Different communications devices, different communications networks, and/or different users are used to generate, enable, and/or manage an API tool set for providing services through a residential communications gateway. The actual physical location of the service and the manner in which it operates are transparent to the user.

In November 2001, there were approximately 6.5 million residential networks in North America, and by 2006, that number is expected to grow to almost 30 million (Meeks, Fleming; The Next Big Thing; Barron's Online, Nov. 12, 2001). Families and other members of households use residential networks most often to share files, a printer, and/or an Internet connection. The needs of each computer user in the family, however, vary with age, interests, and level of comfort with the technology. Ideally, the network recognizes each member of the family/household as a different user with different preferences and provides helpful links especially for that user. Further, the administration of a network requires specific knowledge that a layperson does not have. Therefore, virtually all residential networks are and will be used by families who do not have the skill or knowledge to correct a problem when it arises. Moreover, families increasingly are saving important information onto their home computers, resulting in additional problems. For example, in order to protect against the loss of the information, the family must save a second copy in a different location. Also, occasionally families need to access the information when away from home or residence.
Conventional approaches to address these issues either are incomplete or require a confusing and often incompatible array of hardware and software. A router is one conventional solution to residential networking. A router, however, merely distributes an Internet connection to several computers, and does not provide personalized settings for different users. An Internet service provider (ISP), on the other hand, almost always allows each account to have several usernames with personalized settings, but in general the usernames are only related to separate email accounts. The services provided do not include that of helping users to maintain residential networks. While the Internet service is compatible with residential networks, the users must set up the networks themselves or have someone do it for them. Another existing solution that does not assist with network upkeep is a family-oriented website, sometimes called a portal, that provides links to other websites that might interest families. Such a portal is external to the residential network and consequently is not able to provide assistance with the network's operation. Finally, such a portal does not offer backup storage space. Data storage services are available on the Internet, but they are generally designed to backup residential computer systems. If a family chooses to use such a service for data storage, the family will have to solve the other issues of residential networking with different services that might not be compatible with the data storage solution and may be difficult to manage.
One conventional approach is to use a router to connect several home computers to one Internet connection. The router may come with software that provides a starting page for browsing the Internet. Often, the starting page is linked to the website of the company that produces the router, and sometimes that website provides data storage space. For example, 2Wire (2Wire, Inc., 1704 Automation Parkway, San Jose, Calif. 95131, 408-428-9500) produces Home Portal™, a router that allows the user to connect computers using phone lines, Ethernet cables, USB connections, or wireless signals. The user loads the included software onto each computer to be connected to the network, and that software provides a beginning screen each time a user wants to access the Internet. The disadvantage of this beginning page is that it is the same on all machines. This is not ideal because children often have different interests than their parents, particularly with regards to content on the Internet. For example, a link to stock market reports usually is not useful to a child, and a link to a chat room usually is not useful to a parent. In most cases, the default homepage for a router is the user configuration page for the router. It is generally specific to the router. This web server is hosted on the router and not in the general Internet. On the other hand, a "portal" is defined traditionally as a web service that is established on the internet, providing user specific details as per the users portal configuration. In the concept, a smart or "home" portal is hosted on the home router and provides user specific content based on content that is pushed to the router based on a user's preference model.
Another approach to family Internet use is to choose an Internet service provider (ISP) that allows each account to have several different usernames. Then, member of the family/household can be given a username, and consequently each member will receive more personalized attention. For example, America Online, (America Online, Inc., Dulles, Va.) allows each account to have several different screen names and/or user identities. After a particular user enters a screen name to access the Internet, a beginning page with personalized settings appears. This service is comprehensive for users with only one computer but not for multiple users with multiple computers on a network. Still another weakness of this approach is that although this service limited compatibility with a residential network, it also does not provide assistance in creating or maintaining that network. As a result, the family must either manage the network or procure management services from another entity.
Certain websites, sometimes called portals, exist to provide useful links to a specific group of people. Portals can contain links that are appropriate for families. An example of such a website is The Family Portal at www.familyportal.com. This website provides links to topics that might interest families, but these listings are not personalized for each user. In addition, the website is completely external to the residential network and consequently does not assist in the residential network's creation or maintenance. Finally, the website does not offer backup storage space to the users. Therefore, this website is not a comprehensive solution to the needs of a family of Internet users.
A similarly incomplete solution is a website dedicated solely to data storage. While useful for its limited purpose, it requires the user to find other Internet and networking services elsewhere. For example, backup.com, a service of SkyDesk.com (12348 High Bluff Drive, Suite 200, San Diego, Calif. 92130, 858-720-4400), provides storage space for backup copies of files. After the user subscribes to the service, the user can upload copies of files onto the backup.com website, where they will be stored in case the original files are lost. Aside from data storage and transfer services, however, backup.com does not have any services for a residential network. Moreover, backup.com is not designed to be a link to other sites; therefore, it is not a convenient place for a family to begin browsing the Internet. Also, if an Internet-based data-storage business fails, the subscriber may have difficulty retrieving backed up files.
The current state of residential network services clearly indicates that a comprehensive system for networking home computers and other devices, providing Internet access and residential network access with personalized settings for multiple users, and providing storage space for backup copies of files is needed. Further, there is a need for efficient, personalized interfaces that allow the customer (or authorized user) to manage and control of applications used and/or accessed by the network.

API tool-set for providing services through a residential communication gateway


Disclosed are imidazoles linked to bicyclic heterocyclic groups, as inhibitors of acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT), processes for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions, and their use as antihypercholesterolemics and/or antiatherosclerotics.

Hypercholesterolemia is an established risk factor in the development of atherosclerosis. Therapeutic agents which control the level of serum cholesterol have proven to be effective in the treatment of coronary artery disease. While agents exist that can modulate circulating levels of cholesterol-carrying lipoproteins, these agents have little or no effect on the intestinal absorption of cholesterol. Dietary cholesterol can increase the level of serum cholesterol to levels which place an individual at increased risk for the development or exacerbation of atherosclerosis. Since much of the free or unesterified cholesterol that is absorbed by intestinal mucosal cells must first be esterified by ACAT prior to its incorporation and secretion into the bloodstream in large lipoprotein particles called chylomicrons, inhibition of ACAT can reduce the absorption of dietary cholesterol. In addition, the accumulation and storage of cholesteryl esters in the arterial wall is associated with increased activity of ACAT. Inhibition of the enzyme is expected to inhibit the formation or progression of atherosclerotic lesions in mammals.
There are an increasing number of patents in the literature disclosing compounds which are useful as ACAT inhibitors in particular and antiatherosclerotic agents in general. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,623,662, issued to DeVries on Nov. 18, 1986, discloses ureas and thioureas as ACAT inhibitors useful for reducing the cholesterol ester content of an arterial wall, inhibiting atherosclerotic lesion development, and/or treatment of mammalian hyperlipidemia. U.S. Pat. No. 4,722,927, issued to Holmes on Feb. 2, 1988, discloses disubstituted pyrimidineamides of oleic and linoleic acids as ACAT inhibitors useful for inhibiting intestinal absorption of cholesterol. U.S. Pat. No. 4,824,843, issued to Hoefle et al. on Apr. 25, 1989, and the related U.S. Pat. No. 4,882,357, issued to Creger et al. on Nov. 21, 1989, disclose a series of substituted N-phenyl-2,2-dimethyl-5-aryloxypentanamides, which prevent the intestinal absorption of cholesterol in mammals by inhibiting ACAT. European Patent Application 325,397, filed by Ito on Jul. 26, 1989, discloses a series of compounds consisting of two N-cycloalkyl-N'-arylurea units linked at nitrogen by a dialkylphenyl unit, which are inhibitors of the ACAT enzyme. U.S. Pat. No. 4,868,210, issued to Trivedi on Sep. 19, 1989, and the related European Patent Applications 335,374 filed by Trivedi on Mar. 30, 1988, and 386,487, filed by Trivedi on Feb. 9, 1989, disclose certain N-2,6-dialkyl- or N-2,6-dialkoxlphenyl-N'-arylalkyl ureas as potent inhibitors of ACAT. European Patent Application 354,994, filed by Meguro and Ikeda on Feb. 21, 1990, discloses certain N-aryl-N'-quinolin-4-yl ureas as ACAT inhibitors. European Patent Application 370,740, filed by Jackson et al. on Nov. 21, 1988, discloses ACAT inhibitors similar in composition to those of DeVries (supra).
U.S. Pat. No. 4,900,744, issued to Billheimer, et al. on Feb. 13, 1990, discloses antihypercholesterolemic thioimidazoles of the formula ##STR1## or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 independently are H, F, Cl, CF.sub.3, alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or alkoxy of 1 to 4 carbon atoms;
A is alkylene of 7-20 carbon atoms or an alkenyl residue thereof with no more than 2 double bonds; R.sup.3 is H, CH.sub.3 OR C.sub.2 H.sub.5 ; and PA1 n is 0, 1 or 2, such as 8-(4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazol-2-ylthio)octanoic acid ethyl ester. PA1 R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 can also be taken together as ##STR3## where L is O, O(CH.sub.2 ).sub.m+1 O, or (CH.sub.2).sub.m where m is 0-4; R.sup.3 is H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl, allyl, benzyl, or phenyl optionally substituted with F, Cl, CH.sub.3, CH.sub.3 O, or CF.sub.3 ; PA1 R.sup.4 is straight chain C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl optionally substituted with F; C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 branched alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.7 cycloalkyl, C.sub.4 -C.sub.10 cycloalkylalkyl, C.sub.7 -C.sub.14 araalkyl where the aryl group is optionally substituted with 1 to 3 groups selected from C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl or alkoxy, F, Br, Cl, NH.sub.2, OH, CN, CO.sub.2 H, CF.sub.3, NO.sub.2, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 carboalkoxy, NR.sup.7 R.sup.8, or NCOR.sup.7 ; C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 alkenyl or alkynyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 perfluoroalkyl, phenyl optionally substituted with 1 to 3 groups selected from C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 branched alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy, F, Br, Cl, NH.sub.2, OH, CN, CO.sub.2 H, CF.sub.3, NO.sub.2, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 carboalkoxy, NR.sup.7 R.sup.8 or NCOR.sup.7 ; pentafluorophenyl, benzyl optionally substituted with 1 to 3 groups selected from C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl or alkoxy, F, Br, Cl, NH.sub.2, OH, CN, CO.sub.2 H, CF.sub.3, NO.sub.2, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 carboalkoxy, NR.sup.7 R.sup.8 or NCOR.sup.7 ; 2-, 3- or 4-pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, or biphenyl; PA1 R.sup.5 is H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl, or benzyl; PA1 R.sup.6 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 branched alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.7 cycloalkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 alkenyl or alkynyl, phenyl optionally substituted with 1 to 3 groups selected from C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl or alkoxy, F, Br, Cl, NH.sub.2, OH, CN, CO.sub.2 H, CF.sub.3, NO.sub.2, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 carboalkoxy, NR.sup.7 R.sup.8 or NCOR.sup.7 ; pentafluorophenyl, benzyl optionally substituted with 1 to 3 groups selected from C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl or alkoxy, F, Br, Cl, NH.sub.2, OH, CN, CO.sub.2 H, CF.sub.3, NO.sub.2, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 carboalkoxy, NR.sup.8 R.sup.9 or NCOR.sup.7 ; PA1 R.sup.7 and R.sup.8 are selected independently from H or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl; PA1 X is S(O).sub.r, O, NR.sup.5, CH.sub.2 ; PA1 A is C.sub.2 -C.sub.10 alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.10 branched alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.10 alkenyl, or C.sub.3 -C.sub.10 alkynyl; PA1 Y is O, S, H.sub.2, NH; PA1 Z is NHR.sup.4 , OR.sup.4 , or R.sup.4 ; PA1 r is 0-2, PA1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. PA1 R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each represents hydrogen, halogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylthio, alkylamino, carboxy or alkoxycarbonyl; PA1 a and b are 0, 1, or 2; PA1 and Het represents a heterocyclic group containing from 5 to 7 ring atoms chosen from carbon, nitrogen, sulfur and oxygen atoms, and salts thereof. PA1 W represents alkylene; PA1 Y represents an optionally substituted 5- or 6-membered unsaturated ring containing 1 to 4 nitrogen atoms; PA1 k is 0, 1, or 2; PA1 Q is a straight or branched alkylene group; PA1 Z is a hydrogen or a substituent group; PA1 and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. PA1 R.sup.7 is H, alkali metal ion, alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or benzyl; and PA1 n is 0 to 10. PA1 R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 independently are H, F, Cl, CH.sub.3, CH.sub.3 O, or CF.sub.3 ; PA1 R.sup.4 is H, Na, K, CH.sub.3, CH.sub.3 CH.sub.2, (CH.sub.3).sub.2 CH, CH.sub.3 (CH.sub.2).sub.2, or butyl; PA1 A is C(CH.sub.3).sub.2, CH(CH.sub.2).sub.m CH.sub.3, (CH.sub.2).sub.n, or (CH.sub.2).sub.n-2 CH(CH.sub.3 ); PA1 m is 0 to 8; and PA1 n is 2 to 10. PA1 R.sup.6 and R.sup.7 independently are H, OH, saturated or unsaturated alkyl, cycloalkyl, or hydroxyalkyl of 1 to 10 carbon atoms, ##STR11## R.sup.8, R.sup.9, R.sup.10, R.sup.11, R.sup.12 and R.sup.13 independently are H, F, Cl, Br, NO.sub.2, CH.sub.3 CONH, OH, alkyl of 1 to 3 carbon atoms, CF.sub.3, and alkoxy of 1 to 3 carbon atoms, with the proviso that R.sup.8 and R.sup.9, R.sup.10 and R.sup.11, or R.sup.12 and R.sup.13 taken together represent methylenedioxy; PA1 R.sup.14 is alkyl of 1 to 2 carbon atoms; PA1 m and n taken together represent a whole number from 0 to 9; PA1 p is 0 to 2; PA1 s is 0 to 2; and PA1 t is 0 or 2. PA1 R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 independently are H, C.sub.6 H.sub.5, or alkyl of 1 to 9 carbon atoms; PA1 R.sup.6 is alkyl, cycloalkyl, or hydroxyalkyl of 1 to 20 carbon atoms, H, alkali metal if X is --COO--, 1-phenethyl, or ##STR14## R.sup.7 is H, OH if X is --CONR.sup.7 --, or alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms; R.sup.8, R.sup.9, R.sup.10 and R.sup.11 are independently H, Cl, F, Br, NO.sub.2, CH.sub.3 CONH, OH, alkyl of 1 to 3 carbon atoms, CF.sub.3, or alkoxy of 1 to 3 carbons, or R.sup.8 and R.sup.9 or R.sup.10 and R.sup.11 taken together represent methylene-dioxy; PA1 X is a bond, O, OC(.dbd.O)O, C(.dbd.O)O, CONR.sup.7, OC(.dbd.O), or OC(.dbd.O)NR.sup.7 ; PA1 m and n taken together represent a whole number from 0 to 9; PA1 p is 0 to 2; PA1 s is 0 to 2; and PA1 t is 0 or 2. PA1 X.sub.1 is H, lower alkyl, hydroxyl, trifluoromethyl, benzyl, halogen, amino, or ##STR16## X.sub.2 is H, or when X.sub.1 is lower alkyl, lower alkyl or halogen; k is 0 to 2 and m is 2 or 3, provided that the sum of k and m is 3 or 4; PA1 Y is O, S, or NH; PA1 E is NR.sup.2 ; PA1 R.sup.1 is H, lower alkyl or di-lower alkyl amino-lower alkyl; PA1 and R.sup.2 is H, nitro, or cyano. PA1 X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 may be H, lower alkyl, trifluoromethyl, hydroxyl, halogen, amino, or X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 and at least two of the atoms comprising A may form a further ring; PA1 k is 0 to 2 and m is 2 or 3, provided that the sum of k and m is 3 or 4; PA1 E is O, S, or NR.sup.2 ; PA1 R.sup.1 is H, lower alkyl, acyl, or dialkylamino-alkyl; PA1 and R.sup.2 is H, NO.sub.2, CN, alkansulphonyl or arenesulphonyl. PA1 Q is selected from either CH.sub.2, or an aromatic ring selected from the group consisting of benzene, pyridine, pyrrole, furan, or thiophene, said aromatic ring being connected through two ring substitution sites and said aromatic ring being optionally substituted with 1-3 groups independently selected from F, Cl, Br, OH, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 branched alkyl, S(O).sub.t (C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl), NO.sub.2, CF.sub.3, or NR.sup.15 R.sup.16 ; PA1 G is a bi- or tri-cyclic aromatic heterocyclic group, composed of five- and six-membered rings, containing at least one nitrogen atom, and being optionally substituted at valence-allowed sites with 1-3 groups independently selected from F, Cl, Br, OH, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 branched alkyl, S(O).sub.t (C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl), NO.sub.2, CF.sub.3, or NR.sup.15 R.sup.16 ; PA1 R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are selected independently from H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 branched alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.7 cycloalkyl, C.sub.4 -C.sub.10 cycloalkylalkyl, C.sub.7 -C.sub.14 aralkyl, pyridyl, thienyl, furanyl, or phenyl; each being optionally substituted with 1-3 groups independently selected from F, Cl, Br, OH, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 branched alkyl, S(O).sub.t (C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl), NO.sub.2, CF.sub.3, or NR.sup.15 R.sup.16 ; PA1 R.sup.3 is H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl, allyl, benzyl, or phenyl; each being optionally substituted with F, Cl, CH.sub.3, OCH.sub.3, or CF.sub.3 ; PA1 R.sup.4 is H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.10 alkoxyalkyl, C.sub.5 -C.sub.12 (alkoxy)alkoxy-alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 branched alkyl, C.sub.7 -C.sub.14 phenylalkyl, or phenyl, each being optionally substituted with 1-3 groups selected from C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy, C.sub.2 -C.sub.8 dialkylamino, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkylthio, halogen, or NO.sub.2 ; PA1 R.sup.15 and R.sup.16 are selected independently from H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl, benzyl, or phenyl; PA1 m and n are independently 0-6, and selected so that the total number of CH.sub.2 groups in the chain between X and G is at least 2; and PA1 p and t are independently 0-2. PA1 X and Y are independently S(O).sub.p or NR.sup.4 ; PA1 Q is selected from either CH.sub.2, or an aromatic ring selected from the group consisting of benzene, pyridine, pyrrole, furan or thiophene, said aromatic ring being connected through two ring substitution sites and said aromatic ring being optionally substituted with a 1-3 groups independently selected from C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy, C.sub.2 -C.sub.8 dialkylamino, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkylthio, halogen or NO.sub.2 ; PA1 G is selected from the groups ##STR19## each being optionally substituted at valence-allowed sites with 1-3 groups independently selected from C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy, C.sub.2 -C.sub.8 dialkylamino, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkylthio, halogen, or NO.sub.2 ; PA1 R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are selected independently from H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 branched alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.7 cycloalkyl, or phenyl, each being optionally substituted with 1-3 groups selected from Cl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy, C.sub.2 -C.sub.8 dialkylamino, or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkylthio; PA1 R.sup.3 is H; PA1 R.sup.4 is H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.10 alkoxyalkyl, C.sub.5 -C.sub.12 (alkoxy)alkoxy-alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 branched alkyl, C.sub.7 -C.sub.14 phenylalkyl, or phenyl, each being optionally substituted with 1-3 groups selected from C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy, C.sub.2 -C.sub.8 dialkylamino, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkylthio, halogen, or NO.sub.2 ; PA1 m and n are independently 0-6, and selected so that the total number of CH.sub.2 groups in the chain between X and G is at least 2; and PA1 p is 0-2; PA1 R.sup.5 is H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.7 branched alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkylthio, or NR.sup.6 R.sup.7 ; PA1 R.sup.6 and R.sup.7 are independently selected from the groups H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, or phenyl. PA1 X and Y are independently S(O).sub.p or NR.sup.4 ; PA1 Q is selected from either CH.sub.2, benzene, furan or thiophene, wherein the benzene, furan, or thiophene are unsubstituted except for the connection through two ring substitution sites; PA1 G is selected from the groups ##STR20## each being optionally substituted at valence-allowed sites with 1-3 groups independently selected from C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy, C.sub.2 -C.sub.8 dialkylamino, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkylthio, halogen or NO.sub.2 ; PA1 R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are selected independently from C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 branched alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.7 cycloalkyl, or phenyl, phenyl being optionally substituted with one of CH.sub.3 O, (CH.sub.3).sub.2 N, or CH.sub.3 S; PA1 R.sup.3 is H; PA1 R.sup.4 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.10 alkoxyalkyl, C.sub.5 -C.sub.12 (alkoxy)alkoxyalkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 branched alkyl, or phenyl; PA1 m is 1-3; PA1 n is 0-3; PA1 p is 0; PA1 R.sup.5 is H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.7 branched alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkylthio, or NR.sup.6 R.sup.7 ; PA1 R.sup.6 and R.sup.7 are independently selected from the groups H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, or phenyl.
European Patent Application EP-A-372,445, filed by Billheimer et al. on Dec. 3, 1989, discloses compounds of formulae ##STR2## R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are selected independently from H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 branched alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.7 cycloalkyl, C.sub.4 -C.sub.10 cycloalkylalkyl, C.sub.7 -C.sub.14 araalkyl, 2-, 3- or 4-pyridinyl, 2-thienyl, 2-furanyl, phenyl optionally substituted with 1 to 3 groups selected from F, Cl, Br, OH, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 branched alkyl, CH.sub.3 S(O).sub.r, NO.sub.2, CF.sub.3, or NR.sup.7 R.sup.8 ; or
These compounds are potent in vitro inhibitors of ACAT and are therefore potential antihypercholesterolemic agents.
International Application WO 91/09021 of Bridge et al., discloses compounds of the formula: ##STR4## wherein A represents methylene or a group --CH.sub.2 --A'--CH.sub.2 --, wherein
A' represents a direct bond, linear alkanediyl, alkenediyl or alkynediyl, hydroxymethylene, or optionally substituted phenylene;
These compounds are disclosed to be inhibitors of ACAT useful for the treatment of conditions such as atherosclerosis, hyperlipidemia, cholesterol ester shortage disease and atheroma in vein grafts.
International Application WO 91/10662 of Bridge et al., discloses compounds of the formula [DPIM]--S(O).sub.p --W--Y, wherein: ##STR5## wherein R and R.sup.1 each represents hydrogen, halogen, alkyl or alkoxy; p is 0, 1, or 2;
and pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts thereof.
Such compounds are disclosed to be inhibitors of ACAT.
International Application WO 91/13876 of Bridge et al., discloses compounds of the formula: ##STR6## wherein R.sup.1 is hydrogen or one or more substituents;
Such compounds are disclosed to be inhibitors of ACAT.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,460,598, issued to Lautenschlager et al. on Jul. 17, 1984, discloses compounds of the formula: ##STR7## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 independently are H, F, Cl, Br, I, alkyl, alkoxy, or CF.sub.3, with the proviso that one or several of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4, or R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 taken together represent methylenedioxy;
The synthesis and the use of these compounds in the treatment of thromboembolic, inflammatory and/or atherosclerotic diseases is disclosed.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,654,358, issued to Lautenschlager et al. on Mar. 31, 1987, discloses compounds of the formula: ##STR8## wherein k is 0, 1, or 2,
The synthesis and the use of these compounds in the treatment of inflammatory diseases, diseases of lipid metabolism, and/or hyperlipidemic diseases is disclosed.
German Laid Open Application No. DE 3504679, Lautenschlager et al., published Aug. 14, 1986, discloses compounds of the formula: ##STR9## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 independently are H, alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or ##STR10## R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 independently are H, C.sub.6 H.sub.5, or alkyl of 1 to 9 carbon atoms;
The synthesis and the use of these compounds in the treatment of thromboembolic, inflammatory, atherosclerotic, and lipid metabolism diseases in general is disclosed.
German Laid Open Application No. DE 3504680, Lautenschlager et al., published Aug. 14, 1986, discloses compounds of the formula: ##STR12## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 independently are H, alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or ##STR13## R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 can be taken together with the carbon atoms in the 4 and 5 position of the imidazole ring to represent a carbocyclic five- or six-membered aromatic or partially hydrogenated ring which may be substituted by R.sup.8 or R.sup.9 ;
The synthesis and the use of these compounds in the treatment of thromboembolic, inflammatory, atherosclerotic, and lipid metabolism diseases in general is disclosed.
Durant et al., U.S. Pat. 4,228,291, issued Oct. 14, 1980, teaches compounds of the formula: ##STR15## wherein: A together with the carbon atom form an unsaturated heterocyclic nucleus which may be an imidazole, pyrazole, pyrimidine, pyrazine, pyridazine, thiazole, isothiazole, oxazole, isoxazole, triazole, thiadiazole, benzimidazole, or 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-imidazol[1,5-a]pyridine ring;
The compounds are said to be antihistamines of the H.sub.2 receptor blocking type, as well as having anti-inflammatory activity.
White, U.S. Pat. 4,413,130, Nov. 1, 1983, discloses histamine H.sub.2 receptor antagonists of the formula: ##STR17## wherein
A together with the carbon atom form an unsaturated heterocyclic nucleus which may be an imidazole, pyridine, thiazole, isothiazole, oxazole, isoxazole, pyrazole, triazole, thiadiazole, pyrimidine, pyrazine or pyridazine;
There are no known literature references disclosing the imidazoles of this invention, their use as ACAT inhibitors, or their use to lower cholesterol or in the treatment of atherosclerosis.

Imidazoles linked to bicyclic heterocyclic groups for the treatment of atherosclerosis

The Du Pont Merck Pharmaceutical Company


An electrical connector of the present invention includes at least an wafer (10) mounting a plurality of conductive terminals (30) therein and a plurality of through holes (106) thereon and a frame member (20) receiving the at least a wafer (10). The frame member (20) defines a plurality of retaining portions (206) corresponding with the through holes (106). The retaining portions (206) are retained in the through holes (106) and each retaining portion (206) has a hollow structure (207).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a socket connector, and more particularly to a socket connector configured by discrete wafers assembled to a frame so as to effectively reduce warpage resulted from deformation of the plastic.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Sockets for mounting electronic devices such as integrated circuit chips on a printed circuit board are known. The socket may be mounted to the printed circuit board, while the integrated circuit chip is snap-fitted into the socket. One advantage of this arrangement is that, unlike integrated circuit chips that are soldered directly on the printed circuit board, an integrated circuit chip that is mounted in a socket can be easily disconnected from the printed circuit board for testing and replacement. However, the relatively dense layout and small size of electrical contacts on some integrated circuit chips necessitates precise alignment both between the socket and the printed circuit board, and between the integrated circuit chip and the socket.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,679,707 issued to Brodsky et al on Jan. 20, 2004 discloses a land grid array (LGA) connector that is formed from a plurality of sections. Specifically, each LGA section includes at least one set of fingers. Each set of fingers interconnects with a set of fingers of another section to form the LGA connector. By forming the LGA connector in this manner a maximum quantity of input/output (I/O) contacts can be provided.
The connector in this manner often comprises a plurality of wafers assembled on a frame member by a plurality of retaining members. The retaining members are often made of solid rivets, and the solid rivets need a large force to be pressed into through holes defined on the frame member and the friction between the rivet and edges of the hole is not enough. Hence, a new design which can overcome the problem is required.

IC socket connector configured by discrete wafers assembled to a frame


A flux-switching linear motor with at least two phases P1, P2, P3 has a moving rig, two permanent magnets 9, 10 and a switching mechanism. The moving rig 1 has at least two field coils 7. Each field coil 7 surrounds a magnetic armature 8 defining moving magnetic poles. The two permanent magnets 9, 10 are magnetized in opposite directions, transverse to the axis of a guidance stator tube 1. The stator tube 1 has magnetic poles 2 disposed along at least one of its walls so as to be successively facing the moving magnetic poles during the travel of the moving rig. The switching mechanism switches the direction of the current in the coils. The permanent magnets 9, 10 are disposed outside the coils and magnetized along an axis parallel to the axis of the coil. The stator magnetic poles include pieces 2 made of magnetic material fixed in a guidance tube made of amagnetic material. The dimension of the magnets as measured along their magnetic axis is chosen so as to create narrow gaps to allow movement of the magnets past the stator poles.

The invention relates to a flux-switching linear motor with at least two phases, consisting of a moving rig comprising at least two field coils each surrounding a magnetic armature defining moving magnetic poles and two permanent magnets magnetized in opposite senses, of a guidance stator tube exhibiting magnetic poles disposed along the stator tube, on at least one wall of the stator tube in such a way as to be successively facing the moving magnetic poles during the travel of the moving rig, and of means for switching the sense of the current in the coils.
Most of the known linear motors consist of a moving rig comprising several coils travelling past one or two rows of permanent magnets carried by a rail. Such a motor is described for example in patent application EP 0 161 677. In this motor, the magnets are disposed, with alternating poles, along the whole of one of the inside faces of an amagnetic member, made of aluminum for example, the succession of magnets defining a spacing of periodic structure. In its simplest form, the moving rig consists of two coils fitted with wipers for the DC current supply thereof, switched by two tracks disposed on the opposite inside face of the member. The coils are offset by a quarter of a spacing and supplied in phase quadrature. According to another embodiment, the moving rig consists of three coils offset by a third of a spacing and supplied with currents offset by 120xc2x0.
Another exemplary embodiment is described in patent application GB 2 233 835. In this embodiment, the moving rig, consisting of three coils, overlaps the fixed magnets disposed in the plane of symmetry of a U-profile member.
These structures therefore require magnets over the entire length of the path of the moving rig, although only some of them are active at a given instant. If high-performance permanent magnets are used, the cost of such an installation is considerable and becomes all the more unacceptable the greater the length of the installation. The use of ferrites would enable this cost to be made tolerable, but at the price of mediocre performance. Moreover, simply reducing the length by sawing the linear rail, in the case of a necessary adaptation on-site, becomes a complex operation which requires the prior dismantling of the magnets and careful cleaning of the entire rail after operation. Another drawback appears when the motor is working in an industrial environment: the metal particles encountered in such an environment are attracted by the magnets and interfere with proper operation of the motor.
The motor described in patent EP 0 667 991 remedies these drawbacks. The guidance tube in which the moving rig travels no longer comprises magnets, but is itself made of a ferromagnetic material and is cut in such a way as to exhibit stator poles disposed in two opposite rows, the poles of one row being offset linearly relative to the poles of the other row. Each phase of the moving rig comprises a field coil surrounding an armature consisting of three pole pieces between which are disposed two permanent magnets of opposite polarities, magnetized along the direction of travel of the moving rig. The stator poles and moving poles are arranged in such a way that in a first of two positions of conjunction of the armature, two first moving poles, each belonging to a respective one of the pole pieces, coincide with two stator poles belonging to two different rows of stator poles, while the other two moving poles are offset with respect to the stator poles, whereas in the second of the two positions of conjunction, the other two moving poles coincide in turn with stator poles, the first two moving poles being in turn offset with respect to the stator poles.
Whereas such a motor has the advantage of comprising no fixed magnets, the tubular form of the stator makes it complex to manufacture as far as the precision required to reduce the size of the gap is concerned. Moreover, the mechanical linking of the moving rig to the driven object requires that the stator tube be split on one of its sides, over its entire length, this impeding its magnetic efficiency. Furthermore, the loads applied to the pole pieces of the armature are asymmetric, thereby engendering one or more torsional couples on the moving rig. This drawback makes it essential to considerably rigidify the structure and/or to increase the gap. It is noted, furthermore, that the magnetic leakages existing between the moving rig and the noncut sides of the stator tube degrade the performance of the motor. Finally, the stator tube opposes the bending operations required in order to produce direct actuators, even in the case of a high radius of curvature.
What is needed is a device that remedies the abovementioned drawbacks. In particular what is needed is a way the magnetic efficiency of the stator, to reduce the magnetic leakages and to make it possible to produce curves by bending the guidance stator tube.
The linear motor according to the invention is characterized in that the permanent magnets are disposed outside the coils of the moving rig and that they are magnetized along an axis parallel to the axis, of the coil, and in that the stator magnetic poles consist of pieces made of magnetic material fixed in a guidance tube made of amagnetic material, the dimension of the magnets as measured along their magnetic axis being chosen in such a way as to create narrow gaps for the movement of the magnets past the stator poles.
The stator pole pieces are preferably disposed pairwise, on either side of the axis of the guidance tube, and the dimension of the permanent magnets as measured along their magnetic axis corresponds to the distance separating two opposite stator pole pieces. This disposition has the advantage of eliminating the torsional couple on the moving rig.
According to two embodiments of the invention, the magnets of opposite polarity are disposed symmetrically, either (variant 1) with respect to a plane containing the axis of the coil and a perpendicular to the direction of the stator tube, or (variant 2) with respect to a plane containing the axis of the coil and the axis of the stator tube.
The guidance tube can consist of a U-profile member, as in the case of linear motors with fixed magnets, thereby making it possible to link the moving rig mechanically to a driven object without prejudicing performance. The loads on the moving rig are perfectly symmetrical so that there is no torsional couple. Consequently, modest guidance is sufficient to keep the moving rig in the central position in the guidance tube during its motion. Furthermore, nothing prevents the two or three phases from being articulated either via a ball and socket joint, or simply by utilizing the link between the pairs of alternating magnets in direct contact, in the case of variant 1. A modest gap between two phases, created by a central stud, allows a rotation of one of the phases with respect to the other. In this case, two neighboring field coils are linked by two magnets of opposite polarities.
According to a simplified embodiment, the stator pole pieces are disposed on a single wall of the guidance stator tube and the moving rig is equipped with a magnetic short-circuit plate on the opposite side from the stator pole pieces. The effect of this plate is to create an image of the stator poles.
The neighboring coils may share a common magnet. For a three-phase setup, according to variant 1 or according to the simplified embodiment, the two common magnets are then polarized in opposite senses.
In all cases, the switching of the current in the field coils can be achieved through an AC or DC current supply, as described in the prior art, in particular in patent EP 0 667 991. The switching can be achieved by conducting tracks of suitable shape, as described in patent EP 0 161 677 or be achieved by a switching device mounted on the moving rig, as described in patent EP 0 667 991.
The appended drawing represents, by way of example, a few embodiments of the motor according to the invention.


The invention comprises methods, systems, and devices for angular printing of slab-like inclined portions. Each printed portion overlaps the immediately preceding portion and in combination, the portions form a horizontal structure, such as a roof, floor, a formation of coupled slabs, and others. The horizontal structure may be designed based on desired shape and also based on the setting properties of the printing material. The inclined portions are strong enough to withstand the weight of the structure, so long as guidelines are followed for the required length of inclined portions based on the setting properties of the printing material. The strength of the resulting structure is maximized via the inclined structure making up each layer.

3D printing machines and methods known from the prior art have been much improved over the years in terms of the materials that can be used and the quality features. However, no satisfactory approaches to increasing the volume capacity while maintaining the same quality standards have yet been found. In addition, previous suggestions on ways to increase the process speed were unable to meet the requirements of higher batch production or even mass production, since many different parameters have to be harmonized and coordinated, which has proven to be difficult. Up to now, this problem has remained unsolved, even though manufacturers have been working with 3D printing methods for decades by now.
There has therefore long been the need for a 3D printing method and corresponding printing machines to be available in order to use the advantages of 3D printing while simultaneously meeting the volume and quality requirements of large batches as well as the requirement for a stronger structure created in less time.
The prior art has failed to achieve the following properties: fast printing speed, fast setting time, strength of structure is significantly greater under its own weight than a structure that is printed by any currently known methods.


The invention relates to a wire antenna suitable for operating in at least one frequency band, including a plurality of stacked layers, including at least one radiating element placed on a support layer, said support layer being placed on a spacing substrate placed on a reflective plane, characterised in that it includes at least one resistive grille having a resistive surface with predetermined resistance, including at least one set of repetitive, non-contiguous empty patterns, said grille being placed between the spacing substrate and the reflective plane.

In an electromagnetic monitoring system, for example airborne or naval, the antennas, which are used either individually or in a goniometric array, must operate in a very wide frequency band and in a circular, linear or double linear polarization, corresponding to the ranges of interest of respective electromagnetic signals in frequency and polarization.
These antennas must have the smallest possible size and, in particular, a low thickness, in particular to be more easily integrated on carriers. They must also exhibit radiation performance (gain, quality of radiation patterns, etc.) that is reproducible from one antenna to another, in particular for network applications, or to allow replacement during a maintenance operation.
In this context, it is known to use wire antennas. In such an antenna, the radiating element consists of a metal wire which is shaped to describe, in a so-called radiation surface, a pattern of the spiral type or of the log-periodic type.
In an antenna of the spiral type, the metal wire is wound on itself so as to form, in top view, a spiral. This spiral may, for example, be an Archimedean spiral, a logarithmic spiral, or another type.
In an antenna of the log-periodic type, the metal wire is shaped so as to include, in top view, several strands. Each strand is inscribed in an angular sector, extends radially and has indentations. The length of each tooth and the spacing between two successive teeth of one strand follow a logarithmic progression.
In practice, in planar technology, the metal wire as the radiating element is produced by etching a thin metal layer, for example a layer of copper with a thickness of between 2 and 20 μm (micrometers), deposited on a thin and insulating support (dielectric) layer.
In the prior art, first wire antennas with an absorbing cavity are known, in which the radiating element, etched on a flat or shaped radiating surface, is located above an absorbing cavity delimited by metal walls, and filled with a material absorbing electromagnetic waves. The radiating element is able to emit a wave which propagates towards the front of the radiating surface (away from the absorbing cavity) and a wave which propagates towards the rear of the radiating surface (towards the absorbent cavity). The latter is absorbed by the absorbent cavity.
Such an antenna is very bulky because of the dimensions of the absorbent cavity. It also has low efficiency since half of the power emitted by the radiating element is absorbed in the absorbent cavity. Finally, the reproducibility of the radio performance of such an antenna is difficult to obtain, due to a lack of control over the electromagnetic characteristics of the absorbent material filling the cavity.
In a second wire antenna according to the prior art, the radiating elements are placed on a charged electromagnetic structure with a forbidden band, called LEBG (for Loaded Electromagnetic Band Gap), on a lower ground plane. In such an antenna, a surface composed of periodic metal patterns connected by resistors is placed in the cavity of the antenna. In this antenna, the wave emitted backwards by the radiating element is absorbed in a thin layer consisting of a metallic reflective plane topped with metal and the LEBG material charged by resistors.
This solution makes it possible to obtain broadband antennas of low thickness, and having improved radiation stability. However, due to the absorption of surface waves, the radiation performance is similar to that of absorbent cavity antennas.
In a third wire antenna of the prior art, the radiating element is etched on a high impedance surface (HIS), resting on spaced periodic metal patterns, placed in the cavity of the antenna and connected to the ground plane by metallized bonds, also called vias. The efficiency band of such an antenna in which the interference between the incident wave and the reflected wave is constructive corresponds approximately to one octave. Therefore, this type of antenna is limited to narrow bands of operation, and does not allow simultaneous coverage of a multi-octave frequency band.
In a fourth wire antenna of the prior art, described in patent application FR3017493, it has been proposed to insert, between the radiating element with a wide frequency band and the spacing substrate layer, one or more layers with sets of periodic resistive patterns, either with a single set of resistive patterns, or several sets of nested resistive patterns. In patent application FR3052600, such a layer comprises resistive patterns having resistance values varying progressively between a central antenna point and an outer edge of the antenna. The resistive patterns are placed in the near field of the radiating element of the antenna. The antennas obtained are compact and allow a large gain to be obtained over a wide frequency band, without significant ripple of the radiation patterns.
However, these antennas exhibit surface waves (or creeping waves) that propagate through the lower ground plane of the antenna cavity, and beyond onto the metal support on which the antenna is mounted. These surface waves, associated with structural edge effects, combine with the main electric field radiated by the antenna and result in a degradation of the quality of the radiation pattern. In fact, wave effects, all the more important as the frequency is high, appear in the main lobe of the radiation pattern. Thus, the antenna gain is degraded, as well as the half-power angular aperture for the main beam lobe.
When the antennas are used in a direction finder array, there is a degradation in the accuracy of determining the angle of arrival and an increase in mutual coupling between antennas.
The aim of the invention is to correct the aforementioned problems, by providing a wire antenna that is compact and capable of operating in a wide frequency band for which the effects of surface waves are controlled in order to eliminate the defects mentioned above.


Disclosed is a novel photosensitizer based on polymer derivatives-photosensitizer conjugates for photodynamic therapy capable of being selectively accumulated in cancerous tissues and producing singlet oxygen or free radical by laser irradiation. The polymer derivatives-photosensitizer conjugates for photodynamic therapy are prepared as nano-sized particles, and have excellent selection and accumulation ratio for cancerous tissues. The photosensitizer conjugates can produce singlet oxygen or free radical by a specific laser wavelength. Owing to the excellent selection and accumulation ratio for cancerous tissues, the conjugates minimizes photo-cytotoxicity of the conventional photosensitizer having a low molecular amount. Accordingly, the conjugates are very useful as a photosensitizes for photodynamic therapy with reduced side effects and excellent therapeutic effectiveness.

Generally, a photodynamic therapy is one of the most spotlighted therapies for cancer. According to the photodynamic therapy, once a photosensitizer sensitive to light is put into a human body under light irradiated from outside, abundant oxygen in the human's body and the external light chemically react with each other, thereby producing singlet oxygen or free radical. The singlet oxygen or free radical serve to destroy each kind of disease tissues or cancer cells.
The photodynamic therapy has advantages that only cancer cells can be removed with maintaining normal cells, and local anesthesia can be simply performed with excluding danger from general anesthesia. The photodynamic therapy has been intensively researched since 1980's, and clinical surgeries thereof were approved in 1990's in Canada, Germany, Japan, etc. The photodynamic therapy is being world-widely used as therapy for esophageal cancer was approved in January 1996, and therapy for early lung cancer was approved in September in 1997 by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
However, the photodynamic therapy being currently utilized can not be used to voluminous tumor due to limitation of light transmittance, and causes side effects of photo-cytotoxicity since photosensitizer slowly reacts with a human body. Furthermore, since photosensitizer concentration inside tumor is low, therapeutic effectiveness is not enhanced. The photosensitizer may cause side effects by being accumulated in a human body for a long time, rather than serve as a photosensitizer for a therapy. Accordingly, required is a novel photosensitizer capable of reducing side effects by enhancing selection degree for tumor and capable of enhancing therapeutic effectiveness by laser irradiation.
Accordingly, the present inventors have developed a novel photosensitizer that has high selection and accumulation ratio for cancerous tissues, and reduces the conventional photo-cytotoxicity.

Photosensitizer based on polymer derivatives-photosensitizer conjugates for photodynamic therapy

Korea Institute of Science and Technology


The present invention provides a fat metabolism improving agent comprising rose hips or an extract therefrom as an active ingredient. This fat metabolism improving agent is very safe and has a superior body weight reducing effect.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fat metabolism improving agent. More specifically, the present invention relates to a fat metabolism improving agent for reducing fat in the body, in particular, fat accumulated in the viscera (visceral fat) and fat accumulated in the liver (or for improving fatty liver) by activating metabolism of lipid in the liver, which is a site for consuming fat accumulated in the body.
2. Description of the Related Art
Obesity is not only a simple cosmetic problem but also one of important risk factors in lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes, fatty liver, hyperlipemia, and hypertension. In other words, obesity is regarded as a preliminary step leading to development of these lifestyle-related diseases. As a method for treating or preventing obesity, dietetic treatment, therapeutic exercise, pharmacotherapy, and the like have been proposed or practiced. However, all of these methods impose physical and mental pains, e.g., side effects such as disorders due to malnutrition and disturbance of motility, hunger sensation, and stress. Thus, it is difficult to preserve the effectiveness of these methods, and furthermore, these methods often are harmful to health.
For preventing obesity, numerous attempts to prevent obesity through treatments or preventive treatments in the medical field or foods consumed on a daily basis have been made heretofore. For example, as materials having an effect of promoting metabolism or consuming of fat or an effect of suppressing accumulation of body fat, extract from algae (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2000-72642), fruit polyphenol (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 10-330278), conjugated polyene fatty acid (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2000-355538), mixture of specified amino acids and a xanthine derivative (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 10-330264), phospholipid from soybean and egg yolk (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 10-84880), diterpene compound (Japanese National Publication No. 2001-508801), and the like have been proposed.
However, none of these materials can provide sufficiently satisfactory obesity preventing effect or fat metabolism improving effect because, for example, the obesity preventing effect or the fat metabolism improving effect is actually small when the materials are used alone; the materials are based on the results of impractical, brief experiments; and it is necessary to ingest the materials in a large amount in regular dietary patterns.


An apparatus for positioning a port within an aperture of a web of film, including a chain loop having a plurality of forks for releasably retaining ports. The chain loop is fed around a first, a second, and a third rotatable sprocket. The first and second rotatable sprockets are coupled to a frame and located in a substantially aligned relationship to each other, perpendicular to a portion of the film, the third sprocket is located at a position offset from a plane defined by the first and second sprockets. The first and second sprockets can be moved from a first position to a second position and from the second position to the first position. During operation, the rotation of the third sprocket is releasably prevented, to accurately regulate the rotation of the first sprocket an indexer is provided.

The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for positioning a port in an aperture in a web of film in a packaging machine.
Packaging machines are utilized to package a variety of products in flexible containers. One method for packaging a product in a flexible container is to utilize a form, fill, seal packaging machine. To this end, form, fill, seal packaging machines are utilized to seal pharmaceuticals, dairy products, wine, food stuffs, cosmetics, and other products in flexible containers. The form, fill, seal packaging machine provides an apparatus for packaging these products in an expedient manner.
In one type of form, fill, seal packaging machine, a web of heat sealable film is passed over a former or mandrel that forms the film into a tubular shape. To effect a tubular shape, the film is folded longitudinally and heat sealed along abutting longitudinal edges. The tubular-shaped film is then passed around a tubular fill system that deposits the product to be packaged into the tubular-shaped film. To create individual packages (hereinafter "bags"), the web of film must be sealed across its width. These side seals are typically created by a sealer that creates the second seal for one bag while making the first seal for the next bag. After the side seals are created, the web of film can then be severed between the side seals to create individual bags.
In certain arts, and for certain packaging needs, it is necessary to create flexible containers filled with fluids that have attached thereto ports. As used herein, the term "ports" includes, without limitation, fitments, valves, and other means for accessing the fluid contained within the container. The ports provide a means for accessing the container, either utilizing a spike or needle, or through a valve located on the port. The ports typically include a tubular portion for receiving a spike or needle. The tubular portion extends from a base or flange that is sealed to a web of film.
In one method for creating flexible containers having ports in a form, fill, seal packaging machine, during the form, fill, seal process the web of film is punched by means for creating an opening or aperture in the film. To secure the port to the film, the tubular portion of the port is positioned within the opening and the base is sealed to the web of film. It should be noted, however, that the film can be prepunched and fed into the packaging machine in a prepunched state.
As stated above, to seal the fitments to the film, the fitments must be delivered in juxtaposition to the film and the ports inserted through the openings or apertures in the film. It is known to deliver ports from a storage area to a conveying mechanism, such as a chain loop having a plurality of forks for releasably retaining the ports and by utilizing a number of pneumatic cylinders to move the ports from the chain loop and insert them into an aperture in the film. See, for example, PCT published patent application PCT/FR87/00169. For example, the unit might use two pneumatic cylinders to move the port first away from the conveying mechanism and then toward and through a hole in the film. This results in a three-step process of moving the ports to the elevator, transferring the ports to the elevator, and then urging a port upwardly into an aperture in the film.
This prior method can result in the misalignment of the ports in the aperture in the web of film and difficulty in transferring the port from the apparatus to the film. Accordingly, the process can result in ports not being properly aligned in the film or with respect to the aperture in the web of film and therefore, when the ports are sealed to the film, a secure seal may not be effectuated or the ports may be misaligned within the film.
There is therefore a need for an improved method and apparatus for positioning a port in an aperture in a web of film so that the port can be sealed thereto.

Apparatus for positioning a port in an aperture in a web of film


A method of producing aluminum can sheet having high strength and low earing characteristics comprises providing an aluminum alloy ingot and then hot rolling the ingot in a single-stand hot reversing mill to produce a first intermediate gauge sheet. The first intermediate gauge sheet is then cold rolled to produce a second intermediate gauge sheet. This second intermediate gauge sheet is passed through a heat source as a single web so that the second intermediate gauge sheet is continuously annealed. After heating, the second intermediate gauge sheet is quenched and coiled again. Finally, the coiled second intermediate gauge sheet is cold rolled again to produce the final gauge aluminum can sheet having high strength and low earing characteristics.

This invention relates to a method of producing aluminum can sheet having high strength and low earing characteristics and more specifically to hot rolling aluminum can sheet ingot in a single-stand reversing hot finish mill and subsequently cold rolling using an intermediate gauge continuous anneal before cold rolling the sheet again to its final thickness.
In the formation of aluminum can sheet into cup-shaped articles, a characteristic known as "earing" manifests itself as a scalloped appearance around the top edge of the formed cup. The scallops, or ears as they are more commonly known, are formed during the deep drawing step in the fabrication of the cup and represent an undesirable feature of the article. In can body stock the cup is subsequently ironed in multiple rings which accentuates the scalloped ears. High earing, therefore, can create transport problems with the cup as well as insufficient trim after ironing, clipped ears, and trimmer jams all of which are unacceptable in can manufacturing. Thus, it is desired to minimize earing in aluminum can sheet in order to avoid these costs and to increase the quality of the cup. See U.S. Pat. No. 3,318,738, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
It is also desirable to provide high strength in aluminum can sheet. Strength is measured by evaluating the yield strength after subjecting tensile specimens to an air temperature of 204.degree. C. (400.degree. F.) for 20 minutes. This process simulates the lacquer curing process of the formed and coated can and is therefore used as an indication of the finished can strength. As is well known, the yield strength measurement is obtained from a tension test in which a specimen is subjected to increasing axial load until it fractures. The yield strength is defined as the stress which will produce a small amount of permanent deformation.
Heretofore, in order to obtain acceptable low earing and high strength characteristics, a multiple-stand hot continuous mill was usually employed. As can be seen in FIG. 1, this involves providing one or more hot reversing or breakdown mills 10 which roll the 12 inch-24 inch thick incoming ingot 12 to an intermediate gauge slab 14. The intermediate gauge slab 14 is then introduced into a series of 3-6 (three are shown in FIG. 1) hot rolling stands 16, collectively referred to as a "hot continuous mill", to reduce the intermediate gauge slab 14 to an approximately 0.1 inch thick final hot rolled sheet 17. The final thickness hot rolled sheet 17 is then coiled on a coil 18. The coil 18 can then optionally be batch annealed at 315.degree. C. to 426.degree. C. (600.degree.-800.degree. F.) for 1-6 hours in a furnace 20. After this the sheet 17 is unwound from coil 18 and cold rolled in a cold rolling mill 22 to produce the final thickness sheet 24 (0.0100-0.0130 inches thick) which is subsequently wound onto coil 26.
The hot continuous mill, while effective in producing low earing and high strength characteristics in the aluminum can sheet, represents a major capital expenditure. In addition, this process requires extensive coordination of the individual roll stands within the continuous mill for successful fabrication. Thus, it would be desirable to eliminate the hot continuous mill in order to substantially reduce the capital expense for producing aluminum can sheet, but only if aluminum can sheet can be produced which has low eating and high strength characteristics.
However, until the invention described herein, attempts to produce aluminum can sheet by eliminating the hot continuous mill have not been successful in producing aluminum can sheet having commercially acceptable low earing and high strength characteristics. These known processes in which the hot continuous mill has been eliminated produce aluminum can sheet having either unacceptably high earing or unacceptably low post-bake yield strength or both.
Thus, there is a need for an improved method of producing aluminum can sheet in a single-stand hot reversing mill that has low earing and high strength characteristics.

Method of producing aluminum can sheet having high strength and low earing characteristics


A process is described to direct heat towards a productive interval of a reservoir during a thermal enhanced oil recovery (EOR) operation. A chemical composition suitable for producing a rigid polymer foam is injected above or below the productive interval. Once in place the temperature of the composition is increased and it reacts to produce a foamed polymer thermal barrier. The temperature can be increased by steam injection or in-situ combustion. After a rigid foam is formed, thermal efficiency is increased by reducing heat losses to non-producing zones during a thermal stimulation.

The efficiency of many thermal projects is a strong function of heat losses to non-productive reservoir regions, referred to as overburden or underburden zones. This heat loss is especially significant in thin reservoirs. The magnitude of heat loss depends on the productive interval thickness and the thermal conductivity of the reservoir. Thermal conductivity is a function of the rock minerals, the degree of consolidation, the wetted state of the rock, and the saturation level of the fluids in the rock. Conservation of heat directed into a formation increases the efficiency of petroleum or hydrocarbon fluids recovery.
Therefore, what is needed is a method to direct heat towards productive intervals of a reservoir so as to recover increased amounts of petroleum or hydrocarbon fluids.

Thermal barriers for enhanced oil recovery


A pressure-difference pickup includes a hydraulic body, in which an overload chamber, with an overload membrane, or diaphragm, is formed, which divides the overload chamber into a first half-chamber and a second half-chamber, wherein the first half-chamber is in communication with a first hydraulic measuring path extending between a first pressure intermediary and a first side of a pressure-difference measuring cell, and the second half-chamber is in communication with a second hydraulic path extending between a second pressure intermediary and a second side of the pressure measuring cell. Additionally, between at least the first half-chamber and the first hydraulic measuring path, there are arranged, on the one hand, a first hydraulic overload element having a snap-disc behavior relative to an excess pressure from the first hydraulic measuring path, and, on the other hand, a first hydraulic balancing path extending parallel to the first hydraulic measuring path. The hydraulic resistance of the first hydraulic balancing path is greater than the resistance of the first hydraulic measuring path.

A pressure-difference pickup of such type is disclosed, for example, in Offenlegungsschrift DE 196 08 321 A1. Pressure-difference pickups include a hydraulic body, in which an overload chamber with an overload membrane is constructed. The overload membrane divides the overload chamber into a high-pressure half and a low-pressure half, with the high-pressure half communicating with a first hydraulic path extending between a first pressure intermediary (including a separating membrane, or diaphragm, over a membrane bed) and the high-pressure side of a pressure measuring cell, and the low-pressure half communicating with a second hydraulic path extending between a second pressure intermediary (including a separating membrane, or diaphragm, on a membrane bed) and the low pressure side of the measuring element.
In the case of large overloads, the transfer liquid is pressed completely out of the pressure intermediary, and the separating membrane comes to rest against the membrane bed. The transfer liquid pushed into the relevant hydraulic path in the case of overload pressure leads to a deflection of the overload membrane, in order to accommodate the additional volume and reduce the overload pressure.
The stiffer the overload membrane, the faster the measurement cell reacts to pressure fluctuations. This is especially important in the case of sensors with pressure intermediary appendages connected with the sensor via a long capillary line. The long capillary line has a large hydraulic resistance and forms with the overload membrane an RC-element. A soft overload membrane with a large hydraulic capacitance can lead to large time constants, i.e. long response times. In principle, however, even a short hydraulic measurement path, coupling a pressure intermediary (perhaps itself even integrated in a hydraulic body) with a pressure measurement cell, forms, together with an overload membrane, an RC-element, which can affect the dynamics of the measurement.
Currently used overload membranes exhibit, to a first approximation, a constant capacitance, i.e. a linear characteristic curve. That is, the volume increase dV is proportional to the pressure change dP. In this way, already in the measuring range, the dynamics of the pressure difference pickup are affected by the overload membrane.

Pressure-difference pickup with dynamic overload protection


This invention relates to a method for preparing a lithium aluminate intercalate (LAI) matrix solid and methods for the selective extraction and recovery of lithium from lithium containing solutions, including brines. The method for preparing the LAI matrix solid includes reacting aluminum hydroxide and a lithium salt for form the lithium aluminate intercalate, which can then be mixed with up to about 20% by weight of a polymer to form the LAI matrix.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to the field of selectively removing and recovering lithium from solution. More particularly, the invention relates to methods and materials for the selective removal and recovery of lithium ions from a lithium ion containing brine, preferably without the substantial removal of other ions from the brine.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Approximately 75 to 80% of lithium chloride and lithium carbonate, and their derivatives, are currently produced from the recovery of lithium from brines, via natural evaporative processes. The invention described herein is applicable to these and other brine sources.
Geothermal brines are of particular interest for a variety of reasons. First, some geothermal brine provide a source of electrical power due to the fact that hot geothermal pools are stored at high pressure underground, which when released to atmospheric pressure, can provide a flash-steam. The flash-stream can be used, for example, to run a power plant. In some geothermal waters and brines, associated binary processes can be used to heat a second fluid, which can provide steam for the generation of electricity without the flashing of the geothermal brine. Additionally, geothermal brines contain various useful elements, which can be recovered and utilized for secondary processes.
It is known that geothermal brines can include various metal ions, particularly alkali and alkaline earth metals, as well as transition metals such as lead, silver and zinc, in varying concentrations, depending upon the source of the brine. Recovery of these metals is potentially important to the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Typically, the economic recovery of metals from natural brines, which may vary widely in composition, depends not only on the specific concentration of the desired metal, but also upon the concentrations of interfering ions, particularly silica, calcium and magnesium, because the presence of the interfering ions will increase recovery costs as additional steps must be taken to remove the interfering ions.
As lithium has gained importance as an element for use in various applications, such as for use in batteries, research has been conducted to develop simple and inexpensive methods for the recovery thereof. For example, Burba previously developed two- and three-layer lithium aluminates for the recovery of lithium from brines. (See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,348,295 and 4,461,714). The prior art methods that employ packed columns for the recovery, however, suffer from many drawbacks, such as shortened lifetimes due to the slow deterioration and disintegration of the particles.
Thus, there exists the need for the development of improved methods for the selective recovery of lithium from lithium containing brines that are easy to use, have a high capacity for the recovery of lithium, and have a long service life.


Methods and apparatus for training a neural network to recover a codeword and for decoding a received signal using a neural network are disclosed. According to examples of the disclosed methods, a syndrome check is introduced at even layers of the neural network during the training, testing and online phases. During training, optimisation of trainable parameters of the neural network is ceased after optimisation at the layer at which the syndrome check is satisfied. Examples of the method for training a neural network may be implemented via a proposed loss function. During testing and online phases, propagation through the neural network is ceased at the layer at which the syndrome check is satisfied.

Generally, all terms used herein are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the relevant technical field, unless a different meaning is clearly given and/or is implied from the context in which it is used. All references to a/an/the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc. are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise. The steps of any methods disclosed herein do not have to be performed in the exact order disclosed, unless a step is explicitly described as following or preceding another step and/or where it is implicit that a step must follow or precede another step. Any feature of any of the embodiments disclosed herein may be applied to any other embodiment, wherever appropriate. Likewise, any advantage of any of the embodiments may apply to any other embodiments, and vice versa. Other objectives, features and advantages of the enclosed embodiments will be apparent from the following description.
Deep Neural networks may be used for the decoding of codes such as linear block codes. Examples of existing approaches for training neural networks for decoding of linear block codes are set out in Eliya Nachmani, Yair Be′ery, and David Burshtein, "Learning to Decode Linear Codes Using Deep Learning" (2016), and in Eliya Nachmani, Elad Marciano, David Burshtein, Yair Be′ery, "RNN Decoding of Linear Block Codes" (2017). These existing approaches implement a Factor Graph-based Sum Product Algorithm (SPA) as discussed in F. R. Kschischang, B. J. Frey and H. A. Loeliger, "Factor graphs and the sum-product algorithm," (2001). For certain families of codes, such as Bose-Chaudhuri-Hocquenghem (BCH) or Polar codes, which are of small to medium length (e.g., ˜10 or ˜100 bits), the SPA performs poorly owing to the presence of many cycles and trapping sets in the code graph. A Neural Network Decoder (NND) performs better than SPA for such codes. The NND learns to reduce the effect of artifacts such as cycles or trapping sets in the graph structure, by applying complimentary weights to the messages passed over edges of the graph which form cycles. Weights are learned through a training process. Training parameters such as Input/Target variables, Loss function, Regularization, and Optimizer etc., affect the performance of the network during testing and use. In existing approaches, training is performed using "Cross entropy loss/multi-loss functions".
There currently exist certain challenges, including, but not limited to the following:
1. The existing approaches propose training parameters that lead to reduction in Bit-Error-Rate (BER), but do not provide any explicit method for reducing Block-Error-Rate (BLER). In general, for successful decoding, an entire block needs to be correctly decoded.
2. The neural network used in existing approaches is trained end-to-end for the entire unrolled graph. This approach for training and testing may lead to additional computations and performance degradation.

Neural networks for forward error correction decoding


A guard attachable to a pressurized fluid-powered actuator incorporating a member extendible from a housing of the actuator. The guard includes a mounting portion structured for affixing the guard to the actuator housing, and a guard member defining an enclosure structured to extend about an end of the actuator housing when the guard member is affixed to the housing.

The embodiments described herein generally relate to a pressurized gas-powered actuator and methods and structures usable for storing and/or transporting gas-powered actuators prior to installation in a vehicle or other end-use mechanism.
During product testing, pyrotechnic hood actuators incorporating a piston driven by pressurized fluid may be required to meet a shipping requirement that ensures that the piston rod incorporated into the actuator does not push off of surrounding objects if the actuator is inadvertently activated prior to installation of the actuator in a vehicle (for example, by exposure to an open flame or bonfire event), thereby causing movement of the actuator from its initial location.
Thus, a need exists for an apparatus and method usable for preventing the actuator from "pushing off" of surrounding objects during inadvertent activation.

Transportation guard for pyrotechnic actuators


The present invention provides a source line card. The source line card segments a data packet in a data stream into cells first, then inserts Time Stamps and Flow Identifications into cell headers, and sends the marked cell headers and cell payloads to the network card. The network card sends the cells to a destination line card or a lower-level network card in sequence according to the Time Stamps and the Flow Identifications, where the Time Stamps and the Flow Identifications are in the cell headers of the received cells. By inserting the Time Stamps and the Flow Identifications into the cell headers, it is ensured that an output sequence and an input sequence of cells that belong to a stream in the switching network are the same, so that the destination line card may reassembles a data packet easily according to a sequence in which the cells are received.

A switching network includes a core module in a router and other data switching devices, and performs switching on a data packet or cell between multiple ports, that is, switches a data packet or cell, where the data packet or cell arrives at an input port, to a corresponding output port. A basic requirement on the switching network is that switched data packets and cells are required to keep an original order. As shown in FIG. 1, in a K-plane multi-level switching network in the prior art, normally a cell may arrive at a destination port through multiple paths, but it is very difficult for a time delay of each of the paths to be completely the same, which incurs an out-of-order phenomenon when cells that belong to a stream (from a same input port to a same output port) arrive at the destination port. The input port may be a source line card, and a component on the source line card, where the component on the source line card is directly related to the present invention, is an FIC (Fabric Interface Chip, switching network interface chip). The FIC performs processing on a data packet together with a switching network chip. An upstream FIC generally receives a slice of a variable-length data packet from a network side, and manages a virtual output queue (VOQ). The FIC may also include TM (Traffic Management, a traffic management function). An output port of the upstream FIC is a network card, and the network card includes mutually-independent switching chips or switching units. By taking a Clos interconnected multi-level switching network as an example, a switching chip may be formed by three levels, that is, switching units of three levels S1, S2, and S3. As shown in FIG. 2, a cell C1 departs from an FIC1, passes through an S1/3(2) and an S2(2), returns to an S1/3(2), and arrives at an FIC2; a cell C2 departs from the FIC1, passes through an S1/3(1), an S2(1), the S2(2), and the S1/3(2), and arrives at the FIC2; and a cell C3 departs from the FIC2, passes through the S1/3(1), the S2(2), the S2(1), and the S1/3(1), and arrives at the FIC1. If the cell C2 is sent first, and then the cell C1 and the cell C3 are sent at the same time, the cells C1 and C3 which are sent later may arrive at the S2(2) earlier than the cell C2 which is sent earlier, or the cells C1 and C3 which are sent later and the cell C2 which is sent earlier may arrive at the S2(2) at the same time, so that in this case an out-of-order problem occurs at the S2(2).

Cell processing method, source line card, and network card in switching network