A method for linearizing potentiometric sensors is provided, the method can include the steps of: insertion in a measurement and/or processing station of a potentiometric sensor provided with a resistive track; application of a defined voltage and/or of a defined current across the resistive track; placement of a number of sensing elements composed of metallic contacts distributed at uniform intervals over the length of the resistive track; acquisition of the individual measured values of the sensing elements and determination of the curve of the resistance of the resistive track, and linearization of the resistance of the resistive track by means of sequential adjustment of the resistance of the resistive track. A means for marking the contact points of the sensing elements is placed on the resistive track prior to the placement of the sensing elements, and then the sensing elements are placed on the means, and the means are removed once the contact points of the sensing elements have been marked, and the position of the contact points of the sensing elements is taken into account in determining the curve of the resistance of the resistive track.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for linearizing potentiometric sensors which comprises the steps of: insertion in a measurement and/or processing station of a potentiometric sensor provided with a resistive track; application of a defined voltage and/or of a defined current across the resistive track; placement of a number of sensing elements composed of metallic contacts distributed at uniform intervals over the length of the resistive track; acquisition of the individual measured values of the sensing elements and determination of the curve of the resistance of the resistive track; and linearization of the resistance of the resistive track by means of sequential adjustment of the resistance of the resistive track.
2. Description of the Background Art
Potentiometric sensors are frequently used where continuous adjustment of a setpoint value is needed or where a measured value is to be linearly acquired over an angle, for example, in order to sense the motion of a brake lever. Such rotary resistors or potentiometers or potentiometric sensors are known in a design in which metallic contacts are applied to a plastic substrate as conductive traces, between the input and output of which is printed a resistive track on the plastic printed circuit board, for example over an angular range. A wiper, by means of which the variable resistance on the resistive track can be adjusted and tapped, then runs over this resistive track. A wide variety of methods for linearizing the resistance of the resistive track on the printed circuit board have been disclosed.
A potentiometric sensor with a resistance applied over an angular range is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,032,881. The potentiometric sensor has metallic contact areas at its input and output, between which is applied to a printed circuit board a resistive track extending over approximately 270°. To linearize the curve of the resistance over the circumference of the resistive track, contacts that stand in electrical contact with the resistive track are applied to a carrier at regular circumferential intervals adjacent to the resistive track. In this regard, sensing elements that are applied to the contacts distributed over the circumference determine the curve and the linearity of the resistance over the circumference so that trimming of the linearity can take place. Trimming here takes place by the means that radial notches are introduced in the resistive track by a laser, resulting in an increase in the resistance. By these radial notches, it is possible to linearize the curve of the resistance over the circumference.
Another method for linearizing potentiometric sensors is known from U.S. Pat. No. 3,821,845. Here, linearization takes place by a device equipped with sensing elements distributed over its circumference is brought over and onto the resistive track, so that the curve of the resistance over the resistive track can be sensed at discrete points. Once again, trimming is accomplished by a laser, wherein parallel radial notches are introduced into the resistive track.
A disadvantage of the methods for linearizing potentiometric sensors known from prior art is that inaccurate tapping results in errors in the trimming of the resistive track. In this regard, it can be established as inaccurate sensing that a displacement of the sensing element of as little as 0.2% during placement on the resistive track results in errors or deviations of 2% in the resistance. Such measurement methods and methods for linearization are unsuitable to meet today's stringent requirements in, e.g., the automotive industry, since their tolerance ranges lie outside the requirements demanded by the automotive industry. The above-described potentiometric sensors known from the prior art are thus unsuitable for use in a motor vehicle, for example for sensing the position of a brake pedal.

Method for linearizing potentiometric sensors


Methods and apparatus, including computer program apparatus, implementing techniques for processing digital artwork. In one aspect, the techniques process aggregations of artwork where both the aggregation and at least some of the aggregated artwork have attached styles. The techniques handle various combinations of conditions resulting in applying style elements to the aggregation before or after applying style elements to underlying artwork. In another aspect, the techniques implement editable path objects having multiple attached fills and/or strokes. The techniques provide user interfaces for using the foregoing features.

Computer programs can be used to produce graphical images that can be rendered and displayed on an output device. Two such classes of programs are illustration applications and animation applications. An illustration application can be used to generate original graphics or combine original and existing graphics to produce a graphics image (an electronic document or illustration) that can be displayed on a static output device. An animation application can be used to produce a composition that includes graphics that can be animated using one or more effects to produce a result that can be played on a dynamic output device.
Illustrations and compositions produced using conventional illustration and animation applications include simple objects that are combined to form a final illustration or composition. A simple object can be a path, text, or other vector art object or an image art object and typically includes several properties. Properties can include paint effects such as strokes and fills for paths, vector effects such as zig-zag and scale, color blending effects such as transparency and darkening, and image effects such as fade, blur, and watercolor.
Two basic properties of a simple vector object are its stroke and fill attributes. A stroke is a representation that follows the outline of a path. Strokes can have attributes such as color, width and dash pattern. For example, in the Adobe Illustrator® program, available from Adobe Systems Incorporated of San Jose, Calif., a stroke can be a solid color, a pattern or a brush and can include attributes such as weight, cap, join and dashed. A fill is an instruction for painting the interior of a path with a solid or variegated color, such as a repeating pattern, a color gradation or a randomized arrangement. A fill might be a solid color, a gradient, a gradient mesh or a pattern. In conventional illustration and animation programs, every simple object can have a single stroke and a single fill.
When objects are combined—into a layer, for example—the rendered appearance of the objects can be affected by properties attached to the combination. Otherwise, objects are typically rendered for display in accordance with their individual properties.

Method and apparatus for painting groups of objects


A drive and method of identifying write velocity during reading are provided. When a track is being read, the data signal is processed prior to determining the data stream to identify the velocity with which the track data were written. The read channel is adjusted based on the identified velocity to compensate for write channel transfer function variation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to data storage systems.
2. Background Art
In a traditional magnetic storage medium, a read circuit detects flux reversals to determine a data signal. Peak detection is used to interpret the information present in the data signal. As data areal density increases, the peaks get smaller and smaller relative to the background noise, and accordingly, get more and more difficult to detect. A technique used to allow further increases in data areal density that addresses difficulties associated with peak detection is partial response maximum likelihood (PRML).
PRML does not attempt to detect individual peaks in the way that the traditional peak detection techniques do. PRML uses digital signal processing to analyze the analog data signal from the read circuit to determine the most likely pattern of flux reversals. That is, PRML determines the most likely data stream based on the partial response observed in the analog data signal from the read circuit. PRML techniques have been quite successful in allowing the continued increase in areal data density for magnetic storage applications.
The use of tape drives and magnetic tapes to store data has become widespread. Tape drives have many advantages for certain storage applications in that they are able to meet the capacity, performance and reliability needs of these applications at an acceptable cost. PRML approaches have been used in tape drive applications.
Due to the increasing velocity ramp time of modern tape drive systems, it is becoming imperative that the velocity of the transport match the composite transfer rate of the computer host. This requirement leaves the tape system with the task of managing channel transfer function variation over the range of written velocity. Inherently, the transport is aware of the velocity with which it is reading, but is not aware of the velocity with which the data was previously written. Because the channel transfer function varies over the range of written velocity, to appropriately optimize the system, the read detection function must be able to change equalization prior to reading the data. A problem is the fact that it is difficult to appropriately optimize the system because it is difficult to determine the precise way that the equalization needs to be changed.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a method of identifying the velocity with which the data was written that is reasonably immune to write channel transfer function variation.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An image forming apparatus comprises: a readout portion that reads out from a memory of a supply unit that is replaceably loaded on the image forming apparatus itself, information about a plurality of vendors, which is stored in the memory; and a transmitter that transmits to a terminal apparatus the readout information about the vendors. And a terminal apparatus comprises: an obtainer that obtains information about the supply unit from respective servers owned by the vendors, by making access thereto according to the information about the vendors, which is received from the image forming apparatus; a display that displays on itself the obtained information; and an ordering portion that transmits an order for a supply unit to one of the servers, according to an order instruction issued by a user. After order transmission, information about a vendor owning the server that receives that order is stored in a storage.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a supply unit ordering system that is capable of placing an order for a supply unit replaceably loaded on an image forming apparatus such as a copier, a printer or a MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) that is a multifunctional digital machine collectively having the copy and print functions, an image forming apparatus that is preferably used in the supply unit ordering system, a supply unit ordering method, and a supply unit ordering program.
2. Description of the Related Art
The following description sets forth the inventor's knowledge of related art and problems therein and should not be construed as an admission of knowledge in the prior art.
Such an image forming apparatus mentioned above uses supply units such as toner cartridges and imaging units. Each supply unit contains consumable portions such as toner consumed by operations repeatedly performed to print target data on a sheet or a photoconductive drum gradually deteriorated also due to repeated print operations. Each supply unit is replaced with a new one when its consumable portion runs out or reaches to the end of usefulness.
Some of the supply units used in an image forming apparatus are proper products provided from the manufacturer of the image forming apparatus, and the other supply units are un-proper products provided from what are called third party vendors other than that manufacturer.
Generally, supply units such as toner cartridges provided from third party vendors, have more possibilities of causing quality troubles and mismatch with image forming apparatuses, compared to proper products.
There is a heretofore known art that may work out the case above, and wherein if a un-proper supply unit is loaded on an image forming apparatus, a print operation is immediately prohibited (for example, this is described in Japanese Unexamined Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2003-195705).
However, supply units of good quality actually have few possibilities of causing a trouble during usage, even if those are un-proper products provided from third party vendors. For example, a supply unit has few possibilities of causing a trouble during usage, if it is provided from a third party vendor which product quality is guaranteed by the manufacturer of the image forming apparatus. Further, it would be advantageous if un-proper supply units provided from third party vendors become freely used, since users have more product choices.
There is another heretofore known art, and wherein: when a supply unit is on a distribution channel after shipment, information about a vendor providing the supply unit and other information are written in a memory loaded thereon; if the supply unit is inserted in an image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus reads out the information about the vendor from the memory; and if the image forming apparatus detects that the time for replacing the supply unit is coming near, the information about the vendor is displayed on a display of the image forming apparatus or displayed on a display that is connected to the image forming apparatus. Thus, it is advantageous that users can place an order for a supply unit, easily (for example, this is described in Japanese Unexamined Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2001-331069).
However, with the art disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2001-331069, information about only one vendor is written in the memory loaded on the supply unit. Therefore, a user using the image forming apparatus has no other vendor choice to place an order for a supply unit with, and cannot select a preferable one among supply units provided from a plurality of vendors. In other words, it is disadvantageous that users cannot arbitrarily select and purchase a preferable one among un-proper supply unit of good quality.
Further, with the art disclosed in the publication above, once information about a vendor is written in the memory, can never be re-written. Therefore, the latest information of price, availability and etc. of supply units are not always provided to users. In other words, it is disadvantageous that users reluctantly have to place an order for a supply unit based on old information, and thereby suffer from the gap in price, availability and etc.
The description herein of advantages and disadvantages of various features, embodiments, methods, and apparatus disclosed in other publications is in no way intended to limit the present invention. Indeed, certain features of the invention may be capable of overcoming certain disadvantages, while still retaining some or all of the features, embodiments, methods, and apparatus disclosed therein.

Supply unit ordering system, image forming apparatus, supply unit ordering method and supply unit ordering program

Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc


The object of the present invention is to provide a high-performance zoom lens system that having a small number of lens elements and can also be used for wide-angle purpose. In order to achieve the object, said zoom lens system has, from the object side, a first lens unit having positive refractive power and a second lens unit having negative refractive power, wherein said zoom lens system varies magnification by changing a distance between at least said first and second lens unit, wherein at least one of said lens units includes a gradient index lens, said gradient index lens having at least one aspherical surface.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to a zoom lens system, and more particularly to a zoom lens system capable of covering all ranges including the wide-angle range and appropriate for a still camera, video camera, etc.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventionally, in a zoom lens system used in a still camera or video camera, it has been desired to increase the aperture ratio and magnification while reducing the number of lens elements in the entire system in order to make the camera less costly and more compact. In response to this need, a technology has been proposed that reduces the number of lens elements in the entire zoom lens system by employing a gradient index lens (GRIN lens) while performing aberration correction.
For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 2-79013 discloses an example of a zoom lens system comprising, from the object side, a first lens unit having a negative refractive power and a second lens unit having a positive refractive power, wherein a GRIN lens is used in the second lens unit and both the first and second lens units comprise two lens elements.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 2-56515 discloses an example of a zoom lens system comprising, from the object side, a first lens unit having a negative refractive power and a second lens unit having a positive refractive power, wherein a GRIN lens is used in both the first and second lens units, each of which comprises a single lens element.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 2-124509 also discloses an example of a zoom lens system comprising, from the object side, a first lens unit having a negative refractive power and a second lens unit having a positive refractive power, wherein a GRIN lens is used in both the first and second lens units, each of which comprises a single lens element.
However, because the GRIN lens in the zoom lens system disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 2-79013 has spherical surfaces, there is insufficient freedom to perform aberration correction and each lens unit must comprise more than one lens element, and therefore the problem arises that the number of lens elements cannot be reduced any further.
With regard to Japanese Laid-Open Patent Applications 2-56515 and 2-124509, because the GRIN lens used in the zoom lens systems disclosed in said applications has spherical or flat surfaces, the problems arise that the total length of the entire lens system is large and that the lens system cannot be used for wide-angle purposes.


Disclosed are a method and system for managing groups of folders on a computer. The method comprises the step of presenting a graphical user interface (GUI) view to a user, said view identifying a multitude of folders, wherein some of said folders are empty, and in said view, the empty folders are designated in a defined manner. The user chooses a group of said folders by interacting with the GUI, and the user selects one of a group of given actions. In response to the user selecting that one action, the computer applies the selected action to all of said group of folders as a single operation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to computers, and more specifically, the invention relates to the management of folders on computers.
2. Background Art
Most computer systems store data by physically encoding it as a data file on a storage device such as a hard magnetic disk. The software tools used to perform this storage and the subsequent access to, or manipulation of, the data file, are provided by a routine called a file system manager, which usually included in an operating system.
An operating system is a program or collection of programs, which allow control of the computer's physical devices. In a UNIX™-based system, the operating system interacts directly with the hardware, providing common services to programs and isolating the software and users from the hardware idiosyncrasies of a particular computer system. For example, the operating system may coordinate the sending of information to a printer to be printed, or commence the operation of an application program. Operating systems also have some manner of interface to communicate with the user, generally via a command line on the computer's monitor where the user can enter an instruction from the operating system's instruction set, or via a graphic user interface which presents a simpler means of entering the same kinds of instructions.
The file system management functions of the operating system (or simply, the file system manager) provides a standardized means of storing and accessing data on storage subsystems, being responsible for handling all requests to open, close, read, and write files. These data files are referred to by symbolic filenames, which tell the operating system where the data can be physically found. HPS, FAT, FAT32, NTFS and HPFS are common file systems used on personal computers.
In many computer systems, data files are sorted into a structure of folders, directories, subdirectories or similar categories, making them easier to identify and locate. In these systems, each file has a unique path name which identifies its location within the file structure, access to the data generally starting at the top and proceeding through the levels of the hierarchy. Most operating systems use these types of tree-like or hierarchical filing systems.
UNIX and MS-DOS computers, for example, have a "root" directory from which all other directories or sub-directories branch out. The syntax of the path name is usually a sequence of directory or filenames separated by the "/" character, each subsequent entry representing another level of the tree.
Folders can take up a considerable amount of DASD. Over time, users build up a massive hierarchy of folders. Through archiving and document expiration, many folders are empty and more than likely not needed. A user can go through and manually open each folder to see if it is empty, determine if it is needed and then delete the folder. This can be a labor-intensive activity, which most people will not do. In many computers, there is a huge amount of wasted DASD due to empty folders. Within many businesses and other enterprises, removing old folders will lower costs and provide other advantages.

Method and system for computer folder management

International Business Machines Corporation


The present invention discloses pharmaceutical/nutritional compositions and methods for alleviating symptoms associated with perimenopausal and/or menopausal disorder or discomfort. The methods include the step of administering, to a subject in need thereof, an effective amount of a composition including at least 2% (w/w) phosphatidic acid, or salts thereof, out of the total effective composition, as a first effective ingredient for alleviating at least one discomfort symptom. Preferably, the composition further includes a suitable amount of at least one bio-available form of magnesium as a second effective ingredient. Preferably, at least one bio-available form is selected from the group consisting of: magnesium oxide, magnesium citrate, magnesium hydroxide, magnesium stearate, and a magnesium salt of the phosphatidic acid. Preferably, the step of administering is performed in a multi-part regimen, and is performed by at least one delivery method selected from the group consisting of: oral delivery and intravenous delivery.

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for alleviating symptoms associated with perimenopausal and/or menopausal disorder or discomfort.
While Phosphatidyl-L-serine (PS) has been implicated in treatments for premenstrual syndrome (PMS) (alone and in conjunction with phosphatidic acid (PA)), as well as for cognitive disorders such as stress, very little has been shown regarding PA monotherapy treatments. PA was shown to be effective in treating PMS both alone and in conjunction with bio-available magnesium.
Recently, studies have substantiated that there is a synergistic mechanism by which PS and PA (the combination referred to herein as PAS) operate with regard to stress reactivity in men (see Hellhammer et al., Lipids in Health and Disease, 2014, 13, 121). Chronic stress has been shown to reduce cortisol binding globulin (CBG)—a glycoprotein synthesized in the liver, and secreted in the blood which binds with a high affinity, but low capacity, in the blood to glucocorticoid hormones, such as cortisol in humans and corticosterone in laboratory rodents. A drop of CBG in chronically-stressed subjects was hypothesized therein to explain that PAS first causes a normalization of CBG levels under such conditions, which then result in a normalization of the activity and reactivity of the HPAA (Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis).
PS and PA, while both being phospholipids, have distinct physicochemical properties which lead to divergent physiological behavior. With regard to the distribution of PLs in the human body, it is widely known that PS is concentrated primarily in the brain as well as to some extent in the central nervous system (CNS), while PA in contrast is distributed throughout the body (see "The Distribution of Phosphatidyl-D-serine in the Rat" by Omori et al. Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem., 2010, 74(9), 1953-1955; and "Phosphatidylserine: structure, occurrence, biochemistry and analysis" by Christie, AOCS Lipid Library, http://lipidlibrary.aocs.org/Lipids/ps/index.htm, 2013).
Via hydrolysis, many PLs serve as precursors to important biochemical agents in the body. For example, PC is known to release choline which acts as a precursor for production of acetylcholine, a known neurotransmitter. Similarly, PS releases L-serine in the brain which undergoes conversion to D-serine via an isomerase racemase (an isomerase enzyme which catalyzes the stereochemical inversion around the asymmetric carbon atom in biological molecules having only one center of asymmetry). D-serine has been implicated in many physiological and neurological therapeutic remedies.
Under physiological conditions, serine binds phosphate through its free hydroxyl (—OH) group to form the phosphate ester of PS. The head group of PS has three charged groups: a positively-charged primary amine, a partially negatively-charged carboxyl group, and a negatively-charged phosphate group. Thus, PS has a net negative charge in equilibrium due to its carboxylate group. In PA, two free hydroxyl groups are available for ionization. The first hydroxyl group is readily ionized in equilibrium at a pH greater than 2. The second hydroxyl group is predominantly ionized in equilibrium at a pH typical of physiological environments.
While PA is known to undergo cleavage of its beta-position fatty acid to form lysophosphatidic acid (LPA, an important implicated precursor), the double negative charge of the phosphate group of PA as explained above stands out in stark contrast to all other PLs, including PS, which have less negatively-charged phosphate moieties. Such physicochemical properties make PA impermeable in the brain (i.e., the so-called Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) separating circulating blood from the brain extracellular fluid (BECF) in the CNS) (see article on "Phosphatidic Acid," Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phosphatidic_acid).
A scientific publication by Montané and Pérez-Balllester (J. Reprod. Fert., 1985, 73, 317-321) on "Cyclic changes in phospholipid content and composition in human endometrium during the menstrual cycle" states, "A significant increase in total phospholipid content of the endometrium took place during the secretory phase of the human menstrual cycle (26% increase from mid-proliferative to premenstrual stage). The major phospholipid, phosphatidylcholine, was increased by 30%, whereas phosphatidylethanolamine was unchanged. Phosphatidyl-serine and -inositol underwent the largest percentage increases (40%). Phosphatidic acid levels were the only ones to decrease (−52%), a finding consistent with the role of this lipid as precursor of the increased phospholipids."
The statements above indicate that human cyclic changes in phospholipid content during a women's PMS phase predominantly concern PS, PI, and PC (PE showed zero change). PC, PI, and PE are readily available in normal diets, and therefore are excluded from attribution of any therapeutic effects. However, PS and PA are not readily available in normal diets. The fact that the PA levels decreased dramatically during the menstrual-cycle study stands in sharp contrast to the increase observed in the PS levels. Thus, it would not be considered a reasonable assumption to extrapolate the effectivity of PS to PA in the treatment of PMS.
PMS has been shown (see Freeman et al., Obstetrics and Gynecology, May 2004, 103, 960-965) to have a direct correlation with menopause in the sense that women who suffer from PMS symptoms have a high likelihood of suffering later in life during the transition to menopause (known as perimenopause) as well.
With regard to magnesium, it is estimated that the binding of Mg (as Mg2+) to PA is at least ten times stronger than Mg to PS. Thus, in the presence of PS and PA, Mg would be expected to preferentially bind to PA; in isolation (i.e., given only PA and Mg), PA would be expected to scavenge and selectively bind any bio-available Mg.
It would be desirable to have compositions and methods for alleviating symptoms associated with perimenopausal and/or menopausal disorder and discomfort.

Compositions and methods for alleviating symptoms associated with perimenopausal and/or menopausal disorder or discomfort


A method for operating a fuel injection system for a vehicle is provided. In particular, the fuel injection system includes an injection nozzle having a nozzle body, a nozzle orifice and a nozzle needle movable in the nozzle body. The method including: measuring an actual injection timing of the injection nozzle during injection based on an electrical signal generated by the nozzle needle through an electric contact with the nozzle body so that the electrical signal identifies an open state and a closed state of the injection nozzle; calculating a deviation of the actual injection timing from a scheduled injection timing of the fuel injection system; and controlling the injection nozzle by adjusting injection parameters of the injection nozzle based on the evaluated deviation.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
Typically a performance of a diesel engine in terms of emission and combustion noise can be strongly influenced by a precision of a fuel injection metering of an engine management system operating one or several corresponding fuel injection nozzles. In particular, an accuracy of a small fuel injection quantity (e.g. smaller than two milligrams per stroke), a so-called pilot injection quantity, can be highly important.
In other words, a metering and timing achieved by a signal from a conventional electronic control module (ECM) and/or engine control unit (ECU) having a controlled beginning and a controlled period can be limited in its accuracy with respect to small injection quantities.
Furthermore, an actual behavior of the fuel injection nozzles may not correspond to a desired behavior, e.g. with respect to a timing of an injection and/or an amount of fuel per injection. This may be further emphasized by the fact that the technical properties of an injection nozzle may change during its operational life due to wear and similar.

Method for operating a fuel injection system of a motor vehicle and fuel injection system


A vehicle exhaust aftertreatment system for controlling emissions from an engine includes, in serial order: an exhaust outlet from the engine, an exhaust catalyst assembly that is in fluid communication with the exhaust outlet and includes a first NOx component coupled with a downstream oxidation catalyst, and a second NOx adsorber that is downstream from and in fluid communication with the oxidation catalyst of the exhaust catalyst assembly.

Internal combustion engines operate by the controlled combustion of hydrocarbon fuels and produce exhaust gases containing complete combustion products such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O), and incomplete combustion products such as carbon monoxide (CO) and unburned hydrocarbons (HC). Further, as a result of the very high temperatures produced by the burning of the hydrocarbon fuels, thermal fixation of nitrogen in the air results in the detrimental formation of nitrogen oxide compounds (NOx). Certain undesirable components of the exhaust, including hydrocarbons, soot particulates, CO, and NOx, must be controlled to meet government emissions regulations.
The quantities of pollutants generated by incomplete combustion varies with operating conditions of the engine but are influenced predominantly by the air-to-fuel ratio in the combustion cylinder. Conditions conducive to reducing carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbons, i.e., a fuel mixture just lean of stoichiometric and high combustion temperatures, cause an increased formation of NOx, and conditions conducive to reducing the formation of NOx, i.e., rich fuel mixture and low combustion temperatures, cause an increase in carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbons in the exhaust gases. As a result, within the region of stable operation of the internal combustion engine, significant amounts of CO, HC and NOx are emitted from the engine.
It is obviously desirable to reduce the emissions of a warmed up engine operating at high flow steady state conditions. However it is also very important to reduce the cold start emissions of the engine, which can be achieved by employing a fast light-off exhaust catalyst. When the vehicle is started, the catalyst can be heated to light-off temperature, using, for example, exhaust heating, injection of reformate, and heating of reformate using an in-exhaust burner.
Reformates are hydrogen-enriched fuels that can be produced from a variety of sources, including gasoline, diesel, and other liquid or gaseous fuels. On-board reformers for producing hydrogen-enriched reformate fuels are described in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,655,130 and 6,832,473 and U.S. Patent Appl. Publ. Nos. 2004/0146458 and 2005/0022450, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The vehicle exhaust aftertreatment system of the present invention, which is particularly suitable for use with a diesel engine, includes an exhaust catalyst that comprises a small volume NOx adsorber coupled with a small volume oxidation catalyst. This configuration of the exhaust catalyst enables it to be quickly heated to the temperature where NOx storage begins to occur, typically above 150° C., and then to light-off temperature, where the catalyst is able to convert the stored NOx to N2. This rapid storage and light-off also allows the amount of included precious metal to be reduced.


Disclosed are methods, apparatus and computer program products that provide an enhanced multi-SIM wireless communication device. For example, a method includes providing in a wireless communication device a protocol stack software component composed of a first native protocol stack software and a second native protocol stack software each comprising layer 1, layer 2 and layer 3 protocol stack functionality. The first native protocol stack software and the second native protocol stack software are each associated with a respective subscriber identity module and are independent of one another. The method further includes providing in the wireless communication device a common software component that includes protocol stack framework software elements, a hardware arbitration layer and a hardware adaptation layer. The method further includes linking the protocol stack software component and the common software component into a modem software executable capable of operation with hardware of the wireless communication device.

This section is intended to provide a background or context to the invention that is recited in the claims. The description herein may include concepts that could be pursued, but are not necessarily ones that have been previously conceived, implemented or described. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated herein, what is described in this section is not prior art to the description and claims in this application and is not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
A multiple subscriber identity module (SIM) communication device is one that can support simultaneous operation with two or more SIMs. For example, the communication device can have multiple parallel active calls simultaneously, with one call per SIM. One technique to implement this type of operation is to include more than one modem (modulator/demodulator) in the device and connect one SIM to each modem. In this context a modem can be considered to include digital baseband and radio frequency hardware, and modem software running on top of the hardware. However, having multiple independent modems in the device also increases the cost, which can be disadvantageous especially for consumer communication devices (e.g., cellular phones).

Multiple SIM support with single modem software architecture


A telecommunication system for transmitting cells through switching nodes (N1-3) interconnected by groups (LG12, LG23) of transmission links, each node including an asynchronous switching network (SN1-3) which comprises several switch elements. At least one of these switch elements possesses a routing group possibility whereby the cells are distributed over its outlets and so further over the different transmission links of the link group to which the switching network is connected. This distribution is performed in function of a self-routing tag which is derived from external routing data associated with the cell. At the input ports of either each or only the first switching network (SN1) of the system, the external routing data is translated in a self-routing tag which is for instance added to the header of the cell, while at the output ports of each or of only the last switching network (SN3) of the system respectively, the self-routing tag is removed from this header. Some switch elements possess a multicast possibility whereby the cells are transferred to several outlets thereof and thereby to several link groups to which the switching network is connected.

Such a telecommunication system wherein the switching nodes are, e.g., geographically distributed already exists in the art and the idea of distributing individual cells or packets over anyone of the available transmission links of a link group is already known as it appears for instance from the article "A High-Speed Packet Switch Architecture With A Multichannel Bandwidth Allocation" by K. Ohtsuki et al, published as paper 3A.2 of the Proceedings of Infocom '91, pages 0155 to 0162. However, a problem with such a known telecommunication system is to dynamically control the distribution of the cells over the transmission links in order to optimize the traffic load over the corresponding link group.
A possible solution to that problem is for instance to insert a cell distributor between the output ports of the switching network of the first switching node and the link group, and a complementary cell combiner between this link group and the input ports of the switching network of the second switching node. However, such interfaces (distributor and combiner) require additional hardware equipment and are complex to control in order to obtain the expected dynamic cell distribution.


Recombinant genomic clones encoding histamine H1, H2 and H3 receptors, recombinant H1, H2 and H3 receptors, and methods for obtaining these.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to genomic clones encoding histamine receptors, recombinant histamine receptors, and methods for producing said genomic clones.
2. Discussion of the Background
Histamine is one of the major determinants of gastric acid secretion. Through its three known receptor subclasses (H1, H2 and H3), histamine has been shown to exert a broad array of physiological activity, including mediation of allergic and anaphylactic responses (H1), modulation of cardiac contractility and systemic blood pressure (H1 and H2), and mediation of neural function in the central nervous system (H3).
Perhaps the best known activity of histamine involves its relationship to gastric acid secretion (H2 only). Antagonism of the histamine ligand at the H2 receptor has been the cornerstone of a current $3 billion market for pharmacological treatment of acid-peptic disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. The need, and potential market for the histamine H2 receptor clone is enormous because this receptor is presumed to be the primary mediator of gastric acid secretion. However despite a wealth of pharmacological information, little else is known about the structure of the histamine receptors.
H1 receptors are the mediators of many allergic reactions such as are caused by hay fever and antihistamines are in widespread use for treatment of symptoms resulting from allergies. Currently there are few, if any, histamine H1 selective antagonists and it is thought that availability of a gene encoding this receptor will greatly facilitate the development of compounds useful for the treatment of common allergies.
The function of the histamine H3 receptor subclass is currently unknown, except that it is present in the brain and its function may be related to general neural activity and possible cognitive function. The availability of a recombinant clone encoding the histamine H3 receptor gene obtained with the use of the histamine H2 receptor gene as a probe would permit the discovery of the function of the H3 receptor more thoroughly and possibly lead to therapeutically useful neuroactive compounds.
Currently there is no structural information on any of the subclasses of the histamine receptor. It is known that each subclass of histamine receptor is concentrated in a different type of cell. Pharmacological behavior corresponding to the H1 subclass is readily displayed in, e.g., smooth muscle and capillary cells, whereas the H2 subclass is associated with stomach cells, notably gastric parietal cells, and the H3 subclass is associated with neural cells.
There is an ongoing search to develop better and more effective histamine antagonists. The availability of the histamine H2 receptor gene will facilitate the development of such compounds. Moreover, the gene encoding this receptor, once obtained, can be utilized to isolate the also much needed genes encoding the two other major subclasses of histamine receptors (H1 and H3).

Recombinant genomic clone encoding the histamine H2 receptor, methods for production thereof, and protein produced therefrom

The Regents of the University of Michigan


A crucible (4) in a vacuum chamber (3) holds material to be evaporated, such as a metal or metal oxide or a mixture of a metal and a metal oxide, and a coating roll (6) guides a film web (8) a certain distance away from the material to be evaporated. A chamber (9, 10) is provided on each side of the coating roll (6) which carries the film web (8) past the crucible (4), a magnetron cathode (11, 12) connected to a medium-frequency source (19) being provided in each chamber. Each of the two chambers (9, 10) is connected by its own channel (13, 14) to a coating zone (20) directly between the coating roll (6) and the crucible (4), and each chamber (9, 10) is connected by a pressure line (21, 22) to a source (23, 24) of process gas.

The invention pertains to a vacuum coating apparatus with a crucible in a vacuum chamber for holding the material to be evaporated, such as a metal or metal oxide or mixture of the two, and with a strip of film guided by rolls a certain distance away from the material to be evaporated.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,302,208 discloses a vacuum coating apparatus with a container for material to be evaporated, with an evaporation device for evaporating the material in the container, the substrate to be coated being a certain distance away from the material to be evaporated. A microwave transmitter transmits microwaves into the space between the material to be evaporated and the substrate to be coated. This known apparatus makes it possible to improve the properties of a metal oxide coating on a plastic film.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,956,070 discloses an apparatus for depositing a thin film by sputtering, in which the rates at which layers of different materials are deposited can be controlled, so that extremely thin layer packages can be produced. For this purpose, at least two different types of counterelectrodes are provided on the cathode side.
DE 35 41 621 discloses an apparatus for depositing a metal alloy by means of HF sputtering, in which two targets are driven in alternation. Both targets contain the metal components of the metal alloy to be deposited but in different proportions. For the purpose of deposition, the substrates are mounted on a substrate carrier, which is rotated by a drive unit during the sputtering process.
DE 38 02 852 discloses an apparatus for coating a substrate, including two electrodes and at least one material to be sputtered, in which the substrate to be coated can be set up between and a certain distance away from the two electrodes, and the alternating current half-waves can be selected as low-frequency half-waves with essentially the same amplitudes.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,415,757 discloses an apparatus for coating a substrate especially with nonconductive layers from electrically conductive targets in a reactive atmosphere. A current source is connected to cathodes which enclose magnets and which are installed in an evacuatable coating chamber, the cathodes working together electrically with the targets. Two anodes separated electrically from each other and from the sputtering chamber are installed in a plane between the cathodes and the substrate. Each of the two outputs of the secondary winding of a transformer connected to a medium-frequency generator is connected to a cathode by way of a power feed line, the first and the second feed lines being connected to each other by a branch line, into which an oscillatory circuit, preferably a coil and a capacitor, are inserted. Each of the two feed lines is connected both to the coating chamber by way of a first electrical element which adjusts the d.c. potential with respect to ground and also to the respective anode by way of a corresponding second electrical element as well as to the coating chamber by way of a branch line containing a capacitor. A choke coil is inserted in the segment of the first feed line which connects the oscillatory circuit to the second secondary winding.
Finally, DE 44 12 906 discloses a method for ion-assisted vacuum coating, preferably for the high-speed coating of large, electrically conductive or electrically insulating substrates with electrically insulating layers and for coating electrically insulating substrates with electrically conductive layers. In this method, a plasma is generated between a coating source and the substrate, and ions from the plasma are accelerated toward the substrate. Voltage pulses alternating between negative and positive relative to the plasma, are applied to the electrically conductive substrate or to an electrode mounted directly behind the electrically insulating substrate and extending over the entire surface to be coated. The duration of the negative pulses is adjusted to the charging time of the capacitor being formed over the insulating layer and/or the insulating substrate, whereas the duration of the positive pulses is at most equal to, preferably 2-10 times smaller than, the duration of the negative pulses. The positive and negative pulses succeed each other without pause and are adjusted approximately to the same amplitude relative to the base potential. The amplitude of the pulses relative to the base potential is adjusted to .+-.20 to .+-.2,000 V, preferably to .+-.50 to .+-.500 V.
Transparent plastic films are being used to an increasing extent for the packaging of food products. The films primarily in question here are made of polymeric plastics, which, although they are flexible, suffer from the disadvantage that they are permeable to aromatic substances, water, and oxygen. When it is desired to prevent the diffusion of such substances, the general practice is to use aluminum foils or plastic films onto which a layer of aluminum has been deposited from the vapor phase. These have the disadvantage, however, that they are relatively difficult to dispose of and are not transparent to microwaves or light. Because of the widespread use of microwave ovens in many households of industrialized countries, it is often important for a packaging material to be transparent to microwaves.
To combine the advantages of plastic films, which are transparent to microwaves, with the advantages of aluminum foils, which form an impenetrable barrier to aromatic substances, water, and oxygen, it is already known that polymer films can be coated with oxides. Silicon oxide plays the most important role as a coating material for this purpose. The properties of plastic films coated with silicon oxide are similar to those of aluminum foil or aluminum-coated plastic film with respect to the structure of the laminate and the barrier behavior with respect to oxygen, water vapor, and aromas.
The coating of plastic films with metal oxides such as SiO.sub.x, however, requires a process technology which differs sharply from the conventional coating technologies, because metal oxides, in contrast to metals, must be evaporated from the solid phase.
SiO.sub.x layers are produced by evaporating SiO by the use of an evaporation furnace or by means of an electron beam (see T. Krug and K. Rubsam: Die neue "glaserne Lebensmittelverpackung" in Neue Verpackung, Huthig-Verlag, 1991). SiO.sub.x layers offer the advantage that they are more flexible. In addition, SiO.sub.x is also chemically inert and corrosion-resistant with respect to water. Because it has a relatively high vapor pressure, SiO can, like MgO, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, and SiO.sub.2, be evaporated by means of an electron beam.

Apparatus for coating a web on a rotating drum by plasma assisted vapor deposition


A vacuum cleaner system is mounted inside the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle and includes a hose that is retractable into a housing for storage and a power cord that is also retractable into the housing for storage and which also includes a connector for connecting the motor of the system to the power of the vehicle via a cigarette lighter receptacle of the motor vehicle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the general art of motor vehicles, and to the particular field of accessories for motor vehicles.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
It has been found that, in recent times, people are spending more and more time in their cars. It is not unusual for someone to spend several hours a day in his or her automobile. People spend hours commuting to and from work, running errands, driving children to and from school and after-school activities, and the like.
Spending so much time in a car makes cleanliness of the car an issue. This is especially true if children are in the car as the car may become cluttered. The possibility of cluttering the interior of the car increases as more time is spent in the vehicle. Likewise, the annoyance of such clutter generally increases as more time is spent in the vehicle.
Therefore, there is a need for a means to clean the interior of a motor vehicle.
Many car wash establishments provide vacuum cleaner systems, and people can carry their home vacuum cleaner to their car to clean the car when desired. While effective, these methods are inefficient and cumbersome, and may not even be available when the vehicle owner must clean up a spill or the like.
Therefore, there is a need for a means to efficiently clean the interior of a motor vehicle.
As mentioned above, presently available car cleaning systems are not always accessible when needed. For example, if a passenger in a motor vehicle spills food in the vehicle, it would be most efficient to be able to immediately remove that spilled food. However, presently, the vehicle generally must be driven to a location having vacuum cleaner equipment in order to clean that spill. This is inconvenient and cumbersome.
Therefore, there is a need for a means to efficiently clean the interior of a motor vehicle, no matter when or where the cleanup is effected.


The present specification describes a method for determining the distance of an object from the tip of an endoscope during an endoscopic procedure, wherein at least one lens is configured to converge light from outside the tip onto a sensor that includes a plurality of photodiodes a portion of which are adjacent pairs of photodiodes configured to be phase detection pixels. The method includes receiving light into each adjacent pair of photodiodes, wherein said light is reflected off a surface of said object; determining a first response curve to said light for a first photodiode of said adjacent pair of photodiodes and a second response curve to said light for a second photodiode of said adjacent pair of photodiodes; identifying an intersection between the first response curve and the second response curve; and using data derived from said intersection to determine said distance to the object.

Endoscopes have attained great acceptance within the medical community, since they provide a means for performing procedures, while enabling the physician to view the internal anatomy of the patient. Over the years, numerous endoscopes have been developed and categorized according to specific applications, such as cystoscopy, colonoscopy, laparoscopy, upper GI endoscopy among others. Endoscopes may be inserted into the body's natural orifices or through an incision in the skin.
An endoscope typically comprises an elongated tubular shaft, rigid or flexible, having a video camera or a fiber optic lens assembly at its distal end. The shaft is connected to a handle, which sometimes includes an ocular for direct viewing. Viewing is also usually possible via an external screen. Various surgical tools may be inserted through a working channel in the endoscope for performing different surgical procedures.
When using an endoscope, a common problem is to be able to maneuver the inspection end (distal end) of the scope and position it in proximity to the area of interest. This maneuvering is performed by a trained operator, who uses a combination of the visual inspection of images and tactile coordination to maneuver through the various twists and turns of a patient's GI system. The operator subjectively senses the resistance to maneuvers by the "feel" of the instrument and anticipates the amount of force necessary to advance the endoscope shaft forward. The application of force to the colon and its anatomic attachments can be painful. Particularly undesirable is the frequent occurrence of excessive contact pressure on an internal tissue, which can result in pain and in some cases in perforation.
In particular, the task of inserting the insertion section of the endoscope into the large intestine is a complex one, because the large intestine itself has a complex shape and further, the shape of the large intestine varies from patient to patient. Thus, while inserting and maneuvering the endoscope through the large intestine, precision is required. Also, adjustments are required in the insertion amount (distance travelled by the endoscope through the lumen) and the amount of force used, to achieve proper results in an endoscopic procedure.
Another disadvantage of existing endoscopes is their limited field of view. A limited field of view may not allow a physician to analyze an area under inspection in full detail. This in turn affects the rate of detection of pathological objects that exist in the body cavity in which the endoscope operates. For example, clinical literature shows that the average adenoma miss rate is over 24%. That is, the detection of cancer is missed in more than 24 of every 100 patients. Further, from a medical industry viewpoint, unless a physician is correctly identifying cancer in at least 20% of cancer patients, the average miss rate is considered higher than industry. Therefore, there is a need in the art for endoscopes that allow a broader field of view. One approach to achieving this purpose is described in U.S. Patent Publication No. 20110263938, assigned to the Applicant of the present specification, which describes the use of multiple cameras in a single endoscope and is incorporated herein by reference.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,742,309 entitled "Imagers with depth sensing capabilities" describes an imager that includes depth sensing pixels. The output image signals of each pair of depth sensing pixels depend on the distance from camera lens to object. An image depth signal may be calculated from the difference between the two output image signals of each pixel pair.
There is a need in the art for endoscopes that provide information to the physician about the distance travelled by the endoscope and the exact location of the distal tip inside the patient's lumen. This would not only assist the physician in performing the endoscopic procedure, but also help in quickly marking a spot where an anomaly is found. Additionally, there is need for endoscopes which can provide information about the size of an anomaly, such as a polyp, when found during the procedure, besides being capable of providing guidance to the physician regarding the scope path. There is also a need for methods and systems for ensuring that the length over which an object remains in focus, for a given viewing element, is consistent across the entire lens of that viewing element, so that objects of interest may be viewed clearly and precisely and without anomalies during an endoscopic procedure.

Endoscope with integrated measurement of distance to objects of interest


Disclosed is an ingot slicing wire guide around an outer face of which wires are wound. The guide has a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, and the outer face of the guide has a tilted face tilted at a predetermined angle in a direction from the first end to the second end.

A silicon wafer is widely used as a substrate for a semiconductor device.
Generally, among a series of processes to manufacture the silicon wafer, there is an ingot slicing process to slice an ingot grown with a given length by a growing process into plural pieces of single crystal silicon wafers.
There are various type methods for the ingot slicing process. Representative ingot slicing methods may include an ODS (Outer Diameter Saw) method to slice a single crystal ingot using diamond particles fixed to an outer diameter region of a thin film, an IDS (Inner Diameter Saw) method to slice a single crystal ingot using diamond particles fixed to an inner diameter region of a doughnut-shape thin film, and a WS (Wire Saw) method to slice an single crystal ingot using frictions generated between the ingot and an abrasive slurry applied to wires such as piano wires having high tensile strength while a slurry solution is being sprayed onto running wires. Among these methods, the wire saw method forms plural pieces of single crystal silicon wafers at the same time, thus being widely employed and increasing yield rates of the wafers per unit time.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional wire saw apparatus.
The conventional wire saw apparatus, as shown in FIG. 1, includes a mounting block 110 to fix an ingot 112 using a beam 114 therebetween, wire guides 120 disposed under the ingot 112, around outer faces of which wires 122 are wound with a regular interval or pitch, and slurry supply nozzles 130 to supply a slurry 132 to the wires 122.
One surface of the beam 114 is adhered to the mounting block 110 using an organic bonding material such as epoxy therebetween. The other surface of the beam 114 is adhered to the ingot 112 using another organic bonding material therebetween. Next, by curing the two organic bonding materials, the mounting block 110, beam 114 and ingot 112 are adhered to one another.
While the mounting block 110 and thus the ingot 112 fixed thereto are loaded to the wire saw apparatus, the ingot 112 begins to be sliced.
The wires 122 are wound around the outer faces of the wire guides 120 disposed under the ingot 112 with a regular pitch. The pitch between the wires 122 may determine the number and thickness of resulting sliced wafers.
The slurry supply nozzles 130 are disposed above the wires 122 to supply the slurry 132, which contains abrasive grains, thereto. Therefore, when the ingot 112 fixed to the mounting block 110 moves and comes into pressure contact with the running wires 112, the ingot 112 is sliced by the abrasive grains applied to the running wires 112.
However, the conventional wire saw apparatus has the following downsides.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the wire guide 120 of the conventional wire saw apparatus. FIG. 3 illustrates cut traces formed when slicing the ingot using the conventional wire saw apparatus.
The wire guide may be stretched or expanded by heat generated from the conventional wire saw apparatus when slicing the ingot 112. Referring to FIG. 2, the wire guide 120 may be stretched in a direction from a first proximal end 120a proximal to a support 126 to support the wire guide 120 to a second distal end 120b distant from the support 126.
Accordingly, as seen from the cut traces A to C shown in FIG. 3, as the sliced faces of the ingot 112 are located more closely to the second end 120b, the corresponding curvatures of the sliced faces, in particular, those of initially-cut portions of the sliced faces, become larger. As a result, nano-topography of a polished wafer is deteriorated.
In other words, at an initial time, the ingot 112 fixed to the mounting block 110 comes into pressure contact with the wire guide 120 around which the wires 122 are wound in a state in which the wire guide is not stretched. However, at later time, the ingot 112 comes into pressure contact with the wire guide 120 in a state where the wire guide is stretched toward the second end 120b side due to heat generated when the ingot 112 is being sliced while coming into pressure contact with the wire guide 120. Therefore, curvature of a cut trace C of the ingot 112 at the second end 102b side becomes larger.
Accordingly, there is a need to improve wafer quality by controlling expansion or stretching of the wire guide 120 so as to prevent the sliced faces of the ingot 112 from being curved.

Wire guide, wire saw apparatus including the same, and method for slicing ingot using the same


Provided is a terminal device configured to communicate with a base station device, the terminal device being configured to: transmission power for transmission of a physical uplink shared channel in a subframe belonging to a first subframe set, based on a first parameter and a third parameter relating to power control adjustment; set transmission power for transmission of a physical uplink shared channel in a subframe belonging to a second subframe set, based on a second parameter and a fourth parameter relating to the power control adjustment; reset a value of the third parameter in a case that accumulation is enabled, and a random access response is received; and reset a value of the third parameter in a case that the accumulation is enabled, and a value of the first parameter is changed.

In communication systems approved by Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), such as Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) (a registered trademark), Long Term Evolution (LTE), and LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), or in communication systems approved by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), such as Wireless LAN and Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), a base station device (a cell, a first communication device (a communication device that is different from the terminal device), or an eNodeB) and a terminal device (a mobile terminal, a mobile station device, a second communication device (a communication device that is different from the base station device), or user equipment (UE)) each include multiple transmit and receive antennas, and spatial-multiplex a data signal and realize high-speed data communication by using a Multi Input Multi Output (MIMO) technology.
In the communication system, in order to realize the data communication between the base station device and the terminal device, the base station device needs to perform various control processes on the terminal device. For this reason, the base station device notifies the terminal device of control information using a predetermined resource, and thus performs the data communication for downlink and uplink. For example, the base station device notifies the terminal device of resource allocation information, data signal modulation and coding information, information about the number of spatial multiplexing in the data signal, transmit power control information, and the like, and thus realizes the data communication.
The communication system supports Time Division Duplex (TDD). LTE that employs a TDD scheme is also referred to as TD-LTE or LTE TDD. TDD is a technology that makes downlink and uplink communication possible in a single frequency band (a carrier frequency or a component carrier) by time-division multiplexing an uplink signal and a downlink signal. In LTE, with pre-setting, the downlink and the uplink can be switched on the subframe basis. Moreover, in TDD, a subframe (a downlink subframe, or a subframe reserved for downlink transmission) on which the downlink transmission is possible, a subframe (an uplink subframe, or a subframe reserved for uplink transmission) on which the uplink transmission is possible, and a guard period (GP) are provided, and thus for the downlink transmission and the uplink transmission, a subframe (a special subframe) is defined that is switchable in a time domain (a symbol region). Moreover, in the special subframe, the time domain on which the downlink transmission is possible is referred to as a downlink pilot time slot (DwPTS), and the time domain on which the uplink transmission is possible is referred to as an uplink pilot time slot (UpPTS).
For example, in a case where a subframe i is the downlink subframe, the terminal device can receive the downlink signal that is transmitted from the base station device, and in a case where a subframe j that is different from the subframe i is the uplink subframe, the terminal device can transmit the uplink signal from the terminal device to the base station device. Furthermore, in a case where a subframe k that is different from the subframe i or the subframe j is the special subframe, the downlink signal can be received in the time domain DwPTS of the downlink, and the uplink signal can be transmitted in the time domain UpPTS of the uplink (NPL 1). Furthermore, in order to perform communication in compliance with a TDD scheme in LTE or LTE-A, notification is provided with a special information element (TDD UL/DL configuration (TDD uplink-downlink configuration(s)), TDD configuration (tdd-Config or TDD config), or UL/DL configuration (uplink-downlink configuration(s))). The terminal device regards a certain subframe as any of the uplink subframe, the downlink subframe, and the special subframe, and can perform transmission and reception processing based on information that is notified. Furthermore, a configuration (lengths of the DwPTS, the UpPTS, and a GP within the special frame) of the special subframe is defined by multiple patterns, and is managed using a table. The multiple patterns are associated with their respective values (indexes) and the value is notified, and thus the terminal device performs processing of the special subframe based on the pattern that is notified.
Furthermore, it is considered that according to traffic (an amount of information, an amount of data, or an amount of communication) of the uplink and traffic (an amount of information, an amount of data, or an amount of communication) of the downlink, a traffic adaptive control technology that changes a ratio between an uplink resource and a downlink resource is applied to TD-LTE. For example, it is considered that a ratio between the downlink subframe and the uplink subframe within 10 subframes is changed dynamically. As this method, a flexible subframe that is adaptively switched between the downlink subframe and the uplink subframe is considered (NPL 2). The base station device can perform reception of the uplink signal or transmission of the downlink signal on the flexible subframe. Furthermore, as long as the base station device does not instruct the terminal device to transmit the uplink signal on the flexible subframe, the terminal device regards the flexible subframe as the downlink subframe and can perform reception processing. Furthermore, in some cases, TDD in which the ratio between the downlink subframe and the uplink subframe, the subframes for the uplink and the downlink, or the TDD UL/DL (re-) configuration is changed dynamically is referred to as dynamic TDD (DTDD).
The communication system is a cellular communication system in which an area is divided in the cellular pattern into multiple areas, each covered by the base station device. Furthermore, a single base station device may manage multiple cells. Furthermore, a single base station device may manage multiple remote radio heads (RRH). Furthermore, a single base station device may manage multiple local areas. Furthermore, a single base station may manage multiple heterogeneous networks (HetNets). Furthermore, a single base station device may manage multiple low power base station devices (low power nodes (LPNs).
In the communication system, the terminal device can measure a reference signal received power (RSRP) based on a cell-specific reference signal (CRS) (NPL 3).
In the communication system, communication may be performed using a carrier (a component carrier) that is defined in LTE and to which one portion of a physical channel or signal is not allocated or mapped. At this point, such a carrier is referred to as a new carrier type (NCT). For example, a cell-specific reference signal, a physical downlink control channel, a synchronization signal (a primary synchronization signal or a secondary synchronization signal) may not be mapped in the new carrier type. Furthermore, it has been considered that a physical channel (a physical discovery channel (PDCH) or a new discovery signal (NDS)) for performing mobility measurement and time/frequency synchronization detection is introduced in a cell for which the new carrier type is set (NPL 4). Moreover, in some cases, the new carrier type is also referred to as an additional carrier type (ACT). Furthermore, in some cases, in contrast to the NCT, a known carrier type is also referred to as a legacy carrier type (LCT).

Terminal device, method, and integrated circuit


Sulfur-contaminated aromatic nitro compounds are hydrogenated in the presence of a chrominum-containing Raney cobalt catalyst to corresponding primary amino compounds which are useful as intermediates for photographic dye-forming couplers and for other purposes.

To synthesize aromatic primary amino compounds a desirable method is to hydrogenate corresponding aromatic nitro compounds in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst. For some of these reactions a wide selection of catalysts is available. A problem arises, however, if the precursor composition, i.e., the aromatic nitro compound, contains sulfur. Even a small amount of sulfur as a contaminant or as a component of the precursor will quickly inactivate the catalyst or, as commonly stated, will poison it.
To remove sulfur that may be present in the precursor composition is expensive and often ineffective since even small amounts of unremoved sulfur will still poison the catalyst. This has been an obstacle to the economical synthesis of certain aromatic amino compounds which are used for making dye-forming couplers for color photography inasmuch as their precursor nitro compounds are made from sulfur-containing compounds. Although the pure nitro compounds themselves contain no sulfur, the reaction product in which they are obtained, unavoidably contains substantial amounts of sulfur which is extruded from sulfur-containing precursors. Even with careful recrystallization, the purified nitro compound may contain from 500 to 50,000 parts by weight per million (ppm) of sulfur, calculated as elemental sulfur. The sulfur may be present as elemental sulfur or as sulfur compounds. In either event the sulfur will poison the types of catalysts which have heretofore been considered to be sufficiently active and selective for hydrogenating nitro-substituted aromatic compounds to corresponding primary amines.


Patterned surfaces for the selective adhesion and outgrowth of cells are useful in cell culture devices, prosthetic implants, and cell-based microsensors. Such surfaces may be prepared by a deep ultraviolet photolithographic technique.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to patterned ultra-thin films (UTF) for the selective adhesion and outgrowth of cells and a method for producing such films. The present invention also relates to devices which contain such ultra-thin films, such as body implants or prosthetics, cell culture apparatus, and cell based sensors.
2. Discussion of the Background
It is well known that the morphological and functional development of adherent types of biological cells is critically dependent on, among other factors, the physical and geometrical properties of the underlying substrate. The effects of the substrate adhesivity, in particular, on these developmental processes have been vigorously investigated during recent years. However, substrates which are either unmodified, or completely remodified with only a single type of substrate coating have been used almost exclusively.
In many situations, the ability to influence and/or monitor a variety of intra- and intercellular processes using substrate geometry requires that the adhesive properties of that substrate be defined with a spatial resolution of cellular or subcellular dimensions (10 .mu.m to less than 1 .mu.m). For example, substrate patterns designed to spatially direct the adhesion and outgrowth of cells on the surfaces of sensor devices, prosthetic implants, and tissue repair templates are desired.
Several methods have been devised which might conceivably be used for the fabrication of substrate patterns used in the above-mentioned applications. The earliest reported methods rely on definition of a selectively adhesive substrate pattern by mechanically removing cell-repulsive phospholipid films or evaporated gold from cell-adhesive glass substrates (Ivanova et al, Nature, Vol. 242, p. 200 (1973)); and Cooper et al, Exp. Cell Res., Vol. 103, p. 435, (1976)) or by masked evaporation of cell-adhesive silicon monoxide onto polystyrene surfaces (Albrecht-Buehler, J. Cell Biol., Vol. 80, p. 53 ( 1980 ) ). However, these methods suffer from drawbacks due to the instability of phospholipid films, the difficulty associated with the physical removal of thin coatings, and the limited number of materials which may be deposited by evaporation. More importantly, these methods are limited by their reliance on the native adhesive properties of unmodified regions of the substrates.
Other methods have been introduced to create substrate patterns which are based on molecular recognition between the cell surface and bulk protein films on the substrate. Hammarback et al. have shown that the outgrowth of dissociated chick embryo dorsal root ganglion neurons occurs on substrates which are defined using patterned UV irradiation to selectively denature cell-adhesive laminin films (Hammarback et al, Jour. Neurosci. Res., Vol. 13, p. 213 (1985)). An alternative method is to adhere neurons to laminin which has been selectively adhered to regions of albumin films which have become crosslinked by patterned UV exposure (Hammarback et al, Devel. Biol., vol. 117, p. 655 (1986)). Although the development of most neurites is noticeably affected by the substrate patterns, a significant percentage (10-20%) of the plated cells initially adhere to and at least partially develop on the UV-denatured laminin regions.
Recently, pure UTFs of cell adhesion peptides (Arg-Gly-Asp and Try-Ile-Gly-Ser-Arg) have been formed by covalent linkage to silane-modified glass surfaces (Massia et al, Anal. Biochem., vol. 187, p. 292 (1990)), providing a much better defined system for cell adhesion. In this case, the adhesion is affected by known chemical functionalities which are present on the surface as a monolayer.
Silane films are anchored to the silicon substrate by chemical and physical adsorption, which may involve siloxane (Si--O--Si) bridges or van der Waals forces. Any substrate having a terminal ionizable hydroxyl group at the surface can provide an anchorage for the silane film. This procedure of using self-assembling films involves covalent bond formation between the monolayer and the substrate whereby the film adheres to the substrate more strongly than physisorbed Langmuir-Blodgett films.
The potential for producing high resolution patterns of silane-coupled UTFs has been demonstrated by Kleinfield et al., Jour. Neurosci., vol. 8, p. 4098 (1988). In this method, a conventional photoresist is photolithographically patterned and used to mask silicon and quartz substrate regions. The cell adhesivity of the exposed substrate is reduced by formation of a patterned UTF of covalently attached n-tetradecane. Removal of the photoresist and subsequent recoating of the previously masked regions with EDA produces high resolution (10 .mu.m line-space pairings) regions having completely different cell adhesivities.
Photoresist-defined UTFs have been used to very effectively to define both the initial adhesion and outgrowth of a heterogeneous mixture of cells (various types of glial cells and neurons) from the fetal rat cerebellum (Klienfeld et al, Jour. Neurosci., Vol. 8, p. 4098, ( 1988 ) ). The photoresist-based UTF patterning process is important because it demonstrates that the entire substrate surface may be modified in the same molecular plane with high resolution, alternating UTF films having a desired two-dimensional architecture. However, the technique has significant drawbacks, the most notable of which is the number of steps required for fabrication due to the adhesion, polymerization, development, and stripping of the photoresist (18 steps are reported in Klienfeld et al, Jour. Neurosci., Vol. 8, p. 4098
Another method has been developed recently for the formation of orthogonal UTFs, (Laibinis et al, Science, Vol. 245, p. 845 ( 1989 ) ). In this method, high resolution monolayer patterns are formed by the selective adsorption of alkanethiols on gold and alkane carboxylic acids on alumina. Selective cell adhesion has not been demonstrated on substrates prepared by this method. However, a large number of chemical functionalities should be compatible with this method, making it a possible fabrication technique for high resolution cell adhesive patterning. A significant limitation of the technique is that only hydrophobic UTF films may be formed on alumina (Laibinis et al, Science, Vol. 245, p. 845
U.S. Pat. No. 4,832,759 describes the use of "surface discontinuities" to at least partially define cell adhesion in zones having a width of between 0.2 and 20 .mu.m. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,591,570 and 4,011,308 describe the use of patterns or arrays of antibody-coated spots for specific immunoabsorption of cells to optically-sensitive surfaces. U.S. Pat. No. 4,562,157 describes the photo-induced activation of adhered chemical species so that chemical functionalities and proteins may be covalently attached to "BIOCHEMFET" devices. However, this work does not address the problem of nonspecific absorption of proteins.
At least one biosensor has been developed which optically measures the metabolic activity of immobilized cells (Parce et al, Science, Vol. 246, p. 243 (1989)). However, groups of cells, not individual cells, are "immobilized" by gravitational sedimentation into micromachined silicon wells.
U.S. patent applications Ser. Nos. 07/022,439 filed Mar. 6, 1987 and 07/182,123 filed Apr. 14, 1988 disclose a method for preparing high resolution patterns of metals on solid substrates, by irradiation of an adherent thin film with deep ultraviolet (DUV) irradiation. However, there is no suggestion of patterned substrates for the selective adhesion and outgrowth of cells.
Thus, there remains a need for patterned ultra-thin films for the selective adhesion and outgrowth of cells which are free of the above-mentioned drawbacks. There also remains a need for a method producing such films and devices, such as body implants, cell culture apparatus, cell sensors, and neural prostheses, which utilize such ultra-thin films.

Deep ultraviolet photolithographically defined ultra-thin films for selective cell adhesion and outgrowth and method of manufacturing the same and devices containing the same

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


A circuit for filtering glitches that corrupt a digital input signal includes an enable path input with the digital signal and a reset signal. The enable path generates a corresponding active output signal when the reset signal is null and the digital signal assumes a logic active value, or a null output signal when the reset signal is asserted. The circuit also includes a delay line producing an internal signal as delayed replica of the output signal. The circuit further includes a disable path enabled or disabled by the internal signal, which receives the digital signal and, when enabled, asserts the reset signal when the digital signal becomes null.

In digital devices located in the presence of relatively slow and/or noisy voltage ramps of input signals, due for instance to the use of pull-up transistors or to synchronization errors, spurious switching of a digital signal may occur. These undue switchings cause spurious pulses, hereinafter called "glitches", that may compromise the proper functioning of the device.
To address this problem, input buffers with hysteresis are used. In some cases, this is not sufficient because the hysteresis is limited by specifications on the minimum voltage VIL and maximum voltage VIH, and, therefore, an excessively strong noise that may corrupt an input ramp jeopardizes the effort.
Similarly, the use of an RC filter connected at the output of the input filter, ensures only the filtering of glitches of a duration shorter than the response time of the filter. Moreover, it acts on both (leading and trailing) edges, thus it delays the acknowledging of the logic level of the input signal.
Clocked circuits for filtering glitches are disclosed in the literature. An example of such a clocked glitch filter is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,535,057 and depicted in FIG. 1. This approach is burdened in general by the drawback of requiring a high frequency clock signal for obtaining the desired response. Moreover, the glitch filter is unsuitable for asynchronous applications.
Circuit architectures functioning without a clock signal have also been proposed. FIG. 2 shows a glitch filter disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,392,474. In this known circuit, the noise input to the delay line 11 is filtered on one of the two branches of an SR latch. The latch is realized in a manner that will make it reliable even under a "Single Event Upset", that is, it will correctly retain the current state even in presence of external events (radiation, electrical interference) that could make the latch switch. In this case, an input pulse lasting slightly longer than the delay introduced by the delay line 11 could cause an output glitch.
The circuit for filtering glitches illustrated in FIG. 3 and described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,670,832 addresses this problem. The external POR command forces the output signal OUT in an initial pre-defined state whatever is the logic level of the input PWM signal. When the POR command is not asserted, the logic values of the PWM signal cause the generation or not of pulses from the blocks ONE SHOT, which are transmitted through the filtering circuit to the flip-flop FFDR, that samples the input PWM signal in correspondence with the output edges of the logic gate 139.
The drawback of this known filtering circuit is that the output may be incoherent with the input if the input signal switches while the pulse is generated. Moreover, the filtering circuit has a relatively complex architecture.

Method and circuit for filtering glitches


A water discharge module for semi-conductor exhaust treatment apparatus includes a discharge pipe having a curved pipe body and two orifices respectively connected to a reaction chamber of the module and a bottom end of a posterior filter tank; a water discharge pipe communicating with a central bottom end of the discharge pipe; and two annular nozzles disposed at the two nozzles of the discharge pipe. The nozzles spray water mist inwardly towards the interior of the pipe body. Due to the curved configuration of the pipe body and the nozzles spraying inwardly, there are no dead corners or spots in the pipe body so that exhaust can flow smoothly downwardly and waste water carrying particulates can also flow smoothly downwardly to the water discharge pipe for discharge.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a water discharge module for semi-conductor exhaust treatment apparatus, and more particularly to a water discharge module which ensures that no dead corners or spots are formed in the water discharge module to obstruct smooth flow of exhaust and waste water.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 1 shows a conventional water discharge module structure of a semi-conductor exhaust treatment apparatus. It essentially comprises a substantially L-shaped discharge pipe seat A connected between a front reaction chamber B1 of the module and a bottom end of a posterior filter tank B2; two water nozzles C1, C2 connectably guided by a fluid duct C3 to a center position between two connecting ends of the discharge pipe seat; and a water discharge pipe communicating with a bottom portion of a lower end of the discharge pipe seat. By means of the above structure, particulates carried in the waste water and water soluble exhaust may be washed down by water spray from the water nozzles during passage through the discharge pipe seat and be discharged along the water discharge pipe end. Although such conventional water discharge module structure can basically accomplish its effects, it has various drawbacks.
With reference to FIG. 2, the L-shaped discharge pipe seat has right-angled corners which may easily become dead corners for air flow. The particulates carried in the waste water and water soluble exhaust will then easily accumulate at the dead corners and finally block the pipeline. Besides, that section of the fluid duct C3 passing through the discharge pipe seat and the water nozzle C1 accommodated therein may also interfere with the smooth flow of air currents to a certain extent, which indirectly leads to the accumulation of particulates.

Water discharge module for semi-conductor exhaust treatment apparatus


Bypass network traffic records are generated for a web application. Sufficient statistics of network optimization parameters are calculated for network performance categories. The bypass network traffic records are partitioned for the network performance categories into network traffic buckets. Sufficient statistics and the network traffic buckets are used to generate network quality mappings. The network quality mappings are used as training instances to train a machine learner for generating network optimization policies to be implemented by user devices.

Access service networks are very volatile and diverse. Link conditions may vary in different access service networks and different locations. Metrics such as latency, jitter, throughput, and losses are hard to bound or predict. The diversity comes from the various network technologies, domain name services, plethora of devices, platforms, and operating systems in use at the various locations of the access service networks.
Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) plays an important role in the content delivery business: it provides a reliable, ordered, and error-checked delivery of a stream of octets between applications running on hosts communicating by an IP network. Major Internet applications, such as the World Wide Web, email, remote administration, and file transfer, rely on TCP. Numerous parameters may be used in TCP to help in ordered data transfer, retransmission of lost packets, error-free data transfer, flow control, and congestion control. However, identifying an optimal data value for a single TCP parameter based on changing network characteristics remains a challenge.
The approaches described in this section are approaches that could be pursued, but not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, it should not be assumed that any of the approaches described in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue of their inclusion in this section. Similarly, issues identified with respect to one or more approaches should not assume to have been recognized in any prior art on the basis of this section, unless otherwise indicated.

Machine learning based end to end system for TCP optimization


An improved system of transverse connectors for fixing the relative alignment of spinal rods in an osteosynthesis apparatus which can accommodate variations in the divergence and skew of the spinal rods and arch along a connector. In one embodiment of the invention a rotating hooked connector includes a shaft which is rotatably and slidably securable within a shaft receiving bore in a base hooked connector. Hooked ends of the connectors are secured to the spinal rods. Once a desired alignment of the rotating hooked connector is established relative to the base hooked connector to accommodate the orientation of the spinal rods, the alignment of the two connectors is fixed utilizing a set screw threadingly advanced into engagement with the shaft through a threaded bore in the base hooked connector. In an alternative embodiment the hooked end of the rotating hooked connector is connected to shaft thereof by a flanged screw such that the pivotal relationship of the shaft and hooked end is adjustable until the flanged screw is tightened to fix the pivotal relationship. In another embodiment, the shaft receiving bore of the base connector extends through a pivot mount which is pivotally mounted to a support arm of the base connector.

The present invention relates to improvements in transverse connectors for use in making connections between two spinal rods that are placed along a patient's spine during spinal osteosynthesis procedures.
Surgically implanted spinal osteosynthesis apparatus often includes a pair of rods which are secured along at least a portion of the spine on opposite sides thereof by a system of hooks, bone screws including sacral screws and pedicle screws and transverse connectors for the purpose of stabilizing and adjusting spinal alignment.
Although in a preferred system the spinal rods would be in parallel alignment, the rods are seldom parallel in practice. Placement of the rods in a skewed alignment is often necessary to produce the desired corrective or supporting forces on the spine. In practice the rods may be co-planar but not parallel or may be non co-planar. In some instances the rods are non co-planar and transversely divergent. Each of these non parallel configurations produces difficulty with respect to the joining of connectors to the rods, since rod receiving heads of the connectors are most stable when they join perpendicular with respect to the rods. If the rods themselves are not parallel, the connectors cannot form the most stable juncture with the rod, if the connectors are straight and cannot be bent to the most suitable configuration for joining. In addition the location of spinal processes sometimes requires that a connector have an arch that is adjustable to just clear the spinal process such that the connector does not protrude further rearward of the spine than is necessary. Preferred transverse connection systems will readily permit variations in the alignment of the rods while providing fast securement resistant to slipping or dislocation.


An electrochemical device comprises a stack consisting of a plurality of electrochemical units which succeed one another along a stack direction and which each include a membrane electrode arrangement, a bipolar plate and at least one sealing element, at least one medium channel which extends along the stack direction, a flow field through which a medium can flow from the medium channel to another medium channel, and a connection channel through which the flow field and the medium channel are in fluid connection with one another, wherein the sealing arrangement includes a connection channel region in which the sealing arrangement crosses the connection channel, and at least one neighboring region which is located in front of or behind the connection channel region in the longitudinal direction of the sealing arrangement, wherein the sealing arrangement has a lower average height in the connection channel region than in the neighboring region.

In the case of known electrochemical devices of this type, the area of the electrochemical device through which flows a medium such as a fuel gas, an oxidizing agent or a cooling agent for example is sealed with respect to areas which are filled with another fluid medium when the electrochemical device is operational, or, with respect to a space surrounding the electrochemical device by sealing elements which are of substantially unaltered cross section over their entire sealing length.
When using metallic bipolar plates, the sealing elements are usually mutually offset in a direction running perpendicularly to the stack direction in the region of the connection channels between the medium channels and the flow fields of the electrochemical device, i.e., the sealing elements do not coincide over the entire sealing length—as viewed in the stack direction. This staggered arrangement of the sealing elements makes it difficult to evenly distribute the loads effective on the seals. Furthermore, due to the staggering of the sealing elements in certain areas, it is necessary to provide an edging foil or reinforcement foil at the edge of the electrochemically active membrane electrode arrangement since the mutually offset sealing elements are not capable of defining an edge of the electrochemically active region. Such an edging or reinforcement foil has to be applied in an additional process step.
In another known embodiment, the sealing element is guided around the medium channel on that side of the bipolar plate on which a connection channel is located between the medium channel and a flow field, and a sealing element separating the medium channel from a flow field is only arranged on the other side of the bipolar plate. In this case however, a support or a reinforcement of the sealing element for which there is no counterpart on the other side of the bipolar plate is then required, thereby entailing more complex constructional solutions. Furthermore, in this known embodiment too, the sealing lines of the sealing elements succeeding one another in the stack direction no longer overlap each other completely.