composition used in the method. The present invention also relates to a method for detecting environmental history to detect whether or not an object has undergone heating etc., and an article of which environmental history is detectable.
2. Related Background Art
A technique for controlling the solubility of a compound in a solvent according to the conditions has been strongly desired in various technical fields.
For example, in the field of ink-jet recording, it is preferable, in view of the ink stability, that the coloring material in ink is in a dissolved state, i.e., in a monomolecular state. On the other hand, in view of high quality image formation, when such an ink is provided on a recording medium, it is preferable that the coloring material in the ink is quickly separated from the solvent so that it can be retained on the surface of the recording medium or in the vicinity thereof. So-called dye ink can satisfy the former requirement, and so-called pigment ink the latter, but it is difficult to satisfy the both at the same time. In recent years, various techniques have been proposed for imparting characteristics of dyes to pigments by, for example, refining pigments or introducing water-dispersible functional groups onto the surface of pigments, but there is still great room for improvement. Meanwhile, with the drastic improvement in performance of ink-jet printers, it has been proposed to use an ink-jet printer as an apparatus for producing devices having fine patterns, such as DNA chips.

Compound and method for synthesizing the same, ink, ink cartridge, recording unit, ink-jet recording apparatus, recording method, liquid composition, pattern generating method, article, environmental history-detecting method


A traveling wave droplet generator having a drop-on-demand mode of operation. An acoustic mechanism excites a line of peaks of ink just below threshold for ink drop ejection in the orifices of an ink chamber. Electrostatic means raises particular peaks above the threshold using an excitation that is synchronous with the acoustic wave, which gives rise to parametric coupling which enhances the efficiency of the ejection. The electrostatic field can be selectively established at each of the orifices by a conventional addressing mechanism.

Ink jet printers generally function in one of two modes: continuous stream or drop-on-demand. Ultrasonic printheads have been described in detail in a number of commonly-owned U.S. Pat. No. 4,719,476, whose contents are herein incorporated by reference. This patent in particular describes at length the creation of capillary surface waves which are generated by various means, preferably acoustically, to create standing capillary surface waves in liquid ink filled reservoirs for ejecting droplets from selected crests of the capillary surface waves on command. As one possibility described in this patent, the addressing mechanism, meaning the selection of the sites from which droplets are to be ejected, is accomplished by locally altering the surface properties of selected crests at those sites. For example, the local surface pressure acting on the selected crests or the local surface tension of the liquid within the selected crests may be changed in order to cause droplets to be ejected in a controlled manner from the selected crests.
In another commonly-owned patent, No. 4,746,929, whose contents are also incorporated herein by reference, a so-called traveling wave droplet generator (TWDG) has been described. The TWDG uses a tube that preferably extends the full width of the page on which the printing is to take place. The tube is provided with a series of apertures in a sidewall that are spaced apart from one another, and the core of the tube is filled with the liquid ink. A piezoelectric rod is mounted at on end of the core and excites traveling acoustic waves which traverse the length of the liquid column within the tube and then impinge on an absorbing element mounted at the opposite end which serves as a matching element to eliminate any reflected waves. The acoustic pressure from this traveling wave is sufficient to eject droplets in a continuous stream from each orifice in the sidewall of the tubing. The drops are ejected continuously at the pressure peak of the wave. In order to control which of the ejected drops actually impinge on the paper and leave the desired ink mark, a deflector is arranged above each orifice such that the continuously ejected ink droplets can be deflected on to the paper or into a gutter where it returns to an ink reservoir. Thus, the addressing which corresponds to the places where ink is to be deposited is determined by the electrical signals applied to the deflectors.

Traveling wave ink jet printer with drop-on-demand droplets


A secure system and method for managing and monitoring remote devices preferably includes periodic pulling of configuration information from an accessible platform rather than pushing information from a central site. In one implementation, an electronic mail system is used as a staging platform in combination with a defined polling arrangement to transfer encrypted configuration information in a robust and secure method for updating remote device configurations.

Typically, the hardware and software setup of a computer system is determined by a collection of related and unrelated files and directories having various parameters related to the assortment of components that make up the computer system. During the installation of a new device or program, the computer needs to be manually or automatically reconfigured to accommodate the new device or program. For example, when installing a new hard drive onto the system, pertinent information about capacity, brand and how it is connected must be available to the operating system to make internal decisions for proper access. Similarly, when new software is installed onto the system, pertinent information must be available to the new software to make internal decisions to properly run the newly installed program and not impact the current environment. The configuration information for hardware and software is typically stored in one or more configuration files. Typically, during the initialization of the operating system program and at the start of additional programs; the programs will access their assigned configuration files to retrieve values to be used by the programs for parameters that may vary from computer to computer depending on the environment and user preferences. This allows for the proper functioning of devices and programs to work together on a computer system. This dynamic configuration capability enables a wide combination of devices and software to work together and be well behaved.
Similar to individual computer systems, one or more configuration files are needed to control computer networks. These are after all typically just a specialized combination of an operating system, devices and programs. A local area network (LAN) typically consists of several individual computers connected to each other over a communications connection. Similar to how an individual computer system needs information on various devices and programs in order to function properly, LAN servers need information on the various individual computers on the network in order for those individual computers to function properly and be well behaved while connected. As new computers are added to the network, reconfiguration of the network server may be necessary. For example, if a new workstation were added to a LAN, the network server would need the address of the workstation (i.e., information on how to access that workstation) in order to route the new workstation messages and requests correctly to communicate with other devices on the network. Similarly, if a new printer were added to the network, the network server would need information about the new printer in order to have proper access to the printer by other devices on the network (i.e., access by the workstations on the network.
A gateway server often includes hardware and software for connecting LANs to the Internet. Similar to network servers, gateway servers need to be correctly configured in order to have proper functioning of the LAN vis-à-vis the Internet. The necessary information for configuring a gateway server is often contained in a configuration file for the gateway server. Since the gateway server acts as an interface between the LAN and the Internet, it is imperative that these gateway servers are properly monitored and managed. Illustrative of the importance of gateway servers, if a gateway server malfunctions, then it is possible that the entire LAN may be denied access to the Internet or permit unauthorized access to the gateway server and/or LAN. Moreover, since the gateway server is the LAN's connection to the "outside world," if a particular gateway server is compromised, then individual systems on the LAN connected to the gateway server are susceptible to tampering. Likewise, in wide are networks (WAN) having multiple gateway servers, a compromise of one gateway server may risk compromise of other gateways in the WAN.
Historically, managing gateway servers required accessing each gateway server's configuration file using a proprietary interface and manually typing in countless parameter values. Once the gateway server is operational, should reconfiguration be necessary or desired, that gateway server's configuration interface must be accessed again, and the required configuration changes applied. In order to do this securely, the administrator would have to, either, be physically present at the location of the gateway server, or have access to the unit's configuration interface via a secure channel. Moreover, if multiple gateway servers need simultaneous reconfiguring, which is often the case for multiple gateway servers managed by the same organization, the administrator would need to access each unit's configuration interface in turn to make changes to each individual unit. This makes for reconfiguration of gateway servers difficult and time consuming.
Alternatively, methods of allowing pre-configuration scripts to be backed up from one unit and applied to another via means such as file transfer protocol (FTP) are among other methods of remote configuration. These remote management methods have traditionally required each unit to monitor all incoming messages and respond to incoming requests for reconfiguration from an off-site administration machine. Such a method requires that each gateway server maintain an open port for incoming requests, thus, rendering each unit vulnerable to an attack by a hacker (e.g., denial of service attacks). This problem becomes accentuated in the context of configuration files as a system's resources may become consumed in identifying and attempting to configure a device before the system realizes that it has an incorrect or corrupt configuration data. In addition, the conventional simple network management protocol (SNMP) system has often been used for configuration management. SNMP, however, suffers from being so difficult to configure and maintain that it is often improperly set up, poorly maintained, or ultimately neglected to the point that it becomes a security risk.
From the foregoing, it can be appreciated that there is a need in the art for a method and system for remotely managing networked devices in the hostile Internet environment without sacrificing security.

System and method for secure management or remote systems


A device for producing a solidified block of carbon dioxide includes first and second housing portions removably connectable together. The first and second housing portions form an interior molding chamber that is adapted to receive liquid carbon dioxide at a pressure where expansion of the liquid carbon dioxide occurs, resulting in a mixture of solidified and gaseous carbon dioxide. A pressure relief device includes a biasing member for biasing the first and second housing portions together. The biasing member permits relative movement between the first and second housing portions when internal pressure from the gaseous carbon dioxide exceeds a predetermined amount. With this arrangement, relative movement between first and second housing portions causes gaseous carbon dioxide to be released from the interior molding chamber to thereby reduce the internal pressure.

The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for producing dry ice from liquid carbon dioxide, and more particularly to a device for automatically regulating or relieving pressure within an interior chamber of a dry ice producing housing.
A well-known method for making dry ice involves dispensing liquid carbon dioxide from a pressurized tank, which is typically held at approximately 800 psi, into a chamber at a pressure below approximately 70 psi, such as at atmospheric pressure. As the liquid carbon dioxide is dispensed, a portion of it changes into carbon dioxide snow through adiabatic expansion and accumulates in the chamber to form a low to medium density block of dry ice, while the remaining portion is directly changed into a gaseous state and released to atmosphere outside the chamber. If desired, the dry ice inside the chamber may then be compacted to form a higher density block.
Once formed, the dry ice can be used in place of ice for cooling substances, keeping substances in a frozen state, carbonating beverages, and so on. With time and the absorption of heat, the dry ice sublimates and returns to its normal gaseous state. Because the dry ice absorbs large quantities of heat during the sublimation process, the rate of sublimation for dry ice is dependent upon its relative compactness, the ambient temperature and pressure surrounding the dry ice, as well as the available surface area for heat absorption.
A small, manually operated dry ice generating device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,374,658 to Kawaguchi. This device includes a pressurized source of liquid carbon dioxide and a molding box that accumulates frozen carbon dioxide from a liquid carbon dioxide tank through a nozzle. When assembled, the molding box includes a base, four side walls secured to the base, and a top cover that is securely locked to the side walls through interlocking latches. The side walls of the molding box include a layer of filter material and a plurality of openings to allow the escape of gaseous carbon dioxide during dry ice formation.
Although this type of construction offers some measure of portability and convenience, overpressurization of the molding box with its attendant consequences does pose a concern. Theoretically, the internal pressure of the molding box could reach the internal pressure of the liquid carbon dioxide tank. Excessive pressure within the molding box can be caused by impeded gas flow through the filters when excessive formation and compaction of carbon dioxide snow on the filters occurs. Also, any moisture present on or in the filter or within the molding box due to cleaning or a humid environment could be converted into ice and thus impede the flow of gas. Moreover, if the valve of the pressurized tank is opened fully, an excessive amount of carbon dioxide gas could flow into the molding box and be unable to escape. The primary safety release valve could also become clogged or iced over.
In addition, without the benefit of seeing through the box and into the molding chamber, it may be difficult to ascertain when the dry ice block has reached an acceptable size as well as any problems that may occur during the formation process. Also, during and after formation of the dry ice block, injury may occur when the operator comes into direct contact with the molding box, especially when constructed of a thermally conductive material, since frozen carbon dioxide may be as low as −109° F. Accordingly, prior art molding boxes may include an insulating layer to protect the operator against injury caused by extremely low temperatures.

Device for producing dry ice and pressure relief thereof


A carbon dioxide gas sensor for detecting carbon dioxide gas concentration wherein the carbon dioxide gas detection part consists essentially of a carbonate, a carbonate decomposition catalyst and a semiconductor oxide, particularly preferably BaCO3, CeO.sub.2 and CuO mixed in a specific molar ratio.. A process for producing the carbon dioxide detection part of a carbon dioxide gas sensor, wherein the raw-materials in the form of acetic acid salts are uniformly dissolved in a solvent, then dried and ground to produce a ceramic material with a small average particle diameter.

The present invention relates to a carbon dioxide gas sensor for measuring and controlling carbon dioxide gas concentration which is used in monitors for monitoring pollution of the air in living spaces, such as inside a room and inside a vehicle, monitors for controlling air conditioning systems, monitors for managing disaster prevention, monitors for controlling carbon dioxide gas concentration during the transportation and storage of perishable foods, and carbon dioxide gas concentration monitoring system in biotechnical facilities and horticulture under structure, to a process for producing the sensor, and to a carbon dioxide gas sensor device.
Previously known carbon dioxide gas sensors employed for these uses include those of infrared absorption type, electromotive force detection type and capacitance detection type.
An infrared absorption type carbon dioxide gas sensor consists essentially of a light emitting element which emits laser light and a light receiving element sensor which receives the laser light emitted from the light emitting element and measures its intensity. Its working principle lies in receiving the laser light whose intensity has been changed by the presence of carbon dioxide gas and measuring the intensity of the light with the light receiving element sensor, and thereby detecting the carbon dioxide gas concentration. However, though the principle makes use of the fact that carbon dioxide gas absorbs a light of specific wavelength, the light of this wavelength is also absorbed by water, so that the measuring accuracy is adversely influenced by the presence of moisture. Thus, an infrared absorption type carbon dioxide gas sensor, in principle, is capable of accurate determination of carbon dioxide gas concentration if moisture is eliminated; but apparatuses which use this sensor inevitably have a large size and complicated structure owing to the necessity of eliminating moisture, and hence have problems in productivity, mass productivity and production cost, so that the use of sensors of this type has been limited to such special fields as in analytical instruments.
An electromotive force detection type carbon dioxide gas sensor consists essentially of such a solid electrolyte material as NASICON (Na Super Ionic Conductor) and Li-Ti-oxide, and a secondary electrode material comprising alkali metal carbonates, such as Li.sub.2 CO.sub.3 and Na.sub.2 CO.sub.3. In this sensor, alkali metal ions formed by the decomposition of the alkali metal carbonate in the secondary electrode transfer through the solid electrolyte to generate an electromotive force corresponding to carbon dioxide gas concentration. However, NASICON of the solid electrolyte material and the alkali metal carbonate of the main component of the secondary electrode material are liable to dissolve in water. Accordingly, the sensor of this type has problems in that, when used in an environment of high humidity, it shows low reliability and short life due to deterioration of characteristic properties caused by swelling, development of peeling of the electrode, or dissolving out of the alkali metal carbonate.
The above-mentioned problems are overcome to some extent in a capacitance detection type carbon dioxide gas sensor. This sensor makes use of a reversible carbonate-forming reaction between a non-compound type metal oxide and carbon dioxide gas to change its electric property, such as capacitance or impedance and thereby to detect the carbon dioxide gas concentration.
JP-A-4-24548 discloses carbon dioxide gas sensors which detect carbon dioxide gas concentration by changing the capacitance of a mixture of a non-compound type metal oxide, such as CuO and NiO, and a perovskite type oxide, such as BaTiO.sub.3 and SrTiO.sub.3.
These sensors are prepared by using a commercially available material, such as CuO and BaTiO.sub.3, or a material prepared by mixing the commercially available materials and then heat-treating the mixture. The materials used are mixed so as to give a predetermined mixing ratio, then pulverized, shaped and heat-treated to give a plate-formed carbon dioxide gas detection past main body. Thereafter, an electrode part for taking out electric signals is provided to measure the change of such electric properties as capacitance or impedance, thus to complete a carbon dioxide gas sensor.
However, the capacitance detection type carbon dioxide gas sensors as mentioned above which comprise a mixture of a non-compound type metal oxide and a perovskite type oxide or a mixture of an insulating oxide and an oxide which forms a carbonate at high temperature have problems of a low detection sensitivity to carbon dioxide gas and a low speed of response. Moreover, they are still unsatisfactory in moisture resistance and in reliability, for example, they show an insufficient life in long-term operation.
Furthermore, in the capacitance detection type carbon dioxide gas sensor, the necessary change in electric properties is obtained, as mentioned above, by a reversible carbonate-forming reaction between the non-compound type metal oxide and carbon dioxide gas, so that the sensor needs to be heated all the time at a temperature of 400-600.degree. C. Therefore, in a capacitance detection type carbon dioxide gas sensor, which has a heating means as one of the essential constituents, a structure of carbon dioxide gas sensor device which is as small-sized as possible and yet has a good heat efficiency is eagerly desired in order to attain the protection of electric circuits and energy-saving of the heating means itself.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


An input buffer circuit achieving rail-to-rail operation maintains a uniform common mode output voltage even though an input signal having any voltage level is inputted. The input buffer circuit has a differential amplifier structure receiving two differential input signals. A first input part has a first inverter circuit into which a first differential input signal is inputted, and a second input part has a second inverter circuit into which the second differential input signal is inputted. The first inverter circuit has a first output node connected to a diode structure having an operating current twice the operating current of the first inverter circuit, and outputs a first output signal. Rail-to-rail operation is achieved, and a common mode output voltage is provided uniformly, with reduced current consumption.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an input buffer circuit having rail-to-rail operation and a differential amplifier structure.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a semiconductor memory device an input buffer circuit is generally used to change the voltage level of a signal inputted from the outside to a voltage level matching the interior operating voltage of the semiconductor memory device. In general a signal inputted to a semiconductor memory device from the outside has a TTL (Transistor-Transistor Logic) level, and a signal used within a semiconductor memory device has a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) level. The signal inputted to the semiconductor memory device from the outside cannot be used unchanged in the interior of the semiconductor memory device, thus an input buffer is used to convert the voltage level of the signal applied from the outside into a voltage level matching the interior of the semiconductor memory device.
Such an input buffer circuit may have a differential amplifier structure. In an input buffer circuit having a differential amplifier structure, the operating range of the output terminal and input terminal decides the operating voltage range of the amplifier. The operating range of the input terminal is decided by the design of the differential amplifier, and herein, the operating range of the differential amplifier is called a common-mode input range. The common-mode input range decides an input dynamic range in a buffer circuit such as a voltage follower. An input buffer circuit that is operable in the entire input range of the amplifier, from a smallest value (a ground potential), to a largest value (the supply power voltage), is called an input buffer circuit having "rail-to-rail" operation.
The ideal input buffer circuit has rail-to-rail operation and simultaneously has a uniform trans-conductance in over the entire common-mode input range. The trans-conductance (gm) is the ratio of an input current change to input voltage change.
FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional input buffer circuit having a differential amplifier structure of a NMOS current mirror.
Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional input buffer circuit having a differential amplifier structure of a NMOS current mirror includes PMOS transistors MP1 and MP2, NMOS transistors MN1 and MN2, and a current source I0.
The PMOS transistors MP1 and MP2 have the configuration of a current mirror and are the same size. The PMOS transistor MP1 is connected between a power source voltage terminal VCC and a first node N1, and the PMOS transistor MP2 is connected between a power source voltage terminal VCC and a second node N2.
The NMOS transistors MN1 and MN2 are input transistors configured to receive applied differential input signals VINN and VINP, and are the same size. The NMOS transistor MN1 is connected between the first node N1 and the current source I0. The NMOS transistor MN2 is connected between the second node N2 and the current source I0. One end of the current source I0 is connected with the NMOS transistors MN1 and MN2, and another end thereof is connected to a ground terminal.
Operation of the input buffer circuit will be described as follows, under the assumption that a voltage level of first input signal VINN is higher than the second input signal VINP.
The NMOS transistor MN1 is driven by the first input signal VINN, thus current flows in the NMOS transistor MN1. The NMOS transistor MN2 is driven by the second input signal VINP, and so current flows in the NMOS transistor MN2 with smaller volume than the current through the NMOS transistor MN1. The voltage level of the first node N1 decreases due to current flowing in the NMOS transistor MN1, and so more current flows through the PMOS transistor MP1. Also current flows in the PMOS transistor MP2. The current flowing in the NMOS transistor MN2 is uniform, thus a voltage at the second node N2 increases, and is outputted as an output signal VO.
FIG. 2 illustrates a conventional input buffer circuit having a differential amplifier structure of a PMOS current mirror.
As shown in FIG. 2, a conventional input buffer circuit having a differential amplifier structure of a PMOS current mirror includes PMOS transistors MP3 and MP4, NMOS transistors MN3 and MN4, and a current source I0.
The NMOS transistors MN3 and MN4 have the configuration of a current mirror and are the same size. The NMOS transistor MN3 is connected between a third node N3 and a ground node, and the NMOS transistor MN4 is connected between a fourth node N4 and the ground node. The PMOS transistors MP3 and MP4 are input transistors receiving an applied differential input signal VINN-VINP, and are the same size. The PMOS transistor MP3 is connected between the third node N3 and a current source I0 one end of which is coupled with a power source voltage terminal VCC. The PMOS transistor MP4 is connected between the fourth node N4 and a current source I0 one end of which is coupled with power source voltage terminal VCC.
Further description for operation of the input buffer circuit having a differential amplifier structure of a conventional PMOS current mirror is omitted as it is well known to those skilled in the art.
In such conventional input buffer circuits there is a limitation of the input buffer circuit in performing rail-to-rail operation within an input signal range. For example for the input buffer circuit shown in FIG. 1, in the case where an input signal range is below the level of threshold voltage Vth of the NMOS transistors MN1 and MN2, the input buffer circuit does not operate rail-to-rail. Furthermore in such conventional input buffer circuits there is a problem that a common mode voltage (CMV) of an output voltage is not uniform.

Differential input buffer circuit with rail-to-rail input range


In a hybrid vehicle 20, when an ECO switch 88 is turned off while an intermittent operation of an engine 22 is prohibited in response to a warm-up demand of the engine 22 according to a cooling water temperature Tw or a heating demand, the engine 22 is autonomously operated at a target rotational speed Ne* derived and set from a normal autonomous rotational speed setting map (Steps 170, S190). When the ECO switch 88 is turned on while the warm-up is demanded, the engine 22 is autonomously operated at the target rotational speed Ne* set based on an ECO mode autonomous rotational speed setting map so as to be not more than the value derived from the normal autonomous rotational speed setting map (Steps 180, S190).

Conventionally, there is well-known a hybrid vehicle including an engine capable of performing an intermittent operation and an ECO switch for instructing to give priority to fuel consumption of the vehicle even if a heating function drops to some extent (for example, refer to Patent Document 1). When both the ECO switch and a heater switch for instructing to heat a vehicle room are turned on, the hybrid vehicle determines whether or not the intermittent operation of the engine is permitted based on an intermittent operation determination map having a tendency to permit the intermittent operation in comparison with that of the turn-off condition of the ECO switch so as to improve energy efficiency of the vehicle while ensuring certain heating performance. Also, there is known a hybrid vehicle having a normal mode and an energy saving mode as operation modes and reducing a fuel feed amount to the engine under the energy saving mode in comparison with the normal mode (for example, refer to Patent Document 2) .
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-337173
[Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-151039


A superconducting coil (12) having a plurality of superconducting layers (18) is provided. Each superconducting layer (18) may have at least one superconducting element (20) which produces an operational load. An outer support structure (24) may be disposed outwardly from the plurality of layers (18). A load transfer system (22) may be coupled between at least one of the superconducting elements (20) and the outer support structure (24). The load transfer system (22) may include a support matrix structure (30) operable to transfer the operational load from the superconducting element (20) directly to the outer support structure (24). A shear release layer (40) may be disposed, in part, between the superconducting element (20) and the support matrix structure (30) for relieving a shear stress between the superconducting element (20) and the support matrix structure (30). A compliant layer (42) may also be disposed, in part, between the superconducting element (20) and the support matrix structure (30) for relieving a compressive stress on the superconducting element (20).

Superconductive materials have the unique material property of having zero electrical resistance. In other words, superconductive materials can conduct electricity with no loss of energy. However, superconductive materials only exhibit this unique material property when cooled below their respective critical temperature. The critical temperature for superconductive materials is in the supercold or cryogenic range of temperatures.
Superconductive materials are particularly useful in applications that utilize a magnetic field. Such applications include, for example, electric motors and generators, transformers, magnetic energy storage devices, magnetic bearings, colliders, and the like. The magnetic field that can be generated using superconductive materials is far greater than the magnetic field that can be produced using conventional conductive materials, such as copper. For example, some applications of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) require a high magnetic field that can only be generated using superconductive materials. The medical field applications of magnetic resonance imaging has saved countless lives.
In applications using superconductive materials, the magnetic field is generally produced by a superconducting coil that contains the superconductive material. The superconductive material is often in the form of a superconducting wire that is wrapped around a core. The superconductive wire produces a magnetic field inside and outside of the core. The magnetic field can be increased by increasing the number of times the superconductive wire is wrapped around the core and by increasing the current flowing through the superconductive wire. As will be discussed in greater detail below, the magnetic field produces a physical load on each individual superconducting wire. This physical load is generally referred to by those skilled in the art as Lorentz stresses.
Lorentz stresses are produced by the magnetic field acting on the superconductive materials and increase by the square of magnetic field strength. Lorentz stresses produce a mechanical, or operational, load that acts to push the individual superconducting wires away from the core. In conventional superconducting coils, the operational load is transferred outward from each superconducting wire to each outwardly successive superconducting wire until the entire operational load from all the inwardly preceding superconducting wires is transferred to an outer support structure that surrounds the superconducting wires. This is analogous to a stack of bricks, where the top brick only supports its own weight but the bottom brick must support the weight of the entire stack of bricks.
In very high magnetic field applications, the load supported by the outer superconducting wire can be greater than the physical strength of the semiconductor wire. The outer superconducting wire is essentially crushed by the operational loads from the inner superconducting wires. Accordingly, the strength of the magnetic field and the number of superconducting wires that can be layered in a conventional superconducting coil is limited.
As the current through the superconducting wires is increased to produce a very high magnetic field, the high operational loads on the superconducting wires can cause the shape of a conventional superconducting coil to change. The change in shape of the superconducting coil distorts the magnetic field produced by the superconducting coil.

Superconducting coil and method of stress management in a superconducting coil


A memory stores a plurality of steering angle characteristics including a first steering angle characteristic and a second steering angle characteristic. A steering angle characteristic selecting unit selects a selected steering angle characteristic from the steering angle characteristics stored in the memory. A driving control unit controls the steering angle of an autonomous-driving vehicle in accordance with the selected steering angle characteristic and a rightward or leftward operation amount of a mechanical operation unit of an autonomous-driving vehicle.

An autonomous-driving vehicle capable of autonomous driving has been known. Autonomous driving means executing driving control involving steering angle control (steering control) of wheels and vehicle speed control of the autonomous-driving vehicle at least partially by a computer. The steering angle of a wheel of the autonomous-driving vehicle is an angle between the central plane of the wheel (normally front wheel) and the front-rear direction of the vehicle. For simplicity, "the steering angle of the autonomous-driving vehicle" is used herein to represent the steering angle of the wheel of the autonomous-driving vehicle.
The autonomous-driving vehicle capable of being driven autonomously may also be controlled manually by an operator to control driving; consequently, a mechanical operation unit that enables manual driving control of the autonomous-driving vehicle has been installed on some autonomous-driving vehicles.
For example, JP 2000-203301 A discloses an automobile maneuvering operation device provided inside the autonomous-driving vehicle and including a joystick functioning as a mechanical operation unit capable of operating in four (front, rear, right, and left) directions and a control unit that controls acceleration, deceleration, and steering of the autonomous-driving vehicle.
The steering angle of the autonomous-driving vehicle may be controlled according to an operation amount of the mechanical operation unit (e.g., a tilt angle of the joystick in right and left directions or a rotation amount of the steering wheel). Conventionally, the steering angle characteristic represented by a relationship between the operation amount of the mechanical operation unit and the steering angle has been fixedly determined. For example, if the mechanical operation unit (e.g., the steering wheel) and the wheels are connected by a mechanical structure such as a steering shaft or a steering gear mechanism, as in conventional manual-driving vehicles operated by drivers, the steering angle characteristic is determined fixedly according to the characteristic of the mechanical structure. When the steering angle of the autonomous-driving vehicle is controlled by a control unit that detects the operation amount of the mechanical operation unit according to a detected operation amount, the steering angle characteristic referred to by the control unit has been determined fixedly.
Such a fixedly-determined steering angle characteristic would sometimes deteriorate operability of the mechanical operation unit in controlling the steering angle control of the autonomous-driving vehicle according to the surrounding conditions of the autonomous-driving vehicle. For example, in a case of a narrow drivable range of the autonomous-driving vehicle where the autonomous-driving vehicle can only travel in a limited range (e.g., when the autonomous-driving vehicle travels in a narrow lane), it is desirable that the steering angle of the autonomous-driving vehicle is small when the operation amount of the mechanical operation unit is small (less than a predetermined amount), thus preventing fluctuations of the autonomous-driving vehicle when running straight and further avoiding possible deviation from the road or unintentional contacting with a side wall. When the mechanical operation unit is operated largely (more than the predetermined operation amount), a large steering angle of the autonomous-driving vehicle is desirable to facilitate curving along a steep curve or a crossing. On the other hand, when the drivable range of the autonomous-driving vehicle is large (e.g., when the autonomous-driving vehicle travels in a wide lane), it is desirable that the steering angle of the autonomous-driving vehicle changes gradually with respect to the change of the operation amount of the mechanical operation unit.
It is an object of a driving control device of an autonomous-driving vehicle as disclosed herein to enhance operability of a mechanical operation unit which is used for steering angle control of the autonomous-driving vehicle according to surrounding conditions of the autonomous-driving vehicle.

Driving control device of autonomous-driving vehicle


A vent for a mold for producing foamed articles is described. The mold comprises an upper mold and a lower mold releaseably engageable in a closed position to define a mold cavity. The vent comprises a housing which is engageable to the mold, a passageway and an obstruction disposed in the passageway. The passageway and the obstruction are slidably movable in a first direction with respect to one another and define an opening between an interior and an exterior of the housing. The obstruction has a varying diameter in a direction parallel to the first direction. The subject mold and method are particularly well suited for the production of molded foam (e.g., polyurethane) articles.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vent device, a vented mold and to a method for producing a molded article.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Many articles are manufactured by placing a raw material into a cavity in a mold wherein the raw material undergoes a physical change (e.g., it expands or foams) and the article produced thus acquires the shape of the cavity. In particular, this technique is commonly employed for producing foamed articles made from polymeric foams such as polyurethane foam, latex (e.g., natural and styrene-butadiene rubber) foam and the like.
For example, automotive seats are commonly manufactured from polyurethane cushions which are molded to shape and then covered with a vinyl, cloth or leather finish cover (also known as a "trim cover"). Polyurethane foams are somewhat unique in that foaming and at least a portion of the polymerization process occur simultaneously. Thus, in the production of polyurethane foam using, for example, a conventional cold foam technique, a typical formulation comprises:
1. Polyol PA1 2. Water PA1 3. Tetramethyl ethane diamine PA1 4. Dimethyl ethanol amine PA1 5. Polyisocyanate PA1 dispensing a liquid foamable polymeric composition into the mold cavity; PA1 closing the first mold half and the second mold half; PA1 expanding the liquid foamable polymeric composition to substantially fill the mold cavity; PA1 allowing the liquid foamable polymeric composition to enter the opening in the vent; PA1 at least partially curing the liquid foamable polymeric composition in the mold cavity to produce the article; PA1 at least partially curing the liquid foamable polymeric composition in the opening to produce at least one flexible foam extrusion; PA1 moving the passageway with respect to the obstruction to define a spacing therebetween; and PA1 removing the foam article from the mold.
The mixture is dispensed into a mold using a suitable mixing head, after which the mold is then closed to permit the expanding mass within it to be molded. Accordingly, it is convenient generally to refer to the mixture initially dispensed into the mold as "a liquid foamable polymeric composition" or, in this case, "a liquid foamable polyurethane composition". As the composition expands in the mold, polymerization occurs and the polymer so formed becomes solidified.
When molding a liquid foamable polymeric composition to form articles, such as polyurethane foam articles, it is conventional to use a clam-shell mold comprising a bottom mold and a top mold which, when closed, define a mold cavity. The mold is opened, the liquid foamable polyurethane composition is dispensed into the mold cavity and the mold is closed as a chemical reaction causes the composition to expand. After the mold is closed, the composition expands to fill the interior cavity of the mold. Alternatively, the composition may be dispensed into a closed mold. In either case, as the polymerization reaction is completed, the foam cures and permanently assumes the shape of the mold cavity.
As is known to those of skill in the art, it is important during this process that the mold be adequately vented to allow the air present in the mold to exit the mold as the foamable composition expands. Further, it is important to allow a portion of the gases (typically CO.sub.2 in the production of polyurethane) generated during polymerization to exit the mold.
Failure to adequately vent the mold results in defective molded articles exhibiting symptoms of improper foaming such as surface hardening (or foam densification) and/or void formation in the finished article due to trapped gas or air bubbles. At the other extreme, excess venting of the mold will also result in defective molded articles due to collapse of the foam prior to curing; this phenomenon is often referred to as the `souffle` effect. Thus, proper venting of a mold is an important factor in producing molded articles of acceptable quality.
Typically, first generation clam-shell molds have been designed with drilled or cut passages in the top mold to provide vents. Locating, sizing and deciding upon the number of these vents is a matter of some skill on the part of mold designer and the production engineers, and is often an iterative procedure with more vents being added to various locations or other vents being blocked-off after test runs have been made.
During molding operations some liquid foamable polymeric composition which moves into the vent is wasted. It is generally desired to minimize the amount of wasted material (also known as "flash", "mushrooms", "buds", "pancakes" and the like) for two reasons, namely (1) the wasted material adds to the overall expense of chemicals required to produce the finished article, and (2) the wasted material must be removed from the molded article prior to the finish cover being applied, thereby necessitating additional labour and the costs associated therewith.
As will be developed below, improvements to venting during such molding operations have advanced the art to a certain degree. However, mold designers and production engineers are continually striving to optimize the compromise between providing enough venting at the proper locations while avoiding excess venting and minimizing material wastage during venting and the number of vents needed to achieve adequate venting of the mold cavity.

Method for producing a molded article using a vented mold


Disclosed is a computer-implemented method (1) of assigning a task to a mobile communication device (212, 222) belonging to a pool (210, 220) of mobile communication devices, wherein each mobile communications device is associated with a trusted owner and is locatable by means of location information, the method comprising generating (10) a task to be performed; generating a set of task locations at which the task can be performed; receiving (20) location information for said mobile communications devices; deriving (30) a location for each mobile communications device from said location information; using the derived location to calculate (40) a cost score for each mobile communication device, said cost score indicating the cost of the trusted owner of said mobile communication device to reach a target location; and assigning (60) the task to a selected location in said set and to one of said mobile communications devices, wherein the task is assigned to the one of said mobile communications devices based on the calculated cost scores. A computer program product including program code for executing this method on a computer processor and a system adapted to execute this method are also disclosed.

In modern society, electronic communication media such as the Internet and mobile phones are becoming more and more commonplace in helping to deliver services to their users. As such, these media can be used as powerful tools to increase quality of life.
This is for instance of particular relevance where these media can be used to safeguard the well-being of its users, for instance in the case of frail and elderly people having restricted mobility due to their age and/or physical condition. Such elderly people typically require the help of others to be able to cope with everyday life, especially when still living independently. It is well-documented that it is important that elderly people can live independently for as long as possible. This usually is better for their mental well-being and reduces the burden on the health care system because around the clock care does not have to be provided. The latter is of course of particular importance as improved living standards and healthcare means that the world is facing an ageing population.
Elderly people may require assistance for a range of tasks. For instance, there may be a medical emergency, in which case the elderly person may require a medical professional to visit them, or the elderly person may require a non-urgent task to be performed, e.g. the collection of medication from a remote dispensary, a list of shopping to be done, repairs to their house to be performed and so on.
A number of solutions exist that can be used by elderly people to get support for such tasks. For instance, Z. Lv et al. in Green Computing and Communications, 2010 IEEE/ACM, International Conference on Cyber, Physical and Social Computing, pages 699-705 (E-ISBN 978-0-7695-4331-4) describe a mobile health monitoring system called iCare for the elderly. The system uses wireless body sensors and smart phones to monitor the well-being of the elderly. When detecting an emergency, the smart phone will automatically alert pre-assigned people and call the ambulance of the emergency centre.
US 2011/045841 A1 discloses an alert system that determines a physical location associated with a task in a task list; compare the physical location of the contact with the physical location associated with the task; determine when the physical location of the contact matches the physical location associated with the task; and transmit an alert message indicating the contact and the task. However, a drawback of this system is that it is by no means guaranteed that the contact in the closest vicinity to the task location at the time of determining the location of that contact is the most appropriate contact for handling the task. This therefore can lead to tasks being completed with unacceptable delays or not completed at all. Therefore, there exists a need to schedule such tasks in a more intelligent manner.

Task assignment method, computer program product and task assignment system