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The application generally relates to load bearing supports. The application relates more specifically to load bearing columns constructed of multiple stacked drums with a resilient core member surrounded by filler material. Various devices disclosed in the prior art are designed and used to provide support to a mine roof. Underground mining results in removal of material from the interior of a mine, thereby leaving unsupported passageways of various sizes within the mine. The lack of support in such passageways may cause mine roof buckling and/or collapse. Thus, it has been desirable to provide support to mine roofs to prevent, delay, or control collapse thereof. In both underground mining and areas of seismic activity, supports must be engineered to withstand enormous forces propagating through the earth. Building and bridge structures may include modified foundations designed to isolate the superstructure from major ground motion during an earthquake. Such supports for building structures are intended to avoid the transmission of high seismic forces. Bridges and building structures which are located in an earthquake zone are capable of being damaged or destroyed by seismic forces. In general bridge structures may be constructed with bearings between the bridge's deck or superstructure and the bridge supporting columns to permit relative movement between the two. It is also known to provide damping for the movement upon these bearings of superstructure relative to supports, however the permitted relative movement is not large and furthermore it is not always preferred to attempt to hold a superstructure in a position around a neutral point with respect to the supports. In underground mining applications, supports of aerated concrete in a hollow tube have been used to permit a support to yield axially in a controlled manner that prevents sudden collapse of an underground mine roof. Such supports yield axially as the aerated concrete within the product is crushed and maintains support of a load as it yields. An oak wood post having a length of 6.5 feet and a diameter of 6 inches will have a slenderness (height to width) ratio of 26. Such a post will have a maximum axial load capacity of about 16,000 lbs. For a post formed from spruce, the maximum safe axial load handling capability for a post that is 6.5 feet in length and 6 inches in diameter is about 13,600 pounds. In addition, when a wood post yields by kneeling or buckling, such yielding will result in catastrophic failure of the post in which the post can no longer support the load. Because of the obvious problem associated with such catastrophic failure of posts, various mine props have been developed in the art for supporting the roof of an underground mine. Such mine props have included, various configurations of wood beams encased in metal housings, and complex hydraulically controlled prop devices. Such props, however, do not allow for controlled axial yielding while preventing sideways buckling or kneeling in a simple, lightweight prop that can be hand carried by a user. U.S. Pat. No. 5,308,196 to Frederick discloses a prior art mine roof support comprising a container that is placed between the mine roof and the mine floor and filled with a load-bearing material. In instances where a support is compressed, whether due to seismic forces or geological forces, the support generally is incapable of rebounding when the load is reduced or removed. What is needed is a support that can compress under extreme loads and rebound to maintain contact with the load, and which satisfies one or more of these needs or provides other advantageous features. Other features and advantages will be made apparent from the present specification. The teachings disclosed extend to those embodiments that fall within the scope of the claims, regardless of whether they accomplish one or more of the aforementioned needs.

The embodiments described herein relate generally to an arc chute assembly for a circuit breaker, and more particularly, to methods and systems used to distribute gas pressure formed within a circuit breaker. The capability of circuit breakers for current-interruption can be dependent, in part, upon the ability to extinguish the arc that is generated when the breaker contacts open. Even though the contacts separate, current can continue to flow through the ionized gases formed by vaporization of the contacts and surrounding materials. Circuit breakers require expedient and efficient cooling of the arc to facilitate effective current interruption. Circuit breakers include sub-poles that are located in arc chutes. The arc chutes are configured to extinguish the arc that is produced when the breaker is tripped and the contacts of the breaker are rapidly opened. Typically, each arc chute is associated with a single phase, for example, one phase of a 3-phase power distribution system. Conventional arc chutes include a series of metallic plates that are configured in a spaced apart relationship and held in place by dielectric side panels. When the contacts of the breaker are opened, the resulting arc is driven to the metallic plates of the arc chute where the arc is then extinguished by the plates. The metallic plates increase the arc voltage in the circuit breaker to produce a current-limiting effect thereby providing downstream protection. Each sub-pole for the current path of the circuit breaker includes an arc chute. The sub-poles are electrically connected in parallel and separated inside the circuit breaker by a divider wall. Due to component variations, one sub-pole may experience a higher pressure than the other sub-pole when the breaker is tripped. While increasing the volume of gas generated during current-interruption and enhancing current flow aids in extinguishing the arc, the increased volume of gas increases pressure within the sub-poles, and therefore, on the arc chute and the circuit breaker housing. In some cases, the sub-pole that is exposed to the higher pressure may experience damage to the housing walls and the arc chute which may limit the current-interruption capability of the circuit breaker.

The present invention relates to an improvement in an agricultural implement such as, for example, a front attachment of an agricultural harvester and to a hat-like conveying element for the improved agricultural implement. For that matter, the invention is not limited to agricultural implements designed as front attachments. Agricultural implements are known from the prior art to comprise a first, central, and fixed implement section and multiple second implement sections which adjoin the first implement section on both sides thereof. The second implement sections are displaceable relative the first implement section. When the agricultural implement is a front attachment for an agricultural harvester, such as, for example, a maize front attachment for a forage harvester, the central first implement section is also referred to as the central trough and the displaceable second implement sections adjacent thereto are also referred to as arms. The invention is not limited to agricultural implements designed as front attachments. The agricultural implement also can be a tillage device or a haying machine such as, for example, a swather. EP 1 464 214 B1 makes known a harvester comprising a front attachment which has a central first implement section and two second implement sections on each of the two sides thereof. The inner second implement sections are each displaceable, with respect to the first implement section, about a pivot axis, wherein the outer second implement sections, which adjoin the inner second implement sections opposite the first implement section, are likewise displaceable about pivot axes with respect to the particular inner second implement section. The implement sections of the implement are displaceable with respect to one another between a working position and a transport position in such a way that the second implement sections adjacent to the fixed first implement section extend toward one another, in the transport position, so as to form an obtuse angle or in the manner of a roof. A further front attachment of an agricultural harvester is known from EP 2 111 740 B1. This front attachment also comprises a first, central, and fixed implement section and second implement sections which adjoin the first implement section on both sides thereof and are each displaceable, specifically in such a way that the inner second implement sections are each displaceable, with respect to the first implement section, about a pivot axis, and the outer second implement sections, which adjoin the particular inner second implement section opposite the first implement section, are each displaceable about a pivot axis relative to the particular inner second implement section. The implement sections are asymmetrically displaceable, specifically in such a way that, in the transport position, all the working implements are disposed in four layers which extend parallel to one another. It is known from the prior art that each implement section of such an agricultural implement comprises mowing mechanisms and/or conveying mechanisms. Mowing mechanisms are used for cutting and conveying the crop, whereas the conveying mechanisms are used exclusively for conveying crop which already has been cut. In the transport position of the implement, the mowing mechanisms and/or conveying mechanisms of implement sections, which are displaceable relative to one another, must not collide with one another. The dimensions of the mowing mechanisms and/or the conveying mechanisms are therefore limited in order to ensure a compact transport position.

Direct and indirect evidences of BDNF and NGF as key modulators in depression: role of antidepressants treatment. Depression is one of the most prevalent, recurrent and life-threatening mental illnesses. However, the precise mechanism underlying the disorder is not yet clearly understood. It is therefore, essential to identify the novel biomarkers which may help in the development of effective treatment. In this milieu, the profile of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) were considered as biomarkers in the light of pathophysiology of depression and its treatment. Previously, we have reported that BDNF level in the postmortem brain of suicide victims was significantly lower than those of normal controls. We also found decreased BDNF levels in the specific brain regions of the learned helplessness model of depression in rat, and was found to increase normal level following chronic fluoxetine hydrochloride treatment. NGF is another important member of neurotrophin, which is dysregulated in the pathophysiology of depression in some models of peripheral nerve damage and stress. The results shown evidences of the effect of antidepressants on modulating depression via the NGF in preclinical and clinical models of depression, but conflicted, therefore make it currently difficult to affirm the therapeutic role of antidepressants. Here, we review some of the preclinical and clinical studies aimed at disclosing the role of BDNF and NGF mediated pathophysiological mechanisms of depression and the new therapeutic approaches targeting those key molecules. In addition, an important link between BDNF, NGF and depression has been discussed in the light of current existing knowledge.

Increased serum heme oxygenase-1 levels as a diagnostic marker of oxidative stress in preeclampsia. To evaluate the utility of serum biomarkers in the diagnosis of preeclampsia (PE) and also investigate possible correlation with pathogenesis of PE. Maternal serum concentrations of heme oxygenase-1 (HO1) and N-myc downstream-regulated gene 1 (NDRG1) were measured at 27-34 weeks of gestation in a case-control study of 33 pregnant women diagnosed with PE and in 43 normotensive pregnant women without proteinuria. The Mann-Whitney U test and Spearman's correlation were used for statistical analysis. The median serum HO1 level was found to be significantly higher in the PE group [76.7 ng/ml (23.4-445.7)] than control group [55.9 ng/ml (3.7-354.3)] (p = 0.006). Positive correlation was found between HO1 levels with presence of PE (r = 0.316, p = 0.005). There was no significant difference in NDRG1 values between the two groups (p = 0.226). Serum HO1 levels were found to be increased in patients with PE compared with normotensive pregnant women.

In turbomachines such as steam turbines, stationary gas turbines or aircraft engines, different thermal expansions and the same relative movements may occur between two stator-side components which are in contact with each other, due to vibrations. A known component support between two stator-side components which are in contact with each other is outlined in FIG. 1. The components are outlined therein only as details and in highly simplified form. The one component 1 is a housing ring, which is oriented coaxially to a machine axis X running in the plane of the drawing. The second component is, for example, an intermediate turbine housing, which is also oriented coaxially to machine axis X and is supported on a support ring surface 6 of the first component via a plurality of bearing sections 2, 4 extending radially to the outside. To avoid tilting effects between bearing sections 2, 4 and support ring surface 6, a plurality of recesses 8, 10, 12 are introduced into support ring surface 6, which are overlapped by bearing sections 2, 4 with their side edge areas 14, 16. Recesses 8, 10, 12 are spaced evenly apart in the circumferential direction, and are each spaced apart over an uncontoured support ring surface section 18, 20 which accommodates bearing sections 2, 4. They are oriented radially to machine axis X and thus in the direction of movement of the intermediate turbine housing. Recesses 8, 10, 12 are each groove-like and have two steep side walls 22, 24, which are connected to each other via a flat base 26. Transition areas 28, 30 between side walls 22, 24 and support ring surface sections 18, 20 have a relatively sharp-edged design. Although tilting effects may be at least reduced with the aid of these groove-like recesses, the groove-like recesses nevertheless result in a change in the structural mechanics of the housing ring in the area of the support ring surface. In addition, stresses may be introduced into the housing ring when introducing the recesses. A turbomachine having an annular groove for accommodating a guide blade ring is illustrated in JP 5918213 A. The annular groove has a flat groove base and two steep side walls. Cavities are introduced into the transition areas between the side walls and the groove base.

[Factors associated with failure of endoscopic therapy in gastric ulcer bleeding]. Endoscopic therapy is an effective technique in the control of bleeding due to peptic ulcer. However, bleeding persists or recurs in as many as 10-30% of patients. Gastric and duodenal ulcers present different clinical and endoscopic features and consequently the efficacy of endoscopic therapy and the factors associated with its failure should be studied separately. To analyze the efficacy of endoscopic therapy in patients at high risk of persistent or recurrent bleeding due to gastric ulcer and to identify the factors associated with the failure of this technique. We performed a retrospective study based on a clinical intervention protocol. Two hundred eight patients admitted for bleeding secondary to gastric ulcer with active bleeding or stigmas of recent bleeding who received endoscopic therapy between January 1992 and December 2001 were analyzed. Clinical, laboratory and endoscopic variables on admission, as well as the medical treatment and endoscopic procedure applied, were registered. Endoscopy was performed within 12 hours of admission. Patients were classified according to their response to endoscopic therapy: a) patients with limited bleeding, and b) patients with persistent or recurrent bleeding due to therapeutic failure. Intervention in patients with therapeutic failure was performed according to a previously established protocol. Variables that were statistically significant in the univariate analysis were included in a logistic regression model to identify those with an independent predictive value for failure of endoscopic therapy. Definitive hemostasis was achieved after initial therapy in 181 patients (87%). The efficacy of a second procedure increased the percentage of hemostasis to 91% of the patients. In the logistic regression model, the only variables that were independently associated with initial therapeutic failure were: hemodynamic status on admission (p = 0.016; OR = 3.99), the need for transfusion of blood products prior to endoscopy (p = 0.025; OR = 3.48), upper localization of the gastric ulcer (p = 0.050; OR = 3.08) and unsatisfactory endoscopic therapy (p = 0.009; OR = 17.39). These variables could contribute to the early identification of a subgroup of patients, which would enable us to increase medical-surgical surveillance and offer them other therapeutic alternatives.

It is known to pack tea or other goods into bags which are infused with hot water for use. These bags typically are made up of a first ply of a porous material composed of is natural fibers and of a second ply composed of hot-melting polymeric fibers such as for example PP, PE or various interpolymers. This second ply serves to close the bag by heatsealing on high-speed packing machines. This bag material can be produced in known manner by a wet-laid process on a paper machine, by a dry-laid process on a webbing machine or by a melt-blown process by laydown of polymeric fibers on a support layer. The basis weight of the first ply of the material is generally in the range 8-40 g/m2 and preferably in the range 10-20 g/m2, the basis weight of the second polymeric fibrous ply is in the range 1-15 g/m2 and preferably in the range 1.5-10 g/m2. It is known that used filter bags are disposed of on a compost heap or via the biowaste bin. After a certain period, which depends on further parameters such as temperature, moisture, microorganisms, etc, the natural fiber component of the filter bag will have disintegrated and become biodegraded, whereas the thermoplastic polymeric fibrous network remains intact and compromises the quality of the compost. It is not practicable to separate the natural fiber component from the thermoplastic polymeric component; that is, the used filter bag ought to be put into the nonrecyclable waste (Gray Bin). EP-A-0 380 127 describes a heatsealable paper for tea bags which has a basis weight of 10-15 g/m2 and which for heatsealing has been provided with polymers such as PP, PE or an interpolymer and therefore is not biodegradable. is EP-A-0 656 224 describes a filter material especially for producing tea bags and coffee bags or filters having a basis weight between 8 and 40 g/m2, wherein the heatsealable ply consists of polymeric fibers, preferably of polypropylene or polyethylene, which is laid down in the soft state onto the first ply, which consists of natural fibers. JP-A-2001-131826 describes the production of biodegradable monofilaments from poly L lactide and the subsequent production therefrom of wholly synthetic woven tea bags by a dry-laid process. The German patent application DE-A 21 47 321 describes a thermoplastic heatsealable composition which consists of a polyolefin powder (polyethylene or polypropylene) which is embedded in a carrier matrix of vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer. This material is likewise used for conferring heatsealability on fiber material produced by a papermaking process. DE-A-197 19 807 describes a biodegradable heatsealable filter material of at least one ply of natural fibers and at least one second ply of heatsealable synthetic material which is biodegradable. This filter material is obtained by first applying an aqueous suspension of natural fibers to a paper machine wire and then depositing the heatsealable biodegradable polymeric fibers on the natural fiber layer in such a way that they are able to partly penetrate through the natural fiber layer. A tea filter bag, for example, produced from this filter material has a high particle retention potential. However, this is bought at the expense of reduced air permeability. Yet, high air permeability coupled with good particle retention is the ultimate objective for any good filter material. Prior art filter materials thus suffer from at least one of the following disadvantages: 1. The used filter materials such as for example tea bags, coffee bags or else other filters are frequently disposed of on a compost heap or in the biowaste bin. After a certain period, which depends on further parameters such as temperature, moisture, microorganisms, etc, the natural fiber component of the filter will have disintegrated and become biodegraded, whereas the thermoplastic polymeric fibrous network composed of polymeric fibers which do not biodegrade completely remains intact and is compromises the quality of the compost. And/or 2. The use of fully biodegradable polymeric materials known by prior art for tea bags and similar filter papers leads to the heatseal seams formed on a tea bag not withstanding a temperature of about 90-100° C. This is because the production of heatsealed filled tea bags on high-speed packing machines occurs at a cycle time of about 1 000 bags per minute. So-called heatsealing rolls generally seal the bag at a temperature of 150-230° C. in a cycle time of less than 1 second. In the course of these short cycle times, the heatsealing material has to melt, adhere together and immediately resolidify and crystallize in order that, in further transportation, the bag is already resealed and no contents may escape. As mentioned above, however, prior art materials do not meet the requirements of this operation.

Currently, the rise in use of VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) telephones has outpaced the ability of emergency telephone systems, such as 9-1-1, to handle these types of calls. First, because VoIP telephone calls do not originate from fixed physical locations in the same manner as landline telephone calls, it is difficult to ensure that the emergency call is sent to the appropriate local PSAP (Public Safety Access Point) responding to the location of the 9-1-1 call, such as the local police, local fire or local 9-1-1 emergency call center. Secondly, once a call is handled by a PSAP the use of VoIP telephone has further complicated the ability to detect the location of a caller when an emergency call is placed. For example, when a caller uses a VoIP telephone, the call is generally placed though the internet or other such packet switched network. Thus, when a dial string such as 9-1-1 is placed, the devices/routers handling the call do not have the capacity to properly determine the location of the caller to route the calls to a local PSAP through the internet. Although PSAP's may be able to handle incoming VoIP internet calls, the outgoing VoIP routers would not know which local PSAP to send them to, since the location of the VoIP caller is unknown. Furthermore, in standard landline telephone calls made to 9-1-1 or other similar emergency telephone numbers, the 9-1-1 call center is able to trace the physical location of the caller through a standard call trace since the location of the line is fixed. This is particularly useful when a caller is not able to give their location either because they do not know their location or they are physically unable to verbalize their location. Also, with cellular callers, GPS (Global Positioning System), other location systems, or cell tower triangulation can be used to physically locate an emergency caller. However, with VoIP telephones the call is connected to the destination telephone via the internet. This makes it difficult and/or impossible to easily trace the physical location of caller if they are unable to give the location on their own. This presents an added difficulty in directing emergency personal in the case of a 9-1-1 or other emergency call that is placed from a VoIP phone.

DESCRIPTION: The long-term goal of this revised research proposal is to determine the specific mechanisms by which progesterone mediates neuronal rescue and recovery of function in traumatic brain injury (TBI); the major cause of death in young adults under the age of 35. These findings will be employed in the evaluation of progesterone as a safe and effective treatment for TBI. Progesterone has recently been classified as a neurosteroid because it is also synthesized in astrocytes and oligodendrocytes in the brains of both males and female, where it may play other roles than that of a sex hormone. Previous research has already shown that systemic injection of progesterone in laboratory rats can reduce some of the neuropathological consequences of TBI and enhance behavioral recovery of function. Progesterone treatments reduce cerebral edema dramatically in both males and females when administered within 24 hours of the injury. This is one type of protective effect that can lead to reduced neuronal death and improved functional outcomes. The primary goal of the current proposal is to understand better the physiological mechanisms by which progesterone mediates its neuroprotective actions. We propose a series of 4 Aims using both in vitro and in vivo models of neural injury to determine: (1) if progesterone exerts its effects via its specific receptors. This will be studied by co-administering the hormone with ORG31710, a known progesterone receptor antagonist, or substituting progesterone with an agonist that cannot be metabolized (R5020) in both in vivo and in vitro models of TBI; (2) if, in an in vitro model of injury, progesterone's short-term neuroprotective effects are mediated specifically via sigma receptors; (3) if progesterone will prevent loss of mitochondrial function by reducing oxidative stress initiated in both in vivo and in vitro models of TBI; and (4) if progesterone will reduce the destructive aspects of the inflammatory immune reaction that occurs after TBI. The combination of in vivo and in vitro models will provide parallel evaluation of the mechanisms of progesterone's action. The research proposed here will help to determine whether progesterone can be used as a low-cost, safe and effective therapeutic agent in the acute stages of CNS injury. Furthermore, the detailed assessment of progesterone's mechanisms of action will provide a foundation for the intelligent design of artificial therapeutic pharmaceuticals.

To minimise security risks, the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) has decided to use 3D hologram technology for its chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari's appearances at rallies, The Express Tribune learnt on Tuesday.The party’s technology experts have successfully tested the 3D hologram system in mock sessions. Bilawal will use the technology to simultaneously address party activists and supporters in different cities of the country next Sunday.After the assassination of former premier Benazir Bhutto at a public rally in 2007, Bilawal’s security, especially in Punjab, has remained the prime concern for his family and the party.In his recent public appearances in Lahore and other cities of Punjab, policemen and guards from Sindh were seen accompanying the PPP chief.They were deployed at the Bilawal House, Lahore and in his cavalcade.During last year’s PPP foundation day celebrations, several party leaders had indicated that functions at Bilawal House, Lahore were limited over security concerns.Bilawal himself has also expressed concerns over the Punjab government's arrangements for his security.Political pundits believe the appearance of "Bhutto" at rallies is necessary for the revival of the PPP in Punjab and other parts of the country.They say that the PPP's campaign for the 2018 general elections will not make a major difference if Bilawal is not physically present at rallies to interact with the public.PPP Central Secretary Information Chaudhry Manzoor Ahmad confirmed that the party would use the technology for small public gatherings of 2,500 or 3,000 people.However, he maintained that the party did not intend to use it for bigger rallies."Everywhere in the world, politicians ad business leaders are using such technologies for mass communication," he explained."It will help the PPP chairman in disseminating his message more efficiently and effectively," he added."With the help of this system, a life-size 3D hologram image of Bilawal can be broadcast right in front of the people."PPP leader Ali Qasim Gillani said the party was also planning to arrange meetings with media personnel in Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad and other cities of the country for a demonstration of its hologram technology.

Using a creative teaching process with adult patients. Because the patient or caregiver must manage healthcare needs after the nurse has left the home, patient education is an important component to home health nursing (Rice, 1996). Fortunately, patient teaching is ideal for home healthcare. To make the most of the home learning environment with adult patients, the nurse must assess, design, develop, implement, and evaluate an individualized patient teaching plan. Throughout the ADDIE process, the nurse manipulates and integrates the home environment to maximize the possibility that the patient will accept, remember, and apply the information presented. Taking into account how adults learn, the nurse provides relevant problems and situations for the patient to practice newly acquired knowledge and skills. The instruction presents learners with alternatives to their current ways of thinking, behaving, and living (Brookfield, 1986). Given the information and the tools needed to regain a sense of control and experience life safely, within their abilities of medical illness or injury, informed adult patients are likely to experience fewer complications and enhanced self-esteem. For pertinent, timely, and personal healthcare instruction, there is no place quite like home.

This book covers the long history, from its origins through to the present day, of the historic Italian manufacturer Beta Motorcycles, active in the two-wheeled world for over 100 years, presenting previously unpublished material. A particularly versatile firm, over the decades Beta Motorcycles has proved capable of diversifying its products – building all kinds of motorcycle – and satisfying the mutating demands of its clientele. The Florentine marque built its own two- and four-stroke engines in-house, but has always been open to joint ventures with other European or Japanese firms.Founded as a bicycle manufacturer, Beta Motorcycles moved into the moped market in the 1960s, off-road motorcycles in the late 1970s, enduro models in the following decade and then scooters, for over 20 years, not to mentions the Trial sector in which it conquered eight World Championship titles. In more recent years the company has returned to the “classic” Motocross and Enduro categories and in 2016 collected a further two world titles, including the Constructors’ Championship. The book features a comprehensive catalogue of every model and every engine produced by Beta Motorcycles during the course of over a century.

Children and core-periphery differences. This study examines the differences between children's (0-15 yr of age) use of primary care services in core and peripheral municipalities in Uusimaa province in southern Finland following the implementation of the Primary Health Care Act (1972). In the ecological study (municipality-based), children's total use of primary health care services during 1973-1979 was continuously lower in peripheral municipalities than in core areas in spite of the Primary Health Care Act, the express purpose of which was to reduce regional differences. Some equalization of utilization of private practitioners occurred during this period. The individual-based study material collected in 1979 enabled us to control for the influences of (1) distance to the core of the municipality, (2) age of the child, (3) socio-economic status of the family, (4) type of visit and (5) diagnosis. These factors somewhat modified the influence of the core/periphery dichotomy, but the overall picture that children in the core use more primary health care services remained the same. This suggest that health care policy should be quite specific and based on detailed regional analysis, if equalization between core and peripheral municipalities is to be achieved.

In some navigation systems, the current position of a vehicle can be accurately estimated by updating a previous position of the vehicle, which is detected using radio signals from global positioning system (GPS) satellites, based on the travel distance and the direction of the vehicle obtained by a speed sensor and a gyro sensor. However, in a situation where radio signals from GPS satellites cannot be received, the position estimated by autonomous navigation deviates from the actual position and the accuracy of the estimated position decreases gradually as time passes. To cope with this problem, various methods for correcting a vehicle position estimated by autonomous navigation have been proposed. For example, in a map matching method, a position estimated by autonomous navigation is corrected by using map data of a navigation system. According to a map matching method, positions of a vehicle estimated by autonomous navigation are mapped onto positions in map data, which are represented by nodes (e.g. intersections) and links (e.g. roads) connecting the nodes, so that the estimated traveling path of the vehicle matches actual roads. However, generally, map data are not accurate enough to obtain satisfactory results by a map matching method. A method disclosed in patent document 1 tries to solve this problem. In the disclosed method, the position and direction of a vehicle estimated by autonomous navigation are corrected by selecting from map data a road having a position and a direction closest to the estimated position and direction and by mapping the estimated position and direction onto those of the selected road. [Patent document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-213979

In any fluid flow control valve, control of fluid flow through the valve is achieved by moving a valve sealing element between open and closed positions. Mechanically activated valves have a full range of flow control capability from simple on-off or shutoff valves to precision flow control. Mechanically activated valves, however, have a number of points of contact between moving parts, resulting in friction that causes wear and eventual breakdown. Greater flow control is generally achieved only at the cost of a more complicated mechanical interface with more points of friction and wear. Various types of magnetically activated valves are known (See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,509,439), including mechanical valves adapted for operation by means of a magnetic driver, and other types, such as solenoid valves wherein the solenoid core shaft is also the valve sealing element (See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,575,309). These valves have a problem of mechanical bearing of a core shaft, with resultant friction and wear. Such valves generally only work as shutoff valves, with no possibility of more precise fluid flow control. U.S. Pat. No. 5,527,295 discloses a gravitational, magnetic, floating ball valve for use in the medical field as a protective fluid cut-off valve for infusion devices. The valve includes a hollow ball containing a magnet, which is arranged inside a vertical tube disposed in registration with an outlet. A second magnet is also disposed in vertical registration with the magnet. The magnet-containing valve is magnetically attracted towards the second magnet as the level of liquid in the infusion device decreases, sealing the outlet once the level of liquid in the infusion device drops to a predefined level.

Cushioning materials have a variety of uses, such as for mattresses, seating surfaces, shoe inserts, packaging, medical devices, etc. Cushioning materials may be formulated and/or configured to reduce peak pressure on a cushioned body, which may increase comfort for humans or animals, and may protect objects from damage. Cushioning materials may be formed of materials that deflect or deform under load, such as polyethylene or polyurethane foams (e.g., convoluted foam), vinyl, rubber, springs, natural or synthetic fibers, fluid-filled flexible containers, etc. Different cushioning materials may have different responses to a given pressure, and some materials may be well suited to different applications. Cushioning materials may be used in combination with one another to achieve selected properties. U.S. Pat. No. 7,730,566, issued Jun. 8, 2010, and entitled Multi-Walled Gelastic Material, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference, describes cushion structures having interconnected walls that buckle. A first wall buckles when a threshold force is applied. Buckling of the first wall may cause buckling of a second wall, which may decrease the chance that the first wall will “bottom out.” Bottoming out would increase pressure on the portion of the cushioned object over the buckled portion of the cushion. One side of the cushion has walls spaced relatively close together, and the opposite side has walls spaced farther apart. That is, some walls of the cushion extend only partially through the cushion. The wider-spaced portions of the walls may buckle more easily than the closer-spaced portions of the walls when an irregularly shaped object presses against the walls.

This invention relates to the wafer handling, and particularly to the transfer and holding, of semiconductor wafer substrates during semiconductor manufacture, more particularly, wafers of diameters of 200 millimeters (mm) and larger. In the semiconductor industry, many companies manufacture equipment to process semiconductor wafers, particularly silicon wafers, for device production. Semiconductor wafer processing equipment employs automated and robotic wafer handlers for moving the wafers through the processing equipment and for holding the wafers for processing. Wafer handlers in the industry typically involve the use of a vacuum chuck that includes a vacuum-type spatula or end effector on a robotic arm, which makes contact with the backside of the wafer. With the more versatile handlers, contact with the wafer is made by the vacuum chuck in a circular area at the center of the wafer. One such wafer handling system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,820,329, hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein. Such wafer handling is typical in many wafer processing machines for the processing of the device sides of the wafers. In semiconductor manufacture, when processing of the device side of a wafer is complete, a backside metallization layer is sometimes applied. For some devices, the metallization layer is often gold. Backside metallization with gold, and wafer holders for such processes, is described in the commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,258,228, filed Jan. 8, 1999, and hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein. For backside metallization, similar processing equipment is used as is used to process the device sides of wafers, but the wafer orientation is reversed. Reversal of the orientation of a partially processed wafer would expose the devices at the center of the wafer to contact by the vacuum chuck of the wafer transfer arm. The devices usually cannot be subjected to such contact without suffering damage. For this reason, vacuum chucks have been developed to grip the wafer along a 6 mm ring inside of the edge of the wafer. As a result, a 6 mm ring at the edge of the wafer is reserved as an exclusion zone in which the wafer cannot be used for device manufacture. The 6 mm ring of exclusion is needed to provide a surface area that is enough to enable a vacuum chuck to reliably hold the wafer in the vertical, horizontal and inverted orientations that are required of a handler. Typically, for a wafer of 200 mm in diameter, a 6 mm contact area on the wafer engaged by elements of the wafer handler along the edge of the wafer, amounts to an area of over 36 square centimeters or twelve percent of the area of the wafer. A need has been expressed in the industry for the contact areas between the wafers and the wafer handlers to be reduced, preferably to not more than two mm around the edge of a 200 mm or 300 mm wafer. A two mm exclusion zone contains an area of only about 12 square centimeters on a 200 mm wafer and 18 square centimeters on a 300 mm wafer. This need has not been filled in the prior art. Wafer handlers operate and are controlled in conjunction with the operation and control of the machines of which they are a part or with which they interact. Fundamental changes in the nature and operation of wafer handlers, if made, may be incompatible with, and can adversely affect, the operation and control of the semiconductor processing machines. Unless wafer handler changes are accompanied by replacement or redesign of the machines (e.g. via a kit), impact on operating software and on system operation can occur. These contact areas typically prevent use of the portion of the wafer bounded by the contacted area for device manufacture, limiting the per-wafer device yield. As pattern geometries become smaller and demands for higher per-wafer yield become greater, the need for increased useful area of the wafer becomes greater. Accordingly, there is a need for a wafer handler and a wafer handling technique that provides for a smaller contact area or exclusion zone where contact with the wafer is allowed. There is also a need for such improved wafer handling in a way that does not impact upon the operating software and systems operation of the machines with which such an improved handler or handling technique is used. A primary objective of the present invention is to provide for the engaging and transfer of a semiconductor wafer for backside processing while making minimal contact with the device side of the wafer. A particular objective of the invention is to provide for the engagement and transfer of a semiconductor wafer while contacting the wafer in a zone of exclusion adjacent the periphery of the wafer, and more particularly, where the zone of exclusion is not more than two mm wide. A further objective of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for the holding and transfer of wafers that is capable of holding and transferring wafers of differing sizes, particularly of diameters of 200 mm and 300 mm, and that is capable among wafers of differing sizes. Another objective of the invention is to provide a wafer holding and transferring system that provides for reduced device side contact for the backside processing of wafers that is compatible with, and can be retrofitted to, processing machines of the prior art that do not otherwise have such capability. A more particular objective of the invention is to provide for the retrofit of such a system to an existing processing machine with minimal impact on the hardware of the processing machine and with little or no impact on the operating software of the processing machine. According to the principles of the present invention, a wafer handling system is provided having a wafer transfer arm chuck, a centering station chuck and a load arm chuck which can hold and exchange wafers between chucks, wafer cassettes and processing machine wafer holders while contacting a reduced area on the surface of the wafer, and which is capable of contacting only an exclusion zone of preferably not more than approximately two mm in width adjacent the periphery of the wafer on the device side of the wafer during backside processing. In certain embodiments, the wafer chucks of the transfer arm and load arm have beveled edge rings or edge ring segments that are of a diameter larger than the diameter of the wafer. The beveled edge rings insure that only a narrow exclusion zone on the edge of the wafer comes into contact with surfaces on the chucks that support the wafer. For some applications, the centering station chuck may also be provided with such a beveled edge ring. In certain embodiments, an end effector chuck is provided on the transfer arm. The end effector is of multiple piece construction to achieve greater flatness, uses an internal vacuum channel to determine wafer presence and has ceramic outriggers that are adjustable to accommodate wafers of differing diameter, for example, diameters of 200 mm and 300 mm. The centering station chuck corrects wafer flat and crystal orientation of the wafer and wafer centering. The chuck is preferably of multiple piece construction and uses a vacuum channel to sense the presence of the wafer and optical sensors to sense the wafer flat orientation as the chuck rotates the wafer. The surface of the centering station chuck has recesses such as clearance grooves to allow the outriggers of the end effector to successfully place or remove a wafer within an acceptable window of the chuck orientation relative to a home position. The load arm chuck is in some respects similar to the centering station chuck in the way that it interacts with the transfer arm chuck but does not rotate to alter the orientation of the wafer. It uses a vacuum channel to determine wafer presence. The load arm has pivotal wafer edge hooks or gripper elements that grip the edge of the wafer within the exclusion zone. The gripper elements are pneumatically operated by electro-pneumatic actuators that can be responsive to the same electrical control signals that operate the vacuum controls as were the vacuum chucks of previous load arms. The gripper elements of the load arm chucks are actuated in response to the motion of the robot transfer arm in relation to the load arm or the load arm in relation to the wafer holder of the processing machine. The gripper elements may be pivotal gripper hooks, or in lieu of the pivotal gripper hooks, may be other types of wafer holding devices such rotary latches, similar to those having pivotal rollers or non-contact tabs of the described prior art, which can be rotated over the edge of the wafer to latch the wafer to the load arm chuck. The gripper elements allow the load arm to hold the wafer in a vertical orientation or facing downwardly and while being held in or moved through some other or different orientations. In certain embodiments of the invention, a vacuum chuck equipped system is retrofitted with mechanical wafer engaging chucks, particularly replacing the vacuum chucks on a transfer arm end effector, a wafer centering or aligning station and a wafer load arm. In such a system, the transfer arm may be operable to pick up and move horizontally disposed wafers, transferring them to and from wafer cassettes, the centering or aligning station and the load arm. Also, the chuck at the centering and aligning station may be operable to receive a wafer from the transfer arm, to orient and align the wafer and to return the wafer to a centered and oriented position on the transfer arm, also in a horizontal orientation. Additionally, the load arm chucks may be operable to move a wafer between the transfer arm chuck and a wafer holder of the wafer processing machine, or exchange one wafer with another, reorienting the wafers between a horizontal orientation on the transfer arm and a vertical orientation in the wafer holder of the processing machine. Wafers are held at least in part by gravity on the horizontally disposed, upwardly facing chucks of the transfer arm and aligning station and are held in part by gravity on the load arm chucks when they are horizontally disposed and upwardly facing during transfer of the wafers to and from the transfer arm, and by positive wafer edge gripper hooks, when being moved in other orientations. In certain embodiments of the invention, the controls of the wafer handling system are compatible with the controls of the vacuum chuck equipped, prior art machine so that the system can be retrofitted thereto without substantial hardware changes and without modification to the control software of the machine. Vacuum chuck control lines are used to sense the presence of wafers on the chucks. Gripper operating pneumatic cylinders are operated by electro-pneumatic solenoids that are controlled by electrical software vacuum command signals that were provided for vacuum chuck operation. Embodiments of the present invention may be provided in the form of a retrofit kit that includes the three chuck assemblies configured to replace vacuum chucks of the transfer arm, aligning station and load arm of existing processing machines. The method and apparatus of the present invention provides the advantage of increasing the useful area of a wafer by approximately four percent, or from 88% to 96% of the area of the wafer, reducing by two-thirds the exclusion zone or unusable area of the wafer, and providing, on average, similar increases in the number of devices produced per wafer, thereby improving the productivity of the semiconductor making processes and machinery. These and other objectives and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description.

The present invention concerns a device for closing a valve comprising an interior housing with an access opening for inserting or removing the probe of a measurement or detection apparatus, for example, a temperature measurement probe, without the need of disassembling either the closing device or the valve, while permitting the valve to remain closed. Although not limited in scope to such use, the closing device of the invention is preferably intended for a drainage valve of a reactor, a storage vat, a column, or other container. In order to control a chemical reaction, it is often essential to measure the temperature of the reactive environment inside the reactor. Not only does this information make it possible to retroactively adjust the means for heating or cooling the reactor to attain or maintain the desired temperature, but it also ensures that the chemical reaction is proceeding properly. In practice, a sharp rise in temperature often signifies that the reaction has gone awry, and quick detection of such a situation may be critical for the safety of employees, equipment, and the environment. For this reason, reactors or other chemical containers are often equipped with a device for measuring the temperature of their contents. In order to avoid problems with seals, construction and cost in conventional temperature measurement systems that use a penetrating probe surrounded by a thermometric casing placed in a supplemental tube in the reactor, the prior art has proposed a more satisfactory measurement device using a contact measurement probe. With this device the temperature probe is maintained in contact with a locally thinned area of the reactor wall and it measures content temperature through the wall. This eliminates the need to form an opening extending into the core of the reactor. In a conventional system, this contact temperature probe is often placed at the level of the reactor drainage valve. Therefore, it is mounted inside the closing device on the drainage valve, said device being movable between an upper position and a lower position corresponding to the opening and closing the valve, respectively. The probe may be integrated with the interior of the blocking head of the closing device near its upper wall during construction, or it may be housed within a hollow interior portion in the blocking head against the internal surface of its upper wall. The conductive wires, connecting the probe to the measurement device, generally pass through the shaft of the closing device. This location confers the following advantages: First, it uses a previously existing opening in the reactor. Thus, no costly reactor modifications are necessary. Only the valve closing device needs to be adapted, which is far less expensive. Second, since the drainage valve constitutes the lowest point on the container, the probe is always surrounded by liquid, whatever the level of liquid in the container. It is located in an area far away from thermal surface flux and in a place where the reactive environment is homogeneous, since it is generally well mixed by an agitator. Moreover, since the blocking head extends slightly inside the reactor, the temperature being measured is not artificially raised or lowered by proximity to the outside environment or the double wall sometimes used. Thus, the temperature that is measured is representative of the temperature of the entire reactor contents. Due to the development of ISO-type quality controls, these temperature probes must meet new requirements. They must be adjusted regularly, requiring removal from their operating position inside the reactor. In prior art systems, this frequent removal is problematic. In order to remove the probe from its placement, it is actually necessary to completely disassemble the drainage valve in order to remove the closing device surrounding the probe. Obviously, the reactor must be completely emptied prior to performing these operations. For this reason, a simple recalibration of the temperature measurement probe becomes synonymous with one to two days of lost productivity while the reactor is completely emptied and cleaned, the drainage valve and its seal are removed, as well as the measurement probe, all in compliance with safety standards; next, the probe must be recalibrated, the various elements reattached, and the reactor refilled, before production can resume. For these reasons, a simple, routine operation becomes extremely costly and unprofitable to the industry. The goal of the present invention is to offer ready access from the exterior to the temperature measurement probe positioned inside the movable closing device on the drainage valve, and to quickly and easily remove and reposition it without detaching the valve and the seal and without interfering with the progress of the reaction inside the reactor. To resolve this technical problem, the principle of the invention consists of providing a valve closing device, particularly for a drainage valve, with an interior housing designed to hold the probe or the detector of a measurement or detection apparatus, having an opening located on a portion of the closing device that is accessible when it is in the operating position inside the valve, providing access to the interior housing, and allowing insertion or removal of the probe or the detector without having previously detached the valve or its closing device. A contact temperature measurement probe with a flexible shaft can thus be easily introduced into the interior housing of the closing device of the invention through this access opening, until it contacts the upper wall of the blocking head of the closing device, which is preferably a thinner portion, through which it measures the temperature of the reactive environment. In the same way, it can be simply and quickly withdrawn for if, for example, replacement, adjustment or calibration is required, with no effect on the reactor""s contents and without any need to detach or re-attach the valve or its closing device. The device of the invention is, therefore, especially advantageous because it saves valuable time but still uses a conventional temperature measuring contact probe located within the closing mechanism of the drainage valve. The closing device of the invention is easily manufactured and scarcely more expensive than prior art closing devices. It can be attached to any type of valve, either a drainage valve or some other type, and used on any type of reactor, columns, storage vats, containers or the like. Furthermore, most types of existing measurement or detection contact probes may be easily adapted to it.

Intracranial hemorrhage occurs commonly in very-low-birthweight babies, and may account for many of the developmental handicaps seen in graduates of neonatal intensive care units. The goal of this case-control study of germinal matrix hemorrhage in very-low-birthweight babies is to identify exposures and characteristics (of the babies and their mothers) which if eliminated or modified might result in a reduction in the occurence of this disorder. Subjects will have been admitted to the neonatal intensive care units at Children's Hospital, the Brigham and Women's Hospital, and the Beth Israel Hospital, weigh less than 1.75 kilograms at birth, and had an ultrasonogram. Cases for each study will have documented evidence if germinal matrix hemorrhage. Controls will have sonographic evidence that they do not have germical matrix hemorrhage. Data about antenatal risk factors will be obtained from interviews of mothers and review of obstetricians' office records. Information about perinatal variables will be obtained from detailed review if delivery and neonatal intensive care unit charts. Data analysis will incluse multivariate techniques, some of which employ models with variables entered in a temporal sequence) i.e., antenatal, then delivery variables, then postnatal variables in theorder in which they occurred). Many of the hypotheses to be tested, especially those about antenatal risk factors have been generated in studies of hemorrhages on babies who died. This proposal is unique in emphasizing antenatal factors and in routinely obtaining detailed information from mothers, usually before the existence or absence if a hemorrhage has been established.

Loss of patients in clinical trials that measure long-term survival following myocardial infarction. Loss of patients from clinical trials can nullify adequate randomization if the loss is unequally distributed among treatment groups. This study was designed to assess the magnitude of the problem in randomized control trials evaluating long-term therapy for survivors of myocardial infarction (MI). Only 19 of 52 trials reported having an explicit policy on withdrawals in the design stage; only 2 reported blinding the decision for withdrawal and only 7 reported accounting for withdrawals in sizing. In addition, only 16 gave the reader enough information to calculate the effect of withdrawals on trial results. In 2 of these 16 trials a p less than 0.05 result obtained by including withdrawals (intention to treat method) was reduced to p less than 0.05 when withdrawals were excluded. It is evident that many long-term trials do not contain adequate data on withdrawals. Readers of published trials are seldom able to judge whether or not withdrawals might affect the final results.

Feasibility, acceptability and preliminary psychological benefits of mindfulness meditation training in a sample of men diagnosed with prostate cancer on active surveillance: results from a randomized controlled pilot trial. In a pilot randomized controlled trial, examine the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of an 8-week, mindfulness training program (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction) in a sample of men on active surveillance on important psychological outcomes including prostate cancer anxiety, uncertainty intolerance and posttraumatic growth. Men were randomized to either mindfulness (n = 24) or an attention control arm (n = 19) and completed self-reported measures of prostate cancer anxiety, uncertainty intolerance, global quality of life, mindfulness and posttraumatic growth at baseline, 8 weeks, 6 months and 12 months. Participants in the mindfulness arm demonstrated significant decreases in prostate cancer anxiety and uncertainty intolerance, and significant increases in mindfulness, global mental health and posttraumatic growth. Participants in the control condition also demonstrated significant increases in mindfulness over time. Longitudinal increases in posttraumatic growth were significantly larger in the mindfulness arm than they were in the control arm. While mindfulness training was found to be generally feasible and acceptable among participants who enrolled in the 8-week intervention as determined by completion rates and open-ended survey responses, the response rate between initial enrollment and the total number of men approached was lower than desired (47%). While larger sample sizes are necessary to examine the efficacy of mindfulness training on important psychological outcomes, in this pilot study posttraumatic growth was shown to significantly increase over time for men in the treatment group. Mindfulness training has the potential to help men cope more effectively with some of the stressors and uncertainties associated with active surveillance. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Evaluation of the safety, effectiveness, and health-related QOL impact of early rehabilitation in patients with nephrotic syndrome. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety, effectiveness, and health-related QOL impact of early rehabilitation in patients with nephrotic syndrome. Subjects consisted of 23 patients with nephrotic syndrome who had previously received steroid treatment. Patients worked performed quadriceps resistance training and aerobic training 5 days per week for 5 weeks. Urinary protein, albumin (Alb), creatinine (Cre), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were monitored once every week over a 5-week period based on medical records. The 36-item short form health survey (SF-36) score was used to evaluate health-related QOL. There was no significant difference in quadriceps force and no significant effect of age as shown by ANCOVA. Anaerobic threshold (AT) and peak oxygen consumption (peak VO2) both increased significantly. AT was affected by the degree of change in body weight according to ANCOVA. Cre and BUN were not significantly altered. Urinary protein showed a significant decrease and Alb was significantly increased. Only physical function (PF) in the SF-36 showed a significant improvement following the intervention. Our data indicate that early rehabilitation involving quadriceps resistance training and aerobic training for nephrotic syndrome is safe and effective.

Reasons for hospitalisation at the end of life: differences between cancer and non-cancer patients. Many patients are hospitalised during the final phase of life, even though most prefer to receive care at home until the end. This study aimed to explore the reasons and characteristics of hospitalisation in the final 3 months of life for patients who died non-suddenly, with a comparison between cancer patients and non-cancer patients. This study used a nationwide retrospective cross-sectional survey among Dutch general practitioners. Of the 317 hospitalised patients, 65 % had cancer. Most common reasons for hospitalisation in the final 3 months of life were respiratory symptoms (31 %), digestive symptoms (17 %), and cardiovascular symptoms (17 %). Seventy-three percent of patients experienced an acute episode before hospitalisation, and for 46 % of patients, their own GP initiated the hospitalisation. Compared to non-cancer patients, cancer patients were significantly more likely to be aged less than 80 (81 versus 46 %), were more likely to be hospitalised because of digestive symptoms (22 versus 7 %), were less likely to have a curative treatment goal before the last hospitalisation (6 versus 22 %) and were less likely to die in hospital (22 versus 49 %). Respiratory problems were the most common reasons for hospitalisation in the group of patients as a whole. Digestive problems were a frequent reason for hospitalisation in cancer patients and cardiovascular symptoms in non-cancer patients. Hospitalisation can therefore be anticipated by monitoring these relatively common symptoms. Also, timely communication with the patient is recommended about their preferences for hospital or home treatment in the case of an acute episode.

It is often necessary, or at least desirable, to concentrate a liquid mixture by removing a portion of the solvent, generally water, from the liquid mixture. The resulting product, therefore, is in a more concentrated form. It has been common to concentrate radioactive waste (rad waste), cooling tower blow down waste water, fruit and vegetable juices such as orange juice, grapefruit juice, grape juice, and tomato juice by evaporation to remove water. In addition, seawater and brackish water have been concentrated by evaporation, although the condensed vapor has been recovered as usable potable water rather than discarded as in concentrating fruit and vegetable juices. Nevertheless, each is a concentrating process. In the case of juice, the concentrate is the desirable product whereas in obtaining potable water from seawater or brackish water the concentrate is discarded. Evaporative concentration as described, as well as evaporation of chemical solutions or liquid dispersions, requires substantial energy since it relies on the latent heat of vaporization. Scaling of equipment and enhanced corrosion are often inherent at the temperatures involved in evaporative concentration. Loss of flavor and aroma also result during evaporative concentration of food products. Because of the shortcomings involved in evaporative concentration, it has been found advantageous to freeze concentrate many products, particularly those having water as the liquid carrier. In such a process, water is removed by first producing ice crystals which are then separated from the concentrate. Next, the ice crystals are washed to remove the remaining concentrate from them. The ice crystals can then be discarded or melted if potable water is desired. Engdahl U.S. Pat. No. 4,314,455 discloses a freeze concentration apparatus and process. In FIG. 2 of that patent a two stage freeze concentration system is disclosed. The aqueous mixture which is separated from the ice formed in the process is recirculated to the freeze exchanger. The mixture of ice and water exiting the freeze exchanger is very dilute in ice concentration so that it is very desirable to increase the solids concentration before it is sent to an ice washer. Apparatus and methods suitable for such concentration do not appear available in the art even though a need exists for them not only to concentrate ice in water but to concentrate any solids from a liquid having a relatively different density than the solids i.e., the solids can be more dense or less dense than the liquid.

Effect of superficial harrowing on surface properties of sand with rubber and waxed-sand with fibre riding arena surfaces: a preliminary study. A recent epidemiological study identified various aspects of arena surfaces and arena surface maintenance that were related to risk of injury in horses and that arena maintenance is important in reducing injury risk. However, there has been little research into how properties of arena surfaces change with harrowing. This study aimed to compare the properties of different arena surface types pre- and post-harrowing. The Orono Biomechanical Surface Tester fitted with accelerometers and a single- and a three-axis load cell was used to test 11 arenas with two different surfaces types, sand with rubber (SR) and waxed-sand with fibre (WSF). Three drop tests were carried out at 10 standardised locations on each arena. Mixed models were created to assess the effect of surface type, pre- or post-harrowing, and drop number on the properties of the surface, including maximum horizontal deceleration, maximum vertical deceleration, maximum vertical load and maximum horizontal load. Post-harrowing, none of the parameters were altered significantly on SR. On WSF, maximum vertical deceleration and maximum vertical load significantly decreased post-harrowing. The differences in the effects of superficial harrowing on SR and WSF could be attributed to the different compositions and sizes of the surface material. The results suggest that different maintenance techniques may be more suitable for different surface types and that the effects of superficial harrowing are short-lived due to the rapid re-compaction of the surface with repeated drops on WSF. Further work is required to determine the effects of other maintenance techniques, and on other surface types.

Zirconium—cerium-based mixed oxides as promoters or catalyst supports are generally known to perform better than zirconia or ceria alone. A number of processes have been proposed for the preparation of such zirconium—cerium-based oxides: for example, a sol process which comprises mixing zirconium sol and cerium sol, adding alkali to the mixed sols to form precipitates, and calcining the precipitates [Japan Kokai Tokkyo Koho Hei 6-279,027 (1994)]; a process which comprises heating the particles of zirconium hydroxide with cerium sol in the presence of nitric acid to effect dissolution and reprecipitation, adding alkali, allowing the mixture to react further, and calcining the product followed by pulverising [Japan Kokai Tokkyo Koho Hei 10-194,742 (1998)]; and a process which comprises adding oxalic acid to an aqueous solution of acidic salts of zirconium and cerium to precipitate zirconium—cerium oxalate, thermally decomposing the resulting oxalate in a non-oxidising atmosphere and then heating the decomposed product in an oxidising atmosphere [Japan Kokai Tokkyo Koho Hei 11-165,067 (1999)]. The sol process has an advantage of yielding zirconium—cerium-based mixed oxides with a relatively large specific surface area, but it faces problems such as the necessity for advance preparation of sol which is a disadvantage in respect to cost and the dried and calcined product being hard and easy to aggregate. The process which involves heating in the presence of nitric acid is advantageous in that the use of the particles of zirconium hydroxide keeps the product from aggregating and solidifying. However, a single crystal phase becomes difficult to obtain and the range of composition which can be prepared becomes narrow when the amount of CeO2 is increased relative to that of ZrO2. The process involving thermal decomposition of the oxalate has an advantage of readily yielding zirconium—cerium-based mixed oxides of single crystal phase because of the formation of the oxalate by coprecipitation. This process, however, requires a heat treatment at elevated temperatures in order to conduct the thermal decomposition sufficiently which causes problems such as a decrease in specific surface area and an increase in calcining cost. Japan Kokai Tokkyo Koho Hei 10-212,122 (1998) proposes fine zirconia-ceria particles and a process for preparing the same: the ZrO2 particles by themselves are primary particles with a BET specific surface area of 40-200 m2/g, an average particle diameter determined by electron microscopy of 0.1 μm or less and a ratio of the average particle diameter determined by electron microscopy to the average particle diameter determined from BET specific surface area of 0.9 or more and the molar ratio CeO2/ZrO2 is 5/95-60/40; the fine zirconia-ceria particles show high oxygen supply efficiency in exhaust gas, adsorb or release oxygen well at low exhaust gas temperatures and can be mixed homogeneously with three-way catalysts for purifying automotive exhaust gas. The process of preparation described in the specification of the aforementioned patent, however, requires a long period of boiling, occasionally extending over several hundred hours, to effect the hydrolysis of an aqueous solution of zirconium salt to hydrated zirconia sol with an average particle diameter of 0.1 μm or less. Moreover, the hydrated zirconia sol thus obtained is too fine to permit the application of usual industrial procedures for solid-liquid separation such as filtration under reduced pressure, filtration under pressure and centrifugal separation. In consequence, a troublesome procedure such as sedimentation and separation of supernatant liquid would be required in the steps for filtration and water washing of the hydrated zirconia sol. An operation such as aggregation, if carried out during these steps, causes a sharp decrease in specific surface area. Furthermore, the specific surface area tends to diminish rapidly when calcination is effected at an elevated temperature close to the working temperature. A process for efficiently preparing thermally durable zirconium—cerium-based mixed oxides is proposed in Japan Kokai Tokkyo Koho Hei 11-292,539 (1999): the process comprises dispersing basic zirconium sulphate in water, mixing the dispersion with a solution containing cerium ions such as a solution of cerium nitrate, adding alkali to the mixture to yield hydroxides, effecting solid-liquid separation of the hydroxides and calcining the hydroxides. This process utilises basic zirconium sulphate with an average particle diameter of 0.5˜20 μm and hence has an advantage of yielding zirconium—cerium-based mixed oxides with a relatively large specific surface area at elevated temperatures, for example, 100 m2/g or more at 400° C. and 30 m2/g or more at 1,000° C. However, basic zirconium sulphate with an average particle diameter of 0.5˜20 μm must be prepared in advance, which requires an extra manufacturing step with a concomitant rise in cost. Besides, zirconium—cerium-based mixed oxides of single crystal phase become difficult to obtain as the addition of ceria and a third component oxide increases. Hence, the desired performance becomes difficult to obtain and, as a result, the performance of the mixed oxides as a catalyst/promoter deteriorates. A further process of coprecipitation by means of ammonia or ammonium carbonate or the like, starting from a mixed solution of zirconium nitrate and cerium nitrate is also known (Japan Kokai Tokkyo Koho Hei 9-278444). However, the precipitate obtained by this process is a bulky mixed hydroxide in the form of a gel with a high water content; therefore productivity is poor and can hardly be regarded as suited to industrial scale production. In addition it states that it is necessary to have the cerium salt in the tetravalent state, which is difficult to control and is not necessary in the present invention. Thus, a filtration process is essential in order to remove impurities from the gel precipitate, and the bulkiness of the precipitate means that unit treatment speed is also invariably slow. Moreover, the high water content increases the energy needed in order to convert it to the oxides. The use of sulphate as a precipitation modifier has been used in Japan Kokai Tokkyo Koho Hei 8-34613 and 8-34614 (1996). These, together with Japan Kokai Tokkyo Koho Hei 8-34612 (1996), describe the production of yttria-doped zirconias. In 8-34612 and 8-34613 hydrogen peroxide is added to the zirconium salt as a masking agent in order to bring the pH's of precipitation of the zirconium and yttrium salts closer together to allow homogeneous precipitation. Sulphate is added to modify the precipitation in 8-34613 and 8-34614. In the former urea is used as the precipitant and in the latter ammonia, but in three of these cases the use of alkali metal hydroxides is proscribed. Furthermore, the use of ammonia is to be deprecated because of its adverse environmental effects. Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide a process, easily practicable on a commercial scale, for preparing zirconium—cerium-based mixed oxides which not only possess good thermal stability at elevated temperatures but are also highly homogeneous in their crystal phase.

Race differences in the pattern of familial aggregation for dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and its responsiveness to training in the HERITAGE Family Study. Using a familial correlation model to assess familial influences, baseline dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) and its change (post-training minus baseline) in response to a 20-week endurance exercise training program were analyzed in 85 black families who participated in the HERITAGE Family Study (HERITAGE). Baseline levels were adjusted for a polynomial in age, and the training response was adjusted for a polynomial in age, as well as the baseline values, within 4 sex-by-generation groups before genetic analysis. We found that the maximal heritability for baseline DHEAS reached 66% (with no sex and generation differences) in black families, which is slightly (but not significantly) higher than the estimate (58%) reported previously in 99 white families in HERITAGE. Whereas weak, but significant, familial effects (26%) for the training response were previously reported for whites in HERITAGE, they were undetectable in the present study. Furthermore, we found heterogeneity in the pattern of familial aggregation (primarily due to different spouse and parent-offspring correlations) for both the baseline and its training response between blacks and whites. In conclusion, baseline DHEAS levels in blacks were also determined by substantial familial factors (just as for whites), independent of the effects of age and sex. Genetic and nongenetic familial components influencing baseline DHEAS levels in both races may be different.

The invention relates to an automatic testing apparatus for testing the circumferential spacing of gears, in which for the testing operation, the gear is rotationally driven by its own power source, via a slip coupling as needed, in one rotational direction and can be indexed from one measuring position to another, and in which a primary slide for the individual testing operations is displaceable on the frame of the apparatus by a drive mechanism substantially radially toward the gear and back away from it between stops which may be adjustable; provision is made for positioning the gear for the measuring operation and for measuring the spacing deviation of one tooth edge or flank (right or left) approachable in the vicinity of the pitch circle by means of a feeler disposed on the primary slide. Also, provision is made for the automatic insertion, continuing from one tooth gap to another, of the feeler into the measuring position and for retracting the feeler back out of this position, as well as for controlling the pick-up, emission and processing of the thereby coordinated measurement value. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for testing the circular spacing, and, in a further development, to a method for measuring deviation and gear concentricity, tooth thickness deviation and tooth gap deviation on gears which can be indexed from one measuring position to another. The testing apparatuses addressed above have varying designs and modes of operation in terms of the details thereof. In one case, the gear is rotationally connected with an incremental rotational drive means, by means of which the gear can be further divided in increments from one tooth gap to another by the spacing dimension ascertained without error, that is, by computer, which is the desired spacing dimension for the ideal case. A measuring feeler, preferably cooperating with an inductive transducer is pivotably supported on the primary slide and is retracted from the gear with the aid of the primary slide between the individual spacing steps brought about by the inductive transducer and, after the spacing step has been performed, is reinserted into the gear. For one testing revolution, the measuring feeler is in contact with one tooth flank, for example the left one, in the vicinity of the pitch circle for each measuring operation, and the deviation of this tooth flank from a zero-balance of the measuring feeler effective during a first measuring operation is ascertained and after processing is expressed by way of example by the electronic portion of the measuring apparatus. Once such a testing revolution has ended, the measuring feeler is shifted to the other tooth flank, that is, in this case, to the right tooth flank of the gear and again balanced to zero, the testing operation takes the same course as described above for one entire gear circumference. In another measuring apparatus, the gear is driven via a slip coupling in one rotational direction, and two feelers are disposed on the primary slide, for example, one fixed feeler and one pivotable feeler cooperating with an inductive transducer. In the status where they are inserted into the gear, the feelers come into contact with the same tooth flanks (right or left) in adjacent tooth gaps, the flank at which the contact takes place being dependent on the rotational direction of the gear. Now in a first measuring operation the feelers are adjusted to the same circle in the vicinity of the pitch circle of the gear, which as a rule is effected by making them just touch, and the pivotable measuring feeler is then balanced to zero. Then with the aid of the primary slide, the feelers are retracted from the gear and the gear rotates under the effect of a drive mechanism until the feelers, being shifted by one tooth gap or space, are reinserted into the gear. Here the fixed feeler then holds the gear firmly counter to the action of the slip coupling, and the pick-up of the measurement value is effected by means of the pivotable feeler, being accordingly accomplished for the next spacing. Once the gear wheel has been tested in this manner over one revolution on one edge of the teeth, the feelers are then shifted to the other tooth flank, and the rotational direction of the gear is also reversed. The adjustment of the feelers and the course of the testing are then the same as described above. In a third apparatus, the test object, again rotationally driven via a slip coupling, is firmly held by a detent device for the individual measuring operations, the detent device conventially being a ball head which is inserted into one tooth gap until it is in contact without play. On the other side of the primary slide, a transverse slide is disposed which can be displaced at a tangent to the gear counter to spring force. One fixed and one pivotable feeler, the latter cooperating with an inductive transducer, are again seated on the slide, in this case the transverse slide. Again in a first measuring operation, and with the gear held in place by means of the detent device, the two feelers are adjusted to the same circle in the vicinity of the pitch circle of the gear against one flank of the teeth, and the pivotable measuring feeler is again balanced to zero. The transverse slide in this case is shifted somewhat counter to the spring force acting upon it. For the next measuring operation, the detent device and the feelers are now retracted from the gear, and the gear rotates further by the amount of one spacing, driven by its drive mechanism, until the detent device dips into the next tooth gap and thus firmly holds the gear counter to the action of the slip coupling. The feelers are then driven into the gear teeth, and the spacing deviation is picked up via the pivotable measuring feeler and further processed in the measuring apparatus until it is transmitted. One complete testing revolution has ended, the feelers are newly adjusted against the opposite tooth flanks of two adjacent tooth gaps and balanced to zero, and the testing of the spacing deviation takes place during a new revolution of the gear. Further details of these known apparatuses for testing spacing of gears will be explained later in detail in reference to the prior art drawings. The known testing apparatuses have the disadvantage that two complete gear revolutions are required in order to ascertain errors in circumferential spacing, and furthermore the measuring feelers must be readjusted between the two revolutions from one tooth flank to the other tooth flank. This means high cost in terms of both time and money. In order to measure deviation in gear concentricity, tooth thickness and tooth gaps, which are also of interest in assessing gear quality, a different testing apparatus is required. With it, in order to measure deviation in tooth gaps and gear concentricity, a ball-like measuring feeler is inserted into each tooth gap of the test object and the depth to which it is inserted at a given time is measured, providing information as to deviation from one tooth gap to another and finally as to the deviation in concentricity. With respect to the deviations in tooth thickness, a fork-like measuring feeler is placed on each tooth of the gear wheel one after the other, and here again the depth of insertion or the deviation of the depth of insertion from an initially established zero balance is ascertained. Thus, in order to measure the three last-named values, at least further revolution of the gear and one further testing apparatus are required, still further increasing costs in time and money for testing gears beyond what was described above.

Sulfur is an essential element to many organisms. Sulfur is a component of various compounds essential to life including methionine, cysteine, the B-vitamins, thiamine, and biotin, amongst others. Sources of dietary sulfur can include feed stocks with significant amounts of sulfur. As an example, some byproducts from ethanol production, such as distillers dried grains, may sometimes include significant amounts of sulfur. Sources of dietary sulfur can also include water that has significant sulfur content. In some geographic regions, groundwater can be contaminated with high amounts of naturally occurring sulfur. In many cases, sulfur is ingested in the form of sulfate compounds. In the rumen of an animal, the sulfate compounds can then be converted by microbes into hydrogen sulfide. Unfortunately, an excess of dietary sulfur (or dietary sulfur overload) can lead to various negative effects. Excess sulfur can result in restlessness, diarrhea, muscular twitching, dyspnea, and even death. Sulfur in the form of sulfide is a particularly potent neurotoxin that can rapidly produce unconsciousness and death. In the agricultural context, elevated concentrations of sulfur have been shown to result in reduced feed intake and diminished growth of animals. Accordingly, a need exists for methods and compositions for mitigating dietary sulfur.

Bile evacuation induced by hypothalamic stimulation in dogs. To investigate the role of the central nervous system in the cephalic phase of gallbladder emptying, the effects of electrical stimulation of the hypothalamus on the gallbladder and sphincter of Oddi and on bile flow rate were studied in anesthetized dogs. Stimulation of the anterior hypothalamic area induced gallbladder contraction and simultaneous relaxation of the sphincter without a significant increase in plasma cholecystokinin concentration. The bile flow rate was facilitated by stimulation of the same area. These responses were obtained even in dogs with cervical cord transection and were abolished by cervical vagotomy. The contraction response in the gallbladder was prevented by atropine, but a slight relaxation response in the sphincter remained. On the other hand, stimulation of the posterior hypothalamic area induced gallbladder relaxation and contraction or relaxation in the sphincter. The bile flow rate was decreased by stimulation of the same area. These responses were still obtained after vagotomy. These results indicate that the anterior hypothalamic area and the vagus nerves play an important role in gallbladder emptying in the cephalic phase.

Photo yellowing of human hair. In general, human hair is claimed to turn yellower after sun exposure. This is particularly affirmed for white hair. However, quantitative data relating yellowness to hair type and to the radiation wavelength are missing. This work shows results of the effect of full or UVB-filtered radiation of a mercury vapor or a xenon-arc lamp on the yellowness of virgin white, dark-brown, blond and red hair. All hair types showed a substantial change in yellowness after irradiation, which is dependent on the hair type and radiation wavelength. Surprisingly, white hair turns less yellow after both full and UVB-filtered radiation exposure. This effect is more pronounced when UVB is filtered from the radiation system. The only radiation that shows a photo-yellowing effect on white hair is infrared. As the yellowness of white hair is commonly related to tryptophan degradation, fluorescence experiments with hair solutions were performed to identify the natural degradation of tryptophan which occurs in hair after light irradiation. Pigmented hairs were also studied, as well as hair treated with a bleaching solution. Although we observe a decrease in tryptophan content of hair after lamp radiation, a direct correlation with hair yellowness was not achieved. Results are discussed in terms of hair type, composition and melanin content.

The present invention relates generally to high power magnetron oscillators and more particularly, to improved magnetron oscillators that are tuned using plasmas, and frequency tuning methods for use with magnetron oscillators. High-power magnetrons are efficient generators of microwave power. They convert the kinetic energy from an electron beam into microwave- or millimeter-wave energy within a resonant cavity. The oscillation frequency is determined by the cavity, electron-beam voltage and current, and the externally applied magnetic field. The high efficiency of magnetrons make them an attractive RF source for use in many applications; CW magnetrons have demonstrated efficiencies in excess of 80%. As an oscillator, however, the magnetron is inherently a narrowband device. While mechanically-tuned magnetrons are available, they suffer from several drawbacks. The maximum tuning rate is limited by the inertia of the tuning mechanism, whose moving parts penetrate the vacuum envelope of the magnetron, thus reducing the reliability of the magnetron. The oscillation frequency of a tunable magnetron is varied by changing the resonant frequency of its resonant structure. In a mechanically-tuned magnetron this is achieved by mechanically altering the geometry of the resonant structure. This involves mechanically changing the dimensions of the cavity, with corresponding changes to beam voltage and magnetic field as needed, which changes the oscillation frequency of the magnetron. Mechanical tuning is relatively slow and requires a movable vacuum element so that the high-vacuum integrity of the tube can be maintained. Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to provide for improved magnetron oscillators that may be rapidly tuned. It is another objective of the present invention to provide for improved magnetron oscillators that are tuned using plasmas. It is a further objective of the present invention to provide for frequency turning methods for use with magnetron oscillators.

The present invention relates to a valve for an opening of a pressure vessel. More particularly, it relates to a valve for such pressure vessel which has a housing and a resiliently deformable partition wall -- e.g. a diaphragm -- located in the housing and forming two compartments so that one of the compartments is filled with a liquid and has an opening in which latter the valve is mounted. Valves for pressure vessels have been proposed each having a movable body member that is urged into a closed position by the resiliently expanded partition wall and urged into an open position by a spring acting in a direction substantially opposite to the direction in which said partition wall acts. It has, however, been recognized that when the liquid enters an outflow passage defined or in part bounded by the body member, at great speed, it exerts a component force upon the body member which tends to prematurely urge the latter into the closed position. Taking this into consideration, means have been proposed for preventing premature movement of the body member into the closed position, including a stem formed in the portion of the body member located in the pressure vessel and a passage provided in said portion so that the liquid flows through the passage, reacts against an inner end of the stem and provides a force operatively reacting against a valve head and urging the body member into an open position. While it is true that the above construction reliably performs its functions of preventing premature closing of the valve, it is very complicated and expensive.

Term access refers to a capability to obtain or make use of or take advantage of something. In communications, access typically refers to the right to obtain or make use of or take advantage of a communication resource. Such communication resource may be, for example, a physical or logical communication channel, or a service provided by a service provider. The roles and responsibilities in communications have conventionally been divided to subscribers, operators, network providers, service providers, and the like. However, due to the evolving new technologies, these conventional roles and responsibilities are undergoing a change. Conventionally, a subscriber has been defined as user of a telecommunication service, based on a contract with the service provider. Additionally, telecommunications companies have made agreements to apply roaming such that user terminals registered in their user registers may be used in both networks. People move and travel more and more, but due to this agreement-based operation models, the users of communication services have been encumbered to static configurations of operators and prices contractually agreed between them. Due to the rapid development, user terminals of today typically include more than one communication interface such that they are able to communicate over different access networks. This increases the potential for roaming significantly, because a particular communication need or a service could be implemented though various accesses networks and interfaces. However, it is very difficult and laborious to identify and go though the various access alternatives and quickly decide the best one for the current communication need.

The present invention relates to a system and method for test generation with dynamic constraints, and in particular, to a system and method for dynamically solving constraints by creating a set of instructions which provide a specific, random solution when executed. Design verification is the process of determining whether an integrated circuit, board, or system-level architecture, exactly implements the requirements defined by the specification of the architecture for that device. Design verification for a device under testing (DUT) may be performed on the actual device, or on a simulation model of the device. For the purposes of explanation only and without intending to be limiting in any way, the following discussion centers upon testing which is performed on simulation models of the device. As designs for different types of devices and device architectures become more complex, the likelihood of design errors increases. However, design verification also becomes more difficult and time consuming, as the simulation models of the design of the device also become more complex to prepare and to test. The problem of design verification is compounded by the lack of widely generalizable tools which are useful for the verification and testing of a wide variety of devices and device architectures. Typical background art verification methods have often been restricted to a particular device having a specific design, such that the steps of preparing and implementing such verification methods for the simulation model must be performed for each new device. The process of verifying a design through a simulation model of the device is aided by the availability of hardware description languages such as Verilog and VHDL. These languages are designed to describe hardware at higher levels of abstraction than gates or transistors. The resultant simulated model of the device can receive input stimuli in the form of test vectors, which are a string of binary digits applied to the input of a circuit. The simulated model then produces results, which are checked against the expected results for the particular design of the device. However, these languages are typically not designed for actual verification. Therefore, the verification engineer must write additional programming code in order to interface with the models described by these hardware description languages in order to perform design verification of the device. Examples of testing environments include static and dynamic testing environments. A static testing environment drives pre-computed test vectors into the simulation model of the DUT and/or examines the results after operation of the simulation model. In addition, if the static testing environment is used to examine the results which are output from the simulation model, then errors in the test are not detected until after the test is finished. As a result, the internal state of the device at the point of error may not be determinable, requiring the simulation to be operated again in order to determine such internal states. This procedure consumes simulation cycles, and can require the expenditure of considerable time, especially during long tests. A more useful and efficient type of testing is a dynamic testing environment. For this type of environment, a set of programming instructions is written to generate the test vectors in concurrence with the simulation of the model of the DUT and while potentially being controlled by the state feedback of the simulated device. This procedure enables directed random generation to be performed and to be sensitive to effects uncovered during the test itself on the state of the simulation model of the device. Thus, dynamic test generation clearly has many advantages for design verification. Within the area of testing environments, both static and dynamic testing environments can be implemented only with fixed-vector or pre-generation input. However, a more powerful and more sophisticated implementation uses test generation to produce the environment. One example of such a test generator is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/020,792, filed on Feb. 6, 1998, incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. This test generation procedure interacts with, and sits as a higher level over, such hardware description languages as Verilog and VHDL. The test generation procedure is written in a hardware-oriented verification specific object-oriented programming language. This language is used to write various tests, which are then used to automatically create a device verification test by a test generator module. A wide variety of design environments can be tested and verified with this language. Thus, the disclosed procedure is generalizable, yet is also simple to program and to debug by the engineer. The disclosed language features a number of elements such as structs for more richly and efficiently describing the design of the device to be simulated by the model. Unfortunately, the disclosed language and resultant test generation environment does not include features for providing a good, random solution for dynamic constraints in a reasonable processing time, and also cannot react dynamically on the same scale as the time period which is actually required for simulation. Furthermore, such features are also not known in the background art, which handles such constraints with a non-random solution. Therefore, there is an unmet need for, and it would be highly useful to have, a system and method for solving dynamic constraints through a specific, random but correct solution, which would be created by executing a specific set of instructions. The system and method of the present invention tests the quality of a simulation model for the DUT (device under test) with dynamic constraint solving and test generation for the testing and verification process. The present invention provides such dynamic constraint solving through the creation of a sequence of instructions in a xe2x80x9cgenerator mini-languagexe2x80x9d (GML). These instructions are then executed in order to provide a correct random solution to a given set of dynamic constraints. The process of execution is preferably performed by a constraint resolution engine, optionally and more preferably implemented as software, which manages the requirements imposed by the constraints on the execution, while simultaneously enabling a random solution to the set of constraints to be provided. Such a constraint resolution engine may optionally be viewed as a type of state machine, in which individual elements of the state machine are more preferably represented by one or more dynamic graph(s). According to the present invention, there is provided a system for dynamically solving constraints for test generation for a DUT (device under test), comprising: (a) a data model for the DUT; (b) an abstract generation machine for solving the constraints by creating a plurality of static instructions; and (c) a test generator for performing test generation according to the plurality of static instructions and according to the data model. According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method for dynamically solving a plurality of dynamic constraints for test generation for a DUT (device under test), each constraint featuring at least one parameter, the steps of the method being performed by a data processor, the method comprising the steps of: (a) creating at least one dynamic graph for describing the plurality of dynamic constraints, each node of the at least one dynamic graph representing a constraint or a parameter, and each edge representing a relationship between constraints; (b) reducing a number of nodes for the at least one dynamic graph; and (c) determining a path for traveling through the at least one dynamic graph to create a plurality of instructions for solving the dynamic constraints. Hereinafter, the term xe2x80x9ccomputing platformxe2x80x9d refers to a particular computer hardware system or to a particular software operating system. Examples of such hardware systems include, but are not limited to, personal computers (PC), Macintosh(trademark) computers, mainframes, minicomputers and workstations. Examples of such software operating systems include, but are not limited to, UNIX, VMS, Linux, MacOS(trademark), DOS, FreeBSD, one of the Windows(trademark) operating systems by Microsoft Inc. (USA), including Windows NT(trademark), Windows95(trademark), Windows98(trademark) and Windows 2000(trademark). The method of the present invention could also be described as a plurality of instructions being performed by a virtual or actual data processor, such that the method of the present invention could be implemented as hardware, software, firmware or a combination thereof. For the present invention, a software application could be written in substantially any suitable programming language, which could easily be selected by one of ordinary skill in the art. The programming language chosen should be compatible with the computing platform according to which the software application is executed. Examples of suitable programming languages include, but are not limited to, C, C++ and Java. Hereinafter, the term xe2x80x9cnon-randomxe2x80x9d refers to a process, or an entity selected by the process, which is not random but which is not necessarily deterministic.

This invention relates to single-substrate optical discs, such as single-substrate audio or video DVDs. Optical discs having pits and lands that form an optical track structure on one surface are known as single-substrate optical discs, while double-substrate optical discs, in which two single-substrate discs are bonded to each other back to back, are known as dual-substrate optical discs. When a dual-substrate disc is manufactured, the clamp area is characterized by the aggregate thickness of the two bonded substrates. (“Clamp area” is the area of a DVD that is covered or engaged by the clamp mechanism of the reproducing apparatus during play-back of the DVD. The word “area” is frequently used herein to refer to what is actually a three-dimensional portion or region of an optical disc. Thus the clamp area of a disc is not just a two-dimensional surface area, but also the thickness of the disc in that two-dimensional area. A certain volume, quantity, or amount of plastic material is therefore required to make the “clamp area” of a disc.) In an apparatus for reproducing the information recorded on an audio or video DVD, the clamp that grips the disc must be designed specifically for the thickness of the clamp area of that type of disc. The clamp area of a commercially available 80 mm DVD is usually located within the annular region having an outer radius of about 33 mm and an inner radius (defining the central aperture) of 22 mm. A typical reproducing apparatus in commercial use today is designed for double-substrate optical audio or video DVDs. The thickness of the clamp area in such double-substrate discs is typically about 1.2 mm, which is composed of the thicknesses of the two bonded substrates, about 0.6 mm each. In order to satisfy the specifications of the clamp designed for use with double-substrate discs, the thickness of the clamp area in a single-substrate optical disc must be made substantially the same as that of a double-substrate disc. For example, if the thickness of the clamp area in a single-substrate DVD is increased to about 1.2 mm, it becomes possible to play a single-substrate 0.6 mm-thick DVD on a player designed for use with bonded 1.2 mm-thick DVDs. A conventional way of accomplishing this object is by manufacturing an optical disc 10 (FIG. 1) having two regions 20 and 30 of different thicknesses. The first region 20 is a cylindrical region of annular cross section constituting the central portion of the optical disc 10, and the second region 30 is the remaining outer annular region of the disc. The thickness of first region 20 is greater than the thickness of second region 30. Such discs can be created by molding a hub with extra material in the clamp area of the disc, as described in International Application WO 98/10418. If additional material with a thickness of about 0.6 mm is molded onto a substrate 30 with the thickness of about 0.6 mm, the total thickness of region 20 will reach about 1.2 mm. This design makes it possible for a reproducing apparatus designed to play double-substrate DVDs to play single-substrate DVDs as well. The prior art solution, however, has a variety of disadvantages. For example, when a disc is manufactured according to the design described above, the large amount of material used in forming the hub may cause the hub to shrink radially and vertically, pulling in material from other regions of the disc, including information-carrying regions. This warping phenomenon may negatively affect the tilt, stress, birefringence and electrical properties of the disc. Attempts at reducing this phenomenon, such as increasing cool-down time in the mold for each disc, reduce the efficiency of the disc manufacturing process.

SmartSenior@home: Acceptance of an integrated ambient assisted living system. Results of a clinical field trial in 35 households. The primary objective of the SmartSenior@home study was to examine the acceptance of the SmartSenior system by older adults. Twenty-eight partners from industry and research, including the health care sector, worked collaboratively to implement services aiming to maximize independence in old age. The prospective cohort study was conducted in Potsdam, Germany, with n = 35 older adults between 55 and 88 years of age in their apartments. All participants underwent extensive pre- and post-study visits with in-home interviews, functional assessments for cognition, fine motor skills, and mobility as well as responding to questionnaires on user acceptance and quality of life. The results indicate moderate-to-high user acceptance for the SmartSenior system. In particular, the services for general assistance and health, such as audio/video communication, blood pressure monitoring, and communication with a health professional, were rated as very attractive. Less used and less accepted services were those promoting social interaction and reminder services. Besides reliable functioning of the SmartSenior system, the availability of a confidant seems to be the most significant acceptance factor. As one conclusion of this trial, it is possible to develop, integrate, and test an infrastructure for ambient assisted living services in real life.

This invention pertains generally to mattresses and beds and, more particularly, to an air bed. Beds heretofore provided have, for the most part, employed innerspring mattresses and foundations, although some alternative support systems such as waterbeds and air beds have also been provided. Air beds have certain advantages in that the pressure within an air mattress, and hence the firmness of the bed, can be adjusted to suit the needs of the person sleeping on it. In beds designed for more than one person, side-by-side air mattresses have been employed, and with the firmness of each mattress controlled independently. Examples of air beds, controls and related components are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,644,597, 4,829,616, 4,890,344, 4,897,890, 4,908,895, 4,991,244, 5,144,706, 5,170,522 and 5,509,154. It is in general an object of the invention to provide a new and improved air bed. Another object of the invention is to provide an air bed of the above character which overcomes the limitations and disadvantages of air beds and other sleep systems of the prior art. These and other objects are achieved in accordance with the invention by providing an air bed having a knockdown foundation made up of preassembled boxes which are used as shipping containers for the other elements of the bed, mattresses having interposed sets of isolated chambers for improved pressure distribution, contoured foam rails surrounding the mattresses and a visco-elastic foam pad overlying them, a cover with a removable pillow top enclosing the mattresses and foam, a blower assembly mounted inside one of the rails with control valves for supplying air to and removing air from the mattresses, and individual controls with means for returning the pressure in the mattresses to a desired level upon command and means for preventing a drop in mattress pressure as the blower is turned on to increase that pressure.

The potential of 1H-MRS in CNS drug development. Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) is a cross-species neuroimaging technique that can measure concentrations of several brain metabolites, including glutamate and GABA. This non-invasive method has promise in developing centrally acting drugs, as it can be performed repeatedly within-subjects and be used to translate findings from the preclinical to clinical laboratory using the same imaging biomarker. This review focuses on the utility of single-voxel 1H-MRS in developing novel glutamatergic or GABAergic drugs for the treatment of psychiatric disorders and includes research performed in rodent models, healthy volunteers and patient cohorts. Overall, these studies indicate that 1H-MRS is able to detect the predicted pharmacological effects of glutamatergic or GABAergic drugs on voxel glutamate or GABA concentrations, although there is a shortage of studies examining dose-related effects. Clinical studies have applied 1H-MRS to better understand drug therapeutic mechanisms, including the glutamatergic effects of ketamine in depression and of acamprosate in alcohol dependence. There is an emerging interest in identifying patient subgroups with 'high' or 'low' brain regional 1H-MRS glutamate levels for more targeted drug development, which may require ancillary biomarkers to improve the accuracy of subgroup discrimination. Considerations for future research include the sensitivity of single-voxel 1H-MRS in detecting drug effects, inter-site measurement reliability and the interpretation of drug-induced changes in 1H-MRS metabolites relative to the known pharmacological molecular mechanisms. On-going technological development, in single-voxel 1H-MRS and in related complementary techniques, will further support applications within CNS drug discovery.

THE HAGUE: There is an immense scope for cooperation in medical tourism between India and the Netherlands, Union minister of state for Ayush Shripad Yesso Naik said on Monday.The healthcare system in the Netherlands is one of the best in Europe, and there is a lot of potential to integrate traditional knowledge from India, he said at a seminar titled 'India-Netherlands collaboration in Healthcare, including Ayurveda ' at Leiden.Ayush refers to traditional and non-allopathic medical systems in India. It includes ayurveda, yoga , unani, siddha, and homoeopathy."India is the world's largest producer of generic medicine and there is wide scope for medical value travel to India, both in conventional and alternative medical treatments such as Ayurveda," Naik said at the seminar organised by the Indian Embassy here.Emphasising that the scope for cooperation in the health sector between the two countries is immense, he said, "India and the Netherlands can work together closely to promote healthy living."Asserting that both the countries have top class medical practitioners, Naik said the Netherlands with its 2.25 lakh Indian origin population can lead the way in promoting Indian traditional medicine across Europe.Addressing the seminar, Dutch minister for Medical Care and Sport Bruno Bruins said Ayurveda's approach for healthcare differs for individuals and being healthy does not only mean being free from illness but also being independent, functional and participating in society."Cooperation between India and the Netherlands in healthcare can become stronger with both countries working together to deal with the issue of antibiotic resistance," he added.Alojz Peterle, former Prime Minister of Slovenia and current member of European Parliament , said Ayurveda is considered as the mother of modern medicine.He further said Indo-European strategic cooperation should also include healthcare.The Indian Ambassador to the Netherlands, Venu Rajamony, pointed out that the biggest health challenge the Netherlands faces is high costs and the need for care for an ageing population."Ayurveda and Yoga can help reduce costs and promote healthy ageing," Rajamony said.The seminar was the concluding event of the 4th International Ayurveda Congress organised by the Indian Embassy in the Netherlands in collaboration with International Maharishi Ayurveda Foundation, Netherlands, All India Ayurvedic Congress, New Delhi and the International Academy of Ayurveda, Pune.Naik is on an official four-day visit to the Netherlands from September 1. He is leading a delegation of senior officials from Ministry of Ayush, including the Pharmacopoeia Commission of Indian Medicine and Homeopathy.The minister will meet the deputy mayor of the City of The Hague in charge of healthcare, witness a yoga demonstration by Dutch yoga enthusiasts and visit the Samadhi Sthal of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in Vlodrop tomorrow.

Particulate materials, especially inert particulate materials such as carbon black, silca, clay, talc, and polymeric materials are employed as fluidization aids for polymerization of olefin polymers, especially sticky polymers, in fluidized bed reactors, especially gas phase fluidized bed reactors. In sticky polymers such as, for example, ethylene-propylene and ethylene-propylene-diene rubbers, carbon black is the most frequently employed particulate material. Such processes are taught, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,994,534; 5,304,588; 5,317,036; and 5,453,471, as well as WO 95/09826 and WO 95/09827. These inert particulate materials or fluidization aids are manufactured as fine powdery cohesive solids which are then formed into beads or pellets for shipping and handling. Before they can be used in olefin polymerizations, they must be subjected to grinding, drying, purification, and/or passivation processes. For example, carbon black is classified as a solid material and is developed initially in the form of an aerosol. For this reason, carbon black just formed has a flocculent appearance, which also gives rise to the expression "fluffy" carbon black or carbon black "fluff". The fluff form of carbon black is composed of more than 96% finely dispersed carbon with small amounts of oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulfur and traces (less than 0.5%) of organic components. The fluff form of carbon black poses difficulty in dispersing, handling, and transporting. The difficulty worsens when these processes are conducted under elevated pressures. Because of this, manufacturers of carbon blacks further process carbon black fluff to provide it to consumers in the form of dispersions, powders, beads, or pellets. To convert carbon black fluff to beads, it is oxidatively after-treated. This after-treatment can produce carbon black beads containing up to 15% oxygen. After-treated carbon black typically contains higher amounts of other contaminants (e.g., hydrogen nitrogen, sulfur, moisture). Before carbon black beads are utilized in a polymerization process to produce polymers, the polymer manufacturer subjects them to a grinding process which in turn can introduce additional impurities such as moisture and traces of metals into the ground carbon black powder so produced. The polymer manufacturer uses carbon black powder in polymerization because it is a better fluidization aid than beads. As those skilled in the art know, oxygen, moisture (water), as well as the other above-mentioned impurities (e.g., sulfur) found in carbon black or introduced in after-treatments, are considered to be poisons in polymerization processes such as those used to produce sticky polymers. The presence of these impurities in carbon black requires extensive drying and/or purifying and passivation operations before polymerization is initiated and/or the use of a scavenger material (typically, additional amounts of co-catalyst, e.g., aluminum-alkyls halides and/or hydrides), both of which are extremely costly steps in polymer production. It would be desirable to efficiently utilize the fine, powdery form of a particulate material, especially the fluff form of carbon black, directly in a fluidized polymerization vessel. The feeding of particulate materials, especially inert particulate materials, such as carbon black fluff from a carbon black reactor directly to a fluidized reactor would eliminate the need for most, if not all, of the after-treatment provided by the supplier of carbon black, eliminate the need for grinding carbon black beads into powder by the polymer manufacturer, and reduce the amount of co-catalyst/scavenger material or passivation agent used in the polymerization by that amount which serves as a scavenger for impurities introduced by after-treatment and grinding. In addition, as compared to beads and powder, the smaller-sized carbon black fluff would improve fluidization in the polymerizing reactor, minimize or eliminate gel formation, and enhance overall reactor operability.

Clinical neuroscience of addiction: similarities and differences between alcohol and other drugs. Existing pharmacological treatments for alcohol use disorder (AUD) and other substance use disorders (SUDs) have demonstrated only modest efficacy. Although the field has recently emphasized testing and developing new compounds to treat SUDs, there are numerous challenges inherent to the development of novel medications, and this is particularly true for SUDs. Thus, research to date has tended toward the "repurposing" approach, in which medications developed to treat other mental or physical conditions are tested as SUD treatments. Often, potential treatments are examined across numerous drugs of abuse. Several repurposed medications have shown promise in treating a specific SUD, but few have shown efficacy across multiple SUDs. Examining similarities and differences between AUD and other SUDs may shed light on these findings and offer directions for future research. This qualitative review discusses similarities and differences in neural circuitry and molecular mechanism(s) across alcohol and other substances of abuse, and examines studies of pharmacotherapies for AUD and other SUDs. Substances of abuse share numerous molecular targets and involve much of the same neural circuitry, yet compounds tested because they putatively target common mechanisms have rarely indicated therapeutic promise for multiple SUDs. The lack of treatment efficacy across SUDs may be partially explained by limitations inherent in studying substance users, who comprise a highly heterogeneous population. Alternatively, medications may fail to show efficacy across multiple SUDs due to the fact that the differences between drug mechanisms are more important than their commonalities in terms of influencing treatment response. We suggest that exploring these differences could support novel treatment development, aid in identifying existing medications that may hold promise as treatments for specific SUDs, and ultimately advance translational research efforts.

Serum neuron-specific enolase as a tumor marker in the diagnosis and follow-up of small-cell lung cancer. Serum samples for the determination of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) levels were collected at diagnosis, after induction of chemotherapy and at relapse in order to assess the value of NSE in the diagnosis and management of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). At diagnosis, 47 of 64 patients with SCLC (73%) had abnormal NSE values (i.e. NSE > 12.5 micrograms/l). Mean NSE values were significantly higher in patients with extensive disease compared to limited disease. Patients with other malignancies or benign lung diseases presented with elevated NSE levels in approximately 15 and 4% of cases. Sensitivity, specificity and predictive value of positive results of NSE at diagnosis were 74, 83 and 71%, respectively, for a cutoff value of 12.5 micrograms/l. In responders mean NSE dropped significantly from 46.1 micrograms/l before chemotherapy to 17.0 micrograms/l after three cycles of chemotherapy. Nonresponders as a group showed a nonsignificant drop. At relapse mean NSE increased from 6.5 micrograms/l at the time of response to 51.9 micrograms/l at the time of progression, but in 5 of the 18 evaluable patients normal levels persisted. Thus, evolution of NSE in patients receiving chemotherapy correlated well with tumor volume in patients who responded, but often failed to predict a therapeutic outcome in patients with apparently chemoresistant tumor (i.e. some nonresponders showed a decrease in NSE levels). A similar lack of correlation between NSE levels and tumor volume was seen at the time of relapse. We conclude that the determination of NSE levels is of doubtful utility in the diagnosis and follow-up of SCLC patients.

Modern computing systems can include a variety of communication devices that send and receive data. Examples of communication devices include parallel interface devices and serial interface devices such as the universal serial bus (USB). USB is an industry protocol designed to standardize the interfaces between computer devices for communication and supplying electrical power. The USB protocol has enjoyed widespread adoption in nearly every computing device, and has received tremendous support in terms of technology development with well-established intellectual property (IP) portfolios and standardized software infrastructure. The standard USB2 specification uses 3.3 Volt analog signaling for communications between the two USB2 ports. The 3.3 Volt signal strength tends to introduce integration challenges because some advanced semiconductor processes are moving towards a very low geometry leading to the gate oxide of a CMOS transistor no longer able to tolerate higher voltages, such as 3.3 Volt. In addition, the standard USB2 specification results in relatively high levels of power consumption at both idle and active states. As a result, USB2 may not be suitable for devices that place stringent specifications on I/O power consumption, such as mobile platforms.

Cadmium and lead in cocoa powder and chocolate products in the US Market. Cocoa powder and chocolate products are known to sometimes contain cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) from environmental origins. A convenience sample of cocoa powder, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, and cocoa nib products was purchased at retail in the US and analysed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry to assess Cd and Pb concentrations. Cd and Pb were evaluated in relation to the percent cocoa solids and to the reported origin of the cocoa powder and chocolate products. Cd ranged from 0.004 to 3.15 mg/kg and Pb ranged from <LOD to 0.38 mg/kg. Cd and Pb were significantly correlated with percent cocoa, with correlations varying by product type and geographic origin. Geographic variation was observed for Cd, with higher Cd concentrations found in products reported as originating from Latin America than from Africa. The influence of percent cocoa solids and cocoa origin on Cd levels are relevant to international standards for Cd in chocolate products.

The pH of the intracellular compartment is tightly controlled in all eukaryotic cells. This control is crucial for various biological processes, including intracellular membrane trafficking, endocytosis, protein degradation, bone resorption, and small-molecule uptake. The vacuolar H+ ATPase (V-ATPase) is one of the central players in regulating acidity in eukaryotic cells and the loss of V-ATPase function is in general lethal at early stages of development. V-ATPases are large multi-subunit protein complexes that function as a rotary molecular motor, and are organized into two domains, V0 and V1. The V1 domain is located on the cytoplasmic side of the membrane and carries out ATP hydrolysis, whereas the V0 domain is a membrane embedded complex that is responsible for proton translocation across the membrane.1-3 The V1 domain is composed of eight different subunits (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H) and the V0 domain contains five different subunits (a, b, c, d, and e) in mammals, some of which are present in multiple copies. The core of the V1 domain contains a hexamer of A and B subunits, which participates in ATP binding and hydrolysis with the most of the residues responsible for ATP binding contributed by the catalytic subunit A. Dysregulation of V-ATPase has been implicated in a number of diseases, including renal disease (renal tubular acidosis)4, bone disease (osteoporosis)5, and tumor metastasis.6 For example, the V-ATPase activity has been found to be significantly higher in the highly invasive MB231 breast cancer cells than the largely non-metastatic MCF7 cells.6,7 The treatment of MB231 cells with bafilomycin, a known V-ATPase inhibitor, significantly inhibited the invasiveness of cancer cells, suggesting that V-ATPase is a potential drug target for blocking cancer metastasis.2,8 In addition to cancer, V-ATPase is also implicated in renal and bone di seases.2,9 A number of inhibitors of V-ATPase have been identified and tested for their therapeutic potentials. For example, macrolide antibiotics with 18-membered lactone rings, bafilomycin and concanamycin, were found to be selective inhibitors of V-ATPases soon after their isolation from Streptomyces in the 1980s.10 A series of studies revealed that these plecomacrolides primary bound to the V0 subunit c and perturbed rotation of the b/c-ring. In addition to inhibiting V-ATPase, bafilomycin impairs mitochondrial function by acting as a carrier type potassium ionophore.11 Additional inhibitors of V-ATPase were subsequently discovered,10 such as archazolid, which is a natural product produced by the myxobacteria Archangium gephyra and Cystobacter violaceus. Archazolid, which also binds to c subunit, appears to be a highly potent V-ATPase inhibitor and blocks the growth of mammalian cells at subnanomolar concentrations. Another class of V-ATPase inhibitors, benzolactone enamides (e.g., salicylihamide, apicularens and cruentaren) that was isolated from various natural sources, demonstrated potent inhibition against mammalian V-ATPase, but surprisingly no effects on fungal V-ATPase. However, these natural products tend to be highly toxic to mammalian cells. Previous studies revealed that the binding sites of benzolactone enamides should still reside within V0 domain but differ from plecomacrolides. A number of novel indole derivatives were synthesized based on bafilomycin structure. Among these indole-containing bafilomycin analogs, INDOL0 interacts with the V0 subunit c and cause potent inhibition against V-ATPase. A number of V-ATPase inhibitors such as synthetic benzolactone enamide RTA203 (a derivative of salicylihalamide), indole derivatives NiK12192 and SB24278, tributyltin chloride (TBTCl), 3-bromopyruvate (3-Br-PA) have been reported recently. However, the binding site of these synthetic V-ATPase inhibitors is often not known. Novel small molecules with defined mechanism of inhibition against V-ATPase are needed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of V-ATPase inhibitors in human diseases.

Reforming way medical students and physicians are taught about quality and safety. The purpose of this article is to briefly review the history of how quality and safety have been addressed in the United States by those who have been teaching medical students and residents, and then discuss why and how this training must change in the future to more effectively address the problems of improving healthcare quality and safety. Although it has become clear that the curriculum in medical schools should encompass quality and safety training, medical schools have been very slow to implement the reforms that are necessary to accomplish such a goal. These changes, although desirable from a rational perspective, involve basic changes in the culture of medical schools and teaching hospitals. Moreover, the cost of implementing these changes would be very large, and, if imposed by outside agencies, would likely constitute an unfunded mandate. It should also be noted that at the present time there are very few people who are well trained to develop and teach these classes. In order to accomplish the goal of improving patient safety, it is essential that we provide much more training and knowledge regarding patient safety to medical students, including knowledge of interventions known to be effective in preventing errors; education in technical performance; information about organizational and team issues; and training in disclosing errors to patients. This training should occur early in the training of professionals, preferably while they are still in school, if such training is to change the culture of medicine. Some suggestions and plans for implementation are discussed, using some innovative programs as examples.

RESEARCH TRAINING PROGRAM IN DIABETES AND OBESITY Diabetes mellitus is reaching epidemic proportions in the US and there is an urgent need to increase research in this area. The goal of the program is to provide training to young researchers, at both the pre-doctoral and post-doctoral stages of their careers, in research that is relevant to diabetes, metabolism, and obesity. The Indiana University School of Medicine is an outstanding forum for such an initiative. It houses the Indiana University Diabetes Research and Training Center, which is in its 25th year of existence. The School recently created a Center for Diabetes Research whose goal is to foster research in basic science Departments. Sixteen faculty from four Departments will participate as mentors in the program. This group of faculty has a strong training record and has approximately $4,000,000 of external funding. The program will grow to support three pre-doctoral students and two post-doctoral fellows at steady state. Pre-doctoral students will take a new Minor in Diabetes and Obesity which includes a 3 credit Diabetes and Obesity course that has been recently developed. Post-doctoral fellows will also take the course. Both students and post-doctoral fellows will attend Center for Diabetes Research seminars, will present their results in the same series, and will be encouraged to present their work at national meetings such as the American Diabetes Association scientific sessions. Additionally, they will take the Research Ethics course (G504). By training in an environment and culture that gives strong multi-disciplinary support for diabetes research, there is a significant probability that the trainees will sustain an interest in diabetes, even as their specific research interests evolve over their careers.

The present disclosure relates generally to integrated circuits, and more specifically, to protecting electronic components and data stored in integrated circuits. Protecting integrated circuit technology and data is a substantial concern in the commercial and industrial sectors. Integrated circuits and related devices are routinely acquired by motivated commercial and/or governmental competitors that seek to reverse engineer or to otherwise learn the functionality of the technology. The acquired information can be used by the competitors to provide a technological leap in their own devices, and/or to exploit a perceived weakness in the examined equipment. Thus, sophisticated governmental and commercial entities possess ample strategic and/or economic motivations to reverse engineer integrated circuit components. Reverse engineering of an integrated circuit may be performed while the integrated circuit is in a powered-on state in order to observe its functionality. Designers of the integrated circuit may thus implement safeguard measures within the integrated circuit to take advantage of the powered-on state, such as a self-destruct or obstructing mechanism that is triggered by the detection of tampering. However, such safeguard measures may not distinguish between sensitive components and non-sensitive components of the integrated circuit, such that a detected tampering event may disable or otherwise affect operation of the non-sensitive components.

Cervical ripening in women with previous cesarean deliveries. To evaluate the safety and efficacy of preinduction cervical ripening in women with previous cesarean deliveries undergoing induction of labor. Retrospective study of women with previous low transverse cesarean deliveries who underwent ripening of an unfavorable cervix prior to induction of labor (n = 89). Multiparas without previous cesarean deliveries undergoing ripening and induction of labor during the same time period were used for comparison (n = 61). Ripening was performed with prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) gel, or an osmotic dilator, or both. Induction of labor with oxytocin followed the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' guidelines. Outcome data were analyzed using the unpaired Student's t-test or chi 2-test as appropriate. Significance was established at P < 0.05. The mean gestational age was 39.6 +/- 2.6 and 38.2 +/- 2.9 weeks for the study and comparison groups, respectively. There were no differences between the groups in Bishop score, duration of the first stage of labor, maximum dose of oxytocin, indications for cesarean delivery, puerperal morbidity, birthweight, Apgar scores or NICU admissions. Sixty-four percent (57 of 89) of study women delivered vaginally compared with 82% (50 of 61) of women in the comparison group (P < 0.03). The data were analyzed separately for those women undergoing cervical ripening with PGE2 gel only. No differences were observed between the groups in any of the categories mentioned above. Cervical ripening appears to be safe and effective in women with previous low transverse cesarean deliveries undergoing induction of labor with an unfavorable cervix.

The relationship of altered water/feed intake ratios on growth and abdominal fat in commercial broilers. Three trials were conducted to investigate the relationship of changing water/feed ratios on growth rate and abdominal fat levels of two genetic lines. Water/feed intake ratios were elevated by feed restriction programs (skip-a-day and 70% restriction) from 0 to 4 days of age. Following return to ad libitum feed, compensatory gains were observed in body weights, and the elevated water/feed ratios declined to levels similar to that of controls. The addition of up to 2.4% dietary salt resulted in increased water/feed intake ratios without reductions in feed intake. Early body weights of birds receiving diets containing high levels of salt were larger than body weights of birds receiving the control diet. Peak differences in body weights occurred at 4 days and were larger in males than females. Feed efficiency from 0 to 4 days was higher for birds receiving high salt diets than for birds receiving the control diet. Decreasing the high salt levels resulted in reduced water/feed ratios to levels comparable to controls. Small differences were observed in abdominal fat between the two genetic lines. Abdominal fat weights were significantly (P less than or equal to .05) reduced (17 to 28%) in both lines when birds were fed a 2.4% salt diet. Although abdominal fat weights were similar between sexes, differences in body weights resulted in significant (P less than or equal to .05) differences between males and females in percent abdominal fat. Data indicated that high water/feed intake ratios may be associated with reduced abdominal fat.

Variation in the CBP gene involved in epigenetic control associates with cognitive function. Research into the pathologic mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases has revealed that CREB binding protein (CBP) plays an important role in cognitive dysfunction. Loss of one copy of this gene leads to a syndrome with severe cognitive dysfunction. We investigated the association between four common variants in the CBP gene and cognitive function in 5804 participants of the PROspective Study of Pravastatin in the Elderly at Risk (PROSPER). Baseline associations between genetic variation and cognitive function were assessed with linear regression. Longitudinal associations were assessed with linear mixed models. All analyses were adjusted for sex, age, education, country, version of test, and pravastatin use. The intron 4CT and intron 3AC polymorphisms in the CBP gene were associated with better cognitive performance at baseline and during follow-up. Furthermore, the haplotype with the variant alleles of these two polymorphisms also showed a protective effect on cognitive function in all cognitive domains (all p<0.03). Genetic variation in the CBP gene is associated with better cognitive performance in an elderly population. Future research is necessary to investigate the effect of these polymorphisms on the expression of CBP levels and how these polymorphisms affect the gene expression mediated by CBP.

Myotonic dystrophy protein kinase expressed in rat cardiac muscle is associated with sarcoplasmic reticulum and gap junctions. Myotonic dystrophy (DM) is one of the most prevalent muscular diseases in adults. The molecular basis of this autosomal disorder has been identified as the expansion of a CTG repeat in the 3' untranslated region of a gene encoding a protein kinase (DMPK). The pathophysiology of the disease and the role of DMPK are still obscure. It has been previously demonstrated that DMPK is localized at neuromuscular junctions, myotendinous junctions, and terminal cisternae of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), in the skeletal muscle, and at intercalated discs in the cardiac muscle. We report here new findings about specific localization of DMPK in the heart. Polyclonal antibodies raised against a peptide sequence of the human DMPK were used to analyze the subcellular distribution of the protein in rat papillary muscles. Confocal laser microscopy revealed a strong although discontinuous reactivity at intercalated discs, together with transverse banding on the sarcoplasm. At higher resolution with immunogold electron microscopy, we observed that DMPK is localized at the cytoplasmic surface of junctional and extended junctional sarcoplasmic reticulum, suggesting that DMPK is involved in the regulation of excitation-contraction coupling. Along the intercalated disc, DMPK was found associated with gap junctions, whereas it was absent in the two other kinds of junctional complexes (fasciae adherentes and desmosomes). Immunogold labeling of gap junction purified fractions showed that DMPK co-localized with connexin 43, the major component of this type of intercellular junctions, suggesting that DMPK plays a regulatory role in the transmission of signals between myocytes.

[Clinical significance of prominent negative T waves induced by exercise test]. The significance of deep T wave inversion during and after exercise in patients with coronary artery disease has not been studied well. Using the treadmill exercise test (modified Bruce's protocol) and coronary arteriography, we evaluated 361 patients suspected of having coronary artery disease. Results were compared for patients who developed significant T wave inversions of greater than 8 mm (prominent negative T wave: PNT) and for patients who had significant down-sloping ST depressions (DS). Sixteen patients had PNT (4%) which became maximum three to five min after exercise, and ranged in depth from 8 to 15 mm (10.9 +/- 2.4 mm). There were 83 patients with DS (23%). Exercise duration was 3.3 +/- 1.4 min in the PNT group and 4.4 +/- 1.9 min in the DS group (p less than 0.01). Prevalence of three-vessel disease or left main trunk disease was 88% (14 patients) in the PNT group, 28% in the DS group, and 19% (70 patients) in the entire 361 patients. Among the 14 patients who had three-vessel disease or left main trunk disease in the PNT group, the degree of multiple stenoses exceeded 90% in the major coronary arteries and that of the left main trunk stenosis exceeded 75%. The two remaining patients included one with two-vessel disease and severe 99% narrowing of the major coronary arteries and one patient having one-vessel disease with vasospastic angina during exercise. Prevalence of coronary revascularization was 69% in the PNT group and 36% in the DS group (p less than 0.025).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The invention relates to simulated nipples and nipple prosthesis. Women occasionally seek to enhance their appearance and sensuousness, including an enhancement in the appearance of their breasts and/or nipples. Wide varieties of surgically implantable prosthetic nipples are known. One example of a surgically implantable prosthetic nipple is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,778,465 issued to Wilkins. While generally effective for enhancing the sensuousness of the breast and nipple, the use of such surgically implantable devices has declined significantly over the years due the expense of implanting the prosthetic nipples, the relative permanency of the enhancement, and the health risks associated with the implanting and removal of such breast implants. One temporary method of enhancing the appearance and sensuousness of the female breasts and/or nipples is through the use of a nipple fashion bra comprised of a bra configured with an attachment mechanism for accommodating attachment of a simulated nipple. One example of such a nipple fashion bra is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,976,083 issued to Schmidt. While significantly less expensive than surgically implanted prosthetic nipples and permitting a rapid return to the unenhanced appearance, such devices require the purchase and use of a specialty bra along with a supply of simulated nipples in order to achieve the desired appearance. Externally positioned, temporary stand-alone prosthetic nipples are also known. U.S. Pat. No. 5,171,321 issued to Davis describes a prosthetic areola and nipple held in place over the natural areola and nipple of a female breast by an adhesive. While avoiding the drawbacks associated with implantable prosthetic nipples and nipple fashion bras, the stand-alone prosthetic nipples of Davis are cumbersome to use, uncomfortable to wear and difficult to remove due to the adhesive. Accordingly, a need exists for a means by which a woman can simply, quickly, comfortably and inexpensively enhance the appearance and sensuousness of her breast and/or nipples while allowing a quick return to the unenhanced look and appearance of her breasts and/or nipples. The invention is directed to a method of enhancing the tantalizing appearance of a covered female breast by producing the appearance of an erect nipple through the article of clothing covering the breast. In a first embodiment, the method comprises the steps of (i) obtaining a pliable nipple enhancer wherein the nipple enhancer includes at least, (a) an areola portion having a convex outer surface and a concave inner surface configured and arranged to resemble the areola of a female breast, and (b) a nipple portion comprising a protuberance resembling the nipple of a female breast protruding from proximate the center of the outer surface of the areola portion of the nipple enhancer, (ii) donning an article of clothing, such as a bra, so as to cover at least a portion of at least one breast, and (iii) placing the nipple enhancer between the article of clothing and the breast with the inner surface of the areola portion of the nipple enhancer in direct physical contact with the breast in the absence of an adhesive. The nipple portion produces the appearance of an erect nipple through the article of clothing. In a second embodiment, the method comprises the steps of (i) obtaining a pair of pliable nipple enhancers wherein each nipple enhancer includes at least, (a) an areola portion having a convex outer surface and a concave inner surface configured and arranged to resemble the areola of a female breast, and (b) a nipple portion comprising a protuberance resembling the nipple of a female breast protruding from proximate the center of the outer surface of the areola portion of the nipple enhancer, (ii) donning an article of clothing, such as a bra, so as to cover at least a portion of both breasts, and (iii) placing a first of the nipple enhancers between the article of clothing and a first breast and a second of the nipple enhancers between the article of clothing and a second breast with the inner surface of the areola portion of each nipple enhancer in direct physical contact with the breast in the absence of an adhesive. The nipple portion of each nipple enhancer produces the appearance of an erect nipple through the article of clothing. In a third embodiment, the method comprises the steps of (i) donning an article of clothing which directly contacts the breast, such as a bra, and (ii) placing an adhesive free areola and nipple prosthesis between the article of clothing and the breast with the prosthesis in direct physical contact with the breast. At least the nipple portion of the prosthesis extends sufficiently from the outer contour of the breast to give the appearance of an erect nipple through the article of clothing.

The effect of parity on age-related degenerative changes in sagittal balance. Retrospective cohort study OBJECTIVE.: Evaluate the effects of parity (number of births) on measures of sagittal posture in older adult females. The long term objective of this study is to identify and mitigate factors contributing to age-related postural deformity in older adults. Adult spinal deformity is a prevalent condition that often requires costly surgical management. Females are disproportionately represented in spinal deformity surgical cases with up to 90% of patients being female. The potential contributions of pregnancy on postural degeneration have only begun to be acknowledged and require further study. Two hundred and eight females with standing lateral radiographs were selected from the TwinsUK register. Parity information was extracted from questionnaires. Sagittal balance measurements (thoracic kyphosis, TK; lumbar lordosis, LL; pelvic incidence, PI) were collected and PI-LL mismatch was calculated. One-way ANOVA tests were done between three separate age categories for measures of sagittal balance and parity and stepwise multivariate regression was done for PI-LL. Both age and PI-LL mismatch significantly differed between parity categories. PI-LL was on average 7.0 ± 2.5 ° greater in multiparous (3+ births) subjects than in nulliparous subjects (p < 0.01). Parity did not have an independent relationship with lumbar disc degeneration, lumbar BMD, or any of the individual sagittal balance parameters (p > 0.05 for all), except for PI-LL. From a sub-analysis of the effect of parity on sagittal alignment within twin pairs, we found that within pair differences in parity associate with within pair differences in thoracic kyphosis. This study established correlations between measures of spinal curvature in older women and parity for the first time. Longitudinal research is required to establish a causative relationship. 4.

The present invention relates to a carriage assembly for a printer and in particular a detachable carriage assembly which can be quickly and easily detached and replaced as necessary. It should be understood that while the invention relates to a carriage assembly for any types of a printer, it will be discussed herein in relationship to a typewriter as the particular type of printer in which the invention is used and, therefore, whenever the word typewriter is used hereinafter, it is intended to cover all types of printers. The prior art carriage assembly for typewriters are attached to the typewriter frame in a very complicated and unwieldy manner. The carriage mechanism is integrally formed with a pulley support assembly and may include the daisy wheel or other print mechanism, the motor to drive the print mechanism, the solenoid to cause the print mechanism to engage the platen holding the paper, the ribbonholder and ribbon winding mechanism, any ribbons used for erasure, any electrical circuits for driving the electronics on the print mechanism, and other mechanical or electrical equipment. Further, since the carriage assembly usually moves on parallel horizontal shafts, bearings must be utilized on those shafts and as the bearings wear through use, and it becomes necessary to replace them, or if for any reason the carriage has to be removed, the entire carriage assembly and pulley support assembly must be removed and replaced and the cables removed and the procedure by which this is accomplished is very time consuming and complex. In such cases, the cable tension must be readjusted. In other cases, the shaft or shafts on which the pulley support assembly and combined carriage assembly ride must be removed entirely in order to remove the carriage assembly. This is also a complex and time consuming procedure. The present invention overcomes the disadvantages and complexities of the prior art by providing a carriage assembly having all the elements thereon as described above and yet which is detachably mounted on a pulley support assembly movably coupled to one of two spaced supports and slidably attached to a bearing assembly slidably mounted on the other of said spaced supports. Thus simply by removing two screws which hold the carriage assembly to the pulley support assembly, the carriage assembly may be lifted off the pulley support assembly and slidably removed from the bearing assembly on the other parallel support, the electrical cable disconnected and the entire unit removed and replaced in like manner in simply a matter of minutes. Further, the pulley support assembly on which the carriage assembly rides has an adjustable bearing by which it is mounted on the first parallel support whereby, as wear occurs, the bearing can be adjusted and tightened without having to remove the pulley support assembly. Further, the pulley support assembly has its own cable drive system which moves the pulley support assembly in a horizontal plane parallel to the cylindrical platen thereby carrying the carriage assembly in proximate spaced relationship to the platen for typing purposes. The pulley support assembly has its own cable tension adjusting means attached to the cable which can be adjusted separately to maintain the proper tension on the cable for proper carriage movement. Further, inasmuch as the pulley support assembly is carrying the detachable carriage assembly, it is desirable and necessary that means be provided for adjusting the relative position of the carriage assembly with respect to the cylindrical platen. Normally this is done by adjusting the cylindrical platen in both vertical and horizontal planes. In the present invention, it is accomplished by a simple adjustment of the parallel support carrying the pulley support assembly whereby the parallel support is adjusted in a horizontal plane by a simple movement thus enabling the carriage assembly riding upon the pulley support assembly to also be moved in relationship to the cylindrical platen.

The Human Genome Project (HGP) spurred a great increase in sequencing throughput and resulted in a corresponding drop in sequencing costs. In contrast to the 13 years and cost of nearly three billion US dollars per genome, sequencing costs have been reduced significantly—indeed two individual genomes have recently been completed (McGuire et al., Science 317:1687 (2007)). Personal genomes represent a paradigm shift in medical treatment for both patients and health care providers. By managing genetic risk factors for disease, health care providers can more readily practice preventative medicine and provide customized treatment. With large banks of completed genomes, drug design and administration can be more efficient, pushing forward the nascent field of pharmacogenomics. To popularize customized medical treatment for individuals, the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) set a benchmark of reducing per-genome sequencing costs from ten million to approximately one thousand U.S. dollars. Conventional high-throughput capillary electrophoresis and automated genome sequencing technology, however, cannot satisfy the increased demand for individual genome sequencing. In addition, existing sequencing methods require complicated and error-prone image acquisition and analysis steps. For example, many existing technologies require either the array or detection system to move in order to capture multiple images. The resulting images may then be arranged in order, aligned, and analyzed. Image acquisition, processing, and analysis steps are all prone to errors, take additional time, and require expensive equipment. Conversely, existing systems that do not involve moving optics are typically limited by a very modest number of detecting units. Finally, existing devices do not place the molecule being detected in close proximity to a corresponding detecting unit, which substantially limits the strength of the detected signal. Accordingly, a need exists for devices to reduce the cost of nucleic acid sequencing. To approach the “$1000 genome” paradigm, devices should be capable of sequencing multiple molecules in parallel, have simplified design and manufacture processes, and avoid the need of existing devices and methods for complicated and error-prone scanning and image analysis processes. Additionally, the devices should be capable of sequencing single molecules to avoid the known difficulty of asynchrony in both the amplification (e.g., drift between the sequences of ideally clonal templates) and sequencing (e.g., dephasing of the stepwise sequencing reactions amongst the sequencing templates) steps of clustered sequencing methods.

The role of drive for thinness in the association between weight status misperception and disordered eating. Weight status misperception is related to disordered eating outcomes, but little research has explored the differential impacts of misperception directionality, nor factors that explain these relationships. Self-Discrepancy Theory applied to body image gives a framework to how weight status over-perception may prompt a drive for thinness, which in turn may be important in the development of disordered eating cognitions and behaviors. To that end, the current study tested whether drive for thinness may account for the association between direction of weight status misperception and disordered eating behaviors. Young adults (N = 522) completed measures identifying weight status perception (accurate, under-, and over-perception), drive for thinness, and disordered eating attitudes and behaviors (appearance satisfaction, restrained, uncontrolled, and emotional eating). Indirect effect models with drive for thinness entered as the intervening variable were estimated for each outcome. Drive for thinness accounted for the associations between weight status misperception and all outcomes. In general, compared to either accurate or under-perception, over-perception of weight status was associated with more disordered eating attitudes and behaviors via higher drive for thinness. Consistent with Self-Discrepancy Theory, drive for thinness emerged as a possible mechanism of the association between weight status misperception and disordered eating outcomes. Findings suggest potential utility in targeting drive for thinness, as opposed to accuracy of weight status perception, for prevention of disordered eating attitudes and behaviors, including those that may contribute to weight gain.

"KARELLEN:" "Previously on Childhood's End..." "SIOBHAN:" "They're downing all air traffic all over the world." "REPORTER:" "At least 40 cities around the world now have these vessels hovering over them." "My name is Karellen." "I am the Supervisor for Earth." "Suffering will end." "Injustice will end." "War, famine, inequality." "These will be things of the past." "SIOBHAN:" "It's world peace." "All hold hands and sing Kumbaya." "KARELLEN:" "This is an invasion." "Ahhh!" "All right!" "DANLOW:" "I just heard they kidnapped a farmer named Richard Stormgren." "There's no need to be afraid." "My name is Karellen." " Why are you here?" " We need a messenger." "Gentlemen, welcome to the Golden Age of Man." "Your mind..." "It just blossomed when they arrived, didn't it?" "They say that science is dying." "So what do you wanna do about that?" "I wanna be the first person to visit their planet." "Milo!" "No!" "Oh, God!" "No, no." "No matter how mighty the Overlords may seem." "We can never give up the fight." "As long as you stay hidden back here, there's always gonna be people that don't trust you." "KARELLEN:" "Your work is done here." " What?" " KARELLEN:" "Goodbye." "(SOBBING)" "There is no need to be afraid." "MILO:" "It's now the year 2035, and just look at us." "Nineteen years after the Overlords' arrival, four years after Karellen revealed his true form, we're living our lives under their watchful gaze." "No inequality, no crime, no war." "Our differences put aside, one society now under the hospices of the World Federation." "We have renewable, clean energy and enough food to feed the planet." "All of our material needs satisfied." "Death is still a fact of life," "But free from disease, stress, and all the things that turned us gray." "We live longer, healthier lives." "The birthrate is soaring." "We have a world that we are proud to bring children into." "For those who cling to the old ways, there's always New Athens." "(HORNS BLARING)" "But for the rest of us, it's the Golden Age of Man." "Utopia." "So, why am I terrified for the future?" "You might call it blissful ignorance." "But it's still ignorance." "Even at The Boyce Institute, scientific enquiry is dying." "If anything, since Karellen forged a special bond with Dr. Rupert Boyce, it's dying even faster." "I want to know why." "Hey." "Didn't realize they'd close your whole program down." "Yeah, well, we designed the space orbital and the engineers are building it." "Dr. Boyce can give you another research post." "I asked him." "He bounced it back." "The Orbital's probably gonna be our last serious project." "I hope I'm wrong." "So that means you're leaving Africa?" "Yeah." "Maybe." "I mean, what's there to keep me?" "Yeah, sure." "Are you stealing the Titan drives?" "(CHUCKLING) Of course not." "I mean, nobody steals anything anymore, Rachel." "Okay, but you..." "You are stealing six petabytes of hard drive." "Private research." "I mean, for 20 years the Overlords have told us precisely nothing about themselves." "About where they come from, about their language." "I'm a guy that likes to know stuff." "Don't be such a fruitcake." "(SOFTLY) No, no, no, no." "Don't rip my house apart again." "Thank you." "(ROOSTER CROWING IN THE DISTANCE)" "(HORSE NEIGHING IN THE DISTANCE)" "Very good to see you, Ricky." "Wow." "You just, uh..." "Show up." "You don't call, you don't write." "You know, I never got to ask you." "Uh, I mean, you guys have..." "You've done this before on other worlds, right?" "So," "I mean, have there been other guys like me?" "You know, I mean have you picked some fish guy to talk to the fish people on Fish Planet, or something like that?" "How are you feeling?" "Um..." "I feel fine." "Uh, tired." "I'm really tired." "Pretty much been, uh, been harvesting nonstop." "You know, Ellie and I are still trying to get pregnant, and that's not going so well." "Plus, the Rams have had a terrible start to their season so this whole Utopia thing's a bit of a debatable point in our house right now." "Obviously, you didn't come here to talk about football." "No, I didn't." "So, why are you here?" "To apologize." "For what?" "Should I sugar the pill?" "(WHIRRING)" "Karellen?" "Yeah." "Yeah, everything's okay." "I'm glad everything's okay." "Why is it okay?" "Nah, he's just checking in on us." "Making sure we're all right." "In the middle of the night?" "Sure he was." "What?" "Seriously." "Hey." "Everything is fine." "REPORTER 1:" "We found three eyewitnesses now who all saw a pod blasting away from the Stormgren farm." "So it's official sports fans," "Karellen has been back to visit his Blue Collar Prophet after 20 years." "REPORTER 2:" "It's fair to say that here on this side of the pond, curiosity is just as high as in the former US." "REPORTER 1:" "According to our affiliate in Missouri, we do have confirmation now..." "REPORTER 3:" "We don't know what the Supervisor for Earth has told Ricky but undoubtedly it's significant." "And the world once again turns to a modest farm in Missouri." "Give me some credit here, Ricky." "Karellen didn't come down to see if we were flossing regularly." "Well, he said that the Earth has a new destiny." "What does that mean?" "I have..." "I have no idea what's waiting for us." "TOMMY:" "Dad, come see this." "JAKE:" "Oh." "TOMMY:" "It's Karellen." " He's back." " NEWS ANCHOR:" "The Spokesman of Earth has been scientist and entrepreneur, Rupert Boyce." "Why Karellen returned to the Stormgren farm last night..." "I would not mind being a fly on that wall, huh?" "Yeah, it's got to be important." "I mean, if he's back, something's going to happen." "Oh." "JAKE:" "Nice." "(RUMBLING)" "(LLAMA BRAYING)" "(ANIMALS SCREECHING)" "(RUMBLING)" "(RUMBLING CONTINUES)" "(DOGS BARKING)" "(ANIMALS SCREECHING)" "(SCREECHES)" "MORTON:" "Dr. Boyce?" "Dr. Boyce?" " What is it?" " MORTON:" "It's not us." "Not an earthquake." "It just appeared." "MORTON:" "Dr. Boyce?" "Dr. Boyce, we don't know where it came from." "I know where it came from. (CHUCKLES)" "(WHIRRING)" "They just built it." "Just like that. (SNAPS FINGERS)" "(CHUCKLES) Incredible." "MORTON:" "They just..." "Just created an entire room." "Karellen said that something special was coming." "I think it's magnificent." "MORTON:" "Why all of this for just a child's toy?" "DR. BOYCE:" "No, no, no, no, no." "This is no toy. (CHUCKLES)" "(LOW WHIRRING)" "What's with the board, Karellen?" "Huh?" "You want us talking to ghosts?" "It is a communication device." "One assumes he wants us to talk to somebody." "(WHIRRING)" "(BUZZING)" "(PANTING)" "(WHISPERING) We have to save the children." "(BREATHING HEAVILY) We have to save the children." "It'll end and begin." "(SOFTLY) Hey, hey, hey, hey..." "(GASPS)" "(DOOR CLOSES)" " AMY:" "Tommy?" "Tommy?" "Tommy?" "JAKE:" "Shh." "Shh." "All right." "JAKE:" "Tom?" "Tommy?" "Tommy?" "Oh!" "Jesus." "TOMMY:" "It will end and begin." "What are you doing, pal?" "You all right?" "(WHISPERING) Don't touch us." "Come on, let's, uh..." "Let's get you to bed." "Don't touch us!" "(GROANS)" "(COUGHING)" "(BREATHING HEAVILY)" ""Religious criticism has also expressed beliefs that the Ouija board" ""reveals information, which should only be in God's hands." ""And, thus, it is a tool of Satan."" "Don't know what it was." "It was, uh..." "It was a powerful force." "From our nine-year-old son?" "I was physically attacked by something." "Come on, don't start acting weird around him." "JAKE:" "I'm not acting weird." "AMY:" "He thinks that he's done something wrong." "JAKE:" "Look, Amy, you don't remember anything of the nights recently." "I do." "He's walking around with that stare and, you, I mean you're not sleeping well." "I had stomach pains." "You're screaming in your sleep" "about children." " What?" "About saving children." "It's like you're fighting something." "And, and Tom is..." "He's not himself." "All right." "We could take him to see someone, but I don't know exactly what we'd say." "Well, we could start with, um..." ""It will end and begin."" " I take it you're the Greggsons?" " Yes." "And you must be Tom." "Hi, uh..." "We spoke on the phone." "Nice to meet you in person, Miss Jones." "So, uh..." "Uh, you're..." "You're not a doctor?" "No, no, I'm a fully qualified counselor, one of a dying breed." "I don't like it here." "Tom!" "Our son Tommy is having some behavioral issues." "Well, I think it's a little more serious than that." "Mom, I want to go." "I don't like it." "PERETTA:" "I don't blame you, Tom." "(CHUCKLES)" "It's kind of a depressing place, right?" "You probably want to be outside or in your room at home." "Why don't I come visit you there?" "RACHEL:" "The eyes of the macaques..." "You should've seen them." "MILO:" "I saw it in a dog in the street, too." "It's like it wasn't even human, uh, if you know what I mean." "And this is being reported across a 20-mile radius." "Could it have something to do with the animals we've been collecting for the Overlords?" "I'm sure they were just scanning for disease or mange." "Surely there's nothing wrong with asking Karellen." "Dr. Rodricks, isn't your wonderful work with us finished?" "Yes, sir." "Thank you." "But if I could just have five minutes with the Supervisor..." "Dr. Osaka, would you excuse us please?" "I..." "DR. BOYCE:" "You're very much like I was, Milo." "A headstrong young biologist full of ideas and theories, burning through my inheritance trying to make a name for myself." "MILO:(SCOFFS) Yeah, peas in a pod." "DR. BOYCE:" "I understand your frustration." "When the Overlords came, they raised all these exciting questions about the cosmos, but they refused to answer any of them." "It's not just about me." "They've killed scientific enquiry." "Which is why I'm determined to stay as close to them as possible." "That is why I built this place." "That is why I do what they ask." "I'm maintaining as much scientific enquiry as I can." "Sending live animals into space?" "What does that teach us about them?" "Because there's one species they haven't collected." "Us." "Homo sapiens." "Eventually I'll persuade Karellen to take me to his planet." "I'll be the first person to see another planet lit by another sun." "That's, uh..." "That's incredible, Dr. Boyce." "I wish you all the luck in the world." "I'm telling you this because I like you, Milo." "But I'm also warning you." "I need Karellen on side." "So don't go tugging on the lion's tail, son." "It's in my bones and there's nothing they can do." "Make the seconds count, baby." "Every one." "(GASPS)" "Argh!" "Oh!" "(EXHALES)" "(DOORBELL RINGS)" "PERETTA:" "You feel more like talking today, Tom?" "I can't tell them what happens." "PERETTA:" "Why not?" "They get scared if you tell them what's gonna happen." "Well, I'm not your mom or your dad." "You can tell me." "I go places." "Far away." "Where it's dark and where it's hot." "TOMMY:" "Far away." "AMY:" "Maybe we should be in there." "She's a professional." "If she can get him to talk, then that's got to be a good thing, right?" "Do you really think I'm over-reacting?" "PERETTA:" "And what else do you see when you travel, Tom?" "An eye." "A single giant eye." "I see fire in the ground." "Smoke in the air." "It blocks out the stars." "You imagine this place?" "No, I go there." "They take me there." "Who do you think takes you there?" "They do." "The Overlords?" "(ECHOING) It's okay, Tom." "(BABY CRYING)" "It's not real." "It can't hurt you." "It's in your mind." "Minds are funny things." "They can change the way we see the world." "They can fool us." "(BABY CONTINUES CRYING)" "What do you hear, Tom?" "Tell me." "Tell me what you hear." "Shall we get your parents in?" "Tom, what is it?" "Tom?" " Tom, what is it?" "(SCREAMING) No!" "AMY:" "Tom?" " Mom!" " Hey, what's wrong?" "Mom!" "Ahhh!" "What the hell did you do?" " Nothing." "Nothing." "(BABY CONTINUES CRYING)" "PERETTA:" "Listen to me..." "Tom, you need to stop." "Ahhh!" "Tom?" "(INAUDIBLE) -(BABY CRYING LOUDLY)" " Tom?" " Stop!" "JAKE:" "Tom, look at me." "Will you stop!" "(INAUDIBLE) -(BABY CRYING LOUDLY)" "(CHOKING)" "(PERETTA GASPING)" "It's okay, Mom." "It's okay." "The baby's stopped crying." "I'm..." "I'm not having a baby, Tom." "(PANTING)" "Hey, Peretta?" "Wait." "Wait." "Jeez." "You saw that, right?" "What is going on?" "I mean, what is it?" "What's..." "What's wrong with Tom?" "I don't know what I just saw." " I have to go." " No, hey, Peretta..." "You're coming back, though, right?" "I mean, my own son is scaring me." "Be safe, Jake." "Bye." "(DOOR OPENS)" "Hey." "What's happening?" "I'll take your jacket here." "Got it." "Wow." "I know he told you something and I know when you're holding something back." "(CLEARS THROAT)" "Don't sugarcoat it." "Listen, Els, all those times I went to the Overlords' ship, um..." "CHILDREN:" "Hey, Ricky!" "(CHILDREN LAUGHING)" "You gotta be kidding me." "(INDISTINCT CHATTER)" "RICKY:" "Guys, back on the other side of the fence." "You can't be over here." "ALL:" "Ricky!" "Ricky!" "RICKY:" "Come on, let's go inside." "What do you people want?" " Ellie." " A sermon from the Mount?" "Karellen tells us no more than he tells you." "(GROANS)" "Ahh!" "(GROANING)" "Your lymph system is under huge strain." "White cells are going through a rapid metastasis." "Now, we can drastically reduce the rate of organ decay." "But, uh..." "But you can't stop it." "I'm afraid it also explains why you haven't been able to conceive a child." "(SIGHS)" "Doc?" "Could you..." " Yeah." " RICKY:" "Thanks." "You can beat this." "(SIGHS DEEPLY)" "Karellen said that there was something in the fabric of the ship." "It poisoned me." "I don't think I can beat this, Els." "You did everything that they asked of you." "He won't let you down and he won't let you die." "I'm sorry." " Hey, no, no, no." "I'm sorry." " I'm sorry that I can't give you..." "Come here." "This is me." "Shh." "Shh." "Shh." "Shh." "Shh." "(ELLIE CRYING)" "(EXHALES)" "I need to talk to you." "We never had a normal life since you chose him." "We can't have real friends." "We don't have children." "You owe us, Karellen." "(ROCK AND ROLL MUSIC PLAYING ON RADIO)" "Help us!" "(RADIO CLATTERS)" "Hello, stranger." "Jim." "What are you doing here?" "Someone's gotta keep her spick-and-span." "How's the congregation?" "We could almost muster a baseball team." "We miss you, Peretta." "I'm sorry, I've been busy." "Why are you shaking?" "I thought that I was seeing a psychology case, this boy with night terrors." "But it's much worse than that." "It stirred up spiritual instincts, I guess." "Things I haven't felt in a long time." "MILO:" "Why do they look like demons?" "Like our exact idea of devils?" "You know every time you ask me a question, you already have an answer." "That's not true." "(SIGHS)" "They look like our idea of devils because they've been here before." "We've been waiting for them." "We knew they were coming, so when they brought about this change, it scared us on some deep level." " Because we could never stop it." " That would imply some kind of" "crazy psychic..." " Yes!" "Yes!" "Psychic connection." "People have been writing about this for centuries." "I mean, ancient mystics talked about an energy." "A relationship between all living things and the stars themselves." "Perhaps we've always known the Overlords were coming." "Okay, so because of some crackpot ancient philosophy, we knew they were coming to do good." "So then why turn them into the personification of evil?" "Mmm." "PERETTA:" "Tom said he was taken here." "I know it's not possible, but that's what he described." "The Overlords, that there is their true colors." "But you've always known that." "You're being melodramatic." "Your mother knew it." "You used to always see things clearly through her eyes." "When did you go blind?" " Please don't bring up my mom." " She died for her faith." "She killed herself because she lost it." "Never apologize for your faith." "Do you think that the Overlords are attacking this family?" "Look at your cross." "They're attacking more than that." "Faith is on its last legs." "It's just we don't see it, 'cause they give us ice cream." "(AMY INHALING)" "JAKE:" "Oh." "AMY:" "There she is." "Oh, my gosh." "Is that a little hand?" "(GASPS)" " Yeah." " Hi, baby." "She's got a good strong heartbeat." "AMY:" "She's very pretty." "Names, names, names." "(JAKE YELLING AND LAUGHING)" "Jane?" "Janey?" "(JAKE YELLS)" "Oh!" "Lauren?" "Oh!" "(LAUGHS)" "Argh!" "JAKE:" "You are going down!" "Und now ve vill soak you viz da Supa-Duper-Soaking Device." " Not me, Dad!" " Ja?" "Get her!" "Get Jennifer!" "Who's Jennifer?" "(LAUGHS)" "(JAKE YELLS)" "Tom just said the strangest thing." "Jennifer." "What?" "I know what to call the baby." "Oh." "That's where he got it from." "What?" "I..." "I just thought of it then." "Nah, you must've mentioned it before." "It just popped into my head." "Divine inspiration." "No, Amy." " You mentioned it to Tom." " No, Jacob." "I didn't." "Do you like it?" "Jennifer." "Mmm." "This is the problem." "We're gonna live forever but we don't have enough to do." "No wonder we feel like we're going out of our minds." "You're not going out of your mind." "Tom asked me the other day if he'd ever have a job." "I told him he didn't need one." "What kind of a message is that?" "We need to reclaim some of what we had when we were kids." " I see where this is going." " Look, I made some calls." "Hold those horses." " We're not moving to New Athens." " Just to visit." "To see it." "It's living life the old way." "There is crime in New Athens." "God, I hope so." "And, uh, litter and hot dog stands which are notoriously bad for you." "And you love." "But you know what else they have?" "They have art and they have culture and they're awake, Amy." "It might be good for all of us to remember how things once were, you know, warts and all." "Do I seem happier to you?" "Yes." "Am I still fighting demons in the dark?" "No." "It's the baby, baby." "She's going to change everything for us." "Yes, Holy Mother." "Send thy angels to defend us." "All, ye, Holy Angels..." "Hey!" " It's them." " Peretta?" "It's them." "The Overlords." " Hey." "Turn the dial down." " They..." " What..." "What about them?" " Are you hurt?" " What is going on?" " We're not hurt." "I don't know." "I don't know." " But they were here." " It's, um, Peretta." " The Overlords were here." " They were here?" "Their pod was here watching the house." " What about Tom?" "Is Tom all right?" " Hey, hey, calm down." "Peretta!" "Just keep your voice down." " I don't want him..." " PERETTA:" "Well, I'm not a hysterical person." "I am a person with faith." "When I was in your house last time," "I felt something, and it did this." "Well, um, things are much better since that day, uh, Peretta." "Tom's much better actually." "And, uh, you bringing it all up again is, uh, just..." "It's going to upset him." "There is no such thing as evil, Peretta." "(SCOFFS)" " AMY:" "We're fine." "Our family is fine." "Come inside, please." "JAKE:" "Yeah." "Well, since that day I haven't been able to stop thinking about it." "Tom told me they take him somewhere to a place of fire and smoke..." "If this is your idea of counseling" "then no wonder it's a dying profession." "...and he is scared." "Thank you for your spiritual concern, Peretta, but, uh, my son does not take night trips to hell." "Thank you." "(DOOR LOCKS)" "A paranormal eye to the soul or just a harmless board game?" "I've finalized the guest list." "Good." "I need to add these people to the guest list." "We're bringing these people all the way out to Africa?" "Apparently, this is where the connection is strongest." "Connection to what?" "Look, just get them here, all right?" "The father's not important, but the mother and the child, they have to be here, do you understand?" " This room was built for them." " Sir, it's not my place to question," "but can't you demand that..." " No." "You don't make demands on Karellen." "The Overlords are deceiving us." "I don't know why but they are." "NEWS ANCHOR:" "But for now, let's go back to Haansvelt, Missouri, and the ongoing developments at Ricky Stormgren's farm, where it seems that the crowds are growing, right?" "REPORTER:" "Yes, as the newly energized Pilgrimage continues to take hold at the Stormgren farm in Missouri, followers and detractors alike are asking the same question." "Why would the Overlords allow their prophet to suffer?" "There has been a great outpouring of support for Ricky Stormgren since his return home from the Hampstead Hospital, just six months ago." "Jake Greggson?" "Yeah." "My name is Morton." "I work for Dr. Rupert Boyce." "Rupert Boyce?" "I know that name." "He wants to redesign his game reserve in the Haansvelt, South Africa." "We're inviting several designers to come visit." "I, uh, I do golf courses." "A lot of people play golf these days." "You don't fancy a fresh challenge?" "That's a long way to come when you could've phoned." "Well, I had other business in California." "(DOOR OPENS)" "MORTON:" "Hello." "You must be Amy." "Hi." "This gentleman wants to fly me to South Africa for a job interview." "Designing, um, a game reserve?" "The whole family's invited." "Big party." "Kids can see the animals." "The other candidates will be there, too." " Sounds amazing." " Yeah." "A little too amazing." "There aren't that many guys doing what you're doing, Jake." "You're special." "I'll think about it." "Of course." "If you're not comfortable flying out then that's fine." "Uh, what's the matter with you?" "You say you're bored out of your mind." "He just pitches up and says he's flying us to Africa?" "Come on." "What's the worst that could happen?" "Go to a party in a beautiful place." "Jake, this is the adventure you've been looking for, don't you think?" "Hey." "Wait." "Morton?" " WOMAN:" "Ellie?" " MAN:" "Ellie?" "ELLIE:" "Please, just let me get by, okay?" "MAN:" "Can you tell us anything?" "Ellie, is there any news?" "ELLIE:" "Just let me through, guys, okay?" "MAN:" "We don't mean you no harm." "If there's anything we can do to help you, just let us know." "Look, it's just my shopping, okay?" "It's really not that interesting." "MAN:" "Any word?" "(INDISTINCT CHATTER)" " Oh, my God." " ELLIE:" "Please just leave it." "Just leave it please." "I'm fine." " PERETTA:" "It's fine." "Let me help." " I'm fine." "Okay." "I'll get out of your face." "I'm sorry." "I'm impressed." "You're doing great." "Can you juggle the apples while you do that, too?" "How about this?" "I will take the bike, I'll wheel it to your front door, and then you can frog-march me off your land." "(SIGHS) Deal." "These children, they shouldn't be here." "None of you should." "It really doesn't achieve anything." "Oh, I didn't come with them." "I'm a counselor." "I just thought these people seemed a little lost." "Like, they might need some support." "I mean, you and Ricky, you must feel pretty isolated out here." "Thanks." "I can, uh, take it from here." ""A golden dawn comes shining from the eyes of God."" "Wow." "(BEEPS)" " RACHEL:" "Hey." " Hey." "Wanna hear what I found in this text, Corpus Hermiticum?" "I love discussing the Corpus Hermiticum on a Saturday night." "I mean, what girl doesn't?" "But do you wanna go to the party with me?" "I mean, Karellen might be there and everyone else from the center is bringing their significant other." "I mean, not that we're, um..." "Uh, yeah." "Great." "ALL:" "Run, run, run." "PERETTA:" "Like, side to side." "(ALL YELLING)" "ALL:" "Yay!" "ELLIE:" "Yeah, it can feel like a fortress here." "Everybody wants something." "A little communion wine?" " Amen." "(CHUCKLES)" "Oh." "What is that?" "Aguardiente." "My mother used to take a drop every Saturday night." "(ELLIE CHUCKLES)" "Not too many drops, I hope." "I'm sorry." "Is she..." "My mom was a missionary." "And when Karellen arrived, he killed the need for God." "And so she killed herself." "Oh, Peretta, I'm sorry." "But I'm not sure that God ever really helped any of us." "(STAMMERS) I don't believe that." "He gave us diseases, and when we found cures for those, he created new ones." "God was just this black void that we cried into." "But only the Overlords answered." "But, hey, if God wants to trump Karellen, bring it on." "Isn't there something in the Bible about barren women having children?" "If God's selling, then I'm buying." "You can't have children?" "I should go." "Giraffes." "It's a whole herd of them." "Elephants." "Down there." "Do you see them?" "Here's my plus one." "Rachel." "What's wrong with me?" "Uh..." "Nothing." "Nothing at all." "You look..." "Your dress is..." "Well, your dress is attractively symmetrical." "The way it, uh, yeah." ""Attractively symmetrical." Is that Keats?" "No." "Who's Keats?" "And look at you." "All dressed up to meet an Overlord." "What will you do if you see one?" "Uh, buy him a drink and ask him some questions?" "(RACHEL GIGGLING)" "(CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYING)" "This is the kokoro symbol." "I had a pendant as a kid." "Lost it skinny-dipping in Lake Towada." "Means love." "Oh." "Thank you." "Uh, I..." "I'll go check your coat." "All of this is for an interview?" "Excuse me, please." "Jake." "And family." "Pleasure's all mine." " Thanks so much for coming out all this way." " Hi." "And you must be Tom?" "We have some exceptionally cool things for you to see." " Are you game?" " Sure." "Morton, would you mind escorting this young man to our Exhibit Room?" "You are gonna love it." "Lions and tigers and bears, oh, my!" "Absolutely." "Hey, don't touch anything." "It might bite." "MORTON:" "He'll be fine." "So, um, how'd you wanna play this, Dr. Boyce?" "I actually took the liberty of sketching a few ideas." "Let's just enjoy the party, shall we?" "Mrs. Greggson, if I may?" "Sure. (CHUCKLES)" "I promise I'll bring her back." "WOMAN:" "Dostoevsky, Orwell," "Dickens' stories came from characters rising above their situation." "Who'd write Hard Times now?" "Armistead Maupin wrote about the stigma of being gay." "My partner and I can kiss in the street without raising a hair." "What the hell would Maupin write about now?" "If you guys have a hankering for the past, then I hear the place to go is New Athens." "Income tax and homophobia?" "Book me a ticket." "JAKE:" "So, you guys don't design golf courses, do you?" "WOMAN:" "Oh, no." "We're from the World Federation." "No kidding." "Oh, hey, hey." " Thanks." " Of course." "Not your scene either?" "Oh, I used to work with these bozos." "Don't knock it." "A job's a rare commodity." "Life of leisure, huh?" "It's the dream." "Not my dream." "Milo Rodricks." "All right." "Jake Greggson." "I actually came here for a job interview." "A job?" "I think you missed a beat." "I mean, Boyce is closing this place down, he's not taking people on." "Not taking people on?" "Then why the hell are we here?" "I should probably get back inside." "Uh, here's my card." "Let me know how it turns out." "(WHIRRING)" "(WHIRRING CONTINUES)" "JAKE:" "Hey." " Tom back?" " Not yet." "Look, um..." "I don't think this is about a job interview." "I don't know what it's about." " You want to get out of here?" " Yeah." "I'll go find Tom." "All right, just give me a sec." "I'll be back." "What the hell's up with you?" "He's here." "He's actually here." " Who?" " Karellen." "BOYCE:" "Ladies and gentlemen. (CLAPS)" "If I could have your attention, please." "I know we've all been waiting, so without any further delay, I'd like to introduce our special guest." "I give you the Supervisor for Earth." "(CROWD MURMURING)" "(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)" "Good evening, everyone." "So..." "You have solved many of the problems your science was chasing." "Disease." "Climate change. (CHUCKLES)" "And as a consequence, much of your research is now redundant." "Nevertheless, you should be proud of what you have accomplished." " Bravo." "(APPLAUSE)" "Now I know there's been some concern as to why I acquired so many animals for the Overlords." "They are to be shipped to Karellen's home world as part of a great menagerie, a zoo." "They will not be harmed and they will live longer." "Supervisor, I wanted to..." " I wanted to ask about the..." " Not now, Rodricks." "You're killing scientific curiosity." "I admire the work you have done, but your scientific curiosity has led you dangerously close to forces that you could never have controlled." "They would have destroyed you." "They saved us from ourselves." "Why are we being kept in the dark?" "You now have peace and the way has been prepared for your successors." "I'd like to thank everybody who worked on the World Federation Observation Orbital." "I'd like to probably turn that into an acronym as well. (LAUGHS)" "(CLEARS THROAT) Um, and, uh, please enjoy the rest of the evening." "(CROWD MURMURING)" "Mrs. Greggson, I realize this might seem like an odd request but the Supervisor would like to meet with you privately." "(CHUCKLES) Uh, I'm sorry, why does he want to meet with me?" "I'm not entirely sure, but if I were you I'd take it as a compliment." "Dinosaurs ruled the world for 200 million years." "What happened to them?" "I guess they just had their time." "Wait a second, I've been here." " I've seen these." " Now, hold on, son." "I want to find Dad." "Just..." "Just give them more time." "JAKE:" "More time for what, Mr. Morton?" "You're going to tell me why we're really here." "But first you're going to let go of my son." "We're not trying to hurt anyone, Jake." "Believe me, we just need more time." "Like I said, more time for what?" "(BUZZING)" "(GASPS)" "Mrs. Greggson, if I could introduce Karellen." "Perhaps you could explain to us what the room is for?" "Step up onto the platform." "I want you to put your hand on the disk." "Karellen, I think it would be nice if you could give us an explanation as to what you're expecting from us." "I'm expecting nothing from you, Dr. Boyce." "Amy, trust me." "Please do as I ask." "(THUNDER RUMBLING)" "KARELLEN:" "You will find a new voice inside you that I can now speak with." "You need to trust us." "Okay, I want a gyro waiting for us outside right now." "Tom, come on." "Tom!" "KARELLEN:" "Don't fight." "You've been fighting from the beginning." "She's not fighting." "I'm not talking to Amy." "You cannot protect the Earth." "You must accept what you are." "BOYCE:" "I don't understand what's happening." "I'm asking you to stop until you explain it to us." "KARELLEN:" "You know who you really are and what you are joined with." "So tell me and tell yourself." "You are singular and myriad." "One and many." "Reveal yourself to me." "Reveal yourself to me." "Karellen." "Listen to my voice." "(AMY BREATHING SHAKILY)" "You're trying to be a child." "But, you cannot be a child knowing yourself as you do." "Tom." "KARELLEN:" "Listen to my voice." "This has to stop." "Accept who you are." "You're hurting her." "BOTH:" "Don't touch us!" "(WHIRRING)" "(GROANING)" "(THUNDER RUMBLING)" "TOMMY:" "I hear you." "I'm coming." "(WHIRRING)" "Tom!" "Tom, wait!" "Tom!" "Tom!" "Jennifer." "She's awake." "No!" "(AMY SCREAMS)" "Tom!" "(PANTING)" "It is done." "She is awake." "She accepts and she understands." "Now they will follow." "Hey, buddy." "Hey, hey, Tom?" "JAKE:" "Hey, hey, Tom?" "Hey." "Tom?" "Hey." "(CRYING) Dad, I'm so sorry." "It's Jennifer." "She's so strong." "No, no, no, no, I'm sorry." "I'm sorry." "Oh, my God." "It's their alphabet." "That's what it is, it stands for their alphabet." "Can I..." "Sorry." "Have you got something to write with, anything like a pen, something?" " I..." "Um..." " Lipstick, yeah, that's perfect." " Oh, that..." " Sorry." "It was a connection." "What we saw was a conversation between down here and something up there using their language." "That's Herve Leger Red and it's my favorite." "All right, so, each symbol is a letter in their alphabet." "And I think that they base their alphabet on constellations." "That's why you draw all over your star charts." "I've charted every letter I can find." "This one is new." "I recognize the pattern, Rachel." "We got to go." "Okay." "Amy?" "AMY:" "Jake!" " Jake." " Amy." "(CRYING)" "Honey... (SOBS) Please, please, can we just go?" "JAKE:" "Okay." "Stay away from us." "Tom." "BOYCE:" "Why would Karellen want to connect with your unborn child?" "Aims, keep walking." "What is it you're carrying?" "I saw something, a vision..." "I don't even know." "Amy, let's go." " I don't..." " Come on." "I'm sorry." "What was it I saw, Amy?" "(MOANING)" "(MOANING LOUDLY)" "You see?" "Now, you see, each symbol is a star system, but none of them can support planetary life, which I found odd." "RACHEL:" "So, this symbol, this letter..." "MILO:" "Only it's not a symbol." "It's a constellation, the Carina system." "And this one is different." "It's the only system with planets." "(CHUCKLING)" "(SCREAMING)" "That is the home world of the Overlords." "(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)" "(CHUCKLES)" "(GUN FIRING)" "Son of a bitch." "(SIGHS)" "(RADIO STATIC)" "(PEOPLE CHEERING)" "All right, all right, settle down." " I need to go on through." " No one's getting through." "She's my friend." "She needs me." "Call me crazy but I'd hoped you'd be back." "Well, better to embrace acceptance than hope, Ricky." "Well, don't knock it." "It worked." "When you disappeared all those years ago, I kind of felt offended." "I guess I got used to being pals with God." "Whenever you summon God, you want comfort." "Yet the very idea of him makes you confused and afraid." "He is a stick that you feel you must lean on." "But the stick burns." "(HISSES)" "On the bench." "It is for you." "What is it?" "Ricky, we have no need to apply our resources to save our own lives." "Will it save my life?" "This can repair the damage to your body." "It's very difficult to make." "This is all there is of it." "(DOOR OPENS)" "Forgive me, we should have met sooner." "Yes, we should have." "It's been hard, what Ricky has had to do." "It's harder still on the one who has to wait." "The one who can only watch but never follow." "It is even harder on those who cannot accept." "(DOOR OPENS)" "Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, who's this?" "Peretta, what are you doing here?" "Whatever it promised you, it is a lie." "You lied to them." "You lied to us all." "They deserve the truth." "You made your prophet sick." " RICKY:" "Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa." " They can't have children." "Tell them the truth about what you really are." "The truth." "The truth is that your illness did not make you sterile." "That was my doing." "You said that that was from going to the ship." "That it was a mistake." "No." "I have stopped you having children." "(GUN COCKING)" "Ellie?" "Maybe you don't know as much as you think about us, Karellen." "But you see that we are meant to have children, to raise and to love and to watch grow." "Yes." "You robbed us of a family, after everything we did for you!" " Hey." " Stop." " Let it go." "(SOBBING)" "No." "No, they never wanted what was best for us." "They want to destroy us." "RICKY:" "How could you do this?" "I sold you to the world." "The day is coming, Ricky, when your world will change forever." "It will be harder on those who have children." "I cannot stop that." "We are not masters but merely the servants, but I could spare you the pain of being parents." "No." "How dare you!" "It is not your right to decide!" " No." " Enough!" "(GUN FIRING)" "(GASPING)" "(BREATHING HEAVILY)" "Oh, my friend." "I just wanted to spare you the pain of what is coming." " What's coming?" "(GROANS)" "Karellen, what happens to the children?" "I chose you." "Out of all the world..." "I chose you." "(BREATHING HOARSELY)" "Let it die!" "(INHALES)" "(SOBBING)" "Whether I am alive or dead, makes no difference to what is coming." "You will never take away my faith." "All the world's religions cannot be right, Peretta." "You know that." "Your faith is beautiful as poetry is beautiful." "But there is no place for it now." "You..." "You deceived us." "No, you have deceived yourselves." "No." "Nine million species." "How did he pick them?" "Was it just a random lottery?" "Out of a hat?" "Who?" "Karellen?" "Noah, for his Ark." "WOMAN: (WHISPERING) Peretta." "Mom." "(AMY SCREAMING)" "NURSE:" "Push." "Hang in there, Amy." "Concentrate, come on." "Push!" "(SCREAMING)" "There you go." "That's it." "You're almost there." "Come on." "Here we go." "One more push, honey." "She's almost here." "She's coming." "There we go." "JAKE:" "Oh!" "NURSE:" "There she is." "Here's your baby." "It's your daughter." "She's beautiful." "AMY:" "Jennifer."

Down-regulation of Raf-1 kinase is associated with paclitaxel resistance in human breast cancer MCF-7/Adr cells. Experiments were carried out to determine the role of Raf-1 kinase in the development of drug resistance and apoptosis induced by paclitaxel. In the present study, paclitaxel sensitivity, Raf-1 activity and mitogen-activated protein kinases activation were compared in two cell lines: parental human breast cancer cells and its drug resistant variant (MCF-7/Adr) cells. Paclitaxel treatment of parental MCF-7 cells caused a marked inhibition of Raf-1 kinase activity, concomitant with its mobility shift after 18 h exposure. In addition, paclitaxel greatly increased c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK) activity whereas showing a small enhancing effect on extracellular-regulated kinases (ERK) activity. Interestingly, MCF-7/Adr cells have lower basal Raf-1 activity, yet have much higher basal ERK activity than parental cells. However, it appeared that PD 98059, which turns off ERK through mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) inhibition, enhanced basal Raf-1 kinase activity in MCF-7/Adr cells. Thus, the findings suggest that paclitaxel-induced apoptosis is mediated by JNK and occurs in parallel with suppression of the Raf-1 kinase activity in parental MCF-7 cells. In addition, down-regulation of Raf-1 kinase, which can be induced through the sustained ERK activation, may contribute to the development of acquired resistance in MCF-7/Adr cells.

This proposal is designed to provide a comprehensive view of the development of motility by mammalian sperm during epididymal transit. It is based upon existing knowledge of the roles of calcium ion, cyclic AMP, and pH in regulating motility in mature and immature sperm and on our demonstration that adenosine may play a key role in stimulating motility in both mature and immature sperm by virtue of its ability to lower cytosolic levels of calcium ion. We provide evidence in the proposal which allows the description of a sequence of biochemical events in bovine caudal sperm leading from adenosine to the elevation of cyclic AMP levels and the onset of motility. We will test the hypothesis that adenosine stimulates motility in mature bovine sperm by lowering the level of cytoplasmic calcium ion and that this in turn stimulates adenylate cyclase, inhibits cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase, elevates cyclic AMP levels, increases protein phosphorylation, and alters the phosphorylation of CaM-dependent protein kinase substrates. We will also test the hypothesis that bovine caput sperm are immotile because this sequence of events cannot occur. This view is consistent with data we have obtained which shows that bovine caput sperm contain exceptionally high levels of calcium ion (0.8-0.9muM), low levels of adenosine and cyclic AMP and a pHi some 0.4 pH units lower than motile caudal sperm. We will test this view by manipulating, one at a time, the intracellular levels of adenosine, calcium, cyclic AMP, and pHi in caput sperm while simultaneously measuring the levels of all other factors and monitoring sperm motility. In this and all studies in the proposal we will monitor both sperm head and flagellar movement parameters by a fully computerized method developed in our laboratory during the last funding period. In the final stages of the project we will test the hypothesis that the function of the bovine epididymis in the development of sperm motility is to progressively alter, by interaction of sperm and androgen-dependent secretory proteins of epididymal principal cells, the levels of the above factors toward the levels found in mature sperm. To do this we will first determine the levels of all factors in successive segments of the epididymis and correlate these levels with complete motility profiles. Subsequently, we will coculture epididymal principal cells, previously cultured in the presence and absence of androgens, from epididymal regions where significant changes in the levels of calcium, adenosine, cyclic AMP, pHi or the pattern of motility occur and determine whether isolated sperm under the influence of epithelial cell secretory proteins undergo the same changes in culture as were noted in the intact epididymis. If this is found to be so, we will isolate, purify, and characterize these proteins by taking advantage of known, predetermined functions. Successful execution of the aims described in this proposal will lead from a new description of the mechanisms of motility in mature sperm to a new view of how sperm become motile in the epididymis.

Teaching periodontal pocket charting to dental students: a comparison of computer assisted learning and traditional tutorials. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of a computer assisted learning (CAL) programme with that of traditional small group tutorials in teaching theoretical and practical aspects of periodontal pocket charting. Sixty-one third year undergraduate dental students were randomized to either receive a tutorial or to work through the CAL programme. Students using the CAL programme completed questionnaires relating to previous computer experience and the ease of use of the programme. All students were assessed immediately after the intervention by means of a confidence log, a practical exercise and a further confidence log. They were assessed again three weeks later by means of a confidence log and a multiple-choice written test. There were very few significant differences between groups for any of the assessments used. However, subjective comments indicated that students occasionally felt disadvantaged if they had not received a tutorial. CAL and traditional teaching methods are equally effective in teaching periodontal pocket charting to undergraduate dental students.

Prolonged university outbreak of meningococcal disease associated with a serogroup B strain rarely seen in the United States. College students living in residential halls are at increased risk of meningococcal disease. Unlike that for serogroups prevented by quadrivalent meningococcal vaccines, public health response to outbreaks of serogroup B meningococcal disease is limited by lack of a US licensed vaccine. In March 2010, we investigated a prolonged outbreak of serogroup B disease associated with a university. In addition to case ascertainment, molecular typing of isolates was performed to characterize the outbreak. We conducted a matched case-control study to examine risk factors for serogroup B disease. Five controls per case, matched by college year, were randomly selected. Participants completed a risk factor questionnaire. Data were analyzed using conditional logistic regression. Between January 2008 and November 2010, we identified 13 meningococcal disease cases (7 confirmed, 4 probable, and 2 suspected) involving 10 university students and 3 university-linked persons. One student died. Ten cases were determined to be serogroup B. Isolates from 6 confirmed cases had an indistinguishable pulsed-field gel electrophoresis pattern and belonged to sequence type 269, clonal complex 269. Factors significantly associated with disease were Greek society membership (matched odds ratio [mOR], 15.0; P = .03), >1 kissing partner (mOR, 13.66; P = .03), and attending bars (mOR, 8.06; P = .04). The outbreak was associated with a novel serogroup B strain (CC269) and risk factors were indicative of increased social mixing. Control measures were appropriate but limited by lack of vaccine. Understanding serogroup B transmission in college and other settings will help inform use of serogroup B vaccines currently under consideration for licensure.

Sharpen&Bend: recovering curved sharp edges in triangle meshes produced by feature-insensitive sampling. Various acquisition, analysis, visualization, and compression approaches sample surfaces of 3D shapes in a uniform fashion without any attempt to align the samples with sharp edges or to adapt the sampling density to the surface curvature. Consequently, triangle meshes that interpolate these samples usually chamfer sharp features and exhibit a relatively large error in their vicinity. We present two new filters that improve the quality of these resampled models. EdgeSharpener restores the sharp edges by splitting the chamfer edges and forcing the new vertices to lie on intersections of planes extending the smooth surfaces incident upon these chamfers. Bender refines the resulting triangle mesh using an interpolating subdivision scheme that preserves the sharpness of the recovered sharp edges while bending their polyline approximations into smooth curves. A combined Sharpen&Bend postprocessing significantly reduces the error produced by feature-insensitive sampling processes. For example, we have observed that the mean-squared distortion introduced by the SwingWrapper remeshing-based compressor can often be reduced by 80 percent executing EdgeSharpener alone after decompression. For models with curved regions, this error may be further reduced by an additional 60 percent if we follow the EdgeSharpening phase by Bender.

Microbial biomass and activity of an agricultural soil amended with the solid phase of pig slurries. Information about the mineralisation rates and effects on soil microorganisms must be obtained prior to the rational use of organic wastes in agriculture or forestry. The objective of this work was to study the mineralisation of two manures derived from the solid phase of pig slurries and the effects on the soil microbial biomass of an agricultural soil. Samples of this soil were mixed at two different rates with two manures derived from the solid phase of pig slurry (composted, CSP, and non-composted, NSP), and then were incubated during 163 days. Carbon mineralised from manures was fitted to first-order kinetic model, and small differences were found between manures despite the composting of one of them. Approximately 45% of the C added was mineralised in the experimental period. The soil microbial biomass C (C(mic)) was increased by the amendments according to the application rate. The sudden increases of the qCO(2) in the treated samples were ephemeral. The most appreciable differences between these manures were those related with net N mineralisation, being greater in the NSP-treated samples. The application of the solid phase of pig slurries, composted or not, could be a feasible practice to enhance in a short-term the microbial biomass of agricultural soils. In order to avoid an excessive release of inorganic N, the use of composted materials is preferred.

The regulation of cell-mediated immunity (CMI) is being investigated in the context of chronic infections, in general, and leprosy, in particular. A number of experimental mouse models are being examined. Some, such as vaccination with living BCG or irradiation-killed M. leprae induce a highly stable state of CMI. Conversely, subcutaneous infection with M. lepraemurium (MLM) engenders a very unstable state of CMI which is easily suppressed by systemic injection of either live, intact dead, or disrupted MLM. Similar suppression occurs spontaneously during the course of normally progressive infection. Stable states of CMI will also be specifically suppressed by systemic injections of homologous antigen. Unstable CMI will be averted or reversed by treatment with immunopotentiating agents. Preliminary evidence suggests that the suppression of CMI is mediated by sub-classes of T-lymphocytes, and these cells will be characterized by use of Lyt and I-J antisera and other cell separation techniques. These procedures will also be used to determine the identity of the cells which mediate delayed hypersensitivity, antigen-specific lymphocyte transformation, lymphokine production and protective immunity.

"I am a privacy fence salesman." "Top sales, three straight years." "Goal -- make manager by next spring." "Quit selling dead people's crap on the weekends." "Get excited about my wedding." "Hey, man." "Want to do a couple funerals?" "'Sup, douche?" "Go time, playa." ""You die, and we fly."" "Know what I'm sayin'?" "Know what I'm sayin', Trevor G?" "William Zill." "Centerville." "Sounds like a loser." "Yeah, that one looked hot." "Connie Campbell." "Remember her three years ago?" "Yeah." "The unicorn collection got me my flat-screen." "Two weeks till they sell the house." "Mm." "Let's get the shit, hombre." "This is the place we've been looking for." "Hey." "I saw on the Internet that shrimp fettuccine is only 293 people in the whole world's favorite food -- out of 2 million." "I'm special." "Speaking of special -- did you and the little lady set a date yet?" "No, Rob." "Still waiting for the... .. .pagoda." "What's a pagoda?" "Ay, caramba." ""F."" "This looks like one of my mom's Bible-study buddies' places." "Ew!" "You're old enough for your own condo, man, especially with the big promotion." "Promotion." "F'ing l.T. Wage wookie man." "I swear, every one of these places is getting worse." "Bunch of junk." "Look at that." "TV ." "Yep." "All this crap from Bang a Gong ain't selling on eBay, man." "Word." "We'll see what he's got upstairs." "Bunch of junk." "Yeah, baby." "Whoops." "Nice porn." "What do you know?" "Another nut." "What do you know?" "Why everybody got ta be so weird?" " Computer." "Yep." "Oh, shit." "Trevor, check it out." "This guy's seen "Four Boxes."" "What's "Four Boxes"?" "I'll show it to you." "Seriously, I thought I was the only one that knew about it." "It's this freaky little deep Google site I found googling cheap cardboard boxes." "Fourboxes.tv." "Regular voyeur site, whatever." "Chick put tiny, invisible cameras up all over her apartment." "Watch this chick eat cereal, flick the bean, get ready for work, blah, blah, blah." "But, no, then it starts to rock." "Couple weeks ago, chick moves out, takes her shit, but didn't unhook the cameras." "Then, a couple days ago, guy rents the place -- fourboxes.tv -- to a totally new person." "There he is." "This guy doesn't know he's being watched." "And the dude trumps the chick." "Man, he's fing weird." "I call him Havoc." "Where is this coming from?" "No way to know, man." "Four rooms, four boxes full of plastic crap from China." "I mean, where's it not coming from, yo?" "Sound?" "Silent movie." "Doesn't look like a chick's place." "l know." "Where's the Glade Plugins?" "It did, man." "A hot one, too." "Bummed to see her go." "She had an awesome ass." "This guy brought all this crap in and totally just trashed the place." "Hey." "What's up with this?" "Oh, yeah." "Cops said this dude's ex-wife hung herself over here six months ago just to fuck with the guy." "Suicides rule!" "Like my dad -- get out of our way, losers." "I love it, man." "I love it." "When my parents were still married, this is all they had..." "everywhere." "I'm probably gonna have to waste some money and pick up that new Chili Peppers disc when I get a sec." "It's out today." "Anthony Kiedis." "Flea." "It sucks when suddenly you realize you're old school." "Yeah, it sucks." "Play some live, for Christ sakes." "Life sucks, dude, right?" "Yep." "Life sucks." "# Ooh #" "# Ooh #" "Shower." "Yeah." "No fing way!" "Yeah, baby." "Losers rule!" "What is this shit?" "That's about 500 hollow eggs." "Did you see the photo album of this dude's upstairs?" "All the faces are cut out of the pictures." "BFD." "My mom cut Tim's face out of all my baby pictures." "Yeah, one big difference here, homeslice -- these pictures ain't got no fat, ugly bitch in them next to the hole." "True dat." "That is pretty weird, I guess." "It's like someone was trying to get rid of themselves." "Man..." "I remember when I was a kid just laying on my bed listening to the fucking shit out of "Californication."" "Wasn't that just like five years ago?" "Yeah, I guess." "I don't know." "Oh." "Check these, man." "Mm." "Get in that basket, bitch." "What's she here, dude?" "Chips-and-dip bowl, I guess." "Computers make me horny." "One cool thing the Internet makes you realize -- the only difference of all the world's chicks -- l mean, with their clothes off -- is their teeth and the fucking couches they're spread-eagle on." "If it's like a burlap bag for a couch, then it's probably, like, Russia." "Word." "Should we just sleep here, then?" "Why not?" "Easy." "Mmm. I got to try to start drinking wine now." "How come?" "I've got to grow up." "Wack place." "Hey, babe." "Hey, honey bundle." "And hi, Trevor." "Got some breakfasts." " Sweet." "I'm flippin' ravenous over here." "What are you doing here, Amber?" "Hey, I invited her, man." "What?" "Why?" "Um, because she's my fiancee, and I wanted her here." "What about our work, homes?" "It's my choice, bro, and I wanted her here." "Any of you guys remember last summer?" "I introduced you guys at TGl Bardays?" "You, my girlfriend?" "You, my junior partner?" "You did me dirty, man." "Trevor, things just happen." "Fate and chance and" "Oh, here we go." "It's, like, don't you got a new girlfriend now, too?" "Things flow, Trevor." "Things are." "Every day's a new world." "Yeah." "Brit." "We're engaged, actually." "Brit." "That's right " " Brit." "Well, see, that's grand." "That's grand." "You sound like your mom." "Really?" "Well, awesome." "She's my best friend, so" "That bitch is your best friend?" "Not cool." "Hey, man." "Come on." "You might have fucking told me the plan, partner." "Yeah, but it was my plan, broseph." "Plus, I knew if I told you, you would never have gone for it." "Oh, flubber!" "What happened, cooch?" "Oh, no biggie bigsville." "Just munched a $45 manicure in the ass." "Girl thing." "Still really ticked about my futon, too." "Futon?" "What futon?" "Yeah." "Yeah." "Yeah." "This is super awesome." "Yeah." "Do it righteous." "Yeah." "Totally awesome." "Yeah!" "Oh, keep having sex!" "I love it!" "This is so strange." "What's that?" "Whatever, Rob." "What are you listening to?" "Music?" "Yeah." "I had to drown out the racket." "Hmm." "Sunset." "Sunset." "Aha." "Ah, shit." "What the fuck?" "# All we ever talk about #" "# Is all the things we think about #" "Organize my garage." "# Like love and pain and loneliness #" "Dump Brit." "# And me and you and tenderness #" "# And now #" "# Now #" "# And now I'm on my own again #" "# And learning how to love again #" "# And learning how to love again #" "La choy is in the hizz." "Why am I hungry again?" "Rankrizzle." "You just pile-drived, pile-drove, like 10 egg rolls." "God." "This bed is like holy hell." "I knew this would be weird with Trevor." "Us planning our wedding, and him -- so out of touch with the flow of his emotions." "You totally still have a thing for him, don't you?" "Someone posted something on my site." "What, on "Tears of sadness"?" ""Tears of confusion."" "Jesus, Rob." "Learn my site name." "Oh." "A pervert in Colorado thinks I'm hot." "Awesome." "Yeah, it is awesome." "What I mean is maybe it wasn't copacetic for us to come up here, or down here or wherever we are, you know what I mean, and, like, have everything be all out of tune." "Rob, it's like... you know, it's tough news, but it's true." "Trevor and I used to rump-ride, and that's always a BD, a big deal, you know?" "I mean, come on." "He's, like, out of tune with his, like, emotions, you know?" "I mean, and I know that's not our problem, you know?" "It's, like, he's the one that needs to be dealing with it." "Like, we can't come up here, come down here" "Like, what the fuck are you even saying?" "I mean, seriously." "I can't even follow it, actually." "Whatever." "Whatever." "Jesus." "God, I look fat with my guitar." "Oh, shit." "I forgot to pick up the new Chili Peppers disc today." "Creepy." "If you watch too much Web, it makes you a loser." "You know that, right?" "Look!" "Oh, my God." "Those are feet." "That's so messed." "Remember, dudes, everything on the Internet is bullshit." "In fact, everything's bullshit everywhere." "Shouldn't we tell someone about that?" "Are you stoned?" "Yeah." "I'm always stoned, Trevor?" "Is that it?" "It helps me balance." "Actually, I'm thinking this is maybe Europe." "God!" "I should not have shown you that website, man." "I forgot how you get all..." "Ease up, man." "What'd I do?" "You stoned, too?" "Yeah." "I could not live in a dirty shithole like that." "I swear to God." "I second that emotion." "What you doing, bro?" "Dude, not everything is a Stephen King book, yo." "Are you having your period?" "My bad." "She's the one that got me riled." "What'd I do?" ""Thistle, your tits are hot, but your singing sucks."" "Like, who would take the time to sit down and type this?" "Dudes." " Oh, this guy." "Dudes, dudes, dudes, dudes!" "Oh." "Told you everything on the Web is bullshit." "I'm outie." "Amber!" "I'm gonna run and get a southwestern ranch hand on ciabatta." "You want one?" "Okay." "Awesome." "Where's the Subway?" "By BP." "Finally got a remote car starter, huh?" "Total lifesaver, Trevor." "BRB." "Southwestern rizzle hizz." "Sauce?" "Three cheddar churn?" "Hmm." "Nice." "Where's Rob?" "Sleeping." "Gotta hit the gym." "Gettin' fat." "Tell me about it, dawg." "What happened to your Saturn?" "Oh, I backed into a pole at work." "I screwed up the wheels but good." "Drunk?" "Mm, yeah." "I was celebrating." "I had a big gig at Tracey's store." "The candle and incense store at Tamarack?" "That was your big gig?" "Yeah, Trevor." "It was a great turnout." "Thought it closed." "This was before, a while ago." "Rob ever find out about the shitface shack?" "No." "And he better not." "I'm really with him now, Trevor." "I'm 30 years old." "I'm finally in a place where l got to think about my future." "l got to grow up." "l know." "I'm going to bed." "I get it." "I know." "Trevor, grown-ups do what they don't want to do." "I know!" "Awesome!" "Yes!" "Oh, God!" "Yes!" "Awesome!" "Dot." "Watching." "I'm dot." "House." "My." "Have you." "If." ""lf you have my money, you never leave this house alive." "I'm watching."" "What the fuck?" "Who wrote that?" "Oh, man." "Hey, Rob!" "God damn, dude!" "Smoking again?" "I've so got to quit." "Ew. I need some gum bad." "Check this." "Oh, my God." "What the F?" "And I think that leaf blower just blew the schnikes out of a kitty cat." "Okay, I'm sorry, but this site is getting really wack." "Mmm." "Are you still on Ambien?" "I have nightmares, Trevor." "Somebody should get all up in this asshole's grille." "You're right about that." "I miss my computer." "You could go home." "Mm, too scary there." "My roommate's in Tampa." "Lucky ducky." "I want to be in Tampa." "# Don't take away #" "# Another piece of me #" "# Don't break away #" "# Another part of me #" "# Don't leave me #" "# Crying to myself #" "# Don't make me #" "# Come crawling back to me #" "I can feel my hair getting all screwed up when I sing." "Where's Rob?" "Brown." "Did Bill Zill succumb?" "What?" "Did Bill Zill die?" "Yeah." "Trevor Grainger, I'm getting really tipsy." "Take me inside." "Trevor G, we are way out of line here." "I know, but I feel out of line." "But I want to start acting like I should, though." "Fuck!" "Oh, shit!" "Shit!" "Shit!" "Shit!" "What's up?" "Good morning, dollface." "Just grabbing -- grabbing a bloody for the shower." "Good choice." "You smell like Tommy for Men." "Dude, what are you even talking about?" "Looks like you two been eating the same Krispy Kreme at the same time." "Chill, Chachi." "You're dreaming." "Just talking, dude." "Don't forget, we used to do it, you know?" "We have stuff to talk about." "Yeah, I know." "You used to do it." "Everyone keeps reminding me." "Don't forget whose idea to have her come here, hombre." "She's my fiancee, man." "I don't usually say shit like this to you, Trevor, but get over it." "Me and her -- we're getting married, dude." "We're gonna push plastic strollers full of babies around Disneyland, a'ight?" "You're just trippin', man." "Yeah." "That's what I'm hoping." "Oh, there's your mystery disk computer." "Wake it up, man." ""Shooting Spree"?" "Yep." "Should we play a little before we ship the TV?" "That thing is fucking old school." "Hmm." "They're all upstairs." "They're all hiding in the bathroom, you fucking idiots!" "There was something strange going on in this house." "There's something strange going on inside every house, yo." "Eh!" "Suck it, mall walker!" "Rob!" "Come check this!" "Terrorists." "Yep." "And Havoc's the scientist." "It's just like in movies." "A terrorist hires a scientist to build him some bombs and then knocks him off when he's done with him." "You think that's it?" "Look how he's looking out the window, dude." "When he looks out, it's not right." "It's like he's looking past the window." "You guys, there's someone outside." "I was just sitting here, and I saw someone out in the yard, and I thought it was Rob, but then you guys were talking, and the guy was, like, still there." "Oh, for real, Bambers?" "Yeah, for real, Rob." " Should we check it?" "No." "You know, I would so love to not have you always asking me," ""For real, for real?" Yeah, for real!" "Why would I make it up?" "Okay." "I'm not, like, making things up." "You think I'm lying?" "I said it was for real, so it's for real, obviously." "l'm not making it up!" "l'm sorry!" "Guys." "I'm not just saying it just to make shit up!" "God!" "I don't see anything." "Yeah, I don't see anything." "Fuck!" "What the F, man?" "!" "God!" "What did you see, guys?" "Yeah, there was somebody out there, Amber." "We saw a bunch of strange footprints." "There's somebody watching this place, I think." "I get that feeling, too, you know?" "I found a really weird message on the typewriter if you run the ribbon backwards." "I think it's probably just the ding-hole neighbor." "I'm going to bed." "Come on, Amber." "Can I get by?" "God." "Can I?" "God." "is there something you want to tell me, partner?" "Have a good night." "Something hidden?" "ldea -- a website that tells you where something hidden is, things you hate but need, in your area, like new tires or vacuum-cleaner bags." "Those bran breakfast muffins, shit like that." "Mm, poor guy." "Hi, Trevor." "He'll wake up." "I gave him a noctizine." " Yeah, baby, yeah!" " Mm!" "Yeah!" "Yeah, baby!" "Yeah, baby, yeah." "Righteous." "Trevor G rocks my world." "Yeah!" "Yeah, baby!" "Yeah." "Righteous." "Ow." "Oh, my goodness..." "Jesus and Joseph." "Mmm, nummy." " What's up?" " You guys got to look at this." "Okay." "Okay." "Crap." "He hurt her." "Should we tell someone about this?" "Just watch, guys." "That's what the Internet's for." "Rob, I swear to God, you are so twisted." "What?" "Why's everybody against me here?" "I can't believe I'm still hungry." "Here, have some Pop-Tarts." "We're busy watching this." "I don't want Pop-Tarts." "I want a frickin' McMuffin." "BFD, spaz!" "So go get one!" "Christ!" "Guys!" "I should write a song about how big computers are in our lives." "Oh, my God!" "That's OOC!" "Who loves computers more than you?" "My brother!" "Oh, man.. ." "What happened?" "What happened?" "Dah." "There's someone at the door." "I think it's the police checking for a gas leak." "You mean the fuzz?" "Yeah, he must have caught his chemicals on some kind of sensor." "Come on, man." "Find her." "Hurry." " Guys." " Oh.. .my.. .crap." "This is insane." "Dudes, what if this is real?" "Then it's awesome." "Rob, you're like a person I don't even know sometimes." "Oh, yeah?" "Who cares?" "Guys." "It's got to be a joke, though, right?" "Shit's real, Rob." "Some shit's actually real." "Don't get too, like, theoretical." "I'm just saying it doesn't seem that likely that some lady doing regular voyeur, taking her clothes off, whatever, splits and these two terrorists show up and start building bombs and killing people while the cameras are on, does it?" "God." "Think sometimes, Bambo." "Guys, maybe that's it." "Maybe they're trying to terrify us -- l mean, terrorize us -- about how sick they are and how smart and all they are, how many bombs they made." "So, uh, they make up this crap about a naked woman, or they actually get a naked woman -- what better way to attract attention -- and then they move over to this stuff when they got a big audience." "Entertain them terrorize them." "That actually kind of makes a lot of sense." "So, it's about terror." "Big surprise." "What isn't nowadays?" "Bullshit." "September 11th?" "That was real, right, Rob?" "You got to remember, some stuff is, like, actually happening." "Yeah, well, if it's happening, don't worry about it." "Somebody else is probably watching this shit." "Somebody else will figure it out." "Amber, wild wings, come on." "You're not staying here." "I got to crap, Rob." "l think there's something..." "This crap's real." "There's something that we missed." "It's Friday." "We were supposed to be done with this job by now." "Amber!" "Let's roll!" "You need to step off, yo." "Shower, Rob." "Shower, shits, and wedding -- that's my life." "Yeah, so?" "Meat-lover's pizza, "Halo 3 "" "and "Let me cum on your tits" -- that's my life." "Yo." "Rob, I figured something major out." "Oh, yeah?" "What did you figure out, buddy?" "The cylinders, the killer things, are in people -- dead people in coffins being shipped home to be buried." "They dig them up when they get where they're going, and they get out the killer things -- the cylinders." "They put them in tail pipes." "Uh, there are cities marked on every box, and they're going everywhere, 'cause they're impossible to trace through the coffins and through the people in the boxes." "Oh, man..." "Cars are the killers." "And everybody dies." "Okay." "Oh, man." "What?" "Well, everybody's gonna die." "Trevor!" "What's the most pervasive thing you think about?" "What do you mean?" "Like work?" "No." "Like for me, it's being afraid." "You know what I mean?" "No." "Afraid life's just gonna be more of the same." "Like..." "Mother!" "Hey." "So, what did we miss on the site?" "What's up, douche?" "That guy's called Ziploc." "Hmm." "Are you mad at me?" "I'm mad at myself." "I act like such a kid." " What'd I miss?" "Cleaning the place out." "That's Ziploc." "Nice name." "Maybe we'll get to see if that guy finally gets offed." "This is the best shit ever on the Internet." "Oh." "He feels bad." "Poor guy." "'Cause they're gonna do him." "Rob, 'cause he made something that's gonna kill people, probably." "Or not." "I mean, why is he crying?" "That's weird behavior, if they're filming this to, like, try and terrorize people." "Mm..." "He looks depressed." "I know how bad he feels." "Look, he's doing something up there, see?" "Hmm." "What I love about Internet shows is no ads." "I hope that's not the end of the story, 'cause that shit was weak as crap." "Although half the time, I love ads." "I don't know." "I'm going for a run." "I need to work off some of this Monterey Jack, for Christ sakes." "Oh, I guess I'll go with." "William Zill." ""Basement ceiling." "Red key."" "We're in "Four Boxes."" "What's up?" "Rob, you're cracked." "Rob, where are you guys?" "Keeping it real, Amber!" "You guys got to get back here right fucking now." "Uh-huh." ""Four Boxes " uh.. ." "It was a fake." "It was a set." "They took it down." "You won't believe this." "You're not gonna believe this, dude." "It's a house." "It's this house." "We're inside of "Four Boxes."" "Right." "And I'm really freaked out." "You guys got to get back here right fucking now." "I guess they fucking taped it earlier." "It's this place, hombre!" "N.J. -- no joke." "I found the cash in the suitcase." "I -- which I guess is what Ziploc was looking for at the end." "Yeah, Rob." "Fucking real money hidden in the ceiling." "And if the cash is real, then Ziploc's real, and he's gonna be coming 'cause of the fucking note in the typewriter ribbon." "So, you guys have to get back here right fucking now." "Okay, okay, okay." "Um, if the -- lf the MF'ing website was filmed here, then, um, the cameras are there and everywhere." "So, the action we were watching wasn't live." "It was taped." "And Havoc didn't know he was being filmed." "Or he did." "Why would Havoc film this?" "To terrorize people." "He's a fucking terrorist." "He's a fucking terrorist." "We're in Havoc's house." "Oh, my God." "Ziploc in this house." "Oh, fuck me!" "Rob!" "I'm scared." "Okay, okay." "Good." "Um..." ""Silent/Microphone." Rob switched that when we got here." "What's that?" ""Live." "Webcast."" "We've been watching a webcast?" "Okay, switch it to "live."" "Oh, fuck me!" "Send the police right now." "It's an emergency." "I'm at, um, um, William Zill's house, um, at Deer Run Lane, and there's, uh, a Middle Eastern man wearing a turban, and, um, he's got no face," "and he's -- he's, um... uh, he's a terrorist!" "So, come now." "Please!" "God!" "Hurry!" "He's a fucking terrorist!" "Oh, fuck." "Don't come down here." "Come on, come on, come on." "Fuck this!" "Okay." "Here we go." "Trevor?" "Trevor?" "Trevor!" "You got to answer us right now, man!" "What's that smell?" "Amber, let's burn." "Something's wrong." "No!" "Rob, we gotta find Trevor." "No, we don't gotta..." "You still love him, don't you?" "We're not the kind of people who live happily ever after, are we?" "No." "Rob!" "What was that?" "Oh, my God!" "Oh, my God!" "This...isn't...good." "Hey, guys!" "That's a MF'ing wrap!" "Yeah!" "Yeah." "Yeah, baby!" "Yeah, baby." "That's what I'm talking about." "We are gonna be huge stars, thanks to you, Trevor." "Let's get our little butts down to that Friday's and start celebrating." "We did it, man." "I am fucking bursting with wedding info for you, Trevor." "Good morning." "Yep." "Just uploading footage on the URL fourboxes.tv." "Time till completion -- 2 minutes." "You know, this really is the perfect TV show for the Internet." "Just one, long, stupid story in one room." "Rob, quit saying that, for real." "It's my script." "Don't say that anymore." "Well, it's pretty damn stupid, especially my part." "No, it's not stupid." "It's pretty perfect." "Dude, I didn't mean it to sound so harsh." "I'm just saying -- what won't people watch?" "Okay. "Begin webcast at URL fourboxes.tv?"" "Yes, please." "Hey, here's what I wrote earlier " ""Hey, guys." "Check out this website." "It's called fourboxes.tv." "This guy, we call him Havoc, he moved into an apartment set up for voyeur, but he don't know it." "What's cooler still, he's weird, always doing science on mannequins, and talking to some terrorist dude named Ziploc." "We think they're gonna kill someone." "Enjoy."" "Check this shit out." "40 hits." "80 hits..." "Let's get this dude's stuff moving for real now, what we didn't wreck for props." "Six days till we're on live." "Oh, shit!" "Trevor, check it out." "This guy's seen "four Boxes."" "Hmm." "What's "four Boxes"?" "I would do a threesome, I think." "No dudes, though." "10 years since Diana died." "Wow." "That went fast." "Hey, Trevor!" "What?" "238,000 hits." "Can you believe that shit?" "l love it, man." "I love it!" "Maybe it wasn't copacetic for us to come up here, or down here, or wherever we are, you know what I mean, and, like, have everything be all..." "Poor Bill Zill." "God, that's so sad!" "Seems like more than a week ago that we were putting these cameras up." "This place was an awesome backdrop." "Can't believe it took us four months to find, though." "Fuck!" "I got to go to Home Depot." "I can't believe you talked me into this." "You still got a hot bod, babe." "What's the problem?" "I'm flat." "I know guys don't care, but..." "But I know this project was something you wanted to get -- we wanted to get out of the way before our next chapter." "Before we give up for good?" "Sell privacy fencing for the rest of our lives?" "Lots of people get married and have jobs and do the kid thing and still do cool stuff, Trevor." "That's a lie, Amber." "You're so far inside the box, it's just hilarious." "They're all upstairs." "They're all hiding in the bathroom, you fucking idiots!" "rhere was something strange going on in this house." "There's something strange going on inside every house, yo." "Half a million hits, dude." "Half a million hits, dude." "Mm-hmm!" "Rehearsal!" "All right." "Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse." "We got to rehearse the ending." "Tonight's the night we switch to live, and there's gonna be a gang of people watching." "I'm into it." "I guess I am pretty nervous about tonight, actually." "I think I might take a Paxil." "No." "Hey, I will if I want to." "Guys." "Tonight's the night Ziploc kills us, and then we go live." "Trevor G!" "G money!" "Why don't you go first?" "All right." "Uh, so, end of feed, and then, um... .. .surprise!" "No terrorists!" "No murderers!" "Just us, yo!" "Uh, what's up, everybody?" "Y'all boys and girls, how's it going?" "And, um..." "What you all just been watching is a great big show put on by myself, Trevor Grainger, along with my pals Amber Croft, Rob Rankrus, which are, together, what comprises FOURBOXES.TV, L.L.C." "Uh, I'm Trevor Grainger, as I mentioned, and I played Havoc and Ziploc and a city official and other parts in this drama that you've just been watching." "Oh, and we also sat down and decided to call it a cyberdrama." "So, uh, Amber, take it away." "I'm Amber, Amber Croft also known as Thistle." "Um, I played myself," "Havoc's victim, uh, man in the yard, movers, and other parts, and I'm a singer/songwriter and actress." "Oh, and you guys should click to my website," "You can't plug your own website, Amber!" "Shut up!" "You can't talk to me like that!" "I was just gonna say -- if you would have let me finish, I was gonna say that you can link to all of our websites through fourboxes.tv, if you would have let me." "God." "Anyway.. ." "Also, of course, there's lots of cool goodies for sale, too." "Wouldn't be a show, or cyberdrama, without goodies." "Such cool stuff." "Um, you can order a DVD of "Four Boxes "" "uh, cool t-shirt, you can see more racy pictures of me, oh, buy my CD, "Broken Down in the Middle of Nowhere "" "um, and just find out more about me and Trevor and Rob." "And then I'll be like," ""Peace!" "Over to you, Rob " or something." "Right." "Right." "And I'm like, "Hey, everybody." "What's up?" "I'm Rob Rankrus." "I played myself, of course," "Havoc, Ziploc, movers, and other good stuff." "I hope you guys liked our story." "I'm sort of the technical dude behind the operation." "I made it possible for you guys to watch, and I am so happy that you did." "You guys kick ass!" "Yeah." "Right on." "Yeah, you guys rule!" "Yeah, like, buy some stuff from our site." "You know the address, fourboxes.tv." "We're doing a live chat after the cyberdrama, so stick around for that." "Also will be some other good stuff." "That was pretty all right." "I think the main priority will be, you know, to see who puts us on the TV." "So, I think we should stay up live for, like, four hours, then get back, get ready to do the merch." "Once the story goes to TV, that's when the site pops the hardest." "I don't know if I'm gonna go through with it, you guys." "Trevor, you act like such a fucking dick!" "Good." "Work at Allstate forever." "Eat me, fag!" "I'm just trying to get a little reaction from you." "And you get all mental " "Guys..." "Well, what?" "No -- no one's even gonna care!" "All they want to know is did I harrumph both you guys or not." "So, what's so hard about that?" "Tell the truth -- you did me, you grinded him, right?" "Only I really know that, right?" "I'm gonna be like, I'm gonna be like," "# Goodbye, Allstate #" "Right?" "I'm like, "Fuck you, Maple Grove!" "I'm out!"" "I didn't do shit with my hair for tonight." "Hey, Amber, you want to come with me to Buffalo Wild Wings?" "All right." "All right." "Grab one of these boxes." "These are the last of the props in the house." "Proper props, y'all." "Are you coming?" "No. I'm tired." "All right, homes." "Well, is everything cleaned up, then?" "No trace of nothing, man -- just the cameras and us." "Sweet." "Meet you in the CR-V." "I've had something really important to tell you for the last couple days, but I just never feel like you would care." "And you don't." "# Ooh #" "# Ooh #" "# Ooh #" "# Ooh #" "We're in "four Boxes."" "Rob, where are you guys?" "You guys gotta get back here right now." "We're in "four Boxes."" "Ugh, I don't feel so good." "You're never gonna believe this, dude." "It's a house." "Ugh, I feel kind of... lt's this house." "We're inside of "four Boxes."" "I guess I should have eaten something with that Paxil." "Vicodin." "Me, too." "What about our show?" "Hey." "We're in Havoc's house." "Rob!" "I'm scared." "Okay, okay." "Good." "I want to be a Red..." "Hot..." "Chili Pepper." "911 , what's your emergency?" "Send the police right now." "It's an emergency." "Um, William Zill's house, um, at Deer Run Lane." "Are you on Deer Run Lane or on Deer Run Circle?" "Hurry!" "He's a fucking terrorist!" "Calm down, sir." "We have officers coming right now." "Trevor?" "You Qot to answer us right now, man." "Trevor, baby?" "Something's wrong." "No, Rob." "We got to find Trevor." "No, we don't gotta.. ." "Trevor, baby I have something important to tell you." "You still love him, don't you?" "We got the pagoda." "We're not the kind of people who live happily ever after, are we?" "Mo." "Rob, what was that?" "!" "Oh, my God!" "This...isn't...good." "# All we ever talk about #" "# Is all the things we think about #" "# Like love and pain and loneliness #" "# And me and you and tenderness #" "# And now we come to the place we start #" "# Living to be free #" "# Looking out for me #" "# Rise above this eventually #" "# Here I am #" "# On the dark side of the planet #" "# In the far side of space #" "# There's a universe of stars #" "# And someone to take your place #" "# And love can fill #" "# The emptiness between #" "# So the drift will come together #" "# And we'll live to be free #" "# Looking out for you and me #" "# Gonna rise above this eventually #" "# And now I'm on my own again #" "# Learning how to love again #" "# My fate will find me eventually #" "# My heart struggles on #" "# So spiritually #" "# And I'll get to the place #" "# Where I'm gonna start #" "# Living to be free #" "# Looking out for me #" "# Gonna rise above this eventually #"

1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wire bonding device and a wire bonding method in which the impact load applied on a bonding subject at the time of wire contact detection can be reduced and a highly precise and stable bonding can be achieved by a minute bonding ball diameter while enabling to achieve a high productivity through high-speed bonding. 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, it has been required for a wire bonding device to have a structure in which bonding arms are extended in order to avoid interference between the conveyor/fixing mechanism of the bonding subject. It is to satisfy the needs for expanding the field of bonding aiming at large-scaled bonding subjects and improving productivity. On the other hand, in order to cope with the narrowing intervals of the wire bonding portion of the bonding subject, it has been desired that the shape of the bonding portion be made minute with high precision. FIG. 5 shows a schematic model block diagram of an example of the wire bonding device of the related art. A wire bonding device of the related art comprises: a Z-axis base 101 mounted on an XY table (not shown) having a unit which drives in the X and Y directions crossing orthogonal to each other; a bonding arm 103 supported by the Z-axis base 101 via a shaft 102 to be capable of swinging; and a VCM (voice coil motor) 104 for driving the bonding arm 103 in the Z-axis direction. Provided in the bonding arm 103 are an ultrasonic horn 109 having a capillary 108 to which a wire 111 made of a gold wire is inserted and a cut clump 110 for cutting the wire 111. The bonding arm 103 has the length long enough to avoid the interference with the conveyor/fixing mechanism of the semiconductor integrated circuit (not shown) as the bonding subject. An outline of wire bonding performed by the above-described wire bonding device of the related art will be described below. First, after forming an initial ball in the tip of the wire 111 extended from the bottom end of the capillary 108, the bonding arm 103 is brought down by the VCM 104 until it comes to be in contact with a first bonding point of the semiconductor integrated circuit. At the time of contact detection when the initial ball comes to be in contact with the semiconductor integrated circuit, the bonding arm 103 is driven at low speed in order to reduce impact load applied on the semiconductor integrated circuit. Subsequently, ultrasonic vibrations generated by an ultrasonic oscillator (not shown) is transmitted to the initial ball via the ultrasonic horn 109 and the capillary 108 while applying a prescribed weight thereto so as to bond the wire 111 to the first bonding point. After completing bonding at the first bonding point, the capillary 108 is brought up through driving the bonding arm 103 by the VCM 104. Then, the XY table is moved horizontally to the position over a second bonding point and the wire 111 is pressed to be bonded to the second bonding point in the same manner as that in the first bonding point. Subsequently, the bonding arm 103 is brought up and the wire 111 above the capillary 108 is tightly held by the cut clamp 110 and pulled up. Thereby, the wire 111 is cut at the joint of the second bonding point. Through the steps as described, wire bonding is performed in the first bonding point and the second bonding point. However, in the case of using the above-described wire bonding device of the related art, it is likely that the inertia of the bonding arm is increased due to extension of the bonding arm. Thus, the shape and the state of bonding become unstable because of impact load applied at the time of contact detection of the wire to the bonding subject, which may result in deteriorating the bondability. In other words, if the inertia of the bonding arm increases, the impact load applied at the time of the contact detection of the wire to the bonding subject increases, which leads to unstable shape and state of the bonding ball in the first bonding point and unstable crushed shape of the wire and the state in the second bonding point. Thus, there may be a case where the bondability is deteriorated. Furthermore, it is necessary to reduce the impact load by reducing the dropping speed at the time of contact detection in order to obtain a minute and highly precise bonding shape. Thereby, the productivity is to be deteriorated. An object of the present invention is to provide a wire bonding device and a wire bonding method in which the impact load applied at the time of contact detection of the wire to the bonding subject can be reduced and a stable and highly precise fabrication of a minute bonding ball can be achieved while enabling to shorten the bonding time. In order to achieve above mentioned object, a wire bonding device according to present invention for performing wire bonding on a bonding subject by bringing a wire, which is being lead out from a capillary provided in the end portion of an arm supported to be capable of swinging to be in contact with the bonding subject, wherein the arm comprises: a first arm supported by a first shaft to be capable of swinging; and a second arm with a smaller inertia than the first arm having the capillary in its end portion, which is supported to be capable of swinging by a second shaft provided on one end of the first arm. In the above-described bonding device of the present invention, a second arm having a capillary is supported to be capable of swinging on one end of the first arm supported to be capable of swinging. The inertia of the second arm is smaller than the inertia of the first arm. Therefore, by performing bonding through driving only the second arm at the time of bringing wire to be in contact with the bonding subject, the impact load applied at the time of the contact detection of the wire to the bonding subject can be reduced. As a result, compared to the case where the inertia of the arm is larger, the speed at the time of the contact detection of the wire to the bonding subject can be increased. Moreover, the wire bonding device according to present invention, further comprising a first driving unit for swinging the first arm and a second driving unit for swinging the second arm. A wire bonding method according to present invention for performing wire bonding by bringing a wire, which is being lead out from a capillary, to be in contact with a bonding subject by using a wire bonding device comprising an arm having: a first arm supported by a first shaft to be capable of swinging; and a second arm with a smaller inertia than the first arm having the capillary in its end portion, which is supported to be capable of swinging by a second shaft provided on one end of the first arm, the method comprising the steps of: bringing the capillary near the bonding subject by swinging the first arm in the approaching direction which is the direction of the capillary approaching the bonding subject until the wire reaches a prescribed height which is a position right before coming into a contact with the bonding subject; moving the capillary positioned in the height right before the contact by swinging the second arm in the approaching direction so that the wire is moved from the height right before the contact to be in contact with the bonding subject; and pressing the wire being in contact with the bonding subject against the bonding subject by swinging the second arm in the approaching direction in pressing step. In the above-described wire bonding method of the present invention, the capillary is brought near the bonding subject by swinging the first arm until reaching the height right before coming to be in contact with the bonding subject. Contacting of the wire to the bonding subject and pressurizing of the wire are performed by the second arm with the smaller inertia than that of the first arm. Thus, the impact load applied at the time of contact detection of the wire to the bonding subject can be reduced. Also, compared to the case where the inertia of the arm is larger, the speed at the time of the contact detection of the wire to the bonding subject can be increased. Moreover, the wire bonding method according to present invention, wherein the wire is bonded to the bonding subject by applying ultrasonic vibrations to the wire in the pressing step. Furthermore, the wire bonding method according to present invention, further comprising the steps of: after completing the bonding of the wire to the bonding subject, bringing the capillary back to the height right before the contact by swinging the second arm in the direction where the capillary recedes from the bonding subject.

Effect of salt stress on morpho-physiology, vegetative growth and yield of rice. Selection of salt tolerant rice varieties has a huge impact on global food supply chain. Five Malaysian rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties, MR33, MR52, MR211, MR219 and MR232 were tested in pot experiment under different salinity levels for their response in term of vegetative growth, physiological activities, development of yield components and grain yield. Rice varieties, BRRI dhan29 and IR20 were used as a salt-sensitive control and Pokkali was used as a salt-tolerant control. Three different salinity levels viz. 4, 8, and 12 dS m(-1) were used in a randomized complete block design with four replications under glass house conditions. Two Malaysia varieties, MR211 and MR232 performed better in terms of vegetative growth (plant height, leaf area plant(-1), number of tillers plant(-1), dry matter accumulation plant(-1)), photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, yield components, grain yield and injury symptoms. While, MR33, MR52 and MR219 verities were able to withstand salinity stress over salt-sensitive control, BRRI dhan29 and IR20.

Prevalence of risk factors for non-communicable disease in a rural area of Faridabad district of Haryana. To estimate the prevalence and levels of common risk factors for noncommunicable disease in a rural population of Haryana. The study involved a survey of 1359 male and 1469 female respondents, aged 15-64 years. Multistage sampling was used for recruitment (PHCs/sub-centres/villages). All households in the selected villages were covered, with one male and one female interviewed in alternate household. WHO STEP-wise tool was used as the study instrument which included behavioural risk factor questionnaire and physical measurements of height, weight, waist circumference and blood pressure. The age adjusting was done using rural Faridabad data from Census 2001. The age adjusted prevalence of daily smoked tobacco was 41% for men and 13% for women. Daily smokeless tobacco use was 7.1% and 1.2% for men and women respectively. The prevalence of current alcohol consumption was 24.6% among men and none of the women reported consuming alcohol. The mean number of servings of fruits and vegetables per day was 3.7 for men and 2.7 for women. The percentage of people undertaking at least 150 minutes of physical activity in a week was 77.8% for men and 54.5% for women. Among men 9.0% had BMI > or = 25.0 compared to 15.2% among women. The prevalence of measured hypertension, i.e. > or = 140 SBP and/or > or = 90 DBP or on antihypertensive drugs was 10.7% among men and 7.9% among women. The study showed a high burden of tobacco use and alcohol use among men, inactivity and overweight among women and low fruit and vegetable consumption among both sexes in rural areas.

The present invention relates to an identification coding for print ribbons and other ribbons or webs that have individual segments or panels that are different from other segments and must be positively identified for desired operations in a printer or other apparatus. In particular the coding is used between groups of colors on a color printing ribbon and also between individual frames of different colors, which gives individual controls for a wide variety of functions. The thermal print ribbons that are presently used in thermal printers are divided into different color dye carrying frames, panels, blocks or segments. Thermal printers require a sensing system, which is capable of identifying the location of the individual colored panel or frames of the web or ribbon used, as well as the start of each group or sequence of the color dye panels or frames. The ribbon is held against a platen that is rotatable, and the ribbon moves with the platen during printing, when a thermal printing head engages the ribbon and causes transfer of a colored dye onto a card or substrate positioned between the ribbon and the platen, and which is also moving with the platen. The printing sequence is carried out under a central control that receives signals indicating the presence of a card or other substrate on which the information is to be printed, and also receiving signals indicating what color frame of the ribbon is in position under the print head and for lining up or registering the card and ribbon. In the past, index marks had been used along the side edges of the ribbon for indicating when the sequence of different color frames starts and is repeated, and also to indicate the boundaries between adjacent frames of different colors of transferrable dye material. In operation the web is advanced until an index mark is detected to indicate that a transferrable color material is in position for printing. The ribbon or web is advanced and rewound under control of the printer controller for one group or sequence of repeatable frames, to obtain the desired image on the card using the dyes on the ribbon or web. The operation is carried out a predetermined number of times so the same sequence of frames is used for printing multiple color images. After an entire sequence of frames is used for printing a color image, the web is advanced until an index mark is sensed for the next sequence of colored frames, thereby bringing the beginning of a sequence of frames in position for printing. The present invention relates to an identification coding for a web or ribbon using laterally extended code markings between each of the color frames or segments on the ribbon that are sequenced along the ribbon length. The code is preferably in the form of readable printed dots, dashes or bars that extend laterally across the web or strip of ribbon at the start of the ribbon, between individual frames or segments, and also between repeating groups or sequences of frames. The code location and arrangement permits a wide range of identification marks to be sensed for determining the ribbon lot and dye set marks at the start of a ribbon and to indicate the color of a following frame or panel on the ribbon. These marks can be used to set the printhead controls, to adjust the printhead for ribbon density, type of color layers and similar known variables. Also, the code provides information to insure the correct ribbon or web is installed. The ribbon can also be identified by a discrete code to register the web or ribbon to a particular card printer. By using sensors to determine ribbon velocity or tension can be controlled to compensate for ribbon stretch, thus also permitting compensating or changing the ribbon tension for accommodating panel to panel variations. The code location permits determining when the leading edge of the known, repeating group, series or sequence of frames is sensed, as well. The code selected permits a variety of printing techniques for the application of the code and also permits a wide variety of sensors for decoding. Light signals are used in one embodiment using a known source of light, and known sensor arrays that provide digital signals to the controller indicating the information about the following frames. With present sensors the presence or absence of a mark in a particular location of the sensed image provides a digital indication of the applied code and the resolution is adequate to provide more information than that needed for color printers. In one form, the laterally extending code strips can be formed with white ink marks so a reflected light signal will be used. Sense and receive sensors can be on the same side of the ribbon. The operator can provide codes for many different conditions, since the laterally extending bands or marks provide a substantial space for such coded information. The coded information at the start of a ribbon can indicate whether the ribbon or web is compatible with the printer in which it is installed and thus different compatibilities of ribbons can be created to give different customers proprietary ribbon. A further aspect of having markings for each individual color panel or frame is to use the color signal, which may indicate a color having different densities from other colors, to provide a feedback to the printhead power control for adjustment of the printhead power to suit the color being printed.

We are studying the mechanism of control of expression of genes of D- galactose transport and metabolism in Escherichia coli. We have previously demonstrated that the members of the gal regulon are negatively regulated to different extents by Gal repressor (GalR) and isorepressor (GalS). We have shown that the promoters, P1 and P2, of the gal operon, are completely repressed if a DNA loop covering the promoter segment is formed by the association of GalR bound to two operators, OE and OI. RNA polymerase binds to the promoters but cannot form open complexes because of torsional inflexibility of the loop. We have shown that loop formation by GalR requires another factor, which we have purified. The purified protein behaves like the histone-like protein, called HU, of E. coli. In the absence of DNA looping, GalR bound to the upstream operator, OE, acts as an activator of P2 and a repressor of P1. GalR performs this dual role by making contacts with specific amino acid segment of the C-terminal domain of the alpha subunit of RNA polymerase bound to P2 and P1. Mutations in this region of alpha deranges the activator and/or repressor role of GalR. We have purified the GalS protein to homogeneity and studied its property. Similar to observations made in vivo, we have found that GalS mediated repression is strongest in the mgl operon, weaker in the gal operon and nearly undetectable in the galP operon. This differential behavior originates in the correspondingly different affinities of GalS toward each relevant operator DNA.

Certain pool jet fittings are configured to direct filtered water downward or downward at an angle. For example, some devices such as the Paramount DownJet, is a fixed orifice/fixed angle eyeball style return nozzle that directs the stream perpendicular from the water inlet pipe, along the pool wall and continuing onto the pool floor, in order to sweep dirt and debris from the pool walls and pool floor. Another type of right angle nozzle is the Paramount SwingJet, which is a fixed orifice/variable angle down jet that automatically rotates during cycling. Another type of down jet is the Venturi return from Infusion Pool products, also a fixed orifice/fixed angle nozzle. With the advent of energy saving two-speed and variable speed pool pumps that save energy by running at lower speeds, there exists a need to optimize flow patterns for best performance and pump efficiency, saving energy and therefore saving money for the pool owner. Pool pumps typically are operated several hours of the day at high speeds, and consume a large amount of energy. The energy consumption involved during such usage can account for a major portion of a home owner's energy costs. To address this problem, variable speed water pumps have been introduced that can operate at low speeds. When operating at low speeds, however, the pool jet fittings do not perform their functions adequately. The aforementioned devices, with the exception of the Paramount SwingJet, being of the fixed orifice design lack the capability to tune the orifice size for optimal flow and pump efficiency. The SwingJet does have provisions to accept different sized fixed orifices, but changing size during setup is difficult, and would never be considered by the pool owner to accommodate the various pump speeds necessary to facilitate all situations. One drawback of any multi-part device in these applications, such as the Paramount SwingJet, is the possibility of sticking or jamming due to debris and/or abrasives getting into the mechanisms.

Ethics and federal laws about human subject protections have evolved to protect research participants in general and vulnerable groups in particular. Under federal law, vulnerable groups include pregnant women;fetuses, neonates, and children;and prisoners. According to ethicists, vulnerable groups also include individuals who suffer from impairment due to mental illness, stigmatized medical illness, and other debilitating disorders. Given these definitions, prisoners with mental illnesses are multiply vulnerable. With the number of prisoners with serious psychiatric disorders exceeding the number of patients in psychiatric hospitals, jails and prisons have become "America's new mental hospitals" (Torrey, 1995) and for many individuals with mental illness, inpatient psychiatric care is now provided in jails and prisons (Lamb &Weinberger, 2005). Research with prisoners, especially those with the added vulnerability of mental illness, poses ethical challenges and responsibilities, yet there have been no empirical studies of the interpretation and application of ethical principles and regulatory safeguards by researchers and IRBs involved in mental health research with prisoners. This application focuses on 1) how researchers and IRB members interpret and apply ethical principles of autonomy, justice, and beneficence in mental health research with prisoners;2) how researchers and IRB members interpret and apply regulatory safeguards for mental health research with prisoners;3) ways in which policies and structural environments of correctional systems (including prisons and jails) create ethical challenges that must be addressed by mental health researchers and IRBs;and 4) ways in which ethical safeguards and oversight affect mental health research with prisoners. This project will use sequential qualitative and quantitative phases to examine ethical challenges, responsibilities, and solutions regarding the conduct and oversight of mental health research with prisoners. Phase 1 involves key informant interviews with individuals who have conducted mental health research with prisoners;IRB Chairs and members;IRB prisoner representatives;prison administrators;and research ethicists. Using these data, Phase 2 focuses on construction of a quantitative survey about ethical challenges and solutions. In Phase 3, this survey is administered to a national sample of mental health researchers, IRB chairs and members, and IRB prisoner representatives. In Phase 4, findings from prior phases are taken to prison administrators, security officials, and medical officials, and prison advocacy group members, to gather their perspectives on the meaning and implications of these findings. Phase 5 focuses on initiating a data-driven dialogue through dissemination of research findings to important stakeholder groups, including researchers;IRB chairs, members, and prison representatives;and prison administrators, medical staff, and security personnel to result in enhanced application of ethics and regulatory safeguards to mental health research with prisoners, with the goal of reducing barriers to epidemiologic and intervention research focused on mental illness among prisoners. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Prisons have become "America's new mental hospitals", housing, but rarely treating, as many individuals with mental disorders as all psychiatric hospitals in the US combined. By providing an empirical basis with which to strengthen ethical safeguards for mental health research in correctional systems, this project will contribute to the enhancement of research-based treatment for prisoners with mental illness. Of great relevance to public health, our work will provide ethical guidance to researchers, IRBs, and prison officials;enhance the quality, conduct, and range of mental health research in prison populations;and, ultimately, enhance the health and safety of prisoners and the communities to which they return upon release.

Impairment of vertebral artery flow caused by extrinsic lesions. In a consecutive series of 71 cases of extrinsic lesions involving the vertebral artery (VA), 51 patients presented with external compression of this vessel. The compressive agents included 34 tumors, 4 osteophytes, 5 fibrous bands, 4 traumatic lesions, 2 neural elements, and 2 infectious processes. The main site was the second portion of the VA (C2-C6) (30 of 51 patients). Compression always induced at least significant stenosis, and in 8 patients caused complete occlusion. The compression was either permanent (44 patients) or intermittent (7 patients). Symptoms were observed in 11 patients, including 2 with permanent deficits. Surgical release of compression was performed each time symptoms could be explained by a reduction in VA flow and also when the compressing agent needed to be removed, as in the cases involving tumors. VA decompression was achieved by direct approach in 37 patients, by reduction and fixation of a traumatic dislocation in 2 patients, and by distal revascularization in 4 patients. Medical treatment or roentgenotherapy was used in the other patients. Results were excellent in all but 2 patients, who died from traumatic and ischemic lesions, respectively. Therefore, it seems important to identify external causes of compression of the VA for two reasons: 1) to suppress symptoms of vertebrobasilar insufficiency when their relation to VA compression is clearly established, and 2) to remove compressive agents like tumors safely while preserving the VA.

In the prior art, methylation of aniline with methanol was conducted in a batch reactor. Either sulfuric acid or phosphoric acid was used as the catalyst in the liquid-phase reaction that took place at a temperature of about 200.degree. C. under a pressure of from 30 to 50 kg/cm.sup.2. This traditional route suffers from the disadvantages of high capital cost, the corrosion of the reactor, and the need for waste acid treatment. The more recent vapor-phase technology has overcome corrosion problems and waste acid treatment but did not solve all the shortcomings associated with the liquid-phase reaction. U.S. Pat. No. 3,558,706 discloses a process for the preparation of N-methylaniline by the reaction of 1 mole of aniline with 6 moles of methanol at 500.degree..+-.50.degree. C. at 1 atmosphere over a catalyst consisting of 4MgCO.sub.3.Mg(OH).sub.2.4H.sub.2 O. The liquid hourly space velocity (LHSV) based on aniline was 0.3 to 1.0 hr.sup.-1, and the optimum yield was 68%. The reaction required high temperatures, wasted methanol, and produced unimpressive results. Japan Kokkai 74/81331 describes a process for making N,N-dimethylaniline by the liquid-phase reaction of aniline with methanol in the presence of a solid acid Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 -SiO.sub.2, Y-type zeolite catalyst at 280.degree. C. to give 98.1% N,N-dimethylaniline. In order to obtain the end product, a three hour reaction time and a reaction pressure of 150 kg/cm.sup.2 was required. In addition to the disadvantages previously mentioned, these processes have limited flexibility as far as the control of the N-alkyl to N,N-dialkylaniline ratio was concerned, and therefore could not meet market demand. The use of transition metal zeolites has also been described for the vapor phase catalytic N-methylation of aniline with methanol over a temperature range of 200.degree. to 300.degree. C. (Takamiya et al., "N-Methylation of Aniline with Methanol over Transition Metal Zeolite", Weseda University Report 21 (1975)). In this work, the catalysts were obtained by ion-exchanging HY zeolites with transition metal nitrate solution. The ion-exchanged Y zeolites, however, proved to be less active than the parent HY catalyst and gave poor control with regard to product selection.

A stainless steel sheath for endoscopic surgery and its application in surgical evacuation of putaminal haemorrhage. A stainless steel tube was used as an endoscope sheath in combination with a working channel endoscope to evacuate hypertensive putaminal intracerebral haematoma (ICH). A frontal entry point ipsilateral to the haematoma was selected for insertion of the sheath. From January to June 2004, seven patients with putaminal ICH underwent endoscopic surgery in our hospital. There were no surgical complications. Haematoma evacuation rates were greater than 90% (median of 93%). Six patients (87%) regained consciousness within one week. Six patients, including four who had no residual disability and two who had moderate disability, were able to function independently. One patient remained in a persistent vegetative state at clinical follow-up after 6 months. Use of a stainless steel endoscopic sheath combined with working channel endoscopy via a frontal approach facilitates evacuation of putaminal ICH.

As a conventional actuator, there has been provided an actuator, as shown in FIG. 7, in which a plane extending in parallel to the length of an output axis is formed in such a way as to construct a rotation prevention mechanism. In a case in which such an actuator is connected to an external device, a joint 11 connected to the output axis of the actuator is connected to an end of a link plate 13 with a pin 20 and a locking ring 21 in such a way that the joint 11 can rotate around a central axis GG, and another end of the line plate 13 is connected to a lever 2 of the external device with a pin 14 and a locking ring 15 in such a way that the link plate 13 can rotate around a central axis HH, as shown in FIG. 8. Patent reference 1 discloses an actuator in which a notch extending along an axis is formed in an output axis, and a projection fitted into the above-mentioned notch is formed in a casing of the actuator in such a way as to construct a rotation prevention mechanism. [Patent reference 1] JP, 2002-327709, A A problem with the conventional actuators constructed as mentioned above is that in a case in which a rotation prevention mechanism is disposed in the output axis, the outer diameter of the output axis has to be made thick in order to ensure the mechanical strength of the output axis, and therefore the actuator becomes enlarged. Another problem is that the provision of the rotation prevention mechanism increases the manufacturing cost of the actuator. A further problem is that when connected to an external device, because the locking rings are used in the following two places a connecting place at which the joint is connected to the link plate, and a connecting place at which the link plate is connected to the lever, the distance c from the link plate 13 to the locking ring 21, i.e., the play of the connecting portion in the axis direction becomes large. A still further problem is that there is a play due to the rotation prevention mechanism also in the actuator, and sticking occurs depending on the positional relation between the actuator and the external device when the actuator is attached to the external device. The present invention is made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an actuator which can prevent sticking from occurring and can reduce its manufacturing cost, which can be downsized, and which is equipped with a connecting member for connecting the actuator to an external device.

Numerous shingle products are known in the prior art. Most shingle products known have a number of goals. First and foremost of these goals is to preclude the elements from entering into the building (typically, a residential dwelling) with which the shingle is used. In furtherance of this objective, shingle manufacturers seek to make their products so they are resistant to hail, wind, and other aspects of the elements which might tend to deteriorate their products over the passage of time. Another goal of shingle products is resistance to fire. The typical application for shingle products is in use in residential dwellings. Consequently, safety is an important consideration in the construction of a shingle product. It is desirable that a shingle be retardant to fire not only so that it does not, itself, burn, but also that it retards the spread of fire within the structure. A third goal of all shingle products is that they be easy to apply. Included in this objective are the desires that the product be easy to handle, easy to position, and easy to mount. The capstone goal of a shingle product is that it be aesthetically pleasing. Because of the particular application of shingle products in the residential dwelling market, purchasers frequently look to the aesthetics of the product in ultimately deciding on a particular product they wish to use. It is to these dictates and problems of the prior art that the present invention is directed. It is an improved roofing shingle product which serves to solve numerous problems of the prior art without sacrificing desirable characteristics already afforded by prior art structures.

This invention relates to the field of compact electrically powered heaters mounted in exhaust streams from chemical or manufacturing processes or from engines, both mobile and stationary. One can use such heaters (a) for bringing exhaust streams up to temperature rapidly under cold start conditions, for emission control, and (b) for holding exhaust streams at sufficiently high temperatures, such that a catalyst can be heated to and held at or above its light-off temperature, where it becomes effective, and (c) for general process heating. In a particular application of the invention, an electrically heatable cord is close-coupled to a conventional catalyst or catalysts in the exhaust system of a vehicle. The heatable core serves to heat the conventional catalyst during initial cold start conditions, according to a predetermined heating-control strategy, by means of radiative and convective transfer of heat energy. In a second embodiment of the invention, the heated elements (metal strips) are coated with catalyst materials and can be positioned upstream of a conventional catalyst or catalysts. The light-off of the catalyst adhered directly to the strip is more rapid than in the case above. In this latter case, the heater is known as an "electrically heated converter" (EHC). Descriptions of EHCs appear in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,928,485, 4,976,929, and 5,070,694. This specification hereby incorporates by reference the disclosures of all of the above-cited patents. In either the first or the second embodiment of the invention, the new devices trigger the release of chemical energy to provide heat to light-off the main catalyst and maintain the gas stream at the light-off temperature. In its most general form, the present invention comprises an electrically powered non-catalytic heater which can be used to heat a gas stream.

Fitting a number of rectangular die on a round wafer typically has a single goal—arranging the die so that as many die as possible can be placed on a single wafer. The die are arranged on the wafer during an exposure process, such as photolithography, and a typical exposure process will use a mask or “reticle”. The reticle will often have 1, 2, or more die, and a reticle is typically exposed or processed at a single time, so that all of the die in the reticle are exposed at one time. The wafer can then be moved to a next location and the group of dies in the reticle are exposed again. Through trial and error or mathematical algorithm, a determination can be made as to how many dies can be placed on a wafer, and the number of good dies. The number of “good” dies on wafer includes all the dies, excluding those dies that are exposed but will never be fully operational because they are incomplete (e.g., they are only partially on the wafer) and/or they are fatally flawed (e.g., they are located on a beveled edge of the wafer). It is understood that a good die may be incomplete or fatally flawed for other reasons, such as a wafer defect or particle—but a good die has the potential to be a full and functional die. The present disclosure provides a method for optimizing die placement that goes beyond simply finding the greatest number of good die per wafer. The present disclosure considers other factors, including processing time and peripheral die yield.

In-line configured printers are important because they minimize the length (along the substrate or printing medium) of the print zone, and thereby minimize the overall envelope of the printing machine. Accommodating a longer print zone expands the overall printing machine envelope which is critical to cost, weight, installation space, inventory and shipping. In-line printers, particularly in-line printers for printing indicia, return address, destination address and/or destination barcode together with optional message line and/or destination barcode on a substrate such as a mail piece, use multiple spaced assemblies of print heads to carry out the required printing. The positioning of the print head assemblies in such in-line printers is typically accomplished by manual movement of the assemblies with respect to one another in those in-line printers that have movable print head assemblies and after such manual location are then locked in a fixed location. The position of the various areas of information to be printed are located relative to one another with variable spacing depending upon the width of the printing medium material, such as, for example, a print stock postal card, an envelope such as a #10 business envelope, a 9".times.12" flat mailing envelope or custom-sized envelope, to be printed. In such in-line printers, a first multiple print head assembly is located to print in a fixed print area of the substrate as the substrate passes relative to the print head. The first multiple print head assembly may be aligned and located to print in a fixed print area that, for example, may be in the print area that includes the return address or other indicia information. A second multiple print head assembly is located relative to the first print head assembly and positioned to print in a second print area, which may include, for example, the destination address and/or destination barcode. A third multiple print head assembly is located and positioned relative to the second and first multiple print head assemblies and located to print in a third print area, which may include, for example, a message line or optional barcode. The location of the first, second and third print areas on a mail piece are within predetermined areas of the mail piece and are typically specified by United States Postal Service standards to accommodate mechanized mail processing for each of the differently sized mail pieces. When a user desires to print with an in-line printer on a differently sized substrate or mail piece, the print head assemblies must be repositioned and located and locked in a different position to meet the location print area requirements for the size of the mail piece being printed. In-line printers such as those described above require operator intervention to relocate and reposition the multiple print heads each and every time a differently sized mail piece is printed. The operation and set-up of such in-line printers is labor intensive and cumbersome and less than satisfactory. In addition, the continual resetting and repositioning of the print head assemblies relative to one another may lead to positional error and requires constant verification that the print head assemblies are positioned and located properly to meet the addressing standards for the given size mail piece. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an in-line printer having multiple print head assemblies that are individually controllable and automatically positionable and movable relative to one another to accommodate different width substrates to print on each of the desired print areas as the substrate and print head assemblies move relative to one another to print in each of the predetermined print areas of a mail piece. It is an additional object of the present invention to provide an in-line printer that automatically determines the dimension of the mail piece as it is fed into the printer for controlling the print position of the assembly of print heads.

1. Field of Invention This invention relates to a method of processing a workpiece in a chamber. 2. Background of Invention There are nowadays many manufacturing techniques in which workpieces are treated using a first gas or gas combination, in which at least one of the gases is reactive, and then the workpiece is subjected to a second process. In many cases, both for chemical and processing reasons and for workpiece throughput reasons, it is desirable to perform the second process in the same chamber as the first, often without the chamber being exposed to atmosphere. In such circumstances a reactive gas can become absorbed on or linger in those parts of the gas delivery system and can become active during the second process, particularly if it is an energetic process, such as a plasma process. In those circumstances if, for example, the first process is a deposition process, then additional deposition may take place during the second process resulting in over thick films and loss of uniformity. One example of such a multi-step process is the deposition of thin layers, e.g. TiN using a metal organic chemical vapour deposition (MOCVD) vapour such as Tetrakis (Diethylamido) Titanium (TDEAT) and NH3 as precursors. Such a process is described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,139,825, which incorporated herein by reference. The main application of such TiN films is to coat high aspect ratio feature devices, such as trenches and contact structures on wafers containing microelectronic devices. For example TiN is used as a liner between Ti and WF6 during W plug formation. The TiN liner prevents an adverse reaction that occurs between Ti and WF6, thus allowing formation of a pure W plug in the contact. In order to prevent any intermixing of the reactants prior to entering the chamber, and hence preventing the unwanted deposition within the gas supply lines, it is typical to have the reactive gases entering from different inlets, such as via a dual port showerhead. It is important that there is a continuous coating of TiN and preferably this coating should be as conformal as possible. The coatings are typically less than 15 nm in thickness with some manufactures using as little as 5 nm. This thickness is likely to reduce even further as microchip critical dimensions decrease. Such thin coatings require very little process gas. It has been found that TiN deposited using these or similar precursors are prone to absorbing oxygen and moisture on exposure to atmospheres and that a subsequent in situ H2/N2 plasma treatment of the film reduces oxygen uptake, increases density and makes the fill resistivity more stable and improves the line of properties of the TiN. The plasma treatment has to be performed without a wafer breaking vacuum and this is an example of a case where it is advantageous to be able to deposit a plasma treat in the same process chamber. In unpublished work the Applicants have determined experimentally that TiN deposition can occur during the subsequent in situ H2/N2 plasma step thus increasing the film thickness. This is reported more fully below. Current teaching would suggest that in order to overcome the problem that the Applicants have identified, one should pump or gas purge the TDEAT line after deposition, for example using the kind of arrangement described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,772,771. However, the Applicants have determined, in unpublished work, that TDEAT confirmly decompose in an uncontrolled manner on the wafer surface during purging and that purging takes in excess of several minutes which will impact wafer throughput.

Liquid crystal display (LCD) devices are well known and are useful in a number of applications where light weight, low power and a flat panel displays are desired. Typically, these devices comprise a pair of sheet-like, glass substrate elements, or "half-cells," overlying one another with liquid crystal material confined between the glass substrates. The substrates are sealed at their periphery with a sealant to form the cell or device. Transparent electrodes are generally applied to the interior surface of the substrates to allow the application of an electric field at various points on the substrates thereby forming addressable pixel areas on the display. Examples of useful liquid crystal materials are twisted nematic, super twisted nematic and ferroelectric liquid crystal mixtures. It is desirable to manufacture large area displays of relatively light weight for use in portable devices such as computers, overhead projectors and the like. Certain organic, polymeric substrates are much lighter than glass and are therefore preferred for use over glass in large area, lightweight displays. However, these substrates tend to be more flexible than glass and must be separated by a dense population of spacers to maintain uniform separation between the closely spaced half cells forming the LCD device. This problem is even more severe with surface stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystal displays which require a nominal 2 .mu.m spacing controlled to within 0.1 .mu.m for good results to produce a uniform electric field at low voltages and show uniform contrast across the entire display area. This uniform spacing is required to provide precise control of the shallow cavity containing the liquid crystal material. Means for achieving the required spacing uniformity include using either precisely dimensioned, short-length polymeric fibers or spheres as in U.S. Pat. No 4,501,471 or spacing members made of photoresist material bonded to the substrate as in U.S. Pat. No. 4,720,173. Each of these methods has deficiencies. Fiber and spheroidal spacing particles are not easily placed uniformly on the substrate to maintain even spacing over the entire area and fibers may overlap to increase the spacer height. Moreover, when the device flexes or is otherwise physically stressed, the spacers may shift or migrate to cause starved areas in the display cell. Bonded structural members must be precisely positioned on each substrate with exactly the same height, a feat that is difficult given the dimensions and tolerances required for effective liquid crystal displays. If members have different chemical composition from the substrate, differential thermal expansion may occur, which causes possible fracture of the bond at the interface and shifting of the spacing member. Many of these deficiencies were addressed by imparting polymeric substrates with a microstructure comprising uniform height ridges to maintain uniform cell gaps as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,268,782 (Wenz), which is incorporated herein by reference. The microstructured substrate disclosed by Wenz provided spacers that would not shift or fracture because the microstructure was physically and chemically integral with the substrate. Therefore, no bonding was required between the spacers and the substrate with which they were integral. In addition, the fabrication of the microstructured substrate could be controlled well within a 0.1 .mu.m or less tolerance even over large areas (tens and hundreds of square centimeters), making it possible to construct large area, light weight displays while preserving uniform contrast across the display. One primary difficulty with the Wenz approach is that all currently available thermoplastic polymer materials suitable for the formation of the microstructured ridges and having the desired optical properties tend to be soluble in or to absorb either the liquid crystal mixtures or alignment layer solvents during processing, operation, and storage of the devices. Such reactions with the substrate polymer adversely affect the optical properties of the substrate, which may cause problems ranging from aberrations in the LCD to failure of the device. To prevent interactions between the LCD material and the spacing members, the microstructured surface may be coated with a thin layer (about 500 to 2000 Angstrom) of silicon dioxide by vacuum deposition prior to contact with the liquid crystal or alignment layer materials. While the silicon dioxide layer provides an adequate barrier as deposited, formation of a complete LCD requires exposure of the substrate to elevated temperatures during, for example, alignment layer processing, storage, and post-fill annealing. Exposure to these elevated temperatures causes the silicon dioxide coating to fracture, particularly at high stress points, due to the large difference in coefficients of thermal expansion between the silicon dioxide coating and the polymer substrate. The fractures in the silicon dioxide layer provide areas of contact between the liquid crystal and the substrate. This may result in absorption of the liquid crystal by the substrate at these fracture points, causing local swelling of the substrate. The local swelling leads to failure of the display due to the uncontrolled optical retardation and disruption of the uniform spacing gap caused by the absorbed liquid crystal in the substrate. Polymers that are impervious to liquid crystal mixtures and to alignment layer solvents may also be applied to the spacer members to form a barrier. These polymers can be chosen or formulated to have coefficients of thermal expansion that closely match that of the substrate polymer. Polymer coatings may be applied over the microstructured substrates disclosed by Wenz using methods such as coating and subsequent cross-linking of a thin liquid resin, or evaporation coating of a polymer layer, over the existing microstructure. However, such polymer coating methods are inadequate to simultaneously provide the required protection of the substrate and the required level of cell gap uniformity between the microstructured ridges. Thin coatings (&lt;0.1 .mu.m) do not provide an adequate barrier, whereas thicker coatings (&gt;0.1 .mu.m) do not replicate the microstructure within tolerances and thus cause display non-uniformities. Another shortcoming with the Wenz approach is that it is not transferable to glass substrates or to substrates other than those that can be imparted with the microstructure. For such substrates, less reliable spacer means, such as fibers, glass beads, and photoresist ribs would need to be employed. A major driving force for the advancement of electronic display technology is the ability to provide larger displays having higher resolution. Such advances cannot be made without the development of substrate materials and materials combinations that may be adapted to large area display applications and allow precise control of sub-micrometer dimensions.

"You're listening to FM 93.8," "Member-supported WPKV." "Up next, a special edition of "Downtown Local"" "Stories of life in the city with Isaac Knott." "This is P.R.N.Y." "Public Radio New York." "From W.P.K.V. In New York" "It's "Downtown Local." I'm Isaac Knott." "I don't remember any of what I'm about to tell you." "I only know what the police and coroner's reports say" "That on the morning of April 5th, 1989, a high-speed car crash occurred on a rural highway in Upstate New York." "There were two fatalities:" "My mother died on impact, my father died of hemorrhaging from a torn pulmonary vein and massive internal injuries." "I'm listed as "male survivor, approximately eight years of age."" "We were going down a road." "Nobody'd said much of anything yet." "The road was supposed to have been longer." "I did a story a while back about a kid who thought something his father had left him was magically making him run faster." "He shows me the patch and my first thought is, it doesn't look like magic." "It's black." "The edges are frayed... and I have to confess, I thought I was" "A little crazy myself." "But then I made two discoveries." "The first had to do with the way people looked at me." "I'd always gotten the stares" "You know, the ones people give you, or avoid giving you?" "But once in a while, wheeling in and out of the current of people," "I'd catch someone looking at me" "And I'd see something else in their eyes" "Jealousy." "They were jealous of me, jealous that I got to sit down and they didn't." "Does that sound crazy to you?" "Because the second thing I found was a pair of magic shoes." "But I'm ahead of myself." "P.R.N.Y. is a small operation." "The whole office has to share one production assistant." "But I got around that by moving my desk next to hers." " Hey, I got you a date." " No, thanks." "Listen to me, forget Raine." "Raine is over." "Charlene kicks Raine's ass." "Is this Charlene A.B.?" "Is she Able-Bodied?" "Yeah." "She's also H.B." " Hot-Bodied." "And she's a lawyer." "She's H.B.L." " Hot-Bodied Lawyer." "Hey, Isaac..." "Does Charlene know about the wheels?" "What, are you Frankenstein?" "You're hot." "Tonight." "I'm calling her right now." "Last week a man apparently walked into Bayside Hospital and bribed a doctor into chopping off his leg." "What was wrong with his leg?" "Nothing." "It's weird." "I can't look away." "It's the kind of story I like." "But the caller has a specific request." "Well, they always do." "She wants to meet Isaac." "Lady, if they're chopping off good legs for money, that's hard news." "She wants to meet Isaac." "This is my purview, Edie." "I'll check it out." "If it's true, if it really happened, I'll call her back." "I know a guy can find anything on anybody." "I also know someone in pathology over there." "So call him, see who gets the story first." "A man walks into a hospital and asks a doctor to chop off his leg." "The caller who gave us this tip left her email address" ""ancient chinese girl."" "I know it all sounded like some elaborate joke." "My contact at Bayside was on duty that night and I was half hoping she'd tell me nothing had happened." "Then the doctor came in and the guy goes to him," ""I want you to amputate my left leg."" "And the doctor goes, "why?"" "Sounds like a joke, right?" "So the guy goes, "because I'll give you $250,000 if you do."" "Candy, no one will know you're my source." "Nothing happened, okay?" "We said no and the guy ran out-- like, literally ran." "Are you telling me a first-year Resident turned down a quarter million dollars?" "It's not easy to cut off a leg, you know." "It takes more than two people." "Does this happen a lot" "People coming in complaining they've got legs?" "This guy was creepy, said, uh..." ""I want a transtibial amputation just below my left knee,"" "like he was ordering off a menu or something, like he knew exactly what part was him and what part wasn't, and the part that wasn't he wanted gone." "Well, if any doctor ever does take the money, call me." "Whoa whoa, Tommy." "Come on." " It's okay." " You gotta watch out." "Hey, it's okay." "All right, so the first time I saw these shoes" "I thought they belonged on Fred Astaire stepping out of a 1950 Desoto-- brown-on-black, wingtip, cartouche." "They used to call them "spectators."" "My ex-girlfriend is a P.W.D.," "Which stands for "a Person With Disability."" "She broke up with me because I was too." "Blind dates can get dicey between A.B.S and P.W.D.S, but I was assured that this blind date didn't care about the chair." "And if you're wondering-- yes, I can have sex." "I just can't catch a cab." "Need some help?" "No, I'm fine." "Don't worry, I'll be your girlfriend." " Sorry?" " My parents used to hitchhike Upstate before they were married." "He'd hide in the bushes and she'd thumb the rides." "Sounds like something my parents would do." "Don't worry about it." "I'd rather be late than give these hacks a dime." "Don't run anybody over." "Thank you." "I'm expecting one more." "Her name is Charlene Coke." "Thanks." "Hello, Charlene Coke." "Oh, here comes the look... followed by the triple-axel- someday-I'll-be- a-better-person shrug." "Very nice." "Not an easy maneuver to pull off." "You can clear this." "I'll be dining alone tonight." "Thanks." ""It was supposed to go straight to the incinerator, comma, but an orderly found the unmarked leg..."" "I'll let you catch up." ""...in the freezer and sent it to pathology instead."" "She lied to you, your contact." "You think that can be a problem?" "'Cause I can see how it can be a problem." "Seriously, is it hard to get people to take you seriously when you interview them?" "Oh, Janice, write me a different intro-- something, uh, icky... and sexy." "I mean, don't blame me." "You had your shot." "He has a crush on me." "That's why he hates you." "He thinks I like you." "Do me a favor, set him up with Charlene." "Don't to me about her." "I'm never speaking to her again." "Yes, is Candy Reed working in the E.R. Today?" "You can" "So this email was from the same caller who'd given me the tip on the amputation story." "I got there and I remember thinking," ""somewhere in this building there are others-- not one, but others who want it to be amputated."" "It never occurred to me that "others" could mean something else entirely." "Last week you were talking about hurting yourself." "I came out to my therapist." "Well, that's-- it might have been a mistake." "She told me when I use my chair" "I stay the same height as a child." "You don't need a therapist to tell you that." "What I need is Ginger Jake." "Then I wouldn't need therapy." "I'd be perfect." "Ginger Jake will kill you." "You think because you came out to your therapist" " you're ready for Ginger Jake?" "Have you found us?" "I hope so." "Ask him how he found us." "Uh, I got an email- "ancient chinese girl."" " That's her." "That's her email." "She is not here, but since you are, why don't you tell us how you describe yourself, your relationship with your chair?" "Well, I have a paraplegic injury so I guess you could say my chair and I are pretty tight." "It's all right." "It's okay." "You know we're wannabes?" "I don't know what that is." "We want to be like you." "I'm not comfortable using around him..." "Not until I find out why she sent him." "Tell us what you think of us." "What's it like to spend all your time in a chair?" "They don't say "in a chair."" "Sit "on a chair."" "We just want people to accept us, especially people like you." "I'm happy to answer any questions that you have." "Tell us what it feels like not to feel." "Well, I have pretty good sensation, actually, not too much atrophy." "My last running dream was 1992." "I don't believe in hope but I hope to walk again someday, if that makes any sense." "I work out every day" "Orthotron, stim machine." "I swim." "I stay strong so I know when the day comes my legs will be there." "You are perfect." "I have to say, uh... my name is Isaac Knott and I work for Public Radio New York." " What?" " Isaac Knott." "He tells stories on the radio." "Yes, it's true." "I want to tell your stories, all of you." "No, please... please." "Just please" "You said you want acceptance, right?" "Let me put you on the radio." "You can make your case." "This is what I remember:" "We are on our way home, returning from a little league game." "My team lost." "We're going by the tulip farms because my dad hopes the drive will cheer me up." "The weather conditions are normal for a spring day in Upstate New York-- cloudy with showers on the way." "My mother's eating hard candy she keeps in a bag in a glove compartment." "She kisses my father." "She turns to me." "She throws me a piece of candy." "This is where I stop remembering." "Wake up." "Did I tell you I'm having my housewarming party" " and that you're invited?" "If you pity me, Musslewhite, I will kill you." "Okay." "Isaac Knott's desk." "One moment, please." " This is Isaac." " Isaac Knott?" "Right." "Hello?" "Hi." "It's ancient chinese girl." "You never called me back." "Uh, sorry about that." "I-- we get a lot of anonymous calls around here." "I got your email." "I've been studying these people for a long time." " Anonymity is everything to them." " Are you a psychologist?" "No, I study them because, uh," "I want to understand why." "Why?" "Why what?" "Why they want to be paralyzed." "Do you want to understand why, Isaac?" "Listen, can we-- can we meet sometime-- like say, now?" " Hi." " Hi." "I've never actually seen one of these up close." "Is it hard to get a cab around here?" "For me it is." "Hop in." "I'm Fiona." " Isaac." "Mind if I record?" "Why record me?" "Have you eaten lunch?" "There's a great place nearby." "Really?" "Um, well, why don't we go someplace neither of us has ever been?" "I thought you said you'd never been here." "I haven't." "I love the culture." "I specialize in Chinese art and Chinese ice cream." "Oh, man," "I recommend ginger." "It's very good." "Now last night they were talking about someone named Ginger Jake." "Is she Chinese?" "Uh, Jamaican, I think." "What's the deal?" "People go to her to get paralyzed?" "As I understand it, yes." "What does she do to them?" "You know what, pal?" "I'm not the case study here." "Okay?" "You talk first." "What do you want to know?" "Tell me how you became paralyzed." "I was eight." "My parents were driving." "They died." "I lived." "The other driver was underage, so the records were sealed." "I call her "the pompom girl"" "Because I remember seeing these pompoms." "Paralyzed by a cheerleader." "Your turn." "So talk about your friend." "What makes him want to be like me?" "You know, I've never talked about this to anyone." "So why do you think someone would want to be paralyzed who isn't?" "Give me your working theory." "I can't believe I'm talking to you." " About this?" " Yes." "No." "Yes." "No no no no, I mean, it's you, you know?" "I mean, you're, like, the radio guy." "Say whatever you want." "Whoever your friend is, they'll never know I'm quoting you." "Okay okay, um... it's just-- it's harder than I thought it would be." " Why?" " Okay, all right, all right." "Here's the deal, all right?" "I want to know why my friend wants to be a paraplegic, okay?" "So this for me is all about understanding you." "And, you know, then I'll tell you whatever you want." "So, Quid Pro Quo." "I want your life, pal, as a paraplegic, in detail." "You want my life?" "All right." "At my work I have this guy who hates me." "Because you're paraplegic?" "No, because he's a dick." "I have one of those at my job." "Where do you work?" "Um..." "I'm a conservator." "I freelance." "Right now I'm doing the new collection" " at the van Platt Museum." " There you go." "I'm sure Al Qaeda has someone who comes to the cave every morning and somebody whispers," ""that guy has no self-awareness whatsoever."" "Well, maybe he thinks you're a dick." "No, he thinks I'm a gimp." "What is that?" "Is that, like, a reporter thing where later you'll say," ""mentioned the word 'gimp' and she laughs."" " Yes." " Yes?" "I'm painfully aware, okay?" "I'm too aware." "Well, then you know I like you." "Uh-oh, that means you are weird." "No, I'm easy." "I like anybody who likes me, so..." "Okay." "What if I introduced you to my friend?" "Then I'd like that." "Then the question is, what will you do for me?" "Oh, right." "It's always Quid Pro Quo with this girl." "Don't touch that vase." "It's worth more than this building." "Offended?" "I want to know more." "You know how you have apartment fantasies when you're a teenager?" "Mine was to get a place so I could shut the curtains all day and walk around in my Milwaukee brace." "And you know what?" "It's better than I ever imagined." "So this is a sexual thing for you mainly." "People who get off on braces and wheelchairs are called devotees." "They're a joke." "They're the bottom rung." "Above them are the pretenders." "They wear the braces, they push the wheels, but they don't belong to their chairs." "Still, if they want to fantasize, that's their choice." "Then there are the wannabes." "You saw how crazy they are." "What makes you different than a wannabe or a pretender?" "I'm a unique case." "I don't want to be paralyzed." "You don't?" "I already am paralyzed." "I'm just trapped in a walking person's body." "You make me so nervous." "The other day I decided that nervousness is shame someone catches you feeling." "And I ask myself, why am I ashamed?" "And if you are, why do you continue to do this?" "I can't." "I can't." "I guessed you were a T12 or a T11 incomplete." " What was it, a lumbar lesion?" " Not that." "Listen, that's not the problem." "I can have sex." "The problem is, there's someone else." "Who?" "She's paraplegic." "I don't know why I just said that." "I don't describe people by their injuries." "She's-- her name is Raine." "Is she your girlfriend?" "Sort of." "I asked her to marry me." "I don't know if that counts." "She said no." "She has this idea that one person in every marriage should be able to walk." "So that doesn't really-- that doesn't really count." "This is good news." "I'm sure she'll change her mind." "I hope so." "And if she doesn't, she's crazier than I am, and how crazy is that?" "It's not you, Fiona." "You probably think I'd jump anything in a wheelchair." "No, I don't." "I'm just trying to understand." "I've never shown any of this to any living soul, ever." "There are some things you're not supposed to show." "Oh, well." "I don't have to go." "You can talk to me." "I need to use my chair right now and I can't do that in front of you." "You can trust me." "I've been completely honest with you." "Tomorrow I'm gonna use my chair in public for the first time and you, pal, are cordially invited." "And now I want to thank you for a wonderful, so wonderful day." "there are not hundreds but thousands, all of them invisible, unlike the pretenders, the fetishists, the perverts." "Even the amputee wannabes get a name" ""body integrity identity disorder,"" "but for paralysis wannabes there is no known pathology." "The disorder is order." "This is a strange new American dream" "A way to improve yourself a few dead limbs at a time." "But why?" "What makes someone want to be paralyzed who isn't?" "Oh, good shot." "My friend Dave and I met at a Jesuit seminary where I landed after a long series of foster homes." "I think we never really figured out if he was a brother or a father figure," "But he's the only family that I really have." "Dave fell asleep at the wheel of his car when he was 17." "You haven't mentioned Raine." "I haven't seen her in six weeks." "Mm-hmm." "Did you two have a fight?" "Sort of." "I asked her to marry me." " What did she say?" " She broke up with me." "Apparently, I'm not husband material." "You'll never guess why." "You ever have anyone confess they wanted to be an amputee or paralyzed?" "You'd be surprised what some people want to do to themselves." "I'm doing this story..." "I can't discuss what I hear in confession, not even with you." "No, I wouldn't presume" "Uh-huh." "There's a lot of mixed-up people in this world." "Raine is only one of them." "Um..." "Yes, there he is." "Okay, thank you." "Thank you." "Hi." "Whoo." "Are people staring?" "I can't tell if it's just me." "Probably a little of both." "Yeah, well, this was a good suggestion." "Thank you." "Oh My God, that woman is staring at me." "This is an incredible feeling." "Oh, God." "This is so incredible." "You know, I have dreamed about this moment for so long." "It felt like 20 years just to get a cab." "Welcome to hell." "I'll introduce you to the staff." "I want you to stop me if I'm doing anything wrong, okay?" " You're doing fine." " No, seriously," "I want you to tell me if there's anything" "I should be doing differently or shouldn't be doing at all." " Hi." " Hi." "Fiona, this is-- this is Raine." " Who?" " Raine." "Oh." "Oh!" " Hello." " Hi!" "Isaac has told me so much about you." "He talks about you all the time." "This is my friend Fiona." "Hi." "I'm the ex." " Hi." " Apparently, we haven't decided who gets to keep the restaurant yet." " Fiona: right." " Nice chair." "Thank you." "It's a good ride, eh?" "We were just leaving." " Who was leaving?" " Oh, Scott and I." "Who's Scott?" "Yeah, he's just finishing." "Hi, Scott." "Raine, you have to help me." "Isaac and I were just talking about flying to Nevis." "It's a wonderful island." "Have you been?" " No, I haven't." " Oh, well, he won't budge." "I really want to get out of the city, but he just won't do it." "Encourage him." " What the hell, you should do it." " He should." " Yeah, we'll see." " Yeah, he won't budge." "Raine, it's a real pleasure to meet you" "Finally." "Good to meet you, Fiona." "It was good to see you." "Oh My God." "Was I okay?" "What?" "I said something wrong, didn't I?" "You didn't feel me kicking you under the table?" "No." "Just hold on one second." "Raine!" "Hi." "You forgot this." " I'm so sorry." " Don't be." "I've had the most incredible day." "Same here." "Unbelievable." "Isaac, I finally stopped worrying and just started being." "And I found out that I can do anything." "Oops." "Oops." "You know what?" "I got stuck in a building that had the power door in front but no ramp and then a ramp in back with no power door and it pissed me off." "I yelled at some city guy for more curb cuts." "You know what?" "I was just heading out." "Where are you going?" "Uh..." "I was gonna go talk to the door guy or brooster." "You were gonna go talk to the door guy or brooster?" "About what?" "I just didn't want to be alone." "Wake up." "My first thought is," ""there's something in my shoe besides my foot."" "Then I feel a pin dart, then waves of hot pins traveling up my legs." "The urge to stand is overwhelming." "Should I call 911?" "But what would I say?" ""come quickly, I'm being healed"?" "And then it hits me-- maybe I'm not." "When I take the shoes off the hot pins turn to ice and then disappear." "I might as well be trying to move mountains." "This is fucked up." "Holy shit." "You have to trust yourself." "Don't worry about it." "Where can I find Fiona Ankany?" "It's a surprise." "Hey." "Oh, God." "Hello." "I have the coolest news." "I have some pretty cool news myself." "Um..." "I don't know if I should tell you." " What?" " Okay, you first." "You scratch mine, I scratch yours." "Okay." "Well..." "I have decided to come out about my wheelchair." "I'm going to tell my mother." "Yeah, I'm going to tell her and then I'm going to tell everybody." "I'm going to be in my wheelchair 24/7." "Oh, God, that would be heaven." "That would be so heaven, but I'm so nervous and you have to come with me." "I wouldn't miss it." "You wouldn't?" " Do you want to hear mine?" " Yes." "Okay, but it's kind of... visual." "Really?" "Uh-huh." "Should I be scared?" "No." "Oh, God." "I'm so sorry." "I'm sorry." "I'm sorry." "I shouldn't have surprised you like that." " I just couldn't resist." " Oh My God, no." "Wait wait wait wait wait." "What?" "How?" " It was our sex last night." " Shut up." "I don't know how it happened." "The point is, I can walk." "Oh My God, oh My God." "I'm shaking." "Look, you're making me shake." "Look what you're doing to me." " Look at your hands." " No." "Okay, you are weirding me out." "And that is not easy to do." "It's like, did you ever sneeze and feel like it was a second chance?" "You know, I'm walking," "I'm seeing a drunk puke his ass and then three steps later I'm standing in front of a Van Gogh, and I don't know which one is more beautiful." "What?" "I've never used my chair at work." "Oh, that's fantastic." "It was a scene of perfect symmetric insanity-- the walking paraplegic pushing the paralyzed pedestrian." "It was also one of the happiest moments of my life." "I can't move." "I can't move." "Her mother's house was on Long Island." "The plan was to get the chair out as soon as we arrived." "Hi!" "No, not yet, not yet." "Hi, Mama." "Hi, Fiona." "I've just filled the barbeque." "I needed to see her face" "When she found out why we were there." "Let's slide in." "So Isaac is doing a piece on me for Public Radio." "I don't know what made me think of a barbeque." "I'm glad." "I almost stopped to buy some beer." "No, Isaac, I've been sober for almost 16 years." "Congratulations." "Fiona, how's work?" "Oh, I am conserving the most beautiful porcelain elephant, Mama." "It is turning out beautifully, so beautiful." "You know what?" "I should do more sculpting." " I didn't know you sculpt." " Oh, yeah." "I've been thinking of making a porcelain elephant like the one I'm working on." "You don't really sculpt." "I could be that good if I had the time." "You're comparing yourself to the master sculptors?" "Why not?" "There are steps to everything." "I can just follow the steps and in, like, 10 years" "I can be that good." "It's easy." "Anybody could." "It's one thing to scrape the dirt off someone else's work." "I would think you would at least need to take a drawing class." "Okay, I will." "And then I'll take a sculpture class." "And then I'll take whatever class is necessary and eventually I will be at least that good." "You can be whatever you want to be." "But..." "But what?" "Why are we even arguing about this?" "You know what, Mother?" "Who are you to tell me that I can't make a beautiful porcelain elephant, as beautiful or even more beautiful than anyone else can make a porcelain elephant, hmm?" "Who died and made you final arbiter of who can and cannot be a fine sculptor of beautiful porcelain elephants?" " Not one single drawing class." " That's not fair." "Fiona, you never said you wanted to be a fine artist," " not once." " so?" "I mean, wh-- why do I have to say it?" "What if I'm saying it now?" "Is it too late?" "Did I miss the cutoff?" "I don't understand." "It's better to list your accomplishments after you've done them." "Don't you agree, Isaac?" " Don't bring him into this." " I'm just stating the obvi" "Well, it's not fair!" "If you want to walk, people expect you to hurry." "I'm doing my best." "I don't feel like driving." "I've never used a foot break." "You really want to cap this day off with a car accident?" "Just give it." "You know what?" "I'm a joke." "I'm a wannabe just like everyone else in that pathetic group, so pathetic." "Why don't you do a story on yourself?" "I'm not the story." "Oh, you're not the story?" "Oh, that's right." "That's right" ""Why Fiona Wants To Be Paralyzed"" "by Isaac Knott." "Is that funny?" "No." "No, it's not." "You just said "wants to be paralyzed,"" "But you used to say that you thought you already were." "Oh, come on, Isaac, do I look paralyzed to you?" "Why do you care so much what your mother thinks about you?" "Fiona." "I'm just thinking how easy it is to get used to a miracle." "I shouldn't have come up." "You can use my chair." "We both know how this is going to end." " We don't know what's going to hap" " Oh, here it comes." "Listen, pal, you can feel sorry for me." "Let's not pretend that's caring." "I don't feel sorry for you." "No, I know how you feel about me-- "she's not normal."" "What's normal?" ""Normal" is a setting on a washing machine." "No, I don't think it's a setting on a washing machine." "I think we all know how to point and say," ""See?" "That's normal."" "And I don't want anyone pointing at me because I'm normal." "I mean, I-- I mean, I do." "Fiona, I think you have the right to be whatever you want to be." "I don't want to be a wannabe anymore." "You think I don't know what it's like to pretend?" "I'm pretending right now." "Look, I could sit down right now, take off my shoes and my legs would be gone." "What?" "These shoes are making me walk even though I know they can't any more than a patch can make a kid run faster." "Shut up." "What does it feel like when you take them off?" "Like you've just taken a deep breath, but before you can exhale somebody steals it away." "Oh, Isaac." "Please don't." "Shh, it's okay." " I wonder what they'll do to me." " I asked you, please don't" "Shh, it's okay." "Are you making this up?" "Or do you have to wear them both?" " Nothin'." " Please take them off now." "Do you think maybe they pinch a nerve in your foot or stimulate something?" "Now you know." "What?" "If you can just toss me my shoes, I can dry off here." "It's the worst" "Handling my own wet legs." "It's like trying to nail jell-o to the ceiling." "Hey." "Come on." "Are you gonna make me crawl?" "I thought it would go away when I met you, but it didn't." "And then when I saw that you weren't paralyzed and you were so happy it made me want to be happy walking." "And I almost was." "You know, I mean, I tried." " I really did, I tried." " Can you just toss me my shoes?" "I will..." "After you help me become a T12 paraplegic." "Like you're ordering off a menu." "It's important to be an authentic person if at all possible." "Paralyze yourself." "No, it has to be you." "Why does it have to be me?" ""Why Fiona Wants To Be Paralyzed by Isaac Knott."" "Okay?" " Wait." " So do we have a deal?" "Why would someone want to be paralyzed who isn't?" "I can't answer that." "You think I choose to be this way?" "Do you have any idea how many people in my life" "I've lost because I revealed myself to them?" "I'll tell you why as soon as you tell me where those people went." "I need to find Ginger Jake." "Why would you need Ginger Jake?" "Making arrangements for a friend." "Ginger Jake's effectiveness is variable." "Look, it's not me asking, so let's say it's not you telling." "I just need to know where to find her." ""I can't eat." "I can't talk." "Been drinking Mean Jake, Lord, now I can't walk." "Ain't got nothing left to lose, a Jake-Walking Papa with the Jake Walk Blues."" "#..." "I can't eat, I can't talk # # been drinking Mean Jake, Lord, now I can't walk # # ain't got nothing now to lose # # 'cause I'm a Jake-Walking Papa with the Jake Walk Blues... #" "a true wannabe knows every possible way to become paralyzed." "Auto accidents are thought to be too unpredictable." "There are drugs to render your bones so brittle that a wrong twist getting out of your chair will do the trick." "Or you can puncture your vertebrae with a four-inch spinal needle." "But there's one path to paralysis that excites a wannabe's imagination above all others." "It's called TriOrthoCresyl Phosphate." "They use it to soften plastic." "This is Ginger Jake." "It'll paralyze your legs, your arms." "If you wanna fuck yourself up, you be my guest." "Okay, I'm not being a bitch, but I will give you back your shoes in little cut-up pieces of leather if you don't help me." " I'm not helping you." " You will." "Come to my apartment." "We'll do it there together." "Fiona, whatever fucked-up thing happened to you, you don't deserve to be paralyzed." "Oh, but you do?" "You still have no idea, do you?" "I never talked about this." "So why do you think someone would want to be paralyzed?" "Give me your working theory." "I can't believe I'm talking to you." " About this?" "No." "Yes." "No, it's you." "No." "Yes." "No." "You know, it's you." "...It's you, right?" "I mean" "Driving by the tulip farms." "The flowers are red." "The pompoms are... red and white." "Wake up." "You said you knew a guy who could get anything on anybody, right?" "Yeah." "Me." "Look, I need to know if Fiona Ankany is the girl who crashed into my parents' car" "18 years ago." "The records were sealed." "Well, did you ask her?" "I don't think she'd tell me." " What did she tell you?" " I didn't ask her anything about that." "Well, you know, I don't want to lecture here, but it's kind of question-and-answer." "You know, you have to ask the questions, unless you really don't want to know the answer." "Are you okay?" "You think I'm fucked in the head." "No, I think you're gangbanged in the head." "Okay, you are wigging." "You hurt me and I hurt you-- that's what this is about." "I've tried to imagine what it must have looked like to you in the back seat." "At the police station my mother told me you had survived." "She said that you'd be stuck in a wheelchair the rest of your life." "But I was glad, because when I left you, you were lying on the road and I thought you were dead." "You keep the shoes." " You're hysterical." " I'm about to be hilarious." "Hysterical blindness, hysterical pregnancy" "You have hysterical paralysis." "Isaac, how many doctors have you let examine you in your life?" "What makes a person want to be paralyzed who isn't?" "I used to think if aliens landed and they saw all the able-bodied people and then they saw the people on their wheelchairs, they would say that those must be the Kings and Queens because they have special ramps and they never have to get up." "I have this fantasy that maybe someday after we haven't seen each other in some time..." "I'll hear you say that you forgive me like, on the radio-- you know, say my name maybe." "That was the last time I saw her." "I went back to her apartment, but she'd moved out almost overnight." "There was no forwarding address." "I know a guy who can find anything on anybody, and even he doesn't know where she went." "Her mother doesn't know either." "I went to see her and we talked about that day, the morning it happened." ""Do you feel any responsibility for the crash?"" "She just stares off, contemplating the fairness of a question she will never answer." "Now it's November, two months since I've seen her." "This is the second time in my life she's crashed into me and then vanished." "I find myself going back to places we'd been together" "Not in the way you do when you can't get over someone," "I just go to think about her and to feel... restored." "Isaac Knott," "Public Radio New York." "Subtitles by LeapinLar"

Processes for the production of microporous films are well known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,870,593 (which is incorporated herein by reference) describes a process wherein a microporous film is produced by: (1) dispersing finely divided particles of a non-hygroscopic inorganic salt such as calcium carbonate in a polymer; (2) forming a film from the polymer; and (3) stretching the film to provide microporosity. Methods of making composites of a microporous film and a nonwoven fabric are also known in the art. Such composites have been prepared by, for example, extrusion-coating a polymer film onto a nonwoven fabric. Prepared films and fabrics have also been bonded directly by a variety of means, including adhesive, thermal, and ultrasonic bonding. It may also be desirable to stretch microporous film/fabric composites, however, stretching has its drawbacks. For instance, for microporous films, typical positive effects of stretching include higher vapor breathability and improved surface aesthetics. Vapor breathability (or water vapor transmission ratexe2x80x94xe2x80x9cWVTRxe2x80x9d) can be estimated by laboratory test methods, and is a function of the size and frequency of micropores in the film. Additional stretching of an already microporous film is known to increase the size of existing pores and create new pores. Therefore, highly stretched microporous films and microporous film/fabric composites generally have higher vapor breathability as compared to similar materials which have been stretched to a lesser degree. Likewise, surface feel and drapability are known to be improved by stretching processes. Films and fabrics, when combined with one another, tend to be more stiff and harsh than either of the individual components alone. Stretching such composites tends to break down the rigid structure, thereby providing a softer surface feel and improved drapability. On the other hand, stretching microporous film/fabric composites can result in decreased bond strength and increased pinholing. Stretching improves the softness and drapability by destroying the connection between film and fabric. This results in decreased bond strength in the laminate. Stretching can also cause undesirable damage to the laminate, such as pinholing, tearing, or shredding of the film, the fabric, or the composite as a whole. The bonding of a film and fabric may be carefully controlled to avoid creating other functional and aesthetic problems. For example, in the case of extrusion coating a polyethylene film onto a spunbond polypropylene web, process conditions such as melt temperature and nip pressure determine the intrusion of the fibers into the film structure. At the maximum level of intrusion, the film and fabric essentially mold together and become one. Such a laminate, however, acquires the worst properties of the two components and tends to be both rigid and fragile. At the minimum level of intrusion, however, the film and fabric have little or no bond, and therefore tend to delaminate. Too much bond strength is also known to limit the amount of stretching which may be performed due to pinhole formation. Simply stated, if the bond between film and fabric is too large, the stretched film will sometimes fracture prior to delaminating, leaving a pinhole. Rather than bonding a microporous film to a fabric, it is also possible to first bond a non-porous film to a fabric, and then stretch the resulting composite in order to render the film microporous. Previous attempts to first bond and then stretch film/fabric composites, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,910,225 (which is incorporated herein by reference) have been only partially successful due to damage to the composite by the stretching process. Damage includes, but is not limited to, pinholes, tears, and other functional and aesthetic defects. U.S. Pat. No. 6,066,221 describes a method of providing increased bonding between a film and nonwoven by applying lanes of hot air to the surface of laminates in the machine direction. Although this zoned hot air knife treatment increases the structural integrity of the laminate, stretching of the treated laminate results in debonding of the film and nonwoven. U.S. Pat. No. 6,248,195 is another example of a bonding technique that is unable to prevent debonding of the film and nonwoven during post-stretching. Schmitz teaches that heated fluid or air can be used to bond webs at localized points forming a broken lane in the machine direction of the film. U.S. Pat. No. 5,424,025 describes zone stretching of a film in the machine direction through the use of interpenetrating male and female rolls. Variations in the depth of engagement by the male roll creates an alternating pattern of heavy and lightly stretched sections. U.S. Pat. No. 6,013,151 (which is incorporated herein by reference) teaches that a film/nonwoven fabric laminate can be made microporous and breathable upon incremental stretching at high speeds. The resulting microporous laminates have a high water vapor transmission rate (WVTR). It has been found that a flat film/nonwoven laminate can be incrementally stretched more uniformly than an embossed film/nonwoven laminate. More uniform stretching provides higher WVTR and fewer pinholes. There is a continuing need for improvements in the performance and appearance of composites of polymer films and nonwoven fabrics. In particular, improvements are desired for producing microporous film/fabric composites with higher breathability, while avoiding pin holes and other functional and aesthetic defects. The present invention relates to film/fabric composites and methods of producing the same which exhibit improved physical and aesthetic properties. A fabric structure is laminated to a film in a novel manner and then stretched so as to produce a breathable composite satisfactory for many end uses as a liquid barrier having high water vapor permeability. The film and fabric layers are bonded in lanes running in the machine direction. The composite then passes through a special stretching device designed so that all of the web except the highly bonded lanes are stretched. This invention is suitable for hygiene applications, such as producing diaper backsheets, which require composites that do not delaminate, provide high WVTR (water vapor transmission rate), and are soft and cloth-like. This invention is able to utilize the positive aspects described above and avoid the negative after effects. The fabric is attached to the film with two levels of bond strength. The majority of the bond may be extremely weak, thereby allowing the majority of the composite to be stretched to the maximum degree, thus obtaining the desired high WVTR readings and aesthetic properties (e.g., surface softness and drapability). Since there are zones where the bond is high, the total material will not be subject to delamination. The areas where the bond is high are not stretched or are only partially stretched and, therefore, the product will not suffer the problem of pinholes which are caused by stretching areas tightly bonded. The films and fabrics described here can be composited in many different ways including, but not limited to, extrusion coating, adhesive lamination, and thermal point bonding. The composite once formed is then subjected to stretching using a variety of techniques including, but not limited to, CD intermeshing ring rolls. The process of stretching highly-filled thermoplastic polymer films using techniques such as ring rolls is known in the art. One example of this method is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,350,655. The film/fabric composite may be made, for example, by first attaching a fabric to a film during production of that film. The fabric can be bonded to the film at the nip point in a cast operation via extrusion coating. Other methods of bonding before or after the cast station nip include hot melt adhesive and thermal or ultrasonic point bonding. Any of these three methods, as well as many other methods not mentioned but well known in the art, can be used in accordance with the process described herein. The only requirement on bonding technique is that the locations where the fabric is highly bonded to the film can be avoided during the stretching process. One method that meets the above criteria is where increased bonding in certain regions of the composite is accomplished by a sonic sealer that thermally bonds fabric to film in lanes running in the machine direction. The sealer can be located anywhere after the cast station nip point. In either case, the increased bonding results in lanes where the fabric cannot be delaminated from the fabric with less than 150 grams per linear inch of peeling force. The other criteria of avoiding or reducing stretching activation can be accomplished by using CD intermeshing ring rolls with spaces where the bonding lanes fall.

The present invention relates to tubular belt conveyors and, in particular, to a prestressed, self-closing tubular conveyor belt and to the components and to the overall construction of a high speed conveyor system which uses such a tubular belt. In general, the term tubular belt or tubular conveyor belt refers to a belt which typically has a relatively narrow width compared to its length and which is rolled or formed along its width into a closed tube with overlapping longitudinal edges. Preferably, when used in material transporting systems, such tubular belts are formed as endless conveyors in which pourable material is loaded at one point and dispensed at a second point. For a number of reasons, conventional tubular conveyor belts have not fulfilled their potential for use in material transport. First, conventional tubular belts require cumbersome external guides, such as radially arranged rollers or funnels or stiff outer tubes, to form and maintain their tubular configuration and to keep the belt edges closed. In addition, these tubular belt conveyors are subject to twisting, despite the use of external shaping devices. If the joint formed by the overlapped belt edges is twisted from the preferred vertical position to a downward-facing position on the lower half of the tube, the belt edges may separate, allowing spillage of the bulk material carried by the conveyor. Conventional tubular belt conveyor systems use a lumped drive system comprising a cylindrical drive pulley at one end of the conveyor belt, a second cylindrical stretching pulley at the opposite end of the belt, and a set of supporting pulleys or other supports along the lines of the system. This construction has many of the known disadvantages of flat belt conveyor systems. That is, the use of the single, lumped drive to pull the entire conveyor line results in extremely high longitudinal tensions in the belt, especially on ascending slopes. The maximum conveyor length is limited by the tensile strength of the conveyor belt. The high tensile stresses in the belt require heavy reinforcement, and any attempt to lengthen the conveying lines requires even greater, heavier and typically more rigid and expensive reinforcement. In addition, the high torque capacities required of lumped drive systems to pull such heavy and perhaps heavily reinforced conveyor lines usually requires the installation of a speed reduction transmission, which results in additional energy losses. Furthermore, high speed loading and unloading of a normally closed high speed tubular belt conveyor is difficult. The normally closed belt must be opened and closed for both loading and unloading. In addition, efficiency in the conveying process requires high conveyor belt speeds and requires that the material be loaded through the opening onto the fast moving conveyor belt, transported by the belt, and off-loaded, all without spillage of material. In short, the construction of conventional tubular belt conveyor systems limits their speed and length, limits the number and degree of turns in such systems, and makes difficult high speed efficient loading of such systems.

Parental smoking and pretend smoking in young children. To investigate whether parental smoking was associated with smoking-related play behaviour in young children. Children were asked to pretend that they were grown-ups having dinner. They were invited to act out this situation in a play corner with a toy kitchen and a child-sized dining area, including a package of fake cigarettes on the table. Children were tested individually at their school during regular school hours. The sample consisted of 100 children between 4 and 8 years of age (mean=5.28, SD=0.94) of which 57% were boys. The majority of the children were born in The Netherlands (99%). The main outcome measure was whether or not a child pretended to be smoking a cigarette. Child and parent reports were used to assess parental smoking. Findings revealed that 37% of the children had at least one 'puff' during their play. Children were more likely to pretend to smoke if they reported having smoking parents (OR=3.16, p=0.02; 95% CI=1.22 to 8.18). Analyses for the model with parent reports on parental smoking did not yield any direct association. Children's explicit attitudes were unrelated to their smoking-related play behaviour. These findings indicate that young children, who reported having parents who smoke, already associate having dinner with a (after-dinner) cigarette.

The invention relates to a hair roller used for setting hair into a predetermined pattern of curls and waves, by winding strands of hair around the heated cylindrical body. These rollers are heated by being placed on heated metal posts forming part of an electric hair setter unit, which is usually in the form of a metal plate carrying from 5 to 30 posts, each post heating one curler. Upon the rollers reaching the suitable temperature, they are taken off the posts, one by one, and placed into the correct position in a woman's head hair. The existing rollers comprise a cylindrical hollow body of a thermo-plastic material, provided on its outer surface with a plurality of radial teeth and, optionally, with co-axial rings at one or both ends. The cylindrical hollow portion of the plastics body is provided with a tubular insert which is generally pressed into the body and which is adapted to transfer heat from the heated metal post on which it is placed, to the outer surface of the roller, and to the hair wound around it. The metal posts of the existing hair setter units are either cylindrical or frusto-conical, and it will be readily understood that the contact area between metal insert and post is only along a line or a narrow strip; in the case of a conical post, contact is along the circular lower edge of the tubular insert, and in the case of a cylindrical post, contact is along a straight longitudinal line on the cylinder surface. Only this small contact area serves to transfer heat by conduction, and most of the heat is, therefore transmitted by convection through interposed air, resulting in rather slow heat transfer. Another drawback of the existing rollers is the frequent loosening of the insert caused by different coefficients of expansion of the metal and the plastics, further reducing heat transfer between these components. A further drawback of the cylindrical insert is frequent wedging or jamming of the roller, but on a cylindrical and a frusto-conical post. With a view to obviate these drawbacks, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a hair roller wherein a tubular metal insert is elastically pressed against the inner walls of the plastics curler body. A second object is to provide intimate contact between frusto-conical or conical posts and the insert over a large portion of the entire insert surface. Still another object is to prevent the rollers from wedging on the posts and hindering their ready removal therefrom.

It is well known in the art that the properties of lubricating oils for internal combustion engines can be improved by the addition of molybdenum-containing materials having anti-wear and/or friction-reducing properties. Anti-wear materials prevent or slow down the wear that occurs between metal surfaces which are in close rubbing contact, particularly in the boundary lubrication regime where metal to metal contact occurs. They are known to work by forming a permanent film on the surface metal which protects it from wear phenomena which would otherwise lead to removal of metal, loss of performance and eventual welding together of metal parts. Friction-reducing materials act by reducing the friction between metal surfaces when they rub together, resulting in improved fuel economy. They are known to give benefit in both the hydrodynamic and boundary lubrication regimes. These molybdenum-containing materials typically contain a source of active sulphur. In Column 1, line 53 to Column 2, line 2 of US-A-4,692,256 it is stated: "It has been considered essential that organic molybdenum compounds useful as lubricant additives should contain sulfur atoms in the molecules of the compounds. That is, it has been considered that the lubricating performance can be obtained by the formation of molybdenum disulfide on the lubricating surface by molybdenum and sulfur contained in the molecules. However, the present inventors have assumed that active sulfur atoms contained in the molecules may have undesirable effects in view of the metal corrosion and have made an earnest study in order to overcome the contraction. As a result, it has surprisingly been found that although the product obtained by the reaction between a molybdenum compound and an amino compound has no substantial performance when used alone as a lubricant additive, it exhibits extremely satisfactory lubricating performance when combined with a sulfur-containing compound". Examples of such sulphur-containing compounds are said in Column 4, lines 11 to 19 to include sulphurised fatty acids, sulphurised oils and fats, sulphurised olefins, disulphide compound such as dibenzyl sulphide, dithiocarbamate such as butylphenyl thiocarbamate disulphide, phosphorous- and sulphur-containing compounds such as tetraalkylthioperoxy phosphate, molybdenum dithiocarbamate, molybdenum dithiophosphate and zinc dithiophosphate. US-A-4,266,945 discloses, as extreme-pressure and friction modifying additives in lubricants and fuels, molybdenum-containing compositions substantially free of Group IA and IIA metals which are prepared by reacting, at a temperature up to about 200.degree. C., a mixture comprising (A) at least one acid of molybdenum, or salt thereof; (B) at least one phenol, or condensation product of said phenol and at least one lower aidehyde; and (C) at least one compound selected from the group consisting of (1) amines having the formula R.sup.1 (R.sup.2)NH wherein R.sup.1 is an aliphatic hydrocarbon-based radical and R.sup.2 is hydrogen or an aliphatic hydrocarbon-based radical; (2) condensation products of said amines with at least one lower aidehyde; and (3) salts of (1) or (2). The molybdenum-containing compositions may be used in conjunction with at least one compound containing active sulphur, e.g. a sulphurised olefin, a sulphurised mercaptan, a sulphurised phenol, or a dialkyl xanthate or carbamate. The reagent (B) can be a phenol. The term "phenol" is defined as a compound containing a hydroxyl group bound directly to an aromatic ring and is said to include compounds having more than one hydroxyl group bound to an aromatic ring, and also alkylalkenyl phenols. No other phenols are mentioned. Preferred are phenols containing at least one alkyl substituent containing about 3 to 100 and especially about 6 to 20 carbon atoms, with monoalkylphenols being particularly preferred. A reference to US-A-4,266,945 can be found in Column 1, lines 30 to 34 of US-A-4,466,901 which discloses a lubricating oil anti-friction additive composition prepared by reacting a phenolic compound, with a molybdenum compound, an amine compound and sulphur or a sulphur-yielding compound. In Column 1, lines 52 to 56 of US-A-4,466,901, it is stated that molybdenum compounds produced by prior art methods including that of US-A-4,266,945 potentially suffer from either economic inefficiencies or from changing product requirements, i.e. they do not meet current environmental standards. Furthermore, in Column 2, lines 4 to 10, it is stated that whilst these molybdenum compounds can improve the characteristics of lubricating oils, they suffer the additional drawbacks in that they are often uneconomical or difficult to prepare, cannot be prepared in a batch process, and may or may not have sufficient amounts of sulphur incorporated within the additive to benefit fully from the molybdenum contained therein. SU-A-1143767 discloses a lubricating composition containing (a) 1.5 to 1.53% w 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (anti-wear and anti-scuff additive), (b) 0.201 to 0.204% w p-hydroxyphenylene diamine (antioxidant additive), (c) 0.5 to 2% w molybdenyl chloride of the formula MoO.sub.2 Cl.sub.2.HL where HL is salicylaldehyde/2,4,6-trimethyl- aniline or salicylaldehyde/tert-butylamine (each of these being a Schiff base and therefore containing the group CH.dbd.N--), and (d) the balance being a synthetic oil based on an ester of pentaerythritol and C.sub.5 -C.sub.9 aliphatic acids. Test data in the Table in Columns 5 and 6 of SU-A-1143767 (particularly the results for Composition 2 compared with those for Compositions 3 to 6) show that the anti-wear and anti-scuff properties of a lubricating composition containing components (a), (b) and (d) were enhanced by the addition of the molybdenyl chloride (c). There is no test data on any lubricating compositions containing components (c) and (d) only and therefore there is no suggestion of any anti-wear or friction-reducing capabilities of the molybdenyl chloride (c) per se. SU-A-1054406 discloses a lubricating composition with improved lubricity containing, as anti-wear additive, 0.05 to 0.25% w molybdenyl chloride bis(salicylaldehyde anilinate), 0.45 to 2.25% w thioglycolic acid, and the balance being a synthetic oil based on an ester of pentaerythritol and C.sub.5 -C.sub.9 aliphatic acids. The composition is referred to in SU-A-143767 discussed above where it is mentioned that the use of molybdenyl chloride bis(salicylaldehyde anilinate) is problematic since it can only be incorporated into the synthetic oil after it has first been dissolved in thioglycolic acid, which leads to the formation of sediment in the oil during long-term operation. It has now surprisingly been found possible to prepare molybdenum-containing complexes from carboxylic compounds, being free of active sulphur, which show advantageous friction-reducing properties.

The present invention relates to a system for mounting a pre-vaporizing bowl to the upstream end of a combustion chamber wall in a gas turbine engine. Most present day gas turbine engines, particularly those turbojet engines designed for aircraft use, are equipped with annular combustion chambers extending around a longitudinal axis of the engine. Such engines also have a pre-vaporizing bowl around each fuel injection nozzle interposed between the nozzle and an upstream end wall of the combustion chamber. As is well known in the art, the pre-vaporizing bowls generate air turbulence around the point where the fuel is injected into the combustion chamber to optimize the vaporization of the fuel. Examples of such pre-vaporizing bowls may be found in the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,726,182; 4,696,157; and 4,754,600; as well as French Patent 2,585,770. Since the combustion chamber walls are subjected to very high temperatures during operation of the gas turbine engine, they undergo a generally radial expansion when heated and a generally radial contraction when they are cooled. In order to accommodate the relative radial movement between the combustion chamber walls and the fuel injection nozzle, the pre-vaporizing bowl must be mounted between these elements in such a manner as to allow it to move relative to the combustion chamber wall. Typical examples of such mounting may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,322,955 as well as French Patents 1,547,843 and 2,479,952. Today's turbojet engines are designed as a series of modules which are subsequently assembled to form the engine. The assembly sequence for the combustion chambers is usually accomplished by assembling the combustion chamber (fitted with its pre-vaporizing bowls) to a subassembly that has been equipped with the fuel injector nozzles. The assembly takes place while the engine is in a horizontal orientation and usually involves sliding the combustion chamber subassembly horizontally until it is mated with the subassembly having the fuel injection nozzles. In this position, gravity urges the radially moveable pre-vaporizing bowls downwardly to a position wherein their centers are slightly eccentric with respect to the centers of the openings through the combustion chamber wall. As a result, the pre-vaporizing bowls may be misaligned with the fuel injection nozzle which presents the danger of damaging contact between the pre-vaporizing bowl and the fuel injection nozzle during the assembly process.

Dissociation of aggregated IgG and denaturation of monomeric IgG by acid treatment. Conditions for obtaining a large quantity of monomeric IgG which can be used for intravenous injections in humans was successfully established with human serum IgG preparation obtained using the ethanol fractionation method. When dissociation of IgG aggregates and denaturation of IgG monomers contained in the starting material were examined at various pH values, the treatment for 60 min at 28 degrees C at pH 3.8-4.0 was found to be optimum for obtaining such monomeric IgG. At this pH range, the dissociation of IgG aggregates into monomeric IgG reached maximum, without producing polymeric IgG. When monomeric IgG was treated at this acidic pH condition, its biological and physicochemical properties such as acid difference spectrum, molecular weight, plasmic digestion ratio, and complement-, antigen- and protein A-binding activities remained unchanged. The fact that large scale production of monomeric IgG can be easily performed under such conditions is discussed.

Cytofluorometric analysis of metastases from lung adenocarcinoma with special reference to the difference between hematogenous and lymphatic metastases. Metastatic tumors in the brain, liver, and regional lymph nodes (20 cases each) from patients with adenocarcinoma of the lung were examined by cytofluorometric analysis, and compared with the respective primary lung tumors. The nuclear DNA content of tumor cells was significantly increased in metastatic tumors in the brain and liver compared with the primary (P less than 0.01). However, the DNA content of metastatic tumors in regional lymph nodes was almost identical to that of the primary tumor in many instances. From the viewpoint of the nuclear DNA content of lung adenocarcinoma, blood-borne tumor cells in the brain and liver were considered likely to constitute a discrete tumor cell subpopulation, i.e., probably a more malignant one, different from the major subpopulation in the primary tumor, whereas lymphatic metastases in regional lymph nodes were similar to the primary. The subpopulation with an increased DNA content in hematogenous metastases were thought to have originated from a minor subpopulation in the primary tumor or to have developed at the metastatic site.

The present invention relates to a system and device for pumping molten metal and, in particular, a monolithic rotor that does not include separate bearing members. A number of submersible pumps used to pump molten metal (referred to herein as molten metal pumps) are known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,948,524 to Sweeney et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,169,584 to Mangalick, U.S. Pat. No. 5,203,681 to Cooper, and pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/439,739 to Cooper, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference, all disclose molten metal pumps. The term submersible means that when the pump is in use, its base is submerged in a bath of molten metal. Three basic types of pumps for pumping molten metal, such as aluminum, are utilized, circulation pumps, transfer pumps and gas-release pumps. Circulation pumps are used to circulate the molten metal within a bath, thereby equalizing the temperature of the molten metal and creating a uniformly consistent alloy. Most often, as is known by those skilled in the art, circulation pumps are used in conjunction with a reverbatory furnace having an external well. The well is usually an extension of the charging well where scrap metal is charged (i.e., added). Transfer pumps are generally used to transfer molten metal from the external well of the furnace to a different location such as a ladle or another furnace. Gas-release pumps, such as gas-injection pumps, circulate the molten metal while adding a gas into the flow of molten metal in order to xe2x80x9cdemagxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cdegasxe2x80x9d the molten metal. In the purification of molten metals, particularly aluminum, it is frequently desired to remove dissolved gases such as hydrogen, or dissolved metals, such as magnesium. As is known by those skilled in the art, the removing of dissolved gas is known as xe2x80x9cdegassingxe2x80x9d while the removal of magnesium is known as xe2x80x9cdemagging.xe2x80x9d All molten-metal pumps include a pump base that comprises a housing, also called a casing, a pump chamber, which is an open area formed within the housing, and a discharge, which is a channel or conduit communicating with the chamber and leading from the chamber to an outlet formed in the exterior of the casing. A rotor, also called an impeller, is mounted in the pump chamber and connected to a drive system, which is typically one or more vertical shafts that eventually connect to a motor. As the drive system turns the rotor, the rotor pushes molten metal out of the pump chamber, through the discharge, out of the outlet and into the molten metal bath. A bearing member is added to the pump casing, which is preferably a ceramic ring attached to the bottom edge of the chamber. The inner perimeter of the ring forms a first bearing surface. A corresponding bearing member, which is a ceramic ring (sometimes referred to as a rotor ring), is attached to the rotor, and its outer perimeter forms a second bearing surface. The rotor is vertically aligned in the pump chamber so that the second bearing surface of the rotor aligns with the first bearing surface of the pump chamber. When the rotor turns, the first bearing surface keeps the second bearing surface centered, which in turn keeps the rotor centered in the pump chamber. A problem encountered with this arrangement is that the ceramic ring attached to the rotor is fragile and often breaks. It breaks during operation of the pump because of impact against the bearing surface or because pieces of solid material, such as brick or dross present within the aluminum bath, become wedged between the bearing surface and the second bearing surface. The ceramic ring attached to the rotor also breaks during start up because of thermal expansion. In this respect, whenever a rotor including a rotor ring is placed in the pump, the ring is quickly heated from the ambient air temperature within the factory to the temperature of molten aluminum. The ring then expands and can crack. To alleviate cracking due to thermal expansion, the furnace operator may slowly heat the entire furnace to prevent thermal shock to the ring, but this results in downtime and lost production. Finally, the rings are easily damaged during shipping. The present invention solves these and other problems by providing a bearing system, which includes a plurality of bearing pins or wedges (collectively referred to herein as bearing members, bearing pins or pins), that are less prone to fracture than a bearing ring. The geometry of each pin allows for thermal expansion without breaking. Generally, the present invention is a plurality of solid, heat-resistant (preferably refractory material) pins that attached to a molten-metal pump rotor. The perimeter of the rotor containing the pins is called a bearing perimeter. The surfaces of the pins that align with the first bearing surface of the pump casing collectively form a second bearing surface. The material forming each bearing pin is harder than the material forming the rotor, so as to provide a wear-resistant bearing surface. Preferably, a system according to the invention will include a rotor having a plurality of bearing pins equally radially spaced about the rotor. In use, the rotor is mounted within the pump chamber of a molten metal pump so that the bearing pins form a second bearing surface that aligns with the first bearing surface provided in the pump casing. In another aspect of the invention, a first bearing surface consists of a plug of heat resistant material formed in the base of the molten metal pump chamber and the second bearing surface is formed by a surface of a bore or recess formed in the bottom of the rotor. When the rotor is placed in the pump chamber it is seated on the plug, which is received in the bore or recess in the rotor base. This configuration not only centers the rotor, it vertically aligns the rotor in the pump chamber as well. Furthermore, this arrangement can be reversed, with a plug extending from the bottom of the rotor and forming a second bearing surface. A recess or bore is then formed in the base of the pump chamber. The plug is received in the recess and a surface of the recess forms the first bearing surface. Also disclosed is a rotor especially designed to receive the bearing pins and a molten metal pump including a rotor with bearing pins. Furthermore, disclosed herein is a monolithic rotor that does not include a separate bearing member attached to it. This monolithic rotor has a second bearing surface, but has no separate bearing member such as a pin, plug or ring. The advantage of such a monolithic rotor is reduced manufacturing costs because machining the rotor can be accomplished in a simple operation; no bores, grooves or recesses must be formed in the rotor to receive separate bearing member(s). In addition, no cementing of separate bearing members is required. Such a monolithic rotor is preferably formed of a single material, such as graphite. A monolithic rotor as disclosed herein is preferably used in conjunction with a rigid rotor shaft to motor shaft coupling, which keeps the rotor centered in the pump chamber. Additionally, a monolithic rotor may be used with a monolithic pump casing, wherein the casing has a first bearing surface formed of, and preferably integral with, the same material forming the rest of the pump casing.

New findings on inhibitor development: from registries to clinical studies. The high incidence of inhibitors against factor VIII (FVIII) concentrates in patients with haemophilia A has encouraged debate as to whether product-type plays a role. There is debate in the literature as to whether rFVIII concentrates are associated with a higher incidence of inhibitors compared to pdFVIII products. The management of haemophilia in patients with inhibitors includes on-demand/prophylaxis treatment with bypassing agents, and/or immune tolerance induction (ITI). However, these options create an economic and emotional burden on patients, their families and healthcare practitioners. Although ITI eliminates inhibitors successfully in 60-80% of cases, it is costly. Despite high costs, preliminary data from a decision analytical model have indicated that ITI is economically advantageous compared with on-demand/prophylactic treatment with bypassing agents. In patients with persistent inhibitors and those who are not candidates for ITI or have failed ITI, bleeding-related mortality and morbidity increase and quality of life decreases, compared with non-inhibitor patients. This article provides an update on the risk of inhibitor development and discusses best management approaches for patients with high-risk factors for inhibitor development.

Analysis of cocaine and three of its metabolites in hair by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry using ion-trap detection for CI/MS/MS. A sensitive GC/CI/MS/MS method was developed for the simultaneous determination of cocaine (COC), anhydroecgonine methylester (cocaine pyrolysis product, AEME), ecgonine methylester (cocaine enzymatic hydrolysis product, EME) and cocaethylene (cocaine with ethanol trans-esterification product, COET) in human hair samples. After acid hydrolysis, hair samples were extracted with an automated solid phase extraction (SPE). The analysis of cocaine and its three metabolites was performed using an ion-trap spectrometer in positive chemical ionization with isobutane as gas reagent. The procedure was validated. Weighted linear regression was found appropriate in a concentration range of 0.10-5.00 ng/mg for AEME, 0.05-5.00 ng/mg for COC, EME and COET. The limit of detection was estimated at 0.005 ng/mg for COC and COET, at 0.025 ng/mg for EME, and at 0.050 ng/mg for AEME. Method performance was evaluated in terms of trueness and precision using quality control (QC) samples over the investigated ranges. Method selectivity and robustness were also demonstrated.

A little while ago, I posted on the Oblates of Saint Benedict and I wrote a little about what it meant to be an Oblate. Here I would like to republish some of the Rule, starting with the Prologue and going through all of the chapters. I may also post some of the reflections with my abbot's blessing.Listen carefully, my son, to the master's instructions, and attend to them with the ear of your heart. This is advice from a father who loves you; welcome it, and faithfully put it into practice.The labor of obedience will bring you back to him from whom you has drifted through the sloth of disobedience.This message is for you, then, if you are ready to give up your own will, once and for all, and armed with the strong noble weapons of obedience to do battle for the true King, Christ the Lord.First of all, every time you begin a good work, you must pray to him most earnestly to bring it to perfection.In his goodness, he has already counted us as his sons, and therefore we should never grieve him by our evil actions.With his good gifts which are in us, we must obey him at all times that he may never become the angry father who disinherits his sons,nor the dread lord, enraged by our sins, who punishes us forever as worthless servants for refusing to follow him to glory.Let us up then, at long last, for the Scriptures rouse us when the say:(Rom 13:11).Let us open our eyes to the light that comes from God, and our ears to the voice from heaven that every day calls out this charge:(Ps 94 [95]:8).And again:(Rev 2:7).And what does he say?(Ps 33 [34]:12).of death(John 12:35).Seeking his workman in a multitude of people, the Lord calls out to him and lifts his voice again:(Ps 33 [34]:13)If you hear this and your answer is, "I do," God them directs these words to you: If you desire true and eternal life,(Ps 33 [34]:14-15).Once you have done this, my you my for yourto you:(Isa 58:9).What dear brothers, is more delightful than this voice of the Lord calling to us?See how the Lord in his love shows us the way of life.Clothed then worth faith and the performance of good works, let us set out on this way, with the Gospel for our guide, that we may deserve to see him (1Thess 2:12).If we wish to dwell in the tent of this kingdom, we will never arrive unless we run there by doing good deeds.But let us ask the Lord with the Prophet:(Ps 14 [15]:1)After this question, brothers, let us listen well to what the Lord days in reply, for he shows us the way to his tent.he says,(Ps 14 [15]:2-3).He hasthe, the devil, at every turn, flinging both him abs his promptings farof his heart. While these temptations were stillChrist (Ps 14 [15]"4; 136 [137]:9).These people, and do not become elated over their good deeds; that brings about the food in them.(Ps 14 [15]:4) the Lord working in them, and say with the Prophet:(Ps 113 [115:1]:9).In just this way Paul the Apostle refused to take credit for the power of his preaching. He declared:(1 Cor 15:10).And again he said:(2Cor 10:17).That is why the Lord says in the Gospel:(Matt 7:24-25).With this conclusion, the Lord waits for us daily to translate into action, as we should, his holy teachings.Therefore our life span had been lengthened by way of a truce, that we may amend our misdeeds.As the Apostle says:(Rom 2:4)?And indeed the Lord assures us in his love:(Ezek 33:11).Brothers, now that we have asked the Lord who will dwell in his tent, we have heard the instruction for dwelling in it, but only if we fulfill the obligations of those who live there.We must, then, prepare our hearts and bodies for the battle of holy obedience to his instructions.What is not possible to us by nature, let us ask the Lord to supply by the help of his grace.If we wish to reach the eternal life, even as we avoid the torments of hell,then - while there is still time, while we are in this body and have time to accomplish all of these things the light of life -we must run and do now what will profit us forever.Therefore we intend to establish a school for the Lord's service.In drawing up its regulations, we hope to set down nothing harsh, nothing burdensome.The good of all concerned, however, may prompt us to a little strictness in order to amend faults and to safeguard love.Do not be daunted immediately by far and run away from the road that leads to salvation. It is bound to be narrow at the outset.But as we progress in this way of life and in faith, we shall run on the path of God's commandments, our hearts overflowing with the inexpressible delight of love.Never swerving from his instructions, then, but faithfully observing his teachings in the monastery until death, we shall through patience share in the sufferings of Christ that we may deserve also to share in his kingdom. Amen.The Prophet being referred to is King David.

Conventional dowels for mounting insulating plates have the disadvantage, that they cannot entirely prevent the formation of thermal bridges, which also applies for dowels having a plastic coat or heads made of plastic. Substantially, this results from the diversity of the materials of which the insulating material on the one hand and the dowel on the other hand are made. This diversity may also lead to undesirable dowel show-through in the plaster layer at the outer walls, especially when exposed to moisture and wetness. This disadvantage occurs frequently when applying basic plaster qualities. To achieve a better thermal insulation and to avoid dowel show-through in the plaster layer, a sunk-in mounting of the dowel in the insulating plate has been suggested. A process where a recess is formed in the insulating plate for taking up the dowel, simultaneously with the drilling of the bore-hole for the dowel is known from EP 0 086 452. In this case, a recess corresponding to the diameter of the pressing plate is milled into the insulating plate when drilling the bore-hole in the same process step, by means of a countersink drill which includes a milling head and a plate-like stopper, and subsequently closed with a covering which is already arranged on said pressing plate. Due to the fact that the covering is arranged on the pressing plate respectively on the dowel head as provided by the factory, an additional process step is avoided during mounting. However, the milling leads to a considerable abrasion of insulating material. Considering the large number of dowels which are regularly used for mounting insulating plates when building a house, the generated milling dust poses a considerable pollution of the environment, and, in larger amounts, may also lead to health problems for the construction personnel. Further, the mounting properties of dowels having coverings applied at the factory are clearly inferior to comparable dowels without applied covering. Due to the insufficient resistance to pressure of the insulating material and the thus limited drive-in-forces, only low dowel expansion forces are possible, which can lead to considerably poorer values regarding the draw-out resistance. Further, in production such dowels are significantly more expensive than conventional embodiments. Additionally, for carrying out the known process a specific countersink drill is required, being likewise expensive in production. A further known solution comprises a milling crown, e.g. made of plastic, by means of which a recess can be milled into the insulating material after the bore-hole has been drilled. Then the dowel is introduced into the bore-hole and subsequently mounted. Thereafter, the covering is applied. This solution contains two more process steps as compared to EP 0 086 452 and therefore is more time-consuming. Apart from that, there is also a considerable environmental burden because of the generated milling dust. EP 1 088 945 discloses an insulating element, which consists of mineral fibers and comprises markings for the arrangement of dowels for insulating material. The markings can be located in recesses within the insulating element respectively be formed as recesses. Preferably, the recesses are formed mechanically or in the case of thermoplastic insulating materials by local heating. The production of such insulating elements is connected with considerable costs on the one hand, on the other hand the pre-fabricated recesses leave no room for the construction personnel on-side for an assembly of the dowel for insulating material which deviates from the predetermined pattern. It is also not taken into consideration that the respectively most advantageous geometric arrangement of the dowels for insulating material with regard to the insulating plate may vary enormously depending on the special circumstances and the weather conditions. Further, pre-forms of mineral wool for acoustic and thermal insulation of household appliances are known from utility model DE 296 22 196. These form-parts comprise areas of material, in which recesses are formed. These areas of material are thereby exposed across the depths of the predetermined recess by cut-ins with regard to the surrounding material, and are already pre-compressed during the production by means of a pressure piston. Thereby, the material is compressed in such a way that it comprises a residual elasticity for enabling a limited adaptation to changes in the configuration during the assembly of ovens etc. Also in this case, expensive pre-formed parts are considered. For the construction industry, especially with regard to the mounting with dowels for insulating material, parts produced in such a way are not suitable since they do not comprise the required stiffness.