This invention relates to compositions for use in the promotion of the development and/or of the growth of the surface area of the small intestine and in the associated improvement of the digestive capacity in an infant or in a young child.

Development of the intestine in infants and in young children is key for the infant and for the child development in particular it is very important for the infant or young child to have optimal digestive capacity. It is therefore desirable to develop compositions promoting the development of the digestive capacity in infants and young children.
In the case of proteins and carbohydrates, these are first digested to smaller fragments in the gut lumen then they are further digested into amino acids, di- and tri-peptides and monosaccharides, by a variety of enzymes sitting in the apical side of the small intestinal enterocytes, before being absorbed by the body.
Like proteins and carbohydrates, dietary lipids and liposoluble vitamins are hydrolysed in the gut lumen by different types of lipases. After a first step of digestion in the stomach by gastric lipase, large droplets of undigested fat and fat digestion products enter the intestine, where they are mixed with bile salts to form a fine emulsion readily accessible to the pancreatic lipases.
Lipid digestion products are then further incorporated into bile salt micelles in the lumen and form the so-called mixed micelles. This process remarkably increases the solubility of the lipid digestion products, which, in turn, strongly facilitates their absorption by the enterocytes. A minimum concentration of bile salts, called critical micellar concentration, is required in the lumen to the formation of bile salt micelles. In healthy adults, the luminal concentration of bile salts during the postprandial state is above the critical micellar concentration, which ensures a highly efficient lipid digestion and absorption. In infants, particularly preterm infants (see Lindqvist et al., Lipid digestion and absorption in early life: an update, Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care; 13(2010): 314-320), and in some disease states (ex. cystic fibrosis), the luminal concentration of bile salts is low, below the critical micellar concentration, which results in an inefficient lipid digestion and absorption.
A primary consequence of such inefficient lipid digestion is loss of nutrients in the faeces, namely loss of liposoluble vitamins and fat, such as essential fatty acids and LC-PUFA, as well as loss of associated energy. Such nutrients and energy are thus not available for infant growth and development. In addition, such inefficient digestion is associated with diarrhoea, feeding intolerance and alterations in the intestinal microbiota, for example. It is thus particularly desirable to find solutions to improve digestion in infants and young children, and in particular in preterm or low birth weight infants.
The bile salts in the intestinal lumen transit along the small intestine and are efficiently absorbed (up to 95%) in the ileum of healthy adults. The spared bile salts are recirculated via the portal vein into the liver, where they are taken up for secretion again into the intestinal lumen. Therefore, most of luminal bile salt pool is dependent of this entero-hepatic circulation, and only a small proportion results from de novo synthesis. The entero-hepatic circulation process is however defective in young infants (see Belle et al.; Intestinal absorption of bile salts: immature development in the neonate; J Pediatr 94 (1979): 472-476), particularly in preterm infants and in certain disease states like short bowel syndrome. In particular, increase in the ileal surface of absorption can improve enterohepatic circulation of bile salts, reutilization by the liver and increased luminal bile salt pool resulting in better fat and liposoluble vitamin digestion.
The small intestine plays a critical role in such digestion process. One important parameter influencing the digestive capacity is the morphology of the small intestine. The surface area of the small intestine epithelium, is a key parameter (See Helander et al.; Surface area of the digestive tract—revisited; Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology; 49 (2014): 681-689). The larger the surface area of the epithelium, the higher the pool of bile salts and digestive enzymes available for final digestion of nutrients such as lipids, liposoluble vitamins, carbohydrates and proteins. Increasing the villi length in the small intestine induces a favourable increase of the surface area and associated improved digestion of macronutrients such as lipids, liposoluble vitamins, proteins and carbohydrates. Such effect of villi length and associated increase of the surface area of the small intestine on the digestive capacity is well documented in the literature. For example the review of L. Montagne et al., A review of interactions between dietary fibre and the intestinal mucosa, and their consequences on digestive health in young non-ruminant animals, Animal Feed Science and Technology 108 (2003) p. 95-117, and in particular paragraph 4.3 on page 105, cite several studies highlighting the positive impact of increasing the villi length on the digestive capacity of animals.
It is desirable to improve the digestive capacity in all infants and young children. However, some specific populations of infants and young children are particularly in need of compositions able to promote their development in general and in particular their digestive and/or absorptive capacity. Such infants and young children are for example preterm infants, low birth weight infant, infants and young children suffering from short bowel syndrome and/or growth-retarded infants or young children, and in particular intra-uterine growth retarded (IUGR) infants.
Many attempts have been made to develop the digestive capacity in infants and young children, as well as in young animals. In particular, several studies have assessed the impact of diverse types of fibres on the intestinal morphology and on the digestive capacity of young animals, infants or young children. The above-mentioned review of L. Montagne et al. cites diverse studies showing variable effect of different types of dietary fibres, some being associated with positive effects on digestive capacity, while others appeared detrimental.
One example of a study where dietary fibre has shown a positive effect is P. Liu and al, Effects of chito-oligosaccharide supplementation on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, intestinal morphology, and fecal shedding of Escherichia coli and Lactobacillus in weaning pigs, J. Anim. Sci. 86 (2008), p. 2609-2618. In this study an increase of the villus height and villus:crypt ratio in the ileum and jejunum was associated with increased digestibility in weaning pigs upon supplementation of the pigs diet with chito-oligosaccharides, compared to a control diet. To the contrary, the study of van Meer et al.; Prebiotic oligosaccharides and the enterohepatic circulation of bile salts in rats; Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 294 (2008): G540-G547, has shown that supplementation of rat pups diet with galacto-oligosaccharides did not contribute to a larger bile salt pool size or altered bile salt pool kinetics, and thus was not successful in promoting digestion of fat.
Other ingredients have been assessed for their ability to promote digestion. For example, WO 2011/65552 describes a composition comprising a hydrolysate of a protein from fermented milk (e.g. from cheese), lipids and isomaltulose which was effective in increasing the villi length in the small intestine. Such compositions are however not suitable for infants and young children, as isomaltulose is not desirable to be used in such compositions.
It would be particularly advantageous to identify ingredients specially adapted to human infants and/or young children and capable of improving the digestive capacity of such infants and/or young children.
Mother's milk is recommended for all infants. However, in some cases breast feeding is inadequate or unsuccessful for medical reasons or the mother chooses not to breast feed. Infant formulae have been developed for these situations. Fortifiers have also been developed to enrich mother's milk or infant formula with specific ingredients.
There is clearly a need for developing suitable methods to increase the capacity to digest macronutrients such as lipids, liposoluble vitamins, proteins and/or carbohydrates in infants and young children.
There is also a need to deliver such health benefits in a manner that is particularly suitable for the young subjects (infants and young children), in a manner that does not involve a classical pharmaceutical intervention as these infants or young children are particularly fragile.
There is a need to deliver such health benefits in these infants or young children in a manner that does not induce side effects and/or in a manner that is easy to deliver, and well accepted by the parents or health care practitioners.
There is also a need to deliver such benefits in a manner that does keep the cost of such delivery reasonable and affordable by most.
There is thus clearly a need to develop alternative methods than the classical pharmaceutical intervention such as the use of antibiotics, at least because of the associated risk of antibiotic resistance development.

Compositions comprising at least one n-acetylated and at least one fucosylated oligosaccharide for use in the promotion of digestive capacity in infants and young children


A system configured to detect faults in signal lines. A system includes a first component configured to communicate with a second component via a signal path including one or more signal traces. Sense signal lines are manufactured such that at some point they are in close proximity to a signal trace which is to be monitored. The sense signal lines are configured to use parasitic coupling to redirect a portion of a signal conveyed via a signal trace to a monitoring component. The first component is configured to convey a test signal indicative of a type of test via the signal path, and a reference signal to the monitoring component. The monitoring component is configured to utilize the reference signal to ascertain a presence or absence, or characteristics of a received redirected signal. The monitoring component may optionally utilize a locally generated reference signal.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is related to the field of signal transmission paths and, more particularly, to diagnosing interconnect faults.
2. Description of the Related Art
Computing systems and components typically have numerous communication paths which must remain operable for the system as a whole to operate correctly. Such communication paths occur within given assemblies (e.g., a single printed circuit board, device, or chip), and across such assemblies as well. For example, multiple boards may be coupled to communicate via connectors. When an error is detected, identifying the location of a fault can be quite difficult. A fault could be due to a short, a failure of a trace line, a faulty connector, and so on. Often times, a service engineer may not be able to isolate the location of such a fault and may simply attempt to correct the problem via trial and error. For example, the engineer may first replace an entire printed circuit board. After replacing the board, further tests may be run to determine whether the fault has been corrected. If the fault has not been corrected, further testing must generally be performed. As may be appreciated, such an approach is fairly inefficient, costly, and may lead to increased downtime for a customer. In addition to the above, systems and assemblies are typically tested prior to being approved for distribution or sale. During such testing, it is similarly desirable that the location of a given fault be identified in an efficient and cost effective manner.
FIG. 1 depicts one embodiment of a system 100 which includes a variety of components and multiple communication paths, or channels. In the example shown, system 100 includes a printed circuit board (or device package) 110 which includes a chip or board 120. Chip 120 may, for example, be mounted upon board 110. In such a case, there may exist an interface 122 between the chip 120 and the board 110. In addition, or alternatively, chip 120 may comprise a packaged device manufactured to include a ball grid array, or any other suitable technology. Also illustrated is a device 130 which is not located directly on the board 110. Alternatives emodiments may include both of devices 130 and 140 on a single card or board. Device 130 is coupled to communicate with chip 120 via signal lines 112 and 114. Signal lines 112 and 114 may comprise PCB traces, or any other suitable transmission paths. In the embodiment shown, device 130 connects to board 110 via a connector 180. Through the connector 180, the device 130 is able to communication with the device 120.
Should the system 100 fail, or otherwise indicate an error, a fault in communication within the system 100 may be the cause. Unfortunately, determining a location of the fault may be very difficult. The fault could reside within device 130, or within device 120. Alternatively, a defect may exists in one of the signal line 112 or 114 between device 130 and connector 180. Further, the fault may exist within the connector 180, or between the connector 180 and the device 120. Still further, a fault may exist in a solder joint 122 which connects device 120 to board 130. Consequently, while it may be possible to determine that a problem exists, the location of a given fault cannot be determined without additional information. In some cases, the determination as to where a fault may exist is based upon past experience, or probabilities. However, such approaches do not provide any certainty.
Accordingly, a method and mechanism for determining a location of a fault in a transmission path is desired.

Method and apparatus for interconnect diagnosis


A thin strip of liquid-impermeable polymeric material has a strip of porous material secured to one of its surface to form a flexible sheet. A pressure sensitive adhesive element, which is more adherent to the porous material than to hair, is adhered to the other surface of the porous strip. The pressure sensitive adhesive element is used to attach the flexible sheet firmly, but releaseably, to the hair of the head of a person adjacent to the portion of hair which is to be treated. In using the sheet, a colorist places the first end of the sheet with the adhesive element on the hair and then presses on the liquid-impermeable surface to cause the adhesive element to firmly adhere it in place against the underlying hair. The colorist then weaves an amount of hair over the face of the liquid-impermeable surface, followed by the treatment of that hair with a wet hair treating agent. The colorist then bends one end of the liquid-impermeable surface into contact with the adhered end, and then presses the two ends together so that the flexible sheet forms, by hydrostatic adhesion, an open, stable, loop. The resulting open loop leaves the treated hair open to air so that oxidation of the treating agents can take place during the process, and also allows the colorist to view the progress of the hair treating process without the need to open the looped sheet.

(a) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a hair treatment device for use in applying dyeing, and bleaching chemicals to hair to achieve highlighting, frosting, and multi-color weaving. More specifically, it relates to a hair device in the form of a flexible wrap which includes means to isolate a portion of the hair for chemical treatment, and to methods of using such a device.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
Currently dimensional hair coloring, including highlighting, frosting, and multi-color weaving has come to the forefront of the hair colorist art. Although many products and methods have been used in the art of color application, few, if any, satisfy all of the needs of the modern professional colorist.
Included in these prior art techniques is hair painting, which is an elementary method of achieving dimensional or contrasting hair color. In this method the colorist applies a liquid bleach or coloring agent directly to the portion of the hair which is to be colored. However, the liquid penetrates the entire depth of the hair, which is not desirable where the intent is to achieve precision dimensional results. While it may seem simple, it is in fact a difficult and inefficient way to achieve the desired results.
In another method it has been suggested to use a pastry bag and a thickened coloring agent. This method provides the benefit of providing greater control of the application of the coloring agent than is possible using a brush and thin liquid as in the painting method. This method also has the advantage of even color flow and a reduced need for the colorist to repeatedly dip a brush into the coloring agent. However, there is still the possibility of color bleeding onto hair that is not intended to receive color. While this method is superior to hair painting, it produces far from totally satisfactory results.
The use of specially designed cups for coloring hair has been suggested to aid in isolating only the hair to be treated or receive color. Such cups consist of a base member having a slit for receiving hair. In use, a portion of the hair which is to be woven is inserted in the slit of the cup base, and the base is then positioned as close to the scalp as possible by tensioning with one hand and pushing the base against the head with the other hand. The hair protruding from the cup is then wound and compacted into the cup which is then press fitted onto the base. This procedure is repeated until all portions of the hair to be colored are enclosed in the cups. The coloring agent is then introduced to the cups and allowed to process to completion. While this technique is an improvement over the prior methods described, in that it isolates the hair to be colored, it is still subject to many disadvantages. For example, in the use of such cups, it has been found necessary to first wet the hair before applying the cup base in order to provide enough friction in the slit to hold the base in place. However, as the hair dries the cups tend to slide away from the head due to a reduction in friction, and the colorist must continually reposition the cups. Most detrimental to the use of such cups is the fact that the compacting of hair into the cups severely limits the ability of ambient oxygen to access the coloring or dyeing chemicals, thereby retarding the oxidation process necessary for full color development of most coloring agents. Furthermore, no matter how carefully the cup bases are applied or, how much the colorist adjusts them to maintain them in place, the cup bases still occupy at least about one quarter inch of space on the hair adjacent to the scalp, which occupied space will not be treated by the coloring agent, thereby leaving the roots of the hair or a portion of hair and scalp discolored. Furthermore, the water which is applied to provide friction to the hair dilutes the coloring agent. Additionally, since the cups are about one inch in diameter the sections of hair to be colored must be at least one inch apart, thereby limiting the effects which can be achieved, and making retouching of new hair growth difficult. As this method requires a colorist to apply and then manipulate a plurality of cups, it is very time consuming and very inefficient.
A cap frosting method is sometimes used to achieve dimensional hair coloring. In this method a close fitting rubber or plastic cap is pulled tightly over the to-be-colored head. The cap is provided with a plurality of small holes through which the colorist can inserts a small crochet hook to pull a bundle of strands of hair through the hole in the cap. This procedure is repeated as often as necessary to achieve the desired effect, e.g., 50 to 100 times. The hair thus isolated through the holes from the hair under the cap is then treated with a coloring agent and allowed to process. After the processing is completed the cap is removed from the head and the hair is shampooed to remove the excess or unreacted coloring agent. While among the easiest of the prior art methods, cap frosting still has many disadvantages. There is a substantial amount of hair underneath the cap which holds the cap away from the head. Therefore, when the colorist inserts the crochet hook to retrieve hair from underneath the cap, hair may be pulled from a scalp portion not located directly under the hole, thus, roots and sections of hair which are close to the scalp may not receive coloring agent, thereby creating an undesirable effect. Also, the cap method makes it difficult to apply more than one type or color of coloring agent to the hair for fear of adjacent portions of differently colored hair blending the coloring agents. This method by nature is haphazard at best and ineffective for the demands of the modern colorist.
A very difficult and time consuming technique of the prior art, is the basic foil method. In the basic foil method, the hair to be colored is first isolated by known weaving techniques, and then a sheet of aluminum foil is placed against the scalp with the edge of the foil as close to the roots of the to-be-treated hair as possible. The coloring agent is then applied to the isolated strands of hair within the foil sheet. The lower end of the foil is then folded towards the head two or more times, and the sides are folded inward toward the center to form a rigid, sealed, crimped packet containing hair which has been treated with coloring agent. This procedure is repeated approximately fifty times for a full head of hair. While the basic foil method is excellent for isolating desired strands of hair, it does have many serious drawbacks. The most important drawback is that it creates a substantially air tight envelope. Most known permanent coloring agents include some amount of hydrogen peroxide, and require ambient oxygen from the air in order for a chemical reaction, known as oxidation, to take place and to work as designed and suggested by their manufacturers. By the substantially air tight folding and crimping of the foil, the colorist and client are denied the proper use of such coloring agents, with the result that there is uneven color distribution, with some portions of the hair being under processed, while other portions of the hair may be over processed, and perhaps damaged. When using foil, additional damage is sometimes done to the hair by placing the client under heat to force the color development process due to the lack of oxidation.
This basic foil technique also requires the tedious and time consuming effort in simultaneously holding the hair and the foil while also weaving the hair. Most often, a third hand is needed to accomplish this, in most cases in the form of a costly assistant to hold the foil in position. Once in place, the foil has a tendency to slip away from the scalp area due to manipulation in applying the coloring agent, the folding and crimping process, and its own weight. Such slipping causes the coloring agent to be removed from the root area, and also allows exposed coloring agent to blend onto adjacent strands of hair which are not intended for coloration. After the coloring agent and foil are applied to the hair, then during processing the foils must be reopened to inspect the color development, thereby increasing the risk of color bleeding onto the scalp and surrounding hair resulting in blotchy or patchy uneven color as a result of such slippage. The basic foil technique also requires that the foil strips be precut to adjust to different lengths of hair while hair in excess of a certain length, say over ten inches, is compacted into the foil envelope which is formed, thereby further increasing the uneven distribution and processing of the coloring agent on the treated hair, with an inferior end result appearance.
Variations of the basic foil method have been suggested, such as in Minghenelli U.S. Pat. No. 4,196,741, which discloses the use of liquid-impermeable sheets of aluminum foil, which are provided with a coating of pressure-sensitive adhesive, such as a double sided adhesive tape, which is adjacent to one edge of the sheet, with an optional stripable cover over the pressure-sensitive adhesive in order to protect it prior to use. The process of using such a foil comprises separating a portion of to-be-treated hair from the remaining hair on the head, adhering one of the liquid-impermeable foil sheet to the scalp and hair of the head immediately adjacent to and below the roots of the portion of hair to be treated, and treating the selected portion of hair with any desired liquid coloring agent, such as a bleach or dye, and permitting the treated hair to overlie the central portion of the liquid-impermeable adhesively adhered foil sheet while the coloring agent is processed. Optionally, the foil sheet taught by Minghenelli may be folded or rolled toward the head, followed by folding the edges inwardly to form an envelope, thus isolating the coloring agent from the remainder of the head of hair and treating only the selected portion of hair, as in the basic foil method.
In another variation of the foil technique, a foil with a transparent plastic window, and also with an adhesive strip having a pull away protective adhesive covering is known in the prior art. Not only do these devices and the methods of using them insert extra steps into the application, but the adhesives have a tendency to adhere to the porous hair shaft more strongly than to the non-porous foil, and therefore tend to release the adhesives onto the porous hair shaft. These additional steps do nothing to improve on the quality and/or ability of the basic foil method to allow oxidization, to increase the speed of application, or to allow for the proper use of the color agent.
Most recently, a European device which is used in hair coloring business, and which is designated as L'Oreal EASI MECHE has been found. It carries what appears to be a European patent application number 0/122/145, but efforts to find that application have been unsuccessful as of the date of filing this application. Upon examination of this device and its instructions, the L'Oreal EAST MECHE device is found to be comprised of three different pieces: an opaque backing strip, an adhesive strip across the top edge of the opaque backing strip, and a clear front cover. The opaque backing strip is composed of thin, opaque non-porous plastic material, and serves as a backing strip which will lay next to the head of a person having their hair colored. The clear front cover is a thin transparent sheet of non-porous plastic material which lays over the top of the opaque backing sheet. The opaque backing strip and the clear front cover are joined together, by heat welding, at their common bottom edges to form a permanent crease which is capable of being opened, like a file folder, to receive to-be-treated hair. The bottom crease is separated from and opposed to the position of the adhesive strip. When the device is used, a portion of to-be-treated hair is selected or woven from the roots out, the backing strip and the clear front cover are separated, the backing strip is placed under the to-be-treated hair, with the adhesive strip facing up and away from the scalp, and to-be-treated hair is placed on and secured to the adhesive strip. The to-be-treated hair is then treated with coloring agent, and the front cover portion is then closed and secured to the adhesive strip, thereby forming, with the opaque backing strip, a non-porous sandwich around the hair. It is noted that this device is quite heavy, and that the adhesive is facing away from the head, so that the hair that is to receive coloring agent is attached to the adhesive strip, thereby exposing the adhesive strip to coloring agents. While the adhesive is very aggressive when dry, when it is moistened with color agent, it may slide down the hair due to the weight of the strip. Also, because of its closed sandwich structure, the stylist must pre-open all of the sheets which will be used, or have an assistant or the client open the sheets. Since the device is made of non-porous plastic material and is completely closed at the crease, in use it inhibits the flow of the oxygen in the air to the coloring agent, thereby inhibiting oxidation, much like the foil devices. When processing is completed using the EASI MECHE device, each sandwich must be separately opened at its own adhesive closure, and the hair carefully removed from each adhesive strip, another time consuming process.
Other hair coloring variations have been suggested, such as the use of Saran type plastic wrap in a manor similar to foil, untreated paper, clamps, plastic boards, powdered coloring agents, and the like. While the prior art has suggested many methods of achieving dimensional or contrasting hair coloring, no simple or highly effective device for this purpose has been established.
None of these prior art devices or patents specifically describe a device designed to achieve dimensional or contrasting hair coloring, including highlighting, frosting, and multi-color applications which avoid all of the prior art problems, while satisfying all of the needs of the modern professional colorist. No such method or device provides an efficient way to achieve the desired satisfactory results which exclude the possibility of color bleeding onto hair that is not intended to receive color, or avoids the need to first wet the hair and thereby dilute the coloring agent, or which device will not tend to slide away from the head, require continual repositioning, readily allow ambient oxygen to access the coloring or dyeing chemicals to thereby allow the oxidation process necessary for full color development of the coloring agents, or not occupy a portion of the hair adjacent to the scalp which will not be treated by the coloring agent, or not be space consuming, and make retouching of new hair growth difficult, or which is not inefficient and time consuming, or which allow roots and sections of hair which are close to the scalp to not receive coloring agent, which allow the simultaneous application of more than one type of coloring agent to the hair, and which does not damage the hair, or require an assistant. Where a pressure sensitive adhesive is used with a foil or a plastic strip, the prior art devices fail to secure the adhesive to the foil more securely than to the hair of the client, and tends to either release onto the porous hair shaft, or slide down the hair.

Device and process for use in coloring hair


A fingerprint processing system comprises a fingerprint sensor configured to generate an image of a fingerprint, and a processor configured to process the fingerprint image. The processor is operable to generate a ridge flow map comprising ridge flow vectors characterizing the fingerprint, and a multi-layer decomposition based on the ridge flow vectors. The decomposition includes at least first and second-order residuals, based on the ridge flow vectors, and the processor is operable to characterize a quality of the fingerprint image, based on the residuals.

Fingerprint imaging is an important technique for securing access to electronic devices, including data transmission and communications applications where data security and user privacy are of paramount concern. In existing user identification and authorization systems, however, processing time and discrimination capability are critical factors, particularly where the imaging device and fingerprint samples may be exposed to moisture, oil, dirt, and other environmental factors, and where only partial sampling may be practical.
As a result, there is a continual need for advanced fingerprint imaging techniques, which are not subject to all the limitations of the prior art. In particular, there is a need for fingerprint imaging techniques that provide quick and accurate user identification and discrimination, in a system suitable for use on a broad range of business and consumer electronics, including, but not limited to, mobile phones, smartphones, personal digital assistants, personal computers, tablet computers, and other personal and business-oriented communications, digital processing, and computing applications.

Fingerprint imaging and quality characterization


An optical engine is provided for an active optical cable. The optical engine comprises a substrate having electro-optical (EO) components coupled or connected to a same side of the substrate. The optical engine further comprises a molded optical structure (MOS) that couples or connects to the substrate and to optical fibers of the optical cable. The MOS interfaces with the substrate at a position adjacent the EO components. Optical paths through the MOS include a lens system comprising two optical power surfaces or lenses and one reflecting surface. The MOS lens system enables alignment of the optical fibers in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis established by the EO components.

Fiber-optics are steadily replacing copper wire as an appropriate means of communication signal transmission. They span the long distances between local phone systems as well as providing the backbone for many network systems. Other system users include cable television services, university campuses, office buildings, industrial plants, and electric utility companies.
A new market in the fiber optics industry appears to be developing as an alternative to copper or conventional optic links in high-performance computing and data center environments: Active Optical Cables (AOC). As their name implies, the AOCs come with optical transceivers mounted on each end that provide electro-optical (EO) conversion and optical transmission. Users can remove the pluggable copper-based transmission device and plug in the AOC's transceiver/connector, wherein the AOC form factor mirrors that of the copper device it replaces.
To the line card, the active optical cable end looks and functions just like a copper-based transmission device. The fact that the fiber cable comes "hard wired" to the transceiver removes some of the obstacles fiber has encountered in data centers and similar applications. Technicians do not have to worry about eye safety, cleaning, splicing, and other connectorization issues. The AOCs typically include 84% less weight occupying 83% less volume than their copper counterparts. Combined with the natural flexibility of the thinner optical cable, the AOC offers a bend radius 40% less than a 24 AWG copper links. Additionally, the AOCs offer lower latency, indifference to electromagnetic interference, relief from unintended ground loops, price equal to and sometimes better than active copper cables (links that provide amplification and equalization that extend the reach of copper-based transmissions), and a low power interconnect solution because fiber optic is almost lossless compared to a Copper transmission medium with no need for a redriver, buffer chip.
The initial application for active optical cabling is high-performance computing, including cluster computing—applications that have begun to spread from the research and development and scientific communities to high-end enterprise applications for modeling, simulation, and computer-aided design. Passive and active copper cabling provides much of the Infiniband-based server-to-server and server-to-switch connections in such environments. However, as connectivity requirements reach or exceed 10 Gbits/sec and users wish to connect a greater number of more distant computers into clusters, copper's usual bandwidth/distance limitations have become more acute. Industry sources report that passive copper connections begin to sag at around 10 m at 10 Gbits/sec.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A method for reconciling bit strings over a communications network. A first subscriber ascertains error correction information for each one of a plurality of different blocks, which each include a predetermined number of bits from a first bit string, and transmits the same over the communications network. Each of the blocks having at least one bit in common with at least one other one of the blocks.

What is generally referred to as the Internet of Things, i.e., an internetworking of various devices, is becoming increasingly widespread. One of the main applications of the Internet of Things is commonly referred to as the smart home, where many devices are battery-powered and are connected via a wireless link to a central station with which they can communicate.
For a secure communication over the generally unsecured wireless links, the subscribers can use conventional keys, for example. One option for generating a key shared by two subscribers is generally referred to as a physical layer key generation (PHYSEC), for example. A shared key is generated from physical properties of a channel in the wireless link between the two subscribers. Such a method is described, for example, in German Patent Application No. DE 10 2014 212 224.
Such a key must be reconciled between the subscribers in order to rectify any potential errors created during generation thereof.

Method for reconciling bit strings over a communications network


A method for the sale, transport, and display of prepared hard boiled and deviled eggs, employing a container which is configured for both storage and transport of boiled eggs is provided. The container features a first half having a receiving cavity which engages a second half providing a cover for eggs located within sectioned cavities in the receiving cavity. Flavorings with labels or other placeable indicia are provided so that egg fillings in the eggs in different sections may be flavored and identified by the labels or placeable indicia provided with the flavoring. Eggs with pre-prepared flavorings may be purchased in removably engageable sections separate from the container and later engaged therein.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to food and containers therefore. More particularly, it relates to a method for sale and distribution of deviled eggs using a convenient multi-function food display, preparation tray, and transport device providing a means for cold storage prior and after preparation, and providing a means to organizationally present prepared deviled eggs or other similar egg dishes at meals. To aid in preparation and increase recipe variety, the device and method herein further provide the user one or a plurality of prepackaged packets of filling mixtures with each having removably engageable display of indicia, such as a sticker, for labeling the filling type of adjacent displayed egg foods.
2. Prior Art
Eggs have been and continue to be, a food staple for many people primarily because they provide a convenient meal while being healthy and full of protein. A user's personal preference will most always dictate the best method for egg preparation whether it is for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
A widely employed method for preparing eggs, which is often seen as an appetizer or side dish at picnics, events, dinners, and parties, is the deviled egg, also called egg mimosa. Typically a deviled egg consists of hard-boiled eggs sliced in half which have an internal cavity filled with the hard-boiled egg's yolk which formerly occupied the space. The cooked yolk is conventionally mixed with condiments such as mayonnaise, mustard, and other spices or seasonings for flavor.
Since the hard-boiled egg halves are, by nature, curved or rounded, transporting and presenting a plurality of deviled eggs with the filling side up can be a difficult task. Prepared deviled eggs placed on a flat dish, when transported, will tend to slide or move due to the minimal curved surface contacting the plate. Further, eggs must be covered to prevent spoilage in transport and most covers frequently contact the filling mixture and can yield somewhat of a mess when the cover is removed. Presenting the eggs to eaters on a flat plate can frequently cause the egg halves to tip when bumped or moved by an eater, which can cause the filling to spill out.
As one conventional solution, manufacturers have conventionally provided deviled egg trays having indentations or recesses in the top surface. These recesses are shaped with the general curve of the exterior of a hard-boiled egg. Positioning a boiled egg in such recesses increases the surface contact with the exterior of the egg, and lowers the bottom below the edge of the recess. This increased contact and the edge of the recesses provide a means to conveniently and securely hold a plurality of deviled egg halves for display at a party or other event where they may be presented.
Many chefs and cooks pride themselves on their recipe for deviled egg fillings. Some typical flavorings for deviled eggs include garlic, horseradish, wasabi, cheese, chutney, capers, curry, salsa, hot sauce, ham, green chilies, jalapenos, mushrooms, spinach, guacamole, sour cream, caviar, smoked salmon or other seafood, and sardines.
However, an additional problem which occurs with conventional display trays is that they lack any means for filling ingredient display to guests who consume the displayed eggs. Consumers with food allergies to certain ingredients are thus unaware of the ingredients in the deviled egg they may be choosing to consume since it is typically difficult to discern the ingredients within the generally well-mixed filling. Further, at events such as dinners, parties, or pot lucks, the person who cooked or brought the deviled eggs may not be available to answer questions about the egg filling preparation and its contents. As a result, the consumer with allergies or food dislikes may decide to pass on a harmless and delicious deviled egg simply out of a fear of the potential ingredients which may have been employed in the filling. Alternatively, if the consumer takes the risk, they may have a potentially deadly allergic reaction.
Still further, the boiled egg is a hard cooking act to master for most people. Such is probably the result of the very infrequent preparation of boiled eggs by most people cooking them. Overcooked eggs can have a green tinge to the yolk. Undercooked eggs can be too soft or be easily spoiled. Improper cooling of the eggs upon finishing cooking, can lead to cracked shells, and shells which are hard to remove from the eggs themselves.
Consequently, when users attempt to make deviled eggs, usually in larger quantities due to a party or potluck destination for such egg shaped delicacies, their problems and incorrect cooking methods are only magnified. Thus the makings for the deviled eggs to be displayed to eaters, can turn out less than satisfactory due to the poor or mistaken cooking of the primary boiled egg ingredients. As such, cooks will avoid the task due to the uncertainty of the outcome, and eaters will not be offered a very healthy food. If there were an organized manner to sell and display cooked eggs filled or with ready to fill filling provided, which easily interfaced with display or dishware adapted for deviled eggs, more would be sold and consumed.
As such, there is a continuing unmet need for a deviled egg device enabling a method for preparation, sale, and distribution, which provides for ease of purchase by eaters and cooks, along with ease of display for eaters, using a container providing secure transport, and display of the pre-prepared eggs. Such a device and the method employed to cook, sell, and distribute the deviled eggs, should additionally provide a means for identifying a plurality of flavors of deviled eggs presented on the tray configured to engage the purchased eggs. Still further, such a device and method should endeavor to ease the amount of time and skill which a person cooking such deviled eggs requires. Finally, such a method should employ a system and device to provide users with a wide variety of fillings which may be potentially employed with the boiled eggs, which most users would never attempt due to their cooking abilities.

Method for deviled egg preparation and presentation


A method includes determining at least one value for at least one instance of data; determining at least one privacy policy, at least one security policy, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on the at least one value; and causing, at least in part, an application of the at least one privacy policy, the at least one security policy, or a combination thereof with respect to the at least one instance of data.

Device manufacturers and service providers are continually challenged to provide compelling services and applications to consumers. Additionally, various consumer product manufacturers are challenged to provide consumers with valuable products that work effectively, and to build brand loyalty with the consumers. Historically, consumers have had to largely rely on the manufacturers' promise that their products will perform as promised, but with new user devices (e.g., mobile devices) incorporating various sensors, it is possible (e.g., for users) to utilize these devices to perform various diagnostics and analysis on various products to better understand efficacy of such products. However, data and value associated with the users, the diagnostics, and the analysis potentially may be shared with various entities such as manufacturers, service providers, friends, family, etc., wherein the data may include various confidential information (e.g., related to the users, manufacturers, products, etc.). Accordingly, device manufacturers and service providers face significant technical challenges to protecting confidential information from being inappropriately disclosed.

Method and apparatus for determining privacy policy based on data and associated values


A method and apparatus for interfacing a host computer with a hard drive cartridge is disclosed in one embodiment. The virtual device interface is divided between a kernel component in a driver stack of the kernel space and a user component configured to run in user space. The kernel component passes data commands from the operating system to a cartridge dock while separating other commands that are passed to the user component. The user component authenticates the kernel component and/or the hard drive cartridge. Use of the removable hard drive cartridge is also authorized by the user component.

This disclosure relates in general to removable disk products and, but not by way of limitation, to persistence device reservation.
There are removable hard drives that can attach to the various connections of a computer (SATA, eSATA, USB, PATA, SCSI, FireWire, etc.). The removable hard drives are attached to the computer and mounted to have a drive letter assigned by the operating system (OS). Certain other media reserve a drive letter waiting for media insertion such as floppy disks and compact discs. Hard drives do not reserve a drive letter until mounted.
Tape cartridges typically require specialized tape drives that spool and play tape media. These tape drives use SCSI commands and SCSI interfaces, and are customized for particular tapes. Larger capacity tapes are developed on occasion, but old tape drives cannot read the new tapes. Users upgrade their drives to use the new tapes, but often the upgraded drives do not read old type formats.
Custom drivers are known to interface with tape or other drivers. Where these drivers are subject to Open Source licensing, they are easy to analyze and possibly thwart security measures. There are good reasons to authenticate and authorize cartridges, but if the security measures are well known, it is likely the security measures will be hacked. Often the price of tape drives are subsidized with the strategy being to recover revenue from the tape cartridges.

Virtual removable disk device for removable storage media


A napkin ring composed of a napkin holder and a receptacle. The receptacle holds a decorative element and further defines a slit for holding a card. The card is used to display information to an end user.

Napkin rings have been used to display ornamental designs in the past. Their functionality has normally been restricted by the space of the ring. The object of this invention is to provide a stable ornamental display that can hold business cards or any other type of cards, while allowing an ornamental display to be housed within a receptacle of the napkin ring. This invention further allows the ornamental display to be a fresh flower that can be placed within a receptacle.


A block copolymer includes a polyamino acid chain segment and a hydrophilic polymer chain segment. The polyamino acid chain segment includes at least one amino acid residue having a side chain that contains a cationic group and at least one amino acid residue having a side chain that contains a substituted phenylboronic acid group. In the substituted phenylboronic acid group, at least one hydrogen of the phenyl ring is substituted so that the phenylboronic acid group has a pKa of less than 8. Such a block copolymer serves as a carrier that simultaneously imparts stability to a biotechnology-based drug in blood and provides suitable drug-releasing properties of the drug at an affected area.

Biological pharmaceuticals that utilize a biopolymer such as a protein or a nucleic acid are easily degraded by enzymes or eliminated by the immune system as compared to conventional pharmaceuticals that utilize low-molecular-weight compounds. From the viewpoint of improving delivery of such biotechnology-based drugs to an affected area, the present inventors have developed a drug delivery system (DDS) that uses a polyamino acid-based block copolymer. An aim of the development is to provide a carrier that simultaneously achieves stability in blood (retention properties of the biotechnology-based drugs) and drug-releasing properties at an affected area.
In addition, for a different purpose than DDS development, the present inventors have also advanced fundamental research of biocompatible materials applicable to saccharide sensors and saccharide-responsive actuators. For example, phenylboronic acid-based compounds having a fluorinated phenyl ring have been developed as biocompatible materials (Patent Literature 1).
It should be noted that Patent Literature 2 is prior art concerning a reagent that is obtained by binding a nucleic acid to a polyamino acid-based derivative that uses a phenylboronic acid group and is applied to analyses of behaviors and structures of nucleic acids and nucleic acid-related substances.

Block copolymer having phenylboronic acid group introduced therein, and use thereof

NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION TOKYO MEDICAL AND DENTAL UNIVERSITY


A method of testing path a voice response system can include establishing a voice link between a test system and a voice response system and playing voice prompts to the test system over the voice link. The method also can include sending execution information to the test system over the voice link.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the field of voice response systems and, more particularly, to testing voice response systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
A voice response system (VRS) can provide an automated way of communicating information between a user and a business. Although it is unlikely that VRS's will totally replace human operators in the near future, such systems are becoming more pervasive throughout business for simple interactions. For instance, while it is still the norm to deal with a human for directory inquiries for national and international calls, simple introductory functions such as acquiring a name can be performed by a VRS.
During development of a VRS application, it is necessary to simulate a plurality of calls so that performance of the VRS under strain can be monitored as well as to test the execution of particular software or computer program modules in the VRS. Such a simulation can be performed using a testing system such as a bulk call generator which can make telephone calls to the VRS directly or through some sort of network and/or switching system. Each simulated telephone call can be programmed into the testing system and associated with a particular application or program. Several types of telephone calls may be designed and the testing system may simulate one or a combination of different calls at the same time using several channels connected to the VRS system.
A VRS, including the VRS operational software, can be tested to determine whether correct prompts are played in response to various user inquiries. Execution information pertaining to the execution of the operational software of the VRS can be stored in local memory necessitating access local execution logs or other data stores within the VRS itself. Presently, testing of VRS's, particularly the verification of execution information such as execution path verification and verification of the execution of software modules, is not performed in an automated fashion.

Automating testing path responses to external systems within a voice response system

International Business Machines Corporation


There is provided an optical imaging device for splitting an initial image into images with different optical characteristics, wherein the device comprises a plurality of beamsplitters and at least first and second reflectors arranged to create multiple images adjustably separable in two orthogonal directions, characterised in that the first reflector is rotatable about a first axis and the second reflector is rotatable about a second axis, the second axis orthogonal to the first axis. The beamsplitters are located in a first optical layer to create multiple optical pathways directed substantially orthogonally from the first optical layer to a second spaced apart optical layer. Each reflector can be moved translationally relative to its rotational axis.

Within complex optical systems, optical imaging devices are used for manipulation of an optical image. The Applicant's Patent GB 2442576 discloses an optical imaging device for splitting an initial image into three images along a single axis, so that the three images are formed side by side and can be viewed simultaneously to give information about a sample being examined using microscopy-related equipment. GB 2442576 further discloses how auxiliary lenses can be disposed in the optical pathways of image splitting devices at specific locations such that images are in focus at different depths with respect to the original image, but are all of the identical magnification.
It is the aim of the present disclosure to provide an optical imaging device capable of splitting an initial image into four or more images.


The invention relates to an ophthalmic product which comprises a sealed and autoclave-sterilized lens package including (1) a post-autoclave packaging solution containing a polymeric surfactant having an HLB value of from about 11 to about 16 and a Mn of from about 800 to about 20,000 Daltons and (2) a readily-usable silicone hydrogel (SiHy) contact lens immersed in the packaging solution. The readily-usable SiHy contact lens comprises the polymeric surfactant thereon providing an excellent wettability to the readily-usable SiHy contact lens directly out of the lens package, and also the leachable polymeric surfactant which is physically distributed in the polymer matrix of the SiHy contact lens and can be released to the eye of a patient for at least 7 days of daily wear and to replenish the lens surface-bound polymeric surfactant to provide sustainable wettabilities to the contact lens and the eye.

Silicone hydrogel (SiHy) contact lenses, which are made of a hydrated, crosslinked polymeric material that contains silicone and a certain amount of water within the lens polymer matrix at equilibrium, are increasingly becoming popular, because they have minimal adverse effects on corneal health due to their high oxygen permeability. However, incorporation of silicone in a contact lens material can have undesirable effects on the hydrophilicity and wettability of SiHy contact lenses, because silicone is hydrophobic and has a great tendency to migrate onto the lens surface being exposed to air. Contact lenses manufacturers have made a great effort in developing SiHy contact lenses having a hydrophilic and wettable surface.
One class of approaches for modifying the hydrophilicity and wettability of a SiHy contact lens are to subject a SiHy contact lens to a post-molding surface treatment. Examples of post-molding surface treatments include: plasma treatment (see, e.g., commercial lenses, Alcon's AIR OPTIX®, Menicon's PremiO™, and Bausch & Lomb's PUREVISION™); covalent attachment of hydrophilic polymers onto the SiHy contact lens according to various mechanisms (see for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,099,122, 6,436,481, 6,440,571, 6,447,920, 6,465,056, 6,521,352, 6,586,038, 6,623,747, 6,730,366, 6,734,321, 6,835,410, 6,878,399, 6,923,978, 6,440,571, and 6,500,481, US Pat. Appl. Pub. Nos. 2009/0145086 A1, 2009/0145091A1, 2008/0142038A1, and 2007/0122540A1); a layer-by-layer (LbL) polyionic material deposition technique (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,451,871, 6,719,929, 6,793,973, 6,884,457, 6,896,926, 6,926,965, 6,940,580, 7,297,725, 8,044,112, 7,858,000, and 8,158,192); crosslinking of LbL coatings on SiHy contact lenses (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,147,897 and 8,142,835); applying of a non-silicone hydrogel coating onto a SiHy contact lens (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,480,227, 8,529,057, 8,939,577, 8,944,592, 9,239,409, 9,244,200, 9,411,171, 9,505,184, 9,507,173, 9,738,813, 9,816,009, 10,131,815, 1,022,509, and 10,308,835; and U.S. Pat. Appl. Pub. No. 2019-0055427, 2019-0179055, and 2019-0309188).
One different approach is the incorporation of monomeric wetting agents (e.g., N-vinylpyrrolidone, N-vinyl-N-methyl acetamide, or the like) or high molecular weight hydrophilic polymer(s) (e.g., polyvinylpyrrolidone with Mw≥100,000 Daltons for forming interpentrating networks) in a lens formulation for making naturally-wettable SiHy contact lens (i.e., wettable SiHy lenses without post-molding surface treatment) as proposed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,867,245, 7,268,198, 7,540,609, 7,572,841, 7,750,079, 7,934,830, 8,231,218, 8,367,746, 8,445,614, 8,481,662, 8,487,058, 8,513,325, 8,703,891, 8,820,928, 8,865,789, 8,937,110, 8,937,111, 9,057,821, 9,057,822, 9,121,998, 9,125,808, 9,140,825, 9,140,908, 9,156,934, 9,164,298, 9,170,349, 9,188,702, 9,217,813, 9,296,159, 9,322,959, 9,322,960, 9,360,594, 9,529,119, 6,367,929, 6,822,016, 7,052,131, and 7,249,848 and in U.S. Pat. Appl. Pub. Nos. (see, e.g., 2018-0355112 and 2018-0356562). Commercial SiHy contact lenses, such as, Biofinity® (CooperVision, Dk=128 barrers, 48% H2O), Avaira® (CooperVision, Dk=100 barrers, 46% H2O), Clariti® (CooperVision, Dk=60 barrers, 56% H2O), MyDay® (CooperVision, Dk=80 barrers, 54% H2O), ULTRA™ (Bausch & Lomb, Dk=114 barrers, 46% H2O), Acuvue® Oasys® (Johnson & Johnson, Dk˜105 Barrers, 38% H2O); Acuvue® Advance® (Johnson & Johnson, Dk-65 Barrers, 47% H2O); Acuvue® TruEye™ (Johnson & Johnson, Dk-100 Barrers, 46% H2O); may utilize this approach in their production processes. Although this approach might be used in the commercial SiHy lens production to provide fresh (unused) SiHy lenses with adequately hydrophilic surfaces, there are some limitations: such as, for example, slightly-high haziness due to the incompatibility of polymerizable silicone components with monomeric wetting agents and other hydrophilic components; higher surface silicone contents; susceptibility to form dry spots and/or hydrophobic surface areas created due to air exposure, dehydrating-rehydrating cycles, shearing forces of the eyelids, silicone migration to the surface, and/or partial failure to prevent silicone from exposure; and not-adequate lubricity.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,829,723 discloses improved contact lens products each of which comprises a plasma-coated silicone hydrogel contact lens immersed and autoclaved in a packaging solution including a polyoxyethylene-polyoxybutylene block copolymer and a high molecular weight copolymer of N-vinylpyrrolidone and at least one amino-containing vinylic monomer. According to this patent, during the autoclaving of a plasma-coated silicone hydrogel contact lens immersed in a buffered saline containing a copolymer of N-vinylpyrrolidone and an amino-containing vinylic monomer and a polyoxyethylene-polyoxybutylene block copolymer at a relatively-high concentration (e.g., 400 ppm used in the working examples), a relatively-stable film can be formed on the plasma-coated silicone hydrogel contact lens so as to provide an improved and sustainable wettability the resultant plasma-coated silicone hydrogel contact lens.
Therefore, there is a need for coating-free silicone hydrogel contact lenses with enhanced and lasting surface wettabilities and with a suitability for being worn continuously for 7 days and for a method for making such silicone hydrogel contact lenses in an efficient manner.

Wettable silicone hydrogel contact lenses


Compounds of the general formula I: ##STR1## are disclosed as potent antipsychotic agents. Novel methods of use and intermediates used to make the compounds of formula I are also disclosed.

Antipsychotic drugs are known to alleviate the symptoms of mental illnesses such as schizophrenia. Examples of such drugs include phenothiazine derivatives such as promazine, chlorpromazine, fluphenazine, thioridazine and promethazine, thioxanthenes such as chlorprothixene, butyrophenones such as haloperidol, and clozapine. While these agents may be effective in treating schizophrenia, virtually all except clozapine produce extrapyramidal side effects, such as facial tics. Since antipsychotics may be administered for years or decades to a patient, such pronounced side effects may complicate recovery and further isolate the individual from society.
Compound having some structural similarity to those of the present invention are described in application Ser. No. 757,881 assigned to the same company as the present application and U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,950,393 and 4,696,920, as well as R. Coombs, W. J. Houlihan, J. Nadelson and E. I. Taskesue J. Med. Chem., 1971, 14, 1072.
The present invention is directed to novel compounds and methods of use, which compounds have demonstrated antipsychotic activity.


A consumer article comprising a hand-held spray container, and a sprayable composition contained within the spray container comprising ethanol or isopropanol and methyl acetate or t-butyl acetate, a hair care composition comprising a fixative, ethanol, and methyl acetate or t-butyl acetate, and a method of fixing hair comprising spraying the compositions of this invention onto hair.

This invention relates generally to consumer sprays that contain ethanol as a solvent for active ingredients in the spray, and to the replacement of ethanol by alkyl acetates, especially methyl acetate and t-butyl acetate. The invention also has application to consumer sprays that contain isopropanol, and the replacement of isopropanol by these alkyl acetates.
Hair sprays were introduced to the public in the late 1940""s and were an immediate success. The first sprays were pump type systems, but public demand for a better product caused the development of the aerosol spray. The aerosol spray was based on Goodhue and Sullivan""s patent of low-pressure propellants (fluorocarbon 12) and Abplanalp""s patented valve design. The first aerosol hairspray was introduced to the public in 1949 in Chicago by the Global Liqinet Corporation, and created a multi-billion dollar business.
Shellac was the first fixative polymer used in aerosols; but shellac had several major drawbacks that led to the development of synthetic polymers with properties that could be better controlled. Many of the formulations gave good fixative properties, but contained environmentally sensitive solvents and propellants. In 1979 chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) propellants were banned from aerosol formulations in most industrialized nations, and manufacturers began removing the popular co-solvent methylene chloride from hair spray formulations. Ethyl alcohol and alcohol/water systems replaced methylene chloride in the solvent system of many hair sprays. Dimethyl ether and 80/20 isobutane/propane replaced CFCs in the propellant systems of many aerosol sprays. However, these propellants and solvents are VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and must be considered as such in the hair spray formulations in which they are used.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has mandated a reduction in the VOC content of hair sprays to 80% or less by 1998. Furthermore, Section 183(e) of the United States Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 required the EPA to develop a control strategy for reducing VOC emissions from consumer and commercial products that takes into account the ozone-forming potential or xe2x80x9creactivitiesxe2x80x9d of such emissions. In 1992, the EPA published requirements for State Implementation Plans to reduce VOC emissions. The policy gave a definition of xe2x80x9cvolatile organic compoundxe2x80x9d which excluded specific VOC species of negligible reactivity, and made the distinction between xe2x80x9creactivexe2x80x9d VOCs and xe2x80x9cnegligibly reactivexe2x80x9d VOCs. Currently, the EPA favors distinguishing between xe2x80x9creactivexe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cnegligibly reactivexe2x80x9d based on whether a species has greater or less atmospheric reactivity compared to ethane. The state of California has set an even more stringent requirement for VOCs in hair spray than the EPA, limiting VOCs to 55% by June 1999.
Currently, the major solvent in most hair sprays is ethyl alcohol and is present in the amounts of 60% to 95% depending on whether the spray is aerosol or pump type. Ethanol solubilizes the polymer systems and provides an optimum delivery system that is easy to use, and dries quickly on application. In addition, ethanol has a pleasant smell, and has no serious toxicological constraints on use. However, alcohol is a VOC and is accounted as such in hair spray systems. To lower the VOC content of the spray, many manufacturers have replaced ethanol in their sprays with water. However, an increase in the water concentration can adversely affect the performance of the hair spray by accelerating the initial curl droop and/or increasing the dry time on the hair.
Manufacturers have recited numerous laundry lists of solvents that theoretically could be used in a hair spray. For example, U. W. E. Bergemann, et al, (U.S. Pat. No. 4,243,548) discloses a pressurized aerosol formulation in which the solvent can be one of 21 compounds, or any mixture of these compounds. Listed compounds include ethyl methyl ketone, dimethoxy methane, diethyl carbonate, n-propanol, ethyl chloride, 1,1-dichloroethane, 1-chlorobutane, ethanol, isopropanol, diethyl ether, acetone, and methyl acetate among others. Other patents provide similar listings of solvents. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,686,066 to Harada et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,605,647 to Nimitz et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 4,173,627 to Madrange et al. Most of these chemicals would be undesirable to consumers or manufacturers for use in personal care products such as hair spray. For example, some of the solvents, such as the acetates, hydrolyze in the presence of water to form harmful acids. Many of the solvents have pungent chemical odors, or stain clothing. As a result, ethanol and water remain the predominant solvents of choice for consumer hair spray formulations.
Applicants have unexpectedly discovered that the cosmetically unacceptable odor associated with alkyl acetates such as methyl acetate is substantially reduced when combined with alcohols such as ethanol, and that alkyl acetates can thus replace some of the alcohol in consumer spray formulations without lessening consumer acceptance. Applicants have also unexpectedly discovered that ethanol inhibits the hydrolysis of methyl acetate in the presence of water, thereby reducing the formation of harmful acids in formulations that contain water. Ethanol also inhibits the detrimental effects that methyl acetate by itself can cause to some fabrics.
Thus, certain alkyl acetates (particularly methyl acetate and/or t-butyl acetate) unexpectedly can be used to replace part of the alcohol (particularly isopropanol and/or ethanol) in consumer spray formulations without adversely affecting the performance, odor, or shelf stability of the hair spray. This is an important consideration, because methyl acetate is a xe2x80x9cnegligibly reactivexe2x80x9d VOC and is thus more environmentally acceptable than ethanol. Measurements show that methyl acetate generates 0.03 gram ozone per gram solvent, compared to ethanol which generates 0.42 gram ozone per gram solvent. Thus it is possible to formulate an improved hair spray providing most of the properties considered desirable for hair grooming and having a lower potential to generate ground-level ozone.
In accordance with the purpose(s) of this invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, this invention, in one aspect, relates to a hair care composition comprising a fixative, ethanol, and methyl acetate and/or t-butyl acetate.
In another aspect the invention provides a consumer article comprising a hand-held spray container, and a sprayable composition contained within the spray container comprising ethanol and methyl acetate.
In yet another aspect the invention provides a consumer article comprising a hand-held spray container, and a sprayable composition contained within the spray container comprising isopropanol and methyl acetate.
In still another aspect the invention provides a method of fixing hair comprising spraying the compositions of this invention onto hair.
These and other objects of this invention are achieved in hair spray and consumer spray formulations which:
(1) release reduced amounts of reactive VOCs into the atmosphere;
(2) have good storage stability and produce a limited amount of corrosive acidic products upon aging; and
(3) are not tacky, and have a fast drying rate, low odor, and acceptable viscosity and curl retention.
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. The advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.

Hair spray and consumer sprays with reduced volatile organic compounds


In accordance with various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, an organic thin film transistor, and a fabricating method thereof are provided. In some embodiments, the method for forming an organic thin film transistor (OTFT), comprising: forming a transparent gate layer on a transparent base substrate; forming a first initial silicone polymer layer on the transparent gate layer; and performing an oxidization process to partially oxidize the first initial silicone polymer layer to form a gate insulating layer, including an oxidized inorganic sub-layer that contacts the transparent gate layer, and a non-oxidized organic sub-layer.

The products of organic thin film transistor (OTFT) driven displays and electronic papers have been gradually entered into the market. An active layer of the OTFT is an organic active layer made by an organic semiconductor material.
The active layer may be made of small organic molecule and polymer semiconductor materials that have high migration rate, good solution processing ability, and stable environment providing ability. With the ongoing and in-depth study of the OTFT, it has been found that the carriers in the OTFT are conducted by a transition mode due to the existing of the intermolecular forces in the organic semiconductor materials. The organic semiconductors are being in a "molecular solid" form. Such special form can make the organic active layer made by an organic semiconductor be more susceptible by the insulating layer resulting in significant changes in the carrier mobility, thus affecting the performances of the OTFT devices.
To solve the problem that the organic active layer made by an organic semiconductor is susceptible from the insulating layer and causes significant changes in the carrier mobility, an organic polymer material is usually used as the insulating layer of an OTFT. However, the dielectric constant of the organic polymer material is relatively low. When the organic polymer material is used alone as the insulating layer of an OTFT device, the threshold voltage of the OTFT device is relatively high, and the leakage current is relatively large.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an organic thin film transistor, and a fabricating method thereof to at least partially alleviate one or more problems set forth above and to solve other problems in the art.

Organic thin film transistor, and fabricating method thereof


A plastic frame includes a first frame having a first frame surface and a first end portion and a second end portion opposite to each other, and a second frame having a second frame surface, an end portion of the second frame being connected to the first end portion of the first frame. The first frame surface and the second frame surface are located on the same side of the plastic frame. A first height difference between the first frame surface at a first end portion of the first frame and the second frame surface is smaller than a height difference between the first frame surface at a middle portion of the first frame and the second frame surface. The first height difference may be, for example, 0.1-0.3 mm.

When liquid crystal modules are designed, generally, the liquid crystal display panel includes a color film substrate and an array substrate which are attached to each other. For three-sided edgeless liquid crystal modules, presently, chip-on-flex (COF), generally referred to as a flip-chip film, or chip-on-glass (COG), i.e., a chip directly bonded to a glass substrate, technology is generally adopted to bond a circuit board (bonding printed circuit board (PCB)) at a bonding part (i.e., a pad part) of the array substrate.

Plastic frame, backlight module and display device

Beijing BOE Display Technology Co., Ltd.


A normally-black active-matrix-type liquid crystal display device comprises a first substrate having color layers of three or more colors and a second substrate on which an active-matrix array is formed. The first substrate has a structure, which is devoid of a black matrix, in which the color layers are stacked in a frame portion surrounding the display area. A first light-shielding layer in which color layers of three of more colors are stacked is formed on the frame portion on a side of the display area from which scanning lines are led out and on a side of the display area from which data lines are led out, from among four sides of the display area. A second light-shielding layer in which color layers of two colors are built up is formed on the frame portion on at least one side of the other remaining sides of the display area.

There has been strong demand in recent years for a device structure and manufacturing process that can enable the manufacture, at lower cost, of an active-matrix-type liquid crystal display device exhibiting excellent display quality.
For example, in order to block light impinging from the frame surrounding a display area in a liquid crystal display device, a light-shielding layer referred to as a "black matrix" is formed on the side of a substrate having a color filter (a color-filter substrate) using a metal such as chrome (chrome oxide) or a resin. For the purpose of lowering cost, however, a technique for eliminating the black matrix has been proposed.
For example, Patent Documents 1 and 2, cited below, disclose techniques for forming a light-shielding layer on the frame portion surrounding the liquid crystal area by stacking colored layers of at least two colors selected from a plurality thereof.
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Kokai Publication No. JP2000-290014A
[Patent Document 2]
Japanese Patent Kokai Publication No. JP2003-14917A

Liquid crystal display device with light shielding covering two-layered common electrode


A novel process for preparing spherical carbon microballoons is disclosed. In this process, a pitch is admixed with a low-boiling organic solvent to form a pitch-solvent mixture; the pitch-solvent mixture is pulverized and flash heated at a temperature higher than the boiling point of the low-boiling organic solvent to form hollow, spherical carbon microballoons; and the carbon microballoons are rendered infusible and then sintered. The formation of hollow, spherical carbon microballoons at high yield is enabled by using a particular pitch containing 40 to 65% by weight of benzene insoluble components and up to 0.1% by weight of quinoline insoluble components, and having a softening point in the range of 60.degree. to 320.degree. C.

This invention relates to a process for preparing carbon microballoons by starting with a particular pitch in admixture with a low-boiling organic solvent as a foaming agent.
Carbon microballoons are highly valued as lightweight carbon materials having heat resistance, chemical resistance and other advantages which give them wide utility as low-temperature thermal insulators, composite materials with metal or inorganic matter, nuclear reactor materials, electroconductive plastic materials, and the like.
The preparation of carbon microballoons is disclosed in Y. Amagi et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,786,134 (Japanese Pat. Publication No. 49-30253); Japanese Pat. Publication Nos. 50-29837 and 54-10948.
Y. Amagi et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,786,134 (Japanese Pat. Publication No. 49-30253) discloses a preparation of pitch microballoons by homogeneously mixing a hard, highly aromatic pitch having a softening point of 60.degree. to 350.degree. C., a 0-25% nitrobenzene-insoluble moiety and a hydrogen/carbbon atomic ratio of 0.2 to 1.0 with a low-boiling organic solvent, dispersing the mixture into water in the presence of a protective colloid, adjusting the content of the solvent in the resulting microspheres to 0.2 to 10%, flash heating said microspheres whereby the solvent therein functions as blowing agent to form hollow pitch microspheres, and rendering the microspheres infusible by heating them with an oxidizing fluid, and baking to carbonization at a temperature of 600.degree. to 2,000.degree. C. in an inert atmosphere. The pitch as specified-above used in Amagi is selected since the use of a pitch having a softening point above 350.degree. C. or a more than 25% nitrobenzene-insoluble moiety does not result in uniform hollow microspheres because such pitch is hardly mixed homogeneoulsly with a low-boiling organic solvent, thus causing a heterogeneous dispersion and uneven foaming. In Amagi, the pitchs which fulfill the desired requirements are those obtained by removing low-molecular weight components by distillation or extraction.
As described above, the pitch used in Amagi is a particular hard, highly aromatic pitch containing free carbon as well as high-molecular weight components such as mesophase pitch unremoved therefrom. When such a pitch is used for the preparation of carbon microballoons, it is impossible to simultaneously render the pitch-solvent mixture particles hollow and spherical in a single step of flash heating. Amagi, therefore, employed two separate steps of dispersing the pitch-solvent mixture particles in hot water to make them spherical, and flash heating the already spherical particles to foam and make them hollow.
More illustratively, the pitch used in Amagi containing the high-molecular weight components unremoved therefrom are incompatible with the low-boiling organic solvent, and are unable to homogeneously mix with the low-boiling organic solvent. Therefore, the pitch-solvent mixture particle prepared from the pitch of Amagi would not foam into a spherical microballoon unless the pitch-solvent mixture particle is rendered spherical by the dispersion prior to the foaming step.
Moreover, a pitch having a high softening point is particularly difficult to homogeneously mix with the low-boiling organic solvent. When such a pitch is used for the preparation of the carbon microballoons, the pitch needs to be admixed with an excess amount of the solvent. After the dispersion into hot water, the content of the solvent should be adjusted prior to the foaming step, since yield of the spherical carbon microballoons would be markedly reduced without such an adjustment of the solvent content.
The method disclosed in Japanese Pat. Publication No. 50-29837 can only produce microballoons of a limited size. The microballoons prepared by such a methods, despite their many improved properties, have not found a wide variety of applications because of the expense due to the complexity of the methods.
The method disclosed in Japanese Pat. Publication No. 54-10948 produces microballoons which are not completely spherical in shape and often have cracks in their shell.
A method for producing solid spherical particles of carbon and of activated carbon is described in H. Kaji et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,420,443. In this method, a mixture of a pitch and a viscosity-reducing agent is melt extruded into a form of string-like, bodies which is broken into stick-like bodies, and these stick-like bodies are thermally deformed in hot water into spherical particles from which the viscosity-reducing agent is removed to obtain spherical, but solid particles of carbon or activated carbon. This method, however, does not provide hollow carbon microballoons.
A method for producing solid spherical particles of carbon is also disclosed in Z. Shiiki et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,273,675. In this method, a pitch is mixed with a viscosity-reducing organic solvent, a softening point-elevating agent, and a void formation-preventing agent, and the mixture is then fused and shaped into spherical, but solid particles.
Although these two methods by Kaji and Shiiki disclose the preparation of the solid, spherical carbon microspheres, an additional troublesome step of adjusting the solvent content as disclosed in Amagi would be required to further foam these solid, spherical carbon microspheres into the hollow carbon microballoons.
Consequently, although the above-described prior art methods may disclose independent processes for the preparation of the spherical, solid carbon microspheres and the preparation of the hollow, spherical carbon microballoons, these processes can not be readily combined to realize a single flash heating step wherein spherical hollow carbon microballoons are formed from irregularly shaped pitch-solvent particles.
Inventors of the present invention have found that these processes can simultaneously be carried out in a single flash heating step when the pitch used in the preparation of the carbon microballoons are free of free carbon and high-molecular weight components such as mesophase pitch and spherulites.


Disclosed is an aqueous bonding composition comprising: (A) a modified saccharide which is a product of (a) a saccharide and (b) a radical initiator. The composition further preferably comprises a structure based on (c) an amine. The composition further preferably comprises (B) an inorganic acid salt. The formaldehyde-free aqueous bonding composition can contribute to an improvement in mechanical properties such as strength and elastic modulus of a molded article, compared to a formaldehyde-containing phenol resin composition.

A phenol resin composition has hitherto been employed as a composition to be used for production of molded bodies such as insulating materials, soundproofing materials, and wood board products by using inorganic fibers such as glass wool, rock wool, and ceramic fiber, because the phenol resin composition has excellent performances such as mechanical strength, and low cost.
In the case of producing a molded article using inorganic fibers, the composition is adhered to the inorganic fibers, and the inorganic fibers with the composition is molded into a shape of the objective molded body, and then the composition is cured by heating to obtain the objective molded article.
Heretofore, a formaldehyde-containing phenol resin composition has widely been used as the composition. In recent years, however, environmental standards have become more severe, thus requiring a composition using no formaldehyde.
JP 5931901 B1, JP 5628889 B1, and JP 6062099 B1 disclose, as the composition using no formaldehyde, a composition which contains a saccharide as a main component and is mixed with a polycarboxylic acid ammonium salt or an inorganic acid ammonium salt.
JP 5931901 B1 discloses a formaldehyde-free sizing agent composition for mineral fiber, comprising at least one non-reducing saccharide, at least one inorganic acid ammonium salt, additives, and water (see JP 5931901 B1, claim 1, etc.).
JP 5628889 B1 discloses a method for producing an insulating or soundproof fiber glass product, wherein the method comprises a step of spraying a formaldehyde-free aqueous binder solution onto a fiber mat, the aqueous binder solution contains a Maillard reaction product, and the Maillard reaction product is selected from (i) an amine reaction product composed of a polycarboxylic acid ammonium salt and (ii) one or more carbohydrate reaction products including one or more reducing saccharides (see, JP 5628889 B1, claims 1 to 5, etc.).
JP 6062099 B1 discloses a binder composition comprising a non-reducing saccharide, an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid salt, and an inorganic acid ammonium salt (see JP 6062099 B1, claim 1, etc.). JP 6062099 B1 discloses that this binder composition is adhered to inorganic fibers and the inorganic fibers are aggregated to obtain an aggregate, and then the aggregate is molded into a predetermined shape corresponding to a desired molded body, followed by thermally curing the binder composition and further cooling the binder composition to obtain the molded body (see JP 6062099 B1, claim 10, [0057] to [0067], etc.).