In general, techniques are described for providing thread-level tracing within an operating system kernel. A computing device comprising processes, an operating system and a control unit that executes the operating system may implement the techniques. Each of the processes comprises an instance of an application program. Each of the processes comprises one or more separate threads of instruction execution. The operating system concurrently executes the processes. The control unit traces execution of a system call issued to the operating system by one of the threads currently being executed by the control unit to generate a trace log that traces execution of the system call by the operating system without tracing execution of any other ones of the one or more threads corresponding to those of the plurality of processes that are also being executed by the operating system during execution of the system call.

A computing device typically executes software, referred to as an "operating system," responsible for providing an interface between hardware of the computing device and application software. This operating system also generally provides common services for execution of the application software. The operating system may include a number of different components for providing the interface between the hardware and the application software, such as a kernel component, a networking component, a security component and a user interface component. The kernel component (which is often referred to as the "kernel"), may represent the core component that manages or otherwise controls the interface between application software and the hardware of the computing device. The kernel manages the execution of application software by the underlying hardware, instantiating or otherwise creating a process, allocating memory and other hardware resources for use by the process, establishing a priority for the process, loading program instructions into memory and scheduling execution of the loaded instructions associated with the process by the underlying hardware.
In executing the process, one or more of the process instructions may include what are referred to as "system calls." System calls represent instructions used to invoke or call a system service provided by the operating system for use by application programs. Via system calls, for example, the application program may access file systems presented by the operating system to the application program portion of the computing device (which is commonly referred to as "user space"), manage process execution by the underlying hardware, access network functionality, manage hardware devices, and maintain operating system information (such as time, system data, process, file or device attributes, to name a few examples). Thus, when issuing system calls, the process may interface with the kernel of the operating system to access one or more of these system services, thereby alleviating developers of application programs from having to repeatedly implement such core system services for every different type of operating environment. In effect, the operating system abstracts the underlying hardware specifics, presenting instead a standard interface by which application programs may interface with the underlying hardware without knowing the specifics of the underlying hardware.
The kernel receives these system calls and handles these system calls by providing the system service for use by the process. In some instances, the system call may fail. For certain computing devices, such as network routers, system call failures may result in these routers being unable to process routing protocol message pertinent to the forwarding of data packets through a network. Such failures may therefore impact not only the network router but the network as a whole, where other network routers have to reroute data packets around the failed network router.
System call failures may be especially troublesome for those high-end routers that provide so-called "high-availability" routing functionality. High-availability routing functionality refers to routers that each includes a primary routing engine and a backup routing engine, where the backup routing engine may seamlessly resume routing functionality in the event the primary routing engine fails, thereby providing high availability to routing functionality in the event of failure. Yet, both the primary and backup routing engines typically execute different instances of the same operating system. A failed system call that results in a failure of the primary routing engine is likely to impact the backup routing engine when the application program resumes executing on the backup routing engine. That is, upon resuming execution of the application program with the backup routing engine that issued the system call that resulted in the primary routing engine failure, the application program may re-issue this same system call that more than likely also fails on the backup routing engine (considering the backup and primary routing engines are executing different instances of the same operating system). Consequently, system call failures may be especially troublesome for those high-end routers that provide high-availability routing functionality because such system call failures may result in failures of both the primary and standby or backup routing engine.

Dynamic tracing of thread execution within an operating system kernel


A managed automation programming model is provided for versioning computing components independently, isolating such components, and dynamically binding them. For example, components such as an application and an and-in are able to version independently of one another, so that disparate versions of these components are still able to communicate—or in the nominal case, the same versions are able to communicate. Moreover, such components are isolated by the managed automation programming model so that they can be disintegrated and bound with other components in a seamless manner. Lastly, the independent versioning and component isolation advantageously allows for dynamic binding of the components at runtime.

Components, such as an application and an add-in, which may correspond to programs such as a word-processing program and a spell-checker, respectively, are easily integrated in a static environment. The reason is that in such a scenario a developer knows, a priori, which components interact well together. For example, the developer may know a priori that a word processing program interacts well with a particular spell-checker. Such components, then, can be easily bound at build time.
However, the problem becomes more difficult when dynamic binding is desired. Put another way, dynamic binding of components at runtime presents more difficult problems because of issues such as versioning of components and their mutual isolation. With respect to versioning, different versions of components often time leads to their incompatibility. For example, version 1.0 of an application may interact correctly with version 1.0 of an add-in. However, if the versioning is off, for example, if the application was upgraded to version 2.0 but the add-in remained at version 1.0, the two components may not work well together—or may not work at all.
The second problem leads to issues with the isolation of the components. For example, if the aforementioned application is integrated with the add-in, upgrading either component may prove difficult or impossible. Thus, if a computer user wants to upgrade an application to version 2.0 but is content with version 1.0 of the add-in, such a user may have a difficult time separating the two applications without breaking apart the integrated system.
To solve at least these two exemplary problems, that is, versioning and isolation, a dynamic binding system would be desirable whereby different versions of components can be used with each other, and where such components could be isolated from each other to such an extent that they don't affect one another when they are disintegrated. Moreover, it would be desirable to provide a managed automation programming model which could allow for dynamic binding of components at runtime, thus allowing these components to communicate in a managed code platform.


Parasites are detected and ameliorative actions taken using unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with sensors and equipment for dispensing treatment materials. Physical characteristic data obtained by the sensors is supplemented using a risk management module that increases the confidence level that the diagnosis of a particular parasite on an animal is correct. The risk management module may further be used to assess additional factors, such as the potential harm in applying a selected treatment, in the decision of whether or not to take ameliorative action.

Unmanned aerial vehicles have been developed for a number of uses, including surveillance, aerial filming, agricultural applications, and recreation. They are commonly referred to as drones. UAV designs include fuselage/wing assemblies resembling planes as well as helicopter and quadcopter configurations. Sensors such as gyroscopes, accelerometers, altimeters, GPS modules, cameras and/or payload monitors may be incorporated within UAVs. Gimbals may be used to mount cameras in UAVs. Radio signals generated by a transmitter/receiver, a smartphone, a tablet or other device can be used to control a UAV. UAVs can operate partially or completely autonomously. Functions such as hovering and returning to home can, for example, be provided autonomously. Data obtained by UAVs can be stored onboard using, for example, SD cards, or transmitted wirelessly. UAVs have been employed in the agriculture industry for purposes such as monitoring livestock and crops as well as crop dusting.
Common external parasites afflicting cows and some other livestock include lice, mange, and ticks. Five species of lice often affect cattle in the U.S. One species is a biting or chewing louse; the other four are sucking lice. There are two species of mange mites that most often affect cattle. Chorioptes bovis is a mange mite that infests cattle and is commonly known as "tailhead mange." It is the most common type of mange found in the U.S. It is a problem primarily in winter in all types of cattle , but especially in dairy cattle which are housed in closed quarters. Sarcoptes scabiei var. bovis is a burrowing mite that infests cattle and is frequently referred to as "neck and tail mange," although it may be found on any part of the body. Ticks are mostly a nuisance pest, but under certain conditions can reach numbers capable of affecting the animal. Ticks prefer the ears and neck areas of cattle, which are spots where it is difficult for the animal to remove them. Fortunately, ticks have a complex life cycle and it is not possible for them to breed and reproduce on the animals. The effects of such external parasites are varied. Lice bring about itching and skin irritations, causing animals to scratch, rub, and bite infested areas. Mange also causes skin irritation and itching, with more severe cases resulting in thickened skin, hair loss, and lesions. Ticks cause mostly minor irritation. Economic losses can result from parasite infestations due to irritation, blood loss, depressed appetite, and decreased rate of gain. Mange can affect the mammary gland and interfere with milking. Lactating animals will lose production depending on the level of infestation. Dairy farmers typically take care of the entire parasite problem in one step by using a pour-on pesticide like ivermectin. Organic farmers address common parasite infestations through a combination of prevention and control. Various treatment options are available for controlling parasites, including liquid enzymes that break down exoskeletons of insects/mites, diatomaceous earth, garlic powder, soap, organic plant oils such as soy and canola, and other antiparisitic compounds and solutions.

Unmanned aerial vehicle-based system for livestock parasite amelioration

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


An apparatus comprising an inter symbol interference (ISI) cancellation circuit and a detector circuit. The inter symbol interference (ISI) cancellation circuit may be configured to minimize ISI at data sampling and crossing sampling points in a symbol interval of an input signal. The detector circuit may be configured to generate data samples and crossing samples at the data sampling and crossing sampling points in the symbol interval of the input signal.

Clock and Data Recovery (CDR) circuits form a part of Serializer/Deserializer (SerDes) receivers. The CDR circuits track the phase of a sampling clock based on some criterion, such as minimizing a Mean-Squared-Error (MSE). Conventional CDR circuits are commonly designed to achieve low target bit-error-ratios (BER) on the order of 10−12 to 10−15 errors per bit. One category of CDR circuits commonly used is bang-bang CDR. Bang-bang CDR is widely used in SerDes circuits due to superior jitter tolerance and insensitivity to the Nyquist data pattern (i.e., 1010 . . . ).
Due to impairments in communication channels, previous and future symbols can have interference with a current symbol. Such interference is called inter symbol interference (ISI). From data samples obtained by sampling at the middle of a data eye, it is well understood that the ISI to the data samples needs to be reduced by means of linear or nonlinear equalization. For example, decision feedback equalization (DFE) can be used to remove the ISI at the data sample from the previous symbols. However, inter symbol interference at zero crossings was not well understood in the past. Consequently, a systematic approach to address ISI at zero crossings does not exist.
Because of the lack of a systematic approach, the ISI at the zero crossings is often not addressed properly. While the DFE feedback waveform has the intended magnitude at the data sample, the feedback waveform has only a portion of that magnitude at the zero crossing before or after the data sampling point. The feedback at the data sampling point is often related to the ISI the DFE is designed to remove. However, the feedback at the zero crossing is unrelated to the ISI at that zero crossing, causing the ISI there to be worse or better in an uncontrolled manner. The amount feedback at the zero crossing depends on the implementation and is often not easily controlled.
Clock and data recovery (CDR) using the zero crossing sample (such as Bang-bang CDR) can be affected by the residual zero-crossing ISI. The zero crossings of the equalized eye can have a wider region due to the residual zero-crossing ISI (quantified as the horizontal eye margin). When jitter is present, the data sampling can occur near the zero crossing region, leading to bit errors.
In general, maximizing both the vertical eye margin and the horizontal margin can be difficult. An equalization method that minimizes the ISI at the data samples often maximizes the vertical eye margin, while an equalization method that minimizes the ISI at the zero crossing samples leads to the best horizontal eye margin. A trade off has to be made as a result.
It would be desirable to have a method of ISI cancellation that balances minimization of ISI at the data samples with minimization of ISI at the zero crossings.


A polychromic ink composition depending on viewing angle comprises 0.5 to 40% by weight of cholesteric liquid crystal polymer particles whose maximum particle diameter is 1 to 200 xcexcm, 1.0 to 30.0% by weight of binder resins, 0.05 to 20% by weight of pigments with a deep-colored coloring matter whose average particle diameter is 0.01 to 0.5 xcexcm, 0.01 to 5.0% by weight of a shear-thinning property imparting agent, and water with respect to the total amount of the ink composition.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a polychromic ink composition depending on viewing angle which can be suitably used for writing instruments, stamps, paints, cosmetics, or the like.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Heretofore, for the purpose of obtaining written marks with metallic color such as gold, silver, or the like, and with pearlescent luster, ink compositions using metallic pigments or pearlescent pigments have been proposed. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-118592 proposes an aqueous ink composition using aluminum pigments. Further, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 8-151547 proposes an aqueous ink composition using pearlescent pigments.
However, in the case of such conventional aqueous ink compositions using metallic pigments, it has been impossible to obtain written marks or coating films with an effect that different colors are to be perceived depending on viewing angle (polychroism depending on viewing angle: goniochromism). Although ink compositions using pearlescent pigments have pearlescent luster, polychroism depending on viewing angle is hardly perceived. In particular, no polychroism depending on viewing angle can be perceived when a substrate whose color reflects light, including a white-colored substrate. On the other hand, in order to prepare ink compositions preferably used for writing instruments or the like including ball-point pens, it is important to prepare inks with good dispersal stability, capable of preventing the sedimentation of the pigment particles and excellent in maintenance stability whether they are oily types or aqueous types.
The present invention relates to a polychromic ink composition depending on viewing angle comprising polychromic particles depending on viewing angle, in particular, polychromic particles depending on viewing angle having optical reflection layers, solvents, and shear-thinning property imparting agents. Here, the polychromic particles depending on viewing angle in the present invention are defined as the particles which show such an effect that different colors are to be perceived depending on viewing angle (polychroism depending on viewing angle: goniochromism). When the ink composition of the present invention comprising these particles, solvents, and shear-thinning property imparting agents is written or coated, the written marks or coating films contain polychromic particles depending on viewing angle. Consequently, when incident light comes into these particles which are contained in the written marks or coating films, light coming out from inside of the particles to outside of the particles strongly interferes and interference color is observed in which different colors are to be perceived depending on viewing angle, thereby obtaining written marks or coating films with polychroism depending on viewing angle that have not been attained in the past.
In particular, as a mode of preferred embodiment, in the ink composition wherein the polychromic particles depending on viewing angle having optical reflection layers are contained, these optical reflection layers function as an opacifying agent of the said particles by themselves, and the polychroism depending on viewing angle can be observed regardless of the color of the substrate including colorants or the like which are written or coated at the same time as an ink. In other words, in the case of these particles, regardless of the color of the substrate, the interference color can be observed in which different colors are perceived depending on viewing angle due to the light coming out from inside of the particles to the outside of the particles, thereby obtaining the written marks or coating films that have not been attained by using the conventional metallic pigments or pearlescent pigments. In particular, even in the case of a white-colored substrate which reflects light, as a result of specular reflection of the incident light or as a result that light is reflected partially, written marks or coating films with polychroism depending on viewing angle can be obtained. Here, xe2x80x9cpolychromic particles depending on viewing angle having optical reflection layersxe2x80x9d refer to the polychromic particles depending on viewing angle having one or more optical reflection layers that can reflect specularly or that can reflect light partially when the light comes into, is refracted, and transmitted. Preferably, the xe2x80x9cpolychromic particles depending on viewing angle having optical reflection layersxe2x80x9d refer to the polychromic particles depending on viewing angle having such optical reflection layers whose reflectance is greater than transmittance of the incident light.
In addition, since the ink composition of the present invention is the ink composition which comprises solvents and shear-thinning property imparting agents as well as polychromic particles depending on viewing angle, such an ink is prepared whose dispersal stability of the said polychromic particles depending on viewing angle is good, capable of preventing the sedimentation of the said particles, excellent in maintenance stability. As a particularly preferred mode of embodiment, in the case of an ink composition comprising polychromic particles depending on viewing angle consisting of multi-layered particles including several metallic components, although the specific gravity is larger compared with that of ordinary pigments and that of pigment particles comprising the simple substance metals including aluminum or the like, when such an ink composition comprising polychromic particles depending on viewing angle contains a shear-thinning property imparting agent, the sedimentation of the said particles can be prevented, thereby obtaining an ink excellent in maintenance stability. Further, as a particularly preferred mode of embodiment, in the case of an ink composition comprising polychromic particles depending on viewing angle comprising the said cholesteric liquid crystal polymer, although the particle diameter is larger compared with that of pigments which are used for felt-tip pens and ball-point pens, when such an ink composition comprising polychromic particles depending on viewing angle contains shear-thinning property imparting agents, the sedimentation of the said particles can be prevented, and the maintenance stability becomes good, thereby obtaining an ink excellent in practical use which is applied for writing instruments including ball-point pens or the like.
The object of the present invention is to provide a polychromic ink composition depending on viewing angle which can obtain written marks or coating films having polychroism depending on viewing angle which have not been realized by using the conventional metallic pigments or pearlescent pigments.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a polychromic ink composition depending on viewing angle which can obtain written marks or coating films having polychroism depending on viewing angle particularly on a white-colored substrate.
The other object of the present invention is to provide a polychromic ink composition depending on viewing angle capable of attaining each of the above described objects with good dispersal stability, capable of preventing the sedimentation of the pigment particles, and showing the excellent maintenance stability.
Polychromic Particles Depending on Viewing Angle
As described above, polychromic particles depending on viewing angle of the present invention (polychromic pigments depending on viewing angle/dichroic pigments) are defined as a generic term of pigment particles in which the color tone (interference color) changes depending on viewing angle. The examples include multi-layered pigments such as minerals, metals, metallic compounds, and metal oxides, liquid crystal polymers, and multi-layered body of liquid crystal polymers or the like. These polychromic multi-layered particles depending on viewing angle show the polychromic effect depending on viewing angle by the interference color generated by the interference of the light and so called rainbow-colored pigments are included therein.
As for polychromic particles depending on viewing angle of the present invention, those particles with optical reflection layer(s) are preferably used. Optical reflection layer(s) can be either inner layers or outer layers of the particles. In addition, optical reflection layer(s) can be either base layer(s) or coating layers of the particles. In addition, optical reflection layers may be constructed with other materials than the said particles as optical reflection bodies. In addition, for example, particles with the reflectance of not less than 0.3, or not less than 0.4, or preferably not less than 0.5 are advantageously used for optical reflection layer(s). Further, in the polychromic particles depending on viewing angle of the present invention, flaky and smooth polychromic particles depending on viewing angle having optical specular reflection layers can preferably be used. For example, such particles comprise smooth and flaky multi-layered particles comprising base layer(s) with optical specular reflection layer(s) and coating layers which interfere light, wherein the said base layer(s) comprise metallic films reflecting specularly and the said coating layers comprise at least two species of metals or metallic compound films whose refractive index is different.
In the case of these particles, when some parts of the incident light coming into the particle surface are reflected on the surface of the coating layers, and other parts of the incident light are refracted, reflected, and transmitted in the coating layers, and when these lights are synthesized with the light which is reflected on the surface or in the said coating layers and interferes each other as a light with specific wave length, interference color depending on viewing angle is provided as an interference light with specific wave length coming out from inside of the said particles to outside of the particles. The base layer(s) of the said metallic film(s) are not specifically limited, but it is preferable to use the metallic simple substance or metallic alloy whose reflectance is not less than 0.5. The examples include silver (reflectance; 0.94), aluminum (reflectance; 0.83), gold (reflectance; 0.80), nickel (reflectance; 0.63), or the like. In addition, base layer(s) are not limited to metallic films and iron oxide Fe2O3 can be used. Further, coating films are not specifically limited and the multi-layered translucent metals or metallic compounds (including metal oxides) with high refractive index and transparent metals or metallic compounds (including metal oxides) with low refractive index can alternately be used.
As for the preferable combinations of the base layer(s) and the coating layers for these particles, it is preferable that the said base layer(s) comprise aluminum films and that the said coating layers comprise magnesium fluoride films at the side of the base layer(s) and chrome films at the opposite side of the base layer(s). To cite an example, magnesium fluoride and chrome coated aluminum disclosed by xe2x80x9cRoger W. Phillips et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,653,792 (1997), Flex Products, INC.xe2x80x9d can be used. For example, the trade name xe2x80x9cCHROMAFLAIRxe2x80x9d manufactured by Flex Products, INC. can be cited.
As for the preferable combinations of the base layer(s) and the coating layers for these particles, it is preferable that polychromic particles depending on viewing angle comprise silicone (compounds), iron (compounds), and aluminum (compounds). For example, such particles are preferable that the said base layer(s) comprise aluminum film(s), and the said coating layers comprise SiO2 films at the side of the base layer(s) and Fe2O3 films at the opposite side of the base layer(s).
In addition, the preferred embodiment is constructed that Fe2O3 is used as the said base layer(s) around which dual-layered metallic film of SiO2 and Fe2O3 is coated. For example, as base layer(s), aluminum or MIO (mica-like Fe2O3), and as coating layers, as multi-layered pigment particles with the order of SiO2 and Fe2O3, trade names xe2x80x9cVariochrom Magic Red L4420xe2x80x9d, xe2x80x9cVariochrom Magic Purple L5520xe2x80x9d, or xe2x80x9cVariochrom Magic Gold L1400xe2x80x9d, manufactured by BASF Aktiengesellschaf can be cited. In addition, particles consisting of aluminum-manganese as coating layers and particles consisting of mica-like Fe2O3 as base layer(s) can be used. For example, trade names xe2x80x9cPaliochrom Copper L 3000xe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cPaliochrom Copper L3001xe2x80x9d can be cited. In addition, as base layer(s), SiO2, and as multi-layered particles with the order of tin oxide and titanium oxide, or iron oxide, xe2x80x9cColor Stream T20-01W2xe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cColor Stream F20-00W2xe2x80x9d manufactured by Merck Japan Ltd., can be cited.
Further, as polychromic particles depending on viewing angle, cholesteric liquid crystal polymer can preferably be used. xe2x80x9cCholesteric liquid crystal polymerxe2x80x9d referred to in the present invention is a glittering material defined as a particle of cholesteric liquid crystal polymer having a spiral structure and is a leafy typed particle. For example, such leafy-typed particles can be used that have optical reflection layers wherein plural of the layers of cholesteric liquid crystal polymer particles are orientated optically in one direction to arrange the orientating direction of the said polymer particles to be constructed in storied manner. As a result, depending on the degree of the overlapping of spiral polymer particles orientated optically, spectral components of only some wave length domains are reflected, transmitting all the other wave length of the domains among the incident light on this particle surface in the broad spectral domains. The domain of reflected spectral components is decided by the pitch of the optical reflection layers when the orientation of the polymer particles rotates once (one cycle) and by the refraction index by the materials. Reflected spectral domain is divided into left spirally polarized light and right spirally polarized light. At this stage, since one is reflected and the other transmitted depending on the rotating direction of spirals, this cholesteric liquid crystal polymer has permeability over the whole domains of the spectrals. By using this liquid crystal polymer, written marks or coating films with polychromic depending on viewing angle can be obtained, which is the object of the present invention. In addition, cholesteric liquid crystal polymer particles are more excellent in dispersibility compared with conventional aluminum pigments, pearlescent pigments, the above mentioned polychromic particles depending on viewing angle, or the like in case of its light specific gravity. Further, in case of low viscosity, cholesteric liquid crystal polymer particles are less likely to settle. Besides, since these cholesteric liquid crystal polymer particles have high transparency, new color effect can be obtained without any impurities of colors by combining two or more species of cholesteric liquid crystal polymer particles. Further, it is possible to change color tones depending on substrate colors or by blending other colorants. Examples of cholesteric liquid crystal polymer used in the present invention include xe2x80x9cHELICONE 450xe2x80x9d, xe2x80x9cHELICONE 516xe2x80x9d, xe2x80x9cHELICONE 575xe2x80x9d, xe2x80x9cHELICONE 624xe2x80x9d, and xe2x80x9cHELICONE HCxe2x80x9d, manufactured by Wacker-Chemie GmbH in Germany.
In the polychromic particles depending on viewing angle used in the present invention, each particle cited above can be used alone. However, two or more of the species can be used in combinations. In addition, by combining polychromic particles (pigments) depending on viewing angle with high opacifying power and dye or pigments, inks with various color tones can be adjusted, and there is also an effect that the amount of the expensive polychromic particle pigments depending on viewing angle to be used can be reduced.
It is preferable that the median diameter of polychromic particles depending on viewing angle used in the present invention is 1.0 to 100 xcexcm. When the median diameter of flaky pigments is less than 1.0 xcexcm, particles are so small that they are poor in color development. On the other hand, when the median diameter exceeds 200 xcexcm, it is not preferable since it is difficult to come out of a pen tip when used as an ink for writing instruments or coated materials, including ball-point pens, wherein the particles have to pass through the narrow tube. In order to prepare an ink realizing good color development and preferably used for writing instruments or coated materials, including ball-point pens, wherein the particles have to pass through the narrow tube, it is preferable that the maximum diameter of the said particles is 1.0 to 200 xcexcm, most suitably, 10 to 100 xcexcm.
Here, when the ink composition of the present invention is used for a stamping ink, it is preferable that the average particle diameter of polychromic pigments depending on viewing angle is not greater than 500.0 xcexcm. When the average particle diameter of polychromic pigments depending on viewing angle exceeds 500.0 xcexcm, it is not preferable since it is difficult to come out of a sponge when used as a stamping ink wherein the particles have to pass through the narrow pores of the sponge. The average particle diameter of polychromic pigments depending on viewing angle further preferable as a stamping ink is 1.0 to 110.0 xcexcm.
The content of polychromic particles depending on viewing angle used in the present invention is preferably 0.5 to 40.0% by weight with respect to the total amount of the ink composition. When the content of polychromic particles depending on viewing angle is less than 0.5% by weight with respect to the total amount of the ink composition, the color development on a white substrate and polychromic depending on viewing angle are not enough. On the other hand, when the content of polychromic particles depending on viewing angle exceeds 40.0% by weight with respect to the total amount of the ink composition, the viscosity becomes so high that the fluidity deteriorates and the writing characteristics becomes poor. The optimal amount of polychromic particles depending on viewing angle to be compounded is 3.0 to 20.0% by weight with respect to the total amount of the ink composition.
Here, when the ink composition of the present invention is used as a stamping ink, the content of polychromic particles depending on viewing angle is preferably 3.0 to 40.0% by weight with respect to the total amount of the ink composition. When the content of polychromic particles depending on viewing angle is less than 3.0% by weight with respect to the total amount of the ink composition, the color development on the white substrate and polychromic depending on viewing angle are not enough. On the other hand, when the content of polychromic particles depending on viewing angle exceeds 40.0% by weight with respect to the total amount of the ink composition, the viscosity becomes so high that the fluidity deteriorates and it gets difficult to stamp on. The optimal amount of polychromic particles depending on viewing angle used as a stamping ink composition to be compounded is 5.0 to 30.0% by weight with respect to the total amount of the ink composition.
It is preferable that the polychromic particles depending on viewing angle used in the present invention have the form of flaky type (plate type). By using flaky typed particles, it is easy to coat the written surface or coated surface, the interference color of polychromic depending on viewing angle strongly appears, and the interference color of polychromic depending on viewing angle can be given uniformly to the written surface or coated surface.
Colorants
Colorants are not necessarily contained in the present invention. However, when more color variation is desired, colorants can further be used.
It is preferable that such colorants have solubility and dispersibility. For example, dyes and/or pigments can preferably be used.
It is preferable that dyes are selected depending on the solvents and have great solubility in the solvents. To be specific, when the solvents is water, water-soluble dyes such as acid dyes, direct dyes and basic dyes can be used. And when the solvent is an organic solvent, oil-soluble dyes can be used. It is preferable that the pigments have great dispersibility in the solvents. For example, inorganic pigments, organic pigments, resin pigments, fluorescent pigments, metal pigments, glittering pigments, colored emulsion, or the like can be used. Further, they can be used alone or in combinations of two or more of them.
Here, in the ink composition of the present invention, when the opacifying power (reflectance) is not enough, it is preferable to mix the colorant (coloring matter) getting into the side of a substrate of the polychromic particles depending on viewing angle as an optical absorbent which absorbs the light permeating through the polychromic particles depending on viewing angle. For example, in the case of pigments, the hue of the pigments is preferably deep, and inorganic and organic pigments such as carbon black, Fe2O3, dioxazine, phthalocyanine, indanthrene, quinacridon, anthraquinone, or the like can be used alone or in combinations. When a liquid crystal polymer, in particular, the said cholesteric liquid crystal polymer is used as a polychromic particle depending on viewing angle, it is preferable to use pigments (coloring matters) as the said optical absorbents, among which it is particularly preferable to use black colors, dark colors, very dark colors, dark graysh colors, and deep colors of pigments or mixed colors of pigments with the brightness value of not greater than 4 provided in the xe2x80x9cNames of Non-Luminous Object Coloursxe2x80x9d by JIS Z 8102 (1985).
In addition, in order to deepen the color of a substrate of the polychromic particles depending on viewing angle, the size of this pigment is required to be smaller enough than the thickness of the polychromic particles depending on viewing angle. As for the size of the said pigment, it is preferable that the average particle diameter is 0.01 to 0.5 xcexcm when measured by a measuring device of a centrifugal sedimentation type for particle size distribution of transmitted light (under the trade name of CAPA-7000 manufactured by Horiba Seisakusho, for example). When the average particle diameter is less than 0.01 xcexcm, although it is not possible to be measured by the said measuring device, in theory, the transparency of the pigments increases, which leads to some disadvantage in that the great amount of additional pigments is to be required for the purpose of deepening the color of a substrate of the polychromic particles depending on viewing angle. When the maximum particle diameter of the flaky polychromic particles depending on viewing angle is less than 10 xcexcm, the thickeness of the polychromic particles depending on viewing angle as written marks or coating films becomes around 0.5 xcexcm. Therefore, pigment particles whose average particle diameter is over 0.5 xcexcm inhibit the light reflection on the surface of polychromic particles depending on viewing angle or opacify the polychromic particle surface depending on viewing angle and the polychromic effect depending on viewing angle which is the purpose of this invention is poorly observed. The optimal average particle diameter of the pigments (optical absorbents) measured by the said measuring device of the particle size distribution is 0.03 to 0.3 xcexcm.
When the ink composition of the present invention is used as a stamping ink, as for the size of this pigment (optical absorbent), it is preferable that the average particle diameter is 0.08 to 0.4 xcexcm when measured by a measuring device of a centrifugal sedimentation type for particle size distribution of transmitted light (under the trade name of CAPA-7000 manufactured by Horiba Seisakusho, for example). When the average particle diameter of the pigments is less than 0.08 xcexcm, in theory, the transparency of the pigments increases, which leads to some disadvantage in that the great amount of additional pigments is to be required for the purpose of obtaining the optional coloring effect. When the maximum particle diameter of the pigments exceeds 0.4 xcexcm, the light reflection on the surface of polychromic particles depending on viewing angle is inhibited or the polychromic particle surface depending on viewing angle is opacified, and the polychromic effect depending on viewing angle which is the purpose of this invention is poorly observed.
In addition, when dyes are used as optical absorbents, it is preferable that the hues of the dyes are also deep colored. The examples include acid dyes such as C.I. Acid Black 2, C.I. Acid Violet 49, C.I. Acid Blue 83, C.I. Acid Red 52, C.I. Acid Green 25, or the like, direct dyes such as C.I. Direct Black 51, C.I. Direct Violet 12, C.I. Direct Blue 71, C.I. Direct Red 62, C.I. Direct Green 6, or the like, basic dyes such as C.I. Basic Black 1, C.I. Basic Violet 1, C.I. Basic Blue 3, C.I. Basic Red 1, C.I. Basic Green 2, or the like, and oil-soluble dyes such as C.I. Solvent Black 23, C.I. Solvent Violet 8, C.I. Solvent Blue 2, C.I. Solvent Red 49, C.I. Solvent Green 3, or the like. Other preferable examples include C.I. Disperse Black 10, or the like. Further, these dyes can be used alone or in combinations of two or more of them.
When the liquid crystal polymers, in particular, the said cholesteric liquid crystal polymers are used as polychromic particles depending on viewing angle, it is preferable to use dyes (coloring matters) as the said optical absorbents, among which it is particularly preferable to use black colors, dark colors, very dark colors, dark graysh colors, and deep colors which are pigments or mixed colors of pigments with the brightness value of not greater than 4 provided in the xe2x80x9cNames of Non-Luminous Object Coloursxe2x80x9d by JIS Z 8102 (1985).
Here, in order to deepen the color of the substrate as described above, the colorants including pigments, dyes, or the like, as the said optical absorbents are preferably contained in 0.05 to 20.0% by weight with respect to the total-amount of the ink composition. When the content of the said colorants is less than 0.05% by weight, the deepening of the color of a substrate is not enough and the color development of written marks or coating films, or polychromic depending on viewing angle is hard to be observed. When the content of the said colorants exceeds 20.0% with respect to the total amount of the ink composition, the viscosity becomes so high as an ink that the fluidity lowers and the writing characteristics or coating characteristics deteriorates. The optimal amount of the colorants to be contained is 0.5 to 10.0% by weight, and in particular, 1.0 to 10.0% by weight with respect to the total amount of the ink composition although the said amount varies depending on the types of colorants. In addition, these colorants can be used either alone or in combinations of two or more of them.
When the ink composition of the present invention is used as a stamping ink, it is preferable that the content of the colorants is not greater than 10.0% with respect to the total amount of the ink composition. When the content of the colorants exceeds 10.0% by weight with respect to the total amount of the ink composition, in a stamping ink, the said colorants inhibit the light reflection on the surface of polychromic particles depending on viewing angle or opacify the surface of polychromic particles depending on viewing angle and the effect of interference color of the polychroism depending on viewing angle, which is the purpose of the present invention, is hard to be observed. The optimal amount of polychromic pigments depending on viewing angle as stamping inks to be contained is less than 5.0% by weight with respect to the total amount of the ink composition.
Thus, in the ink composition of the present invention, by preferably mixing deep colored coloring matters (transmitted light absorbents) whose size is smaller enough than the thickness of polychromic particles depending on viewing angle, and by coloring a substrate coated with polychromic coloring matters depending on viewing angle with the said deep-colored coloring matters (transmitted light absorbents), or by penetrating the said deep-colored coloring matters into the substrate, strong polychroism depending on viewing angle on the white colored substrate can be developed even when the polychromic particles depending on viewing angle with lower opacifying characteristics are used. Therefore, as described above, in the case of cholestric liquid crystal polymer particles, in order to obtain written marks or coating films with polychroism depending on viewing angle on the white colored substrate, it is preferable to prepare the ink composition which contains transmitted light absorbents which absorb light transmitted through these particles and reflecting on the substrate. Here, the permeating light absorbents used in the present invention are not limited to the colorants (coloring matters) including the said pigments or dyes. They can be used as long as the absorbents can absorb the transmitted light through the polychromic particles depending on viewing angle with low opacifying capacity.
Binder Resins
In the present invention, binder resins can be used for the purpose of fixing polychromic particles depending on viewing angle, particularly flaky polychromic particles depending on viewing angle to the coated material (substrate). The binder resins of the present invention can be used appropriately selected among the resin components that are incorporated in the solvents. As binder resins when water is used as a solvent, a water-soluble paste is preferably used. The examples include such as Arabic gum, dextrin derivatives, cellulose derivatives such as carboxymethyl cellulose or the like, polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinyl pyrrolidones, polyacrylic acids, acrylic acid type copolymers, the monomers having water soluble functional group or maleic anhydride, and the like. The said water-soluble natural or synthetic resin can preferably be used. In addition, pastes of emulsion or dispersion types that are not water-soluble, unlike the said resins, but can be incorporated in the dispersed state can preferably be used for the purpose of fixing flaky pigments to the substrate.
As for binder resins, when organic solvents are used as solvents, oil-soluble resin can preferably be used. The examples include petroleum hydrocarbon resins of aliphatics, alicyclics, and aromatics, vinyl resins including styrene type, acrylic ester type, vinyl acetate type, terpene type, or the like, polyvinyl acetal resins including polyvinyl butyral, or the like, formalin condensation resins or modified resins thereof of phenol type, xylene type, acryl ester type, vinyl acetate type, terpene type, or the like, others including polyamide resins, ketone resins, rosin or the modified resins thereof. These synthetic, semisynthetic, or natural oil-soluble resins can be appropriately selected and used depending on the types of organic solvents.
The content of the binder resins to be compounded is preferably 1.0 to 30.0% by weight with respect to the total amount of the ink composition. When the content of the said binder resin is less than 1.0% by weight with respect to the total amount of the ink composition, the fixability of the polychromic particles depending on viewing angle to the substrate is not enough. On the other hand, when the content of the said binder resins exceeds 30.0% by weight with respect to the total amount of the ink composition, the viscosity becomes so high for an ink that the fluidity lowers and writing characteristics deteriorates. The optimal content of the binder resins to be compounded is 5.0 to 20.0% by weight. In addition, the said binder resins can be used alone or mixed in combinations of two or more of them.
Solvents
Solvents can be used in the present invention. Solvents can be selected by the purpose, depending on the case where water is used as a main solvent and where an organic solvent is used as a main solvent with water not substantially contained.
Water is used as a main solvent for the purpose of giving late drying to an ink composition and preventing from drying at the pen tip or the like which contains the ink. Water-soluble organic solvents can be added in order to lower the speed of drying at the pen tip. The examples include glycols such as ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, propylene glycol and polyethylene glycol, polyhydric alcohols such as glycerin, glycol ethers such as ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether and dipropylene glycol monopropyl ether, or the like. These organic solvents can be used alone or in combinations of two or more of them.
When an organic solvent is used as a main solvent, it is used for both purposes of letting the ink dry quickly and hard to vaporize. It is easy to prepare the bar typed solid ink by gelling. The organic solvent can be selected either alone or in combinations of two or more of them depending on the characteristics required for the ink including quick-drying or late-drying, or the like.
The examples of the organic solvent include aromatic hydrocarbons including toluene, xylene, or the like, alicyclic hydrocarbons including methylcyclohexane, or the like, aliphatic hydrocarbons, alcohols including ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, benzyl alcohol, or the like, ketones including methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, isophorone, or the like, esters including ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, or the like, ether alcohols including cellosolve, butyl cellosolve, propylene glycol, monometyl ether, or the like.
Shear-thinning Property Imparting Agents
In the ink composition of the present invention, it is important to contain shear-thinning property imparting agents together with the said solvent in order to adjust the viscosity of an ink, maintain dispersal stability of polychromic particles depending on viewing angle, realize the good interference color uniformly, and be preferably used for writing instruments including ball-point pens as an ink with excellent maintenance stability.
In particular, when polychromic particles depending on viewing angle are constructed that metal and/or metal oxide are multi-layered as described above, since the multi-layered particles containing several metallic components have much larger specific gravity, compared with the ordinary pigment particles and the single metallic powder pigment particles, the multi-layered particles are liable to settle.
In addition, when polychromic particles depending on viewing angle are, for example, the said cholesteric liquid crystal polymers, since they are constructed by liquid crystal structure body of polymers, the specific gravity is small, while the particle diameter is larger compared with the pigments used for ordinary felt-tip pens or ball-point pens. Therefore, they are liable to settle without shear-thinning property imparting agents. Therefore, in the present invention, it is very important to attempt dispersal stability and prevention of sedimentation of the ink which contains these polychromic particles depending on viewing angle and to compound shear-thinning property imparting agents is very effective.
From the view point described above, it is effective to use saccharides when water is used as a solvent. xe2x80x9cSaccharidesxe2x80x9d in the present invention are defined as a generic term of monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides, but it is preferable to use compounds classified as polysaccharides for the said purpose. To cite examples, microbeal polysaccharides and derivatives thereof are used. For example, pullulan, xanthane gum, welan gum, rhamsan gum, succinoglucan and dextran, or the like, can be cited. In addition,water-soluble polysaccharides derived from plants and derivatives thereof are used. For example, tragacanth gum, guar gum, tara gum, locust bean gum, ghatti gum, arabinogalactan gum, gum arabic, quince seed gum, pectin, starch, psyllium seed gum, pectin, carrageenan, alginic acid, agar or the like, can be cited. Further, water-soluble polysaccharides derived from animals and derivatives thereof are used. For example, gelatin, casein and albumin can be cited. These polysaccharides are the materials with the property of decomposing into monosaccharides including glucose, mannose, or the like, which are composing units of the polysaccharides.
When water is used in the present invention, microbeal polysaccharides and derivatives thereof are particularly used among the said saccharides. In particular, even when the polychromic particles depending on viewing angle are multi-layered particles containing several metallic components or the said cholesteric liquid crystal polymers with a large particle diameter, microbeal polysaccharides and derivatives thereof selected from pullulan, xanthane gum, welan gum, rhamsan gum, succinoglucan and dextran are excellent in pseudo-plasticity fluidity, are good in the effect of preventing the sedimentation of the polychromic particles depending on viewing angle, and are excellent in maintenance stability of the ink. Especially, the pseudo-plasticity fluidity to the flaky and smooth polychromic particles depending on viewing angle is excellent. Therefore, when applied for writing instruments including ball-point pens or the like, the said particles flow out of the tip end uniformly and preferably stabilized at the time of writing, and flaky and smooth polychromic particles depending on viewing angle are liable to arrange themselves horizontally on the written marks or coating films thereby developing strong interference light (interference color) on the written marks or coating films easily. Here, the said saccharides can be used alone or in combinations of two or more of them.
The content of saccharides is preferably 0.01 to 5.0% by weight with respect to the total amount of the ink composition. When the content of the said saccharides is less than 0.01% by weight with respect to the total amount of the ink composition, satisfactory polychroism depending on viewing angle is hard to be shown since the effect of preventing sedimentation of polychromic particles depending on viewing angle is not enough. On the other hand, when the content of saccharides exceeds 5.0% by weight with respect to the total amount of the ink composition, the viscosity becomes so high that the fluidity deteriorates and it becomes hard to write or coat. In addition, due to the required viscosity modification, it becomes necessary to make the compounding amount of the polychromic particles depending on viewing angle less than 0.5% by weight, which makes the color development on a white-colored substrate and the polychroism depending on viewing angle unsatisfactory. The optimal amount of saccharides to be compounded is 0.05 to 3.0% by weight although it depends on the types of saccharides.
When organic solvents are used as solvents, it is preferable to use non-pigment type gelling agents as shear-thinning property imparting agents. The pigment typed gelling agents which can be used in the organic solvent are particles of bentonite or fine particle silica. However, since they are particles, they affect deflection, therefore affect polychroism depending on viewing angle badly, and are not preferable. The non-pigment typed gelling agents referred to in the present invention are defined as a generic term for materials not classified as pigments, extender pigments, or the like. Some non-pigment type gelling agents are soluble in the solvent, however, since they are mainly dissolved in the solvent, they can preferably be used since they do not badly affect as shown by the pigment typed gelling agents. The examples of non-pigment typed gelling agents include metallic soaps such as 2-ethylhexaoic acid aluminum or the like, sorbitol derivatives such as dibenzyliden sorbitol or the like, alkyl amides such as alkyl glutamic acid alkyl amide or the like, aliphatic acid amides, polyethylene oxide waxes, dextrin fatty acid esters, hydrogenated castor oil, 12-hydrixystearic acid, polyether ester surfactant typed gelling agent, or the like and they can appropriately be used depending on the types of organic solvents.
The content of non-pigment typed gelling agents is preferably 0.01 to 20.0% by weight with respect to the total amount of the ink composition. When the content of non-pigment typed gelling agent is less than 0.01% by weight with respect to the total amount of the ink composition, the effect of preventing the sedimentation of the polychromic particles depending on viewing angle is not enough. When the content of non-pigment typed gelling agents exceeds 20.0% by weight with respect to the total amount of the ink composition, the viscosity becomes so high for an ink that the fluidity deteriorates. The optimal amount of non-pigment typed gelling agent to be compounded is 0.2 to 10.0% by weight although it depends on the types of the non-pigment typed gelling agents to some extent. In addition, the said non-pigment typed gelling agent can be used alone or in combinations of two or more of them.
As a particularly preferable embodiment when organic solvents are used as solvents in the present invention, the metallic soaps, among the non-pigment typed gelling agents, are used. By using the said metallic soaps, quick-drying polychromic ink depending on viewing angle without sedimentation of polychromic particles depending on viewing angle can be obtained.
Viscosity Range
The preferable range of viscosity of the ink composition of the present invention is 500 to 10,000 mPaxc2x7s. Here, the viscosity is the measured value by an ELD-typed viscometer (3xc2x0 R 14 cone, rotation speed; 0.5 rpm, at the temperature of 20xc2x0 C.).
Surfactant, Penetrating-thickening Agent
In the present invention, to add various types of surfactants is effective to for the purpose of forming coating films or written marks of the flaky polychromic particles depending on viewing angle which are orientated along the substrate, and for the purpose of letting dyes and pigments get into the side of the substrate of the coating films or written marks. It is particularly effective when a substrate has penetrability like paper. As for surfactants, such surfactants selected from nonionic type, anionic type, cationic type, betaine type, silicone type, fluorine type surfactants are used alone or in combinations of two or more of them.
In particular, a stamping ink comprising polychromic particles depending on viewing angle preferably contains a penetrating-thickening agent. It is important that components capable of attaining dispersion of the polychromic particles depending on viewing angle and prevention of the sedimentation of the polychromic particles depending on viewing angle are used for a penetrating-thickening agent. As for a penetrating-thickening agent capable of carrying out the present invention, nonionic surfactants can be cited. For example, polyglycerin fatty acid ester, sorbitan fatty acid ester, or the like can be cited. In particular, polyglycerin fatty acid ester can preferably be used. In addition, the said nonionic surfactants can be used alone or in combinations of two or more of them.
The content of these penetrating-thickening agents is preferably 10.0 to 60.0% by weight with respect to the total amount of the ink composition. When the content of penetrating-thickening agents is less than 10.0% by weight with respect to the total amount of the ink composition, the effect of preventing sedimentation of the polychromic particles depending on viewing angle is unsatisfactory and penetrability into the paper is not satisfactory, either. On the other hand, when the content of polychromic particles depending on viewing angle exceeds 60.0% by weight with respect to the total amount of the ink composition, the viscosity becomes so high that the fluidity deteriorates and it becomes difficult to stamp on or write on. The optimal amount of penetrating-thickening agents to be compounded is 20.0 to 40.0% by weight.
Other Additives
Here, in the present invention, other additives can be added as required, including lubricants such as polyoxyethylene alkaline metal salt, dicarboxylic acid amide, phosphate ester, N-oleyl sarcosine salt, or the like, rust inhibitors such as benzotriazol, tolyltriazole dicyclohexyl ammonium nitrite, or the like, antiseptic mildew agents such as benzoisothiazorin type, pentachlorophenol type, cresol, or the like.
Mode of Use of the Ink Composition
The mode of use of the present invention is not specifically limited, but the examples of the preferable mode of use include: the mode of containing an ink composition in a bottle shaped container like a manicure container and coating with a brush, or the like; the mode of containing an ink composition in a tube made of metal, resin, or the like, and using only the necessary amount by pressing it out; the mode of impregnating an ink composition with an ink absorbing body including sponges, or the like, in a cylindrical container, stamping directly using the said ink absorbing body and coating the ink; and the mode of setting the material for coating including a ball-point pen tip, or the like at one end of an ink container, and coating an ink with the pen tip.
As a particularly preferred mode, the ink is used for the so-called aqueous gelling ink ball-point pens. The inventors or the applicant filed the application of the invention related to writing instruments preferable in using the flaky pigment particles and the mode of ball-point pen tips as well (Japanese application number 11-258189, Japanese application number 11-265232, Japanese application number 11-265233, and Japanese application number 2000-30124). The employment of these modes is the most suitable in obtaining the written marks of the ink composition of the present invention by using ball-point pens.
Transparent Container
In addition, in any mode of use, to use a transparent or translucent material for an ink container can obtain the effect that the container itself seems to have polychromic depending on viewing angle since the color of the ink container itself can be perceived differently depending on viewing angle as well as the residual of the ink can be visually observed. Further, by using this mode, good designs and novel designs can be realized.

Polychromic ink composition depending on viewing angle


Chewable sustained release compositions and their methods of production are provided. The sustained release compositions contain amphipathic lipids and matrix-forming polymers, which are used to encapsulate various drugs and active ingredients. The chewable sustained release compositions can maintain their sustained release properties even after being fragmented into a plurality of pieces.

Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to chewable sustained release compositions and to methods of preparing and using such compositions.
Description of the Related Art
Sustained release compositions have been developed to provide a slow and sustained release of a drug or active ingredient into a subject over an extended period of time. Thus, sustained release compositions mitigate the necessity for multiple daily dosings of certain drugs and other active ingredients. However, most existing sustained release compositions are not suitable as chewable formulations. In fact, chewing most sustained release compositions will inhibit their ability to slowly release the drug or active ingredient over an extended period of time and will result in an uncontrolled burst of the drug or active ingredient. Furthermore, most sustained release compositions have an unacceptable taste when chewed, which decreases the willingness of many patients to accept such tablets.
Chewable tablets of sustained release compositions have been increasingly utilized in various pharmaceutical and veterinary markets due to their ability to sustain constant drug release over an extended time period and maintain taste-masking properties even after being chewed into smaller fragments. For instance, chewable sustained release tablets have developed a niche in veterinary medicine because many of the treated animals tend to chew any medicine given orally. Chewable sustained release tablets are also increasingly being used in human medicine for patients who have difficulties in swallowing or taking intact medications.
Recently, wax-based agents have been incorporated into chewable sustained release compositions in an attempt to provide the desired sustained release and taste-masking properties. For instance, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0062988 discloses chewable sustained release compositions produced by using dispersions of the vegetable protein zein coupled with wax-like agents and a spheronizing agent to encapsulate drugs and other active ingredients. The zein/wax matrix is able to produce a chewable sustained release composition that can add a degree of taste-masking to bitter tasting drugs. Similarly, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0220079 utilizes wax-like agents in conjunction with a spherizonizing agent to produce a chewable sustained release composition that can encapsulate drugs and other active ingredients. However, the chewable sustained release compositions in both of these publications require that the compositions be heated to a temperature exceeding the melting points of the wax-like agent in order to effectively encapsulate the drug or active ingredient. Unfortunately, this additional heating step can increase the costs of producing these chewable sustained release compositions and potentially damage the encapsulated drug or active ingredient.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2006/0134208 discloses various ingredients used in taste-masking formulations for controlled drug delivery. The low melting point fatty ingredients and amphiphilic ingredients described therein are kneaded or melted together with small amounts of solvent, then granulated into particulates. Following this granulation, the particles are then mixed together and suspended in a hydrophilic water-swellable matrix. The resulting formulations contain a lipophilic matrix surrounded by a hydrophilic matrix. Thus, two independent processes provide for the controlled release mechanism in U.S. 2006/0134208: (1) the dissolution of the hydrophilic matrix and (2) the erosion of the lipophilic matrix. However, the amphiphilic ingredients listed in U.S. 2006/0134208 are not dissolved or dispersed in an alcoholic or hydroalcoholic solution when producing the formulations. Therefore, the amphiphilic ingredients described therein are not contained in a single continuum and do not function as a solid state plasticizer for the ingredients in the lipophilic matrix. Consequently, the separate lipophilic and hydrophilic matrices produced using this process cannot maintain sustained release characteristics when broken or chewed.
Accordingly, there is a need for a chewable sustained release composition, and a process for making such, that is capable of maintaining a sustained release of a drug or active ingredient over an extended time period and that exhibits certain taste-masking properties.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Amphipathic lipid-based sustained release compositions


A portable camera support that includes a handle and a first support member attached to the handle. The first support member is attached to the handle such that the first support member rotates relative to the handle in a first plane. The portable camera support further includes a second support member that is attached to the first support member. The second support member is attached to the first support member such that the second support member rotates relative to the first support member in a second plane which is orthogonal to the first plane. The portable camera support further includes a mounting member that is adapted to be mounted to a camera. The mounting member is attached to the second support member such that the mounting member rotates relative to the second support member in a third plane which is orthogonal to the first plane and the second plane.

Photographers often use a camera support to hold a camera steady because camera movement when taking pictures can produce blurred images on the resulting photographs. Some photographers are able to keep a camera steady enough by simply hand-holding the camera. However, there are times when it is especially difficult to hold a camera steady, such as when the photograph requires a long exposure time or the camera is particularly bulky.
One common type of camera support is a tripod. A typical tripod includes a trio of support legs that serve to support a camera mounting assembly. Most camera mounting assemblies include a threaded shaft that mates with a fitting on a camera when the camera is mounted on the tripod. The threaded shaft on the camera mounting assembly and the fitting on the camera are usually formed at a standardized size to promote interchangeability between cameras and tripods.
There are some drawbacks with conventional tripods even though most tripods function well as a camera support. One of drawbacks with many tripods is that they are often large and bulky making them cumbersome to use in many situations.
In addition, smaller cameras have become increasingly popular such that there is an increased need for smaller and more portable camera supports. As examples, backpackers, climbers and travelers are among the types of photographers that typically have strict space and weight limitations.
Several types of portable camera supports have been developed in recent years. Some portable camera supports attach to a support object by using one or more clamps, straps, screws, bolts, magnets and/or adhesives.
One example type of portable camera support includes a C-clamp that has been modified to include a camera mounting assembly. Some of these C-clamp type camera supports also include a pair of short tripod legs that extend out of the body of the C-clamp.
Although portable camera supports are an improvement over full-sized tripods for some applications, many portable camera supports lack versatility and utility. As an example, many C-clamp type of portable camera supports have relatively small jaws such that they are not well suited for use with potential support objects which have diameters that are wider than the jaws of the C-clamp. In addition, it often takes a long time to adequately position the jaws of the C-clamp. Therefore, a potentially valuable picture may be missed while trying to adequately position the C-clamp.
Some portable camera supports includes brackets that are attached to a support object using a flexible binding means (e.g., a strapping material). The strapping materials are often used in conjunction with buckles, slides and or turnbuckles on the bracket depending on the type of portable camera support.
Even though the combination of a bracket and a binding means in many portable camera supports is able to adequately attach a camera to a support object (e.g., a tree or posts), many of these types of portable camera supports suffer from various drawbacks. One drawback is that many of the clamps, screws and bolts are used to permanently or semi-permanently attach the camera support to the support object. Therefore, it often takes a long time to secure (and unsecure) the portable camera support from the support object. Another drawback is that many portable camera supports are limited in size and shape such that they are not well suited for use with different types of support objects.
There are also limitations associated with using a strapping material to attach the portable camera support and/or the camera to a support object. One of these limitations is that a strapping material has a finite length so that the strapping material may not be long enough for some applications and too long for other applications. Another limitation relates to the need to maneuver the strapping material through a buckle, slide, clasp or some other article because significant manipulation is often required in order to adequately attach a camera support to a support object. In addition, the strapping material often becomes knotted as it is manipulated to attach (or remove) the camera from the support object.


According to one embodiment, a propeller blade includes a carbon foam core and a structural layer that surrounds at least a portion of the carbon foam core.

The present invention relates to propellers and, in particular, to propeller blades formed having a carbon foam spar core.
Modern propeller blades typically include root portions which extend into the hub arm of the hub of the propeller system and which are secured to and rotatable relative to the hub arm via a retention assembly. Typically the retention assembly includes one or a plurality of ball bearing assemblies which permit the rotation of the blade in the hub arm for accomplishing pitch change of the blade for altering the speed of the propeller and accordingly, the aircraft.
The blades are typically formed by surrounding a foam spar core with a resin impregnated fabric that is braided on to the foam spar core. Leading and trailing edges of the blade are then formed over the fabric and surrounded by, for example, a Kevlar sock. Such blades are light and effective for their intended purposes.

Propeller blade with carbon foam spar core


The actuator disclosed herein comprises a coil, a magnet and a magnetism detection element. The magnet is configured to move a predetermined distance relative to the coil via a magnetic force generated when current is passed through the coil. The magnet includes a first polarization line perpendicular to the direction in which the magnet moves relative to the coil, and a second polarization line parallel to the first polarization line. The magnetism detection element is configured to detect the position of the magnet. The coil faces the first polarization line and the magnetism detection element faces the second polarization line. The length from the second polarization line to a first end of the magnet is equal to or more than 1.25 times the predetermined distance. The first end of the magnet is closer to the magnetism detection element than to the coil.

1. Technical Field
The technology disclosed herein relates to an actuator and to a drive device and an imaging device including this actuator.
2. Background Information
One electromagnetic actuator that has been often used in the past in imaging devices and so forth, which is disclosed in Patent Literature 1 (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 2007-241254), has a magnet, a coil that faces this magnet and moves the magnet with magnetic force generated when current is passed through the coil, and a magnetism detection element that faces the magnet and detects the position of the magnet.
Meanwhile, the electromagnetic actuator disclosed in Patent Literature 2 (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 2007-66499) has a magnet that is magnetized so that three or more magnetic poles are aligned.
There needs to be a certain amount of latitude in an electromagnetic actuator in relation to the layout of the coil and the magnetism detection element with respect to the magnet in order to satisfy various restrictions in terms of designing the drive device and imaging device in which the electromagnetic actuator will be housed. In view of this, making use of a magnet that is magnetized with an arrangement of three or more magnetic poles, as in Patent Literature 2, is one possible way to increase this latitude.

Actuator, driving device and imaging device


Catheters for mapping and/or ablation are disclosed. In one embodiment, the catheter comprises a handle, a flexible shaft, a tip assembly, and a cable. The handle includes an actuator and is attached, at its distal end, to the proximal end of the flexible shaft. The flexible shaft has a longitudinal axis that extends along a length of the shaft. The proximal end of the tip assembly is attached to the distal end of the shaft and includes a fixed bend of approximatley ninety degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. The distal end of the tip assembly includes an arcuate curve having a diameter. The arcuate curve is oriented in a plane that is approximatley perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. The cable is attached to the actuator and the distal end of the tip assembly, and extends through the shaft. The cable is adapted to change the diameter of the arcuate curve in response to movement of the actuator.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electrophysiology catheters, and more particularly to electrophysiology catheters for performing endocardial mapping and/or ablation procedures.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
The human heart is a very complex organ, which relies on both muscle contraction and electrical impulses to function properly. The electrical impulses travel through the heart walls, first through the atria and then the ventricles, causing the corresponding muscle tissue in the atria and ventricles to contract. Thus, the atria contract first, followed by the ventricles. This order is essential for proper functioning of the heart.
In some individuals, the electrical impulses of the heart develop an irregular propagation, disrupting the heart's normal pumping action. The abnormal heartbeat rhythm is termed a "cardiac arrhythmia." Arrhythmias may occur when a site other than the sinoatrial node of the heart is initiating rhythms (i.e., a focal arrhythmia), or when electrical signals of the heart circulate repetitively in a closed circuit (i.e., a reentrant arrhythmia).
Techniques have been developed which are used to locate cardiac regions responsible for the cardiac arrhythmia, and also to disable the short-circuit function of these areas. According to these techniques, electrical energy is applied to a portion of the heart tissue to ablate that tissue and produce scars which interrupt the reentrant conduction pathways or terminate the focal initiation. The regions to be ablated are usually first determined by endocardial mapping techniques. Mapping typically involves percutaneously introducing a catheter having one or more electrodes into the patient, passing the catheter through a blood vessel and into an endocardial site, and deliberately inducing an arrhythmia so that a continuous, simultaneous recording can be made with a multichannel recorder at each of several different endocardial positions. When an arrythormogenic focus or inappropriate circuit is located, as indicated in the electrocardiogram recording, it is marked by various imaging or localization means so that cardiac arrhythmias emanating from that region can be blocked by ablating tissue. An ablation catheter with one or more electrodes can then transmit electrical energy to the tissue adjacent the electrode to create a lesion in the tissue. One or more suitably positioned lesions will typically create a region of necrotic tissue which serves to disable the propagation of the errant impulse caused by the arrythromogenic focus. Ablation is carried out by applying energy to the catheter electrodes. The ablation energy can be, for example, RF, DC, ultrasound, microwave, or laser radiation.
Atrial fibrillation together with atrial flutter are the most common sustained arrhythmias found in clinical practice.
Current understanding is that atrial fibrillation is frequently initiated by a focal trigger from the orifice of or within one of the pulmonary veins. Though mapping and ablation of these triggers appears to be curative in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, there are a number of limitations to ablating focal triggers via mapping and ablating the earliest site of activation with a "point" radiofrequency lesion. One way to circumvent these limitations is to determine precisely the point of earliest activation. Once the point of earliest activation is identified, a lesion can be generated to electrically isolate the trigger with a lesion; firing from within those veins would then be eliminated or unable to reach the body of the atrium, and thus could not trigger atrial fibrillation.
Another method to treat focal arrhythmias is to create a continuous, annular lesion around the ostia (i.e., the openings) of either the veins or the arteries leading to or from the atria thus "corralling" the signals emanating from any points distal to the annular lesion. Conventional techniques include applying multiple point sources around the ostia in an effort to create such a continuous lesion. Such a technique is relatively involved, and requires significant skill and attention from the clinician performing the procedures.
Another source of arrhythmias may be from reentrant circuits in the myocardium itself. Such circuits may not necessarily be associated with vessel ostia, but may be interrupted by means of ablating tissue either within the circuit or circumscribing the region of the circuit. It should be noted that a complete 'fence' around a circuit or tissue region is not always required in order to block the propagation of the arrhythmia; in many cases simply increasing the propagation path length for a signal may be sufficient. Conventional means for establishing such lesion 'fences' include a multiplicity of point-by-point lesions, dragging a single electrode across tissue while delivering energy, or creating an enormous lesion intended to inactivate a substantive volume of myocardial tissue.

Electrophysiology catheter for mapping and/or ablation


A host control interface for use in interfacing an external host processor with internal control/status registers of an integrated circuit is provided. In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, the control interface selectively couples the integrated circuit with an interchangeable one of a variety of host processor types. In one embodiment, the control interface supports processors having a multiplexed address/data port as well as processors having separate address and data ports. Similarly, in one embodiment, the control interface supports processors utilizing a transfer start indication signal in cooperation with a read/write signal, as well as processors utilizing separate read/write strobes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of electronic circuits. More specifically, the present invention relates to a configurable glueless microprocessor interface.
2. Background Information
The Internet may be considered a global network of networks interconnected through countless numbers of network switching devices. These switching devices typically direct and/or route data from transmitting devices logically located within a first datacom/telecom network to receiving devices logically located within one or more additional datacom/telecom networks, regardless of their respective geographic locations. The Internet has undergone remarkable growth in recent years. Whether this rapid growth has resulted in the advancement of network processing technologies, or advancements in network processing technologies have in turn spurred the Internet's rapid growth, the fact remains that modern day network switching devices are continually being called upon to direct greater amounts of increasingly complex data. Accordingly, it is becoming increasingly important that network communications be carried efficiently at high speed across a wide variety of local, regional, and wide area networks, including those comprising the Internet.
When switching or routing network traffic, a need often arises to divert a portion of the data packets being routed/switched onto a particular routing path to perform additional processing (or to drop the packets), or to insert additional packets into the packet streams being received off a routing path. To provide the desired packet diversion and/or insertion functionality, one or more companion processors (also referred to as host processors) are sometimes provided. Basic implementations of these switches/routers typically route all packets through the host processor(s) to enable the host processor(s) to selectively divert some of the packets of selected ones of the various routing paths (for additional processing or dropping the packets), or to selectively inject additional packets into the packet streams of selected ones of the various routing paths. In other more advanced implementations, additional switching/routing resources (such as programmable switching/routing tables) may be employed to facilitate routing of some of the packets of selected ones of the routing paths to the host processor(s) for "processing" ("diversion"), and routing of the packets injected by the host processor(s) onto the routing paths of their selection ("insertion"). In addition to facilitating the diversion and/or insertion of packets, the host interface also allows the host processor to control the operational mode of the device, query the operational status of the device, and gain access to statistics, such as byte and packet counters, required by certain networking standards.
Host processors are often interfaced with network switching devices through various amounts of glue logic. Manufacturers and system integrators choose to utilize certain microprocessor architectures depending upon the specific functionality and features desired. For example, a first type of processor architecture (commonly available from Intel Corp., of Santa Clara, Calif.) uses a separate address and data bus for memory addressing, whereas a second type of processor architecture (commonly available from Motorola Inc., of Schaumburg, Ill.), uses a multiplexed address/data bus. A multiplexed address and data bus allows for a reduced pin count enabling a smaller component package size and therefore lower cost. The downside of a multiplexed address and data bus is that additional clock cycles are required to complete a transaction. For example, an address is typically driven onto the bus on a first clock edge, with the next clock edge signaling the beginning of one or more data phases in which data is to be transferred over the same bus. Separate address and data paths on the other hand dedicate bandwidth to each phase of the data transfer, speeding internal data handling, and resulting in higher system performance. Processors may also differ in the way they signal transactions. For example, certain types of processors utilize a transfer start indication signal in cooperation with a read/write signal to indicate the start of a read/write cycle, whereas other types of processors utilize separate read/write strobes to indicate the start of a read/write cycle.
Typically, network switching devices are designed to operate with host processors having a fixed architecture type. For example, if a network switch were designed to operate in cooperation with an Intel class processor functioning as a host processor, then simple substitution of a Motorola class host processor would not be possible without additional, and perhaps extensive glue logic being added. Accordingly, interoperability amongst processors and network switching devices is limited due to the proprietary signaling requirements of the various processors.

Configurable glueless microprocessor interface


The invention provides anti-GPC3 antibodies and immunoconjugates and methods of using the same.

Glypican-3 (GPC3) is a member of the glypican family, which are heparin sulfate proteoglycans linked to the cell surface through a glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol anchor. GPC3 has been shown to be highly expressed in over 70% of hepatocellular carcinoma biopsies, but not in adjacent nontumor tissue. Patients with GPC3-positive HCC have a significantly lower disease-free survival rate than patients with GPC3-negative HCC.
There is a need in the art for safe and effective agents that target GPC3 for the diagnosis and treatment of GPC3-associated conditions, such as cancer. The invention fulfills that need and provides other benefits.

Anti-GPC3 antibodies and immunoconjugates


An integrated circuit chip package is described. The integrated circuit package comprises a substrate, a chip attached to the substrate, and a heat spreader mounted over the chip for sealing the chip therein. The heat spreader includes a thermally-conductive element having a side opposed to the top of the chip for transmitting heat away from the chip to the heat spreader, and a compliant element having a first portion attached to and positioned around the periphery of the thermally-conductive element and a second portion affixed to a surface of the substrate.

In the semiconductor chip package industry, a chip carrying an integrated circuit is commonly mounted on a package carrier such as a substrate, a circuit board or a leadframe that provides electrical connections from the chip to the exterior of the package. In such packaging arrangement called flip chip mounting, where the active side of the chip is mounted in an upside-down fashion over the substrate, the chip and the substrate are usually formed of different materials having mismatched coefficients of thermal expansion. As a result, the chip and the substrate experience significantly different dimension changes when heated, and the mismatch in dimension changes causes significant thermally-induced stresses and warpage in the electrical connections between the chip and the substrate. If uncompensated, the disparity in thermal expansion can result in degradation in the performance of the chip, damage to the solder connections between the chip and the substrate, or package failure.
To reduce warpage and improve the reliability of flip chip packages, a number of approaches have been offered by the microelectronics industry. An encapsulant material or underfill is commonly used to fill the gap between the chip and the substrate to reduce the stress on the package during thermal cycling. Additionally, stiffeners are typically employed around the chip in the package assembly. The stiffeners are attached on the substrate and surround the chip to constrain the substrate in order to prevent chip warpage or other movement relative to the chip during thermal cycling. To further reduce the chance of warpage and promote thermal cooling of flip chip packages, heat spreaders are often mounted on top of the package to dissipate heat and counter-balance the forces exerted by the thermal expansion mismatches between at least the chip and the substrate.
Although heat spreaders and stiffeners reduce warpage, as the package is constrained by the heat spreader, there may be high stress on the solder joints between the chip and the substrate. Moreover, as the stiffener is attached onto the substrate, stress may be imposed on the substrate as it is being constrained by the stiffener. The stress on the substrate and chip may lead to chip performance degradation or package failure. Furthermore, for thermal applications the conventional heat spreader having a highly homogeneous conductive material is likely not suitable for component or system-level package designs, where non-uniform heating of the chip often occurs during operation.

Compliant heat spreader for flip chip packaging having thermally-conductive element with different metal material areas

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


A subject for the invention is to provide a charge-transporting polymer having high hole-transporting ability and excellent solubility and film-forming properties and a composition for organic electroluminescent element which contains the charge-transporting polymer. Another subject for the invention is to provide an organic electroluminescent element which has a high current efficiency and high driving stability. The charge-transporting polymer comprises a group represented by the following formula (1) as a side chain:

Electroluminescent elements (organic electroluminescent elements) employing an organic thin film are being developed in recent years. Examples of methods for forming an organic thin film for use in an organic electroluminescent element include a vacuum deposition method and a wet film formation method.
The vacuum deposition method has an advantage that since superposition of layers by this method is easy, it is easy to improve charge injection from the anode and/or cathode or to confine excitons in the luminescent layer. The wet film formation method has advantages, for example, that no vacuum process is necessary and film formation in a larger area is easy, and that it is easy to mix and incorporate a plurality of materials having various functions into one layer (composition).
However, since superposition of layers by the wet film formation method is difficult, elements produced using the wet film formation method are inferior in driving stability to elements produced using the vacuum deposition method and have not reached a practical level at present except some of these. In particular, in layer superposition by the wet film formation method, it is possible to superpose two layers, for example, by using an organic solvent and an aqueous solvent. However, it has been difficult to superpose three or more layers by the method.
In patent document 1, a polymer having an oxetane group as a crosslinkable group as shown below has been proposed in order to overcome such problems encountered in layer superposition, and a layer obtained by coating this polymer and reacting the oxetane group is disclosed. It is disclosed therein that the layer has been rendered insoluble in organic solvents and it is therefore possible to superpose another layer on that layer. However, the element obtained by this method has had a problem that the element increases in operating voltage during voltage application thereto at a constant current or decreases in luminance stability during voltage application thereto, resulting in a short working life. Furthermore, that method has had a problem that a flat layer is not formed and the luminescent surface of the element obtained is not even.

Patent document 1 and non-patent document 1 disclose the charge-transporting polymer represented by the following structure, in which oxetane groups have been bonded to the main chain of the charge-transporting polymer through a spacer group. However, the element formed using the polymer disclosed in these documents has had a problem that the working life thereof is short.

Meanwhile, patent document 2, patent document 3, and non-patent document 2 disclose a polymer having benzocyclobutene-ring-derived groups as crosslinkable groups, as shown below. However, the polymer disclosed in these documents has had a problem that the element obtained has an increased operating voltage and has a short working life. There also has been a problem that the luminescent surface is not even and the element obtained has a reduced current efficiency.

There has hence been a desire for an organic electroluminescent element which has an even luminescent surface and has a high electric-power efficiency, low operating voltage, and long working life.

Charge-transporting polymer, composition for organic electroluminescent element, organic electroluminescent element, organic EL display, and organic EL lighting

Abstract: wherein in formula (1), the benzocyclobutene ring may have one or more substituents. The substituents may be bonded to each other to form a ring. The spacer represents a group which links the benzocyclobutene ring to the main chain of the charge-transporting polymer through three or more single bonds.


A data management method includes accessing data objects in an application written in C/C++ for change-logging and multi-step redo/undo, wherein the data objects are organized in a binary format and are devoid of self-describing information, and wherein the accessing the data objects is structured in a plurality of layers, the plurality of layers including a semantic layer, a change log layer, and a repository layer, dynamically analyzing the data objects to recognize all changes made by any of a plurality of users for all data types used by the application, the dynamically analyzing the data including using semantic analysis to track changes and identifying any changes in any of the data objects, and using generated wrapper classes to convert between C/C++ data structures and generic data format, wherein the wrapper classes are generated from developer provided annotations with C/C++ data structure declarations.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a method and apparatus for data management and more particularly to a data management method and system for legacy applications.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hardware Configuration Manager (HCM) is a legacy PC client application connecting to a host server application. The data repository is a binary file, which uses pointers for linking related data structures together, which describe the I/O configuration of a system processor complex. Multiple clients can access the same configuration repository. Therefore, a fast resynchronization mechanism between multiple clients is needed. As a solution to this problem, only the changes of a client are gathered and communicated among the concurrently accessing clients.
Accordingly, for a legacy data managing application, which uses a binary data format, a change log, which collects the changes of each client, needs to be added on the host. The data format needs to be compatible across software versions since it contains vital configuration data for the installation running different operating system versions in parallel.
Certain solutions use database systems. The use of database systems, however, is not appropriate since the application does not have a central data access API to map an add, update, or delete request to a database.
Other solutions use library and revision control systems. These systems compare text or binary files completely to calculate the differences. A drawback of the library and revision control systems is that the entire binary file must be sent to the repository.
Furthermore, other solutions use diff/patch tools. These solutions also compare text or binary files completely to calculate the differences. Patches only contain the differences but cannot resolve conflicts between different patches of the same data due to the missing semantics of the changes.
Comparing binary data in a byte-oriented fashion does not result in a semantically rich change log. Object semantics must be reflected in the change records to allow recognition of individually named members/fields of objects.

Method and system for automatically adding generic change log to legacy application

International Business Machines Corporation