GIAN Abondoned Patents Database

The present invention relates to polyurethane cast elastomers which are prepared from higher molecular weight polyhydroxy compounds, durene diisocyanate and low molecular weight chain-lengthening and/or crosslinking agents. These elastomers are particularly useful for the production of moldings exposed to high mechanical stresses.

A 2.4 å crystal structure of a protein construct containing the catalytic kinase domain of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2/KDR), a key enzyme in angiogenesis, has been determined in an unliganded, phosphorylated state. This protein construct, contains a modified catalytic linker and has comparable in vitro kinase activity to constructs containing the entire KID. The resulting construct retains comparable in vitro kinase activity to that of the wild-type KID, and more importantly, allows complete crystallization of the protein such that it may be characterized by X-ray crystallography. The present invention further discloses the use of x-ray crystallographic data for identification and construction of possible therapeutic compounds in the treatment of various disease conditions.

The first present invention provides a method of driving a sustaining pulse for a plasma display panel, wherein sustaining pulses are generated, which comprise plural sustaining discharge current supply pulses having different achieving voltage levels from each other and slope pulses, so that, after the slope pulses are generated and outputted, the sustaining discharge current supply pulses having the different achieving voltage levels are applied in sequence of a magnitude of difference between the different achieving voltage levels and a potential of a final one of the sustaining discharge current supply pulses.

The present invention aims at providing a method for controlling wavelength characteristics of optical transmission powers by Raman amplification, in which the wavelength characteristics of optical transmission powers are automatically compensated without giving any losses to channel lights to thereby improve transmission characteristics, and an apparatus adopting the same. To this end, the method for controlling wavelength characteristics of optical transmission powers by Raman amplification according to the present invention supplies Raman pump light to an optical transmission path (Raman amplifying medium); compensates the wavelength characteristics of optical transmission powers caused by transmission of WDM signal light through the optical transmission path, by gain wavelength characteristics of generated Raman amplification; and monitors the wavelength characteristics of optical transmission powers after Raman amplification to thereby control the gain wavelength characteristics of Raman amplification.

A base station for a mobile telephone system adopting a code division multiple access method comprising: a first delay profile measuring unit for receiving a random access channel signal, which is input to the base station for setting up a call, detecting at least one peak of the random access channel signal, and detecting the time of receiving the peak of the random access channel signal; and a data channel demodulator which despreads a data channel signal of the call set up by the random access channel signal, based on the peak receiving time of the random access channel signal detected by the first delay profile measuring unit.

A routing table for use with a router in a world-wide network, includes an existing routing table with a multicast-destination (MD) column.

A destination local area network (LAN) and a local LAN are coupled by an FR-ATM Service Interworking (SIW)-based wide area network (WAN). In order to identify a connection between the destination LAN and the local LAN, an end-to-end LAN-WAN-LAN connection components template is created, which contains a number of fields which are populated during the course of identifying the connection. FR and ATM interfaces are identified on each router. The network addresses conform to Internet Protocol (IP) and are part of the same subnet. The IP address, IP subnet mask, city, state, DLCI value retrieved from the FR interface, and the VPI/VCI values retrieved from the ATM interface are stored to create a list describing the physical and logical characteristics of the FR and ATM interfaces. A pair of network addresses is identified using the IP address in conjunction with the subnet mask stored on either the FR or ATM interface in the list. The DLCI value associated with each of the network IP addresses is identified. The VPI/VCI values associated with each of the network IP addresses are identified. WAN configuration data are retrieved and prepared so as to permit LAN-to-WAN correlation. The city, state, DLCI value of the FR interface, and VCI/VPI value of the ATM interface on the LANs are associated with the city, state, DLCI value, and VCI/VPI values on the WAN. The associated configuration information and components of the WAN are retrieved and stored alongside entries in the list.

A method of detecting a transmission rate in a wireless communication terminal employing a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) scheme, comprising the steps of: decoding and encoding, at a selected transmission rate, a frame signal corresponding to a data frame currently received by a de-interleaver from a modulator-demodulator (modem) in response to the reception of the data frame; comparing the encoded frame signal with the current frame signal being received from the modulator-demodulator, and as a comparison result, determining whether there are errors in an amount less than a predetermined threshold value; transmitting a signal indicative of the selected transmission rate to a vocoder if there are errors in an amount less than the predetermined threshold value, and determining whether the reception of all data frames is complete; returning to the encoding and decoding step if the reception of all data frames is not complete; and, selecting another transmission rates other than the previously selected transmission rate used to decode and encode the current frame signal if there are errors in an amount greater than the predetermined threshold value, then returning to the encoding and decoding step.

In accordance with a specific aspect of the present invention, a compressed video stream, such as an MPEG-2 video stream, is received by a transport demultiplexor, synchronized, parsed into separate packet types, and written to buffer locations external the demultiplexor. Adaptation field is handled by a separate parser. In addition, primary elementary stream data can be handled by separate primary elementary stream parsers based upon the packet identifier of the primary elementary stream. Video packets can be parsed based upon stream identifier values. Specific packets of data are stored in one or more system memory or video memory buffers by an output controller based upon allocation table information. Private data associated with specific elementary streams or packet adaptation fields are repacketized, and written to an output buffer location. In specific implementations, the hardware associated with the system is used to acquire the data stream without any knowledge of the specific protocol of the stream. In another embodiment, the hardware is used to implement a splicing of streams of data.

A first call processing system advantageously uses a constant bit rate connection and a variable bit rate connection to utilize the bandwidth for a data call. The first call processing system receives signaling for the data call. The first call processing system then processes the signaling to generate a first instruction to set up a constant bit rate connection for the data call between the first call processing system and a second call processing system. The first call processing system processes the signaling to generate a second instruction to set up a variable bit rate connection between the first call processing system and the second call processing system. Any bandwidth that the data call does not need and use can be utilized for other calls. Thus, the performance of other calls is improved.

In a converter for satellite broadcast reception having a fixing structure provided with a circuit board, a plurality of radio-frequency circuits mounted on the circuit board and separated from one another by a grounding pattern, a chassis having ribs arranged in a pattern that corresponds to the grounding pattern, and a mount plate placed on the back surface of the circuit board, a rubber plate having resilience is placed between the circuit board and the mount plate. This permits the grounding pressure with which the grounding pattern of the circuit board is kept in contact with the chassis to be distributed uniformly, and thereby permits stable grounding to be achieved.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for controlling application processor occupancy based traffic overload. More particularly, the invention is directed to a system to maintain call processing related traffic below a predefined threshold in application processors that are typically incorporated into communication networks.

A channel-based network for accessing the Internet including a system server, one or more Internet sites and one or more user terminals that are connected via the Internet. The system server stores a master channel table that includes a list of channel numbers, each channel number having an associated Internet address and an associated Internet site name. Each Internet site of the network is addressable by an associated Internet address stored in the master channel table. Each user terminal automatically (i.e., without user participation) downloads and stores a local copy of the master channel table. The channel numbers and associated Internet site names are read from the downloaded local copy of the channel table and displayed, for example, on a television in a menu-like manner. The user selects an Internet site name from the displayed menu, and enters the channel number associated with the selected Internet site name using an input device that is similar to a television remote control. The user terminal then accesses the selected Internet site by reading the Internet address associated with the entered channel number, and transmitting the Internet address onto the Internet.

A method and system for a management station managing a plurality of routing devices within a fabric. In one embodiment, this management of routing devices comprising the fabric occurs in the Storage Area Network environment. Use is made of a protocol which already exists in a Storage Area Network environment, such as the Fibre Channel Protocol for SCSI (“FCP”, for managing routing devices within a fabric. Each routing device comprising the fabric is assigned a logical unit number, which, in one embodiment, is based on the domain identifiers of each routing device. Further, the routing device to which the management station is physically is also labeled as LUN 0, and serves as the logical fabric SCSI Enclosure Services controller unit. The fabric interacts with the management station as though the fabric were a logical fabric SCSI Enclosure Services device coupled to a plurality of logical fabric SCSI Enclosure Services units. The management station is thus able to obtain information about, and manage, any of the routing devices comprising the fabric.

A data processing system with bootcode support for communicating with a noncompliant external device has a motherboard, non-volatile memory connected to the motherboard, a volatile memory, processing resources, a communications port that utilizes a first communications protocol, and one or more buses interconnecting those components. Startup instructions obtained from the non-volatile memory load a device driver for the external device from the non-volatile memory into the volatile memory. However, unlike the communications port, the external device utilizes a second communications protocol. Diagnostic instructions then utilize the device driver to communicate with the external device via the communications port. In an illustrative embodiment, the communications port is a USB port, the external device is a serial terminal, the device driver is a serial terminal driver, and the diagnostic instructions utilize the serial terminal driver to communicate with the serial terminal via the USB port while no operating system is present in the volatile memory.

Each subnet has an environment for executing the agent service program. When a request for service such as file system is made from the subnet B103 to the subnet A102 by a user, a client side agent created at the subnet B103 further creates a peer agent, and the peer agent is transmitted to the subnet A102 according to the communication condition such as a firewall 104 which is already being notified. A peer-to-peer session is configured between the agents.

An automated check-cashing unit includes an input device configured to generate input signals in response to inputs from a customer, a storage device including a database of customer information, a check reader configured to receive and read a check to be processed, a cash dispenser, and an electronic processor. The processor is configured to receive the input signals from the input device, receive information about the check to be processed from the check reader, access the database of customer information to obtain data about the customer, and determine automatically whether to accept or reject the check based on the input signals, the received information about the check, and the data about the customer. Upon accepting the check, the processor signals the cash dispenser to dispense cash to the customer. The processor may be further configured to confirm the identity of the customer based on biometric information about the customer. Examples of suitable biometric information include the customer's fingerprint or an image of the customer's

A memory card and apparatus used therewith. The memory card comprises a rectangular card body having terminals in the vicinity of one end and a storage device disposed in the card body for storing data. A switch on the card is operable to a state to prevent stored data from being erased; and a status signal representing the state of the switch is supplied to one or more of the terminals. The apparatus with which the card is used has mating terminals to receive the status signal. Depending upon the state of that status signal, the apparatus is selectively inhibited from writing data to the memory card or erasing data stored in the memory card.

The present invention pertains to an apparatus for cryosurgery. The apparatus comprises a cryoneedle having a diameter less than 3.2 mm. The apparatus is also comprised of a thermal insulation shell disposed about a portion of the cryoneedle for reduction of heat transfer from surrounding tissues or freezing prevention of surrounding tissues during application of the cryoneedle with the shell. The cryoneedle and shell are configured for insertion into a body of a patient. The present invention pertains to a method for freezing tissues. The method comprises the steps of bringing into contact a cryoneedle having a diameter of less than 3.2 mm with a patient's body. Next, there is the step of flowing the cryofluid through the cryoneedle.

The present invention provides a vacuum processing system for creating processed substrates having a domed lid on at least the transfer chamber. The lid may be provided either convex to the chamber, thus decreasing the volume of the chamber and the amount of microparticulate matter present in the chamber, or concave to the chamber. The invention also provides features to enhance the use of the domed lid, e.g., structural features that decrease lifting of the edges of the lid upon introduction of a vacuum to the chamber.

A method for searching, with a predetermined predictability and more ease, for new physiologically active substances is disclosed. In one method for searching for physiologically active substance according to the present invention, amino acid sequences of receptors having two or more sizes for identical receptors are identified, wherein a substance or cell having a functional antagonism is a receptor of a substance present in human body, or wherein a cell or substance having a functional antagonism to cells on which a certain substance causes some effects is a receptor of the substance present in human body, and it is identified which domain in the receptor having a longer size is missing in the receptor having a shorter size.

A diagnostic method and device for use in detecting or quantitating an analyte present in a liquid sample. The method includes reacting an analyte-containing sample with reagents capable of generating a first coil-forming peptide in solution form. This peptide is then contacted with a biosensor whose detection surface has surface-bound molecules of a second, oppositely charged coil-forming peptide, under conditions effective to form a stable &agr;-helical coiled-coil heterodimer on the detection surface. The formation of the coiled-coil heterodimer produces a measurable change in biosensor signal, which is measured to detect the presence of or quantitate the amount of analyte in a sample. Also disclosed is a biosensor device for carrying out the reaction.

A semiconductor chip having a plurality of flash memory devices, shallow trench isolation in the periphery region, and LOCOS isolation in the core region. A hard mask is used first to create the shallow trench isolation. The LOCOS isolation is then created. Subsequent etching is used to remove stringers. The flash memory is able to use shallow trench isolation to limit encroachment. The flash memory may also have a nitridated tunnel oxide barrier layer. A hard mask is used to prevent nitride contamination of the gate oxide layer. Periphery stacks have hate oxide layers of different thicknesses.

A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate which has a major surface and a MOS transistor which has a gate and first and second diffusion regions and which is formed on the major surface. The semiconductor device also includes a laminated structure of a SOG layer, wherein the laminated structure is composed of a base layer and a surface layer formed on the base layer and is formed over the MOS transistor and wherein the surface layer is denser than the base layer.

The invention relates to a surface-wave transducer device—also called TAGs—and to identification systems with this device.DE 42 17 049 discloses a passive surface sensor which can be interrogated in wireless mode. In this context, energy is transmitted by radio to the sensor using an interrogation device, the interrogation being done by means of chirped transmission signals. The sensor has transducers and reflectors. The reflectors reflect the chirp signal in a time-staggered sequence, so that the sensor returns a time-staggered chirp signal to the interrogation device. The reflection principle means that the surface-wave sensor described above (also called SAW—surface acoustic wave—sensor in the following text) has a very high insertion loss of the order of 50 dB, for example. When the chirp signal has been received by an SAW interdigital transducer as the input transducer, this transducer produces a surface wave which propagates on the substrate of the SAW arrangement in the direction of the reflectors. When an SAW is received, each individual reflector element returns a correspondingly reflected SAW to the SAW transducer, which for its part produces an electromagnetic signal from the SAW. However, since each reflector element returns not just one SAW to the SAW transducer, but rather the reflector elements also reflect signals amongst one another, the reflections are inevitably relatively small, and a large part of the energy coming from the SAW transducer is lost in the reflector arrangement, so that only a low output power can be achieved. The problem of “internal reflection” from the reflectors cannot be avoided in principle.The object of the invention is to provide a surface-wave transducer device which has a low insertion loss, allows a considerably greater interrogation distance than with previously known TAGs, and has an increased bit capacity. The device should enable free programming that is simple to perform. The invention proposes a surface transducer device having the features according to claim 1. Advantageous developments are described in the subclaims.Surface-wave transducer device comprising the combination of a first transmitter device of the dispersive type and a second transmitter device of the non-dispersive type, comprising a multiplicity of n non-dispersive transducers which can be coded or are coded with an identification code.

A liquid crystal panel of any type is improved in display quality by adjusting a gap size with high accuracy and uniformity, a liquid crystal display and a liquid crystal projector adopting the liquid crystal panel of the present invention. A manufacturing method for such a liquid crystal panel at a low cost with high productivity is also disclosed. The liquid crystal panel is composed generally of first and second substrates opposed to each other with a given gap defined therebetween and a liquid crystal layer filling this given gap. One surface of the first substrate adjacent to the liquid crystal layer is formed with a planarizing film having a flat surface on the liquid crystal layer side. A plurality of pixels in the form of a matrix are formed on the flat surface of the planarizing film, and a light shielding region is formed between any adjacent ones of the pixels by a black matrix and a signal line. A projection for defining the given gap between the first and second substrates is formed on the flat surface of the planarizing film at a position just over the black matrix so as to abut against an innermost surface of the second substrate adjacent to the liquid crystal layer. The projection is formed by a TFT process.

A packet transmission control method is achieved by borrowing a first one of a plurality of channels for a first one of a plurality of existing users in response to a packet receiving request, and by transmitting packets to a new user using the first channel.

A method and apparatus for providing a Virtual Private Network (VPN) over a connectionless network connecting a plurality of Local Area Networks (LANs), such as an Ethernet network, is disclosed. The method and apparatus comprises associated each VPN with a unique identifier and each LAN of the VPN with a interface device connecting the LAN to the connectionless network, which may be for example, a Synchronous Optical Network (SONET). The interface device may service a plurality of LANs. Accordingly, each LAN is associated with a User-Network Interface that forms part of the interface device. Each data packet destined for a second LAN, such Ethernet frames, received by the interface device for a first LAN is encapsulated with, if known, a Media Access Control (MAC) address of the interface device connected to the second LAN, the VPN's unique identifier, and the port on the interface device connected to the second LAN. Additionally, the corresponding MAC and port address of the first interface device is also used to encapsulate the Ethernet frames. If the MAC and port address is not known (i.e., it is not stored in a database on the first interface device), the first interface device multicasts an encapsulated Ethernet packet to the entire VPN. The first interface device maintains (i.e., updates and appends) its database of MAC and port addresses in response to encapsulated data frames received by the first interface device.

A reverse link modulator modulates the incoming data sequence for the I and Q channels of a wireless device such that the resulting spreading sequence never undergoes a transition through the origin. Consequently, the modulator has a reduced peak-to-average ratio and provides an improved battery life.

Disclosed is an apparatus and method for switching between two network lines, such as telephone subscriber lines. Households and offices are increasingly equipped with multiple network lines for voice and data communications. The line switching unit of the present invention has a first terminal for receiving a CPE line from a CPE device. First and second switches of the unit each connect a common terminal to a first switched terminal responsive to a first value of a control signal received at a control terminal of each switch and to a second switched terminal responsive to a second value of the control signal. The first switched terminal of the first switch is connected to the first terminal and the second switched terminal of the second switch is connected to the first terminal. The common terminal of the first switch is connected to a first network line and the common terminal of the second switch is connected to a second network line. A further aspect of the present invention includes a control unit that senses an off-hook signal on the CPE line and, when the control signal is in a state of outputting the first value, checks a state of the first network line to determine if it is in use. If the first network line is in use, then the control unit checks a state of the second network line. If the second network line is not in use, then the control unit changes the state of the control signal to output the second value of the control signal.

A chaos-generating loop includes a one dimensional mapping circuit (13) with non-linear input-output characteristics for generating chaos, a linear or non-linear AD converter (15) for converting an analog output of the one dimensional mapping circuit (13) to digital form, a sample-and-hold circuit (17) for holding and outputting the digitally converted value from the AD converter (15), in response to an external clock (C), and a linear or non-linear DA converter (19) for converting an output of the sample-and-hold circuit (17) to analog form and outputting this analog signal to the one dimensional mapping circuit (13), and a decoder for outputting a chaos stream in response to the output of the sample-and-hold circuit (17).

The depth and orientation of a surface patch relative to a camera are determined. A first and second image of the surface patch are obtained from different viewpoints. Various predicted combinations of depth and orientation values are associated with the surface patch. Different available combinations may have different orientations. Each predicted combination predicts a correspondence between points in the first and second image, corresponding points viewing identical locations on the surface patch. One searches for a best combination of depth and orientation so that among the available combinations the best combination results in a minimum aggregate of differences between pixel values of the first and second image at corresponding points.

A client-server multitasking process comprising: receiving a request comprising searching criteria, comprising n search queries, at least two of which comprise different query values directed to different server addresses, request grouping criteria, and display criteria specifying for which request group information is to be returned; processing n search query and server address pairs into m request groups; for the search queries in the specified request group, sending to the server designated by the server address a query derived from the corresponding search query; receiving response information from the servers; processing the response information into a plurality of return groups by associating a different query value with a different one of the return groups and merging into the return group the response information from the servers that received queries directed to the query value associated with the return group; consolidating the return groups into a consolidated response; returning the consolidated response.

A system includes a compiler component that employs a declarative notation, for a description, that describes one or more fields of a network packet. The compiler component employs a declarative notation, for the description, that describes one or more constraints for at least one field of the one or more fields. The description is of a portion of the network packet. A representation based on the description is employable for recognition of the portion of the network packet at a network interface.

A method and apparatus are provided for improving the rate at which macroinstructions are transformed into corresponding microinstructions. Encoding is added to a microcode storage device. The encoding indicates that a microinstruction flow will end in a determined number of cycles. The number of cycles is determined by the number of canceled instructions in a processing pipeline that would be introduced if no flow length prediction was used. For flow lengths less than a determined number of cycles, a hint bit is used in an entry point structure. For flow lengths greater than a determined length, a hint bit is encoded at a third line from an end of the microinstruction flow. Using this method, flows of any length can be hinted. Furthermore, flows that do not originate from the entry point structure can also be hinted. The method reduces the number of hint bits that are needed in the entry point structure and provides for better prediction.

Tamper resistance is provided to avoid observation of the behavior of portions of software by calling a function exclusively available in one differentiated section of a processor and its peripherals and drivers from another differentiated section. A pseudo-random binary sequence generator is associated with each such differentiated section and incremented incident to the calling and performance of the function, respectively. The pseudo-random binary sequence values are compared prior to allowing or preventing further execution of the software. The comparison can be performed at any privilege level and a variation of the invention provides additional security by utilizing an additional privileged function to perform the comparison. An enhancement of the invention corrupts data or program files using a PRBS value at one privilege level and performs the inverse function to restore the data or program files at another privilege level with its own PRBS value.

A heat source is formed within one piece of a multi-piece mold designed to shape a glass tube. The one piece of the mold can then be used as a source of intense heat to render the glass malleable and to also contribute to shaping the tube in conformance with the mold. In one embodiment, the heat source includes channels formed throughout the one piece of mold for distributing a gas therethrough with jets of gas emanating from the inner surface of the mold piece for heating the tube to be shaped to a desired temperature. In apparatus embodying the invention, there is no need for a separate torch and for moving the torch during the shaping process. Also, in accordance with the invention, better control of the heat supplied to the tube being shaped is obtained.

A bubble cycling heat exchanger is disclosed. A closed fluid loop is in contact with a heat absorbing source through a heat conducting block; the loop has a bubble generator, an expanding area for generating bubbles is installed at loop; the loop is also formed with a guide region from which bubbles is easily separable and a radiator; a heat conducting block of the closed loop is connected to a heat absorbing source; since the overheat of the heat absorbing source will cause the loop to generate bubble; by an unequilibrium formed at the guide region of the loop, the bubbles will separate from the heat absorbing source so that the liquid in the loop flows for transferring heat so that heat is radiated by the fins or other elements of the radiator from the primary element of a computer at the heat absorbing source, the loop operates continuously until a heat equilibrium is achieved.

An electrical connector is provided for straddle mounting at an edge of a circuit board. The connector includes a dielectric housing defining a slot for receiving the edge of the board. A plurality of terminals are mounted on the housing and include contact portions for connection to the circuit traces on the board. A flexible gripping arm is integral with the housing at one side of the slot for yieldably engaging the circuit board upon insertion of the board into the slot. A ground tab extends from a shielding plate on the mating face of the connector through the housing adjacent to the slot for contacting a ground pad on the circuit board.

Hydrogen is produced from solid or liquid carbon-containing fuels in a two-step process. The fuel is gasified with hydrogen in a hydrogenation reaction to produce a methane-rich gaseous reaction product, which is then reacted with water and calcium oxide in a hydrogen production and carbonation reaction to produce hydrogen and calcium carbonate. The calcium carbonate may be continuously removed from the hydrogen production and carbonation reaction zone and calcined to regenerate calcium oxide, which may be reintroduced into the hydrogen production and carbonation reaction zone. Hydrogen produced in the hydrogen production and carbonation reaction is more than sufficient both to provide the energy necessary for the calcination reaction and also to sustain the hydrogenation of the coal in the gasification reaction. The excess hydrogen is available for energy production or other purposes. Substantially all of the carbon introduced as fuel ultimately emerges from the invention process in a stream of substantially pure carbon dioxide. The water necessary for the hydrogen production and carbonation reaction may be introduced into both the gasification and hydrogen production and carbonation reactions, and allocated so as transfer the exothermic heat of reaction of the gasification reaction to the endothermic hydrogen production and carbonation reaction.

Disclosed is a genomic DNA encoding a polypeptide capable of inducing the production of interferon-&ggr; by immunocompetent cells. The genomic DNA efficiently expresses the polypeptide with high biological activities of such as inducing the production of interferon-&ggr; by immunocompetent cells, enhancing killer cells' cytotoxicity and inducing killer cells' formation, when introduced into mammalian host cells. The high biological activities of the polypeptide facilitate its uses to treat and/or prevent malignant tumors, viral diseases, bacterial infectious diseases and immune diseases without serious side effects when administered to humans.

Polynucleotides encoding mammalian ECM signaling molecules affecting the cell adhesion, migration, and proliferation activities characterizing such complex biological processes as angiogenesis, chondrogenesis, and oncogenesis, are provided. The polynucleotide compositions include DNAs and RNAs comprising part, or all, of an ECM signaling molecule coding sequence, or biological equivalents. Polypeptide compositions are also provided. The polypeptide compositions comprise mammalian ECM signaling molecules, peptide fragments, inhibitory peptides capable of interacting with receptors for ECM signaling molecules, and antibody products recognizing Cyr61. Also provided are methods for producing mammalian ECM signaling molecules. Further provided are methods for using mammalian ECM signaling molecules to screen for, and/or modulate, disorders associated with angiogenesis, chondrogenesis, and oncogenesis; ex vivo methods for using mammalian ECM signaling molecules to prepare blood products are also provided.

The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition having neurotrophic activity, comprising a biologically active amount of at least two cytokines, wherein at least one of said cytokines is BMP, GDF, TGF-&bgr; or GDNF.

A method of producing a foamed material comprises contacting a mixture comprising a first thermoplastic polymer and a second thermoplastic polymer with a blowing agent, wherein the first thermoplastic polymer has a higher percent crystallinity that the second thermoplastic polymer; and subjecting the mixture to conditions sufficient to create a thermodynamic instability in the blend foam the mixture, wherein the mixture comprising the first and second thermoplastic polymers has a percent crystallinity lower than the first thermoplastic polymer.

Zinc finger proteins of the Cys2His2 type represent a class of malleable DNA binding proteins which may be selected to bind diverse sequences. Typically, zinc finger proteins containing three zinc finger domains, like the murine transcription factor Zif268 and the human transcription factor Sp1, bind nine contiguous base pairs (bp). To create a class of proteins which would be generally applicable to target unique sites within complex genomes, the present invention provides a polypeptide linker that fuses two three-finger proteins. Two six-fingered proteins were created and demonstrated to bind 18 contiguous bp of DNA in a sequence specific fashion. Expression of these proteins as fusions to activation or repression domains allows transcription to be specifically up or down modulated within cells. Polydactyl zinc finger proteins are broadly applicable as genome-specific transcriptional switches in gene therapy strategies and the development of novel transgenic plants and animals. Such proteins are useful for inhibiting, activating or enhancing gene expression from a zinc finger-nucleotide binding motif containing promoter or other transcriptional control element, as well as a structural gene or RNA sequence.

The invention provides isolated nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of novel human tumor suppressors, antibodies to such tumor suppressors, methods of detecting such nucleic acids and proteins, methods of screening for modulators of tumor suppressors, and methods of diagnosing and treating tumors with such nucleic acids and proteins.

Methods for producing circuit elements the resultant circuit elements, and methods for making circuits therefrom are disclosed. A precursor circuit element includes a first insulating layer with conductor thereon and an electrically conducting member or bump, protruding from the conductor, that provide a shape to one surface of the precursor circuit element. A second insulating layer, including an adhesive, is placed onto the precursor circuit element and assumes the shape of the aforementioned surface of the precursor circuit element. A portion of the insulating layer is removed proximate the apex of the bump to expose at least a portion of the bump, for a sufficient electrical connection with a subsequent circuit element, while maintaining a sufficient amount of the insulating layer on the first initiating layer and bump to facilitate the mechanical connection (bond) between this resultant circuit element and a second circuit element, that may or may not have been produced by the method of the present invention.

A semiconductor device having a superior connection reliability is obtained by providing a buffer body for absorbing the difference of thermal expansion between the mounting substrate and the semiconductor element in a semiconductor package structure, even if an organic material is used for mounting substrate. A film material is used as the body for buffering the thermal stress generated by the difference in thermal expansion between the mounting substrate and the semiconductor element. The film material has modulus of elasticity of at least 1 MPa in the reflow temperature range (200-250° C.).

A computer method suitable for reconciling disparate data archival mediums. The method obviates the need for writing programs that are specific or uniquely tailored to each data archival medium, wherein it is desired to extract specific fields from a variety of spreadsheet or database output files.

A digital camera whose lens is detachable, comprising a judging section for judging whether an image failure is caused due to dirt adhering on an image sensor device unit including image sensor device, an illuminating member which is disposed in the vicinity of the image sensor device unit such that irradiation light can enter the image sensor device and which is driven when at least the judgment is made, a memory for storing a position of a picture element of the image sensor device corresponding to image sensor data causing image failure when the judging section judged that image failure has been caused, and a correcting section for correcting the image sensor data output from the image sensor device unit based on picture element position data stored in the memory when a picture is photographed after the lens is interchanged.

An image pickup apparatus comprises an image pickup area which includes first and second areas each of which converts an object image into an electric signal, a first output terminal for outputting the electric signal from the first area, and a second output terminal for outputting the electric signal from the second area. A correction circuit corrects at least one of the electric signal output from the first output terminal and the electric signal output from the second output terminal, on the basis of a correlative relationship between the electric signal output from a portion of the first area through the first output terminal and the electric signal output from a portion of the second area through the second output terminal. A timing generation circuit drives a plurality of pixels arranged in a predetermined direction across the boundary between the first and second areas so that a read-out order of signals from pixels included in the first area among the plurality of pixels and a read-out order of signals from pixels included in the second area among the plurality of pixels are in reverse order, wherein a side on a side opposite to the boundary side of the portion of the first area is on the boundary side with respect to the center of the first area, and a side on a side opposite to the boundary side of the portion of the second area is on the boundary side with respect to the center of the second area.

A wireless mobile unit includes a voice encoder circuit that receives an analog voice signal and creates digital voice data representing a user's voice. The mobile unit receives an encryption key entered by the user, typically on the keypad or through a voice recognition circuit, and stores the encryption key in a storage device. An encryption circuit encrypts the digital voice data using the encryption key. A transmitter then modulates the encrypted voice data onto an RF signal and transmits the RF signal to a base station in a wireless network. The base station uses the same encryption key to decrypt the signal before transmitting it to another base station or mobile unit. Signals transmitted from the base station to the mobile unit are encrypted and decrypted using a user-selected encryption key in a similar manner.

An audio system includes amplifying with distortion via a first amplifier electrical audio signals from a sound source, such as an electric guitar, for example, to obtain a desired tonal quality in the sound produced from a first loudspeaker driver by the amplified electrical audio signals, simultaneous with applying electrical signals from a piezo film transducer attached to the cone of the first loudspeaker to a second amplifier having a flat response over a desired frequency range, and adjustable low and high frequency rolloff, for driving a second loudspeaker to produce desired perceived tonal quality at relatively low sound pressure levels, with the volume of the sound from the first and second loudspeakers being adjusted to match the acoustics of a room in which the audio system is operating.

A high frequency transducer having a dome diaphragm with a configuration of a bisected ellipse to overcome the distortion and breaking point of prior art even domes at frequencies above 30 kHz. The dome diaphragm having an annular skirt extending therefrom in an integral fashion and connecting to a disc shaped plate of the transducer. A voice coil of cylindrical section being directly connected to the skirt at a region of close proximity to said dome. The dome being constructed of a rigid material such as a metal, an alloy, a metalloid such as, but not limited to, titanium, aluminum, and boron, or a combination thereof. The dome being constructed in accordance with a general formula for an ellipse (x2/a2)+(y2/b2)=1, and a>b. Wherein a is half of the distance of major axis and b is half of the distance of a minor axis.

A method of inserting additional information, such as a digital signature, in a digital image comprises the following steps:detecting (E10) the points of interest in said image (I);selecting (E11) a subset of points of interest adapted to define a geometric reference frame in said image (I);calculating (E12), for the geometric reference frame, reference information necessary for determining the geometric transformation applied to the image for a class of predetermined geometric transformations;coding (E13) said reference information in a reference key (Kr); andinserting (E16-E19) the additional information in said digital image (I).Use notably for geometrically re-fixing the image before extracting the signature.

A method and image processing system are disclosed that extract feature information from an image using a model. An object in the image is first identified. The model is used at the front-end to quickly determine/define the approximate location/position of specific features of the object. Based in this modeling information, the location/position of the specific features are then determined. A feedback process may also be used to update/customize the model and improve performance.

An optical header for coupling a light source to an optical fiber is disclosed. The header preferably includes a ceramic substrate that has a recess for a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL), or alternatively an edge emitting laser. An optical fiber is preferably attached to a ceramic substrate and terminates at a light source. The end of the fiber is preferably cleaved or polished to an angle such that light entering the fiber from the light source is substantially reflected into the fiber. A reflective coating is placed on the cleaved end of the fiber thereby permitting a small percentage of light to radiate away from the fiber and toward an intensity detector. The light preferably travels to the detector through a transmission medium such as a prism or an optical-grade epoxy. The header is particularly useful when used in conjunction with multiple fibers simultaneously to form an optical fiber array. The header is also useful to house an optical receiver, or to form a bi-directional header suitable for fiber optic communications.

A method and a device for defining bit allocation table in processing audio signals are provided. The provided method and device can save storage bits and provide light quality as well. In the first step, the total number of bits for storing audio signals is determined. Then the psychoacoustic model provides many signal-to-mask ratios according to the audio signals. At last, the quantizer quantizes the signal-to-mask ratios to generate several quantized levels each of which corresponds to a bit allocation value to define the table of bit allocation. Therefore, fewer or no storage bits are provided for unimportant subbands and signal frames, that is, the efficiency and quality of transmission of audio signals can be raised.

A nationwide, web-based pet registration, search and retrieval system. The system is implemented with a host computer (10) that may be accessed by users operating user computers (12) via a communications network (14) such as the Internet. Pet owners may register their pets with the host computer and finders of lost pets may search the host computer in an attempt to locate the owners of lost pets.

A system enables encoding of a removable mark into digital data, and decoding of the mark from the digital data. The system comprises an encoder and a decoder. The encoder includes a target area locator for locating in digital data a predetermined pattern of values that represents a flat area, and a marker for modifying values in the flat area to encode a mark into the flat area. The decoder attempts to extract the mark from the digital data. The decoder includes a mark area locator for locating a predetermined pattern of values in digital data, and an unmarker coupled to the mark area locator for examining the values to determine the state of each value and extract an embedded mark from the predetermined pattern of values.

In an information processing apparatus, a user having no knowledge of a designer of an LSI modifies a floorplan of the LSI without deteriorating the performance of the LSI. The designer who designs the LSI uses a circuit designing apparatus to store circuit information including a functions of each of blocks constituting the LSI, a floorplan regarding allocation of the blocks, and evaluation indices which are the know-how of the designer, with being associated with each other. The user uses a floorplan modifying apparatus to modify the floorplan and to evaluate the modified floorplan according to the evaluation indices.

The invention discloses a relative structure placement of datapath of cell instances in a column structure, a row structure, or an array structure. To encourage placement of a desirable structure, pseudo cells, pseudo pins, and pseudo nets are selected to be placed at certain locations with respect to real cell instances. The end result produces a cluster of real cell instances that form a desirable structure while minimizing the length of nets. The invention further discloses a non-uniform partitioning of a density map for calculating a force update vector. The partitioning is taken over a region A to compute Riemann sum approximations of a function F over the region A. A force update vector is calculated for a given cell instance within the region A where neighboring cell instances have an exponentially larger grid size as cell instances extend further away from the given cell instance.

A method and apparatus for structuring a program segment are disclosed. The method for structuring a program segment on a computer begins with the step of identifying a series of program blocks in the segment. Each block is a functional piece of code in the segment and has at least one point corresponding to at least one of entry and exit, in such a manner that the entire segment is divided into blocks with each block being situated in an execution path along which the segment executes in a downstream direction. With respect to each block, a block representative is associated for allocating computer memory for data elements that are needed for the associated block to execute. The block representative assigns a value to any data element required by the associated block to have a value. The block representative also calls the associated block for execution, receives return of control after execution of the block, and passes control based on available data.

An internal combustion engine (1), in particular for a motor vehicle, is described, that is provided with an injection valve (8), using which fuel can be directly injected into a combustion chamber (4) either in a first mode during an intake phase or in a second mode during a compression phase. In addition, a control unit (16) is provided for the control and/or feedback control of the fuel quantity injected into the combustion chamber (4), the control and/or feedback control being different in the two modes. The switchover from the first mode initially (26) to a transitional operation of the second mode and then (31, 37) to a normal operation of the second mode is effected by the control unit (16).

A method for internal fixation of vertebra of the spine to facilitate graft fusion includes steps for excising the nucleus of an affected disc, preparing a bone graft, instrumenting the vertebrae for fixation, and introducing the bone graft into the resected nuclear space. Disc resection is conducted through two portals through the annulus, with one portal supporting resection instruments and the other supporting a viewing device. The fixation hardware is inserted through small incisions aligned with each pedicle to be instrumented. The hardware includes bone screws, fixation plates, engagement nuts, and linking members. In an important aspect of the method, the fixation plates, engagement nuts and linking members are supported suprafascially but subcutaneously so that the fascia and muscle tissue are not damaged. The bone screw is configured to support the fixation hardware above the fascia. In a further aspect of the invention, a three component dilator system is provided for use during the bone screw implantation steps of the method.

A blood test container which facilitate the procedures starting from blood collection and ending with measurement of various components present in the blood while eliminating a risk for a tester to come into contact with the blood. A blood test container 1 having a closed-bottom tubular container 2, a closed-bottom second tubular container having a diameter smaller than that of the tubular container 2 for accommodation therein, and a blood test reagent 3 secured onto at least one of an inner face of the tubular container and an outer face of the second tubular container.

A green-compact electrode (1) for discharge surface treatment for use in a discharge surface treatment operation for forming a hard coating film (9) on the surface of an object (2) which must be machined by performing a discharging operation in working fluid (4) is structured such that powder (11) made of metal, such as W or Ti, and fluid (12) which is the same as working fluid are mixed with each other, and the mixed substance is compression-molded so that the green-compact electrode (1) for the discharge surface treatment is obtained.

The inventive method for producing packaging materials consisting of a polyolefin foam layer (B) coated with a coating film (A) on at least one side, which packaging material is formable into self supporting packaging items, such as trays, by thermoforming or folding, comprises a coextrusion step or an extrusion lamination step in which step the bonding between the polyolefin foam layer (B) and the coating is achieved. With the extrusion lamination step, the method is as follows: In a first method step, a single-layer or multi-layer coating film (A) is produced by extrusion or coextrusion, in a second method step a polyolefin foam sheet (B) is produced by expansion and extrusion and in the third method step the polyolefin foam sheet (B) is coated with the coating film (A) by extrusion lamination, wherein a polyolefin bonding layer (30) is extruded between the foam sheet (B) and the coating film (A) and pressure is applied to the combination. At least the one surface of the coating film (A) facing the foam layer (B) consists of a polyolefin and this bonding layer (14) and the further bonding layer (30) extruded in the third method step consist of polyolefins based on the monomer which is the main monomer of the polyolefin of the foam layer (B).

An improved preservation solution is described, which is intended for the preservation of organs and tissues, or parts thereof, from humans and animals. The improved preservation solution contains calcium, at least one colloidosmotically active substance, and nitroglycerin. Also described is a method for preserving organs and tissues, or parts thereof, from humans and animals in the improved preservation solution.

This invention relates to novel potassium channels and genes encoding these channels. More specifically the invention provides isolated polynucleotides encoding the KCNQ4 potassium channel, cells transformed with these polynucleotides, transgenic animals comprising genetic mutations, and the use of the transformed cells and the transgenic animals for the in vitro and in vivo screening of drugs affecting KCNQ4 containing potassium channels.

The degradation of deposited low dielectric constant interlayer dielectrics and gap fill layers, such as HSQ layers, during formation of contacts/vias is significantly reduced or prevented by employing a plasma containing CF4+H2O to remove the photoresist mask and cleaning the contact/via opening after anisotropic etching. The CF4+H2O plasma also enables rapid photoresist stripping at a rate of about 10 to about 20 Kå/min. Embodiments include photoresist stripping and cleaning the contact/via opening with a CF4+H2O plasma to prevent reduction of the number of Si—H bonds of an as-deposited HSQ layer below about 70%.

Provided is a method of treating thrombosis in mammals by administering therapeutically effective amounts of a combination of (i) a Factor Xa inhibitor, and (ii) a compound selected from the group consisting of aspirin, TPA, a GPIIb/IIIa antagonist, low molecular weight heparin and heparin, wherein the dose administered for at least one of (i) and (ii) is a subtherapeutic dose. Preferably, the combination of (i) and (ii) provides a synergistic effect.

A high temperature superconducting cable includes a tubular support and a plurality of superconducting tapes. The superconducting tapes include a superconducting material enclosed in a metal covering, spirally wound onto the tubular support to form at least an electroinsulated, thermally-insulated, and refrigerated superconducting layer. The superconducting tapes also include at least a metal strip coupled to the metal covering. A process for manufacturing high temperature superconducting cables is also disclosed.

A conventional partial data reproduction method proposed can be applied to a document constituted of a single media data type, but cannot be applied to a document constituted of plural types of media data including still image data, text image data and the like and reproduction control information for the media data. To solve this problem, the apparatus has an input unit for inputting plural types of media data and their reproduction control information and a scene reproduction control information preparing unit for preparing scene reproduction control information for reproducing a scene, which is reproduction control information for at least one of a plurality of scenes dividing a reproduction time depending on the reproduction control information, by controlling the plural types of media data so as to correlate the scene reproduction control information with the digest data.

A readily portable imaging system for use in the field and, more particularly to an electronic camera and electronic printer housed and readily connectable with respect to each other in the field, and wherein the electronic printer includes a film unit drive assembly that advances the film unit (self-developing type) past a stationary print head for emitting consecutive lines of image data on the film unit to effect progressive exposure on the film unit simultaneously as a fluid spread system spreads the processing fluid over the film unit to effect processing of exposed portions of the film unit.

An apparatus and method changes an assignment of a receiver channel element (302a-302n), such as a RAKE receiver finger based on transmit power control information (212), such as a power control bit or other suitable information, that is used as part of a closed loop transmit power control system between a transmitter and receiver. In one embodiment, a transmit power control information generator (204) produces the transmit power control information (212) on a per channel basis based on received symbol energy (210) of a received spread spectrum signal (202). A receiver channel element management module (206), analyzes the transmit power control information (212) and produces receiver channel element control information (214) to suitably change assignment of receiver channel elements, such as receiver fingers, based on the transmit power control information (212). The reassignment of fingers is rapid and provides close tracking of rapidly changing radio frequency environments.

The idea of this invention is to use at least two modems on the network management system side. At least one of these modems is used only for connections initialized by the network management system. At least one other modem is used only for connections initialized by any or a group of network elements controlled by the network management system. The number of modems used for connections initiated by the management system may be more than one, thus enabling the network management system to initiate simultaneous connections to more than one network element. Likewise, more than one modem can be assigned for connections initiated by the network elements.

A method is disclosed for receiving transmitted signals in the presence of CW interference in a communication system that determines the presence of a code in a received signal by comparing with a detector threshold calculations made in accordance with a sample of a received signal. Such systems include but are not limited to those incorporating a Sequential Probability Ratio Test. The method includes obtaining a first input power value of the received signal at a first sample time and obtaining a second input power value of the received signal at a second sample time. The first and second power values are compared in order to provide an input sample comparison and the forgoing steps are repeated in order to provide a plurality of input sample comparisons. The detector threshold is adjusted in accordance with the plurality of sample comparisons.The CW signal can be strongly correlated with a short code used for the acquisition purposes. Therefore in the CDMA systems if the received signal contains a CW signal, then the strong correlation between the CW signal and the short code used for acquisition may result in a false alarm. To prevent this, the following algorithm is suggested to be used for the cancellation of CW, if there is a CW signal present in the received CDMA signal.

The invention relates to a method for transferring information in data transmission flows between a first (MS) and a second communication device (SH), in which method at least one data transmission connection is established between the first (MS) and the second communication device (SH). The data transmission is divided into at least an application layer (AL), a network layer (NL), and a link layer (LL), wherein packets (502, 505, 508) of the data transmission flow formed in the application layer from the information to be transferred, are modified into network layer packets (509) according to the network layer protocol. The network layer packets (509) are transmitted by means of one or more data transmission channels preferably in link layer (LL) packets (506, 510), to which an information part is established to transfer the information to be transmitted, and at least a first (504) and a second header part (MCML) to transmit identification data on the data transmission flow. In the method, at least one header part (MCML) is transmitted after the information part.

A PBX system using an unmodified personal computer as the host server and using expansion slots to couple one or more switch cards to the system bus, and, optionally including a network interface card to couple the PBX system to other client computers running telephony enabled applications to control the PBX via a local area network. The switch card(s) are each coupled to a chain of one or more port expansion units that do not consume expansion slots. Each PEU contains a DSP and a microcontroller, an FPGA and port interface circuitry to interface to POTS CO lines, extension telephone lines, T1 lines or PRI lines. The personal computer is programmed with a PBX process that controls operations of the overall system and may also be programmed with conventional voice mail applications or integrated voice response and other applications to implement various telephony functions such as recording voice mail or prompt callers to input DTMF tones indicating what they want to do. Each chain of PEUs is coupled to the switch card and the PBX process by a TDMA bus and a packet switched bus. Distributed processing by the DSPs and microcontrollers in the PEUs to do tone generation, tone recognition, and a host of other functions offloads much of the work from the host. The packet switched bus enables easy handling of packetized data in IP packets or other packetized data.

A laser device for generating a laser beam and an optical signal amplifier using thereof for amplifying an optical signal are disclosed. The laser device comprises an optical fiber having a core portion in which a laser medium is doped and a cladding portion covering the core portion. The optical fiber is placed in a pumping light reflection portion in which an index matching oil is contained and a pumping light is confined. Alternatively, the optical fiber is bundled in a bundle portion in a pumping light reflection portion in which the pumping light is confined. The pumping light is introduced to the pumping light reflection portion from a pumping light introducing portion bundled with the laser fiber.

A DFB type semiconductor laser device including a laser substrate, a grating layer, an insulating layer and an electrode layer, which are laminated in the given order. The insulating layer includes a through groove or grooves extending to the grating layer in a direction in which a resonator of the laser device is formed, and the electrode layer contacts the grating layer and a clad layer.

A searcher detecting signal indicating conditions of propagation paths is detected from incoming waves of a pilot signal transmitted at the highest electric power. In a RAKE reception for one code channel, an interference replica signal functioning as an interference signal for an incoming wave of the code channel to be demodulated in one finger unit is produced from reference signals produced in the other finger units and the searcher detecting signal, an interference removal is performed for a receiving signal according to the interference replica signal, and the demodulation of the RAKE reception is performed. In the demodulation based on a plural code channel, a reference signal is produced in one of the finger units, an interference replica signal is produced from the reference signal and the searcher detecting signal, an interference removal is performed for the receiving signal according to the interference replica signal, and the demodulation based on the plural code channel is performed. Accordingly, a service of a high speed data transmission can be performed without increasing an occupied band as well as a service mainly performing a low speed data transmission.

A reset circuit for a PLL frequency synthesizer allows the PLL to quickly generate an output signal after waking up from a power-save mode. The reset circuit includes a delay circuit for receiving a shift signal and generating the output signal by delaying the shift signal for a predetermined time. A determination signal receives the shift signal and the output signal, determines whether they match, and generates a reset signal from the predetermined time when the shift signal is being shifted. A control circuit receives a power-save signal, which deactivates the PLL, and provides the delay circuit with a control signal for matching the output signal with the shift signal when the power-save signal is cancelled.

An echo canceller. The echo canceller having an adjust-type filter, an echo return loss enhancement device, a divergence detector and a double talk detector is suitable for use between a receiving line and an output line. After adjusting a coefficient via the adjust-type filter, the echo cancellation is performed. According to an acoustic input signal and an acoustic output signal, the echo return loss enhancement device outputs an adjusting signal. While receiving the adjusting signal as well as an external input signal, the divergence detector outputs a divergent/convergent signal. While receiving the external input signal, the adjusting signal and the divergent/convergent signal, the double talk detector outputs a control adjusting coefficient signal to the adjust-type filter. In this manner, with the addition of the divergence detector, the echo cancellation tends to be stablized.

A glass article comprising a glass substrate and a diamond-like film deposited on the substrate is disclosed. The glass article is desirably responsive to actinic radiation, such as being capable of demonstrating a change in refractive index upon exposure to actinic radiation. The film permits passage of the actinic radiation. through the film and into the substrate. In specific implementations, the film comprises at least about 30 atomic percent carbon, from about 0 to about 50 atomic percent silicon, and from about 0 to about 50 atomic percent oxygen on a hydrogen-free basis.

An optical transmission circuit includes: a semiconductor laser; a drive circuit for supplying drive current to the semiconductor laser; a duty changing circuit for changing a duty value of an input data; a converting circuit for supplying a duty control signal to the duty changing circuit in order to adjust the duty value of the input data; and an adjusting circuit for supplying an optical power control signal to the converting circuit and the drive circuit. The adjusting circuit performs an initial setting of an optical power of the semiconductor laser, and the converting circuit performs the initial setting of the duty value so as to have a characteristic opposite to the optical power. According to the above structure, it is possible to realize the duty adjustment and the optical power adjustment by using only one adjusting circuit so that it is possible to achieve a simplified, miniatuarized, and low cost optical transmission circuit.

Whenever operating tasks by means of which control functions are implemented, for example, are no longer called by a central task, that is to say the scheduler of a real-time operating system, for example, but instead are called by the respective user-adaptable tasks in which the measured values supplied by the operating tasks are processed, the software producer is relieved of complex organizational work during the production of software. Since the sampling time of, for example, a control algorithm is no longer constant for the resultant calls (which are not equidistant) to the operating tasks, the currently valid sampling time has to be transferred as a parameter to the respective algorithms of the operating tasks. However, the sampling time can be determined in a particularly simple manner if the operating tasks determine a time value with each call and themselves determine the sampling time from the difference between the current and the preceding time value. In turn, it is possible to determine a time value in a particularly simple manner if a time index register is polled for this purpose and is incremented with each call by a time index task which is called periodically by the central task.

Novel apparatus and methods for filtering data packets by providing non-user configurable authorization data. The invention provides an efficient, quick, secure, and simple to implement technique for computer communication security, in part, by utilizing service level filtering of data packets.

The subject invention relates to an electrical connector for coupling to an insulated single conductor electrical cable or to a coaxial cable, the latter being of the type having an inner conductor enclosed in an inner concentric insulation and having a generally concentric conductive sheath therearound and an outer insulation enclosing the conductive sheath. The subject connector includes a housing having an electrically conductive portion and a bore therein. One or more conductive arms can be disposed in the bore and electrically connected to the conductive housing portion and have pointed ends sized for piercing the outer insulation of the insulated electrical conductor. A closure member is included for closing the open end of the above and for forcing and/or securing engagement of the pointed ends of the conductive arms through the outer insulation of an electrical cable. For embodiments for use with a coaxial cable, the conductive arms are insulated from the electrical conductive pin and the pointed ends of the conductive arms can be shaped relative to one another to pierce the outer insulation and the conductive sheath of the cable without contacting the center conductor.

An intraocular lens system including one or more intraocular lenses (IOL) and a peripheral holder. The peripheral holder is configured to receive and retain the distal end of a fixation member of the IOL and provide a dynamic interface between the natural capsular bag and fixation member. The holder is preferably annular and flexible and transmits movement of the capsular bag from the surrounding ciliary muscles to the IOL. In this manner, a circumferential surface contact with the capsular bag is provided and accommodation of the IOL is improved. If two IOLs are received in the holder, a spacer may be provided to insure consistent spacing between the IOLs. Alternatively, an IOL system may include two IOLs and a spacer, without the holder. The holder desirably includes a sharp exterior corner to inhibit cell growth and posterior capsular opacification.

The invention relates to a composition for the oxidation dyeing of keratin fibres, and in particular human keratin fibres such as the hair, comprising, in a medium which is suitable for dyeing, at least one heterocyclic oxidation base and at least one 3-aminopyridine derivative as direct dye, as well as to the dyeing process using this composition.

A method of etching a silicon-containing material in a substrate comprises placing the substrate in a process chamber and exposing the substrate to an energized gas comprising fluorine-containing gas, chlorine-containing gas and sidewall-passivation gas. The silicon-containing material on the substrate comprises regions having different compositions, and the volumetric flow ratio of the fluorine-containing gas, chlorine-containing gas, and sidewall-passivation gas is selected to etch the compositionally different regions at substantially similar etch rates.

A re-usable shrinkwrap material is defined by a shrinkable material capable of retaining its shape after shrinking. A releasable fastener, such as a zipper, hook and loop fastener or the like is secured to the material and is used to secure the material to an article to be sealed prior to the shrinking thereof. The material is a pre-formed shell which loosely conforms to the shape of the article to be sealed prior to being applied thereover. After shrinking, the shell can be removed by releasing the means for fastening or releasable fastener. Since the shell retains its shape it can then be re-used at a later date by applying it anew over the article and re-fastening together the means for releasing.

Nucleic acid sequences coding for a protein having &bgr;,&bgr;-carotene 15,15′ enzyme activity and their uses in diagnostics, the synthesis of vitamin A and methods for the introduction of the &bgr;,&bgr;-carotene 15,15′ enzyme cDNA into host cells are disclosed.

Screening methods to identify catalysts or to identify improved catalysts using mass spectrometric analysis of products of catalysis, particularly catalyst-bound intermediate products in the catalytic cycle. The methods are applicable, in particular, to screening of organometallic compounds for catalytic function. Moreover, the methods are applicable, in particular, to screening for catalysts for polymerization reactions. More specifically, the methods employ a two stage (or two step) mass spectrometric detection method in which ions formed in a first stage ionization and which are linked to catalyst performance are selected and the catalyst associated with the selected ion is identified in a second stage employing tandem mass spectrometry. In specific embodiments, the screening methods of this invention avoid explicit encoding because the identity of the catalyst is implicitly contained in the product molecular mass (typically an intermediate product), since the catalyst (or a portion thereof) remains attached to the product.

Score of a given music piece is visually shown on a display. When a particular style of rendition is to be imparted to a desired note on the musical score, a user selects a desired one of style-of-rendition icons and designates a desired note location on the musical score as a pasting location of the selected style-of-rendition icon. Thus, the selected style-of-rendition icon is shown on the display in corresponding relation to the designated pasting location. The style-of-rendition icons are appropriately associated with sets of style-of-rendition parameters, so that performance data, i.e., tonal characteristics of the note, corresponding to the pasted location of the style-of-rendition icon is controlled, in accordance with the style-of-rendition parameters corresponding to the pasted style-of-rendition icon on the musical score, to thereby achieve a performance in the style of rendition corresponding to the pasted icon. On the display screen, at least one-row of style-of-rendition display areas are set in parallel relation to a musical score display area, and the pasted style-of-rendition icon is shown any one of the style-of-rendition display areas. Further, on the display screen, the style-of-rendition icon pasted to the desired note location is designated for editing of corresponding style-of-rendition information.

Disclosed are two novel techniques for digital color halftoning with green-noise stochastic dither patterns generated by homogeneously distributing minority pixel clusters. The first technique employs error diffusion with output-dependent feedback such that the overlapping of pixels of different colors can be regulated for increased color control. The second technique uses a green-noise mask which is a dither array designed to create green-noise halftone patterns. The green-noise mask is constructed to also regulate the overlapping of different colored pixels. As is the case with monochrome image halftoning, both techniques are tunable, allowing for large clusters in printers with high dot-gain characteristics, and small clusters in printers with low dot-gain characteristics.

Input gray-scale bit map information is inputted to an image forming position extracting unit for extracting image forming position information. An input computer-formed image is inputted to an image forming position extracting unit for generating an image forming position. At an image forming position overlapping unit, two image forming positions are overlapped with each other, and the composed image forming position is sent to a pixel value calculating unit and an image forming position determining unit. The image value calculating unit measures a width of the composed image forming position and converts the measured value into a pixel value. The image forming position determining unit calculates a barycenter of the composed image forming position. The pixel value and the barycenter are sent as image information. Encoding without distortion can be executed by enhancing the precision of the barycenter.

A control device for controlling a medium reader having a medium transport roller whose having in a color distinguishable from a color of a medium. The control device has a decision means for deciding a valid data portion depending on the color of the medium transport roller, from data read by the medium reader. The valid data portion can be decided upon the reading of a first line, and the subsequent reading of the second line and so on can be carried in the range of the valid data portion. The control device also has a decision means for deciding a final line of a medium when the color of all the data read becomes identical to the color of the surface of the roller. A medium reader and a memory medium are also disclosed.

A disc drive system includes a recording disc rotatable about an axis, a slider supporting a transducing head for transducing data with the disc, and a dual-stage actuation assembly supporting the slider to position the transducing head adjacent a selected radial track of the disc. The dual-stage actuation assembly includes a support structure supporting the slider in proximity to a surface of the disc, a microactuator and a capacitive position sensor. The support structure is coarsely positionable by a main actuator. The microactuator includes a stator attached to the support structure and a movable rotor operatively attached to the slider, the rotor being connected to the stator by at least one flexible beam. The capacitive position sensor connects the stator to the rotor, and provides a relative position signal representing a state of displacement of the microactuator.

A method and apparatus for an enhanced datagram packet switched computer network is disclosed. The invention processes network datagram packets in network devices as separate flows, based on the source-destination address pair contained in the datagram packet itself. As a result, the network can control and manage each flow of datagrams in a segregated fashion. The processing steps that can be specified for each flow include traffic management, flow control, packet forwarding, access control, and other network management functions. The ability to control network traffic on a per flow basis allows for the efficient handling of a wide range and a large variety of network traffic, as is typical in large-scale computer networks, including video and multimedia type traffic. The amount of buffer resources and bandwidth resources assigned to each flow can be individually controlled by network management. In the dynamic operation of the network, these resources can be varied based on actual network traffic loading and congestion encountered.

A system and method of implementing interworking function (IWF) between frame relay and IP protocols and networks. The interworking function provides mapping and encapsulation functions necessary to ensure service provided to networks/protocols is unchanged. A frame relay service specific convergence sublayer (FR-SSCS) translates between the Q.922 and UDP/IP sublayer.

A deflector deflects laser light emitted from a laser light emitting device. A lens driver moves an objective lens for conversing the laser light deflected by the deflector onto an optical recording disk in a focusing direction and a tracking direction thereof. A frame member supports the laser light emitting device, the deflector and the lens driver. The deflector is positioned such that the center of an intensity distribution of the laser light is aligned with an optical axis of the objective lens.

A method for achieving high bit densities in a direct-sequence spread spectrum communication system by using circular spreading codes. The circular spreading code is a pseudo-noise spreading code that is shifted by n. This circular pseudo-noise spreading code is then used to spread an information signal by modulating the information signal with the circular pseudo-noise spreading code. The same circular pseudo-noise spreading code is also used to demodulate the signal. The value of n used is that which corresponds to the value of the signal to be spread.

A system, method, and receiver for receiving radio signals modulated according to different radio communication standards. Radio signals are received and downconverted to an intermediate frequency (IF) signal. An A/D-converter samples the IF signal at a sampling rate and digitizes the sampled signal into a digital signal. A channelizer filters out at least two modulated channels from the digital signal. A first ago channel is modulated according to a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) standard, and a second channel is modulated according to a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) standard. A first demodulating unit demodulates the TDMA channel, and a second demodulating unit demodulates the CDMA channel. Each of the demodulating units detects and, when needed, resamples each of the modulated channels individually, and delivers a corresponding demodulated channel. A Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) channel may also be received and processed.

During the synchronization, a first, analog carrier signal (bs) exhibits a predetermined phase position at least temporarily. A further reference carrier signal (rs) is modulated with the same prescribable phase position, the phase difference between the two modulated carrier signals (bs, ts) is identified and, subsequently, the phase position of the reference carrier signal (rs) is corrected by the identified phase difference. As a result thereof, the phase difference is identified and corrected very fast. The inventive method is advantageously utilized in the demodulation of high bit rate carrier signals (bs) particularly carrier signals (bs) transmitted burst-like.

The present invention discloses a lock indicator circuit used to indicate a phase lock condition between logic signals. The lock indicator circuit uses a phase detector that generates a pulse width proportional to the phase difference between a reference signal and a feedback signal. Another circuit generates, on each positive edge of the reference and the feedback signals, pulses whose widths are primarily dependent on fixed delay elements. These fixed pulse determine a window in which the pulse from the phase detector will fall as the two signals approach phase lock. Phase lock is signaled by the logic AND of the window pulse and the phase detector pulse. Other circuitry generates a phase lock indication signal if the phase lock signal remains true for a number of consecutive transitions of the reference signal. Likewise a phase unlock indication signal is generated if after phase lock indication, phase unlock occurs and remains for a number of consecutive transitions of the reference signal.

Methods for identifying the harmonic content of a single signal contained within a more complex signal and subsequently processing or separating signals contained within a complex mixture of signals into their constituent parts. Also, a single signal may be selectively separated or removed from the more complex audio signal. Furthermore, it may be desired to affect or modify the volume, clarity, timbre, color, feel, understandability (e.g. vowel and consonant sounds), the punch or clarity of the attack phase of a note or of a sequence (sometimes rhythmic) of individual notes or sounds in a complex combination of sounds of differing frequencies, volumes, and time sequence patterns. Multiple methods are described herein to allow the identification of signals within an audio signal that contains multiple or mixed signals, such as an audio signal containing a mixture of several musical instruments and/or voices.

A multi-function system starts a WWW server by use of a WWW server section. When Java acceptable browser gains access to the WWW server, the WWW server section transfers an applet class file to Java acceptable browser. An applet is executed on the Java acceptable browser. The applet establishes a communication line between a TCP/IP processing section of a reception notify processing section and the applet, and a reception notify transmitting section notifies the applet of reception notification. The applet displays reception notification on PC. This makes it possible to notify an outer terminal of data reception in substantially real time.

An optical disc player enters a sleep (low power consumption) mode when inactive for a predetermined time. The optical disc player includes a buffer RAM for storing index information read from a disc. A refresh circuit is connected to the buffer RAM to refresh the RAM. The refresh circuit includes a reference clock generator which generates a reference clock signal having a predetermined frequency from a reference clock using an oscillator. When the disc player enters the sleep mode, it issues a stop signal to the reference clock generator, which then stops generating the reference clock signal and produces a sleep mode clock signal having a frequency necessary to refresh the buffer RAM. A refresh signal generator circuit connected to the reference clock generator produces a refresh signal for the buffer RAM using the sleep mode clock signal. A control circuit connected to the refresh circuit produces the stop signal when it receives a sleep command and deactivates the stop signal when it receives a recovery command. Since the oscillator is stopped during the sleep mode, the disc player dissipates very little power in the sleep mode.

A method for testing a data path for a semiconductor memory device, in accordance with the present invention, includes providing a semiconductor memory device including a plurality of stages in a data path, and transferring data into the data path. Components are disabled to isolate at least one stage of the plurality of stages such that data written to or read from the at least one stage is available at an output. The data at the output is preferably compared to expected data. Alternately, system level calibration between devices may be performed to ensure proper communication between devices without destroying data in a memory array and making a dynamic data skew calibration possibly while running an application.

A tube for a heat exchanger which has beads (21) formed on a brazing sheet (B) for configuring a tube (2) and tops of the beads brazed with opposed portions within a tube part (20) and a method for manufacturing the tube. The tube part (20) prior to brazing is determined to have a thickness (t′) larger than a predetermined thickness (t) and compressed in a direction of its thickness when it is brazed, and the tube which has tops of the beads crushed against or lodged in opposed portions within the tube part. Also a method for manufacturing the tube which can braze the tops of the beads with the opposed portions within the tube more securely and firmly than before.

A hydrodynamic torque converter includes a converter housing and a turbine wheel which is arranged in the converter housing and is rotatable with respect to the converter housing about a rotational axis of the converter The torque converter further includes a lockup clutch for producing a torque transmission connection between the converter housing and the turbine wheel. The lockup clutch has a first friction surface arrangement held by a first friction surface carrier arrangement substantially fixed with respect to rotation relative to the converter housing, a second friction surface arrangement is held by a second friction surface carrier arrangement substantially fixed with respect to rotation relative to the turbine wheel, a contact pressing arrangement for pressing the first and the second friction surface arrangement against one another in fictional contact, and an abutment arrangement at which the first and second friction surface arrangement can be supported substantially in the direction of the aixis of rotation when pressed by the contact pressure arrangement. The first friction surface carrier arrangement has a substantially annular body region connected either directly or indirectly with the converter housing and driver projections which are arranged at a distance from one another in the circumferential direction proceeding from the body region. Respective counter-driver projections at the first friction surface arrangement engage between these driver projections.

Sterically hindered phenol antioxidant additive granules are formed from a paste comprising an organic processing agent comprising a friability reduction agent. The friability reduction agent preferably is an alcohol, more preferably an alkanol having up to about 8 carbon atoms, most preferably methanol, ethanol, and/or isopranol. After drying, the granules consist essentially of the sterically hindered phenol antioxidant additive system. The granules have a balanced hardness that provides sufficient abrasion resistance while permitting ready dispersion into a polymer host.

A polymer synthesizer is disclosed which has a base on which sits a synthesis case, a synthesis block, and a means of moving the synthesis block and supports for a reagent shelf. The synthesis case has a loading station, drain station, and a water tolerant reagent area and a water sensitive reagent dispensing area. The synthesis case has a cover, a first and a second side, a first and a second end, and a bottom side which contacts the base. The bottom side of the synthesis case has a top face in which there are tracks. A synthesis block moves back and forth in the synthesis case and has a top face and an opening in the top face for a synthesis plate with a plurality of wells. The synthesis block also has a collection area under the synthesis plate to drain spent reagents or optionally hold a sample plate. The polymer synthesizer also has a means of moving the synthesis block back and forth in the synthesis case, preferably a pulley, cable and motor. The polymer synthesizer also has a means of draining the liquid from the synthesis plate. A method of synthesizing oligonucleotides with the polymer synthesizer also is disclosed.

A wound dressing which comprises a carrier layer having a non-adherent to cell layer on a wound facing surface thereof. The non-adherent layer has bonded thereto a biodegradable cell anchoring layer which anchors mammalian cells. In use, the degradable layer breaks down releasing the cells into the wound site which are discouraged from reattaching to the dressing by the non-adherent layer. Thus the dressing can switch from a cell binding state to a state in which the binding of cells is discouraged. Systems, methods of treatment and methods of manufacturing the dressing are also disclosed.

Purified genes encoding cytokine from a mammal, reagents related thereto including purified proteins, specific antibodies, and nucleic acids encoding this molecule are provided. Methods of using said reagents and diagnostic kits are also provided.

The invention relates to a process for the diagnosis of a human autoimmune disease, including presymptomatic diagnosis, said human autoimmune disease being associated with human retrovirus (HERV) having Superantigen (SAg) activity, comprising specifically detecting in a biological sample of human origin at least one of the following: (I) the mRNA of an expressed human endogenous retrovirus having Superantigen (SAg) activity, or fragments of such expressed retroviral mRNA, said retrovirus being associated with a given autoimmune disease, or (II) protein or peptide expressed by said retrovirus, or (III) antibodies specific to the protein expressed by said endogenous, or (IV) SAg activity specifically associated with said endogenous retrovirus, detection of any of the species (I) to (IV) indicating presence of autoimmune disease or imminent onset of autoimmune disease.

The invention concerns plants with improved resistance to certain stilbene-sensitive pathogenic agents, and more particularly a set of constructs combining a plant promoter inductible by biotic stress, generated in particular by said pathogens, and gene(s) coding f r a stilbene synthase.

An optical component including a mirror surface, a structured polymer layer including one side having structured elements, and a filler layer adjacent to the side of the structured polymer layer having the structured elements. The filler layer fills in the structured elements and has one substantially planar side. The filler layer has a refractive index Nf, the structured polymer layer has a refractive index of Ns, and Ns is different from Nf. The optical component is useful to direct backreflected ambient light to a peak angle that is different than a glare peak. A display device is also described including a first and second polarizer, a liquid crystal layer below the first polarizer, a mirror surface below the liquid crystal layer, and a structured polymer layer comprising one side having structured elements. The display device also includes a filler layer adjacent to the side of the structured polymer layer having the structured elements, the filler layer filling in the structured elements and having one substantially planar side.

A focus error detecting apparatus and a focus error detecting method of an optical pickup in which the system is not easily influenced by track transversal noises and an optical disc thickness error and which can be used together with a 3-beam system or a DPD system. The return light from an optical disc is divided to a first optical path and a second optical path by a hologram device, a predetermined astigmatism is applied to the light on each divided optical path, the light is received and detected by a first detector and a second detector, and a focusing error signal is obtained by predetermined arithmetic operations. The return light from the optical disc is divided to the first optical path P1 and the second optical path P2 by a lens device constructed by combining eccentric cylindrical lenses, a predetermined astigmatism is applied to the light on each divided optical path, the light is received and detected by a first detector and a second detector each having photosensing portions divided into four portions by dividing lines having a lightning shape, and a focusing error signal is obtained by predetermined arithmetic operations.

A low-cost data communication system and method using modems to provide high speed multi-class services to subscribers is disclosed. In the present invention, an n-bit orthogonal modulating code is uniquely partitioned into several subsets whereas each subset is assigned to a particular class of services. When data streams from different classes of services go through an encoding modem equipped with the partitioned orthogonal codes, they can be split based on their classes, encoded, modulated through a multilevel phase modulation simultaneously. Thereafter, since the encoded streams are orthogonal to each other, they can be combined as a composite modulated outgoing data stream and transmitted through a wired communication channel such as a cable or optical fiber channel. At a receiving end, a decoding modem can receive the encoding scheme from the encoding modem, and appropriately decode the transmitted information. This method enables sharing the same communication channel by multiple classes of services and processing different classes of information separately but simultaneously, and thus enhancing the overall performance of the shared communication channel.

In order to detect fraudulent or potentially fraudulent usage of a telecommunications network, each call connected by way of one of the digital main switching units of the network (3a to 3c) has an associated billing record transferred to a fraud management system (4). The fraud management system compares the origin and destination of the call with a known usage pattern for the originator and, if other indications are that the call is of a fraudulent nature, and the call deviates from the known usage pattern an alarm can be forwarded to an operator. The user profile used to determine normal calling behaviour is updated over a period of time in respect of calls determined as not fraudulent. An initial user profile may be generated from historic billing records.

A continuous-tone image data is converted to a bi-level image data by halftoning conversion, then the bi-level image data i.e. binary image data is compressed by compressing means including predictive coding and image data compressing. These operations are done in a image coding apparatus. In this apparatus, when the continuous-tone image is converted into bi-level image data in halftoning so that predictions of predictive coding become strong. As a result, halftoning conversion is performed within a scope of binary image-coding-rules. This permits to produce a binary data easy to compress. Compressing a binary data in a low distortion quality and at a high compression rate is achievable through a method of image coding, and by an image coding apparatus of the present invention. Also a recording medium including a program carrying out this method is obtainable.

A jitter correcting apparatus and method for a video signal in a video signal reproduction system includes a digital video decoder for demodulating an externally-applied video signal and a phase-locked loop for generating a first clock signal synchronized with the video signal. The system includes an address generator, a comparator and a dual port memory device. The address generator generates a write address for writing the video signal in response to the first clock signal, generates a read address for reading the video signal in response to a second clock signal having a fixed frequency, and corrects the write and read addresses in response to a head switching signal and first and second comparison signals. The comparator compares the write address with the read address and generates the first comparison signal and the second comparison signal according to a result of the comparison. The dual port memory device stores the video signal at a location corresponding to the write address in response to the first clock signal and outputs a video signal stored at a location corresponding to the read address in response to the second clock signal. Accordingly, the jitter of a video signal, which may occur while processing an analog video signal in a digital mode, is corrected using a memory device having a small capacity, thereby allowing a video image to be stably output.

A multiple-beam antenna is provided which is capable of receiving radio waves from two satellites by one down converter and readily adjusting a polarization displacement due to a locational difference in receiving areas. Probes for vertically and horizontally polarized waves are inserted to two circular waveguides corresponding to signals from two satellites. One end of each probe is bent to have an angle for adjustment of the polarization displacement where it is installed. The other end of each probe is mounted on a board of a down converter via a through hole.

A method for designing high performance products incorporating signal processing and feedback control is disclosed. In one embodiment, a block diagram may be used for a design cycle, for design optimization, or for design estimation. The block diagram contains a set of differential equations or difference equations, and the solution of these sets of equations may be performed by commercially available software tools. In order to utilize the software tools without requiring access to source code or other descriptions of the internal structure of the tools, the system is decomposed using the technique of waveform relaxation. The decomposition using waveform relaxation operates directly to speed up the computations for the block diagram system. The remaining interprocessor communications may be held pending until the end of each iteration's calculations in each block, allowing the software tools to be executed on independent multiple processors. Additional low fidelity models may be added to the block diagram to accelerate the convergence. In non-stationary methods, the model representing each block may vary with each successive iteration. The variation may take the form of successively increasing the complexity and therefore the fidelity of each block with each successive iteration, starting with low fidelity models and finishing with high fidelity models.

When a search is made for information on the Internet, certain search parameters are saved in the user's system. If a subsequent related search is made, these search parameters are transferred to the internet search engine and used to reorder or otherwise modify the search results. Preferably, every time a search request is made, an entry is added to a cookie, containing the search terms and date of search. The search engine re-orders search results by dividing the results into multiple groups, including (in order of priority: (a) those URLs which are new since the last search; (b) those URLs which have been previously visited by have changed, the magnitude of change determining the ordering within this group; (c) those URLs which existed before the previous search, but have not been visited by the user; and (d) those URL's which the user has previously visited and have not changed. In the preferred embodiment, the user may optionally manually specify certain URLs to be included or excluded. The ordering of search results in accordance with the present invention provides the user with greater control and more meaningful information than current search technology.

A word processor optimized for students taking notes automatically opens the correct document for each course according to a class schedule. It makes digital audio or video recordings of classes and establishes various kinds of links between the notes being taken and the point in the recording at the time the notes were taken. A special microphone is optimized for distance and reduced interference. After permitting the word processor to break the silence, any incomplete notes can be completed by using the links to quickly find the portion of the recording relevant to the incomplete notes. The search is improved by providing configurable preplay times based on the type of link and by playing back the recording at increased speed with pitch correction. Transcription of part of the recording is facilitated by playing this part in a series of short overlapping segments and transcribing each segment before playing the next.

The moisture-absorbent/releasable heat-generating intermediate material of the present invention is inserted between an outer material and a lining, both having a moisture-permeable/waterproof property, a windproof property and other desired properties, thereby constituting a heat-retaining article. It comprises a blend of a heat-retaining fiber including an air layer of not less than 50 ml per 1 gram and a moisture-absorbent/releasable heat-generating fiber. The moisture-absorbent/releasable heat-generating fiber generates heat by absorbing moisture in a vapor phase or in a liquid phase discharged from a human body and an immobile air layer formed by the heat-retaining fiber retains the heat.

A vehicle seat assembly includes a seat back having a frame, and the frame has first and second bolster mounting portions. Each bolster mounting portion has first, second and third receptacles. The seat assembly also includes first and second bolsters selectively engageable with the first and second bolster mounting portions, respectively. Each bolster has first and second posts and is longitudinally adjustable with respect to the seat back between a first longitudinal position and a second longitudinal position. When each bolster is in the first longitudinal position, the first and second posts of the first bolster are respectively engaged with the first and second receptacles of the first bolster mounting portion, and the first and second posts of the second bolster are respectively engaged with the first and second receptacles of the second bolster mounting portion. When each bolster is in the second longitudinal position, the first and second posts of the first bolster are respectively engaged with the second and third receptacles of the first bolster mounting portion, and the first and second posts of the second bolster are respectively engaged with the second and third receptacles of the second bolster mounting portion.

This invention is directed to processes designed to recover water used in certain aspects of the processing of poultry, treat the recovered water to remove solids, fats, oils and greases, animal proteins and pathogenic organisms and to reuse the treated water for poultry processing operations. Although the reuse points will vary from plant to plant depending upon specific water consumption volumes, type of processing operations conducted by the facility and regulatory requirements and approvals, there are a number of reuse points which are preferred based upon treated water quality requirements, material balances relating to the capacity to recover process streams and the consumption volumes at the identified reuse points, and source waters that have been shown to have the least total contaminant loading.

A Candida albicans gene, CaNik1, is involved in phenotypic switching which is significant because of a direct correlation between the switching and the level of virulence of the organism. A method of screening for anti-fungal pharmaceutical candidates entails bringing a test substance into contact with cells containing a CaNik1 gene or a variant thereof and then monitoring the effect, if any, on the level of expression of the gene.

The present invention relates to a catalytic composition which comprises a beta zeolite, a metal of group VIII, a metal of group VIB and optionally one or more oxides as carrier. The catalytic system of the present invention can be used for the hydrotreating of hydrocarbon mixtures and more specifically in the upgrading of hydrocarbon mixtures having boiling ranges within the range of 35° to 250° C., containing sulfur impurities, i.e. in hydrodesulfuration with contemporaneous skeleton isomerization and a reduced hydrogenation degree of olefins contained in said hydrocarbon mixtures, the whole process being carried out in a single step.

Compounds, preparations and methods for immunosuppressive treatment of autoimmune disorders, graft rejection and/or graft/host disease. Therapeutically effective amounts of certain substituted triarylmethane compounds, such as 1-[(2-chlorophenyl)diphenylmethyl]-1H-pyrazole, are administered to mammalian patients to selectively inhibit the calcium-activated K+ channel (IKCa1) in lymphocytes, monocytes, macrophages, platelets or endothelial cells without concomitant inhibition of P450-dependent enzyme systems, resulting in reduction of antigen-, cytokine-, or mitogen-induced calcium entry through store operated calcium channels in these cells, suppression of cytokine production by these cells, and inhibition of activation of these cells. Such inhibition of the Ca++ activated K+ channel (IKCa1) prevents the pre-Ca++ stage of cell activation and thus causes immunosuppression and an anti-inflammatory response.

A compound of formula I or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in which R1 and R2 are independently H or methyl (for example N,N-dimethyl-1-[1-(4-chlorophenyl) cyclobutyl]-3-methylbutyl amine hydrochloride optionally in the form of its monohydrate) is used for treating fibromyalgia or neuropathic pain, such as pain associated with diabetes mellitus, shingles, nerve injury and varied peripheral neuropathies.

An olefin-based thermoplastic elastomer composition comprising a thermoplastic elastomer blended with other resins and rubbers is provided. The thermoplastic elastomer contains polypropylene resin and an olefin-based copolymer rubber, and optionally, a linear polyethylene resin, and the thermoplastic elastomer has been crosslinked to a gel content of 95% or higher. A polyolefin resin, an olefin-based copolymer rubber and a softening agent are further blended with optional inorganic filler to provide the olefin-based thermoplastic elastomer composition. This composition is excellent in oil resistance and extrudability, and well-adapted for use as an energy-saving, resources-saving elastomer in applications including surface or skin material in autoparts, industrial mechanical parts, electric and electronic parts, and construction materials.

A spacer, which is an atmospheric pressure resistant structure for a vacuum container, can be easily assembled, and the manufacturing costs that accompany the installation of the spacer are reduced. A rear plate, which includes a substrate on which electron-emitting devices are mounted, is located opposite a face plate that is irradiated by electrons emitted by the electron-emitting devices, so that together these two units constitute one part of the vacuum container. A spacer is positioned as an atmospheric pressure resistant structure in the vacuum container. Blocks are bonded to both ends of the spacer, and with these blocks, the spacer is self-supported. Both ends of the spacer are tapered, and are used to reduce the stress that is imposed on the bottoms of the spacer and the blocks by the rear plate and the face plate while air is discharged from the vacuum container.

A demodulator for modulated RF signals comprises a passive four port structure (1). The four port structure (1) has a first input (3) for supplying a modulated RF signal to be demodulated. A second input (2) is supplied with a RF signal from a local oscillator (21). Two output terminals are connected to power sensors (4, 5). The RF signal from the local oscillator (21) is supplied to the second input (3) of the four port structure (1) without being RF switched by an RF switch. The demodulator is particularly useful for modulation schemes with a finite number of magnitude states (nQAM modulation).

A conversion device converts linear displacement signals from a displacement detector into non-linearly adjusted displacement signals for supply to a target such as a computer cursor controller. The displacement signals from the displacement detector are incremented, decremented, or left unchanged depending on displacement speeds detected by the conversion circuit.

A projection image display device has a first display unit for displaying a first image based on a first image signal, an enlarging optical system for enlarging the first image and projecting the first image to the eye of an observer and a second display unit for displaying a second image based on a second image signal and directly projecting the second image to the eye of an observer.

An amplification type solid-state imaging device includes a pixel region including a plurality of amplification type photo-electric conversion elements arranged in a matrix array, vertical signal lines for transmitting a pixel signal and a reference signal for each pixel, a plurality of horizontal signal lines, a horizontal scanning circuit for transmitting signal pairs each including the pixel signal and the reference signal to the plurality of horizontal signal lines, a selection switch for sequentially switching the plurality of horizontal signal lines and for leading the plurality of horizontal signal lines into a common signal line, and a differential signal detection circuit in the common signal line for providing a differential signal between the pixel signal and the reference signal.

An imaging device having an imaging pixel array formed as a two-dimensional periodic array of N-pixel (N being 5 or a greater natural number) arrays as unit arrays is disclosed. Also, the color imaging apparatus comprises a CCD imaging device, which have pixels arranged in a 6-color random color coding array. The array meets an array prescription that the pixels adjacent to the four sides and the four corners of a pixel number attention includes pixels of five different colors other than the color of the pixel under attention at least one pixel each. The 6-color random color coding array has six colors with two thereof constituting each of three original colors while being different in sensitivity. The color imaging apparatus further comprises a digital processing circuit for executing a color separating process on output signal of the color imaging device on the basis of the random color coding array, and a memory means constituted by a masked ROM or an EEPROM for storing data concerning the random coding array.

A method of measuring horizontal frequency, which comprises the steps of resetting an 8-bit counter, which counts horizontal synchronous pulses separated from a video signal, at a time point corresponding to an edge of a vertical synchronous signal separated from the video signal, causing a data latch portion, which is operative to latch count data obtained from a 16-bit counter operative to count clock pulses having a predetermined frequency, to latch the count data obtained from the 16-bit counter at a time point corresponding to an edge of a bit output signal obtained from the seventh bit position of the 8-bit counter, detecting a period which corresponds to 128 times a horizontal period of the video signal based on a difference between counted values represented respectively by a couple of count data latched successively by the data latch portion, and measuring horizontal frequency of the video signal by calculating the horizontal frequency on the strength of the period corresponding to 128 times the horizontal period.

Apparatus for providing fine search in a sled movement mechanism employing a stepping motor by controlling the speed with which the head jumps in succession to next neighboring tracts on a disc and by causing pickup movement accurately for a distance corresponding to the distance of movement of the objective lens to realize the fine search in the sled movement mechanism employing the stepping motor. Also, the distance of head movement in the radial direction of the disc can be prescribed and, upon interruption of the head jumping operation, the head can be subsequently transported a distance corresponding to the target number of track jumps.

A system and method for providing telephone service to a user of a telecommunications device using a data network service provider. The data network service provider has a local service host that is accessible by a local access identifier. A caller uses a telecommunications device to dial the local access identifier to connect to the local service host. In response to a prompt, the caller dials a telephone extension that identifies the callee's telecommunications device. The local service host receives the telephone extension and verifies that the callee is a subscriber. The local service host then retrieves the gateway nearest the callee telecommunications device and opens a voice-over-data channel between the callee and caller gateways. The telephone conversation then proceeds between the callee and caller telecommunications devices over a public switched telephone network connection to the caller gateway, the voice-over-data channel and the PSTN connection to the callee telecommunications device.

A multi-access transmission method for effectively and efficiently utilizing bands of a synchronous digital hierarchy (SDH) path. The method has the steps of extracting a synchronous digital hierarchy path from signals input from a first point, recognizing all packets or cells input from the first point to select and drop a packet or cell to be dropped at a second point, multiplexing packets or cells not dropped and a packet or cell to be inserted at the second point at a packet or cell level, and sending signals created at the multiplexing step to a third point. With this method, packets or cells are multiplexed in a synchronous digital hierarchy path to share one synchronous digital hierarchy path among a plurality of communications.

An optical element holding and extraction device is provided. The device includes an optical element, an optical element holder having a tubular gripping portion and a tubular extraction portion connected at one end to the tubular gripping portion, and a retainer that is slideably carried on the tubular extraction portion. The diameter of the tubular extraction portion is less than the tubular gripping portion. In addition, the tubular gripping portion grips the peripheral edge of the optical clement. The device may be used in a variety of gas lasers, including excimer lasers.

A technique for conversion of video and audio to a streaming slide show. A video stored on a data store connected to a computer is processed. Initially, a motion-based video comprised of a series of images is received. One or more images are selected from the motion-based video based on a desired bandwidth for transmission. Then, a streaming slide show is generated using the selected images.

A method and system for creating authentication signatures for digital images and video frames is provided. The method and system involves partitioning the image into multiple blocks, comparing characteristics from each block and generating data bits based on the comparison. Each block is then broken up into additional blocks and those blocks are compared to create additional signature bits which are combined with the signature sets from the first set of blocks. Each of these new smaller blocks can be further broken up and the procedure can be repeated to provide an authentication signature of desired length.

A generator of energy-depleted radiation and various methods and applications using the energy-depleted radiation. Various embodiments are disclosed of the energy-depleted radiation generator and an energy-restored radiation generator, which permits detection of wave properties of the radiation without regard to the depletion of its energy. The energy-depleted radiation generator functions in one embodiment by selective transmission of destructively interfering radiation. Other embodiments use two-beam coupling or directional coupling to achieve energy depletion. Restoring energy to an energy-depleted radiation beam is accomplished by transferring energy to it from a reference beam, in a beam-to-beam transfer or in an optical amplifier. The invention has important applications in fields such as communications, specimen analysis, photorefractive recording, holography, and other fields in which the reduction of energy content in the associated radiation is advantageous.

A method and apparatus for pulse frequency modulation for analog optical communication. A train of optical pulses is generated. The spectrum of the optical pulses in the train of optical pulses can be broadened to provide a train of broad spectrum optical pulses. The broadening can be provided by self-phase modulation. Alternatively, broad spectrum optical pulses can be provided by merely having the optical pulses be less than 1 ps duration. A desired optical frequency slice from the train of spectrum broadened optical pulses is selected by a tunable Fabry-Perot filter. A desired optical frequency slice from the broad spectrum optical pulses is selected by a tunable Fabry-Perot filter. The tunable Fabry-Perot filter has a pair of Distributed Bragg Reflectors separated by an electro-refractive section. The electro-refractive section has tuning electrodes for applying transverse electric fields to the electro-refractive section, corresponding to an analog waveform being applied to the tuning electrodes, to provide a pulse-frequency modulated train of optical pulses.

A method and apparatus for generating a covering set of test cases from a directed graph is provided. The directed graph includes nodes and edges connecting the nodes, and a test case is a path through the directed graph. To generate a partial set of test cases, a set of selected test cases is received. These test cases can be manually selected or they can be a maintained test case set. The edges or nodes on the directed graph (or requirements linked to nodes or edges) that are covered by the selected test cases are marked with an identifier. Test cases are then generated from the directed graph according to a coverage algorithm. Marked graph elements may, but need not, be included in the generated test cases. The resulting partial test case set together with the selected test cases satisfy the coverage criterion.

A computing system for enabling the migration of a mobile computing environment to provide a consistent computing environment for a user is disclosed. The computing system is connectable to remote storage and has a local computing environment, an operating system, and a local storage. It also includes a means for mapping a user-interface portion of the mobile computing environment onto the local computing environment using information transferred from said remote storage being connected to the system, the mapping means being actuable by the user. The computer system further includes a file system in the operating system for receiving and translating requests for performing file operations on the local storage. There is also included a means for monitoring and intercepting a request made to the file system for operation on a file, the request being actuable by the mapped user-interface and the file being stored on a said remote storage being connected to the system.

A method of allocating computer memory for a function in a computer program by a chunk manager operable to interface with an operating system of a computer program. The method includes receiving a request for a block of memory for a function in the computer program. The request is modified such that the size of the requested block corresponds to a standard block size selected from a list of standard block sizes. The method further includes locating a first available block of memory having a size within a predefined range around the requested block size. A system for allocating computer memory is also disclosed.

A unified buffer, comprising a shifting queue, receives instructions to be tracked by receiving units in a computer architecture. The receiving units search the unified buffer from the oldest entry to the most recent entry. Status bits in each entry indicate which of the receiving unit(s) the entry is destined for. Existing entries in the unified buffer shift down when a new entry is inserted at the top. Entries may be passed to different receiving units by updating the status bits; and an entry expires after it has been accepted by its final receiving unit.

A fuel conversion chamber receiving liquid and gas fuels and converting the liquid fuels into gas fuels by heating, and extracting hydrogen. Hydrogen is extracted at extreme temperature in an ultrasound field and the fuels are accelerated to hypersonic velocity. The gas fuels are injected into a resonance chamber, which generates ultrasound, in a combustion chamber and efficiently burned. The reaction generates a high temperature plasma. The hot combustion or exhaust gases heat the fuel conversion chamber, an air heat exchanger, and water chamber producing steam. The steam and exhaust gases are used to produce work.

A payload isolation system for isolating a payload from a base structure upon which the payload is supported. The payload isolation system includes: a motion constraint for maintaining a parallel relationship between the payload and the base structure; and a support for providing vertical and/or lateral support of the payload relative to the base structure such that the transmission of vertical and/or lateral vibration between the payload and the base structure are suppressed. The support means preferably exhibits nonlinear elastic characteristics in response to an effective weight of the payload. The non-linear elastic characteristics preferably include a substantially rigid characteristic at low and high levels of deformation and a compliant characteristic at intermediate levels of deformation. In yet another preferred implementation, the motion constraint means are mechanical linkages.

A semiconductor device is retained on a retaining section. A mask is set on the semiconductor device and has an opening at which part of the semiconductor device is exposed. An extruding section is moved by a first drive section over an opening in the mask and, during this movement, extrudes a fluidizing resin into the opening in the mask. A squeegee is moved by a second drive section over the opening in the mask to allow a movement of the fluidizing resin present over the opening which is extruded into the opening from an extruding section and a removal of any excessive resin from the plane of the opening.

An apparatus, method and system for the treatment, sampling, and transportation of chemical weapon materiel contained in a small frangible glass, e.g., container. The apparatus, method and system permit the chemical weapon materiel to be easily treated and contained by a technician in the field to produce non-military chemicals suitable for transport and final disposal. An illustrative embodiment of the apparatus includes a single-use vessel having a compression section and a treatment portion for holding a bottle of chemical weapon materiel and a volume of treatment chemical. A cover is positioned on the vessel and is used to support a compression jack. A portion of the compression jack is installed between the cover and a compression frame and is extended until the compression section of the vessel is compressed. An impact member is attached to the cover wherein upon compression of the compressible section, the impact member breaks the bottle, thus mixing the chemical weapon materiel with the treatment chemical to produce a chemical waste that can be sampled if necessary and transported while still within the sealed vessel for final disposal.

In accordance with the present invention, a foamed structure having closed cells or both closed cells and open cells can be effectively used as a waterstop sealing material. In particular, a waterstop sealing material having excellent sealing properties can be provided. The waterstop sealing material comprises a foamed structure having closed cells or both closed cells and open cells, the foamed structure having a multi-layer pressure-sensitive adhesive layer provided on at least one side thereof, optionally through a base material, the multi-layer pressure-sensitive adhesive layer comprising as an outermost layer a layer made of a pressure-sensitive adhesive composition containing a polymer having a polycarbonate structure having a repeating unit represented by formula: wherein R represents a C2-20 straight-chain or branched hydrocarbon group and n represents a positive integer.

To 100 parts by weight of a thermoplastic resin such as polypropylene resin, a blend of polypropylene resin and elastomer, or a copolymer of polypropylene resin and elastomer, 10 to 200 parts by weight of a silicic acid compound such as zeolite or talc were added to form a film for a supporting substrate. Using this film as a supporting substrate, an adhesive layer comprising an acrylic adhesive is provided on the supporting substrate to obtain a medical adhesive tape or sheet according to the present invention. An absorbent pad is provided at a central region on the surface of the adhesive layer to obtain a first-aid adhesive tape.

The present invention relates to isolated nucleic acid sequences encoding polypeptides having transcriptional activation activity and to the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors and host cells comprising the nucleic acid sequences. The invention further relates to host cells useful for the production of polypeptides in which the production or function of the transcriptional activator has been altered, as well as to methods for producing the polypeptides.

The present invention relates to pyrrolobenzoxazepines, pyrrolobenzthiazepines and related compounds having the ability to induce apoptosis, to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and to their use as anti-tumour agents.

A class of benzopyran, derivatives is described for use in treating cyclooxygenase-2 mediated disorders. Compounds of particular interest are defined by Formula I′wherein X, A1, A2, A3, A4, R, R″, R1 and R2 are as described in the specification.

A digital camera is provided with a display for displaying an image of an object and a specifying unit for specifying a plurality of measuring points on the display. An actual area of a region surrounded by the plurality of measuring points specified by the specifying unit are calculated by a calculator.

A device for reading or writing on optical recording media with disk type recognition capability has an optical scanning device and a focus regulating circuit. The object of the invention is to provide a device of this type which can reliably recognize in a short time the type of the recording medium inserted into the device. Another object of the invention is to provide a corresponding process. These objects are attained in that the disk type recognition capability includes a mirror signal generator, a threshold value generator, a counter and an evaluation unit. The process is based on the utilization of a mirror-signal value of the device for disk type recognition.

A trunk connection to a stack of network switches is coupled to physical ports distributed among the switches. A switch has an internal logical port for a protocol engine. A packet received by way of the trunk at a port on a switch which does not host the protocol engine is sent over a cascade connection to the host switch with a tag that is interpreted within the host switch as if the packet cam from the logical port. The tagging and interpretation distinguishes between packets which might or might not be intended for the protocol engine and did not arrive by way of the trunk from packets which are intended for the protocol engine and have been received by way of the trunk.

The invention relates to a method that can be used to compensate the influence of the temperature on the optical output power (light power) of light emitting diodes and laser diodes without the need to measure the temperature or light power. The method is based on the fact that the current flowing through a light emitting or laser diode and the forward voltage drop on the diode are at a constant light power independent of the temperature in a functional correlation that is often linear and can be obtained. If it is known, it must only be achieved during operation that the current and the forward voltage exhibit this correlation in order to eliminate the temperature effect on the light power.

This application discloses a semiconductor optical device apparatus having on a substrate, at least, a compound semiconductor layer containing an active layer, a protection film having a stripe-shaped opening formed on the compound semiconductor layer, and a ridge type compound semiconductor layer formed as to cover the stripe-shaped opening having a smaller refractive index than the refractive index of the active layer, has a feature that a width (WC) at an opening center of the stripe-shaped opening is different from either or both of a width (WF) of the opening front end and a width (WR) of the opening rear end. According to the invention, a semiconductor optical device apparatus capable of operating with a high output, and a semiconductor optical device apparatus having a small beam spot diameter, and the like can be manufactured where the width of the stripe-shaped opening is properly controlled.

In order to transmit and receive sample data of different sampling frequencies collectively, the first row of a packet is composed of four bytes and the first and second rows are provided with headers prescribed by the IEEE1394 standard. Also, the second byte in the third row is provided with the first counted value of a data block counter and a fourth byte is provided with a next to the last counted value (DBC) of the data block counter. Further, latter half two bytes in the fourth row are provided with a value of a reference time (time stamp data). The first two bits in the fifth row are provided with values showing recording media, the fourth bits are provided with flags showing sampling frequencies, the seventh and eighth bits are provided with values showing quantized bit numbers, and the second three bytes and after are provided with sample data. The last row of the packet is provided with an error correcting code for data transmitted in and after the third row.

The present invention relates to a method of adaptively enhancing a digital image based on image content. An accurate determination of image type permits implementation of an image enhancement technique that is matched to the image type. The method is advantageous when the image type of the received images can vary. In one embodiment the method distinguishes between line art images and continuous tone images. The method includes application of a window to a pixels in a source array. The number of colors in each of the resulting windowed arrays is determined. Each color can optionally be defined as a range of colors. A color range total is calculated from the sum of the number of windowed arrays in one or more subsets of the plurality of possible numbers of colors. Image type is determined in response to the color range total and an enhancement process matched to the image type is applied to the digital image data.

An apparatus and method for efficiently generating arithmetic flags in a computer system. The system includes an eflags register to stored partially computed flags computed by an arithmetic logic unit. The stored partial flags are computed in one cycle. The stored flags are decoded by one of two consuming instructions, PRODF or TBIT, in a second cycle.

A pneumatic device for firing projectiles with a charge of compressed air that accelerates a projectile carrier and the projectile through a barrel. The charge of compressed air is released into the barrel behind the projectile carrier and acts on the projectile carrier to initially accelerate it and a ball or other projectile down the barrel. The diameter of the projectile carrier is slightly less than that of the barrel and it includes a concave recess that receives balls of differing diameters, centering as they are accelerated through the barrel. The barrel is sufficiently long so that the projectile carrier comes to a halt before being ejected from the barrel. An intake for a compressor that develops the charge of compressed air is coupled in fluid communication with the barrel, behind the projectile carrier. Operation of the compressor produces a partial vacuum so that ambient air pressure forces the projectile carrier back to its firing position. An optical sensor is included adjacent to the open end of the barrel to sense when a ball has been loaded, which initiates a firing sequence, to prevent a ball from being fired if the barrel is obstructed, and to determine the velocity of a ball being ejected from the barrel.

A method of depositing boron carbide on an aluminum substrate, particularly useful for a plasma etch reactor having interior surfaces facing the plasma composed of boron carbide, preferably principally composed of B4C. Although in this application, the boron carbide may be a bulk sintered body, in the method of the invention it may be a layer of boron carbide coated on an aluminum chamber part. The boron carbide coating may be applied by thermal spraying, such as plasma spraying, by chemical vapor deposition, or by other layer forming technique such as a surface converting reaction. The boron carbide is highly resistant to high-density plasma etchants such as BCl3. The plasma sprayed coating is advantageously applied to only a portion of an anodized aluminum wall. The boron carbide may be sprayed over the exposed portion of an aluminum substrate over which the anodization has been removed. A band of the aluminum substrate at the transition between the anodization and the boron carbide is roughened prior to anodization so that the boron carbide sticks to the correspondingly roughened surface of the anodization. Alternatively, the entire wall area of the anodized aluminum to be coated is roughened, and the boron carbide is sprayed over the anodization.

The interior of a vacuum chamber is maintained at a specified pressure by introducing a specified gas into the vacuum chamber having a plasma trap provided therein. Simultaneously, therewith, evacuation of the chamber is performed by a pump as an evacuating device, and a high-frequency power of 100 MHz is supplied to a counter electrode by counter electrode use high-frequency power supply. Thus, uniform plasma is generated within the vacuum chamber, where plasma processing such as etching, deposition, and surface reforming can be carried out uniformly with a substrate placed on a substrate electrode.

A method has been developed to detect the levels of apolipoproteins A-1 and B in saliva, which is correlated with the levels of HDL and LDL in serum, respectively. In unstimulated saliva, the ration of Apo A to Apo B is correlated with the ration of HDL to LDL in serum. Albumin can be used to normalize the sample for dilution. The high degree of correlation in combination with a simple, quick test that can be performed at the site of collection provides a cost effective, patient friendly means to monitor an individual's risk of heart disease. In the preferred embodiment, saliva production is stimulated by means such as breath mint or tart solution (such as lemon) and the effect of dilution controlled by reference to albumin.

The process enables highly effective N-halogenation of a compound having one or more halogenatable amido or imido functional groups in the molecule. The process involves, for example, concurrently feeding into a reactor (i) water, inorganic base, and the compound to be N-halogenated, e.g., a hydantoin, and a feed of (ii) a brominating agent and/or a chlorinating agent. The proportions of these feeds are such that the pH is kept within the range of ca. 5.5-8.5 (preferably 6.5-8.5, and most preferably 6.8-7.2) and one or more of the amido or imido nitrogen atoms is substituted by a bromine or chlorine atom. A feature of the process is that it can be conducted at elevated temperatures as high as about 90° C. without appreciable thermal decomposition of reactants or product. The resultant product continuously precipitates in high yield and purity. Moreover, products can be produced that are very pale yellow to almost pure white in appearance. Further, the process has been found capable of producing 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin with far larger particle sizes than previously produced on a commercial basis.

The invention relates to an overlay that allows for the characterization of wafer-induced shift without the added risk of low wafer yield. The present invention also relates to a method of quanitifying both wafer-induced shift and tool-induced shift in the field of photolithgraphy. By chararacterizing wafer-induced shift in an artifact wafer, tool-induced shift may be determined by use of the characterized wafer.

A display apparatus has a display unit for displaying, on a display screen, a display image containing a time axis formed so as to extend at least in a first direction. The display apparatus also has an input operation device for physically moving at least the time axis in the first direction. The display apparatus further has a controlling device for controlling the display screen based on an operational input given by an operation of the input operation device. The input operation device includes a rotational operating unit having an axis of rotation extending in second directions which cross the first direction. The rotational operating unit is arranged such that a rotational operation of the rotational operation unit by a first physical amount causes a physical movement of at least the time axis by a second physical amount corresponding to the first physical amount.

An exposure method for scanning a master plate having a pattern and a photosensitive substrate relative to a projection optical system for projecting the pattern onto the substrate. The method includes a first step of accelerating a stage to a predetermined velocity, the stage holding the master plate or the substrate, a second step of transporting the stage at the predetermined velocity and exposing the substrate to the pattern during travel of the stage in a scanning direction, a third step of stopping the stage traveling at the predetermined velocity, and an acceleration step of accelerating the stage between the second step and the third step.

A computer disk drive assembly is provided having a vibration damper for reducing transducer/track misregistration errors and acoustical noise in a computer disk drive having a rotating shaft. The disk drive generally includes a flexible interconnection between a base assembly and a bearing assembly, in combination with a rigid interconnection between the base assembly and the bearing assembly. By attenuating the amplitude of vibrations in the disk drive, the present invention allows for increased track densities and produces less acoustical noise than undamped disk drives.

A congestion control method and apparatus that conducts congestion control for a frame relay terminal in real time and without any time lag when a congestion has occurred at an outgoing cell store medium of a fast multiplex unit of an ATM multiplex apparatus. The fast multiplex unit of the ATM multiplex apparatus is provided with a outgoing cell store medium monitor unit monitoring a congestion level of the outgoing cell store medium and generating a congestion reporting signal indicative of the congestion level and a light/heavy congestion indication signal. The time lag which occurs when the congestion reporting is made is eliminated by sending both signals directly to a frame relay interface control unit from the fast multiplex unit.

A method and device for controlling bandwidth distribution through a switch fabric is provided wherein a plurality of line cards and processor cards are connected through a switch fabric for parallel processing of transmission requests, along with the provision of transmission “credits” allowing for transmitting additional data bytes during a given cycle, which provides efficient and speedy bandwidth distribution, as well as resolution of output contentions. The processors maintain a credit balance which allows flexibility in granting transmission requests to accommodate transmission scheduling and “bursty” transmissions. Processors on both of the line cards and the processor cards normalize the data transmission requirements for both inputs and outputs connected by the switch fabric. Smoothing of data transmission is provided using a time-weighted buffer.

A method for searching a table in a network switch includes the steps of dividing a primary lookup table into a first sub table and a second sub-table, searching the first sub-table with a first search engine, and simultaneously searching the second sub-table with a second search engine. A method for searching a primary address table within a network switch uses the steps of dividing the primary address table into a first and second address sub-tables, storing even numbered memory address locations from the primary address table within the first address sub-table in sorted order, and storing odd numbered memory address locations from the primary address table within the second address sub-table in sorted order. Thereafter the method includes the steps of searching the first address sub-table with a first search engine, and simultaneously searching the second address sub-table with a second search engine.

A method and system for canceling interference in a code division multiple access (CDMA) network. A transmitted signal is spread using a specific spreading sequence. The signal includes a plurality of symbols having a specific spreading factor that differs from the length of the spreading sequence. The transmitted signal is received and filtered using a plurality of despreading sequences to recover the transmitted signal, wherein each despreading sequence corresponds to a particular part of the spreading sequence and is used to despread a portion of the received signal that was spread using the corresponding part of the spreading sequence. Each despreading sequence is adapted to cancel interference caused by other signals, wherein such interference is associated with the part of the spreading sequence that corresponds to the despreading sequence.

A method is provided for simulating at least one characteristic of a physical system. The physical system is discretized into a plurality of volumetric cells having boundaries therebetween. An initial estimate of state variables is assigned for each cell. For each cell, linear equations are constructed relating its state variables to the state variables of cells adjacent to it. A transportability value is associated with each boundary and the boundaries are ranked corresponding to descending transportability values. The boundary rankings are used to construct topologically one-dimensional strings of cells. A matrix equation for each string is constructed by assembling the linear equations associated with the cells of each string. Improved estimates of the state variables of the cells are determined by solving the matrix equations. These state variables are then used to simulate at least one characteristic of the physical system.

A copy prevention apparatus and method in a digital broadcasting receiving system protects information stored in a storage medium from being illegally duplicated by an unauthorized third party. The copy prevention apparatus includes a demultiplexer for descrambling scrambled transport stream (TS) patterned data of a user selective and desired channel among a received multi-channel broadcasting and outputting the descrambled result, a scrambler for scrambling again the descrambled TS patterned data from the TS demultiplexer, a key encryption unit for decrypting the encrypted key of the scrambler and encrypting the decrypted key again, to thereby produce a new encryption key, and a system controller for controlling a storage medium to store the scrambled TS patterned data from the scrambler together with the encrypted scrambler key output from the key encryption unit during storing. Thus, the copy prevention apparatus and method in the digital broadcasting receiving system scrambles again a descrambled data stream in a specific method and stores the scrambled result, when a received broadcasting signal is stored in a storage medium such as a hard disc drive (HDD) or a DVD-RAM drive, to thereby provide an effect of preventing an unauthorized person from copying the information stored in the storage medium.

A device is discovered on a network by means of a discovery protocol operated by a proxy and a protocol address for the device is obtained if required by the proxy, which requests a protocol address in accordance with a dynamic host communication protocol, then in the absence of response to that request attempts automatic private addressing and finally if necessary allows manual entry of a protocol address for the device.

At a server 2, a subject for updating an object registered in a database 3 and an event for obtaining the subject are generated, while a request for the subject from a receiving terminal 5 is received and totaled so that a resource necessary for providing the subject is allocated on the basis of the result of totaling. Then, the event is transmitted and the subject is provided on the basis of the resource allocated thereto. At the receiving terminal 5, the event is received and the necessity of the subject to be obtained on the basis of the event is evaluated so that request data requesting the subject is transmitted to the server 2 on the basis of the result of evaluation. Then, the subject provided by the server 2 in response to the request data is obtained on the basis of the event.

The invention provides a method of operating a communication network. The network comprises numerous stations, each of which can transmit and receive data in order to transmit messages from originating stations to destination stations opportunistically via intermediate stations. Each station selects one of a number of possible calling channels to transmit probe signals to other stations. The probe signals contain data identifying the station in question and include details of its connectivity to other stations. Other stations receiving the probe signals respond directly or indirectly, thereby indicating both to the probing station and other stations their availability as destination or intermediate stations. The probing station evaluates the direct or indirect responses to identify other stations with which it can communicate optimally. For example, the stations may monitor the cumulative power required to reach another station, thereby defining a power gradient to the other stations, with stations selecting a route through the network which optimizes the power gradient. Thus, data throughput through the network is maximized with minimum interference and contention between stations.

An enterprise integration system is coupled to a number of legacy data sources. The data sources each use different data formats and different access methods. The integration system includes a back-end interface configured to convert input data source information to input XML documents and to convert output XML document to output data source information. A front-end interface converts the output XML documents to output HTML forms and the input HTML forms to the XML documents. A middle tier includes a rules engine and a rules database. Design tools are used to define the conversion and the XML documents. A network couples the back-end interface, the front-end interface, the middle tier, the design tools, and the data sources. Mobile agents are configured to communicate the XML documents over the network and to process the XML documents according to the rules.

A system and method for performing data transfers within a computer system is provided The system includes a controller configured to dynamically adjust the interleave of the communications required to perform a series of data transfer operations to maximize utilization of the channel over which the communications are to be performed. The controller is able to vary the time interval between the transmission of control information that requests a data transfer and the performance of the data transfer by signaling the beginning of the data transfer with a strobe signal sent separate from the control information. The controller is able to defer the determination of how much data will be transferred in the operation by initiating the termination of a data transfer with a termination signal. The method provides a technique for distinguishing between identical control signals that are carried on the same line. The system includes a memory device with control circuitry that allows no more than one memory bank powered by any given power supply line to perform sense or precharge operations.

A method and system for quarantine during bus topology configuration are described. In one embodiment, the invention is a method. The method includes quarantining a set of devices coupled to a bus. The method further includes establishing a topology of the bus. The method may also include receiving a reset signal and quarantining in response to the reset signal. In an alternate embodiment, the invention is a system. The system includes a bus having a reset signal and a plurality of data signals. The system also includes a set of devices, with each device of the set of devices coupled to the bus. The system further includes a controller. The controller having a memory configured to store device identifiers corresponding to the devices of the set of devices. The memory further configured to store quarantine information relating to the devices of the set of devices.

A computerized system offers a uniform platform for conducting electronic transactions in multiple different environments. The system includes a portable, multi-purpose, integrated circuit (IC) card and complimentary computer software which enables access and management of resources maintained on the IC card. The software runs on a user's personal computer, empowering the user to initialize the IC card, configure the card with the resources that the user wants to maintain on the card, and to manage those resources. The software enables the user to generate private/public key pairs and establish or change passcodes for access to the card resources. The IC card itself provides the electronic vehicle for securely transporting the user's private keys and certificates without exposing them in plaintext form. The IC card is designed with enough processing capabilities to perform rudimentary cryptographic functions so that the private keys may be employed for signing or encryption without ever being released from the card.

The present invention is drawn to a method and/or a system for recovering from an OS crash caused by unsuccessful event notification to a client that is typically a third party program. After the recovery from such crash, the present invention is also drawn to a method and/or a system for avoiding such OS crash in the future. Specifically, the crash recovery steps include recording the current position of the client on a client list kept by the OS. The current position is recorded in a memory location impervious to OS crashes and system reset. Once the OS crash and reboot are completed, the persistently stored current position is accessed to identified the client that was notified prior to the OS crash. The identified client is designated as an errant client, namely a client whose notification might trigger an OS crash. In turn, the errant client is removed from either the notification list or the computer system in order to prevent the client from triggering any future OS crash.

An arrangement for locking the steering shaft of a motor vehicle, includes a blocking device and a toothed ring which is arranged on the steering shaft and in which a blocking element, which is arranged so that it can be displaced from an unlocked position into a locked position, of the blocking device engages. To allow the blocking device to be attached to the steering device of the vehicle in question and exchanged in a simple manner and to ensure that the blocking device cannot be removed in the locked state of the blocking element, the blocking device, which is provided with a housing, is releasably connected to a flange, which is attached to the steering device, via an adapter part. The flange has a recess which is designed in such a manner that the adapter part, for fitting of the blocking device, can be inserted in a partial area of the recess and can then be displaced along a guide into its limit position. Moreover, transverse webs are arranged between the teeth of the toothed ring, which webs, in the locked position of the blocking element, prevent axial displacement of the adapter part along the recess in the flange to the partial area.

A continuous casting installation for producing thin slabs includes a laterally adjustable mold in which an immersion nozzle protrudes. In the mold there is opposite a larger crowned cross section on the charging side a cross section on the strand outlet side which is small and identically crowned in the central region. The installation further has pairs of supporting and guiding rollers which follow the mold and have a caliber adapted to the emerging crowned strand. The broad-face parts have planar-surface central parts which are arranged parallel to one another along their widths and taper toward one another in the casting direction of the strand. The broad-face parts also have planar side surfaces arranged so that they taper conically toward each other in the direction of the narrow faces. The planar-surface central plate is connected to the planar-surface side surfaces by transitional parts. The transitional parts taper toward each other in the form of a wedge and the wedge tip ends at a distance (a), measured from the upper edge of the mold, with a=0.5 to 0.8×L, where L=the length of the mold. The supporting and guiding rollers have a contour which corresponds to the planar-surface central plate and the planar side plates of the mold broad faces in the region of the mouth of the mold.

A card holder for protecting a card includes a pop-up panel for the inclusion of printed indicia such as a map. The pop-up panel rapidly collapses to a size slightly larger than the card within the pocket without resort to accordion folds.

A clamping element (10, 21) for fixing an article of clothing, especially a pair of pants, to a transverse support (27), which connects the ends of a clothes hanger (20) and has a middle reinforced region (15, 26) and two outer leaf spring elements (11, 12, 28, 29), which is made entirely of plastic.

An environmental data collection system and method is provided having an internet link for providing an additional level of security for a remotely controlled data collection platform having a security alarm for protecting the platform and the environmental subject of the study. A novel lighter-than-air platform having a novel snorkel for detachably securing, mooring and providing buoyancy control is provided for the collection of data in the form of real time audio and video linked to the internet and subscribers. The novel snorkel is flexible and retractable into the novel airship to provide remote buoyancy control of the airship together with silently operating electrical motors for allowing the novel airship to be remotely controlled and moved at will to track and monitor wildlife and make environmental measurements necessary for the protection of the environment, wildlife and the operation of the novel airship. Detachable securing means provide an anti-tethering feature of the novel airship and allow the collection of data from both, an aerial perspective and a ground perspective, while providing for the collection of data from either the surface of the earth or below the surface of the water while transmitting the data to scientists, environmentalists and subscribers through the internet.

An exercise with traction device comprising a frame holding a seat above the floor that has a resistance loaded backrest for the purpose of rehabilitating atrophied spinal support muscle through progressive resistance exercise while the spine is under pain alleviating traction. The backrest is resistance loaded for both traction, and extension resistance or flexion resistance. This makes needed exercise for those who are hindered from such therapy by spinal compressive related pain. The exercise resistance is transmitted to the patient via a horizontal axis backrest, and can be weighted either positively for back resistance, or negatively for abdominal resistance, at the same time traction is applied from the backrest suspension system applying resistance to the user attached to it in the direction that decompresses the spine.

The plastic bags are provided with a web tape with a row of aperatures which are cut parallel to each other, but perpendicular to the direction of travel of the row. The aperatures are not colinear with one another. The apertures are sized to allow air to pass therethrough but not to allow selected solids to pass therethrough. These apertures are cut with a rotating wheel with teeth parallel to the axis of rotation and sized to provide the apertures of the desired size.

Process for the production of a three-dimensional substrate provided with a protective and decorative laminar structure, in which a primer layer of a coating composition (I) which is electrically conductive in the stoved state is applied without spraying onto an electrically conductive substrate and stoved, whereupon a substrate not yet in the desired three-dimensional shape is shaped, whereupon a second coating layer of an electrophoretically depositable coating composition (II) is electrophoretically deposited and stoved and whereupon a plastic film is applied.

A method for patterning different types of surface features on a semiconductor substrate (e.g. metal pads, etched pits and grooves) where the features are accurately located by a single mask. First, a dielectric layer is formed on the substrate. Next, an etch-resistant metal layer is formed on the dielectric and patterned according to a mask. Then, a patterned resist mask (e.g. PMMA) is formed on the patterned metal so that areas of the dielectric are exposed. The resist mask has edges that lie on top of the patterned metal layer. Therefore, the exposed dielectric areas are bounded by patterned metal. Then, the dielectric layer is etched using a directional dry etch to expose the underlying semiconductor substrate. Then, the semiconductor substrate is etched. The dielectric layer functions as a mask in the substrate etching step. Since the metal pattern determines the areas of the substrate that are etched, all the features are located according to the original mask that defined the metal pattern. Subsequent masking steps can expose other areas of the substrate to different etching or deposition processes.

This invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid fragment encoding a protein involved in plastid division. The invention also relates to the construction of a chimeric gene encoding all or a portion of the protein involved in plastid division, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the chimeric gene results in production of altered levels of the protein involved in plastid division in a transformed host cell.

The present invention relates to an electronic system operating under irradiation and to a process for designing such a system making it possible to determine a first group (21) of components with high integration and vulnerability intended to be selectively protected by a shield (22), the remainder of the components (20) not benefiting from such a protection.One application of the process is for an electronic control system of a mobile robot able to function in the presence of ionizing radiation (typically gamma radiation).

An optoelectric transducer arrangement (7b) is moved by being driven and by being controlled by means of cam/curve guides to convert the whole image to be imaged in a still camera despite that said transducer has a sensor surface that is smaller than the image area to be imaged in the image plane (B). The cam/curve arrangement includes four cam disks (15), for example, whereby one cam disk (15a) is driven by a motor. The transducer (7b) rides on a transducer carrier plate (21), which is moved by means of cams (19) on the cam disks (15, 15a). The transducer movement occurs thereby in a translatory manner.

A base station apparatus is used for a radio communication system which divides one cell into a plurality of sectors and communicates with a plurality of terminal stations according to TDMA via antennas which are provided for each of the sectors. The base station apparatus includes a frequency-based distributor and modulator unit which distributes each of channel data to be transmitted in correspondence with each of time slots of a plurality of transmission frequency-based channels, and modulates the distributed channel data to modulated signals, a sector-based distributor and multiplexer unit which distributes the modulated signals to sector-based channels which are prescribed in advance in correspondence with the time slots, and multiplexes the distributed modulated signals for each of the sector-based channels, and a channel connection controller which generates distribution control information of each of the transmission frequency-based channels and the sector-based channels depending on a channel connect or disconnect request.

The extended messaging scheme adds additional packet formats to the prior art 6-byte Lucent Access Interface Unit (AIU) Message Format of Table 1. The extended messaging scheme supports multi-packet messaging over telecommunication system configurations not supported by the prior art AIU Message Format. In one implementation, the extended messaging scheme includes (1) a “first-of-many” packet format for the initial data packets of messages requiring more than one 6-byte data packet, (2) a “continuation” packet format for the one or more subsequent data packets corresponding to such multi-packet messages, and (3) a “first-and-only” packet format for messages requiring only a single data packet. The extended messaging scheme enables telecommunication systems to be configured with one or more (possibly non-co-located) client terminals in addition to a main remote terminal to provide telecommunication services to a large number of widely distributed customers.

A method of assigning a channel identification (ID) of an audio signal by which it is possible to follow up and select the audio channel selected by a user even though a program or an audio data stream is changed in an audio/video (A/V) device for reproducing a program including a plurality of audio data streams, a method of selecting audio channels using the same, and an apparatus suitable therefor. The method of selecting the audio channels of an A/V data stream including a plurality of programs, each program including at least two kinds of audio data streams, each audio data stream including at least two sub-audio data streams which are not repeated and having a series of IDs according to a predetermined order of precedence, the method including (a) when a program is changed to another program, searching whether there is a sub-audio data stream having a channel ID which is the same as the channel ID assigned to the sub-audio data stream of the program which was being reproduced before the program was changed, in the changed program, and (b) when it is determined that there is the sub-audio data stream having a channel ID which is the same as the channel ID assigned to the sub-audio data stream of the program which was being reproduced before the program was changed in the step (a), selecting the sub-audio data stream. According to the method of selecting the audio channels, it is possible to follow up a voice mode selected by a user (maintain the previously selected audio channel) although a program or an audio data stream is changed.

Tile boundary artifact removal is performed with arbitrary wavelet filters. In one embodiment, the method includes decompressing a plurality of sets of compressed data, including performing detiling on a first set of compressed data using neighbor information from at least one other set of compressed data, and recombining the plurality of decompressed tiles into an image.

An information processing apparatus which pleases a user with a higher degree of entertainment property is disclosed. A graphic chip copies original image data stored in a VRAM into a buffer built therein so that the original image data may be stored into the buffer. Further, the graphic chip reverses those of the original image data in replacement areas of the image horizontally leftwardly and rightwardly and stores the thus reversed image data into the buffer. The graphic chip thereupon performs &agr; blending of the original image data and the reversed image data based on &agr; values of a table.

A computer implemented method in a language independent system generates audio-driven facial animation given the speech recognition system for just one language. The method is based on the recognition that once alignment is generated, the mapping and the animation hardly have any language dependency in them. Translingual visual speech synthesis can be achieved if the first step of alignment generation can be made speech independent. Given a speech recognition system for a base language, the method synthesizes video with speech of any novel language as the input.

Disclosed are a system, apparatus, method and computer program for communicating information content using wireless means between a host and a client in a communications system, wherein the client is adapted to transmit pointer movement signals and selection signals to a host. The host is adapted to receive pointer movement signals and selection signals and to display a pointer and a selection boundary, and is further adapted to transmit data to the client. The client is adapted to receive and store in storage the data thus acquired. Preferably the client is further adapted to transmit to a host pointer movement and insertion point selection signals and to transmit selected data from its storage to the host. The host is adapted to receive these signals and data, and to respond by displaying the data according to the insertion point selection signal.

An enhancement to computer network maintenance technology which reduces redundant and inaccurate fault reporting and alerting based upon implementation of logic which determines the most likely single point of failure. In modern computer and telephone networks, certain single points of failure result in the false appearance of multiple failures. However, by analyzing the pattern of apparent failures in view of the known network topology, a single point of failure can be determined as the root cause of the multiple failure indications. An enhancement to the currently-available network maintenance technology, including software applications executing on network server platforms, provides this fault determination logic, filters spurious and incorrect failure reports, and posts failure reports only for the single point failure.

A method and apparatus for insuring that a digital storage device will only be able to download or play files that were obtained from sources deemed by the manufacturer of the device or by an overseeing organization to be acceptable. The files are downloaded in an unencrypted from and then encrypted prior to storage in a memory. The stored encrypted files are unencrypted prior to being transferred from the memory to the digital storage device.

A method and system for enabling a computer application that executes in an environment in which support for USB does not exist (e.g., in the DOS environment) to interact with a USB storage device. In a most preferred embodiment, a system and method is disclosed for restoring a computer system from a storage device on a USB utilizing a disaster recovery application that executes in DOS.

A stakedown assembly for a horizontal directional drill that multiplies the travel of a hydraulic cylinder so that the drive head travels twice the distance of the hydraulic cylinder travel. A gear pinion is pivotally attached to a top end of the hydraulic cylinder. A first gear rack is fixedly attached to a tower, and a second gear rack is fixedly attached to a drive head. The gear pinion floats between the two gear racks, thus, producing multiplication when the hydraulic cylinder is actuated. This allows the use of a shorter hydraulic cylinder and results in a smaller overall stakedown assembly height.

An apparatus and method for restraining movement of insulation during construction of a metal frame building. The apparatus having a plate with an opening, a hook member received by the opening, and a restraint holder. The hook member engages a girt to hold the apparatus in position. A restraint member extends from the holder to reduce movement of insulation, generally draped from an upper portion of a building frame, caused by wind prior to attachment of siding on a metal frame building.

The present invention provides a retractor for providing surgical access through a passage in tissue, together with methods for its use and deployment. The retractor comprises an anchoring frame having an upper surface, a lower surface, and an opening therethrough which defines an axial axis. A flexible tensioning member is attached to the frame, and is extendable from the frame out of the body through the passage when the frame is positioned through the passage and into a body cavity. This tensioning member is selectively tensionable to spread the tissue radially outwardly from the axial axis. Hence, it is the tension imposed on the flexible liner which effects retraction of the tissue, rather than relying on the structural integrity of an artificial lumen.

A salt platform (700) is disclosed which incorporates a series of hubs (702), radial braces(704) and curved braces(706) which are snap fit together by use of mating locking members(734) and locking slots (716). The curved braces (706) can be formed with pipe holders to support pipe section(710,712) and pipe elbows (714). A stub spoke(750) can be used if desired.

A process including:dispersing a first liquid developer concentrate comprising a resin, a colorant, and a liquid developer reconstitution compound, in a carrier liquid, into additional carrier liquid to form a second liquid developer;depositing the second liquid developer onto a liquid receiver member to form a developer cake;developing an image with the developer cake;reclaiming undeveloped developer cake from the cake bearing liquid receiver member; andredispersing the reclaimed undeveloped developer cake in the second developer liquid.

A solid phase with at least one test area is described which contains reagents for the detection of at least one analyte in a sample, wherein the solid phase additionally comprises at least one control area for the detection of interfering reactions.

Group A streptogramin derivatives of formula (I): the salts thereof, and mixtures of stereoisomers thereof, as well as processes for preparing them and pharmaceutical compositions comprising them are disclosed.

Disclosed are adhesive formulations as creping process aids for producing an absorbent creped cellulosic sheet having a high level of surface-perceived softness that comprises continuously forming a web of cellulosic papermaking fibers, adhering said web to a thermal drying means by means of adhesive compositions comprising polymers having at least one primary or secondary amine group in the backbone such as chitosan, plolyvinylamine, polyvinyl alcohol-vinyl amine and polyaminoamide in combination with crosslinking agents such as zirconium compounds having a valence of plus four including ammonium zirconium carbonate, zirconium acetylacetonate, zirconium acetate, zirconium carbonate, zirconium sulfate, zirconium phosphate, potassium zirconium carbonate, zirconium sodium phosphate and sodium zirconium tartrate and creping said treated web from said thermal drying means. In the method for producing the absorbent creped cellulosic sheets, the zirconium crosslinking agent is advantageously applied directly and separately on the Yankee dryer at the time the base polymer is applied to the surface. The crosslinking agent functions to crosslink the polymer to the fibrous web. The absorbent paper products are used as bathroom tissue and towels.

A flat display screen anode, including phosphor elements intended for being excited by an electron bombarding, these elements being deposited on at least one biasing electrode including, at least under the phosphor elements, a resistive layer deposited on a conductive layer for biasing the phosphor element.

A compact portable athletic data display apparatus, comprising a generally rectangular flat display section 3 which is rotatably connected at the lower end thereof with a generally rectangular flat control section 2 by means of hinges, so that the display section 3 may be held at upright position to display the data when it is used but folded onto the control section otherwise.In operation, an operator stands up the display section 3 at the upright position, enter data to be displayed on the display section using data input keys. A monitor may be provided on the control section so that he may check on the monitor the data he has entered for display.

An anisotropic filtering technique includes defining pixel elements in two dimensions and defining at least one object having three dimensional surfaces in a three-dimensional model space and storing texel elements in two dimensions defining a texture map bearing a relationship to the three dimensional surfaces of the at least one object. Each pixel element to be texture mapped is divided into a group of sub-pixel elements and the sub-pixel elements are separately texture mapped. The resultant textures of the sub-pixel elements are averaged to obtain a texture for their respective pixel element.

A monitoring system using two or more cameras to monitor a space in 3 dimensions is disclosed. One or more virtual 3-D monitored volumes relating to dangerous or restricted areas, are constructed, preferably as CSG objects, within this space. By detecting an object moving within the view of the cameras, the system can determine if a moving object intersects any monitored volumes and take appropriate action.

The present invention relates to an effect color extracting method of an image and an image original color recovering method which are capable of automatically extracting an effect color of an image pictured in accordance with an environment of a certain illumination and a color lens (or filter) and a feature of a camera, adjusting the extracted effect color and recovering an original image color of the image for thereby enhancing a performance of an image search. In the method for recovering an image color pictured based on a certain effect of an original color or other colors or an effect color in accordance with a feature of a camera and a surrounding environment of an object, an image color recovering method includes the steps of comparing all pixels of a frame of the image and a first critical value, obtaining an average hue value Hue_Ave with respect to the hues of the pixels each having a crominance smaller than the first critical value, computing a hue corresponding to the average hue value Hue_Ave, and determining the computed hue as an effect color, and compensating the image color affected by the effect color using the computed hue and adjusting the image color to an original color.

A chassis for holding modules including a set of first modules oriented horizontally in the chassis and a set of second modules oriented vertically in the chassis. A midplane is oriented orthogonally to the sets of first and second modules. The midplane has connector pins extending from its first side through its second side. Each of the first modules has a first connector for mating with the connector pins extending from the first side, and each of the second modules has a second connector for mating with the connector pins extending from the second side.

A network device comprises a first integrated circuit having fabricated thereon a media access controller and a first serializer interface in communication with the media access controller. A second integrated circuit is provided comprising a physical layer interface in communication with an external device and a second serializer interface in communication with physical layer interface and the first serializer interface. The first and second serializer interfaces each comprise a fiber channel physical layer device implemented in accordance with 1000 BASE-X.

A method and system for synchronizing clocks in a packet network that includes a master node and at least one slave node that communicate with one another is disclosed. A timer value from a master clock is retrieved upon transmission of a first packet to the slave node. The timer value and an associated code are subsequently sent to the slave node in a subsequent packet. After receiving the first packet, the slave node, retrieves a timer value from a slave clock and associates it with an identifying code of the first packet. After receiving the subsequent packet, the slave node relates the timer values and adjusts a clock value of the slave clock accordingly. An interrupt scheme may be used to implement the retrieval of the timer values.

A remote control of a hearing aid is integrated into a case (1) of a wrist watch with wristband (3). A coil antenna (5) of the remote control is designed to generate a field similar to that of a dipole (P) which substantially runs in the direction of the wristband (3). The wrist watch remote control for the hearing aid provides a reliable communication link that is assured for the in-situ hearing aid.

A method for geometrically analyzing motion having the steps of: choosing a set of points having at least three individual points to define a single realization of a motion; sequentially collecting Cartesian coordinates of the set of points at different times during the motion from a start point to an end point; treating the collection of sets of points as a sample of the motion; and transforming the sets of points at the different times to a common coordinate system thereby defining a trajectory of the motion. In a preferred implementation of the method of the present invention, the method further has the steps of: choosing a set of points having at least three individual points to define a single realization of a motion; sequentially collecting Cartesian coordinates of the set of points at different times during the motion from a start point to an end point; treating the collection of sets of points as a sample of the motion; transforming the sets of points at the different times to a common coordinate system thereby defining a trajectory of the motion; and calculating elliptic Fourier coefficients describing the trajectory of the motion independent of any difference in the spacing of the different times.

In a logic simulation method, one of an algorithm level simulation and a register transfer level simulation is executed. The algorithm level simulation corresponds to an algorithm level description and the register transfer level simulation corresponds to a register transfer level description. The simulation is switched from one of the algorithm level simulation and the register transfer level simulation into the other in response to a switching instruction using a relation between states of the algorithm level description and states of the register transfer level description. The algorithm level description is associated with arithmetic and logic algorithm and not associated with logic circuits. The register transfer level description is associated with logic circuits.

The present invention describes a system and method for independently verifying the Execution Rate of individual tasks by a device through simulation. Described is a situation in which a system has a main device through which data flows to and from other devices. Bus transfers must fall within required rates. A simulation of the configuration utilizes models of the various devices, including the “Main device”. This simulation is used to verify the data traffic and associated transfer rates. Data transfer includes random bursts, with randomly chosen periods between bursts. The data rate and data validity are measured during each burst period.

The abstract of the disclosure “the object of the present invention is to provide a technology that can prevent the reduction of transaction throughput caused by the concentration of load on specific communication resources and server resources. In order to achieve this object, the present invention provides a database load distribution processing method that distributes access to a distributed database managed by a plurality of servers. The method includes: a step for monitoring the activity status of communication resources and managing communication status; a step for monitoring server activity status and managing server status; and a step for distributing access to the distributed database based on information indicating communication status and server status” is required and must be presented on a separate sheet, apart from any other text.

A packet communication apparatus processes consecutively transmitted fixed-length packets. The apparatus includes a storage circuit, a first processing circuit which accesses the storage circuit for processing data obtained from each of the packets, and a second processing circuit which accesses the storage circuit for processing data stored in the storage circuit. The apparatus further includes an allocation circuit for executing access time allocation with respect to a packet processing time allowed for processing each of the packets. Specifically, the allocation circuit allocates a first time of the packet processing time to the first processing circuit for accessing the storage circuit and a second time of the packet processing time to the second processing circuit for accessing the storage circuit. The first time and the second time are prevented from overlapping with each other.

Processor-based systems may be initialized through a network connection so that the systems may be booted using the latest available software. A description of a client processor-based system may be developed and provided to a remote server. The remote server may then develop the necessary firmware for initializing the system, given the latest, updates for example. The firmware may initialize the system in an operating system independent fashion. The server may provide that software to the client to enable the client to efficiently boot, for example without unnecessarily tying up storage on the client. In addition, because the boot initialization routines were acquired from the server, which may be periodically updated, the client may have immediate access to the most up-to-date initialization routines.

An agent is downloaded from a server to a client before installation. Then, the agent executes installation of an install file into the client by referring to a managing record file and according to an execution script. The agent updates the managing record file according to an install execution state of the client. When downloaded again from the server to the client after reboot, the agent continues the installation of the install file by referring to the managing record file and according to the execution script, and further updates the managing record file according to an install execution state of the client.

This invention concerns a consumable authentication protocol for validating the existence of an untrusted authentication chip, as well as ensuring that the authentication chip lasts only as long as the consumable. In a further aspect it concerns a consumable authentication system for the protocol. A trusted authentication chip has a test function; and the untrusted authentication chip has a read function to test data from the trusted chip, including a random number and its signature, encrypted using a first key, by comparing the decrypted signature with a signature calculated from the decrypted random number. In the event that the two signatures match, it returns a data message and an encrypted version of the data message in combination with the random number, encrypted using the second key. The test function operates to encrypt the random number together with the data message using a second secret key, compare the two versions of the random number encrypted together with the data message using the second key. In the event that the two versions match, the untrusted authentication chip and the data message are considered to be valid; otherwise, they are considered to be invalid.

An apparatus 115 for processing a substrate 20, comprises an integrated pumping system 155 having a high operating efficiency, small size, and low vibrational and noise levels. The apparatus 115 comprises a chamber, such as a load-lock chamber 110, transfer chamber 115, or process chamber 120. An integrated pump 165 is abutting or adjacent to one of the chambers 110, 115, 120 for evacuating gas from the chambers. In operation, the pump is located within the actual envelope or footprint of the apparatus and has an inlet 170 connected to a chamber 110, 115, 120, and an outlet 175 that exhausts the gas to atmospheric pressure. Preferably, the integrated pump 165 comprises a pre-vacuum pump or a low vacuum pump and is housed in a noise reducing enclosure having means for moving the pump between locations and means for stacking pumps vertically in use.

Construction materials suitable for use as, or in, a wearing course for children's play areas, games areas and like purposes, comprise an agglomerate of granules of a thermoplastic elastomer. The granules of the agglomerate are conveniently held together by means of a polyurethane or other binding agent or by being melded together. The thermoplastic elastomer is, for example, a block copolymer of the styrene type, for example a styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer. The granules of the thermoplastic elastomer are preferably angular granules or multi-facet granules.

Processes and kits for immobilizing a high density of nucleic acids on an insoluble surface, which are particularly useful for mass spectrometric detection of nucleic acids, are disclosed. Arrays containing the immobilized nucleic acids and use of the immobilized nucleic acids in a variety of solid phase nucleic acid chemistry applications, including nucleic acid synthesis (chemical and enzymatic), hybridization and/or extension, and sequencing, are provided. Serial and parallel dispensing tools that can deliver defined volumes of fluid to generate multi-element arrays of sample material on a substrate surface are further provided. Tools provided herein can include an assembly of vesicle elements, or pins, wherein each of the pins can include a narrow interior chamber suitable for holding nanoliter volumes of fluid. Methods for dispensing tools that can be employed to generate multi-element arrays of sample material on a substrate surface are also provided. The tool can dispense a spot of fluid to a substrate surface by spraying the fluid from the pin, contacting the substrate surface or forming a drop that touches against the substrate surface. The tool can form an array of sample material by dispensing sample material in a series of steps, while moving the pin to different locations above the substrate surface to form the sample array, The prepared sample arrays may be passed to a plate assembly that disposes the sample arrays for analysis by mass spectrometry.

The invention pertains to a non-fluorescent label which is suitable for making a charge-transfer fluorescent probe having a donor-bridge-acceptor structure, characterized in that the label comprises a maleimide moiety and the donor-bridge-acceptor structure, wherein the bridge is a group which leads to an all-trans orbital coupling of the donor and the acceptor, and the donor-bridge-acceptor structure has a higher energy charge-transfer emissive state than at least one non-emissive state of part of the label comprising the maleimide moiety, which non-emissive state must have a higher energy than the charge-transfer emissive state of the donor-bridge-acceptor structure after coupling of the maleimide moiety to a suitable system.

This invention relates to the identification, purification, and characterization of a novel heterodimeric disintegrin, EC-3, from Echis carinatus viper venom. EC-3 inhibits &agr;4 integrins in an RGD-independent manner. The invention further relates to methods of using EC-3, or a biologically active fragment or derivative thereof, to inhibit the interaction between cells expressing &agr;4 integrins and cellular ligands.

Peptides capable of interacting with smooth muscle cells are provided. Peptides are derived from Tenascin-C protein, particularly from the Fbg-L domain of Tenascin-C protein. Peptides of the present invention are useful in inhibiting smooth muscle cell migration. Methods of inhibiting smooth muscle cell adhesion and migration are also provided. Methods of the present invention may be used for treating intimal hyperplasia, restenosis, and atherosclerosis.

The present invention provides a polybenzazole article superior in light resistance, which contains a light-resisting agent that allows for a regular reflectance of the article of not more than 30% in not less than 30% of the wavelength region of from 450 nm to 700 nm and a production method thereof. The present invention provides a polybenzazole article having noticeably superior light resistance, which is preferable as industrial materials and fireman's garments, and a production method thereof.

A high speed static multiplexer comprising: (1) a plurality of data inputs and at least one select input; (2) an output; (3) a high voltage rail and a low voltage rail; (4) a pull-up circuit coupled between the output and the high voltage rail and further coupled to receive the data inputs and the select input so that the pull-up circuit generates a first logic state at the output in response to the selected data input having that first logic state; (5) and a pull-down circuit coupled between the output and the low voltage rail and further coupled to receive the data inputs and the select input, so that the pull-down circuit generates a second logic state at the output in response to the selected data input having that second logic state.

An information processing apparatus has a processing unit, a memory unit for storing display data processed by the processing unit, a display image rotation engine which is coupled with a buffer memory to sequentially transfer display data to the buffer memory and which responds to a command of predetermined timing for display data update to store the display data stored in the memory unit in read sequence different from write sequence, a display controller for delivering the display data, stored in the buffer memory, in the memory unit by means of the rotation engine to a display device, and a bus for mutually coupling the processing unit, the memory unit, the display controller and the rotation engine.

A architecture is provided to enable a client web browser to conduct and manage a multilevel search. The browser includes an application layer interface. The application layer interface is for coupling to network via a protocol stack. The browser also includes a markup language parser. The parser receives information from the application layer interface. The browser also includes a graphical user interface for interacting with a user. The graphical user interface allows a user to specify a set of multilevel search parameters. The browser also includes a markup language processor that receives input from the markup language parser and multilevel search parameters from the graphical user interface. The markup language processor conducts and manages a multilevel search to find specified information on a current web page or a web page referenced by the current web page in accordance with a parameterized search tree. The present invention also enables an automatic processes to print sets of linked web pages and to generate sitemaps, filtered sitemaps, filtered results pages in accordance with user specifications.

A digital camera has a moving image mode in which display images are sequentially displayed on a color liquid crystal monitor and a still image mode in which a display image, captured in response to a release switch, is processed and recorded in a memory card. In the moving image mode, an analog signal processor performs previous-pixel-value interpolation for defective pixels. In the still image mode, calculation is made using data stored in a frame memory of a digital signal processor to perform interpolation for defective pixels.

A device for exposing several rows of mask patterns on a strip-shaped workpiece without the device becoming larger and the rolls having to be replaced is achieved as follows: A strip-shaped workpiece is transported. When a first exposure area of the first row reaches a projection site on a workpiece carrier (3), the strip-shaped workpiece (Wb) is held by vacuum. A mask (M) is positioned relative to the strip-shaped workpiece and the first exposure area is exposed. Then, the strip-shaped workpiece is held by the workpiece suction devices (8, 8′). The movement devices (9) are driven and the strip-shaped workpiece is moved in the direction which orthogonally intersects the transport direction so that a second exposure area of the second row reaches the projection site on the workpiece carrier. The mask is positioned to the strip-shaped workpiece and exposes the second exposure area. Then, the transport of the strip-shaped workpiece and its movement in the direction which orthogonally intersects the transport direction are repeated and the first row and the second row of the strip-shaped workpiece are exposed.

Reproduction apparatus is periodically calibrated using only one member of a group of receivers. A correction is applied for other members of the group based on their relative differences from the one member. The one member to be calibrated periodically is designated the “key” member. Whenever a new member of the group comes into the lab, it, along with the key member are calibrated. The ratios of the density outputs over the full exposure range are calculated and saved for the new member. Then, at each reproduction apparatus calibration, the density outputs for the key member are determined and the ratios of density outputs are applied to predict the corresponding density outputs of the other group members, as if they were being calibrated at the same time.

Laser beams respectively emitted from a SHG blue laser unit and a red semiconductor laser unit that have photo detectors respectively are turned into parallel lights by a collimator lens and then coupled by a dielectric multi-layer film mirror so as to be propagated on the same optical axis. The dielectric multi-layer film mirror is configured so as to transmit light with a wavelength of 500 nm or shorter and reflect light with a wavelength of 500 nm or longer for both P wave and S wave. The lights that are transmitted and reflected by the dielectric multi-layer film mirror pass through a polarizing hologram and a phase variable wave plate and are focused on an optical disk by an objective lens. In this manner, a simple configuration can realize a compatibility with many types of optical disks and a stable signal detection even when using a polarizing optical detection system.

An optical information storage medium has multiple information layers. On each layer, information is stored in the form of an electroluminescent material. The pits are organized into regions called pages. A specific page on a specific layer can be addressed through electrodes integrated into the medium. The medium can be read-only or WORM. For the WORM embodiment, a recordable electroluminescent material is combined with a quencher and a free radical generating compound that, when thermally degraded, generates free radicals to bleach the quencher. To amplify the light from an information layer, a photoconductive layer and an additional electroluminescent layer can be provided.

A voice communication apparatus that includes gateway modules in a distributed structure to drive a protocol selected by a corresponding terminal in communication with a public telephone network, so as to convert a packet and renew a state variation of a terminal allocated to itself within a group while performing the packet conversion, and a packet switching module to switch to a corresponding port while communicating between a public telephone network and the gateway module or between a LAN and the gateway module. Each module thus co-owns the information by transferring the call signal and voice by the ethernet interface on a network standard, and accordingly, the switching between the PSTN (public switched telephone network) gateway modules is simply performed. This facilitates long-distance communication with an employee, for example, who may telecommute from a remote place, thereby reducing the expense of long-distance communication. The user can be directly connected to the LAN-based voice terminal through the multi-media switch module, or indirectly connected to the LAN-based voice terminal through the general hub or the switch hub allowing for expansion of the capacity.

A molecular fluorine (F2) laser system that includes a gaseous molecular fluorine gain medium contained in a laser tube, a resonant cavity, a power supply for exciting the gain medium to produce a laser beam having an ultra violet (UV) radiation output at substantially 157 nm and a red radiation output in the range of 620 to 760 nm, a discharge module connected to the laser tube for adding and withdrawing gas to the gain medium, a controller for controlling the power supply and the discharge module, and a photo diamond detector that receives a portion of the laser beam for measuring at least one optical parameter of the UV radiation such as energy, pulse energy, pulse shape, pulse width, etc. The photo diamond detector is substantially insensitive to the red radiation output that is also present in the laser beam. The controller modifies the excitation of the gain medium by the power supply, and modifies the gas added to and withdrawn from the gain medium in the laser tube by the discharge module, in response to the optical parameter measured by the photo diamond detector.

The quality of a communications channel carrying data packets is determined by establishing if a packet is received correctly or incorrectly. Check means provides a signal to a microprocessor for each correct reception event and each incorrect reception event. A value, held in a two byte counter is indicative of the quality of the communications channel. For each correct reception event the value of the counter is decreased by an extent dependent on the value already held in the counter. For each incorrect reception the value of the counter is increased by an extent dependent on the value already held in the counter. When the stored counter value exceeds a preset threshold value indicating poor channel quality, a comparator produces an output signal to initiate a handover operation to another communications channel.

A document processing apparatus is provided with an output document generating section which extracts an arbitrary part of an input document and creates an output document including text information of the extracted part, and a writing section which writes information which makes it possible to specify the output document, in the extracted part of the input document.

A communications system having a pre-defined calling group with a plurality of members is disclosed. A plurality of personal communication devices (PCDs) each have a system ID and a group ID, and each member of the group is assigned one of the PCDs. The system ID and the group ID both have a predetermined characteristic, where each system ID has a first variation thereof and each group ID has a second variation. A first group member having a first PCD contacts a second member having a second PCD by entering into the first PCD the second PCD group ID. The first PCD transmits the first PCD system ID and the second PCD group ID to a communications switch. Based on the first PCD system ID, the communications switch locates a record for the first PCD in a switch database and determines therefrom that the first PCD can contact the second PCD by way of the second PCD group ID. A group database in switchable communication with the communications switch has the system ID and group ID for each group member PCD. The communications switch forwards the contact and the second PCD group ID to the group database for further processing. The group database determines that the second PCD group ID is located therein, locates the second PCD system ID based on the second PCD group ID, and forwards the attempted contact and the second PCD system ID to an appropriate communications switch for further processing.

A mobile communications system includes mobile communications terminal equipment capable of switching among a plurality of mobile communications systems including the former system, such as a ground cellular communications system and a mobile satellite communications system, to establish communication with one of them. The plurality of mobile communications systems provide different cells that are overlapped. The mobile communications system can provide and utilize channel information on a channel selected when the mobile communications terminal equipment to switch between the mobile communications system and another mobile communications system. The mobile communications system transmits the channel information on the other communications system to the mobile communications terminal equipment. The mobile communications terminal equipment can switch from the mobile communications system to the other mobile communications system to establish connection with the other mobile communications system based on the channel information.

Methods for calculating delays for cells in ASICs are disclosed. In the present invention, delays are computed by considering not only the process (P), voltage (V), temperature (T) but also input ramptime (R) and output load or fanout (F) of the cells by fitting the delay at four corner points for derated PVT condition into a non-linear equation which is a function of P, V, T, R and F. Thus, the delay is a five dimensional characterization, and the characterization is split into (P,V,T) characterization and (R,T) characterization to reduce the characterization time and resources. The present invention provides for accurate calculation of delays for cells in ASICs.

A method and apparatus for retrieving similar or identical textual passages among different documents is disclosed. Normal discourse structures along with textual content attributes are used to encode a known passage with “marker sequences” that give a characterizing “signature” to the passage. The encoded known passage is then evaluated against similarly encoded passages appearing in a database of documents. If it is determined that there is a possible match between the encoded known passage and an encoded passage in a database document, a sequential string search is performed to determine whether the two passages are likely to be similar or identical. If the sequential string search records a probable match between the known passage and the database passage, the database passage is displayed for further review.

An improved consistency is provided between systems management systems (SMS) and workflow management systems (WFMS) by a linkage between the two. A tight, integrative linkage is provided which is managed and maintained automatically by the application, particular by the WFMS, or alternatively by the SMS. This provides a consistent business process oriented view of the SMS monitored resources, including information technology resources, such as programs, and WFMS monitored resources, including organization resources such as people. This is achieved by either of enhancing the application's monitor to include the functionality of the enterprise console; or enhancing the enterprise console to include the functionality of the WFMS's process monitor; and profiting from the merged information of both the SMS and the WFMS.

A method for managing a shared resource that is allocated among nodes in a distributed computing system includes receiving periodic reports from the nodes regarding their respective allocations of the resource. Responsive to the periodic reports, an approximate amount of the resource that is free for further allocation is determined. Typically, the shared resource is a data storage resource, such as a plurality of disks linked to the nodes by a network, which disks are commonly accessible to multiple ones of the nodes.

An embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method for compiling, storing, and interpreting, as often as needed, a representation of any MPI datatype, including the steps of compiling a tree representation of an MPI datatype into a compact, linear data gather scatter program (DGSP) wherein the DGSP is of a form general enough to encode an arbitrarily complex datatype, registering the compact linear DGSP with a communications subsystem for later interpretation by the subsystem for at least one of sends, receives, packs and unpacks, creating a registered DGSP, and interpreting the registered DGSP. In one embodiment of the present invention, the form of the DGSP uses a single generalized representation. In another embodiment the single generalized representation covers any of the arbitrarily complex datatype patterns that can arise in this context. In yet another embodiment, the single generalized representation provides that any datatype that can be constructed using an application programming interface (API) in MPI can be converted into the form.

A method of firing magnetic cores includes the steps of attaching a powder to the surface of a plurality of flattened-ring compact bodies made of a magnetic material, arranging the plurality of flattened-ring compact bodies adjacently so that the axes of flattened through-holes of the flattened-ring compact bodies are vertically oriented, and firing the flattened-ring compact bodies while the powder is interposed between the adjacent flattened-ring compact bodies. Alternatively, a method of firing magnetic cores includes the steps of attaching a powder to the surface of a plurality of thin compact bodies made of a magnetic material, vertically arranging the plurality of thin compact bodies adjacently, and firing the thin compact bodies while the powder is interposed between the adjacent thin compact bodies.

A bubble cycling heat exchanger comprises a sealing fluid loop, a heat absorbing source, a bubble generator, an expanding area for generating bubbles to be transferred to a fluid loop and a radiator. As one end of the seal loop is connected to the heat absorbing source, another end being connected to the radiator. The bubble generator is installed in the loop. Overheat will generate bubbles in the loop. As an unequilibrium occurs, the bubble will separate so that the fluid in the loop will flow to transfer heat, and thus heat is radiated from the radiator. As a result, the loop operating continuously until a heat equilibrium is achieved.

An apparatus for sorting particles composed of a mixture of particles with differing physical and chemical characteristics. The apparatus includes a comminutor or a pulverizer for reducing the size of the particles. The apparatus includes a mechanism for separating undesired material from desired material.

The present invention provides a method for diagnosing breast cancer in a subject. The present invention also provides a method for treating breast cancer in a subject. Finally, the present invention provides a method for assessing the efficacy of breast cancer therapy in a subject who has undergone or is undergoing treatment for breast cancer.

DNA sequences encoding human androgen receptor protein and polypeptides and proteins having substantially the same biological activity as human androgen receptor protein and the amino acid sequences of human androgen receptor protein and polypeptides and proteins having substantially the same biological activity as human androgen receptor protein are disclosed. Methods for the production and use of such compositions are also disclosed.

A semiconductor assembly (10) in which a semiconductor chip (12) is secured to a die pad (14) is placed in a cavity (38). A support pin (42) which is able to enter into or be pulled out of the cavity (38) is provided in a lower mold (36). The support pin (42) is provided on the axis of a mold gate provided in the lower mold (36) and can be moved up and down by a servomotor (48). The support pin (42) comes in contact with the bottom of the die pad (14) to support the semiconductor assembly (10), thereby preventing the semiconductor assembly (10) from tilting or moving up and down due to the flow of the resin injected into the cavity (38).

In aiming at cost lowering of an optical module and an optical transmission apparatus and with the objective of providing a semiconductor light receiving element that has a good coherence with the other edge emitting/incidence type optical devices and is capable of performing the positioning easily and with a high accuracy, in the edge emitting/incidence type light receiving element in which the light absorbing layer 19 has been formed, the space region is formed so as to provide at least 100 &mgr;m2 of the marker detecting region 24, thereby facilitating detection of marker 23 on the optical device 26 and executing the positioning of the light receiving element with a high accuracy, the space region resulting from eliminating a part of the light absorbing layer 19 that absorbs the detection light of the light receiving element, the transmission amount of the detection light toward the marker detecting region that is parallel to a primary plane being equal to 30% or higher, the detection light having penetrated and transmitted the primary plane of the light receiving element.

Exposure control for a solid-state imaging apparatus can be completed in a short time. First exposure information D1 and second exposure information D2 are prepared. The first exposure information D1 is for adjustment of an exposure time L for a CCD (1) through extension or reduction in the unit of one horizontal scanning period; the second exposure information D2 is for direct designation of an exposure time L. When the power is switched on, the second exposure information D2 is selected for supply to a timing control circuit (3). After a lapse of a predetermined time, the first exposure information D1 is then selected.

A main image and a background image are formed using colors each defined by a set of n-valued basic color gradation values each having any one of n possible values (n is an integer equal to or larger than 3) and defining a gradation value of a corresponding one of a predetermined set of basic colors. Different data items representative of candidates for the background image are stored as background image data candidates. Different sets of the basic gradation values corresponding respectively to the background image data candidates are stored as candidates for a main image gradation value set commonly applied to all valid pixels of the main image. One of the background image data candidates is arbitrarily set to a background image data item representative of the background image.

A glassware forming system that includes a plurality of electronic devices for performing operations on articles of glassware. These devices may comprise devices for controlling the glassware forming operation by controlling one or more operating mechanisms of a glassware forming system, or may comprise devices for inspecting articles of glassware for commercial variations that may affect commercial acceptability of the glassware and call for possible adjustment or repair of the glassware forming system. A network interconnects the devices for intercommunication among the devices, and includes a star network hub and conductors connecting the hub to the plurality of devices in a star network configuration for bidirectional communication among the devices through the hub. The star network hub includes a hub controller for controlling operation of the hub according to a CANbus communication protocol, circuitry for sensing initiation of communication from one of the devices, and circuitry for blocking transmission of such communication to the device from which the communication is initiated and enabling communication from the device through the star network hub to all other devices connected to the hub.

A semiconductor laser, including: an n-type cladding layer that has n-type conductivity; an active layer formed on top of the n-type cladding layer; a p-type cladding base layer that is formed on top of the active layer and has p-type conductivity; a current-blocking layer that is formed on specified parts of an upper surface of the p-type cladding base layer and substantially has n-type conductivity; and a p-type buried cladding layer that has p-type conductivity and is formed so as to cover the current-blocking layer and contact remaining parts of the upper surface of the p-type cladding base layer. The current-blocking layer has at least two regions having different concentrations (hereafter “N1” and “N2” where N1 Status Category:
Patent Expired Due to NonPayment of Maintenance Fees Under 37 CFR 1.362

Systems and methods for providing frequency compensation over a wide range of frequency drift are shown. The preferred embodiment utilizes a sweep mode function to provide frequency compensation over a range of frequency drift broader than the frequency drift accommodated by a phase lock loop, without increasing the noise characteristics of the phase lock loop. Accordingly, the preferred embodiment operates in a phase lock loop mode while frequency drift can be compensated for by the lock range of the phase lock loop circuitry. The preferred embodiment operates in sweep mode to step through a range of offset frequencies to position the phase lock loop mode where frequency drift can be compensated for by the lock range of phase lock loop circuitry. Additionally, a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a drift mode in order to monitor frequency offset information, such as may be used in performing sweep mode functions and/or other control or management functions.

A system for scaling resolution of an input stream includes an input for receiving the image input stream which passes the image input stream to a frame buffer. The frame buffer holds one or more image frames such that a router can decorrelate the image input stream. Decorrelation may be accomplished by spatially transforming the frames of the input image stream into frequency components, temporally transforming frames of the input image stream or through color component decomposition. The decorrelated components are each passed to a processor which performs quantization and entropy encoding of the components. Each of the compressed components are passed to memory for storage. Thus, real-time throughput can be increased above the rate of the individual processing elements through decorrelation.

It provides the system which analyzes a language correctly. It divides a given sentence into the token and it fixes a part of speech. As for the token which can not be fixed as one part of speech, it decides by the part of speech of back and forth the token. As for the predicate, it analyzes an attribute using suffix and so on. Next, it corresponds in the role and the part of speech. Then, it does the analysis of the local structure and the decision of the role. After that, it analyzes the whole structure by the extraction of the subordinate sentence and the sentence pattern analysis and so on. By the analysis of the whole structure, it corrects if it is necessary to correct local structure.

A file manager (and method) provided for locating a file identified by a path referring to a logical unit and an identifier, includes a table associating the file with a priority list of physical units. The file manager can be incorporated into the controller of peripheral devices in a computer system or an operating system of the computer system.

Systems and methods for collaborative web caching among geographically distributed cache servers, particularly, latency-sensitive hashing systems and methods for collaborative web caching among geographically distributed proxy caches. Network latency delays as well as proxy load conditions are taking into consideration during hashing. As a result, requests can be hashed into geographically closer proxy caches if the load conditions permit. Otherwise, requests will be hashed into geographically distant proxy caches to better balance the load among the caches.

To provide a method whereby unauthorized data access by an RFID data processing system is prohibited without any degradation of performance being incurred. An RFID data processing system 30 comprises a CPU 35, a EEPROM 34, communication devices 31 and 32, and power controllers 40 and 41. When an RFID data processing system 30 in the power-ON state that does not have access authorization passes through a portal gate located at the entrance to an unauthorized data access protection area, the portal gate transmits a signal to set ON a tamper bit 44 in the EEPROM 34. When the tamper bit 44 has been set ON, a tamper bit interrupt request signal is output by the EEPROM 34. Upon receiving this signal, the power controllers 40 and 41 power off the RFID data processing system 30.

A testing tool for Internet Service Provider (ISP) network engineers which is used to diagnose network faults, characterize network performance and evaluate new equipment and software releases. The tool can be used to schedule and run proactive tests to identify network problems before subscribers are affected. Further, the tool can be used to provide testing on demand to quickly isolate the root cause of a problem identified by the tool or by network management systems or subscribers. The tool is topology independent and thus does not have to be reconfigured as the network changes. The tool only sends traffic as directed by the network engineer and thus does not generate undesirable heavy network traffic loads, unless such a heavy network loads are desired by the network engineer.

A reader-writer lock minimizes writer and reader overhead by employing lock structures that are shared among groups of processors that have lower latencies. In the illustrated multiprocessor system having a non-uniform memory access (NUMA) architecture, each processor node has a lock structure comprised of a shared counter and associated flag for each CPU group. During a read, the counter can be changed only by processors within a CPU group performing a read. This reduces the reader overhead that otherwise would exist if all processors in the system shared a single counter. During a write, the shared flag can be changed by a process running on any processor in the system. The processors in a CPU group are notified of the write through the shared flag. This reduces the writer overhead that otherwise would exist if each processor in the system had a separate flag. The number of CPUs per group can be varied to optimize performance of the lock in different multiprocessor systems.

A clustered computer system includes multiple computer systems (or nodes) on a network that can become members of a group to work on a particular task. Each node includes a main thread and one or more work threads. The main thread receives messages from other computer systems in the group, and routes messages intended for the work thread to a response queue and a work queue in the work thread, depending on the type of the message. If the message is a response to a currently-executing task, the message is placed in the response queue in the work thread. If the message is a new non-priority task that needs to be processed, the message is routed to the work queue in the work thread. If the message is a priority message, the message is written to both the work queue and the response queue in the work thread. A priority message processing mechanism uses a priority queue defined in the work thread to assure that the priority message is processed the next time the work thread is ready to process a new task, even if the priority message was received after other tasks have been sent to the work queue.

Apparatus for manufacturing multi-layer metal feedstock material for stamping shaped parts eliminates the need for rolls of metal at the stamping site. Multilayer metal feedstock material is assembled from multiple rolls of metal stock, then folded in a zig zag fashion, or “Z-fold” configuration, whereby the multilayer metal assembly is stacked vertically, usually on conventional pallets, for ease of moving with a forklift or otherwise. The multilayer metal z-fold stack of material is then transported to a parts stamping operation where the material is used as it unfolds as a continuous feed to machines to produce shaped multilayer metal parts. This invention is most useful in making multilayer metal foil z-fold feedstock material and using the z-fold material as continuous feed to processes for making shaped multilayer metal foil parts. The layers may have non-metal layers of material, such as fiber, between the metal layers or on the outside of the metal layers. At the location of making the shaped parts from the feedstock material, the layers of the z-fold feedstock material may be separated and one or more of the layers treated, textured, embossed, etc., then reassembled into the stack which is fed to the stamping operation, all on a continuous basis. This enables the z-fold feedstock material to be made from smooth metal layers, which increases the density of the material and reduces the volume space required for storage of the z-fold material.

The invention relates to a toy comprising a surface along which an article is moved, in one embodiment, by the use of magnetic attraction between a movable magnet or magnetic material under the surface, and the article. The invention relates to the provision on the article of a movable portion, such as, a leg or a wheel the movement of which is driven by the movement of the article along the surface. The movable portions can be utilized to add to the realism and/or control of the article as it moves along the surface and/or can be used to move a component or portion of the article as the same moves along the surface, or, by the use of stored energy device the component can be moved when the article has stopped moving along the surface and the movement of the component adds to the appeal of the article.

An oil from water separator has an oil disengagement chamber adapted to receive an oil and water mixture and retain it for a sufficient time in a relatively undisturbed state so that oil in the mixture floats to the top of the mixture. This results in a substantially oil free volume of water having a layer of oil derived from said oil and water mixture floating on the surface of the mixture. The oil disengagement chamber is partially separated from an effluent water chamber by an under flow baffle which ducts said substantially oil free volume of water to the effluent water chamber. The oil disengagement chamber has a low liquid level which is higher than the under flow baffle. The outflow of the substantially oil free volume of water from the effluent water chamber is limited to a rate of outflow which is a function of the head of the liquid in the effluent water chamber. The outflow is limited by a siphon which primes at a chamber high liquid level and loses prime at said chamber low liquid level, or by holes in a weir wall.

An automated chemical synthesizer including a plurality of reaction vessels and an execution time calculator. Synthetic reactions are to be carried out in the plurality of reaction vessels according to a synthesizing process. The execution time calculator is configured to calculate presumed execution time to carry out a predetermined scope of the synthesizing process before the predetermined scope of the synthesizing process is actually carried out.

An ink jet recording medium, capable of recording thereon ink images having excellent clarity and sharpness without blotting of ink images, includes an ink receiving layer formed on a support material and containing xerogel porous pigment particle, and has a such a specific feature that when a plurality of ink dots are formed each by successively jetting three coloring ink droplets different in color from each other and equal in droplet volume to each other toward a point of the ink receiving layer, to successively superpose the jetted three coloring ink droplets and to form a mixed colored dot in the point, the average size of the resultant dots is 125% or less based on an average dot size of ink dots each formed from two different coloring ink droplets.

The present invention discloses compounds of formula (I) any of its enantiomers or any mixture thereof, isotopes thereof or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein n is 1, 2 or 3; m is 0, 1 or 2; R represents hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl or aralkyl; and R1 represents aminophenyl; nitrophenyl; hydroxyphenyl, alkoxyphenyl; a monocyclic 5 to 6 membered heterocyclic group which may be substituted one or more times with substituents or R1 represents a bicyclic heterocyclic group, composed of 5 to 6 membered monocyclic heterocyclic group fused to a benzene ring, and which may be substituted one or more times with substituents. The compounds of the invention are useful as nicotinic ACh receptor ligands.

An end plate (1, 11) for a stator (31) wound with a cable in a rotating electric machine, the plate (1, 11) being provided with axially running winding slots (2) corresponding to the stator (31) and axially running apertures (19, 21, 22, 26) for cooling tubes corresponding to the stator (31), and that the plate (1, 11) is provided with at least one bending member (20, 23, 27) pre-shaped in the plate (1, 11) for cooling tubes (33) insertable into the cooling-tube apertures (19, 21, 22, 26) and also a procedure for supporting and protecting a cooling tube in a first axially running aperture at its exit from a stator in a rotating electric machine, whereby an end plate provided with bending members is applied at the end of the stator, the cooling tube being bent around the bending member before continuing, either by being fitted in a second axially running aperture in the stator or for extension out of the stator.

A composite component including a helical strip and a plurality of terminals both made of a same conductor material, the helical strip formed in close contact with an external periphery of at least one capacitor constructed of at least one insulation layer and at least two electrode layers, wherein the helical axis of the helical conductor strip is parallel with the electrode layers composing the capacitor.

The invention provides a procedure that is applicable to various halftoning methods, which minimizes image distortion introduced by the halftoning process. The procedure involves maintaining specific relationships between the halftone pattern and the phase and resolution of the input image. Specifically, that the halftone pattern is designed such that it does not bias tone reproduction with respect to the location of the input image pixels—each input pixel should be given equal weight when filtered by the halftoning process. This suggests a 1 to 1 relationship between each pixel of the input image and the corresponding tone output produced by the halftoning process. The procedure results in improved print quality, manifested by avoidance of certain types of moiré which are commonly associated with halftoning, as well as improved reproduction of edges and image details.

An object of the invention is to provide an information communication apparatus that allows communication management information to be readily printed out at desired time while also achieving reductions in standby power consumption. A transmitting/receiving apparatus as the information communication apparatus includes: an operation display section; a G4/G3 communication control section; a modem; a network controller; a system memory for storing communication management information for managing a communication history, such as the start time of the communication, the number of pages communicated, and communication errors, and also storing printout time information preset to print out the communication management information; a printing section for printing out received image information and the communication management information; and a clock circuit for detecting time information concerning a time at which image information was transmitted or received and a time at which the communication management information was printed out. When a transmission/reception control section within the transmitting/receiving apparatus detects that an operation has been performed at the operation display section, the operation time detected is compared with printout time information, and if the operation time detected is later than the time corresponding to the printout time information, the communication management information is printed out via the printing section.

A method for controlling a network node and a network having several nodes and terminals. The network node has a plurality of interfaces. One incoming data stream is forwarded from the network node to one of a further network node and a terminal, the network node maintains and stores a connection data stock with connection-related information used to control existing connections to other network nodes, and the connection data stock indicates a data stream designator for an interface and a data stream that is incoming or outgoing at the interface and a data stream direction. Another method uses one terminal as a data source and one as a datasink, each network node forwarding one incoming data stream to one of another network node and a terminal and maintaining a connection data stock with information used to control existing connections to other network nodes, including a data stream designator and a network node interface. Management of existing connections to other network nodes is carried out irrespective of data sink or subscriber-related information. Each network node in a telecommunications network having several network nodes is controlled according to this method. A network node is also provided to implement the method. The invention can be used to easily distribute streams, especially in mass applications.

An improved modem architecture and associated method are disclosed that integrate modem functionality and line-side isolation functionality while also providing a modem interface that allows raw data, such as raw pulse-code-modulated (PCM) data, or modem data to be selectively communicated through a serial interface.

The present invention concerns an exchange control method, wherein an old host exchange accommodating a remote switch unit or subscribers is adapted to be accommodated in a new host exchange, and its object is to allow call processing control to be performed by the new host exchange while making effective use of the resources of the old host exchange including the remote switch unit. The new host exchange and the old host exchange are connected in an interoffice configuration by a signaling link, and each exchange includes an emulation processor; the old host exchange and the new host exchange perform message editing and exchange between the respective emulation processors, and exchange control is performed in such a manner that when there occurs data or a request for basic control that is normally processed at the old host exchange, the data or request is transferred to the new host exchange, and the new host exchange processes the data or request and sends a notification to the old host exchange.

Methods and apparatus are provided for determining a characteristic of a sample of a material by the interaction of electromagnetic radiation with the sample. The apparatus includes an optical assembly and a protective barrier. The optical assembly sequentially illuminates a plurality of volume elements in the sample with an intensity distribution in the sample that drops off substantially monotonically from a first region in a first optical path and collects electromagnetic radiation emanating from each of the volume elements. The optical assembly collects the electromagnetic radiation emanating from each of the volume elements with a collected distribution that drops off substantially monotonically from a second region in a second optical path. The first and second regions at least partially overlap in each of the volume elements. The optical assembly can be configured as a probe, to be directed to the evaluation of a sample of a biological material. A protective barrier can be disposed between the optical assembly and a body tissue, to prevent contamination of the optical assembly by said body tissue.

A method of generating an issue pointer for issuing data structures from a queue, comprising generating a signal that indicates where one or more of the data structures within the queue that desire to issue are located within the queue. Then, checking the signal at a queue location pointed to by an issue pointer. Then, incrementing the position of the issue pointer if a data structure has not shifted into the queue location since the previous issue and if the issue pointer is pointing to the location having issued on the previous queue issue or holding the issue pointer position if a data structure has shifted into the location since the previous issue and if the issue pointer is pointing to the location having issued on the previous queue issue.

A computerized method for automatically transforming the process model of a workflow-management-system into trigger-specifications executable within a trigger system. The process model comprises at least one source activity S, a target activity T and a control connector defining a potential control flow from said source activity to said target activity associated with a transition condition P. The source activity S is transformed into a trigger event. The trigger-event, if raised at run-time, indicates to said trigger system that an instance of said source activity has been terminated. The control connector is transformed into a trigger condition, causing said trigger system at run-time, once said trigger event has been raised, to evaluate the truth value of said transition condition. Furthermore said target activity is transformed into a trigger action causing said trigger system at run-time, in case said trigger condition evaluates to TRUE, to start an instance of said target activity.

The present invention provides an improved method and system for unobtrusively achieving secure cross-platform access in a heterogeneous network environment. In a system aspect, the system includes a plurality of heterogeneous computer systems, at least two of the computer systems including a system specified user identification; and an enterprise directory service, the enterprise directory service being shared by the plurality of computer systems to provide for the formation of an enterprise group, the enterprise directory service including at least one enterprise user which is associated with system specified user identification from the at least two of the computer systems. The system in the network in accordance with the present invention may perform cooperative programming with other systems in the same enterprise group. Systems within the same enterprise group are allowed to define enterprise users between them. Enterprise groups establish boundaries of who can and cannot share enterprise user definitions. They also establish administrative groups of systems. They establish where trusted directory servers must, can, and cannot reside. They also establish which enterprise directory service adapter can interact, i.e., scope of impersonation. By allowing for the grouping of systems, access to systems in the network may be more readily controlled. Unnecessary or undesirable access may be minimized.

A hinge is disclosed between the side piece (2) and the endpiece (1) of the frame of a pair of glasses. The side piece and the endpiece are parts (1, 2) made of wire, of which one bears a hinge body (6) which serves as a hinge axis with a coaxial, peripheral groove (7) for receiving a bearing eye which consists of the bent end (3) of the wire of which the other part (1) is made. The bearing eye forms a peripherally open eyelet (8) which can elastically engage the peripheral groove (7). In order to achieve advantageous manufacturing conditions, the wire of which the part (2) that bears the hinge body (6) is made has a bent, hairpin-shaped end piece (3) which form-fittingly holds between its branches (4, 5) the hinge body (6) on both sides of the peripheral groove (7). The crosspiece (10) located between the two branches (4, 5) of the end piece (3) covers the outer side of the eyelet (8), which forms the bearing eye of the other part (1).

A self-tuning impact damper is disclosed that absorbs and dissipates vibration energy in the blades of rotors in compressors and/or turbines thereby dramatically extending their service life and operational readiness. The self-tuning impact damper uses the rotor speed to tune the resonant frequency of a rattling mass to an engine order excitation frequency. The rattling mass dissipates energy through collisions between the rattling mass and the walls of a cavity of the self-tuning impact damper, as well as through friction between the rattling mass and the base of the cavity. In one embodiment, the self-tuning impact damper has a ball-in-trough configuration with tire ball serving as the rattling mass.

The present invention relates to a polypeptide multimer comprising a first polypeptide having associated therewith a label and a second polypeptide, wherein a) at least one of the polypeptides is susceptible to protease digestion; b) association of the polypeptides to form a multimer is detectable via a signal emitted by the label; and c) digestion of at least one polypeptide results in dissociation of the multimer and modulation of the signal emitted by the label, and The method of detecting or monitoring the activity of a protease enzyme based on such a multimer.

The present invention relates to synthetic DNA sequences which encode one or more collections of homologous proteins/(poly)peptides, and methods for generating and applying libraries of these DNA sequences. In particular, the invention relates to the preparation of a library of human-derived antibody genes by the use of synthetic consensus sequences which cover the structural repertoire of antibodies encoded in the human genome. Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of a single consensus antibody gene as a universal framework for highly diverse antibody libraries.

A method of programming a controller for a movable barrier operator includes enabling and disabling an input device within a predetermined period of time, a predetermined number of times. This sequence of short activations of an input device, such as a switch on a wall unit, puts the controller in a learn mode or a programmed state. Thereafter, the controller is responsive to learn any of the various routines that can be programmed for the movable barrier operator, such as transmitter code, limits of travel, force settings, and so on.

Disclosed is a clock period sensing circuit in which it is possible to broaden the operating range of phase adjustment and frequency multiplier circuits, etc., by performing coarse period adjustment in advance. A plurality of delay sensing circuits having slightly overlapping operating ranges and different centers of operation are connected in parallel with respect to a an input clock signal, which is passed through the delay sensing circuits. The period of the clock is sensed coarsely in short periods using a signal which identifies delay sensing circuits through which the clock signal has passed and delay sensing circuits through which the clock signal has not passed.

A projection optical system for projecting a pattern of a first object onto a second object, wherein the projection optical system is provided with a birefringence correcting system for correcting birefringence of an optical element of the projection optical system.

The method of the invention converts colors resident in a first device color space to gray levels for reproduction by a single color marking media in a color or monochrome rendering device. The method converts a set of red, green and blue (RGB) primary color values received from a processor to gray level values. The method applies a gamma correction function to the RGB primary color values and further scales the values to a range of from 0 to 1. The method then converts the gamma-corrected and scaled RGB primary color values to a Y luminance value (in the XYZ tristimulus color space) through use of the expression:Y=YR(R)+(YG−kG)(G)+(YB+kB)(B)where: YR, YG, and YB are coefficients that provide a luminance value in the XYZ color space in accordance with accepted observer standards; kG is a correction value that renders the green component darker; and kB is a correction value that renders lighter the blue component. The resulting luminance value is then converted to a device gray value and stored in a table for later use.

A server 3b for controlling a gateway 2 connecting a transport layer and an IP network has the function of accessing a service control point (SCP) 4 via a service control gateway 1a. A server 3 for controlling terminals on the IP network stores information of correspondence between telephone number of a terminal and the IP address. When a signal including number information which requires an access to the SCP is received from a terminal 11 managed by the server 3a, an interrogation request is multicasted to the other servers each having the function of accessing the SCP. A server which has sent a response signal accesses the SCP via the service control gateway to provide an IN service process.

Systems and methods are described for digital subscriber loop repeaters. A method of transforming a digital subscriber loop signals includes increasing a gain with a digital subscriber loop repeater including: isolating an upstream signal band by passing an upstream signal through an upstream pass filter; amplifying the isolated upstream signal with an upstream amplifier; isolating a downstream signal band by passing a downstream signal through a downstream pass filter; and amplifying the isolated downstream signal with a downstream amplifier. The systems and methods provide advantages because DSL can be provided over long loops and/or over coil loaded loops.

A signal processing circuit for a digital signal receiving system includes an equalization unit for performing waveform-equalization of a received signal, the equalization unit including a backward equalizer constituted by a feedback loop; and a phase compensation unit for performing phase compensation of the received signal. The phase compensation unit is arranged upstream of the backward equalizer. Thus, it is possible to avoid the deterioration of the phase compensation ability of the phase compensation unit by the affection from the echo in the transmission path.

Methods and devices for adaptively changing a parameter (such as sub-carrier bit allocation and/or gain) in a multi-carrier communication signal are described. In a method aspect, a unit that determines a need for a change sends an express change request to a second unit. The change request identifies one or more specific sub-carrier carrier to be altered and a desired value for the parameter to be changed for each identified sub-carrier. The requesting unit then monitors the communication signal it receives to determine whether the requested change has been implemented. The determination of whether the requested change has been implemented is based at least in part upon an analysis of a portion of the received communication signal that was intended to be changed. In another aspect of the invention, the change request command includes a header, a control field, at least one sub-carrier identifier, at least one desired parameter value indicator, and an error field. The header identifies the command as a change request command. The control field includes a tone count that indicates the number of tones to be altered. Each sub-carrier identifier identifies a specific sub-carrier to be altered and each desired parameter value indicator identifies a desired parameter value for its associated sub-carrier. The error field permits the unit receiving the change request to detect whether there is an error in its interpretation of the change request command.

A computer system for automatically generating and sending messages to individuals, entities, processes, or locations (objects) in response to events when specified conditions are met. The automated messaging system is capable of delivering generated messages via a plurality of message delivery mechanisms (e.g. e-mail, FAX, voice mail, textual page). The automated messaging system provides the ability to link objects in chains of relationships and to use these chains to determine which messages to generate, which objects are the recipient of generated messages, and via which message delivery mechanism generated messages are sent. The automated messaging system is useful in a variety of environments including asset management, electronic-commerce, and Internet-based securities trading, as well as other applications.

Supplied with only a telephone number, a device is capable of locating and then forwarding the name and/or address associated with the telephone number. The name or address is forwarded to a near-end device, such as a telephone, using an existing caller identity delivery (“CID”) data link.

The measurement of multiple membrane affinities of test compounds, methods and compositions useful for acquiring data characteristic of such affinities, and a method and system for using such data alone or in combination with other molecular descriptors for the prediction of biological activity are described. The numerical values characteristic of biologically relevant interaction of test compounds with membrane mimetic surfaces are compared with corresponding values of one or more control compounds having a known biological activity. Probable biological activity of a test compound is identified with those control compounds whose multiple membrane interaction values most closely correlate to those of the test compound.

A computer- and software-based apparatus and method is disclosed for managing and presenting information as a domain of data objects which can be grouped according to their category or “object type,” and which can be associated with other data objects, of same or differing object types, according to a myriad of relationship types. The system and method present the network of objects using a computer-generated graphical user interface (GUI) which may comprise a series of tables or trees or other means for representing a set. The invention provides for display of a primary object set comprising a plurality of primary data objects sharing a common object type. On the same or a related GUI display, a plurality of other object sets, known as “secondary object sets,” are displayed in order to present data objects related to the data objects of the primary object set. When a data object in the primary set is selected (by cursor or similar means), each of the secondary object sets will display data object related to the selected data item in the primary set. This “relationship traversal” allows the user to explore the network and ascertain relationships between data objects. The system and method also provide various additional functions to explore and analyze the data, including sorting, attribute filtering, context filtering and view pivoting. Relationship traversal and the additional functions allow the user to view structure and detail at the same time, and to engage in “data mining” to appreciate previously unappreciated relationships between discrete data objects.

A method and system for downloading encrypted double-byte font scripts to a print server. A communication element is interposed between a data processing system and a print server, where the print server does not support a bi-directional communication protocol utilized by the data processing system to download encrypted double-byte font scripts. The communication element supports data transmissions in both the bi-directional communication protocol and with the print server. To download a double-byte font script, the data processing system transmits a request to the print server through the communication element for an identifier from the print server. The print server transmits the identifier to the data processing system through the communication element. A decryption key for the double-byte font script is produced by the data processing system utilizing the identifier and downloaded with the encrypted double-byte font script to the print server through the communication element.

Apparatus and an accompanying method, for forming and embedding a highly tamper-resistant cryptographic identifier, i.e., a watermark, within non-marked executable code, e.g., an application program, to generate a “watermarked” version of that code. Specifically, the watermark, containing, e.g., a relatively large number of separate executable routines, is tightly integrated into a flow pattern of non-marked executable code, e.g., an application program, through randomly establishing additional control flows in the executable code and inserting a selected one of the routines along each such flow. Since the flow pattern of the watermark is highly intertwined with the flow pattern of the non-marked code, the watermark is effectively impossible to either remove from the code and/or circumvent. The routines are added in such a manner that the flow pattern of resulting watermarked code is not substantially different from that of the non-marked code, thus frustrating third party detection of the watermark using, e.g., standard flow analysis tools. To enhance tamper-resistance of the watermarked code, each such routine can provide a pre-defined function such that if that routine were to be removed from the marked code by, e.g., a third party adversary, then the marked code will prematurely terminate its execution.

A editing apparatus and an editing method that allow a source group name, a destination group name, the total number of files of each of the source group and the destination group, and the file insertion position of the destination group to be represented with an integrated icon in the case that a file categorized as a group and recorded in one of at least one record medium is moved to another group.

The present invention is for a mulch device for soil stabilization and grass and wildflower seed enhancement comprising pelletized straw mulch having high bulk density, straw fibers, and fertilizing qualities. The pelletized straw mulch is spread onto a surface to reduce soil erosion, to promote seed establishment, to promote water infiltration and retention, to promote soil stabilization and to enhance soil fertilization. Also disclosed is a novel method of using straw for soil stabilization and grass and wildflower seed enhancement.

The subject invention pertains to unique and advantageous systems for gasifying and/or liquefying biomass. The systems of the subject invention utilize a unique design whereby heat from a combustion chamber is used to directly gasify or liquefy biomass. In a preferred embodiment, the biomass is moved through a reactor tube in which all the gasification and/or liquefaction takes place. Preferably, char exits the biomass reactor tube and enters the combustion chamber where the char serves as fuel for combustion. The combustion chamber partially surrounds the reactor tube and is in direct thermal contact with the reactor tube such that heat from the combustion chamber passes through the reactor wall and directly heats the biomass within the reactor tube.

Method of treating autoimmune conditions are disclosed comprising administering to a mammalian subject IL-12 or an IL-12 antagonist. In certain preferred embodiments the autoimmune condition is one which is promoted by an increase in levels of IFN-&ggr; or TNF-&agr;. Suitable conditions for treatment include multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune pulmonary inflammation, Guillain-Barre syndrome, autoimmune thyroiditis, insulin dependent diabetes melitis and autoimmune inflammatory eye disease.

The present invention features methods for purifying polypeptides of interest using a modified Fluorescein arsenical helix binder (FlAsH) compound immobilized on a solid support. An exemplary FlAsH target sequence motif is also presented. Examples of modification of the FlAsH compound which allow immobilization to a solid support are also provided. The present invention also provides DNA constructs for producing a dual affinity tagged polypeptide and methods for purification thereof.

An electron emitting device comprising: a pair of conductors opposed to each other on a substrate; and a pair of deposition films having carbon as a main component which are respectively connected to the pair of conductors and disposed with a gap therebetween. The deposition film contains sulfur in a range of not less than 1 mol % and not more than 5 mol % as a ratio to carbon.

A method for driving a display panel which enables changing of the refresh rate, without degrading display quality, of a display panel employing the matrix display scheme for carrying out gray-scale drive by using the sub-field method. By the method, the number of sub-fields to be executed within a unit display period is changed in response to the vertical synchronization frequency of an input video signal.

A time sequentially scanned display comprises a matrix 20 of picture elements 21. Each of the picture elements comprises a display element 9, for instance of liquid crystal type. An addressable latch 3 has a plurality of storage locations which may be selectively updated in response to an address supplied to an address input. A multiplexer 7 supplies image data from any one of the storage locations at a time to the display element 9. The multiplexer has an address input for selecting which of the storage locations of the latch 3 supplies image data to the display element 9. In some of the embodiments, the address inputs are connected together and addressed by the outputs of a single counter 11 whereas, in other embodiments, the address inputs of the latch 3 and the multiplexer 7 are addressed independently, for instance by two counters 11a and 11b. Such an arrangement permits various types of asynchronous operation between addressing and displaying data.

An inexpensive and simple circuit for improving an image quality of a dynamic image, with appropriate processing flexibly performed for dynamic image qualities also for a plurality of input signal sources. An image processing device comprises a memory unit having a memory region for storing images of at least one screens, a memory control unit for performing an input system operation to write image data to the memory unit on the basis of a first clock and a first image synchronizing signal and for performing an output system operation to output image data read out from the memory unit on the basis of a second clock and a second image synchronizing signal, a clock generating unit for generating the second clock, and a synchronizing control unit for inputting the second clock and for outputting the second image synchronizing signal, wherein the synchronizing control unit generates a third image synchronizing signal asynchronous to the first image synchronizing signal by dividing the second clock and a fourth image synchronizing signal with being synchronized to the first image synchronizing signal by using the second clock and selects one of the third image synchronizing signal and the fourth image synchronizing signal to output it as the second image synchronizing signal. There can be a plurality of the input image signals; if so, the synchronizing control unit generates the fourth image synchronizing signals by the number corresponding to the number of input image signals.

An optical scanner system wherein the central region of the light source is selectively covered up by a mechanically actuated shutter during a transparency scanning mode. By occluding the central portion of the light source, problems with flare and degraded image quality are eliminated. The shutter is actuated to its two positions (normal reflective mode position, transparency mode position) by pins, protrusions, or the scanner walls in the scan module path. When the scan module is driven to the extremes of its travel the shutter is either driven open or closed. A bracket structure is provided to hold the transparent media and a covering light reflective tent, and can include the pin or pins that can protrude into the scanner module path and thus actuate the shutter only when the structure is mounted on to the scanner by the user. The bracket structure can include a lower member that rests directly on the platen glass to align filmstrips, slides, and other transparent media. The tent structure is hinged relative to the lower structure which allows it to be opened and closed to enable insertion of transparent media. When the tent structure is closed it acts as the reflective light path to allow light from the primary light source to be reflected up, over, and down through the transparent media, and into the optical light path leading to the optical sensor.

Apparatus, and an associated method, by which to predistort a send signal prior to its application to a power amplifier. Predistortion compensates for distortion introduced upon the signal during its amplification by the power amplifier. Compensation is effectuated by altering a phase component of symbols of which the signal is formed without affecting the magnitude components thereof.

To generate a noise signal corresponding to an “antinoise environmental test” of CDMA, a noise generator 1 has a noise source A 2, an amplifier A 4, and a filter A 6 for generating an I signal for quadrature modulation and a noise source B 3, an amplifier B 5, and a filter B 7 for generating a Q signal for quadrature modulation and performs quadrature modulation for the I and Q signals generated by the circuits by a quadrature modulator 8 in accordance with a local signal supplied from a local signal source 9, then outputs a noise signal.

A method and system for generating random numbers is disclosed wherein an array of imaging sensors while not in normal use, captures ambient light and back scattered light. These light sources vary naturally over a range of intensities. Intensity values above and below a threshold value are decoded as “1” and “0” bits, respectively. The resulting values, based on noise within the array signal, are single bit values or n bit values. A preferred imaging sensor array is a charge coupled device. Other imaging sensor arrays such as capacitive fingerprint imagers may also be used for this purpose when sufficient noise exists within the imaging sensor array signal.

In image-capture inspection of electronic displays, the object of the present invention is to reduce moire generation, improve inspection precision by making pixel defects easier to discover, and allowing quantitative evaluation of these pixel defects.The relative positioning of the electronic display and an imaging element is changed by very small amounts of 1/n of the pixel pitch. The n images are arranged by pixel and the images are combined by taking the moving average of the image data values to reduce the image-capture moires generated during the image capture operations. The composite image is used to inspect pixel defects in the electronic display.

A microwave isolator including a driving circuit and a receiving circuit, wherein the driving circuit receives an input signal from a first isolated circuit and generates a corresponding radio frequency (RF) signal and the receiving circuit detects and decodes the corresponding RF signal and provides a corresponding output signal to a second isolated circuit. The driving circuit contains an oscillator for generating the corresponding RF signal based on the input signal from the first isolated circuit, a transmitting antenna for transmitting the corresponding RF signal, and a microwave switch interposed between the oscillation means and the transmitting antenna for switching the RF signal to the antenna. The receiving circuit contains a receiving antenna to receive the corresponding RF signal and means for detecting and decoding the received corresponding RF signal and providing the corresponding output signal to the second isolated circuit.

A device for monitoring safety-relevant processes in actuating/drive elements in machines having at least one operation control for safety-relevant and other than safety-relevant processes, at least one safety monitoring control, at least one safety input/output device and a redundantly constructed input/output system for safety-relevant processes, includes at least one field bus system connecting the operation control, the at least one safety input/output device and the at least one safety monitoring control to one another, at least one of the safety input/output device and the safety monitoring control being disposed in a distributed manner on an actuating/drive element for, respectively, initiating and performing a safety-relevant process; and a method of operating the device.

A simulator of intelligent workstations at level 2 the OSI model for generating complete LAN frames for testing a system under test. The simulator includes a scripting facility that represents the actions of the human end-user at the client workstation. By providing a scripting facility, different complexions of a workload can be impressed upon the system under test without the need for human end-users nor the need for rebuilding the simulation tool. The simulator includes embedded protocol stacks allowing manipulation of the simulated LAN frames. The simulator also includes one or more embedded protocol application modules for emulating actions of an application, e.g., web browser, and enabling the handling of dynamic, application-related events. In the present invention, one or more application programming interfaces (APIs) are provided between the simulation tool and the PAM and between the PAM and the protocol stack to allow multiple applications to be concurrently simulated and to provide extensibility of the simulation tool by providing the ability to support new applications and protocol stacks.

The invention is directed to techniques for moving data elements within a data communications device which prioritizes handling transmit interrupts over handling receive interrupts. Preferably, while attending to transmit interrupts, the device gives priority to the “hungriest” interfaces. In one arrangement, the device includes multiple network interfaces which are capable of transmitting and receiving data elements with a network, and a controller, coupled to the interfaces. The controller is configured to perform a method comprising the steps of: assigning weights to the interfaces based on interface transmission capacities and/or the number of data elements ready for transmission through the interfaces; determining which of the interfaces indicates readiness to transmit a data element to the network and which of the interfaces indicates receipt of a data element from the network; exclusively running, for each interface indicating readiness to transmit a data element to the network, a transmit interrupt handler to load that interface with a data element for transmission if such a data element is available for transmission within the data communications device (the handling order of the interfaces being determined by the weights so that the “hungriest” interfaces are handled first); and after the step of exclusively running transmit interrupt handlers, running, for at least one interface which indicates receipt of a data element from the network, a receive interrupt handler to process that data element and restricting the amount of time consumed running the receive interrupt handlers before handling transmit interrupts again. Since the device prioritizes handling transmit interrupts over receive interrupts in a weighted preferential manner, the device handles transmit interrupts as early as possible to move data elements quickly to the interfaces. Accordingly, it is less likely that interfaces will “starve” for data elements.

A method for recording and replaying execution of distributed programs on a computer system in a distributed environment, includes identifying an execution order of critical events of a program, generating groups of critical events of the program, wherein for each group, critical events belonging to the group belong to a common execution thread, and generating for each execution thread a logical thread schedule that identifies a sequence of the groups so as to allow deterministically replaying a non-deterministic arrival of stream socket connection requests, a non-deterministic number of bytes received during message reads, and a non-deterministic binding of stream sockets to local ports.

This invention pertains to the area of orthodontic apparatuses, particularly those that have been precisely adapted to the specific morphology of each patient.The invention proposes a preform dissimilar to a plate; the form of which allows it to expand within a mold that reproduces a patient's morphology; it may be mass produced and easily adapted by the practitioner or prosthesis maker to each patient's morphology as well as orthodontic or dento-facial orthopedic apparatuses obtained from this preform and their manufacture process.Such apparatuses are, for example, Bonnet's N.L.E. (Nighttime Lingual Envelopes—Enveloppe Linguale Nocturne) or any apparatus presenting a general hollow body form, possibly with one or more openings, varying thickness, and which, because of this specific geometry, cannot be produced from a model in the form of a flat plate.

A method for increasing the adhesion of a first layer comprising a fluoropolymer substantially free of interpolymerized units derived from vinylidene fluoride to a second layer comprising a curable elastomer is described. The method comprises adding a dehydrofluorinating composition to the curable elastomer, contacting the layers and curing the layered article so formed. The resulting multilayer compositions and articles are also disclosed.

The present disclosure pertains to our discovery of a method of etching a shaped cavity in a substrate, where the shaped cavity has a width that is at least as great as its depth. We have discovered that by varying the process chamber pressure during etching of the shaped cavity, we can control lateral etching of the shaped cavity, while allowing the removal of etch process byproducts from the shaped cavity during continued etching. The method of the invention can be used to etch shaped cavities having round or horizontal elliptical shapes. The method of the invention is particularly useful in the etching of buried cavities, where removal of etch byproducts from the cavity can be difficult.

An adhesive for semiconductor parts, comprising, as a base polymer, at least one cyclic structure-containing thermoplastic polymer selected from the group consisting of (a) a cycloolefin polymer and (b) an aromatic-condensed polymer having a repeating unit of an aromatic ring in its main chain, and having a number average molecular weight of 1,000 to 500,000, an adhesive sheet formed of the adhesive, a semiconductor part package making use of the adhesive, and a production process of the package.

An isolated DNA encoding the enzyme I-SceI is provided. The DNA sequence can be incorporated in cloning and expression vectors, transformed cell lines and transgenic animals. The vectors are useful in gene mapping and site-directed insertion of genes.

A DNA sequence encoding a glucocorticoid-induced leucine-zipper family related protein (GILR), isoforms, fragments or analogs thereof said GILR, isoforms, fragments or analogs thereof capable of inhibiting apoptosis and stimulating lymphocyte activity, GILR proteins, isoforms, analogs, fragments and derivatives thereof encoded by the aforesaid DNA sequence, their preparation and uses.

In a semiconductor device in which first and second transistors are configured so as to have the same electric characteristics as each other, a dummy gate is arranged between the first and second transistors in parallel to gates of the first and second transistors, and arrangement of source and drain regions formed on both sides of the gate of the first transistor, and arrangement of source and drain regions formed on both sides of the gate of the second transistor are the same as each other.

A method and apparatus are provided for determining a source of a leakage signal from a distribution cable of a cable television distribution system. The method includes the steps of sampling the leakage signal from the distribution cable of the cable television distribution system at each of a plurality of geographic locations within an environs of the cable, forming a leakage signal profile relating each sample with a respective location of the plurality of geographic locations; and determining a source location of the leakage signal based upon the formed profile.

A magnetoelectric device responsive to an applied magnetic field, e.g. for use as a reading head for data stored in magnetic storage media, comprises first and second ferromagnetic regions (3, 4) with a channel region (5) between them, the ferromagnetic regions being configured so that charge carriers with a particular spin polarization which can pass through the first region, pass through the second region as a function of the relative orientations of magnetization of the ferromagnetic regions produced by the applied magnetic field such that the device exhibits a conductivity as a function of the strength of the applied field. The channel region (5) includes a nanotube (6) which may be formed of carbon, configured to provide a quasi-one-dimensional channel to cause charge carriers which pass through the first ferromagnetic region to maintain their spin polarization as they pass towards the second ferromagnetic region. In an alternative embodiment a deposited carbon layer (14) is used in the channel region.

A distributed local services telecommunications switching system (10, 50) is comprised of loosely coupled components, including a digital loop carrier (14, 56), an intelligent peripheral (12, 54), and a general purpose computing platform (12, 52). The digital loop carrier (14, 56) provides subscriber line interfaces (120, 150), network trunk interfaces (122, 152), and a cross-connect matrix (124, 154). The intelligent peripheral (12, 54) is coupled to the digital loop carrier (14, 56) for performing call processing functions. The general purpose computing platform (12, 52) is coupled to the digital loop carrier (14, 56) and intelligent peripheral (12, 54) for controlling and managing call processing operations thereof. The general purpose computing platform (12, 52) may be integrated or co-located with the intelligent peripheral (12, 54).

A loudspeaker system, which has the ability to create a homogeneous sound over large distances, comprising at least one line-source of acoustical radiation, each comprising three or more essentially identical speaker-units arranged adjacent to each other at a center-to-center spacing D1, and at least one elongated high frequency transducer arranged in parallel with said line source(s), said elongated high frequency transducer(s) having an essentially continuous radiating surface along the axis of elongation. Where the crossover frequency FCR and the distance D1, for said line-source(s), is set according to new design criteria, taking into account the frequency response from said speaker units in said line-sources and the optimal performance for a line-source. A method is also included, by which a homogeneous sound over large distances can be accomplished.

A telecommunication total security system of financial transaction substantially diminishes any risk of continued illicit use of payment means. The system comprises one or more user identification codes to be coupled with transaction codes when carrying out a financial transaction. Each transaction code is unique and unrepeatable for each transaction and is generated by an administrator of the system. Each transaction code is cancelled when the transaction is terminated.

An on-chip clock generation system used the Serial Interface in an on-chip JTAG facility to write bit patterns in a shift register. The bit patterns are applied to control inputs of a clock generation circuit whose clock outputs are varied in accordance with changes to the bit patterns. By using the same facility to provide JTAG and clock functions the output clocks provided by clock generation circuit on the chip can be varied without using additional pins or the output clocks themselves.

A web browser program presents historical information about hyperlinks shown on web pages. Initially, the computer determines whether it is receiving certain user input, such as placement of a cursor over a hyperlink for a certain time. When this occurs, the computer accesses a database to determine whether one or more users in a predefined access group have previously selected the hyperlink for the purpose of downloading underlying data represented by the hyperlink. Some examples of the underlying data include web pages, graphics images, software programs, and the like. If the hyperlink has not been previously selected, no action needs to be taken. However, if the database shows that the hyperlink has been previously selected, the computer consults the database to gather characteristics of the underlying data obtained from previous selections of the hyperlink by access group members. Such characteristics may include, for example, the data's size, date of last download, expired or “under construction” status of web site, errors occurring during the download, etc. The computer presents a report containing the characteristics gathered from the database.

A panel for an airbag of an automobile is formed by integrally molding a cover body, which is made of a synthetic resin, with a main body, made of another synthetic resin. The panel includes a joint portion, joined with the cover body, and provided around an opening portion formed in the main body. The joint portion constitutes an overlapping portion in which an outer peripheral edge of the cover body is overlapped as being arranged on the inner side of an opening edge of the main body.

This invention pertains to an in vitro immunoassay method for diagnosing human gastric intestinal metaplasia which comprises the steps of (a) contacting a gastric tissue sample of a subject suspected of having human gastric intestinal metaplasia cells with the monoclonal antibody DAS-1, or a fragment thereof, which monoclonal antibody is produced by the hybridoma deposited under ATCC accession number HB 9397 and which reacts with human gastric intestinal metaplasia antigen; and (b) detecting immunoreactivity between the gastric tissue and the monoclonal antibody, such immunoreactivity indicating a positive diagnosis of human gastric intestinal metaplasia. This invention also pertains to an in vivo immunoassay method for diagnosing human gastric intestinal metaplasia which comprises the steps of (a) administering to a human, suspected of having human gastric intestinal metaplasia, the monoclonal antibody DAS-1, or a fragment thereof, which monoclonal antibody is produced by the hybridoma deposited under ATCC accession number HB 9397 and which reacts with human gastric intestinal metaplasia antigen and is tagged with an isotope; and (b) detecting immunoreactivity between the human gastric intestinal metaplasia cells and the monoclonal antibody by external scanning, such immunoreactivity indicating a positive diagnosis of human gastric intestinal metaplasia.

A novel mammalian dihydroouabain-like factor is disclosed which substantially fails to cross-react with mammalian ouabain-like factor (OLF) for binding to anti-OLF antibody, but cross-reacts with plant-related dihydroouabain (dho) for binding to anti-dho antibody, has maximal u.v. absorbance at 196 nm, has a non-peptidic, non-lipidic chemical structure and a fully hydrogenated lactone ring, has a concentration-dependent Na+,K+-ATPase (sodium pump) catalytic inhibitory activity which is 10-fold lower than OLF and 3-fold higher than plant-related dihydroouabain, and a high pressure liquid chromatography elution time about the same as dho. This factor is useful for therapy for congestive heart failure. An antibody and antibody fragments having affinity for mammalian Dh-OLF but not for OLF, and diagnostic and therapeutic methods comprise the antibody and means for quantifying the antibody and are useful for treating a condition caused by high level of OLF or Dh-OLF. Two isomers of plant-related dihydroouabain have been isolated. These compositions and methods are suitable for characterizing a variety of diseases and conditions associated with reduced sodium pump activity.

A 7,916 base pair nucleic acid fragment from Bacillus megaterium is disclosed. The fragment encodes five proteins, PhaP, PhaQ, PhaR, PhaB, 09 and PhaC, shown or inferred to be involved in the biosynthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoate materials.