To make a call, a calling-end terminal station (3) notifies a call-up control unit (71) of a communications network (7) of the terminal station number of a called-end terminal station (5) so as to cause it to stand by for a connection. The calling-end terminal station (3) notifies a calling party information server (9) of the calling-end-terminal-station number and the called-end-terminal-station number and instructs it to transmit to the called-end terminal station (5) calling party information stored in advance for the caller and called parties. The calling party information server (9) transmits the calling party information to the called-end terminal station (5) which in turn instructs the call-up control unit (71) to exit standby mode. This amounts to the communications network (7) calling up the called-end terminal station (5), resulting in the called-end terminal station (5) reproducing the received calling party information to alert the user to the call from the calling-end terminal station (3). If the user accepts the call, voice communication is started between the calling-end terminal station (3) and the called-end terminal station (5). A communications system is thereby realized whereby alert data to alert to a call can be altered according to the calling party with no settings at the called end.

In mobile phone and other communications systems where the phone number of a calling party is conveyed to a called party, those mobile phones are used which are capable of conveying, in response to an incoming call, information on the calling party based on settings specified by a user in advance. For example, if the mobile phone has an address book where the mobile phone user has saved combinations of phone numbers and names, the mobile phone searches the address book for a name which matches the calling party's phone number received together with an incoming call and, if there is a match, displays that name. The user is thereby notified of the name of the calling party and can decide whether to accept the call by, for example, guessing its importance beforehand. Some new mobile phones are capable of displaying a portrait, as well as the name, of the calling party by additionally storing portraits in the address book.
There are also mobile phones in use equipped with an address book which may allow the mobile phone user to separate the phone numbers into groups and assign a different jingle to a different group. The phone will search the address book for a match based on the calling party's phone number and replay the jingle of the group to which the phone number belongs. The user can tell one group from another by the jingles.
These conventional technologies inevitably require that settings be made on the called end to make reference to the address book in the mobile phone at the called end. Setting up becomes increasingly bothersome as more and more people are added to the address book.
These problems are particularly serious with recent mobile phones and other communications devices capable of displaying character images and animation. Although the devices provide a wider variety of expressions which are easily and intuitively distinguishable, the creation of an intuitively identifiable character image or animation for each calling party tends to require increasing amounts of work.

Method of calling up called party, communication equipment, calling party information server, and calling control device


The invention relates to a device for the optical display of information regarding the actual operating state of a liquid system and/or for setting parameters for a set operating state of the liquid system, comprising a housing (12) arranged in the area of the operation of the liquid system, a display unit (14), accommodated by the housing (12), for optical display of the information in electronic form, and actuating device (16), accommodated by the housing (12), for setting at least one parameter and a, in particular electronic, control unit (18; 44) for processing and/or conditioning of data and/or signals referring to the actual or set operating state of the liquid system, and their use.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a device for the optical representation of information on the actual operating state of a liquid system and/or for setting at least one parameter for a set operating state of the liquid system, and use of same.
2. Description of Related Art
Devices of this kind are generally known. According to prior art, the liquid content of tanks is usually shown by sight glasses mounted directly on the tank. Such sight glasses are, however, not suitable for determining the exact liquid content, but can usually only be regarded as an approximate measure of the actual amount of liquid. Furthermore according to prior art, on aircraft devices are known for indicating the amount of water, that are fitted with a pointer corresponding to FIG. 4, or two pointers corresponding to FIG. 5. Such water amount indicators have, however, been shown to have disadvantages due to their design. On one hand, all these water amount indicators are based on measuring instruments that operate on the analog principle, which necessarily leads to inaccuracies in the reproduction of the actual amount of liquid in the tank. A not insignificant result of this is that the reading of the actual liquid content of the tank by operating personnel is comparatively expensive and not particularly reliable, because of the inaccurate scaling of such water amount indicating devices. Furthermore, it also not possible with these water amount indicating devices to set parameters for a set operating state of the liquid system.

Device for the optical representation of information on the actual operating state of a liquid system, and use of same


An automated analysis system detects malicious code within a computer system by generating and subsequently analyzing a behavior pattern for each computer program introduced to the computer system. Generation of the behavior pattern is accomplished by a virtual machine invoked within the computer system. An initial analysis may be performed on the behavior pattern to identify infected programs on initial presentation of the program to the computer system. The analysis system also stores behavior patterns and sequences with their corresponding analysis results in a database. Newly infected programs can be detected by analyzing a newly generated behavior pattern for the program with reference to a stored behavior pattern to identify presence of an infection or payload pattern.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of computer security and specifically to the detection of computer programs that exhibit malicious or self-propagating behavior including, for example, computer viruses and trojans.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Detection of viruses has been a concern throughout the era of the personal computer. With the growth of communication networks such as the Internet and increasing interchange of data, including the rapid growth in the use of e-mail for communications, the infection of computers through communications or file exchange is an increasingly significant consideration. Infections take various forms, but are typically related to computer viruses, trojan programs, or other forms of malicious code. Recent incidents of e-mail mediated virus attacks have been dramatic both for the speed of propagation and for the extent of damage, with Internet service providers (ISPs) and companies suffering service problems and a loss of e-mail capability. In many instances, attempts to adequately prevent file exchange or e-mail mediated infections significantly inconvenience computer users. Improved strategies for detecting and dealing with virus attacks are desired.
One conventional technique for detecting viruses is signature scanning. Signature scanning systems use sample code patterns extracted from known malicious code and scan for the occurrence of these patterns in other program code. In some cases program code that is scanned is first decrypted through emulation, and the resulting code is scanned for signatures or function signatures. A primary limitation of this signature scanning method is that only known malicious code is detected, that is, only code that matches the stored sample signatures of known malicious code is identified as being infected. All viruses or malicious code not previously identified and all viruses or malicious code created after the last update to the signature database will not be detected. Thus, newly created viruses are not detected by this method; neither are viruses with code in which the signature, previously extracted and contained in the signature database, has been overwritten.
In addition, the signature analysis technique fails to identify the presence of a virus if the signature is not aligned in the code in the expected fashion. Alternately, the authors of a virus may obscure the identity of the virus by opcode substitution or by inserting dummy or random code into virus functions. Nonsense code can be inserted that alters the signature of the virus to a sufficient extent as to be undetectable by a signature scanning program, without diminishing the ability of the virus to propagate and deliver its payload.
Another virus detection strategy is integrity checking. Integrity checking systems extract a code sample from known, benign application program code. The code sample is stored, together with information from the program file such as the executable program header and the file length, as well as the date and time of the sample. The program file is checked at regular intervals against this database to ensure that the program file has not been modified. Integrity checking programs generate long lists of modified files when a user upgrades the operating system of the computer or installs or upgrades application software. A main disadvantage of an integrity check based virus detection system is that a great many warnings of virus activity issue when any modification of an application program is performed. It is difficult for a user to determine when a warning represents a legitimate attack on the computer system.
Checksum monitoring systems detect viruses by generating a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) value for each program file. Modification of the program file is detected by a variation in the CRC value. Checksum monitors improve on integrity check systems in that it is more difficult for malicious code to defeat the monitoring. On the other hand, checksum monitors exhibit the same limitations as integrity checking systems in that many false warnings issue and it is difficult to identify which warnings represent actual viruses or infection.
Behavior interception systems detect virus activity by interacting with the operating system of the target computer and monitoring for potentially malicious behavior. When such malicious behavior is detected, the action is blocked and the user is informed that a potentially dangerous action is about to take place. The potentially malicious code can be allowed to perform this action by the user. This makes the behavior interception system somewhat unreliable, because the effectiveness of the system depends on user input. In addition, resident behavior interception systems are sometimes detected and disabled by malicious code.
Another conventional strategy for detecting infections is the use of bait files. This strategy is typically used in combination with other virus detection strategies to detect an existing and active infection. This means that the malicious code is presently running on the target computer and is modifying files. The virus is detected when the bait file is modified. Many viruses are aware of bait files and do not modify files that are either too small, obviously a bait file because of their structure or have a predetermined content in the file name.
It is apparent that improved techniques for detecting viruses and other malicious types of code are desirable.

Computer immune system and method for detecting unwanted code in a computer system


A skin care product is provided. The skin care product includes a multi-component skin care composition disposed in a multi-chamber container. The multi-component skin care composition includes an aqueous carrier component and a nicotinamide riboside component disposed in separate chambers, which prevents these components from contacting one another prior to use. The aqueous carrier component and the nicotinamide riboside component can be separated from one another by one or more fluid impermeable dividing members and/or activatable elements, which upon activation enable contact between the aqueous carrier component and nicotinamide riboside component.

Skin conditions include some of the most common disorders treated in the developing world, and treating such conditions has led to a booming skin care industry, which generates billions of dollars in sales each year. Different skin conditions are associated with widely varied triggers, biological mechanisms, environmental factors, and clinical manifestations. For example, as people age, intrinsic factors related to the biochemical changes within the skin typically result in visible signs of skin aging such as wrinkling and other forms of roughness (including increased pore size, flaking and skin lines) and/or uneven skin pigmentation (e.g., age spots or melasma). In some instances, lifestyle choices and exposure to the environment may allow extrinsic factors such as ultraviolet radiation, pollution (e.g., engine exhaust, cigarette smoke, smog), wind, heat, low humidity, harsh surfactants, abrasives, and the like to damage the skin, leading to undesirable skin appearance. As a result, a multitude of cosmetic skin care products have been developed that contain skin care agents tailored to treat common skin conditions.
An example of skin care agents known for use in skin care products are Vitamin B3 compounds such as niacin and its derivatives. U.S. Pat. No. 4,096,240 refers to niacin as effective in skin lightening. U.S. Pat. No. 8,106,184 discloses treating skin or epithelial cells with a nicotinoyl riboside or derivative compound that increases the level of intracellular nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide NAD+ to treat skin afflictions or skin conditions such as disorders or diseases associated with or caused by inflammation, sun damage or natural aging. U.S. Publication No. 2005/0267023 discloses methods and compositions for modulating the life span of a cell or its resistance to stress, for example, by contacting the cell with nicotinamide riboside to stimulate the NAD+ salvage pathway in the cell. PCT Pub. No. WO 2015/066382 ("Deren-Lewis") relates to methods of using nicotinamide riboside to promote the increase of intracellular levels of (NAD+) in cells and tissues for improving cell and tissue survival. Deren-Lewis discloses the use of topical nicotinamide riboside compositions for treating a variety of skin conditions by modulating the NAD+ pathway.
It has recently been found that nicotinamide riboside ("NR") may be a particularly suitable skin care agent. But incorporating NR into an aqueous cosmetic composition such as an emulsified skin care composition can be problematic. Many cosmetic compositions include water, and NR tends to hydrolyze in the presence of water. The hydrolysis of NR in skin care compositions has not been appreciated before now. The rate and amount of hydrolysis depends on the amount of water present, the length of time the NR is exposed to the water and the temperature. See, "Kinetic a-Deuterium Isotope Effects for Enzymatic and Nonenzymatic Hydrolysis of Nicotinamide-β-Riboside" by Ferraz, et al., Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Vol. 191, No. 2, pp. 431-436, 1978. Thus, by the time a consumer is ready to use an NR-containing cosmetic product, the NR may be substantially degraded or no longer present. In some instances, it may even be desirable to incorporate NR into ingestible compositions such as beverages, which typically include a substantial amount of water. In these instances, it is particularly important to minimize or prevent hydrolysis of NR in the composition.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to inhibit and/or prevent hydrolysis of the NR in an aqueous composition by separating the NR from the water-containing portions of the composition prior to use or dispensing.


Baklava, a well-known and popular confection, typically requires preservatives to have a long shelf life. The present technology preserves the baklava naturally by homogenizing the baklava, partially or fully, until it is malleable with the hand. The malleable version thereof made into a regular shape such as a sphere and then covered with an edible sealant such as melting chocolate such that the moisture is substantially maintained in the baklava over a period of, at least, weeks.

Baklava is typically prepared with layers of filo dough (defined herein as "a very thin (no more than 1 cm) unleavened dough" where "dough" is defined herein as "an elastic malleable paste with flour or a flour substitute which is created for the purpose of baking into an edible food product"). Each layer of filo dough is separated with a fat, such as oil or butter. A layer of nuts or fillings, butter or oil and or spices are included between some or all of the layers, the nuts being walnuts, pistachios, hazelnuts, or the like. The ingredients described in this paragraph are then baked and a syrup such as honey or simple syrup is poured there-over. What is described in this paragraph is collectively defined as "Baklava" for the purposes of this disclosure.
Like many traditional foods, and even non-traditional foods, baklava is best served fresh. While some versions can last for multiple weeks especially if stabilizers and/or refrigeration is used, the freshness leaves the baklava in the form of moisture loss or the like. One who is an expert in the field of baklava as well as an ordinary occasional taster of baklava will readily appreciate (or unappreciate) that baklava is no longer "fresh" after three or four days. For purposes of this disclosure, "fresh" is defined as "not yet noticeably changed by time according to the ordinary observer", "not yet substantially changed by time", and/or "retaining at least 95% of the water content as when originally created."
While the problem of keeping foods fresh has partially been "solved" by the use of preservatives and refrigeration, moisture loss is still prevalent and freshness decreases. Still further, this "solution" changes traditional baklava into something with chemicals and undesired additional compositions. Thus, there is a need to retain the freshness of newly made baklava (for purposes of this disclosure, "new baklava" is defined as "made within three days") without the use of preservatives, other than sugar, or refrigeration.

Preserving baklava by mincing into truffle


Improvements to a portable fire extinguisher are disclosed. The improvements allow for frequent and simpler untrained and automatic self servicing of a fire extinguisher. The improvements include an anti-bridging mechanism that can be articulated from the exterior of the chamber to fluff, mix or stir the powder within the chamber to keep it in a liquefied state. Additional improvements include a larger opening to more quickly fill and inspect the powder within the chamber. Another improvement includes the use of a CO2 canister located external to the chamber to allow easier servicing or replacement of just the CO2 canister as well as the ability to maintain the chamber in an un-pressurized condition, allows for non-HASMAT shipping. These features will extend the service intervals while maintaining the fire extinguisher in a ready condition.

Most portable fire extinguishers are of a similar design where the fire extinguishing powder is contained in a pressurized chamber. Fire extinguishers of this type require scheduled maintenance because the powder within the chamber can settle and cake preventing it from being dispensed when needed. The pressure within the chamber may also leak over time and be insufficient to propel the powder out of the dispensing nozzle. A further limitation, based upon this design is due to the pressurized condition of the chamber, powder is placed into the chamber in a small opening in the top of the extinguisher. This scheduled maintenance allow moisture intrusion causing caking. Current extinguishers can only be service by trained certified technicians, and the certification is issued by the fire marshal for each state.
Current extinguishers are open to wear and tear because of the constant pressure and tear down process. When serviced they are fires into a recycling chamber and all he parts must be disassembled and cleaned. All the pressure rings must be replaced and every part must them be re-assembled with new powder being placed within the chamber prior to pressurizing the chamber. The servicing of current fire extinguishers often creates more wear and tear on the fire extinguisher than when it is used to extinguish a fire.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,189,624 issued to James on Feb. 20, 2001 and Japan Patent Number JP9,225,056 issued to Yamazaki Tomoki on Sep. 2, 1997 disclose fire extinguishing mechanisms where the chamber is not continuously pressurized, and the pressurized chamber is a separate entity integrated within the chamber. While these patents disclose a separate pressurized canister, the canister is not located in a position that is easy to service, replace, or inspect. This minimizes the ability determine the charge level of the CO2 cartridge.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,541,554 issued to C H Smith on Feb. 13, 1951 and Russian Patent Number RU2,209,101 issued to Glavatski G. D. Et Al. Nov. 2, 2002 disclose a fire extinguisher with external CO2 gas cartridge. In the case US '554 the CO2 gas cartridge sits on top of the fire extinguisher chamber and is not integrated within the handle of the fire extinguisher. In the case of RU '101 the CO2 gas cartridge is external to the extinguisher and is connected to the extinguisher with a pipe or hose. While both of these patents disclose a CO2 cartridge that is external to the chamber, neither of them is placed in the handle to allow a configuration of the fire extinguisher that is simple to inspect and replace.
Russian Patent Number RU2,209,101 issued to Glavatski G. D. Et Al. Nov. 2, 2002 discloses a fire extinguisher with an internal fluffing mechanism consisting of a coiled spring. It is known that one of the problems with powder type fire extinguishers is the possibility that the extinguishing powder within the chamber can cake and harden if it is not fluffed to keep the powder in liquid configuration. While the RU '101 patent discloses a fluffing mechanism, the fluffing mechanism is operated by a wound spring, and one the spring has been used there is no mechanism to wind the spring. The proposed product does not have this limitation because it provides an external mechanical interface that allows a user to manually fluff the powered.
Due to the pressurized condition that exists with pressurized fire extinguishers, the opening where powder is placed into the extinguisher is limited due to the structural requirement to maintain pressure within the chamber at all times. The proposed application eliminates this need by providing an external CO2 gas cartridge, thus allowing the chamber to exist in a normally un-pressurized condition. Because the chamber is not under pressure the top opening of the extinguisher can be enlarged to allow easier filling of the fire extinguisher with powder, or checking the amount and or condition of the powder within the chamber.
What is needed is a fire extinguisher with an external gas cartridge where the gas cartridge is located in the handle, a fluffer is accessible from outside the chamber, and the chamber has an enlarged top opening for filling the extinguisher. The proposed fire extinguisher provides this solution by providing a fire extinguisher with an external gas cartridge, external fluffer and large opening.

Self servicing fire extinguisher with external operated internal mixing with wide mouth and external CO


A continuous ink jet printer including an ink tank for holding ink, an ink nozzle in fluid communication with the ink tank for ejecting ink droplets, and a gutter for receiving, through an ink-receiving inlet thereof, ink droplets which are not used for printing. A gutter flow path starts at the ink-receiving inlet for ink that has entered the gutter through the ink-receiving inlet, and provides fluid communication to the ink tank. A return line is in fluid communication with the print head for conveying air to enter the gutter flow path. A makeup tank is in vapor communication with the ink tank to allow air to be conveyed from the ink tank to the makeup tank. A condenser is in fluid communication with the makeup tank and the return line for condensing solvent.

The present invention relates to ink jet printing and more particularly to a continuous ink jet printer with reduced solvent consumption.
In ink jet printing systems the print is made up of individual droplets of ink generated at a nozzle and propelled towards a substrate. There are two principal systems: drop on demand where ink droplets for printing are generated as and when required; and continuous ink jet printing in which droplets are continuously produced and only selected ones are directed towards the substrate, the others being recirculated to an ink supply.
Continuous ink jet printers supply pressurized ink to a print head assembly having a drop generator where a continuous stream of ink emanating from a nozzle is broken up into individual regular drops by an oscillating piezoelectric element. The drops are directed past a charge electrode where they are selectively and separately given a predetermined charge before passing through a transverse electric field provided across a pair of deflection plates. Each charged drop is deflected by the field by an amount that is dependent on its charge magnitude before impinging on the substrate whereas the uncharged drops proceed without deflection and are collected at a gutter from where they are recirculated to the ink supply for reuse. A phase measurement system is also usually present as part of deflection plate assembly and is used to ensure synchronization of deflection for the droplets. The charged drops bypass the gutter and hit the substrate at a position determined by the charge on the drop and the position of the substrate relative to the print head assembly. Typically the substrate is moved relative to the print head assembly in one direction and the drops are deflected in a direction generally perpendicular thereto, although the deflection plates may be oriented at an inclination to the perpendicular to compensate for the speed of the substrate (the movement of the substrate relative to the print head assembly between drops arriving means that a line of drops would otherwise not quite extend perpendicularly to the direction of movement of the substrate).
In continuous ink jet printing a character is printed from a matrix comprising a regular array of potential drop positions. Each matrix comprises a plurality of columns (strokes), each being defined by a line comprising a plurality of potential drop positions (e.g. seven) determined by the charge applied to the drops. Thus each usable drop is charged according to its intended position in the stroke. If a particular drop is not to be used then the drop is not charged and it is captured at the gutter for recirculation. This cycle repeats for all strokes in a matrix and then starts again for the next character matrix.
Ink is delivered under pressure to the print head assembly from an ink supply system that is generally housed within a sealed compartment of a cabinet that includes a separate compartment for control circuitry and a user interface panel. The system includes a main pump that draws the ink from a reservoir or tank via a filter and delivers it under pressure to the print head assembly. As ink is consumed the tank is refilled as necessary from an ink source such as a replaceable ink cartridge that is releasably connected to the tank by a supply conduit. The ink is fed from the tank via a flexible delivery conduit to the print head assembly. Electrical power to operate the heater in the print head assembly and the drop generator are supplied by power supply system cables, typically forming part of the supply conduit. The unused ink drops captured by the gutter are recirculated to the tank via a return conduit, typically located as part of the supply conduit, by a pump. The flow of ink in each of the conduits is generally controlled by solenoid valves and/or other like components.
As the ink circulates through the system, there is a tendency for it to thicken as a result of solvent evaporation. This is particularly a problem in relation to the recirculated ink that has been exposed to air in its passage between the nozzle and the gutter. Air that is used to clear the gutter has to be exhausted to atmosphere carrying solvent with it. To compensate for this "make-up" solvent is added to the ink as required from a solvent source such as a replaceable solvent cartridge so as to maintain the ink viscosity within desired limits when the ink is at the correct operating temperature. The loss of solvent due to evaporation increases the cost of operating the printer (due to the need to supply makeup solvent) and also can create undesirable odors in the area around the printer. The solvent may also be used for flushing components of the print head assembly, such as the nozzle and the gutter, in a cleaning cycle.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A jackknife prevention apparatus configured to be mounted intermediate the trailer and cab of a tractor-trailer rig extending bilaterally wing-like from the tractor's frame rails to which it is hinged horizontally. The jackknife prevention apparatus can swing up or down on its hinge between lowest and highest positions by action of a motor which responds to tractor conditions so as to promote safety, maneuverability and convenience. Specifically, when the tractor is parked, the apparatus tilts down near the ground and constitutes a stairway from ground up to the frame-rail tops. When the tractor is unparked, the apparatus swings up to near horizontal, where it is inactive. If tractor speeds exceed perhaps 20 or 30 mph, the apparatus rises to its highest position where it blocks further nearing of a trailer's front corner to the tractor's cab at a tractor-trailer angle of perhaps 15 to 20 degrees, thereby preventing a jackknife accident.

A tractor-trailer rig is said to be jackknifing when the angle between the tractor and trailer increases unintentionally and undesirably. This can happen several ways. For example, the trailer's rear can swing out of line with its trajectory owing to strong side wind or to centrifugal force on the trailer's rear. Alternatively, the tractor can veer out of line with its trajectory owing to unbalanced brakes, road surface variations, hard braking during a turn and/or centrifugal force on the tractor's rear.
Millions of tractor-trailers traverse local roads and highways everyday. These vehicles can weigh up to eighty thousand pounds and often have to drive in adverse conditions. When driving in adverse conditions and even safe conditions, these tractor-trailer rigs can encounter the risk of jackknifing. Existing jackknife prevention technology is not significantly employed most likely due to the complications and cost of installing them. Some jackknife prevention systems involve alterations of tractor or trailer making one or both less compatible with conventional counterparts.
Accordingly, there is a need for a jackknife prevention system that is operable to be installed on a tractor-trailer or similar vehicle wherein the present invention is configured to be operably coupled to the tractor's frame rails behind the cab wherein the present invention includes robust structures hinged wing-like along outer edge of each frame rail and swingable on their hinges between low positions and a high position wherein in the high position the angle between the tractor and trailer is limited.


A computed radiography system includes a stimulating light source, a imaging plate (IP), a light collector having a bundle of optical fibers, a light detector, a mechanism providing relative movement in two orthogonal directions between the IP and the stimulating light source while maintaining the perpendicular relationship between the IP and the stimulating light, and a mechanism including an analog to digital converter for converting the collected and detected PLL to a diagnostic readout.

(a) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a computed radiography (CR) system which employs a light collector such as a bundle of optical fibers. More particularly, this invention relates to a computed radiography (CR) system employing a bundle of optical fibers for collecting and transferring luminescence light, having a linear end and a two-dimensional end in which a plurality of optical fibers are sequentially arranged according to an input order of light.
(b) Description of the Related Art
In recent years, computed radiography (CR) systems have been successful in replacing analog screen/film (SF) in many clinical settings. Such CR systems use photostimulable x-ray storage phosphor plates (for example, BaFBr:Eu.sup.2+), which are exposed in cassettes and then brought to an automated plate scanner providing with a bundle of optical fibers for collecting and transferring light, to read out the stored image information.
CR systems bring numerous advantages such as electronic transmission and storage, image processing, and computer-aided diagnosis to clinical departments, in a practical and highly affordable way. However, technical progress in the CR field has reached a plateau (perhaps in part because of economic developments at the chemical imaging companies who originally supported the development of the technology), and CR image quality performance has been surpassed by flat-panel based digital radiography (DR) systems.
DR systems, however, are much more expensive than CR, which has limited their clinical acceptance. A single CR reader can support multiple cassettes and replacing the SF cassettes with CR cassettes can retrofit an entire radiology department. Each individual detector in a room requires a separate DR detector. Furthermore, the replacement cost for a worn out or broken DR detector can be ten to one hundred times more expensive than replacing a CR cassette.
The image quality performance of CR has been limited in the past by two factors: (1) Because of limitations in screen conversion gain, collection efficiency, and detection efficiency, in a CR system that is not optimally designed, the number of detected electrons per absorbed x-ray ("gain") can become low enough to become a secondary quantum sink, (2) CR systems have been observed to have rather high gain fluctuation noise, or "Swank noise", compared to high quality SF or DR systems, where "the Swank noise" can degrade DQE performance and is quantified by the optical Swank factor, which is induced by depth-dependent variations in optical gain.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention, and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.


A beverage dispenser comprises a cooling device comprising a cooling chamber (6) filled with a cooling liquid, such as water. Located within the chamber (6) is a refrigeration component (8). Extending through the chamber is a conduit (10), by which beverage is fed from a supply towards a dispensing head (30), the conduit including to a heat exchanging coil (12) within the chamber. Located in the chamber at a position so as to be totally immersed by cooling liquid is a pump unit comprising a motor (16a) and an impeller (16b), the motor also driving an agitator (18) to cause liquid within the chamber (6) to be circulated to the refrigeration component (8) and the cooling coils (12).

This invention is concerned with improvements relating to cooling devices, particularly but not exclusively, to cooling devices for the cooling of beverages.
A cooling device of the kind commonly utilized in the cooling of beverages in a beverage dispenser, referred to hereinafter as being of the kind specified, comprises a chamber containing a cooling liquid, refrigeration means to cool the cooling liquid and a heat exchanger immersed in the cooling liquid through which beverage to be cooled is fed.
Conventionally such a cooling device utilises an agitation means to cause the cooling liquid to circulate around the chamber, to pass into contact with the refrigeration means, and to pass into contact with the heater exchanger, to ensure a high level of heat exchange between the heat exchanger and the refrigeration means. Conventionally such an agitation means comprises an agitation member (such as a fan blade) located in the cooling chamber, and which is driven by a motor exteriorally of the cooling chamber. This requires the use of sealing means to seal the moveable drive shaft as it passes through the wall of the cooling chamber, reducing the thermal insulation of the interior of the cooling chamber, and, depending upon the design, risking the leakage of cooling fluid from the chamber.
Additionally, such a cooling device comprises a pump for the delivery of cooling liquid to other areas in which a cooling function is required, such as in the dispensing of beverages, a conduit extending towards a dispensing head of the beverage dispenser, and/or to the head itself. Conventionally the pump comprises a motor located exteriorally of the cooling chamber, the impeller for the pump being driven by the motor by means of a drive shaft. This construction provides a requirement for high quality seals to prevent any ingress of cooling liquid from the impeller and/or into the motor.
It is also desirable to reduce the size of the beverage dispenser and/or the cooling device per se, and it is one of the various objects of this invention to provide a cooling device for a beverage dispenser which is compact in its construction and efficient in its operation.


A method for coating a fuel cell component is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a fuel cell component, and forming a coating on a surface of the fuel cell component with a plasma jet. The step of forming the coating may include applying a coating precursor to a surface of the fuel cell component and then reacting the coating precursor with the plasma jet to form the coating. The step of forming the coating may also include growing the coating on the surface of the fuel cell component by delivering the plasma jet containing the coating precursor.

Fuel cells have been proposed as a clean, efficient and environmentally responsible power source for electric vehicles and various other applications. A plurality of fuel cells can be stacked together in series to form a fuel cell stack capable of supplying a desired amount of electricity. The fuel cell stack has been identified as a potential alternative to the traditional internal-combustion engine used in automobiles.
One type of fuel cell is known as a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell. The PEM fuel cell typically includes three basic components: a cathode, an anode, and an electrolyte membrane. The electrolyte membrane is generally sandwiched between the cathode and the anode. The fuel cell generally also includes porous conductive materials, known as gas diffusion media, which distribute reactant gases over the surfaces of the cathode and anode. The reactant gases typically include hydrogen gas and oxygen can be supplied from air, for example. The hydrogen is delivered to the anode and is converted to protons. The protons travel through the electrolyte to the cathode. The electrons in the anode flow through an external circuit to the cathode, where they recombine with the oxygen and the protons to form water. The electron flow through the external circuit allows the fuel cell to be employed as a power source.
The cathode, anode, and electrolyte membrane are generally interposed between a pair of electrically conductive fuel cell plates to complete the PEM fuel cell. The plates serve as current collectors for the anode and cathode, and have appropriate flow channels and openings formed therein for distributing the fuel cell's reactant gases over the surfaces of the respective cathode and anode. The flow channels generally define lands therebetween that are in electrical contact with the gas diffusion media of the fuel cell. Typically, the plates also include inlet and outlet apertures which, when aligned in a fuel cell stack, form internal supply and exhaust manifolds for directing the fuel cell's reactant gases and liquid coolant to and from, respectively, the anodes and cathodes.
During operation of the fuel cell, water from both the electrochemical fuel cell reaction and external humidification may enter the flow channels. The water is typically forced through the flow channels by the reactant gas, the pressure of which is a primary mechanism for water removal from the flow channels. When the reactant gas flow is not sufficient, however, such as when the fuel cell is operating at a lower power output, water can accumulate or "stagnate". Stagnant water can block flow channels and reduce the overall efficiency of the fuel cell. Stagnant water may also increase flow resistance in particular flow channels and divert the reactant gases to neighboring channels, resulting in a localized starvation of the fuel cell. The accumulation of water can also lead to a higher rate of carbon corrosion and a poorer durability under freezing conditions. Water accumulation can eventually lead to a failure of the fuel cell.
It is known in the art to employ fuel cell plates having at least one of a hydrophilic coatings and a hydrophobic coating that facilitate the removal of water from the fuel cell. The fuel cell may also include other means of drainage, such as a foam, a wick, a mesh, or other water removing structures adapted to facilitate removal of water from the fuel cell plates.
The fuel cell plates are typically coated, for example, by at least one of spraying, brushing, rolling, printing, and dipping. One known high performance coating is X-TEC® high performance inert nanoparticle coating, commercially available from Nano-X, GmbH in Saarbruecken-Guedingen, Germany. Certain types of coatings, such as various silica-based coatings, are produced by known sol-gel techniques. Vacuum assisted techniques such as physical vapor deposition (PVD), chemical vapor deposition (CVD), atomic layer deposition (ALD), and plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) methods for coating fuel cell plates are also known. Controlling coating characteristics such as thickness, morphology, and contact angle can be difficult with many of the known coating methods. Certain of the known methods are also prohibitively expensive.
There is a continuing need for a method of coating fuel cell components with at least one of a hydrophilic coating and a hydrophobic coating to facilitate a removal of water from the fuel cell. Desirably, the method is less complex, less expensive, and provides a coating of sufficient durability to be used in the fuel cell.

Method of coating fuel cell components for water removal


The invention relates to plants and their progeny with improved morphogenesis in a variety of organs; to a method for producing the plants; and to a method for producing calli.

Plants adapt to various types of environmental factors of their roots. For example, plants have a capacity to change shapes corresponding to the environment of growth and development. Once a plant has sent down roots in a given place, if the environment of that place somehow becomes unsuitable to that plant, the plant cannot move, but adapts and continues to grow and develop by changing its own shape. The ability to change shapes is an essential condition of survival for a plant.
Cross-breeding, breeding using recent genetic engineering techniques, and methods utilizing the action of plant hormones and plant regulators have been implemented in order to improve various types of morphological modification.
Numerous studies have been conducted using Arabidopsis thaliana in order to understand the control mechanisms of the morphogenesis and morphological modification of plants. There have been reports of LEAFY (LFY), APETALA1 (AP1), AGAMOUS (AG), SUPERMAN(SUP) and FIL (FIL) as genes that participate in flower formation. There have been reports of TCH4 and dbp, etc. as genes that participate in stem formation. There have been reports of LAN1 and MAC as genes that participate in leaf formation. There have been reports of ttg, g12, CPC and IRE as genes that participate in root formation.
Plants with improved morphological modification and morphogenesis have already been created using genetic engineering techniques. There have been reports of morphological changes of the flowers of petunia by introducing a transcription factor (PetSPL3) having a zinc finger motif (Japanese Enexamined Patent Publication No. 262390/1999). There have been reports of morphological changes of the roots of Arabidopsis thaliana by introducing a CPC gene or an IRE gene (Japanese Enexamined Patent Publication No. 4978/1998, Japanese Enexamined Patent Publication No. 270873/2000). However, most plants in which these genes have been transgenetically modified have not actually obtained sufficient effect to have industrial applicability, and currently a practical level has not yet been reached.
Polyamines, the general term for aliphatic hydrocarbons with 2 or more primary amino groups, are ubiquitous natural substances in organisms, with more than 20 types discovered so far. Typical polyamines include putrescine, spermidine, and spermine. The known primary physiological action of polyamines includes (1) nucleic acid stabilization and structural modification through interaction with nucleic acids; (2) promotion of various nucleic acid synthesis systems; (3) activation of protein synthesis systems; and (4) stabilization of cell membranes and enhancement of membrane permeability of substances.
Reports on the role of polyamines in plants include cell protection and promotion of nucleic acid or protein biosynthesis during cellular growth or division. The involvement of polyamines in various types of environmental stress has recently attracted attention.
There have been several reports on morphological modification and polyamine relating to somatic embryogenesis and adventitious root formation. For example, it has been demonstrated that polyamine promotes somatic embryogenesis in carrots (Planta, 162, 532, 1984, Science, 223, 1433, 1984), oats (Plant Growth Reg., 3, 329, 1985), Chinese cabbage (Plant Sci., 56, 167, 1988), and petunia (Plant Sci., 62, 123, 1989), and promotes adventitious root formation in mung beans (Physiol. Plant., 64, 53, 1985, Plant Cell Physiol., 24, 677, 1983). Thus far, there have been hardly any reports on the participation of polyamine in the morphogenesis of flowers, stems, leaves, and ovaries.
Known polyamine metabolism-related enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of plant polyamines include arginine decarboxylase (ADC), ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (SAMDC), spermidine synthase (SPDS), and spermine synthase (SPMS). Several polyamine metabolism-related enzyme genes coding for such polyamine metabolism-related enzymes have already been isolated from plants. The ADC gene has been isolated from oats (Mol. Gen. Genet., 224, 431-436 (1990)), tomatoes (Plant Physiol., 103, 829-834 (1993)), Arabidopsis thaliana (Plant Physiol., 111, 1077-1083 (1996)), and peas (Plant Mol. Biol., 28, 997-1009 (1995)); the ODC gene has been isolated from datura (Biochem. J., 314, 241-248 (1996)); the SAMDC gene has been isolated from potatoes (Plant Mol. Biol., 26, 327-338 (1994)), spinach (Plant Physiol., 107, 1461-1462 (1995)), and tobacco; and the SPDS gene has been isolated from Arabidopsis thaliana (Plant Cell Physiol., 39(1), 73-79 (1998)).
Thus, an object of the present invention is to produce recombinant plants with various types of improved morphogenesis by artificially controlling the expression of polyamine metabolism-related enzyme genes, and by varying the polyamine levels.

Plants with improved morphogenesis and method of constructing the same


A preferred electrochemical process for producing an alcohol or carboxylic acid from a corresponding metal salt while also recovering metal cation residues is described. The preferred process does not require a three-compartment desalination cell but rather can be performed in a standard two-compartment cell divided by a cation-permeable membrane. The process comprises the step of electrolyzing an aqueous medium containing the metal salt in the anolyte of the cell to thereby yield alcohol or carboxylic acid in the anolyte and pass the metal cation into the catholyte. In one particularly preferred mode, the process provides a highly effective recovery of valuable materials from byproduct streams of base-catalyzed syntheses of polyols such as such as trimethylolpropane or pentaerythritol from aldehydes, and in another provides an efficient recovery of phenol.

This invention relates to an electro-synthetic method for producing alcohols and carboxylic acids from their corresponding metal salts while also recovering valuable metal cation residues free of the alcohols and carboxylic acids. In so doing, this invention provides desirable synthetic routes to alcohols and carboxylics, as well as highly effective treatments of mediums containing the metal salts, including for instance byproduct streams, to recover valuable products therefrom.
As further background, alcohols, carboxylic acids, and metal cation salts all enjoy wide varieties of uses. Alcohols, for instance, are widely used for organic synthesis, as solvents, detergents, beverages, pharmaceuticals, plasticizers, and fuels, while carboxylic acids find utility in organic synthesis as well as many other applications. Further, metal cation salts include some of the most widely used chemicals in the world. For instance, metal hydroxides, e.g. sodium hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide, are used in very large quantities in chemical manufacture, refining, and in the production of pulp and paper, detergents, textile processing, etc.
The alkalai metal salt counterparts of carboxylic acids and alcohols are also useful in organic syntheses and other applications. However, there are many situations in which it would be most desirable to convert these alkalai metal salts to their corresponding alcohols or carboxylic acids. Further, because metal cation salts such as caustic materials (e.g. alkali metal hydroxides) are considered valuable and relatively expensive especially by those familiar with their high-volume use in many commercial scale reactions and other settings, it would also be highly desirable to be able to recover the metal cation residues liberated during such conversions, for instance as hydroxide salts.
As an example, large quantities of alkalai metal (e.g. sodium) salts of carboxylic acids are present in the byproduct stream from production of trimethylolpropane (TMP), a large-volume intermediate primarily used as a glyceride substitute in alkyd resins, in flexible urethane foams, and in synthetic lubricant base stocks. See, Chemical Economics Handbook, SRI International, pages 682.7001 U and W, 682.7002 V, and 682.7003 I (August 1985). TMP is currently made by reaction of three equivalents of formaldehyde with n-butyraldehyde. The initial step is a condensation reaction catalyzed by base (e.g. NaOH) and thus little if any NaOH is used in this step. However, the final step of the reaction is not catalytic: it is a Cannizzaro reaction in which an entire equivalent of caustic base is consumed, producing TMP and sodium formate. The byproduct stream from this TMP synthesis has an equivalent of sodium formate. In this instance, significant commercial and technical advantage could be gained from conversion of the sodium formate to formic acid, while also recovering the valuable sodium hydroxide for use in another TMP synthesis or otherwise. An additional benefit would be gained if the treatment of the byproduct stream also allowed for survival and facilitated recovery of any remaining TMP in the byproduct stream.
As another example, phenol is a valuable alcohol having many and diverse uses. Currently, most phenol worldwide is made by oxidation of cumene, with acetone occurring as a byproduct. The initial reaction step yields cumene hydroperoxide, which decomposes with dilute sulfuric acid to form the phenol and acetone as primary products. As a result, the commercial supply of acetone is largely tied to its occurrence as a byproduct in the production of phenol.
Minor amounts of phenol are produced by still other routes. For example, some is produced by the Dow process in which chlorobenzene is reacted with sodium hydroxide at elevated temperatures to form sodium phenoxide and sodium chloride. The phenoxide is then treated with hydrochloric acid to yield phenol. Another less-used route to phenol involves the fusion of benzenesulfonate with alkali at elevated temperatures to form sodium phenoxide, which is then treated with dilute H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 to yield the phenol. These processes are undesirable because two equivalents of valuable sodium hydroxide are consumed.
It is evident from the foregoing that the need exists for improved synthetic routes to alcohols and carboxylics. Equally evident is the need for an improved way to treat mediums containing corresponding metal salts of alcohols or carboxylic acids, including for instance byproduct streams containing metal salts of carboxylic acids, to recover valuable products therefrom in a form that requires little or no further processing prior to use. The applicant's invention addresses these needs.

Electro-synthesis of alcohols and carboxylic acids from corresponding metal salts


A hard surface cleaning solution having improved cleaning and descaling properties. In one formulation, the cleaning solution comprises a first organic acid, a second organic acid, a surfactant, a solvent and a diluent. The first organic acid is a carboxylic acid preferably comprising lactic acid, while the second organic acid is a carboxylic acid preferably comprising gluconic acid. The surfactant is selected from the group consisting of sultaines, betaines and amino propionates. The solvent is a an alkoxylated alcohol preferably selected from the propylene glycol ether class of compounds. In a second formulation, the cleaning solution comprises a first organic acid, a surfactant, a solvent and a diluent. The first organic acid is a carboxylic acid preferably comprising lactic acid, while the surfactant is selected from the group consisting of sultaines, betaines and amino propionates and the solvent is a an alkoxylated alcohol preferably selected from the propylene glycol ether class of compounds. The cleaning solutions may also include other components such as colorants, fragrance enhancers, corrosion inhibitors, nonionic surfactants or other additives.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to an improved cleaner for hard surface cleaning applications, including kitchens, bathrooms, tubs and tiles, amongst others, and more particularly to a hard surface cleaning composition having improved cleaning and descaling properties.
2. Background Art
Hard surface cleaning compositions have been known and used in a variety of applications, including bathrooms, kitchens and other areas, particularly for toilets, showers, bathtubs, sinks, tiles, countertops, walls, floors and the like. Often times, hard surfaces accumulate both soap scum stains, which are typically residues of various types of soaps used in a household, as well as hard water stains, which are typically the result of the deposition of calcium, lime or various salts on hard surfaces over the course of time and use of various household surfaces.
Cleaning solutions for these household surfaces have been formulated to address both the removal of soap scum stains, as well as the descaling of hard water stains. In particular, many of these cleaning solutions have employed a combination of components, in a number of instances including strong inorganic acids, organic acids or a combination of both, a surfactant or wetting agent, a solvent and a diluent to address one or both of these types of stains and/or build-ups. The acid component is typically selected to address descaling of hard water stains, while the surfactant component is typically a detergent selected to attack soap scum. Further, other additives have also been used in combination with cleaning formulations to either enhance performance or make a particular formulation more desirable from a visual or odor perspective, such as PH adjusters, stabilizing agents, colorants and fragrances, amongst others.
For instance, Sherry et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,627,590, discloses an acidic hard surface cleaning composition which includes (1) an alkyl sulfate surfactant containing 10 carbon atoms (comprising about 0.5 wt. % to about 5 wt. % of the solution), (2) one or more organic cleaning solvents (comprising about 1 wt. % to about 6 wt. % of the solution), (3) a mono or polycarboxylic acid (comprising about 3 wt. % to 5 wt. % of the solution) and (4) an aqueous solvent (comprising about 60–90 wt. % of the solution). Additionally, the acidic hard surface cleaner of Sherry et al. may also include a small amount of a anionic and/or nonionic detergent surfactant, preferably an anionic co-surfactant, examples of which include a sulfate or carboxylate hydrophilic head group. The C10 alkyl sulfate preferably takes the form of an ammonium salt or a sodium salt. The organic cleaning solvent is based upon propylene glycol chemistry, preferably selected from the di- and tri-propylene glycol derivates of propyl and butyl alcohol. Citric acid is specified as being the most preferred carboxylic acid and is required by the claims; however, Sherry et al. also discloses the use of other mono or polycarboxylic acids, including acetic acid, glycolic acid, tartaric acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, adipic acid and mixtures thereof. The cleaning solution has a pH of about 2–5.
Stamm, U.S. Pat. No. 5,925,606, discloses a concentrated acidic liquid detergent composition for cleaning soap scum, lime scale, etc. from hard surfaces. The liquid detergent comprises a carboxylic acid in an amount of 0.25–50 wt. % (preferably 1–25 wt. %), a surfactant in the amount of about 0.05–20 wt. % (preferably 0.1–15 wt. %) and an organic solvent present in the amount of approximately 0.25–20 wt. % (preferably 0.4–10 wt. %). The carboxylic acid is preferably a hydroxy monocarboxylic acid having up to four carbon atoms, with hydroacetic acid listed as being the only specific acid that is indicated as preferred, that is claimed or that is even disclosed. The surfactant is an anionic surfactant, a non-ionic surfactant or a mixture thereof, and may be chosen from alkyl sulfonates, alkyl ether sulfates (such as sodium lauryl sulfate), amongst many others. The organic solvent is preferably a C1 to C6 alkyl ether of either ethylene glycol or propylene glycol and derivates thereof, including propylene glycol monomethyl ether. The formula may also include other additives, such as pH adjustors, stabilizing agents, preservatives, fragrances and dyes.
Roshon et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,432,395 discloses a cleaning composition containing naturally derived components. The cleaning composition includes three principal components, including an organic acid (comprising 0.004–28 wt % of the composition), an anionic surfactant (comprising 0.0003–7 wt % of the solution) and a non-ionic surfactant (comprising 0.0035–36 wt. %) surfactant. The organic acid is a C1–C20 non-fatty carboxylic, dicarboxylic or tricarboxylic acid, preferably lactic acid—although other less preferable naturally derived organic acids such as maleic acid, citric acid, maleic acid, succinic acid, gluconic acid and polyaspartic acid are also disclosed. The anionic surfactant is disclosed as preferably an alkyl glucoester, chosen to provide enhanced hard water surface tolerance, foam stability and improved mildness to the skin. The non-ionic surfactant is preferably an alkyl polyglucoside, although a sorbitan ester can also be used, to provide effective surface tension reduction and detergency. A protein may also be added to reduce skin irritancy, while a naturally derived organic solvent, such as ethanol or naturally derived organic esters, may also be added to the cleaning solution to aid salvation of particularly heavy greasy films or residues.
Urban, U.S. Pub. No. U.S. 2002/0187918 A1, discloses a hard surface cleaning composition having an acidic pH, providing for removal of soap scum stains and having low levels or irritability to the user. The cleaning composition includes an acid sequestrant (comprising about 0.1 to 10 wt. % of the solution), a mixture of hydrophobic and hydrophilic solvents (comprising about 0.1–10 wt. % of the solution), an anionic surfactant (comprising about 0.001–1 wt. % of the solution) and one or more optional components (comprising 0–20 wt. % of the solution). The acid is a combination of citric acid together with another acid effective in the removal of hard water stains, such as sulfonic acid, phosphoric acid, salicylic acid, sorbic acid, sulfamic acid, acetic acid, benzoic acid, boric acid, caproic acid, folic acid, oxilic acid, phosphorous acid, sulfonic acid, maleic acid, adipic acid, lactic acid, gluconic acid and glycolic acid, amongst others. A combination of citric acid and glycolic acid is most preferred. The solvent is a mixture of hydrophobic and hydrophilic solvents which solubilize soap scum and facilitate removal of stains from hard surfaces. The hydrophilic portion of the solvent comprises about 51 to 99% of the total weight of the solvent, and may comprise propylene glycol phenyl ether, ethylene glycol ether, propylene glycol n-butyl ether or other glycol-based ethers, while the hydrophilic portion of the solvent may include alcohols, glycols, acetates, propylene glycols and ethylene glycol n-butyl ethers, amongst others. The anionic surfactant is preferably selected from alkylphenoxybenzene disulfonates, linear alkylphenoxybenzene sulfonates and alkylnaphthalene sulfonates and salts thereof. The optional components can include non-ionic surfactants, forming agents, fragrances, colorants, pH adjusting agents and preservatives, amongst others.
Similarly, Reese et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,699,825, discloses an acidic hard surface anti-microbial cleaner containing (1) about 0.2 wt. % of an organocarboxylic acid, about 2 wt. % of a volatile solvent selected from a group consisting of n-butyl, benzyl alcohol, phenylethanol and glycol ether solvents. The cleaning composition may also contain 0.1 wt. % of an anionic sulfated or sulfonated surfactants and about 5 wt. % of a co-solvent comprising water soluble monoprotic aliphatic alcohols and glycol ethers.
While these and other prior art hard surface cleaning formulations have been used effectively for cleaning a variety of hard surfaces, it is still desirable to find an improved cleaning solution which addresses both soap scum and the descaling of hard water stains, as well as one which is milder on the skin and has less odor.
It is also desirable to provide a cleaning solution which minimizes and/or eliminates the more corrosive inorganic acids, as well as the more corrosive organic acids, and instead uses less corrosive, but equally effective organic acids to achieve the desired cleaning results.
It is yet further desirable to find a cleaning solution with a specific combination of organic acids, surfactants and solvents which act in a synergistic manner to improve cleaning performance on hard surfaces. These and other objectives of the invention are described herein.

Hard surface cleaning compositions containing a sultaine and a mixture of organic acids


An ice detector for providing a signal indicating ice formation includes a probe protruding into an airflow. The probe extends into the airflow from a strut. The strut has one or more features which allow the probe to accrete ice at a higher temperature than would conventionally be possible. Strut features can include a notch formed therein in an upwind direction relative to the probe, and a curved surface adjacent a point of extension of the probe from the strut.

The present invention relates to vibrating type ice detectors for use with aircraft and in any other locations where the detection of ice is of importance. More particularly, the present invention relates to ice detector configurations that increase the critical temperature limit of an ice detector probe to provide earlier ice detection.
Existing ice detectors are useful in near freezing temperature conditions for detecting the formation of ice on the detector, and providing a warning of the ice formation prior to the formation of ice on the wings, engine nacelles, and other control surfaces of an aircraft. A frequently used type of ice detector is a vibrating ice detector. Vibrating type ice detectors use a vibrating probe upon which ice accumulates. Typically, the probe is a cylindrical probe having a hemispherical end. Examples of vibrating type ice detectors are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,341,835 entitled ICE DETECTOR by F. D. Werner et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,553,137 entitled NON-INSTRUSIVE ICE DETECTOR by Marxer et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,611,492 entitled MEMBRANE TYPE NON-INTRUSIVE DETECTOR by Koosmann; U.S. Pat. No. 6,269,320 entitled SUPERCOOLED LARGE DROPLET ICE DETECTOR by Otto; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,320,511 entitled ICE DETECTOR CONFIGURATION FOR IMPROVED ICE DETECTION AT NEAR FREEZING CONDITIONS by Cronin et al., which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.
The ability of ice detectors to provide a warning of ice formation prior to formation of ice on the wings, engine nacelles, or other control surface of an aircraft is dependent upon the critical temperature of the ice detector probe and the critical temperature of the aircraft wings or control surface. The critical temperature is defined as the ambient static temperature at or above which none of the supercooled liquid water droplets in a cloud will freeze when they impinge on a structure. Stated another way, the critical temperature is the temperature above which no ice will form (or below which ice will form) on a structure (such as an aircraft wing or an ice detector probe) given its configuration and other atmospheric conditions. The critical temperature can be different for different structures, and specifically for a typical airfoil configuration and for a conventional ice detector, at the same airspeed.
Since the critical temperature of an ice detector probe is the temperature below which ice will begin to form on the probe, thus defining the upper temperature limit at which the ice detector will not detect icing conditions, it is of significant interest in the design of ice detectors. Ensuring that the critical temperature of the ice detector probe is above the critical temperature of the wings or other control surfaces of an aircraft is a continuing challenge, particularly with newer airfoil designs. Therefore, a vibrating type ice detector having a probe with an increased critical temperature would be a significant improvement in the art. Other ice accretion improving features would similarly be significant improvements in the ice detector art.
The present invention addresses one or more of the above-identified problems and/or provides other advantages over prior art ice detectors.

Ice detector for improved ice detection at near freezing condition


A composite cable or rope is described. The cable or rope has an inner metallic rope or core, consisting of a plurality of metal strands, and a plurality of covering layers formed around the inner metallic core. An innovative anchoring and safety system is also described. The system has one or more anchorages, fixed to the roof, in each of which the rope is stably locked by screwing, so as not to create instability problems for people attached to the rope.

The present technique offers a wide variety of cables, ropes and cords intended for an equally wide variety of applications, and in particular it provides various types and models of composite cables and ropes, i.e. having a central inner core, usually metallic and of steel, that is covered with one or more outer layers or sheaths or coverings.
Despite this wide and varied range, the technology, currently available and applied, cannot be considered entirely free from limitations and drawbacks that deserve to be carefully analyzed in order to get to overcome them.
In particular, as a first consideration, it is observed how the present technique, in proposing covered and composite cables or ropes, has considered and taken into account only a relatively small and limited number of materials with which to make these outer layers and layers, thus ignoring numerous and special materials that the modern technology today makes advantageously available, among which there are cited, by way of example, the special materials known by the commercial names, corresponding to registered trademarks, Kevlar and Dyneema.
In this regard, it is noted, for completeness, that Kevlar is an aramid synthetic fiber, invented by DuPont, which has a high mechanical strength, so as to be, at the same weight, five times stronger than steel.
The Dyneema in turn is a synthetic fiber, invented by the company DSN and consisting of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, which has a very high strength-to-weight ratio, up to fifteen times greater than that of steel.
Again it is observed that the ropes and cables of steel/metal, such as those usually used in the present technique, appear to be suitable conductors of both electric and electrostatic energy, whereby this characteristic may cause serious problems in certain applications where these phenomena of conduction of electric/electrostatic energy must be absolutely avoided.
Furthermore, the same cable or rope of steel, especially if not covered and protected externally, has the disadvantage, during his working life and at the time of its possible rupture, of constituting a potential cause of damage, such as cuts and/or abrasions, to the persons who work in its vicinity and usually come into contact with it.
The present technique also offers a wide variety of systems directed to provide safety and a possibility of anchoring and grip to an operator who has to operate in critical situations and potentially dangerous areas, for example move on the roof of a house or on a scaffolding of a building in construction, as well as to ensure security and protection against the risk of falling in certain sports and activities such as mountaineering and mountain climbing.
Among these known security and safety systems, many include, as an essential element suitable for providing safety to an operator, a cable or a rope, to which the same operator has the possibility to attach himself, for example via a spring-clip, and then remain firmly attached, while working on the roof, whereby the operator does not run the risk of accidentally falling from the roof where he moves and makes its job, but is in any event held by the cable.
In these known safety systems based on a cable or rope, the rope is usually installed on the structure, such as the roof, to make safe, so as to avoid the risk that an operator can fall from it, by using one or more support elements that support and bind the rope to define its path along the same structure.
However these support elements, in particular those arranged in the intermediate areas of the path of the rope, are usually configured so as not to block the rope, but simply to guide it while leaving it free to slide, whereby the rope, when it is pulled and urged by an operator attached to it, is subject to slide in the area of these support elements, with the consequent risk of creating situations of instability for the operator attached to the same rope.
Therefore, also here, there is to be noted that the known technique has some limitations and drawbacks, and that, moreover, it has in fact neglected and disregarded some interesting possibilities that instead deserve to be carefully considered and exploited more fully in order to improve the characteristics and performance of the safety and anchoring systems currently available, particularly those that include and are based on the use of a cable or a safety rope.
For example it is noted that the actual technique, in the field of safety systems, is based almost solely and exclusively on systems that comprise structures and elements welded together, or forged clamps to which it is possible to attach a safety rope of steel.
It follows that these known systems appear able to provide only a partial and incomplete safety to operators, whereby the risk of accidents, in particular of falls from an height, remains high.
In this regard, it is noted, as resulted from a recent survey, that 47% of accidents in the construction industry is represented by falls from a height, thereby confirming the fact that, despite the precautions and safety systems currently used, the problem persists and requires solutions more effective and efficient than the current ones.
Moreover, as a further consideration, it has to be pointed out that the current security and safety systems, at present available on the market, exhibit very different characteristics and peculiarities, often conflicting with one another, in terms both of their constructive and mechanical configuration and of the type of safety that they are capable of giving, thereby making rather difficult and problematic the selection, from a user, of which specific safety system he has to effectively adopt.
Summarizing, today there are available and known various safety systems that are made up of parts and elements welded together, for example of a bolt which is welded to a base plate, or that comprise forged elements, such as eyebolts or terminals for the passage of a rope of galvanized or stainless steel.
Yet, there are known safety systems including a cable or a rope which is installed and made to run along a structure, e.g. a roof, to be rendered secure against accidental falls of the people working on it, wherein the rope is supported and bound on that structure, while having the possibility of sliding, by means of one or more support elements.

High-performance composite cable rope and anchoring and safety system including such a composite cable rope


A method of eliminating, reducing or preventing parasites in a fish population is provided by feeding emamectin or a salt thereof to the fish population at a daily dose of 25 xcexcg to 400 xcexcg per kg of fish biomass per day for a period of 3-14 days. Also provided is a kit for preparing a medicated fish feed for eliminating, reducing or preventing parasites in a fish population, the kit having a supply of emamectin or a salt thereof and printed instructions for feeding the emamectin or emamectin salt at a daily dose of 25 xcexcg to 400 xcexcg per kg of fish biomass per day for a period of 3-14 days.

The control of sea lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis and Caligus elongatus) infestations in commercial salmon farming operations is still largely dependent on the use of chemical treatments (Roth M., Richards R. and Sommerville C. (1993) xe2x80x9cCurrent Practices In The Chemotherapeutic Control of Sea Lice Infestations: A Reviewxe2x80x9d Journal of Fish Diseases (16(1): 1-26). Outbreaks of these ectoparasitic copepods are currently treated by immersion bath treatments, with the organophosphates dichlorvos (Aquagard(copyright) Novartis) and Azamethiphos (Salmosan(copyright) Novartis), or hydrogen peroxide (Salartect(copyright) Brenntag, Paramove(copyright) Solvay-Interox) or the synthetic pyrethoids, cypermethrin (Excis(copyright) Vericore) and deltamethrin (Alphamax(copyright) Alpharma). Bath procedures are very labor intensive, costly and cause considerable stress to fish. Further, such treatments may not be feasible on exposed sites and during adverse weather conditions.
With the exception of cypermethrin, (Jakobsen P. J. and Holm J. C. (1990) xe2x80x9cPromising Test With New Compound Against Salmon Licexe2x80x9d Norsk Fiskeoppdrett. January, 16-18), bath treatments are only effective against pre-adult and adult stages of sea lice, allowing chalimus stages to survive and continue the cycle of infestation. Treatments are therefore indicated only when populations reach the pre-adult and adult phases, and thus must be repeated frequently for effective control. Resistance to the organophosphate dichlorvos has been identified in some populations of sea lice (Jones M. W., Sommerville C. S. and Wootten, R. (1992) xe2x80x9cReduced Sensitivity of the Salmon Louse, Lepeophtheirus salmonis, to the Organophosphate Dichlorvosxe2x80x9d Journal of Fish Diseases 15:197-202). Hydrogen peroxide may cause damage to the gills and its use is restricted in summer owing to its toxicity at higher water temperatures (Thomassen J. M. (1993) xe2x80x9cHydrogen peroxide as a Delousing Agent for Atlantic Salmonxe2x80x9d In: Pathogens of Wild and Farmed Salmon: Sea Lice (ed. by G. Boxshall and D. Defaye) Ellis Horwood Ltd. London).
A treatment that is effective against all parasitic stages of sea lice and other parasites which could be administered in feed, to avoid the disadvantages associated with bath applications, would be beneficial to the salmon industry. In-feed treatment allows medication during adverse weather conditions and on exposed sites and will permit simultaneous medication of all cages on a site and all sites in a loch system or single bay, thus reducing any cross infestation that may occur during the several days necessary to apply bath treatments to all cages on a site. The in-feed treatments currently available are the insect growth regulators, diflubenzuron (Lepsidon(copyright) Ewos) and teflubenzuron (Calicide(copyright) Nutreco) (Erdal J. I. (1997) xe2x80x9cNew Drug Treatment Hits Sea Lice When They are Most Vulnerablexe2x80x9d. Fish Farming International vol.24, No.2). Their mode of action is the inhibition of chitin synthesis (Horst M. N. and Walker A. N. (1996) xe2x80x9cBiochemical Effects of Diflubenzuron on Chitin Synthesis in the Post-molt blue crabxe2x80x9d (Callinectes sapidus) Journal of Crustacean Biology. 15: 401-408) and activity is therefore restricted to the moulting stages of sea lice.
The avermectins, produced by the culture of Streptomyces avermilitis, have highly potent anthelmintic and insecticidal properties. A chemically modified derivative, ivermectin (22,23-dihydroavermectin B1) was developed as a broad spectrum anti-parasitic for cattle, sheep, horses and pigs (Sutherland I. H. (1990) xe2x80x9cVeterinary Use of Ivermectinxe2x80x9d Acta Leidensia 59: 211-216) and has been marketed world-wide since 1981. Ivermectin has also been extensively used in the treatment of several human parasitoses (Ottesen E. A. and Campbell W. C. (1994) xe2x80x9cIvermectin in Human Medicinexe2x80x9d Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. 34(2): 195-203). Following the recognition of organophosphate resistance in sea lice (Jones M. W., Sommerville C. S. and Wootten, R. (1992) xe2x80x9cReduced Sensitivity of the Salmon Louse, Lepeophtheirus salmonis, to the Organophosphate Dichlorvosxe2x80x9d Journal of Fish Diseases 15:197-202), ivermectin was considered as an alternative therapy. In addition to its novel mode of action, a further advantage lay in its application as an in-feed medication. Although ivermectin has not received regulatory approval for use in salmon, it may be prescribed in the United Kingdom by veterinarians under the cascade procedure (Anonymous (1998) Amelia No.8 Veterinary Medicines Directorate. Woodham Lane, Newhaw, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB), where authorised products fail to provide effective control of sea lice infestations. The use of ivermectin over several years has indicated that it exercises some control at the commonly adopted dose rate of 25 xcexcg kgxe2x88x921 biomass twice weekly (Rae G. H. (1996) xe2x80x9cGuidelines for the Use of Ivermectin Pre-Mix for Pigs to Treat Farmed Salmon For Sea Licexe2x80x9d Scottish Salmon Growers Association pamphlet). However, ivermectin has been found to be toxic at levels greater than 25 xcexcg kgxe2x88x921 biomass twice weekly (S. C. Johnson, et al., xe2x80x9cToxicity and Pathological Effects of Orally Administered Ivermectin In Atlantic, Chinook, and Coho Salmon and Steelhead Trout,xe2x80x9d Diseases of Aquatic Organisms. Vol. 17: 107-112 (1993).
Emamectin (4xe2x80x3-deoxy-4xe2x80x3 epimethylaminoavermectin B,) has been recently used for treating edible plant crops (Leibee G. L., Jansson, R. K., Nuessly, G and Taylor J. L. (1995) xe2x80x9cEfficacy of Emamectin Benzoate and Bacillus thuringensis at Controlling Diamondback Moth (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) Populations On Cabbage in Floridaxe2x80x9d Florida Entomologist. 78(1): 82-96).
This invention provides a method of eliminating, reducing, or preventing parasites in a fish population, comprising feeding emamectin or a salt thereof to said fish population at a daily dose of 25 xcexcg to 400 xcexcg per kg of fish biomass per day for a period of 3-14 days.
In a further aspect, a kit for preparing a medicated fish feed for eliminating, reducing or preventing parasites in a fish population is provided, comprising a supply of emamectin or a salt thereof and printed instructions for feeding the emamectin or emamectin salt at a daily dose of 25 xcexcg to 400 xcexcg per kg of fish biomass per day for a period of 3-14 days.

Method of using emamectin to treat fish parasites


This invention provides a document processing apparatus and method for searching, for a specific document image, a database in which a plurality of document images are registered in correspondence with the attributes of partial regions. A document image associated with search is segmented into partial regions. The attribute of each partial region of the segmented document image associated with search is determined. At least one document image is selected from document images registered in the database on the basis of the number of partial regions for each attribute in the document image associated with search.

There have conventionally been proposed several techniques pertaining to pre-search of narrowing down search targets in advance under conditions with a light processing load before a search process under conditions with a heavy processing load.
For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-319231 discloses a technique of saving a document within a database in advance together with the number of regions of the document, segmenting an input image into regions to calculate the number of regions, narrowing down search targets to ones having the same number of regions, and then comparing feature amounts. This technique can narrow down search targets by a very simple process.
To search a database which increases in size due to an increase in business documents and the like, narrowdown by the conventional technique is not sufficient, and a higher-precision narrowdown technique is required. The conventional technique does not pay any attention to a region detection error or excessive region detection in a region segmentation process, and search omission may occur.


A rear composite impact beam includes front, rear, top and bottom walls formed from glass fibers encapsulated by a resin. Longitudinal ductile reinforcing members are provided at the intersections of the front wall with the top and bottom walls to enhance flexural strength in a region of the impact beam which receives predominantly tension loads during impact. If desired, similar longitudinal ductile reinforcing members are provided at the intersections of the rear wall with the top and bottom walls and retained by the resin to enhance flexural strength at a region of the impact beam which receives predominately compression loads during impact. If desired, a reinforcing web of woven ductile strands can be provided in at least the rear wall and encapsulated by the resin.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to automotive bumpers, and in particular is concerned with a reinforced composite impact beam for a soft bumper assembly.
2. Description of the Related Art
Soft bumper systems for both front and rear ends of automobiles are well-known. Generally, an impact beam or bar is mounted to the frame or support structure with brackets and fasteners or other suitable means. Impact beams are designed to resist deformation during impact, and reduce damage to the body and other components. Oftentimes, an energy-absorbing medium, e.g., compressible foam or collapsible cellular units, is mounted on an outer face of an impact beam to absorb energy imparted by a collision. A fascia, formed from a pliable material, is fitted over the energy-absorbing medium to provide an attractive outer cover for the bumper system.
Various cross sections and materials are used for impact beams. Some cross sections are open due to a C-shaped beam, while others are closed with a box-shaped beam. Some impact beams are formed from thin gauge metals and alloys to reduce weight and provide effective deformation resistance. Other impact beams are formed from high-strength, moldable composite materials such as resin reinforced with glass fibers to form a laminate. However, glass fiber reinforcements alone have not satisfactorily sustained impact loads once a crack develops in the laminate.
The art continues to seek improvements. It is desirable to provide a deformation-resistant impact beam having the least mass possible to reduce the cost of the impact beam and to enhance fuel efficiency of a vehicle. Furthermore, it is desirable to provide an economical means to reinforce an impact beam, particularly an impact beam formed from moldable composite materials.

Reinforced composite impact beam for a bumper assembly and method


A vehicle seat includes a seat bottom and a seat back. The seat bottom includes a forward section and a rear section. The seat back is pivotably mounted about the seat bottom. The seat back is positionable in a reclined position and a folded position. The pivotable link system characteristically positions the forward section of the seat bottom in a lowered position and one or more raised positions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to automobile seats that are pivotable into reclined and folded positions.
2. Background Art
The competitive nature of the automotive industry provides a continuing impetus to the development of improved vehicle system. In particular, vehicle interior components are particularly important because of the direct interaction such components have with the vehicle operator and passengers. Other design pressures are derived from government regulations and the desire to improve fuel efficiency. These latter considerations are frequently at odds with the aesthetic features with the more fuel-efficient vehicles tending to be quite small with limited passenger compartment space.
Many vehicles include rearward vehicle seats positioned in a somewhat limited space. Strategies that improve the comfort of such seats are desirable. In a typical vehicle seat, both the rearward and forward seats usually have a cushion angle that is not well adapted for all passengers, which of course may be any size. In all vehicles, and in particular, the smaller vehicles, it is desirable to have seats that fold and provide increase rear storage space.
Accordingly, there is a need in the prior art for improved vehicle seats that provide increased comfort for vehicle occupants while being foldable.

Vehicle seat with a seat tilt adjustment combined with a fold flat mechanism with a return function


An apparatus for inflating an air bag includes a container (12) which holds a supply of gas under pressure. The container (12) is filled with gas through an internally threaded opening (48). Once the container (12) has been filled with gas, an externally threaded plug (50) is threaded into the internally threaded opening (48) in the container. A seal ring (60) extends around the plug (50) and provides a first seal between the container and the plug. A weld (64), which extends around a peripheral portion of the plug (50) and extends between the plug and the container, provides a second seal between the container and plug.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for use in inflating a vehicle occupant restraint, such as an air bag, and to a method by which the apparatus is assembled.
A known apparatus for use in inflating a vehicle occupant restraint, such as an air bag, includes a container of gas under pressure. A body of ignitable pyrotechnic material is disposed within the container. An igniter assembly is actuatable to ignite the body of pyrotechnic material. As the pyrotechnic material burns, it heats the gas in the container to increase the fluid pressure in the container.
The container defines a generally cylindrical chamber. The chamber is filled with gas under pressure which is introduced into the chamber through a passage. Once the chamber has been filled with gas at a desired pressure, the passage is closed. A conventional pressure switch is associated with the container. The pressure switch monitors the gas pressure in the chamber to alert a passenger of a vehicle if the pressure in the chamber drops below a predetermined pressure.

Apparatus for use in inflating an air bag and method of assembly


The invention comprises a retention system for retaining a component within a housing, the system having a body to receive the component therein. The body has a bottom wall against which the component will be mounted. A resiliently deflectable latching arm extends upwardly from the bottom wall. The latching arm has a lower section, an angled section, and a latching section. The angled section has an opening therein. The latching section offset section has a latching surface. The opening receiving a latching tooth therein and the latching surface engaging the latching tooth to secure the component.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,449,227 discloses a solenoid attachment for a vehicle antilock brake system. The solenoid attachment includes a housing into which a plurality of solenoid assemblies are inserted. The solenoid assemblies are secured within the housing by a retention ring from which retention snaps, or latching arms, extend. The retention snaps are secured to a latching wall within the housing.
What is needed is a latching system which is easily molded.


A digital television receiver includes a tuner receiving a digital television signal including a DCCT, a demodulator demodulating the digital television signal, and a demultiplexer demultiplexing the DCCT from the demodulated signal. The receiver further includes a decoder parsing channel ID information and a priority code from the DCCT, where the channel ID information specifies an emergency alert channel associated with an emergency alert event and the priority code specifies an alert priority of the emergency alert event. The receiver further includes a controller that controls operation of the tuner to automatically tune to the emergency alert channel based upon the alert priority.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an emergency alert signaling method and a digital television receiver.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Recently, natural disasters including an unexpected earthquake, a flood and the like or emergency situations including a terror, incendiarism and the like are frequently take place. Moreover, damages caused by the natural disaster due to an environmental pollution or by the terror are widely expanded and their spreading effects get more powerful.
In case that the above-illustrated emergency takes place, a terrestrial broadcasting station collects data of the emergency, adjusts the collected data and then sends news relating to the emergency in a format of a newsflash or the like after duration.
In case that the emergency takes place, almost every broadcasting station transmits the newsflash to provide broadcast news associated with the emergency to viewers.
However, in operating the emergency alert system in the above-explained broadcasting, the related art method has the following problems.
First of all, all channels of the broadcasting simultaneously broadcast the almost similar newsflashes. Hence, it is undesirable in aspect of the efficient management of broadcast channels.
Secondly, in case that the emergency has occurred, a new table should be added within the PSIP (program and system information protocol) to provide information associated with the emergency to viewers collectively.

Emergency alert signaling method and digital television receiver