A cardiopulmonary resuscitating pump, comprising, a housing having a top wall (20), a bottom wall (21) and a side wall (22) in the form of a bellows which is capable of contracting and expanding under the application and release of an externally applied pressure to contract and expand the volume of a gas chamber (23) within the housing and having a gas inlet (48) through the bottom wall for drawing gas into the gas chamber and a gas outlet (43) through the bottom wall for discharging gas from the gas chamber to an associated oropharyngeal airway, whereby, in use a patient can be subjected to ventilation and external cardiac massage by appropriate operation of the pump whilst situated on the patient's chest. A waste chamber (29) is also provided attached to the bottom wall and communicating, via a waste inlet (52) through the bottom wall, with the associated oropharyngeal airway whereby to suck secretions from the patient whilst cardiac massage and ventilation is occurring and to expel secretions through a waste outlet (47) through the bottom wall. Biasing springs ( 24 and 33) are provided in both the gas and waste chamber to assist in expanding the volume of the chambers upon release of the externally applied pressure, and all inlets and outlets contain check valves (42, 46, 49 and 53) to prevent reverse flow therethrough.

It has long been recognised that one of the most frequently encountered medical emergencies is loss of cardiorespiratory function necessitating resuscitation.
Basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (`Basic CPR`) refers to maintenance of essential life functions in situations of cardiorespiratory arrest, i.e. where spontaneous breathing is absent and no pulse is present due to inadequate cardiac output. In adults, this arrest is most often due to `cardiac arrest` (e.g. myocardial infarction), whereas in children it is more often secondary to `respiratory arrest` or hypoxia e.g. asphyxia.
Basic CPR is the accepted technique out of hospital where advanced life support systems are not available. Examples of situations where basic CPR is essential include drowning, trauma, drug overdose, and myocardial infarction.
It has been shown that Basic CPR, when performed adequately, will satisfy the physiological criterion of maintaining delivery of oxygen and nutrients to vital tissues, in order to preserve their cellular function.
Basic CPR can be performed by two techniques: (a) `Old` CPR and (b) `New` CPR, which will be described in more detail as follows:
(a) `Old` CPR is well-established in the medical literature. PA1 (b) `New` CPR has been described only very recently. It follows the same basic theory as `old` CPR, except that it recommends the simultaneous performance of both external cardiac compression and ventilation, resulting in a greatly enhanced forward blood flow and cardiac output, because of a greater increase in intrathoracic pressure that is transmitted in the heart. It is possible that coronary blood flow is increased and that myocardial perfusion is significantly improved. PA1 a) Simple to understand and perform. PA1 b) Effective in maintaining an adequate cardiac output and respiration. PA1 c) Acceptable to the user. PA1 a) cardiac massage, PA1 b) artificial respiration, and PA1 c) suction of secretions from the airway, without placing the operator in contact with the patient's secretions until professional assistance arrives. The device is suitable for administering either air or an air-oxygen mixture of desired composition.
The basic technique where no specialised equipment is available is to clear the airways of solid or fluid matter, position the patient supine with neck extended and tongue brought forward, and then to apply positive pressure breathing at a rate of 10-15/min (e.g. mouth-to-mouth, or by mask), together with external cardiac compression at a rate of 80-100/min.
This ideally requires two trained operators. Although it can be performed by one trained operator, this is much less efficient due both to the technique itself and to the physical strain involved.
The basis for the technique is that the increase in intrathoracic pressure is transmitted to the heart; when performed properly, it has been shown to generate 15-25% of normal cardiac output. This results in predominantly `forward` blood flow to the brain, as the valves in the great veins in the neck prevent reverse flow.
CPR is known among the general (non-medical) community to varying degrees, and training courses are offered by various organizations. For example, in Seattle, U.S.A., a community program has resulted in training of a very high proportion of the community.
In order for a CPR method to be of use, it must be
The performance of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation is a particular problem. Lay persons with some training in first aid seem less likely to hesitate in an emergency to apply mouth-to-mouth ventilation (Safar, P., in "Critical Care, State of the Art" ed. W.C. Shoemaker and L.L. Thompson S1-S65 (1981)). However, it seems that hospital personnel are more reluctant, as in a recent study up to 30% of 70 subjects would at times make a judgement in the community setting prejudicial to a victim's survival (Lawrence, P.J. and N. Sivaneswaran, (1985): Med. J. Aust. 143 443-446). In particular, it is well-known that people are reluctant to administer mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to patients who have vomited, have purulent sputum or copious secretions, or who are known to be infected. In the study already cited, only 49 (70%) of the 70 subjects were prepared to perform mouth-to-mouth ventilation for a victim in the community setting. Five subjects (7%) stated that they would not be prepared to use this method while 16 (23%) would use it only selectively, according to such influences as age of the victim, the presence of vomitus, evidence of intravenous drug abuse, and state of hygiene.
The responses for resuscitation in the hospital setting were markedly different. Only 36 (51%) were prepared to use mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on a "clean" victim, and when vomitus or infected secretions were present only nine (13%) would be prepared to use mouth-to-mouth. Mouth-to-mask ventilation was accepted by 41 (59%) for all patients. The addition of a mouthpiece resulted in acceptance by all subjects for clean patients and by 67 (96%) for dirty patients. The addition of a bacterial filter resulted in 100% acceptance under all circumstances.
It is noteworthy, however, that this study was carried out before the recent very widespread publicity given to the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). One may assume even less willingness would be found now, in spite of the absence of reported cases of AIDS transmission by this route. However, the AIDS-related HTLV-III virus is found in the saliva of both symptomatic and asymptomatic high-risk groups, (Groopman J.E., S.Z. Salahuddin, M.G. Sarngadharan et al. (1984): Science 226 447-449) and groups such as ambulance officers and police have refused to administer mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to those at risk of or suffering from AIDS.
Thus most potentially preventable deaths occurring in outside-the-hospital situations occur nowadays either because of ignorance of Basic CPR, inadequate knowledge of its applications, or aversion to its use because of the presence of secretions or vomitus, or the fear of transmissible disease, particularly AIDS.
The existing recommendations for emergency ventilation are for mouth-to-mouth ventilation or, if equipment is used, mouth-to-face mask ventilation, until the airway is assured by intubation (Standards and guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and emergency cardiac care (ECC) JAMA--Volume 255, No. 21, Published Jun. 6, 1986 (pages 2905-2984). This seems not to have been accepted into current practice in many hospitals, where a variety of devices may confront a person attempting resuscitation. Pulmonary ventilation is frequently inadequate when these devices are used during CPR, unless special instruction is given, and one frequently used system, bag-valve-mask ventilation, had a 97% failure rate even after instruction (Lawrence and Sivaneswaran, op. cit).
Internationally accepted guidelines for CPR recommend that if equipment is to be used, then mouth-to-mask ventilation should be used until intubation is carried out, either endotracheally or with an oesophageal obturator airway (JAMA, op. cit.).
However, most mouth-to-mask methods require the operator to hold the mask to the patient's face using both hands. Consequently a second operator must be present if cardiac massage is to be applied, which gravely limits this method. More commonly such emergencies occur in situations where face masks are not available.

Valved resuscitation pump having secretion removal means


One frame is divided into a first-half field and a second-half field, and each of the fields is further divided into subfields. In addition, a pixel is controlled to be turned on or off for each of the subfields to display a gradation. A right eye image is formed with a positive polarity in a first-half field of an odd block, and a left eye image is formed with a negative polarity in a second-half field. In an even block, a right eye image is formed with a negative polarity in a first-half field, and a left eye image is formed with a positive polarity in a second-half field.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a technique of reducing flickers and burn-in in displaying a three-dimensional (3 dimensions, hereinafter, abbreviated as "3D") video.
2. Related Art
The following technique is proposed to display a gradation in an electro-optical device having a liquid crystal element in a pixel. That is, there is proposed a technique of displaying an intermediate gradation by digitally turning a pixel either ON or OFF for each of a plurality of subfields into which one frame (one field) is divided and by changing a ratio of the turn-on (or -off) time.
In order to prevent burn-in of liquid crystal elements in the digital driving, a technique of inverting the polarity in a field a plural number of times and making the writing polarity of a subfield constituting a certain field inverse to the writing polarity of a subfield constituting the next field, (for example, see JP-A-2010-271611) and a technique of making the turn-on time with positive polarity equal to the turn-on time with negative polarity in one frame (for example, see JP-A-2010-85955) are proposed. In addition, there is also proposed a technique of increasing the number of displayable gradations as compared with the number of subfields by using the fact that the optical response speed of the liquid crystal element is relatively low (for example, see JP-A-2003-114661).
In recent years, apart from normal videos (2D), 3D video display is attracting more and more attention. Various 3D video display systems are proposed, and in general, a so-called 3D glasses system is used. Specifically, with the alternate display of a right eye image and a left eye image, the right eye portion of 3D glasses is made opaque when a left eye image is displayed, and the left eye portion of the 3D glasses is made opaque when a right eye image is displayed. According to the 3D glasses system, a viewer wearing 3D glasses visually confirms a left eye image only with the left eye and visually confirms a right eye image only with the right eye. Accordingly, it is possible to perceive that a displayed video has depth and is three-dimensional.
However, when a 3D video is displayed by digital driving, the number of subfields increases in order to display a left eye image and a right eye image, and thus it is difficult to express multi-gradation (gradation property). Furthermore, in an electro-optical device such as a liquid crystal display device, it is necessary to drive a left eye image and a right eye image with both polarities without generating a polarity difference.

Electro-optical device, method of driving electro-optical device, and electronic apparatus


An information recording/reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing information while coupled to a camera includes a memory. A processor is provided for (1) receiving from the camera characteristic data which corresponds to an operational characteristics of the camera, (2) storing the characteristic data in the memory, (3) performing an information recording/reproducing operation based on the stored characteristic data, (4) detecting a change in an operational characteristic of the connected camera, (5) storing in the memory changed characteristic data that corresponds to the detected change in an operational characteristic of the connected camera, and (6) performing a further information recording/reproducing operation based on the stored changed characteristic data

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an information recording/reproducing apparatus, such as a video recorder or the like, to the main body of which a camera unit can be connected.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a camera unit 11 connected to the main body of a conventional information recording/reproducing apparatus 12.
In FIG. 8, reference numeral 1 represents the main body of the information recording/reproducing apparatus. Reference numeral 2 represents a display unit of the apparatus. Reference numeral 3 represents an operation button (such as a start record button). A pointing device 4 (such as a mouse or track ball) is used for moving a cursor or indicating a portion of the display unit 2 when the cursor is displayed on the display unit 2. A connection adapter 5 is used for connecting the camera unit 11 to the apparatus 12.
A cable 6 connects the camera unit 11 to the apparatus 12, and incorporates a power-supply line for supplying electric power from the apparatus 12 to the camera unit 11, a communication line between the apparatus 12 and the camera unit 11, and the like.
There are also shown the camera body 7 of the camera unit 11, a photographing lens 8, and an illuminating member 9, such as a stroboscopic lamp or the like, for illuminating an object. A trigger switch 10 for a photographing operation corresponds to a shutter button in a silver-film camera.
A battery (not shown in FIG. 8) is incorporated in the apparatus 12 as a power supply, so that electric power is supplied to the apparatus 12 and the camera unit 11.
In the above-described conventional apparatus, the following problem arises when, for example, a color camera for photographing general objects is coupled to apparatus 12, the photographing situation has changed for some reason, and the camera must be replaced by a black-and-white camera for inputting character data.
That is, in the conventional information recording/reproducing apparatus, when a color camera is connected, information relating to the camera (such as lens information, power-supply information, color information and the like) is registered in a configuration-information storage unit within the information recording/reproducing apparatus. When a black-and-white camera is newly connected, the configuration information must be replaced by configuration information relating to the black-and-white camera. Such an operation is very troublesome for the operator.

Information recording/reproducing apparatus capable of changing its operations based on characteristic data of a camera connected thereto


A method and apparatus are provided for reducing distortion in a dynamically delayed digital sample stream of an imaging system. The method includes the steps of delta-sigma modulating an input analog signal of the imaging system at a frequency above the Nyquist frequency of the input analog signal to generate a digital sample stream and changing a length of the sample stream to delay a portion of the sample stream while maintaining synchronism between a delta-sigma modulator and a demodulator of the system.

Many coherent array systems (acoustic or electromagnetic) use some form of dynamic focusing to generate images with diffraction limited resolution. Examples include ultrasound, sonar, and RADAR. The remainder of this disclosure will be focused primarily on ultrasound applications; however, the principles can be applied to sonar, RADAR or any coherent array imaging system as well.
Current clinical ultrasound systems generate images of soft tissue within the body by launching a vibratory pulse and then receiving and processing the reflected energy. The transmitted vibratory pulse is often limited to a single focus along a particular steering angle for each firing. In contrast, reflected signals are continuously recorded permitting array refocusing on receive. Dynamic receive focusing is accomplished by changing individual channel delays with time (range) prior to summing the RF signal over all elements to form the received beam.
A complete state-of-the-art ultrasound imaging system uses a large collection of application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), microcontrollers (.mu.C), memory buffers, etc... integrated onto a set of printed circuit boards connected by a modified communications bus (usually a VME bus). FIG. 1 generally shows a block diagram of the various processing elements providing the wide ranging capabilities clinicians expect today from a high quality ultrasound imager. The front-end processor, and more specifically the beamformer, will be the primary focus of this disclosure. Significant prior art exists for different beamforming architectures as well as different implementations of downstream processing elements, such as Doppler and color flow processors.
State-of-the-art systems employ a beamforming scheme similar to that shown in FIG. 2, where a high speed, multi-bit analog to digital converter on each channel samples the incoming ultrasound signal. These samples are then delayed by one of several means before being summed within a pipelined set of digital adders. The delay structure compensates for the channel's geometric position relative to the desired receive focus. Properly delayed signals yield coherent interference when summed across the array. These delays, however, must change as the transmitted pulse propagates into tissue. Dynamically changing delays are difficult to implement, and there is considerable prior art which documents various methods used to date. Older systems (until 1980 or so) used analog delays and sums which suffered from signal to noise and temperature drift problems adversely affecting image quality. Current fully digital systems provide greatly improved quality; however, the required beamforming and processing hardware is extensive, expensive, and consumes significant power.
The system proposed under this invention solves these problems using oversampled delta-sigma modulation and dynamic delay for beamforming a received image. Feedback control within the delta-sigma modulator or recoding the digital outputs reduces distortion introduced by changes in dynamic delay.
The basic oversampled approach of the invention has been further improved through premodulation, whereby bandwidth can be effectively traded-off with quantization noise. Also, multiple stages of beamforming are included so that two dimensional arrays can be used effectively. One delay stage is used for elevational beamforming, and the other for azimuthal. Finally, correct transmit phasing can, for the first time, be performed using existing receive phasing circuitry, thus reducing system complexity and power consumption.

Beamformed ultrasonic imager with delta-sigma feedback control

The Regents of the University of Michigan


Network page latency reduction is facilitated by various embodiments. In one embodiment, a first distribution corresponding to a plurality of instances of a network page is estimated. A second distribution corresponding to a subset of the instances is also estimated. The network page is adapted based at least in part on a comparison of the first and second distributions in order to reduce network page latency.

Individuals often use a browser, such as Internet Explorer, on a computer to view a network page of a website. The time it takes from the individual requesting the network page until it is loaded in the browser varies. In fact, for some individuals, the loading of the network page takes much longer than others.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A computer-implemented method to prefetch non-sequential instruction addresses (I/A) includes, determining, by a prefetch system, a first access attempt of a first I/A in a cache is a first miss, wherein the first I/A is included in a string of I/A's. The method further includes storing the first I/A in a linked miss-to-miss (LMTM) table. The method also includes determining a second access attempt of a second I/A in the cache is a second miss, wherein the second I/A is included in the string of I/A's. The method includes linking, in the LMTM table, the second miss to the first miss. The method also includes prefetching, in response to a third access attempt of the first I/A, the second I/A in the cache.

The present disclosure relates to instruction prefetchers, and, more specifically, non-sequential prefetchers.
In many modern computing systems one or more processors working together can run multiple applications (e.g., programs) simultaneously. To execute a program, the operating system, in simple terms, receives system calls from an application, then directs the processor to fetch the data to be processed, processes the data per the instructions (e.g., code), then writes the processed data to a storage location. In many instances latency to fetch instructions from a storage location is greater than the latency from processing the instructions.

Linked miss-to-miss instruction prefetcher

International Business Machines Corporation


A fastener and method for securing plywood to sheet metal comprises a head, and a shank with three distinct segments. The first segment is a threaded tip segment with a pierce point tip; the second segment is unthreaded; the third segment is threaded and extends from the unthreaded second segment to the fastener head. The method provides for use of a power tool to secure together a plywood sheet with a sheet metal stud using the fastener.

The use of sheet metal studs is a growing trend in new housing and office construction, because sheet metal studs are generally less expensive than wooden studs. Sheet metal studs typically comprise a galvanized steel sheet which is formed to be generally U-shaped in cross-section. In most cases, sheet metal studs are formed from light gauge steel, typically, 25 or 26 gauge galvanized steel.
Traditional nails are not usable to secure plywood sheet or drywall panels to sheet metal studs, as they provide no fastening power. Typically, some type of screw threaded fastener is needed to secure such materials to the sheet metal stud.
Conventional drywall fasteners may be used to mount drywall to sheet metal studs, since the gypsum material which is used in drywall sheets does not bind with the drywall fasteners and the drywall fasteners can pierce and be secured to the sheet metal.
However, conventional plywood sheet materials cannot easily be mounted to sheet metal studs with such drywall fasteners. Typically, when installed with a power tool such as a power screwdriver, the drywall fasteners will cause separation of the plywood sheet from the sheet metal stud and may strip out the hole in the sheet metal so that the plywood sheet is not securely fastened to the sheet metal stud. In addition, the heads of conventional drywall fasteners will not countersink in plywood, such that even if carefully installed so as to avoid jacking of the plywood sheet or stripping of the hole in the sheet metal, the drywall fastener must still be manually screwed in to achieve a countersunk head. If the head is not properly countersunk, it can create problems for subsequent finish carpentry and/or decorative painting, as a flat surface is typically needed to insure a professional finished look to the wall.
Another fastener used for connecting sheet materials to metal members is the screw sold under the registered trademark "TEKS" by Illinois Tool Works, Inc. This screw is illustrated for example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,524,378 and 4,275,541 (at FIGS. 6 and 7) and uses a cutting drill end joined with threaded and unthreaded shank sections. The TEKS screw is used for connecting sheet materials to structural steel members but is not usable to attach sheet materials to light gauge sheet metal, as the drill end will cut a hole that is too large to provide any holding power for the fastener.

Plywood fastener for affixing plywood to light gauge sheet metal


A film formed from biopolymer lamination for thermal lamination to a rigid biopolymer structure including a polymer layer; a biopolymer layer; and an adhesive layer joining the polymer layer to the biopolymer layer. The biopolymer layer is thermally adherable to the rigid biopolymer structure.

Multi-layered films are useful in forming hermetic seals, protecting packaged food products from loss of flavor, staleness, or spoilage due to light, oxygen and moisture. In addition, multi-layered films prevent undesirable leaching of the product to the outside of the film. For example, oily food products have the potential for some oil to leach out of the package.
Currently, extrusion houses purchase petroleum-based polymer films from commercial sources. These houses then nip laminate the polymer film to rigid petroleum based or polymeric sheets during production, forming barrier or non-barrier sheets, films or structures. Such petroleum-based films are unsuitable for thermal lamination systems currently in use when the extruded rigid stock is biopolymer based sheet, as the petroleum-based films do not adhere well to biopolymers and do separate from the biopolymers after a few weeks.
One approach to the problem has been to use adhesive bonding to join biopolymer material to traditional petrochemical packaging stock. Unfortunately, most rigid fabrication facilities lack the equipment for adhesive bonding. Adhesive bonding also adds steps to the fabrication process, increasing the complexity of and time for fabrication. Thus, adhesive bonding increases capital and production costs, and reduces run speeds.
For the foregoing reasons, it would be desirable to have a film for thermal adhesion to a rigid biopolymer structure that solves the above problems.

Film for thermal adhesion to a rigid biopolymer structure


The electronic signaling system comprises a base unit including an audio media player for reproducing a recorded audio signal from an inserted recorded medium, and an audio output stage for producing an audio output responsive to the occurrence of a trigger signal. A remote triggering device, such as a doorbell, includes a signal generator for communicating energy from the triggering device to the base unit. A receiving device in the base unit is provided for intercepting the energy communicated from the triggering device for reproducing the recorded audio signal. The medium may be a replaceable medium, permitting the user to select, from a variety of sound recordings, which recording is to be played back when a visitor or a guest pushes the doorbell. The replaceable medium may be recordable by a user. The audio player is preferably a player capable of reproducing sound patterns from integrated circuits containing encoded or non-encoded sound program information. A simplified electronic signaling system may be placed in a child's room. When a pushbutton outside the child's room is pressed, a preselected sound/audio/song/message/program is played by the base unit in the child's room. The base unit may have a slot for receiving thematic cards having artwork thereon and carrying an IC containing sounds or sound patterns consistent with the theme depicted on the thematic card.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of signaling systems, and in particular to a system which provides an audible response to a triggering event, a doorbell system being a nonlimiting example.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
Prior art doorbell systems are available in a variety of formats. A pushbutton on the outside of an entrance door wired to a mechanical or an electrical tone generator mounted somewhat centrally of a dwelling or a building remains the most popular format. Although both the electrical and mechanical versions may be provided to emit a single tone or multiple tones played in sequence, such devices are quite limited in their functionality.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,326,276 to Scott, Jr. proposes an electronic tone generator which plays one of a repertoire of musical tunes when a door pushbutton is pressed. Different musical tunes may be selected by the occupant by means of a keyboard connected to a microprocessor. In addition to the playing of a tune when the door pushbutton is pressed, a built-in clock system displays the time of day and enunciates each quarter hour by means of musical notes.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,868,540 and 5,210,520 to Housley disclose a programmable doorbell system which displays messages and/or sounds a tone for the visitor pushing the doorbell pushbutton. A digital record/playback circuit may be provided to record an audible announcement by the occupant and stored as a digital signal. The audible announcement is generated from the stored digital signal when the doorbell pushbutton is pressed by a visitor. It is to be noted that these two patents to Housley relate to a programmable doorbell system for communicating visually or audibly to the visitor, and is not concerned with programming or playing recorded signals to the occupant upon the pushing of a doorbell pushbutton by a visitor.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,570,083 to Johnson discloses a doorbell answering system functionally similar to the Housley devices in which the occupant may select whether the system will energize the doorbell announcing the visitor or provide a prerecorded message for playback to the visitor. The doorbell and/or record modes are selected by the user by a switch located within an interior housing mounted adjacent a building entrance. Like the Housley devices, the Johnson system is not concerned with playing different audible messages to the occupant upon pushing of the doorbell pushbutton by a visitor.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,475,369 to Baker proposes a pet sounding device in which, upon physical contact of a wireless transmitter by the pet, sounds, chimes, or voice messages are emitted to alert the occupant that the pet wishes to either enter or exit the house or building. Sound variations are proposed for indicating the location of the actuated pet sensor.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,583,477 to Yen proposes a wireless AC/DC bell system in which an RF transmitter sends a triggering signal to a receiver for driving a speaker with an oscillating tone.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,564,294 to Chen discloses a musical door lock. When a pushbutton on the outer periphery of the door is pressed, a musical melody, or the sound of bird chirps will be emitted from the door lock housing. Chen also proposes a wireless coupling between the door lock arrangement and a movable wireless doorbell. The musical door lock is also proposed to be combined with an antiburglar device.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,365,214 to Angott et al. discloses a musical wireless alerting system in which the occupant is presented with a selection of a song or a melody dependent upon an audio code transmitted by a triggering device. A plurality of stored songs or tones within memory are selectable for transmission to a speaker which plays the tone or song upon initiation of the triggering device. The trigger device is proposed to be, for example, the pushing of a doorbell pushbutton or the opening of the door. Additionally, audible selection means are provided for manually selecting one of the plurality of audio codes representative of different audible indications produced by the audio means. That is, selection of the song or melody is made at the triggering device, and the receiver simply responds to the transmitted audio code from each triggering device to play the selection which the code represents.


The invention relates to a biaxially drawn multilayer tubular film consisting of at least five layers, in which the external and two other layers contain aliphatic (co)-polyamide in a quantity equal to or greater than 50% by weight and are differently assembled. The inventive tubular film is produced by coextrusion and, thereby is seamless. Said tubular film can be used in the form of food product packagings, in particular as synthetic sausage casing.

Seamless tubular artificial casings are predominantly used in the production of cooked-meat sausages and scalded-emulsion sausages. Conventional casings have usually a 3- to 5-layer structure, wherein generally at least one of these layers comprises aliphatic polyamide and one comprises polyolefinic materials having water vapor-barrier character. Usually, the casings are biaxially drawn. In the case of the polyamide (PA) situated in the solid, the drawing leads to molecular orienting and to strain-induced crystallization. These effects produce a considerable increase in strength of the PA layers and a thermal shrinkage capacity of the casings, which is usually desirable in the application.
Since the biaxial drawing process in the case of tubular films always proceeds with the aid of free-standing stretching bubbles which are filled with gas or fluid cushions (termed the double-bubble process), the process cannot be controlled mechanically (from the outside). In principle there is always the risk of fluctuations of the bubble diameter (what are termed pulsations) up to sporadic overstretching and bursting of the stretching bubble. Since, among the polymer types conventionally used, only PA experiences significant orienting on drawing, the forces for stabilizing the stretching bubble also mainly proceed from this (progressive recovery forces).
Optimum bubble stability is only achievable when aliphatic PA types which crystallize moderately rapidly are used. Types which have proved to be particularly suitable are nylon 6, nylon 6/66 and also mixtures of these. Admixtures of further materials (for example other PA types, other polymers, pigments and other industrially desirable additives) are possible, but always have a tendency to destabilize the stretching bubble.
Frequently, demands are made on a food casing which cannot all be met with casing structures whose "supporting" component is a layer of nylon 6 (or of a mixture of nylon 6 and nylon 6/66).
The multilayer casings available on the market contain an outer main layer of nylon 6 and/or nylon 6/66, followed by thinner layers which do not form significant orienting on drawing. These are, for example, polyethylene layers. The inner surface is frequently formed by a further relatively thin PA layer. The thickness of the outer layer makes up usually 50 to 70% of the total film thickness and is therefore decisive for the stability of the stretching bubble and also for the mechanical strength of the casing.
Such casing structures, however, are frequently not found to be optimal in terms of performance. The use as sausage casing demands on the one hand high linear strength of the film and on extension the best possible elastic recovery, i.e. low residual extension. This may best be achieved by incorporating the thickest possible layer of nylon 6 into the structure. On the other hand, as far as possible soft-tough mechanics of the structure are required, in order that the casing, during end-processing and during stuffing, withstands the mechanical buckling loads as occur on high-speed modern systems. For this, structures having low-crystalline aliphatic copolyamides such as nylon 6/66 would be considerably more suitable. However, the aliphatic copolyamides, in the drawn state, do not approach nylon 6 with respect to strength and elastic recovery.
Surface layers of aliphatic copolyamides have a further disadvantage: owing to the low crystallinity of the polymers, surfaces lying one on top of another have a strong tendency to stick to one another. Sticking together can occur in the case of rolls wound up under standard tension, since the casings, during storage, develop a slight longitudinal shrinkage. Under extreme storage conditions, i.e. when the casings are stored at elevated temperature and high humidity, the adhesion tendency of the copolyamides increases further so that the risk of sticking together increases. Accordingly it would be advantageous to use copolyamide in an internal layer, or to cover it by a further layer, for example composed of nylon 6.
A food casing having two adjacent PA layers is described in EP-A 603 678. The second PA layer, which is covered by a PA layer surface, contains an inorganic and/or organic mixing additive. The object was to incorporate industrially necessary mixing additives into the casing structure and in this case to avoid the known production difficulties and disadvantages to quality which can occur in the case of additive-containing PA layers. The publication does not imply any effect on the relationships between linear strength and toughness or the like.
A further disadvantage in terms of performance of the conventional multilayer casings is their restricted printability. Food casings are frequently now used in printed form, in which case the printing is usually intended to proceed using physiologically and ecologically advantageous aqueous dispersion inks. The physical adhesion of such ink systems to PA is frequently inadequate in practice; in particular in the case of use as sausage casing, where high mechanical and climatic changing stresses occur, flaking off of ink layers can occur. Chemical anchoring is possible in principle in the case of most dispersion ink systems, in particular in the case of 2-component systems, but requires the presence of sufficiently reactive chemical groups in the film surface.
A surface composed of pure PA contains only very few reactive groups (end groups of the PA chain molecules). It would therefore be desirable to introduce additional reactive groups into the PA matrix, for example by blending in a further COOH-functional polymer.
Single layer sausage casings composed of mixtures containing PA and in proportion an acid-modified polyolefin are already disclosed by EP-B 550 833. As an example according to the invention, a casing composed of 79.6% by weight of nylon 6, 10% by weight of nylon 6-I/6-T, 10% by weight of an ethylene/methacrylic acid copolymer and 0.4% by weight of mica is specified therein. Foreign polymers such as ethylene/methacrylic acid copolymers, however, are not molecularly compatible with PA and in appropriate mixtures form a disperse phase. With increasing mixture fraction, the disperse phase can increasingly interfere with the coherence of the coherent PA phase which can lead to the loss of the general mechanical properties of the polyamide. This is expressed in particular in a drastic decrease of the bubble stability during drawing. In the case of casing structures which predominantly or entirely comprise such a mixture, therefore the fraction of foreign polymer must remain limited, i.e. any high concentration of reactive groups cannot be achieved. It would be desirable to be able to combine a casing surface which has been modified with reactive groups and is correspondingly readily printable with the better processing and mechanical properties of pure PA.

Biaxially drawn tubular film comprising three adjacent polyamide-based layers


A saw tooth of the type having a plurality of cutting edges at one end, the saw tooth rotatable in its mounting on a saw disk to present a fresh cutting edge when needed. Each cutting edge is angled rather than curved. The tooth can have hardened inserts to provide the angled cutting edges.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is directed toward an improved detachable saw tooth adapted to be mounted on a circular saw disk.
The invention is more particularly directed toward an improved detachable saw tooth of the type that has a plurality of cutting edges. A tooth having a plurality of cutting edges can be repositioned in its mounting on the saw disk to present a sharp cutting edge when the edge currently in use becomes dull.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The saw tooth having a plurality of cutting edges usually has a four-sided main body with a mounting end and a cutting end. The cutting end usually has a concave, part-spherical surface which intersects with the straight sides of the body to form four concavely curved cutting edges. A tooth of this type is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,937,447, Morin, issued Jun. 12, 1990. The tooth is mounted, on one side of the body, on a holder that in turn is mounted on the rim of a circular saw disk. All the cutting edges face in the direction of rotation of the tooth but only the outermost cutting edge cuts as the disk rotates. When this cutting edge dulls the tooth can be rotated 90.degree. or 180.degree. in the holder to present a fresh cutting edge. With the tooth having four cutting edges, it has quite a long life before it has to be removed for sharpening or replacement.
However the tooth presents some problems. The curved cutting edges, which meet at relatively sharp corners, tend to have a ripping action when cutting, making it relatively inefficient. In addition, it is quite time consuming to have to rotate all the teeth on the saw disk when the cutting edges become dull. The time between tooth rotations could obviously be increased by making the teeth of harder material or by using hardened inserts to provide the cutting edges. However since the cutting edges are curved, the cost of machining or otherwise forming these hardened teeth or inserts greatly increases making the longer-life teeth very expensive and thus not really any cheaper in the long run.


A variable resistor reduces an inclination of a rotor caused by spring reaction of a slider, and prevents the lowering of contact pressure and deterioration in sliding performance of the slider. The resistor includes a rotor 3 and a slider 4 inside a case 1. The variable resistor also includes a resistor substrate 2 having a collector electrode 25 at a central portion of a surface thereof and having a resistive element 24 in a circular arc shape on an outer side of the collector electrode 25 substantially concentric with the central portion. The resistor substrate 2 is mounted to a lower end portion of the case 1. The slider 4 is provided with a first arm 42 having a substantially U-like shape at one end side of a base portion 41 attached to the rotor 3, having a first contact point portion 42a at a front end of the first arm which is brought into sliding contact with the resistive element 24 in the circular arc shape. The slider 4 is also provided with a second arm 43 and a second contact point portion 43a at a front end of the second arm which is brought into contact with the collector electrode. The arms are bent in directions opposed to each other, wherein the slider 4 is formed such that the first contact point portion 42a is disposed on the inner side of base portion 41 from a folded-bent portion 43b of the second arm 43, and the second contact point portion 43a is disposed on the inner side of the base portion 41 from a folded-bent portion 42b of the first arm 42. The second contact point portion 43a is folded back to the side of the resistor substrate 2.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a small-sized variable resistor used in a hearing aid, a measuring instrument, a communication device, a sensor or other industrial devices.
2. Description of Related Art
In recent years, small-size and light-weight fabrication of devices has become a notable trend. For instance, the hearing aid has progressed from a device which is carried in a user's pocket, to a device which hangs from the user's ear, to a device which is inserted in the user's ear canal (referred to a canal-type device). Especially small-sized parts are required for the circuit parts of typical canal-type hearing aids.
An ultra-small type of variable resistor having, for example, an outer diameter or a side dimension of about 2 mm may be used within a hearing aid. The hearing aid may include a stable spring part, providing a slider member, which is needed in this type of variable resistor. It is difficult to downsize this type of slider structure while still achieving excellent contact performance and slide characteristics.
A slider capable of ensuring sufficient elasticity, even when it is applied to a small-sized variable resistor, has been proposed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. JP-A-61-4162. The slider described in that document has a structure in which a base portion is provided at the central portion of the slider. An arm in a channel-like shape is provided on one side of the slider and an arm in a rectangular shape is provided on the other side of the slider. The arms are folded so as to bend in the same direction at both ends of the base portion, and the arm in the rectangular shape intersects with the arm in the channel-like shape via a gap of the channel.
In the case of the slider having the structure described above, the lengths of the arms can be extended even with the small size required, and therefore a variable resistor capable of ensuring elasticity and having high reliability can be obtained.
In the case of the variable resistor described above, the arm having the rectangular shape is brought into contact with a collector electrode formed at the central portion on the surface of a resistor substrate. The arm having the channel-like shape is slid on a resistor in a circular arc shape formed concentrically at the outer periphery of the collector electrode. Accordingly, when a rotor is rotated, the slider is rotated with a contact point portion formed at the front end of the arm having the rectangular shape as its center. Further, the base portion provided at the central portion of the slider is fixed at a position which is off-center with respect to the axis of rotation of the rotor.
In the above-described stricture, a moment in a direction inclined to the rotor is formed by a spring reaction of the slider. When there is play between the rotor and a case, contact pressure of the slider, and more particularly, contact pressure between the arm having the channel-like shape and the resistor, is lowered by some amount. Further, a drawback is caused when the sliding resistance between the rotor and the case is increased due to the inclination of the rotor.


A fastener is used during endoscopic procedures in which a suture is used in creating a predefined pouch through tissue apposition within the stomach. The fastener includes a fastener body having a tissue anchor for selectively securing the fastener body to tissue. The fastener body also includes a connection aperture shaped and dimensioned for passage of a suture therethrough.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to gastric reduction surgery. More particularly, the invention relates to fasteners specifically adapted for use during endoscopic gastric reduction surgery.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Morbid obesity is a serious medical condition. In fact, morbid obesity has become highly pervasive in the United States, as well as other countries, and the trend appears to be heading in a negative direction. Complications associated with morbid obesity include hypertension, diabetes, coronary artery disease, stroke, congestive heart failure, multiple orthopedic problems and pulmonary insufficiency with markedly decreased life expectancy. With this in mind, and as those skilled in the art will certainly appreciate, the monetary and physical costs associated with morbid obesity are substantial. In fact, it is estimated the costs relating to obesity are in excess of 100 billion dollars in the United States alone.
A variety of surgical procedures have been developed to treat obesity. The most commonly performed procedure is Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). This procedure is highly complex and is commonly utilized to treat people exhibiting morbid obesity. However, and with this in mind, around 100,000 procedures are performed annually in the United States alone. Other forms of bariatric surgery include Fobi pouch, bilio-pancreatic diversion, and gastroplastic or "stomach stapling". In addition, implantable devices are known which limit the passage of food through the stomach and affect satiety. Another commonly employed gastric reduction procedure is vertical gastroplasty. This procedure is achieved by applying a series of horizontal sutures to create an incomplete horizontal line defining a small fundic pouch for restriction of food ingestion. This procedure is commonly performed laparoscopically and as such requires substantial preoperative, operative, postoperative resources.
Regardless of the procedure employed, many gastric reduction procedures require that a suture(s) be installed, creating a defined region through which nourishment may pass and restricting oral intake. The sutures used during these procedures are commonly secured to the stomach wall through the implementation of fasteners provided with openings through which the suture may be passed in securing the same within the stomach wall. By passing the suture through a series of properly positioned fasteners, one is able to create a pouch of predefined dimensions within the stomach of an individual. With this in mind, problems associated with gastric reduction surgery hinge heavily upon the issue of tissue apposition, grasping and control.
Since such procedures are relatively new and the associated fasteners have yet to be fully developed for the specific problems encountered during gastric reduction procedures, a need exists for new fasteners designed to optimally function during gastric reduction procedures. Such fasteners must provide for maintaining tissue apposition, fastening and controlling tissue in a manner which prevents erosion of sutures through the stomach wall and provide predictable depth of penetration through the stomach wall. The present invention provides such a variety of fasteners specifically adapted for gastric reduction procedures through tissue apposition.

Fasteners for use with gastric restriction


A sample processing apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a sample processing section configured to perform a process on a sample; and a controller configured to execute an order defining a process to be performed on a sample and to cause the sample processing section to perform the process on the sample according to the order. When the controller receives an instruction to perform a shutdown operation, the controller performs the following operations comprising: prohibiting the execution of the shutdown operation if an unexecuted order remains; and causing the sample processing section to perform the shutdown operation if there is no unexecuted order.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sample processing apparatus for processing clinical samples such as blood and urine.
2. Description of the Related Art
Sample processing apparatuses for aspirating a sample from a sample container with an aspirating tube and processing the aspirated sample are known. When using a sample processing apparatus over a long period, dirt accumulates in the fluid flow system, such as the aspirating tube, flow path, valves, reaction chambers, and analysis unit. Therefore, washing of the fluid flow system is performed during the shutdown operation of the sample processing apparatus. When the fluid flow system washing operation is completed, the power source of the apparatus automatically turns OFF.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2003-254980 discloses a specimen analyzer that washes the fluid flow system by aspirating a washing liquid from a washing liquid container. In this apparatus, washing of the fluid flow system is performed by moving a rack holding the washing liquid container to an aspirating position, and aspirating the washing liquid from the transported washing liquid container with an aspiration part.
The washing of the fluid flow system requires a lengthy time to complete washing because washing liquid must be retained in the flow path. When a lengthy time has elapsed and the washing ends, a shutdown operation is performed to automatically turn OFF the power to the apparatus. After the apparatus is turned OFF, it must be restarted in order to be used. After the shutdown operation has started, therefore, the specimen analyzing apparatus cannot be used for a long time. An operator may initiate the shutdown operation, having forgotten that specimens remain to be measured. In this case, the operator must wait to measure the remaining specimens until restarting the apparatus is completed.

Sample processing apparatus and method for controlling a sample processing apparatus using a computer


A monitor stand includes a base, a cylindrical housing located on the base, the housing having an opened top and bottom, and a packing assembly in the base for opening/closing the bottom of the housing. A piston is located in the housing, the piston being movable up/down. A first elastic member is located under the piston, for being compressed when the piston moves down. A bracket is located on a top of the piston, and a tilt/swivel adjusting device has one end fixedly secured to a front of the bracket, and the other end provided to a rear of the monitor. The tilt/swivel adjusting device permits the monitor to tilt forward/backward, or swivel left/right when an external force is applied.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a stand for supporting an image display device, such as a monitor.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a related art monitor stand. Referring to FIG. 1, the related art monitor stand is provided with a base 1, a movable column 2, and a hinge 5. The base 1 is placed on a floor, and the movable column 2 is movably mounted on the base 1 for movement in an up/down direction. The hinge 5 is mounted on top of the movable column 2 for tilting a monitor (not shown) in a front/rear direction.
A height of the monitor is adjusted by using the movable column 2, and a tilting angle of the monitor is adjusted by using the hinge 5. However, the related art monitor stand has several problems. First, the friction between the movable column 2 and the base 1 during height adjustment of the monitor generates much noise, and handling of the movable column 2 is not easy due to the weight of the monitor. Second, the hinge 5 has many components, such as a plurality of friction springs, or torsion springs, washers, nuts, and so on. Accordingly, much time is required for fabrication of the hinge.


The invention relates to compounds, compositions comprising the compounds, and methods of using the compounds and compound compositions. The compounds, compositions, and methods described herein can be used for the therapeutic modulation of kinase-mediated processes, and treatment of disease and disease symptoms, particularly those mediated by certain kinase enzymes.

Sunitinib is a potent multi-targeted kinase inhibitor that is efficacious in the treatment of cancers, most notably renal cell carcinoma and GI stroma tumor as approved by FDA. It is also undergoing clinical trials in a number of other cancers. Its structure is an indolinone derivative characterized by a basic diethylaminoethyl side chain. Although Sunitinib is very efficacious, its application is hampered by the side effects. The most common and severe toxicity in clinic is neutropenia and fatigue.

This invention describes a novel class of Sunitinib derivatives with a cyclic side chain replacing the diethylaminoethyl side chain of Sunitinib. They are designed to overcome the fatigue problem of Sunitinib by improving its selectivity. Recently, a proteomic study of a Sunitinib analog, SU6668 found that SU6668 inhibits, among other proteins, AMPK (Godl et al, Cancer Res 2005, 65, 6919). Since AMPK is a key sensor of fuel and energy status in skeletal muscle (see review by Hardie and Sakamoto, Physiology 2006, 21, 48-60), it is hypothesized that inhibition of AMPK might be the cause of the clinically observed fatigue toxicity of Sunitinib. Thus, the cyclic derivatives of Sunitinib are designed to reduce the inhibitory activity of AMPK, thereby alleviating the fatigue problem of Sunitinib


A unified simulation system is provided. The unified simulation system includes an input database storing input data comprising an input parameter and environment information, a unified simulator executing a unified process-device-circuit simulation of characteristics of a semiconductor apparatus based on the input data and at least one predetermined model and outputting a simulation result as output data, and an output database storing the output data. The unified simulator includes a process simulator simulating at least one process based on the input data and outputting process characteristic data, a device simulator simulating at least one device based on the process characteristic data and outputting device characteristic data, and a circuit simulator simulating a circuit comprising the at least one device. Accordingly, multiple devices can be simultaneously optimized for the optimization of circuit characteristics and an accurate specification at process and device levels can be provided.

The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for analyzing and simulating the characteristics of a semiconductor apparatus.
With the high density of integration and the minuteness of semiconductor devices, factors in a process, device and/or circuit may operate in combination with one another. In this regard, a plurality of devices integrated in a single substrate may exert an influence on each other. In addition, with the high density of integration and the minuteness, the process and device characteristics may be limited. In order to overcome limitations in semiconductor processes and devices, comprehend phenomena, and/or reduce experimental costs, demands on technology computer aided design (TOAD) processes and device simulation environments based on a physical simulation may be increasing in the semiconductor industry.
In order to provide the accurate specification of a semiconductor apparatus, characteristics of multiple devices at different levels, i.e., a process level, a device level, and/or a circuit level may need to be analyzed and/or simulated in a unified form. Based on the high density of integration and/or the minuteness of semiconductor devices, the factors of the process, device and/or circuit levels may operate in combination.

Systems and methods for executing unified process-device-circuit simulation


A customer device is configured to allow remote installation of an application module and remote configuration from a remote management server. The application module includes a parameter model with model parameters configured for communication automatically between the remote management client residing in the customer device and the remote management server via a remote management protocol. The parameter model further includes at least one description parameter that formally describes a new model parameter forming part of the parameter model. The description parameter triggers creation of the new model parameter at the remote management server.

Remote management systems consist of a management platform in the customer device, a remote management server in the network, and a remote management protocol for communication between a management client or agent running on the management platform in the customer device and the remote management server.
An example management platform is the OSGi (Open Service Gateway initiative) service platform, which is a Java-based service platform that runs on top of a Java Virtual Machine (JVM) inside the customer device that is remotely managed. Presence of an OSGi service platform in the customer device enables remote installation, update and/or removal of bundles, i.e. software modules or components such as for instance a File Transfer Protocol (FTP) application, from an auto configuration server anywhere in the network without disrupting the operation of the customer device. This way, installation of a software application, upgrading the software application to a new version, re-configuring the application, adding or activating new features of the application, and removal of the application from the customer device, is made possible without dispatching a technician to the customer premises and without requiring an intervention by the customer. Thanks to the management platform, the software services or applications running on a single customer device can share their capabilities with each other.
The management agent or management client serves as an interface between the bundle or software application and the remote management server, and enables the management platform in the customer device to expose manageable parameters to the remote management server.
The role of the management protocol is to provide a mechanism by which the auto-configuration server can securely read or write parameter values to configure the software in the customer device and eventually monitor the status and statistics of the customer device. An example management protocol for secure remote management of customer devices is the TR-069 protocol defined by the DSL Forum in its Technical Report TR-069, entitled "CPE WAN Management Protocol".
The TR-069 protocol is Remote Procedure Call (RPC) based, i.e. a generic message based mechanism by which the auto configuration server is able to read/write/configure parameters and parameter attributes of a software component running on a CPE device. Each parameter consists of a name-value pair. The name identifies the particular parameter and has a hierarchical structure similar to files in a directory, the different levels being separated by a "." (dot). The value of a parameter may be one of several defined data types. Each parameter further may be defined as a read-only or read-write parameter depending on whether the auto configuration server is allowed to only read the parameter or also to change the value of the parameter.
A particular example could be an HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) service or application that is installed on an ADSL or VDSL modem for client-server communications. All parameters of the HTTP application constitute the parameter model of the HTTP application. An example parameter is the number or identification of the port where the HTTP application listens to. The ADSL or VDSL modem is supposed to have an OSGi platform running on top of a Java Virtual Machine. The OSGi platform enables to share the capabilities of the HTTP application with other applications, e.g. a web browser. Via a TR-069 management agent installed on top of the OSGi platform, the parameters of the HTTP application can be made visible and accessible to an auto configuration server (ACS) in the DSL network or any other TR-069 aware bundle.
To introduce new model parameters to the auto configuration server, e.g. on installation of a new bundle, the prior art teaches three possibilities.
A first possible solution to introduce a new model parameter consists in describing the parameter through standardization. Standardized model parameters are known by standard compliant auto configuration servers and consequently can be discovered and uploaded autonomously from the customer side to the server side upon installation of the new software bundle. Obviously, this first solution takes time and consensus, and is not viable for new non-standardized or proprietary model parameters.
An alternative solution for introducing new model parameters to the auto configuration server consists in upfront defining these new model parameters, e.g. in an extended markup language (XML) file, and manually uploading the created XML file on the auto configuration server. The manual intervention of an operator however is error-prone, cumbersome and expensive.
The third prior art solution consists in defining a new attribute for the remote management protocol, e.g. TR-069, which is an additional field for one or several messages enabling to convey a parameter description, e.g. an extended markup language (XML) scheme defining the new model parameter(s), from the northbound interface of the CPE device to the southbound interface of the auto configuration server. This third prior art solution has for instance been described in contribution dsl2006.873 from Christele Bouchat and Werner Liekens for DSL Forum Specification TR69v2 or WT-148, that was entitled "Introduce a New Attribute" and submitted with the DSL Forum in March 2007. Although the latter solution does no longer require manual intervention of an operator, it is disadvantageous in that it takes adaptation of the configuration management protocol. An additional attribute has to be introduced which again takes consensus and standardization. Even if standardized, the third solution poses a problem of compatibility with deployed auto configuration servers and existing software applications which do not support the additional attribute. Another drawback of the third solution is its negative impact on the performance of the remote configuration. Indeed, as a result of the additional attribute, at least two messages have to be communicated between the CPE device and the auto configuration server in order to introduce a new model parameter to the server. First, the names and values of the parameters are communicated in response to for instance the TR-069 GetParameterValues instruction. Thereafter, the attributes including the attribute that describes the new parameters are communicated in response to for instance the TR-069 GetParameterAttributes instruction.
It is an object of the present invention to disclose an application module (or bundle) and a remote management server (or ACS) that overcome the drawbacks of the above described prior art solutions. In particular, it is an objective to disclose an application module and a remote management server able to discover new non-standardized model parameters in an automated fashion that does not require adaptation of the standardized remote management protocol and which does not impact the performance of the remote management mechanism.

Application module and remote management server with parameter description model


An integrated packet bit error rate tester includes a packet transmit circuit that has a first memory for storing transmit packet data and is connectable to a channel under test. A packet receive circuit includes a second memory for storing received packet data and is connectable to the channel under test. An interface is used for programming the packet transmit and packet receive circuits. The packet transmit circuit can generate an arbitrary 10G SERDES packet in response to commands from the interface. The packet receive circuit can determine a bit error rate of the channel under test. The second memory can capture received packet data upon any one of (a) after a pre-programmed pattern is detected, (b) after a pre-programmed pattern is lost, and (c) after an error is detected.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to serializer/de-serializer integrated circuits with multiple high-speed data ports, and more particularly to a serializer/de-serializer chip that includes the functionality to switch between multiple high-speed data ports.
2. Background Art
High-speed data links transmit data from one location to another over transmission lines. These data links can include serializer/deserializer data links (i.e. SERDES) that receive data in a parallel format and convert the data to a serial format for high-speed transmission. SERDES data links can be part of a backplane in a communications system.
In a high-speed back plane configuration, it is often desirable to switch between multiple SERDES links. In other words, it is often desirable to switch between any one of multiple SERDES links to another SERDES link, and to do so in a low power configuration on a single integrated circuit.

Integrated packet bit error rate tester for 10G SERDES


Disclosed is an LCD and driving method thereof. The LCD according to the present invention generates modification image signals by considering image signals of present and previous frames, and then supplies data voltages corresponding to the generated modification image signals to the data lines. At this time, the value for modifying the present frame image signal varies according to a modification parameter that is at least one among a temperature, an image quality selected by a user, and an environment of the LCD.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) and a driving method thereof. More specifically, the present invention relates to an LCD and a driving method for providing compensated data voltage in order to improve a response time of the liquid crystal.
(b) Description of the Related Art
As personal computers (PCs) and televisions have recently become lighter in weight and slimmer in thickness, lighter and slimmer display devices have also been in great demand. Accordingly, flat panel type displays such as LCDs rather than cathode ray tubes (CRTS) are being developed.
In an LCD, a liquid crystal layer having anisotropic permittivity is injected between two substrates of a panel, and light transmittivity of the panel is controlled by applying and controlling an electric field to obtain desired images. An LCD is one of the most commonly used portable flat panel display devices. In particular, the thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) employing the TFT as a switching element is most widely used.
As more TFT-LCDs have been used as display devices of computers and televisions, it has become increasingly important to enable display of moving pictures on the TFT-LCD. However, conventional TFT-LCDs have a relatively slow response speed, so it is difficult to enable moving pictures thereon. To solve the problem of slow response speed, a different type of TFT-LCD that uses an optically compensated band (OCB) mode or ferro-electric liquid crystal (FLC) materials has been developed.
However, the structure of the conventional TFT-LCD panel must be modified to use the OCB mode or the FLC materials. The Korean patent application No. 2000-5442 discloses a "Liquid crystal display and method thereof" to enhance the response speed of the LCD by modifying the liquid crystal driving method without modifying the structure of the TFT-LCD.
No. 2002-5442 generates a compensation data voltage by considering data voltages of present and previous frames, and provides the compensation data voltage to a data line of the LCD panel so that the pixel voltage becomes the target level immediately, and thereby the response quality is enhanced. The compensation data voltage is determined according to a dynamic capacitance and a response speed of the liquid crystal.
However, the dynamic capacitance and the response speed vary according to temperature. For example, when the temperature increases, the capacitance of liquid crystal decreases and the response speed of liquid crystal increases. Conversely, when the temperature decreases, the capacitance of the liquid crystal increases and the response speed decreases.
No. 2002-5442 compensates data voltage based on a predetermined compensation value with respect to a specific temperature, but parameters for setting the compensation value according to temperature vary as described above. Accordingly, over compensation occurs when a present temperature is higher than the specific temperature, and under compensation occurs when the present temperature is lower than the specific temperature, so correct data voltage compensation cannot be performed.
In an environment for displaying a moving picture rather than a PC graphics environment displaying a character or a still image, over-compensation of the data voltage is difficult to see, and the more the over-compensation occurs, the better the quality of the moving picture becomes.
FIG. 1 shows an example of compensating the moving picture in the prior art.
When the under compensation is performed by compensating the moving picture of a rectangular shape according to the prior art regardless of temperature, as shown in (a) of FIG. 1, a response time becomes slower than one frame time, so an afterimage occurs. When the over compensation is performed, as shown in (b) of FIG. 1, an artifact in which an edge of an object is exaggeratedly displayed occurs.
However, some viewers prefer a smooth picture that occurs when response speed of the LCD is low because of the under-compensation, and some viewers prefer an over-compensated picture in which an edge of an object is distinctly seen.
The prior art is deficient in that adaptive compensation is not performed because the data voltage is modified based on a fixed compensation voltage regardless of various parameters such as temperature, taste of a user, and environment.

Liquid crystal display and a driving method thereof


A structural coupler for joining two storage racks of a mobile rack system. The coupler includes three separate components that are movable relative to each other to allow for relative movement between adjacent storage racks while providing the structural stability to prevent tipping of the storage racks. The coupler includes a coupling bracket that includes a pair of tabs that extend through open slots formed in a movement bracket and through receiving slots formed in a receiving bracket. A removable connector prevents separation of the coupler in the assembled condition while the size of the coupling tabs relative to the open slots allows the three components to move relative to each other. A series of individual couplers can be used along the height of the uprights that form part of each of the individual storage racks.

The present disclosure generally relates to industrial storage systems and, more particularly, to a mobile industrial rack system for use in areas having seismic activity or on unleveled flooring.
Industrial rack systems are commonly used in storage facilities to store products until those products are shipped either directly to a consumer or to a retailer. Typically, the industrial racks store loaded pallets that are placed on and removed from the racks using a forklift. The industrial racks are spaced from one another in a manner to form relatively wide aisles to allow sufficient room for the forklift to load and remove the pallets. Since each industrial rack has a fixed position, each industrial rack must have a dedicated aisle. Moreover, since each aisle is typically as wide, if not wider than, the rack itself, more than half the floor space occupied by the industrial rack system may be occupied by aisles and thus not usable for product storage.
Mobile industrial rack systems, however, are designed to reduce the number of fixed aisles and, as a result, increase the amount of floor space used for product storage. More particularly, in a typical configuration, a single aisle may be allocated for the entire industrial rack system. The position of that single aisle can be changed by moving the industrial racks along a track or rail that is mounted or otherwise secured to the storage facility flooring, which is typically a concrete slab. While in some configurations each industrial rack is moved independently, it is common for back-to-back industrial racks to be coupled using a rigid flue spacer connector and moved as a single multi-rack unit by a single mobile carriage supporting both racks. To access a forward rack of a given back-to-back configuration, the racks are moved such that an aisle is formed immediately forward of the back-to-back configuration. To access a rearward rack of the given back-to-back configuration, the racks are moved such that an aisle is formed immediately rearward of the back-to-back configuration. Mobile industrial rack systems provide nearly twice the storage capacity of a similarly sized fixed rack system.
Conventional mobile industrial rack systems must roll on leveled rail such that the heavy loading of the industrial racks does not create an undesired imbalance as the racks are being moved. Thus, in a typical implementation, the existing concrete floor of a storage facility, which is generally not level within the specifications required for the mobile industrial rack system, must be leveled by applying a thin coat of concrete material to the concrete floor. The rails along which the racks move are then anchored through the thin coat of concrete material and to the concrete floor. Alternately, footings may be poured beneath the concrete floor and the rails anchored to the footings beneath the concrete floor. A similar thin coat of concrete material is then poured around the rail to provide a leveled floor surface. Grout or similar material is typically placed between the rails and the concrete floor or footings. In both instances, measures must be taken to provide a level surface for the rails along which the racks move, which are generally quite costly.
In areas in which there is a relatively high frequency of seismic activity, rigid connectors are often required between the two racks of a multi-rack unit to withstand seismic activity. The rigid connectors used between the two racks of a multi-rack unit somewhat limits the degree to which the floor can be uneven. Thus, a connector that allows for relative movement between the two racks of a multi-rack unit increases the use and availability for the mobile industrial rack system.

Structural articulation joint for high density mobile carriage


Disclosed is the therapeutic potential of Calebin A for osteoporosis (bone loss) caused by aging or chronic disease conditions like cancer. Calebin A is shown to down modulate osteoclastogenesis induced by receptor activator of nuclear factor (NF)-κB ligand (RANKL) signalling thereby having therapeutic potential for osteoporosis.

Field of the Invention
The invention in general pertains to osteoporosis and therapeutic interventions thereof in mammals. More specifically, the present invention pertains to the therapeutic potential of Calebin A for osteoporosis wherein calebin A in therapeutically effective amounts is shown to inhibit mammalian osteoclastogenesis by the suppression of the RANKL signaling pathway thereby evincing therapeutic potential for osteoporosis.
Description of the Prior Art
An estimated 61 million people aged 50 years or older in the United States would be prone to risk for fractures following osteoclast related bone diseases like osteoporosis or low bone mass by 2020 due to the non availability of widely implemented and effective treatment. According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, the projected cost of osteoporosis care over the next 2 decades will be approximately $474 billion (Z. Jin, X. Li, Y. Wan, Mol. Endocrinol. 29 (2015) 172-186).
Bone metastasis is common sequelae of multiple myeloma or advanced breast, prostate, lung, colon, kidney, thyroid, and stomach carcinomas (R. E. Coleman, Cancer Treat. Rev. 27 (2001) 165-176 and R. E. Coleman, Clin. Cancer Res. Off. J. Am. Assoc). The involvement of a cytokine belonging to the tumour necrosis factor (TNF) family called receptor activator of nuclear factor (NF)-κB ligand (RANKL) in such metastasis has been reported in the art (T. Onishi, N. Hayashi, R. L. Theriault, G. N. Hortobagyi, N. T. Ueno, Nat. Rev. Clin. Oncol. 7 (2010) 641-651). RANKL has been demonstrated to possess osteoclastogenic activity, whereby RANKL directs the differentiation of bone monocytes to osteoclasts which promote bone resorption (D. L. Lacey, E. Timms, H. L. Tan, M. J. Kelley, C. R. Dunstan, T. Burgess, R. Elliott, A. Colombero, G. Elliott, S. Scully, H. Hsu, J. Sullivan, N. Hawkins, E. Davy, C. Capparelli, A. Eli, Y. X. Qian, S. Kaufman, I. Sarosi, V. Shalhoub, G. Senaldi, J. Guo, J. Delaney, W. J. Boyle, Cell 93 (1998) 165-176 and S. L. Teitelbaum, Science 289 (2000) 1504-1508).
Curcumin is also reported to suppress osteoclastogenesis (A. C. Bharti, Y. Takada, B. B. Aggarwal, J. Immunol. (2004) 172, 5940-5947). Other natural ingredients for managing osteoporosis and cancer induced osteoclastogenesis remain to be investigated. Calebin A as a natural ingredient is known in the art for its anti-cancer properties (Li Y et al, "Calebin-A induces apoptosis and modulates MAPK family activity in drug resistant human gastric cancer cells", Eur J Pharmacol. 2008 Sep. 4; 591(1-3):252-258 and Aggarwal B B et al, "Curcumin-free turmeric exhibits anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities: Identification of novel components of turmeric", Mol Nutr Food Res. 2013 September; 57(9):1529-42). The present invention investigates the ability of calebin A to suppress osteoclastogenesis in mammals.
It is the principle objective of the invention to disclose the therapeutic potential of calebin A for mammalian osteoporosis wherein calebin A is shown to inhibit both RANKL- and cancer-induced osteoclastogenesis.
The present invention fulfils the aforesaid objective and also provides related advantages.


An apparatus and method for laser texturing of magnetic recording media are described. The apparatus includes an optical assembly, containing first and second mirrors, which are rotated and optionally shifted during a texturing operation. This optical assembly directs a pulsed laser beam onto a series of focused spots on the surface of a magnetic disk, creating a desired pattern of texturing while maintaining a constant focus of the beam at the surface of the disk.

Over the past several years, a significant increase in recording density in thin-film media magnetic recording disks has been achieved, and there is a continuing effort to increase recording density further. A number of magnetic properties in a thin-film disk are important to achieving high recording density. These include high coercivity, high remanence, and low flying height, that is, a close proximity of the read/write heads to the disk surface. Such proximity decreases overlap of voltage signals in adjacent magnetic domains in the disk, thus permitting an increase in recording density and optimum read-write performance.
To reduce flying height, and to improve wear resistance, it is desirable for the surface of the disk to be as smooth as possible. However, prolonged contact of a read-write head with a very smooth disk surface, i.e. when the head is not in use, can lead to the problem of "stiction", wherein the two closely matching surfaces stick to each other, causing possible damage during start/stop cycles. Manufacture of such disks thus typically includes a texturing step, to create a roughened substrate surface, characterized by submicron surface irregularities. The roughened surface reduces stiction between the disk and head by reducing surface contact between the two, particularly for start/stop cycles. Such texturing is often carried out only on a nondata region near the inner opening of the disk, where the read/write head is "parked" when the disk is not operating.
Such texturing can lead to an undesirable increase in flying height if there is too much variation in the surface irregularities created. The best (lowest) flying head distances which have been achieved with plated metal-substrate disks polished by sanding or abrasion, as described above, is about 6 microinches (mils). Laser texturing of such magnetic media, in which textured spots on the surface are produced by controlled melting and solidifying at closely spaced locations on the plated alloy, has been reported to produce flying head distances in the range of one microinch or less (Ranjan), a clear improvement over abrasion-based methods.
For maximum uniformity in laser texturing, however, it is important to maintain a constant focus of the laser beam at the surface of the disk as the beam is moved from one spot on the disk to another. Certain variables exist in previously described methods which could lead to variations in the path length between the laser source and the disk surface, resulting in variable focus at the disk surface, and a resulting lack of uniformity in the size and depth of the textured sites. For example, in texturing a disk, it is generally desirable to produce a pattern of textured spots over a central surface region of the disk. This is achieved in the reported methods by rotating the disk on a spindle, in conjunction with radial stepping of the laser or the disk. If any oscillatory motion occurs during rotation of the disk, or if the precise distance between the laser and disk surface is not maintained during radial stepping, variations in depth of texturing greater than the order of a microinch are likely to result.
Thus, it is desirable to provide a laser texturing apparatus and method which allows precise focus of the laser beam to be maintained at the disk surface as the beam is directed to various points on the surface.

Laser texturing apparatus employing a rotating mirror


An object of the invention is to provide a printed wiring board which is less likely to cause foaming even after a reflow step and in which a metal reinforcing plate is less likely to be peeled off, a manufacturing method thereof, and an electronic device. A printed wiring board (1) according to the present invention includes a wiring circuit board (6), a conductive adhesive layer (3), and a metal reinforcing plate (2). The conductive adhesive layer (3) is bonded to each of the wiring circuit board (6) and the metal reinforcing plate (2). The metal reinforcing plate (2) includes a nickel layer (2b) formed on a surface of a metal plate (2a). A ratio of a surface area of nickel hydroxide to nickel present in a surface of the nickel layer (2b) is more than 3 and equal to or less than 20.

Electronic devices, such as mobile phones and smartphones, are generally provided with an electromagnetic shielding layer to prevent a malfunction due to electromagnetic noise that is emitted from electronic components mounted in the electronic devices. It is necessary for printed wiring boards mounted in the electronic devices, in particular, flexible printed wiring boards having flexibility, to ensure durability for mounting the components on the surface of each printed wiring board. Accordingly, the printed wiring board is generally provided with a metal reinforcing plate. Patent Literature 1 discloses a printed wiring board having a configuration in which the printed wiring board is electrically connected with a conductive reinforcing plate through a conductive adhesive layer, to thereby enhance the shielding effect.
Also, a technique is known in which a surface of a metal reinforcing plate is nickel plated to effectively eliminate electromagnetic waves emitted by electronic components, to thereby improve the conductivity. However, there is a problem that it is difficult to bond the metal reinforcing plate to the conductive adhesive layer.
In this regard, Patent Literature 2 discloses a printed wiring board having a configuration in which a ratio of a surface area of nickel hydroxide (Ni(OH)2) to nickel (Ni) on a surface of a nickel plating layer formed on a metal reinforcing plate is in a range from 1.8 to 3.0.

Printed wiring board, printed wiring board manufacturing method, and electronic device


A tabletop miniature horseshoes game for use in private residences which includes a substantially horizontal playing surface and a pair of miniature posts to be used as the target for tossed miniature horseshoes. An embodiment for use in commercial establishments provides a token means to activate the game, a means to change and display each players score, a means to keep track of and display game time, and a means to lower the posts when the game is over. The commercial establishment game may also incorporate a vending machine to dispense the 1/10th scale horseshoes to be used with the game.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to providing a "horseshoes" tabletop game system. More particularly, this invention concerns a novel system for a tabletop "horseshoes" game that may be played either in a private residence or in a commercial establishment.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Typically, in the prior art, to play the well-known game of "horseshoes" requires a playing field of sufficient size to incorporate the conventional distance between the required stakes of approximately 40 feet. Due to the size of the playing field and the need to have a soft substance, such as sand, surrounding the stakes, horseshoes is typically played outdoors and is a game well known throughout the world, although the agreed rules for any particular game are subject to local variation. Briefly, the game is played by players taking turns throwing/pitching a full-size metal horseshoe (often specially made as a large "pitching horseshoe") at a usually-metal vertical stake firmly set in the ground. Each player throws/pitches from about one stake to the other and can score specified points depending upon whether the player makes a "ringer" (if the horseshoe is curled around the stake), a "leaner" (if the it is leaning on the stake), or touching or close within a specified distance, etc., etc.; and a player may move a previously pitched horseshoe to a scoring or non-scoring position as a result of a later pitch. In addition to playing field size limitations, the ability to play conventional horseshoes is subject to other variables such as the weather. In view of the popularity of the sport, and in view of the above-mentioned limitations, there exists a need to provide for this type of entertainment not subject to these limitations.


A visualization system for identifying a biological sample in a preservative solution comprising a dye that (i) colors a biological sample in a manner in which the sample can be readily identified and retrieved from among the other contents of the medium; (ii) provides a colored sample that permits proper positioning of the material in a paraffin block prior to sectioning; and (iii) does not interfere with the subsequent processing of the sample at the processing laboratory.

Conventionally, a gross biological sample is collected from a mammal and placed in a fixative solution (such as formaldehyde). It is then transported to a laboratory where suitable pieces of the gross sample are retrieved from the solution, sectioned, mounted onto a slide, and finally stained. See e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,911,915; 5,143,714; 5,137,710; and RE 29,073.
The coloring visualization procedure that is described here is used with biological samples like biopsy tissues, fecal samples containing parasites and discrete organs and tissues like lymph nodes. It is very different from the staining procedures used on sections of tissues as for example those attached to glass slides. In this latter situation, a wide variety of stains may be used to visualize internal cellular structures and components. These latter stains also are used after sectioning.
There also are a group of colorants known under many names including the name "Marker Dyes". These materials are employed to "outline" the outer margins of tissues in a permanent fashion. This group of colorants is distinguished from the subject matter of this invention in at least three important ways.
1. Marker Dyes often are insoluble, permanent, colored materials (or become insoluble and permanent after treatment), and they usually are "painted" onto the tissues. PA1 2. Marker Dyes usually are applied either to fresh tissues, or to tissues after fixation, but before sectioning. PA1 3. The Marker Dye procedure is intended to be permanent so that the margins of the tissues (the painted areas) can be seen easily in the final slide preparation (after sectioning and after staining).

Visualization system for retrieval, identification, and positioning of biological samples for subsequent microscopic examination


An electrostatic precipitator cell is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The electrostatic precipitator cell includes a connection rod including first and second ends, a length, a cross-sectional shape, and a lengthwise surface. The electrostatic precipitator cell further includes collection plates located in spaced-apart arrangement on the connection rod. A collection plate includes at least one aperture. The central aperture substantially conforms to the cross-sectional shape of the connection rod. The electrostatic precipitator cell further includes an attachment device(s) for removably attaching the collection plates to the connection rod. The collection plates are held in a substantially parallel orientation on the connection rod by the attachment device(s).

Air cleaners and purifiers are widely used for removing foreign substances from air. The foreign substances can include pollen, dander, smoke, pollutants, dust, etc. In addition, an air cleaner can be used to circulate room air. An air cleaner can be used in many settings, including at home, in offices, etc.
One type of air cleaner is an electrostatic precipitator. An electrostatic precipitator operates by creating an electrical field. Dirt and debris in the air becomes ionized when it is brought into the electrical field by an airflow. Charged positive and negative electrodes in the electrostatic precipitator air cleaner, such as positive and negative plates, create the electrical field and one of the electrode polarities attracts the ionized dirt and debris. Because the electrostatic precipitator comprises electrodes or plates through which airflow can easily and quickly pass, only a low amount of energy is required to provide airflow through the electrostatic precipitator. As a result, foreign objects in the air can be efficiently and effectively removed without the need for a mechanical filter element. Periodically, the electrostatic precipitator can be removed and cleaned.
In the prior art, a typical electrostatic precipitator cell is mass produced. The prior art electrostatic precipitator cell includes multiple plates and is typically formed out of stamped sheet metal. The plates are commonly welded or crimped together to form some manner of fixed structure. As a result, the prior art electrostatic precipitator cell is specially designed for a particular implementation, including the number of plates, the plate spacing and voltage requirements, the overall physical size and shape, etc.
The prior art has several, drawbacks. The prior art electrostatic element is not designed as a device comprising modular units. The prior art electrostatic element is formed of permanently attached components. A welding or crimping manufacturing method results in a prior art electrostatic precipitator cell that cannot be tailored to various applications. In addition, the welding operation can cause warping of electrode plates. The prior art electrostatic precipitator cell cannot be constructed with varying numbers of plates. The prior art electrostatic precipitator cell cannot be easily assembled. The prior art electrostatic precipitator cell cannot be disassembled for cleaning, repair, or refurbishment. In addition, the prior art has had difficulty in eliminating ionization zones caused by sharp edges in the prior art electrostatic precipitator cell.

Air cleaner electrostatic precipitator cell


A shelf display apparatus for storing absorbent articles packaged in a flexible film in a substantially upright position on a shelf. The apparatus includes a substantially horizontal top support member having a proximate end and a distal end. The apparatus includes a first vertical support member and a second vertical support. Both vertical supports being substantially vertical and both having an upper and lower end. Moreover, the first upper end is joined to the proximate end of the top support member and the first lower end is connected to a shelf. Similarly, the second upper end is joined to the distal end of the top support member and the second lower end is connected to the shelf. The top support member has a non-linear portion to provide further upright support of the packaged absorbent articles. The non-linear portion shape may consist of curves, triangles, rectangles, random patterns and combinations thereof.

Consumer products are commonly sold in retail stores that market such products by placing them on store shelves. Many consumer products are free-standing (e.g., cereal boxes, cans of soup) such that they do not require a support apparatus to be placed on a shelf. Other consumer products, however, are not substantially free-standing. Of these non-substantially-free-standing products, some of them require a particular orientation on the shelf (e.g., packages that have oriented surface indicia). One particular example of interest is absorbent articles (e.g., disposable diapers, sanitary napkins, tampons, and pantiliners).
Many absorbent articles are packaged in flexible film (e.g., low density polyethylene). Once packaged, the resulting package shape is generally rectangular. Such rectangular shapes typically have a larger front and rear surface which provides the most surface area for the placement of surface indicia (e.g., graphics, text, pictures). However, basic scientific principles (e.g., center of gravity) dictate that the rectangular shape package is most stabile when placed on one of these larger surfaces. Thus, the surface indicia is not seen by the consumer, especially when one package is stacked on top of another (see the prior art example in FIG. 1; a variety of absorbent articles 800 are shown). If the consumer cannot find their desired product on the shelf amongst a multitude of stacked packages, then they are less likely to purchase the proper product for their particular application, thus resulting in potential dissatisfaction with the entire brand. Furthermore, when consumers search through several stacks of products to find their desired selection, they are more likely to mix the product versions with one another. Consequently, the shopping experience of subsequent consumer is worsened. In addition to the consumers' frustrations, the store clerk has similar difficulties when attempting to determine reorder amounts and proper product placement.
What is needed is a shelf display apparatus to store absorbent articles which are packaged in a flexible film in a substantially upright position. Such an apparatus would present these packages in a better orientation resulting in improved product identification for both the consumer and store clerk.

Shelf display apparatus for absorbent articles packaged in flexible film