A nucleic acid analysis reaction cell and a nucleic acid analyzer are provided, in which a uniform flow rate is realized, so that a portion where a flow rate is low is removed and washing time for reagent removal is shortened.

A new technology to determine base sequence of DNA or RNA is developed.
At present, in a normally used method of using electrophoresis, a cDNA fragment sample synthesized in advance through a reverse transcription reaction of a DNA fragment or RNA sample for sequencing is prepared, electrophoresis is performed after a dideoxy reaction by the well-known Sanger method is performed, and a molecular weight separation/expansion pattern is measured and analyzed.
On the other hand, in recent years, a method is proposed in which multiple DNA fragments as samples are fixed on a substrate, and sequence information of the multiple fragments is determined in parallel.
In Non Patent Literature 1, fine particles are used as vehicles for carrying DNA fragments, and PCR is performed on the fine particles. Thereafter, the fine particles carrying the PCR-amplified DNA fragments are placed on a plate provided with multiple holes each having a hole diameter corresponding to the size of the fine particle, and are read by a pyrosequence method.
In Non Patent Literature 2, fine particles are used as vehicles for carrying DNA fragments, and PCR is performed on the fine particles. Thereafter, the fine particles are dispersed on a glass substrate and are fixed, an enzyme reaction (ligation) is performed on the glass substrate, substrates with fluorescent dyes are captured and fluorescent detection is performed, so that sequence information of the respective fragments is obtained.
In Non Patent Literature 3, multiple DNA probes having the same sequence are fixed on a smooth substrate. Besides, after a DNA sample is cut, a DNA probe sequence and an adapter sequence of a complementary strand are added to ends of each of the DNA sample fragments. These are hybridised on the substrate, so that the sample DNA fragments are randomly fixed one molecule by one molecule on the substrate. In this case, a DNA extension reaction is performed on the substrate, and after substrates with fluorescent dyes are captured, washing of unreacted substrates and fluorescent detection are performed, and the sequence information of the sample DNA is obtained.
As described above, the method is developed in which multiple nucleic acid fragment samples are fixed on the smooth substrate, so that the sequence information of the multiple fragments is determined in parallel, and is being put to practical use.
As a nucleic acid analysis reaction cell used in these systems, it is desirable that a detection area where a sample DNA or a fine particle carrying a sample DNA is firmly fixed is wider. Besides, in order to reduce the amount of sample DNA necessary for the sequence reaction and the amount of reaction reagent, it is desirable that the volume in the flow cell is less. Further, in order to reduce a dead volume outside the detection area, an inflow port of a reagent is required to be narrowed.
Besides, a chemical reaction in these methods generally includes many steps using different reagents, and it is necessary to supply solutions containing the different reagents in the respective steps. A reagent used in a former step often becomes a reaction inhibition factor or a cause of erroneous detection in the next step, and it is necessary to perform a washing step between the steps and to completely remove the reagent used in the former step.
Patent Literature 1 discloses that a columnar member for reducing a cross section is provided in a portion where the width of a biochemical reaction cassette is wide.

Nucleic acid analysis reaction cell and nucleic acid analyzer

Abstract: A flow path (103) is provided which includes a detection area (108) for detecting sequence information of a nucleic acid fragment and detection outer areas (107) disposed at both ends of the detection area (108). An inflow port (105) is provided in one of the detection outer areas (107) and a discharge port (106) is provided in the other of the detection outer areas (107). The detection outer areas (107) disposed at both the ends of the detection area (108) are areas whose widths become narrow toward ends, and guides (104) for branching a liquid are provided in at least the detection outer area (107) in which the inflow port (105) is provided.


Drive for furniture configured for adjusting a first furniture part in relation to a second furniture part the drive includes a pivot shaft, which is pivotally mounted on the first part and with which a pivot drive is operatively associated. The drive includes at least one supporting element which cooperates with the pivot shaft and supports it on a supporting surface provided on the second furniture part, and in such a way that the inclination of the first furniture part can be adjusted in relation to the second part and/or the distance of the first part from the second furniture part can be adjusted. The drive for furniture has a simple construction, is cost-effective to produce, saves a significant amount of space and is particularly suited for adjusting the seat part of a seat, for example.

Such drives are generally known and serve, for example, to adjust parts of seating furniture and/or loungers, such as lath grids for beds or of seats.
There are known drives for furniture that serve for adjusting the height and/or inclination of an upholstery element of a seat in relation to a base body of the seat, the upholstery element being configured as a seat part upon which a seat surface is formed. The known drive includes a scissor-like lifting rod, which is connected to a base body and supports the seat part. A drive operated by an electric motor is provided to adjust the lifting rod.
One disadvantage of this known drive for furniture is that it is complicated and therefore expensive to produce. Another disadvantage is that the known drive requires much space, especially beneath the seat part.

Drive for furniture for adjusting a first furniture part in relation to a second part


In some examples, fabric driven NVMe subsystem zoning may include receiving, from a non-volatile memory express (NVMe) Name Server (NNS), a zoning specification that includes an indication of a host that is to communicate with a given NVMe subsystem of an NVMe storage domain. Based on the zoning specification, the host may be designated as being permitted to connect to the given NVMe subsystem of the NVMe storage domain. An NVMe connect command may be received from the host. Based on the designation and an analysis of the NVMe connect command, a connection may be established between the given NVMe subsystem of the NVMe storage domain and the host.

Non-volatile memory (NVM) is a type of computer memory that retains its contents across power cycles and is therefore capable of being used as storage. Compared to volatile memory that needs power to retain data, NVM may continue to store data even after computer power is turned off. With respect to NVM, NVM Express (NVMe) is a logical device interface specification for accessing NVM.

Fabric driven non-volatile memory express subsystem zoning

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP


A steam generating humidifier apparatus (1) comprises a water container (2) with a water inlet (11) and a steam outlet (12) and at least two elongated electrodes (3, 4) arranged vertically within the container. The electrodes have each an upper electrode end (3′, 4′) and a lower electrode end (3″, 4″) and at least one of the electrodes is provided at its lower electrode end with an end piece (15) made of an electrically non-conducting material which end piece is connected to the lower electrode end. This will avoid arcing between the electrode and the water surface in cases where the water level drops so low that the electrodes are exposed.

Such electrode steam humidifiers are well known in the art. They can be integrated into central Heating/Ventilating/Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems or can be placed in specified locations for individual room control. These steam humidifiers using electrodes to vaporise water are known for their ease of installation and simplicity of operation and long-term reliability.


The present invention is an expandable multi-zone paging and signaling system. In particular, the present invention is an apparatus and method for a paging controller wherein a user can program a response to a non-audio input signal in accordance with a set of prioritized inputs to a telephone interface device. The activity status of the set of prioritized inputs of the selected telephone interface device are combined using a logical OR function. By performing the logical OR function of the activity status of various telephone interface device inputs, the non-audio output signal can be customized to provide useful interactions with other outboard equipment.

Audio sound and loudspeaker systems often require real-time, live audio inputs for paging and making other announcements. Microphones and telephones are two examples of devices that often provide these inputs. Unlike microphones, telephones are ubiquitous in our society in that they are available in many non-entertainment venues, such as offices, warehouses, retail shops and the like. As such, telephone equipment is a preferred live input source in voice paging and announcement systems.
Background art audio sound and loudspeaker systems often obtain live audio inputs from output ports provided by a standard telephone system. Typically, these telephonic output ports meet established standards for electrical characteristics and functions for a telephone system. However, since the target usage of these telephone ports is for telephonic communications, there is a need in the art for some adaptation of the telephone signal before applying that signal to an audio sound and loudspeaker system.
Some background art telephone equipments do provide outputs for direct connection to audio sound and loudspeaker systems. However, many times the features available on these background art telephone equipment outputs do not allow for some desirable features for an audio system operations such as muting of background music during an audio page, or routing audio signals to distinct areas of a facility. In addition, the feature set and electrical characteristics of these background art telephone equipment outputs often vary from one telephone equipment manufacturer to another. This situation can make it difficult to plan the proper equipment interface to an audio sound and loudspeaker system.
In the background art, the only input in the telephone interface device that can detect the DTMF tones is the general paging input. Other inputs may not be connected to sources that produce DTMF tones. For example, tone triggers or the night ring input detects an incoming ring but never answers a call. In these instances, the input has associated with it a user programmable zone group. When the input becomes active, its associated zone group is engaged and determines where the audio will be delivered.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for a paging system some adaptation of the telephone signal before applying that signal to an audio sound and loudspeaker system; features for an audio system operations such as muting of background music during an audio page, or routing audio signals to distinct areas of a facility; and that provides consistent input/output (I/O) interfaces.

Programmable paging controller with programmable switch contact


A system compensates for temperature for an electrical parameter of an electronic unit that comprises a plurality of electronic devices. The system determines a measure of the electrical parameter of one electronic device at a reference temperature. The system further receives a first temperature profile and a second temperature profile and causes the first temperature profile and the second temperature profile to intersect at the reference temperature. The system then generates a combined temperature profile by combining the first temperature profile at temperatures below the reference temperature with the second temperature profile at temperatures above the reference temperature.

The present invention is directed to the temperature effects on electronic devices. More particularly, the present invention is directed to generating temperature compensation profiles for electronic devices.
The performance of electronic devices, such as transmitters and receivers, can vary with temperature. Many devices use temperature compensating algorithms to compensate for the varying temperature changes. These algorithms measure the current temperature and, based on the reading, adjust electrical parameters such as gain, voltage, current, power, etc. to offset the temperature effects on the device.
The temperature algorithms utilize a predetermined temperature profile which display an electrical parameter as a function of a reference temperature. The temperature profile is typically generated when the device is initially calibrated at the reference temperature. Subsequently, temperature compensation of the device is accomplished by administering the correct amount of adjustments to the device based on the current temperature""s relative departure from the reference temperature.
One problem with this method of temperature compensation is that the electrical parameters of electronic devices are often measured or calibrated at different reference temperatures. Further, some electronic units contain multiple electronic devices. For example, a cellular telephone time division multiple access (xe2x80x9cTDMAxe2x80x9d) base station from Lucent Corporation, referred to as a xe2x80x9cMicrocellxe2x80x9d, includes from 1 to 5 radio circuit packs, each of which include up to 2 transmitter and 2 receivers. Therefore, a single Microcell may include up to 10 transmitters and 10 receivers. If each of these transmitters and receivers were calibrated at different reference temperatures, then the Microcell may have to store up to 20 different temperature profiles. This requires the Microcell to have sufficient storage to store the profiles. However, it is desirable to reduce the amount of required storage in an electronic unit such as a Microcell.
Based on the foregoing, there is a need for a method and system for generating temperature compensation profiles for multiple electronic devices while reducing the amount of profiles required.
One embodiment of the present invention is a system that compensates for temperature for an electrical parameter of an electronic unit that comprises a plurality of electronic devices. The system determines a measure of the electrical parameter of one electronic device at a reference temperature. The system further receives a first temperature profile and a second temperature profile and causes the first temperature profile and the second temperature profile to intersect at the reference temperature. The system then generates a combined temperature profile by combining the first temperature profile at temperatures below the reference temperature with the second temperature profile at temperatures above the reference temperature.

Generating temperature compensation profiles


A method is shown for briquetting quicklime fines. A source of quicklime or dolomitic quicklime fines is combined with a binder in the form of a pseudo-plastic carbon containing material which will deform under briquetting conditions of elevated temperature and pressure and flow and which will also return to a solid phase and bind the quicklime fines upon cooling. An external force is applied to the mixture of fines and binder, as with a briquetting machine, sufficient to form the mixture into a briquette having requisite strength and durability characteristics. Suitable classes of carbon containing materials include Gilsonite®, a solid coal tar pitch and recycled plastics such as polyethylene and polypropylene.

A. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a method of improving the strength of briquettes made from lime based products, such as those made from dolomitic quicklime, through the use of a binder having a carbon constituent.
B. Description of the Prior Art
Lime based compounds have many practical uses in a variety of different industries. For instance, these substances are used in the steel industry, e.g., as fluxing agents; in treating waste water and sewage; as soil neutralizing agents and nutrients; in ground stabilization for construction; and as components for building materials.
A number of different chemical species are often lumped together under the generic term "lime." For example, limestone is a mineral which is mined commercially and is used in various industries in crushed or powdered form. "Limestone" generally means CaCO3, while "dolomitic limestone" generally refers to the presence of MgCO3 or to a mixture of MgCO2·CaCO3. Powdered limestone is converted to quicklime, by a calcining operation, typically by roasting in rotary kilns. Quicklime may be high calcium, magnesian, or dolomitic and of varying degrees of chemical purity. Quicklime is slaked with water to form hydrated lime.
Thus, calcium oxide (CaO) is generally referred to in the industry as "quicklime", while Ca(OH)2 is referred to as hydrated lime or "hydrate", both types of materials often being referred to generically or informally as "lime". Dolomitic quicklime has the formula CaO·MgO. Quicklime is usually provided in the form of lumps or pebbles. Dry hydrated lime is usually a powder. In order to further process these compounds and improve the ease with which they are handled, dry CaO,CaO·MgO or Ca(OH)2 can be mixed with water to form a slurry in a slaking operation. During the slaking of quicklime, large amounts of heat are generated which can significantly raise the temperature of the slurry.
Historically, the lime industry has maintained a material balance between lump or pebble quicklime and the fine quicklime generated during calcination and subsequent material handling. In regards to high calcium quicklime, the lime industry has developed markets for the fine quicklime, i.e., particles which are typically less than ¼ inch in size. In some situations, however, an excess of the fine quicklime is produced. As a result, there have been attempts in the industry to lump or agglomerate these fines together in the form of "briquettes". The briquettes so produced not only eliminate excess fines but also increase the amount of pebble quicklime produced by adding the briquetted lime to the supply of traditional pebble lime.
One problem with the briquetted lime produced to date has been that the crush strength of the briquettes was less than that of natural pebble lime. As a result, the thus formed briquettes would suffer breakage and disintegration during material handling and shipping. Over the years, several additives have been utilized to increase the strength and durability of lime briquettes, including calcium stearate and paper fibers. However, for a multitude of reasons, the production of briquettes using existing additives has not been widely accepted commercially. The use of briquetting additives of the type commonly used for other industrial products is limited for the briquetting of quicklime. This is due not only to the fact that quicklime reacts violently with water, but also because of the potential adverse effect the traditional briquetting additives might have on the end use of the briquetted quicklime.
Over the past several years the US steel industry has utilized increasing amounts of pebble dolomitic quicklime, CaO·MgO, as a fluxing agent. Unfortunately the fine dolomitic quicklime produced during calcining and material handling cannot be used for conventional high calcium quicklime markets.
A need exists, therefore, for an improved method for briquetting dolomitic quicklime which will produce briquettes of sufficient strength to resist the stresses of material handling in both the initial dolomitic quicklime production and also the ultimate end application processing, e.g., the steel customer's handling and processing equipment.
A need also exists for such a briquetting technology in which an improved binder additive is utilized which binder is not detrimental to the end application of the briquettes and may actually be advantageous in such end applications.
A need specifically exists in the steel industry for an improved binder additive for briquetting lime fines which additive has no detrimental effect on the use of the dolomitic quicklime as a steel fluxing agent and which, in the optimum case, actually adds value as the briquette is used in the steel making process.

Briquetting of lime based products with carbon based additives


This invention provides a method of attenuating post-surgical catabolic changes and hormonal responses to stress. GLP-1, a GLP-1 analog, or a GLP-1 derivative, is administered at a dose effective to normalize blood glucose.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method of improving recovery after surgery by preventing the catabolic reaction and insulin resistance caused by surgical trauma.
2. Background Information
Approximately 20-25,000 surgical treatments per million inhabitants are performed annually in the western world. Surgery, like any trauma, initiates marked changes in metabolism [Shaw, J. H. F., et al., Ann. Surg., 209(1):63-72 (1989); Little, R. A., et al., Prog. Clin. Biol. Res. 263A:463-475 (1987); Frayn, K. N., Clin. Endocrinol. 24:577-599 (1986); Brandi, L., et al., Clin. Sci. 85:525-35 (1993)]. Accelerated synthesis of glucose, the primary fuel of tissue repair, is an important metabolic change after surgery, and occurs at the expense of body protein and energy stores [Gump, F. E., et al., J. Trauma, 14:378-88 (1974); Black, R. B., et al., Ann. Surg. 196:420-35 (1982)].
These changes have previously been attributed to the gluco-regulatory stress hormones and other catabolic factors, such as cytokines, that are released as a response to trauma. The more marked the change toward catabolism, the greater is the morbidity, and the slower is the recovery of the patient [Thorell, A., et al., Eur. J. Surg., 159:593-99 (1993); Chernow, B., et al., Arch. Intern. Med., 147:1273-8 (1987)].
Post-operative catabolic states may be treated with anabolic hormones, particularly, Growth Hormone and IGF-1 [Hammarkvist, F., et al., Ann. Surg., 216(2):184-190 (1991); Ziegler, T., et al., Annu. Rev. Med., 45:459-80 (1994); Ziegler, T. R., et al. J. Parent. Ent. Nutr. 14(6):574-81 (1990)]. Some studies show a clear benefit from insulin treatment in catabolic trauma patients [Hinton, P., et al., Lancet, 17(April):767-69 (1971); Shizgal, H., et al., Am. J. Clin. Nutr., 50:1355-63 (1989); Woolfson, A. M. J., et al., N. Clin. Nutr., 50:1355-63 (1989); Woolfson, A. M. J., et al., N. Engl. J. Med. 300:14-17 (1979); Brooks, D., et al., J. Surg. Res. 40:395-405 (1986); Sakurai; Y., et al., Ann. Surg. 222:283-97 (1995)].
Yet other studies, however, show that the post-operative benefits of insulin are often compromised by insulin resistance. In insulin resistance, normal concentrations of insulin elicit less than normal responses. Insulin resistance may be due to a decrease in binding of insulin to cell-surface receptors, or to alterations in intracellular metabolism. The first type, characterized as a decrease in insulin sensitivity, can typically be overcome by increased insulin concentration. The second type, characterized as a decrease in insulin responsiveness, cannot be overcome by large quantities of insulin.
Insulin resistance following trauma can be overcome by doses of insulin that are proportional to the degree of insulin resistance, and thus is apparently a decrease in insulin sensitivity [Brandi, L. S., et al., Clin. Science 79:443-450 (1990); Henderson, A. A., et al., Clin. Sci. 80:25-32 (1990)]. Reduction in insulin sensitivity following elective abdominal surgery lasts at least five days, but not more than three weeks, and is most profound on the first post-operative day, and may take up to three weeks to normalize [Thorell, A., et al., (1993)].
The causes of the observed transient insulin resistance following trauma are not well-understood. Both cortisol and glucagon may contribute to the catabolic response to trauma [Alberti, K. G. M. M., et al., J. Parent. Ent. Nutr. 4(2): 141-46 (1980); Gelfand, R. A., et al., J. Clin. Invest. 74(December):2238-2248 (1984); Marliss, E. B., et al., J. Clin. Invest. 49:2256-70 (1970)]. However, studies of post-operative insulin resistance has failed to show any correlation between changes in these catabolic hormones and changes in insulin sensitivity after surgery [Thorell, A., et al. (1993); Thorell A., Karolinska Hospital and Institute, 104 01 Stockholm, Sweden (1993); Thorell, A, et al., Br. J. Surg. 81:59-63 (1994)].
Increased availability of lipids after trauma may induce insulin resistance through the glucose-fatty acid cycle [Randle, P. J., et al., Diab. Metab. Rev. 4(7):623-38 (1988)].
Increased availability of free fatty acids (FFA) induced insulin resistance and changed substrate oxidation from glucose to fat, even in the presence of simultaneous infusions of insulin [Ferrannini, E., et al., J. Clin. Invest. 72:1737-47 (1983); Bevilacqua, S., et al., Metabolism 36:502-6 (1987); Bevilacqua, S., et al., Diabetes 39:383-89 (1990); Bonadonna, R. C., et al., Am. J. Physiol. 259:E736-50 (1990); Bonadonna, R. C., et al., Am. J. Physiol. 257:E49-56 (1989)].
Elective surgery is routinely performed after an 15 overnight fast to reduce risks of anesthesia. This entrenched practice of fasting the patient overnight (10-16 hours) before surgery enhances the development of the catabolic state, and worsens insulin resistance. Studies in rats undergoing stress, such as hemorrhage and endotoxemia, show that fasting for periods less than 24 hours markedly affects the catabolic response to trauma [Alibegovic, A., et al., Circ. Shock, 39:1-6 (1993); Eshali, A. H., et al. Eur. J. Surg., 157:85-89 (1991); Ljungqvist, O., et al., Am. J. Physiol., 22:E692-98 (1990)]. Even a short period of fasting before the onset of a trauma in rats markedly decreases carbohydrate reserves, profoundly changes the hormonal environment, increases stress response, and, most importantly, increases mortality [Alibegovic, A., et al., Circ. Shock, 39:1-6 (1993)].
Glucose administration before surgery, either orally [Nygren, J., et al., Ann. Surg. 222:728-34 (1995)], or by infusion, reduces insulin resistance after surgery, compared to fasted patients. Patients who received overnight glucose infusions (5 mg/kg/min) before elective abdominal surgery lost an average of 32% of insulin sensitivity after the operation, while patients, entering surgery after a routine overnight fast, lost an average of 55% of their insulin sensitivity [Ljungqvist, O., et al., J. Am. Coll. Surg. 178:329-36 (1994)].
In addition to the adverse effects of fasting on recovery from surgery, immobilization of the patient and hypocaloric nutrition during and after surgery also increase insulin resistance after surgery. In healthy subjects, 24 hours of immobilization and hypocaloric nutrition have been shown to induce a 20-30% increase in peripheral insulin resistance in healthy volunteers. Thus, postoperative insulin resistance previously reported after pre-operative glucose infusions [Ljungqvist, O., (1994)] may in part be due to the additive effects of post-operative bed rest and hypocaloric nutrition.
Given the prevalence of surgery, it is important to minimize negative side-effects, such as catabolic response and insulin resistance, in order to improve healing and to reduce mortality. Post-operative insulin resistance frustrates treatment of the catabolic state with insulin. The entrenched medical practice of pre-operative fasting exacerbates post-operative catabolic state and insulin resistance. Thus, a treatment that overcomes both the catabolic state and insulin resistance is needed.
As disclosed herein, one such treatment that overcomes both the catabolic state and insulin resistance is administration of glucose and insulin together before, during, and after the operation. Insulin infusion, however, creates the potential for hypoglycemia, which is defined as blood glucose below 0.3 mM. Hypoglycemia increases the risk of ventricular arrhythmia and is a dangerous consequence of insulin infusion. An algorithm for insulin infusion for diabetics was developed to prevent hypoglycemia [Hendra, T. J., et al., Diabetes Res. Clin. Pract., 16:213-220 (1992)]. However, 21% of the patients developed hypoglycemia under this algorithm. In another study of glucose control following myocardial infarction, 18% of the patients developed hypoglycemia when infused with insulin and glucose [Malmberg, K. A., et al., Diabetes Care, 17:1007-1014 (1994)].
Insulin infusion also requires frequent monitoring of blood glucose levels so that the onset of hypoglycemia can be detected and remedied as soon as possible. In patients receiving insulin infusion in the cited study [Malmberg, 1994], blood glucose was measured at least every second hour, and the rate of infusion adjusted accordingly. Thus, the safety and efficacy of insulin-glucose infusion therapy for myocardial infarct patients depends on easy and rapid access to blood glucose data. Such an intense need for monitoring blood glucose places a heavy burden on health care professionals, and increases the inconvenience and cost of treatment. As a result, pre-surgical clinical care units often do not allot resources for monitoring and optimizing blood glucose levels before surgery, such as might be obtained by intravenous administration of insulin. Considering the risks and burdens inherent in insulin infusion, an alternate approach to pre/post-surgery control of catabolic reaction to trauma is needed.
The incretin hormone, glucagon-like peptide 1, abbreviated as GLP-1, is processed from proglucagon in the gut and enhances nutrient-induced insulin release [Krcymann B., et al., Lancet 2:1300-1303 (1987)]. Various truncated forms of GLP-1, are known to stimulate insulin secretion (insulinotropic action) and cAMP formation [see, e g., Mojsov, S., Int. J. Peptide Protein Research, 40:333-343 (1992)]. A relationship between various in vitro laboratory experiments and mammalian, especially human, insulinotropic responses to exogenous administration of GLP-1, GLP-1(7-36) amide, and GLP-1(7-37) acid has been established [see, e.g., Nauck, M. A., et al., Diabetologia, 36:741-744 (1993); Gutniak, M., et al., New England J. of Medicine, 326(20):1316-1322 (1992); Nauck, M. A., et al., J. Clin. Invest., 91:301-307 (1993); and Thorens, B., et al., Diabetes, 42:1219-1225 (1993)]. GLP-1(7-36) amide exerts a pronounced antidiabetogenic effect in insulin-dependent diabetics by stimulating insulin sensitivity and by enhancing glucose-induced insulin release at physiological concentrations [Gutniak M., et al., New England J. Med. 326:1316-1322 (1992)]. When administered to non-insulin dependent diabetics, GLP-1(7-36) amide stimulates insulin release, lowers glucagon secretion, inhibits gastric emptying and enhances glucose utilization [Nauck, 1993; Gutniak, 1992; Nauck, 1993].
The use of GLP-1 type molecules for prolonged therapy has been obstructed because the serum half-life of such peptides is quite short. For example, GLP-1(7-37) has a serum half-life of only 3 to 5 minutes. GLP-1(7-36) amide has a half-life of about 50 minutes when administered subcutaneously. Thus, these GLP molecules must be administered as a continuous infusion to achieve a prolonged effect [Gutniak M., et al., Diabetes Care 17:1039-1044 (1994)]. In the present invention, GLP-1's short half-life and the consequent need for continuous administration are not disadvantages because the patient is typically hospitalized, before surgery, and fluids are continuously administered parenterally before, during, and after surgery.

Use of GLP-1 or analogs to abolish catabolic changes after surgery


A technique for increasing the speed of parallel running of logical processes without sacrificing the accuracy of data update timing in a parallel discrete event simulation system.

Recently, a so-called multiprocessor system having multiple processors has been used in the fields of scientific computation, simulation and the like. Meanwhile, in the field of simulation, the development of which has been particularly facilitated only recently, there is simulation software for plants of mechatronics products, such as robots, automobiles, and airplanes. With the benefit of the development of electronic components and software technology, most parts of a robot, an automobile, an airplane, and the like are electronically controlled by using wire connections laid like a network of nerves, a wireless LAN, or the like.
Although these are mechatronics devices in nature, they also incorporate large amounts of control software. Therefore, the development of such a product has required to spend a long time period, enormous costs and a large pool of manpower to develop a control program and test the program.
As a conventional technique for such a test, there is HILS (Hardware In the Loop Simulation). Particularly, an environment for testing all the electronic control units (ECUs) in an automobile is called full-vehicle HILS. In the full-vehicle HILS, a test is conducted in a laboratory according to a predetermined scenario by connecting a real ECU to a dedicated hardware device emulating an engine, a transmission mechanism, or the like. The output from the ECU is input to a monitoring computer, and further displayed on a display to allow a person in charge of the test to view the display in order to check if there is any abnormal action.
However, in HILS, the dedicated hardware device is used, and the device and the real ECU have to be physically wired. Thus, HILS involves a lot of preparation. Further, when a test is conducted by replacing the ECU with another, the device and the ECU have to be physically reconnected, requiring even more work. Further, since the test uses the real ECU, it takes an actual time to conduct the test. Therefore, it takes an immense amount of time to test many scenarios. In addition, the hardware device for emulation of HILS is generally very expensive.
Therefore, there has recently been proposed a technique for configuring the entire simulation in software without using such an expensive emulation hardware device. In the technique, continuous simulation is used for plant parts, such as engines or transmissions, and a state chart or actual software code is used for controller parts. Depending on the simulation method for the controller parts, the former is called MIL (Model-in-the-Loop) simulation, and the latter is called SIL (Software-in-the-Loop) simulation. According to MIL or SIL, a test can be conducted without the hardware of any ECU.
As a system for supporting such a configuration of MIL/SIL, for example, there is a simulation modeling system, MATLAB®/Simulink® available from Mathworks Inc. In the case of using MATLAB®/Simulink®, functional blocks are arranged on a screen through a graphical interface, and a flow of processing is specified, thereby enabling the creation of a simulation program. Here, the functional blocks include the types of blocks for invoking basic operations such as addition and multiplication, integration, conditional branching, and further software code, and each block has input and/or output, respectively. The simulation including software blocks as the expression of a controller is SIL.
In the following description, when the units of such simulation are coupled together, each simulator is called a logical process. As a method of operating a coupled simulation system composed of multiple logical processes, parallel discrete event simulation is known. For example, Non-Patent Document 1 discloses a parallel discrete event simulation method using multiple logical processes. According to this paper, it is shown that the causality just has to be preserved locally in each logical process to avoid timing inconsistencies in the system and to guarantee the preservation of event causalities across logical processes. Since system-wide synchronous processing is unnecessary, no synchronous overhead is required.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing part of the configuration of an automotive simulation system composed of multiple logical processes. The system in FIG. 1 has a CAN emulator 102, an ECU emulator 104, an engine simulator 106, an ECU emulator 108, and a transmission simulator 110, each of which is a logical process implemented in software. In FIG. 1, the logical processes work in cooperation with each other while exchanging messages to give notice of events.
Time information is added to each event, and this means a simulation time at which a logical process on the receiving side performs processing. In the event time information, it is not allowed to set a time older than the simulation time of a logical process on the sending side. This is because past-time processing cannot be requested. If parts are interconnected through a network, since transmission therebetween is delayed, the receiving time shall be larger in value than the sending time. In a case of performing processing by using a timer function or the like, a time difference can be provided between the time (send) at which the timer is set and the time (receive) of generating an alarm, or if the receiving side allows for a certain amount of delay, the allowed range can be set as the time difference.
In regard to event communication between two logical processes A and B, time differences between the send time and the receive time are classified into time lags and schematically shown in FIG. 2.
FIG. 2(1) is the case with no time lag, showing a strong-coupled structure in which A and B cannot be executed in parallel. This case cannot be divided into different logical processes, and hence required to perform calculations as a single simulator. If the structure allows for some errors and A and B are executed in parallel every short time period, it will be weak-coupled simulation.
FIG. 2(2) shows a case where both time lag LAB from A to B and time lag LBA from B to A are not zero. In this case, synchronous processing is performed with a time step of the greatest common divisor thereof to enable coupled simulation without time error even in parallel operations.
FIG. 2(3) shows a case where the time lag LAB from A to B is not zero but the time lag LBA from B to A is virtually zero. In this case, it is expected every moment to update data in the direction from B to A, A cannot move forward even one step until an event is notified from B. Therefore, both have no choice but to achieve sequential running alternately, lowering the execution speed.
In the case of FIG. 2(3), for example, logical process A is an ECU emulator and logical process B is a plant simulator. The case of FIG. 2(3) can also occur in the sense that data transmission is performed immediately even between ECU emulators and between plant simulators but data reception involves a communication delay. A similar problem can also arise if the time lag is not zero but very small.
Since the case of FIG. 2(3) often appears in the parallel discrete event simulation system using logical processes, a method of enabling parallel execution in the case of FIG. 2(3) is desired.
To prevent the logical processes from waiting for events from each other and hence causing deadlock, a technique using a null message is known. However, when the time lag is zero, no future time is given to the null message, deadlock is not caused but parallel execution cannot be achieved.
Non-Patent Document 2 provides a technique called ε-lookahead execution to such a problem, giving one solution. In other words, ε-lookahead execution is a method of running processes in parallel in the system of FIG. 2(2) on the assumption that there is a time lag of ε as close to zero as possible. In this case, errors are accumulated due to inaccurate data switching timings. In order to increase accuracy, it is necessary to reduce the value of ε, but when it happens, the execution speed is reduced, resulting in a tradeoff between accuracy and execution speed.

Simulation execution method, program, and system

Abstract: A logical process involving a longer receiving time lag than that of sending is executed by an amount of initial shift for a predetermined period before the simulation. The initial shift is set to be one-half of a value of difference between the receiving time lag and the sending time lag. The logical process executed with timing displaced by the amount of initial shift runs by exchanging null messages with each other. Each null message is delivered to a correspondent logical process after the predetermined time lag, and each logical process further sends the correspondent logical process a null message upon receipt of the null message. Thus, there is a progression of simulation by synchronizing them through the null messages.

International Business Machines Corporation


A novel metallocene compound and a method for producing a polymer by using the metallocene as a polymerization catalyst. The present catalyst includes a neutral metallocene compound, a cationic metallocene compound, and the compound supported catalyst. The present catalyst can be used to produce a polymer having a characteristic structure and physical properties.

Dong-ho Lee, Keun-byoung Yoon and Wan-su Huh, Macromol. Rapid Commun., 15 841 (1994) describes the use of cyclodextrin as a support of a polymerization catalyst. Also S. Ciruelos, T. Cuenca, P. Gomez-sal, A. Manazanero and P. Royo, Orgametallics, 14, 177 (1995) describes the synthesis method of tetramethyl disiloxanebis (.eta..sup.5 -cyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride, and their structure identification. However, the use of the above dichloride as a polymerization catalyst is not suggested.

Metallocene compound and method for producing polymer by using it as polymerization catalyst


A shift time monitoring section of a host terminal monitors a shift between the input timing of frame data from an imaging device and the ideal input timing for the frame data, the ideal input timing being obtained from the output frequency of a display. An operation cycle adjusting section transmits a request signal for adjusting the operation cycle per frame in the imaging device according to the magnitude of the shift in the input timing. An H-counter section of the imaging device counts the outputting of the horizontal synchronizing signal with a vertical synchronizing signal in the imaging device as a starting point, and generates a signal at a predetermined scanning line. A VSync adjusting counter section counts a pixel clock with the signal from the H-counter section as a starting point, and generates a vertical synchronization signal at a value set to the pixel clock.

A technology that transfers the data of video photographed by a web camera or the like in real time and displays the data on a display has recently been used in a wide range of fields. For example, there are not only video chats and surveillance cameras, which display photographed video as it is, but also a game in which a part of a body such as the head portion of a user or the like is photographed by a video camera, a predetermined region such as eyes, a mouth, a hand, or the like is extracted and replaced with another image, and the result is displayed on a display (Patent Literature 1, for example).

Imaging device, information processing device, information processing method, and method for synchronizing frame data output


Disclosed is a silver halide color photographic material having at least one light-sensitive emulsion layer on a support, in which at least 50%, as the total projected area, of all the silver halide grains in at least one light-sensitive emulsion layer are tabular grains having a mean aspect ratio of 2 or more and at least one layer constituting the material contains a coupler of the following formula (I) and/or a coupler of the following formula (II): ##STR1## where X.sup.1 and X.sup.2 each represents an alkyl group, an aryl group, or a heterocyclic group; X.sup.3 represents an organic residue forming a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic group along with >N-- in the formula; Y represents an aryl group or a heterocyclic group; and Z represents a group capable of being released from the formula when the coupler of the formula reacts with an oxidation product of a developing agent. The material preferably contains a compound of formula (A): EQU Q--SM.sup.1 (A). where Q represents a heterocyclic residue having at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of --SO.sub.3 M.sup.2, --COOM.sup.2, --OH and --NR.sup.1 R.sup.2 bonded thereto directly or indirectly; M.sup.1 and M.sup.2 independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkali metal, a quaternary ammonium group, or a quaternary phosphonium group; and R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 independently represent a hydrogen atom, or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group. The material has a high sensitivity and has excellent graininess, pressure resistance, color reproducibility and sharpness.

Silver halide color photographic materials, especially those for taking pictures, are required to have a high sensitivity and excellent graininess, color reproducibility and sharpness. They are further required to be free from fluctuation of the photographic properties during storage and have an excellent color image storability after processing.
Yellow couplers for forming color photographic images include the generally known acylacetanilide couplers having active methylene (methine) group(s) (T. H. James, The Theory of the Photographic Process, 4th Ed., pages 354 to 356). However, these couplers have some drawbacks because the dyes to be formed from them have a low color density and because the couplers themselves have a low dye forming speed. In particular, when the couplers are used as so-called DIR couplers, a large amount of these couplers must be used since they have a low activity. Incorporation of such a large amount of such couplers into photographic materials causes some problems because the color image fastness is lowered, the color hue becomes worse and the cost is elevated.
Malondianilide couplers which are known yellow couplers are described in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,149,886, 4,095,984 and 4,477,563 and British Patent 1,204,680. However, the known couplers have a drawback in that the images to be formed from them have a poor image storability. In particular, the images are hardly fast to moisture and heat. In addition, with respect to spectral absorption of the azomethine dyes to be obtained from the couplers, the foot of the absorption spectrum is prolonged in the long wavelength side of yellow. Therefore, improved color reproducibility of these couplers is desired.
As a technique of providing a photographic material having a high sensitivity and excellent graininess and sharpness, incorporation of tabular silver halide grains having an aspect ratio (diameter/thickness) of 8/1 or more into a photographic material has been proposed, for example, in JP-A-58-113934. However, the proposed photographic material does not still have satisfactory color reproducibility, graininess, pressure resistance and storability. Additionally, the image storability of the processed material was still poor.


An angiogram is produced using NMR fast pulse sequences in which the views are acquired in shots preceded by a preparatory pulse sequence. Each shot is acquired twice with differing preparatory pulse sequences and the resulting NMR data is subtracted to null the stationary tissues in the reconstructed image.

The field of the invention is nuclear magnetic resonance imaging methods and systems. More particularly, the invention relates to the production of angiograms using data acquired with fast NMR pulse sequences.
Any nucleus which possesses a magnetic moment attempts to align itself with the direction of the magnetic field in which it is located. In doing so, however, the nucleus precesses around this direction at a characteristic angular frequency (Larmor frequency) which is dependent on the strength of the magnetic field and on the properties of the specific nuclear species (the magnetogyric constant .gamma. of the nucleus). Nuclei which exhibit this phenomena are referred to herein as "spins".
When a substance such as human tissue is subjected to a uniform magnetic field (polarizing field B.sub.0), the individual magnetic moments of the spins in the tissue attempt to align with this polarizing field, but precess about it in random order at their characteristic Larmor frequency. A net magnetic moment M.sub.z is produced in the direction of the polarizing field, but the randomly oriented magnetic components in the perpendicular, or transverse, plane (x-y plane) cancel one another. If, however, the substance, or tissue, is subjected to a magnetic field (excitation field B.sub.1) which is in the x-y plane and which is near the Larmor frequency, the net aligned moment, M.sub.z, may be rotated, or "tipped", into the x-y plane to produce a net transverse magnetic moment M.sub.t, which is rotating, or spinning, in the x-y plane at the Larmor frequency. The degree to which the net magnetic moment M.sub.z is tipped, and hence the magnitude of the net transverse magnetic moment M.sub.t depends primarily on the length of time and the magnitude of the applied excitation filed B.sub.1.
The practical value of this phenomenon resides in the signal which is emitted by the excited spins after the excitation signal B.sub.1 is terminated. In simple systems the excited spin induce an oscillating sine wave signal in a receiving coil. The frequency of this signal is the Larmor frequency, and its initial amplitude, A.sub.0, is determined by the magnitude of the transverse magnetic moment M.sub.t.
The NMR measurements of particular relevance to the present invention are called "pulsed NMR measurements." Such NMR measurements are divided into a period of RF excitation and a period of signal emission. Such measurements are performed in a cyclic manner in which the NMR measurement is repeated many times to accumulate different data during each cycle or to make the same measurement at different locations in the subject. A wide variety of preparative excitation techniques are known which involve the application of one or more RF excitation pulses (B.sub.1) of varying magnitude, duration, and direction. Such excitation pulses may have a narrow frequency spectrum (selective excitation pulse), or they may have a broad frequency spectrum (nonselective excitation pulse) which produces transverse magnetization M.sub.t over a range of resonant frequencies. The prior art is replete with excitation techniques that are designed to take advantage of particular NMR phenomena and which overcome particular problems in the NMR measurement process.
When utilizing NMR to produce images, a technique is employed to obtain NMR signals from specific locations in the subject. Typically, the region which is to be imaged (region of interest) is scanned by a sequence of NMR measurement cycles which vary according to the particular localization method being used. The resulting set of received NMR signals are digitized and processed to reconstruct the image using one of many well known reconstruction techniques. To perform such a scan, it is, of course, necessary to elicit NMR signals from specific locations in the subject. This is accomplished by employing magnetic fields (G.sub.x, G.sub.y, and G.sub.z) which have the same direction as the polarizing field B.sub.0, but which have a gradient along the respective x, y and z axes. By controlling the strength of these gradients during each NMR cycle, the spatial distribution of spin excitation can be controlled and the location of the resulting NMR signals can be identified.
NMR data for constructing images can be collected using one of many available techniques. Typically, such techniques comprise a pulse sequence made up of a plurality of sequentially implemented views. Each view may include one or more NMR experiments, each of which comprises at least an RF excitation pulse and a magnetic field gradient pulse to encode spatial information into the resulting NMR signal.
The concept of acquiring NMR image data in a short time period has been known since 1977 when the echo-planar pulse sequence was proposed by Peter Mansfield (J. Phys. C.10: L55-L58, 1977). In contrast to standard pulse sequences, the echo-planar pulse sequence produces a set of NMR signals for each RF excitation pulse. These NMR signals can be separately phase encoded so that an entire scan of 64 views can be acquired in a single pulse sequence of 20 to 100 milliseconds in duration. Other echo-planar pulse sequences are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,678,996; 4,733,188; 4,716,369; 4,355,282; 4,588,948 and 4,752,735.
Another pulse sequence used to acquire NMR image data quickly is known generally as a fast spin echo (FSE) pulse sequence. One such FSE pulse sequence known as a "Rapid Acquisition Relaxation Enhanced" (RARE) sequence is described by J. Hennig et al in an article in Magnetic Resonance in Medicine 3,823-833 (1986) entitled "RARE Imaging: A Fast Imaging Method For Clinical MR." A difference between the RARE sequence and the EPI sequence lies in the manner in which echo signals are produced. The RARE sequence utilizes RF refocused echoes generated from a Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (CPMG) sequence, while EPI methods employ gradient recalled echoes.
Yet another pulse sequence used to acquire NMR image data quickly is known in the art generally as fast gradient-echo pulse sequences and is known by various acronyms such as FLASH, GRASS, Turbo-FLASH, Turbo-GRASS, SPGR, Turbo-SPGR and Ultrafast-SPGR. Such a fast gradient-echo sequence is described by Haase et al "FLASH Imaging: Rapid NMR Imaging Using Low Flip Angle Pulses," J. Magn. Res. 67:258-266; 1986, and is distinguished from the EPI sequence in that transverse magnetization is spoiled after acquisition of each phase encoding view and a new RF excitation pulse is applied before acquisition of the next view.
Regardless of the fast pulse sequence used, a scan is typically performed as a number of "shots" in which a set of NMR signals (e.g. 16) are acquired. For example, if 128 separate phase encoding views are acquired during a complete scan, one complete image data set can be acquired in eight shots (i.e. 128/16).
There are a number of well known NMR techniques for measuring the motion, or flow of spins within the region of interest. These include the "time-of-flight" method in which a bolus of spins is excited as it flows past a specific upstream location and the state of the resulting transverse magnetization is examined at a downstream location to determine the velocity of the bolus. This method has been used for many years to measure flow in pipes, and in more recent years it has been used to measure blood flow in human limbs. Examples of this method are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,559,044; 3,191,119; 3,419,793 and 4,777,957.
A second flow measurement technique is the inflow/outflow method in which the spins in a single, localized volume or slice are excited and the change in the resulting transverse magnetization is examined a short time later to measure the effects of excited spins that have flowed out of the volume or slice, and the effects of differently excited spins that have flowed into the volume or slice. Examples of this method are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,574,239; 4,532,474 and 4,516,582.
A third technique for measuring motion flow relies upon the fact that an NMR signal produced by spins flowing through a magnetic field gradient experiences a phase shift which is proportional to velocity. This is referred to in the art as the "phase modulation" technique. For flow that has a roughly constant velocity during the measurement cycle the change in phase of the NMR signal is given as follows: EQU .DELTA..phi.=.gamma.M.sub.1 v
where M.sub.1 is the first moment of the magnetic field gradient, .gamma. is the gyromagnetic ratio and v is the velocity of the spins. By performing two complete scans with different magnetic field gradient first moments, an angiogram may be produced. Although there are a number of different procedures for producing such angiograms, in essence the signals from the two scans are subtracted such that stationary spins appear dark and moving spins appear light in the reconstructed image.
A number of techniques have been proposed for producing angiograms using fast NMR pulse sequences. For example, in a sequence described by D. N. Guilfoyle et al "Real Time Flow Measurements Using Echo Planar Imaging," Magnetic Resonance in Medicine 18, 1-8 (1991) an EPI pulse sequence is preceded by a preparatory sequence which destroys a component of the magnetization from flowing spins (M.sub.v sin.theta.) or else a component of the magnetization from flowing spins along with the magnetization from static spins (M.sub.v sin.theta.+M.sub.static) by applying a series of three RF pulses, a motion encoding gradient and a spoiler gradient. While this preparatory sequence suppresses magnetization associated with stationary spins, when applied to fast spin-echo or fast gradient-echo sequences stimulated echoes are induced by this preparatory sequence, and artifacts are produced in the image. In addition, the signals produced by stationary spins are not suppressed sufficiently by this sequence to provide good angiograms.

NMR angiography using fast pulse sequences with preparatory pulses


A system and method is disclosed for comparing biometric image data to a stored enrollment template that may comprise collecting a set of biometric image data for a biometric object image from a biometric object imaging sensor; storing the biometric object image data in a memory as an enrollment template for further comparison to find a match with subsequently imaged biometric object image data; collecting a subsequent set of biometric image data for a biometric object image from the biometric object imaging sensor; updating the enrollment template; determining if a limited enrollment window remains open; and repeating the collecting of a subsequent set of biometric data step if the enrollment window remains open. Determining if the enrollment window remains open may be by determining the existence of one of a stability indicator and an instability indicator.

The presently disclosed subject matter relates to enrolling and matching biometric data in a way that is easier to use, hence providing a more positive user experience than previous solutions. Previously, multiple collections of the same biometric data have been collected during an initial enrollment phase and may prevent enrollment if those multiple collections should prove, during the initial collection phase to be not sufficiently similar. Under certain circumstances this can make enrollment difficult or impossible for a user. Furthermore, even upon successful enrollment, the previous solutions typically fall into one of two categories.
In a first category, as an example, the enrollment data remains unchanged, i.e., is not tuned or modified, or is modified or tuned, once the initial enrollment is complete, but, e.g., for only a very short time, minutes or hours, and/or number of updates, e.g., 1-3 or so. A second category is where the enrollment data is allowed to change for the purposes of improving and/or augmenting the enrollment data for a stored enrollment template of the user's biometric data, without regard to time or effect, i.e., potentially ad infinitum. This latter case can actually be used by sophisticated spoofers to so modify the stored enrollment template to actually change the response to future matching efforts so much as to allow a completely different biometric image to be one that is authenticating access or use or whatever the biometric authentication is being used to authenticate.
Here, spoofing is used in a broader sense than the traditional meaning of attempting to defeat a biometric security system by using a false finger, e.g., with a facsimile of the actual user's biometric, or even removing the actual biometric from the user for use as an input of the biometric image to be compared with a stored enrollment template. Spoofing here also is meant to include any form of attempt at falsely indicating to the system that the image being received, purportedly, but not actually, from an authorized user, to compare with the stored enrollment template, actually matches a stored enrollment template for that authorized user. This can include, as discussed here, modifying the stored enrollment template over time to become a match for a false input image, i.e., one not actually associated with the actual authorized user.
One example of a fingerprint swipe sensor useful with the presently disclosed subject matter is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,289,114 entitled Fingerprint-Reading System, issued to Mainguet on Sep. 11, 2011. This patent describes a system in which the surface area of the sensor is far smaller than the surface area of the fingerprint to be read. The reading is done when the sensor and the finger are in contact and in a relative motion of sliding of the sensor and the finger with respect to each other. The system reconstitutes a complete two dimensional image of some portion of the fingerprint from the two dimensional partial images given by the sensor during this motion. The manner in which the system reconstitutes a complete image of the fingerprint from the partial images given by the sensor is not described. Another example of a swiped sensor utilizing capacitive coupling through features of the biometric being imaged, e.g., fingerprint ridges and valleys, can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 7,099,496, issued to Benkley, on Aug. 29, 2006, entitled Fingerprint Sensing Systems and Methods, assigned to the assignee of the present application. A so called 2D placement sensor which can be utilized to image part of a finger to get a fingerprint image of a user for authentication by matching to a stored template can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,515,738, issued to Tamori on May 14, 1996, entitled Piezoelectric Surface Pressure Input Panel, utilizing pressure sensing at individual pixel locations in a 2d placement grid array, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,862,942, issued to Kawahata on Mar. 8, 2005, entitled Surface Pressure Distribution Sensor, using a 2D capacitive sensor array.
By way of an example of previous solutions, U.S. Pat. No. 7,616,787, entitled Methods for Finger Biometric Processing and Associated Finger Biometric Sensors, issued to Boshra on Nov. 10, 2009, relates to a swipe type sensor for constructing and then matching biometric images using mosaics from images of small areas of the biometric object, such as horizontal "slices" if a fingerprint image, and/or employing internal image features (minutia), at the physical level. That is, the mosaics are fused at the physical level, which Boshra proposes to change to account for possible misalignments. Thus, Boshra represents an example of approaches to imaging a biometric object, such as a fingerprint, including sensing, image storing and subsequent image comparison with later sensed images. The ongoing update of a stored template as disclosed in Boshra, can be an ever evolving process. That is, as taught in Boshra and other examples, every time the biometric is sampled a new stored enrollment template is potentially created, i.e., modifications to the existing stored enrollment template can occur. As another example of a previous solution, U.S. Pat. No. 6,546,122, entitled Method for Combining Fingerprint Templates Representing Various Sensed Area of Fingerprint to Derive One Fingerprint Template Representing the Fingerprint, issued on Apr. 8, 2003 to Russo, also shows updating a stored enrollment template for future biometric data comparisons using the continuingly updated and stored template.
Standard enrollment using N swipes or touches on a fingerprint sensor, typically has required that the N swipes match each other, at least to some degree, e.g., by some statistical or other criteria of measurement. Such enrollment has relied on the user's natural usage tendencies to create or not create variance in the enrollment data. This has been without regard to sensing area or sensor type, e.g., a linear one dimensional sensor array, a two dimensional swiped sensor array or a two dimensional placement sensor array.
Such known enrollment systems and methods may mostly, but not entirely, apply to two dimensional placement sensor arrays, where the user places the biometric to be sensed and imaged, e.g., on the two dimensional sensor array without swiping. Such enrollment is then meant to capture at least some area of the biometric being sensed and imaged, e.g., the fingerprint of a finger. Depending on the type of sensor array being used, and particularly the size of the sensor array, especially the size in the direction essentially orthogonal to the swipe direction, i.e., along the width of the finger as an example, the sensor array may not be able to sense and image all of the biometric features. That is, all the ridges and valleys of a finger print for the finger that is on or swiping the sensor array. Even with a wider sensor array, the curvature of the biometric on the opposing edges can distort the sensor's detection of a ridge or a valley associated, e.g., with a given pixel location in a reconstructed image. Therefore, after an enrollment template for, e.g., the user's finger is sensed and stored for later comparison when the user again interacts with the sensor array, variations in the way the user interacts can cause false negative matches unwarrantedly denying the user the access sought and frustrating and annoying the user.
As an example, shifting and or rolling or tilting the finger in the vicinity of the sensor can expose areas to the sensor that may not have adequately been sensed before during enrollment, i.e., outside of a so-called "sweet spot" that the linear sensor or 2D swiped sensor or 2D placement sensor is designed and constructed to sense. This can be, e.g., generally on the flat portion of the finger tip portion of the finger, and can also depend on sensor area and the like. Thus the template that was sensed, e.g., in an authentication process, may be determined to be sufficiently different than the stored template stored in an enrollment process. This can result even if the great bulk of the scanned biometric does match the template in some regions, e.g., on one side of the "sweet spot," but does not, e.g., on one side or the other of the sweet spot representing an imaging, e.g., of a portion of the finger on that side not ordinarily sensed in the enrollment process. Such areas, e.g., sides of edges of the biometric can exist that are sensed during a particular authenticating swipe or placement. They can be sensed during a misaligned placement or misaligned or mistimed swipe, etc. in the authentication process but not during the formation of the stored enrollment template, e.g., due to this variation in interaction by the user with the sensor array from when the enrollment template was created. A biometric authentication system and method is needed, therefore, that can address these causes for possible false negative denials of authentication and access or use because of a failure to match the stored biometric image template "sweet spot" or a significant portion of the "sweet spot."

Method of and system for enrolling and matching biometric data


A three-dimensional display device according to the present invention includes a panel that time-shares images and displays left and right eye images, a panel control unit for controlling the panel by applying a display control signal that includes vertical and horizontal signals to the panel, a barrier facing the panel and separating the images of the panel into user left and right eye images, and a barrier control unit for controlling the barrier. The panel can be converted between a first mode of a portrait-type view and a second mode of a landscape-type view, and the barrier may be operated corresponding to the mode conversion of the panel.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a three-dimensional display device, and in particular, to an autostereoscopic three-dimensional display device using a parallax barrier, and a driving method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
A three-dimensional display device may be categorized as a stereoscopic display device where a user wears viewing aids, such as polarizing glasses, or an autostereoscopic display device where the user can see a desired three-dimensional image without wearing such viewing aids.
A common autostereoscopic display device utilizes an optical separation element, such as a lenticular lens, a parallax barrier, or a microlens array, to spatially separate or isolate the left-eye image part and the right-eye image part displayed at an image display unit in the directions of the left and right eyes of the user, respectively.
In particular, the parallax barrier may be formed with a liquid crystal shutter utilizing a transmission type of liquid crystal display, and in this case, it may be converted between a two-dimensional mode and a three-dimensional mode. Thus the parallax barrier can be applied to laptop computers or cellular phones.
The parallax barrier includes stripe-shaped light interception portions and light transmission portions. The parallax barrier selectively separates left and right eye images displayed at the image display unit through the light transmission portions such that the left and right eye images are respectively provided to the left and right eyes of the user.
Generally, a three-dimensional display device of the parallax barrier type spatially separates the left and right eye images.
However, the resolution of a three-dimensional image produced by such a display device is no more than half as fine as that of two-dimensional images produced by such a display device because the right and left eye images of the latter are provided to the respective eyes of the user.
Recently, display devices that can provide both portrait-type views and landscape-type views by rotating the display device have been developed.
However, conventional parallax barriers are adapted to provide only one of the portrait- or landscape-type views.

Three-dimensional display device and driving method thereof


A method of biasing a memory cell array during a data writing operation and a semiconductor memory device, in which the semiconductor memory device includes: a memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells in which a first terminal of a memory cell is connected to a corresponding first line among a plurality of first lines and a second terminal of a memory cell is connected to a corresponding second line among a plurality of second lines; and a bias circuit for biasing a selected second line to a first voltage and non-selected second lines to a second voltage.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor memory device, and more particularly, to a semiconductor memory device and a data writing method for controlling a biasing level of a memory cell array.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Phase change random access memories (PRAMs) are nonvolatile memory devices that store data using a phase change material, e.g., Ge—Sb—Te (GST), whose resistance changes in accordance with a phase transition due to a change in temperature.
FIG. 1 illustrates an equivalent circuit of a unit cell C of a PRAM. Referring to FIG. 1, the unit cell C consists of a P-N diode D and a phase change material GST. The phase change material GST is connected to a bit line BL and a P-junction of the diode D. A word line WL is connected to an N-junction of the diode D.
The phase change material GST of the PRAM unit cell C, goes into a crystalline state or an amorphous state depending on a temperature applied thereto and a heating time. This enables data to be stored in the PRAM cell. In general, a temperature higher than 900° C. is needed for a phase transition of the phase change material GST. Such temperatures are obtained by Joule heating, which uses a current flowing through the PRAM cell to increase or decrease the temperature thereof.
A write operation for the phase change material GST will now be described. First, the phase change material GST is heated above its melting temperature by a current and then it is rapidly cooled. The phase change material GST then goes into the amorphous state and stores a data "1". This state is referred to as a reset state. The phase change material GST is then heated above its crystallization temperature for a predetermined period of time and cooled. Next, the phase change material GST goes into the crystalline state and stores a data "0". This state is referred to as a set state.
A read operation for the phase change material GST will now be described. After a bit line and a word line are used to select a memory cell, an external current is provided to the selected memory cell. It is then determined whether data to be stored in the selected memory cell is "1" or "0" based on a change in voltage according to a resistance value of the phase change material GST of the selected memory cell.
FIG. 2 illustrates a semiconductor memory device 200 comprising a memory cell array MAY including a plurality of the PRAM unit cells C shown in FIG. 1. An exemplary structure of the memory cell array MAY is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,667,900 and 6,567,296.
Referring to FIG. 2, the semiconductor memory device 200 comprises the memory cell array MAY and a word line driver 210. The memory cell array MAY comprises a plurality of unit cells C connected to corresponding bit lines BL0˜BLk-1 and word lines WL0, WL1, and WL2. Although only k bit lines BL0˜BLk-1 and three word lines WL0, WL1, and WL2 are shown in FIG. 2, the number of bit lines and word lines is not limited thereto.
For a data write operation, if one of the bit lines BL0˜BLK-1 is first selected, the word line driver 210 selects one of the word lines WL0, WL1, and WL2. The selected word line is then set to a low level. If a first bit line BL0 and a first word line WL0 are sequentially selected, a write current applied to the first bit line BL0 flows through a unit cell connected between the first bit line BL0 and the first word line WL0. The state of the phase change material of the unit cell is then changed to store data.
Each of the word lines WL0, WL1, and WL2 has its own resistance R_WL. Because the word lines WL0, WL1, and WL2 pass current when writing data, the resistance R_WL should be minimized. Because the word lines WL0, WL1, and WL2 have a high resistance, however, the number of unit cells connected to the word lines WL0, WL1, and WL2 is limited. Further, the word line driver 210 should be powerful enough to drive the word lines WL0, WL1, and WL2.
When data is written to the unit cell connected between the first bit line BL0 and the first word line WL0, the write current is applied to the first bit line BL0, and the first word line WL0 is set to a low level by the word line driver 210. The second and third word lines WL1 and WL2 are then in a floating state. The first bit line BL0 maintains a relatively high voltage due to the applied write current, and the second and third word lines WL1 and WL2 maintain a relatively low level in the floating state. Therefore, current flows through unit cells connected between the first word line WL0 and the second and third word lines WL1 and WL2 which can change the state of the phase change material in those unit cells.
Because current may flow through unselected word lines that are floating, it is difficult to increase the operating speed of the semiconductor memory device and perform stable sensing. As such, a need exists for a semiconductor memory device that is capable of performing a stable sensing operation while increasing its operating speed.

Memory cell array biasing method and a semiconductor memory device


A focusing device capable of setting (S402) a focusing area according to a detection result of a target subject, wherein even if the target subject is no longer detected, when the target subject is assumed to be present, the velocity of the movement of the focusing lens (104) is made slower. Thus, even if the target subject can no longer be detected, it is possible to suppress the in-focus position from changing significantly.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a focusing device, and more particularly to a focusing device capable of setting a focusing area according to the result of detecting a target subject. The present invention further relates to an image-capturing apparatus provided with such a focusing device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Autofocus control that utilizes a subject detection function for detecting the face of a human figure, a moving subject, or the like is known to be conventionally used in image-capturing apparatuses as typified by digital cameras. This is a technique for focusing on a target subject such as the face of a human figure by detecting the target subject from a captured image, setting a focusing area in a part of the detected target subject, and performing focus control (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-107335).
If the target subject cannot be detected with such autofocus control, focus control can conceivably be performed by setting a focusing area in an area that is generally considered highly probable to include a target subject, such as the center of the image.
When shooting a movie or the like, there are situations where continuous autofocus (AF) that continuously performs control to focus on a set focusing area is performed. If the above-described autofocus control, which utilizes the detection of a target subject, is applied to the continuous AF, although no problem arises when a target subject is detected continuously, a problem arises in a case such as where the target subject cannot be detected.
In other words, when a target subject is detected, a focusing area is set in a part of the target subject, whereas when the target subject can no longer be detected, the focusing area is set in the center area of the image. Accordingly, the focusing area frequently switches between the target subject area and the center area of the screen, so when the target subject is not in the center of the screen, the in-focus position changes at a very rapid pace.
This condition shall be described with reference to FIGS. 8A to 8D.
When photographing a scene in which a target subject (a person's face, in this case) is not in the center area of the screen, as shown in FIG. 8A, if the target subject 810 is detected, a focusing area 801 is set in a position corresponding to the position of the target subject.
When the detection of the target subject (i.e., the detection of the face, in this case) fails after the target subject 810 has turned his/her face to a side or the like, a focusing area 802 is set in the center of the screen. Generally, when no target subject is present in the center of the screen, the in-focus position changes. Particularly, when photographing a scene containing a distant landscape in the background, the in-focus position changes significantly.
If the target subject then turns back to the front again, the target subject is detected, and the display is returned to the state shown in FIG. 8A. Such change of the in-focus position between the target subject and the subject that is in the background causes a problem that flicker occurs in the image, which is distracting for the user.
To solve this problem, a remedy has been conceived in which the position of the target subject is predicted with some kind of method even when the target subject can no longer be detected, and a focusing area 803 is set in the predicted position of the target subject as shown in FIG. 8C.
However, even if the position of the target subject can be predicted, it is difficult to accurately predict the position of the target subject continuously. If a focusing area 804 is set in an erroneously predicted position of the target subject as shown in FIG. 8D, there is no way to solve the problem.

Focusing device and image-capturing device provided with the same


A tractor driven stump grinder for a wheeled tractor frame having a drive motor operating the wheels to move the tractor forwardly and rearwardly, the tractor having a support member movable vertically on the tractor frame and rotatably carrying a generally vertically disposed broadsidely oriented grinder disc. A series of circumferentially spaced generally radial stump grinding tools project peripherally from each vertical face of the grinder disc, and a drive mechanism is provided for rotating the grinder disc in a plane transverse to the longitudinal tractor frame as it cuts a horizontal swath and then a subjacent swath in a pass across the upper end of a stump in both forward and rearward directions of movement of the tractor.

Varied types of stump cutting machines have been proposed in recent years for the purpose of removing or disintegrating stumps, and one of these is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,402,352, directed to a one man stump cutter in which the revolveable cutter wheel is progressively lowered in a vertical cutting path to the stump. In this patent, the wheel is longitudinally coextensive with the frame and mounted to rotate about an axis which is transverse to the frame.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,681,145, a cutter disc is provided which is mounted on a hydraulically driven drive slide and moves along the length of the drive shaft while maintaining driving engagement therewith. Milling cutters are provided on one face of the disc. The foregoing patents, which I incorporate herein by reference, are typical of the many concepts which have been utilized in equipment already patented.

Tractor mounted stump grinder and methods of constructing and operating it


A method may include receiving an electronic message from a sender. The method may further include parsing the electronic message into a set of sections, the set of sections including structured sections and an unstructured section. The method may further include detecting etiquette errors in the structured sections of the electronic message, wherein the etiquette errors include at least one of a missing word, a redundant word, an incorrect usage of a word, a style error, an emotional punctuation error, or a punctuation error. The method may further include generating an etiquette score based on the etiquette errors.

In today's economy, good communication skills are vital for success in the workplace. According to one study, 53% of all jobs require a moderate to high level of writing and speaking skills.
There is no standard list of rules for how to craft a proper electronic message. For example, a survey of articles written about electronic message writing rules yielded a set of 57 different possible rules. However, when these rules were provided to professionals from different business areas and cultures, they could not decide on a uniform standard for grading when applying the rules. Furthermore, because people apply different rules to electronic messages and because even one person can use inconsistent rules to grade electronic messages, there is no way to create a consistent set of rules to codify into software.

Machine learning models for electronic messages analysis


A method for fabricating a semiconductor on insulator substrate by providing a first semiconductor substrate with a first impurity density of a first impurity type, subjecting the first semiconductor substrate to a first thermal treatment to thereby reduce the first impurity density in a modified layer adjacent a surface of the first semiconductor substrate being treated, transferring at least partially the modified layer with the reduced first impurity density onto a second substrate, to thereby obtain a modified second substrate, and providing a further layer on a transferred layer of the modified second substrate with the further layer having a second impurity density of a second impurity type that is different than the first impurity type of the transferred modified layer. By doing so, a contamination by dopants of the second impurity type of a fabrication line using semiconductor material with dopants of the first impurity type, can be prevented.

This invention relates to a method for fabricating a semiconductor substrate, in particular, to a semiconductor on insulator substrate (SOI) comprising an additional doped layer, in particular an epitaxial layer, suitable for opto electronic applications, such as image sensors.
In optoelectronics, special substrates are necessary which are, for example, used for image sensors, such as backside illuminated CMOS Image Sensors (BCIS), which find their application in video or photographic cameras. In these substrates, photons can be collected by the image sensors formed in the device layer of an SOI substrate. In some devices, the SOI device layer containing the image sensors is transferred to a final substrate to expose the backside of the sensors and facilitate the efficient collection of photons.
In the prior art, this kind of special SOI substrate was prepared using an n-type donor substrate, to form an n-type SOI layer by the conventional SMARTCUT™ layer transfer technology. This method typically comprises the steps of providing a donor substrate, e.g. a silicon wafer, providing an insulating layer on the donor substrate and creating a predetermined splitting area inside the donor substrate. The splitting layer is generally achieved by implanting atomic species or ions, such as helium or hydrogen ions, or both ions, into the donor substrate. In the next step, the donor substrate is bonded to a base substrate, e.g., a further silicon wafer, such that the insulating layer is sandwiched between the handle and the donor substrate. Subsequently, the remainder of the donor substrate is detached from the bonded donor-base substrate at the predetermined splitting area following a thermal and/or mechanical treatment upon the predetermined splitting area. As a result, a semiconductor on insulator (SOI) substrate is obtained.
The use of different dopants in a substrate can lead to cross-contamination of the dopants. For example, the use of a substrate having a first type of dopants (e.g. n-type) in an SOI substrate fabrication line, wherein the substrate has encounters a different substrate containing a second type of dopants (e.g. p-type), can lead to cross-contamination from donor wafers with an impurity dopant concentration of the second type used in the standard SOI substrate, to other wafers having the target dopant type of the first type. Even worse, in the case of special substrates for opto-electronic applications that need a different type of dopants e.g. n-type dopants (phosphorous) compared to standard substrates, e.g., p-type (boron), the n-type dopants may contaminate the fabrication line, thereby reducing the quality of the standard SOI substrates. This thus leads to unsatisfying dopant profiles in both the n-type SOI wafers and the standard p-type SOI wafers.
Surface contamination through airborne contamination is a key concern in this matter. In a standard cleanroom environment with no specific chemical filtering, it is common to have boron or phosphorus contamination on surfaces, in the range of 1 to several 1012 at/cm2 for about 30 min to 2 hours, depending on the air recycling rate. By diffusion, these unwanted elements diffuse into the bulk of a substrate leading to a volume contamination in the of order of 1016 at/cm3, which is a particular problem when n- or p-type layers are targeted.
In addition, during subsequent annealing steps during the typical SMARTCUT™ process, a diffusion of dopants out of the counter-doped layer occurs which further deteriorates the substrate.
Furthermore, special substrates with n-type dopants show a rather high density of defects compared to special substrates with a p-type dopant structure. This is related to the fact that n-type starting substrates, on which an additional epitaxial layer will be grown, have a lower quality than p-type substrates, in particular concerning COP defects.
Thus, there is a need for improvements in these type constructions so that improved BCIS devices can be prepared. The present invention now satisfies this need.

Method for fabricating a semiconductor substrate

S.O.I.Tec Silicon on Insulator Technologies