A method and apparatus for feeding animals, particularly for feeding livestock, includes a plurality of individual feeding stalls (2) each having a feeding trough (24), a feed container (25), and a door (21) with a locking device (23). Feed is deposited in the troughs from the containers by operation of a flap (26) at the bottom of each container operated by a common operating device (27, 29). A shuttle feeding station (3) is movable along rails (12) to positions adjacent to each feeding stall and deposits feed therefrom into each feeding container. An identification label (50) is attached to each animal for generating a unique code for each animal in an electromagnetic interrogation field. A transmitter/receiver (37) on the feeding station generates an electromagnetic interrogation field and receives the unique code from each animal and transmits this identification to a computer (1) which has stored therein data relating to each unique code. After initial feeding in equal amounts, the shuttle feeding station is operated by the computer to deposit additional feed through a jack screw device (35, 36) into each feeding container in amounts depending upon the specific unique code for each animal.

This invention relates to a method of feeding animals, suitable in particular for feeding livestock, in which the animal can freely move about and freely enter a plurality of feeding stalls, each animal carrying an electric responder which generates a unique code for each animal in an electromagnetic interrogation field.
The invention further relates to apparatus for carrying out this method.
In pig farming, a method for keeping pigs is known in which the pigs are tied up and remain permanently in the same place, except when they farrow down. In that case, they are isolated in a so-called farrowing pen, where they stay until the piglets are big enough and the sows are taken back to their fixed place where they are tied up again.
Such a method has an adverse effect on the well-being of the animals, which in turn might lead to unfavorable farm-economic results. Being tied up in small spaces with limited space to lie in, the animals have little opportunity to move which causes stress, abnormal behavior and diseases of the legs of the animals. Further, with such a housing method, it is very difficult to realize computer-controlled feeding of the animals, particularly if several kinds of feed must be dosed.
According to a variant of the above-mentioned method, use is made of feeding cubicles where the animals are not tied up but permanently locked up in a small space. Here, similar problems are encountered. Sometimes in this system the animals can occasionally move about freely. In that case, feeding the animals individually is a problem because they do not always return to the same cubicle. In this known system, too, it is therefore troublesome to implement automation by means of a computer.
Another known method of keeping livestock is the method of group housing, where the animals, e.g. pigs, can move about freely in the housing space. Here, automatic, individual feeding has been rendered possible by arranging a feeding station in the space where the animals are housed, which is connected to a computer, in which is stored the amount of feed allowed to each pig and by making each animal electronically identifiable. Upon entering a feeding stall, a pig is electronically identified by means of an electronic identification label which it carries about its neck or is attached to an ear, and is read by a transmitter/receiver. The information is transmitted to the computer, whereupon the computer reports the amount of feed to be allotted to the animal identified. The transmitter/receiver controls one or more jackscrew motors which cause the feed to drop into the feeding through in front of the snout of the pig.
Although this method yields a considerable improvement of the well-being of the animals and enables automation of the feed supply by means of a computer, there are still some disadvantages to be noted in some situations. It is troublesome to isolate animals from the group and to check them since they are moving around freely. Further, in a small group, pecking order fights tend to occur at the feeding station, which may involve vulva biting.

Method and apparatus for feeding animals

N.V. Nederlandsche Apparatenfabriek NEDAP


A line unit holds in its active table data a number that indicates which flooding setting table is to be made active. An input frame forwarding unit embeds the number in an internal frame header of a frame that is to be output. As the number is embedded before the frame is forwarded to each line unit via a backboard, the output destination for the same frame is determined by a common active flooding setting table. Thus, frame destruction or duplication is prevented.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technology for transmitting frames (packets). More particularly, the present invention relates to a technology that allows change in link aggregation structure without interruption to the service or loss or duplication of the frames.
2. Description of the Related Art
Ethernet (Registered trademark) has been extensively employed in Local Area Networks (LAN). However, because networks can be establishment at relatively low cost by employing the Ethernet, the Ethernet is now a days adopted in Wide Area Networks as well. For example, Ethernet is now employed as the backbone of a communication carrier.
With that perspective, there is a great demand for increasing communication speed and availability of the Ethernet. Link aggregation, stipulated by Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.3ad (presently integrated with IEEE 802.3), is one such attempt for enhancing the communication speed and the availability of the Ethernet.
The link aggregation involves combining a plurality of physical data channels into a single logical link. For example, by employing the link aggregation, five 1-Gbps data channels can be combined to form one 5-Gbps link. When data channels are combined in this manner, it becomes possible to increases the bandwidth and the availability of data channel, in addition, even if a fault occurs in one of the links, communication can be continued over other normally operating links. A conventional technology has been disclosed in Part 3: Carrier sense multiple access with collision detection (CSMA/CD) access method and physical layer specifications, [online], March 2002, retrieved from the internet [URL: http://standards.ieee.org/getieee802/download/802.3-2002.pdf].
However, care needs to be taken when employing the link aggregation. That is, it is necessary to make sure that frame duplication does not occur when flooding all the links with Media Access Control (MAC) frame while broadcasting or multicasting. Frame duplication otherwise occurs in the destination device of the link aggregation. Frame duplication can be prevented by outputting frames only to one link among the links that are combined to form a link aggregate.
Conventional transmission apparatuses, such as layer 2 switches (hereinafter, "L2 switch"), use a table containing information pertaining to which ports to deliver frames to during flooding, thus, taking care that frame duplication does not occur.
However, frame duplication and/or frame loss can occur while the table is being updated. Frame duplication and/or frame loss is a serious problem when it comes to communication carriers.

Transmission apparatus and frame transmission method


The invention relates to stone wool formed from stone melt and consisting of 70 to 90% by weight stone wool fibers having diameters of up to 5 .mu.m, 0 to 5% by weight stone wool fibers having diameters above 5 .mu.m, and 10 to 25% by weight shot having a diameter of at least 63 .mu.m, and in which the average diameter of the fibers is from 1 to 4 .mu.m, the ratio of average fiber length:average diameter is 1,000 to 3,000, wherein the stone wool has a density from 12 to 85 kg/m.sup.3 and thermal conductivity lambda values from 30 to 40 mW/m.degree.K at 10.degree. C.

Glass wool is well recognized as an efficient insulating material in that wool of low density gives good insulation, that is to say a low Lambda (thermal conductivity) value.
Stone wool is formed from molten mineral such as one or more of diabase, basalt, slag, limestone, dolomite, cement, clay, feldspar, sand or olivin and generally contains stone wool another good insulator, but stone wool needs to be of a higher density than glass wool to achieve a similar Lambda value. Thus more material is required. This is commercially satisfactory for most purposes because it is cheaper to make stone wool than glass wool and so the stone wool is competitive with, or economically preferred over, the corresponding glass wool despite the necessity to have a higher density. Stone wool is cheaper because it is made from cruder, iron-containing melts that are not suitable for glass wool, and glass wool requires purer melt including expensive additives such as soda and borate in the melt.
Stone wool also has some properties which glass wool does not have, i.e. higher temperature resistance and better water repellancy, and better sound absorption, because of the higher density. Consequently stone wool can be used in areas where glass wool is less efficient.
It would of course be highly desirable to be able to reduce the density of the stone wool without decreasing its performance, since the stone wool would then be even more cost effective or preferred over glass wool, for a given degree of thermal insulation. Unfortunately this has not proved possible.
Because of the wish to make stone wool in a cost-effective manner, for it to be competitive with glass wool, the emphasis has always been on maximizing the amount of wool that can be obtained in any particular wool-forming apparatus, and it has been accepted that the wool will inevitably contain coarse fibers and significant amounts, e.g., over 25% by weight, of shot having particle size above 63 .mu.m.
The industry has accepted these restrictions as inevitable and has concentrated on ways of improving the productivity of processes for making such products.
In the following, the measurement of fibers diameter is referring to the standard accumulated length-based method carried out using a light microscope or a scanning electron microscope. The result on shot content is based on DIN standard No. 4188. The measurements on lambda are based on DIN No. 52612 part 1 and 2. Fiber length is based on 50% quantile on a logarithmic normal distributed graph. Density is calculated from measurement of volume according to DIN 18165 product type WL. The tensile strength measurements are referring to DIN No. 18165, measured on 30 kg/m.sup.3 cured product with a binder content of 1.4% by weight.


An interlayer insulating film covering a ferroelectric capacitor is formed, and through the interlayer insulating film, contact holes each reaching a capacitor electrode are formed. A wiring connected to the capacitor electrode through the contact hole is further formed above the interlayer insulating film. A planar shape of the contact hole is a regular octagon, a regular rectangle with four angles thereof being rounded, an octagon with a length of each neighboring side thereof being different to each other, a circle, and so forth.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device suitable for a ferroelectric memory, and a manufacturing method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
For a semiconductor device having a ferroelectric capacitor, an annealing treatment in the oxygen atmosphere after forming a capacitor film is dispensable so that characteristics of a ferroelectric film are enhanced. Accordingly, materials not easily oxidizable are used as materials for capacitor electrodes to sandwich the ferroelectric film, or materials oxidizable but securing sufficient conductivity even after being oxidized used as the materials. Metals of the platinum family such as platinum or iridium, and oxides of platinoid elements such as IrOx are used as the materials.
Further, in order to connect the ferroelectric capacitor and other elements, an interlayer insulating film is formed in such a manner that it covers the ferroelectric capacitor; contact holes each reaching each capacitor electrode are formed through the interlayer insulating film; and a wiring contacting each capacitor electrode through each contact hole is formed above the interlayer insulating film. Aluminum is used as a material for the wiring in general, which is also used for other semiconductor devices such as a memory. The planar shape of the contact hole is a regular rectangle. The thickness of the ferroelectric film is thicker compared to films constituting other elements, and the size of the ferroelectric capacitor in the vertical direction (thickness) is relatively large. This means that the contact hole reaching to the capacitor electrode is deep.
Meanwhile, a barrier metal film such as a TiN (titanium nitride) film is formed between the capacitor electrode and the aluminum wire, as described in the Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent No. 3045928) and the Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent No. 3165093) shown below, since reaction occurs between aluminum and the metals of the platinum family such as platinum.
However, conventionally the coverage of the TiN film formed within the deep contact hole described above is not superior, and in some cases the film cannot prevent reaction between platinum and aluminum from occurring. Consequently, contact failure arises or large upward rising occurs, both of which may affect the upper wiring in some cases.
Prior arts are described in the Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent No. 3045928), the Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent No. 3165093), Patent Document 3 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Hei 4-162652), and Patent Document 4 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2001-351920).

Semiconductor device with specifically shaped contact holes


A recording/playback apparatus is disposed with a first recording/playback unit, a second recording/playback unit, and a display unit. The display unit includes a first display representing the first recording/playback unit, a second display representing the second recording/playback unit, and plural light-emitting elements disposed between the first display and the second display. The recording/playback apparatus is also disposed with an input unit to which is inputted a start instruction of dubbing for transmitting and receiving data between the first recording/playback unit and the second recording/playback unit. When the start instruction is inputted to the input unit and dubbing is started, the display unit displays the direction of dubbing, the speed of dubbing, and the percentage of completion of dubbing by lighting the plural light-emitting elements.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to technology for improving the display of the mode of dubbing between recording/playback units in a recording/playback apparatus disposed with plural recording/playback units.
2. Description of the Related Art
JP-A-2001-250369 discloses a recording/playback apparatus disposed with a control panel where plural light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are arranged between displays representing recording/playback units, such as for compact discs (CDs) and minidiscs (MDs). The dubbing direction is displayed by sequentially moving, in accordance with the dubbing direction, the lighted portion of the LEDs beginning with the LED closest to the dubbing source (i.e., the playback source) and ending with the LED closest to the dubbing destination (i.e., the recording destination). When dubbing is conducted at twice the ordinary speed, the LEDs are lighted at twice their ordinary speed to visually indicate the dubbing speed.
JP-A-2001-325139 discloses technology that displays, on a computer screen, the status of the progress of transfer of a data file from an imaging device to the computer.
When plural types of information representing the status of dubbing are displayed at the time of dubbing, the user can easily grasp the status of dubbing, which is useful. But when plural types of information are displayed separately, there is the problem that the display of these types of information becomes small and the visibility is poor because the display screen of the recording/playback apparatus is limited.
It is necessary to provide an apparatus that improves the visibility of the dubbing mode display.

Recording/playback apparatus and information processing apparatus


A first linear sensor array produces, at a first time of occurrence, a first image of a segment of an object as the object moves across the sensor at a variable speed. The image and its time of occurrence are accumulated in a buffer. As the object continues to move across the sensor, a successive plurality of the segment images seen by the first sensor are accumulated in the buffer, together with their respective times of occurrence. A second linear sensor array spaced a distance d from the first array produces, at a second time of occurrence, a second image of another segment of the moving object. The second image is compared with the accumulated first images to determine which of the accumulated first images is most similar to the second image. The object's speed S can then be estimated as an appropriately weighted function of d/(t.sub.j -t.sub.m) [i.e. S.varies.d/(t.sub.j -t.sub.m)], where t.sub.j is the time of occurrence of a selected one of the second images and t.sub.m is the time of occurrence of the first image most similar to the selected second image. By continually monitoring the object's speed in this fashion, one may select and transfer into an image buffer those image segments which together form the highest quality image of the object, independently of the object's speed of motion past the sensor and without the need for expensive, bulky stepper motors, mechanical motion encoders, or the like.

Imaging devices such as fax machines capture images by scanning the image at a known, constant rate. For example, in a typical fax machine, a stepper motor draws the sheet bearing the image through a slot to move the image past a fixed scanning head at a constant rate. At any particular time, the scanning head "sees" only a narrow, linear portion of the image adjacent the scanning head. Because the scan rate is constant and predetermined, the fax machine's control circuity can easily be activated at fixed, sequential time intervals, to transfer the image portion seen during each interval into a buffer. The buffer accumulates the image portions to yield a full digital representation of the scanned image. Instead of moving the image past a fixed scanning head as described above, the image may remain in a fixed position while the stepper motor moves the scanning head past the image at a constant rate, as in a typical flat bed scanner.
Prior art devices like those mentioned above use relatively expensive, bulky stepper motors to maintain the scan rate constant to a high degree of precision. Some prior art devices, such as hand-held scanners, use less bulky encoders coupled to rollers to synchronize the scanning process as the scanner is hand-manoeuvred, at variable speed, over the object being imaged. Although the scan rate varies, it can be determined by electrical and/or mechanical coupling between the roller(s) and encoder(s). However, such arrangements require expensive high precision encoders and/or considerable mechanical complexity to achieve high resolution in the scanned image.
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for capturing an image of a moving object using one or more linear arrays, without the need for high precision stepper motors, and without the need for mechanically measuring the speed of the object.

Linear sensor imaging method and apparatus


A bearing comprises a metallic outer tube having a flange, a inner tube of resin having a flange, radial rollers, thrust balls and a collar. A plurality of roller receiving grooves are formed on the outer periphery of the inner tube, while a plurality of roller receiving recesses are formed on the flange of the inner tube. The receiving grooves are formed in parallel relation to the bearing axis. The receiving recesses are formed circumferentially in concentric relation to the bearing axis. Each of the rollers received respectively within the receiving groove is rotatable. Grease is possibly apply to an outer peripheral surface of the inner tube body and a flange surface thereof. The cylindrical outer tube covering the entirety has both ends which are bent toward the axis. As corrosion countermeasure, it is preferred to form metallic parts of the bearing with stainless steel.

The present invention relates chiefly to a small bearing and, particularly, to a radial/thrust composite-bearing jointly having both functions of a slide bearing and a roller bearing.
Generally, a radial/thrust composite bearing of a roller bearing comprises, as a mechanism for receiving a radial load, an inner race (inner tube) and an outer race (outer tube), in which balls perform rolling motion between thrust plates. As a typical example thereof, there are shown in the attached drawings of FIGS. 8 and 9 a ball bearing type and a needle roller type, respectively.
On the other hand, in a slide bearing, a bearing surface receiving a thrust load and a bearing surface receiving a radial load perform relative sliding motion between these bearing surfaces and a shaft. FIG. 10 shows, as an example, a radial/thrust composite-type slide bearing having a bush configuration.
Conventionally, in a radial/thrust composite bearing of a roller bearing, there are many cases where a thrust plate 01 and a retainer 02 for retaining balls or rollers are arranged as separate parts, and are not integrated with a bearing body. For this reason, there are many inconveniences on assembling the bearing to a housing and on custody. Further, in case where the bearing is brought to a bearing of integrated type, the number of parts increases and, as a result, the bearing is brought to an expensive one.
Generally, the roller bearing is characterized in that the balls perform rolling motion between the inner ring and the outer ring. Also in the needle roller bearing, needle rollers perform rolling motion between the inner and outer rings or between the outer ring and the shaft.
Similarly, the radial/thrust composite rolling bearing is brought to a mechanism which receives a load by rolling contact while the balls or the needle rollers perform rotational movement and revolution. Furthermore, in case of the thrust load, transferring of the load is performed by rolling contact between the balls or the rollers. For this reason, for the outer tube, the inner tube, the thrust plate, the rollers and the needle roller, processing of quenching and polishing is required after machinery processing of the parts has been performed. Many steps and skillful technique are required and this increases the cost. Moreover, since heavy-load type and light-load type are the same in structure as each other, it is difficult to design a bearing thickness (t.sub.1) and a flange thickness (t.sub.2) thin like the slide bearing. For this reason, the radial/thrust bearing has a disadvantage that a bearing weight is excessive.
On the other hand, in the radial/thrust composite bearing of slide bearing type, it is required for the shaft to have a surface receiving the thrust load, and a high finishing precision and high hardness are required for the thrust surface of the shaft because the shaft and the bearing surface relatively slide with respect to each other. For this reason, there is a disadvantage that the cost for manufacturing the shaft increases.
Further, in a slide bearing having a small diameter, a radial/thrust composite bearing is light in weight and small in size as compared with a needle roller-type bearing. However, when the radial/thrust composite bearing is used under middle and high rotation (at not slower than 30 to 100 m/min of peripheral speed of bearing), oil supply is required, and there are problems in secureness of oil, oil discharge and the like. Furthermore, at locations where the bearing is used under no-lubrication, friction increases as compared with the rolling bearing. Thus, the radial/thrust composite bearing has such a disadvantage that a driving force for instruments increases.

Radial/thrust composite-bearing having rolling elements


A system maintains a copy of data stored in a first memory device in a redundant distinct second memory device. Upon detecting an uncorrectable error in the first memory device, the system then relies on the copy of the data in the second memory device. The system, once it starts relying on the data in the second memory device, may then test the first memory device to determine if the uncorrectable error was due to a physical problem or a transient event. If the first memory device is then found to be working correctly, it may, in turn, become a redundant memory device for the second memory device.

Typically, systems that make use of electronic data and commands store the data and commands in some sort of memory device. Access to the data stored in the memory device is often controlled by a memory control unit (MCU). In such a system, each individual memory device is assigned to an MCU, and each MCU controls access to its corresponding memory devices. For example, in a computer, when a microprocessor requests data from the computer's Random Access Memory (RAM), the microprocessor sends a request to the MCU corresponding to the RAM, and the MCU fetches the requested data from the RAM and sends it to the microprocessor.
The MCU also controls the writing of data to the memory devices assigned to it. For the system to run reliably, the data written to the memory device and stored in the memory device must be identical to the data received by the MCU. In order to ensure the accuracy of the data written and stored in the memory device, the MCU may use an Error Correcting Circuit (ECC) to verify the receipt, writing and storage of the incoming data.
ECC's may detect single- and multi-bit errors in a data stream. Single-bit errors are most often caused by a random transient event. ECC's also have the ability to correct most single-bit errors, allowing the system to operate without downtime attributable to correctable single-bit errors. However, there are certain types of single-bit errors that are uncorrectable. These uncorrectable single-bit errors are sometimes referred to as "sticky bits." A "sticky bit" usually is the result of a physical problem in the memory device. A "sticky bit" does not always change state when requested. In addition, there are multi-bit errors that are typically uncorrectable. The multi-bit errors may be the result of a physical problem in the memory device, like a "sticky bit," or they may be the result of some other random transient event.
Unlike correctable single-bit errors, multi-bit errors and uncorrectable single-bit errors will result in a difference between the data received and the data actually written to the memory device. Upon receipt and identification of an uncorrectable error, most systems will shut down to avoid further corruption of the data or operating with corrupted data. For example, in a computer system, receipt and identification of an uncorrectable error will often cause the initiation of a controlled shutdown, including a recordation of the error. In contrast, operating the system with corrupted data may lead to an uncontrolled shutdown, or "crash." In any case, uncorrectable errors result in shutdowns that reduce the uptime and availability of the system.
To improve the reliability and availability of such a system, what is needed is a solution that may, upon identification of an uncorrectable error, switch to a redundant backup memory system so that the system may continue operating without downtime. In addition, what is needed is a solution that is able to test the memory device to determine if the uncorrectable error is due to a physical problem with the memory device, or due to a random transient event.

Method and apparatus for memory redundancy and recovery from uncorrectable errors


Methods, systems, and apparatus for computing quality scores based on neighbor features. In one aspect, a method includes obtaining a quality model that was trained using a set of training entities; identifying a set of candidate entities that are different from each of the training entities; for each candidate entity: obtaining a first quality score for the candidate entity; obtaining one or more neighbor features for neighbor entities of the candidate entity, where each neighbor entity of the candidate entity is linked to the candidate entity; obtaining one or more entity specific feature values for the candidate entity, where each entity specific feature value is determined independent of the neighbor entities of the candidate entity; and determining a second quality score for the candidate entity using the quality model, the second quality score being computed based on the first quality score, the neighbor features, and the entity specific feature values.

This specification relates to data processing and resource quality evaluation.
The Internet enables access to a wide variety of resources, such as video or audio files, images, and web pages for particular subjects. A variety of search engines are available for identifying particular resources accessible over the Internet. For example, web pages that satisfy a user's informational need can be identified by a search process in which keywords or other data are processed to identify web pages relevant to a user's search query. Search engines provide users with search results, often specifying the location of a resource that may be of interest to a user.
Search results generated by a search engine are generally ranked and presented to a user in an ordered list of search results. The rankings may be based on how the search engine evaluates the quality of resources or websites that include multiple resources, and/or how the search engine evaluates the relevance of resources that are referenced by the search results for a particular query.

Evaluating quality based on neighbor features


An apparatus for providing a magnetic field includes a magnet having a surface, and a structure disposed above the magnet surface. The structure includes a material of high magnetic permeability. The apparatus provides an interface between the material of high magnetic permeability and a material of low magnetic permeability. The apparatus may have two poles in magnetic communication with the magnet, the poles extending above the surface of the magnet, and the structure is disposed between the poles. The structure may have alternating regions of high magnetic permeability and low magnetic permeability. The apparatus alters the magnetic field of the magnet to reduce or remove a disorder in the magnetic field, and/or decrease the magnitude of the magnetic field, and/or induce a distortion in the magnetic field, and/or align or re-align the magnetic field, and/or orientate or re-orientate the magnetic field, and/or alter distribution or shape of the magnetic field.

The ability to control the motion of charged particles is central to the operation of many scientific instruments. Typically, separate electric and magnetic fields are used to deflect the path of moving particles toward a target. Taking electrons as an example, these particles are negatively charged and have a magnetic dipole moment, and accordingly can be exposed to electric and magnetic fields with the aim of influencing the path of travel. Generally, the strength and orientation of the electric and magnetic fields are set so as to precisely deflect an electron in motion toward a target surface.
Electron multipliers are but one example of the use of electric and magnetic fields to control the motion of an electron. These components are configured to amplify the secondary electron signal caused by the impact of a charged particle onto a surface, such as the impact of an ionized species on a detector in a mass spectrometer. The impact of each charged particle causes the emission of (typically) two or more secondary electrons from a dynode of the detector. These secondary electrons are directed toward a second dynode, and upon impact release further secondary electrons. By the use of a series of dynodes in this way, the electron signal is geometrically amplified such that impact of a fundamental unit of incident electronic charge (1.602×10−19 Coulombs) can produce an electrical current that is sufficient for measurement with conventional electronics at the final target electrode.
The temporal, spatial and energetic distribution of free electrons upon striking the target surface is partially determined by variations in both the applied electric and magnetic field strength and direction.
The conductive materials used to provide the electrical field are normally sufficiently homogenous so as to provide highly uniform electric fields. However, ferromagnetic materials conventionally used to provide the magnetic field contain local inhomogeneities (and especially inhomogeneities in the magnet surface) that lead to relatively large variations in the magnetic field. These variations are significant to the extent that some loss of electrons is virtually inevitable, leading to signal loss.
The ability to precisely control the spatial, temporal and energetic distribution of an electron pulse is therefore currently limited by the natural, local variation in magnetic field arising from the variation in magnetic permeability of crystalline grains that compose the ferromagnetic material.
Quite apart from the local variations in magnetic field caused by in homogeneities, a further problem with conventionally used magnets is a slight (but practically significant) misalignment of the N-S field direction with the geometry of the magnet. For example, in a rectangular prismatic-shaped magnet the field direction can deviate several of degrees from the physical axis of the magnet. This deviation can lead to a loss of electrons. Accordingly, it is desirable in some circumstances to alter the magnetic field in a magnet so as to align with the physical axis of the magnet, this in turn resulting in better control of electrons.
The ability to alter a magnetic field may also be exploited to straighten (or at least partially straighten) a curved field line so as to more effectively control movement of an electron. Conversely, where a portion of a field line is essentially linear (such as in the central region between two poles) it may be desired to curve the field line. Alternatively it may be desired for field lines to be \ compressed closely together for the purpose of improving electron control.
There is a clear need in the art for improved, or at least alternative means for providing magnetic fields in scientific instrumentation. It is an aspect of the present invention to provide improved apparatus and methods, or to at least provide an alternative to prior art means.
The discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles and the like is included in this specification solely for the purpose of providing a context for the present invention. It is not suggested or represented that any or all of these matters formed part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention as it existed before the priority date of each claim of this application.

Apparatus and methods for controlling a charged particle in a magnetic field


The present invention provides a control method for generating data sets for reduction of sulfur dioxide discharge in energy grid. The electric price parameters, energy-consumption parameters, and SO2 discharge parameters of the generating sets are collected and processed, and the final generating sets are selected according to different control goals or the comprehensive analysis of the electric price parameters, the energy-consuming parameters and the SO2 discharge parameters of the generating sets. The present invention sets the least SO2 discharge in general power grids as a target and solves the problem of the present loss of control of SO2 discharge in the generating sets.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a dynamoelectric method, and more particularly, to a concentrating control method of generating sets for a grid energy saving and reduction of SO2 discharge.
2. Description of the Related Art
The modern power system is a very large, vast, and complicated system; any local faults will probably cause large-area blackouts.
To maintain safety, stability, and economic operation of a large system that relates to social welfare, and the synchronous development of power systems in the grid control center, and the end of power plants, a homologous information and control system needs to be set up.
This type of system is being called "Energy Management System" (EMS). The grid control center manages and controls real-time balancing of the entire electric power system such as generation, transmission, distribution, and is supplemented by EMS.
The traditional generating set operational controlling methods based on power generating plan targets or energy-consuming indicators have evolved into methods that control the power generating set by the "sell electric price" (bid) from low to high in the control center throughout domestic and international power grids. In other words, grid control centers set the lowest cost for the purchase of electricity as a target to control the generating set. In order to adapt to changes in the power system, many grids build a separate technical support system (or grid operator control system) to adapt to the electricity market operation, on the basis of the EMS or outside the EMS, for the processing of "sold electricity" (electricity to access grid), electric price of generating set, and the corresponding control signals. Then, the EMS controls the operation of the generating set under the control commands of a grid operator control system.
Therefore, the power grid operator control system and EMS relationship between foreground and background is functional; the power grid operator control system processes the balance of power supply and demand. The grid control center uses EMS for power generation systems with real-time control under the former set of the bid and control signal of the generating set.
For the above-mentioned reasons; the world's grid control centers, to achieve market-oriented reform, adopt bidding for generating sets as the control variable to conduct real-time control on the grid generating set by EMS. Power generation enterprises must use various technical means (of which the widest used is an automatic generation control system—the main station of the plant's AGC terminal station, PLC devices, or plant stations' AGC) to control the respective set and achieve the optimizing of the allocation of resources in a single or a generating set, thus seeking to maximize economic efficiency.
In addition, both in abroad and domestic power grids, primary energy consumption of generating sets is a variable, but in many cases, coal as the representative of fossil fuel is the primary energy source. With more and more consumption of electricity in human society, coal-power generation has increased significantly. Air discharge from coal-fired power plant's flue gas such as SO2 (sulfur dioxide) and other harmful gases also will increase substantially, seriously affecting the survival of the human environment. All countries in the world are trying to reduce the total SO2 discharge in the atmosphere. With human demand for electricity growing at the same time, we need to reduce environmental pollution. For the coal-fired power plants, SO2 discharge must be reduced as much as possible.
For a single power generating set, due to restrictions on the design of fuel electricity output in certain circumstances, SO2 discharge within smoke is basically not controllable in addition to installation of desulphurization facilities. However, types of the primary energy and characteristics of SO2 discharge are not the same between different sets, and sometimes are very different. For example, for the thermal generating single set capacity of 600 MW, the output of one kilowatt of electricity consumption goes along with about 300 grams of standard coal, and for a thermal generating set with single set capacity of 50 MW, the standard coal consumption per kilowatt-hour calls for more than 450 grams, which means that in the premise of the same generating capacity and coal quality, SO2 discharge of the latter is larger than the former by 50 percent. The SO2 discharge of the same set in full-loads and low-loads are very different; hydropower and wind power generation has no SO2 discharge.
Therefore, to set the least SO2 discharge of the overall power grid as the goal is of very real social and economic significance to optimize control of the entire power grid generating set.

Concentrating control method of generating sets for grid energy saving and reduction of SO


The present invention relates to an anti-cancer composition containing acridine derivatives and guanosine compounds. In the composition of the present invention, the acridine derivative and the guanosine compound are present in the weight ratio of 1:0.1-5.0, preferably 1:0.3-3.0 and more preferably 1:0.5-1.5. In the composition of the present invention, most preferably the acridine derivative is acriflavine neutral and the guanosine compound is guanosine hydrate. Although acridine derivatives and guanosine compounds used as an active ingredient in the present composition have substantially no anti-cancer effect when they are used individually, the combination of acriflavine neutral and guanosine hydrate which potentiates the effect of acriflavine neutral, i.e. the composition(AG60) according to the present invention, exhibits reduced toxicity and increased anti-cancer effect in comparison to the use of acriflavine neutral or guanosine hydrate alone.

1. Field of the Invention
The file of this patent contains at least one drawing executed in color. Copies of this patent with color drawing will be provided by the Patent and Trademark Office upon request and payment of the necessary fee.
The present invention relates to an anti-cancer composition containing acridine derivatives and guanosine compounds. In the composition of the present invention, the acridine derivative and the guanosine compound are present in the weight ratio of 1:0.1-5.0, preferably 1:0.3-3.0 and more preferably 1:0.5-1.5.
2. Background Art
A tumor is a disease in which cells are excessively proliferating for some reasons in the living body. Cancer is a malignant tumor which is thought as being the "progressive, uncontrolled and unlimited proliferation of cells". The uncontrolled proliferation means that cells can continuously proliferate by avoiding physiological surveillance and various suppressive factors in the living body, although some exceptions may be present. Cancerous cells are characterized by low serum requirement and active proliferation even in diluted blood. Cancer cells can produce growth factors which assist unregulated malignant proliferation.
Cancer or neoplasm is a cell population which carries excessive and self-regulating proliferation to invade the living body, and the malignant tumor tends to invade the healthy tissues resulting in infiltrating proliferation. In addition, the cancer cells may be shed and disseminated to other organs and tissues through blood or lymph node, resulting in the formation of the secondary cancer (i.e., metastasized cancer). Metastatic cancer in the human body is one of the most fatal diseases which produces an extremely high mortality and causes intolerable pain. Currently the incidence of cancer keeps increasing.
Advances in molecular and cellular biology of cancer have revealed that oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes are involved in the induction of neoplasms and that carcinogenesis is also associated with the intervention of signal transduction systems, which affect cell proliferation, genes and regulatory systems of gene expression, and the like. When oncogenes are activated, an increase in expression and cell division occurrs, whereas tumor suppressor genes are generally involved in suppression of cell division and proliferation. It is generally accepted that cancer cells with unlimited proliferation are expressed due to a certain abnormality of the proliferation stop mechanism which involves proliferative factors, proliferation inhibiting factors, intracellular substrates, cell surface molecules, and the like.
At present, it is well known that chemotherapeutic agents currently used for the treatment of malignant tumors have limitations in clinical applications due to their serious adverse effects such as bone marrow suppression and gastro-intestinal disturbances, and thus cannot sufficiently provide successful treatment of cancer. Furthermore, more potent cancer chemotherapeutic agents exhibit more serious toxicities, unpleasant feelings and intoxications, etc., besides the symptoms resulting from cancer itself. Currently, the treatment of cancer includes surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, endocrinological therapy, immunological therapy, and the like. Anti-cancer agents being used for treatment of a malignant tumor may kill normal cells as well as cancerous cells. Because of this non-specific cytotoxicity, anti-cancer agents not only kill or destroy cancer cells but also destroy rapid proliferative tissues such as bone marrow, lymphatic tissue, epithelial cells of oral cavity and stomach, skin, epithelium of genital glands, etc. Furthermore, when anti-cancer agents are repetitively administered, they can cause many disorders of the organs and tissues, immunodepression, teratogenicity, carcinogenicity, and the like.
Since cancer cells are difficult to destroy by means of one chemotherapeutic agent due to the heterogeneity of human malignant tumors and drug resistance, it is preferable to inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells at all stages by combined therapy of two or more chemotherapeutic agents, each of which affects a different stage in cell proliferation. Accordingly, many attempts have been made to effectively inhibit tumor proliferation, and at the same time to reduce the harmful side effects by such combined therapy.
In this aspect, the present inventors have performed extensive experimental studies using a number of compounds. Pharmacological and pathological examinations allowed us to reveal that acridine derivatives and guanosine compounds are effective against tumor growth. We found that either acridine derivatives or guanosine compounds have extremely low anti-cancer activity when used alone, whereas the two agents in combination exhibit an excellent anti-cancer effect. Thus, we have completed the present invention relating to the composition containing acridine derivatives and guanosine compounds, which acts against cancer.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an anti-cancer composition containing an acridine derivative and a guanosine compound.
The second object of the present invention is to provide an anti-cancer composition containing acriflavine neutral and guanosine hydrate as active ingredients.
The third object of the present invention is to provide an anti-cancer composition containing an acridine derivative and a guanosine compound in the weight ratio of 1:0.1-5.0, preferably 1:0.3-3.0 and more preferably 1:0.5-1.5.
The foregoing has outlined some of the more pertinent objects of the present invention. These objects should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more pertinent features ana applications of the invention. Other many beneficial results can be obtained by applying the disclosed invention in a different manner or modifying the invention within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other objects and a more thorough understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the disclosure of invention and the accompanying drawings, in addition to the scope of the invention by the claims.


An absorbent member in an absorbent article comprises a absorbent polymer and cellulose fibers. The absorbent polymer has a centrifugal retentive capacity for physiological saline of 30 g/g or more and a permeation rate of physiological saline of 10 ml/minute or more. The cellulose fibers are crosslinked cellulose fibers obtainable by an intramolecular and/or intermolecular crosslinking of the cellulose fibers. Particularly, an absorbent member in a sanitary napkin has a centrifugal retentive capacity of pseudo-blood of 30 g or more and a permeation rate of pseudo-blood of 50 ml/minute or more. Also, a topsheet in the absorbent article comprises a liquid-permeable sheet, which comprises at least a layer in contact with a user's skin and a layer not in contact with the user's skin, the layers being overlaid and combined with each other into a unitary body. The layer in contact with the user's skin comprises a porous film of a thermoplastic resin or a nonwoven fabric of synthetic fibers. The layer not in contact with the user's skin comprises an absorbent sheet, which comprises at least bulky cellulose fibers. The absorbent member and the topsheet should preferably comprise crosslinked cellulose fibers.

This invention relates to bulky cellulose fibers having a high liquid absorbency, an absorbent paper and an absorbent member each using said cellulose fibers, a topsheet using said cellulose fibers, and an absorbent article using said cellulose fibers.
Various absorbent articles, such as sanitary napkins, having an improved absorption of body fluids, have heretofore been proposed, and various improvements have also been made. Most of the studies for making the improvements have heretofore been directed to the improvement in the absorption rate, inhibition of reflow of the body fluid from the absorbent member to the surface, prevention of leakage, and reduction of stickiness to the user's body.
For example, as for the material for an absorbent member to be used in a sanitary napkin, it has been proposed to absorb and retain body fluids by using an absorbent polymer, which utilizes physicochemical effects, i.e. ionic osmotic pressures, in lieu of hydrophilic absorbent paper or pulp, which absorbs and retains the body fluids by the utilization of physically fine spaces. It has been reported that, with the proposed technique, the absorption capacity can be enhanced, and the reflow of the body fluids after being absorbed can be prevented from occurring. Actually, the proposed technique provides an improved absorbency of the sanitary napkin. Therefore, at present, absorbent members utilizing a combination of pulp and an absorbent polymer are used for most of sanitary napkins.
However, as is manifested by the fact that the main reason for dissatisfaction of the sanitary napkins resides in the leakage, even with the sanitary napkins utilizing the absorbent polymers, the requirement for the prevention of the leakage cannot be satisfied sufficiently.
Specifically, with the absorbent polymers which absorb and retain body fluids by utilizing the ionic osmotic pressures, a limitation is imposed on the body fluids absorption rate. Also, the absorbent polymers can absorb the body fluids only when they are wetted with the body fluids. Therefore, in cases where the highly absorbent polymers are used, it is necessary for pulp, or the like, having a high water absorption rate to be used in combination with the absorbent polymers. However, when the pulp is formed into a soft fluff absorbent layer as an absorbent member, the pulp absorbs blood spot-wise, and therefore the problems occur in that the diffusing capacity for the efficient utilization of the entire area of the absorbent member cannot be kept high.
Also, the pulp exhibits certain levels of compression and bending recoveries when it is in the dry state. However, when the pulp is in the wet state, the strength of the pulp decreases markedly, and the pulp exhibits little compression and bending recoveries. Therefore, when stress is applied to the wet pulp, compression deformation (hereinafter referred to as the "twist") occurs with the pulp, and the absorption spaces in the pulp reduce markedly. As a result, the body fluids, which have once been absorbed by the pulp, returns to the body side due to the twist, and the problems with regard to stickiness and leakage occur.
In addition, the reduction in the pulp fiber spaces due to the twist causes the resistance to transfer of the body fluids to the polymer to increase, and therefore the absorption efficiency of the polymer decreases. Moreover, synergistic effects occur from the reduction in the pulp fiber spaces due to reexcretion of the body fluids and from the reduction in the absorption spaces due to the swelling of the polymer. Due to such synergistic effects, the reabsorption rate of the entire absorbent member decreases markedly after the twist has occurred, and the leakage problems are often caused to occur.
Therefore, in order that the diffusing capacity of the pulp may be enhanced and the reduction in the absorption spaces due to the twist can be kept small, techniques for improving the diffusing capacity and the inhibition of reflow of the body fluids from the absorbent member to the surface by compressing the pulp and increasing the density of the pulp have been proposed in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-open Application 49-143589, U.S. Pat. No. 3,017,304, and Japanese Patent Publication 54-36793 and 1-33176. However, none of these proposed techniques can solve the essential problems in that the strength of the pulp decreases markedly when the pulp is wetted. Conversely, these proposed techniques have the problems in that the resistance to transfer of blood to the polymer becomes very high due to the markedly reduced distance between pulp fibers, and as a result the absorption efficiency of the polymer used in combination with the pulp becomes low.
A sanitary napkin, which is very thin and has a high comfortableness and a high absorbency, is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-open Application 4-89053. The disclosed sanitary napkin aims at improving the absorption efficiency of a polymer and meeting both of the requirements for a small thickness and a high absorbency by combining a highly diffusing absorbent sheet and a specific polymer sheet with each other.
With the disclosed technique, a sanitary napkin, which has an improved absorption efficiency of the polymer, an absorbency is enhanced to some extent, and a small thickness can certainly be obtained. However, there are user's expectation and a need for sanitary napkins having a higher comfortableness and a higher absorbency. In particular, at present, there is a need for a very thin sanitary napkin, which has an excellent absorption performance and is free of the problems with regard to reflow of body fluids from an absorbent member to the surface, stickiness to the body, and leakage even during a long period of use under conditions of large excretion amounts.
Heretofore, in cases where the amount of a absorbent polymer used in an absorbent member is increased so that the absorption performance may be enhanced, the absorption performance can be enhanced as the amount of the absorbent polymer used in the absorbent member becomes large to a certain extent. However, if the amount of the absorbent polymer used in the absorbent member becomes very large, the spaces among the polymer particles after absorbing body fluids will become markedly small. As a result, the reabsorption rate becomes low, and therefore the absorption performance becomes bad.
Specifically, due to a gel blocking phenomenon of a polymer, a limitation has heretofore been imposed on the amount of the polymer used. Therefore, at present, an absorbent article cannot be obtained which perfectly satisfies the requirements for the absorption performance, such as inhibition of reflow of body fluids from the absorbent member to the surface, and inhibition of leakage, during the use under the conditions of a long period of use and a large excretion amount.
For the purpose of preventing the twist of wet pulp, various techniques have heretofore been proposed wherein the pulp cellulose is crosslinked by using an appropriate crosslinking agent, a decrease in the modulus of elasticity in the wet state is thereby restricted, and the twist and permanent set in fatigue are thereby reduced. For example, a crosslinked pulp having a bulky structure (i.e., a torsion structure) is proposed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Application 63-264971. Certainly, the absorbent member utilizing such a crosslinked pulp maintains the bulky structure not only in the dry state but also after absorbing body fluids and exhibits good spot absorbency and a high absorption rate.
However, it has been found that, with the absorbent member utilizing the crosslinked pulp, if it is used in an erroneous manner, the capacity of the entire absorbent member for retaining body fluids will decrease, reflow of the body fluids from the absorbent member to the surface will increase, and the body fluids will become apt to leak from the absorbent member. Specifically, in cases where the pulp is crosslinked, though its modulus of elasticity in the wet state can be improved, the capacity of the fibers themselves for absorbing body fluids is restricted due to the crosslinking. As a result, the capacity of the pulp itself for retaining the body fluids becomes low. Therefore, unless the capacity of the polymer for absorbing and retaining the body fluids is increased, the capacity of the entire absorbent member, which utilizes the crosslinked pulp, for absorbing and retaining the body fluids becomes low, reflow of the body fluids from the absorbent member to the surface increases, and the leakage inhibiting performance of absorbent member becomes bad.
For the purpose of preventing the gel blocking phenomenon of a polymer may be prevented and the absorption efficiency of the polymer may be enhanced, a technique for utilizing an absorbent member, which comprises a mixture of hydrophilic fibers, such as pulp, and a polymer, is proposed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-open Application 59(1984)-204956, and techniques for using a homogeneous layer, which is composed of a polymer and pulp, only at the bottom surface of an absorbent member are proposed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-open Applications 59-135149 and 63-109859. Also, for the purpose of preventing the gel blocking phenomenon of a polymer after absorbing body fluids more efficiently, techniques for constituting an absorbent member, in which the polymer concentration is reduced from the bottom surface towards the top surface of the absorbent member, i.e. a polymer concentration gradient is provided, are proposed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-open Applications 62-32950 and 62-45703.
The above-enumerated techniques relate to the constitution techniques for pulp and a polymer and have certain levels of effects of restricting the gel blocking phenomenon of a polymer and enhancing the absorption efficiency of the polymer. However, none of these proposed techniques can solve the essential problems in that, when the pulp is wetted, it becomes twisted, the fiber spaces become small, and the reabsorption rate becomes low.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,061,259 indicates that fine powder of a polymer constitutes a cause for the gel blocking phenomenon and discloses an absorbent member comprising a mixture of a polymer, the particle diameter distribution of which is defined so as to have a central particle diameter falling within the range of 400 .mu.m to 700 .mu.m, and hydrophilic fibers.
The aforesaid U.S. Patent specification exemplifies that a crosslinked pulp may be used as the hydrophilic fibers. However, the aforesaid U.S. Patent specification does not indicate anything about the effects obtained from the use of the crosslinked pulp, nor does it describe anything about the limitation of the crosslinked pulp as the hydrophilic fibers. Specifically, the technique disclosed in the aforesaid U.S. Patent specification cannot solve the essential problems in that, when the hydrophilic fibers are wetted, the spaces among the fibers become small, and the reabsorption rate becomes low.
Also, by the removal of fine powder of the polymer, the gel blocking phenomenon can be restricted to some extent. However, the gel blocking phenomenon of the polymer has the nature such that it cannot be eliminated only with the adjustment of the particle diameter distribution, and therefore the aforesaid problems of the polymer cannot be eliminated by the technique disclosed in the aforesaid U.S. Patent specification.
As for a topsheet for an absorbent article, the topsheet is required to have the liquid absorbing and permeating functions such that body fluids such as blood or urine can be quickly transferred to and absorbed by the absorbent member.
The transfer of the liquid from the topsheet to the absorbent member is achieved only when the topsheet and the absorbent member are in close contact with each other. If the topsheet and the absorbent member are located at a spacing from each other, the transfer of the liquid from the topsheet to the absorbent member will reduce markedly, and the amount of the liquid remaining on the topsheet will become large. As a result, a sticky feeling will be given to the user. Also, liquid diffusion and liquid flow will occur, and liquid leakage will be thereby caused to occur.
The problems with regard to the insufficient absorption due to separation of the topsheet and the absorbent member from each other occur particularly markedly in cases where the topsheet comprises a fiber aggregate, such as a nonwoven fabric, which has the absorbency by itself.
For example, in cases where the topsheet comprises a nonwoven fabric, if separation of the topsheet and the absorbent member from each other occurs, the liquid will remain stagnant in the topsheet and cannot be transferred to the absorbent member. Therefore, a sticky feeling will continue to be given to the user, and the absorbent article cannot be used comfortably.
In cases where the topsheet comprises a film type of material, such as a porous film or a porous net, which does not have the absorbency by itself, if the topsheet and the absorbent member are in close contact with each other, the liquid will not be apt to remain in the topsheet, a sticky feeling will not be given to the user, and the absorbent article can be used comfortably. However, if the topsheet and the absorbent member separate from each other, because the topsheet by itself has no absorbency, the liquid will not be absorbed by the topsheet and will flow along the surface of the topsheet. As a result, the liquid will leak from the absorbent article. This is a very serious drawback for the absorbent article.

Crosslinked cellulose fibers, absorbent papers and absorbent members using the same, topsheets using the same, and absorbent articles using the same


A combination flight simulating mobile device and scale formed in appearance of a variety of different birds, or like flying creatures, that may be fabricated from steel sheet or like material, readily assembled, and balanced in such manner that when suspended, the weight of the wings (12 and 14) of the bird is used to counterbalance both the body (10) of the bird and the weight of a lightweight object (74), such as an envelope, and provide a measurement of the object's weight and a realistic replication of a creature in flight.

Heretofore, mobile devices have been provided for use as decorative devices, such as a mobile device comprising a simulation of a bird in flight taught by U.S. Pat. No. 4,425,388 issued to Oppenheimer on Jan. 10, 1984. This and similar disclosures offer mobiles with functions limited to ornamentation and decoration.
Heretofore, suspended envelope scales have been provided with a singular function such as determining the weight of an envelope as disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 3,599,738 issued to Wickenberg on Aug. 17, 1971, or multiple functions, such as an envelope scale and rule combination, as illustrated by U.S. Pat. No. 4,281,461 issued to Roe on Aug. 4, 1981 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,365,011 issued to Heil on Jan. 23, 1968. These and similar disclosures offer suspended envelope scales with functions limited to the measurement of length and weight.
None of the devices noted above is intended to, or could function to provide both a creature that accurately simulates flight and the provision of an envelope scale.
Devices of the type disclosed by Oppenheimer in U.S. Pat. No. 4,425,388 have been comprised of a generally planar body portion to which wing portions have been hingedly connected as by strings looped through apertures in the body and wings. A hanger or spreader bar is provided having spaced suspension portions forming anchor points for thin flexible filaments extending between the suspension portions of the spreader bar and spaced points on the wings.
In order to provide an accurate replication of flights, it is necessary that the points of connection between the filament and the wings be carefully controlled such that in a still air environment, the creature is suspended with the wings in an upward inclination from true horizontal, essentially dihedral angle, whereby when the device is exposed to an air current, the body will oscillate upwardly and downwardly, such that the wings are sequentially inclined downwardly toward the body and upwardly toward the body, providing the desired illusion of flight.
While it is feasible to fabricate a mobile of the type described on a custom basis, wherein the maker by hand is enabled painstakingly to arrive at appropriate balance points, the mass production of a mobile of the type described poses problems. Another complication is encountered when it is desired to provide a variety of different flying creatures, the configuration or silhouettes of which are intended to accurately simulate the configurations of real birds or like creatures. Since the wing and body shapes of such creatures vary markedly one from another, it is evident that their balance points also will vary. Since even the slightest variations in weight and balance of the wing and body components will materially affect the suspended orientation of the mobile, prior devices have offered an attachment arrangement that provides a range of connection positions between filament and wings whereby an adjustment can be made to accommodate the wide variety of wing and body configurations and weights. Although this method of attachment can be produced on a production basis, an adjustable connection and the use of a flexible filament as a connecting means is incapable of sustaining conditions of heavy use and unpredictably high outdoor air currents without breakage or misalignment.
Devices of the type disclosed by Oppenheimer in U.S. Pat. No. 4,425,388 offer the replication of a winged creature in flight by a singular means, that is, the exposure of the device to an air current, thereby limiting the use of the device to locations such as an outdoor environment or in the vicinity of the moving air of a fan. Additionally, such devices require the purchaser to assemble the wings in hinged connection to the body portion and accurately connect the filament to the wings to balance the mobile device such that the wings, in static air conditions, assume the desired position. This may be cause for distress by the purchaser, especially someone who is neither mechanically inclined nor adept with hand work.


A system for managing processor cycles. A set of uncapped partitions are identified that are ready-to-run in response to unused processor cycles being present in a dispatch window. A number of candidate partitions are identified from the identified set of uncapped partitions based on a history of usage where each identified partition used at least 100 percent of its entitlement in a predefined number of previous dispatch windows. Then, a partition is selected from the number of candidate partitions based on a lottery process of the candidate partitions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an improved data processing system. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a computer implemented method, system, and computer usable program code to dynamically distribute unused processor cycles within a dispatch window.
2. Description of the Related Art
A modern computer system typically comprises a central processing unit (CPU) and supporting hardware necessary to store, retrieve, and transfer information, such as communications busses and memory. It also includes, for example, hardware necessary to communicate with the outside world, such as input/output controllers or storage controllers and devices attached thereto, such as keyboards, monitors, tape drives, disk drives, and communication lines coupled to a network. The CPU is the heart of the computer system. The CPU executes instructions, which comprise a computer program, and directs the operation of the other computer system components.
Fundamentally, most computer systems operate in the same manner in that the CPU is only capable of performing a limited set of very simple operations, such as arithmetic, logical comparisons, and movement of data from one location to another. Programs may direct a CPU to perform massive numbers of these simple operations, but each operation must be performed very quickly. Therefore, improvements to computer systems require that these systems be made ever faster.
The overall speed of a computer system, which is also called the throughput, may be measured as the number of operations performed per unit of time. Without changing the computer system's clock speed, it is possible to improve throughput by using multiple copies of certain computer components, and in particular, by using multiple processors. The modest cost of individual processors and other components packaged on integrated circuit chips has made this practical. As a result, many current large-scale computer system designs include multiple processors, caches, buses, I/O drivers, storage devices, and so forth.
One recent development in response to increased system complexity is logical partitioning of the various resources of a large computer system. A logical partition (LPAR) is a logical segmentation of the computer system's processor(s), memory, and other resources that allows the logical partition to run its own copy of an operating system and associated applications. Conceptually, logical partitioning means that multiple discrete partitions are established within the computer system and the computer system's resources are assigned to respective partitions. Each operation executes within a logical partition, which means that the operation may only use the resources assigned to that partition and not any resources assigned to other partitions. This creation of logical partitions within the computer system is known as a "virtual environment."
Generally, logical partitions are created by a system administrator or user with similar authority. Creation of the partition is performed by issuing commands to appropriate management software resident on the computer system, rather than physical reconfiguration of hardware components. It is expected, and indeed one of the benefits of logical partitioning, that the system administrator may re-allocate system resources in response to changing needs or improved understanding of the computer system's performance.
Presently, partitions are either dedicated processor partitions or shared processor partitions. A system administrator using a dedicated processor partition scheme within the computer system assigns processors in increments of one full processor to a partition. A system administrator using a shared processor partition scheme assigns one increment, or a "slice," of one full processor to a partition, which is known as micro-partitioning.
There are two types of micro-partitions, namely "capped" and "uncapped." A capped partition is not allowed to exceed its time entitlement, whereas an uncapped partition is allowed to exceed its time entitlement. A time entitlement is a given number of processing units, or CPU cycles, assigned by the system administrator to a particular partition. A capped partition indicates that the partition will never exceed its assigned processing capacity. The system administrator may use a capped partition if the system administrator knows that an operation will never require more than a certain amount of processing capacity.
In a virtualized environment, a partition is guaranteed full use of the partition's time entitlement within a dispatch window, which may be, for example, 10 milliseconds (ms). A dispatch window defines a period during which operations are allowed to start. Any unused portion of the dispatch window is redistributed to the uncapped partitions within the computer system. The current redistribution method is somewhat random in that computer systems use a standard lottery scheduling policy. The problem with this standard lottery scheduling redistribution method is that it does not give preferential treatment to the busiest uncapped partitions.
A partition is only dispatched when the partition has work to do. Until the partition is dispatched, the partition is placed in a queue. The queue only contains ready-to-run partitions or partitions waiting on an interrupt.
The standard lottery scheduling redistribution method is based on a predefined, static weight associated with the uncapped partitions. The system administrator assigns a partition's weight at the time the partition is created. The partition's weight may be, for example, between 0 and 127. The higher the partition's weight, the more likely the partition is granted the unused CPU cycles. But, standard lottery scheduling based on partition weight does not take into account the possible cyclical load behavior in a partition or the partition's past usage history. One method to deal with this cyclical load behavior is to increase the weight associated with the partition when the load is high. However, the weight is static, set at partition creation time, and the only way to change the weight in some virtualized environments is to stop and restart the partition. Additionally, by increasing the partition's weight, the partition stands a higher chance of being dispatched even though the recent history of the partition may show that the partition is not very busy.
Another possible method for favoring the busiest uncapped partition is to use a load balancer. However, this load balancer method involves higher processor overhead and is CPU intensive. Also, using a load balancing application on top of firmware to prioritize partitions may involve duplication of work and resources.
Therefore, it would be beneficial to have a computer implemented method, system, and computer useable program code for dynamically distributing unused processor cycles within a dispatch window to the busiest uncapped partitions when partitions experience high loads at different times throughout the day, thereby avoiding the dispatch of less busy partitions.

Method and system for distributing unused processor cycles within a dispatch window

International Business Machines Corporation


Examples pertaining to precoding-matched channel state information (CSI) feedback in mobile communications are described. An apparatus (e.g., UE) beamforms one or more of a plurality of ports used in reception of a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) with one or more precoders that are applied on one or more of the plurality of ports used in reception of a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) or a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH). The apparatus generates a CSI feedback comprising at least a plurality of channel quality indication (CQIs) with respect to a plurality of hypothesized ranks. The apparatus then transmits the CSI feedback to a network.

Unless otherwise indicated herein, approaches described in this section are not prior art to the claims listed below and are not admitted as prior art by inclusion in this section.
In mobile communications based on the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standards, currently there are two types of channel state feedback (CSF) configurations under sounding reference signal (SRS) usage with antenna switching, namely CSF report quantity=cri-RI-PMI-CQI and CSF report quantity=cri-RI-CQI. For CSF report quantity=cri-RI-PMI-CQI, a user equipment (UE) needs to determine its achievable channel quality indication (CQI) over choices of rank and precoding matrix index (PMI). However, due to the antenna array size of a base station (e.g., up to 64×4 channel matrix measurable) for eigen-beamforming, it is quite often that a UE reports rank indication (RI)=2 or 3 (under a lower channel matrix dimension, such as 8×4, and quantized PMI) and is actually scheduled by the network with rank-4 physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH), thereby leading to precoding mismatched CSI feedback. For CSF report quantity=cri-RI-CQI, a UE can expect that CSI reference signal (CSI-RS) for CSF is precoded according to SRS sounding and thus only needs to compute and report RI and corresponding CQI. The subsequent transmission from the base station (e.g., gNB) to the UE, including both data and associated demodulation reference signal (DMRS), would be precoded in the same way as the precoding of CSI-RS for CSF.
Thus, the mismatch between a UE's CQI feedback and a base station's scheduled rank under SRS antenna switching creates uncertainty on system performance. Moreover, a network might not have proprietary algorithms to convert CQI values under lower-rank PMI to another CQI under its proprietary higher-rank multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) precoder. Therefore, there is a need for a solution for precoding-matched CSI feedback in mobile communications.

Precoding-matched CSI feedback in mobile communications


The object of an apparatus and a method for the analysis of retinal vessels is to improve the reproducibility of individually determined artery-to-vein ratios and to reduce the measurement uncertainty in determining the artery-to-vein ratio in order to substantially increase the individual validity of the determined values for vessel diagnosis. At least two images are recorded successively as an image sequence in a predetermined timed sequence adapted to the vasomotricity of the vessels and are evaluated such that a mean artery-to-vein ratio is formed from artery-to-vein ratios that are determined on the basis of the at least two images.

a) Field of the Invention
The invention is directed to an apparatus for the analysis of retinal vessels which contains a retinal camera for recording images of the ocular fundus, at least one image storage, means for detecting arterial and venous vessels in the images, means for determining the vessel diameters of the detected arterial and venous vessels, and means for determining artery-to-vein ratios (AVRs) from the determined vessel diameters.
b) Description of the Related Art
The invention is further directed to a method for the analysis of retinal vessels through the evaluation of digital fundus images in which a ring-shaped measurement zone containing vessel portions which proceed from a central vessel, which are to be distinguished as arteries or veins, and which are to be measured is arranged around the papilla at a distance therefrom, a vessel diameter being determined for each of these vessel portions, wherein a retinal arterial vessel diameter equivalent and a retinal venous vessel diameter equivalent are determined from the determined vessel diameters of the arterial and venous vessel portions, and an artery-to-vein ratio is determined from the vessel diameter equivalents of the arteries and veins.
By means of a quantitative vessel analysis using digital fundus images, it is possible to assess vascular risk which can be determined, e.g., by means of an artery-to-vein ratio (AVR) according to Hubbard et al. (Ophthalmology, Vol. 106, December 1999, pages 2269-2280). For example, in a study (ARIC study) it was possible to determine a relationship between the artery-to-vein ratio and the cardiovascular risk in women and for stroke and diabetes in women and men independent from blood pressure and other risk factors.
Wong T Y et al. (Retinal microvascular abnormalities and incident stroke: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Studies, The Lancet, Vol. 358 (2001), pages 1134-1140) show that risk groups for stroke and other severe vascular diseases can be classified based on the AVR for estimating a systemic microvascular risk.
All of the systems for determining the artery-to-vein ratio have a retinal camera, units for storing the recorded individual image, means for detecting arterial and venous vessels, means for determining vessel diameters, and means for calculating the AVR.
A digital fundus image recorded by the retinal camera is evaluated such that diameters of arteries and veins located within a ring-shaped measurement zone around the papilla are determined according to a standardized protocol and summarized according to a standardized model formula to form a retinal arterial vessel diameter equivalent CAE and a retinal venous vessel diameter equivalent CVE whose quotient (CAE/CVE) gives a value for the AVR. Different model formulas may be applied (Knudsen M D et al., Revised formulas for summarizing retinal vessel diameters, Current Eye Research, Vol. 27 (2003) 143-149).
A procedure of this kind is suitable only for epidemiological studies with a high number of cases (10,000 or more) because systematic error proportions of the individual AVR values are substantially randomized and along with the random errors of the individual AVR values only play a subordinate role for epidemiological studies and evaluations in group averages.
However, the methods are very uncertain and are usable only conditionally for individual diagnoses because, as a result of the random systematic errors which vary between individuals, the scatter of the individual central equivalents and of the artery-to-vein ratios in individual examinations is very high and leads to unsatisfactory reproducibility. Under certain conditions, this scatter can spread over a plurality of risk assessment groups so that the risk classification of a patient can vary between high risk and normal risk in studies that are repeated after short intervals. Therefore, the static vessel analysis can only be used conditionally.

Apparatus and method for the analysis of retinal vessels


An intelligent control system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes a plurality of network cameras to photograph a surveillance area; an image gate unit to perform image processing of image data, which is input from the plurality of network cameras, according to a specification that is requested by a user; a smart image providing unit to convert a plurality of image streams, which are image processed by the image gate unit, to a single image stream; and an image display unit to generate a three-dimensional (3D) image by segmenting, into a plurality of images, the single image stream that is input from the smart image providing unit and by disposing the segmented images on corresponding positions on a 3D modeling.

Since industrialization, image surveillance systems, which detect the occurrence of a predetermined act or accident, have long been in use. The importance of image surveillance systems continues to increase.
In the modern society, as characteristics of informatization, unmanned systems, automation, and computerization increase, the individual stability and the stability in a place of business continuously appear as important issues. Therefore, efforts for protecting and managing properties and the safety of individuals and the place of business have been made. The importance and range of security has been widened to major facilities, public offices, schools, companies, and homes. Under this trend of the times, an image surveillance system based on light sense, which is major sense of humans, is necessarily needed in almost every system.
A representative example of an image surveillance system includes a control (or surveillance) system using a network camera (CCTV). The CCTV control system is rapidly evolving together with development in image input technology, image transmission technology, and image output technology.
The current CCTV control system outputs images, input from a plurality of cameras, on a plurality of monitors that are disposed within a control center, or disposes and thereby outputs a plurality of lattice-shaped images on a single monitor. Then, an operator or a manager performs a surveillance activity while observing images output on the monitor.
However, the number of network cameras used for the control system is increasing and, therefore, an amount of image data input into the control system is also increasing. Such an increase in image data acts as a transmission load in a network, thereby degrading the quality of images. For example, when the number of network cameras displaying which VGA (640*480, 32 bits color) images is greater than 60, all of the images are not output on the screen at one time and are output using a method of circulating the whole images, and a resolution of output images lowers and it doesn't make monitoring performance well.
With a large number of network cameras, it is difficult to know where images displayed on a monitor are located. And thus, an understanding of an image is reduced. Accordingly, there is a desire for developing an intelligent control system for rapid processing of increasing image data and efficient surveillance by a user.

Intelligent image surveillance system using network camera and method therefor


A gasket of the invention is formed of a gasket member extending substantially throughout an entire area to be sealed. The gasket member includes a base metal plate and at least one sealing member disposed on at least one of surfaces of the base metal plate. A sealing section and a pressure affecting portion are formed in the sealing member. The sealing section has a compressibility, while the pressure affecting portion has a height and compressibility less than those of the sealing section. When the gasket is tightened, the sealing section is compressed to securely seal around a hole to be sealed. The pressure affecting portion having less compressibility is formed near bolt holes, so that the gasket can be tightened easily without gradually decreasing its tightening pressure.

The present invention relates to a gasket having a sealing member with a compressible sealing section and a hard pressure affecting section. More particularly, the gasket is formed of a base metal plate and at least one sealing member fixed onto or disposed on one side of the base metal plate, wherein the sealing member is basically formed of a foamed rubber and includes the compressible sealing section and the pressure affecting section harder than the compressible sealing section.
A conventional gasket formed of a metal plate and a sealing member made of foamed rubber and fixed to or disposed on the metal plate has been known and widely used as a cylinder head gasket disposed between a cylinder head and a cylinder block.
In this conventional gasket, since the sealing member is formed of the foamed rubber, the gasket can provide a good sealing ability. However, when the gasket is situated between the cylinder head and the cylinder block and is tightened by bolts, the foamed rubber at the areas around the bolts is gradually pressurized and crushed. As a result, the tightening pressures by the bolts are gradually reduced. Therefore, unless the bolts are tightened when the surface pressures by the bolts are reduced, the required surface pressures can not be maintained.
The present invention has been made in view of the conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a gasket with a sealing member made of foamed rubber, which can prevent or reduce a surface pressure reduction when the gasket is tightened.
Another object of the invention is to provide a gasket as stated above, wherein a sealing area around a hole to be sealed can be securely sealed by the foamed rubber.
A further object of the invention is to provide a gasket as stated above, which can be used as a regular gasket for connecting two members and an engine gasket.
Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the invention.

Gasket with compressible sealing section and hard pressure affecting section


A nonvolatile memory cell string includes two or more cell devices formed in series on a wall type semiconductor protruded from a semiconductor substrate with a predetermined length along one direction to form the cell string. One end of the cell string is electrically connected to outside through a string selection transistor formed on one end of the wall type semiconductor. The other end of the cell string is floated and not electrically connected to outside.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a nonvolatile memory cell string and a NAND flash memory array using the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
To increase the degree of integration in a NAND flash memory etc., memory cell devices and structures of memory cell strings thereof connected in series have been continuously studied.
Among them, FinFET has been developed to overcome the problems of conventional plane-type devices such as a short channel effect (SCE), a low read current due to the leakage currents and a drain induced barrier lowering (DIBL) etc.
Though the FinFET structure can solve the problems of the above mentioned plane structure, it is always have another problem associated with a high integration because of a limitation in reducing width of a fin needed in one cell and that of oxide/nitride/oxide (ONO) layers formed on the both sides of the fin.
To solve the problem of the conventional FinFET structure, Korean Patent No. 10-0745766 (refer to patent reference 1) provides techniques for increasing the degree of integration by reducing the fin separation distance between adjacent cells through isolating two fin structures with a buried insulating layer and simply wrapping the two fins with a gate electrode interlaying a gate insulating layer.
By the way, the patent reference 1 shows that the isolated two fin structures interlaying a buried insulating layer forms adjacent cell strings and each cell string contains a plurality of cell devices and at least two switch devices. Two adjacent cell strings isolated by the buried insulting layer need a cell string contact pad having 3 times wider width than that of the conventional cell string and a common source line (CSL) contact pad on both end sides, respectively and it causes an loss of area. Especially, formation of the pads for contacting to metal interlaying the buried insulating layer with a narrow width causes a design rule matter and so it needs to consume more area.
And the conventional NAND flash memory array, as shown in FIG. 6, necessarily has a string selection line (SSL) for selecting cell string and a common source line (CSL) and a ground selection line (GSL) for selecting CSL on both sides of each memory string.
By the way, because SSL and GSL are conventionally formed to have a line width 4˜5 times more than that of each word line (it means that selection transistors selected by SSL and GSL are formed with an area 4˜5 times more than that of memory device formed by each word line), the area loss is one of reasons preventing a high integration.
The above mentioned problem takes place by reading a current flowing between a bit line connected to a specific cell string and CSL after being always turned on the selection transistors by SSL and GSL on reading any cell in the specific cell string of the conventional NAND flash memory.

Simplified nonvolatile memory cell string and NAND flash memory array using the same

SEOUL NATIONAL UNIVERSITY R&DB FOUNDATION


A method for the manufacture of plastic car bodies, preferably moulded or cast in one piece, with openings for doors and windows, includes the step of forming recesses from the outside to the inside terminating inside in an approximately right angle; at least one opening is cut out by means of a projection from a flange or angle K; moulding is then secured to envelop the plastic portion and is attached to an internal rollover bracket or frame; on one side of the door opening moulding is secured a door hinge.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an arrangement of and a method for the production of bodies/cabins for lightweight vehicles, by which the bodies/cabins are moulded/casted/blow moulded, mainly with floor, sidewall and roof in one piece, by means of floating/spot-free devices for securing/fixing the cabin to the vehicle's roll-over safety bars and floor frame/chassis.
2. Description of Related Art
For the building of car bodies/cabins, it has been normal to use a metal frame with plates welded on as bodywork. This is possible when the plates and the framework are both metallic. Building bodies/cabins with glass-fibre reinforced Polyester has been tried, but it proves to be extremely work-intensive. It necessitates a substantial amount of handwork, being built up in layers and thus making the bodies expensive. In addition, the fixing between a metal framework and the plastic bodyparts by screws or rivets creates local stresses.
Metal bodies have therefore more or less controlled the market, but these are heavy and have disadvantages such as corrosion and the like. Comprehensive galvanization and paint treatment have been necessary, but the problems still exist. Another drawback is that the bodies are getting very heavy, which has impeded the development of small, lightweight vehicles.

Plastic body arrangement for small, light vehicles