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11475402

BACKGROUND Retailers, wholesalers, and other product distributors typically maintain an inventory of various items that may be ordered, purchased, leased, borrowed, rented, viewed, and so forth, by clients or customers. For example, an e-commerce website may maintain inventory in a fulfillment center. When a customer orders an item, the item is picked from inventory, routed to a packing station, packed, and shipped to the customer. Likewise, physical stores maintain inventory in customer accessible areas (e.g., shopping area), and customers can pick items from inventory and take them to a cashier for purchase, rental, and so forth. Many of those physical stores also maintain inventory in a storage area, fulfillment center, or other facility that can be used to replenish inventory located in the shopping areas or to satisfy orders for items that are placed through other channels (e.g., e-commerce). Other examples of entities that maintain facilities holding inventory include libraries, museums, rental centers, and the like. A user may pick the item from an inventory location.

11380288

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION The present application is based on PCT filing PCT/JP2018/023746, filed Jun. 22, 2018, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an image display device. BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, there has been known an image display device including a first display unit that displays a first image that reaches an observer's eyes through a half mirror as a light transmissive reflective panel and a second display unit that displays a second image that is reflected by the half mirror and reaches the observer's eyes. The observer recognizes a real image that is the first image, while also recognizing a virtual image based on the second image in three-dimensional space. When the real image and the virtual image intersect with each other, the observer feels a stereognostic sense, that is, a sense of depth, in the viewed image as an effect of the intersecting image display (see Patent Reference 1, for example). Further, by forming the half mirror in a concave surface shape as viewed from the observer, the virtual image is recognized in a magnified state due to a lens effect of the concave surface, and thus the size of the second display unit can be reduced. Furthermore, forming the half mirror in the concave surface shape makes it possible to inhibit reflected light of external light such as environmental light from reaching the observer's eyes. PRIOR ART REFERENCE Patent Reference Patent Reference 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-177920 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Problem to be Solved by the Invention However, in cases where the half mirror is formed in the concave surface shape, the intersection position of the real image and the virtual image and the inclination of the virtual image with respect to the real image change corresponding to a change in the position of the observer's eyes, that is, a change in the position of the viewpoint, and thus there are cases where the observer cannot appropriately feel the stereognostic sense as the effect of the intersecting image display. An object of the present invention, which has been made to resolve the above-described problem with the conventional technology, is to provide an image display device that lets the observer appropriately feel the stereognostic sense even when the position of the observer's viewpoint changes. Means for Solving the Problem An image display device according to an aspect of the present invention includes a panel in a curved surface shape that lets through and reflects incident light, a first display unit that displays a first image based on first image data that reaches a predetermined position through the panel, a second display unit that displays a second image based on second image data that is reflected by the panel and reaches the predetermined position, a position information acquisition unit that acquires position information indicating a position of an actual viewpoint of an observer observing the first image and the second image, and an image processing unit that determines a scaling factor of the second image data for each scan line based on the position information and performs a scaling process for each scan line on the second image data to be inputted to the second display unit by using the scaling factor. Effect of the Invention According to the present invention, the observer can appropriately feel the stereognostic sense even when the position of the observer's viewpoint changes.

11383904

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention concerns a plastic bottle provided with a tamperproof device after its opening. BACKGROUND ART When a bottle, for instance of mineral water or other drink, is left unsealed and unattended, for instance in a working or leisure environment, and taken again after a certain time, the only way to find out if it was used by someone other than the user, is to compare the level of liquid contained in the bottle with the level present when it was first left. It should be understood that the problem is not only to detect if someone drank your water, perhaps laying the lips on the neck of the bottle, but also to verify that the cap has not been unscrewed, e.g. to pour inside some extraneous substances, and then re-screwed. Presently, in the Applicant's opinion, in order not to incur in the risks above listed, it is necessary that everyone always carries the bottle with him/her. U.S. Pat. No. 5,893,475 discloses a tamperproof container having a main body with an opening and a closure. One or more tamperproof indicators have leg portions engageable within respective of apertures around the peripheral ledge of the closure. Rotation of the closure will result in the legs engaging with a respective abutment provided on the main body of the container, with consequent breaking thereof. This shows an attempt to remove the closure. However, since the leg portions simply abut against the abutment of the main body of the container, it is probable on the one hand that the leg portions are not severed and, therefore, an evidence of the violation attempt does not remain. On the other hand, if the leg portions were sheared, all the tamperproof indicator would be expelled from the closure, and then the evidence of violation would fail. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,989,739 and 4,512,484 describe safety containers with screw caps provided with locking means to prevent their opening by children. They both describe a cap with a non-fracturing through pin which is difficult to remove from the children. FR 1,562,178 describes a device similar to that of U.S. Pat. No. 5,893,475, but the tamperproof indicator is difficult to replace. SUMMARY OF INVENTION The closest prior art is considered U.S. Pat. No. 5,893,475, and the present invention aims to overcome the drawbacks above cited. The main purpose of the present invention is to permit to check that a sealed bottle, opened for its first use, and later re-closed by the user, has not been subsequently opened by other persons to drink or to corrupt its content. Strictly connected to this is the purpose of verifying as a clear evidence that a device, functioning as a bolt, has been severed and is still on the bottle. Another purpose of the invention is to allow several times the re-closure of the bottle in use, guaranteeing each time that it has not been re-opened by others to drink or to corrupt its content. In order to reach the purpose above mentioned, the present invention supplies a bottle with a screw cap equipped, alone or in combination with the bottle itself, with a device functioning as bolt, as defined in the claim1here attached and in the claims depending from it. Since, in evidencing the tampering, the device functioning as bolt breaks and thence is no more re-usable, advantageously, several devices can be contemplated in compliance with the invention on the same screw cap.

11258389

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to a power tool and a control method thereof, in particular to a power tool and a control method thereof that can improve motor speed and heavy-load performance. BACKGROUND Existing power tools generally use a traditional square wave to drive the internal motor and control the motor speed and torque by adjusting the duty cycle of the square wave signal. For a brushless DC motor, in the traditional square wave control method, in order to make the brushless motor rotate, a drive circuit has multiple drive states. In each drive state, stator windings of the brushless motor generate a magnetic field. A controller is configured to output a corresponding drive signal to the drive circuit based on the rotational position of a rotor in order to switch between the drive states of the drive circuit, thereby changing the voltage applied to the stator windings of the brushless motor and creating an alternating magnetic field to drive the rotor to rotate, so as to drive the brushless motor. For a brushless motor, under the traditional square wave modulation control method, in an electrical cycle, the brushless motor has only six states, in other words, a stator has six current states (a three-phase bridge arm has six switching states). Each current state can be regarded as a vector torque that compounds into one direction. The six vectors are converted regularly and one by one so as to drive a rotor to rotate, and the motor rotor will rotate synchronously. The traditional square wave control is simple to implement, but due to only six vector torques, it makes the motor efficiency and the overall machine efficiency low, further, stall might happen frequently under heavy load. In addition, the traditional square wave control method hinders further speed up after the motor speed reaches a certain level, whereas under light load, it is a common desire for the speed to be as high as possible. A general solution to this problem is to use mechanical structures to adjust speed by configuring different gear ratios, but relying on mechanical structures, the speed adjustment range is largely limited by the motor. Mechanical gear structures will also increase the weight of the whole machine and affect usage. SUMMARY In order to solve the deficiencies of the prior art, the purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a power tool and a control method thereof that can improve the motor speed and heavy-load performance. In order to achieve the above goals, the present disclosure adopts the following technical solutions: A power tool, including: a functional element for realizing a function of the power tool; a motor operatively connected with the functional element, and configured to output power to drive the functional element to work, the motor having a rotor; a drive circuit electrically connected to the motor for driving the motor to output power; and a controller electrically connected to the drive circuit for outputting control signals to control the drive circuit; wherein that the controller is configured to, based on a sampled current of the motor, output control signals that change with the change of a position of the rotor to control the drive circuit such that an input voltage and/or a current of the motor changes approximately in a sine wave. Optionally, the controller includes a signal processing module enabled to obtain a first feedback current and a second feedback current based on the sampled current of the motor, the first feedback current being related to a torque of the motor, and the second feedback current being related to a magnetic field strength of a stator. Optionally, the signal processing module further includes: a speed estimation unit configured to estimate a current speed of the motor based on the sampled current of the motor; a target speed setting unit configured to set a target speed of the motor; and a speed comparison and adjustment unit configured to compare the current speed of the motor with the target speed of the motor, and make adjustments based on a comparison result to obtain a first target current and/or a second target current. Optionally, the signal processing module further includes a two-axis target current allocation unit configured to, based on the comparison result of the speed comparison and adjustment unit, automatically allocate the first target current and the second target current following a principle of maximum torque per unit current. Optionally, the signal processing module further includes: a first current comparison and adjustment unit configured to compare the first feedback current with the first target current, and make adjustments based on the comparison result to obtain a first target voltage; and a second comparison and adjustment unit configured to compare the second feedback current with the second target current, and make adjustments based on the comparison result to obtain a second target voltage. Optionally, the signal processing module further includes: a maximum voltage comparison and decision unit configured to generate a target voltage applied to the motor based on the first target voltage and the second target voltage, compare the target voltage with a maximum allowable voltage, and based on the comparison result, determine whether the target voltage is greater than or equal to the maximum allowable voltage; and a voltage regulator, if the target voltage is greater than or equal to the maximum allowable voltage, configured to make voltage adjustments based on the comparison result to obtain the second target current and output the second target current to the second current comparison and adjustment unit, the second target current being less than zero. A control method of a power tool, the power tool including: a motor configured to output power to drive a functional element to work, the motor having a rotor and a stator; a drive circuit electrically connected to the motor for driving the motor to output power; and a controller electrically connected to the drive circuit for outputting control signals to control the drive circuit. The control method comprising: setting the target speed of the motor; obtaining a sampled current of the motor; and based on the sampled current of the motor, outputting control signals that change with the change of a position of the rotor to control the drive circuit such that an input voltage and/or a current of the motor changes approximately in a sine wave. Optionally, the control method of the power tool further includes: obtaining a first feedback current related to a torque of the motor and a second feedback current related to a magnetic field strength of the stator based on the sampled current of the motor; estimating a current speed of the motor based on the sampled current of the motor or detecting the current speed of the motor based on a speed detection device; obtaining at least a first target current based on the current speed and the target speed of the motor, the first target current being related to the torque of the motor; obtaining a second target current, the second target current being related to the magnetic field strength of the stator; obtaining a first target voltage based on the first feedback current and the first target current; obtaining a second target voltage based on the second feedback current and the second target current; obtaining a target voltage applied to the motor based on the first target voltage and the second target voltage; and generating PWM signals based on the acquired target voltage applied to the motor to control the drive circuit. Optionally, the control method of the power tool further includes: performing comparison and adjustments based on the current speed and the target speed of the motor and allocating the first target current and the second target current to achieve maximum torque per unit current based on a result of comparison and adjustments. Optionally, the control method of the power tool further includes: comparing and determining whether the target voltage applied to the motor is greater than or equal to a maximum allowable voltage allowed by a power supply device that powers the power tool and the power tool; if the target voltage is greater than or equal to the maximum allowable voltage, adjustment is performed based on a result of comparison between the target voltage and the maximum allowable voltage to obtain the second target current; the second target current being less than or equal to zero. The present disclosure is advantageous in that: the power tool and the control method thereof enable the power tool to have small torque fluctuations, high heavy-load efficiency, and good dynamic response.

11510434

The present disclosure relates to a smoking article with a concentric filter segment with a sorbent disposed in the core of the concentric filter segment. Filter cigarettes typically comprise a wrapped rod of tobacco cut filler and a cylindrical filter aligned in end-to-end relationship with the wrapped tobacco rod, with the filter attached to the tobacco rod by tipping paper. In conventional filter cigarettes, the filter may consist of a plug of cellulose acetate tow wrapped in porous plug wrap. In some cases, it is known to use a filter plug with a concentric core design wherein one material is used for the inner core and another material surrounds the core and forms an outer portion of the concentric filter plug. It would be desirable to provide a novel smoking article that has an efficient sorbent containing filter segment to capture smoke constituents. It is desirable that the novel smoking article utilize a minimum amount of sorbent material to reduce cost and potentially minimize the effect on taste. Providing a novel smoking article construction that improves sorbent efficiency is particularly desirable. According to the current disclosure, there is provided a smoking article having a tobacco rod and a filter attached to the tobacco rod. The filter includes a concentric sorbent segment having a central core portion with sorbent material and an outer periphery layer circumscribed about the central core portion. The central core portion has lower resistance to draw, a lower density, or both a lower resistance to draw and density, than the periphery layer. A ventilation zone is disposed adjacent an upstream end of the concentric sorbent segment. Smoking articles according to the present disclosure provide an effective way to improve smoke constituent contact with the sorbent material. Smoke constituents preferentially pass through the central core portion of the concentric sorbent segment. The novel smoking article construction concentrates mainstream smoke flow through the central core portion of the concentric sorbent segment, increasing the efficiency of the sorbent material. This in turn allows for the use of less sorbent material (and associated cost) to achieve the desired level of smoke constituent capture. In addition, the use of less sorbent material in the smoking article may assist in minimizing the sorbent material's effect on the taste of the smoking article. Smoking articles according to the disclosure include a filter attached to a tobacco rod. The filter or filter element is axially aligned with a tobacco rod. In many embodiments, the filter or filter element is joined to the tobacco rod with tipping paper. The filter or filter element can be formed of one or more segments. Preferably, the smoking article includes three filter segments in axial alignment with each other. The filter includes a concentric filter segment. The concentric filter segment includes a central core portion with sorbent material and an outer periphery layer circumscribed about the central core portion. The outer periphery layer and the central core may be separated from one another by a permeable or, more preferably, an impermeable layer of material. The material separating the outer periphery and the central core is permeable if it has a porosity of 20 Coresta units or greater, and it is impermeable if it has a porosity of less than 20 Coresta units. The resistance to draw (RTD) of the central core portion is less than the RTD of the periphery layer. In many embodiments the RTD of the central core portion is less than about 90% of the RTD of the periphery layer or less than about 75% of the RTD of the periphery layer or less than about 65% of the RTD of the periphery layer. In many embodiments, the RTD of the central core portion is about 10% to about 90% or about 20% to about 75%, or about 30% to about 65% of the RTD of the periphery layer. Measurement of the RTD is further discussed below. In some embodiments the periphery layer RTD can be increased relative to the central core by increasing an amount of plastizier in the periphery layer relative to an amount of plastizer in the central core portion. In some cases, the outer periphery layer may have more than about 8 weight % pasticizer or more than about 9 weight % plastisizer. In addition, or in the alternative, the outer periphery layer may have less than about 12 weight % plasticizer. Further, in some embodiments the central core portion may also contain plasticizer. For example, the central core portion may have less than about 7 weight % plasticize or less than about 6 weight % plasticizer. In addition, or in the alternative, the central core may have greater than about 3 weight % plasticizer. The central core portion may also have a lower density than the periphery layer. In many embodiments, the central core portion has a density that is less than about 90%, less than about 75%, or less than about 65% of the density of the periphery layer. The central core portion can have a cylindrical form. The central core can be formed of cellulose-based material and sorbent material dispersed or impregnated within in the cellulose-based material. In many embodiments the cellulose-based material is a nonwoven web of cellulosic material such as paper, for example. In other embodiments the central core may be cellulose acetate. The term “sorbent” refers to material that captures one or more smoke constituents. The term “smoke” or “tobacco smoke” refers to the mixture of vapor and particulate phase given off as a tobacco material undergoes combustion or heating, or both combustion and heating. Sorbents include carbon (for example, activated carbon, coated carbon, beaded carbon), active aluminium, zeolites, sepiolites, molecular sieves, and silica gel, for example. In many embodiments at least about 80 weight % or at least about 90 weight %, or the entire amount (100 weight %) of total smoking article sorbent material is in the central core. In many embodiments the smoking articles contains less than about 25 mg, less than about 15 mg, or less than about 10 mg of sorbent material. In some embodiments the smoking articles contains about 1 mg to about 25 mg, about 1 mg to about 15 mg, or about 1 mg to about 10 mg of sorbent material, such as activated carbon, for example. In many embodiments the central core contains less than about 25 mg, less than about 15 mg, or less than about 10 mg of sorbent material. In some embodiments the central core contains about 1 mg to about 25 mg, about 1 mg to about 15 mg, or about 1 mg to about 10 mg of sorbent material, such as activated carbon, for example. In many embodiments the sorbent can be incorporated within the paper forming the central core or disposed on the paper surface forming the central core. In some embodiments, the sorbent is both incorporated within the paper forming the central core and disposed on the paper surface forming the central core. The outer periphery layer can have an annular form and surround the central core portion. The outer periphery layer can have a density that is greater than the density of the central core. In many embodiments the periphery layer does not include sorbent material. The outer periphery layer can be formed of any useful filtration material. In many embodiments the outer periphery layer is formed from cellulose acetate. In other embodiments the outer periphery layer is formed of a nonwoven web of cellulosic material such as paper. In some embodiments the filter only includes the concentric sorbent segment. In many embodiments, the filter includes the concentric sorbent segment in axial alignment with a second filter segment separating the concentric sorbent segment from the tobacco rod. In preferred embodiments, the filter element includes the concentric sorbent segment in axial alignment and separating a second filter segment and a third filter segment. The concentric sorbent segment has an upstream end and a downstream end. The upstream end extends toward the tobacco rod. The outer periphery layer can have an first outer diameter and the central core portion can have a second outer diameter. Preferably, the second outer diameter is at least about 40% of the first outer diameter, more preferably at least about 60%. In addition, or in the alternative, the second outer diameter is less than about 90% of the first outer diameter, more preferably less than about 80%. The second outer diameter is preferably between about 40% and about 90% of the first outer diameter, more preferably between about 60% and about 80% of the first outer diameter. The second filter segment and the third filter segment can be formed of any useful filtration material. In many embodiments the second filter segment and the third filter segment are formed of a cellulose-based material. The cellulose-based material can be a nonwoven web of cellulosic material such as paper. In other embodiments, one or both of the second and third filter segments may be formed of cellulose acetate. In many embodiments, the second filter segment and the third filter segment are formed of uniform filtration material such as cellulose acetate tow. The second filter segment and the third filter segment can be designed to adjust the physical properties of the smoking article such as resistance to draw, for example. A ventilation zone is disposed adjacent to the upstream end of the concentric sorbent segment. The ventilation zone admits ambient air into the smoking article and combines the admitted ambient air with mainstream smoke. The ventilation zone has an increased porosity that allows a greater amount of airflow into the device along the ventilation zone as compared to areas adjacent to the ventilation zone. The ventilation zone may be provided by a plurality of apertures or perforations formed in the tipping paper. This plurality of apertures or perforations can circumnavigate the circumference of the smoking article. In many embodiments the ventilation zone provides ambient air dilution of the mainstream smoke of at least about 30%, or at least about 40% or at least about 60%. In addition, or in the alternative, the ventilation provides ambient air dilution of less than about 90%, or less than about 80%. In some embodiments, the dilution level may be between about 30% and about 90%, between about 40% and about 90%, or between about 60% and about 80%. The term “dilution” refers to the percentage by volume of air that is included in the smoke delivered to the consumer from the mouth end of the filter with the ventilation completely open. The level of ventilation or dilution achieved by the ventilation elements can be determined using ISO test method 9512:2002. Applicants have discovered that positioning the ventilation zone near or adjacent to the upstream end of the concentric sorbent segment can improve the efficiency of the sorbent material in the concentric sorbent segment. While not wishing to be bound by any particular theory, it is believed that positioning the ventilation zone near or adjacent to the upstream end of the concentric sorbent segment concentrates the smoke toward the central core portion and the sorbent material, as the smoke flows through the concentric filter segment. In many embodiments the ventilation zone is disposed within about 5 mm or within about 3 mm or within about 1 mm of the upstream end of the concentric sorbent segment. In preferred embodiments, the ventilation zone is disposed within about 5 mm or within about 3 mm or within about 1 mm upstream from the upstream end of the concentric sorbent segment. In some embodiments, the ventilation zone is disposed along the length of the second filter segment separating the concentric sorbent segment from the tobacco rod. Preferably, the ventilation zone is within about 5 mm or within about 3 mm or within about 1 mm upstream from the concentric sorbent segment, for example within the second filter segment. In some embodiments the ventilation zone is located in at least two positions along the length of the filter to further guide the mainstream smoke through the central core portion of the concentric sorbent segment. For example, a first ventilation zone can be within about 5 mm or within about 3 mm or within about 1 mm of the upstream end of the concentric sorbent segment (for example, any of these distances upstream of the upstream end of the concentric sorbent segment) and a second ventilization zone can be downstream of this first ventilation zone, in the concentric sorbent segment. In many embodiments the overall length of smoking article is between about 70 mm and about 130 mm, or about 85 mm. The external diameter or outer periphery layer first outer diameter of smoking article can be between about 5.0 mm and about 8.5 mm, or between about 5.0 mm and about 7.1 mm for slim sized smoking articles or between about 7.1 mm and about 8.5 mm for regular sized smoking articles. The overall length of the filter of the smoking article can be between about 18 mm and about 36 mm, more preferably about 27 mm. The length of individual filter segments (i.e., concentric sorbent segment, second filter segment, and third filter segment) can vary depending if only the concentric sorbent segment is present or if the second filter segment is also present or if the third filter segment is also present. The second and third filter segments is preferably between about 5 and about 10 mm and the concentric sorbent segment is preferably between about 8 to about 16 mm. The resistance to draw (RTD) of the smoking articles of the present disclosure can vary. In many embodiments the RTD of the smoking article is between about 90 to 130 mm H2O. The RTD of a smoking article refers to the static pressure difference between the two ends of the specimen when it is traversed by an air flow under steady conditions in which the volumetric flow is 17.5 millilitres per second at the output end. The RTD of a specimen can be measured using the method set out in ISO Standard 6565:2002. The RTDs of the outer periphery layer and the central core portion can be tested by first separating the concentric sorbent segment from the rest of the filter. The RTD of the outer periphery layer of the concentric sorbent segment can then be tested by blocking off the upstream end of the central core portion of the concentric sorbent segment and utilizing the RTD test method described above. The RTD of the central core portion of the concentric sorbent segment can be tested by blocking off the upstream end of the outer periphery layer of the concentric sorbent segment and utilizing the RTD test method described above. The portions of the concentric sorbent segment can be blocked off with an impermeable material, for example an impermeable adhesive. Smoking articles according to the present invention may be packaged in containers, for example in soft packs or hinge-lid packs, with an inner liner coated with one or more flavourants.

11303535

COPYRIGHT NOTICE Portions of this disclosure contain or may contain material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document of the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. Copyright 2014 PMA Technologies, LLC. BACKGROUND This disclosure relates to network layout authoring and, in particular, to an interactive, constraint-based network layout authoring method that utilizes logic chains in activity networks and that shifts the role of the scheduling application from merely network layout author or servitor to network layout collaborator. SUMMARY A computer-implemented method for interactively authoring a layout of a network according to an example of the disclosure includes, providing a network of activities, embedded nodes, milestones, benchmarks, and links between at least a portion of the activities, milestones, and benchmarks; identifying a plurality of activity clusters from the activities, each such activity cluster comprising a sequence of linked, contiguous activities in the network; and placing, as a group, the activities of each of the activity clusters on a display grid upon which the network is laid out. In another aspect according to an example of the disclosure, a computer program, comprising software encoded in non-transitory computer-readable media, for interactively authoring a layout of a network, the software comprising instructions, operable when executed, to: provide a network of activities, embedded nodes, milestones, benchmarks, and links between at least a portion of the activities, milestones, and benchmarks; identify a plurality of activity clusters from the activities, each such activity cluster comprising a sequence of linked, contiguous activities in the network; and place, as a group, the activities of each of the activity clusters on a display grid upon which the network is laid out. In another aspect according to an example of the disclosure, a system for interactively authoring a layout of a network includes, a user interface; and at least one processor configured to: provide a network of activities, embedded nodes, milestones, benchmarks, and links between at least a portion of the activities, milestones, and benchmarks; identify a plurality of activity clusters from the activities, each such activity cluster comprising a sequence of linked, contiguous activities in the network; and place, as a group, the activities of each of the activity clusters on a display grid upon which the network is laid out.

11381331

This application is a National Stage Entry of PCT/JP2017/044308 filed on Dec. 11, 2017, the contents of all of which are incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a communication quality deterioration prediction system, a communication quality deterioration prediction method, and a communication quality deterioration prediction program for predicting the amount of future communication quality deterioration or the presence or absence of occurrence of future communication quality deterioration. BACKGROUND ART PTL 1 discloses a system including a learning device that generates a learning model for predicting a malfunction of a monitored device and including a malfunction prediction device that receives a learning model from the learning device and predicts occurrence of a malfunction of the monitored device using the learning model. CITATION LIST Patent Literature PTL 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-173782 SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem According to the invention described in PTL 1, it is possible to predict occurrence of a malfunction in a monitored device. However, when a communication device is to be monitored, it is preferable to be able to make predictions regarding communication quality deterioration, which is a sign of a malfunction, rather than predicting the occurrence of the malfunction. This is because, by making a prediction regarding communication quality deterioration, which is a sign of a malfunction, it is possible to more quickly deal with the communication device to be monitored. In addition, in the case of predicting the amount of future communication quality deterioration or the presence or absence of occurrence of future communication quality deterioration, it is preferable to achieve high prediction accuracy. In view of these, the present invention aims to provide a communication quality deterioration prediction system, a communication quality deterioration prediction method, and a communication quality deterioration prediction program capable of predicting with high accuracy the amount of future communication quality deterioration or the presence or absence of occurrence of future communication quality deterioration. Solution to Problem A communication quality deterioration prediction system according to the present invention includes: a first prediction unit that predicts the amount of future communication quality deterioration or the presence or absence of occurrence of future communication quality deterioration in a communication section between one communication device and another communication device communicably connected to the one communication device by using a first learning model generated on the basis of first attributes being attributes related to a cause of communication quality deterioration in the communication section; a second prediction unit that predicts the amount of future communication quality deterioration or the presence or absence of occurrence of future communication quality deterioration outside the communication section regarding the one communication device by using a second learning model generated on the basis of second attributes being attributes related to a cause of communication quality deterioration outside the communication section regarding the one communication device; and a determination unit that determines the amount of future communication quality deterioration or the presence or absence of occurrence of future communication quality deterioration regarding the one communication device on the basis of a prediction result of the first prediction unit and a prediction result of the second prediction unit. Furthermore, a communication quality deterioration prediction method according to the present invention includes: executing a first prediction process of predicting the amount of future communication quality deterioration or the presence or absence of occurrence of future communication quality deterioration in a communication section between one communication device and another communication device communicably connected to the one communication device by using a first learning model generated on the basis of first attributes being attributes related to a cause of communication quality deterioration in the communication section; executing a second prediction process of predicting the amount of future communication quality deterioration or the presence or absence of occurrence of future communication quality deterioration outside the communication section regarding the one communication device by using a second learning model generated on the basis of second attributes being attributes related to a cause of communication quality deterioration outside the communication section regarding the one communication device; and determining the amount of future communication quality deterioration or the presence or absence of occurrence of future communication quality deterioration regarding the one communication device on the basis of a prediction result of the first prediction process and a prediction result of the second prediction process. Furthermore, a communication quality deterioration prediction program according to the present invention is provided for causing a computer to execute processes including: a first prediction process of predicting the amount of future communication quality deterioration or the presence or absence of occurrence of future communication quality deterioration in a communication section between one communication device and another communication device communicably connected to the one communication device by using a first learning model generated on the basis of first attributes being attributes related to a cause of communication quality deterioration in the communication section; a second prediction process of predicting the amount of future communication quality deterioration or the presence or absence of occurrence of future communication quality deterioration outside the communication section regarding the one communication device by using a second learning model generated on the basis of second attributes being attributes related to a cause of communication quality deterioration outside the communication section regarding the one communication device; and a determination process of determining the amount of future communication quality deterioration or the presence or absence of occurrence of future communication quality deterioration regarding the one communication device on the basis of a prediction result of the first prediction process and a prediction result of the second prediction process. Advantageous Effects of Invention According to the present invention, it is possible to predict with high accuracy the amount of future communication quality deterioration or the presence or absence of occurrence of future communication quality deterioration.

11447265

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention generally relates to the field of aircrafts. In particular, the present invention is directed to a system and method for impact element detection capabilities. BACKGROUND Current aircraft do not have shielding and/or coverings for propellers and/or rotors leading to collisions with extraneous objects located in air space. Moreover, lack of shielding and/or guarding of rotors has caused numerous injuries to personnel operating these aircraft. This is further complicated by a lack of sensors to detect extraneous objects and a lack of programming to perform one or more maneuvers to avoid the extraneous objects. SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE In an aspect, a system for impact detection capabilities includes a flight controller, wherein the flight controller is configured to receive an operational datum of a lift component as a function of a sensor, determine an impact element associated to the lift component, wherein determining the impact element further comprises receiving an expected datum, and determining the impact element as a function of the operational datum and the expected datum using an impact threshold, identify a corrective action as a function of the impact element, and transmit the corrective action to the lift component using an autonomous function. In another aspect, a method for impact detection capabilities includes receiving, by a flight controller, an operational datum of a lift component as a function of a sensor, determining, by the flight controller, an impact element associated to the lift component, wherein determining the impact element further comprises receiving an expected datum, and determining the impact element as a function of the operational datum and the expected datum using an impact threshold, identifying, by the flight controller, a corrective action as a function of the impact element, and transmitting, by the flight controller, the corrective action to the lift component using an autonomous function. These and other aspects and features of non-limiting embodiments of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific non-limiting embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

11475133

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0137229 filed on Oct. 31, 2019 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, and all the benefits accruing therefrom under 35 U.S.C. 119, the contents of which in their entirety are herein incorporated by reference. BACKGROUND 1. Field The present disclosure relates to a device and method for training a malicious code detection model. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a malicious code detection model training device and method for detecting a malicious code by analyzing an application programming interface (API) function call time in a result log of performing dynamic analysis. 2. Description of the Related Art Provided is a technology for conducting dynamic analysis on a suspicious code and detecting a malicious code using the analysis results. For example, a malicious code may be detected through API call information which is output as results of dynamic analysis. As shown inFIG. 1A, a malicious code may be detected on the basis of the score according to a call frequency (s) of each API function (a) called by a malicious code. Alternatively, as shown inFIG. 1B, the malicious code may be detected by analyzing a call sequence of API functions called by a malicious code. However, the above-described malicious code detection technologies based on dynamic analysis have a problem in that a normal code which employs a function name identical or similar to a malicious code or calls functions in a pattern (p) similar to that of a malicious code is wrongly determined as the malicious code. Also, when a malicious code changes a function name or changes a pattern in various ways, such as lossy recovery or substitution of a part of the entire pattern, the malicious code may not be detected. Consequently, a technology is necessary to clearly identify features of a malicious code and detect the malicious code while using API call information of dynamic analysis. SUMMARY Aspects of the present disclosure provide a machine learning method and device of an artificial intelligence (AI) model for detecting a malicious code on the basis of a pattern according to call times of application programming interface (API) functions and a device and method for detecting a malicious code using the AI model. Aspects of the present disclosure also provide a malicious code detection model training method and device for analyzing features of a malicious code, which gradually performs a malicious operation over time, in detail by analyzing the call times of API functions and learning the features of the malicious code and a malicious code detection method using the method and device. Aspects of the present disclosure also provide a malicious code detection model training method and device for supplementing the shortcoming of an existing method by detecting a malicious code, which is not detected through existing dynamic analysis, even while using existing dynamic analysis and a malicious code detection method using the method and device. Aspects of the present disclosure also provide a malicious code detection model training method and device which are applicable without a significant change in an existing detection model and a malicious code detection method using the method and device. It should be noted that objects of the present disclosure are not limited to the above-described objects, and other objects of the present disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following descriptions. However, aspects of the inventive concept are not restricted to the one set forth herein. The above and other aspects of the inventive concept will become more apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art to which the inventive concept pertains by referencing the detailed description of the inventive concept given below. According to an aspect of the inventive concept, there is provided a method of training a malicious code detection model. The method is performed by a computing device comprises acquiring application programming interface (API) call information of called functions from a result log of performing dynamic analysis of a malicious code, calculating time intervals between timestamps using the timestamps which indicate API call times extracted from the API call information, determining a feature value of the malicious code on the basis of the time intervals, and training the malicious code detection model using an API call sequence included in the API call information and the feature value. According to another aspect of the inventive concept, there is provided a method, wherein the calculating of the time intervals comprises generating a list storing the API call sequence of a file for which malicious code detection is requested and the timestamps, and dividing the list into sections on the basis of the time intervals, wherein the determining of the feature value of the malicious code comprises analyzing the time intervals in each of the divided sections. According to another aspect of the inventive concept, there is provided a method, wherein the dividing of the list into the sections comprises evenly dividing the list on the basis of the number of the time intervals. According to another aspect of the inventive concept, there is provided a method, wherein the dividing of the list into the sections comprises evenly dividing the list into three sections on the basis of the number of the time intervals. According to another aspect of the inventive concept, there is provided a method, wherein the dividing of the list into the sections comprises when the list is not evenly divided on the basis of a number of the time intervals, dividing the list into sections of arbitrary sizes, determining a feature value in each of the divided sections of the arbitrary sizes of the list, performing a simulation of detecting the malicious code using the feature values, measuring results of the simulation to determine optimal sizes for dividing the list, and dividing the list including the time intervals into sections of the optimal sizes for dividing the list. According to another aspect of the inventive concept, there is provided a method, wherein the dividing of the list into the sections comprises setting a reference time interval on the basis of values of the time intervals and dividing the list into the sections on the basis of the reference time interval. According to another aspect of the inventive concept, there is provided a method, wherein the feature value includes at least one of a maximum value of the time intervals, an average value of the time intervals, and a standard deviation of the time intervals in the list including the time intervals. According to another aspect of the inventive concept, there is provided a method, wherein the determining of the feature value indicating a feature of the malicious code comprises additionally using additional information of a file, for which malicious code detection is requested, in the result log of performing the dynamic analysis to determine the feature value. According to another aspect of the inventive concept, there is provided a method, wherein the additional information includes at least one of types or a number of changes of dynamic-link libraries (dlls), a number of changes in a process identifier (ID), a central processing unit (CPU) value, or telemetry data. According to another aspect of the inventive concept, there is provided a method, further comprising performing a preprocess of unifying names of functions which are determined to be similar functions among functions included in the API call information. According to another aspect of the inventive concept, there is provided a method of detecting a malicious code performed by a computing device. The method comprises acquiring application programming interface (API) call information of called functions from a result log of performing dynamic analysis of a malicious code, calculating time intervals between timestamps using the timestamps which indicate API call times extracted from the API call information, determining a feature value indicating a feature of the malicious code on the basis of the time intervals, and detecting the malicious code in a file, for which malicious code detection is requested, through a malicious code detection model, wherein the malicious code detection model learns the feature value of the malicious code using an API call sequence included in the API call information and the feature value. According to another aspect of the inventive concept, there is provided a device for training a malicious code detection model. The device comprises a processor, a network interface, a memory, and a computer program configured to be loaded to the memory and executed by the processor, wherein the computer program comprises, an instruction to acquire application programming interface (API) call information of called functions from a result log of performing dynamic analysis of a malicious code, an instruction to calculate time intervals between timestamps using the timestamps which indicate API call times extracted from the API call information, an instruction to determine a feature value of the malicious code on the basis of the time intervals, and an instruction to train a malicious code detection model using an API call sequence included in the API call information and the feature value. According to another aspect of the inventive concept, there is provided a device wherein the instruction to calculate the time intervals comprises an instruction to generate a list storing the API call sequence of a file for which malicious code detection is requested and the timestamps, and an instruction to divide the list into sections on the basis of the time intervals, wherein the instruction to determine the feature value of the malicious code comprises analyzing the time intervals in each of the divided sections. According to another aspect of the inventive concept, there is provided a device, wherein the instruction to divide the list into the sections comprises an instruction to evenly divide the list on the basis of a number of the time intervals. According to another aspect of the inventive concept, there is provided a device, wherein the instruction to divide the list into the sections comprises an instruction to evenly divide the list into three sections on the basis of the number of the time intervals. According to another aspect of the inventive concept, there is provided a device, wherein the instruction to divide the list into the sections comprises an instruction to divide the list into sections of arbitrary sizes when the list is not evenly divided on the basis of a number of the time intervals, an instruction to determine a feature value in each of the divided sections of the arbitrary sizes of the list, an instruction to perform a simulation of detecting the malicious code using the feature values, an instruction to determine an optimal size for dividing the list by measuring results of the simulation, and an instruction to divide the list including the time intervals into sections of the optimal size for dividing the list. According to another aspect of the inventive concept, there is provided a device, wherein the instruction to divide the list into the sections comprises an instruction to set a reference time interval on the basis of values of the time intervals and divide the list into the sections on the basis of the reference time interval. According to another aspect of the inventive concept, there is provided a device, wherein the feature value includes at least one of a maximum value of the time intervals, an average value of the time intervals, and a standard deviation of the time intervals in the list including the time intervals. According to another aspect of the inventive concept, there is provided a device, wherein the instruction to determine the feature value of the malicious code comprises an instruction to determine the feature value additionally using additional information of a file, for which malicious code detection is requested, in the result log of performing the dynamic analysis. According to another aspect of the inventive concept, there is provided a device, further comprising an instruction to perform a preprocess of unifying names of functions which are determined to be similar functions among functions included in the API call information.

11450681

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0092534, filed on Jul. 30, 2019 in the Korean intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. TECHNICAL FIELD The present inventive concepts relate to a semiconductor device, and more particularly to a semiconductor device having gate layers, a vertical structure, and separation structures in multiple stacks, and a method of forming the same. DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART There is a high level of interest concerning increasing the degree of integration of semiconductor devices to improve the price competitiveness of electronic devices. Semiconductor devices having three-dimensional memory cells have been developed which provide an increased degree of integration as compared to two-dimensional semiconductor devices. SUMMARY An aspect of the present inventive concepts is to provide a semiconductor device and a method of forming the same that improves the degree of integration of the semiconductor device. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concepts, a semiconductor device includes a first stack group comprising first interlayer insulating layers and first gate layers, alternately and repeatedly stacked on a substrate. A second stack group comprising second interlayer insulating layers and second gate layers, alternately and repeatedly stacked on the first stack group. Separation structures pass through the first and second stack groups and are spaced apart from each other in a first direction that is parallel to an upper surface of the substrate. Each of the separation structures includes a first separation region and a second separation region disposed on the first separation region in a second direction that is a thickness direction of the substrate. A vertical structure passes through the first and second stack groups and is disposed between the separation structures in the first direction. The vertical structure includes a first vertical region and a second vertical region disposed on the first vertical region in the second direction. A conductive line is electrically connected to the vertical structure on the second stack group. The first vertical region comprises a first upper vertical region adjacent to the second vertical region and a first lower vertical region adjacent to the substrate. The second vertical region comprises a second lower vertical region adjacent to the first vertical region and having a width that is smaller than a width of the first upper vertical region, and a second upper vertical region adjacent to the conductive line. The first separation region comprises a first upper separation region adjacent to the second separation region, and a first lower separation region adjacent to the substrate. The second separation region comprises a second lower separation region adjacent to the first separation region and having a width that is smaller than a width of the first upper separation region, and a second upper separation region adjacent to the conductive line. A distance between an upper end of the first vertical region and an upper surface of the substrate is greater than a distance between an upper end of the first separation region and an upper surface of the substrate. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concepts, a semiconductor device includes a substrate. First gate layers are stacked on an upper surface of the substrate and are spaced apart from each other in a vertical direction that is perpendicular to the upper surface of the substrate. An intermediate interlayer insulating layer is disposed on a first uppermost gate layer that is disposed in an uppermost position among the first gate layers. Second gate layers are stacked on the intermediate interlayer insulating layer and are spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction. A vertical structure passes through the first gate layers, the intermediate interlayer insulating layer, and the second gate layers. A separation structure passes through the first gate layers, the intermediate interlayer insulating layer, and the second gate layers. The vertical structure has a first bend portion extending from a portion passing through the intermediate interlayer insulating layer to an upper surface of the intermediate interlayer insulating layer. The separation structure has a second bend portion extending from a portion passing through the intermediate interlayer insulating layer to a lower surface of the intermediate interlayer insulating layer. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concepts, a semiconductor device includes a substrate. A first stack group includes first interlayer insulating layers and first gate layers that are alternately and repeatedly stacked on the substrate. The first stack group includes a first uppermost interlayer insulating layer that is disposed in an uppermost position among the first interlayer insulating, layers. A second stack group includes a second interlayer insulating layers and second gate layers that are alternately and repeatedly stacked on the first stack group. The second stack group includes a second lowermost interlayer insulating layer that is disposed in a lowermost position among the second interlayer insulating layers. A vertical structure passes through the first and second stack groups in a vertical direction that is perpendicular to an upper surface of the substrate. Separation structures pass through the first and second stack groups in the vertical direction. The vertical structure has a first lower bend portion adjacent to the first uppermost interlayer insulating layer, and a first upper bend portion adjacent to the second lowermost interlayer insulating layer. The separation structures have a second bend portion adjacent to the first uppermost interlayer insulating layer. The second bend portion is disposed lower than each of the first lower and upper bend portions. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concepts, a semiconductor device includes a substrate. A first stack group includes first interlayer insulating layers and first gate layers that are alternately and repeatedly stacked on the substrate. The first stack group includes a first uppermost interlayer insulating layer that is disposed in an uppermost position among the first interlayer insulating layers. A second stack group includes second interlayer insulating layers and second gate layers that are alternately and repeatedly stacked on the first stack group. The second stack group includes a second lowermost interlayer insulating layer that is disposed in a lowermost position among the second interlayer insulating layers. A vertical structure passes through the first and second stack groups in a vertical direction that is perpendicular to an upper surface of the substrate. The vertical structure has a first vertical region and a second vertical region disposed on the first vertical region. The first vertical region and second vertical region have first lateral side surfaces that are aligned with each other in the vertical direction and second lateral side surfaces that are not aligned with each other in the vertical direction. Separation structures pass through the first, and second stack groups in the vertical direction. The vertical structure has a first bend portion on the second lateral side surfaces. The first bend portion is adjacent to the second lowermost interlayer insulating layer. The separation structures have a second bend portion adjacent to the first uppermost interlayer insulating layer and disposed at a lower level than the first bend portion.

11300940

TECHNICAL FIELD Aspects of the particular disclosure are related to software and hardware technology, and in particular, to industrial automation applications. BACKGROUND A motor control center (MCC) controls the operation of electric motors in industrial automation environments such as factories, plants, and the like. The MCC includes programmable controllers, devices, such as motors, and software, firmware, or the like. Programmable controllers, examples of which include programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and programmable automation controllers (PACs), are configured to control various industrial processes per device and process logic that is encoded into the control programs. Binding is a process of associating one or more objects with identifiers in a computer program so that the objects can be implemented in a process. In the industrial automation context, binding is a process of associating a system of devices, based on their function, location, and other factors, with logical representations, such that the system of devices performs in the industrial automation environment. Logic binding solutions typically involve manually configuring one or more devices and their parameters to a logic application. Such solutions require choosing individual devices and binding objects one by one in order for the logic application to properly identify and use the device in the defined process. An industrial automation device logic binding solution evaluates an entire system of automation devices and must assign each device to a controller and a task for the automation process to function properly. A problem that exists today occurs when some parameters exist in one application, but others derive from another application. Existing solutions employ time-consuming, error-prone configurations due to the individual assignment and parameterization needed to implement a set of devices into the system. For example, with the purchase of an MCC, multiple motors need to be configured based on the customer's processes and logic controllers. The task of manually binding or linking each motor to a logical representation can lead to failure of the entire system or improper performance of the devices in the system due to an incorrect or missing device configuration parameter. It is with respect to this general technical environment that aspects of the present technology disclosed herein have been contemplated. Furthermore, although a general environment has been discussed, it should be understood that the examples described herein should not be limited to the general environment identified in the background. OVERVIEW Various embodiments of the present technology generally relate to device logic binding in industrial environments. An industrial automation system in various implementations provides for the streamlined integration of device logic with industrial devices. In an implementation, the industrial automation system obtains a list of devices associated with an industrial automation process, such as the devices in a motor control center. The list of devices identifies one or more devices and associated logical representations and device configuration parameters. The industrial automation system then obtains a system representation of the industrial automation process including devices and corresponding input/output (I/O) configurations of the devices. Further device configuration parameters associated with the devices can also be obtained from the system representation. The logical representations of the devices are updated using further identified device configuration parameters. The result allows the industrial automation system to enable the system representation, using all associated devices and their logical representations, in a programmable controller to control the bound devices. This Overview 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.

11263373

BACKGROUND This specification relates to computer aided design and manufacture of physical structures using subtractive manufacturing systems and techniques. Computer Aided Design (CAD) software and Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) software have been developed and used to generate three-dimensional (3D) representations of parts and to manufacture the physical structures of those parts, e.g., using Computer Numerical Control (CNC) manufacturing techniques. Subtractive manufacturing refers to any manufacturing process where 3D parts are created from stock material (generally a “blank” or “workpiece” that is larger than the 3D part) by cutting away portions of the stock material. Such manufacturing processes typically involve the use of multiple CNC machine cutting tools in a series of operations. 3D parts manufactured using CNC manufacturing techniques can include, for example, turbine blades and other components for aerospace applications and/or power generation applications. In some implementations, the stock material used for machining a 3D part can be a forged part that includes residual stresses that can occur due to material flow during a forging or stamping operation, as well as from quenching or other heat treatments in post-forging processes. The residual stresses can cause the forged part to relieve stress by physically distorting as material is removed from the forged part during a manufacturing process, e.g., during a CNC machining process. Residual stresses in the forged part can increase difficulty in predicting an accurate tool-path for the CNC machine to follow that stays within the material volume of the forged part and results in a machined part that conforms to tolerances. The process of determining the residual stresses inside the forged part can be performed by using simulation methods like finite element analysis, heat transfer analysis, and microstructure prediction methods. SUMMARY This specification describes technologies relating to automatically generating compensated machining tool paths which take into consideration the residual stress field data for a forged part from which a machined part is to be machined, thereby reducing distortion. In general, at least one innovative aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods that include the actions of obtaining a mesh model of a machined part to be machined from a forged part and residual stress field data for the forged part, where the mesh model multiple nodes corresponding to at least one boundary of the machined part to be machined from the forged part, updating the mesh model for the machined part to be machined from the forged part by applying the residual stress field data for the forged part to the multiple nodes corresponding the at least one boundary of the machined part to be machined from the forged part to change positions of the multiple nodes in the mesh model, repeating the updating until an amount of change to each of the positions of the multiple nodes in the mesh model satisfies a correction criteria, and providing the compensated mesh model for use in machining the machined part from the forged part. Other embodiments of this aspect include corresponding systems, apparatus, and computer programs, configured to perform the actions of the methods, encoded on computer storage devices. These and other embodiments can each optionally include one or more of the following features. In some implementations, obtaining the mesh model of the machined part to be machined from the forged part includes receiving a computer-aided design (CAD) model of the machined part to be machined from the forged part, and converting the CAD model into the mesh model. In some implementations, obtaining the residual stress field data for the forged part includes receiving residual stress field data calculated for the forged part, and producing a residual stress mesh model from the residual stress field data. In some implementations, updating the mesh model for the machined part to be machined from the forged part by applying the residual stress field data for the forged part includes interpolating the residual stress field data in the residual stress mesh model into the mesh model of the machined part. In some implementations, updating the mesh model includes, for each node of the multiple nodes of the mesh model, determining a difference vector between a position of the node of the mesh model and a respective changed position of the node after applying the residual stress field data to the mesh model, and updating the position of the node in the mesh model to compensate for the difference vector. The amount of change to each of the positions of the multiple nodes in the mesh model that satisfies the correction criteria can have a magnitude less than a threshold value. In some implementations, providing the compensated mesh model for use in machining the machined part from the forged part includes producing tool paths for a computer controlled manufacturing, e.g., a computer-numerically controlled (CNC) system to manufacture the machined part from the forged part, where the tool paths are produced from the compensated mesh model or from a CAD model produced from the mesh model. In some implementations, providing the compensated mesh model for use in machining the machined part from the forged part includes determining, from the compensated mesh model including multiple nodes, an initial tool path including multiple sequential sub-paths, including a first sub-path connecting a first node position to a second node position and a second sub-path connecting the second node position to a third node position, and where each sub-path of the multiple sequential sub-paths defines a region of the forged part that is to be removed from the forged part. For each sub-path of the plurality of sequential sub-paths of the initial tool path: determining, from the compensated mesh model and the residual stress field data of the forged part, a respective deflection vector for each node position of the multiple nodes, where the deflection vector is a difference between an original position of the node before the sub-path is completed to a deflected position of the node after the sub-path is completed, and generating, a modified sub-path for each subsequent sub-path of the multiple sequential sub-paths, and generating, a modified tool path from the multiple modified sub-paths. In some implementations, determining the deflection vector includes performing a finite element analysis simulation of a machining process using the initial tool path on the forged part. In some implementations, the modified tool path is provided to a computer-controlled manufacturing system to manufacture the machined part from the forged part. The compensated mesh model can be provided for machining of the machined part from the forged part by converting the compensated mesh model into a CAD model of the machined part to be machined from the forged part. Other embodiments of this aspect include a system including a data processing apparatus including at least one hardware processor, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium encoding instructions for a computer-numerically-controlled subtractive manufacturing machine, the instructions being configured to cause the data processing apparatus to obtain a mesh model of a machined part to be machined from a forged part and residual stress field data for the forged part, where the mesh model includes multiple nodes corresponding to at least one boundary of the machined part to be machined from the forged part, update the mesh model for the machined part to be machined from the forged part by applying the residual stress field data for the forged part to the multiple nodes corresponding to the at least one boundary of the machined part to be machined from the forged part to change positions of the multiple nodes in the mesh model, repeat the updating until an amount of change to each of the positions of the multiple nodes in the mesh model satisfies a correction criteria, and provide the compensated mesh model for use in machining the machined part from the forged part using the computer-numerically-controlled subtractive manufacturing machine. Particular embodiments of the subject matter described in this specification can be implemented to realize one or more of the following advantages. By automatically generating compensated machining tool paths that take into consideration the residual stresses of the forged parts from which the machined parts are to be machined, distortions of the final machined part are reduced and accuracy of the machined part with respect to an intended shape is improved. The location, direction, and magnitude of residual stress fields can be provided as input to a system that can generate a machine tool strategy that minimizes deformation of a final machined product, in part by performing tool path prediction based on residual stress data. The automatic adaptive tool path generation can reduce the need of a machinist to compensate for distortions that arise during the machining process, reducing machining time and saving material and costs by improving yield and throughput. By iteratively optimizing the compensated machine tool strategy before beginning an actual manufacturing process, tolerances can be improved in the final product compared to the tolerances produced by a trial and error approach. Additionally, a tool path followed by a CNC machine can be highly dependent on material removal parameters like tool size, depth of cut, feeds and speeds, and other similar machine variables. The tool-path can also be path-dependent, e.g., the sequence of machining operations is important to achieve a desirable result. The automatic adaptive tool path generation can generate a tool path strategy without a need for a manual, trial-and-error, iterative approach to find an optimized tool path for machining a machined part from forged part having a residual stress field. The details of one or more embodiments of the subject matter described in this specification are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims.

11407012

This Application claims priority from Patent Application in P. R. of China Serial Number 201910717420.4, filed on Aug. 5, 2019, and which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE Disclosed is a process and arrangement for cleaning interior surfaces of a draw furnace used in the production of optical fiber, and more particularly to processes and arrangements for dislodging microscopic and/or nanoscopic particles from internal surfaces of draw furnaces to prevent contamination of glass optical fibers during production. Most particularly, the disclosure pertains to removal of silicon carbide particles that accumulate on graphite surfaces of a draw furnace during optical fiber production. Removal of particles leads to a reduction in the number of particles released from the walls of the draw furnace during draw and minimizes particulate contamination of glass optical fibers. Avoiding contamination reduces occurrences of defects in glass optical fibers and minimizes lengthy and expensive production interruptions caused by breaks in glass optical fiber during draw. BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE Glass optical fibers used for transmission of optical signals are typically made in a two-step process. First, a glass preform is prepared. This usually involves depositing silica and dopants such as germanium and fluorine onto a rotating rod using an Outside Vapor Deposition (OVD) process to produce a porous glass body that is subsequently sintered and consolidated into a solid preform, or depositing silica and dopants on the inner surface of a rotating hollow silica tube using a Modified Chemical Vapor Deposition (MCVD) process to produce layers of glass soot inside the tube that are heated, softened and collapsed into a solid preform. Another common technique, known as Vapor-Phase Axial Deposition (VAD), is similar to the OVD process, except the preform can be continuously fabricated in an axial direction, with the deposition and consolidation steps arranged sequentially in the axial direction. Regardless of how the preform is prepared, the second fundamental step in manufacturing glass optical fibers is to heat the preform in a draw furnace and continuously draw glass optical fiber from the heated preform. As the glass optical fiber is drawn, it cools and its diameter is sized (reduced) to meet a product specification (typically 125 microns). The cooled and sized glass optical fiber is continuously coated with one or more polymeric materials that are cured to form a sheath to protect the film from external damage and preserve the strength of the glass optical fiber. The coated fiber is collected on a spool. The draw furnace is a heated section of a tubular enclosure defining a draw chamber that surrounds at least a portion of the preform, including the neck-down region where the fiber is drawn. This tubular enclosure, generally referred to as a susceptor or muffle is typically cylindrical and typically made of graphite or zirconia. During fiber draws in a graphite muffle, silicon carbide (SiC) particles are continuously produced by reaction of silica (SiO2) with carbon (from the graphite walls of the muffle) at the high temperature (typically about 1900° C. or higher) within the draw furnace to produce silicon carbide and carbon dioxide (SiO2+3C→SiC+2CO(g)). Other particles that can be produced in the draw furnace include carbon (C), silica (SiO2), silicon monoxide (SiO) and silicon nitride (Si3N4). The presence of these particles in the processing environment of the draw furnace, especially SiC, can cause breaks in the glass optical fiber during the drawing process. Such breaks are highly undesirable, resulting in prolonged periods during which production is suspended and substantial amounts of product is scrapped. Particles in the muffle can also become occluded at the surface of the glass optical fiber creating defects (known as “point defects”) that cause unacceptable loss of signal and scrapping of product. It has been determined that production quality glass optical fibers can be maximized by cleaning the interior surface of the muffle on approximately a monthly basis, with longer periods between cleanings resulting in an unacceptably high frequency of breaks during the draw and/or unacceptably high frequency of point defects caused by particulate matter, whereas shorter periods between cleanings generally result in unacceptably long periods of production stoppages as the conventional cleaning process takes about 5 hours. Specifically, the conventional process requires cooling the draw furnace to room temperature to facilitate manual cleaning (about 1.5 hours), about 1 hour to manually clean the furnace, about 1 hour to purge the furnace with an inert gas (typically argon), and about another 1.5 hours to heat the furnace back to the operating temperature. Annual production down time is therefore about 60 hours per draw production line, representing a significant amount of lost production time and use of human resources. SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure provides an improved process for cleaning particulate matter from interior surfaces of an optical fiber draw furnace by propagating sound waves through the draw furnace. The sound waves can have a frequency from about 75 Hz to about 5000 Hz and an intensity of from about 110 dB to about 160 dB. The sonic cleaning process provides a substantial reduction in the amount of time needed for cleaning the draw furnace, a significant reduction in production interruptions caused by breaks of optical glass fiber induced by particle contamination during draw, and substantial benefits relating to reduced labor and increased production. In certain aspects, there is provided an arrangement for cleaning particulate matter from interior surfaces of an optical fiber draw furnace, which includes an optical fiber draw furnace and a sonic device that is configured to propagate sound waves through the draw furnace at a frequency of from about 75 Hz to about 5000 Hz and at an intensity of from about 110 dB to about 160 dB. In certain other aspects, there is provided a sonic device for cleaning an optical fiber draw furnace, which includes a driver for generating sound capable of propagating sound waves through a draw furnace at a frequency at from 75 Hz to 5000 Hz and at an intensity of from 110 dB to 160 dB. The sonic device also includes a horn for directing sound from the driver to an inlet of a draw furnace and an adaptor for sealingly securing an end of the horn to the inlet of the draw furnace.

11293654

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field The present disclosure relates generally to heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, and in particular, to a variable air volume diffuser that provides personalized air delivery to individual occupants of a building space. 2. Background of Related Art In HVAC systems, conditioned air is delivered to a building space by a variable air volume (VAV) diffuser. The VAV diffuser is often ceiling-mounted and includes a damper that regulates the flow of air passing through the diffuser, and outlet vents through which the conditioned air exits the diffuser into the space. The outlet vents typically include a grille or a series of louvers that direct the conditioned air into the space. Known diffusers may have drawbacks in that they deliver conditioned air to the building space in a manner intended to satisfy the requirements of the space as a whole, without considering the requirements of individual occupants of the space. A VAV diffuser that addresses these shortcomings in a user-friendly and cost-effective manner would be a welcome advance in the art. SUMMARY In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a method of operating a variable air volume diffuser having a plurality of individually adjustable directional outlets. The method includes sensing a pre-adjustment pressure within the variable air volume diffuser, adjusting a position of one of the plurality of individually adjustable directional outlets, sensing a post-adjustment pressure within the variable air volume diffuser, and modifying the airflow through the variable air volume diffuser such that the post-adjustment pressure is substantially equal to the pre-adjustment pressure. In some embodiments, the method includes sensing the rate of airflow through the variable air volume diffuser. In some embodiments, the method includes determining whether rate of airflow through the variable air volume diffuser is less than a predetermined threshold for a predetermined period of time and returning the individually adjustable directional outlets to a default position in response to the determining. In some embodiments, the method includes determining whether the rate of airflow through the variable air volume diffuser is less than a predetermined threshold for a predetermined period of time, and returning an airflow-modifying device included in the variable air volume diffuser to a default position in response to the determining. In some embodiments, the method includes receiving an adjustment command from a user device, wherein the adjusting is in response to the adjustment command. In some embodiments, the method includes transmitting a variable air volume diffuser identifier to a user device and displaying the variable air volume diffuser identifier on the user device. In some embodiments, the method includes selecting, on the user device, selecting a variable air volume diffuser identifier from among a plurality of variable air volume diffuser identifier. In some embodiments, modifying the airflow through the variable air volume diffuser includes changing the position of a damper included within the variable air volume diffuser. In another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a variable air volume diffuser that includes a plurality of individually adjustable directional outlets, and a controller configured to regulate air pressure within the variable air volume diffuser when an individually adjustable directional outlet is adjusted. In some embodiments, the variable air volume includes an actuator in operative communication with the controller and operatively associated with at least one of the individually adjustable directional outlets. In some embodiments, the actuator comprises a stepper motor. In some embodiments, the variable air volume diffuser includes a communications interface. In some embodiments, the communications interface is configured to receive an adjustment command from a user device. In some embodiments, the communications interface is configured to receive an adjustment command spoken by a user. In some embodiments, the communications interface is configured to transmit a variable air volume diffuser identifier to a user device. In some embodiments, the variable air volume diffuser includes a damper configured to regulate airflow through the variable air volume diffuser. In some embodiments, the variable air volume diffuser includes an actuator in operative communication with the controller and operatively associated with the damper. In some embodiments, the variable air volume diffuser includes a sensor in operative communication with the controller and configured to sense an air property within the variable air volume diffuser. The sensed air property may be an air pressure, a rate of airflow, an air temperature, and/or an air humidity. In yet another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a personalized comfort variable air volume diffuser system having a variable air volume diffuser having a plurality of individually remotely-adjustable directional outlets, and a user interface presentable on a user device in operative communication with the variable air volume diffuser and configured to remotely adjust an adjustable directional outlet of the variable air volume diffuser. Other features and advantages will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

11399725

TECHNICAL FIELD The disclosure relates to medical devices and, more particularly, to implantable medical devices that monitor cardiac pressure. BACKGROUND A variety of implantable medical devices for delivering a therapy and/or monitoring a physiological condition have been clinically implanted or proposed for clinical implantation in patients. Implantable medical devices may deliver electrical stimulation or drug therapy to, and/or monitor conditions associated with, the heart, muscle, nerve, brain, stomach or other organs or tissue, as examples. Implantable medical devices may include or be coupled to one or more physiological sensors, which may be used in conjunction with the device to provide signals related to various physiological conditions from which a patient state or the need for a therapy can be assessed. Some implantable medical devices may employ one or more elongated electrical leads carrying stimulation electrodes, sense electrodes, and/or other sensors. Implantable medical leads may be configured to allow electrodes or other sensors to be positioned at desired locations for delivery of stimulation or sensing. For example, electrodes or sensors may be carried at a distal portion of a lead. A proximal portion of the lead may be coupled to an implantable medical device housing, which may contain circuitry such as stimulation generation and/or sensing circuitry. Other implantable medical devices may employ one or more catheters through which the devices deliver a therapeutic fluid to a target site within a patient. Examples of such implantable medical devices include heart monitors, pacemakers, implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs), myostimulators, neurostimulators, therapeutic fluid delivery devices, insulin pumps, and glucose monitors. Pressure sensors may be employed in conjunction with implantable medical devices as physiological sensors configured to detect changes in blood pressure. Example pressure sensors that may be useful for measuring blood pressure may employ capacitive, piezoelectric, piezoresistive, electromagnetic, optical, resonant-frequency, or thermal methods of pressure transduction.

11488699

BACKGROUND The human body is host to a complex and abundant aggregation of microbes, collectively referred to as the microbiota. Anatomical sites that are the subject of measurements of microbiota include gut, skin, genitals, oropharynx, and respiratory tract. Microbiota in body fluids such as blood, urine, and sputum are also routinely measured. The relevance of such measurements to medical diagnostics and therapeutics is diverse. By way of example, the gut microbiota has physiological functions associated with nutrition, the immune system, and defense of the host. The intestinal microbiota plays a number of important roles in mammalian health, including gut development, extraction of energy from food, protection against pathogens, and development, maturation, and responsiveness of the immune system. Alterations in the composition of the intestinal bacterial communities have been implicated in obesity, inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, and a variety of disease states. However, to date, the conventional technology and approaches to healthcare decision support have not understood or effectively utilized the range of gut microbiota compositional states during health in efforts to define and characterize prognosis, progression of illness, and treatment effectiveness. 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 in isolation as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. Technologies described herein provide an improved decision support tool for treating or modifying care provided to human patients based on detected changes or trends in microbiota, and in particular based on statistically significant changes or temporal patterns. At a high level, embodiments of the technology described herein may (1) determine microbiota diversity, relative abundances of microbial taxa, or trends in the relative abundances in specimens collected from a human patient, (2) automatically ascertain whether changes in temporal patterns of microbiota diversity or relative levels of taxa are statistically significant and therefore clinically actionable, and (3) if so, automatically initiate an intervening action, such as issuing a notification or alert, scheduling healthcare resources, or generating or modifying a care plan for the patient, or generating decision support recommendations, which may include statistically robust quantitative interpretations of the patterns or pattern changes. In some embodiments, one or more longitudinal patterns of operational taxonomic units' (OTUs') relative abundances or diversity are determined and monitored for statistically significant alterations or trends in the longitudinal pattern(s). Where such alterations or trends are detected, an intervening action is initiated. In this way, embodiment described herein provide improved clinical decision support tools for preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic applications of medicine. In particular, emerging health conditions, which may include deterioration, sickness, health risks, disease, or altercation, for example, may be identified sooner or in a less invasive manner Thus, by employing the techniques described herein, embodiments can overcome the deficiencies that are associated with the conventional industry practice. In some embodiments, prior to determining microbiota diversity, a rarefaction method is utilized in order to compare microbiomes on an equal basis. Additionally, some embodiments entail jointly determining both the relation of microbiota diversity to a patient treatment and the relation of disease-related taxa abundances to time under different treatment regimens. Accordingly, embodiments provide for new and improved decision support systems and/or methods that are unknown within the industry, thereby providing enhanced decision support systems and methods. The decision support systems are said to be enhanced since they achieve determinations and results that have not been possible using prior technological solutions. That is, prior technological solutions were incapable of providing the unique determinations that are achieved by employing the techniques and logical structures described herein.

11522926

FIELD OF THE INVENTION A method of implementing an interactive presentation comprising a computer system that includes a website is presented. The presentation generated during the live session is an interactive legal hearing held in real-time on the computer system and transmitted between a plurality of user devices. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention is a method of implementing an interactive presentation comprising a computer system that includes a website that is designed specifically for audio and visual court sessions including arraignment hearings, first appearance hearings, motion hearings, trials, and a plurality of legal hearings as prescribed herein. The computer system facilitates encrypted interactions between offenders (hereinafter citizen users) and court staff, including the solicitor or prosecutor, public defender or retained lawyer, probation officer, clerks, interpreter, and a judge. The invention allows for private conversations between staff users and easy interface amongst all parties. Required legal documents can be generated and signed through the computer system and relevant data is stored for future access. All proceedings are recorded and stored as required by law. It is well known in the prior art that courts are equipped to conduct legal proceedings with existing audio-visual computer systems. In most cases, courts have begun using simple video-conferencing computer systems to manage a portion of their daily operations. However, courts are unable to host grand juries, jury trials, and high-volume calendars using existing technologies. The Covid-19 pandemic created additional challenges for the justice system to host legal proceedings. In-person court procedures could not be adapted to meet CDC guidelines while simultaneously complying with constitutional obligations. High-volume matters including traffic court, grand juries, and jury trials also remained shut down. Additionally, consumer available video-conferencing computer systems do not properly encrypt data, leaving otherwise private information exposed. This invention universally solves all of these issues for courts of any class and jurisdiction. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, the judicial system was converting as many matters as possible to virtual interactions. There were limitations on the type of proceedings that could be conducted virtually because of constitutional and state law requirements, as well as technology limitations. In the event that the challenges faced as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic dissipate, this invention enables courts to expand their virtual court proceedings to include all hearing types. The move to virtual court sessions is therefore efficient, economical, and safer for court personnel and the public. To this end, a method of implementing an interactive legal hearing held in real-time on a computer system and transmitted between a plurality of user devices via a website is disclosed. The computer system includes a website having a graphical user interface and a plurality of modules including a search module, a login authentication module, an information module, a queue module, a live session module, a court date scheduling module, an account profile module, a court staff module, a video module, a support queue module, and an admin dashboard module. The method of implementing the interactive legal hearing is further characterized with the following novel features: (1) transmitting, by a computer system, a graphical user interface to a user device, wherein the graphical user interface displays user interface elements for interacting with a plurality of computer system modules; (2) wherein after receiving, by the computer system, a request for user access and user credentials from a plurality of user devices in a login authentication module, receiving information pertaining to a user correlated to information for a court hearing, a live session is then generated by networking a plurality of the users within the live session module created by the computer system; (3) generating a presentation in the live session and transmitting the presentation to the user participants of the live session; (4) transmitting a plurality of forms from a user authenticated as a staff user to a user authenticated as a citizen user, by the computer system, wherein the forms may be completed and retransmitted by the citizen user in real-time; (5) the computer system transmitting a judgment decision entered by a staff user to a citizen user as a result of a court hearing by the computer system; and (6) the computer system being adapted to receive a record of participation of a user and receiving from one or more user devices therein, audio and visual representations of participant users in the live session. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an advantage of the present invention to provide a method of implementing an interactive presentation comprising a computer system that includes a website and wherein the presentation generated during a live session is an interactive legal hearing held in real-time on the computer system and transmitted between a plurality of user devices. It is an additional advantage of the present invention to provide a method of implementing an interactive presentation comprising a computer system that includes a website and wherein the website comprises a graphical user interface and a plurality of modules including a search module, a login authentication module, an information module, a queue module, a live session module, a court date scheduling module, an account profile module, a court staff module, a video module, a support queue module, and an admin dashboard module. It is an additional advantage of the present invention to provide a computer system being adapted to transmit a graphical user interface to a user device and wherein the user interface displays user interface elements for interacting with a plurality of the computer system modules. It is an additional advantage of the present invention to provide a computer system being adapted to receive requests for user access and user credentials from a plurality of user devices in a login authentication module and wherein the computer system creates user credentials in response to the request for credentials from a user in the login authentication module and authenticates the user credentials. It is still an additional advantage of the present invention to provide a computer system being adapted to receive information pertaining to a user and correlating the information to court hearing information in an information module in response to the information entered therein. Wherein the computer system transmits the user information into a queue module and generates a live session by networking a plurality of participant users within a live session module. It is still an additional advantage of the present invention to provide a computer system that transmits a presentation to the user participants of a live session, a plurality of forms from a user authenticated as a staff user to a user authenticated therein as a citizen user via a network. Wherein the forms are completed and retransmitted by the citizen user in real-time. It is still an additional advantage of the present invention to provide a computer system that transmits a judgment decision entered by a staff user to a citizen user as a result of a court hearing by the computer system. It is still an additional advantage of the present invention to provide a computer system that is adapted to receive a record of participation of a user and receiving from one or more user devices audio and visual representations of participant users in a live session. It is still an additional advantage of the present invention to provide a computer system that is adapted to transmit via a network, audio and visual representations of participant users to other participant user devices and the transmitted audio and visual representations comprising the second presentation display and thereby terminating the second presentation display of one or more participant users in the live session. It is still an additional advantage of the present invention to provide a computer system that is adapted to receive from one or more user devices, at the computer system, audio, video, text, either live or pre-recorded, or other evidentiary content of each participant user in the live session. Wherein the computer system is adapted to transmit via a network, the evidentiary content to other user devices, the transmitted evidentiary content comprising the first presentation display and thereby terminating the first presentation display of one or more user participants in the live session. It is still an additional advantage of the present invention to provide a non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon a set of instructions that are executable by a processor of a computer system to carry out a method of implementing an interactive presentation comprising a computer system that includes a website and wherein the presentation generated during the live session is an interactive legal hearing held in real-time on the computer system and transmitted between a plurality of user devices. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of any described embodiment, suitable methods and materials are described below. In addition, the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting. In case of conflict with terms used in the art, the present specification, including definitions, will control. Additional advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent when considered in light of the following specification and drawings.

11252661

FIELD This disclosure describes systems and methods for optimization of the power consumption of a wireless network device, and more particularly, a Bluetooth network device. BACKGROUND Bluetooth is one of many wireless network protocols that are currently in use. Bluetooth is commonly used to connect smartphones to watches, headphones, speakers, and other accessories. Bluetooth low energy utilizes 40 physical channels in the 2.4 GHz ISM band, each channel separated by 2 MHz. Additionally, Bluetooth has added direction finding capability to the protocol, allowing properly configured devices to determine the angle of arrival or angle of departure to a specific beacon. Further, Bluetooth also supports several types of synchronous unidirectional communications. For example, the Bluetooth specification describes a feature known as periodic advertising. In this mode, a master device transmits an advertisement at regular intervals on a predetermined channel. The transmission of this advertisement occurs at regular intervals. These regular intervals may be multiples of 1.25 milliseconds, between 7.5 milliseconds and 81.91875 seconds. In this way, a network device is able to enter a low power state and can wake up at predetermined times in order to receive the next advertisement. Because of clock inaccuracies in both the master device and the network device, the network device must typically awaken for each advertisement in order to maintain synchronization. In certain embodiments, the periodic advertisement may be used to provide directional information. For example, in Bluetooth, these periodic advertisements may also include a constant tone extension (CTE). The CTE includes a guard period, a reference period, and a plurality of switch slots and sample slots. The duration of each switch slot and sample slot may be 1 μsec or 2 μsec. The CTE is a special extension to the Bluetooth packet that transmits a constant frequency, such as a 250 kHz tone. For example, the CTE may be a string of consecutive “1”'s. In practice, a network device uses a single antenna element of its antenna array to receive the CTE during the guard period and the reference period. The network device may then switch to another antenna element during the switch slots by changing the selection of the analog multiplexer in the radio circuit. The network device samples the tone again with that new antenna element during the sample slot. The network device continues switching the antenna element during each switch slot and sampling the tone during the sample slot. By determining a different in phase between the signals received by the various antenna elements, the network device can determine the angle of arrival. The CTE may be as long as 160 μsec and as short as 16 μsec. Bluetooth also supports a feature known as isochronous broadcasting. In this mode, the master device transmits events at regular intervals, which may be between 5 milliseconds and 4 seconds, in multiples of 1.25 milliseconds. Each of these events may be divided into one or more subevents. These subevents are typically audio streams. For example, each event may be divided into two subevents, wherein one subevent is an audio stream for a left speaker and the second subevent is an audio stream for a right speaker. The audio stream may be compressed so that there are pauses between consecutive events. Thus, even though the network device may enter a low power mode for extended periods of time between synchronous communications, the network device may be awake for an extended period of time if the synchronous communication includes a large amount of data, such as a CTE or an audio stream. Therefore, it would be advantageous if there was a device, method and software program that could allow the network device to remain synchronized to the master device while minimizing its own power consumption. SUMMARY A device, method and software program that allows a network device to remain synchronized to a master device while minimizing its own power consumption is disclosed. The network device exits a low power mode at regular intervals in order to receive a synchronous communication from a master device. Once the network device has received enough information to confirm that this synchronous communication is from the correct master device, the network device may then return to the low power mode, even before the entirety of the synchronous communication has been received. This may reduce the time that the network device is in the active state by more than 90% in certain instances. According to one embodiment, a method of reducing power consumption in a network device, the network device comprising a wireless network interface to received synchronous communications from a master device, is disclosed. The method comprises enabling the wireless network interface in the network device before the expected transmission of a first synchronous communication; transmitting the first synchronous communication from the master device, wherein synchronous communications are transmitted by the master device at regular intervals; receiving, at the network device, a portion of the first synchronous communication; disabling the wireless network interface before an entirety of the first synchronous communication is received; and determining a time to enable the wireless network interface to receive a subsequent synchronous communication based on a time that the network device began receiving the first synchronous communication. In certain embodiments, the first synchronous communication is a synchronized periodic advertisement comprising a preamble, an access-address, a protocol data unit, and a cyclic redundancy code. In some embodiments, the network device disables the network interface following the access-address. In some embodiments, the protocol data unit comprises an extended header, the extended header comprising an Extended Header Flags field, an AdvA field, a TargetA field, a AdvData Info field, an AuxPtr field, a SyncInfo field, a TxPower field and an Additional Controller Advertising Data (ACAD) field, and the network device disables the wireless network interface following reception of one of the fields. In some embodiments, the synchronized periodic advertisement comprises a constant tone extension (CTE) and the network device disables the wireless network interface before receiving an entirety of the CTE. In some embodiments, the network device disables the wireless network interface before receiving the entirety of the CTE if the network device is not moving. In certain embodiments, the synchronized periodic advertisement comprises one or more auxiliary packets and the network device disables the wireless network interface prior to receiving an entirety of the one or more auxiliary packets. According to another embodiment, a network device is disclosed. The network device comprises a wireless network interface; a processing unit; and a memory device in communication with the processing unit, comprising instructions, which when executed by the processing unit, enable the network device to: enable the wireless network interface before the expected transmission of a first synchronous communication; receive a portion of the first synchronous communication; disable the wireless network interface before an entirety of the first synchronous communication is received; and determine a time to enable the wireless network interface to receive a subsequent synchronous communication based on a time that the network device began receiving the first synchronous communication. In certain embodiments, the first synchronous communication is a synchronized periodic advertisement comprising a preamble, an access-address, a protocol data unit, and a cyclic redundancy code. In certain embodiments, the network device disables the network interface following the access-address. In some embodiments, the protocol data unit comprises an extended header, the extended header comprising an Extended Header Flags field, an AdvA field, a TargetA field, a AdvData Info field, an AuxPtr field, a SyncInfo field, a TxPower field and an Additional Controller Advertising Data (ACAD) field, and the network device disables the wireless network interface following reception of one of the fields. In certain embodiments, the synchronized periodic advertisement comprises a constant tone extension (CTE) and the network device disables the wireless network interface before receiving an entirety of the CTE. In certain embodiments, the network device comprises an accelerometer, and the network device disables the wireless network interface before receiving the entirety of the CTE if the accelerometer indicates that the network device is not moving. In certain embodiments, the synchronized periodic advertisement comprises one or more auxiliary packets and the network device disables the wireless network interface prior to receiving an entirety of the one or more auxiliary packets. According to another embodiment, a software program is disclosed. The software program is disposed on a non-transitory computer readable medium, and comprises instructions, which when executed by a network device having a wireless network interface and a processing unit, enable the network device to: enable the wireless network interface before the expected transmission of a first synchronous communication; receive a portion of the first synchronous communication; disable the wireless network interface before an entirety of the first synchronous communication is received; and determine a time to enable the wireless network interface to receive a subsequent synchronous communication based on a time that the network device began receiving the first synchronous communication. In certain embodiments, the first synchronous communication is a synchronized periodic advertisement comprising a preamble, an access-address, a protocol data unit, and a cyclic redundancy code. In some embodiments, the instructions enable the network device to disable the network interface following the access-address. In some embodiments, the protocol data unit comprises an extended header, the extended header comprising an Extended Header Flags field, an AdvA field, a TargetA field, a AdvData Info field, an AuxPtr field, a SyncInfo field, a TxPower field and an Additional Controller Advertising Data (ACAD) field, and the instructions enable the network device to disable the wireless network interface following reception of one of the fields. In certain embodiments, the synchronized periodic advertisement comprises a constant tone extension (CTE) and the instructions enable the network device to disable the wireless network interface before receiving an entirety of the CTE. In some embodiments, the instructions enable the network device to disable the wireless network interface before receiving the entirety of the CTE if the network device is not moving.

11422666

BACKGROUND 1. Field The disclosure relates to an electronic device including a touch sensor integrated circuit (IC) and an operation method thereof. 2. Description of Related Art Electronic devices including touchscreens have been widely introduced. An electronic device may display a screen including an object on a touchscreen. A user may touch a point on the touchscreen with a finger or a stylus pen, and the electronic device may sense the position of the touch on the touchscreen. The electronic device may perform a function associated with the object corresponding to the sensed position, thereby providing a user-friendly user interface such that the user can manipulate the electronic device solely by a touch. The touchscreen may include a touch panel including multiple electrodes. The electrodes may be conductors, and a mutual capacitance may thus be formed between the electrodes. For example, if a capacitive-type touch panel is implemented, the electronic device may apply a driving signal to at least one electrode (i.e., driving electrode) of the touch panel, and the driving electrode may then form an electric field. Other electrodes may output an electric signal, based on the electric field formed by the driving electrode. Meanwhile, when the user positions a finger near at least one electrode, the magnitude of the electric signal output by the electrode positioned near the finger may change and differ from the previous value. The electronic device may sense a change in the mutual capacitance, based on the changed magnitude, and may sense the position of the touch, based on the electrodes, the mutual capacitance of which has changed. Alternatively, the electronic device may measure the self-capacitance with regard to each electrode. The electronic device may determine the position of the touch, based on the measured self-capacitance, or may determine information other than the identified touch, based on the mutual capacitance. The above information is presented as background information only to assist with an understanding of the disclosure. No determination has been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the above might be applicable as prior art with regard to the disclosure. SUMMARY An electronic device may include a touch sensor and a display. In line with the increasing popularity of small electronic devices that are thin, the physical distance between the touch sensor and the display tends to decrease. If the distance between the touch sensor and the display is small, a signal applied to the touch sensor may be directed to the display as noise, or a display driving signal may be directed to the touch sensor as noise. The electronic device may conduct synchronization such that there is at least a predetermined time difference between the time period in which a display driving signal is applied and the time period in which a touch sensor IC performs measurement. For example, if the display driving signal is applied in a first interval, the touch sensor IC may measure an input position while being synchronized with the first interval, thereby reducing the possibility that sensitivity of the touch sensor or image quality of the display will be degraded due to noise. The electronic device may change the interval of the display driving signal with regard to each display mode. However, since the touch sensor IC performs measurement while being synchronized with the fixed interval of the display driving signal, noise cannot be prevented if the interval is changed. There is no disclosed scheme for reducing noise in response to a change in the interval of the display driving signal. Aspects of the disclosure are to address at least the above-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the disclosure is to provide an electronic device and a method for operating the same that may change the position measurement scheduling in response to a change in the interval of the display driving signal. Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the presented embodiments. In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, an electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a touch sensor, a touch sensor IC configured to identify an input position on the touch sensor, a display, and a display driving IC configured to provide, to the display, at least one driving signal for driving the display. The touch sensor IC may be configured to measure, based on a first schedule, the input position on the touch sensor while a first driving signal among the at least one driving signal is provided from the display driving IC in a first interval, the first schedule being configured such that the at least one driving signal does not overlap a time period of the measurement of the input position, detect, based on a change of an interval of the first driving signal from the first interval to a second interval, an event in which the time period of the first driving signal being provided at least partially overlaps the time period of the measurement of the input position, and based on detecting the event, measuring the input position based on a second schedule which is different from the first schedule. In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, an operation method of an electronic device is provided. The operation method includes a touch sensor, a touch sensor IC configured to identify an input position on the touch sensor, a display, and a display driving IC configured to provide, to the display, at least one driving signal for driving the display may include the operations of measuring, based on a first schedule, the input position on the touch sensor while a first driving signal among the at least one driving signal is provided from the display driving IC in a first interval, the first schedule being configured such that the at least one driving signal does not overlap a time period of the measurement of the input position, detecting, based on a change of an interval of the first driving signal from the first interval to a second interval, an event in which the time period of the first driving signal being provided at least partially overlaps the time period of the measurement of the input position, and based on detecting the event, measuring the input position based on a second schedule which is different from the first schedule. In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a structure is provided. The structure includes a substrate on which a thin film transistor (TFT) structure for displaying at least one screen is disposed, an encapsulation layer disposed on the TFT structure, a touch sensor disposed on the encapsulation layer, and an integrated circuit configured to identify an input position on the touch sensor and provide at least one driving signal to the TFT structure. The integrated circuit may be configured to measure, based on a first schedule, the input position on the touch sensor while a first driving signal among the at least one driving signal is provided in a first interval, the first schedule being configured such that the at least one driving signal does not overlap a time period of the measurement of the input position, detect, based on a change of an interval of the first driving signal from the first interval to a second interval, an event in which the time period of the first driving signal being provided at least partially overlaps the time period of the measurement of the input position, and measure the input position, based on a second schedule which is different from the first schedule. According to various embodiments, there may be provided an electronic device and a method for operating the same, wherein the position measurement scheduling can be changed in response to a change in the period of the display driving signal. Accordingly, noise that may affect the touch sensor or the display can be reduced even in the case of multiple display driving signals. Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses various embodiments of the disclosure.

11485766

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure relates to novel Glucagon like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) (7-38) analogs having an amino acid sequence with Leu or Ile at the C-terminal. The new analogs are potent GLP-1 agonists with reduced adverse effect and improved duration of action. The present disclosure further relates to acylated derivatives of the new analogs, which have further improved potency and duration of action and are suitable for oral administration. The analogs disclosed herein are acylated with protracting moieties, which increase the duration of activity of the compounds. The analogs disclosed herein may be useful in treatment of diabetes and obesity. BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is a hormone that is mainly produced in enteroendocrine L cells of the gut and is secreted into the blood stream when food containing fat, protein hydrolysate and/or glucose enters the duodenum. GLP-1 is derived from the cell-specific post-translational processing of the preproglucagon gene. Initially, the peptide GLP-1 (1-37) was identified from this processing, but it was the two N-terminally truncated products, GLP-1(7-37) (SEQ ID NO: 1) and GLP-1(7-36) amide, that were found to recognize the pancreatic receptor and which were determined to be the active species in vivo. GLP-1 has been found to stimulate insulin secretion, thereby causing glucose uptake by cells and decreased serum glucose levels. GLP-1 agonists are available for the treatment for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) as favored drugs as they are devoid of hypoglycemia and with a positive benefit of weight loss. The endogenous substance, GLP-1(7-37) and GLP-1(7-36)amide, are cleaved by peptidases and thus have a very short half-life. Efforts were made to improve the performance by developing GLP-1 analogues with improved half-life. The first drug approved in 2005 was Exenatide with twice a day dosing at dose level 10 mcg and was found to show a significant improvement in HbA1c, a marker of glucose control. Further, Novo Nordisk developed Liraglutide (U.S. Pat. No. 6,268,343) (SEQ ID NO: 2) with once a day dosing of 1.8 mg, s.c./day and approved in 2010. Further research and development produced once a week products like, Albiglutide developed by GSK and Dulaglutide developed by Eli Lilly. Recently, Semaglutide (International Publication No. WO 2006/097537 A2), a GLP-1 analogue was approved by USFDA. Semaglutide (SEQ ID NO: 3) is marketed under the brand name Ozempic®. It is administered as a once-weekly subcutaneous injection. Many attempts to make GLP-1 analogs having improved potency and duration of action are reported in literature. U.S. Pat. No. 7,291,594 B2 (the US '594 patent) discloses GLP-1 (7-35) derivatives having added several residues of arginine and/or lysine to the C-terminus thereof to provide high bioavailability via mucous membranes. The US '594 patent further discloses that these derivative can be conferred with resistance to dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) by substituting amino acid 8 in its GLP-1 amino acid sequence with Ser, or with resistance to trypsin by substituting amino acids 26 and 34 with Gln and Asn, respectively. U.S. Pat. No. 7,893,017 B2 (the US '017 patent) discloses acylated GLP-1 analog wherein the GLP-1 analog is stabilized against DPP-IV by modification of at least one amino acid residue in positions 7 and 8 relative to the sequence GLP-1 (7-37) and wherein said acylation is a diacid attached directly to the C-terminal amino acid residue of said GLP-1 analog. U.S. Pat. No. 8,951,959 B2 (the US '959 patent) discloses a DPP-IV resistant GLP-1 (7-37) analogue having a non-proteogenic amino acid residue containing trifluromethyl group in position 8 relative to the sequence GLP-1, and is acylated with a moiety comprising two acidic groups to the lysine residue in position 26. U.S. Pat. No. 7,084,243 B2 (the US '243 patent) discloses GLP-1 (7-37) analogues having Val or Gly at position 8 relative to the sequence GLP-1 (7-37) as DPP-IV resistant peptides. International Publication No. WO 2017/149070 A1(the WO '070) discloses GLP-1 analogues having a Trp at a position corresponding to position 8 of GLP-1 (7-37) and these Trp8 compounds were shown to be very stable against degradation by DPP-IV. International Publication No. WO 2004/103390A2 (the WO '390) discloses that the modification at the P′1position (corresponding to 9 position in case of GLP-1 (7-37)) can produce GLP-1 analogues with greatly reduced susceptibility to enzyme-mediated (such as DPP-IV) cleavage relative to the native substrate, yet retain the biological activity of the native substrate. The WO '390 further discloses GLP-1 (7-37) analogues having an amino acid with tetrasubstituted CP carbon (such as tert-leucine) at position 9 provides GLP-analogues with resistant to degradation by DPP-IV. International Publication No. WO 2015/086686 A2 (the WO '686 publication) discloses that incorporation of alpha-methyl-functionalized amino acids directly into the main chain of GLP-1 analogues has been determined to produce protease-resistant (includes DPP-IV resistant) peptides. Various other DPP-IV resistant GLP-1 agonists are disclosed in patent publications such as International Publication Nos. WO 2007/030519 A2, WO 2004/078777 A2, WO 2007/039140 A1, WO 2014/209886 A1, WO 2012/016419 A1, WO 2017/211922 A2, WO 2016/198544 A1 and WO 2013/051938 A2. Various patent applications disclose C-terminally extended GLP-1 analogues with increased stability and longer duration of action. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,482,321 B2, 9,498,534 B2 and 7,897,566 B2. Various patent applications disclose acylated GLP-1 analogs wherein the GLP-1 analogues are attached to lipophilic substituent optionally via a linker to provide longer duration of action. U.S. Pat. No. 8,603,972 B2 (the US '972) discloses monoacylated derivatives of GLP-1 analogues wherein Lys residue at position 37 or 38 of GLP-1 analogue is acylated. U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,648,041 B2, 9,758,560 B2, 9,006,178 B2, 9,266,940 B2, 9,708,383 B2 and United States Patent Application Publication Nos. US 2015/0152157 A1, US 2015/0133374 A1 disclose di-acylated derivatives of GLP-1 analogues. United States Patent Application Publication No. US 2016/0200791 A1 discloses triacylated derivatives of GLP-1 analogues. International Publication Nos. WO 2016/083499 A1, WO 2016/097108 A1 and WO 2014/202727 A1 disclose acylated GLP-1 analogues wherein the Lys residue of GLP-1 analogues is attached to two protracting moieties via a branched linker. International Publication Nos. WO 2009/030771 A1 and WO 2018/083335 A1 disclose various acylating agents (side chain) which can be attached to Lys residue of GLP-1 analogues to provide longer duration of action. International Publication No. WO 2013/186240 A2 discloses exendin-4 peptide analogues having Gly, Ser or functionalized Ser, e.g., Ser (OCH3), D-Ser or functionalized D-Ser, e.g., D-Ser(OCH3), Aib, Ala, or D-Ala at position 2 of exendin-4 amino acid sequence. Various other GLP-1 analogues are disclosed in patent applications such as International Publication Nos. WO 2005/027978 A2, WO 1998/008871 A1, WO 1999/043705 A1, WO 1999/043706 A1, WO 1999/043707 A1, WO 1999/043708 A1, WO 2000/034331 A2, WO 2009/030771 A1, WO 2011/080103 A1, WO 2012/140117 A1, WO 2012/062803 A1, WO 2012/062804 A1, WO 2013/037690 A1, WO 2014/202727 A1, WO 2015/000942 A1, WO 2015/022400 A1, WO 2016/083499 A1, WO 2016/097108 A1 and WO 2017/149070 A1. Still, there is need to develop GLP-1 analogs which have optimum desired properties in terms of stability and duration of action. SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE One aspect the present disclosure provides a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence: H-X2-X3-X4-G-T-F-T-S-D-V-S-S-Y-L-X16-G-Q-A-A-X21-E-F-X24-A-W-L-V-R-G-R-G-X33-X34 wherein X2 is Ser, Ser(OMe), D-Ser, D-Ser(OMe), Ala, or Aib; X3 is absent or Gln; X4 is Glu; X16 is Glu; X24 is Ile; X33 is Leu, D-Leu, D-Ile, or Ile; X34 is absent and X21 is Lys wherein the side chain amino (ξ amino) group of Lys is acylated with a moiety: {-Q-T-U-W-Y-Z wherein Q and T are absent; U is absent or —C(O)—CH2—O—(CH2)2—O—(CH2)2—NH—} wherein} is point of attachment with group W; W is absent or selected from a group consisting of —C(O)—CH2—O—(CH2)2—O—(CH2)2—NH—], —C(O)—NH—(CH2)3-4—NH—], —C(O)—C(CH3)2—NH—] and wherein] is point of attachment with group Y; Y is —C(O)—(CH2)2—CH(COOH)NH—, wherein — is point of attachment with the group Z; Z is —C(O)—(CH2)n—COOH or —C(O)—(CH2)n—CH3wherein n is an integer from 14 to 20. The polypeptides of the present disclosure are potent GLP-1 agonists with fewer adverse effects. Further, the polypeptides of the present disclosure are stable and have long duration of action and are suitable for oral administration.

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FIELD OF THE INVENTION The field of the invention relates generally to electrical transmission equipment and more specifically to a fuse holder for use in electrical circuits for example those circuits used in electrical transmission equipment. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Fuses are regularly used in electrical circuits to provide protection for electrical components from electrical overloads. Fuses are for example used in electrical transmission equipment to provide protection for electrical components from electrical surges originating from the power line or from excessive electrical loads. Replaceable fuses are often used. These replaceable fuses are often placed in electrical or fuse boxes. The electrical or fuse boxes may be located where they are not easily accessed and may be mounted in any orientation where space permits. These replaceable fuses are consumed and provide an open circuit when exposed to a sufficient overload. Such replaceable fuses need to be replaced once consumed. Access to such replaceable fuses in electrical or fuse boxes is often difficult, particularly when the fuse box is located in a poorly accessible location. The fuse may need to be safely replaced without disenabling the power in the line. Once removed, it may be discovered that a replacement fuse is not available which may necessitate that access to a hot power line may need to be prevented when the fuse is not in the holder. Some fuses are quite large and need to be inserted easily and safely into the fuse box, while not contacting the hot power line. The fuse boxes for these large fuses may accommodate may fuses and are inherently large. Minimizing the size of these fuse boxes may result in making access to the fuses more difficult, as sufficient space between adjacent fuses for accommodation for access by hands into the box may be compromised. The present invention is directed toward alleviating at least some of the above-mentioned difficulties with the prior art. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION According to an embodiment of the invention, a fuse holder for holding a fuse is provided. The fuse holder includes a body, a line side connector supported by the body, and a load side connector supported by the body. The fuse holder also includes a toggle switch supported by the body. The switch is capable of toggled engagement in a first position that provides electrical connection between the line side connector and the load side connector. The switch is also capable of toggled engagement in a second position that provides electrical isolation between the line side connector and the load side connector. The fuse holder also includes a fuse carrier. The fuse carrier is supported by the body. The fuse carrier is adapted for holding the fuse and the fuse carrier is adapted to be removed from the fuse holder. The fuse holder also includes a blocking device for blocking the toggled engagement of the switch from the second position to the first position when the fuse carrier is not located within the fuse holder. According to an aspect of the present invention, the blocking device may be adapted to urge the switch from toggled engagement in the first position to toggled engagement in the second position as the fuse carrier is removed from the fuse holder. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder may be provided wherein the fuse carrier defines a longitudinal axis and wherein the fuse carrier is separable from the body in a direction along the longitudinal axis of the fuse holder. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder may be provided wherein the switch includes the first portion that pivots from a first position providing electrical connection between the line side connector and the load side connector to the second position providing electrical isolation between the line side connector and the load side connector and wherein the switch includes a second portion that includes a pair of switch contacts that selectively engage and disengage with a pair of body contacts fixedly secured to the body. The second portion is slidably movable with respect to the body. The second portion is operably connected to the first portion. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder may be provided wherein the blocking device is pivotally mounted in the body. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder may be provided wherein the fuse carrier defines a longitudinal axis. The fuse being separable from said fuse carrier in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis of said fuse carrier. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder may further include a first electrical contact for electrical connection with a first end of the fuse and the fuse holder may further include a second electrical contact for electrical connection with a second end of the fuse, opposed to the first end of the fuse. The fuse holder may be adapted to provide for toggled engagement of the switch in the second position prior to the electrical disengagement of at least one of first end of the fuse to the first electrical contact and second end of the fuse to the second electrical contact as the fuse carrier is removed from the fuse holder. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder may be provided wherein the blocking device has a first position for blocking the removal of the fuse carrier from the body when the switch is in toggled engagement in the first position and wherein the blocking device has a second position for permitting the removal of the fuse carrier from the body when the switch is in toggled engagement in the second position According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder may be provided wherein the blocking device includes a blocking device feature and wherein the fuse holder includes a fuse holder feature for cooperation with the blocking device feature for blocking the removal of the fuse carrier from the body when the switch is in the first position. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder may be provided wherein the blocking device feature or the fuse holder feature includes a protrusion and wherein the other of the blocking device feature and the fuse holder feature includes a void. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder may be provided wherein the fuse holder further includes fuse electrical contacts mounted to the body. The contacts have concave engagement surfaces adapted to engage opposed cylindrical electrical contacts of the fuse. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder may be provided wherein the fuse holder further includes an indicating module for indicating that a fuse is not functioning properly. According to another embodiment of the invention, a fuse holder for holding a fuse is provided. The fuse holder includes a body, a line side connector supported by the body, and a load side connector supported by the body. The fuse holder also includes a toggle switch supported by the body. The switch is capable of toggled engagement in a first position providing electrical connection between the line side connector and the load side connector. The switch is capable of toggled engagement in a second position providing electrical isolation between the line side connector and the load side connector. The fuse holder also includes a fuse carrier supported by the body. The fuse carrier is adapted to hold the fuse and the fuse carrier is adapted to be removed from the fuse holder. The fuse holder also includes a blocking device for blocking the toggled engagement of the switch into the first position when the fuse carrier is not located within the fuse holder. The blocking device may be positioned between the toggle switch and the fuse carrier. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder may be provided wherein the blocking device is adapted to urge the switch from toggled engagement in the first position to toggled engagement in the second position as the fuse carrier is removed from the fuse holder. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder may be provided wherein the fuse carrier defines a longitudinal axis and wherein the fuse carrier is separable from the body in a direction along the longitudinal axis of the fuse carrier. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder may be provided wherein the switch includes a first portion that pivots from the first position providing electrical connection between the line side connector and the load side connector to the second position providing electrical isolation between the line side connector and the load side connector and wherein the switch includes a second portion that includes a pair of switch contacts that may be selected to engage and disengage with a pair of body contacts fixedly secured to the body, the second portion slides with respect to the body, the second portion operably connected to the first portion. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder may be provided wherein the blocking device is pivotally mounted in the body. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder may be provided wherein the line side connector includes an electrical contact for electrical connection with a first end of the fuse and wherein the load side connector includes an electrical contact for electrical connection with a second end of the fuse. The second end is opposed to the first end of the fuse. Further, the fuse holder is adapted to provide for toggled engagement of the switch in the second position prior to the electrical disengagement of at least one of first end of the fuse to the line side connector and second end of the fuse to the load side connector as the fuse carrier is removed from the fuse holder. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder may be provided wherein the blocking device has a first position for blocking the removal of the fuse carrier from the body when the switch is toggled engagement in the first position and wherein the blocking device has a second position for permitting the removal of the fuse carrier from the body when the switch is in toggled engagement in the second position. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder may be provided wherein the blocking device includes a blocking device feature and wherein the fuse holder includes a fuse holder feature for cooperation with the blocking device feature for blocking the removal of the fuse carrier from the body when the switch is in toggled engagement in the first position. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder may be provided wherein the blocking device feature or the fuse holder feature includes a protrusion and the other of the blocking device feature and the fuse holder feature includes a void. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder may be provided wherein the fuse holder further includes fuse electrical contacts mounted to the body. The contacts have concave engagement surfaces adapted to engage opposed cylindrical electrical contacts of the fuse. According to another embodiment of the invention, a method for replacement of a fuse to and from a fuse holder is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a fuse holder, slidably fitting a fuse carrier for holding a fuse in the fuse holder, operably connecting the fuse carrier to a switch having an electrically connected position and an electrically isolated position, and pulling the fuse carrier with a used fuse outwardly from the fuse holder. The method further includes the steps of automatically tripping the switch to the electrically isolated position as the fuse carrier is removed, removing the used fuse from the fuse holder when the fuse carrier is removed from the fuse holder, inserting a new fuse into the fuse holder when the fuse carrier is removed from the fuse holder, and pushing the fuse carrier with a new fuse inwardly into the fuse holder. According to another embodiment of the invention, a fuse holder for holding a fuse is provided. The fuse holder includes a body, a line side connector supported by the body, and a load side connector supported by the body. The fuse holder also includes a fuse carrier supported by the body. The fuse carrier is adapted for holding the fuse and the fuse carrier is adapted to be removed from the fuse holder. The fuse carrier defines a longitudinal axis thereof. The fuse carrier is separable from the body in a direction along the longitudinal axis of the fuse carrier. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder may further include a switch supported by the body. The switch includes a first position providing electrical connection between the line side connector and the load side connector and includes a second position providing electrical isolation between the line side connector and the load side connector. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder may be provided wherein the switch includes a toggle switch supported by the body. The switch is capable of toggled engagement in the first position providing electrical connection between the line side connector and the load side connector. The switch is further capable of toggled engagement in the second position providing electrical isolation between the line side connector and the load side connector. The fuse holder further includes a blocking device for blocking the toggled engagement of the switch into the first position when the fuse carrier is not located within the fuse holder. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder may be provided wherein the blocking device is adapted to urge the switch from toggled engagement in the first position to toggled engagement in the second position as the fuse carrier is removed from the fuse holder. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder may be provided wherein the switch includes a first portion that pivots from a first position providing electrical connection between the line side connector and the load side connector to a second position providing electrical isolation between the line side connector and the load side connector and wherein the switch includes a second portion that includes a pair of switch contacts that selectively engage and disengage with a pair of body contacts fixedly secured to the body. The second portion is slidably movable with respect to the body. The second portion operably connected to the first portion. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder may be provided wherein the blocking device is pivotally mounted in the body. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder may be provided wherein the fuse carrier defines a longitudinal axis. The fuse being separable from said fuse carrier in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis of said fuse carrier. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder may further include a first electrical contact for electrical connection with a first end of the fuse and the fuse holder may further include a second electrical contact for electrical connection with a second end of the fuse, opposed to the first end of the fuse. The fuse holder may be adapted to provide for toggled engagement of the switch in the second position prior to the electrical disengagement of at least one of first end of the fuse to the first electrical contact and second end of the fuse to the second electrical contact as the fuse carrier is removed from the fuse holder. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder may be provided wherein the blocking device has a first position for blocking the removal of the fuse carrier from the body when the switch is in toggled engagement in the first position and wherein the blocking device has a second position for permitting the removal of the fuse carrier from the body when the switch is in toggled engagement in the second position. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder may be provided wherein the blocking device includes a blocking device feature and wherein the fuse holder includes a fuse holder feature for cooperation with the blocking device feature for blocking the removal of the fuse carrier from the body when the switch is in toggled engagement in the first position. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder may be provided wherein the blocking device feature or the fuse holder feature includes a protrusion and wherein the other of the blocking device feature and the fuse holder feature includes a void. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder may be provided wherein the fuse holder further includes fuse electrical contacts mounted to the body. The contacts have concave engagement surfaces adapted to engage opposed cylindrical electrical contacts of the fuse. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder may be provided wherein the fuse carrier further includes an indicating module for indicating that a fuse is not functioning properly. According to another embodiment of the invention, a fuse holder for holding a fuse is provided. The fuse holder includes a body, a line side connector supported by the body, and a load side connector supported by the body. The fuse holder further includes a fuse carrier supported by the body. The fuse carrier is adapted for holding the fuse and the fuse carrier is adapted to be removed from the fuse holder. The fuse carrier defines a longitudinal axis. The fuse carrier is separable from the body in a direction along the longitudinal axis of the fuse carrier. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder may further include a pivoting switch supported by the body. The switch includes a first position providing electrical connection between the line side connector and the load side connector and a second position providing electrical isolation between the line side connector and the load side connector. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder may be provided wherein the switch includes a toggle switch supported by the body. The switch is capable of toggled engagement in a first position providing electrical connection between the line side connector and the load side connector. The switch is capable of toggled engagement in a second position providing electrical isolation between the line side connector and the load side connector. The fuse holder further includes a blocking device for blocking the toggled engagement of the switch into the first position when the fuse carrier is not located within the fuse holder. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder may be provided wherein the blocking device is adapted to switch the switch from toggled engagement in the first position to toggled engagement in the second position as the fuse carrier is removed from the fuse holder. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder may be provided wherein the switch includes a first portion that pivots from a first position providing electrical connection between the line side connector and the load side connector to a second position providing electrical isolation between the line side connector and the load side connector and wherein the switch includes a second portion that includes a pair of switch contacts that selectively engage and disengage with a pair of body contacts fixedly secured to the body. The second portion is slidably movable with respect to the body. The second portion is operably connected to the first portion. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder may be provided wherein the blocking device is pivotally mounted in the body. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder may be provided wherein the fuse carrier defines a longitudinal axis. The fuse being separable from said fuse carrier in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis of said fuse carrier. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder may be provided wherein the line side connector includes an electrical contact for electrical connection with a first end of the fuse and wherein the load side connector includes an electrical contact for electrical connection with a second end of the fuse. The second end is opposed to the first end of the fuse. Further, the fuse holder is adapted to provide for toggled engagement of the switch in the second position prior to the electrical disengagement of at least one of first end of the fuse to the line side connector and second end of the fuse to the load side connector as the fuse carrier is removed from the fuse holder. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder may be provided wherein the blocking device has a first position for blocking the removal of the fuse carrier from the body when the switch is in toggled engagement in the first position and wherein the blocking device has a second position for permitting the removal of the fuse carrier from the body when the switch is in toggled engagement in the second position. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder may be provided wherein the blocking device includes a blocking device feature and wherein the fuse holder includes a fuse holder feature for cooperation with the blocking device feature for blocking the removal of the fuse carrier from the body when the switch is in toggled engagement in the first position. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder may be provided wherein the blocking device feature or the fuse holder feature includes a protrusion and wherein the other of the blocking device feature and the fuse holder feature includes a void. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder may be provided wherein the fuse holder further includes fuse electrical contacts mounted to the body. The contacts having concave engagement surfaces adapted to engage opposed cylindrical electrical contacts of the fuse. According to another embodiment of the invention, a fuse carrier for use with a fuse holder is provided. The fuse holder has a toggle switch for selectively providing an electrical isolation and an electrical connection between a line side connector and a load side connector. The fuse carrier includes a fuse carrier body defining an opening thereof adapted for receiving the fuse. The fuse carrier body defines a feature for cooperation with the switch for urging the switch from toggled engagement in the first position to toggled engagement in the second position as the fuse carrier is removed from the fuse holder. According to another embodiment of the invention, a fuse carrier for use with a fuse holder and a blown fuse indicator is provided. The fuse carrier includes a fuse carrier body defining an opening thereof adapted for receiving the fuse. The fuse carrier body further defines a feature adapted to secure the blown fuse indicator to the fuse carrier body. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse carrier may be provided wherein the fuse carrier is further adapted for use in a fuse holder having a toggle switch for selectively providing toggled engagement in a first position providing an electrical connection and toggled engagement in a second position providing an electrical isolation between a line side connector and a load side connector. The fuse carrier body defines a feature for cooperation with the switch that urges the switch into toggled engagement in the first position when the fuse carrier is in position in the fuse holder. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse carrier may be provided wherein the blown fuse indicator is removably securable to the fuse carrier body. According to another embodiment of the invention, a fuse holder for holding a fuse is provided. The fuse holder includes a body, a line side connector supported by the body, and a load side connector supported by the body. The fuse holder also includes a blown fuse indicator for determining whether the fuse is functioning properly or is blown, and a fuse carrier supported in the fuse holder. The fuse carrier is adapted for use with the fuse holder and the blown fuse indicator. The fuse carrier has a fuse carrier body. The fuse carrier body defines an opening of the body that is adapted for receiving the fuse. The fuse carrier body further defines a feature adapted to secure the blown fuse indicator to the fuse carrier. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder may further include a switch supported by the body. The switch includes a first position providing electrical connection between the line side connector and the load side connector and includes a second position providing electrical isolation between the line side connector and the load side connector. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder may be provided wherein the switch includes a toggle switch supported by the body. The switch is capable of toggled engagement in the first position providing electrical connection between the line side connector and the load side connector. The switch is capable of toggled engagement in the second position providing electrical isolation between the line side connector and the load side connector. The fuse holder further includes a blocking device for blocking the toggled engagement of the switch into the first position when the fuse carrier is not located within the fuse holder. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder may be provided wherein the blocking device is adapted to urge the switch from toggled engagement in the first position to toggled engagement in the second position as the fuse carrier is removed from the fuse holder. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder may be provided wherein the switch includes a first portion that pivots from the first position providing electrical connection between the line side connector and the load side connector to the second position providing electrical isolation between the line side connector and the load side connector and wherein the switch includes a second portion that includes a pair of switch contacts that selectively engage and disengage with a pair of body contacts fixedly secured to the body. The second portion is slidably movable with respect to the body. The second portion is operably connected to the first portion. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder may be provided wherein the blocking device is pivotally mounted in the body. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder may be provided wherein the fuse carrier defines a longitudinal axis. The fuse being separable from said fuse carrier in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis of said fuse carrier. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder may further include a first electrical contact for electrical connection with a first end of the fuse and the fuse holder may further include a second electrical contact for electrical connection with a second end of the fuse, opposed to the first end of the fuse. The fuse holder may be adapted to provide for toggled engagement of the switch in the second position prior to the electrical disengagement of at least one of first end of the fuse to the first electrical contact and second end of the fuse to the second electrical contact as the fuse carrier is removed from the fuse holder. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder may be provided wherein the blocking device has a first position for blocking the removal of the fuse carrier from the body when the switch is in toggled engagement in the first position and wherein the blocking device has a second position for permitting the removal of the fuse carrier from the body when the switch is in toggled engagement in the second position. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder may be provided wherein the blocking device comprises a blocking device feature and wherein the fuse holder comprises a fuse holder feature for cooperation with the blocking device feature for blocking the removal of the fuse carrier from the body when the switch is in toggled engagement in the first position. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder may be provided wherein one of the blocking device feature and the fuse holder feature includes a protrusion and wherein the other of the blocking device feature and the fuse holder feature includes a void. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder may be provided wherein the fuse holder further includes fuse electrical contacts mounted to the body, the contacts having concave engagement surfaces adapted to engage opposed cylindrical electrical contacts of the fuse. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder may be wherein the fuse carrier is separable from the body in a direction along the longitudinal axis of the fuse carrier. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder may be provided wherein the blown fuse indicator is removably securable to the fuse carrier body. According to another embodiment of the invention, a fuse holder kit for use with a fuse is provided. The fuse holder kit includes a fuse holder, a first fuse carrier supportable at least partially in the fuse holder and adapted to hold a first fuse, and a second fuse carrier. The second fuse carrier is supportable at least partially in the fuse holder and adapted to hold a second fuse. The fuse holder and the first fuse carrier provide a first fuse holder assembly with a first configuration and the fuse holder and the second fuse carrier provide a second first fuse holder assembly with a second configuration. The first configuration and the second configuration have at least one physical difference from each other. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder kit may further include a blown fuse indicator. The blown fuse indicator is operable associable with at least one of the first fuse carrier and the second fuse carrier. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder kit may be provided wherein the first fuse carrier defines a fuse carrier body having a blown fuse indicator receiving area for receiving at least a portion of the blown fuse indicator. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder kit may be provided wherein the blown fuse indicator is fixedly secured to the first fuse carrier and wherein the first fuse carrier has a fuse carrier body thereof. The fuse carrier body defines an opening thereof adapted for receiving the first fuse. The fuse carrier body further defines a feature adapted to secure the blown fuse indicator to the fuse carrier. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder kit may be provided wherein the blown fuse indicator may be removably secured to the first fuse carrier, whereby a blown fuse indicator may be replaced while not replacing the first fused carrier. According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuse holder kit may be provided wherein the second fuse carrier is not adapted for receiving at least a portion of the blown fuse indicator, whereby the kit may be used to provide both fuse holders with a blown fuse indicator and fuse holders without a blown fuse indicator.

11374447

This application claims priority to European Patent Application EP19152999.9 filed Jan. 22, 2019, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a rotor, an axial flux electrical machine, and a hybrid-electrical or electrical aircraft. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION An electrical machine transforms electrical energy into mechanical energy or vice versa, basing its principle of operation on the electromagnetic interactions of magnetic fields generated by coils, housed in a structure. Electrical machines are usually composed of at least one stator and at least one rotor. Typically, electric machines are designed and constructed to use the radial flux distribution, where rotor and stator have a small radial air gap between them. In axial flux electric machines, the winding can vary their geometric arrangement according to the required design diameter, making it possible to considerably reduce the total volume occupied by the machine. Axial flux electric machines have specific positioning of their magnets, which are in planes parallel to the coils, which allows to create a flux of magnetic field over a smaller rotary volume resulting in a decrease of the moment of inertia and the mass of the rotor. Axial flux electric machines improve efficiency, size, reliability and cost-effectiveness versus the current generation of direct drive machines (radial flux electric machines). The structural and electromagnetic problems related to a high-speed, reluctance-based, axial flux rotor design, particularly in the bridge regions between the poles are the high stress concentration due to centrifugal forces in the bridges between the pole segments, which limits the maximum speed. This problem can be encountered by a thicker bridge between the poles. Increasing the bridge thickness, however, also reduces the structural loads but also makes it a better flux carrier and thus reduces the difference in reluctance between the poles and the pole gaps and subsequently the power of the machine. The Journal Paper “Design and Testing of a Carbon-Fiber-Wrapped Synchronous Reluctance Traction Motor” (2018) by Kevin Grace et. al. in “IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON INDUSTRY APPLICATIONS” addresses a similar problem for a radial-flux reluctance machine by wrapping the rotor with a carbon fiber reinforced plastic material. This approach helps to reduce bridges between the poles but not to eliminate them completely and is also limited by the strength of a relative thin carbon fiber reinforced plastic sleeve. U.S. Pat. No. 6,803,694 B2 presents a rotor made by high-strength amorphous metals but provides no solution for a high-speed application. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the invention is to improve the state of the art of rotor design for axial flux reluctance-based electric machines. To accomplish the objective, the present invention provides a rotor, an axial flux electrical machine, and a hybrid-electrical or electrical air plane. The invention is given by the features of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are provided in the dependent claims. Further features, application possibilities, and advantages of the invention result from the following description. According to the invention the objective is accomplished by a rotor comprising a first material with high magnetic permeability and a second material with low magnetic permeability which are arranged in alternating order with an interface area of both materials in between. The invention claims a rotor of an axial flux electrical machine, comprising first sections of a first material and second sections of a second material whereas the first sections and second sections are arranged in alternating order and ring-shape. The rotor is characterized by third sections which form interface areas or overlapping zone between the first and second sections, whereas the third sections are comprising the first material and the second material in such a way that the first section and the second section are connected force-fitted. According to a further embodiment of the rotor, the first material has a maximum magnetic permeability μrhigher than 104Hm−1and the second material has a magnetic permeability μrunder 101Hm−1. According to a further embodiment of the rotor, the first material is an amorphous metal with a high tensile strength (σmax) over 1 GPa. This has the advantage of a high structural strength of the material. According to a further embodiment of the rotor, the second material is a structured material with a tensile strength σmaxover 1 GPa. The second material can be for example carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) or any “thin ply” composite. This has the advantage of a high structural strength of the material and low magnetic permeability. According to a further embodiment of the rotor, the tensile strength σmaxand tensile modulus Ey of the first material and the second material differ by less than 20%. This results in mechanical properties of the first material which are similar to/located in the near field of the mechanical properties (e.g.: thermal extension coefficient and Young modulus) of the second material. According to a further embodiment of the rotor, the first material is arranged in the first sections in ribbon-like stripes, which form magnetic rotor poles, the second material in the second sections forms pole gaps, and the first material and the second material are arranged in interleaved laminations or layers/plies in the third sections. The ribbon-like stripes of the first section can be separated by layers of non-conductive adhesive The second section serves to ensure the difference in reluctance resulting in a higher possible machine torque due to an increased saliency ratio and a higher possible operational speed, resulting in a higher power density of the machine. The rotor weight can be reduced by application of lightweight materials in the second sections, which can form pole gaps. The third sections serve to provide enough contact surface for a frictionally engaged connection to sustain tangential loads, which are induced by centrifugal forces at high rotational speed. The third section further serves as load carrying, low-permeable structure between the poles and pole gaps/first sections and second sections, with a frictionally engaged connection to the pole material and the pole gap material/the first material and the second material by interleave material slices. The torque ripple can be addressed by tailoring the magnetic properties in the interface area. The present invention further claims an axial flux electrical machines with a rotor according to the invention. This has the advantage of a more power dense electrical machines, working at speeds harder to otherwise achieve with conventional solutions. Further, the amorphous metal mass can be reduced at higher machine power, which results in lower material costs. According to a further embodiment the axial flux electrical machines is a reluctance-based machine. The present invention further claims a hybrid-electrical or electrical air plane with an axial flux electrical machine according to the invention. Other applications wherever a high-power density is critical, e.g. in maritime or automotive industry are possible. According to a further embodiment the aircraft is an air plane. Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

11220728

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an aluminum alloy pipe-shaped hollow material used for piping or hose joints, for example, for a heat exchanger and having excellent bending processability and corrosion resistance. BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, as aluminum alloy pipe materials such as a piping material and a hose joint material for a heat exchanger, extruded pipes of 1000 series (pure aluminum series), 3000 series (Al—Mn series), 6000 series (Al—Mg—Si series) aluminum alloys have been used. Examples of an extrusion method for manufacturing such extruded pipes include a mandrel extrusion and a porthole extrusion. In the mandrel extrusion, a stem connected to a mandrel is used to extrude a hollow billet into a circular pipe. In the porthole extrusion, extrusion is performed by using a hollow die including in combination a male die and a female die. The male die has port holes for dividing a material and a mandrel for forming a hollow portion. The female die has a chamber for welding together the divided materials in a manner surrounding the mandrel. However, the extruded pipe produced by the mandrel extrusion has problems in that, for example, uneven thickness is likely to occur and it is difficult to form a thin pipe. Thus, for aluminum alloy pipes such as a piping material and a hose joint material, it is preferable that extruded pipes be produced by the porthole extrusion. For the conventional aluminum alloys described above, either of the extrusion methods can be used, and the porthole extrusion can be used to produce an extruded pipe having a predetermined shape. However, for example, 1000 series aluminum materials do not satisfy a requirement for high strength, 3000 series aluminum alloy materials may have a low corrosion resistance due to excessive precipitation of Mn along a welding line near a press joint, and 6000 series aluminum alloy materials have many restrictions in manufacturing processes because this series is of a heat treatment type. Thus, it is difficult to manufacture such extruded pipes from these aluminum materials due to the individual material characteristics. Furthermore, bending is performed on a piping material, for example, in order to appropriately dispose and connect a heat exchanger. However, the conventional aluminum alloys described above have problems due to processing characteristics in that a bent portion does not uniformly deform during bending and tends to partially deform to be horizontally long in a cross-sectional view. From viewpoints of heat exchange efficiency and pressure loss of coolant, it is preferable that the amount of this deformation be reduced as much as possible. In contrast, 5000 series (Al—Mg series) aluminum alloys have material characteristics excellent in strength, corrosion resistance, and processability, for example. However, the porthole extrusion cannot be usually used for 5000 series aluminum alloys because of high hardness thereof, and hollow pipes are extruded and formed usually by the mandrel extrusion (Patent Literatures 1 to 3). Although some attempts to form 5000 series aluminum alloys by the porthole extrusion have been proposed, these attempts are not always satisfactory because a special die structure is required therein and there are restrictions in cross-sectional dimensions of extruded pipes, for example. As a solution for processing characteristics, a method has been used for an inner-surface smooth pipe, in which drawing is performed to be hardened and tempered thereby hardening the pipe as appropriate before bending to reduce the amount of deformation. Patent Literature 4 describes a method that enables porthole extrusion of 5000 series aluminum alloys excellent in processability and corrosion resistance by inventing chemical compositions, extrusion conditions, and the cross-sectional shape of an extruded pipe. CITATION LIST Patent Literature [Patent Literature 1] Japanese Patent Publication S61-194145-A[Patent Literature 2] Japanese Patent Publication 2002-363677-A[Patent Literature 3] Japanese Patent Publication 2003-226928-A[Patent Literature 4] PCT Publication WO2016/159361 SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem Patent Literature 4 relates to porthole extrusion smooth pipes of 5000 series aluminum alloys, and does not disclose means for solving a problem of a hollow material having an inner-surface ridged structure. For a hollow material having an inner-surface ridged structure such as ribs on its inner surface for improvement of heat exchange performance, drawing to be performed for an inner-surface smooth pipe cannot be performed, and it is difficult to increase strength thereof by drawing. For piping or hose joints, for example, a product formed by bending an aluminum alloy pipe-shaped hollow material is used. However, such a porthole extrusion smooth pipe of an aluminum alloy has problems in that, when bending is performed thereon, a bent portion does not uniformly deform and tends to partially deform to be horizontally long in a cross-sectional view. In view of this, it is an object of the present invention to provide an aluminum alloy pipe-shaped hollow material that is an aluminum alloy pipe-shaped hollow material of a 5000 series aluminum alloy produced by porthole extrusion and has excellent bending processability. Solution to Problem As a result of investigations on the above-described problems conducted over and over again, the inventors of the present invention found that controlling chemical compositions to set a work hardening coefficient n-value within a specified range enables work hardening to proceed appropriately in a bent portion when bending is performed thereon to achieve uniform deformation. The inventors also found that setting an area ratio of an inner-surface ridged structure within a specified range enables a load applied to a bent portion when bending is performed thereon to be distributed better than in the case of an inner-surface smooth pipe. Thus, the local deformation can be reduced, whereby the amount of deformation can be reduced. Thus, the inventors have completed the present invention. Specifically, the present invention (1) provides an aluminum alloy pipe-shaped hollow material produced by porthole extrusion, the aluminum alloy pipe-shaped hollow material comprising an Al—Mg-based alloy containing Mg of 0.7 mass % or more and less than 2.5 mass %, and Ti of more than 0 mass % and 0.15 mass % or less, with the balance being Al and unavoidable impurities, in which a work hardening coefficient n-value is 0.25 or more and less than 0.43, and the aluminum alloy pipe-shaped hollow material has an inner-surface ridged structure inside thereof, and an area ratio of the inner-surface ridged structure in a cross-section orthogonal to an extending direction of the aluminum alloy pipe-shaped hollow material is 1 to 30%. The present invention (2) provides the aluminum alloy pipe-shaped hollow material in (1) in which the area ratio of the inner-surface ridged structure is 4 to 30%. The present invention (3) provides a piping material that is a product formed with the aluminum alloy pipe-shaped hollow material in (1) or (2). Advantageous Effects of Invention The present invention can provide an aluminum alloy pipe-shaped hollow material that is an aluminum alloy pipe-shaped hollow material of a 5000 series aluminum alloy produced by porthole extrusion and has excellent bending processability.

11233920

TECHNICAL FIELD This disclosure generally relates to methods that transform document elements in response to modifications to a layout of a document. More specifically, but not by way of limitation, this disclosure relates to determining specific transformations of document elements based on an aspect-ratio difference determined between an initial aspect ratio and a target aspect ratio. BACKGROUND Content-editing applications are used to enhance or otherwise modify documents and other graphical content. For instance, a content-editing application is used to select a portion of a document, which can be a document element (e.g., an image) depicting a person or other figure. The document element may be modified separately from the remaining portions of the document, such as relocating the document element to another part of the document. Different types of content-editing operations can be performed on the document element, including cropping, reflecting, resizing, and adjusting pixel colors. In addition to modifying elements within the document, the content-editing applications are used to modify structure and format of the document. For example, the content-editing application performs a layout modification of the document, such that one or more dimension values (e.g., width, height) of the document are modified to have different dimension values. As these dimension values change, the content representing the document element may also be modified, usually in proportion to the modifications applied to document layout. However, the content may unintentionally distorted as a result of modifying the document layout. Conventional content-processing systems are limited to manually resizing and repositioning document elements when a given document layout is modified. For example, a conventional technique involves inserting images (for example) into a template layout of a particular document format (e.g., HTML/CSS), in which a user may modify the images within the template layout via a user interface. When complete, the modified images are then converted into an output document. In some instances, the conventional technique allows creating user-customization rules that apply repositioning and resizing of document elements as the layout is modified into another aspect ratio. This conventional technique, however, does not support rules that are applicable to all types of layouts and can reliably reposition and resize document elements into when a source layout is modified into various types of layouts. It may be possible to convert the a non-HTML document (e.g., an image) into HTML, modify the document elements, and generate an output document. This largely manual approach, however, becomes increasingly challenging and inefficient to process a number of documents, each requiring generation of several output documents with various document layouts. In addition, the conventional technique becomes ineffective in processing documents that include complex content (e.g., background elements, foreground elements) and pixel patterns (e.g., a gradient pixel pattern of a document element). Other conventional content-processing systems are also ineffective in transforming document elements as the document layouts are modified. For example, another known conventional technique receives a set of document elements and provides recommendations on how each document element can be positioned within a given template layout. This conventional technique, however, is ineffective in generating documents with differing document layouts based on a single input document that includes sizes and positions of its document elements, such that document elements are appropriately resized and repositioned in response to changes to the dimensions of the input document layout. Further, this conventional technique may be ineffective in processing documents with complex elements, thereby causing distortion of content as the corresponding document element is inappropriately resized and repositioned for a different document layout. Accordingly, conventional techniques are incapable of effectively and efficiently transforming document elements as the document layout is continuously modified while avoiding distortion of element content. SUMMARY Certain embodiments involve transforming document elements in response to modifications to a layout of a document. For example, a layout-modification application identifies a document element in an input document. In response to receiving an indication to modify the document such that the modified document has a target width and a target height, the layout-modification application identifies an aspect-ratio difference between an initial aspect ratio and a target aspect ratio. The target aspect ratio is derived from the target width and the target height. The layout-modification application uses the aspect-ratio difference as input to select a set of transformation rules to transform the document element. The document is modified to have the target width and the target height as defined by a modified document layout, in which the transformed document element represents the document element for the modified document. These illustrative embodiments are mentioned not to limit or define the disclosure, but to provide examples to aid understanding thereof. Additional embodiments are discussed in the Detailed Description, and further description is provided there.

11265514

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to vision systems for vehicles and, more particularly, to vision systems having a plurality of exteriorly facing cameras disposed at a vehicle. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Rear backup cameras and other exterior vision systems are known for use in vehicles. Examples of such systems are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,859,565; 6,611,202; 6,222,447; 5,949,331; 5,670,935 and/or 5,550,677, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Such systems may display images for viewing by the driver of the vehicle that provide a view exterior of the vehicle. It is known to provide a plurality of cameras at a vehicle, such as a forward facing camera, a rearward facing camera and opposite sideward facing cameras, and to stitch together images captured by the cameras to provide a surround view or top down view for displaying for viewing by a driver of the vehicle. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a means for calibrating the image stitching of the images captured by two or more cameras of a multi-camera vision system of a vehicle. The present invention provides a simplified calibration process that uses multiple parallel lines with marks or tick marks for multi-camera image stitching calibration. The calibration system of the present invention may calibrate the camera and system while the vehicle is moving along a vehicle assembly line. Special targets trigger image capturing while the vehicle is moving. Optionally, the calibration system may utilize user actuatable inputs to provide a manual calibration process that a user can perform while viewing displayed images derived from image data captured by the vehicle cameras. The captured image data includes areas where there are overlapping fields of view of the cameras, with one or more targets or markings disposed at the overlapping regions to facilitate calibration of one or more of the cameras. These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of the present invention will become apparent upon review of the following specification in conjunction with the drawings.

11522144

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application is a U.S. National Phase of International Application No. PCT/CN2019/127412 entitled STRETCH DISPLAY DEVICE AND PREPARATION METHOD and filed on Dec. 23, 2019. International Application No. PCT/CN2019/127412 claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201910081358.4, filed on Mar. 22, 2019. The entire contents of each of the above-listed applications are incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to display technology, and in particular to a stretch display device and a method of fabricating the same. BACKGROUND/SUMMARY With the continuous development of display technology, people pay more and more attention to stretch display devices. In addition to being able to withstand bending, folding, and rolling, the stretch display device can withstand pressure and stretch, and has a high application prospect in the fields of wearable display, skin display, Internet of things devices, automobiles, and artificial intelligence. However, current stretch display devices and preparation methods still need to be improved. The present disclosure is based on the discovery and recognition of the following facts and problems by the inventors: Currently, stretch display devices may have a low production yield due to current manufacturing methods. The inventors have conducted intensive research and a large number of experiments and found that this may be due to the fact that in the process of preparing the stretch display device, the flexible substrate and other film layers are easily degraded (e.g., bent, cracked, etc.) when the glass substrate is peeled off. Specifically, in the preparation of the stretch display device, each film layer of the stretch display device may be formed on a glass substrate, and finally the glass substrate is peeled off to obtain a stretch display device. A flexible substrate and a film layer for constituting a thin film transistor are sequentially disposed on the glass substrate, and a film region for constituting the film layer of the thin film transistor from the flexible substrate is defined, and a hollow region is disposed between the adjacent two pixel regions. The hollow portion penetrates through the film layer for forming the thin film transistor and the flexible substrate, and the provision of the hollow portion facilitates the realization of the stretch display, the pixel region is provided with the light-emitting element, and the light-emitting element and the hollow portion are covered by the encapsulating film layer. That is, the encapsulating film layer covering the hollow portion is in contact with the glass substrate. The adhesion between the encapsulating film layer of the hollow portion and the glass substrate is large. When the glass substrate is subsequently peeled off, the encapsulating film layer of the hollow portion is difficult to separate from the glass substrate, and the hollow portion may be degraded by the external mechanical pulling force. The film layer in which the encapsulating film layer is in contact, such as a flexible substrate, and the film layer constituting the thin film transistor, may be degraded, resulting in low production yield and increased manufacturing costs. The present disclosure is directed to at least alleviating or solving at least one of the above mentioned problems. In one aspect of the disclosure, the disclosure provides a method of manufacturing a stretch display device. The method includes providing a substrate on which a flexible substrate is disposed, and a film layer constituting a thin film transistor disposed on a side of the flexible substrate away from the substrate. In one embodiment, a side of the film layer faces away from the flexible substrate. One side of the film layer distal to the flexible substrate (e.g., the side not physically coupled to the flexible substrate and facing away from the flexible substrate) defines a plurality of pixel regions, wherein a hollow portion of a plurality of hollow portions is formed between two adjacent pixel regions, the hollow portion penetrates through the film layer and the flexible substrate. The thermal separation is provided in the hollow portion via a thermal separation material. A light-emitting element is disposed in the pixel region and spaced away from the thermal separation material, and an encapsulating film layer is disposed on a side of the light-emitting element and the thermal separation material away from the flexible substrate. The encapsulating film layer is blocked from contacting the flexible substrate and the substrate via the thermal separation material. Following heating of the thermal separation material, a portion of the encapsulating film layer physically coupled to the thermal separation material, and the substrate are peeled off. Therefore, when the substrate is peeled off by this method, the issue of breakage of the flexible substrate and the film layer constituting the thin film transistor can be alleviated, and the production yield of the stretch display device can be remarkably improved. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, after the hollow portion is formed between two adjacent pixel regions, and before the thermal separation material is disposed in the hollow portion, the method further includes providing a side of the film layer distal to the flexible substrate with a pixel defining structure, the pixel defining structure defining a plurality of the pixel regions; and a package partition wall is disposed on a side of the pixel defining structure adjacent to the hollow portion. Thus, the pixel defining structure can be used to separate a plurality of light emitting elements to prevent cross-coloring, and the package partition wall can be used to block the encapsulating film layer covering the thermal separation material from the encapsulating film layer covering the light emitting elements. According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the thermal separation material is away from and increases in width from a surface of the substrate facing the hollow portion and is flush with a side of the film layer remote from the substrate facing the hollow portion. Thereby, the encapsulating film layer of the hollow portion can be prevented from contacting the substrate, facilitating the peeling of the flexible substrate, alleviating the problem of the flexible substrate and the film layer forming the thin film transistor, improving the production yield, and facilitating the encapsulating film layer of the hollow portion. Disconnection of the encapsulating film layer from the rest of the area to facilitate removal of the thermal separation material. According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the thermal separation material is remote from one side of the substrate, above the film layer and below the package partition wall. Thereby, the encapsulating film layer of the hollow portion can be prevented from contacting the substrate, facilitating the peeling of the substrate, alleviating the problem of the flexible substrate and the film layer forming the thin film transistor degrading due to mechanical tension, improving the production yield, and facilitating the removal of the encapsulating film layer of the hollow portion corresponding to the thermal separation material from the rest of the encapsulating film layer that will remain with the stretch display device. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the film layer includes a plurality of sub-layers including a buffer layer, a gate insulating layer, an interlayer dielectric layer, and an insulating layer which are sequentially stacked, wherein the buffer layer is disposed adjacent to the flexible substrate, followed by the gate insulating layer, the interlayer dielectric layer, and the insulating layer. Each of the layers of the film layer may be in face-sharing contact with an adjacent layer. For example, the buffer layer is in face-sharing contact with the flexible substrate and the gate insulating layer. The interlayer dielectric layer is in face-sharing contact with the gate insulating layer and the insulating layer. Thus, when the thermal separation material is flush with the film layer constituting the thin film transistor and each of its plurality of sub-layers, or when the thermal separation material is higher than the film layer for forming the thin film transistor and lower than the package partition wall. In one example, the thermal separation material may be used according to the thin film transistor for forming, wherein the specific structure of the film determines the thickness of the thermal separation material. According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the thermal separation material has a thickness of from 1 to 50 μm, wherein the thickness of the thermal separation material increases in a direction away from the substrate. Thus, by providing the thermal separation material in the hollow portion, when the substrate is subsequently peeled off following heating of the thermal separation material, the issue described above of the flexible substrate and the film layer constituting the thin film transistor contacting the encapsulating film layer can be alleviated, and the production yield can be improved. According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the manner in which the thermal separation material is disposed includes at least one of printing and coating. Thereby, the setting of the thermal separation material can be achieved in a simple manner that is easy to manufacture and reduces manufacturing costs. According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the temperature of the thermal separation material is heated to 60-120° C. The above temperature range facilitates separation of the thermal separation material from the encapsulating film layer covering the thermal separation material and the substrate, while the above temperature range does not affect the performance of the light-emitting element. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the thermal separation material comprises at least one of azodicarbonamide, diazoaminobenzene, and p-toluenesulfonylhydrazide. The above materials can generate nitrogen under heating conditions within a desired temperature range, thereby facilitating separation of the thermal separation material from the encapsulating film layer covering the thermal separation material and the substrate. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, after the thermal separation material is heated, before the substrate is peeled off, the method further includes removing the thermal separation material and covering the encapsulating film layer of the thermal separation material. Thereby, the thermal separation material can be removed first and then the substrate can be peeled off, thereby alleviating the problem of the flexible substrate and the film layer constituting the thin film transistor, and improving the production yield. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, after the substrate is peeled off, the method further includes removing the thermal separation material and covering the encapsulating film layer of the thermal separation material. Thereby, the substrate can be peeled off and the thermal separation material can be removed, and the problem of the flexible substrate and the film layer for forming the thin film transistor can be alleviated, and the production yield can be improved. According to an embodiment of the disclosure, removing the thermal separation material and a portion of the encapsulating film layer physically coupled to only the thermal separation material comprises heating the thermal separation material and removing the thermal separation material and the portion of the encapsulating film layer without removing the remaining regions of the encapsulating film layer. The encapsulating film layer is broken (e.g., discontinuous) in the region of the hollow portion; the flexible substrate provided with the thermal separation material is inverted to take out the thermal separation material. Thereby, the encapsulating film layer covering the thermal separation material and the thermal separation material can be removed by a simple method. In another aspect of the disclosure, the disclosure provides a stretch display device. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the stretch display device is prepared according to the method described above, whereby the stretch display device has all the features and advantages of the stretch display device prepared by the method described above. The stretch display device has a higher production yield via the method described above compared to other stretch display devices manufactured via different methods illustrated in previous examples. In another aspect of the disclosure, the disclosure provides a stretch display device. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the stretch display device includes a flexible substrate which is sequentially stacked, a film layer for constituting a thin film transistor, a light emitting element, and a package film layer, wherein between the two adjacent light emitting elements there is a hollow portion that penetrates the film layer and the flexible substrate, and the encapsulating film layer covers the light-emitting element without covering the hollow portion. This arrangement provides the stretch display device with a high production yield.

11275113

BACKGROUND The present invention relates generally to computer systems and, more particularly, relates to a logic device comprising a clock source and several clock domains. In particular, the disclosure relates to adjusting the skew between two clock signals. SUMMARY Aspects of the present invention relate to a method for measuring a control system response time of a second clock tree, wherein the second clock signal has been propagated from a first clock source through a second clock tree, wherein the second clock tree comprises a programmable delay line induces a delay, wherein the first clock signal has been propagated from the first clock source through a first clock tree, wherein the method comprises measuring a skew between the second clock signal and the first clock signal and storing the skew, initiating a delay change of a delay induced by the programmable delay line and starting a time measurement, at least one iteration of measuring the skew between the second clock signal and the first clock signal; comparing the measured skew with the stored skew; based on the result of the comparison, stopping after a current iteration and stopping the time measurement, and wherein a result of the time measurement is the control system response time. Other aspects of the present invention relate to a logic device for measuring a control system response time of a second clock tree, wherein the second clock signal has been propagated from a first clock source through a second clock tree, wherein the second clock tree comprises a programmable delay line that induces a delay, wherein the first clock signal has been propagated from the first clock source through a first clock tree, wherein the logic device comprises a counter that is clocked by one of the first clock signal and the second clock signal, wherein the skew control unit measures a control system response time of the second clock tree and determining the second clock tree latency based on the control system response time, wherein measuring the control system response time of the second clock tree comprises measuring a skew between the second clock signal and the first clock signal and storing the skew, initiating a delay change of a delay induced by the programmable delay line and starting a time measurement, at least one iteration of measuring the skew between the second clock signal and the first clock signal; comparing the measured skew with the stored skew; based on the result of the comparison, stopping after a current iteration and stopping the time measurement, and wherein a result of the time measurement is the control system response time, wherein starting a time measurement comprises initializing and starting a counter, and wherein stopping a time measurement comprises stopping the counter. The above summary is not intended to describe each illustrated embodiment or every implementation of the present disclosure.

11425652

TECHNICAL FIELD This disclosure relates generally to facilitating smart beams for sensory data collection. For example, this disclosure relates to facilitating software defined smart beamforming for sensory data collection for a 5G, or other next generation network, air interface. BACKGROUND 5th generation (5G) wireless systems represent a next major phase of mobile telecommunications standards beyond the current telecommunications standards of 4thgeneration (4G). Rather than faster peak Internet connection speeds, 5G planning aims at higher capacity than current 4G, allowing a higher number of mobile broadband users per area unit, and allowing consumption of higher or unlimited data quantities. This would enable a large portion of the population to stream high-definition media many hours per day with their mobile devices, when out of reach of wireless fidelity hotspots. 5G research and development also aims at improved support of machine-to-machine communication, also known as the Internet of things, aiming at lower cost, lower battery consumption, and lower latency than 4G equipment. The above-described background relating to facilitating smart beams for sensory data collection is merely intended to provide a contextual overview of some current issues, and is not intended to be exhaustive. Other contextual information may become further apparent upon review of the following detailed description.

11514228

BACKGROUND Computer systems are currently in wide use. Some computer systems help users generate content. For example, some presentation applications include functionality that assists users in generating slide presentations. In addition, word processing applications allow users to insert not only text, but objects, such as tables, images, etc., into documents. A wide variety of other computer systems allow users to create content as well. In creating content, especially where the content is to be presented to an audience, users often wish to generate content with an overall consistency. For instance, when a user is generating a slide presentation, the user may wish to have objects on one slide be generally aligned with objects on a subsequent slide. Also, users may wish to know when objects are aligned with one another even on the same slide. Currently, some presentation computer systems (or applications) display guides that indicate to a user when objects are aligned on a slide during drag and resize events. For instance, when a user drags an object around the user interface display, indicators are displayed when the edges of that object align with the edges of another object on the slide, or when three or more shapes are equidistant from one another. Some functionality is also provided in order to snap objects into alignment, once they are within a threshold distance of alignment. The discussion above is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. SUMMARY User inputs are received on a visual display, when a user is generating visual content. The user inputs trigger guide functionality, and guides are displayed to guide the user in creating the visual content. 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 claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in the background.

11230321

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2020-0017838, filed on Feb. 13, 2020, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. FIELD The present disclosure relates to a body structure of a vehicle equipped with a high-voltage battery, such as an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle. BACKGROUND In general, an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle requires a high-voltage battery. However, since a high-voltage battery has a relatively large volume and weight and needs to be held in a waterproof environment, it is difficult to secure a mounting position and space for the high-voltage battery in a vehicle body. Further, the vehicle body needs to have sufficient rigidity to withstand various kinds of external forces caused by, for example, collisions. The information disclosed in this section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the related art already known to a person skilled in the art. SUMMARY Therefore, the present disclosure has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present disclosure to provide a body of a vehicle equipped with a high-voltage battery, which is capable of enabling stable and firm mounting of the high-voltage battery thereto without reducing interior space in the vehicle for occupants, and which is increased in rigidity by the high-voltage battery mounted thereto, thereby reducing the extent to which the vehicle body is deformed by various kinds of external forces caused by, for example, collisions, and improving noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) performance, riding comfort, and steerability of the vehicle. In accordance with the present disclosure, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a body of a vehicle equipped with a high-voltage battery, including a rear cross member mounted below the rear side of the front seat so as to be oriented in the lateral direction of the body, a front cross member mounted in front of the rear cross member so as to be oriented in the lateral direction of the body, and a plurality of longitudinal support members mounted to support the bottom of the high-voltage battery and to connect the front cross member and the rear cross member to each other in the longitudinal direction of the body, wherein the high-voltage battery is mounted between the front cross member and the rear cross member. Each of the plurality of longitudinal support members may be mounted so as to be oriented in the longitudinal direction of the body and to be connected to the rear end of a front-side rear member, extending backwards in the longitudinal direction of the body from a front side member disposed at a front portion of the body. Each of the front cross member and the rear cross member may be coupled at opposite ends thereof to side sills of the body. The rear end of the front-side rear member, extending backwards in the longitudinal direction of the body from the front side member disposed at a front portion of the body, may be coupled to the front cross member, and each of the plurality of longitudinal support members may be connected to the rear end of the front-side rear member on the front cross member. The high-voltage battery may include a tunnel portion extending along the longitudinal center axis of the body and formed so as to be recessed upwards and to be open downwards, and storage portions formed on opposite sides of the tunnel portion to accommodate battery modules constituting the high-voltage battery. The tunnel portion may be configured to allow internal spaces in the storage portions to communicate with each other therethrough. The body may further include a plurality of lateral support members configured to support the high-voltage battery, and the plurality of lateral support members may be provided under the high-voltage battery and may extend in the lateral direction of the body from the tunnel portion to the side sills of the body. The storage portions of the high-voltage battery may be directly coupled to the side sills of the body. The tunnel portion of the high-voltage battery may be formed narrower than each of the storage portions formed on opposite sides of the tunnel portion. The tunnel portion of the high-voltage battery may be formed in the shape of an inverted U in cross-section so as to be open in the downward direction of the body.

11251585

FIELD The embodiments discussed herein are related to a distributed feedback (DFB) laser with weak optical feedback. BACKGROUND Unless otherwise indicated herein, the materials described herein are not prior art to the claims in the present application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section. Lasers are useful in a number of applications. For example, lasers may be used in optical communications to transmit digital data across a fiber optic network. The laser may be modulated by a modulation signal, such as an electronic digital signal, to produce an optical signal transmitted on a fiber optic cable. An optically sensitive device, such as a photodiode, is used to convert the optical signal to an electronic digital signal transmitted through the fiber optic network. Such fiber optic networks enable modern computing devices to communicate at high speeds and over long distances. In various industries, bitrates for data transmission per channel have surpassed 100 gigabit per second (Gb/s), establishing transmitter performance exceeding 60 gigahertz (GHz) bandwidth (BW) as an industry goal for the 100 Gb/s non-return-to zero (NRZ) format. Although some electro absorption modulators have exhibited the capability to approach 60 GHz BW, the BW of directly modulated lasers (DML) such as directly modulated DFB lasers have lagged behind at approximately 30 GHz. The subject matter claimed herein is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages or that operate only in environments such as those described above. Rather, this background is only provided to illustrate one example technology area where some implementations described herein may be practiced. 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 characteristics of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. Some example embodiments described herein generally relate to a DFB laser with weak optical feedback, also referred to as a DFB plus reflection (DFB+R) laser. In an example embodiment, a DFB+R laser includes a DFB section, a high reflection (HR) mirror, a passive section, and a low reflection (LR) mirror. The DFB section is configured to operate in a lasing mode. The HR mirror is coupled to a rear of the DFB section. The passive section is coupled to a front of the DFB section. The LR mirror is formed at a front of the passive section. The passive section, a portion of the DFB section at the front of the DFB section, and the LR mirror form an etalon having a reflection profile with periodic peaks and valleys. The lasing mode of the DFB section is aligned to a long wavelength edge of one of the periodic peaks of the reflection profile of the etalon. In another example embodiment, a DFB+R laser includes an active section, a passive section, a LR mirror, and an etalon. The active section includes a DFB grating and is configured to operate in a lasing mode. The passive section is coupled end to end with the active section. The LR mirror is formed on or in the passive section. The etalon includes a portion of the DFB grating, the passive section, and the LR mirror. The lasing mode of the active section is aligned to a long wavelength edge of a reflection peak of the etalon. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by the practice of the invention. The features and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. These and other features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.

11455747

FIELD The present disclosure generally relates to digital imaging systems and methods, and more particularly to, digital imaging systems and methods for analyzing pixel data of an image of a user's body for determining a user-specific skin redness value of the user's skin after removing hair. BACKGROUND For many individuals, hair removal methods cause the skin to become red. An individual's reaction to a particular hair removal product or method may be a reaction to a product or to the way in which the individual applies or uses the product. For example, an individual's skin may become red after using a hair removal cream due to the individual's reaction to an ingredient in the cream or how long the individual has left the cream on their skin. As another example, an individual's skin may become red after or during shaving due to the individual's shaving technique (e.g., the individual may apply too much pressure for their skin or shave against the grain of the hair). However, individuals generally are not aware of why skin redness occurs for their skin, and thus are not aware of how to decrease their skin redness while still effectively removing hair. Individuals also may not be aware of whether their reaction to a hair removal method or product is more severe than average, or whether their skin redness could be improved. While an individual may attempt to determine an effective combination of hair removal product(s) and/or method(s) based on generalized recommendations, the individual does not have feedback suited for or personalized for the individual based on the individual's skin redness after hair removal. For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for digital imaging systems and methods for analyzing pixel data of an image of a user's body for determining a user-specific skin redness value of the user's skin after removing hair. SUMMARY Generally, as described herein, the digital systems and methods for analyzing pixel data of an image of a user's body for determining a user-specific skin redness value of the user's skin after removing hair provide a digital imaging and artificial intelligence (AI) based solution for overcoming problems that arise from incorrect use of different hair removal products and/or methods. The digital systems and methods allow a user to submit a specific user image to imaging server(s) (e.g., including its one or more processors), or otherwise a computing device (e.g., such as locally on the user's mobile device), where the imaging server(s) or user computing device implements or executes a skin redness model trained with pixel data of potentially 10,000 s (or more) images of individuals' skin after removing hair. The skin redness model may generate, based on a determined user-specific skin redness value, a user-specific electronic recommendation designed to address at least one feature identifiable within the pixel data comprising at least a portion of the user's skin after hair is removed from the skin. For example, the at least one feature can comprise pixels or pixel data indicative of a degree of redness of the user's skin. In some embodiments, the user-specific recommendation (and/or product specific recommendation) may be rendered on a display screen of a user computing device of the user. In other embodiments, no transmission to the imaging server of the user's specific image occurs, where the user-specific recommendation (and/or product recommendation) may instead by generated by the skin redness model, executing and/or implemented locally on the user's mobile device and rendered, by a processor of the mobile device, on a display screen of the mobile device. In various embodiments, such rendering may include graphical representations, overlays, annotations, and the like for addressing the feature in the pixel data. More specifically, as describe herein, a digital imaging method of analyzing pixel data of an image of a user's body for determining a user-specific skin redness value of the user's skin after removing hair is disclosed. The digital imaging method comprises aggregating, at one or more processers communicatively coupled to one or more memories, a plurality of training images of a plurality of individuals, each of the training images comprising pixel data of skin of a respective individual after removing hair. The method may also include training, by the one or more processors with the pixel data of the plurality of training images, a skin redness model comprising a skin redness scale and operable to output, across a range of the skin redness scale, skin redness values associated with a degree of skin redness ranging from least red to most red. The method may further include receiving, at the one or more processors, at least one image of a user, the at least one image captured by a digital camera, and the at least one image comprising pixel data of at least a portion of the user's skin after hair is removed from the at least a portion of the user's skin. Still further, the method may include analyzing, by the skin redness model executing on the one or more processors, the at least one image captured by the digital camera to determine a user-specific skin redness value of the user's skin. The method may also include generating, by the one or more processors based on the user-specific skin redness value, at least one user-specific electronic recommendation designed to address at least one feature identifiable within the pixel data of the at least a portion of the user's skin. The method may further include rendering, on a display screen of a user computing device, the at least one user-specific electronic recommendation. In addition, as described herein, a digital imaging system is disclosed that is configured to analyze pixel data of an image of a user's body for determining a skin redness value of the user's skin after removing hair. The digital imaging system may comprise: an imaging server comprising a server processor and a server memory, an imaging application (app) configured to execute on a user computing device comprising a device processor and a device memory, and a skin redness model. The imaging app may be communicatively coupled to the imaging server. The skin redness model may comprise a skin redness scale and may be trained with pixel data of a plurality of training images of individuals. Further, the skin redness model may be operable to determine, across a range of the skin redness scale, skin redness values associated with a degree of skin redness ranging from least red to most red. The skin redness model may be configured to execute on the server processor or the device processor to cause the server processor or the device processor to receive at least one image of a user, the at least one image captured by a digital camera, and the at least one image comprising pixel data of at least a portion of the user's skin after hair is removed from the at least a portion of the user's skin. In addition, the skin redness model may cause the server processor or the device processor to analyze, by the skin redness model, the at least one image captured by the digital camera to determine a user-specific skin redness value of the user's skin. Further, the skin redness model may cause the server processor the device processor to generate, based on the user-specific skin redness value, at least one user-specific electronic recommendation designed to address at least one feature identifiable within the pixel data comprising the at least a portion of the user's skin. Still further, the skin redness model may cause the server processor or the device processor to render, on a display screen of the user computing device of the user, the at least one user-specific electronic recommendation. Further, as described herein, a tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions for analyzing pixel data of an image of a user's body for determining a skin redness value of the user's skin after removing hair is disclosed. The instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to aggregate, at the one or more processers communicatively coupled to one or more memories, a plurality of training images of a plurality of individuals, each of the training images comprising pixel data of skin of a respective individual after removing hair. The instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, may further cause the one or more processors to train, with the pixel data of the plurality of training images, a skin redness model comprising a skin redness scale and operable to output, across a range of the skin redness scale, skin redness values associated with a degree of skin redness ranging from least red to most red. The instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, may further cause the one or more processors to receive at least one image of a user, the at least one image captured by a digital camera, and the at least one image comprising pixel data of at least a portion of the user's skin after hair is removed from the at least a portion of the user's skin. Still further, the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, may cause the one or more processors to analyze, by the skin redness model executing on the one or more processors, the at least one image captured by the digital camera to determine a user-specific skin redness value of the user's skin. The instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, may also cause the one or more processors to generate, based on the user-specific skin redness value, at least one user-specific electronic recommendation designed to address at least one feature identifiable within the pixel data of the at least a portion of the user's skin. The instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, may further cause the one or more processors to render, on a display screen of a user computing device, the at least one user-specific electronic recommendation. In accordance with the above, and with the disclosure herein, the present disclosure includes improvements in computer functionality or in improvements to other technologies at least because the disclosure describes that, e.g., an imaging server, or otherwise computing device (e.g., a user computing device), is improved where the intelligence or predictive ability of the imaging server or computing device is enhanced by a trained (e.g., machine learning trained) skin redness model. The skin redness model, executing on the imaging server or computing device, is able to accurately identify, based on pixel data of other individuals, a user-specific skin redness value and a user-specific electronic recommendation designed to address at least one feature identifiable within the pixel data of a specific user comprising the at least the portion of the user's skin after hair is removed from the at least a portion of the user's skin. That is, the present disclosure describes improvements in the functioning of the computer itself or “any other technology or technical field” because an imaging server or user computing device is enhanced with a plurality of training images (e.g., 10,000 s of training images and related pixel data as feature data) to accurately predict, detect, or determine pixel data of a user-specific images, such as newly provided customer images. This improves over the prior art at least because existing systems lack such predictive or classification functionality and are simply not capable of accurately analyzing user-specific images to output a predictive result to address at least one feature identifiable within the pixel data comprising the at least the portion of the user's skin. For similar reasons, the present disclosure relates to improvements to other technologies or technical fields at least because the present disclosure describes or introduces improvements to computing devices in the field of hair removal or hair removal devices (e.g., shaving razors, light based hair removal devices, epilators, etc.), whereby the trained skin redness model executing on the imaging server or user computing device improves the field of hair removal and/or hair removal devices with digital and/or artificial intelligence based analysis of user or individual images to output a predictive result to address at least one feature identifiable within the user-specific pixel data comprising the at least the portion of the user's skin after hair is removed. In addition, the present disclosure includes applying certain of the claim elements with, or by use of, a particular machine, e.g., in embodiments involving a razor or other hair removal device (e.g., an epilator or a light based hair removal device) that removes hair, where skin from which hair is removed appears in training images used to train the skin redness model and further appears in the images submitted by a user to determine a user-specific redness value of the user's skin after hair is removed from the user's skin. In addition, the present disclosure includes specific features other than what is well-understood, routine, conventional activity in the field, or adding unconventional steps that confine the claim to a particular useful application, e.g., analyzing pixel data of an image of a user's body for determining a skin redness value of the user's skin after removing hair, as described herein. Advantages will become more apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from the following description of the preferred embodiments which have been shown and described by way of illustration. As will be realized, the present embodiments may be capable of other and different embodiments, and their details are capable of modification in various respects. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.

11348137

FIELD OF THE INVENTION Some embodiments relates to a computer apparatus and method provided in a computer apparatus. An improved user interface of said computer apparatus is provided in some embodiments. Some embodiments provide an improved computer technology. Some embodiments relate to a computer program or computer program product. Some embodiments relate to a computer apparatus which is configured to determine which of a plurality of candidate options is provided on a user interface. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is common for advertisement content to be presented to a user when a user is online using a computer device. For example, a user may be presented with an advertisement or promotional material provided by the user's computer device. For example, the user may be browsing an internet site, using a search engine, using an “app” or playing a computer game. In some systems, an advertisement content provider may bid for advertisement slots and if successful, that advertisement content provider will provide the advertisement content which is presented to a particular user device. However, having advertisement content selected on the basis of a bidding system may provide an unsatisfactory user interface. Some embodiments may seek to improve the user interface of computer apparatus. Some embodiments may seek to improve the computer technology to provide a more efficient computer apparatus. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to an aspect, there is provided a computer apparatus, said computer apparatus comprising: at least one processor, said at least one processor configured to determine a respective value associated with a plurality of candidate content, at least one of said candidate content comprising an advertisement and select in dependence on said determined values one of said candidate content; and a user interface configured to display the selected candidate content. The at least one processor may be configured to determine said respective values using one or more input parameters, said at least one processor using one or more value determining algorithms. The value determining algorithm may comprise a decision tree. The one or more value determining algorithms used may be dependent on information associated with a user of said computer apparatus. The information associated with a user of said computer apparatus may be dependent at least one of: the user; and a segment in which the user is provided. The least one candidate content value may be provided by a first value determining algorithm and at least one candidate content value for different content may be provided by a second value determining algorithm. The computer apparatus may comprise a receiver configured to receive from a server said candidate content with information about a respective value determining algorithm. The input parameters may comprise one or more of: one or more parameters from a server; one or more parameters available on said computer apparatus but not communicated to a server; one or more parameters available on the computer apparatus; one or more parameters relating to said content; one or more parameters relating to a context in which the user is interacting with said computer apparatus; and a number of impressions. The context in which said user is interacting with said computer apparatus may comprise one or more of: playing a computer implemented game, interacting with an internet site, interacting with an app, interacting with a social networking site, interacting with email, and interacting with a messaging application. The at least one processor may be configured to cause a computer implemented game to be played and at least one of said input parameters comprises a parameter relating to said computer implemented game. At least one of said value determining algorithms may comprise a plurality of levels, with the output from one level being dependent on a value of at least one first input parameter and the output from a next level being dependent on the output from the one level and a value of at least one second input parameter. The at least one processor may be configured to cause a computer implemented game to be played and at least one of said first and second input parameters comprises at least one parameter relating to said computer implemented game. The computer apparatus may comprise a receiver configured to receive at least one candidate content when said computer apparatus is online and output the selected candidate content when said computer apparatus is offline. The at least one processor may be configured to use at least one threshold to filter the determined values. The candidate content may comprise at least one of: an advertisement; an in app promotion; a cross promotion; and information relating to a context in which said candidate content is provided. The at least one processor may be configured to determined updated respective values of said plurality of candidate content, wherein for at least one of said candidate content, the updated respective value is changed from a previous respective value. According to an aspect, there is provided a computer implemented method in a computer apparatus, said computer method comprising: determining, by at least one processor, a respective value associated with a plurality of candidate content, at least one of said candidate content comprising an advertisement; selecting in dependence on said determined values one of said candidate content; and displaying on a user interface the selected candidate content. The method may comprise determining said respective values using one or more input parameters, using one or more value determining algorithms. The or each value determining algorithm may comprise a decision tree. The one or more value determining algorithms used may be dependent on information associated with a user of said computer apparatus. The information associated with the user of said computer apparatus may be dependent at least one of: the user; and a segment in which the user is provided. The least one candidate content value may be provided by a first value determining algorithm and at least one candidate content value for different content may be provided by a second value determining algorithm. The method may comprise receiving, by a receiver, from a server said candidate content with information about a respective value determining algorithm. The input parameters may comprise one or more of: one or more parameters from a server; one or more parameters available on said computer apparatus but not communicated to a server; one or more parameters available on the computer apparatus; one or more parameters relating to said content; one or more parameters relating to a context in which the user is interacting with said computer apparatus; and a number of impressions. The context in which said user is interacting with said computing apparatus may comprise one or more of: playing a computer implemented game, interacting with an internet site, interacting with an app, interacting with a social networking site, interacting with email, and interacting with a messaging application. The method may comprise causing a computer implemented game to be played and at least one of said input parameters comprises a parameter relating to said computer implemented game. At least one of said value determining algorithms may comprise a plurality of levels, with the output from one level being dependent on a value of at least one first input parameter and the output from a next level being dependent on the output from the one level and a value of at least one second input parameter. The method may comprise causing a computer implemented game to be played and at least one of said first and second input parameters comprises at least one parameter relating to said computer implemented game. The method may comprise receiving, by a receiver, at least one candidate content when said computer apparatus is online and output the selected candidate content when said computer apparatus is offline. The method may comprise using at least one threshold to filter the determined values. The candidate content may comprise at least one of: an advertisement; an in app promotion; a cross promotion; and information relating to a context in which said candidate content is provided. The method may comprise determining updated respective values of said plurality of candidate content, wherein for at least one of said candidate content, the updated respective value is changed from a previous respective value. According to an aspect, there is provided a computer implemented method in a user device comprising: determining in said user device a value associated with a plurality of candidate advertisements; selecting in said user device in dependence on said determined values which one of candidate advertisements is to output; and outputting at said user device said the candidate advertisement which is to be selected for output. The determining said value may comprise using at least one value determining algorithm. All of the candidate advertisements may be associated with the same value determining algorithm. At least two of said candidate advertisements may be provided with different associated value determining algorithms. At least one value determining algorithm may be dependent on a user of said user device. The at least one value determining algorithm may be dependent on a segment of said user of said user device. The method may comprise receiving from a server said candidate advertisements with information about a respective value determining algorithm. The value determining algorithm may comprises a decision tree. At least one of said value determining algorithms may comprise a plurality of parameters to be used in determining a respective value for a candidate algorithm. At least one parameter may comprise a parameter the value of which is not communicated to an associated server. At least one parameter may comprise a parameter relating to said advertisement. One of the parameters relating to said advertisement may comprise number of impressions. At least one parameter may relate to a context in which the user is interacting with said user device. The context in which said user is interacting with said device comprises one or more of: playing a computer implemented game, interacting with an internet site, interacting with an app, interacting with a social networking site, interacting with email, and interacting with a messaging application. The method may comprise receiving at least one candidate advertisement when said computer device is online and outputting the candidate advertisement which is to be selected for output when said computer device is offline. The selecting may comprise filtering the determined values to remove values which are below a given threshold. The selecting may comprise selecting the candidate advertisement associated with a highest determined value. The candidate advertisement may comprise at least one of: an advertisement; an in app promotion; and a cross promotion. According to an aspect, there is provided a computer apparatus, said computer apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer code for one or more programs, the at least one memory and the computer code configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus at least to: determine a value associated with a plurality of candidate advertisements; select in said user device in dependence on said determined values which one of candidate advertisements is to output; and output said the candidate advertisement which is to be selected for output. The at least one memory and the computer code may be configured, with the at least one processor, to determine said value using at least one value determining algorithm. All of the candidate advertisements may be associated with the same value determining algorithm. At least two of said candidate advertisements may be provided with different associated value determining algorithms. At least one value determining algorithm may be dependent on a user of said user device. The at least one value determining algorithm may be dependent on a segment of said user of said user device. The at least one memory and the computer code may be configured, with the at least one processor, to receive from a server said candidate advertisements with information about a respective value determining algorithm. The value determining algorithm may comprises a decision tree. At least one of said value determining algorithms may comprise a plurality of parameters to be used in determining a respective value for a candidate algorithm. At least one parameter may comprise a parameter the value of which is not communicated to an associated server. At least one parameter may comprise a parameter relating to said advertisement. One of the parameters relating to said advertisement may comprise number of impressions. At least one parameter may relate to a context in which the user is interacting with said user device. The context in which said user is interacting with said device comprises one or more of: playing a computer implemented game, interacting with an internet site, interacting with an app, interacting with a social networking site, interacting with email, and interacting with a messaging application. The at least one memory and the computer code may be configured, with the at least one processor, to receive at least one candidate advertisement when said computer device is online and output the candidate advertisement which is to be selected for output when said computer device is offline. The at least one memory and the computer code may be configured, with the at least one processor, to filter the determined values to remove values which are below a given threshold. The at least one memory and the computer code may be configured, with the at least one processor, to select the candidate advertisement associated with a highest determined value. The candidate advertisement may comprise at least one of: an advertisement; an in app promotion; and a cross promotion. A computer readable non-transitory storage medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which when run on at least one processor cause the process to perform the following steps: determine a value associated with a plurality of candidate advertisements; select in said user device in dependence on said determined values which one of candidate advertisements is to output; and output said the candidate advertisement which is to be selected for output. According to some aspects, there is provided a program product comprising a computer-readable storage device including a computer-readable program, wherein the computer-readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to perform any one or more of the method steps described previously. A computer program comprising program code means adapted to perform the method(s) may also be provided. The computer program may be stored and/or otherwise embodied by means of a carrier medium. In the above, many different embodiments have been described. It should be appreciated that further embodiments may be provided by the combination of any two or more of the embodiments described above. Various other aspects and further embodiments are also described in the following detailed description and in the attached claims.

11275810

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) The present application claims the priority of Chinese Patent Application No. 201810244843.4, filed on Mar. 23, 2018, with the title of “Artificial intelligence-based triple checking method and apparatus, device and storage medium.” The disclosure of the above applications is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND Technical Field The present disclosure relates to computer application technologies, and particularly to an artificial intelligence-based triple checking method and apparatus, a device and a storage medium. Description of the Related Art Artificial intelligence, abbreviated as AI, is a new technical science for researching and developing theories, methods, technologies and application systems for simulating, extending and expanding human intelligence. Artificial intelligence is a branch of computer sciences and attempts to learn about the essence of intelligence, and produces a type of new intelligent machines capable of responding in a manner similar to human intelligence. The studies in the field comprise robots, language recognition, image recognition, natural language processing, expert systems and the like. Precise question and answer is a product which is different a natural result presentation form and directly satisfies the user's search demands precisely. In the precise question and answer product, ensuring accuracy of a structured Subject Predicate Object (SPO) triple is a basic requirement for the precise question and answer product, and meanwhile also a basis for satisfying the user's search demands and improving the user's experience. The SPO triple is a basic unit of structured data in a knowledge map, for example, in a SPO triple, S=Liu*Hua, P=wife, O=Zhu*Qian. To obtain an accurate SPO triple, the following processing manners are usually employed in the prior art: 1) extracting an accurate SPO triple from a high-quality website; 2) providing an accurate SPO triple based on manual verification and annotation. The above two manners are applicable for a small scale of data. However, as Information Extraction (IE) technology gradually iterates and gets mature, the SPO triple data is unprecedentedly expanded, and a large scale of SPO triple data cannot be checked in a unified and effective manner due to limitations of unsustainability high-quality website and manual verification and annotation, and becomes a bottleneck for further expansion of the knowledge map. BRIEF SUMMARY With respect to the above, the present disclosure provides an artificial intelligence-based triple checking method and apparatus, a device and a storage medium. Specific technical solutions are as follows:An artificial intelligence-based triple checking method, comprising:generating a search query according to a triple to be checked;obtaining webpages of search result corresponding to the query;determining a confidence score of the triple according to the webpages of search result;determining whether the triple is an accurate triple according to the confidence score. According to a preferred embodiment of the present embodiment, the step of determining a confidence score of the triple according to the webpages of search result comprises:selecting M qualified webpages from the webpages of search result, and taking the selected webpages as to-be-processed webpages, M being a positive integer larger than 1;respectively performing the following processing with respect to each to-be-processed webpage:if the to-be-processed webpage includes information of the triple, respectively obtaining N predetermined parameter values of the to-be-processed webpage, N being a positive integer, and determining a quality score of the to-be-processed webpage according to the N predetermined parameter values;if the to-be-processed webpage does not include information of the triple, taking zero as the quality score of the to-be-processed webpage;determining the confidence score of the triple according to the quality score of to-be-processed webpages. According to a preferred embodiment of the present embodiment, the M qualified webpages comprise: top M webpages ranking in the search result page;after selecting M qualified webpages from the webpages of search result, further comprising:pre-processing the selected M qualified webpages, the pre-processing comprising: performing deduplication processing, and taking the webpages after the pre-processing as to-be-processed webpages. According to a preferred embodiment of the present embodiment, the deduplication processing comprises: retaining a webpage from a source site having the highest reliability in webpages with repeated content. According to a preferred embodiment of the present embodiment, the N predetermined parameter values comprise:reliability of a source site of the to-be-processed webpage;a relevancy of content of the to-be-processed webpage and the triple;reliability of the content of the to-be-processed webpage. According to a preferred embodiment of the present embodiment, the step of determining a quality score of the to-be-processed webpage according to the N predetermined parameter values comprises:calculating a product of the N predetermined parameter values, and taking a calculation result as a quality score of the to-be-processed webpage;the step of determining the confidence score of the triple according to the quality scores of to-be-processed webpages comprises:summating the quality scores of the respective to-be-processed webpages, and taking a sum as the confidence score of the triple. According to a preferred embodiment of the present embodiment, the step of determining whether the triple is an accurate triple according to the confidence score comprises:comparing the confidence score with a preset first threshold;determining that the triple is an accurate triple if the confidence score is larger than the first threshold. According to a preferred embodiment of the present embodiment, the method further comprises:if the triple is determined as an accurate triple, ranking respective to-be-processed webpages in a descending order of quality scores, and selecting top N′ webpages in the ranking, N′ being a positive integer;selecting, from the selected N′ webpages, a webpage whose quality score is greater than a preset second threshold, and taking a finally-selected webpage as a webpage corpus data auxiliary evidence of the triple. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an artificial intelligence-based triple checking apparatus, comprising: a generating unit, an obtaining unit, a scoring unit and a checking unit;the generating unit is configured to generate a search query according to a triple to be checked;the obtaining unit is configured to obtain webpages of search result corresponding to the query;the scoring unit is configured to determine a confidence score of the triple according to the webpages of search result;the checking unit is configured to determine whether the triple is an accurate triple according to the confidence score. According to a preferred embodiment of the present embodiment, the scoring unit comprises: a selecting subunit and a processing subunit;the selecting subunit selects M qualified webpages from the webpages of search result, and regards the selected webpages as to-be-processed webpages, M being a positive integer larger than 1;the processing subunit respectively performs the following processing with respect to each to-be-processed webpage:if the to-be-processed webpage includes information of the triple, respectively obtain N predetermined parameter values of the to-be-processed webpage, N being a positive integer, and determine a quality score of the to-be-processed webpage according to the N predetermined parameter values;if the to-be-processed webpage does not include information of the triple, regard zero as the quality score of the to-be-processed webpage;determine the confidence score of the triple according to the quality score of to-be-processed webpages. According to a preferred embodiment of the present embodiment, the M qualified webpages comprise: top M webpages ranking in the search result page;the selecting subunit is further configured to, after selecting M qualified webpages from the webpages of search result, pre-process the selected M qualified webpages, the pre-processing comprising: performing deduplication processing, and taking the webpages after the pre-processing as to-be-processed webpages. According to a preferred embodiment of the present embodiment, the deduplication processing comprises retaining a webpage from a source site having the highest reliability in webpages with repeated content. According to a preferred embodiment of the present embodiment, the N predetermined parameter values comprise:reliability of a source site of the to-be-processed webpage;a relevancy of content of the to-be-processed webpage and the triple;reliability of the content of the to-be-processed webpage. According to a preferred embodiment of the present embodiment, taking each to-be-processed webpage, the processing subunit respectively calculates a product of the N predetermined parameter values, and regards a calculation result as a quality score of the to-be-processed webpage;the processing subunit summates quality scores of the respective to-be-processed webpages, and regards a sum as the confidence score of the triple. According to a preferred embodiment of the present embodiment, the checking unit compares the confidence score with a preset first threshold, and determines that the triple is an accurate triple if the confidence score is larger than the first threshold. According to a preferred embodiment of the present embodiment, the checking unit is further configured to, if the triple is determined as an accurate triple, rank respective to-be-processed webpages in a descending order of quality scores, and select top N′ webpages in the ranking, N′ being a positive integer, further select, from the selected N′ webpages, a webpage whose quality score is greater than a preset second threshold, and regard a finally-selected webpage as a webpage corpus data auxiliary evidence of the triple. A computer device, comprising a memory, a processor and a computer program which is stored on the memory and runnable on the processor, wherein the processor, upon executing the program, implements the above-mentioned method. A computer-readable storage medium on which a computer program is stored, wherein the program, when executed by a processor, implements the aforesaid method. As known from the above introduction, according to the solutions of the present disclosure, it is possible to generate a search query according to a triple to be checked, then obtain webpages of search result corresponding to the query, determine a confidence score of the triple according to the webpages of search result, and determine whether the triple is an accurate triple according to the confidence score. That is to say, in the solutions of the present disclosure, it is possible to achieve efficient check of the triple based on the search result, effectively check the accuracy of the triple, and break away from constraint of limited high-quality websites, and meanwhile substantially reduce manpower and time costs consumed by manual verification and annotation, and expand data coverage of the knowledge map.

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The present invention provides a new method for producing Engineered Heart Muscle (EHM) under chemically fully defined conditions all compatible with GMP regulations. The resulting human myocardium generates force and shows typical heart muscle properties. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Heart disease is the number one cause of death in industrialized countries and its prevalence is expected to rise despite refined pharmacological and interventional treatment. Consequently, novel pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment modalities are inevitably called for. Tissue engineered myocardium can on the one hand be used to identify new drugs or drug targets for the treatment of heart disease (substance screening/target validation) and may on the other hand be directly applied in cardiac repair (regenerative/reparative medicine) (Eschenhagen & Zimmermann Circ Res 97: 1220-1231 (2005); Zimmermann et al. Cardiovasc Res 71: 419-429 (2006)). A main prerequisite of functional engineered myocardium, as of native heart muscle, is the ability to generate force. Several myocardial tissue engineering modalities have been established throughout the past decade. However, reliable force-generation has only been demonstrated using hydrogel-cell-entrapment (Eschenhagen et al. Faseb J 11: 683-694 (1997); Kofidis et al. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 124: 63-69 (2002); Morritt et al. Circulation 115: 353-360 (2007); Zimmermann et al. Biotechnol Bioeng 68: 106-114 (2000); Tulloch et al. Circ Res 109: 47-59 2011)) or cell-sheet technologies (Shimizu et al. Circ Res 90: e40 (2002)). The inventors and others have provided evidence that myocyte entrapment in collagen-hydrogels offer a three-dimensional growth milieu that can on the one hand facilitate assembly of multicellular, anisotropic cardiac muscle and on the other hand support advanced maturation of immature cardiomyocytes (Tiburcy et al. Circ Res 109: 1105-1114 (2011)). Resulting engineered heart muscle (EHM) preparations (formerly described as engineered heart tissue: EHT) ultimately facilitate the formation of contractile myocardial constructs with properties of postnatal heart muscle (Radisic et al.Proc Natl Acad Sci USA101: 18129-18134 (2004); Tiburcy et al.Circ Res109: 1105-1114 (2011); Zimmermann et al.Circ Res90: 223-230 (2002)). Proof-of principle animal studies have shown that after implantation onto diseased hearts EHMs not only electrically integrate but also improve heart function (Zimmermann et al. Nat Med 12: 452-458 (2006)). In principle, the inventors have shown that tissue engineered myocardium may be a novel treatment modality for diseased heart. However, all published cardiac tissue engineering approaches so far rely on the use of undefined animal components, mostly animal matrix (e.g. rat collagen, bovine fibrin, mouse tumor-derived extracellular matrix [Matrigel®]), and animal serum (Tulloch et al. Circ Res 109: 47-59 (2011), Zimmermann et al. Circ Res 90: 223-230 (2002), Zimmermann et al. Nat Med 12: 452-458 (2006), Schaaf et al. PLoS One 6: e26397 (2011); Soong et al. Curr Prot Cell Biol 23.8.1-23.8.21 (2012); WO 01/55297, WO 2007/054286, and WO 2008/058917). In the rat EHM model the inventors have performed first studies to replace animal serum with a serum-free medium. While the inventors were able to achieve a comparable force production in resulting tissues, the inventors could not take out animal components during the initial phase of tissue formation in the first seven days (Naito et al.Circulation114: 172-78 (2006); Zimmermann, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg Eppendorf, Habilitation (2006); Schneiderbanger, Universität Hamburg, Dissertation (2006)). Recently, several serum-free, cytokine-directed protocols for more efficient cardiac differentiations have been described (Burridge et al.Cell Stem Cell10: 16-28 (2012)) yielding cultures containing up to 98% cardiomyocytes (Lian et al.Proc Natl Acad Sci USA(2012)). Importantly, these serum-free differentiation protocols offer potential clinical applicability as defined substances without animal products are utilized. Whilst scaling of human heart cells under GMP conditions appears to be a resolvable caveat, the generation of human force-generating myocardium still remains a challenge. It remains a pivotal issue to support organotypic organization and advanced maturation of ESC-derived myocytes under defined, serum-free culture conditions. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Here, the inventors report a protocol to engineer human myocardium (Human Engineered Heart Muscle: hEHM) using all defined components. These components include a hydrogel matrix, human cells and serum-free culture medium conditions all compatible with GMP regulations. The resulting human myocardium generates force and shows typical heart muscle properties. More specifically, a method for producing engineered heart muscle (EHM) is provided, the method comprising the steps of:i) providing a serum-free reconstitution mixture in one or more moulds, said reconstitution mixture comprising (a) a serum-free minimum essential medium; (b) a serum-free supplement resulting in a final concentration of 0.5-50 mg/ml albumin, 1-100 μg/ml transferrin, 0.1-10 μg/ml ethanol amine, 0.003-0.3 μg/ml sodium selenite, 0.4-40 μg/ml L-Carnitine HCl, 0.1-10 μg/ml Hydrocortisone, 0.05-5 μl/ml Fatty acid supplement, 0.0001-0.1 μg/ml triodo-L-thyronine (T3) and 0.2-2 mg/ml collagen; and (c) a mixture of human cardiac myocytes and human non-myocytes, wherein 20 to 80% of the total cell mixture are cardiac myocytes; wherein the reconstitution mixture has a pH of 7.2 to 7.6;ii) culturing the serum-free reconstitution mixture in said one or more moulds, whereby the serum-free reconstitution mixture is allowed to condense for at least 15 min;iii) culturing the mixture obtained in step (ii) in said one or more moulds in a serum-free EHM culture medium until the mixture condenses to at least 50% of its original thickness, wherein said EHM culture medium comprises (a) a basal medium comprising 0.5-3 mmol/L Ca2+; (b) a serum-free supplement as defined in (i)(b); (c) 0.5-10 mmol/L L-glutamine; (d) 0.01-1.0 mmol/L ascorbic acid; (e) 1-100 ng/ml IGF-1; and (f) 1-10 ng/ml TGFβ1;iv) culturing the mixture obtained in step (iii) under mechanical stretching in a serum-free EHM culture medium as defined in step (iii) (a)-(f), whereby force-generating EHM is formed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS More specifically, the invention provides a method for producing engineered heart muscle (EHM), the method comprising the steps of:(i) providing a serum-free reconstitution mixture in one or more moulds, said reconstitution mixture comprising (a) a serum-free minimum essential medium; (b) a serum-free supplement resulting in a final concentration of 0.5-50 mg/ml albumin (preferably 1-40 mg/ml, more preferably 2-30 mg/ml, still more preferably 3-20 mg/ml, most preferably 4-10 mg/ml, and even most preferably 4.5-7.5 mg/ml such as about 5 mg/ml),1-100 μg/ml transferrin (preferably 2-90 μg/ml, more preferably 3-80 μg/ml, even more preferably 4-70 μg/ml, still more preferably 5-60 μg/ml, more preferably 6-50 μg/ml, more preferably 7-40 μg/ml, more preferably 8-30 μg/ml, more preferably 9-20 μg/ml, such as about 10 μg/ml),0.1-10 μg/ml ethanol amine (preferably 0.2-9 μg/ml, more preferably 0.3-8 μg/ml, even more preferably 0.4-7 μg/ml, still more preferably 0.5-6 μg/ml, more preferably 0.6-5 μg/ml, more preferably 0.7-4 μg/ml, more preferably 0.8-3 μg/ml, more preferably 1-2.5 μg/ml, such as about 2 μg/ml),0.003-0.3 μg/ml sodium selenite (preferably 0.005-0.2 μg/ml, more preferably 0.01-0.1 μg/ml, even more preferably 0.02-0.05 μg/ml, and most preferably about 0.03 μg/ml, such as about 0.032 μg/ml),0.4-40 μg/ml L-Carnitine HCl (preferably 0.5-30 μg/ml, more preferably 1-20 μg/ml, even more preferably 2-10 μg/ml, most preferably 3-5 μg/ml, and even most preferably about 4 μg/ml),0.1-10 μg/ml Hydrocortisone (preferably 0.2-9 μg/ml, more preferably 0.3-8 μg/ml, even more preferably 0.4-7 μg/ml, still more preferably 0.5-6 μg/ml, more preferably 0.6-5 μg/ml, more preferably 0.7-4 μg/ml, more preferably 0.8-3 μg/ml, more preferably 0.9-2 μg/ml, such as about 1 μg/ml),0.05-5 μl/ml Fatty acid supplement (preferably 0.1-4 μl/ml, more preferably 0.2-3 μl/ml, even more preferably 0.3-3 μl/ml, most preferably 0.4-2 μl/ml, and even most preferably 0.45-1 μl/ml, such as about 0.5 μg/ml),0.0001-0.1 μg/ml triodo-L-thyronine (T3) (preferably 0.001-0.01 μg/ml, more preferably 0.002-0.0075 μg/ml, even more preferably 0.003-0.005 μg/ml, and most preferably about 0.004 μg/ml), and0.2-2 mg/ml collagen (preferably 0.3-1.9 mg/ml, more preferably 0.4-1.8 mg/ml, even more preferably 0.4-1.7 mg/ml, still more preferably 0.5-1.6 mg/ml, more preferably 0.6-1.5 mg/ml, more preferably 0.7-1.4 mg/ml, more preferably 0.8-1.3 mg/ml, more preferably 0.9-1.2 mg/ml, such as about 1 mg/ml);and (c) a mixture of human cardiac myocytes and human non-myocytes, wherein 20 to 80% of the total cell mixture are cardiac myocytes;wherein the reconstitution mixture has a pH of 7.0 to 7.8, preferably 7.1 to 7.7, more preferably 7.2 to 7.6, even more preferably 7.3 to 7.5, and most preferably about 7.4;(ii) culturing the serum-free reconstitution mixture in said one or more moulds, whereby the serum-free reconstitution mixture is allowed to condense for at least 15 min, preferably 0.25-3 h, and more preferably for 0.5-1.5 h,(iii) culturing the mixture obtained in step (ii) in said one or more moulds in a serum-free EHM culture medium until the mixture condenses to at least 50% (preferably at least 55%, more preferably at least 60%, even more preferably at least 70%, and most preferably at least 75%) of its original thickness,wherein said EHM culture medium comprises(a) a basal medium comprising 0.5-3 mmol/L Ca2+(preferably 1-2.5 mmol/L, more preferably about 2 mmol/L);(b) a serum-free supplement as defined in (i)(b);(c) 0.5-10 mmol/L L-glutamine (preferably 1-7 mmol/L, more preferably 2-6 mmol/L, even more preferably 3-5 mmol/L, still more preferably about 2 mmol/L);(d) 0.01-1.0 mmol/L ascorbic acid (preferably 0.05-1.0 mmol/L, more preferably 0.1-0.5 mmol/L, even more preferably 0.2-0.4 mmol/L, still more preferably about 0.3 mmol/L);(e) 1-100 ng/ml IGF-1 (preferably 2-90 ng/ml, more preferably 3-80 ng/ml, even more preferably 4-70 ng/ml, still more preferably 5-60 ng/ml, more preferably 6-50 ng/ml, more preferably 7-40 ng/ml, more preferably 8-30 ng/ml, more preferably 9-20 ng/ml, such as about 10 ng/ml); and(f) 1-10 ng/ml TGFβ1 (preferably 1-9 ng/ml, more preferably 2-8 ng/ml, even more preferably 3-7 ng/ml, most preferably 4-6 ng/ml, and even most preferably about 5 ng/ml);(iv) culturing the mixture obtained in step (iii) under mechanical stretching in a serum-free EHM culture medium as defined in step (iii) (a)-(f), whereby force-generating EHM is formed. The minimum essential medium in step (i) may be selected from Iscove's medium, αMEM, DMEM, and RPMI. In a preferred embodiment, the basal medium is Iscove's medium or αMEM. In a more preferred embodiment, the basal medium is Iscove's medium. However any suitable minimal medium may be used in the method. Recipes of suitable minimum essential mediums are provided herein or are publicly available, e.g. from catalogues of the ATCC. Preferably, the serum-free supplement of step (i) further comprises one or more components selected from the group consisting of vitamin A, D-galactose, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, progesterone, and putrescine. These components are conducive for the viability of the cells. Suitable concentrations of the respective components are known to the skilled person or can be easily determined using routine measures. For the serum-free supplement referred to in component (b) of step (i), commercially available B27® supplement or B27® supplement minus insulin can be used. Alternatively, the custom made supplement as shown in Table 2 below can be used. In a preferred embodiment, the B27® supplement or B27® supplement minus insulin used as component (b) of step (i) of the above method is applied in an amount of 2-6% (v/v). More preferably, the B27® supplement or B27® supplement minus insulin used as component (b) of step (i) of the above method is applied in an amount of 4% (v/v). Further, said reconstitution mixture of step (i) preferably comprises 0.3-0.5 mg collagen per 1.5×106cardiac myocyte and non-myocyte cell mixtures. More preferably, said reconstitution mixture of step (i) comprises about 0.4 mg collagen per 1.5×106cardiac myocyte and non-myocyte cell mixtures. The collagen in component (c) of the reconstitution mixture of step (i) is preferably of medical grade and selected from the group consisting of collagen type I, collagen type III, collagen type V, and a mixture thereof. In a more preferred embodiment, component (c) of the reconstitution mixture of step (i) comprises at least 90% of said collagen is collagen type I. However, said collagen may also further comprises one or more extracellular matrix components selected from the group consisting of elastin, laminin, entactin, nidogen, proteoglycan, and fibronectin. Usually, the exact composition of the collagen will depend on the origin, from where it is derived from. The collagen is preferably of human origin, but bovine origin, or marine origin, such as from algae or fish origin, is also contemplated. The development of functional (i.e force-generating), defined, serum-free human tissue engineered myocardium for potential regenerative heart therapy requires a number of hurdles to be overcome. Of paramount importance is a reliable source of human heart cells. To date, human pluripotent stem cells have emerged as the major source of human heart cell. Pluripotent stem cells are able to differentiate into every cell type of the body. As such, human pluripotent stem cells offer the unique opportunity to obtain bona fide human heart cells. Currently, the most utilized pluripotent cells are embryonic stem cells (ESC) or induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC). Human ESC-lines were first established by Thomson and coworkers (Thomson et al. Science 282: 1145-1147 (1998); incorporated herein in its entirety by reference). Human ESC research recently enabled the development of a new technology to reprogram cells of the body into a ES-like cell. This technology was pioneered by Yamanaka and coworkers in 2006 (Takahashi & Yamanaka Cell 126: 663-676 (2006); incorporated herein in its entirety by reference). Resulting induced pluripotent cells (iPSC) show a very similar behavior as ESC and, importantly, are also able to differentiate into every cell of the body. Cardiac differentiation of ESCs and iPSCs occurs in embryoid body (Schroeder et al. Biotechnol Bioeng 92: 920-933 (2005); incorporated herein in its entirety by reference) cultures as a more or less stochastic event yielding cell populations containing 5-20% bona fide cardiomyocytes (Kehat et al.J Clin Invest108: 407-414 (2001); Mummery et al.Circulation107: 2733-2740 (2003); Xu et al.Circ Res91: 501-508 (2002); all incorporated herein by reference). Moreover, it was reported that also parthenogenetic stem cells are likely to be suitable for EHM-production (Didié et al. J Clin Invest. doi:10.1172/JCI66584; incorporated herein in its entirety by reference). Accordingly, in a preferred embodiment, the cardiac myocytes are human cardiac myocytes. Preferably, said cardiac myocytes are derived from embryonic stem cells, wherein the cell is not produced using a process which involves modifying the germ line genetic identity of human beings or which involves use of a human embryo for industrial or commercial purposes. In an alternative embodiment, the cardiac myocytes are derived from induced pluripotent cells, parthogenetic stem cells, or adult stem cells, as described above. Recently, several serum-free, cytokine-directed protocols for more efficient cardiac differentiations have been described (Burridge et al.Cell Stem Cell10: 16-28 (2012); incorporated herein in its entirety by reference) yielding cultures containing up to 98% cardiomyocytes (Lian et al.Proc Natl Acad Sci USA(2012); incorporated herein in its entirety by reference). Accordingly, in another preferred embodiment, the cardiac myocytes can be obtained by serum-free differentiation. On the other hand, the cardiac myocytes may also be derived from non-human primate stem cells, fetal or neonatal cardiac myocytes. It has been demonstrated that it is advantageous to provide the cardiac myocytes in admixture with cells of one or more class of cells selected from the group of non-myocytes such as fibroblasts, endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, and mesenchymal stem cells. Hence, preferably the cardiac myocytes admixture contains 20-80% cardiac myocytes, more preferably 30-70% cardiac myocytes, even more preferably 40-60% cardiac myocytes, and most preferably about 50% cardiac myocytes, wherein the non-myocytes are fibroblasts or endothelial cells. Indeed, it is a particularly preferred embodiment that the non-myocytes are fibroblasts. Suitable non-myocytes may be identified by expression of e.g. the CD90 surface marker. Suitable cells can be identified, for example, using techniques such as immune staining or fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS). EHMs resulting from such an admixture usually generate a higher force. Preferably, the cardiac myocytes are provided in step (i) in a cell concentration of at least 2.7-20×106per ml. However, in a more preferred embodiment, the cardiac myocytes are provided in step (i) in a cell concentration of at least 2.9-10×106per ml, even more preferably in a cell concentration of at least 3.1-5×106per ml, and in a most preferred embodiment in a cell concentration of at least 3.3-3.4×106per ml. The mould referred to in the method may have any suitable form allowing incorporation of the EHM in a host in need thereof. However, in a preferred embodiment, the mould is ring-, multiangular-, disc- or pouch-shaped. Cell culturing is carried out using common procedures and equipment generally known in the art. Usually, culturing conditions comprise a temperature in the range of 30-40° C., preferably 36-38° C., and most preferably at about 37° C., using a humidified cell culture incubator in the presence of 5-10% CO2. For the serum-free supplement referred to in component (b) of step (iii), commercially available B27® supplement or B27® supplement minus insulin can be used. Alternatively, the custom made supplement as shown in Table 2 below can be used. In a preferred embodiment, the B27® supplement or B27® supplement minus insulin used as component (b) of step (iii) of the above method is applied in an amount of 2-6% (v/v). More preferably, the B27® supplement or B27® supplement minus insulin used as component (b) of step (i) of the above method is applied in an amount of 4% (v/v). In addition, the serum-free supplement of step (iii) may further comprise one or more components selected from the group consisting of vitamin A, D-galactose, L-carnitine, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, progesterone, and putrescine. As noted above, these components are conducive for the viability of the cells. Suitable concentrations of the respective components are known to the skilled person or can be easily determined using routine measures. The basal medium comprised in said EHM culture medium in step (iii) may be selected from Iscove's medium, αMEM, DMEM, and RPMI. Since RPMI usually has a lower concentration of calcium, it may be necessary to supplement the RPMI basal medium accordingly. If deemed appropriate, the basal medium may be supplemented with non-essential amino acids. If αMEM is used as the basal medium, the EHM culture medium need not be supplemented additionally with non-essential amino acids. The non-essential amino acids are commercially available as a combined supplement. Such a supplement for example comprises 750 mg/L glycine, 890 mg/L L-alanine, 1320 mg/L L-asparagine, 1330 mg/L L-aspartic acid, 1470 mg/L L-glutamic acid, 1150 mg/L L-proline, and 1050 mg/L L-serine. In a preferred embodiment, the basal medium comprised in said EHM culture medium in step (iii) is Iscove's medium or αMEM. In a more preferred embodiment, the basal medium comprised in said EHM culture medium in step (iii) is Iscove's medium. However any basal medium may be used in the method. Recipes of suitable minimum essential mediums are provided herein or are publicly available, e.g. from catalogues of the ATCC. As demonstrated in the Examples below, the serum-free EHM culture medium advantageously further comprises VEGF, FGF, or both VEGF and FGF. Addition of VEGF and/or FGF has been shown to result in EHM exhibiting a higher force. Typically, VEGF is added in a concentration of about 5-20 ng/ml VEGF, preferably 6-18 ng/ml, more preferably 7-16 ng/ml, even more preferably 8-14 ng/ml, most preferably 9-12 ng/ml, and even most preferably in a concentration of about 10 ng/ml. FGF is added in a concentration of about 5-20 ng/ml FGF, preferably 6-18 ng/ml, more preferably 7-16 ng/ml, even more preferably 8-14 ng/ml, most preferably 9-12 ng/ml, and even most preferably in a concentration of about 10 ng/ml. In principle, any type of VEGF, FGF, IGF1 and TGFβ1 can be used, as long as these growth factors are capable of signalling via their corresponding receptors on the cell surface of the cardiac myocytes of the EHM. However, in a preferred embodiment the VEGF is human VEGF. In another preferred embodiment, the FGF is human FGF. In still another preferred embodiment IGF1 is human IGF1. In still another embodiment, the TGFβ1 is human TGFβ1. In a most preferred embodiment, all of VEGF, FGF, IGF1, and TGFβ1 are human. Usually, culturing in step (iii) is carried out for at least 3 days, preferably for about 3 to about 7 days. In principal, the further culturing in step (iv) may be carried out for any suitable period of time. However, usually, the further culturing in step (iv) is carried out for a period of at least 3-60 days, preferably for 4-30 days, more preferably for 5-20 days. In a most preferred embodiment, the further culturing is carried out for 7 days, since this time period represents an optimal balance of a preferably short culturing time and a time period which is sufficient to result in force-generating EHMs. Usually, step (iv) of the above method is carried out on a stretch device, as generally known in the art. Preferably, the stretch device applies a static, phasic or dynamic stretch to the EHM. More specifically, mechanical stretching can be (i) static, (ii) dynamic, or (iii) flexible against a resilient load. As will be further demonstrate below, the EHM produced by the above method generates more than 0.01 mN force upon induction with 3 mM calcium as determined using the method described in Zimmermann et al. Circ. Res. 90, 223-230 (2002), preferably more than 0.1 mN force, more preferably more than 0.2 mN force, and most preferably more than 0.3 mN force upon induction with 3 mM calcium as determined using the method described in Zimmermann et al. Circ. Res. 90, 223-230 (2002). Another detailed prior art protocol which is suitable to serve as a basis for the improved method disclosed herein is described by Soong et al. Curr Prot Cell Biol. 55: 23.8.1-23.8.21 (2012), which is incorporated herewith in its entirety, and in particular reference is made to the “Basic Protocol 2”, and the “Support Protocol 2”. TABLE 1Comparison of protocols for human EHM generation.Serum-freeComponentBasic protocolMatrix protocolprotocolMatrixRat tailMedical gradeMedical gradecollagen Ibovine collagenbovine collagen(0.4 mg/EHM)(0.4 mg/EHM)(0.4 mg/EHM)Matrigel(10% v/v)Concentrated2x DMEM2x DMEM2x DMEMmedium (2x)20% horse erum40% FBS8% B27 or 8% B27minus insulin orcustom made serumsupplement (2x)4% chickembryo extract200 U/ml200 U/ml200 U/mlPenicillinPenicillinPenicillin200 mg/ml200 mg/ml200 mg/mlStreptomycinStreptomycinStreptomycinCultureIscove'sIscove'sBasal mediummedium(Iscove's, aMEM, RPMI)comprising 1-2 mmol/L Ca2+20% FBS20% FBS4% B27 or 4%B27 minusinsulin orcustom madeserum supplement1% non-1% non-1% non-essentialessentialessentialamino acids,omit ifamino acidsamino acidsaMEM2 mmol/L2 mmol/L2 mmol/LL-glutamineL-glutamineL-glutamine,omit if aMEMor if RPMI0.3 mmol/L a0.3 mmol/L0.3 mmol/Lscorbic acidascorbic acidascorbic acid,omit if aMEM100 μmol/l β-100 μmol/l β-0.05% Fattymercaptoethanolmercaptoethanolacids supplement20ng/ml IGF10ng/ml VEGF10ng/ml FGF5ng/ml TGFblday 0-3100 U/ml100 U/ml100 U/mlPenicillinPenicillinPenicillin100 mg/ml100 mg/ml100 mg/mlStreptomycinStreptomycinStreptomycin TABLE 2Custom-made supplement to replace B27.FinalSubstanceconcentration25xSupplierAlbumin5mg/ml125mg/mlSigma, A9511Transferrin10μg/ml250μg/mlSigma, T0665EthanolamineHCl2μg/ml50μg/mlSigma, E6133Sodium selenite0.032μg/ml0.8μg/mlSigma, S5361L-CarnitineHCl4μg/ml100μg/mlSigma, C0283Hydrocortisone1μg/ml25μg/mlSigma, H2270Fatty acid0.5μl/ml12.5μl/mlSigma, F7050supplementTriiodo-L-thyronine0.004μg/ml0.1μg/mlSigma, T 6397Prepare 25x in cell culture-qualified water TABLE 3Iscove's basa medium formulation without glutamine (Biochrom).SubstanceConcentration (mg/l)NaCI4505KCI330NaH2PO4125MgSO4•7H2O200CaCI2•2H2O218,6KNO30.076Na2SeO30.0173D-glucose4500HEPES5958NaHCO33024Phenol red15Na-pyruvate110L-arginine•HCI84L-histidine•HCI•H2O42Glycine30L-isoleucine105L-lysine•HCI146L-methionine30L-phenylalanine66L-leucine105L-threonine95L-tryptophane16L-tyrosine•2Na104.2L-serine42L-valine94L-cystine70L-asparagine25L-aspartic acid30L-alanine25L-glutamic acid75L-proline40Biotin0.013Vitamin B120.013Nicotin acid amide4Cholin chloride4D-Ca-pantothenate4Pyridoxal•HCI4Thiamine•HCI4Riboflavin0.4Folic acid4Myo-inositol7.2 TABLE 4RPMI basal medium (Invitrogen, )MolecularConcentrationComponentsWeight(mg/L)AminoAcidsGlycine7510L-Alanyl-Glutamine217446L-Arginine174200L-Asparagine13250L-Aspartic acid13320L-Cystine24050L-Glutamic Acid14720L-Histidine15515L-Hydroxyproline13120L-Isoleucine13150L-Leucine13150L-Lysine hydrochloride18340L-Methionine14915L-Phenylalanine16515L-Proline11520L-Serine10530L-Threonine11920L-Tryptophan2045L-Tyrosine18120L-Valine11720VitaminsBiotin2440.2Choline chloride1403D-Calcium pantothenate4770.25Folic Acid4411Niacinamide1221Para-Aminobenzoic Acid1371Pyridoxine hydrochloride2061Riboflavin3760.2Thiamine hydrochloride3371Vitamin B1213550.005i-Inositol18035InorganicSaltsCalcium nitrate236100(Ca(NO3)24H2O)Magnesium Sulfate246100(MgSO4—7H2O)Potassium Chloride (KCl)75400Sodium Bicarbonate (NaHCO3)842000Sodium Chloride (NaCl)586000Sodium Phosphate dibasic142800(Na2HPO4) anhydrousOther ComponentsD-Glucose (Dextrose)1802000Glutathione (reduced)3071Phenol Red376.45 TABLE 5αMEM basal medium formulation (Invitrogen).MolecularConcentrationComponentsWeight(mg/L)AminoAcidsGlycine7550L-Alanine8925L-Alanyl-L-Glutamine203406L-Arginine211105L-Asparagine-H2O13250L-Aspartic acid13330L-Cysteine hydrochloride158100L-Cystine24024L-Glutamic Acid14775L-Histidine15531L-Isoleucine13152.4L-Leucine13152.4L-Lysine14658L-Methionine14915L-Phenylalanine16532L-Proline11540L-Serine10525L-Threonine1194L-Tryptophan20410L-Tyrosine18136L-Valine11746VitaminsAscorbic Acid17650Biotin2440.1Choline chloride1401D-Calcium pantothenate4771Folic Acid4411Niacinamide1221Pyridoxal hydrochloride2041Riboflavin3760.1Thiamine hydrochloride3371Vitamin B1213551.36i-Inositol1802InorganicSaltsCalcium chloride147264(CaCl2—2H2O)Magnesium Sulfate246200(MgSO4—7H2O)Potassium Chloride (KCl)75400Sodium Bicarbonate (NaHCOa)842200Sodium Chloride (NaCl)586800Sodium Phosphate monobasic156158(Na2HPO4—2H2O)Other ComponentsD-Glucose (Dextrose)1801000Lipoic Acid2060.2Phenol Red376.410Sodium Pyruvate110110 TABLE 6Serum-free, defined medium for EHM generation.SubstanceConcentrationSupplierIscove'sBiochrom, F0465B27 supplement or4%Invitrogen, 17504044B27 supplement minusor 0050129SAinsulin or custom-made supplementNon-essential amino1%Invitrogen, 11140035acidsL-Glutamine2mmol/LInvitrogen 25030-081Penicillin/100 U/ml/100 mg/mlInvitrogen, 15070-063StreptomycinAscorbic acid0.3mmol/LSigma, A8960hFGF10ng/mlPeprotech, AF-100-18BhIGF20ng/mlPeprotech, AF-100-11hVEGF10ng/mlPeprotech, AF-100-20hTGF-β1, day 0-35ng/mlPeprotech, 100-21Bovine collagen, acid0.8mg/mlDevros Medicalsoluble DM6 TABLE 7Alternative serum-free, defined medium for EHM generation.SubstanceConcentrationSupplierαMEMInvitrogen, 32561-029B27 supplement or4%Invitrogen, 17504044B27 supplement minusor 0050129SAinsulin or custom-made supplementPenicillin/100 U/ml/100 mg/mlInvitrogen, 15070-063StreptomycinhFGF10ng/mlPeprotech, AF-100-18BhIGF20ng/mlPeprotech, AF-100-11hVEGF10ng/mlPeprotech, AF-100-20hTGF-β1, day 0-35ng/mlPeprotech, 100-21Bovine collagen,0.8mg/mlDevros Medicalacid solubleDM6 The invention is further described by the following embodiments:1. A method for producing engineered heart muscle (EHM), the method comprising the steps of:(i) providing a serum-free reconstitution mixture in one or more moulds, said reconstitution mixture comprising (a) a serum-free minimum essential medium; (b) a serum-free supplement resulting in a final concentration of 0.5-50 mg/ml albumin, 1-100 μg/ml transferrin, 0.1-10 μg/ml ethanol amine, 0.003-0.3 μg/ml sodium selenite, 0.4-40 μg/ml L-Carnitine HCl, 0.1-10 μg/ml Hydrocortisone, 0.05-5 μl/ml Fatty acid supplement, 0.0001-0.1 μg/ml triodo-L-thyronine (T3) and 0.2-2 mg/ml collagen; and (c) a mixture of human cardiac myocytes and human non-myocytes, wherein 20 to 80% of the total cell mixture are cardiac myocytes; wherein the reconstitution mixture has a pH of 7.2 to 7.6;(ii) culturing the serum-free reconstitution mixture in said one or more moulds, whereby the serum-free reconstitution mixture is allowed to condense for at least 15 min;(iii) culturing the mixture obtained in step (ii) in said one or more moulds in a serum-free EHM culture medium until the mixture condenses to at least 50% of its original thickness, wherein said EHM culture medium comprises (a) a basal medium comprising 0.5-3 mmol/L Ca2+; (b) a serum-free supplement as defined in (i)(b); (c) 0.5-10 mmol/L L-glutamine; (d) 0.01-1.0 mmol/L ascorbic acid; (e) 1-100 ng/ml IGF-1; and (f) 1-10 ng/ml TGFβ1;(iv) culturing the mixture obtained in step (iii) under mechanical stretching in a serum-free EHM culture medium as defined in step (iii) (a)-(f), whereby force-generating EHM is formed.2 The method of embodiment 1, wherein the minimum essential medium in step (i) is selected from Iscove's medium, αMEM, DMEM, and RPMI.3 The method of embodiment 2, wherein the basal medium is Iscove's medium or αMEM.4 The method of embodiment 2, wherein the basal medium is Iscove's medium.5 The method of any one of embodiment 1-4, wherein the serum-free supplement of step (i) further comprises one or more components selected from the group consisting of vitamin A, D-galactose, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, progesterone, and putrescine.6 The method of any one of embodiment 1-5, wherein the serum-free supplement in component (b) of step (i) is B27® supplement or B27® supplement minus insulin.7 The method of embodiment 6, wherein the serum-free supplement in component (b) of step (i) is 2-6% (v/v) B27® supplement or B27® supplement minus insulin.8 The method of embodiment 6, wherein the serum-free supplement in component (b) of step (i) is 4% (v/v) B27® supplement or B27® supplement minus insulin.9 The method of any one of embodiment 1-8, wherein said reconstitution mixture of step (i) comprises 0.3-0.5 mg collagen per 1.5×106cardiac myocyte and non-myocyte cell mixtures.10 The method of embodiment 9, wherein said reconstitution mixture of step (i) comprises about 0.4 mg collagen per 1.5×106cardiac myocyte and non-myocyte cell mixtures.11 The method of any one of embodiment 1-10, wherein in component (c) of the reconstitution mixture of step (i) said collagen is selected from the group consisting of collagen type I, collagen type III, collagen type V, and a mixture thereof.12 The method of any one of embodiment 1-11, wherein in component (c) of the reconstitution mixture of step (i) at least 90% of said collagen is collagen type I.13 The method of any one of embodiment 1-12, wherein in component (c) of the reconstitution mixture of step (i) said collagen is of medical grade.14 The method of any one of embodiment 1-13, wherein in component (c) of the reconstitution mixture of step (i) said collagen is of human origin, bovine origin, or marine origin.15 The method of any one of embodiment 1-14, wherein in component (c) of the reconstitution mixture of step (i) said collagen further comprises one or more extracellular matrix components selected from the group consisting of elastin, laminin, entactin, nidogen, proteoglycan, and fibronectin.16 The method of any one of embodiment 1-15, wherein the reconstitution mixture of step (i) has a pH of 7 to 7.8.17 The method of embodiment 13, wherein the reconstitution mixture of step (i) has a pH of about 7.4.18 The method of any one of embodiment 1-17, wherein the cardiac myocytes are human cardiac myocytes.19 The method of any one of embodiment 1-18, wherein the cardiac myocytes are derived from embryonic stem cells, wherein the cell is not produced using a process which involves modifying the germ line genetic identity of human beings or which involves use of a human embryo for industrial or commercial purposes.20 The method of any one of embodiment 1-19, wherein the cardiac myocytes are derived from induced pluripotent cells, parthogenetic stem cells, or adult stem cells.21 The method of any one of embodiment 1-20, wherein the cardiac myocytes are obtained by serum-free differentiation.22 The method of any one of embodiment 1-21, wherein the cardiac myocytes are non-human primate stem cell-derived, fetal or neonatal cardiac myocytes.23 The method of any one of embodiment 1-22, wherein the cardiac myocytes are provided in admixture with cells of one or more class of cells selected from the group of non-myocytes such as fibroblasts, endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, and mesenchymal stem cells.24 The method of embodiment 23, wherein the cardiac myocytes admixture contains 20-80% cardiac myocytes.25 The method of embodiment 23, wherein the cardiac myocytes admixture contains 30-70% cardiac myocytes.26 The method of embodiment 23, wherein the cardiac myocytes admixture contains 40-60% cardiac myocytes.27 The method of embodiment 23, wherein the cardiac myocytes admixture contains 50% cardiac myocytes.28 The method of any one of embodiment 1-27, wherein the non-myocytes are fibroblasts or endothelial cells.29 The method of any one of embodiment 1-28, wherein the non-myocytes are fibroblasts.30 The method of any one of embodiment 1-29, wherein the non-myocytes express CD90.31 The method of any one of embodiment 1-30, wherein the cardiac myocytes are provided in step (i) in a cell concentration of at least 2.7-20×106per ml.32 The method of embodiment 31, wherein the cardiac myocytes are provided in step (i) in a cell concentration of at least 2.9-10×106per ml.33 The method of embodiment 31, wherein the cardiac myocytes are provided in step (i) in a cell concentration of at least 3.1-5×106per ml.34 The method of embodiment 31, wherein the cardiac myocytes are provided in step (i) in a cell concentration of at least 3.3-3.4×106per ml.35 The method of any one of embodiment 1-34, wherein in step (ii) the mould is ring-, multiangular-, disc- or pouch-shaped.36 The method of any one of embodiment 1-35, wherein culturing in step (ii) is carried out for 0.25-3 h.37 The method of embodiment 36, wherein culturing in step (ii) is carried out for 0.5-1.5 h.38 The method of any one of embodiment 1-37, wherein culturing is carried out at a temperature range of 30-40° C.39 The method of embodiment 38, wherein culturing is carried out at a temperature range of 36-38° C.40 The method of embodiment 39, wherein culturing is carried out at about 37° C.41 The method of any one of embodiment 1-40, wherein culturing is carried out in a humidified cell culture incubator in the presence of 5-10% CO2.42 The method of any one of embodiment 1-41, wherein the serum-free supplement in component (b) of step (iii) is B27® supplement or B27® supplement minus insulin.43 The method of embodiment 42, wherein the serum-free supplement in component (b) of step (iii) is 2-6% (v/v) B27® supplement or B27® supplement minus insulin.44 The method of embodiment 43, wherein the serum-free supplement in component (b) of step (iii) is 4% (v/v) B27® supplement or B27® supplement minus insulin.45 The method of any one of embodiment 1-44, wherein said serum-free supplement of step (iii) further comprises one or more components selected from the group consisting of vitamin A, D-galactose, L-carnitine, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, progesterone, and putrescine.46 The method of any one of embodiment 1-45, wherein the basal medium comprised in said EHM culture medium in step (iii) is selected from Iscove's medium, αMEM, DMEM, and RPMI.47 The method of embodiment 46, wherein the basal medium is Iscove's medium or αMEM.48 The method of embodiment 47, wherein the basal medium is Iscove's medium.49 The method of any one of embodiment 1-48, wherein the serum-free EHM culture medium comprises about 20 ng/ml IGF1.50 The method of any one of embodiment 1-49, wherein the IGF1 is human IGF1.51 The method of any one of embodiment 1-50, wherein the serum-free EHM culture medium comprises about 5 ng/ml TGFβ1.52 The method of any one of embodiment 1-51, wherein the TGFβ1 is human TGFβ1.53 The method of any one of embodiment 1-52, wherein the serum-free EHM culture medium further comprises VEGF, FGF, or both VEGF and FGF.54 The method of any one of embodiment 1-53, wherein the VEGF is human VEGF.55 The method of any one of embodiment 1-54, wherein the FGF is human FGF.56 The method of embodiment 53, wherein the serum-free EHM culture medium comprises about 5-20 ng/ml VEGF.57 The method of embodiment 56, wherein the serum-free EHM culture medium comprises about 10 ng/ml VEGF.58 The method of embodiment 53, wherein the serum-free EHM culture medium comprises about 5-20 ng/ml FGF.59 The method of embodiment 58, wherein the serum-free EHM culture medium comprises about 10 ng/ml FGF.60 The method of any one of embodiment 1-59, wherein the serum-free EHM culture medium in step (iii) additionally comprises 750 mg/L glycine, 890 mg/L L-alanine, 1320 mg/L L-asparagine, 1330 mg/L L-aspartic acid, 1470 mg/L L-glutamic acid, 1150 mg/L L-proline, and 1050 mg/L L-serine.61 The method of any one of embodiment 1-60, wherein culturing in step (iii) is carried out for at least 3 days.62 The method of embodiment 61, wherein culturing in step (iii) is carried out for about 3 to about 7 days.63 The method of any one of embodiment 1-62, wherein the culturing in step (iv) is carried out for a period of at least 3-60 days.64 The method of embodiment 63, wherein the further culturing is carried out for 4-30 days.65 The method of embodiment 63, wherein the further culturing is carried out for 5-20 days.66 The method of embodiment 63, wherein the further culturing is carried out for 6-10 days.67 The method of embodiment 63, wherein the further culturing is carried out for 7 days.68 The method of any one of embodiment 1-67, wherein step (iv) is carried out on a stretch device.69 The method of embodiment 68, wherein the stretch device applies a static, phasic or dynamic stretch.70 The method of any one of embodiment 1-69, wherein said EHM generates more than 0.01 mN force upon induction with 3 mM calcium as determined using the method described in Zimmermann et al. Circ. Res. 90, 223-230 (2002).71 The method of embodiment 70, wherein said EHM generates more than 0.1 mN force upon induction with 3 mM calcium as determined using the method described in Zimmermann et al. Circ. Res. 90, 223-230 (2002).72 The method of embodiment 70, wherein said EHM generates more than 0.2 mN force upon induction with 3 mM calcium as determined using the method described in Zimmermann et al. Circ. Res. 90, 223-230 (2002).73 The method of embodiment 70, wherein said EHM generates more than 0.3 mN force upon induction with 3 mM calcium as determined using the method described in Zimmermann et al. Circ. Res. 90, 223-230 (2002).

11533234

BACKGROUND 1. Field The present disclosure relates generally to infrastructure scheduling for distributed applications and, more specifically, to autonomous distributed workload and infrastructure scheduling for distributed applications. 2. Description of the Related Art Data centers are often used to house and interconnect large collections of computing devices, like servers, databases, load balancers, and high-performance computing clusters. Generally, data centers are complex facilities whose primary function is providing resources needed to execute workload computing tasks. In many cases, these workload computing tasks are tasks of distributed applications that execute in the data center. Often, a given data center executes a diverse mix of different distributed applications (or parts thereof) for multiple tenants (e.g., different entities using the data center), in some cases, on a diverse mix of different computing devices connected to one another on a data center's private network. In many cases, these tasks are executed within various types of computational entities executing on the computing devices of a data center, such as micro-kernels, containers, virtual machines, or non-virtualized operating systems. In many cases, the size and mix of tasks varies over time, causing utilization of computing resources to fluctuate, and in many cases, different types of tasks are more time sensitive than others, e.g., those serving end-user transactions versus batch analyses. SUMMARY The following is a non-exhaustive listing of some aspects of the present techniques. These and other aspects are described in the following disclosure. Some aspects include a process, including: allocating, with one or more processors, resources in, or added to, a compute-cluster with a compute-cluster manager, the resources including usage of a plurality of computing nodes in, or added to, the compute-cluster to execute one or more distributed workload applications, the workload applications being configured to be executed on a plurality of different computing nodes of the compute-cluster; obtaining, with one or more processors, physical telemetry data of each of the plurality of computing nodes, the physical telemetry data indicating attributes of a physical environment in which the respective computing node executes and being distinct from logical telemetry data indicative of logical attributes of computing nodes accessible via a respective operating system within which at least some of the computing nodes execute; accessing, with one or more processors, a policy that indicates how to allocate compute-cluster resources based on physical telemetry data, logical telemetry data, and workload; and allocating, with one or more processors, additional resources of, or added to, the compute-cluster to at least one of the distributed workload applications with the compute-cluster manager based on both the policy and the physical telemetry data, wherein the computer-cluster manager is configured to allocate resources to cause workloads to be scheduled based on amounts of computing resources needed to execute workloads, logical telemetry data of computing nodes, and physical telemetry data of computing nodes in accordance with one or more policies. Some aspects include a tangible, non-transitory, machine-readable medium storing instructions that when executed by a data processing apparatus cause the data processing apparatus to perform operations including the above-mentioned process. Some aspects include a system, including: one or more processors; and memory storing instructions that when executed by the processors cause the processors to effectuate operations of the above-mentioned process.

11385091

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Disclosure The present invention relates in general to cargo or lading measurements and, in particular, to a system, method and apparatus for lading level measurement in a rail car. Description of the Prior Art There are many ways to measure cargo or lading levels in a rail car. For example, for a rail car fuel tank (such as a cryogenic tank), lading measurement techniques include hydrostatic methods, capacitance methods, lasers, radars and other means. One current method used in the railroad industry to measure the fluid level in liquid natural gas (LNG) fuel tender rail cars is by differential pressure measurements. In a differential pressure measurement system, a sensor compares the vapor pressure at the top of the tank to the liquid pressure at the bottom of the tank. While this works well for stationary tanks, it does not work well for moving tanks, such as those on railroad tank cars and railroad fuel tenders. Among other things, field observations have shown that product sloshing and other factors may change a fluid level reading by 20% or more. Additional factors that also may be considered in measuring cryogenic fluid levels within a moving tank include the cost of cryogenic-rated transducers, labor costs, the difficulty of vessel modifications, risks with flammable vapors, etc. Thus, improvements in cargo or lading level measurement in rail cars continue to be of interest. SUMMARY Embodiments of a system, method and apparatus for lading level measurement in a rail car are disclosed. For example, a railroad vehicle includes a truck having wheels configured to engage a railroad track. A bolster is supported by the truck and a vessel is supported by the bolster and configured to store a lading. A measurement system is included for measuring a level of the lading within the vessel. The measurement system has strain gauges mounted directly to the bolster and in physical, intimate contact with the bolster. The strain gauges are disposed at selected points on the bolster and configured to sense at least one of lateral and longitudinal strain experienced by the bolster during motion of the railroad vehicle and generate signals in response thereto. A controller is included for calculating the level of the lading within the vessel. The controller is configured to compensate for changes in the level of the lading during motion of the railroad vehicle in response to the signals generated by the strain gauges. Another embodiment of a railroad vehicle has a pair of trucks, each having wheels configured to engage a railroad track and a bolster supported by a respective one of the trucks. A vessel is supported by the bolsters and configured to store a lading. A measurement system measures a level of the lading within the vessel. The measurement system has gauges mounted to both of the bolsters. The gauges are disposed at selected points on the bolster and configured to sense at least one of lateral and longitudinal localized displacement experienced by the bolsters during motion of the railroad vehicle and generate signals in response thereto. An embodiment of a method of measuring a weight of a lading in a railroad vehicle includes providing a railroad vehicle having a pair of trucks, each truck having wheels engaging a railroad track and a bolster supported by a respective one of the trucks. The method further includes measuring a level of the lading within the vessel by sensing at least one of lateral and longitudinal localized displacement of both of the bolsters during motion of the railroad vehicle and generating signals in response thereto. In addition, the method calculates the level of the lading within the vessel by compensating for changes in the level of the lading during motion of the railroad vehicle. The foregoing and other objects and advantages of these embodiments will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the appended claims and the accompanying drawings.

11371722

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a U.S. national stage application of PCT/JP2016/069342 filed on Jun. 29, 2016, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to a hot-water supply system, a water heater, and a control method for a water heater. BACKGROUND ART Technology using natural energy as typified by solar energy and wind energy is attracting attention in recent years, and with an increasing frequency, power-consuming households own power generators that generate power front the natural energy. Such a power-consuming household can consume the power generated by the power generator, and can supply surplus power to a commercial electrical power grid and sell the surplus power to an electric utility operator. Thus, the power-consuming household can decrease the power purchases from the commercial electrical power grid and can obtain an economic benefit. However, a supply-demand imbalance may occur in the commercial electrical power grid due to the reverse flow supplying power back to the commercial electrical power grid from the power generator of the power-consuming household. For example, when the weather is clear on a non-workday, the demand for power from the commercial electrical power grid decreases, and also the power supplied to the commercial electrical power grid from the power generator of the power-consuming household increases. Thus, in order to maintain the supply-demand balance of the commercial electrical power grid, electric utility operators are promoting the maintaining of a system for prior designation of time periods to the power-consuming household for suppressing the reverse flow of power. For example, the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy of Japan in 2014 announced rules for control of the output from photovoltaic power generation. These output control rules are for adjusting the output of power generated by a power generator, thereby suppressing the sale of power from the power-consuming household to the commercial electrical power grid. Further, technology is proposed for consuming the generated power as much as possible by the power-consuming household and decreasing the reverse flow of power. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses technology for forecasting a time period when much of the reverse flow of power occurs, and in the forecasted time period, causing operation of a heat pump-type water heater device equipped with a hot-water storage tank. Power consumption by the water heater equipped with the hot-water storage tank is generally high, and thus the technology disclosed in Patent Literature 1 can effectively decrease the reverse flow of power. CITATION LIST Patent Literature Patent Literature 1: International Publication No. WO 2012/090365 SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem The technology disclosed in Patent Literature 1 effectively uses power by causing operation of the water heater, and thus can decrease the reverse flow of power. However, there is a demand for causing more efficient operation of the water heater to further increase utilization efficiency of power. In order to solve the above described problem, an objective of the present disclosure is to provide a hot-water supply system and the like capable of improving utilization efficiency of power. Solution to Problem In order to attain the aforementioned objective, a hot-water supply system for heating up water by power generated by power generation means according to the present disclosure includes: a compressor configured to compress refrigerant and circulate the refrigerant through a refrigerant circuit; and water heating means for heating up water by changing, in accordance with the generated power, a rotation rate of an electric motor for driving the compressor. Advantageous Effects of Invention According to the present disclosure, in a hot-water supply system that heats water by the generated power of the power generation means, the rotation rate of the electric motor that drives the compressor is changed in accordance with the generated power to heat water. Therefore, the present disclosure can improve the utilization efficiency of power.

11376139

TECHNICAL FIELD The disclosure relates to the field of prosthetic devices, and more particularly to a prosthetic device, system and pump mechanism for increasing vacuum in a vacuum assisted suspension system. BACKGROUND An ongoing challenge in the development of prosthetic devices is the attachment of the prosthetic device to the residual limb of a user. For prosthetic legs, it is often difficult to securely attach the prosthetic leg to the residual leg without exerting too much or uneven pressure on the residual limb. On the one hand, the lack of a secure attachment can adversely affect the user's ability to walk. On the other hand, an improper fit can cause sores, swelling and pain for the user. One approach for overcoming this challenge has been the application of a negative pressure vacuum in a space between the limb (or a liner donned on the limb) and a socket or receptacle coupled to the prosthetic limb. Two conventional ways to apply such a vacuum are by a mechanical pump or an electronic pump. Mechanical pumps are often in-line systems that utilize the movement of the user to generate the negative pressure vacuum in the socket. For example, the force generated by contacting the ground during a user's walking motion can be used to generate a vacuum in the socket space to hold the prosthesis to the user's limb. However, in utilizing the motion of the user, known pumps rely on complete compression of the pump to expel air from the pump before the pump can be decompressed to generate the vacuum. Because the impact and displacement of the pump is not consistent and varies between users, the vacuum and thus attachment between the residual limb and the socket can be unpredictable and/or inadequate, causing the user discomfort, grief and even injury. Many of such pumps are also bulky and significantly contribute to the weight of the prosthetic limb, imposing a significant weight burden on the user when walking. There is a need for a prosthetic device, system, and pump mechanism that provides freedom of vacuum suspension for a prosthetic system. There is also a call for a prosthetic device that provides a secure vacuum without losing suction and confidence to the user over a period of time. It is also desirable for prosthetic devices to draw a vacuum while being lightweight and streamlined. SUMMARY Embodiments of the prosthetic system provide vacuum assisted suspension by generating negative pressure inside a prosthetic socket worn over a residual limb, and reducing sliding movement between the liner and the socket. The prosthetic system of the present disclosure advantageously can produce a vacuum effect in a prosthetic socket utilizing a pivoting, swinging, or rotating mechanism at a joint rather than relying primarily on a force or pressure applied to the prosthetic system by the user. According to an embodiment, the prosthetic system includes first and second parts rotatable relative to one another about a joint. The first and second parts form at least part of a weight bearing connection between a prosthetic foot and a socket. A pump system includes a pump mechanism operatively connected to the first and second parts. Relative rotation between the first and second parts about the joint moves the pump mechanism between an original configuration in which the volume of a fluid chamber defined by the pump mechanism is zero or near-zero, and an expanded configuration in which the volume of the fluid chamber is increased. For instance, during weight bearing or when a load is applied to the prosthetic system, a support member of the pump system flexes or bends, which, in turn, causes a movable member of the pump system to pivot or rotate about the joint and toward the second part. When the movable member rotates about the joint toward the second part, the movable member rotates away from the support member, which, in turn, moves the pump mechanism toward the expanded configuration, pulling fluid into the pump mechanism. After weight bearing or when the load is removed, stored energy in the support member forces the first and second parts to rotate away from one another. This moves the movable member and the pump mechanism back toward the original configuration, expelling fluid out of the pump mechanism. The pump system can thus generate a vacuum in a socket using a pivoting or rotating movement between the first and second parts. Further, it can do so without undesirably affecting the functionality of a prosthetic knee or foot associated with the prosthetic system or significantly increasing the bulk of the system. According to a variation, the pump system can be located at or near the socket such that there is no need to move fluid drawn into the pump mechanism from the socket all the way down the prosthetic foot. This advantageously reduces the time required to produce an elevated vacuum in the socket. Further, it eliminates or reduces the need of a long tube extending between the prosthetic foot and the socket, reducing the likelihood of leaks and volume to generate vacuum. According to a variation, the pump mechanism can be incorporated into a prosthetic knee. For instance, the first part can comprise a rotatable part of the prosthetic knee.

11394392

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field The present disclosure relates to a flash analog to digital converter. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a flash analog to digital converter having comparator circuits that have different circuit architectures. 2. Description of Related Art In current approaches, all comparator circuits in a flash analog to digital converter have the same circuit architectures. However, under certain server bias conditions or in a case where an input signal having higher swing, certain comparator circuits may not able to properly work in a predetermined operation region, which results in operation failure of the flash analog to digital converter. SUMMARY In some aspects of the present disclosure, a flash analog to digital converter includes a voltage generator circuit, an encoder circuit, a first double differential amplifier circuit, and a second double differential amplifier circuit. The voltage generator circuit is configured to generate a first set of reference voltages according to a first voltage and a second voltage. The encoder circuit is configured to generate a digital signal corresponding to an input signal according to a plurality of first signals. The first double differential amplifier circuit is configured to compare the input signal with a first reference voltage in the first set of reference voltages, in order to generate a corresponding one of the plurality of first signals. The second double differential amplifier circuit is configured to compare the input signal with a second reference voltage in the first set of reference voltages, in order to generate a corresponding one of the plurality of first signals. A difference between the first voltage and the first reference voltage is less than a difference between the first voltage and the second reference voltage, and the first double differential amplifier circuit and the second double differential amplifier circuit have different circuit architectures. These and other objectives of the present disclosure will be described in preferred embodiments with various figures and drawings.

11398070

BACKGROUND Electronic devices are now common in many environments such as homes and offices. Some electronic devices may be utilized to detect events that occur in such environments. Understanding characteristics of the environments may be useful in detecting such events. Described herein are improvements in technology and solutions to technical problems that can be used to, among other things, determine environmental characteristics.

11488705

BACKGROUND A number of medical ailments are treated or treatable through the application of electrical stimulation to an afflicted portion of a human subject's body. Examples of electrical stimulation may include magnetic or inductive stimulation, which may make use of a changing magnetic field, and electric or capacitive stimulation in which an electric field may be applied to the tissue. Neurons, muscle, and tissue cells are forms of biological circuitry capable of carrying electrical signals and responding to electrical stimuli. For example, when an electrical conductor is passed through a magnetic field, an electric field is induced causing current to flow in the conductor. Because various parts of the body may act as a conductor, when a changing magnetic field is applied to the portion of the body, an electric field is created causing current to flow. In the context of biological tissue, for example, the resultant flow of electric current stimulates the tissue by causing neurons in the tissue to depolarize. Also, in the context of muscles, for example, muscles associated with the stimulated neurons contract. In essence, the flow of electrical current allows the body to stimulate typical and often desired chemical reactions. Electrical stimulation has many beneficial and therapeutic biological effects. For example, the use of magnetic stimulation is effective in rehabilitating injured or paralyzed muscle groups. Another area in which magnetic stimulation is proving effective is treatment of the spine. The spinal cord is difficult to access directly because vertebrae surround it. Magnetic stimulation may be used to block the transmission of pain via nerves in the back (e.g., those responsible for lower back pain). Further, unlike the other medical procedures that stimulate the body, electrical stimulation may be non-invasive. For example, using magnetic fields to generate current in the body produces stimulation by passing the magnetic field through the skin of a human subject. Magnetic stimulation also has proven effective in stimulating regions of the brain, which is composed predominantly of neurological tissue. One area of particular therapeutic interest is the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders. It is believed that more than 28 million people in the United States alone suffer from some type of neuropsychiatric disorder. These include specific conditions such as depression, schizophrenia, mania, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorders, just to name a few. One particular condition, depression, is the often referred to as the “common cold” of psychiatric disorders, believed to affect 19 million people in the United States alone, and possibly 340 million people worldwide. Modern medicine offers depression human subjects a number of treatment options, including several classes of anti-depressant medications like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), MAIs, tricyclics, lithium, and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Yet many human subjects remain without satisfactory relief from the symptoms of depression. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been shown to have anti-depressant effects for human subjects, even those that do not respond to the traditional methods and medications. For example, a subconvulsive stimulation may be applied to the prefrontal cortex in a repetitive manner, causing a depolarization of cortical neuron membranes. The membranes are depolarized by the induction of small electric fields, usually in excess of 1 volt per centimeter (V/cm). These small electric fields result from a rapidly changing magnetic field applied non-invasively. Therapeutic and diagnostic procedures, such as TMS for example, may require a technician to locate a treatment location (e.g., or target location that is used to determine the treatment location) before performing the therapeutic and/or diagnostic procedure. This process can be time consuming and burdensome. For example, the technician may be required to manually collect multiple points on a patient one-by-one to generate a model of the patient, and after the model is generated, locate the treatment location on the model. SUMMARY A system for creating a model, such as a fitted head model, may be provided. The system may comprise a sensor, a processor, a memory, a transceiver, a power supply, a treatment coil, and/or a display device. The processor may be configured to determine a plurality of points associated with the human subject's head using the sensor. For example, the processor may be configured to determine a plurality of points using the sensor and without the use of an indicator tool. The sensor may comprise an infrared (IR) sensor. One or more (e.g., each) of the plurality of points that are associated with the human subject's head may comprises an x coordinate, a y coordinate, and a z coordinate in a coordinate system (e.g., Cartesian coordinate system, a cylindrical coordinate system, and/or the like). A subset of the plurality of points may comprise facial feature information relating to the human subject. The facial feature information may include information relating to a location of one or more facial features of the human subject, such as, but not limited to a nose, an eye, an ear, chin, hairline, and/or mouth of the human subject. The processor may be configured to generate a fitted head model using a predetermined head model and the plurality of points. For example, the processor may be configured to generate the fitted head model using a cubic spline method. The processor may be configured to, for example, morph the predetermined head model to the plurality of points to generate the fitted head model. The predetermined head model may be a generic head model that does not include any characteristics that are specific to one individual. The predetermined head model may include location information relating to the one or more anatomical landmarks. An anatomical landmark may comprise a nasion, an inion, a lateral canthus, an external auditory meatus (e.g., ear attachment point), and/or one or more preauricular points of the human subject. An anatomical landmark may be associated with an x coordinate, a y coordinate, and a z coordinate of the predetermined head model. The predetermined head model may comprise predefined coordinates, for example, such as an Electroencephalography (EEG) 10-20 coordinate grid, one or more treatment locations, and/or the like. The fitted head model may have a smooth surface. For example, the processor may be configured to determine that one or more points of the plurality of points are associated with rippling of the human subject's skin, loss of a facial feature, and/or an asymmetric lump, and generate the fitted head model without the use of the points associated with the rippling of the human subject's skin, loss of a facial feature, or asymmetric lump. The fitted head model may not include the human subject's hair. For example, the plurality of points that are used to create the fitted head model may be devoid of information relating to the human subject's hair such that the fitted head model is devoid of information relating to the human subject's hair. The processor may be configured to determine that one or more points of the plurality of points that are used to create the fitted head model are associated with the human subject's hair, and the processor may be configured to generate the fitted head model without the use of the points associated with the human subject's hair. The fitted head model may comprise an EEG 10-20 coordinate grid. The processor may be configured to determine a location of one or more anatomical landmarks on the fitted head model using the facial feature information. For example, the processor may be configured to perform triangulation and/or trilateration using the facial feature information (e.g., one or more points associated with the facial feature information) to determine the location of one or more anatomical landmarks of the human subject on the fitted head model. An anatomical landmark may be associated with an x coordinate, a y coordinate, and a z coordinate of the fitted head model. The processor may be configured to register the anatomical landmarks with the fitted head model. The processor may be configured to determine a target location on the fitted head model based on one or more anatomical landmarks. For example, the processor may be configured to determine a target location on the fitted head model based on one or more anatomical landmarks without the use of additional image information, for example, such as, but not limited to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) image information, x-ray image information, and/or the like. The target location may comprise a treatment location or a reference point that may be used to determine the treatment location. The processor may be configured to display the fitted head model and the target location on the display device, for example, to assist in a therapeutic or diagnostic procedure. The processor may be configured to perform transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) using the fitted head model and/or the target location. The fitted head model may be saved for the human subject, for example, so that it can be recalled and used during a subsequent therapeutic or diagnostic procedure.

11485954

TECHNICAL FIELD The application relates to the field of biotechnology, medicine, and cell culture. It specifically relates to, e.g., methods of producing compositions (also identified as “Neo-Islets” or “cell clusters”) that include stem cells and islet cells. It also relates to the utilization of Neo-Islets comprising stem cells and islet cells for treatment of, for example, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, or impaired glucose tolerance. BACKGROUND Insulin-producing β-Cells, when isolated from a donor pancreas, generally proliferate very poorly ex vivo, i.e., not sufficiently to generate adequate cell numbers for the treatment of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Current technologies and many preclinical therapies designed to overcome this shortage and provide diabetic patients with a long-lasting, physiologically released insulin replacement therapy (islet and pancreas transplants; precursor cell-derived therapies, etc.) are hampered both by the shortage of donor cells and the need to suppress the patient's immune system, leading to a new set of adverse effects for the patient, such as opportunistic infections and malignancies. The great shortage of suitable pancreas donors combined with the need for repeated islet transplants, requiring up to five donors each, continues to prevent the general availability of these expensive therapies. Micro- and macro-encapsulation systems of insulin-producing cells are tested to facilitate immune isolation and overcome this problem. However, the utilized encapsulation materials represent foreign bodies and can induce an auto-immune response that will result in the failure of the therapy or require prolonged use of anti-rejection drugs. BRIEF SUMMARY Described herein are Neo-Islets comprising: a) dedifferentiated islet cells and mesenchymal and/or adipose stem cells; or b) redifferentiated islet cells and mesenchymal and/or adipose stem cells. Further described herein are methods of generating a Neo-Islet, the methods comprising: culturing a) dedifferentiated islet cells and mesenchymal and/or adipose stem cells; or b) redifferentiated islet cells and mesenchymal and/or adipose stem cells, on a surface that promotes/allows the formation of Neo-Islets. In embodiments, the surface is a hydrophobic and/or ultra-low adhesion surface. Also described are methods of treating a subject, the methods comprising: providing to the subject the Neo-Islets described herein. Additionally described are methods of treating a subject suffering from Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus or Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, by, e.g., providing to the subject Neo-Islets as described herein.

11447322

FIELD Embodiments described herein generally relate to a beverage container. Specifically, embodiments described herein relate to a beverage container having a sidewall with channels formed in the sidewall that are configured to limit or resist deformation of the beverage container. BACKGROUND Beverage containers composed of polyethylene terephthalate and other plastics are used for storing beverages, such as sports drinks, juices, water, and other types of beverages. Forming beverage containers from plastic materials is a cost-effective and convenient alternative to packaging beverages in glass or metal containers due to their light weight, transparency, and ease of production. However, such plastic beverage containers may be susceptible to deformation when exposed to high temperatures or changes in pressure. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Some embodiments are directed to a beverage container that includes a base, a cylindrical sidewall extending from and integrally formed with the base, and an upper region extending from the sidewall and defining an upper opening. The beverage container may include a longitudinal axis extending in a direction from the base to the upper opening. A continuous channel may be formed in and extend around a circumference of the sidewall, and the continuous channel may be sinusoidal such that the continuous channel forms peaks and troughs. A height of the continuous channel as measured in a direction of the longitudinal axis from a peak to a trough may be about 30% to 80% of a height of the sidewall so as to resist elongation of the beverage container in the direction of the longitudinal axis. Some embodiments are directed to a beverage container that includes a base, a cylindrical sidewall extending from and integrally formed with the base, and an upper region extending from the cylindrical sidewall and defining an upper opening. Diagonal channels may be formed in the sidewall and extend at an oblique angle relative to a plane transverse to a longitudinal axis of the beverage container. The diagonal channels may be spaced along a circumference of the sidewall to resist deformation of the beverage container in a direction of the longitudinal axis of the beverage container and to resist paneling in shape of the sidewall. The beverage container may further include linear channel segments formed in the sidewall and extending along a circumference of the sidewall, wherein the linear channel segments resist paneling of the sidewall when an internal pressure of the beverage container is less than an external pressure. Some embodiments are directed to a beverage container that includes a cylindrical sidewall and a continuous channel formed in and extending around the sidewall. The continuous channel may have a sinusoidal pattern with three peaks and three troughs such that the continuous channel resists elongation of the beverage container in a direction of a longitudinal axis of the beverage container. In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the continuous channel may be configured to resist elongation in a direction of the longitudinal axis when the beverage container is suspended from the upper region and is filled with a beverage having a temperature at or above a glass transition temperature of the beverage container. In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the beverage container may include a lower continuous channel and an upper continuous channel that are spaced from one another in a direction of the longitudinal axis of the beverage container. In some embodiments, each of the upper and lower continuous channels may include an upper bound defined as a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis at which the peaks are formed and a lower bound defined as a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis at which the troughs are formed, and the upper bound of the lower continuous channel may be above the lower bound of the upper continuous channel. In some embodiments, the lower continuous channel and the upper continuous channel may have the same dimensions. In some embodiments, the peaks of the lower continuous channel and the upper continuous channel may be aligned in a longitudinal direction of the beverage container. In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the continuous channel may include a diagonal region extending between a peak and a trough of the continuous channel that forms an angle with a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of the beverage container of 40 to 50 degrees. In some embodiments, the angle may be 45 degrees. In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the beverage container may further include linear channel segments formed in the sidewall and extending around a portion of the circumference of the sidewall. In some embodiments, the linear channel segments may be arranged in one or more planes transverse to the longitudinal axis of the beverage container. In some embodiments, the linear channel segments may be spaced from the continuous channel. In some embodiments, the continuous channel may include an upper bound that is a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis and at which the peaks are formed, and a lower bound that is a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis and at which the troughs are formed, and wherein the linear channel segments may be positioned between the upper bound and the lower bound. In any of the various embodiments discussed herein having diagonal channels, the diagonal channels may be arranged at an angle relative to a plane that is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the beverage container that is 40 to 50 degrees. In some embodiments, the diagonal channels may each have the same shape and dimensions. In some embodiments, each of the diagonal channels may have a first end opposite a second end, and a height of each of the diagonal channels measured in a direction of the longitudinal axis from the first end to the second end may be about 30% to 80% of a height of the sidewall of the beverage container. In some embodiments, the diagonal channels may be connected by peaks and troughs so as to form a continuous channel.

11254356

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION The present application is based on, and claims priority from, Japanese Patent Application Serial Number 2019-011312, filed on Jan. 25, 2019, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. FIELD The present disclosure relates to a vehicle control system, and more particularly, to a vehicle control system for controlling a steering angle of wheels using an electric power steering apparatus. BACKGROUND Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-341661 discloses a technique relating to an electric power steering apparatus for providing a steering assist force to a steering mechanism by an electric motor. The electric power steering apparatus of this technology includes a current supply device for supplying a current corresponding to a steering signal such as a steering torque or a vehicle speed to an electric motor for generating a steering assist torque, and an energization limiting device for limiting an energizable current according to an energization current and reducing an energization current corresponding to the steering torque. According to such a device, since a higher steering assist force can be supplied for a long time, the supply of the energization current can be maintained for a long time. SUMMARY When the steering angle of a vehicle equipped with an electric power steering device (EPS device) is maintained, it is necessary to continuously supply current to the EPS device. At this time, if the torsion between the road surface and the wheel is large, a large current must continue to flow to the EPS system, and heat generation of the EPS device may become a question. On the other hand, when the steering angle of the vehicle is held, if the current to the EPS device is cut off, the actual steering angle of the vehicle may deviate from the target holding steering angle. The present disclosure has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object thereof is to provide a vehicle control system capable of suppressing heat generation of a power steering apparatus when maintaining a steering angle of wheels in a vehicle in which an electric power steering apparatus is mounted. In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the first disclosure is applied to a vehicle control system of a vehicle in which an electric power steering apparatus having an electric motor driven to control a steering angle of a wheel is mounted. The vehicle control system includes a controller configured to perform steering control for controlling an energization of the electric motor to control the steering angle of the wheels. The controller is configured to, when the wheels are held after being steered by a specific steering in the steering control, perform a steering return process in which the wheels are turned back and held in a direction opposite to a steering direction of the specific steering. And the controller is configured to, during a stationary steering-holding in which the steering angle is held and the vehicle is stopped, perform an energization suppression process for reducing energization to the electric motor to be smaller than the energization before the stationary steering-holding. The second disclosure has the following further features in the first disclosure. The specific steering is a stationary steering that performs steering in a state in which the vehicle is stopped. The third disclosure has the following further features in the first or second disclosure. The controller is configured to stop the energization suppression process when the vehicle starts traveling during the energization suppression process. The fourth disclosure has the following features in any one of the first to third disclosures. The steering control is configured to control energization of the electric motor to bring an actual steering angle of the wheels closer to a required steering angle. The steering return process is configured to control energization of the electric motor so that the actual steering angle returns to the required steering angle after overshooting the required steering angle in the process of holding the actual steering angle at the required steering angle. The fifth disclose has the following features in any one of the first to third disclosures. The steering control is configured to control the energization of the electric motor to bring the actual steering angle of the wheel closer to the required steering angle. The steering return process is configured to control the energization of the electric motor so that the wheels are turned back and held in a direction opposite to the steering direction toward the required steering angle in the process of bringing the actual steering angle closer to the required steering angle. The sixth disclose has the following features in the fourth or fifth disclosure. The controller is configured to execute a process of calculating the required steering angle from the steering operation amount of the driver. The seventh disclose has the following features in the fourth or fifth disclosure. The controller is configured to execute a process of, acquiring a planned route to a target position, and calculating a steering angle for the vehicle to follow the planned route as the required steering angle. The eighth disclose has the following features in any one of the first to seventh disclosures. The controller is configured to execute a temperature detection process for detecting a temperature of the electric power steering apparatus, and a prohibition process for prohibiting execution of the energization suppression process when a temperature detected by the temperature detection process is lower than a predetermined determination temperature. According to the control device of the first disclosure, when the wheel is held after being steered by the specific steering, the steering angle is held after the wheel is turned back in a direction opposite to the steering direction of the specific steering. According to such an operation, since the torsion of the wheel and the road surface reaction force can be eliminated, the steering axial force is lowered. As a result, it is possible to reduce the current to the electric power steering apparatus while holding the steering angle, and therefore it is possible to suppress the heat generation of the electric power steering apparatus when holding the steering angle of the wheel. According to the second disclosure, when the steering angle is held after the stationary steering, the steering return process is performed. In the stationary steering, the torsion of the wheel after the steering and the road surface reaction force are larger than in the moving steering (clothoid steering). In addition, it is difficult to be affected by the behavior change of the vehicle while the vehicle is stopped. Therefore, according to the present disclosure, it is possible to effectively suppress the heat generation of the electric power steering apparatus while suppressing the influence of the behavior change of the vehicle. According to the third disclosure, continuation of the energization suppression process can be prevented even when the vehicle starts traveling. As a result, it is possible to prevent a problem in steering after the vehicle travels. According to the fourth disclosure, it is possible to keep the steering angle close to the required steering angle after the process of switching back the steering of the wheel is performed. This makes it possible to suppress heat generation of the electric power steering apparatus while maintaining the steering angle at the required steering angle. According to the fifth disclose, in the process of bringing the actual steering angle closer to the required steering angle, the process of switching back the steering of the wheels is performed. This makes it possible to suppress heat generation of the electric power steering apparatus while holding the steering angle in a state where the steering angle is steered in the vicinity of the required steering angle. According to the sixth disclose, the required steering angle is calculated from the steering operation amount of the driver. This makes it possible to perform steering control in accordance with the operation of the driver. According to the seventh disclose, the required steering angle for the vehicle to follow the planned route to the target position is calculated. This makes it possible to suppress the heat generation of the electric power steering apparatus in the process of accurately guiding the vehicle to the target position. According to the eighth disclose, when the temperature of the electric power steering apparatus is lower than the determination temperature, the energization suppression process is prohibited. According to such processing, it is possible to prevent the execution of the energization suppression processing when the heat generation of the electric power steering apparatus does not cause a question.

11239014

RELATED APPLICATIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE The present patent application is filed pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 371 as a U.S. National Phase Application of International Patent Application No. PCT/JP2016/059390 filed on Mar. 24, 2016, claiming the benefit of priority to Japanese Patent Application Nos. 2015-061081 filed on Mar. 24, 2015 and 2016-022770 filed Feb. 9, 2016. The International Application was published as WO 2016/152975 on Sep. 29, 2016. The contents of each of the aforementioned patent applications are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a rare-earth magnet, and a linear motor using the rare-earth magnet. In particular, the present invention relates to a rare-earth magnet capable of generating a high magnetic flux density without using any back yoke. BACKGROUND ART Generally, a linear motor comprises a stator, and a movable element disposed to be opposed to the stator. In JP 2003-189589 A (Patent Document 1), there is described a linear motor in which a stator is composed of an electromagnet comprising a plurality of armature cores arranged in a moving direction of a movable element, and a plurality of coils each wound around a respective one of the armature cores, wherein the movable element is composed of a permanent magnet unit. The permanent magnet unit serving as the movable element is in the form of a magnet array composed of a plurality of permanent magnets arranged in parallel with each other in a cross direction with respect to the moving direction of the movable element, wherein adjacent ones of the permanent magnets are arranged such that opposed magnetic poles thereof have opposite polarities. Further, a back yoke is attached to a surface of the plurality of permanent magnets composing the magnet array, on a back side thereof, i.e., on an opposite side with respect to the stator, in order to circulate a magnetic flux of the magnet array between N- and S-poles. The Patent Document 1 explains that the configuration of the linear motor described in the Patent Document 1 has an advantage of being able to reduce the weight of the movable element, as configured to the case where the movable element is composed of a coil unit Although not described in the Patent Document 1, a linear motor in which a permanent magnet of a movable element is formed of a rare-earth magnet material having high holding force, such as an Nd—Fe—B based magnet, to achieve a reduction in size and weight of the magnet, is used in applications requiring a small, lightweight motor, such as a reciprocating member. In such a configuration using a rare-earth magnet, a back yoke is attached as an indispensable component to a permanent magnet. CITATION LIST Parent Document Patent Document 1: JP 2003-189589A SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem The permanent magnet unit used as the movable element in the linear motor described in the Patent Document 1 needs to be provided with a back yoke in order to circulate the magnetic flux of the magnet array between N- and S-poles, a mentioned above. It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a rare-earth magnet capable of realizing a high magnetic flux amount without using any back yoke. Solution to Technical Problem In a first aspect, the present invention provides a rare-earth permanent magnet-forming sintered body. This rare-earth permanent magnet-forming sintered body can be formed as a permanent magnet through magnetization. Thus, in a second aspect, the present invention provides a rare-earth permanent magnet. Further, in a third aspect, the present invention provides a linear motor comprising a movable element using the rare-earth permanent magnet. The rare-earth permanent magnet-forming sintered body comprising magnet material particles containing a rare-earth substance. The magnet material particles are integrally sintered while being formed into a given three-dimensional shape with a lengthwise cross-section having a first surface extending in a length direction thereof, a second surface lying at a distance from the first surface in a thickness direction thereof and extending in the length direction, and an edge surface of each of lengthwise opposite ends thereof. In a central region of the sintered body located between a first end region and a second end region on the respective sides of the opposite ends, when viewed in the length direction, easy magnetization axes of the magnet material particles included in the central region are oriented in such a manner as to be directed along a path which enters an inside of the sintered body from the second surface at a position located on the side of the first end region with respect to a lengthwise center line of the central region passing through a lengthwise center of the central region and extending in a direction perpendicular to the first surface, and, after intersecting the lengthwise center line in the length direction, extends toward the second surface at a position located on the side of the second end region with respect to the lengthwise center line of the central region. Further, the first end region, easy magnetization axes of the magnet material particles included in the first end region are oriented in such a manner as to be directed along a path which enters the inside of the sintered body from the second surface and extends toward the first surface. In the second end region, easy magnetization axes of the magnet material particles included in the second end region are oriented in such a manner as to be directed along a path which enters the inside of the sintered body from the first surface and extends toward the second surface. In the above sintered body, in a corner area of the central region adjacent to each of the first and second end regions and close to the first surface, easy magnetization axes of the magnet material particles included in the corner area are oriented along a curved path corresponding to the above arch-shaped path. In one preferred embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention, the easy magnetization axes of the magnet material particles included in the first end region are oriented in parallel alignment in such a manner as to be directed in a direction approximately orthogonal to the first surface. In another preferred embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention, the easy magnetization axes of the magnet material particles included in the first end region are oriented, in an area adjacent to the central region, in such a manner as to be directed along a curved path in which direction of the path gradually changes such that it is directed toward the central region as it becomes closer to the first surface. In yet another preferred embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention, the easy magnetization axes of the magnet material particles included in the second end region are oriented, in an area adjacent to the central region, in such a manner as to be directed along a curved path in which direction of the path gradually changes such that it is directed away from the central region, as it becomes farther away from first surface. In still another preferred embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention, the easy magnetization axes of the magnet material particles included in the first and second end regions are oriented in parallel alignment in such a manner as to be directed in a direction approximately orthogonal to the first surface. In the central region, the easy magnetization axes of the magnet material particles included in the central region are oriented such that, when the lengthwise center line of the central region is set as an origin in the length direction, and a distance measured from the lengthwise center line in a direction toward the second end region, a distance measured from the lengthwise center line in a direction toward the first end region, and a distance from the lengthwise center line to a boundary between the central region and each of the first and second end regions are denoted, respectively, by +b, −b and bmax, an orientation angle θ defined as an angle between an orientation direction of each of the easy magnetization axes and the first surface satisfies the following relationship: θ(°)=(b/bmax)×c×90 (where: c denotes a constant; and the orientation angle θ has a positive value and a negative value, respectively, in a counterclockwise direction and in a clockwise direction, wherein: θ=90° when (b/bmax)×c<−1; and 0=90° when (b/bmax)×c>1). In this case, the orientation angle is approximately constant in the thickness direction at positions where the distance b from the lengthwise center line has a same value. In yet still another preferred embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention, the c in the above formulas defining the orientation angle θ denotes a variable coefficient, instead of a constant. In this case, the c varies to gradually increase along one direction from the first surface toward the second surface in the thickness direction, in such a manner that it becomes minimum at the first surface, and becomes maximum at the second surface. Specifically, in the above formulas defining the orientation angle θ, θ=−90° when (b/bmax)×c<−1, and θ=90° when (b/bmax)×c>1. Further, the c varies to gradually increase along one direction from the first surface toward the second surface in the thickness direction, in such a manner that it becomes minimum at the first surface, and becomes maximum at the second surface. In another further preferred embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention, the magnet material particles are formed of Nd—Fe—B based magnet material. In the second aspect, the present invention provides a rare-earth permanent magnet produced by magnetizing the above rare-earth permanent magnet-forming sintered body. Further, in the third aspect, the present invention provides a linear motor comprising a movable element having at least one rare-earth permanent magnet produced in the above manner, and a plurality of stationary magnetic poles arranged at a distance with respect to the first surface of the rare-earth permanent magnet. Preferably, in this linear motor, the rare-earth permanent magnet of the movable element is disposed such that the length direction thereof intersects a moving direction of the movable element. Effect of Invention In the present invention, easy magnetization axes of the magnet material particles as a component of the rare-earth permanent magnet-forming sintered body are oriented in the above manner, so that magnetization directions of a rare-earth permanent magnet produced by magnetizing the sintered body conforms to the orientation directions of the easy magnetization axes. Therefore, the produced rare-earth permanent magnet generates a magnetic flux circulating between lengthwise opposite ends of the central region. This makes it possible to obtain a sufficient magnetic flux density without using any back yoke.

11403952

BACKGROUND The embodiments relate generally to autonomous vehicles, and in particular to a method and system for providing an equipped autonomous vehicle to a destination. Many types of outdoor activities can include specialized equipment. This equipment can be used a few times a year and is usually kept in storage. Participants of outdoor activities can plan for storing, maintaining, and transporting this specialized equipment to a desired destination where it is to be used. Participants who enjoy a variety of outdoor activities can store, maintain, and/or transport large quantities of different specialized equipment for each outdoor activity. Additionally, participants can take care of returning and cleaning the equipment from a destination after a trip has ended. SUMMARY The techniques of the present embodiments described herein provide a method and system for providing an equipped autonomous vehicle to a destination. In one aspect, a method for providing an equipped autonomous vehicle to a destination is provided. The method can include: receiving a request from a user for an equipped autonomous vehicle, wherein the request includes at least one selected activity and a destination; determining, from the request, a set of equipment for the at least one selected activity; providing the equipped autonomous vehicle with the set of equipment for the at least one selected activity; and instructing the equipped autonomous vehicle to travel to the destination requested by the user. In another aspect, a system for providing an equipped autonomous vehicle to a destination is provided. The system can include; a service provider; and at least one autonomous vehicle; wherein the service provider is configured to; receive a request from a user for an equipped autonomous vehicle, wherein the request includes at least one selected activity and a destination; determine, from the request, a set of equipment for the at least one selected activity; provide the at least one autonomous vehicle with the set of equipment for the at least one selected activity; and instruct the at least one autonomous vehicle that includes the set of equipment to travel to the destination requested by the user. Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the exemplary embodiments will be, or will become, apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description and this summary, be within the scope and protected by the claims.

11240405

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image capturing apparatus, a control method thereof, and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. Description of the Related Art When shooting images using multiple video cameras, the video signals from the video cameras are synchronized with timecodes, and the synchronized video is then used for editing. The video signals from video cameras are typically synchronized by inputting dedicated synchronization signals such as tri-level synchronization signals and black and burst signals (“GENLOCK (GL) signals” hereinafter), whereas timecodes are synchronized by inputting timecode signals (“TC signals” hereinafter). It is therefore necessary to connect two cables: one for the GL signal, and one for the TC signal. However, there are also techniques which enable easier connections during installation by transmitting the GL signal and the TC signal over a single cable (e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2012-253599). Such techniques require special cables, however, and are therefore only usable in limited situations. Video cameras that synchronize video signals using TC signals have also appeared in recent years. A synchronization process using TC signals makes it possible to carry out both the process for synchronizing the video signals and the process for synchronizing the timecodes using a single cable, which does enable easier connections during installation. While TC signals have been standardized by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE), the provisions with respect to jitter are lax. This results in more phase noise during synchronization than when using GL signals, which can lead to a drop in the precision of phase synchronization (i.e., how closely the phase of the synchronization source can be matched). It is thus conceivable to provide a GL signal input terminal (“GENLOCK terminal” hereinafter) and a TC signal input terminal (“timecode terminal” hereinafter) separately, with a user selecting which signal is to be used for synchronization through a menu or the like. A video camera provided with both GENLOCK and timecode terminals has a problem in that the desired video signal synchronization may not be able to be achieved depending on the order in which cables are connected to or removed from the terminals, resulting in the user misrecognizing the signal being used for the synchronization. For example, if a cable is connected to the timecode terminal to carry out timecode synchronization, and a cable is then connected to the GENLOCK terminal for synchronizing the video signals with precision, the video signals will first be synchronized using the TC signals. This means that the video signals will not be synchronized using the GL signals, but the user may continue his or her work without noticing this. Even if he or she notices, it is then necessary to change menu settings or the like in order to prioritize the GL signals, which complicates the operations. Also, when synchronizing multiple cameras, there are cases where a single GL signal is connected to the cameras one by one in order (i.e., the cable is disconnected after synchronization is complete, and then connected to the next video camera). The TC signal is then connected one by one in order for timecode synchronization. If the GL signal is disconnected after the video signal synchronization is complete, the cameras will operate in Jam Sync mode, which is a substantially synchronized state. However, if the TC signal is then connected in that state, synchronization will be carried out using the TC signal, which may cause a drop in the precision of the synchronization. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Having been achieved in light of the foregoing problems, the present invention provides a technique that, when a plurality of types of synchronization signals can be input, makes it possible to carry out a video signal synchronization process using a user's desired synchronization signal, without entailing complicated operations. Some video cameras omit the GENLOCK terminal to achieve a more compact size. With such a video camera, it is conceivable to employ a configuration where an expansion unit provided with a GENLOCK terminal is connected to enable synchronization using a GL signal. However, there is a problem in that if synchronization using the GL signal is selected in a menu despite the expansion unit not being connected, the synchronization process using the TC signal will remain unexecuted. Conversely, there is also a risk that synchronization will be carried out using the TC signal despite the expansion unit being connected and the GL signal being input to the GENLOCK terminal. The present invention also provides a technique for addressing these problems. According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an image capturing apparatus having an input terminal for synchronization with another image capturing apparatus, the apparatus comprising: a generating unit that generates a video signal by shooting an image using an image capturing unit; a first detecting unit that detects an input of a first synchronization signal; a second detecting unit that detects an input of a second synchronization signal; a first synchronization unit that carries out a first synchronization process for synchronizing the video signal on the basis of the first synchronization signal; a second synchronization unit that carries out a second synchronization process for synchronizing the video signal on the basis of the second synchronization signal; and a control unit that carries out control so that when the first synchronization signal has been detected by the first detecting unit while the second synchronization process is being executed, the second synchronization process is stopped and the first synchronization process is executed. According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of controlling an image capturing apparatus having an input terminal for synchronization with another image capturing apparatus, the method comprising: (a) generating a video signal by shooting an image using an image capturing unit; (b) detecting an input of a first synchronization signal; (c) detecting an input of a second synchronization signal; (d) carrying out a first synchronization process for synchronizing the video signal on the basis of the first synchronization signal; (e) carrying out a second synchronization process for synchronizing the video signal on the basis of the second synchronization signal; and (f) carrying out control so that when the first synchronization signal has been detected in the detecting (b) while the second synchronization process is being executed, the second synchronization process is stopped and the first synchronization process is executed. According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program which, when read and executed by a computer of an image capturing apparatus having an input terminal for synchronization with another image capturing apparatus, causes the image capturing apparatus to executes the steps of a method of controlling the image capturing apparatus, the method comprising: (a) generating a video signal by shooting an image using an image capturing unit; (b) detecting an input of a first synchronization signal; (c) detecting an input of a second synchronization signal; (d) carrying out a first synchronization process for synchronizing the video signal on the basis of the first synchronization signal; (e) carrying out a second synchronization process for synchronizing the video signal on the basis of the second synchronization signal; and (f) carrying out control so that when the first synchronization signal has been detected in the detecting (b) while the second synchronization process is being executed, the second synchronization process is stopped and the first synchronization process is executed. According to the present invention, a video signal synchronization process can be carried out using a first synchronization signal or a second synchronization signal depending on the circumstances, without entailing complicated operations. Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments (with reference to the attached drawings).

11388938

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to protective chest wear. In particular, the present invention relates to chest pads and chest protectors for play involving various projectiles including baseball, lacrosse, and softball. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Baseball and softball catchers are positioned behind home plate and perform many important functions during a game, from calling plays and protecting the plate to catching the ball thrown by the pitcher. Due to impacts from pitches, sometimes in excess of 90 mph, and home plate crashes with other players, the bodies of baseball players are regularly exposed to physical trauma. Similarly, lacrosse goalies are vulnerable to being struck with a high speed ball as the ball is shot into the goal. As a result, chest protectors and other protective equipment, such as shoulder pads, are primarily associated with baseball and softball catchers and lacrosse goalies. However, field players in baseball, softball, and lacrosse as well as batters and base runners are also at risk for getting injured from being struck with a projectile during play. A particular concern in sports involving high speed projectiles is a phenomenon called commotio cordis. The phenomenon occurs when a blunt blow to the chest wall directly over the heart happens during a precise moment in the heart's cycle, disrupting its normal rhythm and causing cardiac arrest. The only effective response to commotio cordis is the immediate application of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and deployment of a defibrillator (AED) to administer a controlled electric shock in order to allow restoration of the normal rhythm. In addition to defibrillation and CPR, protective equipment may help to reduce the risk of commotio cordis. However, a 2006 study revealed that the seven baseball chest protectors and five lacrosse chest protectors tested on juvenile swines did not significantly decrease the occurrence of ventricular fibrillation (VF) when compared with controls and thus, these commercially available chest protectors were deemed ineffective in protecting against VF triggered by chest blows. More recently, with the exact cause of commotio cordis now known, testing on a mechanical surrogate has provided further guidance as to what thresholds must be met by protective equipment to prevent commotio cordis. In fact, the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE) has arrived at a final standard test method and performance specification for use in evaluating the performance characteristics of chest protectors for commotio cordis (NOCSAE 200-17a m18). More recent research by Dr. Mark Link demonstrated that the majority of commercially available chest protectors, when tested on a mechanical surrogate, failed to decrease the incidence rate of commotio cordis. In other words, tests on the majority of commercially available chest guards found that there was not a significant difference in preventing commotio cordis between wearing the protection and not. Accordingly, there remains a need in the art for improved protective equipment to reduce the occurrence of commotio cordis. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a chest pad that significantly reduces the occurrence of commotio cordis among athletes. The chest pad may be utilized as a stand-alone chest protector intended to provide coverage primarily for the upper chest wall and the cardiac area of the user. In another embodiment, the chest pad may be implanted and/or utilized in a larger chest protector that provides full coverage of the user's torso. In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a chest protector including a base including ethylene vinyl acetate; a chest pad implanted into the chest protector or fastened to the front side of the base corresponding to the user's chest, wherein the chest pad includes a polymeric foam layer, a polymeric thermoplastic layer, and a memory foam layer; and a strapping system configured to removably and adjustably attach the chest protector. The chest protector may further include a plurality of shoulder pads fastened to the front side of the base corresponding to the user's shoulders. The chest protector may also further include a plurality of abdomen pads including one or more upper abdomen pads corresponding to an upper portion of the user's abdomen, one or more lower abdomen pads corresponding to a lower portion of the user's abdomen, and one or more lateral abdomen pads corresponding to lateral sides of the user's abdomen. According to one embodiment, the polymeric foam layer may include polyurethane foam having a density of about 13 kg/m3to about 33 kg/m3and a hardness of about 75 to 85. In another embodiment, the memory foam layer may have a density of about 47 kg/m3to about 70 kg/m3and a hardness of about 14 to 38. In still another embodiment, the polymeric thermoplastic layer may include polyethylene, high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), or combinations thereof. The polymeric foam layer may be arranged directly adjacent to the base, the polymeric thermoplastic layer may be arranged directly adjacent to the polymeric foam layer, and the memory foam layer may be arranged directly adjacent to the polymeric thermoplastic layer such that the memory foam layer is the outermost layer. In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a chest protector including a base including ethylene vinyl acetate; a plurality of shoulder pads fastened to a front side of the base corresponding to a user's shoulders; a chest pad implanted into the chest protector or fastened to the front side of the base corresponding to the user's chest, wherein the chest pad includes a polyurethane foam layer having a first density, a high-density polyethylene plate, and a memory foam layer having a second density, wherein the polyurethane foam layer is arranged directly adjacent to the base, the high-density polyethylene plate is arranged directly adjacent to the polyurethane foam layer, and the memory foam layer is arranged directly adjacent to the high-density polyethylene plate such that the polyurethane foam layer is the innermost layer; a plurality of upper and lower abdomen pads fastened to the front side of the base corresponding to the user's upper and lower abdomen respectively; a plurality of lateral abdomen pads fastened to the front side of the base corresponding to lateral sides of the user's abdomen; a plurality of lateral pads fastened to the front side of the base corresponding to lateral sides of the user's, chest; and a strapping system configured to removably and adjustably attach the chest protector. In one embodiment, the chest pad further includes a layer of ethylene vinyl acetate having a thickness of about 2.5 mm to about 10 mm. The layer of ethylene vinyl acetate may be disposed between the high-density polyethylene plate and the memory foam layer. In another embodiment, the second density is greater than the first density. For instance, the first density may be about 13 kg/m3to about 33 kg/m3and the second density may be about 47 kg/m3to about 70 kg/m3, In still another embodiment, the polyurethane foam layer, the high-density polyethylene plate, and the memory foam layer are arranged in a vacuum-formed tray. In yet another embodiment, the polyurethane foam layer has a thickness of about 19 mm to about 30 mm, the high-density polyethylene plate has a thickness of about 3.98 mm to about 6 mm, and the memory foam layer has a thickness of about 12 mm to about 20 mm. The present invention may further be directed to a chest protector including a base including ethylene vinyl acetate; a plurality of shoulder pads fastened to a front side of the base corresponding to a user's shoulders; a chest pad implanted into the chest protector or fastened to the front side of the base corresponding to the user's chest, wherein the chest pad includes a polyurethane foam layer having a first density of about 13 kg/m3to about 33 kg/m3and a first thickness of about 19 mm to about 30 mm, a high-density polyethylene plate having a second density of about 0.85 g/cm3to about 0.98 g/cm3and a second thickness of about 3.98 mm to about 6 mm, and a memory foam layer having a third density of about 47 kg/m3to about 70 kg/m3and a third thickness of about 12 mm to about 20 mm, wherein the polyurethane foam layer is arranged directly adjacent to the high-density polyethylene plate and the high-density polyethylene plate is arranged directly adjacent to the memory foam layer such that the polyurethane foam layer is the innermost layer; a plurality of abdomen pads fastened to the front side of the base corresponding to the user's abdomen; a plurality of lateral pads fastened to the front side of the base corresponding to lateral sides of the user's chest; and a strapping system configured to removably and adjustably attach the chest protector. In this aspect, the first thickness is about 20 mm to about 25 mm, the second thickness is about 4 mm to about 5 mm, and the third thickness is about 14 mm to about 16 mm. In another embodiment, the polyurethane foam layer may have a hardness of about 75 to about 85. In still another embodiment, the memory foam layer may have a hardness of about 14 to about 38. In yet another embodiment, the chest pad further includes a layer of ethylene vinyl acetate having a thickness of about 3 mm to about 8 mm. In another embodiment, the first density is about 18 kg/m3to about 28 kg/m3, the second density is about 0.88 g/cm3to about 0.96 g/cm3, and the third density is about 50 kg/m3to about 65 kg/m3.

11424753

FIELD The present disclosure relates to an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). Notably, the present disclosure relates to an ADC that performs asynchronous successive-approximation-register (SAR) analog-to-digital conversion with iterative self-calibration of an associated time delay or conversion time. BACKGROUND Many existing systems convert analog signals to the digital domain using ADCs. One type of ADC performs SAR analog-to-digital conversion. For example,FIG. 1presents a block diagram illustrating an existing ADC100that performs N-bit SAR analog-to-digital conversion. Notably, in this existing ADC, a track/hold circuit110may sample and hold an analog input signal as VIN. Then, a comparator112compares VIN to a quantized output VDAC provided by an N-bit digital-to-analog converter (DAC)114that performs digital-to-analog conversion based on initial settings of an N-bit register116. Moreover, based on the comparison, SAR control logic118may update the settings of N-bit register116, so that VDAC better represents VIN. When a convergence criterion is achieved (such as when a mean square error between VIN and VDAC is minimized), the settings of N-bit register116may be output as a quantized representation of VIN. Moreover, in a binary search technique, N-bit register116may be set to midscale (e.g., initial settings of N-bit register116may be 100 . . . 00, where the most-significant bit (MSB) is set to ‘1’). This may result in VDAC being equal to one half of a reference voltage VREF, which is provided to existing ADC100. Comparator112may then determine if VIN is less than or greater than VDAC. If VIN is greater than VDAC, an output of comparator112may be a logical high (e.g., ‘1’) and the MSB of N-bit register116may remain at1. Alternatively, if VIN is less than VDAC, the output of comparator112may be a logical low (e.g., a ‘0’) and the MSB of N-bit register116may be cleared to a logical 0. Next, SAR control logic118may proceed to a subsequent bit by, e.g., forcing that bit high, and performing another comparison. This sequence may continue until the least-significant bit (LSB). Once the is LSB is processed, the analog-to-digital conversion is complete and the N-bit quantized (digital) representation or word is available in N-bit register116. More generally, many SAR ADCs use a capacitive DAC that provides an inherent track/hold function. Capacitive DACs use charge redistribution to generate an analog output voltage. Typically, even small variations in the LSB capacitors may result in errors in the high-resolution quantized representation. Consequently, the capacitors in an array are often production-trimmed in order to reduce the errors. However, trimming alone usually does not yield the desired performance or compensate for changes in the performance associated with changes in temperature, supply voltage, and other parameters. For example, process, voltage, and temperature (PVT) variation usually cause large variations in the response time of a feedback loop that includes a comparator and a capacitor DAC feedback loop in an asynchronous SAR ADCs. If a time delay or conversion time in the feedback loop is too short, the comparator may not have sufficient settling time, which may decrease the accuracy of the SAR ADC. Alternatively, if the time delay or conversion time in the feedback loop is too long, some bits may be truncated, because a conversion period of the SAR ADC may expire before values of all of the bits have been successfully resolved. Therefore, high-resolution SAR ADCs are typically recalibrated when there is a significant change in supply voltages, temperature, reference voltage, and/or clock characteristics. However, this recalibration often increases the overall system cost and complexity. SUMMARY Embodiments of an ADC are described. This ADC includes a conversion circuit that asynchronously performs SAR analog-to-digital conversion of an input signal using bit-conversion circuits, where the bit-conversion circuits provide a quantized representation of the input signal. Moreover, the ADC may selectively perform self-calibration of a global delay of the bit-conversions circuits. Note that the timing self-calibration may be iterative and subject to a constraint that a maximum conversion time is less than a target conversion time. For example, the target conversion time may correspond to a conversion period specified by a sampling clock. In some embodiments, the target conversion time may have headroom relative to the conversion period. Moreover, the ADC may include a track and hold circuit that samples the input signal based at least in part on the sampling clock. Furthermore, the bit-conversion circuits may asynchronously and sequentially perform the SAR analog-to-digital conversion to determine different bits in the quantized representation of the input signal. The bit-conversion circuits may perform the SAR analog-to-digital conversion based at least in part on a target reference that specifies the global delay of the bit-conversion circuits and the target conversion time. Additionally, the ADC may include a feedback circuit that compares the quantized representation and the input signal and that provides a feedback signal. In some embodiments, the ADC may include control logic that adjusts the global delay of the target reference based at least in part on the feedback signal until a conversion time, when the bit-conversion circuits complete determination of the quantized representation, approximately equals the target conversion time. Note that approximately equals may mean that the conversion time is less than or equal to the target conversion time and a difference between the target conversion time and the conversion time is minimized. Moreover, the control logic may adjust the global delay based at least in part on historical or prior target references that were determined during prior SAR analog-to-digital conversions. For example, the control logic may determine the target reference based at least in part on an average of the historical or prior target references. Alternatively or additionally, the control logic may determine the target reference using systematic underrelaxation of the historical or prior target references. Furthermore, the control logic may adjust the global delay based at least in part on a search technique. For example, the search technique may include: a linear search, or a binary search. Additionally, the control logic may adjust the global delay based at least in part on a function corresponding to the historical or the prior target references or a look-up table that comprises the historical or prior target references. In some embodiments, the control logic may selectively adjust the global delay based at least in part on a change in an environmental characteristic. For example, the environmental characteristic may include noise, temperature or a power-supply voltage of the ADC. Another embodiment provides a system (such as an electronic device) that includes the ADC. Another embodiment provides an integrated circuit that includes the ADC. Another embodiment provides a method for performing analog-to-digital conversion. This method includes at least some of the operations performed by the ADC. This Summary is provided for purposes of illustrating some exemplary embodiments, so as to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the subject matter described herein. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the above-described features are examples and should not be construed to narrow the scope or spirit of the subject matter described herein in any way. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter described herein will become apparent from the following Detailed Description, Figures, and Claims.

11473006

BACKGROUND Fracturing treatments are commonly used in subterranean operations, among other purposes, to stimulate the production of desired fluids (e.g., oil, gas, water, etc.) from a subterranean formation. For example, hydraulic fracturing treatments generally involve pumping a treatment fluid (e.g., a fracturing fluid) into a well bore that penetrates a subterranean formation at a sufficient hydraulic pressure to create or enhance one or more fractures in the subterranean formation. The creation and/or enhancement of these fractures may enhance the production of fluids from the subterranean formation. In order to maintain and/or enhance the conductivity of a fracture in a subterranean formation, proppant particulates may be deposited in the fracture, for example, by introducing a high viscosity fracturing fluid carrying those proppant particulates into the subterranean formation. The proppant particulates may prevent the fractures from fully closing upon the release of hydraulic pressure, forming conductive channels through which fluids may flow to the wellbore. After the high viscosity fracturing fluid has been pumped into the formation and fracturing of the formation has occurred, it may be desirable to remove the fluid from the formation to allow hydrocarbon production through the new fractures. The removal of the highly viscous fracturing fluid may be accomplished by “breaking” the gel or emulsion or, in other words, by converting the fracturing fluid into a lower viscosity fluid, such that the fracturing fluid may be flowed back from the formation, for example.

11347154

TECHNICAL FIELD The disclosed subject matter relates to a system and method for cleaning debris from a surface of a structure within a chamber of an extreme ultraviolet light source. BACKGROUND Extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light, for example, electromagnetic radiation having wavelengths of around 50 nm or less (also sometimes referred to as soft x-rays), and including light at a wavelength of about 13 nm, can be used in photolithography processes to produce extremely small features in substrates, for example, silicon wafers. Methods to produce EUV light include, but are not necessarily limited to, converting a material that has an element, for example, xenon, lithium, or tin, with an emission line in the EUV range in a plasma state. In one such method, often termed laser produced plasma (“LPP”), the required plasma can be produced by irradiating a target material, for example, in the form of a droplet, plate, tape, stream, or cluster of material, with an amplified light beam. For this process, the plasma is typically produced in a sealed vessel, for example, a vacuum chamber, and monitored using various types of metrology equipment. SUMMARY In some general aspects, a surface of a structure within a chamber of an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light source is cleaned using a method. The method includes generating a plasma state of a material that is present at a location adjacent to a non-electrically conductive body that is within the chamber. The generation of the plasma state of the material includes electromagnetically inducing an electric current at the location adjacent the non-electrically conductive body to thereby transform the material that is adjacent the non-electrically conductive body from a first state into the plasma state. The plasma state of the material includes plasma particles, at least some of which are free radicals of the material. The method also includes enabling the plasma particles to pass over the structure surface to remove debris from the structure surface without removing the structure from the chamber of the EUV light source. Implementations can include one or more of the following features. For example, the method can include maintaining a temperature of the structure below 50° C. The structure surface can be positioned to optically interact with and modify light present in the chamber. The plasma state of the material can be generated by generating the plasma state of the material without the presence of oxygen. The plasma state of the material can be generated by generating the plasma state of the material without reducing the amount of material flowing across the structure surface. The electric current can be electromagnetically induced by flowing an electric current through an electrically conductive tubing adjacent the non-electrically conductive body. The electric current flowing through the electrically conductive tubing can be at radio frequency. The method can include providing a cooling fluid through an interior of the electrically conductive tubing to maintain a temperature of the non-electrically conductive body or the structure below a threshold temperature. The structure can include the non-electrically conductive body; and the plasma state of the material can be generated at the location adjacent to the non-electrically conductive body by generating the plasma state of the material at a location adjacent the structure surface. The structure can be distinct from the non-electrically conductive body. The plasma state of the material can be enabled to pass over the structure surface by moving the plasma particles from a location near the non-electrically conductive body toward and across the structure surface. The electric current can be electromagnetically induced at the location adjacent the non-electrically conductive body by producing a time-varying magnetic field within the chamber near the non-electrically conductive body; and the time-varying magnetic field can be produced within the chamber by flowing a time-varying electric current through an electrical conductor that is adjacent the non-electrically conductive body. The plasma particles can include at least ions, electrons, and free radicals of the material. The material can include hydrogen. The debris can be removed from the structure surface by chemically reacting the plasma particles with the debris on the structure surface to form a chemical that is released from the structure surface. The method can also include removing the released chemical from the chamber. The material can include hydrogen, and the plasma particles can include free radicals of hydrogen. The debris on the substrate surface can includes tin, and the released chemical can include tin hydride. The chamber can be held at a pressure below atmospheric pressure. The non-electrically conductive body can be made of a dielectric. The electric current can be electromagnetically induced by generating microwave radiation at the non-electrically conductive body or propagating an electromagnetic surface wave along the non-electrically conductive body. The electric current can be electromagnetically induced by flowing an electric current through an electrical conductor adjacent the non-electrically conductive body. The electric current can be flowed through the electrical conductor by applying a first electric current at a first frequency to the electrical conductor and applying a second electric current at a second frequency that is distinct from the first frequency to the electrical conductor. The first frequency can be a radio frequency and the second frequency can be lower than the radio frequency. The first electric current and the second electric current can be applied by applying dual frequency alternating current or a pulsating direct current to the electrical conductor. The first electric current can be applied at the first frequency to the electrical conductor to thereby transform the material that is adjacent the non-electrically conductive body from a first state into a plasma state of the material that includes the plasma particles. The second electric current can be applied at the second frequency to the electrical conductor to thereby inductively heat and evaporate debris on the structure surface. In other general aspects, an apparatus includes: an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light source, a structure within the chamber that includes an exposed surface, and a cleaning apparatus near the structure. The EUV light source includes: a chamber; and a target delivery system configured to direct a target toward an interaction region in the chamber. The target includes matter that emits extreme ultraviolet light when it is converted into a plasma. The cleaning apparatus is configured to remove target debris from the exposed surface of the structure without removing the structure from the chamber. The cleaning apparatus includes an electrical conductor contacting a non-electrically conductive body. The cleaning apparatus is configured to electromagnetically induce an electric current at a location adjacent the non-electrically conductive body to thereby transform a material present in the chamber from a first state into a plasma state that includes plasma particles, at least some of which are free radicals and ions of the material. The non-electrically conductive body is configured relative to the structure such that the plasma particles come in contact with the debris on the exposed surface of the structure. Implementations can include one or more of the following features. For example, the apparatus can include a temperature control system thermally coupled to the electrical conductor. The temperature control system can be configured to maintain a temperature of the structure adjacent the cleaning apparatus to within a threshold range. The temperature control system can maintain a temperature of the structure adjacent the cleaning apparatus to below a threshold maximum value. The threshold maximum value can be 50° C. The temperature control system can include a fluid control system that is configured to feed a cooling fluid through an interior passage of the electrical conductor. The exposed surface can optically interact with and modifies light. The light can be an amplified light beam that interacts with the target or is EUV light produced by the target. The can include a flow apparatus configured to flow the plasma particles from the location adjacent the non-electrically conductive body toward and over the exposed surface. The electric current can be electromagnetically induced by flowing an electric current through the electrical conductor, and the electric current flowing through the electrical conductor is at radio frequency. The structure having the exposed surface and the non-electrically conductive body can be the same physical structure. The structure having the exposed surface can be physically distinct from the non-electrically conductive body. The non-electrically conductive body can include a shroud that includes a passageway or defines a pathway for the target from the target delivery system to the interaction region. The structure having the exposed surface can be a collector mirror of the EUV light source. The collector mirror can be positioned to capture at least a portion of the EUV light emitted from the plasma, and the non-electrically conductive body can include a ring positioned around an outer surface of the collector mirror. The structure having the exposed surface can be the non-electrically conductive body. The EUV light source can include a liner between the collector mirror and an intermediate focus. The structure can include the liner, an interior surface of the liner facing the EUV light reflected from the collector mirror toward the intermediate focus and constituting the exposed structure surface. The electrical conductor can be positioned outside an exterior surface of the liner if the exterior surface of the liner is at a different pressure than the pressure at the interior surface, or the electrical conductor can be embedded in the liner if the exterior surface of the liner is held at the same pressure as the interior surface. The induced electric current can be at the interior surface of the liner. The liner can have a conical shape that tapers smoothly from a flat base positioned adjacent the collector mirror to an apex that opens to the intermediate focus. The non-electrically conductive body can be made of a dielectric. The dielectric can include a ceramic. The ceramic can include aluminum nitride or boron nitride. The target can include tin and the material can include hydrogen. The cleaning apparatus can be configured to remove tin debris from the exposed surface of the structure without the presence of oxygen. The electrical conductor can be embedded within the non-electrically conductive body if the pressure on first and second sides of the non-electrically conductive body is equal. Or, the electrical conductor can be adjacent to and at an exterior of the first side of the non-electrically conductive body if the pressure on the first side is different from the pressure on the second side of the non-electrically conductive body. The chamber can be held at a pressure below atmospheric pressure. The apparatus can include a power source configured to supply current to the electrical conductor. The apparatus can include a control apparatus to which the power source is connected, the control apparatus configured to send a signal to the power source to thereby operate the cleaning apparatus. The apparatus can include a fluid port configured to introduce the material into the chamber. The cleaning apparatus can be configured to electromagnetically induce an electric current at a location adjacent the non-electrically conductive body by propagating an electromagnetic surface wave along the non-electrically conductive body or generating microwave radiation at the non-electrically conductive body. The cleaning apparatus can include a power source electrically connected to supply current to the electrical conductor. The power source can be configured to supply a first electric current at a first frequency to the electrical conductor and a second electric current at a second frequency to the electrical conductor, in which the second frequency is distinct from the first frequency. The first frequency can be a radio frequency and the second frequency can be less than radio frequency. The power source can be configured to apply either a dual frequency alternating current or a pulsating direct current to the electrical conductor. In other general aspects, an apparatus includes an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light source including a chamber, and a shroud within the chamber. The EUV light source includes a target delivery system configured to direct a target toward an interaction region in the chamber. The target including matter that emits extreme ultraviolet light when it is converted into a plasma. The shroud defines a channel extending from the target delivery system to the interaction region, exterior surfaces of the shroud being exposed to debris produced from the target. The shroud includes: a non-electrically conductive body that defines the pathway, and an electrical conductor adjacent the non-electrically conductive body. The electrical conductor electromagnetically induces an electric current at a location adjacent the shroud to thereby transform a material present in the chamber from a first state into a plasma state that includes plasma particles, at least some of which are free radicals and ions of the material. The electrical conductor is positioned relative to the non-electrically conductive body such that the plasma particles chemically react with debris fixed to the exposed shroud surfaces to thereby release the debris from the exposed shroud surfaces. Implementations can include one or more of the following features. For example, apparatus can include a temperature control system thermally coupled to the electrical conductor. The temperature control system can be configured to maintain a temperature of the channel surface below a threshold value. The temperature control system can be configured to cool the channel surface to thereby prevent the debris from melting at the channel surface. The electrical conductor can be embedded within the non-electrically conductive body. The electrical conductor can be in contact with the non-electrically conductive body. The non-electrically conductive body can be made of a dielectric. The electrical conductor can wrap around an exterior surface of the non-electrically conductive body and the electrical conductor can be coated in a dielectric material.

11253761

The present disclosure generally relates to a knob for use in combination with the gripping end of a swinging implement having a hollow stick, shaft or handle. In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to a knob for attachment to the end of a hollow shaft of a sports stick, for example, the hollow shaft of a hockey stick, a lacrosse stick, a baseball bat, a softball bat, a cricket bat or a golf club. The present disclosure also relates to a cavity constructed in the butt-end of, or knob of, a swinging implement, with a hollow cavity that is applied to the gripping end of swinging implements which are hollow sticks, shafts or handles. Swinging implements, those with a handle that are grasped in the hand(s) and swung with a greater arm motion, date back many thousands of years. These implements, known as “simple machines,” were born out of the need for survival, e.g., hunting and protection. Over the last 8,500 years they have evolved into hammers, axes, swords and other tools. Early swinging implements of the tool and weapon variety are distinguished by the way they are swung by the user, specifically those implements are swung a linear swing path which ends at the point of contact. The “linear path swing” mandates that the hand(s) stay behind the center axis of the implement throughout the entirety of the swing and not deviate from the linear path. The vast majority of swinging implements through time and today have evolved an oval shaped handle. This oval shape, when gripped, delivers a crucial benefit to the user in that the oval shape keeps the structures (carpal, metacarpal and phalanx bones) of the hand(s) and wrist locked in alignment with the linear path of the swing resulting in a more accurate delivery of the implement to the targeted object of contact. Not until the recent advent of sports did the swing path and thus the swinging implement necessitate change. Some forms of stick and ball games date back to 12th century in Ireland and are the precursor to modern game of Hurling. In the 13th century the English started swinging an implement or stick with a contact structure to strike a ball to drive it to a target—the earliest form of golf. For the first time in human history the swing of an implement no longer ended at the point of contact, but rather, the implement had to be swung through the point of contact. To achieve this, the path of the implement must rotate roughly around the central axis the body of the person performing the swing. Specifically, after swinging the implement to and through the intended targeted object, the implement must continue around the body, thus the hands must pass over the central longitudinal axis of the implement to allow the implement to continue its rotational path around the body. This new swing motion allows the collective energy generated by the swing to be imparted, with speed and power through the targeted object, i.e., a puck or ball, and allow the momentum generated before contact to diminish in speed and force —thus was born the “rotational-swing.” A rotational-swing can be observed in sports like, golf, cricket, baseball, softball, hockey and others. When performed with the greater collaboration of the shoulders, body and legs, the rotational-swing creates a whole new set of coordinated motions, steps, grips and swinging implements that continue to evolve in all sports today. The greater rotational and linear swings and related paths discussed here are not to be confused with rotational and linear “swing techniques” taught in some sports. For most sports, the oval shape grip and handle of the linear-path swinging implement is ill-equipped to serve the required dynamics of a rotational swing. Because the oval shaped grip and handle restricted the path of the hand(s) during a swing to a linear swing path, the rotational-swing path is best served by a round or generally rounded grip and/or handle. As the more round the handle/grip the more easily the hand(s) can pass over the central axis of the implement to perform and complete a rotational-swing path. When an athlete grasps a sports implement with the hands, it is referred to as “the power grip”—with the handle or grip being fully or mostly wrapped with the fingers & palm and opposed by the thumb. During a rotational-swing path, immediately after the intended point of contact, the hand(s) is forced through a rapid ulnar flexion or bending of the wrist to the pinky side of the hand to navigate over the central longitudinal axis of the implement to complete the swing—for this analysis, this moment is referred to as the “transitional phase” of a rotational swing path. As with all rotational swings, compression and friction forces peak in the area of the hypothenar as the hand(s) pass over the central axis of the swinging implement. This is a current and common problem as evidence of these forces is seen in the wear and tear that occurs in the palmer area, specifically the area of the hypothenar, of gloves worn by athletes in golf, baseball, hockey, lacrosse and others. Additional evidence of excessive transitional-phase compression can be found in many orthopedic medical journals—the occurrence of the broken hamate bone, or broken “hook-of-the-hamate” is the resulting injury. The hamate bone is located directly beneath the area of the hypothenar and its location is directly next to path where the ulnar nerve runs. Important to note that the ulnar nerve controls the small and ring fingers—both of which are critical to a firm, stable and productive grip. Both of these key structures for gripping are, by virtue of the rotational-swing, power grip and rapid ulnar flexion, vulnerable to excessive and destabilizing compression forces. With a rotational swing, centrifugal forces pull the swinging implement away from the athlete and the athlete imparts centripetal force to the implement through the hand(s) to maintain grip and a rotation arch of the swing around the body. To prevent the sporting implement from slipping from that hand(s) during the rotational swing, many sporting implements have evolved to incorporate grip-stops or “knobs” of various shapes and sizes—baseball bats have rounded knobs, tangentially oriented to the center axis of the bat, at the end of the handle; golf club handle grips gently flare out at the end, hockey sticks commonly have various sizes of knobs made of tape on the end and lacrosse sticks have rubber or plastic plugs or knobs. Knobs incorporated in all sports swinging implements typically have the entirety of the knob being perpendicular in orientation to the center axis of the sports swinging implement. A perpendicularly-oriented knob, however, is not without its problems; it creates, in effect, a speed bump for the base gripping hand to overcome at the transitional phase of the swing. To-date, some have endeavored to improve grip by creating angled handles and knobs that intentionally deviate from the central axis of the sports stick being swung. This approach, however, is counter-intuitive to the human experience of having the hands grip a swinging implement along a common central longitudinal axis of a stick. The key to accuracy and power in a rotational swing using a “power grip” is proper hand alignment with the central longitudinal axis of the swinging implement. Other ergonomic handles and knobs have been components of greater swinging implements, e.g., tennis racket, baseball bats and others. And while these swinging implements deliver some grip and performance benefits, they do not address the specific structural aspects that occur with different kinds of hollow sticks. When athletes initially grasp a sports swinging implement with their hand using the power grip, the hand is most typically perpendicular to the central axis of the implement and the contact between the hand and knob is evenly distributed from the hypothenar around the knob to the opposing grip of the small or pinky finger. But, during the transitional phase of the swing, the relationship between the knob and the hand changes dramatically. As the hand is forced over the central longitudinal axis of the swinging implement the hand undergoes rapid ulnar flexion resulting in the conventional knob forcefully compressing into the hypothenar area of the base gripping hand creating three major problems:1. A “speed-bump” effect wherein the hand is un-naturally forced over the larger knob thus negatively impacting and slowing down the natural swing thus reducing accuracy, power and hand speed.2. Compression to the ulnar nerve of the base gripping hand, which controls the grip of the pinky and ring fingers, causing potential momentary grip failure as evidenced by thrown bats in baseball and thrown clubs in golf.3. Injuries like broken hamate bones, contusions, wrist strain and nerve damage all of which occur in the areas in and surrounding the hypothenar. In evolutionary terms, the swinging implements used in sports, which require a rotational-swing, are roughly 700 years old—they're still in their formative years compared to their linear-swing-path cousins. As for the hockey stick, it's modern roots date back only to the late 1800s when hockey was first played in Canada—as such it's in its infancy of evolution. Hockey sticks are composed of a straight, mostly rectangular in cross-section, shaft having a longitudinal central axis from the non-blade end of the stick to the point of attachment where the blade is affixed. A complete hockey stick features a flattened blade affixed at its end used to control (handle, pass, maneuver and contact) the puck. Hockey sticks are constructed of various materials—solid wood, aluminum, plastic, composite and more recently with carbon fiber materials resulting in very light and strong sticks with a hollow shaft. To improve grip on the stick, players apply various kinds of tapes and grips along the length of the handle end of the stick. More recently, sticks have been manufactured with a “tacky” surface covering to enhance grip. A common practice among players taping their stick handle, is to create a “knob” on the end of the stick using multiple layers of tape. This practice has been in use for decades and varies with the personal preference of each player. This “knob of tape” aids players in keeping the stick in their hand during play and makes the stick easy to pick up off the ice if dropped. The evolution of the hockey stick has resulted in the predominance of composite sticks made with resins and weaved fibers like fiberglass and carbon used in play. This type of structure has become the preferred standard stick design at virtually all playing levels of hockey. Now, with a hollow opening at the end of the stick, which is typically covered with a plastic or rubber plug, the hockey stick is capable of accepting an extension to lengthen the stick for greater leverage or, as per the knob described herein, an ergonomic knob to improve grip and performance. In some instances, rubber sleeves, which simply replicate the taping of the stick handle, are slipped over the ends of the sticks. This provides a similar solution to the taping but does not provide any additional benefit or support and may well create unwanted compression and resistance in handling the stick. The predominantly rectangular shape of the stick is not conducive to engaging the subtle shapes of the carpal arches and fingers of the gripping hand or the changes that occur in the relationship between the hand and the stick during the course of play where a rotational swing motion is constantly evident. Of particular note, hockey players typically wear out their gloves in the palm (specifically the area of the hypothenar) area of their glove. This wear is the result of constant and considerable friction, compression and torque being applied through the glove by the hand to the stick and the knob of tape as the hand passes back and forth across the central axis of the stick. Some of the solutions to address the gripping of a hockey stick which have been employed, include complete handles and grips, which in essence provide an separate grip structure or handle with which to grasp the end of stick. There are limited options for players to improve grip of their hockey stick-wrapping with tape, creating ridges of tape down the length of the handle or wrapped rotationally around the handle and full add-on handles. However, no solution provides an ergonomic knob that is a smooth extension of the stick which provides structures that support and engage the hand and that work with the changes that occur between the hand and the stick during play as outlined earlier. Therefore there is an unmet need for an effective, simple and elegant solution to enable hockey players to have a more natural and ergonomically correct grip and thus achieve a higher level of performance with their hockey stick through the use of the knob described herein. Lacrosse sticks are composed of a straight handle, a generally elongated-octagonal cross-section shaft having a longitudinal central axis from the grip end of the handle, wherein one end is capped with a plug, with the other end being the point of attachment where the throat of the head is affixed to the handle. A complete lacrosse stick features the handle, rubber plug and a basket-like head with a net, comprised of a pocket and shooting string, made of heavy rope-like webbing. The head end of the stick is used to control (catch, cradle, block and pass) the ball. Lacrosse sticks are mostly constructed of various metals (aluminum) and some plastic and composite sticks are available—most handles feature a hollow shaft. Lacrosse players, for the most part, carry the head of the stick above their waist, whereas hockey players utilize the blade of their stick below their waist. In lacrosse, players “cradle” the ball in the pocket, rolling the stick forward and backward in their hands during play to keep the ball fixed in the pocket. This constant movement of the stick in the hands generates friction and compression in the players hands. Lacrosse gloves are very similar to their larger and heavier padded cousins, the hockey glove, in that they too wear out in the same manor and place—through the power-grip area and over the hypothenar of the hand. While the lacrosse shot is similar to a throwing motion, the principles of a rotational swing apply here, too. The hands cross over the center axis of the lacrosse stick in order to complete the shot. This generates compression forces in the hands during ulnar flexion. Some of the same solutions used in hockey to address the gripping of a hockey stick have been employed in lacrosse and other hollow-stick implements, include wrapping with tape, creating ridges of tape down around the handle or wrapped rotationally around the handle. Lacrosse players have a wide variety of knobs from which to choose from with most or all said knobs having a perpendicular orientation to the center axis of the handle. However, no current knob or grip provides an ergonomic knob that is a smooth extension of the stick which provides structures that support and engage the hand and that works with the changes that occur between the hand and the stick during play as outlined earlier. In regard to lacrosse, while this sport dates back centuries it is used to throw the ball rather than contact it, however many of the same rotational swing principles for gripping and swinging the stick apply. Similarly, much, if not all of the action imparted to a hockey stick via the hand(s), during puck-handling and shooting requires the hand to move back and forth across the central axis of the stick in a more subtle rotational swing path motion. The most pronounced example of a rotational-swing in hockey is the slap shot, wherein the stick is held behind the body then thrust forward until contact with the ice just behind the puck allows the stick to “load”, through flex in the handle, then contact the puck. After contact with the puck has ended the player must roll the stick forward in the hands and around the body—a rotational-path-swing. The hockey stick is a rigid, rectangular structure, similar to that of a lacrosse stick, that when gripped and handled throughout use in play, delivers constant compression to the hypothenar area of the base gripping hand due to the very nature of the power-grip and rotational swing motion. Among the various aspects of the present disclosure is a knob for use in connection with a swinging implement that (i) provides a structure and/or surfaces that cradle and support the greater area of the hypothenar of the hand, (ii) distributes compressive forces across the greater area of the angled cantle-like flange to a broader area of the hand rather than focused on the hamate bone and ulnar nerve, (iii) provides improved contoured gripping structures for the pinky finger to improve overall grip stability throughout a rotational swing, (iv) provides increased effective surface area contact between the swinging implement and the hand across the various palmar arches of the hand resulting in greater swing control and precision, and/or (v) provides an angled, cantle-like flange to properly align with natural limited range of motion of the hand during ulnar flexion. Advantageously, therefore, the knob presented herein provides support, grip and performance. Another aspect of the present disclosure is a knob for insertion into the hollow end of a metallic, polymeric or composite shaft of a sports stick. The knob comprises a tang adapted for insertion into the hollow end and a grip adapted for the hand(s) of a user when the tang is inserted into the hollow end. In one embodiment, the knob comprises an oblique supporting structure, a transitional neck structure and a tang structure—each of which is aligned on a common central longitudinal axis forming the knob. Another aspect of the present disclosure is a knob for support and grip of the hand that includes an upper rounded oblique, cantle-like supporting structure. This ventral cantle-like structure is adapted to engage and cradle the heal of the gripping hand, more specifically the hypothenar of the gripping hand. Another aspect of the present disclosure is a knob for support and grip of the hand that includes a lower rounded oblique gripping structure that engages the small finger of the hand. This dorsal cantle-like structure provides stable engagement structure for the small finger of the gripping hand. Another aspect of the present disclosure is a knob for support and grip of the hand that includes a generally oblique grip end that engages and supports the collective gripping structure of the hand extending from the little finger following along the palmer arches of the hand. Another aspect of the present disclosure is a knob for support and grip of the hand that includes a tang, which is sized to closely fit into the hollow end of a stick, handle or shaft, thus properly securing the greater knob to the stick, handle or shaft. Another aspect of the present disclosure is a knob for support and grip of the hand, wherein the end of the knob is aligned to the central longitudinal axis of the knob, and terminates in an oblique rounded cylinder which is generally parallel to the oblique angle of the flange structure. Another aspect of the present disclosure is a knob for support and grip of the hand, wherein the end of the knob, aligned to the central longitudinal axis of the knob, terminates in a non-oblique rounded cylinder which is generally perpendicular to the central axis of the knob Another aspect of the present disclosure is a knob adapted for insertion into the hollow end of a sports stick, the knob comprising a central longitudinal axis, an imaginary coronal plane, an imaginary sagittal plane, a tang for insertion into the hollow end of the sports stick, a grip adapted for being grasped by the hand of an athlete, and a step between the tang and the grip adapted for abutting the end surface of the hollow end of the sports stick when the tang is inserted therein. The sagittal and coronal planes are mutually orthogonal and intersect along the central longitudinal axis. The grip comprises a grip end distal to the tang, a dorsal cantle region and a ventral cantle region. The dorsal and ventral cantle regions are between the tang and the grip end and are on opposing sides of the imaginary coronal plane. The imaginary sagittal plane intersects and subdivides each of the dorsal and cantle regions, respectively, into two parts. The dorsal and ventral cantle regions each provide a curved support surface for the hand of the athlete when the athlete is gripping the sports stick and have a radius of curvature in the sagittal plane, the radius of curvature of the ventral cantle region being greater than the radius of curvature of the dorsal cantle region. Another aspect of the present disclosure is a knob adapted for insertion into the hollow end of a sports stick, the knob comprising a central longitudinal axis, an imaginary coronal plane, an imaginary sagittal plane, a tang for insertion into the hollow end of the sports stick, a grip adapted for being grasped by the hand of an athlete, and a step between the tang and the grip adapted for abutting the end surface of the hollow end of the sports stick when the tang is inserted therein. The sagittal and coronal planes are mutually orthogonal and intersect along the central longitudinal axis. The grip comprises a grip end distal to the tang, a dorsal cantle region and a ventral cantle region. The dorsal and ventral cantle regions are between the tang and the grip end, are on opposing sides of the imaginary coronal plane, and are bisected by the imaginary sagittal plane. The dorsal and ventral cantle regions each provide a curved support surface for the hand of the athlete when the athlete is gripping the sports stick and have a radius of curvature in the sagittal plane, the radius of curvature of the ventral cantle region being greater than the radius of curvature of the dorsal cantle region. Another aspect of the present disclosure is a knob adapted for insertion into the hollow end of a sports stick, the knob comprising a central longitudinal axis, a tang for insertion into the hollow end of the sports stick, a grip adapted for being grasped by the hand of an athlete, and a step between the tang and the grip adapted for abutting the end surface of the hollow end of the sports stick when the tang is inserted therein. The grip comprises a grip end distal to the tang, a dorsal cantle region and a ventral cantle region, the dorsal and ventral cantle regions being between the tang and the grip end and on opposing sides of an imaginary coronal plane containing the central longitudinal axis and bisected by an imaginary sagittal plane that contains the central longitudinal axis and is orthogonal to the imaginary coronal plane. The dorsal and ventral cantle regions provide curved support surfaces for the hand of the athlete when the athlete is gripping the sports stick, wherein the dorsal cantle region and ventral cantle region are asymmetric relative to each other about the coronal plane. Stated differently, the dorsal and cantle regions are not mirror images of each other. Another aspect of the present disclosure is a knob adapted for insertion into the hollow end of a sports stick, the knob comprising a central longitudinal axis, a tang for insertion into the hollow end of the sports stick and a grip adapted for being grasped by the hand of an athlete. The grip comprises a grip end distal to the tang, a dorsal cantle region and a ventral cantle region, the dorsal and ventral cantle regions being between the tang and the grip end and on opposing sides of an imaginary coronal plane containing the central longitudinal axis and bisected by an imaginary sagittal plane that contains the central longitudinal axis and is orthogonal to the imaginary coronal plane. The dorsal and ventral cantle regions provide curved support surfaces for the hand of the athlete when the athlete is gripping the sports stick, wherein the dorsal cantle region and ventral cantle region are asymmetric relative to each other and the volume of the dorsal cantle region exceeds the volume of the ventral cantle region. Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

11328543

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a national stage application under 35 U.S.C. 371 and claims the benefit of PCT Application No. PCT/EP2017/071785 having an international filing date of 30 Aug. 2017, which designated the United States, which PCT application claimed the benefit of Sweden Patent Application No. 1651182-6 filed 2 Sep. 2016, the disclosure of each of which are incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD The invention relates to a method, an electronic key device, a computer program and a computer program product relating to controlling access to an access object using a key delegation. BACKGROUND There are many types of objects for which it is desirable to control access, herein denoted access objects. For instance, an access object can be a lock for access to a physical space. Alternatively, the access object can be a charge point for an electric vehicle. Alternatively, the access object can be an office device (e.g. photocopier, printer, coffee machine, electrical socket, network connection etc.). Access to such access objects can be controlled by requiring the use of an appropriate electronic key device. The electronic key device can communicate with an access control device over a wireless or wired interface. Such electronic interfaces improve usability while electronic key management is significantly more flexible regarding management of access rights compared to mechanical access control, especially when a local access control device communicates with an access control server to verify access rights for a particular electronic key device. In that way, access for a particular electronic key device can be managed centrally by managing the access rights stored in the access control server. However, there are a number of problems with this approach of central access right management. In particular, the access control device does not have full control over access, since the access is managed centrally. Moreover, such a system is vulnerable if an attacker gains access to the central server, at which point the attacker can modify the system such that any key device can gain access to all connected access objects. There are also offline systems available, where access rights are stored in the access control device or in the key. However, the offline systems are either very simple and non-flexible, or managed by intermittent access to a server, which gives the same vulnerability problems as for an online system, albeit to a less degree. SUMMARY It is an object of embodiments presented herein to provide an improved way to control access to an access object. According to a first aspect, it is provided a method for controlling access to an access object. The method is performed in an electronic key device and comprises the steps of: communicating with an access control device to obtain an identity of the access control device; sending an access request to a server, the access request comprising an identity of the electronic key device and the identity of the access control device; receiving a response from the server, the response comprising a key delegation to the electronic key device; and sending a grant access request to the access control device, the grant access request comprising the key delegation, to allow the access control device to evaluate whether to grant access to the access object based on a plurality of delegations comprising a sequence of delegations covering a delegation path from the access control device to the electronic key device such that, in the sequence of delegations, the delegator of the first delegation is the access control device, and the last delegation is the key delegation, wherein each delegation is a delegation of an access right for the access object from a delegator to a receiver, and each delegation comprises a delegator identifier and a receiver identifier. Each delegation may be of the same data structure. The key delegation may be digitally signed by the delegator of the delegation. The key delegation may comprise a time constraint. The key delegation may comprise an operation constraint. In the step of receiving a response, the response may be based on the server verifying the existence of a user account associated with the identity of the electronic key device. According to a second aspect, it is provided an electronic key device for controlling access to an access object. The electronic key device comprises: a processor; and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the electronic key device to: communicate with an access control device to obtain an identity of the access control device; send an access request to a server, the access request comprising an identity of the electronic key device and the identity of the access control device; receive a response from the server, the response comprising a key delegation to the electronic key device; and send a grant access request to the access control device, the grant access request comprising the key delegation, to allow the access control device to evaluate whether to grant access to the access object based on a plurality of delegations comprising a sequence of delegations covering a delegation path from the access control device to the electronic key device such that, in the sequence of delegations, the delegator of the first delegation is the access control device, and the last delegation is the key delegation, wherein each delegation is a delegation of an access right for the access object from a delegator to a receiver, and each delegation comprises a delegator identifier and a receiver identifier. Each delegation may be of the same data structure. The key delegation may be digitally signed by the delegator of the delegation. The key delegation may comprise a time constraint. The key delegation may comprise an operation constraint. In the step of receiving a response, the response may be based on the server verifying the existence of a user account associated with the identity of the electronic key device. According to a third aspect, it is provided a computer program for controlling access to an access object. The computer program comprises computer program code which, when run on an electronic key device causes the electronic key device to: communicate with an access control device to obtain an identity of the access control device; send an access request to a server, the access request comprising an identity of the electronic key device and the identity of the access control device; receive a response from the server, the response comprising a key delegation to the electronic key device; and send a grant access request to the access control device, the grant access request comprising the key delegation, to allow the access control device to evaluate whether to grant access to the access object based on a plurality of delegations comprising a sequence of delegations covering a delegation path from the access control device to the electronic key device such that, in the sequence of delegations, the delegator of the first delegation is the access control device, and the last delegation is the key delegation, wherein each delegation is a delegation of an access right for the access object from a delegator to a receiver, and each delegation comprises a delegator identifier and a receiver identifier. According to a fourth aspect, it is provided a computer program product comprising a computer program according to the third aspect and a computer readable means on which the computer program is stored. Generally, all terms used in the claims are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the technical field, unless explicitly defined otherwise herein. All references to “a/an/the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc.” are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise. The steps of any method disclosed herein do not have to be performed in the exact order disclosed, unless explicitly stated.

11422012

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims priority from and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0134011, filed on Oct. 25, 2019, which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as if set forth herein. BACKGROUND Field Exemplary embodiments relates to a sensor-cluster apparatus capable of being applied to an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS), and more particularly, to a sensor-cluster apparatus in which an individual sensor is capable of being detached when the individual sensor fails or needs to be replaced. Discussion of the Background With the development of technology, autonomous vehicles are rapidly developing in the vehicle fields for the convenience of living. ‘Autonomous vehicle’ refers to a vehicle which can be driven by itself without any operation by its driver or passengers (Article 2(1-3) of the Korean Automobile Management Act), and various technologies are being developed to enable the autonomous driving. In particular, studies of an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) are underway to complete autonomous driving technology. The ADAS refers to a technology in which the vehicle itself recognizes some (or all) of a number of situations that may occur while driving and determines the recognized situations to control steering, braking, and acceleration/deceleration of the vehicle. The ADAS is a system that encompasses systems such as an autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system by which the vehicle is decelerated or stopped by itself without the driver applying the brakes, a lane keep assist system (LKAS) that automatically adjusts steering when the vehicle leaves the lane, an around view monitor (AVM) system that visually displays the information of the vehicle surroundings, and the like. Thus, the ADAS essentially requires sensors that are capable of detecting and grasping the surrounding environments of the vehicle. The sensors are provided with sensors for recognizing a position of the vehicle and sensors for sensing the driving environments. An inertial measurement unit (IMU), a global positioning system (GPS), and the like are used as the sensors for recognizing the position of the vehicle. Also, a camera sensor, a lidar sensor, a radar sensor, and the like are used for detecting objects and the driving environments. The sensors are installed in a front bumper, a radiator grill, the vicinity of a headlight, a top surface of a roof panel, a trunk lid, etc. of the vehicle, respectively, as illustrated inFIG. 1which illustrates positions of the sensors mounted on the vehicle in accordance with the related art. However, the sensors have a problem that the sensing function is limited depending on the external environments. For example, the camera sensor may be difficult to acquire valid data under a dark environment with no lighting or under severe weather, and the radar sensor may be deteriorated in reliability when radio waves are scattered in accordance with the environment and weather. Therefore, there is a need for heterogeneous sensors to complement data from each other in accordance with the surrounding environments. That is, integration and convergence of different types of sensors have been required. In order to realize the integration and convergence of such sensors, although software that controls the sensors and acquires the data is important, the necessity for physically collecting and arranging the sensors is required. The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and, therefore, it may contain information that does not constitute prior art. SUMMARY Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a sensor-cluster apparatus which is capable of collecting and arranging heterogeneous sensors and in which the sensors are capable of being easily replaced without detaching a body member from a case. Additional features of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. According to one or more exemplary embodiments, a sensor-cluster apparatus including: sensors configured to detect and collect external environment information, the sensors including one or more kinds of sensors; a body member having one surface onto which the sensors are mounted; a case on which the body member is fixed, the case including: an inner space in which the body member is mounted; and an opening defined in one surface thereof exposing the inner space, the sensors are exposed through the opening; and a cover configured to open and close the opening of the case, wherein, the sensors are configured to be detached from the body member through the opening of the case with the body member fixed to the case. The sensors may includes: a camera sensor disposed in the inner space of the case facing the opening, the camera sensor configured to recognize an object in a visible region; an infrared sensor disposed in the inner space of the case facing the opening, the infrared sensor being configured to recognize an object in an infrared region; a lidar sensor disposed in the inner space of the case facing the opening, the lidar sensor configured to map a distance from an object by emitting an optical pulse and detecting a carrier signal reflected from the object; and a radar sensor disposed in the inner space of the case facing the opening, the radar sensor configured to map a distance from the object by emitting electromagnetic waves and detecting the carrier signal reflected from the object. Each of the camera sensor, the infrared sensor, the lidar sensor, and the radar sensor may include a male screw thread disposed on an outer circumferential surface of one distal end, wherein the body member may includes a mounting groove, the mounting groove including a female screw thread disposed on an inner circumferential surface of the mounting groove, and wherein each of the camera sensor, the infrared sensor, the lidar sensor, and the radar sensor may be coupled to the body member by screw-coupling the male screw thread to the female screw thread. Each of the camera sensor, the infrared sensor, the lidar sensor, and the radar sensor may include a flange disposed between both distal ends, the flange having increased diameter, wherein one distal end of each of the camera sensor, the infrared sensor, the lidar sensor, and the radar sensor may be inserted into a mounting groove defined in the body member, and wherein the sensor-cluster apparatus further may include a coupling bolt coupled to the body member passing through the flange and fixed to the body member. The radar sensor and the camera sensor may be disposed at a center of the body member, the camera sensor being disposed above the radar sensor, and wherein the lidar sensor and the infrared sensor may be disposed at respective sides of the body member with the camera sensor and the radar sensor disposed therebetween, the infrared sensor being disposed above the lidar sensor. The radar sensor and the camera sensor may be disposed facing perpendicular to a surface of the body member, the infrared sensor may be disposed facing angled at an angle in the range of equal to or greater than 20 degrees to equal to or less than 70 degrees from the camera sensor, and the lidar sensor may be disposed facing angled at an angle in the range of equal to or greater than 20 degrees to equal to or less than 70 degrees from the radar sensor. The cover may include a material through which infrared rays, visible light, optical pulses, and electromagnetic waves may be transmittable. The cover may be configured to open and close the opening by a sliding device, and the sliding device may include: a motor configured to axially rotate a rotation shaft; a gear assembly configured to convert rotation movement of the rotation shaft into sliding movement; and a slidable part coupled to the cover, the slidable part configured to slide by the gear assembly. The sliding device further may include: a worm gear connected to the rotation shaft; and a worm wheel engaged with the worm. The sliding device further may include: a pinion gear connected to the rotation shaft; and a rack engaged with the pinion. The gear assembly may include a link work configured to convert rotation movement of a driving shaft into sliding movement of a driven shaft, and wherein the rotation shaft may be configured to rotate the driving shaft of the link work, and the driven shaft may be coupled to a sliding part. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

11334163

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings illustrate a number of example embodiments and are a part of the specification. Together with the following description, these drawings demonstrate and explain various principles of the present disclosure. FIG. 1is a plan view of a haptic vibrotactile actuator according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2is a side view of a haptic vibrotactile actuator in an activated state, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3is a plan view of a haptic vibrotactile actuator according to at least one additional embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4is a perspective view of a haptic vibrotactile actuator, according to at least one additional embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5is a plan view of a haptic vibrotactile actuator, according to at least one additional embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 6is a plan view of a haptic vibrotactile actuator including two interleaved flexible electroactive materials, according to at least one additional embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 7is a plan view of a haptic vibrotactile actuator, according to at least one additional embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 8is a side schematic view of a haptic vibrotactile actuator in an activated state, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 9is a block diagram of an artificial-reality system including a haptic vibrotactile actuator, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 10is a flow diagram illustrating a method of fabricating a wearable haptic system according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 11is an illustration of an example artificial-reality headband that may be used in connection with embodiments of this disclosure. FIG. 12is an illustration of example augmented-reality glasses that may be used in connection with embodiments of this disclosure. FIG. 13is an illustration of an example virtual-reality headset that may be used in connection with embodiments of this disclosure. FIG. 14is an illustration of example haptic devices that may be used in connection with embodiments of this disclosure. FIG. 15is an illustration of an example virtual-reality environment according to embodiments of this disclosure. FIG. 16is an illustration of an example augmented-reality environment according to embodiments of this disclosure.

11483557

FIELD The disclosure relates generally to the field of data processing, and more particularly to video encoding and/or decoding (e.g., by a coder, a decoder or a codec (decoder and encoder)). BACKGROUND AOMedia Video 1 (AV1) is an open video coding format designed for video transmissions over the Internet. It was developed as a successor to, for example, codec extensions in the related art. SUMMARY Embodiments relate to a method, system, and computer readable medium for encoding and/or decoding video data. According to one aspect, a method for encoding and/or decoding video data is provided. The method may include receiving video data comprising a chroma component and a luma component; parsing, deriving or selecting a number of presets for the chroma component in one frame, and a number of presets for the luma component in the one frame; and decoding the video data, wherein the method comprises performing a separate Constrained Directional Enhancement Filter (CDEF) process of filtering luma and chroma components independent from each other based on the number of presets for the chroma component in one frame, and the number of presets for the luma component in the one frame. The method may include, when luma and chroma components have different partitioning or semi-decoupled partitioning, perform the separate Constrained Directional Enhancement Filter (CDEF) process of filtering luma and chroma components independent from each other; and obtaining an output of the separate CDEF process that includes the filtered reconstructed samples of luma/chroma components, wherein an input of the separate CDEF process is reconstructed samples of luma/chroma components, an intermediate output of the separate CDEF process includes using the derived filter presets and a per-block level preset index. The number of presets derived for the luma component is different from the number of presets derived for the chroma component at picture level. The number of presets at picture level may include one of: 1, 2, 4, or 8. The number of presets derived and selected for the luma component in the one frame is 2, and the number of presets derived and selected for the chroma component in the one frame is 1. The number of presets derived and selected for luma component is N, which is a positive integer, and the number of presets for chroma component is fixed as 1, which is derived as 1 in the decoder without signaling. The selected preset index for the current luma block is different from a selected preset index for the current chroma block, and an input of the separate CDEF process is luma/chroma reconstructed samples of current block, and the presets derived and selected at frame level. The output of this process is an index indicating which preset is selected for current block. The method may further comprise: when the number of the luma components corresponds to 8 presets and the number of the chroma component corresponds to 4 presets at frame level, select the preset index for a luma block A as 7, and the preset index for a chroma block B as 1, wherein the luma block A and the chroma block B are co-located or partially co-located. The method may further comprise: when deriving a CDEF filtering strength of the chroma component, an input reconstructed sample is determined by current chroma coded block size. The method may further comprise: when current chroma block is of a certain size, an input is chroma reconstructed sample values of a current block having the certain size. The method may further comprise: when separate partitioning or semi de-coupled partitioning is applied to the luma and chroma blocks, luma and chroma blocks still share the same preset index, and only one of the luma or chroma block size is employed in the preset index derivation/signaling process. The method may further comprise: when luma and chroma components have the same coded block size, the CDEF filtering process of luma and chroma components are performed separately. The picture level presets may be signaled separately for luma and chroma components in a high-level parameter set, slice header, picture header, or a Supplementary Enhancement Information (SEI) message. The luma presets may be signaled first, then, chroma presets are signaled. The block level preset indexes are signaled separately for luma and chroma components. The preset indexes of luma component are signaled first, then, preset indexes of chroma component are signaled. A computer system for decoding video data may comprise: one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media configured to store computer program code; and one or more computer processors configured to access said computer program code and operate as instructed by said computer program code, said computer program code including: receiving code configured to cause the one or more computer processors to receive video data comprising a chroma component and a luma component; parsing, deriving or selecting code configured to cause the one or more computer processors to parse, derive or select a number of presets for the chroma component in one frame, and a number of presets for the luma component in the one frame; and decoding code configured to cause the one or more computer processors to decode the video data, wherein the method comprises performing a separate Constrained Directional Enhancement Filter (CDEF) process of filtering luma and chroma components independent from each other based on the number of presets for the chroma component in one frame, and the number of presets for the luma component in the one frame. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a computer program for decoding video data may be configured to cause one or more computer processors to: receive video data comprising a chroma component and a luma component; parse, derive or select code configured to cause the one or more computer processors to parse, derive or select a number of presets for the chroma component in one frame, and a number of presets for the luma component in the one frame; and decode code configured to cause the one or more computer processors to decode the video data, wherein the method comprises performing a separate Constrained Directional Enhancement Filter (CDEF) process of filtering luma and chroma components independent from each other based on the number of presets for the chroma component in one frame, and the number of presets for the luma component in the one frame.

11474877

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a computer system and a scale-out method of the computer system. 2. Description of the Related Art In a data processing infrastructure for executing stationary data analysis by a data processing system built in an on-premises environment, the data processing infrastructure may temporarily become overloaded when an unexpected analysis request is made, and analysis time may become long. In this case, if cloud bursting is executed, it is possible to eliminate the need to secure resources in the on-premises environment according to an unexpected load. The cloud bursting scales out a public cloud (adds (increases) the number of computers (computer resources) that execute data processing). In the cloud bursting, data necessary for data processing needs to be copied from the on-premises environment to the public cloud. However, since there is a limit on the communication bandwidth between the data processing system built in the on-premises environment and the public cloud, it takes time to copy data. Therefore, it may be difficult to cope with an unexpected load in some cases. To deal with this problem, a computer system disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 6815342 (hereinafter, referred to as an “existing system”) copies a part of data from a computer system built in an on-premises environment to a public cloud in cloud bursting. Accordingly, the existing system reduces the time required to copy data and the amount of data to be copied. The existing system determines a part of data to be copied, on the basis of an access history or the like. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION However, in the case where the amount of a part of data to be copied is large in cloud bursting, the copy waiting time until the data copy is completed becomes long in the existing system. Therefore, there is a possibility that the performance is deteriorated due to the copy waiting time in the existing system. As a result, it may be difficult for the existing system to cope with an unexpected load. The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems. That is, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide a computer system and a scale-out method of the computer system that can reduce the possibility of occurrence of performance deterioration in the case where cloud bursting is executed. In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a computer system including a data processing system that is built in a specific environment. The data processing system includes a management node that accepts data processing, a processing cluster that includes a plurality of processing nodes configured to perform, in a distributed manner, the data processing accepted by the management node, and a storage that includes a first data storage area in which data necessary for the data processing is stored. The data processing system is configured to be capable of executing scaling for increasing or decreasing the number of the processing nodes that are resources for executing the data processing in a distributed manner, according to the load of the processing cluster. In the case where the resources of the data processing system become insufficient due to an increase in the load of the processing cluster, the data processing system includes the processing nodes the number of which can be increased or decreased and a storage cluster having a plurality of storage nodes the number of which can be increased or decreased, the data processing system being configured to be capable of executing scale-out for increasing the number of the processing nodes that are the resources for executing the data processing in a distributed manner, in a cloud environment different from the specific environment that can communicate with the data processing system via a network. In the case where the scale-out is executed in the cloud environment, the data processing system starts a data copy process of copying data that is stored in the first data storage area and that is to be used in the data processing, from the first data storage area of the data processing system to a second data storage area of the storage cluster via the network, and executes, during a period of time from a start of the data copy process to an end of the data copy process, the scale-out in the cloud environment by increasing the number of the processing nodes that execute the data processing in a distributed manner while accessing the data stored in the first data storage area of the storage via the network. In addition, the present invention provides a scale-out method of a computer system that is executed by a data processing system built in a specific environment. The data processing system includes a management node that accepts data processing, a processing cluster that includes a plurality of processing nodes configured to perform, in a distributed manner, the data processing accepted by the management node, and a storage that includes a first data storage area in which data necessary for the data processing is stored. The data processing system is configured to be capable of executing scaling for increasing or decreasing the number of the processing nodes that are resources for executing the data processing in a distributed manner, according to the load of the processing cluster. In the case where the resources of the data processing system become insufficient due to an increase in the load of the processing cluster, the data processing system includes the processing nodes the number of which can be increased or decreased and a storage cluster having a plurality of storage nodes the number of which can be increased or decreased, and executes scale-out for increasing the number of the processing nodes that are the resources for executing the data processing in a distributed manner, in a cloud environment different from the specific environment that can communicate with the data processing system via a network. In the case where the scale-out is executed in the cloud environment, the data processing system starts a data copy process of copying data that is stored in the first data storage area and that is to be used in the data processing, from the first data storage area of the data processing system to a second data storage area of the storage cluster via the network, and executes, during a period of time from a start of the data copy process to an end of the data copy process, the scale-out in the cloud environment by increasing the number of the processing nodes that execute the data processing in a distributed manner while accessing the data stored in the first data storage area of the storage via the network. According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the possibility of occurrence of performance deterioration in the case where cloud bursting is executed.

11345526

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 1. Field of the Disclosure The invention relates in general to flexible packaging, and more particularly, to a spout assembly for a flexible bag that is configured to interface with a plurality of different connectors commonly utilized in the dispensing of flowable material from such flexible bags. 2. Background Art The use of flexible packaging is known in the art. Often the flexible packaging comprises a flexible bag having a spout assembly that is positioned within an outer rigid container (such as a box). The flexible bag includes a flowable material such as a liquid, a syrup, a juice, a gel or the like. The spout assembly is coupled to an adapter which is coupled to dispensing equipment. The flowable material is often withdrawn through the dispensing equipment by way of a vacuum or a pump or the like. Any number of different types of adapters are known in the art. Problematically, it is desirable to utilize a single spout that is capable of coupling to a plurality of such adapters. In the case of threaded spouts, due to various issues such as vibration, creep and deformation, it is often the case that the connections can loosen over time and often while still in use. SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE The disclosure is directed to a spout assembly for a flexible bag. The spout assembly includes a base flange, a body and a dual lead thread. The base flange has a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface. At least one of the top surface and the bottom surface are configured for coupling to a flexible bag. The body extends from the base flange away from the top surface of the base flange. The body includes a proximal end corresponding to the base flange and a distal end spaced apart therefrom. The body includes an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface is placeable in fluid communication with a cavity of a flexible bag. The dual lead thread extends along the outer surface of the body between the proximal end and the distal end. The dual lead thread has a first threadform and a second threadform. The first threadform has a first threadform length. The second threadform has a second threadform length. The length of the first threadform is different than that of the second threadform. In some configurations, the first threadform is longer than the second threadform. In some configurations, the first threadform includes an upper portion and a lower portion and the second threadform includes an upper portion and a lower portion. Each upper portion and each lower portion has a length. The length of the upper portion of the first threadform is different than the length of the upper portion of the second threadform. Additionally, the length of the lower portion of the first threadform is different than the length of the lower portion of the second threadform. In some configurations, the length of the upper portion of the first threadform is shorter than the length of the upper portion of the second threadform. Additionally, the length of the lower portion of the first threadform is longer than the length of the lower portion of the second threadform. In some configurations, the upper portion of the first threadform and the second threadform each define an upper threadform thread diameter. Similarly, the lower portion of the first threadform and the lower portion of the second threadform define a lower threadform thread diameter. The upper threadform thread diameter is smaller than the lower threadform thread diameter. In some configurations, the spout further includes an upper body flange spaced apart from the proximal end and the distal end extending about the body of the spout. The first threadform and the second threadform extend along the outer surface of the body between the distal end and the upper body flange. In some configurations, the first threadform and the second threadform terminate at the upper body flange. In some configurations, the upper body flange includes an outer surface, spaced apart from the body of the spout. The first threadform and the second threadform extend over at least a portion of the upper body flange. In some configurations, the spout further comprises a lower body flange extending about the body of the spout. The lower body flange is spaced apart from the base flange and the upper body flange. In some configurations, the base flange, the lower body flange and the upper body flange are substantially parallel to each other. In some configurations, the spout further comprises an upper annular rim flange having an inner seat defining a diameter that is larger than a diameter of the body of the spout. An upstand wall extends away from the proximal end of the spout. An outwardly extending outer portion is positioned at a distal end thereof. In some configurations, the spout assembly has an insert member slidably positionable within the spout. In some configurations, the insert member includes a cylindrical body having an outer surface and an inner surface. The cylindrical body has an inner connector actuating assembly which includes a base web extending across the inner surface of the cylindrical body to cooperatively define a cavity. A connector engagement post extends from the base web toward a top end of the insert member, and spaced apart from the inner surface of the cylindrical body. A connector engagement rib extends between the connector engagement post and the inner surface of the cylindrical body. The engagement rib has an upper surface that is spaced apart from the base web. At least one transverse slot extends from the cavity through the cylindrical body near a bottom end of the cylindrical body. In some configurations, the insert member further includes a plurality of flexible tabs that are hingedly coupled to a top end of the cylindrical body of the insert member. The flexible tabs are configured with a spout surface engageable with the spout and an inner coupling surface engageable with a connector insertable into the insert member. Upon insertion of the insert member into the spout, the flexible tabs are directed inwardly through interaction between the inner surface of the spout and the spout surface of the flexible tabs, to, in turn, be bias-able against the connector insertable into the insert member. In some configurations, the spout further includes a lower spout inward lip positioned at the proximal end of the body. The insert member further includes a lower lip positioned at a bottom end of the outer surface of the cylindrical body. The lower spout inward lip and lower lip of the cylindrical body configured to sealingly engage upon positioning of the insert member into a proper orientation within the spout, to in turn, preclude the passage of a flowable material therethrough. In some configurations, the cylindrical body further includes a plurality of transverse slots extending therethrough, with the transverse slots having a width that is greater than a height thereof, the plurality of transverse slots being positionable beyond the lower spout inward lip to be entirely in fluid communication with the cavity of the flexible bag. In some configurations, a cap is releasably selectively coupled to the spout and the insert member. In some configurations, the cap includes a body with an outer depending skirt and an inner depending skirt. The cap is configured to be coupled to the spout and the insert member in a first configuration upon partial insertion of the insert member within the spout, and in a second configuration upon full insertion of the insert member within the spout. In the first configuration, the outer skirt is configured to interact with the upper annular rim flange. In the second configuration, the flexible tabs engage the inner depending skirt to releasably retain the cap over the spout. The first threadform and the second threadform are positioned so as to be approximately substantially 180° apart. Such a configuration enhances the initial coupling with the two threadforms, and provides a more positive engagement. In some configurations, the bag comprises a pillow type bag having a plurality of panels that are sealed together to form a substantially fluid tight cavity. The spout assembly provides fluid communication therewith.

11294452

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2018-0153737 filed on Dec. 3, 2018, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND 1. Field Various embodiments relate to a method for providing content based on a motion of a user in an electronic device, and the electronic device supporting the method. 2. Description of Related Art With the technical advancement, an electronic device (e.g., a smartphone, etc.) includes various sensors to perform a specific sensing function. The electronic device may use the sensing function to provide content, based on a motion of a user. SUMMARY An electronic device according to various embodiments may include at least one sensor, a display, a processor operatively coupled to the at least one sensor and the display, and a memory operatively coupled to the processor. The memory may store instructions, when executed, for allowing the processor to identify a first body part of a user based on the at least one sensor, identify a virtual region spaced apart by a designated distance from the first body part, based on the identified first body part, and in response to identifying a second body part distinct from the first body part within the virtual region, based on the at least one sensor, change at least part of content displayed on the display based on a position of the second body part within the virtual region. An electronic device according to various embodiments may include at least one sensor, a communication interface, a processor operatively coupled to the at least one sensor and the communication interface, and a memory operatively coupled to the processor. The memory may store instructions, when executed, for allowing the processor to identify an external electronic device distinct from the electronic device via the communication interface, identify a first body part of a user based on the at least one sensor while the content is displayed, identify a virtual region spaced apart by a designated distance from the first body part, in response to identifying the first body part, and in response to identifying a second body part distinct from the first body part within the virtual region, change at least part of the display content based on a position of the second body part within the virtual region, based on the at least one sensor, while the content is displayed. An electronic device according to various embodiments may include at least one sensor, a display, a processor operatively coupled to the at least one sensor and the display, and a memory operatively coupled to the processor. The memory may store instructions, when executed, for allowing the processor to in response to identifying a body part of a user at a first position based on the at least one sensor, display a visual element within the display based on the first position and a motion of the body part of the user spaced apart from the display, identify that the user moves from the first position to a second position while the visual element is displayed, identify the body part of the user who moves to the second position, in response to identifying that the user moves from the first position to the second position, and change a position of a visual element displayed within the display based on the second position and a motion of the body part of the user, in response to identifying the body part of the user who moves to the second position. An electronic device according to various embodiments may provide a method for controlling content based on a motion of a user. An electronic device according to various embodiments may provide a method for controlling content by rapidly detecting a motion of a user even in low illuminance. Advantages acquired in various embodiments of the disclosure are not limited to the aforementioned advantages, and other advantages not mentioned herein can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art to which the disclosure pertains from the following descriptions. Before undertaking the DETAILED DESCRIPTION below, it may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases used throughout this patent document: the terms “include” and “comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation; the term “or,” is inclusive, meaning and/or; the phrases “associated with” and “associated therewith,” as well as derivatives thereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, or the like; and the term “controller” means any device, system or part thereof that controls at least one operation, such a device may be implemented in hardware, firmware or software, or some combination of at least two of the same. It should be noted that the functionality associated with any particular controller may be centralized or distributed, whether locally or remotely. Moreover, various functions described below can be implemented or supported by one or more computer programs, each of which is formed from computer readable program code and embodied in a computer readable medium. The terms “application” and “program” refer to one or more computer programs, software components, sets of instructions, procedures, functions, objects, classes, instances, related data, or a portion thereof adapted for implementation in a suitable computer readable program code. The phrase “computer readable program code” includes any type of computer code, including source code, object code, and executable code. The phrase “computer readable medium” includes any type of medium capable of being accessed by a computer, such as read only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), a hard disk drive, a compact disc (CD), a digital video disc (DVD), or any other type of memory. A “non-transitory” computer readable medium excludes wired, wireless, optical, or other communication links that transport transitory electrical or other signals. A non-transitory computer readable medium includes media where data can be permanently stored and media where data can be stored and later overwritten, such as a rewritable optical disc or an erasable memory device. Definitions for certain words and phrases are provided throughout this patent document. Those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that in many, if not most instances, such definitions apply to prior, as well as future uses of such defined words and phrases.

11510356

FIELD OF THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention are directed generally to ground openers for a seeding machine. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to a support assembly that effectively supports a ground opener during operation. In addition, certain embodiments of the present invention relate to a depth-adjustment assembly for simultaneously adjusting operating depths of a plurality of ground openers of a seeding machine. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Certain agricultural implements, such as disc drills, excavate furrows or trenches in the ground soil so that agricultural products (e.g., seed or fertilizer) can be deposited down into the furrows. Commonly, a disc drill will have a plurality of ground openers attached to a frame of the disc drill. Such a configuration may be used to deposit several parallel rows of agricultural product into the soil as the disc drill is pulled through a field by a tractor or other prime mover. In some applications, each ground opener will include a single opening disc configured to excavate a furrow into the soil surface, one or more agricultural product tubes configured to deposit agricultural product into the furrow formed by the opening disc, a gauge wheel configured to adjust a depth at which the opening disc excavates down into the soil, and a closing wheel configured to fill in the furrow and to pack the displaced soil on top of the agricultural product that was deposited into the furrow. Various types of disc drills have been known to use support assemblies, such as parallel linkage arms, that support the ground openers with respect to the frame of the disc drills. However, such previously-used support assemblies did not effectively and efficiently support and/or distribute the high loads imparted onto the ground openers during operation. As such, various components (e.g., spindles, bearings, etc.) of the previously-used ground openers would experience premature wearing and/or would prematurely fail due to inefficient load distributions. In addition, as noted above, certain previously-used ground openers were known to include gauge wheels for adjusting an operating depth of the ground openers. Specifically, a gauge wheel could be raised and lowered with respect to its associated opening disc so as to establish an operating depth at which the opening disc excavates down into the ground soil to form the furrow. Each of such previously-used ground opener would generally include its own, independent depth-adjustment handle by which an operator could adjust the position of the gauge wheel with respect to the opening disc. As such, for disc drills that included multiple ground openers, adjusting the positions of the gauge wheels for each of the individual ground openers was a difficult and time-consuming process. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a ground-opening apparatus for an agricultural implement. The ground-opening apparatus comprises an opening disc for excavating a furrow in the ground, and a support assembly securing the opening disc to the agricultural implement. The support assembly comprises an upper bar, a lower bar, a forward bar, and a rearward bar. The upper bar and the lower bar extend generally in parallel relationship. The lower bar and the rearward bar are joined at a lower, rearward joint. A rotational axis of the opening disc extends through the lower, rearward joint of the support assembly. In another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an agricultural implement comprising a plurality of ground-opening apparatuses. Each of the ground-opening apparatuses includes an opening disc for excavating a furrow in the ground, and a support assembly securing the opening disc to the agricultural implement. The support assembly comprises an upper bar, a lower bar, a forward bar, and a rearward bar. The upper bar and the lower bar extend generally in parallel relationship. The lower bar and the rearward bar are joined at a lower, rearward joint. A rotational axis of the opening disc extends through the lower, rearward joint of the support assembly. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of forming a furrow with an agricultural implement that includes at least one ground-opening apparatus. The method comprises a step of supporting the ground-opening apparatus by a support assembly that includes an upper bar, a lower bar, a forward bar, and a rearward bar. The upper bar and the lower bar extend generally in parallel relationship. The lower bar and the rearward bar are joined at a lower, rearward joint. The method includes the further step of forming the furrow by excavating the ground soil with an opening disc of the ground-opening apparatus. A rotational axis of the opening disc extends through the lower, rearward joint of the support assembly. 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 to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments and the accompanying drawing figures.

11374830

BACKGROUND Today's 3G, 4G, and LTE networks operate using multiple data centers (“DCs”) that can be distributed across clouds. 5G technology is dramatically increasing network connectivity for all sorts of devices that will need to connect to the Telco network and share the physical network resources. Current network architectures cannot scale to meet these demands. Network slicing is a form of virtualization that allows multiple logical networks to run on top of a shared physical network infrastructure. Using network slicing, the provider can partition the physical network to isolate tenant traffic and configure network resources at a macro level. Each slice can consist of a chain of virtual network functions (“VNFs”) tailored to a particular use case. For example, Internet of Things (“IoT”) devices, mobile broadband devices, and low-latency vehicular devices all need to share the 5G network. These different use cases have different functional requirements. For example, the IoT devices typically have a large number of devices but very low throughput. Mobile broadband will be the opposite, with each device transmitting and receiving high bandwidth content. The performance requirements for a slice can be defined in a service level agreement (“SLA”). For example, the SLA can specify available bandwidth for a slice or maximum allowed packet latency. When multiple slices are allocated to the same physical hardware, these performance requirements can create bottlenecks. For example, the total reserved bandwidth for multiple slices can exceed the bandwidth capabilities of the hardware. Current technologies do not adequately prioritize slices based on quality-of-service (“QoS”) to ensure more important slices maintain their performance requirements. This QoS problem particularly persists for slices spanning multiple clouds. The system may not have full control of the underlying network connecting the clouds. For example, the connection may be a best-effort tunnel across the internet. Even when the system has more control over the network, a need exists to further minimize required resources used by the network service. For example, a multiprotocol label switching (“MPLS”) network may allow reserving bandwidth along a label switched path, but the bandwidth requirements of a slice may vary over time. A fixed bandwidth reservation will waste resources during periods of low utilization. This in turn limits the number of slices that the network can support. As a result, a need exists for new systems to enforce QoS for slices. SUMMARY Examples described herein include systems and methods for dynamically changing allocated bandwidth in a way that recognizes slice priority levels, enforcing slice QoS. Slice multiplexers can be used to anchor inter-cloud tunnels across different clouds in a slice path. The slice multiplexers can dynamically change a total allocated bandwidth of an outer tunnel and reconfigure relative slice bandwidths of inner tunnels. This can result in an optimized bandwidth allocation that enforces slice priorities, maintains required SLA performance levels, and minimizes total allocated bandwidth on the network connection. The dynamic changes can be based on slice priority levels, total number of slices, and historical slice throughput. In one example, an orchestrator process creates a network connection between first and second slice multiplexers at different clouds. The network connection can be an inter-cloud tunnel or can include links across an MPLS network. The orchestrator, an agent on a server, or one of the slice multiplexers can determine that a first slice is utilizing less bandwidth across the network connection than the minimum specified in an SLA. Based on that determination, the slice multiplexer can reconfigure to increase the allocated bandwidth of other slices though the slice multiplexer based on the underutilization of the first slice. The relative increase can be based on slice priority level of the other slices. In addition, the slice multiplexer can change a total allocated bandwidth for all slices, allowing for a reduction in total network bandwidth allocation. The slice multiplexer, an agent, or the orchestrator can compare a current bandwidth use of the network connection to the total allocated bandwidth. The current bandwidth accounts for the usage of the first and second slices, among any other slices using the multiplexer. Based on the comparison, the multiplexer can change the total allowed bandwidth of the network connection by setting limits at the first and second multiplexers. In effect, the multiplexer can enforce a new total allotted bandwidth. This can be less than a sum of minimum SLA bandwidth requirements, allowing for cost savings and also freeing up network bandwidth for other uses. The slice priority levels of the first and second slices can be used in determining the new total allowed bandwidth for the network connection. For example, slice priority can be used as a weighting factor against the minimum SLA required bandwidth for that slice. A higher priority slice can be given a weighting factor closer to 1 relative to a lower priority slice, which can be given a weighting factor closer to 0. The new total allowed bandwidth can also be based on historical slice throughput. If a slice historically does not use its allocated minimum SLA bandwidth, then the weighting factor can be further reduced. The new total allowed bandwidth can also be adjusted based on the number of slices utilizing the network connection through the slice multiplexers. The probability of all slices needing their optimum bandwidth reservation at the same time is inversely proportional to the number of slices. Therefore, as the number of slices increases, more reduction is acceptable for the new total allocated bandwidth. To utilize the same slice multiplexers with multiple tenants, the orchestrator can set a crossbar switch to route packets between multiple slice multiplexers. The network connection can be an intercloud tunnel having an outer tunnel and multiple inner tunnels. The inner tunnels can correspond to different slices. To change the total allowed bandwidth, the slice multiplexers can enforce new limits on the outer tunnel. To change relative allowed slice throughputs, the multiplexers can enforce limits on the inner tunnels. The reconfigured limits at the first multiplexer can be mirrored at the peer slice multiplexer (e.g., second slice multiplexer). In one example, the network connection can include a path through an MPLS network. The orchestrator can select different paths based on links in the MPLS network. These links can be changed to reroute the network connection based on which links reach bandwidth capacity. These stages can be performed by virtual components in one or more clouds that follow a method, in an example. The stages can be part of a system that includes, for example, an orchestrator that programs the slice multiplexers or causes an agent in the cloud to carry out the stages. Alternatively, a non-transitory, computer-readable medium including instructions can cause a processor at the switch to perform the stages when the processor executes the instructions. The term “switch” can broadly refer to any device performing network functionality, such as a server, router, or host. Both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the examples, as claimed.

11499769

BACKGROUND Field of the Invention This application is directed, in general, to heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems (HVAC) and, more specifically, to systems and methods for protection and control of compressors, including protection and control of compressors configured for tandem operation. Description of the Related Art Long term compressor reliability is a critical concern in HVAC systems. Compressor reliability is improved through implementation of control methods designed to protect the compressor of an HVAC system. The operating life of a compressor may be greatly improved through implementation of protection and control logic that avoids operation of the compressors during unsafe conditions. Compressor protection and control may be more difficult in certain types of HVAC systems. For example, some HVAC systems utilize one or more compressors configured for operation as tandem compressors. Advantageously, tandem compressors may allow for more efficient HVAC system operation over a broad demand range. A tandem compressor HVAC system may, for example, efficiently meet a partial load demand by operating only one compressor from among the tandem compressor group to meet the partial load demand. The tandem compressor HVAC system may also provide for a greater full load capacity, as the multiple compressors within the tandem compressor group may be simultaneously operated to meet large demands on the HVAC system. Importantly, tandem compressors may share common refrigerant piping. Specifically, the suction pipe leg for each tandem compressor may diverge from a single, common suction pipe. Similarly, the discharge pipe leg for each tandem compressor may converge into a single, common discharge pipe. A common means for monitoring operation and performance of a compressor as part of a protection and control method may utilize sensed pressures of refrigerant entering into, and discharged from, the compressor. This means of separately monitoring the operation of a single compressor may be useful in HVAC systems implemented with a single compressor. Refrigerant pressure monitoring may not be effective, however, for separately monitoring the operation of a single compressor within a tandem compressor group. Since the tandem compressors may share common piping, separately sensing the refrigerant pressures corresponding to a particular compressor of a tandem compressor group may not be possible. The refrigerant pressures corresponding to each compressor of a tandem compressor group may equalize through the common piping accessing each tandem compressor. Another means for monitoring operation and performance of a compressor as part of a compressor protection and control method may utilize sensed temperatures of refrigerant within, and discharged from, the compressor. The refrigerant temperature values may be indicative of the performance of the specific compressor to which they correspond. Refrigerant temperature monitoring may be an effective means of separately monitoring the operation and performance of a compressor, whether the compressor is configured as a single compressor within the HVAC system or is part of a tandem compressor group. Importantly, regarding tandem compressors, the refrigerant temperatures corresponding to a particular compressor within a tandem compressor group may be separately sensed at the compressor sump and discharge port. The temperature of refrigerant within, and at the discharge port of, a particular compressor of a tandem compressor group may not equalize through the common piping shared by each compressor of the tandem compressor group. Refrigerant temperature monitoring may, therefore, be particularly useful for compressor monitoring, protection, and control and may be implemented within HVAC systems having a single compressor or tandem compressors. In either single or tandem compressor systems, important refrigerant temperature conditions indicating operation and performance conditions within a particular compressor are the saturation temperature of refrigerant within the HVAC system and the temperature of refrigerant at the compressor sump. Commonly, the saturation temperature of refrigerant within the HVAC system is determined by correlating a sensed refrigerant pressure value, which may be sensed using one or more pressure transducers, to a corresponding saturation temperature of the refrigerant. SUMMARY In accordance with the present invention, systems and methods for protecting and controlling the operation of a compressor are provided. A first system may comprise a first compressor which may comprise a first sump and may be in fluid communication with a common suction pipe. The first system may comprise a first sensor which may couple to the first compressor. The first sensor may transmit a first signal to a location remote to the first sensor. The first signal may indicate at least one temperature value of refrigerant substantially at the first sump. The first system may comprise an evaporator which may couple to a first distributor tube at an inlet of the evaporator. The evaporator may be in fluid communication with the common suction pipe at an outlet of the evaporator. The first system may comprise a second sensor which may couple to the first distributor tube. The second sensor may transmit a second signal to a location remote to the second sensor. The second signal may indicate at least one temperature value of refrigerant within the first distributor tube. The first system may comprise a controller which may be operable to receive the second signal. The controller may determine an estimated saturated suction temperature based at least in part upon the at least one temperature value indicated by the second signal. The controller may be further operable to receive the first signal and determine a first super heat value based at least in part upon the estimated saturated suction temperature and the at least one temperature value of refrigerant substantially at the first sump indicated by the first signal. The controller may be further operable to generate a first control signal configured to switch the first compressor to a de-energized state from an energized state if the first super heat value is less than a first tolerance value. A second system may comprise a first compressor which may comprise a first sump and may be in fluid communication with a common suction pipe. The second system may comprise a first thermistor which may couple to the first compressor. The first thermistor may transmit a first signal to a location remote to the first thermistor, indicating at least one temperature value of refrigerant substantially at the first sump. The second system may comprise an evaporator which may couple to a first distributor tube at an inlet of the evaporator. The evaporator may be in fluid communication with the common suction pipe at an outlet of the evaporator. The second system may comprise a second sensor which may couple to the first distributor tube. The second sensor may transmit a second signal to a location remote to the second sensor, indicating at least one temperature value of refrigerant within the first distributor tube. The second system may comprise a second compressor which may comprise a second sump and may be in fluid communication with a common suction pipe. A second thermistor may couple to the second compressor. The second thermistor may transmit a third signal to a location remote to the second thermistor, indicating at least one temperature value of refrigerant substantially at the second sump. The second system may comprise a controller which may be operable to receive the second signal. The controller may determine an estimated saturated suction temperature based at least in part upon the at least one temperature value indicated by the second signal. The controller may be further operable to receive the first signal and determine a first super heat value. The first super heat value may be the difference between the at least one temperature value of refrigerant substantially at the first sump indicated by the first signal and the estimated saturated suction temperature. The controller may be further operable to receive the third signal and determine a second super heat value. The second super heat value may be the difference between the at least one temperature value of refrigerant substantially at the second sump indicated by the third signal and the estimated saturated suction temperature. The controller may be further operable to generate a first control signal configured to switch the first compressor to a de-energized state from an energized state if the first super heat value is less than a first tolerance value. The controller may be further operable to generate a second control signal configured to switch the second compressor to a de-energized state from an energized state if the second super heat value is less than a second tolerance value. A first method for controlling a compressor of an HVAC system is provided. A first sensor may couple to a first compressor. The first compressor may comprise a first sump and may be in fluid communication with a common suction pipe. The first sensor may transmit a first signal to a location remote to the first sensor indicating at least one temperature value of refrigerant substantially at the first sump. A second sensor may couple to a first distributor tube. The second sensor may transmit a second signal to a location remote to the second sensor indicating at least one temperature value of refrigerant within the first distributor tube. The first distributor tube may couple to an inlet of an evaporator. The evaporator may be operatively coupled to be in fluid communication with the common suction pipe at an outlet of the evaporator. A controller may be operable to receive the second signal from the second sensor. The controller may determine an estimated saturated suction temperature based on at least the at least one temperature value indicated by the second signal. The controller may be operable to receive the first signal from the first sensor. The controller may determine a first super heat value based at least in part upon at least the estimated saturated suction temperature and the at least one temperature value indicated by the first signal. The controller may be operable to generate a first control signal configured to switch the first compressor from an energized to a de-energized state if the first super heat value is below a first tolerance value. Advantageously, the apparatus and method provided may provide a cost-effective means for ascertaining the saturation temperature of refrigerant within an HVAC system as well as for ascertaining the super heat temperature value for refrigerant within a compressor. The super heat temperature value may be used for separately monitoring a particular compressor for use in protecting and controlling the compressor. Advantageously, the apparatus and method provided, herein, may be implemented in an HVAC system provided with a single compressor or in an HVAC system provided with tandem compressors. The refrigerant super heat temperature values derived using the apparatus and method provided, herein, may be utilized as part protection and control methods for ensuring that a compressor, whether a single compressor or a tandem compressor, is not operated in unsafe conditions. The apparatus and method provided, herein, may prolong the working life of a compressor of an HVAC system.

11222074

BACKGROUND This disclosure relates to the layout and augmentation of hierarchical structures representing project information, including projects themselves and related information; to exploration through hierarchical structures; and to maintenance of those structures when modified in a collaborative setting. SUMMARY In some embodiments, this disclosure provides a method, when augmenting a DAG (possibly a tree) that presents entities of at least two kinds and for which one entity of the first (independent) kind may be directly associated with an entity of the second (dependent) kind, for extending this relation such that every entity of the second kind is indirectly associated with one entity of the first kind. In some embodiments, this disclosure provides a method, when navigating a DAG such that one or more locus nodes are central, for providing access to information that is neither strictly in the substructure of the locus nodes nor strictly in their context, but rather is inherited into the substructure via an association with the context. Moreover, top-down augmentation of such inherited structure implies refinement of that structure with respect to one or more locus nodes that inherit that structure, in a manner that we will define more precisely. It may also be appropriate to inherit information into the context via association with the substructure. Likewise, bottom-up augmentation of such inherited structure implies refinement of that structure with respect to one or more locus nodes that inherit that structure. Alternatively, top-down augmentation of a node in the context may imply generalization of the preceding context with respect to the relevant locus nodes. Some embodiments described herein first represent a state of navigation of a DAG as either one or a pair of logical trees (one for substructure and another, inverted, for context), as is initially done for “A Method for Exploration of Hierarchical Structures and Representation of Context Thereof”, or using Venn diagrams or any other means, and then augments the substructure with additional information inherited from the context (or vice versa). Upon augmentation of such inherited structure, the native substructure is built out as necessary with refinements of inherited structure, initially with respect to the locus nodes and continuing incrementally with respect to the recently added native substructure. The process is similar for augmenting context with information inherited from the substructure. This disclosure includes other related aspects of DAGs presenting project information and their augmentation. Furthermore, this disclosure provides a method, when navigating a DAG, for constraining a subDAG and its context so that they can be visualized and focused on as a tree, such that any entity is only represented by a single node in the visualization at any point in time. In some embodiments, we describe three operations: tree initialization, node expansion, and node collapse. A preliminary process to tree initialization, tree construction, is relevant for the Static Lifetime Strategy; the Dynamic Lifetime Strategy incorporates node construction into the initialization process. The latter two operations support exploration of the hierarchy and may potentially apply to either substructure nodes or context nodes. From the locus node or any visible substructure node, e.g., we might expand or collapse to view or hide, respectively, deeper substructure, and from the locus node or any visible context node we might expand or collapse to view or hide, respectively, more lofty context. The disclosure also provides a method for regulating the set of locus nodes by selecting and deselecting facet values and revealing the common ancestors and descendants of the various locus nodes. This disclosure, in a simplified exposition, first represents a state of navigation of a DAG as a pair of logical trees (for substructure and context) and then represents these in a substrate tree. Then, in a more complex exposition, it first represents a state of navigation of a DAG-forest as a sequence of pairs of logical trees (for substructure and context, with substructures potentially overlapping with substructures and contexts potentially overlapping with contexts) and then represents these in a substrate tree. Some embodiments maintain the state of the frontier of expansion of substructure or context, or both, so that a single user action applied to substructure nodes (along with the locus node) can expand or collapse that node's substructure, and a single user action applied to context nodes (along with the locus node) can expand or collapse that node's context. One key insight is that upon expanding substructure or context for a node, it is necessary to automatically collapse any potentially conflicting substructure or context, respectively. Another key insight is that substructure and context can be represented as a nested sequence of lists of two varieties to facilitate visualization of common descendants and ancestors, respectively, as will be described herein. References to parents and children of entities refer to the underlying DAG. References to parents and children that specifically mention substructure or context generally refer to the corresponding logical tree. References to parents and children of nodes otherwise refer to an abstracted substrate tree and must be adapted to apply to HTML or any other particular substrate tree. Additionally, some embodiments maintain system history by arranging change records in a DAG, not by explicit branching and merging directives, but by branching and merging on the basis of the content that is affected by each change, so that distinct content is modified in separate branches while the same content must be modified sequentially. Some embodiments may also maintain the visibility of system data such that different views of the global DAG are provided depending on the role of a user with respect to a project (or related project in the hierarchy) or the user's prior history in creating or modifying the entities involved. The configuration of system data is dependent upon relationships that may be formed between users. In various embodiments, a method is presented for allowing a user to safely and efficiently jointly specialize one or more nodes in a DAG, each of which shares a common ancestor with a locus node, while associating the new refining node with a locus node, by presenting the nodes to be refined as inherited descendants of the locus node; a method for allowing a user to safely and efficiently jointly generalize one or more nodes in a DAG, each of which shares a common ancestor with a node, while associating the new refined node with the common ancestor, by treating the refining nodes as locus nodes and initiating the operation from the common ancestor. In various embodiments, a method is presented for allowing a user to explore a hierarchical structure in the form of a directed acyclic graph such that one or more nodes are distinguished as loci. Descendants of locus nodes can be explored as a tree and ancestors of locus nodes can be explored as an inverted tree. As some nodes are expanded, others are collapsed such that any entity is only represented by a single visible node. Where the same entity is reached through the ancestors or descendants of multiple locus nodes, that entity is represented by a single node. In various embodiments, a method is presented for allowing various users to coordinate their access to and modifications of project structure that allows rollbacks via a hierarchy-based user interface of sequential changes to particular independently generated content without disturbing other content and supports intuitive merging of conflicting changes. Various embodiments provide systems, methods, and non-transitory computer readable medium for graphically representing a portion of a directed acyclic graph as a hierarchical tree structure to facilitate user collaboration over a communication network. The systems, methods, and computer readable medium may be configured to perform obtaining a collaborative project shared among a plurality of users over a communication network, the collaborative project represented by a directed acyclic graph structure comprising a plurality of entities and a plurality of associations, the plurality of entities including one or more locus entities, each of the one or more locus entities associated with a locus node from which descendant entities, in the directed acyclic graph, of each locus entity are traversed as a tree structure, each child node in the tree indicating a respective entity related as a child in the directed acyclic graph to the entity of its parent in the tree; and expanding a subtree rooted at a leaf node of the tree in response to user input. Various embodiments provide systems, methods, and non-transitory computer readable medium for graphically representing a portion of a directed acyclic graph as a hierarchical tree structure to facilitate user collaboration over a communication network. The systems, methods, and computer readable medium may be configured to perform obtaining a collaborative project shared among a plurality of users over a communication network, the collaborative project represented by a directed acyclic graph structure comprising a plurality of entities and a plurality of associations, the plurality of entities including one or more locus entities, each of the one or more locus entities associated with a locus node from which ancestor entities in the directed acyclic graph of each locus entity are traversed as an inverted tree structure, each child node in the inverted tree indicating a respective entity related as a parent in the directed acyclic graph to the entity of its parent in the inverted tree; and expanding a subtree rooted at a leaf node of the inverted tree in response to user input. In some embodiments, the systems, methods, and non-transitory computer readable medium are configured to collapse the subtrees rooted at least one other node of the tree in response to the expanding the at least one node of the plurality of nodes in response to the user input, thereby allowing a particular entity of the plurality of entities to be graphically represented by a single visible node of the plurality of nodes. In some embodiments, the systems, methods, and non-transitory computer readable medium are configured to collapse the subtrees rooted at least one other node of the inverted tree in response to the expanding the at least one node of the plurality of nodes in response to the user input, thereby allowing a particular entity of the plurality of entities to be graphically represented by at most a single visible node of the plurality of nodes. In some embodiments, some entities are associated with any of one or more files, one or more progress reports each covering a time period, one or more records of contributions to the project, related entities that can be set as locus nodes whose substructure can be explored by a user, or other auxiliary data; and the systems, methods, and non-transitory computer readable medium are configured to display an aggregation of any of the one or more files, progress reports each covering a time period, one or more records of contributions to the project, or any other auxiliary data associated with the particular entities indicated by each visible node. In some embodiments, entities are each of a particular kind and associations are each of a particular kind, one such kind of association being refinement; and where at least one proper refinement ancestor of one or more of the locus entities is further associated with one or more other descendants that are not descendants of the corresponding one or more locus entities, and the one or more other descendants are represented distinctly as inherited descendants of the corresponding one or more locus nodes indicating the respective one or more locus entities. In some embodiments, entities are each of a particular kind and associations are each of a particular kind, one such kind of association being refinement; and the systems, methods, and non-transitory computer readable medium are configured to cause an augmentation of the directed acyclic graph by a first operation, the first operation adding a new node to the plurality of nodes, the first operation initiated from a particular node of the plurality of nodes, the new node appearing as a child of the particular node; and creating a new entity associated with the new node and an association between the new entity and the particular entity, the kinds of the new node and association based on the first operation. In some embodiments, entities are each of a particular kind and associations are each of a particular kind, one such kind of association being refinement; and the systems, methods, and non-transitory computer readable medium are configured to perform, upon initiation by a user from an initiating inherited node from among the plurality of nodes, connected to a locus node by a path comprised of inherited nodes, of a restatement operation or of a second operation to be performed upon the final restating node of the path and as a precursor to that second operation, for each inherited node on the path from the locus node, exclusive of the locus node: creating a restating entity; creating a first association between the restating entity and the entity indicated by the locus node, wherein the first association being of the same kind as the association between the inherited entity and the proper refinement ancestor, if the locus node is the parent of the inherited node, or between the restating entity and the result of restating the parent of the inherited node along the path, wherein the first association being of the same kind as the association between the entity indicated by the inherited node and the entity indicated by its parent node, if the locus node is not the parent of the inherited node; and creating a second association between the restating entity and the inherited entity being restated, wherein the restating entity refines the inherited entity being restated. In some embodiments, entities are each of a particular kind and associations are each of a particular kind, one such kind of association being refinement; and the systems, methods, and non-transitory computer readable medium are configured to perform, upon initiation by a user from an initiating inherited node from among the plurality of nodes, connected to a locus node by a path comprised of inherited and noninherited nodes, of a restatement operation or of a second operation to be performed upon the final restating node of the path and as a precursor to that second operation, for each node on the path from the locus node, exclusive of the locus node: creating a restating entity if the path node was inherited; creating a first association, if the parent of the path node was inherited or is the locus node, between the restating entity if the path node was inherited or else the path node and either the entity indicated by the locus node, wherein the first association being of the same kind as the association between the path entity and the proper refinement ancestor, if the locus node is the parent of the path node or the result of restating the parent of the path node along the path, wherein the first association being of the same kind as the association between the entity indicated by the path node and the entity indicated by its parent node, if the locus node is not the parent of the path node; and creating a second association, if the path node was inherited, between the restating entity and the inherited path entity being restated wherein the restating entity refines the inherited path entity being restated. In some embodiments, entities are each of a particular kind and associations are each of a particular kind, one such kind of association being refinement; and the systems, methods, and non-transitory computer readable medium are configured to perform, upon initiation by a user from a plurality of inherited initiating nodes from among the plurality of nodes, each inherited initiating node connected to a locus node by a corresponding path comprised of inherited nodes of a restatement operation or of a second operation to be performed upon the final restating nodes of each path and as a precursor to that second operation, for each node on any path from among the plurality of paths, exclusive of the locus node: creating a restating entity; creating a first association between the restating entity and the entity indicated by the locus node, wherein the first association being of the same kind as the association between the inherited entity and the proper refinement ancestor, if the locus node is the parent of the inherited node, or between the restating entity and the result of restating the parent of the inherited node along the corresponding path, wherein the first association being of the same kind as the association between the entity indicated by the inherited node and the entity indicated by its parent node, if the locus node is not the parent of the inherited node; and creating a second association between the restating entity and the inherited entity being restated wherein the restating entity refines the inherited entity being restated. In some embodiments, the at least one other child may be associated with one or more descendants that are not descendants of the locus node, and the one or more descendants are represented distinctly as inherited descendants of the locus node; and the at least one other child is associated with one or more descendants that are not descendants of the locus node, and the descendants may include a restating refinement; and the restating node and its descendants may be excluded from the inherited descendants of the locus node. In some embodiments, the at least one other child is associated with one or more descendants that are not descendants of the locus node, and the one or more descendants may be represented distinctly as inherited descendants of the locus node; and the at least one other child may be restated by a descendant of the locus node; and the other child may be excluded from the inherited descendants of the locus node. In some embodiments, entities are each of a particular kind and associations are each of a particular kind, one such kind of association being refinement; and the systems, methods, and non-transitory computer readable medium are configured to cause an augmentation of the directed acyclic graph by a first operation, the first operation adding a new node to the plurality of nodes, the first operation initiated from a particular node of the plurality of nodes, the new node appearing as a child within the inverted tree of the particular node; and creating a new entity associated with the new node and an association between the new entity and the particular entity, the kind of the new node being the same as the kind of the particular node and the kind of the association being refinement, with the particular node refining the new node. In some embodiments, entities are each of a particular kind and associations are each of a particular kind, one such kind of association being refinement; and the systems, methods, and non-transitory computer readable medium are configured to perform upon initiation of an operation by a user from an initiating context node from among the plurality of nodes, for each of a plurality of context nodes on the path between the initiating context node and the corresponding locus node, exclusive of the initiating context node: creating a generalizing entity, the kind of the new entity being the same as the kind of the context node; creating a first association between the generalizing entity and the entity indicated by the initiating context node, wherein the first association being of the same kind as the association between the context entity and the entity indicated by the initiating context node, if the context node is the parent within the inverted tree of the initiating context node, wherein the first association being of the same kind as the association between the entity indicated by the context node and the entity indicated by its child node within the inverted tree, if the context node is not the parent within the inverted tree of the initiating context node; and creating a second association between the generalizing entity and the entity indicated by the context node wherein the generalizing entity is refined by the entity indicated by the context node. In some embodiments, the inverted tree structures are formed within a forest structure comprising a plurality of tree structures, such that each tree structure comprises two lists presented in a substrate tree by nesting one within the other: a first list of tree structures a second list of nodes, wherein: all nodes in any second list except the last node have no children in the substrate tree; locus nodes have no siblings or children in the substrate tree; the entities indicated by each node in any second list are parents in the directed acyclic graph of the first child in the substrate tree's second list of each child in the substrate tree's first list of the last node in the second list. In some embodiments, the tree structures are formed within a forest structure comprising a plurality of tree structures, such that each tree structure comprises two lists presented in a substrate tree by nesting one within the other: a first list of tree structures including a designated node a second list of nodes, wherein: each entity indicated by a node in any second list has no children and is a child in the directed acyclic graph of the entity indicated by the designated node of their parent tree structure in the substrate tree the outermost tree structures have lists of only locus nodes; the entity indicated by the designated node of each tree structure in any first list are children in the directed acyclic graph of the entity indicated by the designated node of the parent of their parent in the substrate tree. In some embodiments, entities are each of a particular kind and associations are each of a particular kind, one such kind of association being refinement; and the systems, methods, and non-transitory computer readable medium are configured to perform upon initiation of an operation by a user from an initiating context node from among the plurality of nodes, for each of a plurality of context nodes on any path through the substrate tree between the initiating context node and a locus node, exclusive of the initiating context node, comprising the first element of each first list other than that including the initiating context node: creating a generalizing entity; creating a first association between the generalizing entity and the entity indicated by the initiating context node, wherein the first association being of the same kind as the association between the context entity and the entity indicated by the initiating context node if the context node is the parent within the inverted tree of the initiating context node, wherein the first association being of the same kind as the association between the entity indicated by the context node and the entity indicated by its child node within the inverted tree, if the context node is not the parent within the inverted tree of the initiating context node; and creating a second association between the generalizing entity and the entity indicated by the context node wherein the generalizing entity is refined by the entity indicated by the context node. In some embodiments, the created generalizing refinements comprise restatements. Various embodiments provide systems, methods, and non-transitory computer readable medium for graphically representing a portion of a directed acyclic graph as a hierarchical tree structure to facilitate user collaboration over a communication network. The systems, methods, and non-transitory computer readable medium may be configured to perform obtaining a collaborative project shared among a plurality of users over a communication network, the collaborative project represented by a directed acyclic graph structure comprising a plurality of entities each of a particular kind and a plurality of associations, each of a particular kind, one such kind being refinement, the plurality of entities including at least one locus entity, each of the at least one locus entity is associated with a locus node from which descendant entities, in the directed acyclic graph, of each locus entity are traversed as a tree structure, each child node in the tree indicating a respective entity related as a child in the directed acyclic graph to the entity of its parent in the tree, such that where at least one proper refinement ancestor of one or more of the locus entities is further associated with one or more other descendants that are not descendants of the corresponding one or more locus entities, and each of the at least one other descendants is represented distinctly as an inherited descendant of the corresponding at least one locus node indicating the at least one locus entity; and expanding a subtree rooted at a leaf node of the tree in response to user input.

11528875

BACKGROUND The goal of hybrid development is to combine, in a single hybrid, various desirable traits. For field crops, these traits may include resistance to diseases and insects, resistance to heat and drought, reducing the time to crop maturity, greater yield, and better agronomic quality. With mechanical harvesting of many crops, uniformity of plant characteristics such as germination, stand establishment, growth rate, maturity, and plant and ear height is important. Traditional plant breeding is an important tool in developing new and improved commercial crops. SUMMARY Provided is a novel maize,Zea maysL., variety, seed, plant, cells and its parts designated as X85P992, produced by crossing two maize inbred varieties. The hybrid maize variety X85P992, the seed, the plant and its parts produced from the seed, and variants, mutants and minor modifications of maize X85P992 are provided. Processes are provided for making a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X85P992 through locus conversion, backcrossing and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant parts produced thereby. Methods for producing maize varieties derived from hybrid maize variety X85P992 are also provided. Also provided are maize plants having all the physiological and morphological characteristics of the hybrid maize variety X85P992. The hybrid maize plant may further comprise a cytoplasmic or nuclear factor capable of conferring male sterility or otherwise preventing self-pollination, such as by self-incompatibility. Parts of the maize plants disclosed herein are also provided, for example, pollen obtained from a hybrid plant and an ovule of the hybrid plant. Seed of the hybrid maize variety X85P992 is provided and may be provided as a population of maize seed of the variety designated X85P992. Compositions are provided comprising a seed of maize variety X85P992 comprised in plant seed growth media. In certain embodiments, the plant seed growth media is a soil or synthetic cultivation medium. In specific embodiments, the growth medium may be comprised in a container or may, for example, be soil in a field. Hybrid maize variety X85P992 is provided comprising an added heritable trait. The heritable trait may be a genetic locus that is a dominant or recessive allele. In certain embodiments, the genetic locus confers traits such as, for example, male sterility, waxy starch, reduced lignin, herbicide tolerance or resistance, insect resistance, resistance to bacterial, fungal, nematode or viral disease, and altered or modified fatty acid, phytate, protein or carbohydrate metabolism. The genetic locus may be a naturally occurring maize gene introduced into the genome of a parent of the variety by backcrossing, a natural or induced mutation, or a transgene introduced through genetic transformation techniques. When introduced through transformation, a genetic locus may comprise one or more transgenes integrated at a single chromosomal location. A hybrid maize plant of the variety designated X85P992 is provided, wherein a cytoplasmically-inherited trait has been introduced into the hybrid plant. Such cytoplasmically-inherited traits are passed to progeny through the female parent in a particular cross. An exemplary cytoplasmically-inherited trait is the male sterility trait. Cytoplasmic-male sterility (CMS) is a pollen abortion phenomenon determined by the interaction between the genes in the cytoplasm and the nucleus. Alteration in the mitochondrial genome and the lack of restorer genes in the nucleus will lead to pollen abortion. With either a normal cytoplasm or the presence of restorer gene(s) in the nucleus, the plant will produce pollen normally. A CMS plant can be pollinated by a maintainer version of the same variety, which has a normal cytoplasm but lacks the restorer gene(s) in the nucleus, and continues to be male sterile in the next generation. The male fertility of a CMS plant can be restored by a restorer version of the same variety, which must have the restorer gene(s) in the nucleus. With the restorer gene(s) in the nucleus, the offspring of the male-sterile plant can produce normal pollen grains and propagate. A cytoplasmically inherited trait may be a naturally occurring maize trait or a trait introduced through genetic transformation techniques. A tissue culture of regenerable cells of a plant of variety X85P992 is provided. The tissue culture can be capable of regenerating plants capable of expressing all of the physiological and morphological or phenotypic characteristics of the variety and of regenerating plants having substantially the same genotype as other plants of the variety. Examples of some of the physiological and morphological characteristics of the variety X85P992 that may be assessed include characteristics related to yield, maturity, and kernel quality. The regenerable cells in such tissue cultures can be derived, for example, from embryos, meristematic cells, immature tassels, microspores, pollen, leaves, anthers, roots, root tips, silk, flowers, kernels, ears, cobs, husks, or stalks, or from callus or protoplasts derived from those tissues. Maize plants regenerated from the tissue cultures and plants having all or essentially all of the physiological and morphological characteristics of variety X85P992 are also provided. A method of producing hybrid maize seed comprising crossing a plant of variety PH4358 with a plant of variety PH1M7A. In a cross, either parent may serve as the male or female. Processes are also provided for producing maize seeds or plants, which processes generally comprise crossing a first parent maize plant as a male or female parent with a second parent maize plant, wherein at least one of the first or second parent maize plants is a plant of the variety designated X85P992. In such crossing, either parent may serve as the male or female parent. These processes may be further exemplified as processes for preparing hybrid maize seed or plants, wherein a first hybrid maize plant is crossed with a second maize plant of a different, distinct variety to provide a hybrid that has, as one of its parents, the hybrid maize plant variety X85P992. In these processes, crossing will result in the production of seed. The seed production occurs regardless of whether the seed is collected or not. In some embodiments, the first step in “crossing” comprises planting, often in pollinating proximity, seeds of a first and second parent maize plant, and in many cases, seeds of a first maize plant and a second, distinct maize plant. Where the plants are not in pollinating proximity, pollination can nevertheless be accomplished by other means, such as by transferring a pollen or tassel bag from one plant to the other. A second step comprises cultivating or growing the seeds of said first and second parent maize plants into plants that bear flowers (maize bears both male flowers (tassels) and female flowers (silks) in separate anatomical structures on the same plant). A third step comprises preventing self-pollination of the plants, i.e., preventing the silks of a plant from being fertilized by any plant of the same variety, including the same plant. This can be done, for example, by emasculating the male flowers of the first or second parent maize plant, (i.e., treating or manipulating the flowers so as to prevent pollen production, in order to produce an emasculated parent maize plant). Self-incompatibility systems may also be used in some hybrid crops for the same purpose. Self-incompatible plants still shed viable pollen and can pollinate plants of other varieties but are incapable of pollinating themselves or other plants of the same variety. A fourth step may comprise allowing cross-pollination to occur between the first and second parent maize plants. When the plants are not in pollinating proximity, this can be done by placing a bag, usually paper or glassine, over the tassels of the first plant and another bag over the silks of the incipient ear on the second plant. The bags are left in place for at least 24 hours. Since pollen is viable for less than 24 hours, this assures that the silks are not pollinated from other pollen sources, that any stray pollen on the tassels of the first plant is dead, and that the only pollen transferred comes from the first plant. The pollen bag over the tassel of the first plant is then shaken vigorously to enhance release of pollen from the tassels, and the shoot bag is removed from the silks of the incipient ear on the second plant. Finally, the pollen bag is removed from the tassel of the first plant and is placed over the silks of the incipient ear of the second plant, shaken again and left in place. Yet another step comprises harvesting the seeds from at least one of the parent maize plants. The harvested seed can be grown to produce a maize plant or hybrid maize plant. Maize seed and plants are provided that are produced by a process that comprises crossing a first parent maize plant with a second parent maize plant, wherein at least one of the first or second parent maize plants is a plant of the variety designated X85P992. Maize seed and plants produced by the process are first generation hybrid maize seed and plants produced by crossing an inbred with another, distinct inbred. Seed of an F1 hybrid maize plant, an F1 hybrid maize plant and seed thereof, specifically the hybrid variety designated X85P992 is provided. Plants described herein can be analyzed by their “genetic complement.” This term is used to refer to the aggregate of nucleotide sequences, the expression of which defines the phenotype of, for example, a maize plant, or a cell or tissue of that plant. A genetic complement thus represents the genetic makeup of a cell, tissue or plant. Provided are maize plant cells that have a genetic complement in accordance with the maize plant cells disclosed herein, and plants, seeds and diploid plants containing such cells. Plant genetic complements may be assessed by genetic marker profiles, and by the expression of phenotypic traits that are characteristic of the expression of the genetic complement, e.g., isozyme typing profiles. It is understood that variety X85P992 could be identified by any of the many well-known techniques used for genetic profiling disclosed herein.

11225127

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an air blower device of an air-conditioning system for a vehicle having an electric precipitator and a controlling method thereof, and more particularly, to an air blower device of an air-conditioning system for a vehicle, which includes an electric dust collector inserted into an insertion part of a blower case and is capable of being opened and closed by a cover so as to effectively enhance comfort of the vehicle by an electric dust collection filter without any transformation of the existing blower case, and which supplies electric power to a filter unit of the electric dust collector after checking a driver's approach so as to prevent that dust collected in the filter unit is supplied to the interior of the vehicle when being removed from the filter unit, and a controlling method thereof. BACKGROUND ART An air conditioner for a vehicle is an apparatus which inhales indoor air and outdoor air of a vehicle and cools or heats the inhaled air through a heat exchanger and blows the heat-exchanged air to the interior of the vehicle so as to maintain the interior of the vehicle at a proper temperature in the summer season or the winter season or to secure a driver's front and rear visual fields by removing frost from windows of the vehicle in the rainy season or the winter season. In the meantime, the interior of the vehicle is easy to be polluted because it is small and sealed, and is more polluted because of fine dust and various pollutants in downtown areas. Particularly, due to a continuous increase in a distribution rate of vehicles and an increase of the time when people are inside vehicles, studies for maintaining comfort of the interior of the vehicle have been making. As an example for showing purification of the interior of a vehicle, Korean Patent Laid-open No. 10-2004-97758 discloses an air cleaner for a vehicle which sterilizes microorganisms collected during an air cleaning process so as to make flow in cleaner air to the interior of the vehicle. As shown inFIG. 1, the air cleaner for a vehicle includes: a case50which has a suction port51and an exhaust port52; a first filter60which is mounted in rear of the suction port51to collect foreign matters or dust; an electrostatic dust collector70for adsorbing fine dust using electrical discharge; a second filter90which is mounted in front of the exhaust port52of the case50and is coated with photocatalyst to decompose organic materials and sterilize harmful microorganisms; and an ultraviolet lamp80which is mounted between the electrostatic dust collector70and the second filter90to activate the photocatalyst of the second filter90. Such an air cleaner for the vehicle sterilizes harmful microorganisms using the photocatalyst activated by ultraviolet rays of the ultraviolet lamp and removes causes of bad smell through decomposition of organic materials. The air flown in through the suction port51of the case50is filtered while passing through the first filter60. The first filter60mainly filters coarse-grained dust. The first filtered air flows into the electrostatic dust collector70. When electricity is supplied through a power supply unit73, fine dust particles charged by a discharge electrode71are adsorbed to a dust collection electrode72. Therefore, the fine dust passing the first filter is removed by the electrostatic dust collector70. While the air passing through the electrostatic dust collector70flows to the second filter90, microorganisms, such as germs or molds, contained in the air are sterilized by ultraviolet rays radiated from the ultraviolet lamp80. Moreover, the second filter90decomposes organic materials, such as ammonia, using the photocatalyst activated by the ultraviolet rays radiated from the ultraviolet lamp80so as to prevent generation of bad smell and to sterilize and remove harmful microorganisms, such as germs or molds, contained in the collected fine dust. Therefore, the air exhausted through the exhaust port52of the case50becomes purified air from which dust and harmful microorganisms are removed. That is, the air cleaner for the vehicle uses filters of various kinds to which fine dust is collected or complexly uses the filters and an ultraviolet lamp for sterilization. However, the filters for collecting fine dust are divided into a filter for filtering particles above specific diameter using a dust filter, a filter for collecting germs, molds and bad smell generation factors using an activated carbon filter, and a filter for collecting dust after discharging electricity so that dust has specific electric charge. The first and second filters need to be replaced with new filters because removing dust by dust collection. However, the third filter of the electrostatic dust collection type does not need to be replaced with a new one and can effectively remove even small-sized particles. FIG. 2illustrates dust collection of the electrostatic dust collector70which is the filter of the electrostatic dust collection type. InFIG. 2, the electrostatic dust collector70includes: an electric charge unit71which has a discharge board71aand a discharge pin71bfor charging dust (D) with electricity by corona discharge; and a dust collection unit72for collecting the dust (D′) charged through the electric charge unit71. However, the electrostatic dust collector illustrated inFIG. 2generates electromagnetic noise and ozone at a sharp end portion of the electric discharge pin due to electric charge by corona discharge. Because electromagnetic noise interrupts operation of various devices inside the vehicle and ozone is harmful to human bodies, the electrostatic dust collector needs additional means for removing electromagnetic noise and ozone. Korean Patent No. 10-0505276 (entitled “Air cleaner for vehicle published on Nov. 18, 2004) SUMMARY Accordingly, the present invention has been made in an effort to solve the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior arts, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an air blower device of an air-conditioning system for a vehicle which includes an electric dust collector inserted into an insertion part of a blower case and is capable of being opened and closed by a cover so as to effectively enhance comfort of the vehicle by an electric dust collection filter without any transformation of the existing blower case. It is another object of the present invention to provide an air blower device of an air-conditioning system for a vehicle in which an electric dust collector capable of preventing generation of ozone harmful to human bodies and collecting fine dust is easy to be detachably mounted to a blower case and which allows a user to easily inspect and to easily replace the filter with a new one. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method of controlling an electric dust collector for a vehicle which supplies electric power to a filter unit of the electric dust collector after checking a driver's approach so as to prevent that dust collected in the filter unit is supplied to the interior of the vehicle when being removed from the filter unit, thereby enhancing a passenger's comfort more. To achieve the above objects, the present invention provides an air blower device of an air-conditioning system for a vehicle including: a blower case which includes a duct part having an indoor air inlet and an outdoor air inlet, an air blowing part connected with an inlet of an air-conditioning case and a connection part for connecting the duct part with the air blowing part, the connection part having an insertion part of which the certain area is hollowed; an indoor and outdoor air converting door which is disposed inside the duct part of the blower case to open and close the indoor air inlet and the outdoor air inlet; an air blower which is disposed inside the air blowing part of the blower case to forcedly blow air; an electric dust collector which is located at the connection part through the insertion part of the blower case; and a cover for opening and closing the insertion part of the blower case. The electric dust collector is inserted into the insertion part of the blower case and is capable of being opened and closed by the cover, thereby enhancing comfort of the vehicle by the electric dust collection filter without transformation of the existing blower case. The electric dust collector includes a filter unit, an electric charger unit arranged at the upper side of the filter unit, and a high voltage supply unit for applying high voltage to the filter unit and the electric charger unit. Moreover, the air blower device of the air-conditioning system for the vehicle includes an electric charger unit mounted on the blower case, and the electric dust collector includes a filter unit for collecting dust charged with electricity through the electric charger unit and a high voltage supply unit for applying high voltage to the electric charger unit and the filter unit. Furthermore, the high voltage supply unit has a connector for connecting electric power to the vehicle at ordinary times. In this instance, the cover has a hollow hole of which the certain area is hollowed so that the high voltage supply unit of the electric dust collector protrudes to the outside of the blower case. That is, in a state where the insertion part is closed, because the electric charger unit is exposed to the outside through the hollow hole, the electric dust collector can be mounted without transformation of the existing blower case and it is easy to connect electric power to the high voltage supply unit. Additionally, the air blower device of the air-conditioning system for the vehicle includes a fixing part formed on the blower case or the cover so that the blower case and the cover are fixed to each other. Particularly, the air blower device of the air-conditioning system for the vehicle includes: a coupling hole formed at one side of the blower case; a protrusion part formed at one side of the cover to correspond with the coupling hole; and a fixing part formed at the other side of the blower case or the cover, so that the blower case and the cover are fixed to each other by the fixing part when the protrusion part of the cover rotates on an axis of a portion where the protrusion part is inserted into the coupling hole. In more detail, in connection with the electric dust collector, the filter unit includes: a filter housing; and a filter member which is formed in such a way that a plurality of dust collection plates respectively having conductive surfaces are laminated in many folds and is formed such that air can move inside the filter housing. The electric charger unit includes: an electric charger housing; a first electrode part mounted inside the electric charger housing; and a second electrode part mounted to be spaced apart from the first electrode part inside the electric charger housing. Particularly, the first electrode part has a plurality of through holes formed in a flat board of a conductive material, and the second electrode part includes: a frame; and an electric charge pin protruding from the frame toward the center of the through holes of the first electrode part. Moreover, the high voltage supply unit can apply high voltage to another high voltage using device mounted in the vehicle. That is, the high voltage supply unit can simplify configuration of vehicle parts because applying high voltage to units requiring high voltage, for instance, an anion generator, as well as being used for the electric dust collector. Furthermore, the filter housing and the electric charger housing may be formed integrally in the electric dust collector. In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a controlling method of an electric dust collector of an air blower device of an air-conditioning system for a vehicle including the steps of: determining a driver's approach; and supplying electric power to a filter unit when it is determined that the driver approaches the vehicle in the approach determining step, so that it is prevented that the dust collected to the filter unit is supplied to the interior of the vehicle because the dust collected to the filter unit is detached from the filter unit. Additionally, the approach determining step determines that the driver approaches the vehicle when a key sensor disposed in the vehicle is sensed. Moreover, the approach determining step determines that the driver approaches the vehicle when a vehicle door is opened. Furthermore, after the filter unit power supplying step, the controlling method of the electric dust collector for the vehicle further includes the steps of: checking a running state and a stopped state of the vehicle; and cutting off power supply to the filter unit when it is checked that the vehicle is stopped after running in the driving checking step. As described above, the air blower device of the air-conditioning system for the vehicle according to the present invention includes the electric dust collector inserted into the insertion part of the blower case and is capable of being opened and closed by the cover so as to effectively enhance comfort of the vehicle by an electric dust collection filter without any transformation of the existing blower case. Particularly, the air blower device of the air-conditioning system for the vehicle according to the present invention has several advantages in that the electric dust collector capable of preventing generation of ozone harmful to human bodies and collecting fine dust is easy to be detachably mounted to the blower case and allows the user to easily inspect and to easily replace the filter with a new one. Furthermore, the air blower device of the method of controlling the electric dust collector for a vehicle which supplies electric power to a filter unit of the electric dust collector after checking a driver's approach so as to prevent that dust collected in the filter unit is supplied to the interior of the vehicle when being removed from the filter unit, thereby enhancing a passenger's comfort more.

11234385

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various types of ceramic pots and vessels for supporting plant growth are known in the prior art. Most enclose a volume to support a potting medium. The present invention, however, does not require soil or other potting medium, enabling growth and proliferation of plants across an exterior surface of the ceramic apparatus itself. U.S. Pat. No. 5,549,500 presents a decorative animalian figurine, designed to be augmented by plant growth to simulate hair. However, the figurine requires a body of plant life nutrient material and generally maintains seeds and roots in contact with this granular nutrient material. To like effect, U.S. Pat. No. 6,298,599 also requires potting soil or other potting medium to support the plant and enable feeding. The well-known CHIA PET®, created by Joseph Enterprises, Inc., of San Francisco, Calif., does enable germination of particular seeds of the genusSalviaon an exterior surface of a ceramic body. However, the seeds themselves provide the anchoring mechanism and germinate within the haphazard grooves and pits provided in the surface by creation of a gel-like paste when wet, rather than by action of germinated roots themselves (see for example the teaching in U.S. Pat. No. 5,549,500 in this regard, a principal motivation in in the inventor devising his invention). Thus, plants other thanSalvia hispanicaandSalvia columbariaeare generally unsuited for use with the CHIA PET®, which is particularly adapted to exploit this gel-paste engendered by seeds of speciesS. hispanicaandS. columbariae. What is needed is a tessellated ceramic apparatus for plant growth that includes an exterior surface having a plurality of tessellated indentations thereupon wherein seeds may be housed without necessarily forming a gel-paste, and which exterior surface facilitates the anchoring of roots thereupon, to support plant growth of various species upon the exterior surface, while enabling the diffusion of water from an associated water storage volume through the porosity of the ceramic apparatus to become available for plants proliferating upon the exterior surface. Further, controlling plant growth along tessellations and between glazed, glossy, or otherwise sealed portions of the exterior surface enables creation of elaborate living designs rendered by the plant growth. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a tessellated ceramic apparatus for root growth, and more particularly, to a tessellated ceramic apparatus for plant growth that combines an associated water storage volume to diffuse water in a regulated manner to an exterior surface and thereby feed plants growing upon the exterior surface without the use of soil or other potting media. The present tessellated ceramic apparatus for plant growth may further enable growth of plants into elaborate designs and geometric arrays by inhibiting plant growth upon some portions of the exterior surface while encouraging growth on others. Further, the exterior surface may employ a plurality of tessellated indentations wherein seeds may be supportively upheld until germination therein whereby various species of plants may be germinated and grown upon the present invention simply by addition of water to the associated water storage volume. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present tessellated ceramic apparatus for plant growth has been devised to enable growth of plants upon an exterior surface of the ceramic apparatus. The ceramic apparatus is porous and enables sourcing of water through the apparatus to flora growing on the exterior surface. The exterior surface has a plurality of tessellated indentations there disposed to enable anchoring of roots over the uneven surface, as well as to provide a seat for seeds therein previous to germination. The term “tessellated”, as used herein throughout, is taken to mean a regular or irregular pattern of geometric indentations disposed across the exterior surface. Regular or irregular shapes, ordered or unordered in arrangement, are contemplated as within the scope of the term. Textural features, such as smaller-scale ridges, grooves, indentations, and other regular or irregular surface features, disposed across, upon, and within the tessellated indentations, may further inform the exterior surface, providing greater textural variety and facility for root anchoring thereupon. The tessellated ceramic apparatus for plant growth therefore establishes plant growth by the simple addition of water to a water storage volume which, in example embodiments contemplated herein, is coextensive with an interior volume of the ceramic apparatus and alternately disposed in osmotic communication with the ceramic apparatus. Water therefore is osmotically conveyed through pores in the ceramic apparatus to feed plants growing over the exterior surface. The form of the plurality of indented tessellations into geometric arrays of ordered and unordered shapes, and additionally disposed relative glazed, glossy, or sealed parts of the exterior surface, may control and/or direct the growth of the plant(s) over the exterior surface to correspond with specific designs. Glossed, glazed, or sealed parts of the exterior surface may be oriented as part of a design, to prevent outflow of water therethrough, whereby plant growth is inhibited over glazed, gloss, smooth, or sealed areas upon the exterior surface. As a result, geometric arrays may be informed and visually signaled by the plant growth. Multiple embodiments of the present tessellated ceramic apparatus for plant growth are contemplated herein. A first embodiment contemplates a tile embodiment. The tile embodiment is essentially a parallelepiped expanse wherein the exterior surface with the plurality of tessellated indentations is disposed as an obverse surface. A reverse surface may be glazed, glossed, or sealed, to prevent transfer of water therethrough and control waterflow to the obverse surface. The plurality of tessellated indentations is sufficient to house seeds therein and maintain seeds therein when the tile embodiment is disposed upon a vertical surface. In this embodiment, the water storage volume may be disposed along one edge of the tile embodiment whereby water is drawn via capillary action and osmotic pressure through the tile to become available to the seeds and/or plants with roots contacting the exterior surface. Alternately the water storage volume may be coextensive with an interior volume disposed within the tile embodiment whereby osmosis occurs through to the exterior surface. In the case of the latter embodiment, the tile embodiment includes an impermeable base member whereby water poured into the interior volume osmotically travels to the exterior surface and then, under the influence of gravity, drains thereinto. The base member may be attachable to the bottom edge of the tile embodiment and a lid member may enclose the interior volume to prevent evaporation of water stored therein. The tile embodiment thus produces a verdant growth and may be used in conjunction with additional tile embodiments to decorate an area of a wall, for example. Another embodiment of the present invention includes a vase embodiment. The vase embodiment includes an interior volume bounded by the exterior surface and a base portion. The interior volume is coextensive with the water storage volume in the vase embodiment, whereby water is poured into the interior volume for storage. The water in the interior volume exerts hydrostatic pressure and osmotically travels through to the exterior surface to become available to seeds and plants growing upon the exterior surface. To lessen evaporation from the interior volume, the vase embodiment may include a lid member to sealably enclose the interior volume. In the vase embodiments, the exterior surface likewise includes a plurality of tessellated indentations wherein seeds and root growth are supported. In some embodiments the exterior surface may include regions of glazed, glossed or sealed areas whereby growth of the plant thereupon is inhibited, and growth of the plant is conformed to particular geometric arrays suggestive of a particular design, say. Thus, in some embodiments, the plurality of indentations may define a particular geometric pattern, such as interconnected lines in a star motif, as an example illustrated herein among other potential embodiments within the contemplation of a person of ordinary skill, whereby the lines are rendered verdant by the germination and growth of plants therein. Additional and other geometric patterns and arrays are contemplated as part of this disclosure, as should be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. A preferred embodiment of the vase embodiment is conical and includes a graduated cross-section having a minimum thickness most proximal an open top and a maximum thickness most proximal to the base portion. The thickness of the ceramic apparatus is devised to render a constant outflow of water from the interior volume, whereby the increased pressure at the base of the interior volume due to the water head is accommodated by a longer distance through the pores of the ceramic apparatus to reach the exterior surface. Seeds and plants growing upon the exterior surface therefore are exposed to the same rate of osmotic travel and the resulting water availability no matter where on the exterior surface disposed, as long as the interior volume is suitably filled with water. In all embodiments, then, a user may simply add water to the water storage volume and enjoy a proliferation of verdure across the exterior surface of the ceramic apparatus. Thus has been broadly outlined the more important features of the present tessellated ceramic apparatus for plant growth so that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. Objects of the present tessellated ceramic apparatus for plant growth, along with various novel features that characterize the invention are particularly pointed out in the claims forming a part of this disclosure. For better understanding of the tessellated ceramic apparatus for plant growth, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, refer to the accompanying drawings and description.

11490270

BACKGROUND Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to wireless communication systems, and more particularly, to beamforming communications. Wireless communication systems are widely deployed to provide various types of communication content such as voice, video, packet data, messaging, broadcast, and so on. These systems may be multiple-access systems capable of supporting communication with multiple users by sharing the available system resources (e.g., time, frequency, and power). Examples of such multiple-access systems include code-division multiple access (CDMA) systems, time-division multiple access (TDMA) systems, frequency-division multiple access (FDMA) systems, and orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) systems, and single-carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) systems. These multiple access technologies have been adopted in various telecommunication standards to provide a common protocol that enables different wireless devices to communicate on a municipal, national, regional, and even global level. For example, a fifth generation (5G) wireless communications technology (which can be referred to as 5G new radio (5G NR)) is envisaged to expand and support diverse usage scenarios and applications with respect to current mobile network generations. In an aspect, 5G communications technology can include: enhanced mobile broadband addressing human-centric use cases for access to multimedia content, services and data; ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC) with certain specifications for latency and reliability; and massive machine type communications, which can allow a very large number of connected devices and transmission of a relatively low volume of non-delay-sensitive information. As the demand for mobile broadband access continues to increase, however, further improvements in 5G communications technology and beyond may be desired. In some wireless communication technologies, such as 5G, nodes communicating with one another can beamform communications such as transmit signals in certain spatial directions and/or receive signals in certain spatial directions to improve hearability and/or quality of the communications. For example, the nodes can apply a beamforming matrix to selectively apply power to antenna resources to obtain the spatial direction for transmitting and/or receiving signals. In addition, nodes can periodically measure signals in different beam directions to determine a desirable beam to use in communicating with one or more other nodes. SUMMARY The following presents a simplified summary of one or more aspects in order to provide a basic understanding of such aspects. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated aspects, and is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of all aspects nor delineate the scope of any or all aspects. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more aspects in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. According to an aspect, a method of wireless communication is provided. The method includes performing a serving beam switch from a first serving beam to a second serving beam, and switching, for an inter-frequency procedure and based on one or more spatial correlation parameters associated with the first serving beam and second serving beam, from a first inter-frequency beam to a second inter-frequency beam to use in the inter-frequency procedure. In a further aspect, an apparatus for wireless communication is provided that includes a transceiver, a memory configured to store instructions, and one or more processors communicatively coupled with the transceiver and the memory. The one or more processors are configured to execute the instructions to perform the operations of methods and examples described above and further herein. In another aspect, an apparatus for wireless communication is provided that includes means for performing the operations of methods and examples described above and further herein. In yet another aspect, a computer-readable medium is provided including code executable by one or more processors to perform the operations of methods and examples described above and further herein. In another aspect, an apparatus for wireless communication is provided that includes a transceiver, a memory configured to store instructions, and one or more processors communicatively coupled with the transceiver and the memory. The one or more processors are configured to perform a serving beam switch from a first serving beam to a second serving beam, and switch, for an inter-frequency procedure and based on one or more spatial correlation parameters associated with the first serving beam and the second serving beam, from a first inter-frequency beam to a second inter-frequency beam to use in performing the inter-frequency procedure. In another aspect, an apparatus for wireless communication is provided that includes means for performing a serving beam switch from a first serving beam to a second serving beam, and means for switching, for an inter-frequency procedure and based on one or more spatial correlation parameters associated with the first serving beam and the second serving beam, from a first inter-frequency beam to a second inter-frequency beam to use in performing the inter-frequency procedure. In another aspect, a computer-readable medium including code executable by one or more processors for wireless communication is provided. The code includes code for performing a serving beam switch from a first serving beam to a second serving beam, and switching, for an inter-frequency procedure and based on one or more spatial correlation parameters associated with the first serving beam and the second serving beam, from a first inter-frequency beam to a second inter-frequency beam to use in performing the inter-frequency procedure. To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the one or more aspects comprise the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims. The following description and the annexed drawings set forth in detail certain illustrative features of the one or more aspects. These features are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of various aspects may be employed, and this description is intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents.

11449312

TECHNICAL FIELD The following relates generally to executing process workflows. BACKGROUND As digital systems and user or process requirements for these systems become more complicated and demanding, business process management becomes more challenging and complicated to implement. It is typically found that few (if any) existing tools are capable of adapting to generic and intrinsic items normally required in these business processes. For example, a business process may require sequential checks, gates, and approvals as well as data enrichment, aggregation, and appending. These tasks can require customize programming and can increase complexities in the end product or service. Other challenges can be introduced because of document parsing, document matching, data distribution and transmission, time series analyses, and web publishing.

11277736

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention generally relates to wireless communication devices that use remote SIM to establish wireless carrier connections, and more particularly to select a plurality of remote SIMs and establish the wireless carrier connections through a plurality of wireless communication modules. BACKGROUND ART A wireless communication device, such as a cellular router, provides communication services to other devices. The wireless communication device may establish a wireless carrier connection and then allow the other devices to send and receive data over the wireless carrier connection. In order to establish wireless carrier connections, one or more subscriber identity module (SIM) cards are used. When the wireless communication device moves to another location, a different SIM card may be required. Further, when the data quota of a SIM card is used up or about to be used up, another different SIM card may be swapped with the SIM card. Also, when a SIM card is out-of-order, a new SIM will be required to replace the SIM card. There is a myriad of reasons why a SIM card may need to be replaced at the wireless communication device. One of the solutions is to use remote SIM. The remote SIM is placed at SIM bank. The wireless communication device communicates with the SIM bank over a logic data connection in order to use the remote SIM; and the logical data connection is established over the already established wireless carrier connection. In case there is disruption, at the logical data connection or/and at the wireless carrier connection, communications with the SIM bank may be affected adversely. Then a remote SIM that has been being used may become unavailable. In such circumstances, the wireless communication device will not be able to provide communication services to other devices. SUMMARY OF INVENTION The present invention discloses a method to select subscriber identity module (SIM) card at a wireless communication device. The selection comprises: establish a starter wireless carrier connection using a starter local SIM. Then, a starter authentication connection is established between the wireless communication device and a SIM bank. When the starter authentication connection is established, select a first local SIM or a first remote SIM from the SIM bank to establish a first wireless carrier connection. After that, disconnect the starter wireless carrier connection. A second local SIM or a second remote SIM is selected from the SIM bank to establish a second wireless carrier connection. Finally, communication service is provided to devices connected to the wireless communication device over one of or both of the first wireless carrier connection and second wireless carrier connection.

11410474

BACKGROUND Augmented reality (AR) may refer to a live view of a physical, real-world environment that is modified by a computing device to enhance an individual's current perception of reality. In augmented reality, elements of the real-world environment are “augmented” by computer-generated or extracted input, such as sound, video, graphics, haptics, global positioning system (GPS) data, and/or the like. Augmented reality may be used to enhance and/or enrich the individual's experience with the real-world environment.

11359479

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT Not applicable. TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to hydraulic fracture completions. BACKGROUND The hydrocarbon industry recovers hydrocarbons that are trapped in subsurface reservoirs (also known as subsurface formations). The hydrocarbons can be recovered by drilling wellbores (also known as wells) into the reservoirs and the hydrocarbons are able to flow from the reservoirs into the wellbores and up to the surface.FIG. 1Aillustrates one example with heterogenous or poor fluid distribution in each cluster creating non-equal fracture geometry. Moreover, multiple studies have shown that heel-ward bias of proppant and fluid occurs. Inefficient fracture placement results in understimulated reservoir, poor production and recovery, fracture hit and interference, and inefficient reservoir management. Efforts to overcome these challenges have been largely trial and error. Thus, there exists a need in the area hydraulic fracture completions. SUMMARY Embodiments of determining a hydraulic fracture completion configuration for a wellbore that extends through a subterranean formation are provided herein. One embodiment of a computer-implemented method of determining a hydraulic fracture completion configuration for a wellbore that extends through a subterranean formation comprising: calculating a stress profile across a plurality of perforation clusters within a fracture stage of the wellbore; and calculating a fracture pressure parameter for each perforation cluster of the plurality of perforation clusters within the fracture stage of the wellbore as a function of the stress profile across the plurality of perforation clusters within the fracture stage, a perforation friction that accounts for perforation hole erosion, a fracture net pressure, and a fracture closure pressure. The embodiment further comprises determining a quantity of perforation clusters in the plurality of the perforation clusters within the fracture stage, a quantity of perforation holes for each perforation cluster of the plurality of perforation clusters within the fracture stage, a diameter of the perforation holes for each perforation cluster of the plurality of perforation clusters within the fracture stage, a spacing between each perforation cluster of the plurality of perforation clusters within the fracture stage, an injection distribution across the plurality of perforation clusters within the fracture stage, or any combination thereof, for the hydraulic fracture completion configuration based on the calculated fracture pressure parameters. One embodiment of a computer system comprises one or more processors; memory; and one or more programs. The one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors. The one or more programs include instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause execution of a method of determining a hydraulic fracture completion configuration for a wellbore that extends through a subterranean formation. The method comprises: calculating a stress profile across a plurality of perforation clusters within a fracture stage of the wellbore; and calculating a fracture pressure parameter for each perforation cluster of the plurality of perforation clusters within the fracture stage of the wellbore as a function of the stress profile across the plurality of perforation clusters within the fracture stage, a perforation friction that accounts for perforation hole erosion, a fracture net pressure, and a fracture closure pressure. The embodiment further comprises determining a quantity of perforation clusters in the plurality of the perforation clusters within the fracture stage, a quantity of perforation holes for each perforation cluster of the plurality of perforation clusters within the fracture stage, a diameter of the perforation holes for each perforation cluster of the plurality of perforation clusters within the fracture stage, a spacing between each perforation cluster of the plurality of perforation clusters within the fracture stage, an injection distribution across the plurality of perforation clusters within the fracture stage, or any combination thereof, for the hydraulic fracture completion configuration based on the calculated fracture pressure parameters. One embodiment of a method of performing a hydraulic fracturing operation on a wellbore that extends through a subterranean formation comprises performing a hydraulic fracturing operation on the wellbore using a hydraulic fracture completion configuration. In the embodiment, the hydraulic fracture completion configuration is determined by: calculating a stress profile across a plurality of perforation clusters within a fracture stage of the wellbore; and calculating a fracture pressure parameter for each perforation cluster of the plurality of perforation clusters within the fracture stage of the wellbore as a function of the stress profile across the plurality of perforation clusters within the fracture stage, a perforation friction that accounts for perforation hole erosion, a fracture net pressure, and a fracture closure pressure. The embodiment further comprises determining a quantity of perforation clusters in the plurality of the perforation clusters within the fracture stage, a quantity of perforation holes for each perforation cluster of the plurality of perforation clusters within the fracture stage, a diameter of the perforation holes for each perforation cluster of the plurality of perforation clusters within the fracture stage, a spacing between each perforation cluster of the plurality of perforation clusters within the fracture stage, an injection distribution across the plurality of perforation clusters within the fracture stage, or any combination thereof, for the hydraulic fracture completion configuration based on the calculated fracture pressure parameters. One embodiment of a system of performing a hydraulic fracturing operation on a wellbore that extends through a subterranean formation comprises: a perforation gun for generating perforations in the wellbore according to a hydraulic fracture completion configuration. The hydraulic fracture completion configuration is determined by calculating a stress profile across a plurality of perforation clusters within a fracture stage of the wellbore; and calculating a fracture pressure parameter for each perforation cluster of the plurality of perforation clusters within the fracture stage of the wellbore as a function of the stress profile across the plurality of perforation clusters within the fracture stage, a perforation friction that accounts for perforation hole erosion, a fracture net pressure, and a fracture closure pressure. The embodiment further comprises determining a quantity of perforation clusters in the plurality of the perforation clusters within the fracture stage, a quantity of perforation holes for each perforation cluster of the plurality of perforation clusters within the fracture stage, a diameter of the perforation holes for each perforation cluster of the plurality of perforation clusters within the fracture stage, a spacing between each perforation cluster of the plurality of perforation clusters within the fracture stage, an injection distribution across the plurality of perforation clusters within the fracture stage, or any combination thereof, for the hydraulic fracture completion configuration based on the calculated fracture pressure parameters. The embodiment further comprises a pump and an injection line configured to inject fluid through the generated perforations of the wellbore into the subterranean formation to perform the hydraulic fracturing operation.

11507161

BACKGROUND Technological Field The present disclosure relates generally to signal communication, and in particular to a system and method for providing two-wire power communication. Description of Related Art Avionics systems typically utilize computers that are located within the fuselage of the airplane, eg E-bay. These computers interface with active sensors or remote data concentrators which can be located either internally or externally to the airplane fuselage. Two wire serial communications is typically used and additional wiring is required to power the active sensor or RDC, resulting in at least 4 wires. Aircraft power needs to be conditioned to correct for power bus variation. This typically requires a switched mode power supply to perform this conditioning. Multiple Wires over long spans add weight to the airplane. Since the active sensors/data concentrators can reside in a flammable environment, the electronics need to be intrinsically safe when exposed to EMIC, Lighting and Hot Short threats. These issues drive LRU cost, lower reliability and add weight to the airplane. Although conventional methods and systems have generally been considered satisfactory for their intended purpose. There is still a need in the art for a signal communication having improved reliability and reduced complexity. There also remains a need in the art for such components and system that are economically viable. The present disclosure may provide a solution for at least one of these remaining challenges. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A method of communicating power and data between an inboard computer and an outboard computer includes driving, by the inboard computer, a power signal through an resistor network, receiving, by the outboard computer, the power signal by a pair of parallel current limiters, powering a processor of the outboard computer using the received power signal, and generating a serial control signal by the outboard computer in order to activate a switch responsible for pulling down a voltage feed, wherein pulling down is decreasing voltage across the circuit. The method can include powering a voltage regulator using a steering diode and forward biasing the steering diode. The method can include powering a hold up capacitor using the received power signal and monitoring by the in board computer a voltage drop across the resistor network. A power and data communication system is disclosed for communicating power and data between an inboard computer and an outboard computer. The system includes an inboard computer system that includes a resistor network, an outboard computer system that includes at least one current limiter and voltage limiter that receives power from the inboard computer in order to power electronics of the outboard computer, and first and second wires connecting the resistor network of the at least one current limiter. The resistor network can include a four-resistor resistor network or a two resistor-resistor network. Two resistors of the four-resistor network can be connected to a differential receiver amplifier of the inboard computer. One of the resistors of the resistor network can connected to an external power source. One of the resistor of the four-resistor network can be connected to ground. The at least one current limiter can include a pair of parallel current limiters, each connected to the first or the second wire. The outboard computer can include a load switch in-series with a load resistor, a processor configured to control a switch to selectively connect a load across the voltage limiter, and located within a fuselage of an aircraft. The system can also be located within a flammable environment. These and other features of the systems and methods of the subject disclosure will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the drawings.

11287830

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION The present application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2018-0157487 filed on Dec. 7, 2018, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein for all purposes by this reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multipurpose rollable moving device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a control method of a multipurpose rollable device configured for rolling by self-propelling in all directions with mounting a smart device and the like. Description of Related Art Recently, it has been used in various fields such as transporting objects by use of a flying object such as a drone or acquiring an image by mounting a camera on a drone, but since such a drone is a flying object, it cannot be used on the ground and its utilization is limited. Accordingly, a self-propelling moving device configured for freely moving the object to a desired place by appropriately mounting the object on the ground has been developed and provided, for example, there is Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2016-0016830 entitled “multipurpose rollable moving device”. The technology may include a self-propelling drive system inside a spherical wheel, and a payload space for mounting small objects inside a spherical wheel, so that a small object is mounted inside a spherical wheel and driven by the self-propelling drive system to transport objects. However, since the payload space is provided inside the limited spherical wheel, the technology is limited in its usability because of the limited of types of objects to be mounted. Therefore, it has become necessary to develop a self-propelling mobile device which may be used in a wide range that can carry various types of objects, regardless of the size and type of objects. Thus, the present applicant has filed a patent application No. 2016-0129163 for a multipurpose rollable moving device, and the present invention is directed to providing an effective control method for the multipurpose rollable moving device. The information included in this Background of the present invention section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the present invention and may not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art. BRIEF SUMMARY Various aspects of the present invention are directed to providing a control method of a multipurpose rollable moving device configured for moving easily in all directions regardless of the terrain shape on the ground, carrying various kinds of objects irrespective of the size and type of objects, and having versatility such as being able to utilize it as a smart mobility A control method of a multipurpose rollable moving device according to an exemplary embodiment including a sphere driving wheel member, a driving device having four omnidirectional wheels mounted inside the driving wheel member to apply torque to the driving wheel member and disposed at a same gap in a circumferential direction and a drive motor providing a driving torque to each omnidirectional wheel, a docking portion mounted inside the driving wheel member and generating a magnetic force, and a mounting portion being attached on a surface of the driving wheel member by the magnetic force of the docking portion and having an identifier element identifying an object mounted thereon, may include monitoring the object docked at the docking portion, the docking portion and the driving device; identifying the object mounted on the mounting portion through the identifier element; determining whether or not a camera is mounted; determining whether or not a current mode is an object following mode when the camera is mounted; recognizing a following object when the current mode is the object following mode; determining a distance and a direction to the object; and executing a driving control and a posture control through the driving device depending on the distance and direction to the object. Updating various sensor information; and executing a driving control and the posture control for a fail-safe braking and terminating the control method when the monitoring, the updating and the identifying the object by the identifier element are not achieved, may further included. When the camera is determined not to be mounted as a result of determining whether or not the camera is mounted, determining driving torque limitation and posture control sensitivity depending on the docking object; updating steer input information through wireless communication; and executing the driving control and the posture control through the driving device, may further included. Executing the driving control and the posture control for the fail-safe braking and terminating the control method when the updating of the steer input information through the wireless communication is not achieved, may further included. Determining driving torque limitation and posture control sensitivity depending on the docking object; updating steer input information through wireless communication; and executing the driving control and the posture control through the driving device, when the current mode is not the object following mode, may further included. Determining driving torque limitation and posture control sensitivity depending on the docking object; updating steer input information through wireless communication; and executing the driving control and the posture control through the driving device, after changing the current mode to a steer mode when the recognizing of the following object is not achieved, may further included. Executing the driving control and the posture control for fail-safe braking; and terminating the control method, when the updating of the steer input information is not achieved through the wireless communication, may further included. The driving device may rotate two adjacent omnidirectional wheels in a clockwise direction and rotate two other adjacent omnidirectional wheels in a counterclockwise direction to linearly move the driving wheel member in all directions. The driving device may rotate only two adjacent omnidirectional wheels disposed at 180 degrees to each other among of the four omnidirectional wheels to linearly move the driving wheel member in all directions. The driving device may move the driving wheel member along a curved line or rotate in place by variably controlling a driveshaft of each omnidirectional wheel while rotating the four omnidirectional wheels in a same direction thereof. In accordance with the control method of the multipurpose rollable moving device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to move in all directions by rotating a spherical driving wheel member by driving a plurality of omnidirectional wheels, and easily move regardless of the shape of the terrain by moving according to the rolling motion of the driving wheel member. It is possible to mount and carry various kinds of objects regardless of the size and type of the object through the mounting portion detachably coupled to the docking portion from the outside of the driving wheel member through magnetic force. Since a person directly sits on the mount portion or sits in the chair by mounting an appropriate seating means such as a chair, and then can move, it is possible to utilize it as a smart mobility. Also, by mounting a camera and smart device, it is possible to shoot a disaster scene or rescue site which is difficult for people to access, and by mounting rescue equipment and apparatus, it is possible to move disaster and rescue sites to directly do or assist disaster and rescue activities. Furthermore, it may be used for exercise such as fitness and health care of an individual, utilized for a moving means such as a personal assistant robot, and utilized in a wide range such as being able to actively utilize it for play or education of a child. The control methods and apparatuses of the present invention have other features and advantages which will be apparent from or are set forth in more detail in the accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein, and the following Detailed Description, which together serve to explain certain principles of the present invention.

11481114

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a U.S. National Stage entry of PCT Application No: PCT/JP2016/083021 filed Nov. 8, 2016, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a storage apparatus and a control method of a storage apparatus. BACKGROUND ART In the related art, a non-volatile storage medium capable of random access, for example, a magnetic disk or an optical disk is used as a data storage medium of a storage apparatus. In particular, recently, a storage apparatus including multiple compact disk drives has been mainly used. In addition, along with the recent progress of semiconductor techniques, a non-volatile semiconductor memory capable of bulk erasing has been developed. Examples of the non-volatile semiconductor memory include a flash memory. A storage apparatus including a flash memory as a storage medium is considered to be superior in terms of power-saving and high-speed access as compared to a storage apparatus including multiple compact disk drives. On the other hand, a flash memory block has a limited erase count (limited lifetime). A block that reaches its lifetime fails to erase and cannot execute next erasing. A page in this block cannot be made to be unwritten. That is, as the number of blocks that reach their lifetime increases, exhaustion of unwritten pages cannot be resolved, and the storage apparatus becomes out of use. To enable long-term use of a flash memory, it is necessary to reduce block erase frequency of the flash memory such that lifetime can be extended. That is, to reduce a speed at which unwritten pages are consumed, it is desired to reduce an amount of data to be written to the flash memory. As a background art in this technical field, there is disclosed in WO2015/128955 (PTL 1). PTL 1 describes “A storage device provides a logical space based on a storage medium that is configured by a plurality of logical areas to a higher-level apparatus, and a base data range exists in the storage medium for each logical area. The storage device reads the base data from the base data range corresponding to a write destination logical area to which a write destination logical address belongs, and generates difference data that is an exclusive OR of first data that is the base data and second data that is any one of data based on write data and the write data. The storage device generates compressed difference data by compressing the difference data, writes the compressed difference data to the storage medium, and associates a difference data range that is a range in which the compressed difference data is written with the write destination logical area” (refer to Abstract). CITATION LIST Patent Literature PTL 1: WO2015/128955 SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem Regarding a technique of compressing data as in the technique described in PTL 1, it is desired to reduce a compression ratio (value obtained by dividing size of data after compression by size of data before compression) as much as possible. The reason is that, as the compression ratio becomes lower, an amount of data to be stored in a flash memory can be reduced. However, a compression method capable of reducing the compression ratio has a problem in that compression or decompression speed is slow regarding data that is difficult to compress. When the compression or decompression speed is slow, write performance or read performance of the storage apparatus is also slow. Therefore, in the related art, as in the technique described in PTL 1, a compression method in which the compression ratio is relatively high although the compression or decompression speed is sufficiently fast regarding any data is adopted. Therefore, an object of one aspect of the present invention is to reduce the compression ratio of data to be stored in a flash memory while securing a speed at which data is written to the flash memory and a speed at which data is read from the flash memory, and another object thereof is to extend the lifetime of the flash memory. Solution to Problem To achieve the objects, one aspect of the present invention adopts the following configurations. A storage apparatus includes: a flash memory that provides a storage area; a controller that controls writing and reading of data to and from the storage area; and a buffer memory that temporarily stores data to be written in the storage area, in which the controller selects one compression method from a first reversible compression method and a second reversible compression method based on access performance to the flash memory, and determines to compress data based on the selected one compression method and to write the compressed data to the storage area, and the first reversible compression method has a lower compression ratio and a slower compression speed than the second reversible compression method. Advantageous Effects of Invention According to one aspect of the present invention, the compression ratio of data to be stored in a flash memory can be reduced while securing a speed at which data is written to the flash memory and a speed at which data is read from the flash memory, and the lifetime of the flash memory can be extended. Objects, configurations, and effects other than those described above will be clarified by describing the following embodiments.

11490765

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a medical device for grinding medicine, and more particularly to a medicine grinder that can promote grinding efficiency and facilitate ease in cleaning. 2. Description of Related Art Except traditional Chinese herbal medicine, medicine is normally manufactured as tablets for patients to swallow. However, children or patients with dysphagia have difficulty swallowing some large tablets. Therefore, a medicine grinder is applied to grind tablets into powders for easy swallowing. A conventional medicine grinder has a ring burr and a frustoconical bur mounted within the ring burr and being rotatable relative to the ring burr. The ring burr has multiple rough grinding teeth and multiple fine grinding teeth formed on an inner surface of the ring burr. The frustoconical bur has multiple rough grinding edges and multiple fine grinding edges. There are multiple receiving spaces formed between the multiple rough grinding edges and the ring burr for receiving the tablets. When the ring burr and the frustoconical burr rotate mutually relative to each other, tablets inserted into the receiving spaces are ground into powder. However, the multiple grinding edges of the conventional medicine grinder are arranged at equi-angular intervals. Capacities of the multiple receiving spaces are equal. When the tablets are evenly distributed in the multiple receiving spaces with equal capacities, the falling tablets that continuously enter the ring burr are accumulated. Accordingly, the mutual rotation of the ring burr and the frustoconical burr becomes unsmooth. Hence the conventional medicine grinder has a drawback of low grinding efficiency. Meanwhile, the conventional medicine grinder cannot be easily disassembled for cleaning. Powders of different medicines remain in the conventional grinder and causes a problem of mixing drugs. Sometimes, drug interaction of the mixing drugs may negatively influence the human body. Consequently, how to improve structure of the conventional grinder to make it easily disassembled for cleaning is also a crucial aspect that the manufacturers of medicine grinders endeavor to work on. To overcome the shortcomings of the conventional medicine grinder, the present invention provides a medicine grinder to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A medicine grinder in accordance with the present invention comprises a grinding assembly having a ring burr and a frustoconical burr being mutually rotatable relative to each other. The ring burr is tubular. The frustoconical burr is disposed within the ring burr and has multiple rough grinding edges, multiple recesses, and a non-grinding portion. The multiple rough grinding edges surround a center of the frustoconical burr. The multiple recesses are divided by the multiple rough grinding edges. One of the multiple recesses has a capacity being larger than a capacity of each one of other recesses to define a non-grinding portion. Therefore, there are multiple receiving spaces formed between the frustoconical burr and the ring burr. Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

11381934

TECHNICAL FIELD This disclosure relates generally to aggregation and multiplication of applications and services. For example, this disclosure relates to facilitating aggregated services via edge computing for a 6G, or other next generation network. BACKGROUND Microservices are a software development technique—a variant of the service-oriented architecture (SOA) architectural style that structures an application as a collection of loosely coupled services. In a microservices architecture, services are fine-grained and the protocols are lightweight. The benefit of decomposing an application into different smaller services is that it improves modularity. This makes the application easier to understand, develop, test, and become more resilient to architecture erosion. It parallelizes development by enabling small autonomous teams to develop, deploy and scale their respective services independently. It also allows the architecture of an individual service to emerge through continuous refactoring. Microservice-based architectures enable continuous delivery and deployment. The above-described background relating facilitating aggregated services via edge computing is not intended to be exhaustive. Other contextual information may become further apparent upon review of the following detailed description.

11323739

FIELD OF THE TECHNOLOGY This application relates to the field of computer technologies and, in particular, to a video encoding method and apparatus, a video decoding method and apparatus, a computer device, and a storage medium. BACKGROUND With the development of digital media technologies and computer technologies, videos are applied to a variety of fields, such as mobile communication, online surveillance, and web television. With the improvement of hardware performance and screen resolution, users have an increasing requirement for high-definition videos. Under the condition of limited bandwidth, video quality may be poor in some scenarios as a conventional encoder encodes video frames indiscriminately. For example, at 750 kbps, when all video frames are encoded indiscriminately, encoders of H.264/H.265/iOS and the like all have a problem of poor quality of some video frames. The disclosed methods and systems are directed to solve one or more problems set forth above and other problems. SUMMARY Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a video encoding method and apparatus, a video decoding method and apparatus, a computer device, and a storage medium, which can resolve a problem of poor video quality caused by conventional video encoding and decoding methods. One aspect of the present disclosure includes a video coding method for a computer device. The method includes obtaining a current frame from a plurality of video frames to be encoded, at least two or more video frames from the plurality of video frames having different resolutions; determining an initial motion vector (MV) corresponding to each block to be encoded in the current frame at a corresponding resolution; and determining a target MV resolution according to a resolution configuration of the current frame to represent a target resolution. The method also includes determining a target MV corresponding to each block to be encoded in the current frame at the target resolution represented by the target MV resolution; obtaining a motion vector prediction (MVP) corresponding to each block to be encoded in the current frame at the target resolution; and encoding the current frame according to a motion vector difference (MVD) between each target MV and the corresponding MVP such that the MV and the corresponding MVP are at a same resolution. Another aspect of the present disclosure includes a video coding method for a computer device. The method includes obtaining encoded data corresponding to a current frame; extracting a motion vector difference (MVD) corresponding to each block to be decoded in the current frame in the encoded data, a resolution corresponding to the MVD being a target resolution corresponding to a resolution configuration; and determining a motion vector prediction (MVP) corresponding to each block to be decoded. The method also includes processing the MVD and the MVP corresponding to each block to be decoded at a same resolution after determining that a resolution of the current frame is inconsistent with the target resolution, to obtain a motion vector (MV) corresponding to the corresponding block to be decoded and at the resolution of the current frame; determining a reference block corresponding to each block to be decoded according to an MV corresponding to each block to be decoded; and obtaining a reconstructed video frame according to each reference block and the encoded data. Another aspect of the present disclosure includes non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer program instructions executable by at least one processor to perform: obtaining a current frame from a plurality of video frames to be encoded, at least two or more video frames from the plurality of video frames having different resolutions; determining an initial motion vector (MV) corresponding to each block to be encoded in the current frame at a current resolution of the current frame; determining a target MV resolution according to a resolution configuration of the current frame to represent a target resolution; determining a target MV corresponding to each block to be encoded in the current frame at the target resolution represented by the target MV resolution; obtaining a motion vector prediction (MVP) corresponding to each block to be encoded in the current frame and at the target resolution; and encoding the current frame according to a motion vector difference (MVD) between each target MV and the corresponding MVP such that the MV and the corresponding MVP are at a same resolution. Other aspects of the present disclosure can be understood by those skilled in the art in light of the description, the claims, and the drawings of the present disclosure.

11512084

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to degradation of organelles utilizing an autophagy mechanism. BACKGROUND ART Mitochondria are organelles essential for cell survival, and are involved in maintenance of calcium homeostasis, regulation of inflammation and cell growth, apoptosis, and the like in addition to an ATP production function. When the functions of mitochondria are impaired, not only energy production is merely reduced, but the functions exemplified above are impaired. In addition, injured mitochondria excessively produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) to damage cells, to thereby induce cell death. For example, dysfunctions, such as a reduction in mitochondrial membrane potential, are found in Down syndrome, which is a chromosome abnormality, and genetic disorders that are collectively called mitochondrial diseases. Meanwhile, cells selectively degrade and remove injured mitochondria by an autophagy mechanism (also called mitophagy). However, activity of autophagy is reduced by aging and the like, and hence there exist age-related diseases based on accumulation of injured mitochondria. Examples thereof include Parkinson's disease and cancer. Under such background, attempts have been made to control mitophagy through the use of compounds, such as pharmaceuticals. Sirolimus (rapamycin) induces autophagy through mTORC1 complex inhibition to promote degradation of mitochondria. However, autophagy caused by sirolimus has poor selectivity for degradation targets, and hence is inefficient because mitochondria are just one of many degradation targets. In addition, there is a problem in that wide-ranging intracellular molecules other than mitochondria are simultaneously degraded, and hence normal physiological functions are affected. Meanwhile, a group of compounds called uncouplers are also widely used for artificial promotion of mitophagy. The uncoupler is a molecule capable of injuring mitochondrial membranes, and can artificially produce a mitochondrial dysfunction state. Produced dysfunctional mitochondria need to be removed, and hence mitophagy is activated in cells. That is, the uncoupler has the following problem: the uncoupler has an action of further worsening mitochondrial injury due to a disease, and hence is unsuitable for therapeutic use. CITATION LIST Non-Patent Literature NPL 1: “Importing Mitochondrial Proteins: Machineries and Mechanisms”, A. Chacinska, C. M. Koehler, D. Milenkovic, T. Lithgow, N. Pfanne, Cell, 138, 628-644 (2009) NPL 2: Y. Kawazoe, H. Shimogawa, A. Sato, M. Uesugi, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 50, 5478-5481 (2011) NPL 3: Kaizuka et al., Molecular Cell, 64, 835 (2016) SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem An object to be achieved by the present invention is to provide a novel degrader for mitochondria utilizing an autophagy mechanism. Solution to Problem Under such circumstances, the inventors of the present invention have made extensive investigations, and as a result, have found that the above-mentioned object can be achieved by using a compound or a salt thereof, the compound containing a ligand capable of binding to or accumulating in mitochondria and a specific substituent having a specific 1,9-dihydro-6H-purin-6-one ring structure. Therefore, the present invention provides a degrader, a pharmaceutical, and a compound or a salt thereof as described in the following items: Item 1. A degrader for injured mitochondria based on an autophagy mechanism, the degrader including a compound or a salt thereof, the compound containing a ligand capable of binding to or accumulating in mitochondria and a substituent represented by the following general formula (1): where R1, R2, and R3are identical to or different from each other, and each represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent, provided that when R1represents hydrogen and R2represents an amino group, a case in which R3represents is excluded. Item 2. A pharmaceutical for preventing or treating a disease that is treatable by degradation of injured mitochondria based on an autophagy mechanism, the pharmaceutical including a compound or a salt thereof, the compound containing a ligand capable of binding to or accumulating in mitochondria and a substituent represented by the following general formula (1): where R1, R2, and R3are identical to or different from each other, and each represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent, provided that when R1represents hydrogen and R2represents an amino group, a case in which R3represents is excluded. Item 3. The pharmaceutical according to Item 2, wherein the disease that is treatable by degradation of injured mitochondria based on an autophagy mechanism is a neurodegenerative disease, such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Huntington's chorea, progressive supranuclear palsy, dementia with Lewy bodies, striatonigral degeneration, olivopontocerebellar atrophy, spinocerebellar degeneration, or Pick's disease, cancer, an inflammatory disease, an age-related disease, a mitochondrial disease (e.g., MELAS, MERRF, chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia, or Leigh's encephalomyelopathy), a metabolic disease, or Down syndrome. Item 4. A compound or a salt thereof, the compound including a ligand capable of binding to or accumulating on a mitochondrial surface and a substituent represented by the following general formula (1): where R1, R2, and R3are identical to or different from each other, and each represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent, provided that when R1represents hydrogen and R2represents an amino group, a case in which R3represents is excluded, the compound or the salt thereof being capable of inducing degradation of injured mitochondria based on an autophagy mechanism. Item 5. The compound or the salt thereof according to Item 4, wherein the compound or the salt thereof is for use in prevention or treatment of a disease that is treatable by degradation of injured mitochondria based on an autophagy mechanism. Item 6. A method of preventing or treating a disease that is treatable by degradation of injured mitochondria based on an autophagy mechanism, the method including administering, to a mammal, an effective dose of a compound or a salt thereof, the compound containing a ligand capable of binding to or accumulating in mitochondria and a substituent represented by the following general formula (1): where R1, R2, and R3are identical to or different from each other, and each represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent, provided that when R1represents hydrogen and R2represents an amino group, a case in which R3represents is excluded. Item 7. A use of a compound or a salt thereof, the compound containing a ligand capable of binding to or accumulating in mitochondria and a substituent represented by the following general formula (1), for producing a preventive or therapeutic agent for a disease that is treatable by degradation of injured mitochondria based on an autophagy mechanism: where R1, R2, and R3are identical to or different from each other, and each represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent, provided that when R1represents hydrogen and R2represents an amino group, a case in which R3represents is excluded. Item 8. The degrader according to Item 1, the pharmaceutical according to Item 2 or 3, the compound or the salt thereof according to Item 4 or 5, the method according to Item 6, or the use according to Item 7, wherein the ligand is a monovalent substituent obtained by removing one hydrogen atom from any one of the following compounds. Item 9. The degrader according to Item 1, the pharmaceutical according to Item 2 or 3, the compound or the salt thereof according to Item 4 or 5, the method according to Item 6, the use according to Item 7, or the degrader, the pharmaceutical, the compound or the salt thereof, the method, or the use according to Item 8, wherein the ligand has a structure in which a substituent bonded to a tag molecule is bonded to a protein capable of accumulating in mitochondria, the protein being modified with the tag molecule bonded to the substituent. Item 10. The degrader according to Item 1, the pharmaceutical according to Item 2 or 3, the compound or the salt thereof according to Item 4 or 5, the method according to Item 6, the use according to Item 7, or the degrader, the pharmaceutical, the compound or the salt thereof, the method, or the use according to Item 8 or 9, wherein the compound containing a ligand capable of binding to or accumulating in mitochondria and a substituent represented by the following general formula (1) is a compound represented by the following general formula (2): where: R1, R2, and R3are as described above; R4represents a ligand capable of binding to or accumulating on a mitochondrial surface; Laand Lbare identical to or different from each other, and each represent a bond or a linker; and “n” represents a natural number of from 1 to 10, provided that when R1represents hydrogen and R2represents an amino group, a case in which R3represents is excluded. Advantageous Effects of Invention According to the present invention, the novel degrader for mitochondria based on an autophagy mechanism can be provided.

11519078

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure generally relates to metal anodes, and associated methods, and more specifically to zinc ribbon anodes, and methods of making the same. BACKGROUND Zinc ribbon anodes are widely used to ground or provide AC mitigation for industrial structures and utilities such as pipelines, storage tanks, and the like. However, commercially available zinc ribbon anodes, such as Platt® products available from The Platt Brothers and Company, and those available from offshore suppliers, have a propensity to crack during placement and handling. This propensity to crack is particularly pronounced in low temperature conditions, which can limit the times of year when zinc ribbon anodes can be installed. Accordingly, there is a need for zinc ribbon anodes with improved flexibility and bendability. SUMMARY This summary is provided to introduce various concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify required or essential features of the claimed subject matter nor is the summary intended to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. In one aspect, a zinc ribbon anode is provided including: a hollow elongated zinc ribbon having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, an outer surface, and an inner surface defining a hollow space extending from the first end to the second end; and an elongated metal core disposed within the hollow space and in contact with the inner surface, wherein a cross-section of the hollow elongated zinc ribbon taken between the first end and the second end and perpendicular to the outer surface is polygonal in shape, and wherein the cross-section has an aspect ratio of at least 1.5:1. This summary and the following detailed description provide examples and are explanatory only of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing summary and the following detailed description should not be considered to be restrictive. Additional features or variations thereof can be provided in addition to those set forth herein, such as for example, various feature combinations and sub-combinations of these described in the detailed description.

11279844

BACKGROUND The present invention relates to a coating solution for gas barrier, a gas barrier laminate having a gas barrier layer formed using the aforementioned coating solution for gas barrier, a packaging material including the aforementioned gas barrier laminate and a packaging material for heat sterilization. If foods, drugs, cosmetics, agrichemicals, industrial products and the like are preserved for a long time, their qualities are sometimes deteriorated because of oxygen. Accordingly, as packaging materials for these goods, there has been used film or sheets having oxygen gas barrier properties. As the packaging materials, conventionally, materials including an aluminum foil as a gas barrier layer are often used. However, if the packaging material including an aluminum foil is used, the contents cannot be seen, and a metal detector cannot be used. Accordingly, especially in the food field and drug medicine field, there has been a need for development of a highly gas-impermeable and transparent packaging material. For this need, there has been suggested and used a gas barrier laminate in which a layer made of polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) is provided by applying a coating solution containing PVDC. The layer made of PVDC is transparent and gas-impermeable. However, PVDC has a concern of generating dioxin during incineration. Accordingly, a change from PVDC to non-chlorine material has been advanced, for example, using polyvinylacohol (PVA)-based polymer in place of PVDC has been suggested. A layer made of a PVA-based polymer is dense because of hydrogen bonds of hydroxyl groups, and shows high gas barrier properties under a low-humidity atmosphere. However, layers made of PVA-based polymers have a problem that, under a high-humidity atmosphere, the gas barrier properties are significantly lower, because hydrogen bonds loosen because of moisture absorption. Accordingly, gas barrier laminates using layers made of PVA-based polymers as gas barrier layers cannot be used in packaging material for foods and the like containing much moisture in many cases, and so their use has been limited to packaging material for dry substances, and the like. For the sake of improving gas barrier properties under a high-humidity atmosphere, a method for adding inorganic lamellar compounds to PVA-based polymers has been suggested (see JP-A-No.H06-093133). However, also in the method of JP-A-No. H06-09133, because waterproofness of the PVA-based polymer itself is not improved, the problem of lowering of gas barrier properties under a high-humidity atmosphere has remained. In order to improve gas barrier properties under a high humidity atmosphere, there has been suggested a method for producing a gas barrier laminate by applying a coating solution containing a PVA-based polymer and a polymer which can form a cross-link structure with the PVA-based polymer on a substrate and by performing a heat treatment (see JP-A-2000-289154; JP-A-2000-336195; JP-A-2001-323204; JP-A-2002-020677; JP-A-2002-241671). However, in this method, for obtaining sufficient gas barrier properties, the heat treatment after applying the coating solution needs to be performed at a high temperature, for example, above 150° C. to form the cross-link structure. Depending on the materials of the substrate, for example, when the material of the substrate is a polyolefin such as polypropylene (OPP) or polyethylene (PE), the heat treatment causes significant damage to the substrate. Accordingly, there is a need for a gas barrier laminate which can be produced under milder conditions. As the method for forming the gas barrier layer, there has been also suggested a method where a layer containing polycarbonate-based polymer such as polyacrylic acid is formed and the above-described polycarbonate-based polymer is ion-crosslinked with multivalent metallic ions (see WO2003/091317; WO2005/053954). This method does not need the heat treatment at a high temperature as in the methods described in JP-A-2000-289154; JP-A-2000-336195; JP-A-2001-323204; JP-A-2002-020677; JP-A-2002-241671. Accordingly, polyolefin can be used as the substrate. The obtained gas barrier layer is highly gas-impermeable even under a high humidity atmosphere, and can be used for uses where it is subjected to a heat sterilization treatment such as boiling or a retort. However, if polycarbonate-based polymer and a multivalent metallic compound are formulated into the same coating solution, especially when water is used as a solvent, then polycarbonate-based polymer and the multivalent metallic compound react with each other in the coating solution, which is likely to cause a precipitate. Accordingly, in this method, when the gas barrier layer is formed, a layer containing the polycarbonate-based polymer and a layer containing the multivalent metallic compound are formed separately, or an aqueous solution of a multivalent metal salt is contacted with the layer containing the polycarbonate-based polymer. However, in this case, there is a problem of increase in the number of steps. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made under the above-described circumstances and has an object to provide a coating solution for gas barrier by which a gas barrier laminate highly gas-impermeable under a high-humidity atmosphere can be prepared readily, a gas barrier laminate which can be obtained using the aforementioned coating solution for gas barrier, a packaging material including the aforementioned gas barrier laminate, and a packaging material for heat sterilization. The present invention for solving the above-described problem includes the following aspects. A coating solution for gas barrier according to the first aspect of the present invention contains an ammonium salt (A) of a polymer including a carboxyl group, a particulate multivalent metallic compound (B) and water, wherein the multivalent metallic compound (B) content is about 0.5 to 2.0 times the chemical equivalent of the ammonium salt (A), and mean particle size of the multivalent metallic compound (B) is about 4 μm or less. In the coating solution for gas barrier according to the first aspect of the present invention, the multivalent metallic compound (B) may be at least one selected from an oxide, hydroxide and carbonate of a multivalent metal selected from zinc, magnesium and calcium. In the coating solution for gas barrier according to the first aspect of the present invention, the multivalent metallic compound (B) may be at least one type selected from zinc oxide and magnesium oxide. In the coating solution for gas barrier according to the first aspect of the present invention, the polymer including a carboxyl group may be at least one type selected from a homopolymer and copolymer of monomer selected from acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, maleic acid and itaconic acid. A gas barrier laminate according to the second aspect of the present invention includes a substrate and a gas barrier layer provided on at least one surface of the substrate, wherein the gas barrier layer may include a coat layer formed from the coating solution for gas barrier according to the above first aspect. A packaging material according to the third aspect of the present invention may include the gas barrier laminate according to the above second aspect. A packaging material for heat sterilization according to a fourth aspect of the present invention may include the gas barrier laminate according to the above second aspect. The above-described aspect of the present invention can provide a coating solution for gas barrier by which a gas barrier laminate highly gas-impermeable under a high-humidity atmosphere can be prepared readily, a gas barrier laminate which can be obtained using the aforementioned coating solution for gas barrier, a packaging material including the aforementioned gas barrier laminate, and a packaging material for heat sterilization.

11271241

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is related to the U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/073,286 filed on Sep. 1, 2020, which is being incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT Not Applicable. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention This invention is related to the field of energy generation, and in particular to energy generation in a fuel cell by way of an electrochemical reaction with zero carbon emission. This invention is directed to a fuel cell design and an architecture suitable for construction of compact stackable fuel cells. The fuel cells described in this invention are flexible and modularly stackable without the bipolar plates that are typically used for current collection and mechanical support in prior art constructions. Related Background Art An electrochemical reaction in a fuel cell generates a potential difference between an anode and a cathode (electrodes) that are in electrical contact with the reacting species. The charge collection at the electrodes enables a flow of electric current through an externally connected load between the electrodes. The energy generation in an electrochemical fuel cell does not involve combustion of a fuel, and hence it is free from carbon emission. That makes it very attractive for carbon footprint reduction. The most common type of fuel cell is the Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell where the byproduct of the electrochemical reaction is typically water, which is easy to dispose of with minimal environmental impact. Additionally, the process does not involve any mechanically moving parts (and associated noise). Therefore, the energy generation using a fuel cell holds huge promise for a wide range of applications including military and aerospace applications, low emission automobiles, agriculture machinery, just to name a few. In most prior art PEM electrochemical fuel cells, the key components of a cell unit are, a Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA) typically including a PEM, and two highly conductive current collection plates (an anodic and a cathodic plate, respectively) located on the opposite sides of the MEA. A layered structure of the MEA and the current collection plates sealed at the periphery, create two independent fluid flow fields of opposite polarities (anodic and cathodic) on the opposite sides of the PEM, each facing the MEA surface of the like polarity. Typically, one fluid is a fuel, and the second fluid on the opposite side of the PEM is a reactant. For the current to flow in an external load, the current collection plates are electrically connected to the respective electrodes of the MEA with like polarities. In a typical PEM fuel cell, the current collection plates are constructed of a highly conducting material such as a metal or graphite. Separate gas diffusion layers (GDLs) on either side of the PEM facilitate the diffusion and distribution of the fuel and the reactant across the PEM in the fluid flow fields. In some devices, the GDL is optional. The GDLs may include additional physical structures (grooves or channels) to enhance the interaction of the fluids (fuel and the reactant) across the PEM. Typically, hydrogen or hydrogen reformates like, methanol, ethanol, methane, etc. are used as the fuel, with a reactant that is oxygen or air. Wide scale acceptance of prior art fuel cell technology in commercial applications is constrained by factors that limit the output power. A common approach to increasing the output power to a desired level for any application is, to add a plurality of fuel cell units in two or three-dimensional stacks. One disadvantage of this basic stackable structure is that the bipolar plates contribute towards ˜50% of the volume and ˜80% of the weight in most prior art PEM fuel cell stacks thereby, making these stacks less practical for applications where portability is desired. Another disadvantage in expanding a prior art fuel cell stack by adding more fuel cell units is non-uniform distribution of the reacting fluids (fuel, reactant, or both) throughout the volume of the stack. The rate of the electrochemical reaction is determined by the supply of the reacting species in required proportions. The rate of electrochemical reaction, and therefore the conversion efficiency will be limited if the supply of the reacting species is not adequate. A secondary effect is that the heat and humidity generated as a result of the electrochemical reaction is not dissipated uniformly throughout the volume of the stack, thereby further limiting the conversion efficiency. A large volume of prior patent literature on PEM fuel cells particularly arranged in stacks, pertains to improving thermal and humidity management to improve upon the conversion efficiency. In most common form of the PEM fuel cell stack, adjacent fuel cell units are separated by a bipolar current collection plate. In a bipolar plate, the two opposite broadside surfaces of the current collection plate are of opposite electric polarity, such that the anodic and the cathodic fluid flow regions of the adjacent fuel cell unit interface with the like polarity surface of the bipolar plate. Typically, the bipolar plates are heavy and therefore, scaling up the design for higher output power beyond a point, is not a viable option for improving efficiency while maintaining low volume and weight for portability. To tackle the problems of the prior art fuel cells, considerable effort has been devoted to increasing efficiency of the PEM fuel cell stack by combining several design features to improve uniformity of the fluid distribution and diffusion and to manage heat dissipation uniformly throughout the volume of the stack. For example, in the Chinese Patent Publication CN 212848508 U by Xinde, published on Mar. 30, 2021, in an integrated stack, the adjacent fuel cell units separated by bipolar plates share common fluid distribution and heat management arrangements by distributed cooling fluid channels interspersed with the fuel and the reactant channels. The cooling channels are formed using grooved metal plates to enhance the flow of the cooling fluid. One disadvantage of this approach is that in scaling up the fuel cell to achieve high output power, the cooling arrangement has to be re-designed every time the size of the cell changes. An alternative approach described in the United State Patent Application Publication Number 2011/0229787 by Kozakai et al., published on Sep. 22, 2011, utilizes porous materials to construct the fluid flow fields, the GDL and the bipolar plates. Similar approach has been adopted in another U.S. Pat. No. 7,294,425, by Hodge et al, published on Nov. 13, 2007. Using porous materials for constructing the PEM device allows reducing the weight of the stack. At the same time, the micro-channels created in the porous material throughout the fluid flow fields and the GDL further facilitates better distribution of fluid in the fluid flow fields and improve the conversion efficiency. Furthermore, a porous medium for the fluid flow region and the GDL allows heat transfer through latent heat. In another aspect, the porous design allows the water generated during the electrochemical reaction to evaporate and mix with the reactant gas to keep the fuel cell hydrated which is very important for the proper functioning of the fuel cell. In this approach, thermal management is scaled to some extent with the size of the fuel cell. However, full scalability is still a challenge. In the U.S. Pat. No. 8,026,020 issued on Sep. 27, 2011, U.S. Pat. No. 8,192,889 issued on Jun. 5, 2012, and U.S. Pat. No. 8,597,846 issued on Dec. 3, 2013, Spink et al, describe a combination of porous electrode layer and a ceramic or metal coated ceramic GDL to reduce the overall weight of the PEM fuel cell stack and improve the fluid flow at the same time. In addition, different cooling arrangement including a variable size cooling structure has been described to enhance the heat dissipation and thereby improving the efficiency of the electrochemical reaction. In the U.S. Pat. No. 8,277,996, issued on Oct. 10, 2012, Okusawa et al described a combination of porous bipolar plate integrated with a two-layer cooling flow fields for better conversion efficiency in a fuel cell stack. Special design features for the fluid flow channels combined with integrated cooling fluid channels have been suggested for improving fluid flow. For example, in the Chinese Patent Number CN 111477907A, issued on Jul. 31, 2020 to the inventors from the Jiao Tong University Shanghai, a three-layer bipolar plate where the third layer of the bipolar plate is designed to have groves and ridges on the cathode side of the bipolar plate to improve the fluid flow of the reactant. A similar approach is described in the United States Patent Application Publication Number 2008/0138670 published on Jun. 12, 2008, by Johnston et al, where cooling channels are provided to have direct contact with the fluid flow channels for improving cooling and efficient flow of the cooling fluids. In an alternate approach described in the U.S. Pat. No. 8,741,500 issued on Jun. 3, 2014 to Fujita et al, a fuel cell array with a gap between adjacent fuel cell units in one layer is arranged orthogonally with a similar second fuel cell array in an adjacent layer. The gap in one array overlaps with the gap in the adjacent orthogonally arranged array at least partially, to create columns of contiguous gap for efficient cooling of the 3-D stack to improve power density. The stack may additionally be constructed on a cooling substrate with additional channels to circulate cooling fluid. In a different approach described in the U.S. Pat. No. 7,335,436, issued on Feb. 26, 2008, to Kim et al, fluid flow fields are arranged in an orthogonal manner to facilitate more uniform fluid flow to prevent large pressure drop in the stack. Special serpentine design of the reactant flow region further improves the fluid flow. For better conversion efficiency, design variations to improve the fluid flow are suggested. For example, in the U.S. Pat. No. 9,761,895, issued on Sep. 12, 2017, Takahashi et al, suggested uniform fluid pressure distribution using a fluid feed arrangement for the stack to reduce the fluid pressure gradient between the center and the extremities of the stack. In order to improve conversion efficiency, PEM fuel cell in alternative geometrical form have been constructed. For example, in the United States Patent Application Publication Number 2004/0096718, published by Gomez on May 20, 2004, a tubular PEM fuel cell has been described. The tubular design includes a PEM constructed of a semiconductor material to facilitate electron transfer for higher output power. The fluid flow regions are conical in shape and are stacked and separated to allow only positive or negative ions to flow in a given section. The segmented section may also be constructed in different geometrical shapes. Keeping with the cylindrical geometry, a wrap-around spiral geometry PEM fuel cell is described in the U.S. Pat. No. 6,063,517, issued on May 16, 2000 to Montemayor et al. The basic PEM fuel cell is constructed as a long flat tubular structure similar to a flat geometry fuel cell described earlier. More specifically, the anode is constructed of a hollow flexible corrugated stainless-steel tube to flow the fuel in the tube, The entire flexible anode is encapsulated and sealed inside a PEM membrane. The cathode is also constructed of a flexible corrugated stainless-steel tube that encloses the encapsulated anode such that the reactant fluid flowing in the cathodic tube is in contact with the PEM from the other side of the anode. A metallic electrode is in contact with the cathode from outside that serves as the current conducting element. The long tubular structure is wrapped around a central cylindrical mandrel. The cylindrical mandrel also provides the structural support to the inlets and outlets for the electrochemical reaction fluids as well as for the cooling fluid. The spiral geometry bipolar plate design is also described in a more recent Chinese Patent Number CN 112038657 A issued on Dec. 4, 2020, to the inventors from the Xian Thermal Power Research. While these prior art solutions describe an alternate to the flat geometry, the bipolar plate is still an essential design element. In this invention, I propose a new flexible PEM fuel cell design that may be adapted for different mechanical mounting support structure or may be a self-supporting, three-dimensional structure depending upon the output power requirement. The fluid flow regions of the PEM fuel cell according to this invention includes a porous mesh to improve diffusion and distribution of the fluid flow to achieve more uniform distribution of the reacting species for more efficient electrochemical reaction throughout the volume of the fuel cell. The current collection is facilitated by sealed electrodes that are in close proximity to PEM where the electrochemical reaction takes place. The electrical design of the fuel cell as described in this invention essentially eliminates the need for the bipolar plates that are central to many apparently similar prior art devices. The thermal management aspects of the stackable PEM fuel cell according to this design is completely external and independent of the core design of the fuel cell stack. This particular aspect of the design allows the fuel cell stack to be modularly scalable, for higher output power without having to re-design the core of the fuel cell. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One aspect of the invention is that the entire PEM fuel cell structure is constructed of layers of flexible materials aligned parallel along their broadside surfaces More specifically, the PEM is mounted on a non-permeable support layer including a semi-permeable PEM (collectively, a separator layer), and sealed between two non-permeable end layers along the periphery thereby creating sealed fluid flow regions (fluid channels, hereinafter) one on either side of the PEM. A fuel flows in one channel, and a reactant fluid flows in the channel on the opposite side of the PEM. The fuel and the reactant are maintained in close proximity of the PEM to facilitate an electrochemical reaction between the fuel and the reactant across the PEM. The channels sharing a common PEM on the opposite sides of the PEM are typically of opposite polarity. Optional gas diffusion layer (GDL) embedded with the PEM further improves the diffusion and therefore, the interaction between the fuel and the reactant across the PEM. In another aspect of the invention, the efficiency of the electrochemical reaction is further improved by including a porous material (a mesh hereinafter) in the channels to facilitate uniform flow and efficient diffusion of the reacting species to the PEM. The mesh material acts like a diffusion facilitator to increase the effective surface area for efficient electrochemical reaction in the immediate vicinity of the PEM. The independently sealed channels for carrying the fuel and the reactant each have independent inlet ports to supply the respective fluids, and independent outlet ports to dispose the unused fuel and the reactant, respectively. One important design feature of the PEM fuel cell according to this invention is the flexible current collecting layers that are sealed within the channels located in close proximity to the surfaces where the electrochemical reaction takes place. The electrodes attached to these current collecting layers are sealed within the respective channels and are accessible externally to connect to an external load. The electrical design of the fuel cell completely eliminates the need for the current collection plates (bipolar or unipolar) that are essential elements of the large variety of the prior art PEM fuel cell described in the previous section. Thus, the PEM fuel cell according to this invention is very compact, flexible, and light weight for modularly stacking in large numbers to increase the output power. The flexible design of the PEM fuel cell structure is adaptable for scaling up the output power by simply adding more separator layers in a modular flat stack, thereby creating more channels without having to add any bipolar plates, unlike in most prior art devices described earlier. Each fluid channel in a stacked structure has one or more independent inlet port(s) and at least one or more independent outlet port(s) for better fluid distribution as needed, depending upon the size of the channels. The output power requirement determines the number of separator layers, and the thermal management means for heat dissipation. Furthermore, the thermal management means is kept completely external to the fuel cell stack for modular scalability. In another aspect of the invention, a contiguous flexible PEM fuel cell having multiple channels is wrapped over on to itself in a self-supporting 3-dimensional stack of a desired geometrical form (e,g, a rectangular, elliptical or cylindrical form). This approach effectively adds more channels to the stack without having to add any bipolar plates. The output power requirement determines the size of the contiguous flexible stack and therefore the size of the 3-dimensional stack, and the thermal management means for heat dissipation. Alternately, the contiguous fuel cell is wrapped over on a central mandrel of a desired shape and thickness, for example, a rectangular, elliptical or a cylindrical mandrel of a desired thickness. In a preferred embodiment, the central mandrel is a thin plate for lightweight fuel cells and stacks depending upon thermal management capability desired for a particular output power requirement. The central mandrel also serves as a support structure for one or more fluid inlet and outlet ports, as well as a cooling element for better thermal management. The central mandrel further includes distributed cooling tubes. One important aspect of the wrapped over design is easy adaptability for modular stacking of small individual wrapped over fuel cell units in arrays (array stack hereinafter) The array stack is arranged in one, two or three-dimensions) for overall higher output power. In another aspect of the design, multiple external surfaces of the individual cell units are available to provide efficient cooling by using one of many cooling techniques known in the art, e.g., forced air cooling, cooling plates, a circulating cooling fluid, or some combination of the above, as needed for the size of the stack. In another aspect of the invention, one or more cooling devices are shared between multiple wrapped over fuel cell units, and are scalable according to the size of the array stack. In yet another aspect, cooling fluid channels with inlet and outlet ports are created between the adjacent fuel cell units in a stack. One advantage of all external cooling is that the entire cooling system is also scalable without having to alter the core design of the fuel cell as in some prior art constructions where cooling mechanism is integrated in to the core design of the fuel cell. The self-supported wrap-over structure is constructed mainly of polymer and therefore, has very low weight, thereby making the design attractive for applications that require easy transportability (e.g., as a fuel source in an automobile). The proposed fuel cell design according to this invention is adaptable for different types of fuels and reactants, including the conventional fluid fuels such as, hydrogen or hydrogen reformates, and reactants, like oxygen or air, respectively. The byproduct of the PEM fuel cell is water which is easily disposed of in many different ways including gravity drain or pumping it out of the fuel cell. While the principles are outlined using a conventional PEM fuel cell, the design are easily adaptable for other types of polymer electrolytic fuel cells (PEFC), alkaline fuel cells (AFC), phosphoric acid fuel cells (PAFC), molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFC) and solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) and other sub-categories of these exemplary fuel cells.

11430245

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to prediction of physiological events generally and more specifically to the prediction of urination, such as in individuals suffering from enuresis. BACKGROUND Many individuals suffer from some form of enuresis or involuntary urination. Pediatric enuresis is especially prevalent, such as nocturnal bedwetting or diurnal involuntary urination. Pediatric enuresis is one of the most prominent chronic children's health conditions, affecting over 200 million children worldwide. Enuresis can present physical and psychological health concerns for a suffering individual. Current treatments for enuresis involve either drug treatment or the use of enuresis alarms. Drug treatment temporarily blocks urine/bladder function and are associated with high rates of relapse and severe side effects including seizures and cardiotoxicity. Diurnal alarm systems provide alerts based on static intervals throughout the day, reminding a user to either urinate or perform a self-check for the need to urinate. Nocturnal alarm systems rely on moisture sensors to detect the presence of excess moisture. These systems are generally difficult to use, prone to breakage, and not kid-friendly. Nocturnal alarm systems generally rely on unwieldy, unreliable, and uncomfortable detection technology. For example, some alarm systems incorporate a moisture sensor into a bed to provide an alarm when the bed has been sufficiently wetted by involuntary urination. Such systems, however, only trigger upon the release of substantial amounts of fluid, providing notice to the suffering individual or caregiver only after substantial urination has occurred. Thus, any remedial actions taken in response to an alarm can only occur a substantial amount of time after urination begins, and thus individuals and caregivers are relegated to only responding after involuntary urination occurs. Some alarm systems rely on large sensors attached to an individual's undergarments and relay data by a wired or wireless connection. The large sensors can be uncomfortable for a user, can detach or be inadvertently removed during sleep, and can require placement at locations distant from the source of the urination. Wired connections can hinder a user's ability to sleep and can cause potential tangling hazards. Existing sensors using wireless connections require large batteries and circuitry to last throughout the night. There is a need to provide improved tools for combating enuresis to caregivers and individuals suffering from enuresis.

11363406

TECHNICAL FIELD The subject disclosure relates to wireless communications, and more specifically to a latency reduction and range extension system that reduces latency and extends a coverage range in a wireless network. BACKGROUND The wide adoption of mobile devices along with ubiquitous cellular data coverage has resulted in an explosive growth of mobile applications that expect always-accessible wireless networking. This explosion has placed strains on resources that are scarce in the mobile world. On the user side, dropped calls and poor communication have been blamed for user dissatisfaction. On the network side, wireless service providers are observing an exponential growth in mobile communications due to both an increase in consumer demand and commercial requirements. To ensure customer satisfaction, wireless service providers aim to deliver a high quality service at any location, to facilitate reliable and efficient mobile communications. Moreover, to improve wireless coverage and reduce dead zones, wireless service providers can typically add and/or replace front-end equipment to realize effective bandwidth increases. Video streaming, data streaming, and broadband digital broadcast programming are increasing in popularity in wireless network applications. To support these wireless applications, wireless service providers provide systems that transmit data content as data packets. Data packets can be lost, corrupted, or out of order when received by a network device.

11420143

FIELD The present invention relates generally to filter media, and, more particularly, to filter media with an irregular structure. BACKGROUND Filter media can be formed of one or more fiber webs. A fiber web provides a porous structure that permits fluid (e.g., gas, air) to flow through the filter media. Contaminant particles contained within the fluid may be trapped on or within the fibrous web. Filter media characteristics, such as surface area and basis weight, affect filter performance including filter efficiency, pressure drop and resistance to fluid flow through the filter. In general, higher filter efficiencies may result in a higher resistance to fluid flow which leads to higher pressure drops for a given flow rate across the filter. There is a need for filter media that can be used in a variety of applications which have a desirable balance of properties including a high efficiency and a low resistance to fluid flow across the filter media, leading to high gamma values. SUMMARY Filter media, related components, and related methods are generally described. In some embodiments, a filter media is provided. The filter media comprises a non-woven fiber web having a stiffness of less than or equal to 100 mg and an average surface height of greater than 0.3 mm. In some embodiments, a filter media is provided. The filter media comprises a first layer and a second layer. The first layer has an average surface height of greater than 0.3 mm. The first layer is held in an undulated configuration by the second layer. The second layer is formed from a reversibly stretchable material. In some embodiments, a filter media is provided. The filter media comprises a non-woven fiber web comprising a plurality of peaks having an average peak height and a peak height standard deviation. A ratio of the peak height standard deviation to the average peak height is greater than or equal to 0.05. The non-woven fiber web has an average surface height of greater than 0.3 mm. In some embodiments, a filter media is provided. The filter media comprises a layer comprising a plurality of peaks having an average peak height and a peak height standard deviation. A ratio of the peak height standard deviation to the average peak height is greater than or equal to 0.05. The layer has an average surface height of greater than 0.3 mm. In some embodiments, a filter media is provided. The filter media comprises a non-woven fiber web comprising a plurality of peaks having an average peak spacing and a peak spacing standard deviation. A ratio of the peak spacing standard deviation to the average peak spacing is greater than or equal to 0.08. The non-woven fiber web has an average surface height of greater than 0.3 mm. In some embodiments, a filter media is provided. The filter media comprises a layer comprising a plurality of peaks having an average peak spacing and a peak spacing standard deviation. A ratio of the peak spacing standard deviation to the average peak spacing is greater than or equal to 0.08. The layer has an average surface height of greater than 0.3 mm. In some embodiments, a method of fabricating a filter media is provided. The method comprises depositing a non-woven fiber web onto a reversibly stretched layer and allowing the reversibly stretched layer to at least partially recover. The non-woven fiber web forms a plurality of peaks during recovery of the reversibly stretched layer. In some embodiments, a method of fabricating a filter media is provided. The method comprises depositing a layer onto a reversibly stretched layer and allowing the reversibly stretched layer to at least partially recover. The layer forms a plurality of peaks during recovery of the reversibly stretched layer. Other advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of various non-limiting embodiments of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying figures. In cases where the present specification and a document incorporated by reference include conflicting and/or inconsistent disclosure, the present specification shall control. If two or more documents incorporated by reference include conflicting and/or inconsistent disclosure with respect to each other, then the document having the later effective date shall control.

11348918

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0102583, filed on Aug. 21, 2019, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, and entitled: “Semiconductor Device,” is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. BACKGROUND 1. Field Embodiments relate to a semiconductor device. 2. Description of the Related Art Due to their small-sized, multifunctional, and/or low-cost characteristics, semiconductor devices are important elements in the electronic industry. The semiconductor devices may include a semiconductor memory device for storing data, a semiconductor logic device for processing data, and a hybrid semiconductor device including both of memory and logic elements. SUMMARY The embodiments may be realized by providing a semiconductor device including a substrate; at least one first active pattern, at least one second active pattern, and at least one third active pattern on an upper portion of the substrate, the at least one first active pattern, the at least one second active pattern, and the at least one third active pattern being sequentially arranged in a first direction and extending in a second direction crossing the first direction; a first power rail connected to the at least one first active pattern; a second power rail connected to the at least one second active pattern; and a third power rail connected to the at least one third active pattern, wherein a width of the at least one second active pattern in the first direction is at least two times a width of the at least one first active pattern in the first direction and is at least two times a width of the at least one third active pattern in the first direction, the at least one first active pattern is not vertically overlapped with the first power rail, the at least one second active pattern is vertically overlapped with the second power rail, and the at least one third active pattern is not vertically overlapped with the third power rail. The embodiments may be realized by providing a semiconductor device including a substrate; a first active pattern, a second active pattern, a third active pattern, and a fourth active pattern on an upper portion of the substrate and sequentially arranged in a first direction; a first source/drain pattern, a second source/drain pattern, a third source/drain pattern, and a fourth source/drain pattern on the first active pattern, the second active pattern, the third active pattern, and the fourth active pattern, respectively; a gate electrode crossing the first active pattern, the second active pattern, the third active pattern, and the fourth active pattern and extending in the first direction; and a first power rail, a second power rail, a third power rail, and a fourth power rail connected to the first source/drain pattern, the second source/drain pattern, the third source/drain pattern, and the fourth source/drain pattern, respectively, the first power rail, the second power rail, the third power rail, and the fourth power rail extending in a second direction crossing the first direction, wherein a width of the second active pattern in the first direction is at least two times a width of the first active pattern in the first direction, a width of the third active pattern in the first direction is at least two times the width of the first active pattern in the first direction, the width of the second active pattern in the first direction is at least two times a width of the fourth active pattern in the first direction, the width of the third active pattern in the first direction is at least two times the width of the fourth active pattern in the first direction, the first active pattern is not vertically overlapped with the first power rail, the second active pattern is vertically overlapped with the second power rail, the third active pattern is vertically overlapped with the third power rail, and the fourth active pattern is not vertically overlapped with the fourth power rail. The embodiments may be realized by providing a semiconductor device including a first power rail, a second power rail, and a third power rail on a substrate and are sequentially arranged in a first direction; a first logic cell including a first active pattern, which is between the first power rail and the second power rail; and a second logic cell including a second active pattern, which is between the second power rail and the third power rail and extends to a region below the third power rail, wherein a width of the second active pattern in the first direction is two to three times a width of the first active pattern in the first direction.

11305200

FIELD OF THE INVENTION Embodiments of this application relate to a user device for use in playing a computer implemented game. Some embodiments may relate to engaging users or players in a computer game executable in an online environment. The embodiments may have particular, but not exclusive application in the field of computer implemented applications including for example games, in an online or offline environment, and computing devices therefor. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the field of computer-implemented games, there are many technical challenges facing the designer of such games when considering how, for example, the user interface is to be controlled in the context of computer devices available to play the game. One technical challenge can involve allowing a game to be fun and compelling even when there is limited display resource available, such as when a game is being played on a smartphone, tablet or other minicomputer. Another significant challenge is that of user engagement. Engagement involves designing gameplay to be engaging and rewarding to players. This typically requires games to be easily understood at their simplest or introductory levels, providing rewarding gameplay with quite simple game mechanics, but becoming progressively more challenging so that players are not bored, but remain engaged and develop rewarding skills. Effective engagement requires various forms of feedback to reinforce player sense of success and accomplishment. A common genre of casual games is so-called match games. This is a type of tile-matching game where the player manipulates tiles or game objects according to a matching criterion. A match-three game is a type of casual puzzle game where the player is required to find patterns on a seemingly chaotic board. The player then has to match three or more of the same type of game element on the game board and those matched elements will then disappear. An existing type of match-three game is a so-called “switcher” game. In a switcher game, the player switches place onto adjacent game elements on the game board so that one or both of them create a chain of at least three adjacent game elements of the same type. Those matched game elements will then disappear. The game board is then repopulated with game objects. One such known match three-type switcher game is known by the trade mark Candy Crush Saga. In that game, the game board is repopulated with game elements, for example, falling downwards onto the game board from the top edge of the screen from which the game is played. Another known type of game is “linker game”, where a sequence of game elements are linked to form a known sequence. Another example is the so called ‘clicker’ games where the player can click on a group of adjacent game elements of a certain type and those will then be removed. Some clicker games only require two adjacent elements to remove those elements if clicked by the user. Others may require more than two. To play the game, the user will, via a user interface, click on any group of two or more touching blocks satisfying a criteria. New blocks may or may not appear on the game board. The remaining game element blocks drop down and slide left to fill gaps on the game board. Another type of match game is the so called ‘shooter’ games where the player launches for example a ball or bubble on to the game board trying to aim at groups of similar game elements already on the game board. If the launched ball hits or forms a group of more than 3 similar game elements, then that group of game elements are removed from the game board. This patent specification describes not only various ideas and functions, but also their creative expression. A portion of the disclosure of this patent document therefore contains material to which a claim for copyright is made and notice is hereby given: Copyright King.com Limited 2020 (pursuant to 17 U.S.C. 401). A claim to copyright protection is made to all screen shots, icons, look and feel and all other protectable expression associated with the games illustrated and described in this patent specification. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but reserves all other copyright rights whatsoever. No express or implied license under any copyright whatsoever is therefore granted. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to an aspect, there is provided a computer device configured to provide a computer implemented game, the computer device comprising: a display: a user interface configured to receive user input from a player of the computer implemented game; and at least one processor, the at least one processor being configured to: determine a number of booster options that have been activated, a booster option being usable in the computer implemented game to provide a respective additional effect; determining if the determined number of booster options is greater than a threshold number; and when the determined number of booster options is greater than the threshold number, determining that a further booster option is to be provided in the computer implemented game. The further booster option may be different from the activated booster options. The at least one processor may be configured to determine a value of the at least one further booster option in dependence on the determined number of booster options. The further booster option may comprise providing a defined time period in the computer implemented game during which a user is permitted to make as many game moves as the user is able to make in that defined time period. A maximum number of available moves may be associated with the computer implemented game, the maximum number of available moves being in addition to the game moves that the user is permitted to make in the defined time period. The defined time period may be dependent on the determined number of boosters. The at least one processor may be configured to cause the display to display one or more user selectable options, a user selectable option being associated with a respective booster option, determine in response to user input received via the user interface when a respective user selectable option has been selected and determine that the respective booster option associated with the respective user selectable option has been activated. The at least one processor may be configured, in response to one or more game criteria being satisfied, to determine that a respective booster option is activated. The at least one processor may be configured, in response to a purchase, to determine that a respective booster option is activated. The at least one processor may be configured to deploy the further booster option in the computer implemented game in response to user input received via the user interface, the user input allowing a user to control when the further booster option is deployed in the computer implemented game. The at least one processor may be configured to cause the display to display a game board for the computer implemented game and to display a user selectable option for the further booster option, and in response to user input selecting the user selectable option for the further booster option causing the further booster option to be deployed in the computer implemented game. The at least one processor may be configured to cause the display a user selectable play option, the at least one processor configured to cause a game board for the computer implemented game to be displayed in response to user input selecting the user selectable play option. The at least one processor may be configured to control the display to display a plurality of different user selectable level options for the computer implemented game and in response to user input selecting one of the user selectable level options, cause an associated level of the computer implemented game to be provided. The at least one processor may be configured to cause the display to display a pre-level screen after a respective user selectable level option has been selected, the pre-level screen configured to display information associated with at least one of the booster options. According to another aspect, there is provided a computer implemented method, the method being performed in a computing device comprising at least one processor, at least one memory, a display configured to display computer game graphics for a computer implemented game, and a user interface, the computer implemented game having one or more levels, the method being performed by executing computer code on the a least one processor to perform the steps of: determining by at least one processor of a computer device, a number of booster options that have been activated in a computer implemented game, a booster option being usable in the computer implemented game to provide a respective additional effect; determining by the at least one processor, if the determined number of booster options is greater than a threshold number; when the determined number of booster options is greater than the threshold number, determining by the at least one processor that a further booster option is to be provided in the computer implemented game. The further booster option may be different from the activated booster options. The method may comprise determining by the at least one processor, a value of the at least one further booster option in dependence on the determined number of booster options. The further booster option may comprise providing a defined time period in the computer implemented game during which a user is permitted to make as many game moves as the user is able to make in that defined time period. A maximum number of available moves may be associated with the computer implemented game, the maximum number of available moves being in addition to the game moves that the user is permitted to make in the defined time period. The defined time period may be dependent on the determined number of boosters. The computer method may comprise: causing, by the at least one processor, a display of the computer device to display one or more user selectable options, a user selectable option being associated with a respective booster option; determining, by the at least one processor, in response to user input received via a ser interface of the computer device when a respective user selectable option has been selected; and determining, by the at least one processor, that the respective booster option associated with the respective user selectable option has been activated. The method may comprise determining, by the at least one processor, in response to one or more game criteria being satisfied, that a respective booster option is activated. The method may comprise determining, by the at least one processor, in response to a purchase, that a respective booster option is activated. The method may comprise deploying, by the at least one processor, the further booster option in the computer implemented game in response to user input received via a user interface of the computer device, the user input allowing a user to control when the further booster option is deployed in the computer implemented game. The method may comprise causing, by the at least one processor, a display of the computer device to display a game board for the computer implemented game and to display a user selectable option for the further booster option, and in response to user input received via a user interface of the computer device selecting the user selectable option for the further booster option causing the further booster option to be deployed in the computer implemented game. The method may comprise controlling, by the at least one processor, a display of the computer device to display a user selectable play option and causing, by the at least one processor, a game board for the computer implemented game to be displayed on a display of the computer device in response to user input selecting the user selectable play option. The method may comprise controlling, by the at least one processor, a display of the computer device to display a plurality of different user selectable level options for the computer implemented game and in response to user input selecting one of the user selectable level options, causing an associated level of the computer implemented game to be provided. The method may comprise controlling, by the at least one processor, the display of the computer device to display a pre-level screen after a respective user selectable level option has been selected, the pre-level screen configured to display information associated with at least one of the booster options. According to another aspect, there is provided a non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with instructions for controlling a computing device comprising at least one processor, at least one memory, a display configured to display computer game graphics for a computer implemented game, the computer implemented game having one or more levels, and in which the instructions are executed on the at least one processor to perform the steps of: determining by at least one processor, a number of booster options that have been activated in the computer implemented game, a booster option being usable in the computer implemented game to provide a respective additional effect; determining by the at least one processor, if the determined number of booster options is greater than a threshold number; when the determined number of booster options is greater than the threshold number, determining by the at least one processor that a further booster option is to be provided in the computer implemented game. According to some aspects, there is provided a program product comprising a computer-readable storage device including a computer-readable program for providing a computer-implemented game, wherein the computer-readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to perform any one or more of the method steps described previously. A computer program comprising program code means adapted to perform the method(s) may also be provided. The computer program may be stored and/or otherwise embodied by means of a carrier medium. In the above, many different embodiments have been described. It should be appreciated that further embodiments may be provided by the combination of any two or more of the embodiments described above. Various other aspects and further embodiments are also described in the following detailed description and in the attached claims.

11532467

FIELD The present disclosure relates to a maintenance device. BACKGROUND In a plasma etching apparatus, a focus ring installed on the outer periphery of a semiconductor wafer (hereinafter, referred to as a “wafer”) is consumed by an etching process. Therefore, Patent Literature 1 discloses a technique of replacing the focus ring via a transfer system for transferring the wafer to the plasma etching apparatus. Patent Literature 1: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2006-196691 The present disclosure provides a technique capable of easily performing maintenance without exposing the inside of a processing container to the outside air. SUMMARY In an embodiment of a present disclosure, a maintenance device includes a cover that is in a vacuum atmosphere during substrate processing, is formed to have a size corresponding to a boundary line between a first part and a second part of a processing container, which is separable into the first part and the second part, or an opening surface separating the first part and the second part, and has airtightness, and visual transparency at least in a part; and a fixing member that fixes in an airtight manner the cover along the boundary line between the first part and the second part of the processing container or to the opening surface separating the first part and the second part.

11478678

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION When standing upright, a person balances his or her body over their feet. Generally, the spine should be aligned over the pelvis, with the weight of the body evenly distributed between the left and right feet. Many people stand with more weight over one foot or with their weight over only part of their feet. The bones of the leg and foot form part of the appendicular skeleton that supports the many muscles of the lower limbs. These muscles work together to produce movements such as standing, walking, running and jumping. At the same time, the bones and joints of the leg and foot must be strong enough to support the weight of the body while remaining flexible enough for movement and balance. In the lower leg, the tibia bears most of the weight of the body while the fibula supports the muscles of balance in the lower leg and ankle. The tibia forms the flexible ankle joint with the tarsal bones of the foot. Body weight is distributed among the seven tarsals, which can shift slightly to provide minute adjustments to the position of the ankle and foot. The calcaneus, or heel bone, is the largest tarsal bone and rests on the ground when the body is standing. The tarsal bones and the five long metatarsal bones together form the arches of the foot. Body weight supported by the foot is spread across the arches from the tarsal and metatarsal bones, which make contact with the ground while standing. Like the tarsal bones, the position of the metatarsals can be adjusted to change the shape of the foot and affect balance and posture of the body. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Given that weight distribution of the body while standing is generally directed medially or toward the inside of the body, a postural platform having a foot contact surface angled with respect to the planes of the body and a plane of the ground can redistribute body weight laterally and toward substantial support of skeletal bones. In one aspect, a training device is provided that includes a first portion having a substantially planar first foot contact surface disposed at a substantially 11.25° tilt relative to a reference ground plane, and a second portion having a substantially planar second foot contact surface disposed at a substantially 11.25° tilt relative to the ground plane and turned substantially 45° from the first contact surface relative to the ground plane. In another aspect, a training device is provided that includes a housing comprising a bottom surface and a top surface, where the housing is configured to orient the top surface relative to a ground plane, wherein the ground plane is a plane orthogonal to the direction of gravity, and where the top surface is substantially co-planar with a top surface plane, wherein the top surface plane is disposed at a first angle relative to the ground plane. The training device may also include indicia for conveying a location at which the placement of the sole of a foot on the top surface causes the longitudinal axis of the foot to be substantially parallel with an alignment reference line, wherein: the alignment reference line comprises the intersection line of the top surface plane with an alignment reference plane; the alignment reference plane is orthogonal to the ground plane and disposed at a second angle relative to another reference plane; and said another plane is orthogonal to the ground plane and contains the line at which the top surface plane intersects the ground plane. One aspect is a postural platform to redistribute weight of a user in a standing position. The postural platform includes a bottom surface defining a reference plane, a top surface configured as a contact surface for a foot of the user, and a perimeter side wall between the bottom and top surfaces. The top surface is rotated about a first rotational axis parallel to the reference plane and is rotated about a second rotational axis orthogonal to the reference plane. When the foot of the user is in contact with the top surface of the postural platform, a first point of contact on the top surface corresponding to an inside of a ball of the foot is higher with respect to the reference plane than a second point of contact corresponding with an inside of a heel of the foot, the second point of contact being higher with respect to the reference plane than a third point of contact corresponding with an outside of the ball of the foot, the third point of contact being higher with respect to the reference plane than a fourth point of contact corresponding with an outside of the heel of the foot. In one embodiment of this aspect, the top surface substantially conforms to the shape of the foot of the user. In another embodiment, the top surface is substantially planar. In one embodiment of this aspect, the top surface is rotated between 10° and 12.5° about the first rotational axis and top surface is rotated between 20° and 25° about the second rotational axis. In another embodiment, the top surface has an outer periphery shaped to substantially match an outer periphery of a foot of a user. In yet another embodiment, the top surface includes visual indicia defining how a foot of a user is to be oriented relative to the top surface when the foot of the user is in contact with the top surface. In still yet another embodiment, the postural platform further includes a pivot member coupled to the bottom surface of the postural platform. The pivot member allows the top surface to rotate about the second rotational axis. The pivot member has a top plate that is fixedly coupled to the bottom surface of the performance platform and a bottom plate that rotates with respect to the top plate along the second rotational axis. In another aspect, a postural platform to redistribute weight of a user in a standing position includes a bottom surface defining a reference plane, a top surface configured as a contact surface for a foot of the user, the top surface having a complex angle with respect to the bottom surface such that when the foot of the user is in contact with the top surface, a first point of contact on the top surface corresponding to an inside of a ball of the foot is higher with respect to the reference plane than a second point of contact corresponding with an inside of a heel of the foot, the second point of contact being higher with respect to the reference plane than a third point of contact corresponding with an outside of the ball of the foot, the third point of contact being higher with respect to the reference plane than a fourth point of contact corresponding with an outside of the heel of the foot, a perimeter side wall between the bottom and top surfaces, and a covering coupled to at least a portion of a perimeter of the top surface for forming at least a partial housing for the foot of the user located between the top surface and covering. In one embodiment of this aspect, the top surface is substantially planar. In another embodiment, the top surface substantially conforms to a natural shape of the foot of the user. In one embodiment, the complex angle between the top and bottom surfaces is defined by the top surface is rotated between 10° and 12.5° about a first rotational axis parallel to the reference plane and rotated between 20° and 25° about the second rotational axis orthogonal to the reference plane. In another embodiment of this aspect, the top surface includes visual indicia defining how the foot of the user is to be oriented relative to the top surface when the foot of the user is in contact with the top surface. In yet another embodiment of this aspect, the postural platform further includes a pivot member coupled to the bottom surface of the postural platform, the pivot member configured to allow the foot contact surface to rotate about a second rotational axis orthogonal to the reference plane. The pivot member has a top plate that is fixedly coupled to the bottom surface of the postural platform and a bottom plate that rotates with respect to the top plate along the second rotational axis. In another aspect, a postural platform system designed to redistribute weight of a user in a standing position includes a left foot platform having a bottom surface defining a reference plane, a top surface configured to support a left foot of the user, the top surface being rotated downwardly in a first direction about a first rotational axis parallel to the reference plane and rotated counter-clockwise about a second rotational axis orthogonal to the reference plane, and a right foot platform having a bottom surface defining a reference plane, a top surface configured to support a right foot of the user, the top surface being rotated downwardly in a second direction opposite the first direction about the first rotational axis parallel to the reference plane and rotated clockwise about the second rotational axis orthogonal to the reference plane. In one embodiment, each of the left foot and right foot platforms have a covering coupled to at least a portion of a perimeter of the respective top surfaces of each of the platforms for forming at least a partial housing for the respective left and right feet of the user when located between the respective top surfaces and coverings.

11434848

FIELD The present disclosure relates generally to nacelle systems and, more particularly, to translating components of nacelle systems and drive systems used to translate such components. BACKGROUND Modern aircraft typically utilize one or more gas turbine engines for propulsion. The engines may be housed in a nacelle, which may be wing-mounted, fuselage-mounted, tail-mounted, or some combination thereof. Typical turbofan jet engines include a fan that draws and directs a flow of ambient air into the nacelle and into and around an engine core to form, respectively, a core engine flow and a bypass flow. The core engine flow is initially passed through a compressor and then through a combustor where a pressurized core engine flow is mixed with fuel and ignited. Combustion of the fuel and air mixture results in a stream of high temperature and high pressure gas that is used to rotate a turbine downstream of the combustor. The compressor and the fan are rotated via connection to the rotating turbine. The gas exiting the turbine is thereafter directed through an exhaust nozzle at the rear of the engine and expelled to the atmosphere. The bypass flow is directed about the engine core and constrained by an inner wall of the nacelle. In turbofan engines, the bypass flow typically provides the main thrust for an aircraft. The bypass flow may also be used to decelerate an aircraft after landing or during a rejected takeoff. Thrust reversers mounted in the structure of the nacelle selectively reverse the direction of the bypass flow via a cascade array to generate reverse thrust. One or more blocker doors may be situated on the translating sleeve and deployed into the bypass flow. Once deployed, the blocker doors redirect a portion of the bypass flow into and through the cascade array to produce a flow of high-velocity air having a vector component in the forward direction, reversing the thrust of the engine and thereby decelerating the aircraft. During normal engine operation, the bypass flow exits the engine through a fan nozzle, typically disposed radially outward of the exhaust nozzle. Some aircraft nacelles have a variable area fan nozzle (VAFN) configured to slide, pivot, or otherwise open to increase or decrease the area of one or more aft opening(s) through which the bypass flow may exit the nacelle. By selectively varying the exit area of the fan nozzle, various operating characteristics—e.g., the fan pressure ratio of the engine—may be adjusted to match a particular flight condition. VAFN structures are typically disposed aft of and connected to one or more translating sleeves of the thrust reverser. SUMMARY A drive system for deploying blocker doors on a translating nozzle of a variable area fan nozzle of a nacelle relative to a thrust reverser and a fixed structure of the nacelle is disclosed herein. In accordance with various embodiments, the drive system may comprise a primary actuator, a torque shaft, and a secondary actuator operationally coupled to the primary actuator via the torque shaft. The primary actuator may include an opening actuator configured to attach to the fixed structure, a closing actuator configured to attach to the fixed structure, a first primary rod configured to be driven by the opening actuator, a second primary rod configured to be driven by the closing actuator, and a primary gear rotationally coupled to the first primary rod and the second primary rod. The torque shaft may be rotationally coupled to the primary gear. The secondary actuator may comprise a secondary gear rotationally coupled to the torque shaft and a secondary rod configured to be driven linearly by the secondary gear. In various embodiments, the secondary rod may include a plurality of teeth configured to engage the secondary gear. In various embodiments, the secondary rod may be configured to attach to the translating nozzle. In various embodiments, the primary gear may be configured to attach to the thrust reverser. In various embodiments, the drive system may further comprise a locking assembly configured to restrict translation of the translating nozzle relative to the thrust reverser in response to deployment of the thrust reverser. In various embodiments, the locking assembly may comprise an interference member biased toward the primary gear, and a contact member coupled to the interference member and configured to contact the fixed structure when the thrust reverser is in a stowed configuration. A drive system for translating a translating sleeve of a thrust reverser of a nacelle relative to a fixed structure of the nacelle is also disclosed herein. In accordance with various embodiments, the drive system may comprise a first primary actuator, a torque shaft, and a secondary actuator operationally coupled to the first primary actuator via the torque shaft. The first primary actuator may include a first primary rod configured to attach to the fixed structure, and a first primary gear rotationally coupled to the first primary rod. The torque shaft may be rotationally coupled to the first primary gear. The secondary actuator may be configured to translate a blocker door of the thrust reverser between a stowed-blocker-door position and a deployed-blocker-door position in response to rotation of the first primary gear. In various embodiments, the secondary actuator may comprise a secondary gear rotationally coupled to the torque shaft, and a secondary rod including a plurality of teeth configured to engage the secondary gear. The secondary rod may be configured to translate the blocker door in response to rotation of the secondary gear. In various embodiments, the secondary actuator may comprise a secondary gear system rotationally coupled to the torque shaft, and a link coupled to the secondary gear system. The link may be configured to translate the blocker door in response to rotation of the secondary gear system. In various embodiments, the first primary gear may be configured to translate linearly relative to the first primary rod in response to a deployment of the translating sleeve. In various embodiments, the secondary actuator may be configured to translate the blocker door to the deployed-blocker-door position in response to rotation of the first primary gear in a first circumferential primary gear direction. In various embodiments, the secondary actuator may be configured to translate the blocker door to the stowed-blocker-door position in response to rotation of the first primary gear in a second circumferential primary gear direction opposite the first circumferential primary gear direction. In various embodiments, the drive system may further comprise a second primary actuator including a second primary rod configured to attach to the fixed structure and a second primary gear rotationally coupled to the second primary rod. A nacelle is also disclosed herein. In accordance with various embodiments, the nacelle may comprise a fixed structure, a first translating structure configured to translate relative to the fixed structure, and a first drive system operationally coupled to the first translating structure. The first drive system may comprise a first primary actuator, a first torque shaft, and a first secondary actuator operationally coupled to the first primary actuator via the first torque shaft. The first primary actuator may be coupled to the fixed structure and may include a first primary rod and a first primary gear rotationally coupled to the first primary rod. The first torque shaft may be rotationally coupled to the first primary gear. In various embodiments, the nacelle may further comprise a thrust reverser including a translating sleeve and a blocker door. The first translating structure may comprise the translating sleeve of the thrust reverser. The first secondary actuator may be configured to translate the blocker door of the thrust reverser between a stowed-blocker-door position and a deployed-blocker-door position in response to rotation of the first primary gear. In various embodiments, the nacelle may further comprise a variable area fan nozzle including a translating nozzle. The first translating structure may comprise the translating nozzle. The first secondary actuator may comprise a secondary gear rotationally coupled to the first torque shaft, and a secondary rod coupled to the translating nozzle and configured to be driven linearly by the secondary gear. In various embodiments, the nacelle may further comprise a second translating structure configured to translate relative to the fixed structure and the first translating structure. A second drive system may be operationally coupled to the second translating structure. The second drive system may comprise a second primary actuator coupled to the fixed structure and including a second primary rod and a second primary gear rotationally coupled to the second primary rod, a second torque shaft rotationally coupled to the second primary gear, and a second secondary actuator operationally coupled to the second primary actuator via the second torque shaft. In various embodiments, the nacelle may further comprise a thrust reverser and a variable area fan nozzle including a translating nozzle. The thrust reverser may include a translating sleeve and a blocker door. The variable area fan nozzle may include a translating nozzle. The first translating structure may comprise the translating sleeve of the thrust reverser. The first secondary actuator may be configured to translate the blocker door of the thrust reverser between a stowed-blocker-door position and a deployed-blocker-door position in response to rotation of the first primary gear. The second translating structure may comprise the translating nozzle. The second secondary actuator may comprise a secondary gear rotationally coupled to the second torque shaft, and a secondary rod coupled to the translating nozzle and configured to be driven linearly by the secondary gear. In various embodiments, the second drive system may further comprise a locking assembly configured to restrict a translation of the translating nozzle relative to the translating sleeve in response to a translation of the translating sleeve away from the fixed structure. In various embodiments, the locking assembly may comprise an interference member biased toward the second primary gear of the second drive system, and a contact member coupled to the interference member and configured to contact the fixed structure when the thrust reverser is in a stowed configuration.

11533286

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present technology relates to the field of social networking systems. More particularly, the present technology relates to techniques for visualizing comment threads and interacting with comment threads associated with social networking systems. BACKGROUND Today, people often utilize computing devices (or systems) for a wide variety of purposes. For example, users can utilize computing devices to access a social networking system (or service). The users can utilize the computing devices to interact with one another, create content items, share content items, and view content items via the social networking system. For example, a user may share a content item, such as an image, a video, an article, or a link, via a social networking system. Another user may access the social networking system and interact with the shared content item. In some cases, the other user can interact with the shared content item by posting a comment associated with the shared content item. SUMMARY Various embodiments of the present technology can include systems, methods, and non-transitory computer readable media configured to present a comment thread including at least one comment. A selection of the at least one comment presented in the comment thread can be determined. A reply thread based at least in part on the at least one comment can be presented. In some embodiments, a selection of a reply included in the reply thread can be determined. Another reply thread based at least in part on the reply can be presented. In some embodiments, a selection of the reply thread can be determined. A next reply thread based at least in part on a next comment in the comment thread can be presented in response to the selection. In some embodiments, a selection of a return button included in the reply thread can be determined. The comment thread can be presented based at least in part on the selection. In some embodiments, a selection of the reply thread can be determined. The reply thread and the comment thread can be closed based at least in part on the selection. In some embodiments, the at least one comment can be associated with a set of replies, the comment thread can include a subset of the set of replies, and the subset can be determined based at least in part on a ranking of the set of replies. In some embodiments, the at least one comment is associated with an indication that the at least one comment is interactive. In some embodiments, the comment thread includes at least one reply and the at least one reply overlaps with the at least one comment. In some embodiments, the at least one comment includes a text message and a content item and the reply thread displays the text message and the content item as a topic. In some embodiments, the selection of the at least one comment is based at least in part on a touch gesture. It should be appreciated that many other features, applications, embodiments, and/or variations of the present technology will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the following detailed description. Additional and/or alternative implementations of the structures, systems, non-transitory computer readable media, and methods described herein can be employed without departing from the principles of the present technology.

11401581

FIELD OF INVENTION This application pertains to gold alloys containing 10 karats or less of gold content, in particular 6 karat gold alloys, that have acceptable workability for jewelry and are sweat and tarnish resistant. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Gold alloys, particularly 14 karat gold and 10 karat gold are widely used in the manufacture of rings and other articles of jewelry. The properties and characteristics of such gold alloys, such as, for example, color, tarnish resistance, corrosion resistance, workability, and castability are highly desired for jewelry purposes. The cost of the gold for such alloys accounts for a substantial portion of the overall manufacturing costs. Therefore, a gold alloy having a reduced gold content, which has the properties, characteristics, and appearance of gold alloys of higher gold content is desirable. Conventionally, low karat (kt) yellow gold alloys are made with copper and silver, and typically have silver content above 9% in order to maintain hardenability based on the silver-copper (AgCu) precipitation reaction, used as a baseline used to compare hardenability. Age or precipitation hardening is a process whereby a non-soluble second phase is forced to precipitate from a metastable initial phase by the application of temperature and time. Metallurgically, an advantage of having no silver in the alloys is that the alloy will be single phase, which should provide superior workability. If zinc is added to a copper-gold alloy instead of silver, the zinc will completely dissolve in the copper-based phase, and diluting the copper, effectively lowering the ratio of copper to gold, which should improve the tarnish resistance. Previous work on low karat yellow gold alloys have included alloys with silver content over 9% and zinc content under 10% (all percentages herein are w/w). For example, US Patent Publication 2010/0209287 published Aug. 19, 2010 describes a series of cast, tarnish resistant sub-10 kt gold alloys with 15-51% silver, 2-9% palladium, and 0.5-10% zinc. U.S. Pat. No. 9,428,821 describes a series of cast 6 k gold alloys with 19-23% Ag and 6-10% Zn. U.S. Pat. No. 4,264,359 describes a series of alloys with 9.75-12.10% Ag, 8.90-10.25% Zn, and 11.75-12.60% Pd. In all cases, it was claimed that the tarnish resistance of the sub-10 kt alloys were comparable to the 10 kt alloys. These alloys, however, have questionable workability as wrought forms (wire or sheet) were not produced. Very little work has been performed on low karat gold alloys without silver. U.S. Pat. No. 4,464,213 describes a series of beta-brasses (38+% Zn) modified by gold. The 4 kt and 6 kt gold-modified beta-brass alloys were had comparable tarnish resistance to “conventional” 14 kt yellow gold alloys. Brook and Illes investigated gold modified beta-brasses and duplex alpha/beta-brasses (G. B. Brook and R. F. Iles “Gold-Copper-Zinc Alloys with Shape Memory,” Gold Bulletin. March 1975, Volume 8, Issue 1, pp 16-21, https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03215059). Tarnish resistance was not evaluated by Brook and Illes as this work was not geared towards the jewelry industry, but it was reported that the alpha/beta brasses had acceptable workability and yellow color. Based on the cited work above there is room for novel alloy development for low karat, yellow gold alloys where the silver content is limited to 9% max, and where the alloys have sufficient tarnish and sweat resistance for use in jewelry. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention describes a class of low karat, low silver gold alloys with acceptable enough workability to be processed into wire, tube, and sheet stock that have improvements over prior art low karat gold alloys, in particular in being resistant to oxidation from sweat and tarnishing. Additional forming operations can form jewelry items such as balls, chain, hoops and studs. The inventive alloys can be fabricated into various colors, including yellow gold, white gold, and other colors. The inventors have discovered that acceptable hardenability can be achieved in gold-copper alloys with low or no silver in the alloy if certain other hardening agents are added. The invention herein describes a series of cast or wrought 6 kt, low silver (<9%) gold alloys with a tarnish and sweat resistance comparable to or better than conventional 10 kt gold alloys (all percentages are w/w). These series of alloys have Ag content ranging from 0 to 8%, Zn content ranging from 8 to 24%, Pd content ranging from 0-6%, and Pt content ranging from 0-6%. In addition, these alloys may contain one or more of the following hardening agents: Al 0-3%; Co 0-4%, B 0-1%, Si 0-1%; Ru 0-1%; and Ir 0-1%, or a combination thereof. In an embodiment, B and Ir are present in an amount of 0.025% to 0.10% each. Another embodiment of this invention provides a 6 karat gold alloy with Au 25%, Cu 45-60%, Zn 15-21%; plus one of Al 2%, Pd 4-6%, or Pt 4-6%; plus an additive selected from one of Co 0-4%, B 0-1%, and Si 0-1%; or Ru—0-1% and Ir: 0-1%, or a mixture thereof. Another embodiment of this invention provides a 6 karat gold alloy with Au 25%; Cu 45-60%; Zn 8-24%; Ag 0-8%; Pd or Pt 0-6%; plus an additive selected from one of Co 2-4%, B 0.5-1.0%, and Ru 0.5-1.0% or a mixture thereof. Another embodiment of this invention provides a 6 karat gold alloy with Au 25%; Cu 45-60%; Zn 8-21%; plus an additive selected from one of Pd 4-7%; Pt 4-7%; Co 2-4%; B 0.5-1.0%; or Ru 0.5-1.0% or a mixture thereof. One embodiment of this invention has a composition of 25% Au, 7.9% Ag, 55.7% Cu, 8.9% Zn, 2.0% Co, and 0.5% B. This alloy has been processed into wire and strip, is comparably tarnish/sweat resistant to conventional 10 kt gold alloys (i.e., 42% Au), and shows good heat treatability. The color and workability is comparable to 10 kt gold alloys. A second embodiment of this invention has a composition of: 25% Au, 50.8% Cu, 15.2% Zn, 6.0% Pd, 2.5% Co, and 0.5% B. This alloy has been processed into wire and strip, has comparable tarnish resistant to 10 kt, has superior sweat resistant to 10 kt, and shows heat treatability. The color is comparable to 10 kt. Workability is comparable to 10 kt. A third embodiment of this invention has a composition of: 25.0% Au, 50.8% Cu, 17.7% Zn, 0.5% Ru, and 6.0% Pd. This alloy has been processed into wire and strip, has comparable tarnish resistant to 10 kt gold, has superior sweat resistant to 10 kt gold, and shows heat treatability. The color is comparable to 10 kt gold, and workability is comparable to 10 kt.

11357580

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates generally to methods, systems, and apparatuses related to a computer-assisted surgical system that includes various hardware and software components that work together to enhance surgical workflows. The disclosed techniques may be applied to, for example, shoulder, hip, and knee arthroplasties, as well as other surgical interventions such as arthroscopic procedures, spinal procedures, neuro procedures, dental procedures, maxillofacial procedures, rotator cuff procedures, ligament repair and replacement procedures. BACKGROUND Optical tracking systems are often used in surgical environments to track the location of surgical devices and/or patient anatomy. In conventional optical tracking systems, markers or fiducials are illuminated, and the reflected light is captured by a (stereo-)camera or other sensing device to facilitate triangulation of position and/or orientation data for the associated fiducials. The position and orientation data, which is also referred to as pose data, can be used by surgical software applications to automatically control robotic surgical instruments and/or assist the surgeon during a surgical procedure (e.g. improve visibility of the anatomy). However, optical tracking systems generally require a line of sight between the sensing device and the fiducials, which can be obscured during a surgical procedure. For example, a fiducial can be physically obscured as a result of a surgeon or surgical object in the surgical environment blocking the line of sight between the sensing device and the fiducial. Optical tracking systems have been developed in which the fiducial is configured with a sensor to sense light (e.g., in the infrared range) output by a light source. However, such systems can be susceptible to sun reflection entering the surgical environment, which can “blind” the fiducial and thereby obscure the sensor. Accordingly, current optical tracking systems are often ineffective and/or inaccurate, which can negatively impact surgical procedure quality and patient outcomes. Additionally, many optical tracking systems are expensive, requiring reuse and increasing contamination risk in surgical environments, and/or bulky, requiring increased physical storage capacity and inhibiting surgeon and/or surgical device movement during surgical procedures, among other deficiencies. SUMMARY Methods, non-transitory computer readable media, and optical tracking systems are illustrated that improve optical tracking in surgical environments. According to certain embodiments, a system is disclosed that includes a first tracker device including first and second optical sensor modules, a first non-transitory computer readable medium comprising first instructions stored thereon and a first processor coupled to the first non-transitory computer-readable medium. The first processor is configured to execute the stored first instructions to capture first and second sets of one or more background images, and first and second sets of current images, using the first and second optical sensor modules, respectively. The first and second sets of current images each include first, second, and third current images captured when first, second, and third light sources are enabled, respectively. Additionally, the first and second sets of one or more background images are captured when none of the light sources is enabled. A determination is then made as to whether a quality of at least one of the first, second, or third current images in at least one of the first or second sets of current images is below a threshold quality level. The determination in some examples is based on a comparison of each of the first, second, and third current images in each of the first and second sets of current images to one or more of the one or more background images in the first and second sets of one or more background images, respectively. An alert is output when the determination indicates the quality of at least one of the first, second, or third current images in at least one of the first or second sets of current images is below the threshold quality level. According to some embodiments, the first processor is further configured to execute the stored first instructions to generate an angular position of each of the light sources based on one or more of the first or second sets of current images. According to some embodiments, the optical tracking system further includes a central processor device. The first processor in these embodiments is further configured to execute the stored first instructions to send the generated angular position to the central processor device. The central processor device includes a second non-transitory computer readable medium comprising second instructions stored thereon and a second processor coupled to the second non-transitory computer-readable medium and configured to execute the stored second instructions to generate a pose of the first tracker device based on the angular position of each of the light sources. According to some embodiments, the optical tracking system further includes a central processor device and the first processor is further configured to execute the stored first instructions to generate a pose of the first tracker device based on the generated angular position of each of the light sources and send the pose to the central processor device. According to some embodiments, the optical tracking system further includes a central processor device including a second non-transitory computer readable medium comprising second instructions stored thereon and a second processor coupled to the second non-transitory computer-readable medium and configured to execute the stored second instructions to automatically control one or more surgical instruments, or update a display output to a display device, based on a pose of the first tracker device determined based on the generated angular position of each of the light sources. According to some embodiments, the optical tracking system further includes a reference frame external to the first tracker device. The reference frame includes the light sources. In these embodiments, the optical tracking system further includes a driver coupled to the reference frame and including an electronic circuit configured to alternately enable the light sources in sequence The first processor is further configured to execute the stored first instructions to synchronize the capture of the first and second sets of one or more background images, or first and second sets of current images, with the driver According to some embodiments, the optical tracking system further includes a second tracker device including the light sources, a third non-transitory computer readable medium comprising third instructions stored thereon, and a third processor coupled to the third non-transitory computer-readable medium and configured to execute the stored third instructions to alternately enable the light sources in sequence. The third processor is further configured to execute the third instructions in these embodiments to synchronize the enablement of the light sources with the capture of the first and second sets of one or more background images, or first and second sets of current images, by the first tracker device. According to some embodiments, the one or more background images in each of the first and second sets of one or more background images comprise first, second, and third background images. In these embodiments, the first processor is further configured to execute the stored first instructions to alternately capture the first, second, and third background images in each of the first and second sets of background images with respect to the first, second, and third current images in the first and second sets of current images, respectively. Additionally, the quality of the first, second, and third current images in each of the first and second sets of current images is determined based on a comparison of each of the first, second, and third current images in each of the first and second sets of current images to one of the first, second, or third background images in one of the first or second sets of background images captured immediately prior to the capture of the first, second, and third current images in each of the first and second sets of current images, respectively. According to some embodiments, the one or more background images in each of the first and second sets of one or more background images comprise a first background image and a second background image In these embodiments, the first processor is further configured to execute the stored first instructions to capture the first and second background images prior to capture of the first, second, and third current images in the first and second sets of current images, respectively. Additionally, the quality of the first, second, and third current images in each of the first and second sets of current images is determined based on a comparison of each of the first, second, and third current images in each of the first and second sets of current images to the first and second background images, respectively. According to some embodiments, the first tracker device further includes an alert indicator and the first processor is further configured to execute the stored first instructions to illuminate the alert indicator to output the alert. The output alert includes an indication of one of the first or second optical sensor modules that captured the at least one of the first, second, or third current images in the at least one of the first or second sets of current images that is below the threshold quality level. According to some embodiments, the first processor is further configured to execute the stored first instructions to send an alert message to a central processor device to output the alert, wherein the alert message comprises another indication of one of the first or second optical sensor modules that captured the at least one of the first, second, or third current images in the at least one of the first or second sets of current images that is below the threshold quality level. According to some embodiments, the first processor is further configured to execute the stored first instructions to determine whether an acquisition sequence is completed based on whether the first and second sets of one or more background images, and first and second sets of current images, have been captured. A determination is then made as to whether the quality of the at least one of the first, second, or third current images in the at least one of the first or second sets of current images is below the threshold quality level, when the determination indicates the acquisition sequence is completed. According to some embodiments, the first processor is further configured to execute the stored first instructions to determine whether sufficient data has been obtained via the first and second sets of current images based on whether the determination indicates the quality of at least one of the first, second, or third current images in both of the first or second sets of current images is below the threshold quality level. According to some embodiments, the first processor is further configured to execute the stored first instructions to repeat at least the capture of the first and second sets of one or more background images, and first and second sets of current images, and the determination of whether the quality of the at least one of the first, second, or third current images in the at least one of the first or second sets of current images is below the threshold quality level, when the determination indicates insufficient data has been obtained via the first and second sets of current images. According to some embodiments, the first processor is further configured to execute the stored first instructions to determine whether the quality of the at least one of the first, second, or third current images in the at least one of the first or second sets of current images is below a threshold quality level further based on one or more of a difference in one or more pixel values, saturation level, or signal-to-noise ratio between corresponding ones of the first and second sets of one or more background images and first and second sets of current images.

11378617

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of European Patent application no. 17208592.0, filed on 19 Dec. 2017, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for providing failure-prediction of a circuit and a related method. According to a first aspect of the present disclosure there is provided an apparatus comprising:a functional circuit comprising one or more circuit components configured to perform a function based on one or more first input signals;at least one failure-prediction circuit for use in predicting failure of the functional circuit, the failure-prediction circuit comprising a replica of the functional circuit in terms of constituent circuit components;wherein the failure-prediction circuit is configured to be more susceptible to failure than said functional circuit in terms of one or more of:(a) the one or more circuit components of the failure-prediction circuit are fabricated having one or more dimensions more susceptible to failure than the corresponding dimensions of the functional circuit;(b) the one or more circuit components of the failure-prediction circuit, at least in part, are fabricated having a different shape more susceptible to failure than the corresponding shape of the functional circuit;(c) the failure-prediction circuit is configured to be provided with one or more second input signals based on the one or more first input signals, the one or more second input signals comprising at least one property that is greater in magnitude than the corresponding property of the one or more first input signals; and(d) the failure-prediction circuit is positioned relative to the functional circuit such that, in use, the failure-prediction circuit experiences a higher operating condition than the functional circuit and wherein the higher operating condition is one or more of, in use, a higher operating temperature and a higher local magnetic field strength;wherein the apparatus is configured to provide a prediction of failure of the functional circuit based on a determination of failure of the failure-prediction circuit. In one or more embodiments the determination of failure of the failure-predication circuit may comprise the determination that an output of the failure-prediction circuit is outside of a predetermined acceptable range. In one or more embodiments, the one or more dimensions of the circuit components of the failure-prediction circuit may comprise one or more of:(a) the area of a junction of a transistor component of the one or more circuit components;(b) the width of a terminal of an electronic component of the one or more circuit components; and(c) the thickness of a semi-conductor layer of the one or more circuit components. In one or more embodiments, the one or more second input signals may be based on the one or more first input signals at least in terms of the apparatus being configured to provide the one or more second input signals to the failure-prediction circuit for substantially the same time duration that the one or more first input signals are received by the functional circuit. In one or more embodiments, the one or more second input signals may have a property that is greater in magnitude than the corresponding property of the one or more first input signals in terms of having one or more of:(a) a greater voltage magnitude;(b) a greater current magnitude;(c) a greater frequency magnitude;(d) a greater period magnitude; and(e) a greater bandwidth magnitude. In one or more embodiments, the greater frequency magnitude may refer to one or more of: a greater signal frequency magnitude; and a greater frequency of an application of programming/deleting operations, at least in terms of peak frequency or an average frequency over a predetermined sample period. In one or more embodiments, the different shape more susceptible to failure may comprise a shape of a part of the one or more components that provides for a greater local current density, when in use, than the corresponding part of the one or more components of the functional circuit. In one or more examples, the shape may be configured to be more pointed. In one or more examples, the differing shape may be applied to one or more of the corner of a terminal and an edge or a corner of a layer, such as a metallisation layer or semiconductor layer. In one or more embodiments, the apparatus may be configured to provide for determination of the failure of the failure-prediction circuit in accordance one or more of the following time schedules:(a) at predetermined intervals;(b) on start-up of the apparatus; and(c) on receipt of an instruction signal from a device remote from the apparatus. In one or more embodiments, the apparatus may further comprise a testing block configured to provide said prediction of failure based on measurement of the failure of the failure-prediction circuit. In one or more embodiments, the apparatus may be configured, on determination that the failure-prediction circuit has failed, to provide for signalling to be sent to one or more of:(a) a remote device;(b) a remote circuit comprising part of the apparatus; and(b) a display for providing a warning. In one or more embodiments, the failure-prediction circuit may be a first failure-prediction circuit and the apparatus may further comprise a second failure-prediction circuit, the circuit components of the second failure-prediction circuit configured to provide one or more second output signals which are not used to provide said function,wherein the second failure-prediction circuit may be configured to be more susceptible to failure than said functional circuit in terms of one or more of:(a) the one or more circuit components of the second failure-prediction circuit are fabricated having one or more dimensions more susceptible to failure than the corresponding dimensions of the functional circuit;(b) the one or more circuit components of the second failure-prediction circuit, at least in part, are fabricated having a different shape more susceptible to failure than the corresponding shape of the functional circuit;(c) the second failure-prediction circuit is configured to be provided with one or more third input signals, the one or more third input signals comprising at least one property that is greater in magnitude than the corresponding property of the one or more first input signals; and(d) the second failure-prediction circuit is positioned relative to the functional circuit such that, in use, the second failure-prediction circuit experiences a higher operating condition than the functional circuit, and wherein the higher operating condition is one or more of, in use, a higher operating temperature and a higher local magnetic field strength, andwherein the apparatus is further configured to provide a prediction of failure of the functional circuit based on a determination of failure of the second failure-prediction circuit. In one or more embodiments, the second failure-prediction circuit may be configured to be more susceptible to failure than the first failure-prediction circuit in terms of:(a) the one or more circuit components of the second failure-prediction circuit are fabricated having one or more dimensions more susceptible to failure than the corresponding dimensions of the first failure-prediction circuit;(b) the one or more circuit components of the second failure-prediction circuit, at least in part, are fabricated having a different shape more susceptible to failure than the corresponding shape of the first failure-prediction circuit;(c) the second failure-prediction circuit is configured to be provided with one or more third input signals based on the one or more first input signals, the one or more third input signals comprising at least one property that is greater in magnitude than the corresponding property of the one or more second input signals; and(d) the second failure-prediction circuit is positioned relative to the first failure-prediction circuit such that, in use, the second failure-prediction circuit experiences a higher operating condition than the first failure-prediction circuit and wherein the higher operating condition is one or more of, in use, a higher operating temperature and a higher local magnetic field strength. In one or more embodiments, the second failure-prediction circuit may be configured to have the same susceptibility to failure as the first failure-prediction circuit in terms of:(a) the one or more circuit components of the second failure-prediction circuit are fabricated having one or more dimensions equally susceptible to failure as the corresponding dimensions of the first failure-prediction circuit;(b) the one or more circuit components of the second failure-prediction circuit are fabricated having a shape equally susceptible to failure as the corresponding shape of the first failure-prediction circuit;(c) the second failure-prediction circuit is configured to be provided with one or more third input signals based on the one or more first input signals, the one or more third input signals comprising at least one property that is equal in magnitude to the corresponding property of the one or more second input signals; and(d) the second failure-prediction circuit is positioned relative to the first failure-prediction circuit such that, in use, the second failure-prediction circuit experiences the same operating condition as the functional circuit and wherein the operating condition is one or more of, in use, an operating temperature and a local magnetic field strength. In a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an electronic device comprising the apparatus of any preceding embodiment, wherein the function performed by the functional circuit is used by the electronic device and the electronic device comprises one of: an automotive safety system device; a medical equipment device; an aeronautical safety-critical circuit; and an industrial safety system device. In a third aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method for providing prediction of failure of a functional circuit of an apparatus, the apparatus comprising:the functional circuit configured to receive one or more first input signals;a failure-prediction circuit for use in predicting failure of the functional circuit, the failure-prediction circuit comprising a replica of the functional circuit in terms of constituent circuit components;wherein the failure-prediction circuit is configured to be more susceptible to failure than said functional circuit in terms of one or more of:(a) the one or more circuit components of the failure-prediction circuit are fabricated having one or more dimensions more susceptible to failure than the corresponding dimensions of the functional circuit;(b) the one or more circuit components of the failure-prediction circuit, at least in part, are fabricated having a different shape more susceptible to failure than the corresponding shape of the functional circuit;(c) the failure-prediction circuit is configured to be provided with one or more second input signals based on the one or more first input signals, the one or more second input signals comprising at least one property that is greater in magnitude than the corresponding property of the one or more first input signals; and(d) the failure-prediction circuit is positioned relative to the functional circuit such that, in use, the failure-prediction circuit experiences a higher operating condition than the functional circuit and wherein the higher operating condition is one or more of, in use, a higher operating temperature and a higher local magnetic field strength,predicting the failure of the functional circuit based on determining the failure of the failure-prediction circuit. In one or more embodiments, the method of the third aspect may further comprise the step of, on determination that the failure-prediction circuit has failed, providing for signalling to be sent to:(a) a remote device;(b) a remote circuit comprising part of the apparatus; and(b) a display for providing a warning. In one or more embodiments, the apparatus may comprise a plurality of failure-prediction circuits for use in predicting failure of the functional circuit, each of the plurality of failure-prediction circuits comprising a replica of the functional circuit in terms of constituent circuit components, andthe step of predicting the failure of the functional circuit may comprise determining the failure of at least a predetermined number of the plurality of failure-prediction circuits. According to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an apparatus comprising:a functional circuit comprising one or more circuit components configured to perform a function;at least one failure-prediction circuit for use in predicting failure of the functional circuit, the failure-prediction circuit comprising a replica of the functional circuit in terms of constituent circuit components;wherein the failure-prediction circuit is configured to be more susceptible to failure than said functional circuit; andwherein the apparatus is configured to provide a prediction of failure of the functional circuit based on a determination of failure of the failure-prediction circuit. While the disclosure is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that other embodiments, beyond the particular embodiments described, are possible as well. All modifications, equivalents, and alternative embodiments falling within the spirit and scope of the appended claims are covered as well. The above discussion is not intended to represent every example embodiment or every implementation within the scope of the current or future Claim sets. The figures and Detailed Description that follow also exemplify various example embodiments. Various example embodiments may be more completely understood in consideration of the following Detailed Description in connection with the accompanying Drawings. One or more embodiments will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

11219723

BACKGROUND The present disclosure relates generally to the field of smoke inhalation devices and more particularly to control mechanisms for smoke inhalation devices. Smoke inhalation devices, commonly known as e-cigarettes, can be used to simulate a cigarette or a cigar. For example, a smoke inhalation device can vaporize a liquid including nicotine. A user of the smoke inhalation device can inhale the vapor and have an experience similar to smoking a traditional cigarette or cigar. SUMMARY One illustrative embodiment is related to an apparatus including a first cartridge, a sensor, and a controller. The first cartridge can include a first release device configured to release a first substance into a housing. The controller can be configured to receive data from the sensor. The controller can determine an amount of first substance released by the first cartridge based on the data. The first release device can be controlled based on the determined amount of first substance. Another illustrative embodiment is related to a method for metering an inhalation device. The method can include receiving data from a sensor. An amount of a first substance released by a first cartridge can be determined based on the data. The first cartridge can include a first release device configured to release the first substance into a housing. The first release device can be controlled based on the determined amount of first substance. Another illustrative embodiment is related to a non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, if executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations for metering an inhalation device. The method can include receiving data from a sensor. An amount of a first substance released by a first cartridge can be determined based on the data. The first cartridge can include a first release device configured to release the first substance into a housing. The first release device can be controlled based on the determined amount of first substance.

11238377

FIELD The present disclosure relates to systems and techniques for machine learning. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to systems and techniques for generating and managing a library of machine-learning applications. BACKGROUND Machine-learning has a wide range of applications, such as search engines, medical diagnosis, text and handwriting recognition, image processing and recognition, load forecasting, marketing and sales diagnosis, chatbots, autonomous driving, and the like. Various types and versions of machine-learning models may be generated for similar applications using training data based on different technologies, languages, libraries, and the like, and thus may lack interoperability. In addition, different models may have different performances in different contexts and/or for different types of input data. Data scientists may not have the programming skills to generate the code necessary to build custom machine-learning models. In addition, available machine-learning tools do not store the various machine-learning model components as part of a library to allow for efficient reuse of routines in other machine-learning models. Existing machine-learning applications can require considerable programming knowledge by a data scientist to design and construct a machine-learning application to solve specific problems. Intuitive interfaces can assist the data scientist construct a machine-learning application through a series of queries. Some organizations can store data from multiple clients or suppliers with customizable schemas. These customizable schemas may not match standardized data storage schemas used by existing machine-learning models. Therefore, these other systems would need to perform a reconciliation process prior to using the stored data. The reconciliation process can be either a manual process or through a tedious extract, transform, load automated process prior to using the data for generating machine-learning applications. Machine-learning applications based only on metrics (e.g., Quality of Service (QoS) or Key Performance Indicators) may not be sufficient to compose pipelines with minimal human intervention for a self-adaptive architecture. Pre-existing machine-learning tools do not combine non-logical based and logic-based semantic services to generate a machine-learning application. Machine-learning applications can be built by integrating segments of code into a machine-learning module. The various segments of code can be subject to various licenses that impose various restrictions on the software developer. In addition, the segments of code may include one or more security vulnerabilities that need to be considered prior to incorporation. The segments of code may incur additional costs due to licenses tied to code. The segments of code may also incur compatibility issues due to dependencies on other segments of code. BRIEF SUMMARY Certain aspects and features of the present disclosure relate to machine-learning platform that generates a library of components to generate machine-learning models and machine-learning applications. The machine-learning infrastructure system allows a user (i.e., a data scientist) to generate machine-learning applications without having detailed knowledge of the cloud-based network infrastructure or knowledge of how to generate code for building the model. The machine-learning platform can analyze the identified data and the user provided desired prediction and performance characteristics to select one or more library components and associated API to generate a machine-learning application. The machine-learning techniques can monitor and evaluate the outputs of the machine-learning model to allow for feedback and adjustments to the model. The machine-learning application can be trained, tested, and compiled for export as stand-alone executable code. The machine-learning platform can generate and store one or more library components that can be used for other machine-learning applications. The machine-learning platform can allow users to generate a profile which allows the platform to make recommendations based on a user's historical preferences. The model creation engine can detect the number and type of infrastructure resources necessary to achieve the desired results within the desired performance criteria. A chatbot can provide an intuitive interface to allow the data scientist to generate a machine-learning application without considerable programming experience. A chatbot is able to translate natural language into a structured representation of a machine-learning solution using a conversational interface. A chatbot can be used to indicate the location of data, select a type of machine-learning solution, display optimal solutions that best meet the constraints, and recommend the best environment to deploy the solution. A self-adjusting corporation-wide discovery and integration feature can review a client's data store, review the labels for the various data schema, and effectively map the client's data schema to classifications used by the machine-learning model. The various techniques can automatically select the features that are predictive for each individual use case (i.e., one client), effectively making a machine-learning solution client-agnostic for the application developer. A weighted list of common representations of each feature for a particular machine-learning solution can be generated and stored. When new data is added to the data store, a matching service can automatically detect which features should be fed into the machine-learning solution based at least in part on the weighted list. The weighted list can be updated as new data is made available to the model. Existing data ontologies can be used for generating machine-learning solutions for a high-precision search of relevant services to compose pipelines with minimal human intervention. Data ontologies can be used to create a combination of non-logic based and logic-based sematic services that can significantly outperform both kinds of selection in terms of precision. QoS and product KPI constraints can be used as part of architecture selection. For data sets without existing ontologies, one or more ontologies be generated. The proposed system can use best available models at the time of construction to solve problems using the machine-learning application. An adaptive pipelining composition service can identify and incorporate one or more new models into the machine-learning application. The machine-learning application with the new model can be tested off-line with the results being compared with ground truth data. If the machine-learning application with the new model outperforms the previously used model, the machine-learning application can be upgraded and auto-promoted to production. One or more parameters may also be discovered. The new parameters may be incorporated into the existing model in an off-line mode. The machine-learning application with the new parameters can be tested off-line and the results can be compared with previous results with existing parameters. If the new parameters outperform the existing parameters as compared with ground-truth data, the machine-learning application can be auto-promoted to production. According to some implementations, a method may include matching a segment of code for a code integration request to metadata about similar segments of code. The metadata quantifies one or more outcomes of previous integration requests. The method can include determining usage rights and rules based on the metadata, wherein some of the usage rights and rules have previously been approved by a multi-approval workflow that enforces a predetermined process to authorize use of the segment of code for code segment integrations. The method can include analyzing the metadata to predict an integration score based at least in part on the usage rights and rules of the segments of code. The method can include storing the data structure in a memory. According to some implementations, a server system may include one or more memories; and one or more processors, communicatively coupled to the one or more memories, the one or more processors configured to execute instructions to perform operations including matching a segment of code for a code integration request to metadata about similar segments of code. The metadata quantifies one or more outcomes of previous integration requests. The instructions can perform operations for determining usage rights and rules based on the metadata, wherein some of the usage rights and rules have previously been approved by a multi-approval workflow that enforces a predetermined process to authorize use of the segment of code for code segment integrations. The instructions can perform operations for analyzing the metadata to predict an integration score based at least in part on the usage rights and rules of the segments of code. The instructions can perform operations for storing the data structure in a memory. According to some implementations, a non-transitory computer-readable medium may store one or more instructions. The one or more instructions, when executed by one or more processors of a server system, may cause the one or more processors to perform operations including matching a segment of code for a code integration request to metadata about similar segments of code, wherein the metadata quantifies one or more outcomes of previous integration requests. The operations can include determining usage rights and rules based on the metadata, wherein some of the usage rights and rules have previously been approved by a multi-approval workflow that enforces a predetermined process to authorize use of the segment of code for code segment integrations. The operations can include analyzing the metadata to predict an integration score based at least in part on the usage rights and rules of the segments of code. The operations can include storing the data structure in a memory. These and other embodiments are described in detail below. For example, other embodiments are directed to systems, devices, and computer readable media associated with methods described herein. A better understanding of the nature and advantages of embodiments of the present disclosed may be gained with reference to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

11343684

BACKGROUND 1. Field The present disclosure relates generally to data networking and in particular to a backhaul radio for connecting remote edge access networks to core networks. 2. Related Art Data networking traffic has grown at approximately 100% per year for over 20 years and continues to grow at this pace. Only transport over optical fiber has shown the ability to keep pace with this ever-increasing data networking demand for core data networks. While deployment of optical fiber to an edge of the core data network would be advantageous from a network performance perspective, it is often impractical to connect all high bandwidth data networking points with optical fiber at all times. Instead, connections to remote edge access networks from core networks are often achieved with wireless radio, wireless infrared, and/or copper wireline technologies. Radio, especially in the form of cellular or wireless local area network (WLAN) technologies, is particularly advantageous for supporting mobility of data networking devices. However, cellular base stations or WLAN access points inevitably become very high data bandwidth demand points that require continuous connectivity to an optical fiber core network. When data aggregation points, such as cellular base station sites, WLAN access points, or other local area network (LAN) gateways, cannot be directly connected to a core optical fiber network, then an alternative connection, using, for example, wireless radio or copper wireline technologies, must be used. Such connections are commonly referred to as “backhaul.” Many cellular base stations deployed to date have used copper wireline backhaul technologies such as T1, E1, DSL, etc. when optical fiber is not available at a given site. However, the recent generations of HSPA+ and LTE cellular base stations have backhaul requirements of 100 Mb/s or more, especially when multiple sectors and/or multiple mobile network operators per cell site are considered. WLAN access points commonly have similar data backhaul requirements. These backhaul requirements cannot be practically satisfied at ranges of 300 m or more by existing copper wireline technologies. Even if LAN technologies such as Ethernet over multiple dedicated twisted pair wiring or hybrid fiber/coax technologies such as cable modems are considered, it is impractical to backhaul at such data rates at these ranges (or at least without adding intermediate repeater equipment). Moreover, to the extent that such special wiring (i.e., CAT 5/6 or coax) is not presently available at a remote edge access network location; a new high capacity optical fiber is advantageously installed instead of a new copper connection. Rather than incur the large initial expense and time delay associated with bringing optical fiber to every new location, it has been common to backhaul cell sites, WLAN hotspots, or LAN gateways from offices, campuses, etc. using microwave radios. An exemplary backhaul connection using the microwave radios132is shown inFIG. 1. Traditionally, such microwave radios132for backhaul have been mounted on high towers112(or high rooftops of multi-story buildings) as shown inFIG. 1, such that each microwave radio132has an unobstructed line of sight (LOS)136to the other. These microwave radios132can have data rates of 100 Mb/s or higher at unobstructed LOS ranges of 300 m or longer with latencies of 5 ms or less (to minimize overall network latency). Traditional microwave backhaul radios132operate in a Point-to-point (PTP) configuration using a single “high gain” (typically >30 dBi or even >40 dBi) antenna at each end of the link136, such as, for example, antennas constructed using a parabolic dish. Such high gain antennas mitigate the effects of unwanted multipath self-interference or unwanted co-channel interference from other radio systems such that high data rates, long range and low latency can be achieved. These high gain antennas however have narrow radiation patterns. Furthermore, high gain antennas in traditional microwave backhaul radios132require very precise, and usually manual, physical alignment of their narrow radiation patterns in order to achieve such high performance results. Such alignment is almost impossible to maintain over extended periods of time unless the two radios have a clear unobstructed line of sight (LOS) between them over the entire range of separation. Furthermore, such precise alignment makes it impractical for any one such microwave backhaul radio to communicate effectively with multiple other radios simultaneously (i.e., a “point-to-multipoint” (PMP) configuration). In wireless edge access applications, such as cellular or WLAN, advanced protocols, modulation, encoding and spatial processing across multiple radio antennas have enabled increased data rates and ranges for numerous simultaneous users compared to analogous systems deployed 5 or 10 years ago for obstructed LOS propagation environments where multipath and co-channel interference were present. In such systems, “low gain” (usually <6 dBi) antennas are generally used at one or both ends of the radio link both to advantageously exploit multipath signals in the obstructed LOS environment and allow operation in different physical orientations as would be encountered with mobile devices. Although impressive performance results have been achieved for edge access, such results are generally inadequate for emerging backhaul requirements of data rates of 100 Mb/s or higher, ranges of 300 m or longer in obstructed LOS conditions, and latencies of 5 ms or less. In particular, “street level” deployment of cellular base stations, WLAN access points or LAN gateways (e.g., deployment at street lamps, traffic lights, sides or rooftops of single or low-multiple story buildings) suffers from problems because there are significant obstructions for LOS in urban environments (e.g., tall buildings, or any environments where tall trees or uneven topography are present). FIG. 1illustrates edge access using conventional unobstructed LOS PTP microwave radios132. The scenario depicted inFIG. 1is common for many 2ndGeneration (2G) and 3rdGeneration (3G) cellular network deployments using “macrocells”. InFIG. 1, a Cellular Base Transceiver Station (BTS)104is shown housed within a small building108adjacent to a large tower112. The cellular antennas116that communicate with various cellular subscriber devices120are mounted on the towers112. The PTP microwave radios132are mounted on the towers112and are connected to the BTSs104via an nT1 interface. As shown inFIG. 1by line136, the radios132require unobstructed LOS. The BTS on the right104ahas either an nT1 copper interface or an optical fiber interface124to connect the BTS104ato the Base Station Controller (BSC)128. The BSC128either is part of or communicates with the core network of the cellular network operator. The BTS on the left104bis identical to the BTS on the right104ainFIG. 1except that the BTS on the left104bhas no local wireline nT1 (or optical fiber equivalent) so the nT1 interface is instead connected to a conventional PTP microwave radio132with unobstructed LOS to the tower on the right112a. The nT1 interfaces for both BTSs104a,104bcan then be backhauled to the BSC128as shown inFIG. 1. FIG. 2Ais a block diagram of the major subsystems of a conventional PTP microwave radio200A for the case of Time-Division Duplex (TDD) operation, andFIG. 2Bis a block diagram of the major subsystems of a conventional PTP microwave radio200B for the case of Frequency-Division Duplex (FDD) operation. As shown inFIG. 2AandFIG. 2B, the conventional PTP microwave radio traditionally uses one or more (i.e. up to “n”) T1 interfaces204A and204B (or in Europe, E1 interfaces). These interfaces (204A and204B) are common in remote access systems such as 2G cellular base stations or enterprise voice and/or data switches or edge routers. The T1 interfaces are typically multiplexed and buffered in a bridge (e.g., the Interface Bridge208A,208B) that interfaces with a Media Access Controller (MAC)212A,212B. The MAC212A,212B is generally denoted as such in reference to a sub-layer of Layer 2 within the Open Systems Interconnect (OSI) reference model. Major functions performed by the MAC include the framing, scheduling, prioritizing (or “classifying”), encrypting and error checking of data sent from one such radio atFIG. 2AorFIG. 2Bto another such radio. The data sent from one radio to another is generally in a “user plane” if it originates at the T1 interface(s) or in the “control plane” if it originates internally such as from the Radio Link Controller (RLC)248A,248B shown inFIG. 2AorFIG. 2B. With reference toFIGS. 2A and 2B, the Modem216A,216B typically resides within the “baseband” portion of the Physical (PHY) layer 1 of the OSI reference model. In conventional PTP radios, the baseband PHY, depicted by Modem216A,216B, typically implements scrambling, forward error correction encoding, and modulation mapping for a single RF carrier in the transmit path. In receive, the modem typically performs the inverse operations of demodulation mapping, decoding and descrambling. The modulation mapping is conventionally Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) implemented with In-phase (I) and Quadrature-phase (Q) branches. The Radio Frequency (RF)220A,220B also resides within the PHY layer of the radio. In conventional PTP radios, the RF220A,220B typically includes a single transmit chain (Tx)224A,224B that includes I and Q digital to analog converters (DACs), a vector modulator, optional upconverters, a programmable gain amplifier, one or more channel filters, and one or more combinations of a local oscillator (LO) and a frequency synthesizer. Similarly, the RF220A,220B also typically includes a single receive chain (Rx)228A,228B that includes I and Q analog to digital converters (ADCs), one or more combinations of an LO and a frequency synthesizer, one or more channel filters, optional downconverters, a vector demodulator and an automatic gain control (AGC) amplifier. Note that in many cases some of the one or more LO and frequency synthesizer combinations can be shared between the Tx and Rx chains. As shown inFIGS. 2A and 2B, conventional PTP radios200A,200B also include a single power amplifier (PA)232A,232B. The PA232A,232B boosts the transmit signal to a level appropriate for radiation from the antenna in keeping with relevant regulatory restrictions and instantaneous link conditions. Similarly, such conventional PTP radios232A,232B typically also include a single low-noise amplifier (LNA)236,336as shown inFIGS. 2A and 2B. The LNA236A,236B boosts the received signal at the antenna while minimizing the effects of noise generated within the entire signal path. As described above,FIG. 2Aillustrates a conventional PTP radio200A for the case of TDD operation. As shown inFIG. 2A, conventional PTP radios200A typically connect the antenna240A to the PA232A and LNA236A via a band-select filter244A and a single-pole, single-throw (SPST) switch242A. As described above,FIG. 2Billustrates a conventional PTP radio200B for the case of FDD operation. As shown inFIG. 2B, in conventional PTP radios200B, then antenna240B is typically connected to the PA232B and LNA236B via a duplexer filter244B. The duplexer filter244B is essentially two band-select filters (tuned respectively to the Tx and Rx bands) connected at a common point. In the conventional PTP radios shown inFIGS. 2A and 2B, the antenna240A,240B is typically of very high gain such as can be achieved by a parabolic dish so that gains of typically >30 dBi (or even sometimes >40 dBi), can be realized. Such an antenna usually has a narrow radiation pattern in both the elevation and azimuth directions. The use of such a highly directive antenna in a conventional PTP radio link with unobstructed LOS propagation conditions ensures that the modem216A,216B has insignificant impairments at the receiver (antenna240A,240B) due to multipath self-interference and further substantially reduces the likelihood of unwanted co-channel interference due to other nearby radio links. Although not explicitly shown inFIGS. 2A and 2B, the conventional PTP radio may use a single antenna structure with dual antenna feeds arranged such that the two electromagnetic radiation patterns emanated by such an antenna are nominally orthogonal to each other. An example of this arrangement is a parabolic dish. Such an arrangement is usually called dual-polarized and can be achieved either by orthogonal vertical and horizontal polarizations or orthogonal left-hand circular and right-hand circular polarizations. When duplicate modem blocks, RF blocks, and PA/LNA/switch blocks are provided in a conventional PTP radio, then connecting each PHY chain to a respective polarization feed of the antenna allows theoretically up to twice the total amount of information to be communicated within a given channel bandwidth to the extent that cross-polarization self-interference can be minimized or cancelled sufficiently. Such a system is said to employ “dual-polarization” signaling. Such systems may be referred to as having two “streams” of information, whereas multiple input multiple output (MIMO) systems utilizing spatial multiplexing may achieve successful communications using even more than two streams in practice. When an additional circuit (not shown) is added toFIG. 2Athat can provide either the RF Tx signal or its anti-phase equivalent to either one or both of the two polarization feeds of such an antenna, then “cross-polarization” signaling can be used to effectively expand the constellation of the modem within any given symbol rate or channel bandwidth. With two polarizations and the choice of RF signal or its anti-phase, then an additional two information bits per symbol can be communicated across the link. Theoretically, this can be extended and expanded to additional phases, representing additional information bits. At the receiver, for example, a circuit (not shown) could detect if the two received polarizations are anti-phase with respect to each other, or not, and then combine appropriately such that the demodulator in the modem block can determine the absolute phase and hence deduce the values of the two additional information bits. Cross-polarization signaling has the advantage over dual-polarization signaling in that it is generally less sensitive to cross-polarization self-interference but for high order constellations such as 64-QAM or 256-QAM, the relative increase in channel efficiency is smaller. In the conventional PTP radios shown inFIGS. 2A and 2B, substantially all the components are in use at all times when the radio link is operative. However, many of these components have programmable parameters that can be controlled dynamically during link operation to optimize throughout and reliability for a given set of potentially changing operating conditions. The conventional PTP radios ofFIGS. 2A and 2Bcontrol these link parameters via a Radio Link Controller (RLC)248A,248B. The RLC functionality is also often described as a Link Adaptation Layer that is typically implemented as a software routine executed on a microcontroller within the radio that can access the MAC212A,212B, Modem216A,216B, RF220A,220B and/or possibly other components with controllable parameters. The RLC248A,248B typically can both vary parameters locally within its radio and communicate with a peer RLC at the other end of the conventional PTP radio link via “control frames” sent by the MAC212A,212B with an appropriate identifying field within a MAC Header. Typical parameters controllable by the RLC248A,248B for the Modem216A,216B of a conventional PTP radio include encoder type, encoding rate, constellation selection and reference symbol scheduling and proportion of any given PHY Protocol Data Unit (PPDU). Typical parameters controllable by the RLC248A,248B for the RF220A,220B of a conventional PTP radio include channel frequency, channel bandwidth, and output power level. To the extent that a conventional PTP radio employs two polarization feeds within its single antenna, additional parameters may also be controlled by the RLC248A,248B as self-evident from the description above. In conventional PTP radios, the RLC248A,248B decides, usually autonomously, to attempt such parameter changes for the link in response to changing propagation environment characteristics such as, for example, humidity, rain, snow, or co-channel interference. There are several well-known methods for determining that changes in the propagation environment have occurred such as monitoring the receive signal strength indicator (RSSI), the number of or relative rate of FCS failures at the MAC212A,212B, and/or the relative value of certain decoder accuracy metrics. When the RLC248A,248B determines that parameter changes should be attempted, it is necessary in most cases that any changes at the transmitter end of the link become known to the receiver end of the link in advance of any such changes. For conventional PTP radios, and similarly for many other radios, there are at least two well-known techniques that in practice may not be mutually exclusive. First, the RLC248A,248B may direct the PHY, usually in the Modem216A,216B relative toFIGS. 2A and 2B, to pre-pend a PHY layer convergence protocol (PLCP) header to a given PPDU that includes one or more (or a fragment thereof) given MPDUs wherein such PLCP header has information fields that notify the receiving end of the link of parameters used at the transmitting end of the link. Second, the RLC248A,248B may direct the MAC212A,212B to send a control frame, usually to a peer RLC248A,248B, including various information fields that denote the link adaptation parameters either to be deployed or to be requested or considered. The foregoing describes at an overview level the typical structural and operational features of conventional PTP radios which have been deployed in real-world conditions for many radio links where unobstructed (or substantially unobstructed) LOS propagation was possible. The conventional PTP radio on a whole is completely unsuitable for obstructed LOS PTP or PMP operation. More recently, as briefly mentioned, there has been significant adoption of so called multiple input multiple output (MIMO) techniques, which utilizes spatial multiplexing of multiple information streams between a plurality of transmission antennas to a plurality of receive antennas. The adoption of MIMO has been most beneficial in wireless communication systems for use in environments having significant multipath scattering propagation. One such system is IEEE802.1n for use in home networking. Attempts have been made to utilize MIMO and spatial multiplexing in line of sight environments having minimal scattering, which have generally been met with failure, in contrast to the use of cross polarized communications. For example IEEE802.1n based Mesh networked nodes deployed at streetlight elevation in outdoor environments often experience very little benefit from the use of spatial multiplexing due to the lack of a rich multipath propagation environment. Additionally, many of these deployments have limited range between adjacent mesh nodes due to physical obstructions resulting in the attenuation of signal levels. Radios and systems with MIMO capabilities intended for use in both near line of sight (NLOS) and line of sight (LOS) environments are disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/212,036, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,238,318, and Ser. No. 13/536,927, both of which are incorporated herein by reference, and are referred to herein by the term “Intelligent Backhaul Radio” (IBR). FIGS. 3A and 3Billustrate exemplary embodiments of the disclosed IBRs. InFIGS. 3A and 3B, the IBRs include interfaces304A, interface bridge308A, MAC312A, modem324A, channel MUX328A, RF332A, which includes Tx1 . . . TxM336A and Rx1 . . . RxN340A, IBR Antenna Array348A (includes multiple antennas352A), a Radio Link Controller (RLC)356A and a Radio Resource Controller (RRC)360A. The IBR may optionally include an “Intelligent Backhaul Management System” (or “IBMS”) agent370B as shown inFIG. 3B. It will be appreciated that the components and elements of the IBRs may vary from that illustrated inFIGS. 3A and 3B. Embodiments of such intelligent backhaul radios, as disclosed in the foregoing references, include one or more demodulator cores within modem324A, wherein each demodulator core demodulates one or more receive symbol streams to produce a respective receive data interface stream; a plurality of receive RF chains340A within IBR RF332A to convert from a plurality of receive RF signals from IBR Antenna Array348A, to a plurality of respective receive chain output signals; a frequency selective receive path channel multiplexer within IBR Channel multiplexer328A, interposed between the one or more demodulator cores and the plurality of receive RF chains, to produce the one or more receive symbol streams provided to the one or more demodulator cores from the plurality of receive chain output signals; an IBR Antenna Array (348A) including: a plurality of directive gain antenna elements352A; and one or more selectable RF connections that selectively couple certain of the plurality of directive gain antenna elements to certain of the plurality of receive RF chains, wherein the number of directive gain antenna elements that can be selectively coupled to receive RF chains exceeds the number of receive RF chains that can accept receive RF signals from the one or more selectable RF connections; and a radio resource controller, wherein the radio resource controller sets or causes to be set the specific selective couplings between the certain of the plurality of directive gain antenna elements and the certain of the plurality of receive RF chains. The intelligent backhaul radio may further include one or more modulator cores within IBR Modem324A, wherein each modulator core modulates a respective transmit data interface stream to produce one or more transmit symbol streams; a plurality of transmit RF chains336A within IBR RF332A, to convert from a plurality of transmit chain input signals to a plurality of respective transmit RF signals; a transmit path channel multiplexer within IBR Channel MUX328A, interposed between the one or more modulator cores and the plurality of transmit RF chains, to produce the plurality of transmit chain input signals provided to the plurality of transmit RF chains from the one or more transmit symbol streams; and, wherein the IBR Antenna Array348A further includes a plurality of RF connections to couple at least certain of the plurality of directive gain antenna elements to the plurality of transmit RF chains. The primary responsibility of the RLC356A in exemplary intelligent backhaul radios is to set or cause to be set the current transmit “Modulation and Coding Scheme” (or “MCS”) and output power for each active link. For links that carry multiple transmit streams and use multiple transmit chains and/or transmit antennas, the MCS and/or output power may be controlled separately for each transmit stream, chain, or antenna. In certain embodiments, the RLC operates based on feedback from the target receiver for a particular transmit stream, chain and/or antenna within a particular intelligent backhaul radio. The intelligent backhaul radio may further include an intelligent backhaul management system agent370B that sets or causes to be set certain policies relevant to the radio resource controller, wherein the intelligent backhaul management system agent exchanges information with other intelligent backhaul management system agents within other intelligent backhaul radios or with one or more intelligent backhaul management system servers. FIG. 3Cillustrates an exemplary embodiment of an IBR Antenna Array348A.FIG. 3Cillustrates an antenna array having Q directive gain antennas352A (i.e., where the number of antennas is greater than 1). InFIG. 3C, the IBR Antenna Array348A includes an IBR RF Switch Fabric312C, RF interconnections304C, a set of Front-ends308C and the directive gain antennas352A. The RF interconnections304C can be, for example, circuit board traces and/or coaxial cables. The RF interconnections304C connect the IBR RF Switch Fabric312C and the set of Front-ends308C. Each Front-end308C is associated with an individual directive gain antenna352A, numbered consecutively from 1 to Q. FIG. 3Dillustrates an exemplary embodiment of the Front-end circuit308C of the IBR Antenna Array348A ofFIG. 3Cfor the case of TDD operation, andFIG. 3Eillustrates an exemplary embodiment of the Front-end circuit308C of the IBR Antenna Array348A ofFIG. 3Cfor the case of FDD operation. The Front-end circuit308C ofFIG. 3Eincludes a transmit power amplifier PA304D, a receive low noise amplifier LNA308D, SPDT switch312D and band-select filter316D. The Front-end circuit308C ofFIG. 3Eincludes a transmit power amplifier PA304E, receive low noise amplifier LNA308E, and duplexer filter312E. These components of the Front-end circuit are substantially conventional components available in different form factors and performance capabilities from multiple commercial vendors. As shown inFIGS. 3D and 3E, each Front-end308E also includes an “Enable” input320D,320E that causes substantially all active circuitry to power-down. Power-down techniques are well known. Power-down is advantageous for IBRs in which not all of the antennas are utilized at all times. It will be appreciated that alternative embodiments of the IBR Antenna Array may not utilize the “Enable” input320D,320E or power-down feature. Furthermore, for embodiments with antenna arrays where some antenna elements are used only for transmit or only for receive, then certain Front-ends (not shown) may include only the transmit or only the receive paths ofFIGS. 3D and 3Eas appropriate. FIG. 3Fillustrates an alternative embodiment of an IBR Antenna Array348A and includes a block diagram of an IBR antenna array according to one embodiment of the invention relating to the use of dedicated transmission and reception antennas. In some IBR embodiments the embodiment ofFIG. 3Cmay be replaced with the embodiments described in relation toFIG. 3F. For instance, such substitution may be made in use with any of FDD, TDD, or even non-conventional duplexing systems.FIG. 3Fillustrates an antenna array having QR+QTdirective gain antennas352A (i.e., where the number of antennas is greater than 1). InFIG. 3F, the IBR Antenna Array348A includes an IBR RF Switch Fabric312F, RF interconnections304C, a set of Front-ends309F and310F and the directive gain antennas352A. The RF interconnections304C can be, for example, circuit board traces and/or coaxial cables. The RF interconnections304C connect the IBR RF Switch Fabric312F and the set of Front-end Transmission Units309F and the set of Front-end Reception Units310F. Each Front-end transmission unit309F is associated with an individual directive gain antenna352A, numbered consecutively from 1 to QT. Each Front-end reception unit310F is associated with an individual directive gain antenna352A, numbered consecutively from 1 to QR. The present embodiment may be used, for example, with the antenna array embodiments ofFIG. 3I, 3J, or embodiments described elsewhere. Such dedicated transmission antennas are coupled to front-end transmission units309F and include antenna element352A. In alternative embodiment, the IBR RF Switch fabric312F may be bypassed for the transmission signals when the number of dedicated transmission antennas and associated front-end transmission units (QT) is equal to the number of RF transmission signals RF-Tx-M (e.g. QT=M), resulting in directly coupling the IBR RF336A transmissions to respective transmission front-end transmission units309F. The dedicated reception antennas, including an antenna element352A in some embodiments, are coupled to front-end reception units310F, which in the present embodiment are coupled to the IBR RF Switch Fabric. In an additional alternative embodiment, the IBR RF Switch fabric312F may be bypassed for the reception signals when the number of dedicated reception antennas and associated front-end reception units (QR) is equal to the number of RF reception signals RF-Rx-N (e.g. QR=N), resulting in directly coupling the IBR RF340A reception ports to respective front-end reception units310F. FIG. 3Gis a block diagram of a front-end transmission unit according to one embodiment of the invention relating to the use of dedicated transmission and reception antennas, andFIG. 3His a block diagram of a front-end reception unit according to one embodiment of the invention relating to the use of dedicated transmission and reception antennas. As shown inFIGS. 3G and 3H, each Front-end309F and310F also includes a respective “Enable” input325F,330F that causes substantially all respective active circuitry to power-down, and any known power-down technique may be used. Power-down is advantageous for IBRs in which not all of the antennas are utilized at all times. It will be appreciated that alternative embodiments of the IBR Antenna Array may not utilize the “Enable” input325F,330F or any power-down feature. Furthermore, for some embodiments associated withFIG. 3Ffor example (with antenna arrays where some antenna elements are used only for transmit or only for receive) then certain Front-ends may include only the transmit309F or only the receive paths310F ofFIGS. 3G and 3Has appropriate. With respect toFIG. 3G, Bandpass filter340G receives transmission signal RF-SW-Tx-qt, provides filtering and couples the signal to power amplifier304G, then to low pass filter350G. The output of the lowpass filter is then coupled to dedicated transmission antenna, which includes directive antenna element352A. With respect toFIG. 3H, directive antenna element352A is a dedicated receive only antenna and coupled to receive filter370H, when is in turn coupled to LNA308H. The resulting amplified receive signal is coupled to band bass filter360H, which provides output RF-SW-Rx-qr. As described above, each Front-end (FE-q) corresponds to a particular directive gain antenna352A. Each antenna352A has a directivity gain Gq. For IBRs intended for fixed location street-level deployment with obstructed LOS between IBRs, whether in PTP or PMP configurations, each directive gain antenna352A may use only moderate directivity compared to antennas in conventional PTP systems at a comparable RF transmission frequency. As described in greater detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/212,036, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,238,318, and Ser. No. 13/536,927 and incorporated herein by reference, various antenna configurations may be utilized in point-to-point and point-to-multipoint embodiments of the current invention. With reference toFIG. 3I, a block diagram of an exemplary IBR antenna array is depicted. Such an array may also be used in part or in entirety as a receive and/or transmit antenna array for an IBR device according to one embodiment of the invention. As the array includes a plurality of antenna panels (310I-A . . . D,330, for example), each panel may include one of the antenna structures or individual antennas including the antenna structures. In an IBR device, normally two such antenna arrays including some or all of the antenna panels depicted inFIG. 3Iwould be utilized with an azimuthal directional bias different for each array or for each collection of one or more such antenna panels to optimize link performance between the instant IBR and the source and destination devices. WhileFIG. 3Iis a diagram of an exemplary horizontally arranged intelligent backhaul radio antenna array,FIG. 3Jis a diagram of an exemplary vertically arranged intelligent backhaul radio antenna array that may also be used in part or in entirety as a receive and/or transmit antenna array for an IBR device according to one embodiment of the invention. The depicted antenna arrays shown inFIGS. 3I and 3Jare intended for operation in the 5 to 6 GHz band. Analogous versions of the arrangement shown in FIGS.3I and3J are possible for any bands within the range of at least 500 MHz to 100 GHz as will be appreciated by those of skill in the art of antenna design. The exemplary transmit directive antenna elements depicted inFIGS. 3I and 3Jinclude multiple dipole radiators arranged for either dual slant 45 degree polarization (FIG. 3I) or dual vertical and horizontal polarization (FIG. 3J) with elevation array gain as described in greater detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/536,927 and incorporated herein. In one exemplary embodiment, each transmit directive antenna element has an azimuthal beam width of approximately 100-120 degrees and an elevation beam width of approximately 15 degrees for a gain Gqt of approximately 12 dB. The receive directive antenna elements depicted inFIGS. 3I and 3Jinclude multiple patch radiators arranged for either dual slant 45 degree polarization or dual vertical and horizontal polarization with elevation array gain and azimuthal array gain as described in greater detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/536,927 and incorporated herein. In one exemplary embodiment, each receive directive antenna element has an azimuthal beam width of approximately 40 degrees and an elevation beam width of approximately 15 degrees for a gain Gqr of approximately 16 dB. Preliminary measurements of exemplary antenna arrays similar to those depicted inFIG. 3Ishow isolation of approximately 40 to 50 dB between individual transmit directive antenna elements and individual receive directive antenna elements of same polarization with an exemplary circuit board and metallic case behind the radiating elements and a plastic ray dome in front of the radiating elements. Analogous preliminary measurements of exemplary antenna arrays similar to those depicted in FIG.3J show possible isolation improvements of up to 10 to 20 dB for similar directive gain elements relative toFIG. 3I. Other directive antenna element types are also known to those of skill in the art of antenna design including certain types described in greater detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/536,927 and incorporated herein. In the exemplary IBR Antenna Array348A illustrated inFIG. 3AthroughFIG. 3J, the total number of individual antenna elements352A, Q, is greater than or equal to the larger of the number of RF transmit chains336A, M, and the number of RF receive chains340A, N. In some embodiments, some or all of the antennas352A may be split into pairs of polarization diverse antenna elements realized by either two separate feeds to a nominally single radiating element or by a pair of separate orthogonally oriented radiating elements. Such cross polarization antenna pairs enable either increased channel efficiency or enhanced signal diversity as described for the conventional PTP radio. The cross-polarization antenna pairs as well as any non-polarized antennas are also spatially diverse with respect to each other. Additionally, the individual antenna elements may also be oriented in different directions to provide further channel propagation path diversity. Additional exemplary embodiments of alternative antenna elements, and antenna arrays are disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14,199,734 and 8,872,715, entitled “Backhaul Radio With A Substrate TAB-FED Antenna Assembly”, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Examples of embodiments disclosed within the incorporated specification of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14,199,734 (the '734 application specification) are depicted inFIGS. 3K-3P; detailed descriptions ofFIGS. 3K-3Pmay be found in the specification of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14,199,734, previously incorporated by reference herein, corresponding toFIG. 5C,FIG. 8A,FIG. 8F,FIG. 10A,FIG. 10B, andFIG. 13B, respectively, of the '734 application specification. The foregoing discussion related to intelligent backhaul radios and relate diagrams have include the use of frequency division duplexing (FDD) and time division duplexing (TDD) techniques and architectures. Such architectures, as discussed, include support of both single input and single output (SISO) supporting single stream operation, and multiple input/multiple output (MIMO) multiple stream operation support. Additional embodiments supporting SISO and MIMO technology in specific embodiments include the use so-called zero division duplexed (ZDD) intelligent backhaul radios (ZDD-IBR), as disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/609,156, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,422,540, which is additionally incorporated herein by reference. Embodiments of the ZDD systems provide for the operation of a IBR wherein the ZDD-IBR transmitter and receiver frequencies are close in frequency to each other so as to make the use of frequency division duplexing, as known in the art, impractical. Arrangements of ZDD operation disclosed in the foregoing referenced application include so-called “co-channel” embodiments wherein the transmit frequency channels in use by a ZDD-IBR, and the receive frequencies are partially or entirely overlapped in the frequency spectrum. Additionally disclosed embodiments of ZDD-IBRs include so-called “co-band” ZDD operation wherein the channels of operation of the ZDD-IBR are not directly overlapped with the ZDD-IBR receive channels of operation, but are close enough to each other so as to limit the performance the system. For example, at specific receiver and transmitter frequency channel separation, the frequency selectivity of the channel selection filters in an IBR transmitter and receiver chains may be insufficient to isolate the receiver(s) from the transmitter signal(s) or associated noise and distortion, resulting in significant de-sensitization of the IBR's receiver(s) performance at specific desired transmit power levels, without the use of disclosed ZDD techniques. Embodiments of the disclosed ZDD-IBRs include the use of radio frequency, intermediate frequency and base band cancelation of reference transmitter and interference signals from the ZDD-IBR receivers in a MIMO configuration. Such disclosed ZDD techniques utilize the estimation of the channels from the plurality of IBR transmitters to the plurality of IBR receivers of the same intelligent backhaul radio, and the adaptive filtering of the reference signals based upon the channel estimates so as to allow the cancelation the transmitter signals from the receivers utilizing such estimated cancelation signals. Such ZDD techniques allow for increased isolation between the desired receive signals and the ZDD-IBR's transmitters in various embodiments including MIMO (and SISO) configurations. The support for MIMO operation (FDD, TDD, or ZDD) is highly dependent upon the radio propagation environment between the two radios in communication with each other. The following discussion provides for a general discussion relating to the MIMO channel, and will provide a basis for further discussion. Referring now toFIG. 3Qthe MIMO channel matrix is depicted. Transceiver MIMO Station3Q-05is in communication with MIMO Station3Q-10utilizing MIMO channel matrix (Eq. 3Q-1) ofFIG. 3Rbetween the two stations ofFIG. 3Q. In an example of a two-by-two MIMO system, two spatial streams are utilized between the two MIMO stations. The channel propagation matrix of Eq. 3KQ-1 is of order M by N (M rows and N columns). A particular element of the channel propagation matrix, hmn, represents the frequency response of the wireless channel from the nthtransmitter to the mthreceiver. Therefore each element of the channel propagation matrix H has an individual complex number, if the channel is “frequency flat,” or a complex function of frequency, if the channel is “frequency selective,” which represents the amplitude and phase of the propagation channel between one transmitter and one receiver of MIMO Stations3Q-05and3Q-10. Often, the channel propagation matrix and the individual propagation coefficients are frequency selective, meaning that the complex value of the coefficients vary as a function of frequency as mentioned. In a rich, multipath scattering environment, as depicted inFIG. 3S, in which sufficient signal strength reaches an intended receiver but is scattered amongst the various structures between a particular MIMO transmitter and MIMO receiver, the spatial distribution of the arriving signals is referred to as a rich multipath environment in which there is a significant angular scattering among the receiving signals at the intended receiver. In order to separate the MIMO streams received at an intended receiver, such as MIMO Station3Q-05or MIMO Station3Q-10, the channel propagation matrix H must be determined, as known in the art. The process of determining the channel propagation matrix is often performed utilizing pilot channels, preambles, and/or symbols or other known reference information. Examples of prior art systems utilizing such techniques include IEEE 802.11n, LTE, or HSPA, as well as various embodiments of intelligent backhaul radios per U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,238,818, 8,422,540 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/536,927 as incorporated in their entireties herein. In order for MIMO systems (including the foregoing mentioned MIMO systems) to support a plurality of spatial MIMO streams, the order of the propagation matrix (referenced as Eq. 3Q-1) must equal or exceed the desired number of streams. While this condition is necessary, it is not sufficient. The rank of the matrix must also equal or exceed the number of desired spatial streams. The rank of a matrix is the maximum number of linearly independent column vectors of the propagation matrix. Such terminology is known in the art with respect to linear algebra. The number of supportable MIMO streams must be less than or equal to the rank of the channel propagation matrix. When the propagation coefficients from multiple transmitters of a MIMO station to a plurality of intended receive antennas are correlated, the number of linearly independent column vectors of the channel propagation matrix H is reduced and consequently the system will support fewer MIMO streams. Such a condition often occurs in environments where a small angular spread at the desired intended receiver is present, such as is the case with a line-of-sight environment where the two MIMO stations are a significant distance apart, such that the angular resolution of the receiving antennas at MIMO Station3Q-10is insufficient to resolve and separate the signals transmitted from the plurality of transmitters at MIMO Station3Q-05. Such a condition is referred to as an ill-conditioned channel matrix for the desired number of streams in the MIMO system, due to the rank of the channel propagation matrix (i.e. the number of linearly independent column vectors) being less than the desired number of MIMO streams between the two MIMO stations. The reasoning behind the rank of the channel propagation matrix being required to be greater than or equal to the desired number of MIMO streams is related to how the individual streams are separated from one another at the intended receiving MIMO station. As is known in the art, the MIMO performance is quite sensitive to the invertability of the channel propagation matrix. Such invertability, as previously mentioned, may be compromised by the receiving antenna correlation, which may be caused by close antenna spacing or small angular spread at the intended MIMO receiver. The line-of-sight condition between two MIMO stations may result in such a small angular spread between the MIMO receivers, resulting in the channel matrix being noninvertible or degenerate. Multipath fading, which often results from large angular spreads amongst individual propagation proponents between two antennas, enriches the condition of the channel propagation matrix, making the individual column vectors linearly independent and allowing the channel propagation matrix to be invertible. The inversion of the channel propagation matrix results in weights (vectors), which are utilized with the desired receive signals to separate the linear combination of transmitted streams into individual orthogonal streams, allowing for proper reception of each individual stream from spatially multiplexed composite information streams. In a line-of-sight environment, all of the column vectors of the channel propagation matrix H may be highly correlated, resulting in a matrix rank of 1 or very close to 1. Such a matrix is noninvertible and ill-conditioned, resulting in the inability to support spatial multiplexing and additional streams (other than by the use of polarization multiplexing, which provides for only two streams as discussed). FIG. 3Sillustrates an exemplary deployment of intelligent backhaul radios (IBRs). As shown inFIG. 3S, the IBRs300S are deployable at street level with obstructions such as trees3035, hills3085, buildings312S, etc. between them. Embodiments of intelligent backhaul radios (IBRs) are discussed in US patent application Ser. No. 13/212,036, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,238,318, and Ser. No. 13/536,927, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein. The IBRs300S are also deployable in configurations that include point-to-multipoint (PMP), as shown inFIG. 3S, as well as point-to-point (PTP). In other words, each IBR300S may communicate with more than one other IBR300S. For 3G and especially for 4thGeneration (4G), cellular network infrastructure is more commonly deployed using “microcells” or “picocells.” In this cellular network infrastructure, compact base stations (eNodeBs)316L are situated outdoors at street level. When such eNodeBs316L are unable to connect locally to optical fiber or a copper wireline of sufficient data bandwidth, then a wireless connection to a fiber “point of presence” (POP) requires obstructed LOS capabilities, as described herein. For example, as shown inFIG. 3S, the IBRs300S include an Aggregation End IBR (AE-IBR) and Remote End IBRs (RE-IBRs). The eNodeB316S of the AE-IBR is typically connected locally to the core network via a fiber POP320S. The RE-IBRs and their associated eNodeBs316S are typically not connected to the core network via a wireline connection; instead, the RE-IBRs are wirelessly connected to the core network via the AE-IBR. As shown inFIG. 3S, the wireless connection between the IBRs include obstructions (i.e., there may be an obstructed LOS connection between the RE-IBRs and the AE-IBR). Note that the Tall Building312S substantially impedes the signal transmitted from RE-IBR300S to AR-IBR300S. Additionally, in at least one example scenario, the tree (3035) provides unacceptable signal attenuation between an RE-IBR300S and the AE-IBR300S. As discussed above, the advances in cellular communications, and more specifically the Third Generation Partnership Program's (3GPP, www.3GPP.org) Long Term Evolution (LTE), and associated cellular “off load” use of IEEE 802.11 communication protocols continues to drive the data backhaul requirements of cellular infrastructure sites to ever increasing levels. The need for an increasing number of wireless backhaul links to satisfy the cellular backhaul demand demands the use of potentially congested wireless spectrum resources. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has allowed for the use of currently licensed broadcast television spectrum for use by unlicensed devices. This program has been commonly referred to as the “TV Whitespaces” reuse (http://www.fcc.gov/topic/white-space). A detailed description of the program is provided in FCC order FCC-10-174A1, and the rules for unlicensed devices that operate in the TV bands are set forth in 47 C.F.R. §§ 15.701-.717. See TITLE 47 Telecommunication; CHAPTER I—FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION; SUBCHAPTER AGENERAL, PART 15—RADIO FREQUENCY DEVICES, Subpart H—TELEVISION BAND DEVICES (http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?c=ecfr&SID=30f46f0753577b10de41d650c7adf941&rgn=div6&view=text&node=47:1.0.1.1.16.8&idno=47). The TV Whitespaces program provides for a reuse of underutilized spectrum resources for public use by unlicensed devices (TV Band Devices). Further, so-called “Incumbent Services” remain protected from interference from the TV Band Devices (TVBDs) by a set of operating rules and concepts including (selectively extracted from CFR 47 § 15.703 Definitions.):(a) Available channel. A six-megahertz television channel, which is not being used by an authorized service at or near the same geographic location as the TVBD and is acceptable for use by an unlicensed device under the provisions of this subpart.(b) Contact verification signal. An encoded signal broadcast by a fixed or Mode II device for reception by Mode I devices to which the fixed or Mode II device has provided a list of available channels for operation. Such signal is for the purpose of establishing that the Mode I device is still within the reception range of the fixed or Mode II device for purposes of validating the list of available channels used by the Mode I device and shall be encoded to ensure that the signal originates from the device that provided the list of available channels. A Mode I device may respond only to a contact verification signal from the fixed or Mode II device that provided the list of available channels on which it operates. A fixed or Mode II device shall provide the information needed by a Mode I device to decode the contact verification signal at the same time it provides the list of available channels.(c) Fixed device. A TVBD that transmits and/or receives radiocommunication signals at a specified fixed location. A fixed TVBD may select channels for operation itself from a list of available channels provided by a TV bands database, initiate and operate a network by sending enabling signals to one or more fixed TVBDs and/or personal/portable TVBDs. Fixed devices may provide to a Mode I personal/portable device a list of available channels on which the Mode I device may operate under the rules, including available channels above 512 MHz (above TV channel 20) on which the fixed TVBD also may operate and a supplemental list of available channels above 512 MHz (above TV channel 20) that are adjacent to occupied TV channels on which the Mode I device, but not the fixed device, may operate.(d) Geo-location capability. The capability of a TVBD to determine its geographic coordinates within the level of accuracy specified in § 15.711(b)(1), i.e. 50 meters. This capability is used with a TV bands database approved by the FCC to determine the availability of TV channels at a TVBD's location.(e) Mode I personal portable device. A personal/portable TVBD that does not use an internal geo-location capability and access to a TV bands database to obtain a list of available channels. A Mode I device must obtain a list of available channels on which it may operate from either a fixed TVBD or Mode II personal/portable TVBD. A Mode I device may not initiate a network of fixed and/or personal/portable TVBDs nor may it provide a list of available channels to another Mode I device for operation by such device.(f) Mode II personal/portable device. A personal/portable TVBD that uses an internal geo-location capability and access to a TV bands database, either through a direct connection to the Internet or through an indirect connection to the Internet by way of fixed TVBD or another Mode II TVBD, to obtain a list of available channels. A Mode II device may select a channel itself and initiate and operate as part of a network of TVBDs, transmitting to and receiving from one or more fixed TVBDs or personal/portable TVBDs. A Mode II personal/portable device may provide its list of available channels to a Mode I personal/portable device for operation on by the Mode I device.(g) Network initiation. The process by which a fixed or Mode II TVBD sends control signals to one or more fixed TVBDs or personal/portable TVBDs and allows them to begin communications.(h) Operating channel. An available channel used by a TVBD for transmission and/or reception.(i) Personal/portable device. A TVBD that transmits and/or receives radiocommunication signals at unspecified locations that may change. Personal/portable devices may only transmit on available channels in the frequency bands 512-608 MHz (TV channels 21-36) and 614-698 MHz (TV channels 38-51).(j) Receive site. The location where the signal of a full service television station is received for rebroadcast by a television translator or low power TV station, including a Class A TV station, or for distribution by a Multiple Video Program Distributor (MVPD) as defined in 47 U.S.C. 602(13).(k) Sensing only device. A personal/portable TVBD that uses spectrum sensing to determine a list of available channels. Sensing only devices may transmit on any available channels in the frequency bands 512-608 MHz (TV channels 21-36) and 614-698 MHz (TV channels 38-51).(l) Spectrum sensing. A process whereby a TVBD monitors a television channel to detect whether the channel is occupied by a radio signal or signals from authorized services.(m) Television band device (TVBD). Intentional radiators that operate on an unlicensed basis on available channels in the broadcast television frequency bands at 54-60 MHz (TV channel 2), 76-88 MHz (TV channels 5 and 6), 174-216 MHz (TV channels 7-13), 470-608 MHz (TV channels 14-36) and 614-698 MHz (TV channels 38-51).(n) TV bands database. A database system that maintains records of all authorized services in the TV frequency bands, is capable of determining the available channels as a specific geographic location and provides lists of available channels to TVBDs that have been certified under the Commission's equipment authorization procedures. TV bands databases that provide lists of available channels to TVBDs must receive approval by the Commission. Under the white spaces rules, TVBDs (other than TVBDs that rely on spectrum sensing) have the requirement of registering with the TV bands database, and determining available channels of operation. This process requires providing the database the FCC_ID, serial number, geographic location, and other information to the database, to receive a list of available channels for operation. TVBDs are further required to periodically re-register with the database to re-determine available channels of operation. An example of a database entry information for a Fixed TVDB is provided within CFR 47 § 15.713 TV bands database (f) Fixed TVBD registration (extraction follows).(1) Prior to operating for the first time or after changing location, a fixed TVBD must register with the TV bands database by providing the information listed in paragraph (f)(3) of this section.(2) The party responsible for a fixed TVBD must ensure that the TVBD registration database has the most current, up-to-date information for that device.(3) The TVBD registration database shall contain the following information for fixed TVBDs:(i) FCC identifier (FCC ID) of the device;(ii) Manufacturer's serial number of the device;(iii) Device's geographic coordinates (latitude and longitude (NAD 83) accurate to ±/−50 m);(iv) Device's antenna height above ground level (meters);(v) Name of the individual or business that owns the device;(vi) Name of a contact person responsible for the device's operation;(vii) Address for the contact person;(viii) E-mail address for the contact person;(ix) Phone number for the contact person. The foregoing is intended to provide a brief overview of the concepts and rules associated with the TV White spaces device operation. While suitable for use by some wireless applications, such a system is not ideal for use in many highly reliable wireless backhaul applications. As one example, the lack of protection from interference for TVBD registered devices is a significant impediment for achieving a highly reliable data link for backhaul applications in view of interference from unlicensed or other wireless devices, including other TVBD devices. As another example, there is no approach for devices to arbitrate interference amongst one another. There are significant number of other deficiencies of the TV white spaces rules making them non-ideal for use in other bands, and in other applications of use such as cellular backhaul. SUMMARY The following summary of the invention is included in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects and features of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention and as such it is not intended to particularly identify key or critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented below. This application discloses various embodiments of self-organizing backhaul radios (SOBR). Specific disclosures associated with the advanced backhaul services may be referred to with terminology related to “ABS” or other terms disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/502,471. It should be understood that specific disclosures and embodiments relating to the ABS Radios would also apply to certain embodiments of the SOBR radios. The disclosures of various embodiments of ABS services and ABS radios should not be taken as limiting to embodiments of the SOBR embodiments and components. First, embodiments of Advanced Backhaul Services (ABS) and radios will be introduced and summarized, followed by various embodiments of the Self Organizing Backhaul Radio (SOBR) and SOBR Systems. Various embodiments of the present invention provide for incorporation of a “Tiered” group of devices and/or licenses associated with providing a hierarchical set of interference protection mechanisms for members of each tier of service in a wireless backhaul (or other) application. Exemplary systems, devices, and methods are disclosed in various embodiments to allow for the efficient operation of such a tiered service. As previously described, the TV Whitespaces rules do not provide for mechanisms or devices allowing for such an efficient tiered service. Embodiments of the invention provide a tiered service, which allows for interference protection among devices belonging to one or more tiers of the service, from other devices within the same tier of service, or other tiers of service. Embodiments of the invention include mechanisms, apparatus, and methods that provide for the identification of other devices of the same or differing tier of service, and mitigate interference to or from the device based upon intercommunication between the devices, and/or via a central registry database. According to other aspects of the invention, a first tiered service radio is disclosed for operating in a radio frequency band according to rules for operation allowing for radios of multiple tiers of service, including a plurality of receive RF chains; one or more transmit RF chains; an antenna array having a plurality of directive gain antenna elements, wherein each directive gain antenna element is couplable to at least one receive RF or transmit RF chain; and an interface bridge configured to couple the radio to a data network; wherein the tiered service radio is configured to perform each of the following: communicate with a network based registry to determine registry information associated with any registered radios meeting specific criteria, wherein the specific criteria includes at least information associated with at least higher priority tiered service radio devices to that of the first tiered service radio; scan one or more radio frequency channels for the presence of signature radio signals transmitted from one or more other tiered service radios to generate scan data, and wherein the radio includes at least one adjustable network parameter that is adjustable based on the scan data, wherein said scanned one or more radio frequency channels are selected based upon said registry information, and wherein the at least one network parameter is adjusted to reduce a potential of interference of the first tiered service radio with both the other tiered service radios or said registered radios, wherein the adjusting the at least one network parameter includes one or more of: selecting a frequency channel utilized between the first tiered service radio and a second tiered service radio; adjusting the effective radiation pattern of the first tiered service radio; selecting one or more of the plurality of directive gain antenna elements; and adjusting the physical configuration or arrangement of the one or more of the plurality of directive gain antenna elements. In some embodiments, the tiered service radio is further configured to generate a scan report based on the scan data and transmit the scan report to a server. In some embodiments, the signals include a signal licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) under service having at least three tiers of service, wherein said tiers include at least legacy point to point backhaul devices at the highest tier and listed in said registry, registered and licensed devices at a second tier, and unlicensed and registered devices at a third and lower tier. In some embodiments, the adjusting the effective radiation pattern includes one or more of: steering the effective radiation pattern in elevation; and steering the effective radiation pattern in azimuth. In some embodiments, the adjusting the effective radiation pattern includes: calculating digital beam former weights based upon at least one constraint related to the potential of interference; and applying the digital beam former weights. In some embodiments, the constraint is selected from the group consisting of: properties related to or derived from said scan result; a direction in which signal transmission is to be limited; parameters which reduce the potential for interfering with one or more of said registered radios meeting said specific criteria; parameters which increase the likelihood of said first and said second tiered service radios meeting performance goals with respect to an interposed wireless communication link; a restriction of use of specific transceivers or specific antennas of a plurality of transceivers or antennas; a use of specific polarizations for transmission; attributes of a collective transmission radiation pattern associated with a plurality of transmitters; a frequency or geometric translation of beam forming weights between receiver weights and transmitter weights; a change in antennas used or selected; a change in operating frequency; and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the scan report includes one more selected from the group consisting of: the location of said first tiered service radio; the latitude and longitudinal coordinates of one or more tiered service radios; configuration information related to the first tiered service radio; capability information related to the first tiered service radio; a transmission power capability of said first tiered service radio; operating frequency capability of said first tiered service radio; antenna property information related to one or more antenna for use in reception or transmission by said first tiered service radio; received signal parameters or demodulated information from another tiered service radio; received signal parameters from a tiered service radio; and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the tiered service radio is further configured to assess performance after adjustment of the at least one adjustable network parameter. In some embodiments, the performance of said first tiered service radio is assessed by one or more selected from the group consisting of: performing additional scans; performing additional scans with specific search criteria; performing additional scans with limitations in frequency, azimuth, elevation, or time; performing additional scans with a modified antenna selection configuration; performing additional scans using antennas intended for transmission during normal operation for reception during the additional scanning process; performing transmission of a signal from the first tiered service radio to the second tiered service radio; receiving a signal from the second tiered service radio by the first tiered service radio. In some embodiments, the first tiered service radio is configured to align the antenna array with the second tiered service radio prior to the scan based on at least one criterion. In some embodiments, the at least one criterion is based at least in part upon a signal transmitted from the second tiered service radio. In some embodiments, the at least one criterion includes a GPS location and a compass direction. In some embodiments, the specific criteria includes a geographic region. In some embodiments, the specific criteria includes a tier of service of the first tiered service radio. In some embodiments, the specific criteria includes a date on which service commenced for any tiered service radio registered in the registry. In some embodiments, at least one of said signature radio signals transmitted from the one or more tiered service radios are transmitted inline with information symbols in time from at least one of the tiered service radios. In some embodiments, at least one of said signature radio signals transmitted from the one or more tiered service radios are transmitted as a spread spectrum signal embedded within and simultaneously with information symbols in time from at least one of the tiered service radios. In some embodiments, the first tiered service radio transmits a signature radio signal as a first signature during operation with second tiered service radios. In some embodiments, the first signature is transmitted inline with information symbols in time. In some embodiments, the first signature is transmitted as a spread spectrum signal embedded within and simultaneously with information symbols. In some embodiments, the transmitted first signature is transmitted with progressively increasing interference potential for a period of time prior to initiation of full operation between the first and second tiered service radios. In some embodiments, the progressively increasing interference includes transmission at a power level with an increasing duty cycle over successive periods of time. In some embodiments, the progressively increasing interference includes transmission at several increasing power levels over successive periods of time. In some embodiments, the first tiered service radio alters said at least one network parameter based upon detecting information within said registry or otherwise receiving information informing of detected interference related to the transmitted first signature. In some embodiments, one or more of said other tiered service radios is respectively also one or more of the registered radios meeting the specific criteria. In some embodiments, the scan data includes one or more of the following: information derived form the reception of signature radio signals; information derived from the reception of signals transmitted from said other tiered service radios; information derived from radios other than tiered service radios; received signal strength information; channel propagation information; tiered service radio identity information; angle of arrival of signal information; received signal strength information, interference information; path loss information; and signal transmission periodicity information. In some embodiments, said registered radios include devices of the same priority as the first tiered service radio. In some embodiments, the registered radios include devices of lesser priority as the first tiered service radio. In some embodiments, the registered radios include devices of any tier or any priority as the first tiered service radio. In some embodiments, the specific criterion additionally includes devices of the same priority as the first tiered service radio. In some embodiments, the specific criterion additionally includes devices of lesser priority as the first tiered service radio. In some embodiments, the specific criterion additionally includes devices of any tier or any priority as the first tiered service radio. In some embodiments, the scan is performed including a common control channel, said common control channel being a defined channel for signature radio signal transmission and reception commonly known to a group of tiered service radios upon interaction with the registry. In some embodiments, said specific search criteria includes one or more of the following: information derived form the reception of signature radio signals, information derived from the reception of signals transmitted from said other tiered service radios, information derived from radios other than tiered service radios, received signal strength information, channel propagation information, tiered service radio identity information, angle of arrival of signal information, received signal strength information, interference information, path loss information, and signal transmission periodicity information. Additional embodiments of the current invention, together with the forgoing embodiments, or individually include the use of Advanced Backhaul Services (ABS) devices with point-to-point and point-to-multipoint radios, such as an IBR, as disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/212,036, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,238,318, and Ser. No. 13/536,927, the entireties of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Additionally, further embodiments individually, or in combination with forgoing embodiments include the use of ABS devices with so-called zero division duplexed (ZDD) intelligent backhaul radios (ZDD-IBR), as disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/609,156, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,422,540, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference. Various exemplary embodiments of self organizing backhaul radio are disclosed including one or more demodulator cores, wherein each demodulator core is capable of demodulating one or more primary receive symbol streams to produce one or more receive data interface streams; a plurality of receive radio frequency (RF) chains, wherein each receive RF chain is capable of converting from one of a plurality of receive RF signals to a respective one of a plurality of receive chain output signals; an antenna array comprising a plurality of directive gain antenna elements, wherein each directive gain antenna element is couplable to at least one receive RF chain; a frequency selective receive path channel multiplexer to produce one or more composite receive symbol streams from the plurality of receive chain output signals, wherein each respective one of the one or more composite receive symbol streams comprises a linear combination of a respective primary receive symbol stream and a respective signature control channel symbol stream, and wherein each respective signature control channel symbol stream is a spread spectrum modulated signal that carries a respective signature control channel information; and a signature link processor, interposed between the one or more demodulator cores and the frequency selective receive path channel multiplexer, to produce the one or more primary receive symbol streams provided to the one or more demodulator cores from the one or more composite receive symbol streams. Further embodiments include the foregoing, wherein the signature link processor comprises one or more respective signature control channel stream cancellers each for: receiving the respective one of the one or more composite receive symbol streams; receiving the respective signature control channel information as pre-communicated respective signature control channel information. In some embodiments the pre-communicated respective signature control channel information is derived from information communicated to the self-organizing backhaul radio prior to the receiving of the respective signature control channel symbol stream that carries the respective signature control channel information. Various embodiments additionally include cancelling the respective signature control channel symbol stream from the respective one of the one or more composite receive symbol streams to produce the respective primary receive symbol stream based upon the pre-communicated respective signature control channel information. Associated with further embodiments of a self-organizing backhaul radio may include the foregoing, or other embodiments and a radio resource controller, wherein the radio resource controller is capable of setting or causing to be set specific selective couplings between the certain of the plurality of directive gain antenna elements and the certain of the plurality of receive RF chains. In some embodiments, each one of the one or more demodulator cores comprises at least a decoder and a soft decision symbol demapper; and wherein each one of the plurality of receive RF chains includes at least a vector demodulator and two analog to digital converters that are capable of producing the respective one of the plurality of receive chain output signals, each said respective one of the plurality of receive chain output signals comprised of digital baseband quadrature signals. Specific embodiments further include wherein the set of receive RF chains that can accept receive RF signals from the one or more selectable RF connections is divided between one subset that accepts receive RF signals from directive gain antenna elements with a first polarization and a second subset that accepts receive RF signals from directive gain antenna elements with a second polarization. In some embodiments, the directive gain antenna elements that can be selectively coupled to receive RF chains are arranged on a plurality of facets with one or more directive gain antenna elements per facet, and wherein each facet is oriented at a different azimuth angle relative to at least one other facet. In some embodiments the frequency selective receive path channel multiplexer includes at least one of a Space Division Multiple Access (SDMA) combiner or equalizer, a maximal ratio combining (MRC) combiner or equalizer, a minimum mean squared error (MMSE) combiner or equalizer, an Eigen Beam Forming (EBF) combiner or equalizer, a receive beam forming (BF) combiner or equalizer, a Zero Forcing (ZF) combiner or equalizer, a channel estimator, a Maximal Likelihood (DL) detector, an Interference Canceller (IC), a VBLAST combiner or equalizer, a Discrete Fourier Transformer (DFT), a Fast Fourier Transformer (FFT), or an Inverse Fast Fourier Transformer (IFFT). In some embodiments, the antenna array further includes: one or more selectable RF connections for selectively coupling certain of the plurality of directive gain antenna elements to certain of the plurality of receive RF chains, said certain of the plurality of receive RF chains including at least one receive RF chain coupled to the frequency selective receive path channel multiplexer, wherein the number of directive gain antenna elements that can be selectively coupled to receive RF chains exceeds the number of receive RF chains that can accept receive RF signals from the one or more selectable RF connections; wherein the backhaul radio is capable of determining an opportunity for a performance enhancement that derives from setting specific selective couplings between the certain of the plurality of directive gain antenna elements and the certain of the plurality of receive RF chains. In some embodiments, at least one of the one or more selectable RF connections includes at least one RF switch. In some embodiments at least one of the additional certain of the plurality of receive RF chains is coupled to the frequency selective receive path channel multiplexer. In some embodiments the performance enhancement of the radio includes one or more of a reduced interference level within one or more of the receive symbol streams, an increased data throughput rate, an improved link diversity, an increased channel efficiency, or an increased signal to interference and noise ratio (SINR). In some embodiments the self-organizing backhaul radio further includes: one or more transmit RF chains, and wherein the self-organizing backhaul radio is configured to perform each of the following: scan one or more radio frequency channels for the presence of signature radio signals transmitted from one or more other self-organizing backhaul radios to generate scan data, and wherein the radio comprises at least one adjustable network parameter that is adjustable based on the scan data, wherein the scanned one or more radio frequency channels are selected, at least in part, based upon the scan data, wherein the at least one network parameter is adjusted to reduce a potential of interference of the self-organizing backhaul radio with the other self-organizing backhaul radios. In some embodiments, the adjusting the at least one network parameter includes one or more of: selecting a frequency channel utilized between the self-organizing backhaul radio and a second self-organizing backhaul radio; adjusting the effective radiation pattern of the self-organizing backhaul radio; selecting one or more of the plurality of directive gain antenna elements; and adjusting the physical configuration or arrangement of the one or more of the plurality of directive gain antenna elements. In some embodiments, the self-organizing backhaul radio, the adjusting the effective radiation pattern includes one or more of: steering the effective radiation pattern in elevation; steering the effective radiation pattern in azimuth. In some embodiments of the self-organizing backhaul radio, the adjusting the effective radiation pattern includes calculating digital beam former weights based upon at least one constraint related to the potential of interference; and applying the digital beam former weights. In some embodiments, the constraint includes one or more of: properties related to or derived from the scan result; a direction in which signal transmission is to be limited; parameters which reduce the potential for interfering with one or more of the registered radios meeting said specific criteria; parameters which increase the likelihood of the self-organizing radio and a second self-organizing radios meeting performance goals with respect to an interposed wireless communication link; a restriction of use of specific transceivers or specific antennas of a plurality of transceivers or antennas; a use of specific polarizations for transmission; attributes of a collective transmission radiation pattern associated with a plurality of transmitters; a frequency or geometric translation of beam forming weights between receiver weights and transmitter weights; a change in antennas used or selected; a change in operating frequency. In some embodiments of the self-organizing backhaul radio, at least a portion of the signature radio signals are transmitted from a self-organizing backhaul radio of the one or more other self-organizing backhaul radios for which no interposed primary link is established with the instant self-organizing backhaul radio. In some embodiments of the self-organizing backhaul radio, a chip rate of the respective signature control channel is equal to a symbol rate of the respective primary receive symbol stream of at least one of the one or more composite receive symbol streams, for at least a portion of time. In some embodiments of the self-organizing backhaul radio, a chip rate of the respective signature control channel is equal to a symbol rate of the respective primary receive symbol stream of each of the one or more composite receive symbol streams, for at least a portion of time. In some embodiments of the self-organizing backhaul radio, the respective signature control channel symbol stream is not present during a respective preamble period of the respective primary receive symbol stream of at least one of the one or more composite receive symbols streams. In some embodiments of the self-organizing backhaul radio, a timing of the respective signature control channel is synchronized in time with a preamble period of the respective primary receive symbol stream of at least one of the one or more composite receive symbol streams. In some embodiments of the self-organizing backhaul radio, a timing of a signature sequence of the single signature control channel is further synchronized in frequency, and phase with the preamble period of the respective primary receive symbol stream of the at least one of the one or more composite receive symbol streams. In some embodiments of the self-organizing backhaul radio, a timing of a signature sequence of the respective signature control channel is offset by a pre-determined amount of time from the preamble period of the respective primary receive symbol stream of the at least one of the one or more composite receive symbol streams. In some embodiments of the self-organizing backhaul radio, a phase reference of the respective primary receive symbol stream is usable as a phase reference associated with the cancelation of the respective signature control channel stream of the at least one of the one or more composite receive symbol streams. In some embodiments of the self-organizing backhaul radio, the frequency selective receive path channel multiplexer further produces one or more receive non-composite symbol streams from the plurality of receive chain output signals, wherein each respective one of the one or more non-composite receive symbol streams comprises a respective primary receive symbol stream and does not comprise a respective signature control channel symbol stream. In some embodiments of the self-organizing backhaul radio, the at least one of the respective primary receive symbol streams of the one or more non-composite receive symbol streams are coupled to a respective demodulator core of the one or more demodulator cores. In some embodiments of the self-organizing backhaul radio, at least one of the one ore more non-composite receive symbol streams is coupled to the signature link processor. In some embodiments of the self-organizing backhaul radio, the signature link processor further provides at least one a primary receive symbol stream derived from the at least one of the one or more non-composite receive symbol streams to one of the one or more demodulator cores derived. In some embodiments of the self-organizing backhaul radio, the frequency selective receive path channel multiplexer further provides at least one of said one or more primary receive symbol streams directly to the one or more demodulator cores. In some embodiments of the self-organizing backhaul radio, the linear combination associated with at least one of the one or more composite receive symbol streams is performed at least partially simultaneously in time. In some embodiments of the self-organizing backhaul radio, a plurality of primary receive symbols associated with at least one respective primary receive symbol stream and a plurality of signature control channels symbols associated with at least one respective signature control channel symbol stream are linearly combined simultaneously in time. In some embodiments of the self-organizing backhaul radio, the information associated with the pre-communicated respective signature control channel information is derived from at least one of the one or more primary receive symbol streams.

11514169

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technique of information processing capable of detecting an alteration. Description of the Related Art There have been issues of attacks that exploit computers by altering programs through the programs' vulnerabilities. International Laid-Open No. 2009/044533 (hereinafter referred to as document1) discloses a technique of detecting an alteration of a program. Specifically, document1discloses a technique of detecting an alteration of a program by using an anti-tamper module such that the hash value of the program is calculated and stored, and, each time the program is started, the hash value of the program is recalculated and a verification is performed. Here, in the technique of document1, the alteration detection processing is executed without exception. For this reason, users who, for example, prioritize start speed over alteration detection, have to go through a situation where start processing takes time. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An information processing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention is an information processing apparatus that performs alteration detection processing on every occasion of starting a program, comprising a writing component capable of writing a setting indicating whether or not to perform the alteration detection processing to a first region referable by a first program that firstly performs the alteration detection processing on another program and to a second region not referable by the first program at a point when the first program is started. The first program performs the alteration detection processing in accordance with the setting written in the first region, and a second program capable of referring to the second region performs the alteration detection processing in accordance with the setting written in the second region. Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.

11214817

TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to modified hydroxylases. The invention further relates to cells expressing such modified hydroxylases and methods of producing hydroxylated alkanes by contacting a suitable substrate with such modified hydroxylases and/or such cells. Also included may have modified hydroxylases comprising unique regioselectivities. BACKGROUND Hydroxylation of linear alkanes has the important practical implication of providing valuable intermediates for chemical synthesis. Nevertheless, selective oxyfunctionalization of hydrocarbons remains one of the great challenges for contemporary chemistry. Many chemical methods for hydroxylation require severe conditions of temperature or pressure, and the reactions are prone to over-oxidation, producing a range of products, many of which are not desired. Enzymes are an attractive alternative to chemical catalysts. In particular, monooxygenases have the ability to catalyze the specific hydroxylation of non-activated C—H bonds. These cofactor-dependent oxidative enzymes have multiple domains and function via complex electron transfer mechanisms to transport a reduction equivalent to the catalytic center. Exemplary monooxygenases include the cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (“P450s”). The P450s are a group of widely-distributed heme-containing enzymes that insert one oxygen atom from diatomic oxygen into a diverse range of hydrophobic substrates, often with high regio- and stereoselectivity. Their ability to catalyze these reactions with high specificity and selectivity makes P450s attractive catalysts for chemical synthesis and other applications, including oxidation chemistry. Despite the ability of these enzymes to selectively hydroxylate a wide range of compounds, including fatty acids, aromatic compounds, alkanes, alkenes, and natural products, only a few members of this large superfamily of proteins are capable of hydroxylating alkanes. Accordingly, there is a need for modified hydroxylases that have the ability to efficiently hydroxylate alkanes in vivo. In addition, there is a need for cells that can express such modified hydroxylases while producing recoverable quantities of alkane-derived alcohols. SUMMARY Provided herein are polypeptides that convert alkanes to alcohols. Also provided are nucleic acid molecules that encode such polypeptides, cells expressing such polypeptides, and methods of synthesizing alcohols from a suitable alkane substrate. Accordingly, in various embodiments, isolated or recombinant polypeptides comprising residues 1 to about 455 of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, are provided. The polypeptides include up to 50, 25, 10, or 5 conservative amino acid substitutions excluding residues: (a) 47, 78, 82, 94, 142, 175, 184, 205, 226, 236, 252, 255, 290, 328, and 353 of SEQ ID NO:1; (b) 48, 79, 83, 95, 143, 176, 185, 206, 227, 238, 254, 257, 292, 330, and 355 of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:3; (c) 49, 80, 84, 96, 144, 177, 186, 207, 228, 239, 255, 258, 293, 331, and 357 of SEQ ID NO:4; (d) 54, 85, 89, 101, 149, 182, 191, 212, 232, 243, 259, 262, 297, 336, and 361 of SEQ ID NO:5; and (e) 51, 82, 86, 98, 146, 179, 188, 208, 231, 242, 258, 262, 296, 337, and 363 of SEQ ID NO:6. The amino acid sequence includes the following residues: (1) a Z1 amino acid residue at positions: (a) 47, 82, 142, 205, 236, 252, and 255 of SEQ ID NO:1; (b) 48, 83, 143, 206, 238, 254, and 257 of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:3; (c) 49, 84, 144, 207, 239, 255, and 258 of SEQ ID NO:4; (d) 54, 89, 149, 212, 243, 259, and 262 of SEQ ID NO:5; and (e) 51, 86, 146, 208, 242, 258, and 262 of SEQ ID NO: 6; (2) a Z2 amino acid residue at positions: (a) 94, 175, 184, 290, and 353 of SEQ ID NO:1; (b) 95, 176, 185, 292, and 355 of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:3; (c) 96, 177, 186, 293, and 357 of SEQ ID NO:4; (d) 101, 182, 191, 297, and 361 of SEQ ID NO:5; and (e) 98, 179, 188, 296, and 363 of SEQ ID NO:6; (3) a Z3 amino acid residue at position: (a) 226 of SEQ ID NO:1; (b) 227 of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:3; (c) 228 of SEQ ID NO:4; (d) 232 of SEQ ID NO:5; and (e) 231 of SEQ ID NO:6; and (4) a Z4 amino acid residue at positions: (a) 78 and 328 of SEQ ID NO:1; (b) 79 and 330 of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:3; (c) 80 and 331 of SEQ ID NO:4; (d) 85 and 336 of SEQ ID NO:5; and (e) 82 and 337 of SEQ ID NO:6. In general, a Z1 amino acid residue includes glycine (G), asparagine (N), glutamine (Q), serine (S), threonine (T), tyrosine (Y), or cysteine (C). A Z2 amino acid residue includes alanine (A), valine (V), leucine (L), isoleucine (I), proline (P), or methionine (M). A Z3 amino acid residue includes lysine (K), or arginine (R). A Z4 amino acid residue includes tyrosine (Y), phenylalanine (F), tryptophan (W), or histidine (H). In other embodiments, the polypeptide further includes a Z3 amino acid residue at position: (a) 285 of SEQ ID NO:1; (b) 287 of SEQ ID NO:2 or 3; (c) 288 of SEQ ID NO:4; (d) 292 of SEQ ID NO:5; and (e) 291 of SEQ ID NO:6. A Z3 amino acid residue includes lysine (K), arginine (R), or histidine (H). In some aspects, the amino acid residue at this position is an arginine (R). In yet another embodiment, the polypeptide comprises, in addition to one or more of the residue replacements above, an isoleucine at position 52, a glutamic acid at position 74, proline at position 188, a valine at position 366, an alanine at position 443, a glycine at position 698 of SEQ ID NO:1; isoleucine at position 53, a glutamic acid at position 75, proline at position 189, a valine at position 368 of SEQ ID NO:2; an isoleucine at position 53, a glutamic acid at position 75, proline at position 189, a valine at position 368 of SEQ ID NO:3; an isoleucine at position 55, a gluatmic acid at position 77, proline at position 191, a valine at position 371 of SEQ ID NO:4; an isoleucine at position 59, a glutamic acid at position 81, proline at position 195, a valine at position 374 of SEQ ID NO:5; an isoleucine at position 56, a gluatmic acid at position 78, proline at position 192, a valine at position 376 of SEQ ID NO:6; and an isoleucine at position 52, a glutamic acid at position 74, proline at position 188, a valine at position 366 of SEQ ID NO:7. In general, polypeptides provided herein display hydroxylase activity that converts an alkane to an alcohol. In general, alkanes include methane (CH4), ethane (C2H6), propane (C3H8), butane (C4H10), pentane (C5H12), hexane (C6H14), heptane (C7H16), octane (C8H18), nonane (C9H20), decane (C10H22), undecane (C11H24), and dodecane (C12H26). Also in general, alcohols include methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, pentanol, hexanol, heptanol, octanol, nonanol, decanol, undecanol, and dodecanol. In other embodiments, the amino acid sequence of the polypeptide includes residues at the following positions: (1) a glycine (G), glutamine (Q), serine (S), threonine (T), or cysteine (C) amino acid residue at position: (a) 47, 82, 142, 205, 236, 252, and 255 of SEQ ID NO:1; (b) 48, 83, 143, 206, 238, 254, and 257 of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:3; (c) 49, 84, 144, 207, 239, 255, and 258 of SEQ ID NO:4; (d) 54, 89, 149, 212, 243, 259, and 262 of SEQ ID NO:5; and (e) 51, 86, 146, 208, 242, 258, and 262 of SEQ ID NO: 6; (2) a valine (V) or isoleucine (I) amino acid residue at position: (a) 94, 175, 184, 290, and 353 of SEQ ID NO:1; (b) 95, 176, 185, 292, and 355 of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:3; (c) 96, 177, 186, 293, and 357 of SEQ ID NO:4; (d) 101, 182, 191, 297, and 361 of SEQ ID NO:5; and (e) 98, 179, 188, 296, and 363 of SEQ ID NO:6; (3) an arginine amino acid residue at position: (a) 226 of SEQ ID NO:1; (b) 227 of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:3; (c) 228 of SEQ ID NO:4; (d) 232 of SEQ ID NO:5; and (e) 231 of SEQ ID NO:6; and (4) a phenylalanine (F) or histidine (H) amino acid residue at position: (a) 78 and 328 of SEQ ID NO:1; (b) 79 and 330 of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:3; (c) 80 and 331 of SEQ ID NO:4; (d) 85 and 336 of SEQ ID NO:5; and (e) 82 and 337 of SEQ ID NO:6. In other embodiments, the amino acid sequence of the polypeptide includes residues at the following positions: (1) a serine (S) residue at position: (a) 82, 142, and 255 of SEQ ID NO:1; (b) 83, 143 and 257 of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:3; (c) 84, 144, and 258 of SEQ ID NO:4; (d) 89, 149, and 262 of SEQ ID NO:5; (e) 86, 146 and 262 of SEQ ID NO:6; (2) a cysteine (C) amino acid residue at position: (a) 47 and 205 of SEQ ID NO:1; (b) 48 and 206 of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:3; (c) 49 and 207 of SEQ ID NO:4; (d) 54 and 212 of SEQ ID NO:5; (e) 51 and 208 of SEQ ID NO:6; (3) a glutamine (Q) amino acid residue at position: (a) 236 of SEQ ID NO:1; (b) 238 of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:3; (c) 239 of SEQ ID NO:4; (d) 243 of SEQ ID NO:5; (e) 242 of SEQ ID NO:6; (4) a glycine (G) amino acid residue at position: (a) 252 of SEQ ID NO:1; (b) 254 of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:3; (c) 255 of SEQ ID NO:4; (d) 259 of SEQ ID NO:5; (e) 258 of SEQ ID NO:6; (5) a valine (V) amino acid residue at position: (a) 184, 290 and 353 of SEQ ID NO:1; (b) 185, 292, and 355 of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:3; (c) 186, 293 and 357 of SEQ ID NO:4; (d) 191, 297, and 361 of SEQ ID NO:5; (e) 188, 296, and 363 of SEQ ID NO:6; (6) an isoleucine (I) amino acid residue at position: (a) 94 and 175 of SEQ ID NO:1; (b) 95 and 176 of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:3; (c) 96 and 177 of SEQ ID NO:4; (d) 101 and 182 of SEQ ID NO:5; (e) 98 and 179 of SEQ ID NO:6; and (7) a phenylalanine (F) amino acid residue at position: (a) 78 and 328 of SEQ ID NO:1; (b) 79 and 330 of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:3; (c) 80 and 331 of SEQ ID NO:4; (d) 85 and 336 of SEQ ID NO:5; (e) 82 and 337 of SEQ ID NO:6. In another embodiment, an isolated or recombinant polypeptide that includes residues 1 to about 455 of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 is provided. The polypeptide includes, at least, 80%, 85%, 90%, or 95% of the amino acid residues in the amino acid sequence at the following positions: (1) a serine (S) residue at position: (a) 82, 142, and 255 of SEQ ID NO:1; (b) 83, 143 and 257 of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:3; (c) 84, 144, and 258 of SEQ ID NO:4; (d) 89, 149, and 262 of SEQ ID NO:5; (e) 86, 146 and 262 of SEQ ID NO:6; (2) a cysteine (C) amino acid residue at position: (a) 47 and 205 of SEQ ID NO:1; (b) 48 and 206 of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:3; (c) 49 and 207 of SEQ ID NO:4; (d) 54 and 212 of SEQ ID NO:5; (e) 51 and 208 of SEQ ID NO:6; (3) a glutamine (Q) amino acid residue at position: (a) 236 of SEQ ID NO:1; (b) 238 of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:3; (c) 239 of SEQ ID NO:4; (d) 243 of SEQ ID NO:5; (e) 242 of SEQ ID NO:6; (4) a glycine (G) amino acid residue at position: (a) 252 of SEQ ID NO:1; (b) 254 of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:3; (c) 255 of SEQ ID NO:4; (d) 259 of SEQ ID NO:5; (e) 258 of SEQ ID NO:6; (5) a valine (V) amino acid residue at position: (a) 184, 290 and 353 of SEQ ID NO:1; (b) 185, 292, and 355 of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:3; (c) 186, 293 and 357 of SEQ ID NO:4; (d) 191, 297, and 361 of SEQ ID NO:5; (e) 188, 296, and 363 of SEQ ID NO:6; (6) an isoleucine (I) amino acid residue at position: (a) 94 and 175 of SEQ ID NO:1; (b) 95 and 176 of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:3; (c) 96 and 177 of SEQ ID NO:4; (d) 101 and 182 of SEQ ID NO:5; (e) 98 and 179 of SEQ ID NO:6; and (7) a phenylalanine (F) amino acid residue at position: (a) 78 and 328 of SEQ ID NO:1; (b) 79 and 330 of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:3; (c) 80 and 331 of SEQ ID NO:4; (d) 85 and 336 of SEQ ID NO:5; (e) 82 and 337 of SEQ ID NO:6; and (8) an arginine (R) amino acid residue at position: (a) 226 of SEQ ID NO:1; b) 227 of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:3; (c) 228 of SEQ ID NO:4; (d) 232 of SEQ ID NO:5; (e) 231 of SEQ ID NO:6. In other embodiments, the polypeptide further includes a Z3 amino acid residue at position: (a) 285 of SEQ ID NO:1; (b) 287 of SEQ ID NO:2 or 3; (c) 288 of SEQ ID NO:4; (d) 292 of SEQ ID NO:5; and (e) 291 of SEQ ID NO:6. A Z3 amino acid residue includes lysine (K), arginine (R), or histidine (H). In some aspects, the amino acid residue at this position is an arginine (R). In yet another embodiment, an isolated or recombinant polypeptide that includes residues 456-1048 of SEQ ID NO:1, 456-1059 of SEQ ID NO:2, 456-1053 of SEQ ID NO:3, 456-1064 of SEQ ID NO:4, 456-1063 of SEQ ID NO:5, or 456-1077 of SEQ ID NO:6, is provided. The polypeptide includes an amino acid sequence with up to 65, 40, 25, or 10 conservative amino acid substitutions excluding residues: (a) 464, 631, 645, 710 and 968 of SEQ ID NO:1; (b) 475, 641, 656, 721 and 980 of SEQ ID NO:2; (c) 467, 634, 648, 713 and 972 of SEQ ID NO:3; (d) 477, 644, 659, 724 and 983 of SEQ ID NO:4; (e) 472, 640, 656, 723 and 985 of SEQ ID NO:5; and (f) 480, 648, 664, 733 and 997 of SEQ ID NO:6. The amino acid sequence includes the following residues: (1) a Z1, Z3, Z4, or Z5 amino acid residue at position: (a) 464 of SEQ ID NO:1; (b) 475 of SEQ ID NO:2; (c) 467 of SEQ ID NO:3; (d) 477 of SEQ ID NO:4; (e) 472 of SEQ ID NO:5; and (f) 480 of SEQ ID NO: 6; (2) a Z1 amino acid residue at position: (a) 631 and 710 of SEQ ID NO1; (b) 641 and 721 of SEQ ID NO:2; (c) 634 and 713 of SEQ ID NO:3; (d) 644 and 724 of SEQ ID NO:4; (e) 640 and 723 of SEQ ID NO:5; and (f) 648 and 733 of SEQ ID NO:6; (3) a Z3 amino acid residue at position: (a) 645 of SEQ ID NO:1; (b) 656 of SEQ ID NO:2; (c) 648 of SEQ ID NO:3; (d) 659 of SEQ ID NO:4; (e) 656 of SEQ ID NO:5; and (f) 664 of SEQ ID NO:6; and (4) a Z2 amino acid residue at position: (a) 968 of SEQ ID NO:1; (b) 980 of SEQ ID NO:2; (c) 972 of SEQ ID NO:3; (d) 983 of SEQ ID NO:4; (e) 985 of SEQ ID NO:5; and (f) 997 of SEQ ID NO:6. Z1 is an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of glycine (G), asparagine (N), glutamine (Q), serine (S), threonine (T), tyrosine (Y), and cysteine (C); Z2 is an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of alanine (A), valine (V), leucine (L), isoleucine (I), proline (P), and methionine (M); Z3 is an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of lysine (K), and arginine (R); Z4 is an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of tyrosine (Y), phenylalanine (F), tryptophan (W), and histidine (H); and is an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of threonine (T), valine (V), and isoleucine (I). In other embodiments, the amino acid sequence of the polypeptide includes residues at the following positions: (1) a glycine (G), arginine (R), tyrosine (Y), or threonine (T) amino acid residue at position: (a) 464 of SEQ ID NO:1; (b) 475 of SEQ ID NO:2; (c) 467 of SEQ ID NO:3; (d) 477 of SEQ ID NO:4; (e) 472 of SEQ ID NO:5; and (f) 480 of SEQ ID NO:6; (2) an asparagine (N) amino acid residue at position: (a) 631 of SEQ ID NO:1; (b) 641 of SEQ ID NO:2; (c) 634 of SEQ ID NO:3; (d) 644 of SEQ ID NO:4; (e) 640 of SEQ ID NO:5; and (f) 648 of SEQ ID NO:6; (3) an arginine (R) amino acid residue at position: (a) 645 of SEQ ID NO:1; (b) 656 of SEQ ID NO:2; (c) 648 of SEQ ID NO:3; (d) 659 of SEQ ID NO:4; (e) 656 of SEQ ID NO:5; and (f) 664 of SEQ ID NO:6; (4) a threonine (T) amino acid residue at position: (a) 710 of SEQ ID NO:1; (b) 721 of SEQ ID NO:2; (c) 713 of SEQ ID NO:3; (d) 724 of SEQ ID NO:4; (e) 723 of SEQ ID NO:5; and (f) 733 of SEQ ID NO:6; and (5) a lysine (L) amino acid residue at position: (a) 968 of SEQ ID NO:1; (b) 980 of SEQ ID NO:2; (c) 972 of SEQ ID NO:3; (d) 983 of SEQ ID NO:4; (e) 985 of SEQ ID NO:5; and (f) 997 of SEQ ID NO:6. An isolated or recombinant polypeptide comprising residues 1 to about 455 of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 with up to 50 conservative amino acid substitutions excluding residues 47, 52, 74, 78, 82, 94, 142, 175, 184, 188, 205, 226, 236, 252, 255, 290, 328, 353, 366 and 443 wherein the amino acid sequence comprises residues selected from the group consisting of: (a) at positions 47, 82, 142, 205, 236, 252, and 255, a Z1 amino acid residue; (b) at positions 52, 94, 175, 184, 188, 290, 353, 366 and 443, a Z2 amino acid residue; (c) at position 226, a Z3 amino acid residue; (d) at positions 78 and 328, a Z4 amino acid residue, (e) at position 74, an amino acid selected from the group consisting of alanine (A), serine (S), and glutamic acid (E); wherein Z1 is an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of glycine (G), asparagine (N), glutamine (Q), serine (S), threonine (T), tyrosine (Y), and cysteine (C); wherein Z2 is an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of alanine (A), valine (V), leucine (L), isoleucine (I), proline (P), and methionine (M); wherein Z3 is an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of lysine (K), and arginine (R); and wherein Z4 is an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of tyrosine (Y), phenylalanine (F), tryptophan (W), and histidine (H), and wherein the polypeptide catalyzes the conversion of an alkane to an alcohol. In another embodiment, an isolated or recombinant polypeptide that includes the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:7 with up to 75, 50, 25, or 10 conservative amino acid substitutions excluding residues 47, 78, 82, 94, 142, 175, 184, 205, 226, 236, 252, 255, 290, 328, 353, 464, and 710, is provided. The polypeptide can display hydroxylase activity that converts an alkane to an alcohol. In yet another embodiment, an isolated or recombinant polypeptide that includes the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:8 with up to 75, 50, 25, or 10 conservative amino acid substitutions excluding residues 47, 78, 82, 94, 142, 175, 184, 205, 226, 236, 252, 255, 290, 328, 353, 464, and 710, is provided. In another embodiment, an isolated or recombinant polypeptide that includes the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:9 with up to 75, 50, 25, or 10 conservative amino acid substitutions excluding residues 47, 78, 82, 94, 142, 175, 184, 205, 226, 236, 252, 255, 290, 328, 353, 464, and 710, is provided. In another embodiment, an isolated or recombinant polypeptide that includes the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:10 with up to 75, 50, 25, or 10 conservative amino acid substitutions excluding residues 47, 78, 82, 94, 142, 175, 184, 205, 226, 236, 252, 255, 290, 328, 353, 464, and 710, is provided. The polypeptides of SEQ ID NO:7, 8, 9 or 10, further optionally include an arginine (R) at amino acid residue position 285. As previously noted, polypeptides provided herein can display hydroxylase activity that converts an alkane to an alcohol. In general an alkane includes methane (CH4), ethane (C2H6), propane (C3H8), butane (C4H10), pentane (C5H12), hexane (C6H14), heptane (C7H16), octane (C8H18), nonane (C9H20), decane (C10H22), undecane (C11H24), and dodecane (C12H26). In general, an alcohol includes methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, pentanol, hexanol, heptanol, octanol, nonanol, decanol, undecanol, and dodecanol. In another embodiment, an isolated or recombinant polypeptide that includes the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:11 with up to 75, 50, 25, or 10 conservative amino acid substitutions excluding residues 47, 78, 82, 94, 142, 175, 184, 205, 226, 236, 252, 255, 285, 290, 328, 353, 464, and 710, is provided. In another embodiment, an isolated or recombinant polypeptide that includes the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:12 with up to 75, 50, 25, or 10 conservative amino acid substitutions excluding residues 47, 78, 82, 94, 142, 175, 184, 205, 226, 236, 252, 255, 290, 328, 353, 464, 645, and 710, is provided. In another embodiment, an isolated or recombinant polypeptide that includes the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:13 with up to 75, 50, 25, or 10 conservative amino acid substitutions excluding residues 47, 78, 82, 94, 142, 175, 184, 205, 226, 236, 252, 255, 290, 328, 353, 464, 631, and 710, is provided. In other embodiments, isolated or recombinant polypeptides of the invention include: (a) a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:7; (b) a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:7; (c) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or 98% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:7 excluding amino acid residues 47, 78, 82, 94, 142, 175, 184, 205, 226, 236, 252, 255, 290, 328, 353, 464, and 710 of SEQ ID NO:7; or (d) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence that can be optimally aligned with the sequence of SEQ ID NO:7 to generate a similarity score of at least 1830, using the BLOSUM62 matrix, a gap existence penalty of 11, and a gap extension penalty of 1, excluding amino acid residues 47, 78, 82, 94, 142, 175, 184, 205, 226, 236, 252, 255, 290, 328, 353, 464, and 710 of SEQ ID NO:7. In other embodiments, isolated or recombinant polypeptides of the invention include: (a) a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:8; (b) a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:8; or (c) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or 98% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:8 excluding amino acid residues 47, 78, 82, 94, 142, 175, 184, 205, 226, 236, 252, 255, 290, 328, 353, 464, and 710 of SEQ ID NO:8. In other embodiments, isolated or recombinant polypeptides of the invention include: (a) a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:9; (b) a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:9; or (c) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or 98% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:9 excluding amino acid residues 47, 78, 82, 94, 142, 175, 184, 205, 226, 236, 252, 255, 290, 328, 353, 464, and 710 of SEQ ID NO:9. In other embodiments, isolated or recombinant polypeptides of the invention include: (a) a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:10; (b) a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:10; or (c) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or 98% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:10 excluding amino acid residues 47, 78, 82, 94, 142, 175, 184, 205, 226, 236, 252, 255, 290, 328, 353, 464, and 710 of SEQ ID NO:10. In other embodiments, isolated or recombinant polypeptides of the invention include: (a) a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:11; (b) a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:11; or (c) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or 98% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:11 excluding amino acid residues 47, 78, 82, 94, 142, 175, 184, 205, 226, 236, 252, 255, 285, 290, 328, 353, 464, and 710 of SEQ ID NO:11. In other embodiments, isolated or recombinant polypeptides of the invention include: (a) a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:12; (b) a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:12; or (c) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or 98% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:12 excluding amino acid residues 47, 78, 82, 94, 142, 175, 184, 205, 226, 236, 252, 255, 290, 328, 353, 464, 645, and 710 of SEQ ID NO:12. In other embodiments, isolated or recombinant polypeptides of the invention include: (a) a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:13; (b) a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:13; or (c) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or 98% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:13 excluding amino acid residues 47, 78, 82, 94, 142, 175, 184, 205, 226, 236, 252, 255, 290, 328, 353, 464, 631, and 710 of SEQ ID NO:13. In other embodiments, isolated nucleic acid molecules are provided. Such nucleic acid molecules include: (a) a nucleic acid molecule which encodes a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 or 125; (b) a nucleic acid molecule which encodes a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 or 125; (c) a nucleic acid molecule which encodes a polypeptide comprising residues 1 to about 455 of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:7 or 11; (d) a nucleic acid molecule which encodes a polypeptide comprising residues about 456 to about 1088 of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13 or 125; (e) a nucleic acid molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:15; (f) a nucleic acid molecule consisting of the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:15; (g) a nucleic acid molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:17; (h) a nucleic acid molecule consisting of the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:17. In other embodiments, nucleic acid molecules of the invention include: (a) a nucleic acid molecule which encodes a polypeptide comprising residues 1 to about 455 of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or 3 with the following amino acid residues: 48 and 206 are cysteine (C); 79 and 330 are phenylalanine (F); 83, 143, and 257 are serine (S); 95 and 176 are isoleucine (I); 185, 292, and 355 are valine (V); 227 is arginine (R); 238 is glutamine (Q); and 254 is glycine (G); (b) a nucleic acid molecule which encodes a polypeptide consisting of residues 1 to about 455 of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or 3 with the following amino acid residues: 48 and 206 are cysteine (C); 79 and 330 are phenylalanine (F); 83, 143, and 257 are serine (S); 95 and 176 are isoleucine (I); 185, 292, and 355 are valine (V); 227 is arginine (R); 238 is glutamine (Q); and 254 is glycine (G); (c) a nucleic acid molecule which encodes a polypeptide comprising residues 1 to about 455 of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:4 with the following amino acid residues: 49 and 207 are cysteine (C); 80 and 331 are phenylalanine (F); 84, 144, and 258 are serine (S); 96 and 177 are isoleucine (I); 186, 293, and 357 are valine (V); 228 is arginine (R); 239 is glutamine (Q); and 255 is glycine (G); (d) a nucleic acid molecule which encodes a polypeptide consisting of residues 1 to about 455 of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:4 with the following amino acid residues: 49 and 207 are cysteine (C); 80 and 331 are phenylalanine (F); 84, 144, and 258 are serine (S); 96 and 177 are isoleucine (I); 186, 293, and 357 are valine (V); 228 is arginine (R); 239 is glutamine (Q); and 255 is glycine (G); (e) a nucleic acid molecule which encodes a polypeptide comprising residues 1 to about 455 of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:5 with the following amino acid residues: 54 and 212 are cysteine (C); 85 and 336 are phenylalanine (F); 89, 149, and 262 are serine (S); 101 and 182 are isoleucine (I); 191, 297, and 361 are valine (V); 232 is arginine (R); 243 is glutamine (Q); and 259 is glycine (G); (f) a nucleic acid molecule which encodes a polypeptide consisting of residues 1 to about 455 of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:5 with the following amino acid residues: 54 and 212 are cysteine (C); 85 and 336 are phenylalanine (F); 89, 149, and 262 are serine (S); 101 and 182 are isoleucine (I); 191, 297, and 361 are valine (V); 232 is arginine (R); 243 is glutamine (Q); and 259 is glycine (G); (g) a nucleic acid molecule which encodes a polypeptide comprising residues 1 to about 455 of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:6 with the following amino acid residues: 51 and 208 are cysteine (C); 82 and 337 are phenylalanine (F); 86, 146, and 262 are serine (S); 98 and 179 are isoleucine (I); 188, 296, and 363 are valine (V); 231 is arginine (R); 243 is glutamine (Q); and 258 is glycine (G); and (h) a nucleic acid molecule which encodes a polypeptide consisting of residues 1 to about 455 of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:6 with the following amino acid residues: 51 and 208 are cysteine (C); 82 and 337 are phenylalanine (F); 86, 146, and 262 are serine (S); 98 and 179 are isoleucine (I); 188, 296, and 363 are valine (V); 231 is arginine (R); 243 is glutamine (Q); and 258 is glycine (G). In other embodiments, nucleic acid molecules of the invention include: (a) a nucleic acid molecule which encodes a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 with the following amino acid residues: 48 and 206 are cysteine (C); 79 and 330 are phenylalanine (F); 83, 143, and 257 are serine (S); 95 and 176 are isoleucine (I); 185, 292, and 355 are valine (V); 227, 287, and 656 are arginine (R); 238 is glutamine (Q); 254 is glycine (G); 475 is glycine (G), arginine (R), tyrosine (Y), or threonine (T); 641 is asparagine (N); 721 is threonine (T); and 980 is leucine; (b) a nucleic acid molecule which encodes a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 with the following amino acid residues: 48 and 206 are cysteine (C); 79 and 330 are phenylalanine (F); 83, 143, and 257 are serine (S); 95 and 176 are isoleucine (I); 185, 292, and 355 are valine (V); 227, 287, and 656 are arginine (R); 238 is glutamine (Q); 254 is glycine (G); 475 is glycine (G), arginine (R), tyrosine (Y), or threonine (T); 641 is asparagine (N); 721 is threonine (T); and 980 is leucine; (c) a nucleic acid molecule which encodes a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:3 with the following amino acid residues: 48 and 206 are cysteine (C); 79 and 330 are phenylalanine (F); 83, 143, and 257 are serine (S); 95 and 176 are isoleucine (I); 185, 292, and 355 are valine (V); 227, 287, and 648 are arginine (R); 238 is glutamine (Q); 254 is glycine (G); 467 is glycine (G), arginine (R), tyrosine (Y), or threonine (T); 634 is asparagine (N); 713 is threonine (T); and 972 is leucine; (d) a nucleic acid molecule which encodes a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:3 with the following amino acid residues: 48 and 206 are cysteine (C); 79 and 330 are phenylalanine (F); 83, 143, and 257 are serine (S); 95 and 176 are isoleucine (I); 185, 292, and 355 are valine (V); 227, 287, and 648 are arginine (R); 238 is glutamine (Q); 254 is glycine (G); 467 is glycine (G), arginine (R), tyrosine (Y), or threonine (T); 634 is asparagine (N); 713 is threonine (T); and 972 is leucine; (e) a nucleic acid molecule which encodes a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:4 with the following amino acid residues: 49 and 207 are cysteine (C); 80 and 331 are phenylalanine (F); 84, 144, and 258 are serine (S); 96 and 177 are isoleucine (I); 186, 293, and 357 are valine (V); 228, 288, and 659 are arginine (R); 239 is glutamine (Q); and 255 is glycine (G); 477 is glycine (G), arginine (R), tyrosine (Y), or threonine (T); 644 is asparagine (N); 724 is threonine (T); and 983 is leucine; (f) a nucleic acid molecule which encodes a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:4 with the following amino acid residues: 49 and 207 are cysteine (C); 80 and 331 are phenylalanine (F); 84, 144, and 258 are serine (S); 96 and 177 are isoleucine (I); 186, 293, and 357 are valine (V); 228, 288, and 659 are arginine (R); 239 is glutamine (Q); and 255 is glycine (G); 477 is glycine (G), arginine (R), tyrosine (Y), or threonine (T); 644 is asparagine (N); 724 is threonine (T); and 983 is leucine; (g) a nucleic acid molecule which encodes a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:5 with the following amino acid residues: 54 and 212 are cysteine (C); 85 and 336 are phenylalanine (F); 89, 149, and 262 are serine (S); 101 and 182 are isoleucine (I); 191, 297, and 361 are valine (V); 232, 292, and 656 are arginine (R); 243 is glutamine (Q); and 259 is glycine (G); 472 is glycine (G), arginine (R), tyrosine (Y), or threonine (T); 640 is asparagine (N); 723 is threonine (T); and 985 is leucine; (h) a nucleic acid molecule which encodes a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:5 with the following amino acid residues: 54 and 212 are cysteine (C); 85 and 336 are phenylalanine (F); 89, 149, and 262 are serine (S); 101 and 182 are isoleucine (I); 191, 297, and 361 are valine (V); 232, 292, and 656 are arginine (R); 243 is glutamine (Q); and 259 is glycine (G); 472 is glycine (G), arginine (R), tyrosine (Y), or threonine (T); 640 is asparagine (N); 723 is threonine (T); and 985 is leucine; (i) a nucleic acid molecule which encodes a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:6 with the following amino acid residues: 51 and 208 are cysteine (C); 82 and 337 are phenylalanine (F); 86, 146, and 262 are serine (S); 98 and 179 are isoleucine (I); 188, 296, and 363 are valine (V); 231, 291, and 664 are arginine (R); 243 is glutamine (Q); and 258 is glycine (G); 480 is glycine (G), arginine (R), tyrosine (Y), or threonine (T); 648 is asparagine (N); 733 is threonine (T); and 997 is leucine; and (j) a nucleic acid molecule which encodes a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:6 with the following amino acid residues: 51 and 208 are cysteine (C); 82 and 337 are phenylalanine (F); 86, 146, and 262 are serine (S); 98 and 179 are isoleucine (I); 188, 296, and 363 are valine (V); 231, 291, and 664 are arginine (R); 243 is glutamine (Q); and 258 is glycine (G); 480 is glycine (G), arginine (R), tyrosine (Y), or threonine (T); 648 is asparagine (N); 733 is threonine (T); and 997 is leucine. In one embodiment, an isolated nucleic acid molecule that includes a nucleic acid molecule of the invention and a nucleotide sequence encoding a heterologous polypeptide, is provided. In other embodiments, vectors that include a nucleic acid molecule of the invention are provided. In other embodiments, host cells transfected with a nucleic acid molecule of the invention, or a vector that includes a nucleic acid molecule of the invention, are provided. Host cells include eucaryotic cells such as yeast cells, insect cells, or animal cells. Host cells also include procaryotic cells such as bacterial cells. In other embodiments, methods for producing a cell that converts an alkane to alcohol, are provided. Such methods generally include: (a) transforming a cell with an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide that includes an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 or 125; (b) transforming a cell with an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide of the invention; or (c) transforming a cell with an isolated nucleic acid molecule of the invention. In other embodiments, methods for selecting a cell that converts an alkane to an alcohol, are provided. The methods generally include: (a) providing a cell containing a nucleic acid construct that includes a nucleotide sequence that encodes a modified cytochrome P450 polypeptide, the nucleotide sequence selected from: (i) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 or 125; (ii) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide of the invention; or (iii) a nucleic acid molecule of the invention. The methods further include (b) culturing the cell in the presence of a suitable alkane and under conditions where the modified cytochrome P450 is expressed at a level sufficient to convert an alkane to an alcohol. Such conditions are met when an alcohol is produced at a level detectable by a method provided herein, or a method known to one skilled in the art of enzymology. In other embodiments, methods for producing an alcohol, are provided. The methods include: (a) providing a cell containing a nucleic acid construct comprising a nucleotide sequence that encodes a modified cytochrome P450 polypeptide, the nucleotide sequence selected from: (i) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 or 125; (ii) a nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide of the invention; or (iii) a nucleic acid molecule of the invention. The methods further include (b) culturing the cell in the presence of a suitable alkane and under conditions where the modified cytochrome P450 is expressed at an effective level; and (c) producing an alcohol by hydroxylation of the suitable alkane such as methane (CH4), ethane (C2H6), propane (C3H8), butane (C4H10), pentane (C5H12), hexane (C6H14), heptane (C7H16), octane (C8H18), nonane (C9H20), decane (C10H22), undecane (C11H24), and dodecane (C12H26). In general an alcohol produced by a method the invention can include methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, pentanol, hexanol, heptanol, octanol, nonanol, decanol, undecanol, and dodecanol. In yet another embodiment, methods for producing a cytochrome P450 variant that hydroxylates an alkane are provided. Such methods include selecting a parent cytochrome P450 polypeptide and modifying at least one amino acid residue positioned in or near the active site of the heme domain of the parent cytochrome P450 polypeptide. In general the modification reduces the volume of the active site. The method further includes contacting the polypeptide comprising the modified amino acid with at least one alkane under conditions suitable for hydroxylation of the alkane and detecting a hydroxylated alkane. The modification may include a substitution of the parent amino acid for a different amino acid or it may include modifying the parent amino acid to include an additional group. If the modification is a substitution, such substitutions can include a phenylalanine, tyrosine, histidine, or serine for the parent amino acid residue positioned in or near the active site of the heme domain of the parent cytochrome P450 polypeptide. The details of one or more embodiments of the disclosure are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

11530386

RELATED APPLICATION This application is a national stage filing under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Patent Application Serial No. PCT/GB2016/053949, filed Dec. 15, 2016, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a cell comprising a recombinant growth factor receptor (rGFR) useful in adoptive cell therapy (ACT). The recombinant growth factor receptor can act as a molecular switch enabling cells expressing the rGFR protein to be expanded in-vitro or in-vivo. The present invention also provides rGFR proteins, nucleic acid encoding the rGFRs, and therapeutic uses thereof. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Adoptive cell therapy (ACT) using autologous T-cells to mediate cancer regression has shown much promise in early clinical trials. Several general approaches have been taken such as the use of naturally occurring tumour reactive or tumour infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) expanded ex vivo. Additionally, T-cells may be modified genetically to retarget them towards defined tumour antigens. This can be done via the gene transfer of peptide (p)-major histocompatibility complex (MHC) specific T-cell Receptors (TCRs) or synthetic fusions between tumour specific single chain antibody fragment (scFv) and T-cell signalling domains (e.g. CD3ζ), the latter being termed chimeric antigen receptors (CARs). TIL and TCR transfer has proven particularly good when targeting Melanoma (Rosenberg et al. 2011; Morgan 2006), whereas CAR therapy has shown much promise in the treatment of certain B-cell malignancies (Grupp et al. 2013). The current general treatment protocol for ACT requires an initial non-myeloablative preconditioning treatment using cyclophosphamide and/or fludarabine which removes most of the circulating lymphocytes in the patients prior to reinfusion of the ex vivo grown cells. This allows space for the new cells to expand and removes potential ‘cytokine sinks’ by which normal cells compete with the newly infused cells for growth and survival signals. Along with the cells patients receive cytokine support via infusions of high doses of interleukin(IL)-2 which helps the new cells engraft and expand. There are a number of factors which currently limit the technology of T-cell ACT. Current preconditioning therapy described above requires hospital admission and potentially leaves patients in an immunocompromised state. Furthermore, many patients are not in a healthy enough state to be able to withstand the rigours of this treatment regimen. Beyond preconditioning the use of IL-2 as a supportive therapy is associated with severe toxicity and potential intensive care treatment. Indeed, TIL therapy itself, unlike TCR and CAR therapy, has not been associated with any serious on or off target toxicities, with the majority of toxicity events being associated with the accompanying IL-2 infusions. Methods by which preconditioning and IL-2 supportive treatments can be minimised or reduced will have major benefits in that they will: (i) reduce patient hospitalisation, (ii) increase the proportion of potential patients who could be treated by ACT, (iii) reduce the clinical costs associated with extensive hospital admission, thus again opening up the possibility of ACT to more patients. Thus there is a need for new ACT therapies that minimise the need for preconditioning treatments and/or IL-2 supportive treatments. The present invention uses cells that express a recombinant growth factor receptor which can be turned on or off by the administration of a ligand for the rGFR, which may be a clinically validated drug. This permits expansion of target cells in-vivo with minimal toxicity to other cells. A number of reports have used the idea of growth factor receptor engineering as a means of expanding certain populations of cells or for the development of selection processes for antibody engineering strategies. For example, a number of reports have demonstrated that antibody-TpoR or EpoR fusions could be used to for a number of biotechnology strategies such as single chain antibody selections (Ueda et al. 2000, Kawahara et. Al. 2004), and a number of reports have demonstrated that growth factor receptor fusions can successfully expand the megakaryocyte cell line Ba/F3 and/or haematopoietic stem cells (Jin et al. 2000; Richard et al. 2000; Nagashima et al. 2003; Kawahara et al 2011; Saka et al. 2013). The thrombopoietin (Tpo) receptor (TpoR; CD110, c-mpl) is normally expressed in cells of the megakaryocyte lineage. In its normal state the TpoR is switched on in response to thrombopoietin, which causes megakaryocyte production of platelets. There is also an active negative feedback loop by which platelet expression of TpoR can be used as a sink to reduce circulating levels of Tpo. Importantly TpoR is not expressed on any other normal tissue or cancer cells (Columbyova 1995). However, there have been no reports of T-cells, or other lymphocytes, being engineered to express rGFRs, such as TpoR or a mutant thereof, and no reports of the use of these cells in ACT.