A powered portable laser bandage having one or many vertical cavity surface-emitting laser arrays embedded therein may be worn by a patient and applied to an area of the patient's body near the heart. The device supplies the patient with a preprogrammed laser therapy regimen. A physician programs the device and attaches the device to a patient who may then wear the device for several days without visiting a physician. The device is small enough to be worn under clothes and does not interfere with the patient's normal activities. The low-level laser energy promotes angiogenesis of the heart myocardium. Alternatively, the device may be adapted to be implanted into a skin surface of the patient, or provided in a catheter that is inserted in the vasculature system of the patient.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for applying laser beam energy in the treatment of medical conditions. Specifically, the present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for applying low-level laser beam energy, using a vertical cavity surface-emitting laser or an array thereof, to promote angiogenesis of the heart muscle wall following cardiac ischemia, during and after myocardial revascularization, and immediately following acute myocardial infarction and for a time thereafter. Additionally, the present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for applying low power laser therapy directly to the coronary vasculature and blood system affected by these medical conditions.
2. Background
The number one killer in the U.S. and worldwide is heart disease accounting for 1,500,000 heart attacks in the U.S. and 500,000 U.S. deaths per year. As a result of coronary artery disease ("CAD"), individuals suffer from insufficient blood supply to the heart muscle. This can result in silent cardiac ischemia in which the patient is unaware that there is a deficiency of blood supply to the heart muscle. Another form of CAD manifests itself in chest pains--angina pectoris--and the disease in either of these forms can progress to myocardial infarct or acute complete deficiency of blood supply to the heart muscle.
When the disease progresses to this stage ("MI") there is pennanent damage to the heart muscle starting with deterioration of the heart muscle due to weakening of the collagen framework and progressing to expansion of the heart wall. If healing does not occur in time, the heart wall ruptures and death occurs.
The present methods of treatment involves drugs to thin the blood, drugs to reduce high blood pressure, balloon angioplasty and stents to expand the narrowed coronary arteries, thrombolytic drugs to open the blocked arteries in acute MI, and a number of invasive surgical procedures with their attendant mortality risks. After spending approximately $300 million on drug research in the past ten years no effective drug therapy has been discovered and the death rate from MI continues to remain at about 500,000/year in the U.S. and is bound to grow with the increase in the average age of the population.
The application of laser beam energy in the treatment of medical conditions such as wounds, ulcers, nerve injuries and muscle injuries is known. Studies have shown that low-power laser beam energy (1-500 mW) and in varying wavelengths (400-1300 nm) delivering 0.5-7 J/cm.sup.2 is effective in the treatment of these various medical conditions.
Studies have shown that low power laser energy stimulates fibroblasts and other cells important in the wound healing process to release a number of growth factors in greater amounts than without laser photostimulation, thus enhancing and accelerating the wound healing process. Increased proliferation of fibroblasts and keratinocytes has been reported in a number of studies as well as the release of cytokines from Langerhans cells and the release of growth factors from macrophages.
Wei Yu reported in Photochemistry and Photobiology, 1994 that low energy laser irradiation increased the release of basic fibroblast growth factor (bfGF). bfGF is a potent mitogen and chemoattractant for fibroblasts and endothelial cells and induces a predominantly angiogenic response in the healing wound. These growth factors stimulate growth of new blood vessels in the healing wound ("angiogenesis"), increased collagen deposition, and increased tensile strength in the healing scar.
Of importance to this particular application, low power laser therapy has been shown to enhance and accelerate wound healing and reduce scar tissue while enhancing the collagen composition and tensile strength of the healed scar. Enwemeka reported this effect in healing rabbit tendons in Laser Therapy Journal--1994. A significant clinical demonstration of the increased tensile strength of scars healed with low power laser therapy was reported recently by Kleinman et al. in Laser Therapy Journal--1996.
The ability to influence and accelerate the formation of collagen and microcirculation immediately after MI by photomodulation is important in preventing the weakening of the collagen framework and subsequent expansion and rupture of the heart muscle which leads to death.
Low-level laser energy has also been known to have a profound effect on blood biochemical indexes, homeostasis, erythrocyte and leukocyte blood count, and platelet aggregation. In a study by Salansky published in The American Society of Laser Medicine and Surgery, transcutaneous application of 660 nm laser energy at 6 mW was shown to have a significant effect on leukocytes and erythrocytes. In that same study, photon irradiation resulted in significant activation of antioxidant enzymes, reduction of hyper-coagulation, and increase of lipid peroxidation in stress-immobilized animals.
In the Laser Therapy Journal, Kipshidze published a study of 900 patients with acute MI whose intravenous blood was irradiated with low-power laser energy within the first four hours following MI. Data of organ-specific enzyme monitoring and ECG mapping showed limitation of the ischemic area. Moreover, antioxidant blood activity and blood and tissue oxygen contents increased. ECG monitoring showed that laser therapy had a high antiarrhythmic effect and reduced ventricular fibrillation. Intravenous laser irradiation was shown to significantly limit the ischemic damage and accelerate the scarring process.
Conventional low power laser therapeutic devices generally comprise a hand-held probe with a single laser beam source, or a large, stationary table console with attached probe(s) powered by a conventional fixed power supply. A common laser beam source is a laser diode. Laser diodes are commercially available in varying power and wavelength combinations. Large probes which contain multiple laser diodes affixed to a stand are also known. Such large, multi-beam devices are typically very expensive and require extensive involvement of medical personnel when treating a patient.
For example, in a device such as the large probe containing multiple beam sources discussed above, this device is typically affixed to a stand which has to be focused and controlled by a doctor or ancillary medical personnel. In addition to adding to the cost of the device and the treatment therewith, such a device requires a patient to travel to the location of the laser treatment device in order to obtain the laser therapy. Studies have shown that such treatment typically must be provided on a regular basis (e.g., every few hours or daily) once the treatment is initiated in order to be effective and to produce optimum results. This requires numerous patient visits to the treatment facility or extensive waiting on the part of the patient. As it is common for problems to arise which necessitate a patient missing a visit to the treatment facility, or for a patient to be inconsistent in the times at which appointments are scheduled, the efficiency of the treatment regimen may be lowered or the length of the treatment regimen (i.e., the number of patient visits) may be increased.
In the case of emergency medical conditions, such as MI, a conventional hand-held device is a less than optimal solution. More specifically, the operator of the device would be required to continuously apply the apply the laser energy when needed. This would result in added labor costs, thus making the device even more expensive. Further, self-application of laser energy is not feasible.
In addition to increasing the financial cost to the patient, a patient may be adversely affected by the number of required visits to the treatment facility in ways which are less tangible. That is, in addition to being away from family members, a patient is generally incapable of working or otherwise being productive while at the treatment facility. The high number of visits interferes with a patient's normal routine and can adversely affect a patient's job performance or home life.
Accordingly, a need exists for a method and apparatus for low-power laser treatment of MI, that is economical, convenient and more efficient than was previously possible.

Method and apparatus for therapeutic laser treatment


A railway vehicle coupler including a coupler body and a knuckle rotatable about a vertical axis. A stress relieving bracket extends integrally from the coupler body and engages the knuckle in bearing relationship between upper and lower pivot connections mounting the knuckle for pivotal movement on the body. The stress relieving bracket when in bearing relationship with knuckle serves to transfer stresses from the knuckle to the coupler body during train operation.

The present invention relates to railway couplers and more particularly to railway couplers of the type having rotatable knuckles which are operative to swing or rotate about a vertical axis into a locked position to interconnect adjoining railway cars and having an improved structure for relieving the stresses imposed on interacting elements including the coupler pin.
Rotatable knuckle type of couplers are exemplified by the American Association of Railroads (AAR) type E and F couplers. These couplers are used extensively throughout the world and include a coupler housing having upper and lower laterally extending pivot lugs. The pivot lugs are each provided with axially aligned openings and pin protector bosses which embrace opposite ends of knuckle pin about which the knuckle pivots between a coupler locked and unlocked position. In the locked position the knuckle is inter-engaged with a coupler knuckle of an adjacent railway car and it rotates to the unlocked position to release the cars from each other.
In recent years the load carrying capacity of the railway cars has been materially increased. As for example, in coal hauling cars. High stresses occur in the coupler at the pulling lugs, pivot lugs and pin protectors. Such stress causes wear to occur in the bearing surfaces of these elements and of the pin ends journaled in the pivot lugs and the associated pin protector bosses projecting from the lugs. Wear at the bearing surfaces of the pulling lugs and pin protectors permits the knuckle to translate forwardly within the coupler head and to apply shear and bending forces to the knuckle pin and the associated pin mounting structure. The design of the knuckle pin and associated mounting structure is such that it cannot be relied upon to adequately transmit and distribute the pulling forces to the coupler body.
It is an object of the present invention to provide increased bearing contact area between the knuckle and coupler head within the existing envelope to more uniformly distribute the stresses and thereby obviate the difficulties encountered heretofore.

Coupler knuckle pin protector structure and stress reliever


The Genie disposable pedicure slipper is formed from a single piece of material that consist of polyurethane foam fabric. The pedicure slipper is intended to be worn as slipper on the users foot. The sole of the slipper is designed to conform to the outline of the human foot. The bottom surface structure is designed to give support, comfort and rest for the users foot. There are two strap portions of the sheet material. One of the strap portions comes from the heel of the sole and is cut to form an appendage. The other strap portion comes from the toe of the sole and has a slit. The two straps when folded over serve as a buckle by inserting the appendage into the slit.

There are times when the use of temporary footwear is desired. A few examples of locations where temporary footwear may be utilized are at, spas, hotels, health clubs, doctors offices, hospitals, and pedicure salons. Conventional footwear can be used on a temporary basis. Furthermore, reusable footwear raises concerns about hygiene. Therefore a disposable footwear product is preferred for temporary use.
U.S. Pat. No. 62,985,580, discloses a slipper to be worn during pedicure. The slipper in patent 629 has significant limitations, first, there is only one strap to keep the foot from slipping out of the slipper making difficult for the user to keep the slipper on. Second it does not allow the wearer the opportunity to be mobile due to the one strap that doesn't fasten tightly to the users foot. Lastly, the slipper is cost prohibitive to manufacture as a disposable article.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,226,983, discloses a slipper to be worn during pedicure. The slipper in patent 622 has significant limitations, first, it spaces apart the toes to an extent of discomfort. Second, it is very puzzling and sophisticated to use and wear. Lastly, it doesn't secure the feet to the slipper making it difficult to be mobile.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,870,837, discloses a slipper to be worn during pedicure. The slipper in patent 580 has significant limitations, first, the slipper has a puzzling structure that requires the toes of the user to be spaced in difficult positions. Second, it also doesn't support the user foot making the slipper uncomfortable for the user to wear. Lastly, the slipper is cost prohibitive to manufacture as a disposable article.
Furthermore each of the disclosed assembly suffers from one or more of the aforementioned limitations. There is a well-established need for a comfortable mobile pedicure slipper wearable during and after the performance of a pedicure.


A system and method wherein a bus arbiter grants access to a bus to bus-coupled clients in order to provide access to a memory resource shared by the clients in response to “address retry” conditions induced by such clients. The bus arbiter provides access to the bus in response to whether one of the requesting clients experienced an “address retry” condition during its previous bus access. If such an address retry condition was experienced during its previous bus access, the bus arbiter grants such one of the requesting clients access to the bus at the earliest opportunity. Otherwise, the bus arbiter provides bus access to the requesting one, or ones, of the clients based on criteria independent of “address retry” conditions being induced on the bus.

As is known in the art, many data systems have a plurality of clients that share a memory resource via a bus. At times, more than one of these clients may request access to the shared memory resource. Thus, a bus arbiter is provided to determine which client will be granted access to the memory resource via the bus. One typical algorithm, or criteria, used by the bus arbiter to resolve multiple requests for the memory resource is to grant access to the bus based on a first come-first served basis.
In executing some data processing requirement, a first client may retrieve data located at a particular shared memory location, process the retrieved data locally, and after processing such data store the processed data back into the shared memory resource at the same memory location. When any client wishes to process data located in the shared memory, the client requests access to the bus. After the client is granted access to the bus by the bus arbiter, it executes an address phase and an associated data phase on the bus, thus retrieving the shared data to a resource that is local to the client. Assume that another, i.e. second, client is later granted access to the bus by the bus arbiter. Assume also that this second client wishes to process data located at the same memory location while the first client is still locally processing the data it has retrieved from that memory location. As noted above, after being granted access to the bus by the bus arbiter, the second client initiates an address phase on the bus. The other clients on the bus monitor the address placed on the bus during the address phase by the client who was granted access to the bus. In this example, the first client detects that the address placed in the bus by the second client during the second client's address phase refers to data that is currently being processed locally by the first client. In response to the detected address, the first client induces an "address retry" (ARTRY) condition on the bus. In response to the ARTRY condition induced on the bus by the first client, the second client terminates its address phase and does not execute the associated data phase. Subsequent bus requests by the bus clients are resolved by the bus arbiter in accordance with certain predetermined criteria. Thus, the bus arbiter may next grant access to the bus to the first client or some other, i.e., a third client. This grant, however, was issued independently of whether any one of the clients had its address phase interrupted by an ARTRY condition being induced on the bus during the previous bus access. Thus, after the first client completes it's desired data processing, and the second client re-requests access to the bus, the bus arbiter will grant access to the bus in accordance with predetermined criteria, independent of whether a requesting client, here the second client, experienced an ARTRY condition during the address phases of its previous bus access. It should be noted that there might be a number of other clients wishing access to the bus. With such an arrangement, the bus arbiter is not sensitive to this ARTRY condition. The result of such insensitivity is that bus access latency is indeterminate for the second bus client due to the possibility of bus access being granted to other clients before the second client re-obtains access to the bus.


A communication apparatus which can carry out a facsimile communication with a calling station and a speech communication with the calling station. The communication apparatus includes, a monitoring block for monitoring received signals, a first determining block for determining, based on a result obtained by the monitoring block, whether or not a first signal transmitted from the calling station is received, a transmission block for transmitting a second signal to the calling station, a first control block for activating the transmission block in a case where the first determining block determines that the first signal is not received within a first time after the communication apparatus becomes capable of communicating to the calling station, a ringing unit for outputting a ringing tone, a second control block for activating the ringing unit when a second time elapses from a time at which the transmission block starts to transmit the second signal, and a third control block for performing the facsimile communication when the first determining block determines that the first signal is received.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a communication apparatus capable of data communications and speech communications using a telephone set, and more particularly to a communication apparatus selectively performing a reception procedure in a data communication or a process for outputting a ringing tone to call an operator in a speech communication in accordance with a received signal.
(2) Description of the Related Art
A facsimile machine which can selectively perform a facsimile communication which is a type of the data communications or a speech communication has been proposed. In this type of facsimile machine, the facsimile machine determines whether the communication required by a calling station is the facsimile communication or the speech communication in accordance with received signals. When the speech communication is required by the calling station, the facsimile machine outputs a ringing tone so as to call an operator. When the facsimile communication is required by the calling station, the facsimile carries out an automatic receiving process in the facsimile communication. In this type of facsimile machine, when the operator called by the ringing tone performs predetermined operations including an off-hook operation of the telephone set, the speech communication to the calling station can be carried out via the telephone set.
In the facsimile disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid Open Publication No. 62-260473, the type of communication required by the calling station is determined in the following manner.
After a called facsimile is connected with a line, a received signal is monitored for a predetermined time. When a calling tone signal (a CNG signal) is detected while monitoring the received signal, the reception procedure in the facsimile communication starts. On the other hand, when the CNG signal is not detected, the operator is called by a buzzer or the like.
The CNG signal is a signal transmitted first from the calling station in an automatic calling mode. However, a timing at which the CNG signal is transmitted varies in accordance with the type of calling facsimile machine. For example, one facsimile machine outputs the CNG signal immediately after a called facsimile is connected with the line. Another type of facsimile outputs the CNG signal a predetermined time, such as 10 seconds, after the called facsimile is connected with the line. Thus, the time required for monitoring the received signal must be long to always accurately detect the CNG signals transmitted from the various types of calling facsimiles.
When the speech communication is required by the calling station, a telephone set of the calling station is maintained in a silent state until the called operator responds to the call by using the telephone set. Thus, in the case where the time required for monitoring the received signal is long, the telephone set of the calling station is maintained in a silent state for a long time. In this case, a calling operator feels uneasy.
Conventionally, a facsimile machine disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid Open Publication No.2-7763 has been also proposed. In this type of facsimile machine, when the buzzer starts to be activated to call the operator after it is determined that the speech communication is required by the calling station, a predetermined signal tone is transmitted to the calling station.
However, as the telephone set of the calling station is maintained in the silent state until the conventional facsimile detects that the speech communication is required by the calling station, if the time for monitoring the received signal is made long in order to accurately detect the CNG signal, the telephone set is maintained in the silent state for a long time. Thus, in this case also, the calling operator feel uneasy.

Communication apparatus capable of data communication and speech communication


Certain embodiments of the present invention include a method for rapidly designing pharmaceutical preparations for preventing viral infection that have adapted to growth in various culturing systems but maintain antigenic similarity to the original virus. The method may include serial passaging a plurality of instances of a targeted virus strain from an infected first animal in respective droplets in second animal cells, in parallel synthesizing antibodies that neutralize the targeted virus strain in a third animal, and selecting the second animal cell-adapted viral lineages that are neutralized by the antibodies to identify second animal cell-adapted viral lineages having antigenic similarity to the targeted virus strain.

Influenza viruses are three genera of genetically diverse single-stranded RNA, enveloped viruses in the Orthomyxoviridae family. Influenza spreads worldwide in seasonal epidemics, resulting in about three to five million cases of severe illness and 250,000 to 500,000 deaths annually. Influenza is known to be transmitted through the air by coughs and sneezes, through direct contact with bird droppings or nasal secretions, or through contact with contaminated surfaces. Influenza infection is characterized by fever, chills, cough, nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, body aches, fatigue, headache, watering eyes, reddened skin, and petechiae.
Other exemplary viruses include norovirus, dengue, and Ebola. Norovirus, for example, is a genus of genetically diverse single-stranded RNA, non-enveloped viruses in the Caliciviridae family. Norovirus is known to be transmitted by fecally-contaminated food or water, by person-to-person contact, and via aerosolization of the virus and subsequent contamination of surfaces. Noroviruses are the most common cause of viral gastroenteritis in humans and affect people of all ages. Norovirus infection is characterized by nausea, forceful vomiting, watery diarrhea, abdominal pain, and in some cases, loss of taste. General lethargy, weakness, muscle aches, headache, and low-grade fever may occur. The disease is usually self-limiting, and severe illness is rare. However, the virus affects around 267 million people and causes over 200,000 deaths each year.
Furthermore, the dengue virus, for example, is a mosquito-borne single positive-stranded RNA virus of the family Flaviviridae, genus Flavivirus. The dengue virus in one of five serotypes is the cause of dengue fever, but all serotypes can cause the full spectrum of disease, including dengue fever, dengue hemorrhagic fever, and dengue shock syndrome. The dengue virus is known to be transmitted by several species of mosquito within the genus Aedesa, primarily A. aegypti. Dengue fever is characterized by fever, headache, muscle and joint pains, and a characteristic skin rash. Dengue hemorrhagic fever is characterized by bleeding, low levels of blood platelets, and blood plasma leakage, while dengue shock syndrome is characterized by myocardial depression, circumoral cyanosis, petechiae, hematemesis, melena, epistaxis, and possible pneumonia and/or myocarditis. The dengue virus infects 50 to 528 million people worldwide annually, leading to half a million hospitalizations and approximately 25,000 deaths.
Additionally, Ebola virus, for example, is a genus of genetically diverse single-stranded RNA, enveloped viruses in the Filoviridae family. Ebola typically occurs in outbreaks with 1,716 cases in 24 outbreaks through 2013. However, as of November 2014, the 2014 outbreak alone has resulted in 14,413 reported cases and 5,504 deaths. Ebola is known to be transmitted through direct contact with blood or other bodily fluids of an infected human or other animal. Ebola infection is characterized by fever, sore throat, muscle pain, headaches, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, impaired liver and kidney function, and internal and external hemorrhaging.
Vaccines are not currently commercially available for norovirus, dengue, or Ebola but are desperately needed. Influenza vaccines, however, have been manufactured for over 70 years using a process that involves infecting embryonated chicken eggs with influenza virus. The process is difficult to automate, labor-intensive, costly and creates significant risk of contamination. Another significant drawback to current vaccine manufacturing is poor virus yield. Moreover, viruses can often evolve or mutate over time. In some cases the evolution of viruses can occur rather rapidly, which makes screening, identification, and distribution of neutralizing antibodies in a timely and cost-effective manner particularly difficult. Furthermore, the currently used technologies described above do not guarantee that the developed vaccine will be effective against the original human-circulating strain or any of its close relatives. The developed vaccines may not be effective because the evolutionary adaptation of the virus during propagation in eggs during vaccine production may potentially change the surface proteins of the viruses such that they induce the production of antibodies that, while able to effectively neutralize the egg-adapted virus, do not neutralize the original human strain.
Therefore there at least remains a need in the art for a method for rapidly designing pharmaceutical preparations for preventing viral infection that have adapted to growth in various culturing systems but maintain antigenic similarity to the original virus.

Method for rapidly designing pharmaceutical preparations for preventing viral infection


An image forming apparatus has an image reading portion for reading an image of an original and which is disposed in an upper part of the apparatus, an image forming portion for forming an image on a sheet and which is disposed below the image reading portion with a space portion between the image reading portion and the image forming portion, and a sheet delivery portion disposed in the space portion. There is a taper formed on an edge portion of a bottom of the image reading portion defining the space portion so that a sheet treating apparatus for performing treatment such as sorting, alignment, or stapling of sheets on which the images are formed, is mounted in the space portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine and a facsimile machine, and more particularly to a sheet treating apparatus capable of being mounted on an in-body delivery type image forming apparatus delivering a sheet in a space formed between an image-forming portion and an image-reading portion.
2. Description of the Related Art
For example, like a copying machine, a facsimile machine and the like, many image forming apparatus equipped with image-reading portions for reading originals (hereinafter referred to as "scanners") set the scanners at their upper portions. In particular, almost all of the machines that are used popularly in offices and form images by an electrophotographic process employ the setting.
Moreover, the number of the so-called multiple function processing machines that combine the functions of printers and of copying machines or the functions of printers and of facsimile machines is recently increasing for the purpose of reducing the cost and setting spaces of respective machines.
Moreover, the so-called in-body delivery type image forming apparatus that has decreased installation-space-requirements has been realized. The in-body delivery type image forming apparatus disposes its scanner and its image-forming portion separately to form a space between them, and thereby the apparatus can dispose its delivery tray in a state of not protruding to the outside of the apparatus, which makes the installation space requirements of the apparatus small.
As a concrete example of the in-body delivery type image forming apparatus, a copying machine shown in FIG. 40A was invented. The copying machine includes an image-reading portion 100, an image-forming portion 101 and a delivery space portion 102 for the delivery of sheets. The delivery space portion 102 is disposed between the image-reading portion 100 and the image-forming portion 101. The copying machine disposes its delivery tray or the like, which conventionally protrudes to the outside of the machine, between the image-reading portion 100 and the image-forming portion 101, which makes it possible to decrease the installation space requirements of the copying machine by leaps and bounds.
Even for the space saving image forming apparatus as described above, the following structure is desired. That is, the space saving property thereof is kept by the structure. And, the so-called sheet treating apparatus, which is a sorter performing the sort and alignment of sheets, a finisher performing the processing such as stapling or the like, can be added to the structure as an option. In response to such a demand, an image forming apparatus of a type has already been proposed. The type is one such that a sheet treating apparatus is set in a sheet delivery space in the machine.
However, in the related art, the mounting method of the sheet treating apparatus and the operation efficiency of the mounting are not especially considered. When the sheet treating apparatus is connected with the sheet path (sheet transporting path) of the image forming apparatus, the precision of positioning is needed to be high for the prevention of sheet jamming. However, it was very difficult to perform the operation of the positioning and the like in the narrow sheet delivery space.
Moreover, because the related art structure is structured such that, for example, the sheet treating apparatus is mounted in the delivery space portion of the image forming apparatus and the image forming apparatus forming the space is disposed at an immediately upper part of the sheet treating apparatus, the space for stacking sheets on which images have been formed on a stacking tray of the sheet treating apparatus is narrow. Consequently, the related art structure has a problem. The problem is that the number of stackable sheets is limited.
Moreover, the related art structure makes it possible to reverse the surfaces of sheets by utilizing the delivery space portion in the case where images are formed on both the sides of the sheets. To put it concretely, as shown in FIG. 40B, the related art structure begins to deliver a sheet, on which an image has been formed by image forming means 103, with a delivery roller 104 for the time being. Next, the structure reverses the delivery roller 104 at a predetermined position to draw the sheet into the structure. Then, the structure transports the drawn sheet to the image forming means 103 again through a re-feed path 105 to form an image on the opposite side of the sheet. After that, the structure executes the operation of the delivery of the sheet to be stacked in the delivery space portion 102 with the delivery roller 104 again.
By employing the aforesaid structure, the related art can omit the structure of a surface reversing portion and the like that are needed in conventional structures, and thereby the related art can realize further miniaturization and the reducing of the cost.
However, it has recently been invented to dispose a treating apparatus 106 for executing stapling processing, sorting processing and the like in the delivery space portion 102 as shown in FIG. 41 for the coexistence of the space saving property thereof and the high productivity thereof. In the case where the treating apparatus 106 is set in the delivery space portion 102 in the copying machine that is possible to reverse the surfaces of sheets and was described with respect to the related art, it becomes necessary for the machine to be equipped with transportation rollers 106b, which receive a sheet delivered from the delivery roller 104 on the side of the main body of the machine and transport the received sheet to a treating portion 106a such as a stapler, a guide 106c and so forth.
When it is tried to reverse a sheet by reversing the delivery roller 104 conventionally in a copying machine mounting the treating apparatus 106, as described above, because the related art image forming apparatus operates such that the trailing end of a sheet on one side of which an image is recorded protrudes from a delivery port and is transported into the image forming apparatus at the time of reversing in case of duplex recording, the guaranteed stackable height, or the regulated value of the fully stacked height, of the related art image forming apparatus should be set at a lower value with a margin lest a surface-reversed sheet should push out an already stacked sheet. Moreover, the related art image forming apparatus has inconvenience. The inconvenience is that the apparatus will give a user an uneasy impression at the sight of the manner such that a sheet has once gone out and enters into the main body again.
Moreover, the surface reversing operation of the related art image forming apparatus in the state of setting the treating apparatus 106 is performed as follows. That is, an end portion of a long sheet enters into the reception portion, and then the long sheet passes through a nip by the transportation rollers 106b of the treating apparatus 106. After that, the long sheet is reversed.
When a stepping motor is used for the control of the transportation rollers 106b, the related art image forming apparatus consequently has a possibility of bringing about buckling, step-out and the like because suitable synchronization cannot be realized owing to the fact that different controllers are used for the delivery roller 104 of the main body of the image forming apparatus and the stepping motor. For the prevention of this possibility, it becomes necessary to add a new mechanism for releasing the nip of the transportation rollers 106b of the treating apparatus 106.
For the prevention of these problems, it becomes necessary to take the following measures. That is, the distance between the delivery roller 104 on the main body and the transportation rollers 106b is set to be large. In other words, the distance between the delivery roller 104 in the delivery space portion 102 and the treating apparatus 106. However, when the treating apparatus 106 is kept at a distance from the delivery roller 104, the treating apparatus 106 protrude from the main body of the copying machine, which impedes the achievement of the object of space saving.
Also the problems of increase in size and cost are produced because the mechanism for releasing the nip of the transportation roller 106b and other mechanisms are added.
Next, there is an image forming apparatus in a structure with a stack tray that can lift/lower and is disposed on the side of the image forming apparatus as an image forming apparatus capable of stacking a great many sheets on which images have been formed and stacks of sheets that have been subjected to an aftertreatment such as stitching after the formation of images. The height position of the uppermost sheet stacked on the stack tray is detected and adjusted by, for example, a sheet surface detection lever and a sheet surface detection sensor.
However, the related art image forming apparatus is worried about the following thing.
Because the stack tray is situated on the outside adjoining the image forming apparatus, then even if a sheet-aftertreatment apparatus is disposed between an image-reading portion and an image-forming portion, it is difficult to form the image forming apparatus in a small size. Accordingly, it is considerable to dispose the stack tray, too, between the image-reading portion and the operation portion of the main body of the image forming apparatus, and the image-forming portion. However, only by the employment of such a disposition, the stack tray is disposed immediately under the image-reading portion and the operation portion. Consequently, when a user looks the image-reading portion and the operation portion down from an upper position for taking out sheets or stacks of sheets that have been delivered on the stack tray, the stack tray is overlapped with the image-reading portion and the operation portion at a position immediately under them and the user cannot look at the sheets or the stacks of sheets that are stacked on the stack tray. Accordingly, the user is obliged to take out the sheets or the stacks of sheets by groping for them to grasp them. Consequently, the image forming apparatus is inferior in visibility and taking out property.
It is considerable that the space between the image-reading portion and the operation portion, and the tray portion is widened as a structure for resolving the problem. Such a structure improves the visibility and the taking out property. However, the structure brings about the increase of the heights of the image-reading portion and the operation portion, and the whole height of the image forming apparatus is consequently heightened by the degrees. Consequently, it is considerable that the increase of the heights brings about the difficulty of the user s setting of originals on the image-reading portion, and that the increase of the heights brings about the increase in size of the image forming apparatus.
Moreover, because the stack tray rises and falls, the stack tray sometimes vibrate when it begins to rise or to fall, or during it is lifting or lowering, or when it is stopping. It is the possibility that the vibrations cause the following problems.
At first, there is a case where the stackability is impaired because the positions of the sheets, which have already been stacked on the tray, are shifted owing to the vibrations. Or, when the sheet surface detection lever receives the vibrations and vibrates synchronously with the vibrations, the vibrations of the sheet surface detection lever causes the chattering of a sensor for detecting the operation of the sheet surface detection lever to make it impossible to detect the position of the stack tray. Consequently, there sometimes happen the following cases. That is, the sheets and the stacks of sheets are not stacked at a predetermined position on the stack tray, or even if they are stacked at the predetermined position, they are not stacked in good order. This state makes it difficult for a user to grasp them.
For a method for preventing the chattering of the sensor, it can be considered not to make the sheet surface detection lever vibrate even if the stack tray vibrates by increasing the lowering amount of the stack tray and by making the stack tray descend up to a position where the upper most sheet of the sheets or the stacks of sheet that are stacked on the stack tray is not contact with the sheet surface detection lever. However, the method enlarges the space in the vertical direction of the apparatus by the lowering amount of the stack tray. Consequently, the method causes a problem that the height of the image forming apparatus becomes high.

Sheet treating apparatus, method of mounting sheet treating apparatus, and image forming apparatus


A battery storage and dispensing system for efficiently storing and dispensing various sizes of batteries. The battery storage and dispensing system generally includes a housing having a plurality of vertical compartments that each receive a type of battery, a door pivotally connected to the housing to selectively enclose the vertical compartments forming a plurality of lower openings for batteries to be removed from the vertical compartments and a removal device having a magnet that magnetically connects to the metal terminal end of a battery to allow for efficient removal of the lowermost battery from a compartment.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a battery storage device and more specifically it relates to a battery storage and dispensing system for efficiently storing and dispensing various sizes of batteries.
2. Description of the Related Art
Any discussion of the related art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such related art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.
Electric household batteries are used every day in various electronic devices around a home or office such as remote controls, flashlights, remote controlled vehicles, clocks and the like. There are various types of batteries (e.g. AAA, AA) having different physical sizes and shapes (e.g. cylindrical, rectangular). Examples of conventional household batteries in use today include 9-volt batteries (48.5 mm in length, 26.5 mm in height and 17.5 mm in width), AAA batteries (44.5 mm in length and 10.5 mm in diameter), AA batteries (49.2-50.5 mm in length and 13.5-14.5 mm in diameter), C batteries (50 mm in length and 26.2 mm in diameter), D batteries (61.5 mm in length and 33.2 mm in diameter) and the like. Conventional batteries all have at least one metal terminal (typically a positive terminal at a first end in a button terminal structure and a negative terminal at an opposing second end in a flat terminal structure). Conventional batteries are sold at stores in packages of 1 or more batteries typically with a transparent plastic cover and a cardboard backing that has a slot for removal of the batteries. Consumers typically keep the batteries in the original store packaging and put the same in a drawer.
One problem with conventional batteries is that they are difficult to store, find and retrieve. Another problem with conventional batteries is that newer batteries are often times stored alongside older batteries thereby allowing consumers to retrieve a newer battery when they should be using an older battery. A further problem with conventional batteries is that it is difficult to identify which types of batteries need to be replenished since all of the batteries are comingled with one another. Another problem with conventional batteries is they take up a significant amount of space in a drawer since there is no organization of the batteries. A further problem is finding the specific type of battery needed for an electric device can be difficult.
Because of the inherent problems with the related art, there is a need for a new and improved battery storage and dispensing system for efficiently storing and dispensing various sizes of batteries.


A projector includes a lighting device that emits light of a plurality of colors, a plurality of vertical alignment mode reflex-type liquid crystal light valves that modulate the color light, a phase difference compensation plate including a C-plate and an O-plate provided between the lighting device and the liquid crystal light valve, a color synthesizing element that synthesizes the color light after modulation, and a projection optical system that projects the synthesized light to a projection target face, and a front side phase difference value of the phase difference compensation plate corresponding to at least one liquid crystal light valve is different from a front side phase difference value of the other liquid crystal light valves.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a projector.
2. Related Art
Recently, a projector provided with a vertical alignment (hereinafter, also referred to as VA) mode liquid crystal light valve, in which contrast when viewed from the front side is excellent, has been proposed. In the VA mode liquid crystal light valve, a liquid crystal layer having negative permittivity anisotropy is interposed between a pair of substrates, and liquid crystal molecules are aligned in a substantially vertical direction in a state where voltage is not applied. However, even when such a VA mode liquid crystal light valve is used, contrast is decreased and display quality is decreased when viewed from an oblique direction.
In the related art, compensation of the phase difference of light obliquely passing through the liquid crystal layer is performed, using a phase difference compensation element having an optical axis along a thickness direction, a so-called C-plate. In this case, the C-plate is obliquely disposed such that the optical axis of the C-plate is parallel to a pre-tilt direction of liquid crystal molecules, to compensate the front side phase difference of liquid crystal by the C-plate. In this case, a fixture for disposing the C-plate in an oblique posture is necessary.
However, when positional disclination (disclination of inclination angle) of the oblique fixture or disclination of an orientation angle of liquid crystal alignment occurs, it is difficult to perform sufficient phase difference compensation only by inclining the C-plate. When a gap occurs in a cell thickness of a liquid crystal panel, it is necessary to adjust the front side phase difference of the liquid crystal panel with the inclination angle of the C-plate. However, in this case, an effective retardation of the C-plate deviates from the optimal condition, and it is difficult to perform the sufficient phase difference compensation. As the pre-tilt angle of the liquid crystal molecules gets larger, the inclination angle of the C-plate gets larger. However, a difference of reflexibility between P-polarization light and S-polarization light in incident polarization light occurs, and the axis of the incident polarization light deviates to decreases the contrast.
It is proposed that higher phase difference compensation is performed using a phase difference compensation element having biaxial refractive index anisotropy in addition to such a C-plate, a so-called O-plate, to raise the contrast (for example, see JP-A-2009-145862).
In the projector described in JP-A-2009-145862, the C-plate and the O-plate are disposed on the light emission side of the liquid crystal panel. However, merely by disposing the C-plate and the O-plate on the light emission side of the liquid crystal panels for red light modulation, green light modulation, and blue light modulation, a phenomenon in which black display becomes slightly bright, so-called black floating occurs, and thus it is difficult to sufficiently improve the contrast.


A method of enciphering information includes generating five index values by performing modulo division on a 32-bit binary input value, identifying five 8-bit output patterns based on the five index values, and enciphering or deciphering five bytes of text using the five 8-bit output patterns.

A typical encryption process converts cleartext into ciphertext by combining the cleartext with one or more cipher keys. For instance, a simple XOR cipher converts a stream of cleartext into a stream of ciphertext by performing an XOR operation on successive units (e.g., 8-bit units) of cleartext and corresponding cipher keys (e.g., 8-bit keys).
The performance of an encryption process can be evaluated according to various metrics, such as its cryptographic strength, speed of execution, memory consumption, flexibility, and so on. These and other metrics depend generally on the nature of the cipher keys and the manner in which they are generated. For instance, cipher keys that are difficult to replicate may produce stronger encryption than those that are easier to replicate, but may be slower to produce.
In light of these and other considerations, there is a general need for techniques that produce, in an efficient manner, cipher keys that are difficult to replicate.

Use of 32-bit random numbers to produce cipher key stream for 8-bit data stream


Gutbier Marlene is a new cultivar distinguished by bright brick red bracts, self branching and compact growth habit. The new plant is tolerant to temperatures down to 10.degree. C. showing intensified bract color under cool conditions. Bract retention is long, typically lasting for several months.

Gutbier Marlene is a strong growing Poinsettia of short to medium height. It has self-branching traits which make it desirable for branched plant production. Because of its compact growth habit, it can be flowered without the use of chemical growth retardants. Gutbier Marlene is in "full-bloom" 9 weeks after flower induction. The bright brick-red bracts have a horizontal presentation, with the smaller inner bracts at a slightly upward angle. The bract petioles are relatively short, forming a tight circle of bracts around the cyathia. Bract retention lasts for several months. After flowering, Gutbier Marlene can withstand temperatures down to 10 degrees C. very well, and these conditions intensify its bract color.
This new Poinsettia cultivar originated as a seedling from cross pollination of cultivar 236 and `268` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,275) in my greenhouse in Linz, Germany. It was selected because of its large, erect, bright brick-red flower bracts. It has self-branching traits and a compact growth habit which seems to make it a desirable plant for commercial greenhouse production. No chemical growth retardant may be needed to produce a flowering plant of desired height. After selection, the plant was vegetatively reproduced by stem cuttings at the same location. Successive generations of vegetative propagation demonstrated its distinct characteristics are firmly fixed and held true from generation to generation.
Gutbier Marlene is distinctly different from its parent `268` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,275) in leaf color, bract color and bract orientation. The leaf color of Gutbier Marlene is darker than RHS 147A; `268` is near RHS 147A. The bract color of Gutbier Marlene is bright brick red, near RHS 45B; `268` bracts are bright red, darker than RHS 46B or RHS 45A. The bract orientation on Gutbier Marlene is mostly horizontal while `268` bracts are oriented upward from horizontal. In 1992, vegetative cuttings were sent to Encinitas, Calif. for further testing under greenhouse conditions there.


The present invention provides an electrode in which an electrode active material particles as being interconnected are applied on current collector, wherein the interconnected surface of electrode active material particles is coated with a polymer, the polymer being present as an independent phase, while maintaining a pore structure formed among the interconnected electrode active material particles as well as an electrochemical device including the electrode. Also, the present invention provides a method for manufacturing an electrode coated with a polymer present on an interconnected surface of electrode active material as an independent phase, while maintaining a pore structure formed among the electrode active material particles, which comprises the steps of: (a) coating slurry for an electrode including an electrode active material on a current collector and drying it to form an electrode; and (b) dipping the electrode obtained from step (a) into a solution containing the polymer dissolved therein and a method for manufacturing an electrochemical device comprising the electrode obtained by the above method.

Recently, there is an increasing interest in energy storage technology. Batteries have been widely used as energy sources in portable phones, camcorders, notebook computers, PCs and electric cars, resulting in intensive research and development into them. In this regard, electrochemical devices are subjects of great interest. Particularly, development of rechargeable secondary batteries is the focus of attention. Recently, research and development into novel electrode and battery that can improve capacity density and specific energy have been developed intensively in the field of secondary batteries.
Among currently used secondary batteries, lithium secondary batteries appearing in early 1990's have drive voltage and energy density higher than those of conventional batteries using aqueous electrolytes (such as Ni-MH batteries, N—Cd batteries, H2SO4—Pb batteries, etc). For these reasons, lithium secondary batteries are advantageously used. However, such lithium secondary batteries have disadvantages in that organic electrolytes used therein may cause safety-related problems resulting in ignition and explosion of the batteries and that processes for manufacturing such batteries are complicated. The latest lithium ion polymer batteries improve the above disadvantages of lithium ion secondary batteries and are expected to be the most prominent candidate leading the next-generation battery technology. However, lithium ion polymer batteries generally have lower battery capacity compared to lithium ion secondary batteries. Particularly, they have insufficient discharge capacity at low temperature. Therefore, there is a need of improvement in such problems.
It is very important to evaluate and secure the battery safety. The most important consideration is that batteries should not cause damages to users upon miss-operation of the batteries. For this purpose, safety standards for the batteries strictly restrict firing and explosion in the batteries. Thus, many methods to solve the battery safety problem are being proposed.
Particularly, as a more fundamental solution for battery safety, use of polymer electrolytes has been suggested. Generally, battery safety increases in order of liquid electrolytes, gel-type electrolytes and solid polymer electrolytes, while battery performance decreases in the same order as described above. Therefore, it is known that batteries using solid electrolytes have not yet been commercialized due to such poor battery performance. Meanwhile, commercially applicable gel-type polymer electrolytes are recently developed by Sony Corp. and Sanyo Electric Co. Ltd. in Japan, and are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,509,123 B1 and Japanese Laid-Open Patent No. 2000-299129, respectively. Batteries using such gel-type polymer electrolytes are also produced. The characteristics of the above-mentioned two types of batteries will be described hereinafter briefly.
The Sony's batteries use a polymer such as PVDF-HFP (polyvinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene) and an electrolyte containing LiPF6 dissolved in EC (ethylene carbonate) and PC (propylene carbonate). The polymer and electrolyte are mixed with DMC (dimethyl carbonate) as a solvent to form a mixture, and then the mixture is coated on the surface of an electrode, followed by volatilization of DMC, thereby providing an electrode having gel-type polymer thereon. Next, the electrodes are wound together with a polyolefin-based separator for preventing electric short circuit, thereby providing a battery.
Meanwhile, in the case of the Sanyo's batteries, a cathode, an anode and a polyolefin-based separator are wound to form a cell, in the first place. Then, PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride), PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate), PEGDMA (polyethyleneglycol dimethacrylate) and an initiator are blended with a mixture of organic carbonates. Next, the resultant mixture is injected into the previously formed cell and then is crosslinked under suitable conditions, thereby forming a gel-type polymer electrolyte. In this case, the in-situ formation of the electrolyte is made inside of a battery after assemblage of a battery.
However, it is shown that processes for preparing the above two types of gel-type polymer electrolytes are very complicated and thus provide poor productivity. Moreover, the above two-types of electrolytes result in only limited improvement in battery performance and safety.
As another approach to improve battery safety, Korean Patent Publication No. 0366344 discloses a method of coating a conductive polymer on the surface of an electrode active material. However, in this case, there are problems in that electrode active material particles coated with conductive polymers tend to aggregate, and that the conductive polymers may be separated from the surface of the electrode active material due to the solvents and shear force used in the following steps for manufacturing an electrode. Additionally, although conductive polymers permit electron movement, lithium ion movement is highly limited, thereby causing degradation of battery performance.

Functional polymer film-coated electrode and electrochemical device using the same

Abstract: The electrode coated with a polymer as an independent phase provides an electrochemical device with improved safety and prevents degradation of performance of an electrochemical device.


A dry analytical element for quantitatively analyzing creatine kinase is composed of a support and a creatine kinase-detecting agent layer. The creatine kinase-detecting agent layer contains creatine phosphate and adenosine diphosphate which react with each other to give adenosine triphosphate in the presence of creatine kinase, a buffer compound having a sulfonic acid group which keeps the layer in the range of pH 5.5 to pH 8.5 for the formation of adenosine triphosphate, and an indicator composition which reacts with the formed adenosine triphosphate to give a spectroscopically detectable compound. An analytical element for analysis of creatine kinase MB isozyme further contains in the layer an antibody which specifically inhibits activity of M sub-unit of creatine kinase.

It is generally known that quantitative analysis of creatine kinase (CK or CPK) in blood sampled from a patient is diagnostic of creeping palsy, dermatomyositis and cardiac infarction. In creatine kinase (CK), there are three isozymes, namely, creatine kinase MM (CKMM), creatine kinase MB (CKMB) and creatine kinase BB (CKBB). These isozymes are mainly present in skeletal muscle (CKMM), cardiac muscle (CKMB), or brain and spinal cord (CKBB), respectively. When cardiac infarction occurs, CKMB in cardiac muscle comes out into blood and accordingly its content in blood increases. Therefore, it is of value for diagnosis of cardiac infarction to assay CKMB in blood.
Methods for assaying creatine kinase and/or creatine kinase MB isozyme had been studied, and a precise assaying method was established.
The method for assaying creatine kinase generally comprises the steps of preparing serum or plasma of the blood sampled from a patient, forming spectroscopically detectable species according to the enzyme activity of creatine kinase contained in the serum or plasma, and measuring the amount of the formed species to determine the content of creatine kinase.
For performing the above analytical method, the following two reaction systems are employable.
1) Reaction System 1
Creatine phosphate (CP) and adenosine diphosphate (ADP) are caused to react in the presence of creatine kinase (CK) contained in the sample (serum or plasma) to form adenosine triphosphate (ATP), while pH condition of the enzyme reaction is adjusted with a buffer working in the pH range of 5.5 to 8.5. The amount of the formed adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is proportional to that of creatine kinase (CK). The thus formed ATP is caused to react with glucose (Glu) in the presence of hexokinase (HK) to prepare glucose-6-phosphate (G6P), and then the prepared G6P is caused to react with nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide(phosphate) in an oxidized form (NAD(P)) in the presence of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) to produce nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide(phosphate) in a reduced form (NAD(P)H). The amount of the produced NAD(P)H is measured by a spectroscopic method and determined in accordance with the calibration curve beforehand obtained. The content of creatine kinase (CK) is determined from thus determined amount of NAD(P)H.
In order to improve accuracy of the spectroscopic measurement, NAD(P)H can be further caused to react with a tetrazolium salt to form a formazan dye and then the amount of the formazan dye is measured to determine the content of creatine kinase (CK) in the sample (Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 63(1988)-32499).
The reaction system 1 described above is represented by the following formulas.
______________________________________ CP + ADP .fwdarw. ATP + creatine (in the presence of CK) ATP + Glu .fwdarw. G6P + ADP (in the presence of HK) G6P + NAD(P) .fwdarw. NAD(P)H + 6-phosphogluconic acid (in the presence of G6PDH) NAD(P)H + tetrazolium salt .fwdarw. formazan dye + NAD(P) ______________________________________
2) Reaction System 2
Creatine phosphate (CP) and adenosine diphosphate (ADP) are caused to react in the presence of creatine kinase (CK) contained in the sample to form adenosine triphosphate (ATP), while pH condition of the enzyme reaction is adjusted with a buffer working in the pH range of 5.5 to 8.5. The amount of the formed adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is proportional to that of creatine kinase (CK). The thus formed ATP is caused to react with glycerol in the presence of glycerol kinase to prepare L-.alpha.-glycerophosphate, and then the prepared L-.alpha.-glycerophosphate is caused to react with oxygen in the presence of L-.alpha.-glycerophosphate oxidase to produce hydrogen peroxide. Finally, thus produced hydrogen peroxide is caused to react with a leuco dye to form a blue dye, and then the amount of the blue dye is measured by a spectroscopic method and determined in accordance with the calibration curve beforehand obtained. The content of creatine kinase (CK) is determined from thus determined amount of the blue dye.
The reaction system 2 described above is represented by the following formulas.
______________________________________ CP + ADP .fwdarw. ATP + creatine (in the presence of CK) ATP + glycerol .fwdarw. L-.alpha.-glycerophosphate + ADP (in the presence of glycerol kinase) L-.alpha.-glycerophosphate + O.sub.2 .fwdarw. H.sub.2 O.sub.2 + dihydroxyacetone phosphate (in the presence of L-.alpha.-glycerophosphate oxidase) H.sub.2 O.sub.2 + leuco dye .fwdarw. blue dye + H.sub.2 O ______________________________________
Since creatine kinase has the three isozymes described above, it is not easy to assay creatine kinase MB isozyme. Prior to assaying process, MB isozyme must be isolated from MM and BB isozymes in principle. Practically, the amount of BB isozyme in blood is negligible because it is essentially present in brain and spinal cord, but it is still very difficult to separate MB isozyme from MM isozyme.
For the purpose of obviating the above trouble, Japanese Patent Publication No. 56(1981)-19239 proposes an assaying method in which a particular antibody is employed, instead of isolating MM isozyme from the sample, to inhibit the activity of MM isozyme without adversely affecting that of MB isozyme. The antibody completely inhibits the enzyme activity of sub-unit M in MM and MB isozymes, but on the other hand it does not inhibit the activity of subunit B in MB isozyme. In the method, the sample (serum or plasma) is treated with the antibody (the M sub-unit inactivation antibody) so that creatine kinase in the sample may have only the activity originating from MB isozyme. Thereafter, thus restricted activity is measured by the above reaction system 1 or 2 to assay creatine kinase MB isozyme.
In the conventional assaying process for creatine kinase or creatine kinase MB isozyme, the reactions described above are generally performed in a solution (the process in which the reactions are performed in a solution is referred to as "wet process"). The wet process generally requires relatively long time, and accordingly it takes relatively long time to make a diagnosis based on the wet assaying process. However, for example in the case of cardiac infarction, it is needed to diagnose the case, as soon as possible, because the success of treatment depends on how soon the treatment begins. From this viewpoint, it is preferred to shorten the time to perform the assaying process.
For assaying process which can be performed in relatively short time, a dry analytical element is known. The analytical element generally comprises a transparent support and an agent layer provided thereon which contains a reagent composition participating in the reaction system for detection. For assaying the creatine kinase or creatine kinase MB isozyme, a dry analytical element is also developed and practically used. In the analytical element, the agent layer comprises the reagent composition for the above described reaction system 1 or 2. The detailed description about the dry analytical element for creatine kinase or creatine kinase MB isozyme is given in the following publications; Japanese Patent Provisional Publications No. 61(1986)-254198, No. 61(1986)-254199, No. 61(1986)-260164, and No. 63(1988)-32499.
Although the dry analytical element shortens the time to perform the assaying process, the reagent composition of the analytical element is liable to deteriorate during storage. If the analytical element is stored under ambient conditions, its sensitivity rapidly lowers. For obviating the deterioration of the reagent composition, the known dry analytical element must be stored in a refrigerator. However, it is very inconvenient to need a refrigerator for storing the analytical element, and further such inconvenience for storage often delays beginning of the assaying process and accordingly it often prevents an early definitive diagnosis.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to improve the storage stability of dry analytical element for quantitative analysis of creatine kinase or creatine kinase MB isozyme. Particularly, it is an object of the invention to provide a creatine kinase or creatine kinase MB isozyme dry analytical element which does not deteriorate even if stored under ambient conditions and hence which can be stored under ambient conditions, with no need of employing a refrigerator.

Sulfonic acid group buffered dry analytical element for quantitative analysis of creatine kinase or its MB isozyme


More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for the detection of a target, e.g. pathogen in a human body fluid wherein a body fluid sample is collected with a swab member.

Rapid, point-of-care analysis is becoming increasingly important in the diagnosis and treatment of various viral and other pathogenic microbiological agents (bacteria, others). Especially in the acute status of a infectious disease medical doctors have a need for immediate detection of the causal agent for the symptoms observed.
Prior art discloses a rapid assay for HIV specific antibodies in saliva samples. A saliva sample is gained by means of a sampling stick. The saliva sample is diluted in a sample buffer and a lateral flow immunoassay is dipped into the diluted saliva sample [U.S. Pat. No. 5,714,341].
German Patent Nr. DE19622503 suggests to apply lateral flow immunoassays for the detection of illegal narcotics in saliva or sweat.
Conjunctivitis, commonly known as red eye or pink eye, may be caused by several different agents including viruses, bacteria and allergens. Different etiologies require different treatments. Infectious conjunctivitis is typically contagious. Conjunctivitis is generally diagnosed clinically, by gross examination, and (during a routine eye exam) slit lamp biomicroscopy. This method does not provide information on the specific infectious agent. If specific (pathogen typing) diagnosis is necessary, swabs of the inferior fornix are sent for laboratory analysis to determine the type of pathogen. The preferred methods for laboratory analysis are cell culture with confirmatory direct immunofluorescence, ELISA or PCR. The disadvantage of this diagnostic strategy is that laboratory analysis needs typically between two and ten days, utilizes complex diagnostic equipment, and may require technical skill in both performing and interpreting results. This time period is problematic for a proper treatment of potentially infectious forms of conjunctivitis that cannot be specifically classified/connected with a certain pathogenic agent.
A publication by Uchio et al. (Opthalmology 104 (1997), 1294-1299) discloses a method for the detection of adenovirus in eye fluid specimens. The method comprises collecting a sample of eye fluid and detecting the analyte on a paper disc by enzyme immunoadsorption. The detection, however, lacks specificity and sensitivity.
Thus, it is the objective of the invention to provide a sensitive and rapid non-invasive method for the detection of pathogens, e.g. bacterial or viral infectious agents in body fluids.

Method for the rapid diagnosis of targets in human body fluids


In a vehicle starter apparatus incorporating therein a starting motor and a one-way clutch, a damper for mitigating vibration of an engine is disposed at a position between the one-way clutch and the engine, and at the same time, between the engine and a transmission.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-126163 which is hereby incorporated by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle starter apparatus that is used in a starter apparatus of a vehicle.
2. Related Background Art
Generally, a vehicle engine is driven to start from a starting motor via a one-way clutch.
When the engine is started and when the number of rotations of an output-side member of the one-way clutch caused by means of the engine exceeds the number of rotations of an input-side member of the one-way clutch caused by the starting motor, the one-way clutch starts to run idle.
Normally, while the engine is driven, the one-way clutch runs idle, so that rotation from the engine is intercepted by the one-way clutch, whereby the starting motor is prevented from being rotated and damaged.
For example, in the Japan Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-63902, a crankshaft pulley of the engine is attached to a crank shaft through a clutch and is coupled to a starter pulley of the starter apparatus through a starting belt. The clutch is a one-directional clutch that transmits a drive torque to the crank shaft from the crankshaft pulley at a starting time of the engine and intercepts the drive torque from the crank shaft to the crankshaft pulley after the starting of the engine. Accordingly, since the clutch is disengaged after the engine start, when the starter apparatus is turned off to stop rotation of the starting motor, the rotation of the starting belt and that of the crankshaft pulley are also stopped. With this arrangement, while the engine is driven, a torque generated by the engine is not consumed to rotate the starting belt, so that the torque loss can be reduced.
In the Japan Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-274337, the starter apparatus is provided with a pinion gear attached to an output shaft of a starting motor and a ring gear meshed with the pinion gear. The pinion gear is formed of a helical gear that is provided with a scissors gear mechanism. The ring gear is formed of a helical gear that can mesh with the pinion gear. The ring gear is disposed on the crank shaft of an internal combustion engine, and is always meshed with the pinion gear. Between the ring gear and the crank shaft, there is provided a one-way clutch that allows transmission of driving force only from the starting motor side to the internal combustion engine side.
The present invention has been contrived taking such circumstances as described above into consideration, and an object thereof is to provide a vehicle starter apparatus that can prevent rollover (a damage of a one-way clutch due to an excessive load) of the one-way clutch and mitigate vibration of an engine by a damper, thereby preventing fatigue damage or abrasion of a spring that is used in the one-way clutch, so that the one-way clutch may be prevented from being damaged.
In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a vehicle starter apparatus that incorporates therein a starting motor and a one-way clutch, characterized in that:
a damper for mitigating vibration of an engine is disposed at a position between the one-way clutch and the engine, and at the same time, between the engine and a transmission.
According to the present invention, a damper for reducing vibration of an engine is disposed at a position between a one-way clutch and the engine, and at the same time, between the engine and a transmission. With this arrangement, for example, an impact torque in a reverse direction, that may be caused by erroneous ignition of the engine at the starting time, is reduced by the damper and the torque to be inputted to an output member of the one-way clutch is mitigated.
As a result, it is rendered possible to prevent rollover (a damage of the one-way clutch due to an excessive load), and to mitigate vibration of the engine by means of the damper, thereby preventing fatigue damage or abrasion of a spring that is used in the one-way clutch so that the one-way clutch may be prevented from being damaged.


A method for detecting an object in a door opening of a vehicle. A vehicle reaction is triggered if a received signal deviates from a setpoint value in a sensor system. When the door is closed an updated setpoint value is determined after the vehicle drives off. In order to determine the updated setpoint value, a sensor system which is capable of learning is briefly deactivated, specifically at a time occurring at least the customer-specifically selected time period after the vehicle drives off, if the door was opened while the vehicle was stopped.

In vehicles, for example in buses and rail vehicles, it is customary to equip the doors in the closing region with an elastic section which protects trapped persons or objects against injury or damage. Methods have also been proposed which are suitable for detecting a person trapped in the door or a trapped object and triggering a suitable vehicle reaction. A suitable reaction is, for example in addition to the immediate opening of the door, to signal to the driver of the vehicle or even to disconnect the power supply to the drive.
In particular, a device in which the elastic section is hollow and the signal runs along in the cavity which is formed in this way is suitable for carrying out such a method. Generally, a transmitter and a receiver at opposite ends of the cavity are used for this. Suitable signals are ultrasonic or electromagnetic waves, in particular light.
It is also known to arrange a strip connector in the elastic section, which connector has two electrically conductive strips which can move with respect to one another. If a person or an object is trapped in the door, these strips touch one another generating a signal which indicates that trapping has occurred. In such a device, a comparison does not however take place between a received signal and a setpoint value.
According to the applicable standardization, all the methods and devices for detecting an object which is trapped in a door are to be capable of detecting objects with a cross section of 30 mm×60 mm.
However, it may be the case that relatively thin objects, for example an item of clothing or a belt, are trapped, which is very hazardous, in particular if the affected person is located outside the vehicle. If the vehicle is an underground train which is operated without a driver, the risk for persons is particularly high as there is no longer any monitoring of the platform by staff.

Method for detecting an object in a door opening of a vehicle


A system and method for facilitating the processing of an expansion list. A script associated with an HTML document performs actions to process the expansion list. Actions include detaching the list of input controls from the HTML DOM when the list is not displayed and reattaching the list when it is displayed. Actions may also include maintaining the value of each input control, and processing each input control selection to update the value. The script may send value data to a server using a technique such as a hidden field or another element in the HTML DOM.

A common mechanism in client-server communications is to employ an HTML document that is sent from the server to the client and displayed in a browser. The HTML document may include many input controls, such as checkboxes, that are to be optionally selected by a user at the client device. After manipulation by the user, the client may enumerate each input control, collecting the value of each control, and send back a list to the server, the list including the value of each control.
An HTML document may include a script, such as JavaScript, that is executed upon loading of the page by a browser. JavaScript provides a mechanism to enhance or customize functionality of a browser. Generally, operations performed by JavaScript are not as efficient as similar operations performed by a browser. In situations where execution speed is important, a designer may weigh tradeoffs between execution speed and the flexibility of JavaScript.
Web applications, such as an SQL server application, may reside on a server and interact with a client user by using HTML pages. For example, the SQL application may send to the client an HTML page with a set of checkboxes. The user may select various checkboxes, leaving some checked and some unchecked. The browser may enumerate each checkbox, and send to the server the status of each checkbox. The SQL application may use the status values in a variety of ways, such as building an SQL query.


A plug-in module for mounting on a mounting device is provided, the plug-in module including a housing with a rear mounting face and plug regions on the front face. At least one additional plug region is formed between the front face and the rear mounting face on the housing.

Various embodiments of plug-in modules, in particular plug-in modules in the form of electronic control modules, are already known.
The plug-in control modules are routinely configured such that they can be attached to a standardized mounting rail in a standardized electrical cabinet. Mounting on a top-hat rail (for example DIN top-hat rail 35 mm according to EN 50022) is used by way of example.
Plug-in control modules of this type normally have a significantly greater height than width in relation to a transversely running rail. A large number of plug-in control modules are routinely attached next to one another along the rail.
In some embodiments, snap-action means are provided on the lateral boundary walls, on which another plug-in module is arranged in a row, in order to mechanically connect the plug-in modules which are arranged next to one another.
At least one plug region for inserting one or more plugs is normally provided on the front face of such a plug-in control module. However, the number of plug spaces on the front face of a control module has heretofore been limited.


Server health and client information are exchanged through headers for request management. Headers in standardized or proprietary protocol communication between servers and a request management module and/or clients and the request management module may be used to exchange server health and client information. The exchanged server health and/or client information may be employed in throttling, routing, and/or load balancing the incoming requests. Rules specified by the client through the header exchange may also be used for throttling, routing, and/or load balancing decisions.

Modern data communication architectures involve commonly "server farms", a collective of servers that manage storage, processing, and exchange of data for a variety of purposes. Many services are increasingly provided as web applications, hosted applications that may be accessed by users through browsers or similar thin clients without burdening the users with local installations, updates, compatibility issues, etc. Thus, a server farm may include up to thousands of servers providing web applications for productivity, communications, data analysis, data storage, and comparable services. Client applications (thin or thick) interact with the hosted applications through "requests". For example, a word processing application provided as a web application may receive a request from a client application to open a document, find the document in a networked store, retrieve its contents, and render at the client application. Another example may be a "Save" request. When the user is done, they may select a "Save" control on the client application, which may send a save request to the web application resulting in updating of the stored document.
Because a number of servers may be involved with the web application, an incoming request needs to be directed to the proper server(s) such that the requested task can be completed. Request management is one of the management approaches that helps a server farm manage incoming requests by evaluating logic rules against the requests in order to determine which action to take, and which server or servers in the farm (if any) should handle the requests.
Traditional network load balancer devices are relatively expensive dedicated hardware devices for routing requests. Performing multi-layer routing, traditional routers may create a bottleneck as a network grows, causing the network traffic to slow down. Furthermore, conventional routing is also based on static rules failing to take into account dynamic changes in servers, requests, network loads.

Exchange of server health and client information through headers for request management


In various embodiments, a die arrangement may be provided. The die arrangement may include a die, at least one bond pad, at least one redistribution trace electrically connecting the die with the at least one bond, and at least one inductor enclosing the at least one bond pad and the at least one redistribution trace.

Today, fabrication of integrated circuit devices usually includes packaging of the integrated circuits or dies. In the fabrication of die packages such as for example a laminate package or an embedded wafer level ball grid array (eWLB) it may be desirable to accommodate an inductor, e.g. a coil, in a redistribution layer (RDL) of the package.

Die arrangements containing an inductor coil and methods of manufacturing a die arrangement containing an inductor coil


Disclosed are A3 adenosine receptor antagonists and/or partial agonists and A1 adenosine receptor agonists and/or partial agonists of formula (I):

There are four subtypes of receptors for adenosine, designated A1, A2A, A2B, and A3. The A3 adenosine receptor is found primarily in the central nervous system, brain, testes, and the immune system, where it appears to be involved in the modulation of release from mast cells of mediators of the immediate hypersensitivity reaction (Ramkumar et al., J. Biol. Chem., 268, 16887-16890 (1993)).
It is believed that A3 adenosine receptor selective antagonists should serve as cerebroprotective, antiasthmatic, or anti-inflammatory agents. It is also believed that A3 adenosine receptor selective antagonists should serve in the treatment of glaucoma, for example, in reducing intraocular pressure. Research activity is evident in the area of A3 adenosine receptor antagonists; see, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,066,642 and 6,528,516 and WO 2008/055711. Accordingly, there is a desire to find new A3 adenosine receptor antagonists.
Further, A3 adenosine receptor partial agonists, are advantageous in cardioprotection and produce anti-ischemic effects. Partial agonists also tend to have less side effects than full agonists. In addition, partial agonists are less likely to produce desensitization of the receptor as compared to full agonists. Accordingly, partial agonists can activate the receptor for a longer duration and achieve longer lasting response. Accordingly, there is a desire to find new A3 adenosine receptor partial agonists.
In addition, full or partial agonists of the A1 AR are being considered for treatment of various conditions: seizures, stroke, diabetes, pain, cardioprotection and arrhythmias. A1 AR agonists are highly neuroprotective in ischemic and epileptic models. A1 AR agonists are also being explored for antidepressant, antianxiety, and other neuropsychiatric effects, due to their presynaptic action to decrease the release of excitatory amino acids in the brain. However, peripheral cardiovascular side effects have prevented the introduction of A1 AR agonist for treating disorders of the central nervous system (CNS). Accordingly, there is a desire to find new A1 adenosine receptor full and partial agonists.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Adenosine receptor agonists, partial agonists, and antagonists

Abstract: wherein R1 to R5 are as described herein, as well as pharmaceutical compositions thereof and methods of use thereof. The A3 AR antagonists or partial agonists find use in treating a number of diseases such as cancer, glaucoma, and inflammatory diseases, as well as in preventing cardiac ischemia. Also disclosed are radiolabeled compounds of formula (I) and the use thereof in diagnostic imaging of tissues and organs. The A1 AR agonists and partial agonists find use in treating diseases such as seizures, convulsion, stroke, diabetes, pain, arrhythmias, depression, and anxiety and in cardioprotection or neuroprotection.

The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services


A crimp-type terminal for electrically connecting an internal conductor to a mating terminal, includes: an electrical connection portion for fitting connection to the mating terminal; a conductor clamping portion having a base plate, and upstanding walls which extend respectively from opposite side edges of the base plate, and are pressed to clamp the internal conductor; and interconnecting walls respectively connecting the upstanding walls to the electrical connection portion, wherein each of the interconnecting walls have a bend portion for absorbing a stress, produced in a direction of a width of the crimp-type terminal when the interconnecting walls are pressed, by deformation.

This invention relates to a crimp-type terminal in which a strain is prevented from developing in the crimp-type terminal when clamping a conductor of a wire to a conductor connection portion of the crimp-type terminal, thereby preventing the strength of the crimp-type terminal from being reduced.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a general crimp-type female terminal T, and an electrical connection portion 2 is provided at one end of a base plate 1, and a wire connection portion 3, having a sheath clamping portion 4 and a conductor clamping portion 5, is provided at the other end of the base plate 1.
The electrical connection portion 2 includes side walls 2a extending perpendicularly respectively from opposite side edges of the base plate 1, and upper walls 2b extending respectively from the side walls 2a, and the electrical connection portion 2 has a box-shape having opposite open ends. A tongue (not shown) for resiliently contacting a male terminal is provided within this electrical connection portion 2.
The sheath clamping portion 4 includes holding piece portions 6 extending respectively from the opposite side edges of the base plate 1 in an upstanding manner, and after a sheath 7 of a sheathed wire W is inserted into a space between the two holding piece portions 6, the two holding piece portions 6 are bent inwardly to hold the sheath 7 therebetween.
The conductor clamping portion 5 includes upstanding walls 8 extending respectively from the opposite side edges of the base plate 1 in an upstanding manner, and the upstanding walls 8 are pressed to clamp an exposed conductor 9 at one end of the sheathed wire W.
Interconnecting walls 10, which reinforce the crimp-type terminal T, are formed between the conductor clamping portion 5 and the electrical connection portion 2.
In order to meet the requirement that the crimp-type terminal T should have a small-size design, there has been a tendency to reduce the distance between the conductor clamping portion 5 and the electrical connection portion 2, and when this distance is reduced, the interconnecting walls 10 can not be easily bent or deformed, and stresses, developing when pressing the conductor clamping portion 5, are not absorbed by the short interconnecting walls 10, which results in a problem that at least one of the conductor clamping portion 5 and the electrical connection portion 2 is deformed.
For example, as shown in FIG. 9, in the crimp-type terminal T in which a width B of the pressed conductor clamping portion 5 is smaller than a width A' of the electrical connection portion 2, the rigidity of the electrical connection portion 2 provides forces F.sub.1 which tend to prevent the clamping deformation of the conductor clamping portion 5 through the short interconnecting walls 10.
Therefore, the distal ends of the two upstanding walls 8 are spaced apart from each other at that portion of the pressed conductor clamping portion 5 disposed near to the electrical connection portion 2, thus forming a gap C.sub.1, and as a result there are encountered disadvantages that the clamping force of the conductor clamping portion 5 is inadequate, and that an electrical resistance is increased (see FIG. 9, and FIG. 10, which is a cross-sectional view taken along the line X--X of FIG. 9).
In contrast, in the crimp-type terminal T in which the width B of the pressed conductor clamping portion 5 is larger than the width A' of the electrical connection portion 2, the rigidity of the pressed conductor clamping portion 5 provides forces F.sub.2 which tend to increase the width of the electrical connection portion 2 through the short interconnecting walls 10.
Where the upper walls 2b of the electrical connection portion 2 are defined respectively by upper portions 2c of the bent side walls 2a butted together, a gap C.sub.2 develops between the butted edges of the upper portions 2c (FIG. 11).
In order to eliminate mutually-interfering forces between the electrical connection portion 2 and the conductor clamping portion 5 while keeping the distance between the electrical connection portion 2 and the conductor clamping portion 5 small, there is proposed a method of providing a slit 11 in the interconnecting wall 10 (see FIG. 12).
If the slit 11 is deep enough to be close to the base plate 1, those portions of the interconnecting wall 10, disposed respectively on the opposite sides of the slit 11, can be flexed or bent independently of each other without mutual interference, and therefore the above-mentioned disadvantages are overcome. However, this portion creates a weak point for a bending moment, and there is encountered a problem that the overall strength of the crimp-type terminal T against the bending is extremely reduced.
The present invention seeks to overcome the above problems, and an object of the invention is to provide a crimp-type terminal in which mutually-interfering forces, developing between the conductor clamping portion 5 and the electrical connection portion 2 when pressing the conductor clamping portion 5, are substantially eliminated.

by Kimiji Jibe, Fumiko Jibe, legal representatives


A charged particle irradiation apparatus, which is capable of decreasing a lateral dose falloff at boundaries of irradiation field of charged particle beam, and reducing the size of the charged particle irradiation apparatus, is provided by controlling magnetic fields of quadrupole electromagnets 1-5 and deflection electromagnets 6-8 so that center of the charged particle beam passes always center of a scatterer irrespective of direction and intensity of a magnetic field generated by scanning electromagnets 50, 60.

The present invention relates to a charged particle irradiation apparatus for irradiating irradiation targets with charged particles. The charged particle irradiation apparatus is applied for various purposes such as remedies of cancer, sterilization of foods, improved breeding of plants, nondestructive inspection of machine structures, and others.
In accordance with a conventional charged particle irradiation apparatus, a charged particle beam has been enlarged by a scatterer and the like in order to obtain a wide irradiation area, of which dose distribution is uniform. For example, in order to remedy a cancer by irradiation with protons, heavy particles, and the like, it is necessary to enlarge the charged particle beam having an energy of approximately 230 MeV at maximum up to approximately 20 cm in diameter in a case of protons. Then, the enlarged charged particle beam is formed in a shape of the irradiation target, an affected part, by a collimator. Subsequently, the affected part is irradiated with the charged particle beam.
The Japanese Utility Model Publication No. Hei 5-40479 (1993) taught a method that, by employing a Wobbler method of scanning the charged particle beam with two units of deflection magnet, the charged particle beam is enlarged by passing through a scatterer, which is provided in the upstream or the downstream of the two units of deflection magnet.
However, in accordance with the prior art, both the two units of the deflection electromagnet were arranged inside the irradiation apparatus, which had caused a problem of increasing the size of the irradiation apparatus. The increase in size of the irradiation apparatus necessitates a larger rotation radius of the rotation gantry, which makes the whole devices larger, and causes a problem of an increase in construction cost.
The Wobbler method shows a property that the longer the distance between a focus position of the Wobbler's deflection electromagnet and a position of the scatterer gets, the wider the lateral dose falloff (half-shadow blur ) of the shape of the charged particle beam formed by the collimator becomes.

Charged particle irradiation apparatus and an operating method thereof