A method and apparatus for concurrently accessing network-based electronic content in a Voice Browser and a Visual Browser can include the steps of retrieving a network-based document formatted for display in the Visual Browser; identifying in the retrieved document a reference to the Voice Browser, the reference specifying electronic content formatted for audible presentation in the Voice Browser; and, transmitting the reference to the Voice Browser. The Voice Browser can retrieve the specified electronic content and audibly present the electronic content. Concurrently, the Visual Browser can visually present the network-based document formatted for visual presentation in the Visual Browser. Likewise, the method of the invention can include the steps of retrieving a network-based document formatted for audible presentation in the Voice Browser; identifying in the retrieved document a reference to the Visual Browser, the reference specifying electronic content formatted for visual presentation in the Visual Browser; and, transmitting the reference to the Visual Browser. The Visual Browser can retrieve the specified electronic content and visually present the specified electronic content. Concurrently, the Voice Browser can audibly present the network-based document formatted for audible presentation in the Voice Browser.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to browsing network-based electronic content and more particularly to a method and apparatus for coupling a visual browser to a voice browser.
2. Description of the Related Art
Visual Browsers are applications which facilitate visual access to network-based electronic content provided in a computer communications network. One type of Visual Browser, the Web Browser, is useful for locating and displaying network-based electronic content formatted using HyperText Markup Language ("HTML"). Two popular Web Browsers are Netscape® Navigator® and Microsoft® Internet Explorer®. Notably, the term "Visual Browser" denotes that the browser can display graphics, text or a combination of graphics and text. In addition, most Visual Browsers can present multimedia information, including sound and video, although some Visual Browsers can require plug-ins in order to support particular multimedia information formats.
Whereas typical Visual Browsers operate in the desktop environment, compressed HTML ("C-HTML") Visual Browsers have emerged for processing HTML formatted documents in low-bandwidth environments. Specifically, C-HTML formatted documents are HTML formatted documents which have been compressed prior to transmission. C-HTML compliant Visual Browsers can decompress C-HTML formatted documents prior to displaying the same. Exemplary C-HTML Visual Browsers have been implemented for the QNX® Neutrino® operating system manufactured by QNX Software Systems, Ltd. of Kanata, Ontario.
A Voice Browser, unlike a Visual Browser, does not permit a user to interact with network-based electronic content visually. Rather, a Voice Browser, which can operate in conjunction with a Speech Recognition Engine and Speech Synthesis Engine, can permit the user to interact with network-based electronic content audibly. That is, the user can provide voice commands to navigate from network-based electronic document to document. Likewise, network-based electronic content can be presented to the user audibly, typically in the form of synthesized speech. Thus, Voice Browsers can provide voice access and interactive voice response to network-based electronic content and applications, for instance by telephone, personal digital assistant, or desktop computer.
Significantly, Voice Browsers can be configured to interact with network-based electronic content encoded in VoiceXML. VoiceXML is a markup language for distributed voice applications based on extended markup language ("XML"), much as HTML is a markup language for distributed visual applications. VoiceXML is designed for creating audio dialogs that feature synthesized speech, digitized audio, recognition of spoken and Dual Tone Multifrequency ("DTMF") key input, recording of spoken input, telephony, and mixed-initiative conversations. Version 1.0 of the VoiceXML specification has been published by the VoiceXML Forum in the document Linda Boyer, Peter Danielsen, Jim Ferrans, Gerald Karam, David Ladd, Bruce Lucas and Kenneth Rehor, Voice eXtensible Markup Language (VoiceXML™) version 1.0, (W3C May 2000), incorporated herein by reference. Additionally, Version 1.0 of the VoiceXML specification has been submitted to and accepted by the World Wide Web Consortium by the VoiceXML Forum as a proposed industry standard.
Notably, the capabilities of Visual Browsers have not been combined with the capabilities of Voice Browsers such that a user of both can interact with network-based electronic content concurrently. That is, to date no solution has been provided which permits a user to interact with network-based visual content in a Visual Browser while also interacting with network-based audio content in a Voice Browser. Present efforts to provide a browser which can interact with network-based visual and audio content have been confined to the coding of speech synthesis functionality into an existing Visual Browser to produce a speech-aware Visual Browser. In addition, new speech-related markup tags for Visual Browsers have been proposed in order to provide speech functionality to a Visual Browser.
Still, these solutions require the implementor to develop a speech-aware function set for handling network-based speech content and to integrate the same directly in the source code of the Visual Browser. In consequence, the development of speech-related functionality is tightly linked to the development of the remaining functionality of the Visual Browser. Finally, the tight integration between the Visual Browser and the speech-aware functionality precludes the user from using a separate, more robust and efficient Voice Browser having a set of functions useful for interacting with network-based speech content. Hence, what is needed is a method and apparatus for coupling a visual browser to a voice browser so that the combination of the visual browser and the voice browser can perform concurrent visual and voice browsing of network-based electronic content.

Method and apparatus for coupling a visual browser to a voice browser


Brewing assemblies and kits are generally disclosed herein. In particular, a brewing assembly comprising an upper member having a generally conical lower portion and a base member having a funnel shaped portion wherein the lower portion of the upper member is arranged to nest with the funnel shaped portion of the base member is disclosed. The present disclosure also describes brewing kits comprising a fermenter, a lid arranged to close a top opening of the fermenter, a tap connectable to a tap opening of the fermenter, and a base member having a substantially continuous and generally conical portion arranged to mate with a generally conical lower portion of the fermenter. Other embodiments are disclosed.

In brewing beer, a fermentation process is used to convert sugars contained in a liquid mixture, called wort, into alcohol and carbon dioxide gas. Generally, prior to the fermentation process, it is desirable that the fermentation container be free of any undesirable contaminants, such as a foreign yeast, that may alter the desired fermentation process. Similarly, during the fermentation process, it is desirable that the inside of the fermentation container is sealed off from outside air, so as to prevent the introduction of stray yeast. Some fermentation containers, however, have vents arranged to allow for carbon dioxide generated during the fermentation process to be released from the container.
In recent years, hobby brewing, sometimes referred to as "homebrewing," has become increasingly popular. Unlike commercial brewers, homebrewers typically produce smaller sized batches of beer. In many homebrewing kits, fermentation takes place in a container known as a carboy which has a flat bottom and a narrow neck leading to an opening at the top. During the fermentation process, a sediment referred to as "trub" that comprises proteins and inactive yeast forms on the bottom of the fermentation container containing beer. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to remove the beer from the carboy after the fermentation process without mixing the trub into the beer. Oftentimes, homebrewers use a siphon tube to transfer the beer from the carboy into another container; however, this method usually results in a quantity of beer being left in the carboy. Thus, alternative brewing assemblies are desired.

Conical brewing device with nesting supporting member


A folding former of a folder for a web-fed newspaper press has a former nose and a pivot point or pivot axis, the folding former being pivotable about the pivot point or the pivot axis. A former inclination angle is changed by pivoting the folding former to horizontally displace the former nose. A former spread angle is also changed as a function of the former inclination angle. To align the outer edges of sections to be folded in the folding former, the former inclination angle and the former spread angle are set as a function of the number of pages in the sections to be folded.

The present invention relates to a folding former for a web-fed rotary newspaper press, the folding former including a former nose and a pivot point or a pivot axis, the folding former being pivotable about the pivot point or the pivot axis to horizontally displace the former nose which changes a former inclination angle (β), a former spread angle (γ) being changeable as a function of the former inclination angle (β).
The present invention also relates to a method for producing a printed product, such as a newspaper, having a plurality of sections, each section being provided with a longitudinal fold in a different folding former.
Folders of presses are used to form folds on printed printing materials. In prior art devices, a web-like printing material is first led through what is known as a folding former to form a longitudinal fold on the web-like and not yet severed printing material. Starting from the folding former, the web-like printing material is transported over a plurality of pull rolls in the direction of a cutting knife cylinder and a folding blade cylinder interacting with the cutting knife cylinder, copies being divided off from the web like printing material on the cutting knife cylinder and being moved in the direction of a folding jaw cylinder with the aid of the folding blade cylinder. The copy divided off from the web-like printing material on the cutting knife cylinder, which copy is moved in the direction of the folding jaw cylinder by the folding blade cylinder, is transferred from the folding blade cylinder to the folding jaw cylinder, forming a cross fold. The present invention relates to folding formers for the formation of the longitudinal folds on web-like and not yet severed printing material.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,016,863 discloses a folding former of a web-fed rotary press having two former halves. The folding former has a folder nose and a centre of gravity, it being possible for the folding former to be pivoted about the centre, of gravity, changing a former inclination angle, in order to displace the former nose horizontally forwards and/or backwards. U.S. Pat. No. 5,016,863 also discloses the practice of changing the former flank angle of the two former halves, depending on the change in the former inclination angle. The sum of the two former flank angles determines what is known as the former spread angle of the folding former.
During the production of printed products, in particular newspapers, having a plurality of sections, it is usual for sections of different thicknesses to be provided with appropriate longitudinal folds simultaneously on a plurality of folding formers. If a plurality of sections of different thickness are combined to font a printed product, for example a newspaper, then the position of an outer edge of the respective section is determined by the thickness of the same, the outer edges of thicker sections lying further forward than the outer edges of thinner sections. For visual reasons, however, it is desirable to bring the outer edges of all the sections into the same position in the finished product. Only then is there a visually ideally folded printed copy. Until now, the prior art has disclosed no folding formers which take account of this phenomenon.


A difference in etching rate between the coated silicon based insulating film and any of other kinds of silicon-based insulating films is reduced by using nitrogen gas as a part of the etching gas. Therefore, the underlying film may not be exposed to the etching gas for a long time, so that degradation or deterioration of the underlying film can be prevented.

In a manufacturing process of an electronic device having a multilayer wiring structure, silicon-based insulating films are laminated on an underlying film of a substrate. Then, multilayer films thus formed by laminating the silicon-based insulating films are etched in a shape of groove or hole. Generally, an etching of the multilayer films is performed on a layer by layer basis starting from a top layer by using an etching gas including a CF (carbon fluoride) based reaction gas. However, to enhance throughput, there has been proposed an etching method, in which the multilayer films are etched in a single step. Further in order to reduce excess carbon, an etching gas in which an O2 gas is added to the CF based reaction gas has been used as well.
However, as shown in FIG. 10 (referring to Japanese patent publication No. 200-235973), a multilayer wiring structure in which a number of Al wirings 100 are out of line in up and down direction can be provided in an electronic device. On an upper part of the Al wiring 100, an underlying film 101, and a laminated film 102 of insulating characteristics are formed thereon in turn, and a resist film R which serves as an etching mask is formed thereon. In this case, a coated insulating film 103, which is formed by a coating method such as SOG (Spin On Glass), is provided in the laminated film 102 as a layer thereof such that influence of sheered Al wirings 100 can be eliminated and a surface of the laminated film 102 can be leveled. The coated insulating film 103 is formed by applying liquid coating material and drying it. The thickness of the coated insulating film varies depending on its location such that the top surface thereof may become flat.
When the laminated film 102 including the coated insulating film 103 whose thickness varies depending on its location is etched by a CF based etching gas to which oxygen gas is added, total etching time of the laminated film 102 is influenced by the thickness of the coated insulating film 103, because an etching rate of the coated insulating film 103 is slower than that of other insulating films 104 and 105. In other words, the etching time of the laminated film 102 at a place where the coated insulating film 103 is very thick differs greatly from that at a place where the coated insulating film 103 is very thin.
Time T needed for the underlying film 101 to be exposed after the etching of the laminated film 102 is started varies greatly depending on the location of each Al wiring 100. Sequentially, while the laminated film 102 is etched, some parts of the underlying film 101 may be exposed to the etching gas for a long time so that the underlying film 101 which is not an etching target is etched to some degree, thereby resulting in it being degraded or deteriorated.

Etching method, program, computer readable storage medium and plasma processing apparatus


A filter housing includes an inlet for receiving an airflow, a cavity for receiving a filter and an airflow passage between the inlet and the cavity. At least one vane, positioned in the airflow passage, partitions the airflow passage into a plurality of ducts. The vanes lie adjacent to, or contact, the upstream surface of the filter such that each duct communicates with a separate portion of the upstream surface of the filter. The airflow passage extends in a direction which is inclined to the upstream surface of the filter. The vanes help to distribute the flow of air more evenly across the surface of the filter and also help to reduce acoustic emissions from the machine of which the filter housing forms a part.

Vacuum cleaners are required to separate dirt and dust from an airflow. Dirt and dust-laden air is sucked into the appliance via either a floor-engaging cleaner head or a tool connected to the end of a hose and wand assembly. The dirty air passes to some kind of separating apparatus which attempts to separate dirt and dust from the airflow. Many vacuum cleaners suck or blow the dirty air through a porous bag so that the dirt and dust is retained in the bag whilst cleaned air is exhausted to the atmosphere. In other vacuum cleaners, cyclonic or centrifugal separators are used to spin dirt and dust from the airflow (see, for example, EP 0 042 723). Whichever type of separator is employed, there is commonly a risk of a small amount of dust passing through the separator and being carried to the fan and motor unit, which is used to create the flow of air through the vacuum cleaner whilst it is in operation. Also, with the majority of vacuum cleaner fans being driven by a motor with carbon brushes, such as an AC series motor, the motor emits carbon particles which are carried along with the exhaust flow of air.
In view of this, it is common for a filter to be positioned after the motor and before the point at which air is exhausted from the machine. Such a filter is often called a 'post motor' filter.
There is an increasing awareness among consumers of the problem of emissions, which can be particularly problematic for asthma sufferers. Thus, recent vacuum cleaner models are fitted with filters which have a large surface area of filter material, and the filters often comprise several types of filter material and a foam pad. Such filters are physically bulky and housing such filters in the cleaner is quite challenging. A vacuum cleaner called the Dyson DC05, manufactured and sold by Dyson Limited, houses a circular post motor filter beneath the dirt collection bin. Air flows towards a first face of the filter, passes through the filter and exhausts from the machine via a set of apertures in the cover above the filter.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,961,677 shows a vacuum cleaner exhaust filter in which air flows out of a central conduit, via a series of openings formed between angled vanes, before passing through an open space to a cylindrical filter which surrounds the central conduit.


A water-activated survival lamp unit for mounting to a flotation device in proximity to the water line. The survival lamp unit comprises a hermetically sealed light transmissive housing in which are mounted a light source and a battery in an electrical circuit together. A water-responsive actuator is provided, including a pair of electric terminals extending outside the housing in a spaced apart relationship. The actuator is responsive to a momentary electrical path established between the terminals through a coherent body of water to close the electrical circuit between the battery and the light source for a predetermined time period largely exceeding the duration of the electrical path, thus causing timed actuation of the light source. Periodic water splashing of the electric terminals allows to reestablish at intervals the electric path, each time resetting the actuator which closes the electrical circuit for an additional time period.

Most recently developed survival lamp units for use on personal flotation devices, such as inflatable life vests, require a water-responsive switch closing an electric circuit between a battery and a light source when in contact with a coherent mass of water. A typical water-responsive switch comprises a pair of electric terminals impressed with a certain voltage potential. When in the dry state, the impedence between the terminals is very high and the current allowed to circulate is virtually nil. However, when wet, the impedence is dramatically reduced establishing an electrical path which sets a simple transistor circuit in the conduction state, closing the electric circuit between the battery and the light source.
A major drawback of this type of water-responsive switches is the requirement to maintain the electric terminals continually immersed in water to obtain a steady operation of the light source. Any discontinuance in the electrical path between the terminals will extinguish the light source. Consequently, when used on a life vest or on another type of flotation device, the water-responsive switch and the light source of the survival lamp unit must be physically separated to locate these components below and above the water line respectively, for a proper operation. This requirement complicates the construction of the life vest because the manufacturer must provide a routing for the cable interconnecting the two components, an underwater pocket to hold the water-responsive switch and in addition, the likelihood of lamp failure is increased because of possible leaks at the cable/component junctions.

Water-activated survival lamp unit and an improved water-responsive switch therefor


The present invention is embodied in a system and method for enabling a user to quickly access personalized data specifically created and updated for the user with network tracking techniques. The tracking techniques provide quick and accurate location and updating of previously generated data associated with a particular user. New and updated data related to the previously generated data and specific to the particular user is regenerated so that the personalized data is automatically and dynamically updated in response to trackable remote user input. Also, portions of the data can be displayed as interactive data with client side processing. This allows real time interaction and manipulation of the personalized data values. Namely, the user can dynamically compute and generate personalized results from a remote location by interacting with displayed data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system and method for processing data, and in particular, to a system and method for dynamically providing a user with personalized data based on user input and tracking the user input for providing data that is automatically updated in real time.
2. Related Art
Quick and easy interaction between a server and a client user is desirable, especially for systems with bandwidth limitations. For example, many networks, such as the Internet, utilize client-server systems. Many client users that utilize the Internet are subject to these bandwidth limitations. Bandwidth limitations limit the speed of Internet access, especially during server processing. Server processing is typically encountered every time the user makes a request during interaction with the World Wide Web. Constant server processing bogs down the server, delays user Internet navigation and creates an unpleasantly slow Internet experience for the user.
Typical server-client systems utilize servers that provide remote users with access to information stored on the server. For example, many servers have systems that provide access to stored database information. One such system is an automobile pricing database. In this system, after a user makes an initial request, the server provides results related to the request. However, if the user desires to modify, adjust, limit, etc. the results, the server typically must be re-accessed and a new request is submitted as a database query. As a result, the user is required to navigate sometimes through several layers of information. In addition, these systems do not provide efficient and automatic personalized updates of the data for each user. Without automatic personalized updates, users are not notified of updated personalized information and are required to re-enter data each time they desire specific data. Thus, these systems are slow, do not allow real time user interaction, require undue processing, and do not provide personalized information with data updating.
Therefore, what is needed is an effective and efficient technique for adjusting data values in real time in response to remote user input. What is further needed is a system and method that automatically provides personalized data and updates of the personalized data for each user.
Whatever the merits of the above mentioned systems and methods, they do not achieve the benefits of the present invention.

System and method for dynamically providing personalized tracked data and automatically updating the data


An access barring method and apparatus and a communication system. The method includes: performing access barring check or access class determination by UE by using parameters defined for a new radio system. The parameters are applicable to all radio resource control (RRC) states. For different public land mobile networks (PLMNs) and/or network slicing, the parameters are identical or different. With the embodiments of this disclosure, selectable parameters are provided for a uniform access control mechanism defined by an NR system, thereby simplifying an access mechanism, and ensuring all-directional compatibility of a terminal state.

In a long term evolution (LTE) system, there exist a plurality of types of access barring technologies, and as shown in FIG. 1, access class barring (ACB) is an access barring mechanism based on a type of access attempt (such as data initiated by user equipment or signaling initiated by user equipment) and an access class (AC) to which terminal (UE, user equipment) belongs, "ACB skip" is a high-priority access barring mechanism permitting multimedia telephony (MMTEL) voice and/or video and short message service (SMS), service-specific access control (SSAC) is an access barring mechanism of a session initiated by an MMTEL voice and/or video, extended access barring (EAB) is a machine type communication (MTC) specific access barring mechanism, "AB for NB-IoT" is cellular-based narrow band Internet of Things (NB-IoT) specific access barring mechanism, and application-specific congestion control for data communication (ACDC) is an access barring mechanism of a specific application determined by a terminal operator.
It should be noted that the above description of the background is merely provided for clear and complete explanation of this disclosure and for easy understanding by those skilled in the art. And it should not be understood that the above technical solution is known to those skilled in the art as it is described in the background of this disclosure.

Access barring method and apparatus and communication system


A high temperature fluorinated polyimide is made by forming a solution that includes a 3F-monomer and an aromatic or aliphatic diamine such that the solution has a ratio of 3F-monomer to diamine of greater than 1.05. The 3F-monomer is 4,4'-(2,2,2-trifluoro-1-phenylethylidene) diphthalic anhydride, a dialkylester of 4,4'-(2,2,2-trifluoro-1-phenylethylidene) diphthalic anhydride, 4,4'-(2,2,2-trifluoro-1-phenylethylidene) diphthalic acid, or mixtures thereof. The solution is mixed so the 3F-monomer reacts with the diamine to form a 3F-polyimide.

In recent years, materials that include polymeric resins have replaced metal components for many aerospace applications. For example, polymeric materials, particularly polymeric composite materials, have been used to make gas turbine engine and missile components. They also have been used in other applications requiring low weight and high strength. Although many applications to date have involved military products, polymeric materials will increasingly be used in civilian products. Two near term civilian applications are advanced commercial gas turbine engines and the High Speed Civil Transport.
When used for gas turbine engines or other aerospace applications, polymeric materials are often exposed to hot air environments that can cause thermal and thermo-oxidative degradation. For example, parts in a gas turbine engine can be exposed to air at temperatures between 315.degree. C. and 400.degree. C. To be suitable for many applications, polymeric materials must resist oxidation or degradation in flowing air at pressures up to 480 kPa (70 psi) and at temperatures that can exceed 370.degree. C.
Polyimide materials, including PMR-II-30, PMR-II-50, PMR-15, AFR-700B, and Avimid-N.TM., are among the polymeric materials currently used in aerospace applications. PMR-II-30, PMR-II-50, and PMR-15 were developed by NASA Lewis and are licensed to various companies. AFR-700B was developed by TRW, Inc. (Redondo Beach, Calif.) under contract to the United States Air Force. Avimid-N.TM. was developed by E.I. DuPont de Nemours and Company (Wilmington, DE). A particularly promising group of polyimides are 3F-polyimides, also known as 3F-PI. 3F-PI materials include 3F-PDA. 3F-PDA comprises polymer units having the formula: ##STR1## 3F-PI materials are made by polymerizing 4,4'-(2,2,2-trifluoro-1-phenylethylidene) diphthalic anhydride or a dialkylester of 4,4'-(2,2,2-trifluoro-1-phenylethylidene) diphthalic anhydride with a diamine. 3F-PI materials are described in more detail in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,742,152, 4,801,682, and 4,863,640, all to Scola. Like other current polyimide materials, 3F-PI materials can have acceptable thermo-oxidative stability under some conditions. It would, however, be desirable to improve their thermo-oxidative stability to permit them to function under more severe conditions.
Therefore, what is needed in the industry are 3F-PI resins that have better thermo-oxidative stability than prior art polyimide resins.


Computer-implemented systems and methods for displaying multidimensional data as graphical time-based objects. A system and method could include associating actual calendar units with time dimension members. The association can be based on the time periods and the corresponding time-level information in the cube's time dimension hierarchies. Query results involving time periods and time period analysis are displayed as graph chart objects within the time period's visual presentation.

Database technology has evolved to where multidimensional data can be stored and retrieved. In a multidimensional database, data is categorized into measures which are numerical in nature and into time dimensions which characterize the measures. The time dimensions have hierarchies and have found utility in many fields, including the data warehousing field and the Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) field. Despite the evolution of database technology, data visualization of multidimensional data has remained limited.

Computer-implemented system and method for visualizing OLAP and multidimensional data in a calendar format


A shoe rack including at least one frame structure and a hanger coupled to the frame structure, the hanger being shaped to couple the shoe rack to a generally vertically-oriented support surface such that the frame structure is located generally adjacent to the support surface. The frame structure includes a plurality of support arms shaped to extend generally away from the support surface when the frame structure is located generally adjacent to the support surface. The rack includes a plurality of generally horizontally-oriented, vertically spaced inner rungs coupled to the frame structure and a plurality of generally horizontally-oriented, vertically spaced outer rungs coupled to the frame structure. The rack further includes a plurality of generally vertically-oriented struts, each strut extending between adjacent ones of the outer rungs or adjacent ones of the support arms to provide vertical support to the outer rungs and the support arms.

Many types of shoe racks have been developed for storing shoes, including racks designed to be suspended from a hinged door. Such shoe racks typically utilize one or more generally inverted U-shaped hooks to fit over the top edge of the door, with a rack assembly being suspended vertically from the hooks along the length of the door. A problem frequently encountered with such racks is a lack of structural rigidity. Prior shoe racks tend to deflect under the weight of the shoes, causing vertical support members to curve away from the door. Shoe racks in this condition have an undesirable appearance, weakened vertical supports, and an unstable structure that is prone to failure.
Some shoe racks retain the shoes stored thereon in an inclined position such that the heel or toe of the shoe rests against the door or wall supporting the rack to prevent the shoes from falling off the rack. An example of this approach can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,855,279, issued to Klein et al., which discloses a shoe rack having a plurality of support arms projecting outwardly and downwardly from a vertical frame. The rack includes sets of generally horizontally-extending retaining bars positioned between frame members and aligned in a plane forming an acute angle with respect to vertical to support the shoes in a downward-angled manner
A problem with prior shoe racks is that they are generally suspended such that the rack engages the door at only a few points, such as at the top and bottom of the rack, and/or at points about one-third and two-thirds the length of the rack as measured from the top of the rack. This can result in an unstable structure that is prone to a rocking motion. Excessive rocking can cause the hangers or hooks to eventually work free from the door, causing the rack to fall. In addition, repetitive rocking motion can also cause structural fatigue in the rack components and thereby reduce the life of the rack.
Still another shortcoming of prior shoe racks is their lack of expandability. Most shoe racks have a fixed capacity, which may be either excessive or inadequate for particular users. Users needing more capacity will often simply stack as many shoes as possible into the volume available on the rack, potentially exceeding the safe holding capacity of the rack and causing it to fail.
Accordingly, there is a need for a shoe rack having sufficient structural strength to withstand the loads imposed by the shoes without deformation. There is also a need for a shoe rack sufficiently stable to withstand the acceleration and deceleration forces encountered by the opening and closing of a door from which the rack is suspended. There is also a need for a modular shoe rack to allow multiple racks to be suspended together without an appreciable reduction in structural integrity.


The present invention aims to provide a method for producing a dispersion of metal nanoparticles which enables to control the shape and the particle diameter over a wide range, a dispersion of metal nanoparticles having superior dispersion stability, and a method for producing the same. In addition, the present invention further aims to provide a dispersion of metal nanoparticles which has a volume resistivity of 2×10−6 to 6×10−6 Ω·cm and is suitable for use as an electrically conductive material, and a method for producing the same. Moreover, the present invention further aims to provide a method for synthesizing metal nanoparticles which can produce metal nanoparticles suitable for use as electrically conductive materials by synthesizing the metal nanoparticles from a insoluble metal salt which is free of corrosive materials.

Since the melting point of metal nanoparticles having a particle diameter on the order of several nanometers differs dramatically from that of a bulk metal, these metal nanoparticles have conventionally been expected to be applied to electrically conductive pastes and the like which can be used for a low-temperature baking. In the past, methods involving the reduction of a metal in a solvent are known to have been used to produce such metal nanoparticles.
For example, numerous techniques have been studied as methods for synthesizing silver nanoparticles in an aqueous solution, a typical example of which is the so-called Carey-Lea sol method in which an aqueous silver nitrate solution is added to an aqueous solution of a ferrous salt and a citric acid salt. According to this method, a silver colloid dispersion can be obtained which has superior dispersion stability, a particle diameter on the order of 10 nm, and a narrow particle size distribution. By coating a dispersion containing such metal nanoparticles on a base material, and then baking at a low temperature, a film is formed which has a volume resistivity and a reflectance close to those of bulk metals, and this film can be used as an electrode. When using these metal colloid dispersions, it is known that their properties can be changed considerably by controlling the particle diameter, the particle size distribution, and the shape of the microparticles.
As an example of a method for producing such metal nanoparticles, a method for forming a nanoprism is disclosed in which silver crystals are formed by exposing a dispersion of amorphous silver particles to a light source having a wavelength of less than 700 nm (see, for example, Patent Document 1). According to this method, plate-like silver single crystals are formed.
In addition, a method for producing silver powder composed of hexagonal plate-like crystalline silver particles is disclosed which includes temporarily mixing a slurry containing an ammine complex of a silver salt and an ammine complex of a heavy-metal salt that functions as a habit modifier during a reduction reaction, with a solution containing potassium sulfite that is a reducing agent and a gelatin that is a protective colloid, so as to reduce the ammine complex of the silver salt, and recovering the formed silver particles (see, for example, Patent Document 2). In the method disclosed in Patent Document 2, hexagonal plate-like crystalline microparticles having a primary particle diameter of 5 to 10 μm are obtained.
Moreover, silver microparticles are known that are roughly plate-like particles having two principal planes and having a particle thickness of 50 nm or less and a length of a major axis of 5000 nm or less (see, for example, Patent Document 3). In the method disclosed in Patent Document 3, silver microparticles are produced by stirring a solution in which at least a polymer compound, a reducing agent, and a silver salt are dissolved at a temperature of 25 to 60° C.
On the other hand, as was previously described, since the melting point of the metal nanoparticles having a particle diameter on the order of several nanometers differs dramatically from that of a bulk metal, the metal nanoparticles have conventionally been expected to be applied to the electrically conductive pastes and the like which can be used for a low-temperature baking. In order to produce such metal nanoparticles, methods have been used in the past in which a metal is reduced in a solvent like that described above.
Therefore, in order to prepare desired metal nanoparticles in the form of a uniform dispersion, it has been considered that it is necessary to use a raw material metal salt (metal compound) that dissolves in the liquid (solvent), and the number of raw materials available for that use have conventionally been limited for that reason. For example, in the case of obtaining silver nanoparticles, soluble compounds have been exclusively used, such as silver nitrate or silver perchlorate in the case of using aqueous solvents, and silver complexes in the case of using organic solvents.
However, since silver halides can be easily acquired for use as silver raw materials from the viewpoint that they are already produced in large volume as photographic raw materials, and since they can also be handled easily as solids, it would be preferable if silver nanoparticles could be produced from such insoluble silver salts. From this viewpoint, a method for producing silver nanoparticles by reducing a silver salt in a solvent has been proposed in which a silver halide is used as the silver salt, a metal coordinating compound capable of dissolving in the solvent and coordinating with silver is used as a protective agent for the silver salt serving as the raw material, and the reduction is carried out in the presence of the protective agent composed of that compound (see, for example, Patent Document 4). This method is based on the finding that by using a specific protective agent, an insoluble silver salt such as a silver halide can be effectively reduced in a solvent to produce nanoparticles, and according to this method, silver nanoparticles can be produced from an insoluble silver salt.
Patent Document 1: US Patent Application, Publication No. 2003/0136223 (claim 1, FIG. 7)
Patent Document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. H11-106806 (claim 2, paragraph [0021] of specification)
Patent Document 3: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2005-105376 (claims 1 and 4)
Patent Document 4: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2003-253311 (paragraphs [0002] to [0005] of specification)

Dispersion of metal nanoparticles, method for producing the same, and method for synthesizing metal nanoparticles


Surfactants of the general formula (I) in which R1 is a linear or branched akyl radical having 6 to 20, especially 10 to 16 C atoms, R2 and R3 independently of one another are H or H3CO, and M is hydrogen, an alkali metal or a moiety N+R4R5R6, in which R4, R5 and R6 independently of one another are hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 C atoms or a hydroxyalkyl group having 2 to 6 C atoms, are readily incorporated into laundry detergents or cleaning products, possess outstanding performance qualities and can be prepared on the basis of renewable raw materials.

The use of surfactants for lowering the surface tension of water, for forming dispersions, and for solubilization has been known, in general, for quite some time in the field of washing and cleaning agents. While a large number of surfactants are produced entirely or partially based on renewable resources, some powerful, widely used representatives are still petrochemically based. Additionally, there is a constant desire to provide surfactants that have outstanding application-related properties so as to be able to achieve high performance, even when using little surfactant.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Anionic surfactants and detergents comprising them


Apparatus, method and system for notifying a communications-switching center that subsequent communications directed to a wireless number associated with the wireless unit are to be routed to a destination number associated with the wireless unit. In response to a triggering event by the wireless unit through the base unit, the base unit causes the wireless unit to transmit an SMS message to the communications-switching center. The SMS message includes a notification that subsequent communications directed to the wireless number associated with the wireless unit are to be routed to the destination number associated with the wireless unit.

1. Field of Invention
This invention generally relates to telecommunication service and, more particularly, to a device that automatically forwards telephone service upon detecting a triggering event, such as receipt of a wireless telephone within a socket defined by the device.
2. Description of Related Art
In recent years, the vast majority of the industrialized world has become accessible via the public switched telephone network (PSTN). Most commonly, this accessibility has been implemented through conventional telephone systems. A conventional telephone system may be considered to be and is hereinafter included in the general category of wire-line systems, i.e., telecommunications systems that transmit communications over lines such as copper, cable, or fiber optic lines. Thus, a unit that operates in a wire-line system may be referred to as a wire-line unit. For example, corded and cordless telephones are common examples of wire-line units.
The popularity and widespread acceptance of wireless communication systems have brought about the development of systems that work as an adjunct to wireless communication systems and with the PSTN. An example of an adjunct to wireless communication systems is the fixed wireless (FWL) system. An FWL system allows a user to effectively convert certain conventional wire-line telephones into extensions of the user's wireless telephone or unit. In particular, an FWL system usually includes a cell phone physically connected to one or more conventional telephones within a discrete location, such as a home or office. The FWL system allows the user to make use of the wireless communication system through the connected conventional telephones. These extensions to the cell phone may provide the user with certain advantages. Yet, these FWL systems do not provide the user with access to the PSTN independently of the wireless communication system. Such lack of direct access to the PSTN could be critical in the event that one of the wireless communication links, from and including the cell phone to the wireless communication system, is not functioning properly.
Another example of an adjunct to wireless communication systems is a type of system referred to herein as "base station" technology, but also commonly known as "cellular cordless" technology. Base station technology allows a user to make use of certain aspects of conventional telephone systems and of wireless communication systems. To utilize this base station technology, a user who has access to the PSTN and who also has access to a wireless communication system must purchase both a specially equipped base station and a specially equipped cell phone, e.g., such equipment is manufactured by Motorola Inc., 600 North U.S. Hwy 45, Libertyville, Ill. 60048 and is available as a Personal Phone Series (PPS) system. The base station is located typically at the user's base of operation, be it a residence, office or the like. The base station is connected to the PSTN and includes a mechanism for detecting the proximal presence of the user's cell phone when that cell phone is within a certain limited geographical distance of the base station. In essence, the base station functions as a cell site which provides a continuous "control channel" in a manner similar to a conventional cell site. The base station is different from the conventional cell site in that it utilizes a non-standard control channel that changes based on internal interference avoidance algorithms.
Normal operation of the specially equipped cell phone includes a periodic scan of the designated control channel to determine whether the cell phone is within range of the base station. If so, the cell phone and base station "handshake" in a manner well known in the telecommunications field. The result of the handshake is registration of the cell phone with the base station, which registration triggers an operational switch to the cell phone operating with the base station from the cell phone operating with the cellular network. The wireless communication system is then notified of the registration. Typically, the base station then functions as a wire-line unit and is assigned a wire-line number. Accordingly, after the wireless communication system is notified of the registration of the cell phone with the base station, the wireless communication system does not accept or continue handling the communication directed to the number associated with the cell phone in the conventional manner. Instead, the wireless communication system effectively relinquishes the communication to the PSTN. Thereafter, the communication is routed in a conventional manner through the PSTN to the base station as if it were a wire-line call.
In response to receiving the communication through the PSTN, the base station transmits the communication to the cell phone in the same manner as communications would be transmitted to a cordless telephone in a wire-line system. Effectively, the cell phone functions as a cordless telephone. By this relay of the communication, the wireless communication system is not involved in the communication. Thus, expenses associated with cellular services and usage fees are obviated with respect to this communication. In other words, even though this communication was initially directed to a number associated with a cell phone, the communication is ultimately connected as a conventional telephone call or wire-line call. Thus, the user is not charged cellular service charges for the communication.
In summary, base station technology allows increased flexibility for a user because the user may use a cell phone in a manner that does not incur the significantly higher usage fees typically accompanying cell phone use. The benefits of base station technology, though, are predicated upon several factors. First, the user must purchase a specially equipped cell phone and also purchase an accompanying specially equipped base station. Second, the cell phone must be within proximal range of its base station. Even after these criteria are met, a user must still provide two telephone exchange numbers—one for the cellular service and one for the landline service. Finally, an individual who desires to implement base station technology will, after purchasing the specialized base station and cell phone, likely be left with a conventional cordless phone which is unusable in conjunction with the base station technology.
Applicant is aware of a cellular telephone call-forwarding system using an adjunct device. That system provides a mechanism for routing calls intended for a wireless unit to an alternate destination number, specifically a wire-line number. In that system, the wireless unit is placed in a cradle-like portion of an adjunct device to automatically initiate a call forward request in response to a triggering event. Subsequently, all calls directed to the wireless unit will be routed to a predetermined destination number.
However, the present invention is an improvement on such prior art systems. Specifically, the prior art systems require advanced processors located in the adjunct device to perform the call forward functions. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,151,500 (hereinafter the '500 patent), assigned to one of the parent corporations of the assignee of the present invention, uses a converter device to detect a threshold amount of current drawn from the battery source of the wireless unit when placed in the cradle as a triggering event to initiate a call forward request. In response to the triggering event, the call forward device itself transmits a message to the wireless communications network thereby providing instructions to direct subsequent calls originally destined to a wireless number to a different predetermined location. Since the call forward adjunct device transmits the call forward message, the processing device in the '500 patent teaches methods to construct the message and to detect the current flow that initiates the triggering event. Additionally, the '500 patent requires that the call forward device have a communications channel to the wireless communications network.
U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2003/0181202 A1 (hereinafter the '202 app.) (Also assigned to the Assignee of the '500 patent) teaches additional methods for causing triggering events and providing call forward instructions to the wireless communications system. According to one embodiment of the '202 app., similar to the '500 patent, the call forwarding adjunct device constructs an SMS message and transmits the message to the wireless communications system. In that embodiment, the call forward adjunct device contains a memory that stores the operating algorithm and a destination number.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,933,774, (the '774 patent) similar to the '500 patent, teaches of a call forward adjunct device that initiates a modem connection to the wireless communications system to communicate the call forward request. This method requires both a connection to the wireless communications system as well as a dedicated PSTN line.
Each of these items is hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

Systems and methods for automatic call forwarding in a wireless mobile station


A manufacturing method of an oxide semiconductor thin film transistor according to the disclosure includes the following. A source and a drain are formed. A channel layer is formed between the source and the drain, wherein the channel layer is separated from the source and the drain. An insulation layer is formed, wherein the insulation layer covers the source, the drain, and the channel layer. A first conductor is at least formed in a first opening of the insulation layer, wherein the first conductor contacts the source and the channel layer. A second conductor is at least formed in a second opening of the insulation layer, wherein the second conductor contacts the drain and the channel layer.

Generally speaking, the plurality of elements (e.g. a gate, a source, a drain, a channel layer, and a pixel electrode) that form an oxide semiconductor thin film transistor are manufactured with a plurality of manufacturing processes, respectively. Specifically, the source and the drain are usually manufactured in the same manufacturing process, whereas the channel layer is manufactured with another manufacturing process. In addition, there is no limitation on the order of the manufacturing processes. For example, the source and the drain may be formed before the channel layer is formed. In addition, when a material layer of the channel layer is formed with a sputtering process, an environmental gas (e.g. oxygen plasma) may form an oxide layer on the surfaces of the source and the drain. Then, when the channel layer covers the source and the drain, oxide layers may exist between the channel layer and the source and between the channel layer and the drain, thus resulting in a higher contact impedance and reducing the device reliability of the oxide semiconductor thin film transistor.
Another manufacture method is to form the channel layer before forming the source and the drain. However, when patterning a conductive layer to form the source and the drain in an etching process, the channel layer located between the source and the drain may be damaged by the etchant, thus reducing the device reliability of the oxide semiconductor thin film transistor.

Manufacturing method of oxide semiconductor thin film transistor


A method for treating erectile dysfunction in a subject includes providing an expandable support member for engaging a wall of a blood vessel. The expandable support member includes at least one electrode connected with the expandable support member and arranged to selectively deliver electric current to modulate the autonomic nervous system (ANS). The expandable support member includes and an insulative material attached to at least a portion of the expandable support member for isolating blood flowing through the vessel from the electric current delivered by the at least one electrode. The expandable support member is implanted intravascularly so that at least a portion of the expandable support member is positioned substantially adjacent a desired location where modulation of the ANS is effective to improve erectile function. After implanting the expandable support member, electric current is delivered to the at least one electrode to effect a change in the ANS.

Recent estimates suggest that the number of U.S. men with erectile dysfunction (ED) may be near 10 to 20 million, and inclusion of individuals with partial ED increases the estimate to about 30 million. ED has a number of etiologies, including neuropathy and vascular disease. The male erectile response is initiated by the action of neurons, or nerve cells (i.e., neuronal action), and is maintained by a complex interplay between events involving blood vessels (i.e., vascular events) and events involving the nervous system (i.e., neurological events).
It is parasympathetic neuronal action that initiates the male erectile response. Specifically this parasympathetic input originates from the pelvic splanchnic nerve plexus. The pelvic splanchnic nerve plexus is comprised of branches from the second, third, and fourth sacral nerves that intertwine with the inferior hypogastric plexus, which is a network of nerves in the pelvis. The cavernous nerves are derived from the pelvic splanchnic nerves, via the prostatic plexus, and supply parasympathetic fibers to the corpora cavernosa and corpus spongiosum, the spongy tissues in the penis that are engorged with blood during an erection. The corpora cavernosa are two paired tissue bodies that lie dorsally in the penis, while the corpus spongiosum is located ventrally and surrounds the urethra. The corpus spongiosum expands at the terminal end to form the glans penis. These erectile tissues are comprised of venous spaces lined with epithelial cells separated by connective tissue and smooth muscle cells.
Parasympathetic activity allows erection by relaxation of the smooth muscle and dilation of the helicine arteries, which are arteries found in the erectile tissue of the penis. The dilation of the arteries causes greatly increased blood flow through the erectile tissue, which leads to expansion of the corpora cavernosa and the corpus spongiosum. As the corpora cavernosa and the corpus spongiosum expand, the venous structures draining the penis are compressed against the fascia surrounding each of the erectile tissues. This vein-obstruction process is referred to as the corporal veno-occlusive mechanism.
Conversely, sympathetic innervation from the hypogastric nerves and/or certain nerves of the inferior hypogastric plexus, which derive from the sympathetic ganglia, inhibit parasympathetic activity and cause constriction of the smooth muscle and helicine arteries, making the penis flaccid. The flaccid state is maintained by continuous sympathetic (alpha-adrenergic) nervous system stimulation of the penile blood vessels and smooth muscle.
ED has a number of causes, both physiological and psychological, and in many patients the disorder may be multifactorial. Several causes are essentially neurological in origin. Damage to the spinal cord may produce varying degrees of erectile failure depending on the location and severity of the damage. Damage to the pathways used by the autonomic nervous system to innervate the penis may interrupt "psychogenic" erection initiated by the central nervous system. Damage to somatic nervous pathways may impair reflexogenic erections and may interrupt tactile sensation needed to maintain psychogenic erections. Not only do traumatic lesions affect erectile ability, but disorders leading to peripheral neuropathy may impair neuronal innervation of the penis or of the sensory afferents. The endocrine system itself, particularly the production of androgens, appears to play a role in regulating sexual interest, and may also play a role in erectile function. Additionally, ED is a common complication of prostate surgery, such as prostatectomy (surgical removal of all or part of the prostate).
Various stimulation devices and medications have been proposed for treating ED; however, such approaches present significant drawbacks. For example, treatment of ED with medications results in undesirable side effects. Additionally, stimulation methods are highly invasive and offer only short-term improvement of erectile function.

Method for treating erectile dysfunction


Systems and methods to facilitate a customization and proliferation of models are described. The system receives, via a first interface, table information and communicates the table information to a first model. The first model includes logic to process the values to generate a column of predicted values. The system receives a column of predicted values from the first model. The system appends the column of predicted values to the table information to generate appended table information. The system communicates, via a second interface, the appended table information to a second state including a second plurality of models. The sequence of states is associated with a plurality of interfaces including the first interface and the second interface. The interfaces facilitate a customization and proliferation of models.

A model comprised of logic may be used to process an object through a state to predict a result. In some instances, different iterations of the model may be used to process slightly different input in slightly different ways to predict slightly different results. Diversification in modeling is advantageous because it may lead to better predictions; however, it may also lead to an unwieldly customization and proliferation of the model.

Facilitating customization and proliferation of state models


A fuzzy computer which carries out fuzzy operations using membership functions. This fuzzy computer readily processes implications made up of an antecedent expressed by fuzzy values and a consequent expressed by singleton values. This fuzzy computer includes a fuzzy processor, fuzzy controller and a MAX circuit block composite device used in same, and in addition, it contains grade-controllable membership function circuits, grade-controllable membership function generator circuits and center of gravity determination circuits which function as a useful circuit called a defuzzifier for converting fuzzy quantities to definitive values.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to fuzzy computers, fuzzy processors, fuzzy controllers, and MAX circuit composite devices, along with circuits used in same, including grade-controllable membership function circuits, grade-controllable membership function generator circuits, and center of gravity determination circuits which act as useful circuits for defuzzifiers which convert fuzzy quantities into definitive values.
2. Prior Art Statement
A great human mind created the digital computer through the harmonization of the elements of the concept of the stored program, Boolean algebra and binary hardware which carries out stable operations. Iteration of these operations makes possible the development of complex logical structures and complex data processing techniques and the like. The stability of these operations gives the digital computer excellent reliability, so digital computer systems are becoming larger and larger. As long as the program does not include any human mental information, digital computers can run any type of program, hence their appellation as the "universal machine." The appearance of the digital computer system is having profound effects on the everyday life and culture of man.
Another great human mind created an extremely important concept, that of "fuzziness" through the study of how man thinks and how men communicate between themselves. L.A. Zadeh proposed the concept of the fuzzy set in 1965. Since then, while there have been many papers published on theoretical studies of fuzziness, there have been few reports on its practical application, and in fact, such work has only been carried out with the help o binary digital computers.
Research into fuzziness has emphasized that human knowledge is based on accumulated experience which is summed up as linguistic information such as expert knowledge. This linguistic information is generally endowed with vagueness, ambiguity, inaccuracy, and incompleteness so it can be characterized as membership functions. The size of the membership can be expressed by numerical values in the region from 0.0 to 1.0, varying within this range.
For linguistic information to be handled by a digital computer, the size (value) of the membership is represented by a binary code. In binary electronic circuits, this value represented by binary code is repeatedly stored, transferred and finally calculated over and over according to a stored program. Thus there is a problem with the processing of fuzzy information by digital system in that they require large amounts of time to do so. In addition, the binary-coded values require incredibly large amounts of storage and vast numbers of devices used for calculation. While the digital computer is a universal machine as described above, it is not necessarily most suited for the realtime processing of fuzzy information. This has prompted searches for other types of machines which can efficiently process fuzzy information at high speed.
Recent fuzzy computer systems represent fuzzy information including fuzzy membership functions, results of fuzzy inferences and such as electrical signals (voltage or current) distributed among a plurality of lines. One often needs to select a single definitive value from the fuzzy information represented by an electrical signal distribution provided as output from fuzzy controllers or fuzzy computers. The circuits which convert fuzzy information to definitive values are called defuzzifiers, an example of which is a center of gravity determination circuit.
A center of gravity determination circuit typically comprises multiplication circuits, addition circuits and division circuits. The hardware for such multiplication circuits and division circuits is complex and not readily adjustable, while they are also limited in dynamic range.

Research Development Corporation of Japan


A foldable cart includes a frame mechanism, a wheeled rear support mechanism and two spaced-apart handle units. The frame mechanism can be in a collapsed state or an expanded state. The wheeled rear support mechanism is mounted pivotally to a rear side of a main frame body of the frame mechanism and movable between a supporting position and a fully folded position with respect to the main frame body. The handle units are rotatably connected to the main frame body to drive the frame mechanism to be in the collapsed state or the expanded state.

At a construction site, a conventional cart is generally used for moving a large number of construction materials, such as bricks or bags of cement. The conventional cart includes a carrier and two spaced-apart wheels that are mounted to the carrier. Although the conventional cart is convenient to use, the loaded conventional cart tends to become a heavy burden on a user's arms. In addition, the conventional cart may easily topple over when the loaded conventional cart is moved in a tilted orientation with respect to the ground by an unskilled user. For alleviating the abovementioned deficiencies, another conventional cart disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,413,999 is proposed to provide a rear support mechanism with two spaced-apart rear support wheels that are rollable on the ground. In such a manner, the rear support mechanism with the rear support wheels not only prevents the conventional cart from being easily toppled, but also decreases the burden on the user's arms. However, since the conventional cart is unfoldable, it may occupy a relatively large amount of storage space.


A regimen for inducing/stimulating hair growth and/or retarding hair loss on an individual in need of such treatment comprises topically applying to the affected hair and/or scalp of such individual, a hair growth stimulating and/or hair loss retarding effective amount of at least one 2,3-dihydroxypropyl-2-(1-oxohydrocarbyl) amino-2-deoxyglucopyranoside having the structural formula: ##STR1## in which R is a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon radical having from 5 to 21 carbon atoms.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to novel cosmetic and/or therapeutic compositions for topical application to mammalian subjects which are intended to induce and stimulate hair growth and/or to slow down or retard hair loss.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In human subjects, hair growth and hair renewal are principally determined by the activity of the hair follicles. This activity is cyclic and essentially entails three phases, namely, the anagenic, catagenic and telogenic phases. The anagenic active phase, or growth phase, which lasts for several years and during which the hair elongates, is followed by a transitional catagenic phase of about two weeks, during which the follicle regresses and becomes involuted, after which there is a rest phase or telogenic phase which lasts about 70 days, at the end of which the hair falls out. Following this, another cycle begins. The follicles are genetically programmed to produce about 25 regrowths, and a normal cycle lasts on average for five years, thereby permitting permanent renewal of the head of hair during a lifetime. Out of the approximately 150,000 hairs which make up a head of hair, usually about 80 thus fall out each day, which will be replaced in a few months.
Early thinning of the head of hair, or alopecia, which occurs in certain individuals, has both genetic and hormonal implications. The genetic aspect is seen when it corresponds to the "bald nature" which is transmitted from father to son, and more rarely from mother to son, and is very probably carried by several genes. The hormonal aspect is seen when it is due to binding to molecular receptors in the root of certain enzymatic degradation products of testosterone, the principal male hormone, these aspects developing, for example, following stress. This results in an accumulation of collagen in the collective sheath (fibrosis), leading to a slowing-down in the growth of the hair, and later its death. The disturbances in hair renewal are reflected, in a first stage, by acceleration of the frequency of the cycles, at the expense of the quality of the hair and then of the amount thereof: there is gradual thinning of the head of hair by regression of the so-called "end" hairs at the duvet stage, and finally the moment is reached at which there is no further regrowth. In men, the areas affected are principally the temporal or frontal areas and the occipital region. In women, diffuse alopecia of the vertex is observed.
More than 11 million men in France alone are directly affected by hair loss. Thus, compounds and compositions which make it possible to eliminate or reduce the effect of alopecia, and especially of inducing or stimulating hair growth or of decreasing hair loss, have long been sought in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.
In approaches featuring a carbohydrate base, the synergistic action of mono-, di- and oligosaccharides with various active agents has recently been described; for example fructose in combination with polyvinylpyrrolidone (see JP-08,040,846), trehalose with chitosan and various natural active agents (see JP-08,020,514), the hydrolysis products of alginic acid with a blood circulation accelerator and a cell activator (see WO-96/07393), starch in combination with zinc oxide and boric acid (see WO-95/35086), and glucose or fructose in combination with globular cereal proteins or hydrolyzates thereof (see FR-27/04751).
Oligosaccharides containing at least one disaccharide structural unit comprising a uronic residue and a hexosamine residue (see EP-211,610) have also been described.
Aldonolactones or hexosaccharic acids too have been described, for example D-fucono-1,5-lactone (see EP-531,111), lactam forms of saccharides, for example L-arabino-1,5-lactam and D-glucurono-6,3-lactam (see EP-0,334,586), a cellobione/lactone polymer obtained via its derivation into N-p-vinyl benzyl D-cellobionamide (see JP-05,043,418).
Glycosides of ergosterol (see JP-07,101,835 and JP-07,109,293), of stigmasterol (see JP-07,138,181), of stigmastanol (see JP-07,109,294) and p-.beta.-D-glucopyranosyloxycinnamic acid (see JP-07,258,042) or glucosides derived from saponins (see WO-94/06402) are also known to this art.
Only rarely do structures result from the grafting of an alkyl chain onto a polyol. However, monopentadecanoylglycerol (see Yokoyama Daisaburo, Yukagaku 1995, 44 (4) 266-73), polyalcohol glyceryl ethers, in particular those obtained by condensation of pentaerythritol with pentadecyl glycidyl ether (see JP-08,157,331) and, more particularly, for carbohydrate-derived structures, undecylenyl trehalose (see JP-08,053,326) and alkylpolyglycosides and/or O-acyl glucose derivatives (see WO-93/02657) corresponding to the structure: ##STR2## in which R.sub.1 is a radical or a mixture of alkyl or alkenyl radicals and/or has the structure: ##STR3## in which R.sub.2 is a linear hydrocarbon chain and R.sub.3 is hydrogen or a lower C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl group, have indeed been described. All of these structures, which are carbohydrate-based, differ from those of the invention, hereinbelow more fully described.
Minoxidil.RTM. and Aminexil.RTM. are also known agents for improving the condition of the hair. Minoxidil, or diamino-2,4-piperidono-6-pyrimidine-3-oxide and derivatives thereof (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,461,461, 3,973,061, 3,464,987 and 4,139,619), which are molecules initially known for their anti-hypertensive activity, have also proven to be active in the treatment of hair loss. They stimulate division of the cells which constitute the hair, promote vascularization of the root and, lastly, retard the fibrosis and atrophy of the hair root.
However, although Minoxidil.RTM. diminishes hair loss in one-third of patients and effects a slight amount of hair regrowth in another third, it remains ineffective on the other individuals treated. When applied morning and evening in the form of a lotion, it occasionally entails side effects, such as palpitations, a lowering of blood pressure or eczema. Moreover, the hair becomes greasy over the course of this generally permanent treatment.
Aminexil.RTM., which is similar in structure to Minoxidil.RTM. (see WO 96/09048), is diamino-2,4-pyrimidine-3-oxide, a molecule capable of combating the production of the principal enzyme responsible for fibrosis. However, this cosmetic compound unfortunately does not act on the other causes of alopecia, namely, the hormonal and vascular factors, which limits its field of application to a fraction of the individuals afflicted with alopecia.
Thus, serious need continues to exist in this art for yet other active compounds for stimulating/inducing hair growth and/or retarding hair loss.
In addition, compounds of the type 2,3-dihydroxypropyl-2-(1-oxoalkyl) amino-2-deoxyglucopyranoside have been formulated into washing compositions for the hair, in particular those having anti-dandruff and hair-conditioning properties (see FR-95/12215).

Deoxyglucopyranoside compounds for inducing/stimulating hair growth and/or retarding hair loss


Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for simultaneously measuring integrated reflectivity of X-rays with different orders of reflections in crystal. Continuous X-rays are incident into the crystal and reflection intensities of the X-rays reflected from the crystal with different orders of reflections are measured based on Bragg's law, thereby measuring reflectivity of X-rays with different orders of reflections.

As generally known in the art, X-rays were first observed and documented in 1895 by Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen, a German scientist. At that time, X-rays were used as a radiograph for detecting an internal structure of an object. In 1912, a German physicist named Laue discovered diffraction of X-rays. That is, X-ray diffractometry was established based on the fact that crystal reflects X-ray irradiated into the crystal if the X-ray has a wavelength corresponding to a plane spacing of the crystal. The X-ray diffractometry demonstrates the wave nature of the X-ray and the regular alignment of atoms in the crystal.
In the same year (1912), a British scientist named Bragg suggested conditions required for the X-ray diffraction by analyzing the X-ray diffractomerty and developed Bragg's law to simply explain X-ray scattering from atomic planes of the crystal.
The X-ray diffractometry is useful for understanding the alignment and relative positions of atoms provided in a substance having a relatively simple structure and physical properties of metals, polymeric materials and solid materials. Recently, the X-ray diffractometry is extensively used for analyzing internal structures of complex natural substances, such as steroid, vitamin, or antibiotic substances.
The X-ray is generated when a charged particle having sufficient energy suddenly stops its movement. In general, the X-ray is created in an X-ray tube having an electron source and two metal electrodes. Since high voltage (tens of thousands of volts) is applied between two metal electrodes, electrons are emitted from a cathode of the electron source due to the high voltage. The electrons may collide with a metal target provided at an anode of the electron source with a high speed, thereby generating the X-ray. Such an X-ray source may create a continuous spectrum and a linear spectrum. Accordingly, the X-rays are classified into continuous X-rays or white X-rays representing the continuous spectrum and characteristic X-rays representing the linear spectrum. The continuous X-rays and characteristic X-rays are very important when analyzing properties of substances.
The continuous X-ray is called "white radiation ray" or "Bremsstrahlung", which is generated when a part of energy of the electrons colliding with the metal target is converted into X-ray photons.
Referring to an X-ray emission spectrum, a smooth curve of the X-ray emission spectrum is suddenly peaked at a predetermined wavelength. An X-ray having a wavelength representing the peak is called a "characteristic X-ray". The wavelength of the characteristic X-ray may vary depending on substances and several characteristic X-rays are observed in the same substance. The wavelength of the characteristic X-ray has a characteristic value, which may vary depending on elements forming a target material, and is classified into various classes, such as K, L, M, etc, according to the energy level of the electrons. At this time, the size of the wavelength is in an order of K<L<M . . . , and several wavelengths may exist in the same class.
An atom consists of a nucleus and an electron moving around the nucleus along an orbit with a predetermined energy level. If kinetic energy of the electron used for generating the X-ray is larger than bonding energy of the electron moving along the orbit with the predetermined energy level, the electron in the predetermined energy level is emitted. In addition, an electron aligned in an outer energy level is excited and moved into an empty space of the predetermined energy level. At this time, the characteristic X-ray is generated in each energy level.
The term "reflectivity" signifies an intensity ratio of reflected light to incident light and is utilized as an index showing the property of substances. Such reflectivity, which represents a reflection degree of light or radiation from a surface of an object, is determined according to the kind and the surface state of substances. In general, metals represent higher reflectivity. For instance, copper has reflectivity of 59% and silver has reflectivity of 95%. If an object is coated with black material, the object represents lower reflectivity due to a higher absorption characteristic of the black material. For example, soot absorbs 95% of light and reflects 5% of light. In addition, the reflectivity relates to the wavelength of incident light.
Crystal is used for reflecting the X-ray. The crystal plays the role of a mirror used for reflecting the visible ray. The reflectivity is one of important characteristics of the crystal. Thus, it is very important to rapidly and precisely measure the reflectivity of the crystal when performing X-ray tests or dealing with X-ray appliances.
Conventionally, the characteristic X-ray is used for measuring the reflectivity of the crystal.
That is, the characteristic X-ray generated from an anode of an X-ray tube is irradiated onto a sample crystal by means of a monochromator, and then reflection intensity of the characteristic X-ray is measured in order to obtain the reflectivity of the crystal. The reflection intensity of the characteristic X-ray reflected from the sample crystal can be obtained by measuring the number of photons using a scintillator, which is an X-ray detector, or a PM tube.
However, in order to allow the characteristic X-ray to be reflected from the surface of the sample crystal, constructive interference must occur between reflective waves in internal and external portions of the sample crystal. For this reason, in order to measure the reflectivity of the sample crystal by using the characteristic X-ray, it is necessary to find a specific incident angle of the characteristic X-ray while adjusting the incident angle of the characteristic X-ray with respect to the sample crystal in such a manner that the constructive interference occurs between reflective waves. In addition, in order to measure reflectivity of the X-rays with different orders of reflections, incident angles (Bragg angles) of the X-rays must be changed whenever they are incident into the crystal while rearranging the total system.
In addition, according to the conventional measurement method, since a cross sectional area of the characteristic X-ray beam irradiated onto the test sample is very small (about 1 mm2), it is necessary to rotate the sample crystal in order to find a spot incurring maximum reflectivity. Furthermore, the conventional measurement method uses the characteristic X-ray for measuring the reflectivity of the sample crystal, so an amount of available X-ray energy is limited. In addition, it is necessary to scan planes of large-sized crystal with the characteristic X-ray by several times in order to measure reflectivity of the large-sized crystal.

Simultaneous measurement of the reflectivity of X-ray with different orders of reflections and apparatus for measurement thereof


An umbrella has a lower pole and an upper pole and a fabric. The lower pole includes screw threads. A spring clip in an inverted V-shaped configuration has outwardly extending projections removably coupling together the upper pole and the lower pole. A handle is removably coupled to the lower pole to twist the lower pole. Each rib of a plurality of ribs has an interior end and an exterior end. The interior ends of the ribs are coupled to the upper pole. The fabric overlies the ribs. Each tip of a plurality of tips has an upper part and a lower part. Each upper part has a tubular recess receiving the exterior end of an associated rib. The periphery of the fabric is secured between the upper part and the lower part.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a beach umbrella system and more particularly pertains to providing shade at a beach, deploying rapidly, and supporting leisure articles, in a safe, convenient, and economical manner.
Description of the Prior Art
The use of beach umbrellas of known designs and configurations is known in the prior art. More specifically, beach umbrellas of known designs and configurations previously devised and utilized for the purpose of providing shade at the beach are known to consist basically of familiar, expected, and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which has been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, they do not describe a beach umbrella system that allows providing shade at a beach, deploying rapidly, and supporting leisure articles, in a safe, convenient, and economical manner.
In this respect, the beach umbrella system according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing shade at a beach, deploying rapidly, and supporting leisure articles, in a safe, convenient, and economical manner.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved beach umbrella system which can be used for providing shade at a beach, deploying rapidly, and supporting leisure articles, in a safe, convenient, and economical manner. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


In power supply and a semiconductor making apparatus and a semiconductor fabricating method using the same, an abnormality can be detected when an offset occurs in a part constituting a closed-loop system of high-frequency power supply or dc power supply for a semiconductor making apparatus. Power supply for receiving a power value setting signal to set strength of power and a power on/off instruction to set on or off of outputting of the power interrupts the supply of the power even in a state in which a subsequent power on/off instruction is on if a power sense signal according to a value obtained by sensing the power exceeds a predetermined value when the power on/off instruction is off.

The present invention relates to power supply, and in particular, to power supply to process a semiconductor wafer and a semiconductor making apparatus and a semiconductor fabricating method using the same.
Etching systems using plasma have been used in various fields and include an electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) etching system. In the ECR etching system, by applying a direct current (dc) flows to a coil disposed on an outer surface of a vacuum chamber or container, a magnetic field is generated, and a high voltage is applied to a magnetron to start oscillation. This introduces a microwave into the vacuum chamber to resultantly generate plasma therein. Ions incident to a sample are accelerated by applying a bias voltage of an alternating current (ac) to a sample stage. To electrostatically adsorb the sample, a dc bias voltage is also applied to the sample stage.
Power supply to produce a direct current to generate a magnetic field, power supply to produce a dc voltage to generate a microwave or to supply a dc bias voltage, and power supply to produce ac power for an ac bias voltage have been used as described above.

Power supply, a semiconductor making apparatus and a semiconductor wafer fabricating method using the same


A printer capable of printing selectively on cut sheets and webs, wherein feed paths along which the cut sheets and webs are fed by respective feeding devices are selected depending upon the type of the recording medium. The sheet driving device may include a sheet inlet through which a cut sheet is manually inserted, an automatic sheet feeder for delivering cut sheets from a sheet stacker, and a sheet feeding mechanism for feeding the cut sheet which is manually inserted or the cut sheets which are successively delivered from the automatic sheet feeder. A power transmitting mechanism and a power shut-off mechanism are provided to transmit a drive force from a single drive source to the appropriate one or ones of the web feeding device, automatic sheet feeder and sheet feeding mechanism.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printer capable of printing selectively on cut sheets and webs.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
In a known printer of the type indicated above, the cut sheets and the web are fed by respective feeding mechanisms, along respective feed paths. The sheet feeding mechanism is adapted to feed the cut sheets from a sheet inlet, through which the cut sheets are manually inserted into the sheet feed path by the user of the printer. The sheet feed path for the cut sheets is formed straight, extending from the sheet inlet and the printing portion of the printer, so that the cut sheets once fed in the forward direction toward the printing portion for printing thereon can be fed back to the sheet inlet, by the reverse operation of the sheet feeding mechanism. The web feed path which also leads to the printing portion is curved, so that the printed cut sheets cannot be fed back into the web feed path.
The known printer may include as a sheet feeding mechanism an automatic sheet feeder adapted to deliver cut sheets one after another from a sheet stacker in which a stack of cut sheets is accommodated. The automatic sheet feeder includes suitable means for separating the uppermost cut sheet from the sheet stack in the stacker. The cut sheets delivered by the automatic sheet feeder may be further advanced by a separate sheet feeding mechanism. Usually, the automatic sheet feeder, web feeding mechanism and sheet feeding mechanism are driven by respective different drive sources.
In the above printer wherein the web feed path is curved, the webs which have a relatively large thickness tend to contact the members defining the curved web feed path, because of a relatively high degree of stiffness of the webs, whereby the webs cannot be fed smoothly with high positioning accuracy, and may even suffer from jamming during their passage through the curved feed path. In the printer provided with the automatic sheet feeder, the drive source and power transmission mechanism exclusively provided for the automatic sheet feeder result in increasing the structural complexity, size and weight of the printer as a whole.

Printer having means for switching medium feed path from sheet feed path to web feed path or vice versa


The present invention relates to a ground surface slide guide having a resin body made of synthetic resin, and a metal hub integrally coupled to the resin body to rotate together. The resin body is composed of a tubular body and a flange extending upward to the outside from the entire periphery of the lower end of the tubular body and covering the lower surface of the rotary blade. A blade retaining ring pressed against the lower surface of the rotary blade is formed on the outer periphery of the hub, and the blade retaining ring is exposed to the upper end surface of the tubular body. The hub is attached to a drive shaft by a fastener, and the rotary blade is clamped between a blade rest and a blade retaining ring. The lower end of the tubular body serves as a ground contact surface.

In a typical grass cutter, a structure is employed in which a rotary blade is positioned between a blade rest sleeve that rotates together with a drive shaft around the outer periphery of a rotating drive shaft and a blade retaining plate installed on the end of the drive shaft, and the rotary blade is attached by clamping the rotary blade between the blade rest sleeve and the blade retaining plate by tightening a nut. A grass cutter disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H9-172840 teaches that grass cutting work can be carried out comfortably by attaching a ground surface slide guide to the lower surface side of a rotary blade and allowing this ground surface slide guide to contact the surface of the ground during grass cutting. In addition, since this ground surface slide guide is provided in the form of a metal-made article making it heavy, only a small such slide guide can be used in consideration of workability, thereby resulting in the problem of having insufficient stability with respect to the surface of the ground. Moreover, since this ground surface slide guide is formed by pressing a single metal sheet, the thickness of the location that contacts the ground is the same as that of other locations, thereby resulting in the problem of the location that contacts the ground becoming worn as a result of use and failing comparatively at a comparatively early stage of its service life.

Ground surface slide guide of a grass cutter and grass cutter


An insulated electric wire includes a conductor and an insulating layer coated in periphery of the conductor. The insulating layer is made of a resin composition containing a base polymer and a flame retardant. The flame retardant is made of silane-treated aluminum hydroxide, aluminum hydroxide treated with a treatment agent other than a silane coupling agent and/or untreated aluminum hydroxide. The base polymer contains a polymer having a polar group. The resin composition contains the flame retardant, a content of which is more than 40 parts by mass and equal to or less than 80 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the base polymer. The resin composition contains the silane-treated aluminum hydroxide, a content of which is equal to or more than 10 parts by mass and equal to or less than 70 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the flame retardant.

An insulated electric wire (electric wire) includes a conductor and an insulating layer (coating substance) arranged in periphery of the conductor. This insulating layer is made of a resin composition (electrically-insulating material) containing rubber or resin as a main raw material. In recent years, in consideration of environmental problems, insulated electric wires (each referred to below as non-halogen insulated electric wire) each having an insulating layer made of a non-halogen resin composition not containing a halogen element such as fluorine, chlorine and bromine that have possibility of occurrence of toxic gas at the time of burning have been widely used. Particularly, it is preferable to use such a non-halogen insulated electric wire as an in-board wiring of a distribution board/control board or a motor lead wire having a relatively high possibility of touching of a person.
The non-halogen resin composition generally has a low flame retardancy, and therefore, is often used so that a frame retardant is added to itself. For example, a Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-324440 (Patent Document 1) descries an electric wire or others having an insulating layer made of a resin containing a non-halogen frame retardant such as magnesium hydroxide.

Resin composition, insulated electric wire and method of manufacturing insulated electric wire