A universal frame for providing a hands free, stable base for ophthalmic measurements comprising a first adjustable ear piece and a second adjustable ear piece, and a measuring instrument detachably connected with the universal frame for exopthalmos and enopthalmos measurements.

(1) Field of the Invention
This invention is related to an instrument used in the field of opthalmology and plastic surgery and, more particularly, it relates to ophthalmic instruments that are used for measuring the exopthalmos and the enopthalmos of the eyes.
(2) Description of Related Art
As the prior art FIG. 1A illustrates, the eyeball 100 is located in a boney socket (the eye socket) 102 that protects the eyeball 100 from trauma. The space inside the eye socket 102 is generally known as the "orbit," which contains fat and connective tissues that support the eyeball 100 and its external attachments such as vessels, nerves, muscles, etc. Exopthalmos (or "proptosis") is the abnormal protrusion of the eyeball 100 from the orbit (anterior displacement) due to exopthalmogenic diseases that cause the swelling of the orbital content, resulting in the protrusion of the eyeball 100 out of the eye socket 102. Enopthalmos is the backward (or posterior) displacement of the eyeball 100 into the orbit, which may be caused by, for example, fracture of the eye socket 102.
Opthalmometers are used extensively to measure the amount of exophthalmia and enophthalmia in patients. Opthalmometry of the eyeball position in the orbit facilitates the diagnosis of exophthalmic and or enophthalmic conditions within patients, which is particularly important for patients having orbital disease that can cause exopthalmogenic or enopthalmogenic conditions. For example, progression of the proptosis in a patient with dysthyroid eye disease could be a sign of activity of the disease and may indicate urgent treatment, while, in the stable phase of the disease accurate measurement of the amount of proptosis is important in making the decision for surgery and planning for the amount of correction.
In general, the eyeball position along the anterior-posterior axis of the eyeball is measured by the distance (or orbital distance) 104 between the lateral orbital rim 106 (the outer edge (or the profile) of the eye socket 102) and the corneal apex 108 (the front surface of the eyeball 100). That is, the distance 104 is measured from the lateral orbital rim 106 to a vertical frontal facial plane 109, which is tangent to the corneal apex 108 and perpendicular to the anterior-posterior axis. It should be noted that although the superior orbital rim (not shown) has also been used as a reference point for opthalmometric measurements (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,379,079 to Kratky), it is generally not as reliable of a reference point for opthalmometric measurements compared to the use of lateral orbital rim 106.
There are generally three types of opthalmometric measurements, including absolute, comparative, and relative opthalmometry. The absolute opthalmometry measures the degrees of exophthalmia and or the enophthalmia, and compares this measurement with a known normal value (e.g., an average on a chart). The comparative opthalmometry measures the exopthalmos and or the enopthalmos, but compares the resulting measurements with a previously taken set of measurements in the same eye. In relative opthalmometry the exopthalmos and or the enopthalmos measurements of the right and the left eyes are compared with each other.
As is illustrated in the prior art FIG. 1B, it is possible to perform opthalmometry to determine the exopthalmos and or the enopthalmos by using an ordinary transparent ruler 110. The base of the rule 110 is placed on the margin of the lateral orbital rim 106 and the corneal apex 108 is visualized through the transparent ruler (with the eye of the patient looking straight ahead), then a reading of the measurement is taken. However, if the ruler 110 is tilted to any one of the sides indicated by the directional arrows 112 or the examiner moves or the line of sight of the examiner is not exactly perpendicular to the ruler 110, the readings of the measured displacement of the eyeball 100 (the orbital distance 104) would not be accurate. This produces an error commonly known as the parallax error, which is the apparent displacement, or difference in the apparent position of the eyeball, caused by actual change (or difference) of position of the point of observation (by the examiner).
One of the most widely used opthalmometric instruments is the HERTEL exopthalmometer, which is used to measure the eyeball position. The HERTEL exopthalmometer is composed of two mirrors at each side that overlap the image of the corneal apex on the image of a scale and allows the examiner to perform the measurements while standing in front of the patient. It is a binocular instrument that rests on each lateral orbital rim and allows an observer in front, with the aid of the mirrors, to view images of the corneal apex of the two eyes as seen in profile, superimposed upon a millimeter scale. A measurement is obtained of the relative distance of the apex of the cornea from a zero reference point, i.e., an imaginary horizontal line in a plane parallel to the front of the patient's face uniting the lateral orbital rims.
Large footplates (or bases) and lack of a mechanism to ensure proper resting of the footplates on the lateral orbital rims makes the HERTEL exopthalmometer prone to error in measuring the eyeball position. As examiner's both hands are engaged, holding the instrument next to the patient's face, it is generally not possible to ensure that HERTEL exopthalmometer footplates are resting properly on the lateral orbital rims on each side. Further more, even if the footplates are properly rested on the lateral orbital rims, there is no mechanism to ensure that they are placed symmetrically at equidistance from each orbital rim. When the HERTEL exopthalmometer is parallel to the coronal plane but is displaced to the left or right, asymmetrical placement of the footplate will result in under-reading in both sides as the medially displaced footplate does not sit properly on the lateral orbital rim. However, if the instrument is not parallel to the coronal plane the result would be under-reading of the medially displaced side only, and the reading of the other side will depend on the direction of the rotation of the instrument at horizontal plane.
Freedom of rotation along the horizontal plane (joining the right and the left lateral orbital rims) is another source of opthalmometric errors when using the HERTEL exopthalmometer. The horizontal rotation of the instrument can occur when the examiner applies less pressure on the left or the right lateral orbital rim to rest the footplates of the HERTEL exopthalmometer, especially if either one of the lateral orbital rims is tender, are asymmetrical, or have asymmetric swelling of soft tissues, or are fractured. The rotation at horizontal plane results in under-reading of the side that HERTEL exopthalmometer is rotated towards, and over-reading of the other side.
It has been found that parallax errors are eliminated when the distance between the lateral orbital rim and the anterior-posterior position of the eyeball (the orbital distance) is approximately about 20 mm. However, when this distance differs, it has been found that the images of the corneal apex and the ruler overlap properly only when the sighting line of the examiner is at the right angle to the frontal plane. In other words, movement of the examiner to the right or left, while looking at the image of the apex of the cornea, introduces parallax error. Given the fact that the above distance varies among different people and considering the practical difficulties of proper placing of the footplates, which can increase or decrease the distance between the footplate and the anterior-posterior axis of the eyeball, there is a considerable chance of parallax error with HERTEL exopthalmometer.
Leudde exopthalmometer (illustrated in the prior art FIG. 1C) is another less widely used opthalmometric instrument. Leudde exopthalmometer is a thick transparent (rectangular-cube) ruler that has two exactly similar scales on two opposing sides, along the length of the rectangular-cube. When Leudde exopthalmometer is placed over the lateral orbital margin, the examiner must view the anterior-posterior positional axis of the eyeball by overlapping the two scales in each side of the instrument by moving to the left or right of the instrument so that the scales on either side overlap and look as a single scale. This way, the line of sighting of the examiner would become perpendicular to the instrument. Regrettably, any inward or outward (lateral movement), or any type of tilting of the instrument would cause parallax error.
The Naugle exopthalmometer is yet another opthalmometer that is similar to the HERTEL exopthalmometer, but it uses the superior and inferior orbital rims for measuring the anterior-posterior positional axis of the eyeball, instead of the lateral orbital rim. In addition, the Naugle exopthalmometer may also be used for measuring most vertical deviations of the eyeball. Although the superior and inferior orbital rims have been used by a few other researchers, studies have shown that they are more asymmetrical and less reliable than lateral orbital rims as reference point for measurement. However, the Naugle exopthalmometer is superior to HERTEL in fractures of orbit that involve lateral orbital rim and in cases for patients that have had surgical removal of the lateral orbital rim.
The British patent 655,787 to Copper discloses an opthalmometric instrument that is used for measuring the resistance encountered in forcing the eyeball back into the orbit or eye socket, with such resistance affording the oculist data concerning the consistency and other qualities of the intra-orbital tissues. The opthalmometric instrument taught by Copper also enables measurement of exopthalmos or protrusion of the eye along the anterior-posterior axial displacement of the eyeball.
The Copper instrument includes two metal strays 3 of seemingly equal length at a right and a left side of the instrument, that couple with a headband at one end (proximal to the eye), and a flat metal strip cross bar 1 at the other end (distal from the eye). The proximal ends of the strays 3 coupled with the headband rest on the right and the left orbital rims, simultaneously, while the distal ends thereof are coupled with the cross bar 1 via a set of nuts 5. The cross bar 1 and the metal strays 3 form a "frame" for the patient to be worn during examination. The use of headband to secure the instrument on a patient's face while the measuring instrument (dynamometer) touches the eyeball is not practical in that the headband itself may slip, tilt, move, or not be placed or oriented properly, causing a possible injury to the eye during examination. Further, the use of seemingly equal length metal strays 3 will result in erroneous measurement of the degree of exopthalmos on patients with asymmetrical lateral orbital rims.
Unfortunately, present constructions of instruments do not provide a particularly accurate opthalmometric measurements (or readings) in that they depend on the position of the person using the instrument (the examiner), and indeed, any slight movement of the examiner, the patient, or the instrument itself can lead to incorrect and unsafe examination of the eyes. Therefore, in light of the current state of the art and the drawbacks to current instruments mentioned above, a need exists for an apparatus and a method that would mitigate these problems. In particular, a need exists for an apparatus and a method that would provide a stable base or frame for opthalmometric measurements, obviate parallax errors, and be safe to use.

Apparatus and method for ophthalmometery


A safer and more decorative bench system comprising a plurality of ends, a seat supported by the ends, and a lighting system for providing illumination is provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to the field of benches.
2. Description of Related Art
There are many designs of benches well known in the art. However, there remains room for improvement upon current bench designs. For example, some benches are used outdoors at night or in otherwise poorly illuminated spaces where the user of the bench may not be able to visually inspect the bench before sitting on the bench. Also, some benches have decorative elements. In poorly lit conditions, the decorative elements are not fully appreciated. While there are many benches well known in the art, considerable room for improvement remains.


The present invention provides methods and systems for microseismic hydraulic fracture monitoring in real-time. The methods and systems of the present invention may include continuous map migration of recorded microseismic signals. The methods and systems provide robust automated simultaneous detection and location of microseismic events.

In order to improve the recovery of hydrocarbons from oil and gas wells, the subterranean formations surrounding such wells can be hydraulically fractured. Hydraulic fracturing is used to create small cracks in subsurface formations to allow oil or gas to move toward the well. Formations are fractured by introducing specially engineered fluids at high pressure and high flow rates into the formations through the wellbores. Hydraulic fractures typically extend away from the wellbore 250 to 750 feet in two opposing directions according to the natural stresses within the formation.
The fracture fluids are preferably loaded with proppants, which are usually particles of hard material such as sand. The proppant collects inside the fracture to permanently "prop" open the new cracks or pores in the formation. The proppant creates a plane of high-permeability sand through which production fluids can flow to the wellbore. The fracturing fluids are preferably of high viscosity, and therefore capable of carrying effective volumes of proppant material.
Recently, there has been an effort to monitor hydraulic fracturing and produce maps that illustrate where the fractures occur and the extent of the fractures. Current hydraulic fracture monitoring comprises methods of processing seismic event locations by mapping seismic arrival times and polarization information into three-dimensional space through the use of modeled travel times and/or ray paths. Travel time look-up tables may be generated by modeling for a given velocity model. A typical mapping method is commonly known as the "Non-Linear Event Location" method. Non-linear event location has been used historically to locate macro seismic events such as earthquakes, and is described, for example, at http://geoazur.unice.fr/PERSO/lomax/nlloc/. This and other equivalent methods are referred to herein as non-linear event location methods.
The non-linear event location methods involve the selection and time picking of discreet seismic arrivals for each of multiple seismic detectors and mapping to locate the source of seismic energy. However, to successfully and accurately locate the seismic event, the discrete time picks for each seismic detector need to correspond to the same arrival of either a "P" or "S" wave and be measuring an arrival originating from the same microseismic or seismic event. During a fracture operation, many hundreds of microseismic events may be generated in a short period of time. Current techniques employed in the industry require considerable human intervention to quality control the time picking results. It can often take weeks from the time of recording and detecting the microseismic events to produce accurate maps of the event locations. Even so, the result, which requires human interaction and interpretation, can lead to multiple and non-reproducible solutions.
Therefore, current methods of real-time monitoring and modeling of fracture growth are typically based on pumping and pressure data, which provides very limited information concerning the geometry of fracture growth. There is a need for microseismic event detection and location that can be implemented in real time and enable an operator to adjust hydraulic fracture parameters during the fracture job.

Microseismic event detection and location by continuous map migration


An apparatus and method for altering characteristics, such as can include structural, magnetic, electrical, optical or acoustical characteristics, of an electrically-conductive workpiece utilizes a magnetic field within which the workpiece is positionable and schemes for thermally treating the workpiece by heating or cooling techniques in conjunction with the generated magnetic field so that the characteristics of the workpiece are effected by both the generated magnetic field and the thermal treatment of the workpiece.

This invention relates generally to the treatment of material for altering characteristics of the material and relates, more particularly, to the means and methods for treating such materials.
The material-treatment processes with which this invention is to be compared include those which are carried out for the purpose of altering and thereby improving characteristics (such as can include structural, magnetic, electrical, optical or acoustical characteristics) of the material being treated. Such processes (e.g. annealing processes) can involve the treatment of materials at temperatures which are less than the melting temperature of the material being treated so that characteristics, such as the strength, durability or hardness, of the material are advantageously affected by the treatment.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved apparatus and method for treating materials to alter characteristics of the material.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such an apparatus and method which can be used to achieve properties in a material which have not heretofore been obtainable.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide such an apparatus and method which can employ thermal treatment of the material, yet require less input energy than do many conventional thermal treatment processes.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such an apparatus and method which can be efficiently utilized to process materials over a relatively broad range of material applications.
A further object of the present invention is to provide such an apparatus and method whose principles can be used in commercial applications which might require large quantities of materials whose characteristics are desired to be altered.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide such an apparatus which is uncomplicated in structure, yet effective in operation.

Thermal and high magnetic field treatment of materials and associated apparatus


Provided are methods and apparatus for mitigating traffic loss by using advanced traffic engineering services in a multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) network and/or a generalized multiprotocol label switching (GMPLS) network. Provided is an exemplary method that includes measuring, at a network element, energy utilization of at least one of a line card and a switch fabric card that are configured to carry a traffic engineering (TE) capable link, as well as converting the energy utilization measurement to a normalized energy consumption indicator for the at least one of the line card and the switch fabric card. Further, based on the normalized energy consumption indicator, a route of a label switched path in the MPLS network is optimized so the route avoids the at least one of the line card and the switch fabric card. The provided methods and apparatus advantageously improve throughput, reliability, and availability of MPLS and GMPLS services.

During constrained path calculation or path re-optimization processes, conventional MPLS- and GMPLS-based traffic engineered transport services use link bandwidth, service expenses, and delay/jitter as traffic engineering (TE) link metrics. However, hardware components of TE routers and switches (e.g., a network processing unit, a control central processing unit, a hub, a peripheral component interconnect bridge, a memory management unit, a dynamic read only memory, an in/out controller, a micro-controller, a flash device, a field programmable gate array, a switch fabric, a backplane, and an optical connector) along a label switched path (LSP) can consume electrical energy to a point of being overloaded and thus emitting excessive heat. When the routers and switches generate excessive heat, an associated the cooling system (e.g., a fan) also accelerates in an effort to control the rising temperature. In some cases, the cooling system may not be able to reduce the temperature below a safe point, leading to malfunctioning of hardware components in a packet forwarding data path. When the hardware components malfunction, the data path malfunctions, causing data traffic drops, traffic mis-forwarding, and/or loss of traffic.
Thermal effects on data traffic that can result in traffic drops, traffic mis-forwarding, and/or loss of traffic are not conventionally considered a TE link metric, and are not used for constrained path calculation of traffic engineered label switched paths (TE-LSPs). Thus, the impact of these thermal effects is not conventionally considered in evaluating the performance, reliability, and availability of transport LSP services in MPLS and GMPLS traffic engineered networks.
Accordingly, there are long-felt industry needs for methods and apparatus that improve upon conventional methods and apparatus, including methods and apparatus that mitigate thermal effects on data traffic using advanced traffic engineering services in a MPLS network and/or a GMPLS network.

Energy efficient and energy-managed traffic engineering services in multiprotocol label switching and generalized multiprotocol label switching networks


A process for forming via openings (24) between two aluminum-containing interconnects (15) which includes removing a veil material (22) formed during etching of an insulating layer (12), where the veil material (22) is then removed by a combination process of a first dry etch followed by an aqueous organic solvent exposure. The first dry etch uses oxygen containing and fluorine-containing gases, and is performed during the resist removal. This combination process effectively removes the veil (22), even for the heaviest of veil formation, without adversely affecting the insulating layer (12) or the underlying interconnect (15) that includes aluminum. The temperature of the aqueous organic solvent may be reduced, decreasing the amount of volatile organic compound emissions from the solvent while maintaining solvent strength.

Many semiconductor devices typically require at least two levels of interconnects that typically contain aluminum or an aluminum-containing alloy. During the formation of a via opening, which is a contact opening that is formed between two interconnect levels, a veil material can be formed along the sides of the via opening. More specifically, during the via etch, the oxide or other insulating layer is etched until the aluminum-containing material within the lower interconnect is exposed. This process forms a veil material that typically includes aluminum, the insulating material, and compounds from the photoresist. Removing this veil material has proven to be extremely difficult as the veil needs to be removed without excessively etching the insulating layer or causing adverse reactions with the underlying aluminum-containing layer.
An attempt to address the prior art problem has been to use fluorine and water vapor during ash processing to try to remove the veil. This process does not effectively remove the veil reproduceably for a manufacturing environment. Wet chemical processing has also been used, however, the presence of fluorine-containing solvents are likely to attack the insulating layer too much and any chemicals used to remove aluminum within the veil would attack the aluminum within the interconnect. Use of organic solvents has been commonly used within the semiconductor industry. However, the use of solvents by themselves has proved insufficient as heavily veiled via openings are not adequately cleaned using an organic solvent clean alone.

Process for forming a semiconductor device


A storage device and access method for performing hierarchical coding without the need for employing a circuit for a line delay, in addition to a memory for storing an image. An address providing circuit provides a 9-bit horizontal address and a 9-bit vertical address, as an address, to a first layer memory while providing, to a second layer memory, higher order eight bits of the horizontal address and the vertical address without respective least significant bits. As a result, at the timing each of the pixels in the first layer is written on each of addresses (2s,2t), (2s+1,2t), (2s,2t+1) and (2s+1,2t+1) in the first layer memory, the same address (s,t) in the second layer memory is accessed. Taking advantage of this, a read-modify-write circuit determines the sum of storage values at addresses (2s,2t), (2s+1,2t), (2s,2t+1), and (2s+1,2t+1) in the first layer memory and writes the sum onto the address (s,t) in the second layer memory.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a storage device and an access method and, more particularly, to a storage device and an access method which are preferably used in hierarchical coding which divides an image into a plurality of layers having different numbers of pixels.
2. Description of the Related Art
In one of available coding methods, a high-definition image (bottom hierarchical or first layer data) is used to form image data of a second layer having a smaller number of pixels, the second layer image data is then used to form image data of a third layer having a smaller number of pixels, and this process is repeated until image data of top layer is formed. Such a coding method is called a hierarchical coding, in which image data of each layer is presented on a monitor in accordance with respective definition (the number of pixels). A user thus watches the image data by selecting the image data, which matches the definition of the user's own monitor, out of the hierarchically coded image data.
The image data of one definition is treated as the bottom hierarchical (first) layer image data to form image data of higher layers sequentially. When all of these data are stored and transmitted as they are, extra memory capacity and extra data transmission capacity for the higher layer image data are additionally required compared with the case when the bottom layer image data only is stored or transmitted.
The inventors of this invention have already proposed a hierarchical coding method to restrict an increase in the memory capacity.
For example, suppose now that the sum of four pixels of 2.times.2 (rows.times.columns) is treated as a higher hierarchical pixel (a pixel value) in a hierarchical coding of three layers. Referring to FIG. 9A, 8.times.8 pixels are now considered as an image of the bottom hierarchical layer, and the sum m0 of the top left four pixels, 2.times.2 pixels, h00, h10, h01, and h11 is computed, and the sum m0 is then treated as the top left pixel in a second layer. In the same way, the sum m1 of the top right four pixels h20, h30, h21, and h31, the sum m2 of the bottom left four pixels h02, h12, h03, and h13, and the sum m3 of the bottom right four pixels h22, h32, h23, and h33 in the bottom hierarchical layer are respectively computed, and these sums are respectively treated the top right, the bottom left and bottom right pixels in the second layer. The sum q0 of the four pixels m0, m1, m2, and m3 as 2.times.2 pixels in the second layer is similarly computed, and this sum is treated as a pixel of an image in the top hierarchical layer.
If the pixels h00 through h33, m0 through m3, and q0 are all stored, the extra memory capacity for storing the pixels m0 through m3 in the second layer and the pixel q0 in the third layer will be additionally required.
Referring to FIG. 9B, the pixel q0 in the third layer is positioned, for example, in place of the bottom right pixel m3, out of the second layer pixels m0 through m3. The second layer is thus constructed of the pixels m0 through m2 and q0.
Referring to FIG. 9C, the pixel m0 in the second layer is positioned, for example, in place of the bottom left pixel h11, out of the first layer pixels h00, h10, h01, and h11, all these used to determine the pixel m0 in the second layer. Similarly, the remaining pixels m1, m2, and q0 in the second layer are substituted for the pixels h31, h13, and h33 in the first layer. Although the pixel q0 is not directly derived from the pixels h22, h32, h23, and h33, the pixel q0 is substituted for the pixel m3 which is directly derived from these pixel, and the pixel q0 is thus positioned instead of the pixel m3 in place of the pixel h33.
In this way, referring to FIG. 9C, the total number of pixels is 16 of 4.times.4 pixels, and remains unchanged from the number of pixels in the bottom hierarchical layer shown in FIG. 9A. An increase in the memory capacity is thus prevented.
The pixels m3 and h33, replaced with the pixel q0, and pixels h11, h31 and h13, respectively replaced with the pixels m0 through m2, are decoded as follows.
Since q0 is the sum of m0 through m3, equation q0=m0+m1+m2+m3 holds. The pixel m3 is determined from equation m3=q0-(m0+m1+m2).
m0 is the sum of h00, h10, h01 and h11, equation m0=h00+h10+h01+h11 holds. h11 is thus determined from equation h11=m0-(h00+h10+h01). Similarly, h31, h13, and h33 are determined. h33 is determined after the determination of m3.
In the above hierarchical coding, a delay circuit for line delay of the first layer pixel (pixel value) was conventionally required besides a general-purpose memory for storing the hierarchical coding results (such as SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) or DRAM (Dynamic RAM)).
For example, referring to FIG. 9C, equation m0=h00+h01+h02+h03 needs to be computed to determine the pixel m0 in the second layer, and to determine the pixel m0 in the second layer, pixels h00, h10, h01, and h11 distributed over two lines are needed, and the supply of the image data to the memory is performed sequentially from top to bottom according to the unit of one line. The writing and reading of the image data to and from the memory is also performed according to the unit of one line.
For this reason, to compute m0, the line starting with h00 needs to be delayed by one line to wait for the line starting with h01, and the line starting with h00 and the line starting with h01 need to be written onto the memory.
Besides the memory for storing the hierarchical coding results, the delay circuit for line delay of the image data is conventionally required, causing the device to be bulky.

Storage device for storing hierarchically coded data and access method thereof


An outboard motor and particularly an improved protective cowling for an outboard motor that provides a very simple air inlet but one which is effective in preventing the passage of water to the interior of the protective cowling and for separating and draining water from the inducted air. The drained water is returned directly to the atmosphere. The air inlet system for the protective cowling is formed by only two members so as to facilitate a simple and low cost construction.

This invention relates to a cowling structure for a marine propulsion engine and more particularly to an improved protective cowling for the power head of an outboard motor.
As is well know, it is the normal practice in outboard motors to contain the powering internal combustion engine in a protective cowling which will insure that the engine and its auxiliaries do not become wet and subject to corrosion. However, it is also necessary to provide atmospheric air to the engine for its combustion. A wide variety of air induction systems have been proposed for outboard motors which serve the main purpose of providing copious air flow to the engine for combustion but also for separating water from the inducted air so that the water cannot be drawn with the inducted air into the interior of the protective cowling where it could contaminate the engine and cause corrosion and other problems.
However, the types of air ducts proposed previously have required at least one portion that has a relatively small effective opening area so as to reduce the emanation of noises from the engine back to the atmosphere. When such small openings are provided, the water which may be entrained in the air tends to condense on the surface surrounding the opening. The restricted opening causes the air flow to accelerate and thus the condensed water is again swept back into the air stream and can find its way into the protective cowling. Thus, it is necessary to provide some drain in the lower portion of the protective cowling that permits water to drain from the area around the engine.
In addition to these problems, the protective cowling has been formed with a labyrinthine type of construction so as to cause the air flow to have to turn through several directions so as to further assist in water separation. However, these types of devices further cause the likelihood of condensed water to be trapped in the protective cowling and again swept into the air stream. In an addition, these complicated configurations are very expensive to manufacture and/or require multiple pieces for the protective cowling.
It is, therefore, a principal object to this invention to provide an improved protective cowling structure for an outboard motor.
It is a further object to this invention to provide an improved and simplified air inlet system for an outboard motor protective cowling which will separate water from the inducted air and which will also permit the separated water to drain away from the interior of the protective cowling and back to the atmosphere.
It is a further object to this invention to provide an improved and simplified air inlet device for the protective cowling of an outboard motor.

Cowling structure for marine propulsion engine


In a brake control system for yaw control in a vehicle, the conditions for starting a brake operation are that the absolute value of a deviation between a target yaw rate determined in a target yaw rate determining device and an actual yaw rate detected by a yaw rate detecting device is equal to or greater than a preset deviation value and that the absolute yaw rate is equal to or greater than a preset value. The wheel brake for an outer wheel, during turning of the vehicle, is operated by the yaw control system based on the deviation between both the yaw rates. However, brake control does not occur when both of the yaw rates are the same in direction and are large. Thus, yaw control is conducted immediately when necessary, but the conduction of unnecessary yaw control is avoided, thereby reducing the frequency of the brake operation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a brake control system for a vehicle and particularly, to a brake control system for a vehicle, in which yaw control can be performed by operation of the vehicle brakes.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a prior art brake control system, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-70561, a wheel brake for an outer wheel during turning of the vehicle, is operated in order to prevent the vehicle from becoming unstable due to external disturbances, such as variations in the friction coefficient of a road surface, a crosswind or a rut in the road.
In the known brake control system, however, when the deviation between a target yaw rate and an actual yaw rate is increased, a yaw control by the brake operation is started, and the brake operation may be started when it is unnecessary. In other words, when a counter steering is applied, yaw control is unnecessary, but the brake operation is started in response to an increase in the deviation between the target yaw rate and the actual yaw rate.
In the above known brake control system, the wheel brake for the outer wheel during turning of the vehicle, is operated in accordance with the deviation between the target and actual yaw rates. However, when the directions of the target and actual yaw rates are the same as each other, it is necessary to apply a large counter moment, whereas when the directions of the target and actual yaw rates are opposite from each other, a relatively small counter moment may be applied as a result of a partial offset of moments due to the opposite turning direction. If the control of the brake operation is conducted merely in accordance with the deviation, the yaw control is not adapted for the operational state of the vehicle.


A graft suspension device for suspending a ligament in a bone hole having a first loop and a second loop suspending from an 8-hole anchor, and a cradle at the opposite end of the loops to the anchor. The loose ends of the suture are routed through holes in the anchor separate from the loops and are joined together to form a single tail. A finger loop allows a surgeon to adjust the distance of the cradle from the anchor with the cradle staying centered with respect to the anchor as the distance is adjusted.

Sports injuries are increasingly common, such as when tissues such as ligaments or tendons tear or detach from bone. Surgical techniques have been developed to reconstruct such soft tissues and to re-attach them to the relevant bone. One of the most common types of such injuries is the tearing of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the knee. The ACL connects the femur to the tibia at the center of the knee joint. Reconstruction of such tissues generally involves replacement with a graft, such as autologous or artificial tendon.
One method of graft fixation within the femoral tunnel involves the use of a fixation device on the anterolateral femoral cortex which is attached to the graft by means of sutures or tapes. The ligament anchor may be threaded through a femoral tunnel formed through the femur from the center of the knee. Sutures are attached directly to the fixation device on the outside of the femur above the knee the graft is looped through the suture before passing out of the femoral tunnel and being secured to the tibia.
One particularly important issue in the grafting operation is the formation of the suture loop attached to the fixation device, over which the graft is passed. Rigid suture loops require that the end surgeon have an inventory of multiple sizes of rigid loops depending on the size of the bone tunnel. Rigid loops also require an extra 3-5 mm of tunnel depth in order to maneuver the fixation device during the surgical procedure. Adjustable loops, on the other hand, require movement of the suture loop around the fixation device, causing abrasion to the attached graft. Concerns about adjustable loops inadvertently lengthening after graft fixation also exist.


An exercise apparatus comprises a frame having a base and an apex. A least one pivot is connected to the frame for supporting a swinging arm. The opposite end of the arm supports a seat for an exercising athlete, and optional weights. The frame supports a force plate opposed to the seat. The seat and the force plate are connected by elastic members, such as bands, that bias the seat toward the force plate. The athlete develops reversal strength by extending his legs to bound from the force plate, then stopping the resulting forward motion at a predetermined joint position before rebounding again.

Absolute muscle strength is one goal of a strength-training program, of course. Other training goals are also important, such as endurance, flexibility, and speed. In particular, development of explosive strength, or jumping ability, is important for all sports. This ability is not well developed with conventional peak-contraction training, which keeps continuous tension on the fully contracted muscle. Another training goal, especially for sports, is to overcome the so-called bilateral deficit. The bilateral deficit is the difference between the maximal effort that can be developed with one arm (or leg) and two arms (or legs) working together. For example, persons generally cannot exert a force during a two-arm effort that is twice that of the one-arm maximal effort.
Plyometric training is the field of strength training intended to increase the reversal strength of subjects. Plyometric training achieves its effects by taking advantage of the energy stored in contracted muscle. Such training can also be used to train individuals to overcome the bilateral deficit.
A muscle develops its maximum force during a rapid eccentric contraction. An "eccentric contraction" occurs when a muscle is forced to lengthen due to the high external load, although it may be fully activated. "Contraction" in this context does not necessarily imply shortening. Contractions that permit the muscle to shorten are referred to as "concentric contractions." In concentric contractions, the force generated by the muscle is always less than the muscle's maximum. Of course, muscles seldom perform one type of contraction in isolation during athletic movements.
If a muscle is stretched, energy is stored by the elastic components of the muscle. This stored energy is available to the muscle only during a later contraction. When a concentric contraction occurs immediately following an eccentric contraction, then the force generated can be dramatically increased. This increase in force is lost if the eccentric contraction is not followed immediately by a concentric effort. To express this greater force the muscle must contract within the shortest time possible. This whole process is frequently called the stretch shortening cycle and is the underlying mechanism of plyometric training. Plyometric training places increased stretch loads on the working muscles. As the muscles become more tolerant to the increased loads, the stretch-shortening cycle becomes more efficient.
Prior-art training machines are primarily devoted to developing high strength through the peak-contraction principle. There is a need for a training apparatus that will allow athletes who are already strong to develop reversal strength, especially through a large range of motion.


Methods for cementing in a subterranean zone, which use a cement composition that includes zeolite, cementitious material, proportioned fluid loss control additives and a mixing fluid. Cement compositions containing proportioned fluid loss control additives, and methods of making cement compositions containing proportioned fluid loss control additives.

The present embodiment relates generally to methods and cement compositions for cementing in a subterranean zone, and more particularly, to cement fluid loss control additives, cement compositions containing the additives, and methods of using the cement compositions.
Hydraulic cement compositions are commonly utilized in subterranean well completion and remedial operations. For example, hydraulic cement compositions are used in primary cementing operations whereby strings of pipe such as casings and liners are cemented in well bores. In performing primary cementing, a hydraulic cement composition is pumped into the annular space between the walls of a well bore and the exterior surfaces of a pipe string disposed therein. The cement composition is permitted to set in the annular space, thereby forming an annular sheath of hardened substantially impermeable cement therein, which supports and positions the pipe string in the well bore and bonds the exterior surfaces of the pipe string to the walls of the well bore. Hydraulic cement compositions are also utilized in remedial cementing operations such as plugging highly permeable zones or fractures in well bores, plugging cracks or holes in pipe strings, and the like.
Fluid loss control agents are used in cement compositions to reduce fluid loss from the cement compositions to the permeable formations or zones into or through which the cement compositions are pumped.

Fluid loss additives for cement slurries


A method and apparatus for encoding expanded memory specification addresses and the bankselect signals associated therewith is disclosed. A 13th bit is provided and stores information as to the bankselect for the 12 bits of the expanded memory specification address. When the expanded memory specification register is accessed, the foregoing 13th bit is also retrieved and decoded to provide the proper bankselect decode signal.

When microcomputers were introduced, as little as 16 Kbytes of memory resided in the central processing units. Eventually, a fully expanded 8-bit processor offered 64 Kbytes of addressable memory, which was very adequate for users needs. The subsequent development of personal computers resulted in computers having typically ten times the system memory of the foregoing microcomputers and employing a powerful disk operating system (DOS) which was quickly recognized as the standard of the industry. One of the basic limitations of DOS is that it operates within the 1 megabyte limit with no capability for utilizing memory beyond this limit. In order to solve the problems associated with this memory limitation, expanded memory specification (EMS) was developed. The 1 megabyte address space was divided into random access memory from 0 to 640 Kbytes leaving 384 Kbytes of memory remaining. This 384 Kbyte portion of memory was divided into six equal portions of 64 Kbytes of memory each referred to as A, B, C, D, E and F for their hexadecimal representations. These portions of memory are typically used for various purposes. For example, portions E and F are reserved for BIOS ROM memory, while video adapters and other interface adapters are placed into other portions. Expanded memory specification (EMS) utilizes three of these portions, i.e., portions C, D, and E. Basically, EMS translates an address below 1 Mbyte into memory above 1 Mbyte, thus bypassing the foregoing DOS limitation. A problem arises, however, in that the prior art approaches for accessing and decoding EMS bankselect signals have inherent time delays resulting in the system operating at a lower clock frequency. In those cases where the accessing and decoding operations could not be accomplished rapidly enough, the prior art solution was to disallow EMS at fast clock speeds or to force start delays.
Because of the inherent time delays associated with prior art approaches for accessing and decoding EMS signals, it has become desirable to develop a system for decoding bankselect signals in EMS systems which minimizes such delays and which can be operated at high frequencies, such as 33 megahertz, within a complex memory map structure.

Look-ahead circuit for fast decode of bankselect signals in EMS systems


Water soluble graphene oxide nanoparticles (GO) are provided having graphene sheets containing carboxylic and hydroxyl groups. The diameter of the GO when present in a closed form ranges from about 40 nm to 120 nm. Eco-friendly methods are provided for producing the GO. Methods for reversible encapsulation of a molecule within water soluble carbon nanoparticles (wsCNP) including the GO nanoparticles are provided that allow for delivery of the wsCNP loaded with therapeutic and/or imaging agents to a subject in need by releasing the therapeutic/imaging agent upon an increase in pH above about 7.2. The wsCNP have been shown to cross the blood brain barrier in a mouse model of vascular dementia, and methods are provided for delivering the wsCNP loaded with a therapeutic and/or imaging molecule to the brain.

Synthesis of graphene oxide (GO) from graphite is dominated by the classic method introduced by Hummers1, which comprises various oxidizing agents in corrosive oxidizing acid mixtures.2,3 In a recent study, GO has been produced from anthracite coal by treating with concentrated nitric acid in the absence of oxidizing salt mixtures to achieve quantum graphene oxide.4 The disclosed prior art methods produce graphene oxide by oxidative treatment of carbon. Further, the size of GO produced using prior art methods lies in two extremes (i.e., micrometer-sized particles when produced from graphite and less than 20 nm in size when produced from anthracite coal).
Nanoparticle-based compositions have been developed as vehicles for parenteral delivery of genes, proteins, and drugs that enter the brain by nasal insufflations (International Patent Application Publication No. WO 2013/040295). Particularly, the nanoparticles target the divalent metal transporter expressed on olfactory nerve terminals to transport divalent cation-coated or cation-containing nanoparticles to all regions of the brain. However, these nanoparticles suffer from the limitation of requiring pegylation for solubility.
Pericyte cells in a healthy brain play a crucial role in the functionality of the selective permeable space between the blood circulatory system and central nervous system (i.e., the blood-brain barrier ("BBB")). The BBB regulates brain homeostasis and includes sealed endothelial cells that line the blood vessels that selectively permit the entry of necessary molecules to pass into the brain through tight junctions and enzymatic carriers. The BBB is the greatest impediment preventing the use of diagnostic or therapeutic probes to be carried out by blood in combating neuronal disorders and/or to arrest the growth of tumors inside the brain. Particularly, pericyte cells create tight junctions that protect vesicle trafficking through the endothelial cells and inhibit the effects of CNS immune cells. In addition, pericytes act as contractile cells that assist in controlling and/or regulating flow within blood vessels and/or between blood vessels and the brain.
Moreover, the elasticity of pericyte cells allows expansion to reduce inflammation, thus allowing harmful substances to be diffused out of the brain. Pericyte dysfunction is associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Accordingly, pericytes are an important component of the neurovascular unit that contributes to the integrity of the BBB. CADASIL (Cerebral Autosomal Dominant Arteriopathy with Subcortical Infarcts and Leukoencephalopathy) is one of the most common small vessel diseases and is a major contributor of vascular dementia in humans. Primarily, CADASIL is believed to be caused by the Notch3 mutation. Recently, ultra-structural changes in pericytes have been shown in CADASIL. A murine model of CADASIL (R169C; Tg88 by overexpression of mutated transgene) is now available.
Thus, it would be beneficial to provide nanoparticle compositions of intermediate size, and methods of producing the nanoparticles. Further, it would be beneficial to provide non-toxic compositions capable of delivering therapeutic and imaging agents across the BBB.

Nanoparticle compositions and methods of making and using the same


The present invention is a holographic reconstruction device for reconstructing successive holograms previously recorded by a recording reference beam in a recording medium, each previously recorded successive hologram being spaced apart a recording displacement. The recording reference beam has a recording wavelength in the range where the recording medium is photosensitive and a recording propagation angle. The device comprises a reconstruction mechanism having a reconstruction reference beam with a reconstruction wavelength in the range where the recording medium is relatively photo-insensitive and a reconstruction propagation angle. The reconstruction reference beam is provided onto the recording medium. Also, a succession of relative displacements in the recording medium is produced and each of the displacements are equal to the distance of the recording displacements with which the holograms were previously recorded. In addition, a detection device detects reconstruction of the previously recorded holograms at the reconstruction wavelength.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to holographic memories, holographic storage systems and holographic processors.
2. Background Art
The traditional advantages of 3-D holographic memories are high storage density and parallel access capability. These features were recognized in the early 1960's and serious efforts towards the practical implementation of such memories were undertaken. Unfortunately, these efforts did not produce commercially viable memories. In recent years there has been a resurgence of interest in 3-D optical storage due to a considerable improvement in the understanding and availability of storage media, a dramatic improvement in optoelectronic components in general, and most importantly, the emergence of applications, such as image processing, neural networks, and data bases where the capabilities of these memories can be effectively utilized. This recent activity has culminated in the storage of 10.sup.4 320.times.220 pixel holograms in a volume roughly equal to 2 cm.sup.3. If spatial light modulators with 1 million pixels are used, then the storage density achievable today is in excess of 10.sup.9 bits per cm.sup.3.
Volume holograms are usually recorded using angular, wavelength, phase code, and spatial multiplexing. In addition, peristrophic multiplexing, a holographic technique that applies to either thin or thick (3-D) media, was recently introduced. Any of these methods, or certain combinations of them, can be used to multiplex holograms for holographic storage devices. All of these methods employ a reference beam consisting of a single plane wave, which may have a phase code imprinted on the wavefront.
Spherical waves can also be used as a reference beam. A volume hologram recorded with a spherical wave reference becomes Bragg mismatched when it is translated with respect to the readout beam by an amount denoted as shift selectivity .delta.. This distance is usually on the order of a few microns up to a few hundreds of microns, depending on the geometry, the material thickness and the distance of the focus of the spherical wave to the hologram. Multiplexing is realized by recording a new hologram after shifting by .delta.. This method is called shift multiplexing and is convenient in 3D holographic disk configuration, since disk rotation produces the required relative shift.
The novel method of shift multiplexing was disclosed in the co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/389,890. The main property of the shift multiplexing method is that it uses non-planar wavefront for the reference beam, and as a result the Bragg mismatch required to superimpose multiplex holograms without significant crosstalk is produced by translation rather than angular or wavelength change. Shift multiplexing is applicable to any kind of volume holographic material.
In addition, in photorefractive materials photoexcitation effects during hologram readout, or even thermal excitation during dark storage, cause the holograms to decay with time, and eventually to be erased. The problem of non-destructive readout was recently addressed in "Non-volatile storage in photorefractive crystals", by D. Psaltis et al., Optics Letters 19, 210, 1994. This reference disclosed the "two lambda method" in which the hologram is recorded at a wavelength where the photorefractive material is sensitive, e.g. 488 nm, but read out at a wavelength where the absorption is relatively low, e.g. 633 nm. However, these references did not provide a solution for storage in photorefractives using shift multiplexing.
It is the objective of this invention to apply a two-lambda technique to shift multiplexed holograms so that non-volatile readout of shift-multiplexed photorefractive disks can be achieved. In this way the advantages of shift multiplexing can be combined with long-term storage in a read/write memory configuration.

Non-volatile readout of shift multiplexed holograms


A biological fluid collection system including a collecting device, a collecting container, a first channel connecting the two, a sampling bag, a second channel connecting the sampling bag and the first tube and at least one substantially irreversible closure device in an open position on at least the first or second channel. The biological fluid may be blood. A method of collecting biological fluid such as blood using the system so that fluid in the sampling bag is substantially irreversibly prevented from entering the collecting container.

Current container systems make it possible to collect blood from a donor or otherwise collect biological fluid. Such systems often include a collecting container, usually a bag, connected to a collecting device by a tube. In addition, the systems may include a sampling container, usually also a bag, intended to receive the first milliliters of blood collected. The sampling container is connected to the tube in such a manner that it is filled after the collecting container is filled.
Filling the sampling bag prior to filling the collecting bag has certain advantages. First, it reduces the risk of contamination of the blood in the collecting bag from bacteria or other foreign substances on the skin of the donor. The first milliliters of blood taken, which are more likely to contain bacteria and foreign substances, are sent into the sampling bag rather than into the collecting bag. Second, use of a sampling bag makes it possible to take samples before the sample or collection bag is completely filled, and consequently not to waste time. Finally, during blood collection, the loss of blood volume for the donor may be compensated for by the addition of plasma. This causes the measured hematocrit of the blood to be lower if the sampling bag is filled, or samples are otherwise taken, after the collecting bag is filled. Consequently, the hematocrit count obtained using such later collected samples may be inaccurate.
After having collected the blood from a donor and before it is transfused into a patient, the blood contained in the sampling bag can be systematically analyzed in order to determine the rhesus group, to effect a hematocrit count and to detect any contamination such as viruses, bacteria or other elements foreign to the blood of the donor.
Although useful, these systems and methods as currently used for collecting blood from a donor do have drawbacks. First, the fact that the closure device situated on the tube connected to the sampling bag can be released could cause it to be opened by the user in order to send the blood remaining in the sampling bag to the collecting bag. This may occur by accident, or through deliberate action, for instance, if the collecting bag is found to be insufficiently filled after disconnection from the arm of the donor. Therefore the reversible closure of the sampling bag tube presents a significant risk of faulty use. This faulty use may negate the contamination containment benefits of the sampling bag and may also lead to other problems.
Moreover, the reversible closure device situated on the tube connecting the needle and the collecting bag does not provide a sufficient seal to be able to dispense with a welder at the location where the blood is collected. Blood collection, particularly at temporary locations, would be more time and cost efficient if welding at the collection location were not required.

Device and method for irreversible closure of fluid communication in a container system


A retractable and extensible trailer comprising: a base assembly; a moveable top assembly moveably attached to the base assembly and configured to be infinitely adjustable between a lowered position and an upper position; a trailer substructure in communication with the base assembly; a base front and/or rear folding door located at the front and/or rear of the base assembly and in rotative communication with the trailer substructure. The base front and/or rear folding door comprises: an upper ramp in rotative communication with the trailer substructure; at least one locking plate in fixed communication with the upper ramp; at least one connector plate in rotative communication with the at least one locking plate; and a lower ramp in fixed communication with the at least one connector plate.

As is known to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains, trailer assemblies have been provided with innovations and accoutrements, designed to facilitate the transfer of a load. However, little attention has been paid to the driving of the assembly when the trailer is either unloaded or only partly loaded. Additionally, little attention has been paid to working within a trailer that may not have enough room for one to stand up in. Also little attention has been made to allowing for relatively simple retrofit of an existing flat trailer such that the flat trailer can be made into a variable height trailer.
Present day trailers, generally, have standard size frames with fixed height sidewalls. This inherently creates problems. For example, current fixed height trailers do not allow the variability in height required to tow different sized cargo. Consumers must either purchase a low trailer that is very difficult for a user to maneuver about inside and can only fit a specific height cargo, but is more efficient to tow, or consumers must purchase a trailer that is tall enough to tow different height cargo and that allows one to move around and/or work inside, but is very inefficient to tow. The latter also results in towing dead air space a majority of the time.
Furthermore, the air resistance about the trailer is constant due to the fixed height trailer walls. By being able to shorten the height of the walls and, therefore, the area thereof the resistance to air is reduced thereby giving somewhat increased fuel mileage and much less cross wind buffeting. Additionally, if one has to work in a trailer that is carrying vehicles, such as snowmobiles, ATV's, or motorcycles, it may be very difficult to service or otherwise work on the vehicles if the trailer roof is too low. Also lower style trailers currently being marketed have ramps that are difficult or impossible to load certain types of cargo due to the steep angle of a short ramp. Current ramps being marketed on these fixed height trailers are only as long as the height of the wall of the trailer.
For all of these reasons, a benefit to the art would be provided by a trailer having an extensible and retractable roof with folding ramps. It is to this to which the present invention is directed.

Retractable and extensible trailer with folding ramp