A display input device includes a control unit for correcting horizontal coordinates of an object to be detected on an xy coordinate plane extending on a touch panel 1, which are acquired by a proximity sensor 12, according to an angle of elevation φ, an angle of deviation θ and a vertical distance z between the object to be detected and a surface of the touch panel, φ being the angle of a straight line OC with respect to the surface of the touch panel, the straight line OC extending between a predetermined point O positioned on the touch panel and a predetermined point C positioned outside the touch panel, and θ being the angle between a straight line which is an orthogonal projection of the line OC onto the xy coordinate plane, and an x axis on the xy coordinate plane.

A touch panel is an electronic part which is a combination of a display unit like a liquid crystal panel, and a coordinate position input unit like a touchpad, and is a display input device that enables a user to simply touch an image area, such as an icon, displayed on the liquid crystal panel to cause the display input device to detect information about the position of a part of the image area which has been touched by the user, thereby enabling the user to operate target equipment. Therefore, in many cases, a touch panel is incorporated into equipment, such a vehicle-mounted navigation system, which has to mainly meet the need for the user to handle the equipment by following a self-explanatory procedure.
Many proposals for improving the ease of use and usability of a man-machine device including such a touch panel as mentioned above have been applied for patent.
For example, a display input device which, when a user brings his or her finger close to the device, enlarges and displays a key switch which is positioned in the vicinity of the finger so as to facilitate the user's selection operation (for example, refer to patent reference 1), a CRT device which detects a vertical distance of a finger and displays information with a scale of enlargement according to the distance (for example, refer to patent reference 2), an input unit which detects a touch pressure to implement an enlarged display when the touch is a light one and implement a predetermined key operation when the touch is a strong one (for example, refer to patent reference 3), and so on have been known.

Display input device and vehicle-mounted information equipment


An array substrate and a manufacturing method thereof, and a display device are provided. The array substrate includes: a base substrate, and a GOA circuit, a source electrode IC and PLG wires arranged on the base substrate, and the PLG wires connect the GOA circuit with the source electrode IC. The GOA circuit transmits a GOA signal, and the GOA signal comprises a cascade signal and a non-cascade signal. The PLG wires comprise a first PLG wire group and at least one second PLG wire group, the first PLG wire group transmits the cascade signal, the second PLG wire group transmits the non-cascade signal, a line width of the first PLG wire group is smaller than that of the second PLG wire group, and the first PLG wire group is located at a side of the second PLG wire group distal to an active area of the base substrate.

In the display industry, in order to reduce the material cost of a display device and implement the narrow frame design of the display device, more gate driving circuits adopt the Gate driver On Array (GOA) technology, that is, the gate driving circuit is integrated into an array substrate.
The GOA circuit may be connected with a source Integrated Circuit (IC) by means of a Propel Link Gate (PLG) wire to receive signals output by the source IC. When the display device is a high Pixels Per Inch (PPI) display device, the number of the PLG wires is large, which occupies a large area in a layout area, hinders the implementation of the narrow frame.

Array substrate and manufacturing method thereof, and display device

Beijing BOE Technology Development Co., Ltd.


An envelope tracking system includes an instantaneous amplitude circuitry, an instantaneous frequency circuitry, and a two-dimensional (2D) bias voltage selection circuitry. The instantaneous amplitude circuitry is configured to determine an instantaneous amplitude of a transmit signal. The instantaneous frequency circuitry is configured to determine an instantaneous frequency of the transmit signal. The two-dimensional (2D) bias voltage selection circuitry is configured to determine a bias voltage based on both the instantaneous amplitude and the instantaneous frequency of the transmit signal, and control power supply circuitry to supply the determined bias voltage to a power amplifier that is configured to amplify the transmit signal.

Envelope tracking is a technique by which the bias or supply voltage (e.g., VCC) and current (hereinafter reference only to bias voltage will be made for simplicity purposes) of a power amplifier in a transmit chain of a transmitter is controlled based on the amplitude of the transmit signal being amplified by the power amplifier. The idea is to operate the power amplifier close to saturation during modulation peaks and to lower the supply voltage when the instantaneous amplitude signal is low, thereby boosting the efficiency of the power amplifier.


The present inventors identified a selective marker 65B13 for GABA neuron progenitor cells of the spinal dorsal horn and cerebellum, and successfully isolated GABA neuron progenitor cells using antibodies that bind to a protein encoded by the gene. 65B13 was demonstrated to be useful as a marker to isolate GABA-producing neuron progenitor cells in the spinal dorsal horn and cerebellum. GABA neuron progenitor cells can be efficiently identified or isolated by using the identified marker as an indicator.

The brain functions by forming a complex network from a great variety of neurons. Its failure may result in various neurological diseases. To treat such diseases, transplantation and regeneration therapies are currently investigated. The most important thing in these therapeutic methods is to correctly identify various types of neurons in transplantation materials. Furthermore, from the viewpoint of improvement of safety and therapeutic effect, it is desirable to isolate only the type of cells that are needed for transplantation.
The cerebellum works on smooth motor functions such as regulation of balance, posture, and voluntary movement. The failure of cerebellar function due to cerebellar tumor, cerebellar vermis degeneration caused by chronic alcoholism, spinocerebellar degeneration, or such results in dynamic ataxia and balance disorder. Functional recovery can be achieved by replenishing lost neurons and reconstituting the network. There are about five types of neurons in the cerebellum including Purkinje cell, and formation of a proper network of the respective neurons according to organogenic program enables neurotransmission.
There is an area called "dorsal horn" in the dorsal spinal cord. Dorsal root ganglion neurons that detect stimuli from the periphery transmit signals to the dorsal horn interneurons, and the signals are further transmitted to the brain. The dorsal horn contains excitatory glutamatergic neurons and inhibitory GABA neurons. The balance between the two adequately regulates the signal transmission. Inactivation of GABA neurons results in chronic pain, etc.
The development of spinal cord and cerebellar GABA neurons is being studied, and their origin is nearly elucidated. However, there are few markers to identify their progenitor cells, and no cell-surface marker has been identified. Thus, techniques for isolating viable progenitor cells have not yet been developed.
The 65B13 gene is known to be transiently expressed in dopamine-producing neuron progenitor cells after the termination of cell division (see Patent Document 1); however, there is no report published on the connection between the gene and GABA neuron. Furthermore, it has been reported that the types of spinal cord interneurons and Purkinje cells can be identified by using the expression of the Corl1 or Corl2 gene as an indicator, respectively (see Patent Documents 2 and 3). However, to date there is no known marker that can selectively identify GABA neuron progenitor cells. The transcription factor Ptf1a is known to be expressed in GABA progenitor cells; however, it is a transcription factor, and there is no known membrane protein that is useful as a selection marker (Non-Patent Documents 1 and 2).    Patent Document 1: WO2004/038018    Patent Document 2: WO2006/022243    Patent Document 3: WO2006/082826    Non-Patent Document 1: Glasgow S M, Henke R M, Macdonald R J, Wright C V, Johnson J E. Ptf1a determines GABAergic over glutamatergic neuronal cell fate in the spinal cord dorsal horn. Development. 2005 December; 132(24):5461-9.    Non-Patent Document 2: Fuse T, Matsuo N, Sone M, Watanabe M, Bito H, Terashima T, Wright C V, Kawaguchi Y, Nakao K, Nabeshima Y. Ptf1a, a bHLH transcriptional gene, defines GABAergic neuronal fates in cerebellum. Neuron. 2005 Jul. 21; 47(2):201-13.

GABA neuron progenitor cell marker 65B13


A process useful for treating biologically derived oils in the production of biofuels is described. A biologically derived oil feed is deoxygenated by contacting the feed with a metal titanate catalyst comprising a metal titanate having an MTiO3 perovskite structure wherein M is a metal having a valence of 2+. The process does not require the addition of hydrogen.

Biodiesel from biologically derived oils and fats have been attracting increased attention due to its potential of providing a significant portion of transportation fuels. Biologically derived oils and fats are complex mixtures of triglycerides and free fatty acids. Transesterification, i.e. reacting triglycerides with methanol to produce fatty acid methyl-ester (FAME), is used to make biodiesel from biologically derived oils and fats. See, for example, Huber et al., "Synthesis of Transportation Fuels from Biomass: Chemistry, Catalysts, and Engineering," Chem. Rev., vol. 106, pp. 4044-4098, 2006; and Antolin et al., "Optimisation of Biodiesel Production by Sunflower Oil Transesterification," Bioresource Technology, vol. 83 (2002), pp. 111-114. FAMEs generally have a high cetane number and are considered to burn cleanly, but they still contain problematic levels of oxygen. A major drawback of this type of biodiesel is that it generally has poor oxidative and thermal stability.
In order to improve the energy density and stability of this type of biodiesel, oxygen must be at least partially removed. Hydrotreating is one route to remove oxygen from triglycerides, but it has the disadvantage that it consumes large amounts of hydrogen since during hydrotreating, oxygen is reacted with hydrogen and removed through the formation of water. The heat release from hydrotreating reactions is also a significant challenge for reactor design. Decarboxylation is another route to remove oxygen from biofuels. Although the hydrocarbons produced through decarboxylation may contain less carbon than its fatty acid or ester counterpart and those from the hydrotreating route, decarboxylation does not consume hydrogen. Generally speaking, consuming the carbon contained in a biologically derived feedstock to remove oxygen is less costly than consuming hydrogen which must be produced through expensive processes.
There have been reports in the literature of biofuel production through decarboxylation and decarbonylation of biologically derived oils using supported noble metal catalysts at relatively high temperatures, e.g., for example, greater than 350° C. For example, platinum (Pt) supported on carbon had been found to be an effective catalyst. However, carbon monoxide (CO) produced from the reaction can poison the Pt catalyst. Hence, high hydrogen partial pressure is needed to keep the catalyst surface clean and reduce catalyst deactivation.
It would be desirable to have a more economical process for producing transportation fuels from biologically derived oils while avoiding the aforementioned difficulties.

Biofuel production through catalytic deoxygenation


A pitcher is provided having a container body and a lid sealing assembly. The container body has a liquid retaining cavity. A pour aperture is fluidly associated with the cavity to allow liquid to be poured from the pitcher. The lid sealing assembly is removably connected to the container body. The lid sealing assembly has an actuation assembly having a push-button actuated actuator that operates a seal member. The actuator is moveable between a normal position and a use position. The seal member is positioned outside the cavity and adjacent the pour aperture. The seal member seals the pour aperture when the actuator is in the normal position and the seal member is moved from the pour aperture to open the pour aperture when the actuator is in the use position. When the seal member is moved from the pour aperture liquid can be poured from the pitcher.

Beverage containers and lids with sealing mechanisms for beverage containers, including beverage pitchers with lids, are known in the art. Traditionally, sealing mechanisms for such beverage container lids are provided by a lid base that includes a releasable sealing mechanism for the drink opening and a separate threaded lid that may be screwed out to provide access to a fill opening in the center of the lid base. While such beverage containers and sealing mechanisms according to the prior art provide a number of advantages, they nevertheless have certain limitations. The present invention seeks to overcome certain of these limitations and other drawbacks of the prior art, and to provide new features not heretofore available. A full discussion of the features and advantages of the present invention is deferred to the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.


Disorders such as headaches can be treated by administration of a botulinum toxin to a patient suffering therefrom, such as a migraine headache. A combined a fixed site/fixed dose and an optional follow the pain variable dosage and injection site paradigm is disclosed for optimizing clinical effectiveness of botulinum toxin administration for patients suffering headache, particularly chronic migraine.

It is known that botulinum toxins can be utilized to treat a variety of disorders. Examples include U.S. Pat. No. 5,714,468 (migraine) issued Feb. 3, 1998; Published U.S. Patent Application No. 2005019132 (headache), Ser. No. 11/039,506, filed Jan. 18, 2005; Published U.S. Patent Application No. 20050191320 (medication overuse headache), Ser. No. 10/789,180, filed Feb. 26, 2004; and U.S. Pat. No. 7,811,587 (neuropsychiatric disorders), issued Oct. 12, 2010; all incorporated entirely by reference.
An example of a disorder treatable with botulinum toxins is chronic migraine (CM), a disabling headache disorder, affecting 1.3% to 2.4% of the general population and considered the most common type of primary chronic daily headache in the United States. CM is linked with suffering, disability, and medication overuse, and only one third of CM patients use headache prophylactic medication. Few headache preventive treatments have been investigated for patients with CM. Thus there remains a need for optimized and targeted methodologies to treat this malady in particular, specific and useful injection and dosage paradigms for utilizing botulinum toxins to treating CM.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Injection paradigm for administration of botulinum toxins


An Automatic Sales Assistant (“ASA”) automates the handling of electronic commerce transactions by gathering all of the relevant information with respect to an electronic commerce transaction being carried out by a customer using a computer and presenting it to the customer in a unified and convenient form (e.g., a template) that the customer may use to properly complete the electronic transaction (e.g., a purchase of retail goods using the Internet). The transaction may be an active document that resides in a private folder on the customer's computer. This type of active process handles all of the procedures related to any given electronic commerce transaction. Moreover, the ASA facilitates the proper resolution of any problems with a transaction by providing all of the necessary support material and information.

The present invention relates generally to electronic commerce, and, more particularly, to an automatic sales assistant for electronic commerce customers.
With the recent rapid growth in electronic commerce ("e-commerce") there is an abundance of tools for enterprises engaged in providing e-commerce services, for example, the retail sale of goods or services over the Internet. At the same there is paucity of tools for users of e-commerce services. As a result customers must necessarily adapt to the style of each service provider when doing business therewith. Conducting electronic transactions can easily and quickly become relatively cumbersome, especially for people relatively unfamiliar with computers. The difficulty is compounded when taking into account payment and delivery processes, which introduce their own set of issues and other entities that must be dealt with. Since each company involved with e-commerce typically has its own online user interface, its own procedures and its own requirements, it is oftentimes difficult for the customer to manually initiate, process and follow an e-commerce transaction successfully to completion and resolve any problems if and when they arise. This is true especially when it is the first time that a customer is dealing electronically with a particular service provider.

Automatic sales assistant for electronic commerce customers

International Business Machines Corporation


A corrosion-resistant member against a chlorine-based gas, which member is to be exposed to a chlorine-based gas atmosphere at temperatures of not less than 600.degree. C. and includes a sintered body made of aluminum nitride and a film of silicon carbide covering a surface of the sintered body and formed by chemical vapor deposition.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to corrosion-resistant members to be exposed to a chlorine gas-based atmosphere at not less than 600.degree. C.
(2) Related Art Statement
In the current film-forming processes such as the hot CVD (chemical vapor deposition), the plasma CVD and sputtering for semiconductor wafers, a heater is necessary for heating such a semiconductor wafer. NGK Insulators, Ltd. proposed aluminum nitride sintered bodies having high corrosion resistance against the halogen-based corrosive gas as substrates for heaters. Particularly, it is known that the dense aluminum nitride sintered body is a highly heat-conductive material, and its volume resistivity is not less than 10.sup.8 .OMEGA.-cm. Therefore, the dense aluminum nitride sintered body is advantageous as a substrate in the heater for producing the semiconductors.
NGK Insulators, Ltd. repeatedly and variously investigated materials for producing the semiconductors, and proposed substrates which have heat resistance, heat impact resistance and corrosion resistance against halogen-based corrosive gas particularly improved by surface-coating a sintered body of aluminum nitride with a dense film of silicon carbide.
However, a heater has not been known yet, which could heat semiconductors up to not less than 600.degree. C. without causing contamination thereof under the condition that the heater is exposed particularly to the chlorine based corrosive gas. Further, a heater has not been known yet either, which would not cause peeling or degradation of a corrosion-resistive film even after being exposed to the chlorine-based corrosive gas at a high temperature range of not less than 600.degree. C. upon application of heat cycles to the heater between a low temperature and such a high temperature range.

Corrosion-resistant members against a chlorine-based gas


Pixel arrangements in time-of-flight sensors are presented that include sensing elements that establish charges related to incident light, charge storage elements that accumulate integrated charges transferred from the sensing elements, and diffusion nodes configured to establish measurement voltages representative of the integrated charges that are dumped from the charge storage elements. The pixel arrangement includes analog domain output circuitry comprising a measurement capacitance element that stores the measurement voltage, and a reset capacitance element that stores a reset voltage established at the diffusion node during a reset phase performed prior to a measurement phase. The analog domain output circuitry subtracts the stored reset voltage from the stored measurement voltage for processing into a pixel output voltage that at least partially reduces readout voltage uncertainty of the pixel arrangement.

Digital imaging sensors are employed in many devices and systems to capture images, such as in digital cameras. Imaging sensors employ large semiconductor arrays of detection pixels that can comprise charge-coupled devices (CCDs) or complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) devices, among others. The imaging sensors can be configured to capture a range of the electromagnetic spectrum that spans both visible light and infrared light ranges.
Specialized imaging sensors can be employed in time-of-flight (ToF or TOF) camera systems. ToF sensing devices share some aspects of visible wavelength sensors, such as RGB imaging sensors, but also have some unique characteristics. ToF cameras measure a three dimensional representation of a scene using emission of light that is precisely timed to measurement or detection by an imaging sensor. Some ToF systems use a differential pixel structure within an integrated array of pixels that can detect incident light during associated detection phases. These ToF cameras can be employed in applications where identifying relative depths among objects in a scene is useful, such as interactive gaming devices, virtual reality devices, augmented reality devices, industrial controls, medical scanners, or other devices.

Readout voltage uncertainty compensation in time-of-flight imaging pixels


A fan having a dust-proof apparatus includes: a casing having a passage; a rotation driving unit installed inside the casing; a plurality of blades positioned in the passage and coupled to a rotational shaft of the rotation driving unit so as to be rotated; and a dust-proof member installed at an entrance of the passage to cover the entrance of the passage, and integrally coupled to the blades so as to be rotated together with the blades. Since insects or big dusts can be prevented from being introduced according to an air flowing generated as the blades are rotated, and the coupling state between parts is firm. In addition, since the eccentricity is minimized, the parts are not damaged, and as a noise generation is restrained, so that reliability can be heightened.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fan, and more particularly, to a fan having a dust-proof apparatus installed at a suction hole thereof that is capable of preventing insects or dust from being introduced together with air.
2. Description of the Background Art
A fan generating fluid flow such as air flow typically includes a casing having an air flow passage; a drive motor mounted inside the casing and generating a rotational force; and a plurality of blades rotatably installed in the air flow passage of the casing and being rotated upon receipt of a driving force of the drive motor.
In the fan, when the drive motor is operated as a power is applied thereto, the blades are rotated according to the drive motor.
When the blades are rotated, a pressure difference is generated due to the rotation of the blades, and thanks to the pressure difference, air flows along the air flow passage.
The fan is classified into an axial flow fan, a centrifugal fan and a sirocco fan according to air flow passage form.
In case of the axial flow fan, air flow forms a linear flow as air is introduced from a front side and flows to a back side. Meanwhile, in case of the centrifugal fan or the sirocco fan, it forms a curved flow as air is introduced from the front side and flows out to the side.
A fan is used in various fields where the air flowing is required, and an electrodeless lighting system employs it to cool devices installed therein by sucking air from outside.
FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an electrodeless lighting system having a fan with a dust-proof apparatus.
As shown in FIG. 1, the electrodeless lighting system having a fan with a dust-proof apparatus includes: a casing 10; a high voltage generator 20 mounted at an inner front surface of the casing 10 and generating a high voltage; an microwave generator 30 for generating a microwave with the high voltage generated from the high voltage generator 20; a wave guide 40 for guiding the microwave generated from the microwave generator 30 and serving as a first resonator; a second resonator 50 installed at a front outer side of the casing 10, exciting the microwave guided through the waveguide 40 and generating a strong electric field; an electrodeless lamp 60 rotatably mounted inside the second resonator 50, forming a plasma as a gas filled therein is excited according to the strong electric field of the second resonator 50, to thereby generate a light; a first mirror 70 positioned at a rear face of the electrodeless lamp 60 and reflecting the light generated from the electrodeless lamp 60 to the front surface; and a second mirror 80 for collecting the light generated from the first mirror 70 and the electrodeless lamp 60 and reflecting it to the front side.
The casing 10 includes a lamp driving motor 90 for rotating the electrodeless lamp 60 to cool the electrodeless lamp 60 and a connection shaft 91 for connecting the lamp driving motor 90 and the electrodeless lamp 60.
At one side of the casing 10, a passage 11 is installed allowing air to flow toward the microwave generator 30 and the high voltage generator 20. An entrance 12 is formed at one side of the passage 11, into which an external air is introduced, and a fan 100 is mounted at the inner side of the entrance 12.
The fan 100 includes a plurality of blades 101 for generating air flowing by rotation and a fan driving motor 110 for rotating the blades 101.
The operation of the electrodeless lighting system will now be described.
First, when a power is applied to the high voltage generator 20, the high voltage generator 20 generates a high voltage, and the microwave generator 30 generates microwave according to the high voltage generated from the high voltage generator 20.
The microwave generated from the microwave generator 30 is transferred to the second resonator 50 through the wave guide 40, so that a strong electric field is distributed at the second resonator 50, and according to the strong electric field, the substance filled in the electrodeless lamp 60 is discharged, and at the same time, vaporized to generate plasma.
The light emitted as the plasma is generated from the electrodeless lamp 60 is reflected by the first mirror 70 and the second mirror 80 and illuminated forwardly.
At this time, much heat is generated from the high voltage generator 20 and the microwave generator 30.
The intense heat generated from the electrodeless lamp 60 is cooled by rotating the electrodeless lamp 60 by the lamp driving motor 90.
When the blades 101 are rotated as the fan driving motor 110 is operated, an external air is introduced through the entrance 12 due to the pressure difference according to the rotation of the blades 101.
The external air introduced into the entrance 12 is guided through the passage 11 and flows while passing the high voltage generator 20 and the microwave generator 30 to cool the high voltage generator 20 and the microwave generator 30.
Meanwhile, in the process that the conventional fan 100 having the dust-proof apparatus mounted at the electrodeless lighting system is operated, insects such as a day-fly, mosquito and a moth gather, and the gathered insects and dust are introduced into the passage 11 together with the external air due to the suction force of the fan 100 to be compressed to the fan 100 or attached to a part inside the casing 10, interfering the rotation of the fan 100 or damage the internal parts.
In order to solve the problems, a dust-proof is provided at the side of the entrance 12 where the external air is introduced.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of FIG. 1.
As shown in FIG. 2, the dust-proof apparatus of the fan includes a dust-proof member 120, and a screw 130 for engaging the marginal portion of the dust-proof member 120 to the casing 10 so as for the dust-proof member 102 to be fixed.
Though insects or dusts are restrained from being sucked into the casing 10 as they are caught by the dust-proof member 120 in the process that external air is being introduced due to the pressure difference according to the rotation of the blades 101, the conventional fan having the dust-proof apparatus is disadvantages in that insects or dusts are collected at the surface of the dust-proof member 120, causing a reduction of air flowing and increase in an air suction resistance.
FIG. 3 is a vertical-sectional view of a different fan having a dust-proof apparatus, and FIG. 4 is a plan view of the fan having a dust-proof apparatus of FIG. 3.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, Japanese Laid Open Publication No. JP2000161734 discloses another example of the fan having a dust-proof apparatus, in which a guide duct 200 is insertedly fixed at an outdoor opening of a ventilation duct (D), a fixing member 210 having a bearing 211 is insertedly combined inside the guide duct 200, and a propeller 220 rotated by wind is rotatably coupled at the bearing 211 of the fixing member 210.
The cylindrical dust-proof member 230 is fixedly coupled to a rotational shaft 221 of the propeller 220 to cover the front portion of the propeller 220, and a fixing member 240 in a xe2x80x9cUxe2x80x9d shape having a certain thickness and width traverses the cylindrical dust-proof member 230 and fixedly coupled to one side of the guide duct 200.
In the conventional fan having the dust-proof apparatus having the structure as described above, as the propeller 220 is rotated according to air flowing in the ventilation duct (D), the dust-proof member 230 coupled to the rotational shaft 221 of the propeller 220 is accordingly rotated to thereby prevent insects or dusts from being introduced into the ventilation duct (D) as well as being attached to the dust-proof member 230.
However, since the cylindrical dust-proof member 230 is fixedly coupled to the rotational shaft 221 of the propeller 220, the fixing state of the cylindrical dust-proof member 230 is not firm with the rotational shaft 221.
In addition, an eccentricity is generated between the propeller 220 and the cylindrical dust-proof member 230 coupled to the rotational shaft 221 of the propeller 220 due to an unbalance according to a roundness and assembly precision. Thus, a noise is generated due to the eccentric rotation of the cylindrical dust-proof member, and the coupling state of the dust-proof member would not last long and the coupling is disassembled.
Moreover, since a fixing member 210 is to be additionally installed at an outer side of the ventilation duct (D) to install a bearing that is rotatably supported by the rotational shaft, its structure becomes complicated.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a fan having a dust-proof apparatus that is capable of minimizing a noise generation and ensuring a firm coupling state as well as preventing insects or dusts from being introduced according to an air flowing owing to a rotation of a plurality of blades constituting a fan.
To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, there is provided a fan having a dust-proof apparatus including: a casing having a passage; a rotation driving unit installed inside the casing; a plurality of blades positioned in the passage and coupled to a rotational shaft of the rotation driving unit so as to be rotated; and a dust-proof member installed at an entrance of the passage to cover the entrance of the passage, and integrally coupled to the blades so as to be rotated together with the blades.
To achieve the above objects, there is also provided a fan having a dust-proof apparatus including: a casing having an entrance and a passage; a rotation driving unit installed inside the casing; a plurality of blades positioned in the passage and coupled to a rotational shaft of the rotation driving unit so as to be rotated; and a dust-proof member installed at an entrance of the passage to cover the entrance of the passage, and coupled to the rotational shaft so as to be rotated together with the blades, wherein an outer circumferential surface of the dust-proof is supported by the entrance so that the dust-proof member is rotatable.
To achieve the above objects, there is also provided a fan having a dust-proof apparatus for an electrodeless lighting system including a casing; a microwave generator mounted inside the casing and generating microwave; a wave guide for guiding the microwave generated from the microwave generator and serving as a first resonator; a second resonator installed outside the casing so as to communicate with the waveguide, and exciting the microwave guided through the waveguide to generate a strong electric field; and an electrodeless lamp mounted inside the second resonator and forming plasma as gas filed inside there is excited by the strong electric field of the second resonator, to thereby generate light, wherein the fan having a dust-proof apparatus includes a passage formed at the casing to suck an external air to cool the electrodeless lighting system; a rotation driving unit installed inside the casing; a plurality of blades installed in the passage and coupled to a rotational shaft of the rotation driving unit so as to be rotated; and a dust-proof member installed at an entrance of the passage to cover the entrance of the passage, and integrally coupled to the blades to be rotated together with the blades.
The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


A sealing valve arrangement (12) for a container containing a fluid, wherein a supporting element (14) comprising a control channel (15) in the border region of the supporting element (14) and a securing element (16) comprising a passage channel (18) are disposed on top of one another over the fluid storage (13xe2x80x2) of the container. A sealing valve (1) having smaller radial dimensions than these elements (14, 16) and a valve channel (2) for connecting the control channel (15) and the passage channel (18) are provided between the supporting element (14) and the securing element (17), wherein the sealing valve (1) comprises a first sealing surface or edge (5) for sealing the passage channel (18) from the control channel (15) and a second sealing surface or edge (8) for sealing the valve channel (2) from the control channel (15). The sealing valve (1) operates in case of pressure above atmospheric and sub-atmospheric pressure within the fluid storage (13xe2x80x2).

This application claims Paris Convention priority of DE 101 03 275.7-12 filed Jan. 25, 2001 the complete disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
The invention relates to an arrangement comprising a sealing valve for pressure compensation within a container containing a fluid.
DE 41 35 711 C2 e.g. discloses a sealing valve arrangement comprising a sealing valve.
Sealing valves are required for the cells of storage batteries, wherein the sealing valve reliably prevents leakage of battery acid and gas under normal pressure conditions and opens at a defined pressure above atmospheric within the battery cell and discharges gas. Storage batteries of this type, in particular lead accumulators for automotive vehicles, are mass produced articles wherein the sealing valves must be produced at as little costs as possible.
The control channel of the conventional sealing valve provides a defined flow path for fluids which terminates at a sealing bead which permits defined application of pressure of this predetermined gas discharge location and produces improved, more controlled and finer response characteristics.
The tank lids of motor saws e.g. require valve operation for pressure above atmospheric and sub-atmospheric pressure to compensate the pressure within the container.
It is the underlying purpose of the invention to improve a conventional sealing valve such that the sealing valve assumes valve operation for pressure above atmospheric and sub-atmospheric pressure within the container.
This object is achieved in accordance with the invention by a sealing valve arrangement for a container containing a fluid. A supporting element comprising a control channel in its border region and a securing element comprising a passage channel are disposed on top of one another above the fluid containing chamber of the container. A sealing valve having smaller radial dimensions than these elements and a valve channel for connecting the control channel and the passage channel are also provided between the supporting element and the securing element. The sealing valve comprises a first sealing surface or edge for sealing the passage channel from the control channel, and a second sealing surface or edge for sealing the valve channel from the control channel. The sealing arrangement guarantees pressure compensation within the container in two directions, i.e. in case of pressure above atmospheric and sub-atmospheric pressure. An subatmospheric pressure of 100 mbar and an pressure above atmospheric of 300 mbar can be compensated by e.g. the sealing edges, appropriate selection of the material and the pretension. Pressure variations within predetermined limits can be reliably reduced. The sealing arrangement can be used as tank aerating and deaerating valve etc. It operates at different opening pressures depending on the direction. The container is sealed up to a certain pressure level. In case of sub-atmospheric pressure in the container, the sealing arrangement opens at a smaller pressure compared to pressure above atmospheric. The sealing action is achieved by axial pretension. The cross-section of the valve channel and the strength of the first sealing edge define the value of the opening pressure. In case of pressure above atmospheric in the container, the second sealing edge at the supporting element opens and reduces the pressure.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the sealing element is formed by a valve cone having inclined surfaces on which the second sealing edge abuts. The valve channel can be disposed onto the cone tip to achieve an arrangement which is easy to assemble and additionally has good response characteristics under pressure above atmospheric.
The valve function can be enhanced by providing one control channel on each side of the central axis of the supporting element.
Another subject matter of the invention is a sealing valve of a rubber-elastic material for container openings having a valve channel and, at its upper side, a first circumferential sealing edge formed on both sides of the valve channel, and at its lower side a second sealing edge formed around the valve channel. Recesses are provided in the material below the first sealing edge via which the response characteristics of the sealing valve can be controlled in case of sub-atmospheric pressure.


A method for efficiently ascertaining output signals of a sequence of output signals with the aid of a sequence of layers of a machine learning system, in particular a neural network, from a sequence of input signals. The neural network is supplied in succession with the input signals of the sequence of input signals in a sequence of discrete time increments. At the discrete time increments, signals present in the network are in each case further propagated through a layer of the sequence of layers.

A method is discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,448,484 A for recognizing the presence of a vehicle in a traffic scenario by use of a neural network. The neural network includes input units, concealed units, and output units, an output of each of the stated input units being connected to an input of each of the concealed units, and an output of each of the concealed units being connected to an input of each of the output units. The neural network generates an output signal at each of the output units which indicates whether a vehicle has been detected in a detection zone.

Method and device for efficiently ascertaining output signals of a machine learning system


The invention relates to a security element (1), a security document (2) with at least one security element (1), a transfer foil (3) with at least one security element (1) as well as a method for producing a security element (1), wherein the security element has at least one layer (11) that is electrically alterable in its optical effect. It is here provided that the at least one layer (11) that is electrically alterable in its optical effect has liquid crystals (12) that can be oriented in an electric field, wherein the at least one layer (11) that is electrically alterable in its optical effect has rod-shaped dye molecules (13), and the orientations of the longitudinal axes (14) of the rod-shaped dye molecules (13) are alterable depending on the orientations of the longitudinal axes (16) of the spatially adjacent liquid crystals (12) that can be oriented in the electric field, and/or wherein the liquid crystals (12) that can be oriented in the electric field are formed in such a way that the liquid crystals (12) that can be oriented in the electric field simultaneously act as dye molecules.

The invention relates to a security element, a security document with at least one security element, a transfer foil with at least one security element as well as a method for producing a security element.
Optically active security elements are used in particular on security documents such as for instance banknotes, passports, ID cards, check cards, credit cards, visas or certificates for both information and decorative purposes. Such security elements on the one hand increase protection against forgery, for example vis-à-vis modern color copying and other reproduction systems, and on the other hand can be easily and clearly recognized by the layperson, with the result that the layperson can clearly determine the authenticity of a security document equipped with such a security element and can thus recognize forgeries or manipulations.
For this purpose, security elements can have light-bending, diffractive structures such as for example holograms. These security elements offer the observer striking optically variable effects, for example when the security element is tilted. Optically variable thin-film layer elements which, at different observation angles, give an observer a different color impression for example are also used as security elements. However, such security elements are nowadays to be found on a multitude of security documents, such as for example banknotes, with the result that the layperson hardly notices them in everyday use, whereby forgeries or manipulations are less frequently recognized by laypeople in particular.


In a piezoelectric transformer circuit which is operable as a d.c./d.c. converter for a d.c. input voltage into a plurality of d.c. output voltages and which has a piezoelectric block divided into first and second partial blocks having first and second principal surfaces coated with first and second electrode units and a third electrode unit extended from the piezoelectric block between the first and the second electrode units, a selected one of the first and the second electrode units is divided into a plurality of subdivided electrodes. A plurality of a.c. output voltages are developed between each of the subdivided electrodes and the third electrode unit and are converted into the d.c. output voltages. Alternatively, the second partial block is composed of a plurality of piezoelectric layers stacked with one another via at least one intermediate electrode to derive a plurality of the a.c. output voltages between the third electrode unit and at least one intermediate electrode and between the third electrode unit and the second electrode which is not divided into subdivided electrodes. Furthermore, each of the first and the second electrode units is divided into main and subsidiary electrode members to develop an a.c. output voltage across the main electrode members and to induce a self-excited vibration by the use of the subsidiary electrode members.

This invention relates to a piezoelectric transformer circuit which includes a piezoelectric transformer unit.
Heretofore, such a transformer unit has been proposed by C.A. Rosen in Proceedings of Electronic Components Symposium held in Washington, D.C., May 1, 2, 3, 1956 and makes use of a pair of polarized ferroelectric ceramic bars one of which is polarized in a direction of a thickness and the other of which is polarized in a longitudinal direction thereof and both of which are combined with one another. As well known in the art, when the one ceramic bar is driven by an a.c. voltage, the other ceramic bar is excited in a longitudinal vibration mode to induce a high output voltage because both the ceramic bars are electromechanically coupled to each other.
However, the transformer unit is disadvantageous in that a frequency characteristic are degraded frequency band, which inevitably makes the frequency characteristic narrow.
In order to improve the frequency characteristics, Inoue et al disclose a thickness mode vibration piezoelectric transformer unit in U.S. Pat. No. 5,118,982 assigned to the same assignee to the instant application. Such a thickness mode vibration piezoelectric transformer unit will be called a piezoelectric transformer unit hereinafter.
The proposed piezoelectric transformer unit comprises low and high impedance thickness mode vibration portions which are integrally laminated or stacked on each other. The high impedance portion is composed of a thick piezoelectric layer interposed between upper and lower electrodes while the low impedance portion is composed of a plurality of thin piezoelectric layers which are stacked from a lowermost one to an uppermost one and each of which is interposed between two electrodes. One of the electrodes that is attached to the lowermost thin piezoelectric layer is used in common to the upper electrode attached to the thick piezoelectric layer. In addition, the thick and the thin piezoelectric layers have thicknesses different from each other and are polarized in a thickness direction so as to accomplish the thickness mode vibration.
More specifically, polarization of the thick piezoelectric layer is directed in either an upper sense or a lower sense in the thickness direction while polarization of each thin piezoelectric layer is alternately directed in an upper or a lower sense in the thickness direction. In the high impedance portion, the lower electrode on the thick piezoelectric layer is connected to a first external terminal while the upper electrode on the thick piezoelectric layer is connected in common to the electrode attached to the lowermost thin piezoelectric layer and is grounded through a second external terminal. In the low impedance portion, every other electrode of the thin piezoelectric layers is electrically connected in common to a third external terminal while the remaining electrodes of the thin piezoelectric layers are also connected in common to a fourth external terminal which is grounded. The second and the fourth external terminals may be connected in common to each other.
From this fact, it is readily understood that the piezoelectric transformer unit has a three-terminal construction. With this structure, when an a.c. input voltage is given between the first and the second (or the fourth) external terminals, an a.c. output voltage is induced between the second or the fourth external terminal and the third external terminal, as mentioned in the referenced United States Patent. Accordingly, the proposed piezoelectric transformer unit serves to effectively transform the a.c. input voltage into the a.c. output voltage when it is excited in a resonance mode.
Eventually, the piezoelectric transformer unit is small in size and can improve a high frequency characteristic. However, neither suggestion nor consideration is made about application of such a piezoelectric transformer unit to any other circuits in the above-referenced United States Patent.

Piezoelectric transformer circuit using a piezoelectric transformer unit of a thickness extensional vibration mode


A system for maintaining master reference data for entities is disclosed. The system includes multiple reference data sets at multiple different data storages. A reference data set for a particular entity uniquely identifies the particular entity. The system also includes a first master reference data set at a first data storage that is at least as reliable as a second reference data set at a second data storage. In some embodiments, the first data storage can be updated through real-time process or an offline process (e.g., a batch process). The first master reference data set includes at least one data record, and content metadata regarding the data record. In some embodiments, content metadata comprises lineage data that includes each preceding value that was contained in the data record. In some of these embodiments, lineage includes other factors that affected the present and previous values contained in the data record.

One of the key assets an enterprise has is the data it captures about its customers and their interactions with these customers. However, enterprises have been unable to properly leverage this data because of the lack of integration into a useful format. The need for data integration includes the problems of managing data quality and reliability, and the difficulties with data reconciliation and providing a unified view for data. Unfortunately, enterprises today address the need for coherent integrated data by building an integration on a poor data foundation.
The quality, reliability, unified view, and reconciliation problems are compounded by the distributed, heterogeneous, and dynamic nature of the data capture and change process, and the requirement that data entry must be a perfect match to be integrated. In addition, most companies fail to recognize that data consolidation through a periodic one-off batch process is ineffective. New data is constantly being added or changed from multiple operational sources such as web sites, marketing, and sales force activities.
The lack of integrated data drives a variety of business problems. Marketing, sales, finance, call-center, and service agents lack a complete understanding of customer history with the business and waste time trying to figure out which customer records to use or ignore. Sales and marketing expenses balloon as duplicate, dirty or incomplete data builds up in databases as a result of redundant or misdirected marketing campaigns. Opportunities to drive new revenues or increase profitability are lost when customers and interactions are not linked. Opportunities are also lost when cross-sell and up-sell recommendations are based on generic offers or inaccurate data about an individual customer. Operational, compliance, and credit risk increases as organizations lack understanding of the entire customer relationship. The lack of current and accurate information presents a problem particularly when communication channels require an immediate reaction to a customer response or inquiry.
Enterprises have invested billions of dollars in customer relationship management (CRM) applications to improve customer retention, reduce costs, and increase profitability. Yet, despite the need for data integration, it is rarely found as an operational system in today's business environments. For instance, many companies have purchased and implemented software applications that provide a solution for a single business function, product line or touch point. However, these solutions focus on using point tools for cleansing, matching, verification, and enhancement on a batch basis to create a single data source of the truth downstream from the data capture systems. This results in systems that are managed independently and do not interact or share data well with one another. Furthermore, these applications often have very different data models and means of tracking and reporting on user interactions and transactions, leaving companies with islands of difficult-to-reconcile data. Even after several of these CRM implementations, customer data typically resides in many different enterprise application data models.
Many solutions attempt to apply tools designed for other purposes to address the need for data integration. These tools include data warehouses (DW) for analytics, or enterprise application integration (EAI) tools for integrating processes between two applications. These poor fitting attempts have fallen short of delivering complete, trusted information in an operational setting. For instance, data warehousing efforts attempt to extract select data from multiple operational databases into a single collection of meaningful information. However, this process of data aggregation results are more for historical pattern detection and is often too stale and inaccurate to be useful within operational processes. Other solutions involve storing all relevant interaction data in an operational data store (ODS), necessarily resulting in application centric one off that is expensive to maintain.
Currently, it is a challenge of the enterprise to access relevant data and turn it into actionable information at the point of customer interaction. As mentioned previously, this is primarily due to the diversity of constantly changing, heterogeneous sources for capturing operational data. Further, enterprise applications cannot execute a business rule or logic independent of application channels since most data transformation rules between applications have been written in custom code. Currently, workflows are not triggered by customer events and business rules are uncoordinated and distributed among multiple systems. Fragmented customer views combined with multiple sets of uncoordinated software-enabled rules hinder an enterprise from providing sales and service to its customers.
As described above, enterprises require "a 360° view of the customer," and need the most relevant information through existing applications. A complete view of the customer requires an ability to act in real time and to gather data from all applications and touch points. Previous approaches to fixing customer data quality and management problems have only focused on part of the data integration issue. These solutions do not meet the basic need of businesses for real time integration and management of high value (reliable) data. Thus, simultaneously leveraging all of the available data to obtain an up-to-date comprehensive view of any customer remains a significant data integration challenge for the enterprise.
Thus, there is a need in the art for a system that integrates data to create and maintain the best version of truth for that data and delivers that data to real-time operational setting, and across multiple data sources.

Method and apparatus for data integration and management


An electronic lock system includes a key having a memory for storing a first parameter defined by a plurality of fields and a second parameter indicative of a number of the fields. A lock has a receptacle for reading the first and second parameters from the key's memory and compare circuitry for comparing respective fields of the first parameter with a third parameter stored in the lock, with the number of fields compared based on the second parameter. Access to the lock is provided responsive to the compare circuitry, such that a single key may access a predetermined set of locks. The electronic lock is capable of performing a plurality of functions. Control is provided such that permission to access the functions is configurable for each key.

For several centuries, mechanical locks provided the only means of securing a safe. While effective, mechanical locks suffer from many limitations. First, most mechanical locks, either key or combination, may be opened using tools available in the locksmith trade. Second, operation of the mechanical devices is extremely unsophisticated, their only function is to engage or disengage a bolt.
Over the last decade, electronic locks have become available. In the electronic lock, a bolt is engaged or disengaged typically in response to a number entered by the user. Electronic locks provide the advantage of enhanced functions through the use of intelligent processing.
However, present day electronic locks are still limited in performance. Significantly, present day electronic locks are limited in their capabilities of allowing or denying access to the secured area, particularly in situations where multiple safes are involved. Further, once access is allowed, present-day electronic locks do not provide adequate security with regard to the features which may be controlled by a user.
Therefore, a need has arisen in the industry for an electronic lock which provides maximum security with regard to access and operation while maintaining ease of use.


An extrusion construction system may include an extrusion nozzle configured to extrude construction material through an outlet onto an external surface, the extrusion nozzle including an excess flow port disposed substantially adjacent an edge of the outlet, an imaging device coupled to the extrusion nozzle, and a controller configured to adjust the rate of material flow through the extrusion nozzle in response to receiving one or more images captured by the imaging device showing excess material being extruded through the excess flow port.

1. Field
This disclosure relates to construction of structures, such as walls and buildings. This disclosure also relates to extrusion of construction material and devices and apparatus that are involved in such a process, including extrusion nozzles.
2. Description of Related Art
Constructing homes, offices, and other structures has an ancient heritage. Despite centuries of development, however, construction can still be very labor intensive. Even a modest sized structure may require the efforts of numerous workers. The appearance and quality of several structures built from the same design may also vary due to differences in the skills, efforts, supervision, and techniques employed by their builders. Construction may also waste material. When standard off-the-shelf lengths of wood is used, for example, the wood may have to be cut to meet design requirements. Construction may also be hazardous. Construction workers may be killed or seriously injured.
These problems gave rise to the nozzle assemblies disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,153,454, issued Dec. 26, 2006, entitled "Multi-Nozzle Assembly for Extrusion of Wall," as well as the related equipment and methods disclosed in the patent applications cited above.
These patent applications and patent collectively disclose equipment and methods for automatically constructing buildings by extruding construction material, layer by layer, from one or more extrusion nozzles. These nozzles may be manipulated by robots under computer control. The process has become known as "Contour Crafting."
Such advancements have brought with them corresponding challenges. For example, it may be challenging to extrude walls which have multiple layers, such as an internal core of insulation, a stucco exterior, and a plastered interior. It may also be challenging to craft openings in such extruded walls for such components as windows and doors. It may also be challenging to create a uniform and level base layer when the underlying surface is uneven.
One particular challenge relates to controlling the flow of material extruded from a nozzle as it forms a layer. Flow rate is generally a parameter that must be regulated in a variety of situations. One example includes a situation where a substantially homogenous layer of material is to be extruded. If, when the layer is constructed, the material flow rate changes substantially, the layer will likely vary in size and shape. The potential variance may introduce unwanted hazards, weaknesses and defects and present unwanted aesthetic artifacts, and it may result in structures that are not consistent with their originally issued specifications.
Several flow measurement techniques have been proposed or implemented to address this problem. However, for certain fluids and materials these methods are either unworkable or they are too slow in providing an accurate response, particularly in automated extrusion processes.

Techniques for sensing material flow rate in automated extrusion


A sheet processing apparatus includes an alignment unit configured to align sheets stacked on a stack tray. The sheet processing apparatus determines whether or not a part of sheets stacked on the stack tray has been removed from the stack tray. When it is determined that a part of sheets stacked on the stack tray has been removed from the stack tray, the sheet processing apparatus inhibits an alignment of the sheets using the alignment unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus that has a function of aligning sheets stacked on a stack tray, a control method for the sheet processing apparatus, and a storage medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
For sheet processing apparatuses that stack a large number of sheets, there has been demand for the ability to discharge and align the sheets with a high degree of accuracy. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-206331 suggests a sheet alignment process in which alignment members are provided on a stack tray, and sheets are piled up in such a manner that the positions of edge surfaces of the sheets parallel to a sheet discharge direction are lined up by the alignment members coming into and out of contact with the edge surfaces of the sheets.
The aforementioned conventional technique has the following problem. For example, if a user removes a part of sheets stacked on the stack tray, there is a possibility that sheets stacked on the stack tray may be misaligned. If an alignment process is applied to the sheets on the stack tray in this state, the sheet quality could possibly be reduced due to bending of the sheets stacked in a misaligned manner, and due to sliding of the bottom surfaces of the alignment members against the sheets stacked in a misaligned manner.

Sheet processing apparatus, control method therefor and storage medium


A magnetically actuated motion control device includes a housing defining a cavity and including a slot therethrough. A movable member is located within the cavity and is movable relative to the housing. A magnetic field generator located on either the housing or the movable member causes the housing to press against the movable member to develop a friction force. The flux caused by the magnetic field flows through the housing, the movable member and at least one pole located along the movable member. The at least one pole comprises a first portion having a first axial dimension and a second portion having a second axial dimension where the first axial dimension is greater than the second axial dimension and as a result the magnetic flux through the second portion of the at least one pole has a greater magnitude than the magnetic flux through the first portion of the pole.

The present invention relates to a magnetically actuated motion control device. In particular the present invention relates to magnetically actuated motion control devices that vary the contact force between a first member and a second member in accordance with a generated magnetic field.
Magnetically actuated motion control devices such as magnetically controlled dampers or struts provide motion control, e.g., damping that is controlled by the magnitude of an applied magnetic field. Much of the work in the area of magnetically controlled dampers has focused on either electrorheological (ER) or magnetorheological (MR) dampers. The principle underlying both of these types of damping devices is that particular fluids change viscosity in proportion to an applied electric or magnetic field. Thus, the damping force achievable with the fluid can be controlled by controlling the applied field. Examples of ER and MR dampers are discussed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,018,606 and 5,284,330, respectively, assigned to Lord Corporation of Cary, N.C.
Generally, MR fluids have high yield strengths and viscosities, and therefore are capable of generating greater damping forces than ER fluids. In addition, the viscosities of MR fluids are precisely controlled by easily produced magnetic fields that are generated by energizing simple low voltage electromagnetic coils. As a result, dampers employing MR fluids have become preferred over ER dampers.
Because ER and MR fluid dampers involve fluid damping, the dampers must be manufactured with precise valving and seals. In particular, such dampers typically require a dynamic seal and a compliant containment member and as a result, prior art MR and ER dampers are not easy to manufacture or assemble. Further, the ER and MR fluid dampers can have significant xe2x80x9coff-statexe2x80x9d forces when the devices are operated at high speeds and the off-state forces can further complicate their manufacture and assembly. Off-state forces refer to those forces at work in the damper when the damper is not energized.
As a result of the shortcomings associated with prior art MR and ER fluid devices, magnetically actuated alternatives to traditional MR fluid motion control devices have been developed. Such magnetically actuated prior art devices are disclosed in pending U.S. Pat. No. 6,378,671 for xe2x80x9cMagnetically Actuated Motion Control Devicexe2x80x9d and in pending divisional application of the allowed ""365 application having Ser. No. 10/080,293, filed Feb. 20, 2002 for a xe2x80x9cSystem Comprising Magnetically actuated Motion Control Devicexe2x80x9d. Both of the issued patent and pending application are assigned to Lord Corporation of Cary, N.C. The prior art magnetically actuated devices disclosed in the applications contain no MR or ER fluid, yet provide a variable level of coulombic or friction damping that is controlled by the magnitude of the applied magnetic or electric field. Prior art magnetically actuated motion control devices overcome a number of the shortcomings associated with MR and ER fluid devices. For example, prior art magnetically actuated motion control devices: may be manufactured and assembled relatively simply and at a relatively low cost; allow for very loose mechanical tolerances and fit between components; do not require a dynamic seal or a compliant containment member; have particularly low off-state forces and provide for a wide dynamic range between the off-state and a maximum damping force. The wide dynamic range is particularly evident when the devices are operated at high speeds.
An exemplary prior art magnetically actuated motion control device disclosed in the pending applications referred to in paragraph [0005] hereinabove is illustrated generally in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. The prior art motion control device or damper is identified generally at 101 in FIG. 1 and includes a tubular housing 103 defining a cavity 105 in which a piston 107 is located and moveable linearly therein along axis 123. Each end of the damper preferably includes a conventional, well known structure which facilitates attaching damper 101 to other structures, such as clevis eye 121 for attaching the end to a portion of a damped component. The housing 103 includes a least one axially aligned slot 109. The slot may also be referred to as a longitudinally extending slot. The prior art device 101 of FIG. 1 comprises eight slots. All eight of the slots are illustrated in FIG. 2 and five of the slots are illustrated in FIG. 1. The slots pass through the housing wall to define flexible bands, tabs, or fingers 111. The slots 109 extend through the wall of the housing 103 and extend axially nearly the entire length of the housing.
Piston 107 includes a shaft 112 having a magnetically active portion 113 made up of at least one, and preferably two electromagnetic coils 115 set in a magnetically permeable core 117. The portion 113 may also be referred to as a piston head hereinafter. Although here the magnetically permeable core 117 is hollow, the core can alternatively be a solid bobbin. A hollow core allows space for locating connecting wires 119 therein. As shown in FIG. 3, the piston head 113 also defines a plurality of annular poles 114A, 114B, 114C and 114D located adjacent the axially directed portions of the coils 115. The poles 114A-114D have substantially the same dimensions. The poles comprise substantially the same overall axial dimension identified as P in FIG. 3 and a constant lateral dimension equal to approximately one quarter of the diameter D and such lateral dimension is identified as D/4 in FIG. 3. The axial pole dimension P remains substantially constant as the pole extends laterally along the dimension D/4. The poles have substantially rectangular cross sections and hold a constant radial clearance 127 between the outer periphery of the poles and the housing wall when the coils are not energized. In the prior art device 101, the magnetic flux produced when the electromagnets are energized is substantially constant through the poles 114A-D, the inner portion of piston head 113 and housing wall 104, and the constant flux is illustrated by the equally spaced flux lines 125 in FIG. 3. The constant flux is primarily a result of the substantially constant dimensions of the poles, active portion 113 and wall 104.
A current source 118 supplies current to the coils 115 through wires 119. Current flowing through the coils 115 creates a magnetic field that draws the housing 103 in toward the piston head 113. As indicated above, the created magnetic field is illustrated in FIG. 3 by field lines 125. Also shown in FIG. 3 the field surrounds the coil 115 and passes through the poles 114, inner portion of head 113 and housing wall 104. Like head 113, the housing 103 is also made from a magnetically permeable material that will be attracted by the magnetic field including, but not limited to, steels and other iron alloys. The amount of current flowing through the coils 115 is generally directly proportional to the magnitude of the magnetic field generated. Thus, control of the electric current flowing through the coils 115 can be used to control the normal or pressing force between the inner surface of the housing 103 and the outer surface of the piston 107, thereby controlling the damping effect of the damper 101.
The slotted housing 103 and the head 113 of the piston 107 are preferably made from low carbon, high permeability steel, although other magnetically permeable materials can be used. The slots 109 are preferably evenly spaced around the circumference of the housing 103 so that axial-periodic symmetry is maintained. The pair of coils 115 is preferably wired such that they produce magnetic fields in opposite directions as indicated by the directional arrows associated with the field lines 125 illustrated in FIG. 3. This configuration allows the magnetic field produced by each coil 115 to add rather than cancel in an area between the adjacent coils 115.
An illustration of the damping effect produced by device 101 can be seen in the lateral sectional view shown in FIG. 2, which shows the relationship of the slotted housing 103 with respect to the piston 107. When no magnetic field is applied, the piston 107, and particularly the head 113, fits loosely within the housing 103 to define a small radial clearance 127 between the housing 103 and the magnetically active portion 113 of the piston 107. That is, the housing 103 is relaxed and does not press against the piston head 113. When current is supplied to the coils 115 the magnetic field generated causes the flexible fingers 111 in the housing 103 to be attracted radially inward as indicated by the arrows 126 such that the housing 103 squeezes the piston 107 with a force proportional to the applied magnetic field, and therefore the applied current.
Although prior art damping devices are an effective source of damping in many applications, there are shortcomings associated with the prior art magnetically actuated device 101. The hollow configuration of the active portion 113 of piston 107 and the properties of the magnetically permeable materials comprising the poles 114 and head 113, cause the devices to become magnetically saturated. As a result of such saturation, prior art devices are limited in the magnitude and range of damping forces that may be provided. Prior art magnetically actuated devices do not maximize the magnetic flux at the area of contact between the housing and piston. Rather prior art devices provide for substantially the same magnitude magnetic flux at and away from the area of contact between the housing and piston head when the magnetic field is generated.
The foregoing illustrates limitations known to exist in present devices and methods. Thus, it is apparent that it would be advantageous to provide an alternative directed to overcoming one or more of the limitations set forth above. Accordingly, a suitable alternative is provided including features more fully disclosed hereinafter.
According to one aspect of the invention, a magnetically actuated motion control device is provided. The magnetically actuated motion control device includes a a first member defining a cavity; a second member positionable within the cavity and being movable relative to the first member along an axis when positioned therein, the second member comprising at least one pole, the at least one pole having a first portion comprising a first axial dimension and a second portion having a second axial dimension, the first axial dimension being greater than the second axial dimension; at least one of the first member and the second member including at least one moveable finger; a magnetic field generator located on another of the first member and the second member, the magnetic field generator causing one of a portion of the first member and a portion of the second member to press against the other of the portion of the first member and the portion of the second member.
By decreasing the axial dimensions between an inner first pole portion and an outer second pole portion the magnetic flux, xcfx86, per unit area, also referred to as flux density, xcex2, is increased at the outer contact surface comprising the second pole portion. In this way the poles serve to channel or funnel the magnetic flux between the inner and outer portions of the poles. The flux density may be represented by the following equation: xcex2=xcfx86/Area. The magnetically actuated devices of the present invention provide a greater range of dynamic damping forces than conventional piston devices.
The poles may comprise any suitable cross section including but not limited to a wedge-shaped cross section or a cross section that has a substantially rectangular portion with a contact portion extending outwardly from the substantially rectangular portion. The movable member may comprise any suitable number of piston heads. Each piston head may comprise any number of poles and the poles may be substantially the same or different.
The foregoing and other aspects will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures.


A method for forming a through silicon via (TSV) in a substrate may include forming a dielectric layer on the substrate; forming an opening through the dielectric layer and into the substrate using a single mask over the dielectric layer; expanding the opening in the dielectric layer, undercutting the single mask, to form an expanded upper portion; removing the single mask; and filling the opening, including the expanded upper portion, with a conductor. A resulting structure may include a substrate; a dielectric layer over the substrate; and a self-aligned through silicon via (TSV) extending through the dielectric layer and the substrate.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to semiconductor fabrication, and more particularly, to processes related to forming through silicon vias (TSVs).
2. Related Art
Through silicon vias (TSVs) are vias etched through a substrate, e.g., a silicon (Si) wafer. TSVs may be used, for example, to allow wafer-to-wafer interconnect schemes such as those compatible with three dimensional wafer-level packaging. Openings for TSVs typically include an enlarged portion near an upper surface so that the opening can be more readily filled with a conductor. Current processes use at least two masks to form the TSV opening: a first mask used to open any layer over the substrate and open an upper portion of the substrate (e.g., silicon), and a second mask to open a lower portion of the substrate. In some cases, a third mask is used to create pre-metallization openings to ensure metallization level conductor alignment with the TSV.

Methods of forming self-aligned through silicon via


Discharge module which is formed by three circuits, a control and measurement circuit for X-rays, a voltage division circuit between serial switches, which is independent from the previous one, and a third circuit of the charge short circuit, which in turn is formed by a successive or slave trip circuit of the switches and another main discharge circuit through the switches; due to the established configuration, a much improved radiation control is achieved as it is not affected by unforeseen agents, the short circuit current is not restricted to the port current of the switches, and residual voltage of the switches is reduced.

To date, voltage discharge modules are known for cables which connect a high voltage supply with an x-ray generation sources such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,056,125 A.
Said discharge module, although it partially achieves a reduction in the discharge tail or soft radiation, presents several disadvantages. On one hand as the voltage discharge circuits and mA measurement are not independent, the radiation control is not as accurate, as it is interfered with by unforeseeable external agents, and on the other, the discharge current of the thyristors or triacs used to reduce soft radiation is restricted to the port current that the said solid state switches are able to support.
Another difficulty of the discharge module of the previous invention is the fact that both the anode and the cathode discharge in a manner independent of an earth, therefore the discharge depends on the earth connection, and if one of said discharge connections fails, the discharge will not occur.
Therefore, the purpose of this invention overcomes the foregoing disadvantages by developing a discharge module which reduces soft radiation, in which the discharge current is not restricted to the port current which can support the solid state switches, where furthermore, the anode and cathode discharge is made in a more efficient manner and in which the voltage discharge current is separated from the mA measurement, in accordance with the topology contained in claim one.

Discharge module for high voltage x-ray tubes

Sociedad Espanola de Electromedicina y Calidad S.A.


A surface handling tool for casing employs slips to grab the casing internally and a lock that operates mechanically in conjunction with the setting of the slips. The slips rub on the inside wall to hold an outer housing against rotation. The top sub and mandrel are rotated in tandem relative to the outer housing that is held by the rubbing of the slips on insertion. The mandrel rises when rotated to extend the slips while lock segments ratchet over a series of protrusions that are shaped to resist downward movement of the mandrel. Once slips and lock are set, subsequent rotation will not release the lock or slips. When the casing is supported on the rig floor weight can be set down and a spring compressed as the leading ramp of the top sub retracts the lock segments such that rotation to the right can then retract the slips.

Tubular handling equipment for surface handling has in the past involved slips that can be set and a locking or anchoring device apart from the slips that was hydraulically operated. This design is shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,371,387 and 8,342,250. Another design for setting slips and locking the set or releasing the lock with axial movement so that additional grips can be made for repositioning of a tubular cutter are shown in US2013/0048273 and US2013/0048268. Also of interest for use of a hydraulic torque locking mechanism in conjunction with slips is application Ser. No. 13/689,911 filed in the US on Nov. 30, 2012. US2012/0111556 sets slips with rotation of the mandrel.
These designs lacked features found in the present invention. In some locations hydraulic power may not be available so that prior designs that relied on such power could not be deployed. Other designs that set with rotation were not configured to avoid release upon subsequent rotation in either direction and created the possibility of releasing the string if rotation in the wrong direction was initiated. The present invention provides for setting the slips and locking the set with a common rotational movement, among other things. Once the tubular is gripped and the grip is locked rotation in either direction will not release the lock and for that reason will not allow the grip on the tubular to be released. Release can happen with axial movement made possible by the tubular having rig floor support coupled with rotation. These and other features of the present invention will be more readily apparent to those skilled in the art from a review of the detailed description of the preferred embodiment and the associated drawings while recognizing that the full scope of the invention is to be determined from the appended claims.

Casing spear with mechanical locking feature


An sDR5-Fc recombinant fusion protein having amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 and a gene encoding the protein and having a nucleotide sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 are provided. Further, applications of the protein and the gene in the preparation of medicament for preventing and treating autoimmune hepatitis or drug-induced liver injury are provided.

According to World Health Organization, the proportion of hepatitis patients to healthy people in the world is about 1/12 at the present stage, that is, there may be one hepatitis patient among every twelve people, and this proportion is nearly ten times that of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infected people. Currently, there are nearly 500 million patients which have hepatitis such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, etc. in various countries around the world, accounting for 1/12 of the global population. China is the country with the highest number of hepatitis patients, and every year, nearly 300,000 people die of liver-related diseases such as liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. More than 500,000 people worldwide die of primary liver cancer each year, specifically, up to 80 percent of the primary liver cancer is caused by hepatitis. Among the 400 million hepatitis patients, 75 percent of them live in Asia, and China is the country with the heaviest burden of hepatitis and liver cancer patients in the world. The annual cost for hepatitis B treatment in China is more than 100 billion yuan.
Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) refers to liver injury induced by various prescription or over-the-counter chemical drugs, biological agents, traditional Chinese medicines, natural medicines, health care products, dietary supplements, metabolites and excipients thereof, etc. Patients with or without a liver underlying disease may have drug-induced liver injury after using the drug. DILI is one of the most common and serious adverse drug reactions, and severe cases may cause acute liver failure (ALF) or even death. Drug-induced liver injury is the most common reason for stopping the developments of new drugs and withdrawing new drugs from the market. In China, due to the continuous increase of drugs, the promotion of new drugs, and the development and clinical applications of the various health care drugs in recent years, the incidence of DILI has increased significantly as well.
It is known that more than 1,100 approved drugs worldwide have potential hepatotoxicity, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), anti-infective drugs (including anti-tuberculosis drugs), anti-tumor drugs, central nervous system drugs, cardiovascular system drugs, metabolic disease drugs, hormonal drugs, certain biological preparations, etc. Among the Europeans and Americans, the three most common types of drugs that may cause DILI are NSAIDs, antibiotics, and central nervous system drugs (e.g., the tacrine for treatment of senile dementia), and the acetaminophen (APAP) is the most common drug that may cause DILI. Another study reported that the top three drugs that cause DILI were: APAP, highly active antiretroviral drugs, and anti-tuberculosis drugs (e.g., isoniazid, rifampicin). Moreover, APAP is the leading cause of acute liver failure. The mortality rate caused by APAP is 500 cases/year in the UK. According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC), 1600 cases of acute liver failure occur each year in the United States, and 41% of DILI are caused by APAP. In Asia, the causes of the drug-induced liver injury are different from those in Europe and the United States. China is a high risk area for tuberculosis. In recent years, liver injury caused by anti-tuberculosis drugs has ranked first in the drug-induced liver injury in China.
Drug-induced liver injury patients are mainly treated with drugs that protect the liver, reduce enzymes, eliminate jaundice and promote growth of liver cells, and the patients with high serum bilirubin are supplemented with artificial liver treatment. The mild patients may recover quickly after stopping the drugs or after symptomatic treatment such as general liver protection, etc., the severe patients need hospitalization, and very few die due to liver failure. The basic treatment principles of DILI are: (1) timely stopping the use of suspicious liver injury drugs, trying to avoid re-use of the suspicious drugs or other drugs of the same class; (2) selecting appropriate medical treatment according to the clinical type of DILI; (3) considering liver transplantation for the hepatic encephalopathy and acute hepatic failure/subacute liver failure with severe coagulopathy, and decompensated cirrhosis.
To date, DILI still lacks special treatments. The treatment drugs mainly include the following types:
(1) N-acetylcysteine (NAC): NAC is used to treat DILI caused by APAP. For children, since the result of using NAC to treat ALF that is not caused by APAP does not coincide with that from a randomized controlled treatment study, NAC is not recommended for the treatment of drug-induced ALF that is not caused by APAP, especially for children aged from 0 to 2 years old. However, it is known that more than 1,100 drugs worldwide can cause DILI, and APAP is only one of them. Different kinds of drugs have different mechanisms for causing liver injury, so the therapeutic range of NAC drugs is very limited. Moreover, NAC has certain side effects: 1) it has a stimulating effect on the respiratory mucosa, sometimes causing cough or bronchospasm; and 2) the NAC aqueous solution has the smell of hydrogen sulfide, causing nausea, vomiting, nasal discharge, gastritis, etc. in some patients. Therefore, the rate of administration of NAC needs to be strictly controlled during the treatment of DILI to avoid adverse reactions.
(2) Glucocorticoids: glucocorticoids are applicable for the treatment of immune-mediated DILI. AIH-like DILI with autoimmune features responds well to glucocorticoid therapy and are less likely to relapse after discontinuation of the glucocorticoids.
(3) Magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate: China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) has approved magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate for the treatment of acute hepatocellular DILI or mixed DILI with significantly elevated alanine transaminase (ALT), thereby reducing ALT level of DILI patients.
However, the exact efficacy of the above drugs needs to be confirmed by a rigorous prospective randomized controlled study. Moreover, these drugs usually have narrow therapeutic ranges and have certain effects on the mild patients, but the effects of these drugs on the severe patients are limited, or two drugs used in conjunction may even cause deterioration of the illness. Furthermore, the drugs have unclear effect target and certain side effects, so drug-induced liver injury still lacks specific and safe treatment measures. Therefore, the species and efficacies of the existing drugs for treating DILI are limited, and it is urgent to develop new therapeutic drugs.
Autoimmune hepatitis refers to an inflammatory liver disease mediated by an autoimmune response, clinical features thereof are elevated serum transaminases in varying degrees, hypergammaglobulinemia and positive autoantibodies, and histological features thereof are interface hepatitis infiltrated with lymphocyte and plasmacyte. The severe cases of the autoimmune hepatitis may rapidly progress to liver cirrhosis and liver failure. In the United States, patients with autoimmune hepatitis account for 10%-15% of patients with chronic liver disease. In China, the tendency of autoimmune hepatitis is increasing year by year, many patients have poor response to immunosuppressive therapy, and end-stage patients require liver transplantation. However, the recurrence rate in the first year after liver transplantation is 7%-10%, and the recurrence rate in 5 years after liver transplantation is 65%-70%. Therefore, it is necessary to develop safer and more effective therapeutic drugs. Con A, a plant-derived lectin-like polysaccharide, is a T cell activator. In 1992, Tiegs et al reported that intravenous injection of Con A may induce liver tissue necrosis in large areas, cause extensive lymphocytic infiltration, increase hepatocyte apoptosis, and cause elevated serum ALT and AST. Treatment with immunosuppressive agents such as cyclosporine A, FK506, dexamethasone, etc. before injection of Con A can completely avoid or reduce the occurrence of liver injury, indicating that Con A-induced liver injury in mice is closely related to liver immune response, which has many similarities, in terms of the pathogenic characteristics thereof, with human autoimmune liver disease or viral hepatitis that we currently know in the pathological mechanisms. The Con A-induced acute liver injury model has the advantages of short modeling period, high reproducibility, and being similar to human hepatitis in the pathogenesis, etc., which has been widely used in the research on hepatitis treatment methods and mechanisms.
The occurrence and development between autoimmune hepatitis and drug-induced hepatitis have different symptoms, but have common characteristics. Ultimately, the key steps thereof both involve rapid apoptosis of hepatocytes. Apoptosis is the active cell death process caused by the activation of intracellular apoptosis mechanisms after cells receive extracellular death signals, which is essential for maintaining the stability of internal environment of the human body and has an important biological role. However, when liver hepatitis occurs, multiple stressors such as cytokines, oxidative stress, DNA damage, etc. activate apoptotic signals of cells, causing massive hepatocyte death. Apoptosis is the main manner of cell death caused by hepatitis, and is considered to be the basic mechanism of occurrence and development of diseases, and the related molecules thereof have become key targets for the treatment of the liver hepatitis as well. Inhibition of apoptosis can effectively prevent the development of the liver hepatitis.
Death receptor 5 (DR5), a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor family, is a specific, high-affinity receptor for TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), which has low expression on the surface of normal cells and high expression in tissues of inflammation, ischemia or cancer. The full-length human DR5 contains 411 amino acids and is a type I transmembrane glycoprotein, the N-terminus thereof is located at extracellular spaces, and the C-terminus is located at intracellular spaces, with single transmembrane. Specifically, amino acids at sites 1 to 55 belong to signal peptides, and the amino acids at sites 84 to 179 are a chain-like binding domain containing two cysteine-rich repeating functional domains, the amino acids at sites 184 to 206 belong to a transmembrane domain, and the intracellular domain contains a death domain. Intracellular signaling pathways can be effectively activated when DR5 combines with TRAIL, inducing apoptosis.
Drugs and metabolites thereof can activate a variety of death signaling pathways, including hepatocyte mitochondrial damage, oxidative stress, death ligands, and high receptor expression, etc., thereby promoting apoptosis. APAP can induce the production of pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein homolog Bim and death ligand TRAIL, which leads to the occurrence of liver injury (Badmann A, Langsch S, Keogh A, Bmnner T, Kaufmann T, Corazza N. TRAIL enhances paracetamol-induced liver sinusoidal endothelial cell death in a Bim- and Bid-dependent manner. Cell Death Dis. 2012 Dec. 20; 3:e447. Badmann A, Keough A, Kaufmann T, Bouillet P, Brunner T, Corazza N. Role of TRAIL and the pro-apoptotic Bel-2 homolog Bim in acetaminophen-induced liver damage. Cell Death Dis. 2011 Jun. 9; 2:e171.). Anti-tuberculosis drugs can cause immune liver injury, and hepatocytes can be directly damaged by oxidative stress products produced in inflammatory reactions, or apoptosis can be induced by death receptor signaling pathways. Hepatocyte death and intrahepatic and extrahepatic obstruction cause abnormal bile acid metabolism, and the elevated bile acid level, which upregulates expression of DR5, and induces the increase of hepatocyte apoptosis through TRAIL. When the liver suffers from "ischemia and hypoxia", it was found that in the process of hypoxia/recovery of oxygen in human hepatocytes, the expression of DR5 is upregulated, resulting in increased TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Therefore, the TRAIL-DR5-induced apoptosis system is involved in multiple stages of the occurrence and development of liver injury, which is one of the key factors for rapid apoptosis of hepatocytes in large quantities. Targeting the TRAIL-DR5 system, inhibition of apoptosis can effectively prevent the occurrence and development of liver injury.
Soluble DR5 (sDR5) is a soluble form of DR5 that does not contain a transmembrane domain, which is secreted outside the cell because the transmembrane domain lacks and sDR5 cannot be expressed on the cell membrane. Although sDR5 retains the activity capable of being in combination with TRAIL ligands, it is unable to transmit apoptotic signals to cells, blocking the apoptosis mediated by TRAIL-DR5. Moreover, sDR5 is a protein in human body, which has the advantages of low toxicity and no immunogenicity, and has great potential as an important therapeutic drug for diseases including liver hepatitis and liver injury.
At present, the sDR5-Fc protein as a drug has not been approved at home and abroad, and belongs to the national first class new drugs. No company in the world can produce sDR5-Fc protein on a large scale in a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP). Only six companies, i.e., Sigma (Art. No. D9563, discontinued), Enzo life sciences (Art. No. ALX-522-005), EXBIO antibodies (Art. No. EXB0007), Abeam (Art. No. AB83547), R&D systems (Art. No. 631-T2) and Sino Biological (Art. No. 10465-H03H), produce sDR5-Fc protein as a biochemical reagent. The DR5 gene sequences used in these six products are not identical, the types of engineered cells used are also different, the biological activities are uneven, the quality is unstable, and the yield is low. For example, the recombinant human DR5-Fc fusion protein (research reagent) sold by R&D systems has several amino acids different from other commercially available fusion protein drugs at the splicing site, the activity thereof is significantly reduced, the stability thereof is also poor, and different ratios of N-terminal splice variants are found. These all bring difficulty to subsequent process development and formulation of quality standards, and make it not suitable to be declared as a biological new drug.

Human sDR5-fc recombinant fusion protein and application thereof

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