The present invention provides a 2,3-dihydro-6-nitroimidazo[2,1-b]oxazole compound represented by the following general formula:

From among acid-fast bacteria, human Mycobacterium tuberculosis has been widely known. It is said that the one-third of the human population is infected with this bacterium. In addition to the human Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium africanum and Mycobacterium bovis have also been known to belong to the Mycobacterium tuberoculosis group. These bacteria are known as Mycobacteria having a strong pathogenicity to humans.
Against these tuberculoses, treatment is carried out using three agents, rifampicin, isoniazid, and ethambutol (or streptomycin) that are regarded as first-line agents, or using four agents such as the above three agents and pyrazinamide.
However, since the treatment of tuberculosis requires extremely long-term administration of agents, it might result in poor compliance, and the treatment often ends in failure.
Moreover, in respect of the above agents, it has been reported that: rifampicin causes hepatopathy, flu syndrome, drug allergy, and its concomitant administration with other drugs is contraindicated due to P450-associated enzyme induction; that isoniazid causes peripheral nervous system disorder and induces serious hepatopathy when used in combination with rifampicin; that ethambutol brings on failure of eyesight due to optic nerve disorder; that streptomycin brings on diminution of the hearing faculty due to the 8th cranial nerve disorder; and that pyrazinamide causes adverse reactions such a hepatopathy, gouty attack associated with increase of uric acid level, vomiting (A Clinician's Guide To Tuberculosis, Michael D. Iseman 2000 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, printed in the USA, ISBN 0-7817-1749-3, Tuberculosis, 2nd edition, Fumiyuki Kuze and Takahide Izumi, Igaku-Shoin Ltd., 1992).
Actually, it has been reported that cases where the standard chemotherapy could not be carried out due to the adverse reactions to these agents made up 70% (approximately 23%, 52 cases) of the total cases where administration of the agents was discontinued (the total 228 hospitalized patients who were subject to the research) (Kekkaku, Vol. 74, 77-82, 1999).
In particular, hepatotoxicity, which is induced by rifampicin, isoniazid, and ethambutol out of the 5 agents used in combination for the aforementioned first-line treatment, is known as an adverse reaction that is developed most frequently. At the same time, Mycobacterium tuberculosis resistant to antitubercular agents, multi-drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and the like have been increasing, and the presence of these types of Mycobacterium tuberculosis makes the treatment more difficult.
According to the investigation made by WHO (1996 to 1999), the proportion of Mycobacterium tuberculosis that is resistant to any of the existing antitubercular agents to the total types of Mycobacterium tuberculosis that have been isolated over the world reaches 19%, and it has been published that the proportion of multi-drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis is 5.1%. The number of carriers infected with such multi-drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis is estimated to be 60,000,000, and concerns are still rising that multi-drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis will increase in the future (April 2001 as a supplement to the journal Tuberculosis, the "Scientific Blueprint for TB Drug Development.")
In addition, the major cause of death of AIDS patients is tuberculosis. It has been reported that the number of humans suffering from both tuberculosis and HIV reaches 10,700,000 at the time of year 1997 (Global Alliance for TB drug development). Moreover, it is considered that the mixed infection of tuberculosis and HIV has an at least 30 times higher risk of developing tuberculosis than the ordinary circumstances.
Taking into consideration the aforementioned current situation, the profiles of the desired antitubercular agent is as follows: (1) an agent, which is effective even for multi-drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis, (2) an agent enabling a short-term chemotherapy, (3) an agent with fewer adverse reactions, (4) an agent showing an efficacy to latent infecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis (i.e., latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis), and (5) an orally administrable agent.
Examples of bacteria known to have a pathogenicity to humans include offending bacteria of recently increasing MAC infection (Mycobacterium avium—intracellulare complex infection) such as Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium intracellulare, and atypical acid-fast bacteria such as Mycobacterium kansasii, Mycobacterium marinum, Mycobacterium simiae, Mycobacterium scrofulaceum, Mycobacterium szulgai, Mycobacterium xenopi, Mycobacterium malmoense, Mycobacterium haemophilum, Mycobacterium ulcerans, Mycobacterium shimoidei, Mycobacterium fortuitum, Mycobacterium chelonae, Mycobacterium smegmatis, and Mycobacterium aurum.
Nowadays, there are few therapeutic agents effective for these atypical acid-fast bacterial infections. Under the presence circumstances, antitubercular agents such as rifampicin, isoniazid, ethambutol, streptomycin and kanamycin, a newquinolone agent that is a therapeutic agent for common bacterial infections, macrolide antibiotics, aminoglycoside antibiotics, and tetracycline antibiotics are used in combination.
However, when compared with the treatment of common bacterial infections, the treatment of atypical acid-fast bacterial infections requires a long-term administration-of agents, and there have been reported cases where the infection is changed to an intractable one, finally leading to death. To break the afore-mentioned current situation, the development of an agent having a stronger efficacy is desired.
For example, National Publication of International Patent Application No. 11-508270 (WO97/01562) discloses that a 6-nitro-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro[2,1-b]-imidazopyran compound has a bactericidal action in vitro to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (H37Rv strain) and multi-drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and that the above compound has a therapeutic effect to a tuberculosis-infected animal model when it is orally administered and thus useful as antitubercular agent.
However, the compound described in the above publication differs from the compound of the present invention in terms of the basic skeleton, and it is considered to be a compound nonsimilar to the inventive compound.
Kuppsuwamy Nagarajan et al. have reported on European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 1989, Vol. 24, pp. 631-633 that compounds represented by the following general formula (I):
wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom or methyl group and —(CH2)nR2 represents a chloromethyl group, C1-C7 alkyl group, isopropoxymethyl group, 3-propenyloxy-methyl group, or unsubstituted phenoxymethyl group, and compounds represented by the same above general formula (I), wherein R1 and —(CH2)nR2 bind to each other to form a cyclopentane or cyclohexane ring (16 types of compounds in total) have a bactericidal action to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (H37Rv strain).
However, the above publication describes that only the 4 types of compounds out of the above compounds are effective when they are orally administered. It also describes that the compound having the highest activity, that is, the compound (CGI-17341) represented by the above general formula (I) wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom and —(CH2)nR2 represents ethyl, was found to have mutagenicity, and that accordingly, the development of these series of compounds as agents were abandoned.
In addition, Dilip R. Astekar et al. have reported on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, February 1993, pp. 183-186 about the antimicrobial profile of the above compound CGI-17341. According to the report, the compound CGI-17341 has a bactericidal action to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (H37Rv strain) and multi-drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis, but it does not have the activity to atypical acid-fast bacteria, M. avium, M. intracellulare, and M. fortuitum when it is used at 250 μg/ml or less.

Abstract: wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom or C1-C6 alkyl group, n represents an integer of 0 to 6, R2 represents a group —OR3 or the like, and R3 represents a hydrogen atom, C1-C6 alkyl group or the like, or R1 and —(CH2)nR2 may bind to each other together with carbon atoms adjacent thereto through nitrogen atoms so as to form a spiro ring represented by the general formula (H):

Abstract: wherein R41 is hydrogen, C1-C6 alkyl group or the like. The present compound has an excellent bactericidal action against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, multi-drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and atypical acid-fast bacteria.


An apparatus for transferring a motor vehicle of a multistory parking lot comprises a main carriage which moves under a motor vehicle and carries the motor vehicle, and a first small carriage and a second small carriage, both of which are movably positioned at the forward and rearward portions, respectively, of the main carriage in a direction of movement of the main carriage. Two pairs of swing arms are mounted on each of the first small carriage and the second small carriage, which swing horizontally from the direction of movement of the carriages to a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of the carriages, and between which front and rear wheels of the motor vehicle are engaged respectively and which raise the front and rear wheels and thereby raise the motor vehicle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for transferring a motor vehicle in a multistory parking lot, wherein a motor vehicle is transferred from a carriage of a stacker crane to a containment rack.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a multistory parking lot having multistory containment racks, a motor vehicle transfer apparatus is used either to transfer a motor vehicle on a carriage of a stacker crane to a containment rack or to transfer a motor vehicle on a containment rack to a carriage. A conventional motor vehicle transfer apparatus transfers a motor vehicle as follows.
A motor vehicle having been transferred to an entrance of a multistory containment rack is placed on a pallet. The motor vehicle together with the pallet are put on a carriage by slide forks installed on a stacker crane. The carriage with the motor vehicle thereon is aligned with an empty containment rack by moving the stacker crane. The motor vehicle together with the pallet are transferred to the containment rack by operating the slide forks. When a motor vehicle on a containment rack is to be sent off, the motor vehicle together with a pallet are transferred from the containment rack to a carriage by operating slide forks of a stacker crane. Then, the motor vehicle is transferred to an exit by operating the stacker crane.
Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. 141181/76 discloses a stacker crane for a multistory parking lot which transfers a motor vehicle directly between a carriage of a stacker crane and a containment rack. This prior art stacker crane has a structure as described below.
The carriage of the stacker crane of Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. 141181/76 moves to-and-fro relative to the containment rack. A plurality of slide forks hold front and rear wheels of a motor vehicle. One of the plurality of slide forks is freely movable to expand and reduce a distance between the slide forks. A motor vehicle is placed on a slat conveyer installed at an entrance of a multistory parking lot by driving the motor vehicle and hand brakes are applied to the motor vehicle. The power supply of the slat conveyer is turned off. A position of the carriage of the stacker crane is aligned with a position of the motor vehicle. The slide forks are expanded toward the outside of the front and rear wheels of the motor vehicle. Then, one of the slide forks is moved in a longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle and in a direction wherein a distance between the slide forks is reduced. The front and rear wheels are held by the slide forks, the outside of the front and rear wheels being put between the slide forks.
On this occasion, one of the slide forks contacts the outside of the wheels. When the other slide fork does not contact the wheels, the motor vehicle is pushed by the slide fork having previously contacted the wheels. Since the power supply for the slat conveyer is off, the wheels can be put between the slide forks with the smallest force in a direction wherein the slat is pushed. The motor vehicle is put on the carriage by reducing the distance between the slide forks. Also, when the motor vehicle is transferred from the carriage to the containment rack or from the containment rack to the carriage, the transfer of the motor vehicle is carried out by operating the aforementioned slide forks.
In a method for transferring a motor vehicle on a pallet, an empty pallet is required to be returned to an entrance of a multistory parking lot after a motor vehicle is sent off from an exit of the multistory parking lot. Moreover, in preparation for generation of unbalance of the number of motor vehicles coming in and going out, pallet stockers for keeping pallets are necessary. When a difference between the number of motor vehicles coming in and the number of motor vehicles going out is increased, the capacity of the pallet stockers becomes insufficient. In consequence, pallets which cannot be contained in the pallet stockers are required to be contained in containment racks. Therefore, an additional space is required, and wasteful labor is spent for moving only the empty pallets, which gives rise to a high equipment cost and management cost.
The method of Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. 141181/76 has an advantage in that no pallet is required. This method has a disadvantage, however, in that there are only a few holding points because front and rear wheels are held by putting only the outside of the front and rear wheels between slide forks, and therefore, a motor vehicle is liable to move to-and-fro during movement of a stacker crane, which makes the motor vehicle unstable. Particularly, in the case of a motor vehicle in which hand brakes are applied, since the wheels do not rotate when the wheels are put between the slide forks, slip or sliding between the slide forks and the wheels is produced, which leads to abrasion of the tires of the wheels.
In addition, when a motor vehicle contained in a containment rack is sent off, since there is no apparatus such as a slat conveyer for freely moving the motor vehicle, the tires of the wheels slip on the containment rack, which abrades the tires.

Apparatus for transferring a motor vehicle in a multistory parking lot


A novel shaft gear for harmonious engagement and disengagement of individual heddle shafts and for deriving their motion from the rotary motion of a single input shaft has a coupling system with two input elements. While one of the input elements serves to drive the output element of the coupling system permanently, the other input element serves solely to synchronize the output element briefly with the first input element. The switchover takes place in the brief synchronous phases, in selected angular regions that correspond to the top or bottom reversal point of the heddle shaft. For the switchover, such novel shaft drive mechanisms do not require any stoppage of motion for the input shaft or the shaft drive mechanism.

For forming sheds, power looms are as a rule provided with a plurality of heddle shafts, each of which has many heddles, arranged parallel to one another, through whose the yarn eyelets the warp yarns are passed. For forming sheds, or shedding, the heddle shafts are moved very rapidly up and down. This is accomplished by shaft drive system, which are also called shaft looms or eccentric looms. So-called eccentric looms generate the up-and-down motion of the heddle shafts from the rotary motion of a drive shaft, and high weaving speeds are attainable. However, such eccentric looms are inflexible. Only to a limited extent is it possible to create patterns or different kinds of bindings. For this reason, shaft drive systems are extensively used in which a pawl coupling is provided between a drive shaft and the eccentric element, for generating the shaft motion.
One such shaft loom is known for instance from German patent disclosure DE 697 02 029 T2. The pawl indexing mechanism located between the eccentric element and the driving shaft is switched on here for each shaft motion—that is, for an upward motion or a downward motion of the shaft, in each case for one-half of one revolution of the shaft. Such shaft looms are very flexible. However, such shaft looms cannot attain the operating speed of eccentric looms. The function of the pawl indexing mechanisms is vulnerable to wear. Increasing the operating speed, however, not only causes pawl wear but also leads to breakage of heddles and shafts.

Shaft drive system for power loom shafts


The purpose of this invention is to provide an esophagus stoma button capable of safely forming and maintaining a stoma hole provided in an esophagus and reducing the discomfortableness of a patient. To achieve the object, in the present invention, the stoma button 9 is comprised of a shaft part 1 and a flange part 2 provide at the rear end of the shaft part rounded at the tip thereof. More specifically, in the esophagus stoma button 9, a flange part is provide at the rear end of the shaft part rounded at the tip thereof, and a lumen having a generally circular cross section in the area ranging from the shaft part to the flange part is provided, a means for fixing a catheter for infusion is provided in the flange part with a flat and generally circular shape and a means for tightly closing the opening of the flange part is provided at the opening thereof.

Conventionally, especially as a method for giving nutrition through an intestine, endoscopic stomach stoma through skin (PEG) which is one of endoscopic operations for forming a stoma in skin surfaces of stomach lumen and abdominal wall using an endoscope was developed by Gaudert (pediatric surgeon) and Ponsky (endoscopic surgeon) in 1979 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H6-503243), and some techniques using this have been developed and have become widespread. However, since a stomach lining or an abdominal wall is subjected to centesis, this operation can not be used or it is difficult to use this operation "in a case in which a large amount of ascites is stored", "in a case in which a liver or a transverse colon exists between a stomach and an abdominal wall", and "a case in which the patient has anamnesis of stomach operation.
There is a method for indwelling a tube in a stomach through a nose, but when the tube is allowed to stay in the stomach for a long term, a pain in a nostril, a nasal vacity or a pharynx becomes strong, an ulcer is formed in the nostril and it becomes difficult to keep allowing the tube to stay in the stomach in some cases, and pneumonia is supervened because it is difficult to discharge sputum in some cases. These are not preferable in terms of QOL.
The present inventors proposed an invention of a medical tube inserting tool and a method for using this tool in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H10-17994. In this invention, in order to overcome the inconvenience of the PEG and the tube through nose, a route for discharging bodily fluid and infusing chemical liquid and eutrophic through esophageal is reliably secured with safety. In this invention, however, there is no detail description concerning the tube to be stayed, and since it is necessary to use a long tube when a currently widely used tube is used, a portion of the tube projecting from a body becomes long, this portion is burdensome for a patient who needs the tube in his or her body for a long term. Therefore, there is a possibility that the patient himself or herself intentionally pull out the tube in some cases.
As a method for overcoming the inconvenience caused because the portion of the tube projecting from the body becomes long, there is proposed a medical tool comprising a mushroom-like or semi-spherical member to be fixed in a body. In this medical tool, the projecting portion is reduced in size (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,549,657, and 4,863,438). When this proposed tool is allowed to stay in the esophagus, however, there is a problem that the fixed portion becomes bulky at the entrance portion of the esophagus, and it becomes difficult to take nutrition through a mouth.
On the other hand, when the tube is allowed to stay for a long term, in order to avoid an excessive burden on a body, it is effective to use a soft material on a shaft portion, but since the tube is inserted directly through the stoma when the tube is exchanged, appropriate hardness is also required. A cervix structure and the formation angle of a stoma are different depending upon patients, and if an angle formed by a shaft part and a flange part is fixed, a burden is put on a body in some cases. When a catheter for transfusion is to be connected, it is necessary to ensure the air-tightness of the connection and reliable fixed state. Some patients repeat vomiting after eutrophic is infused into a stomach. For such patient, it is necessary to insert a tip of the shaft part to a small intesine. There are problems that this inserting operation is not easy, it takes time to allow the tube to stay in the stomach, and burdens are put on an operator and a patient mentally and physically.
The present invention has been accomplished in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the invention to provide a medical tool for reliably securing a route for discharging bodily fluid and infusing chemical liquid or eutrophic or the like with safety, and more particularly, to provide an esophagus stoma button capable of forming and maintaining a stoma formed in an esophagus with safety which reduces the annoyance of a patient.


A combustor comprises a hollow body defining a combustion chamber. The hollow body is typically annular in form and includes an outer liner, an inner liner, and an upstream dome plate. The dome plate includes a swirl cup with a mixer disposed therein to provide uniform mixing of fuel and air. The mixer comprises an inner swirler and an outer swirler that are mounted in the swirl cup. The outer swirler includes solid vanes. A shroud surrounds the mixer at the upstream end, which shroud includes an annular fuel chamber. The shroud further includes a number of axial fuel injection fuel injection openings that provide flow communication between the annular fuel chamber and the mixer and radially inject fuel within the mixer.

This invention relates generally to a combustor of a turbine engine and, more particularly, to a combustor premixer.
In a typical aero-derivative industrial gas turbine engine, fuel is burned in an annular combustor. The fuel is metered and injected into the combustor by multiple nozzles along with combustion air having a designated amount of swirl. Non-uniformity of the fuel/air mixture causes the flame to be locally hotter, leading to significantly enhanced production of NOx. As herein used, the term "fuel/air mixture" is defined as a mixture of air and fuel for combustion.
In the typical turbine engine, flame stability and engine operability dominate the combustor design requirements. These requirements have in general resulted in combustor designs with the combustion at the dome end of the combustor proceeding at the highest possible temperatures at stoichiometric conditions. Additionally, designs that optimize flame stability and engine operability typically do not minimize production of NOx.
To reduce the production of NOx, hollow vane mixers have been used for fuel injection. Such a mixer includes an outer annular swirler and an inner annular swirler. The outer annular swirler includes hollow vanes with internal cavities and gas fuel passages for injecting gas fuel into the air stream. Using such a mixer, the high pressure air and the fuel is uniformly mixed, resulting in reduced formation of pollutants when the fuel/air mixture is exhausted out the downstream end of the mixing duct into the combustor and ignited. Such hollow vanes are used in both single fuel and dual fuel mixers.
Although the above described mixer satisfies the technical requirements of very low emissions, the mixer is complex and costly to fabricate, particularly the hollow swirl vanes. The hollow vane fabrication process includes time-consuming, intricate machining processes which result in reduced manufacturing yield. Further, as compared to a solid vane swirler, the reliability of the hollow vane swirler is reduced due to the potential for cracking around the injection openings and in the vane walls.
It is desirable to reduce the cost and improve the reliability of mixers. Such a mixer, however, must maintain acceptable combustion performance and emission levels.

Turbine engine combustor with fuel-air mixer


A mobile vehicle provided with moving means and a moving control device automatically travels while detecting an advance distance and a turning angle by means of one optical displacement sensor. The mobile vehicle comprises a moving unit (2) for moving a body (1), one optical displacement sensor (7) as a displacement sensor provided on the body (1), and a moving control device for controlling the moving unit (2) based on a moving distance detected by the optical displacement sensor (7). The moving control device determines the distance of rectilinear movement and a turning angle of the body (1) from an amount detected by the optical displacement sensor (7). The optical displacement sensor (7) picks up patterns or the like on a traveling floor surface at specified time intervals and detects a moving distance by comparing images before and after the specified time.

A mobile robot has been proposed which has a traveling device, a travel control means, various sensors and a working device, and which automatically performs various working operations while traveling or after moving to a destination position. For example, a mobile cleaning robot is a robot for performing a cleaning function as one of the working functions, having cleaning means such as suction nozzle and a brush provided on a main body bottom surface, drive and steering means provided as moving functions, obstruction detection means for detecting obstructions such as walls, pillars, pieces of furniture and office machines, and position recognition means for recognizing the self-position. While obstructions such as surrounding walls and pillars in a cleaning place are being detected with the obstruction detection means, the self-position is recognized by the position recognition means and travels are made in a predetermined cleaning are to perform predetermined cleaning operations.
A mobile cleaner has been proposed (Patent Document 1) which has a plurality of optical travel distance sensors which detect movement distances in two dimensions from changes between optical images of a floor surface, a movement amount detection section which detects movement distances in two dimensions and a turning angle through which a cleaner main body has been moved on the basis of the movement distances in two dimensions detected with the sensors, and a movement control section which controls the movement of the cleaner main body on the basis of the detected movement distances in two dimensions and turning angle. The mobile cleaner is designed to accurately control the robot body by detecting the movement distances and turning angle with high accuracy. Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-180586 (paragraphs [0036] to [0039], FIGS. 1 to 5).
A plurality of optical displacement sensor units must be provided in this conventional mobile vehicle. This is a cause of an increase in cost. It is important to reduce the size of the main body in the case of movement in a room of an ordinary house for example, while there is a need to prepare a space for providing a plurality of sensors. A rotational speed sensor for detecting the amount of rotation of wheels is provided as a means for measuring the distance through which the mobile vehicle moves. However, the rotational speed sensor is a restriction on the position and space for placement of a wheel system including wheels, and is a cause of hindrance to the reduction in size of the mobile vehicle.
In a mobile vehicle having moving means for moving a main body, a displacement sensor provided on the main body, and movement control means for controlling the moving means on the basis of a detected value detected by the displacement sensor, there is a subject to be solved that is to enable detection of the distance of forward/backward rectilinear movement and the in place turning angle of the mobile vehicle by means of one displacement sensor.


Digital media playback instruction distribution devices, methods, and programs access a memory storing content data, the content data including website content for distribution to a remote terminal, the website content including a display area for displaying digital media. The devices, methods, and programs receive a request for the stored web content from the remote terminal, calculate a time period over which a user of the remote terminal is estimated to need to browse the website content when it is rendered on the remote terminal, and transmit the website content and a delay instruction to the remote terminal, the delay instruction instructing the remote terminal to delay playback of digital media displayed in the display area until after the calculated time period has elapsed since display of the website content on the remote terminal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a distribution device, a distribution method, and a non-transitory computer readable storage medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2011-128204 discloses an advertisement distribution device that causes a video to be played back on a display area for a video when a viewable area that is displayed on a screen of a web browser in an area of a content such as a web page includes a reference position set in the display area.
In the technique as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2011-128204, for example, when the display area for displaying a video is present beside an article in the web page, the video is played back on the display area in some cases although a user such as a visitor of the web page has not finished reading the article, resulting in a problem. Thus, in the technique as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2011-128204, it is still difficult to play back the video at an appropriate timing.

Digital media playback instruction distribution device, method, and program that calculate a digital media playback delay and distribute a delay instruction with website content


A material distribution vessel for distributing material recovered in a dredging operation is disclosed. The material distribution vessel includes a hull; a propulsion system for selectively moving the hull through a waterway; and a conveyor system supported by the hull. The conveyor system has a first end for receiving recovered material and a second end for depositing the recovered material. At least a portion of the conveyor system is movable relative to the hull to move the second end to a desired position. The material distribution vessel also includes at least one support pad. The at least one support pad is movable in at least a vertical direction to support the hull on a bottom of the waterway. The recovered material may be deposited into the waterway to form an island (which may be a levy), into another water-borne vessel, or into an on-shore station such as a wheeled transportation vehicle.

The invention relates generally to dredging, and, more particularly, to a material distribution vessel and a method for distributing material recovered in a dredging operation.
Due largely to erosion, the waterways of many areas of the world are becoming choked with silt and the like. As the waterways become more and more shallow, certain problems arise. For example, navigation through the waterways becomes difficult or altogether impossible. In addition, the risk of flooding adjoining areas of a waterway increases as the depth of the waterway decreases.
Over the years, many dredging techniques have been devised. Perhaps the most popular dredging technique involves a vacuuming dredge which sucks silt and the like from the bottom of the waterway through a conduit or a hose. This technique is disadvantageous in several respects. For example, it collects large volumes of water in the dredging process. As a result, the material recovered by this dredging technique is largely a liquid mixture that is difficult to handle and dispose of. By way of another example, the vacuuming technique mentioned above tends to disturb the bed of the waterway in a manner that mixes silt and impurities imbedded in the silt into the water. Some of these impurities may be toxic (e.g., lead and mercury). Dredging with this old technique can, therefore, pose an environmental hazard. Due to these and other difficulties, dredging a waterway using the vacuuming technique is an expensive, time-consuming and hazardous proposition.
Recently, Caterpillar(copyright) has invented a new dredging assembly. The dredging assembly is a large wheel that rolls along and slices into the bed of a waterway. The wheel is compartmentalized by slicing blades that slice and pick-up segments of the bed of the waterway as the wheel turns in a fashion similar to a cookie cutter slicing cookies from dough. The development of this new dredging technology has made it possible to dredge waterways in a much more efficient, cost-effective manner. Specifically, because the dredging wheel lifts large segments of silt from the waterway bed, the material it recovers is largely solid and undisturbed, is not mixed with much (if any) additional water during dredging, and, thus, can be more efficiently handled than material recovered by the prior art vacuuming system discussed above.
While the development of the Caterpillar(copyright) dredging wheel offers a significant opportunity to recover material from the waterways of the world and to restore those waterways to navigable depths, it has also given rise to a new set of technological problems from the material handling perspective. Specifically, now that it is possible to quickly dredge large volumes of substantially solid material from a waterway, it is necessary to develop apparatus and systems for handling, transporting and/or disposing of the material recovered by the dredge.
In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a method is disclosed for constructing an island in a waterway with material recovered in a dredging operation. The method comprises the step of positioning a material distribution vessel at a first island building area in a waterway. The methods also includes the steps of: supplying a conveyor system of the material distribution vessel with recovered material; depositing the recovered material from the conveyor system into the waterway at a first location in the waterway; moving at least a portion of the conveyor system by at least one of slewing, retracting and extending the at least a portion of the conveyor system; and depositing the recovered material from the conveyor system into the waterway at a second location in the waterway. The first and second locations are located within the first island building area.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a material distribution vessel is disclosed for distributing material recovered in a dredging operation. The material distribution vessel comprises a hull; a propulsion system for selectively moving the hull through a waterway; and a conveyor system supported by the hull. The conveyor system has a first end for receiving recovered material and a second end for depositing the recovered material. At least a portion of the conveyor system is movable relative to the hull to move the second end to a desired position. The material distribution vessel also includes at least one support pad. The at least one support pad is movable in at least a vertical direction to support the hull on a bottom of the waterway.

Material distribution vessel and method for distributing material recovered in a dredging operation


There is provided an urethane modified epoxy resin either obtained by reaction of 100 weight portions of a preliminary condensate A! produced by reaction of an epoxy resin and an acid of a phosphorus compound or its salt or ester and 5 to 60 weight portions of an isocyanate group-terminated urethane prepolymer B! produced by reaction of a hydroxy compound and an organic polyisocyanate compound, or obtained by preparing an urethane modified epoxy resin D! from 100 weight portions of an epoxy resin and 5 to 60 weight portions of the same isocyanate group-terminated urethane prepolymer B! as the above and causing the resin D! to react with an acid of the same phosphorus compound as the above or its salt or ester. Such an urethane modified epoxy resin can advantageously be used with an active organic hardening agent to produce an adhesive resin composition, which is highly effective for bonding iron and non-ferrous metals particularly in terms of shearing strength and peeling strength.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an urethane modified epoxy resin and a highly water-proof, chemical-proof and adhesive resin composition to be suitably used as an adhesive agent and, more particularly, it relates to a resin composition that can be suitably used as an adhesive agent for iron and non-ferrous metals such as aluminum, zinc, copper and other transition metals and provides, when set, an excellent bonding strength in terms of shearing strength and peeling strength and the like.
2. Description of Relating Art
Epoxy resin type adhesive agents are known to be highly effective for bonding metals, glass, concrete, stones and other objects. On the other hand, as they find a broader scope of application in recent years, more and more rigorous requirements are posed on them in terms of peeling strength, shearing strength, thermoresistant adhesive property, water resistant adhesive property, creep characteristics, durability and the like.
While epoxy resin generally shows a relatively high shearing strength, it does not provide a satisfactory level of peeling strength and flexibility required for structures. In order for epoxy resin to operate more satisfactory, therefore, thermoplastic resin is normally added to it so that they are chemically combined to give rise to a reaction product or simply blended to produce an alloy.
For example, Japanese Patent Application Opened No. 61-228015 discloses an urethane modified epoxy resin obtained by chemically reacting of an urethane-prepolymer produced from a polyhydroxyl compound and a polyisocyanate compound with an epoxy resin.
Japanese Patent Application Opened No. 62-53527 teaches another urethane modified epoxy resin obtained by chemically reacting of an urethane-prepolymer produced from high and low molecular weight polyhydroxyl compounds and a polyisocyanate compound with a compound containing epoxy and hydroxyl groups.
Japanese Patent Application Opened No. 58-63758 discloses a condensation product of epoxy resin and phosphoric acid or a phosphate.
While the above cited urethane modified epoxy resins may show an appropriate level of flexibility and be highly effective for bonding steel plates, they do not operate satisfactorily for bonding non-ferrous metals. Although phosphorus epoxy resin products are effective for bonding non-ferrous metals such as zinc-plated steel plates, aluminum and stainless steel, their shearing strength and peeling strength are very poor and far from satisfactory.
Therefore, it is the object of the present invention to provide an adhesive epoxy resin composition that operates satisfactorily as an adhesive agent for non-ferrous metals, showing an excellent level of shearing strength and peeling strength.


Systems and methods that exploit unique properties of a language script (e.g., condition joining rules for Arabic language) to enable a two tier text recognition. In such two tier system, one tier can recognize predetermined groups of linked letters that are connected based on joining rules of a language associated with the text, and another tier dissects (and recognizes) such linked letters to respective constituent letters that form the predetermined group of linked letters. Various classifiers and artificial intelligence components can further facilitate text recognition at each level.

Advances in computer technology (e.g., microprocessor speed, memory capacity, data transfer bandwidth, software functionality, and the like) have generally contributed to increased computer application in various industries. For example, computer based decision-support systems are commonly employed in recognition systems, such as Optical Character Recognition (OCR), and related text recognition applications.
Typically, scanners or optical imagers were initially developed to "digitize" pictures (e.g., input images into a computing system). Subsequently, such systems were applied to other printed and typeset material, and OCR systems gradually extended to a plurality of computer applications. In general, OCR technology is tuned to recognize limited or finite choices of possible types of fonts. Such systems can in general "recognize" a character by comparing it to a database of pre-existing fonts. If a font is deemed incoherent, the OCR technology returns unidentifiable or non-existing characters, to indicate non-recognition of such incoherent text.
Moreover, handwriting recognition has proved to be an even more challenging scenario than text recognition. In general, a person's handwriting exemplifies an individualistic style that shows through penmanship. Accordingly, by its very nature, handwriting patterns exhibit diverse forms, even for the same character. Obviously, storing every conceivable form of handwriting for a particular character is not feasible.
Various approaches have been developed to recognize patterns associated with such handwritten characters. Most handwriting recognition systems employ recognizers based on Neural Nets, Hidden Markov Models (HMM) or a K-Nearest-Neighbor (KNN) approach. In general, such systems perform reasonably well at the task of classifying characters based on their total appearance. For example, a level of similarity can be determined by generating a distance measure between patterns.
However, the recognition of handwritten text in images, commonly known as offline handwriting recognition, remains a challenging task. Significant work is still to be done before large scale commercially viable systems can be efficiently built. These problems are further magnified by non-Latin languages/scripts such as Arabic, Farsi, and the like—wherein less research effort has been allocated for addressing the associated recognition problems involved.
Typically, majority of research in Arabic offline recognition has been directed to numeral and single character recognition. Few examples exist where the offline recognition of Arabic words problem is addressed. Recent construction of standard publicly available databases of handwritten Arabic text images (e.g., IFN/INIT database) has slowly encouraged further research activities for these scripts/languages.
In contrast, for Latin scripts, Hidden Markov Model (HMM) based approaches have dominated the space of offline cursive word recognition. In a typical setup, a lexicon is provided to constrain the output of the recognizer. An HMM can then be built for every word in the lexicon and the corresponding likelihood (probability of data being generated by the model) is computed. In general, the most likely interpretation is then postulated to be the correct one.
In the few reported approaches to Arabic text recognition, similar approaches like Latin text recognition methodologies have been typically employed. Moreover, various attempts performed to modify the preprocessing and feature extraction phases to accommodate the different nature of the Arabic writing script have not proved to be efficient. In addition, such attempts in general do not exploit the unique properties of Arabic script such as condition joining rules for recognition purposes.


An integrated circuit device, e.g., a memory device, includes a substrate, a first insulation layer on the substrate, and a contact pad disposed in the first insulation layer in direct contact with the substrate. A second insulation layer is disposed on the first insulation layer. A conductive pattern, e.g., a damascene bit line, is disposed in the second insulation layer. A conductive plug extends through the second insulation layer to contact the contact pad and is self-aligned to the conductive pattern. An insulation film may separate the conductive pattern and the conductive plug. A glue layer may be disposed between the conductive pattern and the second insulation layer. The device may further include a third insulation layer on the second insulation layer and the conductive pattern, and the conductive plug may extend through the second and third insulation layers.

The present invention relates to integrated circuit devices and fabrication techniques therefor, and more particularly, to contact structures for integrated circuit devices and methods of fabrication therefor.
Generally, patterns formed in semiconductor devices have decreased in size as the semiconductor devices have become more highly integrated. For example, widths of wirings and intervals between wirings in semiconductor devices have been greatly reduced. In addition, sizes of adjacent structures, as well as the dimensions of bit lines, have been greatly reduced. For example, bit line contacts and self-aligned contact pads have taken on reduced dimensions. Particularly, contacts that connect isolated device regions to one another using a conductive film often consume a considerable area in a semiconductor device because of a need to maintain alignment margins and isolation. As a result, contact size often is a significant factor in determining cell size in a semiconductor memory device, such as a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) device.
As semiconductor manufacturing technology below about 0.25 μm has been developed, conventional methods for forming contacts may not be feasible. In a semiconductor memory device including a plurality of conductive films, interlayer dielectrics are typically interposed between the conductive films. Formation of a contact that electrically connects conductive films to one another generally becomes more difficult as separation between the conductive films increases.
A method for forming a contact using a self-aligned process has been developed in order to reduce an area of a cell in the semiconductor memory device including a repetitive formation of identical patterns and an inadequate design rule. Generally, this conventional method for forming a self-aligned contact uses steps defined by adjacent structures. The contact may have a size that varies in accordance with heights of the adjacent structures, a thickness of an insulation film where the contact is formed, and an etching process used to form the contact. The conventional method for forming a self-aligned contact may be advantageously performed to form a minute contact without requiring precise alignment margin for the contact. A conventional method for forming the self-aligned contact is performed using an etching selectivity between an oxide film and a nitride film during an anisotropic etching process. Examples of such a method are disclosed in Korean Patent Laid Open Publication No. 2001-76166, Japanese Patent Laid Open Publication No. 10-27889, and Korean Patent Laid Open Publication No. 2001-59019.
FIGS. 1A to 1C are cross-sectional views illustrating a method for forming a self-aligned contact according to the disclosure in Japanese Patent Laid Open Publication No. 10-27889.
Referring to FIG. 1A, after an oxide film 15 is formed on a semiconductor substrate 10 having a transistor structure formed thereon, the oxide film 15 is partially etched to form a groove 20 for a bit line having a predetermined dimension. A first metal barrier layer 25 and a first conductive film 30 are successively formed on the oxide film 15 and in the groove 20. The metal barrier layer 25 and the first conductive film 30 are partially etched to form a bit line 35 in the groove 20.
Referring to FIG. 1B, after a nitride capping layer 40 is formed on the bit line 35, the oxide film 15 between the bit lines 35 is etched using a photoresist pattern as an etching mask to form a contact hole 45 adjacent to the bit line 35. Nitride spacers 50 are formed on a sidewall of the bit line 35, on a side portion of the capping layer 40 and on a sidewall of the contact hole 45.
Referring to FIG. 1C, a contact plug 65 is formed between the bit line 35 by forming a second metal barrier layer 55 and a second conductive film 60 in the contact hole 45. Because the contact hole is formed using the capping layer composed of nitride as a hard mask, a size of the contact hole is decreased and a processing margin for opening the contact may not be ensured when a critical dimension (CD) of the bit line is reduced to below about 100 nm. As a result, a void may be formed in the contact plug because the contact hole may not be completely filled up with the conductive material. Additionally, metallic hard polymer may be generated during etching processes for forming the bit line and the contact hole. The metallic hard polymer may cause an electrical short of a semiconductor device, e.g., the metallic hard polymer may form a bridge connecting one bit line to an adjacent bit line or the contact plug.
To overcome the above-described problems, a method for forming a bit line and a capacitor contact using a damascene process is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,344,389 (issued to Gary B. Bronner et. al.), Korean Patent Laid Open Publication No. 2001-8589 and Korean Patent Laid Open Publication No. 2001-55683.
FIGS. 2A to 2E are cross-sectional views illustrating a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device having a bit line and a capacitor contact using a damascene process according to the disclosure in U.S. Pat. No. 6,344,389.
Referring to FIG. 2A, an isolation film 105 is formed on a semiconductor substrate 100 using a shallow trench isolation (STI) process to define a cell region and a peripheral circuit region in the semiconductor substrate 100. After a protection layer 115 is formed to enclose a transistor 110 on the semiconductor substrate 100, a first insulation film 120 is formed on the semiconductor substrate 100. The first insulation film 120 may include silicon oxide or silicon nitride.
After an upper portion of the first insulation film 120 is planarized using a chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) process, the first insulation film 120 is partially etched using a photolithography process to form holes (not shown) that expose source/drain regions 125 of the transistors 110. When the holes are filled with conductive materials like polysilicon or tungsten silicide, a self-aligned contact (SAC) pad 130 of a bit line and a SAC pad 135 of a capacitor are formed.
Referring to FIG. 2B, after an interlayer dielectric (ILD) 140 is formed on the first insulation film 120 including the SAC pads 130 and 135 of the bit line and the capacitor, the interlayer dielectric 140 is etched to form a capacitor contact hole (not shown) exposing the SAC pad 135 of the capacitor. The capacitor contact hole is partially filled with a conductive material like polysilicon or tungsten silicide to from a capacitor contact 145. A protection layer 150 is formed on the capacitor contact 145. A portion of the ILD 140 adjacent to the capacitor contact 145 is partially etched to form a trench 155. Spacers 160 are formed on sidewalls of the trench 155 of the ILD 140. The spacers 160 may include an insulation material, such as silicon nitride.
Referring to FIG. 2C, a bottom of the trench 155 is partially etched to form a bit line contact hole (not shown) exposing the SAC pad 130 of the bit line. A conductive material is formed in the trench 155. After the conductive material is polished in a damascene process, a dry etching process or a wet etching process is performed to form a bit line contact 165 in the bit line contact hole and a bit line 170 having a predetermined thickness is formed in the trench 155.
Referring to FIG. 2D, a second insulation film 175 is formed on the ILD 140, the capacitor contact 145 and the bit line 170. The second insulation film 175 is partially etched to form an opening 180 exposing an upper portion of the capacitor contact 145. Referring to FIG. 2E, a portion of the protection layer 150 and the upper portion of the capacitor contact 145 are removed through the opening 180. A bottom electrode, a dielectric region and a top electrode are successively formed in the opening 180, thereby forming a capacitor 185. Portions of the second insulation film 175 and the ILD 140 around the capacitor 185 are etched using a CMP process to form a semiconductor device having a capacitor-over-bit line (COB) structure.
In the above-described method for forming the semiconductor device, a parasitic capacitor including the bit line, the spacer and the contact plug may be formed. A capacitance of the parasitic capacitor may be relatively high because the nitride spacer has a relatively large dielectric constant of more than about 8. Consequently, the transient response of the semiconductor device may be reduced and a capacitance of the capacitor may be reduced. Additionally, the processes for forming and etching the protection layer may increase manufacturing cost and manufacturing time because the protection layer is removed with a portion of the capacitor contact after the protection layer is formed on the capacitor contact. Furthermore, metal hard polymers may be generated during etching of the protection layer, and these metal hard polymers may cause failure of the semiconductor device. The metal hard polymers may be more frequently generated when the bit line is formed by etching the conductive material.

Methods of fabricating integrated circuit devices having self-aligned contact structures


An implantable ultrafiltration device for removing low to medium molecular weight solutes and fluids from the blood of a patient experiencing renal failure, the device including: a pump having an inlet and an outlet; a first component for forming a first fluid flow path between the patient's vascular system and the pump inlet; a filter interposed in the first fluid flow path, the filter being permeable to water and substantially impermeable to blood cells and proteins; and a second component for forming a second fluid flow path between the pump outlet and the patient's bladder, wherein the pump, the first and second components, and the filter are all constructed to be surgically implanted in the patient's body. For removing unwanted fluids from the blood of a patient experiencing renal failure the first component is connected in the vascular system of the patient and the second component is implanted in the patient's bladder or ureter; and the pump is then operated to cause fluid to flow through the filter at a controlled rate in order to maintain the volume of the blood in the vascular system and total body volume at a selected value. The infusion of peritoneal solution free of osmotic agents can also be carried out in conjunction with conventional hemodialysis or with operation of the implanted device.

The present invention relates to devices and methods for treating patients suffering from renal diseases.
The leading causes of death in patients with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) are cardiac related. Cardiac related diseases include acute myocardial infarction, cardiac arrest, cardiac arrhythmia, cardiomyopathy, atherosclerotic heart disease, valvular, pericarditis, and pulmonary edema. These diseases account for 43% of all deaths in this population or roughly 17,000 deaths per year (United States Renal Data System, USRDS).
ESRD patients have a high prevalence of cardiac disease due to their inability to excrete fluids. In individuals with normal renal function, the blood is filtered and toxins and fluids are removed as necessary. Since ESRD patients are not capable of sufficiently excreting fluids, water and other fluids which are consumed remain in the body until they are removed by ultrafiltration (removal of excess fluid from the body) during dialysis.
The body's fluid retention mechanism tends to be consistent from patient to patient. The blood volume is usually first to expand. The blood volume is known to increase in size by as much as 20%. This places undue stress on the heart and the circulatory system as is evident by the rise in blood pressure and concurrent incidence of heart failure in ESRD patients. When the extracorporeal system is at its maximum fluid capacity (related to oncotic and osmotic forces), the fluid then distributes throughout the body, usually ending up in the extremities such as ankles, hands and other tissues as edema. The total quantity of fluid which the body can hold varies from patient to patient, however volumes as large as 7 liters, or 15 pounds, of fluid are common. The result of this fluid overload is reflected in increased hypertension and edema. If the body continues to take on more fluid, the fluid then enters the pleural cavities and the patient has shortness of breath. Oxygen uptake in the lungs is reduced as air in the alveoli becomes displaced by water. If this condition is not treated, death can result. The treatment currently employed is ultrafiltration.
Once the fluid is removed and the proper dry weight of the patient is reached, blood pressure will drop and breathing will return to normal. However, repeated increases and decreases in blood volume are believed to inflict damage to the heart and vascular system, thereby increasing the risk of cardiac disease.

Implantable device and method for removing fluids from the blood of a patient method for implanting such a device and method for treating a patient experiencing renal failure


A nontoxic fuel cell engine coolant which has an electrical resistivity of greater than 250 kOhm-cm, a boiling point of greater than 90° C., a freezing point of less than −40° C., a thermal conductivity of greater than 0.4 W/m-k, a viscosity of less than 1 cPs at 80° C., a viscosity of less than 6 cPs at 0° C., a heat capacity of greater than 3 kJ/kg-K, and which is compatible with current cooling system materials.

It has been suggested that fuel cell technology can be used to generate electricity in sufficient volume to be applicable in the driving of electric motors for passenger vehicles, standby power generation, and other applications. A fuel cell is a device that converts chemical energy of a fuel directly into electricity and they are intrinsically more efficient than most other energy generation devices, such as internal combustion engines. In principle, a fuel cell operates somewhat like a battery. Unlike a battery, a fuel cell does not run down or require recharging. It will produce energy in the form of electricity and heat as long as fuel is supplied. The most common type of fuel cell consists of two electrodes sandwiched around an electrolyte. Oxygen passes over one electrode and hydrogen over the other, generating electricity, water, and heat.
The fact that heat is generated by the fuel cell requires the presence in the automobile or other system of a cooling system which can be similar to those used presently in internal combustion engines. Typically, such a system includes a circulating pump, plumbing that may include aluminum, brass, copper, lead-tin solder, stainless steel, plastic or rubber materials, and a heat exchanger (radiator) typically constructed of aluminum or copper/brass.
The heat exchange fluid (coolant) is obviously just as important in a fuel cell system as it is in internal combustion engines. Many of the requirements of a heat exchange fluid for internal combustion engines are also required for fuel cell engines. However, there are some additional requirements. For instance, fuel cell vehicles generate a direct current of 400 volts. The coolant, which flows around the aluminum components of the fuel cell, must be nonconductive to protect both the cell itself from shorting out and to prevent electrical hazard to humans operating or servicing the system.
The first fuel cell was built in 1839 by Sir William Grove, a Welsh judge and gentleman scientist. The "Grove cell" used a platinum electrode immersed in nitric acid and a zinc electrode in zinc sulfate to generate about 12 amps of current at about 1.8 volts. There were other developments in fuel cell technology over the years but serious interest in the fuel cell as a practical generator of electricity did not begin until the 1960's, when the U.S. Space Program chose fuel cell technology over nuclear power and solar energy. This technology, developed by Francis Thomas Bacon, used nickel gauze electrodes and operated under pressures as high as 300 psi.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Chemical base for fuel cell engine heat exchange coolant/antifreeze


A method for purchasing goods and services in transactions utilizing a valued card includes issuing to a card owner from an issuing institution a valued card pursuant to an agreement between the card owner and the issuing institution. The valued card has a purchase value. The valued card is transferred to a recipient having authority to purchase goods and services utilizing at least a portion of the purchase value. The card owner is reimbursed a percentage of a remaining balance of the purchase value at an expiration date pursuant to the agreement.

This invention relates generally to debit cards and, more particularly, to a valued card system and method that reimburses the purchaser a percentage of a balance remaining unused by a recipient at the expiration date of the valued card.
Commercial transactions involving payment for goods and/or services typically involve some form of transfer of funds between the purchaser and the seller. Such transfers may include a payment by cash, check or any suitable negotiable instrument. Such payments may also be made using a credit card or a debit card. Credit cards and debit cards have enjoyed increasing popularity for payment on accounts and for purchasing goods and/or services due to the distinct advantages associated with credit cards and debit cards, including privacy and security advantages. More specifically, if a card is lost or stolen, its owner is normally exposed to only limited liability, if any, for its misuse. Further, various security measures tend to minimize unauthorized card usage. By verifying cardholder identities and by invoking other security measures, commercial institutions have achieved some measure of success in curbing credit/debit card fraud.
A banking institution issues a credit card to a card owner under an agreement including terms and conditions in which the card owner is responsible for payment on an account. For example, when the card owner purchases goods and/or services on the credit card a balance is created on the account to essentially provide a line of credit. Pursuant to the agreement, the card owner is responsible for payments on the balance.
In contrast to credit cards, a debit card facilitates transferring funds from a card owner's account, such as from a corresponding checking account established with a banking institution. The funds transferred during a transaction for goods and/or services are deposited in the card owner account prior to the transaction. Thus, unlike a credit card that establishes a line of credit, a debit card transaction is limited by the amount of funds deposited in the corresponding checking account at the transaction time.
A gift card is one type of debit card. A purchaser purchases a gift card from a shopping mall, a department store, a grocery store or another point-of-sale retail establishment in a desired amount or denomination, such as $50.00, $100.00 or $250.00. The purchaser gifts the gift card to a recipient, who is then free to purchase goods and/or services of his or her choice with the gift card utilizing all or only a portion of the value on the gift card. Many conventional gift cards include expiration dates on which the gift card expires and any balance of the value is no longer available for use. At least some gift cards expire over a time period. For example, on the purchase date a purchaser may purchase a gift card having a purchased value of $100.00. At one year from the purchase date, the gift card may have a maximum value of $50.00 and at two years from the purchase date the gift card may have a maximum value of $0.00. Any portion of the purchase value unused at the expiration date results in an earlier transfer of funds to the issuing institution without an obligation to transfer any goods or services to the recipient and/or to reimburse the purchaser for any remaining balance of the purchased value.

Gift card reimbursement system and method


A temperature sensor includes a photodiode or other suitable light-sensitive device connected to a power source in a reverse bias configuration. A capacitor and a controller are connected to the photodiode. The controller measures the length of time required for the capacitor to charge to a predetermined voltage, and the known relationship between the dark current of the photodiode and the temperature is utilized to determine temperature. The controller resets the capacitor to zero volts, and repeats the charge/time measurement cycle.

Fiber optic circuits generally include a transmitter such as a laser that converts an electrical signal (electrical energy) into a light signal (light energy) and injects the light into an optical fiber. A receiver coupled to the optical fiber converts the light energy into electrical energy after the light signal is transmitted through the optical fiber. A photodiode is one type of semiconductor device that converts light energy into electrical energy. A photodiode may be placed in a reverse bias configuration in which an external voltage potential keeps the photodiode cathode at a higher potential than the photodiode anode. The photodiode substantially blocks the flow of current when under reverse bias. However, a small amount of leakage current may flow from the cathode to the anode.
The photodiode leakage current when under reverse bias can increase due to several factors. First, when light shines on the photodiode, the leakage current increases significantly. FIG. 2 shows the reverse current as a function of optical power for an Optek OP950 photodiode. Increases in optical power lead to proportional increases in leakage current. Second, when no light shines on the photodiode, the leakage current ("dark current" in this case since there is no light) changes greatly with temperature (FIG. 3). FIG. 3 shows the variation of both light current and dark current with temperature for an Optek OP950 photodiode. The light current varies by less than ±10% over the temperature range −40° C. to +100° C. However, the dark current over the same temperature range varies from 1/400 to 1000 times the dark current at room temperature (five orders of magnitude). Thus, relatively small changes in temperature cause relatively large changes in dark current.

Temperature sensing circuit having a controller for measuring a length of charging time


The present invention provides methods for facilitating metabolic control in a subject by decreasing the level of Il-1β in the GCF. The present invention further provides methods for decreasing the level of circulating TNF in a subject. Also provided are uses of anti-inflammatory agents in these methods.

Chronic periodontitis is a primary cause of tooth loss in adults. Periodontitis is normally caused by inflammation or infections of the gums (gingivitis), as well as the ligaments and bone that support the teeth. Loss of support causes the teeth to become loose and eventually fall out. The disease is also characterized by the presence of high levels of cytokines in the affected tissue of the gums.
Diabetes and hyperglycemia have been shown to have links to periodontal disease. For example, patients with type 2 diabetes have greater incidence and severity of periodontal disease than non-diabetics (Soskolne and Klinger, The relationship between periodontal diseases and diabetes: an overview. Ann. Periodontol., 6:91-98, 2001; Emrich et al., Periodontal disease in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. J. Periodontol., 62:123-31, 1991; Taylor et al., Impact of oral diseases on systemic health in the elderly: diabetes mellitus and aspiration pneumonia. J. Public Health Dent., 60:313-20, 2000; Oliver and Tervonen, Periodontitis and tooth loss: comparing diabetics with the general population. J. Am. Dent. Assoc., 124:71-76, 1993). A recent analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) III data also showed that poor glycemic control in type 2 diabetes patients was associated with greater severity of periodontitis (Tsai et al., Glycemic control of type 2 diabetes and severe periodontal disease in the US adult population. Community Dent. Oral Epidemiol., 30:182-92, 2002). Furthermore, hyperglycemia has been thought to play a role in the incidence and prevalence of periodontal disease (Soskolne and Klinger, The relationship between periodontal diseases and diabetes: an overview. Ann. Periodontol., 6:91-98, 2001; Losche et al., Plasma lipid and blood glucose levels in patients with destructive periodontal disease. J. Clin. Periodontol., 27:537-41, 2000; Tervonen and Knuuttila, Relation of diabetes control to periodontal pocketing and alveolar bone level. Oral Surg. Oral Med. Oral Pathol., 61:346-49, 1986). Additionally, patients with relatively good glycemic control are less prone to periodontal destruction in longitudinal studies (Taylor et al., Severe periodontitis and risk for poor glycemic control in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. J. Periodontol., 67:1085-93, 1996).
Early efforts to determine mechanisms that account for increased occurrence of periodontitis in diabetes mellitus focused on differences in the periodontal microflora. One report suggested that hyperglycemia was associated with an altered subgingival microbiota (Zambon et al., Microbiological and immunological studies of adult periodontitis in patients with noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. J. Periodontol., 59:23-31, 1988). However, subsequent studies failed to identify differences in specific periodontal pathogens in diabetic versus non-diabetic subjects (Tervonen et al., Prevalence of periodontal pathogens with varying metabolic control of diabetes mellitus. J. Clin. Periodontol., 21:375-79, 1994; Yuan et al., Detection of putative periodontal pathogens in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and non-diabetes mellitus by polymerase chain reaction. J. Periodontal Res., 36:18-24, 2001).
Interleukin 1 (IL-1) is known to be a potent bone resorptive cytokine (Gowen and Mundy, Actions of recombinant interleukin 1, interleukin 2, and interferon-gamma on bone resorption in vitro. J. Immunol., 136:2478-82, 1986). Elevated levels of IL-1 in the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and gingival tissues have been associated with chronic periodontitis (Masada et al., Measurement of interleukin-1 alpha and -1 beta in gingival crevicular fluid: implications for the pathogenesis of periodontal disease. J. Periodontal Res., 25:156-63, 1990; Stashenko et al., Tissue levels of bone resorptive cytokines in periodontal disease. J. Periodontol., 62:504-09, 1991; Hou et al., Crevicular interleukin-1 beta in moderate and severe periodontitis patients and the effect of phase I periodontal treatment. J. Clin. Periodontol., 22:162-67, 1995; Mathur et al., Interleukin-1 alpha, interleukin-8 and interferon-alpha levels in gingival crevicular fluid. J. Periodontal Res., 31:489-95, 1996; Figueredo et al., Increased interleukin-1beta concentration in gingival crevicular fluid as a characteristic of periodontitis. J. Periodontol., 70:1457-63, 1999; Engebretson et al., The influence of interleukin gene polymorphism on expression of interleukin-1beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in periodontal tissue and gingival crevicular fluid. J. Periodontol., 70:567-73, 1999; Engebretson et al., GCF IL-1beta profiles in periodontal disease. J. Clin. Periodontol., 29:48-53, 2002). Several clinical studies have also demonstrated elevated inflammatory mediators, including IL-1, in the GCF of patients with type 1 diabetes, as compared with non-diabetic subjects (Kurtis et al., IL-6 levels in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) from patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), adult periodontitis and healthy subjects. J. Oral Sci., 41:163-67, 1999; Salvi et al., Inflammatory mediator response as a potential risk marker for periodontal diseases in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients. J. Periodontol., 68:127-35, 1997; Salvi et al., PGE2, IL-1 beta, and TNF-alpha responses in diabetics as modifiers of periodontal disease expression. Ann. Periodontol., 3:40-50, 1998; Cutler et al., Heightened gingival inflammation and attachment loss in type 2 diabetics with hyperlipidemia. J. Periodontol., 70:1313-21, 1999).
Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a cytokine produced primarily by monocytes and macrophages. It, like other cytokines, is found in higher levels in people suffering from chronic periodontitis. TNF is also found in higher amounts within the plasma of patients with diabetes. Because TNF can adversely influence the insulin receptor and complicate glycemic control, it is desirable, from a diabetes-management perspective, to lower levels of TNF in a diabetes patient's circulation.

Methods for facilitating metabolic control

The Trustees of Columbia University in The City of New York


A device usable for picking up puncturevine burrs comprises a cylindrical roller member, a scraper, a catch, a support member, and a handle member. The cylindrical roller member has a rotational axis and has an outside surface layer made of a resilient material such that the burrs will readily stick into the material. The scraper scrapes the surface of the roller member when the roller member rotates about its rotational axis. The support member holds the scraper and catch so that the scraper scrapes over the surface of the roller member during rotation. In operation, a user pushes the device over the area of the ground with burrs. Under the weight of the device itself, the burrs are picked up by the roller member and are scraped off of the roller member by the scraper, and are retained by the catch. Burrs that collect in the catch are disposed of.

In California there is a very troublesome weed (Tribulus terrestris) that is known as "puncturevine" or "goathead". The weed is a summer annual broadleaf weed that grows laterally and low to the ground, extending out in a circular fashion from a central taproot. When the plant is allowed to grow sufficiently, it can form a large circular mat several feet in diameter. This vine forms many seedpods of thorned burrs. The thorned burrs ripen and drop off the plant. Each burr has two extremely sharp thorns. The weed is also referred to as "goathead" because an individual burr, when viewed from one perspective, has the appearance of a goat's head with two very sharp spikes extending as would horns from a central portion of the burr that looks like a goat's head. One puncturevine plant can produce thousands of such burrs. The thorns of these burrs are so sharp and strong, that they can injure people or animals who step on the burrs. An individual burr can be large enough to pierce and puncture vehicle tires. The feet of animals can be become infected due to the animal stepping on a burr. There are many techniques for controlling puncturevine, including spraying with herbicide such as Roundup to kill any growing plants. A plant can also be physically removed (for example, by hoeing off its taproot and then removing the plant along with any developing seeds on the plant) before the plant can deposit too many burrs. Another technique is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 8,449,683. The patent discloses a roller apparatus for picking up burrs off the ground, where a stretchable fabric is removably mounted over the roller. When the roller is rolled over the ground, burrs on the ground stick into the fabric on the roller. After enough burrs have been picked up and are sticking into the fabric in this fashion, the fabric along with the burrs is removed from the roller and is disposed of. Another way to control puncturevine is to employ a weevil (for example, Microlarinus lareynii) that naturally eats the burrs. In California, such weevils are available for purchase from local agricultural government agencies. The larvae of the weevil tunnels into a burr, and eats the burr out from the inside, and thereby destroys the burr. Burrs on the ground can also be killed by torching the ground with heat using a gas torch. It typically takes several years, employing multiple different methods, just to reduce the concentration of puncturevine seeds that lay dormant in the soil where a puncturevine once lived. Removing all burrs in an area is exceedingly difficult. Notwithstanding the various methods set forth above that may be unsuccessful in combating the puncturevine to varying degrees in a particular circumstance, other techniques for combating the puncturevine weed are sought.


A planetary carrier having: a first carrier member that has a first shaft support portion that supports respective first ends of a plurality of pinion shafts inserted through the pinion gears, and a plurality of first leg portions extended from the first shaft support portion; a second carrier member that has a second shaft support portion that supports respective second ends of the plurality of pinion shafts, and a plurality of second leg portions extended from the second shaft support portion; and an annular member that has one end surface with which the plurality of first leg portions of the first carrier member and the plurality of second leg portions of the second carrier member are brought into abutment, and a welded portion to which the plurality of first leg portions and the plurality of second leg portions are welded at different positions in a circumferential direction.

As a planetary gear including a carrier that rotatably supports short pinions and long pinions that mesh with the short pinions, there has hitherto been known a planetary gear including a middle member having a base plate portion that supports respective first ends of pinion shafts of the short pinions, a one-side member having a bottom plate portion and a peripheral edge portion that integrally extends toward one side in the axial direction from the periphery of the bottom plate portion and disposed on one side of the base plate portion of the middle member in the axial direction so that the bottom plate portion supports respective first ends of pinion shafts of the long pinions, and an other-side member having a bottom plate portion and a peripheral edge portion that integrally extends toward the other side in the axial direction from the periphery of the bottom plate portion and disposed on the other side of the base plate portion of the middle member in the axial direction so that the bottom plate portion supports respective second ends of the pinion shafts of the short pinions and respective second ends of the pinion shafts of the long pinions (see Patent Document 1, for example). In the planetary gear, a frame body that supports the short pinion and the long pinion is structured by securing the peripheral edge portion of the one-side member and the peripheral edge portion of the other-side member to respective sides of the base plate portion of the middle member in the axial direction. That is, the distal end of the peripheral edge portion of the one-side member is inserted into a long hole formed in the base plate portion of the middle member, and welded to the base plate portion. Meanwhile, the distal end of the peripheral edge portion of the other-side member is welded to a connection portion formed on the base plate portion of the middle member to be positioned on the outer peripheral side of the long hole.


The present invention relates to a gate closing device which operates either in an automatic mode or a manual mode. The device includes a first track which is adapted to be secured to a gate, and a second track to which a driving motor is interconnected. A linkage is slidably interconnected to both of these tracks. Activation of the motor results in the movement of the linkage, and thus the opening or closing of the gate. A damping device is employed at the first end of the linkage. The damping device enables the gate to be opened a slight distance without activating the motor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a gate opening device and more particularly pertains to gate opening device with automatic and manual modes of operation.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of gate openers is known in the prior art. More specifically, gate openers are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,638,597 to Lybecker discloses a modular automatic gate opener. U.S. Pat. No. 4,416,085 to Lybecker discloses an automatic gate opener. U.S. Design Pat. No. 348,075 to Meyer discloses a gate operator design. U.S. Pat. No. 4,231,190 to Tieben discloses remotely controlled gate opener. U.S. Pat. No. 3,988,860 to Nevarez discloses an electric swinging gate assembly. U.S. Pat. No. 4,330,958 to Richmond discloses a gate opening and closing assembly with an automatic locking means.
In this respect, the automatic gate opening device of the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of enabling gate operation in either a manual or automatic mode.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for improved gate opening devices. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


A foundation for a building superstructure has a number of hollow foundation tubes laid horizontally on the ground and susceptible to degradation over time by contact with the ground. Each tube is protected by one or both of the following: (1) a reinforcement housed within the tube, shaped conformably to the interior of the tube, and resistant to degradation by contact with the ground; and (2) a membrane surrounding the tube, shaped conformably to the exterior of the tube, and resistant to degradation by contact with the ground. The tubes are arranged to form the footprint of a small building. In completing the building superstructure, other tubes, which need not have the same protection, are stacked on the foundation tubes. Degradation of the foundation tubes over time because of their contact with the ground is rendered inconsequential by the reinforcement or prevented by the membrane.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to buildings made of hollow "logs," typically formed of metal and often referred to as metalogs, and more particularly to a novel, inexpensive and highly effective foundation for such buildings. It relates also to a novel method of laying the foundation.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Log buildings have a long history, as indicated in applicant's co-pending U.S. patent applications Ser. Nos. 12/157,051, 12/218,913 and 12/287,832, filed respectively on June 6, July 18 and Oct. 14, 2008. Those applications and the applicant's prior U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,619,089 and 5,282,343, issued respectively on Oct. 28, 1986, and Feb. 1, 1994, are incorporated herein by reference.
Traditional log buildings made of wood have drawbacks, including the sheer weight and bulk of the logs and the consequent expense and difficulty of shipping and handling them; their lack of uniformity, even when trimmed to size; the inevitable waste, and, in many locales, the scarcity of wood. Because of these drawbacks, wooden structures today are usually not made of logs but are framed with sills, joists, studs, rafters, and ridgepoles and finished with interior and exterior sheathing.
The '089 and '343 patents identified above and corresponding patents in other countries disclose the best examples in the prior art of metalog construction. Buildings following their teachings have been erected in many parts of the world and are finding wide and growing acceptance. Government authorities and private builders in various countries have endorsed them for good reasons, including the following:                they are suitable for residential and non-residential building construction;        they do not burn and are resistant to damage by termites;        galvanized steel or other metal or plastic material for forming the logs can be delivered to the building site as flat sheets and coils, with important savings in shipping costs;        using compact machinery that can be moved from site to site, unskilled labor can form the strip material into lightweight hollow "logs" and cut them to the required length at the site with no waste;        unskilled labor can easily position the logs by hand and use preformed end connectors to connect the logs in precise alignment;        the hollow logs, because of the enclosed air chambers and the thinness of the material, have (even if made of a heat-conducting material such as steel) inherent insulating properties; and        the time required for construction, from beginning to end, is but a fraction of the time required by traditional building methods, thereby making new construction quickly available on demand and reducing financing costs.
Before erecting any building, including one made of metal logs, it is usually necessary to prepare the ground. This involves clearing and possibly grading or excavating an area, and then pouring a concrete basement or slab foundation upon which to erect the superstructure. A concrete basement or slab, even for a relatively small structure, requires bringing to the site cement, adequate sand, water, iron rods and electro-welded mesh, as well as a skilled mason. None of this is too complicated in urban and sub-urban construction sites, but in some remote areas, pouring a concrete slab can represent a real problem in terms of logistics.
Financial constraints are another impediment to the construction of buildings in certain areas of countries with emerging economies. It is often necessary to construct buildings at bare minimum cost; saving the cost of a concrete foundation may make it possible to build much-needed, permanent building superstructures that could not otherwise be afforded.


The invention relates to a rubber composition prepared with pre-treated precipitated silica and tire with component comprised of such rubber composition. The rubber composition is comprised of at least one diene-based elastomer and said pre-treated precipitated silica together with a sulfur cure package comprised of elemental sulfur together with 1,6-bis (N,N′-dibenzylthiocarbamoyldithio)-hexane crosslinking agent and sulfenamide accelerator.

Rubber compositions for components of tires are often comprised of diene-based elastomers which contain filler reinforcement composed of a combination of rubber reinforcing carbon black and precipitated silica. Such precipitated silica is an amorphous synthetic silica which contains hydroxyl groups on its surface.
The precipitated silica with its included hydroxyl groups is hydrophilic in nature and the presence of the included hydroxyl groups causes it to be significantly more polar than less polar diene-based elastomers contained in the rubber composition. The high polarity of the hydrophilic precipitated silica particles causes the silica particles to be more attractive to other hydrophilic precipitated silica particles (causes a high silica-silica attraction) contained in a rubber composition and less attractive to the less polar diene-based elastomers (less silica-elastomer attraction) in the rubber composition.
Therefore, creating an efficient dispersion of the highly polar hydrophilic precipitated silica within the diene-based elastomer-containing rubber composition can be difficult without extensive high shear mixing of the rubber composition. Such difficulty is well known to those having skill in such art.
In practice, in order to promote reinforcement of the diene-based elastomer in the rubber composition by the precipitated silica, a silica coupler is normally added to the rubber composition. The silica coupler contains a moiety (e.g. an alkoxysilane) reactive with the hydroxyl groups on the precipitated silica and another different moiety (e.g. a polysulfide) interactive with the diene-based elastomer(s) contained in the rubber composition. The reaction of such silica coupler with hydroxyl groups on the precipitated silica during the mixing of the rubber composition, therefore an in situ reaction within the rubber composition, reduces the content of the of hydroxyl groups on the silica with a portion of unreacted hydroxyl groups remaining, to thereby render the precipitated silica less polar in nature and therefore more dispersible within the rubber composition.
Sulfur with various combinations of sulfur cure accelerators may be used to cure the precipitated silica-containing, diene rubber based rubber composition where the accelerators are typically composed of a primary accelerator together with a more active secondary accelerator to aid in initiating and promoting the sulfur vulcanization. The rate of sulfur cure of the rubber composition promoted by the sulfur cure accelerators is important in a sense that it must be sufficient to promote curing of the rubber composition within a suitable period of time but must not be too rapid in order to avoid what is sometimes referred to as an unwanted "scorching", or "pre-curing" of the rubber composition.
Representative of primary sulfur cure accelerators are sulfenamide primary sulfur cure accelerators. Representative of such sulfenamide primary sulfur cure accelerators are, for example, N-cyclohexyl benzothiozole-2-sulfonamide, N-dicyclohexyl benzothiazole-2-sulfenamide and N-tert-butyl benzothiazole-2-sulfenamide.
However, such in situ modified precipitated silica retains a degree of its polarity sufficient to attract a portion of later added sulfur cure accelerators to thereby reduce availability of the sulfur cure accelerators and associated rate of cure promoted by the accelerators in the rubber composition. To counteract such reduction in rate of cure activity, a more active diphenylguanidine secondary accelerator is added together with the primary sulfenamide primary accelerator to thereby increase the reduced rate of cure of the rubber composition.
Alternatively, the polar hydrophilic precipitated silica may be pre-treated with a silica coupling agent prior to its introduction into the rubber composition to make it more hydrophobic, to thereby reduce its polarity, making it less polar in nature and to render it more compatible with and thereby more readily dispersible within the less polar diene-based elastomer-containing rubber composition.
It is envisioned that such pre-treatment of the precipitated silica prior to addition to the rubber composition instead of blending silica coupling agent with the precipitated silica within a rubber composition provides a more efficient reaction of the coupling agent with hydroxyl groups on the precipitated silica. Therefore a greater reduction of the concentration of hydroxyl groups on the precipitated silica is provided accompanied by a greater reduction in the polarity of the precipitated silica.
With the greater reduction in polarity of the pre-treated precipitated silica, less sulfur cure accelerator is thereby absorbed onto the pre-treated precipitated silica within the rubber composition during the rubber mixing process and more sulfur cure accelerator remains available for sulfur curing the rubber composition which ultimately promotes both a faster rate of sulfur curing of the rubber composition as well as an adverse increase in the sulfur cure density formation for the rubber composition. In one aspect, such increase of the sulfur cure activity may undesirably promote an excessively faster cure rate for the rubber composition at a lower temperature to an extent that the rubber may partially pre-sulfur cure during the mixing of the rubber composition and prior to a molding and intended curing of the rubber composition. Such undesirable pre-sulfur curing of the rubber composition during its mixing process is sometimes referred to as "scorching". Scorching of the rubber composition during mixing is generally undesirable as is known by those having skill in such art. The increase in sulfur cure density may adversely affect (e.g. reduce) the cured rubber's elongation to break and adversely reduce its tear resistance.
To reduce promotion of unwanted scorching (pre-sulfur curing) of the rubber. composition during its mixing and increase in sulfur crosslink density, it may be readily thought of to simply eliminate presence of the secondary accelerator (e.g. the diphenylguanidine). However, such elimination of the diphenylguanidine secondary accelerator may adversely cause a reduction of various cured rubber properties.
Accordingly, a challenge is presented to provide a sulfur vulcanization system comprised of sulfur and sulfur cure accelerator(s), which includes a sulfenamide primary cure accelerator, where a rubber composition contains a precipitated silica pre-treated with a silica coupler (pre-treated prior to its addition to the rubber composition).
Therefore, it is desired to evaluate an inclusion of a crosslinking agent for a rubber composition comprised of at least one diene-based elastomer and precipitated silica pre-treated with silica coupler where the sulfur cure package is comprised of sulfur and sulfenamide primary cure accelerator. Such crosslinking agent for this evaluation is 1,6-bis (N,N′-dibenzylthiocarbamyldithio)-hexane.
In the description of this invention, the terms "rubber", "elastomer" and "rubbery polymer" may be used interchangeably unless otherwise indicated. The terms "cured" and "vulcanized" may be used interchangeably unless otherwise indicated.
The term "phr" refers to parts by weight of an ingredient per 100 parts by weight of rubber in a rubber composition.

Rubber prepared with pre-treated precipitated silica and tire with component


A sleep study system comprises a set of sensors for monitoring physiological parameters of a subject during sleep as part of a sleep study and for monitoring the sleep stage of the subject. It is determined if intervention to the subject is needed for maintenance or repair to the sleep study system. If so, a time to perform the intervention is also derived based on the sleep stage of the subject, in particular so as to be least disruptive to the subject.

It is well known that poor or inadequate sleep is both prevalent and medically undesirable. It is known that sleep habits can be improved, assuming the patient is aware of the current quality of his or her sleep.
By providing feedback regarding the sleep quality, patients may enact behavioral changes and/or adjust sleep habits in a way that promotes improved sleep quality. It is known that an indication of sleep quality may require identification of different sleep stages during sleep, as well as transitions therebetween. It is known that the sleep stages commonly include a rapid eye movement (REM) stage and one or more non rapid eye movement stages (NREMs).
It is also well known that polysomnography (PSG) may be used to analyze, detect, and/or determine the current sleep stage of a subject. Such analysis for example takes place as part of a sleep study.
During overnight sleep studies, various incidents can occur that require an intervention to fix them and ensure high-quality measurements. A typical example is a sensor that has fallen off due to a patient's movement. Existing PSG systems can detect a number of incidents and provide an alarm based on missing or unrealistic measurement values routed to a separate control room.
In addition, overnight sleep studies usually involve cameras to observe the room and patient, which allows an attending sleep technician to notice incidents visually. Typically, the sleep technician subsequently enters the patient's room and resolves the issue.
While the above described approach ensures high-quality measurements from a technical point of view because the uptime of the PSG system is maximized, the resolution of issues might also interfere with the patient's sleep. Due to the environment the patient is in, this sleep is already sub-optimal and should not be further disturbed.