Crushed and graded magnetite ore is mixed with clay to form foundry moulds and cores. These moulds or cores are useful when casting non-ferrous metals or alloys, especially light metals and light-metal alloys.

Up to the present, the particulate mineral base material used for manufacturing moulds and cores has practically exclusively been quartz sand.
Admittedly, it is not unknown within the foundry industry also to use other particulate mineral base materials such as olivine sand, a magnesium-iron silicate, and zircon sand, a zirconium silicate. Due to their high resistance to heat and their high price, these base materials have especially found localized use as so-called "pattern sand" or as a core inlay in such regions of moulds for casting steel castings that are particularly exposed to heat, so as to avoid or reduce the "burning-on" of sand on corresponding regions of the castings and the consequent cumbersome and costly cleaning of the castings.
A corresponding use has been found for crushed chromite ore, as with this mineral it is also the case that its wetting relations towards liquid steel are such, that it simply "repels" the latter.
No examples are known of such particulate mineral base materials having been used in a larger mass of circulating mould material, let alone for casting non-ferrous metals or alloys.
In a paper (38th International Foundry Congress, Exchange Paper No. 9, Dusseldorf, 1971) "Moglichkeiten der industriellen Anwendung des Magnetformverfahrens zur Herstellung von Massengussteilen" by A. Wittmoser, K. Steinack and R. Hofman, mass production of castings is described, based on a mass production of heat-gasifiable patterns of expanded polystyrene foam. These patterns are covered by being sprayed with or dipped into a coating (Schlichte), after which they are enveloped with a flowable mixture of iron granulate and crushed magnetite ore, possibly in a fluidized state. Prior to the casting operation, a magnetic field is applied to the mould material so as to bond its individual particles together magnetically, said field being maintained during the casting proper and at least a part of the time, during which the metal solidifies in the mould. When the magnetic field has been removed, the mould material, now again being flowable, flows away from the casting, after which it may be used in new moulds, possibly after having been cooled. The paper, exclusively relating, to the casting of ferrous alloys, mentions the higher cooling effect of the mould material as compared to quartz sand, and also discusses how this cooling effect may be varied by changing the quantitative ratio between iron granulate and magnetite particles in the mould material, so that an increased proportion of magnetite particles reduces the cooling effect.
Obviously, this method cannot be used in a conventional moulding and casting system.
For casting light-metal castings, especially for use in the automotive and similar industries, there is, however, a great need for achieving a more rapid cooling of the metal having been cast in the mould, as this makes it possible to achieve a more fine-grained structure in the casting and also to avoid so-called micro-contraction cavities in the castings.
At the present time, attempts are made to achieve such more rapid cooling by casting in so-called metallic moulds (dies). Such moulds are, however, costly to manufacture, and in comparison with casting in a conventional moulding and casting system based on the use of sand, their productive capacity is very limited.

Crushed and graded magnetite ore for manufacturing moulds and cores


A barrier movement operator moves a barrier between open and closed positions. The operator receives a first request to move the barrier. The actual force required to move the barrier is measured. An obstruction to barrier movement is determined by comparing the measured actual force to a first predetermined force threshold. Responsive to the detection of an obstruction, the direction of travel of the barrier is reversed. The operation of the barrier movement operator is modified, by permitting the use of a higher force threshold in future measurements. A second request to move the barrier is received. The actual force required to move the barrier is measured a second time. An obstruction to barrier movement is detected by comparing the measured actual force with the new, higher force threshold.

Barrier movement operators are automated systems which are used to move a barrier with respect to an opening. Examples of the barriers to be moved include garage doors, gates, fire doors and rolling shutters. The primary examples herein involve garage door operators but the principles described and claimed therein relate to all barrier movement operators. A number of barrier movement operators have been sold over the years most of which include a head unit containing a motor connected to a transmission. The transmission, which may include, for example, a belt drive, a chain drive, a screw drive or extendible arm is then coupled to the barrier for opening and closing.
Such barrier movement operators also typically include a wall control unit, which is connected to send signals to the head unit thereby causing the head unit to open and close the barrier. In addition, these operators often include a receiver unit at the head unit to receive wireless transmissions from a hand-held code transmitter or from a keypad transmitter, which maybe affixed to the outside of the area closed by the barrier or other structure.
As barrier movement operators open and close the barriers, the barrier may come into contact with an obstruction. Previous systems have allowed the barrier operator systems to determine if an obstruction has been encountered and to either stop or reverse the direction of the travel of the barrier once this determination has been made. For instance, some previous systems measured the force applied to the barrier by the motor. The systems then compared the measured force to an expected value plus a fixed cushion value. If the comparison indicated that the measurement value exceeded the expected value plus the cushion value (together, a threshold value), then the downward barrier movement was reversed. These systems typically determined the force by measuring the barrier speed or current in the motor and then calculated the force using these measurements.
Secondary obstruction detectors have also been used to detect obstructions in the path of the barrier. For instance, infrared (IR) detectors and barrier edge sensors have been used to determine if an obstruction exists in the path of the barrier. Typically, if the secondary obstruction detector indicated that an obstruction was present, the downward movement of the barrier was halted and then reversed in previous systems.
As system components age and are subjected to various environmental conditions and the system is not properly maintained, errors in the operation of previous systems may occur. For instance, if force measurements are made, the measured force may exceed the threshold value, but the door may not be encountering a real obstruction. In this case, the downward movement of the door would be reversed even though there was no actual obstruction present in the path of the barrier. For example, a nuisance such as sand or dirt maybe present in the guiding apparatus of the door path. In other examples, the door may have not been lubricated or may have worn parts. In summary, present systems are not capable of adapting their performance over time to determine if a real obstruction exists or whether the barrier reversal was caused by a nuisance or mistake.

System and method for adapting to barrier nuisances and obstructions


In the present invention, advertisements are transmitted electronically at designated locations, as a substitute for stationary billboards. A network navigation center outputs guide access information GAI to a personal computer of an ad sponsor over the Internet and receives registration of advertisement information ADI for the designated location(s) from the personal computer of the ad sponsor according to the guide access information GAI. In addition, the network navigation center receives current position information API from mobile communication device(s) carried by automobile, via a mobile telephone base station and a public telephone network. Likewise, the network navigation center transmits the advertisement information ADI, based on current position information API, to the mobile communication instrument via the public telephone network and mobile telephone base station.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for delivery of advertisements to mobile units as they pass a given location. The present invention also relates to a mobile communication instrument for receiving the advertisements and to recording media for use therewith.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Generally, roadside billboards are an effective means for delivering an advertising message to travelers, both walkers and drivers. Therefore, there is a high level of demand for billboard (signboard) advertising which is widely used by restaurants, automobile dealers, supermarkets, convenience stores, bookstores, hospitals, hotels, other service industries and manufacturers. In addition, for drivers looking for a stop, for example a restaurant for lunch, a billboard advertisement of a restaurant is very useful.
However, the size of roadside billboards limits the number that can be placed in the same location. Thus, in some locations spatial limitations prevent placement of any new billboard.
Moreover, because erection of new billboards is regulated for the sake of aesthetics and preserving the natural environment, not only are drivers unable to obtain desirable information but also local businesses are unable to advertise. On the other hand, in areas crowded will billboards, it was difficult for walkers and drivers to recognize a billboard advertisement of interest.

Apparatus and method for delivery of advertisement information to mobile units


The invention provides apparatuses and methods for detecting corneal surface defects. The methods and/or an apparatus of the invention can be used to detect corneal surface diseases, such as dry eye.

The diagnosis and prognosis of ocular surface diseases, such as keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eye), involves several tests. One of the tests includes staining the ocular surface with a dye, followed by visual examination for stained surface defects. Lesions in the epithelial cell layers of the cornea adsorb stain and allow for the penetration of stain into interstitial spaces. The resultant bright speckled appearance of the otherwise black cornea is a hallmark pathology of cornea disease. Visual examination has been used since the early 1900s as a diagnostic for surface eye disease. However, the variability and reliability of these assessments has been poor when performed by individual physicians. Hence there is an urgent need for a consistent measure of surface staining that is free of human bias and error. Heretofore, quantitative image analysis of ocular surface images has proven difficult for at least three reasons.
The first reason relates to Purkinje images of the illumination source in the images of the cornea and conjunctiva. The Purkinje image invariably interferes with image analysis and feature detection. Since it is not constant from one image to the next, such specular images are impossible to control for and must be removed prior to image analysis. Spectral methods are routinely used in fluorescence microscopy and whole body imaging to block undesired reflected light. Novitskaya et al. and Dean et al. described the use of a retinal camera having filtering properties for ocular surface stain imaging (Novitskaya et al., 2007, Contact Lens & Anterior Eye 30:258-259; Dean et al., 2008, Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology 36:113-118). Novitskaya et al. and Dean et al. used digital fundus camera equipped with two filters, a blue exciter filter and a green bandpass filter, to detect fluorescence emitted from a fluorescein stained cornea. The fundus camera is designed to image fluorescein injected in to the vasculature as a means to assess retinal blood flow. The spectral properties of these filters were not described.
A second difficulty in accurately detecting and measuring corneal stain relates to the methods used to capture corneal images. Any object in an image that is to be measured has to be in sharp focus in order to visually or mathematically delineate the boundaries of the object. Stained objects on the corneal surface reside on a highly curved surface and require the use of methods that increase the depth of focus or depth of field in the image. The average height of the cornea from the limbal edge to the apex, also called the sag height is 2.8 millimeters for the human eye. The standard of care diagnostic system for viewing and imaging the cornea uses a biomicroscope on a slit lamp that has a depth of field of 0.7-0.8 mm on average. Hence any given stained corneal image from such a system can not possibly have all stained objects in sharp focus for subsequent analysis. Other imaging systems such as the retinal camera described by Novitskaya et al. and Dean et al. have a similar narrow depth of field for adequate image capture of the stained cornea.
A third difficulty in accurately detecting and measuring corneal stain relates to the methods used to separate surface stained objects from surrounding image elements for subsequent measurement. Images of stained ocular surfaces from patients with dry eye or other ocular surface diseases generally have bright punctate stained objects of interest amidst a background fluorescence that is an unwanted signal and is not to be included in the measurement.
Consequently, there is a need in the art to eliminate unwanted specular images in corneal staining and to capture full field in focus images of the corneal surface while enhancing a light signal that represents ocular surface defects for accurate diagnosis and monitoring of corneal surface diseases.

Method and apparatus for ocular surface imaging


An apparatus for inspecting feet comprising a left vertical wall, a right vertical wall, a top wall, a bottom wall, a left side mirror, a right side mirror, a center mirror, and a top mirror; said left vertical wall is attached to a first end of said bottom wall, said right vertical wall is attached to a second end of said bottom wall, said top wall is attached to top end of said left vertical wall and top end of said right vertical wall via hinging means, said top mirror is affixed to a bottom side of top wall via affixing means; said center mirror is affixed substantially in the center to bottom wall via affixing means; said right side mirror is affixed to bottom wall substantially adjacent to said center mirror via affixing means; said left side mirror is affixed to bottom wall substantially adjacent to said center mirror via affixing means.

Diabetes poses grave health dangers to people which include death, amputation, and gangrene. If people suffering with diabetes do not properly regulate their diet, check for gangrene and the other safety protocols associated therewith, serious consequences may ensue.
One particular problem Diabetes poses relates to the feet of the victims. Oftentimes, complications such as blisters, bruises, rashes, in-grown toenails, etc on a diabetes victim will manifest themselves on the soles of a victim's foot. If these problems are not properly treated in time, these complications will exacerbate to the point where the foot becomes infected with gangrene. Once gangrene sets in and accumulates in one's foot, a doctor may have no choice to amputate the gangrenous infected area in order to prevent its spread to the rest of the body.
Unfortunately, many Diabetes patients are elderly people who cannot properly examine the soles of their own feet (Diabetes can also affect the young and sometimes manifest with babies). These elderly people have less flexibility and are oftentimes overweight. Therefore, the only way to ensure proper inspection of their own feet is to either have a doctor do it for them or have another person inspect it. However, having other people inspect one's own feet may be awkward and a bit embarrassing.
Currently, the marketplace does not provide for a method or apparatus for the self-inspection of one's own feet. Therefore, what is clearly needed is an apparatus, system and methods thereof to properly inspect one's own feet daily.

System and apparatus for inspection of feet


A stable, plasticized composition of PVC polymer including a C4-C30 alkyl pyrrolidone to plasticize said PVC into a flexible state and an organic phosphite ester stabilizer to impart long term high temperature stability.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to stable plasticized PVC compositions, and, more particularly, to stable alkyl pyrrolidone plasticized PVC compositions comprising an organic phosphite ester stabilizer present in an amount sufficient to provide long term high temperature stability and better color and clarity. The present invention also relates to alkyl pyrrolidone plasticized PVC compositions which are free of heavy metal and solvent, thus exhibiting reduced volatile organic compounds (VOC) emissions. The present invention also relates to the use of stable alkyl pyrrolidone plasticized PVC compositions in medical tubing, roofing membranes, vinyl flooring, refrigerator gaskets, paints, adhesives, textile auxiliaries, film coating, fabric, wall paper coatings, etc.
2. Description of the Prior Art
U.S. application Pub. No. US 20070112104 A1 describes a new class of alkyl pyrrolidone plasticizers which provide long term plastification to PVC so as to impart flexibility, softness, extensibility and or/lower melting temperature to PVC compositions. The present invention provides improved stable alkyl pyrrolidone plasticized PVC having excellent early color performance while maintaining good processing heat stability at higher temperatures.
Poly(vinyl chloride), hereafter referred to as PVC, is extensively used in many applications. In use, PVC is plasticized to permit it to be processed into a flexible material. In addition, other additives such as thermal stabilizers, lubricants, pigments, fillers, impact modifiers, and flame retardants are generally employed to produce PVC compositions having desired properties.
It is known in the prior art that plasticization of PVC makes it useful for various applications, however during the plasticization process, due to high temperature, PVC tends to degrade by various processes like dehydrochlorination, auto-oxidation, mechano-chemical chain scission, cross linking of macromolecules and condensation reactions. Yellow discoloration, resulting from the formation of conjugated polyene sequences of 5 to 30 double bonds of the polymer, indicates the start of primary degradation process, which on subsequent secondary reaction results in cross linking or the cleaving of the polymer chain. These changes lead to altered physio-mechanical and rheological properties of PVC.
A number of stabilizing systems have been proposed to reduce the degradation and thus maintain early color and clarity. The chief purpose of a heat stabilizer is to prevent discoloration during the processing of the PVC at high temperature. Degradation of PVC polymer begins with the evolution of hydrogen chloride at about 100° C. and accelerates exponentially at higher temperatures. Thus the heat stabilizer ideally must inhibit or prevent the dehydrochlorination reaction that is the primary process in degradation.
Typically various stabilizers have been used to tackle such situations. The most common, well established and conventionally used heat stabilizers are tin based organotin compounds such as organotin mercaptides, lead based stabilizers and the mixed metal type stabilizers containing barium/zinc/cadmium combinations. However, these stabilizers are associated with many drawbacks such as heavy metal toxicity, environmental safety concerns coupled with VOC emissions, and the strong and repulsive odor linked with mercaptides. Additionally, high cost is also linked with metal based stabilizers.
Thus it is very much desired to have a cost effective compatible stabilizer, which is free of the above mentioned shortcomings. More particularly, it is desired to have sufficiently flexible plasticized PVC having excellent heat stability at higher temperatures for sufficiently longer duration.
The prior art disclosing attempts to solve the above mentioned problems are exemplified in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,575,951; 5,672,646; 5,656,202; 5,985,958; and 5,859,103.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,667,357 discloses organic thiol compounds which can be utilized to plasticize and stabilize halogen-containing polymer compositions against deterioration and color change that typically occurs during the processing of PVC polymer.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,320,764, assigned to Dover Chemical Corporation, discloses the Phosbooster® stabilizer series. Blends of phosphite esters with zinc for improving the performance and reducing the heavy metal content of PVC compositions are described.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Plasticized PVC compositions with long term high temperature stability


A method of indicating relative values of products offered to a customer is provided, wherein the method is implemented by an intermediary over a computer network. Initially, a request is received by the intermediary over the computer network from a vendor. The request is directed to including a description of at least one product for sale by the vendor on a product list. A product evaluation is then performed for each of the at least one product according to a plurality of predetermined evaluation criteria. Thereafter, an inquiry is received from a customer, over the computer network, regarding a specific product. In response to the inquiry, the customer is provided with, over the computer network, the description of any product on the product list corresponding to the specific product, wherein each corresponding product description has the respective product evaluation and the vendor associated therewith so as to facilitate a product selection by the customer. An associated system and computer device for implementing the method are also provided.

Many industries produce complex systems that are subject to stringent scrutiny and regulation over the course of the service life of that system. Such complex systems may include, for example, aircraft, rail systems, medical systems, weapon systems, and power generation systems where maintenance of such complex systems must be performed according to, for instance, state, federal and/or international regulations administered by one or more corresponding agencies. As a result, an owner of such a complex system generally must be extremely selective when obtaining replacement or spare parts for that system.
Such a situation is present with, for example, commercial aircraft sold by a manufacturer thereof to an airline which uses the aircraft as part of its fleet. These aircraft such as, for example, the Models 707, 717, 727, 737, 747, 757, 767, MD-11, MD-80, etc. produced by the Boeing Company are extremely complex and expensive systems that face stringent scrutiny from the Federal Aviation Administration ("FAA") in areas related to, for instance, safety and maintenance. Of course, the scrutiny may vary between essential and non-essential parts. In any case, parts availability is a major concern for owners of such complex systems. In some instances, the owner must keep and maintain costly inventories of parts, especially "hard to find" parts. Alternatively, the owner must dedicate both manpower and monetary resources specifically for locating and procuring the appropriate parts from qualified vendors as the need arises. With this type of procurement process, the owner risks, for example, down time of the system if the required parts cannot be timely obtained. Such common procedures are often costly for the system owner, in terms of both expense and time.
In either instance, the parts purchasing process is difficult, costly, and time consuming. Typically, vendor salespeople call, write, and/or visit the owner's purchasing agent so as to describe and/or exhibit the product or part being sold. At the same time, the salesperson is often trying to favorably differentiate his/her product over competitors' products by describing an overall "value" of the product. However, when described in this manner, the "value" of the product is typically subjective, while providing little consistent information with which the buyer can make an objective purchasing decision. In addition, if the buyer has no experience with the particular vendor, the purchasing process may become even more costly where the chosen vendor fails to perform, since often little or no recourse is available to the owner/customer. The owner may also incur additional costs from system down time, efforts to find a replacement vendor, or the like. Further, such an unreliable vendor may also adversely affect many system owners unless others in the industry are notified of the that vendor's practices. However, there is often no mechanism for industry-wide notification that would effectively notify others in the industry.
More particular instances of difficulties in parts purchasing include, for example, instances where the specific part may lack critical information when listed for sale. For instance, a particular part may be used or refurbished and may lack a warranty or guarantee. Even if the buyer is able to compile information with regard to the particular part being procurable from several different vendors, the information may only reveal the price and general availability of the part. As a result, the buyer may not be able to effectively compare the actual relative values of the parts available from the various vendors. Thus, there exists a need for a system which would present a compilation of parts comprising the complex system and the corresponding vendors, wherein this information would be accessible to buyers and/or owners of the appropriate complex system. Such a system should allow the buyer to post a query about a particular part and be presented with a reply including the vendors from which the queried part is available. The system should further allow the buyer to make an objective purchasing decision based upon the actual attributes of the particular part available from each identified vendor. There also exists a need for a system which would apply a predetermined standardized criteria to each part available to the buyer so as to allow the buyer to make an expedited and objective purchasing decision with regard to the particular part and the corresponding value desired by the buyer. Such a system should also comprise a mechanism for rating the vendors providing the particular part including, for example, vendor reliability and the like.
However, the vendor side of such an industry may also face similar limitations in providing parts to a customer that meet the customer's stated needs. For example, vendors may retain, at considerable expense, salespeople to call, write, visit, or otherwise contact the potential customers. These salespeople must effectively describe the value of the vendor's products over those of a competing vendor in order to obtain the customer's business. The efforts of the vendor may also be hindered by intermediaries, brokers, competitors, or the like disseminating inaccurate information to the potential customer about their product or the vendor's product. Thus, there exists a further need for a system that provides accurate and acceptable vendor information to buyers, wherein the endorsement of such a system by buyers would persuade vendors to participate. Accordingly, such a system would require all participating vendors to abide by particular business practice guidelines which would be effectively monitored to assure compliance.

System and device for product valuation and associated method


A stretching device for stretching and aligning a user's back may include a belt, optionally a gambrel and universal hook, and optionally a support system, such as a slotted door mount. The belt may be designed to wrap around the user's back and under the user's armpits, wherein the belt is a segmented belt having a plurality of raised segments spaced along a length of the belt. Rings may be attached to each end of the belt, wherein the rings may be designed to engage with a mounting device, such as the gambrel and universal hook.

The embodiments herein relate generally to pain relief and stretching, and more particularly, to a stretching belt for stretching the spine and muscle groups to relieve back pain and promote neutral posture.
The human spine should resemble an S curve when it is in neutral balance with normal vertebral discs. However, due to a number of influences, the spine and discs can lose its natural neutral curve, causing pain and loss in range of movement, particularly when a disc loses volume or becomes herniated or bulging. The conditions that influence the spine and vertebral discs negatively can include excessive sitting and driving, bending and twisting while lifting objects, and excessive standing with repetitive movement, such as a checkout clerk or assembly line at work. The spine can be drawn out of neutral balance also when connected muscle groups tighten or spasm due to stress, overuse, and lack of stretching. The iliopsoas and abdominal muscle groups connect directly to the lumbar region of the spine with the pelvis and femur bones. So, when they experience stiffness, soreness, tightening, or spasms, they can directly change the curve in the human spine and, thus, introduce pain when nerves become pinched or contorted as they exit through the vertebral disc pathways.
Proper alignment of the spine is known to reduce back pain. Conventional methods for aligning the spine include going to a chiropractor or trying to sufficiently stretch the spine. However, adequate stretching of the spine is not easily achieved. A compression belt may be used to alleviate back pain; however, compression belts fail to stretch and align the spine. Moreover, compression belts only provide some relief to back pain when worn; they do not alleviate any back pain when not being physically worn by the user. Therefore, a conventional compression belt is only a temporary solution to lower back pain.
Therefore, what is needed is a device for stretching the spine and promoting neutral posture and pandiculation, which is recognized as a natural way to return the human form to a neutrally balanced state.

Stretching belt for stretching of the spine


The present invention relates to nucleic acid sequences producing at least one functional miRNA, at least one functional shRNA and/or at least one functional siRNA, said miRNA, shRNA or siRNA being designed to silence the expression of a gene that encodes a cholinergic protein. The present invention further relates to compositions and kits comprising such nucleic acid sequences as well as to uses thereof.

Cholinergic neurons are involved in numerous physiological functions in mammals including motor activity, sleep-wakefulness (vigilance) and cognitive behavior (cognition). The dramatic consequences of the loss of cholinergic neurons which innervate the hippocampus and the cerebral cortex, associated with Alzheimer's disease, are evidence of the importance of these neurons for normal behavior (Bierer et al., 1995). Impairment of the cholinergic system has been also reported in other pathologies, for example in certain forms of epilepsy and in schizophrenia (Holt et al., 1999; Friedman et al., 2007).
One way to investigate the function of cholinergic structures is to analyze the consequences of their impairment. Until recently, the generation of such a loss-of-function phenotype relied on the destruction of cholinergic neurons by methods which are not specific for these neurons (excitotoxins, electrolytic lesions).
The immunotoxin 192IgG-saporin is a more selective tool to deplete cholinergic neurons of the basal forebrain (Wiley et al., 1991; Waite et al., 1996; Wrenn et al., 1999), but when delivered by intracerebroventricular injection, it can also affect other cell populations expressing the p75 neurotrophin receptor, including the cerebellar Purkinje cells (Heckers et al., 1994; Walsh et al., 1995).
Another approach to generate cholinergic deficits is to inactivate specifically the cholinergic neurons in given nuclei. This strategy has the advantage of sparing the neurons and affecting only cholinergic neurotransmission. This can be achieved by inhibiting locally the expression of a protein required for cholinergic presynaptic function. Conditional gene knockout requires the slow and costly generation of mice with loxP sites and is restricted to date to this animal species. Constitutive knockout of the ChAT gene in the mouse is further lethal at birth and thus cannot be used to investigate cholinergic function in the adult (Brandon et al., 2003; Misgeld et al., 2002).
Inventors herein provide new and powerful tools that are able to achieve effective and specific inhibition of choline acetyltransferase expression which can be spatially and/or timely controlled. The method according to the present invention now obviates the generation of knock-out mice and further allows studies in species other than the mouse.
The present invention allows for the first time inactivation of cholinergic neurotransmission, without destroying cholinergic structures, using a viral vector, in particular a lentiviral vector which can efficiently transduce cells of the nervous system and specifically modulate (e.g., down-regulate or inhibit) the synthesis or expression of a presynaptic cholinergic protein, in particular of the choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), in these cells, through RNA interference (RNAi). Other presynaptic cholinergic proteins required for cholinergic function include the high affinity choline transporter (CHT1) and the vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT).
The products of the invention, in particular the nucleic acid sequences and viruses, in particular lentiviruses, are new cholinergic antagonists which are, in particular, able to inhibit specifically ChAT synthesis in cells which produce acetylcholine in vitro, ex vivo or in vivo. Examples of cells producing acetylcholine are cells of the nervous system, in particular cholinergic neurons of the Central Nervous System (CNS), or cells of the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) such as neurons located in the intestine. Cells producing acetylcholine may further be non neuronal cells such as lymphocytes or more generally cells located in the blood or in the placenta.
Using such a nucleic acid or virus, it is now possible to study the particular role of cholinergic nuclei in the brain and, more generally, the functional anatomy of the cholinergic system. The present invention indeed allows the persistent or long-term, and preferably spatially restricted, suppression of the effects of a particular cholinergic protein, as defined previously, which inactivates the cholinergic neurotransmission. Using in particular modified lentiviral vectors allows timed and thus temporary and reversible ChAT suppression.
Thanks to the herein described virus vectors, it is also possible to develop new animal models (in particular rat and mouse animal models) of brain disorders or of nervous system diseases, without being compromised by serious unwanted side effects as seen in the past due to the lack of specificity of the methods of lesion which destroyed the whole structures containing the cholinergic neurons. Using the tools and methods herein described, it is possible to identify molecular networks regulated by cholinergic neurotransmission.
The screening of new drugs as well as the development of safe and efficient prophylactic or therapeutic strategies are also now possible using said tools and methods.

RNAi mediated expression inhibition of a cholinergic protein

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique


An Ethernet adapter card for automatically switching a workstation into a network is provided. The adapter card utilizes a current circuit to sense current drawn by an external communications network and a circuit for automatically switching between a card-mounted internal transceiver and the network's external transceiver whenever the external network is coupled to the workstation via an AUI port. The adapter card provides for default selection of the internal transceiver when the external communication network is disconnected from the workstation AUI port.

The present invention relates generally to switching circuits and, more particularly, to a current sensing automatic switching network for switching between transceivers on computer networking systems.
It is common practice in the computer utilization art to interconnect computers and their peripheral devices into a local area network to allow the exchange of information between computers, share input and output devices and to access the network from remote points. The Ethernet system which interconnects two or more computers or workstations into a network is well established in the art and has become a standard network with well defined parameters, allowing devices from dissimilar manufacturers to be joined together. Communication over the network between each computer, input device or output device thereon, is performed by a component within each unit commonly referred to as a transceiver. The Ethernet is a narrow band network system that has no central control. Consequently, two or more transceivers may communicate over the network only sequentially. When a transceiver wishes to transmit over the network, it must first "listen" to determine that no other transceiver is transmitting. When any one transceiver is transmitting over the network all other transceivers on the network must wait their turn to avoid overlapping messages which result in unintelligible communications. This sequential operation is not problematic with simple networks but becomes a substantial limitation as the network increases in complexity. This problem is manifest as communication delays between devices.
The problem of communication delay has been addressed in several ways. Networks may be subdivided into smaller sub-networks which are then joined together into a large network with switching or filter devices such as bridges or gateways. Bridges connect two sub-networks so that only communication addressed to devices on the other network are passed over. This allows the communications traffic to be localized and filters out traffic unnecessary for either sub-network's activities. A gateway typically connects several Ethernets or other networks. The gateway receives and stores a message, looks up the destination address attached to the message in a table and then routes the message over the appropriate network to the proper node. These functions take time and as the communications traffic increases, the delays inherent in the system become significant.
One method to minimize the time delays in switching circuits is to limit the storage time while the circuit determines the proper destination. This is accomplished by reading only the address associated with the communication and routing the message immediately, thus achieving a routing decision while the first transceiver is still transmitting. This on-the-fly routing capability allows the message to be switched to the appropriate sub-network and received at the proper node while the sending transceiver is still transmitting. The circuitry for this fast logic switch is both complex and expensive, utilizing numerous expensive components.
The cost of conventional bridges, gateways and on-the-fly switches is difficult to reduce since their standard components are presently produced in large quantities at great cost and have not reflected the conventional economies of mass production. Creation of custom components using application specific integrated circuit technology is difficult to integrate with present technology and would not likely yield any significant cost reduction in switching circuitry.
There are numerous commercially available plug-in circuit boards or adapter cards which serve to interface various devices, such as desktop personal computers, to external networks. These adapter cards have been standardized in the art and are generally referred to as an Attachment Unit Interface (AUI port). These adapters all require some sort of switching device, either manual or automatic, to select either an internal transceiver connected to one external network or an external transceiver on an alternate external network. Typically, commercially available prior art Ethernet adaptor cards require a user to manually set a physical switch to select the external transceiver and alternate network when the cable for the alternate network is connected to or plugged into the device AUI port. If a manual switch should be inadvertently left in the incorrect position, both internal and external transceivers are accessed simultaneously, resulting in intermittent operation of both and subsequent data loss. Further, most prior art installations include card mounted components access to which is gained only by opening the computer or other device case thus greatly increasing the time required to connect an alternate network to the computer.

Ethernet automatic adapter interface card


An image sensor assembly is mounted in an optical system having a plurality of reference locators. The image sensor assembly includes an image sensing device having photolithographically generated elements, such as image sensing sites, and a carrier package for enclosing the image sensing device. The carrier package has externally accessible reference features that are optically aligned with respect to the photolithographically generated elements on the image sensing device. Moreover, the externally accessible reference features are used to exactly constrain the image sensor assembly relative to the reference locators. Referencing the image sensing device to the same features that are used for exact constraint removes the effect of material variations that may cause dimensional changes and eliminates the need to activate the sensor for alignment of the sensor assembly in the optical system.

In a typical imaging application, a solid state image sensing device, in the form of an integrated circuit die (chip), is attached to a cavity in a chip carrier package. The position of the image sensing device is located approximately within an alignment pattern (typically, a cross hair pattern) that is etched in the bottom of the cavity of the chip carrier package. In a typical assembly operation, a video camera is used to find a cut edge of the die as well as the chip carrier alignment pattern. The image sensing device is then centered relative to the alignment pattern and potted in place in the carrier package with glue. The package is usually a laminated ceramic (cerdip), a metal lead frame with ceramic or plastic attached on the top and bottom of the lead frame (plastic dip), or a plastic dual-in-line package. The image sensing device is finally sealed in the chip carrier cavity with a cover glass to protect the image sensing device from contamination.
This entire image sensor (die/carrier) assembly is approximately located in the optical system that is to use it and the image sensing device is then energized. The optical system images one or more imaging targets upon the image sensor assembly, which produces corresponding image signals that are used to precisely position the image sensor assembly in the optimum focus position for the optical system. It is customary for this positioning process to exactly locate the image sensor assembly within the optical system relative to the usual six degrees of positional freedom. This active alignment technique, however, requires extensive fixturing and a significant time to complete. The carrier package may have significant variation, up to .+-.10%, due to the process used to fabricate the carrier packages. In particular, there may be significant variation between the cut edges used in alignment and the optically active pixel sites in the image sensing device. Moreover, the image sensor assembly process restricts subsequent alignment inspection due to the alignment marks being obscured under the glue used to bond the image sensing device to the carrier package. Inspection with a video camera after assembly for device placement accuracy is therefore difficult or impossible.
Japanese patent publication 2112280 (1990) suggests use of exact constraints to mechanically locate the cut edges of the image sensing device to features machined in a metal plate that composes the base of the carrier package. An additional locating feature is cut into the edge of the machined metal plate for use as a positioning reference with respect to the optical system in the final product. The patent publication discloses use of the cut edges to locate the image sensing device; however, the aforementioned problem remains, that is, the possibility of significant variation between the cut edges used in alignment and the optically active pixel sites in the image sensing device. Moreover, the locating feature cut into the edge of the machined metal plate neither increases the existing precision nor does it inherently provide exact constraint of the carrier package in the final product.
To simplify production assembly and to allow for image sensor (die/carrier) assembly replacement in the field, it would be desirable to use a passive alignment technique, not requiring video imaging, in which external reference features/datums on the sensor package are used throughout the process, that is, in the sensor assembly process as well as in the final product assembly process. Ideally, the chip carrier package design would specify a standard set of reference features/datums for fabricating and assembling the sensor package, and for positioning the package in the final product.


Disclosed are printing systems and printhead assemblies in which yellow print nozzles are paired on a die with black print nozzles, with cyan and magenta print nozzles on a separate die. The pairing of yellow and black nozzles reduces constraints imposed by the printhead architecture and manufacturing processes.

Inkjet printing systems are also are well known in the art. Small droplets of liquid ink, propelled by thermal heating, piezoelectric actuators, or some other mechanism, are deposited by a printhead on a print media, such as paper.
In scanning-carriage inkjet printing systems, inkjet printheads are typically mounted on a carriage that is moved back and forth across the print media. As the printheads are moved across the print media, the printheads are activated to deposit or eject ink droplets onto the print media to form text and images. The print media is generally held substantially stationary while the printheads complete a "print swath", typically an inch or less in height; the print media is then advanced between print swaths.
The ink ejection mechanisms of inkjet printheads are typically manufactured in a manner similar to the manufacture of semiconductor integrated circuits. Ink ejection chambers are formed in a printhead die, with a resistor deposited at the base of the mechanism. The resistor, when energized, provides the energy to vaporize a portion of the ink in the chamber, propelling ink out of the chamber and onto a print media.
A tradeoff in the design of printing systems is the choice of drop weights. Lower drop weights tend to result in higher thermal waste due to higher average firing frequency for a given amount of ink, as well as the smaller drop mass available for carrying away heat. Higher drop weights may result in reduced print quality, typically due to the visibility of individual dots. The fabrication processes used in the manufacturing of printhead die constrain the formation of different drop weight ink ejection chambers on a single die.
There is thus a need for apparatus and systems which allow for multiple drop weight printer architectures.

Inkjet printing system with high drop-weight yellow

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A rotor turning device for balancing a rotor secured atop a tower of a wind turbine during installation and/or repair of one or more rotor blades of the wind turbine includes a hydraulic drive mechanism for operably engaging with a brake disc of the wind turbine. The brake disc is positioned adjacent to a gearbox of the wind turbine. The rotor turning device also includes a mounting device for securing the rotor turning device adjacent to the brake disc of the wind turbine. Thus, when the hydraulic drive mechanism engages the brake disc, the rotor is rotated to a desired position so as to position one or more rotor blades of the wind turbine in a balanced configuration.

Wind power is considered one of the cleanest, most environmentally friendly energy sources presently available, and wind turbines have gained increased attention in this regard. A modern wind turbine typically includes a tower, generator, gearbox, nacelle, and one or more rotor blades. The rotor blades capture kinetic energy of wind using known airfoil principles. The rotor blades transmit the kinetic energy in the form of rotational energy so as to turn a shaft coupling the rotor blades to a gearbox, or if a gearbox is not used, directly to the generator. The generator then converts the mechanical energy to electrical energy that may be deployed to a utility grid.
Typically, to initially install a rotor blade onto the wind turbine hub, a significantly large crane must be transported to the wind turbine site in order to provide a means for raising the rotor blade relative to the hub. Unfortunately, it is often extremely expensive to both transport the crane to the wind turbine site and operate the crane for the amount of time necessary to install the rotor blade(s). As a result, the costs of employing such large cranes currently accounts for a significant portion of the overall costs associated with initial wind turbine installations.
In addition, as wind turbines continue to increase in size, cranes having the capacity to lift a fully-assembled rotor to certain tower heights are often unavailable in certain geographic locations. Therefore, in such locations, a single blade installation (SBI) process is required. In the SBI process, the hub and rotor blades are installed atop the tower sequentially in consecutive lifts. More specifically, a pneumatic unbalanced rotor turning gear (URTG) drive is typically installed on the backside of the main gearbox which meshes with the teeth on the brake disc. One or more cranes then lift the hub atop the tower so that the hub can be secured to the nacelle. The entire drivetrain is then rotated using the pneumatic URTG drive such that a first axis of the hub is positioned horizontally and a rotor lock is applied. A first rotor blade can then be installed in a horizontal position. After the first rotor blade is secured and the crane(s) have released the blade, the pneumatic URTG device is used to rotate the hub through 120° so that the next rotor blade can be installed. This process is repeated until all rotor blades have been installed.
In most rotor turning applications, the rotor is balanced (i.e. all of the rotor blades are attached to the hub and functioning) and the loads required to turn the rotor are minimal. However, if a rotor blade is under repair, being installed, or is otherwise damaged (such as during the SBI process), an unbalance is introduced and the amount of force required to spin the rotor increases dramatically. More specifically, during the SBI process, the static and aerodynamic load of the unbalanced rotor (e.g. when only one or two rotor blades have been installed) may exceed capacity of the pneumatic URTG device. For example, the highest static load on the drivetrain typically occurs when there is only one rotor blade positioned horizontally or two rotor blades in a "sideways-V" position. In addition, the pneumatic URTG device is generally only suitable for smaller rotor blades (e.g. blades having a length up to about 50 meters). Another issue that arises is that an unbalanced rotor has a single equilibrium point that it will always try to rotate back to. This tendency to rotate back to equilibrium puts a large amount of stress on the pneumatic URTG device, especially when the technician is trying to hold the rotor in place.
Accordingly, an improved rotor turning device for balancing the wind turbine rotor, for example, during rotor blade installation and/or repair so as to address the aforementioned issues would be welcomed in the art.

Rotor turning device for balancing a wind turbine rotor


A prize management device is a problem generation device for generating a prize problem, the prize management device includes a first storage part that stores a special problem for a company providing a prize, a second storage part that stores a problem different from a special problem, and a processor that extracts one or more special problems stored in the first storage part, extracts one or more problems, that are different from the special problem, stored in the second storage part, and generates a prize problem including the extracted one or more special problems and the extracted one or more problems different from the special problem.

Conventionally, advertisements via paper media, such as a newspaper, an insert flyer, a magazine, and a direct mail, and advertisements via electronic media, such as a web site and an e-mail, are provided. These advertisements have a problem that they cost a great deal of money and a problem that the effect of advertisement is small because there are only a few people who are interested in the advertisement among those who receive the advertisement medium.
For these problems, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2008-102174 discloses a technique that, when a user searches for a keyword by inputting the keyword on a search site or the like, provides a search advertisement that displays an advertisement corresponding to the keyword with the search result.
However, when an advertisement is provided for a popular keyword, the search advertisement has a problem that a lot of expenses are incurred to display the advertisement corresponding to the top search result. For example, in order to display an advertisement together with a high-ranking search result, it is necessary to set the fee for the advertisement higher than other advertisers when the advertisement is provided for the popular keyword.
As another advertisement technique, there is a method of displaying a web page, which carries a content desired to be advertised, in an upper level of search results on a search site or the like. However, there is a problem that, in many cases, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) must be performed in order to display the web page in the upper level of the search results, which takes time and labor.
In addition, as another advertising technique, there is a method in which an advertiser provides a product of their own as a prize. By providing a prize, the advertiser can acquire information of a prospective customer and can transmit a direct mail, a mail magazine, and the like to the prospective customer. However, there is a problem that the prospective customer throws away the direct mail and the mail magazine without reading them, and a problem that the prospective customer does not read a part that the advertiser wishes them to read although the customer looks at them.
When an advertiser sells a product or service, there is a case where the advertiser wants to introduce a corporate philosophy and a commitment to the product they sell to a customer. For example, because the customer may decide to purchase a product depending on the commitment to the product or the corporate philosophy even when the product is expensive, the advertiser makes an effort to convey the commitment and the corporate philosophy to the customer.
However, since a customer often places importance on the design and the price of products and services or the location and the business hours of a company, there is a problem that a message is not conveyed to the customer because the customer does not read the message even when an advertiser submits the message such as the corporate philosophy or the commitment as advertisement content, posts the message on a web page to which SEO countermeasures have been applied, and transmits a direct mail and the like including the message to a prospective customer acquired by producing a prize.

Problem generation device, problem generation method, and prize management system


A submersible connector having redundant bladders, each filled with a dielectric liquid. An inner bladder contains an electrical contact, and an insertion sleeve of the inner bladder is pinched closed by a spring. An outer bladder is disposed around the inner bladder, and also has an entrance sleeve that is pinched closed independently of the inner bladder. With this arrangement, the redundant bladders are constructed so as to provide independent penetrable seals.

The connector technology is well developed for coupling together electrical lines, fiber optic lines and other types of conductors that communicate different signals, including AC and DC power. There exists literally thousands of different types of connectors to fulfill the needs of numerous types of applications. Generally, connectors are constructed as two separable components, typically called a male connector and a female connector which, when joined, allow the signals and/or power to be communicated from one line to another line. As can be appreciated, long-term reliability of connectorized lines is of paramount importance.
A specialized area has developed for submersible connectors which allow the joining of lines for underwater applications. One type of underwater connector is adapted for mating and demating under dry conditions, but once mated, the joined connection can be immersed in liquids and yet maintain a reliable connection. In another type of underwater connector, the male and female connector components can be mated or demated while underwater and maintain reliable connections. The latter type of connectors are the most desirable for marine applications, in that the reliability of the connection is independent of whether the connector components are mated in wet or dry situations. Connectors that can be mated under water, known as "wetmate" connectors, generally include a pressure-compensated, dielectric liquid-filled chamber in the female half of the connector. During mating, the contact probe of the male connector passes through a penetrable entry seal of the liquid-filled chamber to connect with a female socket contact enclosed within the chamber. The penetrable entry seal maintains a seal to the male contact probe when mated, to thereby retain the compensating fluid within the chamber. The entry seal recloses when the male contact probe is removed. The penetrable entry seal tends to "wipe" the male contact probe so that the seawater, or the like, does not mix with the liquid dielectric contained within the pressure-compensated chamber. Underwater mateable connectors of such design are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,606,603; 4,666,242; 4,373,767; 5,194,012; 5,203,805 and 4,948,377, all by Cairns. Other types of underwater connectors are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,795,359 by Alcock et al.; 4,696,540 by Adams et al.; 3,845,450 by Cole et al.; 3,508,188 by Buck; and 3,491,326 by Pfister et al.
While the foregoing submersible connectors provide a reasonable degree of reliability, a need exists for yet a higher degree of reliability. For example, the connector described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,795,359 includes two or three nested, dielectric-filled bladders. The failure of the single shuttle piston is likely to allow the external liquid to enter each bladder and contaminate the dielectric, as well as the electrical contact bathed therein. In like manner, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,203,805; 5,194,012 and 4,948,377 each describe a connector having a redundant entry seal to a dielectric-filled chamber. The entry to the connector has a plurality of interconnecting dielectric bath chambers with a wiping seal positioned between each such chamber. This type of connector essentially provides a single chamber with multiple wipers for the male electrical probe. Again, the failure of the single shuttle piston can lead to the contamination of the female electrical contact, despite the redundant entry seals.
Many of the submersible connectors that utilize a shuttle piston also employ a spring to return the piston to a rest position when demated. The spring not only increases the force necessary to mate the connector halves together, but can also cause an inadvertent demating of the connector halves.
From the foregoing, it can be seen that a need exists for a wetmate type of underwater connector that includes redundant bladders, whereby if one bladder, such as an outer bladder, becomes punctured or is otherwise rendered defective, the inner bladder can still function to maintain the female electrical contact free from contamination. Another need exists for a wetmate connector of the type where a penetrable seal associated with each of an inner and outer bladder is operable independently of each other, thereby improving the connector reliability.


Disclosed herein is display stacks for virtual reality (VR) displays arranged to present an image where a focal point of the image is presented in higher resolution than a periphery around the focal point. The disclosure provides systems and methods for presenting an image comprising a high resolution having a smaller field of view than that with which a lower resolution image is presented around a periphery of the high resolution image.

Some modern electronic devices incorporate or are operable with virtual reality (VR) displays. Many modern VR displays are meant to be worn or used near a viewer's eyes. Conventionally, VR displays do not provide resolution at the level with which a human eye can perceive. That is, current VR displays provide a resolution below the visual acuity of the human eye.

Foveated virtual reality near eye displays


A connector assembly (100) provides improved locking and retention through the use of a cylindrical body (102) having locking arms (104) extending therefrom and a malleable collar (106) that includes an integrally molded interior lip (114) and exterior bumps (116). The malleable collar (106) is slid over a portion of the cylindrical body (102) such that the bumps (116) align with the locking arms (104). Upon insertion of the connector (100) into a housing receptacle, the locking arms (104) compress the bumps (116) thereby providing resistance to aid with retention while the interior lip (114) abuts the cylindrical body (102) which facilitates sealing the receptacle.

Communication products, such as mobile radios, must operate in adverse environments. The automotive environment is one example where products are subjected to extreme variations in temperature and vibration. Connectors that are used in such products usually have a locking mechanism. However, there are several issues with connector locking mechanisms. Plastic retention features on the locking mechanism of the connector tend to deform over time, particularly during hot weather, causing accessories to unplug. While additional retention components such as springs, can be added to facilitate retention, these components increase the manufacturing cost and make assembly more cumbersome.
Accordingly, there is a need for a connector assembly with improved retention features.


A leaf tobacco extract or a concentrate thereof is used as a dispersion medium, which is mixed with powder of a heat-irreversibly coagulating glucan and a dispersion interference-preventing agent including an organic acid. The resultant mixture is stirred to disperse the powder of glucan into the dispersion medium, thereby preparing a slurry having an increased viscosity. This slurry is formed into a sheet, which is then heated and coagulated.

The present invention relates to a method for producing a heat-irreversibly coagulated glucan sheet, and more particularly to a method for producing a heat-irreversibly coagulated glucan sheet which contains a leaf tobacco extract and can be used as a substitute for a tobacco. The present invention also relates to a method for producing a tobacco flavor-generating medium using the heat-irreversibly coagulated glucan sheet obtained by this method.
International Publications PCT WO95/20329 and PCT WO95/20330 disclose a flavor-generating material wherein a flavor component is held within a heat-irreversibly coagulated glucan such as curdlan. This flavor-generating material is said to be excellent in stability of holding the flavor component therein, easily emit the flavor component upon burning or heating, and does not generate any flavor-interfering materials, such as an unpleasant stimulus, pungent or fibrous odor substances upon burning or heating.
To produce the flavor-generating material noted above, powder of a heat-irreversibly coagulating glucan is firstly added to a large amount of water and is dispersed under high speed stirring to obtain an aqueous glucan dispersion (slurry) having a high viscosity. Next, a small amount of a flavor component is incorporated into this aqueous glucan dispersion, and the mixture is stirred in the same manner as above. Subsequently, the obtained glucan slurry is cast into a sheet, which is then thermally coagulated (gelled) to obtain a heat-irreversibly coagulated/gelled glucan gel sheet. This glucan gel sheet is cut or pulverized to be used as a flavor-generating material in various flavor-tasting or smoking products.
Incidentally, in recent years, a substitute for a tobacco, containing a leaf tobacco extract as a flavor component has been demanded.
To produce such a tobacco substitute by utilizing the technique of producing the flavor-generating glucan gel sheet noted above, it may suffice to add the leaf tobacco extract as a flavor component to the above-noted aqueous glucan dispersion.
However, the present inventors have found that it is almost impossible to cause a large amount of the leaf tobacco extract to be incorporated within the flavor-generating glucan gel sheet due to problems such as dispersion interference against the aqueous glucan dispersion. Thus, to release sufficient tobacco flavor from final flavor-tasting articles, it is necessary to use a relatively large amount of glucan containing the leaf tobacco extract obtained by the prior art methods.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a heat-irreversibly coagulated glucan sheet, which makes it possible to produce a glucan gel sheet containing a relatively large amount (content) of a leaf tobacco extract.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for producing a heat-irreversibly coagulated glucan sheet, comprising the steps of:
(a) preparing a mixture containing a leaf tobacco extract or a concentrate thereof, as a dispersion medium, a dispersion interference-preventing agent comprising an organic acid, and powder of heat-irreversibly coagulating glucan;
(b) stirring the mixture to disperse the powder of the glucan into the dispersion medium, thereby forming a slurry having an increased viscosity;
(c) forming the slurry into a sheet-like form; and
(d) heating and coagulating the resultant sheet-like formed body.
In the present invention, the dispersion interference-preventing agent preferably comprises an organic carboxylic acid. In particular, malic acid, a citric acid, a tartaric acid, succinic acid, lactic acid and mixtures thereof are more preferable.
In the present invention, preferably, the glucan is curdlan.
In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for producing a tobacco flavor-generating medium, comprising the steps of cutting or pulverizing the heat-irreversibly coagulated glucan sheet prepared by the above method according to the present invention to obtain a tobacco flavor-generating material; mixing the tobacco flavor-generating material with sheet tobacco materials; forming the resultant mixture into a sheet-like form; and cutting or pulverizing the resultant sheet-like formed body.
The present inventors have attempted, following the prior art methods for producing a glucan gel sheet mentioned above, to add a larger amount of a leaf tobacco extract than the amount used in the prior art methods to an aqueous glucan dispersion prepared in advance, and to coagulate or gel the sheet. As a result, it was found that at most about 20% by weight of the leaf tobacco extract was held within the obtained glucan gel.
Then, the present inventors thought that, in order that a larger amount of the leaf tobacco extract would be contained and held within the glucan gel sheet, it was sufficient to use the leaf tobacco extract, instead of water, as a dispersion medium for the glucan, in preparing the glucan dispersion; thus, the inventors attempted to disperse powder of glucan into a large amount of the leaf tobacco extract under high speed stirring.
Unexpectedly, however, it was found that a dispersion interference phenomenon occurred that the viscosity of the glucan dispersion (slurry) was not increased to a viscosity sufficient to form a sheet due to poor dispersion of gulcan in the medium, or a gelation interference phenomenon occurred that when this dispersion was cast into a sheet and thermally coagulated or gelled, the strength of the resultant gel was insufficient as a result of the dispersion interference phenomenon.
Investigating causes for the above, the present inventors found that the dispersion and gelation of the glucan were interfered by hydrophilic materials dissolved in the leaf tobacco extract, hydrophobic materials present in a form of oils or solids which are not dissolved in the extract, fibrous dust present as fine particles in the extract, and the like materials. When the dispersion of the glucan is interfered, the viscosity of the slurry is not increased sufficiently, resulting in flowing-out of the slurry, casting-failure or scattering of the slurry and the like in the step of forming a sheet, and further resulting in reduction in gel strength in a subsequent thermal gelation step, leading to the interference of the formation of the gel. When the formation of the gel is interfered, sheet physical properties such as strength remarkably deteriorate and the stable sheet formation becomes difficult. In addition, the effect of incorporating the leaf tobacco extract within the glucan gel is decreased, and stability of holding the leaf tobacco extract and duration property of release thereof are remarkably deteriorated.
To overcome these problems, the present inventors have conducted extensive studies to find that the dispersion interference can be prevented if at least one organic acid is added in dispersing powder of the glucan into the leaf tobacco extract (or a concentrate thereof as a dispersion medium for glucan, making it possible to produce a heat-irreversibly coagulated glucan sheet holding the leaf tobacco extract at a higher content and with good stability and a satisfactory strength.
The present invention will be described in detail below.
In the present invention, firstly, a mixture is prepared which contains a leaf tobacco extract or a concentrate thereof as a dispersion medium, a dispersion interference-preventing agent comprising an organic acid, and powder of a heat-irreversibly coagulating glucan.
In the present invention, the leaf tobacco extract which is used as a dispersion medium for the heat-irreversibly coagulating glucan can be obtained by a conventional method. For example, 20 to 200 parts by weight of a leaf tobacco can be added to 1000 parts by weight of water, and then this mixture is stirred, while being heated at, for example, 10xc2x0 C.-90xc2x0 C., so as to extract a leaf tobacco extract. The mixture is filtered using a filter having an average pore size of 5 to 10 xcexcm. The leaf tobacco extract obtained as a filtrate may be used as it is, or as a concentrate in which the extract is concentrated by 1 to 70% by weight. As a leaf tobacco extract, a leaf tobacco extract from which nicotine is removed may be used. Powder of the leaf tobacco extract can be dissolved into water to reconstitute a leaf tobacco extract or a concentrate thereof, but, this is not efficient.
The heat-irreversibly coagulating glucan used in the present invention is known per se. For example, curdlan, which is most preferably used in the present invention, is a straight chain xcex2-1,3-glucan wherein about 400-500 D-glucose molecules are xcex2-glucoside linked with each other at their 1-3 positions. It is water-insoluble and is insoluble in almost all organic solvents. Glucan is also safe for the human body. Such glucan is commercially available in a powder form.
In the present invention, the dispersion interference-preventing agent comprises at least one organic acid. As this organic acid, carboxylic acids are preferable. Among the carboxylic acids, malic acid, citric acid, tartaric acid, succinic acid, lactic acid and mixtures thereof are especially preferable in that they do not have any bad influence on the flavor and taste of the leaf tobacco extract and they exhibit higher effect of preventing the dispersion interference. The organic acid is added preferably in an amount of 30% or less, more preferably in an amount of 1-10% by weight, of the leaf tobacco extract or a concentrate thereof used.
The order of addition of the dispersion interference-preventing agent and the heat-irreversibly coagulating glucan to the leaf tobacco extract or a concentrate thereof is not particularly limited. Either one of them may be first added, or they may be added at the same time.
The mixture thus obtained is stirred at a high speed to disperse the glucan the leaf tobacco extract or a concentrate thereof. Thus, a slurry having an increased viscosity (for example, 4,000-8,000 mPaxc2x7s at 25xc2x0 C.) can be obtained. Preferably, this slurry preparation is carried out at a temperature of from 20 to 30xc2x0 C. under stirring with a mixer. If the amount of the glucan such as curdlan to be dispersed into the leaf tobacco extract or a concentrate thereof is too large, the viscosity of the slurry becomes so high that the formation of the slurry which can be easily handled is liable to become difficult. Therefore, the glucan, in particular curdlan, should preferably be present in a concentration of from 1 to 20% by weight, more preferably from 3 to 5% by weight of the leaf tobacco extract or a concentrate thereof.
Incidentally, it has been found that in order to hold the leaf tobacco extract within the heat-irreversibly coagulated glucan sheet in a larger amount or more stably, it is preferable to prepare a dissolved matter in which an emulsifier, preferably that known as a food additive (for example, a glycerin fatty acid ester, a sucrose fatty acid ester, a sorbitan fatty acid ester and a propyleneglycol fatty acid ester, and lecithine) is dissolved in an oily solvent (for example, any vegetable oil or saturated fatty acid triglyceride), and to add the dissolved matter to the aforementioned mixture or dispersion containing the glucan. An especially preferable oily solvent is middle-chain saturated fatty acid triglyceride (MCT), which can dissolve almost all of the hydrophobic components in the leaf tobacco extract, has very high stability against oxidization since it does not contain unsaturated fatty acids and can be easily handled because of its low viscosity. The emulsifier, if used, allows for the preparation of a preferable emulsion having the leaf tobacco extract uniformly dispersed and held therein.
To impart flexibility to the heat-irreversibly coagulated glucan sheet to be obtained so that the sheet can be easily stripped or pealed from its support, it is also preferable to add, to the above-mentioned glucan-containing mixture or the glucan dispersion, a softening agent comprising a polyhydric alcohol (for example, glycerin or propyleneglycol and the like) and/or a saccharide (for example, a monosaccharide such as glucose or fructose; a disaccharide such as maltose, saccharose or lactose; a polysaccharide such as cellulose or starch; an oxidized derivative thereof such as aldonic acid or uronic acid; and a sugar alcohol such as sorbitol). It is possible to adjust the flexibility of the obtained heat-irreversibly coagulated glucan sheet by adjusting the ratio of the polyhydric alcohol and saccharide used.
After the glucan is dispersed into the leaf tobacco extract and preferably other components such as the emulsifier and the oily solvent are added thereinto to prepare a glucan slurry having a high viscosity in such a manner as above, this glucan slurry is optionally subjected to a deforming treatment under a reduced pressure and is cast into a thin sheet onto a suitable supporter (for example, a stainless belt). The resultant cast sheet is heated and dried at such a temperature that glucan is heat-irreversibly coagulated/gelled (at a temperature of from 80 to 140xc2x0 C., for example in case of curdlan), whereby water is removed off to, for example, 10% of the total weight and the glucan is heat-irreversibly coagulated/gelled in a state wherein the glucan firmly fixes and holds the leaf tobacco extract therein. Thus, a heat-irreversibly coagulated glucan sheet (glucan gel sheet) can be obtained. This gelation is effected only by heating, without any gelling agent being used. The obtained glucan gel sheet is thermally stable. Even if it is again heated, the sheet is not melted.
The glucan sheet holding the leaf tobacco extract therein, obtained as above, can be easily stripped from the support. If necessary, the glucan gel sheet may be humidified and conditioned when it is stripped.
The heat-irreversibly coagulating glucan gel sheet obtained according to the present invention has an excellent tobacco flavor-releasing property that the leaf tobacco extract, which is the flavor component, is hardly released under ordinary preservation conditions (for example, 22xc2x0 C. and a relative humidity of 60%), but the tobacco flavor component is released immediately upon burning or heating (for example, from 200 to 300xc2x0 C. or higher), and does not generate any unpleasant flavor nor odor upon burning or heating. The glucan gel sheet obtained according to the present invention is insoluble in water and is insoluble in almost all organic solvents. The glucan gel sheet can contain up to 90% by weight of the leaf tobacco extract.
Preferably, amounts of the respective components in the final glucan gel sheet are, on dry weight basis, as follows.
Preferably, glucan, in particular curdlan, is incorporated into the final glucan gel sheet in an amount of 2 to 70% by weight. If the amount of the glucan is more than 70% by weight, the flexibility of the resultant gel tends to deteriorate. If the amount of glucan is less than 2% by weight, the gel formation is liable to be incomplete. More preferably, the glucan is incorporated into the final glucan gel sheet in an amount of 10 to 40% by weight.
Preferably, the oily solvent is incorporated into the final glucan gel sheet in an amount of 30% by weight or less. If the-amount is more than 30% by weight, the oily solvent tends not to be included within the resultant glucan gel so that the solvent is liable to be leaked to the outside of the glucan gel. More preferably, the oily solvent is incorporated into the final glucan gel sheet in an amount of 3 to 15% by weight.
Preferably, the emulsifier is incorporated into the final glucan gel sheet in an amount of 30% by weight or less. If the amount is more than 30% by weight, the emulsifier tends not to be included within the gel so that the emulsifier is liable to be leaked to the outside of the glucan gel, as in the case of the oily solvent. Therefore, it is preferable that the total amount of the oily solvent and the emulsifier be 30% by weight or less. The ratio of the oily solvent to the emulsifier is optimally 2 to 1. More preferably, the amount of the emulsifier is 2 to 15% by weight.
The polyhydric alcohol and the saccharide are incorporated into the final glucan sheet, preferably in an amount of 50% by weight or less, in total. A more preferable total amount is 5 to 30% by weight.
In such a manner as disclosed in International Publication PCT WO95/20330, the leaf tobacco extract-containing glucan gel sheet obtained according to the present invention is cut or pulverized to prepare a tobacco flavor-generating material in a cut or powder form, which material can optionally be blend with a cut tobacco and/or cut tobacco substitute to prepare a burnable smoking material (tobacco flavor-generating medium). By using this material, a burnable smoking product or a cigarette can be produced.
Alternatively, the tobacco flavor-generating material comprised of cuts or powder of the glucan gel sheet of the present invention can be used as a flavor-generating material for generating tobacco flavor in a heating type flavor-tasting article which can be heated without being accompanied by burning smoke of tobacco leaves, as disclosed in PCT WO95/20329. This article comprises the aforementioned flavor-generating medium containing the flavor-generating material which can release a sufficient amount of the flavor component only by heating, and a heating source which is provided physically separated from this flavor-generating medium and is used for heating the flavor-generating medium to release the flavor component from it.
Preferably, the tobacco flavor-generating material comprising cuts or powder of the glucan gel sheet of the present invention is kneaded into a conventional sheet tobacco materials and is shaped into a sheet-like form. The obtained sheet can be cut or pulverized by a hammer mill to prepare a tobacco flavor-generating medium in a cut or powder form. This tobacco flavor-generating medium, alone or in combination with another flavor component (for example, cut tobacco), can constitute the flavor-generating medium in the aforementioned smoking article or heating type tobacco flavor-tasting article. A typical composition of a rolled sheet tobacco materials containing the tobacco flavor material of the present invention is as follows: 100 parts by weight of tobacco powder (or cellulose or dolomite), 5 to 20 parts by weight of a reinforcing material (such as tobacco fibers or pulp), 1 to 15 parts by weight of a binder (such as carboxymethylcellulose), 1 to 40 parts (preferably from 5 to 20 parts) by weight of cuts or powder of a glucan gel sheet of the present invention (tobacco flavor-generating material), and a necessary amount of water. The composition may optionally contain suitable amounts of optional components such as a humectant (such as glycerin) and a conventional water-resistant agent. The cuts or powder of the glucan gel sheet of the present invention may be kneaded into another sheet tobacco such as a slurry sheet tobacco.
The method of the present invention wherein an organic acid is used as a dispersion interference-preventing agent can be used not only in case of dispersing the glucan into the leaf tobacco extract or a concentrate thereof as a dispersion medium, but also in case of using, as a dispersion medium for glucan, any one of glucan dispersion-interfering solutions comprising extracts extracted from other plant portions (such as leaves of a tea plant, beans, marine plants, fruits and flowers), as well as hydrophilic and hydrophobic materials, particles such as powder, and the like.

METHOD FOR PRODUCING A HEAT-IRREVERSIBLY COAGULATED GLUCAN SHEET CONTAINING A LEAF TOBACCO EXTRACT AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A TOBACCO FLAVOR-GENERATING MEDIUM USING A HEAT-IRREVERSIBLY COAGULATED GLUCAN SHEET


A method for managing virtual control interface of an electronic device, and an associated apparatus and an associated computer program product are provided, where the method includes: utilizing a specific set of common user interfaces (UIs) as a common service for a plurality of applications, wherein the specific set of common UIs is a set of virtual control interfaces to be displayed on a screen, and the specific set of common UIs is provided by a system framework running on the electronic device, rather than being provided by any of the plurality of applications; and displaying the specific set of common UIs to allow a user to control the electronic device through the specific set of common UIs. The method may further include: selecting the specific set of common UIs from a plurality of sets of common UIs.

The present invention relates to user interface of an electronic device, and more particularly, to a method for managing virtual control interface of an electronic device, and an associated apparatus and an associated computer program product.
A conventional portable electronic device such as a conventional multifunctional mobile phone can be designed to run various types of conventional applications. For example, some of the conventional applications can be games. When a user plays one of the games through the conventional multifunctional mobile phone, he/she typically needs a user interface (UI) to control the game. According to the related art, the developers of the games have to design their own UIs, respectively, and typically have to provide the resources needed by fancy display of the games, respectively. However, some problems may occur. For example, various input UIs correspond to various input experiences, respectively, and the user may need to spend his/her time on learning again and again. In another example, for the various input UIs, the developers may be forced to redesign, and therefore, the various input UIs really waste their time. In another example, when the input UIs are fancy, more resources are needed. As a result, the games may waste the storage capacity of the conventional multifunctional mobile phone, and may waste the time of the user during the download operations of these games. Thus, a novel method is required for improving the basic design architecture and enhancing the user experience.

Method for managing virtual control interface of an electronic device, and associated apparatus and associated computer program product


A child safety door latch system includes interchangeable pushbutton compression springs of varying tensions proportional to selected values of thumb opposition strength. A pair is selected for a predetermined age group. A pair of handles each contain one of the selected pair of compression springs and a pushbutton. A latch includes a latch compression spring and a latch slider. A master connector is coupled to the latch slider. In a locked mode, the selected pair of compression springs cooperate with the latch compression spring such that the latch protrudes from the latch sleeve, holding the door locked.

The US Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that each year, children are injured by hazards in and around the home. On its website (CPSC.gov), it advocates the use of door knob covers and door locks to help prevent children from entering rooms and other areas with possible dangers. Door knob covers and door locks can help keep children away from places with hazards. The CPSC recommends that the door knob cover chosen is sturdy, and allows a door to be opened quickly by an adult in case of emergency.
As noted above, currently available child safety door knob products are made to cover a conventional door knob. Typically, such safety are not products are undesirable from an aesthetic viewpoint. They are typically made from plastic and their purpose is quite obvious, even to a child.
While child safety is paramount in a family home, most homeowners also go to great care in selecting decor that is attractive and matches throughout the home. Thus, there is a need for an attractive built in door child safety latch that provides security while maintaining an attractive appearance. The instant invention has responded to this need by providing a novel built in safety door latch system having interchangeable compression springs with tensions proportional to thumb strengths of different age groups.


Embodiments of a user equipment (UE) configured for NR V2X sidelink selection and reselection are generally described herein. In some embodiments, a selected set of candidate resources are scheduled using a single sidelink control information (SCI) within a scheduling window. In some embodiments, sidelink resources are excluded based on a HARQ round trip time. In some embodiments, sidelink control signalling supports the reservation and indication of multiple sidelink resources.

Emerging vehicle-to-everything (V2X) applications are characterized by various key performance indicators (KPIs) in terms of latency, data rate and reliability. For cellular V2X communications on the sidelink, efficient resource selection and/or reselection procedure suitable for periodic and aperiodic traffic is of high importance.
Thus, there are general needs for improved NR V2X sidelink communications.

NR V2X sidelink resource selection and reselection using scheduling window


An object is to provide a hermetic electric compressor that can simplify the installation structure of an internal protector and improve the ease-of-assembly thereof.

With DC motors used for hermetic electric compressors, protection against overcurrent and abnormal temperature has been provided on the control side (inverter or software). However, recently, it has been pointed out that protection by software only is insufficient, and there is a tendency for mandatorily installing mechanical protection devices. Therefore, hermetic electric compressors are provided together with mechanical protection devices known as internal protectors. Such an internal protector, as described in, for example, Patent Literature 1, opens a contact of a bi-metal switch by detecting an overcurrent or abnormal temperature when a current or temperature exceeds a reference value and protects the electric motor from fire damage, etc. by interrupting the electric circuit.
In addition, the above-described internal protector, as described in, for example, Patent Literatures 2 and 3, is often installed at an end of a stator of an electric motor. A common procedure has been to fix the internal protector onto the stator winding wire of the electric motor, either directly or covered with an insulating sleeve, by tying it with a tying cord or the like used when forming the stator winding wire.

Abstract: In a hermetic electric compressor having a compressor and an electric motor (10) built into a sealed housing (2), the electric motor (10) includes a stator (8) to which plastic insulating bobbins (30) having flanges (30B, 30C) on an inner and outer circumferences of a plurality of tooth parts of a stator core are fitted and around which a stator winding wire (8A) is wound in concentrated winding around the plastic insulating bobbins (30), and an internal protector (29) for electric-motor protection is latched between the inner and outer circumferential flanges (30B, 30C) of the plastic insulating bobbins (30) by being urged against the stator winding wire (8A).


An image processing device includes an imaging unit generating RAW image data of a shot image and a gradation conversion unit. The imaging unit includes an imaging sensor which converts an image of a subject into an electrical signal. Then the gradation conversion unit performs gradation conversion according to a shooting condition for each of color signals based on a pixel array of the imaging sensor on the RAW image data of continuously shot images. Thus, it is possible to efficiently compress the RAW image data of continuously shot images.

Generally, in an imaging device of a digital camera or the like, image processing such as color interpolation processing is performed on RAW image data output from an imaging sensor, and data after the image processing are compressed in a general image file format. For example, in shooting of a still image, data after image processing are compressed in a JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) format. Further, in shooting of a moving image, data after image processing are compressed in an MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) format or the like. Data after compression are stored in a storage medium or the like.
In recent years, digital cameras which store RAW image data at a time of shooting a still image in a storage medium or the like are becoming popular. The RAW image data are utilized when, for example, a color tone, a contrast, or the like of an image is adjusted accurately after shooting. Note that in the RAW image data, generally, the data amount is large as compared to data on which image processing and compression processing are performed. Accordingly, there has been proposed a technique to compress RAW image data at a time of shooting a still image by each of color components, and store data after compression of each of the color components in a storage medium or the like (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).    Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-125241

Image processing device and storage medium storing image processing program