A composition for an adhesive material, comprising at least one epoxide resin mixture and a hardening accelerator, in which the epoxide resin mixture has 25 to 80% by weight of a first epoxide resin—whereby the first epoxide resin is a bifunctional aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or aromatic epoxide resin—and 12.5 to 40% by weight of a second epoxide resin—whereby the second epoxide resin is a polyfunctional aliphatic or aromatic epoxide resin—and in which the hardening accelerator is an imidazole derivative, which is not soluble in the epoxide resin mixture at temperatures of below 50° C.

1. Field
Disclosed herein is a composition for an adhesive material and a use of this composition in particular for gluing electronic components.
2. Description of Related Art
In the manufacturing of inductive components, adhesives are required for a wide variety of joining and assembly processes. In this case, materials based on a wide variety of chemicals are commonly used both in ready-to-use single-component formulations and in multi-component formulations, which are to be mixed only immediately before use. In turn, the latter can be categorized as room-temperature-hardening systems and as adhesive materials that harden at elevated temperatures.
For applications with increased requirements with regard to adhesive strength and temperature stability, here in general adhesives based on epoxide resins have gained acceptance in practice. Because of their significantly simpler handling, which from the start eliminates processing errors due to inadequate mixing conditions or insufficiently thorough mixing, single-component adhesives, especially in the case of thixotropic or paste-like adhesive materials, are significantly more common than the two- or multi-component products that predominate in the case of materials—especially casting resins with lower viscosity.
While it is generally readily possible—in the case of the adhesives that are to be mixed and that consist of several separate components—to adapt to the most varied requirements such as shelf life or limited hardening temperatures, here finish-formulated single-component systems are subject to significantly more extensive limitations. In electronics manufacturing, it is absolutely imperative to avoid premature aging of the components to be processed or their soldered connections. As a consequence, it is necessary to use adhesives with the lowest possible hardening temperature and the shortest possible hardening time. While this is unproblematic in the case of two-component systems that are to be mixed, in the case of single-component adhesives, the problems exist in principle that at low temperatures, fast-hardening adhesives have an adequate shelf life only at very low temperatures or that mixtures with a long shelf life at room temperature generally require hardening temperatures around or above 150° C., which in turn has a very disadvantageous effect on the properties of the electronic components to be processed, especially their subsequent solderability.
To solve this problem, a commonly used approach for single-component adhesives is the use of a combination of hardeners with hardening accelerators that are generally soluble in the resin components only at elevated temperatures, which accelerators are activated only at elevated temperatures in a chemically active form, e.g., by cleavage of a low-molecular compound that blocks the active group. As standard hardeners for these applications, engineering practice has adopted finely-ground (micronized) dicyandiamide, which without additional hardening accelerators makes possible mixtures that have a good shelf life but that require hardening temperatures of above 150° C.
For reduction of the hardening temperature, catalysts based on substituted urea derivatives, such as, for example, 3-(4-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (monuron) or 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (diuron) in amounts of below 1% by weight, relative to the amount of resin, are commonly used. With these additional accelerators, hardening temperatures in the range starting from about 120° C. are accessible.
Another technically-established variant is the use of blocked amine or imidazole complex compounds. Typical representatives of these two substance classes were, for example, zinc-bis[(tetramethylguanidine)-(2-ethylhexanoate)] or, for example, zinc-bis[(1-methylimidazole)-(2-ethylhexanoate)]. Even when using these complex compounds, which are added in amounts of typically 0.1 to 1% of the formulation, hardening temperatures starting from approximately 120° C. in connection with dicyandiamide are possible. It has been shown, however, that these adhesives, hardened with dicyandiamide and optionally additional hardening accelerators, specifically meet the requirements for a sufficiently low hardening temperature with good adhesion to typical structural materials and good long-term temperature stability, but typically only achieve creepage current resistance values in the range of 350 to 450 V in the examination of creepage current resistance according to DIN EN 60112, and thus are to be assigned to the insulating material class II or IiIa. This is disadvantageous to the extent that for the manufacturing of inductive components, there are a number of structural plastics that achieve creepage current resistance values of greater than 600 V and thus insulating material class I. If these plastics (e.g., polyamide 6,6, polyamide 6,6T or polybutylene terephthalate) are used as insulating materials and at the same time an adhesive connection of various components is performed, it is no longer the higher-grade material of the insulating material class I but rather the considerably poorer adhesive of the insulating material class II or IiIa that determines the necessary geometric minimum gaps (creepage distances) and thus the component sizes.


A doorframe includes a header having a header jamb and a pair of header casings. The header has first and second ends. The doorframe further includes a pair of legs, each having a leg jamb and a pair of leg casings. Each leg jamb has means for connection with the respective end of the header, at least two recessed hinge placements on a first side of the leg jamb and at least two recessed hinge placements on a second side of the first leg jamb. Each of the recessed hinge placements are suitable for receiving a first side of a hinge. A pair of precut striker plate placements and striker holes are provided on one of the leg jambs for receiving a striker of a door when the doorframe is assembled and a door is attached to the recessed hinge placements on the other leg jamb.

Construction or renovation projects often require the framing of doors. Doorframes are conventionally constructed on site in a "roughed-in" door opening. There are several disadvantages to on-site construction of a doorframe. Proper construction of a doorframe requires precision. Thus, for the average person, hanging doors is very difficult and very frustrating work due to the level of precision required for proper installation of a working door in a doorframe. Therefore, this work demands the services of a person skilled in the trade. Even still, this work can be slow and costly.
Prefabricated doorframes have been used in an attempt to mitigate these problems. Factory assembled prefabricated doorframes have proven to be problematic, however, due to their inherent size and fragility. Furthermore, the prefabricated doorframe still requires fitting in the door opening, demanding a high level of skill to complete this task. Even still, door trim must be installed after the installation of the prefabricated doorframe. Thus, the work is still difficult and frustrating for an unskilled person attempting to install the doorframe.
Other attempts at prefabricated doorframes include partially assembled frames. These partially assembled frames still require skilled labor and the installation work can be slow.
All of these prefabricated systems can be problematic due to bending, cracking or warping of the wood. These systems generally include a doorstop attached to the frame, in the finished state. Thus, if the doorframe bends or warps prior to or during installation, or if the doorframe is not exactly level, the door might not rest against the doorstop when the door is in the closed position. For example, the bottom of the door may hit the doorstop while the top of the door is still spaced from the doorstop, or vice versa. This can also cause the door to bind in the frame.
Canadian Patent No. 2,035521 to Critch teaches a prefabricated floating doorframe that includes slots in the header of the frame, into which the leg jambs are inserted. The leg jambs are cut at the top in a reciprocating rabbit joint, for fitting into a respective slot. While this-system mitigates some of the problems of the prior art, it suffers other disadvantages. For example, the precut jambs of these doorframes are generally constructed of a medium density fiberboard (MDF) that is about ½ inch thick. Also, the casing cut and the slot cut in the header jamb are at the same longitudinal spacing along the header. The slot in the header jamb is a weak point in the doorframe that is susceptible to breaking. Upon installation, the installer installs the header first and then the legs. If the legs are not inserted properly, or the wall studs are warped, the installer risks breaking the angled cut (forty-five degree cut) of the header casing. Also, the door is placed into the frame when the frame is not yet fastened The header is then used to pull or push the top of the door and frame to a level position. This can result in breaking of the header jamb at the slot.
All of these prefabricated doorframe systems suffer further disadvantages in that the hardware or building supply stores that stock these doorframes must keep two sets of every doorframe and door. The two sets are required for providing both a left-handed opening door and a right-handed opening door.
Each prefabricated doorframe includes a pair of leg jambs. One of the pairs of leg jambs includes a pair of recessed hinge placements on one side of the jamb, where the door hinges are attached to the doorframe. The opposing leg jamb includes a precut striker plate attachment and striker hole on a complementary side of the leg jamb, for receiving the striker plate. A doorframe for a left-handed opening door has hinge placements on the opposite side of the leg jamb as a doorframe for a right-handed opening door. Similarly, a doorframe for a left-handed opening door has the striker plate attachment and striker hole on the opposite side of the leg jamb as a doorframe for a left-handed opening door. Therefore, two sets of doorframes must be made available for each doorframe size.
Also, each door for hinged attachment in the doorframe includes precut hinge placements on a rear edge of the door, cut for example, by a router. The rear edge including the precut hinge placements, and the front edge are beveled to ensure that the door does not bind in the doorframe. Thus, a left-banded opening door has opposite bevels compared to a right-handed opening door. Therefore each building supply store must also stock two sets of doors for each door size, one for right-handed and one for left-handed opening doors.
Stocking two different sets of doorframes and doors for every size of door requires building supply stores to keep larger inventories and requires the purchaser of the doorframe and door to know in advance which doorframe and door are desired or required. Furthermore, the purchaser must match the correct door with the correct doorframe to ensure that the correct door is purchased for the desired doorframe. Further still, this requires accurate labeling by the manufacturer.
Accordingly, it is an object of an aspect of the present invention to provide a prefabricated doorframe system which obviates or mitigates at least some of the disadvantages of the prior art.


In a mobile communication terminal for starting and simultaneously using a plurality of applications, one desired application starts fast to improve the operability when the number of started applications reaches a present limiting number of applications. An application start determining unit searches a list of started applications in response to the instruction of the start of application to obtain the number of started applications, and determines that the application cannot start when the number of started applications reaches a preset limiting number of applications. An ending-application selecting unit selects, as an ending application to be ended, the application with the low priority from the start applications based on the preset priority of application when the application start determining unit determines that the application cannot start. An application ending unit performs the ending processing of the ending application selected by the ending-application selecting unit and deletes the selected ending application from the list of started applications.

The present invention relates to a mobile communication terminal and an application starting control method thereof. More particularly, the present invention relates to a mobile communication terminal for starting and simultaneously using a plurality of applications and an application starting control method thereof.
Recently, one type of mobile phones is sold to start a plurality of applications and simultaneously use a plurality of functions similarly to a personal computer or the like, under the improvement of CPU processing capacity.
Such a mobile phone terminal enables a user to send an email while viewing a site screen on the Internet or to check the schedule by a scheduler while having a call.
However, the mobile phone terminal does not have a sufficient memory capacity or power capacity. Therefore, if many applications simultaneously start similarly to the personal computer, a malfunction is caused in the communication function or the started application operation becomes unstable.
An unnecessary application must terminate without continuously staying resident in memory when the number of simultaneously-used applications reaches a predetermined limiting number. Preferably, the unnecessary application automatically ends.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication (JP-A) No. 2003-330579 discloses a mobile electronic device which ends the applications whose number reaches the limiting number. As disclosed in the above-mentioned publication, the degree of importance is set to the application so as to use the application with the high degree of importance for a long time when the remaining amount of battery is reduced while a plurality of applications start, and the application with the low degree of importance ends when the remaining amount of battery reduces. However, when the number of applications to be started is over a predetermined number, the application to be ended does not automatically end.

Mobile communication terminal and application starting control method thereof


Discovering timing attack vulnerabilities in a computer software application by statically analyzing instructions of a computer software application to identify multiple possible execution paths traversing any of the instructions, calculating, for each of the possible execution paths, a cost associated with the execution of the instructions traversed by the possible execution path, comparing the costs of at least two of the possible execution paths having inputs of the same size, and identifying as a timing attack vulnerability any of the compared possible execution paths whose cost differs, by at least a predetermined amount, from the cost of any other of the compared possible execution paths.

One well-known approach to defeating cryptographic security systems involves gathering information related to the observable external behavior of such systems during their operation. A timing attack is one such approach in which differences in the time required to perform different operations within a cryptographic algorithm are analyzed in order to deduce an input to the algorithm, typically in the form of a cryptographic key.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Static analysis for discovery of timing attack vulnerabilities in a computer software application

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A stable, liquid bleach composition is disclosed. The composition comprises a peroxide-based bleaching agent, water, a metal catalyst, and a polyol. The polyol is a secondary solvent that promote peroxide stability in the presence of a catalyst.

Hydrogen peroxide solutions have been used for many years for a variety of purposes, including bleaching, disinfecting, and cleaning a variety of things and surfaces ranging from skin, hair, and mucous membranes to contact lenses to household and industrial surfaces and instruments. In particular, peroxide-containing bleaching agents have long been used in washing and cleaning processes. When soiled clothing is contacted with such bleaching compositions, usually by washing the soiled clothing in the presence of the bleaching composition at the boil, the bleaching agent functions to remove such common domestic stains as tea, coffee, fruit and wine stains from clothing.
Traditionally, to clean a substrate such as clothing, the substrate is subjected to hydrogen peroxide, or to substances which can generate hydroperoxyl radicals, such as inorganic or organic peroxides. Generally, these peroxide systems must be activated in order to work properly. One method of activating the system is to employ wash temperatures of 60° C. or higher, but it is often advantageous to wash laundry in cold water (e.g., temperatures from about 2-24° C.). Washing in cold water generally conserves energy and therefore costs less money than washing in warm water. Other advantages include potentially less damage to clothes. However, if the washing temperature is reduced to below 60° C., the efficacy of the peroxides in the bleaching agent is correspondingly reduced.
In order to avoid having to employ wash temperatures of 60° C. or higher, it is well-known that certain heavy metals, or complexes thereof, function to catalyze the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide, or of compounds which are capable of liberating hydrogen peroxide, in order to render the peroxide compound effective at temperatures below 60° C. Various transition metal ions added in the form of suitable salts, and coordination compounds containing such cations, are known to activate hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). In that manner, by using certain heavy metals as catalysts, it is possible for the bleaching effect (which is unsatisfactory at lower temperatures) of H2O2, or precursors that release H2O2 and of other peroxo compounds, to be increased.
In terms of H2O2 activation having effective bleaching action, mononuclear and polynuclear variants of manganese complexes having various ligands, especially 1,4,7-trimethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane and optionally oxygen-containing bridging ligands, are currently regarded as being especially effective. Such catalysts are adequately stable under practical conditions and, with Mnn+, contain an ecologically acceptable metal cation, but their use is unfortunately associated with considerable damage to dyes and fibres.
For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,114,511, there is described the activation of a peroxy compound by a complex formed from a transition metal (Mn, Co, Fe or Cu) and a non-(macro)cyclic ligand, preferably 2,2-bispyridylamine or 2,2-bispyridylmethane.
Moreover, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,114,606, there is disclosed a manganese complex, for use as a bleach catalyst for a peroxy compound, which is a water-soluble complex of manganese II, III or IV, or mixtures thereof, with a ligand which is a non-carboxylate polyhydroxy compound, having at least three consecutive C—OH groups in its molecular structure, preferably sorbitol.
The incorporation of some ingredients into detergent compositions is problematic. Detergent compositions are often stored for some time and interactions may occur between active components such that a reduction in the amount of the active component may result. This can be particularly problematic in the presence of moisture.
Many ways of protecting and delivering sensitive, highly active, low dosage detergent components have been suggested. In EP-A-0072166, EP-A-0124341, EP-A-224952 and WO 95/06710, heavy metal complexes are incorporated into detergent compositions in agglomerated or aggregate form in order to improve storage stability. In EP-A-170346, bleach catalysts are adsorbed onto solid silicon supports. In EP-A-141 470, heavy metal ion catalysts are protected by selecting specific ligands and then providing a protective coating; in EP-A-141472, micronised coatings are described. In EP-A-544 440, gelled polymers are used; in WO 95/33817, wax encapsulation is used requiring a surfactant in the particle. Unfortunately, coating methods are costly and coated/encapsulated particles are vulnerable to fissures or incomplete coatings leading to loss of the active component(s) in the particle.
Problems arise in the addition to the formulation or incorporation of a bleaching (agent) components when the composition is a liquid, particularly aqueous washing and cleaning agents that are enjoying an increased popularity due to their positive product properties, such as a better and faster solubility and practicality. Due to the decomposition reactions or hydrolysis and incompatibilities towards other constituents of the washing agent formulation, such as, e.g., enzymes or surfactants, the added bleaching agents often lose their activity already on storage or even during product utilization. An adverse consequence resulting from this is that the washing performance—particularly the bleaching power—of the washing agent formulation noticeably deteriorates, such that bleachable stains in particular can no longer be satisfactorily removed.
Bleaching agents, such as for example perborates or percarbonates, which are usually used in solid washing agent formulations, are extremely moisture sensitive, with the result that they often lose their bleaching power within a few days in a liquid and particularly aqueous washing or cleaning agents, due to the loss of active oxygen.
Decomposition of hydrogen peroxide caused by catalytically active substances, such as metal ions, is extremely difficult to prevent. For products that contain hydrogen peroxide to be effective, a substantial proportion of the hydrogen peroxide must survive between manufacture and use. In addition, decomposition produces oxygen gas, which could overpressure the container and cause it to rupture during storage or shipping. Examples of such compositions are given, for example, in Kott, U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,739; Scialla, U.S. Pat. No. 5,559,090; Monticello, U.S. Pat. No. 6,106,774; and Kandathil, U.S. Pat. No. 4,238,192.
Liquid detergent compositions offer several advantages over solid compositions. For example, liquid compositions are easier to measure and dispense. Additionally, liquid compositions are especially useful for direct application to heavily soiled areas on fabrics, after which the pre-treated fabrics can be placed in an aqueous bath for laundering in the ordinary manner.
Unfortunately, unless very stringent conditions are met, hydrogen peroxide solutions begin to decompose into O2 gas and water within an extremely short time. Typical hydrogen peroxide solutions in use for these purposes are in the range of from about 0.5 to about 6% by weight of hydrogen peroxide in water. The rate at which such dilute hydrogen peroxide solutions decompose will, of course, be dependent upon such factors as pH and the presence of trace amounts of various metal impurities, such as copper or chromium, which may act to catalytically decompose the same. Moreover, at moderately elevated temperatures, the rate of decomposition of such dilute aqueous hydrogen peroxide solutions is greatly accelerated. Hence, hydrogen peroxide solutions which have been stabilized against peroxide breakdown are in very great demand.

Liquid detergent formulation containing peroxide and a metal-based bleach catalyst


The present invention is generally directed to various methods and systems for scheduling maintenance procedures based upon workload distribution. In one illustrative embodiment, the method includes providing a tool, identifying a planned processing schedule for processing a plurality of wafer lots in the tool, and providing a controller that schedules a time for a maintenance procedure to be performed on the tool based upon the planned processing schedule of the plurality of wafer lots.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to an industrial process, and, more particularly, to various methods and systems for scheduling maintenance procedures based upon workload distribution.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is a constant drive within the semiconductor industry to increase the quality, reliability and throughput of integrated circuit devices, e.g., microprocessors, memory devices, and the like. This drive is fueled by consumer demands for higher quality computers and electronic devices that operate more reliably. These demands have resulted in a continual improvement in the manufacture of semiconductor devices, e.g., transistors, as well as in the manufacture of integrated circuit devices incorporating such transistors. Additionally, reducing the defects in the manufacture of the components of a typical transistor also lowers the overall cost per transistor as well as the cost of integrated circuit devices incorporating such transistors.
Generally, a set of processing steps is performed on a lot of wafers using a variety of process tools, including photolithography steppers, etch tools, deposition tools, polishing tools, thermal anneal process tools, ion implantation tools, etc. The technologies underlying semiconductor process tools have attracted increased attention over the last several years, resulting in substantial refinements. However, despite the advances made in this area, many of the process tools that are currently commercially available suffer certain deficiencies. In particular, some of such tools often lack advanced process data monitoring capabilities, such as the ability to provide historical parametric data in a user-friendly format, as well as event logging, real-time graphical display of both current processing parameters and the processing parameters of the entire run, and remote, i.e., local site and worldwide, monitoring. These deficiencies can engender non-optimal control of critical processing parameters, such as throughput, accuracy, stability and repeatability, processing temperatures, mechanical tool parameters, and the like. This variability manifests itself as within-run disparities, run-to-run disparities and tool-to-tool disparities that can propagate into deviations in product quality and performance, whereas an ideal monitoring and diagnostics system for such tools would provide a means of monitoring this variability, as well as providing means for optimizing control of critical parameters.
One technique for improving the operation of a semiconductor processing line includes using a factory wide control system to automatically control the operation of the various process tools. The manufacturing tools communicate with a manufacturing framework or a network of processing modules. Each manufacturing tool is generally connected to an equipment interface. The equipment interface is connected to a machine interface that facilitates communications between the manufacturing tool and the manufacturing framework. The machine interface can generally be part of an advanced process control (APC) system. The APC system initiates a control script based upon a manufacturing model, which can be a software program that automatically retrieves the data needed to execute a manufacturing process. Often, semiconductor devices are staged through multiple manufacturing tools for multiple processes, generating data relating to the quality of the processed semiconductor devices.
The tools and processes employed in manufacturing integrated circuit devices are very complex. Even minor variations in tool performance can dramatically and adversely impact the effectiveness of manufacturing processes and ultimately production yields. Accordingly, it is extremely important that the processing tools employed in semiconductor manufacturing environments be maintained to a very high standard. Sophisticated maintenance procedures are often performed on such process tools in an effort to insure that the tools are maintained in peak operational condition.
In many cases, maintenance procedures for the various processing tools found within a semiconductor manufacturing facility are performed on a regimented, or routine basis. For example, a given process tool may be scheduled for pre-planned maintenance activities on a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly basis. When such maintenance procedures are performed, the particular processing tool may be out of service for an extended duration of time, e.g., 12–24 hours. Such a methodology for scheduling maintenance activities may reduce the overall efficiency of the manufacturing facility and/or increase product cycle times. In today's semiconductor manufacturing environment, reducing product cycle times and improving manufacturing efficiencies are critical to the profitable production of integrated circuit devices.
The present invention is directed to overcoming, or at least reducing the effects of, one or more of the problems set forth above.

Method and system for scheduling maintenance procedures based upon workload distribution


An electronic device includes: a frame-body that has a rectangular-cross-section and includes: first and second inner-walls that oppose each other, third and fourth inner-walls that oppose each other and that intersect with the first and second inner-walls, first engagement-members arranged on the first inner-wall at a first interval, second engagement-members e arranged on the second inner-wall at the first interval so as to oppose the first engagement-members, the second engagement-members each having a structure that allows each of the second engagement-members to be engaged with a corresponding first engagement-member of the first engagement-members, third engagement-members arranged on the third inner-wall at a second interval, and fourth engagement-members arranged on the fourth inner-wall at the second interval so as to oppose the third engagement-members, the fourth engagement-members each having a structure that allows each of the fourth engagement-members to be engaged with a corresponding third engagement-member of the third engagement-members.

In electronic devices, such as optical transmission devices, ones that mount a plurality of electronic device units, which mount electronic circuits such as an IC or an LSI and an optical module on a printed board, on a rack are used. Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 02-172297 is a reference document.
It is preferable that operations such as replacing electronic device units of different sizes are easily carried out in such electronic devices.

Electronic device and electronic device unit


Each frame in an animated graphics sequence has a hierarchical scene graph. Graph elements have creation timestamps that mark them as dirty, requiring rendering, or constant, not requiring rendering anew for the current frame. If an aggregate element is constant, it is rendered as a whole, without investigating its child elements. If dirty elements meet certain criteria, they are merged for rendering as a single unit. In this way, the scene areas to be rendered have variable positions and sizes.

The present invention relates to electronic data processing, and more particularly concerns efficient frame updating of animated graphics.
From the earliest days of graphics animation, designers and artists have realized that a great deal of effort is wasted by redrawing an entire scene or image for the next frame when only a part of the current frame changes between the two frames. Long before the advent of computer graphics, xe2x80x9ctweenersxe2x80x9d in the motion-picture industry employed different layers for portions of a scene that stayed constant from one cel to the next, and redrew the changing portions on a separate overlay layer.
Computer programs have always attempted to avoid unnecessary manipulations of data. For example, all word processors avoid recopying an active text file that has not been changed since it was loaded. These and other programs frequently set a xe2x80x9cdirty bitxe2x80x9d associated with a file whenever the file is modified such that a previous copy is no longer current.
Graphics animation programs have adopted the dirty-bit concept. Some conventional rendering programs divide a two-dimensional image into subareas such as small rectangles, then track modifications to each rectangle separately. Only the combination of the parts that changed in the previous frame and those that will change in the current frame are updated. However, these subareas have fixed sizes and/or locations, and
Although higher computer speed and larger memory size enables brute-force and other conventional update techniques to achieve higher speed, there always remains a need to use all available approaches to furthering this goal, especially for presentations that are animated in real time.
One approach to increasing frame-update speed in graphic animation is to refine the determination of which parts of an image have not changed, and therefore need not be updated. The present invention produces successive frames of an image represented as a hierarchical scene graph in a declarative modeling language. It encodes creation-time information in the elements of the graph to eliminate unnecessary rendering of graph elements that have not changed since the preceding frame. The hierarchical structure can also optionally be employed to process multiple elements as single units rather than considering each of them separately. For example, a search for unchanged elements can stop at an unchanged aggregate element, and need not search any of its child elements in the scene graph. As another example, multiple changed nodes can be tested to determined whether they can be rendered more efficiently as a single element, then merged if so.

Updating animated images represented by scene graphs


Mobile or portable apparatus for preparing beverages comprising a module for delivering a beverage by supplying a pressurized liquid, a liquid feed tank of sufficient capacity for supplying the module with several volumes of liquid for supplying more than one beverage, gas pressurizing means suitable for supplying the module with pressurized liquid, a liquid feed chamber, of which the capacity is several times smaller than the capacity of the tank, said chamber being arranged, in a module feeding configuration, to communicate with the gas pressurizing means in order to pressurize the liquid in the chamber and to inject pressurized liquid into the module and thereby permit the delivery of the liquid through the module.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for preparing beverages or other similar products using a food substance. The invention more precisely relates to dispensing machines, such as mobile or portable coffee machines.
The beverage preparation apparatuses of the coffee machine type which use prepacked or non-packed portions of a food substance are very widespread among private individuals, and also in municipalities, shopping centres and companies. The preparation principle is based on the extraction of portions of the substance by the passage through this substance of a quantity of cold or hot liquid under high pressure, typically a pressure above atmospheric pressure. The prepacked portions can be partially rigid capsules, or else flexible bags, which are hermetically sealed or partially open, or else a dose filter.
An example of a capsule is described in patent EP 0 512 468 B1. An example of a bag is described in patent EP 0 602 203 B1.
Such extraction systems have many advantages. On the one hand, the individual packages are easy to use and require no batching of coffee or other substances, in the machine. The user places a capsule, a ground-coffee dose or other portions in the machine, then presses a button to start extraction. On the other hand, the individual packages are batched to deliver a beverage, like a coffee, having the desired characteristics such as sufficient character, flavour, foam or other important attributes. When they are impermeable, they thus usually preserve the freshness of the substance better, up to the time of extraction. Finally, the preparation conditions, such as the temperature, pressure and extraction time can be better controlled, thereby guaranteeing relatively controlled and constant quality to the consumer.
An example of an extraction method is described in patent EP 0 512 470 B1.
To extract a beverage under pressure from these portions, of the capsule or other type, it is necessary to use a relatively powerful water pump such as an electric compressor. These pumps use the mains electric power supply. They are also rather noisy during extraction.
It is therefore difficult to move these preparation apparatuses, such as on a trolley or simply by carrying them. In fact, it would be an advantage to be able to make these apparatuses more mobile so as to offer beverages in locomotion means such as the train, plane, or in certain places such as cinemas, theatres, and also in public places such as beaches, parks, poolsides and other public or private places.
Patent application WO 99/02081 proposes a coffee machine, more precisely a mobile machine, in which the pressure required to extract the ground coffee is generated by compressed air. The water for preparing the coffee is kept in a thermally insulated container. The water can be heated by electric heating elements. This solution offers the advantage of producing the extraction pressure by a self-contained means, such as a gas cylinder, installed under the machine. The machine can be installed on a trolley with the gas cylinder installed in a compartment of the trolley provided for this purpose.
However, such a device presents certain drawbacks. In fact, in this invention, the gas of the cylinder communicates directly with the hot water tank. This means that the entire volume of the tank is kept under constant pressure, of the order of several bar.

Mobile or portable apparatus with pressurized gas supply for preparing beverages or similar products


A toothbrush and toothpaste combination assembly includes a housing that has a top wall, a bottom wall and a perimeter wall attached to and extending therebetween. A toothpaste is contained within the housing. A brush is coupled to the housing. A toothpick is coupled to the bottom wall of the housing. An actuating apparatus is provided. The actuating apparatus is in mechanical communication with the toothpaste. The actuating apparatus is actuated to urge the toothpaste through the brush. A top cap is removably coupled to the top wall to cover the brush. A bottom cap is removably coupled to the bottom wall to cover the toothpick.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The disclosure relates to toothpaste devices and more particularly pertains to a new toothpaste device for containing and dispensing a toothpaste onto a toothbrush.
2. Summary of the Disclosure
An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a housing that has a top wall, a bottom wall and a perimeter wall attached to and extending therebetween. A toothpaste is contained within the housing. A brush is coupled to the housing. A toothpick is coupled to the bottom wall of the housing. An actuating apparatus is provided. The actuating apparatus is in mechanical communication with the toothpaste. The actuating apparatus is actuated to urge the toothpaste through the brush. A top cap is removably coupled to the top wall to cover the brush. A bottom cap is removably coupled to the bottom wall to cover the toothpick.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

Toothbrush and toothpaste combination assembly


A translation lookaside buffer has a plurality of entries in which address translation information obtained by translating a virtual address into a physical address is registered. The entries each have a priority bit that is set when the registered address translation information is required to be resident. At the time an entry substitution request occurs while the priority bits of all the entries are in a set state, a control circuit for controlling the translation lookaside buffer chooses as a subject of substitution an entry that has been least recently referred to, irrespective of states of the priority bits. This allows execution of the entry substitution with the priority bits in all of the entries being set.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a microprocessor, and more particularly to a microprocessor having a translation lookaside buffer (TLB).
2. Description of the Related Art
In a virtual memory computer, it is necessary to translate a virtual address into a physical address (address translation) during program execution. A hardware mechanism for the address translation is called a dynamic address translator (DAT). The DAT refers to an address translation table (a table constituted of a segment table, a page table, and so on) to execute the address translation. The address translation table is in a main memory and managed by an operating system (OS). The address translation table shows, for example, which virtual page number corresponds to which physical page number.
If the DAT refers to the address translation table for every address translation, overhead for the address translation substantially increases. Therefore, in a general practice, previously used address translation information (a pair of the virtual page number and the physical page number) is registered in a high-speed memory with locality of the address reference taken into consideration. This memory is called a translation lookaside buffer (TLB) or an address translation buffer. The TLB has a plurality of entries in which the address translation information is registered.
If there is no address translation information corresponding to a virtual address in the TLB at the time the address translation is executed, it is necessary to substitute address translation information obtained by address translation using the address translation table for the address translation information registered in any one of the entries. In other words, the entry substitution is required to be executed. An entry to be substituted is chosen according to LRU (Least Recently Used) algorithm, for example. Specifically, an entry that was referred to least recently is chosen as a subject of substitution with locality of the address reference taken into consideration.
However, for example, in a case a frequently used program is executed after a less frequently used program in a time-slice OS, one entry substitution request made during the less frequently used program leads to occurrence of a lot of the entry substitution requests during the frequently used program. Therefore, the advantages of the TLB cannot be exerted.
In order to solve this problem, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. Hei 4-338848, for example, proposes a TLB having a function of prohibiting the entry substitution (entry lock). In this kind of TLB, each entry has a substitution prohibition bit. The substitution prohibition bit is set in an entry having registered therein address translation information used for a frequently used program (such as a program needed to have a realtime property), i.e., information required to be resident in the TLB. The entry having the set substitution prohibition bit is excluded from candidates for the entry substitution.


A device and method of using the device to access a desired tissue site within a patient""s body and separating a tissue specimen from the tissue site suitable for evaluation. The device includes a probe member having an arcuate tissue cutting RF powered electrode secured to and distally spaced from the distal end of the probe and a small dimensioned distal extremity which when an inner lumen thereof is subjected to a vacuum, secured tissue for the specimen to the surface of the distal extremity. A circular RF powered cutting electrode preferably secured to and spaced from the distal end of an outer sheath which when operatively energized with high frequency electrical power and longitudinally moved along the shaft of the probe member severs the tissue specimen secured to the surface of the distal extremity of the probe member from the tissue site. The outer sheath covers the separated specimen.

The present invention relates generally to the field of biopsy devices and the methods of using such devices. More specifically, it relates to a device and method for accessing a targeted site of pathologically suspect tissue mass within a patient""s body, so as to facilitate the taking of a specimen of the tissue mass.
In diagnosing and treating certain medical conditions, such as potentially cancerous tumors, it is usually desirable to perform a biopsy, in which a specimen of the suspicious tissue is removed for pathological examination and analysis. In many instances, the suspicious tissue is located in a subcutaneous site, such as inside a human breast. To minimize surgical intrusion into the patient""s body, it is desirable to be able to insert a small instrument into the patient""s body to access the targeted site and then extract the biopsy specimen therefrom.
After removing the tissue specimens, additional procedures may be performed at the biopsy site. For example, it may be necessary to cauterize or otherwise treat the cavity which results from tissue specimen removal to stop bleeding and reduce the risk of infection or other complications. Also, it may be advantageous to mark the site for future surgical procedures should pathological tests performed on the biopsy specimen indicate surgical removal or other treatment of the suspected tissue mass from which the specimen was removed. Such marking can be performed, for example, by the apparatus and method disclosed and claimed in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/343,975, filed Jun. 30, 1999, entitled xe2x80x9cBiopsy Site Marker and Process and Apparatus for Applying It,xe2x80x9d which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Electrosurgical techniques have been used in a variety of circumstances, including certain types of biopsy procedures. In electrosurgery, high frequency electrical energy is applied through an active electrode to patient tissue. The electrical energy flows through the tissue from the active electrode to a return electrode which is in contact with the patent""s tissue and which may be on the exterior of the patient""s body or intracorporeally disposed. Typically, the return electrode is attached to the patient at a point remote from where the primary or active electrode contacts the tissue. The tissue adjacent the primary electrode is ablated, to form an opening in the tissue. An electrosurgical biopsy instrument is disclosed and claimed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/159,467 for xe2x80x9cElectrosurgical Biopsy Device and Method,xe2x80x9d assigned to the assignee of the subject application, and which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
This invention is directed to a biopsy device that provides ready access to a targeted tissue site within a patient""s body and provides for the separation and capture of a tissue specimen from the target tissue site. More specifically, the biopsy device provides for a split tissue specimen which greatly facilitates a accurate pathological examination upon its removal from the patient""s body.
The biopsy device of the invention generally includes an elongated probe having a proximal end and a distal end and an inner lumen extending therein. A distal probe section is provided which has transverse dimensions less than adjacent portions of the probe and which has one and preferably a plurality of apertures in a wall thereof in fluid communication with the probe""s inner lumen. A circular electrode or a pair of opposed semicircular electrodes are slidably disposed about the probe member and are configured for longitudinal translation along a length and preferably the entire length of the small dimensioned distal probe section. The electrode or electrodes are disposed in a plane or planes which are perpendicular and transverse to the longitudinal axis of the probe.
The proximal end of the probe is configured to allow the inner lumen of the probe to be connected to a vacuum source, so that when a vacuum is applied to the inner lumen, tissue adjacent to the small dimensioned distal probe section is pulled into contact with the distal probe section through action of the vacuum through the apertures thereof and thereby fix the tissue specimen to the distal probe section. With the tissue of the specimen secured to the distal probe section, the circular or semicircular electrodes powered by high frequency (RF) electrical power may then be advanced distally to thereby separate the tissue specimen from the tissue bed to which the tissue is secured and supported. The probe and the tissue specimen secured thereto may then be withdrawn from the patient.
In present embodiment of the invention, the biopsy device has a thin, arcuate shaped distal electrode connected to the distal end of the probe and spaced distally therefrom as disclosed in copending applications Ser. No. 09/477,255, filed on Jan. 4, 2000 and Ser. No. 09/057,303 filed on Apr. 8, 1998, which are hereby incorporated herein in their entirety. The distal arcuate electrode lies in a plane that is parallel to and generally passes through a longitudinal axis of the elongated probe. The cordal dimension of the distal electrode is at least the same dimension as the diameter of the distal end of the elongated probe, preferably greater than the diameter of the distal end to ensure that an opening is made through the tissue to the target site and through the suspicious tissue by the electrode which is large enough to allow the biopsy device to be readily advanced. Moreover, because the distal electrode passes through the desired tissue for the specimen, it makes a planar cut through the desired specimen, so that when the circular or semicircular electrodes are advanced over the small dimensioned distal probe section to cut the specimen from the supporting tissue, the specimen is split or is separated into two half specimens.
In a presently preferred embodiment the biopsy device is provided with an outer sheath that is slidably disposed along a length of the probe so as to cover the small dimensioned distal probe section during advancement through tissue and to open and allow specimen tissue to be pulled into contact with the small dimensioned distal probe section when a vacuum is applied to the inner lumen of the probe and the tissue of the specimen is severed from the adjacent supporting tissue by the longitudinal translation of the RF powered circular or semicircular electrodes. The electrodes may be secured to the distal end of the sheath so that the specimen(s) can be separated from the adjacent tissue while the sheath closes over the small dimensioned distal probe section thereby capturing the severed specimen(s) within the interior of the sheath. The biopsy device may then withdrawn from the patient, and once withdrawn, the specimen or specimen halves secured to the distal probe section maybe removed for subsequent pathological examination.
The distal electrode is connected by means of an electrical conductor which extends to the proximal extremity of the probe, preferably through the inner lumen of the probe to a high frequency, e.g. RF, electrical power. The proximal circular electrode or semicircular electrodes may have their own supporting structure or may be supported as described above from the distal end of the outer sheath. An elongated electrical conductor connects the proximal circular electrode or a pair of elongated electrical conductors connects the proximal electrode to a high frequency, e.g. RF, electrical power which may be the same power source which powers the distal electrode or a separate power source. When the proximal circular electrode or semicircular electrodes are secured to the distal end of the outer sheath, the conductor(s) which connects the proximal electrode(s) may extend through the wall of the outer sheath. The high frequency power for the proximal electrode or electrodes is usually greater than the high frequency power required by the distal electrode. However, generally the proximal electrode(s) are operated at a different time in the procedure so a single power source can be readily programmed to operate at the different electrical power levels required by the electrodes of the present device.
The probe, the proximal electrode and the outer sheath are preferably configured as a disposable unit which may be hand operated or powered by a hand unit connected to a suitable controller.
These and other advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the accompanying exemplary drawings.


A Tactical retainer belt is disclosed. This invention allows for the correct fitment of any sidearm, any magazine, and any tactical accessories without the need to purchase additional gear or pouches, thus lowering long-term costs for the user. This system allows the user the ability to rapidly adjust to mission or job changes by accommodating any load out.

The present invention relates tactical gear, and more particularly to retaining belts for tactical gear.
Current holsters limit the ability to carry accessory items (e.g. flashlights, tourniquets, batteries, magazines). They also require the user to purchase model-specific holsters, magazine pouches, and accessory pouches. Current belts also require the user to remove their belt from belt loops in order to remove their holster and accessory pouches. Conventional holsters and accessory pouches offer little in the way of concealed compartments for storing sensitive items (e.g. identity documentation, money, keys, maps, small quantities of medicine). Conventional tactical systems are not built with the strength required to double as a climbing harness. Individuals require a separate harness in order to rappel or climb.
Other systems currently utilized are built for specific sidearm models, and all require the additional purchase of accessory pouches. None solve this issue and none can double as a climbing harness.
As can be seen, there is a need for a tactical retainer belt that allows for the correct fitment of any sidearm, any magazine, and any tactical accessories without the need to purchase additional gear or pouches, thus lowering long-term costs for the user. This system allows the user the ability to rapidly adjust to mission or job changes by accommodating any load out.


The invention relates to a connecting mechanism for a multiple-part munition (1), for example for artillery charges. It is proposed that a multiple-part munition (1) be connected by means of a simple plug connection to at least two casing elements (2) which can be connected to one another and are arranged axially one behind the other, of a propellent-charge casing (10), with the casing elements (2) having a taper (3) and/or a corresponding opening (4) on their mutually facing end faces or tail faces, and the tapers (3) and/or the inner wall (7) of the openings (4) having projections (8) so that they can be connected to one another with a force fit by pushing them together.

The invention relates to a connection mechanism for a multiple-part munition, for example for artillery charges.
Artillery charges may be supplied as individual components, or assembled as multiple-part charge components, for a tube weapon. The munition comprises sleeve parts whose wall is in general produced from combustible material. The multiple-part structure and the desired amount of charge are produced by pushing the individual charges and sleeve elements together, and rotating them. The connected parts must remain well connected during transportation, removal from the storage or transportation container, and during the loading process.
One such connection type is known from DE 100 31 588 C2, in which the sleeve elements are provided with connection parts of a bayonet fitting on their mutually facing end faces.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,504,628, the individual charges are also joined together by pushing them together and rotating them.
DE 695 00 620 T2 (EP 0 752 090 B1) discloses a plug connection between a propellant charge formed from two parts. The push-fit connection device comprises at least one pair of connection elements, each of which has a first connection element with a first sleeve and a second connection element which contains an axial protrusion. This protrusion produces the push-fit connection to the first sleeve, with complementary engagement, by pushing them together.
DE 696 06 954 T2 (EP 0 775 887 B1) describes a holding apparatus for a bag with explosive charge. In this case, the holding apparatus is itself supported by the case, which contains the loose or bundled propellant-charge powder in the interior. The holding apparatus in this case rests on the circumferential face around the case. A bead of the holding apparatus, as described in one exemplary embodiment, is used as the connection means between the holding apparatus and the case.
DE 197 49 486 A1 provides the connection between tube sections of combustible propellant charge sleeves via a non-detachable snap-action connection between the sections. The tube sections have four longitudinal cuts in the axial direction in the area of the connection, which are each arranged at an angle of 90° to one another.
A container composed of cartridge elements is also disclosed in DE 70 00 615 U. These cartridges have a taper on the closed faces, into which the respective next cartridge can be plugged, or detached from it, with the aid of wall extensions.


A manufacturing method for an absorptive article having a waistband member, includes: transporting a continuum (for example, second to seventh continuum) including waistband regions 1A and 1B corresponding to the waistband member. In the transporting, the continuum is asymmetric with respect to a center line CL of the continuum in a moving direction of the continuum, and is transported while being held on at least a first belt conveyor 110 and a second belt conveyor 120.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a manufacturing method for an absorptive article having waistband members.
2. Description of the Related Art
Heretofore, an absorptive article such as a disposable diaper has been produced on the assembly line. A manufacturing method for such absorptive articles includes: a step of transporting, by a belt conveyor, a continuum provided with at least a waistband region corresponding to the waistband member of the absorptive articles. (See Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-117646 (pages. 2-4), for example.)
An example of the step of transporting the continuum includes a longitudinal feed method and a cross feed method. The longitudinal feed method is a method for transporting the continuum while its waistband front-back direction (direction from one waistband region to other waistband region) is in line with a moving direction (hereinafter, an MD direction) of the belt conveyor. Meanwhile, the cross feed method is a method for transporting the continuum while its waistband front-back direction is in line with a direction (hereinafter, a CD direction) crossing the MD direction.

Manufacturing method for absorptive article


A wavelength conversion device has a supporting substrate, and a wavelength conversion element provided on the supporting substrate, with separate portions provided on both sides of the wavelength conversion element. The separate portions are separated from the wavelength conversion element by an adhesive layer that bonds the supporting substrate and the wavelength conversion element while also bonding the supporting substrate with the separate portions. The element and separate portions are made of ferroelectric materials, respectively. The wavelength conversion element has a ridge optical waveguide, with grooves provided on each or both sides of the ridge optical waveguide and extended portions provided on the outside of each of the grooves.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wavelength conversion device.
2. Related Art
Non-linear optical crystals such as a lithium niobate single crystal and a lithium tantalate single crystal have a high secondary non-linear optical constant; and forming a periodic polarization inversion configuration in these crystals produces a Quasi-Phase-Matched (QPM) Secondary-Harmonic-Generation (SHG) device. And forming a waveguide in this periodic polarization inversion configuration will produce a high efficient SHG device, which leads to a wide variety of applications for optical communication, medical, photochemical, and various optical measurement fields.
The light modulation device disclosed in the WO 03/042749 has a configuration such that the surface of a supporting substrate is made flat, the thickness of a ferroelectric thin plate is made constant, and the flat surface of the supporting substrate is bonded to the ferroelectric thin plate.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 2003-156723A provides a ridge optical waveguide on a ferroelectric single crystal thin plate, and forms a periodic polarization inversion configuration in the ridge optical waveguide to make a Secondary-Harmonic-Generation device. And a supporting substrate is bonded below the ferroelectric single crystal thin plate, and a recession is made on the supporting substrate in a manner that the recession is located right below the ridge optical waveguide. The supporting substrate and the back of the ferroelectric thin plate are bonded by a resin adhesive or a conductive adhesive.


A seat support mechanism including a leg pedestal (11), which is fixedly provided on a floor in the vicinity of a side wall (A), a moving pedestal (20), which is disposed under a top face part (12) of the leg pedestal (11) and is capable of being advanced/retracted in a direction orthogonal to the side wall A; an underframe (30) of the seat, which is disposed above the top face part (12) of the leg pedestal (11), and is turnably supported by a turning shaft (41) in the moving pedestal (20), the turning shaft (41) avoiding an interference with the top face part (12), and an interlocking mechanism (50), which interlocks turning and advancing/retracting of the underframe (30), in which, when the seat is turned together with the underframe (30), the interlocking mechanism (50) converts the turning motion of the underframe (30) into a linear motion and, through the turning shaft (41), transmits it to the moving pedestal (20), thereby causing the moving pedestal (20) and the underframe (30) to be advanced/retracted in a direction orthogonal to the side wall (A).

Conventionally, many of the seats that are equipped in vehicles, such as railroad vehicles, are of bench type, and this type of seat extends longer in a direction of from one side thereof to the other, being able to accommodate a plurality of persons, and generally installed along the wall face of a vehicular side wall. As such a seat, the rotary seat is known which can be turned around the turning shaft at the center of the seat to change over the directed state thereof from a longitudinally directed state, in which the seat back face side is in parallel with the wall face, to a crosswise directed state, in which the seat back face side is orthogonal to the wall face, or vice versa.
With such a rotary seat, the turning shaft is generally fixed in a single place, and it is required that the seat be installed away from the side wall such that, when the seat is turned, the locus drawn by a corner of the seat (i.e., the turning trajectory circle of the seat) will not be interfered with the side wall. Consequently, there has been presented a problem that a gap is required to be provided between the seat and the side wall, or the seat is needed to be installed, being protruded toward the aisle in the vehicle, thereby the width of the aisle or the seat being narrowed down, resulting in the limited space in the vehicle being not be able to be effectively utilized.
Then, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the patent literature 1 proposes a seat changing-over mechanism with which, when the directed state of a seat is to be changed over from a longitudinally directed state to a crosswise directed state, or vice versa, a second movable frame of a seat is slid forward with respect to a first movable frame of the same in order to secure a sufficient turning radius of the seat. With such seat directed-state changing-over mechanism, the seat is once slid to be protruded toward the aisle, and after a sufficient turning radius having been secured, the seat is turned through 90 deg., and then again slid toward the side wall to restore the original position of the second movable frame relative to the first movable frame.
Further, the patent literature 2 proposes a seat disposition-state changing-over device that is provided with a transmission mechanism in addition to the respective mechanisms for seat turning and sliding, and that, in changing over the directed state of a seat, interlocks turning of a seat with sliding of the same by means of the transmission mechanism. With such seat disposition-state changing-over device, a sliding frame is slidably supported on a fixed frame, the seat being turnably mounted on the sliding frame, and through the engagement of one component with another, turning of a seat is interlocked with sliding of the same.


A process of treating whole cottonseed to improve the handleability and digestibility of the cottonseed is provided. In general, the process comprises the steps of: (a) adjusting the pH to equal or less than three of an aqueous composition having a sugar concentration of at least 5 percent by weight; and (b) applying the aqueous composition to whole cottonseed. According to another aspect of the invention, the process further comprises the step of drying the whole cottonseed after applying the aqueous composition. According to a modified process of treating whole cottonseed to improve the handleability and digestibility of the cottonseed, the process comprises the steps of: (a) applying an aqueous sugar composition having a sugar concentration to of at least 5 percent by weight to the whole cottonseed; and (b) applying an acidic aqueous solution having a pH equal to or less than three to the whole cottonseed. According to yet another aspect of the invention, the treated whole cottonseed product of the process is used as a new feed ingredient for animal feed, particularly a ruminant.

Whole cottonseed is produced in large quantities from cotton cultivation. After the cotton has been picked from the boll of the cotton plant, it is processed through a cotton gin that combs through the cotton to separate the seeds from the cotton fibers. The whole cottonseed that is separated from the cotton is covered with a coat of residual cotton fibers, known as "linters" or "fuzz," giving the cottonseed a fuzzy appearance. Thus, whole cottonseed is sometimes referred to fuzzy cottonseed, fluffy cottonseed, or linter-bearing cottonseed.
The cotton gin and the textile producing machinery of the late industrial revolution lead to a dramatic increase of cotton production. At first, the cottonseed was considered to be a waste product of producing cotton and of little commercial value except to the extent needed as planting seed for future crops. In the middle of the nineteenth century, it was discovered that cottonseed could be squeezed to yield a useful oil. Later, the residue of the oil making process was used as a feed supplement for grazing animals. Whole cottonseed has become recognized as being a desirable animal feedstuff because of its rich combination of nutritive protein, fibre, and fat contents, and its availability at a reasonable cost.
The livestock feed industry's requirements for cottonseed are different from the requirements of the planting seed industry. For example, relatively speaking, planting seed is characterized by high quality, high cost, and low volume. Cottonseed for use as a feed, in contrast, is characterized by lesser quality, lower cost, and high volume. Therefore, a high cost per unit volume for improving the flow characteristics of planting seed may be acceptable whereas it would not be acceptable for livestock feed.
Whole cottonseed, however, has some undesirable physical characteristics that make the handling of this feed ingredient difficult. For example, the material has a very low bulk density, which means that it has a large volume for a given weight of material, so that handling and shipping of the material is inefficient. Handling whole cottonseed in most processing equipment used in a feed mill is also difficult. The many soft cotton fibers on the seeds tend to become entangled and cause clumping of the seeds, resulting in very poor flowability. This trait is sometimes referred to as "bridging" of the cottonseeds across an opening, which tends to close or bridge the opening and prevent flow of the material. Thus, the handling characteristics of whole cottonseed are similar to those of common cotton balls available from a retail drug store. The poor flowability characteristics of whole cottonseed creates a need for specialized equipment to transport and handle the cottonseed.
In the past, efforts at delinting the cottonseed have included mechanical or chemical delinting, but the additional processing for this purpose has generally negated the commercial viability of whole cottonseed as an inexpensive feedstuff.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,204,102 issued Apr. 20, 1993 and having Richard G. Coles and Ian J. Broadfoot as named inventors, discloses a process and apparatus for treating cottonseed to make an animal feedstuff. The process preferably includes the steps of initially partially delinting the whole cottonseed by singeing the cottonseed in an open flame and removing the charcoal that is produced during such singeing by abrasion such as passing the flame delinted seed through a buffing trommel. The partially delinted cottonseed is then coated with a "binder" and a "filler" combination to cement the cotton fibers to the seed and provide a cementitious base to which the filler is adhered so as to completely encapsulate the seed and provide an integral flowable product. The binder initially has a sticky or tacky consistency but is capable of setting to a solid state when mixed with the filler. The suitable "binders" are gums such as gum arabic, starches, lignasite, and molasses. The suitable "filler" are inert mineral powders such as calcium carbonate, lime, diatomaceous earth, forms of clay such as bentonite and kaolin, extruded or textured proteins such as those derived from soybeans, and ground cereal grains such as corn, wheat, barely, maize, and sorghum, and mixtures thereof Optional "additives" to the coating are generally described as vitamins, minerals, trace elements, veterinarian products for the prevention, control or eradication of disease, and growth stimulating factors. U.S. Pat. No. 5,363,754 issued Nov. 15, 1994 and having Richard G. Coles and Ian J. Broadfoot as named inventors is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat. No. 5,204,102 that expands its definition of "binders" to include a syrup such as corn syrup.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,750,466 issued May 12, 1998 and having Thomas C. Wedegaertner, Thomas D. Valco, and William F. Lalor as named inventors discloses coating linter-bearing cottonseed with starch and one or more biologically related materials generally described as being selected from the group consisting of vitamins, feed supplements, oils, fats, ores, rodent repellents, insect repellants, medications, antigermination agents, and preservatives for use as an animal feed and as planting stock. The starch coating is intended to allow the cottonseed to be used in conventional feed handling and seed planting equipment. According to U.S. Pat. No. 5,750,466, the process for coating cottonseed consists essentially of the steps of: (a) spraying linter-bearing cottonseed with a coating consisting essentially of a hot, aqueous, gelatinized starch suspension, optionally containing one or more of the listed biologically related materials; (b) drying the starch suspension coated cottonseed to yield starch coated cottonseed; (c) disaggregating the starch coated cottonseed; and (d) cooling and storing the starch-coated cottonseed.
While these patents have advanced the state of the art of coating whole cottonseed, further improvements in handleability and digestibility would be desirable to make full use of whole cottonseed as a nutritive feed ingredient.

Acidic treatment for improving handleability and digestibility of whole cottonseed

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Embodiments are disclosed for a wireless wearable computer with fitness machine connectivity for improved activity monitoring using caloric expenditure models. In an embodiment, a method comprises: establishing, by a processor of a wireless wearable computer worn by a user, a wireless communication connection with a fitness machine; obtaining, by the processor using the communication connection, machine data from the fitness machine while the user is engaged in a workout session on the fitness machine; obtaining, from a heart rate sensor of the wireless device, heart rate data of the user; determining, by the processor, a work rate caloric expenditure by applying a work rate calorie model to the machine data; determining, by the processor, a calibrated maximal oxygen consumption of the user based on the heart rate data and the work rate caloric expenditure; determining, by the processor, a heart rate caloric expenditure by applying a heart rate calorie model to the heart rate data and the calibrated maximal oxygen consumption of the user; and sending, by the processor to the fitness machine via the communication connection, at least one of the work rate caloric expenditure or the heart rate caloric expenditure.

Some wearable computers (e.g., smartwatch, fitness band) include a fitness application that uses a digital pedometer to track a user's daily movements and provide custom notifications related to progress and workout results, such as distance traveled and calories burned. Some fitness applications also monitor the user's heart rate, which can be used to calculate calories burned. A typical digital pedometer relies on accelerometer data from an accelerometer to determine when a step is taken. If the wearable computer is worn on the wrist, accelerations due to arm swing are used to determine step counts. These steps counts can be inaccurate (e.g., due to irregular or muted arm swings) resulting in inaccurate distance traveled measurements. The heart rate can be measured using an optical sensor embedded in the wearable computer.
When a user works out in a gym, they will often use a fitness machine that includes a processor that monitors the workout and generates fitness metrics summarizing the workout. For example, a treadmill may display to the user the total distance traveled, elapsed time and total calories burned during the workout. The total distance traveled is typically accurate because it is based on rotation of the treadmill motor shaft rather than accelerometer data, but the total calories burned is often an estimate based on a model that does not include the actual heart rate of the user, or in the case of anaerobic calorie burn, cannot be observed through the heart rate.

Wearable computer with fitness machine connectivity for improved activity monitoring using caloric expenditure models


A printed circuit board support frame for protecting and transporting a printed circuit board. The support frame is molded from moldable materials and comprises a base wall section having elevated support ribs on a top face thereof for supporting the printed circuit board elevated from the base wall section. The base wall section has a hinged retention side wall member formed along a pair of opposed parallel edges thereof. The retention side wall members, when hinged outwardly of the base wall, permit the circuit board to be positioned on the support ribs over the base wall section. The retention side wall members have one or more clamping shoulders projecting forwardly over opposed top side edge portions of the circuit board when the side wall members are maintained in a vertical position to clamp the circuit board over the support ribs. Abutment wall members are formed at predetermined locations on the base wall section to prevent the circuit board from displacement.

The present invention relates to a printed circuit board support frame for protecting and transporting a printed circuit board in a shipping container or for protecting the circuit board when handled by persons in the trade.
It is known to ship printed circuit boards in corrugated cartons with form cushioning material and sometimes also in plastic containers which are comprised of a base shell which supports a circuit board in an elevated fashion, usually by a contour ridge, and wherein a cover or a top shell is positioned over the bottom shell and abuts the rear side of the printed circuit board to clamp it in the support frame. The component side of the board is usually facing downwardly and spaced from the bottom wall of the bottom shell. One or a plurality of these support frames can be retained in a shipping container in a stacked fashion with the circuit boards immovable therein due to the close spacing between the side walls and top wall of the container(s).

Packaging for protecting printed circuit board and other products


Systems and methods for treating a tissue region employ an expandable structure projecting beyond the distal end of a catheter tube. A distal tail projects beyond the far end of the basket assembly. The distal tail includes a guidewire lumen that accommodates passage of a guidewire without threading the guidewire through the catheter tube.

Procedures requiring insertion of an external instrument into the body, e.g., through the oral cavity into the esophagus, are known. Bite blocks are typically used to hole the patient's mouth open during these procedures. During these procedures, it also may be necessary to locate the instrument in an intended position. It may also be necessary to stabilize the instrument in an intended position.
There remains a need for simple, cost-effective ways to introduce an instrument through the oral cavity to locate the instrument and to selectively maintain the instrument in a fixed and stable position during a given medical procedure.

Systems and methods employing a guidewire for positioning and stabilizing external instruments deployed within the body


The present invention relates to a system and methodology facilitating automated audit recording and tracking of PLC-based interactions. A recording component is provided that interacts with an application that can change or alter one or more characteristics of PLC operations. The recording component can be client-based on the same or associated platform as the application or can be embedded within a control system component. When interactions have been recorded, a tracking component aggregates such interactions in a file or record stored in a local or remote database, wherein audit reports that document control interactions or changes can automatically be generated from such files. Recorded interactions can be stored in a substantially real time manner and include records of all interactions with a control system as opposed to merely saving a final program or resultant image of such interactions, thus facilitating a more controlled and secure auditing environment.

Industrial controllers are special-purpose computers utilized for controlling industrial processes, manufacturing equipment, and other factory automation, such as data collection or networked systems. In accordance with a control program, the industrial controller, having an associated processor (or processors), measures one or more process variables or inputs reflecting the status of a controlled system, and changes outputs effecting control of such system. The inputs and outputs may be binary, (e.g., on or off), as well as analog inputs and outputs assuming a continuous range of values.
Measured inputs received from such systems and the outputs transmitted by the systems generally pass through one or more input/output (I/O) modules. These I/O modules serve as an electrical interface to the controller and may be located proximate or remote from the controller including remote network interfaces to associated systems. Inputs and outputs may be recorded in an I/O table in processor memory, wherein input values may be asynchronously read from one or more input modules and output values written to the I/O table for subsequent communication to the control system by specialized communications circuitry (e.g., back plane interface, communications module). Output modules may interface directly with one or more control elements, by receiving an output from the I/O table to control a device such as a motor, valve, solenoid, amplifier, and the like.
At the core of the industrial control system, is a logic processor such as a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) or PC-based controller. Programmable Logic Controllers for instance, are programmed by systems designers to operate manufacturing processes via user-designed logic programs or user programs. The user programs are stored in memory and generally executed by the PLC in a sequential manner although instruction jumping, looping and interrupt routines, for example, are also common. Associated with the user program are a plurality of memory elements or variables that provide dynamics to PLC operations and programs. These variables can be user-defined and can be defined as bits, bytes, words, integers, floating point numbers, timers, counters and/or other data types to name but a few examples.
Many industries such as chemical, pharmaceutical and other process applications employ PLC's and associated modules to automatically manufacture a plurality of various products. However, these type industries are often highly regulated and generally require extensive documentation of the overall manufacturing process in order to provide controls on the quality of products that are produced (e.g., controls regulating manufacturing processes in order to facilitate public safety). One such regulation relates to FDA regulation "21 CFR Part 11" that outlines an electronic validation procedure when documenting corresponding changes to such processes. For example, this includes how records are kept, who can access such records, and what procedures/controls are designed to ensure the authenticity, integrity, and, when appropriate, the confidentiality of electronic records.
Some attempts have been made at achieving compliance with the above noted regulation, whereby records of program changes may be generated after an editing procedure has already occurred to a program and often at a time that is far removed from the actual time of change. One example is that in some applications, a program change is recorded as part of a check-in procedure to a database which may occur well after the change has been made and may only reflect the final product of such changes. Thus, intermediate changes or other program interactions may go unrecorded. In contrast, given the discrete and real time nature of PLC systems, however, often times changes occur to various aspects of the PLC system that can have an immediate consequence on the system, yet not translate into an actual change to the underlying PLC program. For example, such changes can include real time forcing operations, wherein a bit may be forced to a value other than what the underlying logic has determined. Other changes such as clearing/setting a counter, register, and/or status area of PLC memory can also produce dramatic, process-changing results. In view of time sensitive transactions or changes that can occur in PLC-driven systems and the above regulations, there is a need for automated systems or components that can document changes in a more real time and controlled manner.

System and methodology providing audit recording and tracking in real time industrial controller environment


A method, apparatus and system for malware characterization includes receiving data identifying a presence of at least one anomaly of a respective portion of a processing function captured by at least one of each of at least two different sensor payloads and one sensor payload at two different times, determining a correlation between the at least two anomalies identified by the data captured by the at least one sensor payloads, and determining a presence of malware in the processing function based on the determined correlation. The method, apparatus and system can further include predicting an occurrence of at least one anomaly in the network based on at least one of current sensor payload data or previously observed and stored sensor payload data, recommending and/or initiating a remediation action and reporting a result of the malware characterization to a user.

Modern software is complex and operates in parallel with very intricate data dependencies among different threads. Malware that has infected a computer can easily hide, making a detection of such malware very challenging especially when the presence of code that can alert to the existence of malware is subtle.
Malware characteristics include location, appearance, communication, propagation methods, and target environment impact. Malware Characterization is the process of identifying malware characteristics, and in general, the process is manual, slow, and labor-intensive. No integrated framework and automation exists that provides intelligent guidance and assistance to the human analyst, and there is no automated or semi-automated means to combine multiple pieces of malware characteristics to create a cyber-weapon profile. Current standard practice in malware detection is a static one-way flow of information, from sensed output to analysis, comprising of comparisons of malware signatures against a stored database. This approach leads to a weakness in the ability to cover large areas of the computing platform with low latency, and the ability to dynamically tune and adapt to malware characteristics.
More specifically, the process of Localization to find all malware-infected devices currently requires advanced technical skills and is very time consuming. Traditional IT network scanning tools cannot be used to locate devices, as these often cause industrial control systems (ICS) devices to crash. Today, humans must manually locate and inspect each device for infection.
Furthermore, Remediation, a process of planning and taking the actions necessary to restore devices and the overall system to proper function, is also manual and tedious with no automated support.

Method of malware characterization and prediction