The present invention describes the coprocessing of a lignocellulosic liquid stream and an intermediate fossil stream in the oil refining process comprising the steps of (a) contacting said intermediate fossil stream and said lignocellulosic liquid stream with a stream of solvent of C3-C10 hydrocarbons in an extraction section, obtaining a stream of extract with solvent and a stream of raffinate with solvent; and (b) sending said stream of extract with solvent to a separation section, obtaining a deasphalted oil stream comprising solvent-free carbon of renewable origin and a stream of recovered solvent. The present invention further relates to a process for producing fuels from the deasphalted oil stream comprising carbon of renewable origin, wherein the process comprises sending the deasphalted oil stream to a conversion section of an oil refinery. The conversion section is selected from catalytic hydrocracking unit, thermal cracking, fluidized-bed catalytic cracking, visbreaking, delayed coking and catalytic reforming.

Mitigation of the problems resulting from the use of fossil fuels is being achieved by increasing the proportion of fuels of renewable origin in countries' energy matrix, stimulated by the public policy of incentivizing the use mainly of ethanol and biodiesel as more sustainable alternatives.
In recent years, sources of lignocellulosic material have opened up new possibilities for this scenario. It was found that lignocellulosic material, which hitherto was regarded as a process waste, can be used as a raw material for producing biofuels. In this way the economics of products of renewable origin is improved, adding value to the materials.
In this context, besides second-generation alcohol obtained, for example, by hydrolysis and fermentation of lignocellulosic material, thermochemical processes for converting lignocellulosic biomass are emerging as an interesting alternative for generating renewable streams.
Among the existing thermochemical processes for converting biomass, we may mention the processes of fast pyrolysis, slow pyrolysis (carbonization) and gasification. These processes are differentiated by the amount of oxygen available in the reaction mixture, residence time, reaction temperature and heating rate.
In particular, the process of fast pyrolysis of biomass stands out among the other processes for converting lignocellulosic material, since it gives higher yields in the generation of a liquid product.
The liquid product resulting from this process is called bio-oil or pyrolysis oil and has various oxygen-containing functional groups in its composition, resulting in an oxygen content in the range from 15 to 50%. However, this chemical characteristic results in undesirable properties that make it difficult to use bio-oil directly as a motor fuel, such as high acidity, low calorific value and chemical instability.
An alternative for using this pyrolysis oil with the aim of increasing the renewability of the energy matrixes is the combined processing of lignocellulosic biomass streams and fossil streams in existing units in oil refineries.
In this connection, some documents of the prior art describe the coprocessing of pyrolysis oil with intermediate streams from oil refining. These processes aim to overcome the problems associated with the resultant composition of the bio-oil, thus making it viable to use it as fuel.
The patent document CA 2819903 discloses a process for producing renewable biofuels based on the direct integration of a system for producing bio-oil and a conventional oil refinery, in which the renewable stream is coprocessed with the stream derived from petroleum.
This process includes the treatment of a mixed stream (bio-oil and fossil components) in a hydrofining unit, and then sending it to units for fluidized-bed catalytic cracking (FCC).
The document CA 2662059 describes a method for processing asphaltenes using a deasphalting solvent. After the deasphalting process, separate fractions are obtained of deasphalted oil and of asphaltene-rich oil. The asphaltene-rich stream can be mixed with a biomass stream with the aim of coprocessing the fossil stream with the renewable stream in a gasifier.
However, the direct use of bio-oil in refining processes has limitations relating to the percentage of bio-oil in the feed to be processed.
The main causes of these limitations are: (i) high value of carbon residue of the bio-oil, which may reach 30 wt % depending on the raw material and the conditions in which the pyrolysis is carried out; (ii) presence of alkali metals and alkaline earth metals in the liquids resulting from the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass, and (iii) formation of water, resulting in the dilution of valuable products.
In fluidized-bed catalytic cracking units (FCC), for example, the limitations as to the direct use of pyrolysis oil are mainly imposed by the increase in the yield of coke and by the rate of deactivation of the catalytic system during cracking.
Therefore the present invention aims to provide the coprocessing of a lignocellulosic liquid stream and a fossil stream in a deasphalting unit so as to overcome the limitations on feed to be introduced in conversion processes at oil refineries.

Process of coprocessing a lignocellulosic liquid stream and an intermediate fossil stream in an oil refining process and a process for producing fuel from a deasphalted oil stream


An alarm system for sounding an audible warning whenever the water level within a sump pump enclosure exceeds the level which normally actuates the sump pump. The alarm system comprises an open electrical circuit including a battery, a battery-powered audible warning device and an elongate probe having closely-spaced contact members adjacent the tip thereof. The tip is suspended in the pump enclosure, above the pump-actuation level, and the warning device is activated whenever the water level rises above the pump-actuation level and immerses the contact members.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to fail-safe water-control systems for admitting, channeling, collecting and expelling ground water from basements or other subterranean rooms having walls and a floor. The problems caused by the invasion of ground water into basements and other structures are numerous. Generally such water seeps into basements at various peripheral locations between floor-wall joints, due to external hydrostatic pressures of water accumulations, which pressures can produce cracks in cement walls and/or floors. The admitted water is channeled to an enclosed sump pump which is activated when the water level rises to an activation level to pump the water to an exterior location.

Water-sensing alarm for water-control systems


An inkjet media includes a base substrate, an upper fluid barrier layer disposed on a side of the base substrate, a lower fluid barrier layer disposed on an other side of the base substrate, an image receiving layer disposed on the upper fluid barrier layer, a back adhesive layer disposed on the lower fluid barrier layer, an activation layer disposed on the back adhesive layer, an adhesive protection layer disposed on the activation layer.

Inkjet media such as sheet media and web media may be used to receive images from inkjet printing systems. The images may be in a form of designs, symbols, photographs, and/or text. Such inkjet media may be in the form of wall paper, signs, banners, and the like. Inkjet media may include an adhesive layer to enable the media to be fixed to objects such as walls.
Throughout the drawings, identical reference numbers designate similar, but not necessarily identical, elements.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A system is disclosed. The system includes a first information handling system (“IHS”) for receiving, via a user input, data associated with an inspection of a home for energy efficiency, and outputting the data to a network. The system also includes a second IHS for receiving the data from the network, and in response to the data, generating a report.

The description herein relates generally to home inspection and more particularly to a method and a system for inspecting a home for energy efficiency.
For buyers, builders, and sellers of a residential building (e.g., a home), and various government entities (e.g., the environment protection agency ("EPA")), energy efficiency of a home is important. For example, in many states, a newly built home must meet an energy efficiency standard required by a building code (e.g., the International Energy Conservation Code ("IECC")). Also, the EPA offers a program (i.e., the Energy Star Certification) in which, a home that is Energy Star certified, indicates that the home meets the standard for energy efficiency as required by the EPA. Such standard imposed by the EPA for Energy Star certification is typically more stringent than the standards required by the IECC and other building energy codes (e.g., the Model Energy Code of 1995).
For determining whether a home meets requirements of a building code or the Energy Star certification, a home inspection service provider performs various inspections and tests. With a conventional technique, such inspections and tests are less efficient.
What is needed is a method and a system for inspecting a home, without the disadvantage discussed above.

Method and system for inspecting a home for energy efficiency


A coating including a carbon nanotube layer including carbon nanotubes; and a coating layer on the carbon nanotube layer is disclosed. The coating layer may include a polyurethane polymer, a polyacrylate polymer, a polysiloxane polymer, an epoxy polymer, or a combination thereof. A coated substrate including the coating is also disclosed.

Layers capable of draining an electric charge (e.g., a static charge) have a variety of applications. For example, aircraft canopies, and particularly stealth aircraft canopies, may include a layer (or layers) capable of draining an electric charge in order to reduce the buildup of static charge on the canopy (or to prevent such buildup), and to provide radar attenuation. Precipitation static (P-static) and/or lightning strikes can cause an electric charge to buildup on the canopy, which may interfere with electronic equipment in the aircraft. The electric charge can be drained or dissipated by a low resistance layer (or layers) on the canopy, thereby preventing or reducing the buildup of electric charge (e.g., static charge) on the canopy.
The canopy of a modern jet aircraft, such as an F-22 stealth fighter canopy, can be made of a polymer material. While such a polymeric material may have desirable light weight, high strength, and ease of shaping, it might not meet the requirements for stealth aircraft, such as low sheet resistance and the ability to withstand extreme weather conditions. As a result, the canopy may further include coatings (e.g., organic and inorganic coatings) to impart high electrical conductivity and other characteristics to the canopy.

P-static charge drain layer including carbon nanotubes


A process for ensuring a neutral vehicle handling during cornering and a simultaneous load change is provided by the operation of a vehicle system having at least one driven axle, an axle differential gear, wheel brakes for the selective deceleration of an individual wheel, a device for recognizing a cornering and a device for recognizing a coasting operation and for generating a signal corresponding to the intensity of the coasting operation. The problem of rear-wheel driven and front-wheel driven vehicles is the vehicle handling during cornering in the coasting operation. As a result, depending on the method of operation, an oversteering or understeering of the vehicle is caused. The process avoids these problems in that, during a cornering, a wheel of the driven axle is decelerated at least as a function of the coasting operation signal such that the moment generated thereby, such as a counter-yawing moment, compensates the yawing moment caused by the cornering during the coasting operation.

This invention relates to a process for ensuring a neutral vehicle handling during cornering and a simultaneous load change and, more particularly, to a process for ensuring a neutral vehicle handling during cornering and a simultaneous load change by the operation of a vehicle system having at least one driven axle, an axle differential gear assigned to the driven axle, wheel brakes for the selective deceleration of an individual wheel, a device for recognizing cornering, and a device for recognizing a coasting operation and for generating a signal corresponding to the intensity of the coasting operation.
It is known to use mechanical limited-slip differentials for stabilizing the vehicle handling of motor vehicles. In this case, for example, the traction in the drive operation on roads having a low coefficient of friction is optimized and a clear improvement of the load change behavior is achieved specifically during cornering. However, limited slip differentials have the disadvantage that a basic locking moment and the load-dependent proportion of the locking effect are firmly predetermined. If, as the result of a high engine drag moment, the friction stress on the driven or dragged axle is exceeded, the mechanical lock has a negative effect. In addition, in the case of mechanical limited slip differentials, an antilock operation can no longer take place in the desired manner.
The use of electronic-hydraulic wheel slip control systems is known. Conventionally, they are used to cause a controlled braking intervention in the starting stage so that a limited slip differential effect can be generated.
The implementation of differential locks by an electric or electro-hydraulic braking intervention is described in German Patent document DE 33 30 236 C2, as well as in German Patent document DE 41 32 470 A1 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 5,397,174), among others.
However, by means of the above-mentioned systems, no neutral vehicle handling during cornering and a simultaneous load change particularly in the coasting operation - can be carried out. In these driving conditions, a braking of the driven wheels takes place as the result of the engine braking effect. This results in a more or less large negative slip of the driving wheels. Depending on the driving method (rear-wheel drive or front-wheel drive) and the corresponding coasting force, the vehicle therefore has the tendency to oversteer or understeer. This tendency is schematically illustrated in FIG. 1. The center of gravity of a vehicle with a neutral cornering behavior moves about a center M with the radius R on the solid line which is marked "neutral vehicle". Rear-wheel driven vehicles tend to oversteer so that the cornering radius is reduced. This is characterized in FIG. 1 by the broken line marked "oversteering vehicle". Correspondingly, in the case of a front-wheel driven vehicle, there is the problem of an understeering so that, in comparison to the neutral vehicle, there is a larger cornering radius, as illustrated in FIG. 1 by the line marked "understeering vehicle".
There is therefore needed a process which ensures a neutral vehicle handling and a simultaneous load change.
This need is met according to the present invention by a process for ensuring a neutral vehicle handling during cornering and a simultaneous load change by the operation of a vehicle system having at least one driven axle, an axle differential gear assigned to the driven axle, wheel brakes for the selective a deceleration of an individual wheel, a device for recognizing cornering, and a device for recognizing a coasting operation and for generating a signal corresponding to the intensity of the coasting operation. A wheel of the driven axle during cornering is braked at least as a function of the coasting operation signal such that the moment generated thereby (counter-yawing moment) compensates the yawing moment caused by the cornering during the coasting operation.
According to the present invention, it is essential that, for improving the load change behavior during cornering, a counter-yawing moment is generated on the dragged axle via a controlled braking intervention. The counter-yawing moment counteracts the yawing moment caused by the coasting operation. By means of an optimal compensation of the yawing moment occurring during cornering and a simultaneous coasting operation, a neutral vehicle handling is achieved. The operator can therefore complete the cornering without having to expect an oversteering or understeering of the vehicle.
As the result of the development of forces in the case of rear-wheel drive and/or front-wheel drive vehicles, the front wheel or rear wheel which is on the outside or on the inside during the cornering is braked depending on the understeering or oversteering tendency. Because of the braking of the corresponding wheel, the already existing drag forces caused by the engine braking are increased to a resulting force. By contrast, because of the effect of the axle differential on the other wheel of the axle, the drag force is correspondingly reduced. Because of the resulting braking effect differences, a moment is generated on the whole whose direction is precisely the opposite to the yawing moment caused by the cornering and the coasting operation. A complete compensation will take place when the amount of the counter-yawing moment corresponds precisely to the amount of the yawing moment.
For implementing the process according to the invention, on the one hand, a cornering of the vehicle must be recognized and, on the other hand, the direction of the cornering must be recognized. This can be achieved, for example, by the determination of the differential speed of the wheels on the nonpowered axle and/or of the steering angle and/or of the lateral acceleration.
In order to obtain an optimal compensation of the yawing moment, the extent of the coasting operation should also be determined. This can take place by a comparison of the torque desired by the driver with the frictional moment of the engine, or by the comparison of the throttle valve setting by the driver with the characteristic zero moment curve of the throttle valve in the characteristic engine moment diagram. If the coasting force caused by the engine is known, a conclusion can be drawn on the resulting yawing moment.
A different vehicle handling occurs on roads with a different coefficient of friction. For this reason, it is very advantageous for the coefficient of friction of the road to be included in the calculation of the braking pressure for the brake of an individual wheel which is to be generated for a specific counter-yawing moment. The coefficient of friction of the road can be determined, for example, from the different wheel speeds and the vehicle acceleration.
Since the transmission ratio also plays a role in the determination of the drag forces or of the moments, it is advantageous to also take the engaged gear position into account for the determination of the braking pressure.
An advantageous embodiment of the process is characterized in that the braking operation for generating the counter-yawing moment takes place starting from specific drag forces or wheel slip values. For this purpose, a fixed quantity is determined, for example, a quantity corresponding to the engine drag moment or the wheel slip. The process according to the invention will not be implemented until this quantity exceeds a first limit value. Since the understeering or oversteering behavior can depend specifically on the coefficients of friction of the road, it is advantageous to determine this first control limit value as a function of the coefficient of friction of the road. Preferably., this control limit value is formed in the manner of a hysteresis in that the braking operation starts when a first hysteresis curve is exceeded and is terminated in the case of a falling below a second hysteresis curve. This prevents oscillation in the control circuit. The difference between the two characteristic hysteresis curves can be selected, for example, at about 0.25 km/h.
A particularly advantageous embodiment of the process is characterized in that the first control limit value is determined by a deviation of the speed of the wheel to be braked from the actual vehicle speed. As an alternative, the wheel slip of the wheel to be braked may also be taken into account. These embodiments of the process can be implemented particularly easily because the wheel speeds can be determined without any additional expenditures by means of rotational wheel speed sensors normally existing on the vehicle.
It may be a problem that, as a result of the additional braking of a driving wheel, there is the danger of a cessation of the lateral control of this wheel This is true particularly in the case of rear-wheel driven vehicles when the rear wheel which is on-the outside during the cornering is braked. If the braking force is too high, the overall force resulting from the drag force and the additional braking force reaches such an extent that there is a danger that the lateral control of the vehicle may be lost. This must be prevented. For this reason, the process according to the invention should be terminated in order to ensure continuous lateral control. This is achieved, for example, in that the process according to the invention is terminated when a second control limit value is exceeded. This second control limit value is farther away from the actual speed of the vehicle than the first control limit value.
The process according to the invention will preferably not be terminated before the second control limit value has been exceeded for a specific time period. It is also an advantage for the road friction to be included in the calculation of this time period.
When the process according to the invention is carried out, because of the additional braking of a driven wheel, on the whole, a negative vehicle acceleration occurs which is higher than the deceleration desired by the operator by releasing the accelerator pedal. This additional braking effect can be compensated by a corresponding increase of the engine torque. Since some vehicles already contain an engine drag moment control, this control can be used for compensating the additional negative acceleration. The increase of the engine torque is a function of the additional brake pressure and vehicle-specific data. The increase of the engine torque may therefore also be calculated from these parameters.
A decisive quantity for the counter-yawing moment or the increase of the engine torque is the brake pressure used for the additional braking. The brake pressure must be determinable in any driving condition. A determination possibility is obtained by the addition of the pressure build-up pulses and the subtraction of the pressure reduction pulses in the case of a known P-V diagram.
In addition, the process according to the invention should not be used during normal braking or during the antilock operation of the brakes of the vehicle so that, at a corresponding signal, the process according to the invention should not be carried out or should be terminated.
In an advantageous embodiment, the process according to the invention is also not carried out at speeds less than a specific absolute limit speed, for example, 20 km/h. This leads to a higher vehicle safety and to the avoidance of a pushing operation.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Process for ensuring a neutral vehicle handling during cornering and a simultaneous load change

Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft


A flexible polyurethane foam having a core impact resilience of at most 40%, of which the half-width of the resonance transmission peak in the resonance curve is at most 1 Hz.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a flexible polyurethane foam and a method for its production.
2. Description of the Background
In recent years, along with the progress of automobile industry, it has been required not only to improve the performance of cars but also to improve the interior design and the interior comfort of the vehicles. Particularly, with a view to improving sitting comfort and riding comfort, it has been strongly desired to develop a flexible polyurethane foam (hereinafter referred to as a flexible foam) for seats having better cushion properties. Especially, in recent years, with respect to a low resilience flexible foam which is regarded as excellent in body pressure reducing, it has been desired to develop one excellent in cushion properties, more specifically vibration properties. Further, with respect to the vibration properties, it is desired to take a substantial damping especially in the frequency region sensitive to person (which is said to be, e.g. from 4 to 8 Hz or from 6 to 20 Hz).
Heretofore, it is known to employ a low resilience flexible foam for seats for vehicles (e.g. JP-A-1-280413 and JP-A-2-175713). However, in the techniques disclosed in such applications, the compression set of the flexible foam was large (poor), and the durability was inadequate. Further, in recent years, low resilience flexible foams excellent in durability have also been proposed (e.g. JP-A-9-124764, JP-A-9-302066, JP-A-11-286566, JP-A-2000-290344 and JP-T-2002-520460 (WO00/04071)). However, such conventional low resilience flexible foams did not show distinct resonance frequencies in the above-mentioned specific frequency region. In such a case, it is difficult to reduce the vibration transmissibility over the entire specific frequency region while maintaining the physical properties such as hardness, durability, etc. required for cushion, and no means to solve such a problem has been known.
It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problem and to provide a flexible foam excellent in vibration properties, while maintaining the physical properties such as hardness, durability, etc. required for cushion, in spite of its low resilience.
Heretofore, it has been attempted to reduce the vibration transmissibility over the entirety of the above-mentioned specific frequency region solely by the flexible foam. Whereas, the present invention is based on a concept such that a flexible foam is made to have a distinct resonance frequency, which can be absorbed by a structure such as a metal spring, so that as the entire seat, it is possible to provide one having low vibration transmissibility. Based on this concept, a further study has been carried out, and as a result, the present inventors have found that it is possible to let a low resilience flexible foam have a distinct resonance frequency by using a specific foam stabilizer at the time of producing the flexible foam, and have accomplished the present invention.
The present invention provides the following flexible foam: A flexible polyurethane foam having a core impact resilience of at most 40%, of which the half-width of the resonance transmission peak in the resonance curve is at most 1 Hz. This flexible foam has characteristic vibration properties even if it is of low resilience, and when a seat cushion is made thereof, it is possible to present one having low vibration transmissibility as the entire seat.
Further, the present invention provides the following method to produce the above flexible foam: A method for producing a flexible polyurethane foam, which comprises reacting a polyol having a hydroxyl value of from 10 to 56 mgKOH/g and an unsaturation value of at most 0.045 meq/g, with a polyisocyanate compound, in the presence of a catalyst and a blowing agent by using, as a foam stabilizer, a compound which has a polysiloxane chain and a polyoxyalkylene chain and has a silicone content of from 10 to 50 mass %, wherein the chain length of the polyoxyalkylene chain is at most 1000, and which has a hydroxyl group at the terminal of the polyoxyalkylene chain.
By this production method, it is possible to provide the above-mentioned flexible foam having characteristics in the vibration properties. Particularly, by using the specific foam stabilizer for the production of the low resilience flexible foam, the above-mentioned vibration properties can be obtained, and good moldability can be obtained. Further, by using the above-mentioned polyol, it is possible to obtain a flexible foam which is excellent in durability and which has a prescribed hardness and good moldability. Here, the reason why it is possible to obtain the vibration properties which have not been accomplished heretofore in spite of low resilience, is believed to be such that the cell structure of the flexible foam is unique. Namely, the flexible foam of the present invention has a characteristic such that in addition to a usual cell structure (the cell diameter is from 500 to 2,000 xcexcm), fine cells (the cell diameter is from 50 to 200 xcexcm) are formed also in columnar structures corresponding to ribs.
Further, as the above polyol, it is preferred to use a polyol produced by means of a double metal cyanide complex catalyst. By using this polyol, it is possible to obtain a flexible foam having superior durability.
Further, it is preferred that an oxyethylene group is present in the polyoxyalkylene chain of the foam stabilizer, and the oxyethylene group content in the polyoxyalkylene chain is from 70 to 100 mass %. By combining such a foam stabilizer as the above-mentioned specific foam stabilizer with the above-mentioned polyol, good moldability can be obtained.
Further, it is preferred to employ tolylene diisocyanate as at least a part of the above-mentioned polyisocyanate compound. By using tolylene diisocyanate, it is possible to obtain a flexible foam which is of low resilience and which exhibits good mechanical properties.

Flexible polyurethane foam and method for its production


This invention relates to clear one-phase liquid formulation vehicles comprising lecithin, MCT, bile salt and water.

Insoluble molecules account for about 40-60% of drug substances now being discovered or commercially developed. To be suitable for injection as well as many other routes of administration, these drugs must first be dissolved in a liquid vehicle. For safety reasons, an aqueous vehicle is preferred over a non-aqueous vehicle.
Various drug solubilizers have been developed to dissolve insoluble drugs, including those that use lecithin, oils, bile salts or cyclodextrins. All these prior art solubilizers have one or more of the following drawbacks, namely:                1. Not a clear or one-phase solution,        2. Unable to dissolve many drugs to be considered of general utility,        3. Require high energy to dissolve the drug,        4. Drug precipitates when diluted with water or an IV infusion fluid, and        5. Poor safety when injected into human or animals.
The present invention relates to four-component solution compositions comprising Lecithin, Medium chain triglycerides (MCT), a Bile salt, and Water, which are herein referred to as L, M, B, and W, respectively, in this application. For convenience, a composition of this invention is also referred to herein as an LMBW formulation, an LMBW composition or an LMBW.
An LMBW composition has certain physical and biological properties that are very useful for drug formulations, especially for insoluble drugs. An LMBW composition is free of the aforementioned drawbacks associated with other solubilizers.


The present invention relates to a method of treatment and/or prevention of cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis, skin cancer, premenstrual syndrome, diabetes and transdermal transport enhancement. The method comprises the administration of a therapeutically effective amount of krill and/or marine oil to a patient. The present invention also relates to a composition for the treatment and/or prevention of these diseases.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to multi-therapeutic extracts derived from krill and/or marine, which can prevent and/or treat several diseases.
2. Description of Prior Art
Krill is the common name for small, shrimp-like crustaceans, however not shrimp, that swarm in dense shoals, especially in Antarctic waters. It is one of the most important food source for fish, some kind of birds and especially for baleen whales as being an important source of protein. Krill is also a good source of omega-3 fatty acid, which are well known for their health benefits.
It is known in the art to use krill and/or marine enzymes for the treatment of a great variety of diseases in human and animals such as infections, inflammations, cancers, HIV/AIDS, pain, polyps, warts, hemorrhoids, plaque, wrinkles, thin hairs, allergic itch, anti-adhesion, eye disease, acne, cystic fibrosis and immune disorders including autoimmune disease and cancer.
It is also known in the art that krill and/or marine oil may be used for the treatment of autoimmune murine lupus and other autoimmune diseases and can also be used for treating cardiovascular diseases.
However, the krill and/or marine oil used for these treatments has only conserved its omega-3 fatty acids as active ingredients, which is a very small part of all the active ingredients of the krill and/or marine itself. This fact reduces the potential of the krill and/or marine oil as a treatment for these diseases.
There is an increasing demand for treatments using products derived from a natural source, therefore, it would be highly desirable to be provided with a krill and/or marine extract having an enhanced potential for prevention and/or treatment and/or management of disease.

Krill extracts for treatment of cardiovascular diseases

Neptune Technologies & Bioressources Inc.


An electronic device which includes a first stage having an input capacitance, a switch, a buffer and a second stage having an input sensitive to charge injection and/or voltage glitches. An input of the buffer and the input of the second stage are coupled together at a first node which is configured to be coupled to a voltage source for supplying a reference voltage to the input of the first stage having the input capacitance. In a first configuration of the switch, the switch is arranged to either connect the input of the first stage to the first node and to disconnect the input of the first stage from an output of the buffer. In a second configuration of the switch, to connect the input of the first stage to the output of the buffer and to disconnect the input of the first stage from the first node.

Integrated electronic semiconductor devices often have to cope with capacitive loads that have to be charged and discharged to certain voltage levels. There are stages with an input capacitance, as for example comparators, buffers or amplifiers that are switched on and off, as well as simple capacitances or cables.
If the drain current of a MOS transistor changes its gate-source voltage must change, too and therefore the gate charge must change. If an amplifier with a MOS input transistor is switched on or off (i.e. the bias current is switched on or off) this charge will be seen as kick-back noise at the input.
The input nodes of these stages are often connected to high impedance voltage reference sources. The input capacitances at the input nodes of these stages will then receive or release a certain amount of charge that may propagate from their input nodes, i.e. their input capacitances, to or from the high impedance voltage reference sources. The released or supplied charge can cause a voltage drop across the interconnections (wires, VIAs etc.) or at the voltage sources i.e. their output impedances. The voltage level at the input node may then vary. If this voltage level is monitored, for example by a comparator which may also be coupled to the input node, this can cause the comparator to change the state of its output signal.
FIG. 1 shows a simplified circuit diagram of an example of a first stage ST1 having an input capacitance. FIG. 1 illustrates the effect of kickback noise. There is a switched electronic stage ST1, which may be an amplifier or a comparator or any other device stage having an input capacitance (also a simple switched capacitor etc.). The first stage ST1 may comprise an input stage with a differential pair of transistors, as for example, transistors M1 and M2. The input stage may further be coupled to a current source CS for feeding a tail current to the input stage. In order to save power or for any other reasons, the input stage M1, M2 may be switched off by disconnecting the input stage from the current source CS by switch SW.
The node N1 connects the gate of one of the input transistors M1 to a voltage source VS. This voltage source VS may be a voltage source having a comparatively high output impedance RI. It may be modeled with a reference voltage source VREF and an output impedance RI as shown in FIG. 1. There might be a second stage ST2 having an input that is sensitive to charge injection and/or voltage glitches. The second stage ST2 may be comparator. A comparator may be coupled with an inverting input to the node N1. The positive input of the comparator may receive another reference voltage VM. The output signal COMPOUT of comparator may then be used as an indicator as to whether the voltage level at node N1 is greater or lower the reference voltage level VM. The input MOSFET M1 (as all MOS transistors) of the first stage ST1 has the input capacitances CGD (gate to drain capacitance) and CGS (gate to source capacitance). If the switch SW is turned off (disconnected) the input capacitance (CGD, CGS) of the input node INN releases a charge QK that can propagate towards voltage source VS causing a voltage drop at resistor RI. The same effect in reverse can occur, when the first stage is activated by switch SW. The charge may then propagate towards the input capacitances of the first stage ST1. This may decrease or increase the voltage level at node N1, thereby varying the voltage at the inverting input of the comparator. In response to this, the output COMPOUT of the comparator may change.
FIG. 2 shows a simplified circuit diagram of a configuration which is basically similar to the one shown in FIG. 1. However, the circuit shown in FIG. 2 further includes a high performance buffer BUF for buffering the reference voltage provided by the voltage source VS. The kickback noise or kickback charge QK propagating from the input node ST1IN towards voltage reference source VS is then blocked by high performance buffer BUF. However, even in this situation, the voltage level at node N1 may vary. Therefore, the comparator ST2 is coupled between the positive input of high performance buffer BUF and voltage source VS. However, a main disadvantage of the configuration shown in FIG. 2 is the power consumption of the high performance buffer. The buffer BUF constantly consumes supply current and may also add an offset voltage.

Electronic device and method for kickback noise reduction of switched capacitive loads and method of operating the electronic device


In the production of a metallic honeycomb body for use as a metallic carrier, for supporting a catalyst, in the purification of an exhaust gas from automobiles or the like, a desired joint site for each layer constituting the metallic honeycomb body is preset, and, when a portion of contact between a metallic corrugated foil and a metallic flat foil for forming the metallic honeycomb body has reached the joint site, a brazing foil which has been cut into a predetermined length is inserted and enfolded in the contact portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process and an apparatus for the production of a metallic honeycomb body, for supporting a catalyst, for use in a catalytic converter for the purification of an exhaust gas discharged from an internal combustion engine and in a catalytic converter in a chemical plant.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In recent years, a catalytic converter using a metallic honeycomb body as a catalyst carrier, constituted by a stack of metallic foils, has become adopted, for example, in the purification of an exhaust gas discharged from internal combustion engines, particularly automobiles. In this case, as shown in FIGS. 6 (A) and (B), a metallic flat foil b and a metallic corrugated foil c, with the flat foil and the corrugated foil stacked on top of the other, are spirally wound on a winding shaft a, thereby forming a honeycomb body e having a large number of through holes o in the direction of the winding shaft, and the honeycomb body e thus obtained is then fitted into a metallic casing d to form a cylindrical metallic carrier f.
In the production of the metallic honeycomb body e, in order that the structural strength is ensured to realize stabilized catalyst carrier functions, it is common practice to braze the flat foil b and the corrugated foil c, constituting the metallic honeycomb body e, to the casing d, thereby integrating the metallic honeycomb body e with the casing d.
An example of conventional methods for joining a flat foil b to a corrugated foil c in the production of a metallic honeycomb body e comprises winding a flat foil b and a corrugated foil c with the flat foil and the corrugated foil stacked on top of the other, fixing the outermost circumferential end of the flat foil b, press-fitting the resultant spiral into a metallic casing d, spreading a powdery brazing metal in the interior of the assembly, heating the assembly to deposit the powdery brazing metal between the corrugated foil and the flat foil and between the metallic honeycomb body and the metallic casing, thereby joining the corrugated foil to the flat foil and, at the same time, joining the metallic honeycomb body to the metallic casing.
This method, however, is disadvantageous in that it is difficult to surely spread and deposit the powdery brazing metal at the sites to be joined, a sure and stable joint cannot be provided, and the cost of the powdery brazing metal is high.
In order to solve these problems, for example, another jointing method, as shown in FIG. 7, has been proposed. This method comprises providing a brazing foil g, which has been previously cut into a very small piece, for example, a piece having an approximate size of 0.05 mm in thickness.times.1 mm in width.times.12 mm in length, at predetermined intervals on predetermined positions of the flat foil, connecting the flat foil b and the corrugated foil c to a winding shaft a, which serves also as an electrode, winding them, with the flat foil b and the corrugated foil c stacked on top of the other, on the winding shaft a to form a honeycomb body e having a predetermined dimension, fixing the outermost circumferential end of the flat foil b, fitting the honeycomb body into a metallic casing, and heating the assembly in a vacuum furnace to melt the brazing foil to join the flat foil b, the corrugated foil c, and the metallic casing d to one another.
In the production of a cylindrical metallic honeycomb body e by this method, however, since the wave height and pitch of the corrugated foil c vary, the relative position of the cut brazing foils g varies even when winding is carried out under constant conditions, so that, in some cases, the joint sites between the flat foil b, the corrugated foil c and the metallic casing d are often shifted from a predetermined joint site region.
The brazing foil g used herein functions to join the flat foil b, the corrugated foil c, and the metallic casing d to one another. When the metallic honeycomb body e is incorporated into an electric heating type catalytic converter to permit a current to flow across the winding shaft a and the metallic casing d to heat the metallic foils per se, thereby enabling the temperature of the metallic honeycomb body to be raised to the catalytic activation temperature in a short time, the brazing foil g functions also to form joints which can be energized.
For this reason, the shift of the sites of joints by the brazing foil from the predetermined region gives rise to problems such as lowered joint strength, deviation of a heat pattern created by energization to cause a failure of heat to be generated, leading to a deterioration in the above functions of the metallic honeycomb body and a lowering in dimensional accuracy. This in turn results in lowered yield of acceptable honeycomb body products and, hence, lowers the productivity of the metallic honeycomb body (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 179939/1993).

Process and apparatus for production of metallic honeycomb body for supporting catalyst


Examples described herein generally relate to a computer device including a memory, and at least one processor configured to process a transaction. The computer device receives customer transaction information. The computer device evaluates the customer transaction information to determine a risk score for the transaction. The computer device assigns the transaction, based on the risk score, to one of a plurality of stratums including at least a first stratum and a second stratum. The computer device selects a merchant identifier (MID) from at least a first MID associated with the first stratum and a second MID associated with the second stratum based on at least the assigned stratum and a target chargeback rate for at least one of the first MID or the second MID. The computer device transmits the transaction information and the selected MID to an issuing bank.

The present disclosure relates to transaction processing, and more particularly to increasing transaction approval rates based on merchant risk analysis.
In a traditional card-not-present transaction, a merchant collects transaction data from the customer, usually using a form on the website completed by the customer. The merchant traditionally validates the transaction by forwarding the transaction data to a processor, who transmits the transaction data to a retail bank (e.g., a card issuer) via a card network. The retail bank may perform a risk analysis on the transaction data to determine whether to allow the transaction. If the retail bank determines that the transaction is risky due to fraud or a potential for chargebacks, the retail bank may deny the transaction.
A chargeback occurs when a transaction is charged to a card and the card holder repudiates the transaction, for example, by alleging the transaction was fraudulent or otherwise deficient. In a chargeback, the merchant must refund the purchase price, and may also lose the value of the merchandise that was shipped. The retail bank may also incur costs to resolve the chargeback. Accordingly, both merchants and retail banks have an interest in preventing transactions that will result in chargebacks. For example, the merchant, the retail bank, or third party providers may conduct screening to predict a risk of a transaction resulting in a chargeback. A card network may limit the transaction information to certain fixed, pre-defined fields. Accordingly, a retail bank may be provided a limited data set upon which to determine whether the transaction is likely to result in a chargeback. A retail bank may act conservatively and err toward rejecting transactions, which may lead to a higher rate of false positives (where valid transactions are incorrectly rejected), resulting in lost sales opportunities for the merchant.
Thus, there is a need in the art for improvements in card transaction processing.

Track bank chargeback sensitivity using disproportional risk level sampling design


Disclosed are ten functional circuits for the direct processing (linear, nonlinear and mixed analog/digital) of a delta-modulated pulse stream. This invention comprising of; a digital circuit for squaring and rectification; a mix mode analog/digital squaring circuit; a digital circuit for AC-to-DC conversion; a mixed mode analog/digital multiplication circuit of two delta-sigma modulated pulse streams; a digital circuit for multiplication of two delta-sigma modulated streams; a digital circuit for RMS-t-DC conversion; a circuit for multiplication of delta-sigma modulated signal by a constant; a circuit for addition of three or more delta-sigma modulated pulse streams; and a correlator circuit of two delta-sigma modulated pulse signals.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the direct processing of delta sigma modulated (DSM) and linear delta modulated (LDM) pulse streams. The sensing signal (analog input signal) is first converted into a one-bit high density (oversampled) pulse stream using DSM or LDM oversampled analog-to-digital converter. To implement a particular linear or nonlinear function, dedicated circuits have to be developed. Thus, the field of this invention is a pulse signal processing of one-bit non-positional delta modulated stream. It belongs to a wider class of digital signal processing (DSP) in the electrical engineering field.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The conventional method of DSP of a DSM pulse stream is achieved by using a decimation technique to interface with existing n-bit DSP hardware. Existing n-bit DSP hardware is bulky, power consuming, and prone to errors. Typical DSP hardware consists of a micro-processor and supporting n-bit communication lines with centralized control and synchronization. This hardware is not suitable for sub-micron technology because n-bit processors are hierarchical systems (every bit is weighted), and when the most significant bit (MSB), or sign bit is in error, a catastrophic malfunction can happen. To take advantage of the non-positional nature of a DSM pulse stream, there were several attempts to develop circuits for linear processing of a DSM pulse stream [U.S. Pat. No. 6,587,061 B2; U.S. Pat. No. 7,609,187 B2].
The earliest publications on the use of DSM in signal processing comes from Lockhart [1]. Digital filter coefficients are made of resistive networks. A similar idea is used by Lockhart and Babary [2] to implement an infinite impulse response (IIR) filter using a recalculating shift register. In both publications resistors are used to add filter coefficients.
Publications of Peled and Liu [3], [4] use ordinary DSP hardware to implement delta-modulated based digital filters. The implementation of filter coefficients is achieved using read-only memory (ROM).
In 1978 Lagoyannis [5] proposed a new method for multiplying delta-modulated signals by a constant. He implemented a digital circuit for direct multiplication of a delta modulated sequence.
In 1978, Locicero et al. [6] proposed a method for direct processing of adaptive delta-modulated (ADM) signals. By operating on the serial DM bit streams, sum, difference and product can be obtained in PCM and DM format. An arithmetic processor uses ordinary DSP hardware.
In the period 1978-1985, Kouvaras published a number of papers related to linear processing of a delta modulated stream. In reference [7] Kouvaras proposed a new method with which is possible to find a delta-modulated signal of the half sum of two analog signals through direct operation of their delta-modulated form. He proposed hardware implementation of a delta adder and did error analysis of the proposed circuit. In reference [8] Kouvaras proposes a digital circuit for doubling the amplitude of a delta modulated signal. In fact, by using a delta doubler, it is possible to overcome the problem of attenuation of one-half which the delta adder introduces [7]. In reference [9] Kouvaras proposed several circuits for the direct multiplication of delta-modulated signals by constants. In addition to a non-recursive form, Kouvaras proposed a recursive form of the multiplier. In reference [10] Kouvaras proposed a new modular multi-input network for direct arithmetic operation on DM signals. In reference [11] Kouvaras proposed a technique for the reduction of the quantization noise in the direct processing of a DM pulse stream. In reference [12] Kouvaras proposed the modular network for the direct addition of DM signals with minimum quantization noise.
Lagoyannis and Pekmestzi proposed multipliers of two DM sequences [13]. These multipliers provide the product in DM sequence form. These multipliers were used in the implementation of a parallel type of digital correlator.
In reference [14] Zrilic et al. proposed the implementation of a ternary delta adder and ternary delta multiplier for the implementation of digital filters. In reference [15] Freedman and Zrilic proposed a new algorithm for linear and non-linear processing of a DM pulse stream. In reference [16] Zrilic proposed a number of circuits for linear, nonlinear and direct processing of a DM pulse stream. In his patents (U.S. Pat. No. 5,349,353 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,285,306 B1), Zrilic disclosed the number of circuits for linear, nonlinear and mixed processing of a DSM pulse stream.
In reference [17] Wong and Gray present two methods for building FIR filters based on single-loop and two-stage DSM encoding. These filters do not require multipliers.
Horianoupulos et al. [18] proposed a design technique for hardware reduction in delta modulated FIR filters. This method takes advantage of the special characteristics of DM filters in order to reduce noise.
Johns and Lewis [19] designed and analyzed delta-sigma filters by eliminating all multi-bit multipliers through the use of re-modulating internal filter states.

Delta-modulation signal processors: linear, nonlinear and mixed


Electrohydraulic control for an automatically shiftable automotive transmission with a selection slide valve (2), at least for the neutral position (N), as well as for the drive mode (D) and reverse mode (R), an electronic control device (3) having solenoid valves (4) held in neutral position by spring action, a pressure-medium source (1), pressure control and gear control valves (5, 6, 7) for the actuation of gear engagement couplings and brakes (A-F), as well as with a R-gear safety valve (8), for preventing the shifting into the R-gear when the forward drive speed is still too high, and a system which, in the case of electronic failure, holds or shifts the automatic transmission to one gear insuring that the maximum permissible rotational speed of the engine is not exceeded when the vehicle travels at maximum speed, whereby, in the event of failure of the electronic control device (3) during driving, a control system holds or shifts the gear, and in the event of failure of the electronic control device (3) before the start or the restart of the engine, this control system (5, 6, 7, 8, 9) engages a lower gear. This way, in the case of electronic failure during travel, travel can be continued unhampered, for instance also in the highest gear, and no shifting down takes place. When the electronic device fails at start or at restart after a failure during travel, a lower gear is engaged, wherein it is also possible to start the vehicle.

A 4-speed automatic transmission with electronic-hydraulic control is known from two publications in ATZ 85 (1983), 6 pages 393 to 405. From paragraph 4, Transmission Control (page 402) and paragraph 5, Safety Functions, as well as from FIGS. 6 and 7 of these prior art publications, it is known that in a currentless state, the vehicle can be driven purely hydraulically, corresponding to the selection slide valve shift, either forward in the 3rd speed or in reverse, whereby a neutral position (idling setting) is also possible.
In the publication 4 HP 22 E of the ZF GETRIEBE GMBH SAARBRUCKEN, Oil Circuit Diagrams, this electronic-hydraulic transmission is illustrated in detail and completes FIG. 6. This system is possible because it controls an overdrive transmission, wherein the 4th speed is a high-speed gear--overdrive- and the engine does not reach the highest rotational speed. However, such a control is not appropriate for a 4-speed transmission with a direct 4th speed or an overdrive transmission wherein the highest rotational speed is reached in the highest gear, because a shifting down from the 4th to the 3rd speed in case of electric-current supply failure leads to excessively high rotational speeds in the engine and could result in damage to the engine.


In a remote control system having a transmitter and a receiver, a rolling code is ciphered to generate a ciphered rolling code by repeating, n times, an exclusive-OR operation on a constant code in a rolling code table and the rolling code as well as an-maximum shift keying. A key code specific to each control system is used as a constant code at the k-th exclusive-OR logic operation so that the k-th exclusive-OR logic operation becomes different from system to system resulting in different ciphering method for each system. The key code is set in an EEPROM in the process of control system production so that the rolling code may not be deciphered even by a design engineer as long as the key code is kept undisclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a remote control system and method which is used for a vehicular wireless door control system or the like.
2. Description of Related Art
In a remote control system employed conventionally in a vehicular wireless door control system, from the standpoint of restricting unauthorized uses of a vehicle, a transmission code to be transmitted from a transmitter is ciphered so as not to be deciphered. In the system disclosed in JP-A 8-102982 U.S. Pat. No. 08/510,469 filed on Aug. 2, 1995), for instance, a transmission code is ciphered by the use of a rolling code which is updated in the predetermined order each time the rolling code is transmitted from a transmitter to a receiver.
According to this system, as the rolling code is updated each time in the predetermined order, a design engineer who has designed the system (transmitter and receiver), and hence the updating order of the rolling code, can decipher the transmission code thus ciphered. This may possibly result in the unauthorized uses of the system by the design engineer, for instance.

Remote control system and method having a system-specific code


An enclosure is formed from a single sheet of paper, which is of a standard size. The sheet of paper is folded along the short edges and then folded along a mid-section. Content material may be placed on the sheet of paper or printed information can be printed on desired surfaces of the paper. The paper may also be folded so that a fold-over flap is formed. The edges are attached through a sealing mechanism such as knurling, gluing, embossing or crimping, tabbing, stapling.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for fabricating an enclosure. The enclosure may have information printed on surfaces of the enclosure and further may be used to enclose additional content material. More particularly, this invention relates to a method and apparatus for fabricating an enclosure from a single sheet of material. The sheet of material may be rotated and folded in a particular fashion to form the enclosure, which may be sealed. Also, the sheet of material may be rotated and folded to enclose the additional content material and then sealed at selected areas to maintain the integrity of the enclosure.
2. Background Art
Conventional envelopes contain mail content material and typically require specialized mailing products, such as a number 3 envelope, number 10 envelope, a business reply envelope (BRE) and similar especially—manufactured materials. These materials are adapted to receive content material, such as letters, bills, and other information to be sent to a recipient. When using conventional envelopes, it is necessary to insert the content material into the envelope prior to sealing the envelope.
For high volumes of mail pieces for which it is undesirable to assemble the mail pieces manually, conventional insertion processes may be difficult to perform without sophisticated equipment, since the desired content material must be associated with a corresponding envelope. In the event content material becomes disassociated from a corresponding envelope, corrective action must be taken to mitigate delivery of incorrect material to a recipient.
Conventional "self-mailers" typically require especially manufactured paper or other material. One example of a self-mailer is the One Step Mailer from GBR Systems Corporation, Chester Research Park, Chester, Conn. The GBR mailers have glue beads dispensed on two sides of the self-mailer and glue dots are applied across the top portion. One disadvantage to this self-mailer is that it requires specific and expensive material that must be fed into a printer device and mail assembly equipment.
Another conventional mail envelope is available from Nexti AB, which utilizes different sized sheets of paper material as front and back covers, respectively, to form an envelope. One disadvantage to the Nexti envelope is that it requires over-sized sheets to be used to form the envelopes. Such oversized sheets are not commonly available, and must be specially ordered. Thus, the over-sized sheet must be inserted in a desired location so that it will be in the correct sequence to form the enclosure.
Other examples of conventional mailing envelopes and methods therefor include U.S. Pat. No. 5,501,392, entitled, "Folded Single Sheet Mailer", which relates to a folded single sheet mailer that comprises a rectangular sheet provided with transverse and longitudinal lines of perforation and transverse and longitudinal glue lines. The sheet is folded onto itself along a transverse fold line, which is offset with respect to the center of the sheet. The sheet is then folded along a plurality of secondary fold lines and sealed to produce an outgoing envelope that can be mailed. The mailer includes a return envelope for use when placing an order. One drawback to this mailer is that it requires specifically manufactured paper to produce the mailer.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,638,666, entitled, "Desk-Top Envelope Maker" relates to an apparatus and method for making an envelope from ordinary size, readily available, writing paper. The apparatus is a desk-top size machine that can be combined with an office printer, such as a laser printer, or incorporated therein to form a single machine. The apparatus enables integration of office computerized printing of letters and addressing of envelopes, by using a single paper tray. Following the printing of a letter, the subsequently fed final sheet of paper from the paper tray is routed to the envelope making apparatus, perhaps after the printing of an address on the final sheet, whereby an envelope is created. Ordinary size paper is fed into the apparatus from a tray. When the paper enters the machine, two impression lines or creases are made along the length of paper, which will subsequently serve as fold lines. These impressions are made by sharp rollers preferably mounted at the infeed to the machine so that the rollers press against the paper while the paper is fed into the apparatus. This apparatus and method has the drawback that it requires cutting and gluing to form an envelope. Secondly, it results in scrap being produced, which must be disposed of.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,019,280, entitled, "C-Fold Return Postcard Mailer" relates to a mailer type business form intermediate, and business form produced from the intermediate, that have an included postcard which is used as a reply piece. The mailer may be a C-fold mailer, with a window (e.g. die cut-out) formed in one of the panels, which overlies the outgoing address indicia formed on a face at the postcard. Check-off indicia is provided on the postcard to optimize response, and tear-off strips along the side edges of the mailer are held together with pressure sensitive cohesive. Tacking pressure sensitive adhesive may also be provided along edges of the die cut-out panel and the postcard-securing panel, exterior of the postcard.
Therefore, what is needed to overcome the present disadvantages and drawbacks of the current state of the art is a mailer that can be fabricated from a standard size sheet material and does not require special materials.

Method and apparatus for enveloping documents


A memory system includes a memory cell array, a bit line switch, first and second page buffers, a column switch, an error correction circuit, and control circuits. The second page buffer can swap data with the first page buffer. The control circuits controls the bit line switch and the first and second page buffers, sequentially reads, page by page, one or more pages from the mth (m is a positive integer) page to the nth (n is an integer greater than m) page of the first block in the memory cell array, controls the error correction circuit to perform error correction calculation by the error correction circuit, controls the first and second data buffers and the bit line switch, and controls to perform write in the second block in the erase state in the memory cell array.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a memory system and data copy method therefor and, more particularly, to copying of successive pages in, e.g., a NAND flash memory, and is applied to system which performs error correction in copying.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a NAND flash memory, as disclosed in, e.g., Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2002-141477, a memory cell has an n-channel MOSFET structure in which, for example, a floating gate and control gate are stacked as a charge storage multilayer. A plurality of memory cells of this structure are series-connected to each other so that adjacent memory cells share sources and drains. One NAND string is formed by interposing first and second select gates respectively between a bit line and one terminal of the NAND string and between a source line and the other terminal. The NAND strings are arrayed, and the control gates of memory cells on the same row are commonly connected to a word line. The gates of the first select gates on the same row are commonly connected to the first select gate line, and those of the second select gates on the same row are commonly connected to the second select gate line.
A group of NAND strings which share the word line forms a block serving as an erase unit, and in an erase, data of all memory cells in the block are erased. In a read and write, one first select gate in a plurality of blocks is selected and rendered conductive to connect series-connected memory cells to a bit line. In this state, a selection voltage is applied to one word line, and a non-selection voltage is applied to the remaining word lines on the same NAND string. Each bit line is connected to a sense amplifier and a write bias circuit (to be referred to as a page buffer including a data buffer which holds read data and write data). A read and write are executed for pages which share a selected word line. One page is made up of, e.g., 2,112 bytes, and one block is made up of, e.g., 128 KB.
A host accesses data stored in a memory cell via an I/O bus. Assuming that the bit width of the I/O bus is, e.g., 8 bits (1 byte), the host accesses the page buffer byte by byte, similar to an SRAM.
In the NAND flash memory, even an unselected word line (control gate) is biased in a read or write by applying a high voltage, the disturbing characteristic is strict, and error correction is often required for a read. The size of the erase unit (block) is larger than that of the write unit (page), and when given page data is erased for overwrite, an entire block containing the page is erased. To prevent this, the remaining page data in the block must be backed up in another block before an erase. This results in frequent copying of successive pages (page copy) in the NAND flash memory.
The NAND flash memory performs sense operation for each page, and can easily implement a page copy function of directly writing read data in another page when a page copy is done without any error correction. If no error correction is performed for read data and the read data is erroneous, the erroneous data is directly written into a new page. In this case, repetitive page copying may generate many error bits which cannot be corrected by general error correction in a read.
In order to avoid generation of many error bits, a copy method is sometimes employed in which error correction is done for data read in a page copy, and if an error bit is detected, the data is corrected and then written at a new page address. At this time, a page copy consists of three sequences: reading a target page, error correction of read data, and writing to a write destination. Of these sequences, reading and writing require access to a memory cell, and error correction requires access not to a memory cell but to an error correction circuit. Reading and writing can be batch-processed for each page, but in error correction, data of a page buffer must be sequentially transferred to an ECC circuit 11 via a bus (e.g., 8 bits). For example, when the page size is 2,112 bytes and the bus width is 8 bits, 2,112 cycles of "data read+error calculation and update of corrected data" are necessary. For an access cycle of 50 ns, these cycles require about 100 μs (50 ns×2,112). Assuming that a read takes 25 μs and a write takes 200 μs, this page copy takes 1.5 times as long as for a page copy free from any error correction.
As described above, in the conventional memory system and the data copy method therefor, if no error correction is done in a read of a page subjected to page copying, repetitive page copying causes a data copy error, degrading the data reliability. Error correction for preventing the degradation makes page copying very slow.

Memory system which copies successive pages, and data copy method therefor


In a ball and socket closure for opening and closing an intake port for a hollow fluid container including bicycle mounted bottles such as water or other kind of fluids which refreshes the user or provides nourishment, The ball and socket closure may be used on water bottles or adaptors for sports water bottles used in place of the original bottle cap, Such original bottle caps have no quick fill capability or a selectively open and closed ball and socket intake cap as is in the present invention, which permits introduction of water through the cavity within a spherical ball valve, received by a cylindrical socket for supporting the ball in an intake port of the fluid container. A tab on the edge of the hole in the ball permits manipulation of the ball between an open and a closed position as required by the user.

(1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a closure system for a fluid hydration system adaptor for converting a typical sports bottle or other hydration container to a quick fill fluid hydration system for bicycle riding. Although described herein as a bicycle hydration system, it may be used in relation to any other conveyance and on any suitable fluid container. More specifically, this invention relates to an closure for a fluid container which permits rapid introduction of fluid into typical water bottles or other fluid containers using a closable intake port, which may temporarily secure the fluid source in the intake port, or which be poured in to the adaptor. An alternate apparatus is included in the intake port which and prevents fluid from splashing or leaking out of the intake port when the intake port is disposed at significant angles from horizontal.
(2) Description of Related Art
There are numerous examples of related art as typified by the following patents:
U.S. Pat. No. 6,920,899 issued Jul. 26, 2005, issued to Haenlein et al, entitled: FLUID CONTROL VALVE shows a fluid control valve for controlling the delivery of water and includes a control lever attached to a spherical ball that is movable in two directions by rotation of the lever about two independent axes. No fluid flow appears to pass through the ball. The fluid control valve instead includes a separate valve body assembly with flow passageways and a housing assembly attached to the valve body assembly to define an interior space while the present invention requires flow through the spherical ball
U.S. Pat. No. 3,930,636, issued Jan. 6, 1976 to, Pugh entitled: BALL VALVES shows a Ball Valve which is described as having a passage through the ball and further that as shown in the drawing, the ball valve comprises a valve housing 1 having a bore 2 in which a ball 3 is located. The ball has a flow passage 4 there through and is rotatable about a vertical axis by a spindle 5 to open and close the valve. At each side of the ball, the ball engages a correspondingly shaped end face 6 of a seat engaging ring 7, which may be made from plastics material, for example Polytetrafluoroethylene, and which is located in a recess 8 formed by a counter-bore in the bore 2. It is not clear from this patent as to how the device operates or where the end of the passage is.
At best this patent describes a passage through the ball of a control valve which can be found in any hardware store. However, there is no indication of the structure of the current invention for receiving fluids into a container from other containers and sources and then releasable sealing the intake port.

Ball and socket valve for a fluid container


A dual tarpaulin unloading system which rests in the bed of a vehicle. The second end of the first tarpaulin is attached to the bed of the vehicle by a single mechanical arrangement which allows the unloading system to detach after the unloading cycle is complete. The payload to be transported and unloaded rests on the upper surface of the second tarpaulin. At the dumping site, the vehicle door bed is opened and the first end of the first tarpaulin and the first end of the second tarpaulin are attached to a drawing strap. The opposite end of the drawing strap is attached to established anchorage. The vehicle then moves in a direction away from the established anchorage. The weight of the payload on the first and second tarpaulin coupled with the movement of the vehicle forces the payload off the vehicle bed and onto the ground.

While many inventions exist which teach devices for unloading a vehicle, most are cumbersome to use and require complicated mechanical equipment or extensive modifications to the vehicle bed. In addition to being expensive, the modifications often prevent the vehicle from readily being used for other types of hauling. The present invention solves these problems by teaching a simple, inexpensive, easy to manufacture, easy to install and operate unloading system that can be placed in the bed of virtually any type of vehicle that can carry a payload.
Other types of vehicle unloaders have been developed, but none offer the unique features of the present invention. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,876,917 to King, U.S. Pat. No. 3,443,703 to Matsumoto, U.S. Pat. No. 3,978,996 to Oltrogge, U.S. Pat. No. 4,601,631 to Van Raaij, U.S. Pat. No. 4,629,390 to Burke, all teach various methods of unloading a vehicle, but rely on complicated mechanical apparatus or major modifications to the vehicle to effectuate the unloading, which the present invention renders unnecessary.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,035,724 to Clark teaches an ejector for loader buckets, but Clark cannot be adapted for use with vehicles that are not power loaders. On the other hand, the present invention can be used on a wide variety of vehicle beds.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,870,367 to O'Brien teaches a wheelbarrow like vehicle for transporting bulky material such as leaves, trash or the like, but requires human strength to dump the load, whereas the present invention relies on mechanical power provided by a vehicle or winch to dump the load.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,034,880 to Frenette teaches an instant load release system, but differs from the present invention because Frenette operates only on a vehicle that has a tilt bed, whereas the present invention does not require a vehicle with a tilt bed to effectuate unloading.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,314,788 to Williams teaches a crop handling apparatus, but differs from the present invention because Williams relies on a spring-loaded roller to effectuate unloading, whereas the present invention relies on mechanical power provided by a vehicle or winch to dump the load.


The present disclosure generally to semiconductor devices, and more particularly to semiconductor devices having high-voltage transistors integrated on a semiconductor-on-insulator substrate and methods of forming the same. The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device including a bulk substrate, a semiconductor layer above the bulk substrate, an insulating layer between the semiconductor layer and the bulk substrate, a source region and a drain region on the bulk substrate, a gate dielectric between the source region and the drain region, the gate dielectric having a first portion on the bulk substrate and a second portion on the semiconductor layer, and a gate electrode above the gate dielectric.

Integrated circuit (IC) chip integration requires the formation of many different types of semiconductor devices on the same chip to enable various features offered by the integrated semiconductor devices. Many such IC chips employ semiconductor devices for power applications that are subjected to high voltages as well as high-performance semiconductor devices that employ typical low supply voltages. For example, a high voltage power amplifier/switch may be employed in an IC chip to provide a high voltage output. Likewise, a high voltage rectifier in an IC chip may enable a low voltage power supply network from a high voltage power supply connected to the IC chip.
Semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrates, such as fully depleted SOI (FDSOI), or partially depleted SOI (PDSOI) are used for various IC applications. SOI substrates may include a layer of semiconductor material located above a bulk substrate. The thin layer of semiconductor material may be separated from the bulk substrate by a buried oxide (BOX) layer. Typically, IC applications, such as radio frequency or power management, may include high voltage (HV) transistors. However, the layer of semiconductor material in SOI substrates is not amenable to accommodate HV transistors. This results in difficulties in integrating HV transistors on SOI substrates. For example, conventional techniques for integrated HV transistors on SOI substrates require complex processing which may incur higher cost. Furthermore, it is found that HV devices built using conventional techniques are unable to sustain high voltage operations (e.g., a higher likelihood of an eventual breakdown of the transistors).
With the industry's drive for higher density, higher performance, higher power, lower-cost devices, and the implementation of nanometer-scale process nodes, there is a need to provide semiconductor devices that can overcome, or at least ameliorate, one or more of the disadvantages as described above.

High-voltage devices integrated on semiconductor-on-insulator substrate

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A chip electronic component capable of being mounted with high density while preventing separation of bonded portions caused by solder fillets without requiring a case member having a complicated structure is provided at a low cost. The chip electronic component includes an electronic component element board including a circuit that defines an electronic component therein and having a pair of side surfaces and a lower surface, and a plurality of external electrodes extending over at least one of the side surface and the lower surface of the electronic component element and being electrically connected to the circuit provided therein. The electrode portion provided on the lower surface of the monolithic body as an electronic component element of each external electrode is provided with narrow portions and wide portions provided thereon, and the narrow portion continues to the external electrode portion provided on the side surface thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a chip electronic component and a mounting structure therefor, for use with a piezoelectric resonator or a piezoelectric filter and, more particularly, the present invention relates to a chip electronic component and a mounting structure therefor with improved external electrodes provided on the outer surface of an electronic component element.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, various chip electronic components are used to achieve high-density mounting.
An example of the related art is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 3-258107, which discloses a chip electronic component having a pair of external electrodes provided on both ends of a rectangular electronic component element. In this chip electronic component, the external electrodes located at both ends are arranged to be wound on the upper surface, a pair of side surfaces, and the lower surface on the respective ends of the electronic component element, and also to cover both end surfaces thereof. In the same publication, another electronic component is described as including external electrodes that are arranged such that they do not extend to the end surfaces.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 6-224681 discloses a chip piezoelectric resonant having three external electrodes on the outer surface of a piezoelectric resonant having a rectangular board shape. This chip piezoelectric resonator has a pair of external electrodes provided on both ends of the resonator so as to cover the upper surface, a pair of side surfaces, the lower surface and the end surfaces thereof, and the third external electrode is wound between the pair of external electrodes located on both ends so as to cover the upper surface, a pair of side surfaces and the lower surface thereof. In case where the lower surface is a surface on which the electronic component is mounted, the third external electrode is provided on the upper surface with a recessed portion and a projected portion, each having a width different from that of the remaining portion. The third electrode is arranged to take a capacitance out and so that a desired capacitance may be obtained by adjusting the size of a recessed portion and a projecting portion provided on the upper surface thereof.
When the capacitance is increased, the width of the recessed portion and the projecting portion are increased as well, whereby it is situated closer to the external electrode on the other end. However, the width of the third external electrode on the lower surface (mounting surface) is reduced to prevent short-circuiting.
In addition, disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 5-83074 is a chip electronic component including a piezoelectric element mounted on a case substrate, and a metallic cap bonded on the case substrate such that it surrounds the piezoelectric element. In the chip electronic component of this type, the case substrate is provided with a through hole electrode, one end of which is electrically connected to the piezoelectric element and the other end of which extends to the lower surface of the case substrate. By arranging the portion of the through hole electrode to extend to the lower surface of the case substrate, the chip electronic component can be mounted on the surface of the printed circuit board. Therefore, it is bonded to the printed circuit board by soldering between the lower surface of the case substrate and the printed circuit board.
When the chip electronic component described in the related art section of Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication NO. 3-258107 is mounted on the printed circuit board, the presence of the external electrodes on the side surfaces and the end surfaces of the electronic component element results in formation of a solder fillet thereon. In other words, a solder fillet is formed along the side surfaces and end surfaces of the electronic component element extending in a direction that is perpendicular to the printed circuit board. Therefore, the distances between adjacent chip electronic components cannot be reduced, and thus, high-density mounting is prevented.
Due to formation of the solder fillet, when warpage occurs on the printed circuit board, the chip electronic components are susceptible to a stress caused by the solder fillet. As a result, the bonded portions between the solder fillet and the chip electronic components are susceptible to separation. In addition, the costs of the external electrodes are increased because the external electrodes are arranged to cover the end surfaces in addition to the upper surface, the pair of side surfaces, and the lower surface.
On the other hand, in the chip electronic component disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 3-258107, the external electrodes do not cover the end surfaces. Therefore, the cost of the external electrodes is reduced in comparison with the chip electronic component disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 3-258107. However, because the three external electrodes are wound on the upper surface, the pair of side surfaces, and the lower surface of the electronic components, when component is mounted on the printed circuit board, solder tends to deposit along the portion of the external electrode located on the side surface of the electronic component elements and thereby forming solder fillets. Therefore, when warpage of the printed circuit board occurs in the direction of the width of the electronic component element, the chip electronic component is susceptible to an external stress caused by the solder fillets, thereby being susceptible to separation of the bonded portion between solder and the chip electronic components.
High density mounting is possible in the longitudinal direction because solder fillets are not formed on the end surfaces on both longitudinal ends of the electronic component element. However, in the direction of width, formation of solder fillets prevents high-density mounting.
In the chip electronic component disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 5-83074, the circuit provided in the electronic components is led to the bottom surface of the case substrate via a through hole electrode. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide the external electrode on the side surfaces and the end surfaces of the case. As a result, the mounting density in the direction of both length and width of the electronic component is increased. In addition, since no external electrode exists on the side surfaces and the end surfaces of the case substrate, solder fillets are not formed. Thus, stress caused by warpage of the printed circuit board is reduced in the chip electronic component, thereby increasing stability of the bonded portion.
However, in this type of the chip electronic component, through hole electrodes must be formed on the case substrate, which increases the complexity of the manufacturing process of the case substrate. Further, the mechanical strength of the case substrate decreases due to formation of through hole electrodes.
To overcome the above-described problems, preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a chip electronic component and a mounting structure for the same that is not susceptible to stress caused by warpage of the substrate on which it is mounted, thereby ensuring a reliable electrical connection and a strong mechanical bond, and, further, simplifying the manufacture of the chip electronic component and mounting structure thereof, without requiring complicated manufacturing processes.
A chip electronic component according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a circuit provided in the electronic component, an electronic component element having a lower surface and a pair of side surfaces, and a plurality of external electrodes arranged to extend over the lower surface and to at least one of the side surfaces of the electronic component element and electrically connected to the circuit therein, wherein each external electrode portion provided on the lower surface of the electric component element is provided with a narrow portion and a wide portion.
In a specific aspect of the chip electronic component according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, the relation L1 less than L2 less than L3 is preferably satisfied, where L1 is the width of the external electrode portion located on the side surface of the electric component element, L2 is the width of the narrow portion, and L3 is the width of the wide portion.
The chip electronic component according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention preferably includes a circuit provided in the electronic component, an electronic component element having a lower surface and a pair of side surfaces, and a plurality of external electrodes arranged to extend over the lower surface and at least one of the side surfaces of the electronic component element and electrically connected to the circuit therein, wherein each external electrode portion on the lower surface of the electronic component element is arranged to have a substantially uniform width from one longitudinal end to the other longitudinal end, and satisfies the relation L1 less than L3, where L3 is the width of the external electrode portion on the lower surface of the electronic component element, and L1 is the width of the external electrode portion provided on the side surface of the electronic component element.
In the first and second preferred embodiments of the present invention, electronic components having various functions can be used, however, in one specific preferred embodiment of the present invention, a piezoelectric resonant component is preferably constructed.
Although the piezoelectric resonant component described above may have various configurations, the component preferably includes a piezoelectric resonant element and a first case substrate provided on at least one surface of the piezoelectric resonant element bonded so as not to interfere with the vibration of the piezoelectric resonant element of the first and second preferred embodiments of the present invention.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the second case substrate is laminated on the upper surface of the piezoelectric resonant element so as not to interfere with the vibration of the piezoelectric resonant element.
According to another preferred of the present invention, the chip electronic component is provided with a cap member mounted on the upper surface of the first case substrate such that it surrounds the piezoelectric resonant element.
The mounting structure of the chip electronic component according to preferred embodiments of the present invention includes a printed circuit board, and a chip electronic component according to preferred embodiments of the present invention mounted on the printed circuit board via a conductive bond, wherein the bonded portion provided by the conductive bond is located inside of the outer periphery of the chip electronic component as seen from the top of the chip electronic component.

Chip electronic components and mounting structure for the same


The invention includes a nucleic acid encoding a nuclear localization protein which binds to, stabilizes and translocates to the nucleus a protein involved in circadian rhythms. Also included are the protein encoded by the nucleic acid, antibodies to the protein, and compositions and kits for the diagnosis and treatment of disorders related to the sleep-wake cycle.

Circadian rhythms, found in most eukaryotes and some prokaryotes (Kay et al, Cell, 83:361 (1995)), are .about.24 hour rhythms governed by an internal clock that functions autonomously, but can be entrained by environmental cycles of light or temperature. Circadian rhythms produced in constant darkness can also be reset by pulses of light. Such light pulses will shift the phase of the clock in different directions (advance or delay) and to varying degrees in a fashion that depends on the time of light exposure (Pittendrigh, in Handbook of Behavioral Neurobiology, 4, J. Aschoff, Ed., New York: Plenum, 1981, pp. 95-124).
Fruit flies show circadian regulation of several behaviors (Pittendrigh in The Neurosciences Third Study Program, F. O. Schmitt and F. G. Worden, Eds. (MIT Press, Cambridge Mass., 1974, Chap. 38; Jackson, in Molecular Genetics of Biological Rhythms, M. W. Young, Ed. (Dekker, New York, 1993), pp. 91-121). When populations of Drosophila are entrained to 12 hours of light followed by 12 hours of darkness (LD 12:12), adults emerge from pupae (enclose) rhythmically, with peak eclosion recurring every morning. The eclosion rhythm persists when the entraining cues are removed and behavior is monitored in constant darkness, thus indicting the existence of an endogenous clock. Adult locomotor activity is also controlled by an endogenous clock and recurs rhythmically with a 24-hour period.
Mutations in the Drosophila period (per) gene disrupt circadian rhythms of pupal eclosion and adult locomotor behavior (Konopka and Benzer Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 68:2112 (1971)). Although per has been cloned and sequenced and its pattern of expression has been analyzed (Baylies et al in Molecular Genetics of Biological Rhythms, M. W. Young, Ed. (Dekker, New York, 1993), pp. 123-153; Rosbash and Hall Neuron 3:387 (1989)), the biochemical function of the PER protein is unknown. PER shares some homology with a family of transcription factors (Crews et al Cell 52:143 (1988); Nambu et al Cell 67:1157 (1991); Reisz-Porszasz et al Science 256:1193 (1992); Hoffman et al Cell 252:954 (1991); Burbach et al Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 89:8185 (1992)) that possess a common sequence motif called the PAS domain. The PAS domain consists of two repeats of approximately 50 amino acids within a homology region of 258 to 308 amino acids. Sequence similarity between PER and protein regulating aspects of Drosophila development, SIM (encoded by the gene single-minded), was first recognized by Crews et al (Jackson et al J. Neurogenet 1:3 (1983); Dushay et al J. Biol. Rhythms 4:1 (1989); Dushay et al Genetics 125:557 (1990); Konopka et al J. Neurogenet 7:103 (1991)). Subsequent studies have shown that this homology region is also found in ARNT (arylhydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator), a component of the multisubunit mammalian dioxin receptor (Reyes et al Science 256:1193 (1992); Hoffman et al Neuron 252:954 (1991)), and in AHR, the ligand-binding subunit of the dioxin receptor (Burbach et al Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A 89:8185 (1992)). The region of homology is now referred to as the PAS domain, after the first three proteins in which it was identified: PER, ARNT, and SIM (Huang et al Nature 364:259 (1993)).
Immunocytochemical experiments demonstrated that PER is a nuclear protein in a variety of Drosophila tissues (Konopka and Benzer (1971); Baylies et al (1993)). In cells of the adult fly visual and nervous systems, the amount of PER protein fluctuates with a circadian rhythm (Edery et al Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A 91:2260 (1994)), the protein is phosphorylated with a circadian rhythm (Edery et al (1994)), and PER is observed in nuclei at night but not late in the day (Siwicki et al Neuron 1:141 (1988); Saez and Young Mol. Cell. Biol. 8:5378 (1988); Zerr et al J. Neurosci 10:2749 (1990)). The expression of per RNA is also cyclic. However, peak mRNA amounts are present late in the day, and the smallest amounts are present late at night (Konopka and Benzer (1971)). Three mutant alleles--per.sup.O, per.sup.S, and per.sup.L,--cause arrhythmic behavior or shorten or lengthen periods, respectively (Konopka and Benzer (1971)). These mutations also produce corresponding changes in the rhythms of per RNA and protein amounts (Edery et al (1994); Hardin et al Nature 343:536 (1990); Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 89:11711 (1992); Sehgal et al Science 263:1603 (1994)) and PER immunoreactivity in nuclei (Sewicki et al Neuron 1:141 (1988); Saez and Young Mol. Cell. Biol. 8:5378 (1988); Zerr et al J. Neurosci. 10:2749 (1990)). This suggests a possible role for molecular oscillations of per in the establishment of behavioral rhythms (Hardin et al (1992)). Several mutations that affect eclosion and locomotor activity have been isolated in behavioral screens (Jackson (1993); Konopka and Benzer (1971); Rosbash and Hall (1989); Baylies et al (1993) Jackson (1983); Dushay et al (1989); Dushay et al (1990); Konopka et al (1991)). The best characterized, and those with the strongest phenotypes, are mutations at the X chromosome-linked period (per) locus (Konopka and Benzer (1971); Rosbash and Hall (1989); Baylies et al (1993) Jackson (1983); Dushay et al (1989); Dushay et al (1990)). Missense mutations at per can lengthen or shorten the period of circadian rhythms, whereas null mutations abolish circadian rhythms altogether. The per gene is expressed in many cell types at various stages of development. In most cell types, the period protein (PER) is found in nuclei (James et al EMBO J. 5:2313 (1986); Liu et al Genes Dev. 2:228 (1988); Saez and Young Mol. Cell. Biol. 8, 5378 (1988); Liu et al J. Neurosci. 12:2735 (1992) Siwicki et al Neuron 1:141 (1988); Zerr et al J. Neurosci. 10:2749 (1990); Edery et al Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 91:2260 (1994)). A domain within PER is also found in the Drosophila single-minded protein (SIM) and in subunits of the mammalian aryl hydrocarbon receptor (Crews et al Cell 52:143 (1988); Hoffman et al Science 252:954 (1991); Burbach et al Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 89:8185 (1992); Reyes et al Science 256:1193 (1992)), and this domain (PAS, for PER, ARNT, and SIM) mediates dimerization of PER (Huang et al Nature 364:259 (1993)). The amounts of both PER protein and RNA oscillate with a circadian period, which is affected by the per mutations in the same manner as behavioral rhythms are affected (Siwicki et al (1988); Zerr et al (1990); Edery et al (1994); Hardin et al Nature 343:536 (1990); Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 89:11711 (1992)). Given the homologies to sim and the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (which are thought to regulate transcription), the effects of per on behavioral rhythms have been postulated to depend on circadian regulation of gene expression, including that of per itself (Hardin et al Nature 343:536 (1990); Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 89:11711 (1992)). However, neither direct proof of this postulate nor elucidation of per's actual biochemical function has been forthcoming.

Nuclear localization factor associated with circadian rhythms

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