A secured network is disclosed configured to carry data, comprising a plurality of network bubbles and a plurality of network control points, wherein each network bubble comprises one or more bubble partitions and each bubble partition comprises at least one networked device configured to transmit and receive data, and all of the network devices corresponding to at least one of the plurality of network bubbles have a common network security policy. At least one network control point, such as a router, is provided with a marker module arranged to mark outgoing packets with a label corresponding to the network bubble from which the packets originate that can be used to enforce the network security policy of the at least one network bubble.

Enterprise data networks are vulnerable to numerous network attacks. Network firewalls or similar approaches are deployed as a common business practice to mitigate the risk of such attacks. Typically these security measures allow for unrestricted connectivity within the company or among a known collection of host devices, but they restrict access from public networks and other organizations or unknown devices. For example, the company may allow employees to access any web site on the public Internet, but prohibit access to confidential internal web sites by unknown users from public networks.
One commonly known device that performs network firewall functions is a router, which is a device that determines the next network point to which a packet of information is to be delivered. Before the packet is forwarded to another device, the router may use an access list that provides conditions or rules to determine whether the packet has access to the particular destination. In addition, these devices may provide functions such as user authentication. Also, application proxies, e.g., socks and caching web proxies, allow specific applications to be executed for network security and might also employ user authentication. Companies typically have network security policies that describe the type of access that should be permitted through firewall devices. This policy is achieved through the application of a combination of the network firewall devices described above.
Applicants U.S. Patent Applications U.S. 2001/0042213, U.S. 2002/0099823, U.S. 2002/0066030 and U.S. 2001/0037384, the contents of which are herein incorporated in their entirety by reference, describe various aspects of a partitioned network in which a security policy may be implemented by configuration of a plurality of network control points using replicated or at least matched sets of access control lists to provide a highly configurable set of security domains. This type of network will be referred to herein as implementing a Network Bubble Architecture.
In many of the embodiments envisaged by these patent applications, source and destination IP addresses are used to allow or restrict traffic passing through the network control points. Each bubble partition includes access lists describing inbound rules and outbound rules for hosts within it. A bubble registry manages the content and distribution of the network control point access lists to the network control points.
Whilst this approach is generally satisfactory, its implementation in existing networks having a pre-existing IP addressing plan can in practice lead to large access control list sizes because the bubble partitions may be defined by a set of disjoint IP address sub-ranges which each have to be separately specified in the access control lists. On the other hand, modifying the IP address plan so that contiguous address ranges map to the bubble partitions in a simpler manner may be an expensive exercise.
This invention is directed to mitigating the above drawbacks associated with the heretofore proposed approaches to implementing the Network Bubble Architecture and to facilitate its implementation in infrastructures having a preexisting IP address plan.

Enforcing network security policies with packet labels

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


An exercise device for a lower leg and foot is provided. The exercise device provides a user with the ability to exercise multiple muscles in both lower legs and both feet, and provides the user with multiple exercises with a single exercise device. Additionally, the exercise device is capable of providing variable resistances during exercise to accommodate users of different strength and to accommodate a user's increase in strength. To provide variable resistance, the exercise device includes a plurality of resilient resistance member interchangeably coupled to a housing of the exercise device.

Numerous exercise devices exist in the marketplace. However, many of these exercise devices are extremely expensive, thereby making it difficult for average consumers to afford and purchase such exercise devices. In addition, such exercises devices are typically specialized exercise equipment for working isolated or individual muscles. Thus, such exercise equipment only provides a single exercise for a user to exercise a single muscle. Further, exercise devices for working a lower leg or foot of an individual and, particularly, toes and an arch of an individual, are typically unsophisticated. Further yet, people usually neglect foot muscles when exercising and, therefore, exercise devices do not focus on foot muscles.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A laser mast for attachment to a ground vehicle includes a mast, a rotary stage, a platform, a first laser, and a second laser. The rotary stage is connected to and rotates the mast. The platform is connected to the rotary stage. The first laser is within the mast. The second laser is within the rotary stage or the platform.

Army vehicles encounter missiles fired from launchers that utilize optical guidance systems. Some current countermeasure systems that use a relatively low energy laser or electromagnetic mechanism to divert missiles are referred to as a soft-kill countermeasure (SKCM), where-as firing a projectile to intercept the missile is referred to as a hard-kill countermeasure (HKCM). Another term used, where an infrared laser beam is pointed in a specific direction by a gimbal mechanism is a Directable Infrared Countermeasure or DIRCM. Some vehicles with a SKCM may include a countermeasure system that utilize a laser that causes the missile to miss the vehicle. These systems include a single integrated optical path of mirrors and a beam tube which increases the cost of the countermeasure system and reduces the flexibility of the countermeasure system as the countermeasure system may utilize lasers with specific irradiances (either wavelength irradiances or power irradiances). This limits the type of threats that the countermeasure system may cause to miss the vehicle.

Soft kill laser configuration for ground vehicle threats

BAE Systems Information and Electronic System Integration Inc.


Disclosed herein are methods and low dose regimens for increasing fetal hemoglobin levels in patients with red blood cell disorders, such as beta thalassemia, sickle cell disease, other anemias, or blood loss. Fetal and total hemoglobin levels and red blood cell counts are increased by administering 2,2-dimethylbutyrate (DMB) alone or in combination with hydroxyurea, decitabine or an HDAC inhibitor. Treatment can be continued for at least two weeks.

Anemia, a red blood cell disorder, can be grossly defined as a reduction in the ability of blood to transport oxygen. Although red blood cell disorders may be caused by certain drugs and immune system disorders, the majority are caused by genetic defects in the expression of hemoglobin. Disorders of hemoglobin synthesis include deficiencies of globin synthesis such as thalassemia syndromes and structural abnormalities of globin such as sickle cell syndromes and syndromes associated with unstable hemoglobins.
Fetal globin (also known as gamma globin) normally combines with alpha globin chains prenatally to form fetal hemoglobin (HbF). Fetal globin is replaced by beta globin after birth, which then combines with alpha globin to form adult hemoglobin A. Fetal globin performs the same function as beta globin, and can combine with the alpha chains to generate a healthy form of hemoglobin thereby reducing high concentrations of unmatched alpha globin chains.
The various types of beta thalassemias are syndromes resulting from mutations, which produce a deficiency of beta globin chains. In beta thalassemia, the unmatched alpha globin chains aggregate inside red blood cells (RBCs) and their progenitors, causing the premature destruction of RBCs and RBC progenitors, which results in anemia, transfusion-dependence, iron overload, organ failure, and early death.
In sickle cell disease (SCD), one amino acid substitution in the beta globin chain results in the generation of sickling hemoglobin (HbS), which allows polymerization with repeated cycles of deoxygenation. Polymerization results in "sickling" of RBCs. The sickled RBCs undergo hemolysis, while adhesive sickled RBCs occlude the microcirculation, provoking widespread tissue ischemia and organ infarction. The natural history of SCD is marked by painful crises, acute chest syndrome, and eventual potentially life-threatening sequelae, including renal insufficiency, retinitis, osteonecrosis, osteomyelitis, aplastic crises, functional asplenism, stroke, priapism, and severe pulmonary hypertension.
The disclosure herein provides novel methods and compositions for raising fetal hemoglobin in a patient with a blood disorder, including beta thalassemias and sickle cell disease.

Methods and low dose regimens for treating red blood cell disorders


An apparatus and a method of controlling flow communication with an apparatus are disclosed. The apparatus includes a flow communicator, a flow control member, an uphole-disposed flow interference effector uphole of the flow communicator, and a downhole-disposed flow interference effector downhole of the flow communicator. While each of the uphole-disposed flow interference effector and the downhole-disposed flow interference-effector, independently, is contacting the flow control member, the flow communicator is closed. Displacement of the flow control member, relative to the flow communicator, in the downhole direction, opens the flow communicator. While there is an absence of occlusion of the second uphole-disposed flow interference-effecting member of the uphole-disposed flow interference effector, the flow control member is disposable, relative to the flow communicator, such that each one of the second-uphole disposed flow interference-effecting member and the downhole-disposed flow interference-effector, independently, is contacting the flow control member, such that the flow communicator is closed.

Production of hydrocarbon material from subterranean formation typically is effected via a wellbore that extends into the subterranean formation from the earth's surface. Often, such production is stimulated by treatment operations, such as hydraulic fracturing, involving the injection of treatment material into predetermined zones within the subterranean formation. In order to controllably inject the treatment material into the subterranean formation, valve apparatuses are installed within the wellbore and are controllably opened and closed as required to effect or seal flow communication, as required. In order to seal flow communication, sealing members are installed. The sealing members co-operate with moveable valve elements with the intent of sealing the flow communication. To seal flow communication, the sealing members are disposed in sealing, or substantially sealing, engagement with the valve elements. To enable flow communication, such sealing, or substantially sealing, engagement is defeated such that the valve elements become spaced art from the sealing members. While the valve elements are spaced apart from the sealing members, the sealing members are exposed to wellbore conditions, and are susceptible to exposure to flowing solids or jetting operations, which could compromise their sealing functionality.

Re-closeable downhole valves with improved seal integrity


An oxygen concentrator system includes a portable unit and a base unit. The portable unit includes an air separation device. The base unit includes a vacuum pump. The portable unit is moveable with respect to the base unit between a connected position, in which the vacuum pump of the base unit is connected to the air separation device of the portable unit for applying vacuum pressure at the air separation device of the portable unit, and a disconnected position, in which the vacuum pump is not connected to the air separation device of the portable unit. The air separation device operates using a vacuum pressure swing adsorption (VPSA) cycle when the portable unit is in the connected position. The air separation device operates using a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) cycle when the portable unit is in the disconnected position.

Oxygen concentrator systems generate substantially pure (e.g., 82-96% pure) oxygen gas using ambient air as an input gas. Oxygen concentrator systems are commonly used for medical applications by patients who have a need for substantially pure oxygen.
Portable oxygen concentrators typically output a volume of oxygen that is lower than what is output by non-portable oxygen concentrators. The oxygen output of portable units is sometimes not sufficient to meet the demands of some users. For example, some users require a higher amount of oxygen at night when they are sleeping. The size and weight of oxygen concentrators that are able to meet this type of demand tend to be too large and/or heavy to be portable.


A method for providing improved foreground/background separation in a digital image of a scene is disclosed. The method comprises providing a first map comprising one or more regions provisionally defined as one of foreground or background within the digital image; and providing a subject profile corresponding to a region of interest of the digital image. The provisionally defined regions are compared with the subject profile to determine if any of the regions intersect with the profile region. The definition of one or more of the regions in the map is changed based on the comparison.

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for providing improved foreground/background separation in a digital image.
A focus map may be built using a depth from defocus (DFD) algorithm, for example, as disclosed in "Rational Filters for Passive Depth from Defocus" by Masahiro Watanabe and Shree K. Nayar (1995), hereby incorporated by reference. The basic idea is that a depth map of a given scene can be theoretically computed from two images of the same scene. Ideally, for calculating a DFD map, a telecentric lens is used, and only focus varies between the two image acquisitions. This is generally not true of existing digital cameras.
Another technique for separating foreground from background is disclosed in US published patent application no. 2006/0285754, which is assigned to the same assignee as the present application, and is hereby incorporated by reference. Here, the difference in exposure levels between flash and non-flash images of a scene are used to provide a foreground/background map. The main advantage of using depth from defocus over a flash/non-flash based technique, is that depth from defocus is independent of the scene illumination and so can be advantageous for outdoor or well-illuminated scenes.
A further technique for separating foreground from background is disclosed in U.S. patent applications No. 60/773,714 and Ser. No. 11/573,713, which are hereby incorporated by reference. Here, a difference in high frequency coefficients between corresponding regions of images of a scene taken at different focal lengths are used to provide a foreground/background map. Again in this case, the foreground/background map is independent of the scene illumination and so this technique can be useful for outdoor or well-illuminated scenes.
In any case, the foreground/background map produced by each of the above techniques or indeed any other technique may not work correctly. It is thus desired to provide improved methods of foreground/background separation in a digital image.

Foreground / background separation in digital images

DigitalOptics Corporation Europe Limited


An electronic system is presented which includes a remote control device and a first electronic device. In one embodiment, the remote control device is configured to accept a user input signifying a command for a second electronic device, as well as generate the command for the second electronic device, and an indication of the command. In another embodiment, the remote control device is configured to accept a user input that causes a mode change of the remote control device, wherein the mode identifies one of a plurality of electronic devices that receive commands from the remote control device. The remote control device is also configured to transmit the command to the second electronic device, if applicable, and transmit the indication of the command or mode change to the first electronic device. The first electronic device is configured to receive and process the indication to alter operation of the first electronic device.

While entertainment-oriented electronic devices, such as television sets, audio amplifiers or receivers, compact disc (CD) and digital video disc (DVD) players, and cable and satellite television set-top boxes, have become increasingly advanced, possibly the most important function associated with such a device is also one of the most common: the ability to control the device remotely.
Typically, a remote control device is provided by the manufacturer of the particular electronic device to be controlled. Today, remote control devices employ infrared or ultra-high frequency (UHF) wireless signals to issue commands to the associated electronic device, typically employing a format of the manufacturer's choosing. As a result, a remote control designed for one electronic device typically is incapable of controlling another electronic device, especially one produced by a different manufacturer. Such a circumstance is often beneficial, however, as unintentional changes in the operation of one electronic device while controlling another is ordinarily undesirable. For example, intended modification of a selected channel of a satellite set-top box that also causes a channel change of a connected television set, or vice-versa, may make effective remote control of the two devices problematic, if not impossible.
Remote control device designs have evolved over the last few decades, providing greater control over the devices to the user. Furthermore, as the number of electronic devices that are controllable remotely has increased over time, remote control devices capable of controlling multiple components have become popular. Such capability is helpful in an environment such as a family room, which may contain a set-top box, television, DVD player, and the like. To this end, many such multi-component remote control devices include two or more buttons which the user may activate to set the "mode" of the remote control device. The mode determines which electronic device is to be controlled by subsequent button presses on the remote control device, such as the power button, the channel selection buttons, and the volume control buttons. Typically, one mode button is identified for each electronic device to be controlled, such as a cable or satellite broadcast set-top box, a television set, a video cassette recorder, an audio amplifier or receiver, or a CD or DVD player. Further, the remote control device allows the user to program one or more of the mode buttons to communicate with one of a variety of electronic devices from different manufacturers.
Generally, multi-component remote control devices only control one electronic device on the basis of the current mode setting of the remote control device. In some cases, however, a remote control device may be programmed to turn on or off multiple electronic devices with the pressing of a single button of the remote control device.
Even with remote control functionality, some electronic devices may perform various functions autonomously. For example, some satellite broadcast set-top boxes transition from an operational mode to a "standby" mode on its own, during which programming is unavailable to the television set connected with the set-top box. In some cases, standby mode is initiated after a predetermined period of time since the last user interaction with the set-top box, such as a change in channel selection or an access of a menu system. Standby mode typically involves powering down a resident hard drive and other circuitry to reduce power and wear of the set-top box. Also, housekeeping information, such as programming schedule updates and network status, may be downloaded to the set-top box during standby mode.
However, even if the user has not interacted with the satellite broadcast set-top box for an extended period of time, such as for a number of hours, the user may be accessing a music channel available via the set-top box through the majority of a day or evening to provide background music for a party or while performing household chores. In another instance, the user may be viewing a television series marathon, in which a number of episodes of a particular television show are presented in succession. In these and other cases, the user may be utilizing the set-top box without actively controlling the set-top box, either by way of a remote control device or directly through a user panel on the set-top box itself. Unfortunately, the set-top box may initiate standby mode under such circumstances, likely creating user frustration in the process.

Electronic system informing a first electronic device of user remote control activity involving a second electronic device


A method of connecting to a first metal layer in a semiconductor flow process. Disclosed embodiments connect to the first metal layer by etching a first portion of a viahole through an etch stop layer and a gate insulation layer to reach a first metal layer, depositing a second metal layer such that the second metal layer contacts the first metal layer within the viahole, and etching a second portion of the viahole through a first passivation layer and an organic layer to reach the second metal layer.

Currently, an eight mask process flow is used to manufacture etch stop oxide thin film transistors devices. Forming a viahole that connects to the first metal layer in such a process typically requires long dry etching time through a number of passivation layers and through the gate insulation layer. A viahole dry etch process of this magnitude presents several difficulties including photoresist stability during the long time dry etch, tapper and undercut issues the can impact one or more layers in multi SiNx/SiO2 stacks, and the possibility of damage to the device due to an electrostatic discharge. Thus, there is a need for an improved viahole etch process that can be used to connected to signal lines that are routed in the first metal layer.

Connection to first metal layer in thin film transistor process


An executing computer program is debugged by the use of an events table comprising a plurality of table entries, each table entry comprising an event description describing an event occurring during execution of the executing computer program; a debugger description specifying a debugger to be invoked to debug the executing computer program upon an occurrence of the event; and debugger options to be passed to the debugger upon invocation of the debugger. Debugging the executing computer program comprises monitoring for the event; detecting the event; gathering event information beyond the event description; searching the event table responsive to the detection of the event; finding the table entry corresponding the event; responsive to the finding of the table entry, invoking the debugger specified by the debugger description in the table entry corresponding the event; passing the debugger options to the debugger; and passing the event information to the debugger. A first table entry may be used to invoke a first debugger responsive to a first event, and a second table entry may be used to invoke a second debugger responsive to a second event.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to computer programs, and more particularly to an automatic activation and configuration of a debugger.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional systems provide numerous ways of invoking a debugger. A user may manually invoke a debugger by entering a command on a command line or by selecting an icon representing the debugger in a graphical user interface. Alternatively, the user may automate the invocation of the debugger by the use of various flags, control statements, or calling statements.
Crump et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,850,562, "Personal Computer Apparatus and Method for Monitoring Memory Locations States for Facilitating Debugging of Post and BIOS Code," and Nelin et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,253,368, "Dynamically Debugging User-Defined Functions and Stored Procedures" teach the use of flags to invoke a debugger. In Crump et al., a flag is checked when a system is initialized, and if the flag is set, then a default debugger is invoked. Nelin et al. provides improved use of a flag wherein the flag indicates that a default debugger is invoked when a particular program is executed.
The use of control statements may provide greater control and function. For example, Tomlinson, Paula "Debugging Services (Understanding NT) (Technology Tutorial)", Windows Developer's Journal, Number 8, Volume 7, August, 1996, page 55, teaches an improvement beyond the system initialization flag wherein a system initialization control statement invokes both a specified program and a specified debugger with which to debug the program. Carney et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,774,729, "Event Handling in a High Level Programming Language Environment" extends such control statement teachings beyond system initialization to the initialization of an individual program wherein a control statement which invokes the program may also invoke a specified debugger with which to debug the program.
Instead of a control statement external to the program, Yoshio, JP61016344A2, "Conversational Debugging Processing System" teaches the use of a calling statement within the program to be debugged that invokes a specified debugger with which to debug the program. Fuh et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,324,683, "System, Method and Program for Debugging External Programs in Client/Server-Based Relational Database Management Systems" teaches the use of such a calling statement within a segment of code inserted before the program to be debugged.
Rather than associating the debugger with a particular program, Hawley et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,533,192, "Computer Program Debugging System and Method" teaches associating the debugger with a particular type of exception or interrupt, thus invoking a specified debugger when a specified type of exception or interrupt occurs. Other exception handlers, condition handlers, or event handlers which do not invoke a debugger, but instead use an already executing debugger are taught by Conder et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,724,564, "Computer Program Product and Program Storage Device for Representing and Signaling Run-Time Program Conditions"; Carney et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,630,137, "Condition Handling in a Multi-Language Computer Program"; Conder et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,455,949, "Method for Representing and Signaling Run-Time Program Conditions"; and Ault et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,632,032, "Cross Address Space Thread Control in a Multithreaded Environment".
These conventional ways of invoking a debugger suffer significant limitations and disadvantages. The use of flags which may invoke the debugger before the program or event of interest may cause significant unnecessary overhead associated with the execution of the debugger incurred during the time before the program or event of interest. The resolution of the meaning of the flags is also limited. The flags may only indicate a default debugger, not a selection of a particular debugger, and not the configurable parameters of a particular debugger. The flags may only indicate a particular program, not events within the program.
Control statements also share these limitations as control statements may invoke the debugger before the program or event of interest causing significant unnecessary overhead associated with the execution of the debugger incurred during the time before the program or event of interest. Although the control statement resolution is greatly improved over that of the debugger flags in that they may specify a particular debugger instead of just the default debugger, the control statements still may only indicate a particular program, not events within the program.
Finally, the exception handlers may fail to reduce the overhead associated with the execution of the debugger incurred during the time before the event of interest in the program of interest. Although an exception handler may invoke a specific debugger for a particular type of exception or interrupt, it may invoke the debugger for every exception or interrupt of this type, not just the particular exception or interrupt of interest, thus resulting in significant debugger overhead. It may also invoke the debugger for every exception or interrupt of this type, even if the exception or interrupt occurs outside of the program of interest. Significant debugger overhead may be incurred if the event of interest is not an exception or interrupt as the debugger may be invoked by events other than the event of interest in order to monitor the event of interest. The exception handler may also fail to configure the debugger invocation with the appropriate debugger options or parameters.
Thus, there is a clearly felt need for improved debugging in which a user may specify a particular event within a particular program which causes a specified debugger to be invoked with specified debugger options.

Program event activated and configured debugger method, system, article of manufacture, computer program product, and data structure

International Business Machines Corporation


Disclosed are a video transmission method, a client, and a server. The method includes: a recommended viewport for playing a virtual reality (VR) video is determined; and at least one video file corresponding to the recommended viewport is requested from a server.

In the related art, virtual reality (VR) refers to a three-dimensional virtual world simulated and generated by using computer technologies, so that a user experiences a highly realistic virtual space environment in terms of viewing, listening, touching, tasting and the like. With rapid developments of VR technologies, applications such as a VR video live broadcast and a VR video on-demand are becoming more and more extensive, so that video service experiences with a strong immersion are brought to users.
A VR video transmission scheme includes: a VR panoramic video transmission scheme with an independent user viewpoint and a VR video transmission scheme with an adaptive user viewpoint. In a viewpoint independent transmission mode, a terminal requests from a server to acquire an undifferentiated panoramic video file, and when the user viewpoint changes, all processing is completed at the terminal. Compared with a traditional video, a VR video is characterized in that only a part of panoramic videos corresponding to a user viewport (i.e., a user current watching region) is displayed at a certain time, therefore a transmission of other parts of the video causes a waste of network resources.
A VR video transmission scheme that supports a user viewpoint adaptation is also proposed in the related art. In a viewpoint adaptive transmission mode, a transmitted VR video has a predetermined main field of view, and video quality (resolution) in the main field of view is higher than surrounding video quality (resolution). The terminal requests a corresponding VR video file from the server according to a current user viewpoint. When a changing amount of the user viewpoint exceeds a certain threshold, the terminal will request from the server to acquire a VR video file corresponding to a new viewpoint.
However, due to existences of a terminal-server request and response interaction process, as well as of processing steps of video decoding, caching and the like, a more obvious system latency exists between time when changing of the user viewpoint is detected and time when the terminal plays and displays a new VR video picture of a current user viewport in the viewpoint adaptive VR video transmission scheme, which greatly affects user service experiences.

Virtual reality video transmission method, client device and server


A method for fabricating a liquid crystal display (LCD) device includes preparing a lower substrate and an upper substrate; forming a plurality of seal patterns on any one of the upper and lower substrates, each seal pattern including a main pattern and an injection port pattern, wherein a width of the injection port pattern is smaller than a width of the main pattern; bonding the upper and lower substrates to each other using the plurality of seal patterns; and cutting the bonded upper and lower substrates into a plurality of unit cells.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display (LCD) device and method for fabricating the same, and more particularly, to a seal pattern included in an LCD device.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Among flat panel display devices, liquid crystal display (LCD) devices have many advantages, such as a low energy consumption due to a low operating voltage thereof and a high applicability for portable appliances, etc. Therefore, LCD devices are widely used in a variety of fields such as monitors for notebook computers, spaceships, aircraft, etc.
Generally, an LCD device includes upper and lower substrates facing each other, a liquid crystal layer between the upper and lower substrates, and a seal material surrounding the liquid crystal layer to bond the upper and lower substrates together.
A method for fabricating an LCD device according to the related art will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIGS. 1A to 1D are schematic perspective views illustrating a method for fabricating an LCD device according to the related art.
Referring to FIG. 1A, a lower substrate 10 and an upper substrate 30 are first prepared. Although not shown, the lower substrate 10 is formed with thin-film transistors and pixel electrodes, and the upper substrate 30 is formed with a black matrix layer, a color filter layer, and a common electrode.
Referring to FIG. 1B, a seal pattern 50 is then coated on the lower substrate 10. The seal pattern 50 has an injection port to inject liquid crystal into a space between the lower substrate 10 and the upper substrate 30 after bonding the substrates 10 and 30.
Referring to FIGS. 1C and 1D, the lower substrate 10 and upper substrate 30 are bonded together using the seal pattern 50. Thereafter, the bonded lower and upper substrates 10 and 30 are cut into a plurality of unit cells, as illustrated in FIG. 1D. Each unit cell is configured in such a manner that a side x of the lower substrate 10 is longer than the corresponding side y of the upper substrate 30 to expose a pad portion formed on the lower substrate 10 for the connection of a drive circuit. In FIG. 1D, the pad portion of the lower substrate 10 is marked with oblique lines. In order to expose the pad portion of the lower substrate 10, it is necessary to perform a primary cutting process for cutting both the lower substrate 10 and upper substrate 30 along the line A-A of FIG. 1C and a secondary cutting process for cutting a portion of the upper substrate 30 along the line B-B of FIG. 1C.
Although not shown, after the cutting processes, liquid crystal is injected into the space between the lower substrate 10 and the upper substrate 30 through the injection port of the seal pattern 50 formed at each unit cell. After completing the injection of the liquid crystal, the injection port of the seal pattern 50 is sealed to complete the fabrication process of the LCD device.
The method for fabricating an LCD device according to the related art has, however, the following problems.
In order to increase productivity, it is beneficial to increase the number of unit cells to be formed on a single substrate. As the number of unit cells increases, the distance between the unit cells becomes smaller and the distance between the seal patterns formed unit cells becomes reduced. Because of the reduced distance between the seal patterns, the seal pattern in one unit cell spreads out to adjacent unit cells during the bonding process, thereby decreasing efficiency in the cutting process. This problem will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B.
Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the circle "C" illustrates the seal pattern 50 spread out to a neighboring unit cell when the lower substrate 10 and upper substrate 30 are bonded to each other. As described above, after the boding process, a cutting process is performed along the line B-B of FIG. 2A to remove a portion 30a of the upper substrate 30 of the unit cell to expose the pad portions of the lower substrate 10. However, the seal pattern 50 spread out to a neighboring unit cell may cause a failure in the cutting process.

Method for fabricating a liquid crystal display device


The present invention relates to a gene expression cassette including a strong promoter derived from lactic acid bacteria, and a gene expression vector including the same. According to the present invention, a large amount of a human protein, the physiological activity of which has been verified, may be stably produced with high efficiency by introducing a useful foreign gene into an expression vector and transforming probiotics with the expression vector. Through the production of this protein, it is possible to provide a basis for developing functional probiotics and making products using them.

The production of biologically active polypeptides and proteins is economically important for the production of pharmaceutical preparations for human and veterinary use, enzymes, and other specific chemicals. Recombinant DNA techniques that use bacterial cells, fungal cells or mammalian cells as expression hosts are a particularly useful tool for producing large quantities of polypeptides.
In general, the recombinant production of a desired protein includes a process of transfecting host cells with an expression vector including a signal which, when operably linked to a gene encoding the protein, regulates expression of the gene. The transfected cells are grown under conditions suitable for expression of the recombinant protein.
For a recombinantly-produced protein intended for commercial use, it is particularly desirable to express a high level of desired protein from the host cell. As the amount of desired protein produced per cell is increased, the volume of cells to be grown to obtain a predetermined amount of the product is reduced, and thus the production cost can be reduced. In addition, since the desired protein occupies a larger portion of the total protein produced by the host cells, the desired protein can be easily purified. Accordingly, an expression-regulating signal capable of expressing a high level of desired protein is required.
In recent years, studies have been actively conducted to produce large amounts of high-value-added substances beneficial to the human body by use of microorganisms, especially lactic acid bacteria. If a gene expression cassette capable of expressing a high level of foreign gene in lactic acid bacteria is developed, it will advantageously be used in the food field, the medical and pharmaceutical field, and other industrial fields.

Gene expression cassette and expression vector including the same


The present invention relates, in part, to the discovery that a pharmaceutical composition comprising aripiprazole and a carrier administered in a bolus injection resulted in an extended release profile similar to that obtained by the injection of a poly lactide-co-glycolide microsphere formulation containing the active agent. This surprising result suggests that pharmacologically beneficial extended release formulations without the complexities and expense associated with the manufacture microspheres.

Aripiprazole, sold under the tradename ABILIFY®, is a dopamine D2 and serotonin 5-HT1A receptor agonist and antagonist of the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor. Aripiprazole is used to treat schizophrenia and other psychotic and CNS disorders. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,006,528, for example. ABILIFY®, is currently sold as a tablet for oral administration. However, poor patient compliance with oral antipsychotics has been reported. As such, there exists a need for improved methods of delivering antipsychotics, such as aripiprazole, thereby improving patient compliance and maximizing the pharmacological profile of the active agent.


The process for preparing dry extracts from a liquid extract and at least one additional substance by a spray-drying process is effected by adding said at least one additional substance to the spray-drying process in a dry form during the spray-drying process.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing dry extracts.
Extracts from plants or plant parts are widely employed in the food and drug fields. In many cases, it is appropriate to dry the thus obtained extracts in order the volume of the extracts. As far as other auxiliary agents are needed for the further processing of the dry extract, these are usually admixed with the liquid extract, followed by commonly drying them. Depending on what use is intended for the thus obtained dry products, further processing steps, such as wet granulation, fluidized-bed drying, compaction etc., can follow.
It has been the object of the present invention to provide a particularly simple process for adding further substances to an extract to be dried.
According to the invention, this object is achieved by a process for preparing dry extracts from a liquid extract and at least one additional substance by a spray-drying process, wherein said at least one additional substance is added to the spray-drying process in a dry form during the spray-drying process.
The wet extract droplets formed by the spraying will mix with said at least one additional substance and are dried on their common way through the spray-dryer, The residual moisture is generally below 5%.
Surprisingly, in this way, a homogeneous free-flowing powder can be obtained, which can be used, for example, directly for tabletting. Such a product is superior to both one obtained by commonly drying a solution of the extract and auxiliary agent, and one obtained by adding the auxiliary agent to the dried extract, with respect to galenic properties, especially tabletting property. Thus, the proportion of auxiliary agent can be significantly reduced as compared to conventional processes, so that smaller tablets can be produced with the same load of active substance, or more active substance can be introduced in predetermined tablet sizes.
The process is particularly useful if the liquid extract is the extract of a medicinal plant whose extract is to be administered in the form of tablets.
Said at least one additional substance will then be a galenic auxiliary agent. Galenic auxiliary agents are known to the skilled person. There may be mentioned, for example, lactose, maltodextrin, dextrin, dry glucose, starch, microcrystalline cellulose, silicated microcrystalline cellulose, Povidone(copyright), polyethylene glycol, calcium phosphate, magnesium stearate, precipitated silicic acid, precipitated silica, highly dispersed silica, sorbitol, mannitol, or mixtures thereof.
The particle size of the additional substance employed is of less importance. Suitable particle sizes are within a range of from 1 to 500 xcexcm.
The process according to the invention results in adhesion of the auxiliary agents to the extracts. Therefore, the invention also relates to the dry extract thus obtained, and to a medicament containing the dry extract according to the invention.
Preferably, the medicament according to the invention is a medicament in a tablet form.
For performing the process, a usual spray-drying plant can be used in which the liquid extract is introduced into a spray tower and drying air is simultaneously fed. By spraying into a hot-air current, the liquid products are quickly and mildly dried within seconds or fractions of seconds. The liquid extract to be dried typically contains from 5 to 70% of dry substance and is introduced into the spray tower at a pressure within a range of from 10 to 150 bar through one or more high-pressure nozzles. Usually, the temperature of the fed-in drying air is between 120 and 350xc2x0 C., In the process according to the invention, the dry additional substance or a mixture of such substances is also introduced into the spray tower using blow conveyance, preferably in the vicinity of the spraying nozzles for the liquid extract.
For example, the design could be as follows:
A liquid extract is provided in a storage vessel. On a second position, there are dosing scales with the additional substance employed according to the invention in a dry form. The liquid extract is sprayed in together with the finely powdered additional substance at the top of the spray tower through high-pressure nozzles using a pump. Hot air is introduced into the spray tower from below. The exhaust air leaves at the top end of the spray tower and is optionally conducted to a heat exchanger. The dried product is conducted onto a vibrating bed at the lower end of the spray tower and introduced into the further production process. Alternatively, the product may be fed into a cyclone.


Provided are bristle brush rollers having bristles implanted on their surfaces. A gap exists between the bristle brush rollers and reading surfaces of scanners for allowing a medium to pass through. When transfer rollers transfer the medium in the medium transfer direction, the bristle brush rollers regulate a surface opposite to a to-be-read surface of the medium in order to guide the medium.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image reader for reading character information and image information described or printed on a thin sheet medium, such as a check. Moreover, the present invention relates to a medium processor for processing a thin sheet medium, such as a check.
2. Description of Related Art
As an image reading apparatus for character information and image information (hereinafter called character information and the like) described or printed on a sheet medium, such as paper and so on, an image reader mounted on a copying machine, etc. is well known. In general, such an image reader is equipped with a scanner, which reads image information, and a platen roller placed at a position facing to the scanner. The platen roller, being formed with soft resin or foamed resin, is usually so placed as to press a read manuscript against a reading surface of the scanner and to hold the read manuscript there.
Patent Document 1 mentioned below proposes an image reader, in which a bristle brush roller is used as a platen roller and the bristle brush roller presses a read manuscript against a reading surface of a scanner and holds the read manuscript there. It is said that the bristle brush roller enables a transfer of any read manuscript in the image reader, regardless of the type of read manuscript; and also improves the quality of reading operation. Furthermore the bristle brush roller can have an electrically-neutralization effect against static electricity when it is formed with a conductive material.
Conventionally well known is a card reader that carries out reproducing operation etc. of magnetic information recorded in a card-like medium while transferring the medium. In the card reader, a datum surface for transfer motion, which works as a datum position in a shorter width-wise direction of the medium being transferred, is formed in a card path in order to correct any tilt of the medium in relation to a transfer direction and to take an appropriate action required for the medium being transferred. Such a card reader, in which a medium is smoothly moved toward the datum surface for transfer motion so as not to suffer damage even if the medium is a weak one, is proposed by the applicant of the present invention (For example, refer to Patent Document 2).
In a card reader described in Patent Document 2, an endless belt is hung over a plurality of drive rollers, and a medium is transferred by the endless belt. Namely, a medium path is formed along the endless belt, and the medium path is composed of a flat surface section formed among the drive rollers and a curved surface section formed along outer circumferences of the drive rollers. Furthermore, in the proximity of a border between the flat surface section and the curved surface section, there are placed transfer rollers whose portions opposite from the datum surface for transfer motion are so supported as to be movable in a transfer direction.
In the card reader, the medium keeps circulating along the medium path, until a scanner appropriately finishes reading character information and the like, on a surface of the medium as well as reproducing magnetic information recorded in the medium. Furthermore, when circulating along the medium path, the medium moves toward the datum surface for transfer motion by an action of the transfer rollers.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. H03-26172; and
Patent Document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-282366.


A data transmission method comprises receiving a channel access request to a radio receiving unit from a mobile station of the telecommunication system, and performing an operation on the channel access request using a predefined configuration of devices and algorithms of the radio receiving unit. After filtering the background noise from the channel access request; a characteristic of the channel access request against at least one predefined detection rule, and the channel access request is considered valid if the characteristic of the channel access request fulfils the detection rule. Essentially, the detection rule is not dependent on the configuration of the radio receiving unit.

When a mobile station is switched on, it first scans the radio interface in order to detect the presence of a network. After it receives a signal from a base station, the mobile station implements a location update, and thereby informs the network of its location and identity. After these operations, the mobile station may initiate a radio resource session by requesting channel access. A channel refers herein to means of unidirectional transmission of information between at least two endpoints, herein a mobile station and a base station.
Access may be triggered in response to a communication need originating from the mobile station (a mobile originated call, location updating), or from the infrastructure side (mobile terminating call). Either way, the mobile station initiates the access procedures by sending an access request message to the base station. The base station decodes the received access request message, and after a successful decoding, forwards the access request to the network and thereby initiates a channel access procedure. The procedure comprises choosing of a free traffic channel, activating this channel in the base station and sending an assignment message to the mobile station. Once the mobile station has received the assignment message, it modifies its reception and transmission configuration to adapt to the frequency and time characteristics of the new channel, and starts establishing a link layer connection for signalling messages related to the original communication need.
The radio interface is a complex environment and provides various sources of interference, for example thermodynamic type of noise, and band noise from network or environment. Occasionally, the base station may misinterpret an invalid access request as a genuine one, and initiate unnecessarily the channel assignment procedure. Misinterpretation of bursts is also probable when mobile station at the limit of its sensitivity.
Such invalid channel access requests do not lead to a successful channel assignment establishment, and they should, in principle, be detected as early as possible, preferably already at the base station. It is clear that the processing of invalid channel access requests waste channel capacity, and thus degrade the network performance. However, from an operator's perspective, an even more disadvantageous effect is that the unsuccessful channel assignment procedures due to the undetected invalid channel access requests will show in Key Performance Indicator (KPI) figures of the operator as a failed call set-up. Since the KPI is an important driver of operator's actions, this may lead to unnecessary network optimization, testing and hours wasted in problem solving. In the worst case, the problem may degrade the accuracy of network coverage dimensioning.
Base transceiver stations may have internal design requirements that allow only a given number of invalid channel access requests in a certain period of time. Therefore detections made by the BTS should be as effective as possible. On the other hand, if the filtering of invalid channel access requests is too strict, genuine channel access requests may be inadvertently rejected, which degrades the receiver performance. Consequently, extreme care is required when measures for detecting and filtering out invalid channel access requests are designed.
A prior art method of detecting invalid channel access requests, known from networks implementing Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), uses a two-staged procedure, which is based on determinations of two parameters:    1. Energy of estimated impulse response taps, where indications for channel access requests with inappropriate energies are filtered out. This stage aims to ensure that pure noise is not entered into the system.    2. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), where indications for channel access requests whose SNR does not exceed the threshold are filtered out. SNR plays a dominant role in detection of invalid channel access requests.
The procedures after the time the channel access request arrives at the base station and before the indication of the channel access request from the base station are herein referred to as receiver pre-processing. The procedures of receiver pre-processing may comprise, for example, timing offset correction, whitening, noise estimates, automatic frequency correction, etc. Depending on the implementation, the detection of invalid channel access requests is integrated to the pre-processing procedure. Presently, the problem with the current solution is that determination of SNR is measured at a defined stage of the receiver pre-processing and therefore some of the preceding functions, like the noise whitening, may affect the levels of the measured SNR.
A new SNR threshold are typically derived as a result of extensive simulations and analyses of measurement data collected by means of an actual product, which involves considerable amount of research and development (R&D) resources. However, due to varying customer needs or R&D specifications, the enhancements and alterations to the receiver features are unavoidable. For example, compensation of link imbalances and performance issues associated with new mobile station features typically require receiver improvements. Due to this interdependency between detection of invalid channel access requests and the pre-processing procedure, laborious adjustments are evident after any minor changes in the receiver configuration. This significantly reduces the flexibility of design and increases the R&D effort associated with releasing new products, both mobile stations and base station elements, to the market.


A method and apparatus in an integrated circuit having a plurality of distinct circuit modules which eliminates undesired effects of clock skewing when a common system clock is used. The same phase of the same system clock is used by both a transmitting circuit module and a receiving circuit module when data is communicated between two circuit modules. The receiving circuit module has an input portion having a first transistor clocked by the same phase of the same system clock, a latch and a second transistor. The latch and second transistor are clocked by a complement of the same phase of the system clock.

In integrated circuits, centralized clock signals are frequently used to provide timing and control signals to various distinct modules of an entire system embodied by the integrated circuit. One result of a centralized clock signal is a synchronous clock structure. As transistor count and operating frequency increase, on-chip resistor/capacitor (RC) delays inherent in all circuits create clock skews which severely degrade the synchronous nature of the circuit. To address this problem, others have increased the clock signal's drive current and run multiple or very wide clock conductors across the integrated circuit's topography. This known approach however does not adequately solve the clock skew problem on large core-based circuit designs. The previous techniques have created large power consumption and reference ground variation resulting in tri-state voltage leakage at outputs. More importantly, race conditions can be created when complementary clock signals become unsymmetrical or skewed. When clock skews exist, clocked logic circuitry may transmit or latch data during an incorrect clock phase. The latching of data during an unintended clock cycle quickly results in a system failure. In a previous approach to this problem, others have tailored custom specific circuit paths and sized transistor control electrode dimensions to control race conditions. This approach however is application specific and is not universally applicable.

Method and apparatus for eliminating clockskew race condition errors


A mold for forming a golf ball makes it possible to form minute dimples, and to improve mold release properties of the mold and wettability of the mold by a material when a urethane material is used for a cover layer. A mold according to the present invention is a mold for forming a urethane cover as an outermost layer of a golf ball, and includes: at least two split molds that are separably joined with each other, and that includes a cavity formed therein by the joining, the cavity being for forming the urethane cover; protrusions that are formed on a cavity surface of the split molds to form dimples of the golf ball; and a composite plating film that covers the cavity surface of the split molds, that comes into contact with a material of the urethane cover, and that contains a nickel-based matrix and fluororesin particles dispersed in the nickel-based matrix.

The present invention relates to a mold for forming a urethane cover as an outermost layer of a golf ball, and also relates to a method of manufacturing a golf ball by using this mold and a golf ball manufactured by using this mold.
Heretofore, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 05-318491 and Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 09-300361 have disclosed that forming a fluororesin film on a surface of a cavity in a mold used for forming a cover layer as an outermost layer of a golf ball can improve mold release properties of the molded golf ball.
However, a fluororesin film formed in a mold is thick due to the formation method therefore in which fluororesin is applied directly onto a cavity surface of the mold; hence, such a mold is not suitable as a mold for forming a golf ball having minute dimples. Moreover, the mold is provided with support pins to support the core of a golf ball in the cavity. However, galling occurs in the cavity surface of the mold and the side surfaces of the pins at the time of housing the pins in the mold or pushing out the pins toward the cavity. Due to such galling, the cover layer often fails to be released properly from the mold and the lives of the pins and the mold become shorter in some cases.

Mold for forming golf ball and golf ball manufactured using the same


A gas filter comprises a housing (30) having a gas inlet (55), a gas outlet (65) and at least one chamber (70) therebetween containing carbon nanotubes (110). The chamber (70) has a port (90) and is configured for simultaneous gas ingress to and gas egress from the carbon nanotubes (110) through the port (90).

Exhaust gas filters and filtering systems for removing constituents from exhaust gases of internal combustion engines are known from US2005/0126139.
A carbon nanotube (CNT) consists purely of carbon and is basically a graphene sheet. The sheet is rolled into a tube to form a CNT. By choosing the rolling direction, CNTs with different electrical properties can be generated. The actual tubular arrangement together with the strong carbon-carbon bonds results in a mechanically, chemically and thermodynamically extremely robust structure. The tensile stress necessary to rupture a CNT exceeds that of the strongest steel. Thermodynamically, CNTs are stable in air to up to 750° C. CNTs interact and attract each other through Van der Waals forces that arise from temporary imbalances of the electron distribution within atoms. Through these attracting forces, several CNTs can be put together to form an array of CNTs or can be randomly orientated, thereby keeping their integrity without requiring any additional structural support.
The unique properties of CNTs can be used for highly efficient gas separation. CNTs can have single or multiple walls and can be generated with a defined diameter, which is the key element for gas separation. The separation can be based on adsorption and sieving.
Sieving exploits the variation of geometrical shape and size of molecules: Growing a CNT membrane on a suitable substrate allows the pore size of the membrane to be controlled so as to allow only molecules smaller than the pore diameter to pass. This type of control over the pore size is not possible when using conventional membranes based on polymers. A nano-scale filter using a carbon nanotube membrane is proposed in US Patent 2007/0051240, which discloses the use of a porous supporting component.
Experiments have shown that the transport of gases through CNT membranes is much faster than predicted by traditional continuum theory (Skoulidas et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 89, 185901, 2002). For a range of different CNT membranes the flux was up 8,400 times higher than standard non-slip hydrodynamic flow as it governed the transport in polycarbonate membranes. This is likely caused by the intrinsic smoothness of the CNT walls for which the gas wall interactions are mainly reflective, i.e., collisions do not lose forward momentum and only partially diffusive (Knudsen model with partial slip). This phenomenon has been affirmed by molecular dynamics simulations.
Another major advantage of using CNT based filters over conventional membrane filters is the fact that they can be cleaned repeatedly after each filtration process thus regaining their full filtering efficiency. Because of their high thermal stability, CNT filters can be operated at temperatures of ˜400° C., which are several times higher than the highest operating temperatures of the conventional polymer membrane filters (˜52° C.) (Srivastava et al., Carbon nanotube filters, Nature Materials Letters, 3, 612, 2004).
Adsorption exploits the affinities of a molecule to CNT. Previous studies have investigated the CO2 adsorption in single-walled (Cinke et al., CO2 adsorption in single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), Chemical Physics Letters, 376 (2003) 761-766) and multi-walled CNTs (Su et al., Capture of CO2 from flue gas via multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), Science of the Total Environment 407 (2009) 3017-3023).
Cinke et al. investigated the CO2 adsorption on HiPCo (high pressure CO disproportionation process) SWCNT in a temperature range of 0° C. to 200° C. SWCNTs adsorbed nearly twice the volume of CO2 compared to activated carbon. They performed experiments showing a CO2 heat of adsorption of 2303 J/mol (0.024 eV) in SWCNTs. They found that the adsorption is mainly a physisorption process1 and further confirmed through computations using second-order Möller-Plesset perturbation theory a similar binding energy showing that the CO2 is physisorbed side-on to the nanotube. Physisorption is due to van der Waals forces between adsorbent molecules and adsorbents, whereas chemisorption takes place due to chemical interactions between the adsorbent molecules and the surface functional groups of adsorbents.
Su et al. showed that the adsorption capacities of CO2 on CNTs and on modified CNTs via 3-aminopropyl-triethoxysilane (APTS) solution decreased with temperature indicating the exothermic nature of adsorption process and increased with water content in air at 0%-7%. They also confirmed that the mechanism of CO2 adsorption on CNTs and CNT(APTS) is a physisorption process. CNT(APTS) showed good adsorption performance of CO2 at 20° C. as compared to other carbon and silica adsorbents reported in the literature.
The present invention has as an objective the mitigation of at least one of the disadvantages of the gas filters discussed above.

Gas filter with chamber comprising carbon nanotubes for filtering CO2


The apparatus includes at least two skin-contacting elements, the elements having narrow end faces and a mounting assembly for holding the elements closely adjacent to each other. A driving assembly reciprocally moves one element relative to the adjacent element(s) at a frequency that produces an action on the pores of the skin to loosen sebaceous plugs present in the pores, by permitting their ready removal from the skin.

Common acne, known more specifically as acne vulgaris, is generally regarded to be the most treated skin condition in the United States. Prompt and appropriate treatment of acne, particularly in its early stages, is important for both resolving the early stage condition and preventing more severe acne conditions, which have possible permanent effects, including the possibility of severe scarring. While acne can occur in men and women of all ages, it typically occurs in adolescents and young adults.
The earliest evidence of acne is the formation of a sebaceous plug. The sebaceous plug, which is formed in the individual skin pores (follicles), is typically not visible to the unassisted eye, but can be seen under a microscope or other optical lens device. It is formed when a combination of corneocytes and sebum, which are both natural components of the skin, block the pore opening, and specific colonies of bacteria within the skin pore then expand in numbers. The plug of cells and sebum may adhere to the wall of the skin pore, leading to material aggregation in the pore, and subsequent widening of the pole. This situation may in turn result in the further accumulation of sebum and other cellular material, and the eventual possible rupture of the follicular wall, followed by an inflammatory response and the subsequent formation of inflamed papules and inflamed pustules, typically referred to as pimples.
Existing systemic treatments of acne include oral antibiotics, retinoids and hormonal treatments. Each of these treatments, while effective to various extents, has its own significant side effects and disadvantages. For instance, oral antibiotic treatment reduces the number of bacteria in the skin poles, but does not decrease the rate of sebum secretions or the actual number of the sebaceous plugs formed. Disadvantages of the various treatments include various undesirable skin reactions, including skin dryness, fluid loss and possible hair loss. Typically, all such treatments irritate the skin to some extent.

Apparatus and method for acoustic/mechanical treatment of early stage acne


A method of adding information to a displayed electronic image includes receiving a search request based on information from the displayed electronic image, locating at least one information responsive to the search request, and receiving identification of a selected information of the at least one information. The method also includes receiving selection of a position on the displayed electronic image at which the selected information is to be added and adding the selected information at the position on the displayed electronic image.

1. Technical Field
This patent application relates generally to image processing using an in-built repository of medical codes and, more particularly, but not by way of limitations, to an image-processing application with an in-built repository of medical codes that may be used to assist in lookup of appropriate international classification of diseases (ICD) and common procedure terminology (CPT) codes and assignment of the codes to scanned medical-record images.
2. History of Related Art
In today's medical-records processing environment, medical charts providing a diagnosis of and procedures performed on a patient are frequently provided by medical professionals to outside vendors in a scanned-image format (e.g., TIFF). The scanned images are typically routed to a medical-records coding team that is responsible for assigning ICD and CPT codes to the medical records. In a typical medical-record coding procedure, one software application is used for viewing the images, while another software application is used to add codes to an electronic image file. The codes are oftentimes determined via lookup in a book or manual.
In some cases, new specialty codes are not known to personnel entering the medical codes until some time after the new specialty codes become available due to delays in publication of books or manuals from which the codes are looked up. In addition, errors in code entry occur due to typographical mistakes when code-entry personnel mistype a code to be included on the medical record. In light of the above, improvements in systems and methods for determining, assigning, and adding medical-record codes to scanned-image medical records are needed.

System and method for image processing with assignment of medical codes


A vital signs monitor includes an equipment housing defining an equipment compartment, a circuit assembly and a battery residing inside the equipment compartment, an electrical connector forming a connection between the battery assembly and the circuit assembly, and a battery discharge circuit. A retainer joined to the equipment housing retains the battery assembly in the housing. The retainer is separable from the housing so that its separation causes a break in the electrical connection and activates the discharge circuit.

Wearable monitors for monitoring the vital signs of a subject, such as a hospital patient, may be designed for use by a single patient for a limited time, for example for about five days. An on-board battery may be provided to supply electrical energy to the electrical components of the monitor. However environmental regulations may prohibit the disposal of batteries as hospital waste. As a result, when the time arrives to dispose of the monitor it is necessary to first remove the battery from the monitor. Moreover it may also be necessary to discharge the battery.
The vital signs monitor described herein includes a removable battery and is adapted to discharge the battery at the time of removal. The monitor includes an ON/OFF switch, a battery, a circuit assembly, and a battery discharge circuit. The monitor is adapted to not discharge the battery in response to an interruption of electrical communication between the battery and the circuit assembly by way of the switch and to discharge the battery in response to interruption of the electrical communication between the battery and the circuit assembly by an action other than use of the switch.

Vital signs monitor with a removable and dischargable battery


The present invention is directed to the use of gel material in a golf ball. In one aspect of the invention discrete gel particles form an integral structural and functional role in the hard-cover, mantle or core elements of a golf ball to provide an additional ways of varying the playability properties of a golf ball. In one embodiment the invention is directed to a golf ball comprising a mantle dispersed with discrete voids filled with gel to provide a heterogeneous mixture of at least one gel material and at least one non-gel material. In another embodiment of the invention 10 parts of ground down silica gel material, 50 parts Iotek.RTM. 1002, 50 parts Iotek.RTM. 1003, and 0.025 parts UM Blue to provide a composite mantle. In this embodiment the degree of measured compression (and good guide to deformability and initial spin rate when struck by a golf club) is increased with a commitment decrease in Shore C/D hardness. In another aspect of the invention discrete elastomeric particles form an integral structural and functional role in the hard-cover, mantle or core elements of a golf ball.

This invention relates to a golf ball composition and, more particularly, to a golf ball using a matrix composite comprising a polymer and discrete particles of gel to vary the playability of a golf ball.
As described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,779,561 golf balls traditionally have been categorized in three different groups, namely as one-piece balls, multi-piece (two or more piece) solid balls and wound balls. Conventional multi-piece solid golf balls include a uniform or multi-layer solid resilient core having a cover of a different type of material molded thereon. Wound golf balls traditionally have included a liquid or solid center, elastomeric winding around the center, and a molded cover. Solid cores often are made of polybutadiene and the molded covers generally are made of natural balata, synthetic balata, ionomeric resins, crosslinked polyurethane, or thermoplastic polyurethane. A great deal of research continues in order to develop golf balls exhibiting the desired combination of carrying distance, durability (e.g. cut and abrasion resistance, and fatigue endurance), and spin.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,150,906 describes a golf ball comprising a hollow, spherical shell of a deformable polymeric material that is filled with either a liquid or a unitary, non-cellular core of a material having a central non-wound core, an inner and an outer layer. The core material may be added through a hole in the shell as a liquid, a gel or a melt.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,397,840 describes a golf ball cover comprising a non-ionic/ionic copolymer blend. A golf ball with the ionic/ionic copolymer blend exhibits no loss in coefficient of restitution (C.O.R.), and has equal resistance to cutting and cracking when compared to top grade golf ball covers made with one of the conventional 100% ionic copolymer blends.
A coated golf ball comprising a golf ball body and a paint layer is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,789,486. The paint layer is comprised of a dispersion of internally-crosslinked polymer gel fine particles. The coated golf ball is claimed to have excellent coating characteristics including less sagging of the paint coat at the dimple edge, and maintenance of original flying characteristics.
A golf ball having a reduced spin rate is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,827,133. In one embodiment of the invention, the golf ball is constructed with a fluid core either of a liquid or gelatinous substance. Such a construction is believed to render the golf ball less responsive to any initial spin imparted to the outer cover of the golf ball.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,820,489 describes a low spin golf ball comprising a core that further comprises a diene polymer having a Riehle compression of at least 0.075; and a cover having a Shore D hardness of at least 65. U.S. Pat. No. 5,580,057 also describes a low spin golf ball comprising a soft core and a hard cover to produce a resulting molded golf ball having a reduced spin rate.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,779,561 describes a multi-layer golf ball with a central core, an inner cover layer containing a non-ionomeric polyolefin material and a filler, and an outer cover layer comprising a resin composition. While the inner cover layer contains a non-ionomeric material, the outer cover layer may include an ionomer. The golf ball can be configured to have playability properties comparable to those of golf balls that contain higher quantities of ionomer. The core may be wound or non-wound, and include liquid, gel or solid cores.
Iononomeric resins are polymers containing interchain ionic bonding. Examples of ionomeric resins used for the construction of golf ball covers include those sold by E. I. DuPont de Nemours & Company, Wilmington, Del. ("DuPont") under the registered trademark "Surlyn" and by Exxon Corporation, Irving, Tex. (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,779,561 and 4,911,451; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,779,561 and 4,911,451 are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety) under the registered trademarks "Escor" and the trade name "lotek." Ionomeric resins have become the materials of choice for the construction of golf ball covers over the traditional balata (trans-polyisoprene, natural or synthetic) rubbers. The softer balata covers, although exhibiting good playability properties, lack the durability required for repetitive play.
While there are numerous commercial grades of ionomers available, the properties vary according to the type and amount of metal cations, molecular weight, composition of the base resin (i.e., relative content of ethylene and methacrylic and/or acrylic acid groups) and additive ingredients such as reinforcement agents, etc. Consequently there is a need for a composite structure wherein the playability properties are varied according to a set of parameters separate from and in addition to the molecular properties of the non-gel material (e.g. an ionomeric polymer.) More particularly there is a need for a composite material comprising of a non-gel material dispersed with discrete particles of gel to provide at least one continuous phase and at least one discontinuous phase. Such a composite structure will enjoy playability properties that additionally vary in accordance with the type of gel particles dispersed in the non-gel material.
A gelatinous elastomer composition is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,633,286: that patent is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. The gelatinous elastomer composition is physically interlocked with an open cell sponge thereby displacing the air space within the sponge. Gel rigidity is found to be greater than the sum of the combined rigidity of the gelatinous elastomer composition and sponge alone. The gelatinous elastomer composite exhibited high elongation and tensile strength and excellent shape retention after extreme deformation under high-velocity impact and stress conditions.
While the prior art teaches various golf ball compositions, none of the prior art teaches a golf ball with a mantle, hard-cover layer or core comprising of discrete voids filled with a gel in order to alter the playability of the golf ball. In addition, none of the prior art teaches a non-wound golf ball with a solid core dispersed with discrete voids filled with a gel. More particularly, none of the prior art teaches a non-wound golf ball comprising a solid core comprising of discrete voids filled with gel and with good control and spin off the club similar to a more expensive wound golf ball.


A method for integrating low-K materials in semiconductor fabrication. The process begins by providing a semiconductor structure having a dielectric layer thereover, wherein the dielectric layer comprising an organic low-K material. The dielectric layer is patterned to form pillar openings. A pillar layer is deposited over the semiconductor structure; thereby filling the pillar openings with the pillar layer. The pillar layer is planarized to form pillars embedded in said dielectric layer. The pillar layer comprises a material having good thermal stability, good structural strength, and good bondability of spin coating back-end materials, improving the manufacturability of organic, low-K dielectrics in semiconductor fabrication. In one embodiment, the pillars are formed prior to forming dual damascene interlayer contacts. In another embodiment, pillars are formed simultaneously with interlayer contacts.

1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to fabrication of a semiconductor device and more particularly to a method for forming a low-K dielectric layers with improved thermal stability and structural strength by forming pillars, comprising material with good thermal stability and structural strength within the low-K dielectric layer.
2) Description of the Prior Art
Integrated circuits continue to increase in complexity each year. As applications develop for memories, microprocessors, and minicomputers there is an increasing demand for greater microminiaturization. The shrinking design rule for ULSI circuits has led to increased interconnection delay caused by parasitic capacitance of interconnection wiring. One way to reduce the interconnection delay is to reduce the dielectric constant of the dielectric layer between the device layer and the interconnect layer, or the interlayer dielectric (ILD). A great deal of work has been aimed at developing organic polymers for use as interlayer dielectrics because their dielectric constants (K) are generally lower than those of inorganic materials. However, poor chemical stability, thermal stability and structural (mechanical) strength have hindered the widespread use of organic polymers as interlayer dielectrics in microelectronic fabrication.
The importance of overcoming the various deficiencies noted above is evidenced by the extensive technological development directed to the subject, as documented by the relevant patent and technical literature. The closest and apparently more relevant technical developments in the patent literature can be gleaned by considering the following patents.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,602,423 (Jain) shows damascene conductors with embedded pillars to prevent erosion during chemical-mechanical polishing.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,827,776 (Bandyopadhyay et al.) shows a multilevel interconnect structure using staggered interconnects to reduce electric field coupling between interconnect lines.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,110,712 (Kessler et al.) shows a metal interconnect in a polymer, low-K dielectric layer.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,744,394 (Iguchi et al.) shows a dual damascene process for forming interconnections.
However, none of these patents disclose or suggest combining a polymer, low-K dielectric layer with pillars comprising material with superior thermal stability and structural strength to overcome the processing limitations associated with using polymer, low-K dielectric layers.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for forming an organic, low-K dielectric layer having improved thermal stability.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for forming an organic, low-K dielectric layer having improved structural strength.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for forming an organic, low-K dielectric layer having improved bondability of spin coating back-end materials.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for forming an organic low-K dielectric layer with improved thermal stability, structural strength, and spin coating back-end material bondability by embedding pillars in the organic, low-K dielectric layer comprising a material with good thermal stability, structural strength, and bondability.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a producible and economical method for forming an organic, low-K dielectric layer in a semiconductor fabrication process.
To accomplish the above objectives, the present invention provides a method for integrating low-K materials in semiconductor fabrication. The process begins by providing a semiconductor structure having a dielectric layer thereover, wherein the dielectric layer comprising an organic low-K material. The dielectric layer is patterned to form pillar openings. A pillar layer is deposited over the semiconductor structure; thereby filling the pillar openings with the pillar layer. The pillar layer is planarized to form pillars embedded in said dielectric layer. The pillar layer comprises a material having good thermal stability, good structural strength, and good bondability of spin coating back-end materials, improving the manufacturability of organic, low-K dielectrics in semiconductor fabrication. In one embodiment, the pillars are formed prior to forming dual damascene interlayer contacts. In another embodiment, pillars are formed simultaneously with interlayer contacts.
The present invention provides considerable improvement over the prior art. Embedded pillars provide the thermal stability and structural strength necessary to make the use of organic, low-K dielectric layers practical, without reducing the dielectric properties of the organic, low-K dielectric layer. Also, the embedded pillars can provide good bondability of spin coating back-end materials.
The present invention achieves these benefits in the context of known process technology. However, a further understanding of the nature and advantages of the present invention may be realized by reference to the latter portions of the specification and attached drawings.

Method for integrating low-K materials in semiconductor fabrication

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company


The present invention in one embodiment is a vacuum pump including a compressible elastomeric member with an internal reservoir enclosing a volume of fluid, an outlet port providing fluid communication between the internal reservoir and a fluid sink, and an inlet port providing fluid communication between the internal reservoir and a fluid source. The pump further includes first and second pressure elements coupled to the elastomeric member on opposing sides. At least one of the first and second pressure elements is adapted to apply a longitudinal force along, and a rotational force about, an axis extending through the compressible elastomeric member. Upon the application of a longitudinal compression force to the compressible elastomeric member, fluid flows from the internal reservoir to the fluid sink and upon the application of a longitudinal expansion force, fluid flows from the fluid source to the internal reservoir. Upon the application of a rotational force, the elastomeric member exerts a counter-rotational force.

An ongoing challenge in the development of prosthetic limbs is the attachment of the prosthetic limb to the residual limb of a user. For prosthetic legs, it is often difficult to securely attach the prosthetic leg to the residual leg without exerting too much or uneven pressure on the residual limb. On the one hand, the lack of a secure attachment can adversely affect the user's ability to walk. On the other hand, an improper fit can cause sores, swelling and pain for the user.
One approach for overcoming this challenge has been the application of a negative pressure vacuum in a space between the limb (or a liner donned on the limb) and a socket or receptacle coupled to the prosthetic limb (see FIG. 1 generally). Two conventional ways to apply such a vacuum are by a mechanical pump or an electronic pump.
Mechanical pumps are often in-line systems that utilize the movement of the user to generate the negative pressure vacuum in the socket. For example, the force generated by contacting the ground during a user's walking motion can be used to generate a vacuum in the socket space to hold the prosthesis to the user's limb. However, in utilizing the motion of the user, such pumps should not inhibit, and should ideally aid in, as natural and pain-free of a movement as possible for the user.


The invention is directed to pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridine derivatives and their use as AXL and c-MET kinase inhibitors.

The present invention is directed to compounds that have activity as inhibitors of protein kinases. Protein kinases participate in the signaling events that control the activation, growth, and differentiation of cells in response to extracellular mediators and to changes in the environment. Inappropriately high protein kinase activity has been implicated, directly or indirectly, in many diseases. For example, high protein kinase activity can result in the failure of control mechanisms for the kinase, those related to, e.g., mutation, over-expression or inappropriate activation of the enzyme; or by over- or underproduction of cytokines or growth factors upstream or downstream of the kinase. In all of these instances, selective inhibition of the action of the kinase would be expected to have a beneficial effect.
Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK) are generally activated by ligands that promote receptor dimerization and, in turn, autophosphorylation of tyrosine residues within the cytosolic domain. The binding of signaling proteins to these phosphorylated tyrosine residues leads to further downstream signaling. AXL family RTKs are unique in that they are activated by GAS6, a member of the vitamin K-dependent protein family that resembles blood coagulation factors rather than typical growth factors. The receptor tyrosine kinase AXL (also known as Ufo and Tyrol) belongs to a family of tyrosine receptors that includes Tyro3 (Sky) and Mer (Tyro12). Human AXL is a 2,682-bp open reading frame capable of directing the synthesis of an 894-amino acid polypeptide. Important cellular functions of GAS6/AXL include cell adhesion, migration, phagocytosis, and inhibition of apoptosis. GAS6 and AXL family receptors are highly regulated in a tissue and disease specific manner.
AXL is characterized by a unique molecular structure, in that the intracellular region has the typical structure of a receptor tyrosine kinase and the extracellular domain contains fibronectin III and Ig motifs similar to cadherin-type adhesion molecules. During development, AXL is expressed in various organs, including the brain, suggesting that this RTK is involved in mesenchymal and neural development. In the adult, AXL expression is low but returns to high expression levels in a variety of tumors. GAS6 is, so far, the single, activating ligand for AXL.
The oncogenic potential of AXL was first discovered in chronic myelogenous leukemia, but it has been demonstrated to play a role in the progression and metastasis of other cancer types. The increased expression of AXL and/or AXL ligand, Gash, has been shown in a number of human malignancies, including ovarian, melanoma, renal cell carcinoma, uterine leiomyoma, uterine endometrial cancer, thyroid carcinoma, gastric cancer, breast cancer, NSCLC, CML, AML, colorectal carcinoma, prostate cancer, various lymphomas, and esophageal cancer. The biochemical effects of increased expression of AXL are associated with increased oncogenic transformation, cell survival, proliferation, migration, angiogenesis, and cellular adhesion. Target validation studies of in vivo cancer models show that inhibition of Axl expression by RNAi blocked tumor growth in those models (see, e.g., Li, Y. et al. Oncogene 2009, 28:3442-3455).
In addition to the association with cancer and tumorigenesis, RTKs are implicated in a number of other cell and physiological functions. These include regulation of vascular smooth muscle homeostasis, platelet function, thrombus stabilization, innate immunity, and inflammation.
cMET kinase is also a receptor tyrosine kinase. HGF (hepatocyte growth factor, also known as scatter factor), the ligand for cMET, is secreted by cells of mesodermal origin whereas cMET is predominantly expressed on cells of epithelial/endothelial origin resulting in paracrine epithelial-mesenchymal cell signaling. Binding of HGF to the extracellular region of cMET activates the intracellular cMET tyrosine kinase activity.
cMET is believed to be involved in protein phosphorylation events that regulate cell proliferation, apoptosis, motility, and dissociation of cell-cell interactions, morphogenesis, angiogenesis, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Misregulation of cMET can lead to unregulated cell proliferation and survival. cMET is thought to be a key regulator of invasive growth, cancer tumorgenesis, and progression to metastasis. cMET gene amplification, alteration, mutation, and protein over expression or activation of cMET through autocrine or paracrine mechanisms have been detected in a wide variety of carcinomas. For example, in human gastric cancer tissue, cMET has been found to be over-expressed and amplified. In human glioblastomas and carcinomas of lung, thyroid and breast, cMET has been found to be activated as a result of increased HGF levels and autocrine signaling. In human lung cancer tissue, cMET signaling has been found to be upregulated as a mechanism of drug resistance. Activating mutations in cMET, although not as common, have been reported in sporadic and hereditary papillary renal carcinomas, head and neck squamous carcinomas as well as gastric and lung cancers. Furthermore, increased expression, the most common cMET alteration found in a wide variety of human tumors (including but not limited to renal, ovarian, hepatocellular, non-small cell lung, bone, liver metastasis of colon, oral squamous cell, esophageal, gastric, pancreatic, and prostatic cancers) correlates with poor prognosis
In summary, the AXL and cMET proteins appear to have a key role in a number of human disorders, including cancer. Thus, these proteins are an attractive and valuable target for the discovery and development of new therapeutic agents to treat cancer and other conditions. There is a need for the design of specific and selective inhibitors for the treatment of disorders mediated and/or associated with AXL and cMET.

Pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridine derivatives and methods of their use