A network management system which can easily rebuild the system even when a switch in the configuration of cars occurs. A monitor apparatus including monitor cameras (1-1˜1-4, . . . ) and recording devices (1-5, . . . ) in each car (21a, 21b, . . . ) is networked. Each intra-car network is constructed as a LAN, a router (1-10 (RT1), . . . ) is connected to the LAN in each car, and an inter-car network is constructed as a WAN. The same apparatus in each car and apparatuses provided at the same positions are connected to a port of the same port number and the same LAN address is allocated to such an apparatus. As for an access from a WAN side, which apparatus is accessed is defined only by a difference in port number. Network information of the car switched car can be set merely by switching the setting of the WAN address of the router, . . . .

In recent years, a network management system of a monitor form which has monitor cameras, video recording devices, network switches, and video display devices in railway cars, monitors a video of a situation in the car, and records video data into the recording devices has been operated.
FIGS. 10A to 10E show an operating method of a network management system in the related art for monitoring and recording a video in a car by using monitor cameras, video recording devices, network switches, and video display devices in railway cars. (a) in FIG. 10A is a schematic constructional diagram of a monitor system in cars of a 4-car configuration constructed by a car 11a of a car number 1 to a car 11d of a car number 4 . (b) to (e) in FIGS. 10B to 10E are diagrams showing construction tables of the cars 11a to 11d, respectively.
The monitor system of the car 11a of the car number 1 is constructed by, for example, monitor cameras 1A-1 to 1A-4, a recording device 1A-5, a display device 1A-6, a management device 1A-7, a network switch 1A-8 (SW1), and a car device 1A-9.
The monitor system of the car 11b of the car number 2 is constructed by monitor cameras 2A-1 to 2A-4, a recording device 2A-5, and a network switch 2A-8 (SW2).
The monitor system of the car 11c of the car number 3 is constructed by monitor cameras 3A-1 to 3A-4, a recording device 3A-5, and a network switch 3A-8 (SW3).
The monitor system of the car 11d of the car number 4 is constructed by monitor cameras 4A-1 to 4A-4, a recording device 4A-5, and a network switch 4A-8 (SW4).
The four monitor cameras provided for the cars 11a to 11d monitor, for example, regions near a front-1 door, a front-2 door, a rear-1 door, and a rear-2 door, respectively.
According to the monitor systems of the cars 11a to 11d, the network switches 1A-8 (SW1), 2A-8 (SW2), 3A-8 (SW3), and 4A-8 (SW4) are connected by signal lines 12a, 12b, and 12c, respectively.
As for an IP address of each device in the cars 11a to 11d, it is assumed that the addresses have unconditionally been allocated by a network group of, for example, "192.168.1.0/24" as shown in the construction table of (b) in FIG. 10B.
The management device 1A-7 provided for the car 11a previously manages the addresses of the monitor cameras, the recording devices, and the display devices of one configuration (the cars 11a to 11d) by a database.
In the case where a carman of the head car 11a or the last car 11d confirms a live video of the monitor camera of an arbitrary car by using the display devices 1A-6 and 4A-6, he designates "car number", "camera name or the like", and the like and makes a selection. At this time, by using the database managed by the management device 1A-7, each of the display devices 1A-6 and 4A-6 allows the carman to discriminate the IP address of the target monitor camera from "car number" and "camera name or the like", is networked to the target monitor camera by the IP address, obtains the live video, and displays the video to a display unit of its own device.
In the case where the carman confirms the recorded video of the monitor camera of an arbitrary car by the display devices 1A-6 and 4A-6, he designates not only "car number" and "camera name or the like" but also "time/date of the recorded video", "reproduction control of the recorded video", and the like and makes a selection. By using the database managed by the management device 1A-7, each of the display devices 1A-6 and 4A-6 allows the carman to discriminate the IP addresses of the recording devices 1A-5 to 4A-5 which recorded the video of the target monitor camera from "car number" and "camera name or the like", is networked to the target monitor camera by the IP addresses, obtains the recorded video, and displays the video to a display unit of its own device.
As a related art regarding the invention, there has been known such a technique that in order to allow a central monitor center to concentratedly monitor image monitor targets existing in a wide area, a plurality of devices at monitoring positions are grouped and connected by a LAN (Local Area Network), and further, a plurality of groups are connected by a WAN (Wide Area Network), thereby monitoring (for example, refer to Patent Literature 1).

Network management system and internetworking unit


A method for nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy of a sample comprises preparation of the sample and carrying out an NMR spectroscopy measurement. Preparation includes excitation of long lived coherences (LLC) between the singlet state S0 and the central triplet state T0 of nuclei of the sample. The thermal equilibrium Boltzmann distribution (Iz+Sz) is thereby transformed into a difference (Iz−Sz), which is flipped to the transverse plane, and irradiation of the sample with an rf-field is initiated. The LLC is sustained by maintaining the rf-irradiation during an interval t1 and the LLC is converted into observable magnetisation by interrupting the rf-irradiation. The method allows nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy measurements with improved spectral resolution.

The invention concerns a method for nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy of a sample comprising preparation of the sample and carrying out an NMR spectroscopy measurement. A method as described above is known from reference 8.
It has been shown recently1, 2 that it is possible to excite and sustain long-lived states (LLS) in systems comprising at least two coupled spins I=S=½. These LLS correspond to a difference between the populations of the anti-symmetric singlet state S0=N(|αβ−|βα) (where N=2−1/2) and the mean population of the three symmetric triplet states T+1=|αα, T0=N(|αβ+|βα), and T−1=|ββ. In order to sustain LLS, the spins must be rendered magnetically equivalent, either by removing the sample from the magnetic field, or by applying a suitable radio-frequency (rf) field. Typically, a continuous rf irradiation with an amplitude ω1=γB1, using an rf carrier placed half-way between the two chemical shifts, ωRF=(ω1−ωS)/2 can sustain LLS. These LLS correspond to diagonal elements of the matrix representation of the Liouvillian that describes the time-evolution in the presence of the rf field. Because the eigenvalues λLLS=RLLS=1/TLLS are real, the LLS relax mono-exponentially without oscillations. The lifetimes TLLS of LLS can be much longer than the spin-lattice relaxation time (TLLS>>T1), in favourable cases as much as a 36 times longer3. Spin polarisation has been preserved for tens of minutes using LLS in nitrous oxide4.
ELF Experiments
Levitt and co-workers discussed the behaviour of coherent superpositions of symmetric and antisymmetric states in a slightly different context than the present invention. In their ingenious experiments, the Zeeman polarized sample was taken out of the magnetic field, which in our language brings about a transformation from the product base into singlet-triplet base. In a vanishing magnetic field, it is possible to bring about a Rabi nutation of the two-level system comprising the S0 and T0 states by irradiation with an electromagnetic field at extremely low frequency (ELF)5, typically on the order of a few tens of Hz. In the case of 15N2O, they determined the scalar coupling J(15N, 15N) with unparalleled accuracy, since the linewidths are on the order of a few mHz, and the corresponding lifetimes on the order of 100 s.
'Transverse Relaxation Optimized Spectroscopy' (TROSY)
Wüthrich and co-workers made significant progress in improving the spectral resolution by seeking to extend the lifetimes of coherences. Their idea, which has become known under the acronym TROSY (for Transverse Relaxation Optimised Spectroscopy), was to use the mutual cancellation (negative interference) between the dipole-dipole (DD) and chemical shift anisotropy (CSA) interactions to trim relaxation rates6. In rapidly rotating side-chain methyl protons, there are similar beneficial interference effects between dipolar interactions7. The TROSY method has brought the threshold of molecular sizes up to which NMR is useful for structural biology of single-domain proteins from ca. 20 kDa to ca. 50 kDa. The use of selective deuteration techniques can help to further extend lifetimes of single-quantum coherences, since the number of dipolar interactions between the observed nuclei and other spins with high gyromagnetic ratios is reduced and, therefore, the remaining nuclei have slower relaxation rates. The combination of TROSY with selective deuteration has increased the molecular weight threshold considerably: recently, an NMR analysis of the dynamics in the 670 kDa 20S proteasome core particle was reported8.
Bio-NMR
The main strengths of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) lie in its atomic resolution and its non-invasive nature. To extract information from different sites the signals have to be resolved, i.e., have a frequency separation larger than their linewidth. As the linewidths are proportional to the decay rate constant of the observed spin coherence, the above requirement amounts to creating spin coherences with slow relaxation rates. This has been one of the main goals of liquid-state NMR spectroscopists for the last decade, ever since it was established that this would allow us to analyse more complicated molecules.
Object of the invention is to further improve spectral resolution in nuclear magnetic resonance sperocopy measurements.

Method for nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy measurements using long-lived coherences (LLC)

Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne


Representative embodiments of a distributed processing method of facilitating interactive analytics of streaming data records by receiving the data records at a plurality of distributed computational nodes, establishing and storing dimensions corresponding to attributes of the data records, parsing the streaming data records to identify matches to at least one of the dimensions and based thereon, reducing the number of data records to create a targeted subset of the data, re-distributing the targeted subsets of the streaming data records among the distributed computational nodes in accordance with the dimensions stored on the nodes, updating a database storing measures of the dimensions in accordance with the targeted subsets of the streaming data records, and using the database to respond to a query based on measures associated with one or more of the dimensions.

Interactive analytics refers to the real-time manipulation of data to thereby answer ad-hoc queries concerning that data. Because it is interactive, it has a requirement for low-latency (e.g., sub-second) response time for the queries. For example, a wireless telecommunication provider may offer voice and data services via a cellular network; the provider may wish to analyze, in real-time, the effects of new services, operations, or products on the network. For example, if a new type of mobile handset is available, the provider may want to know (i) how much data traffic in a particular area was generated by the devices in the past hour (or other amount of time) or (ii) how much data traffic in the area was generated by a particular application running on the devices in the past hour. The answers to these queries must be available very quickly to be useful.
To be most useful, the allowable queries need to be highly flexible. For example, the size of the queried areas may vary from towns to cities, states, and regions; the devices queried may vary from particular makes or models to product lines, and the data transmitted to or from the devices may vary from all data or only data sent by a particular application or application type.
In many situations the data is not in a convenient format to answer these queries quickly or efficiently. The raw data may be, for example, low-level, high-volume, and streaming in nature. Low-level data, as the term is used herein, means that the data is not organized into high-level categories such as "the amount of data traffic in the Washington, D.C. area in the past hour", but rather is made available in highly disaggregated form. The disaggregated form could be, for example, a collection of data records each having a record number and a flat list of items of data (e.g., user ID, device ID, application ID, data bytes transferred, and/or region ID). Each record may correspond to, for example, a single transfer of some number of bytes of data traffic to a particular application (e.g., a web browser) running on a particular device (as identified by its device ID) operated by a particular user at a specific moment in time. Note that the device type may not be given directly, but instead may be derived from the device ID. Furthermore, the records may be physically distributed (i.e., records for different regions may be generated in different locations).
The data is also high-volume: a large network operator may have hundreds of millions of customers, for example, many of whom are using their devices at any given time, so that the aggregate number of records being generated is very large. A few billion records may be generated per hour, for example. Finally, the data is streaming in nature. That is, it is generated more-or-less continuously in time.
One challenge in managing and analyzing such data is to provide an analyst (or other submitter of a query) with the ability to answer a wide range of flexible queries with answers based on low-level, high-volume, streaming records with sub-second response time. The manipulation of data to answer these queries may be solved using a data model called online analytical processing ("OLAP") cubes. Conceptually, data in an OLAP cube is organized into a set of independent dimensions; the cube may have any number of dimensions. In the foregoing example, the dimensions could be device-type, region, and application, because the example queries concern devices, regions, and applications. The items stored in the cube are referred to as measures. In the present case, the measure is number of bytes transferred in the past hour ("data traffic"). Finally, specific instances of a dimension are referred to as labels. In the example, the labels might include "IPHONE 4" (for the device-type dimension) and "Washington, D.C." (for the region dimension).
FIG. 1 shows an illustration of this data layout in an OLAP cube 100. The cube has a first dimension "device-type," a second dimension "application," and a third dimension "region." To answer a query, the cube returns a sum of the measures in the cells corresponding to the intersection of the appropriate layers of the cube. For example, to determine the number of bytes transferred in the past hour by web browsers running on IPHONE 4s in the Washington, D.C. area, the system retrieves a single cell 102 that lies at the intersection of the "Washington, D.C." slice 104 of the region dimension, the "IPHONE 4" slice 106 of the device-type dimension, and the "web browser" slice 108 of the application dimension. Such operations may be done with sub-second response time. In practice, however, such data is not usually stored in a cube organization, but rather in a database that is suited for storing and performing queries on data with this logical structure; OLAP cubes may satisfy the need for sub-second response time for a flexible set of ad hoc queries, the data organization typically handled by such systems is not low-level, high-volume, streaming data.
Another technology relevant to interactive data analytics on large streaming data sets is cluster computing. A compute cluster is a set of general-purpose computing systems (i.e., nodes) having a directly attached local storage (e.g., a hard disk) connected by a local area network (e.g., a single, high speed switch). Using such clusters it is possible to process large amounts of data in relatively short time intervals. The basic principle of cluster computing is divide and conquer. To process a large data file, the file is divided up and a portion is placed on the local storage of each compute node. Each node then processes its local data, optionally communicating with one or more of the other compute nodes. While cluster computing has the potential to process large amounts of data, however, cluster computing is not well suited to processing streaming data. Cluster computing assumes that data is resident on local storage and does not provide any particular advantage when data is not on local storage, but rather is made available incrementally over time (streaming).
Thus, a need exists for a way to query, in real-time, large, constantly changing, low-level data sets.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Distributed processing of streaming data records


An electromagnetically operable valve having an electromagnetic circuit which includes at least one solenoid coil, a core used as internal pole, and an armature, as well as a magnet housing at least partially surrounding the solenoid coil. The magnet housing is produced from a sheet-metal blank with the aid of rolling or bending. The magnet housing has a middle housing area that is adjoined in the axial direction on both sides by attachment areas which have a smaller outside diameter than the housing area. The valve is particularly suitable as a fuel injector for fuel-injection systems of mixture-compressing internal combustion engines with externally supplied ignition.

The invention relates to an electromagnetically operable valve and a method for producing a magnet housing for a valve.
Conventional electromagnetically operable valves have an actuator that includes at least one solenoid coil, a magnet armature for opening and closing the valve and an outer conductive element, such as a magnet case, i.e., a magnet housing or conductive bracket, conducting the magnetic flux.
Usually such magnet housings are produced by surface machining. Lathing, milling, boring and fine-finishing steps are conventional methods for producing a magnet housing.
Furthermore, German Unexamined Patent Application No. 40 03 229 or U.S. Pat. No. 5,544,816 describe producing magnet housings for electromagnetically operable valves by deep drawing. In that case, the magnet housings they have a wide opening at one axial end to permit axial insertion of a solenoid coil. Additional covering elements are necessary in the region of the wide opening to close the magnetic circuit. To pass coil pins through, extra feed-through openings or cutouts must be provided in the magnet housing which are formed by boring or milling.
Another design possibility of an outer magnet housing is for two bracket-type conductive elements to partially surround the solenoid coil, as described in German Unexamined Patent Application No. 38 25 135. For example, these conductive elements are punched components brought into the desired form by shaping. Such conductive elements can also be executed as sintered brackets.
Independent of the magnet housings mentioned, German Unexamined Patent Application No. 39 04 448 to describes producing a magnet armature from a sheet-metal strip of slight thickness. The magnet armature, together with a sleeve-type connecting part and a spherical valve-closure member, is part of an axially moveable valve needle. A section is first punched out in the desired form from a sheet metal and is subsequently rolled or bent in such a way that a magnet armature is formed having a circular periphery.
The valve of the present invention has the advantage that it can be produced and mounted in a very simple manner. The magnet housing, at least partially surrounding the solenoid coil, is advantageously formed such that the solenoid coil can be inserted into it in the radial direction. The magnet housing is formed so that no additional components are necessary for closing the magnetic circuit around the solenoid coil. The magnet housing can be ideally mounted in the valve due to its shaping.
A further advantage is that reduced tolerance demands are made on the outside diameter of the core and valve-seat support, as well as the inside diameter of the magnet housing, without adversely influencing the magnetic junction between these components.
Additional advantageous further developments and improvements of the valve are possible.
The attachment areas are advantageously segmented, the segments being formed by a plurality of recesses in these attachment areas. The segments act like a collet and can be easily opened during mounting by a slight force action. Thus, the formation of a cutting and the development of scratches are avoided. Since the collet-like attachment areas are under prestress, the position of the magnet housing in the valve, e.g., on the core, is already well fixed in position after mounting.
The method of the present invention for producing a magnet housing for a valve has the advantage that a magnet housing can be produced in a simple manner which can largely surround a solenoid coil in the axial direction and in the circumferential direction without additional measures being necessary for closing the magnetic circuit. The magnet housing can already be formed using the method of the present invention in such a way that no further outer magnetic-circuit components are necessary, and no pass-through openings or cutouts have to be introduced using additional cutting-work methods such as milling or boring.

Electromagnetically operable valve and method for producing a magnet housing for a valve


A pair of stabilizer straps for a spa cover lift mechanism for foldable spa covers used to protect and retain heat in spas and similar apparatus, the stabilizer straps being spaced apart and having one end fastened to the back side of a generally square or rectangular cabinet and an opposite end to the spa cover, wherein a conventional lift mechanism has side arms with first ends pivotally connected to opposite sides of the spa cabinet displaced from the back side and second ends connected to a cross member located at a spa cover fold, the stabilizer straps aiding in evenly displacing a folded cover to the back side of the spa cabinet for use of the spa.

This invention relates to improvements in spa cover lift mechanisms which are typically a mechanical apparatus connected to a spa or, more specifically, to a spa cabinet, and engage a spa cover for removal of the cover.
A conventional spa cover has a thermally insulating core of foam material that is usually braced by one or more internal structural cross members, and covered by a weather resistant sheet material, such as a vinyl composite. The typical cover currently sold combines an insulated foldable cover with a depending skirt that is provided with spaced strap loops on the front and back to interconnect opposite sides of the cover when folded.
It is to be understood that such strap loops can be added to a spa cover not having these appendages or, alternately, other attachment means can be included to connect the stabilizer straps to the spa cover and/or the spa cabinet.
The spa cover lift apparatus for a foldable spa cover of the type described has side arms on each side of the spa that have first ends pivotally connected to the spa and second ends with a cross member that is locatable at the cover fold. The spa cover is folded over the cross member during removal and displaced to the back side of the spa or spa cabinet by manually grabbing the upper portion of one arm and lifting and displacing the arm and carried cover. Despite the rigidity of the members making up the lift apparatus, the mechanism and carried cover cants or twists, moving the cover off center before dropping into the stored position and re-aligning. The spaced stabilizer straps connected to the cover and to the back side of the spa cabinet forces alignment of the displacing cover during the removal process, thereby easing removal and minimizing strain on the components of the lift apparatus.


A wound closure apparatus and associated methods are provided which utilize blood fluid by activating the clotting cascade of blood fluid within a substantially enclosed sterile container then introducing the blood fluid to the wound site to complete clotting. An apparatus for providing ways of inhibiting anticoagulating agents and slowing fibrin clot degradation are also disclosed. Kits are also disclosed. The invention provides a clotting cascade initiation apparatus including a substantially enclosed sterile containment chamber within which an aliquot of blood fluid, either autologous or from donor sources, can be received and retained. In preferred embodiments, the sterile containment chamber further includes a heparin binding agent which will bind heparin and remove it from the blood fluid. In further embodiments, the containment chamber will also include a procoagulating agent, wherein a clotting cascade can be initiated when the blood fluid is accepted into the sterile containment chamber.

The present invention relates to a novel apparatus and method for surgical wound closure applications. Numerous medical applications exist where sealing of biological tissue is desired. U.S. Pat. No. 5,510,102 to Cochrum identifies a variety of applications including traumas of the liver, spleen, pancreas, lung, bone, etc., cardiovascular and vascular applications, such as microvascular anastomoses, vascular grafts, intraoperative bleeding and aortic repair; and the like.
The described invention provides a means to remove the heparin from anticoagulated whole blood. A sample of blood intended for either diagnostic analysis or therapeutic use is drawn into a blood collection apparatus. The blood is exposed to a material that has an immobilized substrate that removes a negatively charged anticoagulating agent, preferably heparin, from the sample. Blood drawn into and across the immobilized biomaterial will be deheparinized, and therefore will be capable of clot formation.
The most prominent application is the sealing of a vascular wound resulting from percutaneous entry, as is frequently encountered in angiography, angioplasty and atherectomy procedures. Percutaneous vascular access is typically required in the context of minimally invasive surgical procedures. These techniques are often used to reduce trauma to the patient. Reduced trauma typically translates to improved patient comfort, minimized procedural complications, and lower costs. The vessel accessed is typically the femoral or radial artery. Access involves placement of an introducer's distal tip beneath the patient's skin and through the arterial wall. To the extent possible, percutaneous access preserves the integrity of the tissue covering the artery. As a result, when the introducer is to be removed, the arterial access site is not exposed and the arterial wound is preferably closed without cutting down through the overlaying tissue to expose the site.
To accomplish hemostasis at the wound, numerous methods of post-introducer arterial closure have been tried. The prior art devices used in these methods may be broadly classified into two groups, those that mechanically achieve hemostasis and those that rely on clotted blood or components of blood to form all or a part of the hemostatic agent. By example, sutures, whether placed through an open surgical exposure of the artery or by means of a device designed to place sutures percutaneously are associated with mechanical methods, as these methods rely on mechanically closing the opening in the artery. The second group, those using clotted blood, include the predominant method of treatment, manual compression of the wound site. In this method, after the effects of any anticoagulating drugs have worn off, an attendant applies compression to the wound site until a clot of sufficient strength has formed to stop the bleeding. Alternatively, the attendant may apply any of various mechanical devices that will hold compression, such as a sand bag or a pneumatic clamp, until hemostasis is achieved.
Recently, a variety of devices have entered the market that aid in achieving hemostasis, even in the event of a patient whose blood is still actively anticoagulated. These devices typically rely on mechanical methods such as sutures or upon various biologic substances, such as collagen and thrombin that are known to induce clotting of blood even when anticoagulating agents are present. The differences between the devices are largely in the delivery platforms used to position the biologic materials. Disadvantages of the prior art devices and methods vary depending on the method employed. Generally speaking, mechanical devices that deploy sutures are complex, expensive and technically difficult to employ. In addition, mechanical closure of the opening in an arterial wall can lead to a permanent restriction at that site as the diameter of the artery is reduced when the opening is pulled together, much like a purse string. Open vascular access closure by means of suturing requires the skill of a specialist, a vascular surgeon, a specialist not required for the procedure itself and, therefore, an additional expense. Suturing by means of a specially designed percutaneous device offers the advantage of a very rapid cessation of bleeding through the arteriotomy, but can lead to significant issues if the device malfunctions and becomes entangled in place. In addition, secondary bleeding, that from the capillary bed of the adjacent soft tissue can be left untreated. This secondary bleeding can continue for extended periods, causing weeping at the wound site and potentially leading to infections.
Current methods, which rely in whole or in part on clotted blood, also suffer from significant drawbacks. The compression method requires that the patient's blood return to normal clotting status by means of the natural metabolization of anticoagulating drugs. This process can take several hours, a period during which the patient must remain in the vicinity of the catheterization lab with the procedural sheath still in place. The compression period, once it begins, can last for extended periods, sometimes more than two hours. This process is uncomfortable for the patient, often painful, and is tedious for the attendant or attendants as well. In addition, hemorrhaging can occur if the site is not held properly or if the compression period is terminated too early. Also, due to the time involved, both in terms of attendant time and cath lab time, this process tends to be quite expensive.
The devices, which have been designed to be used in association with methods that improve on devices using clotted blood, generally work in a more rapid manner, but not without additional risks. The biologic materials employed, collagen and thrombin, are very potent clot inducing substances, so much so that if they are inadvertently deployed into the artery rather than outside adjacent to the artery, a limb or life threatening clot may form inside of the artery. This condition can be difficult to treat and, in the best of circumstances, require dramatic, extensive intervention. In addition, the biologic materials used are derived from animal sources, typically bovine, and therefore, bring along other inherent risks associated with such sources. Included among these risks are allergic reactions and the possibility of contracting bovine spongiform encepholapathy (BSE), otherwise known as "mad cow's disease." The prior art devices are often technically difficult to use and their use can inhibit reaccess at the same site in situations where an additional procedure needs to be performed on the patient, such as in an emergency follow-up procedure. Transmission of infectious disease can also occur when the material used is manufactured from pooled human blood as reported in Opth. Surg., 3:640 (1992). Autologous preparations like fibrin glue, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,674,394 to Whitmore, are well known, but significant preparation with the associated labor and material costs is required and typically, an additional thrombin material is still required at the wound site.
Despite the need for a device and a method that overcomes the limitations of the prior art, the prior art devices and methods have failed to adequately address the needs for a rapid and efficacious method of closing vascular and other wounds. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that there is a need for an efficient way of closing wounds. The present invention provides advantages over the prior devices and the prior methods used to close wounds, and also offers other advantages over the prior art and solve other problems associated therewith.

Clotting cascade initiating apparatus and methods of use and methods of closing wounds


A micro-electronic power amplifier that defines a uniform thermal impedance includes an output stage including a single transistor array including a plurality of emitter leads and a single thermal coupling device that thermally couples together each of the emitter leads.

A key component of a cellular phone using the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) is the Power Amplifier Module (PAM). Ruggedness of the PAM is determined by load mismatches that the PAM can survive under battery and temperature extremes. Under these extreme conditions, the output stage of the PAM is severely stressed.
The output stage consists of several transistors in parallel in order to meet the power requirements of the GSM phone. As the PAM is stressed, small thermal differences in the emitter paths between the parallel transistors in the output stage can lead to unmatched base-emitter voltages (Vbe). In the extreme environment of high battery voltage and load mismatches where the currents are significantly high, the small differences in Vbe can lead to thermal runaway and the self destruction of the output stage of the PAM. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a PAM that reduces the thermal differences in the output stage and the effects of load mismatches.


Provided is an image forming apparatus in which one of developing units that respectively contain visible toners of black, yellow, magenta, and cyan other than the developing unit that contains the visible toner of black is replaced by a developing unit that contains a transparent fluorescent toner. Consequently, a document image can be expressed by the visible toner of black and a designated color which falls within a color reproduction range determined by two of the visible toners of yellow, magenta, and cyan, and an additional pattern which is an additional information image for preventing falsification and forgery can be printed on the document image with the use of the transparent fluorescent toner.

Today, image forming apparatuses such as multifunction printing apparatuses (MFP apparatuses) are widely used as one of OA apparatuses related to information. Such image forming apparatuses can easily output (print) image information supplied from a host apparatus, such as a personal computer, connected to LAN. In addition, many image forming apparatuses have a scanner function, and therefore can easily copy a document.
However, there is a problem that such image forming apparatuses undesirably allow easy leakage of important information to an outside, although such image forming apparatuses conveniently allow easy printing and copying of image information. In view of this, various devices and methods for preventing leakage of information that occurs through printing and copying have been conventionally proposed.
For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a technique of forming, on a recording sheet, an image created by adding an additional information image formed with the use of an invisible toner to an image formed with the use of a visible toner. The invisible toner is a toner which can hardly be observed under visible light, and is, for example, a toner containing a fluorescent substance that glows when irradiated by ultraviolet light.
As long as the additional information image is formed on a printed material with the use of an invisible toner, it is possible to judge whether the printed material is the original one or not by checking presence or absence of the additional information image. That is, a document on which the additional information image is formed is the original one, and a document on which the additional information image cannot be found is a copy (false document) of the original one. Moreover, even in a case where an original document is falsified, and then the document thus falsified is copied and even in a case where a digitalized original document is falsified, and then the document thus falsified is printed, an additional information image is removed from such documents. Accordingly, even in these cases, it is possible to judge whether a document is a falsified one or not by checking presence or absence of an additional information image.


The present invention relates to a synthetic saccharide of general formula (I) that is related to Klebsiella pneumoniae serotype O1, O2, O2ac, and O8 O-polysaccharide and carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae ST258 O-polysaccharide and conjugate thereof. Said synthetic saccharide, said conjugate and pharmaceutical composition containing said synthetic saccharide or said conjugate are useful for prevention and/or treatment of diseases associated with Klebsiella pneumoniae. Furthermore, the synthetic saccharide of general formula (I) is useful as marker in immunological assays for detection of antibodies against Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria.

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a gram-negative, facultative anaerobic, rod-shaped bacterium colonizing mostly of the respiratory and urinary tracts and causing K. pneumoniae infections (KPIs). KPI is the main cause of nosocomial infections, primarily affecting immunocompromised patients. In the last ten years, infections caused by K. pneumoniae are becoming an important challenge in health-care settings due to the emergence of strains resistant to almost all available antimicrobial agents and their worldwide dissemination. Infections caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae are responsible of high rates of morbidity and mortality. Thus, prevention of infections caused by K. pneumoniae is highly desirable, and vaccination of risk groups is the most cost-efficient and the most powerful means.
Like most bacteria, K. pneumoniae usually develop capsules composed of complex polysaccharides on the bacterial surface, which are highly immunogenic and nontoxic. In comparison with proteins, carbohydrates are evolutionarily more stable and have been exploited in a series of commonly employed vaccines. When covalently connected to a carrier protein, oligosaccharide antigens can elicit long lasting, T-cell-dependent protection. K. pneumoniae typically expresses both, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and capsular polysaccharide (CPS, K-antigen), which contribute to the virulence of this species. LPS is a main surface antigen built of the O-specific polysaccharide (O-PS) containing different number of oligosaccharide repeating units (RU), core oligosaccharide and lipid A. O-PS structures (O-antigens) define O-serotypes of Klebsiella strains. Variability of K. pneumoniae O-antigens is currently limited to 9 major O-serotypes: O1, O2, O2ac, O3 (including O3a and O3b), O4, O5, O7, O8, O12 and a few subtypes within these serogroups such as subtypes O2a, O2ab, O2ae, O2aeh, and O2afg of serotype O2. Klebsiella pneumoniae has also been classified serologically into numerous capsular (K) types. Therefore, various K. pneumoniae strains having different K antigens belong to a specific O-antigen serotype. For example, numerous K-serotypes of Klebsiella pneumoniae strains belonging to O1 serotype have been identified (Infection and Immunity, 1983, p. 56-61). Most popular K-serotypes of Klebsiella pneumoniae strains belonging to O1 serotype are O1:K1, O1:K2, O1:K7, O1:K8, O1:K10, O1:K12, O1:K16, O1:K19, O1:K21, O1:K22, O1:K27, O1:K34, O1:K42, O1:K45, O1:K55, O1:K57, O1:K62, O1:K65, O1:K66, O1:K69 and O1:K70.
Recently, carbapenem resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) has emerged and spread globally. Carbapenem resistant K. pneumoniae (CRKP) is a major health concern due to the very limited treatment options. Such CRKP has usually carbapenemases that are able to cleave most beta-lactam type antibiotics. A specific lineage termed sequence type (ST) 258 has been shown to be responsible for the majority of KPC-producing Klebsiella infections. It is also known that CRKP ST258 strains have different capsular polysaccharide (CPS).
Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and capsular polysaccharide (CPS), two surface components of Klebsiella pneumoniae are mainly discussed as candidates for an anti-Klebsiella vaccine. CPS has been proven to be highly immunogenic. However, the serious disadvantage of Klebsiella CPS vaccine is the great number of K-types (more 80 different antigens). In the utilization of LPS antigens in Klebsiella vaccines, the adverse toxic reactions caused mainly by the lipid A of LPS present a great drawback of active immunization with LPS-containing vaccines. In comparison with proteins, carbohydrates are evolutionarily more stable. When covalently connected to a carrier protein, polysaccharide or oligosaccharides can elicit long lasting, T-cell-dependent protection (Microbiol Rev 1995, 591). For a review on current development of carbohydrate vaccines see Chem. & Biol. 2014, 21, 38-50. For a review on automated carbohydrate synthesis and its application in the development of carbohydrate-based vaccines see Carbohydr. Res. 2008, 343, 1889-1896.
WO 2016/156338 A1 discloses synthetic carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae saccharides and conjugates thereof for the treatment of diseases caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria. Later, the same group showed by glycan microarray studies that substructures of the prepared hexasaccharide are not recognized by monoclonal antibody 1C8 that cross-reacts with natural CR-K. pneumoniae CPS (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2017, 56, 13973-13978).
The article Vaccine 1986, 4, 15 reports on a hexavalent Klebsiella vaccine composed of the capsular polysaccharide derived from K2, K3, K10, K21, K30 and K55 serotypes. The tested vaccine was found to be highly protective against fatal experimental Klebsiella K2 burn wound sepsis, thus indicating that functional antibody is elicited following vaccination.
Since O-antigens are far less variable than CPS, Klebsiella pneumoniae LPS O-antigens without the core oligosaccharides and lipid A can be potential target antigens for immunotherapy both prophylactic and therapeutic.
The repeating units of the O-antigens, i.e. O-polysaccharides of K. pneumoniae were elucidated (Journal of Bacteriology, 1996, p. 5205-5214; The Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2002, 277 (28), pp. 25070-25081) (see FIGS. 1 and 2).
The common structure of the O-polysaccharide (OPS) of K. pneumoniae serotype O1, O2a, O2ac consists of a disaccharide repeating unit:→3)-(β-D-Galf-(1→3)-α-D-Galp-(1→  (galactan I).
The common structure of the O-polysaccharide (OPS) of K. pneumoniae serotypes O1, and O8 consists of a disaccharide repeating unit:→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-α-D-Galp-(1→  (galactan II)
The repeating unit of the O-polysaccharide of K. pneumoniae serotype O1 consists of:[→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-α-D-Galp-(1→]m-[→3)-β-D-Galf-(1→3)-α-D-Galp-(1→]n.
The repeating unit of the O-polysaccharide of K. pneumoniae serotype O2a consists of:→3)-β-D-Galf-(1→3)-α-D-Galp-(1→.
The repeating unit of the O-polysaccharide of K. pneumoniae serotype O2ac consists of:[→5)-β-D-Galf-(1→3)-β-D-GlcNAc-(1→]m-[→3)-β-D-Galf-(1→3)-α-D-Galp-(1→]n.
The repeating unit of the O-polysaccharide of K. pneumoniae serotypes O2ae and O2aeh consists of:

The repeating unit of the O-polysaccharide of K. pneumoniae serotype O2afg, and carbapenem resistant K. pneumoniae (CRKP) ST258 strains consists of:

The repeating unit of the O-polysaccharide of K. pneumoniae serotype O8 consists of a pentasaccharide:

It is the objective of the present invention to provide a well-defined synthetic saccharide of general formula (I) that is related Klebsiella pneumoniae O-polysaccharide and contains a protective immunogenic O-antigen epitope i.e. an O-antigen epitope that elicits antibodies which protect against diseases caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae. Said saccharide can be conjugated to an immunogenic carrier to provide a conjugate and pharmaceutical composition thereof that are useful for prevention and/or treatment of diseases associated with Klebsiella pneumoniae. Furthermore, the synthetic saccharide of general formula (I) is useful as marker in immunological assays for detection of antibodies against Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria.
The objective of the present invention is solved by the teaching of the independent claims. Further advantageous features, aspects and details of the invention are evident from the dependent claims, the description, the figures, and the examples of the present application.


Polylactic acid-containing resin composition that includes a polylactic acid; and a (meth)acryl-silicone copolymer that includes a methyl (meth)acrylate; and a reactive silicone, wherein the (meth)acryl-silicone copolymer has a weight average molecular weight of 25,000 or more. Methods for producing a polylactic acid-containing resin composition, polylactic acid-containing resin films, polylactic acid-containing resin release films, polylactic acid-containing resin release films, and methods for producing polylactic acid-containing resin films are also disclosed.

Releasable sheets are roughly classified based on the composition of the substrate, into releasable sheets prepared from petroleum-derived synthetic polymers such as polyesters and polyolefins and releasable sheets prepared from various paper substrates such as glassine paper and clay coated paper. Releasable sheets are used for the purpose of protecting a pressure-sensitive adhesive surface or other material surfaces. Once the releasable sheets are no longer required after use, they are usually discarded. However, with environmental awareness growing in recent years, a petroleum-derived synthetic polymer film is sometimes regarded as imposing a high impact on the environment. On the other hand, a paper substrate subjected to a predetermined treatment may be recycled as wastepaper. From the standpoint of transparency, smoothness, dust resistance and the like, however, paper tends to be inferior to a releasable sheet formed from a synthetic polymer film.
Polylactic acid (PLA) is receiving significant consideration as an environmentally friendly resin. PLA is a biomass-derived resin that is classified as a renewable resource because it is made from plants such as corn or sugarcane. PLA requires a relatively small amount of energy for production and typically generates a relatively small amount of carbon dioxide per unit weight when incinerated.
However, PLA films tend to have poor heat resistance when compared to general-purpose aromatic polyester films. Therefore, unlike a polyester film, PLA-based films cannot be readily heat-cured (for example at 140 to 160° C.) after a reactive silicone has been coated thereon. For example, as described in Kokai (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication) No. 2000-280429, even reactive silicones that can be cured at relatively low temperatures (for example 100° C.) can cause deformation of a PLA film. The thermal damage to the PLA film could be reduced by shortening the cure time. However, shorter cure times require the use of large amounts of expensive catalysts. Such catalysts would likely render the PLA releasable sheets too expensive for regular use. The short time and/or low temperatures of such curing can also leave the silicone partially uncured which could allow it to migrate into the pressure-sensitive adhesive surface and impair the residual adhesive force of the pressure-sensitive adhesive.
Because of the drawbacks noted above, there remains a need for new environmentally responsible releaseable sheets that still provide acceptable properties.

Release film formed from polylactic acid-containing resin


A shaped charge includes a charge case; a liner; an explosive retained between the charge case and the liner; and a primer core disposed in a hole in the charge case and in contact with the explosive, wherein at least one of the case, the liner, the primer core, and the explosive comprising a material soluble in a selected fluid. A perforation system includes a perforation gun, comprising a gun housing that includes a safety valve or a firing valve, wherein the safety valve or the firing valve comprises a material soluble in a selected fluid.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to apparatus and methods for perforation in a wellbore.
2. Background Art
After drilling oil wells are typically protected with steel casing that is secured to the wellbore with cement. In order to establish communication between oil/gas formations and the cased well, perforation guns carrying shaped charges are used. These shaped charges contain explosives. When the explosives are fired, they produce high pressure and high temperature. As a result, the shaped charge liners are shot out as jets that can penetrate the casing and the nearby formation.
There are two basic types of shaped charges for perforating applications, one type is big hole charges which can make large holes on the casing and relatively shallow penetration in the formation rock. Such shaped charges are typically used when big holes or big area of flow are needed, such as in sand control applications. The other type is deep-penetrating charges which can make relatively small holes on the well casing, but they can penetrate deep into the formation rock. The deep-penetrating liner jets can shoot through the damaged zones from drilling and significantly enhance the well productivity. The deep-penetrating charges are typically used in natural completion applications.
In addition to the two basic types of shaped charges described above, there are also encapsulated shaped charges, which are exposed to wellbore fluids directly and, therefore, they are sealed individually with a cap. The encapsulated shaped charges produce more debris than the same size charges carried by a hollow gun, although the encapsulated shaped charges do make bigger holes on the casing and deeper penetration into the formation rock, as compared to the non-encapsulated types.
In addition to different types of shaped charges, the dynamic pressure generated during gun detonation has also proved to be critical for well productivity. Proper manipulation of the dynamic pressure can significantly enhance well productivity. For example, by using reactive material in the shaped charge cases, the explosive pellets, and/or the liners, the heat generated from these reactive materials during detonation can have an impact on the wellbore pressure. In addition, the charge performance could also be increased by putting more of the energy into the shaped charge jets.
After firing, debris from the shaped charges and guns will be left inside the guns, wellbore, and/or formations. For example, the debris from the shaped charge jets may be left in the tunnels that were generated by the jets. This debris can clog the pores and reduce the productivity of the well, leading to big loss.
To avoid some of the problems associated with shaped charge debris, various shaped charge designs have been proposed. For example, there are charges designed to reduce the shaped charge case debris, e.g., OrientX™ charge, the 3 on a plane packing design of the big hole charges, e.g., PF4621, 6618, 7018, etc. Similarly, other designs are to reduce liner debris, e.g., powdered-metal liners, dual layer metal (zinc and copper) liners for PowerFlow™ charges. In addition, underbalanced perforating system such as PURE™ is widely used to manipulate the wellbore dynamic pressure to clean the perforating tunnels.
Even though these prior art methods are effective in reducing problems associated with shaped charge debris, there remains a need for ways to avoid or minimize debris-caused problems after perforation.

Dissolvable material application in perforating


A pump control (20) and method are provided for controlling a pump (16) for a pressurized liquid supply system (10). The pump control (20) includes a controller (38) configured to provide at least two selectable modes of pump operation as follows:                a flow start mode wherein the controller (38) starts the pump (16) in response to a desired start flow rate of the liquid in the system (10) and stops the pump (16) in response to a desired stopping low flow rate of the liquid in the system; and        a pressure start mode wherein the controller (38) starts the pump (16) in response to a desired start pressure of the liquid in the system (10) and stops the pump (16) in response to the desired stopping low flow rate.

Residential booster pump systems are known that provide the water supply system in a residence with additional/supplemental pressure to the incoming "city pressure" provided from a public water supply system. Typically, the controls for such booster pumps utilize an on/off pressure type switch wherein the booster pump starts when the water pressure in the home drops to a preselected start pressure and the booster pump runs until a preselected stop pressure is reached, with both the start and stop pressures being greater than the "city pressure" at the inlet side of the booster pump. Typically, these preset pressures are 20-40 psi, 30-50 psi and 40-60 psi, with the lower pressure being the start pressure and the upper pressure being the stop pressure. These systems require a relatively large diaphragm pressure tank in order to prevent short cycling of the booster pump.
It is also known to control a residential booster pump by starting the booster pump when the home pressure drops to a preselected start pressure and stopping the pump when the flow rate through the booster pump reaches a preselected "low flow rate". These systems are also capable of starting at a preselected flow rate if that is encountered before the preselected start pressure. One advantage of such a control over the on/off pressure type switch is that a large diaphragm tank is not required. However, a smaller diaphragm tank (for example a two-gallon diaphragm tank) should be installed with such systems to account for small leaks and thermal expansion from any water heaters in the system.


Disclosed are various embodiments for an anti-reflux nasal aspirator that includes a nozzle comprising a nozzle outlet, a bulb configured to provide suction at the nozzle outlet in response to a squeezing force applied to the bulb, an anti-reflux coupler positioned between the bulb and the nozzle through which air passes from the bulb to the nozzle, and a one-way air valve positioned in an aperture located at a base of the bulb. The anti-reflux coupler may include a check valve configured to prevent reflux of debris into the bulb. The check valve may include one of an umbrella valve; a duckbill valve; a slit-cutting valve; and a flapper valve.

Nasal aspirators include devices that can be utilized by patients and medical practitioners for sucking debris from the nasal cavity and potentially other bodily cavities, such as the ear canal. Generally, nasal aspirators provide suction to remove debris from the nasal cavity of a person by hand squeezing a bulb or similar apparatus. During this process, the debris "refluxes," or moves into an interior of the bulb, which contaminates the bulb. The bulb is often difficult or impossible to clean as a nozzle of the nasal aspirator is integral with the bulb.


The present invention provides a method for improving pancreatic function in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the subject STRO-1+ cells and/or progeny cells thereof and/or soluble factors derived therefrom. The method of the invention is useful for treating and/or preventing and/or delaying the onset or progression of a disorder resulting from or associated with pancreatic dysfunction, e.g., resulting from abnormal endocrine or exocrine function of the pancreas.

The pancreas is a multifunctional gland organ in the digestive and endocrine system of vertebrates. It is both an endocrine gland (producing several hormones including insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin), and an exocrine gland (secreting pancreatic juice containing digestive enzymes that pass to the small intestine). The enzymes in the pancreatic juice help in the further breakdown of the carbohydrates, protein, and fat in the chyme.
The part of the pancreas with endocrine function is made up of numerous cell clusters called islets of Langerhans. There are four main cell types in the islets classified by their secretion: α cells secrete glucagon, β cells secrete insulin, δ cells secrete somatostatin, and PP cells secrete pancreatic polypeptide. The islets are a compact collection of endocrine cells arranged in clusters and cords and also contain a network of capillaries. The capillaries of the islets are lined by layers of endocrine cells in direct contact with vessels, and most endocrine cells are in direct contact with blood vessels, by either cytoplasmic processes or by direct apposition.
In contrast to the endocrine pancreas, which secretes hormones into the blood, the exocrine pancreas produces digestive enzymes (e.g., trypsinogen, chymotrypsinogen, elastase, carboxypeptidase, pancreatic lipase, and amylase) and an alkaline fluid, and secretes these into the small intestine through a system of exocrine ducts in response to the small intestine hormones secretin and cholecystokinin. Digestive enzymes are produced and secreted by acinar cells of the exocrine pancreas. Specific cells that line the pancreatic ducts, called centroacinar cells, secrete a bicarbonate- and salt-rich solution into the small intestine.
Pancreatic dysfunction can lead to overproduction or underproduction of hormones and/or enzymes produced by the pancreas. Conditions associated with or caused by pancreatic dysfunction include diabetes mellitus, acute or chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic enzyme deficiency or pancreatic tumor.
Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is one of the most common chronic endocrine disorders across all age groups and populations, and is caused by pancreatic dysfunction. DM afflicts over 100 million people worldwide. In the United States alone, there are more than 12 million subjects diagnosed with DM, with 600,000 new cases diagnosed each year.
DM is a diagnostic term for a group of disorders characterized by abnormal carbohydrate (e.g., glucose) homeostasis or metabolism resulting in elevated blood sugar. These disorders comprise several interrelated metabolic, vascular, and neuropathic components. Various components of DM are caused by endocrine and/or exocrine functions of the pancreas. For example, the metabolic component, generally characterized by hyperglycemia, comprises alterations in carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism caused by absent or markedly reduced secretion of hormones, particularly insulin (i.e., endocrine function) and/or ineffective insulin action. At an exocrine level, the pancreas produces various enzymes that are involved in digestion of food. For example, the pancreas produces amylase and in DM may secrete insufficient levels of this enzyme to digest carbohydrate leading to exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, malnutrition and weight loss. Accordingly, both the endocrine and exocrine functions of the pancreas contribute to the metabolic components of DM. The vascular component of DM comprises abnormalities in the blood vessels leading to cardiovascular, retinal and renal complications. Abnormalities in the peripheral and autonomic nervous systems are also components of DM.
DM is generally caused by a reduction in the amount or circulating insulin and/or a reduction in the responsiveness of cells in a subject to insulin. Insulin is essential in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fat, and protein. Insulin reduces blood glucose levels by allowing glucose to enter muscle cells and fat cells and by stimulating the conversion of glucose to glycogen (glycogenesis) as a carbohydrate store. Insulin also inhibits the release of stored glucose from liver glycogen (glycogenolysis) and slows the breakdown of fat to triglycerides, free fatty acids, and ketones. Additionally, insulin slows the breakdown of protein for glucose production (gluconeogenesis). Insulin is produced and secreted by β cells in the islets of Langerhans of the pancreas.
There are several types of diabetes, including Type I (also referred to as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus or IDDM) and Type II (also referred to as non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus or NIDDM), gestational diabetes and pre-diabetes (or impaired glucose metabolism). Of these, the two most common forms of diabetes are Type I and Type II diabetes. Type I diabetes (or insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus; IDDM) is caused by the absence, destruction, or loss of pancreatic β-cells resulting in an absolute deficiency of insulin. Type II diabetes (non-insulin dependent diabetes; NIDDM) is a heterogeneous disorder that is characterized by insulin resistance.
Type I Diabetes
The overall incidence of type I diabetes is approximately 15 cases per 100,000 individuals in the US alone. Approximately, 5 to 15 percent of all cases of diabetes are type I diabetes cases in the US, with physicians diagnosing about 10,000 new cases every year. Internationally, the incidence of type I diabetes varies from about 0.61 cases per 100,000 individuals in China to about 34.5 cases per 100,000 in Sardinia, and more than 40 cases per 100,000 in Finland. Many countries also report that the incidence rate of type I diabetes has doubled over the last 20 years.
The acute clinical onset of type I diabetes is characterized by symptoms, such as hyperglycemia, polyuria, polydipsia, weight loss, or blurred vision, alone or in combination, followed days or weeks later by ketoacidosis. Generally, the acute onset of the disease is considered to be preceded by a long, asymptomatic preclinical period, during which the insulin-secreting β-cells are progressively destroyed by the subject's immune system.
In healthy individuals, the pancreas normally contains 1 to 1.5 million islets; and approximately 80 percent of islet cells are insulin-producing β-cells. The symptoms of clinical diabetes appear when fewer than 10 percent of those β-cells remain.
The mismatch between insulin supply and demand caused by the loss of pancreatic β-cells leads to abnormal glucose, lipid and protein metabolism. Insulin deficiency may lead to hyperglycemia and hyperglycemic dehydration, elevated levels of free fatty acids, elevated serum ketone levels, increased levels of triglycerides, increased levels of very low density lipoproteins (VLDLs), increased levels of branched chain amino acids, a decrease in protein synthesis, and ketoacidosis. A subject with type I diabetes is likely to suffer from any one or more of a variety of vascular and neurologic complications. For example, type I diabetes patients are two times more likely than non-diabetics to have a heart attack; they are five times more likely to suffer from gangrene; seventeen times more likely to have complete renal failure, and twenty-five times more likely to lose their eyesight.
Treatment/Prophylaxis of Type 1 Diabetes
Currently, type I diabetes is treated by administration of exogenous insulin, exercise and dietary management. These forms of therapy do not correct the damage to the pancreas (i.e., replace the destroyed β-islet cells), but rather replace growth factors produced by the β-islet cells or attempt to avoid the requirement for these factors.
Most subjects suffering from type I diabetes require some form of insulin therapy. At this time, such therapy generally requires the subject monitoring blood glucose and/or insulin levels and injecting recombinant or purified insulin when required. New forms of insulin are also being developed to enable nasal or oral administration. However, this form of therapy requires continual monitoring by the subject and insulin administration at least once a day for the life of the subject. Should the subject neglect to administer insulin or administer too much insulin there is a risk of the development of, for example, hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia or ketoacidosis.
Additional compounds currently used for the treatment of type I diabetes include for example, sulfonylurea, biguanide, α-glucosidase inhibitor or thiazolidinedione. However, each of these compounds also suffers from significant disadvantages. For example, sulfonylurea causes hypoglycemia and hyperinsulinemia; biguanide causes lactic acidosis; α-glucosidase inhibitor causes gastro-intestinal side-effects; and thiazolidinedione has a long-onset of action, is associated with weight gain and requires frequent liver function testing.
Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) has also been identified as a possible therapeutic for diabetes. This peptide induces expression of pancreatic and duodenal homeobox factor-1 (PDX-1), a transcription factor that plays a significant role in pancreas development, beta cell differentiation and maintenance of beta-cell function (Babu et al., Mol. Endocrinol. 20:3133-3145, 2006). PDX-1 is involved in inducing the expression of glucose sensing and metabolism, such as GLUT2, glucokinase and insulin. GLP-1 has been suggested as a potential therapeutic because it may induce pancreatic beta cell expansion in a subject, in addition to stimulating insulin expression (Buteau, Diabetes and Metabolism, 34: S73-S77, 2008). However, use of clinically available agents that increase intracellular availability of GLP-1, such as orally active dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPPIV) inhibitors or injectable GLP-1 analogs, has been limited to the treatment of mild forms of type II diabetes. The relatively short half-life of these agents, their need for frequent administration, and their relative lack of potency in cases of severe beta cell loss have precluded their use as insulin-sparing agents for type 1 diabetes or other insulin-dependent patients. Even orally available GLP-1 analogs have short half life and require high-dose daily administration.
Other therapeutic options include pancreatic islet of Langerhans transplantation, which has been shown to reduce insulin dependency (Shapiro et al., New Eng. J. Med., 343: 230-238, 2000). However, the application of this treatment is restricted by the very limited availability of primary human islets from donors, which must have a beating heart to ensure cell survival during transplantation (Burns et al., J. Endocrinology, 103: 437-443, 2004).
Stem cells, e.g., embryonic stem (ES) cells have also been proposed as a suitable source for the production of therapeutically relevant amounts of insulin-producing cells. However, insulin secreting β-cells have not been produced from stem cells, let alone at the level required, estimated at 2−4×109 β-cells per transplantation. Such cell-based therapies must also overcome such difficulties as the proliferative capacity of the replacement cells must be tightly controlled to ensure that they do not expand to a point that they cause hyperinsulinemia or hypoglycemia, and the transplanted cells must avoid destruction by a recipient's immune system. Moreover, in the case of ES cell-based therapies, any remaining ES cells must be removed to avoid the risk of teratoma formation.
Type II Diabetes
Type II diabetes accounts for approximately 90-95% of diabetes cases and kills about 193,000 people per annum in USA alone. Type II diabetes is the seventh leading cause of all deaths. In Western societies, Type II diabetes currently affects 6% of the adult population with world-wide frequency expected to grow by 6% per annum. Notwithstanding that there are certain inheritable traits that may predispose particular individuals to developing Type II diabetes, the major cause of the current increase in incidence of the disease is the increased sedentary life-style, diet and obesity now prevalent in developed countries. Type II diabetes is now internationally recognized as one of the major threats to human health.
Type II diabetes, develops when muscle, fat and liver cells fail to respond normally to insulin. This failure to respond (called insulin resistance) may be due to reduced numbers of insulin receptors on these cells, or a dysfunction of signaling pathways within the cells, or both. The β-cells initially compensate for this insulin resistance by increasing their insulin output. Over time, these cells become unable to produce sufficient insulin to maintain normal glucose levels, indicating progression to Type II diabetes (Kahn et al, Am. J. Med. 108: 2S-8S). 2000)
Treatment of Type II Diabetes
Conventional treatments for Type II diabetes are very limited, and focus on attempting to control blood glucose levels to minimize or delay complications. Current treatments target either insulin resistance (metformin, thiazolidinediones ("TZDs")), or insulin release from the β-cells (sulphonylureas, exanatide). Sulphonylureas, and other compounds that act by depolarizing the beta cell, have the side effect of hypoglycemia since they cause insulin secretion independent of circulating glucose levels. Other side effects of current therapies include weight gain, loss in responsiveness to therapy over time, gastrointestinal problems, and edema.
One currently approved drug, Januvia (sitagliptin) increases blood levels of incretin hormones, which can increase insulin secretion, reduce glucagon secretion and have other less well characterized effects. However, Januvia and other dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitors may also influence the tissue levels of other hormones and peptides, and the long-term consequences of this broader effect have not been fully investigated. Moreover, this compound does not address problems associated with insulin resistance.
As with type I diabetes, GLP-1 has been suggested as a potential therapeutic for type II diabetes as a result of its ability to induce insulin secretion, induce beta cell expansion and restore glucose tolerance in glucose-resistant beta cells. However, as discussed above, GLP-1 and analogs thereof are very limited in their therapeutic potential as a result of their very short half life.
It is clear from the foregoing that there is a need in the art for a method to treat or prevent or delay the onset or progression of disorders associated with pancreatic function and/or for improving pancreatic function.

Method for treating or preventing a pancreatic dysfunction


An array board 11b includes a gate line 19, a TFT 17, a pixel electrode 18, a display pixel PX, and a second interlayer insulation film 27. The TFT 17 includes a gate electrode 17a formed from a part of the gate line 19, a channel section 17d formed from an oxide semiconductor film 24, a source section 17b connected to one end of the channel section 17d, and a drain section 17c connected to another end of the channel section 17d and formed from the oxide semiconductor film 24 having resistance lower than the channel section 17d. The pixel electrode 18 is connected to the drain section 17c. The display pixel PX includes the TFT 17 and the pixel electrode 18. The second interlayer insulation film 27 has a second hole in a position overlapping the pixel electrode and the drain section 17c and not overlapping the gate electrode 17a.

A liquid crystal display device described in Patent Document 1 has been known as one example. The thin film transistor substrate included in the liquid crystal display device described in Patent Document 1 includes a source section and a drain section. The source section is made of a source metal provided above a gate insulating film and an oxide semiconductor film. The drain section includes a low resistance portion that is a part of the oxide semiconductor film, where the part includes a surface of the oxide semiconductor film opposite from the gate insulating film, and the resistance of the part is decreased.

Thin film transistor substrate and display panel


Disclosed are methods for upgrading carbonaceous materials. Also disclosed are apparatuses for upgrading carbonaceous materials. Also disclosed are systems for upgrading carbonaceous materials. Also disclosed are upgraded carbonaceous materials.

The world's growing energy needs require the use of various carbonaceous materials, especially those that have previously been considered less suitable for use as fuel. Many carbonaceous materials are less suitable for use as fuel because their moisture contents are very high. Combusting carbonaceous materials with high moisture contents imposes a penalty on heating efficiency, because of the additional energy required to vaporize the moisture during combustion, and because of the additional equipment costs necessary to handle the additional water vapor. High moisture content also necessitates non-optimal operating conditions in combustion facilities to avoid the formation of corrosive sulfuric acid in flue gas. Moist carbonaceous materials are also susceptible to freezing in cold climates, increasing the difficulty of handling and transportation. In addition, high moisture content increases transportation costs, because when moving an amount of carbonaceous material representing a certain heating value, any moisture retained in the material adds weight but not heating value.
As but one example of the general problem of high moisture in carbonaceous materials, consider the extensive deposits of subbituminous coal in the western United States. This coal is not widely relied upon in the eastern United States, despite its useful low sulfur content, because the western subbituminous coal retains significant amounts of moisture, ranging from 20 percent to 50 percent. The high moisture content of western subbituminous coal contributes significantly to the overall cost of the coal to eastern purchasers, because transportation costs represent the majority of the cost of western coal to an eastern coal purchaser. Furthermore, existing eastern coal consumers are inhibited from switching to western coal because the eastern combustion equipment often cannot be economically adapted to accommodate the moist western coal. Different aspects of the same general problem arise in the combustion and other uses of bituminous coals, lignite, peat, biomass, and other carbonaceous materials. Accordingly, there is a history of attempts to upgrade carbonaceous materials by lowering the moisture content of the materials.
Attempts to lower the moisture content of carbonaceous materials can be traced back at least to U.S. Pat. No. 1,679,078 to Fleissner. More recent derivatives of the Fleissner process are represented, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,514,912 to Janusch. Fleissner described the treatment of brown coal, also known as lignite, with steam at certain temperatures and pressures. Fleissner describes placing the lignite in an autoclave, and driving off moisture from the lignite by heating it with steam under superatmospheric pressure, and then depressurizing the autoclave. The carbonaceous material product of the Fleissner process, while having a lowered moisture content at first, is hygroscopic, and will rapidly become moist once exposed to atmospheric moisture. The product of the Fleissner product also tends to create dust and be susceptible to spontaneous combustion, two significant problems in coal handling. Furthermore, the Fleissner process is not economically attractive due to low energy efficiency.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide energy-efficient methods, systems, and apparatuses for upgrading carbonaceous materials. It is also desirable to provide carbonaceous materials that not only have decreased moisture and impurity contents, but also have stability to atmospheric moisture, decreased dustiness, and reduced likelihood of spontaneous combustion.


Interview scheduling technologies are described. In one method, the interview-scheduling tool presents an interface to receive candidate availability information from a user for possible interview schedules for an interview candidate. The user interface permits the user to define an interview schedule framework that specifies desired criteria for a desired interview schedule for the interview candidate. The desired criteria of the interview schedule framework specify one or more interview sessions. The interview-scheduling tool receives the candidate availability information and the desired criteria and defines a data structure representing the interview schedule framework, wherein the data structure comprises a set of constraint satisfaction problems (CSPs). The interview-scheduling tool presents the interview schedule results that fit the desired interview schedule for selection by the user. The interview schedule results are automatically generated from the set of CSPs by a constraint solver tool and without additional user interaction at the user interface.

Job interviews typically include one or more meetings between a candidate and interviewers for a position at an entity such as a company or an organization. The interviewers are commonly selected to interview candidates and to determine whether the candidate's experience and skills in specific areas, work history, availability, and the personal attributes match those being sought out by the entity.
Coordinating and scheduling the employees or interviewers to conduct interviews in a way that schedules the most appropriate person for the type of interview to be conducted can be challenging. In order to ease the scheduling burden companies may employ a dedicated human resource professional or a recruiting coordinator. This recruiting coordinator can choose interviewers based on their skill set and the type of interview to be conducted. The dedicated recruiting coordinator schedules interviews that work best for the candidate and fulfill interviewing criteria.
Different types of interviews may be conducted to find out whether the candidate is a good fit within the company. Phone interviews or phone screens are a common first step in the interview process and can be conducted over the phone between one candidate and one interviewer. Multiple interviewers may conduct interviews, for example one interviewer at a time on a rotating basis. On-site interviews can include the candidate being interviewed at the company location. The on-site interview can include different sessions with different interviewers, each session having one or more interviewers. Each interview generally takes place in one or more rooms, which are typically reserved in advance to avoid double booking.
Each interview session can be used for a particular purpose or theme to determine the candidate's competency in a specific area. For example, technical or competency interviews may be conducted to determine the candidate's knowledge of a specific technical area and may be conducted by interviewers skilled in that area of competency. Behavioral interviews may be conducted to understand how the candidate has acted in specific employment-related situations. Case interviews allow the interviewer to assess the candidate's analytical ability and problem solving skills and include the candidate presenting a solution to a problem posed by the interviewer. Group interviews include multiple interviewers conducting the interview to understand how the candidate interacts in a group dynamic. Lunch interviews may also be conducted where one or more interviewers in an informal setting evaluate the candidate.
Even with a dedicated coordinator, scheduling complex interviews can be challenging. For example, the coordinator may not be familiar with multiple employees and their job descriptions to select the most qualified interviewer for the particular interview. After selecting the most fitting group of employees for the interviews, the coordinator may also have to search through calendars to find the available time slots for each person. The coordinator would have to confirm with each person and make sure to send calendar invitations to each one. If the interviewers make changes to the schedule, especially last minute, the coordinator would need to repeat part of the same process. The process is manual and may necessitate multiple steps of trial and error before the most fitting schedule is produced.

Generating interview schedule results from a set of constraint satisfaction problems


The information display apparatus is characterized by storing at least plural pieces of loom information, by comprising: data control means capable of outputting the stored loom information; display means for displaying in a screen the loom information outputted from data control means; and distinction means for distinguishing a kind of a person engaged in weaving and outputting a distinction result in the data control means, and by presetting in the data control means the item for display corresponding to the distinction result, thereby outputting the loom information relative to the item for display corresponding to the distinction result from the data control means to the display means.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for displaying loom information according to kinds of persons engaged in weaving such as weaving workers, maintenance workers, superintendents and the like.
2. Description of Prior Art
For improvement in weaving efficiency, it is usually done to visually display in an information display unit provided in a loom such as various pieces of information concerning weaving such as information on cloth production volume like a rate of loom operation, a woven length, etc., and information representing actual operating state like a frequency of stoppage, state of getting into trouble, running state of weft, state of warp tension, etc.
The techniques of Japanese Patent Appln. Public Disclosure (KOKAI) Nos. 6-81251 and 5-78954 are known as ones of such displays of information. In these types of displays, items for display are predetermined per kind of persons engaged in weaving, and a worker inputs necessary loom information by using an operation switch to display the information corresponding to the operation switch.
In these techniques, however, since a person engaged in weaving should designate an item to be displayed (item for display) to obtain loom information needed by the person, such a switching operation is troublesome, and such an operation is made every time the person does the round, which shortens the life of the operation switch.
An object of the present invention is to reduce the frequency of operation required for switching to display to the least possible number when a person confirms necessary loom information in the display.
The information display apparatus of a loom, comprising data control means storing at least a plurality of pieces of loom information and capable of outputting the stored loom information, display means for displaying in a screen the loom information to be outputted from said data control means, and distinction means for distinguishing a kind of a person engaged in weaving and outputting a distinction result to said data control means. In the data control means are preset items for display corresponding to the distinction result, and the data control means outputs the loom information concerning the loom information relative to the item for display corresponding to the distinction result.
When a person engaged in weaving approaches the loom, or when a storage medium such as an ID card carried by the person is inserted into the distinction means, a distinction result representing the kind of the person is outputted from the distinction means. Thereby, since the data control means outputs the loom information concerning the item for display corresponding to the distinction result, the loom information corresponding to the item for display is visually displayed in the display means.
Consequently, according to the present invention, there is no need for switching operation of the display unit as heretofore done by hand, so the switching operation of the display unit is omitted. Further, as the frequency of operating the display unit decreases, the life of the operation switch and the like become long that much.
Incidentally, the xe2x80x9cloom informationxe2x80x9d means information necessary for controlling operation of each loom, which can be represented in an identifiable form by specific numerical values, letters and graphs of: for example, (a) a weaving condition of the loom such as set values to be set in a loom controlling device such as a weft insertion device or a warp tension control unit; (b) a weft running state (arrival timing of the weft) into the shed during running of the loom, state of warp tension (actual tension value), actual detection value by a sensor such as a weft detection state (waveform of a feeler signal) by a weft feeler and its signal waveform relative to the time base; further, (c) an actual operating condition state of the loom such as, for example, a numerical value relative to the operating state of the loom like the operation rate of the loom per unit period, frequency of stoppage, woven length (the number of weft insertion picks), etc.; (d) detailed information relative to a history of occurrence of troubles such as the contents and the time and date of failures and troubles; and detailed information relative to a state of practicing a maintenance work such as a date when oiling and cleaning of parts are done.
On the other hand, the xe2x80x9citem for displayxe2x80x9d includes a denomination corresponding to the loom information. Concretely, in the example of displaying the operation rate of the loom, the value of the operation rate calculated over an hour in the past is the xe2x80x9cloom informationxe2x80x9d and the operation rate per hour which is the denomination corresponding to this value of operation rate is the xe2x80x9citem for display.xe2x80x9d
In the foregoing information display unit, the distinction means can include a detected element carried by a person engaged in weaving and representing the kind of the carrier, and a distinction portion for distinguishing the detected element.
The detected element can include a portable transmitter for generating a signal showing the kind of a carrier, and the distinction portion can include a signal receiving circuit for receiving the signal from the portable transmitter, and a discrimination circuit for discriminating the kind of the portable transmitter on the basis of the received signal of the signal receiving circuit.
It is, however, possible to use as the detected element a storage medium in which the kind of the worker is recorded, to read the memory information from the storage medium and to discriminate the kind of the worker in the discrimination circuit on the basis of the read memory information.
It is also possible to utilize as the detected element an appearance of a person engaged in weaving, such as work clothes and a cap, to make the distinction portion detect the color of the clothes of the person by a color sensor, and to discriminate the kind of the person on the basis of the detection result of the color sensor by discrimination circuit.
In the foregoing information display unit, it is possible to prepare a plurality of the detected elements according to the kind of a person for the distinction portion to discriminate the kind of the detected element. In this case, each worker carries the portable transmitter corresponding to the kind of the worker.
In the foregoing information display unit, the distinction means can include a sensor for detecting physical characteristics such as the person""s fingerprints, height, etc., and a distinction circuit for distinguishing the kind of the person from a group of previously registered data.
Another information display apparatus of a loom: comprising data control means storing at least plural pieces of loom information and capable of outputting the stored loom information; display means for displaying in a screen the loom information to be outputted from said data control means; transmission means, in which at least one of items for display is stored, for transmitting the item for display and provided for a person engaged in weaving to carry; and discrimination means for discriminating the item for display upon receipt of a transmission signal from said transmission means. The data control means outputs the loom information relative to the item for display corresponding to the discrimination result by the discrimination means.
In the above mentioned information display unit, when a person carrying the transmission means approaches to the loom, a distinction result representing the kind of the person is outputted from the discrimination means. Since this makes the data control means output the loom information relative to the item for display corresponding to the distinction result, the loom information corresponding to the item for display on the kind of the person is visually displayed in the display means. Accordingly, there is no need for any switching operation of displaying which has been manually done, so that the switching operation can be omitted. Further, the less frequently the operation to the display unit is required, the life operation switch will become longer.
The transmission means can store a plurality of items for display to output any of the items for display selectively, and the discrimination means may be made to discriminate the selected item for display from the received signal.


When a first wiring and/or a second wiring is formed, a connection portion is formed in the first wiring and/or the second wiring which covers a part of a lower electrode layer outside the memory cell array. An etching suppressing portion is formed above the connection portion. A contact hole is formed in which a portion under the etching suppressing portion reaches up to a connection potion, and the other portion reaches up to the lower electrode layer by performing etching to a laminated body in a range including the etching suppressing portion. The laminated body includes the insulating layer, the first wiring, a memory cell layer, the second wiring, and the etching suppressing portion. The contact layer is formed by burying a conductive material in the contact hole.

Recently, in order to increase the memory capacities of semiconductor memory devices, various semiconductor memory devices have been developed which have a structure of three-dimensional stacking layers. For example, as a non-volatile semiconductor memory device having a stacked cross-point structure as one of such a type of semiconductor memory device, a variable-resistance-type memory such as a ReRAM or a PRAM that can be electrically rewritable has attracted attention. Such a variable-resistance-type memory is acquired by connecting a variable-resistance memory cell between both wirings at intersections of two wirings extending in directions perpendicular to each other. Generally, in a lower layer beneath the variable-resistance-type memory and a wiring connected thereto, a control circuit that controls the memory and the like are arranged. In addition, a contact layer, which is used for connecting the control circuit and the wiring, extending in the stacking direction is provided. Since a current to be sensed flows through the contact layer, a low-resistance contact structure needs to be formed between the contact layer and the wiring.

Semiconductor memory device, method of manufacturing the same and method of forming contact structure


Embodiments of the invention include a plurality of semiconductor light emitting diodes attached to a mount. A plurality of lenses are disposed over the plurality of semiconductor light emitting diodes. A lens disposed over a semiconductor light emitting diode proximate an edge of the mount is rotationally asymmetrical and is shaped such that for a portion of the lens light emitted at an intensity that is half a maximum intensity is emitted at an angle of at least 70° relative to a normal to a top surface of the semiconductor light emitting diode.

Semiconductor light-emitting devices including light emitting diodes (LEDs), resonant cavity light emitting diodes (RCLEDs), vertical cavity laser diodes such as surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs), and edge emitting lasers are among the most efficient light sources currently available. Materials systems currently of interest in the manufacture of high-brightness light emitting devices capable of operation across the visible spectrum include Group III V semiconductors, particularly binary, ternary, and quaternary alloys of gallium, aluminum, indium, and nitrogen, also referred to as III nitride materials. Typically, III nitride light emitting devices are fabricated by epitaxially growing a stack of semiconductor layers of different compositions and dopant concentrations on a sapphire, silicon carbide, III-nitride, or other suitable substrate by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD), molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), or other epitaxial techniques. The stack often includes one or more n-type layers doped with, for example, Si, formed over the substrate, one or more light emitting layers in an active region formed over the n-type layer or layers, and one or more p-type layers doped with, for example, Mg, formed over the active region. Electrical contacts are formed on the n- and p-type regions.
FIG. 1 illustrates a device described in more detail in U.S. Pat. No. 7,461,948, which is incorporated herein by reference. The device includes a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) dies 102, 104, and 106, each with a different type of secondary optic. Thus, a first type of lens 103 is mounted to the LED die 102, a second type of lens 105 is mounted to the LED die 104, and a third type of lens 107 is mounted to LED 106. The lenses 103, 105, and 107 are configured to produce different light distribution patterns from their respective LEDs 102, 104, and 106. The LEDs 102, 104, and 106 are mounted near each other on a submount 101, but are separated by a distance that is adequate to distinguish the optical centers of each LED die. While three LEDs 102, 104, and 106 are shown in FIG. 1, it should be understood that fewer, e.g., two, or additional LEDs, e.g., four or more, may be used. If desired, a plurality of submounts may be used.
The different light distribution patterns produced by the different types of secondary optics combine to produce an efficient light source having a desired illumination pattern. For example, the first LED may include a lens that produces a light distribution pattern with a maximum intensity at the center while the second LED may use a lens that produces a light distribution pattern with a maximum intensity that surrounds the maximum intensity of the pattern produced by the first LED.

Semiconductor light emitting device lamp that emits light at large angles


A pneumatic tire has a sipe is formed in a land portion of a tread surface. The sipe has a wide region in which a sipe width is made larger than a tread at position which is at a distance from the tread. The wide region is constructed by alternately providing a concave groove extending in a depth direction of the sipe in both sides of a sipe wall surface along a longitudinal direction of the sipe.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pneumatic tire in which a sipe is formed in a land portion of a tread surface, and is more particularly useful as a studless tire.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, in a studless tire, a notch called as a sipe is formed in a land portion such as a block, a rib or the like, and a traveling performance on an ice road surface having a low coefficient of friction (hereinafter, refer to as an ice performance) is enhanced based on an edge effect and a drainage effect generated by the sipe. However, since a rubber is incompressible, a motion of the tread surface being in contact with the road surface becomes larger in the case that a load is applied to the tire. Particularly, in the ice road surface, an opening portion of the sipe tends to become narrowed due to a slip of the tread surface, and there is a case that the edge effect and the drainage effect which should be achieved by the sipe are lowered.
In order to solve this problem, in a tire described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2007-8303, a sipe 20 having wide portions 21 to 24 as shown in FIG. 9 is formed in a block 1. The wide portions 21 to 24 are constructed by arranging a concave groove 26 extending in a longitudinal direction of the sipe 20 in sipe wall surfaces 20a and 20b, and in the case that the block 1 is exposed to a load, a deformation generated by the load is absorbed by the wide portions 21 to 24. Accordingly, it is possible to inhibit an opening portion of the sipe 20 from becoming narrower and it is possible to secure an edge effect and a drainage effect.
However, in the sipe structure as mentioned above, since a portion in which a sipe width becomes larger continuously extends along a longitudinal direction, it is known that the block tends to collapse excessively. Such excessive collapse of the block not only weakens the edge effect, but also causes a reduction of a ground contact area of the block, thereby making an adhesive friction effect generated by a softness of the rubber hard to be achieved. In addition, in the above sipe structure, since a sipe width appearing on a tread changes all of a sudden at the wide portion in the process that a wear makes progress, there is fear that a toe and heel wear is generated.
In Japanese Patent No. 4149048, there is described a sipe in which a bottom portion is formed narrowest while making a center portion in a depth direction widest, for reducing a difference of a steering stability between a wet road surface and a dry road surface. However, since the sipe width becomes maximum and even over the whole of the center portion in the depth direction in this sipe, a land portion tends to collapse excessively on the ice road surface, and the sipe width appearing on the tread changes all of a sudden in accordance with the progress of the wear. Accordingly, there can be considered that the problem relating to the ice performance and the toe and heel wear resistance mentioned above is generated.

Pneumatic tire with sipe having concave grooves