Author: claimsbot

1. A method for fabricating aligned nanostructures on a tip, comprising:
forming nanostructures on a tip, wherein the forming of the nanostructures on the tip comprises:
forming catalyst particles on the tip; and
providing a reaction gas to the catalyst particles on the tip to form the nanostructures; and

aligning the nanostructures on the tip using a fluid flowing on the tip,
wherein said forming of the catalyst particles on the tip comprises:
disposing the tip to be spaced apart from an electrolyte solution including metal catalyst ions;
applying an electric field to the electrolyte solution to emit the metal catalyst ions from the electrolyte solution, wherein the electric field is applied while the tip is spaced apart from the electrolyte solution; and
attaching the emitted metal catalyst ions to the tip to form the catalyst particles.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the nanostructures include carbon nanotubes or nanowires.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the catalyst particles comprise at least one selected from the group consisting of nickel, cobalt, molybdenum and iron.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the aligning of the nanostructures on the tip comprises:
introducing the fluid on the tip; and
contacting the fluid with the nanostructures by flowing the fluid toward the nano structures.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the fluid has wettability with respect to the tip.
6. The method of claim 4, wherein the fluid has wettability with respect to the nano structures.
7. The method of claim 4, wherein the fluid comprises water or an organic solvent.
8. The method of claim 4, wherein the introducing of the fluid on the tip comprises spraying the fluid in the form of droplets to a region other than a region where the nanostructures are formed.
9. The method of claim 4, wherein the introducing of the fluid on the tip comprises dipping a region of the tip where the nanostructures are not formed into a solution including the fluid.
10. The method of claim 4, wherein the fluid flows toward the nanostructures by gravitational force.
11. The method of claim 4, wherein the fluid flows toward the nanostructures by an inert gas flow provided into the tip.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the inert gas comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, helium and hydrogen.
13. The method of claim 4, wherein the contacting of the fluid with the nanostructures comprises allowing the fluid to apply a physical force to the nanostructures to align the nanostructures in a flow direction of the fluid.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the physical force is generated by capillary force between the fluid and the tip.
15. A tip comprising aligned nanostructures, wherein the tip is formed by the method of claim 1.

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

We claim:

1. A method of treating patients in need of treatment for a cardiac disorder, comprising administering to said patient a seven carbon fatty acid compound or derivative thereof, wherein said compound or derivative thereof is able to readily enter the mitochondrion without special transport enzymes.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said seven carbon fatty acid compound comprises n-heptanoic acid.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein said seven carbon fatty acid compound comprises a triglyceride comprising n-heptanoic acid.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein said triglyceride comprises triheptanoin.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein said derivative is a five carbon fatty acid chain.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein said derivative is selected from the group consisting of 4-methylhexanoate, 4-methylhexenoate, 3-hydroxy-4-methylhexanoate, 5-methylhexanoate, 5-methylhexenoate and 3-hydroxy-5-methylhexanoate.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein said compound or derivative thereof is capable of being broken down by normal -oxidation in humans to methylbutyric acid.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein said compound or derivative thereof is capable of being broken down by normal -oxidation in humans to isovaleric acid.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein said compound or derivative is capable of being broken down by normal -oxidation in humans to n-valeryl-CoA.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein said compound or derivative is capable of being broken down by normal -oxidation in humans to propionyl-CoA in one or more oxidative procedures.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein said compound or derivative thereof is provided to said patient in an amount comprising at least about 25% of the dietary caloric requirement for said patient.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein said compound or derivative is provided orally.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein said compound or derivative is provided parenterally.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein said compound or derivative is provided intraperitoneally.
15. The method of any of claims 1-14, wherein said cardiac disorder is cardiac myopathy.
16. The method of any of claims 1-14, wherein said cardiac disorder is the aftermath of heart surgery and said compound or derivative is utilized for direct fueling of heart muscle.
17. A dietary formulation suitable for treatment of heart tissue in cardiac or surgical patients comprising a seven-carbon fatty acid chain, wherein said seven-carbon fatty acid chain is characterized by the ability to transverse the inner mitochondrial membrane by a transport mechanism which does not require carnitine palmitoyltransferase I, carnitine palmitoyltransferase II, or camitineacylcarnitine translocase and the ability to undergo mitochondrial -oxidation, and wherein said compound is selected from the group consisting of n-heptanoic acid or a derivative thereof, a triglyceride comprising n-heptanoic acid or a derivative thereof, and triheptanoin or a derivative thereof.
18. A dietary formulation suitable for treatment of heart tissue in cardiac or surgical patients comprising a seven carbon fatty acid compound or derivative thereof, wherein said compound or derivative thereof is able to readily enter the mitochondrion without special transport enzymes.
19. The dietary formulation of claim 18, wherein said seven carbon fatty acid compound comprises n-heptanoic acid.
20. The dietary formulation of claim 18, wherein said seven carbon fatty acid compound comprises a triglyceride comprising n-heptanoic acid.
21. The dietary formulation of claim 18, wherein said triglyceride comprises triheptanoin.
22. The dietary formulation of claim 18, wherein said derivative is a five carbon fatty acid chain.
23. The dietary formulation of claim 18, wherein said derivative is selected from the group consisting of 4-methylhexanoate, 4-methylhexenoate, 3-hydroxy-4-methylhexanoate, 5-methylhexanoate, 5-methylhexenoate and 3-hydroxy-5-methylhexanoate.
24. The dietary formulation of claim 18, wherein said compound or derivative thereof is capable of being broken down by normal -oxidation in humans to methylbutyric acid.
25. The dietary formulation of claim 18, wherein said compound or derivative thereof is capable of being broken down by normal -oxidation in humans to isovaleric acid.
26. The dietary formulation of claim 18, wherein said compound or derivative is capable of being broken down by normal -oxidation in humans to n-valeryl-CoA.
27. The dietary formulation of claim 18, wherein said compound or derivative is capable of being broken down by normal -oxidation in humans to propionyl-CoA in one or more oxidative procedures.

1. A motor driving apparatus comprising a power circuit that controls, via a feedback variable resistance, an output voltage that is applied to a motor, wherein
the power circuit varies resistance of the feedback variable resistance at a time of start of activation of the motor thereby causing the motor to activate at any one of a high speed and a low speed.
2. The motor driving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power circuit includes an overvoltage protection circuit, and a short protection circuit, and
the power circuit varies the resistance in such a manner that the output voltage is within a range such that any one of the overvoltage protection circuit and the short protection circuit is not activated.
3. The motor driving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power circuit varies the resistance in such a manner that the output voltage is lowered when a load is applied.
4. The motor driving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power circuit varies, by discharging a voltage of a capacitor provided at a later stage, the resistance in such a manner that the output voltage is lowered.
5. The motor driving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the motor driving apparatus is used for a power source of a motor that is used for a lens barrel for an image input unit.
6. A motor driving apparatus comprising a power circuit that controls, via a feedback variable resistance, an output voltage that is applied to a motor, wherein
the power circuit varies resistance of the feedback variable resistance at a time of termination of activation of the motor thereby causing the motor to activate at any one of a high speed and a low speed.
7. The motor driving apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the power circuit includes an overvoltage protection circuit, and a short protection circuit, and
the power circuit varies the resistance in such a manner that the output voltage is within a range such that any one of the overvoltage protection circuit and the short protection circuit is not activated.
8. The motor driving apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the power circuit varies the resistance in such a manner that the output voltage is lowered when a load is applied.
9. The motor driving apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the power circuit varies, by discharging a voltage of a capacitor provided at a later stage, the resistance in such a manner that the output voltage is lowered.
10. The motor driving apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the motor driving apparatus is used for a power source of a motor that is used for a lens barrel for an image input unit.
11. A motor driving apparatus comprising a power circuit that controls, via a feedback variable resistance, an output voltage that is applied to a motor, wherein
the power circuit varies resistance of the feedback variable resistance at times of start and termination of activation of the motor thereby causing the motor to activate at any one of a high speed and a low speed.
12. The motor driving apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the power circuit includes an overvoltage protection circuit, and a short protection circuit, and
the power circuit varies the resistance in such a manner that the output voltage is within a range such that any one of the overvoltage protection circuit and the short protection circuit is not activated.
13. The motor driving apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the power circuit varies the resistance in such a manner that the output voltage is lowered when a load is applied.
14. The motor driving apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the power circuit varies, by discharging a voltage of a capacitor provided at a later stage, the resistance in such a manner that the output voltage is lowered.
15. The motor driving apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the motor driving apparatus is used for a power source of a motor that is used for a lens barrel for an image input unit.
16. A digital camera comprising a motor driving apparatus that includes a power circuit that controls, via a feedback variable resistance, an output voltage that is applied to a motor, wherein
the power circuit varies resistance of the feedback variable resistance at a time of start of activation of the motor thereby causing the motor to activate at any one of a high speed and a low speed.
17. A digital camera comprising a motor driving apparatus that includes a power circuit that controls, via a feedback variable resistance, an output voltage that is applied to a motor, wherein
the power circuit varies resistance of the feedback variable resistance at a time of termination of activation of the motor thereby causing the motor to activate at any one of a high speed and a low speed.
18. A digital camera comprising a motor driving apparatus that includes a power circuit that controls, via a feedback variable resistance, an output voltage that is applied to a motor, wherein
the power circuit varies resistance of the feedback variable resistance at times of start and termination of activation of the motor thereby causing the motor to activate at any one of a high speed and a low speed.
19. A motor controlling method comprising controlling, via a feedback variable resistance, an output voltage that is applied to a motor, wherein
the controlling includes varying resistance of the feedback variable resistance at a time of at least one of start of activation of the motor thereby causing the motor to activate at any one of a high speed and a low speed.
20. The motor controlling method according to claim 19, wherein the controlling includes varying the resistance in such a manner that the output voltage is within a range such that any one of an overvoltage protection circuit (1-23) and a short protection circuit (1-23) that are included in a power circuit is not activated.
21. The motor driving apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the controlling includes varying the resistance in such a manner that the output voltage is lowered when a load is applied.
22. The motor controlling method according to claim 19, wherein the controlling includes varying, by discharging a voltage of a capacitor that is provided at a later stage in a power circuit, the resistance in such a manner that the output voltage is lowered.
23. The motor controlling method according to claim 19, wherein the motor controlling method is used to control a power source of a motor that is used for a lens barrel for an image input unit.

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 switch for linking a cluster of servers to a data storage facility, the switch comprising:
a facility to block ports to data traffic while allowing passage of cluster monitoring traffic,
a server malfunction monitor which monitors a characteristic from the servers for an indication of a malfunctioning server and when a malfunctioning server is indicated blocks data traffic on a respective port coupled to said malfunctioning server, and
a repaired server monitor which monitors for an indication of correction of the malfunctioning server.
2. The switch of claim 1 in which the characteristic comprises arrival of IAmAlive signals from the servers in said cluster within a predetermined time interval.
3. The switch of claim 1 in which the characteristic is monitored for out of profile behavior.
4. The switch of claim 1 in which a port blocked to data traffic is automatically opened when a previously malfunctioning server attached to the port resumes correct functioning as detected by said repaired server monitor.
5. A data storage network comprising:
(a) a resilient cluster of servers;
(b) a data storage facility; and
(c) a switch coupling each of said servers to said data storage facility;
wherein
(d) the servers each transmit cluster control signals that provide an indication of the functioning of a respective server, and
(e) said switch detects said cluster control signals and when an indication of a malfunctioning server is determined, blocks access of the malfunctioning server to the storage facility but maintains monitoring for cluster control signals related to the malfunctioning server.
6. The data storage network of claim 5 in which the servers monitor one another and initiate a shut port procedure that is transmitted to the switch in the event of a server malfunction.
7. The data storage network of claim 5 in which the switch initiates a shut port procedure when it detects a malfunction.
8. The data storage network of claim 5 further comprising means for automatically determining correction of the malfunction in response to said maintained monitoring cluster control signals from said malfunctioning server.
9. a method of operating a data storage network comprising a resilient cluster of servers, a data storage facility and a switch coupling each of said servers to said data storage facility, said method comprising:
transmitting, from each of said servers to said switch, cluster control signals that provide an indication of the functioning of respectively associated servers;
detecting, in said switch, said cluster control signals; and
when an indication of a malfunctioning server is determined by said switch, blocking by means of said switch access of the malfunctioning server to the storage facility while maintaining monitoring by said switch for cluster control signals related to the malfunctioning server.