Datasets:

NakanoMiku0-0

/

patent-brf-summary

like 0

11430815

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims the priority of International Application No. PCT/CN2019/106132, filed on 2019 Sep. 17, which claims priority to Chinese Application No. 201910321838.3, filed on 2019 Apr. 22. The entire disclosures of each of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND OF INVENTION Field of Invention The present invention relates to the field of electronic display, and in particular, to a metal wiring film and a method of fabricating thereof, a thin film transistor. Description of Prior Art To achieve transparent display, a common practice in the prior art is to use transparent conductive films to form traces in thin film transistors of a display screen. The traces in a conventional display panel generally include an indium tin oxide film (ITO) and a metal wiring film covering the ITO film. The metal wiring film generally includes two layers of molybdenum-niobium alloy film (Mo—Nb) and an aluminum-niobium alloy Al—Nb film located between them. Technical Problems Because unit impedance of the molybdenum-niobium alloy and unit impedance of the aluminum-niobium alloy differ greatly, thereby a potential difference exists between the aluminum-niobium alloy and the aluminum-niobium alloy on both sides thereof. The existence of this potential difference causes the aluminum alloy film to be electrolytically corroded, thereby destroying integrity of protective film. At the same time, electrical resistance of the metal wiring film is increased and quality of the display panel is affected. SUMMARY OF INVENTION The present application provides a metal wiring film, a method of fabricating thereof, and a thin film transistor to eliminate a potential difference in a metal wiring film and prevent the metal wiring film from being electrolytically corroded. Specifically, the present application provides a metal wiring film, wherein the metal wiring film comprises: a first film layer formed by a nickel-copper alloy, a mass percentage of nickel in the nickel-copper alloy ranges from 30% to 70%; a second film layer disposed above the first film layer, a material forming the second film layer is an aluminum-neodymium alloy, and the mass percentage of neodymium in the aluminum-neodymium alloy ranges from 1% to 5%; a third film layer disposed above the second film layer, a material forming the third film layer is the same as the material forming the first film layer. According to one aspect of the application, wherein the nickel-copper alloy further comprises metallic titanium, and a mass percentage of titanium in the nickel-copper alloy is between 1% and 10%. According to one aspect of the application, wherein the nickel-copper alloy has a mass percentage of nickel of 30%, a mass percentage of copper of 60%, and a mass percentage of titanium of 10%. According to one aspect of the application, wherein a mass percentage of neodymium in the aluminum-neodymium alloy is 1%. According to one aspect of the application, wherein the first film layer and the third film layer have a same thickness, and a thickness of the second film layer is greater than or equal to twice the sum of a thicknesses of the first film layer and the third film layer. According to one aspect of the application, wherein a thickness of the first film layer and the third film layer is between 20 and 60 nm, a thickness of the second film layer is between 200 and 250 nm. The present application further provides a thin film transistor comprising a metal wiring film, wherein the metal wiring film comprises: a first film layer formed by a nickel-copper alloy, a mass percentage of nickel in the nickel-copper alloy ranges from 30% to 70%; a second film layer disposed above the first film layer, a material forming the second film layer is an aluminum-neodymium alloy, and the mass percentage of neodymium in the aluminum-neodymium alloy ranges from 1% to 5%; a third film layer disposed above the second film layer, a material forming the third film layer is the same as the material forming the first film layer. According to one aspect of the application, wherein the nickel-copper alloy further comprises metallic titanium, and a mass percentage of titanium in the nickel-copper alloy is between 1% and 10%. According to one aspect of the application, wherein the nickel-copper alloy has a mass percentage of nickel of 30%, a mass percentage of copper of 60%, and a mass percentage of titanium of 10%. According to one aspect of the application, wherein a mass percentage of neodymium in the aluminum-neodymium alloy is 1%. According to one aspect of the application, wherein the first film layer and the third film layer have a same thickness, and a thickness of the second film layer is greater than or equal to twice the sum of a thicknesses of the first film layer and the third film layer. According to one aspect of the application, wherein a thickness of the first film layer and the third film layer is between 20 and 60 nm, a thickness of the second film layer is between 200 and 250 nm. The present application further provides a method of fabricating a metal wiring film in a thin film transistor, wherein the method comprises the following steps: providing a substrate, the substrate comprising an active region and an insulating layer covering the active region; forming a transparent conductive film on the insulating layer; forming a first film layer covering the transparent conductive film, the material of the first film layer is a nickel-copper alloy, and a mass percentage of nickel in the nickel-copper alloy is between 30% and 70%; forming a second film layer above the first film layer, the material of the second film layer is an aluminum-neodymium alloy, and a mass percentage of neodymium in the aluminum-neodymium alloy is between 1% and 5%; forming a third film layer over the second film layer, the material of the third film layer is same as the material of the first film layer. According to one aspect of the application, wherein the method of forming the first film layer and the third film layer is: providing a vacuum chamber, the pressure of the vacuum chamber is less than or equal to 4×10−5Pa; pouring argon into the vacuum chamber such that the pressure in the vacuum chamber is between 0.2 and 1 Pa; using a nickel-copper alloy film as a target of a direct current sputtering method to form a nickel-copper alloy film having a thickness ranging from 20 to 60 nm. According to one aspect of the application, wherein the method of forming the second film layer is: providing a vacuum chamber, the pressure of the vacuum chamber is less than or equal to 4×10−5Pa; pouring argon into the vacuum chamber such that the pressure in the vacuum chamber is between 0.2 and 1 Pa; forming an aluminum-neodymium alloy film having a thickness ranging from 200 to 250 nm by a direct current sputtering method using an aluminum-neodymium alloy as a target. Beneficial Effects The present application uses a nickel-copper alloy instead of a molybdenum-niobium alloy in the prior art to form a first film layer and a third film layer in a metal wiring film, using an aluminum-neodymium alloy instead of an aluminum-niobium alloy in the prior art to form a second film layer, and by setting thicknesses of the films, a thickness of the second film layer is greater than or equal to twice the sum of the thicknesses of the first film layer and the third film layer. Thereby, potential difference between the respective film layers is effectively eliminated, and the metal wiring film is prevented from being electrolytically corroded.

11306939

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure generally relates to energy management computer programs, computer systems, and computer-assisted solutions. The disclosure relates more specifically to a networked, cloud-based energy management computer system that provides for centralized management and control of multiple energy management devices located at a plurality of sites, and analysis of energy usage data collected across site boundaries. BACKGROUND The approaches described in this section are approaches that could be pursued, but not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, it should not be assumed that any of the approaches described in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue of their inclusion in this section. Energy costs typically represent one of the largest ongoing expenses associated with a business enterprise's commercial leases. As a result, business enterprises and other institutions are increasingly looking to some form of automated energy management solution in an attempt to monitor and reduce costs associated with energy usage at commercially operated sites. For business enterprises such as small footprint retail and food service chains that may operate a large number of sites across a wide geographic area, past energy management solutions have had serious shortcomings. For example, according to industry studies, only a small percentage of small footprint commercial sites are automated with a computer-based energy management system. Instead, the vast majority of commercial sites are equipped with outdated manual or programmable thermostats that typically require configuration and management by a local site manager or other employees. However, a typical site manager is often saddled with a variety of other job responsibilities that leave few resources to properly configure and manage thermostats and other energy management devices for optimal energy usage. The financial implications of this mismanagement are potentially considerable, particularly for enterprises that control hundreds or thousands of sites. Of the commercial sites that have an energy management system, these systems are typically implemented as costly, custom-designed solutions that target individual site locations and are often bundled with expensive professional services to maintain the systems. The prior energy management approaches have been a poor fit for business enterprises that manage a large number of small footprint sites by failing to provide a scalable energy management system that provides centralized control of an enterprise's energy management devices across multiple sites, and that enables valuable analysis and insight into an enterprise's energy usage across site boundaries in order to optimize energy usage. SUMMARY The appended claims may serve as a summary of the invention.

11391862

TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD An example embodiment relates generally to a system and method of reliably detecting the presence of an object and, more particularly, to a system, a method and an associated mirror that utilizes a filter associated with a reflective panel in order to attenuate at least some of the signals that are otherwise utilized to detect the presence of an object, such as in an instance in which the signals are incident upon the mirror due to the absence of an object, in order to avoid misinterpretation of signals reflected from a mirror as being indicative of the presence of an object. BACKGROUND Sensors, such as infrared (IR) sensors, are utilized to detect the presence of an object, such as a person. For example, IR sensors may be utilized in conjunction with sinks and toilets in order to detect the presence of a person in proximity thereto. In an instance in which a sensor associated with a sink detects the presence of a person, such as a person holding his or her hands under the faucet of the sink, the sensor may provide an output signal that causes the faucet to be activated and to dispense water, such as for a predefined period of time while the person who has been detected washes their hands. As another example, a sensor associated with a toilet may be configured to provide an output signal that causes the toilet to flush in an instance in which a person whose presence was previously detected in proximity to the toilet is no longer detected to be proximate the toilet. Sensors are generally configured to detect the presence of an object, such as a person, based upon the detection of signals that were originally emitted by the sensor and were then reflected or scattered by an object, such as a person, in the vicinity of the sensor. The sensor may be configured to detect a person within a predefined range of the sensor with different ranges associated with different applications. With respect to the sensor associated with a sink, for example, the predefined range may be relatively small such that the presence of the person will be detected in an instance in which the person places her hands under the faucet, but not in an instance in which the person is merely standing in front of the sink with their hands at their side. By associating sensors that are configured to detect the presence of an object, such as a person, with sinks and toilets, the sinks and toilets are more frequently capable of hands-free operation. As the hands-free operation of sinks and toilets may increase the convenience with which sinks and toilets are utilized and may also decrease the transmission of germs that might otherwise occur by touching the knobs, handles or levers associated with the sinks and toilets, sensors are increasingly being associated with sinks and toilets. With the increasing use of sensors in conjunction with sinks and toilets, sensors may sometimes be utilized in environments, such as relatively small lavatories, in which a mirror is positioned across from the sink or toilet. In these environments and in an instance in which there is no object, such as no person, standing between sensor and the mirror, the signals emitted by the sensor impinge upon the mirror and are reflected in such a manner as to be captured by the sensor, such as a detector of the sensor. Based upon the detection of the reflected signals, the sensor may incorrectly identify the presence of an object, such as a person, since the detection of reflected signals is also indicative of the presence of the object. As such, the sensor may generate an output signal that triggers the same operation that would be triggered in an instance in which the presence of an object, such as a person, is detected, such as by turning on the water even though there is no person positioned proximate the sink. In these situations, the mirror may sometimes be moved, repositioned, or angled relative to the sensor so as to no longer reflect the signals emitted by the sensor in such a manner as to be captured by the sensor. Thus, this relocation of the mirror may avoid the false identification of the presence of an object, such as a person. However, certain environments, such as the lavatories onboard an aircraft, a cruise ship, a train, or the like, may have only limited locations in which a mirror may be placed and it may therefore not be feasible to reposition the mirror to the extent necessary to avoid the reflectance of signals to the sensor and the corresponding potential of incorrectly identifying the presence of an object, such as a person. BRIEF SUMMARY A system and method are provided in accordance with an example embodiment in order to more reliably detect the presence of an object, such as a person. In this regard, the system and method of an example embodiment attenuates at least some of the signals emitted by a sensor that otherwise would have been reflected from a reflective panel, such as a mirror, and returned to the sensor, thereby reducing the likelihood that the sensor will incorrectly detect the presence of an object, such as a person. Thus, by associating a filter that provides for the attenuation of at least some of the signals with a reflective panel, such a mirror, the reflective panel may be positioned in alignment with the sensor, such as on an opposite wall from the sensor, without causing the sensor to falsely detect the presence of an object. Consequently, the system and method of an example embodiment facilitate the co-location of a sensor and a reflective panel, such as a mirror, in an environment that requires the sensor and the reflective panel to be disposed in an aligned facing relationship, such as on the opposed sidewalls of a lavatory. In an example embodiment, a system is provided for detecting the presence of an object. The system includes a sensor configured to emit signals having a predefined wavelength and to detect a reflection of the signals having the predefined wavelength. The system also includes a reflective panel positioned relative to the sensor such that the signals emitted by the sensor are directed toward the reflected panel. The system further includes a filter associated with the reflective panel and positioned relative to the sensor such that the signals emitted by the sensor are also directed toward the filter. The filter is configured to attenuate at least signals having the predefined wavelength. The reflective panel of an example embodiment comprises a mirror including an at least partially transparent layer and a reflecting layer positioned as a backing to the at least partially transparent layer. The filter of one example embodiment is disposed on a surface of the at least partially transparent layer that faces away from the reflecting layer and toward the sensor. Alternatively, the filter of another example embodiment is disposed between the at least partially transparent layer and the reflecting layer. In an example embodiment, the filter is disposed on only a portion of the reflective panel such that other portions of the reflective panel are free of the filter. In this example embodiment, the portion of the reflective panel on which the filter is disposed includes the portion of the reflective panel toward which the signals emitted by the sensor are directed. The filter of an example embodiment includes a bandpass filter that is also configured to allow visible light to pass thereto with less attenuation than that experienced by the signals having the predefined wavelength. In this example embodiment, the predefined wavelength may include an infrared (IR) or near infrared (NIR) wavelength such that the filter is configured to attenuate at least IR or NIR signals. The filter of an example embodiment includes ink that is configured to attenuate at least signals having a predefined wavelength. The sensor of an example embodiment is also configured to provide an output that at least partially controls operations of a sink in response to detection of the reflection of signals having a predefined wavelength. In this example embodiment, the sensor is positioned proximate the sink and the reflective panel, as well as the filter associated with the reflective panel, are positioned on a surface opposite the sink. In another example embodiment, the sensor is configured to provide an output that at least partially controls operation of a toilet in response to detection of the reflection of signals having the predefined wavelength. In this example embodiment, the sensor is positioned proximate the toilet and the reflective panel, as well as the filter associated with the reflective panel, are positioned on a surface opposite the toilet. In another example embodiment, a method is provided for detecting the presence of an object, such as a person. The method includes emitting signals having a predefined wavelength and being directed toward a reflective panel. In the absence of the object being disposed between a source of the signals and the reflective panel, the method includes at least partially attenuating the signals having the predefined wavelength with a filter that is associated with the reflective panel and is positioned such that the signals that are emitted are also directed toward the filter. The method further includes detecting a reflection of the signals having the predefined wavelength in response to the presence of the object between the source of the signals and the reflective panel. The method of an example embodiment also includes allowing visible light to pass through the filter with less attenuation than that experienced by the signals having the predefined wavelength. In this example embodiment, the predefined wavelength may include an infrared (IR) or near infrared (NIR) wavelength. As such, the method of this example embodiment at least partially attenuates the signals by at least partially attenuating IR or NIR signals. In an example embodiment, the method also includes operating a sink or a toilet in response to detection of the reflection of the signals having the predefined wavelength. In a further example embodiment, a mirror is provided that includes an at least partially transparent layer and a reflecting layer positioned as a backing to the at least partially transparent layer. The mirror also includes a bandpass filter disposed to overlie only a portion of the reflecting layer such that signals incident upon other portions of reflecting layer do not pass through the bandpass filter. The bandpass filter is configured to attenuate at least signals having a predefined wavelength, but to allow visible light to pass therethrough with less attenuation than that experience by the signal having the predefined wavelength. The bandpass filter of an example embodiment is disposed on a surface of the at least partially transparent layer that faces away from the reflecting layer. The bandpass filter of an alternative embodiment is positioned between the at least partially transparent layer and the reflecting layer. In an example embodiment, the predefined wavelength includes an infrared (IR) or near infrared (NIR) wavelength such that the bandpass filter is configured to attenuate at least IR or NIR signals. The bandpass filter of an example embodiment includes ink that is configured to attenuate at least signals having the predefined wavelength.

11464393

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope apparatus and a method of operating the endoscope apparatus. 2. Description of the Related Art In endoscope observation in a medical field, an observation method of irradiating a living tissue with narrow-band light having a center wavelength (wavelength band) set depending on a light absorption characteristic of hemoglobin to visualize a blood vessel existing at a desired depth of the living tissue has been conventionally proposed. More specifically, Japanese Patent No. 5974204 discloses a configuration in which a living mucous membrane is irradiated with narrow band light in the vicinity of 600 nm as light that is relatively easy to absorb in hemoglobin and narrow band light in the vicinity of 630 nm as light that is relatively difficult to absorb in hemoglobin to together visualize a blood vessel existing at a depth of the living mucous membrane and a contour of a background portion leading to the depth from a surface layer of the living mucous membrane. Japanese Patent No. 5974204 discloses a configuration related to a light source apparatus including an LED configured to generate narrow band light in the vicinity of 600 nm and an LED configured to generate narrow band light in the vicinity of 630 nm. In the above-described observation method, a semiconductor light source such as an LED or an LD (laser diode) has been generally used as a light source configured to generate narrow band light. However, when the semiconductor light source is used in the above-described observation method, there can occur a situation where an image having a different color tone from an original color tone is displayed due to a center wavelength (wavelength band) of narrow band light to be emitted from the semiconductor light source shifting from an original center wavelength (wavelength band). SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an endoscope apparatus including a light source apparatus configured to sequentially or simultaneously generate as illumination light first narrow band light as light having an intensity within a predetermined wavelength range of a red range in which a light absorption coefficient in a light absorption characteristic of hemoglobin sharply changes and second narrow band light as light having an intensity on the side of a longer wavelength than the predetermined wavelength range, an image pickup device configured to pick up an image of return light from an object including a region containing hemoglobin irradiated with the illumination light and output an image pickup signal, an image processing circuit configured to subject at least one of a first image obtained by performing image pickup of the return light from the object irradiated with the first narrow band light and a second image obtained by performing image pickup of the return light from the object irradiated with the second narrow band light to predetermined image processing and output at least one of the first image and the second image subjected to the predetermined image processing, an observation image generation circuit configured to generate an observation image using the first image and the second image obtained as a processing result of the predetermined image processing and output the generated observation image to a display apparatus, and a control circuit configured to perform control to acquire signal intensity information as information about a signal intensity of the image pickup signal outputted from the image pickup device in response to irradiation of the object with the first narrow band light based on a detection result obtained by detecting a predetermined parameter representing a current operation state of a predetermined light source corresponding to a generation source of the first narrow band light in the light source apparatus and further maintain a ratio of respective brightnesses of the first image and the second image used for generating the observation image to be a predetermined ratio based on the signal intensity information. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an endoscope apparatus including a light source apparatus configured to sequentially or simultaneously generate as illumination light first narrow band light as light having an intensity within a predetermined wavelength range of a red range in which a light absorption coefficient in a light absorption characteristic of hemoglobin sharply changes, second narrow band light as light having an intensity on the side of a longer wavelength than the predetermined wavelength range, and third narrow band light having an intensity outside the predetermined wavelength range and having an intensity in either one of a blue range and a green range, an image pickup device configured to pick up an image of return light from an object including a region containing hemoglobin irradiated with the illumination light and output an image pickup signal, an image processing circuit configured to subject at least one of a first image obtained by performing image pickup of the return light from the object irradiated with the first narrow band light, a second image obtained by performing image pickup of the return light from the object irradiated with the second narrow band light, and a third image obtained by performing image pickup of the return light from the object irradiated with the third narrow band light to predetermined image processing and output at least one of the first image, the second image and the third image subjected to the predetermined image processing, an observation image generation circuit configured to generate an observation image using the first image, the second image, and the third image obtained as a processing result of the predetermined image processing and output the generated observation image to a display apparatus, and a control circuit configured to perform control to acquire signal intensity information as information about a signal intensity of the image pickup signal outputted from the image pickup device in response to irradiation of the object with the first narrow band light based on a detection result obtained by detecting one or more predetermined parameter representing a current operation state of a predetermined light source corresponding to a generation source of the first narrow band light in the light source apparatus and further maintain a ratio of respective brightnesses of the first image, the second image, and the third image used for generating the observation image to be a predetermined ratio based on the signal intensity information. According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of operating an endoscope apparatus, the method including sequentially or simultaneously generating as illumination light first narrow band light as light having an intensity within a predetermined wavelength range of a red range in which a light absorption coefficient in a light absorption characteristic of hemoglobin sharply changes and second narrow band light as light having an intensity on the side of a longer wavelength than the predetermined wavelength range, picking up an image of return light from an object including a region containing hemoglobin irradiated with the illumination light and output an image pickup signal, subjecting at least one of a first image obtained by performing image pickup of the return light from the object irradiated with the first narrow band light and a second image obtained by performing image pickup of the return light from the object irradiated with the second narrow band light to predetermined image processing and outputting at least one of the first image and the second image subjected to the predetermined image processing, generating an observation image using the first image and the second image obtained as a processing result of the predetermined image processing and outputting the generated observation image to a display apparatus, acquiring signal intensity information as information about a signal intensity of the image pickup signal in response to irradiation of the object with the first narrow band light based on a detection result of a predetermined parameter representing a current operation state of a predetermined light source corresponding to a generation source of the first narrow band light, and performing control to maintain a ratio of respective brightnesses of the first image and the second image used for generating the observation image to be a predetermined ratio based on the signal intensity information.

11317863

TECHNICAL FIELD This disclosure relates to ear-wearable devices. BACKGROUND In many people, hearing loss is a gradual process that occurs over many years. As a result, many people grow accustomed to living with reduced hearing without recognizing the auditory experiences and opportunities they are missing. For example, a person might not realize how much less conversation he or she engages in due to his or her hearing loss. As a result of hearing loss, reduced audibility, reduced social interaction, and communication pathology, patients may also experience follow-on effects such as dementia, depression, increased risk for falling and generally poorer health. SUMMARY This disclosure describes techniques for improving efficiency of measuring the social benefit of wearing an ear-wearable device. As described herein, a wellness evaluation system may determine, based on data generated by a first set of sensors powered by one or more batteries of one or more ear-wearable devices, that a user is currently in an environment that includes human-directed communication signals. The batteries may also provide a first amount of power to a second set of sensors. The second set of sensors includes at least one sensor that is not included in the first set of sensors. The second set of sensors may be activated such that the one or more batteries provide a second amount of power greater than the first amount of power to the second set of sensors. Furthermore, in some examples, the wellness evaluation system may determine, based on data generated by the second set of sensors, whether the user has satisfied a target level of a wellness measure. If the user has not satisfied the target level of the wellness measure, the wellness evaluation system may perform an action to encourage the user to perform one or more activities to increase an achieved level of the wellness measure. In some examples, the wellness evaluation system may generate statistical data based on the data generated by the second set of sensors. In one example, this disclosure describes a method comprising: determining, by one or more processing circuits, based on data generated by a first set of sensors powered by one or more batteries of one or more ear-wearable devices, that a user of the one or more ear-wearable device is currently in an environment that includes human-directed communication signals, wherein the batteries provide a first amount of power to a second set of one or more sensors, wherein the second set of sensors includes at least one sensor that is not included in the first set of sensors; in response to determining that the user is currently in the environment that includes human-directed communication signals, activating, by the one or more processing circuits, the second set of sensors such that the one or more batteries provides a second amount of power greater than the first amount of power to the second set of sensors; determining, by the one or more processing circuits, based on data generated by the second set of sensors, whether the user has satisfied a target level of a wellness measure; and based on a determination that the user has not satisfied the target level of the wellness measure, performing, by the one or more processing circuits, an action to encourage the user to perform one or more activities to increase an achieved level of the wellness measure, the achieved level of the wellness measure being a level of the wellness measure achieved by the user. In another example, this disclosure describes a system comprising: a data storage system configured to store data generated by a first set of sensors powered by one or more batteries of one or more ear-wearable devices; and one or more processing circuits configured to: determine, based on the data generated by the first set of sensors, that a user of the one or more ear-wearable devices is currently in an environment that includes human-directed communication signals, wherein the batteries provide a first amount of power to a second set of one or more sensors, wherein the second set of sensors includes at least one sensor that is not included in the first set of sensors; in response to determining that the user is currently in the environment that includes human-directed communication signals, activate the second set of sensors such that the one or more batteries provide a second amount of power greater than the first amount of power to the second set of sensors, wherein the second set of sensors includes at least one sensor that is not included in the first set of sensors; determine, based on data generated by the second set of sensors, whether the user has satisfied a target level of a wellness measure; and based on a determination that the user has not satisfied the target level of the wellness measure, perform an action to encourage the user to perform one or more activities to increase an achieved level of the wellness measure, the achieved level of the wellness measure being a level of the wellness measure achieved by the user. In another example, this disclosure describes a method comprising: determining, by one or more processing circuits, first statistical data based on data generated by a first set of sensors powered by one or more batteries of one or more ear-wearable devices, wherein the batteries provide a first amount of power to a second set of one or more sensors, wherein the second set of sensors includes at least one sensor that is not included in the first set of sensors; determining, by the one or more processing circuits, based on the first statistical data, to activate the second set of sensors such that the one or more batteries provide a second amount of power greater than the first amount of power to the second set of sensors; and determining, by the one or more processing circuits, based on data generated by the second set of sensors, second statistical data regarding the user. In another example, this disclosure describes a system comprising a data storage system configured to store data generated by a first set of sensors powered by one or more batteries of one or more ear-wearable devices; and one or more processing circuits configured to perform the method of the previous example. In other examples, this disclosure describes systems comprising means for performing these examples and computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause one or more processing circuits to perform the methods of these examples. The details of one or more aspects of the disclosure are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the techniques described in this disclosure will be apparent from the description, drawings, and claims.

11418883

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-045884, filed Mar. 17, 2020, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND Field of the Invention The present invention relates to audio interface apparatuses, and relates to recording systems. Description of Related Art Audio interface apparatuses to be connected with Personal Computers (PCs) are known in the art. Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent No. 7-38983) discloses an audio interface apparatus that plays back accompaniment data acquired from a PC, and transmits sound data received by a microphone to the PC. In the technique of Patent Document 1, unstable connection between the audio interface apparatus and the PC may cause delay of sound data in relation to accompaniment data. Synchronizing the accompaniment data with the sound data is one approach for eliminating time delays. However, each unique delay time cannot be determined because the delay time changes depending on connection status. SUMMARY In view of the circumstances described above, it is an object of the present disclosure to accurately synchronize accompaniment data with performance data, even if the connection between the audio interface apparatus and the PC is unstable. To solve the above problem, an audio interface apparatus according to an aspect of the disclosure is an audio interface apparatus including: a communication apparatus configured to receive first time-series sound data from a computing device, the first time-series sound data representing sound of a first part of a piece of music and including a plurality of first data blocks obtained by sampling the sound of the first part; an input circuit including an input port configured to be coupled with a sound input apparatus; an output circuit including an output port configured to be coupled with a sound output apparatus; one or more memories; and a processor configured to implement instructions stored in the one or more memories, in which: the processor implements the instructions stored in the one or more memories to: store, in the one or more memories, the first time-series sound data received by the communication apparatus, output, to the output circuit, the first time-series sound data stored in the one or more memories, acquire second time-series sound data from the input circuit, the second time-series sound data representing sound of a second part of the piece of music received by the sound input apparatus and including a plurality of second data blocks obtained by sampling the second time-series sound data, store, in the one or more memories, the second time-series sound data, generate an identifier for synchronizing the second time-series sound data with the first time-series sound data, and transmit, to the computing device, the second time-series sound data and the identifier.

11285759

TECHNICAL FIELD The technology relates to a pneumatic tire and particularly relates to a pneumatic tire that can provide performance on snow and performance on ice in a compatible manner. BACKGROUND ART Performance on snow and performance on ice are required for studless tires. In the related art of studded tires, the technologies described in Japan Patent Nos. 3682269, 5686955, and 5770834 as well as Japan Unexamined Patent Publication Nos. 2015-074289, 2015-020465 and 2015-229461 are known. SUMMARY The technology provides a pneumatic tire that can provide performance on snow and performance on ice in a compatible manner. A pneumatic tire according to an embodiment of the technology comprises: four or more circumferential main grooves extending in a tire circumferential direction; and five or more land portions defined by the circumferential main grooves; wherein left and right circumferential main grooves of the circumferential main grooves located at an outermost side in a tire lateral direction are defined as outermost circumferential main grooves, left and right land portions of the land portions located on a tire equatorial plane side and defined by the outermost circumferential main grooves are defined as second land portions; one of the second land portions comprises a circumferential narrow groove extending in the tire circumferential direction and a plurality of sets of first lug grooves and second lug grooves extending in the tire lateral direction and extending through the circumferential narrow groove; one end portion of the first lug groove opens to one edge portion of the one second land portion, and an other end portion terminates within the one second land portion; one end of the second lug groove opens to an other edge portion of the one second land portion, and an other end terminates within the one second land portion; the first lug groove and the second lug groove are alternately arranged in the tire circumferential direction; the circumferential main grooves on a tire equatorial plane side defining the other second land portion have a bent shape with an amplitude in the tire lateral direction and comprise a bent portion with an acute angle of bending at an edge portion on a tire equatorial plane side; and the other second land portion comprises a lug groove opening to a position facing the bent portion. In the pneumatic tire according to an embodiment of the present technology, and in the vehicle width direction inner region, due to the first lug grooves and the second lug grooves of the inner second land portion extending in the tire lateral direction and extending through the circumferential narrow grooves, respectively opening to circumferential main grooves, a greater number of groove intersection portions are provided increasing the groove volume, enhancing the snow column shearing force and snow discharge properties on snow-covered road surfaces accordingly. Further, since the other end portion of the first lug groove and the other end portion of the second lug groove terminate in the land portion, the ground contact area of the land portion is ensured and the adhesion frictional force on the icy road surface is ensured. Such a configuration is advantageous in that performance on snow and performance on ice of tire are achieved in a compatible manner. Further, in the vehicle width direction outer region, since the circumferential main groove includes the bent portion at the edge portion on the tire equatorial plane side, and the outer second land portion includes the lug groove that opens to the position facing the bent portion, the groove volume of the circumferential main groove at the crossing position with the groove is increased. Thus, the shearing effect in the snow of the vehicle width direction outer region is improved, which has the advantage that the snow performance of the tire is improved.

11532064

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a system, device, and method for proposing a destination. BACKGROUND ART A transport service reservation method is known (Patent Document 1: JP2014-238831A). In this method, first, a boarding request including the designation of a departure place and a destination is received. For each vehicle capable of providing a boarding vehicle in a plurality of kinds of boarding forms with the same vehicle, an achievable boarding vehicle about a plurality of kinds of boarding forms is prepared with reference to information showing a schedule assigned to the vehicle and the kinds of boarding forms of the schedule. A selection probability of each boarding vehicle constituting a subset is calculated for each subset satisfying a prescribed condition among subsets of prepared achievable boarding vehicle group. On the basis of the calculated selection probability, a subset to be presented to the boarding request is selected from among subsets satisfying the prescribed condition. PRIOR ART DOCUMENT Patent Document [Patent Document 1] JP2014-238831A SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by Invention The above conventional transport service reservation method is, however, based on the assumption that the user's destination has already been determined, and is therefore unsuitable for users who want to go somewhere vaguely and have a specific experience. A problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a system, device, and method for proposing a destination that are able to render a useful service to users who want to go somewhere and have a specific experience. Means for Solving Problems The present invention solves the above problem through receiving experience information from each of terminals carried by respective users, the experience information being information regarding an experience desired by each of the users; extracting two or more users to generate a single community for the experience information of the two or more users, the two or more users transmitting the experience information having a similarity level not less than a predetermined threshold; extracting a destination associated with the experience information having the similarity level not lower than the predetermined threshold using a database configured to preliminarily store the experience information and the destination in association with each other; and transmitting the destination to the terminals carried by the two or more users who constitute the single community. Effect of Invention According to the present invention, a cluster of users having desired experiences with a high similarity level is extracted to generate a single community, and a destination associated with the experiences is extracted. The destination is proposed to the users who constitute the community, and a useful service can therefore be rendered to users having a vague need to go somewhere and have a specific experience.

11367203

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for detecting an attribute of an object in a space, and more particularly to a method for assigning an attribute to an object in a space using a cross-sensor collaborative detection scheme. Description of the Related Art In general buildings or stores, cameras are installed at the corners of the internal space, and multiple screens are set up in a monitoring room for a security guard to monitor the internal space of the building or the store, so that the security guard can respond to emergencies in the internal space in time. However, general cameras installed in buildings or stores only display the captured images or the analysis results of the captured images on corresponding screens respectively, and do not have a collaborative processing function. Therefore, for the security guard responsible for monitoring the screens, it is not only difficult to stay focused for a long time when monitoring multiple screens at the same time, but also difficult to identify abnormal events or suspicious persons. To solve the problems mentioned above, a novel object-attribute detection scheme in a space is urgently needed. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One objective of the present invention is to provide a cross-sensor object-attribute analysis method, which can cover a space in a partially overlapping manner by the images of a plurality of image sensing devices, and use an edge computing architecture to implement at least one AI module to process the images obtained at a same time point to determine the identity of at least one object in the space. Another objective of the present invention is to provide a cross-sensor object-attribute analysis method, which can determine two different attribute vectors correspond to a same object when a difference value of the two different attribute vectors is less than a preset value. Another objective of the present invention is to provide a cross-sensor object-attribute analysis method, which can quickly identify an object and track its trajectory by disposing a plurality of image sensing devices in a space and adopting the corresponding manner between the attribute vectors and the object proposed by the present invention. Still another objective of the present invention is to provide a cross-sensor object-attribute analysis method, which can analyze the trajectory record of an object in a space to provide consumer information to assist the owner in making business decisions. To achieve the above objectives, a cross-sensor object-attribute analysis method is proposed, which is applied in a space disposed with a plurality of image sensing devices to enable the image sensing devices to cooperatively detect at least one object, and is realized by an edge computing architecture, the edge computing architecture including a main information processing device and a plurality of information processing units respectively disposed in the image sensing devices, the method including: the information processing units transmitting detected data to the main information processing device, the detected data being raw data of sensed multiple images of the image sensing devices or data of one or more attribute vectors generated by processing the raw data using an inference process, and the main information processing device using the one or more attribute vectors to correspond to the at least one object, where each of the image sensing devices has an image plane, and the raw data and each of the attribute vectors all correspond to a time record, the inference process including: performing an object recognition procedure on the raw data to define a bounding box for at least one of the at least one object; and using a first AI module to perform an attribute evaluation calculation on each of one or more of the bounding boxes to generate one or more of the attribute vectors corresponding to one or more of the objects appearing in one of the images at a time point; and the main information processing device performing the inference process on the raw data of the images provided by the information processing units to generate one or more of the attribute vectors, and using each of the attribute vectors to correspond to one of the at least one object, or the main information processing device directly using the one or more of the attribute vectors provided by the information processing units to correspond to the at least one subject. In one embodiment, the information processing units have at least one hardware acceleration unit. In one embodiment, the main information processing device uses a second AI module to determine a corresponding identity of one of the attribute vectors. In one embodiment, the main information processing device uses one aforementioned corresponding identity to find corresponding ones of the attribute vectors detected by the image sensing devices at a plurality of time points to locate a trajectory of one of the at least one object in the space. In one embodiment, the attribute vector includes information of a location of one of the at least one object in the space. To achieve the above objectives, the present invention further proposes a cross-sensor object-attribute analysis system, which has an edge computing architecture to realize a cross-sensor object-attribute analysis method, the edge computing architecture including a main information processing device and a plurality of information processing units respectively disposed in the image sensing devices, and the method including: the information processing units transmitting detected data to the main information processing device, the detected data being raw data of sensed multiple images of the image sensing devices or data of one or more attribute vectors generated by processing the raw data using an inference process, and the main information processing device using the one or more attribute vectors to correspond to the at least one object, where each of the image sensing devices has an image plane, and the raw data and each of the attribute vectors all correspond to a time record, the inference process including: performing an object recognition procedure on the raw data to define a bounding box for at least one of the at least one object; and using a first AI module to perform an attribute evaluation calculation on each of one or more of the bounding boxes to generate one or more of the attribute vectors corresponding to one or more of the objects appearing in one of the images at a time point; and the main information processing device performing the inference process on the raw data of the images provided by the information processing units to generate one or more of the attribute vectors, and using each of the attribute vectors to correspond to one of the at least one object, or the main information processing device directly using the one or more of the attribute vectors provided by the information processing units to correspond to the at least one object. In one embodiment, the information processing units have at least one hardware acceleration unit. In one embodiment, the main information processing device uses a second AI module to determine a corresponding identity of one of the attribute vectors. In one embodiment, the main information processing device uses one aforementioned corresponding identity to find corresponding ones of the attribute vectors detected by the image sensing devices at a plurality of time points, and thereby locate a trajectory of one of the at least one object in the space. In one embodiment, the attribute vector includes information of a location of one of the at least one object in the space. In possible embodiments, the main information processing device can be a cloud server, a local server or a computer device. In possible embodiments, the image sensing devices can communicate with the main information processing device in a wired or wireless manner.

11244534

FIELD OF INVENTION The present disclosure relates to electronic games, including casino slot gaming machines, electronic racing games and reel-based games. BACKGROUND Presently, casino and online slot machines do not allow for multiple players to participate in a single game. And a second player cannot wager on the outcome of the spins being played by a first player of a slot machine. Typically, in casino or online slot games, there are many different games from which a player can choose. However, the choice of which game to play is limited by the number of other players already playing those slot machines. A prospective player's choices are limited to only the vacant slot machines. Currently, there is no option to wager on a machine that is already occupied. There are many variations of the slot game but none offer multiplayer participation. SUMMARY OF INVENTION Some or all of the above needs and/or problems may be addressed by certain embodiments of the disclosure. Certain embodiments can include apparatus and methods for electronic gaming. According to one embodiment of the disclosure, there is disclosed an apparatus. The apparatus can include computer memory and a microprocessor for executing and managing an electronic gaming machine. The gaming machine can include a contest with two or more contestants. The machine can display the contest and can receive and process wagers placed by wagerers regarding the outcome of the contest. According to another embodiment of the disclosure, there is disclosed a method. The method can include configuring a computing device to execute and manage an electronic contest. The method can include displaying the contest to one or more screens. The method can also include receiving and processing wagers on the outcomes of contests, the wagers made by wagerers. Other embodiments, apparatus, methods, aspects, and features of the disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description.

11443636

TECHNICAL FIELD The subject matter described herein relates, in general, to a system and method for leading vehicle platoons, and, more particularly, to providing and maintaining a leadership-as-a-service system for vehicle platoons. BACKGROUND Two or more vehicles can be grouped into “platoons”, which are an associated group of vehicles that are typically led by a “leader.” Vehicles in a platoon tend to travel at substantially the same speed and with relatively small spacing between the vehicles. The vehicles in the platoon that follow the leader are referred to as “platoon followers,” and may implement conventional techniques to aid in platoon control such as cooperative adaptive cruise control (CACC), mobile ad hoc networks, incentive-based systems, or other travel-related systems and/or protocols. Platooning can provide numerous benefits for participating vehicles, including greater fuel economy, fewer traffic collisions, and reduced driver fatigue. However, platoons may periodically encounter challenging situations that require special or particular skills/capabilities to successfully navigate as a platoon. SUMMARY The disclosed devices, systems and methods relate to providing leadership-as-a-service for vehicular platoons in order to match a platoon with a leader that is experienced with a particular situation the platoon is anticipating or encountering. In one embodiment, a system includes one or more processors and a memory communicably coupled to the one or more processors. The memory can store a regional manager module including instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to receive, from a platoon, a request for a platoon leader. The request can indicate a location and a situation class. The regional manager module can further include instructions to send out a search query requesting a response from a vehicle having experience in handling the situation class. The memory can also store a selection module including instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to receive, from a responding vehicle, a response to the search query, the response indicating an experience level in handling the situation class, and to select the responding vehicle as a new leader based at least in part on the response. The memory can further store a platoon manager module including instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to assign the new leader to the platoon and provide instructions to the new leader that cause the new leader to assume a lead position in the platoon and lead the platoon through an area exhibiting the situation class. In another embodiment, a method for providing platoon leadership as a service includes receiving, from a platoon, a request for a platoon leader, the request indicating a location and a situation class, sending out a search query for a vehicle having experience in handling the situation class. The method further includes receiving, from a responding vehicle, a response to the search query, the response indicating an experience level in handling the situation class, selecting the responding vehicle as a new leader based at least in part on the response, assigning the new leader to the platoon and providing instructions to the new leader that cause the new leader to assume a lead position in the platoon and lead the platoon through an area exhibiting the situation class. In yet another embodiment, a system includes a vehicle onboard unit including a first set of one or more processors and a first memory communicably coupled to the first set of one or more processors. The first memory can store a classifier module including instructions that when executed by the first set of one or more processors cause the first set of one or more processors to determine or predict a situation class for an environment the vehicle is traveling through. The first memory can also store a tracking module including instructions that when executed by the first set of one or more processors cause the first set of one or more processors to maintain an experience rating associated with the situation class, the experience rating indicating an amount of experience the vehicle has in handling the situation class. The system can further include a server including a second set of one or more processors and a second memory communicably coupled to the second set of one or more processors. The second memory can store a regional manager module including instructions that when executed by the second set of one or more processors cause the second set of one or more processors to receive, from a platoon, a request for a platoon leader, the request indicating a location and the situation class, and broadcast a search query for a vehicle having experience in handling the situation class. The second memory can also store a selection module including instructions that when executed by the second set of one or more processors cause the second set of one or more processors to receive, from the responding vehicle, a response to the search query with the response indicating an experience level, and select the responding vehicle as a new leader based at least in part on the response. The second memory can also store a platoon manager module including instructions that when executed by the second set of one or more processors cause the second set of one or more processors to assign the new leader to the platoon, coordinate a rendezvous between the new leader and the platoon, and provide instructions to the new leader that cause the new leader to join the platoon and lead the platoon through an area exhibiting the situation class. In still another embodiment, a method for providing platoon leadership as a service includes determining or predicting a situation class for an environment a responding vehicle is traveling through, maintaining an experience rating associated with the situation class, the experience rating indicating an amount of experience the responding vehicle has in handling the situation class. The method further includes receiving, from a platoon, a request for a platoon leader, the request indicating a location and the situation class, sending out a search query for a vehicle having experience in handling the situation class, and receiving, from a responding vehicle, a response to the search query, the response indicating an experience level in handling the situation class. The method also includes selecting the responding vehicle as a new leader based at least in part on the response, assigning the new leader to the platoon and providing instructions to the new leader that cause the new leader to assume a lead position in the platoon and lead the platoon through an area exhibiting the situation class.

PP34837

Genus and species:Pelargonium zonale(L.) L'Her. ex Aiton. Variety denomination: ‘KLEPZ21596’. BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety ofPelargonium, botanically known asPelargonium zonale(L.) L'Her. ex Aiton and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘KLEPZ21596’. ‘KLEPZ21596’ originated from a hand-pollination in July 2015 in Nairobi, Kenya between the femalePelargoniumvariety Endisch Hot Spot Kiss (patent status unknown) and the malePelargoniumvariety ‘KLEPZ07202’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,960). Seeds from the hand-pollination were obtained. The seeds were sown and plants were grown for evaluation. A single plant was selected in June 2017 and subsequently named ‘KLEPZ21596’. In July 2017 ‘KLEPZ21596’ was first vegetatively propagated by vegetative stem cuttings in Stuttgart, Germany. ‘KLEPZ21596’ was found to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation via vegetative cuttings in Stuttgart, Germany. SUMMARY The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Stuttgart, Germany.1. Purple-pink flower color with a dark red spot and light pink center.

11315728

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims priority to Chinese Application Serial Number CN201810800414.0 filed on Jul. 20, 2018, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention generally relates to a method of increasing coercivity of a sintered Nd—Fe—B permanent magnet. 2. Description of the Prior Art Since its invention in 1983, sintered Nd—Fe—B permanent magnets are widely used in a variety of technologies including, but not limited to, computers, automobiles, medical instructions, wind power generators, and other industries. With the development of high speed wind power generators and new energy vehicles, the sintered Nd—Fe—B permanent magnets are required to not demagnetize under high temperature and high speed conditions. Accordingly, this requires an increase in the coercivity of the sintered Nd—Fe—B permanent magnets. In the sintered Nd—Fe—B permanent magnets, introducing of heavy rare earth elements such as Terbium, Dysprosium increase the coercivity of the sintered Nd—Fe—B permanent magnets. However, the traditional methods allow Dy or Tb to be introduced into the main phase crystal grains thereby decreasing remanence of the sintered Nd—Fe—B permanent magnets. In addition, the traditional methods also consume large amounts of heavy rare earth elements. Typically, a sintered Nd—Fe—B permanent magnet includes an Nd2Fe14B main phase and an Nd rich grain boundary phase. The crystal magnetic anisotropy of the Nd2Fe14B phase determines the coercivity of the sintered Nd—Fe—B permanent magnet. The heavy rare earth elements such as Dy or Tb, diffused through a grain boundary phase, can significantly improve the coercivity of the sintered Nd—Fe—B permanent magnet. According to this theory, many techniques have been developed to increase the coercivity of the sintered Nd—Fe—B permanent magnets such as the diffusion of the heavy rare earth elements such as Dy or Tb or an alloy of Tb or Dy through the grain boundary phase. For example, Chinese Patent Application CN101375352A, by Hitachi Metals, teaches a method of increasing the coercivity of the sintered Nd—Fe—B permanent magnets. The method includes depositing layer of heavy rare earth film on the surface of the sintered Nd—Fe—B permanent magnets by vapor deposition, sputtering, or ion plating. Then, the sintered Nd—Fe—B permanent magnets are placed in a vacuum furnace for the diffusion and aging treatments under a high temperatures. However, the high temperature has a negative effect on the sintered Nd—Fe—B permanent magnets. In addition, there is also a low utilization rate of the heavy rare earth elements, e.g. as a target source, thereby resulting an increase in the cost of manufacturing. Chinese Patent Application CN105845301A discloses a method which a powder, containing heavy rare earth elements selected from Dy, Tb, an alloy of Dy or Tb, or a mixture of Dy or Tb, is pre-mixed with an organic solvent forming a slurry. The slurry is then applied to the surfaces of the sintered Nd—Fe—B permanent magnet. After drying, the sintered Nd—Fe—B permanent magnet is subjected to a diffusion process and an aging process at high temperatures. Such a process have two disadvantages: 1) because the heavy rare earth powder needs to be completely encapsulated by the organic solvent, the organic solvent is used in large quantities and, accordingly, the organic solvent will form a large amount of gas during the drying process and cause environmental pollution; 2) because the organic solvent is volatile, the ratio of the heavy rare earth elements in the slurry changes overtime and, accordingly, this phenomenon causes the total amount of heavy rare earth deposited on the surface of the sintered Nd—Fe—B permanent magnet to change, resulting in inconsistent magnetic properties after diffusion and aging treatments, i.e. the variation in the magnetic properties of the sintered Nd—Fe—B permanent magnet is excessively large. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention overcomes the deficiencies mentioned above and provides a method of increasing coercivity of a sintered Nd—Fe—B permanent magnet. The present invention also reduces the amount of heavy rare earth usage during the diffusion process while improves the coercivity of the Nd—Fe—B magnet and the utilization of the heavy rare earth elements. The present invention also controls the particle size range of the heavy rare earth powder thereby controlling the heavy rare earth content adhering to the surface of the sintered Nd—Fe—B permanent magnet such that the precision of the heavy rare earth content is higher. The present invention further prevents impurities from being introduced into the sintered Nd—Fe—B permanent magnet. It is one aspect of the present invention to provide a method of increasing coercivity of a sintered Nd—Fe—B permanent magnet. The method includes a first step of providing a sintered Nd—Fe—B magnet block having a pair of block surfaces, opposite and spaced from one another, extending perpendicular to a magnetization direction. The method then proceeds with a step of depositing an organic adhesive layer on one of the block surfaces of the sintered Nd—Fe—B magnet block. Next, the method includes a step of depositing a powder containing at least one heavy rare earth element on the organic adhesive layer under an inert gas environment. After depositing the powder, the sintered Nd—Fe—B magnet block containing the powder is pressed to adhere the powder to the organic adhesive layer. Then, the method follows with a step of removing excess powder from the sintered Nd—Fe—B magnet block to form a uniform film on the sintered Nd—Fe—B magnet block. Then, the powder is diffused into the sintered Nd—Fe—B magnet block under a vacuum environment or an inert gas environment to produce a diffused magnet block. Next, the method proceeds with a step of aging the diffused magnet block under the vacuum environment or the inert gas environment. It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a method of increasing coercivity of a sintered Nd—Fe—B permanent magnet. The method includes a first step of providing a sintered Nd—Fe—B magnet block having a pair of block surfaces, opposite and spaced from one another, extending perpendicular to a magnetization direction. The method then proceeds with a step of depositing an organic adhesive layer, has a predetermined thickness of between 3 μm and 30 μm, on one of the block surfaces of the sintered Nd—Fe—B magnet block with the organic adhesive layer being a pressure-sensitive adhesive or a double-sided tape. Next, the method proceeds with a step of depositing a powder containing at least one heavy rare earth element on the organic adhesive layer under an inert gas environment. The least one heavy rare earth element is selected from a group consisting of Tb, Dy, a chemical compound containing Tb or Dy, or an alloy containing Tb or Dy. The powder has a particle size of between 100 mesh and 500 mesh. Then, the method proceeds with a step of pressing the sintered Nd—Fe—B magnet block containing the powder to adhere the powder to the organic adhesive layer. After pressing, excess powder is removed from the sintered Nd—Fe—B magnet block to form a uniform film. The sintered Nd—Fe—B magnet block including the uniform film is then rotated 180° along an axis orthogonal to the magnetization direction exposing another one of the block surfaces of the sintered Nd—Fe—B magnet block. The steps of depositing the organic adhesive layer, depositing the powder, pressing, and removing are repeated to form the uniform film on the another one of the block surfaces of the sintered Nd—Fe—B magnet block. Next, the method proceeds with a step of diffusing the powder into the sintered Nd—Fe—B magnet block under a vacuum environment or an inert gas environment to produce a diffused magnet block. After diffusing, the diffused magnet block is cooled, then, the diffused magnet block is aged under the vacuum environment or the inert gas environment.

11483972

RELATED APPLICATIONS This claims priority to Indian Application No. 201821013464, titled A SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING AN OPERATIVE PARAMETER OF A HARVESTING HEADER, filed Apr. 9, 2018, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure relates generally to agricultural harvesting machines. More particularly it relates to control of work parameters of a header of the harvesting machine. BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE Agricultural harvesting machines are designed to harvest crops. They have headers designed to cut or collect crops from the ground, which are subsequently processed in the body of the harvesting machine, or directly deposited on the ground. In case of a combine, the harvesting machine threshes the crops, separates the grain from material other than grain (MOG), cleans the grain, and stores the grain in a grain tank. Eventually, they transfer the grain from the grain tank to an accompanying vehicle such as a grain cart or grain wagon. In case of a forage harvester, the crop is cut, accelerated and blown into a container of a transport vehicle, and in case of a windrower, the crop is cut and deposited on a field in a swath. While numerous functions of the harvesting machine have already been automated in the past, like length-of-cut determination and kernel processor adjustment in a forage harvester or adjustment of a threshing and cleaning arrangement in a combine, automation of header functions is still under development. Actually, the operator of a harvesting machine thus needs to concentrate on the field in front of the machine and adapt a number of work parameters of the header manually, what is a cumbersome task. A typical header of a combine for harvesting small grain like wheat or barley is a so-called platform, which comprises a knife bar, a reel and a transverse conveyor. The knife bar cuts the stalks of the crop from the roots remaining in the ground, and the transverse conveyor, which can be an auger or a belt conveyor, feeds the crop transversely to the feederhouse which on its end feeds it into the interior of the combine harvester for threshing and further processing. The reel is located above the knife bar and rotates to engage with fingers into the crop to feed the crop rearwardly such that it can be cut by the knife bar. The cut crop is conveyed to the rear by at least one of the reel fingers and subsequently harvested crop until it is engaged by the transverse conveyor. Such a platform header can also be used on a forage harvester for providing silage of entire grain plants and on a windrower. A number of automations of work parameters of platforms, which had to be controlled in the past manually by the harvesting machine operator, have been proposed. For example, the position of the header over ground and thus the cutting height can be controlled automatically based on sensors in a ground- or crop-contour following manner (U.S. Pat. No. 6,615,570 B2, DE 44 11 646 A1). A further work parameter of a cutting platform of a combine to be controlled is the reel position. It was proposed to sense the position of the top of the crop with an ultrasonic sensor (GB 2 173 309 A) or with a camera (EP 2 681 984 A1) or with a combined RADAR and LIDAR sensor (EP 2 517 549 A1) and to adjust the vertical reel position (and in EP 2 517 549 A1, also the reel speed and horizontal position) accordingly. The automation mentioned in the preceding paragraph can be classified as an open loop system, in which a nominal value of a work parameter of the header is determined by a first sensor and a control unit determines a nominal parameter for an actuator adapted to influence the work parameter and sends a control signal to the actuator. The control signal is determined based on the difference between the nominal parameter and a feedback value from a second sensor which directly or indirectly provides a signal for the actual work parameter. The control signal is determined in a manner to minimize the difference between the nominal parameter and the feedback value. Such systems (cf. U.S. Pat. No. 6,615,570 B2) require a feedback sensor on board of the header, for example to detect the height of the header over ground or the position of the reel with respect to the header and/or a feedback sensor on board of the harvesting machine, in order to detect the position of the part of the harvesting machine (in case of a combine, the feederhouse) holding the header with respect to the harvesting machine. In order to provide a proper function of the automation, the control unit needs to know a relation between the signal of the second sensor and the work parameter. If the work parameter is for example the height of the header over ground and the second sensor detects the angle of the feederhouse with respect to the harvesting machine, the control unit needs to know the distance between the pivot support of the feederhouse and the header and the height of the pivot support over ground. Already this simple case reveals a number of possible errors, like changed tire sizes or mounting of a longer feederhouse. This gets even more problematic in case of determination of the position of the reel which is mounted longitudinally shiftable on reel arms that pivot around horizontal axes with respect to the header. In order to determine the horizontal and vertical reel position correctly, at least three sensor values thus need to be considered, plus numerous mechanical measurements of the header and the harvesting machine, causing a rather high number of possible error sources. Another approach to automatically control functions of a header is to use a camera, generally mounted on the harvesting machine, and an image processing system to find and resolve crop feeding problems and congestions (EP 2 143 316 A1, DE 10 2016 202 628 A1). This automation can be classified as a closed loop system, since the sensor (camera) looks onto the work result of the header and the control signal sent by the control unit to the actuator is just based on the work result. This however has the disadvantage that possible problems, like straw stalks being carried over by a reel, cannot be avoided a priori, but only rectified once they are arising. Finally, DE 10 2014 209 371 A1 describes a control device for an agricultural machine with a boom. A time-of-flight camera detects the position of reflective markings on the boom and controls the boom to move over the crop canopy or over ground, the height of which detected by the same camera, in a desired height. An application to headers is not apparent. It is an object of this disclosure to provide an open loop automatic header control system avoiding or at least reducing the mentioned problems. Other objects of the present disclosure will be apparent when the description of the disclosure is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings provided herein are merely illustrative and does not intend to limit the scope and ambit of the present disclosure. SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE A system for controlling an operative parameter of a harvesting header of an agricultural harvesting machine comprises a first sensing arrangement for sensing a property of a field in front of the header in a contact-less manner, a second sensing arrangement for providing a signal suited to derive a value of an adjustable work parameter of the header, an actuator adapted to adjust the work parameter, and a control unit for determining a control signal for the actuator based on the signal from the first sensing arrangement and on the signal from the second sensing arrangement. The second sensing arrangement is arranged to detect the position of a reference point, which indicates the work parameter, in a contact-less manner. The first sensing arrangement and the second sensing arrangement are relatively fixed, i.e. not moving with respect to the other one during operation. In other words, the open loop system as described above uses a contact-less second (feedback) sensing arrangement which is mounted together with, and thus not moving relative to, the first sensor. Both sensing arrangement thus sense and output their signals with respect to the same reference system to which they are mounted and hence the necessity of knowledge about possibly changing mechanical parameters and/or additional sensor values to derive the actual work parameter from the second sensor value is avoided, simplifying the control system and avoiding possible errors. Both sensing systems can thus sense and output their signals within a common reference system, i.e. use the same coordinate system for sensing and outputting their data. The first sensing arrangement and the second sensing arrangement can be supported on the harvesting machine or on the header. The control unit can operable to store and process signals of the first sensing arrangement and the second sensing arrangement in a local reference system of the header or of the harvesting machine for processing and determining the control signal for the actuator. It is also possible that the control unit converts them into an earth-referenced coordinate system, what has the advantage that these values can be augmented with sensor values that have been previously been gathered with another sensing system, for example on a drone. The control unit can be adapted to determine a nominal work parameter for the actuator based upon the signal from the first sensing arrangement and to determine the control signal in a manner to minimize the difference between the nominal work parameter and an actual work parameter derived from the signal of the second sensing arrangement. The work parameter adjusted by the actuator and sensed by the second sensing arrangement can be at least one of header height over ground, lateral header angle, forward header angle, vertical position of a reel and horizontal position of a reel. The first sensing arrangement and the second sensing arrangement can comprise a jointly used sensor. In other embodiments, two distinct sensors can be used for the first sensing arrangement and the second sensing arrangement. In the latter case, the distance and relative orientation of the two sensing arrangements can be calibrated using known methods, for example by detecting a common feature in the field-of-view of both sensing arrangements. The first and/or second sensing arrangement can comprise a camera with an image processing system or a laser or radar scanner or a PMD camera, preferably working in two dimensions, thus providing a 3d image. An image processing system receiving an image signal from a camera or a scanner can be, to provide the function of the second sensing arrangement, adapted to sense markings mounted to an element of the header that is movable by the actuator and/or the movable element per se, which can be for example a part of the header which is movable by the actuator, like the reel moved by the actuator with respect to the header or a part of the header frame moved by the actuator with respect to the harvesting machine. The property of the field detected by the first sensing arrangement can be at least one of the height of crop and the ground contour. An agricultural harvesting machine can comprise a chassis, ground engaging means supporting the chassis on the ground, attachment means for adapting a harvesting platform on the chassis, and a system as described above. The harvesting machine can be one of a combine, a forage harvester and a windrower. Other features and aspects will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.

11281639

BACKGROUND The amount of available information and digital content on the Internet and other electronic sources continues to grow rapidly. Given the vast amount of information, search engines have been developed to facilitate searching for electronic documents. In particular, users or computers may search for information and documents by submitting search queries, which may include, for instance, one or more words. After receiving a search query, a search engine identifies documents that are relevant based on the search query. At a high level, search engines identify search results by ranking documents' relevance to a search query. Ranking is often based on a large number of document features. Given a large set of documents, it's not feasible to rank all documents for a search query as it would take an unacceptable amount of time. Therefore, search engines typically employ a pipeline that includes preliminary operations to remove documents from consideration for a final ranking process. This pipeline traditionally includes a matcher that filters out documents that don't have terms from the search query. The matcher operates using a search index that includes information gathered by crawling documents or otherwise analyzing documents to collect information regarding the documents. Search indexes are often comprised of posting lists (sometimes called an inverted index) for the various terms found in the documents. The posting list for a particular term consists of a list of the documents containing the term. When a search query is received, the matcher employs the search index to identify documents containing terms identified from the search query. The matching documents may then be considered by one or more downstream processes in the pipeline that further remove documents and ultimately return a set of ranked search results. SUMMARY This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. The technology described herein provides for a match fix-up stage to remove invalid matching documents returned from a bit vector search index. The bit vector search index is a data structure that uses bit vectors to index information about terms contained in documents. Each bit vector comprises an array of bits that stores information for a collection of terms. Each bit position (or bit) in a bit vector indicates whether one or more documents contain one or more terms from a collection of terms. Additionally, a term can be included in multiple bit vectors. Matching documents for a search query are identified by identifying bit vectors corresponding to the term(s) from the query and intersecting the identified bit vectors. The set of matching documents may include too many matching documents to feasibly send them all to a final ranker, which may be expensive in the sense of the amount of processing required for each document. Additionally, because the bit vector search index provides a probabilistic approach, some of the matching documents may be invalid matching documents (i.e., false positives) in the sense that those documents don't contain terms from the search query. Accordingly, in accordance with the technology described herein, the search system employs a match fix-up stage to remove invalid matching documents. Generally, a representation of each document is used to identify valid matching documents and invalid matching documents. The representation may be, for instance, a forward index that stores a list of terms for each document. Any invalid matching documents are removed such that they are not considered by the final ranker.

11287763

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toner transport apparatus. Description of the Related Art Image forming apparatuses which use an electrophotographic system to form images by forming toner images, such as printers, copiers, and facsimile machines, are equipped with developer supply apparatuses in developing apparatuses to supply developer which has been consumed by the formation of images. A developer supply apparatus stores, in a storage unit (a hopper), a certain amount of developer taken from a developer container, and operates a transport means to supply the developer to the developing apparatus from the storage unit at the required time. Patent Literature 1 (Japanese Patent No. 5762052) proposes a configuration in which toner taken from a toner bottle, which is an example of a developer container, is held in a low-capacity hopper, and is transported to the developing apparatus at the required time using a screw-type transport mechanism. According to Patent Literature 1, it is necessary to continuously store and hold a constant amount of toner within a reservoir unit so that the screw-type transport mechanism can supply the toner in a stable manner. As such, a control unit in an image forming apparatus according to Patent Document 1 uses an optical sensor to detect the surface height of the toner within the storage unit, and on the basis of that information, controls the amount of toner resupplied to the storage unit from the toner bottle. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In Patent Document 1, toner is output to the storage unit from the toner bottle, which serves as a developer container, and the toner is then resupplied to the developing apparatus from the storage unit via a transport path. The remaining amount of toner is detected using an optical sensor which detects whether or not toner is present at a predetermined height within the storage unit. As such, the system will determine that there is toner left as long as toner remains in the storage unit, even if there is no more toner in the developer container. Thus even when the developer container is empty or near empty, it will take a certain amount of time for the system to determine that there is no toner remaining. Having been achieved in light of the foregoing issue, an object of the present invention is to provide a technique for quickly determining that a developer container holding toner is empty or almost empty. The present invention provides a toner transport apparatus comprising: a storing portion configured to store toner used by a developing apparatus; an ejection port for outputting the toner from the storing portion; a transport path unit that includes a receiving part which receives the toner ejected from the ejection port, and configured to constitute a transport path for transporting the toner to the developing apparatus; a pump for outputting the toner held in the storing portion from the ejection port toward the transport path unit; and an optical sensor unit that is disposed in a passage area through which the toner output by the pump from the ejection port to the transport path unit passes, the optical sensor unit detecting whether or not toner is present. Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.

11537243

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION AND CLAIM OF PRIORITY This application claims priority to Korean Patent Applications No. 10-2019-0100066 filed on Aug. 16, 2019 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. BACKGROUND 1. Field The present invention relates to a touch sensor module, a window stack structure including the same and an image display device including the same. More particularly, the present invention related to a touch sensor module including a sensing electrode and an insulation structure, a window stack structure including the same and an image display device including the same 2. Description of the Related Art As information technologies are being developed, various demands in display devices having thinner dimension, light-weight, high efficiency in power consumption, etc., are increasing. The display device may include a flat panel display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, a plasma display panel (PDP) device, an electro-luminescent display device, an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display device, etc. A touch panel or a touch sensor capable of inputting a user's direction by selecting an instruction displayed on a screen with a finger or an inputting tool is also developed. The touch panel or the touch sensor may be combined with the display device so that display and information input functions may be implemented in one electronic device. As a flexible display capable of being bent or folded is being developed, the touch sensor having proper properties, structures and constructions for being applied to the flexible display is also needed. Additionally, a proper locational and structural design of the touch sensor may be required in consideration of a connection reliability with a main board, a circuit board, etc., in the image display device. SUMMARY According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a touch sensor module having improved electrical and mechanical reliability. According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a window stack structure including a touch sensor module having improved electrical and mechanical reliability. According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image display device including a touch sensor module having improved electrical and mechanical reliability. The above one or more aspects of the present invention will be achieved by one or more of the following features or constructions: (1) A touch sensor module includes: a touch sensor layer including a visual area, a bending area and a pad area; a flexible circuit board electrically connected to the touch sensor layer on the pad area of the touch sensor layer; a supporting structure partially covering the flexible circuit board and the touch sensor layer; an optical layer disposed on the visual area of the touch sensor layer to be spaced apart from the supporting structure in a horizontal direction such that a gap is formed between the optical layer and the supporting structure; a filling layer at least partially filling the gap; and an adhesive layer formed on a bottom surface of a portion of the touch sensor layer in the visual area. (2) The touch sensor module according to the above (1), wherein a top surface of the filling layer is lower than top surfaces of the optical layer and the supporting structure. (3) The touch sensor module according to the above (1), wherein the filling layer partially covers a top surface of the supporting structure, and a top surface of the filling layer is lower than a top surface of the optical layer. (4) The touch sensor module according to the above (1), wherein the touch sensor layer includes: sensing electrodes arranged on the visual area; and traces branched from the sensing electrodes to extend to the bending area and the pad area. (5) The touch sensor module according to the above (4), wherein end portions of the traces are electrically connected to the flexible circuit board on the pad area. (6) The touch sensor module according to the above (1), wherein the supporting structure partially covers the bending area of the touch sensor layer. (7) The touch sensor module according to the above (6), wherein the filling layer covers a remaining portion of the bending area. (8) The touch sensor module according to the above (1), wherein the supporting structure includes a substrate layer and a supporting layer formed on the substrate layer, wherein the supporting layer includes an adhesive material, and the supporting layer is in contact with the flexible circuit board and the touch sensor layer. (9) The touch sensor module according to the above (1), wherein the filling layer includes an adhesive resin. (10) The touch sensor module according to the above (1), further comprising a lower supporting structure formed on a bottom surface of a portion of the touch sensor layer in the bending area. (11) The touch sensor module according to the above (10), wherein the lower supporting structure includes a lower substrate layer, and a lower supporting layer formed on the lower substrate layer and combined with the bottom surface of the touch sensor layer, and the lower supporting layer includes an adhesive material. (12) The touch sensor module according to the above (11), wherein the lower substrate layer has a modulus greater than that of the lower supporting layer. (13) The touch sensor module according to the above (1), wherein the optical layer includes at least one selected from a group consisting of a polarizing plate, a polarizer, a retardation film, a reflective sheet, a luminance enhancing film and a refractive index matching film. (14) A window stack structure, comprising: a window substrate; and the touch sensor module according to embodiments as described above on a surface of the window substrate. (15) An image display device, comprising: the touch sensor module according to embodiments as described above; and a display panel combined with the touch sensor layer by the adhesive layer of the touch sensor module. (16) The image display device according to the above (15), further comprising a main board under the display panel, wherein the touch sensor layer and the flexible circuit board of the touch sensor module are bent at the bending area together with the supporting structure to be electrically connected to the main board. A touch sensor module according to embodiments of the present invention may include a supporting structure partially covering a touch sensor layer and a flexible printed circuit board. When the touch sensor module is folded or bent, delamination of the flexible printed circuit board may be prevented by the supporting structure and damages to sensing electrodes or traces in a bending area may be also prevented. In some embodiments, the touch sensor module may further include an optical film disposed on the touch sensor layer. A gap may be formed between the supporting structure and the optical film, and a filling layer filling the gap may be formed. The filling layer may further improve a bonding strength or an adhesion of the supporting structure, and additionally block defects such as cracks in the bending area. In some embodiments, an adhesive layer may be selectively formed only under a portion of the touch sensor layer in a visual area such that an additional structure such as a display panel may be combined in the visual area while maintaining flexibility in the bending area The touch sensor module may be fabricated as a substrate-less type thin film and may be effectively applied to an image display device such as a flexible display.

11278333

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates generally to general surgery and orthopedic implants, and more specifically, but not exclusively, concerns devices implanted for bone fusion. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Bone fractures and other bone damage are regularly treated by fusion. Bones are currently fused with the assistance of implants, such as, plates and screws which are designed to hold the bones or bone pieces in place while healing occurs and the bones or bone pieces are fused together. Improved devices and methods for fusing bones together are needed. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Advancement of the state of bone fusion and bone fixation devices and implants and the surgical management relating to the clinical presentation of damaged or fractured bones within the body is believed desirable. Several embodiments of the bone fixation devices or bone fusion devices used to treat patients suffering from either diseased or damaged bones includes a first member, a second member, at least three spring members, and a ring member. The present invention provides in one aspect, a bone fixation device including a first member, a second member shaped to engage the first member, and at least one deformable member positioned between the first member and the second member. The present invention provides in another aspect, a bone fixation device including a female member with a proximal end and a distal end, a male member with a proximal end and a distal end, and at least one elastic element positioned between the female member and the male member. Further, additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present invention. Other embodiments and aspects of the invention are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed invention.

11512226

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a composition for etching, and more particularly, to a high-selectivity composition for etching capable of selectively removing a nitride film while minimizing the etching rate for an oxide film, and to a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, the method including an etching process employing the etching composition. BACKGROUND In semiconductor manufacturing processes, representative insulating films include oxide films such as a silicon oxide film (SiO2), and the like, and nitride films such as a silicon nitride film (SiNx), and the like, which are used each independently, or in one or more alternately stacked layers. Further, these oxide and nitride films are also used as hard masks for forming electroconductive patterns such as metal wiring, and the like. In a wet etching process for removing a nitride film, a mixture of phosphoric acid and deionized water is generally used. The deionized water is added in order to prevent a decrease in the etch rate and a variation in the etch selectivity for oxide films; however, there is a problem in that even a small change in the amount of deionized water supplied may cause defects in the process for removing a nitride film by etching. Furthermore, phosphoric acid is a strongly corrosive acid, and handling of this acid is difficult. In order to solve these problems, technologies for removing nitride films using a composition for etching employing phosphoric acid (H3PO4) together with hydrofluoric acid (HF) or nitric acid (HNO3) have been conventionally reported; however, these technologies have rather resulted in lowering of the etch selectivity between nitride films and oxide films. Further, technologies implementing a composition for etching including phosphoric acid and a silicic acid salt or silicic acid are also known, but these have a problem in that silicic acid or a silicic acid salt causes generation of particles that may adversely affect a substrate, and they are therefore rather unsuitable for the semiconductor manufacturing processes. FIG. 1andFIG. 2are process cross-sectional views illustrating a device separation process for a flash memory device. First, as illustrated inFIG. 1, a tunnel oxide film11, polysilicon film12, buffer oxide film13, and pad nitride film14are sequentially formed on substrate10, and then the polysilicon film12, buffer oxide film13, and pad nitride film are selectively etched to form trenches. Subsequently, spin-on-dielectric (SOD) oxide film15is formed until the trenches are gap-filled, and then the SOD oxide film15is subjected to a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process using the pad nitride film (14) as a polishing stopper film. Next, as illustrated inFIG. 2, the pad nitride film14is removed by wet etching using a phosphoric acid solution, and then the buffer oxide film13is removed by a washing process. Thereby, a device separation film15A is formed in the field region. However, in the case of using phosphoric acid in such a wet etching process for removing a nitride film, due to a decrease in the etch selectivity between the nitride film and the oxide film, the nitride film as well as the SOD oxide film are etched, and thus, it becomes difficult to regulate the effective field oxide height (EFH). Accordingly, a sufficient wet etching time for removing the nitride film cannot be secured, or additional processes are needed, and thus phosphoric acid causes changes which adversely affect the device characteristics. Therefore, under the current circumstances, there is a demand for a high-selectivity composition for etching that can selectively etch a nitride film with respect to an oxide film in a semiconductor production process, but which does not have problems such as particle generation. SUMMARY An object of the present invention is to provide a high-selectivity composition for etching that can selectively remove a nitride film while minimizing the etch rate of an oxide film, and which does not experience problems, such as particle generation, adversely affecting the device characteristics, and a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device using the same. An embodiment of the present invention provides a composition for etching, comprising a first inorganic acid, a first additive represented by Chemical Formula 1, and a solvent. In Chemical Formula 1, X may be O or N; R1 to R6 may be each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, a C1-C20 alkyl group, a C1-C20 alkoxy group, a C2-C20 alkenyl group, a C3-C20 cycloalkyl group, a C1-C20 aminoalkyl group, a C6-C20 aryl group, a C1-C20 alkyl carbonyl group, a C1-C20 alkyl carbonyloxy group, and a C1-C10 cyano alkyl group; n11 may be 0 or 1; and at least two of R1 to R4 may be C1-C20 alkoxy groups when n11 is 0. The first inorganic acid may be one selected from the group consisting of sulfuric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, silicic acid, hydrofluoric acid, boric acid, hydrochloric acid, perchloric acid, and mixtures thereof. The composition for etching may include 0.01 to 15 wt % of the first additive and 70 to 99 wt % of the first inorganic acid, with the remaining amount as solvent. The composition for etching may further comprise a second additive, including a silane inorganic acid salt produced by reacting a second inorganic acid with a silane compound. The composition for etching may include 0.01 to 15 wt % of the second additive with respect to the total amount of the composition for etching. According to another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, comprising an etching process performed using the composition for etching. The etching process may selectively etch for a nitride film with respect to an oxide film, and the etching process of the nitride film may be performed at a temperature of 50 to 300° C.

11382895

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Bis (2-chloroethyl sulfide) or sulfur mustard (SM) was first synthesized in the late 1880s and since has been used as a warfare agent on a number of occasions. SM was first used in World War I and has been used in warfare as recently as the Iran-Iraq conflict of the late 1980s. Although SM is less of a threat in warfare as it once was, it still posses a threat to military and civilian personnel because of current concerns for its deployment in a terrorist attack. Sulfur mustards are classic vesicating agents that mainly affect the skin, eyes, and respiratory system. Medical surveillance of individuals exposed to mustard gas in the early 1980's has documented a number of respiratory conditions including bronchiolitis obliterans, asthma, and lung fibrosis that can persist through out the victims' lifetime. There is currently no known antidote for SM poisoning. Upon exposure, the best recourse is decontamination and supportive treatment. Decontamination of the skin is relatively straight forward and beneficial, whereas internal exposure such a inhalation of sulfur mustards is much more difficult to treat. It can be seen from the foregoing discussion that there is a need for developing agents that are capable of attenuating, preventing, and/or rescuing organ injury from the deleterious effects resulting from exposure to alkylating agents (e.g., inhalation damage), such as sulfur mustards. The invention addresses these and other needs in the art. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Provided herein are, inter alia, methods for rescuing or preventing organ injury following exposure to alkylating agents by using substituted porphyrins as the active agent or alkylating agent protectant, such as a mimetic of superoxide dismutase and/or catalase. The methodology of the invention may implemented as follows. According to one aspect of the invention, a method of treating an injury associated with exposure to an alkylating agent in a subject includes administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of a compound of Formula or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. R1, R2, R3, and R4may each independently be —H, —CF3, —CO2R8, Each R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10, R11, R12, R13, R14, R15, R16, R17, R18, R19, R20, R21, R22, R23, and R24may be the same or different and may each independently be hydrogen, halogen, —CN, —CF3, —OH, —NH2, —COOH, —COOR25, an unsubstituted or substituted alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted heteroalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted cycloalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted heterocycloalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted aryl, and an unsubstituted or substituted heteroaryl. R25may be an unsubstituted alkyl such as C1-10alkyl (e.g., CH3). The injury may be associated with an organ in the subject. Specifically, the organ may be skin, lungs, nose, esophagus, trachea, or bronchi. The alkylating agent may be a sulfur mustard, chlorine gas, phosgene, and 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide. Specifically, the alkylating agent is a sulfur mustard. Exposure to the alkylating agent may produce mitochondrial dysfunction, which in turn may result in an increase in reactive oxygen species production or oxidative stress. In particular, exposure to the alkylating agent, relative to non-exposure to the alkylating agent causes an increase in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels, an increase in IgM levels, a decrease of glutathione levels, and an increase in myleperoxidase levels. The compound may be administered by inhalation administration, topical administration, intravenous administration, subcutaneous administration, intraperitoneal administration, and intramuscular administration. The compound may be administered to the subject within about 0.5 hours to about 48 hours after exposure to the alkylating agent. More specifically, the compound may be administered to the subject within about 1 hour to about 10 hours after exposure to the alkylating agent. According to another aspect of the invention, a method of protecting a subject from the toxic effects associated with exposure to an alkylating agent includes administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of a compound of Formula R1, R2, R3, and R4may each independently be —H, —CF3, —CO2R8, Each R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10, R11, R12, R13, R14, R15, R16, R17, R18, R19, R20, R21, R22, R23, and R24may be the same or different and may each independently be hydrogen, halogen, —CN, —CF3, —OH, —NH2, —COOH, —COOR25, an unsubstituted or substituted alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted heteroalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted cycloalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted heterocycloalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted aryl, and an unsubstituted or substituted heteroaryl. R25may be an unsubstituted alkyl such as C1-10alkyl (e.g., CH3). Additional features, advantages, and embodiments of the invention may be set forth or apparent from consideration of the following detailed description, and claims. Moreover, it is to be understood that both the foregoing summary of the invention and the following detailed description are exemplary and intended to provide further explanation without limiting the scope of the invention as claimed.

11307624

BACKGROUND The present disclosure is related to the field of Power Over Ethernet (POE) device system management. More specifically, the present disclosure is related to digital video recorder (DVR) power control in a POE device system. In current systems, when POE devices, such as remote IP cameras or sensors fail, neither the network switch nor the DVRs are configured to provide a way to power cycle or reset the POE device. In such cases, the system user must dispatch a remote crew to visit the POE device site, and manually reset the POE device and/or the network switch. Such a method and system is very expensive and inefficient. SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE A system and method configured to improve the function of a network of Power Over Ethernet (POE) devices. The system and method is configured such that a digital video recorder (DVR) actively monitors the POE devices using the POE device application programming interface (API). The DVR, in response to a POE failure or non-responsive POE status may automatically power cycle the port of the network switch corresponding to the POE device, or may power cycle (reboot) the network switch. The system and method also may notify a remote user through a wide area network (WAN) and remote monitor, allowing the remote user to alternatively manually power cycle the network switch and/or the POE(s) ports. In one embodiment of the present application, a method of power over Ethernet (POE) device control, the method comprises monitoring a plurality of POE devices with a digital video recorder (DVR) through a network switch with an application programming interface (API) of each of the plurality of POE devices, detecting with the DVR a nonresponsive POE device, wherein the nonresponsive POE device is one of the plurality of POE devices, and utilizing with the DVR an API of the network switch to automatically power cycle the nonresponsive POE device. In an additional embodiment of the present application, a power over Ethernet (POE) device system, the system comprises a plurality of POE devices configured throughout a monitoring area, a digital video recorder (DVR) coupled with the plurality of POE devices through a network switch, wherein the DVR monitors the plurality of POE devices with an application programming interface (API) of each of the plurality of POE devices and detects a nonresponsive POE device, wherein the nonresponsive POE device is one of the plurality of POE devices, and further wherein the DVR utilizes an API of the network switch to automatically power cycle the nonresponsive POE device. In an additional embodiment of the present application, a method of controlling power over Ethernet (POE) internet protocol (IP) cameras, the method comprises monitoring a plurality of IP cameras with a digital video recorder (DVR) through a network switch with an application programming interface (API), detecting with the DVR a nonresponsive IP camera, wherein the nonresponsive IP camera is one of the plurality of IP cameras, utilizing with the DVR the API of the network switch to automatically power cycle the nonresponsive IP camera, and utilizing with the DVR the API of the network switch to automatically power cycle the network switch when a predetermined number of the plurality of IP cameras are nonresponsive.

11365904

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/048,152, filed on Jul. 27, 2018, entitled “Multi-Level Mounting System,” which claims the benefit of priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/632,732, filed on Jun. 26, 2017, entitled “Multi-Level Mounting System,” both of which are incorporated in their entirety by reference. BACKGROUND Various tools and components for mounting solar panels and other objects to a surface, such as the roof of a building, are available, and occasionally, the components or parts may be specific to a particular solar panel installation system. For example, the solar panels being mounted by a first contractor may be the same or significantly similar to solar panels being mounted to a surface by a second contractor. However, depending on factors such as surface characteristics or merely the preference of the installing contractor, the first contractor may select to use a different mounting system than the second contractor. Despite the differences between various mounting systems, there may be certain parts that are the same or sufficiently similar to parts in different branded or styled systems that the parts may be interchangeable. Accordingly, while some commonly used components in the industry may be considered to be fairly generic and may function with different makes or models of solar panels regardless of sizing, there are other components for which multiple distinct sizes may be manufactured in order to accommodate different sizes or heights of the system being installed. As such, it may be cumbersome and/or inconvenient for a contractor to carry and/or keep in stock the multiple different sized components.

11214363

BACKGROUND This section provides background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the disclosure. It should be understood that the statements in this section of this document are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art. Helicopters typically include a main rotor that rotates in a generally horizontal plane above the helicopter airframe and a tail rotor that rotates in a generally vertical plane oriented to produce a sideways thrust in the direction of yaw. The pitch of the tail rotor blades, i.e., the angle between the chord line of the blade profile and the direction of rotation of the tail rotor, can be varied so as to increase or decrease the amount of sideways thrust produced by the tail rotor. The sideways thrust of the tail rotor serves three related purposes: first, since the tail rotor is located on a tail boom a distance from the main rotor, its sideways thrust produces a moment which serves to offset the torque produced on the airframe of the helicopter by the rotation of the main rotor blade; second, the sideways thrust of the tail rotor provides yaw axis control for the helicopter; and third, the sideways thrust of the tail rotor may work in conjunction with sideways thrust of the main rotor when the helicopter is translating laterally through the air. The total sideways thrust produced by the tail rotor is known as the tail rotor authority. Factors affecting the total authority produced by a tail rotor include blade size and profile, rotational speed, angle of attack of the tail rotor blades, the pitch of the tail rotor blades, and the air density. The angle of attack is the angle between the chord line of the blade profile and the “relative wind”, i.e., the direction at which the air approaches the tail rotor blade. This angle of attack is affected by the rotor blade pitch, the direction of travel of the helicopter and the presence of cross winds. A cross wind which reduces the angle of attack reduces the overall authority produced by the tail rotor, diminishing the control available to the pilot. The pitch is the angle between the chord line of the blade profile and the direction of blade rotation. The pitch is not affected by cross winds. The pilot controls the pitch of the tail rotor blades through the use of control pedals. Increasing the blade pitch results in greater tail rotor authority and decreasing the blade pitch results in less tail rotor authority. Air density also affects the tail rotor authority. Other factors being equal, the greater the air density, the greater the authority produced by the tail rotor, and similarly, the lower the air density, the less authority produced by the tail rotor. During operation of a helicopter, various vibrations are generated. The main rotor and tail rotor systems of a helicopter are designed to avoid dynamic loading issues that can be caused by vibrations (e.g., resonance) and negatively impact performance of the helicopter. For example, dynamic loading issues in a tail rotor system can be avoided by tuning the natural frequency of the tail rotor system. The natural frequency of the tail rotor system can be tuned by, for example, altering the design of components within the tail rotor system (e.g., changing shape, size, or mass of components). Determining the natural frequency of a tail rotor system involves complex mathematics that necessarily involves assumptions (e.g., at boundary conditions). As a result, it can be very difficult to precisely design a tail rotor system that avoids all dynamic loading issues, such as resonance. SUMMARY An example of a hub for a tail rotor includes a body configured to couple to a mast of a rotor system, a trunnion disposed within the body, first and second shafts disposed on opposite sides of the trunnion, first and second end plates secured to the body, and first and second end bearings, the first end bearing disposed between the first shaft and the first end plate and the second end bearing disposed between the second shaft and the second end plate. An example of a hub for a tail rotor includes a body configured to couple to a mast, a trunnion disposed within the body, first and second shafts disposed on opposite sides of the trunnion, first and second elastomeric bearings, the first elastomeric bearing being disposed on the first shaft and the second elastomeric bearing being disposed on the second shaft, first and second mounting rings, the first mounting ring disposed between the first elastomeric bearing and an inner wall of the body and the second mounting ring disposed between the second elastomeric bearing and the inner wall of the body, first and second end plates secured to the body, the first and second end plates comprising a dome shape, and first and second end bearings, the first end bearing disposed between the first shaft and the first end plate and the second end bearing disposed between the second shaft and the second end plate. An example of a system for mounting a teetering helicopter rotor onto a mast includes a body with an aperture therethrough for receiving the mast, a pair of opposed conical shafts extending from the body and on a common axis which perpendicularly intersects an axis of the aperture, elastomeric bearings comprising conical shims therein, the conical shims being circumferentially disposed around the conical shafts and having angles that match the angles of the conical shafts, outer mounting rings having interior and exterior surfaces, wherein the interior surfaces have the same cone angle as the angle of the conical shafts and the exterior surfaces contact an inner wall of the body, and end bearings comprising alternating layers of rubber and metal shims, wherein an axis of the end bearings aligns with the common axis. An example of a method of improving a rotor system includes providing a body configured to couple to a mast of a rotor system, placing a trunnion within the body, the trunnion comprising first and second shafts, placing first and second elastomeric bearings on the first and second shafts, respectively, placing first and second end bearings adjacent to the first and second shafts, and securing first and second end plates to the body so that the first and second end bearings are disposed between the first and second end plates the first and second shafts, respectively. The first and second end bearings adjust a spring rate of the rotor system along a central axis passing through centers of the first and second elastomeric bearings to move the natural frequency of the rotor system along the central axis away from a fundamental natural frequency of the rotor system.

11234054

BACKGROUND Smartphones, tablets, and other portable/handheld devices have increased the frequency of video streaming. As a result, mobile data traffic has grown significantly and is expected to continue to do so. A majority of the mobile data traffic consists of video content, such as live video content. Typical content providers may provide thousands of video streams to millions of users at any given moment. In live video cast, multiple users within a confined vicinity may request the same content. It has been observed in live video traces that numerous users within the same vicinity request the same content. A separate flow in unicast mode for each of these users is streamed from the nearest cache/storage repository. The nearest storage repository is generally a point of presence (PoP) or a content delivery network (CDN). The delivery of the same content to many users within the same area considerably impacts network efficiency, cost, a service provider's quality of service (QoS), and viewers' quality of experience (QoE). One option to address this demand for video traffic is multicast in a cellular Radio Access Network (RAN). In typical Long Term Evolution-Advanced (LTE-A) networks, live video streaming is generally performed via unicast transmission. Unicast transmissions, however, specifically in a scenario where multiple users from a limited area are watching the same stream/channel, put unnecessary load on transit, backhaul, and access networks, which wastes scarce resources at each tier, increase the delivery cost, and decrease the viewers' QoE. For instance, as a number of streaming users increases in a RAN, the desired radio resources used grows linearly, even when the users request identical video content. Conversely, multicast transmission offers an economical and scalable approach to transmit live videos to several users simultaneously using limited resources. Multicast may help content providers save resources by requiring content providers to fetch a less amount of user data from the CDN. Multicast may also help increase QoE and resource utilization efficiency because of resources saved at transit, backhaul, and RAN levels. Typical cellular networks support multicast services. For instance, evolved Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (eMBMS) and Broadcast Multicast Service (BCMSC) are the typical services that are employed by mobile network operators to deploy broadcast/multicast architectures. However, such multicast transmissions are only carried out for predefined user services offered by multicast service providers (MSPs). Generally, these predefined services include broadcast/multicast TV, video conferencing, file download services, or an event-based transmission, such as a sporting event or a live concert. Typically, efforts to optimize video quality, bandwidth, and energy consumption of user equipment and the network in the wireless multicast services have considered a service-based architecture, where the content provider announces and initiates a service. This service-based architecture is not applicable for a typical live video provider that enables thousands of users to deliver live content without announcing a separate service for each video cast. Stated differently, the content provider must be a MSP to use the eMBMS services, which many typical content providers are not. Accordingly, eMBMS multicasts cannot be used for such typical live video providers. In a typical eMBMS scenario, cellular network multicast can only be carried out by receiving the pre-announced content from the content provider and delivering the content only to the subscribed viewers. To multicast a video, the eMBMS requires various actions performed at the content provider and user equipment end. First, the content provider must be a MSP with its user services available for its subscribers. The content provider needs to contact the eMBMS for authentication and authorization. The user equipment needs to be subscribed to a content provider for a specific service. Then, the eMBMS needs to instantiate its own multicast bearer services to deliver the multicast user services. At the user equipment end, some services-related changes are also required. SeeLTE Broadcast—Lessons Learned from Trials and Early Deployments,https://www.expway.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/LTE-Broadcast-Paper-Final-30-November-2016.pdf (2016). The user equipment should be able to receive the system information blocks (SIB) related to eMBMS, especially SIB-13, SIB-15, and SIB-16. Moreover, the user equipment needs to decode the SIBs correctly to receive multicast, support multicast operation on demand (MooD), and support unicast to multicast and multicast to unicast switching. In addition, the introduction of new services typically demands network reconfiguration and on-the-spot installation of new equipment that in turn increases cost, ground area, power, and proficient service workforce. Hard-wired networks are tedious to take care of, time-consuming to evolve, and preclude service providers from providing dynamic services. Instead, network function virtualization technology is one solution to deal with the ever-increasing demands for a variety of hardware in typical telecom networks. In network function virtualization technology, applications may be retained by dynamically configurable cloud environments known as virtualized network functions (VNFs) that allow the networks to be swift and responsive towards the requirements of the services running over the VNF. Accordingly, a need exists for a system that enables typical content providers to multicast live content streams. SUMMARY The present disclosure provides new and innovative systems and non-transitory, computer-readable mediums for managing the initiation and termination of multicast sessions to enable content providers that are not multicast service providers to multicast live content. The provided systems may be utilized to augment typical multimedia broadcast multicast services at the core network level. The provided systems minimize bandwidth utilization, RAN resources, and cost by reducing the number of streams per live event as compared to creating unicast sessions for each user device viewing the live event. In an example, a system includes a plurality of user devices, a content provider system, a multimedia broadcast multicast service, and a proxy system. The content provider system is configured to provide contemporaneous media content, such as live video, over a network to the plurality of user devices. The proxy system is configured to manage the initiation and termination of multicast sessions between the plurality of user devices and the content provider system. The proxy system includes a processor in communication with a memory. The proxy system's processor may receive a request from a respective user device for the content provider system to provide media content of a contemporaneous event. It may then determine whether a number of user devices viewing the media content meets a threshold. In response to determining that the number of user devices meets the threshold, a multicast session may be initiated. Initiating the multicast session may include various actions. A service announcement header may be transmitted to the multimedia broadcast multicast service on behalf of the content provider system. Identification information may be received from the respective user device. A join request may be transmitted to the multimedia broadcast multicast service. The join request includes the received identification information from the respective user device. The join request may be received from the multimedia broadcast multicast service. Multicast authorization including a multicast IP address may be transmitted to the multimedia broadcast multicast service. A set of user devices including the respective user device may be assigned to the initiated multicast session associated with the multicast IP address. The multicast IP address may be transmitted to the set of user devices.

11537800

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure is generally directed to methods and systems for automated sig code translation using machine learning, and more specifically, for training and operating natural language models to identify sig codes. BACKGROUND Medical professionals such as physicians, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, etc. use shorthand abbreviations, commonly referred to as SIGs or sig codes to specify directions for use of a medicine. Sig codes are commonly used to encode instructions for a patient to follow during a prescription regimen, and may be printed on packaging (e.g., in an information sheet accompanying a prescription, on a bottle, inhaler, etc.) A physician may specify a compressed sig code when authoring a medical prescription or script. In some cases, a pharmacy technician or pharmacist may convert the compressed sig code to an expanded sig code that may be more readable by a patient. The term “sig” is an abbreviation for the Latin term “signa,” meaning mark, stamp, designation or label. Sig codes may be used to specify a number of attributes of a prescription, including a quantity, a dosing form/route of administration, a frequency, a duration, etc. However, interpreting sig codes is challenging for a number of reasons. First, sig codes are expressed in natural language and may include information that appears in any order. Second, sig codes are not standardized. For example, two physicians may use different terms to refer to a single meaning (e.g., 5×/d, five times daily, etc.). Two pharmacists may reach different conclusions as to the meaning and/or interpretation of a given sig code. Third, sig codes may be ambiguous. For example, a physician may enter the term novo7030. Such a term could mean NovoLIN 70/30 or NovoLOG 70/30. Such ambiguities can result in confusion, or worse, danger. Other types of ambiguity/error may arise, such as when scripts are hand-written. For example, a hand-written abbreviation such as “U” for unit may be misinterpreted as a zero. In sum, the conventional use of sig codes by medical professionals and at pharmacies complicates efforts to implement technological improvements. Given the many variations in spelling and meaning of sig codes, approaches relying on explicit programming (e.g., using string matching and/or regular expressions) result in inefficient and overly complex codebases that are difficult to debug and impose an extreme ongoing maintenance burden on developers. As pharmacy systems become increasingly more digitized and networked, the presence of unstructured and cryptic sig codes causes duplicative efforts and error-prone techniques. BRIEF SUMMARY In one aspect, a pharmacy management system for automated sig code translation using machine learning includes one or more processors; and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the pharmacy management system to train, via the one or more processors, a machine learning model to analyze sig code utterances, receive the sig code utterance, analyze the sig code utterance using the trained machine learning model, wherein the analyzing includes identifying one or more entities within the sig code utterance, and wherein the one or more entities includes at least one quantity entity and at least one frequency entity; and generate an output corresponding to the sig code utterance including one or more entity results, each entity result including an entity type, an entity name, and an entity normalized value corresponding to a respective one of the one or more entities within the sig code utterance. In another aspect, a computer-implemented method for automated sig code translation using machine learning includes training, via the one or more processors, a machine learning model to analyze sig code utterances, receiving the sig code utterance, analyzing the sig code utterance using the trained machine learning model, wherein the analyzing includes identifying one or more entities within the sig code utterance, and wherein the one or more entities includes at least one quantity entity and at least one frequency entity; and generating an output corresponding to the sig code utterance including one or more entity results, each entity result including an entity type, an entity name, and an entity normalized value corresponding to a respective one of the one or more entities within the sig code utterance. In yet another aspect, a non-transitory computer readable medium includes program instructions that when executed, cause a computer to train a machine learning model to analyze sig code utterances, receive the sig code utterance, analyze the sig code utterance using the trained machine learning model, wherein the analyzing includes identifying one or more entities within the sig code utterance, and wherein the one or more entities includes at least one quantity entity and at least one frequency entity; and generate an output corresponding to the sig code utterance including one or more entity results, each entity result including an entity type, an entity name, and an entity normalized value corresponding to a respective one of the one or more entities within the sig code utterance.

11491319

BACKGROUND Medical, scientific and research environments often rely on flexible tubing for conveying fluids. IV (intravenous) fluids are often administered in medical contexts through flexible tubing to a needle or central line inserted into a bloodstream of a patient. Liquid medication is commonly infused to a patient through an intravenous (IV) line. Where more than one type of medication is needed, a multi-line connector or manifold may be used. Typically, a manifold includes a main liquid flow passage and a plurality of branch passages in fluid communication with the main passage. Intravenous liquid, such as saline, flows steadily through the main passage. Liquid saline is often administered to a patient with or without additional medication. When a need arises to introduce medication to the patient, the medication is introduced into the main passage through one or more of the branch passages. A manifold type of connector for IV medications may be employed for several drugs in succession. Certain therapeutic courses, for example chemotherapy treatments, employ a plurality of different drugs in a single session. Conventional IV manifolds have one or more inlets for administering successive courses of medication. These medications combine with the IV saline stream in the manifold for patient delivery. SUMMARY An infusion coupling allows administration of IV drugs to a patient through an IV fluid line, and ensures that successive courses of medication are fully passed or flushed from the line to prevent mixing of incompatible drugs in the IV line. The infusion coupling includes a vessel body adapted to transport intravenous (IV) fluids, such that the vessel body has an outlet configured for coupling to the patient for introduction of the IV fluids. A plurality of branch inlets (inlets) receive medication from IV bags or bottles through a line (IV tubing) connected to the inlets. An interior cavity or volume in the vessel body is defined by a generally cylindrical shape such that each of the branch inlets is in fluidic communication with the interior volume for receiving the IV fluids for transport. The inlets are angled on the body of the infusion coupling based on a flow and current for reducing or eliminating a vortex effect from fluid flow, and may be opposed or inline. A transverse bar, crossmember or obstruction extends across an interior diameter of the infusion coupling for further disrupting a circular flow that can result in a vortex. Formation of a vortex can retain the infused medication in the infusion coupling and result in mixing with successive medication courses administered through the infusion coupling. Multiple infusion lines may converge at each inlet, thus providing 4 or 6 infusion connections into an infusion coupling with 2 inlets. Configurations herein are based, in part, on the observation that infusion couplings are often used to merge IV lines carrying different medications to a patient using a common IV line, thus preventing a need for multiple needle injection points on a patient. Unfortunately, conventional infusion couplings suffer from the shortcoming that the intersecting flow caused by branch inlets into the common IV line can cause circular vortex currents that retain the medication in the infusion coupling. The retained medication increases the onset time until it reaches the patient, and the retained medication can mix with a subsequent medication also added through the same or other inlet ports, which may result in an incompatible mixing of medications. Accordingly, configurations herein substantially overcome the shortcomings of conventional infusion couplings by providing an angled inlet port and transverse crossmember that direct the flow of branch inlets out of the infusion coupling by mitigating vortex currents that retain fluid. In further detail, the multi-line infusion coupler device includes a vessel body adapted to transport IV fluids and having an outlet configured for coupling to a patient IV line for introduction of the IV fluids, and at least one branch inlet disposed at an predetermined acute angle on the vessel body. An interior volume in the vessel body is coupled such that each of the branch inlets in fluidic communication with the interior volume for receiving the IV fluids for transport. Each of the branch inlets has an intake position defined by an orifice on an interior of the vessel body, such that the intake position and angle of each branch inlet is based on an onset time for fluidic transport from the orifice.

11332233

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of the German patent application No. 102018117095.5 filed on Jul. 16, 2018, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by way of reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a system for driving a flap arrangement between a retracted position and an extended position, a wing having such a system as well as an aircraft. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In commercial aircraft, often so-called high lift systems are provided on a wing permitting an increase of a lift generating area of the wing as well as its camber. Predominantly, these high lift systems comprise a trailing edge flap arrangement and a leading-edge flap arrangement. For example, a leading-edge flap arrangement comprises a flap that is extended from a recess at an underside of the wing into a position upstream of the wing. For this so-called Krüger flap, numerous different actuation mechanisms exist. A Krüger flap is usually stored at an underside of the wing with the trailing edge pointing in a forward direction and the leading edge pointing backwards. During the deployment of the flap, it roughly follows a rotary motion to reach a position in front of a leading edge of the wing under creation of a gap thereto, wherein the leading edge of the flap points in the flight direction and wherein the trailing edge points in a rearward direction. DE102011018906A1 exemplarily shows a leading-edge flap system with a Krüger flap. Here, an additional holding element is attached to a trailing edge of the flap to influence the gap between the flap and the leading edge of the wing. EP2509859B1 shows a high lift system, which may also comprise a Krüger flap, which has a certain design to shape the resulting gap between the flap and the leading edge of the wing to be strictly convergent. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Common kinematics for extending leading-edge slats in the form of Krüger flaps often provide a strict motion of the leading-edge flap attached to a lever, which swivels around a rotational axis. Hence, the angle between a chord axis of the flap and a chord axis of the wing is substantially proportional to the position of the lever. It may, however, be advantageous to provide a different motion to optimize a gap between the leading-edge flap and the leading edge of the wing as well as the air flow over the flap and the wing. Therefore, it is an object of the invention to propose an improved flap system for providing a motion of a leading-edge flap, which improves the flow in the flap region, while the system shall be as simple as possible. A flap system for driving a leading-edge flap between a retracted position and an extended position is proposed, the system comprising a leading-edge flap, an actuator, a first fixed link, a second fixed link, a third fixed link, a first connecting link, a second connecting link and an auxiliary link, wherein the first fixed link comprises a first support joint for rotatably supporting the first fixed link on a first structurally fixed point, wherein the second fixed link comprises a second support joint for rotatably supporting the second fixed link on a second structurally fixed point, wherein the third fixed link comprises a third support joint for rotatably supporting the third fixed link on a third structurally fixed point, wherein the first fixed link comprises a first connecting joint coupled with an end of the first connecting link, which is coupled with a first flap joint at another end, wherein the second fixed link comprises a second connecting joint rotatably coupled with a central region of the first connecting link, wherein the third fixed link comprises a third connecting joint rotatably coupled with an end of the second connecting link, which is coupled with a second flap joint at another end, wherein the actuator, second connecting link is coupled with the first fixed link through the auxiliary link, each at positions inside of the respective ends, and wherein the fixed links, the connecting links and the auxiliary link are arranged to actively place the leading-edge slat from a retracted position into an extended position. With the flap system according to the invention it is possible to reach certain aerodynamic flap positions, which are responsible for more high lift performance. The major advantage lies in that up to an intermediate position with an approximate deployment angle of 117° measured between the local wing chord and the leading-edge flap chord the trailing edge of the Krüger flap stays below the wing leading edge point. The gap between the trailing edge of the flap and the wing leading edge may also be 2% of the local wing chord or less. This prevents a flow separation on the main wing during the deployment of the Krüger flap. In a subsequent motion, the extended position can be reached, which may comprise an angle between the local flap chord and the local wing chord of approximately 130°, while the size of the gap is maintained. Altogether, the flap system according to the invention is able to provide a more complex motion of the leading-edge flap that optimizes the flow at least in the leading-edge region. A direct coupling of an angle adjustment and the deployment state of the flap is eliminated. The arrangement of links coupled with three structurally fixed points will change the angle between the flap and the wing chord up to a certain state. Afterwards, the flap angle may remain substantially constant or may only increase slightly. This means that a desired deployment angle of the flap may almost be reached in an intermediate position before the flap is completely deployed and is still under the local wing chord. After that, the flap may provide a substantially translational motion, i.e., in a subsequent substantially parallel motion course. The leading-edge flap may be a flow body having an elongate shape as well as a leading edge and a trailing edge. It may be curved in a similar way to a common Krüger flap or another type of flow influencing control surface of an aircraft. The main flap is a leading-edge flap intended to be moved relative to a leading edge of a wing. In a retracted state, the flap is arranged in a recess at an underside of the wing when the flap system is installed in a wing. The motion mentioned in this application relates to a deployment motion from the recess into a position forward the leading edge of the wing. The flap system according to the invention is based on an arrangement of six links in a first embodiment. Three fixed links are rotatably supportable on three individual structurally fixed points. Two connecting links are rotatably supported on two individual flap joints, which are arranged at a distance to each other on the leading-edge flap. By the interconnection of the fixed links and the connecting links, which also includes the use of an auxiliary link, the spatial positions of the flap joints and thus of the flap are determined. For driving the arrangement of links, the actuator may be coupled with one of the fixed links. In the following, the components are described in more detail. The actuator may be a rotary actuator, which is exemplarily directly coupled with one of the fixed links. The actuator may also be coupled with a structurally fixed point in an installed state on the wing. By rotating the actuator, the respective fixed link is rotated around the respective structurally fixed point and thereby moves all links directly or indirectly coupled thereto. The first fixed link and the second fixed link each comprise an end that is rotatably supported on an individual structurally fixed point and an opposed end that is rotatably coupled with the first connecting link. By swiveling the first and second fixed links around their respective support joints, which are coupled with structurally fixed points in an installed state, the first connecting link is urged into a motion that is determined by the positions of the first and second structurally fixed points, the lengths of the first and second fixed links as well as the coupling positions on the first connecting link. Exemplarily, the first connecting link may be divided into two halves along its main extension. At an outer end of one half, the first connecting link is coupled with the first flap joint. At the other half, it may be coupled to the first and second fixed links. It may be preferred to couple the first fixed link with an outer end of the first connecting link, while the second fixed link is coupled with a position on the first connecting link that is shifted towards the center of the first connecting link. In a retracted position, the first and second fixed links may be arranged substantially parallel to each other, while the first fixed link may comprise a greater length than the second fixed link. Hence, the first connecting link is clearly inclined to the first and second fixed links in the retracted position. As a result, in a first section of the deployment course, the first connecting link will maintain its orientation and the outer end of the first connecting link thereby moves along a substantially circular path. Depending on the length relationship of the first and second fixed links, as well as the positions of the first and second structurally fixed points, the orientation of the first connecting link will change along the deployment course, such that the radius of the motion path of the outer end of the first connecting link more and more decreases after the first section of the deployment course. At the same time, the third fixed link as well as the auxiliary link urge the second connecting link into a certain motion. While the auxiliary link moves directly depending on the first fixed link, the auxiliary link and the third fixed link determine the orientation of the second connecting link. It may be preferred to let the second flap joint conduct a motion similar to the first flap joint, i.e., conducting a rotary motion with a radius that decreases after following the first section of deployment. Consequently, the flap system according to the invention may be adjusted in such a way that a leading edge of the flap is in a relatively far forward position even with the trailing edge of the flap being underneath a chord line of the wing, to which the flap system is attachable. The leading-edge flap will preferably assume an angle of about 117° to the wing chord with the trailing edge of the flap still being underneath the chord line, after which a primarily parallel or translational motion is conducted. This may lead to an angle of approximately 130°. Hereby, a certain gap is maintained between the flap and the leading edge of the wing. In a preferred embodiment, the first fixed link has a length greater than the second fixed link. This enables the flap system according to the invention to provide a certain motion course of the first flap joint as explained above. The difference in lengths will lead to a clear change in the orientation of the first connecting link at a certain state of deployment. Preferably, in the retracted position, the first fixed link and the second fixed link enclose an angle of less than 10°. Hence, in this position or deployment state, the first fixed link and the second fixed link are arranged substantially parallel to each other. This leads to the motion of the first connecting link to follow a substantially circular path, until the orientation of the first connecting link more strongly changes, such that the first flap joint conducts a motion with decreasing radius. Consequently, the motion of the first flap joint is spirally as a tendency. In the retracted position, the first connecting link and the first fixed link enclose an angle in a range of 25° to 45°. The first connecting link is coupled with an end of the first fixed link, which is opposed to the first structurally fixed point. For reaching the above described motion, it is preferred that the end of the first connecting link and the first fixed link are in a most rearward position, when the flap is retracted. Consequently, the first connecting link is oriented slightly forward. During the deployment, depending on the size of the second fixed link, the angle enclosed by the first fixed link and the first connecting link in the fully extended position may be substantially the same. Preferably, the third fixed link has a length that is half the length of the first fixed link at a maximum. Due to a preferably forward location of the third fixed link, an end opposed to the third support joint only needs to conduct a motion with a comparably small radius. Hence, a smaller length is required. In this regard it is stated that the second connecting link, as well as the auxiliary link, may comprise a length that is comparable to the length of the third fixed link and, particularly, half the length of the first fixed link at a maximum. Preferably, the fixed links, the connecting links and the auxiliary link are arranged to actively place the leading-edge flap from a retracted position into an intermediate position, in which a chord axis of the flap is adjusted to a desired angle, and to provide a translational motion afterwards along the chord axis of the flap, while the orientation of the chord axis substantially remains constant. Hence, all of the links used in the flap system are to be designed in a manner, that this behavior can be achieved. The orientation of the chord axis of the flap should thereby remain constant. Since the kinematical chain relies on rotational motions it may be sufficient to let the orientation of the chord axis of the flap to vary in a range of ±2°. Hence, the flap as presented in the above description will be moved to a forward position, in which the chord has assumed a desired angle just before the chord axis of the wing is reached. Afterwards, the flap may be moved substantially translational along the chord axis with a certain gap between the leading edge of the wing and the leading edge flap. In an advantageous embodiment, the leading-edge flap comprises a body part and a nose part, wherein the system further comprises a third connecting link, a second auxiliary link and a fourth connecting link, wherein the second connecting link is coupled with an end of the third connecting link, wherein the third connecting link is coupled with the second auxiliary link at an opposed end, wherein a center region of the second auxiliary link is swivably supported on the first flap joint and is coupled with the third connecting link at one end and the fourth connecting link at an opposed end, and wherein the flap nose is coupled with the fourth connecting link and the first flap joint. Hence, the leading edge flap is divided into two parts, which are movable relative to each other. They may exemplarily be coupled through a hinge. This allows the flap to be stored at an underside of the wing easily, as the flap nose can be folded into the direction of the flap body. In order to unfold the flap nose, the set of third connection link, fourth connecting link and second auxiliary link are provided. The third connecting link transfers a motion from the first connecting link to the second auxiliary link, which is preferably designed as a rocker. Consequently, when the third connecting link is pushed towards the first flap joint, the nose part of the flap is pulled towards the first flap joint. This leads to a compacting/folding of the flap in the retracted position. Consequently, the third connecting link is to be dimensioned such that the distance between the attachment point of the third connecting link and the respective end of the third connecting link that points to the nose part exceeds the distance to the first flap joint. During the extension motion, the third connecting link is pulled to the second flap joint and beyond, such that the second auxiliary link rotates to push the nose part outwardly. Also, exclusively a single actuator may be used. Hence, the advantages of the flap system can be achieved by moving only one of the links without having to utilize a second actuator for, e.g., changing an angle or translational position of the flap in relation to the wing, to which the flap system is installed. The flap system according to the invention is simple, yet efficient to provide the desired motion of the flap. Preferably, the actuator, the fixed links, the connecting links and the auxiliary link are arranged to actively place the leading-edge slat from a retracted position into an intermediate position, in which a chord axis of the flap is adjusted to a desired angle, and to provide a substantially translational motion afterwards along the chord axis of the flap, while the orientation of the chord axis substantially remains constant or increases slightly, for example about 10-15°. Hence, all of the links used in the flap system are to be designed in a manner, that this behavior can be achieved. Hence, the flap as presented in the above description will be moved to a forward position, in which the local flap chord has assumed a desired angle just before the local chord axis of the wing is reached. Afterwards, the flap may be moved substantially translational along the chord axis with a certain gap between the leading edge of the wing and the leading edge flap into the fully extended position. As stated further below, the certain angle in the intermediate position may be approximately 117°. In the extended position the angle may be approximately 130°. However, these angles may vary slightly depending on the design of the aircraft, for example about +/−2°. The invention further relates to a wing having a leading-edge region and a trailing edge region as well as at least one flap system according to the above description. Advantageously, the system is arranged in the leading-edge region. Preferably, the flap system is designed to move the flap below a wing leading edge point up to an angle of 117° between a local flap chord and a local wing chord. This prevents a flow separation on an upper side of the wing. The position of the flap just below the wing leading edge point is considered the intermediate position mentioned above and further below. In the subsequent extension from the intermediate to the extended position, the local flap chord reaches an angle of exemplarily 130° to the local wing chord. The flap then has moved in a substantially translational motion along the leading edge of the wing under maintaining the gap. The flap system is further designed to limit a gap between a trailing edge of the flap and a leading-edge point of the wing to 2% of the local wing chord. This harmonizes a flow from the flap to an upper side of the wing. The gap between the trailing edge of the flap and the wing leading edge should not be greater than 2% of local wing chord. This prevents a flow separation on the wing during the deployment of the flap. This may include the intermediate position. Also, this may include the extended position. Finally, the invention relates to an aircraft having at least one such wing.

11279732

TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to compounds that are somatostatin receptor antagonists. More particularly, this invention relates to cyclic peptides and more particularly to cyclic octapeptides that are somatostatin receptor antagonists. BACKGROUND Somatostatin receptors are ubiquitously expressed in most tissues of the body. Five different subtypes of somatostatin receptors have been discovered. The localization of particular receptor subtypes on different tissues allows for specific receptor antagonists to exert specific inhibitory effects. In a series of structure activity relationship (SAR) studies of the 14 amino acid version of somatostatin (SST-14) and its analogs (Freidinger, R. M., et al., International journal of peptide and protein research 23(2):142-50, 1984; Pattaroni, C., et al., International journal of peptide and protein research 36(5):401-17, 1990; Veber, D. F., et al., Life sciences 34(14):1371-8, 1984), the four amino acid sequence Phe7-Trp8-Lys9-Thr10 (residues 7-10 of SST-14; SEQ ID NO: 85) was reported to be important for binding and activity of somatostatin. While Trp8-Lys9 appears essential, slight modifications in positions 7 and 10 were reportedly possible (Patel, Y. C., Frontiers in neuroendocrinology 20(3):157-98, 1999). Furthermore, cyclization (via the Cys-Cys pair at positions 3 and 14) apparently stabilizes the conformation of these residues, mimicking a β-turn, in a manner favorable for binding to SST receptors (Veber, D. F., et al., Life sciences 34(14):1371-8, 1984; Veber, D. F., et al., Nature 280(5722):512-4, 1979). Following these findings, several agonist analogs of somatostatin have been produced over the past several decades and several agonists have been used clinically to treat glandular tumors. Octreotide (Novartis) and lanreotide (Ipsen) are indicated for the treatment of acromegaly (somatotrophic adenoma) and thyrotrophic adenoma and in the management of certain neuroendocrine tumors in the pancreas (e.g., carcinoid tumors). A newer agonist, pasireotide (Novartis), is also used clinically for the treatment of Cushing's Disease (corticotropic adenoma) (Boscaro, M., et al., The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism 94(1):115-22, 2009), (see www.signifor.com). Bass et al. (at American Cyanamid) (Bass, R. T., et al., Molecular pharmacology 50(4):709-15, 1996) reported that substitution of D-cysteine at the position equivalent to residue 3 of SST-14 gave analogs with antagonist activity. Since then, antagonists that bind to the various SST receptor subtypes with different affinities have been developed. One approach to reducing hypoglycemia is to inhibit somatostatin receptors related to counterregulatory hormone release which are found in the pancreas, adrenal gland, and hypothalamus of the brain. Somatostatin receptor type 2 (SSTR2) are found in these tissues. Within the pancreas, SSTR2 are found nearly exclusively on glucagon-secreting α-cells in rodents (Rossowski, W. and Coy, D.,Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications205:341-346, 1994; Strowski, M., et al.,Endocrinology141:111-117, 2000). In humans as well, somatostatin exerts its inhibitory effect on glucagon secretion via SSTR2 found on α-cells (Kumar, U., et al.,Diabetes48:77-85, 1999; Reubi, J., et al.,J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.83:3746-3749, 1998), while the receptor is also expressed in the β cells (Reubi, J., et al.,J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.83:3746-3749, 1998), where it is involved in regulating insulin secretion. In the adrenal gland, SSTR2 have been widely identified in the adrenal medulla of animals and humans (Kimura, N., et al.,Endocrine Journal48:95-102, 2001; Maurer, R. and Reubi, J.,Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology45:81-90, 1986). It has been shown that somatostatin inhibits acetylcholine-stimulated release of epinephrine from the adrenal medulla (Role, L., et al., Neuroscience 6:1813-1821, 1981; Mizobe, F., et al.,Brain Research178:555-566, 1979), and this is the mechanism whereby epinephrine is released during hypoglycemia (Havel P. and Taborsky, G. J.,Stress-induced activation of the neuroendocrine system and its effects on carbohydrate metabolism. In Ellenberg and Rifkin's Diabetes Mellitus. Porte Jr D, Sherwin R, Baron A, Eds. New York, McGraw-Hill, 2003, p. 127-149). SSTR2 are also found in the hypothalamus of the brain (Fehlmann D., et al.,Journal of Physiology(Paris) 94:265-281, 2000; Lanneau C., et al.,European Journal of Neuroscience10:204-212, 1998) where somatostatin also has an inhibitory effect on hormones involved in hypoglycemic counterregulation. The approach of using SSTR2 antagonism to prevent hypoglycemia has been demonstrated in the STZ rat model, in which the glucagon response to hypoglycemia, which is absent in diabetic rats can be restored by administration of a SSTR2 antagonist (Yue J. T., et al.,Diabetes61(1):197-207, 2012). In this experiment, not only was the glucagon response restored, but the corticosterone response which was also deficient in diabetic rats was also improved in hypoglycemia after treatment with a SSTR2 antagonist. Furthermore, restoration of the counterregulatory responses corresponds to prevention or reduction in the severity of hypoglycemia in similar rats given an insulin dose to induce hypoglycemia (Yue J. T., et al.,Diabetes62(7):2215-2222, 2013). Somatostatin levels in the pancreas in diabetic animals are elevated (Rastogi, K., et al.,Endocrinology126:1096-1104, 1990; Rastogi, K., et al.,Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology71:512-517, 1993) as well as in diabetic humans (Orci, L., et al.,Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences U.S.A73:1338-1342, 1976). In streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic rats, there is: (i) hyperplasia and hypertrophy of somatostatin-containing δ-cells in the pancreas (Orci, L., et al.,Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences U.S.A73:1338-1342, 1976); (ii) increased expression of pancreatic prosomatostatin mRNA (Brubaker, P., et al.,Endocrinology124:3003-3009, 1989; Shi, Z., et al.,Endocrinology137:3193-3199, 1996); (iii) increased pancreatic somatostatin (Inouye, K., et al.,American Journal of Physiology Endocrinology and Metabolism282:E1369-E1379, 2002); and (iv) distribution of somatostatin-secreting δ-cells in the central portions of islets cells (Rossowski, W. and Coy, D.,Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications205:341-346, 1994). It has been reported that excessive somatostatin may inhibit glucagon release during hypoglycemia (Rastogi, K., et al.,Endocrinology126:1096-1104, 1990). Furthermore, it is well documented that somatostatin inhibits stimulated secretion of pancreatic glucagon. In STZ-diabetic rats, the expression of the gene for pro-glucagon and pro-somatostatin are both markedly increased (Inouye, K., et al.,American Journal of Physiology Endocrinology and Metabolism282:E1369-E1379, 2002). This increased concentration of somatostatin is observed in diabetic rats, both during euglycemia (i.e. normal blood glucose concentrations) and hypoglycemia (Shi, Z., et al.,Endocrinology137:3193-3199, 1996). Concentration of somatostatin in plasma is also increased during euglycemia and hypoglycemia in diabetic rats (Shi, Z., et al.,Endocrinology137:3193-3199, 1996). However, despite increased gene expression of proglucagon, plasma concentrations of glucagon are not increased during hypoglycemia in diabetic rats, presumably in part due to the marked elevation of somatostatin levels. In isolated islets and in perifused isolated islets, the somatostatin receptor type 2 (SSTR2)-selective antagonist, DC-41-33, also known as PRL-2903, dose-dependently increases glucagon secretion to an arginine stimulus, and subsequently adding somatostatin dose-dependently reverses the actions of the SSTR2 antagonist (Cejvan, K., et al.,Diabetes51 Suppl 3:S381-S384, 2002; Cejvan, K., et al.,Diabetes52:1176-1181, 2003). In isolated, perfused pancreas of non-diabetic rats, this antagonist enhances glucagon secretion without affecting insulin secretion (Cejvan, K., et al.,Diabetes52:1176-1181, 2003). Similar findings have been demonstrated in rat and human pancreatic tissue slices, prefused in hypoglycemic condition with and without SSTR2 antagonist (Karimian N., et al.,Diabetes62(8):2968-2977, 2013). It is also able to reverse the inhibitory effect of glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptides, GIP and GIP-(1-30)NH2, and glucagon-like polypeptide, GLP-1(7-36)NH2, on pentagastrin-stimulated gastric acid secretion in non-diabetic rats (Rossowski, W., et al.,British Journal of Pharmacology125:1081-1087, 1998). Somatostatin receptor antagonists are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,508,711 (April 1985, Coy et al.) and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,846,934 (December 1998, Bass et al.) (Hocart, S. J., et al.,Journal of medicinal chemistry42(11):1863-71, 1999; Rajeswaran, W. G., et al.,Journal of medicinal chemistry44(8):1305-11, 2001). The primary pharmacological treatments for hypoglycemia on the market today are based on various IV glucose or dextrose formulations and, as such, are considered reactionary treatments rather than true management strategies. There are a number of glucagon products on the market (e.g., GlucaGen®, Novo Nordisk), however this too is a rescue approach and is typically administered IV or SC in emergencies because the patient is unconscious. Importantly, glucagon must also be carefully dosed to avoid overstimulating glucose production (unlike a normalized endogenous glucagon response). These therapies are not directed to reducing the incidence of hypoglycemia, and as rescue therapies for severe hypoglycemia, they would not be expected to reduce the apprehension patients feel about the likelihood of experiencing a hypoglycemic event. Preventive therapies are required to reduce or eliminate this complication, and to enable insulin-dependent diabetic patients to more aggressively manage their blood glucose levels, resulting in overall improved long-term health outcomes. There is thus a real and strong demand for the development of a long-term therapeutic approach for the prevention of hypoglycemia. SUMMARY This invention is based, in part, on novel cyclic peptides that exhibit somatostatin receptor (SSTR) antagonist activity. Cyclic peptides of the present invention are often selective for a particular SSTR, such as SSTR 2. This invention is also based, in part, on novel amino acids that can be used in cyclic peptides of the present invention. In illustrative embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a compound having the structure of Formula I: or a salt thereof, wherein: RCis OH or NHR16, wherein R16is H or C1-6alkyl optionally substituted with one or more substituents; RNis selected from the group consisting of:(i) H;(ii) C1-6alkyl;(iii) —C(O)R17, wherein R17is selected from the group consisting of C1-6alkyl, C6-10aryl, and 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl, wherein the C1-6alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more substituents, and wherein the C6-10aryl and 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl are optionally substituted with one or more substituents;(iv) —C(O)C1-6alkylene-C(O)OR18, wherein R18is H or C1-6alkyl optionally substituted with one or more substituents;(v) —C(O)C1-6alkylene-N(R20)C(O)R19, wherein R19is selected from the group consisting of C1-6alkyl, C6-10aryl, and 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl, wherein the C1-6alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more substituents, and wherein the C6-10aryl and 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl are optionally substituted with one or more substituents, and wherein R20is H or C1-6alkyl;(vi) —C(O)C1-6alkylene-NR21R22, wherein each of R21and R22is independently selected from the group consisting of H, C1-6alkyl, C6-10aryl, and 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl, wherein the C1-6alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more substituents, and wherein the C6-10aryl and 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl are optionally substituted with one or more substituents;(vii) —C(O)C1-6alkylene-C(O)NR23R24, wherein each of R23and R24is independently selected from the group consisting of H, C1-6alkyl, C6-10aryl, and 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl, wherein the C1-6alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more substituents, and wherein the C6-10aryl and 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl are optionally substituted with one or more substituents;(viii) —C(O)C1-6alkylene-S(O)2R25, wherein R25is selected from the group consisting of C1-6alkyl, C6-10aryl, and 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl, wherein the C1-6alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more substituents, and wherein the C6-10aryl and 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl are optionally substituted with one or more substituents; and(ix) —S(O)2R26, wherein R26is selected from the group consisting of C1-6alkyl, C6-10aryl, and 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl, wherein the C1-6alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more substituents, and wherein the C6-10aryl and 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl are optionally substituted with one or more substituents; R1is selected from the group consisting of C1-6alkyl, C6-10aryl, 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl, —C1-6alkylene(C6-10aryl) and —C1-6alkylene(5- to 10-membered heteroaryl), wherein the C1-6alkyl, the C6-10aryl, the C6-10aryl of —C1-6alkylene(C6-10aryl), the 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl and the 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl of —C1-6alkylene(5- to 10-membered heteroaryl) are optionally substituted with one or more substituents, and wherein the C1-6alkylene of —C1-6alkylene(C6-10aryl) and —C1-6alkylene(5- to 10-membered heteroaryl) is optionally substituted with one or more substituents; R3is selected from the group consisting of:(i) C6-10aryl which is optionally substituted with one or more substituents;(ii) 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl which is optionally substituted with one or more substituents;(iii) —C1-6alkylene(C6-10aryl), wherein the C6-10aryl is optionally substituted with one or more substituents, and wherein the C1-6alkylene is optionally substituted with one or more substituents;(iv) —C1-6alkylene(5- to 10-membered heteroaryl), wherein the 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl is optionally substituted with one or more substituents, and wherein the C1-6alkylene is optionally substituted with one or more substituents;(v) —C1-6alkylene-NR27C(O)R28, wherein:R27is H or C1-6alkyl;R28is selected from the group consisting of C1-6alkyl, C6-10aryl, 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl, and —NR29R30, wherein the C1-6alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more substituents, and wherein the C6-10aryl and 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl are optionally substituted with one or more substituents; andwherein each of R29and R30is independently selected from the group consisting of H, C1-6alkyl, C6-10aryl, and 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl, wherein the C1-6alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more substituents, and wherein the C6-10aryl and 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl are optionally substituted with one or more substituents;(vi) —(C6-10arylene)-C(O)NR31R32or —C1-6alkylene-(C6-10arylene)-C(O)NR31R32, wherein each of R31and R32is independently selected from the group consisting of H, C1-6alkyl, C6-10aryl, and 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl, wherein the C1-6alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more substituents, and wherein the C6-10aryl and 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl are optionally substituted with one or more substituents;(vii) —(C6-10arylene)-NR33R34or —C1-6alkylene-(C6-10arylene)-NR33R34, wherein:each of R33and R34is independently selected from the group consisting of H, C1-6alkyl, C6-10aryl, 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl, —C(O)R35, —C(O)NR36R37, and —SO2R38, wherein the C1-6alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more substituents, and wherein the C6-10aryl and 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl are optionally substituted with one or more substituents;R35is selected from the group consisting of C1-6alkyl, C6-10aryl, 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl, and 5- to 10-membered heterocycloalkyl, wherein the C1-6alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more substituents, and wherein the C6-10aryl, 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl, and 5- to 10-membered heterocycloalkyl are optionally substituted with one or more substituents;each of R36and R37is independently selected from the group consisting of H, C1-6alkyl, C6-10aryl, and 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl, wherein the C1-6alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more substituents, and wherein the C6-10aryl and 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl are optionally substituted with one or more substituents; andR38is selected from the group consisting of C1-6alkyl, C6-10aryl, and 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl, wherein the C1-6alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more substituents, and wherein the C6-10aryl and 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl are optionally substituted with one or more substituents;(viii) —(C6-10arylene)-SO2NR39R40or —C1-6alkylene-(C6-10arylene)-SO2NR39R40, wherein each of R39and R40is independently selected from the group consisting of H, C1-6alkyl, C6-10aryl, and 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl, wherein the C1-6alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more substituents, and wherein the C6-10aryl and 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl are optionally substituted with one or more substituents;(ix) —(C6-10arylene)-(C1-6alkylene)-NR41R42or —C1-6alkylene-(C6-10arylene)-(C1-6alkylene)-NR41R42, wherein:each of R41and R42is independently selected from the group consisting of H, C1-6alkyl, C6-10aryl, 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl, —C(O)R43, and —C(O)NR44R45, wherein the C1-6alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more substituents, and wherein the C6-10aryl and 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl are optionally substituted with one or more substituents;R43is selected from the group consisting of C1-6alkyl, C6-10aryl, and 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl, wherein the C1-6alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more substituents, and wherein the C6-10aryl and 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl are optionally substituted with one or more substituents; andeach of R44and R45is independently selected from the group consisting of H, C1-6alkyl, C6-10aryl, and 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl, wherein the C1-6alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more substituents, and wherein the C6-10aryl and 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl are optionally substituted with one or more substituents;(x) —(C6-10arylene)-OR46or —C1-6alkylene-(C6-10arylene)-OR46, wherein R46is selected from the group consisting of H, C1-6alkyl, C6-10aryl, and 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl, wherein the C1-6alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more substituents, and wherein the C6-10aryl and 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl are optionally substituted with one or more substituents; and(xi) —C1-6alkylene-(C6-10arylene)-N(R47)—C(O)—CHR48—NR49R50, wherein R47is H or CH3, R48is H or C1-6alkyl optionally substituted with one or more substituents each independently selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl, —COOH, —NH2, —C(O)NH2, and —N(H)C(O)NH2, and each of R49and R50is independently H, CH3or acetyl; R4is selected from the group consisting of:(i) —C1-6alkylene-N(R53)C(O)NR51R52, wherein each of R51and R52is independently selected from the group consisting of H, C1-6alkyl, C6-10aryl, and 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl, wherein the C1-6alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more substituents, and wherein the C6-10aryl and 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl are optionally substituted with one or more substituents, and wherein R53is H or C1-6alkyl;(ii) —C1-6alkylene-N(R55)C(O)R54, wherein R54is selected from the group consisting of C1-6alkyl, C6-10aryl, and 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl, wherein the C1-6alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more substituents, and wherein the C6-10aryl and 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl are optionally substituted with one or more substituents, and wherein R55is H or C1-6alkyl;(iii) —(C6-10arylene)-C(O)NR56R57or —C1-6alkylene-(C6-10arylene)-C(O)NR56R57, wherein each of R56and R57is independently selected from the group consisting of H, C1-6alkyl, C6-10aryl, and 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl, wherein the C1-6alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more substituents, and wherein the C6-10aryl and 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl are optionally substituted with one or more substituents;(iv) —(C6-10arylene)-N(R59)C(O)R58or —C1-6alkylene-(C6-10arylene)-N(R59)C(O)R58, wherein R58is selected from the group consisting of C1-6alkyl, C6-10aryl, 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl, and 5- to 10-membered heterocycloalkyl, wherein the C1-6alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more substituents, and wherein the C6-10aryl, 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl, and 5- to 10-membered heterocycloalkyl are optionally substituted with one or more substituents, and wherein R59is H or C1-6alkyl;(v) —(C6-10arylene)-N(R62)C(O)NR60R61or —C1-6alkylene-(C6-10arylene)-N(R62)C(O)NR60R61, wherein each of R60and R61is independently selected from the group consisting of H, C1-6alkyl, C6-10aryl, and 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl, wherein the C1-6alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more substituents, and wherein the C6-10aryl and 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl are optionally substituted with one or more substituents, and wherein R62is H or C1-6alkyl;(vi) —(C6-10arylene)-N(R64)SO2R63or —C1-6alkylene-(C6-10arylene)-N(R64)SO2R63, wherein R63is selected from the group consisting of C1-6alkyl, C6-10aryl, and 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl, wherein the C1-6alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more substituents, and wherein the C6-10aryl and 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl are optionally substituted with one or more substituents, and wherein R64is H or C1-6alkyl;(vii) —(C6-10arylene)-SO2NR65R66or —C1-6alkylene-(C6-10arylene)-SO2NR65R66, wherein each of R65and R66is independently selected from the group consisting of H, C1-6alkyl, C6-10aryl, and 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl, wherein the C1-6alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more substituents, and wherein the C6-10aryl and 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl are optionally substituted with one or more substituents;(viii) —(C6-10arylene)-(C1-6alkylene)-NR67R68or —C1-6alkylene-(C6-10arylene)-(C1-6alkylene)-NR67R68, wherein:each of R67and R68is independently selected from the group consisting of H, C1-6alkyl, C6-10aryl, 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl, —C(O)R69, and —C(O)NR70R71, wherein the C1-6alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more substituents, and wherein the C6-10aryl and 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl are optionally substituted with one or more substituents;R69is selected from the group consisting of C1-6alkyl, C6-10aryl, and 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl, wherein the C1-6alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more substituents, and wherein the C6-10aryl and 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl are optionally substituted with one or more substituents; andeach of R70and R71is independently selected from the group consisting of H, C1-6alkyl, C6-10aryl, and 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl, wherein the C1-6alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more substituents, and wherein the C6-10aryl and 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl are optionally substituted with one or more substituents;(ix) —(C6-10arylene)-NR72R73or —C1-6alkylene-(C6-10arylene)-NR72R73, wherein each of R72and R73is independently selected from the group consisting of H, C1-6alkyl, C6-10aryl, and 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl, wherein the C1-6alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more substituents, and wherein the C6-10aryl and 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl are optionally substituted with one or more substituents;(x) —(C6-10arylene)-OR74or —C1-6alkylene-(C6-10arylene)-OR74, wherein R74is selected from the group consisting of H, C1-6alkyl, C6-10aryl, and 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl, wherein the C1-6alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more substituents, and wherein the C6-10aryl and 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl are optionally substituted with one or more substituents;(xi) —C1-6alkylene-(C6-10arylene)-N(R75)—C(O)—CHR76—NR77R78, wherein R75is H or CH3, R76is H or C1-6alkyl optionally substituted with one or more substituents each independently selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl, —COOH, —NH2, —C(O)NH2, and —N(H)C(O)NH2, and each of R77and R78is independently H, CH3or acetyl; and(xii) —C1-6alkylene-(C6-10arylene)-CN; R5is selected from the group consisting of:(i) —NR79R80, wherein each of R79and R80is independently selected from the group consisting of H, C1-6alkyl, —C(O)R81, and —C(═NR82)NR83R84, or R79and R80, together with the N atom to which they are attached, form 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl or 5- to 10-membered heterocycloalkyl, wherein the C1-6alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more substituents, and wherein the 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl and 5- to 10-membered heterocycloalkyl are optionally substituted with one or more substituents,R81is selected from the group consisting of H, —NH2, C1-16alkyl, C1-6haloalkyl, C6-10aryl, and 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl; andeach of R82, R83, and R84is independently selected from the group consisting of H, C1-16alkyl, C1-6haloalkyl, C6-10aryl, and 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl; and(ii) —N+R85R86R87, wherein each of R85, R86, and R87is independently C1-6alkyl; n1is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6; R6is C1-6alkyl optionally substituted with one or more substituents; R8is selected from the group consisting of C1-6alkyl, C6-10aryl, 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl, —C1-6alkylene(C6-10aryl) and —C1-6alkylene(5- to 10-membered heteroaryl), wherein the C1-6alkyl, the C6-10aryl, the C6-10aryl of —C1-6alkylene(C6-10aryl), the 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl and the 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl of —C1-6alkylene(5- to 10-membered heteroaryl) are optionally substituted with one or more substituents, and wherein the C1-6alkylene of —C1-6alkylene(C6-10aryl) and —C1-6alkylene(5- to 10-membered heteroaryl) is optionally substituted with one or more substituents; R9is H or C1-6alkyl; R10is H or C1-6alkyl; R11is H or C1-6alkyl; R12is H or C1-6alkyl; R13is H or C1-6alkyl; R14is H or C1-6alkyl; R15is H or C1-6alkyl; and L is selected from the group consisting of: wherein X is S or O; and chiral centre *1 is in the S configuration or the R configuration; chiral centre *2 is in the S configuration or the R configuration; chiral centre *3 is in the S configuration or the R configuration; chiral centre *4 is in the S configuration or the R configuration; chiral centre *5 is in the S configuration or the R configuration; chiral centre *6 is in the S configuration or the R configuration; chiral centre *7 is in the S configuration or the R configuration; and chiral centre *8 is in the S configuration or the R configuration, provided that:i) when RCis NH2, RNis H or —C(O)CH2N3, R1is R3is R5is NH2, n1is 4, R6is —CH(OH)(CH3), R8is each of R9, R10, R11, R12, R13, R14and R15is H, and L is then R4is not andii) when RCis NH2, RNis H, R1is R3is R5is NH2, n1is 4, R6is —CH(CH3)2, R8is —CH(OH)(CH3), each of R9, R10, R11, R12, R13, R14and R15is H, and L is then R4is not In illustrative embodiments of the present invention, a compound as defined anywhere herein or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof may be for use in the prevention or treatment of hypoglycemia. In illustrative embodiments of the present invention, the hypoglycemia may be insulin-induced hypoglycemia. In illustrative embodiments of the present invention, a compound as defined anywhere herein or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof may be for use in the treatment of diabetes. In illustrative embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound as defined anywhere herein or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In illustrative embodiments of the present invention, the pharmaceutical composition may be for use in the prevention or treatment of hypoglycemia. In illustrative embodiments of the present invention, the hypoglycemia may be insulin-induced hypoglycemia. In illustrative embodiments of the present invention, the pharmaceutical composition may be for use in the treatment of diabetes. In illustrative embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a method of inhibiting an activity of an SSTR2 receptor in a subject, the method comprising administering a compound as defined anywhere herein or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, to a subject in need thereof. In illustrative embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a method of preventing or treating hypoglycemia in a subject, the method comprising administering a compound as defined anywhere herein or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, to a subject in need thereof. In illustrative embodiments of the present invention, the hypoglycemia is insulin-induced hypoglycemia. In illustrative embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a method of treating diabetes in a subject, the method comprising administering a compound as defined anywhere herein or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, to a subject in need thereof. In illustrative embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a use of a compound as defined anywhere herein or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof for the prevention or treatment of hypoglycemia. In illustrative embodiments of the present invention, the hypoglycemia is insulin-induced hypoglycemia. In illustrative embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a use of a compound as defined anywhere herein or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in the treatment of diabetes. In illustrative embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a use of a compound as defined anywhere herein or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in the preparation of a medicament for the prevention or treatment of hypoglycemia. In illustrative embodiments of the present invention, the hypoglycemia is insulin-induced hypoglycemia. In illustrative embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a use of a compound as defined anywhere herein or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of diabetes. In illustrative embodiments of the present invention, there is provided an amino acid selected from the group consisting of: Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention.