This invention relates to certain heterocyclic sulfonylurea herbicidal compounds, agriculturally suitable compositions thereof and a method of their use.

This invention relates to novel ketone pyrazole, thiophene, and pyridine sulfonylurea herbicidal compounds, agriculturally suitable compositions thereof and a method of using them to control the growth of undesired vegetation.
New compounds effective for controlling the growth of undesired vegetation are in constant demand. In the most common situation such compounds are sought to selectively control the growth of weeds in useful crops such as cotton, rice, corn, wheat and soybeans, to name a few. Unchecked weed growth in such crops can cause significant losses, reducing profit to the farmer and increasing costs to the consumer. In other situations, herbicides are desired which will control all plant growth. Examples of areas in which complete control of all vegetation is desired are areas around fuel shortage tanks, ammunition depots and industrial storage areas. There are many products commercially available for these purposes, but the search continues for products which are more effective, less costly and environmentally safe.
The "sulfonylurea" herbicides are an extremely potent class of herbicides discovered within the last few years. A multitude of structural variations exist within the class of herbicides, but they generally consist of a sulfonylurea bridge. --SO.sub.2 NHCONH--, linking two aromatic or heteroaromatic rings.
EP-A95,925 which was published 12/7/83 discloses herbicidal sulfonylureas of formula ##STR1## wherein Q is, in part ##STR2## R.sub.10 is H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.4 alkenyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.4 alkynyl, CO.sub.2 R.sub.24, SO.sub.2 NR.sub.20 R.sub.21 or SO.sub.2 R.sub.22 ;
R.sub.11 is H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl, F, Cl, Br, NO.sub.2, OR.sub.16, CO.sub.2 R.sub.24, S(O).sub.m R.sub.25 or SO.sub.2 NR.sub.20 R.sub.21 ; provided that when R.sub.10 is other than C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl, then R.sub.11 is H, Cl, OCH.sub.3, NO.sub.2, or CH.sub.3 ; PA1 R.sub.12 is H or CH.sub.3 ; PA1 R.sub.13 and R.sub.14 are independently H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl, OR.sub.16, F, Cl, Br, NO.sub.2, CO.sub.2 R.sub.24, S(O).sub.m R.sub.25 or SO.sub.2 NR.sub.20 R.sub.21 ; provided that, when either of R.sub.13 or R.sub.14 is CO.sub.2 R.sub.24, S(O).sub.m R.sub.25 or SO.sub.2 NR.sub.20 R.sub.21, then the other is H, Cl, CH.sub.3, OCH.sub.3 or NO.sub.2 ; and PA1 R.sub.15 is H or CM.sub.3. PA1 B and C are independently H, halogen, NO.sub.2, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl, arylalkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkoxy, haloalkyl, CO.sub.2 R, CONR.sub.1 R.sub.2, S(O).sub.n R.sub.3, SO.sub.2 NR.sub.4 R.sub.5, or optionally substituted phenyl. PA1 n is 1 or 2; PA1 D is 0, S, NH or NC.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl; PA1 R.sub.2 is H, halogen, CF.sub.3, NO.sub.2, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy; and PA1 A is 0, S, NR.sub.5 or --C.dbd.N--, PA1 Y is 0, S, or C(R.sub.6).dbd.N; and PA1 R.sub.7 is H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 haloalkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 haloalkoxy, C.sub.2 -C.sub.10 alkoxyalkoxy, C.sub.3 -C.sub.5 alkenyloxy, C.sub.3 -C.sub.5 alkynyloxy, phenoxy, benzyloxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkylthio or NR.sub.8 R.sub.9. PA1 Y is 0 or S; PA1 Z is 0 or S; PA1 E is N or CH; PA1 R.sub.1 is H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 haloalkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 haloalkoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy, halogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 aIkylthio, NR.sub.6 R.sub.7 or alkoxyalkyl containing not more than 4 carbon atoms; PA1 R.sub.2 is H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 haloalkyl, halogen, NO.sub.2, C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkoxy, C(W)R.sub.8, SO.sub.2 NR.sub.6 R.sub.7, S(O).sub.n -C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl or COR.sub.9 ; PA1 R.sub.3 is H, halogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl, OCH.sub.3 or CF.sub.3 ; PA1 R.sub.5 is H, NO.sub.2, F, Cl, Br, CH.sub.3, CF.sub.3, S(O).sub.n C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl, COC.sub.1 -C.sub.4 aIkoxy or C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkoxy; PA1 R.sub.8 is H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 haloalkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 cycloalkyl, C.sub.4 -C.sub.7 cycloalkylalkyl or alkoxyalkyl containing not more than 4 carbon atoms; and PA1 W is 0 or NOR.sub.10. PA1 B is H or lower alkyl; PA1 D is H, CO.sub.2 R or COAr, halogen, NO.sub.2 or SO.sub.2 NR.sup.1 R.sup.2 ; and PA1 Ar is phenyl optionally substituted with halogen. PA1 R.sub.1 is H or CH.sub.3 ; PA1 R.sub.2 is H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 haloalkyl, halogen, nitro, C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkoxy. SO.sub.2 NR.sub.c R.sub.d, C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkylthio C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkylsulfinyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkylsulfonyl, CN, CO.sub.2 R.sub.e, C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 haloalkoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 haloalkylthio, amino C.sub.1 -C.sub.2 alkylamino di(C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl)amino or C.sub.1 -C.sub.2 alkyl substituted with C.sub.1 -C.sub.2 alkoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.2 haloalkoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.2 alkylthio, C.sub.1 -C.sub.2 haloalkylthio, CN, OH or SH; PA1 R.sub.a and R.sub.b are independently C.sub.1 -C.sub.2 alkyl; PA1 R.sub.c is H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.3 cyanoalkyl, methoxy or ethoxy; PA1 R.sub.d is H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl or C.sub.3 -C.sub.4 alkenyl; or PA1 R.sub.c and R.sub.d may be taken together as --(CH.sub.2).sub.3 --, --(CH.sub.2).sub.4 --, --(CH.sub.2).sub.5 -- or --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 OCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --; PA1 R.sub.e is C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.4 alkenyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.4 alkynyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 haloalkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.2 cyanoalkyl, C.sub.5 -C.sub.6 cycloalkyl, C.sub.4 -C.sub.7 cycloalkylalkyl or C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 alkoxyalkyl; PA1 R' is C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 haloalkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkyl substituted with one or two R.sub.3 groups, C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 alkenyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 haloalkenyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.5 alkenyl substituted with one or two R.sub.3 groups, C.sub.3 -C.sub.5 alkynyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.5 haloalkynyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.5 alkynyl substituted with one or two R.sub.3 groups, C.sub.3 -C.sub.5 cycloalkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.5 halocycloalkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.5 cycloalkyl substituted with one or two R.sub.4 groups, C.sub.4 -C.sub.7 cycloalkylalkyl, C.sub.4 -C.sub.7 halocycloalkylalkyl, C.sub.4 -C.sub.7 cycloalkylalkyl substituted with one or two R.sub.4 groups, phenyl or benzyl; PA1 R.sub.3 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkylthio, C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 haloalkoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkylsulfinyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkylsulfonyl, CN, NO.sub.2 OH, OR.sub.5 or di-(C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl)amino; PA1 R.sub.4 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 haloalkoxy, CN, NO.sub.2, OH, OR.sub.5 or di-(C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl)amino; PA1 R.sub.5 is SO.sub.2 CH.sub.3, Si(CH.sub.3).sub.3, C.sub.2 -C.sub.3 alkylcarbonyl or CO.sub.2 C.sub.1 -C.sub.2 alkyl; PA1 E is a single bond or CH.sub.2 ; PA1 W is 0 or S; PA1 n is 0 or 1; PA1 n' is 0 or 1; ##STR17## X is H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 haloalkoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 haloalkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 haloalkylthio, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkylthio, halogen, C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 alkoxyalkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 alkoxyalkoxy, amino, C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkylamino, di(C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl)amino or C.sub.3 -C.sub.5 cycloalkyl; PA1 Y is H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 haloalkoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 haloalkylthio, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkylthio, C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 alkoxyalkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 alkoxyalkoxy, amino, C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkylamino, di(C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl)amino, C.sub.3 -C.sub.4 aIkenyloxy, C.sub.3 -C.sub.4 alkynyloxy, C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 alkylthioalkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 haloalkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 alkynyl, azido, cyano, C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 alkylsulfinylalkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 alkylsulfonylalkyl, ##STR18## or N(OCH.sub.3);CH.sub.3 ; m is 2 or 3; PA1 L.sub.1 and L.sub.2 are independently 0 or S; PA1 R.sub.6 is H or C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl; PA1 R.sub.7 and R.sub.8 are independently C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl; PA1 Z is CH or N; PA1 Y.sub.1 is 0 or CH.sub.2 ; PA1 X.sub.1 is CH.sub.3, OCH.sub.3, OC.sub.2 H.sub.5 or OCF.sub.2 H; PA1 X.sub.2 is CH.sub.3, C.sub.2 H.sub.5 or CH.sub.2 CF.sub.3 ; PA1 Y.sub.2 is OCH.sub.3, OC.sub.2 H.sub.5, SCH.sub.3, SC.sub.2 H.sub.5, CH.sub.3 or CH.sub.2 CH.sub.3 ; PA1 X.sub.3 is CH.sub.3 or OCH.sub.3 ; PA1 Y.sub.3 is H or CH.sub.3 ; PA1 X.sub.4 is CH.sub.3 ; OCH.sub.3, OC.sub.2 H.sub.5, CH.sub.2 OCH.sub.3 or Cl; and PA1 Y.sub.4 is CH.sub.3, OCH.sub.3, OC.sub.2 H.sub.5 or Cl; PA1 (a) when X is Cl, F, Br or I, then Z is CH and Y is OCH.sub.3, OC.sub.2 H.sub.5, N(OCH.sub.3)CH.sub.3, NHCH.sub.3,N(CH.sub.3).sub.2 or OCF.sub.2 H; PA1 (b) when X or Y is C.sub.1 haloalkoxy, then Z is CH; PA1 (c) X.sub.4 and Y.sub.4 are not simultaneously Cl; PA1 (d) when W is S, then R.sub.1 is H, A is A-1 and Y is CH.sub.3, OCH.sub.3, OC.sub.2 H.sub.5, CH.sub.2 OCH.sub.3, C.sub.2 H.sub.5, CF.sub.3, SCH.sub.3, OCH.sub.2 CH.dbd.CH.sub.2, OCH.sub.2 C.tbd.CH, OCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 OCH.sub.3, CH(OCH.sub.3).sub.2 or 1,3-dioxolan-2-yl; PA1 (e) when the total number of carbons of X and Y is greater than ;our, then the number of carbons of R must be less than or equal to two; PA1 (f) when J is J-1, J-2, J-3 or J-4 then R' is other than C.sub.3 -C.sub.5 cycloalkyl or phenyl; PA1 (g) when J is J-5, J-6 or J-7 wherein E is a single bond, then R' is other than C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.5 alkenyl, phenyl, benzyl, cyclopentyl or C.sub.4 -C.sub.7 cycloalkylalkyl; PA1 (h) when either or both of X and Y are OCF.sub.2 H then J is J-1, J-2, J-3, J-4, J-8, J-9, J-10 or J-11; and PA1 (i) when the total number of carbon atoms of X and Y is greater than four, then the total number of carbon atoms of R.sub.2 and R' must be less than or equal to 7. PA1 J is J.sub.1 to J.sub.10 and E is a single bond; or PA1 J is J.sub.1 to J.sub.4 or J.sub.8 to J.sub.10 and E is CH.sub.2 ; or PA1 J is J.sub.5 to J.sub.7, E is CH.sub.2 and PA1 R' is C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 haloalkyl. C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkyl substituted with one or two R.sub.3 groups, C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 alkenyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 haloalkenyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.5 alkenyl substituted with one or two R.sub.3 groups, C.sub.3 -C.sub.5 alkynyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.5 haloalkynyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.5 alkynyl substituted with one or two R.sub.3 groups, C.sub.3 -C.sub.5 cycloalkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.5 halocycloalkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.5 cycloalkyl substituted with one or two R.sub.4 groups, C.sub.4 -C.sub.7 cycloalkylalkyl, C.sub.4 -C.sub.7 halocycloalkylalkyl, C.sub.4 -C.sub.7 cycloalkylalkyl substituted with one or two R.sub.4 groups, phenyl or benzyl; PA1 The scope of compounds within these that are first preferred can be also defined by adding the following proviso to the above described generic scope as proviso (j) when J is J-5, J-6 or J-7 and E is CH.sub.2, then R' is other than C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkyl. PA1 R is H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl, phenyl, CH.sub.2 CF.sub.3 or CH.sub.2 CH.dbd.CH.sub.2 ; PA1 X is C.sub.1 -C.sub.2 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.2 alkoxy, Cl, F, Br, I, OCF.sub.2 H, CH.sub.2 F, CF.sub.3, OCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 F, OCH.sub.2 CHF.sub.2, OCH.sub.2 CF.sub.3, CH.sub.2 Cl or CH.sub.2 Br; and PA1 Y is H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.2 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.2 alkoxy, CH.sub.2 OCH.sub.3, CH.sub.2 OCH.sub.2 CH.sub.3, NHCH.sub.3, N(OCH.sub.3)CH.sub.3, N(CH.sub.3).sub.2, CF.sub.3, SCH.sub.3, OCH.sub.2 CH.dbd.CH.sub.2, OCH.sub.2 C.tbd.CH, OCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 OCH.sub.3 CH.sub.2 SCH.sub.3, ##STR19## OCF.sub.2 H, OCF.sub.2 Br, SCF.sub.2 H, cyclopropyl, C.tbd.CH or C.tbd.CCH.sub.3. PA1 R' is C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl substituted with 1 to 3 halogen atoms selected from 1 to 3 Cl, 1 to 3 F or 1 Br, C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 alkoxyalkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 alkylthioalkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 cyanoalkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 alkenyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.3 alkenyl substituted with 1 to 3 halogen atoms selected from 1 to 3 Cl, 1 to 3 F or 1 Br, C.sub.3 -C.sub.4 alkynyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.5 cycloalkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.5 cycloalkyl substituted with 1 to 3 halogen atoms selected from 1 to 3 Cl 1 to 3 F or 1 Br or cyclopropylmethyl. PA1 A is A-1; PA1 n is 0; PA1 X is CH.sub.3, OCH.sub.3 ; OCH.sub.2 CH.sub.3, Cl or OCF.sub.2 H; and PA1 Y is CH.sub.3, OCH.sub.3, C.sub.2 H.sub.5, CH.sub.2 OCH.sub.3, NHCH.sub.3, CH(OCH.sub.3).sub.2 or cyclopropyl. PA1 R.sub.1 is H; PA1 R.sub.2 is H, Cl, Br, OCH.sub.3 or CH.sub.3 ; and PA1 R' is C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl substituted with 1 to 3 F, C.sub.2 -C.sub.3 alkoxyalkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.3 alkylthioalkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.3 cyanoalkyl C.sub.2 -C.sub.3 alkenyl, propargyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.5 cycloalkyl or cyclopropylmethyl. PA1 R' is C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl. PA1 R' is C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl substituted with 1 to 3 F, C.sub.2 -C.sub.3 alkoxyalkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.3 alkylthioalkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.3 cyanoalkyl. C.sub.2 -C.sub.3 alkenyl, propargyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.5 cycloalkyl or cyclopropylmethyl. PA1 R is H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl, phenyl, CH.sub.2 CF.sub.3 or CH.sub.2 CH.dbd.CH.sub.2 ; PA1 R.sub.2 is H, Cl, Br, OCH.sub.3 or CH.sub.3 ; PA1 R' is C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl substituted with 1 to 3 F, C.sub.2 -C.sub.3 alkoxyalkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.3 alkylthioalkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.3 cyanoalkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.3 alkenyl, propargyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.5 cycloalkyl or cyclopropylmethyl. PA1 n is 0; PA1 A is A-1; PA1 X is CH.sub.3, OCH.sub.3, OCH.sub.2 CH.sub.3, Cl or OCF.sub.2 H; and PA1 Y is CH.sub.3, OCH.sub.3, C.sub.2 H.sub.5, CH.sub.2 OCH.sub.3, NHCH.sub.3, CH(OCH.sub.3).sub.2 or cyclopropyl. PA1 R' is C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 haloalkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkyl substituted with one or two R.sub.3 groups. C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 alkenyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 haloalkenyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.5 alkenyl substituted with one or two R.sub.3 groups, C.sub.3 -C.sub.5 alkynyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.5 haloalkynyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.5 alkynyl substituted with one or two R.sub.3 groups, C.sub.3 -C.sub.5 cycloalkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.5 halocycloalkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.5 cycloalkyl substituted with one or two R.sub.4 groups, C.sub.4 -C.sub.7 cycloalkylalkyl substituted with one or two R.sub.4 groups, phenyl or benzyl. PA1 J is J-5, J-6 or J-7. PA1 J is J-8. J-9, J-10 or J-11. PA1 J is J-5, J-6 or J-7; PA1 E is CH.sub.2 ; and PA1 R' is C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkyl. 26. Compounds of Preferred 25 where when J is J-5, R.sub.1 is H, R.sub.2 is H, E is CH.sub.2, PA1 A is A-1, X is OCH.sub.3, Y is OCH.sub.3 and Z is CH then R' is other then CH.sub.3. PA1 R' is C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 alkyl.
EP-A-87,780 (published 9/7/83) discloses herbicidal sulfonylureas of formula ##STR3## wherein A is H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl or optionally substituted phenyl;
ZA 83/3850 (published 11/28/83) discloses compounds of formula ##STR4## wherein Q is a five-membered, heterocyclic radical which is bound by way of a carbon atom and contains 2 or 3 heteroatoms and which may be optionally substituted by halogen, pseudohalogen, nitro, alkyl, hydroxyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, alkylthio, haloalkoxy, haloalkylthio, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, alkylcarbonylamino, alkylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, alkoxyalkyl, alkylthiocarbonyl, carbamoyl, alkylaminocarbonyl, dialkylaminocarbonyl alkylsulfinyl, alkylsulfonyl, alkenyloxy or alkynyloxy; and groups such as phenyl, phenoxy or phenylthio, which are unsubstituted or substituted by halogen, nitro cyano alkyl, alkoxy, haloalkyl, alkylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl or haloalkoxy; and also benzyl unsubstituted or substituted by halo%en and/or alkyl.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,127,405 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,169,719 disclose herbicidal thiophenesulfonamides, wherein the thiophene ring may be optionally substituted with CH.sub.3, Cl or Br.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,398,939 discloses herbicidal thiophenesulfonamides , wherein the thiophene ring is substituted with substituent groups selected from C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.3, alkenyl, OCH.sub.3, NO.sub.2, Cl, Br, SO.sub.2 N(C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl).sub.2 or SO.sub.2 N(OCH.sub.3)CH.sub.3.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,481,029 discloses herbicidal thiophenesulfonamides, wherein the thiophene ring is substituted with carboxylic acid carboxylic ester and alkylcarbonyl groups or derivatives thereof.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,441,910 discloses herbicidal thiophene sulfonamides, wherein the thiophene ring is substituted with the group represented by R.sub.6 S(O).sub.n wherein R.sub.6 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.4 aIkenyl, cyclopentyl or cyclopropylmethyl.
European publication No. 13,480(published July 23, 1980) discloses herbicidal pyridine-2-, -3- and -4-sulfonylureas, wherein the pyridine ring may be substituted by Cl, Br, F, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkylthio, NO.sub.2 or a carboxylic ester group.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,456,469 (issued June 29, 1984) discloses herbicidal pyridine-3-sulfonylureas substituted by C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl-, C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 alkenyl-, C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 alkoxyalkyl- and C.sub.5 -C.sub.6 cycloalkylsulfonyl groups.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,518,776 (Swiss priority 7/19/82) discloses, in part, a process for the preparation of compounds of formula ##STR5## wherein ##STR6## R.sub.1 is H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, halogen, NO.sub.2, CN, NH.sub.2, S(O).sub.n C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, SO.sub.2 C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy, SO.sub.2 -di-C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkylamino, CHO, CONH.sub.2, DC.sub.3 -C.sub.5 alkynyl, CODC.sub.3 -C.sub.5 alkynyl, DC.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, DC.sub.3 -C.sub.5 alkenyl, COC.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, CODC.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl or CODC.sub.3 -C.sub.5 alkenyl;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,521,597 discloses, in part, a process for the preparation of compounds of formula ##STR7## wherein ##STR8## R.sub.3 is H, halogen, NO.sub.2, OCH.sub.3 or CF.sub.3 ; R.sub.5 is H, F, Cl, Br, NO.sub.2, C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkoxy, CF.sub.3, S(O).sub.m C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkyl, COR.sub.7 or SO.sub.2 NR.sub.8 R.sub.9 ;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,549,899 discloses herbicidal sulfonylureas of formula ##STR9## wherein X is 0, S, NR.sub.4 or C(R.sub.5).dbd.N;
Japanese Patent Application Number 58-70407 (SHO 59-219,218, laid open 12/10/84) discloses pyrazole-5sulfonylureas of formula ##STR10## wherein A is H, lower alkyl or phenyl;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,370,480 discloses herbicidal sulfonylureas of formula ##STR11## wherein ##STR12## R is H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.2 alkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 alkenyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 alkynyl; C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl substituted with one to four substituents selected from 0-3 F, 0-3 Cl, 0-3 Br, 0-2 OCH.sub.3, 0-1 cyano, 0-1 CO.sub.2 R'.sub.1 where R'.sub.1 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl, CO.sub.2 R'.sub.1, C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 alkenyl substituted with 1-3 Cl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 cycloalkyl, C.sub.5 -C.sub.6 cycloalkenyl, C.sub.5 -C.sub.6 cycloalkyl substituted with substituents selected from 1-3 CH.sub.3 or one of CH.sub.3 CH.sub.2, Cl, OCH.sub.3, C.sub.4 -C.sub.7 cycloalkylalkyl. ##STR13## or a single bond; and T is 0 or NOR.sub.1.sup.III.
Japanese Patent Application Number 84-273152 (Sho 86-151188, laid open July 9, 1986) discloses the following compound ##STR14##


A device for efficient transmission of electrical energy and/or information is built in the manner of a rotary transformer. The cores of this device are made of ferromagnetic rings of a U-shaped cross section of soft iron, or of soft iron core stacks of annular or hollow cylindrical shape, the ring-shaped or hollow cylindrical sheets typically being unslotted. There can be several coil sets within such a device; in this way several channels can be made available for parallel transmission of electrical energy and/or information.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a rotary transformer for simultaneous and/or selective transmission of electrical energy or information.
Furthermore, the invention relates to a process for simultaneous and/or selective transmission of electrical energy or information by means of such a rotary transformer.
2. Description of Related Art
A rotary transformer of the type to which the invention is directed, hereinafter simply called a transformer, is known from German Patent DE 102 34 893 and corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 6,897,756. This transformer is designed to be used especially in circular knitting machines. Another transformer of this type is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,272,350 and is preferably used in conjunction with oil drilling systems. Other transformers of this type have been used for a long time in conjunction with nondestructive testing systems (NDT systems).
All of these systems emphasize efficient transmission of energy and/or information. For this reason, typically, a ferrite material is used as the magnet material for the transformer cores. In any case, the use of ferrite material for NDT systems has proven problematic, among other reasons, due to the conditions of use in a severe industrial environment.

Rotary transformer for transmission of electrical energy or information


A tool holder that is adapted to break chips during a cutting operation is disclosed. The tool holder comprises a shank and a head. The shank is adapted to be received by a cutting machine. A head is provided with a pocket for receiving a cutting insert. The head has a flank surface. A chip breaker is provided on the flank surface adjacent the pocket. A clamp is provided for retaining the cutting insert in the pocket. A method for breaking chips comprises the steps of providing a chip breaker on the head of a tool holder adjacent a cutting insert and directing a chip into the chip breaker.

This invention generally relates to cutting tools and is specifically concerned with a tool holder that improves chip breaking during cutting operations.
During metal cutting operations, continuous metal shavings are usually produced. These shavings are commonly referred to as chips. Chips can build up, cause deterioration in the finished surface of a work piece, and thus create a quality assurance problem. Build up chips can form a mass that may rotate with the work piece and thus pose problems relating to operational safety. Moreover, chips can cause unpredictable jams in a cutting process, which requires manual disposal of the chips. This ultimately interferes with the automated cutting operations.
To this end, it is strongly desirable to have the chips generated in discontinuous forms. Chip breakers have been devised for breaking chips into small pieces. One type of chip breaker includes a combination of grooves and obstacles formed on the rake face of the cutting insert. During cutting operations, the grooves and obstacles function to bend the chip after it has been produced. Often, the grooves and obstacles fail to break the chips.
There is a need for a tool holder that improves chip breaking. Ideally, the tool holder would control dispersion of the chips and thus, promote safety, quality assurance, and the automated cutting operations.
Generally speaking, the invention is directed towards a tool holder that is adapted to break chips during a cutting operation. The tool holder comprises a shank and a head. The shank is adapted to be received by a cutting machine. A head is provided with a pocket for receiving a cutting insert. The head has a flank surface. A chip breaker is provided on the flank surface adjacent the pocket. A clamp is provided for retaining the cutting insert in the pocket.
The invention is also directed to a method for breaking chips comprising the steps of providing a chip breaker on the head of a tool holder adjacent a cutting insert and directing a chip into the chip breaker.


The present invention provides a compound represented by the formula

Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine), which is a hormone synthesized and secreted principally in the pineal gland, increases in dark environments and decreases in light environments. Melatonin acts suppressively on pigment cells and the female gonads, and acts as a synchronous factor of biological clock while taking part in transmittance of photoperiodic code. Therefore, melatonin is expected to be usable for the treatment of diseases related to melatonin activity, such as reproductive and endocrinic disorders, sleep-awake rhythm disorders, jet-lag syndrome, various disorders related to aging and the like. It has been clarified that the production amount of melatonin decreases with aging and there is a report documenting that retention of the production amount of melatonin could prevent aging itself [Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., Vol. 719, pp. 456-460, (1994)]. However, since melatonin is easily metabolized by metabolic enzymes in vivo [Clinical Examinations, Vol. 38, No. 11, pp. 282-284 (1994)]. Therefore, melatonin is not entirely suitable as a drug.
US2003/0216456 discloses a compound represented by the formula:
wherein A is C1-4 alkylene or 1,2 disubstituted cyclopropyl; B is C1-6 alkyl, C3-6 cycloalkyl, C1-6 alkoxy, or C1-4 alkylamino; X is hydrogen, halogen, C2-4 alkenyl, C1-6 alkyl, furyl, or phenyl optionally substituted with halogen, C1-6 alkoxy or haloalkyl; and Y is hydrogen, phenyl, or C1-6 alkyl optionally substituted with phenyl, which has an affinity for melatonin receptor and is useful as a therapeutic agent for circadian rhythm-related disorders. Moreover, a compound similar to the above-mentioned compound is also disclosed in Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. Vol. 14, pp. 1197-1200 (2004) and Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. Vol. 14, pp. 3799-3802 (2004).
U.S. Pat. No. 6,569,894 discloses a compound of the formula:
wherein the dashed line represents a single or double bond; R1 and R2 are each independently hydrogen or halogen; R3 is hydrogen or C1-4 alkyl; R4 is C1-4 alkyl, C3-6 cycloalkyl, C1-3 haloalkyl, C2-6 alkenyl, C1-4 alkoxy, C12 trifluoromethylalkyl or C1-4 alkylamino; R5 is hydrogen, halogen, C1-4 alkyl or C1-4 alkoxy; Y is hydrogen or halogen; W is ethylene or 1,2 disubstituted cyclopropyl group; m is 1 or 2; and n is 1 to 9, which has an affinity for melatonin receptor and is useful as a therapeutic agent for circadian rhythm-related disorders.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,034,239 discloses a compound represented by the formula:
wherein R1 represents an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group, an optionally substituted amino group or an optionally substituted heterocyclic group; R2 represents a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group; R3 represents a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group or an optionally substituted heterocyclic group; X represents CHR4, NR4, O or S wherein R4 represents a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group; Y represents C, CH or N, provided that when X is CH2, Y is C or CH;  represents a single bond or a double bond; ring A represents an optionally substituted 5- to 7-membered oxygen-containing heterocyclic ring; ring B represents an optionally substituted benzene ring; and m represents an integer of 1 to 4, or a salt thereof, which has an affinity for melatonin receptor and is useful as a therapeutic agent for sleep disorder.

Tricyclic compound and pharmaceutical use thereof

Abstract: which is useful as an agent for the prophylaxis or treatment of diseases related to the action of melatonin, or a salt thereof and the like.


A remote device utilizes ray tracing to compute a light field for a scene to be rendered, where the light field includes information about light reflected off surfaces within the scene. This light field is then compressed utilizing lossless or lossy compression and one or more video compression techniques that implement temporal reuse, such that only differences between the light field for the scene and a light field for a previous scene are compressed. The compressed light field data is then sent to a client device that decompresses the light field data and uses such data to obtain the light field for the scene at the client device. This light field is then used by the client device to compute global illumination for the scene. The global illumination may be used to accurately render the scene at the mobile device, resulting in a realistic scene that is presented by the mobile device.

Today's high-performance graphics systems for gaming include multiple GPUs, hardware-accelerated ray tracing, and efficient algorithms and can approach cinematic rendering quality in real-time using ray traced global illumination while providing interaction latency measured in milliseconds. These high-end systems set expectations which are currently difficult to meet on lower end consumer platforms that are constrained by thermal limits, battery power, and limited GPU feature sets.
Current cloud-based graphics solutions stream the entire content as fully rendered images from a remote server to a client. On the client the video stream is decompressed and shown on the display. However, network latency, bandwidth limitations, and increasing screen resolutions and framerates threaten the viability of this approach in the future. There is therefore a need to implement a distributed rendering system with reduced bandwidth and latency characteristics.

Streaming a light field compressed utilizing lossless or lossy compression


To provide electrolytic manganese dioxide excellent in packing property and high-rate discharge characteristics when used as a cathode material for alkaline dry cells. Electrolytic manganese dioxide in which the half-value width of the (110) plane in XRD measurement using CuKα line as the radiation source is at least 1.8° and less than 2.2°, the peak intensity ratio of X-ray diffraction peaks (110)/(021) is at least 0.70 and at most 1.00, and the JIS-pH (JIS K1467) is at least 1.5 and less than 5.0; a method for producing the electrolytic manganese dioxide; and its application.

Manganese dioxide is known as a cathode active material for e.g. alkaline dry cells, particularly, alkaline manganese dry cells, and has such merits that it is excellent in storage stability and is inexpensive. In particular, the alkaline manganese dry cells using manganese dioxide as the cathode active material, are excellent in the discharge characteristics in a wide range of discharge rate from low-rate discharge to high-rate discharge, and thus are widely used in electronic cameras, portable tape recorders, portable information devices, and further game machines and toys, and there is a rapidly growing demand for them in recent years.
However, an alkaline manganese dry cell had a problem such that the utilization rate of manganese dioxide as the cathode active material tends to decrease with the increase of the discharge current, and it cannot be used in such low discharge voltage condition, whereby the substantial discharge capacity tends to be significantly impaired. That is, if the alkaline manganese dry cell was used in an instrument using a large current (high-rate discharge), manganese dioxide as the cathode active material packed in the alkaline manganese dry cell, was not fully utilized, and thus, it had such a disadvantage that the useful time was short.
Heretofore, in order to improve the high-rate discharge characteristics, manganese dioxide has been proposed which is characterized in that in XRD measurement using CuKα line as the radiation source, the half width of the (110) plane is at least 2.2° and at most 2.9°, and further, the peak intensity ratio of X-ray diffraction peaks (110)/(021) is at least 0.50 and at most 0.80 (Patent Document 1).
Further, an electrolytic manganese dioxide has also been proposed which is characterized in that peak intensity ratio is 0.50<I(110)/I(021)<0.70 and I(221)/I(021)<0.70 (Patent Document 2).
Further, it has also been proposed to use, manganese dioxide to be used in an alkaline dry cell, of which the half width of the (110) plane by powder X-ray diffraction measurement is within a range of from 2.00° to 2.40° (Patent Document 3).
However, even the manganese dioxides having the above characteristics are not sufficient to solve the problem in high-rate discharge, and excellent manganese dioxide capable of providing a high capacity and a long life under high-rate discharge conditions to take out a large current in a short time, i.e. manganese dioxide more excellent in so-called high-rate discharge characteristics, has been desired.

Electrolytic manganese dioxide and method for its production, and its application


Active-Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diode (AMOLED) displays exhibit differences in luminance on a pixel to pixel basis, primarily as a result of process or construction inequalities, or from aging caused by operational use over time. To facilitate image correction, the initial non-uniformity correction data is obtained using methods, such as electrical measurement or a combination of electrical and optical measurement. Typically, the correction data is then stored on a non-volatile-memory chip on the display module itself. The proposed invention offers an alternate method for storing and loading the image correction data, thereby eliminating the need for memory chip in the display module.

Active-Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diode (AMOLED) displays are well known in the art. Polysilicon and metal oxide semiconductor are popular materials used in the AMOLED displays, due to their low cost and well established infrastructure from thin-film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) fabrication.
Typically, LED and AMOLED displays require some form of image correction post fabrication. All LED and AMOLED displays, regardless of backplane technology, exhibit differences in luminance on a pixel to pixel basis, primarily as a result of process or construction inequalities, or from aging caused by operational use over time. Luminance non-uniformities in a display may also arise from natural differences in chemistry and performance from the LED and OLED materials themselves. These non-uniformities must be managed by the LED and AMOLED display electronics in order for the display device to attain commercially acceptable levels of performance for mass-market use.
To facilitate image correction, for a given display, the initial non-uniformity correction data is typically acquired optically from the display, at the module level, prior to or after singularization. Other methods, such as electrical measurement or a combination of electrical and optical measurement, may also be used to acquire the correction data. The correction data is then stored on a non-volatile-memory (NVM) chip on the display module itself, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,868,857, which is incorporated herein by reference. The extra NVM memory chip adds to the cost of the display module, and consumes valuable power and circuit board surface area.
An object of the present invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a method of storing and loading the image correction data remote from the display module, thereby eliminating the need for NVM in the product.

System and method for loading image correction data for displays


An action figure having synchronized speech and facial expressions comprises a body defining an internal cavity, a head attached to the body and being deformable into a plurality of facial expressions, and an electrical circuit disposed within the cavity and operatively coupled to a sound generator. The electrical circuit and the sound generator output an audible first speech mode and an audible second speech mode. An actuator operatively coupled to both the head and the electrical circuit is arranged to synchronize the first speech mode with a first facial expression and to synchronize the second speech mode with a second facial expression.

The present invention is directed to a talking action figure toy having a speech patterns that correspond to facial expressions.
Action figures and similar toys are known in the art. Many such action figures have experienced commercial success, and manufacturers continually search for ways to enhance the play value of such action figures by providing novel features and/or various accessories. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,413,516 to Lam discloses a toy doll with lips that move as speech sounds are created. Upon activation of a circuit an electrical motor is activated which turns a drive shaft and gear train, thus causing the lips of the doll to move in an attempt to simulate speech. U.S. Pat. No. 6,110,001 to Chae discloses a toy doll having a deformable face that moves in response to movement of a operating device.
In one aspect, an action figure having synchronized speech and facial expressions comprises a body defining an internal cavity, a head attached to the body, the head being deformable and having a plurality of facial expressions, an electrical circuit disposed within the cavity and operatively coupled to a sound generator, the electrical circuit arranged for connection to a power source, the electrical circuit and the sound generator arranged to output an audible first speech mode and an audible second speech mode, and an actuator assembly mounted to the body and operatively coupled to both the head and the electrical circuit, the actuator assembly shiftable between a plurality of positions, the actuator assembly arranged to synchronize the first speech mode with a first facial expression and to synchronize the second speech mode with a second facial expression.
By using a single, dual action input button, a user can control both the speech modes and the facial expressions. For example, a first speech mode may mimic normal speech, and corresponds to a first facial expression, such as the mouth of the figure being partially open. A second speech mode may mimic excited speech or yelling, and may correspond to a second facial expression, such as the mouth of the figure being more completely open. Additionally, the second facial expression may include deformed eyebrows, or other features typically indicative of excited or yelling speech.
The actuator assembly may include a rod shiftably disposed within the body and the head may include a pivot lever, with an upper part of the rod operatively engaging the pivot lever. Thus, the pivot lever is shiftable between a first position corresponding to the first facial expression and a second position corresponding to the second facial expression in response to movement of the rod. Preferably, the head includes a flexible skin, and the pivot lever engages the flexible skin. Still preferably the head includes a third facial expression.
The actuator assembly may include a shiftable input button and a shiftable rod, with the rod shiftable in response to movement of the button, the rod operatively connected to the head such that movement of the rod changes the head between the plurality of facial expressions. The button and the rod are moveable to an unshifted position and the head includes a third facial expression corresponding to the unshifted positions of the button and the rod.
The electrical circuit includes an inactive mode, and the head includes a third facial expression corresponding to the inactive mode. A first switch and a second switch may be disposed within the body and operatively coupled to the electrical circuit, the first switch arranged to activate the first speech mode and the second switch arranged to activate the second speech mode. The actuator assembly includes a input button assembly, with the button assembly including a first surface arranged to trigger the first switch in response to movement of the button assembly a first distance, the button assembly including a second surface arranged to trigger the second switch in response to movement of the button assembly a second distance. Both a first input button and a second input button may be provided, and the second input button may be nested within the first input button. The rod may be shiftable within the body and arranged to shift from a rest position to a first shifted position and to a second shifted position, and the head includes a first pivot lever and a second pivot lever operatively engaged by the rod. At least one of the first and second pivot levers is arranged to pivot in response to movement of the rod to the first shifted position, the first shifted position corresponding to the first facial expression, the first and second pivot levers arranged to pivot in response to movement of the rod to the second shifted position, the second shifted position corresponding to the second facial expression. The head preferably includes a deformable skin having a jaw and a forehead area, with the first pivot lever attached to the jaw, the second pivot lever attached to the forehead area.
In another aspect of the invention, an action figure toy comprises a body defining an internal cavity, and a head attached to the body, the head including a deformable skin and a lever engaging the skin, with the skin being deformable in response to movement of the lever such that the skin may be positioned in a plurality of facial expressions. An actuator is moveably mounted within the body and operatively connected to the lever, and an input button is mounted to the body and is operatively connected to the actuator. The input button is shiftable to a first position corresponding to a first facial expression and to a second position corresponding to a second facial expression.

Talking action figure having facial expressions


An apparatus for balancing wheels includes a chassis, a driven shaft extending from the chassis for rotating the wheel, a wheel mounting accessory operably mounted on the driven shaft for use in mounting the wheel, and an accessory storage device rotatably mounted on the chassis for storing the accessory when not in use.

The present invention relates to the art of wheel balancers. Specifically, the present invention discloses a wheel balancer having a novel accessory storage device.
It is well known in the art that a balanced vehicle wheel is desirable for a variety of reasons. A modern wheel balancer can statically and dynamically balance a vehicle wheel to within 0.05 ounces at the rim flange. U.S. Pat. 5,311,777 describes a typical wheel balancer and is incorporated here by reference.
The wheel balancer generally includes a chassis which houses a drive motor, imbalance sensors, and various electronics. A driven shaft connects to the motor and extends from the chassis. A vehicle wheel mounts on the driven shaft for rotation during balancing operations. Often a pivotal wheel cover will be provided to shield the operator from the rotating wheel. A control panel typically mounts on the top of the chassis and provides a user interface between the operator and the balancer.
The generally accepted method for balancing a vehicle wheel is to remove the wheel from the vehicle and mount the wheel on the driven shaft of the balancer. Specially sized adapters fit in the hub opening of the wheel and slide over the driven shaft to locate the wheel thereon. The operator then lowers the wheel cover over the mounted wheel, and the motor rotates the driven shaft and wheel. Based on the imbalanced condition of the wheel, the imbalance sensors and electronics calculate the amount and location of balancing weights to be added. The operator then attaches one or more weights at the appropriate position on the wheel rim and re-mounts the balanced wheel on the vehicle.
In recent years, wheel styling has become a growing concern among automobile and after-market wheel manufacturers. As a result, wheel styles have many different diameters, rim sizes, and hub openings. To accommodate these various wheel styles, a variety of wheel mounting accessories, such as adapters, cones, springs, and spacers, are required for mounting the various wheel styles on the driven shaft. In addition, it is preferable to store the wheel mounting accessories directly on the wheel balancer in close proximity to the driven shaft to allow for quick retrieval and changing of the accessories during the balancing operation.
In one aspect, the present invention provides an improved wheel balancer having a chassis, a driven shaft extending from the chassis for rotating the wheel, an accessory operably mounted on the driven shaft for use in mounting the wheel on the shaft, and a storage device rotatably mounted on the chassis for storing the accessory when not in use. The rotatable storage device may include a plurality of pegs for holding corresponding accessories. Preferably, the storage device comprises a post from which the plurality of pegs radially extend.
In another aspect, the invention provides an improved wheel balancer having a chassis, a driven shaft extending from the chassis for rotating the wheel, a wheel mounting accessory operably mounted on the driven shaft for use in mounting the wheel, and a storage device rotatably mounted on the chassis. The storage device includes a post and a retainer for holding the wheel mounting accessory when not in use. Preferably, the retainer comprises a plurality of pegs extending radially from the post. The storage device may further include a tray attached to the post and extending radially from the post.
In a still further aspect, the invention provides an improved wheel balancer having a chassis, a driven shaft extending from the chassis for rotating the wheel, a wheel mounting accessory operably mounted on the driven shaft for use in mounting the wheel, and a storage device rotatably mounted on the chassis. The storage device includes a post and a plurality of pegs extending radially from the post for holding the wheel mounting accessory when not in use. The storage device may further include a tray attached to the post and extending radially from the post.
Those of ordinary skill in the art will better appreciate the features and aspects of presently preferred embodiments and others upon review of the specification.


According to one embodiment, an X-ray tube, including a cathode including a filament including a leg portion extending from a coil to a distal portion and including a corner portion at the distal portion, a support terminal including a gap, and including an opening portion in which the gap is opened and a bottom portion located on a side opposite to the opening portion, and a cathode cup being connected to the support terminal, the distal portion being located in the gap, the support terminal including a protruding portion protruding in the gap, being located more closely to the bottom portion side than the distal portion, and being joined to the corner portion of the leg portion.

An X-ray tube comprises a cathode which emits electrons and an anode target which irradiates X-rays by collision of the emitted electrons, in a vacuum envelope in a vacuum atmosphere. The cathode comprises an electron emission source and a cathode cup which accommodates the electron emission source. The electron emission source is composed of a filament which emits electrons and a support terminal which supports the filament. The filament is provided to be electrically insulated from the cathode cup. The filament is joined to the support terminal by welding or the like.
The filament is heated by heat generated by a flowing current and emits electrons (thermoelectrons) to the anode target. The filament is repeatedly heated in accordance with emission of the electrons and strength of the joint between the filament and the support terminal is thereby reduced. The filament may be therefore displaced from the joint of the support terminal. A focal position of the electrons on the anode target may be displaced by displacement of the filament. In addition, the filament may be brought into contact with the cathode cup (filament touch). If the filament is brought into contact with the cathode cup, a current may not flow to the filament.
The embodiments have been accomplished in consideration of this point and aim to provide an X-ray tube and an X-ray tube manufacturing method that can prevent displacement of the filament of the cathode.

X-ray tube and method of manufacturing the same

Canon Electron Tubes & Devices Co., Ltd.


The invention provides an assay method for the determination of transcobalamin II (TC II) bound cobalamin in a body sample, comprising contacting a cell free sample of a body fluid with an immobilised or immobilizable specific binding ligand for TC II or cobalamin bound TC II (holo TC II), separating a ligand bound fraction from a non-ligand bound fraction and measuring the holo-TC II or TC-II bound cobalamin content therein.

The present invention relates to assay methods for the determination of cobalamin or vitamin B12 in a body fluid and in particular to assay methods for the metabolically active pool of cobalamin.
Cobalamin or vitamin B12 is a water soluble vitamin which forms part of the vitamin B complex found in foods. The core molecule consists of a corrin ring of four pyrole units which surround the essential cobalt atom. Cobalamin is the only vitamin which cannot be synthesised by animals or plants and must be absorbed from food in the gut. It can however be stored in the liver. It is synthesised by micro-organisms, in particular by anaerobic bacteria and yeasts.
Cobalamin functions in vivo as a co-enzyme and cobalamin enzymes catalyse three types of reaction; (i) intra-molecular rearrangements, for example, the formation of succinyl CoA from L-methylmalonyl CoA, (ii) methylations, for example, the formation of methionine by methylation of homocysteine and (iii) reduction of ribonucleotides to deoxyribonucleotides in some micro-organisms. In mammals, only two enzymic reactions, those specifically mentioned in (i) and (ii) above are known to require cobalamin as a co-enzyme.
In the process of digestion, a salivary protein called haptocorrin, hereinafter referred to as HC (which is also referred to in the art as R-binder or transcobalamins I and III collectively) binds cobalamin in the upper gastrointestinal tract forming a complex which passes through the stomach. Pancreatic enzymes digest the cobalamin-haptocorrin (holo-HC) complex in the ileum, liberating cobalamin which is then bound to a protein called intrinsic factor, which is secreted by the gastric mucosa, to form a further complex. The cobalamin-intrinsic factor complex binds to a specific receptor in the lining of the terminal ileum, whereupon it is dissociated by a releasing factor and the cobalamin transported actively across the membrane of the ileum into the blood stream.
Cobalamin does not circulate in the body in a free form in an appreciable amount. Probably 99% or so of cobalamin is bound by one of the transcobalamin proteins (TC I-III) or albumin.
The protein believed to be responsible for transporting cobalamin to target tissues is transcobalamin II (TC II), a critical trace protein without which cobalamin cannot cross cell membranes. Despite this important metabolic function only about 6-25% of cobalamin in the serum is bound to TC II and most is carried by HC. TC II is a single chain polypeptide of 45 kDa found primarily in serum, seminal fluid and cerebro-spinal fluid. Cobalamin bound TC II or holo-TC II, attaches to specific receptors on cell membranes and once bound, the holo-TC II complex is taken into cells by pinocytosis.
TC II is synthesised by the liver, vascular endothelium, enterocytes, macrophages and fibroblasts and circulates predominantly as apo-TC II, i.e. lacking bound cobalamin. It has a short half life of approximately 90 minutes.
Less than a quarter of the total plasma cobalamin is associated with TC II. The rest is bound to the other transcobalamins or albumin as mentioned above.
Since cobalamin must be absorbed from food, any conditions which result in impaired gastric function, for example, gastroenteritis or conditions resulting in gastric atrophy, or an inability to produce functional haptocorrin, intrinsic factor, releasing factor, TC II or TC II receptors, can result in impaired uptake of cobalamin and resultant deficiency.
Certain population sub-groups, for example the aged, pregnant women, patients with chronic or acute gastrointestinal disease, those suffering from certain autoimmune diseases, those with a family history of pernicious anaemia and AIDS sufferers, are particularly prone to cobalamin deficiency.
The clinical manifestations of cobalamin deficiency are varied and numerous but primarily involve, anaemia, megaloblastic haematopoiesis and functional and structural disorders of the nervous system. Around 60% of individuals diagnosed as being deficient in cobalamin are anaemic, but in many, neurological symptoms are the only clinical signs observed. Around 10% of patients exhibit psychiatric symptoms and around 40% exhibit both neurological and psychiatric symptoms.
Early diagnosis of cobalamin deficiency is crucial to ensure a good prognosis for patients, since some of the manifestations of cobalamin deficiency, particularly the neuropsychiatric effects, are irreversible if not detected and alleviated by cobalamin therapy quickly.
It is desirable therefore to accurately assess the cobalamin level of an individual in an expedient and efficient manner, with a view to establishing whether or not the individual may be suffering from cobalamin deficiency.
Measurement of total plasma cobalamin ie. cobalamin (and cobalamin like substances) bound to any one of the transcobalamin (TC) proteins I, II and III, has been used in attempts to assess cobalamin deficiency. This technique results in a broad based concentration distribution within a population which is considered to be normal and hence produces a wide reference range. Within individuals however, the range of available cobalamin considered to be normal for that individual, is very narrow. It has been observed that although an individuals metabolically active cobalamin concentration has moved outside their own reference range, their total plasma cobalamin content remains within the range considered to be normal for the population. Under such circumstances, cobalamin deficiency can go undetected. Such an unreliable method is clearly undesirable and it is well recognised that such serum or plasma cobalamin measurements have low diagnostic sensitivity and specificity.
Microbial assays involving micro-organisms dependent upon cobalamin for growth, have been developed and used in measuring plasma cobalamin concentration, but in addition to the difficulty of estimating the appropriate reference range, these methods require extraction and conversion of the cobalamins which is very time consuming, troublesome and wholly unsuited for rapid laboratory screening.
Alternative methods for assessing cobalamin deficiency involve measuring the accumulation of metabolites in the plasma which require cobalamin for their conversion. Plasma methylmalonate and plasma homocysteine levels increase in cobalamin deficient individuals (Chanarin, The megaloblastic anaemia; London, Blackwell Scientific Publications, 1991) and make good candidate molecules for correlation with vitamin B12 deficiency. Methods based on homocysteine assessment have been shown, however, to be complicated, impractical and show poor specificity and sensitivity. Whilst methods based on methylmalonate measurement are accurate and reliable, they are cumbersome and require analysis by combined gas-chromatography/mass-spectrometry and are hence expensive and again unsuitable for routine clinical screening (Nexø et al. (1994) Scand. J. Clin. Lab. Invest. 54:61-76).
It has also been suggested that measurement of TC II bound cobalamin as opposed to total plasma cobalamin may provide a reliable clinical indictor of the likelihood of cobalamin deficiency (Herbert et al. (1990) Am. J. Hematol. 34:132-139; Wickramasinghe and Fida (1993) J. Clin. Pathol. 46:537-539; U.S. Pat. No. 4,680,273). However, such efforts to determine holo-TC II concentratration have to date been mostly indirect, estimating holo-TC II concentration as the difference between total plasma cobalamin and the cobalamin concentration of TC II depleted plasma.
Such TC II depletion may be accomplished by adsorption to ammonium sulphate (Carmel (1974) Am. J. Clin. Pathol. 62:367-372), microsilica (Herzlich & Hubert (1988) Lab. Invest. 58:332-337; Wickramasinghe & Fida (1993) J. Clin. Pathol. 46:537-539), microfine glass (Vu et al. (1993) Am. J. Hematol. 42:202-211) or immobilized anti-TC II polyclonal antibodies (Lindemans et al. (1983) Clin. Chim. Acta 132:53-61). The concentration of cobalamin in total plasma and the depleted fraction is performed by methods well known in the art such as radio or enzyme immunoassay techniques. These methods are unsuitable for routine screening automated or not automated because they are complex and time consuming and because the low degree of specificity of the adsorptive materials used results in insufficient separation of holo-TC II and holo-HC resulting in an overestimation of holo-TC II. Lot-to-lot variation of the adsorptive material introduces further errors and most importantly, the subtraction of one large volume from another large volume results in unacceptable inaccuracies and unreliability.
The other attempts to assess TC II have involved separating TC II from other serum components, including the TC I and TC III, using its lipophilicity. Thus Kapel et al. (1988) Clin. Chim. Acta 172:297-310, Benhayoun et al. (1993) Acta Haematol. 89:195-199 and Toft et al. (1994) Scand. J. Clin. Lab. Invest. 54:62 disclose methods for separating TC II from other transcobalamins using heparin sepharose, silica gel or cellulose respectively. These methods however suffer from the same disadvantages as the indirect methods since they rely on the same adsorptive materials. Also, the low plasma concentration of holo-TC II renders these methods unsuitable for combination with existing methods of cobalamin quantification. The normal range of holo-TC II is 35-160 pM and values below 35 pM would generally be considered as indicative of cobalamin deficiency. The reported analytical sensitivity of most routine methods for plasma cobalamin is about 40 pM but in practice it is often much higher, typically around 90 pM. Hence, normal plasma levels of holo-TC II are below or near the sensitivity limit of the routine methods for cobalamin quantification.
Possibly the most accurate method currently recognised for determining TC II bound cobalamin involves adsorbing TC II to silica and then assaying the bound fraction for cobalamin content using either an immunoassay as described for example by Kuemmerle et al. (1992) Clin. Chem. 38/10: 2073-2077, or a microbiological assay, the latter apparently producing the best results. This method requires an entire working day to perform only twenty assays. It is very expensive and impractical and poorly suited to routine clinical diagnostic laboratory investigations.
Thus, there exists a great need for improved methods of assessing the level of metabolically active cobalamin in a body fluid, with a view to correlating the cobalamin level with the likelihood of cobalamin deficiency, which are amenable to routine clinical diagnostic application.


A radio communication device includes a transceiver and a cell measurement reporting circuit configured to determine for a signal reception quality related event, whether an event entry condition is fulfilled, in case the condition is fulfilled concerning a cell for the event, to add the concerned cell into a candidate reporting list, to trigger and carry out a first measurement report process for the cell included in the candidate reporting list, after having carried out the first measurement report process, to determine, for each cell included in the candidate reporting list and for which no first measurement report process has been carried out, as to whether a measurement criterion for the respective cell is fulfilled with respect to a cell for which the first measurement report process has been carried out, and to trigger and carry out a second measurement report process for each cell which fulfills the measurement criterion.

Various aspects of this disclosure relate generally to wireless communications, e.g. to systems and methods for implementing measurement reporting in fourth generation mobile radio communications technology (4G). The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) and its Long Term Evolution (LTE) mobile radio communications technology describe the general principles and functionality of 4G systems. In an LTE mobile radio communications system, a mobile radio communication terminal device (also referred to as User Equipment (UE)) usually communicates through the so-called Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA) with other users, servers, and entities in a mobile radio communications network. A UE typically exchanges information with the eNodeB (a radio base station) over the air interface. In order to provide the mobile radio communications network with continuous information about its current radio conditions, the UE measures certain parameters in accordance with the measurement configuration setup by the E-UTRAN (e.g. by an RRC_CONNECTION_RECONFIGURATION message). The measurement results are transmitted to the eNodeB in a measurement report message.
The UE has to obey the rules set out in 3GPP 36.331, however, the procedure for event triggered measurement reporting inherits a deficiency and can be improved. For the so-called neighbor cell measurement reporting through events A3, A4, A5, A6, B1 and B2, using the current 3GPP procedure, the UE may sometimes be unable to report the best neighbor mobile radio cell to the mobile radio communications network. Note whether or not the best neighbor mobile radio cell gets reported may be subject to the exact sequence of events and conditions over a period of time as well as the specific measurement configuration. Depending on the sequence of events and conditions, the best neighbor may or may not get reported. Moreover, following a neighboring mobile radio cell change, some scenarios exist where the best neighbor mobile radio cell can never get reported to the mobile radio communications network.

Radio communication device and method of mobile radio cell measurement reporting


The bearing device is formed of a bearing seat, a roller bearing, and a squeeze element. The squeeze element rests over a large surface area on the outer ring of the roller bearing and rests only regionally on corresponding regions of the bearing seat. The regions are preferably linear or striplike and are oriented substantially axially. This facilitates the insertion and removal of the roller bearing into and out of the bearing seat and prevents rotation of the outer bearing ring even if the bearing seats are provided with relatively generous tolerances.

The invention relates to a bearing device, particularly intended for use in textile industry equipment, such as yarn feeders.
Textile industry equipment, yarn feeders or the like often have rotatably supported shafts or similar elements, with which other elements, such as yarn guide drums or the like, must be precisely supported. Relatively stringent demands commonly are made of the precision of the bearing. Furthermore, the bearings usually must be smooth-running. Preceding transmission elements, such as toothed belts or other belts, often have a relatively high resilience. If the bearings do not run smoothly constantly, then elements operatively connected to the bearings, may run unevenly, which usually cannot be tolerated.
While the demands made for bearing precision are high, still textile industry devices generally must be easy to assemble and maintain. Often, parts or housings also are made of plastic, which can shrink or swell as a consequence of aging or environmental factors (i.e., such as moisture or temperature), and furthermore, plastic parts always are subject to certain tolerances in production. Such tolerances and time- or ambient-dictated dimensional changes should not, of course, lead to a functional impairment of such devices.
From U.S. Pat. No. 5,860,298, for instance, a yarn feeder is known, in which a vertically oriented shaft is rotatably supported on a basic retainer. For bearing purposes, two ball bearings are provided, which are received in suitable cylindrical pockets of the basic carrier. The bearing seat has to adhere to close tolerances, in order to assure a good seating of the outer bearing ring. Installing and removing the bearings usually is not readily possible.
From European Patent Disclosure EP 0 742 304 A1, a yarn delivery apparatus with a horizontally divided housing is known, in which a plurality of horizontally disposed shafts that pass through the housing wall are rotatably supported. In the housing wall, bearing seats are formed, which are penetrated by the dividing seam formed between the two halves of the housing. Adaptation to production tolerances or other dimensional fluctuations is accomplished by the inherent resilience of the housing material, in conjunction with an only regional contact of the outer bearing ring with the corresponding faces of the bearing seat, by an O-ring disposed between the outer bearing ring and the bearing seat, or by special elastically resilient spring elements in the bearing seat. In this yarn feeder, the bearings are inserted from the dividing seam of the housing into the appropriate pockets with the housing open. The bearing is then firmly clamped between the housing parts. The construction is not very vulnerable to tolerances, but does require a housing seam that passes through the bearing seat.
It is an object of the invention to provide a bearing device, particularly for textile industry equipment, such as yarn feeders, which are not vulnerable to tolerances and in which the bearing can remain undivided, that is, can be in one piece.
The bearing device according to the invention has a bearing seat, which defines a receiving chamber for a roller bearing and a squeeze element. The squeeze element is squeezed together at regions spaced apart from one another, so that material of the squeeze element is positively displaced out of the squeeze zones. Regardless of any tolerances of the bearing seat, the squeeze element-secures the roller bearing nonrotatably in the bearing seat and at the same time makes it possible for the roller bearing to be inserted easily into the bearing seat. If needed, the bearing seat can therefore be made in undivided fashion.
The squeeze element can be in the form of a closed ring or as a striplike element that is put together to form a ring. It is preferably made of an elastomer. It can have either a uniform thickness throughout or locally thickened regions. Thus the squeeze zones can be defined by the shape of the bearing seat or the shape of the squeeze element. The deformation of the squeeze element locally reduces its thickness by positively displacing material. For compensation, its thickness increases in the vicinity of the compressed or squeezed region.
If the squeeze elements have thickened portions, then the bearing seat can be formed cylindrically. If the squeeze elements are uniformly thick, then the shape of the bearing seat is other than circular, so that the spacing from the roller bearing is not uniform along the circumference.
To that end, the bearing seat can be shaped polygonally or in other ways, for instance being provided with protrusions in the direction of the roller bearing. In one embodiment, the receiving chamber has ribs extending substantially parallel to the pivot axis of the roller bearing. On their side toward the roller bearing, the ribs have end faces that are located on a circle which is somewhat greater than the circle defined by the outer bearing ring of the roller bearing. Thus between the end faces and the cylindrical outer face of the roller bearing, a play arises, which is filled up by a squeeze element. This element is placed radially outward on the end faces of the ribs, while it is braced radially inward on the outer face of the outer ring. The squeeze element adjusts to the actual play present so that deviations in shape and dimension of the bearing seat and dimensional changes caused by aging, down to the range of a tenth of a millimeter, do not impair the seating of the roller bearing. Because the squeeze element contacts the ribs only in strips, the roller bearing, moreover, can be pressed with only slight impression forces axially into the bearing seat and removed from it again as needed. The squeeze element preferably rests over a large surface area on the outer face of the roller bearing so that it can be inserted with the roller bearing into the bearing seat. The static friction between the outer ring and the squeeze element prevents the squeeze element from displacement counter to the outer ring, while conversely it slides easily along the ribs, with which it has only a narrow striplike contact. This not only facilitates installation and removal but also prevents an axial warping of the roller bearing. Once the roller bearing is seated in the bearing seat, its outer ring is reliably secured against rotation. Moreover, the squeeze element cushions the outer bearing ring against the housing and compensates for deviations in shape of the bearing seat.
The receiving chamber preferably is open axially to one side to allow access to the roller bearing. If needed, the receiving chamber can be closed with a cover element.
The ribs are preferably relatively narrow, and they are disposed at a comparatively wide spacing from one another. This makes it possible for the bearings, provided with squeeze elements, to be inserted axially with only slight force into the bearing seats, yet even so a secure, precise seat of the bearing is always attained.
It is advantageous if the gaps or recesses between the ribs have a greater volume than the volume of the applicable portion of the squeeze element to be received. On the side toward the seat, the bearing is supported essentially only via the ribs. The squeeze element distributes the striplike or linear load to a somewhat larger area on the outer circumference of the roller bearing.
On the side toward the roller bearing, the ribs can have an edge or a narrow bearing face. This edge or face may be plane or curved. It is expedient to attempt to attain only a narrow linear or striplike contact face between the squeeze element and the rib. Because axial mounting is possible, the bearing seat need not have a dividing seam. The clamping force with which the bearing is retained in the bearing seat thus can be brought to bear and generated independently of fastening elements, which for instance hold housing parts together. The bearing seat may be closed and seamless.
The squeeze elements furthermore allow a certain change of angle of the bearings, so that it is readily possible to provide bearing seats for bearings of a shaft on different housing parts. Centering means preferably can be provided, which at least approximately assure an alignment of the bearing seats.
The squeeze regions can be disposed at equal circumferential intervals. If a load absorbing preferential direction is desired, then the spacings also can be defined as unequal, for instance being placed closer together in the load-absorbing direction.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings, in which:

Bearing system, especially for yarn feed devices


A multimedia data organization process, i.e. creation, of a photo album or slideshow, said multimedia data being represented by contingent individuals (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e, 14f) of an instantiated ontology that in addition to generic individuals (EC, C, F, M, T, A) comprises semantic links between individuals, comprising: —the presentation to the user of the choice of at least one individual from the instantiated ontology, and in response to a user-prompted choice, —the selection and organization of a subset of multimedia data corresponding to the contingent individuals of the instantiated ontology according to at least one selection and/or organization rule engaging the user-chosen individual and the related semantic links.

The wide range of multimedia data capture and reproduction equipment now available has generated a significant increase in the volume of data that users have access to and that they can share using this equipment. In particular, the increase in the memory capacities of digital cameras has generated an increase in the number of photographs taken during any given event.
The large volume of data liable to be presented prompts us to sort through and organize this data. The sort-through employed may depend not only on the person the multimedia data is intended for but also on the media via which the data is to be presented.
To illustrate this point, digital photograph data can be organized to create a slideshow or an album of printed proofs. Several albums related to the same event may include different photographs depending on the people they were intended for.
The same is true for video clip data, sound data, text data or any combination of multimedia data.
While the final presentation may be pleasing, users often find it tedious having to go through the data sorting, classification and organization steps.
Documents (1) and (2) whose references are specified at the end of the description describe various image creation and album creation techniques.


An optical pickup device includes a light source configured to output laser light, an objective lens configured to converge the laser light emitted from the light source onto an optical disc, a sensor lens including a lens surface on which return light reflected by the optical disc is incident and that is also configured to generate an astigmatism in the return light, and a light-receiving element configured to receive the return light which has passed through the sensor lens 40 and to generate a focus error signal based on the received return light. The lens surface includes a first curvature radius in a first direction and a second curvature radius different from the first curvature radius in a second direction that is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical pickup device configured to read information recorded on optical discs or to write information onto optical discs.
2. Description of the Related Art
Optical pickup devices for reading information recorded on optical discs or writing information onto optical discs have been known (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2011-40123). Optical pickup devices are equipped with light sources, objective lenses, sensor lenses, and light-receiving units. Laser light emitted from the light source is converged by the objective lens onto the recording plane of the optical disc. Return light reflected at the recording plane of the optical disc is given an astigmatism by the sensor lens and then received by the light-receiving unit. The light-receiving unit generates a focus error signal based on the return light it receives. Note that the focus error signal is a control signal used for focus servo control in order to match the focal position of the laser light from the objective lens to the recording plane of the optical disc.
In conventional optical pickup devices, the lens surface of the sensor lens is constituted by a cylindrical surface. Return light reflected at the recording plane of the optical disc is incident on the lens surface of the sensor lens.
In recent years, as equipment that incorporates optical pickup devices has become more compact, the need has arisen for smaller optical pickup devices. In order to make optical pickup devices smaller, distances between various components of the optical pickup device must be reduced. When the distance between the sensor lens and the light-receiving unit is reduced, the curvature radius of the lens surface of the sensor lens must be reduced in order to generate the desired focus error signal. For example, when the distance between the sensor lens and the light-receiving unit is 3.0 mm or less, the curvature radius of the lens surface of the sensor lens must be 3.0 mm or less. However, when the curvature radius of the lens surface of the sensor lens is reduced, the sensor lens is more prone to assembly discrepancies, which therefore creates the problem of the performance of optical pickup devices becoming unstable.
Note that methods are also conceivable in which the distance between the sensor lens and the light-receiving unit is reduced without changing the curvature radius of the lens surface of the sensor lens. In such cases, optical components of glass or the like must be disposed between the sensor lens and the light-receiving unit in order to increase the optical distance between the sensor lens and the light-receiving unit. However, by increasing the optical distance between the sensor lens and the light-receiving unit, the size of the spot of return light on the light-receiving unit is reduced, thus creating the problem of greater sensitivity to positional shift of the spot of return light.


There is provided an underlayer coating forming composition for lithography, and an underlayer coating having a high dry etching rate compared with photoresist, and causing no intermixing with the photoresist, which are used in lithography process of manufacture of semiconductor device. Concretely, it is an underlayer coating forming composition for lithography comprising a dextrin ester compound that at least 50% of hydroxy groups in dextrin is converted into ester groups, a crosslinking compound, and an organic solvent.

Conventionally, in the manufacture of semiconductor devices, micro-processing by lithography using a photoresist has been carried out. The micro-processing is a processing method comprising forming a thin film of a photoresist on a semiconductor substrate such as a silicon wafer or the like, irradiating actinic rays such as ultraviolet rays through a mask pattern on which a pattern for a semiconductor device is depicted, developing it to obtain a photoresist pattern, and etching the substrate using the photoresist pattern as a protective film, thereby forming fine unevenness corresponding to the pattern on the surface of the substrate. However, in recent progress in high integration of semiconductor devices, there has been a tendency that shorter wavelength actinic rays are being used, i.e., ArF excimer laser beam (193 nm) has been taking the place of KrF excimer laser beam (248 nm). Along with this change, influences of random reflection and standing wave of actinic rays from a substrate have become serious problems. Accordingly, it has been widely studied to provide an anti-reflective coating between the photoresist and the substrate (bottom anti-reflective coating) in order to resolve the problem. As the anti-reflective coating, from a viewpoint of easy of use, many considerations have been done on organic anti-reflective coatings made of a light absorbing substance and a polymer compound and the like. For example, mention may be made of the acrylic resin type anti-reflective coating having a hydroxyl group being a crosslinking reaction group and a light absorbing group in the same molecule and the novolak resin type anti-reflective coating having a hydroxyl group being a crosslinking reaction group and a light absorbing group in the same molecule (see, for example Patent Documents 1 and 2).
The physical properties desired for organic anti-reflective coating include high absorbance to light and radioactive rays, no intermixing with the photoresist layer (being insoluble in photoresist solvents), no diffusion of low molecular substances from the anti-reflective coating into the topcoat photoresist upon baking under heating, and a higher dry etching rate than the photoresist.
In recent years, in order to solve interconnection delay that has become clear with miniaturization in pattern rule of semiconductor devices, it has been considered to use copper as interconnect material, and to apply Dual Damascene process as interconnect forming method on the semiconductor substrate. And, in Dual Damascene process, via holes are formed and an anti-reflective coating is formed on a substrate having a high aspect ratio. Therefore, the anti-reflective coating for use in this process is required to have filling property by which holes can be filled without gap, flattening property by which a flat coating can be formed on the surface of substrate, and the like.
However, it is difficult to apply organic material for anti-reflective coating on a substrate having a high aspect ratio, and in recent years, material with particular emphasis on filling property or flattening property has been developed (see, for example Patent Documents 3, 4, 5 and 6).
In addition, in the production of devices such as semiconductors, in order to reduce poisoning effect of a photoresist layer induced by a dielectric layer, there is disclosed a method in which a barrier layer formed from a composition containing a crosslinkable polymer and the like is provided between the dielectric layer and the photoresist layer (see, for example Patent Document 7).
As mentioned above, in the recent manufacture of semiconductor devices, in order to attain several effects represented by anti-reflective effect, it comes to provide an organic underlayer coating formed from a composition containing an organic compound between a semiconductor substrate and a photoresist layer, that is, as an underlayer of the photoresist. And, in order to satisfy required performance for underlayer coatings for which the diversity is increased, it is always required to develop new underlayer coatings.
In the meantime, an anti-reflective coating forming composition containing a cellulose compound is known (see, for example Patent Documents 8 and 9). Is also disclosed a pattern forming process by use of an a water-soluble anti-reflective organic coating comprising burrane being a polysaccharide as a main component (see, for example Patent Document 10). In addition, an anti-reflective coating material containing a polysaccharide having silyl substituents is disclosed (see, for example Patent Document 11).    Patent Document 1: U.S. Pat. No. 5,919,599 (1999)    Patent Document 2: U.S. Pat. No. 5,693,691 (1997)    Patent Document 3: JP-A-2000-294504 (2000)    Patent Document 4: JP-A-2002-47430 (2002)    Patent Document 5: JP-A-2002-190519 (2002)    Patent Document 6: WO 02/05035 pamphlet    Patent Document 7: JP-A-2002-128847 (2002)    Patent Document 8: WO 99/56178 pamphlet    Patent Document 9: WO 02/071155 pamphlet    Patent Document 10: JP-A-60-223121 (1985)    Patent Document 11: JP-A-2002-107938 (2002)

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Underlayer coating forming composition containing dextrin ester compound


Occluded acidity in particulate explosives is removed by slurrying the particles in an inert liquid and subjecting the slurry to wet-grinding. The inert liquid may include an alkaline salt at or near saturation. Separation of the ground explosive particles from the liquid phase results in a ground explosive material with much reduced acidity.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the production of high explosive materials. More particularly, the invention relates to the removal of excess acidity from crude unrecrystallized nitramines and other explosive materials.
2. State of the Art
Conventional methods of producing nitramine explosive materials typically result in the occlusion of acids in the crude crystals. For some nitramines, the acid must be largely removed to permit the materials to meet government specifications for use in explosives and propellants. The crude unrecrystallized material may contain occluded acidity which is 10 to 50 times the allowable specified acidity.
The procedure presently used for removing the excess occluded acidity comprises dissolving the crude material in an appropriate solvent and recrystallizing the nitramine, whereby most of the acidity remains in the solvent phase. However, this process is very slow and expensive. Moreover, the mean particle size and the particle size distribution may vary widely from batch to batch.
Typically, the recrystallized material must be further ground to a small particle size before use. For example, the high explosive cyclo-1,3,5-trimethylene-2,4,6-trinitramine (RDX) is graded for differing uses according to the particle size. Class 1 RDX has a relatively large particle size:
______________________________________ U.S. Standard Sieve No. Percent Passing ______________________________________ 20 98 +/- 2 50 90 +/- 10 100 60 +/- 30 200 25 +/- 20 ______________________________________
A finely ground RDX, in which 97+ percent passes a No. 325 sieve, is designated Class 5 RDX.
A present grinding method using a fluid energy mill requires a moisture content less than about 0.1 percent. Thus, the wet recrystallized nitramine(s) must be first dried. Such drying at a relatively low temperature is a slow and energy intensive process.
Thus, starting with a crude slurry of crystallized RDX, the conventional steps required to produce Class 5 RDX ready for compounding into an explosive end product include:
1. dissolution in acetone at 135 degrees F.; PA1 2. recrystallization by adding water and distilling the acetone at 86 degrees F.; PA1 3. settling and decantation of the liquor; PA1 4. adding water and distilling the remaining acetone; PA1 5. dewatering of the slurry to recover RDX; PA1 6. water-washing of recovered RDX.
The entire process is tedious and excessively consumptive of both time and energy.
Similar time consuming steps are used in the production of other explosive materials such as cyclotetramethylenetetranitramine (HMX), coproduced mixtures of RDX and HMX known as CPX, and other explosive materials, to achieve the desired low-acidity products.
There remains the need for a method which will rapidly and inexpensively remove the occluded and surface acidity of explosive materials to a low level. The need exists for a method which achieves the desired particle size reduction as well as acidity removal.

Process for reducing acidity of unrecrystallized explosives by wet grinding


A method for improving position beacon tracking using spatial probabilities is provided. A beacon identity recognition device receives a central probability file from a remote data processing system to form a local probability file. The device receives a current position beacon identity. The device compares current position beacon identity to a previous beacon identity stored in the local probability file to form a comparison. The device determines if the current position beacon identity is valid based on the comparison. The device transmits a valid position beacon identity to the remote data processing system. The device updates the local probability file and then combines a weighted version of the local probability file with a new copy of the probability file from the remote data processing system to form a combined probability file. The combined probability file is then sent to the remote data processing system and replaces the existing probability file.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to data processing systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to a computer implemented method, computer program product, and a system for improving position beacon tracking using spatial probabilities.
2. Description of the Related Art
Currently, some grocery stores employ wireless shopping services, such as, for example, IBM's Mobile Terminal-Retail (MTR). These types of systems typically employ wireless linked web browsers mounted on shopping carts to provide location awareness services, like spatially targeted advertising. For example, if the shopping cart is near the spaghetti a discount coupon for red wine may appear on the screen of the shopping cart.
Presently, the location of a shopping cart is determined by the device on the shopping cart detecting a location beacon in the ceiling. Such beacons are usually infrared beacons but the beacons can also be radio frequency based beacons, ultrasonic beacons, bar codes, visual cues, or other devices. Each beacon in the ceiling transmits a unique beacon identification that corresponds to a spatial location within the store. Occasionally an incorrect or wrong identification is interpreted by the device on the shopping cart, resulting in an erroneous position being determined, thus causing the wrong services to be delivered to the shopping cart.
Currently several methods are used to try and reduce incorrect interpretation of beacon identifications, including using checksum, checking for multiple identical beacon messages, and other error correction techniques. However, none of the present solutions take into account the spatial location of the signaling beacons.

Use of peer maintained file to improve beacon position tracking utilizing spatial probabilities

International Business Machines Corporation


Provided is a method of assessing a potential for development of Dravet syndrome with high accuracy, and use thereof. The method according to the present invention of assessing a potential for development of Dravet syndrome includes, with use of a sample taken from a subject, detecting whether or not a mutation is on α-subunit type 1 of voltage-gated sodium ion channel NaV1.1, and detecting whether or not a mutation is on α-subunit type 1 of voltage-gated calcium ion channel CaV2.1.

Febrile seizure is a disease that has a high incidence rate of approximately 8% in infants. A main symptom of febrile seizure is known as a continuation of generalized convulsions for 1 to 5 minutes while suffering a fever at or over 38° C. caused by a viral or bacterial infection such as a cold, or microbism. Most cases of febrile seizure that have an onset of between 6 months after birth and around 5 years old cure by the time when the patient turns 6 years old. In many cases, febrile seizure does not require active treatment. Therefore, febrile seizure is considered, in principle, as a benign disease.
However, among patients whose onset of febrile seizure was under the age of one, other than the patients of the benign disease which cease as a regular febrile seizure, there are some patients who suffer from convulsions continuously even after turning 6 years old, and there are some patients who are patients of Dravet syndrome (previously called "Severe Myoclonic Epilepsy in Infancy; SMEI"), which are patients of an intractable epilepsy disease.
The patients of Dravet syndrome are triggered in the onset of convulsions under the age of one. An average age of the onset of convulsions for patients of Dravet syndrome is 4 months to 6 months after birth. An incipient seizure of convulsion for a patient of Dravet syndrome is generally a systemic or a unilateral tonic-clonic or clonic convulsion, and during infancy, may lead to status epilepticus. Moreover, this convulsion seizure is easily induced by fever or bathing.
Conventionally, febrile seizure was diagnosed and treated by a general pediatrician or a family doctor, and Dravet syndrome is also diagnosed based on clinical symptoms characteristic of Dravet syndrome such as convulsion seizure or the like. However, by the time the patients of Dravet syndrome turn two to three years old, that is around when the clinical symptoms of Dravet syndrome have all appeared, these patients would have suffered repetitive convulsions many times and would often have had experienced critical conditions such as status epilepticus or the like. Hence, it is necessary to develop a diagnosis method that enables detection of Dravet syndrome in its possible earliest stage by a general pediatrician or family doctor, who is engaged in primary medical care. Detection of Dravet syndrome at an earlier stage would allow for the patent to see an epilepsy specialist in advance, which would allow for preventing the patient from reaching a critical condition.
Recently, it has been reported that 30% to 80% of Dravet syndrome patients find missense mutation (mutation causing a substitution of an amino acid) and nonsense mutation (mutation causing protein synthesis to stop in an incomplete state) on a SCN1A gene that encodes a voltage-gated sodium ion channel NaV1.1 α-subunit type 1 (see Non Patent Literature 1 and 2). From such a point in view, attempts have been made to examine abnormalities in the SCN1A gene to diagnose Dravet syndrome on the basis of genes.
For example, Patent Literatures 1 to 4 disclose that mutation of the SCN1A gene is related to SMEI. Moreover, Patent Literatures 1 to 4 disclose that SMEI can be diagnosed by use of the mutation of the SCN1A gene as an indicator.
More specifically, Patent Literature 1 discloses the diagnosis of SMEI by assessing a plurality of mutations on the SCN1A gene that relate to SMEI, as a whole.
Patent Literature 2 discloses the diagnosis of SMEI performed by detecting a presence of a mutation that frequently occurs on the SCN1A gene of a nerve that is affected by SMEI.
Patent Literatures 3 and 4 disclose a method of diagnosing epilepsy syndromes including SMEI and syndromes associated with SMEI, by detecting a change in the SCN1A gene and confirming whether that change is known as being related to SMEI or a syndrome associated with SMEI or is known as not being related to SMEI or a syndrome associated with SMEI.

Method for assessment of potential for development of dravet syndrome and use thereof

National University Corporation Okayama University


A nipple system for bottle-feeding a baby, comprising a hollow, pliant nipple with a small aperture at one end and open at the other end and a one-way valve interior to the nipple for allowing a flow of liquid as the baby opens the valve by compressing the nipple. The valve is located in the nipple and preferably also pliant and integral therewith, dividing the nipple into two chambers, communicating through a passage in the valve. The valve may comprise a flap that opens the passage when the nipple is compressed and closes when the nipple is released, or may be a slotted diaphragm biased toward the bottle that opens when the nipple is compressed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to nipples for baby bottles. More specifically, the present invention relates to valved nipples for baby bottles.
2. Discussion of Background
The conventional nursing nipple for feeding a baby is designed to allow the extraction of liquid from the bottle as a result of minimal sucking effort. This minimal effort does little to develop the mastication muscles and stimulate mandibular growth. In addition, the large volume of liquid made available to the baby by a conventional nursing nipple may cause the baby to develop "tongue thrust" in the baby's effort to regulate the flow of liquid from the nipple. Other problems that develop in babies and are traceable to conventional nipples are deformation of soft bone tissue, malocclusions, finger sucking, lisping, and the like.
Conventional nipples have little comparison to the human breast which requires the baby to use the natural combination of lips and gums to compress the nipple while the tongue guides and supports the nipple but does not regulate the flow of milk. In contrast, the operation of conventional bottle nipples encourages the baby to suck lightly and control the rate of flow of the liquid with a tongue thrust action.
Another disadvantage of conventional nipples used for bottle feeding of babies is the occurrence of colic caused by air swallowed during the feeding. Also, conventional bottles frequently leak from the nipple if the bottle is inverted.
There is a need for a baby bottle nipple that avoids the problems of conventional bottle nipples and encourages correct functioning of the lips, tongue, gums and facial muscles groups.