A system, method and program product in a Model-View-Controller architecture for communicating between objects such as a Model object and a View object. A transform object is provided in the interface between any of the conventional Model, View and Controller objects such that transformation of data types into appropriate other data types is accomplished outside of the MVC object. This relieves the recipient MVC object of the responsibility of being designed to support multiple data types in order to perform a function.

When displaying, monitoring and exploring a complex system, a Model-View-Controller (MVC) architecture is often adopted. The MVC architecture breaks up the components of a program into three entities (FIG. 1), Model 1, View 3 and Controller 2. The MVC architecture was introduced as part of the Smalltalk-80 version of the Smalltalk programming language. It was proposed to reduce the programming effort to design systems that utilized multiple views of the same data. The idea was to automatically update changes in the Model 1 in each of the associated views. The concept was later adopted in Sun Microsystems' Java MVC architecture.
Information programmably displayed that provide user interpretable information are often called "widgets". Widgets include such things as displayed buttons, pull-down menus, icons, progress indicators, scroll bars, windows and the like. Their purpose is to provide information via graphical user interfaces (GUIs) for communicating between a program and a user. The term widget is also used to represent the small program that describes the user perceived widget.
The Model 1 is the object that represents the data in the program. It manages all data and performs all data manipulation and transformation. The model doesn't have specific knowledge of the View(s) 3 or Controller 2. The system is responsible for maintaining links between the model and its views and the system notifies the views when the model changes (due to data operations or user interactions). The View 3 is the object responsible for the presentation of Model 1 information to a user display. The View 3 interacts with the model 1 by referencing the model 1. The Controller 2 object manages interactions among the user 4, the model 1 and the view 3 by way of the user interface (UI) 5. The UI 5 presents images to the user 4 via computer displays, printers and the like and receives input from the user 4 by many means, including, but not limited to computer mouse, keyboard, touch-screen, tablet, audio, video, digital devices and computer networks. The Controller 2 interacts with the model 1 by referencing the model 1. Interactions among objects may take the form of messages sent from one object to the next. Other interaction methods are well known in the art and the invention described herein is not restricted to the example of messages.
Frequently, however, there are changes to the type and form of the information that the View 3 presents. It may change as the task the user performs evolves over time, or it may change depending on the specific task the user is performing.
For example, creating, executing and monitoring distributed applications that run on multiple hosts and are connected with a high speed data transport mechanisms, requires several views of many types of information. During initial development of the application, the user is interested primarily in the structural representation of the data flow among various applications of distributed hosts and requires views that support development. When the application is initially run (before it is completely debugged), the user is interested in both the states of the components and the interconnections between components (for example, if a component appears to be stalled, it may be because it is not running correctly or it may be because the data it requires is not being delivered, or the data it is generating is not being consumed). Unique views are needed for the debug state. Once the application is complete and the user starts running it, the user is more interested in the specific state of the components of the application (whether job steps are running or stalled, whether data transfer is occurring, and, if so, the transfer rate). When a distributed application is complete and is being used in production, the user is less interested in the specific state of the components of the applications and more interested in an overall summary of the state of the distributed job. Unique production views are needed at this stage. Controlling the overall application involves views that are similar to those required for monitoring because improperly affecting the control flow (such as abnormally terminating a component or restarting one out of sequence) can have a ripple effect that produces undesirable results.
Unfortunately, a single View 3 is not well suited to present all types of information. Graphical views are good for structure, but tend to become cluttered and unusable as specific textual information is added to them. List-type textual displays can present a lot of detailed information in a compact space, but give no information about structure. List-type textual displays are also ineffective for representing summary information (such as the progress the job is making toward completion). Measurement displays (such as bar graphs or meters) are ideal for presenting overall summaries, but give no information about structure or detailed states. In other instances, several views might be used to represent different aspects of a three dimensional object.
This has been addressed in the past in three ways. The first has been to choose a single view and add the additional information to it as needed. Typically a graphical view is chosen because it is initially easier to visualize the entire system, and mechanically it can accept the additional information that will be required later (it is easier to add text to a graphical view than graphics to a textual view). There is a practical limit to how much detailed information can be added to a graphical view as the screen real estate becomes cluttered and the information is obscured. In order to utilize this approach, a user must maintain the amount of detailed information below some threshold by selectively closing old detailed information as new information is requested.
The second approach has been to replace the View 3 object in the Model-View-Controller configuration as the type of information the user is interested in changes. When the user is no longer interested in the structure of the distributed application and becomes interested in the detailed state of the components, the structure view is replaced with a detailed state view. The problem with this approach is that the new view must be recreated on demand and inserted into the Model-View-Controller configuration. Even if the old view is preserved when the user switches out of a particular mode (switching from structure to state views, for example), there is expense involved when the old view is reused (switching back to structure from state). The old view must be reconnected with the model and controller, and it must be made current to reflect any model changes that occurred when it was not active. This expense is enough to inhibit the user from switching between views freely.
The third approach, U.S. Pat. No. 5,926,177 "Providing Multiple Views In A Model-View-Controller Architecture" assigned to International Business Machines and incorporated herein by reference, enhances the traditional MVC architecture by providing a "virtual" View (View Proxy) controlling multiple views. The View Proxy determines to which Views the model change notifications are to be sent and sends model change information to only those views effected.
In the prior art MVC architecture, a view must be designed with knowledge of the type of data it is receiving. The "translation" of data in the View object makes the View object less flexible and portable since it is expecting a specific format from the Model it is attached to. A MVC method is needed to allow the View object to be independent of data type presented by the Model.
SUN Microsystems' Java Model-View-Controller, is shown in FIG. 2, wherein the view 3 and controller 2 are combined into a single component 201. In Java it is combined into the single ComponentUI element 201. Most of the Java Swing interface widgets employ the MVC way to visualize data. This enables multiple User Interface (UI) components to translator into the same model data and be appropriately updated when changes occur. This modularity provides great flexibility
One problem with this approach is that each view must know how to interpret the model data. That knowledge, in the prior art, has been embedded in the view object.

Method, system and program product in a model-view-controller (MVC) programming architecture for inter-object communication with transformation

International Business Machines Corporation


An ink feeding device (12) for a printing press (10) having an ink pan (40) having a cavity (42) to receive and retain ink, a rotatable fountain roller (14) mounted in the cavity (42) of the pan (40), a device (28) for rotating the fountain roller (14), a rotatable metering roller (16) positioned to receive ink from the fountain roller (14), a device (30) for rotating the metering roller (16), a doctor blade (50) for removing residual ink from the metering roller (16), a rotatable impeller (44) mounted on one side of the fountain roller (14) in the cavity (42) of the pan (40) generally below the doctor blade (50) and having a plurality of blades (46) to direct ink returned by the doctor blade (50) towards the fountain roller (14), and a device (48) for rotating the impeller (44).

The present invention relate to feeding devices for printing presses.
In the past, offset printing presses have been provided having a plurality of rollers for printing ink on a paper web. Such presses have a delivery system for placing ink on the rollers, and a delivery system for also placing a dampening solution on the rollers. Prior systems of this sort, in the case of the ink delivery systems, have required complicated devices which include a storage tank for the ink, a conduit from the tank to the vicinity of one of the rollers to place the ink on the roller, and a pump to drive the ink through the conduit to the roller. In addition, it has been difficult to use hard ink in such presses.


A data storage device may include: a nonvolatile memory device including a memory block; and a controller suitable for controlling the nonvolatile memory device to perform a string read operation on the memory block, and estimating a data storage rate of the memory block based on string read data acquired through the string read operation. When performing the string read operation, the nonvolatile memory device may apply the same read voltage to a plurality of word lines included in the memory block at the same time, acquire the string read data from the memory block according to the read voltage, and transmit the string read data to the controller.

1. Technical Field
Various embodiments relate to a data storage device, and more particularly, to a data storage device and an operating method thereof capable of performing a tracing operation for a first erased page.
2. Related Art
A data storage device stores data that is provided from an external device in response to a write request from the external device. The data storage device also provides the external device with stored data in response to a read request from the external device. The external device is an electronic device capable of processing data, and may include a computer, a digital camera, a cellular phone and the like. The data storage device may be embedded in the external device, or may be fabricated separately and then coupled to the external device.
The data storage device may be prepared in the form of a Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) card, a Compact Flash (CF) card, a smart media card, a memory stick, various multimedia cards (MMC, eMMC, RS-MMC, and MMC-Micro), various secure digital cards (SD, Mini-SD, and Micro-SD), a Universal Flash Storage (UFS), a Solid State Drive (SSD) and the like.
The data storage device may include a nonvolatile memory apparatus to store data. Nonvolatile memory is able to retain stored data even without a constant source of power. Nonvolatile memory includes flash memory, such as NAND flash or NOR flash, Ferroelectrics Random Access Memory (FeRAM), Phase-Change Random Access Memory (PCRAM), Magnetoresistive Random Access Memory (MRAM), Resistive Random Access Memory (ReRAM), and the like.

Data storage device and operating method thereof


A system is disclosed for monitoring the position of a medical instrument with respect to a patient's body and for displaying at least one of a plurality of prerecorded images of said body responsive to the position of said medical instrument. In one embodiment the system includes a reference unit secured from movement with respect to the patient's body such that said reference unit is substantially immobile with respect to a target operation site. The system also includes a remote unit for attachment to the medical instrument. A field generator may be associated with one of the units for generating a position characteristic field in an area including the target operation site. One or more field sensors may be associated with either of the units responsive to the presence of the position characteristic field for producing one or more sensor output signals representative of said sensed field. A position detector in communication with the sensor output signal produces position data representative of the position of the remote unit with respect to the reference unit. An output display in communication with the position detector displays at least one of the prerecorded images responsive to the position data.

The invention relates to computer assisted medical surgery and in particular relates to systems for displaying prerecorded visual images during surgical operations.
Presently available medical imaging techniques such as CAT (Computerized Axial Tomography), MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), and PET (Position Emission Tomography), are known to be helpful not only for diagnostic purposes, but also for providing assistance during surgery. Prerecorded images may be displayed during surgical operations to provide the surgeon with illustrative reference mappings of pertinent portions of a patient's body.
Tracking systems for monitoring the position of a medical instrument have also been developed for use with image display systems. Generally, as the surgeon moves the medical instrument with respect to the patient's body, associated prerecorded images are displayed responsive to the movement of the instrument. Such tracking systems typically involve either the use of a passive articulated arm attached to the medical instrument, optical detection or ultrasonic detection.
Tracking systems using a passive articulated mechanical arm attached to a medical instrument are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,186,174 and 5,230,623. Generally, as the surgeon moves the surgical instrument with respect to the patient's body, micro recorders at the joints of the articulated arm record the respective amounts of movement of each arm member. The outputs of the micro recorders are processed and the position of the medical instrument with respect to the base of the articulated arm is thereby monitored. One or more prerecorded images are then displayed responsive to the movement of the surgical instrument. Such articulated arm tracking systems, however, require that the instrument be attached to a cumbersome mechanical arm. Also, although free movement of the tip of the arm in three dimensional space may be theoretically possible, the surgeon might experience difficulty positioning the instrument at certain locations and in desired orientations within the body.
Tracking systems using optical detection (video cameras and/or CCDs (Charge Coupled Devices)) have been proposed for monitoring the position of a medical instrument with respect to a reference unit as mentioned in U.S. Pat. No. 5,230,623. Such systems, however, require that the reference unit and the instrument both be within the view of the camera. This not only limits the movement of the surgical staff, but also requires that at least a portion of the medical instrument remain outside the patient's body.
Tracking systems using ultrasonic detection are generally disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,230,623. Such systems, however, are disclosed to be used in a fashion similar to optical detection, i.e., triangulation of transmitted signals. The transmitted signals are sent from one or more senders to associated receiver(s), and the distances travelled by the signals are determined from either timing or amplitude changes. Again, the transmission path must remain unobstructed.
A further shortcoming common to each of the above tracking systems is that the patient must not move during the operation. Although the patient is likely to be generally anesthetized, the patient's body may be inadvertently moved by the surgical staff, or the surgeon may want to move the body for better positioning. If the body is moved after the tracking system has been initialized, then the tracking will be misaligned.
There is a need therefore for a system for monitoring the position of a medical instrument with respect to a patient's body that avoids the shortcomings of present devices. Specifically, there is a need for a tracking system that permits a medical instrument to be structurally unattached to a reference unit, yet capable of fully entering into the body without loss of position monitoring.
There is also a need for a tracking system that monitors the position of the patient during surgical operations.
There is also a need for a tracking system that includes a reference unit that may be easily removed from and accurately repositioned on a patient in precisely the same position. There is further a need for a position monitoring device that does not obstruct the operating space of the surgeon.

Position tracking and imaging system for use in medical applications


A method for conversion of levulinic acid and to a hydrocarbon composition obtainable by the method. The method includes a step of providing a feedstock, a conversion step of subjecting the feedstock to a C—C coupling reaction and a hydrotreatment, and a hydrodeoxygenation step. The content of levulinic acid dimer derivatives having 4 oxygen atoms subjected to the hydrodeoxygenation step is 20 wt.-% or more.

Aldol condensation of levulinic acids producing C10 units is known from US 2012/0283493 A1. The reaction product of the aldol condensation is further subjected to a hydrodeoxygenation step.
Alternative measures for aldol condensation of levulinic acids to dimeric derivative levulinic acid products are disclosed in WO 2006/067171 A1 and US 2006/0135793 A1. In the Examples, WO 2006/067171 A1 discloses preparing a dimer derivative mixture comprising 4-methyl-6-oxononanedioic acid (having 5 oxygen atoms) and other dimer derivatives. The following dimer derivatives are specifically mentioned in WO 2006/067171 A1:

Renewable hydrocarbons, method for producing the same and use thereof


An image sensor includes a semiconductor substrate, a photodiode formed in the semiconductor substrate, a first impurity region formed in the semiconductor substrate spaced from the photodiode, a second impurity region formed in the semiconductor substrate spaced from the first impurity region, a first gate formed over the semiconductor substrate between the photodiode and the first impurity region, a second gate formed over the semiconductor substrate between the first impurity region and the second impurity region, a spacer formed over the fourth impurity region and a first sidewall of the second gate, and an insulating film formed over the photodiode, the first gate, the first impurity region and a second sidewall and a portion of the uppermost surface of the second gate.

An image sensor is a semiconductor device which converts an optical image into an electrical signal, and is largely divided into a charge coupled device (CCD) and a complementary metal oxide silicon (CMOS) image sensor (CIS). The CMOS image sensor has a photodiode and a MOS transistor formed within a unit pixel and is adapted to implement an image by sequentially detect electrical signals of each unit pixel using a switching method.

Image sensor and method of fabricating the same


An ice cube maker has an upper container, a cooling module assembly mounted to the upper container, a lower container, a water flow controller and an ice module assembly. The upper container acts as a reservoir and holds a liquid. The cooling module assembly is attached to the upper container and chills the liquid in the upper container. The water flow controller is mounted between the upper container and the lower container and controls the chilled liquid entering the lower container. The ice module assembly is attached to the lower container and freezes the chilled liquid into ice cubes in a short time. The ice cube maker allows people who do have a refrigerator to make ice cubes and chilled liquid. The ice cubes and chilled liquid do not have any strange smell.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ice cube maker, and more particularly to an ice cube maker that is able to remove heat from a liquid and make ice cubes.
2. Description of Related Art
A conventional refrigerator keeps food fresh and also makes ice cubes. A conventional way to make ice cubes is to put liquid into an ice tray and put the ice tray into the refrigerator freezer. When the liquid freezes, the ice cubes are done. However, the ice cubes may take on a food smell. The smell of the ice cubes may be very terrible.
Furthermore, some people do not have a refrigerator in their apartment or house. For these people, making their own ice cubes is virtually impossible.
The present invention provides an ice cube maker to obviate or mitigate the aforementioned problems.


The invention relates to a radio system including transceivers. One of the transceivers includes, for instance, a device for comparing a parameter representing signal quality measured from the received signal with at least one threshold value and a device for determining a quality class for the performance of a MIMO common channel. At least one of the transceivers includes a device for storing the observations made by the second transceiver about the quality class transitions of the transfer channel of the first transceiver and a device for estimating the next quality class of the transfer channel of the first transceiver from the stored quality class transition observations.

The use of multiple antenna systems, such as array antennas, in radio communication applications is of interest because of the increased performance achieved with these systems. These systems are also called MIMO systems (Multiple Input—Multiple Output), i.e. multi-channel systems.
Methods utilizing multiple antenna systems for implementing time and space diversity have been developed to achieve as high a link gain as possible. One such method is the Space-Time Transmit Diversity method (STTD). In the space-time transmit diversity method, a signal is transmitted continuously to a subscriber terminal using at least two different antennas. The signal transmitted via the different antennas is different. There are two ways to implement the dissimilarity: time-space trellis codes and time-space block codes. In trellis coding, a trellis diagram is used, wherein each possible state and branches from it to other states are expressed by two symbols. When the initial state of the trellis is known, the bits to be coded can be expressed in the trellis diagram by symbols indicating the transitions to be made between different levels. The obtained symbols are then distributed for transmission over different antennas.
The bits to be coded in space-time block codes are divided for example into two-bit sequences, of which the symbols to be transmitted are generated so that the symbol to be transmitted over a first antenna is generated from a first bit and the complex conjugate of a second bit, and the symbol to be transmitted over a second antenna is generated from a second bit and the complex conjugate of the first bit.
The third and subsequent generations of mobile systems provide a chance to adapt the transfer rate according to the information to be transferred: speech is transferred at a lower rate, data at a faster rate and multimedia applications use the highest transfer rate. High transfer rates usually also require high transmission power in order to ensure the required quality on the connection. However, performance on the transmission path is affected not only by compensation for the effects of a multipath propagation environment, but also for example the spectral efficiency of the transmission, i.e. the achievement of the required quality at as low a use of radio resources as possible, typically at as low a transmission power as possible. Besides requiring less current, low transmission power also interferes less with other system signals.
The problem is to find as good a spectral efficiency as possible in multiple antenna systems, particularly at high transfer rates, for example in packet data transfer in the Internet.


A source driving apparatus with power saving mechanism and a flat panel display using the same are provided. The source driving apparatus includes an output buffer stage and a power-saving circuit. The output buffer stage operates under a dual power, and has a positive and negative output channels respectively coupled to two adjacent data lines in a display panel. Moreover, the power-saving circuit is coupled between the output buffer stage and the display panel. The power-saving circuit collects charges from an equivalent load capacitor of each data line, before the output buffer stage drives the two adjacent data lines through the positive and negative output channels. The power-saving circuit charges one of a positive supply and a negative supply of the dual power in response to the collected charges, during the output buffer stage drives the two adjacent data lines through the positive and negative output channels.

In recent years, with great advance in the semiconductor technique, portable electronic devices and flat panel display apparatuses have been rapidly developed. Among various types of flat panel display, liquid crystal displays (LCDs) have gradually become the mainstream display products due to the advantages such as low operating voltage, free of harmful radiation, light-weight, small, compact size and so on.
In practice, the driving method such as a dot polarity inversion, a column polarity inversion, a row polarity inversion or a frame polarity inversion may be adopted to drive a liquid crystal display panel, in order to prevent liquid crystal molecules of each pixel within the liquid crystal display panel being deteriorated.
For the driving method of the dot polarity inversion with a preferable display quality, the driving polarities of any two adjacent pixels are opposite in the liquid crystal display panel. Therefore, a source driving apparatus configured to drive each of the data lines within the liquid crystal display panel has to perform the polarity inversion several times. Accordingly, under the condition of the source driving apparatus without power saving mechanism, the source driving apparatus overall may generate a considerable power consumption.

Source driving apparatus with power saving mechanism and flat panel display using the same


A control unit (21) determines an allocation rate of computational resources to be allocated to each of a plurality of sensing processes of analyzing sensor data output from a plurality of sensors that observe an area around a moving body (100), based on a moving environment of the moving body (100), such as the type of a road where the moving body (100) travels, behavior of the moving body (100), and visibility from the moving body (100). A detection unit (22) detects an object in the area around the moving body (100) by using, for a corresponding sensing process, computational resources of an allocated amount specified based on the allocation rate determined by the control unit (21).

Advanced driver-assistance systems such as a lane departure warning system (LDW), a pedestrian detection system (PD), and an adaptive cruise control system (ACC) are being developed or commercialized with the purpose of supporting driving of drivers and of preventive safety. Furthermore, autonomous driving systems which perform driving instead of drivers all or part of the way to the destination are being developed.
The advanced driver-assistance systems and the autonomous driving systems are realized based on the state of an area around a vehicle recognized by a sensor or the like. Accordingly, to increase the accuracy of the advanced driver-assistance systems and the autonomous driving systems, the state of the area around a vehicle has to be accurately recognized.
Generally, according to a sensing process of analyzing sensor data output by a sensor, a large amount of computational resources is necessary to increase detection accuracy. To increase the detection accuracy is to reduce a sensing cycle, to increase a sensing range, and to increase detection resolution.
Particularly, with the advanced driver-assistance systems and the autonomous driving systems, sensing has to be simultaneously performed for a plurality of pieces of sensor data, and thus, there is a problem of deficiency of computational resources.
Patent Literature 1 describes setting of order of priority of a plurality of sensors monitoring different regions around a vehicle on the basis of one of a traveling state of a vehicle and a state of a driver of the vehicle, and describes controlling of one of operation of a sensor and processing of information output from a sensor on the basis of the order of priority. In Patent Literature 1, recognition of the area around a vehicle is thereby performed while reducing burden on a central processing unit (CPU) and an in-vehicle LAN, in the case of using a plurality of sensors.

Peripheral recognition device, peripheral recognition method, and computer readable medium


An information recording medium for recording main information and auxiliary information is provided. The auxiliary information is recorded on the information recording medium in a manner that edge positions of the pits or the recording marks indicating the main information are shifted either in a phase advancing direction or in a phase delaying direction along the track direction. A predetermined frequency is used to determine whether the edge position is shifted in the phase advancing direction or in the phase delaying direction in order to record the auxiliary information. The predetermined frequency is substantially consistently lower than ½ of a reference frequency of a recording clock for creating the pits or the recording marks and is higher than a response frequency of a PLL for generating a reproduction clock for reproducing the main information.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information recording medium, a recording apparatus for recording information onto the information recording medium, and a reproduction apparatus for reproducing information from the information recording medium. More particularly, the present invention relates to a technique for recording main information together with auxiliary information.
2. Description of the Related Art
Optical discs represented by DVD (Digital Versatile/Video Disc) are widely used as media for storing a large volume of digital data, such as AV (Audio Video) data, computer data, or the like. For example, reproduction-only optical discs, in which a high-quality motion picture of two hours or more is recorded, are currently on the market. In order to protect unauthorized duplication of such copyrighted digital contents onto other recording media, a technique called "contents encryption" has been introduced. (Nikkei Electronics, Nov. 18, 1996, P. 13–14).
In this technique, compressed digital contents, such as movies, are encrypted using three-layered private keys (a title key, a disc key, and a master key) and then is stored in a user information region accessible for the user. The master key, which is the most important of the private keys, is provided only to licensed, authorized manufacturers. The disc key and the title key, which are required for each DVD and each title, respectively, are encrypted based on the master key and are stored in a control information region which cannot be accessed by the user. In this case, the user cannot access the private keys which are required for decryption, resulting in prevention of unauthorized duplication by a file copying operation or the like. Such a protection technique has the following drawback. If the contents in the entire recording region including the control information region storing the private keys are unauthorizedly duplicated onto other discs, the encrypted contents can be decrypted and reproduced by an authorized reproduction apparatus from these optical discs.
To solve the above-described problem, Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 11-126426 discloses the following technique. Normal main information is recorded by changing the length or space between pits or recording marks formed on a track so that a resulting reproduction signal varies in a cycle which is an integral multiple of a predetermined fundamental cycle. Auxiliary information, such as an identifier for identifying an optical information recording medium, or the like, is recorded by displacing the pits or marks slightly back and forth from their normal positions.
The above-described conventional example will be described with reference to FIG. 7. FIG. 7 shows a conventional optical information recording apparatus 501. As shown in FIG. 7, the optical information recording apparatus 501 records digital information onto an optical information recording medium 502 by modulating recording light L to be applied to the optical information recording medium 502. The optical information recording apparatus 501 comprises a modulation circuit 504, a disc identifier generation circuit 505, a second modulation circuit 506, an optical modulator 507, a spindle servo 508, and a recording laser 509.
The modulation circuit 504 generates a first modulated signal S2 by switching the signal levels of first digital information D1 from a digital audio tape recorder 503 in a cycle which is an integral multiple of a fundamental cycle.
The second modulation circuit 506 generates a double modulated signal SC by modulating the timing of a change in the level of the first modulated signal S2 in accordance with a second digital information SC1 (in this conventional example, a disc identifier which is output by the disc identifier generation circuit 505) other than the first digital information D1. The optical modulator 507 modulates the recording light L in accordance with the double modulated signal SC.
FIG. 8 shows the second modulation circuit 506. FIG. 9 shows timing charts of elements in the second modulation circuit 506. Referring to FIG. 8, an EFM signal S2 which has been input to the second modulation circuit 506 is input to monostable multivibrators 510A and 510B. The monostable multivibrators 510A and 510B detect the rising edge and falling edge of the EFM signal S2 and then outputs a rising edge detection pulse MMS and a falling edge detection pulse MMR (FIG. 9). A data selector 511A receives the rising edge detection pulse MMS and a signal obtained by delaying the rising edge detection pulse MMS using a delay circuit 512A. A data selector 511B receives the falling edge detection pulse MMR and a signal obtained by delaying the falling edge detection pulse MMR using a delay circuit 512B. A disc identification information SC1 is initialized by a frame clock FCK. An M sequence code MS is generated based on a channel clock CK generated by a PLL 513. A control signal MS1 is generated by the exclusive OR operation of the initialized disc identification information SC1 and the M sequence code MS. The data selectors 511A and 511B receive the control signal MS1 and the inverted control signal MS1, respectively, via their respective selection input terminal.
When the control signal MS1 indicates "H", the data selector 511A selects the rising edge detection pulse MMS delayed by the delay circuit 512A and outputs it as a rising edge pulse SS. When the control signal MS1 indicates "L", the data selector 511A selects the non-delayed rising edge detection pulse MMS and outputs it as a rising edge pulse SS. When the control signal MS1 indicates "L", the data selector 511B selects the falling edge detection pulse MMR delayed by the delay circuit 512B and outputs it as a falling edge pulse RR. When the control signal MS1 indicates "H", the data selector 511B selects the non-delayed falling edge detection pulse MMR and outputs it as a falling edge pulse RR.
These rising edge pulse SS and the falling edge pulse RR are reconstructed into an EFM signal by a set/reset flip flop 514. As a result, the edge of the EFM signal is partially delayed. According to such a recording technique, even if the contents in the entire recording region are unauthrizedly duplicated bit by bit onto other optical discs, disc identification information which is encoded by the edge of the recording mark cannot be duplicated. Therefore, for example, when an attempt is made to reproduce information from such a duplicated disc, disc identification information cannot be detected and reproduced and the reproduction operation can be arrested.
However, such a conventional technique has the following drawback. Bit shift may occur due to dust or scars on a disc in detecting auxiliary information encoded together with main information. In this case, the edge of the EFM signal established in recording may not be correctly associated with the corresponding level of the control signal, i.e., the delay of the EFM signal may not be correctly detected. In this case, whereas the first digital information Dl can be correctly reproduced by error correction, auxiliary information cannot be correctly detected.

Information recording medium, recording apparatus, and reproduction apparatus

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


The present invention relates to a crystal structure of house dust mite allergen proDer p 1, the three-dimensional structure of proDer p 1 and the use of the three-dimensional structure to design a mutant of a protein belonging to the papain-like cysteine proteases.

Takahashi et al., Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2001, 124, 454-460, discloses a study of the effects of mutations in the active site and the N-glycosylation site of a recombinant pro-form of the house dust mite allergen Der f 1 (rproDer f1) on secretion and protease activity. A mutant of rproDer f 1 having a mutation in the N-glycosylation site, N133Q (the numbering is consistently based on the pro-form of the protein), and a mutant additionally having a mutation in the active site, C115S/N133Q, were studied. C115 and N133 in proDer f 1 corresponds to C114 and N132 in proDer p 1. The study showed that N-glycosylation is essential for secretion in insect SF9 cells but not in Pichia pastoris, and that disulfide bonds are essential for secretion in Pichia pastoris. Also, the study showed that the pro-sequence could be removed in vitro by incubation under acidic conditions, and that the mature C115S/N133Q mutant had a low protease activity. Indirect evidence was obtained to support the disulfide bond formation between Cys4 and Cys8.
Furthermore, a contemporary study has shown that the protease activity and reactivity to IgE of the wild type and the N133Q mutant were restored after autocatalytic removal of the pro-sequences by the in vitro method (Yasuhara et al., Clinical and experimental Allergy, 2001, Volume 31, pages 116-124.
Topham et al., Protein Engineering, Vol. 7, No. 7, pp 869-894, 1994 discloses a computer model of the three-dimensional structure of mature house dust mite allergen Der p 1 modelled from its amino acid sequence and its homology to three known structures of papain, actinidin and papaya proteinase Ω, all from the cysteine protease family. Various computer modelling programs were used.
Draborg et al., Scandinavian Journal of Immunology 59, 623 (Abstract), 2004, discloses expression and secretion of a recombinant form of proDer p 1 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae by fusion with the pro-enzyme with a fungal signal peptide. The N-glycosylation site of Der p 1 was mutated. The non-glycosylated recombinant proDer p 1 molecule revealed immunological similarity to the native Der p 1 molecule. A three-dimensional structure of Der p 1 was modelled in silico and used to predict epitopes.

Crystal structure of house dust mite allergen Der p 1


A plasma display apparatus includes: an electrode of a discharge cell; a first transistor having a first terminal and a second terminal, the second terminal being connected to the electrode; a first capacitor having a first terminal to receive a control signal having either a low level voltage or a high level voltage; a push-pull circuit including a first power terminal, a second power terminal connected to the first terminal of the first transistor, an input terminal connected to a second terminal of the first capacitor, and an output terminal connected to a gate of the first transistor, the push-pull circuit outputting either a voltage of the first power terminal or a voltage of the second power terminal to the output terminal; a floating power source having a positive terminal connected to the first power terminal and a negative terminal connected to the second power terminal; and a first diode connected between the first terminal of the first transistor and the second terminal of the first capacitor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a plasma display apparatus and, more particularly, the present invention relates to a gate driving circuit of an energy recovery circuit of a plasma display apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Plasma display apparatuses display a letter or an image using a plasma generated by a gas discharge. Plasma display apparatuses are generally driven by dividing a frame into a plurality of sub-fields. Each sub-field includes an address period and a sustain period. Luminescent cells and non-luminescent cells are divided during an address period of each sub-field, and a sustain discharge occurs in luminescent cells in order to display an image during a sustain period.
Plasma display apparatuses use an energy recovery circuit in order to supply a sustain discharge pulse to electrodes during the sustain period. The energy recovery circuit turns on a transistor connected between an inductor connected to electrodes and an energy recovery capacitor and generates a resonance between the electrodes and inductor. A gate driving circuit having a bypass capacitor can be used to drive the transistor.
However, plasma display apparatuses comprise a large heatsink due to a heat dissipation problem. The heatsink can increase the length of a conductive pattern that connects the bypass capacitor and a gate of the transistor. The heatsink also can increase a parasitic component formed in the conductive pattern. The parasitic component causes a drop in voltage, which reduces the voltage of the bypass capacitor resulting in a reduced voltage being supplied to the gate of the transistor.
The voltage of the bypass capacitor is not properly boosted due to the parasitic component formed on the bypass capacitor, which can reduce a voltage supplied to the gate of the transistor and thus the transistor cannot be properly turned on. In this case, since the energy recovery circuit is not operated, plasma display apparatuses generate a lot of heat, which can damage elements.

Gongse-dong, Giheung-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do


A method (and apparatus) is disclosed for the spectroscopic determination of the amount .alpha..sub.Nn of one constituent N of a fluid mixture 0 in another constituent n of the mixture, following separation of the mixture into its constituents 1,..., M (where n, N.ltoreq.M). The method involves determining the absorptivities an (n=1,...,N) of the M constituents from spectroscopic measurements and computing the amount .alpha..sub.Nn from a mathematical expression containing the absorptivities a.sub.n and a.sub.N which are expressed or expressible as the quotient a.sub.n /a.sub.N only. The method is insensitive to changes in the absorptivities due to feed variability or changes in upstream process conditions, since any changes in the numerator and denominator of the quotient used are affected correspondingly. A modification to the method involves determining the content .alpha..sub.N0 of constituent N in feed 0 from a mathematical expression containing a.sub.0, where a.sub.0 is the absorptivity of the feed 0, and a.sub.N, which absorptivities a.sub.0 and a.sub.N are expressed or expressible as the quotient a.sub.0 /a.sub.N only.

This invention relates to a method for the spectroscopic determination of the amount of one constituent of a fluid mixture (e.g., a liquid mixture) in another constituent of the mixture following the separation of the mixture into its constituents. More particularly though not exclusively, the invention relates to the determination of the entrained oil content of wax resulting from the separation, in a dewaxing filter, of a waxy raffinate into dewaxed hydrocarbon oil boiling in the lubricating oil range (hereinafter "dewaxed oil" or DWO) and wax. A modification of the invention relates to measuring the amount of one constituent in the fluid mixture. The amount of the one constituent in the other constituent or in the fluid mixture itself can be expressed as a molar, weight or volume percentage, fraction, or ratio, or an actual weight or volume if the corresponding weight or volume of the other constituent or feed were also known. A particular advantage of the invention is that the method is insensitive to changes in the feed composition or upstream process conditions, as will be explained in more detail hereinbelow.
Petroleum distillates obtained at atmospheric pressure and at temperatures above 370.degree. C., and from further vacuum distillation, can be converted into lubricating oil basestocks. The conversion can be achieved through solvent extraction of a portion of the aromatic species present in the oil, followed by solvent dewaxing, or through other techniques, well-known in the art. Further processing, such as deoiling of the wax, may also be carried out.
In the dewaxing process, the wax is caused to precipitate from the waxy feed at a particular temperature, solvent, and solvent-to-oil ratio, and is separated from the oil by filtration. Oil may be entrained in the wax during this process. Economic credits may be obtained by optimizing the entrained oil content of the wax.
Several standard tests can be used to measure the entrained oil content. For example two tests of the American Society of Testing Materials, ASTM D721 and D3235, are currently used to determine the oil content of wax for sale. The ASTM D721 test serves as the American industry definition of the oil content of wax for oil levels below 15 wt %. Neither test, however, gives an accurate measure of the entrained oil content, since the tests report as oil the solvent-extractable portion of the wax at the test conditions. This material is not necessarily the same as the entrained oil in the wax, in quantity or composition, since the solvent and extraction conditions used in the ASTM tests may differ significantly from those used in the plant dewaxing.
In general, under the ASTM test conditions, not all of the wax is insoluble and not all of the oil is soluble. Consequently, for lower temperature distillation fractions, comprising lower molecular weight species, the ASTM tests are likely to report more oil than is actually entrained, since some of the wax and essentially all of the oil is soluble in the test solvent. Alternatively, for higher temperature distillation fractions, comprising high molecular weight species, the ASTM tests are likely to report less oil than is actually entrained, since some of the oil and essentially all of the wax is insoluble in the test solvents. Thus, in general, the ASTM test methods do not report the correct amount of entrained oil in wax. Finally, the ASTM methods are time-consuming and require considerable operator skill in order to achieve the claimed precision, and are not amenable to on-line implementation.
Practical needs demand a method preferably for measuring the oil content of the wax, but which has general application to determining the content of a first constituent of a fluid mixture (following separation into that one constituent and at least one further constituent) either in the fluid mixture itself prior to the separation or in one or more further constituents.
Furthermore, the method should be suitable for on-line measurement or batch measurement, as circumstances require. A measurement method in which the need for dilution can be avoided and/or where rapid measurements can be made which can be used to control the separation process, is desirable.

Spectroscopic determination of amount of one constituent of a fluid mixture in another constituent or in the fluid mixture itself, following separation of the mixture into its constituents


The present invention relates to compositions and methods for the treatment and prevention of canine influenza virus (CIV) and CIV-related pathology. The present invention is based on the development of mutant CIV, having one or more mutations in segment 8, which induces a CIV-specific immune response in a subject.

Influenza A viruses (IAVs) have a broad host range and mainly exist in the wild aquatic fowl reservoir (de Jong et al., 2007, J Virol, 81:4315-4322, Taubenberger et al., 2010, Cell host & microbe, 7:440-451, Webster et al., 1992, Microbiological reviews, 56:152-179, Yoon et al., 2014, Current topics in microbiology and immunology, 385:359-375). IAV has gained the capacity to cross the species barrier to infect and cause disease in new hosts (Parrish et al., 2005, Annual review of microbiology, 59:553-586, Parrish et al., 2015, J Virol, 89:2990-2994). Two IAV strains emerged in dogs in the past 16 years, first the equine-origin H3N8 CIV in the USA around 1999 (Crawford et al., 2005, Science, 310:482-485), and then the avian-origin CIV H3N2 in China around 2005 (Song et al., 2008, Emerging infectious diseases, 14:741-746). Serological evidence demonstrated that CIV H3N8 has been circulating in dogs in the United States (US) since 1999 (Hayward et al., 2010, J Virol, 84:12636-12645), the virus was first isolated in 2004 from Florida racing greyhounds exhibiting signs of respiratory disease (Crawford et al., 2005, Science, 310:482-485). In turn, H3N2 CIV has been circulating in Asia after 2005, and was imported to North America in February 2015. Therefore, CIVs represent new threats to canine health in the US, and potentially worldwide (Crawford et al., 2005, Science, 310:482-485, Holt et al., 2010, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 237:71-73, Pecoraro et al., 2013, Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation, 25:402-406, Yoon et al., 2005, Emerging infectious diseases, 11:1974-1976). Vaccination remains the best prophylactic option against IAV infection (Nogales et al., 2014, J Virol, 88:10525-10540, Pica et al., 2013, Annual review of medicine, 64:189-202), but only inactivated influenza vaccines (IIV) against H3N8 and H3N2 are commercially available. IIVs require the production of large amounts of virus and do not induce significant cellular responses, which are important for generating long-term memory against subsequent influenza infections (Belshe et al., 2007, The New England journal of medicine, 356:685-696, Belshe et al., 2000, The Journal of infectious diseases, 181:1133-1137, Centers et al., 2010, MMWR, 59(16):485-486, Rimmelzwaan et al., 2007, Current opinion in biotechnology, 18:529-536). In contrast, live attenuated influenza vaccines (LAIVs) induce stronger innate and adaptive cellular and humoral immunity (Belshe et al., 2007, The New England journal of medicine, 356:685-696, Cox et al., 2015, J Virol, 89(6):3421-3426). In addition, LAIVs have the advantage of intranasal administration, avoiding possible muscle soreness and potential iatrogenic practices associated with the intramuscular administration of IIV.
An important public health concern is the ability of IAV to cause occasional pandemics when novel viruses are introduced into humans (Smith et al., 2009, Nature, 459:1122-1125). Dogs are susceptible to IAVs, and could become "mixing vessels" species for the generation of novel IAVs with pandemic potential to humans. Moreover, natural and experimental infections of dogs with human viruses have been reported (Dundon et al., 2009, Emerging infectious diseases, 16:2019-2021, Song et al., 2015, The Journal of general virology, 96:254-258), and reassortants between canine and human influenza viruses could result in the emergence of new viruses in humans.
In 2006, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) called for the urgent development of an effective vaccine against CIV. A vaccine made from inactivated virus have been developed that is administered subcutaneously as two doses to reduce the severity of the CIV disease and to reduce the incidence of CIV infection in naive dogs (Nobivac, Merck). However, to date, no LAIV for CIV infections has been developed. Thus there is a need in the art for improved vaccines for CIV. The present invention satisfies this unmet need.

NS1 truncated virus for the development of canine influenza vaccines


A device for sterilizing an ice machine using ozone gas from an electrolytic ozone generator includes a pure water tank (2), a pure water refilling device (1), and the electrolytic ozone generator (3). The pure water tank (2) is connected to a gas-feeding solenoid valve (4) and a gas-discharging solenoid valve (5). The gas-discharging solenoid valve (5) is connected to a reducing carbon tank (6), which is connected to a vent (10). The gas-feeding solenoid valve (4) is connected to a tee pipe (11-4) of the ice machine (11). The tee pipe (11-4) is connected to a water pump (11-2) in an ice-machine water tank (11-1) and an ice-machine evaporator (11-3) through loop piping. A controlling circuit board (7) is connected to power source (8), and further connected to the electrolytic ozone generator (3), the gas-feeding solenoid valve (4), the gas-discharging solenoid valve (5), and a motherboard (11-6).

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to ozone generators, and more particularly, to a device for sterilizing an ice machine using ozone gas from an electrolytic ozone generator.
2. Description of Related Art
It is known that ice machines tend to be contaminated by microorganisms such as bacteria, saccharomycete, fungus and moulds. Tap water that has the residual chlorine filtered out is particular a great medium for bacteria to propagate. It is often reported that some famous fast-food stores provide ice tested as containing excessive bacteria. This is not only a serious threat to consumers' human health, but also a disservice to businesses' reputation. Ozone is known as effective, wide-spectrum, and residuum-free sterilization technology and is applicable for this use. Currently, there are some ice machines using ozone for sterilization. However, most of them generate ozone by using the high-voltage discharge method to ionize the air and this way inevitably incurs the production of nitrogen oxides that are believed responsible for certain cancers. On the other hand, in some other existing ice machine that use electrolytic ozone-water mixing devices, since the water inlet of such an ice machine is equipped with a throttle-type solenoid valve, its operation required a high water pressure, and this makes the device complex.

Device for sterilizing ice machine using ozone gas from electrolytic ozone generator


A reduced search space minimum distance decoding algorithm provides average probability of error performance close to that of optimal MAP decoding. The decoding algorithm provides dramatic complexity reductions compared with MAP decoding. A sub-optimal decoder receives signal vectors y1 . . . yk. Soft output bits are generated as is a reduced search space V via a reduced search space table creation unit in response to the soft output bits and an estimated channel H. A signal vector b is generated via a maximum likelihood decoding unit in response to the reduced search space V and the signal vectors y1 . . . yk.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to communications systems using multidimensional signaling. More particularly, this invention relates to a sub-optimal minimum distance decoder and method of decoding that outperforms known sub-optimal decoders used in multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication systems.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication systems provide gains in capacity and quality compared to single-input single-output (SISO) communication systems. Examples of MIMO systems include but are not limited to: 1. A narrowband wireless communication system employing multiple-antenna at the transmitter and/or receiver; 2. A broadband communication system employing orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM); 3. A time division multiple access system; 4. Any multiuser communication system; and/or 5. Any combination of 1-4 above.
These systems commonly employ a block structure where the transmitter (here transmitter refers to the collection of SISO transmitters) sends multidimensional symbol information. This multidimensional symbol could, but is not limited to, be represented by a vector or matrix. The multidimensional symbol might represent one or more coded or uncoded SISO data symbols. The receiver (here receiver refers to the collection of SISO receivers) receives one of more copies of this transmitted symbol vector. The performance of the entire communication system hinges on the ability of the receiver to find reliable estimates of the multidimensional symbol that was transmitted.
Definitions
As used herein, bolded capitol symbols, such as H, represent matrices.
As used herein, bolded lower-case symbols, such as s, represent vectors.
As used herein, T denotes matrix transposition.
As used herein, * denotes the matrix conjugate transpose operation.
As used herein, −1 denotes the matrix inverse operation.
As used herein, if W is a matrix, Wm denotes the mth column of W.
As used herein, if W is a matrix, (WT)m denotes the mth row of W.
As used herein, if v is a vector, ∥v∥2, denotes the 2-norm of v.
As used herein, if Q(•) represents the symbol slicing function, it will be assumed to slice both single symbols and multi-dimensional symbol vectors.
As used herein, IM represents the M by M identity matrix.
As used herein, OM×N represents the M by N matrix of zeros.
As used herein, if A and B are sets, then A|B is the set of all elements in A that are not in B.
For MIMO systems such as, but not limited to, the ones discussed herein above, the received signal can be written in the formyk=ΣnHnsk−n+v  (1)where Hn is an Mr by Mt matrix of complex gains, sk is the Mt-dimensional symbol vector transmitted at time k, and v is a Mt-dimensional vector of additive noise. In narrowband wireless systems where the symbol period is much larger than the RMS delay spread as well as OFDM systems, each SISO channel is often modeled as a single-tap complex gain. In this case equation (1) simplifies toyk=Hsk+v  (2)where H is now an Mr by Mt matrix of complex numbers and Hsk is the matrix product of H and sk.
The receiver must estimate the symbol matrix S=[s1 . . . sT] in order to facilitate reliable communication. Examples, but by no means the only examples, of multidimensional symbols could be space-time codes where T>1 or spatial multiplexing systems with T=1 and independent SISO modulation on each transmit stream. If v were not present and H were invertible, this would simply be the problem of inverting H. The presence of noise however, increases the difficulty of estimating S. The receiver is generally assumed to have some estimate of H available to it. As well, the symbol matrix S is assumed to be chosen from a finite set C of possible multidimensional symbols.
The optimal solution in the sense of minimizing the probability of symbol error has been shown to be the maximum aposterior (MAP) decoder which is equivalent in the case of equiprobable symbol transmissions to a maximum likelihood (ML) decoder. The ML decoder attempts to find S, the symbol matrix, by using the symbol matrix {tilde over (S)} that maximizes p({tilde over (S)}|y1, . . . , yT) where p(•|y1, . . . , yT) is the conditional probability density function (pdf) of sk given y1, . . . , yT. In real-time communications systems, however, this type of decoder is overly computationally complex. We will call decoders that search over an entire set V and decode to the multidimensional symbol {tilde over (S)} that minimize some sort of metric minimum distance (MD) decoders. Examples of MD decoders include MAP and ML decoding with V=C.
Algorithms have been proposed that are computationally easier than ML decoding in order to overcome this computational hurdle. Algorithms that perform some form of reduced complexity decoding will be referred to herein as sub-optimal decoders. An example of this type of decoder is successive interference cancellation (SIC). A receiver using SIC decodes each symbol within the symbol vector one at a time. After a symbol is decoded, its approximate contribution to the received vector is subtracted in order to improve the estimate of the next symbol within the symbol vector.
An example of an SIC receiver is the ordered iterative minimum mean squared error (IMMSE) receiver. With a single-tap channel, the receive signal is given by equation (2) above. Letting sk=[s1 s2 . . . sMr]T, the ordered IMMSE operates using the following steps, letting yk,0=yk, D0={1, 2, . . . , Mt}, and Hk(0)=H.
            1.                                      Set                                      m        =    0.                      2.                                                  Compute                                                            W          m                    =                                                  (                                                                    H                    k                                                                  (                        m                        )                                            +                                                                                H                    k                                          (                      m                      )                                                                      +                                  ρI                                      M                                          t                      -                      m                                                                                )                                      -              1                                                                    H              k                                                (                  m                  )                                +                                      .                                                              3.                                                                        Let                                                              n                =                              arg                                                                                min                                  i                  ∈                                      D                    0                                                                                                                                                        (                                                      W                                                                                (                                m                                )                                                                                T                                                                                )                                                i                                                                                    2                                    .                                                                                4.                                                                                Set                                                                                s                    ~                                                        k                    ,                                          n                      ·                                                                                =                                                                      Q                                                        (                                                                                y                                                      k                            ,                            m                                                    T                                                                                (                                                      W                                                                                (                                m                                )                                                                                T                                                                                )                                                                    i                                        )                                                  .                                                                                5.                                                                                Set                                                                                y                                  k                  ,                                      m                    +                    1                                                                        =                                          y                                  k                  ,                  m                                            -                                                H                                      k                    ,                    n                                                        (                    m                    )                                                                                s                    ~                                                        k                    ,                    n                                                                                ,                  D                  m          +          1                    =                        D          m                        \                          {          n          }                      ,    and                                        H        k                  (                      m            +            1                    )                    =                                                                  [                                                      H                                          k                      ,                      1                                                              (                                              m                        +                        1                                            )                                                                                H                                          k                      ,                      2                                                              (                                              m                        +                        1                                            )                                                                          …                                                                                H                                          k                      ,                                              n                        -                        1                                                                                (                                              m                        +                        1                                            )                                                                                0                                          M                                              r                        ×                        1                                                                                H                                          k                      ,                                              n                        +                        1                                                                                (                                              m                        +                        1                                            )                                                                          …                                                                                H                                          k                      ,                                              M                        t                                                                                (                                              m                        +                        1                                            )                                                                      ]                            .                                                                        6.                                                                                Repeat                                                                          steps                                                                          1                                      -                                    5                                                                                fo                            r                                                                                m                    <                                                    M                t                            .                                                                        7.                                                                                Set                                                                          the                                                                          decoded                                                                          symbol                                                                          vector                                                                          to                                                                                s                ~                            k                                      =                                            [                                                                    s                    ~                                                        k                    ,                    1                                                                                s                    ~                                                        k                    ,                    2                                                                                …                                                                                s                    ~                                                        k                    ,                                          M                      1                                                                                ]                        T                    .                    Regarding the above algorithm, it is important to note that
  H      k    ,    i        (          m      +      1        )  denotes the ith row of the matrix Hk(m+1) (time k and iteration m+1). Another example is the zero-forcing decoder which decodes to the symbol {tilde over (s)}k=Q(H−1yk). This decoder is usually considered the worst performing and least complex of the sub-optimal decoders.
Sub-optimal techniques unfortunately differ in diversity order from ML decoding (i.e. the asymptotic slope of the average probability of bit error curve). They essentially trade reduced complexity for reduced performance.
In view of the foregoing, it is both advantageous and desirable to find other low complexity schemes that, while still being low complexity, perform closer to an ML decoder.

Low complexity high performance decoder and method of decoding for communications systems using multidimensional signaling


An improved duster for venetian blinds and plantation shutters is disclosed including a handle and cross member with a number of rigid repositionable pins about which a dusting finger freely rotates when drawn lengthwise between the slats of blinds. The process of rotating prevents the bunching of dust unevenly on the dusting finger and provides for a greater removal of dust from the blinds, the dust being evenly distributed about the dusting finger. The dusting fingers may be treated with an anti-static compound to ease intermittent clearing of the dusting finger of dust.

Wood, wood composite and vinyl venetian blinds as well as plantation shutters are gaining in popularity especially for use in upscale homes and offices. While attractive, blinds tend to collect dust and cleaning can be cost prohibitive. Various designs adapted for the removal of dust from venetian blinds are well known in the art, most having fixed dust collecting fingers affixed to a frame. Customarily these "fingers" are passed between the slats of a venetian blind to first attract and then carry off dust. Although the extant devices directed to dusting blinds work, their use is a time consuming process because the duster's fingers have to be cleaned frequently as dust tends to bunch against the fingers on one side. If the dust is not frequently removed from the fingers, it will simply re-adhere to another portion of the blind. Obviously this may consume a great deal of the overall cleaning time. Additionally, existing devices are normally intended to clean only one type of blind with a particular slat spacing, while a homeowner may have several types of blinds or shutters with varying slat spacing to clean.
The introduction of plastic for simulated wood blinds has aggravated the problem of dust accumulation owing to plastics tendency to hold a static charge. What is needed is a dust removal tool that provides a way for a nonprofessional to quickly and easily clean the blinds whether of traditional wood, vinyl and newer composites that will lift dust away from a slats surface without re-depositing the dust elsewhere on the slat.

Duster for blinds and plantation shutters


A method and a camera-based driver assistance system in a subject vehicle uses image processing to automatically recognize dynamic intangible symbols that are projected as light onto the road by another vehicle, and responds in an appropriate manner based on the recognized symbols. For example, advice is given to the driver or signals are transmitted to vehicle devices in order to bring about an appropriate vehicle response, such as an emergency braking action or a distance alert.

Automatic, image-based traffic sign recognition methods take pictures of the surroundings of a vehicle by means of a camera. Such systems interpret the recorded image data and subsequently incorporate this information into one or several driver assistance function(s). A typical application are image-based carriageway recognition methods which use the camera image to obtain information relating to the own or to adjacent traffic lane(s). The recognition of carriageway information is a predestined field of use for a camera; no other sensor works equally well for this purpose. In particular, color can currently only be recognized using a suitable color camera.

Method for identification of a projected symbol on a street in a vehicle, apparatus and vehicle


Zeolite L containing caesium is prepared by a process in which said zeolite L is crystallised from a synthesis mixture with a molar composition (expressed as oxides) of:. ______________________________________ K.sub.2 O/SiO.sub.2 0.15 to 0.40 K.sub.2 O/Cs.sub.2 O 3 to 10 H.sub.2 O/K.sub.2 O 40 to 100 and SiO.sub.2 /Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 7 to 13 ______________________________________. and containing 0.5 to 15 ppm (by weight) of divalent metal carbons, e.g. Mg ions. The zeolite L is used in dehydrocyclisation and/or isomerisation processes.

Zeolite L has been known for some time as an adsorbant, and in U.S. Pat. No. 3,216,789 is described as an aluminosilicate of the formula: EQU 0.9-1.3 M.sub.2/n O: Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 : 5.2-6.9 SiO.sub.2 : yH.sub.2 O
(where M is an exchangeable cation of valency n and y is from 0 to 9) having a characteristic X-ray diffraction pattern. The preparation of zeolite L is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,216,789, EP-A-167755, EP-A-142355, EP-A-142347, EP-A-142349, EP-A-109199, PL-A-72149, U.S. Pat. No. 3,867,512, and SU-548567.
EP-A-96479 describes and claims zeolite L having a characteristic morphology and size, which is particularly valuable for use as a catalyst base in hydrocarbon conversions such as aromatisation, and comprising crystallites in the form of cylinders with a mean diameter of at least 0.1 micron, preferably at least 0.5 micron.
EP 96479 describes a synthesis of zeolite L which is conducted so that the amount of the contaminant zeolite W, which is know to grow in such a system as a competitive phase, is minimised. A preferred synthesis gel described in EP 96479 has the following mole ratios: EQU 2.62K.sub.2 O:Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 :10SiO.sub.2 :16OH.sub.2 O
and it is discussed how this gel may be varied by changing the molar amount of one component within the following ranges:
______________________________________ K.sub.2 O: 2.4-3.0 moles Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 : 0.6-1.3 moles SiO.sub.2 : 8-12 moles H.sub.2 O: 120-240 moles ______________________________________
EP-A-142353, EP-A-142354 and EP-A-185519 describe developments of this process for forming cylindrical zeolite L.
Zeolite L may be used as a catalyst base in aromatisation reactions. U.S. Pat. No. 4,104,320 discloses dehydrocyclisation of aliphatic compounds in the presence of hydrogen using a catalyst comprising zeolite L and a group VIII metal. The particular zeolite disclosed in EP 96479 is remarkably effective in such aromatisation reactions being capable of forming catalysts which have extended lifetime. Such dehydro- cyclisation and/or aromatisation reactions and catalysts for use in such reactions are also described in EP-A-107389, EP-A-184451, EP-A-142351, EP-A-145289, EP-A-184450, U.S. Pat. No. 4,614,834, GB-A-2116450, GB-A-2114150, U.S. Pat. No. 4,458,025, U.S. Pat. No. 4,456,527, GB-A-2142648, GB-A-2106483, U.S. Pat. No. 4,443,326, GB-A-2121427, GB-A-2153840, GB-A-2153384, U.S. Pat. No. 4,517,306, U.S. Pat. No. 4,539,304, U.S. Pat. No. 4,539,305, U.S. Pat. No. 4,547,472, GB-A-2166972, U.S. Pat. No. 4,579,831, U.S. Pat. No. 4,608,356 and EP-A-201856.

Zeolite L use in dehydrocyclisation and isomerisation


An ophthalmic apparatus has instrumentation for performing an ophthalmic procedure on a patient's eye when the patient and the instrumentation are aligned with each other with respect to orthogonal X, Y, and Z axes. The Z axis specifies the distance of the eye from the instrumentation. A signal generator generates an initiation signal to initiate alignment of the instrumentation and the eye. An X-Y alignment apparatus and a Z alignment apparatus each respond to the initiation signal to cause alignment along their respective axes and then determine when the instrumentation and the eye are in predetermined relative positions along the Z axis. The X-Y alignment apparatus and the Z alignment apparatus each generate a respective alignment signal. A controller receives the Z alignment signal and the X-Y alignment signal and issues a control signal to the instrumentation to perform an ophthalmic procedure in response to the alignment signals.

The invention relates to an apparatus for performing ophthalmic procedures on a patient's eye.
One type of apparatus used to perform an ophthalmic procedure on a patient's eye is a keratoscope, which generates images of a patient's eye. In use of a keratoscope, the patient is positioned to look into the device, which must then be accurately positioned with respect to the patient's eye along a Z axis (which is defined as a line that essentially passes out of the center of the pupil into the device) and X and Y perpendicular axes (extending sideways and up and down with respect to the Z axis). A keratoscope projects illuminated concentric rings onto the cornea, and the appearance of the rings in an image of the eye along the Z axis is used in determining the topography of the patient's eye. Once determined, this information can be used for correctly fitting contact lenses to the patient, for corneal transplant surgery, disease detection, as well as several other medical uses.

Device for performing ophthalmic procedures with improved alignment


Disclosed are a gas barrier film obtained by forming a gas barrier layer on a base material, and a method for producing such a gas barrier film, in which the gas barrier layer contains at least oxygen atoms, silicon atoms and nitrogen atoms, and in connection with the amount of nitrogen, the amount of silicon and the amount of oxygen measured by an XPS analysis, the gas barrier layer includes a first region constituted in the order of the amount of oxygen>the amount of silicon>the amount of nitrogen; a second region constituted in the order of the amount of silicon>the amount of oxygen>the amount of nitrogen; and a third region constituted in the order of the amount of oxygen>the amount of silicon>the amount of nitrogen, from a surface side toward a base material side.

For the purpose of obtaining substitutes for the glass substrates for organic EL elements, there has been hitherto suggested a method for producing a gas barrier film characterized by having excellent gas barrier properties and requiring a short production time, or the like (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
More specifically, it is a method for producing a gas barrier film characterized by subjecting a polysilazane film obtained by applying a perhydropolysilazane-containing liquid on at least one surface of a base material and heating and drying the liquid, to a normal pressure plasma treatment or a vacuum plasma treatment, and thereby producing a gas barrier film having a WVTR, which is an index of water vapor barrier properties, of 1 g/(m2·day) or less and a thickness of 0.01 μm to 5 μm.
Furthermore, there has been suggested a method for producing a gas barrier film which includes a silicon oxide thin film having very high gas barrier properties, so as to be applicable to resin base materials for organic photoelectric conversion elements (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
More specifically, it is a method for producing a gas barrier film characterized by applying a silicon-containing liquid on at least one surface of a base material, drying the liquid at 20° C. to 120° C. to form a silicon thin film, and then forming a silicon oxide thin film on the silicon thin film by a plasma CVD method which uses a reactive gas containing an organosilicon compound and oxygen.
Furthermore, there has been suggested a gas barrier film which includes a carbon-containing silicon oxide film having excellent transparency without having the gas barrier properties deteriorated (see, for example, Patent Document 3).
More specifically, it is a gas barrier film characterized in that a carbon-containing silicon oxide film having a film thickness of 5 nm to 300 nm is formed on at least one surface of a base material film, the composition ratio of carbon atoms (C) and silicon atoms (Si) (C/Si) of the carbon-containing silicon oxide film is in the range of more than 0 and 1.0 or less, and the degree of coloration (YI) is in the range of 1.0 to 5.0.
In addition, for the purpose of providing a gas barrier film having excellent transmittance and excellent tint, there have been suggested a gas barrier film which includes regions A, B and C with different amounts of silicon, different amounts of oxygen and different amounts of nitrogen, and a method for producing the gas barrier film (see, for example, Patent Document 4).
More specifically, it is a gas barrier film which includes a region A having an amount of oxygen larger than the amount of nitrogen; a region B having an amount of nitrogen larger than the amount of oxygen; and between these region A and region B, a region C in which the amount of oxygen of the region A gradually decreases, and the amount of nitrogen gradually increases toward the region B, the gas barrier film having, on a base material film, the various regions disposed according to the sequence of regions ACB, regions BCA, or regions ACBCA, toward the surface.

Gas barrier film and method for producing gas barrier film