Polyester polyols containing the following recurring unit derived from .beta.-methyl-.delta.-valerolactone EQU (OCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH(CH.sub.3)CH.sub.2 CO). used to be low in stability. It has been discovered that the stability of the polyester polyols of this type can be improved by reducing the acid value to down 0.25 or lower, and that this can be effected by heat treatment under reduced pressure to remove low-boiling compounds and/or by addition of an organic carbodiimide.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to polymers containing the following recurring unit derived from .beta.-methyl-.delta.-valerolactone (OCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH(CH.sub.3)CH.sub.2 CO), (hereinafter referred to as PMVL or .beta.-methyl-.delta.-valerolactone-based polymers in some cases) with improved thermal stability. Polymers containing the above recurring unit are liquid polyesters in which substantially all the terminal groups are hydroxyl groups, and are hence easy to handle and useful as a segment to impart crystalline polymers with amorphous characteristics. In addition, the polyester diols prepared from .beta.-methyl-.delta.-valerolactone by using a diamine or diol as initiator are useful as soft segment in polyurethanes, giving higher hydrolytic and fungal resistances compared with conventional polyester-based polyurethanes (U.S. Pat. No. 4,704,445).
2. Description of the Prior Art
A method is known in which a polyester glycol containing the recurring unit derived from .delta.-valerolactone is prepared by ring opening polymerization of .delta.-valerolactone using a glycol as initiator (Japanese Patent Kokai No. 550,256/1985).
It is also known that polymers prepared by ring opening polymerization of lactones undergo depolymerization from the terminals upon heating This decomposition temperature is highly dependent on the type of lactone, being, for example as high as 250.degree. C. for poly-.epsilon.-caprolactone (offering no serious problem in practical use in this case).
However, as described in Japanese Patent Kokai No. 248,727/1985, depolymerization upon heating is likely to occur with polyester glycols containing the recurring unit derived from .delta.-valerolactone, liberating .delta.-valerolactone monomer. Therefore the troubles of monomer bleeding and resultant disagreeable odor are encountered when this type of glycol is used as plasticizer for polyvinyl chloride and other resins. Furthermore, when this type of polyester glycol is allowed to react with an isocyanate under molten conditions for the manufacture of a polyurethane, depolymerization takes place to liberate .delta.-valerolactone monomer, with the result that a polymer with a sufficiently high viscosity cannot be achieved because of the reduction in molecular weight.
In order to make the best use of the characteristic features of polymers containing the recurring unit derived from .beta.-methyl-.delta.-valerolactone, such as high resistance to hydrolysis, their thermal resistance must be enhanced to minimize the monomer liberation, as otherwise their uses will remain very limited.
One excellent feature of polymers containing the recurring unit derived from .beta.-methyl-.delta.-valerolactone is the high resistance to hydrolysis. However, this characteristic is degraded when the acid value of these polymers is high. In addition, a high acid value also results in lowered storage stability of these polymers (PMVL) and fails to give, when used as a material for the manufacture of polyurethanes, polymers of high polymerization degree.
Strict control of polymerization reaction and aftertreatment can be a means for producing PMVL of low acid value. However, our studies have revealed that polymers of high acid value are often obtained even under such a strict control.
Japanese Patent Kokai No. 55,026 /1985 discloses a process for producing a polyester glycol by ring opening polymerization of .beta.-methyl-.delta.-valerolactone using a glycol as initiator, and a method of purifying the polyester glycol thus obtained. This purification method is "a process which comprises dissolving the polyester glycol obtained in chloroform, washing the chloroform solution with distilled water several times, and heating the washed solution in a rotary evaporator under reduced pressure to remove chloroform, water, monomer and other by-products". This method is effective in lowering the acid value of polyester glycol, but down to about 0.27 at the lowest. Our studies on this method have also revealed that a polyester glycol of higher acid value is likely to result from slight changes in the washing conditions or when the operation is performed on a larger scale.
Another method has been disclosed for purifying .delta.-valerolactone-based polyester polyols (Japanese Patent Kokai No. 248,727/1985). This is "a process which comprises dissolving the polymer obtained in an organic solvent substantially immiscible with water (e.g., toluene), bringing the solution into contact with an alkaline aqueous solution, and removing the organic solvent from the treated solution". This method is intended for the removal of remaining monomer, but treatment with an alkaline solution could also lead to a reduction in acid value. Actually, however, the acid value of treated polyester polyol is about 0.4 at the lowest.
Polyester polyols with such high acid values as mentioned above have lower utility value, but no method is known to solve this problem associated with the polymers containing the recurring unit derived from .beta.-methyl-.delta.-valerolactone.


A circular funnel apparatus for industrial use with a closeable lid able to set securely on top of a standard 55 gallon drum. This apparatus consists of four different assembled pieces:. 1. A funnel with a supporting circular frame body with a cylindrical extruded drain in the bottom of the funnel, able to extend down into a standard bung hole of a 55 gallon drum. PA0 2. A hinged lid fastened to the funnel frame body capable of closing off the funnel by closing the lid or by lifting and rotating the lid 165 degrees opens the funnel into which paint materials can be poured. PA0 3. Fastened to the underside of the lid (attached 90 degrees or perpendicular to the lid) is a cylindrical rod. With the lid in the closed position, the rod is exactly centered over the cylindrical drain in the bottom of the funnel. PA0 4. Fastened to the end of the cylindrical rod, opposite the end which is attached to the lid, is a circular disk that serves as a plug to the cylindrical drain in the bottom of the funnel. With the lid in the closed position, the circular disk fits down into the circular drain of the funnel providing a semi-sealed drain.

1. Technical Field
This invention is intended for use with 55 gallon drums and other storage devices located in repair garages, paint shops, and some manufacturing plants. This apparatus sits on top of any standard 55 gallon drum. The 55 gallon drum must have a top lid with a standard bung hole located in the lid.
Currently paints, paint removers, scrap paint, and other deleterious materials are dispensed into storage 55 gallon drums by means of various funnels and other liquid capturing devices or no device at all. Splattering of materials and fumes are most often discharged into work areas by overflowing of such materials and releasing of fumes into the atmosphere.
2. Background Art
Prior art pertaining to funnels and closure structures are U.S. Pat. Nos. 113,786; 1,083,107; 3,036,746; 4,022,352; 4,338,983; 4,457,458; 4,703,867; 4,848,600; U.K. patent no. GB 2,041,891A; and international patent publication no. WO82/00278.

Industrial funnel apparatus with operable lid for use with 55 gallon drums


An apparatus for monitoring air leakage into a fuel supply system for an internal combustion engine is provided. This system comprises a pressure sensor for detecting a pressure level in a fuel supply passage of the fuel supply system which communicates between a fuel tank and an intake passage of the engine and providing a signal indicative thereof, an air leakage control valve for leaking ambient air into the fuel supply passage at a preselected rate, and an air leakage monitoring unit for detecting a first pressure in the fuel supply system when the air leakage control valve is closed to restrict the leakage of the ambient air and a second pressure when the air leakage control valve is open to leak the ambient air into the fuel supply passage, the air leakage monitoring unit providing an alarm signal indicating that there is a preselected amount of air leakage in the fuel supply system based on a difference between the first and second pressures.

1. Field of The Invention
The present invention relates generality to an apparatus for monitoring air leakage into a fuel supply system for an internal combustion engine. More particularly, the invention is directed to a purging operation failure detection system that operates so as detect a failure of an air-fuel mixture control system caused by variation in pressure in a fuel supply system resulting from air leakage thereinto.
2. Description of The Prior Art
Japanese Utility Model First Publication No. 2-26754 discloses a system which detects a negative pressure level in a purge passage communicating between a canister connected to a fuel tank and an intake passage of an engine, and determines that a failure in a purging operation (i.e., air leakage into a fuel supply system) occurs when the negative pressure level in the purge passage is lower than that in the intake passage.
In the prior art system, the pressure in the intake passage tends to vary greatly directly following a change engine speed. The variation in pressure in the purge passage due to the pressure variation in the intake passage is, however, delayed because of the large volume of the fuel tank, with the result being that the system mistakenly determines that a failure occurs in the purging operation.
For avoiding the above drawback, a system may be proposed which blocks fluid communication between the canister and an inlet port of the intake passage through the purge passage, and determines that a failure has occurred in the purging operation caused by an air leakage into a fuel supply system when a reduction rate of negative pressure in the fuel supply system exceeds a threshold level.
The above system, however, raises the following drawback, the volume of a line of the fuel supply system in which pressure is to be measured varies dependent upon the amount of fuel remaining in the fuel tank, a variation rate of the pressure in the fuel supply system may represent different values even if the amount of air leaking into the fuel supply system is constant. In order to avoid this drawback, the pressure variation rate may be compensated based on the amount of the remaining fuel detected by a fuel level sensor. It is, however, difficult to determine the volume of the fuel supply system in which pressure is measured because the fuel tank has a complex shape. Additionally, the fuel level sensor must be designed to have an explosion-proof construction, resulting in the total costs of the system being increased.

Apparatus for monitoring air leakage into fuel supply system for internal combustion engine


A deep water exercise belt, which supports the user in deep water in an upright, running position so as to allow vigorous exercise without placing body weight on the legs, involves a waist encircling belt of flexible buoyant material of uniform thickness which is shaped to provide greater flotation at the back of the user. Shaping includes an increased width of the belt on the back while forming the bottom of the belt to avoid hip motion of the user. The belt may be constructed of a chemically cross-linked polyethylene having an extremely fine closed-cell structure. The interior surface of the belt is smoothed so as to provide a suction effect against the body, while the exterior surface may be roughly textured to provide additional resistance to movement through water. A separate band of elasticized material is intertwined through the buoyant belt so as to buckle at the front of the user and hold the exercise belt in close contact with the waist. Holes may be formed through the exercise belt across the back portion and below the band to permit any entrapped water or air to escape therethrough.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention involves an exercise device for use in water, and, more particularly, a flotation belt, for use in deep water, which permits vigorous exercise in an upright, running position without placing body weight on the legs.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There is recognized benefit in exercising in water, in that one may condition the cardiovascular system while allowing time for injury recovery This is particularly true where an injury involves weight-bearing joints. Similarly, water training permits cardiovascular development without the pounding associated with land training
Prior attempts to maintain the wearer in an upright, or running, position in deep water has included a flotation vest. However, such vests constrict breathing, and, since they ride upward on the body of the user, tend to irritate the skin, particularly under the arms. In order to alleviate the riding up effect of flotation vests, some have been provided with a crotch strap, which provides an additional location for skin irritation.
An exercise device for use in a tank containing water is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,551,108 issued to Ernie Bass. This invention involves a buoyant vest in combination with a tank of water where security lines are connected adjacent to shoulder portions and/or waist portions of the vest. The security lines are attached to anchoring loops located on the upper edge of the tank so that the adjustable security lines provide supplemental buoyancy to that provided by the vest. The combination of a flotation vest, with its inherent disadvantages, and multiple lines attached between the user and a special tank, presents an undesirably complex and costly apparatus for water exercise. Furthermore, with such apparatus, a user is restricted to a specific location within the tank for his exercise activity.
What is needed is an exercise device for use in deep water which permits vigorous exercise in an upright, running position without placing body weight on the legs, and overcomes the disadvantages present in current floatation vests and associated apparatus.


A modular service station for servicing at least one inkjet printhead of an inkjet printing system, the service station comprising: a frame with mounted thereon at least one capping element and at least one wiping element, a means for horizontal movement of the at least one inkjet printhead between a printing position and a servicing position, the means for horizontal movement configured to enable a wiping process, a means for vertical movement of the at least one inkjet printhead, the means for vertical movement configured to enable capping, unclogging or purging processes in respect to the at least one inkjet printhead, and a waste ink tank in hermetic communication with the at least one capping element. A method of servicing an inkjet printhead of an inkjet printing system is also disclosed.

Printers known from the prior art usually have service stations which are formed as an integral part of the printer equipment and are not suitable for easy replacement in case of need. They also cannot be customized for specific servicing operation. Moreover, even if they could be purchased separately, they would not be proprietary and could cause revealing of some confidential technical information, which is not acceptable.
Accordingly, some prior art solutions made attempts to improve the service station adaptability and replaceability, enabling the use of the service station in different printer applications.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,455,609 discloses an improved modular service station design wherein a printhead-servicing sled is vertically driven to effect execution of servicing tasks. To save time and space, both the printhead and the servicing mechanism such as the wipers and the caps are moved so as to place them in proper relative positions for execution of a task. Since the servicing of the printhead is performed by vertical movement of both the printhead and the servicing mechanism, there is a risk that the repeated activation of the nozzles, either to remove the clogs or to eliminate possible obstructions in the fluidic circuit, will cause the ejection of some ink, which produces unwanted dots or stains onto the printing medium. Moreover, said structure is still rather complex, since requires to ensure driving of both the printhead and the servicing mechanism, as well as proper alignment thereof, and requires more time for assembling, higher manufacturing and design costs, and thus leads to higher final purchase price.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,174,041 discloses a modular printhead service station with self-contained motorized components, wherein an inkjet printer service carriage moves between a first position in which the carriage is remote from the printhead cartridges to be serviced and a second position in which the service carriage abuts the printhead carriage to service the printheads and includes two independent motorized actuators, the first of which linearly moves the service carriage in a horizontal x-axis direction and the second of which arcuately moves the carriage in a vertical z-axis plane perpendicular to the x-axis direction. Since only the service carriage is movable with respect to the printhead, there is a risk that the repeated activation of the nozzles, either to remove the clogs or to eliminate possible obstructions in the fluidic circuit, will cause the ejection of some ink, which produces unwanted dots or stains onto the printing medium. Moreover, the disclosed structure is rather complex to manufacture, since it requires two independent motorized actuators moving the service carriage in the linear horizontal direction and in the vertical arcuate plane, increasing the complexity of the required parts and associated manufacturing costs.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and to provide a simple, compact, efficient, customizable and cost-effective modular service station for servicing an inkjet printhead of an inkjet printing system, which enables to avoid unwanted dots or stains onto the printing medium during the servicing operation, is capable to efficiently perform wiping, purging and capping of the printhead, and can fit to any length of the printhead. Another object of the invention is to provide a respective method of servicing an inkjet printhead of an inkjet printing system, which ensures achievement of the above-mentioned advantageous effects.

Modular service station and a method of servicing an inkjet printhead of an inkjet printing system


Improvements to an integrated circuit wafer rinsing and washing machine which include a streamlined housing for low turbulence air flow, improved rear maintenance capability, improved wafer carriers, foot operated switches and improved rotating part fastening means.

This invention relates to an improved apparatus that rinses chemicals from semiconductor wafers and then dries the wafers using an inert heated gas. The apparatus utilizes a spin process for both the rinse and dry cycles.
The process of manufacturing integrated circuit (IC) chips consists of coating, etching and cleaning semiconductor wafers which later in the process are carefully cut into small chips or die. One of the critical steps in this process is the cleaning process which follows chemical etching. The cleaning process includes loading the wafers into a wafer carrier, placing the wafer carrier in a spin rinser/dryer, rinsing the wafers in deionized (DI) water while spinning, and drying the wafers by passing an inert heated gas over the wafers while still spinning. The cleanliness of the water can be monitored during the rinse cycle by a resistivity measuring means that interlocks the rinser/dryer so that it does not go into a dry cycle until the water reaches a predetermined resistivity, indicating a proper water cleanliness. The wafer manufacturing and cleaning processes are generally carried out in cleanrooms which often exceed the cleanliness requirements of a hospital operating room. This super cleanliness insures that wafers do not become contaminated by particulate matter. Consequently, great emphasis is placed on using dust free materials and maintaining a dust free environment. Careful attention is paid to ventilation systems in order to minimize contaminating this clean environment.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,300,581 issued Nov. 17, 1981 discloses an automatic centrifugal wafer processor. The processor features include an inclined stainless steel tub, an automatic rinse termination timer, a liquid conductivity monitoring means, a wafer support device, a drive motor and a glass viewing window in the front opening door. This type of commercially available processor, although adequate for the applicant's needs is characterized by a number of problems namely:
1. The shape of the outer front housing has sharp bends that create turbulence in a down flow air ventilation system typical in a cleanroom. Turbulent air in a cleanroom is undesirable since it stirs up any dust that may be present.
2. The outer housing does not provide an easy access to interior controls, valves, motor, and bearings for maintenance.
3. The outer housing shape does not lend itself to placing the front of the processor in a cleanroom and the back of the unit behind a walled corridor, or plenum (maintenance area), not necessarily a clean area.
4. Maintenance on the apparatus is difficult by virtue of the housing construction and the rotating tub being mounted on four shock mounts.
5. Although not shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,300,581, the plumbing fixtures, including nitrogen supply, water supply, and water drain piping all are supported from the back of the machine and have to be dismantled prior to performing any maintenance on the machine internal devices.
6. One hand must be free in order to open the door or start the machine by actuating the push button. This restricts the operator from carrying more than one wafer support carrier unless one of the carriers is set down.
7. The wafer support device (that holds the wafers in their respective slots in the carrier), consists of a plastic coated bent steel rod, that attaches to a support ring on the front and a rotor on the back. If the plastic coating is damaged, the entire rotor, support ring, etc. has to be removed in order to undo the bent steel rod fastener at the back of the rotor and then replace the damaged plastic coating.
8. The single alarm point resistivity monitor can give a false high reading, indicating clean water in the case when there is no water surrounding the probe, i.e., the monitor probe is in air.
9. The bowl drain has a square cross-section causing difficult cleaning of the square edges during maintenance periods.
10. Although not specifically shown or stated in the prior art figures, the drive motors have typically been a brush type D.C. motor since the required variable speeds are most easily accomplished by D.C. motors. One of the problems created by theses D.C. motors is generation of carbon dust as the brushes wear on the commutator. Carbon dust in the clean area creates a contamination hazard for the process.
11. A subsequent later version of the wafer processor contains a rotor quick disconnect device that has failed. This device disconnected the rotor from an in-line motor shaft by means of an expansion ring that contracted and expanded within the motor shaft. A failure of the disconnect device during operation causes internal damage to the carousel and stainless steel bowl.
It is the purpose of this invention to correct the problems identified above by an apparatus that has a unique housing, improved maintenance accessibility to internal parts from a non-cleanroom plenum, improved wafer carrier holders (carousels), foot-operated switches for the door, a means for monitoring water cleanliness that identifies a lack of water, and an improved quick disconnect rotor means.


Systems and methods for managing storage device commands are provided. A first storage device command is received. A first priority associated with the first storage device command is identified. A plurality of storage device commands that was received before the first storage device command is identified. Each of the plurality of storage device commands is stored in a buffer and organized in a sequence. A determination is made as to whether the first priority associated with the first storage device command is greater than a second priority associated with a second storage device command of the plurality of storage device commands. The first storage device command is added to the buffer at a first position in the sequence that is earlier than a second position of the second storage device command in response to determining the first priority is greater than the second priority.

The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the inventors hereof, to the extent the work is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, is neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.
Commands to write/read data to/from solid state storage devices (e.g., NAND flash storage devices) are typically handled in the same order as they are received. Typically, separate command queues are in place to store high priority commands. These separate queues enable high priority commands to be assigned to a memory command line before other commands are assigned. However, there is no mechanism in place to prioritize the high priority commands over other commands that are pending in the memory command line.

Methods and apparatus for managing storage device commands


Apparatus for producing tufted textile goods employs a plurality of hollow needles which serve as backing openers, the backing openers being carried on a widthwise extending member which is reciprocated in a vertical direction to cause the backing openers to penetrate a backing. Yarn is transported pneumatically through the backing openers and implanted into the backing as yarn turfts, and backing being shifted in the transverse direction by an amount corresponding to the spacing between adjacent backing openers in order to implant a transverse row of tufts. A knife blade is associated with each backing opener and positioned on the opposite side of the backing so as to engage the flat angled surface of the backing opener which forms its pointed tip. The angled surface is formed with an upwardly and inwardly extending slot which serves to capture and center yarn exiting the opening in the angle surface, and which provides a sharp edge which cooperates with the blade for cutting the yarn. The cutting mechanism results in little or no wasted yarn.

This invention relates generally to apparatus for producing tufted textile goods such as carpet, upholstery, and the like, and more particularly to improved tufting apparatus capable of producing patterned tufted goods.
U. S. Pat. No. 4,549,496 which issued October 29, 1985, to Kile discloses highly advantageous tufting apparatus for producing patterned tufted goods using yarns of different colors or different textures. This apparatus is capable of placing yarn into a backing to create patterns and designs which previously were generally available only from a weaving loom or by using printing techniques. The patented apparatus employs multiple heads spaced across the width of a backing material. Each head comprises a reciprocating backing opener tube for penetrating the backing and for implanting yarn tufts in the backing by feeding yarn through the tube pneumatically. The backing opener is connected to a yarn exchanger into which a plurality of yarns of different colors, for example, are supplied, and a mechanism is included which enables the selection of one or more of the yarns for implantation into the backing for each penetration by the backing opener. The multiple heads are stepped in synchronism across the backing for a distance corresponding to the spacing between the heads in order to implant a transverse row of yarn tufts. The backing is then advanced to the position of the next row and the process is repeated to implant the next row. A computer controls the selection of the yarn implanted by each backing opener for each penetration of the backing in order to produce a desired pattern in the finished goods.
Although the patented apparatus represents a significant advancement in the tufting industry in that it has enabled the production of multicolored and patterned tufted goods at a substantially reduced cost and in a substantially shorter period of time than is possible with conventional weaving looms, it is desirable to improve tufting apparatus embodying the patented invention to reduce costs and further increase production speed. One area in which improved efficiency is desired in practical apparatus embodying the patented invention is in the mechanism which cuts the yarn after it has been implanted into the backing. The Kile patent discloses, and practical apparatus have embodied, a motor-driven rotary cutter associated with each tufting head for cutting the yarn after it has been implanted in the backing. The rotary cutter is positioned on the opposite side of the backing from the head and moves transversely across the backing with the head. At each penetration of the backing, yarn is ejected from the backing opener by the air flowing through the backing opener tube and into the path of a rotating cutter blade which cuts the yarn. This arrangement results in a fair amount of yarn waste. Moveover, since it is necessary to provide clearance between the rotating cutter blade and the backing opener, there is a limit as to how close the rotating cutter can be placed safely to the underside of the backing. As a result, the pile height of the yarn tufts implanted in the backing may be greater than desired and the amount of yarn trimmed during a subsequent finishing operation further contributes to the waste.
A significant factor influencing the production speed of practical apparatus embodying the invention of the Kile patent is the number of tufting heads embodied in the apparatus. The greater the number of heads, the less distance each head must traverse and, accordingly, the faster a row of tufts can be implanted in the backing. As the number of heads increases, however, other problems arise. The increased weight makes it more difficult to move the heads accurately and to maintain their alignment and positions relative to one another.
It is desirable to provide tufting apparatus which avoid the foregoing problems and which afford further improvements in tufting apparatus of the type disclosed in the Kile patent, and it is to these ends that the present invention is directed.


A method to significantly reduce the need for treating bottom ash with a bonding agent, such as lime or concrete, as is typically done by Waste-to-Energy facilities within the United States of America. Furthermore it is a method that will greatly reduce the costs associated with freight, and disposal typically associated with WTE bottom ash by extracting excess water, metallic, and eliminating the need for supplemental additives such as lime or concrete.

Most Waste to Energy ("WTE") facilities in the United States were built 20 plus years ago, when commodities were not as valuable as they are today. As such they were not built with a particular emphasis in maximizing the recovery of ferrous and non-ferrous metallics present in the bottom ash, nor were they built with an emphasis of minimizing the bonding agents required to treat the bottom ash for soluble metallic content, such as lime and concrete.
The municipal solid waste "MSW" processed by these facilities typically contains around 1% non-ferrous metals, such as aluminum, copper, zinc, and lead. These metals have comparably low melting points and can melt when exposed to the high temperatures present in a furnace. Melting non-ferrous metals can result in the formation of tiny droplets of metal that separate from the larger body in the form of small sand-sized particles. This results in larger recoverable non-ferrous, and smaller more difficult to extract non-ferrous particles being present throughout the bottom ash.
Under traditional processing methods used at approximately 90 WTE facilities in the United States, it is the presence of water-soluble contaminants, including non-ferrous metals that results in the need to treat bottom ash to mitigate the potential of these metals leaching into the ground water.
Typically, as MSW is incinerated, the corresponding ash is squelched in water to mitigate fire hazard and smoke emissions. When the ash is squelched in water it tends to bind in a cementatious mixture of heterogeneous particle distribution that can retain as much as 40% moisture content. As such, it is the prevailing practice in the United States that if any attempt is made to segregate ash prior to treatment with a bonding agent, it is only the largest debris, such as that that could be removed by a rough sizing mechanism, such as a grizzly screen, a trommel, or a vibrating deck, that is removed prior to treatment. The large debris separated in this manner typically accounts for less than 10% of the bottom ash generated, and is typically the only fraction not treated with a bonding process.
Furthermore, typically only the largest WTE facilities attempt large-scale removal of non-ferrous metals from ash. For example, in the Western Continental United States there are six large incinerators producing more than 400,000 tons of bottom ash per year, none of which incorporate the use of eddy currents for non-ferrous extraction. In addition, most WTE facilities only attempt to recover metallics from the large debris. This lack of metallic recovery is not limited to the West, according to the Earth Engineering Center at Columbia University, approximately 51% of available ferrous metal, and over 92% of available non-ferrous metals are currently landfilled by existing WTE facilities in the United States, see FIGS. 5 & 6.
Even if more magnets and eddy currents were to be used, under the traditional process, they would have limited effectiveness due to the cement like property of wet bottom ash, which adheres to tramp metal like glue, reducing the recoverability of such metals, and down-grading its value if it were to be recovered under traditional methods.
As the volume of metals present in bottom ash, particularly soluble non-ferrous metals, can pose an environmental hazard, it is the prevailing practice in the United States to treat everything but the largest debris with a bonding agent, such as lime or cement, rather than removing or isolating the leachable metallics for treatment.
The practice of treating and disposing of a facility's bottom ash is expensive. A large WTE facility can spend millions of dollars a year treating its bottom ash and hauling it to a special landfill or monofill for disposal. The method proposed herein can increase the volume of debris in bottom ash not treated with a bonding agent from 35% to as much as 100%, thereby greatly reducing processing and disposal costs typically associated with WTE bottom ash.

Methods for treating bottom ash generated from waste-to-energy facilities to reduce the dependence on bonding agents such as lime or concrete prior to disposal


In a planar inverted F antenna, a second radiation element is provided parallel to the GND surface and extending partially with respect to a first radiation element in a longitudinal direction, so as to substantially increase a width of the first radiation element in the vicinity of a power supply section.

Planar inverted F antennas have been used as antennas for a wireless communication unit provided on a circuit board of communication modules, e.g., mobile telephones, wireless LAN (Local Area Network) appliances. These antennas are build-in antennas provided on a circuit board with a relatively low profile, employing the circuit board for grounding. Planar inverted F antennas are applied to various types of communication modules, since planar inverted F antennas include a plurality of planar elements, which can be manufactured from low-cost metal plates, and are easily attached to a circuit board.
For example, the technique related to Planar inverted F antennas is disclosed in following Patent Reference 1.    Patent Reference 1: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2008-263468
As an example of a planar inverted F antenna, a planar inverted F antenna 200 is depicted in FIG. 1.
The planar inverted F antenna 200 includes a planar grounding element 100 that is to be placed on a GND surface of a circuit board, a planar radiation element 120 (having a length L1 and a height H) extending substantially parallel to the grounding element 100, and planar short-circuit elements 140 and 160 that short-circuit the grounding element 100 and the radiation element 120. A power supply section F that applies wireless signals from the circuit board is provided at the short-circuit element 160. The planar inverted F antenna 200 has literally an inverted F geometry.
FIG. 2 indicates the planar inverted F antenna 200, provided on a GND surface of the circuit board. As depicted in FIG. 2, the grounding element 100 of the planar inverted F antenna 200 is attached to the GND surface having a size of K1×K2 (on the X-Z plane). As depicted in FIG. 2, the planar inverted F antenna 200 may be provided at the end of circuit board so as not to interfere with other components provided on the circuit board.
FIGS. 3A and 3B indicate electromagnetic field simulator results of the planar inverted F antenna 200, wherein FIG. 3A indicates the voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) characteristic, and FIG. 3B indicates the directional property on the X-Y plane, of the planar inverted F antenna 200 when the antenna 200 is provided on the circuit board as in FIG. 2. It is noted that FIGS. 3A and 3B indicate the results when L1 is 70 mm, H is 9 mm, the spacing between the short-circuit elements is 4 to 5 mm, the width is each of the short-circuit elements is 2 mm, the plate thickness of each antenna element is 0.4 mm, and K1=K2=70 mm in FIG. 2. It is clear from FIGS. 3A and 3B that this planar inverted F antenna 200 exhibits a favorable omnidirectional characteristic, while the bandwidth remains about 25 MHz at VSWR of 2.
The height of the radiation element 120 (height H in FIG. 1) of the planar inverted F antenna 200 with respect to the grounding element 100 cannot be increased any further, due to the size limitation of a casing of a communication module to which the antenna is to be accommodated, which hinders further extension of the bandwidth of the antenna.


Peptide compounds based on the CAP37 (cationic antimicrobial protein of Mr 37 kDa) protein are disclosed, along with methods for treating various infections, wounds, and conditions, and methods of promoting healing and acceptance of grafts, using compositions containing these peptides.

Effective treatment of Gram negative bacterial infections has suffered due to a dearth of new antibiotics in the pharmaceutical pipeline. Only one novel antibacterial has been approved since 2006. Thus there is a clear unmet need for such therapies. Antibiotic resistance is one of the greatest threats to global human health. Thus, therapies with novel mechanisms of action that could circumvent resistance are highly desired. For example, sepsis or septic shock kills more than 200,000 people per year in the U.S. alone. Optimally, a sepsis therapeutic would serve as an antibiotic, as well as bind and neutralize the toxic effects of endotoxin (a.k.a., lipopolysaccharide, or LPS). The morbidity and mortality that results from severe infection in the U.S. alone is estimated at an annual cost of many billions of dollars. In the European Union the lost productivity and health care costs due to multi-drug resistant infections is estimated at 1.5 billion euros per year. New bioactive peptides that are effective against Gram negative infections and exhibit no or low toxicity would be a significant contribution to this global health crisis.
CAP37 (cationic antimicrobial protein of Mr 37 kDa) was originally identified as a component of the oxygen-independent killing mechanism of the human neutrophil (PMN) and was demonstrated to have strong bactericidal activity against Gram negative bacteria including Salmonella typhimurium, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Distinct from its effect on bacteria, the native CAP37 protein has potent regulatory effects on host cells. It is an effective regulator of cells of the mononuclear phagocytic system such as monocytes, microglia, and macrophages. It also regulates certain corneal epithelial, endothelial, and smooth muscle cell functions.
Structure-function analysis of CAP37 previously enabled the delineation of an antibacterial domain of the CAP37 protein, which was identified as residing in residues 20 through 44 of the native molecule. A peptide comprising this 25 amino acid sequence (i.e., CAP37(20-44)nat—SEQ ID NO:1) mimicked the antimicrobial activity of the native molecule and extended its range of activity to encompass Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis, two Gram positive bacteria. The bactericidal activity of the peptide was pH dependent, with maximum activity obtained between pH 5.0 and 5.5. Derivatives of the natural peptide sequence of 20-44, wherein either of the cysteine residues at position 26 or 42 were replaced with serine residues (CAP37(20-44)ser26 and CAP37(20-44)ser42—SEQ ID NO:2 and 5, respectively), were also produced. However, commercialization of a peptide as a first-in-class anti-infective requires the ability to, for example, (1) scale-up the synthesis of the peptide, (2) achieve purity of preferably >90%, and (3) retain activity. The 20-44 peptide and previously-known substituted versions thereof could not be produced with these features. It is to novel peptide compounds that possess such properties and which comprise various portions of CAP37 proteins and derivatives thereof, as well as to methods of use of these compounds, that the presently disclosed inventive concept(s) is directed.

Peptide compounds and methods of production and use thereof

The Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma


A high tensile-strength galvanized steel sheet includes C: at least 0.05% but less than 0.12%, Si: at least 0.01% but less than 0.35%, Mn: 2.0% to 3.5%, P: 0.001% to 0.020%, S: 0.0001% to 0.0030%, Al: 0.005% to 0.1%, N: 0.0001% to 0.0060%, Cr: more than 0.5% but not more than 2.0%, Mo: 0.01% to 0.50%, Ti: 0.010% to 0.080%, Nb: 0.010% to 0.080%, and B: 0.0001% to 0.0030%, the remainder being Fe and unavoidable impurities, wherein the high tensile-strength galvanized steel sheet has a microstructure that contains 20% to 70% by volume ferrite having an average grain size of 5 μm or less. The high tensile-strength galvanized steel sheet has a tensile strength of at least 980 MPa, and excellent formability and weldability.

High tensile-strength galvanized steel sheets for use in automobile parts and the like must have excellent formability as well as a high strength because of the characteristics of the applications.
Recently, high tensile-strength steel sheets have been required and increasingly used as materials for automobile bodies to improve fuel efficiency by weight reduction and ensure crashworthiness. Furthermore, while high tensile-strength steel sheets have mainly been used in simple processing applications, they are also being applied to complicated shapes..
However, in general, higher-strength steel sheets tend to have lower formability. In particular, the most important problem in the application of high tensile-strength steel sheets is cracks in press forming. Thus, formability, such as stretch flangeability, must be improved in a manner that depends on the shape of a part. In particular, high tensile-strength steel sheets having a TS of at least 980 MPa are often used in parts that are to be bent. Thus, bendability (synonymous with bending formability) is also important.
Furthermore, after forming of a steel sheet, the steel sheet is subjected to resistance spot welding in an assembly process. Thus, in addition to formability, excellent weldability is also required.
To this end, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publications No. 2004-232011, No. 2002-256386, No. 2002-317245, and No. 2005-105367, Japanese Patent No. 3263143 and its Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 6-073497, Japanese Patent No. 3596316 and its Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 11-236621, and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publications No. 2001-11538 and No. 2006-63360 propose a method for manufacturing a high tensile-strength galvanized steel sheet having excellent formability, for example, by defining the steel component and the microstructure or by optimizing hot-rolling conditions or annealing conditions.
Among the publications described above, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-232011 discloses steel having high C and Si contents and of TS 980 MPa grade. However, excellent stretch flangeability or bendability is not the primary objective of Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-232011. Furthermore, exemplified compositions have poor platability (require iron-based preplating), and resistance spot weldability is also difficult to achieve.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication Nos. 2002-256386, 2002-317245 and 2005-105367 disclose steel leveraging Cr. However, excellent stretch flangeability and bendability is not the primary objective of these publications. Furthermore, it is difficult to achieve a TS of at least 980 MPa by these techniques without the addition of a strengthening element in such an amount that the characteristics described above or platability is adversely affected.
Furthermore, Japanese Patent No. 3263143 and its Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 6-073497, Japanese Patent No. 3596316 and its Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 11-236621 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-11538 describe a hole expansion ratio λ, which is an indicator of stretch flangeability, but rarely achieve a tensile strength (TS) of 980 MPa. The tensile strength (TS) of 980 MPa is only achieved in Japanese Patent No. 3596316 by the addition of large amounts of C and Al, which is unfavorable to resistance spot weldability. Furthermore, excellent bendability is not the primary objective of Japanese Patent No. 3596316.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-63360 describes a technique in which bendability or fatigue characteristics are improved by the addition of Ti. However, excellent stretch flangeability or weldability is not the primary objective of Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-63360.
In view of the situations described above, it could be helpful to provide a high tensile-strength galvanized steel sheet that has a tensile strength as high as 980 MPa or more and excellent formability and weldability, as well as excellent bendability. It could also be helpful to provide an advantageous method for manufacturing the high tensile-strength galvanized steel sheet.

High tensile-strength galvanized steel sheet and process for manufacturing high tensile-strength galvanized steel sheet


An endless belt for a belt type polishing machine comprises a support fabric and a polymer layer of relatively low hardness. The polymer layer is formed with drainage grooves. The support fabric may comprise a non woven or woven material, or a membrane with oriented reinforcing yarns. A further version comprises a spiral-link fabric supporting a woven or non woven layer carrying the polymer layer. The polymer layer may be a double layer, the upper of which is either harder or softer than the lower layer.

This invention relates to apparatus for polishing silicon wafers.
Silicon wafers are produced as precursors from which micro-electronic semiconductor components are produced. The wafers are grown for example by deposition of silicon onto a substrate, to produce discs typically 20 cm in diameter, which are split by cleavage parallel to their major surfaces (analogous to the cleavage of slate) to produce two thinner wafers. The resulting wafers require to be polished to give totally flat and planar surfaces for deposition of electronic components onto the surface by standard lithographic and etching techniques to form integrated chip semiconductor devices. Typically a 20 cm diameter wafer will produce forty micro processor chips.
The designed size of such integrated chips is steadily decreasing and the number of layers applied, e.g. by lithography onto the silicon surface is rising, to produce ever smaller and increasingly complex micro-circuits. Present semiconductors typically incorporate 3 or 4 metal layers, whilst it is expected that future designs will contain 5 or more layers. This increase in the number of layers applied is leading to ever more stringent requirements on the smoothness and planarity of the silicon wafers, since pits or scratches may produce voids which cannot be bridged by deposited material, as the widths and thicknesses of deposited layers are decreased, leading to unplanned resistances where a conductor is narrowed, or capacitances/non-conductive gaps, where breaks occur in deposited conductor layers, which interfere with or compromise the planned operation of the circuit.
The standard wafer polishing technique in use at present is to remove a wafer from a stack, or cassette of e.g. 10 wafers, by means of a robot arm, and manoevre the disc into position over a rotating disc. The disc is usually coated with polyurethane, and the wafer is held in place by an overhead platen whilst being polished by the rotating disc. This is an adaptation of optical polishing technology used for polishing lenses, mirrors and other optical components. Once polishing is completed, the robot arm removes the wafer and transfers it to another work station for eventual lithographic deposition steps.
A significantly different approach is so-called Linear Planarization Technology, developed by OnTrak, wherein an endless travelling belt is used to polish the wafer, in place of the rotating disc form of polishing tool. The belt used in this method is described in EP-A-0696495 and comprised an endless belt of sheet steel, having a polyurethane coating of low Shore A hardness. A major problem with these belts is the poor adhesion of polyurethane to steel. An adhesive or coupling agent is required for bonding between the steel and polyurethane to take place but in spite of the use of such an agent bond strength is insufficient to withstand the harsh conditions under which the belt operatesxe2x80x94particularly the frictional forces occurring between the belt and wafer in the zone of contact. The tendency is for the polyurethane to wear out or to flake off within two days or so, and to repair this an area around the damaged coating has to be removed for fresh polyurethane to be added as a patch. This leaves seams or joints between the original coating and the patches which must be removed by complicated and expensive high-precision machinery and processes so as to ensure that a flat planar belt surface is maintained.
An object of the invention is to provide a belt-type apparatus for polishing silicon wafers wherein the problems arising from the use of a sheet metal belt, having a poorly bonded coating, are at least substantially overcome.
This invention provides for use in polishing silicon wafers, an endless belt to act as a polishing tool, characterised in that the belt comprises a woven or non-woven fabric coated with a suitable polymer.
The polymer is preferably polyurethane, preferably with a low Shore D hardness, e.g. from 65-75.
Alternatively the polymer may be any thermoset or thermoplastic polymer having a reasonably high abrasion resistance, such as polyamides, silicones, fluoropolymers, epoxy resins and thermoplastic polyurethanes.
The coating may comprise two or more layers of different hardnesses. The coating may comprise at least one layer of partially fused polymeric particles, or two or more thermoplastic polymers of different melting points.
The upper layer may be the harder layer.
On the other hand the intermediate layer may be the harder layer, and the upper layer may comprise a foamed plastic, or be formed of or incorporate thermally expandable expanded polystyrene beads which form pores in the plastics layer. Hollow microbeads of plastic, glass or soluble material may be incorporated in the upper layer.
Abrasive particles or fibres may be added to the upper layer, which may constitute a transparent coating, or be micro textured with micro-scale grooves or surface roughness.
The fabric may be a substrate which is woven in endless form embodying yarns of high tensile strength and relatively low elongation.
A fabric woven in endless form lacks the weak spots of a seam or splice, which is a great advantage as these belts operate under extremely high tension to prevent the formation of ripples or wrinkles.
The belt thickness is typically 0.1-0.2 inches, whilst the coating thickness is in the range 0.05-0.09 inches.
Examples of suitable yarns are meta- or para-aramids such as KEVLAR, NOMEX OR TWARON; PBO or its derivatives; polyetherimide; polyimide; polyetherketone; PEEK; gel-spun UHMW polyethylene (such as DYNEEMA or SPECTRA); or polybenzimidazole; or other yarns commonly used in high-performance fabrics such as those for making aerospace parts. Mixtures or blends of any two or more yarns may be used, as may glass fibres (preferably sized), carbon or ceramic yarns including basalt or other rock fibres, or mixtures of such mineral fibres with synthetic polymer yarns. Any of the above yarns may be blended with organic yarns such as cotton. The belts according to the invention woven from these yarns are strong in the machine direction and sufficiently rigid in the cross machine direction.
Most preferred are aramid yarns due to their low weight and high strength.
A non woven fabric substrate may be provided in place of a woven substrate and be formed from any one, or a blend or mixture of any of the above mentioned yarns or fibres. More than one nonwoven substrate may be provided, preferably two, and they may be vertically aligned or offset relative to one another.
A belt substrate may comprise a non woven fabric with additional spaced apart linear yarns extending substantially in a common direction, and a polymeric matrix material interconnecting and at least partially encapsulating each of the yarns. The linear yarns preferably are oriented in the running direction of the belt, but may also or instead be oriented in the cross-machine direction, i.e. transversely of the belt e.g as described in GB-A-2202873. Extra reinforcing yarns extending substantially in the machine direction may also be provided.
The belt substrate preferably has a relatively high open area due to the increase in delamination resistance, particularly if the substrate is fully impregnated with polymer. For this, a spiral link belt of the kind disclosed in GB-A-2051154, comprising an array of eg. cross-machine direction hinge wires, connected by interdigitating flattened helical coils is particularly preferred, as one large open area woven fabrics. This substrate may support a woven or non-woven fabric which is coated or partially or fully impregnated with the suitable polymer.
The surface of the belt may be formed with grooves extending in the running direction of the belt to remove wet slurry generated during the polishing process. This slurry can be removed from the belt grooves using one or more high pressure water jets, rotating fine brushes or hard non-metallic (e.g. ceramic) stylii.


A flexible heating sheet is composed of two heat fusible aromatic polyimide films and an electric heating element having an electric source-connecting terminal at each end which intervenes between the heat fusible aromatic polyimide films, in which each heat fusible aromatic polyimide film is covered with a heat resistant aromatic polyimide film.

It is known that pipe systems of analytical apparatus such as liquid chromatography apparatus or a mass spectograph and pipe systems (for transporting a processing liquid) of a semi-conductor manufacturing machine is heated by means of a flexible heating sheet.
Heretofore, a flexible heating sheet composed of two heat resistant films and an electric heating element such as a nichrom wire and a stainless steel wire intervening between the heat resistant films. The electric element has an electric source-connecting terminal at each end. The heat resitant film is a glass cloth or a silicone resin film. The glass cloth has poor insulating property. The silicone resin film should be formed to have an enough thickness such as 1 mm thick or more. Moreover, the silicone resin film is heat resistant only up to 200° C.
JP2001-15254 A describes a flexible heating sheet comprising an electric heating element covered with a heat resistant aromatic polyimide film on both sides. The electric heating element is sandwitched between the heat resistant aromatic polyimide film via an adhesive layer.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a flexible heating sheet having improved heat resistance so that the flexible heating sheet can be employed under conditions invoving elevated temperatures.


Systems and methods for use in presenting a hierarchy of data objects. Data objects in a hierarchy are each associated with a node type of a plurality of node types. A graphical representation of the hierarchy is created. The graphical representation includes including a plurality of strata corresponding to the plurality of node types. A plurality of tree nodes representing the data objects is created. Each tree node is associated with the node type that corresponds to the associated data object. The tree nodes associated with the node type that corresponds to the stratum are included in each stratum of the plurality of strata. The graphical representation may include hierarchical connectors extending between the tree nodes and representing hierarchical relationships between the data objects represented by the tree nodes.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates generally to data presentation and, more specifically, to systems and methods for use in presenting stratified trees that include nodes from a hierarchy of data objects in stratified areas.
At least some known software applications present data objects as nodes in a tree structure that represents a hierarchical relationship between the data objects. Notably, such a presentation technique provides a user with only one perspective that is based on the object hierarchy. Known software applications do not group tree nodes by type, such that both hierarchical relationships and type relationships are presented. Rather, hierarchical relationships and type relationships are generally conveyed by separate presentations.


A water splitting oxygen evolving catalyst including: a metal oxide particle including a metal oxide represented by Formula 1:Co1-xMxOY  Formula Iwherein M is at least one selected from Al, In, Ga, Si, and Sn, x and y respectively satisfy the inequalities 0≦x<0.5 and 1<y<2, and the metal oxide particle is in the form of a flake.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates to a water splitting oxygen evolving catalyst, a method of preparing the catalyst, an electrode having the catalyst, and a water splitting oxygen evolving device having the electrode.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, hydrogen-based energy has been considered as a solution to address the exhaustion of carbon-based energy and environmental problems caused by fossil fuel emissions. Accordingly, efforts continue on methods to produce hydrogen by splitting water using the energy of the sun.
In order to split water, an improved photocatalyst, which produces electrons and holes by absorbing solar energy to make hydrogen and oxygen, would be desirable. However, since splitting water with high efficiency is difficult with only the photocatalyst, a co-catalyst (an electrocatalyst) has been proposed for hydrogen and oxygen generation. Particularly, a reaction rate of the oxygen generation reaction is slow since one oxygen atom is generated from 2 water molecules to yield 4 electrons (i.e., 2H2O→4H++4e−+O2). Thus, holes having an over voltage are desirable in order to increase the rate of the oxygen generation, but when the holes produced by the photocatalyst do not have enough over voltage, the oxygen generation rate may be insufficient. Therefore, the electrocatalyst is desired to improve oxygen generation.
Water splitting oxygen evolving catalysts known to date may be roughly divided into organic-based catalysts and inorganic-based catalysts. The organic-based catalysts may be decomposed by light, and thus, and thus have unsuitable stability. The inorganic-based catalysts may be subdivided into heterogeneous bulk oxide-based catalysts and homogeneous polyoxometalate-based catalysts (See, for example, Qiushi Yin et al., A Fast Soluble Carbon-Free Molecular Water Oxidation Catalyst Based on Abundant Metals, Science Vol. 328, 342 (2010)). The heterogeneous bulk oxides-based catalysts can have insufficient catalytic activity. Also, since the homogeneous polyoxometalate-based catalysts are uniformly dissolved in an electrolyte, a significant fraction of thereof is disconnected from an electrode, and thus, utility per unit weight is poor.
An oxygen-evolving electrocatalyst using cobalt (cobalt-oxide-phosphate, "CoPi") has been recently developed by a group under professor Nocera at MIT (Matthew W. Kanan and Daniel G. Nocera, In situ formation of an oxygen-evolving catalyst in neutral water containing phosphate and Co2+, Science Vol. 321, 1072 (2008)), and although it is a heterogenous catalyst, it may be coated on an electrode in the amorphous state. Thus, a large amount of cobalt ions exposed in water or other solution is obtained, and thus, the catalyst has high catalytic activity.

Water splitting oxygen evolving catalyst, method of preparing the catalyst, electrode having the catalyst, and water splitting oxygen evolving device having the electrode


An x-ray tube includes a cathode adapted to emit electrons, a bearing assembly comprising a rotatable shaft having a rotor hub, a target assembly attached to the rotatable shaft and positioned to receive the emitted electrons in order to generate x-rays therefrom, a rotor attached to the rotor hub at an attachment face, wherein the attachment face comprises a first material compressed against a second material, and a first anti-wear coating attached to one of the first material and the second material and positioned between the first material and the second material.

Embodiments of the invention relate generally to x-ray tubes and, more particularly, to an anti-fretting coating for a rotor attachment joint and a method of making same.
Computed tomography x-ray imaging systems typically include an x-ray tube, a detector, and a gantry assembly to support the x-ray tube and the detector. In operation, an imaging table, on which an object is positioned, is located between the x-ray tube and the detector. The x-ray tube typically emits radiation, such as x-rays, toward the object. The radiation typically passes through the object on the imaging table and impinges on the detector. As radiation passes through the object, internal structures of the object cause spatial variances in the radiation received at the detector. The detector converts the received radiation to electrical signals and then transmits data received, and the system translates the radiation variances into an image, which may be used to evaluate the internal structure of the object. One skilled in the art will recognize that the object may include, but is not limited to, a patient in a medical imaging procedure and an inanimate object as in, for instance, a package in an x-ray scanner or computed tomography (CT) package scanner.
A typical x-ray tube includes a cathode that provides a focused high energy electron beam that is accelerated across a cathode-to-anode vacuum gap and produces x-rays upon impact with an active material or target provided. Because of the high temperatures generated when the electron beam strikes the target, typically the target assembly is rotated at high rotational speed for purposes of spreading the heat flux over a larger extended area. The target is attached to a support shaft, which is in turn supported by roller bearings that are typically hard mounted to a base plate.
As such, the x-ray tube also includes a rotating system that rotates the target for the purpose of distributing the heat generated at a focal spot on the target. The rotating subsystem is typically rotated by an induction motor having a cylindrical rotor built into an axle that supports a disc-shaped target and an iron stator structure with copper windings that surrounds an elongated neck of the x-ray tube. The rotor of the rotating subsystem assembly is driven by the stator.
During manufacturing, the rotor may be attached to the axle of the rotating subsystem using for instance a weld or a bolted joint. In the case of a welded attachment an adequate joint for joining the rotor to the axle can typically be formed using common and known welding techniques. However, welded joints can be costly, both in terms of the manufacturing process but also in terms of inspection and rework costs. The costs of a weld joint for the rotor are also compounded because often the welding is performed in a clean environment, necessitating special care to maintain cleanliness and to reduce particulate emission.
In the case of a bolted joint, fabrication and assembly costs can be significantly reduced overall when compared to a welded joint. However, such bolted joints are subject to wear and early life failure for a number of reasons. First off, relative motion can occur between components, due at least in part to a mismatch of thermal expansion coefficients of the materials that are typically on either side of the bolted joint. As the parts heat up during x-ray tube operation, the thermal coefficient mismatch causes a mismatch in the amount of expansion of the components, enabling the components to slide relative to each other. This manifests itself in the form, typically, of radially oriented fretting that occurs at the face of the materials that make up the bolted joint.
Secondly, the cyclical nature of the joint loading can cause relative motion in the joints as well. Because the target is typically rotated about its axis at a high rate of speed, typically 100 Hz or more, and because the x-ray tube itself is rotated at a high rate of speed on a gantry, typically 2 Hz or more, enormous periodic or cyclical loads can be generated at interfaces that join the rotor to the bearing axle or shaft. So, high-frequency periodic loads are applied to the joint due to the target rotation and some unavoidable residual unbalance of the rotating components and low-frequency periodic loads due to the tube rotation on the CT gantry. Such loads can cause bending of the rotor joint components causing small relative circumferential motion to occur, which can cause circumferentially oriented fretting that occurs at the face of the materials that make up the bolted joint.
In order to reduce the amount of fretting that occurs in the bolted joint, parts may be pressfit together as well in order augment the pressure between components. Thus, an interference fit may be formed that couples or otherwise attaches the rotor to the bearing shaft, which are then bolted together as well. However, despite having an improved joint, fretting and particulate generation can nevertheless occur therein. In fact, particles can be generated at any interface where materials are in a bolted joint or in an interference fit pressed together. And, the effect can increase significantly with increased gantry and/or increased target rotating speed, leading to increased fretting and particulate generation as x-ray tubes are rotated faster on gantries and as targets are rotated faster within x-ray tubes.
As known in the art, particulate in an x-ray tube can degrade performance and life in a number of ways that include, for instance, accelerated bearing wear if the wear particles fall into the bearing and electrical discharge activity in the high voltage environment of the x-ray tube. Both of these issues reduce the useful life of the x-ray tube.
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to have an x-ray tube that could be rotated at a high speed on a gantry and at a high target rotational speed without a reduction in life due to particulate generation at connection joints in the x-ray tube.

Anti-fretting coating for rotor attachment joint and method of making same


Methods of selection of health related applications and treatment and diagnosis using health related applications are provided herein. Methods include selection of a first set of health related apps by a physician for use in treatment or diagnosis of a health condition, selection of an app from the first set by the patient with a first portable device. In one aspect, the applications are provided and managed by a service providers and include regulated health related apps. In some methods, the system communications with an insurer so as to indicate to a patient an insurance related attribute associated with each app to facilitate selection by the patient. In another aspect, methods include communication of health data elements obtained with the first portable device to the health service provider for tracking or analysis and subsequent communication between any of the first portable device and the service provider, insurer and physician.

Medical treatments and diagnostics in the modern healthcare system often involve tracking and analysis of a multitude of patient information and medical records to various health care providers for each patient. Current health care systems can be complex and fragmented resulting in redundancies and inefficiencies in collecting data that frustrate both patient and physician and delay diagnosis and treatment. Although the development of electronic medical records has improved tracking and analysis of health information somewhat, in recent years, acquisition of health information and various health metrics outside of the electronic medical records has increased dramatically. The usefulness of such health information, however, is limited given the complexities and burden associated with dissemination of such large amounts of information. In particular, while there have been huge advancements in technologies that could make it easier for patients to interact with their own medical data, software that manipulates the most important data have been selected and prescribed entirely by physicians, rather than allowing the patients themselves to choose the interface applications that would work best for themselves. In addition, current treatment and diagnostic methods typically limit the quantity and quality of interaction with the patient beyond in-person visits with the physician, which can limit the effectiveness of treatment and reduce patient compliance.

Systems and methods of providing patient apps


The invention relates to a radiation detector and a method for producing such a detector, wherein the detector comprises a stack of the scintillator elements and photodiode arrays. The PDAs extend with electrical leads into a rigid body filling a border volume lateral of the scintillator elements, wherein said leads end in a contact surface of the border volume. Moreover, a redistribution layer is disposed on the contact surface, wherein electrical lines of the redistribution layer contact the leads of the PDAs.

The US 20020153492 A1 discloses a radiation detector in which photodiode arrays (PDAs) and scintillator crystals are attached to a planar substrate that extends into a volume lateral of the scintillator crystals. Furthermore, connectors are attached to the substrates in said lateral volume, and a plurality of the resulting components are combined to a stack, wherein the volume lateral of the scintillator crystals is filled with epoxy resin.

Radiation detector with a stack of scintillator elements and photodiode arrays


The toner includes a binder resin; a release agent; a colorant; and a dispersing resin configured to disperse the release agent. The dispersing resin includes a polyhydroxycarboxylic acid unit obtained from an optically active monomer. The polyhydroxycarboxylic acid unit has an optical purity of not greater than 80%, wherein the optical purity is defined as the absolute value of difference between the mole percentage of a L-monomer in the optically active monomer and the mole percentage of a D-monomer in the optically active monomer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a toner for use in developing an electrostatic image. In addition, the present invention also relates to a developer including the toner. Further, the present invention relates to an image forming method and an image forming apparatus, which form images using the toner.
2. Discussion of the Background
In conventional electrophotographic image forming apparatus and electrostatic recording apparatus, electrostatic latent images or magnetic latent images are visualized using toner. Specifically, electrophotographic image forming methods typically include the following processes:
(1) forming an electrostatic image on an image bearing member such as photoreceptors (electrostatic image forming process);
(2) developing the electrostatic image with toner to prepare a toner image on the image bearing member (developing process);
(3) transferring the toner image onto a receiving material such as paper sheets (transferring process); and
(4) fixing the toner image on the receiving material upon application of heat or the like thereto, resulting in formation of a recorded image (fixing process).
The toner used for developing an electrostatic image is a particulate colored material in which a colorant, a charge controlling agent, etc., are included in a binder resin. The toner preparation method is broadly classified into pulverization methods and suspension polymerization methods.
The pulverization methods typically include the following processes:
(1) Dispersing a colorant, a charge controlling agent, an offset preventing agent, etc., in a thermoplastic resin by a melt blending method;
(2) Cooling the melted toner constituent mixture to solidify the mixture; and
(3) Pulverizing the toner constituent mixture, followed by classifying, resulting in preparation of a mother toner (toner particles).
By using such pulverization methods, toner having reasonable properties can be obtained, but only limited materials can be used therefor (i.e., the flexibility of the methods in material selection is low). Specifically, the toner constituent mixture prepared by a melt blending method has to be pulverized and classified by a low-cost pulverizer and classifier. Namely, the toner constituent mixture has to be brittle enough to be pulverized. When pulverizing such a brittle toner constituent mixture, the resultant particles (i.e., the toner particles) have a relatively wide particle diameter distribution. In order to produce toner images having a good combination of resolution and half tone property using such toner particles, it is necessary to remove fine particles having a particle diameter of not greater than 5 μm and coarse particles having a particle diameter of not less than 20 μm from the toner particles, resulting in deterioration of yield of the toner. In addition, it is difficult for such pulverization methods to uniformly disperse a colorant, a charge controlling agent, etc., in a binder resin, and thereby a problem in that one or more of the properties (such as fluidity, developability, durability and image qualities) of the resultant toner deteriorate tends to be caused.
Further, the toner prepared by such pulverization methods is typically used for heat fixing methods in which a toner image on a receiving material is fused by a heat roller to be fixed thereon. In this case, when the temperature of the heat roller is too high, the toner is excessively melted, a hot offset phenomenon in that the melted toner is adhered to the heat roller is caused. In contrast, when the temperature of the heat roller is too low, the toner is not sufficiently melted, thereby causing a poor fixing problem in that the toner image is not sufficiently fixed.
Recently, a need exists for an energy saving image forming apparatus (such as copiers) having a small size. Therefore, the toner used for such an image forming apparatus preferably has a high hot offset temperature and a low fixable temperature (i.e., a good combination of hot offset resistance and low temperature fixability). In particular, in full color copiers and printers, the glossiness of fixed toner images and the color tones of fixed combined color toner images are important image qualities. Therefore, toner having a lower melting point is desired for such full color copiers and printers.
However, toner having a low melting point typically has not only a low hot offset temperature but also a poor preservability under high temperature and high humidity conditions. In order to prevent occurrence of the hot offset problem, a technique in that a release agent such as silicone oils is applied to a heat fixing roller to impart good releasability to the heat fixing roller is used for such full color image forming apparatus. In order to use such a technique, the image forming apparatus has to include an oil tank and an oil applicator, resulting in complexity and jumboization of the image forming apparatus. In addition, the heat roller tends to easily degrade due to the applied oil, and therefore the image forming apparatus requires periodical maintenance. Further, the image forming apparatus tends to cause a problem in that the oil applied to the heat fixing roller is adhered to a copy sheet, thereby causing a problem in that the color tone of the images is changed.
In order to prevent occurrence of the hot offset problem without applying an oil to a heat fixing roller, a technique in that a release agent such as waxes is included in the toner is typically used. In this regard, the releasability of the toner largely depends on the dispersion condition of the wax in the toner. Specifically, when the wax is dissolved in a binder resin, the toner cannot exert good releasability. When the wax is present as particles (domains) in a binder resin, the toner can exert good releasability. In this regard, when the particle diameter of the wax particles in a binder resin is too large, the amount of the wax present in the surface portion of the toner particles is relatively large. In this case, the toner particles tend to be agglomerated, and thereby the fluidity of the toner is deteriorated. In addition, a filming problem in that the wax is adhered to the carrier of the developer and the image bearing member such as photoreceptors, resulting in formation of a film of the toner thereon, thereby deteriorating the qualities of recorded images tends to be caused. In contrast, when the particle diameter of the wax particles in a binder resin is too small (i.e., the wax is excessively dispersed finely in a binder resin), the toner cannot exert good releasability.
It is difficult for the pulverization methods to control the particle diameter distribution of the wax dispersed in the toner particles. In addition, when the toner constituent mixture is pulverized, pulverization is typically caused at the wax domains. Therefore, the wax is typically present at the surface of the toner particles. Accordingly, the fluidity deterioration problem and the filming problem mentioned above tend to be caused.
In attempting to solve the problems, published unexamined Japanese patent applications Nos. (hereinafter referred to as JP-As) 09-319144 and 2002-284881 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 7,005,480) have disclosed resin solution suspension methods including the following processes:
(1) Dissolving a resin, which has been synthesized by a polymerization method, in a solvent to prepare a resin solution;
(2) Dispersing the resin solution in an aqueous medium in the presence of a dispersant such as surfactants and water-soluble resins, and a dispersion stabilizer such as particulate inorganic materials and particulate resins to prepare a dispersion; and
(3) Removing the solvent from the dispersion by heating, depressurizing or the like method to prepare toner particles.
By using these methods, toner having a relatively sharp particle diameter distribution can be obtained without performing a classification operation.
In general, toner includes a binder resin in an amount of not less than 70% by weight, wherein the binder resin is obtained from oil resources. However, recently there are fears of deletion of oil resources and global warming due to discharge of a large amount of carbon dioxide caused by using a large amount of oil sources. In attempting to solve the problems, techniques in that resins obtained from plants, which grow by absorbing carbon dioxide, are used as binder resins have been proposed. In this case, carbon dioxide is circulated in the environment. Therefore, the techniques may prevent occurrence of the problems.
For example, JP-A 07-120975 proposes to use polylactic acid as a binder resin. However, polylactic acid exerts less thermoplastic action than polyester resins in the fixing process because of including ester bonds in a relatively high content. In addition, the toner constituent mixture has very high hardness, and thereby a problem in that the toner constituent mixture cannot be easily pulverized, resulting in deterioration of productivity tends to be caused.
JP-A 09-274335 proposes a toner including a colorant, and a polyester resin prepared by subjecting a composition including lactic acid and a tri- or more-functional oxycarboxylic acid to a dehydration polycondensation reaction. Since a polyester resin is prepared by subjecting the hydroxyl group of lactic acid and the carboxyl group of the oxycarboxylic acid to a dehydration polycondensation reaction in this proposal, the resultant polyester resin has a large molecular weight. Therefore, the resultant toner has poor sharp melting property, thereby deteriorating the low temperature fixability of the toner.
JP-A 2001-166537 discloses a toner including a polylactic acid based biodegradable resin and a terpene phenolic copolymer in attempting to improve the thermal properties of the toner. However, the toner cannot have a good combination of low temperature fixability and hot offset resistance.
Since these toners are prepared by pulverization methods, the toners have problems in that considerable losses are caused, and there are fears of environmental destruction due to disposal of the waste toner. In addition, the energy needed for such pulverization methods is relatively high. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce environmental burdens.
As JP-As 07-33861 and 59-96123 have disclosed, polylactic acid, which is a resin derived from plants and which is easily available, can be synthesized by subjecting lactic acid to dehydration condensation reaction or subjecting a cyclic lactide to a ring opening reaction. Therefore, the resin solution suspension methods mentioned above can be used for preparing a toner including polylactic acid. However, polylactic acid has a problem in that L-polylactic acid or D-polylactic acid itself has high crystallinity and has very poor solubility in organic solvents.
In addition, since polylactic acid has low crystallization speed, it is difficult to control the crystallization state of polylactic acid included in the toner prepared by a resin solution suspension method. In this regard, polylactic acid having an amorphous state has poor heat resistance, i.e., poor hot offset resistance. Further, there is a case where the toner prepared by a resin solution suspension method includes a mixture of polylactic acid having high crystallinity and polylactic acid having low crystallinity. When such a toner is agitated in a developing device, the toner particles tend to be broken at a portion consisting of polylactic acid having low crystallinity because such a portion has poor impact resistance. In this case, fine toner particles are formed, and thereby the charge amount of the toner is decreased with time, resulting in deterioration of image qualities (such as image density).
Because of these reasons, a need exists for a toner which has a good combination of fixability (low temperature fixability and hot offset resistance) and high temperature preservability and which can produce high quality images without causing the filming problem.

Toner, developer, and image forming method and apparatus using the toner


An on-line system for cleaning dirty gas firing nozzles of an operating industrial gas turbine including injecting a suitable cleaning chemical at a specified rate into the gas fuel line just ahead of where the line enters the header supplying the nozzles through an injector quill equipped with a metering pump and check valves and tied into a chemical cleaner supply.

This invention relates to a process for cleaning a gas turbine's fuel nozzles while the turbine is in operation.
Gas turbines, typically, may contain up to fourteen fuel gas nozzles being fed by a common gas header. The exit gas temperature at the exhaust of the gas turbine is usually monitored to determine the temperature spread of all the nozzles, that is, the temperature difference between the nozzle with the lowest temperature and the nozzle with the highest temperature. During operation of a gas turbine, it is important to minimize the exhaust temperature spread because an excessive temperature spread, for example more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit, creates thermal cycling which can lead to breakdown of turbine blades and shutdown of the turbine.
It has been found that plugging of fuel nozzles by liquids and particulate matter in the gaseous fuel can increase the temperature spread great enough to shut down a gas turbine operation. "Dirty" fuel containing, for example, hydrocarbon liquids, salts or sulfur contaminants, typically, can be fed into a gas turbine from, for example, underground or off-shore gas wells.
Heretofore, there has not been an adequate process for cleaning gas turbine gaseous fuel nozzles while the gas turbine is in operation. In the past, gas turbines had to be shutdown for several hours to allow cooling and subsequent removal and cleaning or replacement of fuel nozzles. These shutdowns cost users of gas turbines several thousand dollars per occurrence.
It is desired to provide a process for cleaning an operating gas turbine's gaseous fuel system to clean dirty gas firing nozzles reducing the differential in temperature between the highest and lowest monitored nozzle or turbine exhaust temperatures within a short period of time to avoid having to shutdown the unit to replace and/or clean the nozzles.


Signal distribution arrangements are assembled by selecting a terminal body and a tap module combination that provides the desired signal strength at the intended position in an optical network. Each terminal body includes an input connection interface, a pass-through connection interface, a module connection interface, and multiple drop connection interfaces. Each tap module houses an optical tap having an asymmetric split ratio. Most of the optical signal power received at the signal distribution arrangement passes to the pass-through connection interface. A portion of the optical signal power is routed to the drop connection interfaces (e.g., via a symmetrical optical power splitter). The tap module and terminal body combination are selected based on the desired number of drop connection interfaces and to balance the asymmetric split ratio with the symmetric split ratio.

Passive optical networks are becoming prevalent in part because service providers want to deliver high bandwidth communication capabilities to customers. Passive optical networks are a desirable choice for delivering high-speed communication data because they may not employ active electronic devices, such as amplifiers and repeaters, between a central office and a subscriber termination. The absence of active electronic devices may decrease network complexity and/or cost and may increase network reliability.
FIG. 1 illustrates a network 100 deploying passive fiber optic lines. As shown, the network 100 can include a central office 110 that connects a number of end subscribers 115 (also called end users 115 herein) in a network. The central office 110 can additionally connect to a larger network such as the Internet (not shown) and a public switched telephone network (PSTN). The network 100 can also include fiber distribution hubs 130 having one or more optical splitters (e.g., 1-to-8 splitters, 1-to-16 splitters, or 1-to-32 splitters) that generate a number of individual fibers that may lead to the premises of an end user 115. The various lines of the network 100 can be aerial or housed within underground conduits.
The portion of the network 100 that is closest to central office 110 is generally referred to as the F1 region, where F1 is the "feeder fiber" from the central office 110. The portion of the network 100 closest to the end users 115 can be referred to as an F2 portion of network 100. The network 100 includes a plurality of break-out locations 125 at which branch cables 105 are separated out from the main cable lines 120. Branch cables 105 are often connected to drop terminals 104 that include connector interfaces for facilitating coupling of the fibers of the branch cables to a plurality of different subscriber locations 115.
Optical power splitters can be incrementally added to the fiber distribution hubs 130. Optical power splitters also can be disposed in the drop terminals 104. Each of the optical power splitters can split optical signals onto a plurality of splitter outputs so that a single fiber feeder cable can provide service to multiple subscribers.
Improvements are desired.