A diagnostic method for determining whether an individual is affected with spinal muscular atrophy involves evaluating the relative amounts of exon 5 of Neuronal Apoptosis Inhibitory Protein (NAIP) and exon 7 of centromeric and telomeric Survival Motor Neuron (SMN) genes in a genomic sample from the subject. A PCR analysis employing NAIP5F, NAIP5R, SMNX7DRA and SMNR111 primers is used to amplify the desired genes. The PCR product is digested with an enzyme which recognizes only the centromeric SMN sequence and the digested product can be separated by electrophoresis. The novel method allows multiplex analysis for both NAIP and SMN genes in the same sample work up. The analytical procedure further permits the digestion to be carried out without prior purification of the PCR product. Very importantly, the analytical procedure provides for the ability to diagnose the heterozygous telomeric SMN phenotype and thus allows the non-affected carrier of spinal muscular atrophy to be identified.

Spinal muscular atrophy ("SMA") is the second most common neuromuscular disease in children after Duchenne muscular dystrophy. SMA refers to a debilitating neuromuscular disorder which primarily affects infants and young children. This disorder is caused by degeneration of the lower motor neurons, also known as the anterior horn cells of the spinal cord. Normal lower motor neurons stimulate muscles to contract. Neuronal degeneration reduces stimulation which causes muscle tissue to atrophy.
The atrophy from SMA is chiefly concentrated in the trunk and proximal muscles of the limbs. It can be more extensive and is typically accompanied by generalized weakness. Patients generally have difficulty clearing secretions, and consequently, severe respiratory complications are frequent. Other common complications include contractures and scoliosis. SMA adversely impacts upon a patient's quality of life and generally contributes to a reduced lifespan. Presently, there is no treatment or cure for SMA.
SMA is classified in different ways, however, three major categories are generally recognized. Type I, which is manifest from birth through about three months, is the most severe. Infants are born weak, have little spontaneous movement, lack head control and have problems feeding and breathing. Also called Werdnig-Hoffman disease, Type I typically results in death by the age of about three years.
Type II SMA is an intermediate form of the disorder which develops between about three and thirty-six months. Depending on the degree of weakness and respiratory involvement, life span can be very short, though longer than in Type I. In some cases, patients with Type II SMA can live into adulthood. SMA Type III or Kugelberg-Welander disease is characterized by weakness which usually becomes evident after the age of two years. The chief symptom is proximal muscle weakness. Type III victims usually live through adolescence to young adulthood. A rare, generally mild form of SMA disorder also is known to attack adults between the ages of 15 and 50.
SMA is now known as a genetically inherited condition. The most frequently observed inheritance pattern is autosomal recessive, however, autosomal dominant and X-linked forms are known as well. Recently, two genes on the long arm of chromosome 5 have been identified as markers for the disorder, namely, telomeric Survival Motor Neuron (SMN.sup.T) and Neuronal Apoptosis Inhibitory Protein (NAIP). Aberrations of SMN.sup.T have been shown in SMA patients. (Lefebvre, S. et al. Identification and Characterization of a Spinal Muscular Atrophy-Determining Gene, Cell 80: 155-165, 1995.) Complete deletions or truncations of the SMN.sup.T gene were observed in 98.6% of SMA patients and the complementary population had either short deletions or point mutations of the gene. All controls tested positive for the presence of the SMN.sup.T gene. NAIP has also been found to be absent from some SMA patients as well as some asymptomatic relatives of SMA patients. (Roy, N., et al. The Gene for Neuronal Apoptosis Inhibitory Protein is Partially Deleted in Individuals with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Cell 80: 167-178, 1995). The NAIP gene has several copies on chromosome 5. All of the copies are missing exon 5 and thus are non-functional.
The exact roles that SMN.sup.T and NAIP genes play in the mechanism which causes SMA is not yet fully understood. SMN.sup.T deletion or mutation correlates extremely well with the disorder. It also is suspected that NAIP deletion in combination with SMN.sup.T deletion can indicate more severe manifestations. Hence, it is usually very desirable to analyze for both SMN.sup.T and NAIP defects in diagnosis of SMA.
Formerly, tools for diagnosing SMA were limited to observing externally identifiable symptoms, muscle biopsy evaluation and electromyography. With the discovery of marker genes, genetic testing methods have developed. The genetic tests known in the art generally involve the steps of obtaining a sample of cells from the patient; extracting genomic DNA therefrom; amplifying the genomic DNA, for example, by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology using primers developed to reproduce marker gene sequences; and analyzing the PCR product to detect the absence or presence of the marker gene.
Conventional analytical methods involve carrying out separate analytical procedures for each of the two marker genes. DNA is amplified separately using primers specific for the respective genes. Independent electrophoretic gel separation procedures are conducted and results analyzed.
Such conventional methods are wasteful and inefficient. They consume larger amounts of sample and reagent materials and more human resources than might be necessary if the analyses could be performed simultaneously in a single laboratory work up. In addition, separate determinations are expensive in equipment cost and time. That is, separate sample work-ups might be run consecutively in one set of equipment, but the time to complete an analysis will be long. This delays diagnosis and incurs high labor costs. Analysis might be made shorter by running the separate analyses simultaneously on different pieces of equipment, however, this requires a greater investment in laboratory equipment. Prior to the present invention, simultaneous analysis for SMN.sup.T and NAIP genes using a single sample work-up was not possible. Primers suitable for simultaneous PCR amplification of both SMN.sup.T and NAIP were not known in the art.
A single analytical method to determine both SNN.sup.T and NAIP would reduce the cost and/or time to obtain a diagnosis for spinal muscular atrophy and is much desired. Accordingly, the present invention provides a set of nucleic acid primers for replicating the NAIP gene in polymerase chain reaction consisting of NAIP5F (SEQ ID No:1) and NAIP5R (SEQ ID NO:2). There is also provided a set of nucleic acid primers for replicating the SMN.sup.T gene consisting of SMNX7DRA (SEQ ID NO:3) and SMNR111 (SEQ ID NO:4). The two sets of primers can be employed in concert to amplify NAIP, SMN.sup.C and SMN.sup.T genes simultaneously in a single PCR procedure. SMN.sup.C is a centromerically located gene homologous to SMN.sup.T. It is instrumental in performing the novel diagnostic method as will be explained in detail, below.
The present invention further provides an improved method of diagnosing spinal muscular atrophy disorders. The method involves analyzing for SMN.sup.T gene and NAIP gene abnormalities in a single sample of DNA from a subject individual. In one aspect, the invention is a method of diagnosing spinal muscular atrophy in a subject individual comprising the steps of:
(a) obtaining a sample of genomic DNA from the subject individual; PA1 (b) performing polymerase chain reaction on the sample using primers selected to amplify selected exons of NAIP , SMN.sup.C and SMN.sup.T genes, wherein all the primers are present simultaneously in the polymerase chain reaction, thereby forming a Subject PCR Product having a NAIP DNA portion, an SMN.sup.C DNA portion and an SMN.sup.T DNA portion; PA1 (c) digesting the Subject PCR Product with a restriction enzyme selected to cleave only the SMN.sup.C DNA portion present; thereby producing a cleaved SMN.sup.C DNA portion of the Subject PCR Product. PA1 (d) determining relative amounts of the NAIP DNA, the cleaved SMN.sup.C DNA and the SMN.sup.T portions present in the Subject PCR Product; and PA1 (a) obtaining a sample of genomic DNA from the subject individual; PA1 (b) obtaining a control sample of genomic DNA from a sMA-healthy control individual; PA1 (c) performing separate polymerase chain reactions upon each of the samples of genomic DNA using primers selected to amplify selected exons of NAIP, SMN.sup.C and SMN.sup.T genes, wherein all the primers are present simultaneously in each polymerase chain reaction, thereby forming a Subject PCR Product and a Control PCR Product, each PCR product having a NAIP DNA portion, a SMN.sup.C DNA portion and a SMN.sup.T DNA portion; PA1 (d) separately digesting the Subject PCR Product and the Control PCR Product with a restriction enzyme selected to cleave only the SMN.sup.C DNA present; thereby producing Subject PCR Product and Control PCR Product each having a cleaved SMN.sup.C DNA portion; PA1 (e) simultaneously determining the relative amounts of the NAIP DNA, the cleaved SMN.sup.C DNA and the SMN.sup.T portions in each of the Subject PCR Product and the Control PCR Product; PA1 (f) assigning to the subject individual a positive diagnosis of spinal muscular atrophy provided that a cleaved SMN.sup.C DNA portion is present in the Subject PCR Product and that the SMN.sup.T portion is absent from the Subject PCR Product; and PA1 (g) determining the relative amounts of each of the cleaved SMN.sup.C DNA portion and the SMN.sup.T DNA portion in each of the Subject PCR Product and the Control PCR Product; PA1 (h) assigning to the subject individual a diagnosis for high probability of being heterozygous for the SMN.sup.T gene provided that
(e) assigning to the subject individual a positive diagnosis of spinal muscular atrophy provided that a cleaved SMN.sup.C DNA portion is present in the Subject PCR Product and SMN.sup.T portion is absent from the Subject PCR Product.
Because no treatment or cure for SMA is currently available, it is especially desirable to identify individuals who are susceptible to the disease. As mentioned, spinal muscular atrophy is primarily an autosomal recessive trait. Consequently, a child will not develop SMA if only one of its parents has a gene mutation. Furthermore the child will only have a 25% risk of developing the disorder if both parents carry single copies of the mutated genes. The discovery of a genetic marker offers the possibility of a preventive therapy through genetic counseling, provided that heterozygous individuals can be identified.
Traditional analytical methods are not able to detect single copy deletions or truncations in the NAIP and SMN.sup.T genes. Consequently, no genetic method existed to identify SMA carriers. Current methods of determining the SMA gene mutation carrier status are based upon so-called linkage analysis. This technique involves recognizing an historical kindred relationship in which the subject disorder was evident. Linkage analyses are very difficult to conduct because evaluation of the health condition of individuals related to the patient over many generations is required. The necessary information for linkage analysis frequently is unavailable or of poor quality. As a result, the reliability of linkage analysis is very low. Hence, it is desirable to provide a simple, practical, and highly reliable method for identifying heterozygotes for SMA marker genes.
Accordingly, the present invention further provides a method of determining whether an individual is likely to be a carrier of the SMA disorder genotype, i.e., a person who possesses only one copy of the SMN.sup.T gene. Thus, in another aspect, the invention as set forth in the procedure outlined above further comprises after step (e) the step of assigning to the subject individual a diagnosis for significant probability of being heterozygous for the SMN.sup.T gene, provided that a cleaved SMN.sup.C DNA portion is present in the Subject PCR Product and that the relative amount of the SMN.sup.T portion is about equal to the relative amount of the SMN.sup.C portion.
In still another aspect, the present invention provides a diagnostic method for SMA which compares results obtained from analysis of a sMA-healthy sample to the test subject. This method comprises the steps of:
(i) a cleaved SMN.sup.C DNA portion is present in each of the Subject PCR Product and the Control PCR Product; PA2 (ii) in the Subject PCR Product, the relative amount of SMN.sup.T DNA portion is about equal to the relative amount of SMN.sup.C DNA portion; and PA2 (iii) the ratio of the relative amount of SMN.sup.T DNA portion in the Subject PCR Product to the relative amount of SMN.sup.C DNA portion in the Subject PCR Product is about half of the ratio of the relative amount of SMN.sup.T DNA portion in the Control PCR Product to the relative amount of SMN.sup.C DNA portion in the Control PCR Product.

Method of diagnosing spinal muscular atrophy


The tensioning device comprises a support plate attached to a pivot defining a fixed axis; an intermediate tubular element accommodating the pivot and able to rotate about the fixed axis; a pulley for a belt and supported by the tubular element, surrounding the pivot and able to rotate about an axis of rotation which is not coincident with the fixed axis; and an elastic element interposed between the pivot and the intermediate tubular element so as to urge elastically the intermediate tubular element against the belt. To ensure a high degree of perpendicularity between the pivot and the support plate and, therefore, accurate engagement between the tensioning device and the belt, the support plate and the pivot are integrally formed.

The present invention relates to a tensioning device for belts, in particular toothed belts for transmitting motion from the crankshaft to the camshaft of an internal-combustion engine.
It is known that a tensioning device is intended to ensure a substantially constant tension of a belt as the thermal and wear conditions vary. For this purpose, such a device comprises a pulley mounted to rotate eccentrically about a mounting pivot and loaded elastically in the direction of the belt.
Currently a mounting pivot for a pulley is made from steel and is fitted into a support plate which, in turn, is secured to a fixed wall (for example, to a wall of an engine block). This solution not only necessitates substantial outlay on the mounting of the pivot but also has the disadvantage of not always ensuring perfect perpendicularity of the pivot with respect to the associated support plate. This lack of perpendicularity has a particularly detrimental effect if the tensioner pivot is disposed projecting from the support plate, or if the support plate is secured to the respective fixed wall in a position which is not coaxial with respect to the pivot. In fact, in this case the error at the pivot is amplified by possible geometrical imperfections in the support plate caused by the high lever arm prevailing between the fastening point of the plate and the pivot. Consequently, the pivot assumes an effective position which is displaced to a not inconsiderable extent with respect to the nominal position and generates nonuniform forces along the section of the belt, as a result of which the belt, which is not retained transversely, can slip with respect to the pulley and lose contact therewith.

Tensioning device for belts, in particular toothed belts


A process for producing an optical element having a gradient structure, wherein a potential difference is generated in a nanocomposite material comprising nanoscale particles in a matrix material to cause a directed diffusion of the nanoscale particles in the matrix material and a concentration gradient of the nanoscale particles in the matrix material.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for producing optical elements with a gradient structure. The optical elements are suitable in particular for holographic applications, planar gradient index lenses in imaging optics, head-up displays, head-down displays, optical waveguides, especially for optical communications and transmission technology, and optical data storage media.
2. Discussion of Background Information
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,552,261 and 5,529,473 disclose utilizing the diffusion of monomers whose refractive index is greater or less than that of a surrounding liquid matrix in order to generate a refractive index gradient. This effect, which in the case of photopolymers is known as the Colburn-Haines effect, may lead, following subsequent polymerization, to a product featuring refractive index gradients. In the case of organic monomers, however, only a slight change in refractive index and hence an inadequate refractive index gradient is possible. Additionally, long process times are necessary, and there are high scattering losses.
WO 97/38333 describes optical components with a gradient structure or refractive index gradient, in which the gradient is formed by directed diffusion of nanoscale particles in a liquid matrix phase as a result of a potential difference. The gradient formed is subsequently fixed by polymerization/curing of the matrix. It is possible by this means to generate a pronounced refractive index gradient, but the process sequence for producing defined optical elements is often very complex.
It would be desirable to have available a simple, universally applicable and cost-effective process for producing optical elements with a gradient structure, in particular with a refractive index gradient.

Method for the production of optical elements with gradient structures

Leibniz-Institut fuer Neue Materialien Gemeinnuetzige GmbH


A network diagnostic system is provided for an optical transport network having a plurality of network elements. The network diagnostic system includes at least one network element having a network diagnostic operation integrated therein and operable to perform the network diagnostic operation, thereby determining a network performance characteristic associated with the optical transport network; a wayside communication subsystem interconnecting the network elements residing in the optical transport network; and a network diagnostic device in data communication with the at least one network element and operable to initiate the network diagnostic operation at the network element.

The rapid development of technology in combination with the exponential growth of data traffic creates requirements for increased optical networking service velocity and decreased time-to-revenue. This has a profound impact on the way in which telecommunications carriers need to build out their networks—service deployment within an optical network needs to happen at an increasingly faster pace while at the same time decreasing associated costs. This also applies in the event of a service degradation or disruption in which diagnostics of the service must be performed.
Deployment of a conventional optical transport network involves installation, testing, and turn-up of optical paths. Traditionally, this would require a "truck-roll" of highly skilled technicians along with expensive test equipment to each site in the network that is involved in carrying the optical circuit(s). In addition, provisioning circuits across multiple SONET rings in the traditional SONET network architecture is currently time consuming and again, involves the physical presence of a technician and test equipment at each intermediate point in the circuit. The same holds true when the need arises to perform diagnostics on a circuit that has degraded or been disrupted. Currently, the shortage of qualified technicians coupled with the need for expensive test equipment and time consuming truck-rolls creates serious concerns regarding the feasibility, scalability, and time-to-market of building out large scale optical networks.
However, the latest developments in intelligent optical networks promise the cost benefit of mesh restoration and the ease of point and click bandwidth provisioning. These developments will go a long way towards alleviating the time consuming task of provisioning circuits across multiple SONET rings. They do not however address the more fundamental issues of deploying and maintaining the network.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide an integrated network diagnostic tool set that is used in the installation and maintenance of optical transport networks. The diagnostic tool set is characterized by the use of on-board optical and electronic test equipment that is directly integrated into each network element residing in the optical network. Additionally, the tool set includes a software-implemented interface that enables technicians to trigger diagnostic tests at the network elements and then display, analyze and manipulate the test results at a remote network operation site.

Network diagnostic tool for an optical transport network


A trunking section (50) is described and has a body (51) with sides (52a, 52b and 52c) which form a channel (54). Trunking section (50) also has an end portion (62) inserted into first end (56) such that it engages the internal surfaces of sides (52a, 52b and 52c) and is welded thereto. End portion (62) is provided with a first aperture (64) which is adapted to receive a bush connector (66) and has four curved edges (70) and four straight edges (72) therebetween. The bush connector (66) has a male part (74) and a female part (76). Male part (74) has a tubular body (78) which has an aperture (80), it has external first threaded surfaces (82) and rotation prevention means, in the form of flat portions (84). Bush connector (66) also has a female part (76) with an internal second thread (88) which engages first threaded portions (82) of male part (74).

The use of trunking to carry electrical cables is well known. Such trunking is commonly used in the pharmaceutical, food and beverage industries and in such circumstances it is of particular importance that the external surfaces of the trunking are easily cleaned. Typically such trunking may be provided with waterproof seals so that it may be cleaned by directing a jet of water at the trunking the seals preventing any of the water gaining access to the electrical cables inside.
An example of such a trunking system is shown in FIG. 1 in which trunking sections 10 and 12, having respective lids 14 and 16, are joined by a coupling 18. Trunking sections 10 and 12, lids 14 and 16 and coupling 18 are all formed by the pressing of sheet stainless steel. Coupling 18 is formed such that its external surfaces engage with the internal surfaces of trunking sections 10 and 12. Trunking sections 10 and 12 are also provided with holes 20 which are adapted to receive screws or other similar securing means (not shown) which in turn engage with holes 22 in coupling 18.
Trunking and coupling of this type have the disadvantage that it can be difficult to form a waterproof seal between the trunking sections 10 and 12 and coupling 18. For example, the number of screws which need to be inserted through apertures 20 and 22 make the installation process quite complex. Furthermore, this number of external fixings, each of which would typically have a slot or cross head, for engagement with a screw driver, are likely to attract dirt and are therefore provide potential infestation sites and make the cleaning process more difficult. This form of fixing also provides a direct route for ingress of water from the outside to the inside of the trunking where electrical cables are housed. For example, if a pressurised jet of water is directed onto the screws, it is possible for water to travel along the thread of the screw, under a capillary action, from the outside of trunking sections 10 and 12 to the inside of coupling 18.
A further problem found in trunking of this type is that the alignment of the trunking sections 10 and 12, coupling 18 and the screws inserted therein is of particular importance. The tolerance in the location of holes 20 and 22 must be very precise in order that the joining of the sections 10 and 12 is properly waterproofed. When screws are inserted into holes 20, 22 and are tightened it is possible for distortion of trunking sections 10 and 12 and coupling 18 to occur. This in turn causes the lid engaging edges 24 to not be correctly aligned. As a result, either lids 14 and 16 do not properly engage these edges 24 or the distortion of trunking sections 10 and 12 causes the ends of lids 14 and 16 to be incorrectly aligned with each other. This will further reduce the waterproof connection between the lids 14 and 16.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention seek to overcome the above described disadvantages of the prior art.


An apparatus for use in a bathtub as an entry and exit aid includes a seat which can be raised and lowered by a drive, a backrest, and an actuator which is placed between the drive and the seat. The actuator includes a support which engages the seat and which extends downwardly to prop itself on a support area, i.e., a floor plate of the device, thereby lifting the seat as the support extends downwardly. The backrest can be tilted backward when the seat is in or near its lowest position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to relates to a device for use in a bathtub or in similar equipment to assist in getting in and out. Please refer to German Patent Document No. DE 44 37 513 A1.
2. Description of the Related Art
Devices to aid in entry and exit from a bathtub are helpful or indispensable for older or infirm persons. They facilitate safe and comfortable entry into and exit from a bathtub, a wash tub, or similar equipment.
In each instance, the basic design is equipped with a seat. In general, the seat is supported by a scissors-like frame, whose scissor arms are adjustable, thereby providing height adjustability of the seat. There are also several options regarding the drive. The drive may be an electric motor or a pneumatic device, or it may utilize the water pressure of the public water supply.
The known devices have had only limited success. Again and again, the weak points are lack of safety, excessive weight and poor operating convenience.
One of the problems is caused by the backrest of such devices. The devices are often removed from the bathtub after use and stored in a different location. To reduce space requirements, it is desirable to fold the backrest, so that it is parallel to the seat area. It is also desirable to configure the backrest in such a way that it can adapt to various angular positions. Particularly here, the aspect of operational convenience plays an important role.

Apparatus for use in a bathtub as an entry and exit aid


A system and a method of improving sound image localization through cross-placement are provided. The system includes a first stereo system including a first left side speaker that is provided with a left side audio signal and a first right side speaker that is provided with a right side audio signal, and a second stereo system including a second left side speaker that is provided with a left side audio signal and a second right side speaker that is provided with a right side audio signal. The second right side speaker is provided adjacent to the first left side speaker and the second left side speaker is provided adjacent to the first right side speaker.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system of improving a sound image localization through cross-placement, and more particularly to a system of improving a sound image localization in which a second stereo system configured by a second left side speaker and a second right side speaker are cross-placed in relation to a first stereo system configured by a first left side speaker and a first right side speaker.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In acoustics, a sound image localization refers to a stereophonic sound technology that localizes a position of a specific sound source felt by a human to a virtual position. Specifically, a 2-channel stereo system has two sound source positions but a human perceives that a sound source position is located about halfway between the positions of speakers rather than at the position of each of the speakers. Typically, such a phenomenon refers to a sound image and when the sound image is clearly perceived, it is said that the sound image localization is good.
Meanwhile, a stereophonic sound technology may be classified into a sound recording technology and a reproducing technology. Audio systems related to the reproducing technology may be classified into three types of a mono system with 1.0 channel, a stereo system with 2.0 channels, and a surround system with 2.1 or more channels.
In that event, all the audio systems except the mono system have directionalities of left and right as illustrated in FIG. 1. That is, a sound image localization is implemented which has been intended by a sound source producer assuming that left side and right side speakers are placed left and right to be symmetrical to each other in identical reflection environments and the distances from a listener to the two speakers are equal.
In that event, the sound source refers to an electrical signal of a real sound which is recorded and edited and arrives at a speaker through a reproducing device and an amplifying device as an electrical signal.
However, as illustrated in FIG. 3, under a real condition, it is nearly impossible that the reflection environments of the left and right speakers are identical and the distances from the listener to the two speakers are also exactly equal to each other. Accordingly, it is difficult to implement a correct sound image localization.
Implementation of an ambience effect has been attempted by forming a 5.1-channel surround system, a 7.1-channel surround system or the like to increase the number of speakers and by arranging the speakers three-dimensionally around a listener. However, this may not be referred to as implementation of a sound image localization in exact meaning and increasing the number of speakers makes it rather difficult to implement a sound image localization well.

System and method for improving sound image localization through cross-placement


An orchard heater including a base and a pulse-jet engine rotatably mounted on the base. The pulse-jet engine exhausts a heated moisture-laden exhaust stream through an exhaust tube. The exhaust stream is directed tangentially to create a torque which automatically rotates the pulse-jet and causes lateral omnidirectional dispersion of the exhaust stream. The orchard heater utilizes the energy released from the combustion process to rotate the pulse-jet engine and to vaporize and atomize water.

Frost can cause extensive damage to agricultural products. Most vulnerable are fruit trees that blossom in early spring. Fruit that survives a frost can still be damaged or destroyed if the subsequent thaw is too rapid. Freeze damage problems cost millions of dollars each year, both in terms of lost profits to the farmer and in higher prices for the consumer.
To combat the destruction of frost, one of the early preventative measures was to use lighted smudge pots in the orchard. The smudge pot operates by burning oil in a container. The result is two-fold. First, heat is produced to offset the cold front and raise the temperature in the orchard to above dangerous levels. Second, smoke provides a blanket of insulation to retain the heat in the orchard. This blanket of smoke or mantle is referred to as "smudge". Modern smudge pots burn cleaner than earlier models but are still an environmental concern.
Another conventional technique is to spray water over the orchard or crops using an overhead irrigation system. The effectiveness of the air to trap and hold the earth's radiant heat increases with the dew point. Also, the condensation of the water vapor on the fruit releases energy (i.e., the heat of fusion), thus raising the temperature of the fruit. This method is seldom used, however, because there is a significant risk of damage to the trees from branches breaking under the load of frozen water. This approach to orchard freeze protection also is costly to install and operate because a water heater or boiler and large amounts of distribution piping are required.
A third technique used to combat the orchard frost problem is the wind machine. Propellers mounted on a ten to fifteen meter tower mix the air forcing cold air up and warm air down into the orchard. Helicopters have been employed for similar effects where the orchard is not equipped with wind machines.
This invention provides a new technique for preventing the formation of frost on fruit trees and other agricultural crops.

Aerosol generating rotary pulse-jet orchard heater

Washington State University Research Foundation


New 9-deoxo-9,12-epoxy erythromycin derivatives are disclosed which have improved antibacterial properties. Compositions comprising the erythromycin derivatives and methods of treating mammalian patients with the erythromycin derivatives are also disclosed.

Erythromycin and common derivatives are widely used and exhibit desirable activity against a number of gram-positive pathogens. Since some pathogens are less susceptible than others to these drugs, high doses of these antibiotics are occasionally necessary in the treatment of serious or widespread infections. As with all drugs, toxic effects are sometimes observed at higher dosage levels, particularly in patients who are seriously compromised by infection and thus are most in need of treatment. Unfortunately, improvements in potency and spectrum are often accompanied by an increase in toxicity, so that later generation drugs usually represent a compromise between these competing considerations. As a result, there is a continuing search for antibiotics which are more potent against certain organisms, or preferably, against all organisms, than those currently used. Desirably, such drugs will have an improved therapeutic ratio, which is the ratio of the effective therapeutic or prophylactic dose to the toxic dose, usually expressed in terms of the ED.sub.50 /LD.sub.50 ratio.


The dynamic synchronous transfer mode dual ring topology has two rings with opposite fiber directions. The dual rings may have a plurality of common nodes. A first channel may be established in a first segment extending between a first and second nodes. Tokens associated with the first channel may be provided. In this way, time slots may be transmitted in the first channel from the first node to the second node. If a fiber failure occurs in the first segment, the second node is likely to first detect the fiber failure and transmit a fiber failure message. It is then determined if the first channel extends across the fiber failure. If the first channel is affected by the fiber failure then a channel failure message is transmitted and the first channel is terminated and all the tokens associated with the first segment are removed. If the first channel is not affected then time slots are continued to be transmitted on the first channel.

The next generation of networks are likely to integrate services such as delay-insensitive asynchronous applications including fax, mail, and file transfer with delay-sensitive applications having real-time requirements including audio and video. These applications have traditionally been supported by different network technologies and the integration between the different networks have been limited and cumbersome. In the past, asynchronous communication has been provided by computer networks that are packet-switched and use store-and-forward techniques, like the Internet. Real-time synchronous communication, on the other hand, has been provided by circuit switched, time-division multiplexed telephone networks.
Circuit-switched networks have many attractive features. For example, the circuits are isolated from one another in the sense that traffic on one circuit is unaffected by activities on the other circuits. This makes it possible to provide guaranteed transfer quality with constant delay which often is suitable for applications with timing requirements. Furthermore, information that is related to data and control are separated in circuit-switched networks. Processing of control information only takes place when circuits are created or terminated and the actual data transfer can be performed without the need for processing the data stream and controlling any congestion. This allows large volumes of data to be transferred efficiently.
The static nature of ordinary circuit-switched networks often makes them inappropriate for certain types of information flows. Traditionally, the circuits have fixed capacity, long set-up delay and poor support for multi-cast. These shortcomings make it difficult to efficiently support, for example, computer communication in a circuit-switched network. This has motivated a search for alternative solutions and the predominant view is that the next generation of telecommunication networks should be cell-switched based on asynchronous transfer mode (ATM). Cells are small, fixed-size packets, so ATM is similar to packet-switching. This means that many of the weaknesses of packet-switching are also present in cell-switched networks, particularly in the area of providing guaranteed quality of service. Therefore, additional mechanisms, such as admission control, traffic regulation, scheduling of packets on links and resynchronization at the receiver are needed to integrate support for different kinds of information flows. One of the main concerns with packet and cell switched networks in general, and ATM in particular, is whether it is possible to provide and use these mechanisms in a cost-effective way.
Shared medium local area networks (LANs), such as CSMA/CD, token ring and FDDI, are used in the Internet as building blocks connected by routers or bridges. The combination of easy expansion, low incremental node cost and tolerance to faulty nodes has resulted in simple, flexible, and robust networks. Also, the shared medium facilitates an efficient application of new multi-cast protocols such as IP multi-cast.
A drawback of the shared medium that is used today is that it typically permits only a single terminal to transmit at any time, thereby not utilizing all network segments efficiently. A design that allows the capacity of the medium to be reused may be designed, but this is often at the cost of increased complexity in the high-speed access control hardware. Access control mechanisms for a shared medium also directly depend on the size of the network and are usually efficient only for local area environments.
As indicated earlier, the two main types of networks commonly used are connection oriented circuit-switched networks used for telephones and packet-switched networks without connections that are used for computers, as exemplified by the Internet. When a circuit-switched network is used for data communication, the circuits must remain open between bursts of information which is often a poor use of the network capacity. This problem arises because circuit management operations are slow compared to the dynamic variations in the user demand. Another source of overhead in conventional circuit-switched networks is the limitation of requiring symmetrical duplex channels which add 100% overhead to the network when the information flow is unidirectional. This constraint also makes multi-cast circuits inefficient and difficult to implement. Packet-switched networks, on the other hand, lack resource reservation and must add header information to each message before the transmission is made. Furthermore, any latency in the packet-switched networks cannot be accurately predicted and packets may even be lost due to buffer overflow or corrupted headers. The latter two factors make real-time service difficult to support in packet-switched networks. Congestion avoidance mechanisms can isolate information streams of different users. These designs are, however, limited to time scale operations that are comparable to the round-trip packet delay.
DTM is a broadband network architecture that combines many of the advantages of circuit-switching and packet-switching in that DTM is based on fast circuit-switching augmented with a dynamic reallocation of resources, good support for multi-cast channels and DTM has means for providing short access delay. The DTM architecture spans from medium access, including a synchronization scheme, up to routing and addressing of logical ports at the receiver. DTM is designed to support various types of information flows and can be used directly for application-to-application communication, or as a carrier network for other protocols such as ATM or IP (The Internet Protocol).
It has been shown that the signaling delay associated with the creation and termination of communication channels determines much of the efficiency of fast circuit-switching. DTM is designed to create channels fast, within a few hundreds of microseconds. DTM differs from burst switching in that information related to control and data are separated and DTM uses multi-cast, multi-rate, high capacity channels to support a variety of different classes of information flows. For example, it is possible to increase or decrease the allocated resources of an existing channel depending on the particular requirements of the user at the time. Even though a DTM network may have the potential of creating a channel for every message, this approach may not be suitable for all information flows. Rather, it is up to the user to decide whether to establish a channel per information burst or to keep the channel established even during idle periods.
The DTM concept uses channels as the communication abstraction. The DTM channels differ from telephone circuits in many ways. First, the establishment delay is short so that resources can be allocated/deallocated dynamically as fast as user requirements change. Second, the DTM channels are simplex to minimize the overhead when the communication is unidirectional. Third, the DTM channels offer multiple bit-rates to support large variations in user capacity requirements. Finally, the DTM channels are multi-cast to allow any number of destinations.
The DTM channels require no transfer of control information after a channel is established resulting in a very high utilization of network resources for large data transfers. The support of any real-time information flow is effective and there is no problems related to policing, congestion control or flow-control within the network. As mentioned earlier, the control information is separated from the data information which makes multi-cast less complex. The transmission delay is negligible (i.e., less than 125 .mu.s) and there is virtually no potential for data loss caused by buffer overflow as in ATM. Bit-error rates depend on the underlying link technologies, and switches are simple and fast due to the strict reservation of resources at the channel setup.
The DTM topology may be structured as a ring which has the advantage of reducing the hardware requirement with 50% compared to dual bus structures. All nodes are able to communicate with each other on a ring topology by using only one optical fiber in contrast to a bus structure that always require at least two fibers in opposite direction to enable all the nodes to communicate with each other.
In practice, any topology may be subjected to failures such as fiber failure or node failure. In the past, certain failures in a ring topology have caused a significant decrease in performance. For example, if a fiber failure occurs in a FDDI dual ring structure, it is necessary to close down the damaged ring thus drastically reducing the capacity of the ring structure. It is desirable to develop a ring topology that is less sensitive to fiber and node failures.
The performance of the DTM dual ring structure of the present invention is relatively insensitive to fiber and node failures. More particularly, the dynamic synchronous transfer mode dual ring topology has two rings that operate in opposite fiber directions. Preferably, the dual rings have a plurality of common nodes. A first channel may be established in a first segment extending between a first and a second node, which means that time slots (or tokens) may be allocated between the nodes for that channel. In this way, information may be transmitted in the first channel from the first node to the second node. If a fiber failure occurs in the first segment, the second node is likely to first detect the fiber failure. The second node may then transmit a fiber failure message. It is then determined if the first channel extends across the fiber failure. If the first channel is affected by the fiber failure then a channel failure message may be transmitted and the first channel is terminated and all the tokens associated with the first segment are removed. If the first channel is not affected, the same time slots can continue to form the first channel. This means that only the channels that are affected by the fiber failure are terminated while the remaining channels on the ring topology may operate in a normal manner although there is a fiber failure on the ring topology.

Method for managing failures on dynamic synchronous transfer mode dual ring topologies


A switching voltage regulator control device, includes first and second half-bridges each comprising a switch. The first half-bridge is located between an input voltage and a reference voltage and the second half-bridge is located between an output voltage and the reference voltage. The regulator comprises a detector for detecting the error between a reference voltage representative of the output voltage and another reference voltage and an integrator for integrating said error. The control device is suitable for providing a first duty cycle for driving the switch of the first half-bridge that is proportional to the integrated error divided by the input voltage and a second duty cycle for driving the switch of the second half-bridge that is proportional to the value of the input voltage divided by the integrated error.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention refers to a control device for a switching voltage regulator.
2. Description of the Related Art
Switching voltage regulators are known in the prior art. A switching voltage regulator of the buck/boost type is shown in FIG. 1. The regulator of FIG. 1 works by voltage switching and comprises a first half-bridge 1, consisting of a high side switch 11 and a low side switch 12 driven by a driving device 13, located between an input voltage Vi and electrical ground GND, and a second half-bridge 2, consisting of a high side switch 21 and a low side switch 22 driven by a driving device 23, located between an output voltage and electrical ground GND. The output voltage Vo is applied across an electrical load LOAD. The regulator comprises an error integration block comprising an error operational amplifier 31 suitable for detecting the error between a voltage proportional to the output voltage Vo, expressed as K*Vo, and a reference voltage Vref; the output of the error operational amplifier 31 is connected to a compensation network consisting of a series of resistances R and a capacitor C that makes it possible to integrate in time the error provided by the amplifier 31. The integrated error e1 is sent in input to a pulse-width modulated (PWM) generator 40 which also has in input the signal produced by a triangular wave generator 41; the PWM generator 40 is suitable for generating two signals which are sent to the driving circuits 13, 23 to drive appropriately the half-bridges 1 and 2. An inductance L is located between the half-bridges 1 and 2.
The triangular wave generator 41 determines the frequency at which the system works. If we indicate with duty cycle D the percentage of period in which the high side of a half-bridge is on, the regulated output voltage Vo is related to the input voltage by the relation Vo/Vi=Di/Do where Di is the duty cycle of the half-bridge 1 and Do is the duty cycle of the half-bridge 2.
The average current in the inductance II is given by II=Iload/Do where Iload is the current on the load and the duty cycles Do and Di are obtained by comparing the integrated error e1 with the triangular wave coming from the generator 41; the latter component provides a triangular wave proportional to the input voltage Vi.
A simple way to drive the half-bridges 1 and 2 is to make Do=1−Di, in other words to drive the half-bridge 2 with a signal complementary to the half-bridge 1. This gives the following relations:
                    Vo        Vi            =              Di                  1          -          Di                      ;        Il    =                  Iload                  1          -          Di                    =                        Iload                                (                          1              +                              Vo                Vi                                      )                          .
In this case there is considerable loss on the series resistance of the inductance L which is proportional to the average current flowing through it. Maximizing the duty cycle of the half-bridge 2 would allow one to reduce this current. The optimum solution is obtained by letting Do=1 during the buck state and letting Di=1 during the boost state. This situation also makes it possible to halve the switching losses of the switches of the half-bridges 1 and 2.
While running during the buck state we have Vo=Di*Vi; if we let Vh be the amplitude of the triangular wave we have Di=e1/Vh where e1 is the integrated error in input to the PWM block 40. If the amplitude Vh is a function of the input voltage Vi, we have Vh=Vi/K and Vo=K*e1. During the boost state we have Vo=Vi/Do=Vh*Vi/e1=Vi2/(K*e1), therefore the output voltage Vo varies instantaneously with every variation of the square of the input voltage Vi.
The PWM block 40 transforms the integrated error e1 into a pair of duty cycles Di, Do to drive the half-bridges 1 and 2. The duty cycle Di is generally produced by comparing the integrated error e1 directly with a saw-tooth wave. The duty cycle Do instead is constructed by comparing a signal e2, which is a function of the integrated error e1, with the triangular wave produced by the generator 41. The function from which this signal is generated depends on the type of driving chosen. In the case of the optimum efficiency condition it is very important that when the signal e1 exceeds the amplitude of the triangular wave, the signal e2 starts to cross it. There should be only one point at which the duty cycles D1, Do are at 100%; if this does not happen a case may arise in which for a certain range of the ratio Vo/Vi the half-bridges 1 and 2 either switch simultaneously, reducing the efficiency of the regulator, or neither one of the half-bridges switches and this could cause undesired oscillations in the output voltage Vo.
FIG. 2 shows a typical block diagram of a buck-boost regulator operating in voltage mode. The error given by the difference between the feedback voltage Vfb given by K*Vo and the reference voltage Vref is sent in input to a compensation block characterized by the transfer function Fcomp. The output signal e1, which is the integrated error, is sent to a block having a transfer function Fe and capable of producing the duty cycles Di and Do. Said duty cycles are in input to the block of the converter having the transfer function
  Vi      1    +                  s        2                  LC                    /                  Do      and which serves to produce the voltage Vo. To make the system linear while running we let Vo/Vi=Vi/(K*e1) and thus obtain
  Fe  =                    k        ·                  Vo          2                            Vi        3              .
In the buck state the transfer function Fe=K/Vi; thus the voltages Vi and Vo do not enter any block of the diagram and therefore the gain of the loop is independent of the input and output values.
In the boost state the function Fe is no longer linear and can be expressed as follows:
  Fe  =            Vi              k        ·                              e                        1                    2                      .  Therefore the gain of the loop varies with the square of the ratio Vo/Vi and is greater than the gain in the buck state. The double pole of the filter LC is shifted to lower frequencies. The increase in the gain and the shift to the lower frequencies of the double pole are factors that contribute to worsening the stability of the system. This translates in practical terms as having to create compensation networks that take these variations into account. In particular in a compensation system with a dominant pole it is necessary to ensure the stability in the worst conditions or have a high output voltage and low input voltage which however makes the system over-compensated in the other conditions and therefore slower.

Switching voltage regulator control device


A semiconductor integrated circuit device may include a semiconductor substrate, a static memory cell on the semiconductor substrate, a tensile stress film on the pull-down transistors, and a compressive stress film on the pass transistors. The static memory cell may include multiple pull-up transistors and pull-down transistors, which form a latch, and multiple pass transistors may be used to access the latch.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor integrated circuit device and a method of manufacturing the device, more particularly, to a semiconductor integrated circuit device having memory cells and a method of manufacturing the device.
2. Description of the Related Art
The memory size of a static random access memory (SRAM) is smaller than that of a dynamic random access memory (DRAM). However, the processing speed of SRAMs is faster than that of DRAMs. For this reason, SRAMs have been widely used in cache memories of computers or portable appliances that require high processing speed.
Static memory cells can be classified into thin film transistor (TFT) cells, full complementary metal oxide semiconductor (FCMOS) cells, etc. An FCMOS cell may include multiple pull-up transistors and pull-down transistors, which may form a latch, and multiple pass transistors may be used to access to the latch.
However, as the integration density of semiconductor memory elements has increased, the size of memory cells has become reduced and stable operation of the memory cells has become more important.
Also, as the static noise margin (SNM) increases, the stability of memory cells may improve. In addition, as the cell ratio increases, the static noise margin may increase. As a result, there is a requirement for new technologies that may produce stable memory cells having reduced size.

Semiconductor integrated circuit device and method of manufacturing the same


In one embodiment, a particular device determines a selected link from the particular device toward a root device in a computer network, wherein traffic destined away from the root device via the particular device utilizes the selected link in reverse. By monitoring a link quality of the selected link in reverse based on received traffic over the selected link, the particular device may determine whether the link quality is below a lower threshold. In response to the link quality being below the lower threshold, the particular device activates use of keepalive messages from the particular device over the selected link.

Low power and Lossy Networks (LLNs), e.g., sensor networks, have a myriad of applications, such as Smart Grid and Smart Cities. Various challenges are presented with LLNs, such as lossy links, low bandwidth, battery operation, low memory and/or processing capability, etc. One example routing solution to LLN challenges is a protocol called Routing Protocol for LLNs or "RPL," which is a distance vector routing protocol that builds a Destination Oriented Directed Acyclic Graph (DODAG, or simply DAG) in addition to a set of features to bound the control traffic, support local (and slow) repair, etc. The RPL architecture provides a flexible method by which each node performs DODAG discovery, construction, and maintenance.
One significant challenge with routing in LLNs is ensuring that links to is neighboring nodes are valid. More traditional IP networks typically use a proactive keepalive mechanism with a relatively short period, such as the Bidirectional Forwarding Detection (BFD) protocol. Due to the strict resource constraints of LLNs, protocols such as RPL do not rely on proactive keepalive mechanisms. Instead, many LLN protocols typically take a reactive approach, using link-layer acknowledgments and/or IPv6 Neighbor Unreachability Detection (NUD) to update link statistics when forwarding traffic.
One fundamental problem is that nodes in many LLNs only maintain links in the UPWARD direction (toward a root node), and detect link failures reactively when sending a data packet. If a node has no data packets to send, it will not detect the link failure and will not notify the root that the link is no longer valid. As a result, the root will continue to send traffic down an invalid path.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Keepalive mechanism to maintain links in a lossy environment


A product storage apparatus for collectively storing processed products includes an endless loop member that is circularly moved along a path, plural holders each of which is fixed to the endless loop member with a predetermined pitch and holds the processed products, and a drive unit that circularly moves the endless loop member to circularly move the plurality of holders intermittently by stopping the endless loop member temporarily at every move by a mathematical product of the pitch and a natural number n. According to the product storage apparatus, it is possible to store the processed products with high space efficiency.

A Patent Document 2 listed below discloses an accumulation apparatus. In this accumulation apparatus, sterically-shaped products processed by a bending machine are stocked while being coherent with each other in a leaned state on a pallet having a backrest. Since the products are made coherent with each other, the products could be damaged. It is conceivable to storage the products without making them coherent with each other by providing partitions at predetermined intervals on the pallet and stocking the products in spaces segmented by the partitions one by one.
A patent Document 1 listed below discloses a storage apparatus for storing sterically-shaped materials, although they are not bent products, in spaces segmented by partitions one by one. When adding versatility to a storage apparatus in which partitions are provided, it is preferred that sterically-shaped products having various thicknesses, heights or widths can be stored. In the above storage apparatus, the partitions are detachable, so that each capacity of the segmented spaces can be changed by changing distances between the partitions in a stepwise manner.

Product storage apparatus, processing system, and product storage method


A method is provided for enhancing a legacy satellite digital radio audio service (SDARS) by overlaying a hierarchically modulated data stream on a base layer (legacy) data stream and improving the synchronization of the received signal in which an overlay layer frame is synchronized to a base layer frame. The base layer frame includes additional data that is used to synchronize the receivers to demodulate and decode the overlay layer and the base layer. The additional data is modulated using a technique that aids the receiver in synchronizing the received signal that is different from the overlay layer.

Satellite radio operators are presently providing digital radio broadcast services covering the entire continental United States and other parts of North America. These services offer approximately 170 channels, of which nearly 75 channels in a typical configuration provide music and the remaining channels offer news, sports, talk and data services. A block diagram of an illustrative satellite digital audio radio service (SDARS) system 10 is depicted in FIG. 1. The illustrative SDARS system is a diversity system in which time, spatial and or code diversity is employed to overcome signal losses. For example, SDARS receivers demodulate and decode broadcast streams from multiple transmission sources such as first and second satellite streams broadcast from first and second satellites for time and spatial diversity purposes and/or terrestrial broadcast streams (e.g., from such terrestrial transmission sources as terrestrial repeaters, paging systems and/or cellular systems) employed to overcome LOS issues and other signal loss issues described below. For example, an SDARS system operated by Sirius XM Radio Inc. includes satellite uplink stations 2a, 2b for transmitting X-band uplinks to two satellites 4, 6 which provide frequency translation to the S-band for retransmission to radio receivers 3 within a coverage area. Radio frequency carriers from one of the satellites 4, 6 are also received by terrestrial repeaters 5. The content received at the terrestrial repeaters 5 is retransmitted at a different S-band carrier to the same receivers 3 that are within their respective coverage areas. These terrestrial repeaters 5 facilitate reliable reception in geographic areas where line of sight (LOS) reception from the satellites 4, 6 is obscured by tall buildings, hills, tunnels and other obstructions. The signals transmitted by the satellites 4, 6 and the repeaters 5 are received by SDARS receivers 3 which can be located in automobiles, in a handheld unit or in stationary units for home or office use. The SDARS receivers 3 are designed to receive one or both of the satellite signals and the signals from the terrestrial repeaters, and combine selected signals or select one of the signals as the receiver output. Thus, the receivers 3 can demodulate, decode and output a selected channel from the received signals even when, for example, a signal dropout has occurred in one of the transmission channels.
In a legacy SDARS system implemented by Sirius XM Radio Inc. described above, the plurality of base layer services can be modulated using a Quadrature Phase Shift Key (QPSK) modulation technique. As shown in FIG. 2, four constellation points are possible based on the combinations of the two symbols to be transmitted. These points are located at 45°, 135°, 225° and 315° as shown as (BL,X), where BL indicates the base layer symbol in the transmitted base layer QPSK constellation using 2 input BL bits.
The above base layer modulation technique can be enhanced to carry additional information by implementing a technique called hierarchical modulation. Hierarchical modulation can be applied to the QPSK transmission to modulate an additional symbol or symbols to the transmission by further modifying the base layer QPSK transmission. Hierarchical modulation enables the multiplexing and modulating of a plurality of data streams into a single data stream by overlaying the additional information onto a base layer. A need exists for realizing additional data capacity by improving or enhancing hierarchical modulation techniques to provide unique opportunities to enhance legacy SDARS services or other legacy broadcast services of systems that transmit data using diversity streams. A need also exists for using improved (next generation) receiver designs such that additional services can be provided to users while existing legacy receivers can continue to receive the services broadcast on the base layer modulated data stream in the legacy system.
Some examples of hierarchical modulation schemes on a QPSK waveform, which can be employed in an illustrative embodiment of the present invention described below, are shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b. Constellation (a) illustrates a phase shift keying (PSK) modulation technique to overlay the additional information onto a base layer. In this technique, the received vector is mapped as (BL, OL). The OL bit indicates an overlay symbol when the base layer modulation vector is rotated or phase offset by a predetermined angle +/−dφ toward either the Q-axis or the I-axis. As shown, for example, if the base layer modulation vector is rotated toward the Q-axis, the OL bit is represented by a 1, and if the base layer modulation vector is rotated toward the I-axis, the OL bit is represented by a 0. Where the OL bit is designated with an 'x', there is no rotation performed and therefore there is no overlay modulation. As shown in this example, for every two base layer bits transmitted, an additional bit can be overlaid onto the base layer.
Legacy receivers in the SDARS system, however, expect to receive a QPSK signal, thus the hierarchically modulated phase offset appears as an unnatural noise enhancement. In other words, the addition of a phase offset in the QPSK modulation appears as a phase error with respect to the base layer QPSK modulation. Transmission of the hierarchically modulated data on a noisy channel with a low signal-to-noise ratio may prohibit the detection of the base layer QPSK signal, much less the desired phase offset of the overlay layer modulation. Under certain conditions, the phase offset error can inhibit performance and synchronization of the received signal by impairing carrier recovery and tracking loops used to acquire and maintain receiver synchronization with the broadcast signal.
The terrestrial signals in an SDARS system are typically modulated utilizing a multi-carrier modulation technique such as Coded Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (COFDM). In legacy systems, this consists of multiple carriers, each modulated utilizing QPSK modulation. In accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention described below, the hierarchical modulation of the overlay stream can be applied to the legacy signal via an APSK technique as shown in constellation (b), where the hierarchical modulation is added to the base layer modulation via amplitude modulation. In this method, the overlay bit is determined at a receiver by comparing the amplitude of the received vector with a reference amplitude. As shown, if the transmitted vector is produced with reduced amplitude scaling, the OL bit is designated as a 1, and if the transmitted vector is produced with increased amplitude scaling, the OL bit is designated as a 0. If there is no determined amplitude scaling with respect to the reference amplitude, there is no additional information overlaid onto the base layer.
Due to channel imperfections in a mobile environment, the amplitude of the signal of the receiver is affected by multi-path effects that result in amplitude variations, which differ across the COFDM sub-carriers and also differ in time as the receiver moves through the environment. As a result of the multi-path effects, the ability to discern amplitude modulation is greatly reduced and therefore it is very difficult to estimate the channel conditions and synchronize the received signals.
Accordingly, there is also a need for a method of improving the synchronization of a received hierarchically modulated signal, especially when legacy decoder synchronization is relied on for the retrieval of the overlay data as well; otherwise, the performance of both the legacy services, and the additional services achieved via hierarchical modulation, suffers.

Method of improving performance in a hierarchical modulation system


A mobile apparatus, especially one for medical exercise and treatment purposes, with a seat for accommodating a person, below which several foot elements, which can be set down on the floor, are movably mounted in each case in a bearing mounting on the seat side of the apparatus, which bearing mounting has at least one first bearing element, which protrudes into the bearing recess and which detachably abuts at least one second bearing element formed at the foot element, so that the foot element, which can be moved essentially vertically and, with that, its floor touch-down surface, in a position, disengaged from the floor, can be swiveled forward in the direction of motion of the toy with engagement of the two bearing elements, the foot element, when the floor touch-down surface touches down on the floor, being movable essentially vertically upwards with disengagement and, at the same time, being guided in the bearing mounting in such a manner that a component of motion in the running direction is imparted by the vertical motion during the touching-down process.

The invention relates to movable equipment, especially for medical exercise and treatment purposes.
Equilibrium disorders and development deficiencies in this respect, which occur frequently particularly in children, represent appreciable problems for the persons affected. These problems can be counteracted by equilibrium exercises using motor-operated movement courses, so that it is possible to promote the sense of equilibrium. The previously known exercise possibilities and apparatuses, however, permit only limited exercise. There is therefore a need for a suitable apparatus, with which psychomotor training, beneficial from medical points of view is possible for persons afflicted with equilibrium disorders.
Aside from these urgent medical problems, the invention attempts to find a remedy also in a different field, namely that of mobile toys, also those in the form of an animal. Such toys are known in various forms. In order to create an incentive for children to play, which is the basis for occupying themselves with the toy, it is necessary to configure the purpose and value of the play as interestingly as possible. Especially for toys in the form of animals, this can be attained particularly by attempting to imitate in as lifelike a fashion as possible the motion of the imitated, stylized animal, as far as this is possible within the scope of the mechanics, which can be used. At the same time, in order to increase the purpose of the play, the lifelike movement should be initiated with the cooperation of the child, who is seated on the toy. This objective, however, is not attained or is attained only inadequately with known toys. As a rule, such toys are constructed so that, although they have a seat for accommodating the child, they are in contact with the floor through rollers or the like, by means of which motion can be brought about by the child, when the feet of the child are braced against the floor. Such a toy is described, for example, in the German publication 295 15 785 U1. However, motion, which comes even only close to that of the stylized animal, is not achieved with such a toy.
These two initial problems become connected when it is a question of the medical treatment of children. After all, it is well known that children, who are to be treated, prefer to occupy themselves with medical exercise equipment, etc., if they receive a playful incentive for doing so.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an apparatus, which can be used particularly for psychomotor exercise.

Movable equipment, especially for medical exercise and treatment purposes

sports Unlimited Sportartikel-Vertrieb und Beratung GmbH


This invention provides a photographic element comprising at least one silver halide emulsion layer in which the silver halide is sensitized with a compound of the formula (a):

This invention relates to a photographic element comprising at least one light sensitive silver halide emulsion layer which has enhanced photographic sensitivity.
The use of fragmentable electron donor (FED) compounds to enhance the sensitivity of silver halide emulsions has been demonstrated to be quite effective. The FED compounds have been proven to provide a sensitizing effect alone or in combination with spectral sensitizing dyes. Fragmentable electron donating compounds are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,747,235 and 5,747,236 and 5,994,051, 6,010,841, 6,054,260 and 6,153,371, the entire disclosures thereof are incorporated herein by reference. These FED compounds can donate two electrons and are fragmentable, i.e., they undergo a bond cleavage reaction.
While the use of fragmentable two-electron donors increases the speed of the emulsions disclosed in the above mentioned patents, these speed increases are sometimes accompanied by unwanted fogging of the emulsion. It is desirable to have silver halides sensitized with FEDs without an increase in fog. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
We have now discovered that compounds that release fragmentable electron donors can improve sensitivity of photographic emulsions. In this application we describe fragmentable two-electron donor compounds that are attached to a protective group wherein such protective group is eliminated during development to give the fragmentable electron donor. The protected FED is effectively inert during the preparation, coating, and storage but becomes activated during processing of the photographic element. It is desirable to attach such a protective group to the FED so that the beneficial sensitizing effects can be obtained with lower amounts of unwanted fog.
In accordance with this invention, a silver halide emulsion layer of a photographic element is sensitized with a compound that releases a fragmentable electron donor moiety that upon donating an electron, undergoes a bond cleavage reaction to give a reducing radical. The term xe2x80x9csensitizationxe2x80x9d is used in this patent application to mean an increase in the photographic response of the silver halide emulsion layer of a photographic element. The term xe2x80x9csensitizerxe2x80x9d is used to mean a compound that provides sensitization when present in a silver halide emulsion layer.
One aspect of this invention comprises a photographic element comprising at least one silver halide emulsion layer in which the silver halide is sensitized with a compound of the formula (a), (b) or (c):
xcex94xe2x88x92(t)mxe2x88x92XYxe2x80x2xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(a)
XYxe2x80x2xe2x88x92(t)mxe2x88x92xcex94xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(b)
xcex94xe2x88x92(t)mxe2x88x92XYxe2x80x2xe2x88x92(t)mxe2x88x92xcex94xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(c)
wherein xcex94 is protective group that is eliminated during development of the photographic element, t is a timing group, m is an integer from 0 to 3, and XYxe2x80x2 is a fragmentable electron donor moiety in which X is an electron donor group and Yxe2x80x2 is a leaving proton H or a leaving group Y, with the proviso that if Yxe2x80x2 is a proton, a base, xcex2xe2x88x92, is present in the emulsion or is covalently linked directly or indirectly to X, and wherein:
1) Xxe2x80x94Yxe2x80x2 has an oxidation potential between 0 and about 1.4 V;
2) the oxidized form of Xxe2x80x94Yxe2x80x2 undergoes a bond cleavage reaction to give the radical Xxe2x80xa2 and the leaving fragment Yxe2x80x2; and
3) the radical Xxe2x80xa2 has an oxidation potential xe2x89xa6xe2x88x920.7V (that is, equal to or more negative than about xe2x88x920.7V).
It is to be understood that if Yxe2x80x2 is H, xcex94 is bonded to X, i.e., the compound is of formula (a).
In this patent application, oxidation potentials are reported as xe2x80x9cVxe2x80x9d which represents xe2x80x9cvolts versus a saturated calomel reference electrodexe2x80x9d.
This invention provides a silver halide photographic emulsion containing protected fragmentable two-electron donor compounds that release an organic electron donor capable of enhancing both the intrinsic sensitivity and, if a dye is present, the spectral sensitivity of the silver halide emulsion. An important feature of these compounds is that they contain a protective group to be eliminated at development. The protected FED is effectively inert during the preparation, coating, and storage but becomes activated during processing of the photographic element. It is desirable to attach such a protective group to the FED so that the beneficial sensitizing effects can be obtained with lower amounts of unwanted fog

Silver halide light sensitive emulsion layer having enhanced photographic sensitivity

Abstract: 2) the oxidized form of Xxe2x80x94Yxe2x80x2 undergoes a bond cleavage reaction to give the radical Xxe2x80xa2 and the leaving fragment Yxe2x80x2, and

Abstract: 3) the radical Xxe2x80xa2 has an oxidation potential xe2x89xa6xe2x88x920.7V.


The present invention relates to a composition comprising an aqueous dispersion of a film-forming polymer, spherical polymer beads, a HASE rheology modifier, and optionally a pigment. The composition is useful in coatings compositions.

The present invention relates to a composition comprising a binder, a hydrophobically modified alkali soluble emulsion (HASE) thickener, and spherical polymeric beads.
Decorative wall coatings optimally require a flawless finish, an ambitious undertaking because of commonly occurring defects on the surface of the coating. These defects often require tedious repainting of the surface, and delivering a finish that is free of brush marks, paint overlap, and surface irregularity remains a challenge for even the most skilled painter.
Two common problems associated with fixing defects are poor touch-up and flashing: Poor touch-up refers to a noticeable difference in the overall final appearance of a repainted surface with respect to the originally painted surface. Flashing—a term coined by professional painters—manifests itself in the form of relatively bright spots that fleetingly appear on a wall when light strikes the wall's surface at certain angles. Fixing these defects require special efforts, sometimes to no avail.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to find a formulation that results in acceptable touch-up and flash properties while maintaining other essential properties of the formulation.

Hydrophobically modified alkali soluble emulsion composition with polymeric beads


A system management human-machine interface application for use in a process control system is described herein that enables users to view/monitor information regarding system status and performance and to initiate changes to the operation of system equipment, checkpoint control stations and execute diagnostics. A system management graphical user interface includes a number of features that address the accessibility of system status information to users. Such features include rendering selectable diagnostic information (e.g., online/offline status) on a system component navigation view. The GUI also provides access to a variety of system information including: alarms, messages, watched system management parameters, and a legend for symbols displayed in a system management navigation tree. Other features include: a search function for locating a device in the system to render detailed information, a navigation tree that displays equipment status via icons, and propagating fault statuses up to a highest level of the navigation tree.

Industry increasingly depends upon highly automated data acquisition and control systems to ensure that industrial processes/operations run efficiently, safely and reliably while lowering overall costs. In such systems, data acquisition begins with sensors measuring current values/status of process variables representing the status/operation of an industrial process or operation. The measurements are communicated to programmed controllers and data collection/management systems. The data collection/management systems, generally including process databases and data processing routines, manage and maintain the measurement data. Such data management and maintenance includes further processing the data (e.g., filtering), storing the data, and distributing the data to a variety of client applications. Such client applications include both automated and manual supervisory control processes and display/monitor user interfaces.
Industrial process/operation measurements come in a wide variety of forms and are used by industrial process control systems to regulate a variety of operations, both with respect to continuous and discrete manufacturing processes. By way of example the measurements produced by sensors include: a temperature, a pressure, a pH, a mass/volume flow of material, a quantity of bottles filled per hour, a tallied inventory of packages waiting in a shipping line, or a photograph of a room in a factory. Often, sophisticated automated process management and control hardware/software examine acquired process/operation measurement data, and respond by sending messages/signals to actuators/controllers that adjust the operation of at least a portion of the industrial process. The data produced by the sensors is also provided to human-machine interface (HMI) applications. The HMI applications support a variety of views that enable an operator to perform a number of supervisory tasks including: tailor the process (e.g., specify new set points) in response to varying external conditions (including costs of raw materials), detect an inefficient/non-optimal operating condition and/or impending equipment failure (alarm), and take remedial actions such as shut down a process or move equipment into and out of service as required.
System management application components execute in a supervisory role in process control systems to monitor operational status and overall health of the portions of a process control system that are responsible for acquiring process status information and applying decisions to the devices that control the processes. The system management components are basically responsible for monitoring and controlling the equipment/devices that control the process itself. In this role, the system management application components receive a variety of status data regarding the health and performance of process control system equipment including, for example: control processors, network switches, fieldbus modules, field devices connected to a process control network. The system management application components are also capable of taking actions, based upon the equipment status information, to alter the operation of system equipment. Such actions include: inhibiting/enabling alarms, checkpointing, rebooting, enabling/disabling upload, enabling/disabling download, enabling/disabling reports, going online/offline, running diagnostics, calibrating,
Vast quantities of various types of information are received by the system management application components. Some of the information is received and acted upon automatically by programmed system management components without user intervention/knowledge. However, other information is acquired and organized for display by a user interface subsystem on a graphical user interface (GUI) at a monitor station. Generally, increasing the types of information that can be presented to a human user improves the ability of the user to make decisions regarding the operation of the process control system equipment. However, when very large quantities of information of many types are involved, such information diminishes in value as the information becomes less accessible. It is therefore desirable to present system management information via a user interface in a manner that enhances its ability to be located and understood by users.

System management user interface providing user access to status information for process control system equipment including a status monitor


A load regulation device for controlling the amount of power delivered to an electrical load may be able to calibrate the magnitude of an output voltage of the load regulation device in order to control the magnitude of a load voltage across the electrical load to a predetermined level. The load regulation device may receive the feedback from a calibration device adapted to be coupled to load wiring near the electrical load. The feedback may indicate when the magnitude of the load voltage across the electrical load has reached a predetermined level. The load regulation device may gradually adjust the magnitude of the output voltage, receive the feedback from the calibration device, and then use the feedback to determine the magnitude of the output voltage corresponding to when the magnitude of the load voltage across the electrical load has reached the predetermined level.

Light-emitting diode (LED) light sources (e.g., LED light engines) are often used in place of or as replacements for conventional incandescent, fluorescent, or halogen lamps, and the like. LED light sources may comprise a plurality of light-emitting diodes mounted on a single structure and/or provided in a suitable housing, for example. LED light sources are typically more efficient and provide longer operational lives as compared to incandescent, fluorescent, and halogen lamps. In order to illuminate properly, an LED driver control device (i.e., an LED driver) may be coupled between an alternating-current (AC) source and the LED light source for regulating the power supplied to the LED light source. The LED driver may regulate either the voltage provided to the LED light source to a particular value or the current supplied to the LED light source to a specific peak current value, or may regulate both the current and voltage.
LED light sources may be rated to be driven via a number of different control techniques including, for example, a current load control technique or a voltage load control technique. An LED light source that is rated for the current load control technique may be characterized by a rated current (e.g., approximately 350 milliamps) to which the peak magnitude of the current through the LED light source should be regulated to ensure that the LED light source is illuminated to the appropriate intensity and color. In contrast, an LED light source that is rated for the voltage load control technique may be characterized by a rated voltage (e.g., approximately 15 volts) to which the voltage across the LED light source should be regulated to ensure proper operation of the LED light source. One or more parallel strings of LEDs in an LED light source rated for the voltage load control technique may include a current balance regulation element to ensure that the parallel strings have similar impedance so that similar current may be drawn in each of the parallel strings.
LED drivers may be configured to dim the light output of an LED light source. Example methods of dimming LEDs include a pulse-width modulation (PWM) technique and a constant current reduction (CCR) technique. Pulse-width modulation dimming may be used for LED light sources that are controlled in a current or voltage load control mode, for example. In pulse-width modulation dimming, a pulsed signal with a varying duty cycle is supplied to the LED light source. If an LED light source is being controlled using the current load control technique, the peak current supplied to the LED light source is kept constant during an on time of the duty cycle of the pulsed signal. However, as the duty cycle of the pulsed signal varies, the average current supplied to the LED light source may also vary, thereby varying the intensity of the light output of the LED light source. If the LED light source is being controlled using the voltage load control technique, the voltage supplied to the LED light source is kept constant during the on time of the duty cycle of the pulsed signal in order to achieve the desired target voltage level, and the duty cycle of the load voltage is varied in order to adjust the intensity of the light output. Constant current reduction dimming may be used, for example, when an LED light source is being controlled using the current load control technique. In constant current reduction dimming, current may be continuously provided to the LED light source while the DC magnitude of the current provided to the LED light source may be varied to thus adjust the intensity of the light output. Examples of LED drivers are described in greater detail in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 8,492,988, issued Jul. 23, 2010, entitled CONFIGURABLE LOAD CONTROL DEVICE FOR LIGHT-EMITTING DIODE LIGHT SOURCE, and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0063047, published Mar. 14, 2013, entitled LOAD CONTROL DEVICE FOR A LIGHT-EMITTING DIODE LIGHT SOURCE, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
If the LED light source is being controlled using the voltage load control technique, the magnitude of the voltage at the output of the LED driver may differ from the magnitude of the voltage across the LED light source due to, for example, the impedance of the electrical wiring between the LED driver and the LED light source. Accordingly, the magnitude of the voltage across the LED light source may not be equal to the rated voltage of the LED light source. In addition, under the example scenario described herein, the length of the electrical wiring between the LED driver and the LED light source may vary from one installation and/or circuit to the next. As a result, the magnitude of the voltage across the LED light source and thus the intensity of the LED light source may vary from one installation and/or circuit to the next for a given output voltage of the LED driver. If there are multiple installations of LED light sources controlled by a single LED driver in a room and each of LED light sources has a different length of electrical wiring between the LED driver and the respective LED light source, the intensities of all of the LED light sources may appear different to an occupant of the room, which is undesirable.

Calibration of a load control device for a light-emitting diode light source


A method for determining an imbalance of a propeller shaft assembly can include establishing balancing planes relative to certain areas of the propeller shaft assembly and identifying each component of the propeller shaft assembly that could have a potential imbalance condition due to a tolerance variation. The method can also include determining the potential imbalance condition for each identified component, and determining a contribution of each determined potential imbalance condition to a respective pair of the established balancing planes. The method can further include determining a total magnitude of imbalance at the respective pair of established balancing planes based on the determined contributions of each potential imbalance condition, and determining a statistically representative value of the determined magnitude of imbalance.

In the manufacture of modern vehicle propeller shaft assemblies, it is common practice to include a balancing process to identify and counteract an unbalanced condition of an assembled propeller shaft. A typical balancing process utilizes a balancing machine often included as one of the final operations in the overall manufacturing process of the propeller shaft assembly. The balancing machine will typically rotate the propeller shaft assembly at a predetermined speed and sense vibrations that can be caused by an unbalanced propeller shaft structure. The balancing machine can then identify where one or more balancing weights may need to be positioned on the propeller shaft assembly to counteract the vibrations caused by the unbalanced structure. In some instances, the vibrations sensed during the balancing process are of such a magnitude that they are not able to be counteracted with the balancing weights and the propeller shaft assembly then has to be re-worked or scrapped. Although such a balancing process is effective, it suffers from several drawbacks, including being a reactive process requiring the propeller shaft assembly to be fully built before the balancing process can be performed.
Accordingly, there remains a need in the art for a methodology to determine an imbalance condition of a propeller shaft assembly that overcomes the aforementioned and other drawbacks.

Method for predicting imbalance of a propeller shaft assembly


A generator unit is installed locally to supply power to an electricity consumer. A management center monitors operation status of the generator unit and monitors the amount of electricity supplied to the electricity consumer by the generator unit. A service company performs maintenance and management for the generator unit based on instructions from the management center or the operation status of the generator unit. An electricity provider operating the generator unit bills the electricity consumer for an electricity supply service fee based on information sent to the management center. The resulting electricity generation equipment management system maintains and manages a generator unit without placing a burden on an electricity consumer, allowing efficient billing and payment of electricity supply service fees.

The present invention relates to an electricity generation equipment management system that efficiently maintains and manages operation of a generator unit installed in a region where laying of electricity cable from a public electricity company is difficult. The present invention also relates to an electricity generation equipment management system that supplies power to a specific electricity consumer, allowing for reliable billing and payments of electricity supply service fees between the electricity consumer and an electricity provider operating the generator unit.
Electricity generated using nuclear power, thermal power, water power, or the like serves a very important role as a source of daily energy. There is also widespread use of electrical devices, actuating devices in various machinery, information communication devices, and the like that use this electricity as an energy source to provide light or heat.
This type of electricity is generated by power companies, which supply electricity consumers, e.g., businesses and standard households, via predetermined electrical cables. The electricity consumers pay the power companies a fee based on the amount of electricity used.
However, in places such as farms in large plains or remote islands, the laying of electrical cable from the power company involves enormous installation costs. This makes providing electricity to these consumers very difficult in practical terms. Electricity consumers in these remote areas can install a generator unit, using petroleum as an energy source, to serve as a home generator. Alternatively, solar energy, wind energy, or geothermal energy can be used to generate electricity.
However, installing home generators involves very high installation costs. Furthermore, there are very high operation costs (running costs) for monitoring the operation status of a home generator and running the generator in a stable and efficient manner while providing adequate maintenance. Thus, the efficient use of electrical energy is made very difficult.

Electricity generation equipment management system