“A liquid crystal display of the present invention comprises a first substrate, a second substrate and a liquid crystal layer injected there between. The first substrate has first base plate, a gate line formed on the first base plate, a data line formed over the gate line, a switching element electrically connected to the gate line and the data line, a pixel electrode electrically connected to the switching element, an element dividing LC domains formed on the pixel electrode, first alignment layer formed on the domain dividing element. The second substrate comprises second base plate, a common electrode formed on the second base plate, a first protrusion and a second protrusion formed on the common electrode. The first protrusion and the second protrusion have different heights. A second alignment layer is formed on the protrusions.”

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a flat panel display and a method of manufacturing the flat panel display. More particularly, the present invention relates to a flat panel display that is effective in high contrast ratio characteristics.
2. Description of the Related Art
A liquid crystal display (LCD) realizes various images by virtue of the optical and dielectric anisotropy of the liquid crystal material. In LCDs, the quality of images depends on directions where it is viewed from.
To overcome the problem that image quality of LCD depends on the viewing direction, a vertically aligned (VA) LCD is strongly recommended these days.
In a VA LCD, liquid crystal molecules, which are between an upper substrate and a lower substrate, are aligned vertically against the surface of the substrates when electric field is not applied. When electric field is applied between the two substrates, the molecules of the liquid crystal (LC) rotate to the direction parallel with the surface of the two substrates.
To reduce the direction dependency of the images and to improve the quality of the image in VA LCD, a multi-domain technology is used. The multi-domain technology is to control the direction of molecules of the LC independently from one domain to another. Openings in electrodes or protrusions on electrodes are used to form multi-domains in VA LCDs. Some LCDs use one of the protrusions and the openings. Some LCDs use both of them.
The protrusions used to form multi-domains are made in the following process.
First, a photosensitive material is coated on a substrate. The photosensitive layer is exposed to an appropriate light through a mask that has a certain pattern.
The photosensitive layer is developed to form the above pattern.
The pattern of photosensitive layer becomes protrusions that form multi-domains.
In this case, the LC molecules on the protrusion is not aligned vertically but inclined to one side.
VA LCD is usually normally black mode which shows black state when electric field is not applied. In order to achieve a normally black mode, the LC molecule should align vertically when electric field is not applied. If some of the LC molecules are not aligned vertically, light will leak in the black state. This degrades the display quality.

Liquid crystal display having dual pattern protrusions formed on an electrode


A method of testing a material sample for defects, comprising the steps of applying a test signal to the material sample, receiving a return signal from the material sample and analysing the return signal to determine whether the material sample is defective. In one aspect of the present invention the steps of receiving a return signal and analysing it include the step of selecting a frequency range to reduce the effect of potentially interfering signals. In another aspect of the present invention a reference signal obtained from a non-defective sample is subtracted from the return signal to give a difference result and the difference result is indicative of whether the material sample is defective. Apparatus for carrying out the above-defined methods are also provided.

Non-destructive testing (NDT) may be used to test composite materials, such as aeroplane panels, for mechanical defects. Defects can be caused by stress on materials or mechanical damage from the impact of objects on panels or defective manufacture.
The ability to test these materials in situ is very important. Regular testing is obviously required for safety, particularly in the aeroplane industry, and it is impractical to disassemble aircraft or parts of aircraft to carry out testing.
One preferred method of NDT is to utilise a probe to excite the test material or structure with radiation (generally, but not exclusively, acoustic and near acoustic frequencies are used for NDT) and detect a response. The response can be indicative of whether the test sample is faulty or not "defected". Usually the response is compared with a response from similar excited radiation of a reference material or structure, which will usually be an undefected composite of the same type as the test material, but may also be a composite having reference defects.
Determination of whether there is a defect in the test material usually involves merely the comparison of the output waveform provided by the detection electronics with the response signal waveform of the reference material (which may in some cases, for example, be an undefected area of the same aircraft—where it is an aircraft panel which is being tested).
Acoustic or Ultrasound frequencies used to excite the materials are typically in the range of 5 to 70 kHz.
One of the most popular known NDT systems utilises the pitch/catch impulse test. A typical pitch/catch probe comprises 2 spring-loaded (or otherwise resiliently mounted) contact tips set approximately 10 mm apart which are held in contact with the test sample. These are equipped with 2 actuators, one of which generates a mechanical vibration within the above frequency range and the other of which detects the response. The drive signal is generally a short wave train, up to 6 cycles of sinusoidal impulse (or similar). The detector measures the response of the test sample at its contact point. The propagation of the disturbance from the driver to the detector is influenced by the nature of the intervening structure and in particular, by any damage or anomaly in this region. It is therefore (in theory) possible to obtain information concerning mechanical defects in a non-destructive manner. With composite materials in particular defects may also include failure of adhesion i.e. a disbond or delamination. NDT is used to detect any defect, including disbonds and delaminations and other damages of the material itself or of rivets and joints etc.
To initially calibrate the apparatus and select drive frequency, the drive frequency is chosen so as to optimise the difference in received signal between a faulty sample and an undefected sample. The frequency is usually selected to provide the maximum output from the detector electronics.
It has been found that the performance of presently available NDT systems of this type is not good. Often it is difficult to determine with accuracy whether a defect exists or not in a test sample. Further, the present systems comprise complex and expensive hardware. They also require a relatively high level of skill to be able to operate them and interpret the results.
It would be desirable to be able to provide a method and apparatus which provides a more reliable detection of defects in test samples than in the prior art, which generally improves and simplifies the analysis of the NDT data, and in which the NDT apparatus is relatively simple and inexpensive.

Method and apparatus for carrying out non-destructive testing of materials

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation


A first damming wall and a second damming wall are provided in a frame region. The first damming wall surrounds a display region formed from a first organic material and overlaps with a circumferential end part of an organic layer. The second damming wall includes a top part formed from a second organic material in the periphery of the first damming wall, and overlaps with an edge of the circumferential end part of the organic layer. The second damming wall includes a bottom part located closer to a base substrate, the bottom part being formed from a material constituting parts of switching elements.

In recent years, organic EL display devices, which use organic electroluminescence (EL) elements and are of the self-luminous type, have attracted attention as display devices that can replace liquid crystal display devices. For organic EL display devices, a seal structure has been proposed to inhibit the degradation of the organic EL elements due to the penetration of, for example, moisture and oxygen. The seal structure includes a sealing film covering the organic EL elements, and the sealing film includes a stack of an inorganic layer and an organic layer.
For example, as a material that can be applied to the organic layer of the sealing film, PTL 1 discloses an organic EL display element sealing agent which can be easily applied using an ink-jet method, and which has excellent curing properties as well as excellent transparency and excellent barrier properties in the cured product.


A shaft cutting tool incorporating a scissor assembly having a first arm, a second arm, and a hinge interconnecting the arms' proximal ends; a shaft mount attached to the first arm's distal end; and a cutting wheel assembly operatively mounted within a hollow bore formed at the second arm's distal end; wherein the cutting wheel assembly includes a drive axle and rotary bearing; and wherein the drive axle extends oppositely from the cutting wheel for engagement with a portable electric drill.

A commonly known method for cross cutting a steel shaft provides a rotary cutting tool or assembly which axially attaches a rotary drive shaft or drill chuck engaging shank to a rotary metal cutting blade or to a thin abrasive cutting wheel. Upon securely attaching such rotary cutting assembly to the bit chuck of a portable electric drill or driver tool, the interconnected drill and rotary cutting tool combination may be utilized in the manner of a handheld power saw for cross cutting the steel shaft. Drawbacks and deficiencies of such known tool assembly and cutting method include the production of ragged and non-perpendicular cuts, along with cutting difficulties arising during utilization of the tool within obstructed or structurally tight spaces surrounding a shaft which is to be cut. Where shaft cutting must occur within tight spaces or narrow confines, operation of such a drill and rotary blade combination may be restricted to a single handed grasp of the tool, making it difficult to effect a clean consistent cut.
The instant inventive shaft cutting tool solves or ameliorates problems, defects, and deficiencies noted above by providing and utilizing a specially configured scissor arm assembly whose arms' distal ends are specially adapted for securely engaging and holding a shaft to be cross cut and for arcuately guiding a rotating blade within a perpendicular plane and through the shaft. The tool of the instant invention effectively guides drill actuated rotary blade cutting of a steel shaft, for advantageously producing a clean perpendicular cut within a constrained work space.


A carrier for immobilization of microorganisms is prepared by impregnating a fabric such as cotton gauze having a mesh size of 10-50 with 20-50% by weight of a vinyl monomer such as ethlene glycol methacrylate and polymerizing the monomer with ionizing radiation to form a polymer coating on the fabric. A microorganism such as Trichoderma reesei is grown in a liquid culture medium in contact with the polymer-coated fabric and the polymer-coated fabric is recovered containing growing cells of the microorganism. The polymer-coated fabric has high air permeability and permits good diffusion of liquid culture medium.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an immobilized microorganism and a process for preparing the same. More particularly, the invention relates to a growing microorganism immobilized on a carrier made of a polymer-reinforced fabric having a network structure, and a process for preparing the same. The present invention is applicable to many fields such as the food industry, the pharmaceutical industry and medical care.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Fungi, bacteria, Actinomycetes and other microorganisms are extensively used in the food and pharmaceutical industries and in medical care, and the importance of these "bio" industries is constantly increasing. Conventionally, microorganisms used in these fields are treated in a batch system wherein the microorganisms are dispersed in a liquid culture medium. One major disadvantage with this batch system is its low utilization of the microorganism of interest because of the need to recover the end product from the microorganism in each batch culture. In order to solve this problem, considerable effort is being made forwards "immobilizing" a microorganism in a carrier such as a polymer gel by either binding or encapsulation techniques, so that the microorganism can be used in continuous cultivation. However, the conventional technique of using a polymer gel as a carrier is not applicable to aerobic microorganisms since their growth is appreciably limited by the inadequacy of air permeation into the carrier and insufficient diffusion of the liquid culture medium. Therefore, it has long been desired to develop a carrier which has high air permeability and permits good diffusion of a liquid culture medium and which is hence suitable for use in continuous cultivation of aerobic microorganisms.

Immobilization of growing microorganisms on polymer-coated cotton gauze


Compositions that inhibit the binding of Plasmodium falciparum to erythrocytes include a family of erythrocyte binding proteins (EBPs). The EBPs are paralogues of the P. falciparum binding protein EBA-175. The present invention includes peptides of the paralogues that prevent the binding of P. falciparum. Antibodies specific for each paralogue that also prevent the binding of P. falciparum are also included. Methods of the invention utilize the paralogues, antibodies thereof and peptide compositions for the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of P. falciparum diseases such as malaria, as well as methods for the detection of P. falciparum in biological samples and culture media.

Although endemic malaria has disappeared from the United States, malaria continues to be one of the most important infectious diseases in the world as it kills millions of people each year in countries throughout Africa, Asia and Latin America. The characteristic presentation of malaria is chills followed by a fever ranging from 104-107° F., followed by profuse sweating. Other manifestations of malaria include anemia, decreased blood flow to vital organs, thrombocytopenia, and glomerulonephritis. Additionally, when the central nervous system is involved, symptoms include delirium, convulsions, paralysis, coma, and even rapid death.
Malarial diseases in humans are caused by four species of the Plasmodium parasite: Plasmodium falciparum (Pf), Plasmodium vivax (Pm), Plasmodium ovali (Po), and Plasmodium malariae (Pm). Each of these species is transmitted to the human via a female Anopheles mosquito that transmits Plasmodium parasites, or sporozoites. Once the sporozoites enter the bloodstream of the human, they localize in liver cells, or hepatocytes. One to two weeks later, the infected hepatocytes rupture and release mature parasites, or merozoites. The merozoites then begin the erythrocytic phase of malaria by attaching to and invading red blood cells, or erythrocytes.
The invasion of the erythrocytes by the malarial parasites is the direct cause of malarial pathogenesis and pathology. The fever, anemia, circulatory changes, and immunopathologic phenomena characteristic of malaria are largely the result of red cell rupture and the host's immune response to parasitized erythrocytes. For these reasons, the erythrocytic stage of the Plasmodium life cycle is of vital importance to vaccine development and treatment of malaria.
There are a number of strategies for developing new or novel therapeutics for the erythrocytic stage of malaria. One strategy is to identify parasitic molecules that are critical to the survival of the parasite. Extracellular merozoites released from infected hepatocytes or from infected erythrocytes must invade other erythrocytes within minutes if they are to survive. Invasion by the malaria parasite is dependent upon the binding of parasite proteins to receptors on the erythrocyte surface (Hadley et al., 1986).
Interestingly, different parasite species use different erythrocytic receptors for invasion of erythrocytes. P. falciparum invades erythrocytes through a 175 kDa erythrocyte binding protein called EBA-175. The gene encoding EBA-175 of Pf has been cloned and sequenced (Sim et al., 1990; Fang et al., 1991). EBA-175 functions as an erythrocyte invasion ligand that binds to its receptor, glycophorin A, on erythrocytes during invasion (Camus and Hadley, 1985; Sim et al., 1990; Orlandi et al., 1992; Sim et al., 1994b). In contrast, the human P. vivax and the simian P. knowlesi invade erythrocytes by binding Duffy blood group antigens present on some erythrocytes (Miller et al., 1975). The genes encoding the Duffy antigen binding proteins of P. vivax and P. knowlesi have been cloned and sequenced (Fang et al., 1991 and Adams et al., 1990, respectively).
Sequencing of the genes encoding the proteins used by P. vivax and P. knowlesi for erythrocyte invasion demonstrated that these proteins are members of the same gene family as the genes that encode the EBA-175, the protein used by P. falciparum for erythrocyte invasion (Adams et al., 1992). Homology between the Duffy binding proteins and EBA-175 is restricted to 5′ and 3′ cysteine rich domains. Within these cysteine rich domains, the cysteines and some aromatic residues are conserved, but the intervening amino acid sequences differ. Sim et al. (1994b) demonstrated that the 5′ cysteine rich domain of EBA-175 of P. falciparum contains the receptor binding domain, while Chitnis and Miller (1994) demonstrated that the 5′ cysteine rich region of P. vivax and P. knowlesi contain the Duffy binding domain. See FIG. 1.
What is needed for erythrocytic malaria vaccine development is the identification and targeting of parasite molecules involved in the process of erythrocyte invasion. Blockade of this ligand-receptor-mediated event can inhibit parasite development in vitro.
Invasion of erythrocytes by malaria parasites results from merozoite ligands interacting with erythrocyte receptors. Within Plasmodium a family of merozoite ligands (orthologues) that are erythrocyte-binding proteins (EBPs) has been identified. In the most severe human malaria, Plasmodium falciparum, the EBP is identified as the erythrocyte binding protein-175 (or EBA-175), and in P. vivax, the second most prevalent human malaria and the simian malaria P. knowlesi, the EBPs are termed the Duffy antigen binding proteins (PvDABP or PkDABP, respectively). Analysis of the deduced amino sequence of these orthologous proteins (EBA-175, PvDABP and PkDABP) lead to the classification of seven distinct domains encoding regions of greater or lesser similarity (Adams et al. 1992). Within the molecular family, two regions show significant levels of conservation, these are identified as region II (RII), which encodes for the ligand-binding domain and region VI (RVI), which has as yet an unknown function. EBA-175 RII binds sialic acid residues in conjunction with the peptide backbone of glycophorin A. PvDABP and PkDABP RII bind the Duffy blood group antigens, which are chemokine receptors (Horuk et al. 1993). PvDABP and PkDABP have a single cysteine rich domain (termed F1) while EBA-175 RII contains essentially a duplicate of F1, termed F1 and F2. Both RII and RVI domains contain cysteine rich motifs. One function of RII and RVI is apparently to provide for a conserved tertiary structure, critical for the ligand-receptor interaction that leads to erythrocyte invasion. Erythrocytic invasion by P. vivax merozoites appears dependent on the Duffy blood group antigens while in vitro studies have shown that P. falciparum may use alternative invasive pathways (Narum et al. 2000, Dolan et al. 1994).

Anti-plasmodium compositions and methods of use

The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services


In a hearing aid and a method for processing microphone signals in a hearing aid, a signal processing unit is provided in order to amplify and/or attenuate signal parts of at least two microphone signals in a directionally dependent manner. The hearing aid has a signal analysis unit that is capable of modifying at least one property of the direction-dependent amplification and/or attenuation thereby achieving high transmission quality and noise suppression in a multitude of auditory situations.

The invention is directed to a hearing aid of the type having a microphone unit with at least two microphones for generating at least two microphone signals, and a signal processing unit supplied with the microphone signals which generates an output signal therefrom, wherein signal components of the microphone signals are amplified and/or attenuated in a directionally dependent manner, and a reproduction unit connected to the signal processing unit from which the output signal is emitted. The invention is provided for use in all types of hearing aids, however, the invention is especially suited for highly developed hearing aids that, for example, have digital signaling processing components.
European Application 802699 discloses a method for electronically increasing of the spacing between two acousto-electrical transducers as well as the application of this method in a hearing aid. The phase shift between the signals registered by the acousto-electrical transducers is thereby first identified. Subsequently, at least one of the signals is supplied to a phase shifter.
A hearing aid of the above general type is disclosed in German Patentschrift 43 27 901. Here, a signal processing unit serves the purpose of achieving a predetermined directional characteristic on the basis of a suitable mixing of signals of a plurality of microphones. The properties of this directional effect, however, are permanently prescribed. Signal components from lateral signal sources are always attenuated and signal parts from signal sources arranged in front of or behind the hearing aid user are amplified.
Given this hearing aid, therefore, little flexibility is established in the case of changing auditory situations. Noises from signal sources behind the hearing aid user are not attenuated. The attenuation mechanism, which also necessarily deteriorates the wanted sound reproduction, is constantly active. The reproduction quality of the hearing aid is therefore not optimum when no unwanted noise attenuation is required in an auditory situation.
An object of the invention, accordingly, is to avoid the aforementioned problems and offer a hearing aid as well as a method for processing microphone signals in a hearing aid having high transmission quality and noise suppression in numerous auditory situations.
The above object is achieved in a hearing aid, and in a method for processing signals in a hearing aid, of the type of initially described, wherein a signal analysis unit is employed for undertaking a directional analysis of the microphone signals, and wherein the signal processing unit of the microphone signals, and wherein the signal processing unit modifies at least one property of the directionally dependent amplification and/or attenuation dependent on the directional analysis made by the signal analysis unit.
The invention proceeds on the basis of the idea of varying the properties of an existing directionally dependent amplification/attenuation according to the result of an additional signal analysis. Thus, an especially good adaptation of the inventive hearing aid to different auditory situations can be realized. For example, the direction of a noise source can be taken into consideration in the directionally dependent amplification/attenuation in order to offer good noise elimination. When no noteworthy unwanted sound is present, in contrast, the noise attenuation can be switched off in order to minimize distortions.
The modification of a property of the directionally dependent amplification/attenuation assumes a directional dependency of the amplification/attenuation that exists without this modification.
In preferred embodiments of the invention, the intensities of signal parts of the microphone signals in a number of predetermined direction classes (angular ranges) are defined in the direction analysis. As a result, the approximate direction of the principal component of a noise source can be identified. Alternatively, the direction of one or more signal sources can be determined more precisely.
An adaptive LMS filter can be employed for the signal analysis, signal distortions, in particular, being estimated therewith by whole multiples of a sampling cycle. The coefficients of the LMS filter determined by the adaption event can influence the result of the direction analysis or (completely) define it or even represent this result themselves.
Dependent on the result of the signal analysis, different signal processing steps can be implemented in preferred embodiments. For example, the directional characteristic of a directional microphone (a virtual directional microphone formed by superimposition of the microphone signals) can be suitably modified. Such a modification can, in particular, be an alignment of the directional microphone pole. Alternatively or additionally, a suitable noise elimination method can be selected.
Weighting signals, that determine the weighting factors with which the results of different filter, noise elimination and/or directional methods enter into the output signal, are preferably generated in the evaluation of the signal analysis.
The microphones for generating the microphone signals in preferred embodiments are arranged at a relatively slight distance of at most 5 cm or at most 2.5 cm or approximately 1.6 cm from one another, whereby the connecting line between the microphones can extend at an angle of at most 45xc2x0 or at most 30xc2x0 relative to the line of sight of the hearing aid user or can lie approximately in this line of sight. In particular, a common housing can be provided for both microphones.

Hearing aid and method for processing microphone signals in a hearing aid


Antireflective compositions characterized by the presence of an Si-containing polymer having pendant chromophore moieties are useful antireflective coating/hardmask compositions in lithographic processes. These compositions provide outstanding optical, mechanical and etch selectivity properties while being applicable using spin-on application techniques. The compositions are especially useful in lithographic processes used to configure underlying material layers on a substrate, especially metal or semiconductor layers.

In the microelectronics industry as well as in other industries involving construction of microscopic structures (e.g., micromachines, magnetoresistive heads, etc.), there is a continued desire to reduce the size of structural features. For example, in the microelectronics industry, the desire is to reduce the size of microelectronic devices and/or to provide greater amount of circuitry for a given chip size.
Effective lithographic techniques are essential for achieving reduction of feature sizes. Lithography impacts the manufacture of microscopic structures, not only in terms of directly imaging patterns on the desired substrate, but also in terms of making masks typically used in such imaging. Typical lithographic processes involve formation of a patterned resist layer by patternwise exposing a radiation-sensitive resist to an imaging radiation. The image is subsequently developed by contacting the exposed resist layer with a material (typically an aqueous alkaline developer) to selectively remove portions of the resist layer to reveal the desired pattern. The pattern is subsequently transferred to an underlying material by etching the material in openings of the patterned resist layer. After the transfer is complete, the remaining resist layer is removed.
For some lithographic imaging processes, the resist used does not provide sufficient resistance to subsequent etching steps to enable effective transfer of the desired pattern to a layer underlying the resist. In many instances (e.g., where an ultrathin resist layer is desired, where the underlying material to be etched is thick, where a substantial etching depth is required, and/or where it is desired to use certain etchants for a given underlying material), a so-called hardmask layer is used intermediate between the resist layer and the underlying material to be patterned by transfer from the patterned resist. The hardmask layer receives the pattern from the patterned resist layer and should be able to withstand the etching processes needed to transfer the pattern to the underlying material.
Also, where the underlying material layer is excessively reflective of the imaging radiation used to pattern the resist layer, a thin antireflective coating is typically applied between the underlying layer and the resist layer. In some instances, the antireflection and hardmask functions may be served by the same material.
Furthermore, device fabrication has migrated to 90 nm node and smaller for next generation chips. The resist thickness has to be thinner than 300 nm due to image collapsing problems, low focus latitude from high NA tool, and high OD of resist formulation in 193 and 157 nm lithography. Conventional thin resist films are not sufficient for etching processes. Therefore, there is a need to address this etch issue by adopting a bilayer silicon resist or a silicon ARC/hardmask approach. The spin-on hardmask provides a better solution than a CVD hardmask, due to the capability of planarization on top of different topography and ease of stripping. It is advantageous to use a ARC/hardmask system because the same single layer resist can be used, without the need of developing a new resist system containing silicon. Thinner resists can also be used in this ARC/hardmask approach to enhance the process latitudes observed in a typical silicon resist type bilayer approach.
While many hardmask and antireflective coating materials exist in the prior art, there is a continued desire for improved compositions. Many of the prior art materials are difficult to apply to the substrate, e.g., they may require the use of chemical or physical vapor deposition, and/or a high temperature baking process may be used in forming the same. It would be desirable to have antireflective coating/hardmask compositions that could be applied by spin-on coating techniques, without need for a high temperature bake.
Additionally, it is desirable to have hardmask compositions which can be easily etched selective to the overlying photoresist while being resistant to the etch process needed to pattern the underlying layer.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,420,088 and co-pending and co-assigned U.S. application Ser. No. 10/124,087, filed Apr. 16, 2002, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, describe a polymer system containing Si—O components in silsesquioxane polymers. The Si—O polymer has etch characteristics similar to silicon dioxide.
Despite the description of Si—O polymers, there is a need for providing new and improved polymer compositions that can be used in photolithography which have etch characteristics that are similar to Si.

Silicon-containing compositions for spin-on arc/hardmask materials

International Business Machines Corporation


Exemplary embodiments include methods, systems, and storage mediums for expanding the functionality of a database application via a computer system. The method includes importing an application development system for expanding the functionality of a database application into a database created using the database application. The database includes records arranged in a predetermined manner. The method also includes presenting prompts to a user to facilitate selection of records from the database, modification, and arrangement of the records, and creating a customized form or report based upon responses to the prompts. The customized form or report includes records from the database that have been selected, modified, and arranged according to the responses.

The present invention relates generally to data processing applications, and more particularly, to methods, systems, and storage mediums for expanding the functionality of database applications.
Existing database applications enable users to create databases, as well as forms and reports that utilize the data in these databases. The types of forms and reports desired by a database application user vary significantly from business to business in accordance with the nature of the business and its individual needs. Many users find that these applications provide limited functionality in that they were designed to handle broad-based functions that are common to most enterprises. If a business requires additional functionality, it tends to hire outside developers to build customized database systems. This option can be prohibitively expensive for smaller businesses.
What is needed, therefore, is a way to provide database application users with the expanded functionality desired to design and utilize customized forms and reporting features.

Methods, systems, and storage mediums for expanding the functionality of database applications


A glass ceramic composition includes a SrZrO3 ceramic, a Li2O—MgO—ZnO—B2O3—SiO2-based glass, Mg2SiO4 in an amount of about 5 to 40 weight percent, and a SrTiO3 ceramic in an amount in the range of about 0 to about 6 weight percent of the total. The Li2O—MgO—ZnO—B2O3—SiO2-based glass accounts for about 1 to about 12 weight percent of the total.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a glass ceramic composition, a glass ceramic sintered body produced by firing the glass ceramic composition, and a monolithic ceramic electronic component including glass ceramic layers produced by firing the glass ceramic composition. In particular, the present invention relates to an improvement for increasing the Q value of a glass ceramic sintered body.
2. Description of the Related Art
An example of a glass ceramic composition of the related art is a ceramic composition described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 5-217426. Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 5-217426 discloses a non-reducing dielectric glass ceramic composition in which a Li2O—RO—B2O3—SiO2-based glass (wherein R is at least one type of element selected from Ba, Ca, and Sr) is added to a (Ca, Sr) (Zr, Ti)O3—MnO—SiO2 ceramic used as a main component.
The glass ceramic composition can be fired at a temperature of about 1,000° C. or lower. As a result of the firing, a glass ceramic sintered body having a high relative dielectric constant, a characteristic that the dielectric constant is stable with respect to temperature, and a high Q value can be obtained. Accordingly, when the glass ceramic composition described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 5-217426 is used, a metal having a high electrical conductivity, e.g., gold, silver, or copper, can be used in conductor patterns formed inside the glass ceramic sintered body, and thus, a loss due to the resistance of the conductor can be reduced in a radio-frequency range. Therefore, for example, when the glass ceramic composition is used as a monolithic ceramic electronic component defining a resonator, a filter, a capacitor, or other electronic component, excellent radio-frequency characteristics can be achieved.
However, although the glass ceramic composition described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 5-217426 has excellent characteristics as described above, there is room for further improvement. In particular, a Q value, Qf, of about 5,000 GHz is the limit according to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 5-217426.

Glass ceramic composition, glass ceramic sintered body, and monolithic ceramic electronic component


Mixes for forming high alumina refractory shapes with high resistance to aluminum penetration comprising at least about 60% by weight aluminum oxide, about 1 to 5% by weight boron phosphate, and about 5 to 15% by weight silicon carbide. A phosphorous-containing binder is added and the mix can be formed into brick which when cured or burned to a temperature below the oxidation temperature of silicon carbide can be used to minimize aluminum penetration and dross when the brick are employed in a metallurgical vessel in contact with molten aluminum.

The present invention relates to high alumina refractory shapes that are used primarily in contact with molten aluminum and which have high resistance to aluminum penetration and buildup of dross.
Refractory shapes, such as brick, are commonly utilized in furnaces and other metallurgical vessels in which molten aluminum is being handled or processed. One of the major problems with such refractory shapes, is a vulnerability to penetration therethrough of the aluminum and reaction therewith as well as dross buildup on the brick. Such penetration and buildup combine to shorten service life for the refractories employed as well as to increase the need for mechanical cleaning of the refractory particularly to remove the dross buildup. Further, because of the buildup a reduced capacity of the metallurgical vessel can result.
Efforts to overcome these problems and to increase the service life of the refractories have not been entirely successful due either to the fact that there is still undesirable aluminum penetration or adhesion to the brick and in some instances the additives used to improve penetration resistance result in undesirable lowering of the hot strength of the shape or brick or adversely affect the processing characteristics making it difficult to make satisfactory shapes.
A generally satisfactory product is that set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,190,899 in which a boron phosphate is utilized to increase the penetration resistance without any loss of hot strength or negative effects during processing to form the shape. Such product is a large improvement over the utilization of other materials such as the use of zinc borosilicate frit as set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,088,502 or the use of barium sulfate in the case of U.S. Pat. No. 4,126,474. As noted in U.S. Pat. No. 5,190,899 the addition of zinc borosilicate frit presents problems of severe sticking to the press used to form the brick and the use of barium sulfate lowers hot strengths.
With respect to the shapes set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,190,899, there remains an undesired degree of penetration and dross buildup during service.


Provided are processes for production of hydrogen to be used in various industrial processes, including in processes for production of ammonia and urea. Included are polygeneration processes that result in ultra-low emissions.

Hydrogen is used in a number of industrial processes. For instance, hydrogen is used for: production of ammonia and subsequently urea, urea and ammonium nitrate, nitric acids, and diesel exhaust fluids; various Fischer-Tropsch processes; production of mixed alcohols; production of aldehyde alcohols; production of ethanol; and production of methanol and subsequently ethanol, methyl tert-butyl ether, acetic acid, olefins, synthetic diesel, gasoline, gasoline additives (e.g. M100, M85), and dimethyl ether.
One of the most common uses of hydrogen is in industrial process for production of ammonia and urea. Nitrogen is an important nutrient for supporting development and growth of plant life. Urea and ammonia are two common nitrogen containing compounds that are widely used in the fertilizer industry, as well as being used as basic chemicals in the production of a variety of different chemical compounds.
Ammonia is a precursor to many nitrogen containing compounds, including urea, and therefore is an important chemical to the fertilizer industry. Because of its many uses, ammonia is one of the most highly produced inorganic compounds, typically enjoying worldwide production in excess of 100 million tons. Of the ammonia produced, approximately 80% or more of the ammonia is utilized for the fertilization of agricultural crops.
Urea (or carbamide) is an organic compound having the chemical formula NH2CONH2. More than 90% of the world production of urea is for use in fertilizers as urea has the highest nitrogen content of all commonly used solid nitrogenous fertilizers. Due to the wide use of urea in fertilizers as a convenient source of nitrogen, urea production is important. Additionally, urea is an important feedstock for the manufacturing of plastics, resins, glues, and pharmaceuticals, and is also important as a feed product for ruminant animals.
Generally, industrial plants producing urea and urea based fertilizers suffer from high feedstock costs, excessive energy requirements, and high emissions. Thus, a need exists for the development of new methods for the production of hydrogen used to make urea and nitrogen based fertilizers which reduce costs and emissions. Similar needs exist for hydrogen production for other industrial processes, including various Fischer-Tropsch processes; processes for production of mixed alcohols; processes for production of aldehyde alcohols; processes for production of ethanol; and processes for production of methanol and subsequently ethanol, methyl tert-butyl ether, acetic acid, olefins, synthetic diesel, gasoline, gasoline additives (e.g. M100, M85), and dimethyl ether

Polygeneration production of hydrogen for use in various industrial processes


A ring oscillator (and test circuit incorporating the ring oscillator and test method therefor) includes an odd number of elements interconnected in a serially-connected infinite loop, each oscillator element having an associated programmable delay feature. The circuit can be used to measure effects of Negative Bias Temperature Instability (NBTI) in p-channel MOSFETs (PFETs).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a test device and method for measuring the true effects of negative bias temperature instability (NBTI) of PFETs (p-channel field effect transistors).
2. Description of the Related Art
High performance PFETs (p-channel field effect transistors) with p+ polysilicon doped gates have been found to exhibit an instability after voltage/temperature aging. This phenomenon is known as xe2x80x9cnegative bias temperature instabilityxe2x80x9d (NBTI). The instability occurs under negative gate voltage and is measured as an increase in the magnitude of threshold voltage of the device. Higher stress temperatures produce more degradation. The mechanism is known to cause reliability performance degradation for the PFET because of this change in threshold voltage.
Several physical models have been proposed in the literature. Basically, an electro-chemical reaction presumably occurs in the gate oxide, due to sensitivity of p+ gates to moisture trapping. The result is a net positive charge in the gate oxide, causing a bias effect that affects threshold voltage.
The degradation caused is exponential with oxide electric field. This problem is getting much worse with each generation of CMOS scaling in which oxide thickness is aggressively scaled down but voltage scaling does not keep pace with the oxide thickness scaling. The mechanism, therefore, becomes a major technology reliability scaling problem.
A relaxation of the degradation has been observed when the DC stress is turned xe2x80x9cOFFxe2x80x9d following an xe2x80x9cONxe2x80x9d stress. Relaxation is a phenomenon known to occur in charge trapping mechanisms.
A stress bias configuration of the PFET 10 is shown in FIG. 1, where a positive voltage 16 is applied to the diffusions 13,14 and the N-well 12 while the gate 15 of the PFET is at ground potential. This stress bias configuration can alternatively be replaced by the configuration shown in FIG. 2 where a negative voltage 21 is applied to the gate while all other terminals of the FET are at ground.
FIG. 3 shows the effect of stress on the drain-to-source current versus gate voltage characteristic 30 of the FET 10. The bias temperature aging under the configuration of FIG. 1 produces an increase 31 in the absolute value of the threshold voltage (Îxe2x80x3Vth), which in turn causes a decrease in the drain-to-source current (Id) for a given gate-to-source voltage (Vg). Again, this PFET device instability is usually referred to as a negative bias temperature instability (NBTI) since it requires the applications of a negative gate voltage for the mechanism to be active. The change in threshold voltage and the corresponding decrease in device current could cause signal delay or performance degradation in operating circuits utilizing such devices.
There are numerous publications dealing with the characteristics, behavior and physics of the NBTI mechanism. From this literature, it is found that the magnitude of change in threshold voltage after stress for a time duration t under gate voltage of V and temperature T is given by:
xe2x80x83|xcex94Vth|=A e(xe2x88x92xcex94H/KT)e(xe2x88x92xcex3Tox/V)tnxe2x80x83xe2x80x83(Equation 1),
where |Îxe2x80x3Vth| is the magnitude of final threshold voltage value after stress minus its initial value before stress; A, Î3, and n are constants (positive values) that are dependent upon the particular technology in question; Îxe2x80x3H is referred to as the activation energy; Tox is the oxide thickness, and K is Boltzmann""s constant.
FIG. 4 shows a typical behavior of |Îxe2x80x3Vth| with a straight line relationship (slope=n) versus time on a logxe2x80x94log scale, as predicted by equation (1). The behavior of the NBTI mechanism described in the literature is the DC stress mode where the stress conditions of FIG. 1 are applied. This DC stress mode of FIG. 1 will be referred to as the xe2x80x9cONxe2x80x9d stress condition, and the behavior of |Îxe2x80x3Vth| in this case is given by equation (1).
The increase in the absolute value of the threshold voltage due to the NBTI mechanism is a serious technology reliability problem because it leads to performance degradation and subsequent failure of semiconductor integrated chips. Because this mechanism depends on oxide thickness, as shown in the above equation 1, the degradation caused by the NBTI becomes worse as the oxide thickness is reduced (i.e., as CMOS technology scaling continues and as the drive for better performance intensifies). An important aspect of dealing with this problem is the ability to determine the actual impact of this mechanism on the reliable performance of integrated chips where devices are mostly subjected to pulsed voltage conditions rather than DC conditions.
This is illustrated in FIG. 5, which shows a simple CMOS inverter 50 where the input voltage changes from ground potential to a value of V with a period of Ïxe2x80x3, and the output voltage is the complement of the input. Excluding transient conditions, the PFET of this CMOS inverter is subjected to two stress configurations. The first configuration is when the output voltage is equal to V, i.e., the gate of the PFET is at ground, and this condition is what has been referred to as the xe2x80x9cONxe2x80x9d stress condition.
The second configuration, as shown in FIG. 6, is referred to as the xe2x80x9cOFFxe2x80x9d stress condition, i.e., when the gate 15 of the PFET 10 is at voltage V, one diffusion is also at voltage V while the other diffusion is at ground. But, as mentioned above, the behavior of the NBTI mechanism is represented by equation (1) as a DC xe2x80x9cONxe2x80x9d stress.
More realistic to the actual operation of the CMOS inverter, the more realistic question is that of asking what happens to the device under conditions of an xe2x80x9cONxe2x80x9d stress, followed by an xe2x80x9cOFFxe2x80x9d stress. FIG. 7A (Case 1) shows the behavior of |Îxe2x80x3Vth| versus time when the PFET is subjected to an xe2x80x9cONxe2x80x9d stress (A) for a duration of 20 seconds, followed by an xe2x80x9cOFFxe2x80x9d stress (B) for a duration of 1200 seconds with measurements of |Îxe2x80x3Vth| (readouts) at 10 sec, 20 sec, 60 sec., 180 sec., and 1200 sec. (all measured from the start of the xe2x80x9cOFFxe2x80x9d stress), and then followed by another xe2x80x9cONxe2x80x9d stress (Axe2x80x2) for a duration of 20 seconds. The magnitude of the stress voltage was 4.2 V, and the stress temperature was 140Âxc2x0 C.
Even though the magnitude of the threshold voltage shift (C) was small under these conditions, it is noticeable that the xe2x80x9cOFFxe2x80x9d stress following the xe2x80x9cONxe2x80x9d stress caused |Îxe2x80x3Vth| to decrease measurably. Thus, there is some relaxation effect due to the xe2x80x9cOFFxe2x80x9d stress following the xe2x80x9cONxe2x80x9d stress.
In FIG. 7B, the behavior of Case 1 shown in FIG. 7A was replotted. This time the effective time (A, Axe2x80x2) under xe2x80x9cONxe2x80x9d stress condition is indicated on the X-axis of the plot (meaning that all time intervals for xe2x80x9cOFFxe2x80x9d stress were not included on the X-axis). The Y-axis for |Îxe2x80x3Vth| of FIG. 7B includes the relaxation effect of the xe2x80x9cOFFxe2x80x9d stress. It is clear that the behavior of the PFET under pulsed voltage conditions, i.e., repeated combinations of xe2x80x9cOFFxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cONxe2x80x9d stressing, would be more complicated than the DC model under xe2x80x9cONxe2x80x9d stress, and thus it would be extremely difficult to theoretically predict the actual effect of the NBTI mechanism on the performance of CMOS integrated circuits, and to determine the effect of technology scaling and the effect of different processing conditions.
Thus, a system needs to be developed to determine the impact of the NBTI reliability mechanism on the performance of CMOS integrated circuits, under any conditions of cycle time (Ïxe2x80x3), which is the sum of the intervals for the xe2x80x9cONxe2x80x9d plus xe2x80x9cOFFxe2x80x9d stresses (Ïxe2x80x3=1/f, where f is the frequency or performance), duty factor (DF), which is xe2x80x9cONxe2x80x9d time relative to cycle time, and technology processing. Prior to the present invention, no such system has been known.
FIG. 8 illustrates the use of appliquxc3xa9s to realize a flow disturbance structure
The present invention solves the above stated problem by introducing a test circuit and method which can be used to measure the impact of NBTI reliability failure mechanism on the performance of CMOS products. As will be explained in more detail below, the present inventors have found that under a series of xe2x80x9cONxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cOFFxe2x80x9d stresses, the degradation behavior for the mechanism deviates from that predicted by the DC model. From both the underlying physics and actual bench stressing testing, it has been found by applying an AC-like stressing that a deviation occurs from the DC results. The deviation depends on frequency and duty factor of the AC stress test.
This invention provides a technology for determining the true and realistic effects of the NBTI mechanism. It is also vital to provide a technology to determine the actual effect and extent of degradation on functional circuits. The test system disclosed as part of this invention also accomplishes this second result. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a structure and method for accurately measuring the effects of the NBTI mechanism on CMOS.
It is another object of the present invention to teach a method of investigating the true effects of the NBTI mechanism using DC stress and AC stress testing techniques, either alone or in combination.
It is another object of the present invention to teach a test circuit and method of investigating the NBTI mechanism by providing the capability to systematically investigate a change in test parameters, including among others, cycle time, duty factor, voltage, temperature, and stress time.
It is another object of the present invention to teach a method of determining circuit reliability by including measurement of NBTI effects.
It is another object of the present invention to teach a method of in-line reliability testing of manufactured hardware in which disposition criteria are set up to include NBTI measurements.
The back side 26 further comprises a flow disturbance structure 34 that imparts a rippling effect to water that flows over the back side 26. The flow disturbance structure 34 is a series of substantially parallel grooves 36 of rectangular cross-section that are separated by a series of substantially parallel lands 38. The flow disturbance structure 34 is created by removing material from whatever material is used for the substrate 12 to create the grooves 36 and thereby create the lands 38. If a different rippling effect is desired, grooves with a different spacing, depth and/or profile (e.g., saw tooth) than the grooves 36 can be created. Further, grooves that are not parallel to one another can also be used to create a different rippling effect. It should also be appreciated that flow disturbance structures other than the flow disturbance structure 34 are possible. For instance, a flow disturbance structure of hemispherical blisters, pyramids, xe2x80x9cmoonsxe2x80x9d etc. or combinations there are possible. Further, it should also be appreciated that comparable flow disturbance structures can be realized by applying material to whatever material is used to create the substrate. For example, FIG. 8 illustrates the same flow disturbance structure 34 as shown in FIG. 4 but with the grooves 36 and lands 38 realized by the adherence of appliquxc3xa9s 92 to the substrate 12.
It is another object of the present invention to teach a method of measuring NBTI effects by correlation of a ring oscillator frequency with a shift in threshold voltage of a PFET.
It is another object of the present invention to teach a ring oscillator having an odd number of circuit elements, each having a programmable delay.
It is another object of the present invention to teach a ring oscillator having a variable duty cycle.
It is another object of the present invention to teach a ring oscillator having an odd number of circuit elements, each element being a non-inverting buffer stage.
It is another object of the present invention to teach a ring oscillator having a feature that oscillation can be started using an input control signal.
It is another object of the present invention to teach a ring oscillator with elements having a programmable delay and the programmable delay controlled by a binary word input.
It is another object of the present invention to teach an NBTI test method in which a single PFET is targeted by having a single one of the targeted PFETs incorporated in each stage of a ring oscillator.
It is another object of the present invention to teach a method of determining the magnitude and behavior of the degradation due to the NBTI mechanism under any desired AC conditions of voltage, duty factor, and frequency of any intended circuit applications.
It is another object of the present invention to teach a method that permits a determination of the difference between the degradation due to the NBTI mechanism under DC and AC conditions.
It is another object of the present invention to teach a method to determine the effect of the degradation due to the NBTI mechanism on technology scaling under actual AC operating conditions and from which an optimum and realistic path for technology scaling could be arrived at.
It is another object of the present invention to teach a procedure and methodology according to which a reliability in-line manufacturing control system is achieved to protect manufactured goods from any undesired degradation due to the NBTI mechanism.
To achieve the above goals and objectives, as a first aspect of the present invention, described herein is a ring oscillator including an odd number of elements interconnected in a serially-connected infinite loop, each element having an associated programmable delay feature.
As a second aspect of the present invention, described herein is a test circuit to measure a Negative Bias Temperature Instability (NBTI) effect for PFETs (p-channel MOSFET) by stressing a target PFET component with at least one stress condition, the target PFET component being integrated as a component into the test circuit, the target PFET component having a source, a drain, and a gate, the test circuit including a ring oscillator having an odd number of oscillator elements interconnected serially in an infinite loop, wherein at least one the target PFET component is integrated into the ring oscillator and a test output providing a point to measure at least one parameter of the ring oscillator.
As a third aspect of the present invention, described herein is a method of testing a PFET (p-channel field effect transistor) by incorporating a target PFET into a ring oscillator having an odd number of elements, performing at least one stress test on the PFET, and measuring at least one characteristic of at least one of the PFET and the ring oscillator.

System and method for measuring circuit performance degradation due to PFET negative bias temperature instability (NBTI)

International Business Machines Corporation


Without RTP receiver 106 receiving a BYE packet, end time determiner 111 takes into consideration packet loss information from packet loss monitor 110 and the situation regarding RTP packet reception from RTP receiver 106, and determines media transmission from the server is completed, and instructs control command transmitter-receiver 109 to stop the media, provided that the situation where there has been no packet loss and no RTP packet has been received. Moreover, where RTP receiver 106 does not receive data, the end of media is not determined if a packet loss has occurred in a lower layer.

There is a technique typically referred to as SMIL (Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language). This technique has been standardized by W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) as a technique for describing spatial and temporal layout by combining contents that contain text, static images, video, and sound. The SMIL description language differs from the Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) in that time information is included in the content. Incidentally, the HTML description language is the most popular language for use on the Internet.
Now a method will be explained here whereby a client plays back content that is on a server and made in the SMIL description language, via a network.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating content distribution using SMIL. In this figure, client 201 accesses server 203 over network 200, acquires an SMIL file in which content is described, and interprets the acquired SMIL file. Next, the media described in the SMIL file, such as text, static images, video, and sound, is acquired from server 202 and server 204. Then, based on the time information described in the SMIL file, each media (text, static images, video, and music) plays back at appropriate time. Incidentally, the SMIL file, the sound and video, and the text and static image, that in this figure are stored in respective servers 202, 203, and 204, can be stored in one server.
Now, the transmission method for the SMIL file and for each media will be explained.
The communication protocol typically used to transmit media files including SMIL files, static image files, and text files from servers 202, 203, and 204 to client 201 is referred to as TCP (Transmission Control Protocol). This TCP is a reliable protocol as HTML and is widely used on the Internet. In contrast, the communication protocol frequently used to transmit temporally continuous data such as sound data and video data is RTP (Real-time Transport Protocol) and UDP (User Datagram Protocol). As for the lower protocol to transmit TCP or RTP/UDP, the IP (Internet Protocol) protocol is common.
The above TCP, RTP, UDP, and IP protocols are all standardized by the IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force) and spread widely on the Internet.
Next, a content description method for SMIL files will be briefly explained.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing sample sentences described in SMIL. In this figure, the numbers on the left end (1, 2, . . . ) are the line numbers provided for clarification, and on the right end are explanatory sentences. These numbers and explanatory sentences are not described in the actual SMIL file.
The text surrounded by the number 1 and the number 15 is the SMIL document, and the contents thereof consists of a header portion shown between the number 2 and the number 8 and the body text shown between the number 9 and the number 14. In the header portion, layout information is described, which does not relate to time information. In the body text, time information is described, which relates to the actual media data and playback. The description shown by the number 11 is a control sentence for displaying video. In addition, the description shown by the number 12 is a control sentence for displaying static images. These are surrounded by <par>'s shown by the numbers 10 and 13. The parts surrounded by these <par>'s indicate that they play back at the same time. The present example indicates that the video and the static image play back at the same time. The location of media is described by "src." In addition, specification as to the playback time of media is described by "begin," "end," "dur," and such. In this case, "begin" specifies the media start time, "end" specifies the media end time, and "dur" specifies the media playback time.
In addition, the description shown by the number 11 indicates that the video data specified by "src" will be displayed for 3 to 20 seconds in the region shown as "a." The description shown by the number 12 indicates that the static image data specified by "src" will be displayed for 10 seconds in the region shown as "b." The playback start and end are specified by absolute time as in the descriptions shown by the numbers 11 and 12; however, they can be specified by means of sequence, as shown in below Examples (1) and (2).

Packet reception apparatus and packet reception method

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A hydrometallurgical process for the recovery of precious metal values from refractory precious metal ore materials containing preg-robbing carbon by leaching with a thiosulfate lixiviant, the process comprising. a. providing a body of particles and/or particulates of an ore material having precious metal values and preg-robbing carbonaceous components; PA1 b. contacting the body of particles and/or particulates with a thiosulfate lixiviant solution at conditions conducive to the formation of stable precious metal thiosulfate complexes; PA1 c. recovering the thiosulfate lixiviant from the body of particles and/or particulates after a period of contact which is sufficient for the lixiviant solution to become pregnant with precious metal values extracted from the ore material; and PA1 d. recovering the precious metal values from the lixiviant solution.. In a preferred embodiment, the refractory ore materials are low grade precious metal ore materials.

The present invention relates to the hydrometallurgical recovery of precious metal values from refractory precious metal ores containing preg-robbing carbonaceous material.
Conventionally, precious metals have been extracted from ore materials by lixiviation or leaching with cyanide-containing solutions. It has been found however that some gold ores do not respond well to conventional lixiviation because of the presence of impurities that interfere with the leaching process. These ores are termed "refractory".
One common cause of the refractoriness of gold ores is organic carbonaceous matter that is associated with some deposits. This carbonaceous matter is believed to adsorb solubilized gold complexes from lixiviant solutions back into the ore. The adsorbed gold is not recovered, and remains with the ore material and is eventually carried off with the tailings, leading to poor gold recovery. This can be a very serious problem, as a small amount of carbonaceous matter can adsorb essentially all of the solubilized gold in an entire cyanide lixiviation circuit. This is sometimes referred to as poisoning the circuit. In other cases, the carbonaceous matter is believed to coat the gold, and thereby prevent the lixiviant solution from gaining access to it. In other words, carbon can "rob" precious metal values, and gold in particular, from the lixiviant solution that is "pregnant" therewith. This characteristic is referred to as "preg-robbing."
It is believed that the carbonaceous content that participates in preg-robbing comprises an activated carbon-type carbon material, long-chain hydrocarbons and organic acids, such as humic acid. See Sibrell, P. L. et al., Spectroscopic analysis of Passivation Reactions for Carbonaceous Matter from Carlin Trend Ores, GOLD 90 PROCESS MINERALOGY X, pp. 355-363 (1990). Adsorption of the gold lixiviant complex by carbonaceous material is very complicated, due to three major factors. First, the precise chemical and physical nature of the carbonaceous matter is difficult to define, and varies from one ore body to the next. Second, the mechanism by which the carbonaceous material adsorbs gold is still being investigated. Third, although it has been known for some time that preg-robbing carbonaceous material can be passivated, or treated so as not to adsorb gold, the mechanism by which this occurs is not fully understood.
Many procedures have been investigated in an effort to passivate or deactivate the preg-robbing potential of carbonaceous ores, but none have been entirely satisfactory when applied to low grade refractory ores. The procedures heretofore tried include roasting, kerosene pretreatment, flotation, aqueous chlorination, chemical oxidation and biological deactivation. The preferred approach for the recovery of previous metal values from preg-robbing carbonaceous ore materials has been to deactivate or remove the preg-robbing components in the ore material using one of the aforereferenced pretreatment techniques followed by lixiviation with cyanide-solution. Examples of such attempts can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,127,942 to Brierley et al. which describes the deactivation the preg-robbing carbonaceous component in refractory ores using a specific microbial consortium, followed by recovery of precious metal from the carbon-deactivated residue by cyanidation; U.S. Pat. No. 4,801,329 to Clough et al. which describes the use of a chemical oxidation pretreatment to enable a precious metal to be extracted from carbonaceous ores preferably by cyanidation. The deactivation of the preg-robbing carbonaceous components with chemical agents, such as taught by Clough, and with biological/biochemical agents, such as taught by Brierley, introduces additional expense and complexity to the processing of refractory ores materials.
Heretofore thiosulfate lixiviant has been suggested for recovering precious metals from difficult to treat ores. U.S. Pat. No. 4,654,078 to Perez et al. describes the use of copper-ammonium thiosulfate to recover precious metals from difficult-to-treat ores, especially those containing manganese and/or copper. The presence of copper and/or manganese contraindicates the use of cyanide solution leaching because such materials increase cyanide consumption. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,369,061 and 4,269,622 to Kerley describe lixiviating with an ammonium thiosulfate leach solution containing copper to recover precious metals from difficult-to-treat ores, particularly those containing copper, arsenic, antimony, selenium, tellurium and/or manganese, and most particularly those containing manganese. U.S. Pat. No. 4,070,182 to Genik-Sas-Berezlosky et al. describes the recovery of gold from copper-bearing sulfidic material containing gold using a secondary leach with ammonium thiosulfate.
Nothing in the prior art has suggested that excellent precious metal recovery yields could be achieved from preg-robbing carbonaceous ores material, including low grade materials, without a pretreatment step to deactivate or remove the preg-robbing components in the ore material by using thiosulfate lixiviation under controlled conditions.
Despite the growing world-wide interest in recovering precious metals from carbonaceous ores, and substantial work which has been done to develop a viable technology for doing so, a fully satisfactory process for metal recovery from most carbonaceous ore materials has yet to be provided.
Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide a process for recovering at least one precious metal from preg-robbing carbonaceous ore, without the necessity of first subjecting the preg-robbing carbonaceous ore to a pretreatment step to deactivate or remove the preg-robbing component of the ore.
A further object of the present invention is to permit the recovery of precious metals values from low grade precious metal refractory ore material, including material that has heretofore been considered waste.
Still further, the present invention has as a goal the recovery of precious metal values from refractory precious metal ore material, particularly such ore materials with low grade precious metal content, with improved economic and energy efficiency.

Hydrometallurgical process for the recovery of precious metal values from precious metal ores with thiosulfate lixiviant


A wafer loading apparatus capable of making a temperature distribution in a surface of a wafer more uniform is provided. The wafer loading apparatus includes a stage on which a wafer is loaded, and a heater installed in the stage to heat a wafer loaded on a loading surface of the stage. The stage includes a top plate providing the loading surface. The heater includes first heater coils disposed on a surface of the top plate opposite to the loading surface, electrode portions electrically connected to the first heater coils and arranged side by side along an outer peripheral portion of the top plate, and a second heater coil disposed outside the first heater coils. The second heater coil generates heat in such a way that a heat distribution in a circumferential direction is varied corresponding to the arrangement of the electrode portions.

Embodiments of the inventive concepts relate to a wafer loading apparatus including a heater and a film forming apparatus.
For example, an apparatus of forming a film on a semiconductor wafer (hereinafter, referred to as 'a wafer') may form a thin film on a surface of the wafer by a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method or an epitaxial growth method. The film forming apparatus has a wafer loading apparatus (susceptor) disposed in a chamber (thin forming chamber) which can be depressurized. The wafer loading apparatus includes a stage on which the wafer is loaded, and a heater which heats the wafer loaded on a loading surface of the stage. The stage and the heater may be integrally formed with each other as a single unitary body.
In the wafer loading apparatus, a plurality of heater coils (heating resistor) may be arranged concentrically or spirally in a diameter direction of the stage on a back side of the stage to uniformly heat the wafer. However, in a conventional wafer loading apparatus, heat may be radiated from an outer peripheral portion (side surface) of the stage, and thus a temperature of an outer peripheral portion of the wafer may be lower than that of an inner portion (central portion) of the wafer. In other words, a temperature distribution in the wafer may not be uniform.
Thus, a heater coil may be added to an outer peripheral portion of a stage, and the outer peripheral portion of the stage may be heated by the added heater coil to make the temperature distribution of a wafer uniform (see Japanese Patent Publication No. 2008-060245).

Wafer loading apparatus and film forming apparatus


A portable dispensing system for dispensing a solution of a fluid and a solid product includes a fluid line, a dispenser, and a cartridge. The fluid line includes a first and second fluid line ends and a fluid source connection at the first fluid line end. The dispenser is at the second fluid line end. The dispenser includes a body and a fluid outlet. The cartridge houses the solid product and includes a fluid inlet and a solution outlet. The cartridge is removably connected at the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet of the dispenser. The cartridge is configured to receive fluid from the fluid outlet of the dispenser such that fluid contacts the solid product housed in the cartridge and dissolves at least a portion of the solid product forming the solution. The cartridge is also configured to output the solution at the solution outlet.

A dispenser is utilized to create a solution for use in a particular application. A number of different types of facilities employ dispensers for everyday applications. For instance, the solution created by the dispenser can be used at these facilities as a cleaning or sanitizing agent, such as a multi-surface cleaner, a glass cleaner, or bleaching agent. A dispenser generally includes a collection of mechanical components. Such components can be used to pressurize and input water, store a liquid chemistry, mix the input water with the stored liquid chemistry to create the solution, and deliver the solution out from a holding reservoir.
However, such prior dispensers generally lack versatility and can be burdensome to use. For one, these prior dispensers are often designed to be fixed in place (e.g., on a wall) at a location and used to create a single type of solution from a liquid chemistry. This may necessitate that a number of dispensers be installed at a facility that uses multiple types of solutions. Even in cases where the chemistry within the dispenser can be changed out, the mechanisms for doing so can be complicated and hazardous. Moreover, many of these prior dispensers cannot be conveniently moved for use at another location. In addition, many of these prior dispensers require a user to provide measuring, or dosing, input in order to create an appropriate use solution. As a result, the dispenser may only be able to be used by those trained, or otherwise suited, for operating it.


An approach provides a satellite air interface to efficiently support communication with a terrestrial network. One or more packets associated with a data communication session are received from a terrestrial network configured to provide cellular communications. A frame representing the packet for transmission is generated over a satellite link to a user terminal. Signaling information for the transmission of the packet over the terrestrial network is modified or eliminated for transmission over the satellite link.

Terrestrial communication systems continue to provide higher and higher speed multimedia (e.g., voice, data, video, images, etc.) services to end-users. Such services (e.g., Third Generation (3G) services) can also accommodate differentiated quality of service (QoS) across various applications. To facilitate this, terrestrial architectures are moving towards an end-to-end all-Internet Protocol (IP) architecture that unifies all services, including voice, over the IP bearer. In parallel, mobile satellite systems are being designed to complement and/or co-exist with terrestrial coverage depending on spectrum sharing rules and operator choice. With the advances in processing power of desktop computers, the average user has grown accustomed to sophisticated applications (e.g., streaming video, radio broadcasts, video games, etc.), which place tremendous strain on network resources. The Web as well as other Internet services rely on protocols and networking architectures that offer great flexibility and robustness; however, such infrastructure may be inefficient in transporting Web traffic, which can result in large user response time, particularly if the traffic has to traverse an intermediary network with a relatively large latency (e.g., a satellite network). To promote greater adoption of data communication services, the telecommunication industry, from manufacturers to service providers, has agreed at great expense and effort to develop standards for communication protocols that underlie the various services and features.
Satellite systems possess unique design challenges over terrestrial systems. That is, mobile satellite systems have different attributes that make terrestrial designs either not applicable or inefficient for satellite systems. For example, satellite systems are characterized by long delays (as long as 260 ms one-way) between a user-terminal device and a base-station compared to the relatively shorter delays (e.g., millisecond or less) in terrestrial cellular systems—this implies that protocols on the satellite links have to be enhanced to minimize impact of long propagation delays. Additionally, satellite links typically have smaller link margins than terrestrial links for a given user-terminal power amplifier and antenna characteristics; this implies that higher spectral efficiency and power efficiency are needed in satellite links.
Some Exemplary Embodiments
Therefore, there is a need for an approach for providing efficient use of spectral resources of a satellite system when operating with terrestrial systems.
According to one embodiment of the invention, a method comprises receiving one or more packets associated with a data communication session from a terrestrial network configured to provide cellular communications. The method also comprises generating a frame representing the packet for transmission over a satellite link to a user terminal. Signaling information for the transmission of the packet over the terrestrial network is modified or eliminated for transmission over the satellite link.
According to another embodiment of the invention, an apparatus comprises a terrestrial interface configured to receive one or more packets associated with a data communication session from a terrestrial network configured to provide cellular communications. The apparatus also comprises a satellite interface configured to generate a frame representing the packet for transmission over a satellite link to a user terminal.
According to yet another embodiment of the invention, a method comprises receiving a plurality of frames from a satellite, wherein the frames represent a multimedia session transported over a terrestrial network configured to provide cellular communications. The method also comprises generating one or more packets by modifying or adding overhead information to information transported over the frames.
Still other aspects, features, and advantages of the invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description, simply by illustrating a number of particular embodiments and implementations, including the best mode contemplated for carrying out the invention. The invention is also capable of other and different embodiments, and its several details can be modified in various obvious respects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.

Method and system for providing a satellite interface to support mobile communication services


A method, data processing system, and computer program product for identifying abnormalities in data. A model representing a plurality of modes for an activity generated from training data is retrieved. The training data includes a first plurality of measurements of a first performance of the activity over a period of time. Each of the plurality of modes is identified as one of normal and abnormal. Activity data including a second plurality of measurements of a second performance of the activity is received. A portion of the activity data is compared with the plurality of modes in the model. A notification of an abnormality in the second performance of the activity is generated in response to an identification that the portion of the activity data matches a mode in the plurality of modes identified as abnormal. Confirmation of the abnormality is requested via a user interface.

1. Field
The disclosure relates generally to monitoring data and more specifically to identifying abnormalities in usage of resources. Still more particularly, the present disclosure relates to identifying abnormalities in the usage of resources from measurements of the usage of the resources.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conserving resources can be helpful in preserving resources and reducing costs associated with the resources. A monitoring system can monitor measurements from usages of the resource. For example, measurements of resources used over a period of time can be obtained. In other examples, images of the activity can be analyzed to monitor movement of objects within the image.
If the measurements fall outside of expected values for the use of the resources, the monitoring system may identify the usage of the resource as abnormal. If movements within the image do not comply with certain rules, the monitoring system may identify the usage of the resource as abnormal. The monitoring system may notify an administrator of the abnormality. The administrator may be able to remedy the use of the resource to correct the abnormality. Correction of the abnormality may help to preserve the resource and reduce costs associated with the resource.
However, the use of expected values for use of the resources may not cover all normal usages of the resource. Additionally, the expected values for use of the resources may include values that actually represent an abnormal usage of the resource under certain conditions. Accordingly, it would be advantageous to have a method and apparatus, which take into account one or more of the issues discussed above as well as possibly other issues.

Identifying abnormalities in resource usage


A method for directly illuminating a Coulter aperture so light scattering can be incorporated into the classical Coulter aperture and 3-diff blood analyzer to realize full functional hematology analyzer by providing a flow chamber which is separated into two portions by a plate having a Coulter aperture; and using a light source to directly coaxial illuminate the Coulter aperture wherein the illuminating beam propagates in the same direction as the axis of the Coulter aperture and the cell's moving direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to the field of medical screening and diagnostic hematology instruments which performs complete blood count (CBC), white blood cell 3 part differential and other blood parameter measurements for humans, or similar analysis for other cells, or similar analysis for animal blood, or similar analysis of material components that have requirements for its particle contents and size—such as food, beverage, cosmetics, pharmaceutical or petroleum with a need to test the purity of said substance. More particularly, the invention relates to the methods and instruments for differentiating and identifying subpopulations of leukocytes in a blood sample by using Coulter impedance and light scattering only, especially by using backscattering signals through the new innovative invention of direct coaxial illumination of the Coulter aperture.
2. Background of the Invention
Human blood consists of plasma (approximate 58%) and cellular elements (approximate 42%). The cellular elements include red blood cells (RBC, 4-5 millions per microliter), white blood cells (WBC, 5-9 thousands per microliter), and platelets (PLT, 200-400 thousands per microliter). The WBC primarily have 5 subpopulations: Neutrophils (phagocytosis and proteolysis), Basophils (Inflammation and allergic reactions), Eosinophils (Viral infection), Monocytes (Phagocytosis) Lymphocytes (Including B cells and T cells, function in humoral immunity).
The counting and sizing of RBCs, the counting of WBCs, and counting of platelets is referred to as a complete blood count (CBC). The separation of white blood cells into the five major subpopulations and their quantification on a percentage basis is referred to as a five-part differential (5-diff).
Before 1950 blood cell counts by manual counting used the hemocytometer. The era of automated cell counting was introduced by Wallace H. Coulter in the early 1950's. The Coulter Principle, the electronic method of counting and measuring the size of microscopic particles and named for its inventor Wallace H. Coulter, states that a particle pulled through an orifice (aperture), concurrent with an electrical current, will produce a change in impedance that is proportional to the size of the particle traversing the orifice. This impedance change creates an electric pulse and is commonly referred to as a DC (direct current) signal. The related U.S. Pat. No. 2,656,508 to Coulter was issued Oct. 20, 1953. Although more than half century has passed the Coulter principle and Coulter aperture continue to be used in all hematology blood analyzer today and the DC signal still is the indispensible signal among others. Today ninety-eight percent of CBCs are performed on instruments using the Coulter Principle.
Automated counting increased the sample size of the blood test 100 times more than the usual manual microscope method by counting in excess of 6000 cells per second. Additionally, it decreased the time it took to analyze from 30 minutes to fifteen seconds and reduced the error by a factor of approximately 10 times.
The Coulter Principle states that particle suspension in a weak electrolyte solution of two chambers, separating two electrodes, are connected by a small aperture. When the particles suspended in solution are drawn through the aperture, the particle displaces its volume of electrolyte and momentarily increasing the impedance of the aperture. The Coulter Principle used in impedance-based blood analyzer is schematically described in FIG. 1. The two Chambers, aperture bath 1 and aperture tube 2, are connected by only one path, the aperture 5. Suspended in saline solution 3, blood cell 4, one at a time, due to pressure difference of vacuum 9, passes through the aperture 5 and the impedance changes creates a pulse current 8 between two electrodes 6 and 7. The pulse (DC) is directly proportional to the volume of the cell that produces this pulse. Because Neutrophil, Basophil and Eosinophil have similar volume, by the impedance method, only three parts can be distinguished. Thus, three-part differential (3-diff) blood count can be obtained.
In order to obtain 5-diff, several techniques had emerged since the 90's. Light scattering, radio frequency and chemical dyeing were applied to hematology instruments to obtain five-part differential, and 5-diff hematology instruments available commercially since then. All these instruments are based the technology called flow cytometry.
The basic principle of the flow cytometry based on light scattering blood analyzer can be illustrated as FIG. 2. The two cones of flow cell 10 for the sheath flow 14, force sample flow 15 at the center of sheath flow to form hydrodynamic focusing. Two electrodes 12 and aperture current 13 create an impedance pulse when a cell passes through aperture 11. The laser source 16, through focusing lens 17 illuminates the aperture and creates the forward scattering (FLS) and axial light loss (ALL) detected by detector 19, and 90° side light scattering (SLS) (and fluorescence) detected by detector 18. Thus, when each cell passing the orifice, at least 3 signals can be detected, i.e. DC, FLS and SLS, if a radio frequency source is applied to the two electrodes 12, then another signal, called RF (radio frequency), will be available and RF is sensitive to cell internal contents.
RF is Wallace Coulter's another important invention and related U.S. Pat. No. 3,502,974 to Coulter was issued Mar. 24, 1970. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of flow cell. In the center of quartz rectangular prism 25, size about 4 mm×4 mm×8 mm, drill a through hole of diameter 50 μm, along its long axis 30. Two cones 22 were made by a special drilling grinding machine from opposite top surface 28 and bottom surface 29, aligned cone axis and roof to coincide with the 50 μm hole axis 30 until 50 μm orifice 23 about 70 μm long in the middle of the rectangular prism. Two cones 22 for the sheath flow 21 force the sample flow 24 in the center of orifice 23 to form a sample filament so that cell will passing through the orifice one at a time (hydrodynamic focusing). The focused laser beam 20 illuminates the cell in the sample flow. From FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 we can see that in the flow cytometry based instruments, the laser light beam propagates along the axis in the direction (horizontal in the FIGs) perpendicular to cell moving direction (vertical in the FIGs), which will be referred to as cross illumination in this paper to distinguish from the coaxial illumination presented in this invention, which will be described later.
All flow cytometry based light scattering hematology instruments in the world now are all using flow cell, hydrodynamic focusing and cross illumination. When a cell passes through an orifice and interacts with focused laser light, the light scattering signals are created and can be detected. Except forward light scattering (FLS), axial light loss (ALL), and 90° side light scattering (SLS) signals shown in FIG. 2, there will have back scattering light (BSL) which also can be detected. Although back scattering is proved more sensitive to particle's (cell's) internal content and structure (Kerker et al., 1979; Kerker, 1983; Mourant et al., 1998), its intensity is about 3 orders of magnitude weaker than forward scattering. When using flow cell as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the focused laser beam will first hit flow cell's front surface 26, then hit the cylindrical surface of orifice 23, and finally hit the back surface 27, thus very strong reflected light creates unwanted background for back scattering detection. As Gangstead et al., pointed out in U.S. Pat. No. 6,646,742, "Unfortunately, using any of the available conventional flow cytometry illumination arrangements, the walls of these walled-conduit structures conventionally generates such an enormous quantity of background scatter noise". This is the one of the main technical bottleneck that no commercial hematology instrument is capable of incorporating backscattering for enhancing cell discrimination power purpose.
Several attempts were made using backscattering only in the laboratory, such as U.S. Pat. No. 6,743,634 B2 (Kramer, Jun. 1, 2004) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,869,569 B2 (Kramer, Mar. 22, 2005), all use a plurality of optical fibers and PMTs and are impossible of being incorporated into a practical commercial instrument due to its complex structure and cost.
Only this unique invention will make detection of cell's backscattering signal possible in a practical commercial hematology instrument for the first time in the hematology instrument history.

Coaxial illumination of coulter aperture in full function hematology analyzer