A plurality of first measured values (xi) are obtained by respectively measuring a plurality of measuring objects in a plurality of first measuring systems and a plurality of second measured values (yi) are obtained by respectively measuring the plurality of measuring objects in a plurality of second measuring systems, and a combination of a first measured value and a second measured value corresponding to each other is obtained as a sample point (Pi). A transformation function representing a relationship between a first reconstituted system derived from the plurality of first measuring systems and a second reconstituted system derived from the plurality of second measuring system is obtained statistically processing a plurality of sample points of the plurality of measuring objects. Subsequently, a transformed value (τi) is obtained by transforming a second measured value (yi) with the transformation function.

(Measurement and Measured Value)
Measurement is to compare an amount to be measured (hereinafter "measurand") of an object or a phenomenon to be measured (hereinafter "measuring object") with an amount used as a reference to express with a numerical value or a reference sign, and a value obtained by measurement is called "measured value".
(Measuring System)
A system which is composed with objects and necessary functions while collecting the functions for the purpose of measurement of a certain amount is called "measuring system". In FIG. 1, a schematic view of the measuring system is shown. The measuring system includes all of the measurer, measuring instrument, measuring object, and measurement environment.
(Error)
When measurement is performed, an error is included in a measured value. An error is a difference between the measured value and a true value. Here, the true value is an ideal or virtual value introduced for convenience, and actually, the error should be evaluated in a state where the true value is unknown.
(Error Factor)
Error factors in each constituent element of the measuring system are shown in Table 1. Error occurs with these error factors.
TABLE 1ConstituentElements ofMeasuring systemError FactorsMeasuringIncompleteness of measurement principleInstrumentIncompleteness of constitution or operationof measuring instrumentChange of measuring instrument according to dif-ference or variation of measurement environment(s)Measuring ObjectChange of measuring object itself according to dif-ference or variation of measurement environment(s)MeasurerHabit or measurement mistake of measurer
(Classification of Errors)
In general, errors can be dealt with after dividing into systematic errors and random errors.
(Systematic Error)
Systematic errors are a general term of errors arising from factors which bias a population mean of measured values from the true value, out of various error factors. Errors of a measuring instrument, personal error, and the like are belong to this type.
(Random Error)
Random errors are errors which occur from causes which cannot be found out and random errors emerge as dispersion of measured values. Because of this type of errors, even when measurement is repeated in the same conditions, respective measured values are uneven. Since the random errors emerge from causes which cannot be found out and extremely various causes, normally, they are dealt with probabilistically and statistically.
(Model of Measured Value and Error)
Now, with respect to a given measurand of given measuring objects, suppose that the true value is ν, measured values are x, errors in the measured values are ε, and systematic errors of ε are εS and random errors εR. A distribution of the random errors εR is supposed to be the normal distribution, an average of the measured values x is expressed as xaν, and a standard deviation is expressed as σ. In this case, a measured value x and an error ε can be modeled as shown in FIG. 2. Here, the error ε is the sum of a systematic error εS and a random error εR, that is, it is expressed in Equation 1, and the systematic error εS is a difference between the population mean xav and the true value ν, that is, it is expressed in Equation 2.ε=εS+εR  (Equation 1)εS=xaνi −V  (Equation 2)
(Removal of Systematic Errors)
Since the systematic errors are errors which occur according to given regular relationships and have reproducibility, there is a possibility that the measured value can be corrected to a value close to the true value by evaluating an influence of the cause. Therefore, efforts to remove the systematic errors have been performed by utilizing estimation from measurement conditions or measurement theory, or actual measurements where measurement conditions, apparatus, method, or the like are changed.
(Removal of Random Errors)
Since the random errors are errors which occur randomly or probabilistically because of unspecified large number of causes and disperse every measurement, it is impossible to remove them after measurement. However, they can be reduced relatively easily. Because in many cases, the distribution of the random errors may be regarded as the normal distribution and they are considered to disperse at probabilities of the same degree in positive and negative directions, if the average of the results is taken by performing the same measurement many times, it is considered the errors cancel each other to become smaller.
(Correction and Corrected Value)
To compensate a systematic error, a value algebraically added to a measured value or adding a value to it is called correction. Hereinafter, removing a systematic error in a measured value is referred to as "correction", and a corrected measured value is referred to as "corrected value".
(Error in Measured Value and Transformation of Measured Value)
If errors in measured values can not be processed appropriately, it is not possible to ensure validity in transformation results of the measured values. In the following description, methods of dealing with errors in measured values in conventional methodology will be described and their problems will be discussed.
(Correction by Calibration)
Calibration is a process to obtain a relationship between a value indicated by a measuring instrument and a value indicated by a measurement standard or standard sample (hereinafter, "standard value"), and it can be positioned as a means for removing the systematic error derived from a measuring instrument. Also, the relation connecting the standard values and the measured values, which is obtained by calibration, is called a calibration curve. In FIG. 3, an example of the calibration curve is shown. When the standard values indicated by the measurement standard or the like are si and the measured values of the measuring instrument to be calibrated are yi, a calibration curve 11 is obtained by plotting points (si, yi) on a standard value-measured value space and fitting a curve to them. In FIG. 3, a straight line 12 indicating y=s is also shown for reference.
(Limit of Correction by Calibration)
In the process of calibration, since it is assumed that there are a measurement standard and a standard material, correction can not be performed in a condition where they are not available. Also, if the measurement environment has changed, not only the measurement instrument but also the measuring object are affected by the change, however, calibration is only a means for removing the systematic error derived from the measuring instrument. As such, calibration is the process for transforming a measured value in a measuring system where measuring is actually performed (hereinafter, "actual measuring system") into a measured value in a measuring system where calibration is performed by using the calibration curve (hereinafter, "calibration system"), and therefore it is not the means for correcting a measured value.
(Correction by Analytical Method)
One of the means for correcting a measured value is an analytical method. For example, a data analysis method or the like based on the design of experiments corresponds to this approach. In FIG. 4, a schematic view of correction based on the analytical method is shown. In the analytical method, first, change of an actually measured value is considered as effects of a finite number of error factors α1, α2 . . . αm, and a math model composed of a linear combination of the products of error factors and coefficients indicating degree of the effects is made. And coefficients composing the math model are determined by data analysis of the actually measured values, and the relationship between true values (criterion variables) ν1, ν2 . . . νn and measured values (explanatory variables) x1, x2 . . . xn are clearly obtained.
(Limit of Correction by Analytical Method)
The analytical method is a way of thinking adopting the symbolism where "If the conditions can be completely transformed into symbols and rules controlling the conditions can be completely clarified, it is possible to explain all phenomena completely". However, in the analytical method, there are problems such as (i) there is no basis for selecting a finite number of error factors from an unspecified number of error factors, (ii) since independence of error factors is unclear, the validity of the math model is not ensured, (iii) since there are many uncertain elements in experiment and observation, convergence of solution is not ensured, or the like. Correction based on the analytical method is extremely complicated and always has uncertainty associated with symbol processing, and therefore it must be a method where the reliability of result of the process is poor.
(Summary of Conventional Correction Methods of Measured Values)
As discussed above, the correction methods of measured values in the present metrology are only limited methods, such as "method where a special instrument or the like is required", "method where the systematic error derived from the measuring instrument is a subject", "method which works only in a special measuring system", "method where the reliability of result of correction can not be ensured", or the like. The limited correction method of measured values means measured values are kept in the measuring system as a specific existence. In the following description, "lack of consistency of a measured value" expresses that a measured value is an existence limited in a specific measuring system and it is not a universal existence over measuring systems. When a measured value in a different measuring system is transformed without consistency of a measured value, the validity in the transformation result can not be ensured. In the following description, such a condition in transformation of a measured value is expressed as "lack of validity in a transformation result of a measured value".

Measured value transformation method and measured value transformation system


The present invention describes a purified and isolated nucleic acid molecule which encodes for the biosynthetic pathway of tetracycline, chlortetracycline or an analogue thereof. The invention relates to the isolation and cloning of the nucleic acid molecule in an isolated fragment from Streptomyces aureofaciens and the expression of the biosynthetic gene in a heterologous host such as Streptomyces lividans.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
The antibiotic chlortetracycline and its derivative compounds (e.g., tetracycline, demethylchlortetracycline, demethyltetracycline) are produced commercially in submerged fermentation by Streptomyces aureofaciens (Dugar, 1948). More than thirty years of industrial manipulation of this microorganism has resulted in the development of sophisticated fermentation techniques and media formulations that have allowed significant improvements in fermentation yield (Goodman, 1985). These advances in yield improvement have also been aided by the isolation of mutants of S. aureofaciens with increased ability to produce antibiotic (Veselova, 1969). These high-producing strains have largely been isolated by the process of mutagenesis, followed by random screening for improved yield. The same techniques allowed the isolation of mutants blocked in antibiotic biosynthesis which were critical tools for the elucidation of the biosynthetic sequence for chlortetracycline formation (McCormick, 1968). Despite these accomplishments, an understanding of the genetic regulation of chlortetracycline biosynthesis was not completely realized. Recent developments in the field of Streptomyces genetics have created the opportunity to study molecular genetics of organisms producing industrially important metabolites.
The demonstration of recombination of chromosomal markers by the fusion and subsequent regeneration of Streptomyces protoplasts- (Hopwood et al., 1978 and Baltz et al., 1981) was a pivotal event in the genetics of the actinomycetes. Prior to the development of techniques for protoplast fusion, genetic crosses could only be reliably performed in a few species with demonstrated conjugal systems (Hopwood, 1967). Now, genetic analysis can be performed in any species which can be protoplasted and regenerated. More importantly, protoplasts later proved to be an ideal substrate for transformation by plasmid DNA, thus creating the opportunity to do recombinant DNA experiments in these organisms (Bibb et al., 1978). The isolation of genes for several antibiotic resistances, such as thiostrepton, viomycin and neomycin, allowed the construction of readily selectable cloning vectors from indigenous Streptomyces plasmids (Thompson et al., 1982).
One of the first antibiotic biosynthetic genes to be cloned was the o-methyltransferase involved in the formation of the antibiotic pigment undecylprodigiosin (UDP) (Feitelson et al., 1980). The gene was identified by its ability to complement a known mutation in the UDP biosynthetic pathway. Other techniques employed in these early efforts to isolate biosynthetic genes included mutational cloning using phage OC31 for methylenomycin (Chater et al., 1983), a sib selection of recombinant clones using Ln vitro enzyme assays for the actinomycin phenoxa-zinone synthetase (Jones et al., 1984) and sulphonamide resistance conferred by the p-aminobenzoic acid synthetase involved in candicidin production (Gil et al., 1983). Bialaphos biosynthetic genes were identified via complementation of blocked mutants (Murakami et al., 1986).
Genes involved in actinorhodin biosynthesis were cloned by complementation of biosynthetically blocked mutants of Streptomyces coelicolor (Malpartida et al., 1984). In this last case, two overlapping clones complementing distinct classes of mutants were combined on a single plasmid which was shown to confer the ability to synthesize actinorhodin when introduced into a heterologous Streptomyces parvulus host.
Another important series of observations was that genes for antibiotic biosynthesis were physically linked to the resistance determinant(s) for that same antibiotic in the producing organism. Thus, a DNA fragment from Streptomyces ariseus conferring streptomycin resistance was shown to be contiguous with DNA that complemented biosynthetic blocks (Distler et al., 1985). The same situation was seen in Streptomyces fradiae where biosynthetic genes had been identified by probing a cosmid library for homology to a mixed-base oligonucleotide constructed to represent the DNA sequence for the amino-terminus of the final enzyme in the tylosin biosynthetic pathway (Fishman et al., 1989). A previously cloned tylosin resistance gene (tlrB) was shown to be contained within this region of DNA, which complemented nine classes of blocked mutants (Baltz et al., 1988). In the cases of puromycin (Vara et al., 1988) and tetracenomycin (Motamedi et al., 1987), a primary selection for expression of antibiotic resistance gene in the heterologous host Streptomyces lividans allowed subsequent identification of antibiotic biosynthetic genes located on the same cloned DNA fragment.
The use of nucleic acid probes has aided the isolation of biosynthetic genes. This approach relies on the existence of a pre-existing body of information concerning the pathway or prior cloning having been performed. Thus, in the case of tylosin above, a probe was constructed using information from a partial amino acid sequence of a biosynthetic enzyme (Fishman et al., 1987). Similarly, the gene for isopenicillin N synthetase was cloned from Streptomyces clavuliperus by identifying a clone hybridizing to an oligonucleotide probe constructed with a knowledge of the N-terminal amino acid sequence of the enzyme (Leskiw, 1988). Genes involved in the biosynthesis of erythromycin were identified by probing a cosmid library with a previously cloned erythromycin resistance gene (Stanzak, 1986). Similarly, genes involved in the biosynthesis of oxytetracycline have been identified by hybridization to both a previously cloned resistance determinant (Butler et al., 1989) and an oligonucleotide synthesized to represent the DNA sequence corresponding to the partially elucidated amino acid sequence of the biosynthetic enzyme anhydrotetracycline oxygenase (Binnie et al., 1989). The use of heterologous actI and actIII probes allowed the identification of genes involved in anthracycline biosynthesis in Streptomvces peucetius (Stutzman-Engwall et al., 1989).
The use of these techniques individually or in combination has allowed the isolation or assembly of entire biosynthetic pathways from fragments of genes, and in some instances, their expression in a heterologous host. The entire biosynthetic cluster for bialaphos was cloned by a combination of selections for complementing activities and heterologous expression of bialaphos resistance (Murakami et al., 1986). While a successful isolation of the entire pathway in a single step in Streptomyces lividans by selecting for bialaphos resistance was noted, no mention is made concerning expression of the biosynthetic genes.
A bifunctional cosmid clone which hybridized to a homologously derived erythromycin resistance determinant was isolated from a Saccharopolyspora erythrea library and shown to direct the synthesis of erythromycin when transferred to Streptomyces lividans (Stanzak et al., 1986). An E. coli cosmid clone that showed hybridization to both an oxytetracycline resistance gene probe and biosynthetic gene probe (for anhydrotetracycline oxygenase) allowed the isolation of the oxytetracycline biosynthetic cluster from Streptomvces rimosus (Binnie et al., 1989). Subsequent subcloning into a Streptomyces plasmid vector allowed production of oxytetracycline in Streptomyces lividans.
Two overlapping clones from the tetracenomycin producer were identified by complementation of blocked mutants of Streptomyces glaucescens and ability to confer tetracenomycin resistance in S. lividans (Motamedi et al., 1987). When both were separately resident in S. lividans and co-fermented, or when they were co-resident in the same S. lividans host, tetracenomycin was produced. Bifunctional clones isolated from an E. coli library of Streptomyces peucetius DNA by hybridization to actI and actIII probes of S. coelicolor were shown to direct the synthesis of pigmented antibiotic when introduced into S. lividans (Stutzman-Engwall, 1989).
Additionally, the isolation of the biosynthetic pathway for cepthamycin C production has occurred (Chen et al., 1988). In this case, random clones in S. lividans were individually screened for cephamycin C production using an agar plug fermentation method. Out of 30,000 screened, one transformant of S. lividans was shown to be producing cephamycin C.
Although reports have been published concerning the cloning of a tetracycline-resistance determinant (Reynes et al., 1988) and a bromoperoxidase (Van Pee, 1988) from Streptomyces aureofaciens, these studies are in no way extended toward the isolation of chlortetracycline biosynthetic genes or the entire gene cluster.
The present invention is the first instance wherein the single DNA gene cluster related to the entire biosynthetic pathway for producing tetracycline and chlortetracycline is isolated and utilized.

Cloning of the biosynthetic pathway for chlortetracycline and tetracycline formation and cosmids useful therein


Lun communications between a storage server and a storage subsystem for a particular lun are assigned both a current path and an alternate path. Lun communications use the current path unless the current path is determined to be faulty. Path errors may result in the storage server determining a path to be faulty. If the current path for a lun communication is determined to be faulty, then the lun communications will be sent through the alternate path so long as the alternate path is determined to be reliable. Over time, a path previously determined to be faulty may recover and be used again for lun communications.

Many businesses use computers to process vast amounts of business related data. Data accessed by computers is typically stored either on locally attached disk drives or on a storage server. A storage server is a computer that is connected to a storage subsystem or data storage medium and offers data storage services to client computers. Using a storage server for data storage services has several advantages over using locally attached disk drives, including cost savings resulting from centralized data storage management and more efficient storage space utilization.
Storage servers store data from client computers on a storage subsystem to which the storage servers are connected. The storage space on the storage subsystem which is available for the storage server to use may be presented to the storage server as one or more virtual disks. Each virtual disk has a different Logical Unit Number (lun) identifier and the virtual disks are collectively referred to as luns. Lun communication between the storage server and the storage subsystem occurs over communication cables which connect the storage server to the storage subsystem. Lun communication is primarily individual input output (I/O) commands associated with a particular lun. A communications route between the storage server and the storage subsystem over a particular communications cable is referred to as a path. Typically, a lun is assigned two paths as redundant communication routes. I/O commands associated with a lun are sent through one of the paths assigned to the lun from the storage server to the storage subsystem and responses to the I/O command from the storage subsystem are typically sent to the storage server through the same path the I/O command was received on.
Many businesses rely on storage servers to such a degree that any unplanned outage of service from the storage server, however brief, can have a significant adverse impact on the business. Storage servers, like other computers, are made of different computer components that perform specialized functions. Computer components and related electronic devices sometimes fail and cease to operate. Computer components that are necessary for the continued operation of a storage server can cause the storage server to become inoperative when those computer components fail. Redundancy is usually built into the storage server to reduce the reliance of a storage server on a particular component. In a computer context, redundancy generally refers to a computer having multiple components of a particular type and being programmed to use an alternate component when a particular component fails, so that the computer can continue to operate.
A storage server with redundant paths can still offer storage services to client computers when one of those paths fails due to a component failure. Typically, an operating system of the storage server is programmed to detect a path failure and to redirect lun communications from the failed path to a redundant or alternate path. The operating system or other similar related program of the storage server typically notifies an administrator of the path failure so that the faulty component can be identified and replaced.
Occasionally, a computer component may experience intermittent failures. Intermittent failures may be caused by loose connections, signal interference, or other spurious causes. Oftentimes an intermittent failure of a computer component is a precursor of an impending total failure of the computer component. Replacing a computer component that is experiencing intermittent failures before it totally fails is usually a sound policy. Intermittent failures of a computer component can also be a one-time occurrence instead of a sign of impending total failure. In the case when an intermittent failure of a computer component is an isolated event, assuming the computer component to be faulty and then replacing the component is a costly and unnecessary response. Continuing to use a computer component that is experiencing intermittent failures is also less than optimal due to an increased risk of data corruption and decreased performance and efficiency.

Recovery from transitory storage area network component failures


Embodiments of the present invention provide a data processing device and a data processing method. In the data processing device and the data processing method provided by the embodiments of the present invention, first data in a memory is written into a first non-volatile storage unit in a log file form, and a log file of the first data written into the first non-volatile storage unit is written into a second non-volatile storage unit. Because a data write speed of the first non-volatile storage unit is higher than a data write speed of the second non-volatile storage unit, fast backup of the data in the memory can be achieved, and when the data in the memory is lost in an abnormal situation, security of the data in the memory can be ensured.

With the continuous development of information technologies and the popularization of mobile services, the quantity of clients significantly increases, which raises a higher requirement for a capability of a server for responding to a client. Meanwhile, with the popularization of big data computing, a requirement for computing instantaneity is raised. A processing speed of a server processing these services directly affects a service processing speed and user satisfaction.
Improving a data read/write speed of a memory is one of factors that improve the service processing speed of the server. In addition, due to a feature that data in the memory is easily lost, the data in the memory is lost upon an abnormal power failure or restart. Generally, a non-volatile storage medium is used to back up the data in the memory to ensure security of the data in the memory. When the data in the memory is lost, the data lost from the memory can be recovered.
The non-volatile storage medium can permanently save the data, and the data is still not lost even in the case of a power failure. A data access speed of a large-capacity non-volatile storage medium is slow, but the data access speed of the memory is fast. If a scenario in which the data is lost from the memory occurs during a process of writing data in the memory into the non-volatile storage medium for backup, the data that is not backed up in a timely manner cannot be recovered. As a result, the security of the data in the memory cannot be ensured.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Data processing device and data processing method


Disclosed is a system and method of assessing the efficacy of treatment of neurological or psychological disorders. The preferred embodiment uses at least two surface electrodes to acquire EEG signals from the surface of a patient's body, a processor for computing from the EEG signals various features and indices that are representative of the patient's neurological or psychological state. Changes in these parameters may be used to assess the efficacy of treatment and to modify the treatment to optimize the resultant patient state.

There are a wide range of neurological and psychological disorders for which treatment may be provided by various means. For many disorders, administration of pharmaceutical agents is the most common treatment modality. In cases in which the symptoms of the disorder are resistant to pharmacological treatment or for which no pharmacological treatment exists, other modalities may be used, including neurostimulation.
Neurostimulation is a method of disease treatment which uses an electrical stimulator to provide a current signal which is used to stimulate the central nervous system (CNS), generally either directly or by means of a nerve of the peripheral nervous system. Such neurostimulators and their corresponding electrodes are generally implanted in a patient's body. There are currently two primary methods of neurostimulation for central nervous system disorders; deep brain stimulation (DBS) and vagus nerve stimulation (VNS). DBS uses an electrode implanted directly in a patient's brain, while VNS stimulates a patient's vagus nerve peripherally.
A commercially available DBS neurostimulator is manufactured and sold by Medtronic Inc. of Minneapolis, Minn., USA, model 3386, having a stimulating lead with four cylindrical stimulating electrodes. The deep brain stimulator is a surgically implanted medical device, similar to a cardiac pacemaker, which delivers high-frequency, pulsatile electrical stimulation to precisely targeted areas within the brain. The device consists of a very small electrode array (electrodes 1.5 mm in length with 3 mm center to center separation) placed in a deep brain structure and connected through an extension wire to an electrical pulse generator surgically implanted under the skin near the collarbone. The Medtronic DBS has received marketing clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with an indication for treatment of Parkinson's Disease, Essential Tremor, and Dystonia. Current research is evaluating DBS as a treatment for epilepsy, psychiatric disorders, and chronic pain.
The DBS stimulator is surgically placed under the skin of the chest of the patient. The stimulating DBS electrode lead is connected to the DBS stimulator wires and is placed in a specific inter-cranial location which may vary depending on the region of the brain being treated. The DBS system is adjusted by several parameters: 1. location of the 4 electrode lead, 2. selection of the stimulating electrodes, 3. amplitude of the stimulator signal, 4. frequency (repetition rate) of the stimulator signal, 5. polarity of the stimulating signal, and 6. pulse width of the stimulating signal. Post-implantation, all of these parameters except electrode location can be non-invasively varied by a clinician to enhance therapeutic effectiveness and minimize side effects. Amplitude, measured in volts, is the intensity or strength of the stimulation. The typical range is 1.5 to 9 volts. Frequency is the repetition rate at which the stimulation pulse is delivered and is measured in pulses per second (Hz); it typically ranges from 100-185 Hz. The pulse width is the duration of the stimulation pulse, measured in microseconds. The average pulse width ranges from 60-120 microseconds.
Another commercially available neurostimulator is designed for use on the peripheral nervous system, specifically the vagus nerve. An example of this type of system is designed and sold by Cyberonics Corporation. The Vagus Nerve Stimulator (VNS) Therapy device is implanted in a patient's chest under the skin immediately below the collarbone or close to the armpit. Two tiny wires from the device wrap around the vagus nerve on the left side of the neck. Through stimulation of this peripheral nerve, brain function is affected. VNS therapy has been granted marketing clearance by the FDA with an indication for treatment of epilepsy and is being investigated to treat a number of other central nervous system diseases and conditions, such as depression, obesity, Alzheimer's disease, etc.
An obstacle to the broader use of these devices is, in many indications, the lack of a measure of treatment efficacy. The efficacy of neurostimulation is a function of the settings of the various stimulator parameters (i.e., electrode selection, stimulus pulse amplitude, stimulus pulse frequency, stimulus polarity and stimulus pulse width, among others). However, with the exception of treatment for essential tremor or patients with very frequent epileptic seizures, it is difficult to assess the effect of the stimulus provided, and thus difficult to adjust these parameters to achieve the maximum possible treatment efficacy.
Prior Art
A number of different approaches have used the EEG as a feedback signal for neurostimulation.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,263,237 issued to Rise, the use of a sensor in combination with a signal generator (neurostimulator) to treat an anxiety disorder is described. In this embodiment, the sensor generates a signal related to a condition resulting from the anxiety disorder. Control means responsive to the sensor signal regulate the signal generator so that the neurological disorder is treated. One of the types of sensor signals is cortical potentials recorded above the neurons controlling specific aspects of behavior associated with the neurological disorder; in this case, the sensor would take the form of an implanted depth electrode. In this system, the sensor is an integral component of the stimulating device. There is no teaching or suggestion in the patent, however, of the method of obtaining or computing a sensor signal relating to the anxiety disorder or to treatment efficacy.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,066,163 issued to John, an Adaptive Brain Stimulation (ABS) system which aids in the rehabilitation of patients from traumatic brain injury, coma, or other brain dysfunction is described. The system comprises a sensor(s), a stimulating means, a comparator means for statistical comparison, and a means to adjust the stimulator according to the outcome of the comparison. The object of the system is to improve treatment of central nervous system pathology such as coma by relying on statistically significant and medically meaningful criteria to choose a specified program of stimulation. The John system specifically utilizes signals from the brain (EP and EEG), as well as EKG and EMG. John describes a large number of potential parameters that may be computed from these signals. The parameters are compared using statistical methods to a set of reference values from a database which may include values previously obtained from the patient, values that medical personnel have obtained, or values from an appropriate normative population. The ABS then selects a set of stimulation parameters based upon this comparison. A positive outcome is defined as the current state meeting a set of criteria indicating an improvement in the patient's condition. John describes the method only in a general sense; the patent does not teach any specific method or the use of any specific signals or parameters to quantify those signals, nor does it teach criteria which define positive outcomes. In addition, John does not teach the making of an index of treatment efficacy.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,539,263 issued to Schiff et al. describes a system for treating a conscious patient to improve cognitive function or coordination of function across a patient's cortical regions. Electrical stimulation is applied to at least a portion of the subcortical structures involved in the generation and control of generalized efference copy signals under conditions effective to improve the patient's cognitive function. Internally generated movement of the patient is then detected and in response to such internally generated movement, application of electrical stimulation is controlled. Schiff, et al. also state that their method can be optimized by monitoring regional and intrahemispheric changes in brain waves as measured by conventional techniques (EEG or magnetoencephalogram (MEG)) or by monitoring regional and intrahemispheric changes in metabolic activity. Schiff, et al., however, do not teach specific methods for processing the EEG or MEG signal to produce a parameter reflective of cognitive function.
U.S. Published Patent Application 2002/0013612A, filed by Whitehurst, describes a system for applying drugs and/or applying electrical stimulation to the brain to treat mood and/or anxiety disorders. The system described is fully implanted in the skull. In order to help determine the strength and/or duration of electrical stimulation and/or the amount and/or type(s) of stimulating drug(s) required to produce the desired effect, in one preferred embodiment, a patient's response to and/or need for treatment is sensed. Whitehurst states that the methods of determining the required electrical and/or drug stimulation include measuring the electrical activity of a neural population (e.g., EEG), measuring neurotransmitter levels and/or their associated breakdown product levels, measuring medication and/or other drug levels, hormone levels, and/or levels of any other bloodborne substance(s). He further states that the sensed information is preferably used to control the stimulation parameters of the System Control Unit(s) in a closed-loop manner. Whitehurst does not teach any method of processing the EEG signal to produce a parameter that can be used as a control variable, nor does he teach recording EEG from the surface of the head.
Others have examined EEG asymmetries (i.e., differences EEG metrics between brain hemispheres); "The common observation in electroencephalographic (EEG) studies of an altered pattern of asymmetric activation in anterior scalp regions in the reduced left relative to right activation in depressed or dysphoric individuals . . . ".
A principal object of the present invention is to derive clinically meaningful information from the electroencephalogram signal to help optimize neurostimulation therapy.

System and method of assessment of the efficacy of treatment of neurological disorders using the electroencephalogram


A system and method for improving vehicle performance on a grade comprises an engine, an acceleration sensor, a global positioning system, a controller and a torque transfer device. The controller determines the grade from information obtained from the global positioning system and the acceleration sensor. The controller calculates a dynamic weight shift of the vehicle from a first wheel to a second wheel due to acceleration and a static weight shift of the vehicle from the first wheel to the second wheel due to gravity and the grade. The controller then determines the maximum amount of torque that can be transmitted to the first wheel before the first wheel slips and avoids slipping by preemptively diverting torque from the first wheel to the second wheel before the first wheel slips.

It is well known in the art to apply anti-skid control systems to vehicles to modify the behavior of the wheels of a motor vehicle during a braking operation. Anti-skid systems are typically designed to sequentially increase and reduce brake fluid pressure in a desirable manner to prevent the wheels from becoming locked. Known anti-skid braking control systems use various mathematical manipulations to determine the speed of a vehicle for comparison with the rotational speed of a given vehicle wheel to calculate wheel "slip" for that wheel, with wheel slip being a parameter needed in order to make decisions concerning wheel lock control.
Additionally, it is known to provide traction control systems that attempt to maximize vehicle acceleration and prevent overspin of the wheels. Many all wheel drive vehicles have drivelines with actively controlled torque transfer devices. In the case of a so called "on-demand" four wheel drive system, a powertrain delivers torque to a first set of wheels, which are considered primary drive wheels, at all times while torque sent to a second set of wheels, which are considered secondary drive wheels, only under certain conditions. For example, when the traction control system senses that traction has become limited at the first set of wheels, the torque transfer device is directed to send torque to the second set of wheels.
The prior art anti-skid and traction control systems, which are reactive in nature, are generally unsatisfactory. These systems allow the primary drive wheels to slip and then, only after the slip has been detected, the traction control system will activate the torque transfer devices to limit the slip. Of course, with such a system, a driver will sense the slipping wheels, along with a shock as the torque transfer device engages. The situation is aggravated when the vehicle is on a hill. When accelerating on a hill, the vehicle's pitch may be such that weight is transferred from the primary drive wheels, causing them to slip. The resulting momentary slip will cause driver discomfort and, even worse, could lead to vehicle instability.
Since the surface condition of a road and the slope or grade of the road surface directly affects braking and traction, some prior art control devices, such as braking control devices and traction control devices, are designed to determine a road surface coefficient of friction and a hill slope. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,132,906 discloses a method of estimating road surface friction and hill slope. The hill slope and road surface coefficient of friction are estimated by processing signals representing different characteristics of the vehicle. For example, with respect to each wheel, signals representing radius, speed, change in speed, rotating inertia and torque value are processed. In addition, signals related to a vehicle mass, velocity and change in velocity of the overall vehicle are processed. The calculated hill slope and road surface coefficient of friction are used to control traction as the vehicle climbs a slippery hill. Similarly, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0129871 discloses a feed forward distribution of torque in a vehicle based on an estimated hill grade and a coefficient of friction of a road surface. The estimate of hill slope is made using wheel sensors and longitudinal acceleration sensors. Therefore, in each case, the hill slope is obtained from the output of speed sensors. The problem with using wheel speed sensors is that, on low traction surfaces, wheels tend to slip and, once they are slipping, the wheel speed sensor outputs will become erratic. With this arrangement, the torque controller will not be able to control the torque distribution in a reliable manner.
As can be seen by the above discussion, there is a need in the art for a system that will effectively distribute torque among vehicle wheels to prevent wheel slip as a vehicle travels over a slippery hill. More particularly, there is a need for such a system that does not rely on wheel speed sensors and is able to proactively prevent wheels from slipping, rather than merely reacting to wheel slippage.

System and method for improving vehicle performance on grade


A biological light measuring instrument for illuminating a subject with a plurality of beams of light from a plurality of illuminating positions, measuring the light beams transmitted through the subject, and creating a topographic image showing ecological information about the inside of the subject, comprising unit for creating three-dimensional coordinate data representing the relationship among the illuminating positions and a reference point on the subject and the relationship between the light measuring position and the reference point, unit for setting the illuminating positions and light measuring position on a three-dimensional shape image of the subject according to the three-dimensional coordinate data, and unit for creating a three-dimensional topographic image according to the three-dimensional coordinate data, and unit for superposing the three-dimensional topographic image on the shape image while maintaining the relationships of the illuminating positions and the light measuring position.

As an instrument capable of measuring the circulation of blood/blood circulation movement and a change in hemoglobin inside an organism easily and noninvasively, an instrument has been proposed which measures the inside of an organism by irradiating light beams of wavelengths ranging from visible rays to infrared rays to the organism and detecting light reflected from the organism (for example, JP-A-9-98972 and JP-A-9-149903).
The biological light measuring instrument is applied to clinics and in case the head, for instance, is a subject to be measured, an activated state of hemoglobin change inside a brain and a local internal bleeding inside the brain can be measured and besides, motion, feeling and the highly-graded cerebral function representing thinking that are related to a change in hemoglobin inside the brain can be measured. For example, Eiju Watanabe (MEDIX VOL30) reports that a change in local cerebral blood flow (epileptic focus) during an epileptic fit can be captured by means of a light measuring instrument (optical topography instrument).
In the conventional light measuring instrument, however, a local change in hemoglobin inside the brain is displayed on a two-dimensional plane representative of an arrangement of light irradiators and photodetectors, so that the three-dimensional positional relation between the light irradiator and photodetector and the subject head is not clarified, making it difficult to specify which region of the brain the hemoglobin change occurs in. Accordingly, even in the case of the aforementioned application of measurement results of the epileptic focus to clinics, for instance, a brain site to be cut off through a surgical operation is difficult to specify.


Disclosed is a floating gate EPROM cell wherein a trench is formed in and divides the semiconductor substrate into two portions. Separated source and drain regions are formed in one portion and contact one side of the trench region, and a control gate region is formed in the second portion and contacts the opposite side of the trench. A first insulating film covers the source, drain, trench regions and part of the control gate region, a portion of which is covered by a first polycrystalline silicon film which forms the floating gate. A second insulating layer covers the first polycrystalline silicon film and also a portion of the control gate region, which, in turn, is covered by a second polycrystalline silicon layer which extends beyond the second insulating layer into electrical contact with the control gate region. Thus, a control gate is provided both above and below the floating gate. The coupling efficiency between the control gate and the floating gate is primarily determined by the thickness of the first insulating film, which allows the second insulating film to be thicker to insure against current leakage from the floating gate and at the same time easier to deposit.

This invention relates to an electrically erasable and reprogrammable memory cell which is implemented in CMOS polycrystalline silicon transistor technology and, more particularly, to an improved EPROM cell.
EPROM cells, which are similar in construction to field effect transistors, but additionally include a floating gate between the control gate and the control electrode of the transistor are already known. Essentially, an EPROM cell is programmed by applying certain voltages sufficient to draw electron charges through a thin insulator which become trapped in the conductive floating gate. After removing the applied voltage, the charge remains on the floating gate and leaks away only very slowly since the floating gate, which may be a thin film of polycrystalline silicon, is enveloped entirely by electrically insulating material. This condition increases the threshold voltage of the transistor, thereby rendering it cut off in response to normal read operation voltages. Hence, during reading of a transistor cell so programmed, the transistor will remain nonconductive and thus represent a high impedance between the source and drain terminals.
A known EPROM cell construction is shown in enlarged cross-section in FIGS. 1A and 1B, which respectively are sectional views taken along lines 1A--1A and 1B--1B of the FIG. 2 lay-out of the cell. In this structure, a first layer 1 of polycrystalline silicon (hereinafter sometimes called the "poly-I layer"), which serves as the floating gate, is spaced and insulated from a second polycrystalline silicon layer 2 ("poly-II layer"), which serves as the control gate, by an insulating oxide layer 4. The poly I layer is insulated from the semiconductor substrate S by a first gate oxide layer 3, and a source region 6 and a drain region 7 are formed in the substrate at opposite sides of the poly I layer (as viewed in FIG. 1B). The individual cells of the array shown in FIG. 2 are separated from each other by an oxide layer 5 deposited on the substrate.
The operation of this known EPROM cell is critically dependent on the thickness of the oxide layer 4 which separates the poly-I and poly-II layers in that it determines the coupling efficiency between the control gate and the floating gate of the cell; the thinner the insulating layer the greater the capacitance between the conductive layers. However, it is difficult to reproducibly form the interpoly layer so as to have a thickness which is optimum for coupling efficiency and which, at the same time, is of a quality to avoid current leakage from the floating gate which, of course, adversely affects the period of time that information can be stored. If the insulating layer is made thick enough to insure against current leakage, the capacitance between the control gate and floating gate is correspondingly smaller with the consequence that higher voltages, or longer programming times, are required to trap sufficient electrons in the floating gate.
From the foregoing, it can be seen that a need exists for an EPROM cell and memory array whose operation is less dependent than known devices on the thickness of the insulating layer separating the control gate and floating gate without compromising other features of the memory and is of a construction which will allow the insulating layer to be independently grown over the polycrystalline silicon film that serves as the floating gate.


A bonding method and an apparatus that enable metal bonding under the atmospheric pressure and at room temperature, wherein the surfaces of objects (1b, 2a) to be bonded together are cleaned in an initial cleaning step (S1) to remove bonding inhibitor substances (G) such as oxides and adhered substances; one (1b) of the bonding surfaces is provided with an uneven profile with a predetermined roughness in a surface roughness control step (S3); a surface treatment step (S5) is performed to remove the substances (F) that have been removed but adhered to the bonding surfaces (1b, 2a) again; and the uneven bonding surface (1b) is pressed against the other bonding surface (2a) to bond them together.

In one known component mounting method in which two or more objects are directly bonded together, the objects are placed inside a vacuum chamber and cleaned by directing energy waves onto their surfaces in a low-pressure gas atmosphere, after which the objects are faced opposite each other and pressed together, with the chamber sealed vacuum, or sealed with inactive gas or other gas that does not react with the objects (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
In another known bonding method in which Au bumps of electronic components are joined by metal bonding with Au film on the surface of connection terminals of the substrate, the substrate and electronic components are placed in a vacuum atmosphere inside a chamber, the Au bumps on the electronic components and Au film on the surface of the connection terminals of the substrate are cleaned by unidirectionally accelerated energy particles such as fast atom beam or ion beam, and while the vacuum atmosphere, or a certain gas atmosphere, is maintained, the bumps and connection terminals that have been activated by the cleaning are brought into contact with each other and pressure is applied, whereby they are joined under room temperature (see, for example, Patent Document 2). This conventional technique claims that bonding is also possible in the atmosphere, and within ten minutes during which the activated state achieved by the cleaning process can be maintained, bonding is performed in a temperature range of from room temperature to 150° C.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Publication No. 2001-351892
Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Publication No. 2003-197673


A method, an apparatus, and a system for tagging a video for video communications include: transmitting, from a first apparatus using a network, a first video stream of a first user to a second apparatus of a second user that is in video communication with the first user; receiving, from the second apparatus using the network, a second video stream of the second user; determining, using the second video stream by a processor, a reaction of the second user to the first video stream; and associating the reaction of the second user with the first video stream. The apparatus includes a processor and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory is configured to store instructions which when executed by the processor become operational with the processor to perform the method.

Video quality is one of the focuses in real-time multimedia communications systems. In such systems, video data can be transmitted through a network (e.g., the Internet) between senders and receivers, such as mobile phones and personal computers. To evaluate and control video quality, some objective measure-based methods can be used. Such objective measures can include a peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) and a structured similarity (SSIM).
Encoded and compressed video data can be packaged as a set of packets for network transmission. Due to network jitters, packets from a sender can be lost during transmission and may not arrive at a receiver. In some cases, a received packet can include corrupted bits that cannot be recovered at the receiver. Due to packet loss or corruption, the receiver may not be able to decode the related video in full quality. Another impacting factor for video quality is unstable network bandwidth (or "network traffic crowdedness"). Modern video encoders can adapt their encoding schemes and parameters (e.g., a video encoding bitrate, a frame rate, and/or a picture resolution) to the varying network conditions, which can result in video quality fluctuations. All of those effects can affect user experiences in real-time multimedia communications systems.


A TSP signal that is a measurement signal is generated N times by a signal generating portion. The generated TSP signals are supplied to a steel-echo apparatus. Reverberation generated by the steel-plate echo apparatus corresponding to the TSP signals is arranged N times corresponding to the start points of the TSP signals and synchronously added by a synchronously adding portion. Generating impluse signal is convoluted by an inverse function to TSP signal. The added result of the synchronously adding portion is supplied to an impulse response converting portion. By dividing the added result by the inverse characteristics of the TSP signals, the added reverberation is converted into an impulse response. The impulse response data obtained by the converting portion is recorded to for example a CD-ROM and supplied to a reverberator. The reverberator reproduces an impulse response recorded on the CD-ROM and performs a convolution calculation process for the input signal. Thus, reverberation of the steel-plate echo apparatus can be reproduced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an impulse response collecting method, a sound effect adding apparatus, and a record medium that allow reverberation to be added corresponding to a real apparatus or a real space.
2. Description of the Related Art
As an apparatus that adds a sound effect to an audio signal, a reverberator is known. The reverberator is used to add reverberation to an audio signal in for example a recording studio so that listeners can have a spatial impression and a deep impression. When reverberation is added to an audio signal that has been recorded in a studio or the like, a sound effect performed in a hall and a special effect can be added to the audio signal.
Formerly, to add reverberation to an audio signal, sound was recorded in for example a hall where reverberation was obtained. Alternatively, such as a steel-plate echo apparatus was used to obtain a reverberative effect. In a recent reverberator, such an effect is electrically accomplished. More recently, as digital technologies have advanced, an apparatus that digitally synthesizes reverberation is becoming common.
When reverberation is added to an audio signal by a digital process, for example a recursive digital filter is used. With the recursive digital filter, an input digital audio signal is attenuated and recurred. Thus, reverberation is generated. The generated reverberation is mixed with the original digital audio signal. In reality, initial reflection sound is added at a position delayed by a predetermined time period against direct sound. After a predetermined time period, reverberation is added. The delay time period of the reverberation against the direct sound is referred to as pre-delay. By adjusting the reverberation time, adding sub-reverberation, and finely adjusting the level of reverberation, a variety of types of sound can be generated.
Reverberation in a real hall has a complicated waveform because of various reflections and interferences of sound due to the shape of the hall and the position of a sound source. However, as described above, in the method of which an original digital audio signal is processed with a filter, since the original signal is simply attenuated, the listeners of the resultant signal have an artificial impression about the generated sound. On the other hand, in the method of which an original digital audio signal is recurred by a filter process, after an input signal ceases, since the final pitch of reverberation is equal to the pitch of the inner feed-back loop of a recursive filter. Thus, in this method, natural and high quality reverberation cannot be obtained.
As a method for reproducing a rear sound field along with a front sound field using left and right sound sources is becoming common. This reproducing method is referred to as surround system. In the surround system, a sound field of a movie theater is reproduced. For example, in front of the listener, left and right channels (F-L and F-R) are disposed. Behind the listener, left and right channels (R-L and R-R) are disposed. In addition to the four channels, at the center of the front of the listener, another channel (referred to as C channel) is disposed. The C channel is used to reproduce speeches of actors and actresses. As an optional channel, one channel is disposed at any position. The optional channel is used to reproduce a sound in the ultra low band. Since the information amount of the ultra low band is 1/10 that of each of the other channels, the channel structure of 5 channels plus ultra low band is referred to as 5.1 channel structure.
In addition to movies, when a conventional music performance that has been recorded in the surround system is reproduced in a relevant system, the listener can enjoy the performance with more presence. In the case of a music performance, four channels F-L, F-R, R-L, and R-R are normally used. However, the C channel is not used.
When sound is recorded in a real hall or the like, reverberation can be obtained more naturally. However, in a real hall, parameters with respect to reverberation (such as reverberative time) cannot be varied. In addition, the positions and types (characteristics) of microphones cannot be quickly changed. Moreover, many apparatuses are required. In addition, due to noise of air conditioners, S/N ratio of sound is low. Therefore, there are many problems to be solved in the related art.
Likewise, a mechanical reverberator such as a steel-plate echo apparatus or a spring echo apparatus may be used. However, such apparatuses have problems of aged tolerance and necessity of maintenance. These problems become critical for an apparatus that cannot be obtained due to out-of-fabrication. In addition, such apparatuses are adversely affected by vibration and external noise. The reverberation time cannot be freely adjusted. Moreover, such apparatuses do not have good reproducibility. Furthermore, the weight and size of these apparatuses are large and S/N ratio of obtained sound is not high.
On the other hand, a method for generating reverberation in a real hall or with a steel-plate echo apparatus, collecting an impulse response corresponding to the generated reverberation, and performing a convolution calculation for the collected impulse response and the input data by a filter process has been proposed. Thus, more natural reverberation corresponding to an impulse response of a real space or an apparatus can be obtained.
FIG. 1 shows an example of a structure for performing a convolution calculation for an impulse response in time axis direction using an FIR (Finite Impulse Response) filter. Coefficients of an impulse response are required corresponding to samples of an input digital audio signal. Thus, when the impulse response data of 219 points (524,288 points≈512 k points) is obtained with a digital audio signal at a sampling frequency of 48 kHz, the reverberation time becomes around 10 seconds.
In FIG. 1, a digital audio signal is supplied from a termina 310. The number of quantizing bits of the digital audio signal is for example 24. The sampling frequency of the digital audio signal is 48 kHz. The input signal is supplied to 512 k delaying circuits 311 connected in series. Each of the 512 k delaying circuits 311 has a delay of one sample. Output signals of the individual delaying circuits 311 are supplied to respective coefficient multiplying devices 312. Impulse response data of the first point to 512 k-th point is supplied to the delaying circuits 311 with 24 quantizing bits. The coefficient multiplying devices 312 multiply respective output signals of the delaying circuits 311 by respective impulse response data. The multiplied results are added by an adding device 313. The added result is supplied as reverberation data against the input data to a terminal 314.
In the method for performing convolution calculations for impulse response data in time axis direction, a huge number of delaying circuits 311 and coefficient multiplying devices 312 are required.
To solve such a problem, as shown in FIG. 2, a method for converting an input audio digital audio signal and impulse response data into frequency element data corresponding to Fourrier transform method has been proposed.
Referring to FIG. 2, an input digital audio signal is supplied from a terminal 320. Data for samples corresponding to a required reverberation time (namely, data for 512 k points) is stored in a memory 321. Data stored in the memory 321 is supplied to an FFT (Fast Fourrier Transform) circuit 322. The FFT circuit 322 performs fast Fourrier transform for the data received from the memory 321 and outputs frequency element data of for example 0.1 Hz. Likewise, impulse response data is supplied from a terminal 323. The impulse response data is stored in a memory 324. The impulse response data is supplied to an FFT circuit 325. The FFT circuit 355 performs fast Fourier transform for the impulse response data received from the memory 324 and outputs frequency element data. Since the impulse response data is known, the FFT 325 and the memory 324 may be composed of a ROM 326.
Output data of the FFT circuits 322 and 325 is supplied to a multiplying device 327. The multiplying device 327 multiplies the output data of the FFT circuit 322 by the output data of the FFT circuit 325 in such a manner that the frequency components thereof match. The multiplied result is supplied to an IFFT circuit 328. The IFFT circuit 328 performs inversely fast Fourrier transform for the data received from the multiplying device 327 and outputs the resultant data as time axis data to a terminal 329.
In this method, the hardware scale is smaller than that of the convolution calculation method on time axis. However, since input data corresponding to the required reverberation time should be temporarily stored to the memory 321, a delay of output data against input data becomes large.
To solve the above-described problems about the convolution calculation process for an impulse response, a method for dividing impulse response data on time axis and performing a convolution calculation process for input data corresponding to the divided blocks of the impulse response data has been proposed (as Japanese Patent Publicized Publication No. 8-501667). However, in this method, it is not easy to accurately collect impulse response. This related art reference does not mention how to collect an impulse response.
In other words, the reverberation time has been defined as a time period after sound ceases until the sound pressure level attenuates by 60 dB. The reverberation should be recorded in all the level range. Since the reverberation should be generated with signals including a very low level signal, noise tends to enter the reverberation. In addition, it is very difficult for the user to record reverberation in a real hall.
When a music performance is recorded in the surround system, a reverberation corresponding to a sound field formed with sounds of the four channels should be added. Conventionally, two reverberation adding apparatuses that output monaural/stereo signals are used. In addition, to obtain a high quality reverberation, digital reverberation adding apparatuses have been used.
For example, when one sound source on a stage is recorded, the first reverberation adding apparatus adds a reverberation corresponding to F-L and F-R channels that are on the stage side against the listener. In addition, the second reverberation adding apparatus adds a reverberation corresponding to the R-L and R-R channels that are on the rear side against the listener.
Since a reverberation varies position by position, the two reverberation adding apparatuses should be independently set. Thus, to record a sound source in the surround system, since two reverberation adding apparatuses should be used, their operations are inconveniently complicated.
The reverberation as such as in the hall, the sound is reflected and interfered with the structure of the hall or the position of sound sources then, the waveform becomes more complicated. As mentioned before, attenuated waveforms can be only gained by a filter processing method of the former digital audio signal so, there is a problem of hardly eliminating an artificial impression with the sound
On the other hand, a sound source having a particular sound field should be recorded in stereo. In this case, reverberation adding apparatuses corresponding to the stereo input signals are used. However, since conventional reverberation adding apparatuses corresponding to stereo input signals artificially generate stereo sounds, their sounds are unnatural.
To obtain a more natural reverberation, a sound source may be recorded in a real hall. However, in this case, apparatuses should be set and operated in the hall. In addition, the hall may not be available on the desired date and time. Moreover, in this case, know-how is required for setting microphones. In addition, to lower dirk noise, an air-conditioner and so forth should be stopped.

Impulse response collecting method, sound effect adding apparatus, and recording medium


A resist composition which generates acid upon exposure and exhibits changed solubility in a developing solution under the action of acid, the resist composition including a base component that exhibits changed solubility in a developing solution under the action of acid, the base component containing a resin component having a structural unit represented by general formula (a0-1) shown below:

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a novel polymeric compound that can be used as the base component of a resist composition, a resist composition containing the polymeric compound, and a method of forming a resist pattern using the resist composition.
Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-074972, filed Mar. 28, 2012, and Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-197774, filed Sep. 7, 2012, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of Related Art
In lithography techniques, for example, a resist film composed of a resist material is formed on a substrate, and the resist film is subjected to selective exposure followed by development, thereby forming a resist pattern having a predetermined shape on the resist film. A resist material in which the exposed portions of the resist film become soluble in a developing solution is called a positive-type, and a resist material in which the exposed portions become insoluble in a developing solution is called a negative-type.
In recent years, in the production of semiconductor elements and liquid crystal display elements, advances in lithography techniques have led to rapid progress in the field of pattern miniaturization.
Typically, these pattern miniaturization techniques involve shortening the wavelength (and increasing the energy) of the exposure light source. Conventionally, ultraviolet radiation typified by g-line and i-line radiation has been used, but nowadays KrF excimer lasers and ArF excimer lasers are starting to be introduced in the mass production of semiconductor elements. Furthermore, research is also being conducted into lithography techniques that use an exposure light source having a shorter wavelength (and a higher energy level) than these excimer lasers, such as extreme ultraviolet radiation (EUV), electron beam (EB), and X-ray.
Resist materials for use with these types of exposure light sources require lithography properties such as a high resolution capable of reproducing patterns of minute dimensions, and a high level of sensitivity to these types of exposure light sources.
As a resist material that satisfies these conditions, conventionally a chemically amplified composition has been used, which includes an acid generator component that generates acid upon exposure, and a base component that exhibits changed solubility in a developing solution under the action of acid.
Resins (base resins) are typically used as the base components used within chemically amplified resist compositions.
For example, in an alkali developing process where an alkali developing solution is used as the developing solution, a chemically amplified resist composition for forming a positive-type resist pattern typically contains an acid generator component and a resin component that exhibits increased solubility in an alkali developing solution under the action of acid. If the resist film formed using this resist composition is selectively exposed during formation of a resist pattern, then acid is generated from the acid generator component within the exposed portions, and the action of this acid causes an increase in the solubility of the resin component in an alkali developing solution, making the exposed portions soluble in the alkali developing solution. As a result, by performing alkali developing, the unexposed portions remain as a pattern, resulting in the formation of a positive-type pattern.
As the resin component, a resin that exhibits increased polarity under the action of acid is typically used. When the polarity of the resin is increased, the solubility in an alkali developing solution increases, whereas the solubility in an organic solvent decreases. Accordingly, if a solvent developing process that uses a developing solution containing an organic solvent (an organic developing solution) is employed instead of an alkali developing process, then within the exposed portions of the resist film, the solubility in the organic developing solution decreases relatively, meaning that during the solvent developing process, the unexposed portions of the resist film are dissolved in the organic developing solution and removed, whereas the exposed portions remain as a pattern, resulting in the formation of a negative-type resist pattern. This type of solvent developing process that results in the formation of a negative-type resist pattern is sometimes referred to as a negative-type developing process (for example, see Patent Document 1).
Currently, resins that contain structural units derived from (meth)acrylate esters within the main chain (acrylic resins) are widely used as base resins for chemically amplified resist compositions that use ArF excimer laser lithography or the like, as they exhibit excellent transparency in the vicinity of 193 nm (for example, see Patent Document 2). Here, the term "(meth)acrylate ester" is a generic term that includes either or both of the acrylate ester having a hydrogen atom bonded to the α-position and the methacrylate ester having a methyl group bonded to the α-position. The term "(meth)acrylate" is a generic term that includes either or both of the acrylate having a hydrogen atom bonded to the α-position and the methacrylate having a methyl group bonded to the α-position. The term "(meth)acrylic acid" is a generic term that includes either or both of acrylic acid having a hydrogen atom bonded to the α-position and methacrylic acid having a methyl group bonded to the α-position.
Numerous materials have been proposed for the acid generator used in a chemically amplified resist composition, and known examples include onium salt-based acid generators, oxime sulfonate-based acid generators, diazomethane-based acid generators, nitrobenzylsulfonate-based acid generators, iminosulfonate-based acid generators, and disulfone-based acid generators. Among these acid generators, onium salt-based acid generators having an onium ion such as a triphenylsulfonium ion for the cation moiety are widely used.
Furthermore, in recent years, resins having a structural unit containing a sultone ring have been proposed for the aforementioned resin component. Conventionally, it has been suggested that these structural units can be added for the purpose of improving the adhesion between the resist composition and the substrate (for example, see Patent Document 3).

Resist composition, method of forming resist pattern, and polymeric compound

Abstract: in which R1 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms, R2 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms or a halogenated alkyl group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms, and X represents an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, or an alkylene group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms which may contain an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom.


Provided herein is an apparatus, including: a component drawer, a chassis including an opening configured to removably receive the component drawer therethrough, a cover for the component drawer, and means for locking the component drawer in the chassis during movement of the component drawer into the chassis with the cover in a storage position, and for releasing the component drawer from the chassis when the cover is the non-storage position.

Computing systems, including servers, portable and/or desk-top devices, include one or more components. Generally, components are housed in a component drawer and further inserted in a chassis of a computing system. For instance, a hard disk drive may be housed in a hard disk drive drawer and then inserted into hard disk drive bay. In such arrangements, components may be removed, replaced, and/or added in a computing system.
Mechanisms of removal and insertion of a component may use a lever to engage and/or disengage a hook from a chassis. However, using a lever is cumbersome. It is appreciated that in such a lever based system, a component drawer may not be inserted properly unless the lever is in the proper position to move a hook out of the way during insertion. For example, due to improper positioning of the lever, the hook may contact the outside of the chassis, thereby preventing the component drawer from being inserted. Furthermore, it is appreciated that if the insertion of the component drawer in the chassis is incomplete, the lever may not be pushed into a closed position to insert the hook into the notch, thereby preventing the component drawer from locking into the chassis.

Apparatus for locking a component drawer into a chassis


A remultiplexer is disclosed for communicating plural programs. Each program comprises one or more elementary streams that are encoded in relation to a single common time base corresponding to the respective program. The communicated programs originate from plural input transport streams that each comprises plural transport packets. Each transport packet contains a packet identifier indicating the data contained therein. Within each transport stream, unique packet identifiers are assigned to each elementary stream of each program. The data of each elementary stream is only contained in transport packets having a corresponding packet identifier. Each input transport stream contains time stamps for reconstructing the single program time base corresponding to each program conveyed therein. The remultiplexer has a data link module which receives the plural input transport streams. The data link module also selectively extracts transport packets from the received input transport streams. The remultiplexer has a downstream bus on which the data link module sequentially transfers at least some of the extracted transport packets. The remultiplexer selects which of the extracted transport packets to transfer on the downstream message bus depending on the packet identifiers of the transport packets. The remultiplexer also has a scheduler which assembles the transport packets transferred on the downstream bus into a single output transport stream.

The present invention relates to transport and storage of compressed video and audio streams. Illustratively, the invention is illustrated herein using the International Standards Organization (ISO) Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG) 2 standard for compressing video and related audio, conveying the compressed video and related audio to a decoder and presenting the video and related audio together. See ISO/IEC IS 13818-2: Information Technology-Generic Coding of Moving Pictures and Associated Audio Information: Video; ISO/IEC DIS 13818-1: Information Technology-Generic Coding of Moving Pictures and Associated Audio Information: Systems. For compressed audio there are numerous standards including ISO/IEC IS 11172-2: 1993 Information Technology-Coding of Moving Pictures and Associated Audio for Digital Storage Media at up to about 1.5Mbit/sec-Part 3 Audio (MPEG-1 Audio); Dolby AC-3; ISO.backslash.IEC DIS 13818-3: 1994 Information Technology-Coding of Moving Pictures and Associated Audio Information: Audio (MPEG-2 Audio). Each program is presumed to include multiple related component elementary streams such as a video elementary stream, one or more audio elementary streams, one or more private data elementary streams, etc. Illustratively, MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 provide for hierarchically organized streams. That is, for a given program, audio and video elementary streams are separately encoded to produced compressed audio and video streams. A good tutorial for MPEG-2 video compression is contained in D. Le Gall, MPEG: A Video Compression Standard for Multimedia Applications, COMMUNICATIONS OF THE ACM, April 1991. These compressed audio and video elementary streams are illustratively placed in a higher layer stream such as an MPEG-2 compliant transport stream. A good tutorial of MPEG-2 transport streams is contained in A. Wasilewski, MPEG-2 Systems Specification: Blueprint for Network Interoperability, COMM. TECH., Feb., 1994. The higher layer transport stream provides a manner for associating all related encoded video, audio and private data streams of each program carried therein so that the elementary streams of any given program can be extracted, decoded and presented together in a coherent fashion. The higher layer transport stream may include compressed audio, video and private data for only a single program or for multiple programs.
According to the MPEG-2 standard, the data of each digital elementary stream is first placed into program elementary stream (PES) packets of arbitrary length. The PES packet data, and other data, relating to one or more programs may be combined into one or more transport streams. The transport stream is organized into fixed length (more precisely, 188 byte length) packets. Each of the transport stream packets includes a four byte header and a 184 byte payload. The transport packet header includes a synchronization value, for use in identifying the boundaries (i.e., beginning) of each transport packet, followed by a packet identifier or PID. The purpose of the PID is to label the transport packet. All packets with a particular PID have related contents, e.g., all have PES packet data for a particular elementary stream, etc.
Each transport packet can carry PES packet data, e.g., private data, video data or audio data (e.g., which may be compressed and formed into streams according to MPEG-2 syntax), or program specific information (PSI) data (described below). Transport packets may not contain both PES packet data and PSI data. Furthermore, transport packets may only contain PES packet data for a single elementary stream.
PES bearing packets may also contain program clock reference (PCR) values, presentation time stamps (PTS) and decoding time stamps (DTS). Each program has a single time base established by a system time clock at the encoder in relation to which all elementary streams of the particular program are encoded. The PCR is simply a snapshot of this encoder system time clock for a particular program. Note that it is not unusual to have divergent PCR values for the elementary streams associated with different programs. PTS's indicate the time when a video picture or audio frame should be presented (i.e., displayed on a monitor or converted to sound on a loudspeaker) relative to the encoder clock (PCR's) of the encoders which produced the video and audio. On the other hand, DTS's indicate the time when a video picture should be decoded relative to the encoder clock. PTS's enable the synchronization of video and audio of a particular program despite the lack of instantaneous correlation between the video and audio bit rates. DTS's enable the timely submission of compressed anchor video pictures to the encoder for use in decoding interceded pictures which depend thereon.
PSI data includes information other than elementary stream data which is necessary to decode the PES packet data. Examples of PSI are the program association table (PAT), the program mapping table (PMT), conditional access information, and the network information table (NIT). The PAT indicates where the PMT entries (called program definitions) of each program carried by the transport stream may be found. Specifically, the PAT correlates the PID's of the transport packets carrying the program definitions with each program carried in the respective transport stream. The PMT has a program definition corresponding to each program carried in the respective transport stream. Each program definition indicates: (1) the PID of the transport packets bearing the PCR's associated with that program, (2) each ES that comprises the program, (3) the PID's of the transport packets bearing the data of each respective ES, and (4) stream specific conditional access information (discussed below). A first type of conditional access information, referred to as entitlement management messages (EMM), provides system wide oriented scrambling and access control information. A second type of conditional access information, referred to as entitlement control messages (ECM), provides elementary stream specific scrambling and access control information. The NIT contains information indicating network parameters.
FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art program encoder architecture 10 produced by Divicom, located in Milpitas, Calif. As shown, the program encoder 10 has plural plug in printed circuit card modules 11, 15, 17, 19, a main board 30, and an I-bus 20 for interconnecting the modules 11, 15, 17 and 19 to the main board 30. The I bus 20 is actually five separate busses referred to as the command bus .COPYRGT. bus), the system clock bus (SY bus), the upstream message bus (UM bus), the downstream message bus (DM bus) and the video bus (V bus). Each module 11-19 and each circuit 31-69 is briefly described below.


An ink jet recording head comprising: a nozzle orifice for jetting ink; an ink chamber communicating with the nozzle; a diaphragm for pressurizing ink in the ink chamber; a piezoelectric thin film on the diaphragm; and an electrode for the piezoelectric thin film wherein the piezoelectric thin film and the electrode are patterned to the same shape.

This invention relates to an ink jet recording head using a piezoelectric thin film for an ink jet drive source and a manufacturing method therefor. Further, it relates to an ink jet recorder using the recording head.
There is a piezoelectric ink jet recording head using PZT elements comprising PZT of piezoelectric elements as electromechanical transducer elements of liquid or ink jet drive source. This type of the piezoelectric ink jet recording head is proposed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 5-286131.
This conventional head will be discussed with reference to FIG. 10. The recording head has separate ink passages (ink pressure chambers) 9 on a head base 1 and a diaphragm 8 so as to cover the separate ink passages 9. A common electrode (lower electrode) 3 is formed so that it is attached to the diaphragm 8, and PZT elements 4 are placed so as to reach the tops of the separate ink passages 9, a separate electrode (upper electrode) 5 being placed on one face of the PZT element.
In the recording head, an electric field is applied to the PZT element for displacing the same, thereby pushing out ink in the separate ink passage from a nozzle of the separate ink passage.
The sequence of events for the inventor to diligently study conventional ink jet recording heads and reach the invention will be discussed.
In the conventional ink jet recording head previously described, a pattern shift occurs between the PZT element and the upper electrode and even if they are patterned with the same pattern, it is feared that a leak between the upper electrode and the common electrode will occur due to a pattern shift between the PZT element and the upper electrode.
Then, to attempt to avoid this problem, it becomes necessary to make the upper electrode pattern smaller than the PZT element pattern. That is, the form shown in FIG. 10 is changed to that in FIG. 11. In doing so, it is feared that the electric field on the upper electrode 5 side will not be applied to the piezoelectric part where the upper electrode does not exist, worsening the efficiency for jetting ink.
That is, the part of the piezoelectric body, to which no electric field is applied, not deformed restrains the deformed part, lessening displacement of the entire piezoelectric body. If the upper electrode is not positioned at the width direction center of the piezoelectric film, namely, the widths of the undeformed parts of the piezoelectric film at the left ΔX1 and right ΔX2 shown in the FIG. 43 differ (ΔX1>ΔX2, for instance), the piezoelectric film deformation becomes distorted, lowering the jet characteristic and stability. The same reference numbers in FIGS. 10, 11 and 43 are used to designate the same elements.
Then, to solve the problem, the inventor forms the piezoelectric body as a thin film and etches the piezoelectric thin film and separate electrodes at the same time, for example, by using a photolithography technique, thereby providing a new ink jet recording head with the piezoelectric thin film and electrodes patterned in the same shape.
On the other hand, to jet ink equal to or more than ink with an ink jet using a bulk piezoelectric body for piezoelectric thin film of thin PZT element, it is desirable to form a PZT thin film having an extremely large piezoelectric constant more than bulk PZT for deforming a diaphragm.
Generally, the piezoelectric constant of the PZT thin film is only a half to a third of the piezoelectric constant of bulk PZT and if only PZT elements differ and other design values are the same, it is difficult to use the PZT thin film to jet ink more than ink with bulk PZT.
A method of increasing the PZT thin film formation area is available to enable use of a PZT thin film having a small piezoelectric constant. According to this method, an amount of ink required for printing can be jetted, but if the PZT thin film area increases, ink jet recording head cannot be formed in high density and high-definition print quality cannot be provided.

Ink jet recording head having piezoelectric element and electrode patterned with same shape and without pattern shift therebetween


A system for analyzing a biological sample may include at least one sample acquisition stage comprising a sample acquisition device for acquiring the biological sample from a sample source; a droplet generator device for forming a droplet wrapped in an immiscible carrier fluid, wherein the wrapped droplet comprises at least the biological sample and a reagent, the droplet generator configured to receive the biological sample transferred from the sample acquisition device; a collection vessel for collecting the wrapped sample droplet from the droplet generator, the vessel configured to contain a carrier fluid for receiving and protecting the sample droplet; and an analysis system for analyzing the wrapped sample droplet and detecting products of a polymerase chain reaction.

A broad range of therapies exist that may be used to treat patients afflicted with diseases, such as infections, cardiovascular disease, and neoplastic disease. Use of those therapies has revealed substantial differences in therapeutic response among individual. Any given drug may be therapeutic in some individuals while being ineffective in others. Further, a drug may produce adverse effects in certain individuals whereas others do not experience the same adverse reaction to the drug. Recognition of differences in drug response among individual is an important step towards optimizing therapy.
A problem with current approaches in drug therapy is that those therapies are designed for treatment of large patient populations as groups, irrespective of the potential for individual based differences in drug response. This approach is utilized due to costs and time associated with producing numerous cultures of an individual's cells, which is required for screening many different drugs as potential agents for effective disease treatment for a particular individual. This problem is particularly acute in the field of cancer therapy, in which tumors have qualities specific to individuals and individuals respond very differently to the same chemotherapeutic agent.
There is a need for methods that can rapidly and cost effectively culture and analyze an individual's cells so that personalized treatment protocols may be developed and implemented.

Methods of releasing and analyzing cellular components


The finishing needle is a hand sewing tool used for weaving loose ends of yarn back into a hand-knitted item when finishing a knitting work. The finishing needle is a long needle with two ends that taper to a semi-point at each end. The needle has a single eye that extends through the length of the needle. The eye has a beveled edge that provides for easier threading and to hold the yarn securely. The finishing needle can weave loose ends of yarn into a knitted item when finishing without stopping to turn the needle around, and with no need to re-thread, when weaving in the opposite direction. The finishing needle can more easily make use of shorter lengths of yarn than a conventional needle or hook, and can finish a large knitted item or one with multiple colors much faster than with a conventional needle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to sewing needles, and more particularly to a finishing needle for use with yarn or other like materials for weaving ends of yarn back into a knitted item when finishing the work.
2. Description of the Related Art
Knitting is a technique for producing a two-dimensional fabric from a one-dimensional yarn or thread. In weaving, the threads are always straight, running parallel either lengthwise (warp threads) or crosswise (weft threads). By contrast, the yarn in knitted fabrics follows a meandering path (a course), forming symmetric loops symmetrically above and below the mean path of the yarn. These meandering loops can be stretched easily in different directions, which gives knitting much more elasticity than woven fabrics; depending on the yarn and knitting pattern, knitted garments can stretch as much as five hundred percent. For this reason, knitting was initially developed for garments that must be elastic or stretch in response to the wearer's motions, such as socks and hosiery.
For comparison, woven garments stretch mainly along one direction (the bias) and not very much, unless they are woven from stretchable material such as Lycra. Knitted garments are often more formfitting than woven garments, since their elasticity allows them to follow the body's curvature closely. By contrast, curvature is introduced into most woven garments only with sewn darts, flares, gussets and gores, the seams of which lower the elasticity of the woven fabric still further. Extra curvature can be introduced into knitted garments without seams, as in the heel of a sock. The effect of darts and flares can be obtained with short rows or by increasing or decreasing the number of stitches. The thread used in weaving is usually much finer than the yarn used in knitting, which can make the knitted fabric bulkier and have less drape than a woven fabric.
If they are not secured, the loops of a knitted course will come undone when their yarn is pulled. This is known as ripping out or unraveling knitting. To secure a stitch, at least one new loop is passed through it. Although the new stitch is itself unsecured ("active"), it secures the stitches suspended from it. A sequence of stitches in which each stitch is suspended from the next is called a wale. To secure the initial stitches of a knitted fabric, a method for casting on is used. To secure the final stitches in a wale, one uses a method of binding off. During knitting, the active stitches are secured mechanically, either from individual hooks in the case of knitting machines, or from a knitting needle or frame in hand knitting.
The process of knitting involves holding the active stitches so that the stitches do not drop, releasing the stitches after they are secured and passing new bights of yarn through the fabric, usually through active stitches. In very simple cases, knitting can be done without tools, using only the fingers to do these tasks. However, knitting is usually carried out using instruments, such as knitting needles, knitting machines or rigid frames. Other accessories are used to prepare yarn for knitting, to measure and design knitted garments, or to make knitting easier or more comfortable.
The knitting project must be "finished." Finishing is the process of weaving ends of the yarn back into the project. If not done correctly, the yarn can unravel and cause the knitted item to fall apart, or cause a weak or uncomfortable spot on the item that leads to premature wear.
For every knitting project it is necessary to weave in at least two ends when finishing the work; the excess yarn at the cast on edge and the excess yarn at the bound off edge. More complicated or larger projects, such as blankets or multi colored or striped sweaters, may have many end pieces of yarn that must be woven back into the work.
Items that are commonly used by knitters to weave the loose ends of yarn back into the project are darning needles and crochet hooks. Darning needles are similar to sewing needles except that they are larger and have a larger eye. Darning needles work effectively to weave the ends of the yarn back into the project. When weaving in the ends, at least two changes of direction are needed to secure most kinds of yarn. However, when the yarn pieces become short, each change of direction can require re-threading the needle. This process can be very tedious, especially when working with large numbers of yarn ends. Crochet hooks are often used, but they can snag the intervening rows of stitches, and are no less tedious to use with a large number of yarn ends. There is a need, therefore, for a finishing needle that can be used to quickly and efficiently weave in a large number of yarn ends with minimal turning and re-threading. Thus, a finishing needle solving the aforementioned problems is desired.