text
stringlengths 0
128k
|
|---|
import Ember from 'ember'
import layout from '../templates/components/ds-inline-edit'
export default Ember.Component.extend({
layout,
dsInlineEditTemplate: 'components/ds-inline-edit/ds-inline-edit',
isEditing: false,
value: Ember.computed('model', 'prop', function(){
return Ember.get(this.get('model'), this.get('prop'))
}),
displayValue: Ember.computed('value', function(){
const value = this.get('value')
if (Ember.typeOf(value) === 'instance'){
return value.get('displayName') || value.get('name') || value.get('id')
} else {
return value
}
}),
didInsertElement(){
this._super(...arguments)
// handle click inside and outside component
Ember.$(document).on(`click.${Ember.guidFor(this)}`, e => {
if (this.get('disabled')) { return }
const element = Ember.$(this.element)
const target = Ember.$(e.target)
const isInside = element.is(target) || element.has(target).length
if (isInside){
if (!this.get('isEditing')){
this.set('isEditing', true)
Ember.run.next(() => this.$('input').focus())
}
} else {
this.get('isEditing') && this.send('cancelEdit')
}
})
},
willDestroyElement(){
this._super(...arguments)
Ember.$(document).off(`click.${Ember.guidFor(this)}`)
},
keyDown(e){
const enterKeyCode = 13
const escKeyCode = 27
switch (e.which){
case enterKeyCode:
this.send('confirmEdit')
break
case escKeyCode:
this.send('cancelEdit')
break
}
},
onEditSuccess(){
this._super(...arguments)
this.onUpdate && this.onUpdate(...arguments)
},
onEditError(error, previousValue){
this._super(...arguments)
const prop = this.get('prop')
this.set(`model.${prop}`, previousValue)
this.onError ? this.onError(...arguments) : console.error(error)
},
actions: {
confirmEdit(){
this.set('isEditing', false)
const { model, prop, value } = this.getProperties('model', 'prop', 'value')
if (this.customUpdate) { return this.customUpdate(value, model, prop) }
const previousValue = model.get(prop)
model.set(prop, value)
// only update the currently edited value
const modifiedAttrs = {}
const otherAttrs = model.changedAttributes()
delete otherAttrs[prop]
Object.keys(otherAttrs).forEach(a => {
let [persistedAttr, modifiedAttr] = otherAttrs[a]
model.set(a, persistedAttr)
modifiedAttrs[a] = modifiedAttr
})
return model.save()
.then(updatedModel => this.onEditSuccess(updatedModel))
.catch(error => this.onEditError(error, previousValue))
.finally(() => {
Object.keys(modifiedAttrs).forEach(a => {
model.set(a, modifiedAttrs[a])
})
})
},
cancelEdit(){
this.set('isEditing', false)
const oldValue = Ember.get(this.get('model'), this.get('prop'))
this.set('value', oldValue)
}
}
})
|
correct preposition to use with 'support' in this sentence?
What will be correct preposition to use in this sentence with 'Support'
Provided technical consultancy and product support to Citibank for/ on
banking system
For a start that is not a "sentence" - there is no subject!
@TrevorD thanks, this is an extract from cv, have written this way to avoid repetition of I.
If it concerns Citibank, it presumably relates to American usage, and, being a Brit, I wouldn't purport to know how Americans would phrase this!
@TrevorD I m in Australia yet not a native English user.
Provided technical consultancy and product support to Citibank for/ on
banking system
"To" is the correct preposition.
Provided technical consultancy and product support to Citibank on banking system.
"to Citibank to banking system"? Really?
"to Citibank on banking system" - Why the downvote?
|
Talk:Zhanyin Lorra/@comment-20791725-20140827010458/@comment-30602727-20140827023343
^ Then you should have wrote that before instead c+p the same quote from last time :|
|
Why is the AWS Elasticsearch Minimum free storage space metric different to cat allocation api
I have an Elasticsearch cluster in AWS and was alerted that the clusters minimum storage space was around 2gb. Before just upgrading the storage on each node I decided to dig a little deeper. For reference the cluster has 8 nodes with 35gb storage on each node. I am struggling to understand why the FreeStorageSpace metric for each node (and minimum FreeStorageSpace metric for the cluster) do not align.
Viewing Free storage space per node on the ES instance health tab:
When I cat/allocation:
Ultimately I am trying to decide whether the available storage space on my nodes reporting the least amount of storage space left is 2gb as per Cloudwatch metrics or 8.8gb as per the cat allocation api - This will help me decide how to scale. I understand that Amazon ES reserves a percentage of the storage space on each instance for internal operations but would assume this would reduce the disk.avail in the image above. Any insights into why these aren't lining up would be fantastic.
This is because AWS Elasticsearch being a managed services, has its own storage overhead.
From AWS Documentation:
Operating system reserved space: By default, Linux reserves 5% of the
file system for the root user for critical processes, system recovery,
and to safeguard against disk fragmentation problems.
Amazon ES overhead: Amazon ES reserves 20% of the storage space of
each instance (up to 20 GiB) for segment merges, logs, and other
internal operations.
There are two metrics to view your free storage:
FreeStorageSpace CW Metric - This will incorporate the overhead and show the actual space available to the end user.
From AWS Documentation for FreeStorageSpace:
FreeStorageSpace will always be lower than the value that the
Elasticsearch _cluster/stats API provides. Amazon ES reserves a
percentage of the storage space on each instance for internal
operations.
Elasticsearch API's - Since these are native Elasticsearch api's, they will display the raw space available which will be higher than the actual space.
|
<?php
namespace App\Export\FV\Import;
use App\Export\Mould\FVOrderMould;
class OrderExport extends FVImportExport
{
public function getType()
{
return 'order';
}
public function getMould()
{
return new FVOrderMould;
}
}
|
User:Grognak3/User:Grognak3/Choose an Article/Bibliography
You will be compiling your bibliography and creating an outline of the changes you will make in this sandbox.
Outline of proposed changes
Click on the edit button to draft your outline.
Article talks about how clover species, including trifolium hybridium can decrease the biodensity of weeds in the areas it is planted by 29-57%. This helps fill in an information gap of the use of trifolium hybridium, as there is no use section on its page.
Article talks about the effects of trifolium hybidium as a poisonous plant, which also falls under the use category.
Article
article talks about the situations in which the plant thrives, and some information about it, allowing new information to be incorporated.
article gives general information, which can be used to improve current wikipedia information, and more specific information that can be added to other sections.
Article Talks about the toxicology of of trifolium hybridium in equestrians, giving good data to add to that section.
|
R.S.M. INC. and Mel Mohr, Trustee for the Irene Mohr Revocable Trust on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated, Plaintiffs, v. ALLIANCE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT HOLDINGS L.P., Alliance Capital Management Corporation, Alliance Capital Management, L.P., Dave H. Williams, Bruce W. Calvert, Robert H. Joseph, Jr. and John D. Carifa, Defendants.
Civ. A. No. 17449.
Court of Chancery of Delaware, New Castle County.
Submitted: Feb. 14, 2001.
Decided: April 10, 2001.
Revised: Nov. 8, 2001.
Craig B. Smith, David A. Jenkins, and Joelle E. Polesky, of Smith, Katzenstein & Furlow, Wilmington; Stuart D. Wechsler, Frederick W. Gerkens, III, of Wechsler Harwood Halbian & Feffer, New York, New York, of counsel, for Plaintiffs.
Charles F. Richards, Jr., Srinivas M. Raju, J. Travis Laster, of Richards, Lay-ton & Finger, Wilmington; Dennis Glazer, of Davis Polk & Wardwell, New York, New York; Leon P. Gold and Scott A. Eggers, of Proskauer Rose, New York, New York, of counsel, for Alliance Capital Management Holding, L.P., Alliance Capital Management Corporation, Alliance Capital Management L.P., Dave H. Williams, Bruce W. Calvert and John D. Carifa.
OPINION
STRINE, Vice Chancellor.
This action involves a challenge to the already-consummated reorganization of a limited partnership. The “Reorganization” separated the ownership of a single publicly traded limited partnership, Alliance Capital Management Holdings, L.P. (“Holdings”) into two parts: Holdings and a new privately traded partnership, Alliance Capital Management L.P. (“Capital”). Holdings unitholders were given the option to convert their Holdings units into Capital units in the Reorganization. If they did so, their units would be exempt from a federal tax that applied to publicly traded units, but would not be freely tradeable. This tradeoff between favorable tax treatment and liquidity did not apply to Holdings’ majority unitholder, Equitable Life Assurance Company of America (“Equitable”), which is the sole owner of Holdings’ general partner.
Thus, the plaintiffs have alleged that the Reorganization was intended for the sole benefit of Equitable and was structured and disclosed in a manner that was purposely intended to minimize the number of public unitholders who would exchange their Holdings units for Capital units. By minimizing the number of public unithold-ers who converted, Equitable could thereby convert all the units it wished to exchange.
In their complaint, the plaintiffs allege that: (1) the Reorganization is invalid because it was approved by a majority of the public unitholders rather than by unanimous action; (2) the defendants breached their fiduciary duties by structuring the Reorganization in a manner that was unfair to the public unitholders; and (3) the defendants procured an affirmative vote of the public unitholders through materially misleading disclosures.
The defendants have moved to dismiss these claims, and have raised numerous arguments that cannot be efficiently summarized here. For the reasons articulated herein, I grant most aspects of the defendants’ motion, but deny it in two important respects.
I. Factual Background
A. The Parties
Plaintiffs R.S.M., Inc. and Mel Mohr were unitholders of Holdings before the Reorganization and continue to hold their units.
Defendant Holdings is a publicly traded limited partnership listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”). Defendant Capital is a privately traded limited partnership, and Holdings owns the second-largest block of its units.
Defendant Alliance Capital Management Corporation (the “General Partner”) is a Delaware corporation and general partner of both Holdings and Capital. The General Partner is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Equitable. Before the Reorganization at issue in this case, Equitable owned a majority of the units in Holdings. After the Reorganization, Equitable became the majority unitholder of Capital.
The other defendants named in the amended complaint are directors and/or officers of the General Partner.
B. The Ownership Structure Of Holdings Before The Reorganization
As of the time of the Reorganization, Holdings was a formidable player in the mutual fund and asset management industry and was controlled as follows:
C. The Motivation For The Reorganization
In the late 1990’s, publicly traded limited partnerships like Holdings faced a deadline by which their favorable tax treatment as partnerships would be eliminated. On August 5, 1997, a federal statute was enacted to provide some limited relief to these partnerships. The Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 permitted publicly traded limited partnerships to maintain partnership tax status if they elected to pay a tax, beginning January 1, 1998, of 3.5% on gross business income.
As a result, Holdings faced a new dilemma: how to balance the relative economic utility of avoiding the 8.5% tax versus the benefits of liquidity for unitholders. By converting the partnership into a private one that was not traded on an exchange, Holdings could avoid the 3.5% tax. But this action would require the partnership to subject itself to stringent limitations on the transferability of units, limitations that would place unitholders in a far different situation than being holders of units freely tradeable on a major stock exchange.
As shall be seen, this tradeoff in values was one that was more difficult for the public unitholders than for Equitable. Due to the magnitude of Equitable’s position in Holdings, it was largely exempt from the federal strictures on transferability that would apply in the event that the partnership chose a structure to avoid the 3.5% tax. In essence, Equitable had the opportunity to avoid both the tax and any markedly increased risk of illiquidity.
D. The Basie Elements Of The Reorganization
In April 1999, the General Partner announced its plan for addressing the choice posed by the new 3.5% tax. At its core, the plan involved splitting Holdings into two affiliated entities. One entity — Holdings itself — would continue to be a publicly traded limited partnership and be subject to the 3.5% tax. The other entity — Capital — would be a private partnership exempt from the 3.5% tax. Capital’s units would be subject to strict federal limits on transferability.
In the Reorganization, Capital would purchase all the assets and businesses of Holdings in exchange for all of the units of Capital. Capital would thus become the operating entity, with Holdings being a holding vehicle for those unitholders who valued liquidity enough to subject themselves to the 3.5% tax.
The Reorganization was structured to give unitholders a chance to decide which entity’s units they wished to hold. Thus, Holdings unitholders were given the opportunity to exchange their units — on a one for one (“1:1”) basis — for units of Capital (the “Exchange”).
Because it could convert its Holdings units into Capital units without any loss of liquidity, Equitable wanted to exchange all of its Holdings units to avoid the 3.5% tax. As plaintiffs point out, however, Equitable’s ability to do that was affected by the number of public unitholders who made the same choice.
If approximately 30% of the public unit-holders made this election, Equitable’s ability to convert would be subject to pro-ration on an equal basis with the public unitholders. The reason for this was that without a limitation on the number of units exchanged by public unitholders, Holdings could have been left without a sufficient number of units to maintain its listing on the NYSE.
According to the plaintiffs, Equitable wanted to exchange as many of its units as it could and thus had a financial motive to deter public unitholders from electing to do so. As a result, the plaintiffs contend that the General Partner intentionally structured the Reorganization in a manner calculated to produce the result that Equitable, its owner, desired.
The plaintiffs also point out that Equitable faced a pickle. Although the Reorganization was obviously beneficial to it, the Reorganization had less promise to public unitholders because they faced the tradeoff between tax relief and liquidity. And as noted, Equitable had an incentive to limit the number of converting public unit-holders to no more than 30%, so as to be able to convert all the units it desired to convert. But the Holdings’ partnership agreement prevented Equitable from accomplishing the Reorganization without the affirmative votes of a majority of the public unitholders unaffiliated with Equitable. Thus, the General Partner and Equitable had to come up with a way to sell the transaction to public unitholders who arguably had little to gain from it.
According to the plaintiffs, the General Partner and Equitable designed a strategy that was purposely intended to induce the public unitholders to approve the Reorganization while discouraging them from participating in the Exchange. This strategy, plaintiffs contend, was successful in inducing a majority of the public unitholders of Equitable on September 22, 1999 to approve: (1) a restated and amended partnership agreement for Holdings containing changes necessary to effect the Reorganization; and (2) the Reorganization itself. The plaintiffs argue that this approval is insufficient to sustain the Reorganization for a variety of reasons, the most important of which I will next detail, beginning with plaintiffs’ claim that the unitholders’ vote was induced by a deceptive and coercive strategy implemented by the defendants in breach of their fiduciary duties.
E. Do As I Say, Not As I Do?: The Alleged Strategy To Induce Public Unitholders To Approve The Reorganization, And To Refuse To Participate In The Exchange
The defendants’ illicit strategy had two basic elements: (1) limiting the liquidity afforded to small unitholders of Capital even more than was required by federal law and stressing the risks that illiquidity presented; and (2) leading public unithold-ers to believe that the Reorganization would benefit them regardless of whether they converted their units in the Exchange. By this method, plaintiffs argue, Equitable led the public unitholders to believe that they gained from the Reorganization even if they did not convert, leaving Equitable as the only real beneficiary of the Reorganization.
I now describe these two basic elements as articulated by the plaintiffs’ complaint.
1. The Limitations On Liquidity
If public unitholders exchanged their units for Capital units, they were subject to a number of contractual provisions in Capital’s partnership agreement limiting the transferability of their units. The plaintiffs acknowledge that it was impossible for Capital to avoid the 3.5% tax without substantial limitations on transferability-
What the plaintiffs argue, however, is that the General Partner and Equitable intentionally limited the transferability of Capital units well beyond the degree necessary to safely protect favorable tax treatment. Without burdening the reader with unnecessary complexity, suffice it to say that the plaintiffs point to regulatory safe harbors that Capital could have used to afford liquidity to small unitholders. These include a safe harbor that permits private partnerships to enable transfers of up to 2% of the partnership’s units each year without endangering its tax exemption.
Instead, Capital’s partnership agreement subjected transfers proposed by small holders to a large number of conditions, including payment of Capital’s legal fees and other costs involved with the transfer. Notably, such transfers were subject to approval not just by the General Partner, but by Equitable itself.
By contrast, Equitable faced no liquidity problem. Capital’s partnership agreement required the General Partner to assent to any “block transfer” of more than 2% of the Capital units. Because Equitable was the only holder with more than 2% of the units, it was the only unitholder with this option.
As plaintiffs see it, Equitable thus structured the transferability provisions of Capital’s partnership agreement so as to discourage public unitholders from taking part in the Exchange. This discouragement protected Equitable from the risk of proration.
2. The Benefits That Non-Exchanging Public Unitholders Were Told They Would Receive
According to plaintiffs, Equitable faced a quandary that it resolved in a manner contrary to the meaning of its own name. Holdings’ financial advisor, Goldman Sachs, originally advised Equitable that a 1:1 exchange ratio would provide no benefit to the public unitholders of Holdings. That is, Goldman Sachs could not discern any benefit from the Reorganization for Holdings’ public unitholders who did not participate in the Exchange. And because of the restrictions on liquidity that had to be accepted in return for participation in the Exchange, Goldman Sachs appears to have believed that the value of the reduction in tax liability offered by a 1:1 exchange was outweighed by the corresponding diminution in liquidity. Thus, Goldman Sachs would not opine that public unitholders would benefit by exchanging their units.
In order to address the fact that Goldman Sachs could not discern a Reorganization-generated benefit to the public un-itholders, Equitable entered into a new advisor agreement with Capital, which in simple terms guaranteed that from 1999 through 2003 Capital would receive at least $38 million in advisory fees (the “Guaranteed Fee”) annually. Because Holdings unitholders would share proportionally in the benefits of these fees to Capital, the guaranteed fee was thus of arguable benefit to non-exchanging Holdings unitholders.
The Guaranteed Fee Agreement was subject to termination by Equitable in certain circumstances. In that event, however, a separate accounting, valuation, reporting and treasury services agreement between Equitable and Capital would be deemed to have automatically terminated, giving rise to an obligation on the part of Equitable to pay a termination fee (“Termination Fee”). The Termination Fee would vary depending on the date of termination. If, for example, Equitable terminated in 1999, the Termination Fee would be $80 million, but if it waited until 2003, then the Termination Fee would only be $10 million.
In the proxy materials distributed in connection with the unitholder vote on the exchange, the public unitholders were informed of an asset management fee analysis that had been performed by Goldman Sachs. This analysis calculated that the Guaranteed Fee Agreement added between twenty-seven and sixty-four cents per unit in value to Holdings’ public unit-holders based on a discounted cash flow analysis of the Fees that would be received from 1999-2003. The unitholders were further told that:
Based on the asset management fee analysis, Goldman Sachs concluded that the holder of a unit who does not participate in the exchange offer should be better off economically after the reorganization than before the reorganization because the one-for-one exchange ratio ensures that such unitholder will retain the same economic interest after the reorganization, while such interest will be enhanced by the incremental benefits accruing to Alliance Capital as a result of the minimum required fee payments.
The complaint argues that this description of Goldman Sachs’ analysis was grossly misleading. According to plaintiffs, the Guaranteed Annual Fee of $38 million was (i) substantially less than the annual fees paid to Holdings in each of the prior five years; and (ii) substantially less than the annual fees Holdings was internally projecting it would receive from Equitable during the years 1999-2003. Because (i) Goldman Sachs found that the fees charged by Holdings had been at typical industry levels and (ii) Equitable would own a majority of Capital after the Reorganization and thus be able to recoup a large portion of the fees through its return on its units, plaintiffs assert that it would have been foolish for Equitable to go elsewhere for these services.
For all these reasons, the plaintiffs argue that the Proxy was written to make it appear as if the Guaranteed Fee delivered substantial incremental value to Holdings on the order of $38 million annually on a discounted basis, when in reality the Guaranteed Fee and the Termination Fee were at best far more modestly valuable insurance policies against a highly unlikely risk. Put bluntly, plaintiffs contend that the Proxy turned revenues that were already built into Holdings financial projections into additional financial value. Equitable’s alleged motive for this assertedly misleading portrayal was to induce the public unitholders to approve a Reorganization that would benefit only Equitable itself.
This inducement was important, plaintiffs claim, because it worked in tandem with the Proxy’s emphasis on the illiquidity risks that exchanging public stockholders would face. Indeed, plaintiffs emphasize that Goldman Sachs refused to opine whether a public unitholder who elected to participate in the exchange would benefit from the Reorganization.
F. The Partnership Amendments Necessary To Effect The Reorganization
The plaintiffs’ multi-pronged attack on the Reorganization includes an assertion that the Reorganization was not accomplished by a valid amendment to the Holdings’ partnership agreement that existed before the Reorganization (the “Original Agreement”). The basic contention they make is that the Reorganization is invalid because it was accomplished by a single amendment to the Original Agreement (the “Amendment”) that was approved by a majority of the public unitholders rather than by a unanimous vote of all the unit-holders. Because the Amendment that was voted on by the Holdings unitholders contained a single provision that could only be accomplished by a unanimous vote, the plaintiffs argue that the entirety of the Amendment, which was otherwise approved by a sufficient vote, was never validly adopted and must be declared void.
Understanding this argument naturally requires reference to specific provisions of the Original Agreement, and the objectives sought to be accomplished by the Amendment to that Agreement. In essence, the Amendment that was proposed in connection with the Reorganization was designed to clear the way for the Reorganization itself. That is, the Amendment proposed changes to the Original Agreement that were necessary or advisable in order to effect the Reorganization itself, which was to be the subject of a separate vote by the Holdings unitholders.
The Amendment was put to the Holdings unitholders as one ballot proposal in the form of a proposed restated and amended partnership agreement (the “Proposed Agreement”), which was followed by the separate proposal on the Reorganization itself. In order for either the Amendment or the Reorganization to take place, an affirmative vote on both was required.
The Holdings unitholders were told that the Reorganization would be approved if it were supported by a majority of the unit-holders unaffiliated with Equitable or the General Partner. This instruction was consistent with § 6.13 of the Original Agreement, which reads as follows:
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the General Partner shall not cause the Partnership to sell, transfer, pledge, assign, convey or otherwise dispose of, in a single transaction or series of related transactions, all or substantially all of the Partnership Assets (other than pursuant to Section 2.6) unless (A)(i) such sale, transfer, pledge, assignment, conveyance, or other disposition has received Majority Approval (Majority Outside Approval if the General Partner or any of its Corporate Affiliates have any direct or indirect equity interest in any Person acquiring Partnership Assets in such transaction)
Because the Reorganization involved the transfer of substantially all the assets of Holdings to Capital, it triggered this protective provision of the Original Agreement.
The unitholders were also told that so-called “Majority Outside Approval” was necessary to adopt the Amendment, in addition to approval by a majority of all unitholders, including Equitable. The defendants argue that Majority Outside Approval was sought for the Amendment because it was in reality part and parcel of the Reorganization, and therefore was also subject to § 6.13. And Majority Outside Approval was in fact secured from the public unitholders in the September 22, 1999 vote on the Amendment and Reorganization.
The plaintiffs contend that the Proxy inaccurately described the vote required to effect the Amendment. Among the changes to the Original Agreement proposed in the Amendment was a change to § 15.1(b). That section provided that if any one of four categories of events identified in § 15.1(a) occurs, a dissolution of Holdings may be avoided only by a unanimous vote of the unitholders. Section 15.1(b) of the Proposed Agreement contained in the Amendment eliminated one of the four categories of dissolution in § 15.1(a) from coverage by § 15.1(b).
More importantly, for purposes of this motion, § 15.1(b) of the Proposed Agreement also replaced the unanimous vote requirement of § 15.1(b) of the Original Agreement with a majority vote. As a result, § 15.1(b) of the Proposed Agreement had an arguably profound effect on the vote required to adopt the Amendment. Under the Original Agreement, the following provisions bear on the proper vote requirement for the Amendment:
Section 17.2. Amendment Procedures. Except as provided in Sections 17.1 [dealing with certain amendments that could be unilaterally made by the General Partner] and 17.3 [set forth below], all amendments to this Agreement shall be made in accordance with the following requirements:
(a) Any amendment to this Agreement may be proposed by the General Partner by submitting the text of the amendment to all Limited Partners and Unitholders in writing.
(b) If an amendment is proposed pursuant to subsection (a) above, the General Partner shall call a meeting of the Unitholders to consider and vote on the proposed amendment unless, in the Opinion of Counsel, such proposed amendment would be illegal under Delaware law if approved. Subject to Section 17.3, a proposed amendment shall be effective upon approval by the General Partner and Majority Approval unless otherwise required by law. The General Partner shall notify all Unitholders upon final approval or disapproval of any proposed amendment.
Section 17.3 Special Amendment Requirements. Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 17.1 and 17.2,
(a) If any amendment to this Agreement would by its terms adversely alter the rights and preferences of any class or series with respect to distributions or otherwise materially and adversely alter the rights and preferences of any class or series, ... such amendment shall become effective only upon (i) Majority Outside Approval (in addition to approval of the General Partner) ....
(b) No provision of this Agreement which establishes a percentage of the Partners (or a class or series thereof) required to take any action shall be amended, altered, changed, repealed or rescinded in any respect that would have the effect of changing such percentage, unless such amendment is approved by a written approval or an affirmative vote of Partners (or a class or series thereof) constituting not less than the number required by the voting requirement sought to be reduced.
As the defendants do not dispute, the proposed change to § 15.1(b) was incorporated in the single Amendment put to the unitholders for approval by Majority Outside Approval. The plaintiffs therefore argue that § 17.3 of the Original Agreement plainly renders the Amendment invalid because § 17.3 clearly states that the unanimous vote requirement in § 15.1(b) of the Original Agreement could not be “amended, altered, changed, repealed or rescinded in any respect that would have the effect of changing such percentage, unless such amendment” is approved by a unanimous vote. Because “such amendment” — the omnibus Amendment, the plaintiffs contend — was not approved by a unanimous vote, the plaintiffs argue that the entire Amendment encompassing the Proposed Agreement, and not just the proposed change to § 15.1(b) incorporated therein, was not validly adopted.
By contrast, the defendants contend that the only effect § 17.3 had on the Amendment was to invalidate the proposed change to § 15.1(b). They base that contention on § 17.3 itself, which states that no provision establishing a particular percentage vote for certain action (ie., § 15.1(b)) can be amended unless “such amendment” (ie., the specific change to a provisions involving a super-majority vote requirement) receives that same percentage vote (ie., a unanimous vote). Therefore, the defendants claim that § 17.3 sets forth its own remedy, which is limited to invalidating the portion of the Amendment that would alter a contractually specified percentage for action (ie., the unanimous vote requirement of § 15.1(b)) without the support of the same percentage of unit-holders.
That this is the intent of the Original Agreement, argues the defendants, is made plain by the severability provisions of both the Original Agreement and the Proposed Agreement (the “Severability Clauses”), both of which identically state:
Section 18.12 Invalidity of Provisions. If any provision of this Agreement is or becomes invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected hereby.
The Severability Clauses, in defendants’ view, represent the clear intent of the parties to the Original Agreement and the Proposed Agreement that technical defects in particular parts of the Amendment would not operate to invalidate the other aspects of the Amendment. This practical approach must be given heavy weight, defendants say, in any decision regarding the validity of the Amendment.
Before delving into the merits of the plaintiffs’ various claims and the defendants’ arguments as to why they should be dismissed, it is necessary to discuss an unusual post-vote development that is material to the resolution of this motion.
G. The General Partner Strips The Proposed Agreement Of The Proposed Change To § 15.1(b) And Certain Other Provisions When It Restates The Original Agreement
In sharp contrast to how cases like this typically proceed, the plaintiffs did not file their initial complaint until a week after the Amendment and Reorganization were approved at a meeting of the Holdings unitholders. Thus, the defendants were not on notice of the plaintiffs’ challenges to specific provisions of the Amendment, the Reorganization, and the Proxy until it was too late to alter those provisions before the vote.
The original complaint was filed before the Reorganization was consummated and the court scheduled expedited proceedings to address the plaintiffs’ claims. The proceedings were cancelled by the parties when they made progress towards settlement. A memorandum of understanding was eventually signed in contemplation of settlement, which was subject to confirmatory discovery. This prospect of peace ultimately did not bear fruit.
Nonetheless, the filing of the complaint did influence the final form in which the Original Agreement was amended. Rather than implement every provision of the Amendment that had been voted upon by the unitholders, the General Partner excised certain aspects of the Amendment that were challenged in the plaintiffs’ original complaint.
For example, the General Partner did not incorporate the proposed change to § 15.1(b) in the final “Restated Agreement,” which became effective on October 15, 1999. Instead, the General Partner included in that Restated Agreement a provision identical to § 15.1(b) of the Original Agreement.
The defendants contend that there are two equally effective bases for this decision. First, the defendants claim that the General Partner simply recognized that § 17.3 of the Original Agreement had the effect of invalidating the proposed change to § 15.1(b), and thus did not include that proposed change in the Restated Agreement. Second, the defendants argue in the alternative that such a post-vote amendment was authorized by § 17.1 of both the Original and Proposed Agreements, both of which authorize the General Partner to unilaterally adopt an amendment that (i) does not adversely affect the Unitholders in any material respect; or (ii) is necessary or desirable to correct any ambiguity in the partnership agreement or any provision that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision of the partnership agreement.
The General Partner also changed other provisions of the Proposed Agreement in order to address concerns raised by the plaintiffs’ original complaint. These sections of the Proposed Agreement were alleged by plaintiffs to have had a material adverse effect on the rights of the public unitholders, and thereby to render the Proxy’s assertion that the Proposed Agreement had no such effects false and misleading. For the reader’s sake, these changes will be set forth in a later portion of this opinion addressing plaintiffs’ disclosure claims.
II. Legal Analysis
The defendants’ motion is governed by well-settled procedural standards. Those standards require me to accept all well-pled allegations in the amended complaint as true and to draw all inferences from those allegations in the light most favorable to the plaintiffs. In accordance with the parties’ agreement, I may consult the Restated Agreement in order to resolve this motion, but the record is otherwise limited to the amended complaint and the documents incorporated therein.
A. The Plaintiffs’ Claim That The Failure To Obtain A Unanimous Vote For The Amendment Invalidates The Whole Amendment And Not Just The Proposed Change To § 15.1(b)
The defendants contend that the General Partner’s decision to remove the proposed change to § 15.1(b) from the Restated Agreement acts as a full cure to any harm threatened by its inclusion in the Amendment. As such, the defendants argue that the plaintiffs’ challenge to the Reorganization on this ground has been mooted. The plaintiffs claim that there is no cure to this problem other than a new vote.
As noted earlier, the effect that the proposed change to § 15.1(b) of the Proposed Agreement has on the validity of the Restated Agreement poses an interesting question:
When a portion of a single amendment to a partnership agreement can only be adopted by a unanimous vote, does the failure to obtain that vote invalidate the other portions of the amendment even if those other portions otherwise received enough votes to have supported then-adoption if they had been voted upon separately and even if there is reliable evidence that the electorate intended the amendment’s provisions to be severable?
The plaintiffs’ argument in support of the affirmative side of this question rests on formalism. As a traditional matter, plaintiffs note, it is the case that the necessary vote for final adoption of an omnibus amendment or bill is set at the highest level necessary to enact any portion of the amendment or bill. That is, if a bill contains ten sections which may be adopted by a majority vote and one section that may only be adopted by a three-quarters vote, the parliamentarian will, if the issue is identified, identify the bill as requiring a three-quarters vote for passage. Thus, plaintiffs contend that it is obvious that the Proposed Agreement required a unanimous vote because the Amendment contained the proposed change to § 15.1(b).
What the plaintiffs’ approach lacks, however, is any practicality. The process of amending a partnership agreement or a statute often involves multiple issues of more than minor intricacy, creating a large potential for honest human error. Not uncommonly, reasoned arguments can be made on both sides of the question whether a provision in an amendment to an agreement, certificate of incorporation, or statute requires a super-majority vote. Likewise, it is often the case that changes to instruments of this nature are voluminous and involve more than one drafter, and thus involve the risk that a provision of no material importance could be inserted deep in the text of the document which had the unconsidered effect of elevating the required vote. As a result, if a formalistic approach were taken that had the effect of invalidating the whole of an amendment based on a technical default in a single provision, the virtues of its rigor could be seen as miniscule in comparison to the injury that approach would work upon the rational functioning of the affected organizations and constituencies.
For these reasons, the law has developed mechanisms to address problems like the one this case presents in a more sensible fashion. One primary tool for doing so is the respect that the law accords to severability provisions. This respect is illustrated by the reasoning of State ex. rel. Morford v. Emerson. In Emerson, the Superior Court faced a challenge to the validity of certain amendments to the Highway Act, which had originally been enacted in 1917 before the amendments at issue.
In its original form, the Highway Act contained numerous sections, most of which could have been adopted by a simple majority vote. A few of the Act’s sections, however, implicated a section of the Delaware Constitution concerning the issuance of debt and the incurrence of debt by the State. Therefore, those sections could only be adopted by a three-quarters vote of the General Assembly. They in fact received that vote.
Nonetheless, the court went on to examine the interplay of the different vote requirements in determining whether the 1939 amendments it was addressing— which were to sections of the Highway Act that did not implicate the three-quarters vote provision — were invalid because unrelated portions of the existing Highway Act were subject to the three-quarters vote provision. Put another way, the plaintiff argued that the fact that the original Highway Act was subject to a three-quarters vote meant that any future amendment to that Act also required a three-quarters vote.
In rejecting this contention, the Superi- or Court stated:
When the original Act was passed in 1917, it would have required but a majority vote in each House, had the Bill contained nothing of a nature which by the Constitution required a greater vote. In other words, the vote of three-fourths of the members of each House of Assembly which the original Highway Act required and received, was because such original Act provided for the creation of a debt against the State, and this provision, by the Constitution, required a three-fourths vote of each House.
If, upon the original passage of the Highway Act in 1917, the statute had not received the three-fourths vote of each House, only that portion of the Act would have been invalid which required a three-fourths vote, and did not in fact receive it, and that portion of the statute would have been valid which required but a majority vote. It is a well settled principle of statutory construction that where a statute contains two matters of severable nature, and one matter contravenes the Constitution and the other does not, then only that part will be held void which is violative of the Constitution, and the other part will be valid. Of course, where a stipulated subject matter, such as the creation of a debt against the State, requires a vote of three-fourths of all the members elected to each House of Assembly, we agree that such subject matter may not be afterwards enlarged by amendment by means of a lesser vote. Where, however, a statute consists of severable parts, and a portion would not have required for its original enactment more than a majority vote, we see no reason why this part of the Statute may not be amended by that same vote which would have been sufficient for its original enactment, had it been in fact severed from the part requiring a greater vote. Both reason and authority sustain this view.
The plaintiffs attempt to cabin the reasoning of Emerson to the legislative context, in which they assert that unique public policy reasons justify a more flexible approach. Unlike contracts, plaintiffs say, statutes do not turn on promises and interdependent rights, or the intentions of the contracting parties. Moreover, statutes are the product of co-equal branches of government and courts are thus naturally reluctant to declare them invalid. The plaintiffs argue that these prudential considerations do not apply in the context of contractual interpretation.
I find this argument unconvincing. As is often true in contracts, statutes frequently involve interdependent provisions that require the government to do certain things and its citizens others. The interpretation of statutes, like that of contracts, involves a text-based search for the intent of the drafters, in which evidence extrinsic to that text can rarely be consulted. Perhaps most important, I see little logic as a matter of social utility in applying rules of interpretation to private economic activity that are less practical and efficient than are applied to statutory acts regulating the conduct of citizens, often at pain of penal punishment. The approach that this State has historically taken to the regulation of economic activity by entities rests on flexibility and efficiency, not unjustified rigidity. This policy choice is reflected in decisions addressing analogous questions in the corporation law context.
As a prudential matter, therefore, I do not find plaintiffs’ argument appealing. Nor am I persuaded by the plaintiffs’ attempt to argue that the Severability Clauses in the Original Agreement and the Proposed Agreement can be given no weight in determining the intent of the public unitholders. The plaintiffs’ argument is subtle and has a certain facial logic. As to the Severability Clause in the Original Agreement, the plaintiffs simply say that that provision obviously cannot have any bearing on whether the public unitholders intended the portions of the Amendment to be severable. As to the Severability Clause in the Proposed Agreement set forth in the Amendment, the plaintiffs argue that because the Amendment did not pass by a unanimous vote none of the provisions of the Amendment became effective, including the Severability Clause. As a result, the Severability Clauses should have no bearing on the court’s determination of the unitholders’ intent.
This reasoning loses any appeal when a simple analogy to the legislative context is examined. In considering a post-enactment challenge to provisions of a bill that has been codified, the court will naturally give weight to whether the bill contained a severability provision. Such a provision answers the question of whether the legislature intended the entire bill to be invalidated if one of the provisions was flawed. If the legislation’s severability clause would itself be accorded no respect unless the bill was otherwise flawlessly adopted, much of the clause’s utility would be lost. For obvious reasons, the law has not taken the plaintiffs’ approach in the legislative context.
It is equally difficult to understand what useful purpose is served by ignoring a severability provision contained in a proposed limited partnership agreement amendment in similar circumstances. When such a provision has been approved in an amendment with the assent of a majority of the public unitholders, the provision would seem to be rehable evidence of the unitholders’ beliefs about whether an invalid component of the amendment would thereby invalidate the remaining components.
Therefore, I give great weight to the Severability Clause in the Amendment. That provision expresses the public unit-holders’ view that an invalid provision like the proposed change to § 15.1(b) would not result in the invalidation of the entire Amendment. It would be disrespectful of that intent and impractical to not give effect to that provision in the circumstances presented in this case.
After all, the plaintiffs have been unable to articulate a reasoned basis to believe that the exclusion of the proposed change to § 15.1(b) from the. amendment would have led the public unitholders to vote against, rather than in favor, of the Amendment. The proposed change to § 15.1(b) was wholly immaterial to the vote on the Amendment and cannot logically have influenced the outcome.
The best the plaintiffs can come up with is to argue that because the proposed § 15.1(b) was contained within a fully restated Proposed Agreement, the vitiation of the proposed § 15.1(b) leaves the Restated Proposed Agreement without a § 15.1(b) at all. Because § 15.1(b) is interrelated to other sections of the Restated Agreement — which by its own literal terms completely supersedes the Original Agreement — striking it is said to leave the Restated Agreement with an untenable void.
Again, this argument has some formalistic, but no practical, appeal. By leaving § 15.1(b) as it was in the Original Agreement, the General Partner implemented the remedy set forth in § 17.3 of the Original Agreement itself for situations like this and thus fully cured any harm caused by the failure to secure a unanimous vote for the proposed change to § 15.1(b). This cure was also in keeping with the Severability Clause in the Proposed Agreement and the obvious intent of the provision of § 17.01, of the Proposed Agreement giving the General Partner the ability to make technical amendments.
The plaintiffs’ answer to these contractual provisions that reflect the unitholders’ desire for practical solutions to drafting problems is to argue that the vote on the Proposed Agreement left Holdings in a void where formalism must triumph over logic. They argue that if the Proposed Agreement was validly adopted, notwithstanding the inclusion of the proposed change to § 15.1(b), the effect of that adoption was to eliminate the remedy contained in § 17.3 of the Original Agreement, which would have left § 15.1(b) as it was. That result obtains because the supersession clause of the Proposed Agreement supposedly prevents recourse to § 15.1(b) of the Original Agreement.
If, on the other hand, the General Partner used § 17.01 of the Restated Agreement to amend the Proposed Agreement to restore the original § 15.1(b) of the Original Agreement after the change to § 15.1(b) as set forth in the Proposed Agreement went into effect, that change is said to be beyond the General Partner’s power. Because the change would increase the vote requirement from a majority to a unanimous vote, it would impair majoritarian rights. As such, the amendment cannot be accomplished by the General Partner acting alone. That is, because the change would theoretically change a vote requirement that was never validly enacted and thereby injure wholly theoretical rights, the change exceeds the General Partner’s authority under § 17.01 of the Restated Agreement.
In rejecting these arguments, I am guided by what I understand to be my duty, which is to give effect to the parties’ intentions as expressed in the relevant contractual instruments. These instruments clearly eschew the “trap door” approach to the contract amendment process so avidly embraced by the plaintiffs. The inordinate weight the plaintiffs give to the supereession clause of the Proposed Agreement is not only impractical, it is at odds with the specific provisions of the instruments bearing more directly on the question. Taken together, the (i) more limited and specific contractual remedy set forth in § 17.3 for situations where an amendment does not receive the required number of votes, (ii) the Severability Clauses, and (iii) the power given to the General Partner under § 17.01 to amend the partnership agreement to fix errors of this sort, unequivocally demonstrate the unitholders’ rejection of plaintiffs’ construction. These provisions operate to protect the legitimate interests of the unit-holders while permitting the efficient procession of the entity in circumstances where a hyper-technical approach could produce results absurdly disproportionate to the defect in issue. They do so by allowing the General Partner to do as it did here — address the harm threatened by a defective amendment by ensuring that the amendment (per § 17.3 itself and/or the power granted the General Partner by § 17.-01) never takes effect in the first place. These safeguards allow the otherwise untainted portions of amendments to the partnership agreement to go into effect, while preserving the preexisting rights of the unitholders under provisions that did not receive valid approval.
By contrast, the plaintiffs’ attempt to use the proposed change to § 15.1(b) as a basis to invalidate the entire Restated Agreement is contrary to the clear intention of the relevant instruments governing Holdings, and would result in an inequitable and impractical result. Therefore, I grant the defendants’ motion to dismiss Count I of the Amended Complaint as moot.
Quite obviously, this dismissal does not impair the right of the plaintiffs to seek appropriate fees and expenses in connection with the General Partner’s decision to leave § 15.1(b) as it was in the Original Agreement. That decision appears to have resulted from this litigation.
B. What Is The Role For Principles Of Fiduciary Duty To Govern The General Partner’s Obligations Regarding The Reorganization?
The Amended Complaint alleges that the General Partner’s decision to recommend the Reorganization was made in breach of its fiduciary duties of loyalty and care. The Reorganization is said to have been motivated solely to advantage Equitable as the majority unitholder and corporate parent of the General Partner, without conferring any benefit on Holdings’ public unitholders. Even worse, the Reorganization is asserted to have left the Holdings’ public unitholders worse off because of certain changes made in the Holdings and Capital partnership agreements.
The defendants move to dismiss this fiduciary duty claim on the grounds that the Original Agreement of Holdings set forth specific criteria — most notably, Majority Outside Approval — that had to be satisfied to accomplish transactions like the Reorganization. These criteria, defendants argue, displace the default fiduciary duties that otherwise would be owed by the General Partner in connection with such transactions. As a result, the defendants assert that the issue of liability in this case turns solely on whether the General Partner fulfilled the contractual criteria necessary to consummate the Reorganization.
Section 17 — 1101(d) of the Delaware Revised Limited Partnership Act permits the expansion or restriction of fiduciary duties in a limited partnership agreement. The defendants argue that § 6.13 operates to restrict the application of default principles of fiduciary duty because it sets forth a specific contractual procedure for the accomplishment of an asset transfer to an entity affiliated with the General Partner. That procedure requires Majority Outside Approval, a procedural protection that in the corporate context would be an optional and not mandatory approach. As a result of the fact that the Original Agreement itself sets forth a procedural protection for the public unitholders, the defendants argue that the protection also acts as a safe harbor from liability for the General Partner for any breach of fiduciary duty.
The plaintiffs, of course, vigorously dispute this argument, and point to the absence of any language in § 6.13 that expressly restricts the operation of default fiduciary duties. Likewise, the plaintiffs contend that this is not a situation where a contractual right granted to the general partner (e.g., the right to compete against the limited partnership) would be vitiated if certain concepts of fiduciary responsibility were applied (e.g., concepts comparable to the corporate opportunity doctrine). As such, they contend that the default fiduciary duties of care and loyalty have full application here.
The arguments presented again place this court in the position of making a less-than-scientific judgment about the interplay between the contractual and fiduciary duties of general partners of limited partnerships. Determinations of whether the provisions of a limited partnership agreement are inconsistent with the application of default fiduciary duties are necessarily imprecise and often require close judgment calls. While demanding that the parties to a limited partnership agreement make their intentions to displace fiduciary duties “plain,” the cases have erred on the side of flexibility regarding the type of evidence sufficient to support a judicial finding that such an intention existed. Resisting the temptation to resolve hairsplitting questions by reference to maxims of interpretation, our courts have thus far adhered as a general matter to a close examination of whether the application of default fiduciary duties can be reconciled with the practical and efficient operation of the terms of the limited partnership agreement. Where such a reconciliation is possible, the court will apply default fiduciary duties in the absence of clear contractual language disclaiming their applicability. But where the use of default fiduciary duties would intrude upon the contractual rights or expectations of the general partner or be insensible in view of the contractual mechanisms governing the transaction under consideration, the court will eschew fiduciary concepts and focus on a purely contractual analysis of the dispute. Put somewhat differently, the irreconcilability of fiduciary duty principles with the operation of the partnership agreement can itself be evidence of the clear intention of the parties to preempt fiduciary principles.
In this case, I conclude that the partnership agreement and fiduciary duties intersect at a precise and legally relevant point, reducing the question of whether the partnership agreement and fiduciary duties have been breached largely to a single inquiry in the first instance. Under corporation law principles, a transaction between a controlling stockholder and the corporation can be ratified by an informed, uncoerced majority vote of the minority stockholders. In the case of such ratification, the transaction is protected by the business judgment rule. Thus, the ratification vote obviates any generalized fairness inquiry.
There is no reasoned basis to give less weight to a unitholder vote in the limited partnership context than is given to a stockholder vote in the corporate context. When unitholders have the contractual opportunity to protect themselves against an unfair vote simply by voting no, it would be paternalistic and inefficient for courts to exercise a supervening judgment to protect the unitholders from their own erroneous investment decision. It is at best highly doubtful the court is in a better position than unitholders to determine the economic utility of transactions put to them; moreover, it seems a misallocation of judicial resources to have courts reassess the fairness of transactions that minority unitholders could have blocked themselves.
Under the Original Agreement, the Reorganization had to be accomplished by Majority Outside Approval. If such Approval was procured on the basis of adequate, non-coercive disclosures, the Approval would be sufficient to satisfy the Original Agreement. Likewise, the Approval would suffice to invoke the business judgment rule under default principles of fiduciary duty.
Given these considerations, the important role that default concepts of fiduciary duty play in this case must initially focus on whether the general partner disclosed all material facts necessary for the public unitholders to make an informed vote on the Reorganization. To the extent that the General Partner satisfied its disclosure obligations, that showing suffices to insulate it from contractual or fiduciary liability. But if the General Partner did not provide the unitholders with the information necessary to make an informed judgment, the Reorganization would not have been validly approved and a remedy would likely be required. Whether there would be more than one rationale for this conclusion is an interesting question of more academic, than practical, importance at this stage. As such, it can be left to another day, so that the crucial questions on which the rest of this motion hinge can be answered.
C. Does The Amended Complaint State A Claim That The Disclosures Were Materially Misleading Or Incomplete?
The defendants concede that the General Partner had a duty to disclose fully and fairly all material facts within its control that were relevant to the public unitholders’ decision whether to approve the Proposed Agreement and the Reorganization. “A fact is material if (i) ‘there is a substantial likelihood that a reasonable [investor] would consider it important in deciding how to vote’; (ii) ‘would have assumed actual significance in the deliberations of the reasonable [investor]’; or (iii) would have ‘significantly altered the ‘total mix’ of information made available.’ ” The General Partner may have also breached its duty of fair disclosure if it made partial disclosures which, even if literally true, created a materially misleading impression of relevant factual circumstances bearing on the fairness of the transaction subject to the vote.
1. Does The Complaint State A Claim That The General Partner Did Not Fairly Disclose The Material Facts Regarding The Guaranteed Fee ?
As discussed earlier, the plaintiffs allege that the defendants misleadingly portrayed the value of the Guaranteed Fee in order to convince the public unitholders that they had something to gain from the Reorganization when that was in fact not the case. In support of that allegation, the plaintiffs note that the Proxy portrayed the Guaranteed Fee in a manner that could be read as indicating that the public unitholders were being afforded the opportunity to share in the benefits of $38 million in annual incremental benefit for the next five years. Indeed, the public unit-holders were told that the Guaranteed Fee had a monetary value to them of twenty-seven cents to sixty-four cents per unit.
A fair disclosure, plaintiffs say, should have disclosed at least the following additional information: (i) the fact that the fees Holdings had received for the previous five years had equalled or exceeded $38 million each year; (ii) the fact that Holdings’ internal business plan projected that the fees for the following five years would exceed $38 million annually; and (iii) the fact that Equitable had never threatened to terminate the contract by which the fees were generated and was unlikely to do so. Had these additional factors been disclosed, plaintiffs contend that the overall mix of information would have changed in a material way. This additional information would have demonstrated that the Guaranteed Fee was little more than a modestly beneficial insurance policy against a highly improbable eventuality, and was not worth anywhere near what Goldman Sachs’s analysis suggested it was.
The defendants retort by pointing out that the Proxy did disclose that Holdings had received $89 million in 1998 — the year preceding the vote — for the same services covered by the Guaranteed Fee. Therefore, they argue that the public unitholders had no reason to infer that the Guaranteed Fee was likely to result in $38 million in additional revenues to Holdings, rather than simply act to lock-in that existing revenue stream. Furthermore, the defendants note that the complaint is imprecise and that the plaintiffs fail to allege that the past and projected fees were only for services covered by the Guaranteed Fee. Therefore, the defendants note that the plaintiffs seek disclosure of information that itself would have been misleading. In a similar vein, the defendants contend that Holdings’ projections of future fees was unreliable, soft information that the General Partner had no duty to disclose. Finally, the defendants argue that the General Partner had no obligation to disclose that there was no risk of termination of the fee-generating relationship with Equitable. If no material risk existed, defendants say, what was there to disclose?
In evaluating this issue, it is critical to bear in mind the procedural context in which it is presented. At this stage, I must draw all reasonable inferences from the complaint in the manner most favorable to the plaintiffs. Applying this standard faithfully leads me to deny this aspect of the defendants’ motion to dismiss.
The Guaranteed Fee (and the Termination Fee) were of more than minor importance to the vote on the Reorganization. While the Reorganization can be seen as a harmless transaction that produced benefits for Equitable at no cost to the public unitholders, the Proxy did not pitch the transaction in that manner. Instead, the Proxy informed the public unit-holders that Goldman Sachs believed they would be better off after the Reorganization than they were before it, to the tune of twenty-seven cents to sixty-four cents a unit.
The sole bases for this conclusion were the Guaranteed Fee and the Termination Fee. In assessing this purported value, the information that the plaintiffs contend was omitted could, in my estimation, have been material. As written, the Proxy gives little context to put the Guaranteed Fee in perspective. If it is true that the Guaranteed Fee was little more than a cosmetic guarantee of a highly rehable revenue stream, the Proxy could well be seen as materially misleading.
While it is true that the Proxy disclosed that Holdings had received $39 million in comparable fees in 1998, that disclosure was not repeated in the section of the Proxy describing Goldman Sachs’ opinion about the incremental value the Guaranteed Fee delivered to the public unithold-ers. Without more information, it is also impossible to infer that knowledge of one year’s fees is sufficient to fairly place the Guaranteed Fee in an appropriate context. If based on a reliable foundation, disclosure of the following information would have been helpful: (i) the fact that the Guaranteed Fee locked in revenues at a level less than such revenues for the preceding five years; and (ii) the revenues Holdings had projected (before the Guaranteed Fee Agreement) from those fees for the succeeding five years for the succeeding five years. At this stage, I feel constrained to give the plaintiffs the benefit of a pleading doubt that the omitted information was in fact of sufficient reliability and comparability to fairly bear on the question. Likewise, the issue of whether the current fee stream was at risk without the Guaranteed Fee is an important one.
The plaintiffs allege that Goldman Sachs was unable to opine that the Reorganization would benefit the public unitholders without something more than a 1:1 exchange ratio, and that the Guaranteed Fee was window-dressing to get Goldman Sachs to issue a different opinion. If it is the case that the Guaranteed Fee was in essence an unnecessary insurance policy— and there are pled facts that support this inference — disclosure regarding the risk that the Guaranteed Fee was designed to address could have materially altered the mix of information.
In sum, while the plaintiffs- have not suggested that any information in the Proxy about the Guaranteed Fee was literally false, they have pled facts that support the inference that other information had to be disclosed in order to ensure that a materially misleading impression was not created about the value of that Fee.
2. Did The Proxy Omit Material Facts Regarding The Benefit Of The Reorganization To Equitable?
The plaintiffs contend that the Proxy should have disclosed that Equitable would receive a regulatory benefit of $277 to $298 million from the Reorganization, because the decreased tax on its holdings would increase its market capitalization. This estimate is alleged to have been made by Goldman Sachs.
The defendants’ response to this allegation is straightforward and convincing. They note that the Proxy clearly estimated that Equitable would receive increased revenues of approximately $17 million annually, because of its avoidance of the 3.5% tax. Given that Equitable is a publicly-traded corporation, any public unitholder could calculate the favorable effect that the increased cash stream might have on Equitable’s stock price, using publicly available price to earnings ratios.
I agree with the defendants that the information the plaintiffs contend should have been disclosed would not have materially changed the total mix. The Proxy clearly stated that Equitable wanted to exchange as many of units as it could in order to avoid the 3.5% tax. The Proxy stated the number of units that Equitable held and the annual benefit the tax avoidance would produce. Any reasonable investor would have understood that Equitable stood to reap substantial financial benefits from the Reorganization. Goldman Sach’s estimate of that value would have contributed little that could not already be gleaned from the Proxy. As such, this component of plaintiffs’ disclosure claim is dismissed.
3. Does The Complaint State A Claim That The Proxy Falsely Represented That Public Unitholders Who Did Not Participate In The Exchange Would Not Have Their Existing Rights Or Benefits Adversely Affected?
The Proxy states that the “reorganization will not adversely affect any existing rights or benefits or afford any new rights or benefits to unitholders who elect to continue to hold their ... Holdingfs] units.” The plaintiffs argue that this statement was false in several respects.
In considering the particulars, the larger context must be kept in mind. The Reorganization was designed to split what was (and remains) in reality a single business into two separate structures, with different tax treatment. Therefore, the drafters of the Reorganization-inspired documents, principally the Proposed Agreement and the proposed limited partnership agreement for Capital, attempted to maintain the same rights and powers held by the General Partner, Equitable, and the public unitholders after the Reorganization as existed before the Reorganization. This attempt was obviously complicated by the fact that there would be two limited partnerships involved, and that the relevant rights and powers would therefore have to be implemented through the interaction of two separate limited partnership agreements. Many of the deficiencies cited by the Amended Complaint result from imperfections in that larger effort.
Another larger point is in order. While the Proxy did state that there would be no material adverse affect on the public unit-holders’ pre-existing rights, that statement is obviously one of opinion. The Proxy attached in their entireties the proposed limited partnership agreements for both Holdings and Capital, and made clear that the Proxy’s textual comparison of the preexisting agreements to the proposed agreements was not complete. Although the Proxy also indicated that the comparison summarized the material differences, it therefore also clearly signalled that an element of judgment was involved and gave the public unitholders the full text needed to make their own determination. It did not, however, give them a “redlined” version of the agreements that made identifying differences easier, as plaintiffs note.
a. Did The Proxy Fail To Disclose A Material Change In The General Partner’s Fiduciary Duties?
The Proposed Agreement contained a new § 6.08(c), which was never discussed in the text of the Proxy and which stated as follows:
(c) To the extent that, at law or in equity, an Indemnified Person has duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Partnership or to any Partner, any such Indemnified Person, including the General Partner, acting under this Agreement shall not be liable to the Partnership or to any Partner for its good faith reliance on the provisions of this Agreement. The provisions of this Agreement, to the extent that they restrict the fiduciary duties and liabilities of an Indemnified Person otherwise existing in law or in equity, are agreed by the Partners to replace such other duties and liabilities of such Indemnified Person,
The plaintiffs argue that the insertion of this proposed section — in particular, its second sentence — was an attempt to “convert ] virtually every provision in the Partnership Agreement into a contractual provision displacing any default fiduciary duty.” As such, plaintiffs contend that it was a material, adverse change to the rights of the public unitholders.
The defendants have two responses. First, they note that the General Partner omitted the second sentence of proposed § 6.8(c) from the Restated Agreement and therefore that no harm was suffered by the public unitholders. Second, they contend that proposed § 6.8(c) is no more than a redundant reiteration of 6 Del. C. § 17-1101(d), which has a meaning that is identical to the language of § 6.8(c).
I agree with the defendants’ second argument. The first argument is really one in support of a mootness dismissal. The second argument goes to whether § 6.8(c) actually threatened a material change in the public unitholders’ rights. A careful reading of the proposed section reveals it to be nothing more than an inartful re-articulation of § 17-1101(d), with the first sentence tracking § 1101(d)(1) and the second sentence tracking § 1101(d)(2). Nothing in proposed § 6.08(c) operates as the far-reaching elimination of fiduciary duties that plaintiffs contend; all it does is state the obvious: if the Proposed Agreement’s provisions restrict fiduciary duties, that restriction is effective and binding. Therefore, I dismiss this aspect of plaintiffs’ disclosure claim.
b. Did The Proxy Fail To Disclose A Material Adverse Change In The Public Unitholders’ Inspection Rights?
The Proposed Agreement retained the existing provision of the Original Agreement governing the public unitholders’ right to inspect books and records of Holdings. Therefore, the Proxy stated that the inspection rights of the public unitholders of Holdings would be the same after the Reorganization as before.
The plaintiffs point out that this statement was literally true as a contractual matter, but not as a practical matter. Because Holdings would be a mere holding entity after the Reorganization, its unit-holders would not have the same functional inspection rights unless they were afforded the right to inspect Capital’s books and records. That is, the Reorganization operated to deprive the Holdings unitholders of their then-existing ability to inspect the books and records of the operating company.
After the plaintiffs’ original complaint was filed, the General Partner amended the inspection rights provision to make clear that the public unitholders of Holdings had the right to seek books and records from Capital. This cure repaired any inadvertent harm to the public unitholders’ rights. Nonetheless, the plaintiffs still press this issue as a disclosure matter.
Without prejudicing the plaintiffs’ right to claim appropriate recompense for the benefit produced by their surfacing of this issue in the complaint, I conclude that this issue cannot stand as a disclosure claim. The fact is that the Proxy accurately described the fact that the Proposed Agreement did not change the inspection rights of Holdings unitholders to books and records from the partnership of which they were a unitholder. To the extent that they did not participate in the Exchange, that partnership was Holdings itself, which the public unitholders were told would not be an operating company. The public un-itholders were also given the Proposed Agreement and could read this for themselves.
As a literal matter, therefore, there was no diminution in the inspection rights of Holdings unitholders qua Holdings unit-holders, and the practical diminution identified by the plaintiffs could have been discerned from the disclosure itself. Thus, all the plaintiffs can really assert is that the General Partner should have better grasped the practical import of the Reorganization for inspection rights and have highlighted it better. Given that Holdings itself retained inspection rights in Capital and that its General Partner owes fiduciary duties to the public unitholders that demand it to exercise those rights in the interests of the public unitholders when necessary to protect Holdings, there is even less to plaintiffs’ assertion.
This issue reduces in my view to a difference of opinion, which investors could resolve for themselves based on the facts that were disclosed. Therefore, I grant defendants’ motion to dismiss this aspect of the disclosure claim, without prejudice to any application by the plaintiffs for fees and expenses incurred in producing the benefit achieved by the broadened inspection right contained in the Restated Agreement.
c. Did The Proxy Fail To Disclose A Material Change In The Right Of The Holding Unitholders To Call A Meeting
Under the Original Agreement, a meeting of unitholders could be called by 25% of the holders. Because the public unitholders held 58.7 million of Holdings’ 171.1 total units, 42.77 million units, or about 72.8% of the public unitholders could call a meeting.
As the Proxy clearly identified, the Proposed Agreement changed the percentage of units necessary to call a meeting at Holdings to 50%. Thus, the plaintiffs’ sole quibble is that this reduction is at odds with the Proxy’s statement that the Reorganization did not have a material adverse effect on the rights of the public unitholders. That is, even though the public unitholders were told about the change in both the text of the Proxy and in the Proposed Agreement, they were materially misled because the Proxy stated an opinion regarding the materiality of that change which the plaintiffs contest.
In defending this claim, the defendants note that the practical effect of the Reorganization is to make it easier — rather than more difficult — for the public unit-holders to call a meeting of the Holdings unitholders. Because very few public unit-holders participated in the Exchange, a smaller percentage of public unitholders (50%) could call a meeting than was needed before the Reorganization (72.8%). The plaintiffs say this practical point is irrelevant because the higher threshold could have had a negative effect on the public unitholders’ rights if over 37.5% of the public unitholders had participated in the Exchange, or a more than four-fold increase in what actually occurred. I disagree.
The plaintiffs have the burden to plead facts that, if true, support the inference that there was a material misstatement. Because the Proxy contained an accurate and clear depiction of the proposed change and because there was no materially likely prospect that the proposed change would in fact diminish, rather than increase, the ability of the public unitholders to call a meeting, the Proxy’s statement that the Reorganization did not alter the public unitholders rights in a materially adverse way was not materially misleading on account of this issue. Therefore, I grant defendants’ motion to dismiss this feature of plaintiffs’ disclosure claim.
III. Conclusion
For the foregoing reasons, defendants’ motion to dismiss Count I of the complaint (the “unanimous vote” claim) as moot is GRANTED; defendants’ motion to dismiss Count II (the disclosure claim relating to the Guaranteed Fee) is DENIED; defendants’ motion to dismiss Count III (breach of fiduciary duties other than disclosure) is DENIED; and defendants’ motion to dismiss Counts IV and V (plaintiffs’ other disclosure claims) is GRANTED.
. The facts are derived from the amended complaint or the attachments thereto, with one exception discussed later in the opinion.
. Holdings was actually the limited partnership called "Alliance Capital” before the Reorganization. For simplicity’s sake, I treat Holdings as if its name never changed.
. The plaintiffs do not argue that a general partner would breach its fiduciary duties simply by proposing a unit exchange transaction that benefited one group of holders at no harm to the others. Such a proposal would be economically optimal. Cf. MODERN DICTIONARY FOR THE LEGAL PROFESSION 609 (Kenneth R. Redden & Gerry W. Beyer eds., 1993). (under the doctrine of Pareto optimality, a change should be made if it would make one party to an economic relationship better off without making another party worse off). But the plaintiffs argue that a general partner may not lead all unitholders to believe they have something to gain when that is not true, and may not skew the transaction so as to discourage unitholders not affiliated with the general partner’s parent from participating in the unit exchange in order to maximize the parent’s own opportunity to participate.
. Pis.’ Br. at 40 n. 18 (citing Treas. Reg. § 1.7704 — 1 (j)(l)).
. Proxy at 4, 92.
. Id. at 4, 49.
. Id. at 48-49.
. Amended Compl. ¶ 38 (quoting Proxy at 49).
. The amended complaint alleges that the Proxy did not fairly disclose the interrelationship of the Guaranteed Fee Agreement and the Termination Fee. Indeed, the amended complaint makes the strange argument that the Proxy hid the value of the Termination Fee in order to avoid undermining the Proxy's insinuation that the Guaranteed Fee was highly valuable.
The plaintiffs' argument that the Termination Fee’s relationship to the Guaranteed Fee is not adequately disclosed is plainly wrong. See Proxy at 4, 92. It is easy for the reader to tell that if the Guaranteed Fee Agreement were terminated by Equitable, that would have the effect of triggering the Termination Fee. Without further discussion, therefore, I hereby grant the defendants' motion to dismiss the aspect of plaintiffs’ disclosure claim that is based on the defendants' alleged failure to disclose the material facts regarding the Termination Fee.
. Original Agreement § 6.13.
. Original Agreement §§ 17.2, 17.3 (emphasis added).
. Original Agreement § 18.12; Proposed Agreement§ 18.12.
. Original Agreement § 17.1(d), (g); Proposed Agreement § 17.01(d), (h). The defendants also rely on § 17.01(g) of the Proposed Agreement which gives the General Partner the authority to adopt an amendment that is necessary or desirable to conform the provisions of the Proposed Agreement with the provisions of the Original Agreement.
. See, e.g., In re Tri-Star Pictures, Inc. Litig., Del.Supr., 634 A.2d 319, 326 (1993) (articulating Rule 12(b)(6) standard).
.Because the Restated Agreement is not incorporated in the amended complaint, the defendants’ motion may technically be considered one for summary judgment. The plaintiffs admit that it has no need for discovery to respond to the implications of the Restated Agreement. Compare In re Santa Fe Pac. Corp. Shareholder Litig., Del.Supr., 669 A.2d 59, 68-69 (1995). In fact, the plaintiffs have had substantial discovery. In my view, it is also appropriate to take judicial notice of an entity’s governing instruments in an entity-law case. See D.R.E. 201; Green v. Phillips, Del.Ch., C.A. No. 14436, 1996 WL 342093, mem. op. at 13 n. 7, Jacobs, V.C. (June 19, 1996) (taking judicial notice of certificate of incorporation that was not attached to complaint or referenced therein). In any event, the defendants have not disputed that the complaint’s non-conclusory allegations must be accepted as true, and have only asked the court to consider the Restated Agreement’s implications for those allegations.
. I take judicial notice that this is the practice in the Delaware General Assembly. That practice is also reflected in the court’s holding in State ex rel. Morford v. Emerson, Del.Super., 10 A.2d 515, 521 (1939), aff'd, Del.Supr., 14 A.2d 378 (1940).
. 10 A.2d 515.
. 10A.2dat521. Other states have taken a similarly practical approach. For example, in State v. Kirby, 34 S.D. 281, 148 N.W. 533 (1914), a defendant challenged his conviction for hunting without a license on the grounds that the bill that enacted that offense had contained an appropriation requiring a two-thirds vote and that no such vote was obtained. Assuming that this fact was true, the South Dakota Supreme Court rejected this defense stating that "even if the appropriation features [of the bill] were invalid, that would not affect the remainder of the act.” Id. at 535.
. Tri-Star, 634 A.2d 319 exemplifies this practical approach to dealing with problems like this in the entity context. In that case, the plaintiffs challenged the validity of a certificate amendment, Article VI, that had been approved along with a business combination by a single vote. The plaintiffs argued, and the trial court held on a motion to dismiss, that Article VI was potentially invalid because it exculpated directors in a manner not permitted by 8 Del. C. § 102(b)(7). Siegman v. Tri-Star Pictures, Inc., Del.Ch., C.A. No. 9477, 1989 WL 48746, at *7-*8, Jacobs, V.C. (May 5, 1989 rev. May 30, 1989). The certificate amendments, including Article VI, "were to be an integral part of the Combination presented to shareholders for their approval." Id. at *2.
Thereafter, the company consummated a merger with a third-party that resulted in the elimination of Article VI from the surviving corporation’s certificate. As a result, the Court of Chancery held in an oral opinion that the plaintiffs’ challenge to Article VI had been mooted by its elimination in the later merger.
The Delaware Supreme Court affirmed this ruling on appeal, and rejected the idea that Article Vi’s inclusion in a single ballot proposal with the combination “poisoned the entire voting process and thus[] work[ed] to invalidate the Combination ...” Tri-Star, 634 A.2d at 334. Because the stockholders had been told that all the certificate amendments (including Article VI) and the combination would be approved in one vote, the Court held that there was no "support in law or reason” for plaintiffs' claims that the alleged invalidity of the certificate amendment "has any relevance to the validity of the Combination.” Id. at 335. In so ruling, the Court appeared to adopt the defendants’ contention that "the failure of one provision has no effect on other matters voted on because the remedy for an invalid charter provision is refusal to enforce it, not setting aside the whole charter, much less the Combination.” Id. at 334.
This court adopted a similarly practical approach in Supermex Trading Company, Ltd. v. Strategic Solutions Group, Inc., Del.Ch., C.A. No. 16183, 1998 WL 229530, mem. op., Lamb, V.C. (May 1, 1998). In that case, the plaintiff challenged certain bylaw amendments that were rescinded in response to the lawsuit. The court therefore found “it unnecessary and inappropriate to comment further on their adoption, and [would] not enter any order with respect to those bylaws other than to note that they have been rescinded and to dismiss the claims with respect to them as moot for that reason.” Id. at 23.
. See Orenstein v. Kahn, Del.Supr., 119 A. 444, 445 (1922) (in deciding whether a contract is severable, “the essential question is to ascertain the intention of the parties”); 15 SAMUEL WILLISTON & RICHARD A. LORD, A TREATISE ON THE LAW OF CONTRACTS § 45:6 (4th ed. 2000) ("The parties' intent to enter into a divisible contract may be expressed in the contract directly, through a so-called ‘severability clause’ .... ”).
.Cf 82 C.J.S. Statutes § 39(b) (2000) (footnote omitted) ("Where an act is of much broader application than acts which are completely within the class for which a larger vote is required, the failure of the act to pass by the extraordinary majority does not defeat its validity entirely, but only so far as it comes within the terms of the provision, unless this section is so important a part of the act that without it the act would not have been passed.”).
. In so ruling, I embrace the defendants’ reading of § 17.3 and reject the plaintiffs’ reading, both of which are articulated at pages 18-20 supra.
. Continental Insurance Co., v. Rutledge & Co., Inc., Del.Ch., 750 A.2d 1219, 1228 (2000) (" '[I]t is the policy of [the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act] to give maximum effect to the principle of freedom of contract and to the enforceability of partnership agreements.' ") (quoting 6 Del. C. § 17-1101(c)).
. 6 Del. C. § 3 7 — 1101(d).
. For a well-reasoned decision holding that the corporate opportunity doctrine could not be applied against a general partner that had the contractual right to compete, see Kahn v. Icahn, Del.Ch., C.A. No. 15916, 1998 WL 832629, mem. op., Chandler, C. (Nov. 12, 1998).
. Sonet v. Timber Co., L.P., Del.Ch., 722 A.2d 319, 322 (1998).
.See, e.g., In re Marriott Hotel Properties II Limited Partnership Unitholders Litig., Del. Ch., C.A. No. 14961, 1996 WL 342040, mem. op. at 15, Allen, C. (June 12, 1996) & In re Marriott Hotel Properties II Limited Partnership Unitholders Litig., Del.Ch., C.A. No. 14961, 1997 WL 589028, mem. op. at 10-12, Lamb, V.C. (Sept. 17, 1997) (contractual discretion of general partner to deny admission to prospective limited partners was inconsistent with the imposition of so-called Revlon
duties); Gotham Partners, L.P. v. Hallwood Realty Partners, L.P., Del.Ch., C.A. No. 15754, 2000 WL 1476663, mem. op. at 26-28, Strine, V.C. (Sept. 27, 2000) (following same approach); In re Cencom Cable Income Partners, L.P. Litig., Del.Ch., C.A. No. 14634, 1997 WL 666970, mem. op. at 9-13, Steele, V.C. (Oct. 15, 1997) (when partnership agreement set forth specific procedures governing how the price would be set in any sale of assets to an affiliate of the general partner, compliance with those procedures was sufficient and the general partner was not required to market the assets to third parties or to engage in arm’s length-bargaining).
.For relatively recent discussions of the effect of shareholder ratification, see the decisions of this court in In re General Motors Class H Shareholders Litig., Del.Ch., 734 A.2d 611 (1999); Solomon v. Armstrong, Del.Ch., 747 A.2d 1098 (1999), aff'd, Del.Supr., 746 A.2d 277 (2000). A specialized rule applies in the case of a squeeze-out merger proposed by a controlling stockholder, see Kahn v. Lynch Communication Systems, Inc., Del.Supr., 638 A.2d 1110 (1994). The Reorganization at issue in this case is not comparable to such a transaction; moreover, it would seem unwise to expand this doctrinal anomaly into the limited partnership setting.
. There are narrow and largely moribund exceptions under which a properly ratified transaction is theoretically still subject to challenge. One such exception is if the transaction ratified by informed, uncoerced independent stockholders is nonetheless found by a judge to constitute waste. See Harbor Finance Partners v. Huizenga, Del.Ch., 751 A.2d 879, 895-902 (1999) (discussing the lack of justification for the waste exception to ratification effect). Here, there is an obviously rational business purpose to the Reorganization and the amended complaint does not attempt to allege waste.
. Sonet, 722 A.2d at 326 (1998) (where unit-holders could veto a transaction proposed by the general partner, "their remedy is the ballot box, not the courthouse").
. One could conceive of the General Partner's failure to disclose all material facts as a violation of the partnership agreement’s implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, which operates a necessary complement to the requirement for Majority Outside Approval. One can also simply find that the partnership agreement recognized that the General Partner would bear default fiduciary obligations of disclosure in connection with any vote of unitholders, the violation of which could result in the invalidation of the transaction tainted by the misdisclosure.
Similarly, if the vote were tainted by mis-disclosure, the defendants could attempt to show that the Reorganization could not be practically rescinded and was otherwise entirely fair. As a result, it would argue that its only contractual and/or fiduciary breaches were in the disclosure area and that the remedy should be nominal damages only.
. "Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” Matthew 6:34.
. This case thus presents a subtle variation on the issue confronted by Chancellor Chandler in the Sonet case. In that case, the partnership agreement subjected some unilateral decisions of the general partner to a "lair and reasonable" standard that was found by the Chancellor to be a contractual acceptance of default loyalty and care obligations. Sonet, 722 A.2d at 324 & n.12. The transaction at issue, however, was a merger that could be recommended by the general partner in "its own discretion” (i.e., without consideration of limited partners' interests), but which was subject to the approval of two-thirds of the unitholders. Id. at 325. Therefore, the Chancellor found that the general partner had no generalized fiduciary duty of fairness in connection with the merger, but had to comply with its fiduciary duty of disclosure so that the vote would be an informed one. Id. at 327.
By contrast, in this case the Original Agreement does not say that the General Partner can propose the Reorganization in its sole discretion, nor does it subject that decision to some other standard, such as good faith. Arguably, it therefore leaves default concepts of fiduciary duty in place. That is of no moment, however, when one considers the fact that compliance with the duty of disclosure and the Majority Outside Approval requirement work in tandem to extinguish any fiduciary duty claim. In reality, therefore, the Original Agreement creates a safe harbor, that if effectively utilized, is outcome determinative. In the event that the safe harbor does not apply, the defendants would face liability under both contractual and fiduciary theories.
.The defendants argue that the plaintiffs’ disclosure claims are barred by laches. Because the Proxy was available for six weeks before the vote on the Reorganization and the plaintiffs did not file their first complaint until a week after the vote, the General Partner was never given an opportunity to correct any problems with the Proxy before the vote. Given the public policy favoring the prompt resolution of disclosure claims so that the preferred remedy of supplemental disclosure can be awarded, defendants argue that it was unreasonable for the plaintiffs to file so late.
I decline the defendants' request that I adjudicate this defense on a dismissal motion. Granting the request would involve the articulation of a novel doctrine of disclosure law and the defendants’ papers do not provide sufficient case law support for that evolution in the law. While it is obviously preferable that disclosure claims be litigated in advance of the relevant decision to be made by unit-holders, that preference does not necessarily translate into the conclusion that a challenge brought within two months after disclosure but after the vote is necessarily barred by laches. In view of the voluminous disclosures made in connection with the Reorganization vote and the intricacy of some of the disclosure issues presented, I cannot conclude at this stage that the plaintiffs’ delay was unreasonable.
In this regard, I note that the plaintiffs did seek relief before the consummation of the Reorganization. The plaintiffs’ agreement to allow the Reorganization to close and the leisurely pace at which they have pressed this litigation to date obviously render rescission of the Reorganization impractical and inequitable. The plaintiffs’ failure to proceed more promptly is also a proper factor in considering the other relief that they might receive, as my analysis of the merits of plaintiffs' claims acknowledges. Nonetheless, the plaintiffs’ delay is not so obviously prejudiciad as to bar them the right to seek any relief at all in connection with the Reorganization. Therefore, I deny the defendants’ motion to dismiss on this basis.
. Sonet v. Plum Creek Timber Co., L.P., Del. Ch., C.A. No. 16931, 1999 WL 160174, mem. op. at 18, Jacobs, V.C. (Mar. 18, 1999) ("Sonet IT’) (applying this standard in the limited partnership context); see also Stroud v. Grace, Del.Supr., 606 A.2d 75, 85 (1992) (stating this general principle in corporate case).
. Sonet II, mem. op. at 19 (quoting Arnold v. Society for Savings Bancorp., Del.Supr., 650 A.2d 1270, 1276 (1994)).
. Sonet II, mem. op. at 19.
. This is, I emphasize, a pleading stage analysis. The Proxy indicates that sixty-four cents a unit is equal to approximately one-third of one year’s distribution per unit to unitholders. Proxy at 11. Because the parties did not focus on this point, I will not, although it suggests that the plaintiffs’ claim is vulnerable to later challenge on a fuller record.
. The defendants' assertion that internal projections of company revenues are not material simply because they are projections of future events is erroneous. Certainly, courts are more reluctant to require disclosure of such "soft information,” but that does not mean that such information cannot be material. Indeed, it would be impossible for there to be meaningful disclosure about many transactions if that was the case, because determining the advisability of a transaction often requires a comparison of the transactional value to be received to the value that would likely be received in the event that the transaction was not effected. The defendants' disclosure of the Goldman Sachs' valuation of the revenues projected from the Guaranteed Fees is an example of disclosure that incorporates reasoned assumptions in order to present stockholders with materially important information. Therefore, I cannot rule out the possibility that Holdings’ internal projections were sufficiently reliable to warrant disclosure.
. The amended complaint also suggests that the Proxy failed to disclose that Equitable would also benefit from the Guaranteed Fee equally with the public unitholders. This fact is obvious and easily discerned from the Proxy. As such, this allegation of the complaint fails to state a claim.
. Proxy at 2.
. The plaintiffs claim that the General Partner knew that the Proposed Agreement negatively affected the rights of the public unit-holders and that is why the Amendment was subjected to Majority Outside Approval. This confessional evidence of knowing misdisclo-sure is unconvincing because the Majority Outside Approval that was sought involved the definition applicable to asset sales governed by § 6.13. See Proxy at 3 (using this definition); Original Agreement at A-6. The General Partner argues persuasively that it subjected the Amendment to that vote because the Amendment was necessary to the effectuation of the Reorganization. In sum, the inference the plaintiffs seek to draw is unreasonable and not supported by the pled facts.
. Proposed Agreement § 6.08(c) (emphasis added).
. Pis.' Br. at 54.
. Proxy at 69.
. Proxy at 65.
. The plaintiffs made a similar claim about adjustments in a call option contained in the Original Agreement. Their original arguments were flawed by a misunderstanding of the text of those adjustments. As reduced to their current form, plaintiffs’ argument is that the changes in the enhanced call option have the effect of enabling the General Partner to issue units of Capital to Equitable and its affiliates without restriction by NYSE Rules, which subject unit issuances above certain percentage thresholds to unitholder approval. The change is thus argued to result in a materially adverse change to the unitholders' rights.
I reject this argument for several reasons. Again, the argument rests not on the failure of the Proxy to disclose the specifics of the change, but on a contention that the change is at odds with the Proxy's statement of opinion about the effect of that change. Second, plaintiffs do not explain how the NYSE protection was of material utility to the public unitholders when Equitable itself held enough units to approve any issuance requiring unit-holder approval. Finally, plaintiffs ignore the fact that the General Partner cannot issue new units of Capital unless it determines in good faith that the issuance is in the best interest of Capital. If the General Partner makes an arguably bad faith issuance in the future, that can be challenged as a breach of duty to Capital and its unitholders — including Holdings. For all these reasons, I conclude that there was no material misstatement or omission regarding the call option in the Proxy and that this aspect of plaintiffs' disclosure claim must be dismissed.
Likewise, I also reject plaintiffs' ''death by a thousand cuts” argument. This argument is that the numerous small problems in the Proxy, when taken together, render the Proxy as a whole materially misleading. Although in some circumstances the cumulative effect of individual non-material problems may rise to the material level, the numerous issues raised by the plaintiffs here do not produce such an effect.
. Counts VI and VII restate in different words plaintiffs' disclosure claims. They stand as they relate to the Guaranteed Fee, but otherwise are dismissed as disclosure claims. If the plaintiffs’ remaining disclosure claims succeeds or fails, this resolution will heavily influence the fate of any remaining fiduciary claims incorporated in Counts VI and VII.
|
Talk:Framnaes
fjla;keuuuuijsdkncjldkkkkkneoa;ndclkzxjjjjjjjkjjfnsakkkkkkkkkkkkkkjshean.mxnz.eeeeeeejhwlhhhhhhhhhhhhhhdeeznutssihsjdggaljblllllusdgads;ahfd
External links modified
Hello fellow Wikipedians,
I have just modified one external link on Framnaes. Please take a moment to review my edit. If you have any questions, or need the bot to ignore the links, or the page altogether, please visit this simple FaQ for additional information. I made the following changes:
* Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20070927230608/http://www.hitec-framnes.com/esite.nsf?open&frmmain=%2Fesite.nsf%2Fpub%2FMJON5BMVMN to http://www.hitec-framnes.com/esite.nsf?open&frmmain=%2Fesite.nsf%2Fpub%2FMJON5BMVMN
Cheers.— InternetArchiveBot (Report bug) 01:21, 5 December 2017 (UTC)
|
Ancestral Genomes, Sex, and the Population Structure of Trypanosoma cruzi
Acquisition of detailed knowledge of the structure and evolution of Trypanosoma cruzi populations is essential for control of Chagas disease. We profiled 75 strains of the parasite with five nuclear microsatellite loci, 24Sα RNA genes, and sequence polymorphisms in the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit II gene. We also used sequences available in GenBank for the mitochondrial genes cytochrome B and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1. A multidimensional scaling plot (MDS) based in microsatellite data divided the parasites into four clusters corresponding to T. cruzi I (MDS-cluster A), T. cruzi II (MDS-cluster C), a third group of T. cruzi strains (MDS-cluster B), and hybrid strains (MDS-cluster BH). The first two clusters matched respectively mitochondrial clades A and C, while the other two belonged to mitochondrial clade B. The 24Sα rDNA and microsatellite profiling data were combined into multilocus genotypes that were analyzed by the haplotype reconstruction program PHASE. We identified 141 haplotypes that were clearly distributed into three haplogroups (X, Y, and Z). All strains belonging to T. cruzi I (MDS-cluster A) were Z/Z, the T. cruzi II strains (MDS-cluster C) were Y/Y, and those belonging to MDS-cluster B (unclassified T. cruzi) had X/X haplogroup genotypes. The strains grouped in the MDS-cluster BH were X/Y, confirming their hybrid character. Based on these results we propose the following minimal scenario for T. cruzi evolution. In a distant past there were at a minimum three ancestral lineages that we may call, respectively, T. cruzi I, T. cruzi II, and T. cruzi III. At least two hybridization events involving T. cruzi II and T. cruzi III produced evolutionarily viable progeny. In both events, the mitochondrial recipient (as identified by the mitochondrial clade of the hybrid strains) was T. cruzi II and the mitochondrial donor was T. cruzi III.
Introduction
The parasite protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi causes Chagas disease, a malady that afflicts almost 20 million people in South America and Central America, with more than 20,000 deaths reported each year [1,2]. Two different ecosystems exist for T. cruzi: one related to wild hemiptera and generally involving wild mammals (the ''sylvatic'' cycle), and another dependent on home-dwelling hemiptera and primarily involving humans and household animals (the so-called ''domestic'' cycle). The connection between the two ecosystems is made by infected rats, mice, bats, marsupials, and other feral mammals. It is estimated that the parasite emerged as a species well over 150 million years ago, originally infecting primitive mammals dispersed throughout Laurasia and Gondwanaland, regions that originated North and South America, respectively [3]. The first contact with humans occurred much more recently, in the late Pleistocene, 15,000-20,000 years ago, when humans first peopled the Americas-thus, Homo sapiens is a very recent new host for T. cruzi. There is convincing molecular evidence for the presence of T. cruzi DNA in mummies exhumed in Northern Chile and Southern Peru and dating as far back as 9,000 years before the present day. [4].
The conventional mode of transmission of T. cruzi to humans is by the feces of infected hematophagous triatomine bugs. Alternative modes of infection include blood transfusion, congenital transmission from infected mothers, and ingestion of contaminated foods. Thanks to intensive programs of triatomine control, vectorial infection has been virtually abolished in Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, and Argentina [5]. Moreover, improved screening of blood donors to reduce the likelihood of transfusional transmission and early detection and treatment of congenital cases have added to this success. It would be, however, a mistake to think that Chagas disease has been controlled. High levels of vectorborne transmission are still apparent in many areas, and several of the endemic countries have yet to develop serious large-scale surveillance and intervention programs [5]. Also, migrations of infected individuals offer a risk of new transmission in previously nonendemic regions, such as the United States [6]. Furthermore, the ancient and wide-ranging sylvatic cycle constitutes an enormous reservoir of parasites that represents a threat for humans.
Recent studies have shown that in a nonendemic area of the Brazilian Atlantic coastal rainforest 50% of the triatomine vectors and of the marsupials Didelphis marsupialis and Philander opossum [7] as well as 52% of the golden lion tamarins and several other species of New World primates [8] were naturally infected with T. cruzi. Moreover, in the United States T. cruzi has been found in 11.4% of opossums and 22% of the raccoons, together with infected triatomine bugs in the state of Georgia [9]. In certain areas of that state 43% of the raccoons were infected [10]. Closer to the human domestic environment, Bradley et al. [11] have shown that 3.6% of the rural hunting dogs in Oklahoma were seropositive for T. cruzi. Human infection from the sylvatic environment can occur either from sudden migration of hemiptera to the human environment, forced by the destruction of forests [12] or by the ingestion of foods contaminated by the feces of hemipterae or by crushed insects [13,14]. Thus, a complete understanding of the population structure of T. cruzi, especially the sylvatic cycle, will be indispensable for controlling the disease.
T. cruzi is diploid, with different-sized homologous chromosome pairs [15]. Its genome has been recently sequenced [16], and its size (diploid) has been estimated between 106.4 and 110.7 Mb. At least 50% of the T. cruzi genome is made up of repetitive sequences, consisting of large gene families of surface proteins, retrotransposons, and subtelomeric repeats.
There is extensive and well-characterized intraspecific genetic diversity in T. cruzi (reviewed in [17,18]). Two major evolutionary lineages of the parasite, named T. cruzi I and T. cruzi II, have been identified [19]. These lineages are very divergent as revealed by several biological and molecular markers, including isozymes, 24Sa rDNA, and mini-exon gene polymorphisms [20]. T. cruzi I and T. cruzi II strains belong predominantly to distinct ecological environments: respectively, the sylvatic and domestic transmission cycles of Chagas disease [3,21]. T. cruzi I strains are characterized by zymodeme Z1 (a zymodeme is a group of strains that have the same isozyme profile), 24Sa rDNA group 2, and mini-exon group 2, and induce low parasitism in human chagasic patients. In contrast, T. cruzi II strains are characterized by zymodeme Z2, 24Sa rDNA and mini-exon group 1, and cause human infections with high parasitemia in classic endemic areas [21]. At least in Brazil, T. cruzi II strains appear to be exclusively responsible for tissue lesions in Chagas disease [22]. Additionally, there are some parasite strains that cannot be properly grouped into any one of these two major lineages. Among these unclassified strains are those identified as belonging to zymodeme Z3 [23] and other hybrid strains characterized as rDNA group 1/2 [24,25]. Using isozymes and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) typing, Brisse et al. [26] proposed that T. cruzi II strains could be partitioned into five phylogenetic sublineages (IIa-e), each comprising one of the following reference strains: CanIII cl1 (IIa), Esmeraldo cl3 (IIb), M5631 cl5 (IIc), MN cl2 (IId), and CLBrener (IIe). In contrast, T. cruzi I strains could not be further subdivided. Within each of these clades or sublineages, there is extensive genetic diversity that can be unraveled by analyses with microsatellites and several other genomic markers (reviewed in [27]).
Although capable of recombination in vitro [28], T. cruzi reproduces predominantly by binary fission and consequently its diploid nuclear genotype is transmitted en bloc to the progeny. Thus, the parasite presents extreme degrees of linkage disequilibrium, as shown through isozymes [29] and microsatellites [30], and exhibits a predominantly clonal population structure. Indeed, T. cruzi still has been considered the paradigm for clonal eukaryotic pathogenic microorganisms [31]. The occurrence of hybrid strains in natural populations of T. cruzi was suggested by isozyme analyses [32,33], restriction fragment-length polymorphism (RFLP) of housekeeping genes [34], RAPD [35], and genotype variations observed at chromosomal level [15,35,36], and has been confirmed using nucleotide sequences [37,38]. Their discovery proved that sexual events definitely have taken place in the past and have shaped the genetical structure of current T. cruzi populations. However, such genetic exchange events seem to have been rare enough to allow the propagation of clonal genotypes over long periods of time and wide geographical regions [35]. Because of the linkage disequilibrium, genotyping of nuclear markers in T. cruzi has thus far been limited to characterization of multilocus genotypes. Therefore, to understand the evolutionary history of the species it would be desirable to dissect the multilocus genotypes into their constituent haploid genome blocks. We wish to report that we have achieved this, revealing the existence of ancestral haplogroups and repeated hybridization events in T. cruzi.
Results
We have typed 75 strains of T. cruzi (Table 1) with five nuclear CA-repeat microsatellites (Table S1). We assumed a stepwise mutation model for the evolution of microsatellites and used the minimum number of mutational steps necessary to transform one strain microsatellite profile into another to build a genetic distance matrix. The multidimensional scaling (MDS) plot shown in Figure 1 provided, with excellent fit
Synopsis
The parasite protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi causes Chagas disease, a malady that afflicts almost 20 million people in South America and Central America. Although the genome sequencing of T. cruzi has been recently completed, little is known about its population structure and evolution. Since 1999, two major evolutionary lineages presenting distinct epidemiological characteristics have been recognized in the parasite: T. cruzi I and T. cruzi II, the latter being much more associated with severe chronic cases of the disease. We describe new and important aspects of the population structure of the parasite, especially the characterization of a third ancestral lineage that we propose to call T. cruzi III. Through careful dissection of the genetic constitution of blocks of genes that are stably transmitted from generation to generation of the parasite we deduced at least two occurrences of the formation of hybrid strains from the parental lineages T. cruzi II and T. cruzi III, including the strain CLBrener, whose genome was sequenced. We did not find any hybrids originating from T. cruzi I. A fascinating finding was that both hybrids studied had the same mitochondrial DNA type as the T. cruzi III ancestral lineage, which was quite different from T.cruzi II. Figure 2). The sequenced data were used to generate a neighbor-joining (NJ) tree that is shown in Figure 3. It is clear that there are three tightly clustered sets of strains, separated by very large genetic distances, permitting straightforward allocation of T. cruzi strains into three mitochondrial clades that can also be simply identified by variation in just two AluI RFLP sites ( Figure 2), which were then scored for all 75 strains ( Table 2). Our MDS clusters corresponded perfectly to these mitochondrial clades, with the exceptions of MDS-clusters B (sublineage IIc) and BH (thus called because it contains the hybrid sublineages IId and IIe), both of which fall within mitochondrial clade B. To confirm our finding, we also built NJ trees for sequences obtained from GenBank of two other mitochondrial genes, cytochrome b (CYb) [35] and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 (ND1) [37]. The CYb and ND1 trees TcI, TcII, and TcIII are abbreviations for the major lineages of T. cruzi. TcII was characterized in this work. e Mini-exon type 3 associated with Z3 strains. f The hybrid characteristics of these strains were based on the data described by Brisse et al. [35] and Machado and Ayala [37]. had very similar topology to that of the COII tree (all with extremely high bootstrap values for the three main branches), confirming that sublineages IIc, IId, and IIe indeed belong to the same mitochondrial clade (Figure 3). We tested this notion further using analysis of molecular variance [39]. By partitioning the variability within and between mitochondrial clades we found that for COII, CYb, and ND1, respectively, 97%, 91%, and 68% of the genetic variability was found among clades.
We also typed all strains for the polymorphism of the D7 divergent domain of the 24Sa rRNA gene (Table S1) and combined the results with the microsatellites into multilocus genotypes that were analyzed with the PHASE software [40]. We identified 141 different haplotypes corresponding to a haplotypic diversity of 0.993. The identified haplotypes were then subjected to a median joining analysis using the NETWORK 3.1 software [41]. The resulting multitude of plausible trees is best expressed by a network that displays alternative potential evolutionary paths (Figure 4). Three haplotypic clusters are clearly identifiable: we called them haplogroups X, Y, and Z. Within these haplotypic clusters there is extensive reticulation because of the stepwise recurrent nature of microsatellite mutations [42]. However, the three haplogroups are connected by long and unique paths, emphasizing the great genetic distance between them. Seven haplotypes (numbers 33, 35, 58, 59, 60, 61, and 63) belong to these ''bridges'' and hence could not be assigned to any of the haplogroups-they were lumped into a haplogroup ''I'' (for indeterminate). We could then assign to each of the 75 strains a haplogroup genotype ( Table 2). All strains belonging to the T. cruzi I lineage (MDS-cluster A in Figure 1) proved to be Z/Z (i.e., had two haplotypes belonging to haplogroup Z). Likewise, all the strains in MDS-cluster C (Figure 1) had Y/Y genotypes and those in MDS-cluster B had X/X genotypes. The strains in cluster BH all had X/Y genotypes confirming their hybrid nature. Strains Can III (genotype I/I, COII B), Dog Theis (genotype I/I, COII C), 402, and Mas1cl1 (both genotype I/Y, COII C), and M6241cl16 (genotype I/X, COII B) presented haplotypes of haplogroup I. It is noteworthy that three of these five strains are the ones outside MDS clusters in Figure 1A. [26]. Two AluI restriction sites are indicated. RFLP analysis of these two sites allows unambiguous classification of T. cruzi strains to the three mitochondrial clades as shown on the right hand side. DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.0020024.g002
Discussion
The population structure of T. cruzi is far from being completely understood. Although the existence of two major lineages in this species is well accepted, uncertainties about the existence or not of a third major ancestral group have been raised [15,35,36]. For instance, strains belonging to zymodeme Z3 or to rDNA group 1/2 could not be classified into either T. cruzi I or T. cruzi II [19]. Likewise, other strains (such as SC43) that present incongruities between the rDNA (group 2) and mini-exon (group 1) typing cannot be allocated into any of the two major lineages [24]. One of the major goals of this work was to investigate the genetic relationships among these ''unclassifiable'' strains.
Our first strategy was to perform the phylogenetic analysis of T. cruzi populations by using microsatellite data. Albeit extremely variable, these DNA markers allowed us to reliably identify four significant major clusters of strains (MDS clusters A, B, C, and BH in Figure 1). MDS-cluster A corresponds to T cruzi I and MDS-cluster C to classical T. cruzi II or T. cruzi IIb as named by Brisse et al. [26]. MDScluster B contains strains classified as Z3 and assigned to the IIc sublineage [26]. Finally, the strains within MDS-cluster BH were known to belong to the putative hybrid isozyme clonets 39 or 43 as proposed by Tibayrenc [43] and later classified as IId and IIe sublineages by Brisse et al. [26] (see Table 1).
Nucleotide sequencing and AluI RFLP analysis of a 290-bp stretch of the mitochondrial COII gene demonstrated that all strains enclosed in our microsatellite clusters B and BH (Z3 and hybrid strains) belonged to the same mitochondrial clade B. Sequences of two other mitochondrial genes, CYb [35] and ND1 [37], obtained from GenBank, amply confirmed this observation by showing that indeed hybrid strains (sublineages IId and IIe) and Z3 strains (sublineage IIc) were grouped together into the same mitochondrial clade B. This same conclusion had been reached earlier [35,37].
Gaunt et al. [28] have shown that the hybridization of T. cruzi strains involves only nuclear genomes, without mitochondrial fusion. Here, we clearly demonstrated that the mitochondrial clade B is a third major phylogenetic division of T. cruzi, distinct from T. cruzi I (mitochondrial clade A) and T. cruzi II (mitochondrial clade C) major lineages. We have also shown that the strains with hybrid molecular markers in their nuclear genomes have a distinct mitochondrial genome (genotype B).
The analyses with all studied nuclear markers identified 141 different haplotypes that could be clustered into three haplogroups. All strains belonging to the T. cruzi I major lineage (MDS-cluster A in Figure 1) proved to be Z/Z (i.e., had two haplotypes belonging to haplogroup Z). Likewise, all the strains in MDS-cluster C (Figure 1) had Y/Y genotypes and those in MDS-cluster B had X/X genotypes. Thus, our data do not corroborate the suggestion made by Sturm et al. [36] that sublineage IIc (MDS-cluster B) is a hybrid. In contrast, the strains in MDS-cluster BH all had X/Y genotypes, confirming their hybrid character. Because of the way that PHASE identifies haplotypes, proximity of haplotype numbers is highly correlated with genetic proximity. Hybrid strains 167, 1022, 182, CLBrener, and Tulacl2 have, respectively, genotypes 4/99, 2/102, 5/108, 5/100, and 3/103, forming one group, while strains MNcl2, NR, SC43cl1, and SO3 have genotypes 52/133, 55/130, 54/129, and 54/130, and form another (notice equivalence with sublineages IIe and IId of Brisse et al. [26]). This indicates that at least two independent hybridizations occurred, presumably followed by clonal microdifferentiation.
Based on these results we propose the following minimal scenario for the evolution of T. cruzi populations ( Figure 5). In the distant past there were at least three ancestral clades (MDS clusters A, C, and B in Figure 1) that we may call, respectively, T. cruzi I, T. cruzi II, and T. cruzi III. It is interesting to note that this proposal matches the initial suggestion made by Miles et al. [23] almost 30 years ago on the basis of isozyme studies. Most likely, T. cruzi II and T. cruzi III had overlapping ecological niches, and thus the conditions necessary for hybridization were in place. At least two hybridization events produced evolutionarily viable progeny. In both events, the cytoplasmic donor for the resulting offspring (as identified by the mitochondrial clade of the hybrid strains) was T. cruzi III. From the haplotype reconstitutions we can estimate the parentage of a hybrid strain. For instance, CLBrener, the reference strain for the recently completed T. cruzi genome sequencing [16], has genotype 5/ 100. Its most likely mitochondrial recipient was a strain proximate to 1005 (genotype 100/106), while the most likely mitochondrial donor was a close relative of strains 222 and 115, which are very near each other in Figure 1 (arrowheads). The existence of strains that cannot be accommodated into this scenario (i.e., CanIII [sublineage IIa of Brisse et al. [26]] and Dog Theis) indicates that the evolutionary history had additional complexities. However, our simple model (depicted in Figure 5) should be useful for proposing and testing evolutionary and pathogenetic hypotheses.
The fact that the same population structure of T. cruzi can be envisaged with different molecular markers, such as isozymes [23], RAPD [26,35], microsatellites [30], and several sequence-based nuclear [20,21,37,38] and mitochondrial ( [35,37], this study) markers, bears witness to its extreme stability. Although, as shown conclusively in our study and also by others [35,37], hybridization events clearly did occur in the evolutionary history of T. cruzi, they seem to have been only occasional and to have been subsequently stabilized by strong clonal propagation (reviewed in [17,18]).
Materials and Methods
T. cruzi isolates. T. cruzi stocks (75) isolated from both domestic and sylvatic transmission cycles were analyzed ( Nuclear genetic typing. Amplification of five previously described microsatellite loci, denominated SCLE10, SCLE11, MCLE01, MCLF10, and MCLG10, was performed as previously described [30]. After the PCR, the amplified microsatellites were loaded on a 6% denaturing polyacrylamide gel and analyzed on an ALF sequencer (GE Healthcare, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States) using the Allelinks software (GE Healthcare). To determine the allele size the samples were directly compared with the band sizes from an allelic ladder prepared by amplification of an artificial mixture of DNA from 60 T. cruzi strains.
Amplification of the D7 divergent domain of the 24Sa rRNA gene was achieved by PCR with D71 fluorescent (59-AAGGTGCGTCGA-CAGTGTGG-39) and D72 (59-TTTTCAGAATGGCCGAACAGT-39) primers following protocols described previously [24]. The amplification products were also analyzed in ALF sequencer and allele sizes determined by the Allelinks software.
Mitochondrial genetic typing. Amplification of the mitochondrial COII gene [37] was performed using the primers TcMit31 (59-TAAATAATATATATTGTACATGAG-39) and TcMit40 (59-CTRCATTGYCCATATATTGT-39). Total DNA (1-10 ng) were used in each PCR reaction in the following condition: 30 s denaturation at 94 8, primer annealing for 2 min at 48 8, and primer extension for 2 min at 72 8, in a total of 30 cycles. The amplified products were purified and sequenced using primer TcMit31 and the cycle sequencing with Thermo-Sequenase (ETKit; GE Healthcare) using the thermal cycling program recommended in the kit. The sequencing products were purified and run on a MegaBACE capillary sequencer (GE Healthcare). After Phred, Phrap, and Consed analyses, the sequences were trimmed to have equal length (290 base pairs). All bases sequenced had Phred values above 30 [44].
Based on the restriction map of COII sequences, the AluI restriction endonuclease was chosen to perform RFLP analyses in the mitochondrial COII gene. After PCR amplification, the amplicons were submitted to enzyme digestion for 16 hours according to instructions provided by the manufacturer (Promega, Madison, Wisconsin, United States). Digested products were analyzed on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and silver stained.
Sequences for the mitochondrial CYb gene [35] and the ND1 (37) were obtained from GenBank.
Construction of distance matrices, multidimensional scaling, and NJ trees. Based on the microsatellite results, a distance matrix between the strains was constructed as described previously [30]. In order to provide a visual representation of the distance matrix we used the multidimensional scaling plot using the software Statistica Version 6.0 [45]. Analyses of molecular variance for the mitochondrial sequences were performed using the Arlequin v.2.0 software using 1,000 permutations [46]. NJ trees were obtained separately for the COII, CYb, and ND1 sequences with the MEGA v. 3.1 software [47] using the Kimura 2 parameter and 500 replications for the bootstrap statistics.
Haplotype inference and network construction. Haplotypes were reconstructed from the 75 T. cruzi populations by using a Bayesian coalescent theory-based method contained in PHASE software (Version 2.0.2 for Linux) [40]. The type of polymorphism (SNP or cruzi Strains The mitochondrial clade was typed by RFLP of the COII maxicircle gene, the MDS clusters were established by multidimensional scaling of microsatellite data, the haplogroups were established by haplotype estimation from multilocal genotypes followed by median joining network analysis, and the RAPD/multilocus enzyme electrophoresis typing was obtained from Brisse et al. [26]. DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.0020024.g005 multiallelic with stepwise mutation mechanism for rDNA and microsatellite data, respectively) is taken into account in PHASE. For the analyses the default parameters of the program were used, with additional runs up to 10,000 permutations. These were the besttested conditions, giving highly reproducible results. The resultant haplotypes were then arranged in a network by using the Median Joining analysis [41], available in NETWORK 3.1 software provided by Fluxus Technology (http://www.fluxus-engineering.com). Table S1. Typing of rDNA Group and Allele Sizes (in bp) of Five Microsatellite Loci Found at DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.0020024.st001 (105 KB DOC).
|
wireplumber: 0.4.6 → 0.4.7
Motivation for this change
Big upstream release: https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/pipewire/wireplumber/-/tags/0.4.7
Notably:
Fixed a regression in 0.4.6 that caused the selection of the default audio sources and sinks to be delayed until some event, which effectively caused losing audio output in many circumstances
Fixed a regression in 0.4.6 that caused the echo-cancellation pipewire module (and possibly others) to not work
Things done
Built on platform(s)
[x] x86_64-linux
[x] aarch64-linux
[ ] x86_64-darwin
[ ] aarch64-darwin
[ ] For non-Linux: Is sandbox = true set in nix.conf? (See Nix manual)
[x] Tested, as applicable:
NixOS test(s) (look inside nixos/tests)
and/or package tests
or, for functions and "core" functionality, tests in lib/tests or pkgs/test
made sure NixOS tests are linked to the relevant packages
[x] Tested compilation of all packages that depend on this change using nix-shell -p nixpkgs-review --run "nixpkgs-review rev HEAD". Note: all changes have to be committed, also see nixpkgs-review usage
[x] Tested basic functionality of all binary files (usually in ./result/bin/)
22.05 Release Notes (or backporting 21.11 Release notes)
[ ] (Package updates) Added a release notes entry if the change is major or breaking
[ ] (Module updates) Added a release notes entry if the change is significant
[ ] (Module addition) Added a release notes entry if adding a new NixOS module
[ ] (Release notes changes) Ran nixos/doc/manual/md-to-db.sh to update generated release notes
[x] Fits CONTRIBUTING.md.
Please link the changelog in the motivation section of the PR
Diff and changelog lgtm, but selecting the default device seems to be broken in this version?
Huh. It's been the opposite for me?
Yeah nah, for me it does not seem to honour the default device selection at all and insists on playing all audio via the front panel jack... which has nothing plugged into it, so any attempts at playing something just fail.
That's weird. Have you reported it upstream?
fwiw I'm still on 0.4.4 because 0.4.5 introduced some weird issues where it kept unlinking nodes... I'll try out 0.4.6 and 0.4.7 when I get a chance to in the next few days though.
That's weird. Have you reported it upstream?
I have not. It does look pretty similar to the issues the changelog claims this fixes though.
Nice. I don't trust myself enough around the codebase to just apply this in nixpkgs, so let's just wait what upstream says.
The nixpkgs bit is quite straightforward:
diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/pipewire/wireplumber.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/pipewire/wireplumber.nix
index 14957478fee..0a8ce1f5eae 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/pipewire/wireplumber.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/pipewire/wireplumber.nix
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
{ lib
, stdenv
+, fetchpatch
, fetchFromGitLab
, nix-update-script
, # base build deps
@@ -30,6 +31,13 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
outputs = [ "out" "dev" ] ++ lib.optional enableDocs "doc";
+ patches = [
+ (fetchpatch {
+ url = "https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/pipewire/wireplumber/-/merge_requests/294.patch";
+ sha256 = "sha256-KQ9oglD8D8HWLo4irakRo+dOkwZ9eB4pfknIkX3C1JA=";
+ })
+ ];
+
src = fetchFromGitLab {
domain = "gitlab.freedesktop.org";
owner = "pipewire";
Oh yeah, I'm not saying I don't know how to apply it to Nixpkgs, I'm saying I don't know if it is going to break other things in Wireplumber :)
The MR got merged, it's now in upstream master: https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/pipewire/wireplumber/-/commit/ad80faaa8da75fd562cac4eb776312b83160c9d9.patch
K900: please don't backport this commit, I'm about to revert it
George in #pipewire
Let's just not.
@jansol can you test https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/pipewire/wireplumber/-/commit/211f1e6b6cd4898121e4c2b821fae4dea6cc3317?
Works, in fact it has even nicer behaviour than the previous one by restoring the default device that was configured before switching the default to a bluetooth headset when said headset disconnects. The previous patch would pick the wrong device in that situation.
That's the one George told me to backport, and there will be no hotfix release, so I guess let's go with that?
Sounds like a plan.
A slightly slower option is to watch https://src.fedoraproject.org/rpms/wireplumber/tree/rawhide and see what patches they add on top of the release. The fedora packages are AFAIK maintained by upstream themselves so they should be a safe reference for patch backporting.
|
Unknown glassware
I recently found a piece of older glassware in our lab and nobody seems to know what it is. It appears to be some sort of condenser; however, it does not have both the in and out little notches on it.
It is open on both ends and has one smaller opening coming off the side toward the top. The inside of the tube is similar to the look of a condenser, but not exactly.
Is that the device from which Mr. Clinton never inhaled?
Oh, beautiful to be young :)
This is a vacuum pump. You plug the top part into a water tap. There's a slit in the middle of the inner tube of this "condenser", it creates suction = vacuum when you pump water through it. The side arm is for the receiver of said vacuum. What a lovely relic!
These things still exist, though they are not commonly made of glass. Metal and plastic are more common. They are also called water aspirators.
|
exports = module.exports = Player;
function Player(usrId)
{
//this.userName = usrName;
//this.userColor = usrColor;
this.userMap = [];
this.userId = usrId;
this.userStatus = 'Not ready';
}
Player.prototype.setStatus = function(status)
{
this.userStatus = status;
}
Player.prototype.getStatus = function()
{
return this.userStatus;
}
Player.prototype.setName = function(name)
{
this.userName = name;
}
Player.prototype.setColor = function(color)
{
this.userColor = color;
}
Player.prototype.setId = function(id)
{
this.userId = id;
}
Player.prototype.getId = function()
{
return this.userId;
}
Player.prototype.getName = function()
{
return this.userName;
}
Player.prototype.getColor = function()
{
return this.userColor;
}
Player.prototype.setUnits = function(unitsNr)
{
this.unitsTotal = unitsNr;
}
Player.prototype.getUnits = function()
{
return this.unitsTotal;
}
Player.prototype.addToMap = function(region)
{
this.userMap.push(region);
}
Player.prototype.removeFromMap = function(region)
{
var index = this.userMap.indexOf(region);
if (index > -1) {
this.userMap.splice(index, 1);
}
}
Player.prototype.getUserMap = function()
{
return this.userMap;
}
//module.exports = Player;
|
How to group the data based on server and get the latest data
here's the code:
rowData = [
{
server: "Server 1",
ping: "10 ms",
dl: "50Mbit/s",
ul: "50Mbit/s",
ispcon: true,
dateStart: "2019-10-12 09:00:00",
dateEnd: "2019-10-12 09:05:000"
},{
server: "Server 1",
ping: "10 ms",
dl: "50Mbit/s",
ul: "50Mbit/s",
ispcon: true,
dateStart: "2019-10-12 08:40:00",
dateEnd: "2019-10-12 08:45:000"
},{
server: "Server 1",
ping: "10 ms",
dl: "50Mbit/s",
ul: "50Mbit/s",
ispcon: true,
dateStart: "2019-10-12 08:15:00",
dateEnd: "2019-10-12 08:25:000"
},{
server: "Server 1",
ping: "10 ms",
dl: "50Mbit/s",
ul: "50Mbit/s",
ispcon: true,
dateStart: "2019-10-12 08:10:00",
dateEnd: "2019-10-12 08:15:000"
},{
server: "Server 1",
ping: "10 ms",
dl: "50Mbit/s",
ul: "50Mbit/s",
ispcon: true,
dateStart: "2019-10-12 08:00:00",
dateEnd: "2019-10-12 08:05:000"
},{
server: "Server 1",
ping: "10 ms",
dl: "50Mbit/s",
ul: "50Mbit/s",
ispcon: true,
dateStart: "2019-10-12 07:00:00",
dateEnd: "2019-10-12 08:05:000"
},{
server: "Server 1",
ping: "10 ms",
dl: "50Mbit/s",
ul: "50Mbit/s",
ispcon: true,
dateStart: "2019-10-12 06:00:00",
dateEnd: "2019-10-12 07:05:000"
},{
server: "Server 1",
ping: "10 ms",
dl: "50Mbit/s",
ul: "50Mbit/s",
ispcon: true,
dateStart: "2019-10-12 05:00:00",
dateEnd: "2019-10-12 06:05:000"
},{
server: "Server 1",
ping: "10 ms",
dl: "50Mbit/s",
ul: "50Mbit/s",
ispcon: true,
dateStart: "2019-10-12 04:00:00",
dateEnd: "2019-10-12 05:05:000"
}
{
server: "Server 2",
ping: "10 ms",
dl: "50Mbit/s",
ul: "50Mbit/s",
ispcon: true,
dateStart: "2019-10-12 09:03:00",
dateEnd: "2019-10-12 09:05:000"
},
{
server: "Server 2",
ping: "2 ms",
dl: "50Mbit/s",
ul: "50Mbit/s",
ispcon: true,
dateStart: "2019-10-12 09:00:00",
dateEnd: "2019-10-12 09:01:000"
}
}
What I want to do is group the data based on the server which is the "Server 1" and then it will get the latest data. it depends if it will be based on the date which is the dateStart and dateEnd.
output should be like this:
[
{
server: "Server 1",
ping: "10 ms",
dl: "50Mbit/s",
ul: "50Mbit/s",
ispcon: true,
dateStart: "2019-10-12 09:00:00",
dateEnd: "2019-10-12 09:05:000"
data: [
{
ping: "10 ms",
dl: "50Mbit/s",
ul: "50Mbit/s",
ispcon: true,
dateStart: "2019-10-12 09:00:00",
dateEnd: "2019-10-12 09:05:000"
},{
ping: "10 ms",
dl: "50Mbit/s",
ul: "50Mbit/s",
ispcon: true,
dateStart: "2019-10-12 08:40:00",
dateEnd: "2019-10-12 08:45:000"
},{
ping: "10 ms",
dl: "50Mbit/s",
ul: "50Mbit/s",
ispcon: true,
dateStart: "2019-10-12 08:15:00",
dateEnd: "2019-10-12 08:25:000"
},{
ping: "10 ms",
dl: "50Mbit/s",
ul: "50Mbit/s",
ispcon: true,
dateStart: "2019-10-12 08:10:00",
dateEnd: "2019-10-12 08:15:000"
},{
ping: "10 ms",
dl: "50Mbit/s",
ul: "50Mbit/s",
ispcon: true,
dateStart: "2019-10-12 08:00:00",
dateEnd: "2019-10-12 08:05:000"
},{
ping: "10 ms",
dl: "50Mbit/s",
ul: "50Mbit/s",
ispcon: true,
dateStart: "2019-10-12 07:00:00",
dateEnd: "2019-10-12 08:05:000"
},{
ping: "10 ms",
dl: "50Mbit/s",
ul: "50Mbit/s",
ispcon: true,
dateStart: "2019-10-12 06:00:00",
dateEnd: "2019-10-12 07:05:000"
},{
ping: "10 ms",
dl: "50Mbit/s",
ul: "50Mbit/s",
ispcon: true,
dateStart: "2019-10-12 05:00:00",
dateEnd: "2019-10-12 06:05:000"
},{
ping: "10 ms",
dl: "50Mbit/s",
ul: "50Mbit/s",
ispcon: true,
dateStart: "2019-10-12 04:00:00",
dateEnd: "2019-10-12 05:05:000"
}
]
},
{
server: "Server 2",
ping: "10 ms",
dl: "50Mbit/s",
ul: "50Mbit/s",
ispcon: true,
dateStart: "2019-10-12 09:03:00",
dateEnd: "2019-10-12 09:05:000"
data: [
{
ping: "10 ms",
dl: "50Mbit/s",
ul: "50Mbit/s",
ispcon: true,
dateStart: "2019-10-12 09:03:00",
dateEnd: "2019-10-12 09:05:000"
},
{
ping: "2 ms",
dl: "50Mbit/s",
ul: "50Mbit/s",
ispcon: true,
dateStart: "2019-10-12 09:00:00",
dateEnd: "2019-10-12 09:01:000"
}
]
}
]
Thanks in advance
What you tried?
Why are you repeating all of the properties of the first object in each server array? Why not just have server and data as the top-level properties?
Does this answer your question? Most efficient method to groupby on an array of objects
@symlink because sir, I will apply it in master detail
Use the reduce method and combine with Object.values. Below is sample code in one line.
const rowData = [
{
server: "Server 1",
ping: "10 ms",
dl: "50Mbit/s",
ul: "50Mbit/s",
ispcon: true,
dateStart: "2019-10-12 09:00:00",
dateEnd: "2019-10-12 09:05:000"
},
{
server: "Server 1",
ping: "10 ms",
dl: "50Mbit/s",
ul: "50Mbit/s",
ispcon: true,
dateStart: "2019-10-12 08:40:00",
dateEnd: "2019-10-12 08:45:000"
},
{
server: "Server 1",
ping: "10 ms",
dl: "50Mbit/s",
ul: "50Mbit/s",
ispcon: true,
dateStart: "2019-10-12 08:15:00",
dateEnd: "2019-10-12 08:25:000"
},
{
server: "Server 1",
ping: "10 ms",
dl: "50Mbit/s",
ul: "50Mbit/s",
ispcon: true,
dateStart: "2019-10-12 08:10:00",
dateEnd: "2019-10-12 08:15:000"
},
{
server: "Server 1",
ping: "10 ms",
dl: "50Mbit/s",
ul: "50Mbit/s",
ispcon: true,
dateStart: "2019-10-12 08:00:00",
dateEnd: "2019-10-12 08:05:000"
},
{
server: "Server 1",
ping: "10 ms",
dl: "50Mbit/s",
ul: "50Mbit/s",
ispcon: true,
dateStart: "2019-10-12 07:00:00",
dateEnd: "2019-10-12 08:05:000"
},
{
server: "Server 1",
ping: "10 ms",
dl: "50Mbit/s",
ul: "50Mbit/s",
ispcon: true,
dateStart: "2019-10-12 06:00:00",
dateEnd: "2019-10-12 07:05:000"
},
{
server: "Server 1",
ping: "10 ms",
dl: "50Mbit/s",
ul: "50Mbit/s",
ispcon: true,
dateStart: "2019-10-12 05:00:00",
dateEnd: "2019-10-12 06:05:000"
},
{
server: "Server 1",
ping: "10 ms",
dl: "50Mbit/s",
ul: "50Mbit/s",
ispcon: true,
dateStart: "2019-10-12 04:00:00",
dateEnd: "2019-10-12 05:05:000"
},
{
server: "Server 2",
ping: "10 ms",
dl: "50Mbit/s",
ul: "50Mbit/s",
ispcon: true,
dateStart: "2019-10-12 09:03:00",
dateEnd: "2019-10-12 09:05:000"
},
{
server: "Server 2",
ping: "2 ms",
dl: "50Mbit/s",
ul: "50Mbit/s",
ispcon: true,
dateStart: "2019-10-12 09:00:00",
dateEnd: "2019-10-12 09:01:000"
}
];
const res = Object.values(
rowData.sort((a, b) =>
(new Date(a.dateStart).getTime()) -
(new Date(b.dateStart).getTime())).reduce((acc, curr) => {
const { server, ...rest_curr } = curr;
return {
...acc,
[curr.server]:
curr.server in acc
? {
...acc[curr.server],
data: [...acc[curr.server].data, { ...rest_curr }]
}
: { ...curr, data: [{ ...rest_curr }] }
};
}, {})
);
console.log(res);
How to remove the server inside the parent
@ABC, Just updated the answer. Basically go thru items after process and remove the property. (Alternatively you can also use Reflect.deleteProperty in map method).
Sir siva not the parent server. the child property. {server: "Server 1", ...etc., data: [ { ping, dl, ul, ispcon, dateStart, dateEnd}]}
Property 'server' does not exist on type '{}' there's an error
Sorry @ABC, my bad, Now updated the answer to remove the server from data array. Check this.
How to Sort the data based on the date
@ABC, Sample sort can do is like rowData.sort((a, b) => (new Date(a.dateStart).getTime()) - (new Date(b.dateStart).getTime())), This will be sort based on dateStart. Updated the answer. Please change it accordingly to your needs.
You can use lodash for your use case, you can simply do
let serverData = _.groupBy(rawData, dataObj => dataObj.server)
Where serverData would be the result you are looking for, rawData will be your initial data and dataObj will be the individual object inside the rawData.
You can also follow this link for more details on groupBy method.
Here is the documentation in lodash for the above method.
I simplified your returned object a bit, so the top level properties are just server and data, and server is removed from the second level objects.
let arr=rowData=[{server:"Server 1",ping:"10 ms",dl:"50Mbit/s",ul:"50Mbit/s",ispcon:!0,dateStart:"2019-10-12 09:00:00",dateEnd:"2019-10-12 09:05:000"},{server:"Server 1",ping:"10 ms",dl:"50Mbit/s",ul:"50Mbit/s",ispcon:!0,dateStart:"2019-10-12 08:40:00",dateEnd:"2019-10-12 08:45:000"},{server:"Server 1",ping:"10 ms",dl:"50Mbit/s",ul:"50Mbit/s",ispcon:!0,dateStart:"2019-10-12 08:15:00",dateEnd:"2019-10-12 08:25:000"},{server:"Server 1",ping:"10 ms",dl:"50Mbit/s",ul:"50Mbit/s",ispcon:!0,dateStart:"2019-10-12 08:10:00",dateEnd:"2019-10-12 08:15:000"},{server:"Server 1",ping:"10 ms",dl:"50Mbit/s",ul:"50Mbit/s",ispcon:!0,dateStart:"2019-10-12 08:00:00",dateEnd:"2019-10-12 08:05:000"},{server:"Server 1",ping:"10 ms",dl:"50Mbit/s",ul:"50Mbit/s",ispcon:!0,dateStart:"2019-10-12 07:00:00",dateEnd:"2019-10-12 08:05:000"},{server:"Server 1",ping:"10 ms",dl:"50Mbit/s",ul:"50Mbit/s",ispcon:!0,dateStart:"2019-10-12 06:00:00",dateEnd:"2019-10-12 07:05:000"},{server:"Server 1",ping:"10 ms",dl:"50Mbit/s",ul:"50Mbit/s",ispcon:!0,dateStart:"2019-10-12 05:00:00",dateEnd:"2019-10-12 06:05:000"},{server:"Server 1",ping:"10 ms",dl:"50Mbit/s",ul:"50Mbit/s",ispcon:!0,dateStart:"2019-10-12 04:00:00",dateEnd:"2019-10-12 05:05:000"},{server:"Server 2",ping:"10 ms",dl:"50Mbit/s",ul:"50Mbit/s",ispcon:!0,dateStart:"2019-10-12 09:03:00",dateEnd:"2019-10-12 09:05:000"},{server:"Server 2",ping:"2 ms",dl:"50Mbit/s",ul:"50Mbit/s",ispcon:!0,dateStart:"2019-10-12 09:00:00",dateEnd:"2019-10-12 09:01:000"}];
let res = rowData.reduce((acc,cur) => {
if(acc.some(el => el.server && el.server === cur.server)){
return acc.map(el => {
if(el.server === cur.server){
delete cur.server
el.data.push(cur)
}
return el
})
}else{
let server = cur.server
delete cur.server
return acc.concat({server: server, data: [cur]})
}
},[])
console.log(res)
|
<?php
namespace Scool\Curriculum\Stats;
use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Model;
use Scool\Curriculum\Stats\Contracts\StatsRepository;
/**
* Class BaseStatsRepository.
*
* @package Scool\Curriculum\Stats
*/
abstract class BaseStatsRepository implements StatsRepository
{
/**
* The model from which obtain stats.
*
* @var Model
*/
protected $model;
/**
* @return Model
*/
public function getModel()
{
return $this->model;
}
/**
* @param Model $model
*/
public function setModel($model)
{
$this->model = $model;
}
/**
* BaseStatsRepository constructor.
*
*/
public function __construct()
{
}
/**
* Count total number of elements in model.
*
* @return mixed
*/
public abstract function total();
}
|
Function that draws horizontal and vertical lines.
Correctly handles situations where multiple lines cross. I.e. uses the correct unicode characters to represent the crossing.
Fixes #46
Pull Request Test Coverage Report for Build 163
193 of 204 (94.61%) changed or added relevant lines in 3 files are covered.
No unchanged relevant lines lost coverage.
Overall coverage increased (+0.6%) to 86.642%
Changes Missing Coverage
Covered Lines
Changed/Added Lines
%
draw/line_style.go
4
5
80.0%
draw/hv_line.go
82
92
89.13%
Totals
Change from base Build 159:
0.6%
Covered Lines:
2348
Relevant Lines:
2710
💛 - Coveralls
|
Talk:Budo Masuta/@comment-27362930-20170317153734/@comment-29973613-20170323164705
If he and Hanako even get together. He might not be her suitor o3o
|
User:Mfeilner
mfeilner is Markus Feilner, owner and founder of Feilner IT, Regensburg (Germany) www.feilner-it.net.
Who I am
I am a senior IT journalist, I have worked as deputy editor-in-chief of the German Linux-Magazin and Heise IX. I started working with open source and Linux in 1994, founded my own company in 2000 and have been working as consultant and team lead for documentation at Linux vendor SUSE. I have been working together with, for and against many politicians of different political parties, e.g. when uncovering the tools Russian hackers used to take over the German Parliament: "Bundestagshack: Die Ursachen, der Ablauf und die Folgen"
What I like
I love to travel and see new and surprising things and talk to people. I am fluent in Englisch, German and Bavarian, I feel comfortable with speaking and understanding French and Italian. I love to take photos and post them on my blogs www.markusfeilner.de or photography.markusfeilner.de, on Twitter (@mfeilner) or in the fediverse. All my photos are CC - feel free to spread them. I do not do Apple, Facebook or similar walled gardens.
Professional Life
For almost 20 years, I have been writing regularly for German and international tech magazines, websites and company blogs and documentation. I am a well-known speaker (from workshops to keynotes at international conferences. My company Feilner IT focuses on open source consulting, documentation, organising and understanding human interactions in IT, both in companies, corporate, political and NGO context. I like to define that as the ISO layers 8,9 and 10: from "security theater" or "mythbusting documentation" to the quirks of leadership. That also includes knowledge management, onboarding and project/process management.
How I contribute to Wikipedia
I am contributing to Wikipedia occasionally, usually for friends and not for money. Years ago, I was asked by a friend to help "create a website for an artist friend of mine". We spent a lot of work in that (unpaid) only to find it wasn't relevant. Same happened to my contributions for the Open Source Business Alliance (up to now). All my other contributions were mostly small changes.
Paid-contributions disclosure
As of December 2023, I have received money from three open source companies for editing/updating their websites or affiliate pages:
(Since 2023 I have been employed at ownCloud as Ambassador ownCloud Infinite Scale.)
* For ownCloud I am keeping the version information of ownCloud's products up-to-date (on English and German Wikipedia pages) Owncloud
* The Austrian groupware vendor grommunio is paying me also to keep personal information of their CEO Norbert Lambing up-to-date and to create a Wikipedia page once their product is relevant enough.
* The Germany-based open source vulnerability management company Greenbone is paying me to translate and maintain a German vulnerability management page.
This information will be updated immediately on every change.
Unpaid contributions for NGOs and friends
* I am helping the Open Source Business Alliance OSBA with their Wikipedia pages. The OSBA understands itself as an lobby group for open source and digital sovereignty. Feilner IT is a member of the OSBA.
* I am helping Torsten Frenzel and his E-Government Podcast Wikipedia page. Torsten Frenzel is an employee of the AKDB, who is a customer of Feilner IT. The podcast is a project not related to his or my work.
|
GWT -xss(cross site scripting) Demo
I have been looking to demo a sample xss attack via GWT(V2.4.0).I created a form(GET Method) with html text area and a submit button ,on submit it calls the server via gwt rpc, if there is a xss vulnerability, sample test case//<SCRIPT SRC=http://ha.ckers.org/xss.js></SCRIPT> // should not be filtered.But this does not work,Could any one please share how to perform xss attack ? just an overview or gist would be fine.
Look at https://developers.google.com/web-toolkit/articles/security_for_gwt_applications#xss
There is an example of how to use inner html to launch an attack. See the section
Code that sets innerHTML
It gives countermeasures on the page as well.
If you are talking about XSRF, then as suggested
Cross-Site Request Forgery (XSRF or CSRF) is a type of web attack
where an attacker can perform actions on behalf of an authenticated
user without user's knowledge. Typically, it involves crafting a
malicious HTML page, which, once visited by a victim, will cause the
victim's browser to issue an attacker-controlled request to a
third-party domain. If the victim is authenticated to the third-party
domain, the request will be sent with the browser's cookies for that
domain, and could potentially trigger an undesirable action on behalf
of the victim and without victim's consent - for example, delete or
modify a blog or add a mail forward rule.
you could just make a page to send an (unauthenticated) rpc request, and if your browser passes along an already authenticated user's cookie and the rpc call succeeds, then the attack worked.
i am looking out for xss attack :),between xsrf was informative
yeah and there is an example you can use in the first link Code that sets innerHTML
|
Method for realizing single radio voice call continuity and single radio voice call continuity system
ABSTRACT
A method for realizing a single radio voice call continuity and a single radio voice call continuity system are disclosed. After a UE- 1 establishes an IMS session with a remote leg through a PS network, wherein in the IMS session, signaling is anchored to an ICP and media is anchored to an AGW controlled by the ICP, the method is realized as follows: sending a handover request by a control net element of the PS network to an eMSC to request a handover of the IMS session to a CS network access mode; after receiving the handover request, preparing a media link resource by the eMSC for the UE- 1 to communicate with the eMSC and sending a call request to the ICP; and controlling the AGW to correlate a media link established by the call request with a remote leg media link of the IMS session by the ICP. The method can effectively solve the problem existing in the prior art that the duration of interruption is too long, and improve user experience.
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to the field of communications, and in particular to a method for realizing single radio voice call continuity and a single radio voice call continuity system.
BACKGROUND
IP Multimedia Core Network Subsystem (IMS) is an IP-based network architecture proposed by the 3^(rd) Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), which constructs an open and flexible service environment to support multimedia application and provide various multimedia services for users.
In an IMS service system, a control layer is separated from a service layer and provides the service layer with necessary functions such as triggering, routing and charging but not specific services.
In the control layer, a service triggering function and a control function are achieved by a Call Session Control Function (CSCF), which is divided into the following three types: Serving-CSCF (S-CSCF), Proxy-CSCF (P-CSCF), and Interrogating-CSCF (I-CSCF), wherein the S-CSCF plays the major role, and the I-CSCF is optional.
The service layer consisting of a series of Application Servers (ASs) can provide specific services, wherein the AS may be an independent entity or located in an S-CSCF.
The control layer (S-CSCF) controls the triggering of a service according to the subscription information of a user and calls a service of an AS to realize the function of the service. The AS and S-CSCF can both be called Server Equipment (SE).
The end-to-end device used in a session, which is called a User Equipment (UE), takes charge of the interaction with a user. Some UEs can access a network in many ways: for example, via a Packet Switch (PS) domain of a 3GPP, via a PS domain of a non-3GPP, or even via a Circuit Switch (CS) domain.
If a CS network is provided with an enhanced Mobile Switch Center (eMSC) which provides a Session Initial Protocol (SIP) interface to realize an interaction with an IMS network, then the interaction between the IMS network and the CS network can be realized through the eMSC.
For a UE with multiple access modes, if the UE is executing a certain service, such as communication, under a certain access mode that is solely used by the UE at a certain time, then the UE needs to change its access mode after the UE moves to another place, the UE and a network have a capability of providing a certain means to protect the service that is being executed by the UE from being interrupted, such a capability is called single terminal radio voice call continuity, which is called Single Radio Voice Call Continuity (SRVCC) for short.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an SRVCC, which describes a signaling path and a media path for establishment of a session between a single terminal UE-1 and an IMS terminal UE-2, and a signaling path and a media path between the UE-1 and the UE-2 after an SRVCC occurs. For the sake of a simplified illustration and description, the S-CSCF and the Service Continuity AS (SC AS) are represented as one entity, which communicate with each other using an SIP based on IMS standards.
Before the occurrence of SRVCC, the UE-1 and the UE-2 establishes a session using the signaling paths described below:
A102: the signaling path between the UE-1 and the P-CSCF, which communicate with each other via an SIP of the IMS, the signaling path is an access leg path for the SC AS;
A104: the signaling path between the P-CSCF and the SC AS/S-CSCF, which communicate with each other via the SIP of the IMS, the signaling path is also an access leg path for the SC AS;
R101: the signaling path between the SC AS/S-CSCF and the UE-2, which communicate with each other via the SIP of the IMS, the signaling path is a remote leg path for the SC AS;
the signaling paths and the media paths between the UE-1 and the UE-2 are both changed after an SRVCC occurs, wherein the changes of the signaling paths are described as below:
A112: the signaling path between the UE-1 and the eMSC, which communicate with each other via a signaling protocol of a CS domain, the signaling path is an access leg path for the SC AS;
A114: the signaling path between the eMSC and the SC AS/S-CSCF, which communicate with each other via the SIP of the IMS, and the signaling path is also an access leg path for the SC AS;
R101: the signaling path between the SC AS/S-CSCF and the UE-2, which communicate with each other via the SIP of the IMS, the signaling path is a remote leg path for the SC AS, and the signaling path is unchanged after the occurrence of SRVCC.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an architecture of an existing SRVCC, in which related parts or net elements of a network participating in realizing an SRVCC and the interfaces or connection relations therebetween are described as below:
description on related net elements:
UE: a user terminal equipment with a capability of SRVCC;
CS network: a network providing conventional CS services for a user;
PS network: a network providing PS services for a user, the control net element of which is a Mobility Management Entity (MME) or a Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN);
eMSC: the eMSC processes a handover request sent by the control net element of the PS network, executes an inter-domain transfer for a session, and correlates a CS handover operation with the inter-domain transfer operation;
IMS network: a network providing IMS services for a user;
description on related interfaces:
S202: an air interface between the UE and the CS network (CS air interface for short) for realizing an information interaction between the UE and the CS network, such as a standard Um interface;
S204: an air interface between the UE and the control net element of the PS network (PS air interface for short) for realizing an information interaction between the UE and the control net element of the PS network, such as a standard Uu interface;
S206: an interface between the CS network and the eMSC (also called a CS signaling interface), which is changed according to a specific net element connected, for instance, the interface between the eMSC and a base station subsystem is a standard Iu-CS interface, and the interfaces between the eMSC and other mobile switch centers are standard inter-office signaling interfaces, that is, E interface and Nc interface;
S208: a signaling interface between the control net element of the PS network and the eMSC (also called inter-domain handover signaling interface) for supporting an inter-domain handover, this interface is a standard Sv interface;
S210: a signaling interface between the control net element of the PS network and the Internet, such as a standard SGi interface, which is capable of providing an IP data bearer for the information interaction between the UE and the Internet, the IMS network can be counted as a specific Internet as it is based on the Internet;
S212: a signaling path between the eMSC and the IMS network, which may be a standard I2 interface based on the SIP of the IMS between the eMSC and the IMS network or a path constructed by connecting a standard Nc interface between the eMSC and a media gateway and a standard Mg interface between the media gateway and the IMS network; if the path refers to the latter, then the media gateway will interpret a message at the Nc interface into an SIP message of the IMS or vice versa; the Nc interface may be an Nc-SIP interface based on an SIP or an Nc-ISUP interface based on ISDN User Protocol (ISUP). Although the Nc-SIP interface and the I2 interface are both based on the SIP, the SIP only makes regulation on the format of a message but not the content of the message (the content of the message is determined by application), the use of the I2 interface indicates that the eMSC supports IMS-related applications, and the use of the Nc-SIP interface indicates that the eMSC supports conventional CS-related applications.
FIG. 3 is a flow chart of an existing method for realizing an SRVCC, which describes the process that an IMS session between a UE-1 and a UE-2 is established, thereby establishing an IMS media connection path consisting of a media connection between the UE-1 and a control net element of a PS network and a media connection between the control net element of the PS network and the UE-2, and also describes the process that a media connection is established by the UE-1 using a CS domain under the support of the UE-1 and a network while the continuity of the former session is kept after the UE-1 is subjected to an SRVCC. The process comprises the following steps:
step 301: the UE-1 sends a measurement report to the control net element of the PS network serving the UE-1 via an interface S204 between the UE-1 and the control net element of the PS network so as to report the measured cell signal strength information;
step 302: the control net element of the PS network serving the UE-1 (the original control net element of the PS network) determines that the neighboring CS network is more suitable for serving the UE-1 according to the cell signal strength information contained in the measurement report and then determines to carry out a handover operation;
step 303: the original control net element of the PS network (such as an MMS or SGSN) sends, via the interface S208 between the control net element of the PS network and an eMSC, the eMSC a handover request, such as a ‘handover request’ message, the message contains the number information of the UE-1 and the number information of an SC AS for identifying a radio voice call continuity request which is obtained by the control net element of the PS network via a Home Subscriber Server (HSS);
step 304: the eMSC carries out a standard CS handover flow to prepare a media link resource for a target CS network;
step 305: after completing the CS handover flow, the eMSC sends a handover response message to the control net element of the PS network via the interface S208;
step 306: after receiving the handover response message, the control net element of the PS network sends a handover command message to the UE-1 via the interface S204 to inform the UE-1 of performing handover to a CS domain;
step 307: after receiving the handover command message, the UE-1 changes its access mode to be a CS domain access mode;
so far, a CS media connection path is established between the UE-1 and the eMSC, wherein the path consists of a CS media connection between the UE-1 and the CS network and a CS media connection between the CS network and the eMSC;
the following steps follow the step 303 without sequence relationship with steps 304-307;
step 308: after receiving the handover request message sent by the control net element of the PS network, the eMSC sends a call request to the SC AS;
as sent via the signaling path S212 (also called inter-connection and inter-communication signaling path), the call request may be an ‘INVITE’ message of an SIP or an Initial Address Message (IAM) of an ISUP; and the number information of the UE-1 and the number information of the SC AS are contained in the call request, wherein the number information of the SC AS serves as called information, and the number information of the UE-1 serves as calling information;
step 309: the SC AS finally receives the SIP ‘INVITE’ message of the IMS forwarded by a CSCF, determines the message to be a radio voice call continuity request according to the called information, and then searches for the ongoing call related to the current call according to the calling information;
step 310: the SC AS sends an update request of the IMS, such as a ‘UPDATE’ message or a ‘re INVITE’ message, to the UE-2 via the CSCF on the signaling path of the related ongoing call;
step 311: after receiving the update request, the UE-2 responds an update approval message of the IMS, such as a ‘200 OK’ message;
step 312: after receiving the update approval message forwarded by the CSCF, the SC AS sends an answer call message, such as a ‘200 OK’ message, to the eMSC via the signaling path S212, the message finally received by the eMSC may be the ‘200 OK’ message of the SIP or the ANM (ANswer Message) of the ISUP;
so far, a new media path is established between the eMSC and the UE-2, the eMSC connects the new media path with the CS media path to enable the the UE-1 to continue communication with the UE-2.
It can be seen from above that as the SC AS located in the home network carries out no media path anchoring, it is required to perform an update operation to the remote leg in steps 310-311 in the case where existing method for realizing an SRVCC is used, however, as the transmission delay of IMS signaling for the update operation is relatively long, it still takes a long time to establish a new media path even after a CS media is established, thus causing a long interruption in the communication.
SUMMARY
The technical problem the present invention aims to solve is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art to provide a method for realizing an SRVCC and an SRVCC system without performing update operation to a remote leg.
In order to solve the aforementioned technical problem, the present invention provides a method for realizing a single radio voice call continuity, after a user equipment (UE-1) establishes an IP Multimedia Core Network Subsystem (IMS) session with a remote leg via a Packet Switch (PS) network, wherein in the IMS session, signaling is anchored to an IMS Control Point (ICP) and media is anchored to an Access GateWay (AGW) controlled by the ICP, with a remote leg through a Packet Switch (PS) network, the method comprises:
sending a handover request by a control net element of the PS network to an enhanced Mobile Switch Center (eMSC) to request a handover of the IMS session to a Circuit Switch (CS) network access mode;
after receiving the handover request, preparing a media link resource by the eMSC for the UE-1 to communicate with the eMSC and sending a call request to the ICP; and
controlling the AGW to correlate a media link established by the call request with a remote leg media link of the IMS session by the ICP.
The method may also be characterized in that:
the call request sent by the eMSC may be a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) call request message, which contains a transmission address H which is newly allocated by the eMSC to receive media data in the new established media link;
in the step that the ICP correlates the media link established by the call request with the remote leg media link of the IMS session: after receiving the SIP call request message, correlating the transmission address H with an external receiving address F of the remote leg media link by the ICP, and sending, via an SIP answer call, the eMSC a transmission address J for receiving media data sent by the eMSC in the new established media link.
The method may also be characterized in that:
in the step that the ICP correlates the media link established by the call request with the remote leg media link of the IMS session:
after receiving the SIP call request message, sending the AGW a map request containing the transmission address H by the ICP; and
correlating the transmission address H with the remote leg media link by the AGW, allocating the transmission address J and sending the transmission address J to the ICP via a map response.
The method may also be characterized in that:
the call request sent by the eMSC may be an initial address message of an ISDN User Protocol (ISUP), which contains a line number L1 of a line resource in the new established media link for the eMSC end to transmit CS media; and
in the step that the ICP correlates the media link established by the call request with the remote leg media link of the IMS session: after receiving the initial address message, returning an ANM of the ISUP to the eMSC by the ICP, wherein the ANM contains a line number L2 of a line resource in the new established media link for transmitting CS media between the eMSC end and the remote leg.
The method may also be characterized in that:
in the step that the ICP correlates the media link established by the call request with the remote leg media link of the IMS session:
after receiving the initial address message, sending the AGW a map request containing the line number L1 by the ICP; and
after receiving the map request, correlating the line number L1 with the remote leg media link by the AGW, allocating the line number L2, and sending the line number L2 to the ICP via a map response.
In order to solve the aforementioned technical problem, the present invention provides a single radio voice call continuity system, the system comprises: a control net element of a Packet Switch (PS) network, a Circuit Switch (CS) network, an enhanced Mobile Switch Center (eMSC), an IP Multimedia Core Network Subsystem Control Point (ICP) and an Access GateWay (AGW), wherein
the control net element of the PS network is configured to send a handover request to the eMSC to request a handover of an IMS session to a CS network access mode, wherein the IMS session is a session which is established by a user equipment (UE-1) with a remote leg via a PS network and in which signaling is anchored to the ICP and media is anchored to the AGW controlled by the ICP;
the eMSC is configured to prepare, after receiving the handover request, a media link resource for the UE-1 to communicate with the eMSC and send a call request to the ICP; and
the ICP is configured to control the AGW to correlate a media link established by the call request with a remote leg media link of the IMS session.
The system may also be characterized in that:
the call request sent by the eMSC may be a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) call request message, which contains a transmission address H which is newly allocated by the eMSC to receive media data in the new established media link; and
the ICP may be further configured to correlate the transmission address H with an external receiving address F of the remote leg media link after receiving the SIP call request message, and send, via an SIP answer call, the eMSC a transmission address J for receiving media data sent by the eMSC in the new established media link.
The system may also be characterized in that:
the ICP may be further configured to send the AGW a map request containing the transmission address H after receiving the SIP call request message; and
the AGW may be configured to correlate the transmission address H with the remote leg media link, allocate the transmission address J, and send the transmission address J to the ICP via a map response.
The system may also be characterized in that:
the call request sent by the eMSC may be an initial address message of an ISDN User Protocol (ISUP), which contains a line number L1 of a line resource in the new established media link for the eMSC end to transmit CS media; and
the ICP may be further configured to return an ANM of the ISUP to the eMSC after receiving the initial address message, wherein the ANM contains a line number L2 of a line resource in the new established media link for transmitting CS media between the eMSC end and the remote leg.
The system may also be characterized in that:
the ICP may be further configured to send the AGW a map request containing the line number L1 after receiving the initial address message; and
the AGW may be configured to correlate the line number L1 with the remote leg media link after receiving the map request, allocate the line number L2, and send the line number L2 to the ICP via a map response.
In order to solve the aforementioned technical problem, the present invention provides a controller supporting a single radio voice call continuity system, the controller comprises a receiving module and a correlating module which are connected with each other, wherein
the receiving module is configured to receive a call request sent by an eMSC and inform the correlating module of the received call request; and
the correlating module is configured to control an AGW to correlate a media link established by the call request with a remote leg media link of an IMS session according to the received call request after a UE-1 establishes the IMS session with a remote leg via a PS network, wherein in the IMS session, signaling is anchored to the controller and media is anchored to the AGW controlled by the controller.
The controller may also be characterized in that:
the call request sent by the eMSC may be a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) call request message, which contains a transmission address H which is newly allocated by the eMSC to receive media data in the new established media link; and
the correlating module may be further configured to correlate the transmission address H with an external receiving address F of the remote leg media link, and send, via an SIP answer call, the eMSC a transmission address J for receiving media data sent by the eMSC in the new established media link.
The controller may also be characterized in that:
the call request sent by the eMSC may be an initial address message of an ISDN User Protocol (ISUP), which contains a line number L1 of a line resource in the new established media link for the eMSC end to transmit CS media; and
the correlating module may be further configured to return an ANM of the ISUP to the eMSC, wherein the ANM contains a line number L2 of a line resource in the new established media link for transmitting CS media between the eMSC end and the remote leg.
Compared with the prior art, the enhanced SVRCC architecture and the realization method thereof disclosed in the present invention can effectively shorten the duration of interruption and greatly improve user experience.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an SRVCC;
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an architecture of an existing SRVCC;
FIG. 3 is a flow chart of an existing method for realizing an SRVCC;
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an architecture of an enhanced SRVCC according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a flow chart of an enhanced SRVCC according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an architecture 1 of an enhanced SRVCC according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a flow chart 1(Nc-SIP) of an enhanced SRVCC based on the architecture 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a flow chart 2 (Nc-ISUP) of an enhanced SRVCC based on the architecture 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an architecture in which an ICP and a PGW/GGSN are integrated based on the architecture 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an architecture in which an ICP and an eMSC are integrated based on the architecture 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 11 is a flow chart of an enhanced SRVCC based on FIG. 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an architecture in which an ICP and an AGW are integrated based on the architecture 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an architecture in which an ICP, an AGW and a PGW/GGSN are integrated based on the architecture 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an architecture 2 of an enhanced SRVCC according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 15 is a flow chart (Nc-SIP) of an enhanced SRVCC based on the architecture 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an architecture in which an ICP and a P-CSCF are integrated based on the architecture 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an architecture in which an ICP and an eMSC are integrated based on the architecture 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 18 is a flow chart of an enhanced SRVCC based on FIG. 17 according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an architecture in which an ICP and an SC AS are integrated based on the architecture 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 20 is a flow chart of an enhanced SRVCC based on FIG. 19 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The core idea of the present invention lies in that an expansion net element is introduced to anchor signaling and media (or an existing net element is added with corresponding functions), a signaling is sent to the expansion net element after an SRVCC occurs, and the expansion net element stops the transmission of the signaling by correlating a session, and updates the local leg of the original session media path while keeping the remote leg unchanged.
The present invention is described below in detail by reference to embodiments in conjunction with accompanying drawings.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an architecture of an enhanced SVRCC according to an embodiment of the present invention, related parts or net elements in a network for realizing an enhanced SRVCC and the interfaces or connection relations therebetween are described in this figure, and below is specific description:
description on related net elements:
standard SRVCC architecture part: each net element is the same as the corresponding one described in FIG. 2 except that there is no IMS network;
expansion part includes the following net elements:
an IMS Control Point (ICP) for controlling an Access GateWay (AGW) to allocate resources and map or correlate media paths;
an AGW for processing the forwarding of media data; and
IMS net elements: standard net elements of an IMS network,
wherein the ICP and the AGW may be parts of the IMS network or not in different embodiments;
description on related interfaces:
S402-S410: the same interfaces as S202-S210 described in FIG. 2, as the expansion part is based on the Internet, the interface S410 is not connected with a specific net element;
S412: an IMS signaling interface between the UE and the expansion part, which is a logic interface for transmitting IMS signaling interacted between the UE and the expansion part; which net element the interface is connected with depends on specific embodiments, and the interface may not be shown or explained in the case where the ICP and the AGW are parts of the IMS network as the connection is a standard connection;
S414: the same interface as S212 described in FIG. 2;
S416: a signaling interface between the ICP and the AGW, by which the ICP controls the AGW to allocate resources, map and correlate media paths;
S418: a signaling interface between the ICP and an IMS net element for transmitting an IMS protocol message between the UE and a P-CSCF, or an IMS protocol message between the P-CSCF and an I-CSCF/S-CSCF, or an IMS protocol message between a CSCF and an SC AS, depending on the specific location of the ICP.
FIG. 5 is a flow chart of an enhanced SRVCC according to an embodiment of the present invention, which describes the process of the establishment of an IMS session between a UE-1 and a UE-2, and the consequent establishment of a media connection by the UE-1 using a CS domain under the support of the UE-1 and a network while the continuity of the former session is kept after the UE-1 is subjected to an SRVCC, this process comprises the following steps:
steps 501-502: the UE-1 initiates an IMS call request, for instance, the UE-1 sends an ‘INVITE’ message, wherein the call request is actually transmitted by the interfaces S404 and S410 and born on an IP bearer established by a control net element of a PS network and therefore passes the control net element of the PS network; the transmission address information of the UE-1 for receiving media data is contained in the call request and represented as B, the call request is routed to the ICP, and the routing may pass some net elements of the IMS network or not, depending on specific embodiments;
step 503: the ICP requests the AGW to allocate an address resource via the interface S416, for instance, the ICP sends an allocation request message in which the transmission address information B is contained;
step 504: the AGW allocates port resources C and F, wherein the port F is used for receiving the media data sent by a remote leg and establishing a correlation between the received media data and the transmission address information B so that all the media data received by the port F need to be forwarded to the transmission address B, and the port C is used for forwarding the media data received by the port F; then the AGW sends, via the interface S416, the ICP an allocation approval message, such as an allocation response message, in which the information of the port F is contained; for the sake of a simplified description, the transmission address information corresponding to the port F, which includes information of an IP address and a port, is still represented as F;
if the call to be established by the UE-1 includes more than one media, then the B includes information of multiple transmission addresses for receiving different media data, in step 503, there may be one message containing information of multiple transmission addresses for receiving different media data or multiple messages each of which contains information of a transmission address for receiving single media data; and correspondingly, in step 504, there may be one message containing information of multiple ports or multiple messages each of which contains information of a port, the specific realization method causes no influence on the essence of the present invention;
step 505: the ICP replaces the transmission address B in the IMS call request described in step 502 with the transmission address F and then forwards the IMS call request to the remote leg;
step 506: after receiving the IMS call request, the remote leg sends an IMS answer call, such as a ‘200 OK’ message, which contains the transmission address information (represented as X) of the remote leg for receiving media data;
step 507: after receiving the IMS answer call, the ICP requests the AGW to allocate an address resource via the interface S416, for instance, the ICP sends an allocation request message containing the transmission address information X;
step 508: the AGW allocates port resources D and E, wherein the port D is used for receiving the media data sent by the UE-1 and establishing a correlation between the received media data and the transmission address X so that all the media data received by the port D need to be forwarded to the transmission address X, and the port E is used for forwarding the media data received by the port D; then the AGW sends, via the interface S416, the ICP an allocation approval message, such as an allocation response message, in which the information of the port D is contained; for the sake of a simplified description, the transmission address information corresponding to the port D is still represented as D;
if the X includes information of multiple transmission addresses for receiving different media data, then in step 507, there may be one message containing information of multiple transmission addresses for receiving different media data or multiple messages each of which contains information of a transmission address for receiving single media data; and correspondingly, in step 508, there may be one message containing information of multiple ports or multiple messages each of which contains information of a port, the specific realization method causes no influence on the essence of the present invention;
steps 509-510: the ICP replaces the transmission address X in the IMS answer call described in step 506 with the transmission address D and then forwards the IMS answer call to the UE-1; the message may pass some IMS net elements or not depending on specific embodiments, and certainly passes the control net element of the PS network as the message is actually born on an IP bearer established by the control net element of the PS network and transmitted to the UE-1;
so far, an IMS media connection is established between the UE-1 and the remote leg which includes an IMS media connection 1 (IMS media 1 for short) between the UE-1 and the AGW and an IMS media connection 2 (IMS media 2 for short) between the AGW and the remote leg;
below is description on steps for an inter-domain handover of the UE-1:
steps 511-517: the same steps as steps 301-307 described in FIG. 3;
step 518: after receiving the handover request message from the control net element of the PS network, the eMSC sends a call request to the ICP; as sent via the signaling path S414, the request may be an ‘INVITE’ message of the SIP or the IAM of the ISUP; and the call request contains the number information of the UE-1 which serves as calling information and the number information or identification information of the ICP which serves as called information;
step 518 and the following steps follow step 513 without sequence relationship with steps 514-517;
step 519: the ICP determines that the call request described in step 518 is the handover request (the target of the call is the number information or identification information of the ICP, which can be correlated with the session of step 502 via the calling information of the call) of the session described in step 502, and requests the AGW to carry out a mapping operation to interconnect the new established media with the former IMS media 2, the specific realization mode changes with different architectures;
step 520: after the mapping operation is completed, the ICP sends an answer call message to the eMSC via the signaling path S414, and the message finally received by the eMSC may be the ‘200 OK’ message of the SIP or the ANM of the ISUP, depending on specific connections;
so far, a new media path is established between the eMSC and the AGW, the eMSC connects the new established media path with the CS media path, and the AGW connects the new established media path with the IMS media connection 2 so that the UE-1 can continue to communicate with the UE-2.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a controller (namely, the ICP described in the present invention) supporting an SRVCC system comprises a receiving module and a correlating module which are connected with each other, wherein
the receiving module is configured to receive a call request sent by an eMSC and inform the correlating module of the received call request; and
the correlating module is configured to control an AGW to correlate a media link established by the call request with a remote leg media link of an IMS session according to the received call request after a UE-1 establishes the IMS session with a remote leg via a PS network, wherein in the IMS session, signaling is anchored to the controller and media is anchored to the AGW controlled by the controller.
When the call request sent by the eMSC is an SIP call request message, the message contains a transmission address H which is newly allocated by the eMSC and used for receiving media data in the new established media link; and the correlating module is further configured to correlate the transmission address H with an external receiving address F of the remote leg media link and send a transmission address J for receiving the media data sent by the eMSC in the new established media link to the eMSC via an SIP answer call.
When the call request sent by the eMSC is an IAM of an Integrated Services Digital Network User Protocol (ISUP), the message contains a line number L1 of a line resource in the new established media link for the eMSC end to transmit CS media; and the correlating module is further configured to return an ANM of the ISUP to the eMSC, wherein the ANM contains a line number L2 of a line resource in the new established media link for transmitting CS media between the eMSC end and a remote leg.
For the sake of a simplified description, the interface information corresponding to the interface S410 is no longer shown or explained in the following embodiments, the complete description of the present invention is not influenced as the interface S410 expresses an IP connection relation, and the IMS network and the expansion part of the present invention are entirely an IP-based service network.
Embodiment of Architecture 1
FIG. 6 is a diagram 1 illustrating an architecture 1 of an enhanced SRVCC according to an embodiment of the present invention, which describes related parts or net elements of a network for realizing an enhanced SRVCC and the interfaces or connection relations therebetween, below is specific description:
description on related net elements:
standard SRVCC architecture part: each net element is the same as the corresponding one described in FIG. 4;
ICP: the ICP controls an AGW to allocate resources and map or correlate media paths; and
AGW: the AGW realizes the forwarding of IP media data or forwarding between CS media data and IP media data;
description on related interfaces:
S602-S608: the same interfaces as interfaces S402-S408 described in FIG. 4;
S612: an IMS signaling interface between a UE and an ICP for transmitting IMS signaling between the UE and a P-CSCF via the ICP, such as a Gm interface in accordance with IMS standard;
S614: a signaling interface between an eMSC and the ICP for transmitting a message during establishment of the link between the eMSC and the ICP, such as a standard Nc interface, this interface may be an Nc-SIP interface based on the SIP or an Nc-ISUP interface based on the ISUP;
S616: a signaling interface between the ICP and the AGW for enabling the ICP to control the AGW to allocate resources and map or correlate media paths; and
S618: a signaling interface between the ICP and an IMS net element for transmitting an IMS protocol message between the UE and the P-CSCF, such as a Gm interface in accordance with IMS standard.
Embodiment of Flow 1
FIG. 7 is a flow chart 1 (Nc-SIP) of an enhanced SRVCC based on the architecture 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, which describes the process of the establishment of an IMS session between a UE-1 and a UE-2, and the consequent establishment of a media connection by the UE-1 using a CS domain under the support of the UE-1 and a network while the continuity of the former session is kept after the UE-1 is subjected to the SRVCC, wherein an Nc-ICP interface is used between an eMSC and an ICP. The process comprises the following steps:
step 701: this step is similar to steps 501-510 described in FIG. 5, wherein an IMS message is transmitted between the UE and the ICP without passing any standard IMS net element, an IMS media connection, including an IMS media connection 1 between the UE-1 and the AGW and an IMS media connection 2 between the AGW and the remote leg, is established between the UE-1 and the remote leg;
step 702: this step is the same as steps 511-517 described in FIG. 5;
step 703: after receiving a handover request message sent by the control net element of a PS network, the eMSC sends a call request to the ICP via the signaling path S614; in this embodiment, as the interface S614 refers to an Nc-SIP interface, the sent message is an ‘INVITE’ message of the SIP, the call request contains the number information of the UE-1 and the number information or identification information of the ICP, wherein the number information or identification information of the ICP serves as called information, the number information of the UE-1 serves as calling information, and additionally, a transmission address H of the eMSC for receiving media data is contained in the message;
step 703 may be executed before step 702 is completed and can be understood in detail by reference to the related description of step 518;
step 704: the ICP determines that the call request described in step 703 is a handover request of the session of step 701, and requests the AGW to carry out a mapping operation, for instance, the ICP sends a ‘Map request’ message which contains the transmission address H of the eMSC and the transmission address F of the former IMS media connection 2, or the transmission address D of the former IMS media connection 1;
step 705: the AGW carries out a mapping operation to connect a new established media connection with the former IMS media connection 2, and allocates a new local leg media data receiving port J; for the sake of a simplified description, the transmission address information corresponding to the port J is still represented as J, after the mapping operation is completed, the AGW sends a map response message to the ICP via the interface S616, wherein the map response message contains the transmission address J of the AGW for receiving media data;
step 706: after receiving the map response, the ICP sends an answer message of the Nc-SIP, such as a ‘200 OK’ message, to the eMSC via the interface S614, wherein the answer message contains the obtained media resource information of the AGW;
so far, a new media path is established between the eMSC and the AGW, the eMSC connects the new established media path with the CS media path, and the AGW connects the new established media path with the IMS media connection 2 so that the UE-1 can continue to communicate with the UE-2.
Embodiment of Flow 2
FIG. 8 is a flow chart 2(Nc-ISUP) of an enhanced SRVCC based on the architecture 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, which describes the process of the establishment of an IMS session between a UE-1 and a UE-2, and the consequent establishment of a media connection by the UE-1 using a CS domain under the support of the UE-1 and a network while the continuity of the former session is kept after the UE-1 is subjected to the SRVCC, wherein an Nc-ISUP interface is used between an eMSC and an ICP. The process comprises the following steps:
steps 801-802: the same steps as steps 701-702 described in FIG. 7;
step 803: after receiving a handover request message sent by the control net element of a PS network, the eMSC sends a call request to the ICP via the signaling path S614; in this embodiment, as the interface S614 refers to an Nc-ISUP interface, the sent message is an ‘IAM’ of an ISUP, which contains the line number L1 of a line resource for the eMSC to transmit CS media; the call request contains the number information of the UE-1 and the number information of the ICP, wherein the number information of the ICP serves as called information, the number information of the UE-1 serves as calling information;
step 803 may be executed before step 802 is completed and can be understood in detail by reference to the related description of step 518;
step 804: the ICP determines that the call request described in step 803 is a handover request of the session of step 801, and optionally requests the AGW to carry out a line allocation operation, for instance, the ICP sends a ‘Line Alloc request’ message containing the obtained line number L1, wherein the message is transmitted via the interface S616;
step 805: after receiving the line allocation request, the AGW allocates line resource for transmitting CS media, which corresponds to a line number L2, and then sends a line allocation response, such as a ‘Line Alloc response’ message, to the ICP via the interface S616, wherein the line allocation response message contains the allocated line number L2;
step 806: the ICP requests the AGW to carry out a mapping operation, for instance, the ICP sends a ‘Map request’ message, the message contains the obtained line number L1, and may contain the obtained line number L2 if steps 804-805 are executed, and also contains the transmission address F of the former IMS media connection 2 or the transmission address D of the former IMS media connection 1;
step 807: the AGW carries out a mapping operation to connect the new established media connection with the former IMS media connection 2, in the case where steps 804-805 are not executed, the AGW allocates a new line resource for transmitting CS media data as the line number information is carried in the mapping operation, and the corresponding line number is set to be L2; and in the case where steps 804-805 are executed, then the line resource has been allocated, the AGW sends a map response message to the ICP via the interface S616, wherein the map response message may contain no line number information if steps 804-805 are executed, or contain the information of the new allocated line number L2 if steps 804-805 are not executed;
step 808: after receiving the map response, the ICP sends, via the interface S614, the eMSC an answer message of the Nc-ISUP, such as an ‘ANM’, which contains the obtained line information of the AGW for transmitting CS media data;
so far, a new CS media path is established between the eMSC and the AGW, the eMSC connects the new established media path with the CS media path between the UE and the eMSC, and the AGW connects the new established CS media path with the IMS media connection 2 so that the UE-1 can continue to communicate with the UE-2.
Embodiment of Architecture 2
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an architecture in which an ICP and a PGW/GGSN are integrated based on the architecture 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, which describes related parts or net elements of a network participating in realizing an enhanced SRVCC, and the interfaces or connection relations therebetween, below is specific description:
description on related net elements:
standard SRVCC architecture part: net elements, except for the control net element of the PS network, are the same as the corresponding net elements described in FIG. 4;
PGW/GGSN: a net element for the control net element of the PS network connecting with the Internet, belonging to the control net element of the PS network, the net element is called a Packet Data Network GateWay/Global GPRS Support Node, and is increased with an IMS Control Point function to control an AGW to allocate resources, map or correlate media paths, and processes the interaction between the control net element of the PS network and an IP network;
AGW: an access gateway for realizing the forwarding of IP media data or forwarding between CS media data and IP media data;
description on related interfaces:
S902-S908: the same interfaces as interfaces S402-S408 described in FIG. 4;
S912: an IMS signaling interface between the UE and the PGW or GGSN for transmitting IMS signaling between the UE and the P-CSCF via the PGW/GGSN, such as a Gm interface in accordance with IMS standard;
S914: a signaling interface between an eMSC and the PGW/GGSN for transmitting a message during establishment process of the link between the eMSC and the PGW/GGSN, such as a standard Nc interface based on an SIP (Nc-SIP) or a standard Nc interface based on an ISUP (Nc-ISUP);
S916: a signaling interface between the PGW/GGSN and the AGW for enabling the PGW/GGSN to control the AGW to allocate resources, map or correlate media paths; and
S918: a signaling interface between the PGW/GGSN and an IMS net element for transmitting an IMS protocol message between the UE and the P-CSCF via the PGW/GGSN, such as a Gm interface in accordance with IMS standard;
the embodiments of the flow under this architecture are almost identical to those described in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 except that the ICPs in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are replaced with the PGW/GGSN, so no more repeated description is given here.
Embodiment of Architecture 3
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an architecture in which an ICP and an eMSC are integrated based on the architecture 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, which describes related parts or net elements of a network participating in realizing an enhanced SRVCC, and the interfaces or connection relations therebetween, below is specific description:
description on related net elements:
standard SRVCC architecture part: net elements, except for the eMSC, are the same as the corresponding net elements described in FIG. 4;
eMSC: an enhanced mobile switch center for processing a handover request sent by a control net element of a PS network, carrying out an inter-domain transfer for a session and correlating a CS handover operation with the inter-domain transfer operation, the eMSC is increased with an IMS control point function to control an AGW to allocate resources, map or correlate media paths;
AGW: an access gateway for realizing the forwarding between CS media data and IP media data;
description on related interfaces:
S1002-S1008: the same interfaces as interfaces S402-S408 described in FIG. 4;
S1012: an IMS signaling interface between the UE and the eMSC for transmitting IMS signaling between the UE and the P-CSCF via the eMSC, such as a Gm interface in accordance with IMS standard;
S1016: a signaling interface between the eMSC and the AGW for enabling the eMSC to control the AGW to allocate resources, map or correlate media paths; and
S1018: a signaling interface between the eMSC and an IMS net element for transmitting an IMS protocol message between the UE and the P-CSCF via the eMSC, such as a Gm interface in accordance with IMS standard.
Embodiment of Flow 3
FIG. 11 is a flow chart of an enhanced SRVCC based on FIG. 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, which describes the process of the establishment of an IMS session between a UE-1 and a UE-2, and the consequent establishment of a media connection by the UE-1 using a CS domain under the support of the UE-1 and a network while the continuity of the former session is kept after the UE-1 is subjected to an SRVCC, wherein the target cell to which the UE-1 is handed over is managed by another MSC but not by an eMSC. The process comprises the following steps:
step 1101: the UE-1 initiates an IMS call request, for instance, the UE-1 sends an ‘INVITE’ message, which is born on an IP bearer established by a control net element of a PS network and contains the transmission address information of the UE-1 for receiving media data, wherein the transmission address information is represented as B; the message is routed to the eMSC, and the routing passes no net element of the IMS network;
step 1102: the eMSC requests the AGW to allocate an address resource via the interface S1016, for instance, the eMSC sends an allocation request message in which the transmission address information B is contained;
step 1103: the AGW allocates port resources C and F, wherein the port F is used for receiving media data sent by a remote leg and establishing a correlation so that all the media data received by the port F need to be forwarded to the transmission address B, and the port C is used for forwarding the media data received by the port F; then the AGW sends, via the interface S1016, the eMSC an allocation approval message, such as an allocation response message containing the information of the port F; for the sake of a simplified description, the transmission address information corresponding to the port F, which includes information of an IP address and a port, is still represented as F;
if the call to be established by the UE-1 includes more than one media, then the B includes information of multiple transmission addresses for receiving different media data, in step 1102, there may be one message containing information of multiple transmission addresses for receiving different media data or multiple messages each of which contains information of a transmission address for receiving single media data; and correspondingly, in step 1103, there may be one message containing information of multiple ports or multiple messages each of which contains information of a port, the specific realization method causes no influence on the essence of the present invention;
step 1104: the eMSC replaces the transmission address B described in step 1101 with the transmission address F and then forwards the IMS call request message;
step 1105: after receiving the IMS call request message, the remote leg sends an IMS answer call message, such as a ‘200 OK’ message, which contains the transmission address information (represented as X) of the remote leg for receiving media data;
step 1106: after receiving the IMS answer call message, the eMSC requests the AGW to allocate an address resource via the interface S1016, for instance, the eMSC sends an allocation request message containing the transmission address information X;
step 1107: the AGW allocates port resources D and E, wherein the port D is used for receiving media data sent by the UE-1 and establishing a correlation so that all the media data received by the port D needs to be forwarded to the transmission address X, and the port E is used for forwarding the media data received by the port D; then the AGW sends, via the interface S1016, the eMSC an allocation approval message, such as an allocation response message containing the information of the port D; for the sake of a simplified description, the transmission address information corresponding to the port D is still represented as D;
if the X includes information of multiple transmission addresses for receiving different media data, then in step 1106, there may be one message containing information of multiple transmission addresses for receiving different media data or multiple messages each of which contains information of a transmission address for receiving single media data; and correspondingly, in step 1107, there may be one message containing information of multiple ports or multiple messages each of which contains information of a port, the specific realization method causes no influence on the essence of the present invention;
step 1108: the eMSC replaces the transmission address X described in step 1105 with the transmission address D and then forwards the IMS answer call message; the message passes no IMS net elements, and is actually born on an IP bearer established by the control net element of the PS network to be transmitted to the UE;
so far, an IMS media connection is established between the UE-1 and the remote leg, and includes an IMS media connection 1 between the UE-1 and the AGW and an IMS media connection 2 between the AGW and the remote leg;
below is description on an inter-domain handover of the UE-1:
steps 1109-1111: the same steps as steps 511-513 described in FIG. 5;
step 1112: the eMSC prepares a media link resource for the target CS network according to a standard CS handover flow, as the target cell belongs to a different MSC from the eMSC, the eMSC sends the target MSC a handover request, such as a ‘Handover Request’ message;
step 1113: the target MSC returns a handover response message which contains an inter-office handover number;
step 1114: the eMSC requests the AGW to allocate a line resource for transmitting CS media via the interface S1016, for instance, the eMSC sends a ‘Line Alloc request’;
step 1115: the AGW receives the line resource allocation request, allocates a line resource for transmitting the CS media, and responses the eMSC the allocated line number L1, for instance, the AGW sends a ‘Line Alloc response’ message which contains the information of the line number L1;
step 1116: the eMSC sends the target MSC a link establishment request, for example, the eMSC sends an ‘IAM’, which contains the obtained information of the line number L1;
step 1117: the target MSC prepares a radio resource for the UE-1 according to a standard CS inter-office handover process;
step 1118: the target MSC returns a link establishment response, for instance, the target MSC sends an ‘ANM’, which contains the information of a line number L2 of a line resource for transmitting CS media data between the target MSC and the eMSC;
step 1119: the eMSC requests the AGW to carry out a mapping operation, for instance, the eMSC sends a ‘Map request’ message in which the obtained line number L1 or L2 and the transmission address F of the former IMS media connection 2 and the transmission address D of the former IMS media connection 1 are contained;
step 1120: the AGW carries out a mapping operation to connect a new established media connection with the former IMS media connection 2, and sends a map response message to the eMSC via the interface S1016, for instance;
step 1121: the eMSC receives the map response, and sends, via the interface S1008, the former control net element of the PS network a handover response message;
step 1122: after receiving the handover response message, the control net element of the PS network sends, via the interface S1004, the UE-1 a handover command message, and informs the UE-1 of performing handover to a CS domain; and
step 1123: after receiving the handover command, the UE-1 adjusts its access mode to a CS domain access mode;
so far, a CS media connection path is established between the UE-1 and the AGW, the CS media connection path consists of a CS media connection between the UE-1 and the CS network, a CS media connection between the CS network and the target MSC, and a CS media connection between the target MSC and the AGW; the AGW connects the new established CS media connection path with the former IMS media connection 2 so that the UE-1 can continue to communicate with the UE-2.
Embodiment of Architecture 4
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an architecture in which an ICP and an AGW are integrated based on the architecture 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, which describes related parts or net elements of a network for realizing an enhanced SRVCC, and the interfaces or connection relations therebetween, below is specific description:
description on related net elements:
standard SRVCC architecture part: each net element is the same as the corresponding one described in FIG. 4; and
IACP: an IMS Access and Control Point function for realizing resource allocation, media path mapping or correlation, the forwarding of IP media data or the forwarding between CS media data and IP media data;
description on related interfaces:
S1202-S1208: the same interfaces as interfaces S402-S408 described in FIG. 4;
S1212: an IMS signaling interface between a UE and the IACP for transmitting IMS signaling between the UE and the P-CSCF via the IACP, such as a Gm interface in accordance with IMS standard;
S1214: a signaling interface between an eMSC and the IACP for transmitting a message during the establishment process of the link between the eMSC and the IACP, such as a standard Nc interface which may be an Nc-SIP interface based on an SIP or an Nc-ISUP interface based on an ISUP; and
S1218: a signaling interface between the IACP and an IMS net element for transmitting an IMS protocol message between the UE and the P-CSCF via the IACP, such as a Gm interface in accordance with IMS standard.
The embodiments of the flow under this architecture are almost identical to those described in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 except that the ICP and the AGW shown in the two figures are integrated into an IACP, thus changing the message flow between the ICP and the AGW to an internal process, so no more repeated description is given here.
Embodiment of Architecture 5
FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an architecture in which an ICP, an AGW and a PGW/GGSN are integrated based on the architecture 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, which describes related parts or net elements of a network participating in realizing an enhanced SRVCC, and the interfaces or connection relations therebetween, below is specific description on the net elements and interfaces:
description on related net elements:
standard SRVCC architecture part: each net element is the same as the corresponding one described in FIG. 4;
PGW/GGSN: a net element for the control net element of the PS network connecting with the Internet, belonging to the control net element of the PS network, the net element is called a Packet Data Network GateWay/Global GPRS Support Node, processes the interaction between the control net element of the PS network and an IP network, and is increased with an IMS Access and Control Point (IACP) function to realize resource allocation, media path mapping or correlation, and the forwarding of IP media data or the forwarding between CS media data and IP media data;
description on related interfaces:
S1302-S1308: the same interfaces as interfaces S402-S408 described in FIG. 4;
S1312: an IMS signaling interface between a UE and a PGW/GGSN for transmitting IMS signaling between the UE and a P-CSCF via the PGW/GGSN, such as a Gm interface in accordance with IMS standard;
S1314: a signaling interface between an eMSC and the PGW/GGSN for transmitting a message during the establishment process of the link between the eMSC and the PGW/GGSN, such as a standard Nc interface which may be an Nc-SIP interface based on an SIP or an Nc-ISUP interface based on an ISUP;
S1318: a signaling interface between the PGW/GGSN and an IMS net element for transmitting an IMS protocol message between the UE and the P-CSCF via the PGW/GGSN, such as a Gm interface in accordance with IMS standard.
The embodiments of the flow under this architecture are almost identical to those described in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 except that the ICP in the two figures are replaced with the PGW/GGSN that is integrated with the AGW, thus changing the message flow between the PGW/GGSN and the AGW to an internal process, so no more repeated description is given here.
Embodiment of Architecture 6
FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an architecture 2 of an enhanced SRVCC according to an embodiment of the present invention, which describes related parts or net elements of a network participating in realizing an enhanced SRVCC, and the interfaces or connection relations therebetween, below is specific description on the net elements and interfaces:
description on related net elements:
standard SRVCC architecture part: each net element is the same as the corresponding one described in FIG. 4;
ICP: an IMS Control Point for controlling an AGW to allocate resources, map or correlate media paths; and
AGW: an Access Gateway for realizing the forwarding of IP media data or the forwarding between CS media data and IP media data;
description on related interfaces:
S1402-S1408: the same interfaces as interfaces S402-S408 described in FIG. 4;
S1412: an IMS signaling interface between a UE and a P-CSCF for transmitting IMS signaling between the UE and the P-CSCF, such as a Gm interface in accordance with IMS standard;
S1414: a signaling interface between an eMSC and the ICP for transmitting a message during the establishment of the link between the eMSC and the ICP, such as a standard Nc interface which may be an Nc-SIP interface based on an SIP or an Nc-ISUP interface based on an ISUP;
S1416: a signaling interface between the ICP and the AGW for enabling the ICP to control the AGW to allocate resources, map or correlate media paths;
S1418: a signaling interface between the ICP and an I-CSCF or S-CSCF of an IMS for transmitting an IMS protocol message between the P-CSCF and the I-CSCF or S-CSCF via the ICP, such as an Mw interface in accordance with IMS standard; and
S1420: a signaling interface between the ICP and the P-CSCF for transmitting an IMS protocol message between the P-CSCF and the I-CSCF or S-CSCF via the ICP, such as an Mw interface in accordance with IMS standard;
Interfaces S1418 and S1420 together form the interface S418 illustrated in FIG. 4.
Embodiment of Flow 4
FIG. 15 is a flow chart (Nc-SIP) of an enhanced SRVCC based on the architecture 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention, which describes the process of the establishment of an IMS session between a UE-1 and a UE-2, and the consequent establishment of a media connection by the UE-1 using a CS domain under the support of the UE-1 and a network while the continuity of the former session is kept after the UE-1 is subjected to an SRVCC, wherein an Nc-SIP interface is used between an eMSC and an ICP. The process comprises the following steps:
step 1501: a step similar to steps 501-510 described in FIG. 5 but different in that the IMS message transmission between the UE and the ICP passes the net element P-CSCF of a standard IMS; an IMS media connection is established between the UE-1 and the remote leg which includes an IMS media connection 1 between the UE-1 and the AGW and an IMS media connection 2 between the AGW and the remote leg;
step 1502: a step that is the same as steps 511-517 described in FIG. 5;
step 1503: after receiving the handover request message sent by a control net element of a PS network, the eMSC sends a call request to the ICP via the signaling path S1414, in this embodiment, the interface S1414 refers to an Nc-SIP interface, thus, the sent message is an ‘INVITE’ message of an SIP the call request contains the number information of the UE-1 and the number information of the ICP, wherein the number information of the ICP serves as called information, the number information of the UE-1 serves as calling information, and a transmission address H of the eMSC for receiving media data is contained in the message;
this step may be executed before step 1502 is completed and can be understood in detail by reference to the related description of step 518;
step 1504: the ICP determines that the call request described in step 1503 is the handover request of the session of step 1501, and requests the AGW to carry out a mapping operation, for instance, the ICP sends a ‘Map request’ message which contains the transmission address H of the eMSC and the transmission address F of the former IMS media connection 2, or the transmission address D of the former IMS media connection 1;
step 1505: the AGW carries out a mapping operation to connect the new established media connection with the former IMS media connection 2, and allocates a new local leg media data receiving port J; for the sake of a simplified description, the transmission address information corresponding to the port J is still represented as J; and after the mapping operation is completed, the AGW sends a map response message to the ICP via the interface S1416, which contains the transmission address J of the AGW for receiving media data;
step 1506: the ICP receives the map response, and sends an answer message of the Nc-SIP, such as a ‘200 OK’ message, to the eMSC via the interface S1414, wherein the message contains the obtained media resource information of the AGW;
so far, a new IMS media path is established between the eMSC and the AGW, the eMSC connects the new established media path with the CS media path, and the AGW connects the new established media path with the IMS media connection 2 so that the UE-1 can continue to communicate with the UE-2.
In an embodiment of the flow under this architecture, in which an Nc-ISUP interface between the eMSC and the ICP is used, the establishment process of an IMS session is identical to the corresponding process described in step 1501 of FIG. 15 and the handover process is identical to that described in FIG. 8, so no more repeated description is given here.
Embodiment of Architecture 7
FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an architecture in which an ICP and a P-CSCF are integrated based on the architecture diagram 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention, which describes related parts or net elements of a network participating in realizing an enhanced SRVCC, and the interfaces or connection relations therebetween, below is specific description on the net elements and interfaces:
description on related net elements:
standard SRVCC architecture part: each net element is the same as the corresponding one described in FIG. 4;
P-CSCF: a Proxy-CSCF increased with a signaling path anchoring function on the basis of a standard P-CSCF; and
AGW: an Access Gateway for anchoring media paths;
description on related interfaces:
S1602-S1608: the same interfaces as interfaces S402-S408 described in FIG. 4;
as the P-CSCF is an IMS net element, the signaling interface between the UE and the IMS network is a standard IMS interface and is therefore not shown and described;
S1614: a signaling interface between an eMSC and the P-CSCF for transmitting a message during the establishment of the link between the eMSC and the ICP, such as a standard Nc interface which may be an Nc-SIP interface based on an SIP or an Nc-ISUP interface based on an ISUP; and
S1616: a signaling interface between the P-CSCF and the AGW for enabling the P-CSCF to control the AGW to allocate resources, map or correlate media paths.
The embodiment of the flow under this architecture is almost identical to that described in FIG. 15 except that the ICP and the P-CSCF shown in FIG. 15 are integrated, so no more repeated description is given here.
Embodiment of Architecture 8
FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an architecture in which an ICP and an eMSC are integrated based on the architecture 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention, which describes related parts or net elements of a network participating in realizing an enhanced SRVCC, and the interfaces or connection relations therebetween, below is specific description on the net elements and interfaces:
description on related net elements:
standard SRVCC architecture part: net elements, except for the eMSC, are the same as the corresponding net elements described in FIG. 4;
eMSC: an enhanced Mobile Switch Center for processing a handover request sent by a control net element of a PS network, carrying out an inter-domain transfer for a session and correlating a CS handover operation with the inter-domain transfer operation, the eMSC is increased with an IMS Control Point (ICP) function to control an AGW to allocate resources, map or correlate media paths;
AGW: an Access Gateway for realizing the forwarding between CS media data and IP media data;
description on related interfaces:
S1702-1708: the same interfaces as interfaces S402-S408 described in FIG. 4;
S1712: an IMS signaling interface between a UE and a P-CSCF for transmitting IMS signaling between the UE and the P-CSCF, such as a Gm interface in accordance with IMS standard;
S1716: a signaling interface between the eMSC and the AGW for enabling the eMSC to control the AGW to allocate resources, map or correlate media paths;
S1718: a signaling interface between the eMSC and the I-CSCF or S-CSCF of an IMS for transmitting an IMS protocol message between the P-CSCF and the I-CSCF or S-CSCF via an eMSC, such as a standard Mw interface in accordance with IMS standard;
S1720: a signaling interface between the eMSC and the P-CSCF for transmitting an IMS protocol message between the P-CSCF and the I-CSCF or S-CSCF via an eMSC, such as a standard Mw interface in accordance with IMS standard;
Interfaces S1718 and S1720 together form the interface S418 shown in FIG. 4.
Embodiment of Flow 5
FIG. 18 is a flow chart of an enhanced SRVCC based on FIG. 17 according to an embodiment of the present invention, which describes the process of the establishment of an IMS session between a UE-1 and a UE-2, and the consequent establishment of a media connection by the UE-1 using a CS domain under the support of the UE-1 and a network while the continuity of the former session is kept after the UE-1 is subjected to an SRVCC, wherein the target cell to which the UE-1 is handed over is managed by an eMSC, The process comprises the following steps:
step 1801: the UE-1 initiates an IMS call request, for instance, the UE-1 sends an ‘INVITE’ message, which is born on an IP bearer established by a control net element of a PS network and contains the transmission address information of the UE-1 for receiving media data, wherein the transmission address information is represented as B; the message is routed to a P-CSCF;
step 1802: the P-CSCF forwards the call request to the eMSC;
steps 1803-1808: the same steps as steps 1102-1107 described in FIG. 11;
step 1809: the eMSC replaces the transmission address X of step 1806 with the transmission address D, and then forwards an IMS answer call message; the message passes the P-CSCF;
step 1810: the P-CSCF forwards the IMS answer call message to the UE, wherein the forwarded message is actually born on an IP bearer established by the control net element of the PS network;
so far, an IMS media connection is established between the UE-1 and the remote leg, which includes an IMS media connection 1 between the UE-1 and an AGW and an IMS media connection 2 between the AGW and the remote leg;
below is description on an inter-domain handover of the UE-1:
steps 1811-1814: the same steps as steps 511-514 described in FIG. 5, wherein the prepared CS media resource is identified by a line number L1 on the AGW;
steps 1815-1818: the same steps as steps 804-807 described in FIG. 8;
step 1819: the eMSC receives the map response, and sends the former control net element of the PS network a handover response message via the interface S1708;
step 1820: after receiving the handover response message, the control net element of the PS network sends the UE-1 a handover command message via the interface S1704, and informs the UE-1 of performing handover to a CS domain; and
step 1821: after receiving the handover command, the UE-1 adjusts its access mode to a CS domain access mode;
so far, a CS media connection path is established between the UE-1 and the AGW which consists of a CS media connection between the UE-1 and the CS network and a CS media connection between the CS network and the AGW; the AGW connects the new established CS media connection path with the former IMS media connection 2 so that the UE-1 can continue to communicate with the UE-2.
Embodiment of Architecture 9
FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an architecture in which an ICP and an SC AS are integrated based on the architecture 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention, which describes related parts or net elements of a network participating in realizing an enhanced SRVCC, and the interfaces or connection relations therebetween, below is specific description on the net elements and interfaces:
description on related net elements:
standard SRVCC architecture part: each net element is the same as the corresponding one described in FIG. 4;
SC AS: a Service Continuity Application Server function in accordance with IMS standard, which is increased with a function of controlling an AGW to allocate resources, map or correlate media paths; and
AGW: an Access Gateway for realizing the forwarding of IP media data; description on related interfaces:
S1902-S1908: the same interfaces as interfaces S402-S408 described in FIG. 4;
as the SC AS is an IMS net element, the signaling interface between the UE and the IMS network is a standard IMS interface and is therefore not shown and described;
S1914: the same interface as interface S414 described in FIG. 4;
S1916: a signaling interface between the SC AS and the AGW for enabling the SC AS to control the AGW to allocate resources, map or correlate media paths; and
S1918: a signaling interface between the SC AS and the CSCF of the IMS, which is a standard ISC interface in accordance with IMS standard.
Embodiment of Flow 6
FIG. 20 is a flow chart of an enhanced SRVCC based on FIG. 19 according to an embodiment of the present invention, which describes the process of the establishment of an IMS session between a UE-1 and a UE-2, and the consequent establishment of a media connection by the UE-1 using a CS domain under the support of the UE-1 and a network while the continuity of the former session is kept after the UE-1 is subjected to an SRVCC. For the sake of simplified description, an SC AS and a CSCF are drawn as one unit. The process comprises the following steps:
step 2001: a step similar to steps 501-510 described in FIG. 5 but different in that the IMS message transmission between the UE and the SC AS passes each CSCF net element of a standard IMS in accordance with a standard process; an IMS media connection is established between the UE-1 and the remote leg, wherein the IMS media connection includes an IMS media connection 1 between the UE-1 and the AGW and an IMS media connection 2 between the AGW and the remote leg;
step 2002: the same step as steps 511-517 described in FIG. 5;
step 2003: after receiving the handover request message from the control net element of the PS network, the eMSC sends a call request to the SC AS via the signaling path S1914; as in this embodiment the interface S1914 is an I2 interface in accordance with IMS standard, the sent message is an ‘INVITE’ message of the SIP; the call request contains the number information of the UE-1 and the number information of the SC AS, wherein the number information of the UE-1 serves as calling information and the number information of the SC AS serves as called information, and a transmission address H of the eMSC for receiving media data is contained in this message;
step 2003 may be executed before step 2002 is completed and can be understood in detail by reference to the related description of step 518;
step 2004: the SC AS determines that the call request of step 2003 is the handover request of the session of step 2001, and requests the AGW to carry out a mapping operation, for instance, the SC AS sends a ‘Map request’ message containing the transmission address H of the eMSC and the transmission address F of the former IMS media connection 2, or the transmission address D of the former IMS media connection 1;
step 2005: the AGW carries out a mapping operation, connects the new established media connection with the former IMS media connection 2, and allocates a new local leg media data receiving port J, for the sake of a simplified description, the transmission address information corresponding to the port J is still represented as J, after the mapping operation is completed, the AGW sends a map response message to the SC AS via the interface S1916, wherein the map response message contains the transmission address J of the AGW for receiving media data; and
step 2006: the SC AS receives the map response, and sends a answer message to the eMSC via the signaling path S1914, for instance, the SC AS sends a ‘200 OK’ message containing the obtained media resource information of the AGW;
so far, a new IMS media path is established between the eMSC and the AGW, the eMSC connects the new established media path with the CS media path, and the AGW connects the new established media path with the IMS media connection 2 so that the UE-1 can continue to communicate with the UE-2.
Under this architecture, if an Nc-SIP interface between the eMSC and the SC AS is used, steps 2003-2006 are the same as steps 703-706 described in FIG. 7; if an Nc-ISUP interface between the eMSC and the SC AS is used, steps 2003-2006 are the same as steps 803-808 described in FIG. 8; if the eMSC and the SC AS are connected via a media gateway, then seen from the SC AS, the flow is unchanged except that the media connection between the eMSC and the AGW consists of a CS media connection between the eMSC and the media gateway and an IMS media connection between the media gateway and the AGW, as the process is completely standardized, no more repeated description is given here.
Although the present invention is described by reference to specific embodiments, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be devised without departing from the scope of the present invention and that such modifications and variations belong to the scope of the present invention and the appended claims.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
The present invention provides a method for realizing an SRVCC and an SRVCC system, which can effectively shorten the duration of interruption compared with the prior art and greatly improve user experience.
The invention claimed is:
1. A method for realizing a single radio voice call continuity, comprising: S1: forwarding, by an IMS Control Point (ICP), an IMS session call request from a user equipment (UE-1) to a remote leg, wherein the IMS session call request contains a transmission address F allocated by an Access Gateway (AGW) which is controlled by the ICP; S2: forwarding, by the ICP, an IMS session answer call from the remote leg to the UE-1 via the PS network, wherein the IMS session answer call contains a transmission address D allocated by the AGW which is controlled by the ICP; S3: when a control net element of a Packet Switch (PS) network determines a handover of the UE-1 to a Circuit Switch (CS) network is required, sending, by the control net element of the PS network, a handover request to an enhanced Mobile Switch Center (eMSC) to request a handover of the IMS session to a CS network access mode; S4: after receiving the handover request from the control net element of the PS network, carrying out, by the eMSC, a CS handover flow and sending, by the eMSC, a handover response to the control net element of the PS network to instruct the UE-1 to change its access mode from a PS access mode to a CS access mode; S5: after receiving the handover request from the control net element of the PS network, sending, by the eMSC, a handover call request to the ICP; and S6: after receiving the handover call request from the eMSC, controlling, by the ICP, the AGW to correlate a media link established by the handover call request with a remote leg media link of the IMS session.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the call request sent by the eMSC is a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) call request message, which contains a transmission address H which is newly allocated by the eMSC to receive media data in a new established media link; in the step that the ICP controls the AGW to correlate the media link established by the call request with the remote leg media link of the IMS session: after receiving the SIP call request message, correlating the transmission address H with an external receiving address F of the remote leg media link by the ICP, and sending, via an SIP answer call, the eMSC a transmission address J for receiving media data sent by the eMSC in the new established media link.
3. The method according to claim 2, wherein in the step that the ICP correlates the media link established by the call request with the remote leg media link of the IMS session: after receiving the SIP call request message, sending the AGW a map request containing the transmission address H by the ICP; and correlating the transmission address H with the remote leg media link by the AGW, allocating the transmission address J and sending the transmission address J to the ICP via a map response.
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the call request sent by the eMSC is an initial address message of an Integrated Services digital network User Protocol (ISUP), which contains a line number L1 of a line resource in a new established media link for the eMSC end to transmit CS media; and in the step that the ICP controls the AGW to correlate the media link established by the call request with the remote leg media link of the IMS session: after receiving the initial address message, returning an ANswer Message (ANM) of the ISUP to the eMSC by the ICP, wherein the ANM contains a line number L2 of a line resource in the new established media link for transmitting CS media between the eMSC end and the remote leg.
5. The method according to claim 4, wherein in the step that the ICP correlates the media link established by the call request with the remote leg media link of the IMS session: after receiving the initial address message, sending the AGW a map request containing the line number L1 by the ICP; and after receiving the map request, correlating the line number L1 with the remote leg media link by the AGW, allocating the line number L2, and sending the line number L2 to the ICP via a map response.
6. A single radio voice call continuity system, comprising: an enhanced Mobile Switch Center (eMSC), an IP Multimedia Core Network Subsystem Control Point (ICP), wherein the ICP is configured to forward an IMS session call request from a user equipment (UE-1) to a remote 1 eq, wherein the IMS session call request contains a transmission address F allocated by an Access Gateway (AGW) which is controlled by the ICP, the ICP is configured to forward an IMS session answer call from the remote leg to the UE-1 via a Packet Switch (PS) network, wherein the IMS session answer call contains a transmission address D allocated by the AGW which is controlled by the ICP, the eMSC is configured to receive a handover request from a control net element of the PS network when the control net element of the PS network determines a handover of the UE-1 to a Circuit Switch (CS) network is required, wherein the handover request is used to request a handover of the IMS session to a CS network access mode, the eMSC is configured to, after receiving the handover request, carry out a CS handover flow and send a handover response to the control net element of the PS network to instruct the UE-1 to change its access mode from a PS access mode to a CS access mode, and send a handover call request to the ICP, the ICP is configured to, after receiving the handover call request from the eMSC, control the AGW to correlate a media link established by the handover call request with a remote leg media link of the IMS session.
7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the call request sent by the eMSC is a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) call request message, which contains a transmission address H which is newly allocated by the eMSC to receive media data in a new established media link; the ICP is further configured to correlate the transmission address H with an external receiving address F of the remote leg media link after receiving the SIP call request message, and send, via an SIP answer call, the eMSC a transmission address J for receiving media data sent by the eMSC in the new established media link.
8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the ICP is further configured to send the AGW a map request containing the transmission address H after receiving the SIP call request message; and the AGW is configured to correlate the transmission address H with the remote leg media link, allocate the transmission address J, and send the transmission address J to the ICP via a map response.
9. The system according to claim 6, wherein the call request sent by the eMSC is an initial address message of an Integrated Services digital network User Protocol (ISUP), which contains a line number L1 of a line resource in a new established media link for the eMSC end to transmit CS media; and the ICP is further configured to return an ANswer Message (ANM) of the ISUP to the eMSC after receiving the initial address message, wherein the ANM contains a line number L2 of a line resource in the new established media link for transmitting CS media between the eMSC end and the remote leg.
10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the ICP is further configured to send the AGW a map request containing the line number L1 after receiving the initial address message; and the AGW is configured to correlate the line number L1 with the remote leg media link after receiving the map request, allocate the line number L2, and send the line number L2 to the ICP via a map response.
11. A controller supporting a single radio voice call continuity system, comprising a receiving module and a correlating module which are connected with each other, wherein the receiving module is configured to: forward an IMS session call request from a user equipment (UE-1) to a remote leg, wherein the IMS session call request contains a transmission address F allocated by an Access Gateway (AGW) which is controlled by the ICP; forward an IMS session answer call from the remote leg to the UE-1 via a Packet Switch (PS) network, wherein the IMS session answer call contains a transmission address D allocated by the AGW which is controlled by an IMS Control point (ICP); receive a handover call request from an enhanced Mobile Switch Center (eMSC) after the eMSC receives a handover request from a control net element of the PS network; and inform the correlating module of the received handover call request; and the correlating module is configured to control the AGW to correlate a media link established by the handover call request with a remote 1 eq media link of an IMS session according to the received handover call request.
12. The controller according to claim 11, wherein the call request sent by the eMSC is a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) call request message, which contains a transmission address H which is newly allocated by the eMSC to receive media data in a new established media link; and the correlating module is further configured to correlate the transmission address H with an external receiving address F of the remote leg media link, and send, via an SIP answer call, the eMSC a transmission address J for receiving media data sent by the eMSC in the new established media link.
13. The controller according to claim 11, wherein the call request sent by the eMSC is an initial address message of an Integrated Services digital network User Protocol (ISUP), which contains a line number L1 of a line resource in a new established media link for the eMSC end to transmit CS media; and the correlating module is further configured to return an ANswer Message (ANM) of the ISUP to the eMSC, wherein the ANM contains a line number L2 of a line resource in the new established media link for transmitting CS media between the eMSC end and the remote leg.
|
1. Introduction {#sec1-materials-12-00923}
Coating technologies are an effective means of protecting concrete structures from chemical attack and rebar corrosion. Inorganic coatings in particular have been widely applied as anticorrosive and decorative materials for concrete and steel structures \[[@B1-materials-12-00923],[@B2-materials-12-00923],[@B3-materials-12-00923],[@B4-materials-12-00923]\]. These materials show a high long-term durability even under acid and alkali attack and at elevated temperatures \[[@B5-materials-12-00923]\]. Emerging solutions for concrete protection based on alkali-activated materials, here referred to as geopolymers, show rapid setting and hardening, excellent bond strength and durability, low chloride permeability and high freeze-thaw and chloride resistances \[[@B5-materials-12-00923],[@B6-materials-12-00923],[@B7-materials-12-00923],[@B8-materials-12-00923],[@B9-materials-12-00923],[@B10-materials-12-00923],[@B11-materials-12-00923],[@B12-materials-12-00923],[@B13-materials-12-00923],[@B14-materials-12-00923],[@B15-materials-12-00923],[@B16-materials-12-00923],[@B17-materials-12-00923],[@B18-materials-12-00923],[@B19-materials-12-00923],[@B20-materials-12-00923],[@B21-materials-12-00923],[@B22-materials-12-00923],[@B23-materials-12-00923]\]. Geopolymers also possess an electrolytic conductivity, which can allow them to be simultaneously used as skin-sensors for structural health monitoring \[[@B24-materials-12-00923],[@B25-materials-12-00923],[@B26-materials-12-00923],[@B27-materials-12-00923],[@B28-materials-12-00923]\].
Regardless of the application, a good coating will be free of cracks and defects. Integrity is an ongoing issue regarding the development and practical application of geopolymer coatings. Some common concerns include cracking due to shrinkage, changes to setting times and efflorescence \[[@B8-materials-12-00923],[@B29-materials-12-00923],[@B30-materials-12-00923]\]. These issues are particularly acute when geopolymers are used in field conditions which are at the extremes of humidity or moisture scales.
In this work, we aimed to develop high-quality, ambient-temperature-cured fly ash geopolymer coatings. We wished to achieve this with minimal additional processing steps (such as fly ash grinding or the use of additives), so as to minimize manufacturing costs and complexity. This was challenging: geopolymers are typically cured at elevated temperatures to accelerate geopolymerisaton, as rapid curing allows coatings to achieve a higher early-age strength \[[@B12-materials-12-00923],[@B31-materials-12-00923],[@B32-materials-12-00923],[@B33-materials-12-00923],[@B34-materials-12-00923]\]. This can make geopolymers inconvenient to apply in the field, particularly in cooler climates. For this reason, researchers have been looking into ambient temperature curing of geopolymers \[[@B14-materials-12-00923],[@B31-materials-12-00923],[@B32-materials-12-00923],[@B35-materials-12-00923],[@B36-materials-12-00923],[@B37-materials-12-00923]\]. In particular, Somna \[[@B31-materials-12-00923]\], Temuujin \[[@B14-materials-12-00923]\] and others \[[@B38-materials-12-00923],[@B39-materials-12-00923],[@B40-materials-12-00923]\] ground fly ash particles to improve their reactivity and promote room-temperature curing. Some researchers have studied the effects of calcium rich additives, such as slag, on curing in ambient conditions \[[@B36-materials-12-00923],[@B41-materials-12-00923],[@B42-materials-12-00923],[@B43-materials-12-00923],[@B44-materials-12-00923],[@B45-materials-12-00923],[@B46-materials-12-00923]\], while others have studied the effects of moisture \[[@B32-materials-12-00923]\]. These previous works have studied the ambient temperature curing of fly ash geopolymers cast in moulds. Their aim was to deliver geopolymers that serve a structural function. As such, they demonstrate high compressive strength and enhanced hardening; however, at the expense of reduced workability and increased drying shrinkage \[[@B14-materials-12-00923]\]. The work presented here is distinct, as we developed fly ash geopolymer coatings; thus, high workability and low shrinkage were key requirements, in addition to the performance requirements for non-structural repairs stated in the standard BS EN 1504-3:2005. Our primary objective in this work was to develop a non-structural repair material that can be later developed for use as a sensor, as in \[[@B24-materials-12-00923],[@B25-materials-12-00923],[@B26-materials-12-00923],[@B27-materials-12-00923],[@B28-materials-12-00923]\].
The notable contributions of this paper are four-fold: (i) we present an affordable process for ambient-temperature geopolymer synthesis that does not require additives or grinding; (ii) we outline the influence of prolonged mixing times on coating quality (previous studies use short mixing times under 10 min \[[@B31-materials-12-00923],[@B32-materials-12-00923],[@B37-materials-12-00923],[@B47-materials-12-00923]\]); (iii) we study the influence of concrete substrate age on geopolymer coating quality (previous work has studied coatings on mature concretes only \[[@B8-materials-12-00923],[@B48-materials-12-00923]\]), and (iv) perhaps most importantly, this paper provides a frank discussion of the challenges faced during geopolymer development---we hope that researchers, especially those new to the field, will find this discourse useful.
This paper begins with a description of geopolymer synthesis and the factors that influence coating integrity in [Section 2](#sec2-materials-12-00923){ref-type="sec"}. The materials and procedures used for geopolymer synthesis in this work, the testing methods and the analysis conducted are outlined in [Section 3](#sec3-materials-12-00923){ref-type="sec"}. Finally, results and further discussion are presented in [Section 4](#sec4-materials-12-00923){ref-type="sec"} and [Section 5](#sec5-materials-12-00923){ref-type="sec"}.
2. Theory {#sec2-materials-12-00923}
2.1. Geopolymer Fabrication {#sec2dot1-materials-12-00923}
Geopolymers form as the result of several reactions between an alkaline activator and inorganic materials which are rich in silicon (Si), aluminum (Al) and oxygen (O). For an excellent introduction and description of geopolymer systems, readers are directed to \[[@B49-materials-12-00923]\]. Typical inorganic precursors for geopolymer synthesis include blast furnace slag, metakaolin and fly ash \[[@B33-materials-12-00923],[@B49-materials-12-00923],[@B50-materials-12-00923],[@B51-materials-12-00923]\]. Geopolymers derived from fly ash, used in this work, offer a few key advantages over other geopolymer precursors, including:Higher workability, durability and strength: this is due to the lubricating and re-enforcing effect of unreacted fly ash particles \[[<EMAIL_ADDRESS>cost: as fly ash is a by-product of coal combustion, it is cheap and available in large volumes around the world \[[@B30-materials-12-00923]\]. While there is a looming shortage of fly ash for use as a concrete additive \[[@B52-materials-12-00923]\], the availability for geopolymer coatings (a low volume application) is still high, as one billion tons of fly ash are still produced annually worldwide in coal-fired steam power plants \[[@B53-materials-12-00923]\].
The alkaline activator solution (L) used in this work was rather typical: a combination of sodium hydroxide (SH) and sodium silicate (SS) \[[@B54-materials-12-00923]\]. The chemistry and resulting wet/cured properties of the fly ash powder (A) geopolymer were mainly defined by \[[@B33-materials-12-00923],[@B55-materials-12-00923]\]:The mass ratio, L/A;The mass ratio, SH/SS;The molarity of the SH (which typically ranges from 8--14 M).
While molarity can, to some extent, be selected based on safety considerations, the ratios L/A and SH/SS should be selected to match the chemical composition of the fly ash. This is a significant drawback for fly ash geopolymers, as: (i) fly ash composition can vary significantly between coal plant sources; and (ii) unlike with Portland cement systems, there are no simple numerical methods for geopolymer mix design, particularly for fly ashes \[[@B6-materials-12-00923],[@B56-materials-12-00923]\]. The ratios used in this work, outlined in [Section 3](#sec3-materials-12-00923){ref-type="sec"}, were found through a process of trial and error over a testing matrix, and on the basis of literature findings, according to \[[@B47-materials-12-00923]\].
2.2. Factors Affecting Geopolymer Coatings on Concrete Substrates {#sec2dot2-materials-12-00923}
Repair works, including coatings, aim to preserve or restore concrete structures \[[@B57-materials-12-00923]\]. The series of standards EN 1504 define the requirements for repair procedures and the properties of repair materials \[[@B58-materials-12-00923],[@B59-materials-12-00923]\]. Geopolymers are physically compatible with concrete substrates in most of these regards \[[@B60-materials-12-00923]\]. However, there are technical issues that are particular to geopolymer coatings on concrete substrates, particularly those cured at ambient temperatures. Note that the issues outlined in the following subsections are common across most geopolymer systems, not just those made with fly ash precursors.
### 2.2.1. Shrinkage and Curing {#sec2dot2dot1-materials-12-00923}
For geopolymer coatings cured on concrete at ambient temperatures, shrinkage is the most significant issue \[[@B61-materials-12-00923]\]. Shrinkage is defined as a reduction in the volume of the geopolymer because of a loss of water: this is predominantly due to drying, but it can also occur when water is used up during geopolymerisation \[[@B62-materials-12-00923]\].
Drying shrinkage is the result of a loss of water from the geopolymer's capillary pores. This loss of moisture causes the tension in the capillary pores to increase, resulting in a volume reduction in the specimen. When geopolymer coatings cure, they undergo this shrinkage while simultaneously binding to the underlying concrete substrate. The resulting confinement allows shrinkage strains to cause tensile and shear stresses. If significant shrinkage occurs before the coating has adequately cured, these stresses will exceed the strength of the geopolymer \[[@B63-materials-12-00923]\], leading to cracks and debonding, that undermine coating integrity.
For concrete coatings, there are at least two major contributors to drying shrinkage, illustrated in [Figure 1](#materials-12-00923-f001){ref-type="fig"}. The first, affecting all geopolymers regardless of substrate, is that a low environmental humidity encourages water loss through evaporation. Indeed, it is well known that drying shrinkage can be reduced by curing geopolymers in hermetically sealed conditions \[[@B63-materials-12-00923],[@B64-materials-12-00923]\]. However, the second mechanism for water loss is the diffusion of water from the moist geopolymer layer into the drier, porous, concrete substrate. Thus, control of the moisture content of the substrate is essential to control cracking \[[@B65-materials-12-00923]\].
As both drying mechanisms are surface-area dependent processes, the edges of geopolymer patches are particularly prone to cracking, as these edges can present an extra surface for evaporation.
One clear way of tackling this issue is to accelerate the curing rate of the geopolymer coating (and this is why elevated temperatures are often used). Grinding fly ash particles to improve their reactivity and allow room temperature curing, as in \[[@B31-materials-12-00923]\], may appear to be another solution; however, this can in some cases lead to a higher shrinkage, due to the particle size being so fine that agglomerates form during mixing, resulting in a lower reaction rate which increases shrinkage \[[@B66-materials-12-00923]\]. While we are avoiding additives in this work, it is worth noting that plastic fibers can reduce shrinking and cracking, especially for sealed curing conditions \[[@B64-materials-12-00923]\].
### 2.2.2. Adhesion, Workability and Setting Time {#sec2dot2dot2-materials-12-00923}
One of the most common ways to apply cementitious coatings to concrete in the field is by pumping and spray coating. There have also been lab studies that demonstrated (as is shown in this work) the application of geopolymer coatings with a trowel \[[@B7-materials-12-00923]\], and even some that applied coating using manufacturing methods such as three-dimensional (3D) printing \[[@B26-materials-12-00923]\]. Regardless of the method used, one must consider the interplay between a geopolymer's adhesion to concrete, its workability and its setting time (and by extension, its behavior during curing and shrinkage). Geopolymers are highly tuneable materials, but the majority of mixes will display:High surface tension: this plays a key role in the ability of the materials to bind and stay bound to substrates. A reduction in surface tension may, in some cases, be required to ensure good adhesion \[[@B67-materials-12-00923]\]. With respect to geopolymer microstructure formation, the water to solid ratio can significantly affect the process of geopolymerization, and hence the properties of coatings, such as their workability and adhesion<EMAIL_ADDRESS>Bingham plastic fluid behavior: most geopolymers show history-dependent rheological behavior, and can be kept in fluid form if subjected to constant shearing \[[@B13-materials-12-00923],[@B68-materials-12-00923],[@B69-materials-12-00923]\]. Their rheological behavior can also be tuned by altering the molar concentration of the sodium hydroxide and the ratio of silicate to hydroxide solutions<EMAIL_ADDRESS>times that are strongly dependent on chemical composition: the setting time of geopolymers can range from minutes to hours and depends on geopolymer composition. Setting times can be reduced by lowering Si/Al ratios, or by increasing calcium (Ca) content \[[@B61-materials-12-00923]\]. For systems with high Si/Al ratios, polymerisation is more likely to occur among silicate species; however, when Si/Al ratios are lowered, polymerisation is more likely to occur between aluminate and silicate species. As condensation among silicate species is slower than that between aluminate and silicate species, setting is delayed with higher Si/Al ratios \[[@B71-materials-12-00923]\].
The impact this has on coatings is that it can be challenging to independently tune adhesion, rheology, setting time and shrinkage behavior, as the properties of the system are highly interdependent. Therefore, previous work conducted at elevated temperatures may not always map onto efforts to produce geopolymer coatings that cure in ambient conditions.
### 2.2.3. The Concrete Substrate {#sec2dot2dot3-materials-12-00923}
Previous studies have found that the adhesion of coatings more generally is strongly influenced by the roughness of the substrate surface, its water content and the mix composition of the coating material \[[@B72-materials-12-00923],[@B73-materials-12-00923],[@B74-materials-12-00923],[@B75-materials-12-00923],[@B76-materials-12-00923],[@B77-materials-12-00923],[@B78-materials-12-00923]\]. Rough surfaces on concrete substrates are preferred as greater bond performance is ensured \[[@B76-materials-12-00923],[@B79-materials-12-00923]\]. Among the available surface preparation methods, a high bond strength can be achieved with sand-blasting and wire brushing \[[@B72-materials-12-00923]\]. Morgan \[[@B80-materials-12-00923]\] states that the degree of roughness and means of roughening both affect long-term performance. Before applying the geopolymer repair material Zanotti et al., for example, roughened the surface using the sandblasting technique \[[@B81-materials-12-00923]\].
Some authors \[[@B80-materials-12-00923],[@B82-materials-12-00923],[@B83-materials-12-00923]\] have shown the important role of the substrate during concrete-to-concrete repair work. A significant mismatch between substrate and repair concrete is a notable consideration if the repair is to resist the stresses induced by dimensional, mechanical and durability incompatibility. The surface of the substrate should have an open pore structure, to allow the absorption of the repair material into the substrate's pore structure, thus enhancing the bonding mechanism. In geopolymer coatings, this is at odds with the requirements for reducing drying shrinkage, as an excessively dry substrate with open pores may absorb too much water from the coating \[[@B84-materials-12-00923]\].
Today, opinions diverge about the most appropriate practice when coating and repairing concrete substrates. Even between international codes of practice, recommendations are contradictory. The AASHTO-AGC-ARTBA Joint Committee recommends a dry surface for concrete, except on dry and hot summer days, while the Canadian Standards Association Standard A23.1 recommends wetting the surface for at least 24 h before casting the new concrete \[[@B72-materials-12-00923]\]. In some studies, saturated but surface dry conditions were considered to be the best solution \[[@B84-materials-12-00923]\].
### 2.2.4. Efflorescence {#sec2dot2dot4-materials-12-00923}
A final issue, which can be particularly prevalent in ambient temperature cured geopolymers, is efflorescence. Efflorescence is the formation of white salt deposits, and it can unfortunately occur during attempts to manipulate geopolymer shrinkage, adhesion, workability and setting time. It has been found that efflorescence is due to many factors \[[@B30-materials-12-00923]\]: wet conditions, the reactivity of raw materials, the alkali metal type and reaction conditions. In particular, a high alkali content in the activator solution causes efflorescence in partially wet conditions \[[@B29-materials-12-00923],[@B85-materials-12-00923]\]. Thus, geopolymer efflorescence is common at high humidity, and this is important because humidity cannot always be controlled in the field. Ambient temperature curing also makes efflorescence more likely, because the low temperatures reduce the dissolution rate of the fly ash by the alkaline solution. Therefore, any excess alkaline solution is more likely to induce crystallization on the surface \[[@B14-materials-12-00923]\].
3. Materials and Methods {#sec3-materials-12-00923}
3.1. Materials {#sec3dot1-materials-12-00923}
In this work, geopolymers were synthesized from low calcium fly ash. According to standard BS EN 450, the fly used was class B for Loss On Ignition (LOI) of 2.0% to 7.0%, and category S for fineness (no more than 12% retained on the 45 micron sieve). Under US notation, according to ASTM C 618-19, the fly ash used in this work would be considered class F. The chemical compositions of the fly ash used is given in [Table 1](#materials-12-00923-t001){ref-type="table"}, along with the information on the source of the ash and its median particle size, measured using a Mastersizer 2000. [Figure 2](#materials-12-00923-f002){ref-type="fig"} shows the particle size distribution of the fly ash. The median value in [Table 1](#materials-12-00923-t001){ref-type="table"} is the D50 or d (0, 5) value, defined as the intercept for 50% of the cumulative mass.
The alkaline activator used in this work was made by combining 10 wt% of 10 M sodium hydroxide solution (NaOH) and 24 wt% sodium silicate solution (Na~2~SiO~3~), with the NaOH/ Na~2~SiO~3~ ratio equal to 0.4. This is in accordance with our previous work \[[@B28-materials-12-00923]\] based on fly ash geopolymer coatings as skin sensors for concrete. The sodium silicate solution composition was made by 8.5 wt% Na~2~O and 27.8 wt% SiO~2~, in distilled water. The Na~2~O and SiO~2~ concentrations of the alkaline activator were 12.7 wt% and 19.9 wt%, respectively, and the remaining 67.4 wt% was deionized water. The activator was made 24 h prior mixing, to allow the heat of any exothermic reaction to dissipate.
3.2. Methodology {#sec3dot2-materials-12-00923}
### 3.2.1. Geopolymer Synthesis {#sec3dot2dot1-materials-12-00923}
The geopolymer binder was fabricated by combining the fly ash with the activator solution, with a Liquid/Solid ratio (L/S) = 0.5. According to Nedelikovic et al., L/S = 0.5 improves workability, without having a significant effect on compressive strength \[[@B86-materials-12-00923]\]. A higher quantity of liquid also produces a less viscous slurry, which can penetrate more easily into the surface of a dry concrete substrate \[[@B87-materials-12-00923]\].
[Figure 3](#materials-12-00923-f003){ref-type="fig"} summarizes the steps taken to mix and apply geopolymers. The mixing procedure consists of gradually adding the fly ash powder into a bowl containing the alkaline solution while continuously mixing ([Figure 3](#materials-12-00923-f003){ref-type="fig"}a--c). Samples were either mixed manually ([Figure 3](#materials-12-00923-f003){ref-type="fig"}b), or with an automatic mixer at 500 min^−1^ ([Figure 3](#materials-12-00923-f003){ref-type="fig"}c,d). Geopolymer binders were mixed for between 10 min and 1 h before being applied to concrete substrates with a trowel ([Figure 3](#materials-12-00923-f003){ref-type="fig"}e).
### 3.2.2. Application to Substrate {#sec3dot2dot2-materials-12-00923}
Two thicknesses (here defined as *m*) of geopolymer coatings were applied to concrete substrates in this work. Thin coatings were around *m* = 1 mm, and thicker coatings were *m* = 3 mm. These thicknesses were chosen in accordance with the requirements for sensing \[[@B28-materials-12-00923]\] and the requirements for non-structural repairs outlined in standard BS EN 1504-3:2005. Structural repair coatings typically require much higher thicknesses (15 mm or 50 mm) \[[@B88-materials-12-00923]\].
To study any potential effects of the concrete substrate on coating integrity, we applied geopolymer coatings to concrete samples with varying age ranges:Newly cast, or "young" concrete samples, left to cure for 1--5 months;Intermediate-aged concrete samples, 5--12 months of curing;Old concrete samples, over 1 year of curing.
Our hypothesis was that the changing pore structure of the concrete substrate could affect moisture transport from the geopolymer layer, and thus coating integrity. As concrete matures, hydration progresses and capillary pore size and porosity decrease from the production of C-S-H. Bentz et al. commented that when the volume fraction porosity has been reduced to approximately 0.20, the pore space is no longer interconnected throughout the paste and that water transport is restricted; however, the small gel pores (\<10 nm in diameter) remain filled at relative humidity (RH) values of 50% and higher \[[@B89-materials-12-00923],[@B90-materials-12-00923]\]. As a greater percentage of filled pores results in less capillary suction, the more mature concrete might be expected to drain less water than the newer samples.
### 3.2.3. Concrete Substrate Roughness {#sec3dot2dot3-materials-12-00923}
The surface roughness of each concrete substrate used was measured by 3D laser scanning (using a Micro Epsilon Scan Control 2700--100, an exposure time of 1 msec, 56 profiles per second, and 1600 buffered profiles). The values for surface roughness were determined by analyzing the root mean square deviation of the point cloud from a mean plane. Typical values of surface roughness for concrete samples are shown in [Table 2](#materials-12-00923-t002){ref-type="table"}. Values all correspond to the smooth surface that one would expect from untreated concrete \[[@B91-materials-12-00923]\].
### 3.2.4. Curing Conditions for Geopolymers {#sec3dot2dot4-materials-12-00923}
Geopolymer specimens were batched and placed within one of two curing conditions, summarized in [Table 3](#materials-12-00923-t003){ref-type="table"}. Both patches were cured at 20 °C, and the relative humidity of batch 1 and batch 2 were 50% and 95%, respectively. Temperature and relative humidity (RH) were measured in lab conditions and shown to be relatively stable for batch 1; however, they were not tightly controlled. Meanwhile, batch 2 was cured in an environmental chamber in controlled conditions.
All geopolymer specimens in the batches were left to cure for 28 days. While geopolymers do tend to cure much faster than Portland cement mixes, we opted to use a prolonged curing duration in this work to ensure that patches were fully cured and stabilized in ambient conditions.
### 3.2.5. Analysis Methods {#sec3dot2dot5-materials-12-00923}
Several tests were carried out on the fly ash powder and the geopolymer binder to characterize their properties, before mixing, during curing and after curing. These are summarized in the following sections.
#### <IP_ADDRESS>. Vicat Needle Test {#sec3dot2dot5dot1-materials-12-00923}
The setting time of geopolymer mixes was measured using the Vicat needle test, following the procedure outlined in BS EN 196, part 3 \[[@B92-materials-12-00923]\]. This test was conducted in order to define a suitable time to apply the geopolymer onto the concrete substrate, and to define the shelf life for our geopolymer mixes. While the Vicat needle test is a well-accepted and easy-to-use standard method used within ordinary Portland cement concrete mix design, it is less accurate than modern calorimetric and viscosity measurements and so results should be interpreted with caution.
#### <IP_ADDRESS>. Isothermal Calorimetry {#sec3dot2dot5dot2-materials-12-00923}
A thermal analysis, together with an evaluation of setting time using the Vicat needle test, can be used to define an optimized time for applying geopolymer coatings to concrete substrates. In this work, an isothermal calorimeter (Calmetrix, I-CAL 4000 HPC) was used to measure the temporal dependence of the heat produced by the exothermic reactions occurring in the geopolymer from immediately after mixing up to 3 days. Tests were conducted three times for each geopolymer mix tested, with the averaged heat curve presented in the results.
#### <IP_ADDRESS>. X-Ray Diffraction Analysis {#sec3dot2dot5dot3-materials-12-00923}
X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis was carried out on samples of fly ash, on geopolymer layers and on geopolymer coatings, which had demonstrated efflorescence. All XRD data was collected using a Bruker D8 Advance instrument. Data for Rietveld refinement was collected in Bragg-Brentano geometry from 12°--75° 2theta with an increment of 0.02 °/s and a step time of 0.8 s. using a divergence slit of 0.23°. A Ni β filter was placed in the incident beam path. The sample was rotating at 30 rpm and a knife edge collimator was used to reduce air scattering.
The efflorescence was analyzed intact on a sample of geopolymer. The efflorescence could not be easily removed for conventional powder analyses and was analyzed in situ in the XRD using a Goebel mirror. Data was collected from 10°-- 60° 2theta with an increment of 0.02 °/s and a step time of 8 s. Quantitative analysis was carried out using the internal standard method by adding 10 wt% silicon to the ground powder samples, and TOPAS software. ICSD structure files used in the refinement are listed in caption of Figure 15. The method proposed by Williams and van Riessen \[[@B93-materials-12-00923]\], which uses the intensity ratio of the 210 and 120 reflections (I~210~/I~120~) of mullite to estimate the mineral's Si/Al ratio, was used to choose the most appropriate structure file to include (ICSD collection code 66449) in the TOPAS refinement. They showed a linear relationship between x in the mullite general formula (Al~4+2x~Si~2-2x~O~10-x~) and the 210/120 reflection intensity which was used here to calculate x = 0.28 for the Cemex fly ash.
#### <IP_ADDRESS>. Compressive Strength {#sec3dot2dot5dot4-materials-12-00923}
Compressive strength tests were conducted with a small loading cell with the speed of 2 mm/min on geopolymer cubes of side 30 mm. Tests were conducted after 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 4 days, 7 days, 14 days and 28 days. The intention here was to demonstrate the evolution of strength, rather than strictly comply with strength-testing standards.
#### <IP_ADDRESS>. Visual Inspection and Quantification of Cracks {#sec3dot2dot5dot5-materials-12-00923}
A visual inspection was often enough to provide a binary "yes/no" assessment of whether a geopolymer coating had cracked after curing. However, to quantify the relative levels of cracking between specimens in a less subjective manner, we developed a simple image processing technique outlined in [Figure 4](#materials-12-00923-f004){ref-type="fig"}.
The original sample images were taken using a DSLR (Digital Single-Lens Reflex) camera with a set distance between the sample and the focal lens. The image was then cropped so that all samples produce images of the same size for ease of comparison. The color images obtained were converted to grayscale images. This eliminated colors during further processing, while preserving the intensity of each pixel in the image with a grayscale level.
In order to ensure that the cracks are the darkest part of the image, a pre-processing step of intensity adjustment was required. The bottom 1% and the top 1% of all pixel values were saturated to increase the contrast of the output image. By identifying and intensifying the pixels below the mean grayscale value in the image, a clearly distinguished foreground of cracks was obtained, as shown in [Figure 5](#materials-12-00923-f005){ref-type="fig"}.
During the image acquisition step, the inconsistent amount of light in the background was difficult to avoid. In order to correct for this non-uniform illumination, adaptive binarization was used. By applying Bradley's method, each pixel in the integral image was compared to the average grayscale level of its surrounding pixels and set to a binary value accordingly \[[@B94-materials-12-00923]\].
Due to the special characteristics of cracks in our samples, morphological operations and dot detection could be used to reduce noise that will interfere with the final quantification of cracking \[[@B95-materials-12-00923]\]. One pixel with more than four connected neighborhoods is seen as one element. By removing elements that contained fewer than 10 pixels, more noise could be eliminated from the image. Dot detection was used, since most of our samples had dark bubbles that were difficult to distinguish from real cracks in the previous step. By utilizing the circular Hough transform, the round objects could be identified and eliminated from the calculation. The Hough method is one of the standard methods for image recognition \[[@B96-materials-12-00923]\]. The images after morphological operations and dot detection are shown in [Figure 6](#materials-12-00923-f006){ref-type="fig"}.
The final step was to calculate the percentage of dark pixels (cracks) over the area of the whole image, yielding a quantified and less subjective result for the levels of cracking in each sample. This result was provided as a percentage of the image that showed cracks.
4. Results and Discussion {#sec4-materials-12-00923}
4.1. Compressive Strength {#sec4dot1-materials-12-00923}
The evolution of the compressive strength of the geoploymer is shown in [Figure 7](#materials-12-00923-f007){ref-type="fig"}, with a non-linear fit obtained as outlined in \[[@B97-materials-12-00923]\]. The mean value of compressive strength for 28 days met standard BS EN 1504-3:2005 for a non-structural class R1 repair; however, there was a growing degree of strength variability in samples as they cured. As expected, the evolution of strength was notably slower than for geopolymers cured at elevated temperatures.
4.2. Coating Thickness {#sec4dot2-materials-12-00923}
The main finding of this investigation was related to the thickness of the geopolymer coatings applied onto the concrete specimens. These results are shown in [Figure 8](#materials-12-00923-f008){ref-type="fig"} and [Figure 9](#materials-12-00923-f009){ref-type="fig"} for 1 mm thick and 3 mm thick coatings, respectively. Coatings with a thickness of m = 1 mm (thin coatings), showed no cracks and a good layer integrity, regardless of the age of the concrete substrate, the mixing time or the curing conditions. The algorithm used to detect surface quality gave an average value of 0.001% defects for all samples. On the other hand, geopolymer coatings with a thickness of m = 3 mm (thick coatings) tended to show cracking. The extent of the cracking depends on the mixing time, but was independent of the age of concrete and the curing conditions. The percentage values generated by the crack detection algorithm are shown inset in each image in [Figure 9](#materials-12-00923-f009){ref-type="fig"}.
This finding was initially surprising: the lower surface/volume ratio of the 3 mm thick coating should allow the geopolymer to retain more water. The result was also at odds with previous work by Zhang et al. \[[@B8-materials-12-00923]\], who concluded that increasing the thickness of the coatings from 3 mm to 5 mm reduced shrinkage. On the other hand, according to \[[@B78-materials-12-00923]\], the overall shrinkage of repair material increases with the repair volume, and this same result was found for concrete \[[@B98-materials-12-00923]\] and cementitious materials in general \[[@B99-materials-12-00923]\]. The explanation for our results could be that thicker layers show a higher drying shrinkage, since water is well-retained and evaporation takes place more gradually after the geopolymer matrix has slightly hardened (therefore generating stress). The water absorbed in thinner layers, meanwhile, is more likely to evaporate during the first few hours, while the geopolymer is still in a plastic state, and prior to any significant hardening.
4.3. Setting and Mixing Time {#sec4dot3-materials-12-00923}
The thicker coatings in [Figure 9](#materials-12-00923-f009){ref-type="fig"} show a relationship between coating quality and mixing time: coatings mixed for 10 min show numerous air bubbles on the surface (black spots). These could be a consequence of unreacted fly ash particles. When mixing times were increased to 1 h, there were fewer air bubbles on the surface and no black spots (fewer unreacted particles). Cracks in thick coatings appeared to be more extensive when the mixing time was longer. It could be that the agglomerates of unreacted fly ash particles acted as 'micro aggregates' \[[@B89-materials-12-00923]\] for the coating, thus enhancing the strength of the coating. However, this hypothesis will require testing in future work.
The reason for cracking in these coatings more generally can be explained using [Figure 10](#materials-12-00923-f010){ref-type="fig"}, which shows the rate of heat release from the geopolymer (obtained using isothermal calorimetry analysis) over 4 days. Rapid heat release occurs within the first hour after mixing. A similar result is seen in \[[@B86-materials-12-00923]\], for the same liquid to solid ratio. According to \[[@B100-materials-12-00923]\], heat release can be associated with more shrinkage and cracking in coatings. For an ambient-cured geopolymer, mixing for 1 h is preferable to mixing for 10 mins, as it allows more heat release to happen within the mixing bowl, it allows water to be used in geopolymerisation (rather than being lost to the substrate) and it allows unreacted fly ash particles to dissolve.
[Figure 11](#materials-12-00923-f011){ref-type="fig"} shows the cumulative heat release (calculated through cumulative trapezoidal numerical integration of [Figure 10](#materials-12-00923-f010){ref-type="fig"}). These values grew more gradually than those found in previous work \[[@B86-materials-12-00923]\], and demonstrated that the reactions occurring in the ambient-cured geopolymer are more gradual. This hypothesis is also supported by the slower strength development shown in [Figure 7](#materials-12-00923-f007){ref-type="fig"}.
Finally, a Vicat Needle test produced the setting times shown in [Figure 12](#materials-12-00923-f012){ref-type="fig"}. It appears that mixing for longer durations (1 h, as opposed to 10 min) reduced the initial and final setting times, and this also supports the idea that a further extent of geopolymerisation can occur during prolonged mixing.
4.4. Concrete Age {#sec4dot4-materials-12-00923}
The results in this work showed that the age of the concrete substrate had little to no influence on the integrity of the coating layer: the coating thickness and the mixing time of the geopolymer were far more important factors. However, this does not rule out the effect of concrete age on water absorption from the geopolymer layer in all cases, as the rate-of-hydration and pore-size-change within concrete substrates are strongly dependent on the concrete's water/cement ratio, the cement particle size and the curing conditions. Nevertheless, this result, together with the independence of the integrity of the coatings on the curing RH levels between 50% and 95%, was encouraging from the standpoint of application: geopolymer coatings can be applied to both new and old concrete assets, and at a wide range of humidity ranges.
4.5. Efflorescence {#sec4dot5-materials-12-00923}
The final issue faced in ambient curing of geopolymer coatings on concrete was efflorescence. The samples in batch 2 of [Table 3](#materials-12-00923-t003){ref-type="table"} (high humidity curing) showed, in most cases, evidence of white crystals on the surface 3-8 weeks after application and curing. Efflorescence is a crystallization process, so its extent can change from one sample to the other, but the high humidity increased the propensity for it to occur. [Figure 13](#materials-12-00923-f013){ref-type="fig"} shows that efflorescence can be accompanied by the presence of cracking; however, it is likely that efflorescence and cracking are both symptoms of moisture transport within the sample, mainly due to the drying process.
To further analyze this efflorescence, the samples with efflorescence crystals were analyzed using XRD, as described in [Section 3](#sec3-materials-12-00923){ref-type="sec"}. The results of the XRD analysis of geopolymer layers showing efflorescence are shown in [Figure 14](#materials-12-00923-f014){ref-type="fig"}. Solid black lines below the pattern are gaylussite (Na~2~Ca(CO~3~)~2~·5H~2~O), dotted lines are quartz and dashed lines are mullite. Background has been removed as the main feature of interest is the crystalline salt. The data was smoothed using the moving average method with a span of 9.
The results reflected the literature findings discussed in [Section 2.2.4](#sec2dot2dot4-materials-12-00923){ref-type="sec"}. Excess Na~2~O is mobile and at the surface of the coating can react with atmospheric CO~2~ to form Na~2~CO~3~ phases. In our case, the XRD analysis showed that the reaction product was gaylussite---Na~2~Ca(CO~3~)~2~·5H~2~O. This result suggests that Ca may have been dissolved from the concrete substrate or the CaO present in the ash, forming gaylussite at the geopolymer surface. However, the CaO content of the ash is low which is consistent with the lack of visible C-S-H formation in [Figure 15](#materials-12-00923-f015){ref-type="fig"} and suggests that Ca more likely came from the concrete substrate. An amorphous halo was present from approximately 25--40 degrees 2theta, consistent with the formation of N-A-S-H, similar to \[[@B101-materials-12-00923],[@B102-materials-12-00923],[@B103-materials-12-00923]\].
[Figure 15](#materials-12-00923-f015){ref-type="fig"} shows the XRD patterns for a sample of fly ash (lower diffraction pattern), and for a sample of geopolymer obtained from the fly ash (upper diffraction pattern).
The X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectrum of the fly ash and of the geopolymer obtained from the fly ash were acquired using the method detailed in [Section <IP_ADDRESS>](#sec3dot2dot5dot3-materials-12-00923){ref-type="sec"}. Identification of gypsum is tenuous as the peak identified is very small and the other reflections between 12--75° 2theta overlap with more major phases. While the XRD pattern for magnetite is almost identical to maghemite (another iron oxide), the phase present was assumed to be magnetite, as it is more common in UK fly ashes \[[@B33-materials-12-00923]\]. Using Rietveld refinement (TOPAS v5, Bruker) on samples spiked with an internal standard (10 wt% silicon) the crystalline phases and the amorphous content have been quantified for both the fly ash and the geopolymer as presented in [Table 4](#materials-12-00923-t004){ref-type="table"} (fly ash (a) and geopolymer (a)).
The identification of amorphous content in geopolymers is not trivial as no 'pure' X-ray amorphous phase is formed without the presence of crystalline minerals. Recent work by Scarlett and Madsen \[[@B104-materials-12-00923]\] has shown that the internal standard method can overestimate the amorphous content of samples where there is broad range of MAC (micro-absorption coefficient, cm^2^/g) values in the sample. They \[[@B104-materials-12-00923]\] worked on purpose made samples of controlled composition and particle size and discovered that the PONKCS method (Partial Or No Known Crystal Structure) produced the most accurate estimation of amorphous content. However Sun and Vollpracht \[[@B105-materials-12-00923]\] compared the amorphous content of fly ash as determined by PONKCS and the internal standard method and achieved virtually identical results (72.9 wt% and 73 wt% respectively) with the two methods. The mass absorption coefficients of the phases present in the fly ash and geopolymer, as taken from the TOPAS refinement are: Quartz (44.6 cm^2^/g), mullite (32.7 cm^2^/g), gypsum (64.7 cm^2^/g), hematite (214.3 cm^2^/g) and magnetite (221.3 cm^2^/g). The outliers are the iron phases but they are also present in small quantities in the fly ash as shown by the XRF composition given in [Table 1](#materials-12-00923-t001){ref-type="table"}. The amorphous content of fly ash is described by Williams and van Riessen \[[@B93-materials-12-00923]\] as 40--80% and it often found to be over 60% \[[@B105-materials-12-00923],[@B106-materials-12-00923],[@B107-materials-12-00923]\] which fits with our results. For comparison, diffraction patterns were collected again on separate but identical samples. In the second collection, the samples were not rotating, a knife edge collimator was not used, the divergence slit was 0.3° and the Ni β filter was placed in the diffracted beam path. Results from this refinement are labelled as b.
5. Further Discussion and Future Work {#sec5-materials-12-00923}
This work demonstrated that fly ash geopolymer coatings can be cured at room temperature without any additional grinding steps or additives, provided some conditions can be met on site. While ambient-cured coatings did take longer to cure, they were touch-dry within one day, and were strong enough to form a non-structural class R1 repair within 28 days. Accelerants (such as heat or calcium additives) may be required if the application demands more rapid strength development. The main factors that affected coating integrity were related to the retention of water in the geopolymer during its prolonged curing at ambient temperatures. These were:Coating thickness: coatings with thickness \< 1 mm showed no cracks, regardless of mixing times and RH levels between 50% and 95%. Coatings with higher thickness showed cracks, the extent of which was dependent on the mixing time;Mixing time: for our mix, the optimal mixing time was 1 h, to allow the main extent of geopolymerisation reactions to occur without loss of water or thermal stress, and to ensure that only few fly ash particles were unreacted. Optimizing mixing time can allow geopolymer coatings to overcome water loss induced cracking and to show a homogeneous surface without voids and bubbles.Age of concrete: the results showed that coating integrity did not depend on concrete age. This is an important consideration if geopolymer coatings and linings are to be applied to newly cast concrete structures, and not only to old structures which need repair.Efflorescence: for low-temperature, but humid curing conditions (above 70% RH), efflorescence was likely, as excess alkaline solution crystallized on the surface of the coating. Efflorescence was less likely for relative humidities at or below 50%.
The challenge of ambient-cured geopolymer coatings is by no means easy to solve, due to the several competing and interconnected reactions and water transport processes: as the geopolymer cures, more N-A-S-H gel is produced, thus resulting in smaller pores, and in some cases in closed pores, and this will change the permeability of the geopolymer and so the water transport inside the geopolymer coating \[[@B108-materials-12-00923]\].
5.1. The Role of Coating Thickness {#sec5dot1-materials-12-00923}
Coating thickness was found to play a role in coating integrity. The thickness of cementitious coatings on concrete assets can play a direct role on their overall performance for their intended use. Firstly, repairs require high strain capacity to resist strain, and subsequently, cracks \[[@B80-materials-12-00923]\]. Thicker patches generate lower stresses under drying, therefore minimizing the chance of defects \[[@B109-materials-12-00923]\]. Patches low in volume are susceptible to high amounts of liquid loss when applied onto dry concrete substrates, which in turn can affect cement hydration and their mechanical properties \[[@B65-materials-12-00923]\]. Furthermore, thin geopolymer patches have been mentioned to be more crack-prone in marine applications than thicker coatings. However, humidity levels were also mentioned to play a role as coatings of equal thickness showcased different behaviors for different exposure to seawater \[[@B8-materials-12-00923]\]. Thicker cement patches debonded at higher load values than thinner ones under axial loading \[[@B88-materials-12-00923]\].
The thickness of patches has also been reported to affect the sensing capabilities of cement-based self-sensing coatings for loading applications. Baeza et al. reported that thinner patches had higher sensing capacity \[[@B110-materials-12-00923]\], whereas Wang et al. stated that thicker patches gave a higher fractional increase in resistance than thinner patches, which was attributed to greater crack propagation in thicker patches compared to thinner ones \[[@B111-materials-12-00923]\]. While it is currently rather unclear which of the two provide greater sensing capabilities, it can be assumed that the thickness of self-sensing coatings impacts sensing capabilities.
5.2. Thermal Expansion and Bond Strength {#sec5dot2-materials-12-00923}
Morgan \[[@B80-materials-12-00923]\] has stated that an ideal repair material should display a similar modulus of elasticity and thermal expansion to the parenting substrate and that it should be compatible with the existing structure (in terms of its adhesion strength, capillary water absorption, dilatation properties and durability). The bond strength and thermal expansion of our ambient-cured mix are factors that still require further investigation. As we are aiming to demonstrate a non-structural repair, for the time being, measurements of elastic modulus are not required (according to BS EN 1504-3:2005).
5.3. Characterisation of the True SiO~2~/Al~2~O~3~ Ratio {#sec5dot3-materials-12-00923}
The actual compositional ratio SiO~2~/Al~2~O~3~ depends on how much aluminosilicate precursor has reacted and on the final product, since a link has been demonstrated between precursor type characterization and extent of the reaction \[[@B112-materials-12-00923]\]. In order to have an idea of the SiO~2~/Al~2~O~3~ molar ratio of the final geopolymer, a detailed characterization of the geopolymer sample after curing is required, as described in \[[@B112-materials-12-00923]\]. It is beyond the scope of this paper, but will be taken into consideration within future work.
6. Conclusions {#sec6-materials-12-00923}
This paper has outlined the manufacture of ambient-cured geopolymer coatings for concrete, without the use of additives. The most important consideration was the interaction between water-transport processes and the geopolymerisation reaction processes responsible for strength gain. While the geopolymer coatings took longer to cure than a thermally cured specimen, they remain a promising choice for retrofitted concrete repairs, rehabilitation and sensing. Future work should focus on solutions to the issues of efflorescence in humid environments, the influence of concrete substrate water saturation, durability under exposure to a variety of environmental conditions and should define methods for studying the relationship between coating thickness, shrinkage and integrity after prolonged geopolymer mixing.
Conceptualization, L.B., M.P. and A.H.; Data curation, L.B. and J.M.; Formal analysis, L.B. and A.H.; Funding acquisition, M.P. and A.H.; Investigation, L.B., C.V. and J.M.; Methodology, L.B., M.P., C.V., Z.W. and A.H.; Project administration, M.P.; Resources, M.P. and A.H.; Software, L.B., M.P. and Z.W.; Supervision, M.P. and A.H.; Validation, L.B.; Visualization, L.B., Z.W. and A.H.; Writing---original draft, L.B.; Writing---review & editing, L.B., M.P., A.H. and C.V.
This work was funded in part by the National Nuclear Laboratory ICASE award (NNL/UA/022), EPSRC (EP/L014041/1), the Royal Society (RG160748) and the Scottish Funding Council's Oil & Gas Innovation Centre.
The authors declare no conflicts of interests.
::: {#materials-12-00923-f001 .fig}
Illustration of the main water loss mechanisms from geopolymer coatings on concrete substrates.
::: {#materials-12-00923-f002 .fig}
Particle size distribution of the fly ash.
::: {#materials-12-00923-f003 .fig}
Geopolymer synthesis process: (**a**) adding fly ash powder into alkaline solution; (**b**) manually mixing the geopolymer binder by means of a spatula; (**c**,**d**) automatic mixing of the binder; (**e**) application of the binder onto concrete by means of a trowel.
::: {#materials-12-00923-f004 .fig}
Steps of the image processing method.
::: {#materials-12-00923-f005 .fig}
(**a**) Original image and (**b**) grayscale image after intensity adjustment.
::: {#materials-12-00923-f006 .fig}
Binary images: (**a**) morphological operation; (**b**) dot detection.
::: {#materials-12-00923-f007 .fig}
Compressive strength values for geopolymer cubes as a function of time. Error bars show the standard deviation, taken over three cube tests at each time point.
::: {#materials-12-00923-f008 .fig}
Images of 1 mm thick geopolymer coatings on concrete. Results are shown as a function of geopolymer mixing time, M; relative humidity (RH) during curing; and concrete substrate age. All images shown cover a 40 mm × 40 mm area on the sample. The crack quantification algorithm found negligible cracking in all samples (typically 0.001%).
::: {#materials-12-00923-f009 .fig}
Images of 3 mm thick geopolymer coatings on concrete. Results are shown as a function of geopolymer mixing time, M; relative humidity during curing; and concrete substrate age. All images shown cover a 40 mm × 40 mm area on the sample. The numbers shown inset in each image are the crack percentages generated by the quantification algorithm.
::: {#materials-12-00923-f010 .fig}
The rate of heat release of the geopolymer over the first 80 min and (inset) over 4 days on a logarithmic scale.
::: {#materials-12-00923-f011 .fig}
Cumulative heat release of geopolymer binder over 4 days.
::: {#materials-12-00923-f012 .fig}
Vicat Needle initial and final setting times of geopolymer samples mixed for M = 10 min and M = 60 min.
::: {#materials-12-00923-f013 .fig}
An example of geopolymer coating in batch 2, which demonstrated efflorescence.
::: {#materials-12-00923-f014 .fig}
XRD pattern of a geopolymer sample containing efflorescence crystals on the surface: solid black lines below the pattern are gaylussite (Na~2~Ca(CO~3~)~2~·5H~2~O), dotted lines are quartz and dashed lines are mullite.
::: {#materials-12-00923-f015 .fig}
XRD pattern of geopolymer sample of batch 2, [Table 2](#materials-12-00923-t002){ref-type="table"} (upper diffraction pattern), and of the fly ash (lower diffraction pattern). Phase identification starting from the top and moving down: dashed lines are mullite (ICSD collection code 66449), solid lines are quartz (ICSD collection code 100341), dotted lines are magnetite (ICSD collection code 82237), lowest dot-dash lines are hematite (ICSD collection code 82137). The star at 29.4 o2theta is a gypsum reflection (ICSD collection code 15982). The pattern shows an amorphous halo from approximately 20°--35° 2theta, similar to \[[@B100-materials-12-00923]\].
::: {#materials-12-00923-t001 .table-wrap}
Composition and properties of the fly ash used in this work.
Source West Burton Power Station, Lincolnshire, England (UK)
**Loss on ignition** 4.20
**Total phosphate** 0.58
**Free CaO** 0.10
**Median particle size, μm** 10.6
::: {#materials-12-00923-t002 .table-wrap}
Surface roughness values for each type of concrete used.
Age of Concrete Young Intermediate Old
---------------------------- ------- -------------- -------
**Surface roughness (mm)** 0.097 0.053 0.091
::: {#materials-12-00923-t003 .table-wrap}
Curing conditions of geopolymer coatings, divided in two batches.
Batch Curing Conditions Temperature °C Curing Time (days) Average RH %
------- ----------------------- ---------------- -------------------- --------------
**1** Laboratory bench 20 ± 2 28 50
**2** Environmental chamber 20 ± 1 28 95
::: {#materials-12-00923-t004 .table-wrap}
Composition quantified using TOPAS (v.5 Bruker) for a sample of fly ash and a sample of geopolymer from batch 2 of [Table 3](#materials-12-00923-t003){ref-type="table"}. The values for fly ash (a) and geopolymer (a) have been determined from a sample rotating at 30 rpm and using a knife edge collimator. The values for fly ash (b) and geopolymer (b) have been determined from a sample which was not rotating and a knife edge collimator was not used. R~wp~ is the weighted profile R factor.
Phase Content *Mullite \[%\]* *Quartz \[%\]* *Magnetite \[%\]* *Hematite \[%\]* *Amorphous content \[%\]* *Gypsum \[%\]* R~wp~
------------------ --------------- ----------------- ---------------- ------------------- ------------------ --------------------------- ---------------- -------
*Fly ash (a)* 13.74 2.30 1.24 0.67 80.02 1.97 3.9
*Geopolymer (a)* 9.18 2.09 0.89 0.39 86.15 1.30 3.0
*Fly ash (b)* 15.68 3.48 1.25 1.34 76.65 1.36 2.4
*Geopolymer (b)* 12.13 2.75 1.05 0.80 82.12 1.20 2.2
|
What's the difference between the two SQL join notations?
SQL 1: select * from t1 join t2 on t1.f1 = t2.f2
SQL 2: select * from t1,t2 where t1.f1 = t2.f2
The results that they return are same. Are there any differences between them? For example, in how the DBMS runs them, or in the query plan?
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1018822/inner-join-versus-where-clause-any-difference
There is no operational difference between the two queries.
However, the explicit join notation is the better style to learn and use; leave the other for (as yet unchanged) legacy code.
One is old style and one is new (ANSI) style. The main reason that I've found why you would want to use the new style is for standard support of outer joins. With the old style, outer joins are vendor-specific. New style has it standard:
select * from t1 left outer join t2 on t1.f1 = t2.f2
In your example, SQL 1 is the new and SQL 2 is the old style, btw.
You might want to indicate which is 'old style' and which is 'new style'.
does vendor-specific mean it depends on different SQL product(like sqlserver and oracle)?
Yes exactly - in fact, there is another question just posted here regarding that very difference: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/8251323/oracle-style-joins-in-sql-server
'Old style' inner joins, which the question is about, have been in the SQL Standard from SQL-89 to the present Standard (and I predict will remain for evermore). Also the Standard has been ISO (where I = International) since SQL-92 and not just ANSI (where A = American).
Basically, there are no difference between the two queries in operation.
However, both have same execution plan and have same cost that mean both query take equal time to execute(same performance).
Use of join operator is a modern way.
The two are semantically equivalent (among other variations on the theme). One difference is that many users on Stackoverflow are very vocal in expressing their intolerant to 'old style' inner joins (your SQL 2), to the point where anyone posting them risks being downvoted in addition to being admonished in comments. You're also likely to see the term 'anti-pattern' applied, which is nonsense. I've not encountered this style intolerance outside of the SO community. In fact, 'old style' inner joins are very common in the SQL literature.
Possibly because anyone active in the SO SQL tags for a while will see lots of examples of inadvertent cartesian joins that would have been avoided with explicit JOIN syntax.
@MartinSmith: your logic is flawed: I've been active in the SO SQL tags for a while and have not developed an intolerance to this style ;) I rather think it has developed for psychological reasons; I can draw parallels with SELECT * and NATURAL JOIN along of the lines of, "Bad things might happen if..."
|
{% extends "Nebula/layout.html" %} {% block body %} {% load static %}
Horaţiu Banciu
<EMAIL_ADDRESS>Romanian
High School Student
17 years old
Tutor
Problem Solving
Critical thinking
Creativity
Perseverance
Curiosity
Resourcefulness
Full stack Developer
Software Developer
Networking
Python
JavaScript
C++
|
import AchievementWrapper from '../../src/scripts/AchievementWrapper';
import NameGiver from '../../src/scripts/achievements/NameGiver';
const achievement: AchievementWrapper = NameGiver;
afterEach(() => achievement.reset());
test('Reset', () => {
achievement.evaluate({
user: {
identifications_count: 1
}
});
expect(achievement.data.count).toEqual(1);
achievement.reset();
expect(achievement.data.count).toEqual(0);
});
test('Count', () => {
achievement.evaluate({
user: {
identifications_count: 5
}
});
expect(achievement.data.count).toEqual(5);
});
test('Don\'t Count', () => {
achievement.evaluate({
user: {
identifications_count: 0
}
});
expect(achievement.data.count).toEqual(0);
});
test('Missing Data', () => {
achievement.evaluate({
user: {
identifications_count: undefined
}
});
achievement.evaluate({
user: undefined
});
expect(achievement.data.count).toEqual(0);
});
|
<?php
session_start(); //we need session for the log in thingy XD
include("../functions.php");
if($_SESSION['login']!==true){
header('location:../login.php');
}
?>
<?php
include '../db_connect.php';
if(isset($_GET['id'])){
$qry = $conn->query("SELECT * FROM category where id=".$_GET['id']);
foreach ($qry->fetch_array() as $key => $value) {
$meta[$key] = $value;
}
}
?>
<div class="container-fluid">
<form action="" id="manage-category">
<input type="hidden" name="id" value="<?php echo isset($_GET['id']) ? $_GET['id'] : '' ?>">
<div class="form-group">
<label for="name" class="control-label">Name</label>
<input type="text" id="name" name="name" class="form-control" value="<?php echo isset($meta['name']) ? $meta['name'] : '' ?>" required>
</div>
<div class="form-group">
<label for="description" class="control-label">Description</label>
<textarea type="text" id="description" name="description" class="form-control" required><?php echo isset($meta['description']) ? $meta['description'] : '' ?></textarea>
</div>
</form>
</div>
<script>
$('#manage-category').submit(function(e){
e.preventDefault();
start_load()
$.ajax({
url:'ajax.php?action=save_category',
method:'POST',
data:$(this).serialize(),
error:err=>{
console.log(err)
},
success:function(resp){
if(resp){
$('.modal').modal('hide')
end_load()
alert_toast('Data successfully saved','success');
load_tbl()
}
}
})
})
</script>
|
Planar inductor
ABSTRACT
A planar inductor ( 50 ) comprises a conductive path in the form of a spiral pattern ( 53 A- 53 D, 54 A- 54 D). A conductive connecting path ( 62 A, 63 ) connects a terminal ( 60 ) to an intermediate tap point ( 61 A). The connecting path comprises at least one path portion which is radially directed with respect to the spiral pattern ( 53 A- 53 D). The connecting path ( 62 A, 63 ) can be routed via the inside of the spiral pattern. Where the connecting path comprises only radially-directed path portions, they are commonly joined at the center ( 64 ) of the spiral pattern. Multiple path portions ( 62 A, 62 B) can each connect to the intermediate tap point of a respective conductive path. The connecting path can use a further conductive track ( 85 ) which is parallel to the conductive path which forms the spiral pattern.
This invention relates to planar inductors and methods of manufacture of the same as well as their use in semiconductor devices such as integrated circuits.
Planar inductors are frequently used where an inductor is required which occupies minimal space. Typically, a planar inductor comprises a conductive track, in the form of a spiral pattern, which is laid on a substrate. Connections are made to each end of the spiral track. Planar inductors can be realized as discrete elements using thin-film technologies, or as integrated components using integrated circuit (IC) manufacturing processes. Planar inductors are often used in radio frequency (RF) circuitry to achieve functions such as voltage controlled oscillators (VCOs) and low noise amplifiers (LN As).
There is a requirement, in some applications, to make a further electrical connection to an intermediate point of the conductive track. This can be a mid-point. FIGS. 1 and 2 show two types of planar inductor and the position of a mid-point. Firstly, FIG. 1 shows a planar inductor with concentric track segments 11A, 11B, 11C. A spiral path is formed between end terminals 10, 12 by interconnecting ends of the segments. The mid-point, in terms of distance and resistance, of the total path between the end terminals 10, 12 is shown by cross 15.
FIG. 2 shows a planar inductor with semi-circular track segments which are interconnected in a symmetrical configuration. A spiral path is formed between end terminals 20, 22 by interconnecting pairs of segments. The mid-point, in terms of distance and resistance, of the total path between the end terminals 20, 22 is shown by cross 25. The disadvantage of such a configuration, however, is that voltage differences between neighbouring winding segments (e.g. segments 26, 27) is generally larger than in case of the spiral configuration shown in FIG. 1 and hence more energy will we stored in the capacitance that exists between the winding segments. This leads to a lower resonant frequency of the coil.
It is desirable for a planar inductor to have a high quality (Q) factor. However, the quality factor can be degraded by current crowding, resulting from the preference of the RF current to take the path of least inductance instead of that of least resistance at elevated frequency. This current crowding is caused by the “skin” and “proximity” effects and results in a significant increase in the resistance seen in series with the inductor. In order to reduce this current crowding it has been proposed to divide the spiral inductor into several current paths which are electrically in parallel with one another, each path having an identical resistance and inductance. WO 03/015110 describes a planar inductor of this type. FIGS. 3 and 4 show two possible ways of providing a pair of parallel paths. When a high Q factor and resonant frequency are required the arrangement of FIG. 3 is preferred. However, when a connection to an intermediate point is required, this can disturb the balance of currents flowing in each of the parallel paths, and can nullify any benefits in the Q factor that such a layout provides.
The present invention seeks to provide a further type of connection to an intermediate point of a planar inductor.
A first aspect of the present invention provides a planar inductor comprising:
- - a conductive path in the form of a spiral pattern, and - a conductive connecting path which connects a terminal to an intermediate tap point along the conductive path, the connecting path comprising a portion which is radially directed with respect to the spiral pattern.
The provision of a connecting path which is, at least in part, radially directed helps to minimise any disturbance to the current flow in the main conductive path of the inductor.
The connecting path can be routed via the inside of the spiral pattern. The connecting path can comprise only radially-directed path portions, in which case path portions from one or more intermediate tap points are commonly joined at the centre of the spiral pattern. Each path portion connects to the desired intermediate tap point of its respective conductive path.
As an alternative to providing an entirely radial connecting path, the connecting path can comprise an additional section of track which is parallel to the conductive path which forms the spiral pattern. This has an advantage of reducing the length of the connecting path, and thereby reduces the resistance of the connecting path. Where there are a plurality of conductive paths, a separate radially-directed path portion connects an intermediate point on each conductive path with the additional section of track.
Preferably, where an additional section of track is used which is aligned with the spiral pattern, the position of the intermediate point is adjusted to compensate for the effects of current passing along the track.
The intermediate point can be a mid-point or any other desired position along the length of the conductive path.
While the spiral pattern is shown in the accompanying drawings as being a generally circular pattern, it will be appreciated that it can be square, rectangular, elliptical, octagonal or indeed any other shape. Thus, the term ‘radially-directed’ is to be construed as being directed towards the centre of the pattern, whatever shape it has.
The present invention does not only apply to planar inductors, but it can be applied to planar transformers as well.
Embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIGS. 1 and 2 show examples of planar inductors;
FIGS. 3 and 4 show planar inductors with parallel conductive paths to improve their quality (Q) factor;
FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the invention in which a connection is made to an intermediate point of the inductor via a centre point of the spiral pattern;
FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the invention in which a connection is made to an intermediate point of the inductor via a further conductive track within the spiral pattern;
FIG. 7 shows a further embodiment of the invention in which a connection is made to an intermediate point of the inductor via a further conductive track outside the spiral pattern;
FIG. 8 shows a further embodiment of the invention in which a connection is made to an intermediate point of the inductor via a centre point of the spiral pattern;
FIG. 9 shows a way of connecting terminals in the vicinity of a planar inductor.
The present invention will be described with respect to particular embodiments and with reference to certain drawings but the invention is not limited thereto but only by the claims. The drawings described are only schematic and are non-limiting. In the drawings, the size of some of the elements may be exaggerated and not drawn on scale for illustrative purposes. Where the term “comprising” is used in the present description and claims, it does not exclude other elements or steps. Where an indefinite or definite article is used when referring to a singular noun e.g. “a” or “an”, “the”, this includes a plural of that noun unless something else is specifically stated.
The term “comprising”, used in the claims, should not be interpreted as being restricted to the means listed thereafter; it does not exclude other elements or steps. Thus, the scope of the expression “a device comprising means A and B” should not be limited to devices consisting only of components A and B. It means that with respect to the present invention, the only relevant components of the device are A and B.
Furthermore, the terms first, second, third and the like in the description and in the claims, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a sequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that the embodiments of the invention described herein are capable of operation in other sequences than described or illustrated herein.
Moreover, the terms top, bottom, over, under and the like in the description and the claims are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing relative positions. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that the embodiments of the invention described herein are capable of operation in other orientations than described or illustrated herein.
FIGS. 5 and 6 show two embodiments of a planar inductor in accordance with the present invention. The general layout of the planar inductor is the same in both embodiments, the embodiments differing in the manner in which connections are made to intermediate points.
Referring to FIG. 5, the planar inductor 50 comprises four concentric annular rings, each ring being formed as two separate semi-circular segments, e.g. 53A, 54D. The segments can be formed as a layer of conducting material on a substrate using conventional semiconductor manufacturing techniques. A useful description of inductors can be found in the book “Design, Simulation and Applications of Inductors and Transformers for Si RF ICs”, A. M. Niknejad, R. G. Meyer, Kluwer Academic, 2000. A first terminal 51 and a second terminal 52 form the two ends of the conductive paths through the inductor. Two paths, which are electrically in parallel with one another, connect the first and second terminals 51, 52, each path taking the form of a generally spiral pattern. The term ‘electrically in parallel’ has been used to avoid any confusion with the paths needing to be parallel in the sense of being next to each other for their entire path.
Each of the spiral paths comprises a series of the semi-circular segments, with selected pairs of segments being interconnected by links, one of which is shown as 55. Considering one of the parallel paths, this starts at first terminal 51 and includes segments 53A, 53B, 53C and 54D before finishing at terminal 52. Similarly, the second parallel path also starts at terminal 51 and comprises segments 54A, 54B, 54C, 54D before finishing at terminal 52. Links 55 can be realised as short conductive tracks formed on a different layer of the structure, with vias 56 providing a connecting path between the different layers.
The planar inductor can be manufactured from a thick Al layer (having a typical thickness of several microns) which is patterned by etching.
The interconnections between the segments of the inductor can be made by W or Al plugs. Because of the low resistivity of Cu, it is advantageous to use Cu for both for the segments and for the interconnections. Preferably a Cu Damascene process is used. First a groove is formed in the dielectric (e.g. silicon oxide or a low-k material like BCB). A barrier layer is deposited such as TaN. Subsequently a Cu layer is electro plated to a thickness in the range of 500 nm to 5 micron.
The Cu is chemical mechanical polished (CMP), in which the Cu is removed from the planar surface and a Cu pattern in the groove is formed. The Cu pattern in the grooves is the track of the inductor.
In a dual Damascene Cu process, both the tracks as well as the connections (vias) are etched in the dielectric and are subsequently filled with a barrier layer and Cu.
The planar inductor may be manufactured in the back-end of a standard CMOS process or deposited on top of the final product. In a 0.13 μm CMOS process a typical 3 μm thick copper top metal layer pattern is used. From a manufacturing point of view, it is advantageous to use several parallel tracks with a small width. For instance, 8 tiny 3 μm wide tracks suffer much less from CMP dishing (in a Damascene process) than one big 24 μm wide track. A reduced dishing allows lower values for the resistance. The semi-circular track segments are interconnected in a symmetrical configuration. The interconnections comprise a via and a metal track. The resistance is kept as low as possible by using Cu in the via and for the metal track. Preferably the same material having a low resistivity is used in the via and as metal track, so that contact resistances are minimized.
The mid-point of the first spiral path is shown by cross 61A. The mid-point is the point that is exactly mid-way along the total inductance of the first spiral path between terminals 51, 52. Similarly, the mid-point of the second spiral path is shown by cross 61B. This again is the point that is exactly mid-way along the total inductance of the second spiral path between terminals 51, 52.
The mid-point is defined here as the point where the impedance at the intended operating frequency is half of its total value. This point can be approximated by taking the mid-point as the point where the inductance is half of its total value.
A connecting link 62A connects the mid-point 61A of the first spiral pattern to a centre point 64 of the overall inductor pattern. A fer connecting link 62B connects the mid-point 61B of the second spiral path to centre point 64. Each of the connecting links 62A, 62B is directed radially with respect to the overall pattern, i.e. perpendicular to each of the current-carrying semicircular track segments that it crosses. The radial paths 62 are oriented in such a way that the inductive coupling to the spiral inductor is equal to zero.
A further radially directed connecting link 63 extends between centre point 64 and the external terminal 60 from where a connection can be made to other integrated or external components. Conveniently, link 63 is aligned with the gaps that exist between neighbouring semicircular segments and can be formed on the same layer of the structure as the semi-circular segments. A mid-point is required for a differential negative resistance oscillator such as described in fig. 16.31 in the book “The design of CMOS radio frequency integrated circuits” by T. H. Lee, Cambridge University Press 1998.
This arrangement is based on an understanding that connections between points of the inductor experience the influence of the magnetic field of the coil. This magnetic field causes induced voltages which can result in a current that may disturb the normal current distribution over the parallel spiral current paths. This induced voltage only appears in interconnecting paths which are circumferentially directed, i.e. paths which are more or less parallel to the coil windings, and not in radial paths. Thus, the mid-points 61A, 61B are connected to the external terminal 60 only via paths 62A, 62B, 63 that are radially directed.
FIG. 6 shows another planar inductor which has the same general layout as that shown in FIG. 5. The main difference in this embodiment is the manner in which midpoints of the spiral paths are connected to the external terminal.
A further conducting track 85 is laid alongside the innermost annular ring of the inductor. A first connecting link 83A connects a point 82A of the first spiral pattern to a point 84A on the track 85. Link 83A is radially directed with respect to the spiral pattern, i.e. it perpendicularly crosses the current-carrying segments. Similarly, a further connecting link 83B connects a point 82B of the second spiral path to a point 84B on the track 85. For reasons that will be explained below, points 82A, 82B are not the mid-points of their respective spiral paths. A further radially directed connecting link 87 extends between external terminal 60 and a point on track 85 which is radially aligned with the link 87. Conveniently, link 87 is aligned with the gaps that exist between neighbouring semicircular segments. Conducting track 85 only requires a length which is sufficient to join points 84A, 84B and 86 and does not need to be any longer.
In the arrangement shown in FIG. 5 current is first carried from point 61A to the centre point 64 of the inductor via link 62A and then carried from the centre point 64 to the external terminal 60 via link 63. While this has the least disturbing effect on the spiral paths the length of this path incurs additional resistance and hence will incur a voltage drop. In contrast, in the arrangement shown in FIG. 6 the mid-point interconnecting path is shortened by using track 85. It is possible to calculate what effect the passage of current along track 85 will have on the remaining pattern as a function of angle difference and distance to the centre of the coil. By adjusting the angular position of the radial interconnect (i.e. from the true mid-point 61A to point 82A, and from mid-point 61B to 82B) the induced voltage can easily be corrected for. Modern simulation tools can easily calculate the necessary corrections.
Below is an example of such a calculation.
The self and mutual inductances Mij of the inductor loops of the inductor of FIG. 6 are given in the table below. Here an outer diameter of 200 μm, a loop width and spacing of 10 μm and 2.5 μm were assumed.
Mij 1 2 3 4 5 1 4.32E−10 2.74E−10 2.09E−10 1.74E−10 1.50E−10 2 2.74E−10 5.05E−10 3.24E−10 2.50E−10 2.09E−10 3 2.09E−10 3.24E−10 5.81E−10 3.76E−10 2.92E−10 4 1.74E−10 2.50E−10 3.76E−10 6.58E−10 4.30E−10 5 1.50E−10 2.09E−10 2.92E−10 4.30E−10 7.36E−10 The numbering starts at loop segment 85 and ends at the loop 53A-54D. The voltage across each of the loops can now be calculated using: V_(i)=jωΣ_(j=1) ⁵M_(ij)I_(j) (1) where we have neglected the resistance of the loops. We see that the voltage V across each loop is a function of the currents flowing in all loops. Lets assume an RF current with a frequency ω of 10⁹ and an RMS value of 2 Ampere is forced between the inductor contacts 51 and 52 and that this current splits equally between the two electrically parallel paths and the current in the segments 83A, 83B and 85 is zero. We than have I₁=0 and I₂=I₃=I₄=I₅=1 A. Using equation (1) we find that the RMS values of the voltages induced over the five loops are V₁=0.80, V₂=1.29, V₃=1.57, V₄=1.71, and V₅=1.67 Volt. These voltages apply to the full 360 degree loop. Adding the voltage across the half loops 2,3,4, and 5 we find that voltage induced between the inductor contacts will be 3.12 Volt. Since the corresponding current is 2 A, we conclude that the inductance seen between contacts 51 and 52 is 1.56 nH for this particular inductor. Similarly we can calculate that the voltage between the connection from 53B to 53C and the contact 51 is 1.48 Volt, and the voltage between the connection from 54B to 54C and the contact 51 is 1.43 Volt. The midpoints 61A and 61B should be located where the voltage is 1.56 Volt. Since the total voltage drop across loop 3=1.57 V it is easily calculated that midpoint 61A is 19 degrees to the left of the connection from 53B to 53C, and since the total voltage drop across loop 4=1.71 V it is easily calculated that midpoint 61B is 27 degrees to the left of the connection from 54B to 54C. We will now calculate the preferred position of the connecting lines 82A-83A-84A and 82B-83B-84B. The desired midpoint voltage at position 86 is 1.56 Volt. The voltages at point 84A and 84B will be: V_(84A)=1.56+0.80X and V_(84B)=1.56+0.80Y, where X and Y denote the required angular extends of the loop 85. Similarly the voltages at point 82A and 82B will be: V_(82A)=1.48+1.57X and V_(82B)=1.43+1.71Y.
To fulfill the initial assumption made in this calculation that the high frequency currents in the connecting lines 83A and 83B are zero we require V_(82A)=V_(84A) and V_(82B)=V_(84B). Solving this gives X=0.1038 and Y=0.1428, which implies that the connecting lines 83A and 83B need to be located at angles of 37 and 51 degrees to the left of the midpoint connection 60.
In FIG. 6 paths 83A, 83B connect mid-points of the spiral paths with an additional track 85 positioned inside the overall pattern. In an alternative embodiment, shown in FIG. 7, the additional track is positioned outside of the overall pattern. Here, the additional track 90 lies alongside, and is parallel to, the outermost semi-circular segment of the pattern. Radially-directed links 91A, 91B connect to points on the track 90 at points 92A, 92B respectively. A connection can be made at point 60, as shown, or at any other point along track 90.
In the above described embodiments connections are made to the mid-points of each spiral path. However, the invention is not limited just to mid-points, but can be applied to connections to any intermediate point along the length of the spiral paths. The spiral pattern is shown here as being formed by semi-circular segments (which together form annular rings), but the overall shape of the segments can be square, rectangular, elliptical, octagonal or indeed any other shape. The segments need not be semi-circular, but may be quadrants, as shown in FIG. 4, or any other shape and the way in which the segments are interconnected to form a spiral path can be varied to suit the particular shape and layout required.
While the radial interconnecting path offers the ideal connection, the interconnecting path can have a direction which is not entirely radial, i.e. it has a significant radial component and a smaller component which is directed parallel to the tracks forming the spiral path. Preferably, where a path which is not entirely radial is used the position of the intermediate point is varied to accommodate any effect.
In the above described embodiments, two parallel paths are shown between the end terminals, with connections being made to intermediate points of both paths. The invention can be applied to any number of parallel paths although, for reasons of maintaining a balance between the parallel paths, it is preferred for the parallel paths to be provided in multiples of two.
Referring back to FIG. 1, the planar inductor has a single conductive path in the form of a spiral with a mid-point 15. It is desirable to route a connecting path between the mid-point 15 and a position adjacent the end terminals 10, 12 so that all connections can be made at a common point. The connecting path to the mid-point can be achieved by two radially directed paths; one between the mid-point 15 and a centre point of the pattern, and another between the centre point and a point between the terminals 10, 12 in the same manner as shown in FIG. 5. The result is shown in FIG. 8. Alternatively, the connecting path to the mid-point can include an arc-shaped track which lies inside (or outside) the segments forming the spiral pattern, and parallel to them, in the same manner as shown in FIG. 6. The position of the mid-point tap will need to be altered to offset for the effects of using this track.
The principles of the present invention can also be applied to all interconnections that are in the vicinity of the inductor, even if the interconnection is not intended for connection to the inductor. FIG. 9 shows an example with A representing a first connecting point, such as the input of a sensitive amplifier, and B representing a second connecting point, such as a connection to a decoupling filter which has to protect the inputs of the amplifier against disturbing high frequency signals. When the connecting path between points A and B is made as short as possible, as shown by path 101, a disturbance voltage may be induced into the path due to the coil. By using a longer path shown as path 102, the induced disturbance is minimised. Path 102 comprises sections 102A-G which are generally either radially directed (sections 102C, 102G) or are directed substantially parallel to the tracks forming the spiral pattern. A curved connecting path may be used in preference to the multiple straight sections shown here.
The invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein, which may be modified or varied without departing from the scope of the invention.
1. A planar inductor comprising: conductive paths in the form of a spiral pattern, each of the conductive paths being electrically in parallel with one another; and a conductive connecting path which connects a terminal to an intermediate tap point along one of the conductive paths, the conductive connecting path comprising a portion which is radially directed with respect to the spiral pattern, wherein the conductive paths comprise at least three circular segments that are concentric with respect to the center of the spiral pattern, wherein the at least three circular segments include at least three non-overlapping gaps, wherein the at least three non-overlapping gaps are radially aligned with respect to the center of the spiral pattern, and wherein a portion of the conductive connecting path is located within the at least three non-overlapping gaps.
2. The planar inductor according to claim 1 wherein the conductive connecting path comprises a first portion which joins the intermediate tap point to a connecting point which is inside the spiral pattern, the first portion being radially directed with respect to the spiral pattern.
3. The planar inductor according to claim 2 wherein the connecting point is substantially at the centre of the spiral pattern.
4. The planar inductor according to claim 3 wherein there is a separate first portion of the conductive connecting path for each of the conductive paths, each first portion joining a respective intermediate tap point along one of the paths to the connecting point.
5. The planar inductor according to claim 2 wherein the conductive connecting path further comprises a second portion which joins the connecting point within the spiral pattern to a point outside the spiral pattern, the second portion being radially directed with respect to the spiral pattern.
6. The planar inductor according to claim 5, wherein the second portion connects to a point outside the spiral pattern which is adjacent the end points of one of the conductive paths.
7. The planar inductor according to claim 2 wherein the first portion of the conductive connecting path joins the intermediate tap point to a connecting point which is located between the tap point and a centre point of the spiral pattern.
8. The planar inductor according to claim 7 further comprising a further conductive track which is parallel to one of the conductive paths.
9. The planar inductor according to claim 8 wherein there is a first portion of the conductive connecting path for each of the conductive paths, each first portion joining a respective intermediate tap point along one of the conductive paths to a respective connecting point and wherein the conductive track joins the respective connecting points.
10. The planar inductor according to claim 9 wherein the position of the intermediate tap point along each conductive path is chosen to offset an effect of a passage of a current along the further conductive track.
11. The planar inductor according to claim 8 wherein the conductive connecting path further comprises a second portion which joins the further conductive track to a point outside the spiral pattern, the second portion being radially directed with respect to the spiral pattern.
12. An electrical circuit comprising the planar inductor according to claim 1 and at least two further terminals external to the inductor, wherein the further terminals are connected via a connecting path comprising path portions that are radially directed with respect to the spiral pattern of the inductor.
13. The planar inductor of claim 1, wherein the conductive connecting path is perpendicular to each of the conductive paths that the conductive connecting path crosses.
14. A planar inductor comprising: conductive paths in the form of a spiral pattern, each of the conductive paths being electrically in parallel with one another, wherein the spiral pattern has a circular shape, an elliptical shape, or an octagonal shape; and a conductive connecting path which connects a terminal to an intermediate tap point along one of the conductive paths, the conductive connecting path comprising a portion which is radially directed with respect to the spiral pattern, wherein the conductive paths comprise at least three circular segments that are concentric with respect to the center of the spiral pattern, wherein the at least three circular segments include at least three non-overlapping gaps, wherein the at least three non-overlapping gaps are radially aligned with respect to the center of the spiral pattern, and wherein a portion of the conductive connecting path is located within the at least three non-overlapping gaps.
15. A planar inductor comprising: conductive paths in the form of a spiral pattern, each of the conductive paths being electrically in parallel with one another; and a conductive connecting path which connects a terminal to an intermediate tap point along one of the conductive paths, the conductive connecting path comprising a portion which is radially directed with respect to the spiral pattern, wherein the conductive paths comprise at least three circular segments that are concentric with respect to the center of the spiral pattern, wherein the at least three circular segments include at least three non-overlapping gaps, wherein the at least three non-overlapping gaps are radially aligned with respect to the spiral pattern, and wherein a portion of the conductive connecting path is located within the at least three non-overlapping gaps.
16. The planar inductor of claim 15, wherein the portion of the conductive connecting path does not completely fill any of the gaps.
17. The planar inductor of claim 15, wherein the concentric segments are interconnected in a symmetrical configuration, wherein interconnections of the concentric segments comprise a via and a metal track, and wherein a same material is used in the via and as metal track.
|
<?php
namespace Database\Seeders;
use Illuminate\Database\Seeder;
use Illuminate\Support\Facades\DB;
use Faker\Factory as Faker;
class BranchSeeder extends Seeder
{
/**
* Run the database seeds.
*
* @return void
*/
public function run()
{
$faker = Faker::create();
foreach(range(1,10) as $values){
DB::table('branches')->insert([
'branch_name' => $faker->city(),
'amount'=> $faker->numberBetween($min = 1000, $max = 9000)
]);
}
}
}
|
The Use or the Higher Verteprates in Stratigraphical
The study of fossil fishes, to which I referred last year, seems to show that each of the successive dominant groups is sharply distinguished from its immediate predecessor by some fundamental character marking an advance towards the extreme adaptation for locomotion in water, which was ultimately attained in the Cretaceous Period. It is also evident that various members of each of these successive groups soon became specialized for every possible mode of life in the circumstances of the time. Fishes of the same general outward appearance and habit have thus originated repeatedly from progressively higher groups ; similar adaptations have recurred with only minor differences ; and nearly the same changes, though perhaps with increasing intensity, have always marked the approach to racial old age. These phenomena are, indeed, so remarkable, that the question arises as to whether animals of apparently the same family, genus, or species mav not originate more than once from separate series of ancestors. We may even hesitate further in deciding whether or no the really fundamental advances in life at successive periods have occurred more than once in the faunas of which they are respec tively characteristic.
The study of fishes, however, is scarcely sufficient to solve these problems, because the large majority of the fossils are marine, the animals would spread rapidly and widely, and the limits of the seas in which they lived are never clearly recognizable. The higher vertebrates, which inhabited the land, seem to be a much more hopeful source of necessary facts ; for the land has always been subdivided into well-defined areas^ isolated by seas, mountains, and deserts. Animals in these several areas must often have deve loped independently for long periods ; alterations in the barriers can be detected by the geologist when he studies the migrations and mingling of faunas ; while, as researches progress, the varying geography of successive periods may be more or less successfully restored. Like the fishes, the terrestrial vertebrates have advanced by successive fundamental steps towards perfection in powei's of locomotion, and during this progress have at each stage diverged into various analogous specializations. They have, indeed, advanced one step farther by the final increase in the relative size and
|
Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-4010415-20141223120240/@comment-25555436-20150605203707
...If that's seriously your question... Shadow, please convince an admin to ban that kid.
|
#ifndef TREAP_H
#define TREAP_H
#include <climits>
#include "UniformRandom.h"
#include "dsexceptions.h"
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
// Treap class
//
// ******************PUBLIC OPERATIONS*********************
// void insert( x ) --> Insert x
// void remove( x ) --> Remove x (unimplemented)
// bool contains( x ) --> Return true if x is present
// Comparable findMin( ) --> Return smallest item
// Comparable findMax( ) --> Return largest item
// bool isEmpty( ) --> Return true if empty; else false
// void makeEmpty( ) --> Remove all items
// void printTree( ) --> Print tree in sorted order
// ******************ERRORS********************************
// Throws UnderflowException as warranted
template <typename Comparable>
class Treap
{
public:
Treap( )
{
nullNode = new TreapNode;
nullNode->left = nullNode->right = nullNode;
nullNode->priority = INT_MAX;
root = nullNode;
}
Treap( const Treap & rhs )
{
nullNode = new TreapNode;
nullNode->left = nullNode->right = nullNode;
nullNode->priority = INT_MAX;
root = clone( rhs.root );
}
~Treap( )
{
makeEmpty( );
delete nullNode;
}
Treap( Treap && rhs ) : root{ rhs.root }, nullNode{ rhs.nullNode }
{
rhs.root = nullptr;
rhs.nullNode = nullptr;
}
/**
* Deep copy.
*/
Treap & operator=( const Treap & rhs )
{
Treap copy = rhs;
std::swap( *this, copy );
return *this;
}
/**
* Move.
*/
Treap & operator=( Treap && rhs )
{
std::swap( root, rhs.root );
std::swap( nullNode, rhs.nullNode );
return *this;
}
const Comparable & findMin( ) const
{
if( isEmpty( ) )
throw UnderflowException{ };
TreapNode *ptr = root;
while( ptr->left != nullNode )
ptr = ptr->left;
return ptr->element;
}
const Comparable & findMax( ) const
{
if( isEmpty( ) )
throw UnderflowException{ };
TreapNode *ptr = root;
while( ptr->right != nullNode )
ptr = ptr->right;
return ptr->element;
}
bool contains( const Comparable & x ) const
{
TreapNode *current = root;
nullNode->element = x;
for( ; ; )
{
if( x < current->element )
current = current->left;
else if( current->element < x )
current = current->right;
else
return current != nullNode;
}
}
bool isEmpty( ) const
{
return root == nullNode;
}
void printTree( ) const
{
if( isEmpty( ) )
cout << "Empty tree" << endl;
else
printTree( root );
}
void makeEmpty( )
{
makeEmpty( root );
}
void insert( const Comparable & x )
{
insert( x, root );
}
void insert( Comparable && x )
{
insert( std::move( x ), root );
}
void remove( const Comparable & x )
{
remove( x, root );
}
private:
struct TreapNode
{
Comparable element;
TreapNode *left;
TreapNode *right;
int priority;
TreapNode( ) : left{ nullptr }, right{ nullptr }, priority{ INT_MAX } { }
TreapNode( const Comparable & e, TreapNode *lt, TreapNode *rt, int pr )
: element{ e }, left{ lt }, right{ rt }, priority{ pr }
{ }
TreapNode( Comparable && e, TreapNode *lt, TreapNode *rt, int pr )
: element{ std::move( e ) }, left{ lt }, right{ rt }, priority{ pr }
{ }
};
TreapNode *root;
TreapNode *nullNode;
UniformRandom randomNums;
// Recursive routines
/**
* Internal method to insert into a subtree.
* x is the item to insert.
* t is the node that roots the tree.
* Set the new root of the subtree.
* (randomNums is a UniformRandom object that is a data member of Treap.)
*/
void insert( const Comparable & x, TreapNode* & t )
{
if( t == nullNode )
t = new TreapNode{ x, nullNode, nullNode, randomNums.nextInt( ) };
else if( x < t->element )
{
insert( x, t->left );
if( t->left->priority < t->priority )
rotateWithLeftChild( t );
}
else if( t->element < x )
{
insert( x, t->right );
if( t->right->priority < t->priority )
rotateWithRightChild( t );
}
// else duplicate; do nothing
}
/**
* Internal method to insert into a subtree.
* x is the item to insert.
* t is the node that roots the tree.
* Set the new root of the subtree.
* (randomNums is a UniformRandom object that is a data member of Treap.)
*/
void insert( Comparable && x, TreapNode* & t )
{
if( t == nullNode )
t = new TreapNode{ std::move( x ), nullNode, nullNode, randomNums.nextInt( ) };
else if( x < t->element )
{
insert( std::move( x ), t->left );
if( t->left->priority < t->priority )
rotateWithLeftChild( t );
}
else if( t->element < x )
{
insert( std::move( x ), t->right );
if( t->right->priority < t->priority )
rotateWithRightChild( t );
}
// else duplicate; do nothing
}
/**
* Internal method to remove from a subtree.
* x is the item to remove.
* t is the node that roots the tree.
* Set the new root of the subtree.
*/
void remove( const Comparable & x, TreapNode * & t )
{
if( t != nullNode )
{
if( x < t->element )
remove( x, t->left );
else if( t->element < x )
remove( x, t->right );
else
{
// Match found
if( t->left->priority < t->right->priority )
rotateWithLeftChild( t );
else
rotateWithRightChild( t );
if( t != nullNode ) // Continue on down
remove( x, t );
else
{
delete t->left;
t->left = nullNode; // At a leaf
}
}
}
}
void makeEmpty( TreapNode * & t )
{
if( t != nullNode )
{
makeEmpty( t->left );
makeEmpty( t->right );
delete t;
}
t = nullNode;
}
void printTree( TreapNode *t ) const
{
if( t != nullNode )
{
printTree( t->left );
cout << t->element << endl;
printTree( t->right );
}
}
// Rotations
void rotateWithLeftChild( TreapNode * & k2 )
{
TreapNode *k1 = k2->left;
k2->left = k1->right;
k1->right = k2;
k2 = k1;
}
void rotateWithRightChild( TreapNode * & k1 )
{
TreapNode *k2 = k1->right;
k1->right = k2->left;
k2->left = k1;
k1 = k2;
}
TreapNode * clone( TreapNode * t ) const
{
if( t == t->left ) // Cannot test against nullNode!!!
return nullNode;
else
return new TreapNode{ t->element, clone( t->left ), clone( t->right ), t->priority };
}
};
#endif
|
Forget About Nick
Forget About Nick is a 2017 German romantic comedy drama film directed by Margarethe von Trotta and starring Ingrid Bolsø Berdal, Katja Riemann and Haluk Bilginer.
Cast
* Ingrid Bolsø Berdal as Jade
* Katja Riemann as Maria
* Haluk Bilginer as Nick
* Tinka Fürst as Antonia
* Fredrik Wagner as Whit
* Mathias Sanders as Lawrence
* Lucie Pohl as Lucie
* Paula Riemann as Caroline
* Vico Magno as Paul
|
feat(storage, mdbx): transaction manager
This PR introduces a separate struct TxnManager that does two things:
Same as before, beginning/aborting/committing transactions via the channel. Used for manipulating the read-write transactions. https://github.com/paradigmxyz/reth/blob/a362f3be99bf9460f52166dfe120cf8bbb6cb59f/crates/storage/libmdbx-rs/src/txn_manager.rs#L43-L87
New functionality: read-tx-timeouts feature-gated background monitor ReadTransactions for read-only transactions that forcefully aborts read-only transactions that are running for too long. https://github.com/paradigmxyz/reth/blob/a362f3be99bf9460f52166dfe120cf8bbb6cb59f/crates/storage/libmdbx-rs/src/txn_manager.rs#L176-L246
The ReadTransactions monitor has two main sets of transactions: active for currently running read-only transactions, and aborted for read-only transactions aborted by the monitor itself. The aborted list is needed to be able to report a nice error to the user in case when a read-only transaction that's still in use is aborted: https://github.com/paradigmxyz/reth/blob/a362f3be99bf9460f52166dfe120cf8bbb6cb59f/crates/storage/libmdbx-rs/src/error.rs#L219-L234
Tests are pending
|
Use csv data as string java
This maybe simple but java isn’t really my thing but I'm working with a java API.
I need to parse a csv file and use the values as strings.
CSV file:
Mac,device,level ,key number,key function ,name,number,prim
01:1A:E8:84:9D:27,0,0,1,31,line,441865945218,TRUE
01:1A:E8:84:9D:27,0,0,2,51,dss,441865985452,FALSE
each row need to be read seprately so something like.
Read first row of csv
Assign values to strings (e.g. mac = 01:1A:E8:84:9D:27 device = 0 and so on)
Run "code" using these strings
Read second row of csv
So on till end of csv.
Thanks
I have tried csvreader but I'm not able to use the strings outside of the while function and it does not read line by line.
CsvReader phones = new CsvReader("dls.csv");
phones.readHeaders();
while (phones.readRecord()){
String deviceID = phones.get("Mac");
String device = phones.get("device");
String level = phones.get("level");
String keynumber = phones.get("key number");
String keyfunction = phones.get("key Function");
String label = phones.get("name");
String e164 = phones.get("number");
String prim = phones.get("prim");
}
You are declaring the strings inside the while loop, so why would you expect to be able to use them outside of it?
Just call an outside function with them...
Why dont you use a BufferedReader and make use of the readLine() method in it ?
As you are new to Java, whatever you are doing, looks like it reads the file line by line. But as you are defining the Strings in while loop, you won't be able to access it outside.
If you want to read all lines and store in Strings, you should probably take array for all of them and define them outside the while loop, add values in the loop and then you'll be able to use it.
Or just create a Phone class:
public class Phone{
String deviceId;
String device;
......etc...
//setters and getters
}
And take an array of it outside while. Something like this:
CsvReader phones = new CsvReader("dls.csv");
phones.readHeaders();
List<Phone> phonesArr=new ArrayList<Phone>();
while (phones.readRecord())
{
Phone phone=new Phone();
phone.setDeviceId(phones.get("Mac"));
phone.setDevice(phones.get("device"));
.....
phones.add(phone);
}
// array phones will be accessible here
Hope that helps!
You have to declare the Strings outside of the loop. Otherwise the String variables would be loop scoped.
CsvReader phones = new CsvReader("dls.csv");
phones.readHeaders();
String deviceID;
String device;
String level;
String keynumber;
String keyfunction;
String label;
String e164;
String prim;
while (phones.readRecord()){
deviceID = phones.get("Mac");
device = phones.get("device");
level = phones.get("level");
keynumber = phones.get("key number");
keyfunction = phones.get("key Function");
label = phones.get("name");
e164 = phones.get("number");
prim = phones.get("prim");
}
See:
Scopes tutorial
Javadoc: Variables
In the end I just called the funtion from the while loop.
while (phones.readRecord()) {
deviceID = phones.get("Mac");
Device = phones.get("device");
Level = phones.get("level");
Keynumber = phones.get("key number");
Keyfunction = phones.get("key function");
Label = phones.get("name");
E164 = phones.get("number");
Prim = phones.get("prim");
tools connect = new tools();
connect.connect();
connect.setkeys(deviceID,Device,Level,Label,Keynumber,Keyfunction,E164,Prim);
//System.out.println(Prim);
}
phones.close();
|
Introduction and background
*"All things are poison, and nothing is without poison; only the dose permits something not to be poisonous"* -- Paracelsus
The advent of immunotherapy for cancer and its acceptance by oncologists has been slow, although momentum is now building as more effective agents are introduced. Many lessons are being learned and perhaps the most important is that malignant cells are far less autonomous than previously thought. It is now appreciated that the behavior of cancer cells and the prognosis of the underlying disease are critically determined by the tumor microenvironment and, in particular, by elements of the immune system that reflect the 'immune landscape' \[[@REF1]\]. Indeed, the local inflammatory response has been termed "the other half of the tumor" \[[@REF2]\].
Until very recently, emphasis has been placed on primary site TNM staging classification, the microscopic appearance of the tumor (histology and grade), and a few biomarkers, such as ER/PR, HER2, k-RAS, and b-Raf for the establishment of the status and prognosis of a cancer. Consideration of the reaction of the patient to the cancer has at best been limited to somewhat contradictory comments about lymphocyte infiltration; it has only recently been recognized that the stromal milieu of a tumor is a major component of the host-cancer battle and, accordingly, a marker for prognosis. This concept becomes self-evident if the tumor is seen as an obligate parasite, capable of inducing a chronic inflammatory response and subverting the host\'s immunity. In the case of colorectal cancer, for example, identification of the subsets of T-cells infiltrating the tumor provide a far better prognostic index than the classical Duke's staging \[[@REF3]-[@REF4]\].
An indication of the importance of the immune profiles of patients came from two studies based on the use of mRNA profiling to detect altered expression of genes apparently associated with progression and outcome in castration-resistant prostate cancer \[[@REF5]-[@REF6]\]. Although the identified genes in the two studies differed, perhaps due to technical differences, they were, in each case, found (to the authors' expressed surprise) to be associated with dysregulated immune function rather than with oncogenesis.
The tortoise and the hare
Another important recently learned lesson is that immunotherapy works at a different rate to chemotherapy, and the criteria for response need to take this into account. The clinical course of immunotherapy, compared to that of chemotherapy, has been likened to Aesop's fable of the Tortoise and the Hare \[[@REF7]\]. Chemotherapy often induces a rapid reduction in tumor size, followed by re-growth; however, while current immunotherapeutic strategies may lead to a reduction in tumor size, in many cases they do not do so but rather lead to a slowing of progression with ultimately a more favorable course of the disease. Tumor size does not always correlate with survival. Indeed, the tumor may enlarge and new lesions may appear, yet the patient remains relatively well, and the increase in size of the tumor may, at least in part, be the result of infiltration by effective immune cells and the ensuing inflammatory response \[[@REF8]\].
Thus, as noted by the Translational Research Working Group of the National Cancer Institute \[[@REF9]\], the conventional Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors (RECIST), version 1.1 (based largely on percentage change in tumor bi-dimensional measurements), is not the best measure of the effects of immune response modifiers; a new methodological framework for the emerging discipline of 'immuno-oncology' is required \[[@REF10]-[@REF12]\]. To this end, international collaborative efforts are being made to develop an 'immunoscore' to aid the classification and typing of tumors \[[@REF13]\].
It is also becoming clear that there are no immunotherapeutic 'magic bullets' for cancer and that single pathway assaults are likely to lead to the development of resistance, much as happens with antimicrobial therapy, especially that of tuberculosis \[[@REF14]\]. The need for multidrug therapy is not a new concept, as most oncologists will confirm. It is now clear that for maximum efficiency, combinations of immunotherapeutic agents will need to be used with other therapies designed to maximize efficacy. This will include: 1) Surgery to debulk the disease, 2) Physical injury to the tumor in order to release tumor-specific antigens (so-called immunogenic cell death), for example, by hypofractionated radiotherapy, cryotherapy or radiofrequency ablation, 3) Targeting of the subverted inflammatory response induced by the tumor (reversal of the immunosuppressive effects of regulatory T-cells (Tregs) and tumor-associated macrophages, and using immunomodulators and immunoadjuvants to tune and steer an appropriate immune response). 4) Freeing up the host immune response by releasing the 'brakes' with the new so-called 'checkpoint inhibitors' - anti-PD-1, PD-L1, etc.
It is also becoming clear that each tumor type will need a different therapeutic regimen; it may indeed be that each patient will need further modification based on individual immune function, thus truly achieving personalized therapy.
The purpose of this paper is to highlight what has been termed 'drug repositioning', defined as "the utilization of a known compound in a novel indication underscoring a new mode of action that predicts innovative therapeutic options" \[[@REF15]\]. The modern oncologist need have no fears that chemotherapy is defunct. It most certainly is not, but it will require adaptation to these new methodologies, and also to take the host\'s immune status into account.
The era of modern chemotherapy dates its origin to observations on the effects of mustard gas and similar cell poisons. It has become generally accepted that, for maximum efficacy, it is necessary to treat patients to the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) as determined by Phase I/II studies, or the treatment may fail. Thus, the immunosuppressive and lymphoablative properties of chemotherapeutic agents for cancer given at MTD have been accepted as unavoidable if a clinical response is to be achieved, even in extreme cases in which the patient receives a potentially lethal dose of chemotherapy and is then salvaged with a bone marrow or stem cell transplant. Sadly, this approach has met with limited success and is very reminiscent of the old days of treating diabetic ketoacidosis with massive doses of insulin. The outcomes were awful until it was realized that regular infusions of small doses of insulin combined with fluid correction were far more effective \[[@REF16]\]. It is time to realize that the MTD concept in cancer chemotherapy may no longer be appropriate in many situations, and that better results may be achieved by using smaller and more regular dosing \[[@REF17]-[@REF18]\]. Better still, this should be combined with other treatment modalities in a rational way in order to maximize the therapeutic effect, as mentioned above.
A principal reason for such drug repositioning is that, in recent years, there has been a paradigm shift in the understanding of the biology of cancer, particularly in the central role of the immune system in eliminating early cancers and allowing those that are not eliminated to exist in a state of equilibrium for varying periods of time \[[@REF19]\]. Once the tumors have escaped immune control, dysregulated immune reactivity, manifesting as chronic inflammation \[[@REF2]\], aids tumor progression by several mechanisms, including the enhancement of angiogenesis. There is also now strong evidence that regulatory T cells play a key role in tumor-associated local immunosuppression \[[@REF20]\]. Most, but not all, Tregs are characterized by the expression of the transcriptional regulator FoxP3, and although CD4^+^, CD8^+^, FoxP3^+^, and FoxP3^-^ Tregs have been described, the one receiving most attention in cancer is the CD4^+^CD25^+^FoxP3^+^ subset which is associated with a poor prognosis in many cancers \[[@REF21]\].
A further reason for drug repositioning is that it has been demonstrated that most, if not all, chemotherapeutic agents have beneficial effects on the immune system at low doses \[[@REF22]-[@REF23]\].
The 16^th ^century physician and philosopher, Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim, known as Paracelsus (Figure [1](#FIG1){ref-type="fig"}), stressed the importance of determining the optimal dose of a therapeutic agent as almost all substances are poisonous when administered in sufficiently large doses \[[@REF24]\]. The very common phenomenon of a therapeutic agent having a beneficial effect at a low dose and toxic effects at a higher one was subsequently termed hormesis, from the Greek *hormáein* (to set in motion or urge on). The subsequent literature on this phenomenon reveals a lack of clarity in the exact meaning and usage of this expression, not least because the term covers a very wide range of phenomena \[[@REF25]-[@REF27]\].
Figure 1Paracelsus (Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim) 1493-1541Engraving from life by Augustin Hirschvogel in 1538.
A special form of hormesis relevant to cancer therapy is that in which agents have radically different effects at high and low doses, but with claims for each having beneficial therapeutic effects. This is in contrast to the usual definition of hormesis in which the higher dose is merely poisonous. In this discussion paper, we consider examples of agents that at high doses have the effects of cytotoxicity and immunosuppression, but at lower doses have alternative beneficial effects operating through the immune system.
There has been increasing interest in the use of low-dose, well-tolerated, intermittent chemotherapy, termed 'metronomic' chemotherapy \[[@REF28]\], as an alternative to the conventional high-dose approach.
Cyclophosphamide provides a good example of hormesis and the development of low-dose metronomic chemotherapy (LDMC). At high doses, it exerts its anti-tumor effect solely by cytotoxicity with bone marrow suppression as a potentially fatal adverse effect; at low doses, it contributes to anti-tumor immunity as described below.
At the time of this writing, no Phase III studies of LDMC with cyclophosphamide have been published, but several Phase II studies indicating safety and efficacy have been completed \[[@REF17], [@REF29]\]. For example, cyclophosphamide-based LDMC has been evaluated in a randomized Phase II trial involving patients with a range of advanced cancers who had exhausted all effective therapies \[[@REF30]\]. Median overall survival in the cyclophosphamide group was 195 days, as compared to 145 in the controls, although there were differences between cancers with much better responses in patients with sarcomas than in those with gastrointestinal cancers. Other workers have reported a similar good response in sarcoma patients \[[@REF31]\]. Overall, metronomic cyclophosphamide is well tolerated and provides a period of stable disease in cancer patients with a very poor prognosis and, therefore, warrants further evaluation.
Over the last decade, a principal force driving the work on LDMC has been its inhibitory effect on tumor angiogenesis, which is essential for the development of primary and metastatic tumors greater than a few millimeters in size, and is therefore an important target for therapy \[[@REF32]-[@REF33]\]. This anti-angiogenic effect has been demonstrated in animal models and human studies, and the somewhat variable clinical responses to LDMC aimed at suppressing angiogenesis have been reviewed \[[@REF32]\].
More recently, however, it has emerged that suppression of angiogenesis is not the only beneficial effect of LDMC -- other mechanisms include the restoration of anti-cancer immunity and a return from the state of 'escape' to that of 'equilibrium' \[[@REF15], [@REF34]\]. In this context, LDMC with cyclophosphamide strongly mediates dendritic cell (DC) homeostasis: in murine and *ex vivo* studies, cyclophosphamide and anthracyclines induced a form of apoptosis that released tumor antigens (immunogenic cell death) and strong DC-activating signals \[[@REF35]\]. Agents, such as cyclophosphamide and the anthracyclines, with the ability to mediate enhanced immunogenicity form the basis of what has been termed 'immunogenic chemotherapy' \[[@REF36]\]. Far from causing bone marrow suppression, low dose cyclophosphamide enhances the generation of DC precursors while low dose vinblastine induces their maturation \[[@REF34]\].
Other effects of LDMC relevant to beneficial immune responses in cancer include a shift in the cytokine profile from Type 2 to Type 1 \[[@REF35], [@REF37]-[@REF38]\], proliferation and prolonged survival of lymphocytes \[[@REF39]\], particularly effector Th1 T cells \[[@REF15], [@REF35]\], DC mobilization \[[@REF40]\], activation of CD11b myeloid cells, and sensitization of tumor cells to TRAIL-dependent lysis by CD8^+^ cytotoxic T cells \[[@REF41]\]. These features all contribute to effective anti-tumor immune response.
By preferentially eliminating Tregs, LDMC alters the Treg/effector T cell balance in favor of anti-tumor effects \[[@REF42]-[@REF43]\]. In a study on patients with therapy-refractory metastatic breast cancer, LDMC with cyclophosphamide selectively eliminated Tregs whilst preserving CD4^+^ and CD8^+^ effector T cells \[[@REF44]\]. The decrease in Tregs was only transient but the increase in anti-tumor T cells was stable and sustained, with the number of tumor-reactive T cells (but not that of Tregs) correlating significantly with disease stabilization and overall survival \[[@REF45]\]. Other workers have also observed a diminution in Tregs in patients treated with cyclophosphamide-based LDMC and recommend the use of such therapy before commencing a course of immunotherapy \[[@REF42]\]. By contrast, it was shown in one study that the reduction in Tregs on commencement of LDMC was not only a short-term event, but was followed by an enhancement of these cells and their immunosuppressive activity \[[@REF46]\]. This study \[[@REF46]\] emphasized the importance of combining LDMC with immune modulating strategies, which synergize with the chemotherapeutic regimen. Despite this report, metronomic cyclophosphamide was given to patients in a Phase II study of an autologous-pulsed DC vaccine for melanoma. Although it did not indeed lead to a decrease in the number of Tregs, the clinical and immune responses to the antigens used for pulsing the DCs were higher, and the survival longer than in a previous trial without cyclophosphamide \[[@REF47]\].
Reduced expression of major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) molecules, resulting in diminished antigen presentation, is one mechanism of tumor escape from immune attack \[[@REF48]\]. Both LDMC with several chemotherapeutic agents (including topotecan, etoposide, cisplatin, paclitaxel, and vinblastine) and radiotherapy have been shown to mediate elevated MHC-I expression in cancer cells through induction of IFN-beta \[[@REF49]\]. The authors postulate that restoration of MHC-I expression could be an important component of the enhanced cytotoxic T cell activity observed in animals and patients treated with LDMC.
An intriguing example of a combination of induced antigen release from tumors and cyclophosphamide-based LDMC is provided by the administered low-dose cyclophosphamide together with intratumoral injection of an oncolytic adenovirus to patients with advanced and progressive cancer unresponsive to conventional therapy. This therapy led to an increase in numbers of cytotoxic T cells, a systemic Th1 pattern of immune reactivity, a decrease in Tregs, a significantly improved control of disease in comparison to virus alone (p\<0.0001), and unusually high progression-free survival and overall survival for patients refractory to standard chemotherapy. It is probable that the oncolytic virus liberated tumor antigens to 'feed' the immune system, or perhaps provided danger signals so TAA\'s released by chemotherapy could be effectively dealt with.
Another emerging factor requiring consideration is the growing evidence that the micro-organisms on and in the human body -- the microbiome -- especially the intestinal component, has profound regulatory effects on the immune system \[[@REF51]\], and also on the qualitative nature of immune responses against cancer \[[@REF52]\]. The intestinal microbiome affects the anti-cancer immunological effects of cyclophosphamide, including the induction of immunogenic cell death, subverts Tregs, and promotes populations of Th1 and a specific "pathogenic" subset of Th17 cells (pTh17) that inhibit cancer growth. In a mouse model, cyclophosphamide also caused inflammation and increased permeability of the intestinal mucosa, allowing commensal bacteria, especially Gram-positive enterococci and lactobacilli, to cross the mucosal barrier and to access the mesenteric lymph nodes and spleen, with a corresponding reduction in the numbers of these bacteria in the gut lumen \[[@REF53]-[@REF54]\].
The role of Gram-positive bacteria in the promotion of Th1 and pTh17 cells was confirmed by treatment of the mice with vancomycin, an antibiotic specific for Gram-positive bacteria \[[@REF53]\]. Treatment with vancomycin and, to a lesser extent, other antibiotics including colistin (specific for Gram-negative bacteria) interfered with the ability of cyclophosphamide to inhibit the growth of various tumors, partly by allowing the outgrowth of certain commensals that compromised the anti-cancer effects. This key study provides additional reasons for using cyclophosphamide in low doses, thereby avoiding neutropenia and severe mucositis -- two conditions requiring the use of antibiotic therapy. It also emphasizes the importance of avoiding the administration of antibiotics, if possible, during cancer chemotherapy and the need for more research on procedures for beneficially modifying the gut microbiome.
The general conclusion of these studies is that LDMC is a quantum leap forward, but they also implicitly or explicitly emphasize the need for its use together with an immune modulating agent with effects on the immune system that could synergize with those of LDMC.
Hormesis and the mammalian target of rapamycin
Another class of agents with radically different and opposing effects when used in continuous high doses, and in low and/or intermittent doses, includes rapamycin (sirolimus) and related compounds used for the therapeutic induction of immunosuppression in post-transplant patients. At first view, it would appear a rational assumption that an agent preventing the rejection of a 'foreign' transplanted organ would likewise prevent the immune rejection of a tumor but, paradoxically, recent studies have demonstrated immune enhancements and anti-tumor effects at lower doses of rapamycin \[[@REF55]\].
The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a serine/threonine kinase that has been defined as a "major intersection that connects signals from the extracellular milieu to corresponding changes in intracellular processes" \[[@REF56]\]. As such, it integrates a wide range of growth factors and hormonal signals and is a key regulator of cell growth and proliferation \[[@REF57]-[@REF58]\]. Inappropriate activation of mTOR is a prime factor in oncogenesis and angiogenesis \[[@REF59]\], as well as the resistance of tumors to chemotherapeutic agents. In addition to cancer, there is interest in the pathogenic role of mTOR in obesity, diabetes, and autism \[[@REF56]\]. In this context, it is also noteworthy that inhibition of mTOR by rapamycin reverses impaired social interaction in mice with a tuberous sclerosis-like condition \[[@REF60]\] and abolished cognitive deficits and reduced amyloid-beta levels in a mouse model of Alzheimer\'s disease \[[@REF61]\]. Indeed, mTOR appears to be involved in many conditions characterized by chronic inflammation (the manifestation of dysregulated immune reactivity) and is, for example, elevated in human inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Mouse models of IBD have therefore been used to study the role of dysregulated mucosal immunity in tumorigenesis \[[@REF62]\]. Accordingly, there is considerable interest in targeting mTOR, and several agents have been evaluated including rapamycin itself and related compounds, such as everolimus, ridaforolimus, and temsirolimus.
Furthermore, mTOR plays a key role in regulating high energy-requiring T cell differentiation and functional activity \[[@REF63]-[@REF64]\]. In particular, it has a role in the differentiation of CD4^+^ T cells into inflammatory and regulatory subsets, in the induction of anergy, in the development of CD8^+^ memory T cells, and the regulation of T cell trafficking \[[@REF63]\]. mTOR also regulates many aspects of the innate immune system \[[@REF65]\]. Thus, for example, inhibition of mTOR by rapamycin promoted pro-inflammatory cytokines but blocked the release of IL-10 via the transcription factor STAT3, and rapamycin-treated monocytes displayed a strong Th1 and Th17 cell-polarizing potency. In this context, mTOR mediates the reprogramming of Tregs (a far more plastic population of cells than generally recognised) into functional Th1 and Th17 cells which, depending on context, may be beneficial or harmful with this effect being blocked by rapamycin \[[@REF66]\].
From the standpoint of cancer immunotherapy, the effect of rapamycin on DCs is of particular interest. It was shown that a brief exposure of DCs to rapamycin at the time that they are responding to TLR agonists resulted in an extended life span of the DCs and prolonged and increased expression of costimulatory molecules. In turn, this resulted in a particularly potent activation of naïve CD8^+^ T cells and, in vivo, to enhanced control of B16 melanoma in an autologous therapeutic vaccination model in the mouse \[[@REF67]\].
Furthermore, from the same standpoint, tumor-associated macrophages play a key role in cancer biology with those associated with Type 2 immunity (M2 macrophages) being associated with angiogenesis and other factors favoring tumor progression. mTOR activation mediates a differentiation into M2 macrophages while treatment with rapamycin induces differentiation into M1 macrophages associated with anti-tumor responses \[[@REF68]\].
Rapamycin and several other mTOR inhibitors have been approved for use in therapeutic trials. Several have been conducted, notably in breast cancer, together with various chemotherapeutic regimens or monoclonal antibody-based immunotherapy with encouraging results, although, as stated in a recent comprehensive review \[[@REF58]\], more work is required to define their role in therapy. Mouse models for the study of the effect of rapamycin on breast cancer \[[@REF69]\] and melanoma \[[@REF70]\] have been described and have proved useful for determining biomarkers. Establishing the optimal dose of rapamycin will be critical to its efficacy as its beneficial effects must be balanced against its immunosuppressive properties, and achieving the optimal dose has been likened to adjusting a rheostat \[[@REF71]\].
The 'repositioning' of radiotherapy
Radiotherapy treatment may also soon require 'repositioning' as concepts of its mode of action are changing from that of a local treatment with the sole intention of causing cell death by damaging DNA through oxidative effects and DNA strand breaks, to alternative modes of action, including effects on the tumor microvasculature and potentiating of anti-cancer immune response. Therefore, there may be a role for 'radioimmunotherapy' based on a combination of radiation and immune modulators \[[@REF72]-[@REF75]\]. Clinical trials are in progress. Thus, radiation may have important systemic effects in addition to its local actions.
This change of concept introduces a further aspect of hormesis, one in which a higher dose rather than the lower may have the desired therapeutic effect, but with protection of normal cell tissues by a precise directed limitation of the radiation to the tumor.
Ionizing radiation has the ability to convert the irradiated tumor into an 'immunogenic hub' -- acting in effect like an autologous tumor 'vaccine' \[[@REF72]\]. In contrast to conventional (1.8 -- 3 Gy) fractionation, high-dose radiotherapy (\>8 -- 10 Gy per fraction) leads to endothelial cell apoptosis and consequential microvascular dysfunction, which in turn leads to increased cell death. Hypoxia resulting from standard fractionated radiotherapy results in a burst of pro-angiogenic activity in the tumor microenvironment, generating HIF-1α, VEGF, and other vasculogenic factors that then can attenuate radiation-induced apoptosis in endothelial cells. Radiation exposure can provide a source of antigen that is well suited for cross-presentation to the host DCs, which then can induce an antigen-specific immune response \[[@REF75]\].
Most irradiated cells survive, at least for a limited time, during which time they undergo a stress response, transmitted through multiple signal transduction pathways to the surrounding tissue. This process is associated with changes in the expression of certain genes, depending on the tissue of origin, the genetic background of the host, the p53 status of the tumor, and the type and regimen of radiation used. Among genes that are up-regulated post-radiation are those controlling expression of growth factors, cytokines, chemokines, and cell surface receptors that modulate the interaction of the tumor with the immune system \[[@REF76]-[@REF77]\].
In addition to excellent local control of disease, high-dose per fraction radiotherapy - stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) - also appears to impact disease outside the irradiated volume. This is best exemplified by the retrospective series from William Beaumont Hospital in which a comparison was made between patients who were treated with either a lobar resection or SBRT during the same time period \[[@REF78]\]. SBRT not only resulted in a drastically lower local failure rate (5% versus 24%, p=0.05), but also had a lower regional lymph node failure rate (5% versus 29%, p\<0.05). As the patients treated by SBRT had only a very small volume of tissue irradiated (tumor, plus a small margin) and few, if any, lymph nodes were included in the treatment field, this was a surprising finding.
This is likely to be an example of the abscopal effect, from the Greek *ab skopos* -- away from the target -- resulting from the stimulation of T-cell immunity by tumor antigens released by SBRT, leading to the eradication of occult regional micrometastases. In contrast to SBRT, minimally invasive surgery and open thoracotomy are associated with transient postoperative decreases in circulating CD8^+^ T-cells \[[@REF79]\], which may contribute to the increased incidence of regional failure observed with wedge resection compared with SBRT. The lower rate of regional nodal failures after SBRT may be due to increased CD4^+^ and CD8^+^ T-cell immunity.
After radiation exposure, the type of death among the cells programmed to die is highly variable, spanning from apoptosis and necrosis to autophagy and mitotic catastrophe. Importantly, radiation has been shown to induce an immunogenic cell death (ICD), characterized by three molecular signals that promote uptake of dying cells by DCs, cross-presentation of the tumor-derived antigens to T cells and activation of anti-tumor T cells, exposure of calreticulin on the tumor cell surface, release of high-mobility group protein B1 (HMGB1), and release of ATP \[[@REF80]\].
A comparison of three SBRT radiation regimens, 20 Gy × 1, 8 Gy × 3, and 6 Gy × 5, demonstrated marked differences between the single dose and the fractionated regimens in the ability to synergize with anti-CTLA-4 antibody treatment and induce an anti-tumor immune response \[[@REF81]\]. All three regimens were similar in their ability to cause delayed growth of the irradiated tumor without affecting the growth of a tumor outside the irradiated field. Anti-CTLA-4 by itself or in combination with a single 20 Gy dose was ineffective, but when combined with the two fractionated regimens, it significantly improved inhibition of both the irradiated area and tumors outside the irradiated field. The effectiveness of the generated anti-tumor response was highest with 8 Gy × 3, with 80% of the irradiated tumors and 40% of the tumors outside the field regressing completely. Since anti-CTLA-4 antibody is known to be ineffective against poorly immunogenic tumors but to synergize with vaccination in inducing anti-tumor immunity, these data imply that radiation used as single dose of 20 Gy failed to convert the tumor into an *in situ* vaccine. These results suggest that, for the combination with anti-CTLA-4, there may be an optimal window for the pro-immunogenic effects of radiation, with a hypofractionated regimen providing the best results. Specifically, significant induction of low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-enriched ceramide, secretory sphingomyelinase (S-SMase), tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), and TNF-α in serum from patients treated with SFGRT suggests these bystander effects may have a role in overall tumor response. In view of these encouraging results, the combination of SBRT and immunotherapy in humans is currently being investigated in several studies.
The claim that "The human body has no cancer-fighting capabilities", voiced at the foundation of the German Cancer Research Institute in Heidelberg in 1965 \[[@REF82]\], is certainly no longer tenable. The major shift in emphasis is now towards one of seeing cancer as a systemic disease requiring treatment of the host as well as the cancer. This may also involve a repositioning of surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy.
In light of the specific forms of hormesis discussed in this paper, a repositioning of anti-cancer agents, radiation therapy, and the use of combinations of carefully determined metronomic low doses of chemotherapeutic drugs, focused radiation therapy, mTOR inhibitors, and immunotherapeutic agents that modulate the immune system to achieve optimum anti-tumor activity may well prove to be the way forward in the successful therapy of a wide range of cancers.
The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
|
Can not find basic class weblogic.Deployer
Deploy weblogic using jenkins without jenkins plugin.
jenkins weblogic plugin use this command. So I try use it.
/bin/java -Xms256M -Xmx256M -cp /root/wls12210/wlserver/server/lib/weblogic.jar weblogic.Deployer -debug -stage -remote -verbose -upload -name testPage -source /root/.jenkins/workspace/WebLogic/target/testPage.war -targets AdminServer -adminurl t3://<IP_ADDRESS>:7001 -user {ID} -password {password} -deploy
But If I use this command not use plugin but only raw command, there is error.
error: Cannot find basic class weblogic.Deployer or cannot load weblogic.Deployer.
above error evoke as korean language, so I translated to english.
under error is jenkins error part.
[WeblogicDeploymentPlugin] - ARTIFACT UNDEPLOYED SUCCESSFULLY.
[WeblogicDeploymentPlugin] - DEPLOYING ARTIFACT... $
/bin/java -Xms256M -Xmx256M -cp
/root/wls12210/wlserver/server/lib/weblogic.jar weblogic.Deployer
-debug -stage -remote -verbose -upload -name testPage -source /root/.jenkins/workspace/WebLogic/target/testPage.war -targets
AdminServer -adminurl t3://<IP_ADDRESS>:7001 -user {id} -password
{passwd} -deploy [WeblogicDeploymentPlugin] - ARTIFACT DEPLOYED
SUCCESSFULLY. [INFO]
[INFO] DEPLOYMENT SUCCESS [INFO]
SSH: Connecting from host [localhost.localdomain]
SSH: Connecting with configuration [weblogic] ...
SSH: EXEC: STDOUT/STDERR from command[
/bin/java -Xms256M -Xmx256M -cp /root/wls12210/wlserver/server/lib/weblogic.jar weblogic.Deployer
-debug -stage -remote -verbose -upload -name testPage -source /root/.jenkins/workspace/WebLogic/target/testPage.war -targets
AdminServer -adminurl t3://<IP_ADDRESS>:7001 -user {id} -password
{passwd} -deploy
error: Cannot find basic class weblogic.Deployer or cannot load weblogic.Deployer.
How can I solve this error?
Have you tried building wlfullclient.jar and putting that on your classpath instead? weblogic.jar doesn't have any of the ancillary libraries that you'll probably need.
Better load the weblogic environment first, it will load all the weblogic related classes you may need:
According to the path you showed, run this in command line before you try to start the java virtual machine:
". /root/wls12210/wlserver/server/bin/setWLSEnv.sh"
|
350 UNIFORM MOVEMENT PREDOMINATES. chap. xvii.
to the sea. Were it otherwise, we should not find conform able strata of all ages, including the primary fossiliferous of shallow-water origin, which must have remained horizontal throughout vast areas during downward movements of several thousand feet, going on at the period of their accumulation. Still less should we find the same primary strata, such as the carboniferous, Devonian, or Silurian, still remaining hori zontal over thousands of square leagues, as in parts of North America and Eussia, having escaped dislocation and flexure throughout the entire series of epochs which separate palax)zoic from recent times. Not that thc}^ have been motionless, for they have undergone so much denudation, and of such a kind, as can only be explained by supposing the strata to have been subjected to great oscillations of level, and exposed in some cases I'epeatedly to the destroying and planing action of the waves of the sea.
It seems probable that the successive convulsions in Moen were contemporary with those upward and downward move ments of the glacial period which were described in the thirteenth and some of the following chapters, and that they ended before the upper beds of No. 5, p. 346, with its large erratic blocks, were deposited, as some of those beds occurring in the disturbed parts of Moen appear to have escaped the convulsions to which Nos. 2, 3, and 4 were subjected. If this be so, the whole derangement, although post-pliocene, ma}' have been anterior to the human epoch, or leather to the earliest date to which the existence of man has as yet been traced back.
|
"use strict";
/**
* =======================
* ··· P E R S O N A S ···
* =======================
*/
const persons = [
{
name: "Pedro",
age: 35,
country: "ES",
infected: true,
pet: "Troski",
},
{
name: "Elisabeth",
age: 14,
country: "UK",
infected: true,
pet: "Firulais",
},
{
name: "Pablo",
age: 25,
country: "ES",
infected: false,
pet: "Berritxu",
},
{
name: "Angela",
age: 18,
country: "DE",
infected: false,
pet: "Noodle",
},
{
name: "Boris",
age: 50,
country: "UK",
infected: true,
pet: "Leon",
},
{
name: "Donald",
age: 69,
country: "US",
infected: false,
pet: "Pence",
},
{
name: "Pepito",
age: 36,
country: "ES",
infected: false,
pet: "Carbón",
},
];
/**
* =======================
* ··· M A S C O T A S ···
* =======================
*/
const pets = [
{
name: "Troski",
type: "perro",
},
{
name: "Firulais",
type: "perro",
},
{
name: "Berritxu",
type: "loro",
},
{
name: "Noodle",
type: "araña",
},
{
name: "Leon",
type: "gato",
},
{
name: "Pence",
type: "perro",
},
{
name: "Carbón",
type: "gato",
},
];
/**
* =======================
* ··· A N I M A L E S ···
* =======================
*/
const animals = [
{
kind: "perro",
legs: 4,
},
{
kind: "araña",
legs: 8,
},
{
kind: "gato",
legs: 4,
},
{
kind: "loro",
legs: 2,
},
{
kind: "gallina",
legs: 2,
},
];
/**
* ===================
* ··· P A I S E S ···
* ===================
*/
const countries = [
{
code: "CN",
name: "China",
population: 1439,
infected: 81999,
},
{
code: "US",
name: "Estados Unidos",
population: 331,
infected: 112468,
},
{
code: "DE",
name: "Alemania",
population: 83,
infected: 56202,
},
{
code: "ES",
name: "España",
population: 46,
infected: 72248,
},
{
code: "UK",
name: "Reino Unido",
population: 67,
infected: 17301,
},
];
/**
* ###########################
* ## E J E R C I C I O 1 ##
* ###########################
*
* Número total de infectados del array de personas.
*
*/
/**
* ###########################
* ## E J E R C I C I O 2 ##
* ###########################
*
* Número total de sanos del array de personas.
*
*/
/**
* ###########################
* ## E J E R C I C I O 3 ##
* ###########################
*
* Número total de infectados en el array de países.
*
*/
// console.log(totalInfectedCountry);
/**
* ###########################
* ## E J E R C I C I O 4 ##
* ###########################
*
* País con más infectados.
*
*/
/**
* ###########################
* ## E J E R C I C I O 5 ##
* ###########################
*
* Array con el nombre de todas las mascotas.
*
*/
/**
* ###########################
* ## E J E R C I C I O 7 ##
* ###########################
*
* Array de españoles con perro.
*
*/
/**
* ###########################
* ## E J E R C I C I O 8 ##
* ###########################
*
* Array con las personas. A mayores, este array debe incluír el objeto con los datos de su mascota.
*
*/
/**
* #############################
* ## E J E R C I C I O 1 0 ##
* #############################
*
* Número total de patas de las mascotas de las personas.
*
*/
/**
* #############################
* ## E J E R C I C I O 1 1 ##
* #############################
*
* Array con las personas que tienen animales de 4 patas
*
*/
/**
* #############################
* ## E J E R C I C I O 1 2 ##
* #############################
*
* A partir del string 'ES' obtener un array de personas no infectadas de ese país.
*
*/
/**
* #############################
* ## E J E R C I C I O 1 3 ##
* #############################
*
* Array de países que tienen personas con loros como mascota.
*
*/
/**
* #############################
* ## E J E R C I C I O 1 4 ##
* #############################
*
* Número de infectados totales (en el array de países) de los países con mascotas de ocho patas.
*
*/
|
High data rate writer with low resistance coil and short yoke
ABSTRACT
One of the major requirements for higher frequency extend ability is to reduce yoke length and inductance in order to have fast saturation. This has been accomplished by using a design that provides a cavity in the lower pole piece inside which is located at least two coils, one on top of the other. A process for manufacturing the device is also described.
This is a division of Patent Application Ser. No. 10/279,265, filing date Oct. 24, 2002 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,851,178, “High data rate writer with low resistance coil short yoke” assigned to the same assignee as the present invention, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to the general field of magnetic write heads for data storage systems with particular reference to increasing the writing speed.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There are several design options available to make high data rate writers. One of the major requirements for higher frequency extend ability is to reduce yoke length and inductance in order to have fast saturation. Given fast saturation during the writing process, one can have better overwrite and cold overwrite performance at higher frequency. Some designs for faster write heads have the planar writer with a short yoke length. However, one of the drawbacks of this design is the coil real estate utilization which creates either high DC coil resistance or requires a small number of coil turns.
In FIG. 1 we show a typical write head of the prior art. Seen there is magnetic shield 11 which is separated from the lower magnetic pole by insulating layer 12. The lower pole is made up of two parts—base 13 and upper portion 14 which is open so that it forms a cavity. In this cavity is housed magnetic coil 16 which is seated on shallow pedestal 15. Insulating layers 17 and 18 cover the coil while insulating layer 19 serves to control throat height (see later). Non-magnetic gap layer 20 separates the lower coil structure from upper pole 21.
A routine search of the prior art was performed with the following references of interest being found:
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,325,947 B1, Garfunkel et al. show a process for a head with a short yoke while Nakajima et al. show a process for a head in U.S. Pat. No. 6,317,280 B1. Santini shows a process for a head in U.S. Pat. No. 6,339,523 B1 and related patents are U.S. Pat. No. 6,333,830 B2 (Rose et al.) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,304,414 B1 (Crue, Jr. et al.).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It has been an object of at least one embodiment of the present invention to provide a magnetic write head having fast saturation.
Another object of at least one embodiment of the present invention has been that said write head occupy minimum real estate and have minimum electrical resistance.
Still another object of at least one embodiment of the present invention has been to provide a process for manufacturing said write head.
These objects have been achieved by forming a cavity in the lower pole piece and locating therein at least two coils, one on top of the other. A process for manufacturing the device is also described.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows a typical write head of the prior art.
FIG. 2 shows the starting point for the process of the present invention.
FIGS. 3-5 show steps leading to the formation of the lower coil and the cavity in which it is housed.
FIG. 6 is a plan view of the cross-sectional view seen in FIG. 5.
FIGS. 7-8 show steps leading to the formation of the upper coil and the cavity in which it is housed.
FIG. 9 shows the step for controlling the throat height of the device.
FIG. 10 shows the addition of the non-magnetic gap layer.
FIG. 11 shows the completed device.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention is based on a two layer coil structure for a planar writer. This two layer structure design leads to low DC coil resistance relative to similar designs having a short yoke.
A key feature is breaking the lower pole into two separate layers which allows the achievement of an optimized coil space for each coil. This two layer coil structure enables one to maintain the same planar writer structure but with better performance on fast saturation and lower DC coil resistance or better thermal pole tip protrusion.
The process of the present invention begins, as shown in FIG. 2, with the deposition of layer 11 which will serve as the lower magnetic shield. It is between about 1 and 2 microns thick and is of a metal such as NiFe or CoNiFe. This is followed by layer 12, between about 1,000 and 5,000 Angstroms thick, made of alumina, whose purpose is to separate the reader shield and the writer's bottom pole. Then, layer 13 (of the writer's bottom pole) is deposited onto layer 12 to a thickness between about 1 and 2 microns. It will serve as the lower magnetic pole of the writer.
Referring now to FIG. 3, insulating layer 15 (of alumina or silica), between about 1,000 and 3,000 Angstroms thick, is deposited onto layer 13 and patterned to form a low pedestal. This is followed by the deposition of a seed layer, typically of copper, (not shown) which, after protection of the appropriate areas by photoresist (also not shown), is used as a base onto which to electro deposit lower coil 16. After removal of both the photoresist and the seed layer, the structure is as seen in FIG. 3.
Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the upper section 14 of the lower pole is formed by electroplating. Insulating layer 17 is then formed of photoresist to a thickness that is between about 1 and 1.5 microns, and then selectively removed from above 14, giving the structure the appearance seen in FIG. 4. Layer 17 is then hard baked to become a permanent insulating layer.
The next step is the overfilling of the space above layer 17 with insulating layer 58 following which the structure is planarized (typically using CMP) so that the thickness of the upper portion of the lower pole (now shown as layer 24) is reduced, as can be seen in FIG. 5. The deposition is performed in two separate layers is to avoid void formation in layer 58.
FIG. 6 is a plan view of the structure whose cross-section we saw in FIG. 5.
The process continues with the formation of upper coil 76 which is formed on the surface of layer 58 in a similar manner to that described above for lower coil 16. Layers 76, 87 and 88 are formed using similar materials and thicknesses to layers 16, 17 and 58 respectively as shown in FIG. 7. This is followed, as before, by a planarization step whereby layer 74 is reduced in thickness, being now designated as 84 in FIG. 8.
Referring next to FIG. 9, a shallow trench, between about 2,000 and 4,000 Angstroms deep, is etched into layer 88 as well as a small portion of the lower pole on one side of the structure only. This cavity is then overfilled with material 91 (such as alumina or silica) and the structure is then planarized, as shown in FIG. 9 until some of layer 84 begins to be removed. As a result, width 92 of the lower pole, on one side, is gradually decreased so that the throat height of the finished structure can be controlled.
FIG. 10 shows the structure after the deposition of write gap layer 20. In principle this could be any non-magnetic material but our preferred material for layer 20 has been ruthenium, deposited to a thickness between about 700 and 1,200 Angstroms. Note that layer 20 has been selectively removed from the one side of lower pole 84 to form a flux transmission area that will allows unimpeded passage of magnetic flux between the upper and lower magnetic poles.
The process of the present invention concludes with the successive depositions of layers 110 and 112, as illustrated in FIG. 11. Layer 110 is between about 1,000 and 3,000 Angstroms thick and is made of a material capable of sustaining a very high magnetic moment. Examples are Co FeN and CoFe, with Co FeN being preferred. The magnetic permeability of layer 110 was generally between about 700 and 1,000. The presence of layer 110 right above write gap 20 ensures a concentration of magnetic flux in the immediate vicinity of the latter. Layer 112 is of the same material as layers 13, 24, and 84 and serves as the upper magnetic pole. It is between about 1 and 1.5 microns thick.
1. A magnetic write head, comprising: a first insulating layer on a shield layer a lower magnetic pole on said first insulating layer; centrally disposed within said lower magnetic pole, a cavity having first sidewalls and a floor; in said cavity: a second insulating layer in the form of a low pedestal on said floor; on said pedestal a lower coil of conductive material; a third insulating layer that covers said pedestal and lower coil; a fourth insulating layer on said third insulating layer; on said fourth insulator, an upper coil of conductive material that is connected to said lower coil by a conductive via; a fifth insulating layer on said upper coil and said fourth insulating layer; a sixth insulating layer on said fifth insulating layer; in said sixth insulating layer, a shallow trench, filled with a seventh insulating layer, having sloping second sidewalls, said second sidewalls overlapping said first sidewalls in one area; over said cavity: a non-magnetic gap layer on said seventh insulating layer and on all of said lower magnetic pole except for a flux transmission area located on said lower pole away from said sidewall overlapping area; a layer of a high magnetic moment material on said gap layer and on said flux transmission area; and on said high magnetic moment layer, an upper magnetic pole.
2. The write head described in claim 1 wherein said first insulating layer is alumina and has a thickness between about 1,000 and 3,000 Angstroms.
3. The write head described in claim 1 wherein said second insulating layer is alumina and has a thickness between about 1,000 and 3,000 Angstroms.
4. The write head described in claim 1 wherein said third insulating layer is baked photoresist and has a thickness between about 6,000 and 10,000 Angstroms.
5. The write head described in claim 1 wherein said fourth insulating layer is alumina and has a thickness between about 1,000 and 5,000 Angstroms.
6. The write head described in claim 1 wherein said fifth insulating layer is baked photoresist and has a thickness between about 6,000 and 10,000 Angstroms.
7. The write head described in claim 1 wherein said sixth insulating layer is alumina and has a thickness between about 1,000 and 5,000 Angstroms.
8. The write head described in claim 1 wherein said seventh insulating layer is alumina and has a thickness between about 4,000 and 5,000 Angstroms.
9. The write head described in claim 1 wherein said non-magnetic gap layer is ruthenium or rhodium and has a thickness between about 700 and 1,000 Angstroms.
10. The write head described in claim 1 wherein said high magnetic moment material is Co FeN and has a thickness between about 1,000 and 6,000 Angstroms.
11. The write head described in claim 1 wherein said write head has a throat height that is between about 0.6 and 1.2 microns.
12. The write head described in claim 1 wherein each coil has at least 4 turns.
|
process.on('unhandledRejection', (error) => {
throw error;
});
const fs = require('fs-extra');
const rollup = require('rollup');
const babel = require('rollup-plugin-babel');
const uglify = require('rollup-plugin-uglify');
const pkg = require('../package.json');
// The source files to be compiled by Rollup
const files = [
{
input: 'src/index.js',
output: 'dist/index.js',
format: 'cjs',
},
{
input: 'src/index.js',
output: 'dist/module.js',
format: 'es',
},
{
input: 'src/index.js',
output: 'dist/hyperapp-render.js',
format: 'iife',
name: 'self',
extend: true,
},
{
input: 'src/index.js',
output: 'dist/hyperapp-render.min.js',
format: 'iife',
name: 'self',
extend: true,
},
{
input: 'src/server.js',
output: 'dist/server/index.js',
format: 'cjs',
},
{
input: 'src/server.js',
output: 'dist/server/module.js',
format: 'es',
},
];
async function run() {
// Clean up the output directory
await fs.emptyDir('dist');
// Copy source code, readme and license
await Promise.all([
fs.copy('src', 'dist/src'),
fs.copy('README.md', 'dist/README.md'),
fs.copy('LICENSE.txt', 'dist/LICENSE.txt'),
]);
// Compile source code into a distributable format with Babel
await Promise.all(files.map(async (file) => {
const bundle = await rollup.rollup({
input: file.input,
external: ['stream'],
plugins: [
babel({
babelrc: false,
presets: [['env', { modules: false }]],
}),
...file.output.endsWith('.min.js')
? [uglify({ output: { comments: '/^!/' } })]
: [],
],
});
bundle.write({
file: file.output,
format: file.format,
extend: file.extend,
sourcemap: true,
exports: 'named',
name: file.name,
banner: '/*! Hyperapp Render | MIT License | https://github.com/frenzzy/hyperapp-render */\n',
});
}));
// Create package.json for npm publishing
const libPkg = Object.assign({}, pkg);
delete libPkg.private;
delete libPkg.devDependencies;
delete libPkg.scripts;
await fs.outputJson('dist/package.json', libPkg, { spaces: 2 });
// Create server/package.json for convenient import
const serverPkg = Object.assign({}, pkg, {
name: 'server',
esnext: '../src/server.js',
});
delete serverPkg.devDependencies;
delete serverPkg.scripts;
return fs.outputJson('dist/server/package.json', serverPkg, { spaces: 2 });
}
module.exports = run();
|
Talk:Startrain/@comment-37361946-20190527134044
I just checked the schedule of Disney Channel Portugal for 1st June
Startrain will premie at 11am (Portugal time)
Followed by Oblivio around 11:25am
So it is confirmed to be airing, Wallybr you can set the timer tomorrow.
|
Electricity and hydrogen production from depleted oil/gas reservoirs using air injection and geothermal energy harvesting
ABSTRACT
The present disclosure details methods and systems for generating and recovering hydrogen from a depleted reservoir. The methods comprise several steps. Oxygen is introduced into a depleted reservoir. A fire flood is initiated, increasing temperature in the depleted reservoir and generating a gas mixture. The gas mixture is removed and transported to the surface. Energy is recovered from the gas mixture. Hydrogen is separated from the gas mixture, producing a depleted gas mixture and a hydrogen-rich gas mixture. The hydrogen-rich gas mixture is introduced into a subterranean storage formation.The systems for generating and recovering hydrogen comprise a depleted reservoir comprising hydrocarbons, a subterranean storage formation where hydrogen gas is substantially present that is bounded on at least one side by an intermediate formation, a fluid pathway between the depleted reservoir and the subterranean storage formation, and a wellbore traversing the subterranean storage formation and the depleted reservoir.
BACKGROUND
Various technologies involving renewable resources, carbon capture and storage, and hydrogen energy production are potentially useful for reducing emissions of greenhouse gases. One of these technologies is the harvesting of geothermal energy from subterranean formations, where heat from a subterranean formation is harvested for energy. Geothermal energy is generally sustainable and produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions than many other common energy sources.
During normal oil and gas production, the thermal energy of the crude oil, liquid condensate, or natural gas is rarely exploited for energy production; rather, produced hydrocarbons are permitted to retain the heat from their natural environment to maintain a reduced fluid viscosity. As the produced hydrocarbons cool during transport from the production well, their viscosity often increases substantially.
SUMMARY
The present disclosure details methods and systems for generating andre covering hydrogen from a depleted reservoir. The methods comprise introducing oxygen into a depleted reservoir, initiating a fire flood inthe depleted reservoir to increase temperature and generate a gasmixture, removing the gas mixture from the depleted reservoir,recovering energy from the gas mixture, separating some of the hydrogen from the gas mixture to create a depleted gas mixture and a hydrogen-rich gas mixture, and introducing the hydrogen-rich gas mixture into a subterranean storage formation.
The systems comprise a depleted reservoir comprising hydrocarbons, asubterranean storage formation where hydrogen gas is substantially present that is bounded on at least one side by an intermediate formation, a fluid pathway between the depleted reservoir and thesubterranean storage formation, and a wellbore comprising a wall thattraverses the subterranean storage formation and the depleted reservoir.
Other aspects and advantages of the claimed subject matter will be apparent from the following Detailed Description and the appended Claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a representation of a well system having a depleted reservoir and a storage formation, according to one or more embodiments.
FIG. 2 is a representation of well system having a depleted reservoir and a plurality of storage formations, according to one or moreembodiments.
FIG. 3 is a representation of one embodiment of a method of hydrogen production and storage, method 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
To be a viable option for electricity production, geothermal energy typically requires high temperatures in subterranean geological formations that are close to the surface. Subterranean geological formations are underground groupings of rock sharing similar physical properties. These conditions are only present at a few locations around the world. Lower temperature subterranean geological formations are typically less useful for electricity production and are more often used as a source of energy in other such applications as heating or cooling or in desalination.
The present invention encompasses a method and a system for the production of heat and a mixture of gases including hydrogen in a hydrocarbon well. This is done by producing a fire flood in a well to cause various hydrocarbons in the well to combust and produce a mixture of gases that comprises one or more of hydrogen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, water, methane, and other hydrocarbons. The hot gases allow for more efficient geothermal energy production and may be used in the production of electricity and the useful exploitation of hydrocarbons that are otherwise unviable for recovery. The produced hydrogen is separated and stored in one or more subterranean geological formations for current or future utilization. In at least one embodiment, carbon dioxide is separated and stored in one or more additional subterraneangeological formations, such as for sequestering to prevent emissions, to hold for future use as a chemical feedstock, or for utilization in productive reservoirs, such as for enhanced oil recovery (EOR).
In some instances, some of the hydrocarbons may not be unrecoverableutilizing current technological means. In other instances, some of the hydrocarbons may requires extreme recovery techniques that are simplyuneconomical at foreseeable market conditions. Finally, there are some hydrocarbons that are simply immobile or insoluble and will not flow through the reservoir. The embodiment methods provide a solution for allof these things by converting hydrocarbons to hot gases that are useful for generating power but also contain valuable chemicals.
In one or more embodiments, an oxygen-comprising gas mixture is introduced into a depleted reservoir. In one or more embodiments, a fire flood is initiated in the depleted reservoir proximate to where the oxygen-comprising gas mixture is introduced. The fire flood introduces heat and increases the temperature to a subsequent value that allows forthe production of a product gas mixture comprising hydrogen (H₂). In some instances, the product gas mixture includes carbon dioxide (CO₂).In one or more embodiments, this product gas mixture moves through thedepleted reservoir and is recovered at the surface. At the surface, inone or more embodiments, the product gas mixture is introduced into a gas turbine coupled to a power generator such that power is generated and the product gas mixture is depressurized through the turbine. In one or more embodiments, hydrogen is separated from the depressurizedproduct gas mixture, forming a H₂ depleted gas mixture. In some embodiments, the hydrogen may be further refined to increase it purity.In one or more embodiments, CO₂ is separated from the depressurizedproduct gas mixture, forming a CO₂ depleted gas mixture. In some embodiments, the carbon dioxide may be further refined to increase it purity. In one or more embodiments, the hydrogen is introduced into asubterranean storage formation. In one or more embodiments, the CO₂ is introduced into a second subterranean storage formation. In one or moreembodiments, the injection of the oxygen-comprising gas mixture into thedepleted reservoir may be a continuous process or a batch process.
Stored hydrogen can be utilized for various applications, such as the production of electricity or in pressure maintenance in gas reservoirs or reservoirs with a gas cap.
The embodiment methods allow for hydrocarbon reservoirs with low productivity to be further utilized for energy production and commercial utilization. It also allows for hydrogen to be produced and stored underground for later use. In addition, carbon dioxide may be stored underground for long term sequestration or for later use.
FIG. 1 is a representation of a well system having a depleted reservoir and a storage formation. Well system 1 has a number of wells traversingseveral layers of the Earth descending from the surface 34 including anoverburden 35, a subterranean storage formation 37, an intermediate formation 39, and a depleted reservoir 41. An under burden 43 is present below the other layers. The wells shown in FIG. 1 include a gas injection wellbore 15 and a product gas wellbore 23, which both fluidlyconnect the surface 34 with the depleted reservoir 41. Gas injection wellbore 15 conveys an O₂ comprising gas mixture from the surface 34 toa portion of the depleted reservoir 41. Product gas wellbore 23 convey sa hot, pressurized product gas from a second portion of the depletedreservoir 41 to the surface 34. Well system 1 also includes hydrogen injection wellbore 33, which conveys pressurized hydrogen into asubterranean storage formation 37.
Well system 1 also includes a fire flood support system 3. In FIG. 1 ,fire flood support system 3 includes a source of power generation, suchas solar panels 9. The power generation source is coupled to a compressor system 13, which use the power to compress a O₂ comprising gas mixture. During initial startup of the process, the source of power generation is external, such as solar panels. However, during operation,the fire flood support system 3 may be self-maintained through the product gas energy extraction system 7. The compressed O₂ comprising gasmixture is then introduced into the depleted reservoir 41 via the gas injection wellbore 15.
In FIG. 1 , several actions are shown occurring. A fire flood 19 is present in a portion of the depleted reservoir 41. This in turn drives(arrow) hot, pressurized product gas 21 towards product gas wellbore 23.Each will be introduced in context forthcoming.
Well system 1 also includes a product gas energy extraction system 7. In FIG. 1 , product gas energy extraction system 7 includes a product gasletdown turbine 25 coupled to the product gas wellbore 23. The product gas letdown turbine 25 is mechanically coupled to a generator 27 that is configured to generate electricity from the energy extracted by the turbine 25. The product gas wellbore 23 introduces the hot, pressurizedproduct gas mixture into the turbine 25, which produces both adepressurized product gas mixture and electrical power (via generator27). The depressurized product gas mixture is passed to an H₂ injection support system 5.
H₂ injection support system 5 is also part of well system 1. Upon receiving the depressurized product gas mixture, the gas mixture is introduced into chemical/gas separation processes 29. One of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that there are numerous chemical and gas separation processes comprising chemical/gas separation processes 29,but chemical/gas separation processes 29 are configured in H₂ injection support system 5 to extract and purify H₂ gas. The remainder of the gases—now H₂ depleted product gases—pass from the well system 1.
The H₂ gas in H₂ injection support system 5 is introduced into H₂compressor 31, which is coupled to the surface entry of hydrogen injection wellbore 33. Pressurized H₂ gas is introduced intosubterranean storage formation 37, where it remains until extracted.
FIG. 2 is a representation of well system having a depleted reservoir and a plurality of storage formations, according to one or moreembodiments. Well system 1 is similar to well system 1 of FIG. 1 ;however, there are a few differences in not only environmental structure but also surface processes.
In FIG. 2 , well system 1 comprises at least four wells, an O₂comprising gas injection wellbore 15, a hydrogen injection wellbore 33,a carbon dioxide injection wellbore 51, and a product gas wellbore 23.Wells in well system 1 traverse various layers of Earth descending fromthe surface, including an overburden 35, a depleted reservoir 41, an upper intermediate formation 45, a subterranean storage formation 37, a lower intermediate formation 47, and an additional subterranean storageformation 48. An under burden 43 is present beneath the other layers.
O₂ comprising gas injection wellbore 15 and the product gas wellbore 23both fluidly connect the depleted reservoir with the surface, as in FIG.1 . Gas injection wellbore 15 conveys an O₂ comprising gas mixture fromthe surface 34 to a portion of the depleted reservoir 41. Product gaswellbore 23 conveys a hot, pressurized product gas from a second portion of the depleted reservoir 41 to the surface 34. Well system 1 also includes hydrogen injection wellbore 33, which conveys pressurizedhydrogen into a subterranean storage formation 37, and carbon dioxide injection wellbore 51, which conveys pressurized carbon dioxide into an additional subterranean storage formation 48.
In FIG. 2 , there is a fire flood 19 present in the depleted reservoir.Resulting from fire flood 19, product gas mixture 21 is driven toward product gas wellbore 23.
Well system 1 also includes a product gas energy extraction system 7. In FIG. 2 , product gas energy extraction system 7 includes a product gasletdown turbine 25 fluidly connected to the product gas wellbore 23. The product gas letdown turbine 25 is mechanically coupled to a generator 27that is configured to generate electricity from the energy extracted bythe turbine 25. The product gas wellbore 23 introduces the hot,pressurized product gas mixture into the turbine 25, which produces botha depressurized product gas mixture and electrical power (via generator27). The depressurized product gas mixture is passed to an H₂ injection support system 5.
The H₂ injection support system 5 is also part of well system 1. Upon receiving depressurized product gas mixture from the product gas letdownturbine 25, the depressurized product gas mixture is introduced into the chemical/gas separation processes 29. The chemical/gas separation processes 29 is configured to H₂ and CO₂ in separate streams from thedepressurized product gas mixture and further purify them. The chemical/gas separation processes 29 may comprise various separation processes known to those skilled in the art that are capable of separating and purifying H₂ and CO₂ gas streams from the depressurizedproduct gas mixture, leaving an H₂ and CO₂ depleted product gas mixture.The H₂ and CO₂ depleted product gas mixture then passes out of the well system 1.
The H₂ gas in H₂ injection support system 5 is introduced into H₂compressor 31, which is coupled to the surface entry of hydrogen injection wellbore 33. Pressurized H₂ gas is introduced intosubterranean storage formation 37, where it remains until extracted.
The CO₂ gas in the H₂ injection support system is introduced into CO₂compressor 49, which is coupled to CO₂ injection wellbore 51. The CO₂gas passes through the CO₂ injection wellbore 51 into the additionalsubterranean storage formation 48, where it is stored.
A “reservoir” is any subterranean geological hydrocarbon-bearing formation retaining, for example, crude oil, condensates, or natural gas. A reservoir may currently be under hydrocarbon production or mayhave previously been under hydrocarbon production. A “depleted”reservoir is a reservoir that has previously produced hydrocarbons. A depleted reservoir typically contains remaining or “residual”hydrocarbons, but these hydrocarbons are no longer being commercially produced by the reservoir. A “subterranean storage formation” is asubterranean geological formation capable of storing one or more fluids,such as gases, that is not the depleted reservoir from which these gases were produced. For purposes of this application, an overburden, an intermediate formation, and an under burden are considered to beimpermeable to gas transport, that this, these formations do not support the migration of gas through their matrix.
Embodiment systems may have various configurations capable of providing power to components on the surface. Power may be able to be provided by sources that include, but are not limited to, solar panels, an electrical grid, waste heat, geothermal energy, and combustion of gases such as recovered light hydrocarbons or H₂S. There may be couplings configured to transfer power from one or more of these sources and one or more components on the surface. These may include components of a hydrogen injection support system, such as a compressor, or various pieces of equipment capable of separating hydrogen from the product gasmixture. There may be couplings between the various sources and one or more components of a fire flood support system, such as a gas compressor. In one or more embodiments, solar cells are electrically coupled to one or more components of the fire flood support system.Energy from gas streams on the surface may provide power to surface components from various systems, such as a hydrogen injection support system or a carbon dioxide injection support system. In one or moreembodiments, waste heat may be available for transfer to separation processes. In one or more embodiments, power may be transferred from these sources to one or more of these components on the surface for execution of various steps of embodiment methods.
Elevated temperatures, that is, greater than surface or even normalsubterranean formation temperatures, are required to carry out severalthermochemical reactions in a depleted reservoir. Oxygen is introduced into the depleted reservoir via an injection well. The oxygen may be injected as a component of air, or as a component of air that has been partially enriched with oxygen such that the enriched air has a greater oxygen content than that of the atmosphere, that is greater than about20 vol. % (volume percent) oxygen, such as greater than 30 vol. %oxygen, such as greater than 40 vol. % oxygen, such as greater than 50vol. % oxygen, such as greater than 60 vol. % oxygen, such as greater than 70 vol. % oxygen, such as greater than 80 vol. % oxygen, such as greater than 90 vol. % oxygen, such as greater than 95 vol. % oxygen,such as greater than 98 vol. % oxygen, such as greater than 99 vol. %oxygen, such as greater than 99.9 vol. % oxygen. In one or moreembodiments, oxygen comprising compounds may be used. In one or moreembodiments, the oxygen-comprising gas mixture may be pressurized, thatis, raised to a value greater than atmospheric pressure, prior to introduction into the depleted reservoir. In one or more embodiments,the pressure of the oxygen-comprising gas mixture may be greater than100 psi (pounds per square inch). In one or more embodiments, the pressure of the oxygen-comprising gas mixture is in a range of from about 500 to about 1000 psi. Utilizing oxygen at elevated concentration sand pressures may require special oxygen-handling facilities and materials, including piping and isolation systems, which are appreciated by one of skill in the art.
Heat from the reservoir may be utilized to pre-heat the oxygen introduced into the reservoir. In one or more embodiments, the injection well and the production well utilize the same wellbore. In one or moreembodiments, the wellbores are separate. In instances where the wells are the same, an injection tubing and a production tubing may be in thesame well. This may be of value in some instances as the hot production gas may pre-heat the oxygen-comprising gas mixture as it descends intothe depleted formation. In instances where the wellbores are different,a heat exchanger on the surface, such as in the gas turbine, may be utilized to preheat the oxygen before introduction. Oxygen injection and removal may be performed in different branches in the same well, as the fire flood would serve to help push reaction products away from the location of ignition.
Water and hydrocarbons are typically both present in a depletedreservoir. After injection of oxygen-comprising gas mixture into thedepleted reservoir, in one or more embodiments a fire flood is initiated in a portion of the depleted reservoir. The various hydrocarbons in the presence of pressurized oxygen undergo in-situ combustion within thedepleted reservoir, also known as a fire flood. In a fire flood, a fire is ignited and a fire front moves through the depleted reservoir as oxygen continues to be injected. This combination serves to push fluids inside the depleted reservoir toward another well, where they can be recovered.
In the depleted reservoir where the fire flood is, combustion of hydrocarbons, the generation of steam from formation water, the reduction of viscosity of otherwise viscous hydrocarbons, the cracking of the reservoir to release trapped heated fluids, and the cracking of long-carbon hydrocarbons into smaller-carbon hydrocarbons, which are more mobile, occurs simultaneously. The resulting fire flood may substantially increase the temperature in the depleted reservoir,allowing various chemical reactions to occur and forming the product gasmixture. Both thermochemical and catalytic reactions may occur, as metal oxides, salts, and other organic and inorganic species are present that may support a number of chemical conversions, both organic and inorganic. These chemical reactions may produce a mixture of gases that may include, but are not limited to, CO₂, H₂, H₂O, O₂, N2, CO, H₂S, CH₄,ethane, propane, butanes, and heavier alkanes and cycloalkanes; lightolefins, including ethylene, propylene, butylenes, and heavieralkylolefins; and potentially aromatics and alkyl aromatics, such as benzene. In one or more embodiments, other gas products, such as SOx,NOx, light aromatics, and light olefins, may be produced and be present in the product gas mixture. In one or more embodiments, olefins anddiolefins may be produced due to the thermal cracking of the saturated hydrocarbons. In addition, there may be other compounds present in the mixture of gases that are not listed.
Several different chemical reactions may occur in the oxygen-rich environment in the presence of elevated temperatures and metal oxides.Representative reactions that may occur include, but are not limited to,Formulas 1-5:
$\begin{matrix}\left. {{C_{n}H_{m}} + {\frac{n}{2}O_{2}}}\rightarrow{{nCO} + {\frac{m}{2}H_{2}}} \right. & \left( {{Formula}1} \right)\end{matrix}$ $\begin{matrix}\left. {{CO} + {H_{2}O}}\rightarrow{H_{2} + {CO}_{2}} \right. & \left( {{Formula}2} \right)\end{matrix}$ $\begin{matrix}\left. {{C_{n}H_{m}} + {{nH}_{2}O}}\rightarrow{{nCO} + {\left( {n + \frac{m}{2}} \right)H_{2}}} \right. & \left( {{Formula}3} \right)\end{matrix}$ $\begin{matrix}\left. {{CO}_{2} + {4H_{2}}}\rightarrow{{CH}_{4} + {2H_{2}O}} \right. & \left( {{Formula}4} \right)\end{matrix}$ $\begin{matrix}\left. {{C_{m}H_{n}} + {\left( {\frac{n}{4} + m} \right)O_{2}}}\rightarrow{{mCO}_{2} + {\frac{n}{2}H_{2}O}} \right. & \left( {{Formula}5} \right)\end{matrix}$
where m and n are positive integers. Formula 1 reflects the partial oxidation of hydrocarbons. Formula 2 reflects a water-gas shift reaction. Formula 3 reflects a steam-reforming reaction. Formula 4reflects the Sabatier reaction, which may occur in elevated temperature environments in the presence of a metal, such as nickel, or metal oxides. Formula 5 refers to oxidative combustion of a hydrocarbon.Additional chemical reactions may occur as a result of the introduction of oxygen and the fire flood into the depleted reservoir. In one or moreembodiments, partial oxidation of hydrocarbon into CO and H₂ mainly comes from stoichiometrically insufficient O₂. In one or moreembodiments, water or steam may be injected along with oxygen to increase production of hydrogen. In one or more embodiments, additional catalysts may be used as a supplement to the natural catalysts present in the formation. These catalysts may include, but are not limited to,partial oxidation catalysts such as Pt, Ni, Pd for combustion of hydrocarbons into CO and H₂O. Other catalysts known to those skilled inthe art may also be used.
Once the fire flood starts, a product gas mixture may form as a product of the reactions. The product gas mixture may then be produced from the reservoir. This extraction may be performed through a separate well fromthe injection well, may be produced from the same well but a separate production tubing, as previously described, based upon the configuration of the well system, or both. The fire flood in conjunction with the production serves to create a fluid momentum to drive the product gasmixture (and potentially any now-mobilized hydrocarbons) towards the production tubing. This reaction and production may cause the product gas mixture to have not only an elevated temperature, but due to the confined environment also an elevated pressure, which assists inproduction.
In one or more embodiments, energy may be extracted from the product gasmixture. For example, the product gas mixture, which has an elevated temperature, may be passed through a gas turbine for the purpose of energy production, such as for creating electricity. An example of sucha turbine may be an integrated gas turbine (IGT), where heat energy is converted into mechanical energy by passing the elevated temperature gas through a turbine but also the same gas through a heat exchanger to create high-pressure steam. The product gas mixture from the wellbore is of sufficient heat and volume to drive a turbine and generate mechanical energy. The resultants are not only the production of power in some form but also a cooler, depressurized product gas mixture. Passing the product gas mixture through a turbine results not only in a temperature reduction but also a pressure reduction having translated the thermal energy of the gas into mechanical energy. Other methods for extracting energy from the product gas mixture may also be employed, such as heatexchangers to create high-pressure steam, as previously suggested, or to facilitate chemical reactions in a reaction vessel or combustion of the product gas to provide energy for electrical energy generation. Heatexchangers may also be utilized to provide process heat from the product gas mixture. In one or more embodiments, the energy produced from the product gas mixture may be stored through various means. These may include, but are not limited to, compressed air energy storage, water elevation energy storage, batteries, super capacitors, and other electrical energy storage.
The cooler, depressurized product gas mixture is introduced into one or more separation processes to extract useful chemical components from the product gas mixture. Suitable separation processes known to those skilled in the art may include, but are not limited to, dehydration,pressure swing adsorption, and temperature swing absorption. Energy fromthe gas turbine may be utilized in one or more separation processes.
In one or more embodiments, both a hydrogen-rich gas mixture and a hydrogen-poor product gas mixture are produced from the depressurizedproduct gas mixture. During the one or more separation processes,hydrogen may be separated from the depressurized product gas mixture to form a hydrogen-rich gas mixture. This hydrogen-rich gas mixture comprises a greater concentration of hydrogen than the product gasmixture. In one or more embodiments, the hydrogen-rich gas mixture may substantially free of other components. In one or more embodiments, the hydrogen-rich gas mixture has a purity in a range of greater than 50%hydrogen, such as greater than 60%, such as greater than 70%, such as greater than 80%, such as greater than 90%, such as greater than 95%,such as greater than 98%, such as greater than 99%, such as greater than99.9%. In one or more embodiments, the hydrogen-rich gas mixture may comprise components other than hydrogen, including, but not limited to,CO₂, CO, H₂O, N₂, small C2+ hydrocarbons, H₂S, and NO₂.
In one or more embodiments, both a carbon dioxide-rich gas mixture and a carbon dioxide-poor product gas mixture are produced from thedepressurized product gas mixture. During the one or more separation processes, carbon dioxide may be separated from the depressurizedproduct gas mixture to form a carbon dioxide-rich gas mixture. This carbon dioxide-rich gas mixture comprises a greater concentration of carbon dioxide than the product gas mixture. In one or more embodiments,the carbon dioxide-rich gas mixture may comprise components other than carbon dioxide. In one or more embodiments, the carbon dioxide-rich gasmixture may substantially free of other components. In one or moreembodiments, the carbon dioxide-rich gas mixture has a purity in a range of greater than 50% carbon dioxide, such as greater than 60%, such as greater than 70%, such as greater than 80%, such as greater than 90%,such as greater than 95%, such as greater than 98%, such as greater than99%, such as greater than 99.9%. In one or more embodiments, if one or more of the separation processes includes amine absorption, then the carbon dioxide-rich gas mixture may typically have a purity that is greater than about 90%.
Other components may be separated from the gas mixture as well, such as water; light hydrocarbons (LHC), such as alkanes, olefins, andaromatics; and other gases and liquids. In one or more embodiments,light hydrocarbons may be recovered during the separation processes. The light hydrocarbons, once recovered, may be recycled, combusted, and then directed back to the turbine for more energy production. In one or moreembodiments, energy from combustion of the light hydrocarbons may beused to power surface processes, such as separation. In one or moreembodiments, light hydrocarbons may be injected into the depletedreservoir with the oxygen-comprising gas mixture. In one or moreembodiments, one or more of the gas streams may be put through asc rubber to remove contaminants. In one or more embodiments, if hydrogen or carbon dioxide are going to be separated from the gas mixture via membranes, it may be desired to separate out various heavier components prior to separating hydrogen or carbon from the gas mixture in order to prevent fouling in the membranes.
After separation from the product gas mixture, the hydrogen-rich gasmixture may be introduced into one or more subterranean storage formations. Hydrogen may be transported through pipelines and injected into a subterranean storage formation. The subterranean storageformation is any type of subterranean geological formation that is configured to hold a gas for an extended period without detectable leakage. This may include, but is not limited to, depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs, other hydrocarbon reservoirs, shallow neogene aquifers, and salt caverns. In order to be able to store a gas, a subterranean storageformation is bound both above and below by formations less permeable tothe gas than the subterranean storage formation. These formations shouldbe substantially impermeable to the gas so as to prevent detectable leakage. In one or more embodiments, less than 0.1% annual loss of hydrogen from the subterranean storage formation may be permissible. Inone or more embodiments, less than 0.01% annual loss of hydrogen fromthe subterranean storage formation may be permissible. These intermediate formations would hinder migration of the gas from thesubterranean storage formation. In other words, the subterranean storage formations are bound by rock layers with nearly zero permeability to the stored gas. In one or more embodiments, the permeability of hydrogen inthe intermediate formations, both above and below the subterraneanstorage formation, may be less than 0.1 millidarcy. In contrast, thesubterranean storage formation needs to have a permeability to the stored gas that is great enough to permit introduction and mobility through the subterranean storage formation. In one or more embodiments,the permeability of the subterranean storage formation to hydrogen maybe greater than 1 millidarcy.
Hydrogen or other gases may be stored in a subterranean storageformation either above or below the depleted reservoir in which the fire flood is present. The hydrogen gas would then be able to be stored foran extended time and may be produced in the future. In one or moreembodiments, hydrogen may be stored in a subterranean storage formation above the depleted reservoir, as hydrogen is a light gas and may migrate upward naturally. In one or more embodiments, the subterranean storageformation where hydrogen is stored may be a gas reservoir or in a reservoir with a gas cap. The stored hydrogen may be used to increase pressure in the reservoir. In addition, when the reservoir is depleted,the gas-cap may be ‘drained’ and produced. The stored hydrogen mixed with the other gases from the reservoir may then be produced and utilized.
Once stored, the hydrogen-rich gas may be removed from the subterraneanstorage formation and produced to the surface at any time. The hydrogen-rich gas mixture may be further refined utilizing specialized hydrogen-based processes that are known to those skilled in the art.These techniques may include, but are not limited to, dehydration,pressure swing adsorption, temperature swing adsorption, and membrane separation. Separation of hydrogen from other materials may take theform of a combination of these or other techniques in order to obtain hydrogen of sufficient purity for use in the intended applications.
After separation from the product gas mixture, the carbon dioxide-rich gas mixture may be introduced into one or more subterranean storage formations, similarly as the prior description of the storage of hydrogen-rich gas mixture. Carbon dioxide or other gases may be stored in a subterranean storage formation either above or below the depletedreservoir in which the fire flood is present. Once stored, the carbon dioxide-rich gas mixture may be removed from the subterranean storageformation and produced to the surface at any time. The CO₂ may be stored in an additional subterranean storage formation separate from the hydrogen-rich gas mixture. The carbon dioxide-rich gas mixture may be produced and utilized in supercritical CO₂ enhanced oil recovery or other applications. In one or more embodiments, carbon dioxide may be reacted with various minerals, such as silicates, for the purpose of carbon capture and sequestration.
FIG. 3 is a representation of one embodiment of a method of hydrogen production and storage, method 1. In this embodiment, an O₂ comprising gas mixture is injected into a depleted reservoir 71. A fire flood is initiated 73, producing a product gas mixture that is subsequently removed from the depleted reservoir 75. In method 1, energy is extracted from the product gas mixture by various means known to those skilled inthe art 77. These may include the use of a gas turbine for producing electricity, extracting heat, or both, from the product gas mixture. In method 1, as shown in FIG. 3 , this energy is used in one or more processes including hydrogen separation 79, carbon dioxide separation83, hydrogen injection into a subterranean storage formation 81, and carbon dioxide injection into the additional subterranean storageformation 85. In method 1, electricity produced during energy production from the product gas is then exported 89. After energy extraction fromthe product gas 77, hydrogen is then separated from the product gasmixture 79, leaving behind a depleted product gas mixture, before being injected into the subterranean storage formation 81. In FIG. 3 , carbon dioxide is then separated from the depleted product gas mixture 83,producing a secondary depleted gas mixture, before being injected into an additional subterranean storage formation 85. The secondary depleted product gas mixture may then be exported for further processing 87.
Method 1 is one embodiment. Other embodiments for hydrogen production and storage are also possible, in addition to that depicted in FIG. 3 .For example, other configurations for optional energy extraction fromthe product gas mixture may be employed. In addition, other configurations may also be possible, including those described in other embodiments herein.
Although only a few example embodiments have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the example embodiments without materially departing from this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this disclosure as defined in the following claims. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing there cited function and not only structural equivalents, but also equivalent structures. Thus, although a nail and a screw may not be structural equivalents in that a nail employs a cylindrical surface to secure wooden parts together, whereas a screw employs a helical surface,in the environment of fastening wooden parts, a nail and a screw may be equivalent structures. It is the express intention of the applicant not to invoke 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) for any limitations of any of the claims herein, except for those in which the claim expressly uses the words‘means for’ together with an associated function.
What is claimed:
1. A method for generating and recovering hydrogen froma depleted reservoir, comprising: introducing oxygen into a depletedreservoir; inducing a fire flood in the depleted reservoir to generate a gas mixture comprising hydrogen; removing the gas mixture from thedepleted reservoir; recovering energy from the gas mixture; separating a portion of the hydrogen from the gas mixture to create a depleted gasmixture and a hydrogen-rich gas mixture; and introducing the hydrogen-rich gas mixture into a subterranean storage formation.
2. The method according to claim 1, where carbon dioxide is further separated from the depleted gas mixture, producing a carbon dioxide-rich gasmixture and a secondary depleted gas mixture.
3. The method according to claim 2, where the separated carbon dioxide is introduced into an additional subterranean storage formation.
4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising introducing an oxygen-comprising gas mixture into the depleted reservoir.
5. The method according to claim 1, wherethe hydrogen is generated via partial oxidation of hydrocarbon in thedepleted reservoir.
6. The method according to claim 1, where the hydrogen is generated via water gas shift reaction in the depletedreservoir.
7. The method according to claim 1, where energy is recovered from the gas mixture through the use of a gas turbine connected to a generator.
8. The method according to claim 1, where one or more additional components are separated from the depleted gas mixture,wherein one or more additional components are selected from the group consisting of light hydrocarbons or hydrogen sulfide.
9. The method according to claim 8, where energy is recovered from the one or more additional components from combustion or combustion products of the one or more additional components.
10. The method according to claim 1,where light hydrocarbons are introduced into the depleted reservoir. 11.A method for producing and storing hydrogen gas comprising: introducing oxygen into a depleted reservoir via an oxygen-comprising gas mixture;inducing a fire flood in the depleted reservoir such that at least one chemical reaction occurs to generate a gas mixture comprising hydrogen and carbon dioxide; removing the gas mixture from the depletedreservoir; separating some of the produced hydrogen gas and carbon dioxide from the gas mixture to create a hydrogen-rich gas mixture, a carbon dioxide-rich gas mixture, and a secondary depleted gas mixture;injecting the hydrogen-rich gas mixture into a subterranean storageformation; and injecting the carbon dioxide-rich gas mixture into an additional subterranean storage formation.
12. A system comprising: a depleted reservoir comprising hydrocarbons; a subterranean storageformation, where the subterranean storage formation is bounded on atleast one side by an intermediate formation, and where hydrogen gas is substantially present in the subterranean storage formation; a fluid pathway between the depleted reservoir and the subterranean storageformation; and a wellbore comprising a wall that traverses thesubterranean storage formation and the depleted reservoir.
13. Thesystem according to claim 12 further comprising a second subterraneanstorage formation that is bounded on one side by a second intermediate formation, wherein carbon dioxide is substantially present in the secondsubterranean storage formation.
14. The system according to claim 12further comprising a chemical/gas separation process that is materially connected to the subterranean storage formation.
15. The system according to claim 12 further comprising a turbine that is materially connected to the depleted reservoir.
|
Charles WRIGHT, et al. v. MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS OF the CITY OF JACKSON, MS & Dr. Michael R. Smith.
No. 53849.
Supreme Court of Mississippi.
Oct. 13, 1982.
Rehearing Denied Dec. 1, 1982.
R.E. Swindoll, Sr., Jackson, for appellants.
Stennett, Wilkinson & Ward, James A. Peden, Jr., Gay Dawn Horne, Howard C. Ross, Jr., Jackson, for appellees.
Before PATTERSON, C.J., and ROY NOBLE LEE and PRATHER, JJ.
PRATHER, Justice, for the Court:
This case involves an appeal by neighboring landowners who live adjacent to a 44.5 acre tract of undeveloped land on the south side of U.S. Highway 80 west within the City of Jackson, seeking to reverse a court order rendered by the Circuit Court of the First Judicial District of Hinds County. The court order upheld the Jackson City Council’s decision to rezone the 44.5 acre tract from R-2 (Residential, single and two-family) classification to C-3 (Commercial), C — 1 (Commercial Restricted) and R-3 (Residential-Townhouse and Zero lot line) classifications.
The assignments of error raised on appeal are:
(1) That the Circuit Court erred in failing to apply the doctrine of res judicata which would bar consideration of the rezoning request.
(2) That the Jackson City Council and the Circuit Court erred in not affirming the Jackson Zoning Committee and the City Planning Board’s recommendations to deny the application for rezoning.
(3) That the Circuit Court erred in affirming the Jackson City Council’s action to rezone the subject property since there had been no showing of both substantial change in the neighborhood and a public need for such rezoning.
The subject property of the present rezoning application was formerly owned by one Richard R. Stock. In 1978, Stock filed with the City of Jackson an application to rezone the subject property to classifications of C-3 (General Commercial) and R-3 (Townhouse and Zero Lot Line Residential). At that time, the City Planning Board’s recommendation that the application be denied was upheld by the Jackson City Council, and in turn, was affirmed by the Circuit Court of the First Judicial District of Hinds County.
The present case began when the appel-lee, Dr. Michael R. Smith, as the new owner of the subject property, filed a rezoning application with the other appellee, the City of Jackson, on June 15, 1981. On July 9, 1981, a fact-finding hearing was conducted by the Jackson Zoning Committee. On the basis of facts gathered at that hearing, the Zoning Committee and the City Planning Board recommended that the City Council deny the rezoning application. However, the Jackson City Council found that the proposed rezoning “would be in keeping with sound land use practice and to the best interest of the city”, and by a vote of two to one adopted an ordinance rezoning the subject property to Dr. Smith’s requested classifications.
I.
The appellant’s first contention is that the circuit court erred in failing to apply the doctrine of res judicata to the present case. The common law doctrine of res judicata is designed to prevent relitigation by the same parties of the same claims or issues. City of Jackson v. Holliday, 246 Miss. 412, 149 So.2d 525 (1963). See R. Khayat and D. Reynolds, Zoning Law in Mississippi, 45 M.L.J. 365, 390-91 (1974) (brief summary of law concerning doctrine of res judicata in zoning cases). Generally, four identities must be present before the doctrine of res judicata will apply to bar relitigation: (1) identity of the subject matter of the action, (2) identity of the cause of action, (3) identity of the parties to the action, and (4) identity of the quality or character of a person against whom the claim is made. Cowan v. Gulf City Fisheries, Inc., 381 So.2d 158 (Miss.1980). Thus, the doctrine has not been applied where the subsequent petition to rezone requests a different or more restrictive classification. See City of Jackson v. Ridgway, 261 So.2d 458 (Miss.1972) (material difference between subsequent request to rezone to Residential A-2 classification and first request to rezone to Residential A-3 classification); Yates v. Mayor and Commissioners of City of Jackson, 244 So.2d 724 (Miss.1971) (same).
In the instant case, Dr. Smith’s proposal included some rezoning of the subject property in the southeast area to C-l Restricted Commercial. Mr. Stock’s petition requested that the same area be rezoned to C-3 General Commercial. Thus, following the precedent of the Ridgway and Yates cases above, the doctrine of res judicata is inapplicable and does not bar consideration of Dr. Smith’s application to rezone.
II.
The appellants’ second contention is that the Jackson City Council and the Circuit Court should have been bound by the Zoning Committee and Planning Board’s, recommendations to deny the rezoning request. This precise legal question has been raised in our Court before in a similar factual situation. In City of Jackson v. Sheppard Investment Co., 185 So.2d 675 (Miss.1966) the Court stated:
The Zoning Committee of the City Planning Board is an advisory body only. It can recommend to the City Council what it thinks should be done, but it cannot pass finally on a petition to rezone. Zoning is an exercise of the police power by the governing authority, in this ease, the City Council of the City of Jackson. [185 So.2d at 676].
Thus, a City Council must ultimately have the final say in municipal zoning matters. See also City of Jackson v. McMurry, 288 So.2d 23 (Miss.1974) (ultimate legislative function of zoning remains in City Council despite existence of subordinate advisory committee); Delta Construction Company of Jackson v. City of Pascagoula, 278 So.2d 436 (Miss.1973) (City Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Adjustment and Appeals are advisers as to planning and zoning, but final decision is left to City Council); Sanderson v. City of Hattiesburg, 249 Miss. 656, 163 So.2d 739 (1964) (City Commission has legislative function of zoning, and it may or may not accept recommendations offered by board of review). In light of this overwhelming precedent, it should be readily apparent that the Jackson City Council was not bound by its advisory committees.
III.
The appellants’ final contention is that there had been an insufficient showing of both substantial change and public need for the rezoning. On prior occasions, our Court has recognized the presumption that comprehensive zoning ordinances adopted by municipal authorities are well planned and adopted to be permanent. Cloverleaf Mall Ltd. v. Conerly, 387 So.2d 736 (Miss.1980); Martinson v. City of Jackson, 215 So.2d 414 (Miss.1968). Therefore, to justify a rezoning, the burden of proof is upon the applicant to show either: (1) that there was a mistake in the original zoning, or (2) that the character of the neighborhood had changed substantially and that there was a public need for rezoning the property. City of Oxford v. Inman, 405 So.2d 111 (Miss. 1981); Sullivan v. City of Bay St. Louis, 375 So.2d 1200 (Miss.1979). See generally J. Gladden, Jr., The Change or Mistake Rule: A Question of Flexibility, 50 M.L.J. 375 (1979) (general criticism of Court’s use of above test). Furthermore, the applicant must prove the requisite elements by clear and convincing evidence. City of New Albany v. Ray, 417 So.2d 550 (Miss.1982); Bell v. City of Canton, 412 So.2d 1179 (Miss.1982).
In the case at bar, the applicant failed to show a public need. Dr. Smith claimed that he could improve the tax base of the City by constructing a new shopping mall and professional offices on the subject property. However, an architectural and planning expert testified as to several reasons why there was no public need for this rezoning. He stated that there were two shopping centers near the subject property, and that a third shopping center had recently been closed due to the competition. In fact, the Metro Center, approximately one and one-half miles from the subject property, is a “regional” center capable of serving 100,000 to 200,000 residents, a population which would encompass the entire metropolitan area of Jackson. Additionally, there were several other commercial areas near the subject property’s neighborhood which were not currently being used. The contestants also provided a petition containing 133 signatures of neighbors in opposition to the rezoning application. They argued that there was no need for an additional shopping center, nor did they believe that these residential areas could handle the additional traffic.
With regard to the claim of substantial change in the subject property’s neighborhood, the appellees have also failed to sustain their burden of proof. The only change of any consequence in the neighborhood was a doubling of an already existing industrial zone to the northwest of the subject property. (See attached map at end of opinion showing neighborhood in question). Another change, the construction of a fire station, was a compatible construction with residential or commercial areas, and does not constitute a substantial change. The other changes listed by the applicants’ counsel did not occur in the subject property’s neighborhood. The fact that Interstate Highway 220 had recently been constructed two miles away, or the fact that the nearby City of Clinton had doubled in population in the last ten years, has no relevance with regard to the neighborhood in question.
Since the applicant has failed to prove by clear and convincing proof that (1) there has been a substantial change in the neighborhood and (2) a public need for such rezoning, we must reverse the order of rezoning granted below.
REVERSED AND RENDERED.
PATTERSON, C.J., SUGG and WALKER, P. JJ., and BROOM, ROY NOBLE LEE, HAWKINS, BOWLING and DAN M. LEE, JJ., concur.
|
Unable to browse published npm packages on Nexus
NPM publishes to Nexus under the dash "-" folder. Packages cannot be viewed using Browse Storage.
How to avoid the dash "-" folder?
Is there way to publish npm packages with the folder structure like NuGet?
Is it possible to have a structure like this?
PRIVATE_NPM/
|
|--package-1.0.0/
| |
| |--package-1.0.0.tgz
|
|--package-1.0.1/
|
|--package-1.0.1.tgz
The repository structure in Nexus is standard, and the "-" is part of that standard, it's used to retrieve metadata.
There is a declined feature request (Nexus 2.10) for an NPM package browsing UI.
|
Dissipative cover tape surface mount device packaging
ABSTRACT
High transparency, low-haze, static dissipative cover tapes for two-piece surface mount device packaging tapes are described comprising a metallized backing film, e.g. a polyester film one side of which is coated with a thin layer of aluminum, and a heat-sealable adhesive, e.g. an adhesive comprising a styrenic block elastomer, a tackifier, a plasticizing agent, an antiblock agent, and a conductive material such as nickel flakes. The cover tapes of this invention can be used with carrier tapes made from either polystyrene or polyvinyl chloride, and demonstrate a consistent peel strength of between 30 and 80 grams.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to surface mount device packaging. In one aspect, the invention relates to a two-piece package for chip-type electronic parts, the package comprising a carrier tape and a cover tape, while in another aspect, the invention relates to a cover tape designed to dissipate static electricity that may be harmful to the electronic packaged parts. In yet another aspect, the invention relates to a heat-sealable, low-haze cover tape.
Surface mount device (SMD) tape is a two-part packaging tape for chip-type electronic parts, e.g. integrated circuits, inductors, transistors, resisters, capacitors, diodes, etc. SMD tape comprises a carrier tape with punched or embossed cavities for holding the part and a cover tape adapted to be heat-sealed to the carrier tape. The carrier tape is typically constructed of polyvinyl chloride, polyester, polypropylene or polystyrene, and the cover tape is typically constructed of polyester to which a heat-sealable adhesive is coated onto one side.
In use, the carrier tape and the cover tape are stored on separate rolls or reels. The carrier tape is unwound from its storage reel and extended in a linear fashion such that parts can be inserted into its cavities. As the parts are inserted, the cover tape is applied along the linear length of the carrier tape such that the adhesive coated side of the cover tape comes into contact with the carrier tape. The cover tape and carrier tape are in contact with one another at their linear edges, and the adhesive on the cover tape is activated (rendered tacky) by the application of heat at those points in which it is in contact with the carrier tape. The heat is provided in a sufficient amount, balanced with an appropriate amount of pressure and dwell time, to activate the adhesive such that a bond of uniform strength is obtained across the length of the SMD tape. The heat and pressure can be applied by any one of a number of different techniques, e.g. hot air guns, drag shoes, ultrasonics, reciprocating sealing shoes, heated pinch rollers, etc. The adhesive carried on the cover tape that is not subjected to the heat and pressure is not activated and as such, it remains nontacky.
SMD tapes must possess a number of certain characteristics if they are to be useful as packages for electronic parts. Since most electronic parts are sensitive to static electricity, SMD tapes are antistatic, static dissipative or conductive so that if any static electricity is generated due to friction from contact between the cover tape and the part, then it is dissipated through the SMD tape. These tapes are also sufficiently transparent to permit any writing (e.g. part numbers, manufacturer's name, etc.) that is borne by most electronic parts to be read through the tape.
Peel strength is another important property of SMD tapes. Peel strength is the force required to remove a cover tape from a carrier tape after the former has been heat-sealed to the latter. If the peel strength is too low, e.g. less than 30 g, then the cover tape can loosen from the carrier tape during packing or shipping and the packaged part can be lost. If the peel strength is too high, e.g. more than 80 g, then the carrier tape can move or "jump" during the un sealing or "de taping" operation and the packaged part either lost or positioned in such a manner that it is not accessible to a robotic arm programmed to remove it from the carrier tape pocket to its assembly point. The peel strength of the SMD tape is the function of a number of different variables including, but not limited to the chemical composition of the adhesive, the method by which the adhesive was activated at the time it was applied to the carrier tape, the conditions to which the SMD tape was subjected from the time of sealing to the time of un sealing, and the amount of time that elapsed between sealing and un sealing.
Another aspect of the cover tape that is important to an effective SMD tape is the nature of the adhesive that is coated onto one of its sides. The adhesive must be activated when exposed to sufficient heat, but remain inactive in the absence of such heat. Moreover, only that portion of the adhesive that is subjected to heat and/or pressure should activate, i.e. the lineal edges of cover tape, such that the adhesive at the center of the tape (and over the packaged part) remains nontacky and does not leave a residue on the packaged part should it come in contact with it. Furthermore, the adhesive should not cause blocking when the cover tape is removed from its storage roll for application onto the carrier tape, and it should be sufficiently clear so as not to haze or otherwise reduce the transparency of the backing film to which it is applied such that writing on the packaged parts is obscured.
Various SMD tapes are commercially available, but all are subject to improvement. Some tapes demonstrate good ability to dissipate static electricity, but the cover tape tends to be hazy. Good dissipation of static electricity generally requires a relatively high loading (more than 30 weight percent) of conductive metal in the adhesive, and this imparts a haze to the optics of the cover tape. Moreover, the backing film of the cover tape is usually metallized, i.e. it is coated with a thin layer of metal on one side to impart electrical conductivity to the cover tape. Some tapes demonstrate relatively good optical properties, but their ability to dissipate static electricity is less than fully desirable. Some of the tapes demonstrate consistent desirable peel strength such that the problems of jumping or slippage are only nominal during an un sealing operation. Moreover, some of the tapes exhibit undesirable blocking properties during removal from the storage reel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to this invention, a transparent, low-haze, static dissipative, heat-sealable cover tape is provided that has a peel force of between about 30 and about 80 grams after heat-sealed to a carrier tape to form a two-piece package for electronic parts. The cover tape comprises a:
A. Polymeric film one side of which is coated with a layer of metal such that the metal reduces the transparency of the film by less than about 60 percent, preferably less than 40 percent, and
B. Heat-sealable adhesive laminated to the metal-coated side of the film, the adhesive comprising less than 7 weight percent, based upon the weight of the adhesive, of a conductive material such that the conductive material and the metal coating are in contact with one another to form a conductive pathway with a resistivity of less than 10⁹ ohms/square, preferably less than 10⁶ ohms/square.
The cover tapes of this invention can be heat sealed to any conventional carrier tape, and do not block under normal storage and use conditions.
Preferably, the heat-sealable adhesive comprises:
1. A thermoplastic base elastomer comprising one or more styrenic block copolymers,
2. A tackifying agent,
3. A plasticizing agent,
4. An antiblock agent comprising a thermoplastic polymeric microspheres, and
5. A conductive material in the form of flakes, dendrites or filaments.
The conductive material is preferably a metal, such as nickel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The FIGURE is a schematic depiction of a cross-section of one embodiment of a covertape of this invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The cover tapes of this invention comprise two basic components, i.e. a backing film and a heat-sealable adhesive. The backing film also comprises two elements, a polymeric film to which a thin metal coating is attached (i.e. bonded) to one side.
The polymeric film can be made of any material that is relatively transparent and exhibits good mechanical strength, e.g. polyester, nylon, polypropylene, etc. These films are typically between 0.5 and 5, preferably between 0.75 and 2 mils in thickness, and they exhibit a high degree of transparency. Films made of polyester, e.g. American Hoechst 2600 polyethylene terephthalate film, are preferred.
The polymeric film is metallized on one side. The metal can be attached to the film by any suitable method, e.g. vacuum evaporation or sputtering, and it is typically applied in an amount such that the transparency of the film is not reduced by more than 60 percent, preferably by not more than 40 percent. The thickness of the metal layer can vary to convenience, and it is primarily a function of the desired resistivity and light transmission properties of the film. Any metal that will conduct electricity can be used as the metallized layer, and aluminum is typical and preferred metal.
Any heat-sealable adhesive that will impart the desired resistivity, transparency, low haze and peel strength properties to the cover tape can be used in the practice of this invention. The heat-sealable adhesive comprises a thermoplastic elastomer comprising one or more styrenic block copolymers, an antiblock agent, and a conductive metal in a finely divided form, preferably in the form of flakes, dendrites or filaments. Preferably, the adhesive also contains a tackifying agent and a plasticizing agent.
Any thermoplastic elastomer comprising one or more styrenic copolymers can be used in the formulation of these heat-sealable adhesives, and the following are illustrative: Kraton G1650, Kraton G1657 and Kraton G1652 (all styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene block copolymers); Kraton FG1901X and Kraton FG1921X (both maleic anhydride graft-modified styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene block copolymers); and Kraton D1101 and Kraton D1102 (both styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymers), all from Shell Chemical Company. Elastomers comprised of a blend of Kraton G1657 and Kraton FG1901X are preferred.
Representative tackifying agents comprising one or more block tackifiers include: Regalrez 1126, Regalrez 1018, Regalrez 1033, Regalrez 1065, Regalrez 1078, Regalrez 1094, Regalrez 3102 and Regalrez 6108 (all agents comprising one or more aliphatic or cycloaliphatic hydrocarbons available from Hercules Inc.); Krista lex 3085, Krista lex 3100, Krista lex 1120, Krista lex 5140, End ex 155 and End ex 160 (all agents comprising one or more aliphatic or cycloaliphatic hydrocarbons in combination with one or more aromatic hydrocarbons, also available from Hercules Inc.); and Nevchem 140 (a crystalline terpene resin available from Neville Chemical Company). Regalrez 1126 is a preferred tackifying agent.
Any material that will facilitate processing and increase the flexibility and toughness of the adhesive can be used as the plasticizer in the heat-sealable adhesive, and typical of these are the nonvolatile organic liquids and low melting solids such as the phthalate, adipate and sebacate esters; polyols such as ethylene glycol and its derivatives; tricresol phosphate; and the like. Mineral oil available from Witco Corporation under the trademark Kay dol is a preferred plasticizer for use in the heat-sealable adhesives used in this invention.
The antiblock agent typically consists of one or more thermoplastic polymeric microspheres of a polyolefin such as an ethylene-vinyl acetate or vinyl chloride copolymer, or a micronized polymer powder of an ethylene-vinyl acetate, fluorocarbon or vinyl chloride type, or a micronized wax or metal oxide fine powder, or ceramic microspheres. The antiblock agent is typically present in an amount of not greater than 50 weight percent based upon the total weight of the adhesive, and preferably not in excess of about 15 weight percent. The particle sizes of the microspheres have an average diameter of less than about 200 microns and preferably less than about 25 microns. The preferred antiblock is vinyl acetate/vinyl chloride copolymer powder available from Occidental Chemical Company under the Oxy trademark.
Any material that will conduct electricity can be used as the conductive material of the heat-sealable adhesive formulation. This material is present in finely divided form, such as a fine powder, flake, dendrite or filament, with flakes, dendrites and filaments preferred over powders, and in an amount sufficient to form a conductive pathway through the adhesive to the metal layer of the backing film to impart a resistivity to the cover tape of less than 10⁹ ohms/square (e.g. cm², in.², etc.), preferably less than 10⁶ ohms/square. These materials include conductive mica, tin oxide, copper, aluminum, stainless steel, graphite, silver, tin, nickel and polyaniline at a loading of less than 7 percent, preferably less than 5 percent, and more preferably less than 3 percent, by weight based on the total weight of the adhesive. The particle sizes of the conductive material are typically less than 300 microns, and preferably less than 100 microns. The preferred conductive agents are the nickel dendrites and flakes available from Nova met Company, and mica coated with conductive tin-oxide which is available from the E. I. Du Pont de Nemours Company under the Z elec trademark.
One embodiment of a covertape of this invention is further described by reference to the FIGURE which depicts a covertape in cross-section. Backing sheet A comprises polymeric film 1 to which thin metal coating 2 is attached. Heat-sealable adhesive B is fixed to thin metal coating 2, and heat-sealable adhesive B comprises a plurality of antiblock agent 3 and a plurality of conductive metal 5 embedded in polymeric binder 4. Conductive metal 5 is embedded within polymeric binder 4 in such a manner that at least some of the conductive metal particles are in contact with thin metal coating 2.
The relative amounts of the components of the heat-sealable adhesive can vary with the nature of the cover tape, carrier tape, and the conditions of application and use, but the amounts reported in Table I below are illustrative. All ranges are reported in weight percent based upon the total weight of the formulation.
TABLE i ______________________________________ HEAT-SEALABLE ADHESIVE FORMULATIONS Preferred Broad Preferred Most Component Range Range Range ______________________________________ Elastomer 40-80 55-75 60-70 Tackifier 0-30 5-20 10-15 Plasticizer 0-30 5-20 10-15 Anti block 3-20 5-15 5-10 Conductor 0.5-30 1-3 1-3 ______________________________________
The heat-sealable adhesive is applied to the metallized surface of the backing film in any convenient manner, e.g. spraying, dipping, roll coating, etc. The adhesive is applied as a very thin layer, e.g. between about 12 and about 50 microns, to the film such that it forms a conductive pathway throughout the tape by which static electricity can be dissipated or conducted. The conductive particles within the adhesive are believed to form a pathway directly to the metal surface of the backing film as opposed to simple particle to particle contact present in most, if not all, commercially available cover tapes (none of which are believed to include a metal surface on the backing layer).
The cover tapes of this invention are used in the same manner as known cover tapes, i.e. they are stored on reels and when needed, are drawn from the reels and heat-sealed to a carrier tape containing parts to be packaged. The cover tapes of this invention do not exhibit blocking when removed from the storage reel, even at temperatures as high as 125° F., and are readily sealed to carrier tapes made from either polystyrene or polyvinyl chloride at temperatures as low as 300° F. The tapes exhibit low haze and high transparency, and the adhesive not activated during the sealing operation remains nontacky even over extended periods of time. Most importantly, the tapes of this invention demonstrate a uniform peel strength of between 30 and 80 grams when sealed and unsealed in a conventional manner.
Conventional conditions for sealing a cover tape (including those of this invention) to a conventional carrier tape (e.g. polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, etc.) include a temperature of between about 250° and about 450° F., preferably between about 275° and about 400° F.; a pressure of between about 15 and about 60 psi, preferably between about 20 and 50 psi; and a dwell time, i.e. the time over which the cover and carrier tapes are in contact with one another under the sealing temperature and pressure, of between about 0.1 and 1 seconds.
Conventional un sealing or de taping conditions include ambient temperature and pressure, a peel angle between about 90 and 180 degrees, preferably between about 135 and 180 degrees; and a peel speed between about 200 and 400 mm/min, preferably between about 250 and 350 mm/min. Peel strength is conveniently measured on a System ation TP-150 Peel Strength Analyzer.
As here used, "haze" refers to the light scattering property of the cover tape, low haze films scattering less visible light than high haze films. Low haze films typically scatter less than about 40 percent, preferably less than about 30 percent, of the visible light directed at the film, as measured by a conventional haze measuring instrument. As here used, "transparency" or "light transmission" refers to the light transmission property of the cover tape, i.e. the amount of visible light that passes through a film. The cover tapes of this invention typically transmit at least about 50 percent, preferably at least about 60 percent, of the visible light directed at the film and as measured by a conventional light transmission measuring instrument.
The following example is illustrative of one specific embodiment of this invention. Unless otherwise noted, all parts and percentages are by weight.
SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT
A heat-sealable covertape adhesive was formulated with the following composition:
______________________________________ Elastomer: Kraton G1657X (Shell Chemical Co.) 41.9 Elastomer: Kraton FG1901X (Shell Chemical Co.) 26.2 Tackifier: Regalrez 1126 (Hercules Co.) 12.3 Plasticizer: Kay dol (Witco Chemical Co.) 12.3 Anti block: Oxy 521 (Occidental Chemical Co.) 6.3 Conductor: Nickel LD525 (Nova met Co.) 2.0 ______________________________________
The above components were mixed together in toluene solvent at a 25% solids content using a blade mixer. The resulting mixture was then coated onto metallized (aluminum) PET film (American Hoechst 2600) using a drawdown bar of appropriate clearance such that the final dried thickness of the coating would be about 25 microns. The drawn down coating was dried in a 300° F. oven for 3 minutes. The haze, light transmission, resistivity and blocking of the final film were measured as follows:
______________________________________ Haze: About 32% as measured by Haze guard meter XL-211 (manufactured by Byk Gardner) Light transmission: About 60% as measured by Haze guard meter XL-211 (manufactured by Byk Gardner) Resistivity: Between 10.sup.5 to 10.sup.7 ohms/square as measured by a three point probe meter model SRM-110 (manufactured by Pinion Corporation) Blocking: Does not stick to itself or the carrier tape material unless activated by heat. ______________________________________
To determine the seal/peel properties, the covertape film was slit to a width of 13.3096 mm which was sealed to a carrier tape of 16 mm width. The sealing was done using a System ation MT-30 sealer (seal pressure of 20 psi and a dwell time of 0.5 seconds). The peeling was done at an degree peel angle and a speed of 300 mm/min using a System ation TP-150 Tape Peel Analyzer. Table II reports the results for peel forces obtained:
TABLE II ______________________________________ PEEL FORCES Carrier tape Seal Peel Force material temp (F.) range (gms) ______________________________________ Polystyrene 290 38-58 300 44-65 310 47-65 320 42-71 330 61-79 Polyvinyl chloride 360 32-52 370 36-58 380 53-77 390 63-80 ______________________________________
Although the invention has been described in considerable detail through the preceding example, this detail is for the purpose of illustration only. Many variations and modifications can be made by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as described in the appended claims.
What is claimed is:
1. A transparent, static dissipative, heat-sealable cover tape with a haze of less than about 40 percent and a peel force of between about 30 and 80 grams after heat-sealed to a carrier tape to form a two-piece package for electronic parts, the cover tape comprising:A. A polymeric film, one side of which is coated with a layer of metal such that the metal reduces the transparency of the film by less than about 60 percent, and B. A heat-sealable adhesive laminated to the metal-coated side of the film, the adhesive comprising less than 7 weight percent, based upon the weight of the adhesive, of a conductive material such that the conductive material and the metal coating are in contact with one another to form a conductive pathway with a resistivity of less than 10⁹ ohms/square.
2. The covertape of claim 1 with a haze of less than about 30 percent.
3. The covertape of claim 2 in which the polymeric film is a polyester film.
4. The covertape of claim 3 in which the layer of metal on the polyester film is aluminum.
5. The covertape of claim 4 in which the conductive material in the heat-sealable adhesive is selected from the group consisting of conductive mica, tin oxide, copper, aluminum, stainless steel, graphite, silver, tin, nickel and conductive polyaniline.
6. The covertape of claim 5 in which the conductive material comprises less than about 5 weight percent of the heat-sealable adhesive.
7. The covertape of claim 6 in which the conductive material is in the form of at least one of flake, dendrite or filament.
8. The covertape of claim 7 in which the conductive material is nickel.
9. The covertape of claim 8 in which the heat-sealable adhesive further comprises a thermoplastic elastomer of one or more styrenic copolymers, a tackifying agent, a plasticizer, and an antiblock agent.
10. The covertape of claim 9 in which the thermoplastic elastomer of the heat-sealable adhesive is at least one of styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene or styrene-butadiene-styrene.
11. The covertape of claim 10 in which the tackifying agent comprises at least one of an aliphatic or cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon.
12. The covertape of claim 11 in which the piasticizer is a mineral oil.
13. The covertape of claim 12 in which the antiblock agent is a microsphere of a polyolefin.
14. In a process for packaging an electronic part in a two-piece package comprising a covertape and a carrier tape, the improvement comprising using a covertape comprising:A. A polymeric film, one side of which is coated with a layer of metal such that the metal reduces the transparency of the film by less than about 60 percent, and B. A heat-sealable adhesive laminated to the metal-coated side of the film, the adhesive comprising less than 7 weight percent, based upon the weight of the adhesive, of a conductive material such that the conductive material and the metal coating are in contact with one another to form a conductive pathway with a resistivity of less than 10⁹ ohms/square.
15. A transparent, static dissipative, heat-sealable cover tape with a haze of less than about 30 percent and a peel force of between about 30 to 80 grams after heat-sealed to a carrier tape to form a two-piece package for electronic parts, the cover tape comprising:A. A polyester film, one side of which is coated with a layer of aluminum such that the aluminum reduces the transparency of the film by less than about 60 percent, and B. A heat-sealable adhesive laminated to the metal-coated side of the film, the adhesive comprising less than 7 weight percent, based upon the weight of the adhesive, of a conductive material such that the conductive material and the aluminum coating are in contact with one another to form a conductive pathway with a resistivity of less than 10⁹ ohms/square.
16. In a process for packaging an electronic part in a two-piece package comprising a covertape with a haze of less than about 30 percent and a peel force of between about 30 and 80 grams after heat-sealed to a carrier tape, the improvement comprising using a covertape comprising:A. A polyester film, one side of which is coated with a layer of aluminum such that the aluminum reduces the transparency of the film by less than about 60 percent, and B. A heat-sealable adhesive laminated to the metal-coated side of the film, the adhesive comprising less than 7 weight percent, based on the weight of the adhesive, of a conductive material such that the conductive material and the aluminum coating are in contact with one another to form a conductive pathway with a resistivity of less than 10⁹ ohms/square.
|
Here are some keywords about a restaurant:
name = The Phoenix, food = Italian, customer rating = 1 out of 5, area = riverside.
A: The Phoenix has a customer rating of 1 out of 5. It serves Italian food and is in the riverside area.
Here are some keywords about a restaurant:
name = Blue Spice, eatType = coffee shop, priceRange = high, customer rating = average, area = riverside, familyFriendly = yes, near = Avalon.
A: Blue Spice is a coffee shop with a high price range . The customer rating is average but it is child-friendly. It is located in the riverside area near Avalon.
Here are some keywords about a restaurant:
name = The Waterman, eatType = restaurant, food = Italian, priceRange = moderate, area = riverside.
A:
The Waterman is a unique Italian restaurant in the Riverside area. With moderate prices, low crowds, and an adult atmosphere, you are sure to enjoy a peaceful night full of pasta and oregano.
|
using UnityEngine;
using UnityEngine.UI;
using System;
using System.Collections;
using System.Collections.Generic;
public class TextController : MonoBehaviour {
private Dictionary<string, State> _states;
private State _state;
public Text text;
void Start () {
var gameData = GameData.Load("GameData");
_states = new Dictionary<string, State> ();
foreach (State.Data stateData in gameData.states) {
try {
_states.Add (stateData.name, new State (stateData));
} catch (Exception exception) {
print (exception);
}
}
try {
_state = _states[gameData.firstState];
text.text = _state.text;
} catch (KeyNotFoundException) {
print ("Missing state: " + gameData.firstState);
}
}
void Update () {
foreach (var command in _state.commands) {
bool keyPressed = (command.Key == KeyCode.None) ?
Input.anyKeyDown : Input.GetKeyDown(command.Key);
if (keyPressed) {
try {
_state = _states[command.Value];
text.text = _state.text;
} catch (KeyNotFoundException) {
print ("Missing state: " + command.Value);
}
break;
}
}
}
}
|
Why doesn't the image in my footer stay inside the container?
I'm creating a website that contains a footer, on the left side just simple text. On the far right will be icons with links to various social networking sites. I can't get the icons to stay inside the container when I float the image to the right. How can I get the image to stay inside the yellow area and out of the green without adding any more padding to the footer?
http://jsfiddle.net/Fd4Pc/1/
body {
background-color: #17241d;
margin: 0;
}
#mainWindow {
width: 1200px;
margin-left: auto;
margin-right: auto;
background-color: #fffff6;
height:100%;
}
.right {
float:right;
}
footer, .footer {
font-size: .8em;
padding:10px;
}
<body>
<div id="mainWindow">
<p>Text here</p>
<div id="footer">
<footer>
<span>Left Side</span>
<img class="right" src="http://static.viewbook.com/images/social_icons/facebook_32.png" />
</footer>
</div>
</div>
</body>
Try adding overflow:auto to your footer:
footer, .footer {
font-size: .8em;
padding:10px;
overflow:auto;
}
jsFiddle example
You can also set a line-height to your footer: http://jsfiddle.net/Fd4Pc/3/
footer, .footer {
font-size: .8em;
padding:10px;
line-height: 2em;
}
floated element will expand the parent element height, to expand that add float to the parent as well:
footer, .footer {
font-size: .8em;
padding:10px;
float:left;
}
That makes the entire footer go outside the container.
This can be done in two ways
Add overflow: hidden to footer
or
clear div that is
<footer>
<!--your code goes here-->
<div style="clear:both"></div>
</footer>
|
/**
* Provides a handle for 9-point resizing of Elements or Components.
*/
Ext.define('Ext.resizer.Handle', {
extend: 'Ext.Component',
handleCls: '',
baseHandleCls: Ext.baseCSSPrefix + 'resizable-handle',
// Ext.resizer.Resizer.prototype.possiblePositions define the regions
// which will be passed in as a region configuration.
region: '',
ariaRole: 'presentation',
beforeRender: function() {
var me = this;
me.callParent();
me.protoEl.unselectable();
me.addCls(
me.baseHandleCls,
me.baseHandleCls + '-' + me.region,
me.handleCls
);
}
});
|
Thread:CureHibiki/@comment-34266872-20180302110304/@comment-34266872-20190501123150
haha lol
i've probs listened to it 100000 times but never got bored of it aha~
|
Ashraf Helmy
Ashraf Helmy (born 24 April 1967) is an Egyptian table tennis player. He competed at the 1988 Summer Olympics, the 1992 Summer Olympics, and the 2000 Summer Olympics.
He was mentioned in S4 E8 of the American version of The Office as one of the heroes of the character Dwight Schrute
|
Skip to main content
ZBP-89 and Sp1 contribute to Bak expression in hepatocellular carcinoma cells
Abstract
Background
Kruppel family member zinc binding protein 89 (ZBP-89), also known as ZNF148, regulates Bak expression via binding to GC-rich promoter domain. It is not clear if other GC-rich binding factors, such as Sp family members, can interact with ZBPp-89 on Bak expression. This study aims to elucidate the mechanism of Bak expression regulation by ZBP-89 and Sp proteins, based on in vitro experiment and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) data cohort.
Methods
We downloaded TCGA hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cohort data to analysis the association of Bak transcription level with ZBP-89 and Sp proteins transcription level. HCC cell lines and liver immortal non-tumour cell lines were used for mechanism study, including western blotting analysis, expression vector mediated gene expression and siRNA interference.
Results
Results showed that cancer tissues have higher Bak transcription level compared with adjacent non-cancer tissues. Bak transcription level was correlated with Sp1 and Sp3 expression level, while no correlation was found in ZBP-89 and Bak, neither Sp2 nor Sp4. Mithramycin A (MMA) induced Bak expression in a dose-dependent manner. Western blotting results showed Sp1 overexpression increased Bak expression both in liver immortal non-tumour cells and HCC cells. Interference Sp1 expression could inhibit Bak expression alone. ZBP-89 siRNA suppressed Bak expression even in the presence of MMA treatment and S1 overexpression. Additionally, Bak and Sp1 level were associated with HCC patient survival.
Conclusions
Bak expression required ZBP-89 and Sp1 cooperative regulation simultaneously.
Peer Review reports
Background
The Specificity protein (Sp) family members are GC boxes and CACCC boxes binding transcription factors, which are reported to participate in development, differentiation and tumorigenesis [1, 2]. Sp1 is also a C2H2-type zinc fingers Krüppel-like factor, and it is the first identified transcription factor [3]. Numerous studies showed that Sp1 not only acted as a basal transcription factor, but also contributed to the regulation of many vital cellular genes [4, 5]. Overexpressed Sp1 differentially regulated a large number of genes which promoted cancer development, angiogenesis and metastasis [6]. Sp3 is very similar to Sp1 both in structure and regulatory function. Sp3 and Sp1 showed equal affinity to GC box, indicating the potential competition in genes expression regulation [7]. Reversely, Sp3 mediated transcriptional repression when it binded to GC-box, because Sp3 contained a suppressive domain [8]. Additionally, Sp3 lacked the multi-merization domain, and thus Sp3 did not have the ability to super-activate promoters by bridging multiple Sp binding sites [9].
ZBP-89, also known as ZNF148, is a Krüppel-type zinc-finger transcription factor that binds to GC-rich sequences to activate or suppress gene transcription [10]. ZBP-89 is also a member of the C2H2 zinc finger family subclass, as well as Sp family members. It is known that ZBP-89 participates in many genes transcription, such as Vimentin, Gastrin, p16, and Ornithine decarboxylase et al. These biological procedures are involved in cell growth, cell cycles, metabolism and T cell immunity. Study showed ZBP-89 competed with Sp1 for binding to induce Gastrin expression when ZBP-89 functions as a repressor [11]. Interestingly, because Sp1 itself did not bind to the promoter element, ZBP-89 interacted with Sp1 to suppress Vimentin expression in vitro [12]. In another case, ZBP-89 binded to the basal promoter of Pdcd4, also interacted with Sp family members to induce Pdcd4 protein expression [13].
Bak gene belongs to a large Bcl2 family, and acts as a pro-apoptosis protein to facilitate cellular apoptosis. It penetrates and makes pores in the mitochondrial membrane through forming heterodimer with Bax [14, 15]. The penetration releases cyto C into cytoplasm, and classic apoptosis signal pathway in the end [16, 17]. Currently, several cis-elements and associated factors are required to regulate expression of the bak gene. It was reported that Sp3 competed with Sp1 to transcriptional binding sites to increase Bak expression [18]. Up-regulation of Bak by butyrate in the colon was associated with increased Sp3 binding which did not contain a multimerization domain [18]. Instead, it contains an inhibitory domain located at N-terminal to its DNA-binding domain, which mediates transcriptional repression in some instances. Mithramycin A (MMA) is a GC-rich DNA binding chemical, which is also regarded as potent Sp family members inhibitor [19]. In the Bak promoter analysis, there are many GC-rich sequence domain, indicating the possibility regulation by MMA,Sp family and ZBP-89 transcription factor. Previously, we reported that ZBP-89 bound to Bak gene promoter, and epigenetically regulated its transcription companied with histone deacetylase 3 and DNA methyltransferase 1 [20]. Therefore, we speculate that ZBP-89 and Sp1/Sp3 are involved in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and Bak induction. This study focuses on the elucidation of transcription factor Sp1/Sp3 and ZBP-89 involved Bak expression.
Methods
Patient cohort and mRNA quantification data
HCC patient cohort information and data of mRNA quantification data were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database (https://portal.gdc.cancer.gov/). Previously, we published the work how we got and analyzed the patient cohort and data [21]. Totally 377 HCC patients with detailed mRNA expression level were collected. Additionally, 41 patients have non-tumor liver sample message which indicated 41 paired of tumor and non-tumor data were also included. Due to the missing follow-up survival data of some patients, we excluded those patients in the analysis of protein associated survival. Actually, 318 patients were collected for Kaplan–Meier survival analysis. Referring to published paper [21], cut-off point for gene grouping was set up and for survival analysis.
Chemicals and drugs
Antibodies against ZBP-89 (#sc-398148), Sp1 (#sc-420) and Sp3 (sc-28305) were obtained from Santa Cruz Biotechnology (Santa Cruz, CA). Antibodies against Bak (#12105) and Actin (#3700) were obtained from Cell Signaling Technology (Beverly, MA). Ad-ZBP-89 viral vector was a generous gift from Dr. JL Merchant (University of Michigan, MI) [11]. Mithramycin A (MMA) was purchase from Cayman Inc. (#11434-1 mg). All other chemicals and reagents were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich (St. Louis, MO) unless otherwise specified.
Cell lines
HCC cell lines, HepG2 (ATCC® HB-8065™), Hep3B (ATCC® HB-8064™), PLC/PRF/5 (ATCC® CRL-8024™) and Huh-7 (ATCC® PTA-8561™) were purchased from ATCC, and kept in our department. LO2 (also called L-02, Accession number: CVCL_6926, # GNHu 6 of Cellbank of China) is a spontaneously immortalized cell line of hepatocyte, which was a gift from Dr. Zhou of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology. MIHA is also an immortalized cell line of hepatocyte and is a TGF-β-sensitive hepatocyte cell. Studies have revealed that the validation of MIHA as a valuable immortal hepatocyte in research by Prof. Ming-liang He (the Chinese University of Hong Kong) [22]. MIHA cells were a generous gift from Prof. Ming-liang He. HKCI-3 and HKCI-4 were established by researchers of The Chinese University of Hong Kong affiliated Prince of Wales Hospital, and kept in the Dept. of Surgery lab [23]. HepG2 and Huh-7 were cultured with MEM medium, supplemented with 10% FBS. Hep3B, PLC/PRF/5 and HKCI-4 were cultured with high glucose DMEM, supplemented with 10% FBS.
Western blotting
Western blotting was performed according to the previous publications with some modification [18, 19]. Briefly, cells were lysed by incubation on ice for 15 min in RIPA buffer to isolate total proteins. Proteins (30 μg)were separated on 10–15% SDS-PAGE gels and transferred to PVDF for immunoblotting. After membrane was blocked with 5% nonfat milk, the membrane was incubated with primary antibody for 2 h at room temperature, followed by incubation with a HRP-conjugated secondary antibody for 1 h at room temperature. The signal was visualized by ECL reagent kit (GE Healthcare) and analyzed by an Odyssey Scanner(Li-COR Biosciences Co.).
Small RNA interference
The siRNA interference experiments were performed according to our previous publications [20, 24]. ZBP-89 siRNA and Sp1/Sp3 siRNA were obtained from Santa Cruz Biotechnology. SiRNA oligonucleotides were transfected using Fugene lipid (Roche) according to the manufacturer’s protocol. Before transfection, old medium was replaced with fresh medium. The transfection volume was 1/10 of culture medium, such as 200 μL for 2 mL culture medium in six-well plate. We used 1 nM siRNA for one million cells, and make up the volume to 200 μL by adding OPTI-MEM.
Statistics
All results are expressed as Mean ± SE of at least three independent experiments. Differences between groups were examined for statistical significance using Mann-Whitney (U-test) unless indicated specially. P<0.05 was regarded as statistically significant difference.
Results
Bak transcription association with Sp1 and Sp3 expression
In the analysis of TCGA database, the comparison of bak transcription level between 40 cases of cancer tissue and the corresponding non-cancer tissues showed increased bak transcription level (Fig. 1a, p< 0.001). We analyzed the correlation of Bak with ZBP-89 and Sp1–4 using SPSS correlation method. Results showed only Sp1 and Sp3 transcription level were correlated with Bak transcription level (Fig. 1b and c, r=0.1889 and r = 0.1119, respectively). No correlation was found in ZBP-89 and Bak (Fig. 1d), neither Sp2 nor Sp4 (data not shown). The increased transcription level of Bak was contributed to the chemotherapy drug induction or anti-cancer related ROS apoptosis induction. The clinical treatment for patients was enclosed as Additional file 1: Table S1.
MMA increases Bak expression through blocking Sp-proteins binding activity
MMA is regarded as a potent Sp family inhibitor through displacing Sp1 binding to gene promoters. In the study, we used MMA as specific Sp proteins inhibitor. We found that increases Bak expression starting from the concentration of 5 nM in PLC/PRF/5 cells in 48 h incubation, and induces cleaved PARP level, which is a main mediator of apoptosis (Fig. 2a). Gray scale density quantification data indicated that Bak expression trend was accompanied with MMA increasing from 5 nM to 100 nM, with a peak value about 50% up-regulation compared with baseline (Fig. 2b, * p < 0.05 compared with control). The Bak induction rate was tested in liver immortal non-tumour cell lines and cancer cell lines. In the tested six HCC cell lines, MMA up-regulated Bak expression (C, column 3 to 8, * p < 0.05 compared with control), especially in PLC5/PRF/5 and Hep3B. In immortal cells, MIHA and LO2, which were less sensitive to MMA treatment, also showed increased Bak expression (C, column 1 and 2, * p < 0.05 compared with control). In addition, RT-PCR data showed Bak mRNA level increased significantly in HKCI-4, PLC/PRG/5 and Hep3B cells (Fig. 2d, * p < 0.05 compared with control). Therefore, we selected HKCI-4 and PLC/PRF/5 cancer cells as model in the subsequent study, as well as liver immortal non-tumour cells MIHA and LO2.
Sp1 increases Bak expression but not Sp3
We constructed Sp1 and Sp3 expression vectors by cloning the Sp1 and Sp3 coding sequences into pcDNA3.0 respectively. When MIHA and PLC/PRF/5 cells were in density of 80% confluent, recombinant gene plasmids was transfected into cell via Fugene lipid (Roche). Western blotting results showed Sp1 overexpression increased Bak expression both in MIHA and PLC/PRF/5 cells (Fig. 3a and b, lane 1, * p < 0.05 compared with control), as well as in the transfection of LO2 and HKCI-4 cells (Fig. 3c and d, lane 1, * p < 0.05 compared with control). We did not observe that Sp3 transfection induced Bak expression. In the co-transfection of Sp1 and Sp3 vectors, Sp1 and Sp3 do not compete with binding sites. Therefore, the outcome turns to up-regulate Bak level. The results were further confirmed by RT-PCR experiment, results showed that Sp1 overexpression induced Bak up-regulation but not Sp3 (Fig. 3e, * p < 0.05 compared with control).
siRNA interference Sp1 decreases Bak expression
We used Sp1 siRNA nucleotide to further explore its role in Bak expression. When Sp1 siRNA was transfected in MIHA, PLC/PRF/5 and HKCI-4 cells respectively, we found that Bak expression level reduction was accompanied with the siRNA interference of Sp1 (Fig. 4a and b, lane 1, * p < 0.05 compared with corresponding control). Results confirmed that Bak expression level was mainly associated with Sp1 protein level and transcriptive activity. RT-PCT experiment confirmed such findings (Fig. 4c, * p < 0.05 compared with corresponding control).
ZBP-89 cooperates with Sp1/Sp3 to facilitate Bak expression
Previously, our team elucidated the epigenetic mechanism of ZBP-89 mediated Bak increasing expression via HDACs and DNMT1 activity suppression [20, 24]. In the above experiments, we have already revealed that Bak expression could be up-regulated in the presence of MMA treatment, and Sp1 vector mediated overexpression. We suspected that Bak expression might be tightly related with ZBP-89 and Sp1/Sp3 protein level. Therefore, we designed the experiment to see if ZBP-89 could interact with Sp1/Sp3 to regulate Bak expression. Western blotting data showed that siRNA blocking ZBP-89 level decreased Bak expression even with treatment of MMA (Fig. 5a and b, lane 5). Additionally, ZBP-89 siRNA interference also turned down Bak expression even though Sp1 overexpressed (Fig. 5, lane 8). In the subsequent RT-PCR analysis, data also demonstrated that ZBB-89 siRNA suppressed Bak expression in the presence of MMA treatment or Sp1 overexpression (Fig. 5c, * p < 0.05 compared with control). Collectively, results revealed that Bak expression required ZBP-89 and Sp1 to work simultaneously.
Association of Bak, Sp1/Sp3 and ZBP-89 in patient survival
In order to explore if the expression of Bak, Sp1, Sp3 and ZBP-89 are associated with patients survival, we performed Kaplan–Meier survival analysis. Firstly, ROC curve was used to dichotomize these genes into high expression group and low expression group of all 318 HCC patients from TCGA database. Survival analysis was analyzed using Graphpad Prism 5.0 software, and p < 0.05 was set as statistic significant difference level. Results showed that only Bak and Sp1 expression were significantly correlated with patients survival (Fig. 6, p < 0.05, Log-rank test). Results indicated that high expression of Bak was associated with shorter living time. We speculated that high expression Bak might be induced by anti-cancer drug treatment, which damaged hepatocellular function and structure. In the end, patients died of liver dysfunction, multi-organs malfunction et al.
Discussion
Bak is a major cell death initiator in the apoptotic signaling cascade [25]. It plays a significant role in the therapy and survival of HCC. It has been reported that different agents induce apoptosis in HCC cells by inducing Bak expression, but the mechanism responsible for its regulation in HCC is largely unknown.
Sp1 is a ubiquitous transcription factor and its regulated genes include those involved in proliferation, apoptosis, senescence and angiogenesis. Sp3, which competes with Sp1 for GC-box binding sites, is normally a weak transcriptional activator. However, it could function as a transcriptional activator with similar potency to Sp1 in the absence of acetyltransferases [26]. A similar switch of Sp1 for Sp3 has been observed at the Bak promoter following treatment with the HDAC inhibitors butyrate [18]. However, the relationship between Sp1, Sp3 and Bak is unknown. After the analysis of TCGA HCC database, we observed that Bak transcription in cancer tissue was higher than that in non-cancer tissues, and its transcription was correlated with Sp1 and Sp3 transcription level. No correlation was found between Bak and ZBP-89, neither Sp2 nor Sp4 (data not shown). Further analysis found Bak and Sp1 transcription level were significantly correlated with patients survival. These results illustrated that Bak played an important role in the hepatocarcinogenesis or HCC therapy. In Western blotting analyses, we showed that all selected cell lines (HepG2, Hep3B, PLC/PRF/5,Huh-7, HKCI3, HKCI-4, LO2, and MIHA) were able to constitutively express endogenous Bak. The base level of Bak can be greatly enhanced by MMA (30 nM) treatment and the increase in Bak is functional in terms of apoptotic induction in PLC/PRF/5 cells.
MMA functions as GC-rich DNA sequence binding chemical, acting as a Sp family members’ inhibitor. It was shown to induce apoptosis through increase of Bak expression in colon cancer cells [27]. We observed a regulation of Bak protein level after overexpression or knockdown of Sp1. Therefore we raised the question whether ZBP-89 could compete or cooperate with Sp1 to regulate the expression of the Bak gene. Indeed, Western blotting data showed MMA could not induce Bak expression if without ZBP-89 participation (Fig. 5). Additionally, when cells was treated with ZBP-89 siRNA, the consequence also turned down Bak expression even if Sp1 overexpression (Fig. 5, lane 1, 5th band). Results revealed that Bak expression required ZBP-89 and Sp1 to work simultaneously.
ZBP-89 and Sp family members are members of the zinc finger transcription factor and also subclasses of the C2H2 zinc finger family. ZBP-89 can efficiently inhibit cellular proliferation and induce apoptosis in human cancer cells [28]. In our previous study, we have identified that ZBP-89 might target at − 457 to − 407 region of Bak promoter to induce its expression and subsequently apoptosis [20]. Given the same bifunctional regulatory domains, ZBP-89 and Sp1 can interact to regulate a variety of genes. ZBP-89 appears to interact with Sp1, as binding to an overlapping site in DNA to regulate gastrin, two type I collagen genes [29], and ornithine decarboxylase [30]. In another aspect, many findings also suggested that Sp1 and ZBP-89 regulated target genes in a cooperative manner, like vimentin [12], Pdcd4 [13] and p21waf1/cip1 [31]. In agreement with peers’ finding, we further showed the cooperative function of ZBP-89 and Sp1 on Bak transcription. Besides, the study also revealed their association in patient survival, as well as the Bak expression level.
Conclusions
Our findings suggested that ZBP-89 and Sp1 overexpression induced Bak expression in a genetic manner. Increased Bak level was associated with poor patient survival, whereas high level of Sp1 is a beneficial factor for patient survival.
Abbreviations
HCC:
Hepatocellular carcinoma
MMA:
Mithramycin A
Sp1:
Sp1 transcription factor
TCGA:
The Cancer Genome Atlas
ZBP-89:
Zinc binding protein 89
References
1. 1.
Shields JM, Yang VW. Identification of the DNA sequence that interacts with the gut-enriched Kruppel-like factor. Nucleic Acids Res. 1998;26(3):796–802.
CAS Article PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar
2. 2.
Matsumoto N, Laub F, Aldabe R, Zhang W, Ramirez F, Yoshida T, Terada M. Cloning the cDNA for a new human zinc finger protein defines a group of closely related Kruppel-like transcription factors. J Biol Chem. 1998;273(43):28229–37.
CAS Article PubMed Google Scholar
3. 3.
Kaczynski J, Cook T, Urrutia R. Sp1- and Kruppel-like transcription factors. Genome Biol. 2003;4(2):206.
Article PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar
4. 4.
Oleaga C, Welten S, Belloc A, Sole A, Rodriguez L, Mencia N, Selga E, Tapias A, Noe V, Ciudad CJ. Identification of novel Sp1 targets involved in proliferation and cancer by functional genomics. Biochem Pharmacol. 2012;84(12):1581–91.
CAS Article PubMed Google Scholar
5. 5.
Gilmour J, Assi SA, Jaegle U, Kulu D, van de Werken H, Clarke D, Westhead DR, Philipsen S, Bonifer C. A crucial role for the ubiquitously expressed transcription factor Sp1 at early stages of hematopoietic specification. Development. 2014;141(12):2391–401.
CAS Article PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar
6. 6.
Beishline K, Azizkhan-Clifford J. Sp1 and the 'hallmarks of cancer. FEBS J. 2015;282(2):224–58.
CAS Article PubMed Google Scholar
7. 7.
Wierstra I. Sp1: emerging roles--beyond constitutive activation of TATA-less housekeeping genes. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2008;372:1):1–13.
Article PubMed Google Scholar
8. 8.
Dennig J, Beato M, Suske G. An inhibitor domain in Sp3 regulates its glutamine-rich activation domains. EMBO J. 1996;15(20):5659–67.
CAS PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar
9. 9.
Mastrangelo IA, Courey AJ, Wall JS, Jackson SP, Hough PV. DNA looping and Sp1 multimer links: a mechanism for transcriptional synergism and enhancement. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1991;88(13):5670–4.
CAS Article PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar
10. 10.
Merchant JL, Bai L, Okada M. ZBP-89 mediates butyrate regulation of gene expression. J Nutr. 2003;133(7 Suppl):2456S–60S.
CAS Article PubMed Google Scholar
11. 11.
Merchant JL, Iyer GR, Taylor BR, Kitchen JR, Mortensen ER, Wang Z, Flintoft RJ, Michel JB, Bassel-Duby R. ZBP-89, a Kruppel-like zinc finger protein, inhibits epidermal growth factor induction of the gastrin promoter. Mol Cell Biol. 1996;16(12):6644–53.
CAS Article PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar
12. 12.
Wieczorek E, Lin Z, Perkins EB, Law DJ, Merchant JL, Zehner ZE. The zinc finger repressor, ZBP-89, binds to the silencer element of the human vimentin gene and complexes with the transcriptional activator, Sp1. J Biol Chem. 2000;275(17):12879–88.
CAS Article PubMed Google Scholar
13. 13.
Leupold JH, Asangani IA, Mudduluru G, Allgayer H. Promoter cloning and characterization of the human programmed cell death protein 4 (pdcd4) gene: evidence for ZBP-89 and Sp-binding motifs as essential Pdcd4 regulators. Biosci Rep. 2012;32(3):281–97.
CAS Article PubMed Google Scholar
14. 14.
Antignani A, Youle RJ. How do Bax and Bak lead to permeabilization of the outer mitochondrial membrane? Curr Opin Cell Biol. 2006;18(6):685–9.
CAS Article PubMed Google Scholar
15. 15.
Lomonosova E, Chinnadurai G. BH3-only proteins in apoptosis and beyond: an overview. Oncogene. 2008;27(Suppl 1):S2–19.
CAS Article PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar
16. 16.
Degli Esposti M, Dive C. Mitochondrial membrane permeabilisation by Bax/Bak. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2003;304(3):455–61.
CAS Article PubMed Google Scholar
17. 17.
Westphal D, Dewson G, Czabotar PE, Kluck RM. Molecular biology of Bax and Bak activation and action. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2011;1813(4):521–31.
CAS Article PubMed Google Scholar
18. 18.
Chirakkal H, Leech SH, Brookes KE, Prais AL, Waby JS, Corfe BM. Upregulation of BAK by butyrate in the colon is associated with increased Sp3 binding. Oncogene. 2006;25(54):7192–200.
CAS Article PubMed Google Scholar
19. 19.
Sleiman SF, Berlin J, Basso M, Karuppagounder SS, Rohr J, Ratan RR. Histone deacetylase inhibitors and Mithramycin a impact a similar neuroprotective pathway at a crossroad between Cancer and neurodegeneration. Pharmaceuticals. 2011;4(8):1183–95.
CAS Article PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar
20. 20.
Ye CG, Chen GG, Ho RL, Merchant JL, He ML, Lai PB. Epigenetic upregulation of Bak by ZBP-89 inhibits the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2013;1833(12):2970–9.
CAS Article PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar
21. 21.
Lu M, Kong X, Wang H, Huang G, Ye C, He Z. A novel microRNAs expression signature for hepatocellular carcinoma diagnosis and prognosis. Oncotarget. 2017;8(5):8775–84.
Article PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar
22. 22.
Zhang JF, He ML, Fu WM, Wang H, Chen LZ, Zhu X, Chen Y, Xie D, Lai P, Chen G, et al. Primate-specific microRNA-637 inhibits tumorigenesis in hepatocellular carcinoma by disrupting signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 signaling. Hepatology. 2011;54(6):2137–48.
CAS Article PubMed Google Scholar
23. 23.
Pang E, Wong N, Lai PB, To KF, Lau WY, Johnson PJ. Consistent chromosome 10 rearrangements in four newly established human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines. Genes, chromosomes & cancer. 2002;33(2):150–9.
Article Google Scholar
24. 24.
To AK, Chen GG, Chan UP, Ye C, Yun JP, Ho RL, Tessier A, Merchant JL, Lai PB. ZBP-89 enhances Bak expression and causes apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2011;1813(1):222–30.
Article PubMed Google Scholar
25. 25.
Cory S, Adams JM. The Bcl2 family: regulators of the cellular life-or-death switch. Nat Rev Cancer. 2002;2(9):647–56.
CAS Article PubMed Google Scholar
26. 26.
Steiner E, Holzmann K, Pirker C, Elbling L, Micksche M, Berger W. SP-transcription factors are involved in basal MVP promoter activity and its stimulation by HDAC inhibitors. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2004;317(1):235–43.
CAS Article PubMed Google Scholar
27. 27.
Gillissen B, Richter A, Richter A, Overkamp T, Essmann F, Hemmati PG, Preissner R, Belka C, Daniel PT. Targeted therapy of the XIAP/proteasome pathway overcomes TRAIL-resistance in carcinoma by switching apoptosis signaling to a Bax/Bak-independent 'type I' mode. Cell Death Dis. 2013;4:e643.
CAS Article PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar
28. 28.
Law DJ, Labut EM, Merchant JL. Intestinal overexpression of ZNF148 suppresses ApcMin/+ neoplasia. Mammalian genome. 2006;17(10):999–1004.
CAS Article PubMed Google Scholar
29. 29.
Hasegawa T, Takeuchi A, Miyaishi O, Isobe K, de Crombrugghe B. Cloning and characterization of a transcription factor that binds to the proximal promoters of the two mouse type I collagen genes. J Biol Chem. 1997;272(8):4915–23.
CAS Article PubMed Google Scholar
30. 30.
Law GL, Itoh H, Law DJ, Mize GJ, Merchant JL, Morris DR. Transcription factor ZBP-89 regulates the activity of the ornithine decarboxylase promoter. J Biol Chem. 1998;273(32):19955–64.
CAS Article PubMed Google Scholar
31. 31.
Bai L, Merchant JL. Transcription factor ZBP-89 cooperates with histone acetyltransferase p300 during butyrate activation of p21waf1 transcription in human cells. J Biol Chem. 2000;275(39):30725–33.
CAS Article PubMed Google Scholar
Download references
Funding
This study, including design, collection data, analysis, experiments and interpretation of data, was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.81572782 and No. 81502411). Writing of the manuscript was supported by Special Talent Supportive Grant (No. 4TZ160001G).
Availability of data and materials
Some of the datasets generated and analysis during the current study are available in the TCGA database https://portal.gdc.cancer.gov/, the rest can be obtained from corresponding author on reasonable request.
Author information
Affiliations
Authors
Contributions
KX and XP downloaded the TCGA data and analyzed the data. WJ and HG finished the experiment of cell culture. GL and ZW revised the manuscript and validated the results. BB supplemented TR-PCR and WB experiments. GC (George Chen) initiated the hypothesis and designed the study. CG interpreted the data and wrote the manuscript. All authors have read and approved the current manuscript for publication.
Corresponding author
Correspondence to Cai-Guo Ye.
Ethics declarations
Ethics approval and consent to participate
Ethics approval and participant consent was not necessary as this study involved the use of a previously-published TCGA database, which is an open and free access repository according to the copyright and data disclaimers of National Cancer Institute of U.S.A. All usage of cell lines did not require Ethic approval.
Competing interests
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Publisher’s Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Additional file
Additional file 1
Table S1. Table summary of available patient and chemotherapy information. The supplemental table showed individual HCC patient and treatment one received, and also the therapy duration time since the initial treatment. (XLSX 12 kb)
Rights and permissions
Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.
Reprints and Permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kong, X., Xu, P., Cai, W. et al. ZBP-89 and Sp1 contribute to Bak expression in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. BMC Cancer 18, 419 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-018-4349-y
Download citation
Keywords
• Sp1
• Sp3
• ZBP-89
• Bak
• Hepatocellular carcinoma
|
import UIKit
/// A type that can provide fonts for Tink views.
public protocol FontProviding {
/// Returns the `FontType` to use based on the weight provided.
/// - Parameter weight: The weight of the font that is asked for.
func font(for weight: Font.Weight) -> Font
}
|
# quick sort
[ 5 9 3 7 2 8 1 6]
# pick first mumber
# append all smaller to new array left
# append all bigger to new array right
[3 2 1] [5] [9 7 8 6]
# recurse left
[2 1 ][3][] [5] [9 7 8 6]
#recurse left
[1][2][][3][] [5] [9 7 8 6]
#recurse left
# 1 is sorted, base case
#recurse right
# empty array base case
#recurse right
# empty array, base case
#recurse right
[1][2][][3][] [5] [9 7 8 6]
[1][2][][3][] [5] [7 8 6][9][]
#recurse left
[1][2][][3][] [5] [6][7][8][ ][9][]
[1, 2] [3]
[1, 2, 3]
# plan
def quicksort(data):
# base case: if array length 0 or 1
if len(data) < 2:
# return array
return data
# else:
else:
# pick pivot might as well pick first because its unsorted, none are better
pivot = data[0]
left = []
right = []
# put anything smaller into left array
# put anything bigger into right array
for value in data[1:]:
if value <= pivot:
left.append(value)
else:
right.append(value)
# return quicksort(left) + pivot + quicksort(right)
return quicksort(left) + [pivot] + quicksort(right)
#
|
what is the highest frequency of the services that are flagship stations ?
97.9 mhz
|
INDIAN TRIBES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 441
making a total of five thousand six hundred dollars for the annual expense for keeping up the agency, &c., which, in my judgment, is the smallest possible amount with which the agency can be carried on. T have made the estimates the smallest possible, judging from what experience I have had among the Indians in this valley. With regard to the remaining items referred to in your letter, I will report in my next communication, as there are points which need more consid eration than I have as yet had time to devote to them.
It seems to me that the supply for the agency in this valley might be supplied by steamboat navigation up the Missouri to Fort Benton, thence across the mountains to this point. I will be able, however, to report more in detail on this point on my return from Fort Benton.
quartermaster s property in my hands.
As requested in your letter of October 3, 1853, I send herewith a report upon those particu lars concerning the Blackfoot nation which you directed me to examine. It includes the plan of a farm and list of agricultural instruments, and is accompanied by a rough draught of the agency buildings deemed necessary.
coffee, and beans.
Early in this month I procured, without cost, about 1,000 pounds of fresh meat by sending out pack-horses with the Indian hunters, so there is no danger of starvation. The oxen, horses, and mules are in first-rate condition; many of them are fat.
never expected of Indians.
On the 1st of November, six Pend d Oreille Indians came to this post and delivered up all the horses that were stolen. It appears that they were taken by two young Pend d Oreilles, and run to the Pend d Oreille camp, then hunting beyond the Muscle Shell, under the command of the chief of that nation, "Alexander." The horses were recognised by the stamps as belonging to the whites, and the young men confessed having stolen them at this post. A council was held, and it was determined that it was a great sin to steal horses from white men w r ho were friendly to them; that the wishes of the "Great Soldier Chief," who had been at the St. Mary s, were known to them, and they had promised compliance with them ; that stealing these horses would 56/
|
#ifndef CC_H
#define CC_H
#include <vector>
#include "Graphs/Graphs.h"
/*
===============================================================================
CC是connected components的缩写，表示连通分量
===============================================================================
*/
class CC
{
public:
// 构造函数，预处理找出所有的连通分量
CC(const Graphs& G);
// v和w是否连通
bool Connected(size_t v, size_t w) const;
// 连通分量数
size_t Count() const;
// v所在的连通分量标识符（0 ~ count()-1）
size_t Id(size_t v) const;
private:
void DFS(const Graphs& G, size_t v);
private:
std::vector<size_t> marked_; ///< 访问标识
size_t count_; ///< 连通分量数
};
inline CC::CC(const Graphs& G)
{
marked_.resize(G.V(), 0);
count_ = 0;
for (size_t i = 0; i < marked_.size(); ++i) {
if (!marked_[i]) {
++count_;
DFS(G, i);
}
}
}
inline bool CC::Connected(size_t v, size_t w) const
{
return marked_[v] == marked_[w];
}
inline size_t CC::Count() const
{
return count_;
}
inline size_t CC::Id(size_t v) const
{
return marked_[v] - 1;
}
inline void CC::DFS(const Graphs& G, size_t v)
{
marked_[v] = count_;
for (auto w : G.Adj(v)) {
if (!marked_[w]) {
DFS(G, w);
}
}
}
#endif // CC_H
|
Cycle sound system
ABSTRACT
A cycle sound system is disclosed that quick-connects interchangeably to cycle seats, backpacks, handbags, and shoulder bags. Left and right gripping assemblies mount quick-connectably to the handlebars and include control levers or buttons for preferably wireless connection to the sound system. The gripping assemblies preferably include speakers and can alternatively be used alone as a complete cycle sound system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
Bicycles, tricycles, and motored cycles are commonly sold without any method for the cyclist to listen to music or other audible recordings.Many people like to listen to music while riding their cycle of choice,especially during longer trips and marathon rides. To accomplish this,some sort of stereo is commonly tethered, tied, or otherwise fastened tothe cycle in whatever fashion the cyclist can devise. Because stereos are often heavy and cumbersome, they tend to change the cycle's center of balance and to cause a more strenuous ride for the cyclist, who must constantly compensate for the extra load. The stereos typically have controls that are awkward to operate during cycle-riding. The stereos are also often time-consuming to connect or disconnect from the cycle when the cyclist would like to secure against the weather and against theft. The present invention relates to a cycle sound system that is convenient for the cyclist to operate, does not interfere with thecyclist's center of balance, and is quick-connectable.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,588,671; 3,598, 295; 4,436,350; 4,445,228and 4,981,243; various stereo holders have also been devised that are bolted or clamped to a cycle's handlebars. Because the stereo equipment is bolted or locked to the holder, and the holder is separately bolted or clamped to the cycle, disconnecting these systems from the cycle is inconvenient and prevents the cyclist from quickly securing the audio equipment when taking a break from the ride.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,662,547; 4,754,901; and 4,756,454 are similarly clampedto the handlebars, and comprise an equipment carrier including speakers,to which audio equipment is quick-connected with a strap. Because the speaker system is not quick-connectable, it is not protected from weather damage or theft. Constant movement during the cycle-riding experience could lead to fraying of the straps, and to movement of the audio equipment within the holder.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,159,712 discloses a radio that is strapped to a cycle's handlebars. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,771,305 discloses a stereo holder that is strapped to a cycle's handlebars. These systems are quick-connectable, but the stability of the stereo system is likely to change over time, due to fraying and dry-rotting of the straps.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,219,428 discloses a radio tote bag that is strapped to a cycle's handlebars. An enclosed radio unit connects both to a speaker mounted near the cycle's rear support bar, and to a battery pack mounted in between the two. Because all these components are mounted to separate sections of the bike, disconnection appears to be a time-consuming process. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,222,752 discloses a front fairingassembly that includes an audio source and speakers, and that is attached to the handlebars. The front fairing assembly connects to area r tail assembly that includes a motorcycle battery, making the entire system bulky and difficult to disconnect.
All of the aforementioned patents disclose portable stereo assemblies that are mounted to a cycle's handlebars, adding significant weight tothe front end of the cycle and affecting the cyclist's center of balance. Speakers mounted to the handlebars direct all their sound tothe front of the cyclist in an acoustically incorrect manner, and can become a safety hazard when ambient sounds caused by nearby cyclists,automobiles, or animals are not heard. Furthermore, stereo assemblies mounted to the handlebars are likely to obstruct the view of the cyclist at some point along the ride, and could get in the way during a crash and thereby cause injury to the cyclist.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,771,827 discloses a radio compartment bolted between two sections of a cycle seat, or to the bottom of a one-piece cycle seat.Control knobs protrude from the bottom of the compartment for control.The radio compartment is insulated to protect the radio, so it is unclear where the sound would come from. This invention relies on bolts to prevent theft, but would do little to dissuade a determined thief, orto protect the radio from natural weathering processes.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,001,779 discloses a package for a sound system that is held magnetically to the cycle, and supplement ally-strapped below the handlebars. The magnetic mounting system is separated from the cycle with fabric to prevent scratches, and could dislodge during an abrupt turn or bump in the road. If the package were left swinging from the supplemental strap, it would throw off the balance of the cycle. The straps are hooked at each end to make the package quick-connectable, but normal wear and tear during the cycle-riding experience would likely lead to stretching of the straps, so that were the magnets to becomeuncoupled from the cycle, the package could swing back and forth even more than when the package was new. This system is designed to be located between the cyclist and the handlebars, and would tend to get inthe way of the cyclist, especially during mount and dismount from the cycle.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention comprises a quick-connectable sound system that preferably mounts to the base of the cycle seat. The sound system comprises left and right speakers to provide acoustically correct stereo audio to the left and right sides of the cyclist. The speakers are mounted to a case that also preferably houses and provides a connection source to the cyclist's music source of choice. When the inventive soundsystem is removed from the cycle, it can be easily carried by hand, or alternatively quick-connected to a backpack, shoulder bag or handbag sothat the cyclist can listen to preferred audio programming without interruption.
The preferred embodiment of the current invention utilizes an MP3 player to provide virtually unlimited variety of music at the cyclist's fingertips, an amplifier to provide the speakers with the capability of high decibel sound, and a transponder for communicating with at least one control assembly via wireless technology. The primary control assembly comprises at least one control button or lever for selecting the decibel level the cyclist desires to hear, preferably a wireless transponder, and preferably a tweeter-type speaker. The control assembly is preferably housed within a right handgrip assembly, and is quick-connectable to the cycle. A secondary control assembly is almost identical to the primary control assembly, but the at least one control button or lever preferably selects the track the cyclist desires to hear, and is preferably mounted within a left handgrip assembly. Whenthe cyclist is ready to take a break from cycling, the primary and secondary control assemblies are quickly disconnected from the handlebars and preferably inserted into a pocket of the sound system case.
Alternative embodiments utilize either a for radio frequency receiver including AM, FM, and/or satellite-based radio; or media players including cassette, compact disk, MP3 players, and any other storage device that may become the fad of the day.
Power is provided to the sound system and control assemblies by means of battery means and/or solar cells. The battery is preferably of the rechargeable type, enabling it to be charged by solar cells and/or by connection to a standard electrical outlet.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The preferred embodiment of the inventive sound system assembly comprises a substantially triangular ly-shaped body; a primary speaker mounted to a left side of the sound system body to provide audio to the left side of the cyclist; and a secondary speaker mounted to the rightside of the sound system body to provide audio to the right side of thecyclist; so that acoustically-correct stereo audio is provided to thecyclist. A primary supplemental speaker such as a tweeter is preferably also mounted to the left side of the sound system body, and a secondary supplemental speaker such as a tweeter is preferably mounted to the right side of the sound system body to further enhance the quality of sound provided to the cyclist.
The preferred sound system assembly further comprises audio amplification means mounted within the sound system body to provide static-free audio to the speakers, power means to operate the audio amplification means and speakers, audio connection means for connection of a desired audio source, and preferably quick-connect means for mounting the entire sound system assembly to a cycle seat, bag, or person.
The cyclist has the option of either quick-connecting the sound system assembly to a cycle seat prior to a cycle ride for acoustically-correct stereo audio; or quick-connecting the sound system assembly to a backpack so that acoustically-correct stereo audio is heard when thecyclist wears the backpack; or quick-connecting the sound system assembly to the cyclist's waist as a fanny pack so thatacoustically-correct stereo audio is heard wherever the cyclist is.Therefore the cyclist can easily connect and disconnect the sound system as desired to provide continuous stereo audio during various activities,such as riding a cycle, hiking, or moving about a campsite, for example.When the lightweight sound system is mounted under the cycle seat, thecyclist's center of gravity is not affected. However, the quick-connect system can just as easily be mounted to other parts of the cycle thecyclist may desire; including the front stem, the top tube, the back rack, etc.
The sound system body of the preferred embodiment is made of weather-resistant or waterproof materials, and houses left and right speakers that provide acoustically-correct stereo audio to left and right sides of the cyclist. The speakers are preferably constructed of waterproof or weather resistant materials.
The audio amplification means amplifies the audio signals it receives from a preferably low-power audio source that can alternatively be usedto provide audio signals to low power speakers. This makes the mobile system even more portable by allowing the cyclist to separate the audiosource from the sound system assembly and listen to it via earplugs, or other low-power speakers such as those contained in a laptop or desktop computing device; or to connect the audio source to alternative amplification means such as a home theater system. The audio source ofthe preferred embodiment comprises an MP3 player that can be easilyinterchanged with any alternate format media player including a compact disc player; or alternatively, a radio-receiving device for AM, FM,and/or satellite-based signals. The various choices of audio source can either be supplied with the sound system, or the cyclist can choose to connect an audio source already in possession.
In the preferred embodiment, the audio amplification means is controlled via at least one remote control device that is preferably mounted to the handlebar and preferably comprises a replacement for the typical handlebar grip. The primary remote control device of the preferred embodiment comprises a right gripping means and control lever. The control lever is movable in multiple directions to control the decibellevel produced by the speakers. Therefore, the cyclist can easily turn up the volume by moving the lever closer, turn down the volume by moving the lever away, or temporarily mute the volume by moving the lever sideways. An optional left remote control device similarly comprises a control lever that is movable in multiple directions to control the audio track being played by the audio source. Therefore, the cyclist can easily repeat the track or move backward through the tracks by moving the lever closer, select the next track or go forward through the tracks by moving the lever away, and stop or temporarily pause the track by moving the lever sideways. The remote control devices can be connected to the sound system body via a wire harness, but preferably communicate via wireless transponders, and further comprise integral power means including solar and/or battery means.
Another embodiment uses control buttons embedded within a right gripping means to control the decibel level produced by the speakers. Therefore,the cyclist can easily turn up the volume by pressing a primary right control button, turn down the volume by pressing a secondary right control button, or temporarily mute the volume by pressing a tertiary right control button. Similarly, control buttons are embedded within a left gripping means to control the audio track being played by the audiosource. Therefore, the cyclist can easily repeat the track or move backward through the tracks by pressing on a primary left control button, select the next track or go forward through the tracks by pressing a secondary left control button, and stop or temporarily pause the track by pressing on a tertiary left control button. These are way of example only and many other button functions could easily be used without changing the nature of the invention.
The preferred embodiment is capable of achieving true surround sound for superior audio quality, because the remote control devices preferably each house an audio speaker, such as a tweeter, to supplement the audio produced by the primary and secondary speakers. It is also possible touse the remote control devices separately from the sound system body, by connecting a miniature MP3 player or similar next to the gripping assembly of the remote control device.
In yet another embodiment, the audio amplification means can be controlled via a primary turn knob connected to a primary rheostat that adjusts volume, and preferably a secondary turn knob connected to secondary rheostat that selects the track being played.
The sound system assembly components are each powered by at least one battery or solar cell. The preferred embodiment comprises a bank of solar cells for operation during daylight. To help ensure consistent operation in a variety of environments, including cloudy conditions and shade from buildings or landscaping, at least one solar cell preferably delivers a charge to at least one rechargeable battery until a sufficient charge is achieved to power the sound system. This is easily achieved by a circuit that starts passing electric current when the voltage supplied by the battery reaches a desired peak voltage, and stops passing electric current when the battery voltage falls below the desired operating range. Should a user desire to operate the soundsystem prior to the battery becoming fully charged via the at least one solar cell, quicker battery-charging is achieved via connection to a standard electrical outlet, and indication means including a visible and/or an audible signal indicates to the user that peak voltage hasbeen achieved. The indication means preferably consists of a blinking green LED light, and/or an intermittent audible chirp.
Another embodiment utilizes solely battery power, and is preferably equipped with a built-in battery charger so that the cyclist can simply plug the sound system into an electrical outlet when finished listening for a while.
References herein to the details of the invention are by way of example only and are not intended to limit the scope of the claims which themselves recite those details regarded as important to the invention.
1. A sound system comprising: a) a sound system housing; b) at least one audio speaker mounted to the sound system housing; c) an audio source located within the sound system housing and connected to the audio speaker; d) power means; and e) quick-connect hardware means for mounting the sound system housing within proximity of the listener. 2.The sound system of claim 1, wherein: a) the top and bottom of the soundsystem housing is constructed of a substantially triangular shape; b) atleast one audio speaker is mounted to the left vertical wall of the sound system housing; and c) at least one audio speaker is mounted tothe right vertical wall of the sound system housing; wherein the left and right speakers provide audio to the left and right sides of the listener.
3. The sound system of claim 1 further comprising a cycle,wherein the sound system housing is quick-connectable to the base of the cycle seat.
4. The sound system of claim 1, further comprising a backpack; wherein the sound system housing is quick-connectable to thetop or bottom of the backpack.
5. The sound system of claim 1, wherein the sound system housing is quick-connectable to the waist of the listener.
6. The sound system of claim 1, wherein the sound system housing is interchangeably quick-connectable to a cycle seat, front stem of a cycle, top tube of a cycle, back rack of a cycle, a backpack, or toa belt or other garment worn about the waist of the listener where the sound system is worn like a fanny pack.
7. A sound system comprising: a)a sound system housing; b) at least one audio speaker mounted to the sound system housing; c) an audio source located within the sound system housing and connected to the audio speaker; d) power means; and e)quick-connect hardware means for mounting the sound system housing to a cycle.
8. The sound system of claim 7, further comprising at least one remote control assembly for mounting to the handlebars within easy reach of the cyclist.
9. The sound system of claim 8, wherein at least one remote control assembly further comprises a handgrip that the cyclist grips while cycling, whereby the controls are conveniently accessible during cycling.
10. The sound system of claim 8, wherein at least one control comprises a finger or thumb-actuated lever.
11. The sound system of claim 8, wherein at least one control comprises a finger or thumb-depressible button.
12. The sound system of claim 8, wherein atleast one control comprises a finger or thumb-actuated lever.
13. The sound system of claim 8, further comprising a transponder for wireless communication located within the sound system housing, and a transponder also located within the remote control assembly.
14. The sound system of claim 8, further comprising at least one speaker mounted within the remote control assembly.
15. The sound system of claim 14, further comprising connection means for attaching an audio source directly tothe remote control assembly, for operation when communication with the sound system housing is not necessary, such as when low volume audio is desired.
16. A sound system comprising: a) a sound system housing,wherein at least a portion of the sound system housing is shaped into ahandgrip for the cyclist to use while cycling; b) at least one audio speaker mounted to the sound system housing; c) an audio source located within the sound system housing and connected to the audio speaker; andd) power means; wherein the sound system replaces at least one standard factory handgrip.
17. The sound system of claim 16, further comprising finger actuated control means for adjusting the volume, and/or cycling through the tracks or channels being listened to.
18. The sound system of claim 16, further comprising quick-connect hardware means forremovably mounting the sound system to at least one handlebar of a cycle.
19. The sound system of claim 16 wherein the sound system housing is attached to a cycle's right handlebar, further comprising a secondary and substantially identical sound system housing attached to the cycle's left handlebar, whereby the right sound system provides audio to the right side of the cyclist and the left sound system provides audio tothe left side of the cyclist.
20. The sound system of claim 19, wherein the audio source is located within a primary sound system housing, andthe power source is located within a secondary sound system housing, and further comprising a wire harness for audio and power communication between the left and right sound system housings.
|
Jake Doyle Carter (2012)
JakeDoyleRockz's Movies-Spoof of 'John Carter (2012)'
Cast
* Jake Doyle (Republic of Doyle) as John Carter
|
The recommended settings for giga ethernet connected to Ethernet port
What is the recommended duplex and speed configuration for giga ethernet port connected to legacy ethernet (10 mbps) port and there is no available duplex command available on the ethernet side? If we keep the giga ethernet side with auto it will negotiate to 10 Mbps half duplex and if we configure it with 10 Mbps full duplex we will get alarm about misconfiguration on the switches, so what is recommended?
It depends on the switch. You should add the brand, model and firmware/software version of the equipment involved.
The very short answer: don't configure anything.
Auto negotiation (or the lack thereof as Ron's detailed) works only when it's left alone. Manual settings can very easily cause problems either right away when done incorrectly or later on when hardware is upgraded.
For 1000BASE-T, auto negotiation is required - most hardware won't allow you to manually configure 1 Gbit/s for that reason. 1000BASE-T requires a clock master on a link that has to be (auto) negotiated. When a port can be configured to 1000BASE-T only, it's not a "use 1000BASE-T full-duplex no matter what" but an "auto negotiate with 1000BASE-T full-duplex as only option".
Most basic 1000BASE-T ports will auto negotiate down to 10BASE-T half or full duplex just fine. Some ports (SFPs or 10GBASE-T ports especially) don't support 10BASE-T any more however.
Usually, there will be no visible error message when the link is configured incorrectly. Speed mismatches simply don't link at all. Duplex mismatches are nasty - the link comes up and appears to work but it only does so at an extremely slow effective rate. There are error counters on the NIC and in managed switches to indicate the problem but it's not obvious.
So, don't configure manually. If you've got ancient equipment causing faulty auto negotiation (early Cisco hardware in particular), replace it.
In reality, the legacy 10 Mbps ethernet interface probably can't negotiate, and it can probably only do half duplex (very few 10 Mbps interfaces can do full duplex). You should let the 1 Gbps interface auto-negotiate. It will try to negotiate, but if the 10 Mbps can't negotiate, it will detect (not negotiate) that the connection is 10 Mbps, and it will set itself to half duplex, which is the default for 10 and 100 Mbps ethernet.
Cisco has a document with a table which shows what happens when different speed/duplex setting are configured on each end of a link: Troubleshooting Cisco Catalyst Switches to NIC Compatibility Issues
Why Is It That the Speed and Duplex Cannot Be Hardcoded on Only One Link Partner?
As indicated in Table 1, a manual setup of the speed and duplex for
full-duplex on one link partner results in a duplex mismatch. This
happens when you disable autonegotiation on one link partner while the
other link partner defaults to a half-duplex configuration. A duplex
mismatch results in slow performance, intermittent connectivity, data
link errors, and other issues. If the intent is not to use
autonegotiation, both link partners must be manually configured for
speed and duplex for full-duplex settings.
A) offer only a subset of speeds
In cases where speed/duplex negotiation becomes difficult, you may want to consider the following to restrict a switch to offer only a (sub)set of speeds on a given port, while maintaining support for half/full duplex negotiation.
Please note that this is not a cure-all recipe, it just helps to narrow the scope of things that might go wrong.
The example is for Cisco IOS switches. This is certainly supported on the access switch types, such as 2960/3560/3750 series, and the younger 3650/3850 as well.
Other vendors may have similar features.
interface GigabitEthernet0/2
...
speed auto 10
...
interface GigabitEthernet0/3
...
speed auto 100
...
interface GigabitEthernet0/4
...
speed auto 100 10
...
I remember running into issues of this type with crippled structured cabling where a 8-wire Cat5e was split into two 4-wire Cat5 links, combined with gigabit NIC and gigabit switchports.
The NIC driver of the OS was cabaple of helping the NIC to detect that only 2 wire pairs were available and to fall back to 100Mbps.
However, during PXE boot, no "proper" NIC driver was loaded, and the NIC still believed it had "line protocol up" at Gigabit - when actually, there were only 2pairs available on the wire. By consequence, DHCP and PXE would fail at this stage in the boot process. The cure was to configure the switch port to speed auto 100 10 (or to do the right thing and stop splitting an 8-wire cat5e into 2x4-wire).
B) Beware of flooded traffic
Another thing to consider when connecting 10Mbps devices to Gigabit ports and multi-gigabit backplanes: Beware of unknown unicast flooding and multicast.
When mixing 10M and 100M or even 1G devices in the same VLAN/Broadcast domain, be sure that it does not suffer from flooded traffic at elevated rates. An inadvertedly flooded multicast stream, or unknown unicast flooding (because of suboptimal L2 topologies) of anything >10Mbps will heavily oversubscribe the 10Mbit/s switchports, resulting in a DoS situation for the 10Mbit/s devices connected.
To prevent multicast flooding, look into IGMP snooping, to prevent unknown unicast flooding, check your vendor's LAN design guidelines; at the very limit, consider segregating the 10M devices into a broadcast domain/VLAN of their own.
|
package pl.wicherska.songs.repositories;
import org.junit.jupiter.api.BeforeEach;
import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
import pl.wicherska.songs.converters.CsvConverter;
import pl.wicherska.songs.core.Config;
import pl.wicherska.songs.domain.Song;
import pl.wicherska.songs.sources.CsvDataSource;
import java.util.List;
import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertAll;
import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertEquals;
import static pl.wicherska.songs.TestSongFactory.alternativeSong2;
import static pl.wicherska.songs.TestSongFactory.rockSong2;
class CsvSongRepositoryTest {
private final CsvConverter csvConverter = Config.getInstance().csvConverter();
private final CsvDataSource csvDataSource = Config.getInstance().csvDataSource();
private final List<String> paths = List.of("src/test/resources/test.csv");
private CsvSongRepository csvSongRepository;
@BeforeEach
void setUp() {
csvSongRepository = new CsvSongRepository(csvConverter, csvDataSource, paths);
}
@Test
void shouldReturnListOfSongs() {
List<Song> expectedSongs = List.of(rockSong2(), alternativeSong2());
List<Song> songs = csvSongRepository.getSongs();
assertAll(
() -> assertEquals(expectedSongs.size(), songs.size()),
() -> assertEquals(expectedSongs.get(0), songs.get(0)),
() -> assertEquals(expectedSongs.get(1), songs.get(1))
);
}
}
|
Category:Aviation in Oklahoma
The following articles relate to Aviation in the U.S. state of Oklahoma
|
Yalour Islands
Yalour Islands, also known as the Jalour Islands, is a group of islands and rocks 1.5 nmi in extent in the south part of the Wilhelm Archipelago. The group lies 1 nmi northwest of Cape Tuxen, Graham Land. Discovered and named by the French Antarctic Expedition, 1903–05, under J.B. Charcot. Named for Lieutenant Jorge Yalour, Argentine Navy, an officer of the Argentine corvette Uruguay which came to the rescue of the shipwrecked Swedish Antarctic Expedition in November 1903.
The rocks observed on the Yalours and surrounding areas are predominantly igneous intrusives that have cooled deep under ground. The main rock type is grey to black gabbro composed of small crystals of grey-white feldspar and black pyroxene. The rocks here were formed by much the same process that the rest of the peninsula was formed; the Pacific plate sliding under the Antarctic Peninsula in an ocean/continent subduction-type tectonic event. This process, called orogenesis, is one of the most common ways for a mountain chain to form. The Andres and the coast ranges of North America are other classic examples of this type of tectonism. The mountain building has nearly stopped though; it is only at the very tip of the peninsula and in the South Shetland Islands that the process continues. For the rest of the peninsula, it erosion and gravity's turn to shape the landscape.
About 8,000 pairs of Adelie penguins nest in the Yalour Islands.
|
NEW YORK LIFE INSURANCE CO. v. BOLIN.
No. 27463.
Sept. 21, 1937.
Wilson & Wilson (Louis H. Cooke, of counsel), for plaintiff in error.
Pryor & Sandlin, for defendant in error.
OSBORN, C. J.
This action was instituted in the district court of Hughes county by Warda Bolin, hereinafter referrea to as plaintiff, against the New York Life Insurance Company, hereinafter referred to as defendant, wherein plaintiff, as the beneficiary of a life insurance policy issued to George E. Bolin, Jr., during his lifetime, sought a recovery upon said policy. Issues were joined, a jury was impaneled, and after the introduction of all the evidence, the trial court directed a verdict in favor of plaintiff. From a judgment thereon, defendant has appealed.
On August 7, 1934, the defendant issued a life insurance policy to George E. Bolin, Jr., the son of plaintiff, in -the sum of $1,-000, which policy contained a provision for double indemnity in case of accidental death. Premiums in the sum of $8.09 each were payable quarterly. On October 13, 1934, the insured while playing football sustained an accidental injury resulting in a broken neck, and on December 23, 1934, as a result of tbe accidental injury, tbe insured died. Defendant denies liability on the ground that the policy had lapsed for nonpayment of premiums prior to the death of insured.
One H. T. Flaugher testified in behalf of plaintiff that he procured the policy of insurance involved herein; that he had procured an agency contract with the defendant company, but inasmuch as he was the agent of another company procured the contract in the name of Ted Flaugher, his son; that such business as he transacted for defendant company was transacted in the name of his son, and that the company was advised of, and acquiesced in such arrangement. The witness testified, further, that when he delivered the policy he took a note for $8.09, which was later paid and canceled; that during the month of November, 1934, plaintiff came to him and offered to pay the second quarterly premium ; that he told plaintiff that, inasmuch as he was indebted to her for the use of her automobile, he would send in the premium for her; he testified that he,, in effect, received two quarterly premiums; that under the terms of the agency contract he was entitled to 50 per cent, of the premium as his commission; that he accounted to the company for $8.09, which was the net amount due the company for the two quarterly premiums; that a corresponding amount to which he was entitled as a commission was settled by a credit upon his indebtedness to plaintiff.
The plaintiff also testified that she tendered the second premium to Flaugher; that he informed her that he would account to the company for the premium and would take credit for the amount of the premium upon his indebtedness to her.
The plaintiff introduced in evidence a receipt issued to Ted Flaugher, agent, by the Oklahoma City office of defendant company showing th'at on December 19, 1934, defendant had received a “net” payment on the Bolin policy in the sum of $8.09. Other records of the defendant were introduced also showing a credit of said sum upon the policy.
We find no material conflict in the evidence. In the light of the facts recited, defendant takes the position that the second quarterly premium became due and payable on November 7, 1934; that the same was not paid on that date, nor within the 31-day grace period which expired prior to the death of insured, and that the policy had lapsed prior to that date. Such was not the view of the trial court. We quote from its findings, as follows:
“In this case the court finds that the policy was issued, as alleged, and that the quarterly premium was $8.09; that on or about the 19th day of December, the company through its general agent received and accepted the sum of $8.09 and entered the same on its records. The court finds, as a matter of fact, that the agent writing the insurance was entitled to half of the premium on that policy, or fifty per cent., and that the company received at that time all that was due the company under this policy. The motion for directed verdict of the defendant will be overruled and the court will direct a verdict for the plaintiff.
“The court further finds that the total sum received by the New York Life Insurance Company, the defendant herein, was $8.09, and the court finds that any payment made by plaintiff to H. T. Flaugher, or any exchange of debt between plaintiff and the said H. T. Flaugher, would not be a payment to the company; but the court finds that under the record in this case and the facts, as the court sees it, there was no more due the company in actual cash than $8.09 on the date of the payment of that sum. The court finds that H. T. Flaugher retained the amount of money he was to get on the second premium by exchange of debt and never paid it to the New York Life Insurance Company, or any part of it; but the coiirt finds that the company received all that was due them as premium on this policy for two quarters, and acknowledged receipt of the net amount due them for the two quarters, as shown by the evidence.”
The issue of law presented for our determination is stated in the brief of defendant as follows:
“The only question, therefore, involved in this appeal is whether this exchange of credit between the mother of the assured and the father of the agent of the company could by any means constitute a payment of the second quarterly premium.”
A number of the authorities cited and relied upon for reversal were considered and followed by this court in the case of Turner v. Supreme Lodge. Knights of Pythias, 166 Okla. 286, 27 P. (2d) 612, 93 A. L. R. 647, wherein it was held that a soliciting agent of an insurance company ordinarily has no authority to accept anything other than money or an instrument calling for the payment of money for a premium, such as personal property, or professional services, or even to cancel his own indebtedness to the insured or accept credit for merchandise on his own account. Plaintiff concedes the correctness of the rule, but insists that it has no application to the facts- in the instant case.
In L. R. A. 1915A, 689, appears the following note:
“If an insurance agent actually carries out his agreement to apply an indebtedness due by him to the insured to the payment of a premium and remits the . amount to the insurer, it is held that this constitutes a valid payment of the premium.”
In support of such rule are cited the cases of Phoenix Ins. Co. v. Meier, 28 Neb. 124, 44 N. W. 97; Home Ins. Co. v. Gilman, 112 Ind. 7, 13 N. E. 118; Huggins Cracker & Candy Co. v. People’s Ins. Co., 41 Mo. App. 530.
The liability of an insurer was upheld in the ease of John Hancock Mut. Life Ins. Co. v. Schlink (Ill.) 51 N. E. 795, wherein there was presented a state of facts similar to the facts involved herein. Therein it was held:
“An agent of a life insurance company, authorized to collect premiums, has the right to accept that portion which is equivalent to his commission in property instead of cash.”
The case of New York Life Ins. Co. v. Ollich (C. C. A. 6th) 42 Fed. (2d) 399, involved the following state of facts: On-May 10, 1928, one Ollich made application to the defendant insurance company through Greitzer, one of its soliciting agents, for a policy of life insurance. The policy required a semi-annual premium of $26.54. The application provided that the policy should not take effect until its delivery and payment in full of the first premium. The application was accepted and the policy sent to the company’s branch office at Cleveland, Ohio. About a week after the agent had taken the application, the insured paid him $3, and the agent agreed to advance the first premium to the company, to be repaid in $5 weekly installments. On June 2nd the agent was paid an additional $15, for which he issued his personal receipt, upon which it was stated that there was a balance due of $8.54. The insured was shot and died about midnight on June 3rd. The next morning, the agent, not knowing of the death of the insured, paid the net premium, about $12, at the office of the company. Later in the day he learned of the shooting and death of the insured, returned the policy to the company and tendered the $18 to the beneficiary, which tender was refused. In an action upon the policy a verdict was directed in favor of plaintiff for the full amount of the double indemnity, provided by the terms of the policy. The recovery was sustained by the appellate court. We quote from the body of the opinion as follows:
“But the company, .too, may establish a course of dealing with its agent under which, the full payment to it as specified is effectuated by its receipt of the net premium, leaving the agent to deal with the balance of the premium, his commission, as he pleases. In the record before us, there is ample evidence to justify the conclusion that, as between the agent and the company, it was the latter’s common practice to permit the agent to pay to it only the net premium in cash, without payment or accounting of the balance, his commission, regardless of whether the sum actually paid to the agent by the insured was the gross or the net premium. Accordingly, the difference between the gross and net, the commission, was the agent’s to deal with entirely as he saw fit. The company had no interest therein or concern with its use. McConnell v. Southern States Life Ins. Co., 31 Fed. (2d) 715 (C. C. A. 5th). If, therefore, the insured had paid the amount of the net premium to the agent and the latter had delivered the policy to the insured, treating the amount of his commission as a loan by him to the insured, the policy would have been in force, since there would have been an actual delivery and the company’s share of the first premium would have been paid. See Metropolitan Life Ins. Co. v. Williamson, 174 F. 116 (C. C. A. 5th); Conservative Life Ins. Co. v. Condos, 24 Ohio App. 506, 157 N. E. 306.”
Other cases which are in harmony with the viewpoint hereinabove expressed are: New York Life Ins. Co. v. McCreary (C. C. A. 8th) 60 F. (2d) 355: United Fidelity Life Ins. Co. v. Handley, 126 Tex. 147, 86 S. W. (2d) 201; Reppond v. National Life Ins. Co. (Tex.) 101 S. W. 786, 11 L. R. A. (N. S.) 981. See R. C. L. p. 965, para. 137.
In view of the fact situation existent in the instant case, these authorities are determinative and controlling. The trial court treated the remittance of $8.09 to the company as a net remittance covering two quarterly premiums. The records of the company disclose receipt of but one payment in an amount sufficient to pay one gross premium or two net premiums. The records further disclose that said payment was entered as of the date of December 19, 1934, and upon that date the grace period of 31 days for the payment of the second premium had expired. The record discloses that the soliciting agent was authorized to collect the first premium. The remittance was made and received by tlio company at a time when two quarterly premiums were due and was in an amount sufficient to pay the net amount due the company on premiums then accrued. No contention is made that the. agents were required to remit grogs premiums and loot to the company for reimbursement for commissions. We find no error in the conclusion and judgment of the trial court.
The judgment is affirmed.
BAYLESS, Y. O. J., and WELCH, CORN, and HURST, JJ., concur.
|
Method and system for dynamic selection of communication paths for a moving vehicle
ABSTRACT
A method for wireless communication between a moving vehicle and remote servers through at least one external mobile network. A router in the moving vehicle is configured for receiving and transmitting wireless data to and from both an aggregation server, using aggregated communication over at least two separate links, and at least one other stationary communication server, using non-aggregated communication over a single link. The router is further accessible by a plurality of client devices onboard the moving vehicle. At least one selection rule is provided in the router for selecting whether to use aggregated or non-aggregated communication, and a determination is made, upon a request from a client device to communicate with one of said remote servers, whether one of the at least one rules applies; and if so selecting to use aggregated communication via the at least one other communication server for communication based on the determination.
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method and system for wireless communication between a moving vehicle, and in particular a train, and remote servers through at least one external mobile network.
BACKGROUND
There is an increasing demand from e.g. train passengers to be able to communicate through mobile phones and other hand-held terminals while traveling, and also to access the Internet with laptop computers etc.However, train carriages are made of metal, and even the windows are normally covered with a metal film. Accordingly, train carriages are shielded compartments, and direct communication between terminal antennas within the carriages and externally located antennas is difficult to obtain. Further, with continuously operating software applications on ubiquitous hand-held devices, large numbers of cellular network hand-overs are required when the train moves. Even though this problem is common for all moving vehicles, it is especially pronounced for vehicles moving at high speed with many passengers, such as trains.This puts a strain on the wireless network infrastructure, leading to poor performance.
The mobile nature of a client with respect to the base stations may also introduce several potential sources of communication performance degradation. Such sources may derive from complex terrain, competition for available channels, or the source may be an unknown source of noise related to e.g. radio-frequency interference.
To this end, train carriages are often provided with an external antenna connected to a repeater unit within the carriage, which in turn isconnected to an internal antenna. Hence, the communication between the passengers' terminals and the operator antennas outside the trains occurs through the repeater unit. Similarly, it is known to provide a mobile access router for data communication, also connected both to an external antenna and an internal antenna, in each carriage, in order toprovide Internet access on board the train. Such mobile access router solutions are e.g. commercially available from the applicant of the present application, Icom era AB, of Gothenburg, Sweden, and are also disclosed in EP 1 175 757 by the same applicant. This method,hereinafter referred to as “aggregation”, has greatly improved there liability of high-bandwidth wireless communication for trains andother large vehicles. However, this solution may still be insufficient to obtain an optimal transmission performance, especially for large data volumes. Trains and other moving vehicles often pass through areas with bad radio coverage, and present solutions are often unable to handle the required traffic.
Further, e.g. the current rising trend of streaming media uses far more data per minute of journey per passenger than older uses of the Internet, such as browsing text- and image-based sites like Facebook, or checking and responding to email.
Routing all traffic from a vehicle to a gateway, an aggregation server,also puts a strain on the gateway. The performance of that gateway is a natural bottleneck in the system when the data volume increases. Each train may have more than one router, and even if each router may have its own gateway, if multiple gateways are co-located at the same physical site, the wired network infrastructure of that site is still a potential limiting factor. With the continuing popularization,utilization and improvement of wireless Internet communication, it will soon be economically infeasible to maintain numerous stationary gateways with terabit bandwidth or more to serve large fleets of vehicles usingLTE-A or similar, more sophisticated technologies.
There is therefore a need for an improved method and system for communicating with clients on moving vehicles, and in particular trains,allowing increased capacity, capacity utilization, quality and/or cost-efficiency. Even though the above discussion is focused on trains,similar situations and problems are encountered in many other types of moving vehicles, and in particular moving passenger vehicles, such as buses, ships and airplanes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a wireless communication method and system for moving vehicles which alleviates all or at least some of the above-discussed drawbacks of the presently known systems. In particular, it is an object of the present invention toprovide a method and system which retain the advantages of aggregation for specific applications, where these advantages are most needed, whilealleviating the tendency for a bottleneck to form, mitigating the effects of a bottleneck, and ultimately providing a fallback mechanism in the event that a gateway becomes unreachable.
This object is achieved by means of a wireless communication method and system for a moving vehicle, and in particular a train, as defined inthe appended claims.
According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for wireless communication between a moving vehicle and remote servers through at least one external mobile network, wherein at least one router provided in the moving vehicle is configured for receiving and transmitting wireless data to and from both an aggregation server, using aggregated communication over at least two separate links, and at least one other stationary communication server, using non-aggregatedcommunication over a single link, and the router further being accessible by a plurality of client devices onboard said moving vehicle,the method comprising:
providing at least one selection rule in said router for selecting whether to use aggregated or non-aggregated communication;
determining, upon a request from a client device to communicate with oneof said remote servers, whether one of said at least one rules applies;and
selecting to use aggregated communication via said aggregation server or non-aggregated communication via said at least one other communication server for communication based on said determination.
Thus, there is provided a method for selecting which wireless computer network traffic is to be aggregated in the process of routing said traffic between a moving vehicle and stationary servers. It is determined, upon a request from a client device to access a resource ona remote server, whether that request should use aggregation. When aggregation should be used, routing of the request occurs through a specific stationary server—the aggregation server—whereas where aggregation should not be used, an “ordinary” wireless link is selected.Hereby, such non-aggregated traffic is conveyed more directly to its target server by routing it over the single link selected for this purpose.
The invention is based on the realization that only most data streams are very short, whereas some data streams, such as voice over IP (VoIP)streams are long. Aggregation provides great advantages in respect of maintaining streams over a long period of time. The need for aggregation and ensuring that the streams are maintained are of great importance for such long streams, whereas this is of less need for shorter streams. Forexample, downloading an ordinary web page is typically made by downloading a plurality of separate streams. Should one of these streams fail, re-sending of that stream would be easily handled. However, shoulda VoIP stream be disrupted, the call would be aborted. Thus, by using aggregation for only certain streams, the overall performance of the communication system is greatly improved. Further, by using the aggregated communication only for certain streams, being in best need ofthe this performance, the capacity of this communication route is better used, and saved for the streams where it is of the best advantage.
The “router” is a networking router, which is a machine that forwards data packets between computer networks, on at least one data link in each direction. The router may be a mobile access router, and preferably a mobile access and applications router.
Each stationary server may be any server or site accessible through the exterior mobile network, such as a DNS server, an ISP infrastructure gateway, an aggregation gateway, a content provider server of interest to vehicle passengers, or the like. For all common applications of this invention, the stationary servers will constitute the Internet, but partly or purely private network applications are also feasible.
The router and the stationary servers are preferably connected through a plurality of exterior mobile networks, which are simultaneously usable.Also, the router is preferably arranged to communicate with stationary servers on at least two different data links (communication routes)having different characteristics. These characteristics may include packet loss (intermittent failure for packets of data to arrive),latency (round-trip response time, hence responsiveness), throughput(overall rate of data transmission, whether current or potential) and a variety of radio physical metrics, such as signal strength. Said characteristics are measured by the router.
Such a method for aggregated communication is disclosed in EP 1 175 757,by the same applicant, said document hereby being incorporated by reference. It describes a method of stabilizing the connection between a moving vehicle and the Internet by means of a router and gateway.Multiple wireless links on the vehicle are aggregated for simultaneous use by means of routing all traffic on said links through a shared virtual connection to and from the gateway, which is a stationary computer acting as a server—an aggregation server—on the Internet. This method, hereinafter referred to as “aggregation”, has greatly improved the reliability of high-bandwidth wireless communication for trains andother large vehicles. However, routing all traffic from a vehicle to a gateway puts a strain on the gateway, hereinafter also referred to asthe “aggregation server”. The multiple wireless links on the vehicle can use a variety of different types of infrastructure and different ISPs(Internet service providers) with sophisticated load-balancing schemes,but as long as all traffic ultimately passes through a single gateway,the performance of that gateway is a natural bottleneck in the system.Each train may have more than one router, and each router may have its own gateway, but if multiple gateways are co-located at the same physical site, the wired network infrastructure of that site is still a potential limiting factor. A current wireless communication technology known as LTE Advanced (LTE-A) is likely to give one train a bandwidth around 1 Gb/s. With the continuing popularization, utilization and improvement of wireless Internet communication, it will soon be economically infeasible to maintain numerous stationary gateways withterabit bandwidth to serve large fleets of vehicles using LTE-A or similar, more sophisticated technologies.
The present invention provides a solution in which all the benefits and advantages of the aggregated communication are maintained, but inaddition solves the bottleneck problem and other problems experienced or anticipated with this known system. Thus, the present invention provides great advantages in bandwidth and other communication properties, lower the costs, and provides increased robustness.
The router may use any available data links, such as two or more of e.g.satellite, DVB-T, HSPA, EDGE, 1×RTT, EVDO, LTE, LTE-A, Wi-Fi (802.11)and WiMAX. The present invention requires that the router be capable ofaggregating said links into one virtual network connection, in such away that traffic can be sent either through that virtual connection or outside it, through any of the individual links.
Aggregation is the state and process whereby data streams between on-board clients and external stationary servers are jointly managed,preferably by a special protocol, between the router and the aggregation gateway/aggregation server. In reality, aggregated traffic passes through ISP infrastructure servers on its way to and from the aggregation gateway, but the virtual connection makes it appear to a third party, such as a web site, that all communications are taking place between that site and the aggregation gateway. This is advantageous because the aggregation gateway has a single, stable IPaddress and because streams of data can be moved from one physical linkto another with minimal disruption, since the various links can be monitored both from the router and from the gateway.
Aggregation can but does not necessarily exhaust the potential throughput of a link. The use of a link for aggregation does not preclude the simultaneous use of that link for other purposes. Of particular interest in the present invention is the ability to adapt toa variety of situations by using links wholly with, wholly without, or partially with and partially without aggregation.
The use of multiple parallel wireless links without aggregation, for non-aggregated communication, can be done by standards and common practices of IP networking. For example, a simple approach would be forthe router to continuously loop over its connected links, assigning each request from a client on board to the link least recently given such an assignment. This is known as “round robin” routing. The selected link would convey the client's request to the target server and convey any response from the target server back to the router, which conveys said response back to the original client. From the point of view of the target server, it would appear to be communicating with the IP addressof the selected link. The aggregation gateway would have no part in this communication whatsoever. The next request from any client would be handled by a different link and would therefore use a different IPaddress.
For a deeper discussion of selective routing, “data streams” are hereinafter defined as all communication with a specific combination of ultimate source and ultimate destination IP addresses and network ports,or whatever the equivalent of this would be in a networking scheme where these identifiers are not used or not sufficiently distinguishing. Sucha stream is created when any entity on one side of the system seeks to communicate with any entity on the other side, using any specific combination of ports. A stream is deemed terminated after a period of inactivity which need not be closely defined, but will typically correspond to the session-ending 15-second timeout in the transmission control protocol (TCP). Renewed activity after termination, even if the source and destination are unchanged, constitutes a new stream for the purposes of this discussion.
By means of the present invention, each data stream can be analyzed and selected to be routed with aggregation or without aggregation based onthe properties of each stream and on the availability of the aggregation gateway, in such a way as to optimize the load on the aggregation gateway's resources while also enabling the router to function in situations where the aggregation gateway cannot or should not be used atall. To this end, the router preferably has some information on the likely load on its aggregation gateway, either obtained directly, by communication with the gateway, or indirectly, by means of router configuration details which describe specific rules on what kind of streams to aggregate, what not to aggregate, or both.
In the event that a router observes its aggregation gateway to be entirely unreachable, or equivalently in the event that the gateway is too busy to provide adequate performance, the router may fall back to another aggregation gateway. In an embodiment of the present invention,the router may, after having failed in its search for a functioning gateway, cease to aggregate traffic entirely until an adequate gateway connection has been established. This will cause the router to provide inferior performance, but it does enable the continued use of multiple concurrent links.
When an aggregation gateway is available, data streams will be selected for aggregation based primarily on the differing benefits of aggregatingdifferent types of traffic. The present invention is based on the realization that these needs for different types of traffic varies greatly, and by treating such traffic differently, great savings and much increased performance can be obtained. For example, an individual HTTP request made from a client browsing the web is likely to be brief,and one client's HTTP-based interaction with one web site is likely, but not guaranteed, to be unaffected by changes in the client's apparent public address from one individual request to another. Furthermore, HTTP traffic constitutes a large portion of passenger traffic. Therefore,excluding all HTTP requests from aggregation saves a relatively large amount of gateway load, while generally costing little in perceived performance. At the other end of the spectrum, a VPN connection is likely to be lengthy and sensitive to perturbations, such as changes in apparent IP address due to periods of poor coverage on one link or another. VPN connection data streams would therefore be among the last types of streams to be excluded from aggregation. They can be said tohave a high need for aggregation, by virtue of the relative benefits they derive from aggregation.
The automatic analysis of data streams, for the purpose of categorization by need for aggregation, can take place by a variety of means, as discussed below. The subsequent or simultaneous selection of categorized streams to be aggregated will take place by rules akin to or identical to firewall rules. This can be arranged into a system suchthat categorization is numeric and directly comparable to the overall capacity for aggregation, with the effect that the level of aggregation performed can be adjusted in real time based on the measured gateway load and the volume of traffic at each level of need.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, the at least one selection rule comprises a dynamic adjustment to current load on the aggregation server. Particularly, the load on the aggregation server maybe estimated based on information received by direct communication withthe aggregation server or indirectly, based on router configurations.
The at least one selection rule may comprise determining whether the requested resource involves a HTTP communication, and if so to assign non-aggregated communication for this communication. Additionally or alternatively, the at least one selection rule may comprise determining whether the requested resource involves a TCP communication a destination port of 80, and if so to assign non-aggregated communication for this communication. Additionally or alternatively, the at least one selection rule may comprise determining whether the requested resource involves a VPN communication, and is so to assign an aggregatedcommunication for this communication.
Preferably, the at least one selection rule comprises determining thedata stream type related to the requested resource, and assigning aggregated communication to data stream types of predetermined datastream types. The predetermined data stream types are preferably atleast one of voice-over-IP (VOIP) and VPN. The data stream type may be determined based on deep packet inspection.
The router is preferably configured for receiving and transmitting wireless data to and from at least two stationary communication servers using non-aggregated communication, each over a single link, and wherein non-aggregated communication is assigned to said stationary communication server links based on a round-robin protocol.
When it is determined that there is a high load on the aggregation server, communication normally assigned to aggregated communication is preferably instead assigned to non-aggregated communication.
The router may further be configured for receiving and transmitting wireless data to and from at least two stationary communication servers using non-aggregated communication, each over a single link, and wherein the communication normally assigned to aggregated communication is assigned to non-aggregated communication links having the best characteristics.
The present invention is particularly useable and highly advantageous on trains, but may also be used on other moving vehicles, and in particular moving passenger vehicles, such as ferries, buses, airplanes, etc.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a wireless communication system for a moving vehicle, comprising:
at least one router in the moving vehicle for communication with remote servers through at least one external mobile network, wherein the router is configured for receiving and transmitting wireless data to and from both an aggregation server, using aggregated communication over at least two separate links, and at least one other stationary communication server, using non-aggregated communication over a single link, and the router further being accessible by a plurality of client devices onboard said moving vehicle;
a controller within or connected to said router, said controller including at least one selection rule for selecting whether to use aggregated or non-aggregated communication, the controller being configured to determine, upon a request from a client device to communicate with one of said remote servers, whether one of said atleast one rules applies, and to select using aggregated communication via said aggregation server or non-aggregated communication via said atleast one other communication server for communication based on said determination.
With this aspect of the invention, similar advantages and preferred features are present as in the previously discussed first aspect of the invention.
The router and the aggregation server are preferably connected through a plurality of exterior mobile networks, which are simultaneously useable.Further, the router is preferably arranged to communicate with the aggregation server on at least two different communication routes having different characteristics, and to automatically separate the communication traffic between said communication routes based on specific optimization conditions, such as price, latency and/or speed.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will inthe following be further clarified with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For exemplifying purposes, the invention will be described in closer detail in the following with reference to embodiments thereof illustrated in the attached drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a train having a wireless communication system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 2 is a more detailed block diagram of the wireless communication system of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In the following detailed description, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described. However, it is to be understood that features of the different embodiments are exchangeable between the embodiments and may be combined in different ways, unless anything else is specifically indicated. Even though in the following description,numerous specific details are set forth to provide a more thorough understanding of the present invention, it will be apparent to ones killed in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known constructions or functions are not described in detail, so as not to obscure the present invention. In the following examples, an embodiment related to a train is disclosed. However, it is to be acknowledged by the skilled reader that the method and system are correspondingly useable on other moving vehicles, such as buses, ferries, airplanes and the like.
In FIG. 1 a schematic illustration of a vehicle 1, such as a train,having a communication system is provided. The communication system comprises a data communication router 2 for receiving and transmitting data between an internal local area network (LAN) 3, and one or several external wide area networks (WANs) 4 a, 4 b, 4 c. Communication to and from the WANs is provided through one or several antennas 5 a-n on the vehicle roof. Two or more data links are available, either between the train and one of the WANs, and/or by using several WANs simultaneously.
The LAN is preferably a wireless network, using one or several internal antennas to communicate with terminal units 6 within the vehicle. It is also possible to use a wired network within the vehicle. The LAN may beset-up as wireless access point(s). The client(s) 6 may be computing devices such as laptops, mobile telephones, smart phones, PDAs and soon.
The data communication router comprises a plurality of modems 21 a-n.Assignment of data streams to different WANs and/or to different datalinks on one WAN is controlled by a controller 23. The controller is preferably realized as a software controlled processor. However, the controller may alternatively be realized wholly or partly in hardware.
The system may also comprise a global positioning system (GPS) receiver7 for receiving GPS signals indicative of the current position of the vehicle, and wherein the controller may be arranged to assign datastreams to various data links also partly in dependence on said received GPS signals.
The data communication router may also be denominated MAR (Mobile Access Router) or MAAR (Mobile Access and Applications Router).
The data communication router is preferably arranged to communicate on at least two different communication routes having different characteristics. Hereby, the communication can be automatically optimized based on specific conditions, such as price, speed, etc. Such data communication routers are e.g. known from EP 1 175 757 by the same applicant, said document hereby incorporated by reference. Such routers are also commercially available from the applicant, Icom era AB. Hereby,the router may use all available data channels, such as two or more ofe.g. Satellite, DVB-T, HSPA, EDGE, 1×RTT, EVDO, LTE, LTE-A, WiFi(802.11), Ethernet and WiMAX; and combine them into one virtual network connection. An automatic selection may be made among the available channels to use the most cost effective combination that fulfils the users' availability, bandwidth and reliability requirements. Hence, a seamless distribution of the data among said different channels can be obtained.
A more detailed embodiment of the communication system is illustrated in FIG. 2. This figure provides a schematic overview of a simple embodiment of the present invention. Here, an exemplary system is illustrated,comprising a train (TRAIN) containing a router (R) with two modems as links (L1, L2), an antenna array (ANTENNA) and two nearby radio towers(T1, T2) as well as several servers on the Internet: Internet service provider infrastructure sites (ISP1, ISP2), an aggregation gateway/aggregation server (GW) and a target site/remote server (TS) for on-board client device (C1, C2) communications. For simplicity, FIG. 2shows the simplest embodiment that may be used to illustrate the invention. However, it should be appreciated by the skilled addresseethat many more communication links, stationary servers, gateways,antennas, etc. may be used in analogy with this simplified embodiment.
In the embodiment of FIG. 2 the train comprises a router. The router has two links, each connected to a different ISP. From the ISP sites, it is possible to reach target site TS.
We will now consider a variety of scenarios differing only in thereachability of the aggregation gateway GW, indicated by dashed lines inthe diagram.
In scenario I, the aggregation gateway GW is reachable and idle, such as being under 0-20% load. In this scenario, it is economically efficient for the router to construct a virtual connection to GW and assign all traffic from C1 and C2 to the virtual connection. In reality, traffic through the virtual connection passes through either ISP1 or ISP2, and GW, on its way to and from TS. This creates a load on GW, including aload on overall site bandwidth as well as server CPU etc.
In scenario II, GW is reachable but under some load, such as being under20-70% load, or 30-60% load, such as under 40% load, from other routers.The virtual connection can still be created and will be stable.
In scenario III, GW is reachable but under heavy load, such as under60-99% load, or 80-99% load, such as 95% load. The virtual connection may be intermittent as a result of CPU bottlenecks or network congestion at the gateway site.
In scenario IV, GW is not responding, e.g. due to overload (100% load),or being subject to power breakdown, having been hacked by a hostile agent, or for other reasons being permanently or temporarily unreachable. Here, there will be no virtual connection.
In one possible embodiment of the present invention, the router R is configured to aggregate all client traffic except TCP traffic with a destination port of 80. The router has a firewall rule carrying out the analysis of client traffic to identify all such packets. This is an attractive solution because the firewall rule produces very little overhead. Round-robin routing of the un aggregated traffic, where L1 andL2 take turns handling each new data stream, is also cheap in terms of CPU cycles. In the example of a Linux-based router, round robin can be achieved using a “nexthop” function in the operating system kernel.However, not all TCP traffic on port 80 is actually HTTP traffic, and some HTTP traffic, such as large file downloads, stands to benefit from aggregation, so the simplicity of this embodiment does come with some drawbacks. Round-robin routing may also, in some situations, lead to poor performance if the streams assigned to L1 turn out to be much larger than those assigned to L2, or if L1 is a UMTS link whereas L2 isan LTE-A link with many times more bandwidth available. There would beunderutilized bandwidth on L2 in either of those cases. The aggregated traffic could be placed more intelligently to compensate, as is per se known. In any case, this simplistic embodiment alleviates the load onthe gateway in scenarios I and II, without degrading performance too badly.
In a more preferable embodiment, the router runs packet inspection software or talks to an external packet sniffer to analyze client traffic on a deeper level, purely for the purpose of aggregation triage.Packet inspection would make it possible to identify a variety of traffic types in need of aggregation or other special treatment such asthe aforementioned VPN tunnels or voice-over-IP (VOIP) connections.VOIP, conveying the human voice in real time, is sensitive to latency and should therefore be routed with special consideration for latency,such as can more easily be obtained with aggregation than without it.With such an embodiment, it would be possible to aggregate only those types of traffic in particular need of aggregation, and route everything else away from GW by default. This would greatly alleviate the load on GW, ideally to the point of allowing the virtual connection to remain useful for special needs in scenario III.
A variety of routing schemes for un aggregated traffic can be used in an embodiment of this invention. The various link characteristics measurable by the router can be taken into account in such routing schemes. For example, in scenario IV, VOIP cannot be aggregated, but it would still be possible to analyze the available links so that VOIP traffic is routed, un aggregated, over whichever link has the lower (i.e.better) latency value. In general, the traffic most in need of aggregation would have preferential treatment in scenario IV, being assigned to links with better characteristics, while other traffic is assigned to inferior links.
In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the router R adjusts which types of traffic are aggregated depending on the circumstances. In scenario I, for example, the router would aggregate everything, while in scenario II it would cease to aggregate the downloading of ordinary webpages and images from TS, as detected by relatively simple HTTP header inspection. In scenario III the router would aggregate only the mostneedful data streams using deep packet inspection, and finally, in scenario IV, the router would aggregate nothing, instead routing all traffic, including DNS lookups, directly onto the links until a gateway connection can be reestablished. This embodiment would make the router highly responsive and resilient, but less predictable than the alternative embodiments discussed above.
The invention has now been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, several variations of the communication system are feasible. For example, any number of parallel links may be used, both for the aggregated communication and the non-aggregated communication.Further, the control unit may be integrated with the router, and e.g. be realized by software within the controller of the router, or be arranged as one or several separate unit(s) connected to the router. Further, the communication system may be used on various types of vehicles. Such andother obvious modifications must be considered to be within the scope ofthe present invention, as it is defined by the appended claims. It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate ratherthan limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be ableto design many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting to the claim. The word “comprising” does not exclude the presence of other elements or steps than those listed in the claim. The word “a” or “an” preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements.Further, a single unit may perform the functions of several means recited in the claims.
The invention claimed is:
1. A method for wireless communication between a moving vehicle and remote servers through at least one external mobile network, the method comprising: providing at least one router in the moving vehicle configured for receiving and transmitting wireless data to and from both an aggregation server, using aggregated communication over at least two separate links, thereby forming a single virtual connection between the at least one router and the aggregation server,and at least one other stationary communication server, using non-aggregated communication over a single link, and the router further being accessible by a plurality of client devices onboard said moving vehicle; providing at least one selection rule in said router for selecting whether to use aggregated or non-aggregated communication;determining, upon a request from a client device to communicate with oneof said remote servers, whether one of said at least one rules applies;and selecting to use aggregated communication via said aggregation server or non-aggregated communication via said at least one other communication server for communication based on said determination. 2.The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one selection rule comprises a dynamic adjustment to current load on the aggregation server.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the load on the aggregation server is estimated based on information received by direct communication with the aggregation server or indirectly, based on router configurations.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one selection rule comprises determining whether a requested resource involves a HTTP communication,and if so to assign non-aggregated communication for this communication.5. The method claim 1, wherein the at least one selection rule comprises determining whether a requested resource involves a TCP communication a destination port of 80, and if so to assign non-aggregated communication for this communication.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one selection rule comprises determining whether a requested resource involves a VPN communication, and is so to assign an aggregatedcommunication for this communication.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one selection rule comprises determining a data stream type related to a requested resource, and assigning aggregated communication to data stream types of predetermined data stream types.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the predetermined data stream types is at least oneof voice-over-IP (VOIP) and VPN.
9. The method of claim 7, wherein thedata stream type is determined based on deep packet inspection.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the router is configured for receiving and transmitting wireless data to and from at least two stationary communication servers using non-aggregated communication, each over asingle link, and wherein non-aggregated communication is assigned to said stationary communication server links based on a round-robin protocol.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein when it is determined that there is a high load on the aggregation server, communication normally assigned to aggregated communication is instead assigned tonon-aggregated communication.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the router is configured for receiving and transmitting wireless data to and from at least two stationary communication servers using non-aggregatedcommunication, each over a single link, and wherein the communication normally assigned to aggregated communication is assigned tonon-aggregated communication links having the best characteristics. 13.The method of claim 1, wherein the moving vehicle is a train.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein the aggregation server has a single, stable IP address, and wherein the virtual connection makes it appear to a third party as if all communication takes place between the third party and the aggregation server.
15. A wireless communication system for a moving vehicle, comprising: at least one router in the moving vehicle for communication with remote servers through at least one external mobile network, wherein the router is configured for receiving and transmitting wireless data to and from both an aggregation server, using aggregated communication over at least two separate links, thereby forming a single virtual connection between the at least one router andthe aggregation server, and at least one other stationary communication server, using non-aggregated communication over a single link, and the router further being accessible by a plurality of client devices onboard said moving vehicle; a controller within or connected to said router,said controller including at least one selection rule for selecting whether to use aggregated or non-aggregated communication, the controller being configured to determine, upon a request from a client device to communicate with one of said remote servers, whether one of said at least one rules applies, and to select using aggregatedcommunication via said aggregation server or non-aggregatedcommunication via said at least one other communication server for communication based on said determination.
16. The wireless communication system of claim 15, wherein the router and the aggregation server are connected through a plurality of exterior mobile networks,which are simultaneously useable, and wherein the router is arranged to communicate with the aggregation server on at least two different communication routes having different characteristics, and to automatically separate the communication traffic between said communication routes based on specific optimization conditions.
|
setting google API in rails
The following gem suggests a method to provide google account API key. While this is usually set in an initializer, the suggestion is not specific in this regard.
The statement provided leads to a noMethodError. Preparing an initializer with
class MyGoogle < GoogleDistanceMatrix
matrix.configure do |config|
generates superclass must be a Class (Module given) where, in fact, this gem is defined as a module
module GoogleDistanceMatrix
VERSION = "0.4.0"
end
What is a proper Railsy way to address the API-key setting and correlated issue?
GoogleDistanceMatrix is a module, but Matrix is a class within it. A class cannot inherit from a module.
To set the API keys, according to the documentation, you should create a new instance of Matrix class and set config option there e.g:
matrix = GoogleDistanceMatrix::Matrix.new
matrix.configure do |config|
config.google_api_key = "YOUR_API_KEY"
end
Than you can use matrix instance to do further usage of the gem. Have fun!
OK. I guess my mental model of how modules fit in is incomplete.
|
# Tane
[](https://travis-ci.org/Joe-noh/tane)
Tane means seeds.
```elixir
# priv/repo/seeds.exs
use Tane
repo(MyApp.Repo)
|> model(MyApp.User)
|> seed(name: "Bob", email<EMAIL_ADDRESS>|> seed(name: "Mary", email<EMAIL_ADDRESS>```
Then do this.
```
$ mix tane
```
You can specify the path.
```
$ mix tane --path priv/another_repo/seeds.exs
```
If you want to delete all data before seeding, `delete_all!/1` is useful.
```elixir
repo(MyApp.Repo)
|> model(MyApp.User) # have to register these two before delete_all!.
|> delete_all!
|> seed(name: "Bob", email<EMAIL_ADDRESS>```
Use `registered/1` to get saved models.
```elixir
use Tane
alias MyApp.User
alias MyApp.Post
alias MyApp.Repo
repo(Repo)
|> model(User)
|> seed(:bob, name: "bob")
|> seed(name: "mary")
|> model(Post)
|> seed(title: "Hello", body: "I'm bob", user_id: registered(:bob).id)
```
|
int test(int);
int main()
{
int (*y)(int) = &test;
int (**x)(int) = &y;
x(10); /* called object is not a function */
}
static /*@unused@*/ void foo1(void)
{
int buf[10];
buf[10] = 3;
}
static /*@unused@*/ void foo(void)
{
float *array = NULL;
size_t /*@unused@*/ size = sizeof(array[0]);
}
|
KNICKERBOCKER LIFE INSURANCE CO. v. NELSON.
N. Y. Court of Appeals ;
1879.
[Affirming 13 Hun, 321.]
Mortgages.—Covenant to Assume.—Defenses to Foreclosure. —Usury.—Amendment of Pleadings.—Supplemental Answer.—Pleadings.
Where one making a loan would not do so unless the borrower would purchase a certain piece of property, and the borrower would not purchase without the loan, and upon the loan being made, the property was purchased by the borrower at an exorbitant rate, disadvantageous to him and beneficial to the lender,—Seld, that the loan was usurious.
The price brought by real property at sale on foreclosure, without anything to indicate sacrifice, is competent evidence on the question of its value.
There is no contrivance whatever by which a man can cover usury, and no subterfuge shall be permitted to conceal it from the law.
Upon the trial of a foreclosure suit, the court may permit a defendant to serve a supplemental answer.
For this purpose an amendment may be regarded as,a supplemental answer if no objection to the form of the pleading be taken at the trial.
A purchaser of the equity of redemption, subject to the lien of a mortgage, cannot interpose the defense of usury to the foreclosure of the mortgage, because he acquires only the right to redeem, and if he will not avail himself of that right, he cannot hold the land; and, having no title in the land, cannot be permitted to avoid the mortgage by plea or proof of usury.
But where a mortgagor sells the land subject to the mortgage, and ' thereafter re-purchases it without assuming the mortgage anew, he may set up the defense of usury to the foreclosure of the mortgage.
Appeal by plaintiff from an order of the general term of the second department of the supreme court affirming an order of special term, giving defendant leave to amend answer, and from a judgment; and also by defendants from a judgment granting a new trial.
This was an action of foreclosure by the Knickerbocker Life Insurance Company against George W. Nelson, Ruea Nelson, Charles M. Watkins, and Philip Levy.
The plaintiffs sought to foreclose four mortgages, made by George W. Nelson, conveying land in Brooklyn, to secure the payment of $70,000, according to the conditions of four bonds executed by him to the plaintiffs. Charles M. Watkins and Philip Levy were made defendants as persons having or claiming an interest in the premises, acquired subsequently to the lien of the mortgages ; and Ruea Nelson, because he undertook, by his bond in writing, that, upon foreclosing the mortgages and sale of the premises, sufficient money should be made to pay the decree, and costs and expenses of sale, or in default thereof that he would pay the deficiency to the amount of $20,000. The usual judgment was demanded: First, for a sale of the premises ; second, that George W. Nelson pay the deficiency thereon, if any; third, that Ruea Nelson pay the same up to $20,000.
The defendant Levy did not answer. The other defendants answered separately, setting up the defense of "usury, and Ruea Nelson also charged that he was induced by the plaintiffs’ fraud to execute the bond above referred to.
Upon the trial at special term, the court, by order dated May 30, 1877, allowed the defendant, George W. Nelson, to amend his answer; and upon the evidence at the trial the judge found the fact of usury in favor of the defendants, and that Buea Nelson was induced by the fraud of the plaintiffs to execute his bond. But he also found that, on February 19, 1875, George W. Nelson and wife conveyed the premises described in the several mortgages to Messrs. Leinback, Wolle and Pettee, by deed containing these words, “Subject, nevertheless, to certain mortgages executed by the parties of the first part to the Knickerbocker Life Insurance Company,” describing the mortgages in question, and adding, “which mortgages, and the money owing thereon, are a part of the purchase price of the premises and that they, on March 15, 1875, conveyed the same premises to Charles M. Watkins, subject to the same mortgages, with interest from November 1, 1874. That on March 23, 1876, Watkins re-conveyed the premises by deed to George W. Nelson, but that conveyance was not made subject to the mortgages, nor to either of them.
The learned trial judge found as conclusion of law: First, that George W. Nelson, having conveyed the land, subject to the conditions above-mentioned, cannot avail himself of the defense of usury so far as the land covered by the mortgage is concerned ; but, second, that the defense is available against his bond, and judgment was given dismissing the complaint as to him ; third, that the bond executed by Buea Nelson was obtained by fraud, and is null and void, and judgment is ordered in his favor, canceling the bond; fourth, that the plaintiff, as to the other defendants, is entitled to judgment of foreclosure and sale of the mortgaged premises.
The defendant, George W. Nelson, excepted to the first and fourth conclusions of law, and appealed to the genera] term from so much of the judgment as was thereon entered. On February 12, 1878, the general term reversed the judgment entered on those findings, and declared the several bonds and mortgages usurious and void. Judgment on this decision was entered November 23,1878.
.The plaintiff excepted to the findings of fact above referred to, and to the second and third conclusions of law of the trial judge, and appealed to the general term from so much of the judgment as they authorized. They also appealed from the order of May 30, 1877, allowing the amendment of the answer. The general term affirmed this order, and May 15, 1878, reversed so much of the judgment as was appealed from by the plaintiff, and granted a new trial upon questions of fact.
The plaintiff applied to the general term to conform the decision of February 12, 1878, to that of May 15, 1878; and on September 13, 1878, an order was made denying the application.
The defendant, George W. Nelson, and Ruea Nelson, appealed to this court from the judgment of May 15, 1878, granting a new trial, giving the usual stipulation for judgment absolute. The plaintiffs appealed from the order of September 10, 1878, affirming the order of May 30, giving leave to amend, and from the judgment of the general term entered November 23, 1878, and upon that appeal desired to review the intermediate orders above referred to.
Johnson & Cantine, for plaintiffs.
Morris & Pearsall, for defendants.
See Cuff v. Dorland, in this volume.
See 13 Hun, 321.
See Code Civ. Pro. § 1316.
Danforth, J.
[After stating the facts.]—The appeal by the defendants is to be first considered. It brings up for review the decision of the general term reversing the judgment of the special term, and granting a new trial upon questions of fact. We are therefore to examine the evidence and determine the issues of fact presented upon the trial (Godfrey v. Moses, 66 N. Y. 250). From this examination it appears that the defendant, George W. Nelson, had agreed to buy of one Herring some vacant lots in Brooklyn at the price of §45,000, and to obtain money to make the payments, applied to the plaintiffs for a loan upon that property as security. After oral negotiations with some of the officers of the company, in the course of which he offered to buy of it certain property called the Saugerties property, provided they would make the loan, he presented to the plaintiffs a written application for a loan of $70,000, at seven per cent., on his bond and mortgage upon the property above referred to, and now described in the complaint in this action. The loan was granted upon-an agreement, which was carried out as follows : The plaintiffs paid to Herring $45,000, and to George W. Nelson, or to his use, $5,000, retaining $20,000 “ to be applied to the purchase of the Saugerties property,” executed a deed of it to George W. Nelson, in which the consideration is stated to be $30,000 ; and he gave back the mortgages now in suit, and a mortgage upon the Saugerties property for $10,000, and Ruea Nelson, his father, for his accommodation and at his request, gave his bond to the plaintiffs, conditioned as above stated.
Was the sale and purchase of the Saugerties property and the $10,000 mortgage an honest and fair transaction, or was it a cover for usury 1 This question presents the points of the defendant’s appeal, and to it the evidence permits but one answer. We find that George W. Nelson, in the fall or winter of 1871, was the owner of the Saugerties property, and at that time procured from the plaintiffs a loan of $17,000 upon it. None of the principal was paid, interest accrued, and the plaintiffs foreclosed the mortgage. At the sale they purchased the property for $7,000, and on August 2, 1873, took a judgment against Nelson for the deficiency, then amounting to $11,140.45. It was unpaid. As to the value of this property in October, 1874, there is little direct evidence, but it was unsalable at a price sufficient to reimburse the plaintiffs for the loan made by them in 1871. It was sold upon the first foreclosure for $7,000, and we find that upon a sale made upon the foreclosure of the $10,000 mortgage prior to the trial it produced less than $10,000, and was again bid in by the plaintiffs, leaving the defendant liable for a deficiency. It may be presumed that the property was advertised and sold in the usual manner, and in such a way as to produce a fair competition among persons actually attending the sale, and that each party interested did all in his power to procure bidders. There is no evidence that the property on either occasion was sacrificed. The price, therefore, at which it sold furnishes some evidence, although by no means conclusive, as to its value (Campbell v. Woodworth, 20 N. Y. 499 ; Gill v. McNamee, 42 Id. 44 ; Crounse v. Fitch, 1 Abb. Ct. App. Dec. 175). There is further evidence. The defendant, George W. Nelson, testified that its full and fair value was $10,000. He was interested, and his opinion subject to bias, but he was qualified to express it, and competent as a witness. The plaintiffs made no objection to it upon the trial; no effort was made on cross-examination to ascertain the grounds of his opinion, or in any respect to diminish its weight. It seems to have been accepted as correct. It is impossible to account - for the conduct of the plaintiffs on the trial upon any other hypothesis. The question to which his evidence was addressed was a vital one, and it is a fact of great significance that no testimony was offered by the plaintiffs in answer to it. There was nothing to detract from its force, and credit should therefore be given to it (Byrd v. Hall, 1 Abb. Ct. App. Dec. 285). The inference warranted by the actual sales concurs with the testimony of the witness. We find, also, that the omission of the plaintiffs to give evidence upon this point was not from inadvertence. Mr. Johnson was counsel for the plaintiffs at the time of both loans. He was a large stockholder in the company, a member of the finance committee, director, and one of three of the executive committee, especially charged with the conduct of the loan in question. Upon the first occasion he visited the property, made inquiries in regard to it, and was informed “that a loan of $17,000 was too heavy for it.” During the examination of George W. Nelson, he had produced a paper in his own handwriting, prepared by himself and signed by Nelson, by which the latter requested him to apply $20,000 of the $70,000 loan, “ to the purchase of the Saugerties property.” He was introduced by the plaintiffs as their witness, and upon cross-examination by the defendants’ counsel his attention was called to that paper and the item, and he was asked, “You did not consider this property at .Saugerties worth $20,000, did you?” He replied, “ I did, to any one who wanted it.” The real valqe. was the measure which the question called for, and it was not given. I conclude, then, that the plaintiffs were unable to increase the estimate of value put upon the property by the defendant, and we are to determine it upon evidence which is not even conflicting. The testimony of the defendant, the two sales, the silence of the plaintiffs under such great provocation and with abundant opportunity to know and express the truth, their omission to relieve the case of the pressure placed upon it by the uncontradicted evidence, brings us to the conclusion reached by the learned trial judge, “ that the value of the Saugerties property did not exceed $10,000.”
Notwithstanding this, however, if the agreement was that the defendant should take the Saugerties property off the plaintiffs’hands at such price as would restore them the loan made in 1871, however hard the performance, the defendant would have no legal ground of complaint. But this was not the contract or the purpose of the plaintiffs ; for that $20,000 would have been ample; but the price insisted upon was $30,000. It was so stated in the deed. All of it was paid or secured—$20,000 in money, $10,000 by mortgage. It is true that the proposition to take the property came from Nelson, but that is immaterial. It resulted in a contract in which the minds of both parties met, and it is obvious that the proposition was made by the defendant and accepted by the plaintiffs for no other purpose than to provide a way by which the defendant should obtain a loan and the plaintiffs compensation beyond lawful interest. This was well understood by the plaintiffs. It ran through the entire negotiation; the two things were inseparably connected. The plaintiffs would make no loan without a sale. The defendant would not buy without the loan. The purchase of the Saugerties property was at an exorbitant rate, disadvantageous to the borrower and beneficial to the lender. It was forced into the contract and the case brought within the statute.
The evidence on either side establishes this ; according to the plaintiffs’ witness an application was first made for a loan upon the Brooklyn property, and the defendant told by its officer that he did not think it would be granted, because the property was unimproved, but he suggested to Mr. Nelson “if he had any proposition to make to submit it to the company.” He subsequently told the president he wanted a loan oí $50,000, and if the company would make it he would buy back the Saugerties property at $20,000 and make the two transactions together. He was referred to Mr. Johnson. Both have been examined, and there is little difference in their testimony upon this point. Nelson says: “I told Johnson I would give $20,000 for the property, provided they would make me this loan of $50,000.” He replied At what they bid it off and the deficiency against me, and the interest and costs, would make it over $20,000, but said he would talk with his folks.” Johnson states the conversation somewhat at length. He says that two or three weeks ofter the first interview, “George Nelson came in, told me that he had conversed with some of the officers of the company in regard to a loan, that he wanted to get the Saugerties property back again, and if the company would satisfy the judgment for deficiency against him and reconvey the Saugerties property to him, he would give $30,000, conditioned on the company’s making a loan of $70,000 on this property in Brooklyn, and would pay $20,000 of the loan toward the purchase of the Saugerties property, the balance to be secured by-a mortgage of $10,000.” Other interviews were had with the officers of the company, but none unlike those stated ; in all the proposition to buy was coupled with the condition for a loan—and while $20,000 was refused $30,000 was accepted as the price to be paid, and Nelson was informed that the matter was in the hands of a committee, consisting of Nichols, the president, Johnson and Studwell. Nelson states the negotiation very plainly. At the second interview with Nichols, the president, he says: “I told him I would give ,thenr$10,000 bonus- if they would make this transaction, a'nd to cover it up so they would not be troubled, they might reserve $20,000 for the’ purchase of the Saugerties property and take a mortgage on it for the $10,000 bonus.” And the “deed he made for $30,000 instead of §20,000.” And it is plain from the evidence that he was given to understand that the §20,000 included the deficiency judgment and the price paid in the foreclosure for the property. This is bluntly stated by the witness, but every act of the parties and much of the plaintiffs’ testimony confirms him. The trial judge asked the witness Nelson: “ Tell me about the §10,000 mortgage—what was it given for?” He answered, “Given for a bonus to induce them to make the transaction.” The judge asked the same question of Johnson. “ What do you say the $10,000 mortgage was given for ?” He answered, “ The judgment for deficiency and the cost of the property exceeded at the time $20,000, it was his own proposition.” This means, as I understand it, that the cost of the property to the plaintiffs, viz., $7,000, the sum paid on foreclosure and the deficiency judgment of §11,140.65, beside interest, and seems to have been intended by the witness and understood by the trial judge, for the next question was, “ Now you got §10,000 more than that ?” Answer, “Yes.” Question, “What do you say it was for?” Answer, “It was the proposition of George Nelson to pay §30,000 for the property, and he asked the company for this loan to enable him to do so.” The examination is then renewed by plaintiff’s counsel, who says: “The consideration expressed in the deed is §30,000.” Answer, “ Yes.” And upon cross-examination he says the mortgage was given to secure the balance of the purchase-money, “and was to be given as a part of the arrangement that a deed was to be given.” Stud well, the other member of the executive committee having charge of this loan, says: “ George said he would give §30,000 for it,”—the Saugerties property. “He would not have got the loan unless we had got the mortgage back.” Mr. Nichols, the president, says : “ The offer in substance was, they would take the Saugerties property—they would buy the Saugerties property at $20,000. I declined- to consider the matter at all.” Question, “ There was a $10,000 mortgage given on the Saugerties property, do you recollect what it was, how it arose?” Answer, “ In the course of negotiations the offer for the Saugerties property was advanced to $30,000.” There is other testimony, but all has the same tendency.
It has been said and reiterated by the courts from the time the schemes and contrivances of lenders became the subject of judicial examination, that there is no contrivance whatever by which a man can cover usury (Jestone v. Brooks, 2 Cowp. 793), and that no subterfuge shall be permitted to conceal it from the law (Dewolf v. Johnson, 10 Wheat. 385), yet- if this agreement can stand it will require no wit or subtlety to circumvent the statute. The case is a very plain one; the transaction relating to the Saugerties property was a mere device, an attempt to evade the statute relating to usury. The judgment of the general term, therefore, which reversed the judgment of the special term and granted a new trial, should be reversed.
The first question presented by the plaintiff’s appeal relates to the correctness of the order permitting the defendant, Nelson, to amend his answer. By it he was allowed to set up a conveyance to himself from the defendant, Watkins, of the premises described in the complaint, coupled with a statement that the interest so conveyed is the same as that theretofore conveyed by the said George W. Nelson to Felix Leinback, Augustus W olle and Simon E. Pettee, and by those persons conveyed to Charles M. Watkins. The order, for aught that appears, was made upon notice, or notice was waived ; it was made, as it recites, on motion, and after hearing counsel for both parties, and though called an amendment may be regarded as a supplemental answer. It does not appear that any objection was made at special term either to its form or upon its merits. It was one, however, within the power of the trial court to make, and it does not appear that the power was improperly exercised.
The plaintiff’s appeal from the judgment of November 23d, 1878, requires us to consider the effect of the deed executed by George W. Nelson to Leinback and others, and the final conveyance set up in the amended answer ; and first, it is clear that neither Leinback and his associates, the grantees of Nelson or Watkins, to whom they conveyed, could successfully interpose the defense of usury; but that is because they purchased the equity of redemption only, subject to the lien of the mortgage (Green v. Kemp, 13 Mass. 518). The rule declared in the case cited has been repeatedly followed, and must now be deemed firmly established. It stands upon the fact that such a purchaser acquires only the right to redeem, and upon the principle that if he will not avail himself of this right he cannot hold the land; and, having no title in the land, cannot be permitted to avoid the mortgage by plea or proof of usury (Shufelt v. Shufelt, 9 Paige, 145, and Post v. Dart, 8 Paige, 369 ; Morris v. Floyd, 5 Barb. 130; Sands v. Church, 6 N. Y. 347); “for as to so much of the property which is necessary to satisfy such liens he is not in privity in estate with the borrower for so much of the property is not assigned or granted to him.” This is the statement of the reason of the rule by Jones, J., referred to in the opinion of this court in Mechanics’ Exchange Bank v. Commercial Warehouse Company (49 N. Y. 642). It is also stated to the same effect, though in a different manner, by the supreme court of the United States in De Wolf v. Johnson (10 Wheat. 369), where they say that “a contrary rule would hold out no relief to the borrower; it would be only transferring his money from the pocket of the lender to the pocket of the holder of the equity of redemption.” This remark is quoted with approval in Sands v. Church (6 N. Y. 355), where, holding that the defense was unavailing to such a purchaser, the ■ court says: “ He had made a valid contract and for a valuable consideration, that so far as he owned or was interested in the mortgaged premises he would hold subject to the payment of the debt. It would be contrary to equity to allow him to avoid jts payment. It would be discharging him from the obligation and leaving the mortgagor still liable. It would be releas-. ing the land from the incumbrance when he had agreed that it should be subject to itand upon this ground of contract was placed the decision of the court.
The rule can have no application to the defense when interposed by the mortgagor and borrower. The entire estate is now his, subject to no covenant and bound by no contract. His grantees were never under any personal obligation to pay off the mortgage ; they .had not assumed it (Belmont v. Cowan, 22 N. Y. 438 ; Dingeldein v. Third Avenue R. R. Co., 37 Id. 575). Doubtless Nelson, the mortgagor and grantor, might have compelled payment from the land while it was in the hands of his grantees, but he did not do it. Whether the plaintiffs might have, by proper proceedings, subjected the land while in the hand of the mortgagor’ s grantees to the payment of the debt it is not necessary to inquire, for such proceedings were not taken. The present suit was not brought for, nor is it adapted to, that purpose. The complaint contains allegations usual inactions of foreclosure, and no others. The plaintiffs seek to recover on the ground of default on the part of the obligor and mortgagor in making payment according to the condition of the bond and mortgage, and asks no relief upon the ground that by any arrangement between the mortgagor and his grantees the land had been subjected to the payment of the mortgage debt. I do not say that it would help the plaintiffs to have done so, but nothing short of some act on their part, indicating their acceptance of the benefit of the implied covenant entered into between Nelson and Leinback and others, would suffice ; perhaps that would not.
The question does not arise here and is not to be decided, for nothing was done or attempted by the plaintiffs which raises the question. The various grantees of the mortgaged premises are made parties simply as persons who had acquired an interest in the premises subsequent to the mortgage. This is not sufficient; the suit is upon the various mortgages themselves—not upon any new contract; and the plaintiffs are in no better or different condition than they would have been if the title to the land had remained at all times in Nelson. Hatfield v. Newton (3 Sandf. Ch. 615), is in point upon this question, and was well decided. It is there held that where the defense of usury is interposed to the foreclosure of a mortgage by the purchaser of the equity of redemption, the complainant cannot overcome it by proof that the lands were conveyed subject to the mortgage, unless his bill sets forth the execution and terms of such conveyance. The commencement of the suit, then, was no.t an act of the plaintiff, accepting the benefit, if any there was, of the provisions of the deed from Nelson to Lienback, &c., or from them to Watkins. Of course the Us pendens could have no greater effect. It was quite unimportant so far as Nelson is concerned, for he had actual notice of every fact which could be properly stated in the Us pendens, and would have been equally bound although none had been filed. • It could only be deemed to give him constructive notice, whereas, both as a debtor and as party to the suit, he had actual notice of every fact which the notice could contain. Neither the conveyance by Nelson nor the declaration subjecting the land to the mortgages was made for the benefit of the plaintiffs, nor were they in any sense privy to the contract or the consideration. Nelson intended to benefit himself, and the consideration was wholly between himself and his grantees. The declaration made the land the primary fund for the payment of the mortgages ; that is, primary as between Nelson’s liability on the bond and the land. It was as if Nelson had placed so much money in the hands of his grantees to be applied upon the mortgages; the obligation on the part of the grantees of the land was to hold it for the indemnity of Nelson. The plaintiffs had no knowledge of this, did not assent to it, nor were they the parties intended to be benefited; it was in the power, therefore, of the grantor and mortgagor to so change the relation that the obligation on the part of his grantees should be canceled and the dedication of the land to the payment of the mortgages revoked (Simson v. Brown, 68 N. Y. 355 ; Merrill v. Greene, 55 Id. 270; Kelly v. Roberts, 40 Id. 432 ; Thorpe v. Keokuk Coal Co., 48 Id: 253).
The forcible and significant inquiry made by the learned Judge James in Kelly v. Roberts, supra, and the conclusion of the court therein, apply with great force to the question now in hand. The effect of the conveyance by Watkins to Nelson was to vest in him so much interest in the land as the former had acquired. Nelson had then a perfect title to the property and a right to interpose the defense of usury in like manner as if he had never parted with the equity of redemption. Hartley v. Harrison (24 N. Y. 173), is not to the contrary. In that case the mortgaged premises were declared subject to the usurious mortgages, and so remained in the hands of the grantee who had also assumed its payment. It was held that to him the defense of usury was not available, and for the reason that if it was he would thus “ obtain an interest in the lands which the mortgagor never agreed or intended to transfer to him,” and, as stated by Wood-ruff, J., in Cope v. Wheeler (41 N. Y. 315): “This would be not because the mortgage was not usurious and void as between the parties thereto, but because he was not at liberty to use that as a defense, having retained in his hands the amount.” In that case it appears that one Elizabeth Cravey mortgaged certain lands to secure an usurious loan of $1,000, and afterward conveyed the mortgaged premises to one Huntington, subject to the mortgage, and $1,000 was deducted from the purchase price in consequence of the mortgage. In a controversy concerning certain surplus moneys, the question of validity of this mortgage became material, and the court say, “ The conditional sale to Huntington was not a confirmation of the original. An usurious contract, while it remains ex-ecutory, is wholly incapable of confirmation, and although the deed to Huntington was such a waiver as enabled the defendant as against Huntington to enforce the mortgage against the land, if he chose, yet as against the borrower himself the waiver was of no force; so that hád these Wisconsin lands afterwards become the property of the plaintiffs by conveyance from Huntington, this mortgage remaining unpaid, the defense would have been available to them against its enforcement.”
The case of Schermerhorn v. Talman (14 N. Y. 93), has no application. In that case the obligation of the defendant had been discharged in bankruptcy. This property, including the premises in question, had passed to the assignee. From him he acquired a new title, but wras under no obligation to pay the debt for which the land was mortgaged. He had ceased to be the borrower, he was a purchaser.
In the case before us Nelson has at all times been liable for the debt, and he had always had an interest in the property to the amount of the usurious mortgage. The plaintiffs proceeded against him as a debtor, and against the land, because of his mortgage to secure the debt.
Upon principle and authority the judgment appealed from by the plaintiff is correct.
The order and judgment of the general term, entered on the 22d day of May, 1878, in the office of the clerk of Kings county, reversing the judgment of the special term in this action and granting a new trial, should be reversed, a new trial denied, and the judgment of the special term, so far as appealed from by the plaintiffs, affirmed, with costs.
The order of the general term, entered in said office on the 30th day of September, 1878, affirming the order of the special term allowing the defendant Nelson to amend his answer, should be affirmed, with costs.
The judgment of the general term entered in said clerk’s office on the 23d day of November, 1878, should be affirmed, with costs.
All the judges concurred, except Andrews, J., absent.
Judgment accordingly.
See also Lawton v. Chase, 108 Mass. 238; Roe v. Hanson, 5 Lans. 804; Dixon v. Buck, 4 Barb. 70; Graham v. Maitland, 6 Abb. Pr. N. S. 327; S. C., 37 How. Pr. 307; 1 Sweeny, 149.
Stilwell v. Carpenter, 2 Abb. New Cas. 239, and cases cited in note; Moody v. Pell, Id. 274; Middagh v. Bigelow, 67 Barb. 106; Lynch v. Pine, 42 Super. Ct. (J. & S.) 11.
The following is the portion of the opinion of Gilbep.t, J., at general term, relating to the point discussed above.
“ That the court has a discretionary power to allow a party to put in a supplemental answer in any stage of the action, I think is clear, both under the former and the present Code (Code of Pro. § 177; Code of Civ. Pro. § 544; Holyoke v. Adams, 59 N. Y. 233). That discretion is not an arbitrary one, but must be exercised in furtherance of justice, and the general term, no doubt, should reverse an order granting such relief, in a case where an abuse of that discretion is shown. It is not claimed that any such abuse occurred in this case, but only that the order was irregular in this: that an amendment of the original answer, instead of a supplemental answer, was put in. That is a defect in form only, and should be disregarded. The court has power, even at the present stage of the proceedings, to conform the pleadings to the facts proved (Code of Pro. §§ 173, 723). Besides, that ground of objection was not taken in the court below, and, for that reason, the objection is not available here (Hofheimer v. Campbell, 7 Lans. 160; S. C., 59 N. Y. 272; Murphy v. People, 63 Id. 594). The exception to the admission of the re-conveyance to George W. Nelson, in evidence, therefore, was properly overruled.”
As to the eSect of this allegation, see Lewis v. Smith, 9 N. Y. 502; Frost v. Koon, 30 Id. 428; Merchants’ Bank v. Thomson, 55 Id. 11.
See Holbrook v. New Jersey Zinc Co., 57 N. Y. 616; Becker v. Howard, 66 Id. 5; affi’g 4 Hun, 359; S. C., 6 Supm. Ct. [T. & C.) 603; and rev’g 47 How. Pr. 433.
See Binsee v. Paige, 1 Abb. Ct. App. Dec. 138; Collins v. Rowe, 1 Abb. New Cas. 97; Cashman v. Henry, 5 Id. 330.
Compare Devlin v. Murphy, 5 Abb. New Cas. 242; Ranney v. McMullen, Id. 246; Shepard v. Shepard, 7 Johns. Ch. 57; and see Russell v. Weinberg, 4 Abb. New Cas. 139; affi’g 2 Id. 422; Collins’ petition, 6 Id. 227; Loomis v. Balheimer, 5 Id. 263.
The words of James, J., above referred to, are as follows: “The question presented, therefore, by this case, is whether a verbal agreement between creditor and debtor, upon no new consideration, that instead of paying the debt to the creditor, the debtor will pay it to a third person, the debtor himself having no interest in the question to whom the money shall be paid, is final and irrevocable by the creditor, although such third person has given no assent thereto, nor received any notice of such agreement. It is not enough to claim, in answer to this question, that the third person, on receiving notice thereof, may accept the promise and sue thereon, the original creditor still assenting. Cases which hold that if money be paid to A., to be paid over to B., the latter may sue for and recover the same, as money had and received to his use by A., do not answer this question.
“It would be a very liberal extension of these cases if it should be held that if A. hand money to his own servant or agent, with instructions ' to carry and deliver it to B., which the servant or agent agrees to do, such instructions are irrevocable, and, although A. should change his mind before his agent or servant sets out on his errand, he could not countermand the instructions, and take back his money. Until such instructions have been acted upon in some manner, the servant continues servant of A., and only his servant. So, where one hands money to his servant, agent, or friend, with a request that he visit the city and therewith pay a note due, or about to become due, can it be seriously questioned that if, before anything further is done, such one concludes to use the money for some other purpose, or to pay some other debt, he may do so ? I think not.”
|
Electrode structure for an electron gun for a cathode ray tube
ABSTRACT
An electron gun for a cathode ray tube includes common large-aperture electron beam passing holes which are formed by recessing the portion except the rims on the outgoing side plane of a focus electrode and the incoming side plane of a final accelerating electrode, for expanding an electric field. Three independent small-aperture electron beam passing holes are formed at the recessed position by a predetermined depth from the rims. The ratio of the horizontal diameter to the vertical diameter of the central electron beam passing hole among the three independent small-aperture electron beam passing holes of the focus electrode is smaller than those of the outer independent small-aperture electron beam passing holes. Accordingly, the influence of the spherical aberration to the electron beam which passes through the main lens is reduced, so that the quality of the picture reproduced on the screen is improved.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electron gun for a cathode ray tube, and more particularly to an electron gun having an improved electric field expanding type focusing lens.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As shown in FIG. 1, a general electron gun for a cathode ray tube is structured in such a way that a cathode 2, a control electrode 3, and a screen electrode 4 which together constitute a triode for generating beams, and a focus electrode 5 and a final accelerating electrode 6 which focus and accelerate the electron beam by forming a main lens system wherein the focus electrode 5 and the final accelerating electrode 6 are sequentially arranged in the direction of the electron beam's path. In the electron gun 1 having the above constitution, a thermal electron emitted from the cathode 2 is formed as a beam by being previously focused and accelerated through a pre focus lens 5A positioned between the screen electrode 4 and the focus electrode 5, and this electron beam arrives on the phosphor screen by being finally focused and accelerated through the main lens 5B positioned between the focus electrode 5 and the final accelerating electrode 6. Such an electron beam is continuously projected onto the phosphor surface, in which the beam sequentially scans the desired positions by the deflection of the magnetic field, reproducing a completed image on the phosphor surface. To obtain a sharp image having a high resolution on the phosphor surface, the diameter of the beam spot formed on the phosphor surface is as small as possible, and around the beam, the spot's halo due to the influence of the spherical aberration should be minimal.
The aforementioned conventional electron gun has a very strong main lens because of its structural characteristics. Accordingly, the intensity of the beam spot formed in the phosphor surface and that of the spot halo around the core of the beam spot are relatively high due to the strong influence of the spherical aberration to the electron beam passing through the main lens, so that a high quality picture is unattainable.
To solve the problem of deteriorating the beam spot's characteristics due to spherical aberration, a larger-aperture main lens should be provided in the electron gun. To accomplish this in the conventional electron gun, the electron beam passing holes of the focus electrode and those of the final accelerating electrode have maximum-sized diameters. But, since the size of the electron gun is limited by the diameter of the funnel's neck (where an electron gun is disposed), the diameter of the beam passing holes are limited.
That is, the electron beam passing holes are formed in an in-line manner in the focus electrode and the final accelerating electrode, which are inserted into the neck of a cathode ray tube, so that each diameter of the electron beam passing holes is smaller than the distance between the centers of two adjacent electron beam passing holes. Also, if the distance between the centers is enlarged so that it is larger than the original designed value, the convergence degree of the outer electron beam of the electron gun becomes larger, thereby deteriorating the picture quality.
The U.S. Pat. No. 4,370,592 discloses a method to solve these problems. As shown in FIG. 2, the u-shaped portions (hereinafter referred to as rims 7' and 8') are recessed by a predetermined depth in the outgoing side 7A of the focus electrode 7 and the incoming side 8A of the final accelerating electrode 8, thereby forming large-aperture electron beam passing holes 7H and 8H through which R, G, and B electron beams pass, and R, G, and B independent small-aperture electron beam passing holes 7H' and 8' on the bottom of the large-aperture electron beam passing holes 7H and 8H.
In such an electron gun, since the large-aperture electron beam passing holes 7H and 8H are asymmetric, the electron beam having passed through the central indepentent small-aperture electron beam passing hole and the electron beams having passed through the outer independent small-aperture electron beam passing holes are differently affected by the vertical and horizontal focusing forces which influence the formation of the electron beam spot formed on the phosphor surface.
That is, as shown in FIG. 2B, the outer electron beams RB and BB passing through the large-aperture electron beam passing hole of the focus electrode 7 or the final accelerating electrode 8, pass near the rims 7' and 8' maintaining a low voltage or a high voltage in the horizontal direction; and the central electron beam GB passing through the central electron beam passing hole passes a relatively long distance from the rims 7' and 8'. Accordingly, the outer electron beams RB and BB are relatively strongly focused in the horizontal direction and the central electron beam GB is relatively weakly focused. Also, the distance between outer electron beams RB and BB and the rims 7' and 8' in the vertical direction are almost equal to that in the horizontal direction. Accordingly outer electron beams are affected by the strength of the focusing force in the vertical direction which is similar to that in the horizontal direction.
However, since the distance between the central electron beam GB and the rims 7' and 8' in the vertical and horizontal directions are different and the distance to the rim in the horizontal direction is relatively large, the central electron beam is affected by a strong electric field in the vertical direction. Consequently, the central electron beam is affected by a relatively stronger focusing force vertically than the horizontally.
Accordingly, the outer electron beams RB and BB and the central electron beam GB having passed through the main lens have cross-sections of different formations, respectively, so that an evenly shaped beam spot formed on the phosphor surface cannot be obtained.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to solve the aforementioned problems and to provide an electron gun for a cathode ray tube which is improved to make the formation of the beam spot on the phosphor surface by the central electron beam be similar to that by the outer electron beam, thereby obtaining a high quality picture.
To achieve this object, the present invention comprises:
an electron beam generating part containing a cathode, a control electrode, and a screen electrode for generating an electron beam; and
a main lens including a focus electrode and an anode electrode for accelerating and focusing the electron beam,
wherein large-aperture electron beam passing holes, through which R, G, and B electron beams commonly pass, are provided by forming a rim at each of the edges of electron beam outgoing side plane of the focus electrode and electron beam incoming side plane of the anode electrode, and three independent small-aperture electron beam passing holes are formed on the bottom of the large-aperture electron beam passing holes,
and when the vertical and horizontal diameter of the central electron beam passing hole of the three small-aperture electron beam passing holes of the focus electrode are DV and DH and the vertical and horizontal diameters of the outer electron beam passing holes are DV' and DH', the following expression is satisfied:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above object and other advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing the preferred embodiment of the present invention with reference to the attached drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional diagram of a general electron gun for a cathode ray tube;
FIG. 2A is an extracted plan cross-sectional view of the conventional focus electrode and final accelerating electrode;
FIG. 2B is a front view of the conventional focus electrode shown in FIG. 2A;
FIG. 3 is a plan cross-sectional view of a focus electrode and a final accelerating electrode according to the present invention, which shows the distribution of the equipotential lines;
FIG. 4 is a front view of a focus electrode shown in FIG. 3; and FIGS. 5A and 5B show the cross-sectional shapes of the electron beam when the electron beam passes through the large-aperture electron beam passing hole of the focus electrode and the small-aperture electron beam passing hole shown in FIG. 3, respectively.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
As shown in FIG. 1, a cathode 2, a control electrode 3, and a screen electrode 4 together constitute a triode for generating electron beams, and a focus electrode 10 and a final accelerating electrode 20 together constitute a major lens system for focusing and accelerating the generated electron beam. These elements are disposed in the cited order in the preceding direction of the electron beam. As shown in FIG. 3, Large-Aperture electron beam passing holes 10C and 20C are provided by forming rims 10' and 20' at each edge of the electron beam outgoing side plane 10A of the focus electrode 10 and the electron beam incoming side plane 20A of the final accelerating electrode 20, both electrodes constituting the main lens, and respective three independent small-aperture electron beam passing holes 10R, 10G, 10B, 20R, 20G and 20B are formed on the bottoms of the large-aperture electron beam passing holes 10c and 20c. The central electron beam passing hole 10G among the three independent small-aperture electron beam passing holes of the focus electrode 10 is formed as shown in FIG. 4. When the vertical and horizontal diameters of the central independent small-aperture electron beam passing hole 10G of the focus electrode 10 are DV and DH and the vertical and horizontal diameters of the outer independent small-aperture electron beam passing holes 10R and 10B of the focus electrode 10 are DV' and DH', respectively, those diameters are determined according to the characteristics of the present invention by the following expression: ##EQU2##
The operation of the present electron gun for a cathode ray tube having the above-mentioned constitution is described as follows.
When the electrodes constituting the main lens, i.e., the focus electrode 10 and the final accelerating electrode 20, are supplied with voltages of approximately 7 kV and 25 kV, respectively, the equipotential lines as shown in FIG. 3 are distributed in such a way that an electric field formed by a low potential of approximately 7 kV is distributed as being nearer to the independent small-aperture electron beam passing holes 10R, 10G, and 10B, and a rim 10', of the focus electrode 10 while an electric field formed by a potential of approximately 25 kV is distributed as being nearer to the independent small-aperture electron beam passing holes 20R, 20G, and 20B, and a rim 20' of the final accelerating electrode 20. Such electric field of the a main lens extends due to the rim, through which the self-correcting capability with respect to the spherical aberration is obtained. Accordingly, each of R, G, and B electron beams which pass through the main lens formed between the focus electrode 10 and the final accelerating electrode 20 is affected by a small spherical aberration by the extended electric field.
The above-mentioned self-correction of the spherical aberration will be separated into when the electron beam passes through the large-aperture electron beam passing holes 10C and 20C, and when the electron beam passes through the independent small-aperture electron beam passing holes 10R, 10G, 10B, 20R, 20G, and 20B.
As shown in FIG. 5A, a central electron beam GB, e.g., the green electron beam, among three electron beams passing through the common electron beam passing holes 10C and 20C, is disposed far from the rims 10' and 20' horizontally and in the vertical direction, relatively near rims 10' and 20'. The electron beam of the green signal is vertically affected by a strong focusing force FVC and by a relatively weak focusing force FHC in the horizontal direction, thereby having a sectional shape which is horizontally extended. Since electron beams RB and BB of either side, e.g., the red and blue electron beams, are disposed equidistant from the rims 10' and 20' in the horizontal and vertical directions, the two beams are nearly equally affected by vertical and horizontal focusing forces FVS and FHS, thereby having a cross sectional shape of a substantially normal circle.
The three electron beams pass through the independent small-aperture electron beam passing holes 10R, 10G, and 10B. When the ratio (DH/DV) of the horizontal diameter to the vertical diameter of the central independent small-aperture electron beam passing hole 10G is equal to 1, it becomes a circle, and since the ratio (DH'/DV') of the horizontal diameter to the vertical diameter of the outer electron beam passing holes 10R and 10B, is greater than 1 and also greater than the ratio DH/DV, the cross-sectional shape of the central electron beam GB is a circle by being affected by the same focusing forces FVC' and FHC' in the vertical and horizontal directions as shown in FIG. 5B.
Also, since the central electron beam GB passes through the large-aperture electron beam passing hole 10C, and the horizontally lengthened central electron beam GB also passes through the central independent small-aperture electron beam passing hole 10G, it is affected by a focusing force which does not generate a change in the cross-sectional shape, i.e., which generates a circle, so that a circular cross-sectional formation is finally obtained.
On the other hand, when the outer electron beams RB and BB pass through the independent small-aperture electron beam passing holes 10R and 10B, they are affected by a strong focusing force FVS' in the vertical direction and a weak focusing force FHS' in the horizontal direction, thereby obtaining a horizontally lengthened elliptic sectional formation. Also, when they pass through the large-aperture electron beam passing hole 10C, there is not generated a change in the cross-sectional shape, so that they finally have an elliptic sectional shape which is horizontally lengthened as the central electron beam.
As described above, the electron gun of the present invention is constituted to improve the distortion of the electron beam, i.e., the spherical aberration, due to the nonuniform electric field of the main lens. Moreover, since the sectional formations of beams are as similar as possible, a high quality picture can be achieved.
What is claimed is:
1. An electron gun for a color cathode ray tube comprising:an electron beam generating part including a cathode, a control electrode, and a screen electrode for generating an electron beam having first, second and third components; and a main lens including a focus electrode and an acceleration electrode for accelerating and focusing the electron beam, wherein a recess, through which the first, second and third components commonly pass, is provided by forming a rim at each of the edges of an electron beam outgoing side plane of the focus electrode and an incoming side plane of the acceleration electrode, and three independent small-aperture electron beam passing holes are formed on the bottom of the recess in the focus electrode and when the vertical and horizontal diameters of the central electron beam passing hole of said three small-aperture electron beam passing holes of said focus electrode are DV and DH, respectively, and the vertical and horizontal diameters of the flanking electron beam passing holes are DV' and DH', respectively, the following expression is satisfied: ##EQU3##
|
Paul Cheney
Education
* MD - Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
* PhD in physics - Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
Anesthesia letter
* Anesthesia letter to other physicians
Notable studies
Clinic location
* The Cheney Clinic
* 1 Vanderbilt Park Dr #120
* Asheville, North Carolina, 28803
Talks & interviews
* 1993, Testimony Before the FDA Scientific Advisory Committee
* 1996, Primetime Live TV Show - Sick and Tired - Incline Village Outbreak
Online presence
* PubMed
* Website
Learn more
* 1990, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
* 25 Aug 2014, The Cheney Chronicles #2: His Protocol For Chronic Fatigue Syndrome by Chris
* 23 Jun 2015, The Cheney Chronicles #3: One Year Later – Decision Time
|
14O A BIOLOGY OF CRUSTACEA
an easy prey for small fish and large water beetles. The lower limits of salinity in which Artemia may be found may be said to cor respond roughly with the upper limits of salinity tolerance of its predators. Salinity only limits the distribution of Artemia in the sense that a high salinity is necessary to eliminate its predators.
Inland saline waters often have a chemical composition rather different from that of the sea. In some cases this allows fresh-water Crustacea to live in higher concentrations than they could if the dissolved salts were the same as those in the sea. The importance of the chemical nature of the dissolved salts can be illustrated by reference to Daphnia magna. In natural waters this species has been found living in concentrations up to about a third that of sea water, while pure sodium chloride solutions with one-seventh the con centration of the sea rapidly kill it.
It is evident that as well as the amount of salt, its chemical com position is also an important factor in the distribution of Crustacea. But we cannot make any general statements about the effects of various salts in natural habitats because we do not yet know enough about the subject.
The geographical units of fresh water are much more clearly defined than the subdivisions of the sea, and there are correspond ingly clearer faunistic divisions. The ancient lakes provide excellent examples of distinct and characteristic faunas. Lake Baikal has been the scene of almost riotous evolution among the gammarid amphi pods; about three hundred species are found in the lake, and only one of these, the common Gammarus pulex, is found elsewhere. The rest of the world has just about as many gammarid species as Lake Baikal. An interesting species flock has also appeared in Lake Nyasa, though the numbers involved are not so fantastic. The copepod genus Lernaea is parasitic on fish, and there are about thirty species known in the world; eight of these species are found in Lake Nyasa, and of these seven have not been found elsewhere. Lake Tanganyika has been the site of evolution of a species flock of Argulus, also parasitic on fish, and to some extent replacing parasitic copepods, which appear to be rare in this lake.
When dealing with the marine Crustacea it was not feasible even to mention all the various groups, because practically all the groups are well represented in the sea. Fewer groups have success-
|
Roosevelt's Fireside Chat, 28 April 1942
My fellow Americans:
It is nearly five months since we were attacked at Pearl Harbor. For the two years prior to that attack this country had been gearing itself up to a high level of production of munitions. And yet our war efforts had done little to dislocate the normal lives of most of us.
Since then we have dispatched strong forces of our Army and Navy, several hundred thousand of them, to bases and battle fronts thousands of miles from home. We have stepped up our war production on a scale that is testing our industrial power, our engineering genius, and our economic structure to the utmost. We have had no illusions about the fact that this is a tough job—and a long one.
American warships are now in combat in the North and South Atlantic, in the Arctic, in the Mediterranean, in the Indian Ocean, and in the North and South Pacific. American troops have taken stations in South America, Greenland, Iceland, the British Isles, the Near East, the Middle East and the Far East, the continent of Australia, and many islands of the Pacific. American war planes, manned by Americans, are flying in actual combat over all the continents and all the oceans.
On the European front the most important development of the past year has been without question the crushing counteroffensive on the part of the great armies of Russia against the powerful German Army. These Russian forces have destroyed and are destroying more armed power of our enemies—troops, planes, tanks, and guns—than all the other United Nations put together.
In the Mediterranean area, matters remain on the surface much as they were. But the situation there is receiving very careful attention.
Recently we received news of a change in government in what we used to know as the Republic of France—a name dear to the hearts of all lovers of liberty— a name and an institution which we hope will soon be restored to full dignity.
Throughout the Nazi occupation of France, we have hoped for the maintenance of a French Government which would strive to regain independence, to reestablish the principles of "Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity," and to restore the historic culture of France. Our policy has been consistent from the very beginning. However, we are now greatly concerned lest those who have recently come to power may seek to force the brave French people into submission to Nazi despotism.
The United Nations will take measures, if necessary, to prevent the use of French territory in any part of the world for military purposes by the Axis powers. The good people of France will readily understand that such action is essential for the United Nations to prevent assistance to the armies or navies or air forces of Germany, or Italy or Japan. The overwhelming majority of the French people understand that the fight of the United Nations is fundamentally their fight, that our victory means the restoration of a free and independent France—and the saving of France from the slavery which would be imposed upon her by her external enemies and by her internal traitors.
We know how the French people really feel. We know that a deep-seated determination to obstruct every step in the Axis plan extends from occupied France through Vichy France all the way to the people of their colonies in every ocean and on every continent.
Our planes are helping in the defense of French colonies today, and soon American Flying Fortresses will be fighting for the liberation of the darkened continent of Europe itself.
In all the occupied countries there are men and women, and even little children, who have never stopped fighting, never stopped resisting, never stopped proving to the Nazis that their so-called "New Order" will never be enforced upon free peoples.
In the German and Italian peoples themselves there is a growing conviction that the cause of Nazism and Fascism is hopeless—that their political and military leaders have led them along the bitter road which leads not to world conquest but to final defeat. They cannot fail to contrast the present frantic speeches of these leaders with their arrogant boastings of a year ago, and two years ago.
On the other side of the world, in the Far East, we have passed through a phase of serious losses.
We have inevitably lost control of a large portion of the Philippine Islands. But this whole Nation pays tribute to the Filipino and American officers and men who held out so long on Bataan Peninsula, to those grim and gallant fighters who still hold Corregidor, where the flag flies, and to the forces that are still striking effectively at the enemy on Mindanao and other islands.
The Malayan Peninsula and Singapore are in the hands of the enemy; the Netherlands East Indies are almost entirely occupied, though resistance there continues. Many other islands are in the possession of the Japanese. But there is good reason to believe that their southward advance has been checked. Australia, New Zealand, and much other territory will be bases for offensive action—and we are determined that the territory that has been lost will be regained.
The Japanese are pressing their northward advance against Burma with considerable power, driving toward India and China. They have been opposed with great bravery by small British and Chinese forces aided by American fliers.
The news in Burma tonight is not good. The Japanese may cut the Burma Road; but I want to say to the gallant people of China that no matter what advances the Japanese may make, ways will be found to deliver airplanes and munitions of war to the armies of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek.
We remember that the Chinese people were the first to stand up and fight against the aggressors in this war; and in the future a still unconquerable China will play its proper role in maintaining peace and prosperity, not only in eastern Asia but in the whole world.
For every advance that the Japanese have made since they started their frenzied career of conquest, they have had to pay a very heavy toll in warships, in transports, in planes, and in men. They are feeling the effects of those losses.
It is even reported from Japan that somebody has dropped bombs on Tokyo, and on other principal centers of Japanese war industries. If this be true, it is the first time in history that Japan has suffered such indignities.
Although the treacherous attack on Pearl Harbor was the immediate cause of our entry into the war, that event found the American people spiritually prepared for war on a world-wide scale. We went into this war fighting. We know what we are fighting for. We realize that the war has become what Hitler originally proclaimed it to be- a total war.
Not all of us can have the privilege of fighting our enemies in distant parts of the world.
Not all of us can have the privilege of working in a munitions factory or a shipyard, or on the farms or in oil fields or mines, producing the weapons or the raw materials that are needed by our armed forces.
But there is one front and one battle where everyone in the United States—every man, woman, and child—is in action, and will be privileged to remain in action throughout this war. That front is right here at home, in our daily lives, and in our daily tasks. Here at home everyone will have the privilege of making whatever self-denial is necessary, not only to supply our fighting men, but to keep the economic structure of our country fortified and secure during the war and after the war.
This will require, of course, the abandonment not only of luxuries but of many other creature comforts.
Every loyal American is aware of his individual responsibility. Whenever I hear anyone saying "The American people are complacent—they need to be aroused," I feel like asking him to come to Washington to read the mail that floods into the White House and into all departments of this Government. The one question that recurs through all these thousands of letters and messages is: "What more can I do to help my country in winning this war?
To build the factories, to buy the materials, to pay the labor, to provide the transportation, to equip and feed and house the soldiers, sailors, and marines, and to do all the thousands of things necessary in a war—all cost a lot of money, more money than has ever been spent by any Nation at any time in the long history of the world.
We are now spending, solely for war purposes, the sum of about $100,000,000 every day in the week. But, before this year is over, that almost unbelievable rate of expenditure will be doubled.
All of this money has to be spent—and spent quickly—if we are to produce within the time now available the enormous quantities of weapons of war which we need. But the spending of these tremendous sums presents grave danger of disaster to our national economy.
When your Government continues to spend these unprecedented sums for munitions month by month and year by year, that money goes into the pocketbooks and bank accounts of the people of the United States. At the same time raw materials and many manufactured goods are necessarily taken away from civilian use; and machinery and factories are being converted to war production.
You do not have to be a professor of mathematics or economics to see that if people with plenty of cash start bidding against each other for scarce goods, the price of those goods goes up.
Yesterday I submitted to the Congress of the United States a seven-point program of general principles which taken together could be called the national economic policy for attaining the great objective of keeping the cost of living down.
I repeat them now to you in substance:
First. We must, through heavier taxes, keep personal and corporate profits at a low reasonable rate.
Second. We must fix ceilings on prices and rents.
Third. We must stabilize wages.
Fourth. We must stabilize farm prices.
Fifth. We must put more billions into war bonds.
Sixth. We must ration all essential commodities which are scarce.
Seventh. We must discourage installment buying, and encourage paying off debts and mortgages.
I do not think it is necessary to repeat what I said yesterday to the Congress in discussing these general principles.
The important thing to remember is that each one of these points is dependent on the others if the whole program is to work.
Some people are already taking the position that every one of the seven points is correct except the one point which steps on their own individual toes. A few seem very willing to approve self-denial—on the part of their neighbors. The only effective course of action is a simultaneous attack on all of the factors which increase the cost of living, in one comprehensive, all-embracing program covering prices, and profits, and wages, and taxes and debts.
The blunt fact is that every single person in the United States is going to be affected by this program. Some of you will be affected more directly by one or two of these restrictive measures, but all of you will be affected indirectly by all of them.
Are you a businessman, or do you own stock in a business corporation? Well, your profits are going to be cut down to a reasonably low level by taxation. Your income will be subject to higher taxes. Indeed in these days, when every available dollar should go to the war effort, I do not think that any American citizen should have a net income in excess of $25,000 per year after payment of taxes.
Are you a retailer or a wholesaler or a manufacturer or a farmer or a landlord? Ceilings are being placed on the prices at which you can sell your goods or rent your property.
Do you work for wages? You will have to forego higher wages four your particular job for the duration of the war.
All of us are used to spending money for things that we want, things, however, which are not absolutely essential. We will all have to forego that kind of spending. Because we must put every dime and every dollar we can possibly spare out of our earnings into war bonds and stamps. Because the demands of the war effort require the rationing of goods of which there are not enough to go around. Because the stopping of purchases of nonessentials will release thousands of workers who are needed in the war effort.
As I told the Congress yesterday, "sacrifice" is not exactly the proper word with which to describe this program of self-denial. When, at the end of this great struggle, we shall have saved our freeway of life, we shall have made no "sacrifice."
The price for civilization must be paid in hard work and sorrow and blood. The price is not too high. If you doubt it, ask those millions who live today under the tyranny of Hitlerisms.
Ask the workers of France and Norway and the Netherlands, whipped to labor by the lash, whether the stabilization of wages is too great a "sacrifice."
Ask the farmers of Poland and Denmark, of Czechoslovakia and France, looted of their livestock, starving while their own crops are stolen from their land, ask them whether "parity" prices are too great a "sacrifice."
Ask the businessmen of Europe, whose enterprises have been stolen from their owners, whether the limitation of profits and personal incomes is too great a "sacrifice."
Ask the women and children whom Hitler is starving whether the rationing of tires and gasoline and sugar is too great a "sacrifice."
We do not have to ask them. They have already given us their agonized answers.
This great war effort must be carried through to its victorious conclusion by the indomitable will and determination of the people as one great whole.
It must not be impeded by the faint of heart.
It must not be impeded by those who put their own selfish. interests above the interests of the Nation.
It must not be impeded by those who pervert honest criticism into falsification of fact.
It must not be impeded by self-styled experts either in economics or military problems who know neither true figures nor geography itself.
It must not be impeded by a few bogus patriots who use the sacred freedom of the press to echo the sentiments of the propagandists in Tokyo and Berlin.
And, above all, it shall not be imperiled by the handful of noisy traitors- betrayers of America, betrayers of Christianity itself—would-be dictators who in their hearts and souls have yielded to Hitlerism and would have this Republic do likewise.
I shall use all of the executive power that I have to carry out the policy laid down. If it becomes necessary to ask for any additional legislation in order to attain our objective of preventing a spiral in the cost of living, I shall do so.
I know the American farmer, the American workman, and the American businessman. I know that they will gladly embrace this economy and equality of sacrifice- satisfied that it is necessary for the most vital and compelling motive in all their lives -winning through to victory.
Never in the memory of man has there been a war in which the courage, the endurance, and the loyalty of civilians played so vital a part.
Many thousands of civilians all over the world have been and are being killed or maimed by enemy action. Indeed, it was the fortitude of the common people of Britain under fire which enabled that island to stand and prevented Hitler from winning the war in 1940. The ruins of London and Coventry and other cities are today the proudest monuments to British heroism.
Our own American civilian population is now relatively safe from such disasters. And, to an ever increasing extent, our soldiers, sailors, and marines are fighting with great bravery and great skill on far distant fronts to make sure that we shall remain safe.
I should like to tell you one or two stories about the men we have in our armed forces:
There is, for example, Dr. Corydon M. Wassell. He was a missionary, well known for his good works in China. He is a simple, modest, retiring man, nearly sixty years old, but he entered the service of his country and was commissioned a Lieutenant Commander in the Navy.
Dr. Wassell was assigned to duty in Java caring for wounded officers and men of the cruisers Houston and Marblehead which had been in heavy action in the Java seas.
When the Japanese advanced across the island, it was decided to evacuate as many as possible of the wounded to Australia. But about twelve of the men were so badly wounded that they could not be moved. Dr. Wassell remained with these men, knowing that he would be captured by the enemy. But he decided to make a last desperate attempt to get the men out of Java. He asked each of them if he wished to take the chance, and every one agreed.
He first had to get the twelve men to the seacoast—fifty miles away. To do this, he had to improvise stretchers for the hazardous journey. The men were suffering severely, but Dr. Wassell kept them alive by his skill, and inspired them by his own courage.
And as the official report said, Dr. Wassell was "almost like a Christ-like shepherd devoted to his flock."
On the seacoast, he embarked the men on a little Dutch ship. They were bombed, they were machine-gunned by waves of Japanese planes. Dr. Wassell took virtual command of the ship, and by great skill avoided destruction, hiding in little bays and little inlets.
A few days later, Dr. Wassell and his small flock of wounded men reached Australia safely.
And today Dr. Wassell wears the Navy Cross.
Another story concerns a ship rather than an individual man.
You may remember the tragic sinking of the submarine, the U.S.S. Squalus, off the New England coast in the summer of 1939. Some of the crew were lost, but others were saved by the speed and the efficiency of the surface rescue crews. The Squalus itself was tediously raised from the bottom of the sea.
She was repaired and put back into commission, and eventually she Sailed again under a new name, the U.S.S. Sailfish. Today, she is a potent and effective unit of our submarine fleet in the Southwest Pacific.
The Sailfish has covered many thousands of miles in operations in those waters.
She has sunk a Japanese destroyer.
She has torpedoed a Japanese cruiser.
She has made torpedo hits—two of them—on a Japanese aircraft carrier.
Three of the enlisted men of our Navy who went down with the Squalus in 1939 and were rescued are today serving on the same ship, the U.S.S. Sailfish, in this war.
It seems to me that it is heartening to know that the Squalus, once given up as lost, rose from the depths to fight for our country in time of peril.
One more story that I heard only this morning:
This is a story of one of our Army Flying Fortresses operating in the western Pacific. The pilot of this plane is a modest young man, proud of his crew for one of the toughest fights a bomber has yet experienced.
The bomber departed from its base, as part of a flight of five bombers, to attack Japanese transports that were landing troops against us in the Philippines. When they had gone about halfway to their destination, one of the motors of this bomber went out of commission. The young pilot lost contact with the other bombers. The crew, however, got the motor working again and the plane proceeded on its mission alone.
By the time it arrived at its target the other four Flying Fortresses had already passed over, had dropped their bombs, and had stirred up the hornets' nest of Japanese "Zero" planes. Eighteen of these "Zero" fighters attacked our one Flying Fortress. Despite this mass attack, our plane proceeded on its mission, and dropped all of its bombs on six Japanese transports which were lined up along the docks.
As it turned back on its homeward journey a running fight between the bomber and the eighteen Japanese pursuit planes continued for 75 miles. Four pursuit planes of the Japs attacked simultaneously at each side. Four were shot down with the side guns. During this fight, the bomber's radio operator was killed, the engineer's right hand was shot off, and one gunner was crippled, leaving only one man available to operate both side guns. Although wounded in one hand, this gunner alternately manned both side guns, bringing down three more Japanese "Zero" planes. While this was going on, one engine on the American bomber was shot out, one gas tank was hit, the radio was shot off, and the oxygen system was entirely destroyed. Out of eleven control cables all but four were shot away. The rear landing wheel was blown off entirely, and the two front wheels were both shot flat.
The fight continued until the remaining Japanese pursuit ships exhausted their ammunition and turned back. With two engines gone and the plane practically out of control, the American bomber returned to its base after dark and made an emergency landing. The mission had been accomplished.
The name of that pilot is Captain Hewitt T. Wheless, of the United States Army. He comes from a place called Menard, Texas-with a population of 2,375. He has been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. And I hope that he is listening.
These stories I have told you are not exceptional. They are typical examples of individual heroism and skill.
As we here at home contemplate our own duties, our own responsibilities, let us think and think hard of the example which is being set for us by our fighting men.
Our soldiers and sailors are members of well-disciplined units. But they are still and forever individuals—free individuals. They are farmers, and workers, businessmen, professional men, artists, clerks.
They are the United States of America.
That is why they fight.
We too are the United States of America.
That is why we must work and sacrifice.
It is for them. It is for us. It is for victory.
|
Training aid for a large domestic animal
ABSTRACT
A training device for use in training large domestic animals is disclosed, wherein the training device includes a shaft having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is configured to accept attachment of a training aid, and a handle extending from the second end of the shaft, wherein the handle is configured to be placed over an object to suspend the training device from the object.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/530,468, filed Dec. 16, 2003, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND
Various training aids may be used in the process of training a large domestic animal, such as a horse, to respond to voice commands, to be desensitized to sharp and/or loud noises, etc. One type of training device includes a rigid or semi-rigid shaft having a length of a few feet, a handle or grip disposed on one end of the shaft, and a short length of a flexible material, such as a leather strap, attached to the opposite end of the shaft as the grip. The handle has a straight configuration with no bends, much like a golf club grip.
When training a horse with such a training device, a trainer typically stands near the horse while holding the horse by a lead line. The lead line is held in one hand, and the training device in the other. The trainer then gives a verbal command to the horse, such as “forward,” and gently taps the horse with the training device to get the horse to move in a desired direction. However, lead lines are relatively short, and after several feet of movement in one direction, the trainer will have the horse change directions and walk the other direction.
Once the horse changes direction, the training device and the lead line may each be in the wrong hand for easiest use. Therefore, the trainer must exchange the rope and training device between hands. It is important that the trainer not drop the lead line during a training session. However, when exchanging the lead line and the training device between hands, the trainer generally must hold both the lead line and the training device in a single hand at some point during the exchange process. Thus, there is a risk that the trainer may drop either the lead line or the training device during the exchange. The risk may be especially high if the horse makes a sudden and/or unexpected movement during the exchange process. Furthermore, if either the lead line or the training device is dropped during the exchange process, the trainer may have to bend down to pick up the dropped item. This may expose the trainer's hand, arm and/or head to kicks, etc. from the horse, and also removes the trainer's eye from the horse for a period of time.
Instead of holding the lead line and the training device in the same hand while exchanging the items between hands, the trainer may prop the training device against a wall, fence, the trainer's body, or other object during the exchange. However, due to the straight configuration the handle, the training device may not remain in a stable position against the object, but instead may roll or slide along the object and fall onto the ground.
SUMMARY
One embodiment provides a training device for use in training large domestic animals, wherein the training device includes a shaft having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is configured to accept attachment of a training aid, and a handle extending from the second end of the shaft, wherein the handle is configured to be placed over an object to suspend the training device from the object.
Another embodiment provides a training device for use in training large domestic animals, wherein the training device includes a shaft having a first end and a second end, a training aid coupled with the first end of the shaft, and a nonlinear handle extending from the second end of the shaft.
Yet another embodiment provides a training device for use in training large domestic animals, wherein the training device includes a shaft having a first end and a second end, a flexible member coupled with the first end of the shaft, and a grip coupled with the second end of the shaft, wherein the grip has at least one of a bent configuration and a curved configuration.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
FIG. 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a training device.
FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a training aid attachable to the training device embodiment of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 shows the embodiment of FIG. 1 in a user's hand.
FIG. 4 shows the embodiment of FIG. 1 suspended from the user's hand upon being released from the user's hand.
FIG. 5 shows the embodiment of FIG. 1 suspended from the user's wrist in dashed lines, and shows the user's hand reaching downwardly to grasp the shaft of the training device in solid lines.
FIG. 6 shows the user's hand reaching downwardly to grasp the shaft of the embodiment of FIG. 1.
FIG. 7 shows the user grasping the shaft of the training device.
FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of a training device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DEPICTED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 shows, generally at 10, a training device for large domestic animals, including but not limited to, horses, mules, donkeys, and other such animals. Training device 10 includes a shaft 12, a handle or grip 14 disposed at one end of the shaft, and may include a desired training aid (for example, a length of rope, small leather strap or rubber/polymer member, etc.) disposed at the opposite end of the shaft as the grip. Unlike prior training devices, which have linear handles (i.e. that do not deviate from the long axis of the shaft), handle 14 of training device 10 includes a curved or bent (i.e. non-linear) portion 18. Curved portion 18 allows training device 10 to be hung over an arm when changing a lead line from one hand to another, thus alleviating the problems associated with simultaneously changing prior training devices and lead lines between hands. Furthermore, curved portion 18 may be securely hooked over a fence, corral panel, or any other suitable structure. Curved portion 18 further provides a more stable contact point for leaning training device 10 against a wall or other object, and may help to prevent the training device from falling down when it is propped against an object. Furthermore, when hung over a user's arm, training device 10 may be quickly and simply re-grasped with either hand.
Training device 10 offers several advantages over prior training devices. For example, training device 10 may be used to drive a dangerous and disrespectful horse out and away from a handler, and to keep the horse at a safe distance while working on a lead line and/or in a round pin. End 16 of training device 10 may also be used to urge the horse to change directions in such an environment, thus gaining control and respect through these exercises. Curved portion 18 of handle 14 allows the handler to keep training device 10 securely attached over the trainer's arm (or over a nearby fence, corral panel, etc.), as described in more detail below, during these dangerous activities, and therefore greatly increases the safety of the handler.
Training device 10 may also be used to train a horse that does not want its feet handled. A user of training device 10 may first desensitize the horse to having its feet touched by touching the horse's feet with the training device. Training device 10 acts as an extension of the arm of the user, allowing the user to touch the horse's feet while to keeping head, hands and other vulnerable body parts well away from the horse's feet. The user can repeat this exercise until the horse doesn't mind having its feet touched. Then, the user may use curved portion 18 of handle 14 to pick up the horse's feet, and repeat until this no longer upsets the horse. Thus, training aid 10 allows the user to train the horse to have its feet picked up while remaining at a safe distance until the user feels it is safe to handle the horse's feet by hand.
Furthermore, training aid 10 may aid in attaching a saddle to a horse. When saddling a young horse for first few times, it can be dangerous to reach beneath the horse to grab the loose end of a cinch. This is because the motion places the user's head and upper body in a very vulnerable position in close proximity to horse's hind feet, where the user may get kicked. Curved portion 18 of training device 10 may be used to reach under a horse to get cinch, thereby keeping the user in a safe position.
Curved portion 18 of handle 14 may have any desired configuration. For example, the curvature of curved portion 18 may be smooth and continuous, as depicted, or may have one or more angular bends along its length. Furthermore, curved portion 18 may have both angular bends and smoothly curving portions. Likewise, curved portion 18 may curve any desired degree from the long axis of shaft 12. It may be desirable for curved portion 18 to have sufficient curvature and length to stay securely on the user's arm without requiring any effort by the user to prevent it from falling off. Handles that bend or curve at least ninety degrees away from the long axis of shaft 12 may be easier to retain over a user's arm than handles that bend or curve less than ninety degrees. In the depicted embodiment, curved portion 18 bends approximately one hundred eighty degrees from the long axis of the shaft, and extends sufficiently far to prevent the end of curved portion 18 from working its way over the user's arm when the training device is hanging from the user's arm. However, it will be appreciated that this configuration is merely exemplary, and that curved portion 18 may have any other suitable degree of curvature. Curved portion 18 may optionally be formed from, or partially or fully covered with, a non-slip material and/or a padded material.
FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of training aid 16 in more detail. Training aid 16 is configured to be attached to an end of shaft 12, and to provide a soft, pliant surface suitable for tapping an animal in a desired direction during training. The depicted training aid 16 includes a flexible end 20 for tapping the animal, and a connector, such as a cap 22 or sleeve, for connecting training aid 16 to the end of shaft 12. Cap 22 has an inner diameter sized to fit snugly on the end of shaft 12. An adhesive or fastener may be used to attach cap 22 to the end of shaft 12 more securely, if desired. In the depicted embodiment, cap 22 and flexible end 20 are unitary. This may allow training aid 16 to be constructed of a plastic or polymer material via a simple injection molding process. However, cap 22 and flexible end 20 may be formed from separate pieces if desired. Furthermore, flexible end 20 may be attached to shaft 12 by any suitable mechanism other than cap 22.
Training aid 16 may be configured to accept the attachment of an additional training aid. Examples of additional training aids include, but are not limited to, ropes, straps, and cords, as depicted at 24. In the depicted embodiment, flexible end 20 of training aid 16 includes an opening 26 configured to accept insertion of a rope, cord or other like object. However, flexible end 20 may include any other suitable feature for attaching additional training aids.
Additional training aids may be attached to training aid 16 for a variety of uses. For example, length of rope 24 may be attached to training aid 16 to form a simple tool for desensitizing a horse to loud and/or sudden noises. A user may snap rope 24 against the ground in the vicinity of the horse to create a sudden, sharp sound while holding the horse's lead line (and an appropriate tip 25 may be provided to make the sound louder and/or sharper). If the horse panics at the sound, the user may quickly hang the training tool over an arm and use the free hand to control and/or soothe the horse, to get a firmer two-handed grip on the lead line, etc. Training device 10 may likewise be quickly grasped once the situation is under control without the user having to bend down to pick the training device off the ground. Thus, the user does not expose head, arms, hands, etc. to dangerous kicks from the horse when re-grasping the training device.
As mentioned above, a user may easily transfer a training device 10 gripped in the user's hand to a hanging position on a wrist or forearm on the same side of the body, without the user having to use the other hand. FIGS. 3-7 illustrate an exemplary sequence of motions for transferring the training device from a hand to a hanging position on a forearm, and then back to the same hand. First, FIG. 3 shows training device 10 being gripped in a user's hand 30. Training device 10 is depicted as being gripped on curved portion 18 of handle 14, but the user may also grip training device 10 at a location along shaft 12. FIG. 3 also shows, in dashed lines, the user beginning to open the hand 30. This allows training device 10 to slide through or pivot on the user's hand 30 until reaching a stable position on curved portion 18. Upon reaching the stable position on curved portion 18, training device 10 simply hangs from the user's hand 30, as shown in FIG. 4. If desired, the user can then tuck the thumb below handle 14 and work the training device to a position on the forearm, as shown in FIG. 5, by appropriate wrist and arm motions. At this point, the user is free to use hand 30 for other tasks, yet training device is securely positioned on the user's arm where it can be accessed immediately if needed.
FIGS. 5-7 illustrate an exemplary sequence of movements for transferring training device 10 from the user's arm back to the user's hand. First referring to FIG. 5, the user can reach down with hand 30 and grasp shaft 12 of training device 10 while the training device is hanging over the over the user's arm. Next, the user can move wrist and forearm beneath handle 14, as shown in FIG. 6. This places training device 10 fully in the user's hand, ready for use, as shown in FIG. 7. Training device 10 likewise may be grasped just as quickly with the other hand.
Curved portion 18 of handle 14 also allows training device 10 to be hung over a user's arm while riding a horse, and thus may allow the user to grasp the reigns more securely without risking dropping the training device. In this case, the user may quickly grasp the training device with either hand, should the need arise while riding.
The principles described herein may also be extended to other tools similar to training device 10. For example, FIG. 8 shows a dressage whip 100 having a curved handle 102. Like training device 10, whip 100 may be hung over a user's arm while riding a horse, or while on the ground working with a horse, and may be quickly re-grasped as described above.
Although the present disclosure includes specific embodiments of training devices for large animals, specific embodiments are not to be considered in a limiting sense, because numerous variations are possible. The subject matter of the present disclosure includes all novel and non obvious combinations and sub combinations of the various elements, features, functions, and/or properties disclosed herein. The description and examples contained herein are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, but are included for illustration purposes only. It is to be understood that other embodiments of the invention can be developed and fall within the spirit and scope of the invention and claims.
The following claims particularly point out certain combinations and sub combinations regarded as novel and non obvious. These claims may refer to “an” element or “a first” element or the equivalent thereof. Such claims should be understood to include incorporation of one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements. Other combinations and sub combinations of features, functions, elements, and/or properties may be claimed through amendment of the present claims or through presentation of new claims in this or a related application. Such claims, whether broader, narrower, equal, or different in scope to the original claims, also are regarded as included within the subject matter of the present disclosure.
1. A training device for use in training large domestic animals, the training device comprising: a shaft having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is configured to accept attachment of a training aid; and a handle extending from the second end of the shaft, wherein the handle is configured to be placed over an object to suspend the training device from the object.
2. The training device of claim 1, wherein the training aid includes at least one of a length of rope, a cord and a strap.
3. The training device of claim 1, wherein the handle includes a generally smoothly curved portion.
4. The training device of claim 1, wherein the handle includes a bent portion.
5. The training device of claim 1, wherein the handle curves or bends at least 90 degrees from a long axis of the shaft.
6. The training device of claim 1, wherein the training aid is a flexible member extending from the second end of the shaft.
7. The training device of claim 6, wherein the flexible member is made of a polymer material.
8. The training device of claim 6, wherein the flexible member is made of leather.
9. The training device of claim 6, wherein the flexible member includes a feature configured to accept attachment of at least one of a rope, a cord and a strap.
10. The training device of claim 6, wherein the training aid includes a cap coupled With the flexible member, wherein the cap is configured to fit over the first end of the shaft.
11. A training device for use in training large domestic animals, comprising: a shaft having a first end and a second end; a training aid coupled with the first end of the shaft; and a nonlinear handle extending from the second end of the shaft.
12. The training device of claim 11, wherein the nonlinear handle is smoothly curving.
13. The training device of claim 11, wherein the nonlinear handle is bent.
14. The training device of claim 11, wherein the nonlinear handle bends or curves at least ninety degrees from a long axis of the shaft.
15. The training device of claim 11, wherein the training aid includes a cap configured to fit over the second end of the shaft, and a flexible member extending from the cap.
16. The training device of claim 15, wherein the flexible member includes an opening configured to accept attachment of an additional training aid.
17. The training device of claim 16, wherein the additional training aid is selected from the group consisting of ropes, cords and straps.
18. The training device of claim 15, wherein the cap and the flexible member are unitary.
19. The training device of claim 15, wherein the flexible member is made at least partially of a polymer material.
20. A training device for use in training large domestic animals, comprising: a shaft having a first end and a second end; a flexible member coupled with the first end of the shaft; and a grip coupled with the second end of the shaft, wherein the grip has at least one of a bent configuration and a curved configuration.
21. The training device of claim 20, wherein the grip includes a portion bent or curved at least ninety degrees from a long axis of the shaft.
22. The training device of claim 20, wherein the grip is configured to be hooked over an arm.
23. The training device of claim 20, wherein the flexible member includes an opening configured to accept attachment of an additional training aid.
24. The training device of claim 20, wherein the flexible member includes a cap configured to fit over the first end of the shaft.
|
Using AWS Lambda with Amazon S3
You can use Lambda to process event notifications from Amazon Simple Storage Service. Amazon S3 can send an event to a Lambda function when an object is created or deleted. You configure notification settings on a bucket, and grant Amazon S3 permission to invoke a function on the function's resource-based permissions policy.
If your Lambda function uses the same bucket that triggers it, it could cause the function to run in a loop. For example, if the bucket triggers a function each time an object is uploaded, and the function uploads an object to the bucket, then the function indirectly triggers itself. To avoid this, use two buckets, or configure the trigger to only apply to a prefix used for incoming objects.
Amazon S3 invokes your function asynchronously with an event that contains details about the object. The following example shows an event that Amazon S3 sent when a deployment package was uploaded to Amazon S3.
Example Amazon S3 notification event
{ "Records": [ { "eventVersion": "2.1", "eventSource": "aws:s3", "awsRegion": "us-east-2", "eventTime": "2019-09-03T19:37:27.192Z", "eventName": "ObjectCreated:Put", "userIdentity": { "principalId": "AWS:AIDAINPONIXQXHT3IKHL2" }, "requestParameters": { "sourceIPAddress": "<IP_ADDRESS>" }, "responseElements": { "x-amz-request-id": "D82B88E5F771F645", "x-amz-id-2": "vlR7PnpV2Ce81l0PRw6jlUpck7Jo5ZsQjryTjKlc5aLWGVHPZLj5NeC6qMa0emYBDXOo6QBU0Wo=" }, "s3": { "s3SchemaVersion": "1.0", "configurationId": "828aa6fc-f7b5-4305-8584-487c791949c1", "bucket": { "name": "
lambda-artifacts-deafc19498e3f2df
", "ownerIdentity": { "principalId": "A3I5XTEXAMAI3E" }, "arn": "arn:aws:s3:::lambda-artifacts-deafc19498e3f2df" }, "object": { "key": "b21b84d653bb07b05b1e6b33684dc11b
", "size": 1305107, "eTag": "b21b84d653bb07b05b1e6b33684dc11b", "sequencer": "0C0F6F405D6ED209E1" } } } ] }
To invoke your function, Amazon S3 needs permission from the function's resource-based policy. When you configure an Amazon S3 trigger in the Lambda console, the console modifies the resource-based policy to allow Amazon S3 to invoke the function if the bucket name and account ID match. If you configure the notification in Amazon S3, you use the Lambda API to update the policy. You can also use the Lambda API to grant permission to another account, or restrict permission to a designated alias.
If your function uses the AWS SDK to manage Amazon S3 resources, it also needs Amazon S3 permissions in its execution role.
Topics
|
Forums
http://forums.stnylug.org/
* This needs to be fixed up a bit...
Furat 22:59, 26 July 2008 (EDT)
|
# Jackson @JsonFilter
## Using @JsonFilter
**Step-1**: Create a class annotated with `@JsonFilter` and assign a filter name.
**Step-2**: Create the instance of `SimpleFilterProvider` and add our filter `studentFilter` using `addFilter()` method.
```
SimpleFilterProvider filterProvider = new SimpleFilterProvider();
filterProvider.addFilter("studentFilter",
SimpleBeanPropertyFilter.serializeAllExcept("stdName", "stdCity"));
```
**Step-3**: Set the instance of `SimpleFilterProvider` to `ObjectMapper` using `setFilterProvider()` method.
```
ObjectMapper mapper = new ObjectMapper();
mapper.setFilterProvider(filterProvider);
```
**Step-4**: Now serialize the instance of `Student` class.
```
Student student = new Student("Mohit", 30, "ABCD", "Varanasi");
String jsonData = mapper.writerWithDefaultPrettyPrinter()
.writeValueAsString(student);
System.out.println(jsonData);
```
`stdName` and `stdCity` properties will not be serialized. Find the output.
```
{
"stdAge" : 30,
"stdCollege" : "ABCD"
}
```
## SimpleBeanPropertyFilter
`SimpleFilterProvider` is the implementation of `PropertyFilter` that only uses property name to determine if it should be serialized or filtered out. Find some methods of `SimpleFilterProvider`.
- `serializeAllExcept()`: Serializes all properties except the properties configured to this method.
- `filterOutAllExcept()`: Serializes properties only configured to this method.
- `serializeAll()`: Serializes all properties and filters out nothing.
## @JsonFilter at Property Level
We can use `@JsonFilter` annotation on fields, methods and constructor parameters since Jackson 2.3. Here we will create two filters using `@JsonFilter` at property level and filter the properties using `serializeAllExcept()` and `filterOutAllExcept()` methods.
## Results
- `JacksonJsonFilterTest`
## References
- [Jackson @JsonFilter Example](https://www.concretepage.com/jackson-api/jackson-jsonfilter-example)
|
Package comprising a substrate and a high-density interconnect structure coupled to the substrate
ABSTRACT
A package comprising a substrate, an integrated device, and an interconnect structure. The substrate includes a first surface and a second surface. The substrate further includes a plurality of interconnects for providing at least one electrical connection to a board. The integrated device is coupled to the first surface of the substrate. The interconnect structure is coupled to the first surface of the substrate. The integrated device, the interconnect structure and the substrate are coupled together in such a way that when a first electrical signal travels between the integrated device and the board, the first electrical signal travels through at least the substrate, then through the interconnect structure and back through the substrate.
FIELD
Various features relate to packages that include an integrated device,but more specifically to a package that includes an integrated device, a substrate, and a high-density interconnect structure coupled to thesubstrate.
BACKGROUND
FIG. 1 illustrates a package 100 that includes a substrate 102, an integrated device 104, and an encapsulation layer 108. The substrate 102includes a plurality of dielectric layers 120, a plurality ofinterconnects 122, and a plurality of solder interconnects 124. A plurality of solder interconnects 144 is coupled to the substrate 102and the integrated device 104. The encapsulation layer 108 encapsulatesthe integrated device 104 and the plurality of solder interconnects 144.Fabricating a small package that includes a substrate with high density interconnects can be challenging. There is an ongoing need to provide more compact packages that can accommodate high density interconnect sand/or high pin counts.
SUMMARY
Various features relate to packages that include an integrated device,but more specifically to a package that includes an integrated device, a substrate, and a high-density interconnect structure coupled to thesubstrate.
One example provides a package comprising a substrate, an integrateddevice, and an interconnect structure. The substrate includes a first surface and a second surface. The substrate further includes a plurality of interconnects. The integrated device is coupled to the substrate. The interconnect structure is coupled to a surface of the substrate. The integrated device, the interconnect structure and the substrate are coupled together in such a way that a first electrical signal of theintegrated device is configured to travel through at least thesubstrate, then through the interconnect structure and back through thesubstrate.
Another example provides an apparatus that includes a substrate, an integrated device, and means for interconnect redistribution. The substrate includes a first surface and a second surface. The substrate further includes a plurality of interconnects. The integrated device iscoupled to the substrate. The means for interconnect redistribution iscoupled to a surface of the substrate. The integrated device, the means for interconnect redistribution and the substrate are coupled together in such a way that a first electrical signal of the integrated device is configured to travel through at least the substrate, then through the means for interconnect redistribution and back through the substrate.
Another example provides a method for fabricating a package. The method provides a substrate comprising a first surface and a second surface,where the substrate further comprises a plurality of interconnects. The method couples an integrated device to the substrate. The method couple san interconnect structure to a surface of the substrate. The integrateddevice, the interconnect structure, and the substrate are coupled together in such a way that a first electrical signal of the integrateddevice is configured to travel through at least the substrate, then through the interconnect structure and back through the substrate.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Various features, nature and advantages may become apparent from the detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which like reference characters identify correspondinglythroughout.
FIG. 1 illustrates a profile view of a package that includes an integrated device and a substrate.
FIG. 2 illustrates a profile view of a package that includes ahigh-density interconnect structure coupled to a substrate.
FIG. 3 illustrates a view of possible electrical paths in a package thatincludes a high-density interconnect structure coupled to a substrate.
FIG. 4 illustrates a view of possible electrical paths in a package thatincludes a high-density interconnect structure coupled to a substrate.
FIG. 5 illustrates a view of possible electrical paths in a package thatincludes a high-density interconnect structure coupled to a substrate.
FIG. 6 illustrates a profile view of a package on package (PoP) thatincludes a high-density interconnect structure coupled to a substrate.
FIG. 7 illustrates a profile view of a package that includes ahigh-density interconnect structure coupled to a substrate.
FIG. 8 (comprising FIGS. 8A-8D) illustrates an exemplary sequence forfabricating a high-density interconnect structure.
FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary flow diagram of a method for fabricatinga high-density interconnect structure.
FIG. 10 (comprising FIGS. 10A-10C) illustrates an exemplary sequence forfabricating a substrate.
FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary flow diagram of a method forfabricating a substrate.
FIG. 12 (comprising FIGS. 12A-12B) illustrates an exemplary sequence forfabricating a package that includes a high-density interconnectstructure coupled to a substrate.
FIG. 13 illustrates an exemplary flow diagram of a method forfabricating a package that includes a high-density interconnectstructure coupled to a substrate.
FIG. 14 illustrates various electronic devices that may integrate a die,an electronic circuit, an integrated device, an integrated passive device (IPD), a passive component, a package, and/or a device package described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In the following description, specific details are given to provide a thorough understanding of the various aspects of the disclosure.However, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art thatthe aspects may be practiced without these specific details. Forexample, circuits may be shown in block diagrams in order to avoidobscuring the aspects in unnecessary detail. In other instances,well-known circuits, structures and techniques may not be shown in detail in order not to obscure the aspects of the disclosure.
The present disclosure describes a package that includes a substrate, an electronic circuit (which may be formed in an integrated device), and an interconnect structure. The substrate includes a first surface and asecond surface. The substrate further includes a plurality ofinterconnects for providing electrical connections to a board. The integrated device is coupled to the first surface (or a second surface)of the substrate. The interconnect structure is coupled to the first surface (or a second surface) of the substrate. The integrated device,the interconnect structure and the substrate are coupled together in such a way that a first electrical signal of the integrated device is configured to travel through the substrate, then through theinterconnect structure and back through the substrate. The interconnectstructure may provide at least one electrical connection between two integrated devices coupled to the substrate. The interconnect structure may be a substrate that includes a dielectric layer and a plurality of redistribution interconnects. The interconnect structure may be ahigh-density interconnect structure that is configured to have interconnects with a lower minimum pitch than the minimum pitch ofinterconnects from the substrate. The interconnect structure may enable a package to have small and compact form factor, while also providing ahigh input/output (I/O) pin count.
Exemplary Package Comprising a High Density Interconnect Structure Coupled to a Substrate
FIG. 2 illustrates a profile view of a package 200 that includes ahigh-density interconnect structure. The package 200 is coupled to aboard 290 (e.g., printed circuit board (PCB)) through a plurality of solder interconnects 280. The package 200 provides a package with a compact small factor while also having a high input/output pin count.
As shown in FIG. 2, the package 200 includes a substrate 202, a firstintegrated device 204, a second integrated device 206, an encapsulation layer 208, a first interconnect structure 210, and a second interconnectstructure 230. The substrate 202 may be considered the primary substrate(e.g., first substrate) of the package 200. As will be further described below, an integrated device (e.g., 204, 206), an interconnect structure(e.g., 210, 230), and the substrate 202 are coupled together in such away that when an electrical signal (e.g., first electrical signal,second electrical signal) travels between the integrated device and aboard (e.g., 290), the electrical signal travels through at least thesubstrate 202, then through the interconnect structure (e.g., 210, 230)and back through the substrate 202. This may be achieved by an interconnect structure (e.g., 210, 230) providing at least one electrical path between a first electrical contact provided by thesubstrate 202 and a second electrical contact provided by the substrate202, where the first contact is electrically connected to the integrateddevice(e.g., 204, 206) and where the second contact is electrically connected to one or more of the interconnects.
The substrate 202 includes a first surface (e.g., bottom surface) and asecond surface (e.g., top surface). The substrate 202 includes at least one dielectric layer 220, a plurality of interconnects 222, a first solder resist layer 224 and a second solder resist layer 226. Theplurality of interconnects 222 may be configured to provide at least one electrical connection to and/or from a board (e.g., 290). The plurality of interconnects 222 may have a first minimum pitch and a first minimum line and spacing (L/S). In some implementations, the first minimum pitch for the plurality of interconnects 222 is in a range of approximately100-200 micrometers (μm). In some implementations, the first minimum line and spacing (L/S) for the plurality of interconnects 222 is in arange of approximately 5/5-20/20 micrometers (μm). Different implementations may use different substrates. The substrate 202 may be a laminate substrate, a coreless substrate, a substrate that includes a core layer. In some implementations, the at least one dielectric layer220 may include a core layer and/or prepreg layers. The at least one dielectric layer 220 may have a dielectric constant in a range of approximately 3.5-3.7. The at least one dielectric layer 220 may include glass fabrics for reinforcing the substrate 202. An example offabricating a substrate is further described below in FIGS. 10A-10C. As will be further described below, in some implementations, the substrate202 may be fabricated using a modified semi-additive process (mSAP) or a semi-additive process (SAP).
The first integrated device 204 is coupled to the first surface (e.g.,bottom surface) of the substrate 202. The first integrated device 204 iscoupled to the substrate through a plurality of interconnects 240. Theplurality of interconnects 240 may include copper pillars and/or solder interconnects. An underfill 242 is located between the substrate 202 andthe first integrated device 204. The underfill 242 may surround theplurality of interconnects 240. The first interconnect structure 210 iscoupled to the first surface of the substrate 202. As will be further described below, the first interconnect structure 210 may be ahigh-density interconnect structure. The first interconnect structure210 may be coupled to the substrate 202 through a plurality of solder interconnects 250 and/or pillar interconnects (e.g., copper pillar interconnects). When the package 200 is coupled to the board 290, thefirst integrated device 204 and the first interconnect structure 210 are located between the substrate 202 and the board 290. The firstintegrated device 204 and the first interconnect structure 210 may be located laterally to the plurality of solder interconnects 280. This configuration places the first integrated device 204 and the firstinterconnect structure 210 on the same side as the plurality of solder interconnects 280, which saves space and helps reduce the overall height and footprint of the package 200, by reducing the number of metal layers of the substrate 202 and/or reducing routing congestion in the substrate202. The end result, is a package with a more compact form factor. Inaddition, the first interconnect structure 210 may help lower the cost of the substrate 202 (e.g., primary substrate) because the interconnect sof the substrate 202 do not need to be as close together (e.g., lower L/S) to achieve near die break-out, since the interconnects of the firstinterconnect structure 210 will help with the near die break-out. As will be further described below, at least one interconnect structure maybe located over another surface of the substrate 202. In someimplementations, the interconnect structure may be integrated or embedded inside the substrate 202.
The second integrated device 206 is coupled to the second surface (e.g.,top surface) of the substrate 202. The second integrated device 206 iscoupled to the substrate through a plurality of interconnects 260. Theplurality of interconnects 260 may include copper pillars and/or solder interconnects. The second interconnect structure 230 is coupled to thesecond surface of the substrate 202. The second interconnect structure230 may be coupled to the substrate 202 through a plurality of solder interconnects 270.
The encapsulation layer 208 is located over the second surface (e.g.,top surface) of the substrate 202 such that the encapsulation layer 208encapsulates the second integrated device 206 and the secondinterconnect structure 230. The encapsulation layer 208 may include am old, a resin, an epoxy and/or polymer. The encapsulation layer 208 maybe a means for encapsulation.
The integrated device (e.g., 204, 206) may include a die (e.g.,semiconductor bare die). The integrated device may include a radiofrequency (RF) device, a passive device, a filter, a capacitor, aninductor, an antenna, a transmitter, a receiver, a GaAs based integrateddevice, a surface acoustic wave (SAW) filters, a bulk acoustic wave(BAW) filter, a light emitting diode (LED) integrated device, a silicon carbide (SiC) based integrated device, memory and/or combinations thereof. An integrated device (e.g., 204, 206) may include at least one electronic circuit (e.g., first electronic circuit, second electronic circuit, etc . . . ).
Different implementations may couple different components to thesubstrate 202. Other components (e.g., surface mounted components) that may be coupled to the substrate 202 include a passive device (e.g.,capacitor). Examples of other components that may be coupled to thesubstrate 202 are illustrated and described below in FIG. 7.
The first interconnect structure 210 and the second interconnectstructure 230 may be high-density interconnect structures that have asecond minimum pitch and a second minimum line and spacing (L/S). In some implementations, the second minimum pitch for interconnects of theinterconnect structure (e.g., 210, 230) is in a range of approximately100-200 micrometers (μm). In some implementations, the second minimum line and spacing (L/S) for interconnects of the interconnect structure(e.g., 210, 230) is in a range of approximately 5/5-20/20 micrometers(μm) (e.g., minimum line width of approximately 5-20 micrometers (μm),minimum spacing of approximately 5-20 micrometers (μm)). The firstinterconnect structure 210 and the second interconnect structure 230 may each have interconnects with a respective second minimum pitch that is less than the first minimum pitch of the substrate 202. Similarly, thefirst interconnect structure 210 and the second interconnect structure230 may each have interconnects with a respective minimum pitch that is less than the first minimum line and spacing (L/S) of the substrate 202.The interconnect structure (e.g., 210, 230) may be considered a secondary substrate (e.g., second substrate) that includes interconnects that have higher density than interconnects of the substrate 202 (e.g.,primary substrate). The interconnect structure (e.g., 210, 230) is a localized device and/or structure configured to be placed in a region near an integrated device. The size of the interconnect structure may vary with different implementations. However, the footprint of theinterconnect structure will be smaller than the footprint of thesubstrate 202. For example, in some implementations, the area occupied by an interconnect structure (e.g., 210, 230) may be 25% or less thanthe area of the substrate 202.
As will be further described below, some electrical signals (e.g., firstelectrical signal, second electrical signals) to and from integrated devices (e.g., 204, 206) may be configured to travel through the firstinterconnect structure 210 and/or the second interconnect structure 230.The interconnect structures, which have higher density interconnects,allow the package 200 to provide higher I/O pin counts, without having to increase the size of the package 200. For example, using theinterconnect structure (e.g., 210, 230) may allow the substrate 202 tohave a lower number of metal layers, which may help reduce the overall height of the package 200. The one or more interconnect structures(e.g., 210, 230) may help reduce congestion and/or entanglement in certain regions (e.g., regions near an integrated device) of thesubstrate 202 due to the high number of pin count and/or number ofnetlists.
FIG. 2 illustrates that the first interconnect structure 210 includes atleast one dielectric layer 211, a plurality of interconnects 212, as older resist layer 214 and a solder resist layer 216. The plurality ofinterconnects 212 may be redistribution interconnects. A redistribution interconnect may be an interconnect fabricated using a redistribution layer (RDL) fabrication processes. The first interconnect structure 210may be configured as a substrate (e.g., coreless substrate) thatincludes a plurality of redistribution layers (e.g., redistribution metal layers). As mentioned above, the interconnects of the interconnectstructure may have higher density (e.g., lower minimum pitch and/or lower minimum L/S) than the interconnects of the substrate 202. The solder resist layer 214 is located over a first surface of the firstinterconnect structure 210. The solder resist layer 216 is located overa second surface of the first interconnect structure 210. The plurality of solder interconnects 250 is coupled to the first surface of the firstinterconnect structure 210.
The second interconnect structure 230 is similar to the firstinterconnect structure 210. The second interconnect structure 230 mayinclude the same components and/or materials as the first interconnectstructure 210. The second interconnect structure 230 may include a different number of metal layers (e.g., redistribution layers) than thefirst interconnect structure 210. An interconnect structure may be usedto provide at least one electrical connection between two or more integrated devices. For example, an electrical signal between a firstintegrated device and a second integrated device may travel through a substrate (e.g., through first plurality of interconnects of substrate),through an interconnect structure (e.g., through plurality ofinterconnects of interconnect structure) and back through the substrate(e.g., through second plurality of interconnects of substrate). Thefirst integrated device and the second integrated device may be located over the same surface of the substrate or over different surfaces of thesubstrate. The terms “first surface” and “second surface” of a substrate are arbitrary, and may means any surface of the substrate. For example,the first surface of the substrate may be a bottom surface of thesubstrate, and the second surface of the substrate may be a top surface of the substrate. In another example, the first surface of the substrate may be a top surface of the substrate, and the second surface of thesubstrate may be a bottom surface of the substrate. An interconnectstructure (e.g., 210, 230) may be a means for interconnect redistribution. An example of a method for fabricating an interconnectstructure is illustrated and described below in FIGS. 8A-8D.
As mentioned above, an interconnect structure is a component that iscoupled to the substrate 202, so that the package 200 may provide higher I/O pin counts without having to increase the overall size of the package 200. In some implementations, one or more electrical signals to and from one or more integrated devices may travel through one or more interconnect structures. The one or more interconnect structures (e.g.,210, 230) may help reduce congestion and/or entanglement in certain areas of the substrate due to the high number of pin count and/or numberof netlists. A netlist is an arrangement of components of a circuit and how the components are electrically coupled together.
In some implementations, the at least one dielectric layer 211 mayinclude a prepreg layers and/or photo-image able dielectric layers. Theat least one dielectric layer 211 may have a dielectric constant in arange of approximately 3.3-4.0. In some implementations, the at least one dielectric layer 211 of the interconnect structure may include glass fabrics. However, the glass fabrics will be finer than the glass fabric sin the at least one dielectric layer 220 of the substrate 202.
FIG. 3 illustrates a view of how electrical signals may conceptually be configured to travel in a package. As shown in FIG. 3, a firstelectrical signal 302 may be configured to travel to and from the firstintegrated device 204. The path of the first electrical signal 302 (when starting from the first integrated device 204) includes travelling through (i) first interconnect(s) from the plurality of interconnects240, (ii) first interconnect(s) from the plurality of interconnects 222of the substrate 202, (iii) first solder interconnect(s) from theplurality of solder interconnects 250, (iv) first interconnect(s) (e.g.,212) from the first interconnect structure 210, (v) second solder interconnect(s) from the plurality of solder interconnects 250, (vi)second interconnects(s) from the plurality of interconnects 222 of thesubstrate 202, (vii) first solder interconnect from the plurality of solder interconnects 280, and (viii) interconnect of the board 290. In some implementations, the first electrical signal 302 may be configured to travel from the board 290 to the first integrated device 204, in the opposite sequence as described above. Thus, as described above, thefirst integrated device 204, the first interconnect structure 210 andthe substrate 202 may be coupled together such that a first electrical signal 302 between the first integrated device 204 and a board 290, maybe configured to travel through the substrate 202, then through thefirst interconnect structure 210 and back through the substrate 202.
FIG. 3 illustrates a second electrical signal 304 that may be configured to travel to and from the first integrated device 204. The path of thesecond electrical signal 304 (when starting from the first integrateddevice 204) includes travelling through (i) second interconnect(s) fromthe plurality of interconnects 240, (ii) third interconnect(s) from theplurality of interconnects 222 of the substrate 202, (iii) third solder interconnect(s) from the plurality of solder interconnects 250, (iv)second interconnect(s) (e.g., 212) from the first interconnect structure210, (v) fourth solder interconnect(s) from the plurality of solder interconnects 250, (vi) fourth interconnects(s) from the plurality ofinterconnects 222 of the substrate 202, (vii) second solder interconnect from the plurality of solder interconnects 280, and (viii) interconnect of the board 290. In some implementations, the second electrical signal304 may be configured to travel from the board 290 to the firstintegrated device 204, in the opposite sequence as described above.
FIG. 3 illustrates a third electrical signal 306 that may be configured to travel to and from the first integrated device 204. The path of the third electrical signal 306 (when starting from the first integrateddevice 204) includes travelling through (i) third interconnect(s) fromthe plurality of interconnects 240, (ii) fifth interconnect(s) from theplurality of interconnects 222 of the substrate 202, (iii) third solder interconnect from the plurality of solder interconnects 280, and (iv)interconnect of the board 290. In some implementations, the third electrical signal 306 may be configured to travel from the board 290 tothe first integrated device 204, in the opposite sequence as described above.
FIG. 3 illustrates a fourth electrical signal 308 that may be configured to travel to and from the second integrated device 206. The path of the fourth electrical signal 308 (when starting from the second integrateddevice 206) includes travelling through (i) first interconnect(s) fromthe plurality of interconnects 260, (ii) sixth interconnect(s) from theplurality of interconnects 222 of the substrate 202, (iii) first solder interconnect(s) from the plurality of solder interconnects 270, (iv)first interconnect(s) from the second interconnect structure 230, (v)second solder interconnect(s) from the plurality of solder interconnects270, (vi) seventh interconnects(s) from the plurality of interconnects222 of the substrate 202, (vii) fourth solder interconnect from theplurality of solder interconnects 280, and (viii) interconnect of the board 290. In some implementations, the fourth electrical signal 308 maybe configured to travel from the board 290 to the second integrateddevice 206, in the opposite sequence as described above.
It is noted that plurality of solder interconnects 280 may be representative of pins for the package 200. As such, the electrical signals and/or electrical paths shown may represent electrical signal paths between an integrated device and a pin of the package, where a pin is represented by a solder interconnect from the plurality of solder interconnects 280. It is noted that the pin may be represented by other components, such as a pillar (e.g., copper pillar). Different implementations may have a different number of electrical signals that travel to and from different integrated devices. The path of these electrical signals may vary. An electrical signal may include I/O signals. Instead of I/O signals, the exemplary paths shown in the disclosure may be applicable to power and/or ground as well.
FIG. 4 illustrates another view of how electrical signals may conceptually travel through a package. FIG. 4 illustrates a substrate402, the first integrated device 204 coupled to the substrate 402, thefirst interconnect structure 210 coupled to the substrate 402, a secondinterconnect structure 410 a coupled to the substrate 402, a third interconnect structure 410 b coupled to the substrate 402 and aplurality of solder interconnects 280 coupled to the substrate 402. Theplurality of solder interconnects 280 may represent pins for thesubstrate 402 and/or pins of a package that includes the substrate 402.The substrate 402 may be implemented in any of the packages described inthe disclosure.
The first integrated device 204 may be configured to perform various functions, which are conceptually represented by the first function 420,the second function 430, the third function 440, the fourth function450, and the fifth function 460. Different integrated devices may be configured to perform different functions and/or different number of functions. Examples of functions, include processing functions,computation functions, filter functions, transmission functions,receiving functions, compression functions, etc. In someimplementations, each function may be associated with a specific netlistfor the package.
As shown in FIG. 4, an electrical signal 422 to and from the first function 420 of the first integrated device 204 may travel through thesubstrate 402, the first interconnect structure 210, and back throughthe substrate 402 (in a similar manner as described in FIG. 3). Another electrical signal 424 to and from the first function 420 may travel through the substrate 402, bypassing an interconnect structure.
One advantage of a high-density interconnect structure, is the ability of the high-density interconnect structure to handle and deal with routing entanglement and/or routing congestion for the package. In someimplementations, complicated, tight and/or difficult routing ofinterconnects may be done in the interconnect structure (e.g., 210). Forexample, routing entanglement and/or crossing of interconnects for different signals may be done in the interconnect structure (e.g., 210).FIG. 4 illustrates an electrical signal 432 to and from the second function 430 of the first integrated device 204 that may travel throughthe substrate 402, the first interconnect structure 210, and back through the substrate 402. The electrical signal 432 may travel throughthe first interconnect structure 210 such that the electrical signal 432crosses (e.g., vertically crosses and/or horizontally crosses) with the electrical signal 422 that travel through interconnects in the firstinterconnect structure 210. It is noted that other electrical signals for the package may cross (e.g., vertically cross and/or horizontally cross) in an interconnect structure (e.g., 210, 230).
An electrical signal 442 to and from the third function 440 of the firstintegrated device 204 may travel through the substrate 402, the secondinterconnect structure 410 a, and back through the substrate 402Similarly, an electrical signal 444 to and from the third function 440of the first integrated device 204 may travel through the substrate 402,the second interconnect structure 410 a, and back through the substrate402.
An electrical signal 452 to and from the fourth function 450 of thefirst integrated device 204 may travel through the substrate 402,bypassing an interconnect structure. An electrical signal 454 to and from the fourth function 450 of the first integrated device 204 may travel through the substrate 402, the third interconnect structure 410b, and back through the substrate 402. Similarly, an electrical signal456 to and from the fourth function 450 of the first integrated device204 may travel through the substrate 402, the third interconnectstructure 410 b, and back through the substrate 402.
An electrical signal 462 to and from the fifth function 460 of the firstintegrated device 204 may travel through the substrate 402, the third interconnect structure 410 b, and back through the substrate 402. An electrical signal 464 to and from the fifth function 460 may travel through the substrate 402, bypassing an interconnect structure. An electrical signal 466 to and from the fifth function 460 may travel through the substrate 402, bypassing an interconnect structure.
FIG. 5 illustrates another view of how electrical signals may conceptually travel through a package. FIG. 5 illustrates a substrate502, the first integrated device 204 coupled to the substrate 502, asecond integrated device 504 coupled to the substrate 502, a firstinterconnect structure 510 coupled to the substrate 502, a third interconnect structure 410 b coupled to the substrate 502 and aplurality of solder interconnects 280 coupled to the substrate 502.
The second integrated device 504 may be configured to perform various functions, which are conceptually represented by the first function 570,the second function 580, and the third function 590.
As shown in FIG. 5, an electrical signal 522 to and from the first function 420 of the first integrated device 204 may travel through thesubstrate 402, the first interconnect structure 510, and back throughthe substrate 502 (in a similar manner as described in FIG. 3). An electrical signal 532 to and from the second function 430 may travel through the substrate 502, bypassing an interconnect structure.
An electrical signal 572 to and from the first function 570 of thesecond integrated device 504 may be configured to travel through thesubstrate 402, the first interconnect structure 510, and back throughthe substrate 502 (in a similar manner as described in FIG. 3).
An electrical signal 574 between the first function 570 of the second integrated device 504 and the first function 420 of the first integrateddevice 204 may be configured to travel through the substrate 402, thefirst interconnect structure 510, and back through the substrate 502 (ina similar manner as described in FIG. 3).
An electrical signal 582 to and from the second function 580 of thesecond integrated device 504, may be configured to travel through thesubstrate 502, bypassing an interconnect structure. An electrical signal592 to and from the third function 590 of the second integrated device504, may be configured to travel through the substrate 502, bypassing an interconnect structure. It is noted that the electrical paths for various signals shown in FIGS. 3-5 are merely exemplary. Different implementations may provide different electrical paths for different functions of the integrated devices. In some implementations, one ormore functions of an integrated device may be coupled to (i) electrical paths that go through an interconnect structure and/or (ii) electrical paths that bypass an interconnect structure.
FIG. 6 illustrates a package on package (PoP) that includes a package with an interconnect structure. The PoP 601 includes the package 200 anda package 600. The package 600 may be a first package, and the package200 may be a second package. The package 600 is coupled to the board 290through the plurality of solder interconnects 680. The package 200 iscoupled to the package 600 such that the package 200 is located over the package 600, and such that the package 600 is located between the board290 and the package 200.
The package 600 is similar to the package 200, but may include different components than the package 200. The package 600 includes a substrate602, a first integrated device 604, a second integrated device 606, the third integrated device 605, the fourth integrated device 607, an encapsulation layer 608, and a first interconnect structure 610. The substrate 602 includes at least one dielectric layer 620, a plurality ofinterconnects 622, a solder resist layer 624 and a solder resist layer626.
FIG. 6 illustrates various exemplary and/or conceptual paths that atleast one current (e.g., at least one electrical signal, at least one power) may take in the PoP 600. For example, an electrical signal 640may travel between the first integrated device 204 and the second integrated device 206 through the first interconnect structure 210. The electrical signal 640 may be configured to travel through the substrate202 (e.g., first plurality of interconnects of the substrate 202),through the first interconnect structure 210 (e.g., plurality ofinterconnects of the first interconnect structure 210), and back throughthe substrate 202 (e.g., second plurality of interconnects of thesubstrate 202).
In another example, an electrical signal 642 may be configured to travel between the first integrated device 204 and the second integrated device206 through the second interconnect structure 230. The electrical signal642 may be configured to travel through the substrate 202 (e.g., first plurality of interconnects of the substrate 202), through the secondinterconnect structure 230 (e.g., plurality of interconnects of thesecond interconnect structure 230), and back through the substrate 202(e.g., second plurality of interconnects of the substrate 202).
In another example, an electrical signal 644 may be configured to travel between the first integrated device 204 and a solder interconnect 280through the second interconnect structure 230. The electrical signal 644may be configured to travel through the substrate 202 (e.g., first plurality of interconnects of the substrate 202), through the secondinterconnect structure 230 (e.g., plurality of interconnects of thesecond interconnect structure 230), and back through the substrate 202(e.g., second plurality of interconnects of the substrate 202).
In another example, an electrical signal 646 may be configured to travel between the second integrated device 606 and a solder interconnect 680through the first interconnect structure 610. The electrical signal 646may be configured to travel through the substrate 602 (e.g., first plurality of interconnects of the substrate 602), through the firstinterconnect structure 610 (e.g., plurality of interconnects of thefirst interconnect structure 610), and back through the substrate 602(e.g., second plurality of interconnects of the substrate 602).
In another example, an electrical signal 648 may be configured to travel between the first integrated device 604 and the second integrated device606 through the first interconnect structure 610. The electrical signal648 may be configured to travel through the substrate 602 (e.g., first plurality of interconnects of the substrate 602), through the firstinterconnect structure 610 (e.g., plurality of interconnects of thefirst interconnect structure 610), and back through the substrate 602(e.g., second plurality of interconnects of the substrate 602).
The paths taken by the various electrical signals may be similar to the electrical paths described in FIG. 3. However, it is noted that the paths of the electrical signals shown in the disclosure are exemplary and/or conceptual. Different implementations may use different paths forthe electrical signals. Moreover, electrical signals and/or electrical paths may travel through different types of interconnects (e.g., vias,traces, pads, pillars), solder interconnects and/or components (e.g.,passive devices). Thus, for example, an electrical signal traveling between an integrated device and an interconnect structure may travel through at least one intervening component (e.g., passive device,capacitor) between the integrated device and the interconnect structure.The paths shown for the electrical signals may also be applied to power and/or ground.
As mentioned above, a package may include different components and/or different numbers of components that are located over different portions of the substrate. FIG. 7 illustrates a package 700 that includes an interconnect structure. The package 700 is similar to the package 200 of FIG. 2 and includes similar components to the package 200.
The package 700 includes the first integrated device 204, the second integrated device 206, the third integrated device 704, a firstinterconnect structure 710, the second interconnect structure 230, and a passive device 706.
The package 700 is coupled to the board 290 through a plurality of pillars (e.g., copper pillars) 780. A plurality of solder interconnects760 may be used to couple the plurality of pillars 780 to the substrate202. A plurality of solder interconnects 770 may be used to couple theplurality of pillars 780 to the board 290. The first integrated device204, the third integrated device 704 and the first interconnectstructure 710 are coupled to the first surface of the substrate 202. Thefirst integrated device 204, the third integrated device 704 and thefirst interconnect structure 210 is located on the same side as theplurality of pillars 780.
The package 700 includes the first interconnect structure 710. The firstinterconnect structure 710 may be similar to the first interconnectstructure 210. FIG. 7 illustrates that the first interconnect structure710 includes at least one dielectric layer 711, a plurality of redistribution interconnects 712, the solder resist layer 214 and the solder resist layer 216. The plurality of redistribution interconnects712 may be fabricated using redistribution layers processes (e.g.,non-mSAP processes, non-SAP processes). As shown in FIG. 7, theplurality of redistribution interconnects 712 may have shapes that are different than the shapes of the interconnects 212. For example, atleast some of the plurality of redistribution interconnects 712 mayinclude a U-shape or V-shape. The terms “U-shape” and” V-shape” shall be interchangeable. The plurality of redistribution interconnects 712 mayhave similar minimum pitch and/or similar line and spacing (L/S) thanthe minimum pitch and/or L/S of the plurality of interconnects 212.Similarly, the at least one dielectric layer 711 may include similar materials as the at least one dielectric layer 211.
The first interconnect structure 710 and/or the plurality of pillars 780may be implemented in any of the packages described in the disclosure.Having described various packages with interconnect structures,processes for fabricating an interconnect structure, a substrate, and a package.
Exemplary Sequence for Fabricating a High-Density Interconnect Structure
FIG. 8 (which includes FIGS. 8A-8D) illustrates an exemplary sequence for providing or fabricating a high-density interconnect structure. In some implementations, the sequence of FIGS. 8A-8D may be used to provide or fabricate the first interconnect structure 210 of FIG. 2, or any ofthe interconnect structure described in the disclosure.
It should be noted that the sequence of FIGS. 8A-8D may combine one ormore stages in order to simplify and/or clarify the sequence for providing or fabricating the interconnect structure. In someimplementations, the order of the processes may be changed or modified.In some implementations, one or more of processes may be replaced or substituted without departing from the spirit of the disclosure.Different implementations may fabricate an interconnect structure differently.
Stage 1, as shown in FIG. 8A, illustrates a state after a carrier 800 is provided. The carrier 800 may be a substrate and/or a wafer. The carrier800 may include glass and/or silicon. The carrier 800 may be a first carrier.
Stage 2 illustrates a state after an adhesive layer 810 is disposed(e.g., formed) over the carrier 800. The adhesive layer 810 may be an adhesive film.
Stage 3 illustrates a state after a dielectric layer 820 is disposed over the adhesive layer 810. The dielectric layer 820 may include a polymer material. However, different implementations may include different materials. The dielectric layer 820 may be a passivationlayer. The dielectric layer 820 may be deposited and/or coated over the adhesive layer 810. Different implementations may use different types ofpassivation layers. The passivation layer may include PSR, SR, PID and/or ABF.
Stage 4 illustrates a state after a plurality of interconnects 822 isformed over the dielectric layer 820. The plurality of interconnects 822may include traces and/or pads. Forming the plurality of interconnects822 may include forming a seed layer, performing a lithography process,a plating process, a stripping process and/or an etching process. Stage4 may illustrate an example of forming a redistribution layer (e.g.,redistribution metal layer) for a high-density interconnect structure.The plurality of interconnects 822 may be part of the plurality ofinterconnects 212.
Stage 5 illustrates a state after the dielectric layer 830 is formed over the plurality of interconnects 822 and the dielectric layer 820.The dielectric layer 830 may be deposited and/or coated over theplurality of interconnects 822 and the dielectric layer 820. The dielectric layer 830 may include polymer. The dielectric layer 830 maybe similar to the dielectric layer 820.
Stage 6, as shown in FIG. 8B, illustrates a state after cavities 831 areformed in the dielectric layer 830. An etching process may be used to form the cavities 831.
Stage 7 illustrates a state after a plurality of interconnects 832 isformed over the dielectric layer 830. The plurality of interconnects 832may include vias, traces and/or pads. Forming the plurality ofinterconnects 832 may include forming a seed layer, performing a lithography process, a plating process, a stripping process and/or an etching process. Stage 7 may illustrate an example of forming are distribution layer (e.g., redistribution metal layer) for ahigh-density interconnect structure. The plurality of interconnects 832may be part of the plurality of interconnects 212.
Stage 8 illustrates a state after the dielectric layer 840 is formed over the plurality of interconnects 832 and the dielectric layer 830.The dielectric layer 840 may be deposited and/or coated over theplurality of interconnects 832 and the dielectric layer 830. The dielectric layer 840 may include polymer. The dielectric layer 840 maybe similar to the dielectric layer 830.
Stage 9 illustrates a state after cavities 841 are formed in the dielectric layer 840. An etching process may be used to form the cavities 841.
Stage 10 illustrates a state after a plurality of interconnects 842 isformed over the dielectric layer 840. The plurality of interconnects 842may include vias, traces and/or pads. Forming the plurality ofinterconnects 842 may include forming a seed layer, performing a lithography process, a plating process, a stripping process and/or an etching process. Stage 10 may illustrate an example of forming are distribution layer (e.g., redistribution metal layer) for ahigh-density interconnect structure. The plurality of interconnects 842may be part of the plurality of interconnects 212.
Stage 11, as shown in FIG. 8C, illustrates a state after the dielectriclayer 850 is formed over the plurality of interconnects 842 and the dielectric layer 840. The dielectric layer 850 may be deposited and/or coated over the plurality of interconnects 842 and the dielectric layer840. The dielectric layer 850 may include polymer. The dielectric layer850 may be similar to the dielectric layer 840.
Stage 12 illustrates a state after cavities 851 are formed in the dielectric layer 850. An etching process may be used to form the cavities 851.
Stage 13 illustrates a state after a plurality of interconnects 852 isformed over the dielectric layer 850. The plurality of interconnects 852may include vias, traces and/or pads. Forming the plurality ofinterconnects 852 may include forming a seed layer, performing a lithography process, a plating process, a stripping process and/or an etching process. Stage 13 may illustrate an example of forming are distribution layer (e.g., redistribution metal layer) for ahigh-density interconnect structure. The plurality of interconnects 852may be part of the plurality of interconnects 212.
Stage 14 illustrates a state after the carrier 800 and the adhesive 801are decoupled (e.g., removed) from the dielectric layer 211. The dielectric layer 211 may represent the dielectric layer 820, the dielectric layer 830, the dielectric layer 840, and/or the dielectriclayer 850. The plurality of interconnects 212 may represent theplurality of interconnects 822, 832, 842 and/or 852.
Stage 15, as shown in FIG. 8D, illustrates a state after the first solder resist layer 214 and the second solder resist layer 216 areformed over the first interconnect structure 210 (e.g., high density interconnect structure).
Stage 16 illustrates a state after the plurality of solder interconnects250 is coupled to the first interconnect structure 210. Stages 15 and 16may illustrate an example of the first interconnect structure 210 as described in FIG. 2. In some implementations, the first interconnectstructure 210 is part of a wafer, and singulation may be performed to cut the wafer into individual interconnect structures. When a SAP process or a mSAP process is used to fabricate the interconnectstructure (e.g., 210), the thickness of each of the dielectric layers(e.g., 820, 830, 840) may be approximately 20-25 micrometers (μm), andthe thickness of each of the metal layers (on which interconnects areformed) may be approximately 15 micrometers (μm). In someimplementations, the plurality of interconnects 212 may include redistribution interconnects that include a U-shape interconnect or aV-shape interconnect. In some implementations, the sequence of FIGS.8A-8D may be used to fabricate the first interconnect structure 710 thatincludes the plurality of redistribution interconnects 712, where atleast some of the redistribution interconnects include a U-shape interconnect or a V-shape interconnect. The terms “U-shape” and“V-shape” may refer to the side profile shape of the interconnect sand/or redistribution interconnects. The U-shape interconnect and theV-shape interconnect may have a top portion and a bottom portion. A bottom portion of a U-shape interconnect (or a V-shape interconnect) maybe coupled to a top portion of another U-shape interconnect (or aV-shape interconnect). When a redistribution layer (RDL) fabrication process is used to fabricate the interconnect structure (e.g., 710), the thickness of each of the dielectric layers (e.g., 820, 830, 840) may be approximately 5-10 micrometers (μm), and the thickness of each of there distribution metal layers (on which redistribution interconnects areformed) may be approximately 5-10 micrometers (μm).
Exemplary Flow Diagram of a Method for Fabricating a High-Density Interconnect Structure
In some implementations, fabricating a package that includes a high density interconnect structure includes several processes. FIG. 9illustrates an exemplary flow diagram of a method 900 for providing orfabricating a high-density interconnect structure. In someimplementations, the method 900 of FIG. 9 may be used to provide orfabricate the high-density interconnect structure (e.g., 210, 230, 710)of FIGS. 2 and/or 7 described in the disclosure. However, the method 900may be used to provide or fabricate any of the interconnect structures described in the disclosure.
It should be noted that the method of FIG. 9 may combine one or more processes in order to simplify and/or clarify the method for providing or fabricating an interconnect structure. In some implementations, the order of the processes may be changed or modified. FIG. 9 will be described in terms of fabricating redistribution interconnects. However,the method of FIG. 9 may be used to fabricate any type of interconnect.
The method provides (at 905) a carrier (e.g., 800). The carrier mayinclude an adhesive layer 810 that is disposed over the carrier. The carrier 800 may be a substrate and/or a wafer. The carrier 800 mayinclude glass and/or silicon. The adhesive layer 810 may be an adhesive film. Stages 1 and 2 of FIG. 8A illustrate an example of a carrier with and adhesive layer disposed over the carrier.
The method forms (at 910) a first redistribution layer by forming a dielectric layer (e.g., 820) and a plurality of interconnects 822 overthe carrier and the adhesive. The dielectric layer may include a polymer. Forming the dielectric layer and the plurality of interconnects may include disposing (e.g., depositing, coating) a dielectric layer 820over the adhesive layer 810, forming a seed layer, performing a lithography process, performing a plating process, performing a stripping process and/or performing an etching process. Stages 3-4 of FIG. 8A, illustrate an example of forming a first redistribution layer(e.g., redistribution metal layer) for a high-density interconnectstructure.
The method forms (at 915) a second redistribution layer by forming a dielectric layer (e.g., 830) and a plurality of interconnects 832 overthe first redistribution layer. The dielectric layer may include a polymer. Forming the dielectric layer and the plurality of interconnects may include disposing a dielectric layer 830 over the dielectric layer820 and the interconnects 822, forming a seed layer, performing a lithography process, performing a plating process, performing a stripping process and/or performing an etching process. Stages 5-7 of FIGS. 8A-8B, illustrate an example of forming a second redistribution layer (e.g., redistribution metal layer) for a high-density interconnectstructure.
The method forms (at 920) additional redistribution layer(s) by forming one or more dielectric layers (e.g., 840, 850) and a plurality ofinterconnects (e.g., 842, 852) over the second redistribution layer. The dielectric layer may include a polymer. Forming the dielectric layer andthe plurality of interconnects may include disposing one or more dielectric layers (e.g., 840, 850) over the dielectric layer 830 and the interconnects 832, forming a seed layer, performing a lithography process, performing a plating process, performing a stripping process and/or performing an etching process. Stages 8-13 of FIGS. 8B-8C,illustrate an example of forming additional redistribution layers (e.g.,redistribution metal layer) for a high-density interconnect structure.
The method decouples (at 925) the carrier (e.g., 800) and the adhesive(e.g., 810) from a dielectric layer (e.g., 820). Stage 14 of FIG. 8Cillustrates an example of the carrier and the adhesive being decoupledfrom a dielectric layer.
The method forms (at 930) a first solder resist layer (e.g., 214) and asecond solder resist layer (e.g., 216) over the dielectric layer of theinterconnect structure (e.g., 210). Stage 15 of FIG. 8D, illustrates an example of solder resist layers formed over a dielectric layer of an interconnect structure.
The method couples (at 935) a plurality of solder interconnects (e.g.,250) is coupled to the interconnect structure (e.g., 210). Stage 16 of FIG. 8D may illustrate an example of solder interconnects coupled to an interconnect structure.
In some implementations, the first interconnect structure 210 is part ofa wafer, and singulation may be performed to cut the wafer into individual interconnect structures. The method 900 may be used tofabricate an interconnect structure that includes the plurality ofinterconnects 212 and/or the plurality of redistribution interconnects712.
Exemplary a Sequence for Fabricating a Substrate
In some implementations, fabricating a substrate includes several processes. FIG. 10 (which includes FIGS. 10A-10C) illustrates an exemplary sequence for providing or fabricating a substrate. In someimplementations, the sequence of FIGS. 10A-10C may be used to provide orfabricate the substrate 202 of FIG. 2. However, the process of FIG. 10may be used to fabricate any of the substrates described in the disclosure.
It should be noted that the sequence of FIGS. 10A-10C may combine one ormore stages in order to simplify and/or clarify the sequence for providing or fabricating a substrate. In some implementations, the order of the processes may be changed or modified. In some implementations,one or more of processes may be replaced or substituted without departing from the spirit of the disclosure.
Stage 1, as shown in FIG. 10A, illustrates a state after a carrier 1000is provided and a metal layer is formed over the carrier 1000. The metal layer may be patterned to form interconnects 1002. A plating process and etching process may be used to form the metal layer and interconnects.
Stage 2 illustrates a state after a dielectric layer 1020 is formed overthe carrier 1000 and the interconnects 1002. The dielectric layer 1020may include polyimide. However, different implementations may use different materials for the dielectric layer.
Stage 3 illustrates a state after a plurality of cavities 1010 is formed in the dielectric layer 1020. The plurality of cavities 1010 may be formed using an etching process (e.g., photo etching process) or laser process.
Stage 4 illustrates a state after interconnects 1012 are formed in andover the dielectric layer 1020. For example, a via, pad and/or traces may be formed. A plating process may be used to form the interconnects.
Stage 5 illustrates a state after another dielectric layer 1022 isformed over the dielectric layer 1020. The dielectric layer 1022 may bethe same material as the dielectric layer 1020. However, different implementations may use different materials for the dielectric layer.
Stage 6, as shown in FIG. 10B, illustrates a state after a plurality of cavities 1030 is formed in the dielectric layer 1022. An etching processor laser process may be used to form the cavities 1030.
Stage 7 illustrates a state after interconnects 1014 are formed in andover the dielectric layer 1022. For example, via, pad and/or trace maybe formed. A plating process may be used to form the interconnects.
Stage 8 illustrates a state after another dielectric layer 1024 isformed over the dielectric layer 1022. The dielectric layer 1024 may bethe same material as the dielectric layer 1020. However, different implementations may use different materials for the dielectric layer.
Stage 9 illustrates a state after a plurality of cavities 1040 is formed in the dielectric layer 1024. An etching process or laser process may beused to form the cavities 1040.
Stage 10, as shown in FIG. 10C, illustrates a state after interconnects1016 are formed in and over the dielectric layer 1024. For example, via,pad and/or trace may be formed. A plating process may be used to form the interconnects.
Some or all of the interconnects 1002, 1012, 1014 and/or 1016 may define the plurality of interconnects 222 of the substrate 202. The dielectric layers 1020, 1022, 1024 may be represented by the at least one dielectric layer 220.
Stage 11 illustrates a state after the carrier 1000 is decoupled (e.g.,removed, grinded out) from the dielectric layer 220, leaving thesubstrate 202.
Stage 12 illustrates a state after the first solder resist layer 224 andthe second solder resist layer 226 are formed over the substrate 202.
Different implementations may use different processes for forming the metal layer(s). In some implementations, a chemical vapor deposition(CVD) process and/or a physical vapor deposition (PVD) process for forming the metal layer(s). For example, a sputtering process, a spray coating process, and/or a plating process may be used to form the metal layer(s).
Exemplary Flow Diagram of a Method for Fabricating a Substrate
In some implementations, fabricating a substrate includes several processes. FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary flow diagram of a method1100 for providing or fabricating a substrate. In some implementations,the method 1100 of FIG. 11 may be used to provide or fabricate thesubstrate of FIG. 2. For example, the method of FIG. 11 may be used tofabricate the substrate 202.
It should be noted that the method of FIG. 11 may combine one or more processes in order to simplify and/or clarify the method for providing or fabricating a substrate. In some implementations, the order of the processes may be changed or modified.
The method provides (at 1105) a carrier 1000. Different implementations may use different materials for the carrier. The carrier may include a substrate, glass, quartz and/or carrier tape. Stage 1 of FIG. 10Aillustrates a state after a carrier is provided.
The method forms (at 1110) a metal layer over the carrier 1000. The metal layer may be patterned to form interconnects. A plating process may be used to form the metal layer and interconnects. Stage 1 of FIG.10A illustrates a state after a metal layer and interconnects 1002 areformed.
The method forms (at 1115) a dielectric layer 1020 over the carrier 1000and the interconnects 1002. The dielectric layer 1020 may includepolyimide. Forming the dielectric layer may also include forming aplurality of cavities (e.g., 1010) in the dielectric layer 1020. Theplurality of cavities may be formed using an etching process (e.g.,photo etching) or laser process. Stages 2-3 of FIG. 10A illustrate forming a dielectric layer and cavities in the dielectric layer.
The method forms (at 1120) interconnects in and over the dielectriclayer. For example, the interconnects 1012 may be formed in and over the dielectric layer 1020. A plating process may be used to form the interconnects. Forming interconnects may include providing a patterned metal layer over and/or in the dielectric layer. Stage 4 of FIG. 10Aillustrates an example of forming interconnects in and over a dielectriclayer.
The method forms (at 1125) a dielectric layer 1022 over the dielectriclayer 1020 and the interconnects. The dielectric layer 1022 may includepolyimide. Forming the dielectric layer may also include forming aplurality of cavities (e.g., 1030) in the dielectric layer 1022. Theplurality of cavities may be formed using an etching process or laser process. Stages 5-6 of FIGS. 10A-10B illustrate forming a dielectriclayer and cavities in the dielectric layer.
The method forms (at 1130) interconnects in and/or over the dielectriclayer. For example, the interconnects 1014 may be formed. A plating process may be used to form the interconnects. Forming interconnects mayinclude providing a patterned metal layer over an in the dielectriclayer. Stage 7 of FIG. 10B illustrates an example of forming interconnects in and over a dielectric layer.
The method may form additional dielectric layer(s) and additional interconnects as described at 1125 and 1130. Stages 8-10 of FIG. 10B-10Cillustrate an example of forming interconnects in and over a dielectriclayer.
Once all the dielectric layer(s) and additional interconnects areformed, the method may decouple (e.g., remove, grind out) the carrier(e.g., 1000) from the dielectric layer 1020, leaving the substrate. In some implementations, the method may form solder resist layers (e.g.,224, 226) over the substrate.
Different implementations may use different processes for forming the metal layer(s). In some implementations, a chemical vapor deposition(CVD) process and/or a physical vapor deposition (PVD) process for forming the metal layer(s). For example, a sputtering process, a spray coating process, and/or a plating process may be used to form the metal layer(s).
Exemplary Sequence for Fabricating a Package That Includes aHigh-Density Interconnect Structure Coupled to a Substrate
FIG. 12 (which includes FIGS. 12A-12B) illustrates an exemplary sequence for providing or fabricating a package that includes a high-density interconnect structure coupled to a substrate. In some implementations,the sequence of FIGS. 12A-12B may be used to provide or fabricate the package 200 that includes the substrate 202 and the first interconnectstructure 210 of FIG. 2, or any of the packages described in the disclosure.
It should be noted that the sequence of FIGS. 12A-12B may combine one ormore stages in order to simplify and/or clarify the sequence for providing or fabricating the package. In some implementations, the order of the processes may be changed or modified. In some implementations,one or more of processes may be replaced or substituted without departing from the spirit of the disclosure. The sequence of FIGS.12A-12B may be used to fabricate one package or several packages at atime (as part of a wafer).
Stage 1, as shown in FIG. 12A, illustrates a state after the substrate202 is provided. The substrate 202 may be provided by a supplier or fabricated. A process similar to the process shown in FIGS. 10A-10C maybe used to fabricate the substrate 202. However, different implementations may use different processes to fabricate the substrate202. Examples of processes that may be used to fabricate the substrate202 include a semi-additive process (SAP) and a modified semi-additive process (mSAP). The substrate 202 includes at least one dielectric layer220, and a plurality of interconnects 222.
Stage 2 illustrates a state after the first integrated device 204 iscoupled to a first surface (e.g., bottom surface) of the substrate 202.The first integrated device 204 is coupled to the substrate 202 throughthe plurality of interconnects 240. The plurality of interconnects 240may be coupled to interconnects from the plurality of interconnects 222of the substrate 202. The first integrated device 204 may be coupled tothe substrate 202 such that the front side (e.g., active side) of thefirst integrated device 204 is facing the substrate 202.
Stage 3 illustrates a state after an underfill 242 is provided betweenthe substrate 202 and the first integrated device 204.
Stage 4 illustrates a state after the first interconnect structure 210is coupled to the first surface of the substrate 202. The firstinterconnect structure 210 may be coupled to the substrate 202 through aplurality of solder interconnects.
Stage 5 illustrates a state after the plurality of solder interconnects280 is coupled to the first surface of the substrate 202. The plurality of solder interconnects 280 may be coupled to interconnects from theplurality of interconnects 222 of the substrate 202.
Stage 6, as shown in FIG. 12B, illustrates a state after the substrate202 with the first integrated device 204, the first interconnectstructure 210 and the plurality of solder interconnects 280, are flipped.
Stage 7 illustrates a state after several components are coupled to asecond surface (e.g., top surface) of the substrate 202. For example,the second integrated device 206 and the second interconnect structure230 are coupled to the second surface of the substrate 202.
Stage 8 illustrates a state after the encapsulation layer 208 is formed over the second surface of the substrate 202 such that the encapsulation layer 208 encapsulates the second integrated device 206 and the secondinterconnect structure 230. The process of forming and/or disposing the encapsulation layer 208 may include using a compression and transfer molding process, a sheet molding process, or a liquid molding process.Stage 8 may illustrate the package 200 that includes the substrate 202,the first integrated device 204, the first interconnect structure 210,the second integrated device 206, the second interconnect structure 230,and the encapsulation layer 208.
The packages (e.g., 200, 600, 700) described in the disclosure may be fabricated one at a time or may be fabricated together as part of one ormore wafers and then singulated into individual packages.
Exemplary Flow Diagram of a Method for Fabricating a Package That Includes a High-Density Interconnect Structure Coupled to a Substrate
In some implementations, fabricating a package that includes ahigh-density interconnect structure coupled to a substrate includes several processes. FIG. 13 illustrates an exemplary flow diagram of a method 1300 for providing or fabricating a package that includes ahigh-density interconnect structure coupled to a substrate. In someimplementations, the method 1300 of FIG. 13 may be used to provide orfabricate the package 200 of FIG. 2 described in the disclosure.However, the method 1300 may be used to provide or fabricate any of the packages described in the disclosure.
It should be noted that the method of FIG. 13 may combine one or more processes in order to simplify and/or clarify the method for providing or fabricating a package that includes a high-density interconnectstructure coupled to a substrate. In some implementations, the order ofthe processes may be changed or modified.
The method provides (at 1305) a substrate (e.g., 202). The substrate 202may be provided by a supplier or fabricated. The substrate 202 includes a first surface and a second surface. The substrate 202 includes atleast one dielectric layer 220 and a plurality of interconnects 222.Different implementations may provide different substrates. A process similar to the process shown in FIGS. 10A-10C may be used to fabricatethe substrate 202. However, different implementations may use different processes to fabricate the substrate 202. Stage 1 of FIG. 12Aillustrates and describes an example of providing a substrate.
The method couples (at 1310) the first integrated device (e.g., 204) andthe first interconnect structure (e.g., 210) to the first surface of thesubstrate (e.g., 202). The first integrated device 204 may be coupled tothe substrate 202 through the plurality of interconnects 240. Theplurality of interconnects 240 may be coupled to interconnects from theplurality of interconnects 222 of the substrate 202. The firstintegrated device 204 may be coupled to the substrate 202 such that the front side (e.g., active side) of the first integrated device 204 is facing the substrate 202. As an example, the integrated device 204 andthe interconnect structure 210 may be coupled to the substrate 202 sothat the integrated device, the interconnect structure, and thesubstrate are coupled together in such a way that when a firstelectrical signal travels between the integrated device and a board(e.g., 290), the first electrical signal travels through the substrate202, then through the interconnect structure 210 and back through thesubstrate 202. Stages 2-4 of FIG. 12A illustrate and describes an example of an integrated device and an interconnect structure being coupled to a substrate. Coupling the integrated device to the substrate may also include providing an under fill (e.g., 242) between the firstintegrated device 204 and the substrate 202. Stage 3 of FIG. 12Aillustrates and describes an underfill being provided.
The method couples (at 1315) a plurality of solder interconnects (e.g.,280) to the first surface of the substrate (e.g., 202). Stage 5 of FIG.12A, illustrates and describes an example of coupling solder interconnects to the substrate.
The method couples (at 1320) components to a second surface of thesubstrate 202. Different implementations may couple different components and/or different number of components. Components can include the second integrated device 206, the second interconnect structure 230, and the passive device 706. In some implementations, the substrate may be flipped prior to the components being coupled to the substrate. Stage 7of FIG. 12B, illustrates and describes various components being coupled to the second surface of the substrate.
The method forms (at 1325) an encapsulation layer (e.g., 208) over thesecond surface of the substrate (e.g., 202) such that the encapsulation layer 208 encapsulates the second integrated device 206 and the secondinterconnect structure 230. The process of forming and/or disposing the encapsulation layer 208 may include using a compression and transfer molding process, a sheet molding process, or a liquid molding process.Stage 8 of FIG. 12B, illustrates and describes an example of an encapsulation layer that is located over the substrate and encapsulatesthe integrated device.
Exemplary Electronic Devices
FIG. 14 illustrates various electronic devices that may be integrated with any of the aforementioned device, integrated device, integrated circuit (IC) package, integrated circuit (IC) device, semiconductor device, integrated circuit, die, inter poser, package, package-on-package(PoP), System in Package (SiP), or System on Chip (SoC). For example, a mobile phone device 1402, a laptop computer device 1404, a fixed location terminal device 1406, a wearable device 1408, or automotive vehicle 1410 may include a device 1400 as described herein. The device1400 may be, for example, any of the devices and/or integrated circuit(IC) packages described herein. The devices 1402, 1404, 1406 and 1408and the vehicle 1410 illustrated in FIG. 14 are merely exemplary. Other electronic devices may also feature the device 1400 including, but not limited to, a group of devices (e.g., electronic devices) that includes mobile devices, hand-held personal communication systems (PCS) units,portable data units such as personal digital assistants, global positioning system (GPS) enabled devices, navigation devices, set top boxes, music players, video players, entertainment units, fixed location data units such as meter reading equipment, communications devices,smartphones, tablet computers, computers, wearable devices (e.g.,watches, glasses), Internet of things (IoT) devices, servers, routers,electronic devices implemented in automotive vehicles (e.g., autonomous vehicles), or any other device that stores or retrieves data or computer instructions, or any combination thereof.
One or more of the components, processes, features, and/or functions illustrated in FIGS. 2-7, 8A-8D, 9, 10A-10C, 11, 12A-12B, and/or 13-14may be rearranged and/or combined into a single component, process,feature or function or embodied in several components, processes, or functions. Additional elements, components, processes, and/or functions may also be added without departing from the disclosure. It should also be noted FIGS. 2-7, 8A-8D, 9, 10A-10C, 11, 12A-12B, and/or 13-14 and its corresponding description in the present disclosure is not limited to dies and/or ICs. In some implementations, FIGS. 2-7, 8A-8D, 9, 10A-10C,11, 12A-12B, and/or 13-14 and its corresponding description may be usedto manufacture, create, provide, and/or produce devices and/or integrated devices. In some implementations, a device may include a die,an integrated device, an integrated passive device (IPD), a die package,an integrated circuit (IC) device, a device package, an integrated circuit (IC) package, a wafer, a semiconductor device, a package-on-package (PoP) device, a heat dissipating device and/or an inter poser.
It is noted that the figures in the disclosure may represent actual representations and/or conceptual representations of various parts,components, objects, devices, packages, integrated devices, integrated circuits, and/or transistors. In some instances, the figures may not beto scale. In some instances, for purpose of clarity, not all components and/or parts may be shown. In some instances, the position, the location, the sizes, and/or the shapes of various parts and/or components in the figures may be exemplary. In some implementations,various components and/or parts in the figures may be optional.
The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example,instance, or illustration.” Any implementation or aspect described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects of the disclosure. Likewise, the term“aspects” does not require that all aspects of the disclosure include the discussed feature, advantage or mode of operation. The term“coupled” is used herein to refer to the direct or indirect coupling between two objects. For example, if object A physically touches object B, and object B touches object C, then objects A and C may still be considered coupled to one another—even if they do not directly physically touch each other. The term “electrically coupled” may mean that two objects are directly or indirectly coupled together such that an electrical current (e.g., signal, power, ground) may travel betweenthe two objects. Two objects that are electrically coupled may or maynot have an electrical current traveling between the two objects. The term “encapsulating” means that the object may partially encapsulate or completely encapsulate another object. It is further noted that the term“over” as used in the present application in the context of one component located over another component, may be used to mean a component that is on another component and/or in another component(e.g., on a surface of a component or embedded in a component). Thus,for example, a first component that is over the second component may mean that (1) the first component is over the second component, but not directly touching the second component, (2) the first component is on(e.g., on a surface of) the second component, and/or (3) the first component is in (e.g., embedded in) the second component. The term“about ‘value X’”, or “approximately value X”, as used in the disclosure means within 10 percent of the ‘value X’. For example, a value of about1 or approximately 1, would mean a value in a range of 0.9-1.1.
In some implementations, an interconnect is an element or component of a device or package that allows or facilitates an electrical connection between two points, elements and/or components. In some implementations,an interconnect may include a trace, a via, a pad, a pillar, are distribution metal layer, and/or an under bump metallization (UBM)layer. An interconnect may include one or more metal components (e.g.,seed layer+metal layer). In some implementations, an interconnect is an electrically conductive material that may be configured to provide an electrical path for a signal (e.g., a data signal, ground or power). An interconnect may be part of a circuit. An interconnect may include morethan one element or component. An interconnect may be defined by one ormore interconnects. Different implementations may use similar or different processes to form the interconnects. In some implementations,a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process and/or a physical vapor deposition (PVD) process for forming the interconnects. For example, asputtering process, a spray coating, and/or a plating process may beused to form the interconnects.
Also, it is noted that various disclosures contained herein may be described as a process that is depicted as a flowchart, a flow diagram,a structure diagram, or a block diagram. Although a flowchart may describe the operations as a sequential process, many of the operations can be performed in parallel or concurrently. In addition, the order ofthe operations may be re-arranged. A process is terminated when its operations are completed.
The various features of the disclosure described herein can be implemented in different systems without departing from the disclosure.It should be noted that the foregoing aspects of the disclosure are merely examples and are not to be construed as limiting the disclosure.The description of the aspects of the present disclosure is intended tobe illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims. As such, the present teachings can be readily applied to other types of apparatusesand many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
In the following, several non-limiting examples are given for facilitating understanding the present disclosure.
A package comprising a substrate comprising a first surface and a second surface, wherein the substrate further comprises a plurality ofinterconnects for providing electrical connections to a board; an electronic circuit (which may include an integrated device and/or be formed in an integrated device) coupled to the first surface or thesecond surface of the substrate or integrated into the substrate; and an interconnect structure coupled to the first surface of the substrate,wherein the electronic circuit, the interconnect structure and thesubstrate are coupled together in such a way that when a firstelectrical signal travels between the electronic circuit and a board,the first electrical signal travels through at least the substrate, then through the interconnect structure and back through the substrate. The interconnect structure may provide at least one electrical path (or electrical connection) between a first electrical contact provided bythe substrate and a second electrical contact provided by the substrate,where the first contact is electrically connected to the electronic circuit and wherein the second contact is electrically connected to one or more of the interconnects.
A package comprising a substrate comprising a first surface and a second surface, wherein the substrate further comprises a plurality ofinterconnects for providing electrical connections between two integrated devices; a first electronic circuit (which may include an integrated device and/or be formed in an integrated device) coupled tothe first surface or the second surface of the substrate or integrated into the substrate; a second electronic circuit (which may include an integrated device and/or be formed in an integrated device); and an interconnect structure coupled to the first surface of the substrate,wherein the electronic circuit, the interconnect structure and thesubstrate are coupled together in such a way that when a firstelectrical signal travels between the electronic circuit (e.g., firstintegrated device) and another electronic circuit (e.g., second integrated device), the first electrical signal travels through at least the substrate, then through the interconnect structure and back throughthe substrate. The interconnect structure may provide at least one electrical path (or electrical connection) between a first electrical contact provided by the substrate and a second electrical contact provided by the substrate, where the first contact is electrically connected to the electronic circuit and wherein the second contact is electrically connected to one or more of the interconnects.
An apparatus comprising a substrate comprising a first surface and asecond surface, wherein the substrate further comprises a plurality ofinterconnects for providing electrical connections to a board; an electronic circuit (which may include an integrated device and/or be formed in an integrated device) coupled to the first surface or thesecond surface of the substrate or integrated into the substrate; and means for interconnect redistribution coupled to the first surface ofthe substrate, wherein the electronic circuit, the means for interconnect redistribution and the substrate are coupled together in such a way that when a first electrical signal travels between the electronic circuit and a board, the first electrical signal travels through at least the substrate, then through the means for interconnect redistribution and back through the substrate. The interconnectstructure may provide at least one electrical path (or electrical connection) between a first electrical contact provided by the substrate and a second electrical contact provided by the substrate, where thefirst contact is electrically connected to the electronic circuit and wherein the second contact is electrically connected to one or more ofthe interconnects.
A method for fabricating a package, comprising providing a substrate comprising a first surface and a second surface, wherein the substrate further comprises a plurality of interconnects for providing electrical connections to a board; coupling an electronic circuit to the first surface or the second surface of the substrate or integrated into thesubstrate; and coupling an interconnect structure to the first surface of the substrate, wherein the electronic circuit, the interconnectstructure, and the substrate are coupled together in such a way that when a first electrical signal travels between the electronic circuit and a board, the first electrical signal travels through at least thesubstrate, then through the interconnect structure and back through thesubstrate. The interconnect structure may provide at least one electrical path (or electrical connection) between a first electrical contact provided by the substrate and a second electrical contact provided by the substrate, where the first contact is electrically connected to the electronic circuit and wherein the second contact is electrically connected to one or more of the interconnects.
1. A package comprising: a substrate comprising a plurality of first interconnects and a plurality of second interconnects, the plurality of second interconnects located on a first surface of the substrate and configured to electrically couple the substrate to a board or to asecond substrate; an integrated device coupled to the substrate; and an interconnect structure coupled to the substrate, wherein the integrateddevice and the interconnect structure are located laterally to theplurality of second interconnects and located on the first surface ofthe substrate, wherein the integrated device, the interconnect structure and the substrate provide an electrical path from the integrated device to the substrate, from the substrate to the interconnect structure, and from the interconnect structure back to the substrate for a firstelectrical signal of the integrated device.
2. The package of claim 1,wherein the plurality of first interconnects of the substrate comprises a first minimum pitch, and wherein the interconnect structure comprises a plurality of third interconnects having a second minimum pitch that is less than the first minimum pitch.
3. The package of claim 1, wherein the interconnect structure comprises at least one dielectric layer and aplurality of redistribution interconnects.
4. The package of claim 1,wherein the interconnect structure comprises another substrate having aplurality of fourth interconnects.
5. The package of claim 1, wherein the integrated device is configured to perform a first function and asecond function, and wherein the first function is configured to send the first electrical signal through the electrical path from theintegrated device, through the substrate, then through the interconnectstructure, and back through the substrate.
6. The package of claim 5,wherein the second function is associated with a second electrical path for a second electrical signal, the second electrical path from theintegrated device, through the substrate, then through the interconnectstructure, and back through the substrate.
7. The package of claim 5,wherein the second function is associated with a second electrical path for a second electrical signal, the second electrical path from theintegrated device, through the substrate, and wherein the second electrical path bypasses the interconnect structure.
8. The package of claim 1, wherein the package is coupled to the board such that theintegrated device and the interconnect structure are located between thesubstrate and the board.
9. The package of claim 8, wherein the package is part of a package on package (PoP).
10. (canceled)
11. The package of claim 1, further comprising a second integrated device coupled to asecond surface of the substrate, and a second interconnect structure coupled to a second surface of the substrate.
12. The package of claim1, wherein the package is incorporated into a device selected from a group consisting of a music player, a video player, an entertainment unit, a navigation device, a communications device, a mobile device, a mobile phone, a smartphone, a personal digital assistant, a fixed location terminal, a tablet computer, a computer, a wearable device, a laptop computer, a server, an internet of things (IoT) device, and a device in an automotive vehicle.
13. An apparatus comprising: a substrate comprising a plurality of interconnects and a plurality of second interconnects, the plurality of second interconnects located on a first surface of the substrate and configured to electrically couple thesubstrate to a board or to a second substrate; an integrated device coupled to the substrate; and means for interconnect redistribution coupled to a surface of the substrate, wherein the integrated device andthe means for interconnect redistribution are located laterally to theplurality of second interconnects and located on the first surface ofthe substrate, wherein the integrated device, the means for interconnect redistribution and the substrate provide an electrical path from theintegrated device to the substrate, from the substrate to the means for interconnect redistribution, and from the means for interconnect redistribution back to the substrate for a first electrical signal ofthe integrated device.
14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein theplurality of first interconnects of the substrate comprises a first minimum pitch, and wherein the means for interconnect redistribution comprises a plurality of third interconnects having a second minimum pitch that is less than the first minimum pitch.
15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the means for interconnect redistribution comprises atleast one dielectric layer and a plurality of redistribution interconnects.
16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the means for interconnect redistribution comprises another substrate having aplurality of fourth interconnects.
17. The apparatus of claim 13,wherein the integrated device is configured to perform a first function and a second function, and wherein the first function is configured to send the first electrical signal through the electrical path from theintegrated device, through the substrate, then through the means for interconnect redistribution, and back through the substrate.
18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the second function is associated with asecond electrical path for a second electrical signal, the second electrical path from the integrated device, through the substrate, then through the means for interconnect redistribution, and back through thesubstrate.
19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the second function is associated with a second electrical path for a second electrical signal,the second electrical path from the integrated device, through thesubstrate, and wherein the second electrical signal path bypasses the means for interconnect redistribution.
20. The apparatus of claim 13,wherein the apparatus is incorporated into a device selected from a group consisting of a music player, a video player, an entertainment unit, a navigation device, a communications device, a mobile device, a mobile phone, a smartphone, a personal digital assistant, a fixed location terminal, a tablet computer, a computer, a wearable device, a laptop computer, a server, an internet of things (IoT) device, and a device in an automotive vehicle.
21. A method for fabricating a package,comprising: providing a substrate comprising a plurality ofinterconnects and a plurality of second interconnects, the plurality of second interconnects located on a first surface of the substrate and configured to electrically couple the substrate to a board or to asecond substrate; coupling an integrated device to the substrate; and coupling an interconnect structure to of the substrate, wherein theintegrated device and the interconnect structure are located laterallyto the plurality of second interconnects and located on the first surface of the substrate, wherein the integrated device, theinterconnect structure, and the substrate provide an electrical path from the integrated device to the substrate, from the substrate to theinterconnect structure, and from the interconnect structure back to thesubstrate for a first electrical signal of the integrated device. 22.The method of claim 21, wherein the plurality of first interconnects ofthe substrate comprises a first minimum pitch, and wherein theinterconnect structure comprises a plurality of third interconnect shaving a second minimum pitch that is less than the first minimum pitch.23. The method of claim 21, wherein the interconnect structure comprises at least one dielectric layer and a plurality of redistribution interconnects.
24. The method of claim 21, wherein the interconnectstructure comprises another substrate having a plurality ofinterconnects.
25. The method of claim 21, wherein the integrated device is configured to perform a first function and a second function, and wherein the first function is configured to send the first electrical signal through the electrical path from the integrated device, throughthe substrate, then through the interconnect structure, and back throughthe substrate.
26. The method of claim 25, wherein the second function is associated with a second electrical path for a second electrical signal, the second electrical path from the integrated device, throughthe substrate, then through the interconnect structure, and back throughthe substrate.
27. The method of claim 25, wherein the second function is associated with a second electrical path for a second electrical signal, the second electrical path from the integrated device, throughthe substrate, and wherein the second electrical path bypasses theinterconnect structure.
28. The package of claim 1, further comprising a third integrated device coupled to the surface of the second substrate;and a third interconnect structure coupled to the surface of the second substrate.
|
#include "desktop_client.h"
desktop_client::desktop_client()
{
base_path = "user/results_desktop/";
path = "user/results";
}
void desktop_client::execute()
{
auto funct = fetch_function(results["method"]);
results["completed"] = funct();
}
void desktop_client::on_execute()
{
send_results(results["id"], path_on_method, file_name);
}
void desktop_client::run(
std::string id,
bool response,
std::string method,
std::vector<std::string> args
) {
base_task::run(id, response, method, args);
}
_function desktop_client::fetch_function(std::string _function_name)
{
if (_function_name == "desktop_capture")
return std::bind(
&desktop_client::desktop_capture,
this
);
return _function();
}
bool desktop_client::desktop_capture()
{
HWND hwndDesktop = GetDesktopWindow();
file_name = hyz::rand2str("", ".jpg");
cv::Mat src = hyz::hwnd2mat(hwndDesktop);
if(cv::imwrite(file_name, src))
return true;
return false;
}
|
swarms have acam dated little
store, they resolve, rather then starve, to pluncer their weaker neighbours, who Lave plenty oi tohey. When you see Lees c; caging about the door of a hue and the bees cf the hive enrie ourirg to seize them a» they slight; and when you see them struggling and battling before the door of a hive; you may be sure t a? robber a are
|
Wikipedia:WikiProject Spam/Local/quicktech.biz
Links
* quicktech.biz resolves to [//<IP_ADDRESS> <IP_ADDRESS>]
* Link is not on the blacklist.
* Link is not on the domainredlist.
* Link is not on the Monitorlist.
* None of the mentioned users is on the blacklist.
* Link is not on the whitelist.
* Link is not on the monitor list.
* Link is not on the whitelist.
* Link is not on the monitor list.
Selected additions
* Displayed 5 additions out of 5 total. For more info see WikiProject_Spam/LinkReports/quicktech.biz
Entry
Log entry for the MediaWiki:Spam-blacklist:
\bquicktech\.biz\b # ADMINNAME # see [[Wikipedia:WikiProject_Spam/Local/quicktech.biz ]]
Discussion
See COIBot report for more details.
New data reported. Autostale: very old local report (>7 days). No links left in here mentioned edits. Marked stale. --COIBot (talk) 08:56, 7 November 2014 (UTC)
|
Board Thread:Hosting Game/@comment-33307078-20180101222754/@comment-35199255-20180102163013
Thatsmuggamer wrote: I'll RNG for you. RNG ME
|
Talk:2nd GONK Summit/@comment-25244331-20180517224129/@comment-25244331-20180518091737
Us in MCS have issues all the time, and yet summits are at least 2 months apart.
|
In re Marcia E. CORNELIUS, Debtor.
Bankruptcy No. 95-60782.
United States Bankruptcy Court, N.D. New York.
Dec. 5, 1995.
Bodow, Antonueci & Fintel, L.L.P., Syracuse, New York, for Debtor; Wayne Bodow, of counsel.
Bond, Schoeneck & King, L.L.P., Syracuse, New York, for Plaza Health Care; Ellen Kulik, of counsel.
Mark Swimelar, Chapter 13 Trustee, Syracuse, New York.
MEMORANDUM-DECISION, FINDINGS OF FACT, CONCLUSIONS OF LAW AND ORDER
STEPHEN D. GERLING, Chief Judge.
The Court considers herein the objection filed by Plaza Health Care Center (“Plaza”) on June 22, 1995, to confirmation of the Chapter 13 plan of Marcia E. Cornelius (“Debtor”).filed on March 13, 1995, and subsequently modified on or about June 8, 1995. An evidentiary hearing was held on August 31,1995, in Utica, New York. At the hearing Debtor’s counsel made an oral motion pursuant to Rule 9006(c) of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure, requesting that the Court consider Debtor’s amended plan (“Amended Plan”) filed on August 29, 1995, on shortened notice. With the consent of Plaza, the Court granted Debtor’s motion, finding that the Amended Plan had been duly noticed to all creditors thereby affected.
Following testimony by the Debtor, the Court provided the parties with an opportunity to file memoranda of law. The matter was submitted for decision on October 2, 1995.
JURISDICTIONAL STATEMENT
The Court has core jurisdiction over the parties and subject matter of this contested matter pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1334,157(a), (b)(1), and (b)(2)(L).
FACTS
Debtor testified that in 1989 she and her husband, William E. Cornelius, filed a voluntary petition pursuant to Chapter 13 of the Bankruptcy Code (11 U.S.C. §§ 101-1330) (“Code”) after her husband had his leg amputated and was only able to work sporadically. In January 1991, while the Debtor was making payments pursuant to the Debtors’ 1989 Chapter 13 plan, Debtor’s husband, who had undergone an amputation of his other leg, was transferred to Plaza, where he remained until his death in March, 1994.
Plaza is a New York not-for-profit corporation which provides long term daily health and nursing care. It was Debtor’s testimony that during the first two months that her husband’s resided at Plaza he was ineligible for Medicaid benefits and between her own expenses and payments to the Chapter 13 trustee, she was without sufficient funds to pay Plaza. Debtor testified that she had not made any payments whatsoever to Plaza during the entire period that her husband resided at Plaza.
On or about April 14, 1994, Debtor sought to modify her 1989 Chapter 13 plan to include the post-petition debt owed to Plaza. On May 23,1994, the Court signed an Order denying the Debtor’s motion to modify the plan which proposed to pay a 1% dividend to Plaza. In the Order, the Court made a specific finding that the debtors’ discharge would not serve to discharge the debtors’ liability to Plaza (see Exhibit “B” of Plaza’s Objection, dated June 20,1995).
Plaza alleges that the Debtor received her discharge in the 1989 bankruptcy case on or about February 8,1995, and Debtor does not dispute the allegation. On March 13, 1995, Debtor again filed a petition (“Petition”) seeking relief pursuant to Chapter 13 of the Code (see Plaza’s Exhibit “A”). In her Petition Debtor listed only two creditors. Anchor Savings Bank (“Anchor”) was listed as holding a claim of $9,147.53, secured by the Debtor’s 1984 Redman Mobile Home. At the time of filing her Petition, Debtor was allegedly current on her payments to Anchor and the Amended Plan makes no provision for payment to Anchor. Plaza, the only unsecured creditor listed in the Debtor’s Petition, was listed as holding a disputed claim in the amount of $26,652.72.
According to the original plan filed with the Petition, Debtor proposed to make monthly payments of $352.34 over a period of 36 months for a total payment to the Trustee of $12,684.24. The original plan provided that Plaza was to receive approximately $10,-110.29, for a dividend of less than 36%. However, on June 8, 1995, the Debtor filed an Amended Schedule E, adding the unsecured priority claim of the Madison County Department of Social Services (“MCDSS”) in the amount of $1,381.44. According to the Debtor’s modified plan filed with the Amended Schedule E, MCDSS is to receive full payment of its claim, and as a result, the amount to be distributed to Plaza was reduced to $8,728.85, for a dividend of less than 31%. The Amended Plan now before the Court proposes that the Debtor lower her monthly payments to $320.00 per month, for a total payment to the Trustee of $11,520. Under the terms of the Amended Plan, Plaza will receive approximately $7,572.96, for a dividend of less than 27%.
Debtor has been employed as a registered nurse at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Syracuse, New York, for more than 22 years. According to the Petition, in 1994 she earned $45,-266.45. According to Schedule I of Debtor’s Petition, she estimates gross income of $3,566 per month or $42,792 per year. In addition, Debtor receives $429 per month in Social Security Income on behalf of her 7 year old daughter, Kathryn. Debtor lists $1,224.00 in payroll deductions on Schedule I. The biweekly payroll deductions include $70.00 deposited into the Debtor’s credit union account (“Credit Union Account”) and $24.00 deposited into Debtor’s 401k retirement plan (“401k Account”). Debtor testi-fled that neither the Credit Union Account nor the 401k Account were listed in her Petition as assets although she had provided her attorney with the pay stubs listing the deductions and deposits into the respective accounts. She also acknowledged that she has a retirement account with Prudential Insurance Company of America (“Retirement Account”) with a balance of $3,458.25, as of March 31, 1995, which also was not listed in her Petition (see Debtor’s Exhibit 23). It was the Debtor’s testimony that funds in the account are not available to her until retirement.
According to Schedule I, the Debtor’s total monthly income, after deductions, is $2,771.00. Debtor’s Schedule J lists various expenses for herself and her daughter total-ling $2,451.00. According to the Amended Petition, she proposes to make monthly payments to the Trustee of $320.00 over a period of 36 months.
Plaza objects to the confirmation of the Debtor’s Amended Plan pursuant to Code § 1307(c) and § 1325(a). Plaza contends that both the Debtor’s Petition and Amended Plan have not been filed in good faith. Plaza asserts that Debtor’s sole purpose for filing the Petition was to discharge her debt to Plaza. Accordingly, Plaza requests that the Debtor’s Petition be dismissed or in the alternative that the Debtor’s Amended Plan be denied confirmation.
Plaza argues that not only has the Debtor failed to include the Credit Union Account and the 401k Account and the Retirement Account in her Petition, but she also failed to list the life insurance proceeds she received in April, 1994, following the death of her husband. According to Debtor’s Exhibit 24, she received $7,630.12 in life insurance proceeds. In addition to paying various telephone bills incurred by her husband while a resident at Plaza, she spent approximately $2,500 in funeral expenses (see Debtor’s Exhibit 24). Debtor testified that other than the funeral expenses, she could not recall how she had spent the balance of the proceeds.
Plaza also contends that the deposits made to the Credit Union Account and the 401k Account are not reasonable and necessary for the maintenance and support of the . Debtor and her daughter and should be included in the Debtor’s disposable income as defined by Code § 1325(b)(2)(A). Plaza also questions approximately $782.00 in what it describes as “discretionary expenses” listed by the Debtor in Schedule J for home maintenance, recreation, cable television, transportation, miscellaneous expenses, clothing, and school and work supplies (see Debtor’s Exhibit 48). In connection with the various expenses listed in Schedule J, Debtor admitted that she had not altered her lifestyle since her husband first became ill sometime in 1990. She did enroll her daughter in parochial school while her husband was ill, and according to Schedule J, $95.00 per month has been allocated for tuition and $17.00 per month for her daughter’s extracurricular activities, including piano and dance lessons provided by the school. The school also provides daycare services to the Debtor’s daughter before and after school for an additional monthly charge of $200.00.
DISCUSSION
At the conclusion of the evidentiary hearing, the Court suggested that rather than focus on whether or not the Debtor’s expenses were reasonable and necessary for the Debtor’s maintenance and support, that the parties provide the Court with law on the issue of whether the Debtor should be allowed to deduct the monies being deposited into the Credit Union Account and the 401k Account, or whether the monies should be included in Debtor’s disposable income and made available to Plaza.
Code § 1325(b)(1) provides that if an unsecured creditor objects to confirmation of a plan, the Court may not approve the plan unless the creditor receives property of a value not less than the amount of its claim or the plan provides that all of the debtor’s projected disposable income is applied to make payments under the plan. Code § 1325(b)(2) defines “disposable income” as that “which is not reasonably necessary to be expended for the maintenance or support of the debtor or a dependent of the debtor.”
In this ease, Plaza, as an unsecured creditor, has filed an objection to the confirmation of the Debtor’s Amended Plan. Since the Debtor does not propose to pay Plaza the full value of its claim, the Debtor must establish that all her disposable income is being applied to make payment under the Amended Plan. Debtor concedes that “contributions to pension plans and/or savings plan [sic] are improper for a debtor in a chapter 13 plan” and as long as the contributions are not mandatory, they should be included in the Debtor’s income. See Debtor’s Memorandum of Law, filed October 4,1995. Case-law supports this view. See e.g. In re Festner, 54 B.R. 532, 533 (Bankr.E.D.N.C.1985) (Contributions to a voluntary retirement program may enhance a debtor’s financial security but “the debtor is not entitled to acquire them [pension plans] at the expense of unpaid creditors.”); In re Fountain, 142 B.R. 135, 137 (Bankr.E.D.Va.1992) (Contributions to a pension fund constitute. disposable income.). In re Cavanaugh, 175 B.R. 369, 373 n. 3 (Bankr.D.Idaho 1994) (Voluntary contributions to retirement plans are not necessary for the maintenance and support of the debt- or and contributions are income for purposes of Code § 1325(b)); In re Ward, 129 B.R. 664, 668 (Bankr.W.D.Okl.1991) (Deposits into a savings account in a credit union constituted disposable income.)
While conceding that the contributions to the Credit Union Account and the 401k Account should be included in any calculation of disposable income for purposes of Code § 1325(b), the Debtor argues that the Social Security Income received on behalf of her daughter in the amount of $429.00 per month should not have been included in the Debtor’s income as the monies are exempt pursuant to New York Debtor & Creditor Law § 282 and do not constitute property of the estate. A review of the easelaw makes it abundantly clear that Debtor’s argument is without merit. Code '§ 1322(b)(8) expressly provides that a Chapter 13 plan “shall provide for payment of all or part of a claim against the debtor from property of the estate or property of the debtor(emphasis added). The fact that the property may be exempt under state law does not prevent it from being included as income to the Debtor. See In re Hagel, 184 B.R. 793, 797 (9th Cir. BAP 1995). While exemptions in a Chapter 7 case are intended to provide a debtor with the basic necessities of life, in a Chapter 13 case a debtor is allowed to keep all his/her assets, whether or not they are exempt. Id. at 796. The debtor is permitted to retain sufficient income to meet reasonable and necessary expenses in exchange for the repayment of debts out of future disposable income, including income from an exempt source. Id., see also In re Minor, 177 B.R. 576 (Bankr.E.D.Tenn.1995); In re Morse, 164 B.R. 651 (Bankr.E.D.Wash.1994); In re Schnabel, 153 B.R. 809 (Bankr.N.D.Ill.1993). Social Security Income, while exempt under state law, is to be incorporated in any projections of future income for purposes of determining disposable income. See In re Kloberdanz, 83 B.R. 767, 772 n. 19 (Bankr.D.Colo.1988) (Social Security Income must be included for Code § 1225(b)(2) “disposable income” purposes.) The Court concludes that the Social Security Income received by the Debtor on behalf of her minor daughter is properly included in the Debtor’s calculation of disposable income.
In its objection, Plaza requests not only that the Court deny confirmation of the Debtor’s Amended Plan pursuant to Code § 1325(a), but as an alternative remedy, Plaza also seeks the dismissal of the Debtor’s case pursuant to Code § 1307(c), alleging that the Debtor had not filed her Petition in good faith. Although the Court requested that the parties focus on Plaza’s request that the Debtor’s Amended Plan be denied confirmation on the basis that she allegedly failed to apply all of her disposable income to the payments under the Amended Plan, the Court must also address Plaza’s request that the Debtor’s case be dismissed.
The focus of the Court’s inquiry when dismissal pursuant to Code § 1307(c) is sought is on “whether the filing is fundamentally fair to creditors and whether it is fundamentally fair in a manner that complies with the spirit of the Bankruptcy Code’s provisions.” In re Klevorn, 181 B.R. 8, 11 (Bankr.N.D.N.Y.1995) (quoting Matter of Love, 957 F.2d 1350, 1357 (7th Cir.1992)). It requires that the Court examine the totality of the circumstances on a case-by-case basis to determine whether the debtor has shown an honest intention in filing the petition. Id; see also In re Powers, 135 B.R. 980, 992, 994 (Bankr.C.D.Cal.1991). The analysis includes consideration of such factors as (1) whether the debtor has few or no unsecured creditors; (2) whether there has been a previous petition filed by the debtor or a related entity; (3) whether the debtor’s conduct pre-petition was proper; (4) whether the petition permits the debtor to evade court orders; (5) whether the petition was filed on the eve of foreclosure; (6) whether the foreclosed property is the sole or major asset of the debtor; (7) whether the debtor’s income is sufficient such that there is a likely possibility of reorganization; (8) whether the reorganization essentially involves the resolution of a two party dispute, and (9) whether the debtor filed solely to obtain the protection of the automatic stay. See generally id.
Applying these factors to the matter sub judice, the Court makes the following findings:
As to the first factor, Plaza is the only unsecured creditor. There is nothing in the Code, however, which requires that a debtor have a specific number of unsecured creditors. Klevorn, supra, 181 B.R. at 11, citing In re Mountcastle, 68 B.R. 305, 307 (Bankr.M.D.Fla.1986). Code § 109(e) provides that an individual with noncontingent, liquidated unsecured debts of less than $250,-000 may be a debtor under Chapter 13. The real test is whether the unsecured creditor is bona fide and whether there is a genuine need and ability to perform under the Plan. Id. In this case, Plaza does not deny that it is a bona fide unsecured creditor. Furthermore, an examination of the Debtor’s income and expenses makes it clear that she is unable to pay Plaza’s claim of approximately $26,650 without the benefits afforded to her by the Code.
Admittedly, this is the Debtor’s second filing of a Chapter 13 petition. Debtor received a discharge on February 8, 1995, and filed her present Petition on March 13, 1995. While completing the payments under the 1989 plan, she incurred a substantial post-petition debt to Plaza. Unless an entity holding such a post-petition claim against the debtor which is a consumer debt elects to file a proof of claim, the Code does not permit a Chapter 13 debtor to file a claim on the creditor’s behalf. See Code § 1307(a)(2). It was on that basis that the Court entered its Order on May 23,1994, denying the Debtor’s motion to add Plaza as a creditor and modify the 1989 plan to provide for a 1% dividend to Plaza. Under the circumstances, the Court finds nothing improper in the Debtor now seeking to discharge the debt to Plaza. Although the Debtor did fail to list certain assets in her Petition, the Court accepts her assertion that it was inadvertent and certainly does not rise to a level requiring that the Court dismiss the Debtor’s case. Furthermore, Debtor’s filing of her Chapter 13 Petition was not in response to any action on a creditor’s part to foreclose on the Debtor’s property. In fact, it would appear that the Debtor is current with the payments to her only secured creditor. In addition, there is no evidence that the Debtor has evaded any orders of this Court. It is also evident, based on the Debtor’s schedules, that she has sufficient income with which to successfully reorganize. Indeed, her prior successful completion of her 1989 plan weighs in favor of the Debtor again being able to complete payments under a plan of reorganization.
The weight of the factors favors a finding of good faith on the part of the Debtor in filing her Petition. Congress, in enacting Chapter 13, indicated that its purpose was “to enable an individual under court supervision and protection to develop and perform under a plan for the repayment of his debts over an extended period.” House Report No. 95-695, 95th Cong. & AdmimNews, p. 5787, 6079. The Court concludes that the Debtor should be given an opportunity to formulate a plan which provides for all her disposable income to be applied to the payments under the plan over a period of three years.
Based on the foregoing, it is
ORDERED that Plaza’s motion pursuant to Code § 1307(b) seeking dismissal of the Debtor’s case is hereby denied; and it is further
ORDERED that the confirmation of the Debtor’s Amended Plan is denied on the basis that it fails to comply with Code § 1325(b)(1)(B), which requires that all of the Debtor’s projected disposable income be applied to make payments under the Amended Plan since Plaza has objected to Debtor’s proposed treatment of its claim and is not receiving the full value of its claim; and it is finally
ORDERED that Debtor shall file and serve a modified Chapter 13 plan together with a notice of confirmation hearing within thirty (30) days of the date of this Order, or Debtor’s case will be dismissed upon separate order submitted by the Chapter 13 Trustee.
. The Court previously rendered a decision on December 26, 1991, granting MCDSS relief from the automatic stay so that the state court could determine Debtor's liability for reimbursement of Medicaid payments made by MCDSS on behalf of her husband. MCDSS, however, was prohibited from enforcing any judgment obtained in state court against the Debtor during the pen-dency of the debtors’ 1989 case.
. The Credit Union Account is allocated between regular savings, Christmas account and vacation account. As of June 30, 1995, the Debtor had $166.22 in the savings account (although Debtor testified that as of the date of the hearing there was only $5.00 in the account as she had to purchase new tires in order to attend the hearing); $767.56 in her Christmas account, and $80.76 in her vacation account (see Debtor’s Exhibit 21).
.Although Debtor's counsel disputes that the payroll deductions include the deposits to the Credit Union Account and the 401k Account (see Memorandum of Law filed on behalf of Debtor on October 4, 1995), a review of the Debtor's pay stubs for 1995 makes it clear that said deductions are included in the figure listed in Schedule I (see Debtor’s Exhibit 21).
. The Debtor has suggested that it may have been inappropriate to include the Social Security Income in Schedule I since the monies are intended to be used for the benefit of her daughter. It is evident from the Debtor’s testimony that the monies are being spent in the operation of the Debtor’s household for the benefit of herself and her daughter. If the monies are not included in Schedule I, then any expenses listed in Schedule J as being necessary for the maintenance and support of the Debtor’s daughter should also be eliminated or reduced to the extent of $429.00/ month. These include child care ($200), tuition ($95), extracurricular activities ($17), school expenses ($12), and a portion of the food costs, household maintenance, clothing, cable, recreation, etc.
. Plaza alleged in its objection that "upon information and belief” the Debtor had filed for bankruptcy on three separate occasions (see ¶ 22 of Plaza’s Objection, dated June 20, 1995), no testimony was elicited by Plaza that would support this allegation.
|
/* -------------------------------------------------------------------------- *
* OpenSim: OptimizationExample.cpp *
* -------------------------------------------------------------------------- *
* The OpenSim API is a toolkit for musculoskeletal modeling and simulation. *
* See http://opensim.stanford.edu and the NOTICE file for more information. *
* OpenSim is developed at Stanford University and supported by the US *
* National Institutes of Health (U54 GM072970, R24 HD065690) and by DARPA *
* through the Warrior Web program. *
* *
* Copyright (c) 2005-2017 Stanford University and the Authors *
* Author(s): Samuel R. Hamner, Ajay Seth *
* *
* Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may *
* not use this file except in compliance with the License. You may obtain a *
* copy of the License at http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0. *
* *
* Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software *
* distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, *
* WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. *
* See the License for the specific language governing permissions and *
* limitations under the License. *
* -------------------------------------------------------------------------- */
/*
* Example of an OpenSim program that optimizes the performance of a model.
* The main() loads the arm26 model and maximizes the forward velocity of
* the hand during a muscle-driven forward simulation by finding the set
* of (constant) controls.
*/
//==============================================================================
//==============================================================================
#include <OpenSim/OpenSim.h>
#include "OpenSim/Common/STOFileAdapter.h"
#include <ctime> // clock(), clock_t, CLOCKS_PER_SEC
using namespace OpenSim;
using namespace SimTK;
using namespace std;
// Global variables to define integration time window, optimizer step count,
// the best solution.
int stepCount = 0;
const double initialTime = 0.0;
const double finalTime = 0.25;
const double desired_accuracy = 1.0e-5;
double bestSoFar = Infinity;
class ExampleOptimizationSystem : public OptimizerSystem {
public:
/* Constructor class. Parameters passed are accessed in the objectiveFunc() class. */
ExampleOptimizationSystem(int numParameters, State& s, Model& aModel):
OptimizerSystem(numParameters),
si(s),
osimModel(aModel)
{}
int objectiveFunc(const Vector &newControls,
bool new_coefficients, Real& f) const override {
// make a copy of the initial states
State s = si;
// Update the control values
osimModel.updDefaultControls() = newControls;
// Integrate from initial time to final time
Manager manager(osimModel);
manager.setIntegratorAccuracy(desired_accuracy);
s.setTime(initialTime);
osimModel.getMultibodySystem().realize(s, Stage::Acceleration);
manager.initialize(s);
s = manager.integrate(finalTime);
/* Calculate the scalar quantity we want to minimize or maximize.
* In this case, we're maximizing forward velocity of the
* forearm/hand mass center, so to maximize, compute velocity
* and multiply it by -1.
*/
const auto& hand = osimModel.getBodySet().get("r_ulna_radius_hand");
osimModel.getMultibodySystem().realize(s, Stage::Velocity);
Vec3 massCenter = hand.getMassCenter();
Vec3 velocity = hand.findStationVelocityInGround(s, massCenter);
f = -velocity[0];
stepCount++;
// Use an if statement to only store and print the results of an
// optimization step if it is better than a previous result.
if(f < bestSoFar) {
bestSoFar = f;
cout << "\nobjective evaluation #: " << stepCount << " controls = "
<< newControls << " bestSoFar = " << f << std::endl;
}
return 0;
}
private:
State& si;
Model& osimModel;
SimTK::ReferencePtr<RungeKuttaMersonIntegrator> p_integrator;
};
//______________________________________________________________________________
/**
* Define an optimization problem that finds a set of muscle controls to maximize
* the forward velocity of the forearm/hand segment mass center.
*/
int main()
{
try {
std::clock_t startTime = std::clock();
// Use Millard2012Equilibrium muscles with rigid tendons for better
// performance.
Object::renameType("Thelen2003Muscle", "Millard2012EquilibriumMuscle");
// Create a new OpenSim model. This model is similar to the arm26 model,
// but without wrapping surfaces for better performance.
Model osimModel("Arm26_Optimize.osim");
// Initialize the system and get the state representing the state system
State& si = osimModel.initSystem();
// Initialize the starting shoulder angle.
const CoordinateSet& coords = osimModel.getCoordinateSet();
coords.get("r_shoulder_elev").setValue(si, -1.57079633);
// Set the initial muscle activations and make all tendons rigid.
const Set<Muscle> &muscleSet = osimModel.getMuscles();
for(int i=0; i<muscleSet.getSize(); ++i) {
muscleSet[i].setActivation(si, 0.01);
muscleSet[i].setIgnoreTendonCompliance(si, true);
}
// Make sure the muscles states are in equilibrium
osimModel.equilibrateMuscles(si);
// The number of controls will equal the number of muscles in the model!
int numControls = osimModel.getNumControls();
// Initialize the optimizer system we've defined.
ExampleOptimizationSystem sys(numControls, si, osimModel);
Real f = NaN;
/* Define initial values and bounds for the controls to optimize */
Vector controls(numControls, 0.02);
controls[3] = 0.99;
controls[4] = 0.99;
controls[5] = 0.99;
Vector lower_bounds(numControls, 0.01);
Vector upper_bounds(numControls, 0.99);
sys.setParameterLimits( lower_bounds, upper_bounds );
// Create an optimizer. Pass in our OptimizerSystem
// and the name of the optimization algorithm.
Optimizer opt(sys, SimTK::LBFGSB);
//Optimizer opt(sys, InteriorPoint);
// Specify settings for the optimizer
opt.setConvergenceTolerance(0.1);
opt.useNumericalGradient(true, desired_accuracy);
opt.setMaxIterations(2);
opt.setLimitedMemoryHistory(500);
// Optimize it!
f = opt.optimize(controls);
cout << "Elapsed time = " << (std::clock()-startTime)/CLOCKS_PER_SEC << "s" << endl;
const Set<Actuator>& actuators = osimModel.getActuators();
for(int i=0; i<actuators.getSize(); ++i){
cout << actuators[i].getName() << " control value = " << controls[i] << endl;
}
cout << "\nMaximum hand velocity = " << -f << "m/s" << endl;
cout << "OpenSim example completed successfully." << endl;
// Dump out optimization results to a text file for testing
ofstream ofile;
ofile.open("Arm26_optimization_result");
for(int i=0; i<actuators.getSize(); ++i)
ofile << controls[i] << endl;
ofile << -f <<endl;
ofile.close();
// Re-run simulation with optimal controls.
Manager manager(osimModel);
manager.setIntegratorAccuracy(desired_accuracy);
osimModel.updDefaultControls() = controls;
// Integrate from initial time to final time.
si.setTime(initialTime);
osimModel.getMultibodySystem().realize(si, Stage::Acceleration);
manager.initialize(si);
si = manager.integrate(finalTime);
auto statesTable = manager.getStatesTable();
STOFileAdapter_<double>::write(statesTable,
"Arm26_optimized_states.sto");
}
catch (const std::exception& ex)
{
std::cout << ex.what() << std::endl;
return 1;
}
// End of main() routine.
return 0;
}
|
Functional differences between .class, .jar and .java (class) file in eclipse?
What are the functional differences between a .class file, a .jar file, and a .java file that defines a class structure in eclipse and when is it appropriate to use each file type?
because everyone who programmed java for a while should know the difference very well. And btw one google search for "java .class file" already yields a wikipedia article that pretty much explanes .java & .class files. BTW I'm not one of the downvoters.
This question appears to be off-topic because it is about a simple language mechanic which is easily found through numerous search results.
A .java file contains Java code.
A .class file is the .java file compiled
A .jar file is an executable java package.
Eclipse compiles .java files to create .class files and you can package them in an executable .jar file.
If you think it's the correct answer mark it as such please.
|
In the Matter of S.J., C.J., and J.J.
Court of Appeals of Tennessee, Western Section, at Jackson.
Assigned on Brief June 14, 2012.
Aug. 9, 2012.
Application for Permission to Appeal Denied by Supreme Court Oct. 17, 2012.
Andrew L. Wener, Memphis, Tennessee for Respondent/Appellant S.F.
Robert E. Cooper, Jr., Attorney General and Alexander S. Rieger, Assistant Attorney General Nashville, Tennessee for Petitioner/Appellee State of Tennessee Department of Children’s Services.
OPINION
HOLLY M. KIRBY, J.,
delivered the opinion of the Court,
in which ALAN E. HIGHERS, P.J., W.S., and J. STEVEN STAFFORD, J., joined.
This appeal arises out of dependency and neglect proceedings. The respondent mother has three children, one an infant. The infant suffered numerous unexplained injuries and was diagnosed with failure to thrive. The Tennessee Department of Children’s Services filed a petition to have all three children declared dependent and neglected, and alleged severe child abuse as to the infant. The trial court declared all three children dependent and neglected, but declined to find severe abuse. The respondent mother now appeals the trial court’s finding of dependency and neglect, and the Department of Children’s Services appeals the trial court’s failure to find severe child abuse as to the infant. We affirm the trial court’s finding that all three children were dependent and neglected, but find clear and convincing evidence that the infant suffered severe abuse; therefore, we reverse the trial court’s finding on severe abuse.
Facts and Proceedings Below
Respondent/Appellant S.F. (“Mother”) and J.J. Sr. (“Father”) have three children at issue in this appeal, two daughters, S.J. (born 2006) and C.J. (born 2007), and a son J.J. (born 2008). Mother and Father are not married to each other, but lived together with all three children. Father was employed and Mother was the primary caregiver.
In September 2007, when daughter C.J. was three months old, she sustained a skull fracture. Records indicate that C.J.’s skull was fractured on both sides of her head, and she had a contusion and bleeding on her brain. Given the severity of the injury, medical providers questioned whether the child could have sustained such a skull fracture in the way the parents claimed, from merely falling off a couch. The State of Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (“DCS”) took daughters C.J. and S.J. into protective custody and filed a petition in the Juvenile Court of Shelby County, Tennessee, to have them declared dependent and neglected. Tenn.Code Ann. § 37-1-102(b)(12)(F) and (G) (2010). DCS furnished services to the family while the children were in protective custody. For a time, an aunt and uncle took custody of the children. Almost a year after the daughters were taken into protective custody, they were returned to Mother’s custody and the petition was dismissed.
Almost a week later, son J.J. was born. When J.J. was approximately two months old, Mother took him to the Women, Infants, and Children (“WIC”) Clinic, where she obtained infant formula for him. Generally, when parents come to the WIC Clinic to obtain infant formula, their child undergoes a brief assessment by a nurse or other medical professional at the Clinic. Mother was told in that visit to WIC that J.J. was significantly underweight and that she should bring the child to be examined by his physician. She did not do so.
When son J.J. was four months old, Mother again brought J.J. to the WIC Clinic. Apparently very concerned at how underweight J.J. was, personnel at the WIC Clinic advised Mother that J.J. needed to go immediately to the hospital. Mother brought J.J. to the emergency room at Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Hospital (“Le Bonheur”) to be assessed.
When J.J. was admitted to Le Bonheur, he was examined by pediatrician Karen Lakin, M.D. (“Dr. Lakin”). Dr. He was diagnosed with severe failure to thrive. Just as concerning, tests showed that the infant had numerous broken ribs in various stages of healing; the hospital radiologist reported that J.J.’s x-rays indicated that some of the injuries had occurred about ten days earlier, some about a month earlier. The parents gave no explanation for these rib fractures. Le Bonheur notified DCS and recommended a safety plan for infant J.J. and for his sisters, then one and two years old. DCS opened an investigation but, for reasons that are not apparent from the record, did not immediately remove the children from the home.
About a month later, while this DCS investigation was underway, five-month-old J.J. was transported by ambulance to the Le Bonheur emergency room. He was again seen by Dr. Lakin. Dr. Lakin determined that J.J.’s left leg had an acute proximal femur fracture, that is, his femur was severely broken and out of alignment. Father explained to the physician that he awoke to J.J.’s screaming; when he went to investigate, Mother was holding the screaming child. Mother told Father that J.J. had gotten his leg caught in the crib slats and Mother had pulled his leg out. The physician’s report described these as “highly suspicious fractures.”
The next day, DCS filed a dependency and neglect petition as to J.J. and alleged “severe child abuse” pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated §§ 3T — 1—102(b)(1), 37-l-102(b)(12)(F), 37-l-102(b)(G), and 37-1-102(21)(A). The petition sought to take J.J. into DCS protective custody. The Juvenile Court granted temporary custody of J.J. to DCS the day the petition was filed. On the same day, DCS filed a pleading to modify the existing dependency and neglect petition concerning sisters S.J. and C.J., seeking to take them into protective custody as well. The modified petition did not allege “severe abuse” as to S.J. and C.J. The Juvenile Court ordered the two sisters to be immediately taken into protective custody as well.
In May 2009, the Juvenile Court appointed James Sanders as guardian ad li-tem (“GAL”) to represent all three children. Counsel was appointed to represent both Mother and Father.
On January 8, 2010, the Juvenile Court conducted a hearing on the dependency and neglect petitions. The Juvenile Court sustained both petitions’ allegation of dependency and neglect. As to J.J.’s failure to thrive, the Juvenile Court noted that, between birth and four months old, the child had gained only three pounds. J.J. readily gained weight in the hospital and there was no medical explanation for his failure to thrive while in the parents’ care. It noted that J.J.’s rib fractures were unexplained and the leg fracture was not consistent with the parents’ explanation of how the injury occurred. The Juvenile Court found that Mother and Father “are unable to properly care for [their] children due to the history of serious physical injuries to their children and the inadequate explanations that accompany these injuries.” No specific finding was made on the allegation that J.J. had suffered severe abuse. Mother filed an appeal to circuit court for a de novo review of the Juvenile Court’s decision.
The dependency and neglect petitions for all three children were consolidated for trial before the Shelby County Circuit Court. After discovery, the trial was conducted on November 1, 2010, on the consolidated petitions.
The trial court heard testimony from Mother and two DCS employees. It also considered the deposition testimony of Dr. Lakin of Le Bonheur, and the children’s medical records from Le Bonheur.
DCS investigator Tara Hibbler (“Hib-bler”) testified that she became involved with this family on March 27, 2009, when DCS received the referral from Le Bonh-eur after J.J. was diagnosed with failure to thrive and his healing rib fractures were discovered. Despite DCS’s concerns for all of Mother’s children, Hibbler explained that DCS was unable immediately to remove the children while it was investigating the situation. Before DCS could complete its investigation, it received the second referral from Le Bonheur, only a month later, regarding J.J.’s fractured femur. In the absence of adequate explanation for the series of problems and injuries, DCS took all of the children into protective custody. Both parents were indicated for possible abuse in the investigation.
DCS family service worker Igina Per-teet (“Perteet”) testified as well. At the time of trial, Perteet had worked with the family for about seven months. She said that Mother has regular, twice monthly visitation with the children, and Mother and Father had recently moved into an apartment. Perteet testified that four-year-old S.J. has developmental delays, and three-year-old C.J. has speech and hearing issues. J.J.’s femur fracture left him with one leg longer than the other; he will be evaluated regarding surgical corrections when he is older. At the time of trial, J.J. was having difficulty walking. In terms of his cognitive development, at two years old, J.J. was not yet talking, but communicated mainly by shrieking. In foster care, all of the children’s medical needs were being met and J.J. had “started picking up weight.” In light of continued concerns for physical abuse and the parents’ recent move into new housing, DCS recommended continued foster care.
Mother testified on her own behalf. After the removal of the three children at issue in this appeal, Mother told the trial court that she gave birth to another son on January 24, 2010. At the time of trial, Mother and Father had obtained a two-bedroom apartment. She claimed to be in job-training school and working toward obtaining her GED.
Mother acknowledged that she is a stay-at-home mother and was JJ.’s primary caregiver. Mother denied all allegations of physical abuse regarding any of her children; she said that she had never struck them and that she took care of their daily needs. Mother had no concerns that Father was abusing the children.
Mother explained infant J.J.’s diagnosis of failure to thrive by saying that she had been incorrectly mixing the infant formula provided to her by WIC. Mother testified that this was only a misunderstanding and that she never intentionally withheld food or nourishment from J.J. or from any of her other children.
Mother had no explanation for infant J.J.’s six rib fractures. She speculated that they occurred when she gave birth to him or “it could have been the way anyone picked him up.” Mother denied breaking J.J.’s ribs and said she never saw anyone else do so.
Mother gave the trial court her explanation for infant J.J.’s acute upper femur fracture. Mother stated, “I seen [the child’s leg] stuck in the crib” and that J.J.’s leg was stuck “just above his knee.” When she saw it, Mother said, “I grabbed his leg, I pulled his leg out and I picked him up out of the bed.” Mother explained: “His leg had got caught in the baby bed and I had pulled it out. I don’t know if it’s the way I pulled it out could have caused it, but his leg got caught in the baby bed.”
Mother testified that once she removed J.J. from his bed, “[h]e was crying for a while and I was holding him. I had fed him then he went to sleep. After he woke up he was still hollering. So we checked his leg out and he wasn’t moving it at all.... ” After that, Mother said, “I called the ambulance.” Mother said that Father accompanied J.J. to the hospital; she claimed that she did not immediately go to the hospital “[bjecause earlier that day they had — well, that was our last day to pay the light bills, so I told them after I paid the light bill so the lights won’t be off, I would come right after that.”
Mother acknowledged that daughter C.J. had suffered skull fractures but denied that it resulted in bleeding on her brain. Apparently to explain how the child could have suffered skull fractures on both sides of her head, Mother testified: “She had fallen off the couch when she was a month [old] and we were staying with his sister. And then she had fallen off the couch again a month later.” Additionally, Mother acknowledged that she had been told that daughter S.J. was developmentally delayed, but said that S.J. did not seem developmentally delayed to her. Mother asked the Juvenile Court to return the children to her custody.
In addition to hearing the witnesses’ in-court testimony, the trial court reviewed the deposition of Dr. Lakin, J.J.’s treating physician at Le Bonheur, and J.J.’s medical records from Le Bonheur. Dr. Lakin first treated J.J. in March 2009, when the WIC Clinic directed Mother to bring J.J. to the emergency room to be evaluated for his extreme underweight. She treated J.J. at Le Bonheur a month later when J.J. was brought by ambulance to the emergency room for what turned out to be a fractured femur. As background, Dr. La-kin said that J.J. was born at a normal weight, and tests for any bone disease that would cause increased vulnerability to broken bones came back negative.
At birth, J.J. weighed six pounds, five ounces, at around the 25th percentile on the infant growth chart. Dr. Lakin’s record indicates that J.J. was not taken to a physician for his two-month checkup, even though the WIC Clinic told Mother when J.J. was two months old that the child was underweight and needed to be seen by a physician. By March 2009, when J.J. was brought to Le Bonheur at four months old, he weighed only nine pounds, four and a half ounces; since birth, he had gained only three pounds. At that weight, J.J. was “off the growth chart,” below the 3rd percentile. He had “little subcutaneous fat.” His height was likewise below the 3rd percentile, and his head circumference was at approximately the 10th percentile. J.J. was tested for any medical condition that would have prevented him from absorbing calories he was taking in; no medical reason was found for his failure to gain weight. Dr. Lakin said that the process for normal growth for an infant such as J.J. was simple: “Calories go in, baby grows, you don’t have to do anything else.” She noted that J.J. “actually gained quite well during his hospitalization.” Dr. Lakin explained her concerns for a very young infant diagnosed with failure to thrive:
[A]ny deprivation [of] nutrients to your brain during that most critical point of growth during that period of time can affect brain development.... [0]verall development in terms of both motor and cognitive development when you have a child that is being deprived of appropriate nutrients can be affected. And by that I mean he may be delayed, of course.... [B]ut most important! ] is the cognitive development and what [effect that’s going to have.
... [W]e don’t know even now how that has affected him and may not ever know how that has affected him. But if he should have grown up to be a lawyer and instead he grows up and he is bagging groceries we don’t know if ... you could have treated that [e]ffect. All we know is that ... children that are subject to failure to thrive for significant periods of time, they do take a hit cognitively because they are not getting nutrients to the brain.
Asked by Mother’s attorney if it was fair to say that we do not know who caused J.J.’s failure to thrive, Dr. Lakin rejected that assertion: “Actually, it is not a fair statement. Whoever is caring for the child is responsible for making sure the child receives nutrition....
Dr. Lakin testified at some length about J.J.’s rib fractures. During the March 2009 trip to Le Bonheur at which J.J. was diagnosed with failure to thrive, an initial routine chest x-ray revealed a fracture in one rib on the left and deformity of two ribs on the right. This unexpected discovery prompted a skeletal survey that revealed a total of six healing rib fractures. Dr. Lakin’s report states: “Skeletal survey revealed posterior left 8th, 9th, and 10th healing rib fractures, and right, 5, 6, 7, and 8th lateral older fractures,” that is, three back fractures on the left and three additional older side fractures on the right. In her deposition, Dr. Lakin hedged a bit on whether the rib fractures happened at different times, noting that it was possible that the fractures had occurred at the same time and the child’s bones had different healing rates.
Dr. Lakin said bluntly that there was no way that four-month-old J.J. could have inflicted such rib fractures on himself. Neither of the parents offered any explanation for them. Dr. Lakin testified to a reasonable degree of medical certainty that J.J.’s rib fractures resulted from “nonaccidental trauma,” a term used by medical experts associated with child abuse, meaning an injury to a baby or child that cannot be explained by an accident that can normally happen to a child of that age and where the responsible adults have no viable explanation of how the injury occurred. She explained how posterior and lateral rib fractures, such as J.J.’s rib fractures, would occur in a very young baby:
[T]o get a rib fracture that’s in the back or along the side, ... you have something that compresses the rib cage, like somebody squeezing a baby really hard, front to back....
That’s what we typically see is that like if somebody gets really angry and they are holding a baby and they grip, such as in Shak[en] Baby Syndrome and we will see the posterior fractures. The lateral rib fractures ... you might also see ... from a direct blow or like somebody stepping on a baby. We can also see lateral fractures like if the baby falls and hits the edge of something.... But the posterior fractures are the ones that are more concerning because that is a very unusual place to fracture because it’s back in the back which [ ] is relatively a stable place. It is right up against the spine so you don’t expect [babies] to fracture anything along the spine unless there is something squeezing it.
Consistent with her testimony that the rib fractures resulted from nonaccidental trauma, Dr. Lakin’s written report prior to J.J.’s discharge states: “The presentation of severe failure to thrive and multiple fractures is ... most concerning for nonac-cidental trauma.”
Despite this notation in Dr. Lakin’s report, J.J. was not taken into protective custody but was discharged from Le Bonh-eur to the care of Mother and Father. A month later, Dr. Lakin treated J.J. when he was brought by ambulance to Le Bonh-eur’s emergency room, accompanied by Father but not Mother. The Le Bonheur records indicate that, the day before the incident, Mother called Father “to say the baby was fussy and ‘annoying’ her.” In taking J.J.’s medical history, Dr. Lakin said, it was “really difficult to get very many answers out of’ Father regarding what Mother had told him about the cause of J.J.’s leg injury. The Le Bonheur records recount the history Father gave Dr. Lakin:
According to the father he heard the patient screaming around 5:30 a.m. this morning. He went into the patient’s room and said that [JJ.’s] mother told him the baby had gotten his leg tangled up in the rales [sic] of the crib.... [Father] was concerned that [J.J.] may have hurt his rib because he had been admitted to [Le Bonheur] last month and a rib fracture was found. His ribs seemed okay according to dad so he checked his legs. The right leg was normal according to dad and so he pulled on the left leg and [J.J.] screamed. Dad was concerned the leg was broken because he noticed swelling and said they needed to bring him to the hospital or call the ambulance. Mom told dad that she didn’t want to go to [Le Bonheur] because they would get DCS involved. Dad called the ambulance ....
Asked to describe Father’s demeanor when Dr. Lakin was trying to extract information on what had happened to J.J., Dr. Lakin testified:
He was very quiet, extremely quiet.... I remember this very clearly because I thought it was very unusual, and I even spoke to him about it, and said this is the second time your baby has been in the hospital for fractures. And he really didn’t respond.... He was very cooperative ... [but] a lot of times when I would ask him questions, he would just say he didn’t know.... He wasn’t angry or anything like that. He was just extremely, extremely quiet.
Dr. Lakin characterized J.J.’s leg fracture as “a really significant fracture.” She explained that J.J. was diagnosed with “an approximal transverse left femur fracture which was displaced.” Translating, she explained that the fracture was “up high and transverse is completely across” the bone, the pieces of bone did not match, and the bone was “moved out of alignment.” Dr. Lakin explained that J.J.’s femur fracture was not a “spiral” fracture, that is, a fracture that goes lengthwise on the bone, usually associated with torsion or twisting. It was also not a typical accidental fracture that occurs in the middle of the bone, the “midshaft” of the femur, which is the “weakest point.” Instead, J.J.’s femur fracture was up high, near the end of the femur bone. A fracture at the end of the bone, she said, is more likely to occur where there is direct trauma, such as “direct blows to the bone[].” Five-month-old J.J., Dr. Lakin said, could not have caused such a fracture on his own. Dr. Lakin testified that there was always “a possibility” that J.J.’s femur fracture resulted from the infant’s leg getting wedged between the crib slats, adding, “It was up pretty high though.” Fractures such as J.J.’s on the end of the bone, Dr. Lakin testified, “are typically ... concerns for abuse.” Asked if J.J.’s femur fracture resulted from nonaccidental trauma, Dr. Lakin responded: “That’s our concern. [Wjithout a significant history to explain that type of fracture and in light of the previously diagnosed healing rib fractures, we were very concerned that this was not accidental trauma.”
At the conclusion of the hearing, the trial court issued an oral ruling, sustaining the dependency and neglect petition:
[Mother], unfortunately, you have had either — either something is going on in that home, or you’ve had just a ridiculously bad stream of luck, but the fact that — but we will find that he has been neglected within the law under TCA 37-l-102(b)(12)(F) and (G) because of the unexplained injuries sustained by [J.J.], the failure to thrive, the broken ribs, and then within a month while that investigation was still pending, for him to have a broken femur. Based on the nature of the break, based on Dr. La-kin’s deposition and what her evaluations were, I don’t see that there was any reasonable explanation other than that there was neglect.
With regards to [C.J.] and [S.J.], I will also sustain the petition for dependency and neglect. Again, the problem is there is an environmental problem in this home.
A written order was entered on November 17, 2010, finding by clear and convincing evidence that all three children were dependent and neglected. The trial court’s order relied extensively on the deposition testimony of Dr. Lakin, detailing in particular her opinions on J.J.’s diagnosis of failure to thrive, his unexplained rib fractures, and his fractured femur. The trial court also noted CJ.’s prior “unexplained skull fracturéis].” Given the seriousness of these injuries and the lack of reasonable explanation for them from the parents, the trial court concluded that sisters S.J. and C. J. were dependent and neglected as well. The trial court stated: “[Something very concerning is going on in the home of this family and without an adequate explanation for [J.J.’s] injuries, his sisters are also not safe if returned to the home.” Thus, all three children were held to be dependent and neglected.
Mother filed a notice of appeal to this Court. Upon reviewing the trial court’s November 17, 2010 order, this Court determined that the trial court’s order was not final because the allegations of severe child abuse with respect to J.J. in the DCS petition had not been addressed. The cause was remanded to the trial court and the appeal was subsequently dismissed. On remand, the trial court held a hearing on June 20, 2011. On July 1, 2011, the trial court entered an order declining to find that J.J. had been subjected to severe child abuse, without elaboration. Mother refiled her appeal.
Issues on Appeal and Standard of Review
On appeal, Mother argues first, that there is not clear and convincing evidence in the record to support a finding that any of her children are dependent and neglected. In the event that this Court affirms the trial court’s holding that infant J.J. is dependent and neglected, Mother contends that the trial court erred in finding that S.J. and C.J. are dependent and neglected as well.
On cross-appeal, DCS argues that the trial court erred in determining that Mother. did not commit “severe child abuse” as to infant J.J.
Under Tennessee Code Annotated § 37-1-129, dependency and neglect must be established by clear and convincing evidence. Tenn.Code Ann. § 37-1-129 (2010). Severe child abuse in a dependency and neglect proceeding must also be established by clear and convincing evidence. Tenn. Dep’t of Children’s Servs. v. Tikindra G. (In re Samaria S.), 347 S.W.3d 188, 200 (Tenn.Ct.App.2011). “Evidence satisfying the clear and convincing evidence standard establishes that the truth of the facts asserted is highly probable and eliminates any serious or substantial doubt about the correctness of the conclusions drawn from the evidence.” In re A.T.P., No. M2006-02697-COA-R3-CV, 2008 WL 115538, at *4, 2008 Tenn.App. LEXIS 10, at *13-14 (Tenn.Ct.App. Jan. 10, 2008) (citing State v. Demarr, No. M2002-02603-COA-R3-JV, 2003 WL 21946726, at *9, 2003 Tenn.App. LEXIS 569, at *26 (Tenn.Ct.App. Aug. 13, 2003); In re Valentine, 79 S.W.3d 539, 546 (Tenn.2002)). The evidence should produce a firm belief or conviction as to the truth of the allegations sought to be established. In re A.T.P., 2008 WL 115538, at *4, 2008 Tenn.App. LEXIS 10, at *14 (citing In re A.D.A., 84 S.W.3d 592, 596 (Tenn.Ct.App.2002); Ray v. Ray, 83 S.W.3d 726, 733 (Tenn.Ct.App.2001)). “In contrast to the preponderance of the evidence standard, clear and convincing evidence should demonstrate that the truth of the facts asserted is ‘highly probable’ as opposed to merely ‘more probable’ than not.” In re M.A.R., 183 S.W.3d 652, 660 (Tenn.Ct.App.2005) (quoting In re C.W.W., 37 S.W.3d 467, 474 (Tenn.Ct.App.2000)). See also In re Samaria S., 347 S.W.3d at 200. The appellate court applies the clear and convincing evidence standard as follows:
Under this standard of proof, the appellate court must “distinguish between the specific facts found by the trial court and the combined weight of those facts.” In re Tiffany B., 228 S.W.3d 148, 156 (Tenn.Ct.App.2007). The facts as found by the trial court are reviewed de novo on the record, presuming those findings to be correct unless the evidence preponderates otherwise. Cornelius [v. DCS], 314 S.W.3d [902,] 906-07 [(Tenn.Ct.App.2009)]. Findings of fact based on witness credibility are given great deference and will not be disturbed absent clear evidence to the contrary. Id. Whether the combined weight of the facts, either as found by the trial court or supported by a preponderance of the evidence, establish clearly and convincingly that the parent committed severe child abuse is a question of law, subject to de novo review with no presumption of correctness. Id.
In re Samaria S., 347 S.W.3d at 200.
Analysis
A biological parent’s right to the care and the custody of his child is among the oldest of the judicially recognized liberty interests protected by the due process clauses of the federal and state constitutions. Troxel v. Granville, 530 U.S. 57, 65, 120 S.Ct. 2054, 147 L.Ed.2d 49 (2000); In re Adoption of A.M.H., 215 S.W.3d 793, 809 (Tenn.2007); Hawk v. Hawk, 855 S.W.2d 573, 578-79 (Tenn.1993); In re Giorgianna H., 205 S.W.3d 508, 515 (Tenn.Ct.App.2006). While this right is fundamental and superior to the claims of other persons, it is not absolute. DCS v. C.H.K., 154 S.W.3d 586, 589 (Tenn.Ct.App.2004). It continues without interruption only so long as the parent has not relinquished it, abandoned it, or engaged in conduct requiring its limitation or termination. Blair v. Badenhope, 77 S.W.3d 137, 141 (Tenn.2002); In re M.J.B., 140 S.W.3d 643, 652-53 (Tenn.Ct.App.2004).
Our legislature has established the situations in which the rights of a biological parent may be limited. In re Samaria S., 347 S.W.3d at 201. These limitations include circumstances in which a child is deemed to be dependent and neglected. Id. “Parents have a duty to provide, and children have a corresponding right to be provided with, a safe environment, free from abuse and neglect.” In re H.L.F., 297 S.W.3d 223, 235 (Tenn.Ct.App.2009); In re R.C.P., M2003-01143-COA-R3-PT, 2004 WL 1567122, at *6, 2004 Tenn.App. LEXIS 449, at *21 (Tenn.Ct.App. July 13, 2004) (citations omitted). The primary purpose of dependency and neglect proceedings “is to provide for the care and protection of children whose parents are unable or unwilling to care for them.” DCS v. M.S., No. M2003-01670-COA-R3-CV, 2005 WL 549141, at *9 n. 11, 2005 Tenn.App. LEXIS 139, at *28 n. 11 (Tenn.Ct.App. Mar. 8, 2005).
Dependency and Neglect
Mother argues on appeal that the trial court erred in finding her three children dependent and neglected. In the alternative, even if J. J. is determined to be dependent and neglected, Mother contends that the evidence in the record does not support a finding that sisters S.J. and C.J. were also dependent and neglected.
As to J.J., Mother’s argument is centered on her explanation of J.J.’s injuries and his severely underweight condition. Counsel for Mother points to her testimony that JJ.’s femur fracture must have occurred when the child got his leg caught in the slats of his crib and Mother pulled his leg out, and Dr. Lakin’s testimony that this was “a possibility.” Mother’s counsel also notes Mother’s testimony that she was unaware of J.J.’s rib fractures until told the results of the hospital’s skeletal survey. Finally, Mother’s counsel emphasizes a statement by Dr. Lakin in her deposition suggesting that Dr. Lakin did not know whether Mother should have known that J. J. was severely underweight. From this, Mother argues that the evidence in the record on whether J.J. is dependent and neglected is not clear and convincing.
As to sisters S.J. and C.J., Mother’s counsel contends that there was no evidence in the record of Mother’s actions or inactions regarding her daughters; all of the evidence at trial focused on J.J. Thus, Mother argues, DCS did not prove by clear and convincing evidence that S.J. and C.J. are dependent and neglected.
The trial court below found that all three children were “dependent and neglected” pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated § 37-l-102(b)(12)(F) and (G), which defines a dependent and neglected child as follows:
(12) “Dependent and neglected child” means a child:
(F) Who is in such condition of want or suffering or is under such improper guardianship or control as to injure or endanger the morals or health of such child or others;
(G) Who is suffering from abuse or neglect;
TenmCode Ann. § 37 — 1—102(b)(12)(F) and (G)(2010). The term “abuse” is statutorily defined as:
... when a person under the age of eighteen (18) is suffering from, has sustained, or may be in immediate danger of suffering from or sustaining a wound, injury, disability or physical or mental condition caused by brutality, neglect or other actions or inactions of a parent, relative, guardian or caretaker.
TenmCode Ann. § 37-1-102(b)(1) (2010).
We must respectfully reject Mother’s arguments. The definitions of “abuse” and “dependent and neglected child” focus on the child’s circumstances, not the state of mind of the caregiver. See In re Samaria S., 347 S.W.3d at 204 n. 23 (“Notably, general ‘abuse’ (which is not ‘severe’) does not necessarily involve any ‘knowing’ conduct.”). It is undisputed in the record that newborn J.J. was terribly undernourished for the first four months of his life and suffered multiple unusual rib fractures that are completely unexplained. Mother’s protestations that she misunderstood how to mix J.J.’s formula, was unaware that she was starving her newborn infant, and was unaware that his ribs had been crushed by compression are irrelevant to the finding of dependency and neglect.. Clearly, J.J. suffered from both abuse and neglect and fits, squarely within the definition of a dependent and neglected child under Sections 37-1-102(b)(12)(F) and (G).
Mother contends that there is no evidence in the record as to her care of S.J. and C.J., so the trial court could not have found them to be dependent and neglected. This, of course, is not true. The record shows that when sister C.J. was three months old, the same age as J.J. during his period of abuse and neglect, C.J. suffered skull fractures on both sides of her head.
But even if the record contained zero evidence on Mother’s care of J.J.’s sisters S.J. and C.J., it would not matter. The statutory definition of a dependent and neglected child expressly addresses such circumstances; the definition includes any child who is “under such improper guardianship or control as to ... endanger the ... health of such child or others.” Tenn.Code Ann. § 37-1-102(b)(12)(F). Given the abuse and neglect suffered by son J.J., it is clear that other children under Mother’s care are “under such improper guardianship ... as to ... endanger the ... health of such child....” It would be anomalous indeed if DCS, after finding one child in a household had suffered abuse and neglect, was powerless under the dependency and neglect statutes to remove other children in the household. We reject this argument.
“Parents have a duty to provide, and children have a corresponding right to be provided with, a safe environment, free from abuse and- neglect.” In re H.L.F., 297 S.W.3d at 235. We affirm the trial court’s adjudication of all three children as dependent and neglected, as supported by clear and convincing evidence in the record.
Severe Child Abuse
DCS argues that the trial court erred in failing to find that J.J. had suffered “severe child abuse” within the meaning of the applicable statutes. DCS focuses on J.J.’s unexplained rib fractures and his femur fracture, contending that they constituted severe child abuse perpetrated by Mother. It argues that the fractures are consistent with the definition of “serious bodily harm” as defined in Tennessee Code Annotated §§ 37-1-102(b)(23)(A)(ii) and 39-15-402(d) and justify a severe abuse finding. DCS emphasizes that Dr. Lakin testified to a reasonable degree of medical certainty that the rib fractures were the result of nonaccidental trauma, that there was no explanation for the rib fractures, that the newborn infant could not have caused the rib fractures himself, and that it was undisputed that Mother was JJ.’s primary caregiver.
As to JJ.’s femur fracture, DCS notes that the trial court appeared to base its decision, declining to find severe abuse, on Dr. Lakin’s testimony that there was “always a possibility” that the fracture happened the way Mother described, simply an unfortunate accident that occurred when she pulled the infant’s leg out of the crib slats. DCS acknowledges this testimony by Dr. Lakin, but argues that Dr. Lakin’s testimony overall makes it clear that it is unlikely that the fracture occurred in this manner and more likely that it resulted from nonaccidental trauma, ie., child abuse. DCS also notes that “[t]his was not the first time that one of the children in this appeal had suffered severe bodily injury and [Mother’s] explanation had been deemed inadequate by medical personnel.” It points to evidence in the record stating that medical personnel who evaluated sister C.J.’s skull fracture on both sides of her head at three months old indicated that the severity of her injury was inconsistent with Mother’s explanation that C.J. just fell off a couch, twice. DCS also points to Mother’s reluctance to seek medical care for J.J. in the wake of his femur fracture. In light of all of this, DCS contends that the trial court erred in declining to find severe child abuse.
In pertinent part, Tennessee Code Annotated § 37-1-102(b)(23) defines “severe child abuse” as:
(A) (i) The knowing exposure of a child to or the knowing failure to protect a child from abuse or neglect that is likely to cause serious bodily injury or death and the knowing use of force on a child that is likely to cause serious bodily injury or death;
(ii) “Serious bodily injury” shall have the same meaning given in § 39-15-402(d).
(B) Specific brutality, abuse or neglect towards a child that in the opinion of qualified experts has caused or will reasonably be expected to produce severe psychosis, severe neurotic disorder, severe depression, severe developmental delay or intellectual disability, or severe impairment of the child’s ability to function adequately in the child’s environment, and the knowing failure to protect a child from such conduct;
Tenn.Code Ann. § 37-1-102(b)(23)(A) and (B).
We have previously outlined the significant repercussions that flow from a finding of severe child abuse:
A finding of severe child abuse has serious ramifications:
A finding of severe abuse triggers other statutory provisions, including a prohibition on returning the child to the home of any person who engaged in or knowingly permitted the abuse absent consideration of various reports and recommendations. Tenn.Code Ann. § 37-1-130(c). Even with such consideration,
No child who has been found to be a victim of severe child abuse shall be returned to such custody at any time unless the court finds on the basis of clear and convincing evidence that the child will be provided a safe home free from further such brutality and abuse.
Tenn.Code Ann. § 37-1—130(d). Further, Tenn.Code Ann. § 37-1-130(g)(4)(A) provides that reasonable efforts to reunify a family are not required to be made if a court has determined that a parent has subjected the child or a sibling to severe child [abuse].
The most serious consequence of a finding that a parent has committed severe child abuse is that such a finding, in and of itself, constitutes a ground for termination of parental rights. Tenn.Code Ann. § 37 — 1—130(g)(4) (“the parent or guardian has been found to have' committed severe child abuse as defined in § 37-1-102, under any prior order of a court.”) The ground itself is proved by a prior court order finding severe child abuse, and the issue of whether abuse occurred is not re-litigated at the termination hearing.
[DCS v.] M.S., 2005 WL 549141, at *10. Thus, if there is a finding of severe child abuse, under the statutes, DCS is relieved of the obligation to use reasonable efforts to reunify the child with the parent, it is more difficult for the parent to regain custody, and one ground for termination of the parent’s parental rights is effectively established.
In re Samaria S., 347 S.W.3d at 201.
This case presents a textbook example of the confluence of circumstances that are presented with unfortunate regularity in cases of alleged child abuse. A preverbal infant or child sustains serious injuries, the only witnesses to the injuries are the parents or caregivers who maintain that the injuries result from an innocent misunderstanding or inexplicable mystery, and testimony by medical personnel whose role is to opine as to the most likely cause of the child’s injuries, not to identify the perpetrator. We will analyze the proof in this case, applying the clear and convincing evidence standard to the statutory definition of “severe child abuse.” As explained below, the evidence in this record clearly and convincingly shows severe child abuse of infant J. J.
Under the clear and convincing evidence standard, it is important to “distinguish between the specific facts found by the trial court and the combined weight of those facts.” In re Tiffany B., 228 S.W.3d 148, 156 (Tenn.Ct.App.2007). Each specific underlying fact need only be established by a preponderance of the evidence. Such specific underlying facts include whether a particular injury suffered by the child was the result of nonaccidental trauma, and whether the caregiver’s conduct with respect to the injury was “knowing.” Once these specific underlying facts are established by a preponderance of the evidence, the court must step back to look at the combined weight of all of those facts, to see if they clearly and convincingly show severe child abuse.
It is also important to understand the threshold for finding that a parent or caregiver’s conduct was “knowing.” In child abuse cases, the parent or caregiver may deny that the injury was purposefully inflicted, and where the injuries are inflicted on preverbal infants and children, there is often no witness to the injury other than the parent or caregiver. The “knowing” element can and often must be gleaned from circumstantial evidence, including but not limited to, medical expert testimony on the likelihood that the injury occurred in the manner described by the parent or caregiver. Moreover, “knowing” conduct by a parent or caregiver is not limited to conduct intended to cause injury:
The term “knowing” as used in Section 37-1-102(b)(23) is not defined by statute .... In the context of the dependency and neglect statutes, the term has been described as follows:
We consider a person’s conduct to be “knowing,” and a person to act or fail to act “knowingly,” when he or she has actual knowledge of the relevant facts and circumstances or when he or she is either in deliberate ignorance of or in reckless disregard of the information that has been presented to him or her.
In re Caleb J.B.W., No. E2009-01996-COA-R3-PT, 2010 WL 2787848, at *5, 2010 Tenn.App. LEXIS 447 (Tenn.Ct.App. July 14, 2010) (citing In re R.C.P., 2004 Tenn.App. LEXIS 449, 2004 WL 1567122, at *7); see also In re H.L.F., 297 S.W.3d 223, 236 (Tenn.Ct.App.2009).
In re Samaria S., 347 S.W.3d at 206. In the case of In re Samaria S., the premature twin infants at issue were diagnosed with severe failure to thrive. The appellant mother had low intellectual functioning and argued that her failure to feed her premature infants correctly was not “knowing” because she did not have the intellectual ability to understand the hospital’s feeding instructions or to grasp and appreciate the risk to her children. Id. at 205-06. The mother also testified that she in fact fed the children properly. Id. at 207. On appeal, the Court affirmed the trial court’s factual finding that the mother’s conduct was knowing. Even given the mother’s low intellectual capacity, she acted in reckless disregard of the hospital’s painstaking instructions on how to feed the premature twin infants, and her patently false claim that she in fact fed them properly indicated that she acted in a “state of awareness.” Id. at 206-07. The appellate court held that the combined weight of the specific facts showed clearly and convincingly that the infant twins were subjected to severe child abuse. Id. at 207.
With these standards in mind, we analyze the evidence in the case at bar. We look first at the evidence on J.J.’s rib fractures. Dr. Lakin’s testimony was plain: the rib fractures were caused by nonaccidental trauma. Rib fractures along the infant’s side, and especially rib fractures in the infant’s back near the spine, Dr. Lakin said, had to result from substantial compression of the infant’s rib cage, such as “somebody squeezing a baby really hard....” Neither Mother nor Father offered any explanation, and of course newborn J.J. could not say who inflicted such fractures on him. But we need not have an admission by Mother or an eyewitness to find Mother responsible for J.J.’s rib fractures. The record indicates that only Mother and Father took care of J.J., and Mother conceded that she was the primary caregiver. “Serious bodily injury” to a child includes “a fracture of any bone,” and Dr. Lakin’s testimony establishes that J.J.’s rib fractures resulted from nonacci-dental trauma in the form of very hard compression. Under these circumstances, the evidence preponderates in favor of a finding that Mother either knowingly inflicted the serious bodily injury on J.J. or knowingly failed to protect him from the serious bodily injury. See Tenn.Code Ann. § 37-1-102(b)(28)(A); DCS v. Byrd, No. W2011-01249-COA-R3-JV, 2012 WL 525518, at *3 (Tenn.Ct.App. Feb. 17, 2012) (citing medical testimony that posterior rib fractures in an infant “are very, very highly specific fractures for abusive trauma from front to back compression”).
We look next at the evidence on J.J.’s diagnosis of failure to thrive. The record shows that J.J. began life at a healthy weight, in the 25th percentile for newborn infants. A mere four months later, he was “off the chart,” below the 3rd percentile on the growth chart in both weight and height, with a head circumference only in the 10th percentile. Mother, unquestionably the primary caregiver, explained that this was the result of a simple misunderstanding on how to mix the formula provided to her by WIC.
Perhaps. It is worth noting that by the time J.J. was born, Mother was an experienced parent with two older children. Unlike the parent in In re Samaria S., there is no evidence in the record that Mother’s intellectual ability is so low that it would compromise her ability to understand how to mix infant formula or feed her child.
But even if the Court puts aside our skepticism of Mother’s explanation and accepts it at face value, the evidence in the record preponderates in favor of a finding that Mother engaged in “knowing ... neglect that is likely to cause serious bodily injury.” Tenn.Code Ann. § 37-1-102(b)(23)(A). In this case, it is undisputed that when Mother brought two-month-old J.J. to the WIC Clinic to obtain infant formula, the Clinic personnel told her that J.J. was underweight, not gaining weight properly, and needed to be examined by a physician. It is also undisputed that Mother ignored this directive. As a result, by the time J.J. was transported to the Le Bonheur emergency room two months later, his weight had fallen through the floor of the infant growth chart, and his head circumference was alarmingly small. Thus, Mother continued to starve J.J., acting “either in deliberate ignorance of or in reckless disregard of the information that ha[d] been presented to ... her.” In re Samaria S., 347 S.W.3d at 206 (quoting In re Caleb J.B.W., 2010 WL 2787848, at *5). “She deliberately closed ... her eyes to avoid knowing what was taking place.” In re R.C.P., 2004 WL 1567122, at *7 n. 12, 2004 Tenn.App. LEXIS 449, at *25 n. 12.
This Court has, on previous occasions, found that a parent’s knowing failure to meet an infant’s “basic life sustaining need for nutrition” can constitute severe child abuse. See e.g., In re Keara J., No. E2011-00850-COA-R3-PT, 2012 WL 114163, at *9 (Tenn.Ct.App. Jan. 13, 2012). The evidence at trial showed that J.J., by that time two years old, was not yet talking, but communicated mainly by shrieking, indicating he in fact suffered developmental delay. See In re Keara J., 2012 WL 114163, at *4, *9-10 (discussing the significance of diminished head circumference and failure to meet developmental milestones such as talking). The evidence in the record preponderates in favor of a finding that Mother knowingly neglected to meet J.J.’s “basic life sustaining need for nutrition ...,” neglect that is likely to cause serious bodily injury. See id. at *9.
We consider next J.J.’s femur fracture. At the outset, we acknowledge that the trial court is charged with assessing the credibility of the witnesses, and except in rare instances, the appellate court gives great deference to the trial court’s determination as to the witnesses’ credibility. Keyt v. Keyt, 244 S.W.3d 321, 327 (Tenn.2007). In the instant case, the trial court expressly credited Dr. Lakin’s expert testimony and relied on it in finding that Mother’s children were dependent and neglected. Moreover, the trial court declined to credit Mother’s assertion that her children’s numerous injuries were simply the result of “a ridiculously bad stream of luck.” Our analysis is premised on the trial court’s assessment of the witnesses’ credibility.
In declining to find severe abuse of J.J., the trial court below pointed out Dr. Lakin’s testimony that it was “possible” that J.J.’s femur was fractured in the manner Mother described, ie., that JJ.’s leg became entangled in the slats of his crib and she inadvertently injured him when she pulled his leg out of the crib slats. This portion of Dr. Lakin’s testimony is noteworthy, but does not preclude a factual finding that J.J.’s femur fracture did not occur in the way Mother described. To support a factual finding of nonacci-dental trauma, the expert testimony need not exclude every other conceivable possibility; again, the standard of proof for the specific underlying facts in a dependency and neglect proceeding is a preponderance of the evidence.
To recap the evidence, Mother testified that JJ.’s leg became “stuck” in the crib slats “just above the knee” and the fracture occurred when she “pulled his leg out.” When Dr. Lakin testified that there was “always a possibility” that J.J.’s fracture occurred in this manner, she also added: “It was up pretty high though” and went on to explain why she thought the fracture did not occur in this manner. Dr. Lakin said that the fracture in J.J.’s femur was not a spiral fracture that can result from twisting or torsion, nor was it a typical accidental fracture that occurs in the midshaft of the bone. Either type of fracture would have been more consistent with Mother’s description. Dr. Lakin testified that JJ.’s femur fraction occurred very high, near the end of the bone, and was a straight-across break “like you take a stick and you snap it.” Such a fracture, she testified, raises concern for nonaccidental trauma because it is more likely to occur where there is direct trauma, a “direct blow[ ] to the bone[ ].”
When we juxtapose Mother’s explanation against Dr. Lakin’s testimony, and take care to consider Dr. Lakin’s testimony as a whole, we must conclude that the evidence preponderates in favor of a factual finding that J.J.’s femur fracture did not occur in the manner Mother suggests but was the result of nonaccidental trauma.
We now step back to consider “the combined weight of the facts, either as found by the trial court or supported by a preponderance of the evidence,” to determine whether they “establish clearly and convincingly that the parent committed severe child abuse.” In re Samaria S., 347 S.W.3d at 200 (citing Cornelius, 314 S.W.3d at 906-07). The underlying specific facts supported by a preponderance of the evidence are: (1) Mother knowingly failed to meet newborn J.J.’s basic nutritional needs, resulting in severe failure to thrive; (2) Mother either inflicted J.J.’s rib fractures by compression or failed to protect him from such nonaccidental trauma; (3) JJ.’s femur fracture did not occur the way Mother claims, but instead was inflicted by Mother by nonaccidental trauma. In looking at the combined weight of all of the facts in the record, we also consider Mother’s improbable explanation that sister C.J. suffered skull fractures on both sides of her head as an infant by rolling off a couch, twice; Mother’s reluctance to bring J.J. for medical treatment for a clearly serious injury to his leg; Mother’s failure to accompany J.J. to the hospital to explain his injury to medical personnel for the supposed reason that she had to pay a light bill instead; and Father’s uneasy un-communicativeness when Dr. Lakin questioned him about J.J.’s femur fracture.
Even in the absence of an admission by Mother or direct eyewitness testimony, when we consider all of these specific underlying facts, there can be no mistake about the picture that emerges. The combined weight of these facts clearly and convincingly establishes that Mother committed severe abuse of her infant son J.J.
Conclusion
In sum, we find clear and convincing evidence in the record to support the trial court’s finding that children S.J., C.J., and J.J. were all dependent and neglected children, and so affirm that holding. We reverse the trial court’s holding that the evidence does not support a finding of severe child abuse as to infant J.J. We hold that the evidence in the record clearly and convincingly establishes that Mother subjected her infant son to severe child abuse under Tennessee Code Annotated §§ 37-1-129(a)(2) and 37-1-102(b)(23)(A)(i).
The decision of the trial court is affirmed in part and reversed in part, as set forth in this Opinion. Costs on appeal are assessed against S.F., for which execution may issue if necessary.
. The Juvenile Court's order is perplexing. It first sustains the original petition to find the children dependent and neglected and recites that the court had granted custody to the maternal aunt and uncle. It then states that the aunt and uncle informed DCS that they were no longer willing to take custody of Mother’s daughters, and there were no other relatives willing to take custody. Then, without further explanation, the same order awards custody to Mother only, not to Father, and dismisses the petition.
. While DCS cites Tennessee Code Annotated § 37-l-201(21)(A), this section has since been recodified as Section 37-1-20 l(b)(23)(A)(i). For clarity, we will refer to the "severe child abuse” definition currently found in Section 37 — 1—102(b)(23)(A)(i).
. The record is unclear as to whether the Juvenile Court conducted one hearing or two hearings on the same date.
. While Father was present at the Juvenile Court proceeding with appointed counsel, Father did not appeal the Juvenile Court’s ruling to the circuit court and is not a party to this appeal.
. Hibbler did not explain how the ongoing DCS investigation hindered DCS from taking the children into protective custody at that time.
. Mother testified that she eventually went to Le Bonheur, but Dr. Lakin said she saw only Father. As discussed infra, the history Dr. Lakin took from Father indicated that even after the parents realized JJ.’s leg might be broken, Mother did not want to take the child to the hospital.
. Tennessee Code Annotated § 39 — 15—402(d) states: " 'Serious bodily injury to the child’ includes, but is not limited to, second- or third-degree burns, a fracture of any bone, a concussion, subdural or subarachnoid bleeding, retinal hemorrhage, cerebral edema, brain contusion, injuries to the skin that involve severe bruising or the likelihood of permanent or protracted disfigurement, including those sustained by whipping children with objects.”
. We note that Section 37-1—130(d) has since been amended.
. The trial court noted this portion of Dr. Lakin's testimony in its order sustaining the petition for dependency and neglect. However, as noted above, the trial court did not make an express determination as to severe abuse in this order, so the appellate court remanded the matter to the trial court for an explicit determination. On remand, the trial court declined to hold that J.J. suffered severe abuse, but did not give a reason. Putting the two orders together, we surmise that Dr. La-kin’s testimony that Mother's version of events was "always a possibility” was the reason the trial court declined to find severe abuse, and we go on to decide the matter so as not to delay resolution of the status of these children. We note, however, that Rule 52.01 of the Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure requires the trial court to state expressly its findings of fact and conclusions of law, even where the parties do not request it. Tenn. R. Civ. P. 52.01. If the trial court fails to do so, its decision is normally vacated and the cause remanded for such findings and conclusions; however, the appellate court may, in some circumstances, "soldier on” in the absence of them. See Town of Middleton v. City of Bolivar, No. W2011-01592-COA-R3-CV, 2012 WL 2865960, at *26 (Tenn.Ct.App. July 13, 2012).
|
Imagemagick (convert: pixels are not authentic)
I have a command-line that outputs an image as intended but gives me an error on completion of convert: pixels are not authentic. Why could this be happening?
I am using ImageMagick 6.9.2-8 Q16 x86_64 2015-12-06 in Term2 on OSX El Capitan.
The command / output / error :
convert -verbose artwork.jpg -resize 1800x \
\( +clone -gravity center -background white -extent 2000x2000 \) \
\( -clone 1 displaceY.png -compose displace -define compose:args=0x5% -composite \) \
\( -clone 2 -gravity west displaceX.png -compose displace -define compose:args=5x0% -composite \) \
-delete 0--2 \( +clone alpha.png -compose copy_opacity -composite \) -delete 0 out.png
artwork.jpg JPEG 2952x2124 2952x2124+0+0 8-bit sRGB 911KB 0.000u 0:00.000
displaceY.png PNG 2000x2000 2000x2000+0+0 8-bit sRGB 109KB 0.000u 0:00.000
displaceX.png PNG 2400x2400 2400x2400+0+0 8-bit sRGB 104KB 0.000u 0:00.000
alpha.png PNG 2000x2000 2000x2000+0+0 8-bit sRGB 63.9KB 0.000u 0:00.000
artwork.jpg=>out.png JPEG 2952x2124=>2000x2000 2000x2000+0+0 8-bit sRGB 572KB 0.000u 0:00.000
convert: pixels are not authentic `artwork.jpg' @ error/cache.c/QueueAuthenticPixelCacheNexus/4017.
It's hard to debug without the files and without knowing what you are trying to achieve, but I'll say what I see and maybe that will help. Here is what I think you have in the various layers:
0 - artwork 1800px wide
1 - artwork extended to 2000x2000
2 - clone of (1)
3 - clone of (2)
and then we come to the last line... and you delete 0--2 which is suspicious, did you mean 0-2, because 0--2 is actually 0,1.
So what did you mean to have in your image list after this -delete 0--2, I mean, how many images? I guess you meant to have 1 left.
Then you clone it, why do you do that? You could just copy the opacity right onto it and then you wouldn't need a -delete at the end?
Thanks Mark. That is the correct order and operation. There seems to be a relation to the use of clone but not sure exactly how yet. The deletes Are made after I inspect the index images and currently delete whats needed for the output. I like your suggestion for the last delete statement though.
No one can answer why this may have been happening but most could agree there is a better way of doing it, a few of these produce no error. It seems to be related to using clone request after a certain point in the chain.
Here are two commands that resolve this issue and provide the correct output image:
convert artwork.jpg +repage -thumbnail 1800x -gravity center -background white -extent 2000x2000 \
-gravity northwest displaceY.png +repage -compose over -compose displace -define compose:args=0x5% -composite \
-gravity northwest displaceX.png +repage -compose over -compose displace -define compose:args=5x0% -composite \
-gravity center alpha.png -compose over -compose copy_opacity -composite final.png
or
convert artwork.jpg +repage -thumbnail 1800x -gravity center -background white -extent 2000x2000 \
-gravity northwest displaceX.png displaceY.png +repage -compose over -compose displace -define compose:args=0x5% -composite \
-gravity center alpha.png -compose over -compose copy_opacity -composite final.png
Thanks to Fred over in the ImageMagick forums.
|
/* eslint-disable react/prop-types */
import Select from 'react-select'
import React from 'react'
import { withTheme } from 'styled-components'
const StyledSelect = props => {
const { theme, ...rest } = props
const {
borderStyle,
borderWidth,
colorBackground,
colorBackgroundHue,
colorBorder,
colorPrimary,
colorTextPlaceholder,
colorText,
colorTextReverse,
fontInterface,
fontSizeBase,
gridUnit,
lineHeightBase,
} = theme
const stylesFromTheme = {
container: base => ({
...base,
minWidth: '200px',
}),
control: (base, state) => {
const myBase = {
backgroundColor: colorBackground,
border: 0,
borderBottom: `${borderWidth} ${borderStyle} ${colorBorder}`,
borderRadius: 0,
color: colorText,
display: 'flex',
flex: '0 1 auto',
fontFamily: fontInterface,
fontSize: fontSizeBase,
lineHeight: lineHeightBase,
padding: gridUnit,
}
if (state.isFocused) {
return {
...myBase,
borderBottom: `${borderWidth} ${borderStyle} ${colorPrimary}`,
}
}
return myBase
},
indicatorSeparator: base => ({
...base,
display: 'none',
}),
input: base => ({
...base,
margin: 0,
}),
menu: base => ({
...base,
border: `${borderWidth} ${borderStyle} ${colorBorder}`,
borderRadius: 0,
boxShadow: 'none',
flex: '0 1 100%',
marginTop: gridUnit / 4,
}),
menuList: base => ({
...base,
}),
option: (base, state) => {
const myBase = {
...base,
backgroundColor: colorBackground,
color: colorText,
fontFamily: fontInterface,
fontSize: fontSizeBase,
lineHeight: lineHeightBase,
}
if (state.isSelected) {
return {
...myBase,
backgroundColor: colorPrimary,
color: colorTextReverse,
}
}
if (state.isFocused) {
return {
...myBase,
backgroundColor: colorBackgroundHue,
color: colorText,
}
}
if (state.isDisabled) {
return {
...myBase,
':active': {
...base[':active'],
backgroundColor: colorBackground,
},
backgroundColor: colorBackground,
color: colorBorder,
cursor: 'not-allowed',
}
}
return {
...myBase,
}
},
placeholder: base => ({
...base,
margin: 0,
color: colorTextPlaceholder,
}),
valueContainer: base => ({
...base,
padding: 0,
}),
multiValue: base => ({
...base,
color: colorText,
backgroundColor: colorBackgroundHue,
}),
multiValueLabel: base => ({
...base,
color: colorText,
}),
multiValueRemove: base => ({
...base,
color: colorText,
':hover': {
backgroundColor: colorBackgroundHue,
color: colorPrimary,
},
}),
dropdownIndicator: (base, state) => ({
...base,
padding: 6,
transition: 'all .2s ease',
transform: state.selectProps.menuIsOpen ? 'rotate(180deg)' : null,
}),
menuPlacement: base => ({
...base,
}),
singleValue: (base, state) => ({
...base,
opacity: state.isDisabled ? 0.5 : 1,
transition: 'opacity 300ms',
}),
singleValueRemove: base => ({
...base,
}),
clearIndicator: base => ({
...base,
margin: 0,
color: colorText,
':hover': {
color: colorPrimary,
},
}),
loadingIndicator: base => ({
...base,
color: colorTextPlaceholder,
}),
}
return (
<Select classNamePrefix="react-select" {...rest} styles={stylesFromTheme} />
)
}
export default withTheme(StyledSelect)
|
Microstructure and Properties of TiN/TiCN/Al 2 O 3 /TiN Coating Enhanced by High-Current Pulsed Electron Beam
: In this work, a TiN/TiCN/Al 2 O 3 /TiN coating deposited onto cemented carbide matrix by chemical vapor deposition was irradiated by high-current pulsed electron beam (HCPEB). The influence of pulse times on the phase composition, microstructure, and mechanical properties of the coating investigated. The results showed that no new phase was produced, the grain size of the coating surface was refined, the surface became flat, and the surface roughness decreased after HCPEB treatment. The TiN/TiCN/Al 2 O 3 /TiN coating presented a smooth surface with good mechanical performance after HCPEB. A maximum hardness was obtained after 15 pulses, and the 15-pulse irradiated coating showed better wear resistance. The improvement in the coating’s performance after irradiation was mainly attributed to the formation of grain refinement and crystal defects, as well as the change of stress field inside the coating. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of HCPEB modification in the preparation of high-performance coating by analyzing the microstructure and property of coating under different pulses.
Introduction
WC-Co cemented carbide holds a significant position in the modern manufacturing and processing field due to its characteristics of high hardness, strength, and excellent wear resistance [1][2][3].However, the rapid development of the modern manufacturing industry has higher and higher requirements for the service performance and production efficiency of cemented carbide tools; under high-speed cutting conditions, the interaction between the tool and the cutting workpiece is enhanced, resulting in serious wear and deformation, reducing the performance and life of the tool.Therefore, it is challenging to fulfill the requirements of modern manufacturing and processing.
In view of the above problems, coating one or more layers of high hardness and good wear resistance on the cemented carbide matrix has become an effective solution [4][5][6][7].TiN is a very hard and wear-resistant material that is widely used in various industries on account of its high hardness and chemical stability.The thermal expansion coefficient of TiN is similar to that of high-speed steel, and the thermal stress generated during the cutting process is small, so it is the earliest coating material used on the surface of high-speed steel tools [8,9].In addition, TiN also has a wide range of applications in molds, medical devices, auto parts, and decorative coatings [10][11][12].However, TiN is prone to oxidation during processing, limiting its application in high-temperature working conditions, for which ternary coating begins to appear [13,14].TiCN, developed from TiC Coatings 2024, 14, 378 2 of 14 and TiN, combines the advantages of both and has better wear resistance.TiCN prepared by medium temperature chemical vapor deposition (MT-CVD) not only has less cracks and high toughness, but also has improved surface finish, and is widely used in tribological research and processing of stainless steel and ductile iron [15,16].In addition, TiCN coating is used in protective films for automotive parts and biomedical instruments due to its excellent oxidation resistance, high hardness, and good wear resistance [17][18][19].Al 2 O 3 is widely used in the field of coating materials because of its excellent thermal stability and can still have excellent performance at high temperatures [20,21].It has also been reported that, compared to single-layer coating, multi-layer structured coating exhibits superior mechanical and frictional performance [22,23].
However, the coating prepared by CVD usually limits the performance of the coating tool because of the large surface roughness, large residual stress, cracks, and other problems [24][25][26], so it is necessary to eliminate these unfavorable factors through post-treatment technology.In recent years, high-current pulsed electron beam (HCPEB) treatment, as a new surface treatment technology, can induce surface melting followed by rapid curing, resulting in a significant change in structure, consequently affecting its mechanical, and other, properties [27,28].HCPEB treatment can induce crater eruptions of materials with irregular composition and structure, purify or homogenize the melted surface, and also form a remelt protective layer [29].The rapid heating and cooling of HCPEB make the surface of the material obtain the self-quenching effect, so as to obtain the ultra-fine grain [30].In addition, HCPEB treatment can induce the stress field inside the material, and at the same time, strong plastic deformation occurs under the action of thermodynamic coupling.This non-equilibrium process can change the growth orientation of the grain, and then affect its texture transformation [31].Guan et al. [32] explored the impact of HCPEB treatment on TiAlN coating, and the results showed that the grain refinement, transition zone formation, and residual stress regulation of TiAlN coating after HCPEB irradiation were the reasons for improving its mechanical and tribological properties.Guo et al. [33] studied the effect of HCPEB modification on the structure and tribology of cold-sprayed Al coating.The results showed that electron beam irradiation not only eliminated cracks and defects on the surface of the coating, but also formed a remelted layer with higher hardness and compressive stress values, thus enhanced wear resistance.Many researchers have suggested that HCPEB irradiation can effectively improve the mechanical properties of various coatings.However, the research on the treatment of multi-layer coating by HCPEB is not complete at present, and HCPEB has gaps in the field of cemented carbide.Therefore, the surface treatment of coating by HCPEB to improve their structure and properties needs further research.
In this work, the HCPEB surface modification of the TiN/TiCN/Al 2 O 3 /TiN coating prepared by chemical vapor deposition was investigated.The structure transformation of the TiN/TiCN/Al 2 O 3 /TiN coating before and after HCPEB treatment was characterized in detail, and the mechanism for the improvement of the coating properties was explored.This work will provide a possibility to improve the coating preparation technology and provide a new technology path and application prospect for the coating industry.
Preparation of Substrate and Coating
WC-Co cemented carbide was prepared by powder metallurgy as the base material of cutting tools.Firstly, the WC powder (94 wt.%) and Co powder (6 wt.%) were fully mixed with the forming agent.Subsequently, alcohol was utilized for ball milling to ensure effective amalgamation between the powder particles.The resultant dry mixture was then molded into a block body and subsequently sintered to form the cemented carbide matrix.Figure 1 shows the flow chart of cemented carbide matrix preparation.The cemented carbide matrix was cut and polished into blocks measuring 12 mm × 12 mm × 4.8 mm.Subsequently, the sample was subjected to edge passivation treatment to alleviate stress concentration, followed by ultrasonic cleaning in acetone and alcohol solutions.Finally, the samples were thoroughly dried in an oven in preparation for the coating process.
Coatings 2024, 14, x FOR PEER REVIEW 3 of 14 mm.Subsequently, the sample was subjected to edge passivation treatment to alleviate stress concentration, followed by ultrasonic cleaning in acetone and alcohol solutions.Finally, the samples were thoroughly dried in an oven in preparation for the coating process.A TiN/TiCN/Al2O3/TiN coating was deposited on cemented carbide using CVD equipment with the model BernexTM BPXpro from Zhuzhou Cemented Carbide Cutting Tools co., Ltd, Hunan, China.
The deposition of TiN coating was carried out under conditions of 900 °C temperature and 200 kPa pressure, and utilized N2 and TiCl4 as the N source and Ti source, respectively.The gas ratio of N2 to TiCl4 was maintained at 1:30.The chemical reaction is: The deposition of TiCN coating was carried out under conditions of 885 °C temperature and 60 kPa pressure.The process involved using CH3CN as the source for C and N, and TiCl4 as the source for Ti.The gas ratio of TiCl4 to CH3CN was maintained at 2:1.The chemical reaction is: The deposition of Al2O3 coating was carried out under conditions of 1000 °C temperature and 65 kPa pressure.In this process, the reaction between CO2 and H2 produced gaseous H2O, which subsequently reacted with AlCl3 to form Al2O3. H2S was added as a catalyst to enhance the deposition rate during the deposition process.The gas ratio AlCl3 to CO2 to H2S was maintained at 5:18:1.The chemical reaction is: Finally, a TiN (~0.5 µm) + TiCN (~10 µm) + Al2O3 (~5 µm) + TiN (~1 µm) multilayer coating was deposited on the YG6 cemented carbide.
HCPEB Treatment
High-current pulsed electron beam (HCPEB) treatment ("Hope-I" type) was conducted on TiN/TiCN/Al2O3/TiN coating.The treatment conditions were set as follows: accelerating voltage of 27 keV, energy density of 5 J/cm 2 , background vacuum of 5.5 × 10 −3 Pa, pulse duration of 1.5 µs with a 10-s pulse interval.The diameter of the beam spot was A TiN/TiCN/Al 2 O 3 /TiN coating was deposited on cemented carbide using CVD equipment with the model BernexTM BPXpro from Zhuzhou Cemented Carbide Cutting Tools Co., Ltd., Hunan, China.
The deposition of TiN coating was carried out under conditions of 900 • C temperature and 200 kPa pressure, and utilized N 2 and TiCl 4 as the N source and Ti source, respectively.The gas ratio of N 2 to TiCl 4 was maintained at 1:30.The chemical reaction is: The deposition of TiCN coating was carried out under conditions of 885 • C temperature and 60 kPa pressure.The process involved using CH 3 CN as the source for C and N, and TiCl 4 as the source for Ti.The gas ratio of TiCl 4 to CH 3 CN was maintained at 2:1.The chemical reaction is: The deposition of Al 2 O 3 coating was carried out under conditions of 1000 • C temperature and 65 kPa pressure.In this process, the reaction between CO 2 and H 2 produced gaseous H 2 O, which subsequently reacted with AlCl 3 to form Al 2 O 3 .H 2 S was added as a catalyst to enhance the deposition rate during the deposition process.The gas ratio AlCl 3 to CO 2 to H 2 S was maintained at 5:18:1.The chemical reaction is: Finally, a TiN (~0.5 µm) + TiCN (~10 µm) + Al 2 O 3 (~5 µm) + TiN (~1 µm) multilayer coating was deposited on the YG6 cemented carbide.
HCPEB Treatment
High-current pulsed electron beam (HCPEB) treatment ("Hope-I" type) was conducted on TiN/TiCN/Al 2 O 3 /TiN coating.The treatment conditions were set as follows: accelerating voltage of 27 keV, energy density of 5 J/cm 2 , background vacuum of 5.5 × 10 −3 Pa, pulse duration of 1.5 µs with a 10-s pulse interval.The diameter of the beam spot was maintained at 45 mm to ensure that the sample was completely irradiated, and the number of pulses were 5, 10, 15, and 20.The schematic diagram of the HCPEB system is depicted in Figure 2.
Coatings 2024, 14, x FOR PEER REVIEW 4 of 14 maintained at 45 mm to ensure that the sample was completely irradiated, and the number of pulses were 5, 10, 15, and 20.The schematic diagram of the HCPEB system is depicted in Figure 2.
Characterization
X-ray diffraction (XRD) with CuKα radiation was used to characterize the surface phase composition of the coating.The microstructure before and after HCPEB was observed with a Nova/Nano-450 Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive spectroscopy EDS) from School of Materials, Jiangsu University, China.Surface roughness measurement was conducted by an Olympus LEXT OLS4100-type three-dimensional laser scanning microscope (3D-LSM).
The parameter of microhardness measurement was a working load of 500 g for 15 s, averaging ten measurements for accuracy.The friction and wear experiment were performed with SFT-2M equipment (from School of Materials, Jiangsu University, China), using a Si3N4 steel ball at 230 mm/min for 30 min under a load of 10 N and averaging three measurements for accuracy.The wear rate of the coating was calculated, and the image of the worn surface was investigated with SEM.
Physical Phase Analysis
The XRD patterns of samples before and after HCPEB are displayed in Figure 3.It is obvious that the original coating contains Al2O3, TiCN, and TiN phases, no new phase is observed after HCPEB irradiation, and the peak of TiN phase is reduced.The reason for this is that after HCPEB irradiation, the coating surface temperature increases and melts, and the stress field inside the coatings changes and causes eruption, resulting in a decrease in the peak value.At this time, the main working coatings become Al2O3 and TiCN coatings, so the peaks of Al2O3 (0 1 2) and TiCN (2 2 0) are amplified.The intensity of the two peaks increases, and the peak position shifts to a higher angle in different degrees after HCPEB, with the most noticeable shift occurring after 5 and 15 pulses.According to the
Characterization
X-ray diffraction (XRD) with CuKα radiation was used to characterize the surface phase composition of the coating.The microstructure before and after HCPEB was observed with a Nova/Nano-450 Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive spectroscopy EDS) from School of Materials, Jiangsu University, China.Surface roughness measurement was conducted by an Olympus LEXT OLS4100-type three-dimensional laser scanning microscope (3D-LSM).
The parameter of microhardness measurement was a working load of 500 g for 15 s, averaging ten measurements for accuracy.The friction and wear experiment were performed with SFT-2M equipment (from School of Materials, Jiangsu University, China), using a Si 3 N 4 steel ball at 230 mm/min for 30 min under a load of 10 N and averaging three measurements for accuracy.The wear rate of the coating was calculated, and the image of the worn surface was investigated with SEM.
Physical Phase Analysis
The XRD patterns of samples before and after HCPEB are displayed in Figure 3.It is obvious that the original coating contains Al 2 O 3 , TiCN, and TiN phases, no new phase is observed after HCPEB irradiation, and the peak of TiN phase is reduced.The reason for this is that after HCPEB irradiation, the coating surface temperature increases and melts, and the stress field inside the coatings changes and causes eruption, resulting in a decrease in the peak value.At this time, the main working coatings become Al 2 O 3 and TiCN coatings, so the peaks of Al 2 O 3 (0 1 2) and TiCN (2 2 0) are amplified.The intensity of the two peaks increases, and the peak position shifts to a higher angle in different degrees after HCPEB, with the most noticeable shift occurring after 5 and 15 pulses.According to the Bragg equation, residual compressive stress exists in the coatings under irradiation [34].Compared with 5 and 15 pulses, the peak position of 10 and 20 pulses shifts to a lower angle, indicating that the internal stress of the coating became the residual tensile stress at Coatings 2024, 14, 378 5 of 14 this time.The reason for this phenomenon is that HCPEB irradiation forms impact pressure stress on the surface of the coating, making its crystal lattice shrink [35,36]; at the same time, due to the introduction of dynamic temperature field, thermal stress is generated inside the coating, leading to crystal lattice expansion [37].The interaction between the two causes different degrees of lattice distortion in the coatings, resulting in different stress states inside the coatings.In addition, the broadening of Al 2 O 3 (0 1 2) and TiCN (2 2 0) peaks may be attributed to the formation of grain refinement and crystal defects caused by HCPEB.This will also have a certain impact on its performance.
Coatings 2024, 14, x FOR PEER REVIEW 5 of 14 Bragg equation, residual compressive stress exists in the coatings under irradiation [34].
Compared with 5 and 15 pulses, the peak position of 10 and 20 pulses shifts to a lower angle, indicating that the internal stress of the coating became the residual tensile stress at this time.The reason for this phenomenon is that HCPEB irradiation forms impact pressure stress on the surface of the coating, making its crystal lattice shrink [35,36]; at the same time, due to the introduction of dynamic temperature field, thermal stress is generated inside the coating, leading to crystal lattice expansion [37].The interaction between the two causes different degrees of lattice distortion in the coatings, resulting in different stress states inside the coatings.In addition, the broadening of Al2O3 (0 1 2) and TiCN (2 2 0) peaks may be attributed to the formation of grain refinement and crystal defects caused by HCPEB.This will also have a certain impact on its performance.
Microstructure Analysis
Figure 4 shows the surface morphology of the coating before and after HCPEB treatment.It can be seen from Figure 4a,b that the surface of the original coating is composed of coarse particles with uneven surface distribution.In addition, there are some network microcracks on the surface of the coating, which has a high roughness.After 5 pulses of irradiation, the surface is relatively flat and has no granular feeling, and a relatively small melt pit has been generated (Figure 4c), indicating that the surface coating is melted by electron beam irradiation and then forms into a relatively flat surface after cooling and solidification.A large number of previous studies [38,39] have shown that melt pits are typical features of the surface of materials irradiated by HCPEB.When a high-energy electron beam bombards the surface of materials, a certain region of the subsurface of the material preferentially melts due to the deposition of energy.This results in a rapid expansion of material volume in this area, leading to its eruption from the surface.Subsequently, during the ultra-rapid cooling process, the material solidifies rapidly, forming a melt pit.A bulge-like structure is also found in Figure 4d.Under 10 pulses, a large number of crater phenomena appear, distributed along the direction of cracks, and the size of the crater also increases, indicating that the energy of the electron beam is concentrated and the crater eruption is intense due to poor thermal conductivity between the coatings, leaving a large-sized crater.In addition, the bulge-like morphology of the coating surface still exists and increases.Then, with the increase of pulse times, the number of melt pits gradually decreases, the width of cracks are sutured, and some bulge-like structure appears on the surface.After magnification (Figure 4h,j), it is found that these bulge-like structures
Microstructure Analysis
Figure 4 shows the surface morphology of the coating before and after HCPEB treatment.It can be seen from Figure 4a,b that the surface of the original coating is composed of coarse particles with uneven surface distribution.In addition, there are some network microcracks on the surface of the coating, which has a high roughness.After 5 pulses of irradiation, the surface is relatively flat and has no granular feeling, and a relatively small melt pit has been generated (Figure 4c), indicating that the surface coating is melted by electron beam irradiation and then forms into a relatively flat surface after cooling and solidification.A large number of previous studies [38,39] have shown that melt pits are typical features of the surface of materials irradiated by HCPEB.When a high-energy electron beam bombards the surface of materials, a certain region of the subsurface of the material preferentially melts due to the deposition of energy.This results in a rapid expansion of material volume in this area, leading to its eruption from the surface.Subsequently, during the ultra-rapid cooling process, the material solidifies rapidly, forming a melt pit.A bulge-like structure is also found in Figure 4d.Under 10 pulses, a large number of crater phenomena appear, distributed along the direction of cracks, and the size of the crater also increases, indicating that the energy of the electron beam is concentrated and the crater eruption is intense due to poor thermal conductivity between the coatings, leaving a large-sized crater.In addition, the bulge-like morphology of the coating surface still exists and increases.Then, with the increase of pulse times, the number of melt pits gradually decreases, the width of cracks are sutured, and some bulge-like structure appears on the surface.After magnification (Figure 4h,j), it is found that these bulge-like structures are composed of fine nanoscale grains, indicating that HCPEB can refine the coating grains.The grain refinement phenomenon increases with the increase of pulse times, which also verifies the broadening of XRD diffraction peaks.The phenomenon of grain refinement occurs due to the rapid injection of high energy during HCPEB irradiation, causing ultra-rapid heating and melting, followed by a rapid solidification and cooling of the surface [40,41].In addition, the microcracks on the surface are gradually patched after HCPEB, but still Coatings 2024, 14, 378 6 of 14 exist.Based on this result, the appropriate amount of HCPEB irradiation can cause the surface crack area to melt and fill the microcracks, and subsequent solidification can fill the microcracks and effectively bond the surface microcracks.
are composed of fine nanoscale grains, indicating that HCPEB can refine the coatin grains.The grain refinement phenomenon increases with the increase of pulse time which also verifies the broadening of XRD diffraction peaks.The phenomenon of gra refinement occurs due to the rapid injection of high energy during HCPEB irradiatio causing ultra-rapid heating and melting, followed by a rapid solidification and cooling the surface [40,41].In addition, the microcracks on the surface are gradually patched aft HCPEB, but still exist.Based on this result, the appropriate amount of HCPEB irradiatio can cause the surface crack area to melt and fill the microcracks, and subsequent solidi cation can fill the microcracks and effectively bond the surface microcracks.Figure 5 shows the 3D image and surface roughness curve (Sa) of the coating befo and after HCPEB. Figure 5a shows that the surface roughness of the original coating is th highest, and the surface structure has many raised small particles.As shown in Figure 5 after 5 pulses of HCPEB irradiation, large peaks and craters have formed on the surfa of the coating.After 10 pulses of irradiation (Figure 5c), the number of mountain peak and craters decreases significantly, but the size of pits increases, resulting in an overa flattening of the coating.After 15 pulses of irradiation (Figure 5d), the number of peak further decrease, while the bulges increase, contributing to a relatively smoother surfac However, large-sized pears and bulges become obvious after 20 pulses.HCPEB irradi tion eliminates most of the sharp protrusions and pits; the topography of small pits an peaks are smoothed gradually with the increase of irradiation times and the surface of th coating becomes smoother.This is basically consistent with the analysis results in Figu 4. Figure 5f shows the surface roughness (Sa): the roughness of the initial coating 0.214µm.After 5, 10, 15, and 20 pulses of irradiation, the surface roughness becomes 0.17 0.185, 0.135, and 0.141µm, respectively.After HCPEB irradiation, the roughness decreas significantly, with the lowest being at 15 pulses.This means that when th TiN/TiCN/Al2O3/TiN coating is irradiated by HCPEB, the surface becomes smooth an flat, which can effectively reduce its roughness.Figure 5 shows the 3D image and surface roughness curve (Sa) of the coating before and after HCPEB. Figure 5a shows that the surface roughness of the original coating is the highest, and the surface structure has many raised small particles.As shown in Figure 5b, after 5 pulses of HCPEB irradiation, large peaks and craters have formed on the surface of the coating.After 10 pulses of irradiation (Figure 5c), the number of mountain peaks and craters decreases significantly, but the size of pits increases, resulting in an overall flattening of the coating.After 15 pulses of irradiation (Figure 5d), the number of peaks further decrease, while the bulges increase, contributing to a relatively smoother surface.However, large-sized pears and bulges become obvious after 20 pulses.HCPEB irradiation eliminates most of the sharp protrusions and pits; the topography of small pits and peaks are smoothed gradually with the increase of irradiation times and the surface of the coating becomes smoother.This is basically consistent with the analysis results in Figure 4. Figure 5f shows the surface roughness (Sa): the roughness of the initial coating is 0.214 µm.After 5, 10, 15, and 20 pulses of irradiation, the surface roughness becomes 0.177, 0.185, 0.135, and 0.141 µm, respectively.After HCPEB irradiation, the roughness decreases significantly, with the lowest being at 15 pulses.This means that when the TiN/TiCN/Al 2 O 3 /TiN coating is irradiated by HCPEB, the surface becomes smooth and flat, which can effectively reduce its roughness.
Figure 6 shows the cross-section morphology and line-scanning analysis of TiN/TiCN/ Al 2 O 3 /TiN coating before and after HCPEB irradiation.From Figure 6a,b, it can be seen that the TiCN (~11 µm) + Al 2 O 3 (~6 µm) + TiN (~1 µm) coating was actually prepared, but the bottom coating TiN was too thin and was not be significantly observed.From the crosssection, the prepared coating is relatively dense, but there are microcracks in the vertical direction and some pores are found in the TiCN coating.The boundary between TiCN and Al 2 O 3 curves is obvious from Figure 6b, which may be caused by the mismatch between the thermal expansion coefficients of the two.After 5 pulses, the surface TiN coating melts and disappears, and the outermost coating becomes Al 2 O 3 when the thickness is reduced.There are a lot of pores and voids in TiCN and Al 2 O 3 coatings, and there are still microcracks.This is because the surface temperature increases during HCPEB irradiation, which causes the reaction between TiN, Al 2 O 3 , and TiCN coatings.In the process of repeated heating, melting, expansion eruption, and cooling solidification, the interface between coatings produces mismatched thermal stress [9], which results in a large number of pores and voids.The line scan data (Figure 6d) shows that the TiCN and Al 2 O 3 curves are tighter than the original coating.The boundary between the coatings becomes blurred and the coating becomes denser because the temperature gradient caused by HCPEB irradiation promotes the diffusion of elements between the coatings.After 10 pulses, the thickness of the Al 2 O 3 coating is further reduced, and no microcracks are observed inside, but the number of pores further increases.After 15 pulses, the pores in the coating are reduced and the coating is relatively smooth and dense, but the pores increase again after 20 pulses.This may be because the effect of HCPEB reaches a critical point at 15 pulses, and subsequent irradiation causes the stress field to be too large, with adverse effects.
4. Figure 5f shows the surface roughness (Sa): the roughness of the initial coating 0.214µm.After 5, 10, 15, and 20 pulses of irradiation, the surface roughness becomes 0.17 0.185, 0.135, and 0.141µm, respectively.After HCPEB irradiation, the roughness decreas significantly, with the lowest being at 15 pulses.This means that when t TiN/TiCN/Al2O3/TiN coating is irradiated by HCPEB, the surface becomes smooth a flat, which can effectively reduce its roughness.Figure 6 shows the cross-section morphology and line-scanning analysis o TiN/TiCN/Al2O3/TiN coating before and after HCPEB irradiation.From Figure 6a,b, it ca be seen that the TiCN (~11 µm) + Al2O3 (~6 µm) + TiN (~1 µm) coating was actually pre pared, but the bottom coating TiN was too thin and was not be significantly observed From the cross-section, the prepared coating is relatively dense, but there are microcrack in the vertical direction and some pores are found in the TiCN coating.The boundar between TiCN and Al2O3 curves is obvious from Figure 6b, which may be caused by th mismatch between the thermal expansion coefficients of the two.After 5 pulses, the su face TiN coating melts and disappears, and the outermost coating becomes Al2O3 whe the thickness is reduced.There are a lot of pores and voids in TiCN and Al2O3 coating and there are still microcracks.This is because the surface temperature increases durin HCPEB irradiation, which causes the reaction between TiN, Al2O3, and TiCN coatings.I the process of repeated heating, melting, expansion eruption, and cooling solidification the interface between coatings produces mismatched thermal stress [9], which results in large number of pores and voids.The line scan data (Figure 6d) shows that the TiCN an Al2O3 curves are tighter than the original coating.The boundary between the coatings be comes blurred and the coating becomes denser because the temperature gradient cause by HCPEB irradiation promotes the diffusion of elements between the coatings.After 1 pulses, the thickness of the Al2O3 coating is further reduced, and no microcracks are ob served inside, but the number of pores further increases.After 15 pulses, the pores in th coating are reduced and the coating is relatively smooth and dense, but the pores increas again after 20 pulses.This may be because the effect of HCPEB reaches a critical point a 15 pulses, and subsequent irradiation causes the stress field to be too large, with advers effects.
Mechanical Properties
The microhardness of TiN/TiCN/Al 2 O 3 /TiN coating before and after HCPEB is shown in Figure 7.The microhardness of the original coating is 2092.10HV.With the increase of irradiation times, the microhardness of the coatings gradually increases to 2212.58 HV, 2307.49HV, 2425.68 HV, and 2210.13HV, respectively.It can be seen that the surface microhardness of the coating first increases and then decreases after HCPEB treatment, reaching a peak at 15 pulses.This is because HCPEB irradiation can form nanoscale grains on the surface of the coating (Figure 4), increase the yield strength of the coating, and then increase the hardness value, that is, fine crystal strengthening.Secondly, the HCPEB treatment induces plastic deformation inside the coating, forming deformation structures such as slip bands.These crystal defects lead to the increase of dislocations in the coating, and thus improve the deformation resistance of the coating, that is, the dislocation strengthening.Finally, the change of stress state inside the coating has a positive effect on the increase in hardness.Anthony et al. [42] found that coating with compressive stress could enhance fatigue life, inhibit crack propagation, and improve the stress resistance of a material.Figure 3 shows that after HCPEB irradiation, residual compressive stress is introduced inside the coating, which can inhibit the expansion of cracks on the coating surface and thus improve its hardness.
Coatings 2024, 14, 378 9 of 14 by HCPEB irradiation promotes the diffusion of elements between the coatings.After pulses, the thickness of the Al2O3 coating is further reduced, and no microcracks are o served inside, but the number of pores further increases.After 15 pulses, the pores in th coating are reduced and the coating is relatively smooth and dense, but the pores increa again after 20 pulses.This may be because the effect of HCPEB reaches a critical point 15 pulses, and subsequent irradiation causes the stress field to be too large, with adver effects.
Mechanical Properties
The microhardness of TiN/TiCN/Al2O3/TiN coating before and after HCPEB is show in Figure 7.The microhardness of the original coating is 2092.10HV.With the increase irradiation times, the microhardness of the coatings gradually increases to 2212.58 H 2307.49 HV, 2425.68 HV, and 2210.13HV, respectively.It can be seen that the surface m crohardness of the coating first increases and then decreases after HCPEB treatmen reaching a peak at 15 pulses.This is because HCPEB irradiation can form nanoscale grai strengthening.Finally, the change of stress state inside the coating has a positive effect on the increase in hardness.Anthony et al. [42] found that coating with compressive stress could enhance fatigue life, inhibit crack propagation, and improve the stress resistance of a material.Figure 3 shows that after HCPEB irradiation, residual compressive stress is introduced inside the coating, which can inhibit the expansion of cracks on the coating surface and thus improve its hardness.Figure 8 shows the friction coefficient and wear rate of TiN/TiCN/Al2O3/TiN before and after HCPEB.The original coating has a higher wear rate of 0.411, while the friction coefficients after HCPEB irradiation are reduced to 0.308, 0.292, 0.183, and 0.367, respectively.The friction coefficient of the coating after 15 pulses is the lowest, and the wear rate of the coating after 15 pulses is also the lowest.The significant improvement of friction and wear properties can be attributed to the increase of hardness, the increase of plastic deformation resistance, and the decrease of surface roughness.As a result, HCPEB treatment effectively enhances the friction and wear properties of the coating, with the 15-pulse coating showing the most superior properties.Figure 8 shows the friction coefficient and wear rate of TiN/TiCN/Al 2 O 3 /TiN before and after HCPEB.The original coating has a higher wear rate of 0.411, while the friction coefficients after HCPEB irradiation are reduced to 0.308, 0.292, 0.183, and 0.367, respectively.The friction coefficient of the coating after 15 pulses is the lowest, and the wear rate of the coating after 15 pulses is also the lowest.The significant improvement of friction and wear properties can be attributed to the increase of hardness, the increase of plastic deformation resistance, and the decrease of surface roughness.As a result, HCPEB treatment effectively enhances the friction and wear properties of the coating, with the 15-pulse coating showing the most superior properties.
the increase in hardness.Anthony et al. [42] found that coating with compressive stress could enhance fatigue life, inhibit crack propagation, and improve the stress resistance of a material.Figure 3 shows that after HCPEB irradiation, residual compressive stress is introduced inside the coating, which can inhibit the expansion of cracks on the coating surface and thus improve its hardness.Figure 8 shows the friction coefficient and wear rate of TiN/TiCN/Al2O3/TiN before and after HCPEB.The original coating has a higher wear rate of 0.411, while the friction coefficients after HCPEB irradiation are reduced to 0.308, 0.292, 0.183, and 0.367, respectively.The friction coefficient of the coating after 15 pulses is the lowest, and the wear rate of the coating after 15 pulses is also the lowest.The significant improvement of friction and wear properties can be attributed to the increase of hardness, the increase of plastic deformation resistance, and the decrease of surface roughness.As a result, HCPEB treatment effectively enhances the friction and wear properties of the coating, with the 15-pulse coating showing the most superior properties.In order to better explain the wear mechanism, the wear image of the TiN/TiCN/Al 2 O 3 / TiN coating before and after HCPEB is shown in Figure 9.The significant grooves can be clearly seen in the original coating; in addition, there are some debris and cracks attached to the surface, the surface of the coating is slightly damaged.At this time, there is mainly abrasive wear.The furrow morphology on the surface is greatly reduced, and debris and dust are attached to a large area of the surface after 5 pulses (Figure 9b), involving adhesive wear and slight abrasive wear.As the pulse times increases, the furrow morphology disappears, and there is a substantial accumulation of debris and abrasion particles (Figure 9c-e), indicating that the mechanism involves mainly adhesive wear.Among them, the wear surface at 15 pulses is relatively smooth, and only some debris are attached to it.This stratification phenomenon is also found in the wear surface at 20 pulses.This observation is consistent with the mechanism analysis results presented earlier for Figures 7 and 8 above.In addition, the improvement of wear performance is also attributed to the role of the surface Al 2 O 3 coating as a protective film.In summary, HCPEB can effectively improve the wear performance of TiN/TiCN/Al 2 O 3 /TiN coating.
cracks attached to the surface, the surface of the coating is slightly damaged.At this tim there is mainly abrasive wear.The furrow morphology on the surface is greatly reduce and debris and dust are attached to a large area of the surface after 5 pulses (Figure 9b involving adhesive wear and slight abrasive wear.As the pulse times increases, the furro morphology disappears, and there is a substantial accumulation of debris and abrasio particles (Figure 9c-e), indicating that the mechanism involves mainly adhesive wea Among them, the wear surface at 15 pulses is relatively smooth, and only some debris a attached to it.This stratification phenomenon is also found in the wear surface at pulses.This observation is consistent with the mechanism analysis results presented ea lier for Figures 7 and 8 above.In addition, the improvement of wear performance is al attributed to the role of the surface Al2O3 coating as a protective film.In summary, HCPE can effectively improve the wear performance of TiN/TiCN/Al2O3/TiN coating.
Conclusions
In this work, TiN/TiCN/Al 2 O 3 /TiN coating deposited onto cemented carbide matrix by chemical vapor deposition was irradiated by high-current pulsed electron beam (HCPEB).The influence of irradiation pulses on the phase composition, microstructure, microhardness, and frictional resistance of these coatings was investigated.The main conclusions are as follows: (1) After HCPEB treatment, the diffraction peak of the coating is widened and strengthened due to the formation of grain refinement and crystal defects.In addition, the stress state inside the coating also changes, and the diffraction peak shifts to a higher angle in different degrees compared with the original coating.(2) After HCPEB treatment, the surface of the coating has a typical melt-pit appearance, and the nanoscale grain appears.In addition, the surface roughness of the coating decreases after irradiation, reaching its minimum at 15 pulses.The thickness of the coating decreases with the increase of pulse time.
(3) HCPEB treatment can effectively improve the surface microhardness of TiN/TiCN/ Al 2 O 3 /TiN coating.The microhardness of the coating increases first and then decreases with the number of pulses, reaching a peak at 15 pulses.(4) HCPEB treatment can improve the friction and wear properties of TiN/TiCN/Al 2 O 3 / TiN coating.The wear mechanism of the original coating is mainly abrasive wear, the friction coefficient decreases after HCPEB irradiation, and the wear morphology is mainly adhesive wear.Among them, the coating wear performance after 15 pulses is the best.(5) It is proved that HCPEB treatment can change the internal structure and improve the hardness and wear resistance of the coating.This work presents the possibility of a new technology for the preparation of high-performance multilayer coatings, and also provides a new technological innovation and application prospect for the coating industry.
Figure 1 .
Figure 1.The flow chart of cemented carbide matrix preparation.
Figure 1 .
Figure 1.The flow chart of cemented carbide matrix preparation.
Figure 3 .
Figure 3. XRD analysis of coatings before and after HCPEB.
Figure 3 .
Figure 3. XRD analysis of coatings before and after HCPEB.
Figure 7 .
Figure 7.The microhardness of coatings before and after HCPEB.
Figure 7 .
Figure 7.The microhardness of coatings before and after HCPEB.
Figure 7 .
Figure 7.The microhardness of coatings before and after HCPEB.
Figure 8 .
Figure 8.(a) Friction coefficients; (b) wear rates of the alloys before and after HCPEB.
|
package com.bendb.example;
import com.bendb.dropwizard.jooq.JooqFactory;
import com.fasterxml.jackson.annotation.JsonProperty;
import io.dropwizard.Configuration;
import io.dropwizard.db.DataSourceFactory;
import io.dropwizard.flyway.FlywayFactory;
import javax.validation.constraints.NotNull;
public class ExampleConfig extends Configuration {
@JsonProperty
@NotNull
private FlywayFactory flyway;
@JsonProperty
@NotNull
private JooqFactory jooq = new JooqFactory(); // Defaults are acceptable
@JsonProperty
@NotNull
private DataSourceFactory databaseMaster;
@JsonProperty
@NotNull
private DataSourceFactory databaseSlave;
public FlywayFactory flyway() {
return flyway;
}
public JooqFactory jooq() {
return jooq;
}
public DataSourceFactory dataSourceFactoryMaster() {
return databaseMaster;
}
public DataSourceFactory dataSourceFactorySlave() {
return databaseSlave;
}
}
|
[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 90 (Tuesday, May 24, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2664-S2665]
INTRODUCTION OF BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
The following bills and joint resolutions were introduced, read the
first and second times by unanimous consent, and referred as indicated:
By Mr. BROWN (for himself, Mr. Casey, Mr. Blumenthal,
Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Wyden, and Mr. Booker):
S. 4289. A bill to prohibit an employer from terminating
the coverage of an employee under a group health plan while
the employer is engaged in a lock-out, and for other
purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and
Pensions.
By Mrs. BLACKBURN (for herself, Mr. Scott of Florida,
Mr. Cassidy, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Braun, Mr.
Cruz, and Mr. Cramer):
S. 4290. A bill to impose certain requirements relating to
the renegotiation or reentry into the Joint Comprehensive
Plan of Action or other agreement relating to Iran's nuclear
program, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Foreign
Relations.
By Mr. KING (for himself and Mr. Cornyn):
S. 4291. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
to increase the standard charitable mileage rate for delivery
of meals to elderly, disabled, frail, and at-risk
individuals; to the Committee on Finance.
By Mr. COTTON (for himself and Ms. Sinema):
S. 4292. A bill to amend the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 to
exclude the audits of privately held, non-custody brokers and
dealers that are in good standing from certain requirements
under title I of that act, and for other purposes; to the
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
By Ms. CANTWELL (for herself and Mr. Grassley):
S. 4293. A bill to prevent unfair and deceptive acts or
practices and the dissemination of false information related
to pharmacy benefit management services for prescription
drugs, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation.
By Ms. ERNST (for herself, Mr. Cruz, Mr. Grassley, Mr.
Marshall, Mr. Daines, and Mr. Scott of Florida):
S. 4294. A bill to terminate certain contracts relating to
the construction of the border fence and to transfer unused
border fence material to the States along the southwest
border; to the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs.
By Mr. WARNER (for himself and Mr. Crapo):
S. 4295. A bill to amend securities and banking laws to
make the information reported to financial regulatory
agencies electronically searchable, to further enable the
development of regulatory technologies and artificial
intelligence applications, to put the United States on a path
towards building a comprehensive Standard Business Reporting
program to ultimately harmonize and reduce the private
sector's regulatory compliance burden, while enhancing
transparency and accountability, and for other purposes; to
the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
By Ms. KLOBUCHAR (for herself and Mr. Blunt):
S. 4296. A bill to reauthorize the Virginia Graeme Baker
Pool and Spa Safety Act, and for other purposes; to the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
By Mr. MANCHIN (for himself, Mr. Rounds, Mr. Heinrich,
Mrs. Capito, Mr. Lujan, Mr. Thune, and Ms. Hassan):
S. 4297. A bill to repeal the VA Asset and Infrastructure
Review Act of 2018; to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
By Mr. WICKER (for himself and Mrs. Fischer):
S. 4298. A bill to require the Transportation Security
Administration to standardize the enrollment process for
individuals applying for multiple TSA security threat
assessment programs, including the TWIC, HAZMAT Endorsement,
and TSA PreCheck programs of the Administration, and for
other purposes; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation.
By Mr. KENNEDY:
S. 4299. A bill to repeal the sunset for collateral
requirements for Small Business Administration disaster
loans; to the Committee on Small Business and
Entrepreneurship.
By Mr. CRUZ:
S. 4300. A bill to express the sense of Congress on
security cooperation with Bahrain and to require a report on
capabilities upgrades for the Fifth Fleet, and for other
purposes; to the Committee on Armed Services.
____________________
|
import React, { Component } from 'react';
import PropTypes from 'prop-types';
import Promise from 'bluebird';
import * as d3 from 'd3';
import isEqual from 'lodash.isequal';
import DataContext from 'context/Data';
import Scaler from 'components/Scaler';
import Series from 'components/Series';
import Collection from 'components/Collection';
export const calculateDomainFromData = (
data,
accessor,
minAccessor = undefined,
maxAccessor = undefined
) => {
// if there is no data, hard code the domain
if (!data || !data.length) {
return [-0.25, 0.25];
}
let extent;
if (minAccessor && maxAccessor) {
extent = [d3.min(data, minAccessor), d3.max(data, maxAccessor)];
} else {
extent = d3.extent(data, accessor);
}
const diff = extent[1] - extent[0];
if (Math.abs(diff) < 1e-3) {
if (extent[0] === 0) {
// If 0 is the only value present in the series, hard code domain.
return [-0.25, 0.25];
}
const domain = [(1 / 2) * extent[0], (3 / 2) * extent[0]];
if (domain[1] < domain[0]) {
return [domain[1], domain[0]];
}
return domain;
}
return [extent[0] - diff * 0.025, extent[1] + diff * 0.025];
};
const deleteUndefinedFromObject = obj => {
if (!obj) {
return {};
}
return Object.keys(obj).reduce((acc, k) => {
if (obj[k] !== undefined) {
return { ...acc, [k]: obj[k] };
}
return acc;
}, {});
};
const getTimeSubDomain = (
timeDomain,
timeSubDomain,
// eslint-disable-next-line no-shadow
limitTimeSubDomain = timeSubDomain => timeSubDomain
) => {
if (!timeSubDomain) {
return timeDomain;
}
const newTimeSubDomain = limitTimeSubDomain(timeSubDomain);
const timeDomainLength = timeDomain[1] - timeDomain[0];
const timeSubDomainLength = newTimeSubDomain[1] - newTimeSubDomain[0];
if (timeDomainLength < timeSubDomainLength) {
return timeDomain;
}
if (newTimeSubDomain[0] < timeDomain[0]) {
return [timeDomain[0], timeDomain[0] + timeSubDomainLength];
}
if (newTimeSubDomain[1] > timeDomain[1]) {
return [timeDomain[1] - timeSubDomainLength, timeDomain[1]];
}
return newTimeSubDomain;
};
const smallerDomain = (domain, subDomain) => {
if (!domain && !subDomain) {
return undefined;
}
if (!domain || !subDomain) {
return domain || subDomain;
}
return [Math.max(domain[0], subDomain[0]), Math.min(domain[1], subDomain[1])];
};
const boundedDomain = (a, b) =>
a && b ? [Math.min(a[0], b[0]), Math.max(a[1], b[1])] : a || b;
const DEFAULT_ACCESSORS = {
time: d => d.timestamp,
x: d => d.x,
y: d => d.value,
};
const DEFAULT_SERIES_CONFIG = {
color: 'black',
data: [],
hidden: false,
drawPoints: false,
timeAccessor: DEFAULT_ACCESSORS.time,
xAccessor: DEFAULT_ACCESSORS.x,
yAccessor: DEFAULT_ACCESSORS.y,
timeDomain: undefined,
timeSubDomain: undefined,
xDomain: undefined,
xSubDomain: undefined,
yDomain: undefined,
ySubDomain: undefined,
pointWidth: 6,
strokeWidth: 1,
};
export default class DataProvider extends Component {
constructor(props) {
super(props);
const { limitTimeSubDomain, timeDomain, timeSubDomain } = props;
this.state = {
timeSubDomain: getTimeSubDomain(
timeDomain,
timeSubDomain,
limitTimeSubDomain
),
timeDomain,
timeSubDomains: {},
xSubDomains: {},
ySubDomains: {},
collectionsById: {},
seriesById: {},
};
}
componentDidMount() {
const { updateInterval } = this.props;
if (updateInterval) {
this.startUpdateInterval();
}
}
async componentDidUpdate(prevProps) {
// If new series are present in prop,
// run the fetchData lifecycle for those series
const {
limitTimeSubDomain,
onTimeSubDomainChanged,
pointsPerSeries,
series,
timeDomain: propsTimeDomain,
timeSubDomain: propsTimeSubDomain,
updateInterval,
} = this.props;
const { updateInterval: prevUpdateInterval } = prevProps;
if (updateInterval !== prevUpdateInterval) {
this.startUpdateInterval();
}
// check if pointsPerSeries changed in props -- if so fetch new data
if (pointsPerSeries !== prevProps.pointsPerSeries) {
await Promise.map(series, s =>
this.fetchData(s.id, 'UPDATE_POINTS_PER_SERIES')
);
}
if (!isEqual(propsTimeSubDomain, prevProps.timeSubDomain)) {
this.timeSubDomainChanged(propsTimeSubDomain);
}
// Check if timeDomain changed in props -- if so reset state.
if (!isEqual(propsTimeDomain, prevProps.timeDomain)) {
const { seriesById } = this.state;
const newTimeSubDomain = getTimeSubDomain(
propsTimeDomain,
propsTimeSubDomain,
limitTimeSubDomain
);
// eslint-disable-next-line
this.setState(
{
timeDomain: propsTimeDomain,
timeSubDomain: newTimeSubDomain,
ySubDomains: {},
},
() => {
Object.keys(seriesById).map(id => this.fetchData(id, 'MOUNTED'));
if (onTimeSubDomainChanged) {
onTimeSubDomainChanged(newTimeSubDomain);
}
}
);
this.startUpdateInterval();
}
}
componentWillUnmount() {
if (this.fetchInterval) {
clearInterval(this.fetchInterval);
}
}
getSeriesObjects = () => {
const {
drawLines,
drawPoints,
timeAccessor,
xAccessor,
x0Accessor,
x1Accessor,
yAccessor,
y0Accessor,
y1Accessor,
timeDomain,
timeSubDomain,
xDomain,
xSubDomain,
yDomain,
ySubDomain,
pointWidth,
strokeWidth,
opacity,
opacityAccessor,
pointWidthAccessor,
} = this.props;
const {
collectionsById,
seriesById,
timeSubDomains,
xSubDomains,
ySubDomains,
} = this.state;
return Object.keys(seriesById).reduce((acc, id) => {
const series = seriesById[id];
const dataProvider = {
drawLines,
drawPoints,
pointWidth,
strokeWidth,
opacity,
opacityAccessor,
pointWidthAccessor,
timeAccessor,
xAccessor,
x0Accessor,
x1Accessor,
yAccessor,
y0Accessor,
y1Accessor,
};
const collection =
series.collectionId !== undefined
? collectionsById[series.collectionId] || {}
: {};
const completedSeries = {
// First copy in the base-level configuration.
...DEFAULT_SERIES_CONFIG,
// Then the global props from DataProvider, if any are set.
...dataProvider,
// Then the domains because these are in the DataProvider state, which
// supercedes the props.
timeSubDomain: smallerDomain(
timeDomain,
timeSubDomain || timeSubDomains[id]
),
xSubDomain: smallerDomain(xDomain, xSubDomain || xSubDomains[id]),
ySubDomain: smallerDomain(yDomain, ySubDomain || ySubDomains[id]),
timeDomain,
xDomain,
yDomain,
// Next, copy over defaults from the parent collection, if there is one.
...collection,
// Finally, the series configuration itself.
...series,
};
return [...acc, completedSeries];
}, []);
};
onUpdateInterval = () => {
const {
isTimeSubDomainSticky,
limitTimeSubDomain,
updateInterval,
} = this.props;
const { seriesById, timeDomain, timeSubDomain } = this.state;
const newTimeDomain = timeDomain.map(d => d + updateInterval);
const newTimeSubDomain = isTimeSubDomainSticky
? getTimeSubDomain(
newTimeDomain,
timeSubDomain.map(d => d + updateInterval),
limitTimeSubDomain
)
: timeSubDomain;
this.setState(
{
timeDomain: newTimeDomain,
timeSubDomain: newTimeSubDomain,
},
() => {
Object.keys(seriesById).map(id => this.fetchData(id, 'INTERVAL'));
}
);
};
startUpdateInterval = () => {
const { updateInterval } = this.props;
if (this.fetchInterval) {
clearInterval(this.fetchInterval);
}
if (updateInterval) {
this.fetchInterval = setInterval(this.onUpdateInterval, updateInterval);
}
};
fetchData = async (id, reason) => {
const {
defaultLoader,
onFetchData,
pointsPerSeries,
timeAccessor,
x0Accessor,
x1Accessor,
xAccessor,
y0Accessor,
y1Accessor,
yAccessor,
onFetchDataError,
} = this.props;
const { timeDomain, timeSubDomain, seriesById } = this.state;
const seriesObject = seriesById[id];
if (!seriesObject) {
return;
}
const loader = seriesObject.loader || defaultLoader;
if (!loader) {
throw new Error(`Series ${id} does not have a loader.`);
}
let loaderResult = {};
const params = {
id,
timeDomain,
timeSubDomain,
pointsPerSeries,
oldSeries: { data: [], ...seriesObject },
reason,
};
try {
loaderResult = await loader(params);
} catch (e) {
onFetchDataError(e, params);
}
this.setState(
({
collectionsById,
seriesById: { [id]: freshSeries },
seriesById: freshSeriesById,
timeSubDomains: freshTimeSubDomains,
xSubDomains: freshXSubDomains,
ySubDomains: freshYSubDomains,
}) => {
const stateUpdates = {};
const series = {
...freshSeries,
...loaderResult,
};
if (
// We either couldn't have any data before ...
reason === 'MOUNTED' ||
// ... or we didn't have data before, but do now!
((freshSeries.data || []).length === 0 &&
(loaderResult.data || []).length > 0)
) {
const collection = series.collectionId
? collectionsById[series.collectionId] || {}
: {};
stateUpdates.timeSubDomains = {
...freshTimeSubDomains,
[id]: calculateDomainFromData(
series.data,
series.timeAccessor || timeAccessor || DEFAULT_ACCESSORS.time
),
};
stateUpdates.xSubDomains = {
...freshXSubDomains,
[id]: calculateDomainFromData(
series.data,
series.xAccessor ||
collection.xAccessor ||
xAccessor ||
DEFAULT_ACCESSORS.x,
series.x0Accessor || collection.x0Accessor || x0Accessor,
series.x1Accessor || collection.x1Accessor || x1Accessor
),
};
stateUpdates.ySubDomains = {
...freshYSubDomains,
[id]: calculateDomainFromData(
series.data,
series.yAccessor ||
collection.yAccessor ||
yAccessor ||
DEFAULT_ACCESSORS.y,
series.y0Accessor || collection.y0Accessor || y0Accessor,
series.y1Accessor || collection.y1Accessor || y1Accessor
),
};
series.timeSubDomain = series.timeSubDomain || series.timeDomain;
}
stateUpdates.seriesById = {
...freshSeriesById,
[id]: series,
};
return stateUpdates;
},
() => {
const {
seriesById: { [id]: series },
} = this.state;
onFetchData({ ...series });
}
);
};
timeSubDomainChanged = timeSubDomain => {
const { limitTimeSubDomain, onTimeSubDomainChanged } = this.props;
const { timeDomain, timeSubDomain: current, seriesById } = this.state;
const newTimeSubDomain = getTimeSubDomain(
timeDomain,
timeSubDomain,
limitTimeSubDomain
);
if (isEqual(newTimeSubDomain, current)) {
return;
}
clearTimeout(this.timeSubDomainChangedTimeout);
this.timeSubDomainChangedTimeout = setTimeout(
() =>
Object.keys(seriesById).map(id =>
this.fetchData(id, 'UPDATE_SUBDOMAIN')
),
250
);
this.setState({ timeSubDomain: newTimeSubDomain }, () => {
if (onTimeSubDomainChanged) {
onTimeSubDomainChanged(newTimeSubDomain);
}
});
};
registerCollection = ({ id, ...collection }) => {
this.setState(({ collectionsById }) => ({
collectionsById: {
...collectionsById,
[id]: deleteUndefinedFromObject({
...collection,
id,
}),
},
}));
// Return an unregistration so that we can do some cleanup.
return () => {
this.setState(({ collectionsById }) => {
const copy = { ...collectionsById };
delete copy[id];
return {
collectionsById: copy,
};
});
};
};
updateCollection = ({ id, ...collection }) => {
this.setState(({ collectionsById }) => ({
collectionsById: {
...collectionsById,
[id]: deleteUndefinedFromObject({
...collectionsById[id],
...collection,
id,
}),
},
}));
};
registerSeries = ({ id, ...series }) => {
this.setState(
({ seriesById }) => ({
seriesById: {
...seriesById,
[id]: deleteUndefinedFromObject({
...series,
id,
}),
},
}),
() => {
this.fetchData(id, 'MOUNTED');
}
);
// Return an unregistration so that we can do some cleanup.
return () => {
this.setState(({ seriesById }) => {
const copy = { ...seriesById };
delete copy[id];
return {
seriesById: copy,
};
});
};
};
updateSeries = ({ id, ...series }) => {
this.setState(({ seriesById }) => ({
seriesById: {
...seriesById,
[id]: deleteUndefinedFromObject({
...seriesById[id],
...series,
id,
}),
},
}));
};
// Add a helper method to render the legacy props using the new tree structure
// format. This is only intended to ease the transition pain and is not
// intended to be an ongoing solution.
renderLegacyItems = () => {
const { series, collections } = this.props;
if (series || collections) {
return (
<>
{(series || []).map(s => (
<Series key={s.id} {...s} />
))}
{(collections || []).map(c => (
<Collection key={c.id} {...c} />
))}
</>
);
}
return null;
};
render() {
const { collectionsById, timeDomain, timeSubDomain } = this.state;
const {
children,
limitTimeSubDomain,
timeDomain: externalTimeDomain,
timeSubDomain: externalTimeSubDomain,
yAxisWidth,
onUpdateDomains,
} = this.props;
const seriesObjects = this.getSeriesObjects();
// // Compute the domains for all of the collections with one pass over all of
// // the series objects.
const domainsByCollectionId = seriesObjects.reduce((acc, series) => {
const { collectionId } = series;
if (!collectionId) {
return acc;
}
const {
timeDomain: seriesTimeDomain,
timeSubDomain: seriesTimeSubDomain,
xDomain: seriesXDomain,
xSubDomain: seriesXSubDomain,
yDomain: seriesYDomain,
ySubDomain: seriesYSubDomain,
} = series;
const {
timeDomain: collectionTimeDomain = [
Number.MAX_SAFE_INTEGER,
Number.MIN_SAFE_INTEGER,
],
timeSubDomain: collectionTimeSubDomain = [
Number.MAX_SAFE_INTEGER,
Number.MIN_SAFE_INTEGER,
],
xDomain: collectionXDomain = [
Number.MAX_SAFE_INTEGER,
Number.MIN_SAFE_INTEGER,
],
xSubDomain: collectionXSubDomain = [
Number.MAX_SAFE_INTEGER,
Number.MIN_SAFE_INTEGER,
],
yDomain: collectionYDomain = [
Number.MAX_SAFE_INTEGER,
Number.MIN_SAFE_INTEGER,
],
ySubDomain: collectionYSubDomain = [
Number.MAX_SAFE_INTEGER,
Number.MIN_SAFE_INTEGER,
],
} = acc[collectionId] || {};
return {
...acc,
[collectionId]: {
timeDomain: seriesTimeDomain
? boundedDomain(collectionTimeDomain, seriesTimeDomain)
: undefined,
timeSubDomain: boundedDomain(
collectionTimeSubDomain,
seriesTimeSubDomain
),
xDomain: seriesXDomain
? boundedDomain(collectionXDomain, seriesXDomain)
: undefined,
xSubDomain: boundedDomain(collectionXSubDomain, seriesXSubDomain),
yDomain: seriesYDomain
? boundedDomain(collectionYDomain, seriesYDomain)
: undefined,
ySubDomain: boundedDomain(collectionYSubDomain, seriesYSubDomain),
},
};
}, {});
// Then we want to enrich the collection objects with their above-computed
// domains.
const collectionsWithDomains = Object.keys(collectionsById).reduce(
(acc, id) => {
if (!domainsByCollectionId[id]) {
return acc;
}
return [
...acc,
{
...collectionsById[id],
...domainsByCollectionId[id],
},
];
},
[]
);
// Then take a final pass over all of the series and replace their
// yDomain and ySubDomain arrays with the one from their collections (if
// they're a member of a collection).
const collectedSeries = seriesObjects.map(s => {
const { collectionId } = s;
if (collectionId === undefined) {
return s;
}
const copy = { ...s };
if (!collectionsById[collectionId]) {
// It's pointing to a collection that doesn't exist.
delete copy.collectionId;
} else {
const {
timeDomain: collectionTimeDomain,
timeSubDomain: collectionTimeSubDomain,
xDomain: collectionXDomain,
xSubDomain: collectionXSubDomain,
yDomain: collectionYDomain,
ySubDomain: collectionYSubDomain,
} = domainsByCollectionId[collectionId] || {};
if (collectionTimeDomain) {
copy.timeDomain = collectionTimeDomain;
}
if (collectionTimeSubDomain) {
copy.timeSubDomain = collectionTimeSubDomain;
}
if (collectionXDomain) {
copy.xDomain = collectionXDomain;
}
if (collectionXSubDomain) {
copy.xSubDomain = collectionXSubDomain;
}
if (collectionYDomain) {
copy.yDomain = collectionYDomain;
}
if (collectionYSubDomain) {
copy.ySubDomain = collectionYSubDomain;
}
}
return copy;
});
const context = {
series: collectedSeries,
collections: collectionsWithDomains,
timeDomain,
// This is used to signal external changes vs internal changes
externalTimeDomain,
timeSubDomain,
// This is used to signal external changes vs internal changes
externalTimeSubDomain,
yAxisWidth,
timeSubDomainChanged: this.timeSubDomainChanged,
limitTimeSubDomain,
onUpdateDomains,
registerCollection: this.registerCollection,
updateCollection: this.updateCollection,
registerSeries: this.registerSeries,
updateSeries: this.updateSeries,
};
return (
<DataContext.Provider value={context}>
{this.renderLegacyItems()}
<Scaler>{children}</Scaler>
</DataContext.Provider>
);
}
}
DataProvider.propTypes = {
/**
* A custom renderer for data points.
*
* @param {object} datapoint Current data point being rendered
* @param {number} index Index of this current data point
* @param {Array} datapoints All of the data points to be rendered
* @param {object} metadata This object contains metadata useful for the
* rendering process. This contains the following keys:
* - {@code x}: The x-position (in pixels) of the data point.
* - {@code x0}: The x-position (in pixels) for the data point's x0 value
* - {@code x1}: The x-position (in pixels) for the data point's x1 value
* - {@code y}: The y-position (in pixels) of the data point.
* - {@code y0}: The y-position (in pixels) for the data point's y0 value
* - {@code y1}: The y-position (in pixels) for the data point's y1 value
* - {@code color}: The color of this data point
* - {@code opacity}: The opacity of this data point
* - {@code opacityAccessor}: The opacity accessor for this data point
* - {@code pointWidth}: The width of this data point
* - {@code pointWidthAccessor}: The accessor for this data point's width
* - {@code strokeWidth}: The width of the stroke for this data point
* @param {Array} elements This is an array of the items that Griff would
* render for this data point. If custom rendering is not desired for this
* data point, return this array as-is
* @returns {(object|Array)} object(s) to render for this point.
*/
drawPoints: PropTypes.oneOfType([PropTypes.bool, PropTypes.func]),
drawLines: PropTypes.bool,
timeDomain: PropTypes.arrayOf(PropTypes.number.isRequired),
timeSubDomain: PropTypes.arrayOf(PropTypes.number.isRequired),
xDomain: PropTypes.arrayOf(PropTypes.number.isRequired),
xSubDomain: PropTypes.arrayOf(PropTypes.number.isRequired),
updateInterval: PropTypes.number,
timeAccessor: PropTypes.func,
xAccessor: PropTypes.func,
x0Accessor: PropTypes.func,
x1Accessor: PropTypes.func,
yAccessor: PropTypes.func,
y0Accessor: PropTypes.func,
y1Accessor: PropTypes.func,
yAxisWidth: PropTypes.number,
yDomain: PropTypes.arrayOf(PropTypes.number.isRequired),
ySubDomain: PropTypes.arrayOf(PropTypes.number.isRequired),
pointsPerSeries: PropTypes.number,
children: PropTypes.node.isRequired,
defaultLoader: PropTypes.func,
// xSubDomain => void
onTimeSubDomainChanged: PropTypes.func,
// newSubDomainsPerItem => void
onUpdateDomains: PropTypes.func,
opacity: PropTypes.number,
/** (datapoint, index, datapoints) => number */
opacityAccessor: PropTypes.func,
pointWidth: PropTypes.number,
/** (datapoint, index, datapoints) => number */
pointWidthAccessor: PropTypes.func,
strokeWidth: PropTypes.number,
// if set to true and an updateInterval is provided, xSubDomain
// will be increased at every interval (similarly to xDomain)
isTimeSubDomainSticky: PropTypes.bool,
// timeSubDomain => timeSubDomain
// function to allow limitation of the value of timeSubDomain
limitTimeSubDomain: PropTypes.func,
// loaderConfig => void
// called whenever data is fetched by the loader
onFetchData: PropTypes.func,
// (error, params) => void
// Callback when data loader throws an error
onFetchDataError: PropTypes.func,
series: PropTypes.arrayOf(
PropTypes.shape({
id: PropTypes.oneOfType([PropTypes.number, PropTypes.string]).isRequired,
})
),
collections: PropTypes.arrayOf(
PropTypes.shape({
id: PropTypes.oneOfType([PropTypes.number, PropTypes.string]).isRequired,
})
),
};
DataProvider.defaultProps = {
defaultLoader: undefined,
drawPoints: undefined,
drawLines: undefined,
onTimeSubDomainChanged: undefined,
onUpdateDomains: undefined,
opacity: 1.0,
opacityAccessor: undefined,
pointsPerSeries: 250,
pointWidth: undefined,
pointWidthAccessor: undefined,
strokeWidth: undefined,
timeDomain: undefined,
timeSubDomain: undefined,
xDomain: undefined,
xSubDomain: undefined,
updateInterval: 0,
timeAccessor: d => d.timestamp,
x0Accessor: undefined,
x1Accessor: undefined,
xAccessor: d => d.timestamp,
y0Accessor: undefined,
y1Accessor: undefined,
yAccessor: d => d.value,
yAxisWidth: 50,
yDomain: undefined,
ySubDomain: undefined,
isTimeSubDomainSticky: false,
limitTimeSubDomain: xSubDomain => xSubDomain,
onFetchData: () => {},
// Just rethrow the error if there is no custom error handler
onFetchDataError: e => {
throw e;
},
series: [],
collections: [],
};
|
package main
import (
"fmt"
"io/ioutil"
"os"
"path/filepath"
"regexp"
"strings"
"time"
"github.com/vipally/cmdline"
)
const (
gsExpTime = "(?sm:\\\"\\[(?P<T>.*?)\\]\\\")"
)
var (
gGoPath = ""
file = "github.com/vipally/cmdline/time.go"
gExpTime = regexp.MustCompile(gsExpTime)
src = []byte("$T")
)
func formatPath(path string) string {
return filepath.ToSlash(filepath.Clean(expadGoPath(path)))
}
func expadGoPath(path string) (r string) {
r = path
if filepath.VolumeName(path) == "" {
r = filepath.Join(gGoPath, path)
}
return
}
func main() {
cmdline.StringVar(&file, "f", "file", file, false, "file")
cmdline.Parse()
s := os.Getenv("GOPATH")
if ss := strings.Split(s, ";"); ss != nil && len(ss) > 0 {
gGoPath = formatPath(ss[0]) + "/src/"
}
filefull := formatPath(file)
t := time.Now()
now := []byte(fmt.Sprintf(`"[%04d-%02d-%02d %02d:%02d:%02d]"`, t.Year(), t.Month(), t.Day(), t.Hour(), t.Minute(), t.Second()))
if content, err := ioutil.ReadFile(filefull); err == nil {
dst := gExpTime.ReplaceAll(content, now)
//fmt.Println(string(dst))
if f, err := os.Create(filefull); err == nil {
f.Write(dst)
f.Close()
fmt.Printf("[%s] time updated %s\n", file, now)
} else {
fmt.Println(err)
}
} else {
fmt.Println(err)
}
}
|
Extension:WikiCategoryTagCloud
Improvements
Usage
These in text parameters from the original extension still work the same:
* min_size: Defines the minimum text size. (Default: 77).
<tagcloud>exclude=television,celebrities,food,yoga</tagcloud>
The coloring in text parameters do not work anymore, instead we have XML parameters:
* class: Adds CSS classes to the tag cloud itself (The tagcloud class is always included).
* style: Adds CSS styles to the style parameter of the tag cloud.
* linkclass: Adds CSS classes to the links.
* linkstyle: Adds CSS styles to the links' style parameters.
<tagcloud style="background: black;"> min_size=55 exclude=browse </tagcloud>
Installation
Finally, add the pages to invalidate the cache for to MediaWiki:Tagcloudpages (one title per line).
Code
extensions/WikiCategoryTagCloud.php
License
© Daniel Friesen, released under GNU General Public License version 2.1 or later
|
```@setup multialleles
using PhyloNetworks
```
# Multiple alleles per species
## between-species 4-taxon sets
The default setting for SNaQ considers that each allele in a gene tree corresponds
to a taxon (a tip) in the network. If instead each allele/individual can be mapped confidently
to a species, and if only the species-level network needs to be estimated,
then the following functions can be used:
```@repl multialleles
using CSV, DataFrames
mappingfile = joinpath(dirname(pathof(PhyloNetworks)), "..","examples","mappingIndividuals.csv");
tm = CSV.read(mappingfile, DataFrame) # taxon map as a data frame
taxonmap = Dict(row[:individual] => row[:species] for row in eachrow(tm)) # taxon map as a dictionary
```
The [mapping file](https://github.com/crsl4/PhyloNetworks/blob/master/examples/mappingIndividuals.csv)
can be a text (or `csv`) file with two columns (at least):
one for the individuals, named `allele` or `individual`,
and one column containing the species names, named `species`.
Each row should map an allele name to a species name.
Next, read in the [gene trees](https://github.com/crsl4/PhyloNetworks/blob/master/examples/genetrees_alleletips.tre)
and calculate the quartet CFs at the species level:
```@repl multialleles
genetreefile = joinpath(dirname(pathof(PhyloNetworks)), "..","examples","genetrees_alleletips.tre");
genetrees = readMultiTopology(genetreefile);
sort(tipLabels(genetrees[1])) # multiple tips in species S1
df_sp = writeTableCF(countquartetsintrees(genetrees, taxonmap, showprogressbar=false)...)
```
Now `df_sp` is a data frame containing the quartet concordance factors
at the species level only, that is, considering sets made of 4 distinct species,
even if the gene trees may have multiple alleles from the same species.
For 4 distinct species `A,B,C,D`, all alleles from each species (`A` etc.)
will be used to calculate the quartet CF. If a given gene tree has
`n_a` alleles from `a`, `n_b` alleles from `b` etc., then
each set of 4 alleles is given a weight of `1/(n_a n_b n_c n_d)`
to calculated of the CF for `A,B,C,D` (such that the total weight from
this particular gene trees is 1).
It is safe to save this data frame, then use it for `snaq!` like this:
```@repl multialleles
CSV.write("tableCF_species.csv", df_sp); # to save the data frame to a file
d_sp = readTableCF("tableCF_species.csv"); # to get a "DataCF" object for use in snaq!
summarizeDataCF(d_sp)
```
## within-species 4-taxon sets
Four-taxon sets involving 2 individuals per species can provide more
information about the underlying network, including external branch
length in coalescent units. However, `snaq!` runs more slowly when
using this extra information. To get quartet CFs from sets of 4 individuals
in which 2 individuals are from the same species, the following functions
should be used:
```@repl multialleles
df_ind = writeTableCF(countquartetsintrees(genetrees, showprogressbar=false)...); # no mapping: CFs across individuals
first(df_ind, 4) # to see the first 4 rows
CSV.write("tableCF_individuals.csv", df_ind); # to save to a file
df_sp = mapAllelesCFtable(mappingfile, "tableCF_individuals.csv");
d_sp = readTableCF!(df_sp, mergerows=true);
```
where the mapping file can be a text (or `csv`) file with two columns
named `allele` (or `individual`) and `species`, mapping each allele name to a species name.
The data in `df_ind` is the table of concordance factors at the level of individuals.
In other words, it lists CFs using one row for each set of 4 alleles/individuals.
`mapAllelesCFtable` creates a new data frame `df_sp` of quartet concordance factors at the
species level: with the allele names replaced by the appropriate species names.
**Warnings**:
- This procedure requires that all alleles from the same
individual are given the same name (the individual's 'name') across
all genes for which that individual was sequenced.
- For a four-taxon set `A,B,C,D`, all the individuals from `A`, `B`, `C` and `D`
are considered, say `(a1,b1,c1,d1)`, `(a2,b1,c1,d1)`, `(a1,b2,c1,d1)`, `(a2,b2,c1,d1)`
and so on. The CFs of these 4-taxon sets are averaged together to obtain the
CFs at the species level. This procedures gives more weight to genes that have
many alleles (because they contribute to more sets of 4 individuals) and less
weight to genes that have few alleles.
The last command modifies this data frame `df_sp` by deleting rows that are uninformative
about between-species relationships, such as rows corresponding to 4 individuals from the
same species. The output `d_sp` of this second command is an object of type `DataCF` at the
species level, which can be used as input for networks estimation with `snaq!`.
But before, it is safe to save the concordance factor of quartets of species,
which can be calculated by averaging the CFs of quartets of individuals
from the associated species:
```@repl multialleles
df_sp = writeTableCF(d_sp) # data frame, quartet CFs averaged across individuals of same species
CSV.write("CFtable_species.csv", df_sp); # save to file
```
Some quartets have the same species repeated twice,
representing cases when 2 of the 4 individuals came from the same species.
These quartets, with repeated species, are informative about the population
size of extant populations, i.e. about the lengths of external branches in
coalescent units.
The main difference between this section compared to the previous section
("between-species 4-taxon sets") is that quartets with 2 individuals from
the same species are included here, such as `a1,a2,b1,c1`.
Also, the weighting of quartets is different. Here, genes with more alleles
are given more weight.
now we can run snaq:
```julia
net = snaq!(T_sp, d_sp);
```
where `T_sp` should be a starting topology with one tip per species,
labelled with the same species names as the names used in the mapping file.
If `snaq!` takes too long that way, we can try a less ambitious estimation
that does not estimate the external branch lengths, that is,
*without* using quartets that have 2 individuals from the same species.
To do so, we can use the quartet concordance factors at the species level,
but filter out the quartets with one (or more) species repeated.
This can be done as in the first section ("between-species 4-taxon sets")
to give equal weight to all genes,
or as shown below to give more weight to genes that have more alleles:
```@repl multialleles
first(df_sp, 3) # some quartets have the same species twice
function hasrep(row) # see if a row (4-taxon set) has a species name ending with "__2": repeated species
occursin(r"__2$", row[:t1]) || occursin(r"__2$", row[:t2]) || # replace :t1 :t2 etc. by appropriate column names in your data,
occursin(r"__2$", row[:t3]) || occursin(r"__2$", row[:t4]) # e.g. by :taxon1 :taxon2 etc.
end
df_sp_reduced = filter(!hasrep, df_sp) # removes rows with repeated species
CSV.write("CFtable_species_norep.csv", df_sp_reduced); # to save to file
d_sp_reduced = readTableCF(df_sp_reduced) # DataCF object, for input to snaq!
```
and now we can run `snaq!` on the reduced set of quartets without repeats,
which should be faster:
```julia
net = snaq!(T_sp, d_sp_reduced);
```
|
TESOL jobs in Mexico General information Mexico, what a place. You could easily spend a year in a couple of hours in this hugely diverse and vast country Whether you prefer snow-capped volcanoes, heavily populated beaches, deserted beaches, Superdiving, the hum of the big cities, or the world-class Archaeological sites, you would be hard-pressed to find a place offering more to the traveler. On the back of the North American Free Trade Agreement, NAFTA, governing free trade between Canada, the USA, and Mexico, massive investment has poured into Mexico, which in turn has created huge demand for English language skills. Be choosy. For the well-qualified TESOL teacher it is a seller's market and you don't have to dive into the first opportunity that comes your way. Indeed, TESOL teacher poaching is a popular pastime amongst language institutes. Spanish is the official language and the population of a hundred and one million fits comfortably into the 750 square miles. Roman Catholicism claims 90% of religious affiliation with 7% going to other forms of Christianity and 3% to other religions. Teaching. Quite unlike Europe, for those wishing to teach in a state or private school, there is not the requirement for a PGCE or an undergraduate degree. Nor is there a requirement for two years as teaching experience. You do, however, need a TESOL certificate. With language institutes you can, in the main, expect to find yourself teaching those who work in business or tourism, less so those doing it just for fun. This needs driven market makes for sharp, well-motivated students. Don't expect to find people dozing at the back of the class. Commensurately, these people are paying for the privilege and will expect a respectable, well-turned-out, PT professional teacher. Another thing to be aware of is that because Latin languages are inflected, students will naturally have a much higher awareness of grammar than English speakers. Be on your metal and prepare well. You don't want to have your knowledge of tenses tested by your students, who learned them all by heart before they were 10. Because of the huge variety of standards in education you can expect a commensurately patchy student body. Some will have very little experience, however, others, privately educated, will have many years experience in studying English. Latin American students are amongst those most highly and warmly spoken of by experienced as all teachers. Expect fun, great enthusiasm, but don't be surprised if nobody shows up, if there is a major sporting event in the offing. Visas and regulations. For those with need of a hobby, a full-time occupation and or a passion for the caucus, then by all means, make an essay of getting a work permit in a Latin American country. With this said, naturalization, either legal right to work and reside, which is strictly necessary and, say the EU or the US and Canada, is not paid much attention to in Latin America. For all practical purposes, you do not really need a work permit to work and you will not get a work permit unless you have a job and will not get that kind of job unless you have a work permit. Your application often must be made in your country of origin, but since language schools do not, as a rule, recruit abroad, they want to see you in the flesh before offering a contract, your chances of becoming legally naturalized are slim. In Mexico in particular, visitors are not allowed to do any remunerative work, though NAFTA makes the situation a little easier for Canadians and Americans. This means that getting a regular job with a high school, for example, is difficult in that the unnaturalized gravitate towards private language institutes and private tuition. Amongst the requirements for a work permit is a CV in Spanish and notarized Tesla and undergraduate degree certificates, which have been certified by the Mexican Consulate. This costs anything from $100 to $700, depending on who you see and under what circumstances. In general 90-day tourist visas can be renewed in Mexico by approaching the relevant authorities and demonstrating that you have sufficient funds to reside. Otherwise, you are looking at a cross-border trip. Perhaps the wise job seeker, in the best of all possible Latin American worlds directs their attention to their visa requirements and entitlements. This will depend on what your country of origin has fixed up with Mexico. You can find all about this from your local embassy. Think about also what you have to do to renew your visa and how and in what way can you renew your tourist visa. The bottom line is don't worry. All will become crystal clear once you embark on the process. Popular destinations. The world's third largest metropolis, boasting fabulous museums, magnificent colonial and modern architecture, and Marcia, nightlife, second to none. It is, however, very polluted and there is dire poverty in striking contrast to its magnificent splendor. A must for a visit, but it will depend on your tastes as to whether you make it your home. To get away from it all, the beautiful people of Mexico City head out over the mountains not to be traveled at night to live it up a little in Acapulco. Not really a backpacker's paradise, more a resort for the Mexican great in the good, who tolerate but don't have much to do with the large influx of gringos. Blashed hotels, cliff diving and water sports of every variety abound. Cheap hostels do not. Moving cross country from the Pacific Coast to the Gulf of Mexico provides a very different kettle of fish. Literally and figuratively. The Yucatan Peninsula is home to Cancun and the island Cozumel. The Mayan ruins, great food and really superb diving, especially in Cozumel, act as a magnet to tourists. However, on the mainland, getting out of Cancun, you will find little difficulty in finding a village on the breathtakingly beautiful Gulf where they have probably never seen a gringo before, except on TV, much less of European or an Australasian. The warmth of the people alone could make you want to make this place your home. The castor sugar white beaches and the turquoise sea are an added bonus. Getting a job. A modigum of preparation prior to setting out will pay dividends. Think of not one country in South America, but the whole continent. You may end up moving around quite a bit once you hit this part of the world. Hence, it is a very good idea to contact all of the Latin American embassies in your country of origin, inquiring about teaching and visas, and see what you get back. You will find that you have a nice big file folder of leads and information that will vary from country of origin to country of origin, Latin American Embassy to Latin American Embassy. Like most Latin American countries jobs are mostly gained on the spot. Hence you will need a letter of introduction, in Spanish, your resume or CV translated accordingly, plus a translation of your transcripts and certificates. But there are judgment calls to be made. You don't want to use any old Spanish, Venezuelan Spanish will appear idiosyncratic and strange in Argentina. The best bet if you can is to use Castilian, Spanish as spoken in Spain. This is seen as the mother tongue, universally comprehended and Kerry's style, weighed in considerable currency throughout Latin America. Equally, Homer acquire those language skills. Latin America is not the coast to Del Sol in Spain with its huge English speaking tourist industry. Do not expect English to be widely spoken or in use. For all practical purposes a little bit of Spanish can go an awfully long way in determining both your employability and the quality of your experience. Again one should be aware of the wide variety of different Spanish dialects in use across the continent and choose carefully what idiom you acquire. In Castilian, as spoken by the king of Spain, calzón means, after the Italian, a pizza folded in half. In Mexican Spanish, it means underpants. Hence, caveat emptor. Language acquisition takes time and effort and the buyer should be aware what Spanish they buy into. Again, to all intents and purposes, Castilian both sounds upmarket and is most widely understood. Nevertheless, expect fertile ground for amusing confusion here and there as you travel from country to country. There are avenues which can be utilized to gain a placement prior to setting out. Most US-Tesol schools have closed ties with one or more Latin American countries. The language and training group of the British Council arranges for language assistance to be placed for one academic year, though applicants must be 20 to 30 years of age with at least A level Spanish. The Association of American Schools in South America acts as a recruitment agent. Candidates must pay $25 to register, then the placement fee is $300, normally reimbursed by employers. The South American Explorer keeps lists of schools which employ English language teachers and maintain a database of volunteers. They charge $50 a year for membership, with a $10 premium added to non-US members to cover the cost of postage. Amity volunteer teachers abroad are active in Latin America, offering nine-month placements. For many, getting a job will mean knocking on doors, hence, the need for those translated documents. Helped, hopefully, by a smattering of polite Spanish. Local telephone directories detail universities, schools and language institutes, etc., which are often only too willing to interview candidates. Highly qualified and more importantly, well-turned-out, organized and enthusiastic teachers are in short supply. If they like you, they will most certainly find some teaching for you. On account of NAFTA, many companies have their own in-house English training program, and this type of engagement could be of great value to the budding TESOL teacher and would probably help on the work permit front. Hence, one of the best and most realistic propositions is to build a working life based around constructing a curriculum a few hours here and a few hours there, bearing mind that revenue from privates can double a teacher's income, one should always be on the lookout for private students, whatever one's employment or visa status. The market for those wanting private tuition or conversation practice is huge and potentially varied lucrative, therefore, not be neglected. Give yourself time to build a portfolio of work. This is best safeguard to both your income and employment status. TESOL jobs in Mexico. Our training course in Chiapas, Mexico, offers you a professional and affordable training course where you will learn everything you need to know to become a qualified ESL teacher. Throughout the course or highly experienced teacher trainers will provide you with real-life teaching practice and valuable feedback to ensure you are ready to step into your very own classroom. Many TESOL graduates enjoy their time in Chiapas so much that they decide to simply stay and teach English after completing the course. Our staff will help every course graduate with extensive job search guidance to help them find their dream position. Should you not want to stay in Mexico, our internationally recognized TESOL certification enables you to teach practically anywhere in the world. TESOL Mexico. Due to its close proximity to the United States, the demand for qualified ESL teachers in Mexico is very high. You can find suitable employment not only in the big cities but also in smaller towns right across the country. Besides teaching young learners, there is also a huge market for business English to be found here. If you already have experience in the business world or teaching business English, you will have little trouble securing a position in Mexico. Even if you lack the necessary experience after completing our extensive training course, you will be well prepared to start your new teaching career. TESOL course Mexico. Chiapas is a small and easy-going town where colonial influences are still present today and where the welcoming locals are happy to introduce you to their customs. Therefore, you will get a truly authentic Mexico experience if you choose our training course in Chiapas. Rich in culture and with exquisite local cuisine, Chiapas is a hidden gem that many tourists don't know about. You will find yourself making local friends and probably even pick up some Spanish along the way. Shopping malls and vibrant nightlife are also within easy access and only a 20-minute bus ride away in Tuxtla Gutierrez. The extensive public transport network in Mexico also allows you to travel to other major cities and attractions via bus, train or airplane in a short amount of time. Our courses in Chiapas run year-round and can be joined on a monthly basis.
|
Southern+Gate
Date: 1942-1943
Artist: **Eldzier Cortor** Born: Richmond, Virginia 1916 Died: Seaford, New York 2015
* Exhibition Label: **
//African American Art: Harlem Renaissance, Civil Rights Era, and Beyond//, 2012
* Resources: **
SAAM Collections Page Artist Biography
* Links: **
|
// Copyright (c) Microsoft Open Technologies, Inc. All rights reserved.
// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0. See License.txt in the project root for license information.
using System.Net;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
using Microsoft.AspNet.Mvc;
namespace System.Web.Http
{
/// <summary>
/// Represents an action result that performs route generation and content negotiation and returns a
/// <see cref="HttpStatusCode.Created"/> response when content negotiation succeeds.
/// </summary>
/// <typeparam name="T">The type of content in the entity body.</typeparam>
public class CreatedNegotiatedContentResult<T> : NegotiatedContentResult<T>
{
/// <summary>
/// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="CreatedNegotiatedContentResult{T}"/> class with the values
/// provided.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="location">The location at which the content has been created.</param>
/// <param name="content">The content value to negotiate and format in the entity body.</param>
public CreatedNegotiatedContentResult(Uri location, T content)
: base(HttpStatusCode.Created, content)
{
Location = location;
}
/// <summary>
/// Gets the location at which the content has been created.
/// </summary>
public Uri Location { get; private set; }
/// <inheritdoc />
public override Task ExecuteResultAsync(ActionContext context)
{
string location;
if (Location.IsAbsoluteUri)
{
location = Location.AbsoluteUri;
}
else
{
location = Location.GetComponents(UriComponents.SerializationInfoString, UriFormat.UriEscaped);
}
context.HttpContext.Response.Headers.Add("Location", new string[] { location });
return base.ExecuteResultAsync(context);
}
}
}
|
<?php
namespace Dropbox\OAuth\Storage;
class SQLite extends PDO
{
public function connect($file)
{
$this->pdo = new \PDO('sqlite:' . $file);
if (!file_exists($file) || 0 == filesize($file)) {
$this->createTable();
}
}
protected function insertToken($token)
{
$query = 'INSERT OR REPLACE INTO ' . $this->table . ' (userID, token) VALUES (?, ?)';
$stmt = $this->pdo->prepare($query);
$token = $this->encrypt($token);
$stmt->execute(array($this->userID, $token));
}
protected function createTable()
{
$template = file_get_contents(dirname(__FILE__) . '/TableSchemaSQLite.sql');
$this->pdo->query(sprintf($template, $this->table));
}
}
|
What is the a block matrix representation of a density matrix?
I think the block representation means the covariance matrix here. But, why is there an equivalence class between the density matrix and covariance matrix? I have been reading a paper that uses this representation.
Also, what's the physical meaning of the Eigen values and eigenvectors of these submatrices here?
Thanks
Welcome to P.SE - Inclusion of images heavy on text is not encouraged, please type in the relevant information to ask the question to keep the content searchable. Use MathJax/LaTeX to include formulas.
Short answer : this has nothing to do with a covariance matrix.
Long answer :
When a vector space (Hilbert space in the case of QM) is written as a direct sum :
$$\mathcal H = \mathcal H_1 \oplus \mathcal H_2$$
any vector can be written uniquely $x = x_1 + x_2$ with $x_i \in \mathcal H_i\quad (i\in \{1,2\})$.
It can be useful to write $x = \begin{pmatrix} x_1 \\x_2 \end{pmatrix}$, and we are not introducing any ambiguity by doing this.
Then, for any operator $A$ on $\mathcal H$, we can write :
$$Ax= \begin{pmatrix}A_{11} x_1 + A_{12}x_2 \\ A_{21} x_1 + A_{22} x_2 \end{pmatrix} = \begin{pmatrix} A_{11} & A_{12} \\ A_{21} & A_{22}\end{pmatrix}\begin{pmatrix}x_1 \\x_2 \end{pmatrix}$$
with operators
\begin{align*}
A_{11} : \mathcal H_1 \to \mathcal H_1\\
A_{12} : \mathcal H_2 \to \mathcal H_1 \\
A_{21} : \mathcal H_1 \to \mathcal H_2\\
A_{22} : \mathcal H_2 \to \mathcal H_2
\end{align*}
This is just notations, but it behaves exactly like matrix algebra, excepts the coefficients of the matrix are themselves operators.
Thanks for the clarification.
|
Dietary Supplementation of Eubiotic Fiber Based on Lignocellulose on Performance and Welfare of Gestating and Lactating Sows
Simple Summary The addition of fiber to the diet of sows can improve welfare due to prolonging the satiety feeling, which contributes to reducing stereotyped behaviors and providing benefits to reproductive performance. Thus, the present study was carried out aiming to evaluate the effects of lignocellulose-based eubiotic fiber supplementation on the behavior, surface temperature, and reproductive parameters of sows during pregnancy and lactation, as well as the performance of their litters. Dietary eubiotic fiber supplementation for sows in the final third of pregnancy and lactation improves their welfare and performance of their piglets. Abstract The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of partially fermentable insoluble dietary fiber supplementation on the behavior, surface temperature, and reproductive parameters of gestating and lactating sows, as well as on the performance of their litters. Four hundred hyper-prolific sows were assigned in a randomized block design with two treatment groups during the gestation phase: Control (C), corn-soy based diets, or corn-soy based diets with daily 55 g supplementation of eubiotic fiber (F) from the 85th day of gestation until the farrowing (late pregnancy). During the lactation phase, the sows were assigned in a 2 × 2 factorial design using the following treatment groups: (1) CC, no fiber included during gestation and lactation. (2) FC, daily inclusion of 55 g of fiber only during late pregnancy. (3) CF, daily inclusion of 55 g of fiber only during lactation. (4) FF, daily inclusion of 55 g of fiber during late pregnancy and lactation. Sows that received dietary fiber supplementation during the final third of gestation increased feed intake during lactation. Piglets from sows supplemented in both phases showed a significant increase in weight at weaning. The dietary supplementation of eubiotic fiber for sows in the end period of gestation and lactation improved performance and welfare, with positive consequences for developing their litters.
Introduction
The evolution of the genetic improvement of pigs in recent decades has promoted a low average weight per piglet at birth, less access to colostrum, and low availability of productive teats [1]. In addition, current sows have a higher body weight and a lower pattern of voluntary feed consumption. These factors may be related to the reduction in the survival rates of piglets during lactation, which results in low weaning weight and low litter uniformity [2].
Due to the great number of piglets, farrowing has become longer with a greater probability of depleting the sow's energy reserves, impairing farrowing kinetics, and predisposing piglets to hypoxia [3]. Therefore, the supply of dietary and partially fermentable fibers in the diet, aiming to increase the energy supply to females during parturition, a time of high energy demand, might be an advantageous nutritional strategy at the end of gestation [4,5]. The use of partially fermentable fibers during food restriction phases, such as gestation, shows benefits related to the promotion of immediate and longer satiety [6] and modulates the microbiota, which favors intestinal health and reduces digestive disorders [7]. Studies have shown that combining fermentable and non-fermentable fractions of fiber in diets provides physiological benefits to the animals as its prebiotic functions [8,9] can maintain a balanced microflora, ensuring intestinal eubiosis and, thus, improving animal performance [10][11][12]. These fiber effects can play a key role in feeding strategies that seek to reduce the use of antimicrobial growth promoters.
In addition to gastrointestinal and welfare benefits, high-fiber diets during gestating in sows are related to increased voluntary feed intake during lactation due to the residual effect on feed intake capacity [13] and improved performance of suckling piglets [14]. Increasing sow food consumption during lactation is a challenge, especially in tropical climate conditions, where there is a significant reduction in feed intake, a decrease in milk production, high body catabolism, and a reduction in litter size and weight [15]. Therefore, this practice needs to be better evaluated in hot climate regions, considering that during the fermentation process and absorption of their products, fibers generate a caloric increment and increase the visceral mass of animals, which also increases metabolic heat [16].
Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the effects of partially fermentable insoluble dietary fiber supplementation on the behavior, surface temperature, and reproductive parameters of gestating and lactating sows and the performance of their litters.
Animal Ethics Statement
All procedures performed in this study were approved by the Ethics Committee on the Use of Animals (CEUA) at the Federal University of Grande Dourados, under protocol no. 04/2021.
Site Description
The experimental protocol was conducted in a commercial piglet production unit (Weaned Piglet Production) hosting 2689 sows. The site is located in Ivinhema, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil (22 • 21 45 S, 53 • 52 49 W) at 406 m in altitude. The climate in the region, according to the Köppen classification, is Aw, i.e., tropical climate with dry winters, with an annual rainfall average between 1200 and 1800 mm and an annual temperature average of 25 • C, possibly reaching highs up to 40 • C in spring and lows of 10 • C in winter.
Animals and Facilities
Four hundred DanBred sows from the 85th day of gestation to the weaning of piglets (at 20 days of age) were used. During the gestation phase, the sows were housed in 20 collective pens in a masonry barn equipped with fans and water sprinklers. All pens contained solid floor (2/3) and slatted floor (1/3), nipple drinkers, and automatic feeders (drops). Twenty sows were housed per pen, with a stocking density of 2.0 m 2 per sow. Seven days before the expected day of parturition, the sows were transferred to the farrowing barn and housed in conventional farrowing crates (2.30 mL × 0.80 mW) equipped with a feeder, a nipple drinker, a creep heated with an incandescent lamp, and an escape area for piglets (0.45 mW). After the weaning, the sows returned to the gestation barn and were housed in individual crates, where they were monitored to determine the weaning-to-estrus interval (WEI). All animals (sows and piglets) had ad libitum access to water. House temperature ( • C) and relative humidity (%) were recorded daily using thermo-hygrometers (Novo Test TH802A thermo-hygrometers, São Paulo, Brazil) positioned in the middle of the pens and cages.
Experimental Design and Treatments
At 85 days of gestation (late pregnancy), 400 sows were distributed in four blocks according to parturition order (PO1, PO2, PO3, and PO > 3) and randomly allocated in two treatments: Control (C), corn-soy-based diets, or corn-soy-based diets with daily 55 g supplementation of eubiotic fiber (F). At 107 days of gestation, the sows were transferred to the farrowing room and assigned in a 2 × 2 factorial design with the following treatments: (1) Control-Control (CC): Corn-soy-based diets without supplementation of eubiotic fiber during late pregnancy and lactation. (2) Fiber-Control (FC): Corn-soy-based diets with daily 55 g supplementation of eubiotic fiber during late pregnancy and corn-soy-based diets during lactation. (3) Control-Fiber (CF): Corn-soy based diets during late pregnancy and corn-soy-based diets with daily 55 g supplementation of eubiotic fiber during lactation. (4) Fiber-Fiber (FF): Corn-soy-based diets with daily 55 g supplementation of eubiotic fiber during late pregnancy and lactation.
During the gestation period, the sows were housed in collective pens, and the pen (n = 10) with 20 sows each was considered as an experimental unit. After the transfer to the farrowing room and subdivision into the 4 treatments, each sow came to be considered the experimental unit (100 replicates per treatment).
Experimental Feed and Fiber Supply
The corn-soy-based experimental diets provided in the final third of gestation (late pregnancy) and during the lactation phase were formulated to meet the nutritional requirements of each phase ( Table 1). The eubiotic fiber used comprised lignocellulose (30% lignin) derived from selected and treated fresh wood, 100% insoluble and partially fermentable with a higher crude fiber content (65%) compared to traditional fiber sources and free mycotoxins. A low inclusion rate (0.5-3%) was used.
During the gestation phase (from 85 to 106 days), the diets were provided twice a day (2.2 kg/sow/day) at 06:00 and 08:00 h using automated drops. The sows from the F treatment were supplemented with eubiotic fiber (55 g/sow/day) diluted in 445 g of cookie meal (used as a vehicle). After dilution, the amount was divided into two equal parts and supplemented on-top of the feed. Following the same feeding management, the sows from the C treatment received the same cookie meal amount without the eubiotic fiber.
After being transferred to the farrowing facilities (at 107 days of gestation) and before farrowing, the sows began receiving 3.2 kg of lactation diet divided into two meals a day at 09:00 and 15:00 h. According to the treatments, sows were supplemented with 55 g of eubiotic fiber plus vehicle or only vehicle at the feeding time. On the day scheduled for farrowing (at 114 days of gestation), the sows did not receive feed, according to the management adopted by the farm. When the sows showed prepartum signs, such as edema and secretion of the vulva (approximately 114 days of gestation), the parturition was induced by intramuscular injection of prostaglandin associated with oxytocin (5 mg) in the first application and after six hours for the second application (5 mg), according to the farm's protocol.
After farrowing, the feed supply was resumed and divided into four meals (8.0 kg/sow/day) at 06:00, 09:00, 15:00, and 21:00 h. According to the treatments, sows were supplemented with 55 g of eubiotic fiber plus vehicle or only vehicle in the second feeding time. Sows were individually weighed on a mechanical scale (Lider Balances B650G/LD1050, São Paulo, Brazil), with a capacity of 500 kg when they were transferred to the farrowing room (at 107 days of gestation) and at weaning (20 days after farrowing). Feed consumption and leftovers in feeders were also recorded daily during the experiment to calculate average daily feed intake (ADFI). Due to feed restriction in the gestation phase, no feed leftovers were recorded.
The body condition score was evaluated concomitantly with the body weight. The Caliper equipment (Mitutoyo Digimatic Caliper, São Paulo, Brazil) was used to objectively quantify the angularity on the sows' back at point P2 (6.5 cm from the dorsal midline posterior to the last rib). Thus, the sows' body score was measured indirectly and classified as 1 (lean), 2 (ideal), or 3 (fat) [17].
Reproductive Performance
The number of piglets born alive and stillbirths, duration of farrowing (from the birth of the first piglet to delivery of the placenta), number of weaned piglets, and weaning-toestrus interval were recorded to evaluate reproductive performance. After weaning, the sows were housed in individual pens in the gestation barn, marked, and monitored daily until entering estrus. The estrus was considered when the sow showed the male tolerance reflex. Estrus diagnosis was performed twice a day at 07:00 and 17:00 h.
Litter Performance
All delivered piglets (alive and stillborn) were individually weighed during farrowing using a digital electronic scale (Prix Toledo BS20, São Paulo, Brazil). Following the standard handling procedure of the farm, the litter was standardized to balance the number of piglets per sow and to equalize the weight of piglets. Fourth-eight hours after standardization of litters, performed only between sows of the same treatment, all piglets were weighed again. At weaning (20 days of age), all piglets were individually weighed. The coefficients of variation of the piglets' weights (at birth and weaning) were calculated to assess litter uniformity plus the number of piglets born weighing less than 1000 g.
Sows Surface Temperatures
An infrared thermographic camera (Flir Studio, CATS60 Pro, São Paulo, Brazil) was used to measure sows' body surface temperatures (MST) during gestation and lactation and the mammary gland surface temperatures during lactation. The images were taken once a week at 08:00 h and 15:00 h. Thermographic images were read by converting the color spectrum into surface temperature using the Flir software (IRSoft, version 3.6, Testo Thermal Imagers, Wilsonville, OR, USA). The emissivity coefficient used was 0.96 for the entire sow body surface. The mean surface temperature and the standard deviation of body area were calculated using the temperature of 30 evenly distributed points to represent the sows' and mammary apparatus's global body surface ( Figure 1).
Behavior
Behavior assessments were performed using images captured by 8 video cameras installed at a 2 m height that allowed a wide view of pens (gestation phase) and farrowing crates (lactation phase). The images were recorded and stored on an external hard drive to be analyzed later.
The behavior of sows in the gestation phase, from the 85th day of gestation until their transfer to the farrowing barns (at 107 days of gestation), was evaluated once a week by the scanning method, with observation at 10 min intervals from 06:00 to 17:00 h, at pen level. A number of 20 sows each were randomly selected and recorded. The sum of behaviors totaled 100% of the compiled assessments.
The behavior of sows in the lactation phase was evaluated once a week by the focal animal method at ten-minute intervals, from 06:00 to 17:00 h, at sow level, totaling 67 observations per sow.
Pre-established ethograms were used (Tables 2 and 3) according to the reproductive cycle stage.
Statistical Analysis
The statistical assumptions of normality of residuals and homogeneity of variances of the reproductive performance data and body temperature of sows were verified by Shapiro Wilk and Levene tests, respectively. Variances that met the assumptions were subjected to analysis of variance using the SAS MIXED procedure (Version 9.4, SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA). The variables that did not meet the assumptions (number of stillbirths, mummified piglets, calving time, body condition score, estrus weaning interval) were transformed using the LOGNORMAL matrix and the GLIMMIX procedure, which models the logarithm of the response variable as a normal random variable. In both procedures in the mathematical model, parturition order and ambient temperature were added as covariates for the variables of productive performance and body temperature, respectively. The effects of interaction between the factors were verified when significant and unfolded. When using the MIXED procedure, the effects of unfolding were evaluated by the F test. In the GLIMMIX procedure, to compare the means by the least squares test, the obtained estimates were adjusted by the inverse link (pdiff ilink lines) of the GLIMMIX procedure.
The statistical analyses for behavioral results were performed using the SAS GLIMMIX procedure (SAS, version 9.4, SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA). As they did not meet the assumption of normality, the residue was transformed using the LOGNORMAL matrix. Thus, the GLIMMIX procedure modeled the logarithm of the response variable as a normal random variable. The mean and the variance were estimated on the logarithmic scale, thus assuming a normal distribution. Behavioral assessments were performed on more than one occasion on different days. The effect of time of assessment was added to the mathematical model as a covariate. Thus, an analysis of variance was performed using the PROC GLIMMIX, evaluating the effect of fiber inclusion in the diet during gestating and the effects of interactions between dietary fiber supply during gestating and during lactation. The statistical model for the gestation phase included the treatments as a fixed effect, the sows nested in the groups as random effects, and the sampling day as a covariate. The statistical model for parturition/lactation included treatments as a fixed effect and day of sampling as a covariate. To compare the means by the least squares test, the obtained estimates were adjusted by the inverse link (pdiff ilink lines) of the GLIMMIX procedure, followed by the F-test, and assigned significance when (p < 0.05).
Cost-Benefit Analysis of Using Eubiotic Fiber
In order to evaluate the cost-benefit of using eubiotic dietary fiber, the costs per kg of weaned piglets produced were calculated considering feeding costs (feed and dietary fiber consumption) during gestation and lactation, the weight of piglets at weaning, and the average number of piglets weaned per litter. The cost of eubiotic fiber was determined in a commercial consultation at a value of USD 1.35/kg. The costs of the gestation and lactation foods were calculated at USD 0.43/kg and USD 0.54/kg, respectively. The price of weaned piglets was USD 2.83 per kg live. At the time of calculations (12 December 2022), the quotation of BRL 5.29 (Real-Brazil's national currency) per dollar was used.
Reproductive Performance and Litter Performance
There was no effect of eubiotic dietary fiber supplementation for sows on weight at farrowing and weaning-to-estrus interval (p > 0.05). The mean weight loss of sows between prepartum and weaning was 26.96 kg, and the mean weaning-to-estrus interval was 4.7 days (Table 4). Means without a common uppercase letter (A-B) in the same column and a common lowercase letter (a-b) in the same row differed at p < 0.05.
Considering the litter standardization management carried out in the first 48 h after birth, the distribution was balanced. Therefore, there was no difference in the number of piglets per sow and their weight (W 48 h) between different treatments (p > 0.05) that could affect the results obtained (Table 5). There was no effect of treatments on the control number of piglets weaned, coefficient of variation of piglet weight at weaning, and mortality rate of suckling piglets (p > 0.05). Means without a common uppercase letter (A-B) in the same column and a common lowercase letter (a-b) in the same row differed at p < 0.05.
The supply of eubiotic dietary fiber to sows during the final third of gestation (late pregnancy) did not affect the number of piglets born alive, stillbirths, average piglet birth weight, litter uniformity, number of piglets born with less than 1.0 kg, weight, and BCS of sows at the entrance to the farrowing unit (p > 0.05) ( Table 6). Farrowing duration was shorter for sows from the FF treatment (p = 0.006). Piglets from sows that received fiber supplementation during lactation (CF and FF) were weaned heavier than those whose sows did not receive fiber (CC) or received fiber only during late pregnancy (FC). However, piglets whose sows received fiber in both periods were also heavier than piglets from sows that only received fiber during lactation, showing an additive effect of fiber during both phases on litter performance (p = 0.003) ( Table 4). Sows supplemented in late pregnancy with eubiotic dietary fiber showed a higher feed intake during the lactation phase regardless of the continuation of supplementation at this phase (p < 0.05). In addition, fiber intake during the lactation phase promoted a better body condition score at weaning (Table 4).
Surface Temperature of Sows
Sows from treatments that received fiber supplementation during late pregnancy had a higher body surface temperature (34.94 • C) compared to those that did not, regardless of whether they were receiving or not fiber during lactation (Table 7). Table 7. Body surface temperature (MST) and mammary system surface temperature (MSST); temperature means ( • C) of lactating sows with or without supplementation of dietary fiber in the diet. Means without a common uppercase letter (A-B) in the same column and a common lowercase letter (a-b) in the same row differed at p < 0.05.
Control
On the other hand, sows that received fiber in both phases had a higher temperature of breast apparatus (34.88 • C) than those that received fiber only during gestation (34.35 • C). Fiber supplementation did not affect the body surface temperature of sows during the gestation phase in both periods evaluated (morning and afternoon) ( Table 8).
Behavior
There was no effect of fiber supplementation on lateral lying, sitting, kneeling, standing, walking, eating, drinking, nosing, and negative interaction ( Table 9). Sows from the F treatment spent more time lying ventrally and less time interacting positively with their peers than sows from the C treatment. In addition to reducing the frequency of stereotyped behaviors such as floor licking and false chewing, sows from the F treatment showed a trend to reduce negative interactions than sows from de C treatment (p = 0.064). Means without a common lowercase letter (a-b) in the same row differed at p < 0.05.
Sows that received fiber in only one of the phases of the production cycle (CF and FC) spent less time lying on their sides compared to those that received fiber in both phases (FF). Similarly, sows that did not receive fiber supplementation during gestation or lactation showed a lower frequency of ventrally lying behavior compared to those that received fiber in both periods ( Table 10). Sows that received fiber during lactation, regardless of whether they received it during gestation, spent less time sitting and showed a more frequent breastfeeding behavior, in relation to the sows that did not receive fiber during this period.
Sows that received fiber during gestating showed a higher frequency of eating during lactation, even if they were not being supplemented at this stage, than sows from the CC and CF treatments. Additionally, sows that received fiber during lactation (regardless of having been supplemented in the previous period) spent more time eating than those that did not. Sows that received dietary fiber supplementation during gestation and lactation showed more drinking behavior than those who received fiber only during lactation.
The dietary supplementation during both phases (FF) reduced false chewing and biting rails of the farrowing units. However, sows that received fiber during gestation, but did not receive fiber during lactation, showed high levels of stereotypies, which could demonstrate the momentary effect of fiber in improving the feeling of satiety (Table 8). Means without a common uppercase letter (A-B) in the same column and a common lowercase letter (a-b) in the same row differed at p < 0.05.
Cost-Benefit Analysis of Using Eubiotic Dietary Fiber
The cost-benefit evaluation of using eubiotic dietary fiber showed an advantage for the group in which the supplementation was performed in both phases (FF) compared to the other groups. The use of fiber only during the gestation phase was not feasible, as it increased the cost per kg of weaned piglets and consequently reduced the profit obtained per litter (Table 11).
Performance and Reproductive Indexes
The supplementation of eubiotic fiber for sows in the final third of gestation promoted an increase in feed intake of approximately 25.80 kg per sow during the lactation phase. Sows were fed restrictively during gestation to avoid excessive body weight gain. On the other hand, they must consume feed ad libitum during lactation to meet nutritional demands, maximize milk production, and minimize body catabolism [19]. However, promoting a sudden increase in feed consumption by lactating females (from 1.8 to 2.2 kg to 6.0 to 8.0 kg of feed/sow/day) is a great challenge, especially in tropical climatic conditions, where there is a significant reduction in feed intake [20].
Feeding high-fiber diets for gestating sows has been linked to increasing voluntary feed intake during lactation and improving suckling piglets' performance [19,20]. However, the mechanisms related to the effects of consumption of diets with fiber inclusion during gestation on the consummatory behavior of sows during lactation have not yet been fully explained. Possible explanations have been considered, such as gastric dilatation and an increased total capacity of the gastrointestinal tract [18,19,21,22]. Researching the effects of using fiber in diets for pregnant sows, ref. [23] observed that feed formulated with 5% fermented soy fiber had a swelling capacity of 1.89 mL/g, which means that the total volume of diet for gestating sows may practically be double, thus stimulating the increase in capacity of voluntary ingestion and, consequently, satiety.
The amount and nature of fibrous carbohydrates incorporated in swine diets can influence the time it takes for food to travel throughout the gastrointestinal tract. Insoluble fibers remain intact along the gastrointestinal tract, requiring mechanical action to stimulate peristalsis. Thus, it promotes greater motility of the digesta, accelerates the passage rate, and increases food consumption [24].
According to [19], sows fed on a high-fiber diet soluble and insoluble during gestation had lower leptin concentrations before farrowing, which were negatively correlated with feed intake during lactation.
Sows supplemented with eubiotic fiber during gestation showed better farrowing kinetics, resulting in shorter farrowing compared to sows that were not supplemented during pregnancy. Feed restriction on the farrowing day is commonly adopted in many production systems, aiming to prevent constipation, narrow the birth canal if the gastrointestinal tract is full, and reduce the elimination of feces to avoid farrowing crate contamination [25]. Insoluble fibers promote improvements in intestinal motility, preventing constipation during farrowing [26]. In addition, the feed consumption restriction in the last hours before farrowing may lead to a reduction in the concentration of serum glucose and consequently to less energy available for the uterine and muscle contractions necessary for the expulsion of the fetus [27]. Therefore, the time interval between the last meal and the beginning of parturition is crucial for the female to have the energy needed for this event [28]. Studies have shown that the gastrointestinal tract absorbs glucose between four and six hours after feed consumption [29,30], which is directed to tissues and organs, and its serum levels tend to decrease rapidly after insulin secretion [31]. According to [25], sows that consumed feed within three hours before farrowing had higher blood glucose levels, resulting in shorter farrowing times (3.8 h) and lower mortality rates of piglets compared to sows that received food six hours before the start of labor (9.3 h of labor duration).
The provision of fiber-rich diets to sows promotes lower postprandial glycemic concentration, making it stable for a long period and contributing to the sow's satiety and adequate energy supply during farrowing. Thus, it is possible to restrict the food supply in the last hours before farrowing, ensuring an energy level from glucose oxidation capable of supporting uterine contractions [25,32,33].
When comparing the supply of diets formulated with low fiber (LF), high soluble fiber (HF-S), or high insoluble fiber (HF-I) to gestating sows, [29] observed that consumption of the LF diet resulted in a rapid increase and absorption of glucose from zero to four hours after feeding, while the HF-I and HF-S diets promoted a pattern of glucose absorption at a reduced rate.
Intestinal fiber fermentation promotes the synthesis of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), which contributes to selecting a more efficient microbiota. This positive modulation of the microbiota, with high production of SCFA, helps to stabilize interprandial glucose, providing late and prolonged glycemic peaks [34]. Thus, converting into an energy source when the glucose supply is in the intestine is insufficient for the sow to develop her activities [35].
Short farrowing reduces the risk of premature umbilical cord rupture and oxygen deprivation to the fetus. Prolonged asphyxia in the uterus may result in the death of the fetus during farrowing [35]. Still, it can make piglets take a long time to find the udder and ingest the colostrum, making them less capable of surviving in extrauterine life [36,37]. In addition, the duration of farrowing can be a risk factor for the health status of sows [38].
In this current study, the eubiotic fiber supplementation did not positively affect the number of piglets born alive and the birth weight. This could be associated with the supplementation only in the final third of gestation, thus not affecting embryonic survival. Previous studies have reported that the positive effects of high-fiber diets on litter size and birth weight are more visualized after use for several consecutive reproductive cycles [39][40][41]. In addition, even with a more efficient microbiota, the feed restriction during gestation, and consequently of the substrate for intestinal bacteria, may have limited the piglets' birth weight from sows that consumed fiber in the final third of gestation [42].
Piglets whose mothers received fiber supplementation in both phases were weaned heavier than piglets in the other groups. This may be related to the increased milk production promoted by the higher feed intake. In addition, the modulation of the intestinal microbiota resulted in high concentrations of SCFAs from fiber fermentation in the gut, which are absorbed and used as an energy source [43]. When passing from a restricted feeding system (gestation) to a high food supply (lactation), these sows produce a great amount of SCFAs due to the high availability of substrate for bacteria. The high absorption of short-chain fatty acids and triglycerides contributes to fat retention in the mammary glands [16]. The estimated milk dry matter production tended to be higher after 21 days of lactation in sows with high-fiber supplementation during the last third of gestation compared to sows without high-fiber supplementation, which could also favor better piglet development [16].
In addition, newborn piglets from sows supplemented with high-fiber during gestation present intestinal maturation and crypt depth [44,45]. This contributes to establishing their microbiota at birth, increasing their development potential. A smaller amount of undesirable bacteria in the environment where the piglets are inserted contributes to reducing the occurrence of piglets with diarrhea in maternity [46]. Fiber intake by sows during gestation affects the intestinal microbial modulation of piglets at 14 days of age, playing an important role in their immune system and body metabolism [47,48]. The gastrointestinal bacterial colonization of newborns is originated from the maternal intestine, vagina, amniotic fluid, and placenta and may occur in the prenatal period [49]. This bacterial profile is influenced by diet, antibiotic exposure, stress, and sow health [49]. The dietary fiber supplementation during gestation increases the acetate level in the digesta, which is crucial for developing T cells and improving the piglet's intestinal function [50].
Comparing the results of piglets' weaning weight from sows that did not receive fiber in any of the phases (CC) with those whose mothers were supplemented with fiber during late pregnancy and lactation (FF), the difference in average weight at weaning was 1.255 kg. The commercial unit where this current study was carried out has 2869 sows with an average of 2.5 farrowing episodes per year and 12 weaned piglets per farrowing. The difference in weight gain during lactation results in more than 108,000 kg of piglets weaned yearly due to the supplementation of eubiotic dietary fiber for sows.
When evaluating the cost-benefit of using dietary fiber during gestation and/or lactation, a more advantageous scenario occurred when sows received supplementation in both phases. For example, for a piglet production unit with 2000 sows, 2.5 farrowing/sow/year, and an average of 12 weaned piglets/farrowing with an average weight of 6.0 kg, there are 360,000 kg of piglets weaned per year. Considering the difference of USD 0.15 in the cost per kg of piglet produced between the CC and FF treatments, the savings in favor of groups that received fiber in both phases was around USD 54,000 per year.
Calculating the revenue obtained from sales, there is a financial advantage of USD 26.68 per litter of sows that received fiber in both phases (FF) compared to those that did not receive fiber in either treatment (CC). For a UPL with approximately 5000 births per year, it would represent an additional income of USD 133,400 per year.
Surface Temperature of Sows
Sows supplemented with eubiotic fiber during gestation had a higher body temperature during lactation compared to sows that did not receive fiber. This could be associated with an increased feed intake and, consequently, a high caloric increase [51]. Sows that received eubiotic dietary fiber in both phases had a higher temperature of mammary glands than those that received fiber only during gestation. The great supply of energy and nutrients to mammary glands resulting from the high consumption of feed during lactation and the possible modulation of the microbiota during the final third of gestation (promoting great production of short-chain fatty acids and better digestibility and use of the diet) [52] may result in a great milk production, which could partially justify the better performance of litters from the sows of this treatment. In turn, the great supply of nutrients to the mammary glands, with a consequent increase in metabolism and milk production, leads to an increase in tissue temperature.
Behavioral Assessments
During gestation, sows that received eubiotic dietary fiber spent more time lying ventrally. Additionally, they spent less time sprouting around the pen components and, in addition, reduced the frequency of stereotyped behaviors such as floor licking, false chewing, and agonistic behaviors. Feed restriction for gestating sows aims to avoid excessive weight gain at this stage [53]. However, excessive feeding restrictions make sows unsatisfied, leading to a frequent occurrence of stereotyped behaviors and fighting when housed in collective pens [54]. Thus, considering the capacity of modulation of glycemic peaks, including insoluble fibers in the diet during gestation can be considered a good nutritional strategy to promote satiety and reduce the apparent motivation in feeding sows without providing excess energy [19,40,55]. Cassar et al. [56] observed that sows in gestation, under the effects of feed restriction, increased the time they spent lying down by being supplemented with fibrous feed.
The reduction of standing activity has been observed with the incorporation of fibrous components in the diet of these animals. The number of postural changes also decreased with the supplementation of fibrous diets. There was a strong effect when sows fed on a diet based on oat hulls compared to wheat bran and corn cob [57]. Che et al. [41] observed a beneficial effect of the incorporation of a high content of plant cell wall in the gestation diet of multiparous sows expressed by a reduction in the time spent in the standing position and an increase in the lying position.
Sows that received fiber during lactation, whether or not they received it during gestation, spent less time sitting, in relation to the sows that were not supplemented during this period. Sitting or standing inactive for long periods may indicate poor welfare. On the other hand, the lying position may reflect a welfare situation in the case of sows housed in collective pens [58].
Animals that received fiber during the last third of gestation and lactation had a higher frequency of visits to the drinking fountain than those that received fiber only during lactation. The animal's daily water requirement determined its access to the drinker. The high frequency of access to the drinker may be related to the increase in feed consumption by sows supplemented with fiber in both phases; for example, solid feed intake must be accompanied by water intake [59], especially in diets with higher fiber content due to its solubility and water holding capacity [60].
Stereotyped behaviors also decreased during lactation in sows that received fiber during this period. However, this reduction was more significant in sows that had already been supplemented since the final third of gestation. At this stage, stereotypes are not related to food restriction but to the severe restriction of movement imposed by farrowing units.
The gut microbiota affects the functioning of the gut-brain axis and the passage of metabolites and neurotransmitters produced by the gut [61], which affects neural circuits and behaviors associated with a stressful response [62]. Studies by [63,64] demonstrated that humans with depression have lower diversity in the gut microbiota and high levels of inflammatory markers. According to [65], patients with inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract often have anxiety and depression, possibly due to dysregulations in tryptophan metabolism and the consequent production of serotonin.
However, sows that received fiber during gestation but did not receive fiber during lactation showed high levels of stereotypies, demonstrating the momentary effect of fiber. According to [66], stereotyped behaviors may be more apparent when the environment is restricted and mitigated with increased diet fiber and more frequent feeding. Bergeron et al. [67] observed that a high-fiber diet (29% ADF, 50% NDF) promoted a shortening in the time spent stereotyping by sows within two hours after a meal.
Conclusions
The use of eubiotic fiber, insoluble and partially fermentable, in diets during the final third of pregnancy and lactation promotes improvements in the well-being of sows, contributing to a shorter duration of farrowing, greater feed consumption during lactation, greater weight gain of their piglets, and reduction in stereotyped behaviors of females in both phases.
|
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.