A symbol synchronizer derives a symbol clock reference from a sampled baseband signal which may be of a variety of suitable digital signalling formats, including non-return-to-zero (NRZ) and Manchester formats. A one-bit quantizer receives the sampled signal and provides a binary representation thereof to a level-transition detector which generates a sequence of pulses at the symbol rate of the binary-valued data sequence and at a predetermined timing offset from the symbol timing epochs of the data sequence. The timing offset depends on the digital signalling format and is on the interval ##EQU1## where T is the symbol period. The level-transition detector employs delay circuitry, logic circuitry, and a monostable multivibrator to mask transitions in the quantized data sequence that do not occur at the predetermined timing offset from the timing epochs and to generate the symbol clock pulse sequence. The output pulse sequence from the level-transition detector is applied to a binary-quantized digital phase-locked loop (DPLL) which functions to stabilize the data-derived symbol clock. The average pull-in time of the digital phase-locked loop is reduced by the incorporation of a synchronization acquisition aid which automatically pulls the DPLL into synchronization if the estimated symbol clock timing epoch lies within a lock window a predetermined number of times.

Recent emphasis in radio receiver/modem technology research has focused on the utilization of digital signal processing to demodulate signals. Communication using digital modulation techniques requires that the receiver be able to accurately identify the symbol timing epoch, i.e., the optimum sampling point on a waveform for symbol detection. Presently, symbol synchronization is generally derived from an analog signal using analog and/or digital circuits. That is, symbol synchronizer implementations typically use a continuous-time data signal to derive a symbol clock. Even so-called digital synchronizer structures and commercially available digital phase-locked loops process continuous-time rather than sampled, or discrete-time, signals to derive the symbol timing reference. However, the aforementioned recent interest in digital, i.e. sampled, demodulation techniques has made it desirable to provide symbol synchronizers that derive the required symbol clock reference from a discrete-time, rather than continuous-time, signal. To be practicable, such a symbol synchronizer should provide a stable symbol clock reference even under noisy or lengthy transmission conditions. Furthermore, it is desirable that such symbol synchronizer structures be capable of being implemented using either VLSI technology or microprocessor code.


To provide a video signal transmission apparatus capable of correctly transmitting a digital video signal. A PLL circuit 5 has a first cutoff frequency lower than the frequency of a horizontal synchronization signal contained in a digital video signal S9. has the characteristics of causing attenuation of a signal of the frequency higher than the first cutoff frequency, performs PLL processing for a dot clock signal S14 for identifying one pixel""s worth of data of the digital video signal S9, and generates a transmission clock signal 55 of the frequency N (integer of 2 or more) times the first dot clock signal S14. The PLLL circuit 6 has a second cutoff frequency higher than the frequency of the horizontal synchronization signal, tracks a signal of a frequency lower than the related second cutoff frequency, performs the PLL processing on the serial signal S2 input via the transmission cable 4, and generates a transmission clock signal S6.

The present invention relates to a video signal transmission apparatus for transmitting a multi-bit, digital, video signal converted to a serial signal.
For example, the technique of converting a multi-bit, digital, video signal into a serial signal and transmitting the same has been used in the trunk communications, LAN (Local Area Network), etc.
When transmitting a digital signal in this way, the transmitter multiplies the synchronization signal contained in a multi-bit digital signal, that is, the clock signal, to generate a clock signal for transmission of serial signal and multiplexes the multi-bit digital signal to generate a serial signal.
Further, the receiver uses a clock signal extracted from a frequency component contained in the received serial signals using a PLL (Phase Locked Loop) circuit so as to demultiplex the serial signal.
Here, the clock signal for transmission of the serial signal has a considerably high frequency compared with the clock signal of the multi-bit digital signal. For this reason, in order to reduce the transmission error, it is necessary to use a transmission clock signal of a low jitter having a high tire precision.
Accordingly for the transmitter, for example, a low jitter high precision clock signal output from a crystal oscillator is used as the clock signal of the multi-bit digital signal serving as the base for generating the transmission clock.
A liquid crystal display or other display receiving as its input a digital signal, however, sometimes is serially sent an R, G, and B multi-bit digital video signal.
Such a digital video signal is comprised by a 12- to 24-bit digital signal indicating a color gradation and SYNC (synchronization) signal indicating a synchronization position of an image. These digital signal and SYNC signal are synchronous with a dot clock signal. The color gradation of one pixel, an element comprising the image, is indicted for every dot clock signal.
Here, the frequency of the dot clock signal is set to about 25 to 70 MHz in accordance with the total number of pixels of the image.
The above-mentioned digital video signal is generally generated by a large-sized LSI (large scale integrated circuit) referred to as a graphic accelerator. The dot clock signal generated by the graphic accelerator contains a phase modulation component in addition to a pure synchronization clock component for the following reasons (1) and (2).
(1) In the graphic accelerator, the clock signal from the crystal oscillator is transformed in frequency by the PLL circuit, but an unnecessary and harmful signal component, that is, spurious noise, leaks out of this PLL circuit. This spurious noise appears as the phase modulation component of the dot clock signal.
(2) The noise accompanying a large volume of digital signal processing handled by the graphic accelerator leaks to the dot clock. For example, in the transmission of a R, G, and B digital video signal, the period for transmitting the data to be actually displayed as the image and a blanking period for not performing the image display are repeated with a cycle of the horizontal synchronization signal. For this reason, a strong phase modulation comprised of the frequency of the horizontal synchronization signal as a component is contained in the dot clock signal.
For this reason, the dot clock signal, the phase modulation component is mainly distributed at positions of a fraction to a multiple of the frequency of the horizontal synchronization signal.
However, there is a problem that if such a phase modulation component is contained in the dot clock signal, an obstacle occurs in the serial transmission of the digital video signal and the digital video signals cannot be correctly transmitted.
An object of the present invention is to provide a video signal transmission apparatus capable of suppressing the influence exerted upon the transmission clock signal by strong phase modulation having mainly the frequency of the horizontal synchronization signal as its component and, thereby, correctly transmitting the digital video signal.
The video signal transmission apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises a first PLL circuit having a first cutoff frequency lower than a frequency of a horizontal synchronization signal contained in a digital video signal, having the characteristics of causing attenuation of a phase modulation component of a frequency higher than the first cutoff frequency, and generating a first transmission clock signal of a frequency of N (integer of 2 or more) times a first dot clock signal for identifying one pixel""s worth of data of the digital video signal and phase locked looped to the first dot clock signal; a first conversion means for generating a serial signal from a plurality of a parallel input element signals comprising the digital video signal based on the first dot clock signal and the first transmission clock signal; a transmission channel for transmitting the serial signal; a second PLL circuit having a second cutoff frequency higher than the frequency of the horizontal synchronization signal, tracking the phase modulation of a frequency lower than the second cutoff frequency, and generating a second transmission clock signal from the serial signal input via the transmission channel; a frequency division circuit for dividing the second transmission clock signal 1/N to generate a second dot clock signal; and, a second conversion means for generating a plurality of element signals to be output in parallel form a serial signal input though the transmission channel based on the second dot clock signal and the second transmission clock signal.
Preferably, the fist PLL circuit attenuates a phase modulation component contained in the first dot clock signal more than higher the frequency in a frequency region higher than the first cutoff frequency.
More preferably, the second PLL circuit has less of a tracking error the lower the frequency in a frequency region lower than the second cutoff frequency.
Further, the plurality of element signals are digital color signals and a synchronization signal
Further, preferably, N is 4, 18, 24, 28, 30, or 32.
Further, according to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a video signal transmission apparatus for generating and transmitting a serial signal from a plurality of parallel input element signals comprising a digital video signal, comprising a PLL circuit having a cutoff frequency lower than a frequency of a horizontal synchronization signal contained in the digital video signal, having the characteristic of causing attenuation of a phase modulation component of a frequency higher than the cutoff frequency, and generating a transmission clock signal of a frequency of N (integer of 2 or more) times a dot clock signal for identifying one pixel""s worth of data of the digital video signal and phase locked looped to the dot clock signal and a conversion means for generating a serial signal from a plurality of parallel input elements signals comprising the digital video signal based on the dot clock signal and the transmission clock signal.
Preferably, the PLLC circuit attenuates a phase modulation component contained in the dot clock signal more than the higher the frequency in a frequency region higher then the cutoff frequency.


An apparatus is provided for placement in a wound to treat and promote healing of the wound by suctioning unwanted fluids and debris from the wound. The apparatus includes a suction head peg made of multi-fibered material that is softenable in the human body by body fluids. A membrane and cuff are included for attachment to the body, and a suction tube is in operable communication with the suction head peg and a suction pump to provide suction at the suction head peg. While the stiffened peg is capable of insertion into the body, it is designed to soften in fluid such as the body fluids with which the peg comes into contact after insertion into the wound or abscess. This softening allows the peg to change shape and conform to the shrinking wound or abscess cavity as material is suctioned therefrom.

1. Field of the Invention
Applicants' invention relates generally to a device in the wound healing arts. More particularly, it relates to a novel wound healing apparatus having a multi-fibered peg for acting a suction head for removing excess fluid from a wound.
2. Description of Related Art
A wound cavity, such as a seroma, is sometimes created in human flesh after the removal of a bulk of tissue during surgery or other invasive trauma to the body. Such interior cavities commonly develop after the surgery is completed and the skin is closed. A need exists for a system and method that will treat these cavities, and like wound and abscess cavities such as those that arise due to infection.


A compound, method of manufacture and method for use of an alternating copolymer having the structure ##STR1## wherein X is independently H, C.sub.1 to C.sub.10 alkyl or alkoxy, primary or secondary amino or halogen, and R is aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, or aliphatic heterocyclic, and wherein the molecular weight ranges from about 1,000 to 50,000.

The present invention relates to novel polymers which are poly(4-hydroxystyrene/N-substituted maleimides) as well as a process for the production and use thereof. This polymer has been found to be useful in the preparation of various compositions such as adhesives and coatings, as well as binder resins for photoresists. These polymers have the empirical formula ##STR2## wherein X is independently H, C.sub.1 to C.sub.10 alkyl or alkoxy, amino or halogen, and R is aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, or aliphatic heterocyclic, and wherein the molecular weight ranges from about 1,000 to 50,000.
It is known in the art, according to U.S. Pat. No. 4,663,268, to produce substituted maleimide copolymers similar to those described above but wherein the R group is aryl. This patent teaches the usefulness of the aryl substituted materials as high temperature resistant binders for photoresists. Binder resins for photoresists must have many specialized properties. For example they must be water insoluble, yet soluble in aqueous alkaline solutions. They must be able to withstand the processing steps for integrated circuit production and must not interfere with the photosensitive characteristics of the oquinone diazide photo-sensitizers with which the binder is usually admixed. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,298,720 and 4,100,140 describe certain bismaleimides. U.S. Pat. No. 4,663,268 and EP 0 187 517 describe certain maleimides having N-aryl substitution. EP 0 140 273 describes photoresists employing certain maleimide containing copolymers. Japanese patents 79016995; 61218607 and 54101200 describe copolymers of vinyl phenols and maleic acid anhydride. U.S. Pat. No. 4,525,536 describes copolymers of aromatic maleimides, maleimides and vinyl aromatic monomers.
It is desired in the art to provide binder resins for photoresists which have a high glass transition temperature (Tg) so that etch-resistance is enhanced. While polymers of high Tg are certainly known, most cannot be used for photoresists due to disadvantageous side properties.
It is well known in the art to produce positive photoresist formulations such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,666,475, 4,115,128 and 4,173,470. These include alkali-soluble phenol-formaldehyde novolak resins together with light-sensitive materials, usually a substituted naphthoquinone diazide compound. The resins and sensitizers are dissolved in an organic solvent or mixture of solvents and are applied as a thin film or coating to a substrate suitable for the particular application desired. Polyvinyl phenols are taught in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,869,292 and 4,439,516.
The resin component of these photoresist formulations is soluble in aqueous alkaline solutions, but the naphthoquinone sensitizer acts as a dissolution rate inhibitor with respect to the resin. Upon exposure of selected areas of the coated substrate to actinic radiation, however, the sensitizer undergoes a radiation induced structural transformation and the exposed areas of the coating are rendered more soluble that the unexposed areas. This difference in solubility rates causes the exposed areas of the photoresist coating to be dissolved when the substrate is immersed in an alkaline developing solution while the unexposed areas are largely unaffected, thus producing a positive relief pattern on the substrate.
In most instances, the exposed and developed substrate will be subjected to treatment by a substrate-etchant solution. The photoresist coating protects the coated areas of the substrate from the etchant and thus the etchant is only able to etch the uncoated areas of the substrate, which in the case of a positive photoresist, correspond to the areas that were exposed to actinic radiation. Thus, an etched pattern can be created on the substrate which corresponds to the pattern on the mask, stencil, template, etc., that was used to create selective exposure patterns on the coated substrate prior to development.
The relief pattern of the photoresist on the substrate produced by the method described above is useful for various applications including as an exposure mask or a pattern such as is employed in the manufacture of miniaturized integrated electronic components.
The properties of a photoresist composition which are important in commercial practice include the photospeed of the resist, development contrast, resist resolution, and resist adhesion.
Resist resolution refers to the capacity of a resist system to reproduce the smallest equally spaced line pairs and intervening spaces of a mask which is utilized during exposure with a high degree of image edge acuity in the developed exposed spaces.
In many industrial applications, particularly in the manufacture of miniaturized electronic components, a photoresist is required to provide a high degree of resolution for very small line and space widths (on the order of one micron or less).
The ability of a resist to reproduce very small dimension, on the order of a micron or less, is extremely important in the production of large scale integrated circuits on silicon chips and similar components. Circuit density on such a chip can only be increased, assuming photolithography techniques are utilized, by increasing the resolution capabilities of the resist.
Photoresists are generally categorized as being either positive working or negative working. In a negative working resist composition, the imagewise light struck areas harden and form the image areas of the resist after removal of the unexposed areas with a developer. In a positive working resist the exposed areas are the non-image areas. The light struck parts are rendered soluble in aqueous alkali developers. While negative resists are the most widely used for industrial production of printed circuit boards, positive resists are capable of much finer resolution and smaller imaging geometries. Hence positive resists are the choice for the manufacture of densely packed integrated circuits.
Hence the invention provides novel polymers and photographic compositions employing these polymers. In one important aspect of the invention, it has been found that photoresists which employ the aforesaid polymer as a binder resin show comparable development and dissolution properties to phenol formaldehyde novolak resins but an advantageously lower dissolution rate than polyvinyl phenols which are also known for this purpose. Polyvinyl phenols have the disadvantage of faster dissolution, which makes image differentiation more difficult to attain. However, they are capable of withstanding much higher processing temperatures, on the order of about 200.degree. C., than the novolaks. The poly (4-hydroxy-styrene/N-substituted maleimides) of this invention demonstrate a dissolution rate comparable to the novolaks and can withstand processing temperatures comparable to the polyvinyl phenols.
In addition, these resins have an exceptionally low u.v absorptivity in the spectrum range conventionally used to expose photoresists. They are essentially non-absorbing at 300 nm and above, and have an extremely low absorptivity in the 254-270 nm range. Thus these resins are advantageous for resists exposed in the u.v. and especially in the deep u.v. part of the spectrum. This is in contrast to N-aryl substituted maleimides which disadvantageously absorb u.v. radiation in the 256-270 nm range.

Preparation and use of poly(3,5 disubstituted-4-hydroxystyrene/n-substituted maleimide)


A method and apparatus for determining a disk array enclosure serial number comprising determining logical unit number (LUN) information regarding disk drives within a disk array of a storage system, determining port information for the storage system comprising the disk array, correlating the LUN information with the port information to uniquely identify each disk drive, and defining a disk array enclosure serial number using the LUN and port information related to each disk drive.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to storage area network (SAN) technology. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a method and apparatus for determining the disk array enclosure serial number using SAN topology information for storage arrays.
2. Description of the Related Art
Dynamic Multipathing (DMP) processes (also referred to herein as simply DMP) balance input/output (I/O) across all available paths between a server and array of storage devices within storage systems, to improve performance and availability. The DMP processes used in conjunction with a SAN identify the particular disks (or storage devices) in an array within a storage system. The identity of a particular disk array is known as Disk Array Enclosure Serial Number in a SAN topology. Once known, the DMP can dynamically control routing of I/O traffic to the array with high granularity, i.e., send traffic to specific disk drives. The identification of the disk array enclosure serial number is generally contained in an Array Support Library (ASL) that is provided by the array to the DMP.
Data classification in a SAN is the manual decision making process that identifies data, determines its value to the organization and classifies the data into different categories. Categories may be based on levels of protection needed, performance requirements, frequency of use, and other considerations. Tiered storage facilitates assignment of the different categories of data to different types of storage media in order to reduce total storage cost. Often, enterprise data centers utilize a different storage array for each tier. As an example of tiered storage, tier-1 data such as mission-critical, recently accessed, or top secret files are stored in a tier-1 storage array of expensive and high-quality media, such as double-parity RAIDs (redundant arrays of independent disks). Tier-2 data such as financial, seldom-used, or classified files are stored in a tier-2 storage array of less expensive media in conventional storage area networks SANs. DMP supports a majority of tier-1 storage arrays.
Array Support Library (ASL) is a dynamically loadable library (or shared library) to discover attributes of a disk array. The ASL is invoked during volume manager configuration daemon start up process. The ASL identifies a disk to device discovery layer (DDL) during runtime. The set of ASL is limited as compared to the number of array vendors in the market. The DMP supports a majority of tier-1 storage arrays, but does not support lower level arrays, i.e., certain arrays are certified for use with DMP. Hence, for the purpose of data archival where customers wish to limit the cost of storage, customers generally purchase inexpensive arrays. As there is no corresponding ASL for the uncertified arrays, some of the vital attributes, such as enclosure serial number, also known as array serial number, Vendor ID, Product ID, array name, SCSI version, used by the volume manager (VM) to manage fault tolerance across enclosure boundaries, is unavailable to the DMP process.
For arrays without ASL, the DMP views the arrays within a cabinet as a single block of storage (i.e., no granularity). Consequently, all the uncertified arrays connected to a host are configured into a single logical Just a Bunch Of Disks (JBOD) enclosure in DMP thereby compromising the fault tolerance characteristics of the SAN, which is undesirable. Particularly, in the absence of ASL, the DMP is unable to discover a unique enclosure connected to a host. Since the enclosure boundary is not recognized, multiple enclosures are categorized into one logical enclosure as JBOD. The volume manager is, thus, unable to place its configuration copies without compromising fault tolerance.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a method and apparatus for determining a disk array enclosure serial number within a SAN, especially when an ASL is unavailable.

Method and apparatus for determining disk array enclosure serial number using SAN topology information in storage area network


Injection molding apparatus for hot tip gating wherein a torpedo is screwed into a threaded seat in the forward end of a nozzle. The torpedo has an elongated shaft with a pointed tip mounted centrally in an outer collar by a pair of spiral blades which impart a swirling motion to the melt flowing to the gate. The temperature of the melt in the gate varies according to a continuous thermodynamic cycle in the torpedo. A thermocouple bore extends radially inward through the outer collar and one of the spiral blades to a conductive inner portion of the central shaft of the torpedo. The thermocouple bore is positioned whereby a thermocouple element extends radially outward from it into an insulative air space between the forward end of the nozzle and the mold. The thermocouple element has a substantially 90 degree rearward bend a predetermined distance from its inner end. The bend abuts against a tapered portion of the inner surface of the well in which the nozzle is seated to securely retain the thermocouple element against the inner end of the thermocouple bore. This accurate location and reliable retention of the thermocouple element in place provides the accurate monitoring of the melt temperature necessary for its control throughout the thermodynamic cycle.

Both heated nozzles and probes are used to provide hot tip gating for injection molding. The difference between a nozzle and a probe is that the melt flows through a nozzle but around a probe. The increasing demand for more and more highly temperature sensitive materials has made it even more critical to monitor melt temperature as accurately as possible. U.S. Pat. No. 4,820,147 to Gellert which issued Apr. 11, 1989 relates to heated probes and shows inserting a thermocouple wire radially into one of the probe locating pins to monitor the melt temperature. More recently, Mold-Masters Limited Canadian Patent Application Serial Number 2,059,060-0 filed Jan. 20, 1992 entitled "Injection Molding Probe with Coaxial Thermocouple Sleeve and Heating Element" shows the thermocouple wire extending centrally in the probe. Thus the thermocouple is centrally located in the melt flow where heating and cooling is uniform on all sides.
However, in injection molding with nozzles where the melt flows through a central melt bore it previously was necessary to monitor the temperature at one side of the melt bore which has the disadvantage that it is not as accurate as monitoring it centrally in the melt flow. Injection molding nozzles having a torpedo with an elongated central shaft extending in alignment with a gate to provide hot tip gating are well known in the art. An early example in which the collar of the torpedo is seated in the mold to form a seal is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,450,999 to Gellert which issued May 29, 1984. An example in which the torpedo is retained in place in the nozzle by a separate gate insert is seen in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,028,227 to Gellert et al. which issued Jul. 2, 1991. While torpedoes have been successful for conducting heat to the gate area, they previously have also had the disadvantage that the operating temperature could only be monitored by a thermocouple located in the nozzle body on one side of the torpedo as seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,028,227 mentioned above. Mold-Masters Limited Canadian Patent Application Serial Number 2,078,890-9 filed Sep. 22, 1992 entitled "Injection Molding Nozzle with Thermocouple Receiving Torpedo" does show a torpedo with a thermocouple positioned in the melt flow. However, it has the disadvantage that the radial thermocouple bore must extend through both the nozzle and the torpedo. Also, it is very important that the thermocouple element is accurately position and securely retained against the inner end of the radial bore and the only provision for this is a wire wrapped around the nozzle.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,875,848 to Gellert which issued Oct. 24, 1989, shows a nozzle with a threaded gate insert having a thermocouple bore extending inwardly through its hexagonal surface. However, the thermocouple element was only retained in place by friction which has not been found to be satisfactory.

Injection molding torpedo with thermocouple bore


The present invention relates to water-dispersible materials (e.g. fibers or films) and to a method of producing same. The materials of the invention comprise a water soluble component, for example, a sulfonated polycondensate thermoplastic, and a modifying auxiliary component, for example, a low melt temperature thermoplastic.

Water dispersible thermoplastic materials currently available generally comprise sulfonated polymers (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,734,874, 3,546,180 and 4,304,901). Sulfonation increases the degree of ionic character of a polymer and thus the water solubility, but leaves the polymer brittle. Extrusion of sulfonated polymers is possible, however, the resulting threadline cannot withstand winding.
The present invention overcomes problems of water dispersible polymers of the art by providing a polymer that is both water soluble and sufficiently flexible to permit winding.


The invention discloses a pharmaceutical composition for preventing and/or treating peptic ulcer, including American ginseng or the extract thereof, and a method for preparing American ginseng extract, said method including extracting American ginseng with water or ethanol aqueous solution, and then ultrafiltrating, dialyzing, precipitating with ethanol, or performing reverse phase chromatography to obtain various fractions of extract with anti-peptic ulcer effect.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions useful for the prevention and/or treatment of peptic ulcer diseases. More particularly, it relates to the use of American ginseng or the extract thereof as the active ingredient for the prevention and treatment of peptic ulcer diseases.
2. Description of the Related Arts
American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium L.) is one species of Araliaceae, which is the North American variety of ginseng native to the United States and Canada. The Panax plants in Araliaceae, such as Panax ginseng, Panax quinquefolium, Panax pseudo-ginseng etc, have been used as a form of tonic medicine in Chinese for a long period of time, and Panax ginseng is traditionally considered a valuable medicinal material in China, Japan and Korea. After harvesting, Panax ginseng with good quality is generally treated with boiling water or steam to give red ginseng. Panax ginseng which has been dried by hot air or sunlight is called white ginseng or unprocessed ginseng. The American ginseng is an herbaceous perennial and its root is mainly used as a nutritious tonic agent. Its morphology is similar to Panax ginseng, but has less fiber-like or lateral roots. At present, the American ginseng is artificially cultivated in the United States, Mainland China and Russia. Many reports have shown some components of American ginseng are similar to Panax ginseng, including several kinds of ginseng saponins, oligosaccharides, volatile oils, amino acids, vitamins and trace elements. It is traditionally believed that both American ginseng and Panax ginseng possess effects of increasing physical strength, nourishing and preserving health, and prolonging life. Thus, they are regarded as mild tonics used for daily dietary or medicinal remedy.
Recently, a number of scientific reports show that the American ginseng indeed possesses a variety of physiological or pharmaceutical activities, including anti-aging (Xiao P. G. et. al., 1993, Journal of Ethnopharmacology 38(2–3): 167–75); preventing atherosclerosis and hyperlipidemia (Li J. et. al., 1999, Life Science 64(1):53–62); protecting liver from injury (Yoshikawa M. et. al., 1998, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Bulletin 46(4):647–54); enhancing the function of cardiovascular system (Kwan C. Y., 1995, Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology-Supplement 1:S297–9; Yang S., 1992, China Journal of Chinese Material Medica 17(9):555–7 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,708,949); preventing memory dysfunction and dementia (Benishin C. G., 1991, Pharmacology 42(4):223–9; Li Z. et. al., 1999, Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology 51(4):435–40; Lewis R. et. al., 1999, Phytotherapy Research 13(1):59–64); decreasing hyperglycemia (Oshima Y. et. al., 1987, Journal of Natural Products 50(2):188–90; Martinez S. and Staba E. J., 1984, Japanese Journal of Pharmacology 35(2):79–85); inhibition of breast cancer cells (Duda R. B. et. al., 1996, Annals of Surgical Oncology 3(6):515–20); enhancing physical strength; antiviral activity (U.S. Pat. No. 5,071,839); anti-oxidation; decreasing the side effects of anticancer chemotherapy and radiotherapy (U.S. Pat. No. 4,945,115); modulating gastric digestion (Yuan C. S. et. al., 1998, American Journal of Chinese Medicine 26(1):47–55); and increasing the immune function (U.S. Pat. No. 4,795,742) etc.
Recently, the population with gastrointestinal diseases has been increasing, especially in highly developmental countries. The causes of peptic ulcers include unrelieved daily pressure; excessive alcohol irritation; the side effects of drugs, such as aspirin or non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs; or Helicobacter pyroli infection. The predominant drugs used to treat peptic ulcers include muscarinic antagonists, such as methscopolamine bromide; H2 blockers, such as cimetidine; antacids, such as aluminum hydroxide or magnesium hydroxide; H+/K+ATPase inhibitor, such as omeprazole; anti-bacterial drugs, such as admixture of amoxicillin and metronidazole. Such drugs may be classified into two categories: one is used for physical protection of gastric mucosa to mitigate the irritation of the gastric acid to the mucosa ulcer site; the other is used for chemically inhibiting the secretion of the gastric acid, to avoid ulceration produced from excessive gastric acid erosion. The prevalence of peptic ulcers and their high rate of recurrence may due to patients' life style or season change and many patients repeatedly suffer from peptic ulcers. Thus, there is a need for a safe, mild and effective drug for treating and preventing peptic ulcers.

Anti-ulcer pharmaceutical composition and the preparation thereof

Pharmaceutical Industry Technology and Development Center


A chemical dissolution method is provided for use in recycling rare earth metal-containing material such as permanent magnet material including end-of-life magnet shapes, magnet scrap and Terfenol-D alloy material by mixing the rare earth metal-containing material and an aqueous solution of a copper (II) salt to dissolve the material in the solution. The dissolved rare earth metal is then precipitated from the aqueous solution as a rare earth metal compound, such as a rare earth metal oxalate, sulfate or phosphate from which rare earth metal oxide can be obtained.

The need for rare earth metals such as neodymium (Nd), dysprosium (Dy) and praseodymium (Pr), samarium (Sm), terbium (Tb), is increasing much faster than its production. In the U.S., the demand is expected to further increase as the drive towards clean energy and high-tech devices increase. Neodymium (Nd), dysprosium (Dy), terbium (Tb), samarium (Sm) and praseodymium (Pr) are critical for high performance magnets strategic for technologies such as wind turbine power generators, electric motors in hybrid cars, and in everyday consumer products like computers, mobile phones amongst many others. Dy and Tb are enabling elements alloyed with iron (Fe) in Terfenol-D alloy; developed in naval ordinance laboratory for magnetostrictive applications such as naval sonar systems.
Nd, Tb and Dy are among the elements which the U.S. Department of Energy classified as being at risk of supply disruption. Recovering the critical elements from waste rare earth-containing materials can be economically and technically viable approach for addressing the supply risk challenge. Via recycling natural resources can be conserved, energy can be saved and less toxic wastes can be dumped in landfills. It is also desirable that a recycling process be environmentally friendly in order to reduce the emission of noxious fumes.
Recycling rare earth elements in materials can be either by directly reusing the materials or via chemical recovery of the rare earth elements. The chemical recovery methods for rare earth elements (REs) generally involve pyro-metallurgical and hydrometallurgical approaches. In the pyro-metallurgical approach, the REs recovery rates are reduced by the slag phase due to the high affinity of the REs with oxygen. Pyrometallurgical approaches also generate large amounts of solid waste and can be energy-consuming, although rare earths can be recovered as metals, instead of oxides. Hydrometallurgical routes enable higher recovery rates of REs, especially as oxides or other non-metallic forms. Nevertheless most hydrometallurgical approaches still require large energy consumption (pre-calcination) and the use of large amounts of chemicals, especially strong mineral acids such as hydrochloric, sulfuric and nitric acids. High volumes of wastes contaminated by strong mineral acids present some environmental problems. Investment to contain both the mineral acids and their contaminated wastes add to the cost of the process. The use of acids in hydrometallurgical routes increases the complexity of recovering rare earth elements from magnets contained in e-waste devices, such as HDDs. This is because the magnets would need to be presorted or pre-concentrated before materials recovery can begin. As a rule, magnetic materials containing rare earth metals are part of the complex diversified end-of-life products and their pre-concentration or physical processing after shredding is a mandatory requirement. There is therefore the need for a cost-effective, environmentally friendly method for recycling rare earth metal-containing materials, such as permanent magnet materials and terfenol-D.

Dissolution and separation of rare earth metals

Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.


Provided herein are specific TL1A receptor agonist proteins, nucleic acids encoding the same, and methods of treating a subject having a TL1A-associated disease or disorder. The TL1A receptor agonist proteins provided herein comprise three soluble TL1A domains and an Fc fragment. The TL1A receptor agonist proteins are substantially non-aggregating and suitable for therapeutic, diagnostic and/or research applications.

It is known that trimerization of TNF superfamily (TNFSF) cytokines is required for efficient receptor binding and activation. Trimeric complexes of TNF superfamily cytokines, however, are difficult to prepare from recombinant monomeric units.
WO 01/49866 and WO 02/09055 disclose recombinant fusion proteins comprising a TNF cytokine and a multimerization component, particularly a protein from the C1q protein family or a collectin. A disadvantage of these fusion proteins is, however, that the trimerization domain usually has a large molecular weight and/or that the trimerization is rather inefficient.
Schneider et al. (J Exp Med 187 (1989), 1205-1213) describe that trimers of TNF cytokines are stabilized by N-terminally positioned stabilization motifs. In CD95L, the stabilization of the receptor binding domain trimer is presumably caused by N-terminal amino acid domains which are located near the cytoplasmic membrane.
Shiraishi et al. (Biochem Biophys Res Commun 322 (2004), 197-202) describe that the receptor binding domain of CD95L may be stabilized by N-terminally positioned artificial α-helical coiled-coil (leucine zipper) motifs. It was found, however, that the orientation of the polypeptide chains to each other, e.g. parallel or antiparallel orientation, can hardly be predicted. Further, the optimal number of heptad-repeats in the coiled-coil zipper motif are difficult to determine. In addition, coiled-coil structures have the tendency to form macromolecular aggregates after alteration of pH and/or ionic strength.
WO 01/25277 relates to single-chain oligomeric polypeptides which bind to an extracellular ligand binding domain of a cellular receptor, wherein the polypeptide comprises at least three receptor binding sites of which at least one is capable of binding to a ligand binding domain of the cellular receptor and at least one is incapable of effectively binding to a ligand binding domain of the cellular receptor, whereby the single-chain oligomeric polypeptides are capable of binding to the receptor, but incapable of activating the receptor. For example, the monomers are derived from cytokine ligands of the TNF family, particularly from TNF-α.
WO 2005/103077 discloses single-chain fusion polypeptides comprising at least three monomers of a TNF family ligand member and at least two peptide linkers that link the monomers of the TNF ligand family members to one another. Recent experiments, however, have shown that these single-chain fusion polypeptides show undesired aggregation.
WO 2010/010051 discloses single-chain fusion polypeptides comprising three soluble TNF family cytokine domains and at least two peptide linkers. The described fusion polypeptides are substantially non-aggregating.
There is a need in the art for novel TL1A receptor agonists that exhibit high biological activity independent of Fc-gamma-R based crosslinking in vivo, high stability, and allow for efficient recombinant manufacturing. Additionally, there is need in the art for enabling technologies to create human TL1A-receptor selective biologics as human TL1A has at least two interaction partners in vivo: DcR3 (Decoy receptor 3) and DR3 (Death receptor 3).

Single-chain TL1A receptor agonist proteins


An instructional writing paper system for perceptually impaired children wherein sets of two-striped bands of contrasting colors separated by light colored or white horizontal spaces are printed on a plurality of sheets, the striped bands being of graduated height and spacing, and of gradated color intensity and contrast from vivid to fade-out for successive selective use as handwriting skills improve during the instructional progress.

This invention relates to instructional writing paper for dysgraphic children, i.e., those having unusual difficulty in producing legible handwriting because of perceptual impairment.
The use of lined paper as an aid in teaching young children to write legibly is common practice in kindergarten and in the lower grades. Various kinds of such lined paper have heretofore been devised, including triple-lines and bands defining spacial and height guidance for the various elements of upper and lower case letters, whether manuscript or cursive. These bands and guidelines, some of which have been variously colored to more obviously define the spaces in which the instructional writing is to be performed, have proved to be of great value in the instruction and learning of normal children. Typical among such instructional writing papers heretofore devised is the writing readiness paper described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,638,332 to Jones. Such known instructional writing papers, however, have all been directed to young children of normal intelligence and perceptual abilities, and have been found to be only of limited benefit as an instructional aid in the teaching of manuscript and cursive writing to perceptually impaired children. Thus, I have found that the principal difficulty in teaching writing skills to dysgraphic children is their comparative inability to bridge the gap between writing within the color bands and writing between the guidelines defining the color bands without color or without contrasting colors. In other words, although vivid color contrast lines and bands are of some aid in developing writing skills in the perceptually impaired, dysgraphic or minimally motivated children, the improvement in beginning skills thereby learned do not carry over well to writing between guidelines and bands without the contrasting color bands. The bands are also limited in the number of colors and repetition of sequence, therefore, eliminating the confusion encountered on regular paper with its varying instructional lines and colors.
It is, accordingly, the principal object of my invention to provide a novel and improved system of instructional writing paper that obviates the above-described deficiencies in instructional writing papers heretofore devised, and which is particularly well suited to the teaching of writing skills to children who have problems with sequential memory, visual motor integration, visual discrimination, spacial recognition and placement, foreground-background confusion, and the like perceptual impairment.
A more particular object of the invention is to provide a system of instructional writing paper for perceptually impaired children wherein the stripes of contrasting colors in a plurality of sets of two-striped bands are of gradated intensity from strong contrasting colors through weak color contrast or intensity and finally to complete fade-out of color, whereby the disruptive gap in instructional guidance is obviated while advancing from writing with the aid of the color stripes to writing between the guidelines without distinguishing color stripes. Combined with the concept of gradated color intensity from vivid to complete fade-out of the color band stripes, is graduation of the width of the striped bands or the lines defining these striped bands from large to small, and graduation of the spacing between the bands from large to small, these various graduations being directed, generally, towards greater difficulty in use. Various combinations of color intensity, band and stripe width, and band spacing are thus available for successive use as the child progresses in writing skills. The combinative use of these graduated features can be varied from child to child to best accommodate his or her particular perceptual difficulties during the learning process.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description when read with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Instructional writing paper for perceptually impaired children


The present invention is related to the use of compounds or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof that modulate astrocytic release of substances through connexin and pannexin hemichannels, for the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Compounds or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof used in the present invention comprise any compound that differentially modulates, blocks, opens, inhibits, and/or activates connexin and/or pannexin hemichannels from astrocytes while not affecting gap junctions. The invention is also related to a method for treating psychiatric disorders, comprising administering to a mammal or human a therapeutically effective amount of a compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, that modulates astrocytic release of substances through connexin and pannexin hemichannels. Pharmaceutical compositions and a screening method are also considered in the present invention. Examples are shown for connexin 43, connexin 30 and pannexin 1 hemichannel modulators shown not to affect gap junctions, in the form of both non peptide compounds and peptides which were tested in different models for psychiatric disorders, comprising PTSD, memory, anxiety and depression.

In spite of the popular belief that neurons are the main constituents of the human brain, most of brain cells are not actually neurons, but star-shaped glial cells known as astrocytes. Their role up—until recently—was believed to be neuron sustenance, neurotransmitter recycling and maintenance of the blood brain barrier. In recent years, it has become increasingly evident that their role in brain function may be more protagonistic than previously thought.
Hundreds of astrocytes can be connected simultaneously to allow collective metabolic and electric coupling as well as calcium-wave signalling. Such inter-astrocyte communication is attained by sharing cytoplasmic content through special channels called gap junctions channels, each formed by two hemichannels contributed by each adjacent cell. Each hemichannel is composed of six protein subunits termed connexins (Cxs), with connexin 43 (Cx43) and connexin 30 (Cx30) as the main connexin constituents of astrocytes and Cx43 being the most abundantly expressed. Interestingly, hemichannels do not always form gap junction channels and may also be found in non-contacting membranes where they allow intracellular-extracellular communication. Although such "functional hemichannels" show low open probability in cultured cells under resting conditions, when opened, they may allow the release of neuroactive substances such as ATP(1) and glutamate(1,2) and several others, now known as "gliotransmitters". Astrocytes also express another type of hemichannels known as pannexins, particularly pannexin 1(1,3). In vivo, the location of Cx43, Cx30 and pannexin 1 hemichannels at the unopposed surface of astrocytes leaves them in a unique position to mediate the release of gliotransmitters into the chemical neuronal synapse.
Recently, an increasing number of studies have supported the notion that synapses between two neurons may require signals released from an astrocyte to be fully functional(4). Further evidence from in vitro studies indicates that release of gliotransmitters from astrocytes is required to attain synaptic plasticity(5) including release of D-serine(6,7), glutamate(2,8) and ATP(1,9). Moreover, glutamate release from astrocytes may also affect neurotransmitter release at synapses(10), suggesting that presynaptic efficacy and postsynaptic responses are both modulated by astrocytic release of gliotransmitters. The mechanism by which neuroactive gliotransmitters are released remains unknown, although vesicles, P2X7 channels, transporters(10) and Cx hemichannels(1,9) have been proposed. However, there is to date no in vivo evidence for the release of gliotransmitters from astrocytes and no studies so far have shown that Cx43, Cx30 and Panx1 hemichannels are involved in gliotransmitter release in vivo. The lack of such evidence can be at least in part attributed to a lack of tools that affect gliotransmitter release from astrocytes without affecting neuronal synaptic release or inter astrocyte communication. These types of compounds could be used for modulating release of substances from astrocytes to synaptic space, without affecting inter astrocyte communication, thus turning astrocytes into pharmacological targets for treating psychiatric disorders.
Samoilova et al., 2008(12) studied the use of connexin mimetic peptides corresponding to aminoacidic sequences and the general gap junctional blocker, carbenoxolone in generation of epileptiform activity. They postulate that gap junctions can modulate brain activity using rat organotypic hippocampal slice cultures. Samoilova et al., 2008 describes the use of compounds for blocking connexin gap junctions and not connexin hemichannels as the present invention and also does not mention connexin hemichannels from astrocytes as pharmacological target, nor psychiatric disorders for their use.
Danesh-Meyer et al., 2012(13) studied the use of connexin 43 mimetic peptides to investigate neuronal rescue following retinal ischaemia-reperfusion and vascular permeability by transiently blocking connexin 43 activity. They postulate blocking of connexin 43 gap junctions as pharmacological target for the treatment of central nervous system ischemia. Danesh-Meyer et al., 2012 describes the use of compounds for blocking connexin gap junctions from astrocytes but does not mention connexin hemichannels from the cells for the treatment of psychiatric disorders.
Thomson et al., 2008(14) studied the use of specific inhibitors of pannexin 1 from pyramidal neurons in epileptiform seizure activity. They postulate that pannexin 1 hemichannel contributes to epileptiform activity, turning pannexin 1 as a pharmacological target for treatment of epilepsy. Thomson et al., 2008 does not mention pannexins from astrocytes, nor Cx43 or Cx30 hemichannels, only pannexin 1 from pyramidal neurons, thus, they do not postulate astrocytes as pharmacological targets for psychiatric disorders.
Orellana et al., 2009(15) studied modulation of glial connexin and pannexin hemichannels and gap junctions and the effect of their activation in inflammation and neurodegeneration. Orellana et al., 2009 postulates the use of modulation of connexin and pannexin hemichannels and gap junctions for treatment of neurodegeneration, but does not postulate specifically connexin and pannexin hemichannels from astrocytes as a pharmacological target for psychiatric disorders; they are focused on complete CNS. Furthermore, this document also fails to mention the differential modulation, affecting hemichannels but not gap junctions.
Kawasaki et al., 2009(16) discloses that in astrocytes of a Parkinson's disease model, phosphorylated connexin is increased. Phosphorylated connexin is necessary for forming gap junctions, and the authors postulate that modulation of connexin 43 could be a pharmacological target for Parkinson's disease treatment. Kawasaki et al., 2009 is focused on connexin gap junctions, and not connexin hemichannels, as the present invention, and does not mention psychiatric disorders.
Behrens et al., 2011(17) studied the effect of a non-specific blocker of connexin 36, 43 and 50 gap junctions in epileptiform activity. It reported that mefloquine increases hyperpolarization of hippocampal pyramidal cells and promotes action potentials in epileptiform activity. Behrens et al., 2011 postulates connexin gap junctions from pyramidal neurons as a pharmacological target for the treatment of epilepsy, but does not include connexin hemichannels from astrocytes, nor mention psychiatric disorders.
Mitterauer, 2010(18) is a review of the effects of connexin gap junctions from astrocytes in memory. Mitterauer, 2010 is focused on connexin gap junctions and does not mention connexin hemichannels from astrocytes.
Desplantez et al., 2012(19) studied the effect of a peptide in connexin 43 hemichannels. Desplantez et al., 2012 does not postulate this peptide as pharmacological agent for psychiatric disorders, nor a role for astrocytes in these pathologies.
Davidson et al., 2012(20) studied the use of a connexin 43 mimetic peptide for blocking the opening of connexin 43 hemichannels in an ischemia model. They postulate connexins as pharmacological targets for ischemia, but do not indicate that connexin hemichannels from astrocytes can be used as pharmacological targets, and do not mention treating psychiatric disorders.
Sun, et al., 2012(21) studied the effect of connexin 43 mimetic peptides on the dysfunction of connexin 43 gap junction in astrocytes and its relation with depression pathophysiology. Sun, et al., 2012 postulates astrocytes and connexin 43 gap junctions as pharmacological targets, but it is focused on connexin 43 gap junctions and does not mention connexin 43 hemichannels.
O'Carroll et al., 2008(22) studied blocking of connexin 43 hemichannels with mimetic peptides corresponding to intracellular loop of connexin 43 for demonstrating that this inhibition is useful to diminish propagation of cellular death in astrogliosis. O'Carroll et al., 2008 does not show any relationship between psychiatric disorders and modulation of connexin 43 hemichannels.
Ponsaerts et al., 2010(23) studied the functionality of connexin 43 mimetic peptides in vitro. The results show that this type of peptides regulates opening of connexin 43 hemichannels and not connexin 43 gap junctions. Ponsaerts et al., 2010 does not mention psychiatric disorders nor connexin 43 hemichannels from astrocytes.
US20100029613A1(24) describes a method to treat or prevent epileptic seizures administering agents that interfere with astrocytic release of glutamate, aspartate and/or ATP. A method is also presented to identify agents that may have such effects. US20100029613A1 finally tests all previously known glutamate release pathways to determine the mechanisms by which such release may occur. US20100029613A1 mentions the work of Ye et al. 2003 as previous art, which suggests a role of connexin 43 hemichannels in astrocytic glutamate release. US20100029613A1 does not interfere with the present invention as it is based on calcium and ATP dependent astrocytic release of glutamate, ATP and aspartate and shows that such release, which is used as a marker for their agent identification and anti-seizure effects, is not dependent on astrocytic connexin 43 hemichannels. In order to justify their negative results, the authors cite Ye et al., 2003(2) suggesting that "Cx hemichannels may have a role in pathological conditions such as ischemia and epilepsy". In consequence, ischemia or epilepsy have been excluded from our invention, which only includes psychiatric disorders.
EP2344146A1(25) is related to a product comprising at least one connexin blocking agent and a psychotropic drug, to be used simultaneously, separately, or spread over time in patients suffering from psychiatric and/or neurodegenerative disorders. EP2344146A1 is not related to the present invention, since it discloses the use of blocking agents for neuronal gap junctions as adjuvants for improving treatment of different psychiatric and/or neurological disorders, and it does not consider either astrocytes or hemichannels.
EP2322149A1(26) discloses the use of a pannexin hemichannel inhibitor to treat white matter ischemia, periventricular leukomalacia, optic nerve ischemia, mild cognitive impairment and subcortical vascular dementia. EP2322149A1 does not interfere with the present invention, since it mentions participation of pannexin hemichannels from oligodendrocytes and it does not mention astrocytes, or connexins, or psychiatric disorders.
WO2006134494A2(27) describes methods and compositions to modulate connexin activity for treatment of cardiovascular, vascular, neurologic disorders, for treating wounds and other indications. WO2006134494A2 indicates that these compounds and methods could be used, for example, to reduce severity of adverse effects in diseases and disorders where localized disruption of direct cell-cell communication or prevention of hemichannel opening is desirable. WO2006134494A2 focuses on uses of anticonnexin compounds on neurological disorders, based on vascular effects of connexins in response to ischemia. It does not mention astrocytes, nor psychiatric disorders.
WO2007002285A2(28) discloses new methods for treating neurologic and psychiatric conditions. The methods comprise modulating production or activity of one or more substances that participate in signaling of calcium or release of glutamate from astrocytes, modulating the intracellular concentration of calcium in astrocytes, modulating expression or release of D-serine, or modulating expression or release of ATP or adenosine. Methods of detecting compounds with the ability to target to specific pathways or intracellular calcium are also disclosed. WO2007002285A2 focuses on modulation of astrocytic release of substances for the treatment of different disorders including psychiatric disorders and on the use of compounds that affect intracellular or extracellular regulation pathways for this release, for example, affecting calcium or adenosine levels, but they do not include release pathways, in particular, they do not mention connexin (43 or 30) or pannexin 1 hemichannels.

Use of compounds that selectively modulate astrocytic release of substances through hemichannels of connexins and pannexins, without influencing gap junctions, for the treatment of psychiatric disorders

Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Ku Leuven R & D


A strain of symbiotic yeast NRRLY-18546 from the cigarette beetle (Lasioderma serricorne) has been discovered, which is capable of detoxifying a variety of zenobiotics including insecticides, herbicides, mycotoxins, and plant toxins (allelochemicals). Thus, compositions of the yeast provide a biological alternative to chemical detoxification of xenobiotics.

1. Field of the Invention
The rapidly expanding use of pesticides throughout the world has been accompanied by increasing public apprehension about hazardous waste materials resulting from their use. Concern also exists with the presence in food of other xenobiotics such as mycotoxins and plant toxins (allelochemicals). This invention relates to a method of detoxifying xenobiotics by application of a symbiotic yeast from the cigarette beetle (Lasioderma serricorne).
2. Description of the Prior Art
The detoxifying capabilities of microorganisms are highly variable, depending on the microorganisms and the substrates involved. Several dozen different insecticides, representing all major classes, may be metabolized (and presumably detoxified) by microorganisms [Wallnofer et al., In Handbook of Microbiology, Volume VII, Microbial Transformation, A. Laskin et al. (ed.), CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp. 491-558 (1984)]. Likewise, a variety of plant allelochemicals may also be used as sole carbon sources [Gledhill, ibid., pp. 1-50].
Intracellular symbiotic microorganisms which are found in insects may produce amino acids, lipids, vitamins, or other nutrients for their hosts [Koch, Annu. Rev. Microbiol. 14: 121-140 (1960)]. However, the contribution of these symbionts appears to be more than nutritional; the cell enlargement of symbionts in insecticide-resistant aphids has caused speculation that the symbionts may contribute to the resistance through detoxification [Amiressami et al., Z. Ang. Entomol. 82: 252-259 (1977); Z. Ang. Zool. 63: 273-289 (1976); In Endocytobiology, Endosymbiosis and Cell Biology: A Synthesis of Recent Research, W. Schwemmler et al. (ed.), Walter de Gruyter, New York, pp. 425-443 (1980)]. The involvement of both intracellular and extracellular symbionts of herbivorous insects in detoxification of plant allelochemicals is postulated to be widespread [Jones, In A New Ecology: Novel Approaches to Interactive Systems, P. Price et al. (ed.), Wiley, New York, pp. 53-99 (1984)]. However, actual detoxification of any xenobiotics by intracellular symbionts has never been demonstrated.

Biologically pure culture of yeast strain used for the microbial detoxification of xenobiotics

The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture


A electric wire includes a central conductor 1 made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, a cover layer 2 made of copper and covering the central conductor 1, and a ferromagnetic layer 3 covering the cover layer 2 and blocking the external magnetic field. The thickness of the ferromagnetic layer 3 is in a range from 0.04 μm to 14 μm, the total diameter of the central conductor 1 and the cover layer 2 is in a range from 0.05 mm to 0.4 mm, and the cross-sectional area of the central conductor 1 is in a range from 85% to 95% of the total cross-sectional area of the central conductor 1 and the cover layer 2.

The present invention relates to an electric wire and a coil, and more particularly, the present invention relates to an electric wire and a coil used for a winding wire, a litz wire, a cable, and the like in various types of high frequency devices.
In winding wires and power cables of devices to which high frequency current is applied (such as transformers, motors, reactors, induction heaters, and magnetic head devices), a magnetic field generated by the high frequency current causes an eddy current loss within a conductor. As a result, AC resistance increases (a skin effect and a proximity effect increase). This causes heat generation and increases power consumption. General countermeasures to prevent the increase of the skin effect and the proximity effect include a reduction in diameter of wires and an employment of litz wires in which strands are individually subjected to insulation covering (refer to, for example, Patent Literature 1 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2009-129550), Patent Literature 2 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 62-076216), Patent Literature 3 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2005-108654), Patent Literature 4 (International Publication No. 2006/046358) and Patent Literature 5 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2002-150633)).
However, in the prior art described in Patent Literatures 1 to 5, there is a limit of the reduction in diameter of the wires because of difficulty of the process of removing insulation films of the wires during a solder treatment for wire connection and because of an increase in the number of strands. In addition, effective measures to prevent the AC resistance have not been found in wires with diameters in which the proximity effect is overwhelmingly dominant compared with the skin effect, and the fact that characteristics obtained by the reduction in diameter are limited is a matter of common knowledge. Although Patent Literatures 1 to 5 describe examples of the measures against the AC resistance, these examples are not effective measures because these are conceptional and lack concreteness.
Patent Literature 6 (Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-open Publication No. 50-066171) describes a structure in which the periphery of an aluminum (Al) conductor is covered with a copper layer, and a nickel layer is formed thereon. However, the structure is not used in order to decrease AC resistance because the nickel layer is merely formed for ease of soldering.
Patent Literature 7 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2010-157363) and Non-Patent Literature 1 (Tsutomu Mizuno and seven others; "Reduction in Eddy Current Loss in Conductor Using Magnetoplated Wire", The Journal of the Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan A, 2007, Vol. 127, No. 10, p. 611 to 620) and Non-Patent Literature 2 (Tsutomu Mizuno and seven others; "Reduction of Eddy Current Loss in Magnetoplated Wire", The International Journal for Computation and Mathematics in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, 2009, Vol. 28, No. 1, p. 57 to 66) each teach that the periphery of a copper (Cu) wire is plated with a soft magnetic material layer (a magnetic thin film) in order to decrease AC resistance. However, the soft magnetic material layer (the magnetic thin film) cannot completely prevent an external magnetic field from entering therethrough. As a result, a loss due to the proximity effect increases because the unavoidable external magnetic field causes eddy currents.


A kit for use in preparing a last, i.e., an anatomical model of the human foot for use in the contruction of custom footwear, as well as a method of preparing lasts, the lasts prepared by such a method, and the custom footwear constructed by the use of such lasts. The kit includes a hardenable, shell-forming fabric that can be conformed to the shape of the foot, hardened in its conformed shape, and removed from the foot in a manner that does not substantially destroy its conformed shape. The resultant shell, being sufficiently smooth and being of substantially the same size and shape as the foot, can be used directly as a positive model of the foot.

Currently used methods for preparing lasts, i.e., anatomical models of the human foot for use in constructing custom footwear, generally involve first creating a plaster mold (i.e., negative impression) of the foot; then creating a plaster positive of the foot from the plaster negative; and lastly, having a skilled artisan hand-carve a wooden last using the plaster positive as a model. Alternatively, the artisan will use the plaster positive to modify a pre-formed last by carving material from, or adding material to, the pre-formed last in order to conform it to the plaster positive. See, e.g., J. E. Bishop, "If the Shoe Fits, It's Probably Been Mostly Luck Until Now", Wall Street Journal, Mar. 1, 1985, which describes the "primitive technology" currently used for making orthopedic shoes. As a result of this painstaking and cumbersome method, lasts that are used to make custom-fitted shoes generally cost at least hundreds of dollars each and can take weeks, if not months, to prepare.
The preparation of lasts by these artisans is estimated to represent fifty to seventy-five percent of the cost and effort involved in constructing custom footwear. Furthermore, the number of artisans skilled at such work is decreasing significantly, at a time when the elderly population is increasing the demand for custom footwear. As a result, many patients requiring custom orthopedic footwear do not have access to last designers, or simply cannot afford such footwear.
As discussed in the Bishop article, a promising approach for the future may be the use of computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing of custom footwear. See, e.g., "A Proposed Design for an Orthopedic Footwear CAD/CAM Delivery System", which is described as a "Report of Workshops to Define the Clinical and Engineering Criteria for a Computer-Aided Design and Manufacturing System for Orthopedic Footwear", prepared by Research Triangle Institute, D. J. Rouse, Project Director. As proposed, this approach would involve making a digital scan of a foot and using that information to carve a last on a computer-aided lathe. The affordability and feasibility of such an approach however remain to be proven. In light of the ever-increasing demand for orthopedic footwear, there exists a current and urgent need for a quick, inexpensive and effective method for preparing anatomically accurate lasts.

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company


A system for testing open thermocouples in a data acquisition system in which each of a plurality of thermocouples is sequentially read. Each thermocouple has an associated filter capacitor and resistance network and each has a different common-mode voltage with respect to a reference potential. Charging means is effective to charge each filter capacitor in sequence after a reading has been taken. For a normal thermocouple, the filter capacitor discharges through the associated resistance and thermocouple prior to the next sequential reading of that thermocouple. For an open thermocouple the filter capacitor remains charged indicating that the thermocouple is open at the time of the next sequential reading of that thermocouple.

A. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of automatic acquisition of data from a plurality of thermocouples.
B. Prior Art
Known data acquisition systems have many thermocouples located at various points in, for example, power generating stations and chemical processing plants. The thermocouples are continuously monitored and data from each are recorded at desired intervals. Thermocouples having dissimilar metals bonded together commonly fail by becoming open circuited. Since the output of a normal thermocouple junction is a very small voltage value corresponding to the temperature difference with respect to a reference junction the output from a failed device would be indistinguishable from that of a normal device, especially since an open circuit at the input of an instrumentation amplifier would permit small offset and leakage currents to provide a small random voltage difference.
In some prior systems, thermocouples have been tested for an open condition by connecting them to a current source and measuring the resultant current flow or voltage drop. One such method which has been used successfully involves the addition of a common dry cell battery to each thermocouple circuit so a micro-ampere of current continuously flows through the thermocouple producing a negligible voltage drop if it is normal, but creating a terminal voltage of about one volt if it were open. The disadvantage of course is the need to replace, annually at least, hundreds of batteries in a typical multipoint system. Equivalent systems have previously been used in which the test current is provided by an instrumentation power source in lieu of batteries. Such prior systems however have introduced other drawbacks such as some cross-coupling of signals or the creation of error voltages by the flow of current in the test circuit due to the common-mode voltage present at the thermocouple.
In other data acquisition systems, each of the multitude of thermocouples, has an associated pair or resistors and a shunt capacitor designed to attenuate normal mode noise at the input to the amplifier. These filter components render ineffective testing means which introduce from the amplifier end, brief current pulses to the thermocouple loop because such pulses would be bypassed by the filter capacitor regardless of the state of the thermocouple. Furthermore, since the data acquisition system comprises assemblies of thermocouple filters and relays, connection could not be established directly to the thermocouple beyond the resistors for the purpose of detecting abnormal voltage without incurring the great expense of adding relays for each thermocouple point.
Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide means for quickly charging the filter capacitor associated with each thermocouple to a recognizably high voltage and isolating such circuit from all other circuits in the system during this event. This voltage will remain on the capacitor if the associated thermocouple is open circuited and will give an indication of an open thermocouple.
A further object of this invention is to control the rates at which said charging current is turned on and off to minimize or eliminate errors caused by inductive coupling with other circuits.


The electrical connector (4) is mounted to float in a back panel (P2) of a drawer containing a power supply distribution module. The panel has a T-shaped cut out (178) therein, the cut out having a transverse part (182) and a perpendicular part (180). The housing (100) of the connector (4) has upper flanges (144) projecting from opposite sides thereof, lower flanges (146) also projecting from opposite sides thereof, and a top flange (150). The upper flanges (144) disposed forwardly of the lower flanges (146) and the top flange (150). In order to mount the connector (4) to the panel (P2), the upper flanges (144) are inserted through the transverse part (182) of the cut out (178) to an extent limited by the top flange (150) and the connector (4) is then moved along the perpendicular vertical part (180) of the cut out, so that the upper flanges (144) engage the front face of the panel (P2) thereby cooperating with the lower flanges (146), which engage the rear face of the panel (P2), to retain the connector in the cut out (178). An adjustable latch bolt (176) may be provided in the top flange (150), to prevent the connector (4) returning to such an extent that the upper flanges (144) are aligned with the transverse part (182) of the cut out so that the connector (4) can fall from the panel (P2).

There is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,664,456 an electrical connector which is float mounted in a cut out in a mounting panel by means of fasteners which extend through oversized holes in the panel. U.S. Pat. No. 4,182,133 discloses an electrical connector which is float mounted in a cut out in a mounting panel by means of a retaining clip which is snapped over the connector to releasably secure it to the panel, yet accommodate limited floating movement of the connector. Both these expedients for panel mounting the connector to float, involve the need for parts additional to the connector and panel. There is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,761,144, a connector which is float mounted in a cut out in a mounting panel, by means of first and second transverse slots on opposed first and second sides of the insulating housing of the connector, into which slots, portions of the panel edges bounding the cut out extend when the connector is mounted to the panel, for retaining the connector on the panel, while permitting limited longitudinal movement of the connector relative to the panel.


An intelligent level shifter may be added to adjust the voltage level on the data lines (D+ and D−) used for communications in USB systems, to address the issue of missing negative common-mode range as defined by the USB specification. The level shifter may be part of a port power controller that allows adaptive shifting of the signal level in accordance with the current levels drawn on the supply line by a device, for example during charging. The port power controller may be operated in systems enabled for battery charging, and may combine overcurrent sensing (current meter for VBus) and the routing of the D+ and D− lines (used for the battery charging protocol) into a single package. By varying the voltage levels on the D+ and D− data lines according to the drawn current levels, the performance of USB Hosts ports and USB Hub ports may be greatly increased.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to USB devices, and more specifically to overcoming the limited common-mode range for USB systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
The Universal Serial Bus (USB) was developed to offer PC users an enhanced and easy-to-use interface for connecting an incredibly diverse range of peripherals to their computers. The development of the USB was initially driven by considerations for laptop computers, which greatly benefit from a small profile peripheral connector. Among the many benefits of the USB is a reduction in the proliferation of cables that can affect even the smallest computer installations. In general, USB has become the interface of choice for PCs because it offers users simple connectivity. USB eliminates the need to have different connectors for printers, keyboards, mice, and other peripherals, and supports a wide variety of data types, from slow mouse inputs to digitized audio and compressed video. In addition, USB devices are hot pluggable, i.e. they can be connected to or disconnected from a PC without requiring the PC to be powered off.
The USB specification has seen various revisions, with the USB 2.0 standard challenging the IEEE 1394 interface ("Firewire") as the interface of choice for high-speed digital video, among others. The USB 3.0 standard, representing the second major revision of the USB standard, specifies a maximum transmission speed of up to 5 Gbits/s (640 MBbytes/s), which is over 10 times faster than the maximum speed specified in the USB 2.0 standard (480 Mbits/s). The USB 3.0 standard also features reduced time required for data transmission, reduced power consumption, and is backward compatible with USB 2.0. With the proliferating design of increasingly smarter, faster, and smaller peripherals, the On-The-Go (OTG) Supplement to the USB 2.0 Specification was also developed to address the growing popularity of the portable electronic devices market. OTG devices typically do not require a PC host, and can communicate directly with each other. For example, a PDA may act as a USB host with the capability to print directly to a USB printer, while also acting as a USB peripheral to communicate with a PC. In general, designers are facing increasing pressure to design smaller and faster products in less time and at lower cost.
Present day USB devices that communicate with a host over USB include USB printers, scanners, digital cameras, storage devices, card readers, etc. USB based systems may require that a USB host controller be present in the host system, and that the operating system (OS) of the host system support USB and USB Mass Storage Class Devices. USB devices may communicate over the USB bus at low-speed (LS), full-speed (FS), or high-speed (HS). A connection between the USB device and the host may be established via a four-wire interface that includes a power line, a ground line, and a pair of data lines D+ and D−. When a USB device connects to the host, the USB device may first pull a D+ line high (the D− line if the device is a low speed device) using a pull up resistor on the D+ line. The host may respond by resetting the USB device. If the USB device is a high-speed USB device, the USB device may "chirp" by driving the D− line high during the reset. The host may respond to the "chirp" by alternately driving the D+ and D− lines high. The USB device may then electronically remove the pull up resistor and continue communicating at high speed. When disconnecting, full-speed devices may remove the pull up resistor from the D+ line (i.e., "tri-state" the line), while high-speed USB devices may tri-state both the D+ and D− lines.
The USB standard provides very stringent guidelines for the allowed common-mode voltage on the differential data lines (D+ and D−). On the other hand, newer specifications allow for battery charging using a USB port, which oftentimes results in currents that are much higher than initially specified for USB, producing higher voltage drops across the USB setups. This can lead to the need for thicker cables and/or reduced cable length when trying to communicate across the USB while the attached USB device is charging. Such change in cabling needs may not allow full backward compatibility for existing cabling infrastructures.
Other corresponding issues related to the prior art will become apparent to one skilled in the art after comparing such prior art with the present invention as described herein.

Overcoming limited common-mode range for USB systems


Certain aspects of a method and system for combining page buffer list entries (PBLEs) to optimize caching of translated addresses are disclosed. Aspects of a method may include encoding at least two page buffer list entries in a remote direct memory access (RDMA) memory map into at least two contiguous memory locations by utilizing a remainder of a physical address corresponding to the two page buffer list entries. The first memory location of the two contiguous memory locations may comprise a base address and a contiguous length of the first page buffer list entry. The second memory location of the two contiguous memory locations may comprise a virtual address and a contiguous length of the second page buffer list entry.

The end-to-end performance of IP networks for bulk data transfer may be limited by data copying overhead in end systems. Even when end systems may be able to sustain the bandwidth of high-speed networks, copying overheads may limit their ability to carry out other processing tasks. Remote direct memory access (RDMA) is a protocol, which may be utilized to avoid copying for network communication. The RDMA protocol may be useful for systems and/or protocols that transmit bulk data mixed with control information, such as network file system (NFS), common Internet file system (CIFS), hyper text transfer protocol (HTTP), or encapsulated device protocols such as Internet small computer systems interface (iSCSI). The Internet and IP networks may be utilized for buffer-to-buffer transfers, for example, in the form of file or block transfers by utilizing a variety of protocols, for example, HTTP, file transfer protocol (FTP), NFS, and CIFS. These upper-layer protocols (ULPs) may be enabled to transmit data that are uninterrupted by the protocol or the network. Each ULP may have a plurality of ways of requesting and initiating data transfers. For example, one use of HTTP may be to transfer JPEG format graphic images from a web server to a web browser's address space.
The data may be placed in the correct memory buffer directly as it arrives from the network, avoiding the need to store the data and subsequently recopying it into the correct buffer after it has arrived. If the network interface card (NIC) can place data correctly in memory, the memory bandwidth may be freed and the CPU cycles consumed by copying may be reduced. A number of mechanisms already exist to reduce copying overhead in the IP stack. Some of these mechanisms depend on fragile assumptions about the hardware and application buffers, while others involve ad hoc support for specific protocols and communication scenarios.
The RDMA protocol offers a solution that is simple, general, complete, and robust. The RDMA protocol introduces new control information into the communication stream that directs data movement to facilitate buffer-to-buffer transfers. Incorporating support for RDMA into network protocols may significantly reduce the cost of network buffer-to-buffer transfers. The RDMA protocol accomplishes exact data placement via a generalized abstraction at the boundary between the ULP and its transport, allowing an RDMA-capable NIC to recognize and steer payloads independently of the specific ULP. By using RDMA, the ULPs may gain efficient data placement without the need to program ULP-specific details into the NIC. The RDMA protocol speeds deployment of new protocols by not requiring the firmware or hardware on the NIC to be rewritten to accelerate each new protocol. To be effective, the receiving NIC may recognize the RDMA control information, and ULP implementations or applications may be modified to generate the RDMA control information. In addition, support for framing in the transport protocols may allow an RDMA-capable NIC to locate RDMA control information in the stream when packets arrive out of order.
Direct memory access (DMA) is a technique that is widely used in high-performance I/O systems. DMA allows a device to directly read or write host memory across an I/O interconnect by sending DMA commands to the memory controller. No CPU intervention or copying is required. For example, when a host requests an I/O read operation from a DMA-capable storage device, the device may use a DMA write to place the incoming data directly to memory buffers that the host provides for that specific operation. Similarly, when the host requests an I/O write operation, the device may use a DMA read to fetch outgoing data from host memory buffers specified by the host for that operation.
The RDMA protocol specifies dividing of long RDMA messages into multiple segments. These segments may reference virtually contiguous memory at their destination. The operating systems may prefer to allocate physically contiguous pages for virtually contiguous address ranges. With a conventional page buffer list (PBL) organization, an RDMA enabled NIC (RNIC) may make multiple successive lookups to the PBL for pages that may be physically contiguous.
Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such systems with some aspects of the present invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and system for combining page buffer list entries to optimize caching of translated addresses


A mobile application program testing method is provided for a server. The method includes receiving a code-to-be-tested sent by a first terminal, compiling the code-to-be-tested to a mobile application program, and recording a downloading address used for downloading the mobile application program. The method also includes generating a barcode used for obtaining the downloading address; and returning the barcode to the first terminal to be displayed. A second terminal acquires the barcode, obtains the downloading address, downloads the mobile application program according to the downloading address, and tests the mobile application program on the second terminal.

Program testing is an important step in a life cycle of a computer program and is a main method to find program errors and bugs. Program testing specifically refers to testing of a computer program that completes all or part functions and modules before being officially released for use, so as to ensure that the program correctly runs in a preset manner. A mobile application program is an application program for a mobile terminal, for example, an Android mobile application program applicable to an Android operating system, or an iOS mobile application program applicable to the iOS (the mobile terminal operating system of Apple).
However, current program testing methods often have low testing efficiencies. The disclosed methods and systems are directed to solve one or more problems set forth above and other problems.

Mobile application program testing method, server, terminal, and storage medium

TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED


Aspects of a method and system for content-aware mapping/error protection using different spatial streams are presented. Aspects of a system for handling multimedia information in a communication system may include a transmitter that enables control of a MAC layer and/or a PHY layer, in a wireless communication device to wirelessly communicate different portions of multimedia information via different spatial streams based on content of the multimedia information. The system may also comprise a processor that enables definition of a plurality of priority classes based on the content associated with at least a portion of the multimedia information.

Multiple input multiple output (MIMO) systems are wireless communications systems that are specified in, for example, resolution 802.11n from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). A MIMO system that receives a signal Y may compute a channel estimate matrix, H, based on the received signal. The signal may comprise information generated from a plurality of information sources. A transmitting MIMO system may utilize a plurality of transmitting antennas when transmitting the signal Y. A receiving MIMO system may utilize a plurality of receiving antennas when receiving the signal Y. The channel estimate matrix for a downlink RF channel, Hdown, may describe a characteristic of the wireless transmission medium in the transmission path from a transmitter, to a receiver. The channel estimate for an uplink RF channel, Hup may describe a characteristic of the wireless transmission medium in the transmission path from the receiver to the transmitter. According to the principle of reciprocity, a characteristic of the wireless transmission medium in the transmission path from the transmitter to the receiver may be assumed to be identical to a corresponding characteristic of the wireless transmission medium in the transmission path from the receiver to the transmitter.
When the transmitter and receiver are MIMO systems, corresponding beamforming matrices may be configured and utilized for transmitting and/or receiving signals based on the characteristic channel estimate matrix H. Beamforming is a method for signal processing that may allow a transmitting MIMO system to combine a plurality of signals in a transmitted signal Y. Beamforming is also a method for signal processing that may allow a receiving MMO system to separate individual signals in a received signal Y.
Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such systems with some aspects of the present invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.

Method and system for content-aware mapping/error protection using different spatial streams


Apparatus for applying glue to a foam pattern section, the apparatus including a glue print plate including an upper surface having an inner raised portion surrounded by a lower portion, and a dam at least partially surrounding the lower portion for reducing squeeze-out of glue from between the inner raised portion and the pattern section.

The invention relates to apparatus for assembling evaporable foam patterns to be used in a lost foam casting process. More particularly, the invention relates to apparatus for applying glue or adhesive to a section of a foam pattern.
U.S. Winston Pat. No. 4,572,762, which is assigned to the assignee hereof, discloses an apparatus for assembling lost foam patterns. Winston discloses (see FIGS. 1-3 hereof) a glue print plate 46 including an upper surface having a raised land 48 and a depressed area surrounding the land 48. The land 48 is 0.035 inches above the depressed area of the print plate 46, and glue is picked up on the land when the print plate is submerged in hot glue. When the land is pressed against a foam pattern section, glue on the land is squeezed out from between the land and the pattern section and forms a meniscus between the edge of the land and the lower or depressed area surrounding the land.
______________________________________ Sekavec, Jr. 4,589,950 May 20, 1986 Paul 4,353,775 Oct. 12, 1982 Laudua, et al. 4,744,853 May 17, 1988 ______________________________________


Capped amine hardeners for epoxy resins, which are reaction products of amines A having at least two primary amino groups, cyclic alkylene carbonates B, aliphatic carbonyl compounds C and compounds D having at least two groups which react with hydroxyl groups, such that in the first step, 0.1 to 1 mol of the primary amino groups for each 1 mol of the amine A are converted to hydroxyalkylurethane groups by reaction with the cyclic alkylene carbonate B, and the remaining primary amino groups are converted by reaction with the aliphatic carbonyl compound C in a second step to give ketimine or aldimine groups, and finally in the third step at least two of the molecules formed from A, B, and C are linked through reaction of the hydroxyl groups of the hydroxyalkylurethane groups with compound D. These capped amine hardeners are suitable for formulating water-dilutable monocomponent epoxy resin systems. The amines are released by addition of water, and are available for the curing reaction with the epoxy groups. Coatings formulated on the basis of this system are characterized by a very low content of auxiliary solvent. The cured coating films show outstanding leveling and film properties.

1. Field of the Invention
Water-dilutable two-component epoxy resin systems which cure at room temperature have reached a technological level which comes close to conventional epoxy resin systems with respect to the desired properties such as adhesion to substrate, surface quality, and mechanical and chemical resistance.
Attempts were made, for convenience and processing safety, to develop monocomponent (1C) epoxy resin systems with latent catalysis, consisting of a combination of ketimines and epoxy resins. The advantages of these 1C systems are obvious: the hardener and epoxy resin are already present in the proper proportions, so that there is no danger of using an incorrect proportion. In conventional systems, curing occurs when the ketimines are hydrolyzed by moisture from the air. With water-dilutable systems, it is preferable to add a definite quantity of water, so that the curing time no longer depends on the humidity. Moreover, this leads to homogeneous curing through the entire film thickness, thereby improving the properties of the cured resin.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional 1C systems have been known for a long time, and are described in the following patents, for example: U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,442,856, 3,919,317, 4,148,950, 4,391,958, 4,748,083 and WO Application 92/18575.
Water-dilutable 1C systems with latent catalysis are described in WO-A 98/02478. A water-dilutable liquid epoxy resin is combined with ketone-blocked amines, known as ketimines. When water is added, the ketimine decomposes and the amine hardener is regenerated and is available for curing. As the system can be emulsified in water, this is an aqueous binder, the properties and processing of which are known to users of the two-component aqueous systems. This binder assures easier processing for the user, as the binder is already present at the correct ratio of hardener to epoxy resin. The curing reaction is started by addition of water, so that only a minimum quantity of water need be added to attain optimum properties for the coating.
Suitable amines which react with ketones to give ketimines include aliphatic linear, branched or cyclic amines with at least two primary amine groups, primary polyoxyalkylene diamines, partially or completely hydrogenated condensation products of aniline or its derivatives, as well as polyamidoamines with at least two terminal primary amino groups from aliphatic linear, branched or cyclic amines with at least two primary amino groups and dicarboxylic acids.
These amines have disadvantages, though. For instance, low molar mass diprimary amines combined with water-dilutable epoxy resins hardly give the desired properties such as good surface quality and a balanced ratio of film hardness to film flexibility after curing. Although polyoxyalkylene diamines are of high molar mass, their aliphatic and polar nature produces insufficiently water-resistant films. Condensation products of aniline derivatives, even if completely hydrogenated, are not very reactive at ambient temperature, which means that the curing time is long.
Non-hydrogenated, or only partially hydrogenated, products are also toxicologically objectionable. Amine hardeners for ketimine capping should contain solely primary amino groups, because only those can react easily with ketones, with elimination of water. Reaction of secondary amines with ketones to give enamines proceeds less smoothly. A residue of unblocked amines remains, seriously degrading the storage stability of the 1C systems. For that reason, epoxide-amine adducts and Mannich bases are not very suitable for ketimine capping.
Polyamidoamines meet the requirement that they contain only primary amino groups, and they also have the desired polymeric structure. One disadvantage of the less polar polyamidoamines is their poor compatibility with the water-dilutable epoxy resins. That is particularly the case if the dicarboxylic acids used have long chains (10 or more carbon atoms in the chain). Polyamidoamines based on short-chain dicarboxylic acids, on the other hand, are often crystalline and high-melting, and thus difficult to work with.
Poor compatibility of ketimines based on polyamidoamines with water-dilutable systems becomes apparent to the user primarily through surface problems and cloudiness in unpigmented paint films in the cured systems. The problem can, indeed, be reduced by adding suitable solvents; but that impairs the solvent balance of the system. Also, the advantages of an aqueous 1C system are partially lost.

Capped amines as hardeners for monocomponent (1c) epoxy resin systems which can be diluted with water