An application synchronizes views during document presentation. The application detects a selection of a section of a portion of presented content at a presenter view. The application shifts the portion of the content displayed at an attendee view to bring to focus the selection. Alternatively, the application displays the selection in a pop-out view pane within the attendee view to bring to focus the selection. The application also shifts content in the attendee view according to an offset ratio calculated from comparing a non-displayed section of a page of the document and a displayed section of a page of the document within the presenter view.

Increasingly documents and other digital content are being shared over the Internet or other similar private networks. Typically, a presenter initiates an online meeting with one or more other users, and generates content, which the presenter may desire to share with one or more attendees of an online meeting. In a typical online meeting, shared content is transmitted from the presenter (usually through a server) to the attendees similar to a video stream, where the flow of presentation is controlled by the presenter. Thus, attendees have a passive role of viewing the presented material at the presenter's pace and direction.
In modern systems, a presentation attendee may have different screen resolution from a presenter's. In addition, presentation viewing size may also differ from the presenter's. As a result, attendee may not see a duplicate view of the presenter's. Modern solutions attempt to resolve attendee off synchronicity issues with screen-sharing technologies. Differing screen resolutions are resolved by the attendee zooming in or zooming out of a presentation. Alternatively, scrollbars may be utilized when a presenter view does not fit within attendee's resolution. Current solutions may enable an attendee to see what the presenter sees. However for presentations, particularly text-rich presentations, zooming in or zooming out may make it difficult to read the text because the text may become too small or too big to read. In a scrollbar approach, attendee may have to manually scroll which may interrupt flow of a presentation. In addition, the attendee may not see what the presenter is focusing. Screen sharing also does not support allowing the attendee to navigate the document on their own.

Synchronizing views during document presentation


The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an air mat that reduces the number of manufacturing processes by means of rotational molding, while preventing the generation of defective products, to a device for molding an air mat, and to an air mat manufactured and molded by the method and device. In a method for manufacturing an air mat formed in such a manner as to integrally couple a cushion part having a plurality of air bags arranged therein for containing air at the insides thereof with a plate-shaped lower sheet disposed on the lower surface of the cushion part, the method includes the steps of: preparing a lower mold having a plurality of air bag molding recesses having given depths arranged at given intervals thereon, for molding the cushion part of the air mat.

Generally, an air mat is an instrument for supplying air to the inside thereof to effect an appropriate cushion force through air pressure, so that a user may rest on the air mat in comfort. As such an air mat can be simple to carry and easily installed in every place, they are widely used.
Especially, the air mat is recently provided with a plurality of embossing air bags formed on the portions abutting against the human body, which provides massaging effects to the user lying on the air mat and reduces unpleasant oppression against him or her.
Most of typical air mats include a cushion part having a plurality of air bags arranged therein, and a lower sheet adapted to be bonded to the lower surface of the cushion part, for tightly sealing the plurality of air bags.
Further, the cushion part or the lower sheet is formed on one side thereof with an air supply hole for supplying air to the inside of each air bag.
Such a conventional air mat is manufactured by means of slush molding in such a manner that plastic resin is first filled in the interior of a mold and is then preheated therein, and after that, when the plastic resin is partially coated to a predetermined thickness on the inner surface of the mold, the filled plastic resin is poured off from the mold and the resin layer having the predetermined thickness is completely gelled and cooled, thereby finishing the cushion part of the air mat.
Next, a plurality of communicating passageways are formed for allowing the plurality of air bags formed in the cushion part to communicate with one another, and the lower sheet that is previously made is then bonded to the lower surface of the cushion part, thereby finishing the whole structure of the air mat.
By the way, the conventional air mat manufacturing method using the slush molding is carried out at a state where the mold is opened on the upper portion thereof according to the characteristics of the slush molding, such that only after the cushion part has been completely molded, the lower sheet can be bonded to the cushion part.
As a result, after the bonding process of the lower sheet with the cushion part is separately carried out, the air mat can be finally made.
More particularly, the bonding process of the lower sheet with the cushion part is conducted by means of high frequency bonding or adhesive bonding. First, in case of the high frequency bonding, a high frequency bonding machine should be separately provided, and also, a relatively long time of period for the bonding process is required, such that the whole manufacturing processes are delayed, thereby making the product costs undesirably raised.
Next, in case of the adhesive bonding, a relatively long time of period for the bonding process is necessary in the same manner as the high frequency bonding, and since the bonding is mostly made by manual operations, it is difficult to provide the firm bonding results of the lower sheet with the cushion part, which results in a low quality of bonding results.
Also, the plurality of communicating passageways should be formed for allowing the adjacent air bags of the cushion part to communicate with each other, such that air can be gently supplied to each of the plurality of air bags.
However, when the slush molding is adopted to mold the cushion part of the air mat, the shape of the cushion part after the molding is very simple, such that the communicating passageways should be made through a separate communicating passageway forming process after the cushion part has been completely molded. Thereby, the whole manufacturing processes are undesirably delayed and the product costs are accordingly raised.
Moreover, since all of the plurality of air bags communicate with one another in the conventional air mat manufactured by means of the slush molding having the above-mentioned problems, it is impossible to partially adjust the cushion forces generated from the air bags.
Especially, in case of a patient lying on the air mat for a long time, he or she should have gentle blood circulation as the oppression of the air bags abutting on his or her body is released partially. However, since all of air bags in the conventional air mat structure communicate with one another, it is really impossible to partially adjust the cushion forces of the air bags.


A field easel with an integrated sketch box is provided. The sketch box comprises cavities for art supplies, allowing art supplies to be stored inside the cavity and secured with plates covered in memory foam. An easel is hinged to the rear wall of the box such that the easel can display painting support in a multitude of angles, and the easel provides adjustable support clamps that accept different sizes of painting support and can raise and lower the height of the painting support with respect to the box. Optionally, the field easel can be secured to a standardized tripod.

The invention relates to the field of art easels, and specifically to field easels having integrated storage capacity.
Easels have been used by artists for thousands of years to hold a canvas or other painting support while the artist worked. Traditionally, easels were constructed of wood using a tripod or H-frame configuration. The basic components of an easel include a base and horizontal members attached to the base for securing a painting support. Easels come in various sizes, ranging from fixed studio easels to tabletop easels to small field easels. Studio easels typically use a large, floor-standing base, while field easels often use integrated collapsible tripods.
A paint or sketch box usually refers to a covered storage box used to separate and store art supplies, and many sketch boxes can be used while an artist is painting to provide access to art supplies. While the sketch box can be a separate unit, some field easels utilize integrated sketch boxes. These types of integrated field easels are often unwieldy, requiring large amounts of setup time. It is thus an object of the present invention to provide an integrated field easel that minimizes the amount of setup time required.
Of those integrated field easels in the prior art, none attempted to organize and secure art supplies during travel. Because art supplies can shift during travel, the integrated field easels of the prior art required the artist to reorganize art supplies upon arriving at the desired location. Thus, it is also an object of the present invention to provide a sketch box capable of securing painting supplies during travel in an organized manner.
Another deficiency of integrated field easels of the prior art is that such easels often have tripods that are incapable of other uses. Today, tripods are used for a variety of purposes, including photography, and most modern tripods use standardized mounts such that many different types of equipment may be mounted on the universal mount tripod. Artists often photograph the subject matter of a work of art as well as painting in plain air in order to touch up the painting in a studio or to create similarly themed works of art using different painting supports. Easels of the prior art made this process difficult, as an artist wishing to both photograph and paint on a field easel was required to carry a separate tripod for an easel and a camera.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,093,326 (the "'326 patent"), utilizes a standardized tripod mount; however, the '326 patent's implementation of such standardized tripod mount defeats several purposes of a sketch box because the tripod is mounted by drilling a hole in the bottom of the sketch box and mounting the sketch box to the tripod using a wing nut. This method of mounting a sketch box to a tripod defeats many benefits of the sketch box because paint and other items can fall through or leak out the mounting hole during travel. Also, the single mount utilized by the '326 patent relies upon the sketch box structural material for strength rather than spreading the force exerted by the mount over a significant area, such as utilizing a metal base plate. Therefore, it is a further object of the present invention to provide a field easel that can utilize a standardized tripod as the base of the easel without compromising the structural integrity or the utility of the integrated sketch box.
Most integrated field easels of the prior art also lack a means to adjust the easel so that the painting support is at a comfortable painting height. That is, easels of the prior art allow adjustment of the tripod or other base to adjust the height of the painting support to a level comfortable for the artist, only. While two easels in public use do provide for vertical adjustment of a painting support with respect to the sketch box, the designs of U.S. Pat. No. 2,751,271 (the "'271 patent") and 6,308,925 (the "'925 patent") lack the requisite structural strength needed to prevent extraneous movement of the painting support while the artist works. In the '271 and '925 patents, the structure for the painting support holders is one-dimensional; that is, both painting support holders are attached to the same linear structural member. It is thus an object of the present invention to allow a user to adjust the height of a painting support without adjusting the tripod or other base, while at the same time providing greater than one-dimensional structural strength to the painting support holder.
A further deficiency of integrated field easels of the prior art is that such easels sacrifice usability and workspace for portability. It is thus another object of the present invention to provide an easel that is capable of being collapsed into a small size suitable for travel, including traveling with a wet or partially complete painting, while at the same time providing a sketch box having ample storage capacity for painting supplies and having ample workspace for painting.
Depending on the painting conditions, an artist may also need secure a painting support in either a vertical or a horizontal position. Thus, it is a further object of the present invention to provide an integrated field easel which is capable of being adjusted between a vertical and horizontal plane and to allow the user to incrementally set the angle at which the painting support is positioned.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an easel with integrated sketch box that is capable of securing art supplies in a usable, visible position when the easel is in use.

Field easel with integrated paint/sketch box


Ethylenically unsaturated monomers are polymerized in a gas-phase fluidized-bed reactor comprising a reactor space (1) in the form of a vertical tube, a calming zone (2) adjoining the upper part of the reactor space, a circulated gas line (3), a circulated gas compressor (4), a cooling apparatus (5), a gas distributor plate (6) which forms the lower boundary of the reactor space and, if desired, a flow divider (7), wherein the gas distributor plate (6) has a plurality of gas flow orifices (8) whose outlet sides are widened conically.

The present invention also provides a process for polymerizing ethylene or copolymerizing ethylene with C3–C8-α-olefins in such a reactor.
Gas-phase polymerization processes are today among the preferred processes for polymerizing ethylenically unsaturated monomers, in particular for the polymerization of ethylene, if desired in the presence of further unsaturated monomers. Polymerization processes in fluidized beds are moreover particularly economical.
Gas-phase fluidized-bed reactors for carrying out such processes have been known for a long time. The reactors which are customary today have many common structural features: they comprise, inter alia, a reactor space in the form of a vertical tube whose diameter increases in the upper part. In this calming zone, there is a lower gas flow as a result of the larger tube diameter and this limits the fluidized bed comprising small polymer particles. In addition, these reactors have a circulated gas line in which there are installed cooling units for removing the heat of polymerization, a compressor and, if desired, further elements such as a cyclone for removing fine polymer dust. Examples of such gas-phase fluidized-bed reactors are described, for example, in EP-A-0 202 076, EP-A-0 549 252 and EP-A-0 697 421.
These known gas-phase fluidized-bed reactors use gas distributor constructions configured as perforated plates, sometimes in combination with an upstream flow divider, to distribute the gas uniformly across the entire reactor cross section. All these constructions result, between the gas outlet orifices or drilled holes, in more or less extensive, depending on hole spacing, horizontal, planar surfaces on the upper side of the reactor bottom against which the gaseous reaction medium flows only to a limited extent. To avoid deposits of product on these surfaces, it is possible, as described in EP-A-0 173 261, to arrange roof-shaped deflector plates above the bottom plate in such a way that the reaction medium passes over the faces of the deflector plates and the surface of the bottom. An exclusively vertical flow of the reaction medium directly into the powder bed is thus not present with this arrangement.
However, the vertical blowing-out of the surface of the bottom appears to be important when restarting the fluidized bed, e.g. after a shutdown; in addition, roof-shaped deflector plates lead to a higher pressure drop than is necessary for producing a uniform fluidized bed and are therefore associated with unnecessary power input and energy consumption.
Likewise horizontal swirling of the reaction medium on the surface of the bottom is described in EP-A-0 512 147. This is achieved by gas flow orifices running at an angle to the surface of the gas distributor, but these are technically very complicated to manufacture and therefore have to be let into the bottom plate as individual pieces. The conspicuous length of the gas channels also makes it easier for the gas distributor plate to become blocked and makes it more difficult to clean.
In documents such as EP-A-549 252, EP-A-297 794 and EP-A-509 618, attempts are made to keep the polymer powder flowing at the surface of the bottom by means of gas distributor plates which are folded or angled inward. Blowing-off or -out of the surface of the bottom to avoid product deposits is restricted in these constructions. It is an object of the present invention to provide a gas-phase fluidized-bed reactor whose gas distributor plate is constructed such that the indicated disadvantages can be avoided and deposit formation at the upper side of the reactor bottom can be reduced in a simple way.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


The present invention is an Electro-Absorption-Isolated-Laser-Module (EMILM) especially adapted for use in optical communication systems, and more particularly a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) system. The EMILM device is packaged in an industry standard housing which consists of a metal package with dielectric feedthrus which couple internal areas of the device to external pins. The device includes passive reactive elements coupled between the electrical feedthrus and the metal package which help to minimize distortion on the drive signal of the EMILM and dampen oscillations which are induced or already present.

Fiber-optic communication systems have been used extensively in many areas, such as, telecommunication transmission, data transmission, CATV and video transmission and distribution. More recently, wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) systems have become more important as a result of their ability to utilize the significant bandwidth of single mode fiber cables.
A WDM communication system has the ability to provide two or more communications channels over a common optical fiber, where the two or more communications channels are differentiated by optical wavelength. The use of WDM systems has recently become more prevalent in the telecommunications industry due to the escalation of bandwidth requirements for many telecommunications applications. One integral part of a WDM system is that part of an electro-optical transmitter which includes a light producing source and a modulation mechanism for the light source by which the light produced therefrom is translated or modulated into meaningful bit streams of information. Well-known transmitter devices for use in fiber optic communications systems have included LED-type transmitters as well as the more commonly used laser transmitter. One particularly advantageous device for producing modulating light signals for use in a WDM fiber optic system is termed an Electro-Absorption-Isolated-Laser-Module (EMILM).
An important parameter which characterizes the (spectral) performance of such an EMILM device in a WDM system is the dynamic wavelength movement or chirp that the device can achieve. This dynamic wavelength movement parameter is generally measured in Angstroms, where the chirp parameter produced by an ideally functioning EMILM device would be zero, i.e., no wavelength movement produced by the device.
These EMILM devices for use in WDM systems are typically packaged in industry standard housings, for example, butterfly metal packages with ceramic (dielectric) electrical feedthrus. The electrical feedthrus when combined with the body of the package will many times constitute a path whereby the electrical drive signal provided to the EMILM device becomes distorted from its originally intended shape. This distortion is undesirable as it tends to make the WDM communications signal and the channel in general less reliable, as well as negatively impacting the chirp parameter. Accordingly, there is a need for an EMILM-type-communications device which reduces the distortion of the electrical drive signal to the electro-optical device, hence producing a lower chirp.

Capacitors on dielectric feedthrus for metal packages


The present invention is directed to a compound having the formula

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to novel urea compounds of Formula I, compositions comprising said compounds, and the use of a compound of Formula I to treat a protein kinase-mediated disease or inhibit a protein kinase.
2. Background Art
Intracellular signal transduction is the means by which cells respond to extracellular stimuli. Protein kinases are involved in signal transduction. Protein kinases are usually categorized into five classes with the two major classes being, tyrosine kinases and serine/threonine kinases. For many biological responses, multiple intracellular kinases are involved, and an individual kinase can be involved in more than one signaling event. These kinases are often cytosolic and can translocate to the nucleus or the ribosomes where they can affect transcriptional and translational events, respectively.
Overproduction of cytokines such as interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) is implicated in a wide variety of inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, endotoxin shock, osteoporosis, Alzheimer's disease, and congestive heart failure, among others (see, e.g., Henry et al., Drugs Future, 24:1345-1354 (1999) Salituro et al., Curr. Med. Chem., 6:807-823 (1999)). There is convincing evidence in human patients that protein antagonists of cytokines, such as, for example, monoclonal antibody to TNF-α, soluble TNF-α receptor-Fc fusion protein (etanercept, or Enbrel®) and IL-1 receptor antagonists, can provide effective treatment for chronic inflammatory diseases.
TNF-α is a protein whose synthesis occurs in many cell types in response to an external stimulus, such as, for example, a mitogen, an infectious organism, or trauma. Signaling from the cell surface to the nucleus proceeds via several intracellular mediators including kinases that catalyze phosphorylation of proteins downstream in the signaling cascade. Important mediators for the production of TNF-α include the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases, and in particular, p38 kinase.
p38 kinases are activated in response to various stress stimuli, including, but not limited to, proinflammatory cytokines, endotoxin, ultraviolet light, and osmotic shock. Four isoforms of p38 have been described. The α and β forms are expressed in inflammatory cells and are considered to be key mediators of TNF-α production. Inhibition of the enzymes p38α and β in cells results in reduced levels of expression of TNF-α, and such inhibitors are effective in animal models of inflammatory disease.
Small molecule inhibitors of p38 are expected to have several advantages over protein inhibitors of TNF-α or IL-1. p38 inhibitors can not only block the production of TNF-α and IL-1, but can also directly interfere with many of their secondary biological effects. In addition, small molecule inhibitors are unlikely to induce immune reactions commonly associated with the administration of proteins. A small molecule inhibitor of p38 would have less chance of being inactivated after oral administration; a major drawback of peptides is their degradation upon oral administration. Thus, there remains a need for compounds which are inhibitors of a p38 kinase, in particular a p38α kinase.

Abstract: wherein R1, R2, G, and Q are defined herein. The compounds of the present invention are useful as inhibitors of protein kinases such as MAP kinases, in particular p38 kinases. The present invention is also directed to compositions comprising a compound according to the above formula. The compounds and compositions described herein are useful for treating and preventing an inflammatory condition or disease. The present invention is also directed to a method of treating or preventing a protein kinase-mediated condition.


A new adaptable grid or lattice structure identified by the coined term “polargrid” is disclosed. A polargrid may be designed or engineered to fill any space between two generally circular structures and where the ribs will intersect with both circular structures at a node. The intersection of a polargrid with a circular structure will not occur mid-rib. Rather, a polargrid can be designed to always have ribs terminate at an inner or outer circular structure at a node. Polargrids have particular applicability in cylindrical structures or when interconnecting concentric circular or cylindrical structures that may or may not be co-planar.

In many structural contexts, isogrids are used to add strength to a structure while minimizing the addition of weight. An isogrid is a type of partially hollowed-out structure formed usually from a single metal plate or face sheet with triangular integral stiffening ribs. It is extremely light and stiff. The triangular pattern in an isogrid is very efficient because it retains rigidity while saving material and therefore weight. The term isogrid is used because the structure acts like an isotropic material, with equal properties measured in any direction, and grid, referring to the sheet and stiffeners structure. The location where the ribs intersect is referred to as a node. An image of an isogrid is shown in FIG. 1.
A deficiency with isogrids arises when interconnecting two generally concentric circular structures. As used herein, the term circular structure will include structures that are generally circular in structure, such as a multi-sided polygon that approximates a circle, as well as columnar structures that are circular or approximately circular in cross-structure. The problem is that the nodes do not align uniformly with the circumference of the circular structures. Rather, the intersection of the circular structure and the isogrid is often somewhere along the length of a rib but not at the end of a rib and, therefore, not at a node. Accordingly, individual ribs must be faceted to the circular structure or false nodes must be added where the partial rib intersects with the circular structure. In either case, more structure is added, more weight is added and the performance of the isogrid is less than optimal. In addition, more design and manufacturing work is needed and labor costs increase due to additional faceting required for adding false nodes. FIG. 1 also illustrates how an isogrid intersects with a circular structure. As is readily apparent, very few nodes are located where the isogrid intersects with the outer circular structure. Although not shown in FIG. 1, isogrids similarly do not uniformly intersect with an inner circular structure at a node. At each location where a partial rib intersects the outer or inner circular structure, false nodes will need to be added in order to meet and maintain a structural design criteria.
One solution to the problem of interconnecting concentrically oriented circular structures is to utilize an orthogrid, which is a variant of the isogrid. An orthogrid uses rectangular rather than triangular openings. An orthogrid for circular structure is typically constructed in a radial pattern with a series of rectangles formed by radial and intersecting ribs increasing in area moving from the inner to the outer circular structure along an outwardly extending radial line. An orthogrid can be easier to manufacture and design than an isogrid, especially with circular structure, but an orthogrid is not isotropic in that it has different properties from different directions. An image of an orthogrid interconnecting two circular structures is shown in FIG. 2. As can be seen, the rectangles increase in size from the inner to the outer diameter. As a result, the ribs may need to be increased in size or shape at an outer radial position depending upon the intended loading.

Polar-oriented lattice isogrid for circular structures


Aspects described herein relate to an ammunition round for an open chamber gun mechanism is provided, the round comprising a housing having a triangular shaped cross section and a central longitudinal axis, the housing including at least one projectile positioned along the central longitudinal axis, a propellant positioned behind the at least one projectile along the central longitudinal axis, a first sealed end located at a first end of the housing nearest the propellant, and a second sealed end positioned at a second end of the housing in front of the projectile, wherein the second sealed end is configured to become unsealed after firing of the projectile.

1. Field of the Invention
Aspects of the present invention relate generally to open chamber mechanisms.
2. Discussion of Related Art
One common type of open chamber firearm is an open chamber gun with a rotatable cylinder (i.e., a revolver with open chambers). Such an open chamber revolver typically includes a cylinder with chambers that have their exterior portions removed, forming open (i.e., open to the exterior of the cylinder) "U" shaped chambers rather than closed "O" shaped chambers found on standard revolvers. Such open chambers in the cylinder allow cartridges to be inserted from the side of the cylinder, rather than from the front or rear, and may allow the cylinder to be rapidly loaded from a magazine. The cylinder of an open chamber gun is centered in a strong frame, so that when ready to fire, the cartridge about to be fired rests against one side of the frame (e.g., via an open chamber), and the opposite side of the cylinder rests against the opposite side of the frame. Upon firing, force is applied to the frame from the cartridge on one side and the cylinder from the other.
Unlike a traditional firearms cartridge, whose case is roughly cylindrical, an open chamber firearm may require an inserted cartridge to be otherwise. For example, since the cartridge contacts the frame upon firing, one side of the cartridge may match the cylinder's exterior (i.e., may match the curvature of the frame) to seal the cartridge against the frame upon firing, while the other side of the cartridge may match the "U" shape of the cylinder.


The invention relates to the use of a peptide which binds to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or lipoteichoic acid (LTA), for manufacturing a pharmaceutical composition for treating sepsis or septic shock, wherein the peptide comprises the amino acid sequence of apolipoprotein CI (apoCI) or a part thereof that comprises at least the amino acids of the C-terminal helix of apoCI. The use of human apoCI is preferred. The peptide can be administered clinically to patients who have sepsis or threaten to develop sepsis. Measurement of the apoCI content in blood can be utilized for determining the severity and prognosis of the course of the septic condition or for monitoring an anti-sepsis treatment.

Sepsis and Septic Shock.
A normal bacterial inflammation is a highly regulated process whereby the defense system clears up bacteria. In humans with a weakened defense, the bacterium gets, an opportunity to proliferate (virtually uninhibitedly) and to break through to the blood stream. The presence of bacteria in the blood stream is called sepsis. Sepsis leads to the production of proinflammatory mediators by white blood cells (morkocytes and macrophages) in the blood. This reaction is crucial for a fast and efficient elimination of bacteria. However, if the inflammatory reaction persists too long, for instance due to disease-related immune suppression, this may eventually lead to severe fever, spontaneous blood clotting and damage of tissues due to oxygen deficiency and due to bactericidal products. In serious cases, organs (specifically kidney, heart and liver) may stop functioning and the patient may get into so-called septic shock, from which he may subsequently die.
Incidence.
In the United States alone, more than 500,000 patients a year develop septic shock, with an estimated incidence increase of about 1.5% a year, and the costs amount to $16.7 billion a year (Angus, 2001). Septic shock results in death in 20-80% of cases (depending on the definition used). The increasing use of invasive surgical techniques, chemotherapy and the application of immunosuppression in patients with organ transplants or inflammatory diseases constitute causes of an increasing number of cases of sepsis. The longer life expectancy of elderly people and patients having metabolic, neoplastic and immunodeficiency defects owing to improved medical care, also leads to populations at increased risk of bacterial infection.
Lipopolysaccharide and Lipoteichoic Acid.
Sepsis and septic shock are caused chiefly by Gram-negative bacteria (for instance E. coli and K. pneumoniae) and (to a lesser extent) Gram-positive bacteria (S. aureus and S. epidermidis).
Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is the most important constituent of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. LPS is the most reactive component of Gram-negative bacteria. LPS activates mononuclear cells (monocytes and macrophages), after which these cells produce proinflammatory mediators such as cytokines (TNFα, IL-1.beta. IL-6) and oxygen radicals. This response is necessary for a fast and effective dealing with the bacterial infection, and plays a crucial role in the clearing up of the bacteria (Heumann, 2002). However, in case of an inadequate response, allowing the bacteria to continue to proliferate uninhibitedly, these mediators are responsible for the metabolic changes that lead to pathologic conditions and eventually to death, as demonstrated in rabbits, monkeys and mice.
The equivalent of LPS in Gram-positive bacteria is lipoteichoic acid (LTA), which possesses a structure that exhibits strong homology to that of LPS.
Current Clinical and Experimental Therapies.
The complexity of sepsis and the immunological defense render the development of pharmacological interventions more difficult. The standard treatment often consists in the administration of fluid and blood pressure raisers (so-called vasopressors) to normalize the blood pressure and the oxygen supply of organs, and antibiotics to inhibit the proliferation of bacteria (Rackow, 1991; Cohen, 1991; Wheeler, 1999), but this treatment is not sufficient to prevent the high mortality.
Most applied experimental strategies for treating sepsis have been aimed at inhibiting the proinflammatory response, for instance through capturing LPS, blocking the cytokine action or overall immune suppression.
However, various clinical studies have shown that LPS-neutralizing antisera are not effective in septic shock (Cohen, 1999). Likewise, experimental therapies with antibodies to inter alia TNFα (Fisher, 1996; Clark, 1998) and the IL-1 receptor (Fisher, 1994; Opal, 1997) proved not to be effective.
By means of a meta-analysis, it has been demonstrated that overall immune suppression increases the mortality resulting from sepsis (Cronin, 1995). A recent study in humans demonstrates that a polymorphism in the LPS receptor Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), which leads to a reduced inflammatory response against LPS, is associated with an increased sensitivity to severe bacterial infection (Kiechl, 2002). Furthermore, it is known that mice, which are deficient for the proinflammatory cytokine macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), are less well capable of clearing up bacteria such as. Leishmania major (Satoskar, 2001) and Salmonella typhimurium (Koebernick, 2002).
Many suggestions have been made for treating sepsis or septic shock, all of which have in common that an LPS-binding peptide is administered to sepsis patients. The administration of these LPS binding peptides is typically aimed at the suppression of the LPS-induced activation of the immune system. The peptides to be administered can, for instance, be derived from LBP (LPS Binding Protein; see WO 95/25117), apoA and apoE (WO 98/07751), apoA1 (WO 95/25786; WO 99/16458; WO 99/16459; WO 99/16408; WO 99/16409), CAP18 (Larrick, 1994), CAP37 (U.S. Pat. No. 6,107,460; U.S. Pat. No. 5,650,392; U.S. Pat. No. 5,627,262; U.S. Pat. No. 5,607,916), CD14 (WO 96/20956), prophenin (WO 95/34289; WO 95/26747), polyphemusin (WO 02/00687) and LALF protein (U.S. Pat. No. 5,747,455). To date, however, all of these suggestions have not yielded an effective approach for sepsis and septic shock either.
Sepsis has great consequences for the lipoprotein metabolism. Patients who get to the clinic exhibit strongly lowered cholesterol levels in the blood, which normalize after successful antibacterial therapy. Research in vitro and in experimental animals has demonstrated that lipoproteins can offer protection against sepsis, but the complexity of lipoproteins (including composition, endogenous character) makes their clinical application more difficult. Also, the mechanism by which lipoproteins play a protective role is still unknown. It has been reported that infusion of protein-free triglyceride-rich lipid emulsions does not afford protection (Van der Poll, 1995), which indicates that it is precisely the protein components of lipoproteins that can play a large protective role in sepsis.

Prevention therapy and prognosis/monitoring in sepsis and septic shock

NEDERLANDSE ORGANISATIE VOOR TOEGEPASTNATUURWETENSCHAPPELIJK ONDERZOEK TNO


A paint manufacturing system includes a paint component storage system and a colorant storage system. A dispenser is in fluid communication with the paint component and colorant storage systems. A spectrophotometer is operatively coupled with a computer system. The computer system controls the flow of paint components from the paint component storage system and colorants from the colorant storage system.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a system for manufacturing a desired type of paint having a desired color.
2. Description of the Related Art
Paint is generally manufactured at a paint manufacturing facility and then transported in separate containers to a point of sale, wherein each container contains one type and color of paint. Different types of paint typically include different paint components in various amounts. The type and amount of paint components included in a paint determine its characteristics, such as drying time, quality level, sheen, finish, texture, etc. For example, some types of paint have a flat finish and others have a high-gloss finish. Consumers often desire different types of paint in different colors, so an inventory of them is maintained at the point of sale to satisfy consumer needs.
However, there are several problems with maintaining an inventory of different types and colors of paint. One problem is that the properties of paint degrade over time. For example, paint has a tendency to settle the longer it is stored in the inventory. A paint settles when the mixture of paint components included therein become unmixed. If the paint degrades enough, it may be unsuitable for use and discarded, which leads to waste. Hence, it is desirable to use the paint before its properties degrade.
It is also very labor intensive and costly to keep track of the manufacturing dates of the different types of paint in the inventory. It is necessary to keep track of the manufacturing dates to determine which paint is suitable for use and which is not. The inventory is often tracked by determining the number of paint containers containing a particular type and color of paint. Since it is labor intensive and costly to keep track of changes in the inventory, it is desirable to reduce this need.

Method and apparatus for producing paint


A rocket propulsion system comprises a combustion chamber, an oxygen supply system, comprising an oxygen supply duct and being configured to supply oxygen to the combustion chamber, and a hydrogen supply system, comprising a hydrogen supply duct and being configured to supply hydrogen to the combustion chamber. An ignition unit of the propulsion system, to which at least portions of the oxygen and the hydrogen supplied to the combustion chamber can be supplied, is configured to initiate combustion of the oxygen-hydrogen mixture in the combustion chamber. The propulsion system further comprises a cooling duct extending along an inner surface of a combustion chamber wall and through which at least a portion of the oxygen supplied to the combustion chamber, at least a portion of the hydrogen supplied to the combustion chamber or a combustion gas mixture emerging from the ignition unit flows.

The invention relates to a rocket propulsion system and a method for operating such a rocket propulsion system.
Rocket engines operated using hydrogen characterize known propulsion systems for spacecraft. In rocket engines of this kind, hydrogen is burned with oxygen and thrust is generated thereby. These propulsion systems are used, for example, in the launch vehicles of the Ariane series, in which a rocket propulsion system operated using liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen is formed as the main stage. The hydrogen and the oxygen are stored in hydrogen and oxygen tanks provided for this.
Furthermore, so-called water electrolysis propulsion systems are known, such as from the NASA Technical Memorandum 113157, for example, which can be used in satellites. In a water electrolysis propulsion system of this kind, water is split by electrolysis into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen and oxygen thus produced are then burned in a combustion chamber of an engine to generate thrust. The water to be split by electrolysis can be stored at room temperature, while liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen have to be stored in cryogenic conditions. This permits a reduced outlay on storage of the water over an entire mission time of several years.
By using hydrogen as fuel in rocket propulsion, a high energy yield and thus a high specific impulse of the rocket propulsion can be attained. However, the disadvantage of this high energy yield is that in the combustion of hydrogen, high combustion temperatures are reached, which in the case of stoichiometric combustion of hydrogen in particular leads to high thermal loading of the materials used in a rocket propulsion. This is a problem in water electrolysis propulsion systems in particular, as here hydrogen and oxygen are produced in a stoichiometric mixture ratio.
To limit the combustion temperatures in such systems, a sub-stoichiometric oxygen-hydrogen mixture is normally burned, such as disclosed in the NASA Technical Memorandum 105249, for example. Any remaining oxygen can then be used as cold gas and discharged to an environment of the water electrolysis propulsion system.
The efficiency to be achieved and the power of such rocket propulsion systems are substantially a function of the mixture ratio of oxygen to hydrogen of the oxygen-hydrogen mixture to be ignited in the combustion chamber.

Rocket propulsion system and method for operating a rocket propulsion system


The invention relates to novel spill resistant formulations comprising either a weak base or a weak acid as the pharmaceutical ingredient, a liquid base, a clay and a water soluble cellulose ether. The clay and cellulose ether allow for a broader pH range into which the pharmaceutically active agent may be dispersed or dissolved, and therefore allows for easier preparation and formulation of the pharmaceutical composition.

Syrups, elixirs, solutions, and suspensions are traditional dosage forms for oral medication. These liquid formulations are typically measured by pouring into a spoon, but this approach has the great drawback of spillage. The risk of spillage can cause people to underfill or spill from the spoon, leading to inaccurate dosage. With elderly people, children, and the infirm, lack of motor skills or poor attention can cause difficulty in filling a spoon with a liquid and bringing it to the mouth. This can result in a serious impediment to administering the medicine. Solid formulations such as pills, tablets, and capsules are also difficult for children and for elderly, infirm people to swallow.
Recently, pharmaceutical preparations that are resistant to spilling for the oral delivery of pharmaceutically active agents have been described in the commonly owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,881,926, 6,071,523, 6,102,254, 6,355,258, 6,399,079, and 6,656,482 incorporated herein in their entirety by reference. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,881,926 and 6,102,254 describe a pharmaceutical delivery system for spill resistant formulations. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,071,523, 6,355,258, 6,399,079 and 6,656,482 describe the spill resistant pharmaceutical compositions in terms of their physico-chemical properties and methods of preparing and using those formulations. These patents describe oral dosage forms for the delivery of active agents that do not spill easily, are organoleptically pleasing and are storage stable.
The previously described spill-resistant pharmaceutical formulation for oral administration are from a squeezable container comprising a per-unit dose effective amount of a pharmaceutical agent in a suitable vehicle comprising a liquid base and a thickening or viscosity agent. In the previously described spill resistant formulations, the thickening or viscosity agent utilized most frequently was carbomer, a synthetic, high molecular weight, polymer of acrylic acid cross-linked with allylsucrose. The viscosity of the carbomer gels are known to be pH dependent. Carbomer gels exhibit maximum viscosity at about neutral pH, where the viscosity plateaus between pH values of 6.3 to 7.0. This pH-viscosity interaction of the carbomer polymer has restricted the use of weak acids and weak bases in spill resistant pharmaceutical formulations. At higher or lower pH ranges, the ranges where the weak acids and bases are most soluble, the formulations lose their spill resistant properties. Now, using clays, we have expanded the pH range available for spill resistant formulations. This enables the development of spill resistant formulations where the pharmaceutical active agents have either acidic or basic pKa's.

Spill resistant formulations containing clays


A new Calibrachoa plant named ‘KLECA08167’ particularly distinguished by light yellow flowers, very good branching habit, and a vigorous and semi-trailing growth habit, is disclosed.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa, botanically known as Calibrachoa hybrid and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name 'KLECA08167'. The new cultivar originated from a self-pollination made in Summer 2004 in Stuttgart, Germany from the proprietary Calibrachoa parent plant 'V 182' (unpatented).
The new cultivar was first propagated in May 2005 by vegetative cuttings in Stuttgart, Germany and has been asexually reproduced by vegetative cuttings in Stuttgart, Germany for more than 30 generations. The present invention has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations.
Plant Breeder's Rights for this cultivar have been applied for in Canada on Jan. 31, 2008. 'KLECA08167' has not been made publicly available more than one year prior to the filing date of this application.


A method for fabricating a component is disclosed. The method includes: providing a member having an effective work function of an initial value, disposing a sacrificial layer on a surface of the member, disposing a first agent within the member to obtain a predetermined concentration of the agent at said surface of the member, annealing the member, and removing the sacrificial layer to expose said surface of the member, wherein said surface has a post-process effective work function that is different from the initial value.

The invention relates generally to the area of low work function (LWF) materials. More specifically, the invention relates to a method of fabricating LWF components, such as electrodes.
Processing steps involved in the fabrication of a particular member of an electronic component may be detrimental to the fabrication efficiency and reliability of other members constituting the component. One situation in point relates to the fabrication of components that display a low work function. Development of cost effective methodologies that can be used to fabricate LWF components such as LWF electrodes reliably and which are compatible with an infrastructure as is conventionally used for the fabrication of LWF components is one of the challenges facing present day LWF component fabrication technology.
Methodologies that allow for the fabrication of robust and reliable LWF components, and at the same time, that are compatible with the existing fabrication methodologies employed to fabricate other parts of a component would therefore be highly desirable.
One of the current paradigms in ensuring the quality of fabrication devices containing LWF components consists in fabricating the LWF components separately from any other parts constituting the device, and integrating the LWF component into the device upon completion of all those steps involved in the fabrication of the other parts of the device that are detrimental to the LWF component.
Any fabrication methodology that aims to improve the health of fabricated LWF components while adversely impacting or limiting the efficiency of fabrication of the other parts of a device may not be economically viable.
A fabrication methodology that is compatible with the existing infrastructure as has been used conventionally to fabricate LWF components such as, thin film deposition systems such as sputtering systems, and ion implantation systems, and does not place adverse restrictions on the existing methodologies used in the fabrication of the other parts, such as requiring changes in such existing methodologies would therefore, be highly desirable.

Method of making low work function component


The invention describes the use of selected esters, fluid at room temperature and with flash points above 80.degree. C., of C.sub.1-5 -monocarboxylic acids and mon- and/or polyfunctional alcohols as the oil phase, or a component of the oil phase of invert drilling muds which are suitable for environment-friendly development of petroleum or natural gas deposits and contain in a continuous oil phase a dispersed aqueous phase together with emulsifiers, weighting agents, fluid-loss additives and preferably further conventional additives. In a further embodiment the invention relates to invert drilling fluids of the type described, which are characterized in that the oil phase contains esters from C.sub.1-5 -monocarboxylic acids with mono- and/or polyfunctional alcohols preferably in admixture with other components from the class of ecologically acceptable compounds.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention discloses new drilling fluids based on ester oils and invert drilling muds built up thereon, which are distinguished by high ecological acceptability and at the same time good keeping and application properties. An important area of application for the new drilling fluid systems is in off-shore wells for the development of petroleum and/or natural gas deposits, the aim of the invention being particularly to make available technically usable drilling fluids with high ecological acceptability. The use of the new drilling fluid systems has particular significance in the marine environment, but is not limited thereto. The new mud systems can be put to quite general use even in land-based drilling, for example, in geothermal wells, water boreholes, in the drilling of geoscientific bores and in drilling for the mining industry. Here too it is essentially true that associated ecotoxic problems are substantially simplified by the ester-based drilling oil fluids selected according to the invention.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Oil-base drilling fluids are generally used as so-called invert-emulsion muds, which consist of a three-phase system; oil, water and finely particulate solids. These are preparations of the W/O emulsion type, i.e. the aqueous phase is distributed as a heterogeneous fine dispersion in the continuous oil phase. A number of additives can be used to stabilize the system as a whole and to adjust the described application properties, particularly emulsifiers or emulsifier systems, weighting agents, fluid-loss additives, alkali reserves, viscosity regulators and the like. For details, refer, e.g., to the publication by P. A. Boyd et al. "New Base Oil Used in Low-Toxicity Oil Muds" Journal of Petroleum Technology, 1985, 137 to 142, and R. B. Bennett, "New Drilling Fluid Technology--Mineral Oil Mud" Journal of Petroleum Technology, 1984, 975 to 981 and the literature cited therein.
The relevant technology has for some time recognized the importance of ester-based oil phases in reducing the problems caused by such oil-base muds. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,374,737 and 4,481,121 disclose oil-base drilling fluids in which non-polluting oils are to be used. The following are mentioned as non-polluting oils of equal value --mineral oil fractions free from aromatic hydrocarbons and vegetable oils such as peanut oil, soybean oil, linseed oil, corn oil, rice oil or even oils of animal origin, such as whale oil. Without exception, these named ester oils of vegetable and animal origin are triglycerides of natural fatty acids, which are known to have a high environmental acceptability, and are clearly superior from the ecological viewpoint when compared with hydrocarbon fractions--even when these are free from aromatic hydrocarbons.
Interestingly enough, however, none of the examples in the aforementioned U.S. Patent Specifications describes the use of such natural ester oils in invert-drilling fluids such as those in question here. In all cases, mineral oil fractions are used as the continuous oil phase. Oils of vegetable and/or animal origin are not considered for reasons of practicality. The rheological properties of such oil phases cannot be controlled for the wide temperature range reaching from 0.degree. to 5.degree. C. on the one hand up to 250.degree. C. on the other hand, which is widely required in the industry.
In use, ester oils of the type in question do not in fact behave in the same way as the mineral oil fractions based on pure hydrocarbon which were previously used. Ester oils are subject to partial hydrolysis in practical use also and particularly in W/O invert drilling muds. Free carboxylic acids are formed as a result. The earlier Applications P 38 42 659.5 and P 38 42 703.6 (U.S. Ser. No. 07/452,457 titled "The Use of Selected Ester Oils in Drilling Fluids and Muds" and U.S. Ser. No. 07/452,988 titled "Drilling Fluids and Muds Containing Selected Ester Oils") described the problems caused thereby and give suggestions for their solution.
The subject of these earlier Applications is the use of ester oils based on selected monocarboxylic acids or monocarboxylic acid mixtures and monofunctional alcohols with at least 2, and preferably with at least 4 carbon atoms. The earlier applications show that with the esters and ester mixtures they disclose, monofunctional reactants can not only be given satisfactory rheological properties in fresh drilling fluid, but that by using selected known alkali reserves it is possible to work with the drilling fluid and in this way to inhibit undesirable corrosion. For the alkali reserve, one can add calcium hydroxide or lime and/or use zinc oxide or comparable zinc compounds. However, in this case an additional restriction is advisable. If undesired thickening of the oil-base invert-mud system is to be prevented in practical use, the amount of alkalizing additive and in particular the amount of lime must be limited. The maximum amount provided is set at about 2 lb/bbl oil-base mud in the disclosure of the aforementioned earlier Applications.

Use of selected ester oils of low carboxylic acids in drilling fluids


Disclosed herein are methods and systems for determining liveness of a user, comprising analyzing visual content of a screen of a client device used by a user to access an online service, adjusting one or more visual objects displayed on the screen of the client device according to dynamically changing patterns, capturing a sequence of images depicting one or more reflecting surfaces associated with the user viewing the screen while the visual objects are displayed, analyzing the images to identify a reflection of the displayed visual objects in the reflecting surfaces and verifying liveness of the user based on one or more of a plurality of reflection attributes of the identified reflection.

The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to determining liveness of a user accessing an online service, and, more specifically, but not exclusively, to determining liveness of a user accessing an online service based on reflections of the user's client device identified in one or more reflecting surfaces associated with the user.
Online services, for example, video conferences, video chats, online resources and/or the like which employ imaging (video) users for one or more goals, for example, communication, authentication and/or the like have become abundant and highly popular in recent time with the advancement of technology, specifically, advanced video protocols, high network availability, increased computing power and more.
Another major contributor to the constantly increasing demand for video based sessions is the fact that many human interactions have been replaced by such video sessions, for example, work sessions, educational sessions, social activities and many more. This trend has significantly expanded under the constraints imposed during the COVID-19 epidemic during which travel and mobility of large segments of the population is highly limited.
However, while the video session may allow for direct, easy and immediate interaction, such video and/or imaging based interactions may be exposed to potential malicious parties which may impersonate as genuine users for one or more malicious goals.

Liveness detection based on reflections analysis


An AIP includes a package substrate including a top layer including a top metal layer including a first antenna type and a second antenna type, and a bottom layer including a bottom dielectric and a metal layer including a first and second contact pad and filled vias, and an IC embedded therein. Bond pads of an IC are coupled by a connection including ≥1 filled via for connecting to the top and/or bottom metal layer. A first metal pillar is between the first contact pad and first antenna, and a second metal pillar is between the second contact pad and second antenna. A first filled via is coupled to the first metal pillar providing a transmission line from the first contact pad to the first antenna. A second filled via is coupled to the first metal pillar providing a transmission line from the second contact pad to the second antenna.

AIP is a semiconductor package arrangement where the antenna is integrated into the package along with IC(s) die generally including a radio frequency (RF) IC die to provide a wireless device. In this configuration, the antenna is not a separate component placed within the wireless device but is instead directly integrated into the package along with other IC(s) die. This approach is sometimes referred to as a discrete antenna approach. Other typical AIP components may include RF/millimeter (mm) wave building blocks, an analog baseband signal chain for transmitters and receivers, as well as a customer-programmable microcontroller unit (MCU) and a digital signal processor (DSP).

Antenna-on-package including multiple types of antenna


In an example, a first Internet Protocol (IP) address is assigned to a first service. The first service includes a plurality of pods and is to operate on a first port. A first node on which the first IP address is to be configured is selected from among a plurality of nodes based on a number of IP addresses configured on each of the plurality of nodes. Further, the first IP address is configured on the first node. The first IP address is assigned to a second service as well. The second service comprises a plurality of pods and is to operate on a second port.

A service may be deployed on a cluster of computing nodes, and may be used to perform one or more operations, such as processing text in feeds on social media, processing images, and providing web pages. The service may include a plurality of pods, and may have an external Internet Protocol (IP) address, through which service requests, i.e., requests to perform the operations, may be directed to the service from anywhere on the internet. The service requests may be assigned to one or more pods of the service.

Assignment of internet protocol addresses to services

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP


Processes for shutting down a hydroprocessing reactor and for removing catalyst from the reactor may comprise shutting off hydrocarbon feed to the reactor, stripping hydrocarbons from the catalyst, cooling the reactor to a first threshold reactor temperature, purging the reactor with N2 gas, introducing water into the reactor, and dumping the catalyst from the reactor, wherein the first threshold reactor temperature may be substantially greater than 200° F. In an embodiment, the water may be introduced into the reactor via a quench gas distribution system when the reactor is at a second threshold reactor temperature not greater than 200° F. to cool the reactor to a third threshold reactor temperature not greater than 120° F.

Hydroprocessing units must be shutdown periodically to conduct maintenance and to change catalyst. Unit shutdown procedures must be developed and executed with excellence to protect personnel, prevent incidents, and to minimize costs and duration.
There is a need for hydroprocessing reactor shutdown processes that can be conducted with maximum efficiency and minimum duration while safeguarding personnel and equipment.

Method for safely and quickly shutting down and cleaning a hydroprocessing reactor of spent catalyst via a water flooding technique


A purse ring for coupling a purse seine and a purse line to each other. The purse ring includes a frame, which is coupled at a first end thereof to the purse seine and passes the purse line through a second end thereof, and at least three rollers, which are rotatably provided in the frame at positions at which the purse line are brought into contact with the frame. The purse seine having the multiple rollers has a structure such that friction between the purse line and the purse ring is reduced, thus increasing the lifetime of the purse ring, thereby reducing costs of replacement of the purse ring.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to purse rings having multiple rollers and, more particularly, to a purse ring having multiple rollers which couples a purse line and a purse seine, which are used for fishing, to each other.
2. Description of the Related Art
As well known to those skilled in the art, as fishing equipment used for fishing, purse seines are one kind of fishing nets, used for catching sardines, horse mackerels, mackerels, bonitos, tuna, etc. Such a purse seine and a conventional purse ring are illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a purse seine 104 has a rectangular shape, the central portion of which is slightly wider than other portions. Furthermore, a plurality of buoyancy units 106 such as floats is provided along the upper edge of the purse seine 104 in order to make it possible for the upper edge of the purse seine 104 to float on water, and a plurality of weighting units 108 such as chains is provided under the lower edge of the purse seine 104 so as to make it possible for the lower edge of the purse seine 104 to sink under the water. Thus, the purse seine 104 can be oriented upright in the water by the buoyancy units 106 and the weighting units 108. Typically, the purse seine 104 spreads in the water in an approximately circular shape for catching fish.
Furthermore, a purse line 104, which is used when the purse seine 104, which has been spread into a circular shape, is hauled in, is disposed along the lower edge of the purse seine 104. The purse line 104 is coupled to ends of the weighting units 108 through connectors, which are called purse rings 110. In detail, connection members 112 such as ropes or straps are connected to the ends of the weighting units 108. Each connection member 112 is connected to a first end of each purse ring 110. The purse line 114 passes through second ends of the purse rings 110. Thereby, the purse line 114 is coupled to the weighting units 108.
To haul in the purse seine 104, when the purse line 114 is pulled by fishermen on a fishing boat, the weighting units 108 of the purse seine 104 are also pulled, and thus fish are confined while the purse seine 104 is hauled in.
However, in the case of the purse ring 110 according to the conventional technique, due to the weight of the fish and the purse seine 104 being hauled in, a relatively large frictional force is generated on contact surfaces between the purse line 114 and the purse rings 110 when the purse seine 104 is hauled in, thus inducing extreme abrasion of the surfaces of the purse line 114 and the purse rings 110, with the result that they may tear.
This seriously interferes with the fishing operation. Furthermore, maintenance costs increase due to frequent replacement of the purse line 114 or the purse ring 110, thus resulting in reduced income.


A sheath is transluminally introduced a sheath into an atrium of a heart of a subject. A guide member is advanced out of the sheath and to a chorda tendinea of the heart, the guide member having a proximal portion that includes a longitudinal element, and a distal portion that includes a helical chord-engaging element. The chord-engaging element is wrapped around the chorda tendinea. While the chord-engaging element remains wrapped around the chorda tendinea, (i) the chord-engaging element is slid over the chorda tendinea toward a papillary muscle that is coupled to the chorda tendinea; and (ii) subsequently, a tool is moved out of the sheath and toward the papillary muscle by sliding the tool along the longitudinal element. Other embodiments are also described.

Ischemic heart disease causes mitral regurgitation by the combination of ischemic dysfunction of the papillary muscles, and the dilatation of the left ventricle that is present in ischemic heart disease, with the subsequent displacement of the papillary muscles and the dilatation of the mitral valve annulus.
Dilation of the annulus of the mitral valve prevents the valve leaflets from fully coapting when the valve is closed. Mitral regurgitation of blood from the left ventricle into the left atrium results in increased total stroke volume and decreased cardiac output, and ultimate weakening of the left ventricle secondary to a volume overload and a pressure overload of the left atrium.
Chronic or acute left ventricular dilatation can lead to papillary muscle displacement with increased leaflet tethering due to tension on chordae tendineae, as well as annular dilatation.

Techniques for guided advancement of a tool

Edwards Lifesciences Innovation (Israel) Ltd.


An access port locator system for adjustable gastric bands. The system includes an access port with an RFID tag with its antenna adjacent to the receiving portion of the port. The system includes a locator with radio frequency transmitter/receiver circuitry for sending read or interrogation signals to the RFID tag and for sending write signals to the tag to write treatment data to memory of the RFID tag. The locator also includes an antenna array with four patch antenna arranged in pairs to model two monopulse radar antenna systems. The locator also includes processor(s) and logic modules/circuitry for processing the tag response signals received by the antenna array to determine location information for the RFID tag and associated port, i.e., to identify the center of the port relative to the antennae array or array face such as with strength and direction information relative to the array face.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, in general, to devices and methods for controlling obesity, and, more particularly, a system and method for accurately locating a port of an inflation/deflation tube for an implanted gastric band to allow a needle to be inserted into the center of the port. The present invention also relates to the use of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology for reading and writing data to an implanted medical device (IMD) such as a gastric band inflation/deflation port.
2. Relevant Background
Severe obesity is an increasingly prevalent chronic condition that is difficult for physicians to treat in their patients through diet and exercise alone. Generally, gastrointestinal surgery promotes weight loss by restricting food intake, and more specifically, restrictive operations limit food intake by creating a narrow passage or "stoma" from the upper part of the stomach into the larger lower part, which reduces the amount of food the stomach can hold and slows the passage of food through the stomach. Initially, the stoma was of a fixed size, but physicians have more recently determined that the procedure is more effective if the stoma can be adjusted to alter its size. One of the more commonly used of these purely restrictive operations for obesity is adjustable gastric banding (AGB).
In an exemplary AGB procedure, a hollow band (i.e., a gastric band) made of silicone elastomer is placed around the stomach near its upper end, creating a small pouch and a narrow passage (i.e., a stoma) into the rest of the stomach. The band is then inflated with a saline solution by using a non-coring needle and syringe to access a small port that is placed under the skin. To control the size of the stoma, the gastric band can be tightened or loosened over time by the physician or another technician extracorporeally by increasing or decreasing the amount of saline solution in the band via the access port to change the size of the passage or stoma.
After a port has been placed in a patient, it is often difficult to locate the port, and to support insertion of a needle, the center of the port needs to be located for the technician or physician who is injecting or withdrawing saline. The location process is complicated as the port is typically positioned beneath the patient's skin and sometimes beneath other tissue such as fat. Presently, port location is accomplished through the use x-rays and or fluoroscopes. However, these technologies are expensive to use, require an additional technician to operate the location equipment, and may require the port to be manufactured with materials that are more suited for locating but that are less biocompatible. As a result, the medical industry continues to demand a less complex and costly devices and methods for locating the inflation/deflation port for adjustable gastric band systems while requiring that the port locating devices be accurate and relatively easy to use.
Additionally, with implantable medical devices (IMDs), it is often desirable to be able to read data from the IMD and, in some cases, to write data to the IMD. For example, medical device developers have created IMDs that include passively powered radio frequency (RF) transponders and these transponders are powered to communicate with an external transmitter/receiver. The passive RF device has programmable memory for storing information related to the device and/or the patient. For example, the information may include patient demographics, implant data, and manufacturer or device information (e.g., manufacturer ID, IMD model, serial numbers, and the like). In other cases, sensors are provided with the IMD to obtain patient information such as blood pressure, and the sensor collected data is transmitted from the IMD to an external transmitter/receiver device.
Some of these RF-based devices require the transmitter/receiver to be held within a relatively close distance of the implanted device to obtain accurate signals from the IMD, and efforts have been made by developers to measure the quality of the RF signals received from the transponder on the IMD to determine when the transmitter/receiver is within an acceptable range of the IMD transponder and an audio signal may be used to indicate an acceptable relative distance between the two devices. However, the determination that an IMD and a transmitter/receiver are within a particular distance from each other is not particularly useful for inserting a needle into a center of a gastric band port where the accuracy required is measured in millimeters.
Hence, there remains a need for an improved method and system for locating a center of an inflation/deflation or "access" port of a gastric band after it has been implanted within a patient or for locating other implanted IMD accurately. Preferably, such a method and system would provide effective feedback to a technician or physician attempting to insert a needle within the center of the access port so as to facilitate accurate insertion of the needle. Further, it is preferable that such a method and system be compatible with reading data from the access port (or other IMD) and, in some cases, for writing data to the access port (or other IMD).

Locator system for implanted access port with RFID tag


A game and method of playing it to simulate a minimally invasive surgical procedure. The game comprises, a base member over which a transparent domed cover having a pair of openings is located. The cover defines a work space thereunder. The base member includes a graphic likeness of a being, e.g., a woman at the bottom of the work space. A plurality of anatomic parts shaped to simulate internal organs of the being are located in respective cavities at anatomically appropriate places on the graphic likeness. A lifting instrument simulating a conventional laparoscopic instrument is provided to be extended through one opening in the cover to grasp and lift the anatomic part out of its cavity without touching the cavity with the instrument, else a lamp on the base member is automatically illuminated and a buzzer sounds. An extraction instrument simulating another conventional laparoscopic instrument is provided to be extended through another opening in the cover to enable the lifted anatomic part to be transferred to the extraction instrument so that it can be taken out of the work space by the extraction instrument. Plural cards are provided to establish the surgical procedure to be attempted by each player. Play money is provided as a fee for each player who successfully completes a surgical procedure.

This invention relates generally to games, and more specifically to games simulating laparoscopic surgery.
Children are almost universally fascinated by doctors and medicine. Thus, various toy manufacturers have provided toys and games relating to medicine for play by children. Many of such games and toys are not only fun but are somewhat educational, as well. For example, Milton Bradley Company of Springfield Mass., a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc., offers a game under the registered trademark "OPERATION" to provide a humorous simulation of surgery on a person. In particular, that game consists of a plastic-framed platform in which a cardboard panel bearing the image of a cartoon-like male patient (designated as "Cavity Sam") is located. An electrically conductive panel is located under the cardboard panel and is connected to one pole of a pair of batteries. A light bulb extending out a hole in the cardboard panel at the location of Cavity Sam's nose is electrically connected to the electrically conductive panel. A buzzer is also provided connected to the electrically conductive panel. The other pole of the batteries is connected to a pair of electrically conductive tweezers. A plurality of different, uniquely shaped openings are provided in the cardboard panel at various locations on the anatomy of Cavity Sam. The electrically conductive panel includes correspondingly shaped openings, but smaller in size than the openings in the cardboard panel, so that the periphery of the conductive panel about each opening therein is exposed.
The plastic platform includes plural cavities located under the openings in the cardboard and electrically conductive panels and into which respective molded plastic objects (designated as "FUNATOMY objects") are to be located. Each of these objects is humorously related to a respective portion of the anatomy of Cavity Sam. For example, one object is shaped like a bone and is located in a correspondingly shaped cavity designated on the arm portion of Cavity Sam's anatomy as a "funny bone." Another object is heart shaped is located in a correspondingly shaped cavity designated on the chest of Cavity Sam as a "broken heart." Still another object is shaped like a pail of water, is located in a correspondingly shaped cavity on Cavity Sam's knee and is designated as "water on the knee."
The object of the "OPERATION" game is for the players to utilize the tweezers to remove the FUNATOMY objects from their respective cavities without touching the electrically conductive perimeter of those cavities with the tweezers during the extraction process, thereby simulating the successful performance of an operation. If the player should touch the perimeter of the cavity with the tweezers such action completes the electrical circuit and causes the buzzer to sound and the lamp to illuminate. The "OPERATION" game bears the designation "U.S. Pat. No. 3,333,846."
Conventional surgery is now giving way to various procedures and techniques referred to as "minimally invasive surgery." In such surgery no large incision is made to gain access to the organ or internal structure to be operated upon. Instead access to the organ or internal structure is achieved through a small percutaneous incision or puncture. For example, removal of the gall bladder is now frequently being accomplished laparoscopically. Such a procedure entails insufflating the patient's abdomen with a gas, e.g., carbon dioxide, and then inserting a laparoscope (a viewing instrument) via a trocar extending through a small puncture to provide the surgeon with a view of the interior of the patient's body. Various types of small diameter, elongated instruments are arranged to be inserted through respective trocars into the insufflated abdomen to effect the reflection (i.e., positioning) of adjacent tissue, e.g., a lobe of the liver, to expose the gall bladder and to enable it to be removed. Once the procedure has been accomplished the instruments and trocars are removed, and the small punctures in the abdomen sealed, e.g., sutured. Since the procedures do not require large incisions, trauma to the patient is minimized and recovery times are accelerated.
The public at large, and children in particular, are generally unfamiliar with the concepts and techniques of minimally invasive surgery, such as laparoscopic surgery. Thus, a need exist for a game which provides an educational experience relating to such new surgical technologies, and which will be fun for children to play.


A new Lobelia plant named “Loplipw08,’ particularly distinguished by the spreading to upright plant habit, medium vigor, early flowering and purple-violet flower color.

The present invention comprises a new Lobelia, botanically known as Lobelia erinus, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name 'Loplipw08.'
'Loplipw08' is a product of a planned breeding program. The new cultivar 'Loplipw08' has spreading to upright plant habit, medium vigor, early flowering and purple-violet flower color.
'Loplipw08' originated from a hybridization in a controlled breeding program in Enkhuizen, Netherlands. The female parent was an unpatented hybrid seedling identified as 'E0055-1' with pink flowers. 'E0055-1' has smaller flowers, a more upright habit and is less floriferous than 'Loplipw08.'
The male parent of 'Loplipw08' was an unpatented hybrid seedling identified as 'D0044-1' with bluish-purple color. 'D0044-1' has more vigor and lighter green foliage than 'Loplipw08.'
'Loplipw08' was selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in May, 2004 in a controlled environment in Enkhuizen, Netherlands. The pollination took place in July 2003, the seed sown in March 2004.
The first act of asexual reproduction of 'Loplipw08' was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in June 2004 in a controlled environment in Enkhuizen, Netherlands.
Horticultural examination of plants grown from cuttings of the plant initiated in June 2004 in Enkhuizen, Netherlands, and continuing thereafter, has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for 'Loplipw08' are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.
'Loplipw08' has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and day length.
A Plant Breeder's Right for this cultivar was applied for in the Community Plant Variety Office on Apr. 22, 2008. 'Loplipw08' has not been made publicly available more than one year prior to the filing of this application.


A direct memory access controller is provided, in which an internal storage section storing control setting information; and a control section loading the control setting information from an external storage section to the internal storage section when a transfer request signal does not belong to a first group, and not loading the control setting information from the external storage section to the internal storage section when the transfer request signal belongs to the first group; are included, and a data transfer by a direct memory access is performed in accordance with the control setting information within the internal storage section.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a direct memory access controller performing a data transfer by using a direct memory access.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 2 is a view showing a configuration example of a direct memory access controller (DMAC) 101 and an external memory 102. The DMAC 101 has a control setting register 211, a transfer destination address setting register 212, a transfer source address setting register 213, a resource enable register 214, an interrupt factor register 215, a descriptor start address setting register 216, a status register 217, and a counter 221. The external memory 102 stores a descriptor 204. The descriptor 204 includes a control setting register 201, a transfer destination address setting register 202, and a transfer source address setting register 203 by each channel number.
Transfer request signals REQ are inputted to the DMAC 101 from plural resources respectively having channel numbers, and the DMAC 101 loads control setting information, a transfer destination address, and a transfer source address from the control setting register 201, the transfer destination address setting register 202, and the transfer source address setting register 203 inside of the external memory 102 corresponding to the channel number, to the control setting register 211, the transfer destination address setting register 212, and the transfer source address setting register 213 inside of the DMAC 101. The external memory 102 stores the control setting information, the transfer destination address, and the transfer source address by each channel number, and the DMAC 101 performs the load of the above from the external memory 102 to the DMAC 101 every time when the channel number of the transfer request signal REQ changes.
A descriptor control system is described in Patent Document 1 stated below, in which a DMAC is connected to an external storage area via a bus, the external storage area includes a descriptor, and the DMAC is controlled by using the descriptor.
Besides, a data transfer device is described in Patent Document 2 stated below, in which a direct memory access transfer is performed in accordance with plural descriptors continuously set in an external storage area beforehand.
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Hei 4-277850
[Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Hei 4-177445
In the DMAC 101 of the descriptor control system, there is a problem in which a setting of the descriptor 204 must be loaded from the external memory 102 when the transfer request signal REQ of another channel number is generated even if a setting value is the same.


The present invention provides compositions and methods for treating, preventing, and inhibiting viral replication, viral infections and viral diseases and disorders, comprising use of artemisone in combination with at least one antiviral compound selected from maribavir, cidofovir, brincidofovir, valganciclovir, and letermovir, and the combination provides a synergistic anti-viral effect. The invention also provides compositions and methods for treating, preventing, and inhibiting viral replication, viral infections and viral diseases and disorders, comprising the use of artemisone in combination with ganciclovir, wherein the molar ratio between artemisone and ganciclovir is about 1:100 to 100:1, and the combination provides a synergistic anti-viral effect. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising artemisone and at least one of said antiviral compounds are provided as well.

The compound artemisinin, also known as qinghaosu (III) and its derivatives have been used primarily for the treatment of malaria, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,306,896 to Scheiwe. Artemisone, is a derivative of artemisinin and differs from currently used clinical artemisinins in that it does not elicit neurotoxicity in preclinical in vitro and in vivo screens. In a pilot tolerability test, treatment of male rats with artemisone at 50 mg/kg for 14 days had no effect as compared to controls. Studies involving proliferation of human endothelial cells and generation of new vessels, indicate that artemisone is significantly less anti-angiogenic than dihydroartemisinin, suggesting that it might be safer to use artemisone during pregnancy (D′Alessandro et al., Toxicology, 2007, 241, 66-74). The safety of artemisone, its tolerability and pharmacokinetics were tested in Phase I clinical trial (Nagelschmitz et al., Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy, 2008, 52(9), 3085-3091).
Viral infections account for a very large fraction of infectious disease mortality and morbidity worldwide. Cytomegalovirus (CMV), for example, is a beta herpesvirus; it is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised individuals including AIDS patients and recipients of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) or solid organ transplants, cancer patients, and patients at intensive care. CMV is also the leading cause of congenital infection, affecting ˜1% of live births, with resultant neurological damage and loss of hearing. Despite the considerable public health burden of congenital CMV, no established prenatal antiviral treatments are available.
In the transplantation setting, the widespread use of preventive antiviral therapy has reduced the occurrence of early CMV disease; however, the development of late disease is increasingly recognized. Preventive antiviral strategies include (a) preemptive therapy in patients who become positive for CMV antigen or CMV DNA in the blood after transplantation and (b) universal prophylaxis initiated in all at-risk patients at the time of transplantation or engraftment and continued for a few months after transplantation.
All currently available anti-CMV drugs for systemic treatment of CMV infection, including ganciclovir, foscarnet and cidofovir, target the viral DNA polymerase. Although these drugs are effective, their use is limited by toxicity, low oral bioavailability (except valganciclovir), high cost, and teratogenicity. Additionally, prolonged or repeated antiviral treatment may lead to the development of drug resistance and occasionally cross-resistance to multiple drugs.
Artemisinin derivatives have been suggested for the treatment of viral infections. Artesunate has been shown to inhibit the replication of cytomegalovirus (CMV) (Efferth et al., J. Mol. Med., 2002, 80(4), 233-242) and has been used to treat CMV infection (Shapira et al., Clin. Infect. Dis., 2008, 46(9), 1455-1457). U.S. Pat. No. 9,616,067 suggested use of artemisone for treatment of viral infections alone or in combination with other antiviral drugs. Patent application published as US 2008/0161324 describes that artemisinins may be useful in combination with other agents in treating viral diseases. Several publication suggested combination of artesunate with other antiviral compounds (Drouot, Piret and Boivin, 2016, Antiviral Therapy; 21:535-539; Chou et al., 2011, Antiviral Research, 92: 364-368; He et al., 2012, Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 53(7): 3508-3515). Morere et al., (Placenta 36 (2015) 41-47) showed that a synergistic effect that was observed in vitro for artesunate and maribavir was not confirmed in ex-vivo model.
There is a clear unmet need for generation of additional effective and safe anti-viral treatments.

Methods and synergic compositions for treating viral infections

HADASIT MEDICAL RESEARCH SERVICES AND DEVELOPMENT LTD.


An encapsulated surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) tag. The tag includes a metal core and an encapsulant, typically a glass encapsulant. The encapsulant is further derivatized with a polymer.

SERS nanotags are glass coated metal nanoparticles that produce a strong Raman scattering signal when excited by visible and near infrared light. SERS nanotags may be used to perform in vivo assays. Native nanotags, however, appear to the body as foreign objects and so will usually be cleared by the body quickly.
The present invention is directed toward overcoming one or more of the problems discussed above.


A diverter assembly includes at least one rotary member disposed along a media transport pathway adjacent a diversion point therealong. The diverter assembly also includes a rotational motion source in operative association with the at least one rotary member. A printing system includes a diverter assembly. A method of transporting sheet media includes utilizing a diverter assembly.

The present disclosure broadly relates to the art of printing systems and, more particularly, to at least a diverter assembly, a printing system including a diverter assembly, and a method of transporting sheet media.
Known printing systems commonly include two or more media transport paths that divert from one another at certain points and join one another at other points. Thus, a given sheet of media can normally be transported through a known printing system along any one of a variety of transport paths.
One example of printing systems in which such various transport paths are utilized are those printing systems having multiple marking engines. In such printing systems, sheets of media are selectively transported from a media supply to one of two or more marking engines. Thus, a diversion point is provided along the transport pathway at which one or more sheets of media will be directed toward one of the two or more marking engines.
Upon reaching the diversion point, a sheet of media will not itself select the appropriate media transport path along which movement of the sheet is desired. As such, mechanical diverters are typically provided immediately in front of the divergent transport paths to deflect the sheet along the desired pathway. One example of such a known mechanical diverter includes a gate that extends across the media transport path immediately in front of the diversion point of the transport path. The gate includes an upstream edge and a downstream edge, and is oriented along the transport path such that the downstream edge is pivotally supported at approximately the diversion point of the transport pathway. Thus, the gate creates a diagonally-extending blockage across the pathway that displaceable between first and second positions corresponding to sheet media diversion along the first and second transport paths.
In the first gate position, the leading edge of the gate is stationed away from or opposite the direction of the first transport pathway (e.g., stationed along the bottom of a horizontal transport path for diversion along an upwardly directed pathway), which thereby exposes a first side or surface of the gate. An incoming sheet of media will pass by the leading edge of the gate and contact the first side thereof, which will direct the sheet into and along the first transport path. In the second gate position, the leading edge of the gate is stationed away from or opposite the direction of the second transport path (e.g., stationed along the top of a horizontal transport path for diversion along a downward-directed pathway), which thereby exposes an opposing second side or surface of the gate. An incoming sheet of media will pass by the leading edge of the gate and contact the second side thereof, which in turn directs the sheet into and along the second transport path.
In operation, a printing system will transport sheets along the media transport pathway and frequently shift the gate between the first and second gate positions to selectively direct the transported sheets along an appropriate one of the first and second pathways. Commonly, a linear actuator, such as a spring-based solenoid, for example, will be operatively associated with the gate to switch the same between the first and second gate positions. One difficulty with such known arrangements, however, is associated with the continued demand for and corresponding advancement of the performance of printing systems (e.g., increased output in pages per minute). As the number of sheets transported through the pathways of a printing system increase, the number of corresponding gate switching operations is typically also increased. Thus, undesirable occurrences, such as impacts, vibrations and/or noise levels, for example, may become elevated due, at least in part, to these more frequent gate switching operations.
Another difficulty with known gate arrangements, which is also associated with the advancing performance of printing systems, involves the timing between the passing of a first sheet of media, the movement of the gate to a different position, and the arrival of a second sheet of media. More specifically, a given printing system will operate using a predetermined inter-document gap (IDG), which generally refers to the spacing between the trailing edge of a first sheet of media and the leading edge of a second sheet of media. However, as the output performance of printing systems continues to be improved, increasingly smaller inter-sheet gaps are expected to be used.
It is well known that the arrival of a second sheet of media at a diversion point prior to a gate reaching a desired gate position could result in the leading edge of the sheet of material contacting the upstream edge of the gate and thereby creating a jam or other undesirable condition. It will be recognized, them that as increasingly smaller IDGs are used, the time available for the gate to move from one position to the other is reduced. As such, the operating speed of the gate can be increased to maintain the desired operating. However, it is expected that a practical performance threshold will be eventually reached, above which only marginal increases gate switching speeds will be achievable using practical gate configurations (e.g., mechanisms of practical size or having a reasonable cost relative to the price point of the printing system).
One technique that can be used to increase the performance of known gate mechanisms involves initiating the switch between gate positions prior to the trailing edge of the first sheet clearing the upstream edge of the gate. However, while such techniques seem to work well at known printing system performance levels, as sheet media speeds increase and IDGs are reduced, the window for initiating the gate switch is reduced, Furthermore, care is normally exercised to ensure that that the upstream edge of the gate does not pinch or otherwise engage the first sheet of media, such as along the trailing edge thereof, and thereby undesirably slow or disrupt the movement of the sheet, This may be of particular concern where an advancement in the timing of the gate switching operations is being used to increase performance of the printing system.
Accordingly, it is believed desirable to develop a diverter assembly, printing system and method that overcomes the foregoing and other problems and difficulties.

Diverter assembly, printing system and method