A method for invoking remote objects in a data processing system includes generating a serialized byte stream containing the remote object and its arguments, responsive to executing a remote object call. The serialized byte stream is sent to a server containing the object. Responsive to receiving a second serialized byte stream containing a result produced by the remote object and determining the presence of a second remote object, in the second byte stream, for which no reference can be found, information contained in the second serialized byte stream is used to determine the class type of the second remote object. A proxy compatible with the second remote object's class type, if not already existing, is automatically generated and compiled on the client or, if the proxy does exist, is loaded at run time to call the second remote object.

1. Field of the Present Invention
The invention is in the field of data processing networks and more particularly in the field of data processing networks in which remote objects are locally invoked.
2. History of Related Art
Java.RTM. (a trademark of Sun Microsystems) Remote Method Invocation (RMI) enables a programmer to create distributed Java applications in which the methods of remote Java objects can be invoked from other Java Virtual Machines, typically on different host systems. Java RMI is described in greater detail in the Java Remote Method Invocation Specification (Rev 1.9), from Sun Microsystems A remote object is defined as an object that implements the java.rmi.remote interface. For purposes of this disclosure, however, a remote object may be thought of as an object that is not loaded into the JVM that is attempting to call it.
A Java-based program can make a call to a remote object once it obtains a reference to the remote object, either by looking up the remote object using a naming service provided by RMI or by receiving the reference as an argument or a return value. A client can call a remote object in a server and that server can also be a client of other remote objects.
RMI uses object serialization to marshal and unmarshal arguments for remote object calls. Object serialization refers to the ability to read or write an entire object to and from a raw byte stream. It allows Java objects and primitives to be encoded into a byte stream suitable for streaming to some type of network, to a file-system, or more generally to a transmission medium or storage facility.
Referring to FIG. 1, a conceptual representation of traditional Java remote object invocation is depicted. In the depicted embodiment, a Java source code file (a .java file) 102 is compiled by javac compiler 106 on a client-side computer 101 to create Java byte code (a .class file) 110 that is executable by a Java Runtime Environment (JRE), which includes a Java Virtual Machine (JVM). JRE's and JVM's are well known in the field of Java programming.
Before executing the client-side application (i.e., the class file 110), an RMI compiler (rmic) 114 is used to create a stub file 118 and a tie or skeleton file 122. (Tie files are created in an embodiment based on the Internet Inter-orb Protocol (IIOP) while skeleton files are created in an embodiment based on the Java Remote Method Protocol (JRMP)). The stub file 118 is a proxy for the remote object. Stub file 118 is responsible for forwarding method invocations on remote objects to the server where the actual remote object implementation resides. Tie file 122 is the server-side analogy of stub file 118. Tie file 122 is used for returning objects and parameters to the client-side application.
Class file 110 contains a reference to a remote object 130 that is actually a reference to stub 118. When class 110 makes a call to remote object 130, stub 118 is the class file by which the remote object call is forwarded to the server where the remote object resides. Stub 118 performs this function by serializing the remote object call parameters and sending the serialized byte stream over the network using conventional TCP/IP. Tie file 122 performs a similar function on the remote object server-side.
Referring to FIG. 2, a conceptual representation of a conventional Java RMI run time sequence is presented. In the illustrated example, a class file 110 being executed by a corresponding JVM (not depicted) contains a call to a remote object 130. When the call to remote object 130 is executed, the remote call is effected through stub file 118. More specifically, a call to remote object 130, including any parameters and objects that are needed by the remote object, is passed (as represented by reference numeral 202) to the stub file 118. Stub file 118 is responsible for serializing the remote object call and the call's arguments and for sending (204) the serialized byte stream to a server-side JVM (not depicted) under which the remote object executes.
In the depicted illustration, the Java application file 110 and the remote object 130 reside on different machines with Java application file 110 being shown as residing on a "client-side" computer 201 and the remote object residing on a "server-side" computer 203. In this configuration, the communication of serialized bytes streams between client side 201 and server side 203 is preferably achieved using a conventional network protocol stack such as TCP/IP.
On server-side 203, a tie file 122 receives the serialized byte stream sent by stub file 118 and de-serializes or un-marshals the corresponding arguments to reconstruct the objects and parameters of the remote object call. The de-serialized objects and/or parameters are delivered (reference numeral 206) to remote object 130 for execution. Remote object 130 then executes server side 203 using the received objects and/or parameters and produces a resulting set of parameters and/or objects that are returned (reference numeral 208) to tie file 122. Tie file 122 serializes the arguments and sends (210) the serialized data back to client-side 201. Stub file 118 is then responsible for un-marshaling the serialized objects and parameters before returning (reference numeral 212) the un-serialized data to the client-side application.
Under certain circumstances, a stub for a particular remote object is not present on the client-side system and a "ClassNotFoundException" is generated. This situation can occur, for example, when the client side application does not have a direct reference for a remote object but instead retrieves a reference to a remote object from a naming service like Java Naming and Directory Service (JNDI). In this case, since one cannot anticipate at compile time what remote object will be returned by a call to the naming service, the programmer cannot assure that an appropriate stub will be present. In another example, a client-side call to a first remote object returns to the client-side a reference to a second remote object (either as a parameter in a call originated by the first remote object or as a return value to the client-side remote object call). In this situation, the name of the remote object that is returned from the server side is not knowable at compile time and the appropriate stub may not be present on the system. It would be desirable to eliminate this source of errors by implementing a method and system for creating "missing" stub class files to accommodate remote object calls that a client device needs to make. It would be further desirable if the implemented solution operated dynamically at run time to improve run time performance and reduce the amount of undesirable re-compilation.

Communicating with remote objects in a data processing network

International Business Machines Corporation


A signal wiring board of the present invention includes a dielectric layer and a signal transmission path formed on a surface opposite to a surface of a ground layer formation surface on the board. The signal transmission path is composed of a pair of differential transmission lines which in turn is formed of a microstrip. Differential signals of opposite polarities are transmitted through the paired transmission lines on the signal transmission path such that electric currents of opposite senses flow through the paired differential transmission lines, respectively. With the electric currents there being a positive and a negative polarity, electric lines of force are also created between the transmission lines. The electric lines of force are strengthened as a gap G becomes narrower. The transmission lines are such that a relation G<H<S is satisfied where G represents the gap G between the differential transmission lines, S a distance between the adjacent signal transmission on the signal transmission path lines and H a thickness of the dielectric layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a signal wiring board for transmitting many channel signals and to an improved signal wiring board which can suppress a cross-talk between channels during the transmission of such channel signals.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 shows a conventional circuit arrangement for simultaneously transmitting a large number of high-speed channel signals over a signal wiring board from transmission section to a reception section. When, in FIG. 1, the respective channel outputs of transmitter circuits 11.sub.1 to 11.sub.3 in a transmission section 11 are transmitted to corresponding receiver circuits 12.sub.1 to 12.sub.3 in the reception section 12, the outputs of the transmitter circuits 11.sub.1 to 11.sub.3 are connected, for the respective channels, to the inputs of the corresponding receiver circuits 12.sub.1 to 12.sub.3 by corresponding signal transmission paths 13.sub.1 to 13.sub.3 having a characteristic impedance Z.sub.0 with respect to ground and a terminating resistor R.sub.t equal in value to the characteristic impedance Z.sub.0 is connected to a corresponding input terminal of the respective receiver circuits 12.sub.1 to 12.sub.3. According to the aforementioned circuit arrangement, it is possible to reduce a reflection in the respective channel of the reception section 12 by the terminating resistor R.sub.t and to perform a better signal transmission. This advantage is also obtained if the number of channels is increased.
A transmission path formation on the aforementioned signal wiring board has a structure as shown in FIG. 2. In the arrangement shown in FIG. 2, a shows a dielectric layer; b, a ground layer and c, a respective signal transmission path formed of a microstrip. This structure poses no problem upon the transmission of a signal of a relatively low frequency, but cross-talk is increased between the adjacent transmission paths due to the transmission of a high-speed signal on a high-density packaged board. That is, if a distance S between the signal transmission paths is narrowed, electric lines of force are created between the adjacent transmission paths, thus increasing cross-talk there. A degraded signal on transmission results. This degradation is prominently produced upon the transmission of a high-speed signal. For this reason, the transmission of a high-speed signal as well as the implementation of a high-density unit becomes difficult on the conventional structure.
For the conventional signal wiring board as set forth above, it has been difficult to suppress cross-talk which is increased due to the transmission of a high-speed signal as well as the implementation of a high density unit.


A motion preserving spinal implant is presented for use in placement between intervertebral space for total replacement of a degenerated spinal disc The motion preserving spinal implant has a pair of end plates sandwiched around an inner core and an outer core, with the inner core being concentrically positioned within the outer core. The outer core encapsulates the inner core and provides adequate sealing of the inner core while maintaining flexibility and elasticity to advantageously support physiological movements. The inner core is constructed of an elastomeric material and acts as a solid diaphragm in order to resist and withstand localized compression and other forces. The end plates provide anchoring and fusion with adjoining vertebra and hold the inner and outer cores in place. The motion preserving spinal implant restores the normal height and natural function of the degenerated spinal disc and preserves the natural motion of the spine.

Spinal implants are intended to treat degenerative disc disease (DDD) or other disc injuries. Spinal fusion treatment is a widely used treatment to alleviate pain, but limits range of motion and mobility for a patient. Total disc replacement is another treatment for disc degenerative disease that aims to preserve motion and limit complications related to spinal fusion such as adjacent level wear and disc degeneration. Total disc replacement is an effective solution for degenerative disc disease and gaining interest due to increasing prevalence of neck pain, lower back pain, and pain in general. Thus, there is a need for functional improvement. For an example, without limitations, there is a need for total disc replacement spinal implants that reduce wear due to metal to metal sliding and corrosive surfaces, increase cushioning, improve shock absorption, reduce wear debris of metal, and maintain spinal motion range.
The present invention solves these problems by providing a treatment solution that reduces degeneration due to metal wear because of no sliding between metal plates, increases cushioning with effective inner core design features, and uses special polymeric and elastomeric materials having varying hardness and physical properties such as silicone or liquid silicon rubber that also provides shock absorption, and maintains range of motion due to effective outer core design, its features, and choice of materials. All components in the assembly are designed such that it can effectively resist compression forces, shear-compression forces, and torsion forces.
Additional advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Additional advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the detailed description of the invention section. Further benefits and advantages of the embodiments of the invention will become apparent from consideration of the following detailed description given with reference to the accompanying drawings, which specify and show preferred embodiments of the present invention.

Motion preserving spinal implant for total disc replacement


A method and apparatus for eliminating aircraft landing gear fore-and-aft vibration is provided. The method includes using a tuned mass absorber attached to the landing gear. The gear walk motion has a peak amplitude motion and a pre-peak amplitude motion. The tuned mass absorber includes a mass and a spring, with the mass being oriented to move in a fore-and-aft direction at a frequency and amplitude that counterbalances the gear fore-and-aft vibration. The mass in one embodiment is of an amount in the range of 1 to 2 percent of the effective landing gear mass. In one embodiment, the tuned mass absorber is attached to a landing gear strut near the strut's distal end. The motion of the tuned mass absorber mass moves at a frequency and amplitude that counterbalances the gear walk pre-peak amplitude motion. Therefore, the absorber mass is of an amount less than the mass required to counterbalance gear walk peak amplitude motion. The tuned mass absorber thereby eliminates the gear walk motion in its formation.

Certain friction characteristics in aircraft landing gear brakes can lead to fore-and-aft oscillations of the landing gear called "gear walk." These friction characteristics are frequently associated with a particular type of brake lining. Historically, this brake lining friction characteristic has been called "negative damping," since it effectively feeds energy into the landing gear system. Negative damping is mathematically defined as an increase in brake friction that is proportional to a decrease in brake lining rubbing speed. As the aircraft slows to a stop, the brakes become grabby and torque increases without having received an increase in brake pedal pressure. This change in torque can cause divergent oscillations of the landing gear in the fore-and-aft direction, such as those shown in FIG. 1. The vibrations are initially small but become larger with each oscillation until some peak amplitude A is reached as shown in FIG. 1.
Gear walk is generally an undesirable characteristic, due to the loads that can be imposed by the oscillations of the landing gear components. In addition, the resultant aircraft motion during braking may be disconcerting to passengers and crew.
Currently, it is known that a tuned mass absorber can be employed to address a forced steady state vibration problem where attenuation of vibration of some object is desired. The classic application is to apply a tuned mass absorber to a second order mass spring damper-type assembly that is being excited by an external sinusoidal force. A tuned mass absorber is attached to the assembly and is sized and tuned using a steady state analytical solution to the problem. This results in the peak amplitude assembly motions being greatly attenuated. The classic tuned mass absorber application can be demonstrated in the following simplified example. Referring to FIG. 2, an object O with mass M.sub.1 is moved relative to ground through a spring S.sub.1 having a spring constant K.sub.1. The object O is subjected to a force Fsin(.omega.t) which results in vibration of the object O. The force cannot simply be eliminated due to some unspecified reason. The goal is therefore to reduce the vibration of the object O by some other means.
One method of achieving this goal is to employ a tuned mass vibration absorber. This is represented in FIG. 2 as an absorber mass M.sub.2 attached to a spring S.sub.2 having a spring constant K.sub.2. The spring S.sub.2 is further attached to the object mass M.sub.1. The mass M.sub.2 is allowed to move. If mass M.sub.2 and spring S.sub.2 are properly tuned, then the motion of the mass M.sub.2 will exert a force on mass M.sub.1 that is equal and opposite to the force already acting on the object O. The result is a cancellation of forces, with the object O remaining at rest while the absorber mass M.sub.2 moves in a sacrificial manner. The design of a tuned mass absorber requires knowledge of the frequency .omega. of the object's motion, the magnitude of the sinusoidal force F acting on the object, and either the maximum allowable size of the absorber mass M.sub.2 or its maximum allowable range of motion X.sub.2. The following equation describes the relationship between these variables. EQU F=-k.sub.2.times.X.sub.2 =-.omega..sup.2.times.M.sub.2.times.X.sub.2 (1)
Using data from a recent case of gear walk as an example, calculation of the equivalent force F required to move the landing gear at the peak vibration amplitudes observed was as high as 2330 pounds. The landing gear motion occurred at a natural frequency of 9.7 Hz. With a space constraint of 3.1 inches of allowable peak to peak motion, then equation (1) indicates that a mass M.sub.2 of about 150 lbm is required to produce a counterbalancing motion for amplitude A.
It is clear that using the classical design methodology, a rather heavy tuned mass absorber is required to reduce the undesired landing gear motion. This is an impractical solution for aircraft due to the weight penalty, and the fact that landing gear retraction actuators would not be sized for this additional load. Thus, a need exists for eliminating gear walk in a manner that does not add large amounts of weight to the aircraft and that does not require large amounts of space. The present invention is directed to fulfilling this need.


Provided are methods of providing aluminum-doped TaSix films. Doping TaSix films allows for the tuning of the work function value to make the TaSix film better suited as an N-metal for NMOS applications. One such method relates to soaking a TaSix film with an aluminum-containing compound. Another method relates to depositing a TaSix film, soaking with an aluminum-containing compound, and repeating for a thicker film. A third method relates to depositing an aluminum-doped TaSix film using tantalum, aluminum and silicon precursors.

Integrated circuit technology continues to rapidly advance, with many circuit technologies being implemented using semiconductor fabrication processes. A variety of electrically conducting material is available for implementing the layers in the gates of semiconductor integrated circuits.
As well known in the art, silicon oxide film has been mainly used as a material of a gate insulating film in MOSFETs, and a polysilicon film has been used as a material of the gate. However, as the integration level of the semiconductor devices becomes higher, it is required that the line width of the gate and the thickness of the gate insulating film be reduced. In the case where a silicon oxide film is used as the material of the gate insulating film, if the thickness of the gate insulating film is too thin, the insulating characteristic is not stable, as the leakage current due to a direct tunneling through the gate insulating film becomes greater. Recently there has been an effort to use a high dielectric constant material, having a relatively higher dielectric constant than a silicon oxide film, as the material of the gate insulating film. Also, in order to minimize the polysilicon gate depletion effect, there has been an effort to use a metal gate instead of the polysilicon gate.
N-Metal films such as TaSix appear to be useful as N-metals. However, in some applications, a lower work function may be needed than that of a pure deposited TaSix film. Therefore, there is a need to provide methods of tuning the work function of a TaSix film to better suit NMOS applications.


Techniques for embedding metadata into a piece of content are described herein. With use of the embedded metadata, an application takes one or more actions specified by the embedded metadata upon selection of the content. In some instances, the content comprises an image, video, or any other form of content that a user may consume. Using the example of an image, the techniques may embed metadata within the image to create an image file that includes both the image and the embedded metadata. Then, when an application of a computing device selects (e.g., receives, opens, etc.) the image file, the application or another application may perform one or more actions specified by the metadata.

Content providers serve over a network numerous different user interfaces (UIs) to client computing devices for consumption by users. These UIs often include an array of text, images, video and other different types of content. The served UIs may comprise news articles, social networking pages, e-commerce shopping pages or any form of UI that a user may consume. In addition, these computing-device users may consume UIs that are created at a local machine of a respective user. For instance, a user may view videos or pictures that the computing device of the user stores locally.
In each of the described instances, content such as video and images are helpful to the consuming user. For instance, if the user requests and receives a news article from a content provider, the images within the news article may help the user better understand the news that the article conveys. While these traditional forms of content are helpful and well-used, these traditional forms of content may be enhanced to provide an even richer user experience.


The invention provides a process for reacting a carboxylic acid ester of the formula (I)R1-A-COOR2  (I),                wherein R1 is hydrogen, —CH2OH, —CHO, —COOR3, —CH2SH, —CH2OR3 or —CH2NH2, R2 is an alkyl group, R3 is hydrogen or an alkyl group, and A is a substituted, unsubstituted, linear, branched and/or cyclic alkylene, alkenylene, arylene or aralkylene radical having at least 4 carbons, in the presence of a cell. The process comprises a) contacting the cell with said carboxylic acid ester in an aqueous solution, wherein the cell is a recombinant cell which has reduced activity of a polypeptide comprising SEQ ID NO: 2 or a variant thereof over the wild-type cell.

The invention relates to a process for reacting a carboxylic acid ester of the formula (I)R1-A-COOR2  (I),
wherein R1 is selected from the group comprising hydrogen, —CH2OH, —CHO, —COOR3, —CH2SH, —CH2OR3 and —CH2NH2,
wherein R2 is selected from the group comprising hydrogen and alkyl, preferably methyl, ethyl and propyl,
wherein R3 is selected from the group comprising hydrogen and alkyl, preferably methyl, ethyl and propyl,
and wherein A is a substituted, unsubstituted, linear, branched and/or cyclic alkylene, alkenylene, arylene or aralkylene radical having at least 4, more preferably 6, even more preferably 8, carbons,
by means of a cell, comprising the step of
a) contacting the cell with said carboxylic acid ester in an aqueous solution,
wherein the cell is a recombinant cell which has reduced activity of a polypeptide having SEQ ID NO: 2 or a variant thereof over the wild-type cell, and to a cell suitable therefor, and to uses thereof.
Biotechnology is concerned with producing inter alia fine chemicals, employing various organisms that possess interesting synthesizing capabilities. Biotechnological processes have a number of advantages over conventional chemical processes. Firstly, they usually dispense entirely with harmful substances such as heavy metal-based catalysts and reaction conditions involving extreme pH, pressure and temperature values. Furthermore, the infrastructure required for the biotechnological process can often be set up with lower costs and safety measures. Selectivity and specificity of biotechnologically relevant enzymes often exceed those of chemical catalysts considerably, and formation of undesired secondary products which frequently are difficult to remove from the product and which would necessarily be produced in a synthesis using organic synthesis processes can thus be reduced. Finally, biotechnologically relevant organisms in many cases accept as reactants compounds like complex carbohydrates which may be derived from renewable raw materials. As a result, a producing enterprise may reduce its dependence on fossil raw materials such as petroleum and natural gas.
Establishing biotechnological processes, however, entails considerable difficulties which result in only very few substances being biotechnologically produced on an industrial scale these days, the main problem being that a cell with a desired synthesizing activity has not only the one enzyme responsible for said synthesizing activity but rather thousands of enzymes which co-exist in the same cell and compete with one another for substrates or even catalyse completely opposing reactions. Thus in the genome of Escherichia coli alone, approx. 80 polypeptides are encoded which have been identified by bioinformatics methods as hydrolases, i.e. enzymes which cleave particular bonds with consumption of a water molecule. Indeed, the conditions under which an enzyme is produced by the cell and the reactions catalysed by said enzyme and the substrates involved in said reactions have been elucidated exhaustively only in a few cases. It is therefore in many cases not possible to specifically select an enzyme for catalysing a particular reaction.
Accordingly, when employing cells as biocatalysts rather than chemical or isolated biological catalysts, there is also always the risk of a product or intermediate produced by an enzyme equipped with a desired activity or even the original reactant being converted by another enzyme into an unwanted secondary product. Whether this will happen and which of the numerous enzymes will have said unwanted activity in this case is impossible to predict in spite of technical advances in the field of bioinformatics.
It is not unlikely, especially with chemically reactive substances desired in the industry as reactive reactants for producing more complex products, that said substances react inside the cell with essential components of the organism and thus have a toxic action. If this is the case, the ability of the organism to grow and synthesize will be impaired, and ultimately the cell will die, without the developer being able to immediately recognize said toxicity. Likewise, the organism that will tolerate a chemically reactive substance as well as the tolerated concentration of the latter cannot be predicted.
In processes involving a plurality of reactions catalysed in each case by an enzyme, the complexity of the system makes the search for factors limiting yield or purity more difficult. If the product yield is too low, the reason for this may be the concentration of one of the enzymes present being too low, although that enzyme would not be known from among possible enzymes, that is to say owing to insufficient synthesizing capacity, the reactant is not reacted within the intended time frame or prior to degradation by competing enzymes. Alternatively, it is quite possible that an enzyme, although detectably present as a polypeptide in the cell, does not have the folding essential to the activity in that particular cell or that a hitherto unknown cofactor which is, however, essential to the activity is missing. Equally, as mentioned previously, the metabolic product may be toxic to the cell or broken down.
A person skilled in the art who would like to establish or improve a biotechnological process is thus confronted with numerous possible starting points, but in most cases is not provided by the prior art with any specific and executable instruction as to which of these starting points he needs to start from in order to achieve the objective.
Carboxylic acid esters constitute a group of compounds that are in high demand in the industry and that, either themselves or by way of processed products, are used as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, plastics and the like.
Processing, however, frequently requires not only an ester function, which has to be introduced into a precursor first, but also further derivatization being carried out on the ester without hydrolysing the ester function in the process or subsequently. The latter is not a trivial accomplishment to be achieved, since many carboxylic acid esters tend to hydrolyse even in the absence of enzymes catalysing such reactions, in particular in aqueous solutions and at pH values greatly deviating from the neutral point.
An important possibility of further derivatizing carboxylic acid esters is oxidization of alkyl chains present therein. This first produces an alcohol which either is used as such or may be further oxidized to the aldehyde or ketone. The aldehyde or ketone may be either reductively aminated or further oxidized to the carboxylic acid which in turn may be esterified again, if required.
This multiplicity of possible reactions, many of which are catalysed by endogenous enzymes, i.e. enzymes that are naturally present in an organism, indicates that the problem of uncontrolled secondary product formation or metabolizing is particularly serious for reacting carboxylic acid esters by means of biotechnological processes.
An example of a carboxylic acid ester that is in high demand in the industry and that is customarily prepared starting from hydrocarbons present in petroleum is methyl 12-amino-dodecanoate(ALSME)[12-Aminolauric acid methylester]. ALSME is an important starting material in the preparation of polymers, for example for producing nylon-based line systems. ALSME has previously been produced in a low-yield process, starting from fossil raw materials.
A promising new way of biotechnologically producing ALS or ALSME is described in WO 2009/077461. This involves methyl dodecanoate being oxidized by a monooxygenase in a first step, and reacting the resultant aldehyde by means of a transaminase to give ALSME. A disadvantage of this process is the production of secondary products, for example the dicarboxylic acid, which can be removed from the desired product, ALSME, only with difficulties. This reduces the yield and makes recycling of hydrophobic solvents and hydrophobic cation exchangers, which may be used according to PCT/EP2011/071491 for removing the product from the aqueous reaction mixture, more difficult, at the expense of efficient resource usage.
Against this background, it is an object of the invention to provide a biotechnological process for reacting carboxylic acid esters which is as efficient as possible with regard to yield, carbon balance and/or nitrogen balance and/or purity.
Another object of the invention is to provide a biotechnological process for reacting carboxylic acid esters to give aminated carboxylic acid esters, which is as efficient as possible with regard to yield, carbon balance and/or nitrogen balance, re-usability of agents used and/or purity of the product. In this connection, an efficient carbon balance and/or nitrogen balance preferably means that the proportion of the carbon and/or nitrogen fed in the form of suitable substrates to a cell for reacting a carboxylic acid ester is as high as possible in the desired final product, instead of being reacted to give products other than the desired ones, for example.
Another object of the invention is to improve the ability of a multi-phase reaction mixture to be worked up from the reaction of a carboxylic acid ester, particularly with regard to re-usability of hydrophobic solvents and liquid cation exchangers used for work-up, and with regard to phase formation and separation in a biphasic system comprising an aqueous phase in which reaction of the carboxylic acid ester takes place and an organic phase with organic solvents and/or liquid cation exchangers.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Process for reacting a carboxylic acid ester


A system for providing a guarantee within a deferred annuity for insuring a security against a change in value of the security is disclosed which comprises a computer system configured to have entered information related to a security to be insured by the guarantee within the deferred annuity, the computer system configured to prepare the guarantee within the deferred annuity based upon the entered information related to the security to be insured, the deferred annuity having an account value, and the security to be insured being held in an account separate from the account value of the deferred annuity.

This disclosure relates to protecting a security, securities, a portfolio of securities, or a portion of a portfolio of securities and more particularly to a system and method for providing a guarantee within a deferred annuity or other form of insurance for insuring a security, securities, a portfolio of securities, or a portion of a portfolio of securities.
Investors may invest for a number of different reasons in numerous types of securities in an attempt to achieve short-term or long-term appreciation in the price or value of the security. For example, investment may be made as savings for retirement or as savings for other important financial events such as purchasing a home, purchasing an automobile, or paying for a college education. In particular, an investor among other things may invest in or obtain an interest in stocks, mutual funds, options, commodities, futures, derivatives, stock index futures, certificates of deposit, exchange traded funds, or bonds by purchasing such securities. Initially, such securities or assets have a purchase price or basis. The investor attempts to maximize the return on investment by selecting assets or securities that either increase in value or do not allow their principal to erode or decline in value. Due to the unpredictable and volatile nature of securities, investors may find it advantageous to protect the principal by preventing any loss that may occur in the purchase price or basis of the security. One way to try to protect against such an occurrence is to purchase an option contract. For example, an option contract gives an investor the right, but not the obligation, to purchase or sell a certain number of shares of stocks or other types of securities at a specific price at a specific future time. An investor pays a price for the right to purchase or sell the certain number of shares at the specific price at a future date. If the investor does not purchase or sell the stock, the investor is out the money paid to purchase the option contract. However, such option contracts are complex, difficult to understand, date limited, risky, and expensive. Further, such option contracts are only available for a limited number of stocks and cannot be purchased for other securities such as mutual funds. Accordingly and unfortunately, options contracts do not offer the protection sought or needed.
Some investors have bought government bonds or debt obligations that are backed or guaranteed by a government in an attempt to protect against a decrease in value in a security. However, such bonds pay an interest rate that is below the market interest rate making it a less attractive security. Additionally, some government-backed bonds require a large amount of money to purchase these bonds. Thus, the purchases of such bonds are only practical for large institutions, banks, or companies. Again, such bonds do not allow an individual investor the opportunity to hedge their risks.
Another known investment tool that some investors use to obtain an income stream is an annuity. An annuity is a contract between an insurance company and an individual, the insured, in which the insured pays the insurance company a premium that will later be distributed back to the insured over a period of time. An annuity contract may provide a fixed guaranteed payment over time until the death of the insured or until a final date, whichever comes first. The majority of annuity customers use annuities to accumulate funds free of income and capital gains taxes and to later take a lump-sum withdrawal without using the guaranteed payment for life feature. Annuities are available in two basic types of contracts. One is the deferred annuity and the other is the immediate or payout annuity.
Deferred annuities are essentially life insurance products through which values are accumulated, on a tax deferred basis, with the nominal purpose of applying the accumulated value on a maturity date in the future to purchase a payout annuity. The maturity date may be a planned retirement date, such as the insured reaching the age of 65. The payout annuity provides a stream of periodic payments guaranteed to be provided according to the terms selected by the insured or annuitant when the funds were applied on the maturity date. Deferred annuity products sold by life insurance companies contain investment guarantees applied to the accumulation values within the product during the deferral period. Deferred annuity products also provide interest and mortality guarantees associated with the minimum payout annuity available to the annuitant on the maturity date. However, it should be noted that deferred annuities are rarely "annuitized". That is, rarely is the accumulated value actually applied to purchase a payout annuity. Since annuitization results in a loss of liquidity for the annuitant, well less than 5% of deferred annuities are converted to payout annuities on a maturity date.
Deferred annuity products may be further distinguished by the nature of the account value inside the product. For example, a deferred annuity may be a traditional deferred annuity, a variable deferred annuity, or an indexed deferred annuity. The account value of a Traditional or General Account deferred annuity is invested in the general account of the insurance company selling the deferred annuity. The insurance company provides a minimum interest rate guarantee that will be applied to the account value and principle is guaranteed not to decrease. The account value of a variable deferred annuity is invested in sub-accounts of a separate account of the insurance company selling the deferred annuity. A "plain" variable annuity (VA) effectively transfers investment risk from the insurance company to the VA owner. This is because the owner chooses from among the offered investments in the variable account of the VA and experiences directly the investment ups and downs—including the possibility of capital losses.
In order to make variable annuity products more attractive to potential buyers, insurers have created a class of benefits referred to as guaranteed living benefits (GLBs) through which the insurer retains some of the investment risk that would otherwise have been transferred to the annuity owner. In deferred variable annuities these GLBs take a number of forms and all of these benefits are usually only available for election at the time the VA is issued.
One form is known as a Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit (GMIB). This provides a minimum income or payout benefit at time of annuitization (if the VA is annuitized). If the actual accumulated account value would provide a higher benefit, then that higher income benefit is provided. The minimum may be expressed in many different ways and there may be restrictions imposed. For example, the GMIB is only available if the VA is annuitized and the contract may be required to be in force for a number of years before such annuitization. There is typically an additional fee for this benefit which has the effect of reducing the net investment return available.
Another form is known as a Guaranteed Minimum Accumulation Benefit (GMAB). The GMAB is similar to the GMIB except that the minimum is applied to the Accumulation Value. Any VA benefit that is set in relation to the Accumulation Value can be affected by this minimum. Therefore, annuitization may not be required to activate the benefit. The minimum may be expressed in a number of different ways and there may be restrictions on the application of the minimum. For example, the minimum benefit is typically only available on specified benefit dates (perhaps 10 years after issue) or may be available only in specified contingencies like nursing home confinement. There is typically an additional fee for this benefit which has the effect of reducing the net investment return available.
A third form is known as a Guaranteed Minimum Withdrawal Benefit (GMWB). This benefit allows the annuity owner to withdraw a set percentage or amount of the Accumulation Value over a set period of time. The benefit is, typically, designed to guarantee that at least the principal deposit into the VA contract will be available for withdrawal over time. Usually the guarantee allows the principal deposit accumulated at some guaranteed minimum rate of interest to be withdrawn over the specified period—something like 15-20 years. The minimum may be expressed in a number of different ways and there may be restrictions on the application of the minimum.
There is also Guaranteed Payout Annuity Floor (GPAF). An immediate, or payout, VA may also provide the GPAF which provides an annuitant receiving payout benefits a guaranteed minimum benefit. This guarantee might also be provided on a deferred VA with respect to benefits received through its annuitization feature. There is typically an additional fee for this benefit which has the effect of reducing the net investment return available.
Though not a GLB, through provision of a Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit (GMDB) the insurer also retains some investment risk that would otherwise have been transferred to the VA annuity owner. The GMDB guarantees a death benefit equal to, at least, the premiums paid into the VA contract. Other forms of the GMDB relate the death benefit amount to the highest level of the Accumulation Value at points in the past. Typically the GMDB is provided as an embedded benefit for which a small charge has been reflected in the pricing. Therefore, the VA fees or charges are slightly higher which has the effect of reducing the net investment return available.
The account value of an indexed deferred annuity is invested in the general account of the insurance company issuing the policy. Indexed deferred annuities guarantee principal and interest rate guarantees applied to the account value are guaranteed by a rate calculated in reference to an index, such as for example the S&P 500 which is, generally, greater than zero. However, deferred annuities may be difficult to understand, are expensive to purchase because of fees and charges applied, reduce the liquidity of amounts invested by subjecting them to surrender charges, and do not provide protection for securities.
In view of the above, it would be desirable to protect an asset or a security from declining in value. It is also desirable to protect an individual's portfolio or a portion of the portfolio that may be comprised of combinations of various securities. It would also be advantageous to offer a product or contract, such as a deferred annuity whose account value in some way consisted of or was related to or indexed to a security or portfolio of securities, that would be able to protect against a change in the value of a security or portfolio of securities. There is also a need for insurance for an account value of a deferred annuity consisting of or related to or indexed to a security or a portfolio of securities. Together, this insurance or protection is a securities insurance guarantee.
The present disclosure is designed to obviate and overcome many of the disadvantages and shortcomings associated with attempting to protect the value of a security or a portfolio of securities. In particular, the present disclosure is a system and method for providing a deferred annuity which provides guarantees with respect to an account value related to or indexed to a security or a portfolio of securities. Moreover, the system and method of the present disclosure can be employed to insure or guarantee against a decrease or an increase in the price of a security or a portfolio of securities.

System and method for providing a guarantee within a deferred annuity for insuring a security


An oxide ceramic fluorescent material is provided comprising a polycrystalline ceramic sintered body of Y3Al5O12, Lu3Al5O12, (Y,Lu)3Al5O12, (Y,Gd)3Al5O12, or Al2O3 in which a rare earth element selected from Ce, Eu and Tb has been diffused from its surface as fluorescent activator. The concentration of the rare earth element is 1 wt % at a depth of 50-600 μm as measured from the sintered body surface and at least 1 wt % at any position nearer to the sintered body surface.

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are among the most efficient light sources currently available. Recently, active efforts are made to develop white LEDs by combining blue LED with phosphor or fluorescent material. The mainstream is a pseudo-white LED device which is based on a blue LED combined with a yellow light-emitting phosphor. Examples of the yellow light-emitting phosphor include Y3Al5O12:Ce, (Y,Gd)3(Al,Ga)5O12:Ce, (Y,Gd)3Al5O12:Ce, Tb3Al5O12:Ce, CaGa2S4:Eu, (Sr,Ca,Ba)2SiO4:Eu, and Ca-α-SiAlON:Eu.
The pseudo-white LED illuminating device is generally constructed by dispersing yellow light-emitting phosphor particles in a transparent resin to form a resin-bonded fluorescent material and placing the fluorescent material in front of a blue LED. Pseudo-white light is produced by wavelength converting a portion of light emitted by the blue LED and combing the output with the remaining light.
In this connection, JP-A 2007-150331 discloses a fluorescent material comprising garnet or the like, specifically a light-transmissive, homogeneous fluorescent material capable of fluorescent emission upon excitation by light emitted by a light-emitting component, and a light-emitting device comprising the fluorescent material. This fluorescent material is expected to have higher heat resistance and higher mechanical strength than the prior art resin-bonded fluorescent material comprising a powdered phosphor and a resin in which the phosphor is dispersed, and is also expected to have high durability against the heat that increases as the output of light emitting components increases in the future.
Such sintered fluorescent materials are prepared by formulating a powder raw material having the same composition of constituent elements as the final fluorescent material, shaping, machining, and sintering.

Oxide ceramic fluorescent material having rare earth diffused therein


Seamed belts, particularly puzzle-cut imageable seam intermediate transfer belts, and marking machines that use such belts, that have a beveled sides across the thickness of the belt. When the first and second ends are interlocked the bevel points are adjacent one another and a substantially V-shaped channel is formed. An adhesive is disposed in that channel. The V-shaped channel beneficially continuously extends along the puzzle-cut seam.

This invention relates to electrophotographic printing machines having seamed intermediate transfer belts.
Electrophotographic printing is a well-known and commonly used method of copying or printing documents. Electrophotographic printing is performed by exposing a light image representation of a desired document onto a substantially uniformly charged photoreceptor. In response to that light image the photoreceptor discharges, creating an electrostatic latent image of the desired document on the photoreceptor""s surface. Toner is then deposited onto that latent image, forming a toner image. The toner image is then transferred from the photoreceptor onto a receiving substrate such as a sheet of paper. The transferred toner image is then fused with the substrate, usually using heat and/or pressure. The surface of the photoreceptor is then cleaned of residual developing material and recharged in preparation for the production of another image.
The foregoing generally describes black and white electrophotographic printing machines. Electrophotographic printing can also produce color images by repeating the above process for each color of toner that is used to make the color image. For example, the photoreceptive surface may be exposed to a light image that represents a first color, say black. The resultant electrostatic latent image can then be developed with black toner particles to produce a black toner layer that is subsequently transferred onto a receiving substrate. The process can then be repeated for a second color, say yellow, then for a third color, say magenta, and finally for a fourth color, say cyan. When the toner layers are placed in superimposed registration the desired composite color toner image is formed and fused on the receiving substrate.
The color printing process described above superimposes the color toner layers directly onto a substrate. Other electrophotographic printing systems use intermediate transfer belts. In such systems successive toner layers are electrostatically transferred in superimposed registration from the photoreceptor onto an intermediate transfer belt. Only after the composite toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt is that image transferred and fused onto the substrate. Indeed, some electrophotographic printing systems use multiple intermediate transfer belts, transferring toner to and from the belts as required to fulfill the requirements of the machine""s overall architecture.
In operation, an intermediate transfer belt is brought into contact with a toner image-bearing member such as a photoreceptor belt. In the contact zone an electrostatic field generating device such as a corotron, a bias transfer roller, a bias blade, or the like creates electrostatic fields that transfer toner onto the intermediate transfer belt. Subsequently, the intermediate transfer belt is brought into contact with a receiver. A similar electrostatic field generating device then transfers toner from the intermediate transfer belt to the receiver. Depending on the system, a receiver can be another intermediate transfer member or a substrate onto which the toner will eventually be fixed. In either case the control of the electrostatic fields in and near the transfer zone is a significant factor in toner transfer.
Intermediate transfer belts often take the form of seamed belts fabricated by fastening two ends of a web material together, such as by welding, sewing, wiring, stapling, or gluing. While seamless intermediate transfer belts are possible, they require manufacturing processes that make them much more expensive than similar seamed intermediate transfer belts. This is particularly true when the intermediate transfer belt is long. While seamed intermediate transfer belts are relatively low in cost, the seam introduces a discontinuity that interferes with the electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties of the belt. While it is possible to synchronize a printer""s operation with the motion of the intermediate transfer belt so that toner is not electrostatically transferred onto the seam, such synchronization adds to the printer""s expense and complexity, resulting in loss of productivity. Additionally, since high speed electrophotographic printers typically produce images on paper sheets that are cut from a paper xe2x80x9cweb,xe2x80x9d if the seam is avoided the resulting unused portion of the paper web must be cut-out, producing waste. Furthermore, even with synchronization the mechanical problems related to the discontinuity, such as excessive cleaner wear and mechanical vibrations, still exist. However, because of the numerous difficulties with transferring toner onto and off of a seamed intermediate transfer belt in the prior art it was necessary, to avoid toner transfer onto (and thus off of) a seam.
Acceptable intermediate transfer belts require sufficient seam strength to achieve a desired operating life. While that life depends on the specific application, typically it will be at least 100,000 operating cycles, but more preferably 1,000,000 cycles. Considering that a seamed intermediate transfer belt suffers mechanical stresses from belt tension, traveling over rollers, moving through transfer nips, and passing through cleaning systems, achieving such a long operating life is not trivial. Thus the conflicting constraints of long life and limited topographical size at the seam places a premium on adhesive strength and good seam construction.
A prior art xe2x80x9cpuzzle-cutxe2x80x9d approach to seamed belts significantly improves the seam""s mechanical strength. U.S. Pat. No. 5,514,436, issued May 7, 1996, entitled xe2x80x9cPuzzle Cut Seamed Belt;xe2x80x9d U.S. Pat. No. 5,549,193, entitled xe2x80x9cEndless Seamed Belt with Low Thickness Differential Between the Seam and the Rest of the Belt;xe2x80x9d and U.S. Pat. No. 5,487,707, issued Jan. 30, 1996, entitled xe2x80x9cPuzzle Cut Seamed Belt With Bonding Between Adjacent Surface By UV Cured Adhesivexe2x80x9d teach the puzzle-cut approach. With puzzle-cuts, interlocking tabs are used to improve the seam""s strength. However, even further improvements would be beneficial. Furthermore, there are other difficulties when imaging in the seam area or when transferring toner onto and off of a seam of a seamed intermediate transfer belt.
For a seamed intermediate transfer belt to be acceptable, the final image produced from across the seam must be comparable in quality to images formed across the remainder of the belt. This is a difficult task due to a number of interrelated factors. Some of those factors relate to the fact that the seam should not greatly impact the electrostatic fields used to transfer toner. However, electrostatic transfer fields are themselves dependent on the electrical properties of the intermediate transfer belt. While this dependency is complex, briefly there are conditions where transfer fields are very sensitive to the resistivity and thickness of the materials used for the various layers of the intermediate transfer belt. Under other conditions the electrostatic transfer fields are relatively insensitive to those factors. Similarly, there are conditions where the electrostatic transfer fields are very sensitive to the dielectric constants of the materials used for the layers of the intermediate transfer belt, and other conditions where the electrostatic transfer fields are insensitive to the dielectric constants. Therefore, to successfully transfer toner onto and off of a seamed intermediate transfer belt the electrical properties across and around the seam should be carefully controlled to produce a proper relationship with the remainder of the belt. Since the electrical properties depend on the interrelated factors of seam geometry, seam construction (such as adhesive beyond the seam), seam topology, seam thickness, the presence of an overcoating, and various other factors those factors should be taken into consideration for a given application.
In addition to mechanical strength and electrical compatibility difficulties, there are other problems when transferring toner onto and off of a seam. For example, with most prior art seamed intermediate transfer belts relatively poor cleaning around the seam was acceptable. However, if toner is being transferred onto and off of the seam region the seam must be properly cleaned. Thus, the toner release and friction properties across the seam region have to be comparable to those of the rest of the belt. Furthermore, most prior art seamed intermediate transfer belts have a significant xe2x80x9cstepxe2x80x9d where the belt overlaps to form the seam. That step can be as large as 25 microns. Such a step significantly interferes with transfer and cleaning. Thus if toner is transferred onto and off of the seam, the seam""s friction, toner release, and topography are much more constrained than those of other seamed intermediate transfer belts.
From above it can be seen that a seam""s topography is very important if one wants to transfer toner onto and off of a seam region without significant degradation of the final image. The seam topography includes not only the seam itself, but also any overflow of the adhesive used in the seam. This overflow can occur on both the toner-bearing side and the backside of the belt. Adhesive overflow is important because the belt seam strength can depend on that overflow. However, excessive overflow increases various mechanical, electrical, and xerographic problems. Furthermore, the adhesive""s electrical properties remain important.
More information regarding the requirements of imageable seam intermediate transfer belts can be found in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/460,896, entitled xe2x80x9cImageable Seam Intermediate Transfer Belt Having An Overcoat,xe2x80x9d by Edward L. Schlueter, Jr. et al., and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/460,821, entitled xe2x80x9cImageable Seam Intermediate Transfer Belt,xe2x80x9d by Gerald M. Fletcher et al., both filed on Dec. 14, 1999. Those patent documents discuss, among other things, xe2x80x9cshort-wavelengthxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9clong-wavelengthxe2x80x9d spatial disturbances, conformable overcoats, Paschen air breakdown, transfer nip air gaps, suitable electrical properties, material layers, material compositions, environmental and aging concerns, cleaning, surface friction, and xe2x80x9cset point controlxe2x80x9d approaches to enable wider tolerances in electrical properties.
The present invention is specifically related to a technique of improving a seam""s electrical and strength properties without significantly degrading other desirable imageable seam intermediate transfer belt properties. As previously indicated, prior art puzzle-cut seams are useful in achieving a strong belt seam. At least part of this strength is due to an increased seam surface area and at least part is due to an improved distribution of lateral forces. However, prior art puzzle-cut seams might not be optimal in particular applications. For example, when particularly rugged belts are required a further increase in belt seam surface area would be beneficial. Additionally, the electrical properties of imageable seam intermediate transfer belts at and near the kerfs are particularly difficult to control. So much so that, in general, the smaller the kerf the better the electrical performance of imageable seam intermediate transfer belts. Therefore, a puzzle-cut seam having an increased surface area would be beneficial. Even more beneficial would be a puzzle-cut seam having an increased surface area but a small kerf.
The principles of the present invention provide for seamed belts, particularly puzzle-cut imageable seam intermediate transfer belts, that have a relatively large seam surface areas and relatively small kerfs. The principles of the present invention further provide for marking machines that use imageable seam intermediate transfer belts that have relatively large seam surface areas and relatively small kerfs.
A belt according to the present invention includes a substrate having a puzzle-cut first end and a puzzle-cut second end that are beveled along the thickness of the belt. When the first and second ends are interlocked the bevel points are adjacent one another and a substantially V-shaped channel is formed. An adhesive is disposed in that channel. The V-shaped channel beneficially continuously extends along the puzzle-cut seam.
An imageable seam intermediate transfer belt according to the present invention includes a seamed semiconductive substrate having a puzzle-cut first end and a puzzle-cut second end that are beveled along the thickness of the belt. When the first and second ends are interlocked the bevel points are adjacent on another and a V-shaped channel is formed. An adhesive is disposed in that channel. The V-shaped channel beneficially continuously extends along the puzzle-cut seam.
A marking machine according to the present invention includes a moving photoreceptor belt, a charging station for charging that belt, an imaging station for exposing the charged belt to produce a latent image, a developer for depositing toner on the latent image, and a transfer station for transferring deposited toner from the latent image to a fuser. The transfer station includes an intermediate transfer belt that receives toner from the latent image and transfers that toner to the toner transfix component. The fuser fuses the received toner to a substrate. Furthermore, a cleaning station cleans the photoreceptor. The intermediate transfer belt includes a seamed semiconductive substrate having a puzzle-cut first end and a puzzle-cut second end that are beveled along the thickness of the belt. When the first and second ends are interlocked the bevel points are adjacent on another and a V-shaped channel is formed. An adhesive is disposed in that channel. The V-shaped channel beneficially continuously extends along the puzzle-cut seam.


A contoured seat form includes a lower support surface on which a user's legs and buttocks are supported, the lower support surface including a forward edge having: i) a pair of primary leg support surfaces extending inwardly from side edges of the forward edge; and ii) a pair of indent surfaces, each extending backwardly from the leg support surfaces. At least one leg indentation is formed into which a smaller rider's leg or legs can fit. A back support surface by which a rider's back is supported includes a pair of contoured protrusions that extend forwardly therefrom, the pair of contoured protrusions defining a torso indentation therebetween, the torso indentation being sized such that a smaller rider's torso will fit between the pair of protrusions while a larger rider's torso will be prevented from entering the torso indentation by the contoured protrusions.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to seat forms utilized in amusement rides. More particularly, the invention relates to seat forms optimized to securely receive riders of varying sizes.
Related Art
Amusement rides, such as roller coasters and the like, have been enjoyed by enthusiasts for many years. As technology and consumer appetite for more aggressive rides have progressed, modern amusement rides are highly engineered experiences that subject riders to considerable speeds and forces. Such increases have driven the need for increasingly robust restraint systems that secure riders within a seat. Restraint systems serve two purposes: they prevent riders from accidentally moving from the position in which they are intended to ride, and they prevent careless or reckless riders from intentionally circumventing the safety restraint.
Restraint systems typically include two primary components: a seat belt, lap or chest bar, etc., that engages the rider to restrain the rider in a seat, and the seat itself. As conventional lap bars or belts have been used for some time to secure riders within a particular ride seat, they have been adapted through the years to account for varying ride experiences, ride car designs, etc. For example, lap bars or belts have been provided with some degree of adjustability to account for varying rider size: they can be lowered to a lesser degree for larger people, and lowered to a greater degree for smaller people. Similarly, seat belts can be tightened more for smaller riders and less for larger riders.


Disclosed is a process for cleaning and applying a mobility enhancer to a metal container, preferably to an aluminum can, the process comprising the steps of: (a) contacting the container with an aqueous acidic prewashing solution; (b) contacting the container with an aqueous acidic or alkaline cleaning solution; (c) rinsing the container with an aqueous acidic dispersion (d) rinsing the container with an aqueous acidic dispersion comprised of a mobility enhancing composition, the mobility enhancing composition comprising (i) at least one wax; and (ii) at least one surfactant, in an amount sufficient to decrease the coefficient of static friction on the outside surface of the container, and to provide a substantially water-break-free surface thereon. Processes for cleaning and applying a mobility enhancer to a metal container wherein the mobility enhancing composition described above is applied to the container during a conditioning rinse or conversion coating step, or during one of several water rinsing steps are also disclosed. The mobility enhancing composition provides improved mobility of aluminum cans as they are conveyed along trackwork from the can washing operation to other remote operations in a can manufacturing facility without adversely affecting subsequently applied internal and/or external can coatings.

Metal containers, particularly aluminum cans, are commonly used as containers for a wide variety of products. After their manufacture, the cans are typically washed with acidic or alkaline cleaners to remove aluminum fines, forming lubricants, and other contaminants. A clean and stain-free aluminum surface is essential to the proper application of inks and other coatings. One undesirable result of the aforementioned cleaning process is that water often is retained on the clean, rinsed metal can surfaces. This represents a major heat load for a dry off oven. A water load reduction is desirable because such a reduction reduces energy requirements and provides faster drying times resulting in an increased production rate, and allowing for the use of thinner gauge aluminum.
It is also desirable that the aluminum cans move smoothly through the conveyor system and onto or off the printer mandrels during the manufacturing process. The term "mobility" is used in the industry to refer to the ability of aluminum cans to travel unimpeded (i.e. sliding smoothly against one another) through the manufacturing process conducted at the highest line speed possible. Cans characterized as having poor "mobility" generally have higher coefficients of static friction.
Thoroughly cleaned aluminum cans, however, are typically characterized by high surface roughness, resulting in a high coefficient of static friction, typically about 1.6. This property hinders the mobility of cans through single filers and printers when attempting to increase line speed. This can result in production losses due to frequent jamming, printer misfeeding problems, and a high rate of can rejects.
Periodically during the can manufacturing process, there are, for various reasons, line stoppages. During such a stoppage, a portion of the cans in the washing cycle can be halted in the dry off ovens where temperatures are sufficiently high to volatilize some of the conventional mobility enhancers from the outer surfaces of the cleaned cans. This can result in a portion of the cleaned cans having increased coefficient of static friction values and, hence, poor mobility.
Thus, a need has arisen in the aluminum can manufacturing industry to modify the coefficient of static friction on the outside surface of the cans to improve their mobility without adversely affecting the subsequent application of printing inks and other coatings. Moreover, the material used to promote enhanced mobility must be oven-stable, that is, it must not volatilize at temperatures encountered in the dry-off ovens. Increased production demands are prompting can manufacturers to increase line and printer speeds to produce more cans per unit time. Thus, improving the mobility of aluminum cans is the general trend in the industry.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,599,116 describes an alkaline cleaning process for aluminum container surfaces. The aqueous alkaline cleaning composition contains an alkalinity agent, a complexing agent to chelate at least some of the metal ions removed from the metal surface by the cleaning solution, and at least one surfactant to remove organic soils from the surfaces of the container and to inhibit white-etch staining of the surfaces. The reference indicates that following cleaning a mobility enhancing conversion coating can be applied to the surface of the can for improving the ability of the cans to move throughout the trackwork.
U.S. Pat Nos. 4,859,351; 4,944,889; 5,030,323; 5,064,500; and 5,080,814 describe lubricant and surface conditioners for application to aluminum cans. These patents indicate that the disclosed compositions reduce the coefficient of static friction on the outside surface of the cans which enhances mobility, thereby permitting an increase in production line speed. The lubricant and surface conditioners disclosed in these patents are water-soluble alkoxylated surfactants, namely, organic phosphate esters; alcohols; fatty acids including mono-, di-, tri-, and poly-acids; fatty acid derivatives such as salts, hydroxy acids, amides, esters, ethers and derivatives thereof and mixtures thereof. The references state that the lubricant and surface conditioner may be applied to the cans during the wash cycle, during one of the treatment cycles, during one of the rinse cycles or after the final water rinse. Both acidic and alkaline wash cycles are disclosed.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,061,389 discloses a composition and process for reducing the coefficient of friction on the surface of formed metal structures, such as aluminum cans, by lubricating the surface with a blend of a polyethylene glycol ester and a fluoride compound.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,286,300 discloses a process and a composition useful as a rinse aid for metal surfaces and for improving mobility of formed metal surfaces comprised of a nonionic polyoxyalkylene glycol and an alkoxy derivative of a nonionic ethoxylated and propoxylated glycol. The reference indicates that the process results in an improvement in the drainage of water from metal surfaces and a reduction in the coefficient of friction of the metal surfaces for improved mobility.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,634,986 discloses a process for improving the mobility of formed metal surfaces and for reducing the metal exposure rating of the surfaces which are subsequently coated. Specifically, the reference teaches contacting the metal surfaces with an aqueous composition comprised of a polyethylene to provide improved mobility and a reduction in metal exposure ratings of subsequently coated metal surfaces. It has been found, however, that use of this process brings about an adverse effect on adhesion of a subsequently applied pigmented basecoat.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,746,837 discloses an aqueous composition for enhancing the mobility of an aluminum can that is transported along a conveyor or trackwork, the composition comprising a carboxylic acid or acid-producing compound with ammonia, an amine or an alkali or alkaline earth metal. The reference also discloses a process for mobility enhancement by applying the aforementioned composition to the outer surfaces of an aluminum can during various stages of the can cleaning process. Additionally, the reference teaches that aqueous compositions of the invention also permit a reduction in can drying temperatures.
Although each of the aforementioned compositions and processes provides improved mobility of formed metal substrates, particularly aluminum cans, the increased demands for faster line speeds and increased production mandates an even further reduction in the coefficient of static friction of cleaned metal cans. Also, the compositions disclosed in the references may not be sufficiently oven-stable, that is, they may volatilize in the dry-off oven during a line stoppage and, consequently, exhibit poor mobility.
The use of various waxes, such as branched hydrocarbon waxes, carnauba waxes and the like, for improving storage stability of aqueous-based metallic surface coatings is well known in the art. Also, the use of these waxes in metal container coatings, for example, varnish and basecoat compositions, is known to enhance mobility of the coated containers as they are conveyed through trackwork in the manufacturing facilities, as well as in beverage filling lines. The application of such waxes in metal container washing processes as mobility enhancers, however, is not known.
It has been found that the addition of a mobility enhancing composition comprising one or more particular waxes in combination with at least one surfactant to disperse the wax in aqueous media provides a notable improvement in the reduction of the coefficient of static friction of cleaned metal containers, thereby improving mobility of the cans as they are conveyed along trackwork in a manufacturing facility. Such mobility enhancing compositions are dry off oven stable and provide a substantially water-break-free metal surface.

Process for cleaning a metal container providing enhanced mobility


The present application describes modulators of CCR3 of formula (I):

Chemokines are chemotactic cytokines, of molecular weight 6–15 kDa, that are released by a wide variety of cells to attract and activate, among other cell types, macrophages, T and B lymphocytes, eosinophils, basophils and neutrophils (reviewed in Luster, New Eng. J Med., 338, 436–445 (1998) and Rollins, Blood, 90, 909–928 (1997)). There are two major classes of chemokines, CXC and CC, depending on whether the first two cysteines in the amino acid sequence are separated by a single amino acid (CXC) or are adjacent (CC). The CXC chemokines, such as interleukin-8 (IL-8), neutrophil-activating protein-2 (NAP-2) and melanoma growth stimulatory activity protein (MGSA) are chemotactic primarily for neutrophils and T lymphocytes, whereas the CC chemokines, such as RANTES, MIP-1α, MIP-1β, the monocyte chemotactic proteins (MCP-1, MCP-2, MCP-3, MCP-4, and MCP-5) and the eotaxins (−1 and −2) are chemotactic for, among other cell types, macrophages, T lymphocytes, eosinophils, dendritic cells, and basophils. There also exist the chemokines lymphotactin-1, lymphotactin-2 (both C chemokines), and fractalkine (a CXXXC chemokine) that do not fall into either of the major chemokine subfamilies.
The chemokines bind to specific cell-surface receptors belonging to the family of G-protein-coupled seven-transmembrane-domain proteins (reviewed in Horuk, Trends Pharm. Sci., 15, 159–165 (1994)) which are termed "chemokine receptors." On binding their cognate ligands, chemokine receptors transduce an intracellular signal though the associated trimeric G proteins, resulting in, among other responses, a rapid increase in intracellular calcium concentration, changes in cell shape, increased expression of cellular adhesion molecules, degranulation, and promotion of cell migration. There are at least ten human chemokine receptors that bind or respond to CC chemokines with the following characteristic patterns: CCR-1 (or "CKR-1" or "CC-CKR-1") [MIP-1α, MCP-3, MCP-4, RANTES] (Ben-Barruch, et al., Cell, 72, 415–425 (1993), Luster, New Eng. J. Med., 338, 436–445 (1998)); CCR-2A and CCR-2B (or "CKR-2A"/"CKR-2B" or "CC-CKR-2A"/"CC-CKR-2B") [MCP-1, MCP-2, MCP-3, MCP-4, MCP-5] (Charo et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 91, 2752–2756 (1994), Luster, New Eng. J. Med., 338, 436–445 (1998)); CCR-3 (or "CKR-3" or "CC-CKR-3") [eotaxin-1, eotaxin-2, RANTES, MCP-3, MCP-4] (Combadiere, et al., J. Biol. Chem., 270, 16491–16494 (1995), Luster, New Eng. J. Med., 338, 436–445 (1998)); CCR-4 (or "CKR-4" or "CC-CKR-4") [TARC, MIP-1α, RANTES, MCP-1] (Power et al., J. Biol. Chem., 270, 19495–19500 (1995), Luster, New Eng. J. Med., 338, 436–445 (1998)); CCR-5 (or "CKR-5" OR "CC-CKR-5") [MIP-1α, RANTES, MIP-1β] (Sanson, et al., Biochemistry, 35, 3362–3367 (1996)); CCR-6 (or "CKR-6" or "CC-CKR-6") [LARC] (Baba et al., J. Biol. Chem.", 272, 14893–14898 (1997)); CCR-7 (or "CKR-7" or "CC-CKR-7") [ELC] (Yoshie et al., J. Leukoc. Biol. 62, 634–644 (1997)); CCR-8 (or "CKR-8" or "CC-CKR-8") [I-309, TARC, MIP-1β] (Napolitano et al., J. Immunol., 157, 2759–2763 (1996), Bernardini et al., Eur. J. Immunol., 28, 582–588 (1998)); and CCR-10 (or "CKR-10" or "CC-CKR-10") [MCP-1, MCP-3] (Bonini et al, DNA and Cell Biol., 16, 1249–1256 (1997)).
In addition to the mammalian chemokine receptors, mammalian cytomegaloviruses, herpesviruses and poxviruses have been shown to express, in infected cells, proteins with the binding properties of chemokine receptors (reviewed by Wells and Schwartz, Curr. Opin. Biotech., 8, 741–748 (1997)). Human CC chemokines, such as RANTES and MCP-3, can cause rapid mobilization of calcium via these virally encoded receptors. Receptor expression may be permissive for infection by allowing for the subversion of normal immune system surveillance and response to infection. Additionally, human chemokine receptors, such as CXCR4, CCR2, CCR3, CCR5 and CCR8, can act as co-receptors for the infection of mammalian cells by microbes as with, for example, the human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV).
Chemokine receptors have been implicated as being important mediators of inflammatory, infectious, and immunoregulatory disorders and diseases, including asthma and allergic diseases, as well as autoimmune pathologies such as rheumatoid arthritis and atherosclerosis. For example, the chemokine receptor CCR-3 plays a pivotal role in attracting eosinophils to sites of allergic inflammation and in subsequently activating these cells. The chemokine ligands for CCR-3 induce a rapid increase in intracellular calcium concentration, increased expression of cellular adhesion molecules, cellular degranulation, and the promotion of eosinophil migration. Accordingly, agents which modulate chemokine receptors would be useful in such disorders and diseases. In addition, agents which modulate chemokine receptors would also be useful in infectious diseases by blocking infection of CCR3 expressing cells by HIV or in preventing the manipulation of immune cellular responses by viruses such as cytomegaloviruses.
A substantial body of art has accumulated over the past several decades with respect to substituted piperidines and pyrrolidines. These compounds have implicated in the treatment of a variety of disorders.
WO 98/25604 describes spiro-substituted azacycles which are useful as modulators of chemokine receptors:
wherein R1 is C1-6 alkyl, optionally substituted with functional groups such as —NR6CONHR7, wherein R6 and R7 may be phenyl further substituted with hydroxy, alkyl, cyano, halo and haloalkyl. Such spiro compounds are not considered part of the present invention.
WO 98/31364 describes disubstituted piperidines which are useful as modulators of chemokine receptors:
wherein R1 is benzylpiperidine or benzylpyrrolidine. Such disubstituted piperidines ar not considered part of the present invention.
WO 96/26196 is directed to certain benzylpiperidines and piperazines as muscarinic antagonists:

In these compounds as well as other muscarinic antagonists, the ring of R2 is linked directly to the piperidine containing Y and Z. The compounds of the present invention do not include compounds of this type.
WO 95/19344 discloses tachykinin antagonists of formula:
wherein X is O or NR19, R1 and R2 are substituted phenyl, and R3 may be COR9, CONR10R11 and the like. Such compounds require this substitution at R1, R2, and X while R3 groups do not represent those of the present invention.
Other tachykinin antagonists include those of WO 97/22597, in which the two piperidine or pyrroline rings must be linked directly through a bond:

U.S. Pat. No. 5,576,319 discloses a method of treatment for schizophrenia comprising administering a compound of formula:
to a patient in need thereof. These compounds are not indicated as modulators of CCR3, and do not contain the necessary features of the present invention.
WO 97/06802 concerns oxido-squalene cyclase inhibitors of formula:
and WO 98/35959 concerns similar heterocyclic derivatives of formula:
wherein T1, T2, and T3 may be carbon or nitrogen, X may be methylene, Q is a carbocyclic ring, A may be absent and G is N or CH. Such compounds contain pyridine or pyridine derivatives directly off the piperidine rings. Further, the compounds of these references which bridge the pyridine analogously to the present invention require a carbonyl functionality in the linker.
Sulphonamide derivatives are implicated in WO 97/48681 as useful in the treatment of CNS disorders. The nitrogen bearing R1 and R2 of compounds of formula:
may be taken together to form a piperidine ring, however, such rings may only be substituted when an additional nitrogen is contained in the ring formed by R1 and R2.
The foregoing reference compounds are readily distinguished structurally by either the nature of the terminal functionality, attachment chain, or possible substitution of the present invention. The prior art does not disclose nor suggest the unique combination of structural fragments which embody these novel piperidines and pyrrolidines as having activity toward the chemokine receptors.

Heterocyclic piperidines as modulators of chemokine receptor activity

Abstract: or pharmaceutically acceptable salt forms thereof, useful for the prevention of asthma and other allergic diseases.


An article for packing body cavities comprises a protective sheath of supple, smooth, polymeric film, containing an absorbent sponge or like tampon component. The sheath facilitates insertion and removal of the article by minimizing tissue attachment, adherence, abrasion, and desiccation of the tampon.

This invention relates to an article for packing body cavities, comprised of a tampon and a containing cover or sheath.
In U.S. Pat. No. 1,732,697, Ryan discloses a medicated, compressed sponge that is adapted for insertion into the nose and that swells into contact with the irregular surface portions of the nasal cavity, when moistened. Similarly, Steven U.S. Pat. No. 2,179,964, Kriwkowitsch U.S. Pat. No. 3,049,125, Gottschalk U.S. Pat. No. 3,570,494, Doyle U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,030,504, 4,646,739, and Des. 287,880, Rangaswamy U.S. Pat. No. 4,568,326, Brennan U.S. Pat. No. 4,950,280, DeMane et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,336,163, Korteweg et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,827, and Sweden patent No. 220,978 provide nasal hemostats and the like. A commercial product, sold under the GARDLOK designation, consists of a monoaxially compressed sponge tampon, which is intended for insertion into a supplied finger cot. Medical, catamenial, and like devices are disclosed in the following representative patents: Gearon U.S. Pat. No. 1,537,992, Munro U.S. Pat. No. 2,110,962, Robell U.S. Pat. No. 2,499,414, McLaughlin U.S. Pat. No. 2,739,593, Maro et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,084,689, Penska U.S. Pat. No. 3,306,294, Crockford U.S. Pat. No. 3,369,544, Burnhill U.S. Pat. No. 3,762,414, Davis et al. U.S. Pat No. 3,791,385, Rosenblatt U.S. Pat. No. 4,098,728, Hirschman U.S. Pat. No. 4,175,561, Cercone et al. U.S. Pat No. 5,466,231, Cercone et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,556,391, Canada Pat. No. 550,047, and France Pat. No. 718,042.
Efficient hemostasis, such as after septal, sinus, or rhinoplastic surgery, or to abate nasal hemorrhage, requires the application of gentle pressure to ruptured major arteries and blood vessels over substantially all parts of the nasal cavity. Moreover, it is highly desirable that there be no (or at most minimal) adherence or attachment of the hemostatic device to the adjacent tissue, resulting from ingrowth of the tissue or other mechanisms, so as to facilitate removal without undue discomfort to the patient or injury to the site of healing. It is particularly desirable that desiccation, with the accompanying stiffening and hardening of the sponge material that occurs, be avoided so as to again facilitate withdrawal with minimal pain and injury.
It is not believed that the devices provided heretofore function entirely adequately in either or both of the foregoing respects, or in other respects discussed hereinbelow.

Ultracell Medical Technologies of Connecticut, Inc


A feature amount is calculated from input image data, then a scene of the input image data is determined based on the feature amount and the reliability of the scene is calculated. Then correction processing is performed on the input image data that corresponds to the determined scene and the scene reliability of the scene.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and its control method to correct image data in correspondence with the feature of the image data.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, a digital camera which records a captured still image obtained with an image sensor as digital data is widely used. Further, in accordance with broad use of a large capacity memory card to record images, storage of a large number of photographed images is a general application. Since a large number of images can be obtained and stored easily, an increasing number of images are photographed and stored without careful consideration and with inappropriate exposure value. For example, in an image photographed in underexposure status, the entire stored image is dark although photographing has been made for a bright spot. Upon the display of such an image obtained in underexposure status on a computer screen, or upon print-output of such image for inspection, it is desirable to perform the appropriate correction processing to compensate over/underexposure upon photographing on the photographed image. As it is very troublesome to manually perform the correction processing on a large number of images separately, it is desirable to automatically determine over/underexposure status of each photographed image and perform correction processing. However, it is difficult to automatically determine, for example, a nightscape image, which is entirely dark, and an underexposure image. To solve this problem, a method for automatically determining a nightscape image and an underexposure image and performing appropriate correction processing is proposed.
Literature 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-228221) discloses a method for determining a photographed scene and re-correcting correction processing conditions, set based on the scene determination, in correspondence with nightscape index. The night view index in this Literature 1 is calculated by using photographing conditions upon photographing, skin color pixel information of the image, and average luminance of the entire image. In the method disclosed in the Literature 1, the correction condition is automatically set by determining the image photographing scene of the photographed image. Further, by addition of correction in consideration of night view photographing, a more appropriately-corrected image can be obtained. However, upon determination of photographing scene, if the photographing conditions upon photographing are not set or set conditions have been replaced with other conditions, the scene determination is insufficient.
Further, Literature 2 (Japanese Patent No. 04057147) discloses a backlight scene determination method for determination of a backlight scene without erroneous determination even when a dark area other than a main subject exists. In the method disclosed in the Literature 2, it is not determined whether or not the image is a landscape image in an underexposure status where the brightness is low or a nightscape image. For example, if the background is dark and a part of the image is irradiated with bright light in a nightscape image, the irradiated part is determined as a non-backlighted subject. Further, if the brightness and saturation distribution are low in a dark area, the image is determined as a backlighted image and the dark area in the nightscape image is determined as a backlighted part. In this determination of the dark area of nightscape as a backlighted part, the dark area of the nightscape image is corrected to a brighter area.
Further, Literature 3 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-324987) discloses a method of dividing a photographed image into plural sections, calculating section feature quantities as quantities of divided image sections, calculating the accuracy of photographic scene assigned to the photographed image from the section feature quantity, and determining the degree of correction with respect to the photographed image from the calculated accuracy of the photographic scene. In the Literature 3, as a method for calculating the accuracy of photographic scene, a luminance difference between a section group positioned in the central area of the photographed image and a section group positioned in a peripheral area is used in for example determination of backlighted and frontlighted image. That is, if the luminance of the section group in the central area is lower than that of the section group in the peripheral area, the scene is determined as a backlighted scene. On the other hand, if the luminance of the section group in the central area is higher than that of the section group in the peripheral area, the scene is determined as a frontlighted scene. At this time, the accuracy of backlighted/frontlighted scene is calculated based on the above-described luminance difference, in consideration of spot light as a photographic scene which is regarded as extreme front light scene. However, in the Literature 3, as the scene accuracy is determined with reference to only the feature quantity analyzed from the image, the scene accuracies of various images cannot be obtained. For example, upon photographing of nightscape, if a central area is dark as a nightscape while a peripheral portion is neon-lighted and bright, the luminance of the central area is higher than that of the peripheral area and the scene is determined as a backlighted scene. Further, in a nightscape image and a backlighted image, if the difference between the luminance of the central area and that of the peripheral area in each image is the same, the same scene accuracy is calculated, and the discrimination between nightscape image and backlighted image cannot be made.

Image processing apparatus and method of controlling the apparatus and program thereof


Light from a laser (10) is divided by a beam splitter (12) to provide signal (15) and reference (14) channels. The signal channel light is expanded (11) to illuminate an acousto-optic (AO) device (13). This leads to a spatial distribution of Doppler shifted frequencies. This spatial distribution then illuminates a spatial light modulator (SLM) (19) such that a number of parallel and discrete optical channels (112) emerge. In a local area network (LAN) the optical signal channels are coupled into a single mode optical fibre (22) and then heterodont to the reference laser light from a further optical fibre (23) in an optical coupler (25). In a receiver the modulated light is detected (32) and the detected signal connected to the transducer of an AO device (35). The AO device (35) is illuminated by a receiver laser light (36) and the emerging modulated light is incident on a focal plane detector array (39) where each detector (310) then receives light corresponding to each of the transmitted channels (311). A secure free space communications system is possible by separate transmission of a delayed (43) unmodulated reference signal. The receiver is then arranged to include an identical delay (55) in the signal channels before coupling together the signal and reference channels (56) for modulating the AO cell (35). By this means the transmission delay lines (43) and the reference delay lines (55) must have delays which are equal within the coherence length of the source laser.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to communications systems and in particular to such systems employing optical transmission links.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Modern computing and communications systems require ever higher data transmission rates. The speed of transmission is limited by the usable bandwidth of the transmission medium. In the case of transmission along coaxial cables, for example, data rates are limited to around a few hundred megahertz over large distances.
Optical transmission systems offer theoretical bandwidths of peta-hertz. If the transmission is in a dispersive medium, then this data rate is considerably reduced. In commercially available single mode optical fibres, for instance, the theoretical limit is greater than a few hundred gigahertz. This limitation arises from the maximum speeds at which the driving electronics can operate.

The Secretary of State for Defence in her Britannic Majesty's Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland