A device for distributing bulk material, such as seed material, includes a flow path having at least one conduit for conveying the bulk material from a bulk material source towards an agricultural area, and a blockage detection device in the flow path. The blockage detection device includes at least one sensor, which is mounted to the outside of the line and is configured to register mechanical vibrations of the line, as well as an evaluation unit in signal communication with the sensor, which is configured to detect a blockage as a function of the registered mechanical vibration. A method for detecting a blockage includes a sensor that identifies blockage as a function of the detected mechanical vibration.

Devices of the aforementioned type distribute bulk material to a predetermined working area. Preferably, these devices have several lines on their downstream end, each of which comprises a connection section for coupling with an output device, wherein the output device is configured, in particular, to transport the bulk material in the direction of the agricultural area. Such devices are known, in particular, in seed drilling and are widespread. Devices for distributing seed material are known for example from U.S. Pat. No. 5,740,746 or 6,079,340.
For example, dispensing nozzles, injection systems, or even the output from the free outlet of the hoses, the so-called drag hose operation, are used as output devices.
In the known distribution devices, partial or complete blockages in the flow path can also occur due to the long line lengths. For equipment whose output devices engage the soil, such blockages can also occur in the area of the output devices, for example, in reverse drive or due to specific soil compositions. If such blockages are not recognized, this leads to entire rows of an agricultural area along which the distribution devices provided on vehicles for that purpose are driven, not being supplied with bulk material, in particular, seed material. Likewise, an undetected blockage can also lead to excessive dispensing of the bulk material in other areas and thus lead to oversaturation of the agricultural areas. Both lead to crop yield losses in agricultural operation, which should be avoided at all costs. Blockages in the flow path should therefore be recorded immediately without a significant delay in the flow of seed, so that operation can immediately be halted for resolving the blockage.
In view of the fact that in the industry, agricultural areas and distribution units continue to grow in size and the number of bulk material outlets with corresponding lines and output devices continues to increase, it is becoming increasingly difficult for individual users to detect blockages in these flow paths themselves, so that the risk of loss of crop yield increases.
So far, such blockages are identified with devices for blockage detection which extend into the flow path or are arranged within the flow path and in this way record measurements, particularly acoustic signals of the flowing mixed fluid. Corresponding devices are known from WO 2012/125575 A1 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,489,784 B2. Furthermore, there are known sensors, which detect acoustic signals that are generated by way of having a sound body extend into the flow path, wherein the bulk material impacts the sound body. However, the arrangement of the respective sensors within the flow path presents an increased risk of blockage of the flow path. In addition, the sound bodies in the flow path are only impacted by a fraction of the flowing bulk material, so that these procedures are only partially oriented to the detection of a blockage. It was thus an object of the invention to suggest an improvement of the distribution devices of the type indicated at the beginning, which minimizes the risk of yield loss in operation by detecting blockage of the flow path faster.

Device for distributing bulk material with a device for blocking detection


A sampling device for a specimen container having a closure sealing the interior of the specimen container from the environment includes a needle, a body coupled to the needle and defining a chamber in fluid communication with the needle, the body further comprising a port forming an opening in the body, the port in fluid communication with the chamber. A multitude of the sampling devices may be stored in a cassette. The sampling devices may include a second chamber for separation and concentration of a microbial agent present in a sample. In this configuration second chamber is connected to the first chamber via a valve or the like.

This invention is directed to sampling device used to extract a sample from a specimen container having a closure, e.g., piercable septum. The specimen container may take the form of a bottle used to culture a sample, e.g., blood.
Instruments currently exist on the market in the U.S. that detect the growth and therefore the presence of a microorganism in a blood sample. One such instrument is the BacT/ALERT 3D instrument of the present assignee bioMérieux, Inc. The instrument receives a blood culture bottle containing a blood sample, e.g., from a human patient. The instrument incubates the bottle. Periodically during incubation an optical detection unit in the incubator analyzes a colorimetric sensor incorporated into the bottle to detect whether microbial growth has occurred within the bottle. The optical detection unit, specimen containers and sensors are described in the patent literature, see U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,945,060; 5,094,955; 5,162,229; 5,164,796; 5,217,876; 5,795,773; and 5,856,175, the entire content of each of which is incorporated by reference herein. Other prior art of interest relating generally to the detection of microorganisms in a biological sample includes the following patents: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,770,394, 5,518,923; 5,498,543, 5,432,061, 5,371,016, 5,397,709, 5,344,417, 5,374,264, 6,709,857; and 7,211,430.
In detection instruments such as the BacT/ALERT 3D and similar instruments, once the blood culture bottle has been tested positive for microorganism presence, it is difficult to obtain a high level of characterization of the microbial agent, or identification of the species of the microbial agent, due to the interference of blood components and artifacts of the disposable system (e.g., bottle) containing the sample. Therefore, current methods use a bottle or other suitable disposable container and a related instrument for natural growth and detection of a microorganism in the sample, as described above. Once the instrument indicates that the bottle is positive for presence of a microbial agent, according to current methods the "positive" bottle is manually retrieved from the instrument and a portion of the sample is manually removed from the bottle and cultured on an agar plate. There are instruments in the art that automate the streaking of a sample medium on a culture plate and incubating the plate. One such instrument is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,617,146. After streaking, the plate is manually placed in an incubator and periodically inspected for growth of a subculture of the microorganism. After the subculture has grown sufficiently, a sample of the culture is taken from the plate and placed in a test tube. The test tube is then introduced into yet another instrument for identification testing via a disposable test sample card having a multitude of individual wells. The disposable test cards are known in the patent literature, see e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,118,280, 3,963,355, 4,018,65; 4,116,775 and 4,038,151, 5,609,828, 5,746,980, 5,766,553, 5,843,380, 5,869,005, 5,916,812, 5,932,177, 5,951,952, and 6,045,758, the entire content of which is incorporated by reference herein.
The test sample card is then processed in an analytical instrument known in the art as the VITEK 2 instrument of the assignee. The VITEK 2 instrument incubates and periodically reads the wells of the test sample card with a reader unit. Growth of the sample in one or more of the wells of the cards results in identification of the microbial agent. The VITEK 2 instrument is described in the patent literature, see e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,762,873 and 6,086,824, the content of which is incorporated by reference herein.
This entire process from the time of introducing the sample into the blood collection bottle to culture, detection of microorganism presence, and then identification of the microorganism by the VITEK 2 instrument typically takes 2-5 days. The identification steps alone, occurring after positive bottle detection, typically occupy 1-3 of these days.
The sampling device of this disclosure is particularly useful when implemented in conjunction with an instrument for rapidly identifying and/or characterizing a microbial agent as described in our prior provisional application, in co-pending application Ser. No. 12/800,467, filed on the same date as this application, and in embodiments disclosed herein.

Device for sampling a specimen container


A recording apparatus includes a recording head that ejects fluid onto a recording medium, a transport device that transports the recording medium along a support surface, and a heating device that heats the recording medium. The heating device is provided with plural first heating units in a direction crossing the transport direction in a state where a side of the first heating unit is parallel with the transport direction, and a second heating unit which extends in the transport direction at a boundary region which is present between the neighboring first heating units.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a recording apparatus.
2. Related Art
As a type of recording apparatuses which eject liquid onto a recording medium and record images and characters, an ink jet printer is known. When ink (fluid) which requires drying in an osmotic or evaporative manner is used in an ink jet printer, it is necessary to provide a drying device to dry the ink ejected onto the recording medium.
When a large printer is used, plural heaters are arranged in a direction crossing a transport direction of a medium to be recorded based on the relationship of resistance values (for example, JP-A-2009-72999).
However, in the configuration disclosed in JP-A-2009-72999, there is a region where a heater is not present at the boundary between neighboring heaters (boundary region) in the transport direction of a medium to be recorded. Since heating is not properly performed on a certain portion of the medium to be recorded which passes through the boundary region in comparison with other parts, temperature nonuniformity occurs and fixity of ink is not even, thereby lowering print quality. Since a heater wire that configures the heater is drawn in a complicated manner, manufacturing costs are increased.


A method for generating an analog signal based on samples representing the analog signal includes feeding the samples into a delta-sigma modulator, the delta-sigma modulator outputting a sequence of bits, and introducing a non-linear time-discrete function into a feedback loop between a quantizer element and a delta element of the delta-sigma modulator, where arguments of the non-linear time-discrete function include a current bit and at least one bit previous to the current bit.

The present invention relates to an improvement of signal integrity of analog signals based on the output of a delta-sigma modulator into which samples of the analog signal to be generated are fed.
It is known from prior art to use a delta-sigma modulator followed by a driver circuit and a filter and thus forming a delta-sigma digital-to-analog converter. Due to noise and circuit non-idealities the analog signal generated this way will always deviate from the ideal analog signal.
The filter following the delta-sigma modulator averages the bit stream of the mentioned driver and for an ideal signal integrity the contribution of each "high"-bit of the bit stream to the output signal must be equal, and the contribution of each "low"-bit of the bit stream to the output signal must be equal. However, memory effects in the driver circuit, known as inter symbol interference (ISI), affect—dependent upon history of previous bits—the pulse form of a bit and thus the contribution of this bit to the averaging process by the mentioned filter. Settling time, slew-rate limitations, unequal rise-/fall-times and ringing are contributing to the inter symbol interference.
The present invention relates also to improvements in the evaluation of a Device Under Test (DUT) in response to an input signal provided by an Automated Test Equipment (ATE) to said DUT, said input signal having improved integrity according to the inventive method and system.
Integrated Circuits (IC) generally need to be tested to assure proper operation. This—in particular—is required during IC development and manufacturing. In the latter case, the ICs are usually tested before final application. During test, the IC, as Device Under Test (DUT), is exposed to various types of stimulus signals, and its responses are measured, processed and usually compared to an expected response of a good device. Automated Test Equipments (ATE) usually perform these tasks according to a device-specific test program. Examples for ATE are the Agilent 83000 and 93000 families of Semiconductor Test Systems of Agilent Technologies Details are also disclosed e.g. in EP-A-859318, EP-A-864977, EP-A-886214, EP-A-882991, EP-A-1092983, US-A-5,499,248, US-A-5,453,995.
The present invention also relates to general test equipment as well as all types of analog signal generation.
Improving signal integrity by higher sampling rates or increasing the resolution of delta-sigma digital-to-analog converters is possible, however the known issue of inter symbol interference is not addressed by this kind of modifications.

Analog signal generation using a delta-sigma modulator


The compositions described herein comprise oxygenated albumin in an aqueous sterile physiological or serum solution. The albumin is oxygenated to increase the oxygen content up to O2 saturation with clinically useful oxygen gas. The preferred oxygen-saturated preparations, containing albumin in concentrations from about 5% w/v to about 25% w/v, are useful as clinical resuscitation preparations that release oxygen in a pattern similar to the release of oxygen by whole blood.

Albumin makes up about 62 percent of the total protein of human plasma, about 80 percent of the plasma colloidal pressure, and has been used since World War II, and continues to be used, in maintaining or restoring human plasma volume. The Standard Army and Navy Package of Dried Plasma is bulky, and therefore concentrated human serum albumin was developed to meet the needs of such groups for a concentrated blood derivative. Serum albumin has at least two known functions: it maintains the colloidal osmotic pressure of the blood and plays a role in the nutrition of the tissues. Neither plasma nor albumin solutions, however, can act as a total replacement for human blood indefinitely since they cannot supply the necessary hemoglobin and other essential blood protein constituents. However, human serum albumin is used effectively in concentrations up to about 25% by volume, and has advantages over solutions of salts and glucose in establishing safe osmotic pressure, particularly in emergency blood loss situations, e.g., in the treatment of shock hemorrhage, and other conditions associated with substantial blood loss.
Advantageously, human serum albumin can be dried to reduce volume and can be reconstituted, preferably with sterile water, prior to administration, e.g., by injection. Human serum albumin is available, for example, in 100 c.c. bottles containing 25 gm. of albumin, which is equivalent in osmotic effect to 500 c.c. of citrated plasma. Human serum albumin also is available from Bayer Healthcare, as PLASBUMIN®-25, in 20 ml. vials. PLASBUMIN®-25 is made from pooled human venous plasma using the Cohn cold ethanol fractionation process to produce a sterile solution of albumin in an aqueous diluent that is stabilized with 0.02M sodium caprylate and 0.02M acetylptophan. The approximate sodium content is 145 mEq./L., contains no preservative, and is administered intravenously.
Albumin solutions are stable, permitting transportation without refrigeration, ready for instant use, and, as with plasma, no preliminary cross-matching is necessary. A 25% w/v aqueous solution of albumin is approximately isoviscous with whole blood.
It has long been recognized in clinical medicine that an acceptable oxygen carrying and releasing resuscitation product is needed. There is currently no satisfactory non-blood product with these properties in clinical use.
Two general approaches to making such an oxygen-carrying product have been attempted either through the use of oxygen binding hemoglobin or the use of a nonpolar, fat-soluble, hydrophobic solvent system.
A third approach, that of using an aqueous system as an oxygen carrying solvent would presumably be obviated by the fact that the oxygen molecule is less than 2% soluble at physiologic temperatures in an electrolytic aqueous system such as human serum.
In the case of the hemoglobin systems the use of naked hemoglobin is toxic. Polymerized hemoglobin and hemoglobin bound to various bases, such as starch or other polymers, have proven both unstable and ineffective.
Efforts to encapsulate hemoglobin have been attempted using coacervates and liposomes. During the processing and use of liposomes the hemoglobin tends to leak from the encapsulating liposome. The liberated free hemoglobin results in the known toxicities of naked hemoglobin. Additionally, the hemoglobin that remains in the liposome does not release oxygen in the patient as needed. Some 30 years of efforts in this direction have proven unsatisfactory. The use of liposome or polymerized hemoglobin after years of trials has not been shown to be clinically useful.
The use of coacervates containing hemoglobin demonstrated both manufacturing and clinical problems. Manufacturing efforts resulted in difficulties with achieving appropriate particle sizes and with methemoglobin formation. While the toxicities of naked hemoglobin were overcome, the resultant product had difficulties carrying and releasing oxygen in a clinically effective manner.
A nonpolar solvent system can dissolve nonpolar oxygen molecules. Many such products over the past sixty years, such as the perfluorocarbons, while effective at dissolving oxygen, have clinically proven to be toxic, unstable, and ineffective. Indeed, toxicity could be anticipated from such nonpolar systems, since many of the organs in the body are nonpolar themselves. Thus the tactic of infusing large volumes of the perfluorocarbon-type nonpolar solvent systems for carrying oxygen would tend to be absorbed by and disrupt the body's organs. A typical example is that the liver, which is nonpolar in character, absorbs the perfluorocarbon with resultant hepatomegaly and liver failure. The nonpolar solvents cannot dissolve polar drugs or vitamins or other desirable polar chemical agents.
The principal users of human serum albumin are surgeons. The indications for prescribing albumin include acute hypovolemia associated with surgery, trauma, hypoproteinemia, with or without edema, adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), transplantations; obligatory extracellular space imbalance, as in severe burns, respiratory distress syndrome, and heart-lung machine pump priming. In coronary artery bypass surgery, the heart-lung machine is primed without the use of blood by using 1,000 c.c. of Ringer's lactate solution, 300 c.c. of 25% salt-poor albumin, 66.7 mEq. sodium bicarbonate or 250 c.c. trishydroxy-methyl-aminomethane, and 20 gm. of mannitol. Indications for use of human serum albumin by internists include acute gastrointestinal hemorrhage, renal dialysis, erythrocyte resuspension, sequestration of protein-rich fluids and several chronic conditions such as malabsorption, cirrhosis, acute liver failure, nephrosis, neonatal hemolytic disease, cerebral vascular accidents and ischemia.
The oxygenated albumin described herein preferably is oxygenated human serum albumin, and is more useful than non-oxygenated human serum albumin in the treatment of all of the above recited indications for prescribing albumin. The oxygenated albumin can be delivered to the human body either as a solution, or as a suspension of oxygenated albumin in sterile water.
The compositions and methods described herein stem from the unexpected finding that aqueous solutions containing up to 25% w/v concentrated amounts of hydrophilic albumin can indeed act as nonpolar solvents for delivery of oxygen and other nonpolar compounds. The most clinically useful example of this is the fact that aqueous human albumin solutions of less than 3% w/v can carry very little oxygen. However, at concentrations of around 25% w/v, human albumin in water can dissolve clinically significant quantities of oxygen. Further, as the aqueous albumin solution dilutes in the blood stream, it releases the oxygen in a manner similar to that displayed by whole human blood. No hemoglobin is required in this preparation. No other solvent system exhibits these properties except whole blood.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,777,052 discloses a plastic container for containing albumin solution having an albumin concentration of 1 to 500 mg/ml. The oxygenated albumin solutions described herein can be used with such a container in oxygenated albumin concentrations of 1 to 500 mg/ml, or any other oxygen-impermeable package, e.g., glass bottles, can be used to contain the oxygenated albumin compositions described herein.

Oxygenated albumin for use as blood and blood extender


An intervertebral prosthesis includes a bone graft implant member dimensioned for insertion within an intervertebral space defined between adjacent vertebrae and having at least first and second longitudinal sections with respective first and second cross-sectional dimensions. The first cross-sectional dimension of the first implant section is greater than the second cross-section dimension of the second implant section to define a stepped region having a retaining surface. Consequently, upon insertion of the implant member within a generally correspondingly dimensioned receiving bed formed within the adjacent vertebrae, the retaining surface facilitates securement therewithin by corresponding engagement with surfaces of the receiving bed. A method for fusion of adjacent vertebrae utilizing the prosthesis is also disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an osteogenic interbody fusion implant device and, more particularly, to a non-threaded intervertebral bone implant having a stepped configuration which facilitates securement of the implant within the intervertebral site.
2. Description of the Related Art
The spine is a flexible column formed of a series of bone called vertebrae, The vertebrae are hollow and piled one upon the other, forming a strong hollow column for support of the cranium and trunk. The hollow core of the spine houses and protects the nerves of the spinal cord. The different vertebrae are connected together by means of articular processes and intervertebral, fibro-cartilagineous spaces.
The intervertebral fibro-cartilages are also known as intervertebral disks and are made of a fibrous ring filled with pulpy material. The disks function as spinal shock absorbers and also cooperate with synovial joints to facilitate movement and maintain flexibility of the spine. When one or more disks degenerate through accident or disease, nerves passing near the affected area may be compressed and are consequently irritated. The result may be chronic and/or debilitating back pain. Various methods and apparatus, both surgical and non-surgical, have been designed to relieve such back pain.
One method, interbody fusion, involves stretching the spine into a natural position so that nerve root canal sizes are increased and nerve irritation is eliminated or reduced. The space between vertebrae is maintained by fusing the vertebrae in the affected area together at a fixed distance. Numerous prosthetic implants have been suggested to fill the void between vertebrae. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,848 describes a spherical cage implant made of metal or ceramics which is inserted between adjacent vertebrae. The cage has an interior cavity within which bone fragments are inserted. Such bone fragments may be autogenic and are intended to promote subsequent bone growth and fusion of the vertebrae.
Another method of preventing contact of vertebrae is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,011,484 wherein a stud-shaped insert is inserted longitudinally between two vertebrae and held there by a retainer. U.S. Pat. No. 4,309,777 describes an artificial intervertebral disc having upper and lower discs which are connected to each other by springs. The artificial disc is held in between vertebrae by spikes which project from the disc into the vertebrae. U.S. Pat. No. 4,743,256 describes a rigid, porous plug which can be inserted between vertebrae and held in place by prongs or screws. The porous nature of the plug is alleged to facilitate ingrowth of bone tissue.
An implant bone plug for insertion between vertebrae is also described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,878,915 wherein, in one embodiment, the exterior of the plug is provided with external threading which will, when the plug is rotated, advance the plug into prepared sites between the vertebrae. A portion of the plug is provided with a slot designed to receive the end of a key which is used to rotate the plug. U.S. Pat. No. 5,105,255 describes a method for forming a bore between two adjacent vertebrae and insertion of graft medium such as finely chopped cortical or cancellous bone chips. U.S. Pat. No. 4,961,740 is directed to a substantially open fusion cage which is inserted between adjacent bony surfaces between vertebrae by screwing the cage into place. The cage may be filled with bone chips or other bone inducing substances and, when inserted into the intervertebral space, immediate contact between the bone inducing substance contained within the cage and the native bone occurs through the outer surface of the cage.
Ideally, a fusion graft should stabilize the intervertebral space and become fused to adjacent vertebrae. Moreover, during the time it takes for fusion to occur, the graft should have enough structural integrity to withstand the stress of maintaining the space without substantially degrading or deforming and have sufficient stability to remain securely in place prior to actual bone ingrowth fusion. Consequently, a fusion graft should contain some kind of anchor and, additionally, a bone inducing substance which causes rapid bone growth and quick fusion of the graft to adjacent vertebrae. Furthermore, the material from which the fusion graft is made should be biocompatible and closely mimic the body's naturally occurring tissues.
All the above-described implants are intended to support and maintain an appropriate intervertebral space. Unfortunately, those implants may not fit certain ideal criteria for an interbody fusion graft. For example, many of the implants such as the one described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,848 are made of metals and ceramics and, while biocompatible, do not precisely mimic the body's natural bone tissue. U.S. Pat. No. 5,015,255 describes a graft in the form of bone chips which may eventually result in fusion between the vertebrae. If adequate fusion of the bone chips occurs, the final fused graft may closely mimic the body's naturally occurring tissues. However, when the bone chips are inserted, they are unconfined and may not remain contained between the vertebrae for a sufficient time to adequately fuse to each other and to adjacent vertebrae. The bone plug disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,878,915 has a threaded outer surface to assist in placement of the implant between the adjacent vertebrae. The external threads, however, compromise the strength of the implant. In addition, the threaded bone implant may have a tendency of backing out of the prepared bore.
Consequently, there is a need for improved interbody fusion implants which more closely adhere to the ideal of a spinal fusion implant.


A user can access live or historic video feeds of the location he is in and input a desired destination, and the video feeds show the surroundings and indicate a route to the destination, changing as the user moves toward the destination.

People often find themselves inside of a building or an enclosed structure and do not know what direction they are facing or how to get back to where they came from. They can look on a kiosk with directions or a map of the property but that is largely information overload and the maps do not account for the visual cues and practical benefit of having walked the path before. Also, maps usually only get visitors as far as the parking lot, which does not actually find their car, only the location of the parking lot. If a person is wrong about where he parked, he could end up walking around for quite some time. The same consideration also applies to being in a building and not knowing what exit to take to get back on the street where entry was made, as well as to other circumstances.

Providing video of space to calibrate user location relative to desired destination


The present invention relates to ambulance cots, cot systems and methods of using the same. In particular, the present invention provides an ambulance cot comprising a hydraulic system and a tip angle monitoring, recording and alert system, and methods of using the same (e.g., to transport subjects and/or to detect and/or record operational data related to cot usage).

The prevalence of overweight and obesity in the United States makes obesity a leading public health problem. The United States has the highest rates of obesity in the developed world. From 1980 to 2002, obesity doubled in adults and overweight prevalence tripled in children and adolescents (See, e.g., Ogden et al., JAMA 295 (13): 1549-55). From 2003-2004, of "children and adolescents aged 2 to 19 years, 17.1% were overweight . . . and 32.2% of adults aged 20 years or older were obese" (See, e.g., Ogden et al., 2006, JAMA 295 (13): 1549-55). The prevalence in the United States continues to rise.
Overweight and obese individuals are at increased risk for many diseases and health conditions including hypertension (high blood pressure), osteoarthritis (a degeneration of cartilage and its underlying bone within a joint), type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, and respiratory problems.
An Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) is an emergency responder trained to provide medical services to the ill and injured. Once thought of as an "ambulance driver or attendant," the modern EMT performs many more duties than in the past, and responds to many types of emergency calls, including medical emergencies, hazardous materials exposure, mass casualty/triage events, childbirth, patient transport, fires, rescues, injuries, trauma and other types of calls. EMTs may be part of an Emergency Medical Service (EMS), hospital-based EMS, fire department, or independent response team.
EMTs are trained in practical emergency medicine and skills that can be deployed within a rapid time frame. In general, EMT intervention aims to expedite the safe and timely transport of a subject (e.g., to a hospital for definitive medical care, or from one location to another).
Thus, EMTs and others responsible for transporting patients must be able to deal with the weight of a subject being transported. Moreover, once a subject is loaded onto a cot for transport, EMTs and others involved in patient transport must be able to raise and lower a cot bearing a subject to various heights above the ground (e.g., raise the cot to a height to be loaded into the back of an ambulance). In view of the fact that obesity problems continue to rise in the United States as well as other developed countries, and that these subjects appear to be more prone to a need for emergency medical care, EMTs and other emergency medical service personnel are encountering the need to lift and transport heavier patients. This in turn has led to injuries (e.g., musculoskeletal injuries) as a result of overexertion lifting becoming one of the most common injuries in the EMT/EMS workforce.


The present invention relates to substituted pyrazolo-pyrimidine compounds and methods of synthesizing these compounds. The present invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing substituted pyrazolo-pyrimidine compounds and methods of treating cell proliferative disorders, such as cancer, by administering these compounds or pharmaceutical compositions to subjects in need thereof.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States, exceeded only by heart disease. (Cancer Facts and FIGURES 2004, American Cancer Society, Inc.). Despite recent advances in cancer diagnosis and treatment, surgery and radiotherapy may be curative if a cancer is found early, but current drug therapies for metastatic disease are mostly palliative and seldom offer a long-term cure. Even with new chemotherapies entering the market, the need continues for new drugs effective in monotherapy or in combination with existing agents as first line therapy, and as second and third line therapies in treatment of resistant tumors.
Cancer cells are by definition heterogeneous. For example, within a single tissue or cell type, multiple mutational "mechanisms" may lead to the development of cancer. As such, heterogeneity frequently exists between cancer cells taken from tumors of the same tissue and same type that have originated in different individuals. Frequently observed mutational "mechanisms" associated with some cancers may differ between one tissue type and another (e.g., frequently observed mutational "mechanisms" leading to colon cancer may differ from frequently observed "mechanisms" leading to leukemia). It is therefore often difficult to predict whether a particular cancer will respond to a particular chemotherapeutic agent (Cancer Medicine, 5th edition, Bast et al., B. C. Decker Inc., Hamilton, Ontario).
Components of cellular signal transduction pathways that regulate the growth and differentiation of normal cells can, when dysregulated, lead to the development of cellular proliferative disorders and cancer. Mutations in cellular signaling proteins may cause such proteins to become expressed or activated at inappropriate levels or at inappropriate times during the cell cycle, which in turn may lead to uncontrolled cellular growth or changes in cell-cell attachment properties. For example, dysregulation of receptor tyrosine kinases by mutation, gene rearrangement, gene amplification, and overexpression of both receptor and ligand has been implicated in the development and progression of human cancers.
Accordingly, new compounds and methods for treating proliferation disorders, including cancer, are needed. The present invention addresses these needs.


A method for the preparation of potassium salts of complex aluminum fluorides which can be used in particular as a flux in particular for soldering lightweight metallic materials. In the method a potassium compound is added to aqueous fluoroaluminic acid, and potassium cryolite or a substance mixture which contains potassium cryolite is added to the resulting suspension. The resulting product is then dried and can be used as a flux for soldering lightweight metallic materials, especially aluminum.

The present invention relates to a method for the preparation of a composition which contains potassium salts of complex fluorides of aluminum and which is suitable as a flux for soldering lightweight metallic materials such as aluminum. A further aspect of the invention relates to a reaction mixture which can be used to produce such a flux.
In hard soldering or furnace soldering, metallic materials, particularly aluminum, are joined at a temperature above 500.degree. C. with the aid of a molten auxiliary metal (solder). The melting temperature of the solder is lower than the melting temperature of the materials, so they can often be separated without destroying them by re-melting the solder.
During soldering, oxides and other interfering cover layers on the metal surface are a problem: the surface must be metallically pure, so that a satisfactory soldered joint is produced. For this purpose, fluxes are used, which are usually brushed or sprayed on or are applied to the material as a coating.
Fluxes composed of potassium salts of complex aluminum fluorides are particularly suitable as fluxes.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,428,920 (=EP 063,750) describes a method for preparing a flux of this type. According to that method, a potassium compound, preferably potassium hydroxide in the form of a potassium lye solution, is added to fluoroaluminic acid in a precipitation stage whereupon potassium salts of complex fluorides of aluminum are precipitated. Then the water content of the suspension of potassium salts of complex fluorides of aluminum produced in this precipitation stage is separated, and the resulting solids are dried at 120.degree. C. In this method, a flux is obtained which melts without residue below 575.degree. C.
In that method, advantageously freshly prepared fluoroaluminic acid (obtainable from aluminum hydroxide and hydrofluoric acid) is used. The potassium compound is used in a stoichiometric shortage; this means that fluoroaluminic acid is still present in the aqueous supernatant of the resulting complex aluminum fluoride.

Method for the preparation of a soldering flux


Disclosed is a rocket engine which uses pressurized, vaporized propellant from the engine cycle to drive the boost pumps that provide propellants to the primary pumps. Additionally, an accumulator tank is provided which stores some of the pressurized, vaporized propellant and selectively releases the propellant to drive the boost pumps at subsequent engine start-up.

Space launch vehicles, particularly those that are defined as "upper stage" i.e., boosted to a high altitude by one or more "booster" rockets must be highly efficient since their weight and propellants must be carried throughout the mission. Liquid hydrogen is often used in space launch vehicles since it is highly efficient as a propellant when burned with an oxidizer, typically liquid oxygen. High performance turbopumps typically used as primary propellant pumps on upper stage rocket engines to pump the liquid hydrogen and oxygen are sensitive to a characteristic known as net positive suction pressure ("NPSP"). Since the liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen have boiling point temperatures far below typical ambient temperatures they are continuously boiling. This boiling may be suppressed by increasing the NPSP at the primary pump inlet. One method of increasing NPSP is by pressurizing the propellant tanks and using boost pumps installed at the propellant tank exits. The boost pumps provide the additional pressure necessary at the primary pump inlets during engine start-up, thereby suppressing boiling of the propellants.
FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a typical conventional rocket propulsion system 10 of the prior art. The system includes propellant tanks for liquid hydrogen 11 and liquid oxygen 12 with their associated boost pumps 13, 14 located at the tank exit, typically within the tank volume. Each boost pump 13, 14 is typically driven by a turbine 15, 16 located external to the tank 11, 12. The propellant supply lines 17, 18 transfer propellants from the boost pumps 13, 14 to the primary pumps 19, 20 through inlet valves 21, 22. A regeneratively cooled thrust chamber 23 vaporizes the liquid hydrogen flowing to the thrust chamber through the main propellant line 24. Prior to injection into the thrust chamber, the gaseous hydrogen may be expanded through a primary turbine 25 to drive the primary pumps 19, 20. In some applications, a portion of the gaseous hydrogen may be diverted from the main propellant line 24 and ducted through a bypass line 26 and a check valve 40 to one of the propellant tanks 11 to maintain pressure in the tank 11 as the propellant flows out.
Alternatively, stored gas such as high pressure helium from one or more helium tanks 27 may be used for tank pressurization, in which case it is necessary to reduce the pressure and control the flow of the stored gas using orifices 28 or controllers.
Each boost pump turbine 15, 16 is typically powered by an auxiliary power system including monopropellant stored in a monopropellant tank 29. The monopropellant decomposes in the presence of a catalyst to release energy to drive the turbine 15, 16. However, since the monopropellant tank 29 must be pressurized to force flow through the turbines, the stored gas 27 must typically be used for this purpose. Thus the use of monopropellant adds significant weight and complexity to the rocket engines of the prior art.
What is needed is an auxiliary power system that reduces the weight and complexity of the monopropellant system of the prior art.


A mass calibration apparatus for a mass spectrometer includes a capillary, an analyte ion source coupled to the capillary at a first point, a reference mass ion source coupled to the capillary at a second point, downstream from the first point and a mass analyzer coupled to the capillary at a third point downstream from the first and second points. The reference mass ion source may be coupled to the capillary via a tee junction. The reference mass ion source includes a chamber, an ionization device situated within the chamber and one or more reference mass sources that are situated internally within the chamber or are situated external to and coupled to the chamber.

In mass spectrometry, it is often useful to calibrate spectrometer instruments using a reference mass, which, since its mass is accurately known, can be used to compensate for drifting of the mass assignments. Reference masses are typically introduced into the ion source section where they can sometimes interfere with analyte ion production or otherwise complicate the design and ease of use of the analyte ion source. For example, in electrospray (ESI and nano ESI) sources, a dual sprayer inlet is used, requiring extra components and constraining interchangeability of the source modules. With regard to APCI, APPI and multimode sources, reference masses are typically added directly to the analyte stream which can result in signal suppression and precipitation. In AP-MALDI sources, ions are spiked into the matrix. This approach suffers from ion suppression of the reference masses or analytes embedded in the matrix. Furthermore, with regard generally to all techniques of introducing of reference masses at the analyte ion source stage, additional instruction for customers and additional development for manufacturers is often required for proper operation.

Reference mass introduction via a capillary


The present invention discloses a thermally conductive adhesive composition that is useful for encapsulating electronic parts. More particularly, this invention provides adhesive compositions that have 90% of the alumina particles having an average diameter sufficiently low to maintain the particles in suspension. The thermally conductive compositions of the present invention have a low viscosity and excellent thermal conductivity properties. Also contemplated is an electronic part that is encapsulated with the inventive composition, an article of manufacture having a container with the inventive composition contained therein and a method of manufacturing the inventive thermally conductive adhesive composition.

The present invention relates to thermally conductive adhesive compositions, and more particularly, to low viscosity thermally conductive adhesive compositions filled with spherical thermally conductive particles, which find use in electronic applications.
Thermally conductive adhesive compositions are useful in many applications""such as in electronics, ceramics, paints and coatings, where an effective thermal contact is sought, such as between a thermocouple probe and a heat source, or between two bolted metal parts having an air gap across which heat is transferred.
Thermally conductive compositions are particularly useful to encapsulate electronic components, such as semiconductors. These compositions protect the electronic components from corrosion and serve as a conduit to remove heat to a heat sink during normal operation. The compositions enhance the performance of electronic parts and have been particularly helpful in their miniaturization.
Recent advances in semiconductor technology have led to chips with more power and higher densities, which are challenging the capabilities of the currently available thermally conductive compositions. To increase the thermal conductivity, conventional thermally conductive compositions typically contain higher concentrations of thermally conductive particles, e.g., high load compositions, which provides the maximal dense particle to particle contact of the thermally conductive particles to minimize interface thermal resistance for forming a good thermal path. However, such high load compositions do not always yield physical properties suitable for every end-use application.
For instance, high load compositions typically have a high viscosity, e.g. 200,000-300,00 cps at 25xc2x0 C., which results in poor flowability during application. Additionally, high load, high viscosity compositions may have a high thermal conductivity often resulting in thick bond lines which reduce the efficiency of the heat transfer. Increasing pin counts in smaller amounts of space demands a thermally conductive composition with a lower viscosity to enable thin, precise lines to be formed on the micro-sized semiconductors, thereby allowing for the development of efficient miniaturized parts. Thermally conductive compositions with a low viscosity are also desirable for the new, more powerful and denser semiconductor chips currently being designed because low viscosity compositions have better flowability. Low viscosity, thermally conductive compositions, such as those having a viscosity under 80,000 cps at 25xc2x0 C., are also particularly desirable for fragile chips and solder bonds that attach the chips to a substrate because the minimal force necessary to apply the adhesive to the semiconductor chip is reduced, thereby decreasing the risk of compromising the integrity of a fragile chip.
To reduce the viscosity of conventional thermally conductive compositions, lower loads of the thermally conductive component may be used, however, this act also reduces the thermal conductivity of the composition. Lower load compositions also may exhibit increased moisture absorbency, which may cause the semiconductor assembly to crack when heated due to the rapid expansion of internal moisture. This may result in disruption of the connectivity of the conductive particles, causing a disconnect in the microelectronic device in which the semiconductor is used.
Additionally, reducing the load of the thermally conductive component may also increase settling of the conductive particles over time and during curing. The tendency of the thermally conductive particles to settle out during heat cure is of particular concern. Heat cure causes the viscosity of the composition to decrease, allowing the thermally conductive particles to settle to the bottom of the adhesive film. The top layer, if deficient of thermally conductive particles, becomes thermally insulating and reduces thermal conductivity of the film. Thus, current high load and low load thermally conductive compositions are less than satisfactory.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a thermally conductive composition is highly conductive and has a low viscosity providing excellent flowability.
The present invention provides a thermally conductive composition which, due to the incorporation of spherical thermally conductive particles therein, exhibits excellent flowability. The cured inventive compositions are highly conductive and have enhanced mechanical, moisture resistance and chemical resistance properties. The compositions of the present invention may be used as adhesives, sealants as well as coatings and the like. For purposes of this invention, the term xe2x80x9csealantsxe2x80x9d will include all such uses.
In one aspect of the invention there is provided a low-viscosity, thermally conductive composition which includes a curable resin component, a curing agent for the curable resin component, and a thermally conductive component which includes spherical thermally conductive particles substantially uniformly throughout the composition. A predominant amount of the spherical particles, and desirably at least 90% of the spherical particles, have an average diameter sufficiently low to maintain the particles in suspension. Desirably the spherical, thermally conductive particles are spherical alumina particles. The low-viscosities of the present invention are desirably between about 10,000 to about 80,000 cps at 25xc2x0 C.
Another aspect of the invention includes the reaction product of such a low-viscosity, thermally conductive composition.
Also contemplated by the present invention is an article of manufacture, which includes the inventive flowable thermally conductive composition stored in an openable container for packaging the flowable thermally conductive adhesive composition of the present invention.
Another aspect of the invention provides an electronic part encapsulated by the inventive composition. For example, such parts may include a wiring circuit board and a semiconductor chip mounted through electrodes to the circuit board and a space between the circuit board and the semiconductor. The periphery of the semiconductor chip is desirably encapsulated with the inventive thermally conductive compositions. Also contemplated are methods to encapsulate an electronic part, including the steps of providing the inventive thermally conductive composition and applying an effective amount of the composition to the electronic part to thereby encapsulate the electronic part.
Yet another aspect of the invention relates to a method of manufacturing a thermally conductive composition. Such a method includes combining in admixture at least one curable resin component with at least one curing agent for the curable resin component and a thermally conductive component. The thermally conductive component includes spherical thermally conductive particles. A predominant amount, and desirably at least 90% of the spherical particles, have an average diameter sufficiently low to maintain their suspension in the low viscosity sealant composition.
Yet another aspect of the invention relates to a thermally conductive, low viscosity composition which includes (a) a resin component; (b) a curing agent for the resin component; and (c) a combination of thermally conductive particles, which desirably are spherical alumina particles and a suspension aid for maintaining the conductive particles in suspension, i.e. improving their resistance to settling-out. The suspension aid is desirably zinc oxide. This suspension aid is particularly useful in preventing the tendency of the thermally conductive particles from settling-out, e.g. particularly during heat cure of the resin. Such settling out can be substantially decreased or prevented by the inclusion of a suspension aid.

Low viscosity thermally conductive compositions containing spherical thermally conductive particles


This present invention relates to a digitized control three-dimensional spinal orthopaedic device for cure injured spinal. The device comprises a bed body, a head-chest plate and a breech-leg plate. The bed body has a frame configuration, and comprises a top bed body and a bottom bed body. The head-chest plate is fixed on the top bed body. A traction means of the head-chest plate and an angle means of the breech-leg plate are fixed into the top bed body. The breech-leg plate is supported by a swinging arm. A left-to-right angle means is located under the breech-leg plate. A connecting shaft of the angle means is connected to the up-to-down swinging arm by a cross rod, so the head-chest plate is integrated with the breech-leg plate. The present spinal orghopaedic device can enable the bed body to go up and down automatically, the head-chest plate can vibrate and be drawn at a high or low speed, and the breech-leg plate moves up to down, rotates left to right and vibrate. The device can correct the three-dimensional pathologic change of the spine by use of the digitized control, and can employ quantified treatment accurately in order to ensure security and relibility.

Lumbar vertebra disc protrusion, cervical spondylosis, and vertebra soft tissue injury disease of breast/waist rear-joint dysfunction are commonly-seen and frequently-occurring diseases. They bring great pains to patients and the main cause of their pathologic changes is that there are some three-dimensional changes between the patient's sick centrums. The commonly-used 3D vertebra traction bed is used to rectify the changes of sick centrums at the three-dimensional direction, making it return to normal. The vertebra 3D bed for quick traction is implemented by using hydraulic driving unit. Because the hydraulic action of the hydraulic driving unit is slow and cannot precisely and quantitatively cure the patient, it is difficult for it to ensure the safety and reliability of treatment.

Digitized control three-dimensional spinal orthopaedic device


A process for producing a photovoltaic element, said process comprising the steps of: providing a photovoltaic element comprising a lower electrode layer comprising a metallic layer comprising aluminum or an aluminum compound and a transparent and electrically conductive layer, a photoelectric conversion semiconductor layer, and a transparent electrode layer stacked in the named order on an electrically conductive surface of a substrate, and immersing said photovoltaic element in an electrolyte solution to passivate an short-circuited current path defect present in said photovoltaic element by the action of an electric field, wherein said electrolyte solution has a chlorine ion content of 0.03 mol/l or less.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for producing a highly reliable photovoltaic element. More particularly, the present invention relates to a process for producing a highly reliable photovoltaic element excelling in characteristics by subjecting a photovoltaic element having a short-circuited current path defect therein to electrolytical treatment using a specific electrolyte solution to passivate said short-circuited current path defect present in said photovoltaic element.
2. Related Background Art
In recent years, various studies have been made in order to develop a large area photovoltaic element usable, for instance, as a solar cell for power generation. Particularly, various studies have been made in order to develop a large area photovoltaic element having a multi-layered structure comprising a semiconductor material composed of an amorphous material such as an amorphous silicon (a-Si) material. In order to produce such a large area photovoltaic element, public attention has been focused on a continuous film-forming process such as a so-called roll-to-roll film forming process.
However, it is difficult to efficiently and stably produce a large area photovoltaic element having a multi-layered structure which is free of defects such as short circuit defects in the entire region thereof. For instance, in the case of a large area thin film photovoltaic element having a stacked semiconductor structure comprising a plurality of thin semiconductor films formed of an amorphous material such as an a-Si being stacked, it is known that upon forming the stacked semiconductor structure, defects such as pinholes are liable to occur due to contamination of a foreign matter such as dust or the like in the film formed, and these defects entail shunts or short circuit defects which result in making the photovoltaic element to be markedly inferior in the characteristics required for a photovoltaic element, particularly, in the voltage-generating characteristic (in terms of the voltage component).
Herein, description will be made of the reason why such defect is occurred. For instance, in the case of an amorphous silicon photovoltaic element (or an amorphous silicon solar cell) formed on a surface of a metal substrate such as a stainless steel substrate, the substrate surface is not an entirely smooth surface but is usually provided with irregularities based on a flaw, recess, or spike-like shaped protrusion, and an electrode layer (or a back reflecting layer) having an uneven surface provided with irregularities for scattering light is often formed on the substrate surface. And on such uneven substrate surface or such uneven surface of the electrode layer, a p-type or n-type semiconductor layer comprising a thin semiconductor film having a thickness of several hundreds angstroms is formed, where it is difficult to completely cover the irregularities present at the surface of the substrate or the surface of the electrode layer and because of this, defects such as pinholes are liable to occur in the amorphous silicon photovoltaic element. In this case, pinholes are liable to occur also due to fine dusts in the film formation process.
In the case of an amorphous silicon photovoltaic element (or an amorphous silicon solar cell) comprising a lower electrode layer, a photoelectric conversion semiconductor layer comprising a plurality of amorphous silicon thin films being stacked and having such pinholes as above described, and a transparent upper electrode layer stacked in the named order on a substrate having a surface provided with a defect based on such spike-like shaped protrusion as above described, the photovoltaic element is problematic in that the photoelectric conversion semiconductor layer is defected due to the pinholes to directly contact the lower electrode layer with the transparent upper electrode layer or to contact the defect of the substrate surface. There is also a problem in that the photoelectric conversion semiconductor layer is not entirely defected but is in a state with a shunted or short-circuited portion having a low electric resistance. In this case, an electric current generated by the photoelectric conversion semiconductor layer upon the irradiation of light thereto sometimes flows in parallel to the transparent upper electrode layer to flow into a low electrically resistant portion of the shunted or short-circuited portion, where a loss in the electric current is occurred. When such loss in the electric current should be occurred, the open circuit voltage, namely, the voltage-generating characteristic, of the photovoltaic element (the solar cell) is markedly decreased. This phenomenon is more significant under condition of a low illumination intensity. This situation is seriously problematic for a solar cell for which effective power generation is required under all weather environmental condition.
For the photovoltaic element (or the solar cell) having such short-circuited portion as above described into which an electric current is flown to cause the foregoing loss in the electric current, there is a demand for diminishing the loss in the electric current as such as possible. In order to comply with this demand, there has been proposed a manner of -diminishing the loss in the electric current by directly eliminating the foregoing defects such as pinholes or eliminating or electrically insulating the peripheral material of the short-circuited portion.
Particularly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,729,970 (hereinafter referred to as document 1) discloses a manner of contacting a conversion reagent with a short circuit defect portion present in a photovoltaic device having a transparent and electrically conductive film to make a portion of the transparent and electrically conductive film in the vicinity of the short circuit defect portion to have a high electrical resistance, whereby electrically isolating the short circuit defect portion from the electrode of the photovoltaic device.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,084,400 (hereinafter referred to as document 2) discloses a manner of immersing a photovoltaic device with an electrically conductive film which is formed on a metal substrate and has a short circuit defect portion therein in a solution of an inorganic acid such as H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 or the like while impressing an electric voltage thereto to make a portion of the electrically conductive film in the vicinity of the short circuit defect portion to have a high electrical resistance, whereby electrically isolating the short circuit defect portion from the electrode of the photovoltaic device.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,320,723 (hereinafter referred to as document 3) discloses a manner of removing a short circuit defect portion present in a photoelectric conversion device by way of electrolytical treatment using an electrolyte solution containing an inorganic or organic acid, an inorganic or organic base, or a metal salt.
Besides these, it is known that in order to improve the utilization efficiency of light in a photovoltaic element comprising a photoelectric conversion semiconductor layer formed on a substrate, light arrived at the substrate through the photoelectric conversion semiconductor layer is reflected by means of a metal layer as a back reflecting layer formed between the substrate and the photoelectric conversion semiconductor layer to return it into the photoelectric conversion semiconductor layer.
It is known that the metal layer is constituted by a metallic material having a high reflectance such as Ag. However, for Ag used in this case, it is known that Ag is readily reacted with moisture to cause an Ag dendritic crystal growth which results in entailing a shunt in the photovoltaic element. In this respect, the metal layer as the back reflecting layer is usually constituted by an aluminum material.
It is also known that in order to prolong the optical path length for light in the photoelectric conversion semiconductor layer by way of light reflection, a transparent and electrically conductive layer comprising ZnO or the like and having an uneven surface is disposed between the back reflecting layer and the photoelectric conversion semiconductor layer.
However, in the case of removing a defect such as short circuit defect portion present in a photovoltaic element comprising a multi-layered photoelectric conversion semiconductor layer and having the back reflecting layer composed of the aluminum material and/or the transparent and electrically conductive layer by any of the above described defect-removing manners, such problems as will be described are liable to occur.
In the case of the manner described in document 1, when a conversion reagent containing a salt of a Lewis acid and an amphoteric element, particularly, a solution containing a chloride salt such as AlCl.sub.3, ZnCl.sub.2 or the like is used, an amphoteric metal such as Al is liable to significantly corrode into the back reflecting Al layer, resulting in entailing a problem such that side effects such as layer peeling, for example, at the interface between the Al layer and the ZnO layer is occurred.
In the case of the manner described in document 2, there is a problem in that when the electrolyte solution is used for a long period of time, the acid component thereof is concentrated so that to control so as to conduct stable reaction is difficult. There is also a problem in that when the acid concentration of the electrolyte solution is controlled so as to effectively work in removing a short circuit defect portion present in a photovoltaic element having a multi-layered lower electrode layer comprising, for instance, a metal layer and a transparent and electrically conductive layer comprising ZnO or the like, the transparent and electrically conductive layer is liable to corrode.
Similarly in the case of the manner described in document 3, there is a problem in that when the electrolyte solution contains chlorine ion, side effects such as layer peeling, for example, at the interface between the Al layer and the ZnO layer is liable to occur.

Process for the production of a photovoltaic element


Provided are a PEGylated analogue protein of canine urate oxidase, preparation method and use thereof. The analogue protein of canine urate oxidase is a canine urate oxidase, or a chimeric protein comprising part of the amino acid sequence of a canine urate oxidase and part of the amino acid sequence of a human urate oxidase, or a mutant protein thereof. The PEGylated analogue protein of canine urate oxidase and pharmaceutical compositions thereof according to the present invention can be used for the prevention and/or treatment of hyperuricemia and chronic gout.

Hyperuricemia is a disease from excessive purine metabolism. Uric acid, the final product of purine metabolism in human bodies, may cause hyperuricemia at a concentration of over 70 mg/L. Depending on its pathogenesis and duration, hyperuricemia may be further classified to acute hyperuricemia and chronic hyperuricemia. Acute hyperuricemia is a common complication in hematologic tumors and treatment therefor. With radio- and chemotherapy against hematologic tumors, urate concentration in vivo may be dramatically elevated by increased cytolysis and purine metabolite release, leading to acute hyperuricemia as well as renal failure in severe cases (Hershfield M S., Cecil Textbook of Medicine (20th), 1508-1515). Hematologic tumor is one of the diseases severely imparing human healths, and common hematologic tumors mainly include various kinds of leukemia, multiple myeloma and malignant lymphoma. As a metabolic disease, chronic hyperuricemia is caused by human purine metabolism disorder in vivo, and is likely to further develop into gout, an acute or chronic disease from the crystallization and precipitation of urates in soft tissues. The major clinical manifestations of gout are repeated attacks of arthritis and/or nephropathia; and meanwhile, with long-term elevation of blood uric acid level, uric acid may be crystallized and precipitated in connective tissues and results in formation of granuloma, which gradually becomes tophus (Nancy J G, Susan J K, Edna S, John S S et al., Arthritis Res Ther., 2005, 8 (1): R12). In the last 20 years, with the improvement of human living standards, the prevalence rate of chronic hyperuricemia/gout rises constantly. An epidemiology survey in England showed that the prevalence rate of gout rises from 1.19% in 1990 to 1.4% in 1999 (Wallace K, Riedel A, Joseph-Ridge N, Wortmann R., J. Rheumatol., 2004, 31: 1582-1587). Another survey in coastal areas of Shandong province, China, in 2008 showed that patients with hyperuricemia take 13.19% part of the total population, whereas patients with gout take 1.14% (Miao Z, Li C, Chen Y, et al., J Rheumatol., 2008; 35: 1859-1864). Therefore, such a disease has become an important one that jeopardizes human health.
Substantially, hyperuricemia is associated with urate oxidase gene mutation and deactivation during human evolutions, wherein a terminator codon is introduced in advance to the coding sequence of urate oxidase (Wu X, Lee C C, Muzny D M, Caskey C T., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 1989, 86: 9412-9416), thus disabling the synthesis of active urate oxidase and terminating human purine catabolism at uric acid (Wu X, Muzny D M, Lee C C, Caskey C T., J Mol Evol., 1992, 34: 78-84). Urates with lower solubility (˜11 mg/dl) can be transformed to more soluble allantoin (˜147 mg/dl) by active urate oxidase in liver peroxisomes of non-human primates and other mammals, hence being more effectively excreted by kidney (Wortmann R L, Kelley W N, Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology (6th), 2001: 1339-1376). On worldwide market, urate oxidase pharmaceuticals include Rasburicase, a recombinant urate oxidase derived from Aspergillus flavus, by Sanofi Inc., France, granted by FDA in 2002 (Bosly A, Sonet A, Pinkerton C R, McCowage G, Bron D, Sanz M A, Van den Berg H., Cancer, 2003, 98: 1048-54). Rasburicase is prepared by Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation and purification, and may be used in short-term treatment of severe hyperuricemia from chemotherapy against tumor with better effect than that of allopurinol. However, because the urate oxidase derived from Aspergillus flavus shares a homology of lower than 40% with that from human (Lee C C, Wu X, Gibbs R A, Cook R G Muzny D M, Caskey C T., Science, 1988, 239: 1288-1291), antibodies thereagainst will be generated in vivo in 70% of patients after multiple dosing, thus leading to a rapid decrease of urate oxidase effects as well as severe allergy reactions (Navolanic P M, Pui C-H, Larson R A, et al., Leukemia, 2003, 17: 499-514).
Covalent modification with polyethelene glycol (PEG) has been proved to be useful to decrease protein immunogenicity, increase protein solubility and extend the half-life (Veronese F M, Pasut G, Drug Discov. Today, 2005, 10: 1451-458). Various PEGylated recombinant protein drugs have been granted by FDA at present. To conjugate to a target molecule, PEG needs to be activated at one end or two with a selected functional group, depending on characteristics of molecules to be conjugated. A linking group for PEG covalent modification of protein may be any one of biocompatible linking groups. Common biocompatible linking groups include ester, amido, imido, urethane, succinimidyl (e.g., succinimidyl succinate (SS), succinimidyl propionate (SPA), succinimidyl carboxymethyl (SCM), succinimidyl succinamide (SSA) or N-hydroxyl-succinimidyl (NHS)), epoxyl, oxycarbonyl imidazolyl, nitrophenyl group (e.g., nitrophenyl carbonate (NPC) or trichlorobenzene carbonate (TPC)), and histidinyl or primary amine. Theoretically, the activated PEG may be reacted with main amino acids (e.g., Lys, Cys, His, Asp, Glu, Ser, and Thr, etc.) in a protein at the N-terminus or C-terminus, in which a reaction with Lys at the N-terminus is most commonly used.
PEGylated urate oxidase was studied since the late 1970s. A urate oxidase derived from Candida was modified with cyanuric chloride activated 5 kDa PEG by Nihimura and Tsuji et al. However, with modification rates of up to 20%˜30%, both enzyme activity and retention rate decrease to less than 50%, and immunogenicity is failed to be decreased with sufficient retention on enzyme activity (Nishimura H, Ashihara Y, Matsushima A, Inada Y., Enzyme, 1979, 24: 261-264; Tsuji J-1, Hirose K, Kashara E, Naitoh M, Yamamoto I., Int J. Immunopharmacol., 1985, 7: 725-730). Previously, PEGylated urate oxidase was studied on reaction in human body. A urate oxidase derived from Candida was modified with a 5 kDa PEG by Davis et al. After the conjugate was injected into 5 subjects, the urate oxidase concentration in the serum decreased to be undetectable. 4 weeks later, another injection resulted also in undetectable urate oxidase antibodies, as detected by gel diffusion method that is not so sensitive (Davis F F, Abuchowshi A, Karp D., J Pharmacol Exp Ther., 1981, 219: 352-354). From the foregoing, the PEGylated urate oxidase is safe and effective in human body. However, there are problems on long-term security and effectiveness, owing to high antigenicity of urate oxidase and deficiency in PEG agents.
With the appearance of the second generation of branch-chained PEG with high molecular weight, PEGylated urate oxidase was studied again. A recombinant swine-gelada urate oxidase was modified with 10 kDa mPEG-NPC at Lys residue by Duke University and Savient Inc. (Pegloticase) (Michael H, Susan J. K., 2006, U.S. Pat. No. 7,056,713B1). With each subunit conjugated with 9 PEGs, the enzyme activity may be retained by more than 75%, and the immunogenicity is substantially eliminated as verified by animal experiments. (Sherman M R, Saifer M G, Perez-Ruiz F., Adv Drug Deliv Rev., 2008, 60: 59-68). Pegloticase has been granted by FDA at Sep. 14, 2010 for long-term treatment (6 months) of refractory gout. However, antibodies against Pegloticase occur in 90% of clinical tests, and the drug is only suitable for intravenous injection. Because of the potential immunogenicity and inconveniency for administration, long-term treatment obedience in patients with chronic gout is decreased.
Drug development on PEGylated urate oxidase was also carried out by Phoenix Inc. (Ensor C M, Clark M A, Holtsberg F W., 2005, U.S. Pat. No. 6,913,915B2), the urate oxidase modified by whom is a Candida urate oxidase, with preferred PEG as mPEG-SC and mPEG-SPA with an average molecular weight of 20 KD, and modified site as the same Lys residue. Each protein was conjugated with 18˜22 PEG chains. The modified urate oxidase retains 75% of activity with a half-life of up to 3 days in mice body, far longer than that of non-modified urate oxidase, namely, 4 hours (Bomalaski J S, Holtsberg F W, Ensor C M, Clark M A., J Rheumatol., 2002, 29: 1942-1949). Said PEGylated urate oxidase was studied clinically at 2001. However, phase I clinical trial showed that the efficacy is weakened after administration, and thus the research was terminated (Bolmalaski J S, Goddard D H, Grezlak D, et al., Arthritis Rheum., 2002, 46: S141).
So far, there is worldwidely no commercialized urate oxidase product that has an appropriate half-life and may be used in long-term treatment with security and no immunogenicity. Although the human urate oxidase has become a pseudogene because of the mutation and loss of activity, the immunogenicity of the enzyme would be reduced if the gene was reformed and the activity was recovered. However, because of missense mutations accumulated during the evolution due to the lack of selective pressure, it is difficult to find out and correct all mutations and recover the human uricase activity. Because of the high activity of microorganism urate oxidases and the low immunogenicity of mammal urate oxidases, the two urate oxidases are studied for long-term use of urate oxidase at now. Though PEGylation may decrease the immunogenicity of microorganism derived urate oxidase, the immunoreaction is not effectively eliminated in human bodies. Clinical research on long-term treatment of chronic gout with the PEGylated recombinant microorganism urate oxidase has been stopped in foreign countries (such as in Phenix Inc. and Enzon Inc.). In contrast, in mammal urate oxidase studies, PEGylated swine urate oxidase from Duke University and Savient Inc. has successfully come into market, indicating that protein homology is still a key element for the immunogenicity of PEGylated proteins. To further improve the protein homology of urate oxidase, the inventor has carried out a study on human-canine chimeric urate oxidase on the basis of canine urate oxidase, which exhibits higher homology to humanized urate oxidase and greater specific activity, for which a Chinese patent application (No. 200910191240.3) and a PCT application (No. PCT/CN2010/071020) have been filed, respectively. PEGylation on the basis of the above canine urate oxidase analogue is studied in the present invention for a new and long-acting recombinant urate oxidase, which, as retaining high enzymatic activity, may be possessed with extended half-life and decreased immunogenicity in vivo for the treatment of acute hyperuricemia from chemotherapy against tumors and hyperuricemia or chronic gout from metabolic disorders.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Pegylated analogue protein or canine urate oxidase, preparation method and use thereof


A vehicle control method as executed includes acquiring surrounding information of the subject vehicle by a sensor includes, specifying an entry position located on a second lane adjacent to a first lane where the subject vehicle travels in accordance with the surrounding information of the subject vehicle, specifying a front vehicle located front the entry position and a rear vehicle located rear the entry position, determining the travel state of each of the front vehicle and the rear vehicle, determining whether there is a space for the subject vehicle to enter at the entry position, predicting whether the front vehicle starts to travel when the front vehicle and the rear vehicle are determined to be stopped and no space is determined at the entry position, and starting to move the subject vehicle to the entry position when the front vehicle is predicted to start traveling.

A vehicle traveling control device for lane change to an adjacent lane in a traffic jam adjacent to the traveling lane is known a vehicle traveling in the traveling lane (JP2016-203745A). When the control device determines that there is no space for the vehicle to enter, the control device moves the vehicle along a travel trajectory determined in advance to change the lane, and keeps the vehicle waiting at a standby position on a lane boundary between the travel lane and the adjacent lane, or at a standby position within a predetermined distance from a lane boundary line in the travel lane.
When the control device detect the space while the vehicle is in standby, the control device moves the vehicle from the standby position to the space.

Vehicle control method and vehicle control device


A system for forming a multi-layer film, where the system includes a backing support having a surface and a close-coupled unit configured to be disposed adjacent the surface of the backing support. The close-coupled unit includes a corona electrode and a coating die disposed at a downstream location along the surface from the corona electrode.

The present disclosure relates generally to systems for forming multi-layer films. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the present disclosure relates to systems for forming multi-layer films using corona treatments to increase interlayer adhesion.
Corona treatment of films is a cost-effective technique for modifying surface properties of the given films. The term "corona" as used herein refers to a process in which active gaseous species (e.g., free radicals, ions, and electrically or vibrationally excited states) are produced by electron impact with gaseous molecules. The term "corona" is also commonly referred to by other terms, such as corona discharge, barrier discharge, atmospheric-pressure dielectric-barrier discharge, atmospheric-pressure plasma, atmospheric-pressure glow discharge, atmospheric-pressure non-equilibrium plasma, silent discharge, atmospheric-pressure partially ionized gas, filamentary discharge, direct or remote atmospheric-pressure discharge, externally sustained or self-sustained atmospheric-pressure discharge, and the like.
During or after a corona treatment process, the corona-treated film is typically exposed to air prior to a subsequent coating process. The exposure to air, particularly oxygen, even for short durations, may reduce the surface properties of the film. This may reduce interlayer adhesion between the treated surface and a subsequent coating. One common technique for removing air during a corona-treatment process involves generating a vacuum and operating at pressures below standard atmospheric pressure. However, vacuum processes commonly have high operating and capital costs, and typically require the treated film to be removed from the vacuum environment prior to subsequent coating processes. As such, there is an ongoing need for efficient systems for forming multi-layer films with corona treatments that minimize exposure of the energized surfaces to oxygen-containing environments prior to subsequent coating processes.

System for forming multi-layer films using corona treatments


A new and distinct cultivar of Alstroemeria plant named ‘Koncajoli’, characterized by its compact and mounding plant habit; sturdy and strong plants; vigorous growth habit; light red-colored flowers with distinct red purple-colored stripes; and good garden performance.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Alstroemeria plant, botanically known as Alstroemeria hybrida, typically grown as a potted garden Alstroemeria, and hereinafter referred to by the name 'Koncajoli'.
The new Alstroemeria plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Nieuwveen, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact potted garden Alstroemeria plants that are early and freely flowering and have attractive leaf and flower coloration.
The new Alstroemeria plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Nieuwveen, The Netherlands on Jul. 8, 1999 of a proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida selection identified as code number 5261-4, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida selection identified as code number 8144-1, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Alstroemeria plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Nieuwveen, The Netherlands on Sep. 12, 2000.
Asexual reproduction of the new Alstroemeria plant by root divisions in a controlled greenhouse environment in Nieuwveen, The Netherlands since Sep. 26, 2007, has shown that the unique features of this new Alstroemeria plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.


A charging assembly is provided for an electrical switching apparatus, such as a circuit breaker. The charging assembly includes a compression arm and a charging cam. The compression arm includes a pivot and first and second legs extending outwardly from the pivot, preferably in a generally L-shape. An engagement portion disposed at or about a second end of the first leg cooperates with an outer cam surface of the charging cam. A shaped contact surface disposed at or about a second end of the second leg includes a first edge for engaging and moving an impact member of the circuit breaker closing assembly to charge a biasing element of the closing assembly, and a second edge. The second edge is disposed at an angle with respect to the first edge, and is structured to engage the impact member when the biasing element is disposed in the charged position.

1. Field
The disclosed concept relates generally to electrical switching apparatus and, more particularly, to electrical switching apparatus, such as circuit breakers. The disclosed concept also relates to charging assemblies for electrical switching apparatus.
2. Background Information
Electrical switching apparatus, such as circuit breakers, provide protection for electrical systems from electrical fault conditions such as, for example, current overloads, short circuits, abnormal voltage and other fault conditions. Typically, circuit breakers include an operating mechanism which opens electrical contact assemblies to interrupt the flow of current through the conductors of an electrical system in response to such fault conditions as detected, for example, by a trip unit.
Some low and medium voltage circuit breakers, for example, further employ a spring-operated stored energy assembly. Specifically, the operating mechanism of such circuit breakers typically includes an opening assembly having at least one spring, which facilitates the opening (e.g., separation) of the electrical contact assemblies, a closing assembly including a number of springs that close the electrical contact assemblies, and a charging mechanism for charging the spring(s). The contact assemblies are closed by releasing the stored energy of the closing assembly spring(s). The spring(s) is/are charged by a charging assembly which is operated manually, using a manual charging mechanism such as, for example, a charging handle, and/or automatically using a motor-driven charging mechanism or other suitable electromechanical charging mechanism.
FIGS. 1A-1D show one non-limiting example of a circuit breaker 1 (partially shown) having a spring charging assembly 9 for charging a number of closing springs 11 (one is shown in the side elevation view of FIGS. 1A-1D). The spring charging assembly 9 includes a charging cam 13 and a compression arm 15, which cooperates with the charging cam 13 to compress and thereby charge the closing spring 11 (see FIG. 1A). The compression arm 15 pivots (e.g., counterclockwise from the perspective of FIGS. 1A-1D) in response to the contact force applied to it by the closing spring 11. Thus, by virtue of the design (e.g., without limitation, shape) of the compression arm 15 and/or the charging cam 13, the closing spring 11 has the effect of producing a relatively significant amount of torque on the compression arm 15. Consequently, interaction of the compression arm 15 with relatively small changes in the curvature of the charging cam 13 undesirably results in relatively large changes in torque. As such, very close control must be kept of the precise shape of the charging cam 13 to control movement of the spring charging assembly 9 and ultimately, the latch load (e.g., the force applied by the closing spring 11 to the linking assembly 5 of the spring charging assembly 9).
Among other disadvantages, the requirement for such close control of the charge cam geometry increases the cost to manufacture the spring charging assembly 9 and, in particular the charging cam 13 therefor, and decreases the robustness of the overall design because certain components (e.g., without limitation, charging cam 13; compression arm 15) are exposed to considerable force during operation, which undesirably increases wear and tear.
There is, therefore, room for improvement in electrical switching apparatus, such as circuit breakers, and in charging assemblies therefor.

Electrical switching apparatus and charging assembly therefor


A docking seal system has a first flexible enclosure with a first coupling seal and a second flexible enclosure with a second coupling seal. Each of the coupling seals has first and second sealing strips. A first zip slide is engageable with the first and second sealing strips of the first coupling seal and a second zip slide is engageable with the first and second sealing strips of the second coupling seal so that the respective first and second coupling seals can be opened and closed. The first and second zip slides are each combined with a respective portion of a coupling slide to form respective combined slides. When the combined slides are combined together, the respective portions of the coupling slides mate together to form the coupling slide, the coupling slide engaging or disengaging the first and second coupling seals so as to dock or separate the first and second flexible enclosures from one another.

The present preferred embodiment relates to reclosable seals for substantially environmentally impermeable, reversible sealing as well as for substantially environmentally impermeable filling and/or decanting of bulk material from containers or tube elements and docking systems containing these reclosable seals.
In addition, the preferred embodiment relates to multiple coupling seals containing the inventive reclosable seals, as well as to multiple docking systems containing these multiple coupling seals.
As a rule very high demands with respect to ongoing reliability and environmental sealing are placed on seals or respectively coupling seals, which are used for decanting of bulk material made of e.g. flexible containers. For many bulk materials in minimal quantities are already toxic for the human organism. In addition, certain bulk materials are very sensitive to air and moisture and must be kept completely separate from surrounding air at every processing stage and naturally also during decanting. Bulk materials for further processing also frequently have to satisfy very high purity criteria and in no way may be contaminated from the outside by any contamination. The necessity to work contamination-free in particular in the food-processing, chemical or pharmaceutical industries results in high equipment and safety-related expense, which inevitably manifests in manufacturing costs.
Bulk material can be decanted for example environmentally impermeably from containers by means of double valve technology, such as described in DE 695 04 581 T2. Such docking mechanisms according to double valve technology are structurally highly intricate and thus generally also costly.
Structurally simpler docking mechanisms, such as those disclosed in PCT/EP02/12010, use e.g. elastically deformable coupling elements, which in each case have a superimposed slot, which is closed in the basic state and can be opened by application of pressure. With this configuration of a docking mechanism particular care is to be exercised that the slots of the juxtaposed coupling elements are of the same length and are superimposed exactly over one another.
The unpublished German patent application with file reference 103 21 814.9 on the other hand discloses a coupling element for environmentally insulated decanting, filling and/or emptying of containers, composed substantially of two flush sealing strips, having at their ends mutually engaging articulated bodies, which can be rotated about common bearing axis elements. The articulated axis elements or respectively articulated caps have to be precisely matched to the shape and size of the bearing element of the sealing strips so as to be able to function permanently and reliably as axis bearings. Opening and closing of this coupling element is accomplished by the opposite articulated bodies being moved towards or respectively away from one another. However, only one limited angle of opening can be achieved with this construction.
For trouble-free operation of conventional docking mechanisms it is not only of significance that the coupling seals of the individual containers in each case can implicitly be closed environmentally impermeably. Rather, it is also of major significance that the coupling seals or elements can be docked problem-free and environmentally impermeably on corresponding coupling elements or seals. This succeeds all the better the smaller and more rigid the individual coupling elements or respectively their constituents, e.g. sealing strips, are. In particular, with structurally simple coupling seals, with large-size coupling seals and with coupling seals formed out of very flexible components, docking onto corresponding coupling seals frequently involves problems, is time-intensive and does not always result in environmentally impermeable docking mechanisms.

Resealable seals and docking systems containing these seals


The curable composition which includes:. (A) a polysulfide polyether having in a main chain: PA0 (B) a compound having two or more isocyanate groups in one molecule;. (i) a polyether moiety represented by --(R.sub.1 O).sub.n --, PA1 wherein R.sub.1 is an alkylene group having 2-4 carbon atoms, and n is an integer of 6-200; PA1 (ii) structural units represented by EQU --C.sub.2 H.sub.4 OCH.sub.2 OC.sub.2 H.sub.4 --S.sub.x --, PA1 wherein x is an integer of 1-5; and at both ends: PA1 (iii) a thiol group represented by EQU --C.sub.2 H.sub.4 OCH.sub.2 OC.sub.2 H.sub.4 --SH,. and EQU --CH.sub.2 CH(OH)CH.sub.2 --S.sub.x --. and/or EQU --CH.sub.2 CH(OH)CH.sub.2 --SH;. and. a molar ratio of isocyanate groups contained in the component (B) to thiol groups contained in the component (A) being 0.5-4.0 (isocyanate groups/thiol groups).

The present invention relates to a curable composition, and more particularly to a curable composition which less suffers from foaming at the time of curing, and is capable of producing a cured product which is white and has such good weathering resistance that can prevent occurrences of surficial cracks even when the cured product is exposed outdoors, and which curable composition needs small amounts of plasticizers, thereby producing a cured product which is suitable for sealing materials because it suffers from so little transfer of plasticizers into a paint coating applied thereonto that it avoids the softening of the paint coating.
When polymers containing two or more thiol groups in one molecule are mixed with an oxidizing agent, they are easily cured, and their thiol groups are easily reacted with epoxy groups, isocyanate groups, etc. to become high-molecular compounds. Accordingly, such polymers are widely used for sealing materials, paints, adhesives, etc.
Since this polysulfide polymer has a structure of polysulfide bonds S.sub.x (x=1-5) in a molecule, it shows high polarity, and only limited types of plasticizers can be used. Since widely used, inexpensive plasticizers cannot be used, compositions such as sealants containing the polysulfide polymer are relatively expensive. In addition, since it shows a higher viscosity than expected from considering its molecular weight, a larger amount of a plasticizer is required to be added to improve the handling of the composition at a curing temperature. Accordingly, when a cured product of a sealant produced from the polysulfide polymer is covered by a paint coating, plasticizers tend to exude, thereby softening the paint coating.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-134058 discloses a polymer composition comprising a polysulfide polymer and a thiol group-containing polyether. This composition is compatible with widely used, inexpensive plasticizers and suitable for sealing materials. Further, it only needs small amounts of plasticizer. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-7331 discloses a polysulfide polymer which is also compatible with widely used, inexpensive plasticizers and only needs small amounts of plasticizer. Further, since this polysulfide polymer contains reduced amounts of low-molecular weight components, a cured product obtained by curing it with an oxidizing agent, etc. shows improved elongation. In addition, when a paint is applied to a cured product of a sealant produced from these polymers, the paint coating is not likely to be softened by the transference of plasticizers.
However, since an oxidizing agent having a large oxidizing power such as PbO.sub.2, MnO.sub.2, etc. is used as a curing agent for each of a thiol group-containing polysulfide polymer and polysulfide polyether, it is inevitable for them to be colored by the oxidizing agent, thereby failing to provide a white cured product. Further, since the reaction between inorganic oxidizing agents such as PbO.sub.2, MnO.sub.2, etc. and polysulfide polymer is a solid-liquid reaction, it is difficult to control the curing rate.
Since a sealant of a polyurethane prepolymer produced by reacting a polyether polyol with a polyisocyanate compound has good compatibility with widely used plasticizers and also has low viscosity, it is unlikely that a paint coating applied to a cured product of the polyurethane prepolymer is softened. However, this polyurethane prepolymer has such a problem that when it is cured with or without a polyol and a catalyst under the conditions of high temperatures and humidities, it tends to suffer from foaming.

Curable composition containing a polysulfide polyether and a compound having at least two isocyanate groups


In accordance with the invention, a method of manufacturing containers such as shipping, display and display ready packaging, for example, and resulting containers and associated preassemblies and blanks are provided, which, when utilized, result in preassemblies that are more easily and quickly assembled into fully assembled containers. According to the invention, a primary flank is affixed to an auxiliary blank using adhesive applied to a second portion section of each of the plurality of divider sections included in the primary blank, such that, as the container is assembled, pressure on the auxiliary blank separates a first portion of each of the plurality of divider sections from second portion and carries each of the plurality of divider tabs to engage with corresponding lock slots of the first and/or second divider lock.

Various containers are conventionally provided as packaging for shipping or for display of product in a retail environment to prospective customers. As is conventionally known in the industry, such containers can be transported to manufacturing and/or retail environments for use in shipping or display in knock-down form; i.e., flattened but otherwise being glued, stapled or otherwise secured together, such that they are already substantially pre-assembled; such knock-down form containers are also referred to as preassemblies. In such a "knockdown" state (i.e., knocked down or not set-up), personnel assembling the product container need only open the sides and or ends of the container and affix the package bottom wall into its assembled condition. As a result, such containers assembly may be performed such that the product can be placed into a resulting assembled container for shipping or as display package for ready display.
However, the time required for assembling such containers can be somewhat lengthy as assembly of a container may require a number of separate actions to be performed by the assembler. The number of such separate actions is conventionally referred to as the number of "touches" required for assembly; thus, a container requiring complex assembly requires a greater number of touches than a container requiring relatively simple assembly.

Materials for and method for manufacturing container and resulting container