New plants were created from a new and efficient method of intergeneric hybridization between the genus Argyranthemum as a female parent and a plant from I. versicolor and Glebionis sp. as a male parent. The plants were created by rescuing an embryo from the cross-pollination of a tetraploid or aneu-tetraploid Argyranthemum female parent with a plant from the group I. versicolor and Glebionis sp. as a male parent. The new plants often exhibited the perennial and multi-branched habit of the female Argyranthemum parent, with large capitula size and different ray floret colors, many not previously seen in Argyranthemum. When compared to Argyranthemum, the new plants possessed improved tolerance to high growing temperatures. In addition to providing the intergeneric hybrid plants and parts thereof, the invention provides methods for making such plants and methods for creating intergeneric hybrid plants.

The present invention relates to Argyranthemum intergeneric hybrid plants and methods for increased efficiency of making hybrid plants. More specifically, the present invention relates to the production of tetraploid and aneu-tetraploid Argyranthemum plants and the production of intergeneric hybrid plants derived from crossing a female Argyranthemum tetraploid or aneu-tetraploid plant with a male plant from the group Ismelia versicolor and Glebionis sp. All publications cited are hereby incorporated by reference.
A characteristic of certain plants is the ability to occasionally cross with other species, called interspecific hybridization. Interspecific hybridization has been identified in a number of species, including Argyranthemum. For example, in Argyranthemum it has been reported that many species inter-cross naturally when geographical barriers to pollination are removed (Francisco-Ortega, J., Santos-Guerra, A., Mesa-Coello, R., Gonzalez-Feria, E., and Crawford, D., Genetic resource conservation of the endemic genus Argyranthemum Sch. Bip. (Asteraceae: Anthimideae) in the Macronesian Islands, Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution, 43: 33-39 (1996)). It has been suggested that with the wide range of flower colors available in commercially bred varieties of Argyranthemum that several species of Argyranthemum were involved in the development of modern cultivars, reported by Cunneen, T. M., The Marguerite Daisy (Argyranthemum spp): developing an understanding for breeding, Ph.D. Thesis, University of Sydney Faculty of Agriculture (1996). Thus, modern cultivars are best described as Argyranthemum×hybrid. All Argyranthemum species have a diploid chromosome number of 2n=2x=18, as reported in Humphries, C. J., A revision of the Macronesian genus Argyranthemum Webb ex Schults Bip. (Compositae-Anthimideae), Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History), Botany, 5:145-243 (1976) and Fjellheim, S., Holten Jorgensen, M., Kjos, M., Borgen, L. A molecular study of hybridization and homoploid hybrid speciation in Argyranthemum (Asteraceae) on Tenerife, the Canary Islands, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 159(1):19-31, 2009.
Over time plants are more accurately described and investigated by taxonomists who thereby impose changes to the generic and specific names. In the genus Glebionis there are currently two species, G. coronaria and G. segetum, according to Mabberley, D. J., Mabberley's Plant Book, Cambridge University Press, (2008). However, these species have also been historically included in Chrysanthemum and Xanthopthalmum. In the genus Ismelia there is currently only one species, I. versicolor. Historically this species has been known as Chrysanthemum carinatum, Glebionis carinatum, and Ismelia versicolor. To avoid confusion, in this application the convention of Mabberley 2008 applies where the genus Glebionis includes two species, G. coronaria and G. segetum, and the genus Ismelia includes one species, I. versicolor.
The complexity of inheritance influences the choice of breeding method. Backcross breeding is used to transfer one or a few favorable genes for a highly heritable trait into a desirable cultivar. This approach has been used extensively for breeding disease-resistant cultivars. Various recurrent selection techniques are used to improve quantitatively inherited traits controlled by numerous genes. The use of recurrent selection in self-pollinating crops depends on the ease of pollination, the frequency of successful hybrids from each pollination, and the number of hybrid offspring from each successful cross.
Backcross breeding has been used to transfer traits that follow simple Mendelian inheritance into a desirable homozygous cultivar or inbred line which is the recurrent parent. The source of the trait to be transferred is called the donor parent. The resulting plant is expected to have the attributes of the recurrent parent (e.g., cultivar) and the desirable trait transferred from the donor parent. After the initial cross, individuals possessing the phenotype of the donor parent are selected and repeatedly crossed back (backcrossed) to the recurrent parent. The resulting plant is expected to have the attributes of the recurrent parent (e.g., cultivar) and the desirable trait transferred from the donor parent.
Pedigree breeding is used commonly for the improvement of self-pollinating crops. Two parents that possess favorable, complementary traits are crossed to produce an F1 population. An F2 population is produced by selfing one or several F1 plants. Selection of the best individuals can begin in the F2 population. Then, beginning in the F3 generation, the best individuals in the best families are selected. Replica testing of families can begin in the F4 generation to improve the effectiveness of selection for traits with low heritability. At an advanced stage of inbreeding (i.e., F6 and F7 generations), the best lines or mixtures of phenotypically similar lines are tested for potential release as new cultivars.
Pedigree breeding and recurrent selection breeding methods are used to develop cultivars from breeding populations. Breeding programs combine desirable traits from two or more cultivars or various broad-based sources into breeding pools from which cultivars are developed by selfing and selection of desired phenotypes. The new cultivars are evaluated to determine which have commercial potential.
Mass and recurrent selections can be used to improve populations of either self-pollinating or cross-pollinating crops. A genetically variable population of heterozygous individuals is either identified or created by intercrossing several different parents. The best plants are selected based on individual superiority, outstanding progeny, or excellent combining ability. The selected plants are intercrossed to produce a new population in which further cycles of selection are continued.
Descriptions of other breeding methods that are commonly used for different traits and crops can be found in one of several reference books (e.g., Allard, R. W., Principles of Plant Breeding, John Wiley and Sons Inc. (1960); Simmonds, N. W., Principles of Crop Improvement, Longman Group, New York, USA (1981)).
Each breeding program should include a periodic, objective evaluation of the efficiency of the breeding procedure. Evaluation criteria vary depending on the goal and objectives, but should include gain from selection per year based on comparisons to an appropriate standard, overall value of the advanced breeding lines, and number of successful cultivars produced per unit of input (e.g., per year, per dollar expended, etc.).
Promising advanced breeding lines are thoroughly tested and compared to appropriate standards in environments representative of the commercial target area(s) for three or more years. The best lines are candidates for new commercial cultivars. Those still deficient in a few traits can be used as parents to produce new populations for further selection.
These processes, which lead to the final step of marketing and distribution, require several steps from the time the first cross is made. Therefore, development of new cultivars is a time-consuming process that requires precise forward planning, efficient use of resources, and a minimum of changes in direction.
A most difficult task is the identification of individuals that are genetically superior, because for most traits the true genotypic value is masked by other confounding plant traits or environmental factors. One method of identifying a superior plant is to observe its performance relative to other experimental plants and/or to a common cultivar. If a single observation is inconclusive, repeated observations can provide a better estimate of its genetic worth.
Interspecific hybridization has allowed creation of new forms of plants and the transfer of desirable features from one species into another, for example, by introgression from wild species to related cultivated species. However, the ability of any two species to create viable interspecific hybrid seeds or plants is unpredictable and often has proved impossible.
Intergeneric hybridization, the crossing of two plants from different genera, is more unpredictable and improbable than interspecific hybridization because the relative genetic distance is greater between genera than between species. Only a few successful intergeneric hybrids have been reported and they are frequently only possible through human intervention and the use of embryo rescue. One form of embryo rescue is ovule culture, which involves aseptically removing the ovule from the seed and placing the ovule onto artificial media to enable the embryo to germinate and grow into a plant. In Argyranthemum, intergeneric hybrids have been reported between a female diploid A. frutescens and a male diploid G. carinatum (syn. I. versicolor) and between a female diploid A. frutescens and a male diploid G. coronaria, all developed by ovule culture (Ohtsuka, H. and Inaba, Z., Intergeneric hybridization of marguerite (Argyranthemum frutescens) with annual chrysanthemum (Glebionis carinatum) and crown daisy (G. coronaria) using ovule culture, Plant Biotechnology, 25, 535-539 (2008); Ohtsuka, H. and Inaba, Z., Breeding of Argyranthemum by interspecific and intergeneric hybridization. 1. Intergeneric hybridization of Argyranthemum and Ismeria carinata (syn. Chrysanthemum carinatum), I. coronaria (syn. Chrysanthemum coronaria) through ovule culture, Journal of the Japanese Society for Horticultural Science, 72 (Suppl. 1), p. 264 (2003); Iwazaki, Y., Ueda, Y., and Yamada, H., Studies on the acquisition method of an intergeneric hybridization of Argyranthemum and Ismelia by ovule culture, Horticultural Research (Japan), 6 (Suppl. 1), p. 212 (2007)). However, the rate of efficiency (number of pollinations performed versus number of flowering plants produced) and quality of the plants produced is very low.
For example, Ohtsuka and Inaba (2008) reported that from 70 pollinations of A. frutescens×G. carinatum (syn. I. versicolor), only 16 embryos were obtained and germinated via ovule culture, and of those only five flowering plants developed. These five plants had similar morphology to G. carinatum (syn. I. versicolor). However, two died after flowering and the remaining three had pale green foliage, indicating weak growth. Ohtsuka and Inaba (2008) also reported that from 61 pollinations of A. frutescens×G. coronaria, only 26 embryos were obtained and germinated via ovule culture, and of those only 16 flowering plants developed. These 16 plants were generally characterized by upright vigorous growth with few branches, and pale green foliage with white or white/yellow ray floret color. Ohtsuka and Inaba (2008) further explain that from this cross combination "we were unable to find novel characteristics that might be valuable for flowerbed and pot plant production."
The present invention overcomes the poor rate of efficiency of production of intergeneric hybrid plants by utilizing aneu-tetraploid Argyranthemum plants as the female parent. The number of progeny resulting from the method of the present invention was unexpectedly and significantly increased and these progeny were significantly more robust and ornamentally useful compared to using a diploid female Argyranthemum parent. The present invention also overcomes the lack of quality of intergeneric hybrid plants by using Ismelia versicolor and Glebionis coronaria as male parents. The present invention also unexpectedly produced interspecific progeny when crossing is performed with Glebionis segetum and Glebionis coronaria. These interspecific hybrid males were successfully bred with aneu-tetraploid Argyranthemum females. Prior to the present invention, there have been no previous reports of successful hybridization at any ploidy level for an Argyranthemum crossed with Glebionis segetum.
The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations related therewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon a reading of the specification.


A voltage reference circuit includes a capacitor including a first terminal and including a second terminal coupled to a power supply node. The voltage reference circuit further includes an amplifier, a first transistor, and a switch. The amplifier includes a first input configured to receive a reference voltage input signal, a second input configured to receive a feedback signal, and an output. The first transistor includes a source coupled to the second input of the amplifier and to an output node, a gate coupled to the capacitor, and a drain. The first transistor is configured to provide a reference voltage at the source based on a charge provided to the gate by the capacitor. The switch includes a first terminal coupled to the output of the amplifier, and includes a second terminal coupled to the first terminal of the capacitor.

In electronic circuits, reference voltages and bias currents may be used to control operation of various circuit components, including transistors, comparators, and other circuit elements. Noise or glitches in such voltages and/or currents can adversely affect operation of the circuit by introducing errors, for example, in comparator outputs, such as those associated with an analog-to-digital converter. In some circuits, to avoid such errors, circuitry may include delay circuitry to allow time for the reference voltage signal or bias current to settle (i.e., become stable) so that the circuitry may function correctly.

Clocked reference buffer in a successive approximation analog-to-digital converter


A substrate having a second material on a surface of the substrate or embedded as a layer within the substrate are described. The second material has a different index of refraction and/or stiffness than the substrate so that stretching and unstretching of the substrate and the second material can induce wrinkles in the second material that interacts with light thereby allowing reversible change from a transparent state to an opaque or iridescent state, and vice versa. The present disclosure is useful as a shading system and/or displays.

Various forms of shading systems that control the transmission of light exist. They include conventional window treatments, such as curtain, draperies, blinds, louvers, and the like. These have the disadvantage that there is always some non-transparent foreign object near the windows that must be moved out of the way to allow light to transmit through.
To address this deficiency, "smart windows" have been developed, such as photochromic windows, thermotropic windows, thermochromic windows, polymer dispersed liquid crystal windows, suspended particle system windows, electrochromic windows, and gasochromic windows. A review of these types of windows are found in Background of the Invention section of United States Publication No. 2009/0296188. Although these smart windows provide certain improvements over conventional window treatment, they are extremely costly and/or difficult to fabricate or replace.
Various forms of displays that provides desired messages exist. They include static displays that cannot change once a message is imprinted, dynamic displays based on holography, dynamic displays that require electrical power (e.g., computer screens), and the like. However, such displays are limited (e.g., static) or expensive to operate and/or manufacture (e.g., holography and/or computer screens).

Adaptive shading, display and color control

President and Fellows of Harvard College


The invention relates to a device for automatically supplying feed and/or drink to an animal, comprising at any rate at least one trough, a flap, a control unit for controlling the flap, so that the flap is capable of being put in an open position and in a closed position for giving the animal access to the trough, respectively preventing the animal from having access to the trough, and an identification device for identifying the animal and for emitting an identification signal that is indicative of the identified animal. The control unit is provided with a memory, which memory is suitable for storing a first set of identification data in relation to animals that are allowed to have access to the trough and a second set of identification data in relation to animals that are not allowed to have access to the trough, with a comparing device for comparing the identification signal with the first and the second set of identification data in the memory, the control unit always keeping the flap in the open position or releasing the flap from the closed position if the identification signal belongs to the first set, and the control unit keeping the flap in the closed position or releasing the flap from the open position for enabling it to assume the closed position if the identification signal belongs to the second set.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to devices for automatically supplying feed or drink to an animal. The invention further relates to methods of automatically supplying feed or drink to an animal in a trough
2. Description of the Related Art
Devices are known for automatically supplying feed to an animal in which the feed is provided in a trough. A device of this type is known from DE 8716831U1 which comprise a flap controlled by a control unit, which flap is capable of being put in an open position and in a closed position for giving the animal access to the trough, respectively preventing the animal from having access to the trough. In a standard situation the flap is in its closed position. Continuous energizing of an air cylinder connected to the flap realises a transition to the open position for an animal having access to the feed trough. After a certain period of time the flap is put again in the closed position by continuous energizing of the air cylinder. In such cases, the flap can be used for actively driving the head of an animal out of the feed trough. The device is provided with an identification device by which an animal may be identified. If an animal that is not authorized to feed approaches the feed trough, the flap will be kept in the closed position. Animals that are authorized to feed will also be confronted initially with a closed flap. This is not a logical signal for the animal that is eligible to eat and it may have an adverse effect on the feed consumption of the animal
Thus, there is a particular need for a device for and a method of automatically supplying feed and/or drink to an animal, in which access to the feed trough is logical for an animal.

Device for and a method of automatically supplying feed and/or drink to an animal


A method is provided for reducing particle contamination in an ion implantation system, wherein an ion implantation system having source, mass analyzer, resolving aperture, decel suppression plate, and end station is provided. An ion beam is formed via the ion source, and a workpiece is transferred between an external environment and the end station for ion implantation thereto. A decel suppression voltage applied to the decel suppression plate is modulated concurrent with the workpiece transfer, therein causing the ion beam to expand and contract, wherein one or more surfaces of the resolving aperture and/or one or more components downstream of the resolving aperture are impacted by the ion beam, therein mitigating subsequent contamination of workpieces from previously deposited material residing on the one or more surfaces. The contamination can be mitigated by removing the previously deposited material or strongly adhering the previously deposited material to the one or more surfaces.

In the manufacture of semiconductor devices and other products, ion implantation systems are used to impart impurities, known as dopant elements, into semiconductor wafers, display panels, or other workpieces. Conventional ion implantation systems or ion implanters treat a workpiece with an ion beam in order to produce n- or p-type doped regions, or to form passivation layers in the workpiece. When used for doping semiconductors, the ion implantation system injects a selected ion species to produce the desired extrinsic material. For example, implanting ions generated from source materials such as antimony, arsenic, or phosphorus results in n-type extrinsic material wafers. Alternatively, implanting ions generated from materials such as boron, gallium, or indium creates p-type extrinsic material portions in a semiconductor wafer.
Conventional ion implantation systems include an ion source that ionizes a desired dopant element which is then accelerated to form an ion beam of prescribed energy. The ion beam is directed at a surface of the workpiece to implant the workpiece with the dopant element. The energetic ions of the ion beam penetrate the surface of the workpiece so that they are embedded into the crystalline lattice of the workpiece material to form a region of desired conductivity. The implantation process is typically performed in a high vacuum process chamber which prevents dispersion of the ion beam by collisions with residual gas molecules and which minimizes the risk of contamination of the workpiece by airborne particulates.
Ion dose and energy are two variables commonly used to define an ion implantation. The ion dose is associated with the concentration of implanted ions for a given semiconductor material. Typically, high current implanters (generally greater than 10 milliamps (mA) ion beam current) are used for high dose implants, while medium current implanters (generally capable up to about 1 mA beam current) are used for lower dose applications. Ion energy is used to control junction depth in semiconductor devices. The energy of the ions which make up the ion beam determine the degree of depth of the implanted ions. High energy processes, such as those used to form retrograde wells in semiconductor devices, typically require implants of up to a few million electron volts (MeV), while shallow junctions may only demand energies below 1 thousand electron volts (keV).
The continuing trend to smaller and smaller semiconductor devices requires implanters with ion sources that serve to deliver high beam currents at low energies. The high beam current provides the necessary dosage levels, while the low energy levels permit shallow implants. Source/drain junctions in complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) devices, for example, require such a high current, low energy application.

In-vacuum beam defining aperture cleaning for particle reduction


A method of extracting a catheter assembly with an extracting device. The catheter includes a tissue ingrowth cuff that is grown into a subcutaneous location. The extracting device includes a handle and a head having an external gripping surface which is sized for inserting into a lumen of the catheter assembly for gripping an internal surface of the catheter assembly within the tissue ingrowth cuff and dislodging the cuff from surrounding tissue.

The present invention relates to a new catheter assembly, a catheter stabilizing device and a device for removing a catheter assembly having a catheter stabilizing device.
Catheters, shunts, drainage tubes and the like, generally referred to herein as catheters, may be located in various locations within the human body for the introduction and removal of fluid from the body. Once in place, such catheters are typically anchored by a stabilizing device or sutured in place. Stabilizing devices generally are provided in several different types Many catheters include a winged collar or cuff having suture holes formed in an outer area of the device The collar or cuff freely rotates about the catheter. Catheters may also be taped to a patient""s skin, however, taping alone is generally not sufficiently reliable to stabilize the device.
Another common catheter stabilizing device is a tissue-ingrowth cuff. Such a cuff is typically made of Dacron(copyright) or a similar biocompatible material, and is attached by an adhesive layer to the outer surface of a catheter cannula. The cuff is generally located on the catheter such that when a distal portion of the catheter is in position in a location to be catheterized, the cuff is positioned external to the catheterized part of the body, but below the surface of the skin in subcutaneous tissue.
In some cases, the cuff is positioned on the catheter such that when the distal portion of the catheter is inserted in the body part, the cuff is located in a subcutaneous tunnel. The tunnel is formed by a tunnelling tool, such as a trocar, either before or after cannulation of the vessel with the distal portion of the catheter. The proximal portion of the catheter having the cuff is drawn through the tunnel by the tool while the tool passes through the subcutaneous tissue. The cuff is generally sized such that when the procedure is done, the cuff will fit snugly in the tunnel or other area.
After a period of time, the surrounding tissue grows into the fabric of the cuff such that the catheter is stabilized in the catheterized location. In addition, the catheterized location and the subcutaneous tunnel are sealed off, preventing foreign bodies from entering the wound and blood from exiting or pooling around the catheter near the exit site, thereby preventing patient infection. While such fabric cuffs are inexpensive to make and are generally effective at stabilizing a catheter, they are also difficult to remove.
In order to remove such a cuff from ingrown subcutaneous tissue, such as a tunnel, a physician has to detach the cuff by cutting around the cuff with a scalpel. The physician has to cut the subcutaneous tissue surrounding all edges of the cuff into which tissue has grown. Tissue growth occurs substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the cuff around the outer circumference of the cuff. In addition, tissue growth occurs at angles oblique to the longitudinal axis of the cuff along both of the cuff""s side edges. The physician must cut around the circumference of the cuff and both side edges to detach the cuff in a difficult, time-consuming surgical procedure that can increase patient bleeding. Such prolonged surgery and increased bleeding presents several risks to both the physician and patient, including the increased risk of infection. The procedure may also possibly contribute to an increased chance of scar tissue build-up within the subcutaneous area such that patients requiring multiple catheterization procedures may become increasingly difficult to catheterize.
The fabric cuffs also pose problems in the subcutaneous tunnelling procedures. Because the cuffs are sized to provide a snug fit in the subcutaneous area, they are difficult to pull smoothly through the tunnel. With catheters formed of softer durometer materials, such as pellethane and silicone, for example, the cuffs increase the risk that the catheter will snap or break apart during the tunnelling or removal procedure, and tend to elongate the tube and alter its dimensions. The stress placed on the proximal end of the catheter during the tunnelling procedure or during removal to pull the catheter through the tunnel is concentrated at the location of the cuff. As the cuff fits snugly within the subcutaneous tunnel, frictional forces against the tunnel wall affect the tunnelling and removal of the catheter. If the catheter breaks during removal, the physician may have to perform a further procedure to remove the broken-off distal portion of the catheter left within the patient. If the catheter breaks during the initial tunnelling procedure, the physician may have to completely recatheterize the patient.
Based on the foregoing disadvantages of prior art catheter stabilizing devices, particularly fabric cuffs, there is a need in the art for a stabilizing device which prevents the pooling of blood and invasion of foreign bodies by sealing a catheterized location, but which does not tend to break during placement or removal and which is easily removable without prolonged or invasive surgical cutting of subcutaneous tissue. There is also a need an the art for a device for safely removing such a stabilizing device from a subcutaneous location without the need for surgical cutting of the subcutaneous tissue.
The catheter stabilizing cuff of the present invention provides structural reinforcement to a catheter such that the catheter does not tend to break during catheterization or removal. It is easily removable without prolonged or invasive surgical cutting of subcutaneous tissue. Further, it can be removed without any surgical cutting when using the device for removing a catheter assembly of the present invention.
The present invention includes a composite catheter stabilizing device which includes a cuff and a first and second end piece. The cuff has a first edge and a second edge, and is configured for positioning around a catheter. The device also includes a first end piece and a second end piece. The first and second end pieces have internal surfaces which define tubular openings that extend through the end pieces. The first end and second end pieces have external surfaces which are tapered from their first sides to their second sides. The first sides of the first and second end pieces abut the first and second edges of the cuff, respectively. The second sides of the first and second end pieces are configured for receiving a catheter in facing engagement.
The invention also includes a catheter assembly which includes a catheter and a catheter stabilizing device. The catheter has an external surface and at least one lumen which extends through the catheter. The stabilizing device includes a cuff, a first end piece and a second piece. The cuff has a first edge and a second edge, and is adhered to the external surface of the catheter. The first and second end pieces have external surfaces and internal surfaces which are configured to conform to the external surface of the catheter in facing engagement. The external surfaces of the first and second end pieces are tapered from the first sides of the first and second end pieces, which respectively abut the first and second edges of the cuff, to the second sides of the first and second end pieces.
The invention also includes a method for making a catheter assembly having a composite catheter stabilizing device. A cuff having a first edge and a second edge is affixed to the external surface of a catheter. A first end piece having an internal surface, a first side and a second side is positioned around the external surface of the catheter such that the first side abuts the first edge of the cuff. A second end piece having an internal surface, a first side and a second side is positioned around the external surface of the catheter such that the first side abuts the second edge of the cuff. The first and second end pieces are tapered from their first sides to their second sides. The first and second end pieces are affixed to the external surface of the catheter such that the second sides of the end pieces are in facing engagement with the external surface of the catheter.
In an alternative embodiment, the method includes forming a unitary catheter which has an external surface, a lumen extending through the catheter, and a first and a second end piece. The first and second end pieces are tapered from the external surface of the catheter to first sides which lie in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the catheter. The first sides of the first and second end pieces are facing and spaced from each other. A cuff having a first edge and a second edge is affixed to the external surface of the catheter between the first and second end pieces such that the first edge of the cuff abuts the first side of the first end piece and the second edge of the cuff abuts the first side of the second end piece. The end pieces and the cuff form the composite catheter stabilizing device.
An alternative embodiment of a composite catheter stabilizing device is included in the invention which includes a unitary base and a cuff. The base has an internal surface which defines a tubular opening that extends through the base and that has a first end piece, a second end piece, and an annular central portion positioned between the first and second end pieces. The first end piece has an external surface tapered from a first side toward a second side, the second end piece has an external surface tapered from a first side to a second side and the internal surface is configured for positioning around a catheter. The cuff has a first edge that abuts the first side of the first end piece and a second edge that abuts the first side of the second end piece. The cuff is configured for positioning around the central portion of the base.
An alternative method is also provided for making a catheter assembly having a composite catheter stabilizing device. The method includes affixing a base to the external surface of the catheter. The base has an internal surface which defines a tubular opening and has a first end piece, a second end piece and a central portion. The base is affixed to the catheter such that the internal surface of the base is in facing engagement with the external surface of the catheter. The external surfaces of the first and second end pieces are each tapered from a first side to a second side. A cuff is affixed to the external surface of the central portion of the base such that a first edge of the cuff abuts the first side of the first end piece and a second edge of the cuff abuts the first side of the second end piece.
A device for removing a catheter assembly having a catheter stabilizing device including a tissue ingrowth cuff from a subcutaneous location is also provided in the present invention. The device includes a handle and a head. The handle has a proximal end, and a distal end. The head is attached to the distal end of the handle, and has an external gripping surface. The head is sized for insertion into a lumen of a catheter assembly having a tissue ingrowth cuff for gripping an internal surface of the catheter assembly within the cuff and dislodging the cuff from surrounding tissue.
A method for removing a catheter assembly having a catheter stabilizing device including a tissue ingrowth cuff which is grown into a subcutaneous location is also included in the present invention. The catheter assembly is removed by a device having a handle and a head having an external gripping surface. The method includes inserting the head of the device into a proximal end of a lumen extending through the catheter assembly, inserting the head further into the lumen by pushing the handle of the device until a distal end of the head is substantially longitudinally aligned with a distal end of the tissue ingrowth cuff, and pulling the handle to dislodge the tissue ingrowth cuff and to remove the catheter assembly from the subcutaneous location.

Composite catheter stabilizing devices, methods of making the same and catheter extracting device


A wireless device includes a shell and an array antenna. The shell is configured with a low reflection structure. The array antenna disposed inside the shell, and the low reflection structure is located within a radiation range of the array antenna after beam scanning. The low reflection structure includes a plurality of slots arranged periodically.

Along with the rapid growth of wireless communication information services, people demand more and more about the communication quality. A next generation (i.e., the 5th generation mobile networks, also referred to as 5G) wireless communication technique has to satisfy operation requirements, such as high speed, high capacity and high quality. However, it is not easy to increase the frequency bandwidths. Because commonly used spectrums are already crowded enough, it is difficult to find big bands that are unused to satisfy the requirements for desired transmission speeds. Thus, it is essential for the section of bands with higher frequencies (>6 GHz). In order to meet the requirements and prospects for 5G in the future, current research organizations and major communication R&D manufacturers in the world all transfer from the originally used wireless micro wave bands (i.e., centimeter wave bands, e.g., bands of 2 GHz and 5 GHz) to higher millimeter-wave (mmWave) bands (>6 GHz). In these types of bands, as they are not overdeveloped, a single system bandwidth may be wider (for example, up to 500 MHz to 2 GHz), thereby effectively increasing data transmission capacity and system performance. Another advantage of the mmWave bands is short wavelengths and easy to be miniaturized for front end devices.
A shell or a device housing is a big challenge for mmWave communication applications. This is because the millimeter wave has a wavelength close to a shell thickness, which is likely to be influenced by the thickness and material of the shell to generate rebounds, causing issues, such as causing gain degeneration, side-lobe regrowth and electromagnetic interference. FIG. 1A through FIG. 1B are schematic diagrams illustrating an electromagnetic wave working between an array antenna 2 and a shell 1. FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram illustrating that the electromagnetic wave is orthogonally incident to the shell 1. FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram illustrating that the electromagnetic wave is obliquely incident to the shell 1. In scenarios that the electromagnetic wave is orthogonally radiated and is obliquely incident to the shell, a reflection phenomenon occurs in both of the scenarios in the presence of the shell (an insulation medium). It is mainly because when the electromagnetic wave transmit in different media, an impedance mismatching may likely occur between interfaces and cause a phenomenon of partial transmission and partial reflection. Such phenomenon may cause a loss of radiant energy, and a reflected signal may more likely travel arbitrarily inside a mobile device, such that an issue related to electromagnetic compatibility arises to cause malfunction to other electronic components. Thus, in order to reduce the waste in the radiation power or energy for being shielded by the shell, an adaptive design of the shell is a major subject, in particular, the applications in the mmWave bands or higher.
Regarding a shell made of an insulation material, in a low frequency (sub-6 GHz), since its thickness is far different from its wavelength, the issue that the electromagnetic wave shielded by the shell is less obvious in the past. However, when is speaks to an mmWave band (28-39 GHz), the electromagnetic wave may be shielded by the shell by up to 5 dB or more, which may cause a significant energy loss.
Basic theory of the field introduced as follows. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the electromagnetic wave transmitted among three medium materials. FIG. 2 illustrates scenarios that the electromagnetic wave is incident to the three types of medium materials, wherein two interfaces are included, on is between a first medium material and a second medium material, and the other is between the second medium material and a third medium material. An inherent impedance of the first medium material is η1, an inherent impedance of the second medium material is 112, and an inherent impedance of the third medium material is η3. d represents a thickness of the second medium material (i.e., a thickness of a shell of the disclosure). An input impedance Z2(0) from the first medium material to the second medium material may be expressed as
                                          Z            2                                          (            0            )                          =                              η            2                                                                                η                  3                                                cos                                                                                β                  2                                                d                            +                              j                                                                                η                  3                                                sin                                                                                β                  2                                                d                                                                                η                  2                                                cos                                                                                β                  2                                                d                            +                              j                                                                                η                  2                                                sin                                                                                β                  2                                                d                                                                        (        1        )
In order for the interfaces to have no reflection, i.e., η1=Z2(0), η1=η3=Z2(0), and thus, it is satisfied on the condition thatsin β2d=0  (2).
Therefore,
                    d        =                  n                                              λ              g                        2                                          (                                          n                =                1                            ,              2              ,              …                                                                          )                                              (        3        )
λg represents a wavelength of the electromagnetic wave in the second medium material. λg may be expressed as
                              λ          g                =                  c                      f                                      √                              ɛ                r                                                                        (        4        )
εr represents a dielectric constant of the medium, c is a speed of light, and f is a frequency of the electromagnetic wave. Thus, if the thickness of the second medium material may be effectively controlled, an effect (e.g., an impedance mismatching) of the second medium material may be negligible.
In an mmWave band, as the millimeter wave has a wavelength close to the shell thickness, the medium material thereof may influence the effect of electromagnetic wave transmission. A method of the related art is to adjust the shell thickness, such that the thickness is made to be equal to an integer multiple of a half-wave length (e.g., the thickness of the shell 1 illustrated in FIG. 1A through FIG. 1B is adjusted to be αλg). By effectively controlling the thickness of the second medium material, the influence on the electromagnetic wave from the shell may be negligible. However, the adjustment of the shell thickness may cause the shell to be thinner to damage the mechanical strength of the shell. According to formulas (3) and (4), besides adjusting the thickness, another major parameter that may be adjusted is the dielectric constant εr (i.e., the dielectric constant of the second medium material). However, the dielectric constant is an attribute of the material itself, while it is not easy to replace the shell material.

Shell and wireless device using the same

Industrial Technology Research Institute


A toner detection unit is configured by an LED that irradiates light toward an intermediate transfer belt, first and second light receiving elements that respectively receive specular reflection light and diffused reflection light of light irradiated toward the intermediate transfer belt from the LED, a circuit board, and a housing. The LED and the light receiving elements are mounted in a line on the circuit board. The housing is configured to guide, to the first light receiving element, the specular reflection light from a first region within an irradiation region on which light is irradiated from the LED on the intermediate transfer belt, and to guide, to the second light receiving element, the diffused reflection light from a second region which is different from the first region within the irradiation region.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical sensor for receiving, by a plurality of light receiving elements, a specular reflection light and a diffused reflection light of light emitted from a light emitting element to detect a detection target, and an image forming apparatus comprising the optical sensor.
Description of the Related Art
In recent years, in electrophotographic image forming apparatuses, a tandem type which is a configuration in which a photosensitive member is arranged for each color to accelerate printing speed has become mainstream. In a tandem type image forming apparatus, a color misregistration amount is determined by forming a detection image (a toner image) which is a test pattern for detecting a color misregistration amount on an intermediate transfer belt, for example, and then irradiating light onto the detection image and detecting light reflected therefrom by an optical sensor. Also, a determination of a density of a toner (a density of an image) using such an optical sensor has been performed. In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. H10-221902, a technique is disclosed in which a diffused reflection light and a specular reflection light of light irradiated on a toner image are respectively received by individual light receiving units (sensors), and based on the received light amounts, the density of toner is detected. By virtue of such a technique, it is possible to improve precision of detection of toner by an optical sensor even if toner of a plurality of colors used in the image forming apparatus has reflection characteristics that differ with respect to the light used by the optical sensor.
In an optical sensor of the foregoing type, generally, in addition to providing an aperture for limiting (narrowing) light that the light emitting element emits, that kind of aperture is also provided for the light receiving elements that respectively receive specular reflection light and diffused reflection light in order to separate the specular reflection light and the diffused reflection light. Surface-mounted type optical sensors in which an optical element is mounted directly on a surface of a circuit board are disclosed as such kind of optical sensors in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-208266 and in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2013-191835.
In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-208266, an optical unit holder is attached to a circuit board on which a light emitting element and two light receiving elements are directly mounted, and three polarization filters respectively corresponding to the light emitting element and the two light receiving elements are arranged on an outside surface of the optical unit holder. However, when a plurality of polarization filters are used in this way, it leads to an increase in apparatus cost, and a reduction in productivity. Meanwhile, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2013-191835, a housing having an opening (a light guiding path) that functions as an aperture corresponding to each optical element (the light emitting element and the two light receiving elements) is configured such that light shielding walls that configure the openings are inserted in a slit hole arranged in a circuit board. This improves a light-shielding property in an optical sensor configured by mounting each optical element on a surface of the circuit board.
However, in the optical sensor described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2013-191835, it is necessary to arrange the light emitting element and the two light receiving elements at a certain distance from each other in order to realize the housing that improves the light-shielding property. Even if it is possible to improve the light-shielding property by virtue of this kind of optical sensor configuration, the size of the optical sensor is larger in a direction in which the light emitting element and the two light receiving elements are arranged. Accordingly, it would be desirable to realize further miniaturization in the optical sensor.

Optical sensor and image forming apparatus


A TNFR homolog, identified as DcR3, is provided. Nucleic acid molecules encoding DcR3, chimeric molecules and antibodies to DcR3 are also provided.

The present invention relates generally to the identification and isolation of novel DNA and to the recombinant production of novel polypeptides, designated herein as xe2x80x9cDcR3xe2x80x9d.
Various molecules, such as tumor necrosis factor-xcex1 (xe2x80x9cTNF-xcex1xe2x80x9d), tumor necrosis factor-xcex2 (xe2x80x9cTNF-xcex2xe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9clymphotoxinxe2x80x9d), CD30 ligand, CD27 ligand, CD40 ligand, OX-40 ligand, 4-1BB ligand, Fas ligand (also referred to as Apo-1 ligand or CD95 ligand), and Apo-2 ligand (also referred to as TRAIL) have been identified as members of the tumor necrosis factor (xe2x80x9cTNFxe2x80x9d) family of cytokines [See, e.g., Gruss and Dower, Blood, 85:3378-3404 (1995); Wiley et al., Immunity, 3:673-682 (1995); Pitti et al., J. Biol. Chem., 271:12687-12690 (1996)]. Among these molecules, TNF-xcex1, TNF-xcex2, CD30 ligand, 4-1BB ligand, Fas ligand, and Apo-2 ligand (TRAIL) have been reported to be involved in apoptotic cell death. Both TNF-xcex1 and TNF-xcex2 have been reported to induce apoptotic death in susceptible tumor cells [Schmid et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 83:1881 (1986); Dealtry et al., Eur. J. Immunol., 17:689 (1987)]. Zheng et al. have reported that TNF-xcex1 is involved in post-stimulation apoptosis of CD8-positive T cells [Zheng et al., Nature, 377:348-351 (1995)]. Other investigators have reported that CD30 ligand may be involved in deletion of self-reactive T cells in the thymus [Amakawa et al., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Symposium on Programmed Cell Death, Abstr. No. 10, (1995)].
Fas ligand appears to regulate primarily three types of apoptosis: (a) activation-induced cell death (AICD) of mature T lymphocytes; (b) elimination of inflammatory cells from immune-privileged sites; and (c) killing of damaged cells by cytotoxic lymphocytes [Nagata, Cell, 88:355 (1997)]. It has been reported that T cell AICD assists in shutting down the host""s immune response once an infection has been cleared. Repeated stimulation of the T cell receptor (TCR) by antigen induced expression of Fas ligand and Fas on the surface of T helper cells; subsequently Fas ligand engages Fas and can trigger apoptosis in the activated lymphocytes, leading to their elimination. Immune-privileged sites include tissues such as the eye, brain or testis, in which inflammatory immune responses can perturb function. Cells in immune privileged sites appear to constitutively express Fas ligand, and eliminate infiltrating leukocytes that express Fas through Fas dependent apoptosis. Certain cancers including melanomas [Hahne et al., Science, 274:1363 (1996)] and hepatocellular carcinomas [Strand et al., Nature Med., 2:1361-1366 (1996)] use a similar Fas ligand-dependent mechanism to evade immune survaillance. Natural killer (NK) cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes have been reported to eliminate cells that have been damaged by viral or bacterial infection or by oncogenic transformation by at least two pathways. One pathway involves release of perforin and granzymes, and an alternative pathway involves expression of Fas ligand and induction of apoptosis by engagement of Fas on target cells [Nagata, supra; Moretta, Cell, 90:13 (1997)].
Mutations in the mouse Fas/Apo-1 receptor or ligand genes (called 1pr and gld, respectively) have been associated with some autoimmune disorders, indicating that Fas ligand may play a role in regulating the clonal deletion of self-reactive lymphocytes in the periphery [Krammer et al., Curr. Op. Immunol., 6:279-289 (1994); Nagata et al., Science, 267:1449-1456 (1995)]. Fas ligand is also reported to induce post-stimulation apoptosis in CD4-positive T lymphocytes and in B lymphocytes, and may be involved in the elimination of activated lymphocytes when their function is no longer needed [Krammer et al., supra; Nagata et al., supra]. Agonist mouse monoclonal antibodies specifically binding to the Fas receptor have been reported to exhibit cell killing activity that is comparable to or similar to that of TNF-xcex1 [Yonehara et al., J. Exp. Med., 169:1747-1756 (1989)].
Induction of various cellular responses mediated by such TNF family cytokines is believed to be initiated by their binding to specific cell receptors. Two distinct TNF receptors of approximately 55-kDa (TNFR1) and 75-kDa (TNFR2) have been identified [Hohmann et al., J. Biol. Chem., 264:14927-14934 (1989); Brockhaus et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 87:3127-3131 (1990); EP 417,563, published Mar. 20, 1991] and human and mouse cDNAs corresponding to both receptor types have been isolated and characterized [Loetscher et al., Cell, 61:351 (1990); Schall et al., Cell, 61:361 (1990); Smith et al., Science, 248:1019-1023 (1990); Lewis et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 88:2830-2834 (1991); Goodwin et al., Mol. Cell. Biol., 11:3020-3026 (1991)]. Extensive polymorphisms have been associated with both TNF receptor genes [see, e.g., Takao et al., Immunogenetics, 37:199-203 (1993)]. Both TNFRs share the typical structure of cell surface receptors including extracellular, transmembrane and intracellular regions. The extracellular portions of both receptors are found naturally also as soluble TNF-binding proteins [Nophar, Y. et al., EMBO J., 9:3269 (1990); and Kohno, T. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 87:8331 (1990)]. More recently, the cloning of recombinant soluble TNF receptors was reported by Hale et al. [J. Cell. Biochem. Supplement 15F, 1991, p. 113 (P424)].
The extracellular portion of type 1 and type 2 TNFRs (TNFR1 and TNFR2) contains a repetitive amino acid sequence pattern of four cysteine-rich domains (CRDs) designated 1 through 4, starting from the NH2-terminus. Each CRD is about 40 amino acids long and contains 4 to 6 cysteine residues at positions which are well conserved [Schall et al., supra; Loetscher et al., supra; Smith et al., supra; Nophar et al., supra; Kohno et al., supra]. In TNFR1, the approximate boundaries of the four CRDs are as follows: CRD1-amino acids 14 to about 53; CRD2-amino acids from about 54 to about 97; CRD3-amino acids from about 98 to about 138; CRD4-amino acids from about 139 to about 167. In TNFR2, CRD1 includes amino acids 17 to about 54; CRD2-amino acids from about 55 to about 97; CRD3-amino acids from about 98 to about 140; and CRD4-amino acids from about 141 to about 179 [Banner et al., Cell, 73:431-445 (1993)]. The potential role of the CRDs in ligand binding is also described by Banner et al., supra.
A similar repetitive pattern of CRDs exists in several other cell-surface proteins, including the p75 nerve growth factor receptor (NGFR) [Johnson et al., Cell, 47:545 (1986); Radeke et al., Nature, 325:593 (1987)], the B cell antigen CD40 [Stamenkovic et al., EMBO J., 8:1403 (1989)], the T cell antigen OX40 [Mallett et al., EMBO J., 9:1063 (1990)] and the Fas antigen [Yonehara et al., supra and Itoh et al., Cell, 66:233-243 (1991)]. CRDs are also found in the soluble TNFR (sTNFR)-like T2 proteins of the Shope and myxoma poxviruses [Upton et al., Virology, 160:20-29 (1987); Smith et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 176:335 (1991); Upton et al., Virology, 184:370 (1991)]. Optimal alignment of these sequences indicates that the positions of the cysteine residues are well conserved. These receptors are sometimes collectively referred to as members of the TNF/NGF receptor superfamily. Recent studies on p75NGFR showed that the deletion of CRD1 [Welcher, A. A. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 88:159-163 (1991)] or a 5-amino acid insertion in this domain [Yan, H. and Chao, M. V., J. Biol. Chem., 266:12099-12104 (1991)] had little or no effect on NGF binding [Yan, H. and Chao, M. V., supra]. p75 NGFR contains a proline-rich stretch of about 60 amino acids, between its CRD4 and transmembrane region, which is not involved in NGF binding [Peetre, C. et al., Eur. J. Haematol., 41:414-419 (1988); Seckinger, P. et al., J. Biol. Chem., 264:11966-11973 (1989); Yan, H. and Chao, M. V., supra]. A similar proline-rich region is found in TNFR2 but not in TNFR1.
Itoh et al. disclose that the Fas receptor can signal an apoptotic cell death similar to that signaled by the 55-kDa TNFR1 [Itoh et al., supra]. Expression of the Fas antigen has also been reported to be down-regulated along with that of TNFR1 when cells are treated with either TNF-xcex1 or anti-Fas mouse monoclonal antibody [Krammer et al., supra; Nagata et al., supra]. Accordingly, some investigators have hypothesized that cell lines that co-express both Fas and TNFR1 receptors may mediate cell killing through common signaling pathways [Id.].
The TNF family ligands identified to date, with the exception of lymphotoxin-xcex1, are type II transmembrane proteins, whose C-terminus is extracellular. In contrast, most receptors in the TNF receptor (TNFR) family identified to date are type I transmembrane proteins. In both the TNF ligand and receptor families, however, homology identified between family members has been found mainly in the extracellular domain (xe2x80x9cECDxe2x80x9d). Several of the TNF family cytokines, including TNF-xcex1, Fas ligand and CD40 ligand, are cleaved proteolytically at the cell surface; the resulting protein in each case typically forms a homotrimeric molecule that functions as a soluble cytokine. TNF receptor family proteins are also usually cleaved proteolytically to release soluble receptor ECDs that can function as inhibitors of the cognate cytokines.
Recently, other members of the TNFR family have been identified. Such newly identified members of the TNFR family include CAR1, HVEM and osteoprotegerin (OPG) [Brojatsch et al., Cell, 87:845-855 (1996); Montgomery et al., Cell, 87:427-436 (1996); Marsters et al., J. Biol. Chem., 272:14029-14032 (1997); Simonet et al., Cell, 89:309-319 (1997)]. Unlike other known TNFR-like molecules, Simonet et al., supra, report that OPG contains no hydrophobic transmembrane-spanning sequence.
In Marsters et al., Curr. Biol., 6:750 (1996), investigators describe a full length native sequence human polypeptide, called Apo-3, which exhibits similarity to the TNFR family in its extracellular cysteine-rich repeats and resembles TNFR1 and CD95 in that it contains a cytoplasmic death domain sequence [see also Marsters et al., Curr. Biol., 6:1669 (1996)]. Apo-3 has also been referred to by other investigators as DR3, wsl-1 and TRAMP [Chinnaiyan et al., Science, 274:990 (1996); Kitson et al., Nature, 384:372 (1996); Bodmer et al., Immunity, 6:79 (1997)].
Pan et al. have disclosed another TNF receptor family member referred to as xe2x80x9cDR4xe2x80x9d [Pan et al., Science, 276:111-113 (1997)]). The DR4 was reported to contain a cytoplasmic death domain capable of engaging the cell suicide apparatus. Pan et al. disclose that DR4 is believed to be a receptor for the ligand known as Apo-2 ligand or TRAIL.
In Sheridan et al., Science, 277:818-821 (1997) and Pan et al., Science, 277:815-818 (1997), another molecule believed to be a receptor for the Apo-2 ligand (TRAIL) is described. That molecule is referred to as DR5 (it has also been alternatively referred to as Apo-2). Like DR4, DR5 is reported to contain a cytoplasmic death domain and be capable of signaling apoptosis.
In Sheridan et al., supra, a receptor called DcR1 (or alternatively, Apo-2DcR) is disclosed as being a potential decoy receptor for Apo-2 ligand (TRAIL). Sheridan et al. report that DcR1 can inhibit Apo-2 ligand function in vitro. See also, Pan et al., supra, for disclosure on the decoy receptor referred to as TRID.
For a review of the TNF family of cytokines and their receptors, see Gruss and Dower, supra.
Membrane-bound proteins and receptors can play an important role in the formation, differentiation and maintenance of multicellular organisms. The fate of many individual cells, e.g., proliferation, migration, differentiation, or interaction with other cells, is typically governed by information received from other cells and/or the immediate environment. This information is often transmitted by secreted polypeptides (for instance, mitogenic factors, survival factors, cytotoxic factors, differentiation factors, neuropeptides, and hormones) which are, in turn, received and interpreted by diverse cell receptors or membrane-bound proteins. Such membrane-bound proteins and cell receptors include, but are not limited to, cytokine receptors, receptor kinases, receptor phosphatases, receptors involved in cell-cell interactions, and cellular adhesin molecules like selectins and integrins. For instance, transduction of signals that regulate cell growth and differentiation is regulated in part by phosphorylation of various cellular proteins. Protein tyrosine kinases, enzymes that catalyze that process, can also act as growth factor receptors. Examples include fibroblast growth factor receptor and nerve growth factor receptor.
Membrane-bound proteins and receptor molecules have various industrial applications, including as pharmaceutical and diagnostic agents. Receptor immunoadhesins, for instance, can be employed as therapeutic agents to block receptor-ligand interaction. The membrane-bound proteins can also be employed for screening of potential peptide or small molecule inhibitors of the relevant receptor/ligand interaction.
Efforts are being undertaken by both industry and academia to identify new, native receptor proteins. Many efforts are focused on the screening of mammalian recombinant DNA libraries to identify the coding sequences for novel receptor proteins.
Applicants have identified a cDNA clone that encodes a novel polypeptide, designated in the present application as xe2x80x9cDcR3.xe2x80x9d The term xe2x80x9cDcR3xe2x80x9d as used herein refers to the same polypeptides previously referred to by Applicants as xe2x80x9cDNA30942xe2x80x9d.
In one embodiment, the invention provides an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising DNA encoding DcR3 polypeptide. In one aspect, the isolated nucleic acid comprises DNA encoding DcR3 polypeptide having amino acid residues 1 to 300 of FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO:1); residues 1 to 215 of FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO:1); or residues 1 to x, where x is any one of residues 215 to 300 of FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO:1), or is complementary to such encoding nucleic acid sequence, and remains stably bound to it under at least moderate, and optionally, under high stringency conditions.
In another embodiment, the invention provides a vector comprising DNA encoding DcR3 polypeptide. A host cell comprising such a vector is also provided. By way of example, the host cells may be CHO cells, E. coli, or yeast. A process for producing DcR3 polypeptides is further provided and comprises culturing host cells under conditions suitable for expression of DcR3 and recovering DcR3 from the cell culture.
In another embodiment, the invention provides isolated DcR3 polypeptide. In particular, the invention provides isolated native sequence DcR3 polypeptide, which in one embodiment, includes an amino acid sequence comprising residues 1 to 300 of FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO:1) or residues 1 to 215 of FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO:1) or residues 1 to x, where x is any one of residues 215 to 300 of FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO:1).
In another embodiment, the invention provides isolated DcR3 variants. The DcR3 variants comprise polypeptides which have at least about 80% amino acid sequence identity with the deduced amino acid sequence of FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO:1) or domain sequences identified herein, and preferably have activity(s) of native or naturally-occurring DcR3.
In another embodiment, the invention provides chimeric molecules comprising DcR3 polypeptide fused to a heterologous polypeptide or amino acid sequence. An example of such a chimeric molecule comprises a DcR3 fused to an epitope tag sequence or a Fc region of an immunoglobulin.
In another embodiment, the invention provides an antibody which specifically binds to DcR3 polypeptide. Optionally, the antibody is a monoclonal antibody. Optionally, the antibody is a monoclonal antibody which specifically binds to DcR3 and blocks its binding to Fas ligand and/or other ligands recognized by DcR3.
In a further embodiment, the invention provides agonists and antagonists of DcR3 polypeptide. Therapeutic and diagnostic methods are also provided.
In another embodiment, the invention provides an expressed sequence tag (EST) comprising the nucleotide sequence of FIG. 3 (SEQ ID NO:3).

Antibodies to DcR3 Polypeptide, a TNFR Homolog


A baseball home run contest game is provided and consists of a pitching mechanism mounted to one end of an elongated platform, while a batting mechanism is mounted to other opposite end of the platform. The pitching mechanism is electrically operated at various speeds by a first player to propel a miniature baseball therefrom. The batting mechanism is electrically operated at various speeds by a second player to hit the baseball towards a miniature wall structure positioned remotely behind the pitching mechanism. The object of the game is to determine how many pitched baseballs can be hit over the miniature wall structure for home runs, out of ten pitched baseballs.

The instant invention relates generally to toy baseball games and more specifically it relates to a baseball home run contest game.
Numerous toy baseball games have been provided in the prior art that are adapted to include a baseball pitching mechanism for propelling a ball and a baseball batter mechanism for hitting the propelled ball. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,525,525 to Rideout; 4,078,800 to Goldfarb et al; and 4,179,123 to Tsukuda all are illustrative of such prior art. While these units may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they would not be as suitable for the purpose of the present invention as hereafter described.


The present invention provides a production method for a powdered core, including steps of preparing a mixture including a soft magnetic powder and a resin powder to obtain a mixture, compacting the mixture into a predetermined shape to obtain a green compact and heating the green compact, and wherein the resin powder has a median size of not more than 50 μm, and the resin powder amount is 0.01 to 5 vol %. The method reduces production cost, and decreases eddy-current loss We and hysteresis loss Wh, whereby a powdered core in which a durability is improved and the technical advantages are expanded can be provided.

Iron loss which is a very important factor for a core used in electric transformers is defined by eddy-current loss which is affected by a resistivity of the core, and hysteresis loss which is affected by strain in a soft magnetic powder, which is generated in a production process of the soft magnetic powder and subsequent processing steps. The iron loss W can be specifically defined by a sum of eddy-current loss We and hysteresis loss Wh as shown in the following formula (1). In the formula (1), expression in front of the plus sign is the eddy-current loss We and the expression after the plus sign is the hysteresis loss Wh. In the formula, "f" is frequency, "Bm" is exciting magnetic flux density, "ρ" is resistivity, "t" is material thickness, and "k1" and "k2" are coefficients.W=We+Wh=(k1Bm2t2/ρ)f2+k2Bm1.6f  (1)
As shown in the formula (1), while the hysteresis loss Wh is proportional to the frequency f, the eddy-current loss We is proportional to the square of the frequency f. Therefore, in order to decrease the iron loss W, specifically in a high frequency area, it is effective to decrease the eddy-current loss We. In order to decrease the eddy-current loss We, it is necessary to increase the resistivity ρ by limiting the eddy-current in a small area. In a powdered core obtained by using powders, for example, nonmagnetic resin can exist between iron powder particles, and the like. Therefore, the powdered core has essential characteristics in which the resistivity ρ is high and the eddy-current loss We is small. Conventionally, a production technique for a powdered core was proposed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. S60-235412 (pages 1 and 2) in which a mixture of a soft magnetic powder and a resin powder was used, and compacting and heating were performed. In the powdered core described in the above laid-open application, resin existed between soft magnetic powder particles. Therefore, electrical insulation between the soft magnetic powder particles was specifically assured, whereby the eddy-current loss We was decreased, and the soft magnetic powders were tightly bound, whereby strength of the powdered core was increased.
The powdered core mentioned above has been widely used because it is easy to produce. However, when the powdered core is used in a high frequency area, the insulation characteristics are not sufficient, whereby the resistivity ρ is decreased, resulting in increasing the eddy-current loss We. The increase in eddy-current loss We causes heat generation, whereby resin binding the soft magnetic powder is deteriorated. Therefore, the powdered core has a disadvantage in that sufficient durability cannot be obtained. On the other hand, when the resin amount is increased in order to increase the electrical insulation, the amount of the soft magnetic powder contained in the core (packing factor) is decreased, whereby the magnetic flux density is decreased. Therefore, it is important to increase the magnetic flux density by increasing the density of the powdered core. However, in this case, the powder must be compressed at a high pressure, and strain is generated in the soft magnetic powder in compacting. Therefore, the hysteresis loss Wh would increase and the iron loss W would increase. Specifically in a low frequency area, the eddy-current loss We is small, whereby effect of the hysteresis loss Wh for the iron loss W is large. Decrease in the hysteresis loss Wh is also important in order to decrease the iron loss W.
The powdered core is used for electromagnetic actuators such as solenoids and motors. High attraction power and high responsiveness are required in an electromagnetic valve used for a fuel injector in a diesel engine, and high magnetic flux density and small eddy-current loss We in a high frequency area are preferable in stator core materials using the powdered core. These solenoid cores are powdered cores which are obtained by compacting a mixture of iron powder and a resin powder. High density and favorable electrical insulation between iron powder particles are required in the solenoid cores so as to increase the magnetic flux density and to decrease the iron loss.
In various motors, small size and high efficiency are required and high magnetic flux density and small eddy-current loss We in a high frequency area are also preferable in a rotor and stator material using a powdered core. Required characteristics for a powdered core used in various electromagnetic actuators are essentially the same as those for a core used in an electric transformer.
In order to obtain a powdered core with high magnetic flux density, high density of the powdered core is necessary, and the compacting pressure must be not less than two times the pressure in producing ordinary sintered alloys. In a powdered core with a complicated shape or a thin wall, the durability of a compacting die assembly would be deteriorated. In a powdered core having a shape similar to a solenoid core, the powdered core compacted to a simple cylindrical or columnar shape is machine finished into a predetermined shape and dimension. Alternately, a powdered core compacted to a shape close to a product shape is machine finished at portions in which dimension accuracy is specifically required. Therefore, the powdered core is required to have excellent machinability, whereby wear of cutting tool can be small and breakage and chipping of the material in machining can be prevented.
A magnetic flux density of the powdered core depends on material density thereof, whereby atomized iron powder in which relatively high density can be obtained is used as an iron power. In a surface of the iron powder, a phosphate compound is coated in order to decrease an iron loss of the powdered core. As resin powders mixed with the iron powder, it is proposed to use phenol, polyamide, epoxy, polyimide or polyphenylene sulfide. For example, Japanese Laid-open Patent No. 2002-246219 (summary) discloses a powdered core obtained by adding a resin selected from polyphenylene sulfide, thermosetting polyimide, and the like at 0.15 to 1 mass % to atomized iron powders coated with phosphate compound. Japanese Patent Publication No. 421944 (section 36) discloses a powdered core obtained by adding a thermosetting polyimide resin at 2 mass % to atomized iron powders coated with phosphate compound.
According to these findings, in order to simultaneously decrease the eddy-current loss We and the hysteresis loss Wh, various methods for decreasing the eddy-current loss We by assuring electrical insulation between the soft magnetic powder particles by preliminarily coating insulation film over the surface of the soft magnetic powders are disclosed, for example, Japanese Laid-open Patent No. H9-102409 (pages 6 and 7). In a technique described in the above laid-open disclosure, a process in which the insulation film is coated on the surface of the soft magnetic powder is essential, thereby having a disadvantage of having high production cost. Recently, it has been requested to develop the production method for a powdered core in which low production cost can be realized, the eddy-current loss We and the hysteresis loss Wh are decreased, and durability of the powdered core can be improved.
In the solenoid core made of the above-mentioned powdered core, higher magnetic flux density and smaller iron loss are required. Furthermore, when the solenoid core is machined (including drilling) for shaping and assuring the dimension accuracy thereof, it is required to have enough strength to withstand chucking and without breakage, peeling, and chipping in the machining process.
The present invention has been made to essentially realize low production cost without performing special processes including coating of insulation film. A object of the present invention is to provide a production method for a powdered core, in which electrical insulation is increased by uniformly disposing a resin between soft magnetic powder particles, whereby the eddy-current loss We in a high frequency area and heat generation caused by the We are decreased, thereby improving the durability of the powdered core and improving performance of products using the powdered core. Another object of the present invention is to provide a production method for a powdered core, in which magnetic flux density is sufficiently assured by thinly disposing the resin between the soft magnetic powder particles, whereby the hysteresis loss Wh and heat generation caused by the Wh are decreased, thereby further improving the durability of the powdered core and improving performance of products using the powdered core. In the case of coating the insulation film over the surface of the soft magnetic powder in the present invention, there is an additional object that the electrical insulation is assured at higher levels and the magnetic flux density is further increased by decreasing the resin amount used, whereby the durability of the powdered core is further improved.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A recombinant herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) has been constructed that carries a deletion of one of the two viral γ1 34.5 genes and other immediate early genes, which render the virus able to selectively replicate in cancer cells but not efficiently replicate in normal cells, and in which specific mutations have been introduced to enable the virus to spread among cancer cells by virus-induced fusion. Specifically, syncytial mutations have been introduced in the genes coding for glycoprotein B and glycoprotein K of the virus, enabling high replication and spread of the virus in cancer cells in the presence of substantially lower amounts of γ1 34.5 protein, which is required for optimum infectious virus produced and virus-induced cell fusion. These altered viruses or the isolated bacterial chromosomes could be used to treat various cancers including breast, liver, colon, and other tissues.

Recent advances in molecular virology have enabled investigators to construct viruses that selectively destroy cancer cells (oncolytic virotherapy). Genetically engineered viruses belonging to different viral families have been evaluated for their potential as therapeutic agents in the treatment of malignant tumors. Efficient replication, cell lysis, and spread of herpes simplex viruses (HSV), and their natural broad host range make them attractive candidates as oncolytic viral agents. Furthermore, the recent availability of cloned HSV genomes into bacterial artificial chromosome vectors greatly facilitates the rapid construction of new recombinant viruses carrying multiple transgenes of interest (Jeyaretna and Kuroda, 2007. Tumor treatment with oncolytic HSV has been shown to induce anti-tumor immune responses (Li et al., 2007; Miller and Fraser, 2003; Nakamori et al., 2004; Thomas and Fraser, 2003; Todo et al., 1999). Although the majority of people are seropositive for HSV-1, oncolytic virotherapy with HSV is not limited by pre-existing anti-HSV immunity (Hoffmann, Bayer, and Wildner, 2007; Kemeny et al., 2006), and in at least one example, preexisting immunity to HSV-1 enhanced anti-tumor immune responses (Miller and Fraser, 2000).
Recently, the NV1020 oncolytic herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) was shown to have significant promise for the treatment of many different types of tumors in preclinical studies in experimental animals as well as in human clinical trials (Cozzi et al., 2002). The main advantage of this virus over other HSV oncolytic viruses is that it expresses one of the two original γ134.5 genes allowing the virus to replicate more efficiently, while safety is not compromised. The γ134.5 gene is a major neurovirulence gene and an inhibitor of cellular apoptosis. Deletion of this gene drastically attenuates the virus and restricts viral growth to cancer cells because of their lack of intact apoptotic mechanisms. Preclinical studies in mice as well as phase I/II human trials have revealed that oncolytic HSV-1 viruses having both γ134.5 genes deleted did not spread efficiently within tumors (Kramm et al., 1997). In contrast, deletion of one of the two γ134.5 genes drastically attenuated the virus, while allowing improved virus replication and spread in tumor cells (Advani et al., 1999; Meignier, Longnecker, and Roizman, 1988; Meignier et al., 1990). The HSV-1 virus, NV1020, was originally constructed for vaccine purposes and contained HSV-2 viral sequences coding for glycoproteins gD, gG, gI and gE to facilitate production of anti-HSV-2 immune responses, as well as other genetic alternations (Meignier, Longnecker, and Roizman, 1988). A fusogenic oncolytic HSV-1 Synco-2D was reported to elicit anti-tumor immune responses when studied in a similar animal model of mammary carcinoma utilizing 4T1 cells (Nakamori et al., 2004). A strong T-cell response was reported also by an HSV-2 derivative oncolytic virus FusOn-H2 effectively treating primary and metastatic mammary tumors in vivo (Li et al., 2007). A number of different HSV-1 recombinant viruses have been constructed and evaluated for their ability to treat a variety of different cancers in animal models, as well as in human phase I/II clinical trials (Todo, 2002; Hu and Coffin, 2003; Argnani et al., 2005; Shen and Nemunaitis, 2006). The most important modification, which is common to all constructed HSV-1 viruses is the modification/deletion of the γ1 34.5 gene, based on the knowledge that γ1 34.5 is an important determinant of neurovirulence and an inhibitor of cellular apoptosis.
Although γ1 34.5 is non-essential for virus replication, deletion of both copies of the γ1 34.5 genes causes substantial reduction in infectious virus production, because the γ1 34.5 protein is a structural component of the virion particle and is involved in intracellular glycoprotein transport and cell-surface expression requiring a minimum amount of the protein to be expressed for optimum infectious virus production (Andreansky et al., 1997; Kramm et al., 1997; Todo et al., 2001). In a comparison of the previously constructed R3616 and R7020 that have either both or one of the two γ1 34.5 deleted, respectively, R7020 replicated to much higher levels compared to the double-deletion mutant R3616 both in vitro and in vivo (Advani et al., 1999). Furthermore, R7020 replicated preferentially in neoplastic cells and exhibited a remarkable safety profile in extensive rodent and primate studies as well as in human vaccine trials (Meignier et al., 1988; Meignier et al., 1990). R7020 is being currently evaluated in human clinical trials under the name NV1020. Recently, it was shown that NV1020 could be safely administered into the hepatic artery without significant effects on normal liver function in a phase I, open-label, dose-escalating study with subjects having metastatic colorectal carcinoma to the liver (Kemeny et al., 2006). The G207 virus carries a double-deletion of the γ1 34.5 gene, as well as a deletion of the UL39 gene coding for the large subunit of the ribonucleotide reductase. (See U.S. Pat. No. 5,585,096). G207 has been extensively studied in animal models and human phase I/II trials. Direct comparison between G207 and NV1020 revealed that NV1020 replicated more efficiently than G207 and exhibited higher oncolytic effectiveness at lower viral doses (McAuliffe et al., 2000; Cozzi et al., 2001; Bennett et al., 2002). Furthermore, G207 was noted to be not only attenuated for pathogenicity, but also for tumor cell killing capability (McAuliffe et al., 2000; Cozzi et al., 2001; Bennett et al., 2002).
HSV can be transmitted from cell-to-cell by causing limited amounts of virus-induced cell fusion, thus avoiding the extracellular environment. Specific mutations within viral glycoproteins are known to greatly enhance virus-induced cell fusion. Specifically, syncytial mutations that cause extensive virus-induced cell fusion can arise in at least two of the glycoprotein genes: the UL27gene, encoding glycoprotein B (gB) (Bzik et al., 1984a; Bzik et al., 1984b; Pellett et al., 1985; Manservigi, Spear, and Buchan, 1977), and the UL53 gene, coding for glycoprotein K (gK) (Bond and Person, 1984; Debroy, Pederson, and Person, 1985). Glycoprotein gK has been shown to function as a heterodimer with the UL20 viral protein and the UL20/gK heterodimer is necessary for virus-induced cell fusion (Foster et al., 2004; Melancon et al., 2007).
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, excluding cancers of the skin, accounting for nearly 1 in 3 cancers diagnosed in US women. In western countries breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. A new and promising strategy for cancer therapy is the use of modified viruses that have been engineered to selectively replicate within cancer cells (oncolytic virotherapy). A number of viruses have been explored as tumor-selective replicating vectors, including adenovirus, herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1), vaccinia virus, reovirus, Newcastle disease virus, vesicular stomatitis virus, measles virus, poliovirus and West Nile virus. Multiple murine tumor models have been used as preclinical settings for therapeutic purposes. The 4T1 mammary carcinoma model has several distinct advantages to be used as such model. It is regarded as a highly physiological, clinically-relevant mouse model that closely resembles stage 1V human breast cancer in its properties (Aslakson and Miller, 1992). 4T1 cells are considered to be very weakly immunogenic (relative antigenic strength is less than 0.01 with 9.9 being the most immunogenic), and they spontaneously metastasize to distal parts of the body (Aslakson and Miller, 1992; Pulaski and Ostrand-Rosenberg, 1998).
U.S. Pat. No. 5,328,688 discloses a recombinant herpes simplex virus vaccine based on the making the virus avirulent by prevention of expression of the γ1 34.5 gene.
International Publication No. WO 98/04726 discloses a herpes simplex virus strain that is disabled by inactivating both ICP34.5 and ICP27 genes for use as a gene delivery vector.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2002/0019362 discloses treatment of cancers with a herpes simplex virus that has an alteration in the γ1 34.5 gene.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,846,670 discloses a genetically engineered herpes virus vector for treatment of cardiovascular disease that is modified by lacking a γ1 34.5 gene and operably comprises a heterologous nucleic acid.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0031383 discloses a recombinant herpes simplex virus expressing only a single γ1 34.5 gene and an expressible cytokine-encoding DNA.

Synthetic herpes simplex viruses type-1 for treatment of cancers

Board of Supervisors of Lousiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College


A method for recovering from an error in a multi-core storage-system component is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method includes detecting an error in a first core of a multi-core component. The method determines whether the error was one of (1) detected by the first core; and (2) detected by a core other than the first core. In the event the error was detected by the first core and the error is recoverable, the first core recovers from the error without substantially impacting operation of other cores in the multi-core component. In the event the error was detected by a core other than the first core and the error is recoverable, a core other than the first core recovers from the error without substantially impacting operation of other cores in the multi-core component. A corresponding apparatus and computer program product are also disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to apparatus and methods for recovering from errors in multi-core storage-system components.
2. Background of the Invention
In many storage systems, particularly storage system that are used for critical databases, file sharing on networks, business applications, or the like, ensuring high availability is critical. For this reason, redundancy is built into many storage systems to ensure that if one or more hardware components fail, other hardware components are available to pick up the workload of the failed components and provide continuous availability. For example, the IBM DS8000® enterprise storage system includes multiple servers to ensure that if one server fails, the other server remains functional to enable I/O to continue between hosts and storage devices. This built-in redundancy helps to reduce the impact that component failures have on organizational operations.
In such storage systems, performance is also critical due to the high workloads. In order to increase performance, multiple cores may be built into various components of the storage systems. For example, the IBM DS8000® enterprise storage system may utilize host adapters and device adapters to communicate with host devices (e.g., open system and/or mainframe servers) and storage devices (e.g., disk drives and solid state drives) respectively. The processors of these host adapters and device adapters may include multiple cores to improve performance (e.g., increase throughput).
Unfortunately, such multi-core storage-system components may experience errors from time to time. Such errors may be manifest as either hardware or software errors. When such errors occur, the solution is typically to reset or restart the entire multi-core component, such as by performing a warmstart. Such a reset or restart temporarily removes the entire multi-core component (e.g., adapter) from service, thereby undesirably interrupting operations. If such errors persist, the interruptions to operations may become more frequent and severe.
In view of the foregoing, what are needed are apparatus and methods to more efficiently recover from errors in multi-core storage-system components. Ideally, such apparatus and methods will minimize the availability and performance impacts on the multi-core components.

Reduced-impact error recovery in multi-core storage-system components

International Business Machines Corporation


Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate provisioning cell information to mobile devices via provisioning mechanisms. The cell information relates to cell characteristics within a wireless communication network. The cell information can be stored on the mobile devices and employed to detect the cell characteristics and adjust the handoff behavior based at least in part on characteristics of signals received from one or more base stations.

I. Field
The following description relates generally to wireless communications, and more particularly to enabling mobile devices to store provisioned deployment information to facilitate selection of femtocells.
II. Background
Wireless communication systems are widely deployed to provide various types of communication content such as voice and data, Typical wireless communication systems may be multiple-access systems capable of supporting communication with multiple users by sharing available system resources (e.g., bandwidth, transmit power, . . . ). Examples of such multiple-access systems may include code division multiple access (CDMA) systems, time division multiple access (TDMA) systems, frequency division multiple access (FDMA) systems, orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) systems, and the like. Additionally, the systems can conform to specifications such as third generation partnership project (3GPP), 3GPP2, 3GPP long-term evolution (LTE), LTE Advanced (LTE-A), etc.
As the demand for high-rate and multimedia data services rapidly grows, there has been an effort toward implementation of efficient and robust communication systems with enhanced performance. For example, in recent years, users have started to replace fixed line communications with mobile communications and have increasingly demanded great voice quality, reliable service, and low prices.
In addition to mobile telephone networks currently in place, a new class of small base stations has emerged, which can be installed in the home of a user and provide indoor wireless coverage to mobile units using existing broadband Internet connections. Such personal miniature base stations are generally known as access point base stations, or, alternatively, Home Node B (HNB) or Femto cells. Typically, such miniature base stations are connected to the Internet and the network of a mobile operator via a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) router, cable modem, or the like.
Wireless communication systems can be configured to include a series of wireless access points, which can provide coverage for respective locations within the system. Such a network structure is generally referred to as a cellular network structure, and access points and/or the locations they respectively serve in the network are generally referred to as cells. The networks can include femtocells as well as macrocells that cover larger areas. Because the strength of a signal typically decreases as the distance over which it is communicated increases, a network user can, under various circumstances, exchange substantially strong signals with cells located physically close to the user as compared to cells that are located farther away from the user. However, in the case of femtocells, a strong signal can be temporary due to mobility of a mobile device and the relatively smaller coverage area of femtocells. For instance, a high-mobility network user can quickly enter and exit a femtocell coverage area. Unnecessary battery and/or radio resources can be utilized in acquisition of the femtocell since it is unknown that the strong signal originates from a femtocell.

Provisioning femtocell deployment information


Three-dimensional metal dielectric structures are disclosed with chiral symmetry that elicit surface plasmons. The plasmons may have propagational circular polarization wherein the frequency of such propagating plasmons may be tuned by design to couple with the electronic transitions or fundamental vibrations, including phonons, of a molecular species. The plasmon-molecule coupling, combined with the propagational polarization afforded by the chiral structure may be further exploited to mediate the chemical transformations involving molecules with spatial chirality and/or to detect molecules with spatial chirality.

Plasmons are understood to be a quantum of plasma oscillation. Plasmons may be classically described as an oscillation of a free electron density against a fixed positive ion in a metal. Electrons may move in one direction (uncovering positive ions) in the presence of an external electric field until they cancel the field inside the metal. In the absence of the electric field the electrons may shift and be repelled by one another and attracted to the positive ions. The electrons may then oscillate back and forth at the plasma frequency until energy may be lost in some kind of resistance or damping. Plasmons are the quantization of this type of oscillation.
Surface plasmons, which may also be known as surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs), are surface electromagnetic waves that propagate in a direction parallel to a metal/dielectric or metal/vacuum interface. As the wave is on the boundary of the metal and external medium (air or water for example), these oscillations may be very sensitive to any change of this boundary, such as the adsorption of molecules to the metal interface.

Chiral plasmonic structures for mediating chemical transformation and detection of molecules with spatial chirality