Author: claimsbot

1. A nano-construct comprising
(a) a metal or metal alloy nanoshell formed around a core material, and
(b) a bioactive agent,
wherein the core material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a liposome, a polymersome, and a hybrid vesicle comprising both lipid and polymer-based constituents,
wherein the core material further comprises dielectric material, which comprises magnetic ceramic particles.
2. The nano-construct of claim 1, wherein the nanoshell is a gold nanoshell.
3. The nano-construct of claim 1, comprising a large unilamellar vesicle,
wherein the large unilamellar vesicle encapsulates the nanoshell and the bioactive agent.
4. The nano-construct of claim 1, wherein the core material is a small unilamellar vesicle encapsulating the bioactive agent.
5. The nano-construct of claim 1, wherein the nanoshell is a gold nanoshell having a thickness in the range between about 5 and about 25 nm.
6. The nano-construct of claim 1, wherein the core material is a liposome having a size in the range between about 150 nm to about 200 nm.
7. The nano-construct of claim 1, wherein the metal or metal alloy nanoshell surrounding the core is porous to the bioactive agent once it is released from the core material.
8. The nano-construct of claim 2, wherein the gold nanoshell surrounds the core of a dielectric material, and
wherein a plurality of these gold shells are conjugated to the surface of the core material, which contains the bioactive agent.
9. The nano-construct of claim 1, wherein the core material comprises a peptide, a protein, or a combination of these.
10. The nano-construct of claim 1, further comprising a targeting molecule on the surface of the nano-construct.
11. The nano-construct of claim 10, wherein the targeting molecule is a surface-conjugated ligand against one or more receptors on an inflamed endothelium.
12. The nano-construct of claim 1 in a formulation suitable for systemic delivery or local delivery into a human being.
13. The nano-construct of claim 12, wherein the systemic delivery is injection.
14. The nano-construct of claim 12, wherein the local delivery is delivery by a device comprising a catheter.
15. The nano-construct of claim 1, wherein the bioactive agent is paclitaxel, docetaxel, estradiol, 17-beta-estradiol, nitric oxide donors, super oxide dismutases, super oxide dismutases mimics, 4-amino-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl, tacrolimus, dexamethasone, rapamycin, 40-O-(2-hydroxy)ethyl-rapamycin, 40-O-(3-hydroxy)propyl-rapamycin, 40-O-2-(2-hydroxy)ethoxyethyl-rapamycin, 40-O-tetrazole-rapamycin, 40-epi-(N1-tetrazolyl)-rapamycin, \u03b3-hirudin, clobetasol, pimecrolimus, imatinib mesylate, or midostaurin, or prodrugs, or combinations of these.
16. A method of forming a nano-construct according to claim 1, comprising:
providing a core material selected from a liposome, a polymerosome, a hybrid vesicle,
forming a nanoshell around the core material.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the core material encapsulates a bioactive agent.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein the formed nanoshell has porosity.
19. The method of claim 16, wherein the core material is a liposome.
20. The method of claim 16, wherein the nanoshell is a gold nanoshell having a thickness in the range between about 5 and about 25 nm.
21. The method of claim 16, wherein the liposome has a size in the range between about 150 nm to about 200 nm.
22. The method of claim 16, wherein the core material comprises a peptide, a protein, or a combination of these.
23. The method of claim 16, wherein the nano-construct comprises a targeting molecule on the surface of the nano-construct.
24. The method of claim 23, wherein the targeting molecule is a suface-conjugated ligand against receptors on an inflamed endothelium.
25. The method of claim 16, wherein the nano-construct is in a formulation suitable for systemic delivery or local delivery into a human being.
26. The method of claim 25, wherein the systemic delivery is injection.
27. The method of claim 25, wherein the local delivery is delivery by a device comprising a catheter.
28. The method of claim 16, wherein the bioactive agent is paclitaxel, docetaxel, estradiol, 17-beta-estradiol, nitric oxide donors, super oxide dismutases, super oxide dismutases mimics, 4-amino-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl, tacrolimus, dexamethasone, rapamycin, rapamycin derivatives, 40-O-(2-hydroxy)ethyl-rapamycin, 40-O-(3-hydroxy)propyl-rapamycin, 40-O-2-(2-hydroxy)ethoxyethyl-rapamycin, 40-O-tetrazole-rapamycin, 40-epi-(N1-tetrazolyl)-rapamycin, \u03b3-hirudin, clobetasol, pimecrolimus, imatinib mesylate, or midostaurin, or prodrugs, or combinations of these.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A method for using a system controller disposed in a single chip having a first clock domain and a second clock domain, the method comprising:
receiving a read request in the first clock domain of a host interface of said system controller having a first clock rate;
passing said read request into the second clock domain of a memory controller of said system controller associated with accessing a memory via a memory bus, said second clock domain having a second clock rate;
in said second clock domain, said read request triggering said memory controller to assert a read command to said memory via said memory bus to fulfill said read request and the read request further triggering said memory controller to also send a delay-adjusted alarm message in said second clock domain to said host interface such that the delay-adjusted alarm message includes an indication of a time in the future when data to fulfill said read request will be returned from said memory to said first clock domain in response to the read command asserted on said memory bus and the indication is adjusted based on a time delay between said read request and said data becoming present and stable in said host interface,
wherein triggering said memory controller to send said delay-adjusted alarm message includes calculating said time delay using said memory controller;

in said first clock domain, said host interface receiving said alarm message at a time before the data is ready for transfer, converting said alarm message in said second clock domain into an alarm message in said first clock domain, and dynamically monitoring attributes of said read request to generate a programmable offset to said alarm message in said first clock,
wherein said host interface utilizes said alarm message to schedule a data ready signal to transfer data at an earliest safe clock cycle in the first clock domain without requiring a synchronous handover within the chip of data fulfilling said read request between said clock domains prior to scheduling the data ready signal.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: maintaining a first counter in said first clock domain and a second counter in said second clock domain such that an alarm time in said second clock domain is interpreted in said first clock domain.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein said first clock domain is associated with a front side bus interface and said receiving a read request comprises receiving a read request on said front side bus interface from a central processing unit.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein said delay occurs in response to at least one of: an inbound memory bus delay, a CAS latency associated with said memory, or an outbound memory bus delay.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising accounting for a latency of said first clock domain to respond to said alarm message.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising sampling read data from said memory.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein dynamically monitoring attributes of said read request to generate a programmable offset comprises monitoring a data size of said read request.
8. A system controller disposed in a chip for a host to read stored data, comprising:
a host interface in the chip disposed in a first clock domain having a first clock rate;
a memory controller in the chip for interfacing with a memory, said memory controller disposed in a second clock domain having a second clock rate associated with said memory, said memory controller receiving read requests passed on from said host interface;
a data return path for data to be returned from said memory to said host interface;
said memory controller being triggered by a received read request to assert a read command to said memory via a memory bus to fulfill said read request and the read request further triggering said memory controller to also send a delay-adjusted alarm message in said second clock domain to said host interface such that the delay-adjusted alarm message includes an indication,
wherein said indication is a calculated value of a time in the future when data to fulfill said read request will be returned from said memory to said first clock domain in response to the read command asserted on said memory bus
and said indication is adjusted based on a time delay between said read request and said data becoming present and stable in said host interface; and

said host interface receiving said alarm message in said second clock domain at a time before the data is ready for transfer, and dynamically monitoring attributes of said read request to generate a programmable offset to said alarm message in said first clock domain,
wherein said host interface utilizes said alarm message to schedule a data ready signal to transfer data at an earliest safe clock cycle in the first clock domain without requiring a synchronous handover within the chip of data fulfilling said read request between said clock domains prior to scheduling the data ready signal.
9. The system controller of claim 8, wherein said host interface comprises a front side bus interface.
10. The system controller of claim 8, wherein said host interface comprises a data return for receiving data from said data return path.
11. The system controller of claim 10, wherein said safe clock cycle comprises an earliest clock cycle in said first clock domain for which data to fulfill said particular read request will be returned and available.
12. The system controller of claim 11, wherein said data return determines said earliest clock cycle based upon said alarm message and a size of said particular read request.
13. The system controller of claim 11, wherein said memory is a random access memory having DQ and DQS pins carrying DQ and DQS signals and said data path samples said DQ and DQS signals.
14. The system controller of claim 8, wherein each clock domain is locked to the other with a fixed ratio.
15. The system controller of claim 8, wherein each clock domain maintains a local counter, whereby an alarm time in said second clock domain is adapted to be translated into a time in said first clock domain.
16. The system controller of claim 8, wherein said attributes of said read request comprise a data size of said read request.
17. A chip acting as a North Bridge interface between a central processing unit and a memory, the chip comprising:
a host interface in the chip having a front side bus interface disposed in a front side bus clock domain having a first clock rate, said front side bus interface adapted to receive read requests from said central processing unit and return data to said central processing unit;
a memory controller in the chip for interfacing with said memory, said memory controller disposed within a memory clock domain having a second clock rate, said memory controller receiving read requests from said front side bus interface;
a data return path for returning data from said memory to a data return within said front side bus clock domain;
said memory controller being triggered by a received read request to assert a read command to said memory via a memory bus to fulfill said read request and the read request further triggering said memory controller to also send a delay-adjusted alarm message in said memory clock domain to said host interface such that the delay-adjusted alarm message includes an indication of a transfer time in the future in the front side bus clock domain when data to fulfill said read request will be returned from said memory to said front side bus clock domain in response to the read command asserted on said memory bus and the indication is adjusted based on a time delay between said read request and said data becoming present and stable in said host interface, said memory controller configured to calculate said time delay, the transfer time corresponding to a safe clock cycle in said front side bus clock domain; and
said data return receiving said alarm message in said memory clock domain at a time before the data is ready for transfer, converting said alarm message in said memory clock domain into an alarm message in said front side bus clock domain, and dynamically monitoring attributes of said read request to generate a programmable offset to said alarm message in said front side bus clock domain,
wherein said host interface utilizes said alarm message in said front side bus clock domain to schedule a data ready signal to transfer data at an earliest safe clock cycle in the first clock domain without requiring a synchronous handover in the chip of data fulfilling said read request between said clock domains prior to scheduling the data ready signal.
18. The chip of claim 17, wherein said safe clock cycle comprises an earliest clock cycle in said front side bus clock domain for which data to fulfill said particular read request will be returned and available.
19. The chip of claim 18, wherein said data return generates a data ready signal for said earliest clock cycle.
20. The chip of claim 17, wherein a first wall clock is maintained in said memory controller and a second wall clock is maintained in said data return, said first and second wall clocks being synchronized at some initial time and operated in phase at a rational multiple of each other, whereby a time in said memory controller domain is adapted to be interpreted in said front side bus domain.
21. The chip of claim 17, wherein said attributes of said read request comprise a data size of said read request.

1. An impingement sprinkler comprising:
a main body having a frame portion and a sprinkler head configured at a position adjacent to a lower edge of the frame portion, wherein a lower end of said main body has an axle tube, said axle tube adapted to be attached with an attaching seat;
a rotation guiding mechanism positioned on said frame portion of said main body, said rotation guiding mechanism having a torsional spring and a swinging piece, wherein one side of said swinging piece has a first contacting portion, and wherein said swinging piece corresponds to a space on a front end of the sprinkler head;
a slant adjustment mechanism positioned between said frame portion and said attaching seat of said main body such that a slanting angle of said main body can be adjusted and a water sprinkling angle of the sprinkler head can be changed;
a turning control component arranged on one side of said frame portion of said main body, said turning control component having a second contacting portion and a poking rod portion arranged on a lower side of said second contacting portion, said turning control component capable of swinging and extending downward, a movement of said poking rod portion driving said second contacting portion and said first contacting portion so as to become aligned or misaligned such that a turning direction of said main body can be changed, said poking rod portion slanting along with said main body and forming a swinging path when the slanting angle of said main body is adjusted;
a rotation limiting mechanism positioned on a preset position of said attaching seat so as to limit and interfere with said poking rod portion, said rotation limiting mechanism comprising:
a first limiting piece attached to an outside of said attaching seat and defining an attaching portion and a first stopping portion extending from one side of said attaching portion to the swinging path of the poking rod portion; and
a second limiting piece attached to the outside of the attaching seat and located over or beneath said first limiting piece, the second limiting piece forming a sleeving portion and a second stopping portion extending from one side of said sleeving portion to the swinging path of said poking rod portion, wherein the first and second limiting pieces can both be adjusted by rotation around the attaching seat, said first and second stopping portions of said first and second limiting pieces extending upwardly at a slanted angle, said poking rod portion always contacting said first and second stopping portions such that said first limiting piece or said second limiting piece can interfere with said poking rod portion so as to allow said main body to shift a turning direction thereof.
2. The impingement sprinkler of claim 1, wherein the first and second stopping portions are of a curved shape and extending outwardly, the curved shape of the first and second stopping portions extending along the swinging path formed by said poking rod portion when said main body is slanted.
3. The impingement sprinkler of claim 1, wherein the first and second stopping portions of the first and second limiting pieces are in a slanted and outwardly extending form.
4. The impingement sprinkler of claim 1, wherein the first and second stopping portions configured on the first and second limiting pieces are of a rod or plate shape.
5. The impingement sprinkler of claim 1, wherein an inner side of said attaching portion on said first limiting piece and said sleeving portion on said second limiting piece have a plurality of positioning teeth distributed in spaced relation to each other, said attaching seat having at least one edge on an outer side thereof, said first and second limiting pieces being adjustable in stages.
6. The impingement sprinkler of claim 1, wherein said slant adjustment mechanism comprises an axle seat configured on top of said attaching seat and a pivot portion which is correspondingly attached to said axle seat, wherein said axle seat is attached to one side of said frame portion of said main body, said pivot portion passable through said frame portion and pivoted with the axle seat such that said main body can be rotated around said pivot portion.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. An unscrambling system comprising:
an unscrambling bowl comprising a first curved wall that lies in a first plane;
a generally circular floor substantially surrounded by said first curved wall and having a first side, a second side and an end wall, said generally circular floor lying in a second plane that is generally perpendicular to said first plane, said end wall cooperating with said first curved wall to define a channel for receiving containers to be unscrambled; and
first adjusting means for adjusting a first dimension of said channel, said first adjusting means causing at least a portion of said generally circular floor to be raised from a lowered position to a raised position to define said channel.
2. An unscrambling system comprising:
an unscrambling bowl comprising a first curved wall that lies in a first plane;
a generally circular floor substantially surrounded by said first curved wall and having a first side, a second side and an end wall, said generally circular floor lying in a second plane that is generally perpendicular to said first plane, said end wall cooperating with said first curved wall to define a channel for receiving containers to be unscrambled; and
first adjusting means for adjusting a first dimension of said channel;
wherein said generally circular floor comprises a central portion, said first adjusting means comprising:
a plurality of concentric rings surrounding said central portion.
3. The unscrambling system as recited in claim 2 wherein said first adjusting means further comprises:
means for coupling one or more of said plurality of concentric rings to said generally circular floor in order to adjust said first dimension.
4. The unscrambling system as recited in claim 2 wherein said adjusting means further comprises:
means for biasing a plurality of ring members to a home position;
means for selecting one or more of said plurality of concentric rings and also for coupling said selected plurality of concentric rings to said central portion of said generally circular floor to define said channel when said generally circular floor is raised from said home position to an operating position.
5. The unscrambling system as recited in claim 4 wherein said means for selecting comprises a plurality of slidable supports associated with said second side for selecting one or more of said plurality of concentric rings.
6. The unscrambling system as recited in claim 5 wherein each of said plurality of slidable supports comprises a rack, said means for selecting further comprises:
a plurality of pinions operatively engaging said plurality of slidable supports; and
a drive train coupled to said plurality of pinions for rotatably driving said plurality of pinions which in turn drives said plurality of slidable supports in response thereto.
7. The unscrambling system as recited in claim 6 wherein said means for selecting further comprises a plurality of sprockets associated with said plurality of pinions, respectively, said unscrambling system further comprising a chain for coupling said plurality of sprockets to provide substantially simultaneous movement of said plurality of pinions when said chain is driven.
8. The unscrambling system as recited in claim 2 wherein said unscrambling system comprises an outer rim that defines at least a portion of a floor of said channel adjacent said first curved wall and a lift assembly coupled to said generally circular floor and at least one of said plurality of concentric rings, an outer wall of at least one of said plurality of concentric rings defining said end wall, an edge of said end wall being situated above said outer rim a first predetermined distance when said generally circular floor and said at least one of said plurality of concentric rings are moved to an operating position.
9. The unscrambling system as recited in claim 8 wherein said first predetermined distance is less than a radius of a container being processed.
10. The unscrambling system as recited in claim 9 wherein said first predetermined distance is less than a diameter of a container being processed.
11. An unscrambler comprising:
a generally circular wall for providing a boundary around a bowl area, said generally circular wall having at least one opening for enabling containers to pass from said bowl area to a second area outside of said bowl area;
a rim situated adjacent said generally circular wall; and
a generally circular floor that is expandable to change a diameter; said generally circular floor being moveable between a lowered position and a raised position;
said generally circular floor comprising an outer wall that cooperates with said generally circular wall to define a channel having a first predetermined dimension when said generally circular floor is moved between said lowered position and said raised position, said generally circular wall being stationary relative to said outer wall of said generally circular floor, at least a portion of said generally circular floor being moveable between said lowered position and said raised position to define said channel.
12. An unscrambler comprising:
a generally circular wall for providing a boundary around a bowl area, said generally circular wall having at least one opening for enabling containers to pass from said bowl area to a second area outside of said bowl area;
a rim situated adjacent said generally circular wall; and
a generally circular floor that is expandable to change a diameter of said generally circular floor and that is also moveable from a home position to an operating position;
said generally circular floor comprising an outer wall that cooperates with said rim and said generally circular wall to define a channel having a first predetermined dimension when said generally circular floor is moved from said home position to said operating position;
wherein said generally circular floor comprises a central portion, said generally circular floor further comprising:
a plurality of concentric rings surrounding said central portion.
13. The unscrambler as recited in claim 12 wherein said generally circular floor further comprises:
a coupler for coupling one or more of said plurality of concentric rings to said central portion in order to adjust said first predetermined dimension.
14. The unscrambler as recited in claim 12 wherein said unscrambler further comprises:
a plurality of springs for biasing said plurality of concentric rings, respectively, to said home position;
a selector for selecting one or more of said plurality of concentric rings and also for coupling said selected plurality of concentric rings to said central portion to define said channel when said generally circular floor is raised from said home position to an operating position.
15. The unscrambler as recited in claim 14 wherein said selector comprises a plurality of slidable supports for selecting one or more of said plurality of concentric rings.
16. The unscrambler as recited in claim 15 wherein each of said plurality of slidable supports comprises a rack, said selector further comprising:
a plurality of pinions operatively engaging said plurality of slidable supports; and
a drive train coupled to said plurality of pinions for rotatably driving said plurality of pinions which drive said plurality of slidable supports in response thereto.
17. The unscrambler as recited in claim 16 wherein said selector further comprises a plurality of sprockets associated with said plurality of pinions, respectively, said unscrambler further comprising a chain for coupling said plurality of sprockets to provide substantially simultaneous movement of said plurality of pinions when said chain is driven.
18. The unscrambler as recited in claim 12 wherein said unscrambler comprises a lift assembly coupled to said central portion and those of said plurality of concentric rings that are coupled thereto from said home position to said operating position at which an edge of said outer wall is situated above said rim a second predetermined dimension.
19. The unscrambler as recited in claim 18 wherein said second predetermined dimension is less than a radius of a container being processed.
20. The unscrambler as recited in claim 12 wherein said first predetermined dimension is less than a diameter of a container being processed.
21. An unscrambler comprising:
a generally circular wall for providing a boundary around a bowl area, said generally circular wall having at least one opening for enabling containers to pass from a bowl area to a second area outside said bowl area;
a rim situated adjacent said generally circular wall; and
a generally circular floor that is expandable or moveable to change a diameter of said generally circular floor and that is also moveable from a home position to an operating position;
said generally circular floor comprising an outer wall that cooperates with said rim and said generally circular wall to define a channel having a first predetermined dimension when said generally circular floor is moved from said home position to said operating position;
wherein a top edge of said outer wall is situated a predetermined distance above said rim when said outer wall is in said operating position.
22. The unscrambler as recited in claim 21 wherein said predetermined distance is less than a radius of a container being processed.
23. An unscrambler bowl comprising:
an outer wall; and
a channel for guiding containers to an outlet of the unscrambler bowl;
said unscrambler bowl further comprising at least one moveable member that is moveable to change at least one of a channel depth or a channel width in order to accommodate containers of different sizes, said at least one moveable member being moveable between a raised position and a lowered position so that at least a portion of said at least one moveable member cooperates with said outer wall to define said channel.
24. The unscrambler bowl as recited in claim 23 wherein a depth of said channel is adjustable.
25. The unscrambler bowl as recited in claim 24 wherein said depth is less than a radius of the container being processed.
26. The unscrambler bowl as recited in claim 23 wherein a width of said channel is adjustable.
27. The unscrambler bowl as recited in claim 26 wherein said width is less than a diameter of the container being processed.
28. The unscrambler bowl as recited in claim 23 wherein said at least one moveable member comprises a ring that is moveable from a home position to an operating position, said ring cooperating with said outer wall to define said channel.
29. An unscrambler comprising:
an outer wall; and
a channel adjacent said outer wall;
said channel being adjustable in order to accommodate containers of different sizes;
wherein said unscrambler comprises a plurality of concentric rings that are each independently moveable between a home position and an operating position, at least one of said plurality of concentric rings cooperating with said outer wall to define said channel after said at least one of said plurality of concentric rings is moved to said operating position.
30. An unscrambler comprising:
an outer wall; and
a channel adjacent said outer wall;
said channel being adjustable in order to accommodate containers of different sizes;
wherein said unscrambler comprises a floor having a central portion and a plurality of concentric rings surrounding said central portion, said plurality of concentric rings each being independently moveable between a home position and an operating position, at least one of said plurality of concentric rings cooperating with said outer wall to define said channel after said at least one of said plurality of concentric rings is moved to said operating position.
31. The unscrambler as recited in claim 30 wherein said central portion has a surface that is curved or domed shaped.
32. The unscrambler as recited in claim 30 wherein said unscrambler further comprises a drive system for moving said central portion and said at least one of said plurality of concentric rings to said operating position and also for rotatably driving them so that containers situated thereon are urged toward said outer wall and into said channel.
33. A method for changing a channel size in an unscrambling bowl having a bowl wall and an interior floor, the interior floor having members that may be raised or moved to an operating position to define a channel; said method comprising the steps of:
selecting which of said members should be raised or moved to define said channel; and
raising or moving said members to define said channel after said selecting step; and
said members surrounding the interior floor and being raised or moved from a first position to a second position in a direction that is generally perpendicular to a plane in which the interior floor lies so that at least a portion of one of said members cooperates with said bowl wall to define said channel.
34. The method as recited in claim 33 wherein said selecting step is performed by driving a plurality of racks to select said members.
35. The method as recited in claim 33 wherein said moving step is performed by simultaneously driving said interior floor and at least one of said members to said operating position.