A process for hydrodehalogenating halogenated aromatics present in a contaminated aqueous environmental source in which the halogenated aromatics are reacted with hydrogen gas or a source of hydrogen gas in the presence of a basic proton acceptor and a catalyst of palladium on carbon.

The removal of halogenated organic compounds from aqueous environmental sources including halogenated aromatic compounds such as chlorophenols and chlorobenzenes has posed serious problems. Typically, the halogenated compounds have been disposed of by separating, such as by steam stripping, using a microporous hollow-fiber membrane, or carbon adsorption, the contaminants from their aqueous environment and then subjecting the resulting concentrated levels of contaminants to incineration. However, the combustion of halogenated aromatics may result in the production of highly toxic by-products such as dioxins. Thus, incineration can itself become an environmentally unsafe practice and its use for the disposal of halogenated phenols is problematical.
Industry has therefore looked to alternative techniques for the destruction of halogenated aromatics found in the environment. Among the techniques which have been studied are biological treatment and chemical dehalogenation.
Chemical dehalogenation methods have been developed as an alternative to incineration and land disposal because they convert the halogenated organic compounds to less toxic non-halogenated compounds, in the case of halogenated phenols to phenol itself. One such process employs a sodium naphthalene reagent to form sodium chloride and an inert sludge. While the sludge can be safely incinerated, the process is complicated by requiring an air-free reaction vessel which limits its application for on-site treatment of contaminated environmental sources. In another approach, a dechlorination reagent is formed by reacting an alkali metal with polyethylene glycol in the presence of heat and oxygen.
The above-mentioned processes, which involve the oxidative dechlorination of halogenated organic compounds, are generally highly sensitive to water. Such processes require a separation step to remove the halogenated compounds from the aqueous environment before they can be treated. In addition, elevated temperatures are often required to carry out the reaction [See S. Tabaei et al., "Dehalogenation of Organic Compounds" Tetra. Let. 32(24) pp. 2727-30 (September 1991); M. Uhlir et al., "Recovery of Biphenyl by Catalytic Hydrogenolysis of Chlorinated Biphenyl" Chem. Abstr. 114 (23): 228496Z; and processes referred to in N. Surprenant et al., "Halogenated Organic Containing Wastes" pp. 224-231 Noyes Data Corp. (1988)]. Accordingly, these processes have not been widely accepted for the decontamination of environmental sites.
There has been developed a reductive process for the dehalogenation of halogenated organic compounds. J. F. A. Kitchen, U.S. Pat. No. 4,144,152 discloses a process for the treatment of halogenated organic compounds with UV radiation and hydrogen in the absence of an oxidizing agent. While this process may be conducted in an aqueous environment, the requirement of a UV radiation reactor has made light activated reduction of chemicals (LARC) processes of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,144,152 of limited commercial value. Although numerous references to hydrodechlorination using a palladium on carbon catalyst have been reported in the technical literature [Rylander, P. N. "Catalytic Hydrogenation over Platinum Metals," Academic Press, New York, 1967, pp. 405-431] no comprehensive study on the complete dechlorination of chlorophenols or chlorobenzenes has been reported.
There is therefore a need for processes in which halogenated organic compounds can be removed directly from aqueous contaminated environmental sources in a safe and cost effective manner. Such processes should be able to be conducted under mild reaction conditions and be effective in treating contaminated sources having both very low and very high concentrations of contaminants as is likely to be found in a variety of waste streams.

Hydrodehalogenation of aromatic compounds


A portable goal assembly that folds in two dimensions is disclosed. The goal assembly includes tubular members, most of which are connected by hinges to facilitate movement between expanded and collapsed configurations. The hinges may be lockable to provide bracing when the goal assembly is in its expanded configuration. The goal assembly includes a pair of U-shaped, open-ended frames pivoted together by hinges at their open ends and also connected by two diagonal braces mounted to the frame by rotating tee fittings. The diagonal braces fold on hinges when the frames are pivoted substantially parallel to each other to make the goal assembly nearly flat. The center members of each frame also fold on hinges to reduce the size of the goal still further. Once folded for transport or storage, the goal assembly may be carried by a shoulder strap.

A. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to portable, folding, collapsible goal assemblies, and, more particularly, to a portable, foldable goal assembly of tubular construction that presents an upright and inverted U-shaped opening to serve as the goal mouth.
B. Description of the Related Art
The growing popularity of the sport of soccer, as well as other team sports, such as roller hockey and lacrosse, has spurred considerable interest in creating goals that improve upon the traditional version. In the United States, for instance, such games are considered among the fastest growing sports, particularly in regard to youth participation.
However, the practice environment for such sports is not ideal. This is especially the case in the informal practice environment, outside the realm of organized league sports. Consider that basketball hoops are common in many driveways and recreational parks, allowing for impromptu competition, short-sided games (i.e., fewer players than the standard game calls for), or even solitary practice. That situation stands in sharp contrast to the facilities available to soccer players. While many recreational facilities have soccer goals, the nets are usually only attached when official league games are being played, a measure designed to guard against theft and wear and tear of the large nets. In addition, standard, non-portable soccer goals are designed for full-sided games featuring twenty-two players, which is usually too many to assemble for what are known as "pick-up games." The situation is no better for roller hockey players or participants in other sports that use smaller goals. Few facilities have invested in built-in goals for such sports, as they have for basketball hoops or tennis nets.
Even in formal practice environments, the need for smaller soccer goals is great. One reason for this is limited field space. By using a shortened field and a smaller goal without a goalkeeper, coaches can have many practice games going on at once. Such games have become a staple in soccer training, not only because of their convenience, but because such games allow players to receive the ball more often, and place a greater emphasis on speed, ball control, teamwork and decision-making. Also, these games, known as "small-sided games," can be conducted indoors during the winter.
In view of the above, there is a growing need for portable goals that can be used by both children and adults. Ideally, such goals can be transported by car or by foot, set up quickly, and then removed when play is concluded. The related art features a variety of goals that attempt to meet some or all of these demands. Among these goals are those shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,830,089; 5,533,733; 5,431,411; 5,308,083; 5,273,292; 5,244,213; 5,186,469; 5,080,375; and 4,407,507. While all of these goals have certain strong points, each has its own shortcomings. Some, for instance, may be reduced in size such that they fit into a car. However, such goals must be disassembled, which poses the possibility of lost pieces, as well as time-consuming and cumbersome assembly and disassembly, in some cases, that is too difficult for children. Other goals, such as the one disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,244,213, are lightweight and collapsible, yet have a pup-tent-like form and must be staked into the ground to remain sufficiently stationary when hit by a ball. Unfortunately, such goals are unsuitable for indoor use, play during summer when the ground may be hard, or for games in which a simulacrum traditional goal is desired (i.e., balls caroming off goal posts, etc.).
Other goals in the related art, such as the goal shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,431,411, present drawbacks such as fragility at the side post joints due to lack of support from braces that would give the structure a stable triangular profile. Other goals, such as the goals of U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,539,957 and 5,533,733, have only one central brace supporting the crossbar, allowing the crossbar to twist on impact and increasing the possibility of breakage. Such goals may work well for sports such as roller hockey, in which a relatively lightweight plastic puck is used, but present significant drawbacks for soccer, especially adult soccer in which goals continually receive impacts from larger, heavier balls moving at high speeds.
Some goals in the related art are too bulky to carry easily, while others include a multitude of complex, costly-to-produce components, or potentially dangerous metal parts, such as wing nuts and bolts and detent-and-notch formations, features that are not easily manipulated by small children.
Finally, to be truly portable a relatively large goal must be collapsible in a multi-dimensional fashion. That is, it must be narrow and flat so that at least two such devices can fit in the trunk of car. U.S. Pat. No. 5,830,089, for example, discloses a collapsible goal, but this device folds in only one dimension. The collapsed version of such a goal is similar to an extremely large picture frame, a shape that makes storage somewhat easier but does little to provide portability, as transport by car is extremely difficult. Thus, there is a need in the art for a portable, foldable goal assembly that overcomes the deficiencies of the related art.


A linear sheath valve having a valve platform and a conforming cover. The valve platform can have inlet and outlet channels to carry liquid into and out of the valve. An elastomeric membrane is held under tension between the cover and the valve platform so as to control the flow of liquid between channels. The cover includes an expansion area on the cover surface adjacent to the membrane and between the inlet and outlet. Liquid can flow through the valve only when it is under sufficient pressure to press the membrane into the expansion area, creating a flow path from the inlet between the membrane and the valve platform and to the outlet. Discontinuance of the pressure on the liquid allows the membrane to seal the inlet and outlet, thus preventing any flow between them.

A sheath valve is a type of "one-way" valve which permits a liquid, gas, or other flowable material to be dispensed preferentially in one direction, but does not permit backflow through the valve during or upon cessation of dispensing, and so prevents possible contamination to the contents remaining in the dispensing container.
One form of one-way valve is a cylindrical core encompassed by an elastic cylindrical sheath, with the core having an entrance tube therein leading to a portion of the sheath, and an exit tube leading from the sheath. The two tubes are closed by the sheath and do not interconnect; but pressure applied to the liquid being dispensed serves to expand the sheath so that the liquid can pass from the entrance tube to the exit tube. Upon release of the pressure, the sheath contracts, sealing the valve against any possible reverse contamination.
Various patents have issued directed to this cylindrical valve. Examples of these include Gerber U.S. Pat. No. 4,846,810; Debush Pat. Nos. 5,279,330; 5,305,783; and 5,305,786; and Pardes U.S. Pat. No. 5,092,855. Each of these uses a cylindrical sheath surrounding a cylindrical valve core. This cylindrical structure is not only difficult and costly to manufacture, but also difficult and costly to assemble. A problem with a cylindrical sheath valve is that, to maintain tension, the inside diameter of the cylindrical sheath should be smaller in diameter than the outside diameter of the core, resulting in difficult assembly.
This present invention is directed to a sheath structure using a planar elastomeric membrane which is simpler and cheaper to manufacture, but provides an effective preferential flow valve that prohibits non-coerced backflow contamination.

Reseal International Limited Partnership


Surgical navigation system: 3D display system with see-through visor; a tracking system for real-time tracking of: surgeon's head, see-through visor, patient anatomy and surgical instrument to provide current position and orientation data; a source of an operative plan, a patient anatomy data and a virtual surgical instrument model; a surgical navigation image generator to generate a surgical navigation image with a three-dimensional image representing simultaneously a virtual image of the surgical instrument corresponding to the current position and orientation of the surgical instrument and a virtual image of the surgical instrument, the see-through visor, the patient anatomy and the surgical instrument; the 3D display system configured to show the surgical navigation image at the see-through visor, such that an augmented reality image collocated with the patient anatomy in the surgical field underneath the see-through visor is visible to a viewer looking from above the see-through visor towards the surgical field.

Some of typical functions of a computer-assisted surgery (CAS) system with navigation include presurgical planning of a procedure and presenting preoperative diagnostic information and images in useful formats. The CAS system presents status information about a procedure as it takes place in real time, displaying the preoperative plan along with intraoperative data. The CAS system may be used for procedures in traditional operating rooms, interventional radiology suites, mobile operating rooms or outpatient clinics. The procedure may be any medical procedure, whether surgical or non-surgical.
Surgical navigation systems are used to display the position and orientation of surgical instruments and medical implants with respect to presurgical or intraoperative medical imagery datasets of a patient. These images include pre and intraoperative images, such as two-dimensional (2D) fluoroscopic images and three-dimensional (3D) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT).
Navigation systems locate markers attached or fixed to an object, such as surgical instruments and patient. Most commonly these tracking systems are optical and electro-magnetic. Optical tracking systems have one or more stationary cameras that observes passive reflective markers or active infrared LEDs attached to the tracked instruments or the patient. Eye-tracking solutions are specialized optical tracking systems that measure gaze and eye motion relative to a user's head. Electro-magnetic systems have a stationary field generator that emits an electromagnetic field that is sensed by coils integrated into tracked medical tools and surgical instruments.

Graphical user interface for a surgical navigation system and method for providing an augmented reality image during operation


Materials and methods are disclosed for making microwave susceptor elements. The elements of this invention employ substrates, made of solid refractory materials, which are porous and liquid absorbent. The substrates, relatively microwave transparent per se, are rendered microwave interactive by a surface deposit of a finely subdivided microwave responsive substance. The substance is laid down from its dispersion in a volatile liquid medium which is later removed by evaporation. Susceptor elements thus made, be they large pieces or particulates, are uniquely suited for storing microwave generated heat up to elevated temperatures, subject only to the thermal stability of accessory materials. They also perform equally well in conventional ovens. The heat stored may be delivered to load objects during the heating step, in the oven, or afterwards, outside the oven.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to microwave technology and, more specifically, to microwave susceptors, i.e. materials capable of generating thermal energy from microwave energy. The invention focuses upon a group of refractory solid materials, porous and relatively microwave transparent per se, that become microwave responsive by a simple process which deposits finely subdivided microwave responsive substances on at least one accessible surface. These microwave susceptible elements are uniquely suited for the storage of microwave generated heat and its delivery to load objects.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is well known among practitioners of microwave cooking that, speed of preparation notwithstanding, microwave ovens produce results which are quite different from those obtained in conventional ovens. Microwaves heat food essentially throughout by acting upon microwave susceptible components such as water, salts, sugars and the like. Food components which are less microwave interactive do not absorb microwave energy as readily, but heat up by their close proximity to and admixture with receptive components in a constant process of thermal equilibration. In contrast, conventional ovens heat foods by conduction, radiation and convection from the outside in. This method of heating produces surface effects such as browning and crisping which are often desirable but not attainable in an all-microwave oven.
A few microwave ovens now offer added radiant or convective heat in attempts to simulate conventional ovens. Manufacturers of microwave cookware are also trying to address this need by specialized cooking utensils, described as browning grills or skillet browners, which feature microwave susceptible surfaces made of ferritic materials, magnetite and the like. A few noteworthy inventions of this type, some more recent, include a cooking container described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,751,358 and two microwave heating utensils disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,800,247 and 5,057,659. Devices in this category are sturdy and reusable. They employ susceptor materials, particulates or matrices, which are permanently bound to or incorporated into thermally conductive substrates, to form integral structures.
Similar considerations have been given to the development of cook-in packaging for foods. In this case, microwave susceptors disposed on the packaging substrate provide directed heat to promote crispness. These are exemplified by a variety of cripsing boards which carry microwave susceptors based on vacuum metallized or metal-sputtered coatings on a polyester film which is laminated to the packaging material. A more recent example of this type, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,126,519, utilizes a film substrate with a melting point above 500.degree. F. Microwave interactive packaging in this category are commonly used for crisping such foods as french fries, fish sticks, pizza and the like, clearly one-use applications.
Another group of microwave susceptor packaging materials is claimed to be less expensive, yet perform as well as the metallized boards. They are based on particulate susceptor components which are fixed into position with polymeric binders and permanently bound to the packaging substrate. A few notable examples of this type are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,917,748, 4,959,516, 5,021,293 and 5,132,144. Most of them employ finely subdivided solid susceptors in liquid media and methods akin to printing for disposing the susceptors into position. That is followed by similar overcoating steps with heat curable protective substances, which make the finished structure suitable for direct contact with foods.
Presently available microwave susceptors and devices which carry them have much in common. They are designed for relatively fast and intense delivery of heat, in order to produce special effects such as browning and crisping of foods. They are intended primarily, if not exclusively, for use inside the microwave oven. They employ a variety of microwave responsive substances, ranging from metallized to particulate components, frequently more than one. Susceptor coatings employ binders to achieve integrity. They are permanently bonded to their substrates and usually covered by protective layers against abrasion and direct contact with foods. Most susceptor coatings are made by intricate multi-step methods of fabrication and complex processes. Many such coatings include extra components, for special effects, such as flame retarders, heat atenuators, masking agents or visual modifiers.
Where differences do exist, they relate to the specific types of application. Packaging-related susceptors are obviously made to be disposable. Their substrates are poor thermal conductors and rightfully so. Hence, the load object, food, is located on the susceptor side of the substrate. Most of the substrates have limited but sufficient heat stability, for their intended performance, and no heat storage capacity to speak of. By comparison, cooking devices augmented with susceptors are, obviously, permanent and reusable. Their substrates, be they metals or ceramics are good thermal conductors. Hence, their susceptor may be located on sides opposite to and away from the load object. They may also be imbedded in vitreous ceramic structures. Cooking devices employ substrates which, by necessity, must be temperature stable. However, they are neither intended or able to store substantial amounts of heat, given the weight and specific heat of the materials used. Even when they reach extremely high temperatures, they tend to give up their heat quickly by virture of their heat thermal conductivity.
It is clear from the foregoing discussion that microwave susceptors and devices of the prior art which carry them lack certain attributes, among them:
1. Ability to store heat which can extend beyond microwaving. PA0 2. Ability to deliver moderate heat over extended periods. PA0 3. Simple and inexpensive susceptor components and substrates. PA0 4. Simple methods of fabrication. PA0 5. Susceptor components which are safely away from abrasion or contact with load objects, without binders, overcoats and the like. PA0 6. Variety in size, shape and functionality. PA0 1. Unrestricted temperature stability. PA0 2. Ability to store heat. PA0 3. Ability to deliver moderate heat for extended periods. PA0 4. Simple and inexpensive susceptor components and substrates. PA0 5. Simple methods of fabrication. PA0 6. Loosely but practicably surface-bound susceptor components. PA0 7. Safe usage without danger of susceptor component abrasion. PA0 8. No direct contact by susceptor components with heating load objects. PA0 9. Versatile functionality. PA0 10. Dual ovenability.
Moving in the direction of stored heat and prolonged delivery of such heat, it is noteworthy that many solid materials are naturally microwave responsive. Certain items of pottery and ceramics, all of mineral origin, are known to be microwave interactive by virtue of their chemical and ionic structure. Examples of such materials are Corning's Visions glass, presently in commercial use, and a glass-ceramic containing nepheline which is no longer in use. The latter was actually considered microwave unsafe. Plates made of that material, known as Pyroceram, reached extremely high temperatures in the microwave. Many shattered in explosive force, and their production was discontinued. The use of all-susceptor solids for storage of heat and its sustained delivery is clearly negated by their properties of low specific heat and relatively good thermal conductivity. The first necessitates the use of substantial mass for sufficient heat storage capacity. The second makes high temperature extremes, at outer surfaces, virtually inevitable.
One way the buildup and delivery of heat may be moderated is by making the solid susceptors porous. As the density of the material decreases, it tends to give up stored heat more slowly, by virtue of diminishing thermal conductivity. As the volume of the expanding mass increases, it also presents a larger target for the microwave energy. That may limit the penetration of microwaves into the solid. The solid would thus tend to heat up unevenly, more likely from the outside in. Moreover, its thermal storage capacity would not be fully utilized, even when its surface temperature becomes extremely high. It would clearly be advantageous, therefore, to have the microwave susceptor disposed on the surface of the solid in the first place, rather than throughout the solid. That would greatly diminish the cost of materials and fabrication. It would also make it possible to use, as substrate, any number of pre-existing solid objects which are made to be porous anyway. Such solids, inexpensive and readily available, could in fact be relatively microwave transparent per se.
Accordingly, the objects of this invention are to propose materials and methods for making solid susceptor elements with performance characteristics which include:
The feature of dual ovenability is of particular importance in a changing marketplace. Since many all-microwave devices have fallen short of expectations, manufacturers are now inclined to offer dual ovenability to consumers who are not ready to give up their conventional ovens.

Microwave susceptor elements and materials


A pump for pumping shear sensitive material comprising a housing having an internal displacement chamber and a displacement rod. The displacement rod is reciprocable within the displacement chamber and the displacement chamber having an aperture through which the displacement rod is reciprocated. The aperture being sealed with respect no the displacement chamber by the displacement rod and an annular seal surrounding the displacement rod. The displacement chamber having an inlet opposite the aperture and an outlet radially disposed to the longitudinal axis of the displacement rod and in close proximity to the annular seal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to pumps for pumping shear sensitive material, and in particular, but not exclusively, to pumps for pumping viscous fluids which are prone to set if subjected to high frictional forces.
One such viscous fluid is UV ink, which is an ink of a high viscosity which cures when subjected to ultra violet radiation. The properties of the UV ink which enable it to set when it is irradiated unfortunately render it very sensitive to friction. Viscous fluids require the build up of a high pressure in order that they can be pumped.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A pump is known which provides very little frictional force on the material being pumped and that is a double diaphragm pump; such pumps do not have sliding surface between which the material to be pumped travels and therefore there is little chance of a high frictional force being generated which will cure the material. However, due to the inherent limitation of the flexible diaphragm material employed, such pumps are restricted to low pressure applications, that is up to about 13.6 atmospheres (200 psi) Therefore, such pumps are unsuitable for pumping material of a high viscosity.
Single and double acting pumps can each provide the required pressure to pump viscous fluids.
Both double acting pumps and some single acting pumps have a piston which is reciprocated between an inlet and an outlet such that fluid is forced from below the piston to above the piston during a pumping cycle.
In a double acting pump fluid is forced between two separate chambers in the pump, the piston doubles as a valve between the chambers and the fluid is Forced through small apertures which open between the two chambers during displacement of the piston. In some types of single acting pump the piston has several small apertures through which the fluid is forced, during the reciprocating movement of the piston,in order to move fluid from the inlet to the outlet. Each of the above pumps therefore have the drawback that the small clearances and the meshing of several opposing surfaces, can produce a high frictional force on the fluid being pumped which enable shear sensitive materials such as UV ink to cure within the pump and consequently block the pump and prevent it operating.
In a further known type of single acting pump, used for pumping light viscosity fluids, such as hydraulic oil, a displacement rod is reciprocated within a displacement chamber, by which means fluid is drawn in through the inlet into the displacement chamber on one cycle of the rod and from the displacement chamber out through the outlet on the other cycle of the displacement rod. However, if such pumps are used to pump highly viscous fluids, voids form in the displacement chamber, thereby making them unsuitable for pumping such fluids.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a pump which overcomes, or alleviates, the aforementioned problems.

Reciprocating rod type pump for shear sensitive material


DNA encoding a tobacco quinolate phosphoribosyl transferase (QPRTase) enzyme, and constructs comprising such DNA are provided. Methods of altering quinolate phosphoribosyl transferase expression are provided.

This invention relates to plant quinolate phosphoribosyl transferase (QPRTase) and to DNA encoding this enzyme. In particular, this invention relates to the use of DNA encoding quinolate phosphoribosyl transferase to produce transgenic plants having genetically altered nicotine levels, and the plants so produced.
The production of tobacco with decreased levels of nicotine is of interest, given concerns regarding the addictive nature of nicotine. Additionally, tobacco plants with extremely low levels of nicotine production, or no nicotine production, are attractive as recipients for transgenes expressing commercially valuable products such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetic components, or food additives. Various processes have been designed for the removal of nicotine from tobacco. However, most of these processes remove other ingredients from tobacco in addition to nicotine, thereby adversely affecting the tobacco. Classical crop breeding techniques have produced tobacco plants with lower levels of nicotine (approximately 8%) than that found in wild-type tobacco plants. Tobacco plants and tobacco having even further reductions in nicotine content are desirable.
One approach for reducing the level of a biological product is to reduce the amount of a required enzyme in the biosynthetic pathway leading to that product. Where the affected enzyme naturally occurs in a rate-limiting amount (relative to the other enzymes required in the pathway), any reduction in that enzyme""s abundance will decrease the production of the end product. If the amount of the enzyme is not normally rate limiting, its presence in a cell must be reduced to rate-limiting levels in order to diminish the pathway""s output. Conversely, if the naturally-occurring amount of enzyme is rate limiting, then any increase in the enzyme""s activity will result in an increase in the biosynthetic pathway""s end product.
Nicotine is formed primarily in the roots of the tobacco plant and is subsequently transported to the leaves, where it is stored (Tso, Physiology and Biochemistry of Tobacco Plants, pp. 233-34, Dowden, Hutchinson and Ross, Stroudsburg, Pa. (1972)). An obligatory step in nicotine biosynthesis is the formation of nicotinic acid from quinolinic acid, which step is catalyzed by the enzyme quinoline phosphoribosyl transferase (xe2x80x9cQPRTasexe2x80x9d). QPRTase appears to be a rate-limiting enzyme in the pathway supplying nicotinic acid for nicotine synthesis in tobacco. See, e.g., Feth et al., xe2x80x9cRegulation in Tobacco Callus of Enzyme Activities of the Nicotine Pathwayxe2x80x9d, Planta, 168, pp. 402-07 (1986); Wagner et al., xe2x80x9cThe Regulation of Enzyme Activities of the Nicotine Pathway in Tobaccoxe2x80x9d, Physiol. Plant., 68, pp. 667-72 (1986). The modification of nicotine levels in tobacco plants by antisense regulation of putrescence methyl transferase (PMTase) expression is proposed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,369,023 and 5,260,205 to Nakatani and Malik. PCT application WO 94/28142 to Wahad and Malik 30 describes DNA encoding PMT and the use of sense and antisense PMT constructs.
A first aspect of the present invention is an isolated DNA molecule comprising SEQ ID NO:1; DNA sequences which encode an enzyme having SEQ ID NO:2; DNA sequences which hybridize to such DNA and which encode a quinolate phosphoribosyl transferase enzyme; and DNA sequences which differ from the above DNA due to the degeneracy of the genetic code. A peptide encoded by such DNA is a further aspect of the invention.
A further aspect of the present invention is a DNA construct comprising a promoter operable in a plant cell and a DNA segment encoding a quinolate phosphoribosyl transferase enzyme positioned downstream from the promoter and operatively associated therewith. The DNA encoding the enzyme may be in the antisense or sense direction.
A further aspect of the present invention is a method of making transgenic plant cell having reduced quinolate phosphoribosyl transferase (QPRTase) expression, by providing a plant cell of a type known to express quinolate phosphoribosyl transferase; transforming the plant cell with an exogenous DNA construct comprising a promoter and DNA comprising a portion of a sequence encoding quinolate phosphoribosyl transferase mRNA.
A further aspect of the present invention is a transgenic plant of the species Nicotiana having reduced quinolate phosphoribosyl transferase (QPRTase) expression relative to a non-transformed control plant. The cells of such plants comprise a DNA construct which includes a segment of a DNA sequence that encodes a plant quinolate phosphoribosyl transferase mRNA.
A further aspect of the present invention is a method for reducing expression of a quinolate phosphoribosyl transferase gene in a plant cell by growing a plant cell transformed to contain exogenous DNA, where a transcribed strand of the exogenous DNA is complementary to quinolate phosphoribosyl transferase mRNA endogenous to the cell. Transcription of the complementary strand reduces expression of the endogenous quinolate phosphoribosyl gene.
A further aspect of the present invention is a method of producing a tobacco plant having decreased levels of nicotine in leaves of the tobacco plant by growing a tobacco plant with cells that comprise an exogenous DNA sequence, where a transcribed strand of the exogenous DNA sequence is complementary to endogenous quinolate phosphoribosyl transferase messenger RNA in the cells.
A further aspect of the present invention is a method of making a transgenic plant cell having increased quinolate phosphoribosyl transferase (QPRTase) expression, by transforming a plant cell known to express quinolate phosphoribosyl transferase with an exogenous DNA construct which comprises a DNA sequence encoding quinolate phosphoribosyl transferase.
A further aspect of the present invention is a transgenic Nicotiana plant having increased quinolate phosphoribosyl transferase (QPRTase) expression, where cells of the transgenic plant comprise an exogenous DNA sequence encoding a plant quinolate phosphoribosyl transferase.
A further aspect of the present invention is a method for increasing expression of a quinolate phosphoribosyl transferase gene in a plant cell, by growing a plant cell transformed to contain exogenous DNA encoding quinolate phosphoribosyl transferase.
A further aspect of the present invention is a method of producing a tobacco plant having increased levels of nicotine in the leaves, by growing a tobacco plant having cells that contain an exogenous DNA sequence that encodes quinolate phosphoribosyl transferase functional in the cells.

Regulation of quinolate phosphoribosyl transferase expression by transformation with a tobacco quinolate phosphoribosyl transferase nucleic acid


A fluidic oscillator includes a structure having an input port and an output port. A chamber within the structure is configured to channel a fluid from the input port to the output port. A volume of the chamber is configured to change so as to change to change a frequency at which the fluid flows out of the output port.

Flow control actuators may be used in a fluid flow control system to maintain a desired flow of a fluid such as air. These flow control actuators may be used to maintain a desired flow of fluid in an aircraft for many different purposes. For example, flow control actuators may be used in jet inlet and exhaust systems, environmental systems, control surface systems, and other systems in an aircraft. Flow control actuators may be used to maintain desired boundary layers on control surfaces, to reduce noise, or to control fluid flow for other suitable purposes within the aircraft.
A fluidic oscillator can produce a flow of fluid moving in a sweeping manner from side to side at an output port. These oscillations of fluid flow occur at a particular frequency. The fluid flow output by a fluidic oscillator that moves in a sweeping manner may be referred to as a sweeping jet.
Changing the frequency of the flow of fluids sweeping from side to side to control fluid flow in a particular system may be desirable in some cases. This frequency may be changed to provide a desired fluid flow by changing the flow rate of fluid into the fluidic oscillators. The frequency of the flow of fluid out of a fluidic oscillator may be changed by replacing the fluidic oscillator with another fluidic oscillator. Replacement may be undesirable when dynamic control of fluid flow by the fluid flow system is desired.
Further, the frequency of oscillations in fluidic oscillators may be changed during operation of the fluidic oscillator by altering the supply pressure of the fluid to the fluid oscillator. However, in some cases, changing the fluid flow through the fluidic oscillator may not be desirable. For example, changing the fluid flow may use more energy than desired in the source of the fluid flow for the fluidic oscillator. In other cases, increased maintenance may be needed for the fluid source supplying fluid to the fluidic oscillator.

Flow control actuator with an adjustable frequency


A control device for a actuator applied in a transmission includes a maximum electric current value detecting device that detects a maximum electric current value supplied to the actuator. The maximum electric current value detecting device includes a determining unit, an electric current supplying unit, a detecting unit, and a setting unit. The determining unit determines a target electric current value supplied to the actuator, the electric current supplying unit supplies electric current to the actuator on the basis of the target electric current value determined by the determining unit, the detecting unit detects the maximum electric current value actually supplied to the actuator independently of the target electric current value determined by the determining unit, and the setting unit sets the maximum electric current value supplied to the actuator on the basis of the maximum electric current value detected by the detecting unit.

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. xc2xa7119 with respect to Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-263706, filed on Aug. 31, 2000, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
This invention generally relates to a control device for controlling an actuator applied in a vehicle transmission.
Vehicles such as passenger cars, buses, trucks and the like are generally driven by a driving power source such as, for example, an engine or an electric motor. Further, the vehicle includes a transmission and is applied with a driving speed and a driving force corresponding to a vehicle running condition. Known transmissions include an automatic transmission (AT), a continuously variable transmission (CVT), and a manual transmission (MT).
The known manual transmission is provided with a counter shaft (an input shaft), a main shaft (an output shaft), a plurality of counter gears mounted on the counter shaft, a plurality of idle gears mounted on the main shaft, and a synchromesh mechanism. The counter shaft is a transmitting member that transmits input rotation of the engine to the main shaft (the output shaft). The main shaft is a transmitting member for the output rotation of the transmission to a propeller shaft. The plurality of idle gears is idly rotated around the main shaft and is always engaged with the plurality of counter gears. The synchromesh mechanism includes synchronizer hubs that are mounted on the main shaft and are rotated integrally with the main shaft. The synchromesh mechanism further includes sleeves which mesh with splines defined in the outer surface of the synchronizer hub so that the sleeve is slidably movable in the axial direction of the main shaft. More specifically, the synchromesh mechanism selectively operates one of the sleeves to slidably move on the main shaft on the basis of a driver""s intention. The spline-engagement between the sleeve (i.e. the main shaft) and the idle gear synchronize rotation of the selected sleeve (i.e. a rotation of the main shaft) with a desired rotation of the idle gear so that a desired speed-change is performed.
According to the known manual transmission, operation of the clutch by the driver is required to permit a shift operation by the driver to perform the desired speed-change. When a floor-mounted shift lever or a column shift lever is operated by the driver to perform the desired speed-change upon shift operation, a shift fork shaft and a shift fork are moved in response to the operation of the shift lever. The sleeve engaged with a tip end of the shift fork is slidably moved so as to perform the desired speed-change.
Somewhat recent developments have led to automatic manual transmissions which are structurally based on the manual transmission (MT). The automatic manual transmission performs an automatic shift operation based on the vehicle driving condition or a semiautomatic shift operation based on the driver""s intention. Therefore, the automatic manual transmission effectively decreases the operating load or operating requirements of the driver. This type of automatic manual transmission requires an actuator as a substitute for the manual operation performed by the driver in case of the manual transmission. The actuator is activated by a driving power source such as hydraulic pressure, air pressure, or an electric motor. Whichever driving power source is used for the actuator, it is preferable that the actuator be adapted to effect a relatively complex, fine, and proper control in order to decrease shift shock.
For example, when the actuator is activated by hydraulic pressure, the amount of electric current supplied to a solenoid valve such as a linear solenoid valve needs to be relatively finely controlled. Further, the timing associated with the supply of electric current to the solenoid valve also needs to be relatively finely controlled so that the hydraulic pressure supplied to the actuator is properly controlled. On the other hand, when the actuator is activated by an electric motor such as a servo motor or a stepping motor, the amount of electric current supplied to the electric motor needs to be relatively finely controlled. Further, the timing associated with the supply of electric current to the electric motor also needs to be relatively finely controlled so that the timing of the actuator to be activated and the load applied to the actuator are properly controlled. The description that follows is based on an actuator that is activated by an electric motor.
The amount of electric current supplied to the electric motor is limited and varies depending on the vehicle environment or the vehicle driving condition. For instance, a maximum electric current value supplied to the electric motor varies depending on the temperature difference between the temperature immediately after an initial driving of the electric motor and the temperature after continued driving of the electric motor, the battery voltage accommodated in the vehicle, and the characteristics of the electric motor. The amount of electric current supplied to the electric motor may sometimes vary by approximately 30-50% depending on such factors. Therefore, it may not be possible to control the electric motor with the original design performance and so shift shock may occur.
More specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, because the maximum electric current value actually supplied to the DC motor is lower than a predetermined target electric current, a relatively large difference may exist between the target electric current value and an actual electric current value. Therefore, shift shock may occur due to an error with respect to the speed or timing of a shift stroke. As shown in FIG. 6, a proportional increase of the electric current up to a value I1 is expected to perform for the period t1 (depicted with a dashed line). However, because the maximum electric current value supplied to the DC motor is only I2, the proportional increase of the electric current to the value 11 is not performed. The proportional increase of the electric current up to the electric current value 12 is performed for the period t2. Further, the electric current value supplied to the DC motor after t2 is maintained at the value 12. Therefore, the operation of the actuator is unstable due to a surge load, wherein the shift shock may occur.
It is thus seen that known vehicle automatic manual transmissions are susceptible of certain improvements with respect to providing an improved control device that performs accurate control of the actuator driven by an electric current to reduce shift shock.
A need this exists for an improved control device for controlling an actuator applied in a transmission and activated by electric current supplied to a motor.
A need also exists for an improved control device which is adapted to detect a maximum electric current value actually supplied to the actuator and control the actuator on the basis of the detected maximum electric current value.
A need also exists for an improved control device which determines a target electric current value to be supplied to the actuator on the basis of a set maximum electric current value and avoids or decreases a difference between the target electric current value and the actually supplied electric current value to thereby perform a relatively stable operation of the actuator by decreasing the shift shock.
A control device for an actuator of a vehicle transmission includes a target electric current value determining mechanism for determining a target electric current value to be supplied to the actuator, an electric current supplying mechanism for supplying an electric current to the actuator based on the target electric current value, a maximum electric current value detecting mechanism for detecting a maximum electric current value actually supplied to the actuator regardless or independent of the target electric current value, and a maximum electric current value setting mechanism for setting the maximum electric current value based on the maximum electric current value detected by the maximum electric current value detecting mechanism.
The control device for the actuator can further include a malfunction indicating signal outputting mechanism that outputs a malfunction indicating signal when the maximum electric current value output by the maximum electric current value setting mechanism deviates from a predetermined allowable range. When the malfunction indicating signal is outputted by the outputting mechanism, the control mode can be changed to a fail-safe mode.
The actuator can be in the form of a DC motor and the control device for the actuator can also include a temperature detecting mechanism for detecting an ambient temperature of the DC motor. The maximum electric current value detected by the maximum electric current value detecting mechanism is based on the ambient temperature detected by the temperature detecting mechanism.

Control device for an actuator applied in a transmission


A golf club having a mechanism permitting adjustment of the shaft angle relative to the club head. Fixed stops limit the range of angular adjustment. The body of the club head has a central opening extending to the sole of the club. The opening is closed by a sole plate that requires a special tool for removal and reinstallation. A serrated surface secured to an extension of the club shaft within the opening mates with a corresponding serrated surface secured to the club head. The angle of the shaft relative to the head is locked by installing the sole plate which forces the two serrated surfaces together. In order to change the shaft-to-head angle, the sole plate must be loosened sufficiently to permit the cooperating serrations to disengage and be moved relative to each other.

This invention relates in general to golf clubs and, more particularly, to a golf club having an adjustable shaft to head angle which.
Most golf clubs have a fixed angle between the shaft and head. While this angle is set for some hypothetical "average" golfer, it is not optimum for many golfers, who must adapt their stance to the fixed club.
Golf clubs having adjustable heads are well known and those adjustments may be various types. Examples of prior art adjustable head golf clubs employ centrally located ball joints or rotatable connections or the like to maintain club balance.
Other prior art adjustable shaft to head golf clubs have pivots between the head and shaft positioned on the distal end of the head as an extension thereof or have translatable pivots between the head and shaft. In these last mentioned clubs the club balance is changed with any selected positioning of the shaft relative to the head.
In order to comply with tournament regulations of various golf associations, it is mandatory that the relative angle between a shaft and head be fixed and not adjustable during play. The prior art adjustable golf clubs are not acceptable for use in such tournaments
Thus, there is a continuing need for an adjustable golf club arrangement that maintains the club head balance through the full range of adjustment and which is capable of being locked in a selected position in a manner acceptable under general golf tournament rules.

Golf club with lockable head-to-shaft angle adjustment


The purpose is to provide a heating unit of a carbon fiber-mixed sheet with a low price in which sheet carbon fibers are equally dispersed and a member on the surface of which sheet is not subjected to such change of properties as discoloration and the like. The constitution is characterized in that a sizing agent covers a part of the carbon fiber-mixed sheet which sheet is made by the mixed fiber-making of 5xcx9c10 wt. % of a carbon fiber having a length of 5xcx9c10 mm and 95xcx9c90 wt. % of a pulp containing a bast fiber and in that the sheet has a thickness of 150 xcexcm or less, a basis weight of 50 g/m2 or less and a degree of beating of 30xcx9c70xc2x0 SR.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a heating unit of a carbon fiber-mixed sheet which sheet is produced by the mixed sheet-making of a carbon fiber along with a plant pulp, especially with a pulp containing a bast fiber.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Petroleum and gas-burners and electric heating appliances have gained a wide application as heating units. Planar heaters using electric heating such as panel heaters have also been used as appliances for local heating. Among such planar heaters using electric heating, heaters for radiating far infrared rays have drawn an increasing attention in recent years because the far infrared rays have high penetration force through clothes, etc., and have high heating efficiency.
Metallic heating materials having a high electric resistivity such as a nichrome wire have been mainly used as a heat source of the heaters for radiating the far infrared rays. Carbon powder, ceramics, etc., are disposed on the surface, and when heated, they irradiate the far infrared rays.
In the planar heating units for radiating the far infrared rays, on the other hand, they preferably provide a temperature distribution, which is as uniform as possible, throughout the entire surface thereof. In the heating units using the nichrome wire as the heat source of the planar heating units, therefore, the nichrome wires must be divided into zones as finely as possible and a temperature regulation member such as a thermostat must be disposed for each zone.
To cope with this problem, the applicant of the present device has proposed a planar heating unit using a carbon fiber-mixed sheet. As shown FIG. 6, this planar heating unit 010 is produced by mixing a bast fiber 01 for Japanese paper such as Broussonetia Kazinoki Sieb, Musa Textilio and Edgeworthia Papyrifera with a carbon fiber 02 and by subjecting the mixture to sheet-making. About 5 to about 15% of a PAN-type carbon fiber having a filament diameter of 6.8 xcexcm and a resistivity of about 20 xcexcxcexa9 is mixed as the carbon fiber. When the sheet-making is carried out by mixing such a bast fiber, a viscous solution extracted from the roots of Hibiscus manihot L. being used as mucilage of Japanese paper is blended.
Electric poles 06, 07 are disposed along side edges 04, 05 of the major sides of a rectangular carbon fiber planar heating unit 010 in the planar heating unit so formed and shown in FIG. 7. for example, and lead wires 08 are connected to terminals provided for the electric poles. When an A.C. voltage of 100 V is applied between both electric poles of the planar heating unit, for example, no critical danger occurs to the human body even when one directly touches the planar heating unit. To produce a practical electric product, however, a synthetic resin sheet 09 is laminated or a suitable synthetic resin thin sheet is bonded to the both surfaces, inclusive of the heating unit portion and the electric poles, and furthermore an aluminum sheet is laminated, in some cases, as shown in FIG. 8 so as to insure waterproofing, moisture proofing, safety, etc., or to prevent damage of the heating unit.
When power is supplied to the carbon fiber so mixed and sheet-made in the planar heating unit, heating occurs due to its resistance. Since the carbon fiber is finely cut and is electrically connected with one another either directly or with very small gaps by the viscous solution extracted from the root of Hibiscus manihot L, etc., a high resistance action takes place at this portion in accordance with the temperature rise, and uncontrolled heating can be prevented.
As described above, the planar heating unit proposed by the public-known applicant has a difficulty to even the mixed pulp-making of a carbon fiber and a pulp fiber and can not provide automatically a uniform temperature distribution throughout the entire surface of the planar heating unit. Nonetheless, when the planar heating unit in which the carbon fiber is mixed and subjected to sheet-making is used for a long time, the synthetic resin thin plate disposed as a protective cover on the surface of the planar heating unit gradually undergoes discoloration or deterioration, and consequently, service life of the planar heating unit is determined by these defects.
A cause difficult for unifying a blend of a carbon fiber and a pulp fiber results from that at the time of paper-making a refined pulp, the refined pulp is adjusted to a specific concentration, beaten in a refiner as shown in FIG. 9, and blended with 5 to 10 wt. %, preferably about 7%, of a carbon fiber having a fiber cut length of about 6 mm agitated in a stuff chest, and from that the carbon fiber, however, because it has a low density and a low friction coefficient while a high tensile strength and a low breakdown elongation, is not satisfactorily blended with the pulp even agitated in the stuff chest, is distributed unevenly in a sheet making machine. Therefore a carbon fiber in the carbon fiber-mixed sheet prepared may often not be dispersed uniformly.
Accordingly, the present device has an object to provide a heating unit of a carbon fiber-mixed sheet in which carbon fibers are evenly dispersed in the carbon fiber-mixed sheet and a member on which sheet surface does not undergo a degradation such as discoloration and which has a low price.
In order to solve the problem described above, the present device provides a heating unit of a carbon fiber-mixed sheet which sheet has a thickness of 150 xcexcm or less, a basis weight of 50 g/m2 or less, and a degree of beating of 30xcx9c70xc2x0 SR and is obtained by the mixed sheet making of 5xcx9c10 wt. % of a carbon fiber with a length of 5xcx9c10 mm and 95xcx9c90 wt. 5 of a pulp containing a bast fiber and furthermore one part of which is covered with a sizing agent.
Having the construction described above, the carbon fiber-mixed sheet according to the present device can automatically form a uniform temperature distribution throughout the entire surface and does not undergo discoloration or degradation in the course of use from a long time, so that it becomes more economical.

Heating unit of carbon fiber-mixed sheet


Apparatus for detecting leaks in hydrogen-generating electric storage batteries including suitable enclosure for the battery, means for overcharging the battery to generate hydrogen pressure therein, and a sensor for detecting the presence of hydrogen in the enclosure. The battery's vent will be suitably plugged or routed to divert any hydrogen escaping through the vent from contaminating the air in the enclosure. A hydrogen accumulator/separator attached to the enclosure concentrates the hydrogen at the hydrogen sensor.

It is known to leak test electric storage batteries prior to shipment. One known technique for such leak testing comprises pressurizing the battery with compressed air through the battery's vent ports followed by measuring the pressure decay over a period of time. If the pressure stays above a specified value, the battery passes. If not, it fails. This technique cannot be used with gas-recombinant-type lead-acid batteries, or other batteries containing a pressure relief check valve in the venting system for maintaining a superambient pressure within the battery and preventing the ingress of ambient air into the battery as the valve prevents pressurization of the battery container.


The invention provides a method for manufacturing a molded woody article, which includes compression molding a base material containing wood fibers, polylactic acid fibers and an inorganic filler at a temperature not less than a melting point of the polylactic acid fibers, and maintaining the molded base material at a temperature close to a crystallization temperature of the polylactic acid fibers for a desired period of time, thereby crystallizing the polylactic acid fibers. In the molding step, the base material is entirely deformed and molded into a desired shape while the polylactic acid fibers are melted, and in the crystallizing step, the polylactic acid fibers are solidified, thereby producing the molded article. In the crystallizing step, polylactic acid crystallizes rapidly and reliably utilizing the inorganic filler as a crystal nucleating agent.

A vehicle interior panel and the like can be constructed from a molded article that is made of a material that is prepared by processing a woody material, one of non-petroleum resources, into small pieces such as fibers, and adding a binder resin thereto, instead of a plastic molded article. Examples of the binder resin that is used in such a molded article may include polyolefins such as polypropylene. However, the polyolefins may have a large environmental load because the polyolefins are mainly produced from a petroleum resource and the polyolefins are disposed after use. Accordingly, it has been proposed to use, for example, cellulose-base materials, starch-base materials and aliphatic polyesters that can be mainly obtained from non-petroleum resources that have a small environmental load if they are used as a binder resin (Patent Document 1). In particular, polylactic acid, one of the aliphatic polyesters, is expected to be used as a binder resin because polylactic acid can be mass-produced from non-petroleum resources.
Patent Document 1: JP 2003-55871 A


Devices of an individual's device-sphere cooperate with a device-sphere manager to improve continuity of the user's experience using any of the devices. When a device's state changes, the device reports the change to the device-sphere manager. The device-sphere manager modifies the device image for the reporting device and informs other devices of the device-sphere that corresponding changes should be made in the other devices as well. Each device image includes application records representing applications installed in the subject device. The device image for each device also includes partition images of each of one or more partitions of persistent storage of the device. A data image for the device-sphere represents data shared among the constituent devices of the device-sphere.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to computer network and, more particularly, methods of and systems for improving continuity of a user's experience across multiple devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
Not too many years ago, an individual might use only one or two computing devices—perhaps one at work and perhaps one at home. Today, individuals use a wide variety of computing devices. For example, it's not at all uncommon for an individual to have one or more computers at work, one or more at home (perhaps a desktop computer and a laptop computer), a smart phone (which includes a pocket-sized, fully functional computer), digital cameras (still and video), and perhaps one or more tablet computers. In addition, many household appliances in use today also incorporate fully functional computers. Such appliances include televisions, set-top boxes, personal video recorders (PVRs), digital media players, and networked music players.
The multitude of devices used by an individual can be thought as the individual's device-sphere. One of the challenges associated with an individual's device-sphere is that the device-sphere is hardly seamless. An individual may which to view a video captured in a video camera on a television. Such typically requires a cabled connection between the two and separate control of each, despite the fact that both are fully capable of communication with one another through a computer network. Similar examples include wanting to watch a movie purchased and downloaded through a computer on the television, wanting to view photos taken with a digital still camera or smart phone's camera on a tablet computer or a work computer to share the photos with guests. Many, many other examples can be imagined in which data on one device in the device-sphere is desired to be accessible from another device in the device-sphere.
What is needed is a way to improve continuity of a user's experience across the multiple devices of the user's device-sphere.


An instrument for subretinal implantation comprising an elongate tube having a distal end and a proximal end, the tube having a lumen passing from the proximal end to the distal end, the distal end having a distal tip, wherein the lumen forms an opening in the tip, the instrument further including a plunger, the plunger being capable of sliding motion within and with respect to the tube, wherein the outer diameter of the distal end of the elongate tube is sufficiently small to be inserted through the pars plana area of an eye and the length of the distal end of the elongate tube is sufficient long to permit the opening in said tip to thereafter be inserted beneath the retina through an opening therein, wherein the plunger can express material within the lumen therefrom through the opening in the tip into the subretinal space of an eye into which the tip is inserted.

The present invention relates in general to surgical instruments, surgical techniques, and cell and tissue isolation techniques. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a surgical tool for transplanting retinal cells, epithelium and choroidea within their normal planar configuration, a graft for transplantation to the subretinal region of the eye, a method for preparing such grafts for transplantation, and a method for reconstructing dystrophic retinas, retinal pigment epithelial layers and choroids.
The retina is the sensory epithelial surface that lines the posterior aspect of the eye, receives the image formed by the lens, transduces this image into neural impulses and conveys this information to the brain by the optic nerve. The retina comprises a number of layers, namely, the ganglion cell layer, inner plexiform layer, inner nuclear layer, outer plexiform layer, outer nuclear layer, photoreceptor inner segments and outer segments. The outer nuclear layer comprises the cell bodies of the photoreceptor cells with the inner and outer segments being extensions of the cell bodies.
The choroid is a vascular membrane containing large branched pigment cells that lies between the retina and the sclerotic coat of the vertebrate eye. Immediately between the choroid and the retina is the retinal pigment epithelium which forms an intimate structural and functional relationship with the photoreceptor cells.
Several forms of blindness are primarily related to the loss of photoreceptor cells caused by defects in the retina, retinal pigment epithelium, choroid or possibly other factors (e.g. intense light, retinal detachment, intraocular bleeding). In several retinal degenerative diseases select populations of cells are lost. Specifically, in macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa retinal photoreceptors degenerate while other cells in the retina as well as the retina""s central connections are maintained. In an effort to recover what was previously thought to be an irreparably injured retina, researchers have suggested various forms of grafts and transplantation techniques, none of which constitute an effective manner for reconstructing a dystrophic retina.
The transplantation of retinal cells to the eye can be traced to a report by Royo et al., Growth 23: 313-336 (1959) in which embryonic retina was transplanted to the anterior chamber of the maternal eye. A variety of cells were reported to survive, including photoreceptors. Subsequently del Cerro was able to repeat and extend these experiments (del Cerro et al., Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 26: 1182-1185, 1985). Soon afterward Turner, et al. Dev. Brain Res. 26:91-104 (1986) showed that neonatal retinal tissue could be transplanted into retinal wounds.
In related studies, Simmons et al., Soc. Neurosci. Abstr. 10: 668 (1984) demonstrated that embryonic retina could be transplanted intracranially, survive, show considerable normal development, be able to innervate central structures, and activate these structures in a light-dependent fashion. Furthermore, these intracranial transplants could elicit light-dependent behavioral responses (pupillary reflex) that were mediated through the host""s nervous system. Klassen et al., Exp. Neurol. 102: 102-108 (1988) and Klassen et al. Proc. Natl. Acad., Sci. USA 84:6958-6960 (1987).
Li and Turner, Exp. Eye Res. 47:911 (1988) have proposed the transplantation of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) into the subretinal space as a therapeutic approach in the RCS dystrophic rat to replace defective mutant RPE cells with their healthy wild-type counterparts. According to their approach, RPE were isolated from 6- to 8-day old black eyed rats and grafted into the subretinal space by using a lesion paradigm which penetrates through the sclera and choroid. A 1 xcexcl injection of RPE (40,000-60,000 cells) was made at the incision site into the subretinal space by means of a 10 xcexcl syringe to which was attached a 30 gauge needle. However, this method destroys the cellular polarity and native organization of the donor retinal pigment epithelium which is desirable for transplants.
del Cerro, (del Cerro et al., Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 26: 1182-1185, 1985) reported a method for the transplantation of tissue strips into the anterior chamber or into the host retina. The strips were prepared by excising the neural retina from the donor eye. The retina was then cut into suitable tissue strips which were then injected into the appropriate location by means of a 30 gauge needle or micropipette with the width of the strip limited to the inner diameter of the needle (250 micrometers) and the length of the strip being less than 1 millimeter. While del Cerro reports that the intraocular transplantation of retinal strips can survive, he notes that the procedure has some definite limitations. For instance, his techniques do not allow for the replacement of just the missing cells (e.g. photoreceptors) but always include a mixture of retinal cells. Thus, with such a transplant appropriate reconstruction of the dystrophic retina that lacks a specific population of cells (e.g., photoreceptors) is not possible.
del Cerro et al., Neurosci. Lett. 92: 21-26, 1988, also reported a procedure for the transplantation of dissociated neuroretinal cells. In this procedure, the donor retina is cut into small pieces, incubated in trypsin for 15 minutes, and triturated into a single cell suspension by aspirating it through a fine pulled pipette. Comparable to the Li and Turner approach discussed above, this procedure destroys the organized native structure of the transplant, including the donor outer nuclear layer; the strict organization of the photoreceptors with the outer segments directed toward the pigment epithelium and the synaptic terminals facing the outer plexiform layer are lost. Furthermore, no means of isolating and purifying any given population of retinal cells (e.g. photoreceptors) from other retinal cells was demonstrated.
It is believed by the present inventor that it is necessary to maintain the photoreceptors in an organized outer nuclear layer structure in order to restore a reasonable degree of vision. This conclusion is based on the well known optical characteristics of photoreceptors, (outer segments act as light guides) and clinical evidence showing that folds or similar, even minor disruptions in the retinal geometry can severely degrade visual acuity.
Among the objects of the present invention, therefore, may be noted the provision of a method for preparation of a graft for use in the reconstruction of a dystrophic retina; the provision of such a method which conserves relatively large expanses of the tissue harvested from a donor eye; the provision of such a method in which the polarity and organization of the cells at the time of harvest are maintained in the graft; the provision of a graft for use in the reconstruction of a dystrophic retina; the provision of such a graft which facilitates regrowth of photoreceptor axons by maintaining the polar organization of the photoreceptor and the close proximity of their postsynaptic targets with the adjacent outer plexiform layer upon transplantation; the provision of a surgical tool for use in the transplantation method which allows appropriate retinotopic positioning and which protects photoreceptors or other grafted tissue from damage prior to and as the surgical device is positioned in the eye; and the provision of a method for transplantation of grafts to the subretinal area of an eye.
Briefly, therefore, the present invention is directed to a method for the preparation of a graft for transplantation to the subretinal area of a host eye. The method comprises providing donor tissue and harvesting from that tissue a population of cells selected from retinal cells, epithelial tissue or choroidal tissue, the population of cells having the same organization and cellular polarity as is present in normal tissue of that type. The population of cells is laminated to a non-toxic and flexible composition which substantially dissolves at body temperature.
The present invention is further directed to a method for the preparation of a graft comprising photoreceptor call bodies for transplantation to the subretinal area of a host eye. The method comprises providing a donor retina containing a layer of photoreceptor cell bodies. The layer of photoreceptor cell bodies is isolated from at least one other layer of cells of the donor retina in a manner that maintains the layer of photoreceptor cell bodies in the same organization and cellular polarity as is present in normal tissue of that type.
The present invention is further directed to a graft for transplantation to the subretinal area of a host eye. The graft comprises a laminate of a non-toxic and flexible composition which substantially dissolves at body temperature and a population of cells harvested from a donor eye, the population of cells being selected from retinal cells, epithelial tissue and choroidal tissue. The population of cells has the same organization and cellular polarity as is present in normal tissue of that type.
The present invention is further directed to a graft for transplantation to the subretinal area of a host eye. The graft comprises a population of photoreceptor cell bodies harvested from a donor retina, the population of photoreceptor cell bodies having the same organization and cellular polarity as is present in normal tissue of that type, the graft having an essential absence of at least one layer of cells present in the donor retina.
The present invention is further directed to a method for transplanting to the subretinal area of a host""s eye a graft comprising a population of cells. The method comprises providing a graft comprising a population of cells selected from retinal cells isolated from at least one other layer of cells within the retina, epithelial tissue and choroidal tissue, the population of cells being maintained in the same organization and cellular polarity as is present in normal tissue of that type. An incision is made through the host""s eye, the retina is at least partially detached to permit access to the subretinal area and the graft is positioned in the accessed subretinal area.
The present invention is further directed to an instrument for the implantation of an intact planar cellular structure between the retina and supporting tissues in an eye. The instrument comprises an elongate supporting platform for holding the planar cellular structure. The platform has a distal end for insertion into an eye, and a proximal end. The distal edge of the platform is convexly curved for facilitating the insertion of the platform into the eye and the advancement of the platform between the retina and the supporting tissues. The instrument has a side rail on each side of the platform for retaining the planar cellular structure on the platform, the distal ends of the side rails being rounded, and the distal portions of the side rails tapering toward the distal end of the platform to facilitate the insertion of the instrument between the retina and the supporting tissue.
The present invention is further directed to an instrument for the implantation of an intact planar cellular structure between the retina and supporting tissues in an eye. The instrument comprises an elongate tube, having a flat, wide cross-section, with a top, a bottom for supporting the planar cellular structure, and opposing sides. The tube has a beveled distal edge facilitating the insertion of the tube into the eye and the advancement of the tube between the retina and the supporting tissues. The instrument also comprises plunger means for ejecting a planar cellular structure from the distal end of the tube.
The present invention is further directed to a kit for transplantation of a graft to the subretinal area of a host eye. The kit contains a graft comprising a population of cells selected from retinal cells, epithelial tissue and choroidal tissue, the population of cells being maintained in the same organization and cellular polarity as is present in normal tissue of that type. The kit additionally contains a surgical instrument comprising an elongate tube, having a flat, wide cross-section, with a top, a bottom for supporting the planar cellular structure, and opposing sides. The tube has a beveled distal edge facilitating the insertion of the tube into the eye and the advancement of the tube between the retina and the supporting tissues. The surgical instrument also comprises plunger means for ejecting a planar cellular structure from the distal end of the tube.
Other objects and features of the invention will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.


The present disclosure provides an optical communication system, an optical communication method, and a transmitting device and a receiving device for the same. The optical communication system includes: a transmitting device for generating a control signal according to at least one encoding information to drive a light emitting device to actuate; and a receiving device for capturing a plurality of images via an image capturing module during actuation of the light emitting device, and decoding the plurality of images to obtain the encoding information.

Advances in technology have allowed smartphones to become an indispensable product in our everyday lives, and several technologies that enable interactions with the smartphones have been developed, such as QR code, Near-field communication (NFC), and Beacons. Information about navigation, products and the like that may be obtained with a smartphone in hand through QR code, NFC or Beacons technology.
However, the above interactive technologies still have their limitations. For example, an image of the QR code must be clearly captured at a specific distance to be recognized; otherwise, information cannot be retrieved successfully. Similarly, NFC signals may only be read within a short range, and cannot be read effectively if shielded by crowds. Furthermore, for Beacons Bluetooth technology, when multiple Bluetooth devices are in communication at the same time, the sources of information may get mixed up, and the Bluetooth wireless signals cannot penetrate crowds of people and may get reflected, resulting in signal drifts.

Optical communication system and method, transmitting device and receiving device for the same

Industrial Technology Research Institute


The invention relates to novel wellbore treatment methods and fluids using compositions formed from an aqueous medium, a regularly substituted hydrophilically functional polysaccharide having a degree of substitution from about 0.1 to about 0.5, wherein the percent of insoluble polysaccharide is about 10% or less, and a crosslinker. The wellbore treatment fluid is particularly useful for fracturing a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore.

This invention relates to fluids and methods used in treating a subterranean formation. In particular, the invention relates to subterranean formation treatment methods and fluids using an aqueous composition of a hydrophilic polysaccharide, a crosslinker, and a breaking system. The wellbore treatment methods and fluids are particularly useful for fracturing a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore, resulting in very low residue in the formation after treatment, which provides improved retained conductivity.
Various types of fluids are used in operations related to the development and completion of wells that penetrate subterranean formations, and to the production of gaseous and liquid hydrocarbons from natural reservoirs into such wells. These operations include perforating subterranean formations, fracturing subterranean formations, modifying the permeability of subterranean formations, or controlling the production of sand or water from subterranean formations. The fluids employed in these oilfield operations are known as drilling fluids, completion fluids, work-over fluids, packer fluids, fracturing fluids, stimulation fluids, conformance or permeability control fluids, consolidation fluids, and the like.
A hydraulic fracturing operation is a stimulation technique routinely performed on oil and gas wells to increase fluid production from subterranean reservoirs. Specially engineered fluids are often pumped at high pressures and rates into the reservoir to be treated, causing a fracture to open. Proppants, such as ceramic beads or grains of sand, are slurried with the treating fluid (also referred to as carrier fluid) to keep the fracture propped open once the treatment is completed.
In a hydraulic fracturing operation, the fracturing fluid is a critical component of the hydraulic fracturing treatment. Its main functions are to open the fracture and to transport propping agent to the fracture. Because of their low cost, high performance and ease of handling, polymer-based fluids are the most widely used fracturing fluids. Many water-soluble polymers can be used to make a viscosified solution capable of suspending proppants, but the most widely used are guar gum and its derivatives. Guar is a long-chain, high molecular weight polymer composed of a mannose backbone and galactose side chains. The guar polymers have a high affinity for water. When the powder is added to water, the guar particles swell and hydrate. In this state, the polymer molecules are associated with many water molecules, thus unfolding and extending out into the solution, giving a viscous fluid.
Leaving a high-viscosity fluid in the fracture would reduce the permeability of the proppant pack to oil and gas, limiting the effectiveness of the fracturing treatment. Gel breakers are used to reduce the viscosity of the fluid intermingled with the proppant. For most common system, breakers reduce viscosity by cleaving the polymer chain into small molecular weight fragments. Applied to conventional polymers (i.e. guar, CMHPG, HPG, etc.), breakers leave a significant amount of insoluble polymer fragments after breaking, thus resulting in reduced retained permeability of the fracture.
There is much art dealing with the issue of improving retained permeability of the fracture. One common way to achieve a cleaner proppant pack is based on the idea of using low polymer loadings (1-3 Kg/1000 liters) to prepare a fracturing fluid. High retained fracture conductivity can also be achieved by using low molecular weight compounds as viscosifying agents in the fracturing fluids. Compounds such as de-polymerized carbohydrates or quaternary ammonium surfactants have been proven to provide a good retained conductivity, but have drawbacks such as high fluid loss into the formation, as well as high loadings of viscosifying agent to attain sufficient fluid viscosity.
Thus, the need exists for viscous fluids for oilfield treatments which provide high retained conductivity after treatment, and a fluid that can achieve this would be highly desirable. These needs are met at least in part by the following invention.

Low damage treatment fluids and methods of using the same


An auto-ICAS compliant system and method of avoiding collisions between aircraft linked by a Link 16 network comprises establishing an ICAS datalink between aircraft less than 10 nautical miles apart. Datalink messages generated and processed by ICAS datalink modules are transmitted and received by Link 16 receivers rather than dedicated ICAS transceivers. The datalink messages are embedded within the propagation delay portions of Link 16 timeslots and exchanged among up to 10 nearby aircraft at a data rate of up to 20 Hz each. Because each Link 16 timeslot can contain a Link 16 message and two 768-bit ICAS datalink messages, conventional Link 16 communication is not impeded. Datalink messages can be software encrypted. Link 16 messages can be encoded using an enhanced throughput Link 16 protocol that includes fewer preamble pulses and/or eliminates STN information. Embedded datalink messages can be transmitted at 1 Watt by a MIDS-JTRS CMN4.

When piloting an aircraft, avoidance of collisions is always of significant concern. Even pilots of private and commercial flights are taught to be highly vigilant with regard to both terrestrial hazards, such as mountains and broadcast towers, as well as airborne hazards such as other commercial and private aircraft, hot air balloons, etc. In addition to pilot vigilance, air traffic control specialists and highly sophisticated radar-aware software systems monitor and communicate with aircraft when they are located in high traffic areas, so as to provide further protection against collisions.
Of course, the problem of collision avoidance is much more severe in air combat situations, where aircraft speeds are much greater, aircraft typically fly in closely-spaced groups, and it is sometimes necessary for individual aircraft to make rapid, unplanned maneuvers, for example when avoiding hostile ground or air fire and/or when pursuing hostile aircraft. Under such circumstances, strong demands are placed on a pilot's attention and concentration, such that even highly skilled and trained pilots run the risk of colliding with terrestrial hazards or with other, friendly aircraft.
Various approaches have been proposed and/or implemented with regard to automatically detecting and avoiding potential collisions of aircraft with terrestrial and/or airborne hazards. These typically include an aircraft scanning the environment using RADAR or a similar method, and attempting to determine directions and relative distances to potential hazards. While this approach can be effective for avoiding hazards that are somewhat distant, which is typically the case for terrestrial threats and hostile air threats, this approach can be insufficient for avoiding collisions with friendly aircraft, which may be located very nearby, typically closer than 10 nautical miles (Nm).
One approach to avoiding collisions between friendly aircraft is to equip each of the aircraft with a special transponder, such that the aircraft can exchange location, speed, and direction information with each other. Examples include the civilian "Traffic collision avoidance system" (TCAS), and the military "Airborne collision avoidance system" (ACAS). Of course, for use in combat environments the transponder communications must be highly resistant to jamming, spoofing, and other hostile interference.
More recently, the United States Air Force has begun testing the Auto-ICAS (Automatic Integrated Collision Avoidance System), which combines RADAR-based capabilities with exchange of messages between friendly aircraft so as to avoid both friendly and hostile air collisions as well as collisions with terrestrial hazards. With regard to avoidance of collisions between friendly aircraft, the Auto-ICAS specification requires that the system must include a datalink that enables message exchanges of 768 bits each at a rate of 20 Hz between up to 10 aircraft that are located within a 10 Nm range of each other.
While real time exchange of location, speed, direction, and other relevant information can be effective in avoiding collisions between friendly aircraft flying within 10 Nm of each other, the implementations that have been proposed all require that participating aircraft be equipped with special transponders that are dedicated to the collision avoidance system, which leads to a significant increase in "space, weight, power, and cost" (SWaP-C).
What is needed, therefore, is a system and method of avoiding collisions between friendly aircraft in a combat situation that meets the Auto-ICAS specification while minimizing consumption of space, weight, power, and cost.

Link 16 datalink for integrated collision avoidance system

BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.