A cooling apparatus for introducing a coolant fluid into a weapon barrel through a breech end thereof for cooling internal wall faces of a loading chamber of the barrel. The cooling apparatus includes a bellows having a circumference provided with a plurality of holes. The bellows has a retracted state and an elongated, tubular expanded state and is introducible into the weapon barrel in the retracted state. The cooling apparatus further has a coolant driving arrangement coupled to the bellows for introducing the coolant into the bellows to place the bellows into the expanded state and to force the coolant out of the bellows through the holes.

This invention relates to an apparatus for introducing a coolant into the breech-side end of a weapon barrel.
German Offenlegungsschrift (application published without examination) 38 27 740 discloses a cooling apparatus for a large-caliber weapon barrel wherein a cradle tube rigidly connected with the cradle constitutes the outer wall of a jacket for guiding the coolant therein. The cradle tube, for ensuring an intensive heat removal, has channels in the region of the rearward and forward barrel support bushings for supplying and removing a gaseous or liquid coolant. Such a cooling apparatus is a fixed component of the large-caliber weapon barrel and thus has to be manufactured separately for each weapon.
German Patent No. 40 22 542 discloses a cooling apparatus which, for supplying a coolant to the chamber of a weapon barrel, has a nozzle for spraying the inner barrel face of the chamber with a coolant. The nozzle extends, by means of a central connecting tube, into the frontal half of the chamber and the coolant is pumped through the connecting tube to the nozzle. Since such a cooling apparatus has to be manually inserted into the chamber, risks are high that the tube and nozzle are not centrally guided and may thus be damaged or destroyed. Further, such an apparatus is not capable of ensuring a uniform cooling of the entire chamber.
German Patent No. 40 22 541 also discloses an apparatus for introducing a coolant into the chamber of a weapon barrel. The cooling apparatus has a coolant container which is introducible into the weapon chamber and which is composed of a jacket and a container bottom connected therewith. The coolant is driven out of the container towards the weapon muzzle through openings provided in the container. It is a disadvantage of such an apparatus that the cooling process affects mainly the rearward portion of the loading chamber rather than the frontal portion where maximum loading temperatures prevail.

Cooling apparatus for the breech region of a weapon barrel


The device can include a first member connected to a second member via junctions. The members can be statically or pivotally connected at the junctions via arms extending from cross-beams of the members. The junctions can be configured to provide a biasing force. Methods of using the device may include collapsing the device and inserting it through an incision, allowing the biasing force to cause continuous traction and counter-traction adjacent to a leading dissection edge so that retraction of the skin from the tissue can be facilitated during a surgical procedure.

Field of the Invention
Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to methods of using a skin retractor and prop device, and in particular methods using the device to provide hands-free traction and counter-traction at the leading edge of dissection.
Background of the Related Art
Due to advances in cosmesis, such as autologous reconstruction and implant-based reconstruction, surgeries are being performed with increasingly more complex and intricate procedures. For instance, mastectomies and similar surgeries may be conducted through incisions that are sized and positioned for optimizing cosmesis, which typically includes performing surgeries through small incisions. While performing mastectomies, the plane between the subcutaneous tissue and the glandular tissue of the breast is dissected by traction and counter-traction applied to the skin and breast tissue. Yet, the nature of mastectomy surgery generally results in a large skin flap under which the surgeon must operate if such surgery is to be performed through a small incision. This can significantly reduce the surgeon's visualization, thereby increasing risks associated with incomplete removal of breast tissue, bleeding, and/or injury to the skin flap.
Other surgeries may also include splaying and/or retracting skin and tissue away from an area of operation. These can include eye surgery, neck surgery, abdominal surgery, etc. Some of these do not result in a skin flap, but nonetheless involve manipulation of skin and other tissue so as to prevent it from interfering with the surgical procedure. The tendency of this skin and tissue to reform or rebound back to its natural position can also reduce the surgeon's visualization and increase risks associated such surgeries.

Skin retractor and prop device and methods of use


In one embodiment, the present invention includes a knotless suture anchor for implanting in bone including an outer tubular member having a distal end, a proximal end, an outer wall, and an at least one aperture through the outer wall; an inner member being rotatably disposed within the outer tubular member, the inner member having an at least one aperture for receiving at least one suture thread; a pointed tip configured to facilitate impaction of the anchor into the bone; and at least one suture thread guide positioned on the outer tubular member, wherein the at least one suture thread is positioned through the at least one suture thread guide, the at least one aperture of the outer tubular member, and the at least one aperture of the inner member.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to medical devices and procedures, and more particularly, to methods and devices for approximation of soft tissue to a rigid material such as bone.
Background of the Invention
There are many medical procedures where a surgeon needs to attach soft tissue to bone. The soft tissue can be tendon or other connective tissue. One very common example of this is rotator cuff repair where a portion or all of the rotator cuff is torn or detached from the humerus. When the rotator cuff tears from the humerus, the result is pain and loss of function. Rotator cuff disease affects a large number of people worldwide, affecting many people over the age of forty. Some studies have shown a prevalence of approximately 30% in people over the age of forty (Rockwood C., et al., The Shoulder, Saunders, 2004; 820-821). It is estimated that as many as 17 million people in the United States may be at risk for pain and dysfunction as a result of rotator cuff injuries. While the majority of people are asymptomatic, a significant subset goes on to have disability. One study in patients with rotator cuff tears in one shoulder found that 50% of these patients who had an asymptomatic rotator cuff tear in the other shoulder went on to become symptomatic (Yamaguchi, K., et al., J. Shoulder Elbow Surg., 2001; 10:199-203).
The prevalence of symptomatic rotator cuff disease is reflected in the large numbers of surgical repair for this condition. Rotator cuff repair is one of the most common orthopedic procedures performed. When a patient presents with a significant rotator cuff tear, surgical repair is performed. The goal of surgical repair of the rotator cuff is to secure the tendon to the bone in a stabile manner so that the tendon can reattach to the bone and can heal. If the tendon is not stabile and oscillation or micro-motion between the tendon and bone develops, the healing process will be interrupted. In this situation, it is less likely that the tendon will heal properly to the bone, resulting in a re-tear. Thus, the more stabile the repair, the more successfully the tendon will heal to the bone.
Rotator cuff repair is performed open or arthroscopically, most often using suture anchors. These have one point of fixation with either one suture or several sutures attached for reattaching the tendon to the bone. While arthroscopic repair is less painful and thus more attractive to patients, many surgeons continue to perform open rotator cuff repairs. Much of the reason for this is due to the challenge of arthroscopic shoulder surgery. There is a significant learning curve in gaining the skills to be able to manage multiple strands of suture in a relatively small field of view, passing these through the tendon and knotting the sutures in the process of tying the tendon into apposition with the bone. Many of these techniques can be relatively time-consuming when compared with open surgery.
There is a growing body of literature showing that surgical rotator cuff repair has a high rate of failure. Failure of rotator cuff repairs is a well-described complication of rotator cuff repairs, both open and arthroscopic. For example, Gerber et al. found a re-tear rate of 20% following isolated repair of the supraspinatus. Bishop found a re-tear rate of 31% in arthroscopic and 47% in patients undergoing open repair (Bishop J., et al. Cuff integrity after arthroscopic versus open rotator cuff repair: A prospective study, J. Shoulder Elbow Surg., 2006; 15:290-299). Galatz found an even higher re-tear rate in larger tears (Galatz, L., et al., The outcome and repair integrity of completely arthroscopically repaired large and massive rotator cuff tears, J. Bone Joint Surg. Am., 2004; 86A:219-24). Tendon-to-bone reattachment in a rotator cuff repair procedure can fail by a number of means. In a review of failed rotator cuff surgeries evaluated at re-operation, Cummins cited as one of the weak links in the repair, the suture-tendon interface (Cumins, C. A., et al., Mode of failure for rotator cuff repair with suture anchors identified at revision surgery, J. Shoulder Elbow Surg., 2003 March-April; 12(2):128-33). To reduce the load on any one suture, (i.e., greater distribution of loads) suture anchors used in tendon repair have begun to add multiple sutures to each suture anchor. Burkhart illustrates that the load on each suture diminishes as the number of sutures holding the tendon in place increases (Burkhart, S. S., et al., A stepwise approach to arthroscopic rotator cuff repair based on biomechanical principles, Arthroscopy, 2000 January-February; 16(1):82-90). Kim demonstrated less strain and greater tendon-bone stability in repairs made with multi row (4 fixation points) than with single row (2 fixation points). However, even in the repairs made with 4 fixation points, slippage (oscillation and micro-motion) between the tendon and bone was greater than 3.0 mm after just 200 cycles of physiological loading (Kim, D., et al., Biomechanical comparison of a single-row versus double row suture anchor technique for rotator cuff repair, Am. J. Sports Med., 2006; 34; 407).
FIG. 1 illustrates a common prior art configuration for attaching tendon to bone. A suture anchor 102 with a pre-attached suture 105 is first driven into the cortical shell 100 and then the cancellous portion 101 of the bone 110, after which one or both of the ends of the suture line 105 are threaded through the tendon 103. The two ends of the suture line 105 are then connected with any one of a variety of knot types 111 to bring the tendon 103 in direct contact, or apposition, with the bone 110. In tendon repair, it is a common practice to mechanically abrade or shave the cortical shell 100 to achieve a bleeding surface. It is believed that a bleeding surface will promote more rapid healing of the tendon to the bone. Stabile apposition between the tendon and bone will promote healing while micro-motion or oscillation between the tendon and the bone may disrupt the healing of the tendon to the bone. In current tendon repair techniques, stability between the tendon and the bone largely comes from the compression the suture can apply between the tendon and bone.
The objective with tendon repair is for the connection between the tendon 103 and bone 110 to remain stabile when physiological lateral force F 108 is applied. FIG. 2 depicts how a position gap 104 may form when physiological lateral force F 108 is applied to the tendon 103 when only sutures are used to apply downward compressive force to secure the tendon to the bone. As the force F 108 exceeds the frictional forces between the tendon and bone and that applied by the suture, the tendon slips along the interface between the tendon and the bone and causes the flexible, non-rigid suture 105 to further compress the tendon and rotate in the direction of the applied force F until a new force equilibrium is achieved. Thus, the undesired oscillation that results in position gap 104 is formed. Such a gap interferes with the healing of the tendon to the bone and may compromise the repair process to an extent that it becomes unsuccessful. Such force F 108 may be applied by the patient using his or her humerous before full reattachment and healing of the tendon 103 to the bone 110 has occurred.
In facilitating or augmenting tendon to bone fixation in surgical rotator cuff repair, typically sutures are passed through the torn tendon a distance medially to the tear that will be sufficient to provide enough tendon to cover the greater tuberosity of the humeral bone. Tension is then applied to the sutures to pull the tendon laterally over the area of the greater tuberosity, and mattress style knots are tied in the sutures gripping the tendon to appose the tendon to the humeral bone. The ends of the sutures are then stretched laterally over the tendon, stabilizing it to the greater tuberosity, and with a knotless anchor, fixed and tensioned to the bone at a position lateral to the tear. As force F is applied to the tendon, the lateral fixation points will stabilize the mattress knots resulting in less gap as shown in FIG. 2. However, due to limitations in their design, current knotless anchors used for lateral fixation do not always adequately fix and tension the suture to the bone or are overly complicated to use, resulting in the potential for inadequate lateral fixation, possibly resulting in the formation of the gap shown in FIG. 2.
Thus what is needed is a tendon to bone fixation method and device that will reliably and simply enhance the stability of the tendon to bone interface which in turn will minimize gap formation and tendon/bone micro-motion and provide a greater opportunity for the tendon to reattach to the bone to heal properly.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Knotless suture anchor for soft tissue repair and method of use


A method and device in the operation of a doctor blade in a paper machine/board machine in which different quantities of lubricating medium are supplied into different areas in the longitudinal direction, i.e., along the width, of the doctor blade, independent of one another. A larger amount of lubricating medium is supplied into the area having the maximum extent of wear of the doctor blade.

The present invention relates to a method and device in the operation of a doctor in a paper machine/board machine.
In conventional paper machines and board machines having center rolls, the doctor blades associated with the center roll of the press are worn one-sidedly. This results from a number of properties which vary in the cross direction of the machine. Uneven wear is affected by such factors as the temperature, air flows, etc.
Uneven wear of the doctor blade results in the rapid replacement of the doctor blade. Thus, when wear of the blade at points along its length is measured, and when the wear at any of these points exceeds a permitted maximal wear, the blade must be replaced.
At present, the doctors are provided with lubrication jets of doctors which are designed to be symmetric. However, it is a disadvantage of this symmetric distribution of lubricant by the lubrication jets that a larger amount of lubricant is needed in the portion of the blade width that is worn more rapidly.

Method in the operation of a doctor in a paper/board machine


Examples may include a method of cultivating cannabis plants. The method may include placing a first cannabis plant of a plurality of cannabis plants in a first tray of a plurality of trays. The method may also include placing a second cannabis plant of the plurality of cannabis plants in a second tray of the plurality of trays. The first tray may be at a first height. The second tray may be at a second height, and the first height may be different the second height. Furthermore, the method may include flowing a nutrient mixture from a reservoir to the plurality of cannabis plants. In addition, the method may include returning a portion of the nutrient mixture to the reservoir after flowing the nutrient mixture from the reservoir to the plurality of cannabis plants.

Marijuana is a drug used medicinally and recreationally. Recent legislation at state levels to regulate marijuana has spurned an industry around the production and sale of both medicinal and recreational marijuana. Marijuana contains tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), and many other compounds responsible for its psychoactive and medicinal properties. THC is believed to be responsible for a psychoactive effect, while CBD is believed to be responsible for marijuana's medical properties without the potential psychotropic effects of THC. These compounds and marijuana itself are produced from cannabis plants. As the industry grows under state regulatory regimes, the industry demands more and more the production of cannabis plants with increased output and consistent high quality. Methods used to cultivate cannabis plants for the black market may not meet the demands for quality and output of cannabis in a regulated market. Cannabis plants that produce consistent or suitable levels of THC, CBD, and other compounds are desired. Producing consistent quality cannabis plants cost effectively and efficiently is also a goal. Moreover, production and harvesting of the cannabis plants should occur under safe conditions for workers. These and other needs are addressed.


A high-voltage lead intended for use in ignition systems of engines, typically large engines, the lead having an inner insulated conductor surrounded either by an inner conductive sleeve and an outer insulating sleeve, or by a single insulating sleeve with a conductive layer on its inner surface. The conductive sleeve or conductive layer, which is preferably non-metallic, provides shielding but permits the use of conventional pickup devices to detect electrical pulses in the lead and thereby monitor engine performance with the use of a timing light, oscilloscope or similar device. The presence of two insulating layers provides a desired measure of safety in the presence of an explosive gas and air mixture. The conductive layer provides both shielding and static electricity discharge. The structure of the invention is less expensive than ignition leads with conventional braided stainless steel shielding, and requires less effort and cost to maintain in safe condition.

This invention relates generally to insulated high-voltage conductors and, more particularly, to secondary ignition leads for large industrial internal combustion engines. Secondary ignition leads are used to conduct a high-voltage pulse from an ignition coil or other high voltage source to spark plugs or similar devices installed in engine cylinders. The term "secondary" and the related term "primary" are commonly used to distinguish the electrical connections to an ignition coil or similar device used to transform a relatively low voltage on the primary side of the device to a much higher voltage needed on the secondary side to produce an ignition spark.
The spark produced by the high-voltage pulse ignites a mixture of fuel and air in the engine cylinder. Combustion of the fuel moves a piston in the cylinder and rotates an engine crankshaft to which the piston is connected. Traditionally, secondary ignition leads have been unshielded, allowing easy access to the lead insulation and easy access to current and voltage probes for deriving information about the signals transmitted to the engine spark plug. These signals could trigger a timing light to determine and adjust the timing of the engine for optimum operation, and to supply a signal to an oscilloscope, to display such information as pulse shape, spark plug voltage firing levels, spark durations, frequency, number of restrikes, and open circuit firings. More complex engine analyzers use the same information picked up from the secondary lead, to analyze engine performance in more detail. More recently, safety of operation has become a more important issue and the only secondary lead approved by various approval agencies has been a shielded lead. Shielding was seen as the only way to prevent a secondary lead from arcing to an open grounded structure if the lead insulation broke down in the presence of an explosive mixture of gases near the engine. Therefore, shielding has become required for safety reasons, and to obtain the necessary agency approvals. External shielding has the additional advantage of providing increased physical strength to the secondary lead. Unfortunately, shielding totally precludes the detection of current in the lead, so timing lights, oscilloscopes and more complex engine analyzers are rendered inoperative.
Secondary leads in large engines have been shielded by means of a stainless steel braid with a TEFLON liner sleeve, installed over a silicone-insulated conductive lead. The steel braid inhibits undesired electromagnetic radiation from the ignition lead to the atmosphere and protects the insulated lead from external damage, such as physical damage sometimes inflicted by personnel climbing onto the engine. Although this structure is quite rugged, it has a number of disadvantages, one of which is that a conventional timing light cannot be used on the shielded secondary lead to determine how the engine cylinder timing is performing. A timing light is a strobe device commonly used to monitor the adjustment of the timing of one ignition pulse with respect to the angular position of the engine crankshaft and the associated position of the piston in the cylinder. The timing light uses a pickup device, such as an inductive or capacitive pickup to detect a current or voltage pulse in the ignition lead, and this technique is rendered difficult or ineffective by the presence of a grounded metal braid around the lead.
Another disadvantage of the stainless steel braid is that the spark signal cannot be monitored by an oscilloscope pickup for relative spark voltage for breakdown, to measure spark or arc duration, restrikes, misfires, and other wave shape information that can be easily obtained through an unshielded ignition lead. Further disadvantages are the relatively high cost of the braid and the need for continual maintenance to keep the shielded secondary lead and its associated hardware ground connection in good condition.
An additional significant concern relating to secondary ignition leads is safety from inadvertent ignition of leaking explosive gas. Large industrial engines are commonly fueled by natural gas, so there is always the potential for accumulation of gas near the engine and for an explosion to be ignited by a spark from a malfunctioning ignition lead. The conventional braided-shield ignition lead achieves an acceptable level of safety by including a TEFLON inner liner sleeve between the braid and the insulation around the lead itself. Safety considerations are given a high priority by testing and standards organizations and any new secondary ignition lead must satisfy the requirements of these organizations. Although the conventional braided lead is approved for use, it has been criticized for its inability to accommodate a standard timing light and the elimination of spark signal information. There have also been industry concerns about the maintenance needed to keep the shielded lead in good condition, to make sure it passes or stays within the requirements for approval.
Accordingly, there is still room for improvement in secondary ignition lead structures. Ideally, it would be desirable to provide a shielded lead that could be used with conventional timing lights, to provide spark signal wave/shape information, and that meets or exceeds safety requirements. The present invention is directed to this end.


The removal of manganese from pulp is enhanced by supplementing the treatment with a chelating agent by the addition of at least 500 ppm of magnesium ions prior to thickening of the pulp thereby to reduce the manganese content of the thickened pulp significantly more than the content would be reduced by the treatment with the chelating agent without the magnesium ions.

It has long been known in the pulp and paper industry that the manganese in mechanical pulp is likely to have an adverse effect on the bleaching operating, particularly if the bleaching is to be done with a peroxide such as hydrogen peroxide. To remove the manganese and other metals from pulp it is conventional practise to treat the pulp with a chelating agent such as sodium diethylene triamine penta-acetate (DTPA) and then thicken.
From extensive previous investigations, it has been determined that a change of as little as 5 ppm in the manganese at the lower levels of Mn normally required for bleaching, i.e. a reduction of manganese content by 5 ppm can result in a measurable increase in brightening when brightening using peroxide on mechanical pulp.
The use of magnesium sulphate together with peroxide, particularly hydrogen peroxide, to stabilize the hydrogen peroxide in the presence of sodium silicate is well-known for peroxide bleaching and the concept of adding magnesium sulphate to pulp as a stabilizer for peroxide (without sodium silicate) has also been described in literature--see Japanese patent publication 78-44564 published Nov. 30, 1978, inventor Yotsuy, Japanese application 56169890 published Dec. 26, 1981 Mitsubishi Gas and Chemical Inc, which describes a process of refiner bleaching by the addition of magnesium compounds to the chips before the addition of hydrogen peroxide and refining of the chips in the refiner.
Canadian patent 1,249,403 also describes the brightening of high yield or ultra high yield pulps wherein magnesium sulphate is present during a bleaching reaction with hydrogen peroxide.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,731,161 issued Mar. 15, 1988 to Ehrhardt describes the method of bleaching wherein a bleaching solution contains magnesium salts and hydrogen peroxide is used for bleaching chemical pulps.

Removal of manganese from pulp using a chelating agent and magnesium sulphate


A phase interpolator system is disclosed that may include a clock to provide a clock signal, and a control section in communication with the clock to regulate the strength of the clock signal. The system may also include a generator circuit to produce an alternate clock signal based upon the strength of the clock signal received from the control section.

A phase interpolator is used to generate on its output fine phase steps or increments between two input signals (A and B). Typically the input signals A and B are cyclic, e.g. they are oscillator or clock(s).
The phase interpolator outputs a clock signal whose phase is in small increments between the inputs A and B as well as being bounded between them. Control signals are used to program the incremental phase of the outputs.
The phase interpolator's output is initially (minimum input control setting of all zeros) proportional to the A input signal. As the control signal is incremented, the output phase of the phase rotator is shifted from proportionally to the A input only, towards proportionally to the B input.
As the control input is changed to still larger values, the phase rotator output continues to shift the phase of the output and will eventually reach a point where it is solely proportional to the B input only. In this fashion the phase rotator output produces small increments in phase proportional and between its inputs A & B. The function is well known and used in many applications, such as in data communications between computer chips.

Phase interpolator system and associated methods

International Business Machines Corporation


A method and apparatus for retarding the pitting of aluminum by coating the luminum with a film which includes molybdenium oxide.. The aluminum material is preexposed to a molybdate solution before anadizing in a sodium tartrate solution.

This invention relates to a method of preparing aluminum so as to resist pitting. Generally, aluminum is protected by an oxide film that forms on its surface and restricts the access of the environment to the metal. The thickness of the oxide can be varied by anodizing the material, which involves polarizing the metal electro-positively in an electrolyte. Pitting is a localized corrosion process on aluminum that can occur in chloride-containing environments. There is no effective way of improving the resistance of aluminum to pitting without adding inhibitors to the solution to which the metal is exposed. Although anodizing does result in increasing the time required to initiate a pit, the thermodynamic propensity of a pit to form does not change.

Formation of pitting resistant anodized films on aluminum

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


An improved contact lens with a truly non-spherical bevel is disclosed, along with a method and apparatus for making same. Lenses, including the theoretically perfect "ski" periphery are consistently produced and reproduced by bringing the posterior surface of the unfinished lens into contact with a rotating abrasive coated working surface. The working surface or tool is size selected to match the unfinished lens and desired fitting dimensions. The working surface is formed on a tool body having a central axis and having a smooth three-dimensional curvilinear surface configuration generated by the rotation of an S-shaped curve produced by the circumferential arcs of two tangential conic-section curves about the central axis.

This invention relates generally to contact lenses, and particularly to an improved lens and method and apparatus for making same.
The design, development and production of contact lenses are representative activities of the class of so-called "high technology" industries. The research competition for improved materials and techniques is very keen and large sums of monies are expended each year by companies to insure that their abilities are better than, or commensurate with, others in the market place. The instant invention is concerned not with materials, but rather the production of improved lenses.
The ideal end product in this art is one which is not only comfortable to wear for extended periods of time, but also easily manufactured at minimum cost in time and labor. Importantly, any specific lens fitting characteristics should also be readily reproducable in a consistent manner to satisfy the requirements of the replacement buyer.
Early corneal contact lenses, i.e., lenses designed and fitted to cover only the corneal region of the eye, while being revolutionary in concept, nonetheless displayed a number of disadvantages which were later overcome as technology improved. The cornea of the eye is not truly spherical edge to edge, but is so only in its central portion. From the edge of the central position outwardly toward the limbal area, the curvature of the cornea flattens or its radius increases. If a lens having a curvature parallel with the central portion of the cornea is used, the edges of the lens will rest on the peripheral cornea, shutting off circulation and free flow of lachrymal fluids and also hindering the cornea from obtaining oxygen from the atmosphere, both of which are necessary for lens tolerance. In the absence of the free circulation of oxygen and oxygen enriched fluids between the lens and the eye, there is a veiling and fogging of vision, and the wear time is greatly limited. If a lens with a base curve or inside curvature flatter than the curve of the actual portion of the cornea and of sufficient length to provide the required inside contour to clear the limbal cornea area is used, such a lens will rest on the apex of the cornea thus exerting pressure which will temporarily flatten the cornea. Aside from producing a temporary blurred vision, this latter arrangement allows little capillary attraction and may not remain in position possibly resulting in corneal abrasions and ulcerations.
To overcome the above-described problems, the most successful modern contact lenses are produced with the base curve slightly steeper than the central corneal curves and with the posterior surface near the edge flatter than the base curve. This special edge treatment is intended to creat an ideally positioned reservoir for oxygen enriched tears to collect, ready to flow under the lens when it is set in motion by a blink of the eye. This area was referred to in early literature as a "chamfer", but is now referred to as a "bevel".
It is well accepted that the ideal bevel configuration resembles a ski tip; hence, reference is often made to the "ski" bevel. Prior to the instant invention, the "ski" bevel (see FIG. 1) was merely the theoretical ideal toward which all manufacturers directed their efforts.
Present conventional bevels are produced by grinding the posterior surface of an unfinished lens at its periphery with revolving, spherical tools which have surface curvatures flatter than the base curve of the lens. Actually, a series of tools, each tool having a progressively flatter curve, is used in an attempt to "blend" the work together into a surface as smooth as possible. The process is generally viewed as a simple one. It is accomplished by using uncomplicated equipment consisting of a motor driven spindle, a polishing pot to contain the spray of polish, and a few interchangeable beveling tools. With this equipment which occupies less than two square feet of table space, one can bevel and finish contact lenses. It is important to note that the same basic equipment and techniques are used by all contact lens manufacturers.
Production of the ideal bevel has been a major problem for the contact lens industry since the beginning. The problem has been how to best produce a uniformly shaped beveled surface with spherical beveling tools. The prior art system normally does not result in controllable, smoothly beveled surfaces. Instead the majority of lenses that are produced have had irregularly beveled surfaces, representing infinite variations of wavy surface configurations. This has been proven through the random evaluation of the lenses in the field with a profile analyzer or by using the reflection from an illuminated fluorescent light source. In fact, previous literature on the subject has encouraged fitters to inspect the lenses they receive for bevel irregularities.
Referring to FIG. 3a, it can be seen that grinding a bevel with a single, spherical tool creates a sharp junction 32 dividing the lens base curve 30 and the bevel 34. Early clinical experience proved this to be a serious lens defect. In order to correct this condition, mid-range tool must be selected and employed to grind down the sharp juncture. This is called blending. However, this step results in the creation of two new junctures of lesser magnitude which now must be ground down, so, the process is repeated with other tools in an attempt to obtain a uniformly curved surface. See, for example, FIGS. 3b, through 3d, where the process of grinding successive curves 36, 42 and 44 results in the creation of junctures 46, 48, 50 and 52. Beveling, then, has been basically a step-by-step procedure of trying to make the interfacial curve and junctions as small and uniform as possible.
Theoretically, the step-by-step beveling process of using a series of progressively flatter tools seems to be practical enough to do an adequate job, and it probably would be, if it were not for other elements that caused serious problems and poor end results.
First, selecting the proper number of tools and radii for each lens base curve is one thing, but determining the exact grinding time with each tool is another. Secondly, the precise grinding pressure cannot be determined even by the most skilled technician. In manufacturing, it is these uncontrollable variables together with the other things mentioned that result in a beveling system which produces entirely unsuitable lens characteristics, such as exemplified at 22 in FIG. 2.
In summary, the conventional beveling process exhibits many serious drawbacks, including: (a) the beveled surfaces cannot be adequately controlled, (b) the majority of lenses manufactured have serious beveled defects, especially sharp junctions and wavy interfaces, (c) the topography of the beveled surface cannot be duplicated in the event of a lost lens, and (d) the slope of the bevel which determines the volume of the tear reservoir cannot be adequately controlled.

Method and apparatus for making a non spherical beveled contact lens


A memory apparatus is configured by obtaining test information for each of group of memory locations within the memory apparatus, compressing the test information to produced compressed test information and, based on the compressed test information, replacing a group of redundant memory circuits respectively associated with the group of memory locations.

In order to achieve a fast product ramp up and a high yield, any standard memory, for example a standard DRAM or embedded DRAM circuit needs intensive testing. A DRAM typically includes redundant wordlines and bitlines, which can be used to repair defective wordlines and bitlines. Most conventional DRAM testing procedures are designed to find all possible storage cell failures. An external tester collects all of the detected failures into a so-called fail bit map. The external tester uses the fail bit map to determine the best use of the aforementioned on-chip redundancy to repair the detected defects.
The interface between an external tester and a DRAM chip (or a chip having an embedded DRAM) has two major limitations. One limitation is the maximum clock frequency that an external tester can apply to the chip, and the other limitation is the number of pins on the chip that are available for use by the external tester. When testing an embedded memory such as an embedded DRAM, the aforementioned pin limitation is the major problem. For example, today's technologies provide very large and wide embedded DRAMs (e.g. up to 32 Mb with a 256 bit data with). The testing of such embedded memory circuits is increasingly becoming the most significant cost driving factor in the total chip cost.
FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional example of testing a DRAM embedded within an integrated circuit, for example an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The example of FIG. 1 illustrates a 64 bit DRAM data bus and a 16 bit wide external tester interface. The timing diagram of FIG. 1 illustrates a sequence of read accesses of the embedded DRAM, simplified by only showing the column address (CADD) used to access the DRAM. As mentioned above, the embedded DRAM of the FIG. 1 example has a 64 bit data bus (designated as DQ[63:0]) and, in order to lower the number of pins required for external tester access, the internal 64 bit data bus is multiplexed onto a 16 bit external tester interface (DQ_EXT1[15:0]). Accordingly, four clock cycles of the internal DRAM clock (CLK_INT) are required for the external tester to read out all 64 data bits produced by a single read access of the embedded DRAM. Because the embedded DRAM needs only one cycle of CLK_INT to perform its 64 bit read access, the DRAM remains in an idle mode for the remaining three cycles of CLK_INT required for the external tester to read out all 64 bits.
Another conventional example is illustrated in FIG. 2. In the example of FIG. 2, the activity on the 64 bit DRAM data bus DQ and on the external tester interface DQ_EXT1 is the same as in FIG. 1. However, in the example of FIG. 2, the embedded DRAM remains in the idle state for seven cycles of CLK_INT, because the frequency of CLK_INT is twice that of the external tester clock CLK_EXT. In contrast, in the example of FIG. 1, the external tester clock CLK_EXT has the same frequency as the internal clock CLK_INT of the embedded DRAM. The example of FIG. 2 illustrates that the DRAM can easily operate internally at higher clock frequencies than the highest clock frequency which can be applied by the external tester, this latter external tester clock frequency being limited by factors such as wire, pad and probe needle parasitic (R, L, C). As shown in FIG. 2, even though the embedded DRAM can operate at twice the clock frequency of the external tester, the output data rate at DQ_EXT1 is still limited by the clock CLK_EXT of the external tester. The difference caused by the higher internal clock frequency of FIG. 2 is that the DRAM must remain in its idle mode for seven internal clock cycles between each read access cycle.
The 64-to-16 bit multiplexing and corresponding idle cycles illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 disadvantageously limit the speed with which memory testing can be accomplished. This is true whether the internal memory clock has the same frequency or a substantially higher frequency than the test interface clock.
It is therefore desirable to reduce the time required to test embedded memory circuits.
The present invention reduces the time required to test embedded memory circuits by identifying a group of locations within a memory, and compressing the failure information associated with those locations. If the compressed failure information indicates a failure associated with any one of the group of memory locations, then a group of redundant memory circuits respectively associated with the group of memory locations is replaced. Such use of compressed failure information advantageously provides a reduction in the time required for testing an embedded memory circuit.

Using data compression for faster testing of embedded memory


An imaging system for generating SPECT images wherein first and second cameras are mounted to a gantry for rotation about an imaging axis, the cameras are positionible in an L configuration wherein their camera axis intersect at an intersection point, the cameras are mounted such that when in the L position the intersection point is further away from each of the cameras than is the rotation axis allowing the cameras to be moved radially inward with respect to the rotation axis thus reducing the degree of table movement within the imaging area required to position an object to be imaged adjacent the cameras.

The present invention relates to single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and more particularly to a system or camera/gantry configuration which reduces the degree of patent support table motion required to position a patient adjacent to gamma cameras for imaging when cameras are positioned such that their axis essentially form an L.
SPECT examinations are carried out by injecting a radiopharmaceutical into the body of a patient to be examined. A radiopharmaceutical is a substance labeled with a radioisotope which emits photons at one or more energy levels. By choosing a compound which accumulates in an organ to be imaged, radiopharmaceutical concentration, and hence radioisotope concentration, can be substantially limited to an organ of interest. The organ to be imaged will be referred to hereinafter as an organ of interest and an energy range which approximates the known energy level will be referred to as the energy range.
While moving through a patient's blood stream the radiopharmaceutical becomes concentrated in the organ of interest. By measuring the number of photons emitted from the organ of interest which are within the marker range, organ characteristics, including irregularities, can be identified.
To measure the number of emitted photons planar gamma cameras are used. After a radiopharmaceutical has become concentrated within an organ of interest, a camera is positioned at an imaging angle with respect to the organ of interest such that the organ is positioned within the camera's field of view FOV. The camera is designed to detect photons traveling along preferred paths within the FOV.
A gamma camera consists of a collimator, a scintillation crystal, a plurality of photo multiplier tubes (PMTs) and a camera processor. The collimator typically includes a rectangular lead block having a width dimension and a length dimension which together define the FOV. Holes in the collimator block define the preferred photon paths. The preferred paths are unidirectional and perpendicular to the front face of the collimator. The collimator blocks emissions toward the crystal along non-preferred paths.
The scintillation crystal is positioned adjacent the collimator on a side opposite the FOV and has an impact surface and an oppositely facing emitter surface. The impact surface defines a two dimensional imaging area A having a length L and a width W. Photons which pass through the collimator are absorbed by the scintillation crystal. The crystal converts gamma photons to light photons each time a gamma photon is absorbed. The amount of light emitted depends on the absorbed photon's energy level.
The PMTs typically include between 37 and 91 PMTs which are arranged in a two dimensional array which is positioned adjacent the emitter surface. Light emitted by the crystal is detected by the PMTs which are in the area adjacent the emitter point. Each PMT which detects light generates an analog intensity signal. The intensity signal is proportional to the amount of light detected. When a single photon is absorbed by the crystal, the emitted light is typically absorbed by several different PMTs such that several PMTs generate intensity signals simultaneously. For the purposes of this explanation all intensity signals caused by a single photon will be collectively referred to as a signal set.
The processor receives each signal set and performs a plurality of calculations on each signal set to determine two characteristics of the corresponding photon. The processor combines the intensity signals of each signal set to identify the energy level of a corresponding photon. Photons having energies within the energy range will be referred to as events. Only signals corresponding to events are used for imaging. The processor also performs a series of calculations in an effort to determine precisely where in the crystal area A an event occurred. The processor uses these locations to create an image of the organ of interest which corresponds to the camera imaging angle.
To create a three dimensional "tomographic" image of the organ of interest, a gamma camera can be used to generate a plurality of images from different imaging angles. To this end, the camera is often mounted to an annular gantry and positioned parallel to, and at an imaging angle about, a rotation axis which passes through the organ of interest. The rotation angle is incremented between views so that the plurality of images are generated. The plurality of images are then used to construct pictures of transaxial slices of the torso section using algorithms and methods that are well known to those skilled in the tomographic arts.
To reduce the time required for generating a plurality of images many SPECT systems are equipped with two or more cameras which can be arranged at different angles with respect to the rotation axis. While many different two camera configurations can be formed, there are two configurations which are most widely used, an "H" configuration or mode and an "L" configuration or mode.
Referring to FIG. 1, in the H mode two cameras 10 and 12 oppose each other such that camera axis 11 and 13 are aligned and intersect an rotation axis 15. The H mode is used to image patients efficiently by acquiring two opposing views at the same time. For example, the H mode can be used to acquire two fixed views such as anterior and posterior views simultaneously. In the alternative, the H mode can be used to acquire a series of views for SPECT over 360.degree. by acquiring images from both detectors over a 180.degree. rotation.
Referring to FIG. 2, in the L mode the two cameras 10, 12 are positioned such that their camera axis 11, 13 intersect at rotation axis 15 forming approximately a 90 degree angle .gamma. hence the term "L mode". In one common L mode the axis form a 90 degree angle .gamma. while in another the axis form an essentially 101 degree angle .gamma.. For the purposes of this explanation, although the invention can be used with any L mode configuration, in the interest of simplification, the invention will be described in the context of a 90 degree L mode unless indicated otherwise.
The L mode is typically used to image the heart. During heart imaging data is typically only collected over 180 degrees of rotation about the left side of the chest. To collect 180 degrees of data using cameras configured in the L mode, the cameras are rotated about the patient through 90 degrees, each camera separately collecting 90 degrees of imaging data for a total of 180 degrees.
Because both the L and the H modes are advantageous many SPECT systems are equipped so that two cameras can be positioned in either the H or the L mode. To this end at least one of the two system cameras is mounted such that it can be independently rotated with respect to the other system camera about the gantry, the independently moveable camera lockable in either the L or the H modes. Systems in which an operator can put the detectors in either L mode or H mode are known within the industry as "variable geometry SPECT cameras".
Because SPECT systems are expensive it is important that each system be designed such that it can be used to image virtually all patients independent of patient size. Generally, the largest section of most patients is through their chest or shoulders and is typically between 200 and 560 mm. To accommodate sections as large as 560 mm most system cameras have a field of view which is at least 540 mm. In this case, a detector enclosure or "tub" is typically over 600 mm wide.
It is well known in the industry that SPECT image quality can be improved by positioning a gamma camera as close as possible to an organ to be imaged during data gathering. To this end most SPECT systems provide some mechanism for changing the position of a patient support table relative to a gamma camera to thereby change the position of a patent on the table relative to the camera. Referring again to FIG. 1, in the H mode, one common way to change the position of a patient with respect to cameras 10 and 12 is to mount each camera 10 and 12 on a radial slide (not illustrated) which allows the cameras to be moved radially inwardly and outwardly relative to axis 15 along the direction indicated by arrow 24.
While radial slides work well in the H mode, camera geometry often prohibits radial camera motion in the L mode. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, to move the cameras from the H to the L mode, the cameras are first moved radially outward to a position where adjacent corners 26 and 28 will just touch in L mode. In the present example it will be assumed that this is 304 mm. Then, camera 12 is rotated about axis 15 in a counterclockwise direction toward camera 10 until adjacent edges 26 and 28 contact. In this example, edges 26 and 28 contact when the angle between axis 11 and 13 is 90 degrees. As can be seen in FIG. 2, at this point both cameras 10 and 12 cannot be moved radially inward together as the edges 26 and 28 would collide. In addition, if either camera 10 or 12 were moved inward separately, the moved camera would block a portion of the stationary camera.
Thus, in the L mode other means for changing the position of cameras 10 and 12 with respect to a patient have been developed. To this end, one way to change the position of a patient with respect to cameras 10 and 12 has been to provide an adjustable table 30 (see FIG. 2). Table 30 can move both vertically (along arrow 32) and laterally (along arrow 34) and therefore can move a patient toward both cameras 10 and 12. As cameras 10 and 12 are rotated about axis 15, table 30 moves about in a semicircular path to maintain an organ being imaged in an initial position with respect to cameras 10 and 12.
An alternative way to change the position of a patient with respect to the cameras is to mount the cameras on a gantry 44 (see FIG. 2) and move gantry 44 rather than move table 30 laterally. A configuration facilitating table horizontal and gantry lateral movement can be used together to achieve the same effective patient positioning.
Referring still to FIG. 2, the amount of table movement d required to accommodate the smallest patient having a chest diameter of 200 mm can be determined as follows. In FIG. 2, cameras 10 and 12 are in an L configuration defining a 90.degree. angle .gamma.. In this case the fixed radius of camera rotation about imaging axis 15 is R and the effective radius of rotation required to accommodate the smallest patient (i.e. 200 mm chest diameter) is r. Distance d can be determined by solving the following equation: ##EQU1##
Again, assuming a fixed radius R of 304 mm and a required effective radius of 200 mm, where .gamma. is 90.degree., d is 147 mm.
While adjustable tables as described above have been successfully implemented, tables required to provide necessary patient movement are relatively complex and therefore relatively expensive. This is particularly true where relatively large table movements d are required. In addition, large table movements also require a large gantry aperture as seen from FIG. 2. The gantry ring 44 prevents the patient from coming close to the cameras.
Another solution for changing the position of a patient with respect to cameras configured in the L mode has been to mount cameras to a gantry on radial/lateral slides. Referring again to FIG. 2, as above, radial slides allow cameras 10 and 12 to be moved radially with respect to axis 15. One lateral slide allows camera 10 to be moved laterally along the direction indicated by arrow 14 while another lateral slide allows camera 12 to be moved along the direction indicated by arrow 16. In this case, to move cameras 10 and 12 closer to a patient supported by table 30, camera 10 can be moved laterally away from camera 12 (i.e. in FIG. 2, to the left) and radially inward toward axis 15 while camera 12 is moved lateral away from camera 10 (i.e. in FIG. 2, downward) and radially inward toward axis 15. In effect, cameras 10 and 12 are moved in the directions indicated by arrows 36 and 38, respectively.
Unfortunately, while radial/lateral slides also have been successfully implemented, such dual motion slides, like a highly adjustable table, are also relatively complex and therefore are relatively expensive.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to have a two camera SPECT system which reduces the amount of table movement required to accommodate small patients when cameras are configured in the L mode and which does not require cameras to be mounted on lateral slides. In addition, where an adjustable table is not provided, it would be advantageous to have a SPECT system which reduces the amount of lateral slide movement required to accommodate small patients when cameras are configured in the L mode.

Spect system with reduced radius detectors


A silicone composition that contains an organopolysiloxane having at least two aliphatic unsaturated hydrocarbon groups per molecule, a filler containing an aluminum powder and a zinc oxide powder, an organohydrogenpolysiloxane having two or more SiH groups per molecule, and a platinum group metal catalyst, in which when a storage and loss elastic modulus G″ of the silicone composition is measured by means a viscoelasticity measurement apparatus capable of measuring shear modulus, the silicone composition can provide a cured product wherein G′ after 3,000 seconds from the start of holding is 10,000 Pa or less, G′ after 7,200 seconds from the start of holding is 100,000 Pa or less, and G′ exceeds G″ after 800 seconds or more from the start of holding. As a result, there is provided a silicone composition excellent in crushability, spreadability, and heat conductivity.

It is widely known that electronic parts such as semiconductor packages generate heat in use, thereby lowering the performance thereof. To solve this problem, various heat dissipating techniques have been used. One typical method is to provide a cooling member such as a heat spreader in the vicinity of a heat-generating part and bring them into close contact to effectively remove heat through the cooling member.
In this case, if there is a space between the heat-generating member and the cooling member, thermal conduction does not proceed smoothly because of the presence of air, which is poor in heat conductivity, and therefore, the temperature of the heat-generating member cannot be sufficiently reduced. To prevent such phenomena, there have been conventionally used, for the purpose of preventing the presence of air, heat-dissipating greases or heat-dissipating sheets that have good heat conductivity and followability to the surface of the member (Patent Literatures 1 to 11).
A thin and compressible heat-dissipating grease is suitable for measures against heat of semiconductor packages in view of heat-dissipating performance. Particularly, it is preferable, in view of reliability, to use a thermosetting heat-dissipating grease that hardly causes outflow of the grease (pumping out) due to the thermal history between heating and cooling of the heat-generating part. In general, a thermosetting heat-dissipating grease contains a reaction retarder in many cases, so that the grease is not cured for a certain time at room temperature even after applied to a heat-generating part. Accordingly, even if a certain time passes after the heat-dissipating grease is applied, the heat-dissipating grease can be compressed and thermally cured into a desired thickness after a cooling member such as a heat spreader is placed thereon, and thus, good crushability can be achieved.
On the other hand, semiconductor packages progress toward miniaturization in recent years, and along with this current, application to finer pattern and less application amount are required in heat-dissipating greases. In these cases, the reaction retarder tends to volatilize due to the increase in surface area of the applied heat-dissipating grease or other factors, which leads to acceleration of the curing reaction. Therefore, the heat-dissipating grease cannot be compressed into a desired thickness when the heat-dissipating grease is thermally cured after a cooling member such as a heat spreader is placed thereon, that is, resulting poor crushability. In addition, the applied heat-dissipating grease cannot sufficiently spread over the whole heat-generating part. Thus, there is a problem of insufficient heat-dissipating performance,

Silicone composition and method for manufacturing heat-conductive silicone composition


Cyclic peptides comprising a cadherin cell adhesion recognition sequence HAV, and compositions comprising such cyclic peptides, are provided. Methods for using such peptides for modulating cadherin-mediated cell adhesion in a variety of contexts are also provided.

Cell adhesion is a complex process that is important for maintaining tissue integrity and generating physical and permeability barriers within the body. All tissues are divided into discrete compartments, each of which is composed of a specific cell type that adheres to similar cell types. Such adhesion triggers the formation of intercellular junctions (i.e., readily definable contact sites on the surfaces of adjacent cells that are adhering to one another), also known as tight junctions, gap junctions and belt desmosomes. The formation of such junctions gives rise to physical and permeability barriers that restrict the free passage of cells and other biological substances from one tissue compartment to another. For example, the blood vessels of all tissues are composed of endothelial cells. In order for components in the blood to enter a given tissue compartment, they must first pass from the lumen of a blood vessel through the barrier formed by the endothelial cells of that vessel. Similarly, in order for substances to enter the body via the gut, the substances must first pass through a barrier formed by the epithelial cells of that tissue. To enter the blood via the skin, both epithelial and endothelial cell layers must be crossed.
Cell adhesion is mediated by specific cell surface adhesion molecules (CAMs). There are many different families of CAMs, including the immunoglobulin, integrin, selectin and cadherin superfamilies, and each cell type expresses a unique combination of these molecules. Cadherins are a rapidly expanding family of calcium-dependent CAMs (Munro et al., In: Cell Adhesion and Invasion in Cancer Metastasis, P. Brodt, ed., pp. 17-34, RG Landes Co.(Austin Tex., 1996). The classical cadherins (abbreviated CADs) are integral membrane glycoproteins that generally promote cell adhesion through homophilic interactions (a CAD on the surface of one cell binds to an identical CAD on the surface of another cell), although CADs also appear to be capable of forming heterotypic complexes with one another under certain circumstances and with lower affinity. Cadherins have been shown to regulate epithelial, endothelial, neural and cancer cell adhesion, with different CADs expressed on different cell types. N (neural)—cadherin is predominantly expressed by neural cells, endothelial cells and a variety of cancer cell types. E (epithelial)—cadherin is predominantly expressed by epithelial cells. Other CADs are P (placental)—cadherin, which is found in human skin and R (retinal)—cadherin. A detailed discussion of the classical cadherins is provided in Munro SB et al., 1996, In: Cell Adhesion and Invasion in Cancer Metastasis, P. Brodt, ed., pp.17-34 (RG Landes Company, Austin Tex.).
The structures of the CADs are generally similar. As illustrated in FIG. 1, CADs are composed of five extracellular domains (EC1-EC5), a single hydrophobic domain (TM) that transverses the plasma membrane (PM), and two cytoplasmic domains (CP1 and CP2). The calcium binding motifs DXNDN (SEQ ID NO:8), DXD and LDRE (SEQ ID NO:9) are interspersed throughout the extracellular domains. The first extracellular domain (EC1) contains the classical cadherin cell adhesion recognition (CAR) sequence, HAV (His-Ala-Val), along with flanking sequences on either side of the CAR sequence that may play a role in conferring specificity. Synthetic peptides containing the CAR sequence and antibodies directed against the CAR sequence have been shown to inhibit CAD-dependent processes (Munro et al., supra; Blaschuk et al., J. Mol. Biol. 211:679-82, 1990; Blaschuk et al., Develop. Biol. 139:227-29, 1990; Alexander et al., J. Cell. Physiol. 156:610-18, 1993). The three-dimensional solution and crystal structures of the EC1 domain have been determined (Overduin et al., Science 267:386-389, 1995; Shapiro et al., Nature 374:327-337, 1995).
Although cell adhesion is required for certain normal physiological functions, there are situations in which cell adhesion is undesirable. For example, many pathologies (such as autoimmune and inflammatory diseases) involve abnormal cellular adhesion. Cell adhesion may also play a role in graft rejection. In such circumstances, modulation of cell adhesion may be desirable.
In addition, permeability barriers arising from cell adhesion create difficulties for the delivery of drugs to specific tissues and tumors within the body. For example, skin patches are a convenient tool for administering drugs through the skin. However, the use of skin patches has been limited to small, hydrophobic molecules because of the epithelial and endothelial cell barriers. Similarly, endothelial cells render the blood capillaries largely impermeable to drugs, and the blood/brain barrier has hampered the targeting of drugs to the central nervous system. In addition, many solid tumors develop internal barriers that limit the delivery of anti-tumor drugs and antibodies to inner cells.
Attempts to facilitate the passage of drugs across such barriers generally rely on specific receptors or carrier proteins that transport molecules across barriers in vivo. However, such methods are often inefficient, due to low endogenous transport rates or to the poor functioning of a carrier protein with drugs. While improved efficiency has been achieved using a variety of chemical agents that disrupt cell adhesion, such agents are typically associated with undesirable side-effects, may require invasive procedures for administration and may result in irreversible effects. It has been suggested that linear synthetic peptides containing a cadherin CAR sequence may be employed for drug transport (WO 91/04745), but such peptides are often metabolically unstable and are generally considered to be poor therapeutic agents.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for compounds that modulate cell adhesion and improve drug delivery across permeability barriers without such disadvantages. The present invention fulfills this need and further provides other related advantages.

Compounds and methods for modulating cell adhesion


Fire-retardant compositions are disclosed. The compositions include at least one nitrogen-liberating compound which will release nitrogen gas during burning, a primary fire-retardant agent; casein resin, and an activator of the casein resin. In the preferred embodiment, there are two nitrogen-liberating compounds, dicyandiamide and nitro-urea, the primary fire-retardant agent is diammonium phosphate, and a filler, titanium dioxide, is also included. The compositions are prepared in a mixing tank and can be applied in a known manner, optionally under high pressure, to cellulosic products such as cloth, yarn, paper, wood and wood substrates in order to impart a fire-retardant quality thereto. Fire-retardant glue and wood laminate structures produced using the glue are also disclosed.

It is known that various compounds can be used to treat cellulosic products such as cloth, yarn, paper, wood and wood substrates in order to impart thereto a flame-resistant quality. The use of wood treated with such compounds came into common usage during World War II, when it was used for the construction of blimp hangars.
Most known fire-retardant compositions make use of the same technical underpinning. These compositions comprise salt compositions, such as phosphates and sulfates, which becomes acidic under elevated temperatures. These salts can form, for example, phosphoric and sulfuric acid respectively, and other acidic phosphate and sulfate derivatives under high temperatures. The acid formed promotes charring of the treated material during exposure to fire. The resulting char reduces flammability by insulating the material from the fire, thereby reducing flame spread and penetration.
Many prior art compositions make use of active ingredients, such as ammonium sulfates, which have been found to be corrosive to metal, including any metal fasteners, such as staples or nails, used to secure the treated materials. Thus, for treatment of materials to be secured in place with metal fasteners, such as the majority of all building materials, compositions making use of less corrosive active ingredients is critical. However, many of the replacement materials, such as ammonium phosphate have high hygroscopicity (high moisture pick-up). Thus, there is a need for offsetting the hygroscopicity of the non-corrosive replacement salts.
Many of these compositions also include starches, such as molasses, in order to provide adequate charring. However, the use of such starches renders the treated material susceptible to degradation by adventitious organisms such as insects and molds.
Other fire-retardant compositions require a drying step with high heat after application to a material. This high heat step often leads to premature activation of the chemical processes designed to resist flame spread during fire. Thus, leading to acid hydrolysis of the cellulose fibers in the material treated.
Plywood sheaths are often treated with fire-retardant compositions and used as roof decking, where the temperature at the interface between the overlying shingles and the roof deck can often exceed 170.degree. F. However, many prior art fire-retardant compositions result in degradation of the materials to which they are applied at temperatures greatly below the temperature of combustion of the materials to which they are applied. Thus, it has been found that many roof decks constructed from plywood sheaths treated with prior art fire-retardant compositions begin to lose structural integrity through acid hydrolysis. This degradation occurs even more rapidly in warmer climates. Furthermore, the presence of moisture has been found to accelerate the rate of thermal degradation of many treated products. Thus, in many cases, the treated plywood used as roof decking required replacement in as little as two to seven years.
Many prior art fire-retardant compositions were found to discolor, as well as degrade, the material treated after prolonged exposure to the elements. For example, dark, reddish-brown charred spots soon begin to appear in wood products treated with prior art compositions. This discoloration prevents the use of the treated material where an exposed natural finish is aesthetically desirable. Moreover, the degradation of wood products used for structural purposes results in the products being unsuitable for use.
Organic compounds are often added to fire-retardant compositions to seal out moisture and also to lock the active salt ingredients into the structure of the treated material, thereby also raising the threshold temperature at which activation occurs. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,461,720and U.K. Patent Application GB 2,200,363 both disclose the use of melamine or derivatives thereof as binding resins or casings. These references disclose that melamine provides improved leach resistance. However, a major drawback associated with the use of melamine is its limited stability. Accordingly, storage of melamine is difficult, and any working stocks containing melamine have a very short working period before which they will set. Thus, melamine solutions must be replaced frequently, resulting in both increased handling and material costs.
There are a number of properties of natural wood that make it the product of choice for building construction. Its strength, appearance, durability, accessibility and non-corrosive nature make it ideally suited for building supports, framework and trims. However, wood is of course, highly flammable.
The treatment of wood with most prior art fire-retardant compositions has generally required the use of incising of the wood with small perforations in order to assure adequate penetration of the wood with the fire-retardant composition. However, this incising, by cutting through the fibers of the wood leads to a reduction in the structural integrity of the treated wood.
Due to the combustible nature of wood, building codes in virtually all U.S. municipalities restrict the use of untreated wood to certain applications. However, the fire-retardant treatment of wood has broadened the useful scope of both wood and wood substrates because these municipalities require the use of non-combustible materials, including treated wood, in applications where untreated wood would not be permitted. These municipalities rely on outside certification agencies to certify which fire-retardant treated materials meet the agency's criteria for strength, durability, fire-retardance and other properties. For example, all municipalities in western states rely on the International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO) to certify fire-retardant treated wood as suitable for all types of construction.

Composition and method for making fire-retardant materials


There is provided a speech efficient coding method applicable to, e.g., analysis by a synthesis system such as an MBE vocoder, and comprising the steps of (a) dividing an input speech signal into block units on a time base, (b) dividing signals of each of the respective divided blocks into signals in a plurality of frequency bands, (c) discriminating whether signals of each of the respective divided frequency bands which are lower than a first frequency are voiced sound or unvoiced sound, (d) if the discrimination results in step (c) for a predetermined number of frequency bands is voiced sound, assigning a discrimination result of voiced sound to all frequency bands lower than a second frequency which is higher than the first frequency to obtain an ultimate discrimination result of voiced sound/unvoiced sound. Thus, even in the case where the pitch suddenly changes, or the harmonics structure is not precisely in correspondence with an integer multiple of the fundamental pitch period, a stable judgment of V (Voiced Sound) can be made.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to such an efficient speech coding method to divide an input speech signal rate units of blocks to carry out coding processing with divided blocks being as a unit.
2. Description of the Related Art
There have been known various coding methods adapted to carry out signal compression by making use of the statistical property in the time region and the frequency region of an audio signal (including speech (voice) signal or acoustic signal) and the characteristic from a viewpoint of hearing of the human being. The coding method of this kind is further roughly classified into coding in the time region, coding in the frequency region, and analysis/synthesis coding, etc.
As an example of efficient coding of speech signal, etc., there are MBE (Multiband Excitation) coding, SBE (Singleband Excitation) coding, Harmonic coding, SBC (Sub-Band Coding), LPC (Linear Predictive Coding), DCT (Discrete Cosine Transform), MDCT (Modified DCT), or FFT (Fast Fourier Transform), etc. In such efficient coding processing, in the case of quantizing various information data such as spectrum amplitude or their parameters (LSP parameter, .alpha. parameter, k parameter, etc.) there are many cases where scalar quantization is conventionally carried out.
In the speech (voice) analysis/synthesis system such as PARCOR method, etc., since timing for switching excitation source is given every block (frame) on the time base, voiced sound and unvoiced sound cannot be mixed within the same frame. As a result, high quality speech (voice) could not be obtained.
On the contrary, in the above-mentioned MBE coding, since voiced sound/unvoiced sound discriminations (V/UV discrimination) are carried out on the basis of spectrum shape in bands every respective bands (frequency bands) obtained by combining respective harmonics of the frequency spectrum or 2.about.3 harmonics thereof, or every bands divided by fixed frequency band width (e.g., 300.about.400 Hz) with respect to speech signals (signal components) within one block (frame), improvement in the sound quality is concluded. Such V/UV discriminations for each of the respective bands are carried out chiefly in dependency upon the degree of existence (occurrence) of harmonics in the spectra within those bands.
However, if, e.g., the pitch suddenly changes within one block (e.g., 256 samples), a so called "indistinctness" (obscurity) may take place particularly in the medium.about.high frequency band as shown in FIG. 1, for example, in that spectrum structure. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 2, there are instances where harmonics do not necessarily exist at frequencies which are an integer multiple of the fundamental period, or there are instances where detention accuracy of the pitch is insufficient. Under such circumstances, when V/UV discriminations for all the respective bands are carried out in accordance with the conventional system, any inconvenience takes place in spectrum matching in V/UV discrimination, i.e., matching between the currently inputted signal spectrum and the spectrum which has been synthesized up to that time for every each band or each harmonic. As a result, bands or harmonics which should be discriminated to be primarily discriminated as V (Voiced Sound) may be erroneously discriminated to be UV (Unvoiced Sound). Namely, in the case shown in FIG. 1 or 2, speech signal components only on a lower frequency side are judged to be V (Voiced Sound) and speech signal components in the medium.about.higher frequency band are judged to be UV (Unvoiced Sound). As a result, synthetic sound may be so called easy.
In addition, also in the case where Voiced Sound/Unvoiced Sound discrimination (V/UV discrimination) is implemented to the entirety of signals (signal components) within the block, similar inconvenience may take place.


The method enables a concentration of a species in a culture medium (12) to be estimated using an estimation system (10) comprising a light source (16), a transparent substrate (14) and a matrix photodetector (18), the substrate being located between the source and the photodetector, the medium comprising biological particles (32) and changing color when said concentration varies. Said method comprises the following steps:—placing the medium on the substrate,—illuminating the medium via the light source,—acquisition of an image of the medium via the photodetector, each image being formed by a ray transmitted by the illuminated medium and comprising at least one diffraction pattern, each diffraction pattern corresponding to the waves diffracted by a biological particle when the medium is illuminated,—and calculating an estimate of said concentration as a function of a pixel intensity of the acquired image.

A lensless imaging system and an associated method making it possible to determine the position or the number of objects, such as cells, within the culture medium, are known from document WO 2008/090330 A1. The lensless imaging system is also used to track the movements of these objects and/or to detect a change of these objects, such as a cell division or an adhesion of cells to one another. This lensless imaging system then makes it possible to perform detecting, counting and tracking of cells in the culture medium.
However, such a lensless imaging system and such an associated method do not make it possible to observe other properties relative to the culture medium.

Method and system for estimating a concentration of a species in a culture medium by lensless imaging

COMMISSARIAT À L'ÉNERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ÉNERGIES ALTERNATIVES


A flow-through pressure regulator includes a retainer that secures a diaphragm relative to a seat, and includes an intermediate portion, an end portion and a base portion. The intermediate portion extends along a longitudinal axis and is fixed with respect to the seat. The end portion extends from the intermediate portion and includes a concave surface facing the seat. The regulator includes multiple flow diffusers such that the end portion includes at least one aperture having a flow axis that is oblique to the longitudinal axis so as to reduce noise due to fluid flow and/or the seat forms a passage having an increasing cross-sectional area from an inlet to an outlet.

Most modern automotive fuel systems utilize fuel injectors to deliver fuel to the engine cylinders for combustion. The fuel injectors are mounted on a fuel rail to which fuel is supplied by a pump. The pressure at which the fuel is supplied to the fuel rail must be controlled to ensure the proper operation of the fuel injectors. Pressure is controlled using pressure regulators that control the pressure of the fuel in the system at all engine r.p.m. levels.
Fuel flow rate through known pressure regulators tends to be low at high engine speed, as large quantities of fuel are consumed in the combustion process. At low engine speeds, less fuel is consumed in combustion and flow rates through the pressure regulators are high. These high fuel flow rates can produce unacceptably high noise and pressure levels.
A known pressure regulator includes a divider having a seat, a diaphragm and a retainer. The divider separates a housing into a first chamber and a second chamber. The seat defines a passage extending along a longitudinal axis of the housing between the first and second chambers. The seat includes a first portion proximate the first chamber having a first cross-sectional area and a second portion proximate the second chamber and having a second cross-sectional area. The first cross-sectional area is greater than the second cross-sectional area. The diaphragm extends between the housing and the seat. The retainer includes a plurality of apertures having a flow axis oriented along the longitudinal axis. The apertures diffuse flow and reduce operational noise of the regulator.
It is believed that there is a need for a pressure regulator that reduces flow-related noise at high fuel flow rates more than the known pressure regulator, while still being inexpensive to manufacture.


A pixel circuit, driving method thereof, organic light-emitting display panel and display apparatus, comprise driving transistor, first storage capacitor, collecting unit, writing unit and light-emitting unit; the collecting unit is used for collecting the threshold voltage of the driving transistor and storing the threshold voltage into the first storage capacitor, under the control of the first scan signal; the writing unit is used for storing the data voltage inputted from the input terminal for the data voltage under the control of the second scan signal; and the light-emitting unit is used for emitting lights, driven by the data voltage and a voltage inputted from the input terminal for the controllable low voltage, under the control of the light-emitting control signal. Thus, the organic light-emitting device is not affected by the threshold voltage shift of the driving transistor, which may enhance the image uniformity of the organic light-emitting display panel effectively.

Ink-jet printing technology is one of the main technologies adopted in the modern office printing. In recent years, researchers have attempted to apply the ink-jet printing technology to prepare plane function materials, for example, prepare a polymer conductive film, a color organic light emitting diode, a thin-film semiconductor device and the like.
However, when the ink-jet printing technology is applied to a display device, such as a liquid crystal display device or an Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) display device and the like, the printed ink may overflow into an adjacent pixel region from the concerned pixel region because of fluidity of the ink. In order to prevent the printed ink from overflowing into the adjacent pixel region, a pixel definition layer is generally provided. The pixel definition layer comprises a pixel division wall formed at the non-pixel region between the pixel regions so as to form a space surrounded by the pixel division walls; and the ink is applied within the space by the ink-jet printing method.
Generally, the pixel definition layer is manufactured by the following method. Firstly, an organic insulating film is formed on a substrate; and then a solvent is spray-coated on the organic insulating film to form the pixel division walls by using the "coffee-ring" effect. In the above method, the organic insulating film is firstly prepared by a spin coating method or a blade coating method, and then the organic insulating material of the organic insulating film migrates due to the solvent so as to form the pixel division wall. However, the above method has the following disadvantages: on the one hand, in the case that the organic insulating film is prepared by the above-mentioned spin coating method or blade coating method, the utilization ratio of the organic insulating material for forming the organic insulating film is low; on the other hand, when the organic insulating material of the organic insulating film migrates due to the solvent to form the pixel division wall, the organic insulating material may migrate incompletely so that additional processes such as a plasma etching process and the like are further required, in this case, the manufacturing method of the pixel definition layer is complex and the production line has a low efficiency.

Pixel definition layer and manufacturing method thereof, display substrate and display device


A reversible protective device for the bottom of a golf cup formed from a single sheet of flexible material into a conical shape for directional insertion into a conventional golf cup. The device incorporates a method of manufacture that is low in cost and allows placement of coloration or advertisement on the sheet before formation into the conical shape. The device prevents damage to the surface of the golf cup by absorbing the impact of flag pole replacement.

Golf is a game known throughout the world. The object of the game is to put a golf ball into a golf cup in as few of attempts or "strokes" as possible. The location of the golf cup is depicted by use of a flag situated on top of a flag pole held securely by the golf cup. When a player or "golfer" is close to the golf cup the flag pole is removed so as not to obstruct the golfer from putting the golf ball into the golf cup. Once the golfer has performed this feat the flag pole is returned to its original position.
Next to the golf ball, the golf cup is one of the most abused items in the game. The problem with the golf cup is that after minimal use the golf cup takes on an unsightly appearance. As previously mentioned, when a golfer has completed their play the golfer returns the flag pole to the golf cup. Anyone who has played the game of golf realizes flag pole replacement is nothing more than jamming the flag pole into the golf cup with hopes that it will situate itself in the proper location. If the golf cup is metal and painted, replacement typically chips the paint. If the cup is plastic, replacement may chip the cup.
Further, physical movement of the golf cup is performed daily to prevent excessive wear to the playing area surrounding the golf cup. Since the placement of the golf ball within the golf cup is the focus of the game, every person who plays the game must stand next to the golf cup to retrieve his golf ball. The result is excessive wear to the putting green around the hole. Physical movement of the cup requires a tool that is twisted into the bottom of the golf cup in such a manner that leverage is obtained for lifting. This movement results in physical contact with the bottom surface of the golf cup leading to additional chipping or like damage.
Current maintenance of the golf cup is expensive. Ideally, the golf cup remains on the putting green throughout the playing season. A conventional golf cup becomes an unsightly hole that must be exchanged with a new or repainted cup else leave a poor impression with the customer. Exchanging cups every few weeks for new or repainted cups is impractical and expensive.
Green keepers painstakingly maintain their golf course realizing that the beauty of the course is a key element in attracting return customers. Yet while a golfer may look at the golf course as a whole, it is assured that the golfer will look at, and physically reach their hand into, each and every golf cup on the golf course. A badly chipped or damaged golf cup reflects on the overall appearance of the course.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,928,417 issued to Boudreau discloses a device that is placed in the bottom of a golf cup. Boudreau teaches the use of a performed plastic device that is expensive to manufacture and not universally applicable due to its dependence upon attachment to drainage holes of the golf cup. Boudreau device is not reversible, is difficult to print upon, and storage is inconvenient due to its particular shape.
It is, therefore, to the effective resolution of the aforementioned problems and shortcomings of the prior art that the present invention is directed.

Reversible golf cup hole protector and method of manufacture


Methods and apparatus for fusing high-voltage electrical systems including fuse holding dry wells each of which includes a metallic outer wall, a fuse mount and a chimney tube located between the outer wall and a fuse in the mount. The dry wells may be mounted completely within an associated switchgear tank, partially within and partially without the associated tank, on the outer surface of the tank, or on structural means other than a switchgear tank.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to high-voltage electrical switchgear, and more particularly to mounting means for mounting high-voltage current-limiting fuses in or on the enclosures of liquid or gas insulated switchgear.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The term "prior art" as used herein or in any statement made by or on behalf of applicants means only that any document or thing referred to as prior art bears, directly or inferentially, a date which is earlier than the effective filing date hereof.
A fuse holder which may be applied to various kinds of transformers, particularly distribution transformers, and which permits an air-type fuse to be mounted in the enclosure of such a transformer, and within the body of insulating oil contained therein, is shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,010,437, which was issued to Herbert J. Macemon, et al, on Mar. 1, 1977, and entitled FUSE HOLDERS FOR TRANSFORMERS.
This U.S. Pat. (No. 4,010,437) will hereinafter be referred to as "Macemon".
Macemon nowhere teaches the cooling of air-type fuse 43 by a current of air circulating within fuse housing 22 thereof.
As seen in FIG. 1 of Macemon, the axis of fuse housing 22 of Macemon makes a small angle with respect to the surface of oil bath 13 of Macemon.
It is taught in Macemon that the outer end of housing 22 passes through an aperture in "the transformer front wall" 14.
It is stated in Macemon that housing 22 is "fabricated of an insulative material such as a glass fiber reinforced epoxy".
Macemon nowhere teaches the provision of a flow director tube or "chimney" tube located between housing 22 and fuse 43.
Macemon does not teach the substitution of a metallic housing for insulative housing 22, nor the provision of a "chimney" tube between fuse 43 and housing 22, nor the mounting of the outer end of housing 22 in an aperture in the top of housing 22.
No representation or admission is made that Macemon is part of the prior art, or that a search has been made, or that no more pertinent information exists.
A copy of Macemon is supplied to the United States Patent and Trademark Office herewith.

Air-convection-cooled dry well for high-voltage current-limiting fuse for use in liquid or gas insulated switchgear


A rupture disk provides an improved scoring configuration that allows low pressure burst disks of very small diameter such as, for example, 0.25 inches in diameter, wherein the score of the rupture disk is generally circular in shape which terminates at end portions that define a hinge therebetween.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to rupture disks, and more particularly to an improved rupture disk having a generally circular score pattern which cuts at least halfway through the disk material using a beveled cut.
2. General Background
Rupture disks are used for the relief of pressure from process vessels and the like. Such vessels are typically expensive so that a failure of the vessel can create significant property damage, the threat of personal injury or death, as well as environmental hazard. Rupture disks are commercially available in a variety of sizes, shapes, and with various pressure values.
Several patents have issued on rupture disks.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,484,817 discloses a safety pressure relief valve in the form of a reverse buckling disc having a cross hair pattern.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,520,443 issued to R. M. Selby discloses a safety vent structure that includes a cross hair pattern that divides the disc into six pie-wedge shaped segments.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,704,807 issued to Robert Lidgard there is provided a pre-bulged, frangible member and a relief device employing the frangible member that has a predetermined burst pattern that is relieved into its crown which insures that no portion of the member is severed from the member when it fails. The basic pattern uses radial slits extending from the periphery of the crown and terminating short of the center. The center portion of the crown is relieved with a pattern employing at least one non-rupturable interconnecting web between the apex and the remainder of the member so that upon failure this web remains the apex of the crown.
The Dernbach, et al U.S. Pat. No. 3,845,879 dicloses a safety fitting for a pipe or vessel and contained within a flange coupling. The device includes a rupture disc with radial grooves placed on one side which will normally be at a higher pressure and is backed by a perforated support member placed on the other side such that under normal conditions the support member supports the rupture disc in the areas of the grooves. If the pressure on the other side exceeds that on the one side of the disc is no longer supported and will rupture allowing flow through the fitting.
A quick opening rupture disc is seen in the Taylor U.S. Pat. No. 3,257,026. The device includes a circular disc having a cross hair pattern.
The Coffman U.S. Pat. No. 2,980,286 entitled "Safety Pressure Relief Device Support" discloses a rupture disc of generally concave convex shape having an annular generally circular skirt at its periphery with a central concave convex disc portion.
The Porter U.S. Pat. No. 3,121,509 entitled "Damage Resistant Rupture Disc Assembly" provides a concave convex disc-shaped member having an arcuate slot that tracks a generally circular path but terminates at two end portions to provide a hinge there between.
In the Raidl U.S. Pat. No. 3,722,734 entitled "Safety Relief Device" there is provided a burst pattern that is cut or relieved in the dome of the disc to fail at a pressure less than the snapover pressure so that pressure causing snapover results in failure and bursting of the disc. The apparatus includes a frangible disc and support assembly that includes a ceiling diaphragm member and a support member. The support member has a circular slit which extends a substantial distance around the base portion of the dome. A second support member is provided on the downstream side of the support member to overlay the relieved portion and thus prevent it from premature failure.
A Shear diagram relief union is the subject of U.S. Pat. No. 2,553,267. The 267 patent is provides a circular relief device having a diaphragm or web connected to a ring and has a generally circular groove adjacent to its connection with the ring except for a short portion which serves as a hinge when the diaphragm shears.
The Fike U.S. Pat. No. 2,716,506 entitled "Rupture Disc Assembly for High Pressure Vessels" provides a diaphragm providing an arcuate slot in the diaphragm and preferring that the slot be substantially larger than a semicircle so that the member will swing away in hinge-like manner substantially clear of the relief opening.
Presently, under current manufacturing methods, the lowest burst pressure obtainable for a scored, tension-loaded rupture disk is about 70 psig at about 72.degree. Fahrenheit in a one-inch size. This type of disk is manufactured by using a mechanical score blade to cut more than halfway through the disk material in a "cross hair" score configuration. However, the "cross hair" score configuration is not practical in small sizes such as, for example, less than one inch.