1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming system comprised of an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet, and a clear coating apparatus connected to the image forming apparatus on a downstream side of the same so as to perform clear coating on the sheet using clear toner which becomes clear (transparent) after being fixed on the sheet.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for full-color electrophotographic image forming apparatuses ensuring high image quality. Further, it has been increasingly desired to realize a high-quality photographic tone image mode in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, with proliferation of digital cameras as a major reason.
Further, there has been proposed an image forming system that is comprised of an image forming apparatus and a clear coating apparatus continuously connected thereto, and is configured to form a high-quality photographic tone image on a sheet, and then place thereon a toner image which becomes transparent when fixed, to thereby perform clear coating on the formed image (see e.g. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. H03-13079).
Further, there has been a system including apparatuses continuously connected to each other, in which an upstream one of the continuously connected apparatuses performs printing on a first surface of a sheet, and a downstream one of the apparatuses performs printing on a second surface of the sheet, to thereby realize double-sided printing without the provision of a sheet-inverting mechanism (see e.g. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2003-207954).
The above system with the continuously connected apparatuses is aimed at improving productivity, and hence double-sided printing is not performed within any of the apparatuses. Therefore, when the upstream one of the apparatuses performs double-sided printing on each sheet and discharges the sheet, according to a conventional job sequence, if the downstream one of the apparatuses also perform double-sided printing on the sheet, this causes the problem of an improper page order of the discharged printed sheets.


Not applicable.
Not applicable.
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the genes and enzymes involved in cell wall synthesis in bacteria, and particularly to the inhibition of such enzymes.
2. Background of the Invention
The molecular target of many naturally-occurring antibiotics, including fosfomycin, cycloserine and b-lactams, is the synthesis of the bacterial cell wall. The frequency with which these types of antibiotics arose in evolution indicates that the pathway of cell wall biosynthesis is a particularly effective point of attack against bacteria. Genetic studies confirm the soundness of this process as a target, as temperature-sensitive alleles of the intracellular pathway genes are lytic, and therefore lethal. Since the building blocks of the cell wall are highly conserved structures in both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, but are unique to the eubacteria, novel inhibitors of cell wall formation are expected to be both broad spectrum and safe antibiotics.
The bacterial cell wall is a polymerxe2x80x94a single molecule composed of peptidoglycanxe2x80x94that defines the boundary and shape of the cell. Assembled by crosslinking glycan chains with short peptide bridges (Rogers, H. J., H. R. Perkins, and J. B. Ward, 1980, Biosynthesis of peptidoglycan. p. 239-297. In Microbial cell walls and membranes. Chapman and Hall Ltd. London), the completed structure is strong enough to maintain cell integrity against an osmotic pressure differential of over four atmospheres, but also flexible enough to allow the cell to move, grow and divide.
The construction of the peptidoglycan begins in the cytoplasm with an activated sugar molecule, UDP-N-acetylglucosamine. After two reactions (catalyzed by MurA and MurB) that result in the placement of a lactyl group on the 3-OH of the glucosamine moiety, a series of ATP-dependent amino acid ligases (MurC, -D, -E, and -F) catalyze the stepwise synthesis of the pentapeptide sidechain using the newly synthesized lactyl carboxylate as the first acceptor site. After attachment of the sugar pentapeptide to a lipid carrier in the plasma membrane, another glucosamine unit is added to the 4-OH of the muramic acid moiety. The completed monomeric building block is moved across the membrane into the periplasm where the penicillin-binding proteins enzymatically add it into the growing cell wall.
Because the pentapeptide sidechain is not synthesized ribosomally it contains more diverse chemical functionality than a typical peptide, both structurally and stereochemically. Two of the enzymes catalyze the addition of D-amino acids (MurD and MurF) and MurE mediates the formation of a peptide bond between the g-carboxylate of D-glutamate and the amino group of L-lysine. Presumably these structures render the exposed peptidoglycan resistant to the action of proteases, but they also imply that the active sites of the enzymes must have unusual structures in order to handle the somewhat uncommon substrates. These unusual active sites are targets to bind novel inhibitors that can have antimicrobial activity.
Among these potential enzyme targets is MurD. The first partial purification and characterization of a D-glutamate-adding enzyme was from Staphlococcus aureus (Ito, E. and J. L. Strominger, 1962, Enzymatic synthesis of the peptide in bacterial uridine nucleotides: Enzymatic addition of L-alanine, D-glutamic acid, and L-lysine. J. Biol. Chem. 237: 2689-2695; Nathenson, S. G., J. L. Strominger, and E. Ito, 1964, Enzymatic synthesis of the peptide in bacterial uridine nucleotides: purification and properties of D-Glutamic acid-adding enzyme, J. Biol. Chem. 239: 1773-177), followed by studies in more detail on the isolated E. coli enzyme (Blanot, D., A. Kretsovali, M. Abo-Ghalia, D. Mengin-Lecreulx, and J. van Heijenoort, 1983. Synthesis of analogues of precusors of bacterial peptidoglycan. p. 311-314. In Peptides. Blaha, K. and P. Malon, eds. pp. 311-314, Walter de Gryter and Co. Berlin, N.Y.; Jin, H., Emanuele, J. J., Jr., Fairman, R., Robertson, J. G., Hail, M. E., Ho, H.-T., Falk, P. and Villafranca, J. J., 1996. Structural studies of Escherichia coli UDP-N-acetylmuramate: L-alanine ligase. Biochemistry 35: 14423-14431; Ito E. and J. L. Strominger, 1973. Enzymatic synthesis of the peptide in bacterial uridine nucleotides: Comparative biochemistry. J. Biol. Chem. 248: 3131-3136; Michaud, C. D. Blanot, B. Flouret, and J. van Heijenoort, 1987. Partial purification and specificity studies of the D-glutamate-adding and D-alanyl-D-alanine-adding enzymes from Escherichia coli K12. Eur. J. Biochem. 166: 631-637). Recently, a purified recombinant E. coli MurD was reported (Pratviel-Sosa F, D. Mengin-Lecreulx and J. van Heijenoort, 1991. Over-production, purification and properties of the uridine diphosphate N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine:D-glutamate ligase from Escherichia coli. Eur. J. Biochem. 202 (3):1169-1176) and genes encoding MurD have been cloned from several species of bacteria including E. coli (Ikeda, M., M. Wachi, F. Ishino, and M. Matsuhashi, 1990, Nucleotide sequence involving murD and an open reading frame ORF-Y spacing murF and ftsW in Escherichia coli. Nucleic Acids Res. 18:1058; Mengin-Lecreulx, D., C Parquet, L. Desviat, J. Pla, B. Flouret, J. Ayala and J. van Heijenoort, 1989, Organization of the murE-murG region of Escherichia coli: Identification of the murD gene encoding the D-glutamic-acid-adding enzyme. J. Bacteriol. 171: 6126-6134) and B. subtilis (Daniel, R. A., and J. Errington, 1993, DNA sequence of the murE-murD region of Bacillus subtilis 168. J. Gen. Microbiol. 139:361-370; Henriques, A. O. de Lencaster, H. and P. J. Piggot, 1992, A Bacillus subtilis morphogene cluster that includes spoVE is homologous to the mra region of Escherichia coli. Biochimie. 74: 735-748). Compounds have been designed and synthesized that have inhibitory activity against the E. coli enzyme (Tanner, M. E., S. Vaganay, van Heijenoort, J., and D. Blanot, 1996, Phosphinate Inhibitors of the D-Glutamic Acid-Adding Enzyme of Peptidoglycan Biosynthesis. J. Org. Chem. 61: 1756-1760), although they do not have antibacterial activity.
Polynucleotides and polypeptides of Streptococcus pyogenes MurD, an enzyme involved in bacterial cell wall biosynthesis are provided. The recombinant MurD enzyme is catalytically active in ATP-dependent D-glutamate addition reactions. The enzyme is used in in vitro assays to screen for antibacterial compounds that target cell wall biosynthesis. The invention includes the purified polynucleotides, purified enzymes encoded by the polynucleotides, and host cells expressing the recombinant enzyme and their use in assays.


The present invention is generally directed toward vibratory finishing machines and more particularly, toward a new and improved finishing machine of the type adapted to be used with steel finishing media.
One of the objectionable characteristics of utilizing steel finishing media in vibratory finishing machines is the difficulty in obtaining the desired "flow" of the media. One of the significant reasons for such difficulty resides in the need for utilizing certain chemical compound additives in the finishing operation which have been found to severely hinder or preclude media flow, which in turn results in precluding effective workpiece finishing. Although satisfactory media flow has been obtainable in the past through the use of large counterweights, such an approach has not been feasible with steel media because of the high magnitude of media-workpiece impact which prevents obtaining the fine finish desired for the type of parts that are traditionally processed with steel finishing media.
The present invention provides a new and improved vibratory finishing machine which has been found to provide highly improved media flow at low magnitudes of media-workpiece impact, thereby obviating the various objectionable characteristics of the prior art machines. The finishing machine of the present invention utilizes a unique combination of features, including the provision of support springs for the finishing tub at a position adjacent the peripheral rim or edge of the tub, the use of an asymmetrically located weighted vibratory shaft and the additional use of an asymmetrically located tub weight that is preferably located on the opposite side of the longitudinal axis of the tub from the vibratory shaft, as will hereinafter be described in detail.
It is accordingly a general object of the present invention to provide a new and improved vibratory finishing machine.
It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide a new and improved vibratory finishing machine that is particularly, although not necessarily, adapted for use with steel finishing media and is intended to provide improved finishing action, as compared to prior known finishing machines.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved finishing machine of the above described type which incorporates a plurality of suspension or support springs that are located above the center of gravity of the finishing tub, and specifically are located directly beneath the peripheral flange or rim of the tub.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved finishing machine that is provided with an asymmetrically located weighted vibratory shaft.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved vibratory finishing machine that may be provided with an asymmetrically located tub weight which is preferably located on the laterally opposite side of the longitudinal tub axis from the weighted vibratory shaft.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved vibratory finishing machine wherein improved media flow is achieved in the range of low media impact with the media workpieces, whereby to improve the operational performance of the machine of the present invention.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus with a desired exposure device mounted thereon as an option.
As an image recording apparatus of the type using a photosensitive pressure-sensitive recording medium carrying thereon an immense number of pressure-rupturable, various kinds of image recording apparatuses have been known in the art which include a full-color copying machine, a CRT printer, a film printer. These machines or devices have been designed to have a relevant handling quality and requisite functions depending on the intended use thereof.
However, notwithstanding the fact that these devices have a basic arrangement common to all these devices, the final arrangements of these devices are considerably different due to a difference in intended use. To design and build up each of the different types of image recording apparatuses, a great deal of time and expense has been required.


There is a need in the field of microbial metabolic engineering for tunable promoters and novel regulatory switches for the inducible expression of heterologous proteins. The “old standard” lac promoter/Lac repressor system is still widely used. However, the commonly used inducer, isopropylthio-beta-D-galactoside (“IPTG”), is expensive and thus not practical for large-scale bioprocesses. Additionally, higher concentrations of IPTG increase the metabolic burden on the cell, in turn reducing the maximal expression of the target gene (Donovan et al., J. Ind. Microbiol. 16:145-154 (1996)). The few available alternatives also have limitations.
One possible solution to this problem is to appropriate existing genetic systems of transcriptional regulators to enhance heterologous gene expression. A number a of transcriptional regulators are known. For example, the LysR family of transcriptional regulators is one of the largest groups of transcriptional regulators in prokaryotes (Schell, Annu. Rev. Microbiol. 47:597-626 (1993)). Currently, there are over 80 known members of this regulator family. Proteins having greater than 20% amino acid identity with another LysR family member or having the consensus sequence of the N-terminal region of the LysR family are considered to be members of this regulator family. LysR family members are also commonly found in the size range of 276 to 324 amino acids, bind to similar DNA sequences in the absence of inducers, have promoters that are located close to or overlapping those of the regulated target gene, and most can repress their own transcriptional levels 3- to 10-fold. Activation of the regulated target gene occurs in the presence of inducer and usually results in a 6- to 200-fold increase in regulated target gene transcription. Regulated target genes are diverse and have numerous functions.
Recently, the gene encoded by open reading frame (“ORF”) b3243 in Escherichia coli (“E. coli”) has been demonstrated to function via quorum sensing (Sperandio et al., Infect. Immun. 70:3085-3093 (2002)). Quorum sensing is the ability of bacteria cells to communicate with one another through perception of the accumulation of signaling molecules based on bacteria cell density. The gene encoded by ORF b3243 is up-regulated via quorum sensing resulting in a 23-fold increase in transcription of the gene. The protein produced by the b3243 ORF was not purified. The gene was found to have a role in the regulation of the LEE genes involved in a type III secretion system, a pathogenecity system that serves to translocate, upon contact with eukaryotic host cells, proteins from the bacteria cytoplasm into the host cell cytoplasm. As the b3243 ORF gene is a putative regulator of the LysR family, the b3243 ORF gene itself was able to induce a four-fold induction of LEE1 transcription. No inducer of the b3243 ORF gene was identified. One in the art will appreciate that this inefficient induction prevents the b3243 ORF gene from being a viable promoter/regulator system without the identification of its inducer.
The use of promoter/reporter gene constructs is well known in the art (Serebriiskii and Golemis, Anal. Biochem. 285:1-15 (2000); Spergel et al., Prog. Neurobiol. 63:673-686 (2001); Yarranton, Curr. Opin. Biotechnol. 3:506-511 (1992)). Particularly, reporter systems utilizing β-galactosidase, green florescent protein, luciferase, and chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) are all commonly used in the art. Additionally, reporter systems such as luxCDABE are useful because this operon contains all of the genes required for bioluminescent reporting ((Van Dyk et al., Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 98:2555-2560 (2001)).
The luxCDABE operon has been utilized to create a collection of random gene fusions, comprising 27% of the known or predicted transcriptional units of E. coli (Van Dyk et al., J. Bacteriol. 183:5496-5505 (2001)). Treatment of E. coli cells containing these gene fusions with nalidixic acid, a quinolone, results in selective up-regulation of ten genes. Some of these up-regulated genes are LexA-regulated SOS genes, while others are not generally induced by DNA damage.
Aromatic compounds such as aromatic carboxylic acids are usually toxic to microorganisms. Numerous bacterial strains resistant to aromatic compounds, however, are known in the prior art (Diaz et al., Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Rev. 65:523-569 (2001)). Additionally, a LysR family member from Acinetobacter, BenM, is responsive to synergistic induction by benzoic acid, an aromatic carboxylic acid, and muconic acid (Bundy et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 99:7693-7698 (2002)). Benzoic acid alone, however, produces minimal, if any, induction of BenM activity. Even the synergistic response with muconic acid produces only a four-fold increase in BenM activity.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,292,643 issued to Shibano et al. on Mar. 8, 1994 describes genes related to fusaric acid resistance in variety of microorganisms. Specifically, genes capable of decomposing or detoxifying fusaric acid are disclosed. One of the genes postulated to be involved in fusaric acid resistance, fusB, shares some homology with the putativTe efflux transporter (PET) yhcP gene (Paulsen et al., FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 156:1-8 (1997)). Applicants incorporate by reference the co-owned and concurrently filed application entitled “PET Family of Efflux Proteins”, U.S. Patent Application No. 60/440,760, which describes new proteins efflux proteins whose expression may alter the expression of carboxylic acids.
The problem to be solved therefore is to discover facile and inexpensive methods of inducible expression of heterologous genes. Applicants have solved the stated problem through the discovery that the promoter elements of the yhcRQP operon are responsive to the expression of the yhcS regulator (a member of the LysR family of transcriptional regulators) whose expression may be induced by an inexpensive cadre of aromatic carboxylic acid inducers.


Affective computing involves the study and development of systems and devices that can recognize and analyze the expression of human emotions (affects). Such systems often rely on statistical models created from data collected by monitoring users and their affective response to various stimuli. A user's affective response to stimuli is typically a temporary departure from a steady baseline affective state. The baseline state is the state the user would typically be in when not exposed to any particular stimuli. In order to accurately model and understand the effects of various stimuli on the user, the user's affective response needs to be evaluated relative to the user's affective baseline value; otherwise, it is difficult to determine for instance, if a change in the user's affective state is due the stimuli, or is simply a natural return to the user's baseline affective state.
One common method to compute a baseline value is by measuring the user in a rested state before the exposure to stimuli (for example before an experiment starts). Another common method to compute a baseline is by weighting and processing the user's affective response values collected in a relatively wide window, for example by taking the average of values collected over a one hour. The problem with the former method for computing a user's baseline is that it is usually only applicable in controlled situations, for example, experiments in laboratories. In real world scenarios, it is likely the user will have neither the willingness nor the opportunity to provide an accurate baseline measurement from a calm period, before each exposure to stimuli. The later method described for computing baselines has a weakness, which can often make the baseline values computed by this method very inaccurate. This method does not take into account the situation the user is in. In real world scenario, at different times, the user may be in very different situations and the user's baseline value can change dramatically depending on the situation. For example, a user's affective baseline while working in the office might be quite different from the user's baseline when relaxing at home. In addition, the user's affective baseline can change dramatically in a very short when the situation changes. For example, a user's affective baseline state can change within seconds from something that can be described as calm and relaxed, for instance while cruising down highway 101, to tense and agitated when the user notices a police car in the rear-view mirror (along with the realization that the user was driving at a speed of 85 mph). Since the baseline value computed with a wide window changes slowly, it cannot adjust to a user's situation dependent affective baseline. This may make any models or predictions of the user's response to stimuli inaccurate.


Control of the temperature of reactions within an acceptable range has been widely investigated and the chemical industry has devised several arrangements, those commonly used being discussed in standard references and texts, e.g. one might consider the general teachings by Octave LEVENSPIEL in Chapter 19 of Chemical Reaction Engineering (published by John Wiley & Sons).
The prior art includes a conventional reactor designed to offer more control over the reactant temperature and this is known as the staged adiabatic packed bed reactor. This system uses an arrangement wherein a number of discrete, spaced apart zones of reaction are provided with means therebetween to control the temperature of the products leaving a first zone of reaction prior to entering the next reaction zone. No heat exchanging means is provided to control the temperature of the reaction in the zones of the reaction. Thus the reactant fluid entering the reactor at a desired temperature passes through a packed bed containing catalyst. Upon exiting this first stage, the reactant gas and any products will have a temperature higher or lower than that of the initial temperature depending upon the reaction thermal characteristics. A heat exchanger then heats or cools the reactant gas to a second desired temperature, which may or may not be equivalent to the temperature of the first, before passing to the next packed bed i.e. the second stage. This sequence is repeated until the desired conversion is obtained. Thus the temperature profile of the reaction will be stepped within an acceptable range of temperature, and will therefore not be truly isothermal.
The preferred heat exchanger panel for the purposes of the invention is one formed from a plurality of plates superposed and diffusion bonded to form a stack of plates, wherein fluid passages are defined in said stack by virtue of a pre-treatment of said plates wherein each plate is selectively configured to provide channeled or blank surfaces according to the desired pattern of fluid passages by a treatment to remove surface material e.g. by chemical etching, or hydraulic milling, or the like process to a desired depth. Optionally the chemical treatment may be augmented by a mechanical treatment using a suitable tool.
Such a pre-treatment of the plates is conducted in a manner analogous to manufacture of printed circuit boards (PCBs) and for this reason the heat exchanger design can be described as a printed circuit heat exchanger (PCHE). The application of the diffusion bonding technique for metal plates is well understood in the art of metal working and is applied for a variety of purposes e.g. in medical prosthesis manufacture.
This design of the PCHE has been proven by the designers of the proposed PCR system since 1985 when these compact heat exchangers were first introduced.
A PCR type of reactor was designed by the present applicants and is the subject of a separate patent application (Ref:32 46271 WO-). Such a reactor is formed to provide at least one reaction zone, bounded by a heat exchanger formed from a plurality of plates superposed and diffusion bonded to form a stack of plates, wherein fluid channels are defined in said stack by virtue of pre-treatment of said plates wherein each plate is selectively configured according to the desired pattern of channels by a chemical treatment to remove surface material e.g. by chemical etching, to a desired depth. The fluid channels defined in the stack provide the opportunity to arrange for various reactant fluids to be conveyed in channels arranged in a heat exchange relationship with discrete channels containing at least one auxiliary fluid for controlling the temperature of the reactants.
Considering the example of a known ammonia converter, for a given ammonia content in the reactants there is a temperature for which the desired reaction rate is at a maximum. This is because the rate of synthesis of ammonia is the net result of the competing rates of the forward and reverse reactions. Consequently, by monitoring and controlling the temperature, it is possible to determine a temperature that favours the forward production reaction more than the reverse product dissociation reaction. In fact it is found that whilst increased temperature generally causes an increase in reaction, and indeed the desired forward product formation reaction rate increases favourably with temperature, at a certain approach to equilibrium conditions the concurrent increased rate of the reverse reaction begins to dominate, and to slow the overall synthesis rate. Maximum conversion in a bed of given size is therefore achieved if conditions remain on the maximum rate line. This is shown graphically in FIG. 1.
Ammonia synthesis typically takes place at high pressures, greater than 100 bar and therefore creating bed volume is relatively expensive. Furthermore, the catalyst itself is costly. Consequently, an important element of ammonia synthesis reactor design is to attempt to maintain the bed conditions as closely as possible to the maximum reaction rate line, and hence to maximise the rate of ammonia synthesis in a bed of a given size.
Various approaches have been taken to achieving this result, mainly falling into the categories of:
1. Quench-cooled multi-bed converters, in which cold reactant feed is injected between beds of catalyst,
2. Tube-cooled converters, in which tubes carrying cold reactant are embedded in the catalyst bed, and
3. Indirectly cooled multi-bed exchangers, in which heat is extracted from the hot reactants passing between beds in heat exchangers cooled by cold reactant feed.
An example of a quench type converter is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,663,179 wherein there is provided a vertically oriented container or reactor vessel, which is provided with an internal catalyst basket in which a bed or charge of catalyst particles is disposed. The basket is spaced from the container wall, and the feed fluid stream such as synthesis gas is passed onto the lower portion of the container and external to the basket. The feed fluid rises through the annular space between the basket and the container wall, and thus serves to cool the container and act as insulation against the thermal effects or hot spots generated within the catalyst bed. The rising warmed feed fluid stream is then heated to a suitable catalysis temperature by an internal heat exchanger. The hot fluid then flows to the catalyst bed in which the reaction takes place.
A perforated pipe is disposed in the catalyst bed, and a cold quench fluid, which may be of a composition comparable to the feed stream is passed through the pipes and distributed into the hot reacting gas within the catalyst bed, to provide a cooling effect and thereby moderate the catalytic reaction.
Ammonia synthesis is exothermic, typically operating in the 350° C. to 500° C. range, and the conversion factor is relatively low, typically less than 20%. As a result, it is possible for the cold feed stream to the reactor to be used to extract the reaction heat, at the same time preheating the cold feed stream to the required reaction temperatures. It is conventional practice to use the feed stream as a cooling medium in this way in ammonia converters. Related documents U.S. Pat. No. 4,230,669 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,230,680 describe such a converter in which the cold feed stream is used to extract the reaction heat and also includes a cold feed bypass line such that a controllable volume of the cold feed stream can by-pass the heat exchangers and therefore better control of the reactant temperature can be achieved.
This converter is an example of an indirectly cooled multi-bed exchanger as briefly outlined at point 3 above. It is an approach to bed cooling that is generally preferred by those in the art. In prior art converters though, only a very crude tracking of the maximum reaction rate curve is achievable in the reactor, due to the difficulties in cost-effectively arranging for more than two beds with inter-cooling by the feed stream. The general form of the temperature profile achieved with the common two-stage arrangement is illustrated in FIG. 2. The proposal outlined in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,230,669 and 4,230,680 mentioned above actually has three catalyst beds, but even so performance leaves room for improvement and the design cannot be considered compact.
Other examples of ammonia converters are described in the publication “Ammonia and Synthesis Gas, Recent and Energy-saving Processes” edited by F J Brykowski and published by Noyes Data Corporation in 1981.
An object of the present invention is to provide an improved reactor design, particularly one that is useful for the purposes of ammonia conversion and the like reactions, and is furthermore of a relatively compact design.


Dental restoration techniques include the use of polymers and other restorative materials to regain a tooth's function, form, and integrity. In a restorative technique referred to as photopolymerization, a polymer adhesive is applied to a tooth or portion thereof. The adhesive is then exposed to a light of a certain wavelength, which causes a chemical reaction to occur between the polymers of the adhesive. This reaction transforms the adhesive from a liquid or pliable state to a solid state intended to withstand strains, pressures, and other conditions often experienced by teeth.


The invention will be discussed generally with respect to deployment of a stent graft into the thoracic aorta but is not so limited and may apply to deployment into other body lumens.
It is important when delivering a stent graft by intraluminal or endovascular methods to know exactly where the device is in the vasculature particularly in relation to branch vessels which could be adversely occluded by placement of the stent graft. To avoid occlusion there have been proposed fenestrations along the length of a stent graft and scalloping at the proximal and distal ends of the stent graft to allow flow from a main vessel to a branch vessel through the fenestration or scallop.
The use of radiopaque markers around the periphery of the fenestration or scallop in this regard has been proposed but it would be advantageous if a more certain or reliable method could be devised to assist with placement.
Particularly when deploying into a curved vessel it is known that a deployment device will take up a position in the vessel on the outside or greater radius side of the curved vessel and hence if a stent graft could be retained onto a deployment device so that a fenestration or scallop on the stent graft is in a selected position with respect to a portion of the deployment device when it is curved then more accurate positioning may be possible.
As a particular example, the aorta of a patient comprises an ascending aorta from the aortic heart valve, a thoracic arch and a descending aorta. Major branch vessels extend from the thoracic arch and occlusion of one or more of these upon placement of a stent graft in the thoracic arch could have serious consequences. The major vessels generally extend from the outside or greater radius side of the curved thoracic arch and so if a was stent graft retained onto a deployment device such that a scallop on the stent graft was on the outside of the deployment device when it is curved then correct placement would be surer.
It is known to retain the proximal and distal ends of a stent graft onto a deployment device to facilitate relative longitudinal and rotational movement of the ends but owing to tortuosity of vessels through which a deployment device must be progressed and the rotation necessity to achieve progression the final rotational position of a stent graft may not be fully known.
It is an object of this invention to provide a retention mechanism for a stent graft onto a deployment device for more accurate deployment of the stent graft therefrom or to at least provide a practitioner with a useful alternative.
Throughout this specification the term distal with respect to a portion of the aorta, a deployment device or a stent graft is intended to mean the portion of the aorta, deployment device or stent graft further away in the direction of blood flow away from the heart and the term proximal is intended to mean the portion of the aorta, deployment device or end of the stent graft nearer to the heart. When applied to other vessels similar terms such as caudal and cranial should be understood.


The disclosure relates generally to deadlock avoidance in a multi-processor computer system with extended cache line locking.
As contemporary multi-processor computer designs have scaled to larger symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) systems, performance issues around contentious cache lines have become more noticeable to the system. In SMP systems, a traditional deadlock avoidance mechanism based on a length of time that an operation is valid for is implemented to address functional and performance issues. That is, the traditional deadlock avoidance mechanism is initiated to help an operation make forward progress, if that operation is valid for longer than a set time. Additionally, in SMP systems, a next instruction access intent (NIAI) lock instruction can be utilized by a processor core to purposefully hold onto a cache line for an extended period of time to allow the processor core to complete critical sections of code. In this case, while the NIAI lock instruction is purposefully holding the cache line, the traditional deadlock avoidance mechanism (which is based solely on the duration of an operation) can falsely activate and cause instruction sequences waiting on the hold to interfere with other unrelated instruction sequences.


This invention relates to corrosion protection systems, and more particularly to corrosion protection systems for joined dissimilar metals which are employed in an aqueous environment.
Potable water, or similar type electrolyte normally contains certain corrosion causing components such as dissolved oxygen. Other oxidizing components of many varieties can be present in this medium, depending on the particular sample of water, the location from where the water was obtained as a geological function, certain water treatments such as softening, and the many other variable conditions to which water can be subjected.
It is common for potable water and other types of water systems to contain iron or iron bearing alloys which can form a galvanic corrosion cell between the iron bearing material and each oxidizing atom or molecule involved in a like reaction. These reactions can reach factors of 10.sup.(x) per square inch. Therefore, it has not been possible to render each separate corrosion cell inactive by direct action to each oxidizing atom or molecule.
Cathodic protection systems have been developed to reduce corrosion caused by oxidizing components found distributed in the potable or similar type water containing the vulnerable metal. In a cathodic protection system, the vulnerable metal is electrically charged by a variable or constant voltage in order to cause the formation of a monatomic hydrogen layer. This hydrogen layer, when undisturbed, forms an interface between the oxidizing components and the vulnerable metal. In a passive environment where little or no turbulence exists, as well as other factors which would have an effect upon the integrity of the monatomic hydrogen layer, this form of protection can be useful in the reduction of corrosion cell formation from the waterborne corrosion inducing components. Cathodic protection is even more effective when the base metal is coated, such as with glasslining, cement or epoxy, reducing the contact area between the vulnerable metal and the aqueous medium.
However, impressed cathodic protection is not as effective and can actually accelerate corrosion in certain aggressive environments. Examples are an environment where there is turbulent water flow against the vulnerable metal removing the hydrogen layer and leaving a charged surface, or an environment characterized by elevated temperature, pH extremes, or contact of the vulnerable metal with a more noble dissimilar metal.
For dissimilar metal junctions, it can be shown that impressed cathodic protection of the vulnerable metal will accelerate the corrosion of the vulnerable metal by 20% to 45% or more when any significant turbulence is present. Naturally occurring cathodic protection that occures between joined dissimilar metals will cause only slight corrosion rate reductions in a low temperature environment, about 23.degree. Centigrade where very little to no turbulence is present, and the water sample is non-aggressive, tap water, untreated at point of use.
The major water heater manufacturers have long recognized the shortfall of cathodic protection against dissimilar metal junctions and consequently avoid the use of dissimilar metal junctions in commercial units. Many water heater tanks have di-electric inlet and outlet factory attachments. Thermostat copper and brass shanks, as well as relief valve probes, are plastic coated. Drain valves are plastic, instead of copper or brass whenever possible. Copper electric heating elements are tin coated. Also, the new class of heating elements are now commonly produced. These heating elements are comprised of stainless steel or an iron alloy called Incolloy which further reduces dissimilar metal corrosion. Plumbing codes almost always specify that di-electric unions must be used when copper pipe is run to and from a hot water heater.
Various methods have been proposed to prevent corrosion. For example, L. Applegate, Cathodic Protection, McGraw Hill, February 1960, pp 1-28, discloses a method to stop the reaction between separate bars of copper and iron which involves application of an impressed current to the dissimilar metals. However, this method as disclosed by Applegate only has a laboratory application. The metals are never directly joined. Furthermore, the positive current electrode is connected directly to the more noble copper bar which causes the copper to become very active and disintegrate. Moreover, Applegate discloses that the accepted conclusion is that dissimilar metals should not be used due to the unpredictable nature and widespread potential for system corrosion.


1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a musical apparatus which automatically repeats a certain specified tune sequence of a musical tune or automatically starts playing from a specified point in a musical tune sequence.
2. Technical Background
As is well known, there are many musical apparatuses which can automatically play a tune according to specified performance data. Among such apparatuses, there are some which can play all or part of the tune repeatedly, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. Sho 58-42093 discloses an apparatus which permits any part of a tune to be specified, and can repeatedly replay only the specified part of the tune.
In the apparatus shown in the above publication, the specified part is simply read out repeatedly, and there is no creativity in the manner of repetition, and the part of the musical tune is simply repeated many times over and over.
On the other hand, there is an automatic performance apparatus known to memorize a plurality of pattern data, and the order of playing the pattern data can be preprogrammed. However, this type of apparatus (pattern sequencer) could not repeatedly play any part of a tune, or start from any point in a tune.


1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display control apparatus and a camera system.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, as a monitoring camera system, a network camera which can freely perform a PTZR (pan, tilt, zoom, rotation) driving has been spread and many kinds of various functions have been provided. Therefore, there is a monitoring camera system in which video display units corresponding to a plurality of video sizes, functional dialogues (dialogue boxes) corresponding to a plurality of camera operations, and the like are displayed in a mixed manner.
As a system which handles a plurality of windows, a variety of systems such as general OS itself, image editing software, document editing software, remote communication tool of an application sharing type, and the like exist. There is also software which can manage a layout of a plurality of window groups.
For example, the network camera has a UI for switching a photographed video image to an image size such as QVGA, VGA, or SXGA and displaying and a UI for providing camera functions such as control dialogue of PTZ, event displaying dialogue, panorama screen control dialogue, and the like to the user (for example, network camera VB-M40 made by Canon Inc).
Further, what is called a viewer PTZ or the like in which one rectangle is cut out from a video image displayed on a viewer of the client and is displayed as if it was electronically PTZ-driven has also been realized (for example, network camera VB-M600 made by Canon Inc).
As a function of the OS such as Windows (registered trademark) or a function of Explorer, there is such a function that previous window display information is stored and, when the window is displayed again, its display position is restored.
Further, there is such a function that by software having a plurality of operating modes, layout information of windows which are displayed on a screen is stored every operating mode, when the operating mode is switched, they are displayed in accordance with the stored layout information (publication of U.S. patent application 2006/0233192). Therefore, each time the display mode is switched, the positions can be restored and the windows can be displayed by the layout which is conditional on the display mode.
When a plurality of windows or dialogues are displayed, they can be also automatically arranged (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-15626).
In an image displaying apparatus in the monitoring camera system, display units of monitor video images are important. Further, among them, since the video image is carefully viewed in accordance with a situation or the camera operation is necessary, a watching location and functions to be used are not fixed. Particularly, in the case of enlarging an image size for the purpose of monitoring, a highlighted portion is important.
However, there is such a problem that even if the positions are merely restored to a layout which has previously been conditional on, the images cannot be always displayed in a desirable layout.


Within any enterprise, regardless of the number of memos or instructions relating to document management or retention, there is the possibility that not every document gets stored in a designated storage system. A person may create a document and save it locally on their computing device without saving the document to a designated storage system such as a file server. This may create a problem if the computer having the only copy of a document crashes or the document is otherwise lost.
Distribution of a document may also lead to problems. A person may distribute a document through e-mail or other communications channel leading to duplicate copies of the document residing across a network. This can be problematic when documents are gathered (e.g., for legal compliance) as multiple copies of the same document may be collected, leading to increased use of storage resources to store the duplicate copies and processing resources to gather and de-duplicate the documents.
Furthermore, documents are sometimes distributed in a manner that relies on the recipient to handle the document properly with respect to compliance or workflow. For example, a user may forward a document to another user without specifically tying the document to a workflow process or without notifying the recipient that the document should not be forwarded outside of an entity's network. Consequently, it can be difficult for an enterprise to manage processes and ensure that documents are handled properly from the standpoint of compliance, workflow and other processes.


1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to devices with combinations of features that assist people with disabilities in their health monitoring, communication, organization, and navigation needs.
2. Background
As important as electronic devices have become in most people""s daily lives, they can be difficult to use for some major segments of the population. For example, the elderly and persons with mild disabilities. Also persons with little or no experience in the operation of electronic devices often find it difficult to develop the habit of using such devices.
Personal objects are, for the purposes of this application, items that a person, by habit or necessity, finds indispensable and, consequently, keeps constantly on their person or within easy reach.
Personal objects that are used to improve their lifestyle or cope with a disability, form a base upon which the present invention is built. Examples of personal objects include: canes, hats, tobacco tins, jackets, datebooks, pill boxes, knitting bags, pocketbooks, eyeglass cases, walkers, and orthotic appliances. It is a goal of the invention to provide an electronic assistant that is integrated into the personal object in a manner that augments or improves the standard function of the personal object and insures the electronic assistant is never far away. The functional features of the electronic assistant may include:
Communication functions, such as a cell phone, pager, radio transceiver, emergency pager/alert device, etc.;
Health monitoring functions, such as heart rate, blood pressure, electrocardio profile, skin conductivity, eye function, chemical or drug concentration, etc.;
Organization functions, such as those functions commonly found in a personal digital assistant (PDA); and
Navigation functions, such as provided by a global positioning system, compass, barometric altimeter, etc.
The device""s input interface can be manual, radio frequency, infrared, voice, hard-wire, etc., the output interface can be visual, auditory, etc., and input/output can be either direct or indirect via attached hardware.
It is another object of the invention to provide an electronic assistant, comprising; a personal object having at least one electronic module incorporated therein, and each electronic module is selected from the group of consisting of a PDA, a cell phone, a navigation module, a biosensor module, and an emergency alert module.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an electronic assistant, comprising; a personal object having at least one electronic module incorporated therein. The personal object is one of a cane, a walking stick, a walker, a wheelchair, a personal transportation vehicle, a purse, a key holder, a watch, a pendant, a hearing aid, an eyeglass frame, and a crutch. Each electronic module is selected from the group of consisting of a PDA, a cell phone, a navigation module, a biosensor module, and an emergency alert module. The PDA includes storage and retrieval of appointments and at least one of addresses, phone numbers, calendar events, memos, and to-dos and other lists. The navigation module includes at least one of a GPS, an altimeter, an electronic compass, and a stored map. The biosensor module includes; at least one biosensor, a biosensor information processor, and at least one biosensor communication channel connecting each biosensor with the biosensor information processor. Each biosensor is one of; a biosensor disposed on a surface of the personal object, a remote biosensor attached to the body of the user, and a remote biosensor surgically implanted in the body of the user. The biosensor communication channel is at least one of; a wire, a radio frequency transmitter and receiver, and an infrared transmitter and receiver. The emergency alert module includes an emergency button, and an emergency notification sequence stored in the electronic assistant capable of calling for assistance through said cell phone.
In summary the present invention is an electronic assistant, capable of overcoming a person""s resistance to using electronic devices by incorporating electronic functions in a personal object that the user finds indispensable. Other examples of personal objects include a walking stick, a wheelchair, a personal transportation vehicle, a purse, a key holder, a watch, a pendant, a hearing aid, an eyeglass frame, and a crutch. Some examples of assistant electronics to be integrated with the personal object include a PDA, a cell phone, a navigation module, a biosensor module, and an emergency alert module. The PDA can include storage and retrieval of appointments, phone numbers, calendar events, memos, and to-dos and other lists. The navigation module might include a GPS, an altimeter, an electronic compass, and/or a stored map. Biosensors may be directly incorporated into the personal device or communicate with a receiver therein if the biosensor is required to be attached directly to the user""s body or surgically implanted. The emergency alert module may include an emergency button, and an emergency notification sequence stored in the electronic assistant capable of calling for assistance through the cell phone.
The invention will be described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, with reference to the following illustrative figures so that it may be more fully understood. With reference to the figures, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the preferred embodiments of the present invention only, and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice.


This invention relates to a device to be used for tending straps and also to be used as a whistle. More particularly, this invention relates to a device for tending straps with a whistle integrated within the device where both the whistling and strap-tending functions are independently operable.
Devices for tending straps take many forms. The buckle on a typical belt is maybe the most recognizable, but fasteners with similar functions encompass a wide range of designs and related functions, see U.S. Pat. No. 5,794,316 for example. The xe2x80x9ctending strapxe2x80x9d function is intended to encompass the various functions performed by devices that are attached to straps, or more specifically to belts, webbing, or cords, and that work to secure the straps under tension (a buckle or webbing adjuster for example), confine them to a particular area (a slider), or limit movement of other items along the strap (a cord lock). The articles utilizing these designs are ubiquitous where one finds hikers, boaters, campers, climbers, and other persons employing similar gear. Many of these activities give rise to emergencies or other situations where the spoken word either does not carry far enough, is not loud enough to be heard over surrounding noise, or is not distinct enough to draw attention. It is often recommended that the participant carry a whistle for safety in activities where emergency situations can exist. Such needs for help, however, tend to be rather unexpected. This unexpected quality results in people not equipping themselves with whistles at all times and thus not having one when such an emergency occurs. If the whistle could be incorporated into an otherwise useful item then a person would be more likely to have one available at all times, particularly during emergencies. Aside from emergency uses, a whistle may be merely a handy means for the user to notify others of his or her presence, or otherwise get attention. There is thus a need for a device that has a function with a utility related to the activity that also incorporates a whistle that can be used relatively quickly when the need arises.
Whistles in general take many forms, for examples see U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,546,887 and 5,507,246. Such whistles undeniably perform the necessary function if they are available. But such whistles are often not available for any number of reasons. A solitary whistle is not an item that most would habitually carry. Therefore a potential user would probably need a reason to include a whistle in the gear for that day. Most of the obvious reasons are related to emergencies and most people do not anticipate having emergencies. This would make a whistle a low priority item on anyone""s packing list. And because emergencies are fortunately rare, the whistle would in fact generally be just another item cluttering up a purse, key-chain, or related devices. This limited need makes it easy and understandable to simply forget to carry a whistle even should one think it a good idea in general.
But many other things are carried constantly and without additional effort. Many of the activities giving rise to the need for a whistle have a particular type of gear associated with that activity. Although the various activities do not necessarily have gear in common, the individual items of gear have common elements. One group of common elements comprises the fasteners used to secure webbing, belts, straps, and cords on this gear. These devices range from your typical belt buckles to the more high tech molded side release buckles, tension adjusters, sliders, and cord locks. They are present in gear ranging from book bags and backpacks, to key-chains, bike helmets, and the cords on the hoods of many jackets.
Buckles have been proposed incorporating tools such as a whistle, however the design has been unsatisfactory and has not gained wide spread acceptance. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,885,250 and 3,903,547 disclose a buckle with a prong that may be fashioned into a whistle. While specific details of how such a whistle might be formed are not disclosed, the general arrangement is not satisfactory because, being on a prong, such a whistle would be hidden and even if known, use would require disengagement of the retained strap or belt. Additionally, the strap must be large enough to house the whistle. This requirement prevents incorporation of a whistle where the strap is of small cross-section because the prong must be accommodated within either a thick strap or two layers of strap. This also means that the strap must be specially manufactured to accept the flange, increasing manufacturing costs and reducing the application of the buckle because it must necessarily be part of a matched set to function. Finally, since the prong is rigid and extends into the strap the areas where the buckle can be located are limited to relatively flat locations that extend the length of the prong and buckle.
Thus there exists a present need for a device with an integral whistle that can function with a variety of strap sizes and shapes to fasten, tension, lock or generally tend the straps and where the whistle is unobtrusive yet apparent and accessible to the user.
The preferred embodiments of the present invention combine the function of a whistle with that of a device for tending straps, cords, belts, or webbing of various shapes and sizes. The whistle is combined with the strap-tending device in a manner that allows the whistle to be used even when the device is tending the straps as designed. Given that a strap runs in a general direction and that the strap-tending device typically performs a function that is oriented along the same general direction, the placement of the whistle is preferably transverse to that direction to facilitate access to the whistle, decrease device dimensions, and improve its manufacturability. The strap-tending functions of the preferred embodiments include: a two-piece side release buckle with the whistle incorporated in the female half and the strap adjusting mechanism in the male half; a single piece strap adjuster with the whistle located opposite the anchor bars and slots from the extension designed to facilitate releasing tension; a cord lock with the whistle integrated into the barrel; and a slider with the whistle integrated to one side of the slots designed to engage the straps. In all cases the whistle is accessible and functional with the intended strap or straps in place and the device performing its intended strap-tending function.


The present invention relates to a coin acceptance means and method, and, more particularly, to a coin acceptance means for use in a vending system wherein a vend price is established prior to coin deposit or the submission of other credit means by a customer, for determining, based upon the ability of the system to provide a correct amount of change to the customer if a particular deposited coin or other credit submission is accepted, whether a given deposited coin or credit submission, even if valid, will be accepted.
It will be appreciated that, throughout this application, the term "coin" may be employed to mean any coin (whether valid or counterfeit), token, slug, washer, or other item, including currency and scrip, which might be used by an individual in an attempt to operate a coin-operated device or system. A "valid coin" is considered to be an authentic coin, token, or the like of the monetary system or systems in which or with which the coin-operated device or system is intended to operate and of a denomination which the device or system is intended selectively to receive and to treat as an item of value. A coin is considered to be "accepted" when it is determined to be a valid coin and a credit therefor is entered in the vending system.
Generally, single price vending systems have a pre-established vend price against which an accumulated credit is compared to determine whether a vend operation will be effected. Many multi-price vending systems, on the other hand, are so designed to permit the customer to deposit coins to build up an accumulated credit entry, which credit entry is compared against a vend price subsequently established when the customer actuates a vend selection means to select a particular product having a particular vend price. However, even some multi-price vending systems may be so designed that a vend price is established prior to any coin deposit or any recognition thereof. For example, a multi-price system may be so designed to require selection of the desired product prior to the recognition of any coin deposit. With such a system the vend price would be established by the product selection made, and the vending system would thereafter function in similar fashion to a single price vending system. The coin acceptance means of the present invention is primarily directed to single price vending systems and to multi-price vending systems wherein a vend price for a given vend operation is established prior to the deposit of coins or submission of credit with regard to such particular vend operation. For the sake of convenience, such systems will hereinafter be referred to as predefined price vending systems.
In the past, most predefined price vending systems have functioned in one of two different ways to try to ensure that a customer would receive the proper amount of change in the event that he had made an overdeposit. A number have been designed such that an exact change light is caused to be illuminated whenever the change making tube for the lowest denomination coin is found to be empty. With some of such vending systems, especially systems wherein the vend price is equal to the value of a particular denomination of coin, if the customer chooses to ignore the exact change light and to deposit a coin which does not constitute "exact change", the system will refuse to accept such coin and will simply return such deposited coin to the customer. In such a way, such systems can ensure that no overdeposit will be accepted and that no payback will be required. With other "exact change" systems, if the customer chooses to ignore the exact change light and deposits a coin sufficient to result in an overdeposit situation, the system will function to accept the coin and to effect a vend of the product selected, and will also attempt to provide a refund in the proper amount, but with no guarantee that the correct amount, or, perhaps, any amount, will actually be refunded to the customer. Consequently, in such a situation, it is quite likely that the customer may receive less than the full refund amount to which he is really entitled.
Other vending systems have been so designed that they receive the deposited coin and total the credit entries, subtract the vend price from such credit total to obtain a refund amount due, and then determine if sufficient change remains available in the change making tubes to actually pay back to the customer the refund amount due. Such types of vending systems have generally allowed the customer to deposit coins prior to the making of any vend selection in order to accumulate a credit entry, and have permitted such customer to thereafter make a vend selection to establish a vend price. Such systems typically determine both whether the accumulated credit entry is sufficient in view of the vend price established and whether any refund amount will be due to the customer as a result of an overdeposit. If it is determined that the credit entry is at least equal to the vend price and that sufficient change remains to pay back any refund amount due, such systems have then collected the deposited coins, effected a vending of the selected product, and paid back the particular refund amount, if any, due. However, if they have determined that insufficient change remains to pay back the particular refund amount that would be due, all the deposited coins, or coins of like total value, have been returned to the customer and no product vend has been effected.
Representative of some of the various types of vending systems noted hereinabove and of controls therefor or coin changing features that could be employed therewith are those constructions disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,188,961; 4,191,999; 4,462,512; 4,499,982; and 4,499,985.
With many of the known predefined price vending systems that include changemakers, a vend is not permitted if proper coins are not available for use in refunding the amount of an overdeposit. In such cases, the customer, who has typically deposited a plurality of coins to accumulate a credit entry, which coins are retained by the system upon deposit and the validation thereof, is refunded the total amount of his deposit, either automatically, as a function of the vending system, or upon actuation by him of an escrow switch. In any event, the entire deposited amount of credit is returned to the customer. If, by chance, such customer has available to him additional or other change in such an amount that he can deposit an exact change amount or some other amount for which the vend system includes appropriate change to allow a refund to be made, such customer may seek to obtain a vend by again commencing coin deposit, often re-depositing many of the same coins just returned to him. The noted return of all of such coins to the customer and the subsequent re-deposit of a portion thereof by him in further efforts to obtain a vend may take a significant amount of time in terms of the ability of the vend system to vend products to customers. Such time factor may become problemsome if there are a number of people waiting to use the vend system and several of the people near the beginning of the line all initially make deposits for which the system cannot provide a correct refund. If even some of such customers, after a first refund of all deposited coins, seek to re-deposit coins to obtain a vend, the delay to customers farther back in line will be increased. If the delay becomes too long, the individuals farther back in line may grow irritated, and, in some instances, decide not to wait for their turn, as a consequence of which sales will be lost. Even those who are willing to wait for their turn may develop less positive attitudes toward the vend system and the products vended thereby, the long term effect of which may be a reduction in sales. It is therefore desirable that such delay time in vending, which delay time results from the return of all deposited coins when non-refundable overdeposits are detected and the re-deposit of a portion of such returned coins in a subsequent vend operation, be minimized or eliminated, and the present invention is directed to such end.


Generally, in a plant, various equipment are arranged including electric equipment and monitor control equipment. In devices including such equipment, many require long-term stable operation. It is thus useful to prevent operational stoppages caused by failure of the equipment.
To prevent such stoppages due to equipment failure, it is possible to record a failure history of a device, and preventive maintenance can be performed as necessary based on the tendency of a failure to occur.
As a product and related information management method, Japanese Patent Disclosure (kokai) No. 2003-308363 discloses a method in which a guarantee on a product or data relating to the product, such as management information of a recycle cost, can be easily read.
Namely, a product includes a memory unit for readably storing data relating to the product. The data relating to the product includes product name and/or the manufacture's serial number, and the term of guarantee on the product corresponding to the product name and/or the manufacture's serial number.
In the related information managing method, the information relating to the product is managed by means of a computer, an identifier for identifying each of the products is readably stored in a memory unit in the product, the identifier is read, and information relating to the corresponding product is searched with this identifier as a search key and displayed.
In Japanese Patent Disclosure (kokai) No. 2003-308363, an identifier for identifying each of the products is readably stored in a memory unit of the product, the identifier is read, and information relating to the corresponding product is searched with this identifier as a search key and displayed.
Therefore, in Japanese Patent Disclosure (kokai) No. 2003-308363, failure history data of the shipped product is not managed.
Particularly, in a large-scale plant, intricately and highly developed devices are arranged. It would be useful for an equipment manager to manage failure history data of these devices, perform preventive maintenance as necessary based on a tendency of failures to occur, and prevent the stoppage of the equipment due to the failure ahead of time.


Advances in semiconductor manufacturing technology have resulted in, among other things, reducing the cost of sophisticated electronic products to the extent that the integrated circuits fabricated in accordance with these semiconductor manufacturing technologies have become ubiquitous in the modern environment.
As is well-known, integrated circuits are typically manufactured in batches, and these batches usually contain a plurality of semiconductor wafers within and upon which integrated circuits are formed through a variety of semiconductor manufacturing steps, including, for example, depositing, masking, patterning, implanting, etching, planarizing and so on.
Completed wafers are tested to determine which die, or integrated circuits, on the wafer are capable of operating according to predetermined specifications. In this way, integrated circuits that cannot perform as desired are not packaged, or otherwise incorporated into finished products.
It is common to manufacture integrated circuits on roughly circular semiconductor substrates, or wafers. Further, it is common to form such integrated circuits so that conductive regions disposed on, or close to, the uppermost layers of the integrated circuits are available to act as terminals for connection to various electrical elements disposed in, or on, the lower layers of those integrated circuits. Such conductive regions are commonly referred to as pads. Pads are commonly used to provide electrical access to the integrated circuit both during testing and during the operation of the integrated circuit as it is incorporated into a final product. Typical pads are formed from aluminum. It is well-known that the surfaces of aluminum which are exposed to the atmosphere will oxidize. These oxidation layers interfere with the formation of low resistance electrical connection to the pads.
During the process of testing the performance of the integrated circuits, the pads are commonly contacted with probe needles, or other contact structures, of a probe card. It is through such temporary connections that a test apparatus may electrically interact with an integrated circuit.
Conventionally, the probe needles, or other contact structures, of the probe card are brought into physical contact with the pads and then moved laterally to “scrub” the pad. The scrubbing operation is intended to break through the oxide layer on the top surface of the pad, thereby providing reduced contact resistance. Unfortunately, scrubbing disturbs the pad structure and can contribute to yield loss due to failure of bond wires to properly attach to the disturbed pad structure.
What is needed are methods and apparatus for providing low contact resistance connections to pads of integrated circuits without disturbing or substantially redistributing the material from which the pads are formed.


The present invention relates in general to hopper transport vehicles, and, more particularly, to a bottom for the hoppers of such vehicles.
Hopper vehicles include trucks, railroad cars, and the like, and are used to transport many materials, such as granular products, liquid products, and the like. The problems involved in unloading such vehicles have engendered many inventions, see, for example, co-pending Patent Application Ser. Nos. 137,438, filed Apr. 3, 1980, and 144,850, filed Apr. 29, 1980 by the present assignee, and incorporated herein by reference thereto.
Many unloading systems involve pressurizing the hopper and forcing the product into a discharge manifold. Such unloading systems will be referred to hereinafter as pneumatic unloading systems. Other unloading systems involve gravity unloading wherein product is discharged out of the hopper bottom.
There are situations where pneumatic unloading is more efficient than gravity unloading, and vice versa. Accordingly, there is need for a hopper vehicle which is capable of being unloaded by pneumatic unloading procedures and by gravity unloading procedures.


Bioassays are used to probe for the presence and/or the quantity of a target material in a biological sample. In surface based assays, the target amount is quantified by capturing it on a solid support and then detecting it. One example of a surface-based assay is a DNA microarray. The use of DNA microarrays has become widely adopted in the study of gene expression and genotyping due to the ability to monitor large numbers of genes simultaneously (Schena et al., Science 270:467-470 (1995); Pollack et al., Nat. Genet. 23:41-46 (1999)). More than 100,000 different probe sequences can be bound to distinct spatial locations across the microarray surface, each spot corresponding to a single gene (Schena et al., Tibtech 16:301-306 (1998)). When a fluorescent-labeled DNA target sample is placed over the surface of the array, individual DNA strands hybridize to complementary strands within each array spot. The level of fluorescence detected quantifies the number of copies bound to the array surface and therefore the relative presence of each gene, while the location of each spot determines the gene identity. Using arrays, it is theoretically possible to simultaneously monitor the expression of all genes in the human genome. This is an extremely powerful technique, with applications spanning all areas of genetics (For some examples, see the Chipping Forecast supplement to Nature Genetics 21 (1999)). Arrays can also be fabricated using other binding moieties such as antibodies, proteins, haptens or aptamers, in order to facilitate a wide variety of bioassays in array format.
Other surface-based assays include microtitre plate-based ELISAs in which the bottom of each well is coated with a different antibody. A protein sample is then added to each well along with a fluorescent-labeled secondary antibody for each protein. Target proteins are captured on the surface of each well and secondarily labeled with a fluorophore. The fluorescence intensity at the bottom of each well is used to quantify the amount of each target molecule in the sample. Similarly, antibodies or DNA can be bound to a microsphere such as a polymer bead and assayed as described above. Once again, each of these assay formats is amenable for use with a plurality of binding moieties as described for arrays.
Other bioassays are of use in the fields of proteomics, and the like. For example, cell function, both normal and pathologic, depends, in part, on the genes expressed by the cell (i.e., gene function). Gene expression has both qualitative and quantitative aspects. That is, cells may differ both in terms of the particular genes expressed and in terms of the relative level of expression of the same gene. Differential gene expression is manifested, for example, by differences in the expression of proteins encoded by the gene, or in post-translational modifications of expressed proteins. For example, proteins can be decorated with carbohydrates or phosphate groups, or they can be processed through peptide cleavage. Thus, at the biochemical level, a cell represents a complex mixture of organic biomolecules.
One goal of functional genomics (“proteomics”) is the identification and characterization of organic biomolecules that are differentially expressed between cell types. By comparing expression, one can identify molecules that may be responsible for a particular pathologic activity of a cell. For example, identifying a protein that is expressed in cancer cells but not in normal cells is useful for diagnosis and, ultimately, for drug discovery and treatment of the pathology. Upon completion of the Human Genome Project, all the human genes will have been cloned, sequenced and organized in databases. In this “post-genome” world, the ability to identify differentially expressed proteins will lead, in turn, to the identification of the genes that encode them. Thus, the power of genetics can be brought to bear on problems of cell function.
Differential chemical analyses of gene expression and function require tools that can resolve the complex mixture of molecules in a cell, quantify them and identify them, even when present in trace amounts. The current tools of analytical chemistry for this purpose are presently limited in each of these areas. One popular biomolecular separation method is gel electrophoresis. Frequently, a first separation of proteins by isoelectric focusing in a gel is coupled with a second separation by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The result is a map that resolves proteins according to the dimensions of isoelectric point (net charge) and size (i.e., mass). Although useful, this method is limited in several ways. First, the method provides information only about two characteristics of a biomolecule-mass and isoelectric point (“pI”). Second, the resolution power in each of the dimensions is limited by the resolving power of the gel. For example, molecules whose mass differ by less than about 5% or less than about 0.5 pI are often difficult to resolve. Third, gels have limited loading capacity, and thus limited sensitivity; one often cannot detect biomolecules that are expressed in small quantities. Fourth, small proteins and peptides with a molecular mass below about 10-20 kDa are not observed.
The use of functionalized chips is replacing gels as the method of choice for bioassays. Efforts to improved the sensitivity of assays have resulted in a number of chip designs. For example, a specific binding assay device, which comprises multilayer analytical materials is known (see, for example, EP 51183, EP 66648, DE 3227474 and EP 236768). other multilayer chips are set forth in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,839,278 and 4,356,149.
An effective chip for bioassay applications must have adequate capacity to immobilize a sufficient amount of an analyte from relevant samples in order to provide a suitable signal when subjected to detection (e.g., mass spectroscopy analysis). Suitable chips must also provide a highly reproducible surface in order to be gainfully applied to profiling experiments, particularly in assay formats in which the sample and the control must be analyzed on separate adjacent chip surfaces. Chips that are not based on a highly reproducible surface chemistry result in significant errors when undertaking assays (e.g., profiling comparisons).
In general, currently available chips are based on in-situ polymerization of a hydrogel on each spot of a bioassay chip (see, e.g., WO 00/66265 (Rich et al.) The selectivity and reproducibility of these chips is highly dependent upon a large number of experimental variables including, monomer concentration, monomer ratios, initiator concentration, solvent evaporation rate, ambient humidity (in the case when the solvent is water), crosslinker concentration, laboratory temperature, pipetting time, sparging conditions, reaction temperature (in the case of thermal polymerizations), reaction humidity, uniformity of ultraviolet radiation (in the case of UV photopolymerization) and ambient oxygen conditions. While many of these parameters can be controlled in a manufacturing setting, is difficult if not impossible to control all of these parameters which impinge upon reproducibility. As a result, in situ polymerizations results in relatively poor reproducibility of all parameters including spot to spot, chip to chip and lot to lot.
Thus, there is a tremendous need for chips that provide reproducible results from assay to assay, are easy to use, and provide quantitative data in multi-analyte systems. Moreover, to become widely accepted, the chips should be inexpensive to make, and to use for the detection of analytes. The availability of a chip having the above-described characteristics would significantly affect research, individual point of care situations (doctor's office, emergency room, out in the field, etc.), and high throughput testing applications. The present invention provides chips having these and other desirable characteristics


A data center may house computer systems and associated components, such as telecommunications systems, servers, and storage systems. A data center may also include redundant or backup components, such as power supplies, data communications connections, environmental controls, security devices, and the like. A data center may operate systems associated with a particular company. For example, a company may hire a third-party service provider to manage the company's systems through the third-party service provider's data center.


The present invention relates to systems to attenuate a selected electrical signal in response to changes in selected conditions including changes in characteristics of the signal. Signal attenuation means are utilized in numerous applications from highly sophisticated applications such as computers to more straightforeward applications in simple electrical or electromechanical devices.
Signal attenuation can, of course, be accomplished manually by observation of the situation to be controlled and manual manipulation of the signal control means. In the alternative, signal attenuation can be accomplished by sensing devices responsive to the condition to be controlled and use of controlled devices to automatically attenuate signals in response to changed conditions.
In one application of the foregoing, specifically in electronic circuitry, attenuation can be accomplished by the use of amplifier means for the controlled signal with continuous feedback and gain adjustment of the amplifier circuit. Such arrangements provide satisfactory control in some instances but in other application, for example in attenuation of the output of multiple input sound actuated sound amplification systems, such arrangements have been less satisfactory than desired. Also, such systems are subject to distortion resulting from transient and feedback effects.
Other attenuation methods have provided for stepwise, rather than continuous attenuation. Such arrangements have generally been manually controlled and where automatic control has been provided as disclosed in an article entitled "Automatic Attenuator Rapidly Changes Signal Level", Electronics, Sept. 15, 1969 at page 120 by continuous monitoring of incoming signals to shift attenuation levels. Such systems have been found less than desirable in sound amplification because the rapid switching of output channels leads to undesirable interference with the quality of transmitted program material.
In some sound attenuation devices so called voltage controlled amplifiers have been utilized wherein the attenuation or amplification of a program signal is accomplished by varying the voltage to the gain control of the amplifier to modify the attenuator to maintain selected output signal characteristics. However, such voltage controlled amplifiers have inherently poor noise factors and tend to distort the program to be amplified.


The invention relates to an instrument for dental use, of the type comprising a handle and one or two active ends that are pointed or variously shaped for use in various types of procedures, and in particular to a specific type of finish on the handle and a method of forming the finish.
Currently known instruments of this type have a handle of which a portion has a knurled or ridged surface, in particular a knurled surface with deep indentations. The portion of the surface machined in this way is currently thought to be necessary to enable the dentist to have a firm grip on the instrument.
The knurling, while considered necessary for gripping the instrument, has proved to be a source of major disadvantages, particularly with regard to hygiene. The indentations in the knurled surface trap contaminants and dirt that could transmit microorganisms. Although they are sterilized, instruments of this type may not be perfectly cleaned because contaminants can accumulate in the indentations in the knurled surface.
The primary object of the present invention is a surgical instrument, particularly intended for dental use and method of making same, which does not have the above disadvantages but nevertheless still has the advantage of enabling the dentist to grip the instrument correctly and firmly.
The instrument according to the present invention is substantially characterized in that the handle is substantially smooth and has at least one grip zone which has a plurality of microchannels extending in a circumferential direction of the handle. The plurality of microchannels form a uniform surface roughness with the microchannels being arranged on the handle in a uniform random distribution. Each of the micro-channels are sized to be below a magnitude to collect contaminants. The grip zone is formed by providing a grinding surface with a magnitude of roughness that is below a roughness to cause indentations in the handle that would collect contaminants. A grinding surface in the form sandpaper having a grade or sieve number between n. 105 and 500 of the US standard sieves scale is used to create the micro-channels. Sandpaper of n. 240 grade has been found to the most desirable. Other grinding surfaces and other devices can also be used which form the same type of uniform random distribution of microchannels as formed by sandpaper having a grade between n. 105 and n. 500 of the US standard sieves scale. The functional element of the instrument is connected to one of the ends of the handle for performing a dental procedure. The grinding surface is rotated relative to an outer surface of the handle and the handle is held against the grinding surface to form micro-channels in the handle. The relative rotating has a directional component in a circumferential direction of the handle. The micro-channels thus formed are of a size being below a magnitude to collect contaminants. The relative rotating forms the micro-channels in the circumferential direction of the handle.
Alternatively, the outer surface of the handle is also moved against the grinding surface in an axial direction of the handle to also form the micro-channels in the handle. The axial moving is performed substantially simultaneously with the relative rotating to form the micro-channels in both the circumferential direction and the axial direction of the handle. This causes the micro-channels to be formed in a helicoidal direction of the handle.
This type of grip surface provides sufficient roughness to ensure that the user can grip it correctly, and that there is no need for indentations, cavities or other forms of uneven surface that could trap contaminants or pathogens. In the context of the present description the grinding surface covers any surface or device which forms a uniform random distribution of microchannels as formed by sandpaper having a grade between n. 104 and n. 500 of the US standard sieves scale. This size and distribution has been found to allow sufficient roughness to be obtained without the formation of indentations which could form a trap for contaminants or pathogens.
The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated.


A continuing goal of integrated circuit fabrication is to decrease the dimensions thereof. Integrated circuit dimensions can be decreased by reducing the dimensions and spacing of the constituent features or structures. For example, by decreasing the dimensions and spacing of semiconductor features (e.g., storage capacitors, access transistors, access lines) of a memory device, the overall dimensions of the memory device may be decreased while maintaining or increasing the storage capacity of the memory device.
As the dimensions and spacing of semiconductor device features become smaller, conventional lithographic processes become increasingly more difficult and expensive to conduct. Therefore, significant challenges are encountered in the fabrication of nanostructures, particularly structures having a feature dimension (e.g., critical dimension) less than a resolution limit of conventional photolithography techniques (currently about 50 nm). It is possible to fabricate semiconductor structures of such feature dimensions using a conventional lithographic process, such as shadow mask lithography and e-beam lithography. However, use of such processes is limited because the exposure tools are extremely expensive or extremely slow and, further, may not be amenable to formation of structures having dimensions of less than 50 nm.
The development of new processes, as well as materials useful in such processes, is of increasing importance to make the fabrication of small-scale devices easier, less expensive, and more versatile. One example of a method of fabricating small-scale devices that addresses some of the drawbacks of conventional lithographic techniques is self-assembled block copolymer lithography.
Although self-assembled block copolymer lithography is useful for fabrication of semiconductor structures having dimensions of less than 50 nm, there are still problems that must be addressed. Self-assembled block copolymer materials may not provide nanostructures exhibiting sufficiently low defect levels.
Self-assembled nucleic acids have been researched for forming semiconductor devices. The specificity of complementary base pairing in nucleic acids provides self-assembled nucleic acids that may be used for self-assembled nucleic acid lithography processes.


FIG. 1 is a cross-section of a known formation testing/sampling probe assembly 100 viewed in a plane containing the wellbore axis. The assembly 100 includes a packer 101 configured to be pressed against a formation of interest via hydraulically actuated pistons schematically shown as 103 and 104. Deformation of the packer 101 around an extendable probe barrel 102 and against the formation creates a seal that isolates the formation fluids and pressure from the wellbore environment. The probe barrel 102 extends forward, due to high pressure hydraulic oil entering chamber 105 at the same time pistons 103 and 104 are actuated to apply an extension force. The area of investigation by the probe assembly 100 is limited to the area that is in direct contact with the extendable probe barrel 102, usually called the orifice. This area is limited by the diameter of the probe barrel 102, which is about the same dimension as the diameter of the hole 106 in the packer 101 through which the probe barrel 102 passes.
Other prior art has sought to improve upon the design of the probe assembly 100 by increasing the diameter of the probe barrel. Nonetheless, the area of investigation is still limited to the largest diameter of the probe barrel, which is currently between two and three inches. This could be problematic for formations with thin laminations where the formation may have a small (e.g., ˜0.5 inches thick) production zone sandwiched between thicker zones of impermeable formation. With prior art designs, finding a non-producing zone is much more likely due to the small lateral extent (the probe barrel diameter) of the area of investigation.
One attempt at addressing this thin lamination problem involved elongating the packer, such as with the known probe assembly 200 shown in FIG. 2. The elongated packer 201 of the probe assembly 200 is pressed against the formation by backing plate 202 to create a seal. However, in this case, an annular shaped metal spacer 207a fills the upper hydraulic chamber 207, preventing the probe barrel 208 from extending forward. Since the packer 201 and backing plate 202 are elongated along the central axis of the wellbore, a number of formation laminations could be investigated. The axial length of investigation using the probe assembly 200 could approach several inches, including one known embodiment in which the length was about seven inches.
However, problems with the probe assembly 200 have been discovered. For example, the packer 201 is not as constrained at its inner boundary as it is near the raised rim 203 of the backing plate 202 that defines the orifice of the probe. It has been found that the packer material 201 migrates into the probe's orifice during formation testing operations. The large difference in pressures between the wellbore, pushing on surfaces 204, and the probe orifice, pushing on the packer surface near the raised rim 203, forces the packer material to move into the orifice. This movement decreases the ability of the packer 201 to seal against the formation and prevents the tool's pressure gauges from equilibrating to that of the pressure of the formation fluid. As the elastomeric material of the packer 201 is sucked into the probe orifice, the hydraulic pressure declines in the pistons (schematically shown in FIG. 2 as 205 and 206) applying the extension force (a consequence of the tool design). This, in turn, results in a decline in the force pushing the packer against the formation, further exacerbating the situation, and resulting in both packer damage and loss of seal. This design has lead to a high number of lost seals.
Another problem that exists with the design shown in FIG. 2 is that the upper surface of the raised rim 203 of the backing plate 202 is located well below the surface of the elastomer 201 that seals against the wellbore wall. As a consequence, elastomer must be compressed before the raised rim 203 makes contact with the wellbore wall. This is of considerable disadvantage because it requires performing large volume pretests. On the other hand, if this difference in heights between the surface of the raised rim 203 and the sealing surface of the elastomer 201 didn't exist, then it would not be possible for the elastomer 201 to form a seal against the wellbore wall, because the metal spacer 207a makes the probe barrel 208 and the backing plate 202 move in unison.