The present invention provides a method of treating, ameliorating and/or preventing cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury (AKI) in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of an annexin A1 (ANXA1) peptide such that the AKI is treated, ameliorated and/or prevented.

Perioperative acute kidney injury (AKI) following major cardiovascular surgery remains a significant problem. Perioperative AKI presents a challenging medical problem occurring in up to 30% of all cardiovascular procedures. The importance of postoperative renal dysfunction comes not only from the acute functional impairment of an organ critical to maintaining the internal environment, but also from its consistent association with increased rates of in-hospital mortality, even after adjustment for other contributing factors. In the setting of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA), the incidence ranges as high as 8% to 50% (see, e.g., Augoustides et al. (2005) J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. 19:446-452). AKI leads to increased postoperative morbidity and mortality, and in patients requiring renal replacement therapy the mortality rate is as high as 64%. However, despite several small "proof-of-concept" clinical studies, to date, there is no promising therapy available for prevention and/or treatment of cardiac surgery-associated AKI. Evidence is cumulating that potential mechanisms are associated with renal inflammation and ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) triggered by cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and DHCA.
Annexin A1 (ANXA1), a 37 kDa protein, is a member of the annexin superfamily, which consists of 13 calcium and phospholipid binding proteins with a significant degree of biological and structural homology (40-60%). ANXA1, originally identified as a mediator of the anti-inflammatory affects of glucocorticoids, has diverse biological functions including the regulation of inflammatory pathways, cell proliferation machinery, cell death signaling, and the process of carcinogenesis. Altering the expression or the localization of this protein can contribute to the pathogenesis of human diseases including inflammatory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. It has been demonstrated that ANXA1 reduces the leukocyte-dependent myocardial damage associated with myocardial I/R injury (La et al. (2001) FASEB J. 15(12):2247-2256). The functional link between migrated leukocytes and the myocardial damage was confirmed, and significantly lower numbers of extravasated leukocytes were counted in the group of rats treated with ANXA1 (La et al., supra). Pharmacological analysis has demonstrated that the first 25 amino acids of the N-terminus of ANXA1 (termed Ac2-26, Ac: aceyl) is the active region of biological function and can reproduce the anti-inflammatory actions of the full-length protein (Gasterdelo et al. (2009) Am. J Pathol. 174(1):177-183). Ac2-26 protects against splanchnic artery occlusion and reperfusion injury by affecting neutrophil migration and against experimental myocardial ischemia-reperfusion by attenuating neutrophil migration (Gasterdelo et al., supra). The role of the endogenous anti-inflammatory mediator ANXA1 in controlling PMN trafficking and activation was addressed using the ANXA1 null mouse. Such findings suggest ANXA1 is a novel anti-inflammatory agent with a potential for the treatment of cardiovascular pathologies associated with neutrophil activation and recruitment. More recently, it has been demonstrated for the first time that ANXA1 N-terminus peptides derived from the N-terminal domain of ANXA1 possess strong anti-inflammatory properties by inhibiting NF-κB activity in human colon and pancreatic cancer cell lines, and in vivo anti-tumorigenesis properties in mice (See, e.g., PCT Publication No. WO/2008/121881).
The present invention provides compositions comprising ANXA1, and methods of using such compositions, for example, for perioperative renoprotection.

Compositions and methods for the treatment of cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury with annexin A1 peptide


Techniques for selecting an anomaly based on a context are disclosed. A set of metrics corresponding to communications with nodes of a computer system are identified. A set of insights are generated based on the set of metrics. A context for determining a primary anomaly is determined. A subset of metrics associated with the context are identified. A subset of insights that are generated based on the subset of metrics are identified. An insight is selected from the subset of insights as the primary anomaly. A visualization associated with the primary anomaly is presented at a user interface. One or more secondary anomalies may be concurrently presented with the visualization. Additionally, the primary anomaly, the selected visualization, and/or the secondary anomaly is used to determine a new context for selecting another primary anomaly. Hence, a series of primary anomalies may be selected, each primary anomaly being related to each other.

A computer system includes various tiers, each tier including various nodes. As an example, a computer system may include an application tier, a middleware tier, and a database tier. The application tier may include various applications. The middleware tier may include various web servers and/or logic servers. The database tier may include various databases.
Each communication with a node is associated with metrics and/or attributes. A metric includes information that is counted and/or measured for each communication. Examples of metrics include a response time, whether there was an error, and an error type. An attribute includes information about a particular characteristic of a communication with a node. As an example, a particular characteristic of a communication with a node may be a browser that is used to communicate with the node. Attributes of the browser may include a browser family and a browser version. Another characteristic of the communication may be a geographical region from which that communication originated. Attributes of the geographical region may include a continent and a country.
Various trends may exist in the metrics over a time period. Various correlations and/or relationships may exist between the metrics and the attributes gathered from a computer system. Some trends and/or correlations may be useful to developers for identifying problems with the computer system and/or determining improvements to the computer system. However, other trends and/or correlations may be irrelevant to the developers.
The approaches described in this section are approaches that could be pursued, but not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, it should not be assumed that any of the approaches described in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue of their inclusion in this section.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Selecting an anomaly for presentation at a user interface based on a context


Systems, methods, and articles of manufacture for repeating and semi-automatic cone-breech firearm systems are provided. A semi-automatic cone-breech firearm system may, for example, comprise a tapered semi-automatic seven (7) or eight (8) lug bolt having a cartridge channel that facilitates engagement of an ammunition cartridge with a cartridge seat and/or a plunger-style ejector.

Different types and/or styles of cartridge ejection mechanisms or "ejectors" are utilized in various types of firearms. Some are integral to the firearm bolt (e.g., a "plunger-style" ejector) while others are integral to the receiver assembly. While each available style provides differing benefits and drawbacks, many prefer the simplicity and bolt-integral nature and operating characteristics of the plunger-style ejector.
Most firearms utilize a bolt with a planar face that is designed to mate with a corresponding planar face of a breech, barrel extension, and/or firing chamber (e.g., to seal a cartridge in the chamber for firing). It is understood however, that a tapered or cone-shaped mating configuration is advantageous. Tapering the face of the bolt and providing a cone-shaped breech, for example, provides a less obstructive path for feeding cartridges into the firing chamber, provides for an increased surface contact mating area between the bolt and the breech, and/or permits decreased levels of cartridge case protrusion. These advantages allow for (i) more reliable cartridge feeding (e.g., less jamming and/or cartridge damage upon feeding), (ii) increased contact area that provides an enhanced seal that is less likely to result in blowback or structural failure, and (iii) increased cartridge case contact with the chamber that minimizes the likelihood of catastrophic cartridge failure, respectively.
Despite these recognized advantages, most firearms do not utilize a cone-shaped breech. This is primarily due to the fact that tapered bolt configurations capable of use in cone-shaped breech systems are not capable of functioning properly in repeating firearms, particularly in conjunction with a plunger-style ejector. In other words, magazine and clip-feed firearms that are designed to store and repeatedly load, fire, and eject cartridges in a repeating fashion are unable to benefit from the advantages of a cone-breech design, especially when combined with a plunger-style ejector, due to interference with cartridge loading.
Semi-automatic firearms suffer from other deficiencies inherent in their design and functionality. Semi-automatic firearm bolts with multiple locking lugs, such as those utilized in AR-15/M-16 models for example, sacrifice locking lug strength and/or integrity due to extractor design and configuration. The standard AR-15/M-16 bolt comprises seven (7) locking lugs, for example, such that forces acting upon the lugs due to firearm operation are distributed over each of the seven (7) lugs. While it is desirable to distribute the forces acting upon such locking lugs amongst more lugs and/or across more material (for increased strength and reliability), the necessity of the typical extractor requires that the material where an eighth (8th) lug could be formed be removed. In an effort to mediate this deficiency, the standard extractor comprises a raised portion on the bolt-face end to simulate an eight (8th) locking lug.

Innovative Tool and Advanced Weapon Solutions, LLC


In an electronic component mounting apparatus, a vertical load and horizontal loads applied to an electronic component are detected by a load sensor that has piezoelectric elements provided in a stack in a mounting direction of the electronic component. Therefore, a size in a horizontal direction of the load sensor can be reduced, and a load applied to the electronic component can be detected at a neighborhood of a mounting position of the electronic component. Moreover, by comparing a position, in a two-dimensional space in which load values in an X-direction and Y-direction of the horizontal load serve as coordinate values, with a tolerance range in the two-dimensional space, a mounting failure can be detected from a deviation in the horizontal loads.

The present invention relates to an electronic component mounting apparatus and electronic component mounting method for mounting electronic components of, for example, semiconductor bare chips, electronic circuit packages and the like onto a board.
Conventionally, in mounting an electronic component such as a semiconductor bare chip with bumps onto a board, there has been adopted a method for bonding the bumps to electrodes on the board by applying a load to the electronic component against the electrodes. According to this method, it is required to control a value of a load applied to each bump within a prescribed range, and therefore, mounting of the electronic component has been performed while measuring a load applied to the electronic component by use of a load sensor such as a load cell.
FIG. 12 shows a construction of a conventional electronic component mounting apparatus. In conventional electronic component mounting apparatus 100, a movement block that moves in a Z-direction is divided into a first movement block 110 and a second movement block 120, and a nut section 121 provided in the second movement block 120 is meshed with a feed screw 151 that is rotationally driven by a motor 150. Moreover, the first movement block 110 and the second movement block 120 are joined so as to be pulled together by a spring 122, and a load cell 130, which is a load sensor, is provided between the first movement block 110 and the second movement block 120. A slider 111 is provided on a side surface of the first movement block 110 and slides on a guide rail 112 provided in the Z-direction.
A lower end portion of the first movement block 110 is provided with a shaft 113, whose central axis is arranged in the Z-direction, and a holding head 115 for sucking and holding an electronic component 101 by a negative pressure, in this order. Moreover, a table 140 movable in an X-direction and a Y-direction is provided below the holding head 115, and a board 102 is placed on the table 140. An output of the load cell 130 is inputted to a control section 160, and the control section 160 controls driving of the motor 150 while monitoring an output of the load cell 130.
When mounting the electronic component 101 onto the board 102, the motor 150 is rotationally driven in a prescribed direction to move down the second movement block 120 and the first movement block 110 in the Z-direction. When the electronic component 101 is brought into contact with the board 102, a load detected by the load cell 130 gradually increases, and the electronic component 101 is pressurized. At this time, by applying, for example, ultrasonic waves while pressurizing the electronic component 101 with a prescribed load, bumps 101a provided at a bottom of the electronic component 101 are connected to a wiring pattern on the board 102 and then mounted. Subsequently, the holding head 115 is separated from the electronic component 101, and the second movement block 120 and the first movement block 110 are moved up in the Z-direction.
As a prior art relevant to the conventional electronic component mounting apparatus, Japanese unexamined patent publication No. 10-163273 discloses an electronic component mounting apparatus in which the first movement block and the second movement block are joined together via an air cylinder instead of joining the first movement block and the second movement block together by a spring. Japanese unexamined patent publication No. 08-203966 discloses an electronic component mounting apparatus in which a voicecoil motor is employed in place of the motor and screw feed mechanism in order to move the movement block in the Z-direction, and the holding head is attached to a shaft driven in the Z-direction by the voicecoil motor. Further, in Japanese unexamined patent publication No. 08-203966, a pressurizing force is estimated from a current applied to the voicecoil motor using no load sensor like the load cell.
Japanese unexamined patent publication No. 11-297764 discloses an electronic component mounting apparatus in which an electronic component and a board surface are made parallel to each other by detecting a pressure during bonding by use of load sensors provided in a plurality of places on a holding head side and adjusting an inclination of a lower surface of the holding head so that a value of the pressure becomes uniform.
Japanese unexamined patent publication No. 04-94553 discloses an electronic component mounting apparatus in which, in a bonding device for performing bonding by pressurizing a tape board against an electronic component placed on a table with bumps directed upward, inclination of the table is adjusted so that a pressurizing surface of a bonding tool and a bonding surface of the electronic component become parallel to each other on the basis of pressurizing forces detected by strain gauges provided in a plurality of places of the bonding tool that holds the tape board. Japanese unexamined patent publication No. 04-223349 discloses an electronic component mounting apparatus in which inclination of a stage is adjusted on the basis of outputs of load sensors provided in a plurality of places of a table. Further, Japanese unexamined patent publication No. 04-223349 discloses a technique for making a pressurizing force of a bonding tool coincide with a pressurizing pattern by performing feedback control on the basis of an output of another load sensor provided for a bonding tool.
In the conventional electronic component mounting apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 12, the load cell 130 is positioned between the first movement block 110 and the second movement block 120, and the slider 111 and the guide rail 112 are provided on a (−Z) side (lower side) of the load cell 130. Generation of some degree of sliding resistance (e.g., about 30 gf) cannot be avoided when the slider 111 slides on the guide rail 112, and a load detected by the load cell 130 includes an error due to this sliding resistance. Therefore, if driving of the motor 150 is controlled on the basis of the load detected by the load cell 130, then there occur variations in a load applied to the electronic component 101. If a load actually applied to the electronic component 101 is extremely smaller than a required load, then a sufficient strength for bonding between the electronic component 101 and the board 102 cannot be obtained, thereby possibly causing contact failure or the like. Conversely, if a load actually applied to the electronic component 101 is extremely larger than a required load, there is the possibility of occurrence of collapse of bumps 101a at a bottom of the electronic component 101 or damage of the electronic component 101 itself.
Moreover, since only a load in the Z-direction is detected by the load cell 130 in the electronic component mounting apparatus 100, if the electronic component 101 is inclined with respect to a surface of the board 102, then a load is not uniformly applied to the bumps 101a at the bottom of the electronic component 101, thereby possibly causing contact failure of some bumps and collapse of some bumps. Such an issue occurs similarly in the electronic component mounting apparatus of Japanese unexamined patent publication No. 10-163273. Moreover, a load applied to the electronic component is detected only in the Z-direction also in the electronic component mounting apparatus of Japanese unexamined patent publication No. 08-203966, and measurement is performed indirectly. Accordingly, there are possibilities of contact failure between an electronic component and a board, collapse of bumps and damage of the electronic component itself.
In the electronic component mounting apparatuses of Japanese unexamined patent publication Nos. 11-297764, 04-94553 and 04-223349, it is possible to detect an inclination of an electronic component and a board by use of a plurality of load sensors arranged in a horizontal detection. However, it is required to separately provide the load sensors in a plurality of places of the apparatus in order to appropriately measure a load. Conversely, if the load sensors are separated from a mounting position, regions occupied by the load sensors are disadvantageously increased. That is, according to a technique of arranging a plurality of load sensors in a horizontal direction, there is a limit to accuracy of sensor sections in detecting inclination of an electronic component with respect to a board surface, and it becomes difficult to accurately detect a mounting failure.
Moreover, in order to remove the above issue that when the electronic component 101 is inclined with respect to the surface of the board 102, the load is not uniformly applied to the bumps 101a at the bottom of the electronic component 101, thereby possibly causing a contact failure of some bumps and collapse of some bumps, it is possible to use, for example, an air bearing in order to reduce sliding resistance when the movement block is moved in the Z-direction. However, although a load can be supported by the air bearing when the load applied to the electronic component is small (e.g., about 300 gf), the air bearing cannot be used when a load that exceeds a prescribed limit is applied. Such issue occurs similarly in the electronic component mounting apparatus of Japanese unexamined patent publication No. 10-163273.
In the electronic component mounting apparatus of Japanese unexamined patent publication No. 08-203966, the holding head is moved while being attached to the shaft driven in the Z-direction by the voicecoil motor, and therefore, a sliding resistance is generated similarly to the case of FIG. 12. Moreover, since a load applied to the electronic component is indirectly measured, there are possibilities of occurrence of a contact failure between an electronic component and a board, collapse of the bumps and damage of the electronic component itself, as described above.
Likewise, in the electronic component mounting apparatuses of Japanese unexamined patent publication Nos. 11-297764, 04-94553 and 04-223349, a load applied to an electronic component is indirectly measured by an inclination adjustment mechanism or the like, and therefore, it is difficult to accurately measure a load actually applied to the electronic component. Therefore, it is difficult to accurately perform adjustment of inclination of an electronic component with respect to a board surface on the basis of outputs from the load sensors, and there is a limit to prevention of a mounting failure of the electronic component with an improvement in accuracy. Moreover, it is required to separately provide load sensors in a plurality of places of the apparatus in order to improve measurement accuracy of a load, and it is difficult to detect the load in the neighborhood of a mounting position.
The present invention has been accomplished to solve the aforementioned conventional issues and has an object to provide an electronic component mounting apparatus capable of accurately detecting a mounting failure of an electronic component by detecting a load in a neighborhood of a mounting position.
Another object of the present invention is to solve the aforementioned conventional issues and provide an electronic component mounting apparatus capable of accurately measuring a load actually applied to an electronic component by eliminating influence of an error due to sliding resistance when a movement block moves.

Electronic component mounting apparatus and electronic component mounting method

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A maximum a posteriori (MAP) decoding apparatus and method are provided, which select a path having a maximum value without calculating all path metrics by generating metric difference vectors based on generated tables, calculating metrics of a path formed through a combination of a state and a branch each having a maximum metric, and calculating an index and a metric of a current state to which a calculation value is to be applied based on a result of comparing a state metric difference vector and a branch metric difference vector.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a maximum a posteriori (MAP) decoding apparatus and method for efficiently selecting a surviving path.
2. Description of the Related Art
In long distance communication, a maximum likelihood (ML) transceiving device is used as an optimal method for detecting a received signal.
When an ML receiving device allocates a plurality of of bits per symbol in consideration of a length of transmission sequence and high efficiency transmission, it is almost impractical to implement such an ML receiving device since hardware complexity and a calculation amount are increased non-linearly.
A maximum a posteriori (MAP) decoding apparatus calculates all metrics of paths connected to individual state nodes per trellis section. Since the calculation is performed in both directions, that is, forward and backward, complexity may be further increased.
To reduce the complexity in the MAP decoding apparatus, a Log MAP method and a Max-Log MAP decoding method have been introduced. The Max-Log MAP decoding apparatus calculates all metrics of paths connected to individual state nodes per trellis section and then reflects a path having a maximum value to a next trellis section.
Although the complexity is relatively reduced in the Max-Log decoding apparatus, since calculation of the all metrics of the paths connected to the state nodes per trellis section is still performed, the complexity matter still remains unsatisfactory.

Apparatus and method for decoding maximum a posteriori

ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE


Apparatus that interconnects the twenty-one pieces used to play the ancient backyard target-throwing game “kubb”, pronounced “coob”, into a portable self-contained carrying case that looks like a briefcase. An improvement over transporting kubb in heavy crates, boxes, or bags. To assemble: five throwing dowels fit horizontally through five evenly spaced holes drilled through a large vertically standing block with carved crown top called the “king”. Each exposed dowel-half jetting right and left from each king hole receives a smaller block or “kubb”, each containing a matching drilled hole. Ten kubbs completely cover dowel halves and slide up snug against king. Cord attached to the king and looped at both ends receives a sixth dowel, creating a handle. Four playing-field boundary pegs drop into matching king-top vertical holes. Apparatus constructed from waterproof, virtually indestructible plastic lumber that comes in any color and won't splinter or chip like traditional wood kubb sets.

Official kubb world championship rules can be found at: www.vmkubb.com/rules/english.pdf
Other traditional kubb game history, descriptions, and examples can be found at: www.kubb.co.uk
Site with largest selection of kubb games in America can be viewed and purchased at: www.oldtimegames.com
This invention is in both the field of sports and the field of toys. For over 1200 years a social and/or competitive game where players pitch wood batons to topple wood blocks called "kubbspel" or "kubb" (for short) has endured in Gotland, a Baltic island near Sweden. Because the sport is so old, to my knowledge the only pertinent documents copyrighted are World Championship Rules established by the Kubb World Championship. That document also reveals official metric dimensions of each playing piece. My company, SHORT PRODUCTIONS, has trademarked the names 'Ameri-Coob' and 'Coob' in relation to my product, a new version of kubbspel made entirely out of sturdy plastic.
Problems with existing sets of kubb include: 1) After moderate use, wood game pieces chip and nick, and provide potential splinters to players. 2) There's no way to carry or store all twenty-one game pieces without the aid of an additional item such as a sack, bag, or box.

Plastic kubb (coob) game & carrying case


The disclosure provides an improved fuel injector and method of operating the fuel injector to provide at least two different types of fuel spray to a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. The two types of spray are formed by providing a first fuel pressure to the fuel injector during a first portion of an injection event at a first pressure and providing a second fuel pressure to the fuel injection during a second portion of the injection event, and maintaining a substantially constant fuel flow rate throughout the injection event.

A variety of techniques exist to control fuel flow into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. These techniques are often described as rate-shaping techniques, which provide varying methods of controlling rates of fuel flow into a combustion chamber. By reducing the rate of fuel flow during an initial portion of an injection event, NOx formation is reduced. The fuel flow rate is then increased or unrestricted during the latter portion of the injection event. However, dividing an injection event into a first portion with a first fuel flow rate and a second portion with a higher fuel flow rate increases the total length of an injection event, which increases fuel consumption and decreases engine efficiency.

System and method for control of fuel injector spray


A power generator comprising a hydrogen generator and a fuel cell stack having an anode exposed to hydrogen from the hydrogen generator and a cathode exposed to an ambient environment. Hydrophobic and hydrophilic layers are used to promote flow of water away from the cathode. A diffusion path thus separates the fuel cell cathode from the hydrogen generator. In one embodiment, water vapor generated from the fuel cell substantially matches water used by the hydrogen generator to generate hydrogen.

In some prior proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell based power generator, a pneumatic valve is used to control a hydrogen generating chemical reaction that feeds hydrogen oxygen PEM fuel cells. The valve comprises a substantial portion of the power generator volume and weight, and thus reduces the energy density and specific energy of the power generator.
PEM fuel cells use a simple chemical reaction to combine hydrogen and oxygen into water, producing electric current in the process. Hydrogen may be produced by a chemical reaction between a fuel, such as lithium aluminum hydride and water vapor. At an anode, hydrogen molecules are ionized by a platinum catalyst, and give up electrons. The PEM allows protons to flow through, but not electrons. As a result, hydrogen ions flow through the PEM to a cathode, while electrons flow through an external circuit. As the electrons travel through the external circuit, they can perform useful work by powering an electrical device such as an electric motor, light bulb or electronic circuitry. At the cathode, the electrons and hydrogen ions combine with oxygen to form water. The byproducts of the reaction are water and heat.
In some power generators, water tends to accumulate at a cathode. The water can block pores, and hence the pathways for reactant species, leading to a decrease in power generation.

Fuel cell stack having catalyst coated proton exchange member


An apparatus and a method for measuring very small separations between a transparent or semi-transparent first body and a second body, wherein one or more light sources produce light that is split into two distinct paths. One path is directed through the first body at two locations, one where it reflects from the interface at the separation to be measured, and another where the second body does not affect the reflection. The second path is directed at a frequency shifter, which shifts the frequency of the light. The two paths are recombined and interfereometric variations of intensity, substantially at the frequency of the shifter, are detected. The difference in phase between the measurement and reference areas with the second body not present is subtracted from the difference in phase between the measurement and reference areas with the second body present. The difference in differences yields the phase change that occurs when the second body is introduced. Using this phase change and the optical properties of the bodies and the medium between them, the separation is calculated. The preferred embodiment applies to the field of magnetic recording on hard disk drives and is used to measure the spacing or “flying height” between a transparent or semi-transparent replica of a magnetic recording disk and an actual recording head.

The present invention is a method and apparatus for measuring the distance between two surfaces. The preferred embodiment illustrates the method and apparatus applied in the field of hard-disk magnetic recording for performing head/disk spacing or "flying height" measurements with substantially improved accuracy at very low flying heights compared to the current industry-standard methods.
Hard disk drives contain recording heads that read and write magnetic data to a rotating disk. The recording heads contain aerodynamic features that create an air bearing which controls the separation between the heads and disk. The thickness of the air bearing, or spacing between the head and disk is commonly referred to as "flying height." The flying height greatly impacts the performance of a head. As flying height is reduced, data density on the disk can be increased significantly. However, the head must not contact the disk excessively or wear may occur, possibly leading to read/write failure. In order to verify head design and monitor production processes, the flying height of hard drive magnetic heads is frequently measured on a flying height tester.
Flying height testers commonly use a rotating transparent replica of the magnetic disk together with an actual magnetic recording head. In general, a measurement beam (1 or more) from a light source is projected through the disk onto the air bearing surface of the recording head and the reflected beam is analyzed to derive the flying height.
The current industry standard, DFHT IV (Dynamic Flying Height Tester-IV) distributed by the KLA-Tencor Corporation (Lacey U.S. Pat. No. 5,280,340) uses 1 multi-wavelength light source at normal incidence to the disk to produce interference at the head/disk interface. Three wavelengths are filtered from the reflected light and the intensities are analyzed to derive the flying height. This technique requires calibration of the light source intensity and the reflectance of the disk and air bearing surfaces. The calibration process involves mechanically separating the head from the disk. A perfect calibration requires the head to remain parallel to the disk and not translate during the separation process. Unfortunately, it is not possible to perform this calibration perfectly, without introducing any error. As the flying height decreases, the calibration error causes a greater error in flying height measurement. This condition has made many users aware that the accuracy of the DFHT IV flying height tester is not sufficient for many current and future head designs. While the DFHT IV flying height tester has been a great commercial success over the past 10 years, its commercial viability is becoming questionable for the ever-decreasing flying heights that are becoming common in the industry.
De Groot, U.S. Pat. No. 5,557,399, discloses a flying height tester that was distributed by the Zygo Corporation under the name Pegasus. The Pegasus flying height tester used polarization interferometry to measure flying height. The technique involves directing a laser at an oblique angle through the disk onto the head. The polarization state of the beam is known before it enters the disk. The beam reflected from the head is analyzed for polarization and phase changes and flying height is derived from that data. This technique has two significant difficulties. (1) The stress in the spinning glass disk causes birefringence that affects the data and is difficult to compensate for in calculations. (2) The oblique angle of incident light makes it difficult to locate the measurement spot with the required precision. Perhaps because of these reasons, the Pegasus flying height tester had little commercial success.
Lacey, et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,638,178 disclose an FHT using an imaging polarimeter. This technique was also adversely affected by stress-induced birefringence in the disk. While this technique theoretically provided advantages over the DFHT IV flying height tester distributed by the KLA-Tencor corporation, its performance was sub-par and it was not accepted in the industry.
Sides, U.S. Pat. No. 5,715,060, (the 060 patent) discloses a method for measuring flying height by sensing scattered light from frustrated total internal reflection. A light beam is directed through the edge of the disk onto the head air bearing surface. The incident angle of the beam striking the head is selected to produce total internal reflection. As described in "Calibration of Fly Height Measured by Scattered Total Internal Reflection" by Strunk, Low and Sides (IEEE Transactions on Magnectic Vol 36, No 5, September, 2000), the total internal reflection produces an evanesent wave on the far side of the transparent disk, where the head flies. Any material very close to the disk may interact with the evanesent wave, frustrating the total internal reflection. In particular, a typical magnetic recording head will frustrate the total internal reflection and furthermore, scatter some of the light which would have otherwise been totally internally reflected. In the 060 patent, Sides teaches that the scattered light intensity can be measured by a photo detector. The intensity of the scattered light changes as the spacing between the disk and magnetic head changes, thus this effect can be used to measure flying height. The practical difficulty in applying this technique occurs when calibrating the scattered light. Several methods are suggested in the 060 patent but they all have significant disadvantages. One method requires contacting the head and disk which can be distructive. Another method is flying the head at a known height, which requires a separate flying height measurement the method of which is unknown, or using a calibration standard that potentially does not have sufficient resolution. Even if the calibration issue was addressed, it is not clear that this technique would provided a significant improvement compared to the commercially available DFHT IV flying height tester's performance at today's very low flying heights.
Guzik, U.S. Pat. No. 5,932,887, teaches a method for measuring flying height by sensing frustrated total internally reflected light. A light beam is directed through the edge of the disk onto the head air bearing surface. The incident angle of the beam striking the head is selected to produce total internal reflection. The head material frustrates the total internal reflection. The amount of reflected light is measured and flying height is calculated. This technique has several difficulties: it is not easy to capture the internally-reflected light. The requirements for the light entry into and exit from the disk place restrictions on the disk hub design and the positions where the head may fly on the disk. Furthermore, the signals produced by the system are difficult to translate into a very accurate flying height, especially at the very low flying heights of today's head designs.
Duran, U.S. Pat. No. 6,184,993, teaches the use of a Savart plate to split an interferometric image of the head/disk interface into polarized ordinary and extraordinary beams. These beams were then retarded with respect to each other by shifting optical components in the apparatus. After shifting, the beams are superimposed and their interference is detected. The interferometric intensity is detected at a variety of phase shifts, then the phase at a giving system configuration is calculated from the data. This phase is compared to the phase measured with no head present and the flying height is calculated from the resultant phase measurements. As disclosed, this method has limitations on the possible measurement locations on the head, as the superimposed images must meet in a specific way to make the measurement. It also may be difficult to control system drift as the phase would be significantly affected by very small optical path variations caused by thermal expansion and other factors. In any case, this system has yet to prove commercial viability as it has been over five years since the patent was filed.
The present invention overcomes most of the limitations of the prior art. It does not require a spacing-varying calibration as does the current industry-standard DFHT IV flying height tester distributed by the KLA-Tencor corporation. It also does not make use of polarized light, so it is immune to the difficulties caused by stress-induced birefringence in the spinning glass disk. Furthermore the technique can be performed at substantially normal incidence to the head/disk interface so the precision of spot location is not compromised as it can be on non-normal incidence systems. Another advantage of this technique is that the sensitivity increases as the spacing approaches zero, whereas the sensitivity decreases as the spacing approaches zero on the current industry-standard DFHT IV flying height tester.

Dynamic fringe phase detection for measurement of very small spacing


Techniques for simulation of multi top-level graphical-containers (e.g., frames) in an object-oriented computing environment are disclosed. A Multi Top-level Graphical-Container Simulator (MTGS) can be provided to simulate multi top-level graphical container support for applications that expect to use a plurality of top-level graphical containers (e.g., frames, windows). A MTGS may be implemented as a layer between a GUI-based application and an operating system and/or hardware/device with limited or virtually no graphical support capability. The Multi Top-level Graphical Simulator (MTGS) can effectively isolate the operating systems and/or hardware/device from the GUI-based application, and yet hide this simulation from the operating system and/or hardware/device. MTGS may be implemented in a platform independent programming language (e.g., Java™ programming language using a set of Java™ classes which have been provided in the Java™ Swing development toolkit.

The present invention relates generally to computing systems, and more particularly, to techniques for simulation of Multi top-level graphical containers in a computing environment.
A Graphical User Interface (GUI) is often referred to as a graphical (rather than purely textual) user interface to a computer. Typically, a Web browser used for browsing the Internet provides a GUI. The term GUI may have come into existence because the first interactive user to interface with computers were not really graphical. Instead, text-and-keyboard oriented interfaces were first used which usually consisted of a set of commands and computer responses. The command interface of a DOS operating system (which is still available on some Windows operating systems) is an example of a user-computer interface before GUI was developed. An intermediate step in user interfaces between the command line interface and the GUI may be a non-graphical menu-based interface, which allows a mouse to be used rather than just commands entered by a keyboard.
Today's many operating systems provide a fairly advanced graphical user interface. In addition, applications can use various elements of a GUI that come with the operating system and/or add their own graphical user interface elements and ideas. A GUI sometimes uses one or more metaphors for objects familiar in real life, such as the desktop, the view through a window, or the physical layout in a building. Elements of a GUI may include, for example: windows, frames, pull-down menus, buttons, scroll bars, iconic images, wizards, the mouse, pointer, and curser. With the increasing use of multimedia as part of the GUI, sound, voice, motion video, and virtual reality interfaces are likely to become part of the GUI for many applications. A system's graphical user interface along with its input devices is sometimes referred to as its "look-and-feel."
When creating an application in an object-oriented programming environment, many object-oriented tools exist that facilitate writing a graphical user interface. These tools (e.g., a graphical development toolkit) may, for example, include a set of GUI elements that are defined as a class widget from which object instances can be created for an application. An application programmer may develop code by using or modifying prepackaged methods that an object will use to respond to user stimuli.
In general, a widget can be an element of a graphical user interface (GUI) that displays information or provides a specific way for a user to interact with the operating system and application. Widgets include icons, pull-down menus, buttons, selection boxes, progress indicators, on-off checkmarks, scroll bars, windows, window edges (that let you resize the window), toggle buttons, forms, and many other devices for displaying information and for inviting, accepting, and responding to user actions.
A widget may also refer to a small program that is written in order to describe what a particular widget looks like, how it behaves, and how it interacts in response to user actions. Most operating systems include a set of ready-to-tailor widgets that a programmer can incorporate in an application, specifying how it is to behave. In object-oriented programming, each type of widget can be defined as a class (or a subclass under a broad generic widget class) and can be associated with a particular window. By way of example, in the AIX Enhanced X-Window Toolkit, a widget is the fundamental data type.
Most of the application development programming languages today, such as Java™ programming language and Tool Command Language, come with a ready-made library of widgets that a programmer can incorporate and modify. By way of example, Java™ development environment provides an Abstract Window Toolkit (AWT) which can be used, among other things, to develop web-based applications (or applet). Another GUI-based development tool (or toolkit) provided in the Java™ development environment is "Swing." "Swing" provides a relatively robust framework for developing GUI-based applications that are platform independent (i.e., can be executed over a variety of different operating systems and/or hardware platforms). Swing provides components that do not rely on platform-specific (native) widgets typically used by a particular operating system (e.g., windows operating system). Rather, Swing components can be painted using graphic primitives (e.g., lines, rectangles, text). The painting can be delegated to a look and feel (L&F) plug-in that can imitate the native (L&F).
With the popularity of GUI-based applications (e.g., web browser, mail messengers), more and more graphical support has been provided in the operating systems. As a result, graphical support in the operating systems (e.g., windowing manager) have become more advanced and capable of handling relatively sophisticated tasks (e.g., allowing an application to generate and use multiple top-level containers). Although providing this level of graphical capabilities is feasible and desirable for some computing environments (e.g., a desk top), it may not be feasible or desirable for relatively advanced graphical support capabilities in many other computing environments (e.g., mobile phones, embedded devices, Personal Digital Assistants, etc.). However, it would be useful to allow the GUI-based applications that have been developed for environments with relatively advanced graphical support capability to also run on computing environments or devices that provide a limited or virtually no graphical support capability. This would also enable an application developer to develop a GUI-based application for various computing environments regardless of the level of graphical support that may be provided in them.
In view of the foregoing, alternative techniques for executing GUI-based application are needed. These techniques should allow a GUI-based application which expects an advanced graphical support capability to also be executed on an environment that provides a limited or virtually no graphical support capability.

Simulation of multi top-level graphical containers in computing environments


The device concerns a rocking stool comprising a seat surface 1 and a support structure 6 having a base 3, wherein arranged at the base end of the support structure 6 is a contact means 5 which can be pressed against the floor when the rocking stool is loaded and which is arranged centrally beneath the seat surface and which serves as a support in the rocking movement. The contact surface is pressed against the floor when the stool is loaded by virtue of elastic deformation of the support devices arranged on the support structure 6 and thus provides such a good frictional connection between the rocking stool and the floor that a travel movement of the rocking stool during the rocking movement is prevented.

Rocking stools are already known for example from DE 42 10 098.4-16, having a hinge-like arrangement between the seat surface and the base means. The base means in those stools is of the same kind as that found in conventional chairs, seats the like.
A disadvantage with the above rocking stools according to the state of the art is that, when the stools are moved, they cannot be pulled over the floor, but have to be lifted and carried.
Rocking stools are also known in which the base means has rollers. Although such rocking stools can admittedly be easily moved over the floor, they move considerably over the floor when the person sitting on the stool rocks.

Rocker stool with contact means centrally arranged below the seat


Disclosed are implementations, including a method comprising selecting a location of a selection buffer (that stores observed output samples produced by a signal chain) according to a pseudo-random buffer selection process, and accessing at least one observed output sample generated in response to corresponding input samples (to the system) and/or intermediary samples (outputs of a digital compensator) produced by a compensator of the system. The method further includes computing an approximation of a sub-gradient value computed according to a stochastic gradient process to derive a sub-gradient of an error function representing a relationship between the observed output sample, and the input and/or intermediary samples, computing updated values for the compensator coefficients based on current values of the coefficients and the approximation of the sub-gradient value, and replacing, at a time instance determined independently of the buffer selection process, content of part or all of the selection buffer.

The present disclosure relates to approaches for regular/continuous adaptation of parameterized digital predistorter (compensator).
Power amplifiers, especially those used to transmit radio frequency communications, generally have nonlinear characteristics. For example, as a power amplifier's output power approaches its maximum rated output, nonlinear distortion of the output occurs. One way of compensating for the nonlinear characteristics of power amplifiers is to 'predistort' an input signal (e.g., by adding an 'inverse distortion' to the input signal) to negate the nonlinearity of the power amplifier before providing the input signal to the power amplifier. The resulting output of the power amplifier is a linear amplification of the input signal with reduced nonlinear distortion. Digital predistorted devices (comprising, for example, power amplifiers) are relatively inexpensive and power efficient. These properties make digital predistorted power amplifiers attractive for use in telecommunication systems where amplifiers are required to inexpensively, efficiently, and accurately reproduce the signal present at their input. However, the computation effort associated with conventional digital predistortion (DPD) adaptation processes is substantial, which adversely effects the predistortion accuracy and robustness due to the limits the computational efforts may place on the number and speed at which DPD coefficients can be derived.

Buffer management for adaptive digital predistortion


Provided is a process for preparing valsartan and precursors thereof.

Valsartan, also known as (S)—N-(1-Carboxy-2-methyl-prop-1-yl)-N-pentanoyl-N-[2′-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)bi phenyl-4-ylmethyl]-amine, has the following structure:
and is marketed as the free acid under the name DIOVAN. DIOVAN is prescribed as oral tablets in dosages of 40 mg, 80 mg, 160 mg and 320 mg of valsartan.
Valsartan and/or its intermediates are disclosed in various references, including: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,399,578, 5,965,592, 5,260,325, 6,271,375, WO 02/006253, WO 01/082858, WO 99/67231, WO 97/30036, Peter Bühlmayer, et. al., Bioorgan. & Med.
Chem. Let., 4(1) 29-34 (1994), Th. Moenius, et. al., J. Labelled Cpd. Radiopharm., 43(13) 1245-1252 (2000), and Qingzhong Jia, et. al., Zhongguo Yiyao Gongye Zazhi, 32(9) 385-387 (2001).
Valsartan is an orally active specific angiotensin II antagonist acting on the AT1 receptor subtype. Valsartan is prescribed for the treatment of hypertension. U.S. Pat. No. 6,395,728 is directed to use of valsartan for treatment of diabetes related hypertension. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,465,502 and 6,485,745 are directed to treatment of lung cancer with valsartan. U.S. Pat. No. 6,294,197 is directed to solid oral dosage forms of valsartan. These patents are incorporated herein by reference.
The synthesis of valsartan is discussed, inter alia, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,399,578, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. In the synthesis disclosed therein, the final synthetic step (exclusive of work-up and purification) involves the reaction of a cyano group on the biphenyl ring with an azide, for example, tributyl tin azide. The reaction scheme of the '578 patent is as follows:

The starting compound in the '578 patent is made as follows:

Peter Bühlmayer, et. al., Bioorgan. & Med. Chem. Let., 4(1) 29-34 (1994)
In Moenius, et. al., J. Labelled Cpd. Radiopharm., 43(13) 1245-1252 (2000), various schemes for synthesis of valsartan are provided, with one being:

Another paper, Qingzhong Jia, et. al., Zhongguo Yiyao Gongye Zazhi, 32(9) 385-387 (2001), discloses a synthesis scheme for valsartan as follows:

There is a need in the art for an improved synthetic process for the preparation of valsartan and precursors of valsartan.

Process for the preparation of valsartan


A noise attenuating method, and a system thereof, for controlling acoustical noise in an electronic equipment enclosure is disclosed. The noise attenuating system includes one or more noise attenuating inserts configured to be removably attached to the electronic equipment enclosure so as to block noise from at least one electronic device contained in the electronic equipment enclosure and to channel an airflow from an inlet point to one or more outlet points of the electronic equipment enclosure. The method includes arranging one or more noise attenuating inserts within an electronic equipment enclosure such that the noise attenuating inserts simultaneously block noise from at least one electronic device contained in the enclosure and channel an airflow path circulating therein.

Noise and heat emitted from electronic components are two major issues that affect electronic equipment, particularly in the fields of computing and information technology (IT). Computing and IT equipment, including electronic devices such as general computers, mainframe servers, networking electronics, communications devices and the like, are generally enclosed in designated spaces such as IT rooms or closets, also referred to as data centers. In most instances, these devices are organized into what is known interchangeably as electronic equipment racks or frames. Electronic equipment racks are standardized enclosures having a front door and a back door designed for mounting multiple equipment modules. Each module is fixedly fastened to the rack. Depending on the specific application, a single electronic device (e.g. a server), or numerous ones, may be mounted onto each module. Several equipment racks adjacent to each other are typically arranged in rows in an enclosed data center. The recent advent of more powerful electronic devices in smaller sizes and higher power loads has resulted in data centers (or even individual racks) that generate large amounts of heat. Excessive heat negatively affects computing and IT equipment performance, reliability, life expectancy, and may even cause fatal failure. One solution for alleviating the accumulation of heat in conventional data centers has been to cool the electronic equipment by circulating cool air blown by fans and/or air conditioning units. The addition of these air moving devices generates acoustical noise (hereafter "noise"). Growing environmental concerns and recognition that lengthy and unprotected exposure to high levels of noise can be detrimental to people have resulted in strict requirements to reduce electronic equipment noise.
Conventional noise attenuating systems generally require large operating spaces. Since data center space is scarce and expensive, if users desire to enhance the cooling efficiency of electronic equipment enclosures such as racks in data centers, it can only be done at the expense of sacrificing acoustical solutions. For example, the installation of heat removing solutions such as a rear door heat exchanger or the like can only be done by eliminating an acoustical cover. Moreover, if noise attenuating solutions are needed in places where excessive noise exists, bulky noise reducing solutions (e.g., acoustical covers) may be impossible to be installed due to lack of space.

Noise attenuating inserts for electronic equipment cabinets

International Business Machines Corporation


A method for warming a person perioperatively using a warming device including a clinical garment having an inside surface supporting a convective apparatus with stacked, separately-inflatable sections includes inflating one of the stacked sections of the convective apparatus to provide comfort warming by convection or inflating another of the stacked sections of the convective apparatus to provide therapeutic warming by convection.

The field covers a method for warming a person perioperatively using a warming device including a clinical garment and an inflatable convective apparatus supported on an inside surface of the clinical garment, the inflatable convective apparatus constituted of stacked, separately inflatable sections.
Convective devices that transfer heat to a human body are known. For example, there are devices that receive a stream of warmed pressurized air, inflate in response to the pressurized air, distribute it within a pneumatic structure, and emit the warmed air onto a body to accomplish such objectives as increasing comfort, reducing shivering, and treating or preventing hypothermia. These devices are typically called "convective thermal blankets" or "covers". Arizant Healthcare Inc., the assignee of this application, makes and sells such thermal blankets under the BAIR HUGGER® brand. One such device is the Model 522 Upper Body Blanket.
Use of the term "convective" to denote the transfer of heat between a warming device and a body refers to the principal mode of heat transfer, it being understood that heat may at the same time be transferred between a convective warming device and a body by conduction and radiation, although not to the degree of convection.
A recent invention disclosed in the referenced PCT application adapts a clinical garment such as a robe or gown to receive a convective warming device in order to warm a person wearing the garment in a clinical setting for comfort and mobility of the person. Arizant Healthcare Inc., the assignee of this application, makes and sells such warming devices under the BAIR PAWS® brand. There is a need to further adapt such a combination for use perioperatively.
The term "perioperative" is defined in the PDR Medical Dictionary, Second Edition, (Medical Economics Company, 2000), as "around the time of operation." The perioperative period is characterized by a sequence including the time preceding an operation when a patient is being prepared for surgery ("the preoperative period"), followed by the time spent in surgery ("the intraoperative period"), and by the time following an operation when the patient is closely monitored for complications while recovering from the effects of anesthesia ("the postoperative period").
According to Mahoney et al. (Maintaining intraoperative normothermia: A meta-analysis of outcomes with costs. AANA Journal. 4/99; 67, 2:155-164.), therapeutic warming is employed during at least the intraoperative period in order to prevent or mitigate a constellation of effects that result from hypothermia. In fact, it is increasingly manifest that maintenance of normothermia perioperatively enhances the prospects for a quick, successful recovery from surgery. The effectiveness of therapeutic warming depends upon delivery of enough heat to a patient's body to raise the patient's core body temperature to, or maintain it within, a narrow range, typically near 37° C. This range is called "normothermic" and a body with a core temperature in this range is at "normothermia." Hypothermia occurs when the core body temperature falls below 36° C.; mild hypothermia occurs when core body temperature is in the range of 34° C. to 36° C. Therefore, "perioperative therapeutic warming" is warming therapy capable of being delivered during one or more of the perioperative periods for the prevention or treatment of hypothermia.
Therapeutic warming is contrasted with "comfort warming" which is intended to maintain or enhance a patient's sense of "thermal comfort". Of course, therapeutic warming may also comfort a patient by alleviating shivering or a feeling of being cold, but this is a secondary or ancillary effect. Thermal comfort is a subjective notion; however, the environmental conditions necessary to produce a sense of thermal comfort in a population of human beings are known and well tabulated. For example, Fanger (Thermal Comfort: Analysis and Applications of Environmental Engineering. Danish Technical press, Copenhagen, 1970) defines thermal comfort as "that condition of mind which expresses satisfaction with the thermal environment." Even when a patient is normothermic, less than ideal environmental conditions can result in acute feelings of discomfort. Under normothermic conditions, thermal comfort is largely determined with reference to skin temperature, not core body temperature. Comfort warming is warming applied to a patient to alleviate the patient's sense of thermal discomfort.
Therapeutic warming may be indicated during any one or more of the perioperative periods. For example, for a short operation in a surgery with no warming equipment available, a person may be warmed preoperatively in a preparation area to raise mean body temperature to a level higher than normal in order to store enough thermal energy to maintain normothermia, without heating, intraoperatively. After surgery, it may be necessary to apply therapeutic warming in a recovery area to raise the core temperature to normothermia and maintain it there for a period of time while anesthesia wears off. Alternatively, for a long surgery in an arena with heating equipment available, a person may be warmed for comfort before surgery and warmed therapeutically during and after surgery.
Both therapeutic warming and comfort warming may be provided by convective devices such as convective thermal blankets that receive and distribute warmed, pressurized air and then expel the distributed air through one or more surfaces toward a patient in order to prevent or treat hypothermia in the patient. An example of use of such a device for therapeutic warming is found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,524,332, "System and Method for Warming a Person to Prevent or Treat Hypothermia", commonly owned with this application. Comfort warming by convective means is described in the referenced U.S. Patent Application, and the referenced Publication No. WO 03/086500.
When delivered by convective devices, therapeutic warming is distinguished from comfort warming by intended effects and by the parameters of heat delivery that produce those effects. In this regard, a convective warming system typically includes a source of warmed pressurized air (also called a heater/blower unit, a forced air warming unit, a heater unit, etc.), a convective device such as a thermal blanket (which is, typically, inflatable), and a flexible conduit or air hose connecting the heater/blower unit with the thermal blanket. Use of such a system for a particular type of warming requires delivery of warmed air through a thermal blanket at parametric values that achieve a particular objective. The conditions by which a convective device such as a thermal blanket produces thermal comfort in normothermic individuals at steady state are significantly different from those necessary to treat hypothermia. Typically the conditions for thermal comfort are met in a system with a relatively low capacity heater/blower unit, while those in a therapeutic warming system are achieved with a relatively high capacity heater/blower unit. The different capacities have led to use of air hoses with different capacities, with those delivering air flow for thermal comfort typically having smaller diameters than those serving a therapeutic warming requirement. The result is a divergence of designs leading to installation of different air delivery infrastructures for therapeutic and comfort warming.
Health care cost is an issue of national importance. The cost of warming perioperatively is directly related to the number of perioperative periods in which a person is warmed; the cost increases when different warming apparatus are used in different periods to accomplish different goals. For example, when comfort and mobility are objectives of warming a person during the preoperative period and therapy is the objective of warming during one or more of the intraoperative and postoperative periods, it is presently necessary to use different warming configurations. Manifestly, if one warming device could be used or adapted to be used perioperatively, significant savings in thermal care could be realized.


A method of controlling roaming in a mobile system (3) comprising at least two networks (5 and 6), which can offer a subscriber (1) attached to the system a circuit-switched and a packet-switched connection, comprising the steps of checking, when a subscriber attempts to attach to the mobile system, separately for each network (5 and 6) comprised by the mobile system (3), from a first network element (HLR) comprising the subscriber's roaming right data if the subscriber (1) is entitled to roam that particular type of network of that particular mobile system, and allowing or denying the subscriber's roaming in each network (5 and 6) of the mobile system (3) separately on the basis of said check.

The invention relates to controlling roaming in a mobile system.
A general packet radio service GPRS is a new service in the GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) and it is one of the items being standardized at the ETSI (European Telecommunication Standard Institute). The GPRS operational environment consists of one or more sub-network service areas that are interconnected by a GPRS backbone network. A sub-network comprises a number of packet data service nodes, which are herein called GPRS support nodes and each one of which is connected to the GSM mobile network, for example to a mobile switching centre MSC, allowing them to provide mobile data terminals with packet data service via several base stations, i.e. cells. An intermediate mobile network provides circuit-switched or packet-switched data transmission between a support node and mobile stations. Different sub-networks, in turn, are connected to an external data network, for example to a packet switched public data network PSPDN. The GPRS service can thus be used for achieving packet data transmission between mobile stations and external data networks, with the GSM network acting as an access network. One of the features of the GPRS service network is that it operates almost independently of the GSM network.
The GSM/GPRS mobile system usually comprises two databases including data on mobile subscribers: a home location register HLR, which comprises data on all subscribers of the mobile system and the services subscribed by them, and a visitor location register VLR, which comprises data on mobile stations roaming the area of a given mobile switching centre MSC. Within this application, the concept "roaming" should be understood to mean the attachment of a mobile subscriber to an alien mobile system (or a network of an alien mobile system), i.e. other than the subscriber's home mobile system, thus allowing the subscriber to use at least some of the services provided by said alien mobile system. When a mobile subscriber moves to the area of an alien mobile system and tries to attach thereto, the alien mobile system checks from the home location register of the subscriber's home system if the subscriber is entitled to roam said system. If the mobile station supports both circuit-switched (e.g. GSM) and packet-switched GPRS functions, it will try to attach to both the GSM network and the GPRS network. As regards the GSM network, the access request is relayed to the mobile switching centre MSC, which checks from the home location register of the subscriber's home system if the subscriber's roaming is allowed. Similarly, as regards the GPRS network, the access request is relayed to the serving GPRS support node SGSN, which also checks from the home location register of the subscriber's home system if the subscriber's roaming is allowed. In accordance with prior art, the home location register gives the same reply to the inquiries made by both network elements (MSC and SGSN).
The problem in the above arrangement is that there may be for instance an agreement between the operator maintaining the subscriber's home system and the operator maintaining the alien system that entitles the subscriber to the use of only one network (or some networks), e.g. a GSM network or a GPRS network, of the alien system, but not all networks. In this case it should be possible to allow the subscriber to attach to the network(s) of the alien system allowed to the subscriber, and, on the other hand, to prevent the subscriber from attaching to the network(s) of the alien system not allowed to the subscriber. However, this is impossible in the prior art arrangement, which does not distinguish between the different networks comprised by a mobile system.


Apparatus for monitoring in real time the movement of a plurality of substances in a mixture, such as oil water and air flowing through a pipe comprises an X-ray scanner arranged to make a plurality of scans of the mixture over a monitoring period to produce a plurality of scan data sets, and control means arranged to analyze the data sets to identify volumes of each of the substances and to measure their movement. By identifying volumes of each of the substances in each of a number of layers and for each of a number of scans, real time analysis and imaging of the substance can be achieved.

The present invention relates to the monitoring of mixtures, and in particular to real time monitoring using X-ray scanning. It has application in a number of fields were the monitoring and imaging of mixtures is required, and is particularly applicable to the measurement of the flow rates of the different fractions in moving mixtures of fluids, such as the measurement of oil flow from oil wells. It is also applicable to slurry flow monitoring and measurement, the monitoring of fluidization processes, and in the monitoring of mixing processes.
Typically, an oil well is one of a number of wells that collectively form an oil field. As well as extracting oil, water and gas from an individual oil well, it is sometimes necessary to recycle water down an oil well back into the ground. Typically, this pumped water is used to facilitate diffusion of oil through the porous rocks in the ground towards a well (or wells) for subsequent collection. By careful design of pumping and extraction rates, it is possible to maximize the yield of oil from the field.
Often, the output from several extracting oil wells are joined into a single pipeline for subsequent downstream processing. To optimize the production process, it is necessary to know the fraction of oil and water in the liquid phase and also to know the volumes of oil and water produced by each well in the field. By combining this information with an understanding of the geophysics and seismology data of the field itself, it is believed to be possible to improve on the quantity of oil produced from the field and to reduce the cost of production. Such measurements of oil and water phase fraction and velocity require instrumentation to be placed at the well head.
Known instrumentation for this purpose relies on measurement of linear attenuation coefficient of the flow using a dual-energy gamma measurement once the flow has been homogenized by use of a mechanical system. A second known approach is to measure electrical properties of the fluid (including permittivity and conductivity) and from this to infer phase fraction of oil and water.


When an error occurs in decoding of coded data such as a barcode, the error in the decoding of the coded data is analyzed based on an image acquisition status of the coded data in image data acquired by image acquisition performed by an image acquisition section. Then, handling information allowing the coded data to be decoded is provided depending on a result of the analysis.

In connection with a settlement operation for items of merchandise, a technique for facilitating the settlement process operation is disclosed in, for example, Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2007-72803. Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2007-72803 discloses an operation guidance display device that provides guidance indicating how to operate a settlement device that settles the amount payable of an item of merchandise.
However, with a single scanning operation performed by a cashier, an operation of acquiring an image of coded data attached to an item of merchandise and decoding the coded data from image data acquired by the image acquisition may fail. In this case, the cashier performs the scanning operation many times with the direction of the gripped item of merchandise with respect to a CCD scanner varied by, for example, rotating the item of merchandise.
Such a scanning operation may degrade the convenience of the settlement process operation for items of merchandise offered by a POS terminal, and reduce the efficiency of the settlement process operation. The scanning operation imposes an extra physical and mental burden on the cashier, who operates the POS terminal.


A fixing device includes an endless fixing belt, a first roller provided on an inner circumference side of the fixing belt, a second roller provided on the inner circumference side of the fixing belt and located upstream of the first roller in a conveying direction of a recording medium, a heat source provided on the inner circumference side of the fixing belt, a first reflecting portion provided between the heat source and the first roller, and a second reflecting portion provided between the heat source and the second roller. The second reflecting portion is provided apart from the first reflecting portion.

The present invention relates to a fixing device, and relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copier, a printer, a facsimile machine or an MFP (Multi-Function Peripheral) having the fixing device.
A fixing device is used in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as a copier, a printer, a facsimile machine or an MFP. The fixing device includes a fixing roller and a pressure roller paired with each other to form a nip portion. A heat source such as a halogen lamp is provided in the fixing roller. A recording sheet with an unfixed toner image is conveyed through the nip portion between the fixing roller and the pressure roller, and the unfixed toner is thermally fixed to the recording sheet by application of heat and pressure. Such a fixing device is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2012-58319 (see FIG. 1).
In the conventional fixing device, a fixing failure may occur. Therefore, enhancement of fixing property is desired.

Fixing device and image forming apparatus


A power or moment regulation device for an adjustable hydraulic pump having a servo setting apparatus providing for a smooth stepless setting of the pump delivery quantity. In the device, the delivery quantity setting is determined in dependence upon the delivery pressure of the hydraulic pump in a delivery pressure line and a control pressure in a control line. The setting apparatus has a spring setting a pump setting member in the direction of maximum delivery quantity and a piston acting upon the pump setting member in the opposite direction of delivery quantity reduction. The piston is acted upon via a hydraulically actuated control valve with the delivery pressure. The actuation of the control valve is effected by the control pressure in the control line. A moment valve is provided, the closure force of which is determined by a metering spring arrangement connected with the pump setting member and biased in dependence upon the delivery quantity setting. The moment valve connects the control line with a discharge in dependence upon the control pressure in the control line and the biasing of the metering spring arrangement. A settable choke device, for setting the control pressure acting upon the control valve and the moment valve, is arranged in the control line branching off from the operating pressure line of the pump.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a power or moment regulation device for an adjustable hydraulic pump having a hydraulic servo setting apparatus for providing for a smooth stepless setting of the pump delivery quantity. In the device, the delivery quantity setting is determined in dependence upon the delivery pressure of the hydraulic pump in a delivery pressure line and a control pressure in a control line. The setting apparatus has a spring setting the pump setting member in the direction of maximum delivery quantity and at least one piston acting upon the pump setting member in the direction of delivery quantity reduction. The piston can be acted upon via a hydraulically actuated control valve with the delivery pressure or is connected with a discharge. The actuation of the control valve is effected by means of the control pressure in the control line, whereby a moment valve is provided the closure force of which is determined by a metering spring arrangement which is connected with the pump setting member and is biased in dependence upon the delivery quantity setting. The moment valve connects the control line with the discharge in dependence upon the control pressure in the control line and the biasing of the metering spring arrangement.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Such a regulation device is known from EP 0 149 787. This known regulation device is operable either as a moment regulator or as power regulator, in dependence upon whether or not a delivery flow choke, which may be adjustable, is provided in the delivery pressure line of the hydraulic pump. With such regulation devices there is a direct functional relationship between the stroke volume of the pump and the load-dependent operating pressure upon which the control pressure acting upon the control valve is dependent. For moment regulation there applies the relationship that the product of operating pressure and stroke volume of the pump must be constant. If the speed of rotation of the pump is constant, moment regulation is at the same time power regulation. With power regulators, changes in the speed of rotation of the pump, which affect for example the delivery flow quantity, are additionally detected and regulated. A measure for the stroke volume of the hydraulic pump is the setting of the pump setting member which sets the pump delivery quantity, which is connected via a metering spring arrangement with the moment valve. The shape of the hyperbolic moment or power characteristic is determined solely by the configuration of the characteristic of the metering spring arrangement.
This known power or moment regulation device is very strongly dependent upon the operating delivery quantity taken on the load side from the operating pressure line. Upon an alteration of the operating delivery quantity, the control oil quantity in the control line also changes, so that the pump is displaced along its power hyperbola. A change of the position of the power hyperbola, that is a change of the power setting of the pump, is possible only via the direct adjustment of the biasing of the metering spring arrangement by manual means. This adjustment by hand is very inconvenient and complex. In particular applications, for example in excavator vehicles or the like, it is however necessary to be able to alter the power setting of the pump in dependence upon the kind of work being undertaken or in dependence upon the speed of rotation of the diesel motor driving the pump.

Settable choke device to control the power setting of a variable displacement hyraulic pump


An instruction alignment unit for aligning instructions in a digital processor having a pipelined architecture includes an instruction queue, a current instruction buffer and a next instruction buffer in a pipeline stage n, an aligned instruction buffer in a pipeline stage n+1, instruction fetch logic for loading instructions into the current instruction buffer from an instruction cache or from the next instruction buffer and for loading instructions into the next instruction buffer from the instruction cache or from the instruction queue, and alignment control logic responsive to instruction length information contained in the instructions for controlling transfer of instructions from the current instruction buffer and the next instruction buffer to the aligned instruction buffer. The alignment control logic includes predecoders for predecoding the instructions to provide instruction length information and pointer generation logic responsive to the instruction length information for generating a current instruction pointer for controlling transfer of instructions to the aligned instruction buffer.

A digital signal computer, or digital signal processor (DSP), is a special purpose computer that is designed to optimize performance for digital signal processing applications, such as, for example, Fast Fourier transforms, digital filters, image processing, signal processing in wireless systems, and speech recognition. Digital signal processor applications are typically characterized by real time operation, high interrupt rates and intensive numeric computations. In addition, digital signal processor applications tend to be intensive in memory access operations and to require the input and output of large quantities of data. Digital signal processor architectures are typically optimized for performing such computations efficiently. In addition to digital signal processor applications, DSPs are frequently required to perform microcontroller operations. Microcontroller operations involve the handling of data but typically do not require extensive computation.
Digital signal processors may utilize a pipelined architecture to achieve high performance. As known in the art, a pipelined architecture includes multiple pipeline stages, each of which performs a specified operation, such as instruction fetch, instruction decode, address generation, arithmetic operations, and the like. Program instructions advance through the pipeline stages on consecutive clock cycles, and several instructions may be in various stages of completion simultaneously.
For compactness of code, some processors support instructions with varying lengths. For example, one processor supports 16-bit instructions, 32-bit instructions and 64-bit instructions. There are no restrictions on instruction alignment with respect to memory boundaries, so that the memory can be as compact as possible. During instruction execution, instructions are typically moved from memory to an instruction cache, also having no restrictions on instruction alignment. Thus, each instruction cache line may include one or more instructions, depending on instruction length, and an instruction may straddle instruction cache lines. Instruction fetches from the instruction cache are usually aligned to the cache line. Therefore, there is a need to align instructions fetched from the instruction cache before issuing instructions to the instruction decoder. Under ideal conditions, an aligned instruction should be issued to the instruction decoder every clock cycle.
Techniques for instruction alignment are known in the prior art. However, prior art instruction alignment techniques have not provided satisfactory performance for deeply pipelined, high performance processors. Accordingly, there is a need for improved methods and apparatus for aligning variable length instructions.

Methods and apparatus for instruction alignment including current instruction pointer logic responsive to instruction length information


A manually actuated liquid pump sprayer, capable of being operated in both an upright position and in an inverted position, includes an adapter attached to its pump body to effect the upright and inverted spray, the adapter having first and second fluid passages extending from an adapter chamber in opposite directions for respectively inletting liquid from the container to the chamber in one of the upright and inverted positions, and being exposed to air in the container in the other such positions, the passages terminating within the chamber in opposing upright and inverted valve seats which are valved controlled by a single gravity shifting ball check valve.

This invention relates to a manually actuated liquid pump sprayer capable of being operating in both an upright position and in an inverted position by the provision of first and second oppositely extending fluid flow passages extending within the liquid in the container to which the pump sprayer is mounted in one of the upright and inverted positions, and extending into air in the container and the other of such positions.
Pump dispensers having only a single fluid flow passage comprising a dip tube extend from the pump into the liquid at the bottom of the container such that liquid is suctioned into the pump sprayer during its operation so long as there is liquid in the container and while the container is held in a position in which its bottom is located substantially below the pump sprayer.
Such known dispensers, however, are generally incapable of being operated in an inverted position as when the dip tube is no longer in communication with the liquid in the container.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,277,001 discloses a manually actuated pump sprayer adapted for upright and inverted spray by the provision of a three-way valve assembly mounted to the sprayer. Such assembly is, however, of complex structure requiring ball check valves associated with both oppositely extending fluid flow passages.


A keyboard without ghost keys has a circuit which includes a microprocessor in which a plurality of I/O lines form a keyboard scanning matrix. Two of the I/O lines on the matrix cross to define a plurality of signal switches. The microprocessor is electrically connected to a primary level resistance and a reference potential to determine the ON condition of the signal switches. Each signal switch further is electrically connected to at least one secondary level switch which is electrically connected to the primary level switch in a serial manner. When a user depresses any three signal switches on the rectangular angles of the keyboard scanning matrix, the connecting primary level resistance and the secondary level resistance form a new level resistance. The new level resistance and the current flowing to the keyboard scanning matrix are processed to get a potential smaller than the reference potential, thereby to eliminate the phenomenon of ghost keys.

Keyboard is one of important tools to input signals and communicate with computers. The keyboard has a circuit in response to the computers. The design of the circuit is critical to the quality of the keyboard. The conventional circuit located in the keyboard usually adopts a standard keyboard protocol. The keyboard protocol is serial and provides a specific code for every key except toggle keys (Shift, Ctrl and Alt keys). Referring to FIG. 1 PRIOR ART, the circuit in the keyboard contains a microprocessor 100 which has a plurality of parallel lines and vertical lines 111a, 111b, 112a and 112b that form a matrix 110 to connect to a primary level resistance R1. The matrix 110 crisscrosses to form a plurality of keys 120a, 120b, 120c and 120d. When the key 120a is depressed, the keyboard sends a code representing the key 120a to the computer to be interpreted. When the key 120a returns to the original condition, the keyboard issues a release signal. One cycle of the reciprocal action is treated as one keystroke. When the keyboard is tested the circuit of a preset matrix 110 is used. However, even if all the elements and power supply are in good conditions, a conflict still might happen. This often occurs when a user depresses one key 120a then depresses another key 120b. The system issues the signal of the second key rather than the signals of the two keys. This is because the keyboard codes are mutually exclusive. The preceding signal is masked by the succeeding signal and not recovered.
Another phenomenon occurs when the user depresses two keys 120a and 120b on the rectangular angles of the matrix 110 of the keyboard circuit, then depresses another key 120c (or 120d). The microprocessor 100 cannot accurately determine the signal of the another key 120c (or 120d). This phenomenon is called ghost key. This problem could result in loss of characters when the user depresses the keys at a fast speed. For game players who use the keyboard, they often depress a plurality of keys at the same time to generate toggle key signals to execute different game strategies. The ghost key phenomenon of the keyboard makes the game not be able to be executed smoothly.
To prevent the problem of ghost key when users depress the keys but no effective signal have been generated, R.O.C. patent publication No. 00486661 entitled "Input device using keys defined by multi-dimensional electrodes and coding method thereof" provides a technique to inspect whether a ghost key (or called phantom key) has been depressed. An error signal is sent back. It includes electrodes of N-dimension to define every key on the input device. N is an integer greater than 2. It adopts a key scanning method which scans the electrode of every dimension and records their position data to do comparison and find out the keys being depressed.
R.O.C. patent publication No. 00578088 entitled "Keyboard input device equipped with Blair input function" discloses a simple keyboard to avoid generating ghost keys. It has a simple keystroke input function and the Blair input function. The keyboard includes an input circuit in a key matrix form. On the key matrix, no two keys designated with the Blair input function are connected to a same scanning line. When the input device is using the Blair input function, six keys that are designated with Blair input function can be operated simultaneously in a six-point input system without generating a phantom key on any of the designated keys.