The present invention relates to abrasive grain agglomerates composed of fine-particle primary abrasive grains which are held together by means of a binder based on an aluminosilicate having a molar ratio of Al2O3 to SiO2 of from 1:2 to 1:20. The particular advantage of these abrasive grain agglomerates is that the binder cures fully at below 450° C., preferably below 400° C., to form abrasive grain agglomerates having an extraordinarily high strength.

The present invention refers to abrasive grain agglomerates on the basis of abrasive grains from the group of conventional abrasive grains, such as for example, corundum, fused corundum, sinter corundum, zirconium corundum, silicon carbide and boron carbide as well as from the group of the super abrasives, such as for example, cubic boron nitride and diamond, and/or mixtures thereof, whereby fine abrasive grains are bonded into compact abrasive grain agglomerates by means of an inorganic binder.
The present invention also refers to a method for the production of such abrasive grain agglomerates and their use in abrasives.
Abrasive grain agglomerates have been known in many variations for a long time and are normally utilized in bonded abrasives such as for example, abrasive disks or coated abrasives such as for example abrasive belts. Abrasive grain agglomerates are normally constructed from single abrasive grains, the primary particles which are bonded into an abrasive grain agglomerate by use of a binder. Binders are either organic or inorganic binders, whereby oftentimes organic binders are phenol resins, while inorganic binders can be ceramic binder materials.
The big advantage of abrasive grain agglomerates is that finely grained abrasive grains can be utilized as primary particles from which the agglomerate grain is then built, which, as compared to the a single grain of the same size, has a completely different degradation mechanism during the abrading process.
While a single grain of comparable size, depending on the pressure conditions during the abrading process, normally becomes dull or becomes destroyed, the abrading conditions with abrasive grain agglomerates can be purposefully selected so that single (worn-out) grains break from the bond formation so that always new cutting edges are formed such that on the one hand, the agglomerate grains retains a long life span and on the other hand, exhibits a cool and homogenous polished pattern. A further advantage of the abrasive grain agglomerates is that finely grained abrasive grains can be utilized for abrading processes and abrading tools which otherwise would not be suitable due to their small grains size.
DE 103 92 532 B4 describes abrasive grain agglomerates which comprise a plurality of abrasive grains that are bonded with a binder material, wherein the binder material has a melting temperature between 500° C. and 1400° C. The DE 103 92 532 B4 also describes a method for the production of such abrasive grain agglomerates where the abrasive grains are mixed with a binding agent and subsequently are subjected to a heat treatment in a rotating tubular kiln between 145° C. and 1300° C. The abrasive grain agglomerates that are so obtained have a total porosity between 35% by volume and 80% by volume, whereby at least 30% by volume of the pores are connected. From this production method elongated agglomerates are obtained with a ratio of length to cross section of at least 5:1. Binders that are utilized are glass-type binder agents, ceramic materials, inorganic materials and combinations of the same. The so obtained abrasive grain agglomerates are most of all used in bonded abrasives in order to control the percent portion and the properties of the porosity in the abrasives and to preserve the porosity in the form of a permeable and connective porosity.
DE 10 2005 007 661 A1 describes abrasive grain agglomerates that are formed by means of a binder in material-interconnecting engagement, and which exhibit an approximately spherical outer shape and are supposed to possess a porosity of at least 35% by volume. These abrasive grain agglomerates are formed from single abrasive grains whose particle size is in the range between 0.05 μm and 10 μm, which are then joined into agglomerates with a diameter in the range between 10 μm and 150 μm. In the abrading tools, these agglomerates are utilized as narrow range classified with a quasi constant graining. As binders organic binders are preferably used, such as for example, phenol resins, polyurethane, epoxy resins, urea resins and poly vinyl butyral. These abrasive grain agglomerates are especially suitable for use in coated abrasives, where they are utilized for very fine abrading treatments of surfaces of work pieces.
The production of abrasive grain agglomerate is in principle quite easy and is mainly based on mixing the single grains with a binding agent so they form an abrasive grain agglomerate and are then subsequently heat treated. Depending on the type of the binding agent used, very different temperature conditions apply.
While with inorganic binding agents normally temperatures apply that are markedly above 500° C., the agglomerates with organic binding agents are normally hardened at relatively low temperatures—between 200° C. and 300° C.
The known inorganic binding agents have the advantage that they can form very strong bonds, which however always requires relatively high temperatures, so that inorganic binder systems are not suitable for temperature sensitive abrasive grains such as for example, eutectic zirconium corundum, cubic boron nitride or diamond, and are thus not used.
The organic binder materials on the other hand have the drawback that the bond itself is less strong. In addition, when using organic binders there is the problem that the mixtures from binders and finely grained abrasive grains have a tendency to stick to the edges of the apparatus. This requires rather high maintenance and cleaning efforts especially when an abrasive grain product change takes place because normally when producing abrasive grain agglomerates, the abrasive grains have to have a narrow grain size distribution. The contamination with larger grains would lead to considerable problems in abrading operations where the main object is a fine treatment of work piece surfaces, such as for example the treatment of decorative lacquer surfaces, where such impurities can lead to scratches which can only be eliminated, if at all, subsequent to the abrading operation and only with a considerable effort. With organic binding agents, aside from the contamination of the apparatus, there is also the issue of environmental problems, as the use of organic binding agents or binders are most often associated with foul smells and health risks.
Thus, the problem still exists to provide a binder system for abrasive grain agglomerates that do not suffer from these drawbacks.

Abrasive grain agglomerates, process for the production thereof and the use thereof for producing abrasives

CENTER FOR ABRASIVES AND REFRACTORIES RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT C.A.R.R.D. GMBH


Provided is a radar device capable of preventing mispairing from occurring, and obtaining a distance to a target and a relative velocity to the target even if at least one of the peak frequencies of beat signals cannot be extracted and pairs of the peak frequencies cannot be generated. A target estimation part (20) estimates a distance (RN) to a target (21, 22) and a relative velocity (VN) to the target (21, 22) based on a distance (RO) to the target (21, 22) and a relative velocity (VO) to the target (21, 22), which have been decided by a target decision part (13) in a previous cycle, when at least one of the peak frequencies of the beat signal cannot be extracted and the pair of the peak frequencies cannot be generated.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a radar device that radiates a transmission signal to a target object (hereinafter, referred to as "target") as an electromagnetic wave, receives a reflected signal resulting from reflecting the transmission signal by the target, and calculates target information based on the reflected signal.
2. Description of the Related Art
Up to now, there has been known a frequency-modulation radar device which calculates a distance to the target and a relative velocity to the target based on peak frequencies of beat signals obtained by transmitting the transmission signals whose frequencies have been continuously modulated to the target, receiving the reflected signals that have been reflected by the target, and mixing the transmission signal and the reflected signal together.
In the radar device of this type, a distance R to the target and a relative velocity V to the target are calculated based on the principle of a general frequency modulation continuous wave (FM-CM) radar as follows.
First, the transmission signal is subjected to the frequency modulation of a triangle wave having a repetition frequency fm and a modulation width ΔT. As a result, the respective frequencies of the transmission signal and the reflected signal are changed with time. It is assumed that a peak frequency of the beat signals in an ascending section where the frequencies of the transmission signal and the reflected signal are linearly increased with time is fu, and a peak frequency of the beat signal in a descending section where the frequencies of the transmission signal and the reflected signal are linearly decreased with time is fd. In this case, those respective peak frequencies are represented by the following Expressions (1) and (2).fu=fr−fp  (1)fd=fr+fp  (2)
In Expressions (1) and (2), fr is an amount proportional to the distance R to the target, and fp is an amount proportional to the relative velocity V (an approaching direction is +) to the target, which are represented by the following Expressions (3) and (4), respectively. In the following Expressions (3) and (4), C represents a light speed, and f0 represents a center frequency of the transmission signal.fr=(4·fm·ΔF/C)·R  (3)fp=(2·f0/C)·V  (4)
Hence, the distance R to the target and the relative velocity V to the target are represented by the following Expressions (7) and (8), respectively, by using addition and subtraction of the peak frequencies fu and fd represented by the following Expressions (5) and (6), from Expressions (1) to (4).fu+fd=2fr  (5)fu−fd=−2fp  (6)R=M1·fr=M1·(fu+fd)/2  (7)V=M2·fp=M2·(−fu+fd)/2  (8)
The following Expressions (9) to (12) are satisfied.M1=C/(4·fm·ΔF)  (9)M2=C/(2·f0)  (10)fu=R/M1−V/M2  (11)fd=R/M1+V/M2  (12)
When the peak frequency fu of the beat signal in the ascending section and the peak frequency fd of the beat signal in the descending section are found, the distance R to the target and the relative velocity V to the target can be calculated by using Expressions (7) and (8).
In the above-mentioned radar device, when a single target exists, the distance R to the target and the relative velocity V to the target can be precisely calculated. However, when a plurality of targets exist, for example, in a situation of detecting other vehicles on a road, it is difficult to precisely calculate the distances to the respective targets and the relative velocities to the respective targets.
Hereinafter, referring to an example in which two targets a and b exist, processing for calculating the distances to the respective targets and the relative velocities to the respective targets is described. In the description, suffix a is attached to values for the target a, and suffix b is attached to values for the target b.
First, distances Ra and Rb to the targets a and b and relative velocities Va and Vb to the targets a and b are calculated based on peak frequencies fua and fub of the beat signals in the ascending section and peak frequencies fda and fdb of the beat signals in the descending section. To achieve this, there is a need to detect pairs of peak frequencies of the beat signals in the ascending section and the descending section of the respective targets a and b, and substitute the pair into Expressions (7) and (8).
However, when two targets exist, there are two combinations as the pairs of the peak frequencies of the beat signals in the ascending section and the descending section of the targets a and b, that is, a correct combination of a pair {fua, fda} with a pair {fub, fdb} and an incorrect combination of a pair {fua, fdb} with a pair of {fub, fda}.
In this example, when the correct combination of the pair {fua, fda} with the pair {fub, fdb} is selected, the distance Ra to the target a and the relative velocity Va to the target a as well as the distance Rb to the target b and the relative velocity Vb to the target b are precisely calculated.
On the contrary, when the incorrect combination of the pair {fua, fdb} with the pair {fub, fda} is selected, values to be calculated are different from the actual distances Ra and Rb to the targets a and b and the actual relative velocities Va and Vb to the targets a and b. In this way, when there is a plurality of targets, because a plurality of peak frequencies occur, the possibility that the incorrect pair is generated (mispairing occurs) is high.
Under the circumstances, in order to prevent the mispairing from occurring, there has been known a radar device, which utilizes such a property that even when the repetition frequency fm, the modulation width ΔF, or the center frequency f0 of the transmission signal (hereinafter, referred to as "modulated signal") is changed, values of the distance to the target and the relative velocity to the target are not changed as long as the distance and the relative velocity are calculated based on the reflected signal that has been reflected by the same target.
That is, in the radar device, one modulated signal before change in the repetition frequency fm, the modulated width ΔF, or the center frequency f0, and another modulation signal after change, are first transmitted to the same target. Subsequently, the distances to the target and the relative velocities to the target are calculated based on the pair {fu1, fd1} of the peak frequencies of the beat signals in the ascending section and the descending section of the modulated signal before change, and the pair {fu2, fd2} of the peak frequencies of the beat signals in the ascending section and the descending section of the modulated signal after change.
Then, the distance R1 and the relative velocity V1 which are calculated based on the modulated signal before change are compared with the distance R2 and the relative velocity V2 which are calculated based on the modulated signal after change. As a result, when each of the distances and the relative velocities are the same value, it is determined that the correct pairing has been executed, and the calculated distance to the target and the calculated relative velocity to the target are decided (for example, refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2002-236170).
However, the related art suffers from the following problems.
That is, in the radar device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2002-236170, as described above, the distance to the target and the relative velocity to the target are decided based on the pairs {fu1, fd1} and {fu2, fd2} of the peak frequencies of the beat signals in the ascending section and the descending section of the modulated signals before and after changed.
For that reason, when at least one peak frequency cannot be extracted from the peak frequencies of the beat signals, the pair of the peak frequencies cannot be generated. This leads to such a problem that the distances to the target and the relative velocities to the target cannot be obtained.
It is conceivable that at least one peak frequency cannot be extracted in a case where a noise generated in a transceiver or an A/D converter, an offset voltage caused by a device variation or a temperature characteristic, coupling between a transmitter antenna and a receiver antenna, a reflected signal from a point-blank range due to a radome, a reflected signal from another target, a multipath signal, or the like is superimposed on the reflected signal reflected by a desired target, and even if the beat signals obtained from this reception signal are analyzed in frequency, the frequency is reflected to a portion in a given range and cannot be extracted as the peak frequencies.


A system and methods for drilling a well in a field having an existing well are provided. Specifically a method of drilling a new well in a field having an existing well includes drilling the new well using a bottom hole assembly (BHA) having a drill collar divided by an insulated gap, generating a current on the drill collar of the BHA while drilling the new well, and measuring from the existing well a magnetic field caused by the current on the drill collar of the BHA. Using measurements of the magnetic field, a relative position of the new well to the existing well may be determined.

The present invention relates generally to well drilling operations and, more particularly, to well drilling operations using magnetic field measurements from an electric dipole to ascertain the relative location of a new well to an existing well.
Heavy oil may be too viscous in its natural state to be produced from a conventional well. To produce heavy oil, a variety of techniques may be employed, including, for example, Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD), Cross Well Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (X-SAGD), or Toe to Heel Air Injection (THAI). While SAGD wells generally involve two parallel horizontal wells, X-SAGD and THAI wells generally involve two or more wells located perpendicular to one another.
X-SAGD and THAI techniques function by employing one or more wells for steam injection or air injection, respectively, known as "injector wells." The injector wells pump steam or air into precise locations in a heavy oil formation to heat heavy oil. One or more lower horizontal wells, known as "producer wells," collect the heated heavy oil. For an X-SAGD well pair including an injector well and a producer well, the injector well is a horizontal well located above and oriented perpendicular to the producer well. In contrast, for a THAI well pair including an injector well and a producer well, the injector well is a vertical well located near and oriented perpendicular to the producer well.
Steam or air from an injector well in an X-SAGD or THAI well pair should be injected at a precise point in the heavy oil formation to maximize recovery. Particularly, if steam is injected too near to a point of closest approach between the injector well and the producer well, steam may be shunted out of the formation and into the producer well. Using many conventional techniques, the point of closest approach between the two wells may be difficult to locate or the location of the point of closest approach may be imprecise.
Moreover, the relative distance between the injector and producer wells of an X-SAGD or THAI well pair may affect potential recovery. The wells should be located sufficiently near to one another such that heavy oil heated at the injector well may drain into the producer well. However, if the wells are located too near to one another, steam or air from the injector well may shunt into the producer well, and if the wells are located too far from one another, the heated heavy oil may not extend to the producer well. Using conventional techniques, it may be difficult to accurately drill one well perpendicular to another well.

Magnetic ranging while drilling using an electric dipole source and a magnetic field sensor


A cementitious composition the properties of which are useful for: a) reducing shrinkage cracking in stucco systems due to excess water present in initial mixing required to achieve adequate slump necessary for application, but not necessary for material hydration b) reducing full thickness cracking as a result of minor structural movement by increasing the flexural strength, c) reducing the time required to place the layers of a three-coat exterior stucco system. The composition of this material is a blend of ASTM C 150 Portland cement, an ASTM C 1328 Plastic (Stucco) cement and a minor amount of a sulfonated naphthalene formaldehyde condensate (SNF), also described as Polynaphthalene sulfonates (PNS) cement superplasticizer, also known as a HRWR (High Range Water Reducer).

1. Field of Use
The invention relate to a cementitious exterior stucco material and, more particularly, to a cementitious exterior stucco material that is fast setting and resistant to shrinkage and full thickness cracking.
2. Related Art
In the southwest United States, the overwhelming percentages of structures, both residential and commercial, are built utilizing a stucco exterior wall system. The two typical stucco systems which are employed include a single coat system and a three-coat system.
A "single coat" system (which is somewhat of a misnomer) consists of a waterproof underlayment, lath, and a coat of cementitious material which is typically ¾″ to ⅞″ thick, followed by a color finish coat. A three coat system consists of a waterproof underlayment, lath, a first coat of cementitious material (scratch coat), a second coat of cementitious material (brown coat), and a third or finish (sometimes a color) coat.
Typically each coat of cementitious material is cured for a number of days before subsequent cementitious material layers are applied. This extended curing period applies before the color coat of a single coat system is applied, and it applies before both the brown coat and the color coat of a three coat system. Builders typically allow one to seven days between coats before applying a subsequent coat, which forces even small applications of three-coat external stucco to span a period of fifteen days or more.
The quality control standard governing the chemical and physical requirements for the material most often utilized for the cementitious layers is one or more of the following: ASTM C 91, Standard Specification for Masonry Cement or ASTM C 1328, Standard Specification for Plastic (Stucco) Cement, Type S or Type M, a Type I or Type II/V ASTM C 150, Standard Specification for Portland Cement and an ASTM C 206, Standard Specification for Finishing Hydrated Lime or an ASTM C 207, Standard Specification for Hydrated Lime for Masonry Purposes, lime.
The ability to work and spread the cementitious material on a surface is an important trait for stucco materials. In order to obtain the proper consistency (slump), water is typically added to the cementitious materials beyond the proportions necessary for chemical hydration of the cement. The addition of water, however, acts counter to other desired physical property of the stucco system.
Disadvantages of typical cementitious materials used in external stucco wall systems include: a) a significant time delay between the application of coats to enable curing of the stucco and/or evaporation of excess water, b) the tendency of the stucco system to develop cracks from shrinkage during curing which results from the evaporation of excess water, and c) full thickness cracking resulting from incidental movement (shifting) of the structure prior to the cementitious material developing adequate strength, due in part to the extended period of time necessary for the curing and evaporation process. Also, it is often necessary to spray or mist the applied stucco with water during the curing process in order to prevent crack development during the curing process. This generally necessitates additional labor costs.
It is desirable to produce a cementitious material to be used in stucco products which can be worked and applied easily, without creating the negative characteristics associated with addition of excess water. It is desirable to reduce the application period necessary for multiple coats of stucco, such as reducing the application period of a three-coat stucco system from the current time period of approximately fifteen days, down to as little as one day. It is desirable to reduce shrinkage cracking associated with excess water which is typically added to stucco systems for workability and ease of application, while at the same time shortening the time needed to cure and thereby reducing the potential for cracking that occurs when the surface shifts before it has cured.
Various objects of the present invention, include providing a composition, that when blended to a homogenous consistency, will provide a cementitious exterior stucco material that may be applied with either mechanical technique or hand application, (either a one coat application or a traditional three-coat application), is fast setting, shrinkage crack resistant, full thickness crack resistant, of superior flexural and compressive strength, with an initial set or workable life (board life) greater than 100 minutes. One or more of these objects are achieved by using the composition disclosed and claimed below.


Smart electric meters configured to perform fast, time-synchronized electrical energy measurements at the consumer-level are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a smart electric meter includes circuitry configured to measure an electrical value at a location of an end user in a power system. The smart electric meter can further include an atomic clock configured to output a timing signal, and a controller configured to receive (a) the measured electrical value from the circuitry and (b) the timing signal from the atomic clock. The controller can further (a) process the electrical value to generate meter data and (b) generate a time tag based on the timing signal. Then, the controller can associate the time tag with the meter data to generate time-tagged meter data.

An electric meter is a device that measures the amount of electrical energy consumed by residential, commercial, or industrial customers. Traditional electric meters are installed at customers' premises for billing purposes. To obtain the data recorded by such traditional electric meters, a technician must visit the physical location of the electric meter. Such traditional electric meters are gradually being replaced by "smart" electric meters, which can measure electrical energy consumption and also communicate that information between the meter and a central system for billing and monitoring. For example, the U.S. Energy Information Administration reported in December 2017 that almost half of all U.S. electricity customer accounts have smart meters.
In addition to billing and monitoring, it is expected that smart meter data will be increasingly utilized in the management of distributed energy resources (e.g., photovoltaic cells) and controllable loads (e.g., smart consumer appliances). However, current consumer-level smart electric meters record data with large time intervals (e.g., record hourly and report daily) and low quality (e.g., including data incompleteness and loss), bringing significant constraints to their utilization for monitoring and control.
Some distribution and transmission substations on the electric grid include phasor measurement units (PMUs) that allow for higher-precision electrical energy sampling. However, PMUs rely on the Global Positioning System (GPS) to time synchronize electrical phasor measurements. Such GPS-based measurement devices require a connection with a GPS antenna and are susceptible to random GPS loss and cyber-attacks.

Synchronized electric meter having an atomic clock

Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC


A cooling system for a battery pack which can reduce the number of components, manufacturing cost and an installation space, is provided. The battery pack includes high-voltage electrically conductive paths connected to a positive electrode and a negative electrode thereof, respectively. The high-voltage electrically conductive path connected to the positive electrode serves as a cooling member. The high-voltage electrically conductive path connected to the positive electrode is arranged along the battery pack to absorb heat generated at the battery pack and dissipate the absorbed heat at a location distant from the battery pack. The invention takes an advantage of the superior heat conductivity of the high-voltage electrically conductive path to cool down the battery pack.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cooling system for a battery pack including a plurality of battery cells.
2. Description of Related Art
Japan Patent Publication Number 2001-57196 discloses a battery pack 1 shown in FIG. 6. The battery pack 1 includes a plurality of battery cells 2 connected electrically in series. The plurality of cells 2 are bound together mechanically in parallel and integrated by a band 4 connecting end plates 3 provided at outermost battery cells 2, as shown.
Numeral references 5 and 6 in FIG. 6 indicate connecting modules (also called as bus-bar modules or battery connecting plates). The connecting modules 5 and 6 include connecting clamps (bus bar) to connect electrodes 7 of the adjacent cells 2, and are formed by insert molding the connecting clamps in a resin holder. The connecting module 5 also includes a battery-voltage-detecting terminal, while the connecting module 6 only includes the connecting clamps. A lead wire is connected to the battery-voltage-detecting terminal and to a battery-voltage-detecting unit 8. Electric wires connected to each of positive and negative electrodes of the battery pack 1 are not shown.
Another example of the connecting module (bus-bar module, battery connecting plate, etc.) is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication Number 2004-31049 by the applicant of the present application.
The battery pack supplies electric power to an electric motor of, for example, an electric-motor vehicle or a hybrid-electric-motor vehicle. Recently, lithium-ion secondary batteries are used for the battery pack. It is known that in use, the battery pack generates extreme heat, for example at the time of large current discharge. In order to cool the battery pack, a cooling system as disclosed in Japan Patent Publication Number 2006-210245 is known.
The cooling system disclosed in Japan Patent Publication Number 2006-210245 includes a heat pipe having a heat absorbing member, a heat dissipating member, a fin and a flat-plate (portion). This heat pipe is arranged integrally with the battery pack for cooling the battery pack.
For the cooling system of the prior art, a separate unit which is dedicated for cooling, i.e. the above-described heat pipe, is employed. This leads to an increase in manufacturing cost and also an increase in a number of components required for the battery pack. Furthermore, since the heat pipe includes the heat absorbing member, the heat dissipating member, the fin and the flat-plate, the heat pipe itself includes a number of components, thereby requires many steps in manufacturing. Furthermore, an installation space for the heat pipe must be taken into account.


An apparatus (100) for installing a liner string (102) in a wellbore casing (40). The apparatus (100) includes a tubular mandrel subassembly (110), a load transfer subassembly (140) and an expander cone subassembly (142). The load transfer subassembly (140) is carried on the tubular mandrel subassembly (110) and is operable to apply a force in the downhole direction to the liner string (102). The expander cone subassembly (142) is carried on the tubular mandrel subassembly (110) and is operable to radially expand at least a portion of the liner string (102) into contact with the wellbore casing (40) when axially moved through the liner string (102). In operation, decoupling of the load transfer subassembly (140) from the tubular mandrel subassembly (110) enables release of the apparatus (100) from the liner string (102).

Without limiting the scope of the present invention, its background is described with reference to constructing a subterranean well, as an example.
In conventional practice, the drilling of an oil or gas well involves creating a wellbore that traverses numerous subterranean formations. For a variety reasons, each of the formations through which the well passes is preferably sealed. For example, it is important to avoid an undesirable passage of formation fluids, gases or materials out of the formation and into the wellbore or for wellbore fluids to enter the formation. In addition, it is commonly desired to isolate producing formations from nonproducing formations to avoid contaminating one formation with the fluids from another formation.
To avoid these problems, conventional well architecture includes the installation of casing within the wellbore. In addition to providing the sealing function, the casing also provides wellbore stability to counteract the geomechanics of the formation such as compaction forces, seismic forces and tectonic forces, thereby preventing the collapse of the wellbore wall. In standard practice, each succeeding casing string placed in the wellbore has an outside diameter having a reduced size when compared to the previously installed casing string. Specifically, the wellbore is drilled in intervals whereby a casing, which is to be installed in a lower wellbore interval, must be passed through the previously installed casing string in an upper wellbore interval.
The casings are generally fixed within the wellbore by a cement layer between the outer wall of the casing and the wall of the wellbore. During the drilling of the wellbore, annuli are provided between the outer surfaces of the casings and the wellbore wall. When a casing string is located in its desired position in the well, a cement slurry is pumped via the interior of the casing, around the lower end of the casing and upwards into the annulus. As soon as the annulus around the casing is sufficiently filled with the cement slurry, the cement slurry is allowed to harden. The cement sets up in the annulus, supporting and positioning the casing and forming a substantially impermeable barrier which divides the wellbore into subterranean zones.
In one approach, each casing string extends downhole from the surface such that only a lower section of each casing string is adjacent to the wellbore wall. Alternatively, the wellbore casings may include one or more liner strings which do not extend to the surface of the wellbore but instead typically extend from near the bottom end of a previously installed casing downward into the uncased portion of the wellbore. Liner strings are typically lowered downhole on a work string that may include a running tool that attaches to the liner string. The liner string typically includes a liner hanger at its uphole end that is mechanically or hydraulically set. In one example, an expander cone is passed through the liner hanger to radially expand and plastically deform the liner hanger into sealing and gripping engagement with the previously installed casing string.
Preferably, the liner string is set or suspended by the liner hanger at a location in the wellbore so that the downhole end of the liner string extends to close proximity of the bottom of the wellbore. It has been found, however, that in certain wellbores such as deviated wellbores, horizontal wellbores, multilateral wellbores and the like, significant force is required to work the liner string to the bottom of the wellbore. Use of such significant force has resulted in certain liner hangers becoming prematurely set within the previously installed casing string when the lower end of the liner string is still remote from the bottom of the wellbore. Accordingly, a need has arisen for a setting tool that is operable to deliver the required force to work the liner string to the bottom of the wellbore without prematurely setting the liner hanger in the previously installed casing string.

Apparatus and method for installing a liner string in a wellbore casing


A passively, Q-switched laser operating at an eye safe wavelength of between 1.2 and 1.4 microns is described. The laser may operate at a lasing wavelength of 1.34 microns and use a gain element of Nd:YVO4 and a saturable absorber element of V:YAG. The position of the resonator axial mode spectrum relative to a gain peak of the gain element is controlled to yield desired characteristics in the laser output.

An important use of lasers is for ranging, that is, determining the distance from the laser to a target object. The most common way to do this is for the laser to emit a light pulse of short duration, and then for a small amount of that light pulse to be collected which has scattered off of the distant target, which is then detected by a detector co-located with the laser. The time of flight, when multiplied by the speed of light, gives the round-trip distance of the light. One half of this is the distance to the target.
Many early laser ranging systems made use of solid-state lasers based on neodymium operating at wavelengths near 1 μm, which is the wavelength at which neodymium lasers have the most gain and are thus easiest to make. Many military systems use a single large pulse and make a single range measurement to a specific target. The 1 μm wavelength is not considered eye-safe, since light is focused by the eye's lens and reaches the sensitive retina in a small, intense spot. The focused light can permanently damage the retina.
Later ranging systems had as a goal the measurement of a multitude of targets. In these systems a single laser beam is scanned over a region of interest, and the field of view of a detector, which receives the reflected laser signal, may be scanned as well. Many thousands of pulses may be used and a 3-dimensional image of the laser's surroundings can be created. For short range applications, approximately 100 meters or less, semiconductor lasers are ideal, since they are inexpensive and easy to pulse in a controlled manner, by controlling the current applied to the semiconductor laser. For longer ranges, Q-switched neodymium lasers have been used, again at wavelengths near 1 μm, or sometimes at half that wavelength, after conversion of the infrared light into the green spectral region in a nonlinear crystal. Q-switched lasers can easily reach peak powers of many hundreds of watts and above, while semiconductor lasers are limited to a few watts, and even then, with an inferior beam quality. These Q-switched lasers can measure range to longer distances, typically thousands of feet and beyond. These systems can in some cases be eye-safe, but only if power is kept very low, which severely limits either the range or the rate of data collection. The least expensive Q-switched neodymium lasers at the 1-μm wavelength are lasers passively Q-switched by chromium ions which are doped into a solid host material, most commonly yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG). These Cr:YAG passively Q-switched lasers typically use Nd:YAG as the laser gain material.
Recently, interest in laser ranging has greatly increased due to the advent of autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicles. Autonomous vehicles can create a model of the outside world partly from cameras, but the use of laser ranging greatly enhances the reliability of these models. In order to get a constantly-updated 3-D model, a high measurement rate is needed, requiring a laser with up to a million pulses per second. This allows a new view to be formed many times per second, with hundreds of thousands of pixels in the view. For short range, which is most critical for city driving, ranging systems based on semiconductor lasers may be adequate. For longer range, such as is needed for freeway driving, semiconductor lasers currently do not provide adequate peak power.
Laser ranging systems for freeway driving need a range exceeding 1000 feet. A type of laser system currently used in long range applications is a fiber-based, master oscillator, power amplifier architecture. In this system, a semiconductor laser provides pulses, which are amplified in a glass fiber doped with erbium ions, which is pumped by a second semiconductor laser. The typical operating wavelength is near 1.5 μm. This wavelength cannot reach the retina; it is absorbed in the surface tissue of the eye, before it is focused. This allows the laser intensity incident on the eye without harm to be much higher than if the laser were operating at a visible or near-infrared wavelength, such as 1 micron. A 1.5-micron wavelength laser may be denoted as an eye-safe laser because light at that wavelength is absorbed before reaching the retina.
These fiber-based lasers have peak power, average power, beam quality, and pulse duration adequate for vehicle ranging at freeway speed. However, they are expensive and bulky, typically a 4- or 5-inches square package approximately 0.5 inches thick.
In contrast to bulky and expensive fiber-based laser sources, non-fiber-based solid-state lasers pumped by a semiconductor laser can be small and inexpensive. For example, green laser pointers are about the size of a pencil and are relatively inexpensive. A passively Q-switched laser can have a part-for-part correspondence with a green pointer laser, and thus these lasers can be produced inexpensively.
What is needed is a laser which is eye safe and has a peak power, average power, beam quality, and pulse duration adequate for vehicle ranging at freeway speed, while having a low cost and small package size, while having good pulse-to-pulse energy and timing stability.

Passively Q-switched laser and laser system for ranging applications


A new and distinct peach variety of Prunus persica named ‘NJ352’ is provided. This variety is distinguished from other peach varieties by its unique combination of nonshowy flowers, fruit that ripen in latter part of mid-season, attractive fruit with a yellow-orange ground color, freestone fruit with a juicy, melting texture and moderately acidic flavor, and good production of firm fruit.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of peach tree named 'NJ352'. Our new tree resulted from crossing 'D90-9' as the seed parent with 'NJ318' peach tree, as the pollen parent. The new variety differs from seed parent 'D90-9' (unpatented) in that the new variety has small, nonshowy flowers and fruit that ripen in the latter part of mid-season, while the seed parent has large, showy flowers and fruit that do not ripen during a typical growing season. The new variety differs from pollen parent 'NJ318' (unpatented) in that the new variety has fruit with yellow-orange flesh and moderate acidity, while the pollen parent has fruit with white flesh and low acidity. The resulting tree was selected when growing in a cultivated area as the 162nd tree in the 101st row of Block D at the Rutgers Fruit research and Extension Center in Cream Ridge, N.J.


A method for controlling one or more parameters of an amplifier system may include receiving an indication of a physical quantity associated with the amplifier system, determining one or more parameters of the amplifier system in response to the indication, and causing the amplifier system to operate in accordance with the one or more parameters.

Audio systems often include an amplifier driving a vibrational transducer. Examples of such a vibrational transducer may include, without limitation, a loudspeaker that includes a magnetic voice-coil transducer, a magnetic voice-coil transducer that mechanically vibrates a surface (e.g., a screen of a smartphone, tablet, personal computer, or other device), and a piezoelectric actuator that mechanically vibrates a surface. The vibrational transducer may, in response to an input signal received by the vibrational transducer, generate vibrational energy to vibrate the loudspeaker or surface to generate sound.
During operation of a vibrational transducer, properties of the vibrational transducer (capacitance, resistance, inductance) may change as a function of temperature and/or other environmental factors, or there may be changes from one device to another due to variations in manufacturing tolerances which in turn affect a frequency response of the audio system. Other properties that may change include an elasticity/compliance of a vibrational transducer and a coupling factor that may determine how efficiently electrical energy is converted into mechanical stress or strain in the vibrational transducer.
To illustrate, FIG. 7 illustrates a graph depicting a variation in frequency response of a piezoelectric transducer for three values of a dielectric constant corresponding to three different operating temperatures, as is known in the art.
Systems and methods are desired which maintain a stable audio performance and frequency response of a system comprising a vibrational transducer despite changes in temperature and other environmental conditions and variation due to manufacturing tolerances.

Controlling parameters of an amplifier system based on a measured physical quantity


Pharmaceutical compositions of the invention comprise alkylated imino sugars derivatives having a disease-modifying action in the treatment of diseases associated with glucosidase activity that include Viral hemorrhagic fevers, and any other diseases involving glucosidase activity.

Viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHFs) refer to severe multisystem syndrome, caused by viruses of four distinct families: arenaviruses, filoviruses, bunyaviruses, and flaviviruses. These symptoms are often accompanied by hemorrhage (bleeding). While some types of hemorrhagic fever viruses can cause relatively mild illnesses, many of these viruses cause severe, life-threatening disease. Currently, there is no treatment or established cure for VHF infection. Ribavirin, an antiviral drug, has been effective in treating some individuals with Lassa fever or hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). Treatment with convalescent-phase plasma has been used with success in some patients with Argentine hemorrhagic fever.
In the search for new anti VHF viruses, researchers have tried using nucleosides as inhibitors of dengue virus (Zheng Yin, et al, PNAS 2009, 20435-20439), kinase inhibitors for inhibition of Lassa virus and Ebola virus infection (Andrey Kobokoltsov, Arch Virol 2012, 121-127), acridone derivatives as inhibitors of Junin virus RNA synthesis (Claudia Sepulveda, Antiviral Res. 2012, 16-22). However, these approaches have met with limited success. Thus, there is a long felt need for new antiviral drugs that are both disease-modifying and effective in treating patients that are infected viral hemorrhagic fever (VHFs) viruses.
One approach to developing antiviral compounds is to design a molecule targeting host factors that are essential for the virus life cycle, thereby providing antiviral effect. In theory, by targeting host pathways used in common by all the hemorrhagic fever viruses, it should be possible to discover broad spectrum antiviral agents. If the viruses are more dependent upon the host pathway than is the host, selectivity and a useful therapeutic is possible. Viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHF) viruses each contain different RNA genomes, but they are all enveloped with glycosylated viral proteins and share a similar morphogenesis strategy of budding, which would make them sensitive to glucosidase inhibitors. This is presumably because the folding of N-linked glycoproteins in these viruses depends upon calnexin, a chaperon that folds proteins that have been trimmed by the Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) glucosidase. Most cell functions can compensate for a reduction in glucosidase enzyme function; however, the calnexin dependent viral envelope proteins cannot apparently use alternative processing pathways. Thus, glucosidase inhibitors would be selective antiviral agents against multiple enveloped viruses.
Imino sugars, such as deoxynojirimycin (DNJ) and its derivatives have been found glucosidase inhibitors. Despite great potential as broad-spectrum antivirals, clinical development of imino sugars has been limited by their low efficacy. The glucosidase inhibitors, N-butyl-DNJ (NBDNJ) currently approved by the US and European FDAs for use in the management of Gaucher's disease and Cellgosovir (in Phase II human trials for Hepatitis C virus infection), both require near millimolar concentrations to achieve EC50 values in tissue culture against their target viruses. NBDNJ has been dropped for antiviral development, due to the failure to achieve therapeutic concentration in vivo. Thus, there remains an urgent and unmet need for glucosidase inhibitors useful as antiviral agents.
The present invention addresses the need for new antiviral drugs that are both disease-modifying and effective in treating patients that are infected with viral hemorrhagic fever (VHFs) viruses. The present invention also addresses the long felt need for new treatments for and means of preventing diseases that involve viral infection and other diseases that involve glucosidase activity.

Alkylated imino sugars exhibiting glucosidase inhibition and their method of use


An image acquisition and processing system includes an image sensor and one or more processors that are configured to receive at least a portion of at least one image from the image sensor. The dynamic aim of the image sensor is configured as a function of at least one feature extracted from at least a portion of an image. To accomplish the task, the system utilizes a series of adaptive thresholds used in parallel comparators to determine whether or not a pixel in a given image scene falls on the edge of a given lane line on a road. The location of the lane lines are then used to determine the scene vanishing point, which ideally will be co-located at the optical scene center. If they are not in agreement, the pixel data set being processed can be adjusted to accommodate for any disagreement.

Vision systems are commonly used within vehicles for automatic control and monitoring of vehicle equipment. More specially, a camera is integrated into an auto-dimming mirror and combined with algorithmic decision making processing to automatically operate vehicle high beam headlamps in order to optimize their usage according to surrounding traffic conditions. In order for the vision system to operate properly, it is important that the camera used in the vision system to be accurately aligned. To ensure that the camera is accurately aligned, auto aiming algorithms constantly measure and correct imager misalignment over time. There are generally two types of auto aiming algorithms, viz. tail light aim and lane line aim. Both types of aim algorithms use weighted averaging to help reduce outlier data points and more accurately converge on a center point of the camera.
In use, if a vehicle windshield angle is different from the calibrated center point, then a "windshield offset" value is used to initially adjust the vertical center point calibrating the vision system camera in the vehicle. Although alignment often occurs during the manufacture of the vehicle, while it is in operation, the vision system must even more accurately align the camera especially in the horizontal plane. Accordingly, new systems and processes are required to insure that the system provides only the most accurate information to the headlight control so the driver has the best vision available for current road and environmental conditions.
The present invention provides improvements in vehicle vision system components, vehicle vision systems and vehicle equipment control systems employing the vision system components and vision systems.

Image acquisition and processing system for vehicle equipment control


Polylactic acid derivatives capable of forming micelles in an aqueous solution with a pH of 4 or above, having one terminal carboxyl group. The polylactic acid derivatives may be applied as a drug delivery system in various forms since poorly water soluble drugs can be entrapped inside the micelles.

Solubilization of poorly water soluble drugs is essential for the delivery of the drugs by oral or parenteral administration. There are several conventional methods for solubilization of poorly water soluble drugs. For example, a poorly water soluble drug may be dissolved in a mixture of a water-miscible organic solvent and water. Alternatively, structural modification of a poorly water soluble drug from its acid or base to its salt form may increase the water solubility of the drug. Other methods include complexation of a poorly water soluble drug with a third substance or entrapment of a poorly water soluble drug into micelles formed by a surfactant. See Leon Lachman, "The theory and practice of industrial pharmacy", Lea & Febiger, Philadelphia, 1986.
Among the above methods, the micelles formed by use of a surfactant may be manufactured to have a size of several nm to several μm, and may be finely dispersed in an aqueous solution. Therefore, use of micelles has been preferred for the solubilization of poorly water soluble drugs.
Surfactants have a chemical structure comprising a hydrophilic block and a hydrophobic block, wherein the hydrophilic block has high affinity for water on one side and the hydrophobic block, has a high affinity for oil on the other side. If the hydrophilic block is dominant, the surfactants dissolve better in water, and conversely, if the hydrophobic block is dominant, the surfactants dissolve better in an organic solvent. Surfactants are classified into ionic and non-ionic. In the method of solubilization for a poorly water soluble drug, the non-ionic surfactant does not affect the poorly water soluble drug through ionic interactions due to its electronic neutrality. Such surfactants include anion salts of fatty acid derivatives, sorbitan derivatives such as Tween or Span, polyoxyethylene monoalkylether derivatives (BRIJ and MYRJ series) and polyethylene glycol ester derivatives of fatty acids, polyoxyethylated caster oil derivatives such as Cremophor, etc., and the like.
EP 0,645,145 discloses a method in which paclitaxel, a poorly water soluble drug, is solubilized using Cremophor EL which is a non-ionic surfactant. However, the drug solubilized by the surfactant has limited use due to adverse side effects, such as hypersensitive reactions, when it is administered orally or parentally. It also has the drawback in that the drug is separated from the micelles when stored for a long time since the stability of the micelles in an aqueous solution is very low.
Use of a polymeric micelle made of a di- or tri-block copolymer comprising a hydrophilic polymer of polyalkylene glycol derivatives and a hydrophobic biodegradable polymer such as fatty acid polyesters or polyamino acids for solubilization of a hydrophobic drug has been reported. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,449,513 discloses a diblock copolymer comprising a polyethylene glycol as the hydrophilic polymer, and a polyamino acid derivative, e.g. polybenzyl aspartic acid, etc., as the hydrophobic polymer. The diblock copolymer can solubilize hydrophobic anticancer agents, e.g. doxorubicin, or anti-inflammatory agents, e.g. indomethacin. However, the drawback is that the polyamino acid derivative is not hydrolyzed in vivo and causes undesired side effects.
Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 5,429,826 discloses a di- or multi-block copolymer comprising a hydrophilic polyalkylene glycol and a hydrophobic polylactic acid. Specifically, the above patent describes a method for stabilization of a polymeric micelle by micellizing a di- or multi-block copolymer having an acrylic acid terminal group in an aqueous solution, and then, crosslinking the micelle. Although this method may improve the stability of the polymeric micelles, the drawback is that the crosslinked polymer is not degraded, and thus, cannot be applied for in vivo use.
Polylactic acid has been applied for drug delivery systems in various forms because it has an excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability. Polylactic acids have various properties depending on their molecular weight, and have been developed in various formulations such as microspheres, nanoparticles, polymeric gels, implant agents, and the like. However, polylactic acids having a molecular weight of more than 2,000 Daltons are not dissolvable in aqueous solutions. There has been no reported success in developing polylactic acids having molecular weights of less than 2,000 Daltons as drug delivery systems since they are not dissolvable in an aqueous solution of a pH of 4 or more.
In view of the foregoing, development of an improved polymeric micelle composition for hydrophobic drug delivery, that is biocompatible and biodegradable, will be appreciated and desired. The present invention provides for such an improved polymeric micelle composition, which is biocompatible and biodegradable, and which can effectively deliver a hydrophobic drug without a decrease in its stability.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

pH responsive biodegradable polylactic acid derivatives forming polymeric micelles and uses thereof for poorly water soluble drug delivery


A siding system includes a plurality of siding panels having a substrate formed to define a plurality of decorative units. Each of the decorative units includes an average unit distance that is equal to the sum of an average width of the decorative units, and an average width of keyways separating the decorative units. An actual centerline of each of the decorative units is horizontally located within a maximum offset tolerance of a theoretical horizontal center of each of the decorative units. The theoretical horizontal center of each of the decorative units is located at a center location distance measured from a first vertical edge of the substrate. A second siding panel is disposed vertically above a first siding panel when attached to the wall surface. The second siding panel is horizontally offset relative to the first siding panel a panel offset distance.

Exterior siding systems often include a plurality of siding panels, with each of the siding panels formed to simulate a plurality of individual decorative units. For example, each siding panel may be formed to simulate multiple wood siding shakes. As such, each decorative unit is formed to simulate a single siding shake. It should be appreciated that the decorative units may be formed to simulate other siding materials, such as stone, tile, shingles, etc. The siding panel is formed with a space or keyway separating each of the decorative units. In order to provide a pleasing aesthetic appearance, the keyways on each course of siding panels should be horizontally offset from the keyways directly above or below and present a random appearance.
Furthermore, due to the tooling cost associated with manufacturing the siding panels, siding systems are generally manufactured with only one or two different panel designs and/or configurations that are installed in a repeated fashion. If one of the decorative units on the siding panels varies greatly from the other decorative units, a repeated pattern may develop that is visually noticeable. Therefore, most siding systems include decorative units that have only minor variations in size and texture to reduce the possibility of a visually noticeable repeated decorative unit.

Siding panel system with randomized elements


A battery includes: an electrode group including a first electrode, a second electrode, and a separator interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode; an electrolyte; a container for accommodating the electrode group and the electrolyte; a sealing member for blocking an opening in the container; and a first lead for electrically connecting the first electrode to the sealing member. The first lead has a weld region welded to the sealing member, and the weld region has at least one first bump along the longitudinal direction of the first lead. The cross section of the boundary between the weld region and a non-weld region on the first electrode side has a projecting shape corresponding to the bump.

A positive electrode terminal and negative electrode terminal (hereinafter referred to as "external terminals") that are disposed outside a battery are electrically connected to a positive electrode and negative electrode accommodated in a battery case, respectively. An external terminal is electrically connected to an internal terminal, and the electrical connection between the internal terminal and the electrode is performed using a ribbon-shaped metal foil called a lead. Generally, one end of the lead is welded to the internal terminal, and the other end is welded to the electrode. When the lead is disconnected, charge or discharge cannot be performed. Therefore, it is important to keep the connection strength of the weld region between the internal terminal and the lead. Furthermore, when the electric resistance of the lead is high, a sufficient discharge characteristic cannot be obtained. Therefore, it is desirable to suppress the electric resistance at a low value.
Patent Literature 1 proposes that, from the viewpoint of reducing the electric resistance and keeping the connection strength, the cross section area of the lead be increased in a midway from an ultrasonic bonding portion toward the external terminal. Patent Literature 2 proposes that a plurality of electrode tabs be stacked and welded to a thick lead terminal.

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


A diffusion barrier system for a display device comprising a layer system with at least two layers of dielectric material, wherein at least two adjacent layers of that layer system comprise the same material. A respective method for manufacturing such a diffusion barrier system in a single process chamber of a plasma deposition system has the steps of introducing a substrate to be treated in said process chamber, discretely varying in a controlled manner during deposition at least one process parameter in the process chamber, without completely interrupting such process parameter, which results in layers with different properties and finally unloading said substrate from said process.

The present invention relates generally to optoelectronic devices and more specifically to environmentally sensitive optoelectronic devices. These devices include organic optoelectronic devices such as organic light emitting diodes (OLED) be it either small molecules or polymer type, organic photovoltaic devices, organic thin film transistors, and organic electrochromic displays, electrophoretic inks, solar devices, and LCD's in general (including applications for watches, cell phones etc.).
Many such optoelectronic devices are known in the art. However, specifically organic optoelectronic devices such as OLEDs have not yet made their predicted significant economic and technical breakthrough. This is partially due to the fact that the organic structures and the cathodes need to be heavily protected from the environment, specifically from oxygen, from water and from water vapor.
Currently, many optoelectronic devices (such as LCD and OLED displays) are manufactured by depositing thin film structures on a glass substrate, which has excellent optical properties and which is also an excellent environmental barrier. Most organic optoelectronic devices today are also manufactured on glass substrates and are encapsulated in glass (or in metallic-) structures. By its brittle nature however, glass does not provide flexibility and light weight. By using thin, flexible polymeric substrates for OLEDs in particular—which is known in the art—and by thin encapsulation layers for the device, a high degree of flexibility and lightweight shall be obtained. However, the following problems arise simultaneously:
Thin polymeric substrates and organic structures have a diffusion coefficient for oxygen and for water, which is far too high to protect the enclosed structures from degradation.
Thin polymeric substrates and organic structures are susceptible to degradation, deformation and building up of thermally induced stresses when the functional layers are deposited due to the process temperature created intentionally or unintentionally during the deposition.
For illustration, FIG. 1 shows the typical build up for an organic optoelectronic device on an organic substrate: in order to protect the device (here an OLED pixel with its electrodes) from the environment, a barrier layer between the polymeric substrate and the device, and an encapsulation layer covering the whole device are necessary. FIG. 1 shows a cross section of an OLED device, with an flexible substrate 1, a barrier layer 2, a transparent conductive oxide (TCO) layer 3, OLED layer(s) 4 (organic), cathode 5 and encapsulation layer 6
Both, the organic layers 4 and also the metallic cathode 5 need to be protected from oxygen and vapor diffusion, the market requires that the device to be light weight and flexible, the functional layers to be transparent for light of the desired wavelength, the device to be easily manufacturable and the functional layers to have excellent mechanical properties. Additionally, the encapsulation layer 6 needs to offer some mechanical and chemical stability, must seal off the device hermetically and must closely fill the complex top structure of the device during application of the film (step coverage).

Diffusion barrier layer and method for manufacturing a diffusion barrier layer


A method for revision control within hearing-aid fitting software may include storing session fitting data for a plurality of fitting sessions of a hearing assistance device; displaying a graphical user interface, the graphical user interface including a list of the plurality of fitting sessions of the hearing assistance device, the graphical user interface allowing for selection of two or more fitting sessions for display; receiving a selection of a fitting session from the list; and in response to receiving the selection, updating the graphical user interface to include a response curve related to the selected fitting session.

Modern hearing aid fitting software provides a clinician with a display of response curve associated with the gain of a hearing assistance device. A clinician uses the fitting software to adjust the gain and other settings of the hearing assistance device so that the hearing assistance device's output in the wearer's ear matches a prescribed target. However, the fitting software lacks the ability to quickly compare changes in the gain response curve across multiple fitting sessions. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for apparatus and methods to provide improved visualization of changes in gain response curves over time.

Revision control within hearing-aid fitting software


Briefly described, embodiments of this disclosure include mass spectrometry systems and methods of performing molecular mass spectrometry and elemental mass spectrometry using a single mass spectrometry system.

Metallomics, the comprehensive analysis of all metal species within a cell or tissue, and metalloproteomics, the study of the part of metallome that involves the protein ligands, heteroatom-tagged proteomics are emerging areas in speciation analysis in bioinorganic chemistry for clinical research and pharmaceutical research. In such analytical studies, both elemental (e.g., metallic) and molecular information of an analyte needs to be investigated.
Currently, the analytical techniques for this type of research typically use several different methods and instruments, either separately or in certain combination. For instance, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is used for metal detection and the electrospray ionization (ESI) or matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) is used for identification of the biomolecules.
The ICP has been a powerful tool for analytical chemistry since it was introduced as an atomic emission source for optical spectrometry in the 1960's. In the ICP, radio frequency electrical energy is continuously coupled via a spiral load coil into an inert gas flow stream at atmospheric pressure. In a typical design, argon flows through a plasma torch made of three concentric quartz tubes (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 3,958,883) and placed within a spiral coil. The central gas flow usually referred to as the carrier gas flow because it is used to carry the sample to be ionized or excited. An intermediate gas flow, termed the auxiliary flow, is needed for confining the hot carrier gas and cooling. The outermost flow, termed the coolant gas, both sustains the plasma and protects the quartz tube from melting due to the high temperature in the plasma.
The electromagnetic field induced by the radio frequency energy (e.g., 27 MHZ or 40 MHZ) sustains a plasma in the gas. The plasma contains free electrons, ions, and excited atoms and molecules. A chemical sample, usually in a form of aerosol droplets, is introduced into the carrier gas stream through the central quartz tube into the plasma. The aerosol sample is vaporized and decomposed to atoms and small molecules, due to the high temperature of the plasma. Some of the atoms and molecules of the sample are further excited and ionized by the free electrons.
ICP-MS is widely accepted for its isotope specificity, multi-element capability, high sensitivity, wide dynamic range (i.e., about 9 orders of magnitude), and the fact that the signal intensity is independent of the molecular structure of the protein and sample matrix.
ESI-MS has proven to be very valuable in system biology and genomic studies since provides information on the protein identification. However, ESI-MS is strongly compound dependent and often suppressed by the presence of the matrix. When the information generated by the two techniques is combined it has been shown to help with the identification of metalloproteins and their functions at the molecular level.
Because of the complexity of the human serum, a multidimensional separation, such as high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is usually employed prior to mass spectrometric detection. In conventional methods, the effluent of a chromatographic column is then either split between the ICP-MS and the ESI-MS systems, or fractions are collected and chromatographed again under a different set of operating conditions prior to electrospray MS. In both cases, at least two mass spectrometers are needed, which increases costs and maintenance. The setup is complicated and sample analysis is very time consuming.
Therefore, there is a need in the art to address the aforementioned deficiencies and shortcomings.

ICP/ESI mass spectrometry systems and methods of use thereof


An ear-plug device is an in-ear device that presents audio content to an ear canal of a user. The in-ear device includes a body configured to at least partially fit inside the ear canal of the user, and a transducer assembly coupled to the body. The transducer assembly comprises at least one transducer located within the ear canal. The at least one transducer is configured to vibrate a portion of the ear canal to cause the ear canal to create an airborne acoustic pressure wave in the ear canal in accordance with vibration instructions. The airborne acoustic pressure wave corresponds to and is for presentation of the audio content to the user.

The present disclosure generally relates to an audio system in a headset, and specifically relates to an ear-plug device with an in-ear cartilage conduction transducer for use in a headset.
Headsets often include features such as audio systems to provide audio content to users of the headsets. Conventionally, a user of the headset wears headphones to receive, or otherwise experience, computer generated sounds. However, a sound pressure created in an ear canal can vary on user basis due to a unique anatomy of a user's pinna. Furthermore, a high-frequency sound leakage can occur when delivering audio content to a user, which puts the private audio delivery at risk.

Ear-plug device with in-ear cartilage conduction transducer


A solid junction-type photoelectric conversion element (10) including a first conductive layer (2), an electric power generation layer (4), and a second conductive layer (6), which are laminated in this order, wherein the electric power generation layer (4) comprises: a perovskite compound represented by a composition formula ABX3, formed of an organic cation A, a metal cation B and a halide anion X, and a compound Z having no perovskite structure.

In recent years, it has been reported that a solid junction-type photoelectric conversion element including an electric power generation layer containing a perovskite compound exhibits high photoelectric conversion efficiency (Non-Patent Document 1), and such a solid junction-type photoelectric conversion element has been attracting attention as a new photoelectric conversion element. This report was followed by successive reports on further improvements in photoelectric conversion efficiency (for example, Non-Patent Document 2).

Solid junction-type photoelectric conversion element, perovskite film, and photoelectric conversion module


A binding system including a method for binding connected fan folded sheets in which a stack of the sheets is shingled to disclose narrow side surface portions along their spine edges, a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive on a highly flexible backing is adhered to those spine edges and narrow side surface portion after which the spine edges are moved into alignment at a right angle to the side surfaces of the sheets to cause the backing and layer of pressure sensitive adhesive to pleat around the spines of the sheets. The system also includes a novel cover structure which facilitates the method and includes cover plates, the pressure sensitive adhesive and the backing; and a novel device for holding and positioning the sheets during binding.

The art describes systems for binding stacks of such connected fan folded sheets using adhesive, which systems include cover structures, methods, and/or devices used in binding such sheets and produce various types of bound documents. U.S. Pat. No. 3,188,114 describes such a system in which a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive already adhered to a backing is adhered over the spine edges so that the backing and layer of pressure sensitive adhesive bind the stack into a document.
While such systems may produce a useful bound document that can be formed by persons with no particular binding skill in an office or in a home without the need for passing mechanical binding devices through openings in the sheets that can obstruct information on the sheets and restrict easy opening of the document, known systems of this type have required a more complex cover structure than may be desired.

Binding system for connected fan folded sheets

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company


An implantable cardiac stimulation system is disclosed which automatically optimizes its ability to rate-responsively pace by enabling calibration when the patient is at rest and has a functioning lead. Devices which employ physiologic sensors are based on a baseline value of the sensor signal corresponding to the resting state. Accordingly, the control system determines if the patient is at rest using a suitable sensor and also determines if the lead impedance is within normal values, i.e. functional and intact. If these conditions are met, the control system stores the current baseline of the sensor at rest and proceeds with normal sensing and stimulation commands until the next calibration is performed. In addition, the system can automatically calibrate a sleep value for the physiologic sensor using a sensor which can detect the sleep state. While the preferred embodiment discloses a minute ventilation sensor, other closed-loop sensors are contemplated, including at least paced depolarization integral (PDI), QT interval and pre-ejection interval (PEP).

Implantable cardiac stimulation devices include devices such as cardiac pacemakers, cardioverters, and/or defibrillators. These devices stimulate the heart to maintain a patient's cardiac activity to meet metabolic needs. Originally, pacemakers stimulated the heart at a fixed rate. This did not provide an adequate heart rate based upon changes in the physiologic and metabolic needs of the patient.
It has been recognized that it is necessary to monitor physiologic and metabolic parameters to change the stimulation rate as indicated by the activity and stress levels of the patient. It has also been recognized that there is a need to monitor multiple sensors to determine the indicated stimulation rate.
These sensors can include minute ventilation (also known as minute volume), paced depolarization integral (PDI) (also known as ventricular gradient), QT interval, activity level, activity variance, temperature, oxygen saturation, the inclination of the patient's body, pre-ejection period (PEP), etc.
This invention is drawn towards the sensors which require a baseline measurement, typically at rest, and preferably not during sleep. Such sensors include minute ventilation (also known as minute volume), paced depolarization integral (PDI), QT interval, and pre-ejection period (PEP), oxygen saturation, temperature, among others. Such sensors tend to rely on the integrity of the stimulation lead for proper operation. A few of these sensors also have a tendency to drift out of calibration due to the patient's changing exercise needs, medications, etc.
As a result, a method of calibration is useful for any sensor which is dependent upon lead integrity for proper operation and/or which requires periodic re-calibration. It is also desirable to determine a sleep value, below the alert resting state, to enable patients to achieve a lower pacing rate while sleeping.
The minute ventilation of a patient, for example, is based on tidal volume and respiration rate, which may be detected by measuring the amplitude and rate of a patient's respiration impedance signal. The measurement of minute ventilation is well known (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,562,712, issued Oct. 8, 1996 to Steinhaus et al., entitled "Minute Volume Rate-Responsive Pacemaker using Dual Unipolar Leads"). Briefly, the impedance signal may be obtained through the use of a controller applying a measuring current between a first electrode and a reference point on the pacemaker, typically the housing, sometimes referred to as the case electrode. The impedance can then be measured, typically, between a second electrode and the reference point. This impedance measurement of the patient varies as a function of the patient's pleural pressure, and therefor the impedance represents the patient's minute ventilation.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,707,398, issued Jan. 13, 1998 to Lu, entitled "Automatic Determination of Optimum Electrode Configuration for a Cardiac Pacemaker" sets forth a stimulation system which recognizes the need to monitor the lead impedance for changes. This system monitors the response of each electrode and then chooses the optimal electrode to monitor and measure the minute ventilation. However, this system does not address the need to test the lead impedance as a condition prior to calibrating the baseline value. Rather, it automatically selects the pair which provides optimal performance.
To calibrate the baseline value of a device employing minute ventilation, the controller must be operating under known conditions, that is, the patient must be at rest and not sleeping. Many sensors can be used to indicate when the patient is at rest and/or in a sleep state; such sensor signals include the activity level, the activity variance, and possibly the inclination of the patient. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,626,622, issued May 6, 1997 to Cooper, entitled "Dual Sensor Rate-Responsive Pacemaker", which shows the use of an activity sensor to determine the activity level of the patient. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,476,483, to Bornzin et al., entitled "System and Method for Modulating the Base Rate During Sleep for a Rate-responsive Cardiac Pacemaker", which shows the use of activity variance to determine if the patient is at rest or sleeping.
Accordingly, it is desirable to develop an implantable cardiac stimulation device which can perform an enhanced calibration of its baseline level upon implantation (i.e., by performing a self-test of the lead system and verifying that the patient is at a suitable resting state) and to automatically and periodically recalibrate the baseline at appropriate intervals to ensure the correct stimulation rate may be determined for the patient.

Implantable cardiac stimulation system having improved method of calibrating physiologic sensors


Disclosed herein is a stamping apparatus for biochips and a method of operating the stamping apparatus. The apparatus includes a table, a first chip table, a second chip table, a stamping unit and a control unit. The first chip table is provided on the table. A first biochip is seated onto the first ship table. A second biochip is seated onto the second chip table. The stamping unit is mounted to the table and operates the second chip table such that a surface of a junction of the second biochip seated on the second chip table is joined to a surface of a junction of the first biochip seated on the first chip table. The control unit controls operation of the first chip table or the second chip table.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a stamping device for biochips and a method for the operation thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
In biochemistry and molecular biology, almost all biological phenomena result from biomolecular recognitions and functional interactions between biomolecules and biomolecules, such as genes and genes, proteins and proteins, proteins and ligands (a ligand is an ion or molecule that binds to a central metal atom to form a coordination complex), ligands and receptors, antibodies and antigens, enzymes and substrates, etc. Thus, studies on interactions or recognition between biomolecues is now arising as important subjects in various fields of the biological science. For example, analyses of interactions between biomolecules may allow the early diagnosis of diseases or the identification of disease causes, may lead to analyses of signaling pathways in the body and to proteomics (analysis of protein functions or roles), and may provide decisive factors for the development of high throughput screening (HTS) systems for new drugs. In addition, these studies have very important influence on the "bioelectronics" aiming to developing electronics based on biomolecules, and the "biocomputer" field using highly specific binding molecules such as DNA/RNA.
A biochip refers to a microfluidic device in which DNAs, proteins, enzymes, ligands, and/or other chemical and biological samples are highly integrated in a microarray pattern on a solid substrate (silicon, metal, glass, etc.) that is designed to rapidly detect or analyze target biomolecules at the same time on the basis of specific interaction between the target biomolecules and the surface-immobilized or arrayed molecules, thereby attaining biological information such as gene expression and association, or protein distribution, or achieving higher throughput and speed in biochemical process, reaction rate or information processing.
A biochip may be a microarray chip such as a DNA chip for detecting diseases or genes, to which microfluidics dealing with the behavior of fluids such as blood or cells in designed microchennels may be applied. It is also called lap-on-a-chip or microTas (short for micrometer(μ)-scale total analysis system). In combination with optics, microfluidics has recently developed to optofluidics. The major application of microfluidics is analysis. It requires only small volumes of samples and reagents, allow the separation and detection of target molecules at high resolution and sensitivity and at low cost, and offers short reaction and analysis times, featuring a very small size device and a thin layer. Therefore, microfluidics offers new functions of controlling association and dissociation of molecules in time and space.
If new promising drug candidates under development will be determined as being toxic by an animal test, an immense loss is generated in the time and money took to develop the drugs. This is a big problem that must be solved in the medicinal/pharmaceutical industry or the cosmetic industry. Conventional toxicity assays employ animal or tissue samples and require a lot of time and money.
As a solution to this problem, a biochip is provided for toxicity assays. It makes possible to perform toxicity assay simply and easily in advance without the need of animal tests. The DataChip (data analysis toxicology assay chip) is representative of the biochips for high-throughput toxicity screening of drug candidates. In this regard, DataChip is prepared by spotting a collagen-encapsulated cell suspension atop each collagen spot overlaid with hyaluronan and covering the DataChip slide with the collagen-gel drops containing MCF7 cells with a sterile glass slide. When the chip is placed in an incubator, the cells grow in a three-dimensional manner. For immediate toxicity assay, various chemicals or drug candidates may be placed on the hepatic cells which are encapsulated in the collagen spots on the chip
Further, the toxicity of drug candidates was also studied with a model emulating the human liver because most drugs are metabolized in the liver. Even if a drug is non-toxic, its metabolites are generated by the liver. The MetaChip mimics the effects of metabolism in the human liver where drugs are metabolized. In the MetaChip, metabolism starts immediately after liver enzymes are exposed to drug candidates at respective spots on the chip slide. The two chips, MetaChip and DataChip may be used in combination. When combined with the MetaChip in a sandwich pattern, the DataChip can analyze the metabolites produced by the MetaChip and determine whether the metabolites are toxic or not. Thus, the fusion of these two chips allows high throughput screening (HTS) makes it possible to apply any type of cellular meolecules to the DataChip. Thus, cells of other organs as well as hepatic cells can be tested. For example, the conjunction of the DataChip with the MetaChip enables various compounds to be assayed for toxicity to dermal cells, thus finding applications in the development of cosmetics.
Nowadays, drug candidates can be, as described above, assayed for toxicity using a combination of the DataChip and the MetaChip in a sandwich pattern. The conjunction of the DataChip with the MetaChip is usually achieved by immobilizing the chips to respective stamping jigs, followed by combining the chips with each other with the position adjusted by a pin. After the combined DataChip and MetaChip is fixed, the upper frame is removed to give a biochip, a combination of the DataChip and the MetaChip. However, manual stamping processes are relatively poor in efficiency upon repetition and do not ensure accurate positioning and conjunction for the DataChip and the MetaChip, decreasing the reliability of the toxicity assay. In addition, manual stamping processes are too bothersome because they must be individually conducted for various drug candidates, as well as producing problems in accuracy and reliability.

Stamping apparatus for biochips and method for operation thereof


A computer system has a plurality of notifications in a notification history, including a first notification of a first event of a first event type and a second notification of a second event of the first event type. The first notification and the second notification are coalesced in the notification history. In response to detecting an additional event of the first event type, a third notification is created for the additional event. After creating the third notification, in response to a request to display a wake screen, the wake screen is displayed with the third notification. The third notification is displayed without information about the first notification and the second notification. After the third notification has been displayed, in response to a request to display the notification history, the notification history is displayed with a coalesced representation of the first notification and the second notification.

The use of portable electronic devices has increased significantly in recent years, with many applications typically residing in the memory of such devices. Exemplary applications include communications applications (e.g., messaging and telephone), calendar applications, news applications, media playback applications (e.g., podcast, music, and video), payment applications, reminder applications, social media applications, and service delivery applications. These applications generate events, which contain information of varying degrees of importance to users. Notifications that correspond to the generated events may be displayed. Exemplary notifications may include digital images, video, text, icons, control elements (such as buttons) and/or other graphics to notify users of events. Exemplary applications that generate notifications include messaging applications (e.g., iMessage or Messages from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.), calendar applications (e.g., iCal or Calendar from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.), news applications (e.g., Apple News from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.), media playback applications (e.g., Podcasts, Apple Music and iTunes from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.), payment applications (e.g., Apple Pay from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.), reminder applications (e.g., Reminders from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.), social media applications, and service delivery applications.
But user interfaces for controlling delivery of notifications, and methods of navigating to and from such interfaces, are cumbersome and inefficient. For example, the notifications may be displayed in a confusing or excessively numerous manner, and navigation to and from interfaces that contain notifications may also be confusing. These methods take longer than necessary, thereby wasting energy. This latter consideration is particularly important in battery-operated devices.

Devices, methods, and graphical user interfaces for proactive management of notifications


An object of the present invention is to provide a soft biomass decomposition method, a production method for a target substance from soft biomass, and an enzyme or group of enzymes for decomposing soft biomass. Provided is a soft biomass decomposition method, including a step of bringing an enzyme selected from specific exocellulase, endocellulase, and processive endocellulase into contact with soft biomass such as bagasse and rice straw. Also provided is a production method for a target substance from soft biomass by incorporating the soft biomass decomposition method as a step. Further provided is an enzyme or group of enzymes for decomposing soft biomass selected from specific exocellulase, endocellulase, and processive endocellulase.

There have been a wide variety of attempts to develop technologies for producing a useful substance such as alcohols such as ethanol and butanol, and lactic acid by using as a raw material woody biomass such as wooden chips or soft biomass such as rice straw and bagasse.
Production of the useful substance from those biomass raw materials requires decomposition of the biomass raw materials to sugar and subsequent fermentation of the obtained sugar. In recent years, the biomass raw materials have been saccharified mainly by enzymes. However, the biomass raw materials include various impurities other than cellulose, and therefore, there is a problem in that the enzymes hardly act on the biomass raw materials. In this context, in order to enhance saccharification efficiency, there are developed various methods involving, as pretreatment, subjecting the biomass raw materials to steam treatment using dilute sulfuric acid, hot compressed water, or the like, treating the biomass raw materials with a supercritical ammonia fluid, and the like (for example, see Patent Literature 1).
In addition, there have been attempts to develop microorganisms useful for decomposition of the biomass raw materials.
For example, Patent Literature 2 discloses a method of improving decomposition capability for cellulose contained in the biomass raw materials by expressing a chimeric enzyme in which endocellulase (GH5) derived from Acidothermus cellulolyticus is fused with cellobiohydrolase (CBH) derived from Trichoderma reesei in Trichoderma reesei producing cellulase as a host.
Further, while it is necessary to conduct a saccharification step and a fermentation step independently for obtaining the useful substance such as ethanol from the biomass, there have been attempts to develop technologies capable of conducting these steps at once.
For example, Patent Literature 3 discloses providing a microorganism capable of directly hydrolyzing and fermenting lignocellulose-based biomass by enhancing activity of cellulase by modification. As one of the cellulases whose activity is to be enhanced, there are given hydrolase identified in Clostridium phytofermentans and the like, and a polynucleotide encoding the hydrolase and the like are disclosed.
In addition, Patent Literature 4 discloses a technology for expressing a chimeric protein including some cellulase derived from a microorganism not producing a cellulosome and a dockrin domain derived from a microorganism producing a cellulosome in yeast with a view to forming an artificial cellulosome. However, an artificial cellulosome is not formed in yeast in this literature.
The cellulosome is an enzyme complex formed of two components, i.e., a scaffolding protein (CbpA) not exhibiting enzyme activity and a group of cellulosomal enzymes. The scaffolding protein (CbpA) has a cellulose-binding domain (CBD), Cohesin domains, and Surface Layer Homology (SLH) domains. The group of cellulosomal enzymes have a dockerin domain to bind to the Cohesin domain of the scaffold protein (CbpA). Those components bind to each other to form the enzyme complex (cellulosome), and thereby, cellulose and hemicellulose can be degraded efficiently.
It can be said that microorganisms forming cellulosomes are useful microorganisms for decomposition and fermentation of the biomass raw materials. As such microorganisms, Clostridium cellulovorans (hereinafter sometimes referred to as C. cellulovorans)) and the like are known.
Clostridium cellulovorans (C. cellulovorans) is a gram-positive obligatory anaerobic mesophilic bacterium. The inventors of the present invention have confirmed that Clostridium cellulovorans (C. cellulovorans) has a genome size about 1 Mb larger than those of Clostridium cellulolyticum and Clostridium thermocellum belonging to the same genus Clostridium (see, for example, Non Patent Literature 1).
Moreover, Non Patent Literature 2 discloses that Clostridium cellulovorans (C. cellulovorans) produced useful substances such as acetate and butyrate by fermenting a test sample containing cellobiose and the like and also suggests that ethanol was produced.
Further, as a group of cellulosomal enzymes derived from Clostridium cellulovorans (C. cellulovorans), Endoglucanase E (EngE), which is endocellulase of Glycosyl Hydrolase family 5 (GH5), Endoglucanase K (EngK), which is processive endocellulase of Glycosyl Hydrolase family 9 (GH9), Endoglucanase H (EngH), which is processive endocellulase of Glycosyl Hydrolase family 9 (GH9), Exoglucanase S (ExgS), which is exocellulase of Glycosyl Hydrolase family 48 (GH48), and the like are known.
Of those, it is disclosed that EngK exhibits high activity for insoluble cellulose (see, for example, Non Patent Literature 3). In addition, it is also disclosed that each of a mixture of ExgS and EngE, a mixture of ExgS and EngH, and a mixture of EngE and EngH has specific activity for crystalline cellulose as compared to EngE, EngH, or ExgS alone (see, for example, Non Patent Literature 4).
As described above, it is suggested that Clostridium cellulovorans (C. cellulovorans) or an enzyme or group of enzymes derived from this microorganism are useful for decomposition and fermentation of the biomass.
However, the biomass such as woody biomass and soft biomass includes various impurities other than cellulose in accordance with the type of the biomass, unlike test samples, insoluble cellulose, crystalline cellulose, and the like. Therefore, direct decomposition and fermentation of the actual biomass (bagasse, rice straw, and the like) are not always possible.
Accordingly, there is a demand for a method enabling direct decomposition and fermentation of the actual biomass without the need to conduct a step of pretreatment and the like as well as the need to conduct the saccharification step and fermentation step independently. There is also a demand for a microorganism, an enzyme or group of enzymes, and the like capable of decomposing and fermenting the actual biomass in accordance with its type.

NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION MIE UNIVERSITY