In drying coal to be used as fuel for a coal-fired boiler, the coal is dried at a temperature of 80 to 150° C. by using combustion exhaust gas having passed through an air heater for the coal-fired boiler. Moreover, after medium-quality or low-quality coal is heated to a temperature of 300 to 500° C. at a heating rate of not less than 100° C. per minute and then cooled to a temperature of 250° C. or below at a cooling rate of not less than 50° C. per minute, the resulting reformed coal is cooled to a temperature of 70° C. or below and stored for 1 month or more in a state of isolation from the atmosphere. In producing the aforesaid reformed coal, the medium-quality or low-quality coal is heated by using combustion exhaust gas obtained at the outlet of an economizer included in the coal-fired boiler equipment or at the outlet of a denitrator included therein.

1. Background of the First Group of the Present Invention
The first group of the present invention relates to a method for drying coal by utilizing waste heat from a coal-fired boiler using coal (in particular, medium-quality or low-quality coal) as fuel, and to drying equipment therefor.
Medium-quality and low-quality coals are those types of coal which have a low degree of coalification, and typical examples thereof include high-volatile sub-bituminous coal and brown coal. Since they are found in abundance and most of them have a low sulfur content, it is believed that their use will increase in the future.
However, medium-quality and low-quality coals have a high moisture content. If they are burned in a highly moist state, a considerable heat loss results owing to the sensible heat of the moisture and its latent heat of vaporization. Accordingly, the calorific value per unit weight is so low as to cause an increase in transport cost. Moreover, they have the disadvantage of being highly hygroscopic and liable to spontaneous combustion. These problems have constituted an obstacle to the expansion of their utilization.
Thus, there has been employed a method for drying such medium-quality or low-quality coal by heating it to a temperature of 80 to 150° C. at the colliery (or the site of coal mining) (this method is also called "ordinary drying"). Most of the dried medium-quality and low-quality coals have been consumed at the colliery for purposes of electric power generation and the like, while only a small portion thereof has been sold and transported to consumers in its neighborhood, and used thereby. In short, it has not been common practice to transport or store dried coal derived from medium-quality or low-quality coal, because this has a risk of spontaneous combustion.
Generally, in coal-fired boiler equipment, air heated by an air heater is introduced into a coal pulverizer where coal is dried and pulverized. The resulting pulverized coal is pneumatically conveyed to the burner and burned as boiler fuel.
2. Background of the Second Group of the Present Invention
The second group of the present invention relates to coal having low spontaneous combustibility, low hygroscopicity and a high calorific value which is obtained by heating medium-quality or low-quality coal to a high temperature, cooling it, and then subjecting the resulting reformed coal to an aging treatment, and to a method for producing the same.
Medium-quality and low-quality coals are those types of coal which have a low degree of coalification, and typical examples thereof include brown coal and high-volatile sub-bituminous coal. Usually, coals having a rank equal to or lower than sub-bituminous coal are called medium-quality and low-quality coals. Since they are found in abundance and most of them have a low sulfur content, it is believed that their use will increase in the future. However, medium-quality and low-quality coals have a high moisture content and hence a low calorific value per unit weight. Moreover, when dried, medium-quality and low-quality coals have the disadvantage of being highly hygroscopic and liable to spontaneous combustion. These problems have constituted an obstacle to the expansion of their utilization.
Accordingly, as described previously, there has been employed a method for drying such medium-quality or low-quality coal at a temperature of 80 to 150° C. (this method is also called "ordinary drying"). However, when coal is dried according to this method, the resulting dried coal shows an increase in spontaneous combustibility and, moreover, still has high hygroscopicity. Consequently, this dried coal tends to absorb atmospheric moisture during transportation and storage, and return to its original state freed of surface moisture alone (i.e., its original internal moisture content before drying). Moreover, owing to its high spontaneous combustibility, this dried coal is unsuitable for transportation and storage and has been limited to use at the site of coal mining (e.g., for purposes of electric power generation).
Moreover, in order to evaporate moisture, decompose hydrophilic oxygen-containing groups, and prevent the volatilization of tar, another method wherein coal is dried at a temperature of 180 to less than 300° C. is known. However, as contrasted with the reformed coal produced by the above-described method comprising rapid heating to a high temperature and subsequent cooling, the reformed coal produced by this method fails to show a sufficient improvement in calorific value and long-term spontaneous combustibility.
Furthermore, Japanese Patent Publication No. 11596/'82 discloses still another method for producing reformed coal by heating medium-quality or low-quality coal rapidly to a temperature of 300 to 500° C. and then cooling it rapidly. This method brings about a substantial improvement in spontaneous combustibility and a marked increase in calorific value due to dewatering, but fails to achieve sufficient stability of spontaneous combustion properties. Consequently, in order to prevent the spontaneous combustion of the resulting coal, a prudent measure needs to be taken under general consideration.
Thus, even if any of the conventional methods is employed, it has been difficult to produce reformed coal having desirable properties such as low spontaneous combustibility, low hygroscopicity and a high calorific value, from medium-quality or low-quality coal.
3. Background of the Third Group of the Present Invention
The third group of the present invention relates to a process for producing reformed coal having low hygroscopicity, a high calorific value and low spontaneous combustibility by heating medium-quality or low-quality coal to a high temperature and then cooling it, wherein the reformed coal is produced by utilizing hot exhaust gas from a coal-fired boiler and equipment for treating such exhaust gas.
Since medium-quality and low-quality coals are found in abundance and most of them have a low sulfur content, it is believed that their use will increase in the future. However, medium-quality and low-quality coals have a high moisture content and hence a low calorific value per unit weight. Moreover, when dried, medium-quality and low-quality coals have the disadvantage of being liable to spontaneous combustion and highly hygroscopic. These problems have constituted an obstacle to the expansion of their utilization.
Accordingly, as described previously, Japanese Patent Publication No. 11596/'82 discloses a method for producing reformed coal by heating medium-quality or low-quality coal rapidly to a temperature of 300 to 500° C. and then cooling it rapidly. Moreover, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 70093/'81 discloses a method for producing reformed coal by heating medium-quality or low-quality coal rapidly to a temperature of 300 to 500° C. and then cooling it rapidly, wherein the raw coal is dried by using a gaseous mixture composed of hot air obtained by subjecting air to heat exchange with the exhaust gas having been used for the rapid heating purpose and part of the hot gas for rapid heating use, so that the reformed coal can be advantageously produced from the viewpoint of thermal efficiency. Furthermore, as described previously, still another method for producing reformed coal is known. In this method, coal is dried at a temperature of 180 to less than 300° C. in order to evaporate moisture, decompose hydrophilic oxygen-containing groups, and prevent the volatilization of tar.
In any of the above-described methods for producing reformed coal having low hygroscopicity, a high calorific value and low spontaneous combustibility from medium-quality or low-quality coal, combustion gas from an installed gas is used and, moreover, a cooling gas is used as a diluent gas for controlling the temperature of the combustion gas. However, this cannot be regarded as economical from the viewpoint of equipment construction and thermal efficiency.

Coal drying method and equipment, method for aging reformed coal and aged reformed coal, and process and system for producing reformed coal


A power supply is provided. The power supply in one form includes a rectifier circuit, a capacitor and an RC circuit. The rectifier circuit is configured to receive a three phase AC signal. The rectifier circuit has a positive output connected to a positive node and a negative output connected to a negative node. The capacitor is connected in parallel with the rectifier circuit between the positive node and the negative node. The RC circuit includes a resistor and capacitor connected in electrical series connection where the resistor and capacitor are connected between the positive node and the negative node in parallel with the first capacitor and the rectifier circuit.

Known power supplies for welding or cutting typically use a large capacitance across a rectified line voltage to store energy for converter filtering and holdup requirements. In order to realize a high power factor, some impedance must be inserted in series with the large capacitance to limit and/or shape the current, if a high power factor is desired. This might be a large line frequency inductance, or a switching power factor corrector. The first is very large and can be expensive, and the second is expensive and dissipates a significant amount of power.

High power factor rectifier/filter for three phase input welder or plasma cutter


The logic gate of the present invention is of a configuration that includes a first transistor, a second transistor, and a connection-switching unit. The first transistor receives a first voltage at its source, a first input signal at its gate, and supplies a first output signal from its drain. The second transistor receives a second voltage that is lower than the first voltage at its source, receives a second input signal at its gate, and supplies a second output signal from its drain. The connection-switching unit is connected between the drains of the first transistor and the second transistor for connecting and cutting off the first transistor and the second transistor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a logic gate and logic circuit that use transistors of semiconductor elements.
2. Description of the Related Art
The higher integration of semiconductors in recent years has been accompanied by the problem of increase in current consumption. There is currently a trend toward decreasing the power supply voltage to reduce the current consumption. However, the performance of transistors does not necessarily keep pace with reductions in the power-supply voltage. Specifically, reducing the power-supply voltage necessitates the reduction of the threshold voltage of the transistors, but the threshold voltage cannot keep up with the reduction in power-supply voltage, and as a result, a reduction of the power-supply voltage brings with it a drop in transistor performance. Various designs are now being used to simultaneously realize a reduction of current consumption and higher speed.
The use of transistors having lower-than-normal threshold voltages to attain higher speeds raises the problem of increase in the OFF current (sub-threshold leak current) of transistors. This sub-threshold leak current is a current that consumes energy even when the circuit is not active (during standby), and this current must be reduced to zero in devices such as DRAM. As a result, transistors having an excessively low threshold voltage cannot be used, and the attainment of high speeds at low voltage becomes problematic.
Methods have been proposed for employing various circuit schemes to constructively use these low-threshold transistors and achieve high-speed circuit operation at low voltage. One such method is disclosed by Sakurai Takayasu in "Low Power Design of Digital Circuits" (International Symposium on Key Technologies for Future VLSI Systems, January 2001, pp. 1-5) and JP-A-2001-143477 (hereinbelow referred to as Patent Document 1).
FIGS. 1A and 1B show an example of a circuit of the prior art that uses low-threshold transistors. In the circuit shown in FIG. 1A, a low-Vt CMOS logic unit is formed with a low threshold voltage for the purpose of reducing the sub-threshold leak current and achieving high-speed operation at low voltage. A PMOS transistor (MP7) is interposed between the power-supply voltage VDD and virtual VDD that is the actual power supply of the low-Vt CMOS logic unit. In addition, an NMOS transistor (MN7) is interposed between power-supply voltage VSS and the virtual VSS that is the actual power supply of the low-Vt CMOS logic unit. These transistors turn ON during active intervals and are thus connected to VDD/VSS and turn OFF during cut-off (standby) intervals. Even when low-Vt CMOS logic unit is made up by low-threshold voltage transistors, this cut-off operation cuts the sub-threshold leak current during standby intervals by isolating the low-Vt CMOS logic unit from VDD/VSS. As a result, a sub-threshold leak current is generated only during active intervals.
FIG. 1B shows a circuit realized by means of another example of the prior art. The symbol "H" in the figure indicates high-threshold transistors, and the symbol "L" indicates low-threshold transistors. In the circuit shown in FIG. 1B, when the state of input is fixed and the input signal IN is "high" during standby, transistors that are OFF are configured with high threshold voltages. As a result, the transistors for cut-off (hereinbelow referred to as simply "cut-off transistors") are no longer needed. However, when the input signal IN is "low," the cut-off transistors become necessary.
The following two cases can be considered as the configuration of the cut-off transistors. In one case, the cut-off transistors are made up by high-threshold transistors that have a sufficiently small sub-threshold leak current. In the other case, the cut-off transistors are made up by low-threshold transistors and a negative voltage is applied to the gate voltage. In either case, operating the low-Vt CMOS logic unit at high speed necessitates an adequate increase of capabilities. Adopting a gate size that is three times the normal total block gate length retards the speed of the block unit by approximately 10%.
However, the cut-off circuit for decreasing the sub-threshold leak current that is disclosed in Patent Document 1 has the problems described hereinbelow.
As the first problem, when the low-Vt CMOS logic unit is operating, turning ON/OFF the transistors interposed between the power supply VDD/VSS and the virtual VDD/VSS controls active/standby, whereby the power supply level of the virtual VDD/VSS drops depending on the capability of these transistors. The Vds is therefore degraded in proportion to this drop, and the speed is thus retarded (FIG. 2). In other words, the speed of the block is necessarily lowered, and the sufficient capability cannot be obtained despite the use of low-threshold transistors in the configuration.
Minimizing the loss of speed brought about by the drop in virtual power supply as a countermeasure for this problem necessitates an increase of the size of the cut-off transistors. As a second problem, increasing the size of the cut-off transistors increases the gate charge/discharge current of the cut-off transistors and thus increases the current consumption. The increase in the size of the cut-off transistors is further a cause for the enlargement of the chip size due to increase of the gate surface area. In addition, the cut-off operation causes the amount of charge in the low-Vt CMOS logic to be reset, and further, causes the output wiring to be reset, whereby the current consumption increases further, canceling any current-reduction effect as a result.
Recovery to the operating state from standby as described above necessitates the above-described charge/discharge of the wiring and the gates of the cut-off transistors. The third problem is the sheer size of the capacitance of the gates and wiring, resulting in an increase in the time required for charge/discharge. Not only is the charge/discharge current for the output signal wiring large, but more than several hundred ns are required to return from the cut-off state to a state that allows operation. The problem therefore arises that operation following recovery is consequently retarded.

Logic gate with reduced sub-threshold leak current


Methods and systems for single sign-on user access to multiple web servers are provided. A user is authenticated at a first web server (e.g., by user name and password). The first web server provides a web page to the user having a service selector (e.g., a hyperlink comprising the URL of a second web server offering the service indicated by the selector). When the user activates the service selector, the first web server constructs and transmits an encrypted authentication token (e.g., a cookie) from the first web server to a second web server via the user client. The first and second web servers share a sub-domain. The authentication token comprises an expiration time and is digitally signed by the first web server and is authenticated at the second web server. Upon authentication, the second web server allows the user to conduct a session at the second web server.

There are many situations in which an entity or group of entities, such as a global financial institution with banking, brokerage, and other aspects, wishes to combine the functional resources of different web application servers in order to aggregate functionality to the customers of the entity or group of entities. Such an entity or group of entities may wish to allow their customers access to such an aggregated functionality by signing on only once, by authenticating themselves once, and then being able to use different services which might be provided either by different servers of entities within the group of entities, or by servers of the group of entities and, for example, by servers of third party entities.
In this context, the entity or group of entities may wish to deliver to the customer, via a web browser, a set of services that are hosted by different web application servers. Such application servers may employ different platforms, such as a UNIX platform, an NT platform, or some other type of platform. The platform may have been constructed by different organizations within the group of entities, or the platform may have been provided by third-party providers. In any event, an essential problem is how to allow the customer to sign on once and then to redirect the customer to these different servers without requiring the customer to sign on each and every time he or she goes accesses a different server.
Conventional products attempting to address this problem are deficient, for example, both in terms of performance and cost. In some such products, it is necessary to return to a centralized resource. Other such products do not support crossing organizational boundaries or Internet domain boundaries. What is needed is a methods and system for single sign-on user access to multiple web servers, such as a federation of web servers sharing sub-domains, that overcome such disadvantages and that provide other advantages.

Method and system for single sign-on user access to multiple web servers


A plurality of heat exchange units (12) are placed in a frame (38). Respective heat exchange units (12) are positioned by pin holes (30) formed in fixing plates (21) installed on the heat exchange units (12) and knock pins (29) formed on a pair of bars (22) of the frame (38). The one side tank water inlet/outlet ports (19) and the other side tank water inlet/outlet ports (20) of the heat exchange units (12) are connected to the one side water receiving ports (35) of an upper tank (17) and the other side water receiving ports (36) of a lower tank (18), respectively. The upper tank (17), the heat exchange units (12), and the lower tank (18) are fixed to the frame (38) to form the heat exchanger (11). Thus, the heat exchanger having a specified heat exchange capacity and firmly supportable on a base can be provided.

Conventionally, a heat exchanger that comprises a plurality of heat exchange units connected together in order to obtain a desired heat exchange capacity has been known as a cooling device installed, for example, in a vehicle. As a heat exchanger in which heat exchange units are disposed in a lateral direction, a radiator apparatus described in, for example, the Patent Document 1 has been proposed. On the other hand, as a heat exchanger in which heat exchange units are disposed in a vertical direction, a heat exchanger described in, for example, the Patent Document 2, has been proposed.
FIG. 7 depicts, as a first conventional example, the radiator apparatus described in the Patent Document 1. As shown in FIG. 7, each of heat exchange units 111 comprises: a pair of opposing tanks 115 and 116; tubes 113 by which the pair of tanks 115 and 116 communicate with each other; and fins 114 formed between the tubes 113.
The heat exchange units 111 are disposed in a lateral direction in the heat exchanger, the tanks 115, 115 are respectively connected each other, and the tanks 116, 116 are respectively connected each other by a pair of hoses 112.
FIG. 8 depicts, as a second conventional example, the heat exchanger described in the Patent Document 2. The heat exchanger shown in FIG. 8 is used for warming a room by causing hot water to flow within the heat exchanger. This heat exchanger comprises a plurality of heat exchange units 121 connected together. Each heat exchange unit 121 comprises: a hollow, polygonal tube 123 through which hot water flows; a series of plates 125 projecting from the polygonal tube 123; and parts forming the external contour of the series of plates 125. The heat exchanger is constructed by connecting and fixing together ends 122 of the adjacent polygonal tubes 123 using an adhesive.    Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 7-17449    Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2000-161874


A method for synchronizing a clock signal with a reference signal is disclosed. One embodiment has a first synchronization part which has a bit pattern having a particular clock period, a pause whose length is a multiple of this clock period plus a fraction of the clock period, and a second synchronization part having the particular clock period. The method includes generating a phase difference signal which is proportional to a phase difference between the clock signal and the reference signal, filtering the phase difference signal and providing a filtered phase difference signal, driving a digital oscillator in such a manner that the frequency of the clock signal is changed on the basis of the filtered phase difference signal, the phase of the clock signal within a clock period being corrected by a value corresponding to the fraction of the clock period at an end of the pause in the reference signal.

The invention relates to a method for synchronizing a clock signal with a reference signal with the aid of a phase locked loop.
In a digital transmission system, a transmitter uses a transmission channel to transmit a data word according to a transmission clock to a receiver. In order to be able to recover the digitally transmitted word from a received signal sequence, the receiver needs the transmission clock signal with which the word was transmitted. Since this clock signal is not concomitantly transmitted in many applications, the receiver must reconstruct the clock signal from the received signal sequence. Therefore a transmitted signal sequence generally includes a synchronization part which is placed in front of the data part. In this case, the receiver can reconstruct the transmission clock signal from the signal sequence, which is typically effected with the aid of a phase locked loop. These signal sequences are often standardized and cannot be arbitrarily configured by the user.
A special signal sequence which is used, for example, in remotely controllable central locking systems in motor vehicles and which includes a code for opening or closing the vehicle in the data part is illustrated in FIG. 1. The signal sequence 50 includes a first synchronization part 53, a pause, a second synchronization part 54 and data words 55 which comprise, for example, a code for opening a vehicle. The synchronization parts 53, 54 include a bit sequence which is also present in the transmission clock. The clock period of this transmission clock is denoted TZ below. A length TP of the pause 51 is equal to an integer multiple of the transmission clock period TZ plus a fraction of the transmission clock period TZ. The time t1 denotes the beginning of the pause 51 and the time t2 denotes the end of the pause 51.
The two synchronization parts 53, 54 form the reference signal x which is interrupted by the pause 51 and can be used by a phase locked loop (not illustrated in FIG. 1), which is arranged at the receiver end, to reconstruct the transmission clock signal. The reconstructed clock signal is available at the output of the phase locked loop and is at the same frequency and has the same phase as the reference signal x.
In a conventional phase locked loop, the reconstructed transmission clock signal at the output of the phase locked loop is adjusted, during the first synchronization part 53 of the reference signal x, until its phase and frequency match the phase and frequency of the transmitted reference signal x. This adjustment results in a transient process during which the frequency of the reconstructed clock signal can vary slightly. During the pause 51 in the reference signal, regulation is interrupted and the clock signal at the output of the phase locked loop oscillates at that frequency and with that phase which it had at the beginning t1 of the pause 51. However, after the end t2 of the pause 51, regulation of the output signal is intended to be continued again. If the length TP of the pause were an integer multiple of the clock period TZ of the reference signal, it would be necessary to correct at most one small regulation error in the phase during the second synchronization part. However, since the length of the pause is a noninteger multiple of the clock period TZ, the clock signal and the reference signal x have a relatively large phase difference at the beginning of the second synchronization part, which in turn results in a relatively long transient regulation process during which the frequency of the output signal from the phase locked loop also changes.
This transient process when adjusting the phase difference is inevitably present in the known phase locked loops and is justified by the principle of feedback. However, there is a need for a method for synchronizing a clock signal with a reference signal and for a corresponding phase locked loop, which provides a good stabilization process in the event of a sudden phase change in the reference signal.

Method for synchronizing a clock signal with a reference signal, and phase locked loop


A single phase aqueous composition suitable for thermal inkjet printing comprises a mixture of curable materials including at least two curable oligomers; and one or more co-solvents for the curable materials.

Inkjet printing processes fall into two main types: continuous processes and drop-on-demand (DOD) processes. Continuous processes use electrically conductive ink to produce a stream of drops of electrically charged ink that are deflected by an electric field to an appropriate location on a substrate. In DOD processes, individual drops of ink are expelled from the nozzle of a print head either by vibration of a piezoelectric actuator (in piezoelectric inkjet printing) or by heating the ink to form a bubble (in thermal inkjet printing, also known as bubble jet printing). Thermal inkjet printing has advantages over piezoelectric inkjet printing, with printers and print heads being lower cost and with the printing process being able to achieve better resolution.
Inkjet inks need to satisfy a number of requirements, including the following:                Viscosity must be appropriate. With DOD inks there are greater limitations on inks for thermal printing than for piezoelectric printing, with it generally being necessary for in to have a viscosity of below about 4 mPa·s at print head operating temperature (which is typically 40-50° C.), which usually equates to a viscosity of less than 6.5 mPa·s at room temperature (25° C.), to be capable of being thermally inlet printed. In this specification, all viscosity values are at 25° C. unless otherwise specified.        The ink must not cause unacceptable levels of clogging or blockage of printing nozzles.        The ink must not result in build up of deposits on the ejection heaters of thermal inkjets print heads (a process known as "kogation") to an unacceptable level during the working life of a print head.        The ink should be stable in storage, without settling out or coagulation of materials.        The resulting print needs to saws desired characteristics depending on the field of use, with possible relevant factors including water fastness, scratch resistance, durability, lack of shrinkage, lack of cracking, flexibility, optical density (for coloured inks), uniformity of deposition.
Curable DOD is are known. These typically comprise one or more monomers etc. curable in response to appropriate conditions, typically ultra violet (UV), infra red (IR) or heat.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,623,001 (Scitex) discloses TV-curable DOD inkjet inks, particularly for piezoelectric printing, comprising water (20-75%) and water-miscible UV-curable monomer and/or oligomer e.g. acrylic materials (20-60%). The document makes no reference to thermal inkjet printing, and does not teach how to produce inks with a viscosity of less than 6.5 mPa·s, suitable for thermal inkjet printing, nor does it teach how to prevent kogation.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,952,401 (Canon) discloses curable water-based inks for piezoelectric and bubble jet printing using curable monomers. The document does not address the issue of prevention of kogation caused by curable materials.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,294,592 (BASF) discloses curable inkjet inks exemplified by UV-curable polyurethane dispersions. The document does not address issues of viscosity or prevention of kogation.
Curable monomers and oligomers tend to have limited solubility/miscibility in water, and substantial practical difficulties arise in producing water-based inks with sufficiently low viscosity (below 6.5 mPa·s) to be useful for thermal inkjet printing that do sot undergo undesirable phase separation, do not cause clogging or blockage of printing nozzles, do not result in unacceptable levels of kogation, and that produce prints with appropriate, useful properties.
We have found that by use of carefully selected mixtures of curable materials together with a water-compatible solvent (referred to as a co-solvent) for the curable materials it is possible to produce low viscosity compositions suitable for inkjet printing. We have also found various materials that are effective in preventing or reducing kogation, referred to herein as anti-kogation agents.


A system comprising a rack and at least one line replaceable module, the rack further comprising a primary transmission circuit comprising a primary antenna, primary emission components designed to generate an emitted power containing uplink data, and primary receiving components designed to receive downlink data, the line replaceable module comprising a secondary transmission circuit comprising a secondary antenna, secondary receiving components designed to receive the emitted power and the uplink data, and secondary emission components designed to generate the downlink data, the emitted power, the uplink data and the downlink data being transmitted via a shared coupling between the primary antenna and the secondary antenna.

In many industrial fields, and in particular in the field of aeronautics, the designers of electrical systems often incorporate in the electrical systems LRMs (for Line Replaceable Modules). Several line-replaceable modules are thus grouped together in racks to form centralized and modular structures. The use of line-replaceable modules offers many advantages.
The use of line-replaceable modules makes it possible in particular to pool certain functions associated with the operation of said line-replaceable modules: power supply, communication, cooling, etc. The use of line-replaceable modules also makes it possible to provide significant modularity, to facilitate the operations of maintenance and replacement of the line-replaceable modules and, obviously, to reduce the costs associated with the line-replaceable modules (development, production, test, certification, and other costs).
In the production phase of a line-replaceable module, the aim is to facilitate the implementation of self-test functions of the line-replaceable module, which have to be sufficiently broad and automated. There is also an aim to facilitate the downloading of software configurations. And there is an aim to limit the risk of damage to the connection system (which is tested also by simple equipotential checking means). The pins of a connector can in particular be twisted at the time of connection of the line-replaceable module or else when the line-replaceable module is dropped.
It is therefore important to eliminate the manual operations for launching the self-test functions and for downloading the software configurations. It is also important, during the implementation of the self-test functions, to be able to check the operational state of the line-replaceable module as a whole. It should moreover be possible to download the basic functionalities, and be possible to test them without interfering with the preceding requests.
In storage phase, the line-replaceable module should be able to be conserved without degradation sometimes for several years, while allowing, at any moment, a download of a new software configuration that meets the needs of the aircraft.
It is therefore important here again to eliminate the manual operations for downloading the software configurations. It is also important to protect the line-replaceable module against moisture, dust and mechanical attacks such as impacts. Furthermore, it is important to maintain the performance levels of the electronic components of the line-replaceable module in long-term storage (sometimes for several years). It should also be possible to check the operational state of the line-replaceable module as a whole. In addition, it should be possible to download new software configurations and new functionalities, and to be able to test them without interfering with the preceding requests. Lastly, it should be possible to conserve the navigability of a line-replaceable module after it has been reconfigured, that is to say not compromise its certification on each reconfiguration.
In operational phase, the line-replaceable module should be able to self-test regularly and should allow the downloading of new software configurations.
It is therefore important to be able to check the operational state of the line-replaceable module as a whole. In addition, it should be possible to download new software configurations and new functionalities, and to be able to test them without interfering with the preceding requests. The integrated self-test functions should cover the application upgrades which will be downloaded directly to the aircraft. It is also important to conserve the compatibility of the line-replaceable module with the requirements concerning electromagnetic compatibility and lightning.

System comprising a rack and a line replaceable module


A video endoscope includes a tube fitted at its distal end with an affixed objective lens, a video camera mounted behind the objective lens in the tube, the camera together with an elongated rotation element constituting a swivel unit that is supported both at the distal and proximal end zones in each case by swivel bearing at the tube. The swivel element being rotationally adjustable relative the tube by a swivel drive system. The distal swivel bearing is axially and radially bearing and the proximal swivel bearing is only radially bearing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a video endoscope and, more particularly, toward an endoscope with a rotatable video camera.
2. Description of Related Art
When used in procedures in the human body, endoscopes frequently need to be rotated or swiveled so that an implement fitted into the endoscope may reach a particular place or, for instance, to be able to observe laterally when the objective lens is oblique. When the video camera however is irrotationally mounted in the video endoscope, the monitor picture shall rotate jointly with the video endoscope. This feature is highly taxing for the surgeon.
Accordingly video endoscopes of this kind are fitted with a rotatable camera which can be rotated relative to the video endoscope rotation such that the monitor picture shall remain unaffected by camera rotation.
The German patent document U 20,113,031 discloses a video endoscope wherein, on well known design grounds coming into play in particular with oblique objective lenses, the objective lens is affixed to the tube enclosing the swivel unit, and the tube is fixed in position relative to the endoscope as a whole. Accordingly, in this design the video camera rotates relative to the objective lens. The rotational system of video camera and rotational element is supported on two swivel bearings to assure accurate guidance and bracing of the video camera relative to the objective lens. Moreover, an axially fixed bearing ensures the axial position between camera and objective lens.
This known design incurs the drawback that the axial bearing is situated at the proximal end of the swivel element. If the endoscope is being bent and when there are temperature changes such as frequently occur when using video endoscopes (body temperature/room temperature), the distance between objective lens and video camera may change and degrade the focus, i.e., they may entail a blurred picture.

Video endoscope with a rotatable video camera


A press brake, or other machine for bending sheet metal or plate metal, comprises a frame, a bed mounted to the frame, and a ram movably mounted to the frame. An assembly for moving the ram relative to the bed to bend sheets and plates of metal positioned between the ram and bed comprises first and second wedges, and first and second inclined ramp surfaces that the wedges slide relative to when moving in first and second directions relative to the frame to move the ram toward and away from the bed for bending operations. The assembly has an actuator which moves the first and second wedges relative to the ramp surfaces. The first and second wedges are drivingly linked to balance distribution of force across the ram. A Vernier scale assembly is mounted generally horizontally with the ram and wedges, to allow setting a scale component to control switching means to stop downward ram movement at a desired point. The press brake can be provided with a pivoting mechanism which enables the ram to be pivoted about an axis relative to the bed to position the ram at a selected angle relative to the bed.

In the prior art, heavy machines for bending plates and sheets of metal have used a wedge drive system to apply pressing or cutting force. However none of the prior art machines have employed structure that provides the advantages of the present invention.
The present invention features a press brake, or other similar heavy machine for bending sheet metal or plate metal. The invention comprises a frame, a bed mounted to the frame, and a ram movably mounted to the frame. The ram has a lower tooth punch with a horizontal lower edge which interfaces with a female die which has a horizontally extending V-shaped slot. An assembly for moving the ram to and from the bed to bend the metal therebetween has first and second wedges which move between inclined ramp surfaces and slide surfaces. The movement of the wedge along the inclined surface causes the ramp to move toward and away from the bed. The dual wedges are driven by an actuator, positioned between the two wedges. The actuator can be a single unit, or double unit. The actuator is drivingly connected to the wedges to move them in first and second directions. The movement of the wedges applies force to the ram to cause it to move to and from the bed. Because the actuator is positioned between the two wedges, the force the wedges apply to the ram is applied to the two ends of the ram to thereby apply an even distribution of force across the ram. The two wedges are linked to each other by means such as link plates, so that the movement of one wedge transfers force to the second wedge to move it the same distance as the first wedge. The linkage of the two wedges provides for the horizontal edge of the ram tooth punch to be maintained parallel with the horizontal V-shaped slot of the female die, and provide for even distribution of force to the ends of the ram and across the ram. This balancing of force across the ram allows even and straight bending of the metal sheets and plates positioned between the ram and bed.
In one embodiment the actuator comprises a pair of power sources such as hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders, which have different power outputs. Each of the power sources can have a drive member extending from its exterior end to be drivingly associated with a respective wedge. This dual wedge action further allows for a balancing force across the ram. With a dual power operation, a variation of power can be more easily applied to the ram. For example one of the cylinders can be used at a certain stage of the operation such to rapidly move the ram to close engagement with the metal sheet or plate prior to bending, and then both cylinders can be used when more force more force is desired to be applied to bend the plate or sheet.
In one embodiment a single cylinder assembly can be used with the cylinder connected to the ram or frame, with a driving member extending from the cylinder to move one of the wedges. The link plates connecting the wedges cause both wedges to be moved by the single actuator. In another embodiment an actuator such as a single hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder can have a drive rod extending from each of its opposite ends to be connected to each of the wedges to move the wedges to cause the ram to move toward and away from the bed for bending operation.
With the actuator, whether it be the dual cylinder arrangement or the single cylinder arrangement, positioned between the two wedges, an even distribution of force across the ram takes place, and a compact structure is also provided. The system thus allows for application of the mechanical advantage offered by the wedges in movement of the ram relative to the bed. The placement of the actuator between the wedges further allows for lack of congestion about the ends of the machine.
Guide plates mounted to the sides of the wedges keep the wedges on track during sliding movement. The side plates have guide members extending therefrom which contact the ram and the slide members to provide for steady and smooth movement, with lubricant mounted within the engagement members.
The present invention further provides for a scaled means for adjusting the movement of the ram, which comprises a component mounted to the assembly that moves with the ram, such as on the link plate in the preferred embodiment. It has another component associated with the wedge assembly, such as being mounted on the link plate in the preferred embodiment, which component in the preferred embodiment is a cam. The means for adjusting movement further comprises a switch that is associated with the ram which has means to interact with the cam, such as through a cam arm. The cam can trip the switch to control the downward movement or depth of penetration of the ram into the bed. The means for adjusting includes a scale assembly which has a scale associated with the wedge assembly such as on the cam. The cam scale can be adjusted relative to the depth of penetration of the ram toward the bed. Another scale component extends generally horizontally relative to the wedge assembly, such as horizontally on the link plate. The cam scale can be adjusted and set relative to the other scale component to thereby set the depth of downward movement of the ram toward the bed. The two scale components can form a Vernier Scale arrangement to allow for greater accuracy in setting the position of the downward penetration. A second cam can interact with a switch to stop the ram just before contact with the sheet or plate. A third cam can activate a switch to limit upward travel of the ram.
In another embodiment, the press brake is provided with a pivoting mechanism for pivoting the ram about a pivot axis relative to said bed. A bolt passes through the second wedge to connect the second wedge to its associated guide plates, and link plates, if provided. The pivot mechanism comprises a mounting assembly for adjustably mounting said first ramp member to said frame, such that the horizontal position of said first ramp member can be selectively set prior to movement of said ram. The pivot mechanism further comprises a linear motion device operably connected between the first frame and an outer surface of the first ramp member to move the first ramp member in a first direction towards the second ramp member and in a second direction away from the second ramp member. Thus, movement of the first ramp member relative to the second ramp member causes the first ramp member to move relative to the first wedge and causes the ram to pivot about the pivot axis. The mounting assembly preferably includes a horizontal member and the first ramp member has a substantially horizontal surface opposite its angled surface. The first ramp member is slidably mounted to the horizontal member of the mounting assembly by means of an interfitting groove and tennon arrangement. The linear motion devices is preferably a bolt which passes through a leg that extends parallel to the outer surface of the first ramp member. The bolt is connected to the outer surface of the first ramp member so that it may both push and pull the first ramp member as it is rotated.
The press brake or other like bending machine of the present invention thus provides advantages over the prior art not heretofore achieved.

Machine for bending sheet and plate metal through dual wedge system


A catalyst composition is applied to an interior of a hollow substrate. The composition is coated on the substrate by immersing the substrate into a vessel containing a bath of coating slurry. A vacuum is then applied to the partially immersed substrate. The intensity of the vacuum and its application time is sufficient to draw the coating slurry upwardly from the bath into each of a plurality of channels located in the interior of the hollow substrate. After removing the substrate from the bath it is rotated 180°. A blast of pressurized air is applied at an intensity and for a time sufficient to distribute the coating slurry within the channels of the substrate to form a uniform coating profile therein.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for coating a substrate, and more particularly to an apparatus and method for impregnating monolithic substrates with a catalytic material.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Catalytic converters are well known for the removal and/or conversion of the harmful components of exhaust gases. Catalytic converters have a variety of constructions for this purpose. In one form the converter comprises the rigid skeletal monolithic substrate on which there is a catalytic coating. The monolith has a honeycomb-type structure which has a multiplicity of longitudinal channels, typically in parallel, to provide a catalytically coated body having a high surface area.
The rigid, monolithic substrate can be fabricated from ceramics and other materials. Such materials and their construction are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,331,787 and 3,565,830 each of which is incorporated herein by reference. Alternatively, the monoliths can be fabricated from metal foil.
The monolithic substrate and particularly the multiplicity of channels can be coated with a slurry of a catalytic and/or absorbent material.
One method of coating a prefabricated monolithic substrate is to pump the catalyst slurry into the respective channels and then subject the coated substrate to a drying operation. Such systems have been unsuccessful in providing a uniform coating thickness and a uniform coating profile wherein the catalyst coating is deposited over the same length of each of the channels.
It has been proposed to employ a vacuum to draw the catalyst slurry upwardly through the channels. For example, Peter D. Young, U.S. Pat. No. 4,384,014 discloses the creation of a vacuum over the monolithic substrate to remove air from the channels and then drawing the catalyst slurry upwardly through the channels. The vacuum is then broken and excess slurry is removed, preferably by gravity drainage.
James R. Reed, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,191,126, discloses the dipping of the monolithic substrate into a slurry and then utilizing subatmospheric pressure to purge the excess coating slurry from the surfaces of the support. The applied vacuum is intended to unplug the channels so that the slurry is drawn over the surfaces of each of the channels.
An improvement in these systems is disclosed in Thomas Shimrock. et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,609,563. This system encompasses a method of vacuum coating ceramic substrate members with a slurry of refractory and/or catalyst metal components wherein precisely controlled, predetermined amounts of the slurry are metered for application to the ceramic monolithic substrate. The monolithic substrate is lowered into a vessel, also known as a dip pan, of preferably predetermined dimensions to a predetermined depth containing the precise amount of slurry which is to be coated onto the substrate. The slurry is then drawn up by a vacuum which is applied to the end of the substrate opposite to the end which is immersed in the bath. No draining or purging of excess coating slurry from the substrate is necessary nor is any pre-vacuum application step required to eliminate air.
A further improved method is disclosed Victor Rosynsky et al, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,866,210 entitled, "METHOD FOR COATING A SUBSTRATE." There is disclosed a vacuum infusion method for coating monolithic substrates in which each of the channels comprising the substrate is coated with the same thickness of the coating and is characterized by a uniform coating profile wherein each channel of the substrate is coated over the same length. In particular, the method is directed to a vacuum infusion method for coating a substrate having a plurality of channels with a coating media comprising:                a) partially immersing the substrate into a vessel containing a bath of the coating media, said vessel containing an amount of coating media sufficient to coat the substrate to a desired level without reducing the level of the coating media within the vessel to below the level of the immersed substrate;        b) applying a vacuum to the partially immersed substrate at an intensity and a time sufficient to draw the coating media upwardly from the bath into each of the channels to form a uniform coating profile therein; and        c) removing the substrate from the bath.
Optionally, after the coating media is applied to the substrate and as the substrate is being removed from the bath, a vacuum continues to be applied to the substrate at an intensity equal to or greater than the intensity of the vacuum imposed on the partially immersed substrate. After the vacuum is imposed, the substrate is inverted and coated from an opposite end producing two coatings having uniform coating profiles. This procedure is known to reduce the overlap of the coating media.
Overlap of the coating compound is particularly problematic to the automobile industry. The overlap area increases the delta pressure across the catalyst converter which adversely impacts engine performance and fuel consumption and increases the engine's wear. Equally problematic is where the coating compound has a gap in the middle which results from incomplete coverage during the coating procedure. This, too, may adversely affect converter and engine performance. However, where the substrate is inverted in order to coat both ends, it is extremely difficult to ensure that the coating materials will not overlap or gap to some extent. Even the smallest amount of overlap or gap negatively affects catalytic performance.
It would therefore be a significant benefit in the art of coating monolithic substrates and particularly monolithic substrates for use in catalytic converters if each channel can be coated with the same thickness of coating for the same length without any overlap or gap in the coating materials.

Method for applying a catalyst composition to the interior of a hollow substrate


A memory card connector includes an insulative housing, a plurality of contacts retained in the insulative housing, a card eject mechanism and metal shell attached to the insulative housing. The insulative housing defines a card receiving cavity for insertion of a memory card. The card eject mechanism includes a slider moveable along card-insertion or card-withdraw directions and a locking member fixed to the slider. The locking member includes a protrusion which forms a sideward dimple. The metal shell includes a top wall covering the card receiving cavity. The top wall defines a slit for receiving the protrusion. An arced surface of the dimple is driven to abut against an inner side of the slit in order to reduce friction therebetween.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to a memory card connector, and more particularly to a memory card connector with improved sliding structure to reduce friction.
2. Description of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 6,814,596 B2 discloses a conventional memory card connector mounted in an electronic device for insertion of a corresponding memory card. The memory card connector includes an insulative housing defining a card receiving cavity, a plurality of contacts retained in the insulative housing, an eject mechanism mounted on the insulative housing and a metal shell covering the card receiving cavity. The metal shell includes first and second guiding slits parallel with each other. The eject mechanism includes a slider moveable along a front-to-back direction and a locking piece fixed to the slider. The locking piece includes an upwardly plate-shaped extension which is selectively moveable in the first or the second guiding slits. However, take the first guiding slit for example, when the memory card connector is of long-time usage, there may be a small angle between the first guiding slit and the extension. Under this condition, a serious friction occurs between the first guiding slit and the extension to produce small metal chips. The terrible metal chips may make a short circuit between two conductive members, such as two contacts. As a result, the electronic device may be broken.
Hence, it is desired to have a memory card connector solving the problem above.

Memory card connector with improved sliding structure to reduce friction


A mobile tank container arranged to transport a liquid, comprising a circumferential wall which extends around an axis in a driving direction of the mobile tank container and two end walls which close the container volume at the front side and the rear side, wherein the tank container is provided with a valve gear comprising at least one valve which extends into the container volume, such that the valve, when used while the tank container is at least substantially full with liquid, comparatively allows circulation of liquid in the container volume in one tangential circulation direction around the axis or in one axial circulation direction along the axis, or a combination of the two directions, in the open position thereof, and that the valve comparatively impedes circulation of liquid in the opposite circulation direction in the closed position thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mobile tank container for transporting a liquid, comprising a circumferential wall which extends around an axis in a driving direction of the mobile tank container and which surrounds a container volume, and two end walls which, seen in the driving direction, close the container volume at the front side and the rear side.
2. Description of the Related Art
Such a mobile tank container is generally known, for example in the form of a truck tank container or a rail tank container, and typically has a capacity of 22,000-35,000 liters. The tank container is mounted on a driveable undercarriage, wherein the circumferential wall is mounted in a non-rotatable manner in relation to the undercarriage.
Such tank containers are frequently used for transporting liquids that consist of several components. When the mobile tank container is stationary, or during transport, said components may separate into lighter and heavier fractions, so that a non-homogeneous product exits the tank container when the tank container is emptied. Moreover, the heat or cold generated upon heating or cooling the product cannot readily spread over the contents because of a local heating or cooling effect and a poor heat transfer in the separated liquid.
In the prior art, stirring devices are placed in the liquid for mixing the liquid. Such stirring devices are heavy, costly and take up a great deal of space, and frequently they project above the circumferential wall, as a result of which the height of the tank container increases, which may be problematic in connection with maximum headroom regulations. Moreover, such devices are difficult to clean and need to be driven electrically. In some cases the stirring device is only placed in the tank container at the unloading site, to which end the tank container must be opened, which affects sterility and which, in addition, is a complex operation.

Mobile tank container provided with a valve gear for allowing circulation of a liquid


A circuit is presented for operating discrete integrated circuits from a common bias source by DC coupling the individual bias circuits of the discrete IC's together to eliminate signal coupling capacitors otherwise required between the discrete IC's, and to eliminate the individual bias bypass capacitors otherwise required for the discrete IC's.

For an integrated circuit (IC) to be powered from a single voltage power supply, a bias point is established internal or external to the chip. This may be done inside the IC as, for example, in the TA7630 IC manufactured by the Toshiba Company of Japan. In such a case, the bias voltage is available at a pin of the chip for coupling thereto a large filter capacitor since it is not practicable to put large capacitors within the circuit housing. In the alternative, the bias can be established external to the IC by an external resistor divider or zener diode circuits, as with respect to the TA9187 chip also manufactured by the Toshiba Company of Japan. Because of different IC designs, and IC to IC variations and other component tolerances, a tolerance in the magnitude of the bias voltage is to be expected. Because of this tolerance in the bias voltage, coupling capacitors are used to block this DC component from coupling between chips to prevent the difference tolerance voltage from being amplified. It is also necessary to filter each bias supply to eliminate crosstalk or feedback within the chip.
It is a common practice in integrated circuits, including integrated circuits having a bias supply generated internal to the IC, for providing bias to individual amplifier portions disposed within the same IC. In such a case, the bias supply and the individual portions within the chip are designed to operate with each other without signal coupling capacitors. In such a case, precautions are taken in the design of the chip to assure this compatibility within the chip. This is not the case for whole discrete IC's which can be operated along with other chips over which the IC designer has no control over.
Since the IC designer has no control over other external chips the specific IC will be used with, bias compatibility with other chips is not a design consideration. For such a case, the data sheets and applications notes for the IC chips specify that decoupling capacitors be used in the signal path and that there be isolation between bias supplies. This is done to assure that the specific IC chip will function as intended and as specified in the data sheets.
Some examples of IC's which provide an internal bias to individual portions within the same housing are shown in the RCA Integrated Circuits for Linear Applications Databook, copyrighted 1986 by the RCA Corporation, U.S.A. In particular, the block diagram of the CA3060 Operational Transconductance Amplifier Array shows three operational amplifiers with a bias regulator. The circuit for a tri-level comparator circuit shows each of the three operational amplifiers receiving bias from the bias regulator. A similar situation is shown in block diagrams for the CA3401, CA3450, CA3493, and CA5422 integrated circuits, and an applications note for the CA3130, all of which show operational amplifiers on the same chip receiving bias from a common bias network also on the chip and receiving power from the V+ terminal.
The present invention recognizes that if all discrete IC's were to operate with the same bias level, e.g. 1/2 of the same supply voltage which is coupled to some or all of the chips in a television receiver or the like, it would be possible to couple the bias/filter points together and force all of the IC's to be coupled to the same bias voltage. This would allow the discrete IC's to have the signal leads DC coupled and to eliminate the AC coupling capacitors otherwise required for coupling signal between chips. Additionally, the individual bias bypass capacitors required for each IC would not be required. Accordingly, it is desired to be able to eliminate signal coupling capacitors otherwise required between discrete IC's and to eliminate the individual bias bypass capacitors otherwise required for the discrete IC's.
As used herein, the terms discrete IC's and chips are intended to include monolithic circuits as well as non-monolithic circuits such as hybrid IC's and encapsulated modules.

Common bias circuit for a plurality of discrete IC's each having their own bias circuritry


A speaker device includes a voice coil bobbin around which a voice coil is wound, and a connecting member mounted on an outer peripheral wall of the voice coil bobbin. Plural ventilation holes are provided on a side wall of the voice coil bobbin with constant spaces, and plural ventilation holes are provided at a cylindrical part of the connecting member with constant spaces. Particularly, in this speaker device, each position of the ventilation holes of the connecting member coincides with each position of the ventilation holes of the voice coil bobbin in such a state that the connecting member is mounted on the outer peripheral wall of the voice coil bobbin.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a speaker device including an air circulating system.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, there is known an internal-magnet type speaker device including a magnetic circuit including a plane magnet, a plane plate and a pot-shaped yoke, and a vibration system including a terminal member having conductivity, a conductive damper into which a conductive member is knitted, a connecting member made of a resin material, a voice coil, a voice coil bobbin and a frame. In such a speaker device, the connecting member is mounted on the voice coil bobbin.
As the speaker device, there are known various kinds of speaker devices including radiation structure, for example.
For example, there is known a speaker device including an opening formed on an end side opposite to a bearing surface for holding a magnetic circuit made of a magnetic circuit holding member, a through hole passing through a circumferential surface of the magnetic circuit holding member, and a radiation fin formed to project in a rib state from an inner wall of the magnetic circuit holding member in order to sufficiently ensure a radiation effect of the heat generated in a voice coil (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open under No. 2003-299185, for example).
There is also known a speaker device capable of radiating the heat generated in a voice coil with high efficiency by connecting a voice coil bobbin made of a material having thermal conductivity and radiating pipes in a state ensuring the thermal conductivity and by arranging a large number of radiation fins on an inner peripheral surface of the radiation pipe (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open under No. 2002-78084, for example).
Further, there is known a speaker device capable of efficiently cooling the voice coil by using a material having good thermal conductivity for a bobbin (voice coil bobbin) and a center cap and by providing a slit in the bobbin (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open under No. 2002-142292, for example).


A medical connector and method of using the medical connector are provided. In one form, the medical connector includes an elongate main body having a longitudinal axis and a lumen extending axially therethrough, proximal and distal end portions of the elongate main body with the distal end portion being configured to be connected to a first tubular medical device, an auxiliary connection device having a port for being connected to a second tubular medical device, and an adjustable connection between the auxiliary connection device and the elongate main body that allows positioning of the port of the auxiliary connection device relative to the elongate main body to be adjustably selected by a user for ease in connecting the second tubular medical device to the auxiliary connection device.

In order to treat a blood vessel (vasculature) abnormally narrowed by arteriosclerosis or the like, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) is applied wherein a catheter having a dilation body at a distal end portion thereof is inserted into a stenosed site and the dilation body is inflated to expand the stenosed site thereby to improve the peripheral blood flow. This technique is carried out generally in the following manner. In particular, before a catheter with a dilation body (balloon catheter) is inserted into a blood vessel, a guiding catheter for introducing the catheter with the dilation body to the stenosed site is indwelled in the blood vessel. Then, the catheter with the dilation body is inserted through a Y connector which is a medical connector connected in advance to a proximal end portion of the guiding catheter.
A conventional Y connector includes a connector main body in which a lumen is provided into which the catheter with the dilation body can be inserted, and a branch which branches from a side face of the connector main body and has a side port provided at a distal end thereof. The branch is provided integrally with a body portion of the connector main body. At one end of the connector main body, a connection portion configured for connection to a proximal end portion of a guide catheter is provided for rotation around an axial line of the connector main body. At the other end of the connector main body, a cap portion rotatable around the axial line with respect to the connector main body is provided. Between the cap portion and the connector main body, a valve body is provided. The valve body is configured from an elastic member whose inner diameter varies in response to pressure applied thereto between the cap portion and the connector main body to open or close the lumen (refer to, for example, Japanese Patent No. 4472310).


The present invention provides transgenic plants with reduced levels of saturated fatty acids in the seed oil and methods of making these plants. The transgenic plants developed through this method contain reduced levels of saturated fatty acids in seed oil due to expression of a prokaryotic delta-9 desaturase enzyme (i.e. an enzyme that introduces cis double bonds at the delta-9 position of saturated fatty acids) operably linked with an endoplasmic reticulum retention and retrieval signal sequence. One example of the invention is a plant expressing a heterologous delta-9 desaturase enzyme from cyanobacterium Anacystis nidulans, which converts lipid-bound 16:0 and 18:0 fatty acids into corresponding 16:1 and 18:1, in operative linkage with a KKSS (SEQ ID NO:5) endoplasmic reticulum retention and retrieval signal sequence.

There has been significant interest in altering fatty acid (FA) metabolism in plants in order to create plant-derived oils designed for specific purposes. The properties of the oil are determined by its fatty acid composition, which affects both nutritional composition and oxidative stability.
The level of saturated FAs in various types of fats and oils is a major health concern. Hence, there has been increasing pressure in the market to provide plant oils with lower saturated FA content. The main components of saturated fatty acid in most vegetable oil are 16:0 (palmitic acid) and 18:0 (stearic acid).
In the vegetable oil market, oil having less than 7% saturated FA content can be labeled "low-sat" and oil having less than 3.5% saturated FA content can be labelled "no-sat". Canola (Brassica napus) seed oil is typically low in saturated fatty acid, but it is difficult to keep the saturated fatty acid level below the "low-sat" threshold of 7% saturated FA content.
Previous attempts have been made to address this problem. For example, transgenic plants have been made that contain heterologous plant genes involved in fatty acid metabolism (see for example: Shah S, Weselake R (2003) Farming For the Future, AARI project #19990032, Final Report, pp. 1-82; and Yao et al. Plant Biotech J 2003, 1:221). However, these transgenic plants showed little or no reduction of saturated fatty acid in the transgenic plant. For example, Yao et al. (2003) report a 1 to 2% decrease in saturated FA level associated with expression of the ADS1 gene from Arabidopsis in B. juncea seeds.
In this context, prokaryotic genes provide an attractive alternative to plant genes, however prokaryotic proteins often show limited or no activity in a plant background (see e.g. Hahn J J, Eschenlauer A C, Narrol M H, Somers D A, Srienc F (1997) Growth kinetics, nutrient uptake, and expression of the Alcaligenes eutrophus poly(β-hydroxybutyrate) synthesis pathway in transgenic maize cell suspension cultures. Biotech Prog 13: 347-354).
It has been shown previously that the nutritional value of plant seed oil can be improved by making transgenic plants that express a heterologous delta-6 desaturase enzyme (derived from cyanobacteria, borage, or evening primrose) to 5 effect the conversion of linoleic acid (ClsA9, 12), a polyunsaturated fatty acid, to gamma-linolenic acid (GLA, Cl8A6,9,12) (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,552,306; 5,614,393; 5,663,068; 5,689,050 5,789,220; 6,355,861; 6,683,232; and us patent application publication No.: 20040078845). Linoleic acid (ClsA9,12) is an LO essential dietary constituent that cannot be synthesized by vertebrates and is usually obtained from plant sources; vertebrate cells can introduce double bonds at the delta-9 position of fatty acids but cannot introduce additional double bonds between the delta-9 double bond and the methyl-15 terminus of the fatty acid chain. Linoleic acid can be converted by mammals to gamma-linolenic acid (GLA, ClsA6,9,12), which in turn can be converted to arachidonic acid (20:4), an essential precursor of most prostaglandins.
Accordingly, there remains a need for transgenic plants that can provide seed oil having lower levels of saturated fatty acids.

Transgenic plants with reduced level of saturated fatty acid and methods for making them


A fluoroscopic image guided surgery system, comprising a C-arm fluoroscope for obtaining fluoroscopic images of an object bone, the C-arm fluoroscope including at least one set of emitters; a reference bar capable of attaching to an object bone, the reference bar including emitters; a surgical instrument for performing an operation, the instrument including emitters; a digitizer system in communication with the at least one set of emitters of the C-arm fluoroscope, the emitters of the reference bar, and the emitters of the surgical instrument so that the digitizer system can determine a position of each of the C-arm fluoroscope, the reference bar, and the surgical instrument; and a single fiducial marker for attachment to an object bone, the single fiducial marker being visible in the fluoroscopic images for determining a position of an object bone relative to the digitizer system.

In orthopaedic surgery it is often necessary to insert a guide pin for a cannulated screw, drill bit, or other screw (hereafter referred to as a fixation device) into a bone at a predetermined trajectory. Pre-operative planning depends on two-dimensional radiographic images which typically consist of two views taken at approximately right angles to one another. From these two views it is possible to determine the shape and structure of a long bone. Using that method, the path of insertion for a guide pin for a cannulated screw, drill bit, or screw is accurately determined. However, in practice the actual aiming of a fixation device is an inaccurate art, as the object bone is often seen only at one surface or is not seen at all and, therefore, positioning is dependent on fluoroscopic visualization. This method is also time consuming as the C-arm images must be taken separately and the drapes must be rearranged each time an image is taken. As bony tissue is unyielding, the track of the pin or drill bit is determined by the angular approach before entering the object bone. This angular approach is difficult to determine under normal circumstances and often multiple attempts are needed, as feedback is obtained from repeated fluoroscopic images. Existing methods of calculating the proper angle of guide pin for a cannulated hip screw insertion for hip pinning involve placing data manually into a computer program, which in turn outputs an angle of guide pin for a cannulated hip screw insertion.
Radiation exposure is a necessary part of any procedure for calculating the proper angle of a guide pin, drill bit, or screw insertion. Radiation exposure is considered to be a hazard. Ionizing radiation has no safe threshold of exposure below which it ceases to have adverse effects, although an arbitrary level is assumed. There has been a recent upward revision of risk estimates of radiation exposure, but absolute levels of safe exposure remain unknown. Exposure to the surgical team as well as the patient during orthopaedic procedures using fluoroscopy is a universal concern. Consequently, a reduction in the amount of radiation exposure is highly desirable.
Operative stereotactic localization using either frames or three-dimensional digitizers is currently being used in neurosurgery or otoloaryngology. Those methods require the use of computed axial tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) prior to surgery. They also involve placing markers on the scalp prior to the imaging study of the head. The markers must be left in the same position until surgery is performed in order to confirm intraoperative registration. Such imaging studies are routinely performed for most intracranial procedures but are impractical for most orthopaedic procedures, especially those involving long bones. A probe marked with light emitting diodes (LEDs) or other digitizing emitters is used to localize these markers or pins using a three-dimensional digitizing device at the time of surgery. A disadvantage of this system is that the images are normally obtained hours before use; thus, the images used are not up to date (real time) and are often not reflective of the current condition of the object bone.
Registration markers cannot be used on the outside of the body in most orthopaedic cases as the skin does not adhere to the underlying bone. Pre-operative registration for robotic placement of the femoral components for total hip arthroplasty requires the use of a separate procedure to insert screws for such markers. Such a separate procedure is highly impractical for routine orthopaedic procedures.
An alternative method of registration for image guided surgery requires wide operative exposure, such as in pedicle screw insertion in spine surgery. The various fiducials are determined by touching prominent or distinctive anatomic points with a digitizing probe as employed by the stereotactic localization system. Furthermore, the system also requires preoperative computed axial tomography.
A system using fluoroscopic images to guide the insertion of a fixation device employs tracking with a three-dimensional optical digitizer. This optical digitizer is used to determine the position in six degrees of freedom of a portable fluoroscopy machine ("C-arm fluoroscope") and the object region of the skeleton. Light emitting diodes ("LEDs") are placed in distinctive patterns on the C-arm. Another set of LEDs are attached to the bone with a percutaneous screw device, such as a reference bar. A computer program records these positions in relation to an optical position sensor.
X-rays are then taken with the C-arm fluoroscope with the two positions of the tube at approximate right angles to one another. The optical position sensor can thus determine where the C-arm is positioned in relation to LED markers attached to the reference bar attached to the object section of the skeleton. The exact position is determined by using two-dimensional image registration, matching the outline of the bone in two planes. In this system, three or more distinctly shaped radiographic markers are attached to threaded tipped registration pins inserted percutaneously. Thus, the object portion of the skeleton is localized in six degrees of freedom by the optical digitizer.
The computer program relates the position of the object bone with or without fiducial markers in the two fields to determine the exact relative position of the object bone seen on the two images. Once those two images are displayed on monitors, no further x-rays are needed. Thus, a substantial reduction in the amount of ionizing radiation results. The images displayed are those familiar to the surgeon but with the usual distortion eliminated.
A drill with attached LEDs inserts the fixation device in the position in the bone that the surgeon chooses based on the supplied information. The three-dimensional optical digitizer determines the position of the drill in relation to the optical digitizer camera and the object section of the skeleton with its fiducials. A graphic display of the fixation device of predetermined length is then overlaid on the images of the object bone in near real time. Thus, the position of the inserted pin or drill bit can be adjusted immediately.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Fluoroscopic image guided orthopaedic surgery system with intraoperative registration


The plate-fin heat exchanger includes a first fluid pathway running along a first axis, a second fluid pathway running along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, and a blocker bar having an inlet face and an outlet face. The blocker bar inlet face coincides with a heat exchanger face. The blocker bar is at an inlet of the second fluid pathway and receives a second fluid. The outlet face of the blocker bar is at the inlet of the second fluid pathway. The blocker bar includes a set of spaced apart pores that extend from the inlet face to the outlet face.

The present invention generally relates to high-temperature plate-fin heat exchangers. Such heat exchangers may include a cold fluid pathway and a hot fluid pathway. The heat exchanger may be used to heat cold fluid (e.g., outside air) and/or cool hot fluid (e.g., cooling fluid from an engine). Plate-fin heat exchangers may operate with any combination of fluids (gas, liquid, or two-phase fluid). The hot fluid may include transient changes in temperature due to various operating conditions (e.g., increased heat from engine throttling).
Such transient changes in temperature create gradients throughout the heat exchanger that may cause degraded performance and/or operating life due to thermal fatigue of tube sheets with the heat exchanger. High-temperature heat exchangers may be especially susceptible to fatigue at the hot/hot corner (the corner at the hot inlet and cold outlet) and the hot/cold corner (the corner at the hot inlet and the cold inlet).
Accordingly, there is a need for a heat exchanger with improved resistance to thermal fatigue.
In one aspect of the present invention, a plate-fin heat exchanger adapted to reduce thermal fatigue, includes a cold fluid pathway running along a first axis, a hot fluid pathway running along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, and at least one porous blocker bar running along the first axis, where the porous blocker bar includes a set of pores adapted to control flow along the hot fluid pathway and coupled to an inlet of the hot fluid pathway.
In another aspect of the present invention, a porous blocker bar adapted for use in a plate-fin heat exchanger includes a front face, a rear face, and multiple pores, each of the pores spanning from the front face to the rear face.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, a method of configuring a porous blocker bar for use in a plate-fin heat exchanger includes: receiving dimensional parameters, evaluating the received parameters, calculating design parameters at least partly based on the received parameters, and storing the calculated design parameters.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

Plate-fin heat exchanger with a porous blocker bar


A system and method to detect and quantify integration errors in a transit time ultrasonic flow meter uses dissimilar integration methods or schemes employed simultaneously. In a preferred embodiment, a number of chordal paths are arranged in a single meter body such that at least two dissimilar chordal integration schemes can be used to determine the flow rate. At least one of the chordal paths is common to both integration schemes. The total number of chordal paths needed in any chordal measurement plane is less than the sum of the chordal paths used in each of the integration schemes (as is the sum of the planes), thereby reducing hardware requirements.

This invention generally relates to self-checking flow meters based on the principles of ultrasonic transit time measurement. More specifically, the invention relates to a self-checking, transit time ultrasonic flowmeter which uses two or more chordal integration methods within a single meter body.
Because transit time ultrasonic flowmeters are capable of high accuracy performance over a wide range of application conditions, the meters have been adopted in applications ranging from custody transfer of hydrocarbons to measurement of nuclear feed water flows.
To achieve their high accuracy, transit time ultrasonic flowmeters commonly employ multiple pairs of transducers to infer velocity on a number of discrete chordal planes. The velocity measurements can then be combined, along with information on geometry, to produce a measure of volumetric flowrate, Q.
For the purpose of this disclosure, a path is an intended route of ultrasound transmission through the fluid between two transducers. A chordal path (or chord) is a path confined to a single chordal plane. A chordal plane is a plane that intersects two points on the boundary of a conduit and extends in a direction that is parallel with the central axis of the conduit.
Because velocity is continuous but can only be sampled on a number of discrete paths though the conduit, the meters can be prone to integration error. Because of this error, the measured flowrate derived from the velocity on multiple paths is not equal to the true flowrate. Even if the individual chordal path velocity measurements made by the meter have no intrinsic errors, identifying or quantifying the integration errors can be quite challenging. One way of identifying the integration error is to compare, using chordal integration methods, flow rate measurement results from different chordal integration methods in a single meter.
Chordal integration methods have been used in transit time ultrasonic flowmeters since the late 1960's. By choosing the path locations and combining the individual velocity measurements linearly according to rules for numerical integration, the result can represent the velocity integrated or averaged over the cross-section, and hence the volumetric flowrate, i.e.
            v      _        =                  ∑                  i          =          1                N                                                              w          i                                  v                                (                          h              i                        )                                    Q    =                            v          _                        A            =              A                                      ∑                          i              =              1                        N                                                                                w              i                                                  v                                            (                                  h                  i                                )                                                        where Q is volumetric flowrate, v is average velocity, A is cross-sectional area, v(hi) is the path velocity at distance hi, and wi is the factor used to weight the velocity measurement before summation as illustrated in FIG. 1. Chord locations (hi) and weighting factors (wi) based on the rules of Gaussian integration are commonly chosen, based on either Legendre or Jacobi polynomials. Alternative integration schemes such as Chebyshev or Lobatto methods can also be applied.
More recently ultrasonic flow measurement methods have been developed which make use of two independent measurement systems in order to attempt to identify measurement errors. Examples include the combination of a 4-path chordal measurement with a single-path chordal measurement (see e.g. FIG. 3) and the combination of two 4-path chordal measurements (see e.g. FIG. 4). Although these new methods are generally better at detecting measurement errors than their predecessor methods, they are prone to other operating problems and are deficient when it comes to detection of integration errors.
In the case of the first method, the single-path measurement is much more sensitive to velocity profile changes than the 4-path chordal measurement. Therefore, the meter has a tendency to trigger an alarm at a level where the 4-path chordal measurement is still accurate.
The second method is potentially subject to "common mode" errors. Because the two 4-path chordal measurement systems are similar, any error common to both systems can be equal and, therefore, go undetected. To avoid this problem it is desirable to use two or more dissimilar multi-path chordal integration methods and that, in turn, increases overall hardware requirements. For example, to compare a 3-chord integration with a 4-chord integration, the meter body is required to have measurement paths in 7 chordal planes in total.
A need exists for an transit time ultrasonic flow meter that can accurately and reliably detect integration errors, avoids the deficiencies of the prior art methods, and reduces the overall hardware requirements that the use of dissimilar chordal measurement systems presents.

Ultrasonic meter employing two or more dissimilar chordal multipath integration methods in one body


A method and an apparatus for generating images are provided. The method includes generating a first sinogram for a state of an object from among states of the object based on a motion of the object, and a second sinogram for the states, based on data obtained from the object, and determining a region of interest (ROI) of the object based on the first sinogram. The method further includes extracting, from the second sinogram, third sinograms corresponding to the ROI, and estimating motion information of the ROI based on the third sinograms. The method further includes correcting the data based on the motion information.

1. Field
The following description relates to methods and apparatuses for generating images.
2. Description of the Related Art
A diagnostic image of an object may be obtained by using gamma rays emitted from radioactive isotopes injected into the object, or may be obtained by emitting radioactive rays, such as X-rays, to the object and measuring an amount of the radioactive rays absorbed by the object. However, noise may be present in the diagnostic image due to a motion of the object while the diagnostic image of the object is obtained.

Method and apparatus for generating image


An electromagnetic interference suppressing body is provided for suppressing electromagnetic interference by undesirable electromagnetic waves. The body can have a conductive support element and a non-conductive soft magnetic layer provided on at least one surface. The electromagnetic interference suppressing body may be used in circuit board electronic equipment and in a hybrid integrated circuit element having an active element and a passive element mounted on a circuit board.

The present invention relates to an electromagnetic interference suppressing body for use in suppressing electromagnetic interference by any useless or undesired electromagnetic wave or waves, and also relates to an electric circuit device using the electromagnetic interference suppressing body.
In digital and/or high frequency electric circuit devices, small size and light weight are strongly desired and, therefore, electronic parts are required to be mounted on a printed circuit board as well as in an electric circuit device with a high density.
When electronic parts and wiring conductive lines are mounted on a circuit board, electromagnetic interference is caused by electrostatic and/or magnetic coupling between electronic parts and/or wiring conductive lines. Further, if a plurality of circuit boards are disposed adjacent to one another, electromagnetic interference is also caused between the adjacent circuit boards. In particular, the electromagnetic interference is severe when active elements such as semiconductor devices are mounted on the circuit board or boards because the active elements radiate undesired electromagnetic wave or inductive noise.
In the prior art, suppress of the electromagnetic interference was tried by means of connecting a low-pass filter or noise filter to each output terminal of the circuit board or by means of keeping a circuit in question at a distance. However, they require a space for disposing the filter or filters and/or a space for giving the distance. As a result, the device is made large in size and weight.
For suppressing electromagnetic coupling between adjacent circuit boards, a conductive shielding member was disposed between the circuit boards. However, the shielding member cannot prevent reflection of an undesired radiation from one circuit board, so that the reflection increases magnetic coupling between parts on the circuit board.
Hybrid integrated circuit elements are known as electronic circuit elements of a high density and a small size and are usually mounted on a mother board or boards in the electric circuit device. In the condition, the hybrid integrated circuit elements also suffer from electromagnetic interference.

Electronic device having the electromagnetic interference suppressing body


The present invention provides compositions of purified cells that are selectively enriched for proliferating hematopoietic progenitor cells. These cells are both CD34 positive and express a galactose-binding surface structure. Methods for the purification and use of these cells, for example, in improving transplantations and reducing graft-versus-host disease also are provided.

Extent of Relevant Hematopoietic Diseases, and Blood/Bone Marrow Transplantation. Currently, bone marrow, cytokine-mobilized peripheral blood, and cord blood are used as sources of hematopoietic cells for both autologous (same-individual) and allogeneic (histocompatibility-matched individuals) transplant. The availability of purified populations of functional hematopoietic cells is important to both types of procedure. The use of bone marrow transplantation in the United States has grown from a few individuals in the late 1960s, to over 10,000 per year in the United States, and over 6,000 in Europe..sup.20-22 Bone marrow transplantation is performed for a variety of reasons. Autologous transplants are used primarily as a salvage procedure in which blood or bone marrow is taken and stored prior to an intensification of radiation or chemotherapy. This procedure is rapidly becoming an important adjuvant for the treatment of breast cancer, and other solid tumors. Autologous transplants also are used to treat hematological disorders such as lymphomas, and leukemia, although differences exist in the primary indication for this treatment modality between the U.S. and Europe..sup.20 Likewise, allogeneic blood or bone marrow transplantation are used in the treatment of hematological malignancies, aplastic anemia, a number of congenital disorders, and immunodeficiency disorders..sup.21
Although the success of blood and bone marrow transplantation is undisputed, many difficulties still exist with the procedure, and, unfortunately, a number of patients cannot have, or do not survive, the procedure. Three major risk factors affect the outcome of bone marrow transplantation: purging of contaminating cancer cells, Graft Versus Host Disease (GVHD), and donor availability. Each of these can be reduced by the use of the functionally defined population of cells described above. In the case of autologous transplant, one of the mechanisms of disease-relapse is that malignant cells are infused with the hematopoietic cells. Thus, transplant cell preparations must be manipulated (i.e., purged) to remove malignant cells. The most effective way to do this is to positively select only the (functional) hematopoietic cells, therefor discarding the negative (cancer) cells. The use of the isolated functional cells described above improves the selection of hematopoietic cells by a factor of 10, thus greatly improving selection against contaminating malignant cells. In allogeneic transplants a major problem is that the immune cells in the donor marrow (i.e., the graft) immunologically reject the recipient's (i.e., the host) tissues. Thus, it is important in allogeneic to give as few donor cells as possible in order to prevent GVHD. Again, the use of lectin-positive cells will allow a 10-fold reduction in the number of cells given. These cells also might improve donor availability as the reduction in GVHD incidence could allow the use of donors with minor histo-compatibility mis-matches. Finally, the ability to purify functional hematopoietic cells will provide an excellent target cell population for gene therapy approaches to treating molecular diseases.
Hematopoiesis, the process by which mature blood cells are produced throughout the lifespan of the individual (producing on the order of 10.sup.11 -10.sup.12 blood cells per day) is tightly controlled. During blood cell development, cell:cell interactions, hematopoietic growth factors, and other microenvironmental molecules all function in cohort to regulate the production of distinct blood cell lineages within the bone marrow. Hematopoietic cells express a remarkable variety of cell-surface structures that mediate these interactions.(1) Among these cell surface antigens, CD34, a 105-120 kDa glycoprotein, is expressed on the surface of human hematopoietic cells, and thus serves as an antigenic marker for their isolation and characterization.(2-4) CD34.sup.+ cell populations also contain cells capable of both short-term, and long-term in vivo hematopoietic reconstitution.(5) The purification of such subsets of human hematopoietic cells using CD34 and/or other surface-markers, therefore, is important for their utility in bone marrow transplantation, and for their usefulness in understanding human stem cell biology. The functional characterization of human hematopoietic cells is dependent on in vitro assays.(6) However, these assays show that not all CD34.sup.+ cells are functional in vitro, as only 10-20% of CD34.sup.+ cells proliferate to give rise to colonies, or clones of differentiated progeny.(7-9) Other antigenic markers are used in conjunction with CD34 to further isolate and/or characterize hematopoietic cells. For example, the expression of the HLA-DR histocompatibility antigen defines more mature hematopoietic progenitor cells, and its absence, more primitive cells; other antigens, such as CD 71, Thy-1 or CD 45Ra, also mark more primitive cells.(10-12) None of these antigens, however, are expressed solely on the functional subset of CD34.sup.+ cells, i.e., the proliferating and, hence, clonigenic cells. Therefore, the identification of a cell surface structure which solely identifies proliferating CD34.sup.+ cells would represent an effective means for the isolation of these cells for clinical or scientific purposes. We report that all proliferating CD34.sup.+ cells are found within a distinct subpopulation that expresses galactose-specific cell-surface lectins.