A semiconductor chip carrier, an electronic module having the semiconductor chip carrier mounted therein, and an electronic device incorporating the electronic module. A semiconductor chip carrier comprises a multi-layer wiring substrate including a multi-layer ceramic board, and a thin film circuit mounted on said multi-layer ceramic board, and a semiconductor chip mounted and connected to the thin film circuit, wherein a low-resistance conductor path is provided on the surface of or in the multi-layer wiring substrate to connect between signal terminals which need to be connected with a low-resistance wire in the semiconductor chip, thereby realizing signal transmission at low resistance between the signal terminals of the semiconductor chip by this conductor path. This arrangement makes it possible to shorten the signal delay time of a semiconductor chip, and achieve higher speed signal processing in modules and electronic equipment in which a thus-improved semiconductor chip is used.

This invention relates to a wiring substrate having a semiconductor device mounted thereon and a module and an electronic device each using this substrate, and more particularly to a semiconductor chip carrier, module and electronic device for achieving an increase in speed of signal transmission in semiconductor devices.
Improvements have been made year after year in semiconductor chips responding to the strong requirements for higher integration, size enlargement, and greater speed of semiconductor chips mounted on semiconductor chip carriers. To be more concrete, the higher integration is achieved by increasing the element density in a chip by making the elements progressively more miniature, and enlarging the size of the chip. On the other hand, attempts have been made to obtain a higher speed of signal processing by realizing higher function of the elements and higher element density of the chip. However, the higher element density not only contributes to higher operation speed but also has an adverse effect of hindering the improvement of operation speed, which is becoming conspicuous in recent years. More specifically, as the higher the element density becomes, the wiring conductor width in the chip is getting narrower, which increases the wiring resistance, thus increasing the delay of signal transmission resulting from wiring reasons. This wiring delay has become an obstacle to realization of higher operation speed of semiconductor chips. An example of this is that the higher speed of the chip cannot be achieved unless the wiring for clock signal transmission, which can cause a signal delay, has low resistance in order to obtain operational synchronization with signals in the semiconductor chips.
In order to form a long wiring with low resistance in a chip, it is necessary to make improvements related to the material, width and thickness of wiring.
The substrate (hereafter referred to as a wiring substrate) on which a semiconductor chip is mounted expands the pitch of connection pads of semiconductor chips to facilitates connection to the wiring board. The wiring substrate often serves for sealing of the semiconductor chip.
As technology of this kind, there is "Hardware technology of the ultra-large processor group HITAC M-880" reported in Hitachi Hyouron "Vol. 73, No. 2, pp. 41-48 (1991-2)", for example.
Under this situation, it has conventionally necessary to achieve the higher speed of the semiconductor chip by the whole of a chip carrier including a chip. However, in achieving the higher speed of the semiconductor chip or chip carrier, it is essential to reduce the wiring delay which hinders the improvement of the signal processing speed as mentioned above.

Semiconductor chip carrier, module having same chip carrier mounted therein, and electronic device incorporating same module


The invention concerns a method of preparing trialkyl-tin hydrides by a process that ensures outstanding long-term stability.. Bis-[trialkyl-tin]oxides are dissolved in a solvent that mixes only to some extent, if at all, with water and converted with an aqueous solution of sodium borohydride stabilized with a base. The product is obtained by phase separation and optionally by distillation. The trialkyl-tin hydride is obtained almost quantitatively with a yield of more than 95%.

Organo-tin hydrides, especially tri-n-butyl-tin hydride, are valuable organic-synthesis reagents with an extraordinarily wide range of applications. These compounds are highly selective reducing agents Furthermore, the organo-tin hydrides may be used, for example, as catalyst, stabilizers, or biocides. The value and importance of these compounds has been demonstrated in a number of publications. Detailed information can be obtained from such reviews as W. P. Neumann, Synthesis 1987, 655; B. Giese, Radicals in Organic Synthesis: Formation of Carbon Bonds, Oxford, Pergamon Press, 1986; M. Pereyre, J. P. Quintard, & A. Rahm, Tin in Organic Synthesis, London, Butterworth, 1987; D. P. Curran, Synthesis 1988, 417 & 489; I. Omar, Organotin Chemistry, Amsterdam, Elsevier, 1989; and P. G. Harrison, Chemistry of Tin, Glasgow & London, Blackie, 1989.
Despite the wide range of applications reported in the prior art for these compounds, industrial use has been restricted by the limited stability of the organo-tin hydrides, which subsequently is a direct result of unsatisfactory preparation and purification techniques employed in prior art processes.
The instability of the organo-tin hydrides is caused by trace quantities of contaminants that remain in the product even after separation and extraction. Such trace amounts of contaminants are known to hinder the production of the hydrides and/or directly catalyze their decomposition. For example, traces of Lewis acids such as aluminum, boron, and organo-aluminum and organo-tin halogenides are known to trigger immediate decomposition of the resultant organo-tin hydride compound.
Some methods of stabilizing these organo-tin hydrides subsequently have been published. Such methods are disclosed, for example, in German Patent No. 1 167 345 & German, Patent No. 1 468 709. These references disclose purification of the organo-tin hydride compound by additional extraction with alcohols or basic solutions. However, this additional extraction method is inefficient and results in unacceptably low yields of product.
Other methods of preparing organo-tin hydrides have also been described in the prior art, however, these methods contain the above-mentioned drawbacks and/or result in low yields of the organo-tin hydrides. These methods of preparing organo-tin hydrides are illustrated hereinbelow.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,282,166 describes a method of preparing trialkyl-tin hydrides from trialkyl-tin chloride and sodium bis-(2-alkoxyethoxy) aluminum dihydride.
Chemical Abstract No. 90: 204 205p describes reducing trialkyl-tin chloride with sodium borohydride (NaBH.sub.4) in mixtures of ether and water. Yields of about 65 to 80% are obtained by employing this particular method.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,439,010 describes obtaining yields of approximately 80% trialkyl-tin hydrides by thermally decomposing trialkyl-tin formiates.
The preparation of organo-tin hydrides from sodium hydride and alkyl-tin chlorides is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,401,183.
Alkyl-tin oxides and chlorides can be converted into tin hydrides with siloxanes and silanes. This process is described in the following references: K. Hayashi, et al., J. Organomet. Chem. 10, 1, 81-94; Japanese Patent 43 010 134 [Chemical Abstr. No. 69: 106 880 b]; Japanese Patent 43 010 133 [Chemical Abstr. No. 69: 106 879 h]; Japanese Patent 43 012 132 [Chemical Abstr. No. 70: 37 922 y]; and German Patent 3 119 643.
H. J. Albert, T. N. Mitchell, and W. P. Neumann in H. Zimmer, ed., Methodicum Chimicum Vol. 7, Part A, New York, Academic Press, 1977, 361-62 describes the use of aluminum lithium hydride (LiAlH.sub.4) which subsequently yields 66 to about 89% trialkyl-tin hydrides.
Satisfactory yields can be obtained by reacting trialkyl-tin chlorides with sodium borohydride, although the reaction and preparation are complicated and difficult. This particular reaction is described in J. Organomet. Chem. 9, 2, 379-82 (1967).
Hungarian Patent A-41-412 describes a method of preparing tri-n-butyl-tin-hydride from bis-[tri-n-butyl-tin]oxide. The process is characterized by dissolving the oxide in an aliphatic alcohol and reacting the mixture at 10.degree. to 30.degree. C. with an alcoholic and/or aqueous solution of sodium borohydride for 10 to 60 minutes. Yields of 64 to 84% tri-n-butyl-tin hydride are isolated subsequent to a complicated series of purifications.
Despite the numerous methods available in the art, continual research is ongoing in an attempt to provide an easier method of preparing organo-tin hydrides which are stable under normal storage conditions over a longer period of time.

Method of preparing trialkyl-tin hydrides


The invention relates to a connector for the chip card of an electronic device, such as a SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card used to identify the user of a mobile station or the subscriber of a network service. The electrical contact between the connector and the chip card is provided by metal balls (3A) fastened to the flexible parts (4A) of the connecting springs. The ball (3A) is welded on the ball bed formed on the spring (4A) and it is supported by the edge of the opening (3B) in the frame. Due to the support provided by the ball (3A) and the edge (3B), the chip card can be slipped to the connector from several directions. Only the holder of the chip card and the construction of the electronic device set limits to the installation direction.

The invention relates to a chip card connector for connecting a chip card, such as a SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card to a mobile station, and a mobile station in which the chip card connector according to the invention is used.
A chip card is used in an electronic device, such as in a mobile station, for example for identifying the subscriber or saving information. Generally, the electronic device has a chip card holder welded on the circuit board and a connector with connecting springs for connecting to the chip card. For this purpose, the chip cards have gold-plated connecting surfaces by which an electric connection to the circuits of the chip card is established.
The prior art devices have the drawback that placing the chip card to the holder and connector is difficult, because the chip card has to be placed directly against the springs or slid on place from a certain direction.
It is the objective of the invention to provide a new chip card connector to which the chip card can be placed from as many directions as possible.
The invention relates to a chip card connector which comprises an insulating frame and at least one elongated, electrically conductive connecting spring, which incorporates a part for touching the contact area of the chip card, which part has a bent shape mainly in the longitudinal direction of the connecting spring. According to the invention, the part arranged for making the connection is bent not only longitudinally but also transversely, and the frame comprises at least one supporting part to prevent movement in the plane direction of the chip card, the transverse direction of the connecting spring.
Thus the part of the connecting string arranged for making the connection is flexible with regard to the transverse direction, essentially orthogonal to the plane of the chip card, even if the chip card is put on place from another direction than the longitudinal direction of the connecting spring.
The invention also relates to an electronic device, which comprises a processor for reading the information of the chip card, a memory for saving the programs of the processor, a chip card connector for connecting to the chip card, at least one printing unit for printing information which is presented for the operations, and an input device for using the operations. According to the invention, the chip card connector comprises an insulating frame and connecting springs, and the part of at least one connecting spring arranged for touching the contact area of the chip card is bent in at least two directions, and the frame comprises at least one supporting part to prevent movement in the plane direction of the chip card, the transverse direction of the connecting spring.
The invention also relates to a mobile station, which comprises a processor for reading the identification information of the subscriber""s identification card, a memory for saving the programs of the processor, an identification card connector for connecting to the identification card of the subscriber, at least one printing unit for printing information which is presented for the operations, an input device for using the operations, a transceiver and an antenna for connecting to the radio network. According to the invention, the identification card connector comprises an insulating frame and connecting springs, and the part of at least one connecting spring, which is arranged for touching the contact area of the identification card is bent in at least two directions, and the frame comprises at least one supporting part to prevent movement in the plane direction of the chip card, the transverse direction of the connecting spring.
According to the invention, the chip card can be installed from at least four horizontal directions or from above. This gives more design freedom to the designer of the electronic device, such as a mobile station, because the installation direction of the chip card connector is not important any more. Furthermore, little room is needed on the circuit board for the connector according to the invention, because there is room for components under the connector.
The connector according to the invention is also a low-cost item in manufacture, and it can be easily installed in an electronic device. The connector can be installed automatically during the assembly of the device.
Preferred embodiments of the invention are presented in the dependent claims.


It is an object of the present invention to provide a doping apparatus, a doping method, and a method for fabricating a thin film transistor that can carry out doping to the carrier concentration which is optimum for obtaining the desired electric characteristic non-destructively and in an easy manner. In accordance with the present invention, an electric characteristic of a semiconductor element (threshold voltage in a transistor and the like) is correctly and precisely monitored by using a contact angle, and is controlled by controlling a doping method. In addition, the present invention can be momentarily acquired information by in-situ monitoring the characteristic and can be fed back without a time lag.

1. Filed of the Invention
The present invention relates to a doping apparatus and a doping method, more specifically to doping technology used for forming a dopant region such as source and drain regions in a field-effect transistor (FET).
2. Description of the Related Art
In semiconductor elements (devices) such as a field-effect transistor and a thin-film transistor, doping is carried out to control their electric characteristics. The doping is a method for introducing a dopant such as arsenic (As), boron (B), and phosphorus (P) into a semiconductor film. Depending on the type of the dopant introduced into the semiconductor element, the semiconductor elements can be obtained p type in which holes are the majority carrier and n type in which electrons are the majority carrier. Therefore, electric characteristics of semiconductor elements (for example, a threshold voltage in thin-film transistors) have been controlled by the amount of dopant (dosage) which is doped, activation ratio of the dopant, and carrier concentration.
The activation ratio of a dopant is represented by the ratio of the amount of a dopant introduced in a semiconductor film and the amount of actually activated dopant. The activated dopant generates carriers. When the activation ratio of a dopant is 100%, the concentration of a dopant becomes equal to the concentration of carriers.
Characteristics of the elements have been conventionally inspected upon completion of semiconductor element fabrication. This information is fed back to a fabrication process and the doping method such as the amount of a dopant and doping rate is adjusted.
On the other hand, secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS), spread resistance method (SR), and the like are used as methods for measuring the aforementioned dopant concentration (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. H11-23498

Doping method and method for fabricating thin film transistor

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


A switch assembly includes a housing with facing mounting surfaces on which opposed facing switches are mounted. In one embodiment, three spaced generally planar mounting members extended between end supports with actuating levers extending in the two spaces between each of the horizontally extending mounting members. Mounted in facing relationship on opposing surfaces are switches such that an actuating lever extending into a space between the opposing surfaces engage a first switch when moved in a first direction and a second switch when moved in a second direction. The actuating levers are, in the preferred embodiment, pivotally coupled by axles means to end walls supporting the switch mounting members so that they can be moved in first and second directions for actuating the associated first or second switch with each of the levers. The intermediate partition member or wall can include one or more switches on both upper and lower surfaces while the lower member or floor can contain a single one or a row of switches as can the inside of the top surface. As a result there can exist four switches in vertical alignment, while the elongated planar support members can similarly carry a plurality of horizontally spaced switches. Such an arrangement, therefore, provides for vertical and horizontally stacking of switches with the levers being mounted on offset pivot axles and coupled to relatively elongated actuating bars for ease of operation.

The present invention relates to an electrical switch assembly and one particularly useful for providing multiple switch controls for use in vehicles such as automobiles.
Most modern vehicles include a variety of electrically operated accessories such as electrically operated windows, adjustable seats, sunroofs and the like. Each of these devices will typically include a control switch moveable in a first and a second direction for example, for raising or lowering a window. Thus, each device to be controlled frequently will require either two separate switches or multiple switch contacts, for example, with a rocker-type switch which employs a single pole double throw configuration. Frequently, a bank of such switches, for example, for electrical windows are placed either in a center console between the front seats of a vehicle or in a door armrest adjacent the driver. An array of such switches are normally aligned on a horizontal surface and therefore require considerable space.
When a vehicle includes power operated windows, multiple adjustment seats, and other accessories, it can be appreciated that a considerable amount of space is required for the installation of switches for each device to be controlled and for each direction of control. With the downsizing of modern vehicles, space is becoming a premium and therefore, the location of switches can become a difficult engineering problem or if switches are placed in available space, they may not be located in a conveniently accessible ergonometic location. Accordingly, there exists a need for a compact, high-density switch assembly which will provide multiple easily operated switches in a minimum amount of space such that a variety of electrical accessories can be controlled from a convenient location for the vehicle occupant.


An integrated sensor for detecting the presence of an environmental material and/or condition includes a sensing structure and first and second bipolar junction transistors (BJTs). The first BJT has a base that is electrically coupled with the sensing structure and is configured to generate an output signal indicative of a change in stored charge in the sensing structure. The second BJT is configured to amplify the output signal of the first bipolar junction transistor. The first and second BJTs and the sensing structure are monolithically formed a common substrate.

The present invention relates generally to the electrical, electronic and computer arts, and, more particularly, to integrated sensors.
Advancements in microelectronics have facilitated the introduction of numerous applications that improve the quality of life and benefit society in immeasurable ways. In addition to mainstream applications in conventional consumer electronics, microelectronics can be utilized in seemingly remote areas of the population. Given the ever-increasing globalization of society, precise acquisition, (near) real-time processing and analyses of tremendous amounts of information are in high demand. One example is the use of sensors that can detect and provide relevant environmental information, such as, but not limited to, radiation levels, inorganic particles, biological entities, etc., to ensure safety, security, and stability of environmental control. In addition, with advancements in mobile technology, technological benefits have been achieved by integrating such sensors into personal devices to provide real-time and customized readout of information.
Conventionally, different types of sensors are fabricated for the detection of corresponding different types of materials/substances. For example, Geiger counters are used to detect radiation dose, using ionization produced in a Geiger-Müller tube, and provide a real-time and semi-quantitative readout. However, Geiger counters have limited success in measuring high radiation rates and in measuring the energy of incident radiation. Personal radiation dosimeters in the form of wearable badges and the like are available but cannot provide a real-time indication of radiation; rather, such personal radiation dosimeters provide an indication of accumulated radiation or total radiation dose received. Biosensors, which often combine a biological component with a physicochemical detector, depending on the type of material to be detected, often require a certain amount of time for readout due to the reaction/detection mechanism. Moreover, better resolution/sensitivity requires longer processing time, which sometimes involves special instruments only available in laboratories, thus limiting the portability of biosensors.

Lateral bipolar sensor with sensing signal amplification

International Business Machines Corporation


A computer keyboard employs a single monoblock structure to both support the keys and to define the aesthetic enclosure. The monoblock has multiple key supports into which key bodies are slidably mounted. The keyboard includes a switch membrane disposed on top of the monoblock and a dome sheet positioned on top of the switch membrane beneath the key bodies. The dome sheet has multiple resilient domes with openings formed therein to provide access for the key bodies to corresponding key supports. The domes support the key bodies and provide the "spring-like" feel during operation of the computer keys. The switch membrane has annular switch contacts positioned about the monoblock key supports beneath the domes. As one of the key bodies is depressed, the associated dome buckles and actuates the annular switch contact. The computer keyboard is low cost due to having only one structural component and is quiet due to the position of the rubber or elastomer dome sheet beneath the key bodies.

As the computer keyboard industry matures, there is an increasing drive among keyboard manufacturers to produce lower cost keyboards. Traditionally, manufacturers have produced a keyboard 10 such as that shown in FIG. 1. One such prior art computer keyboard is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,560,844 granted to Takamura on Dec. 24, 1985.
Keyboard 10 includes multiple keys 12 mounted in a housing 14, which includes a rigid metal backing plate 16, a rigid metal or plastic mounting plate 18, and a rigid plastic enclosure 20. Keyboard 10 also has a switch membrane 22 and a dome sheet 24 positioned between backing plate 16 and mounting plate 18.
Mounting plate 18 has multiple key supports 26 into which keys 12 are slidably mounted so that keys 12 can be moved from rest positions to activated positions.
Switch membrane 22 comprises multiple switch contacts positioned beneath respective keys 12. The switch contacts are actuated upon depression of these keys. Dome sheet 24 comprises multiple resilient domes 28 which project upward to bias keys 12 to their rest position. Domes 28 collapse when keys 12 are depressed and rebound to their original form when keys 12 are released by the user to provide the "spring-like" feel of the computer keys. When the keys are depressed, switch membrane 22 generates an electric signal from an actuated switch contact to an electrical circuit, such as microprocessor, which is also provided on keyboard 10, but not shown in this figure.
Backing plate 16 provides the support for mounting plate 18, switch membrane 22, and dome sheet 24.
The prior art keyboard of FIG. 1 has a drawback in that it is relatively costly to produce. Housing 14 requires three structural components: (1) backing plate 16, (2) mounting plate 18, and (3) enclosure 20. These three housing components contribute significantly to the overall keyboard cost. Additionally, assembly time is greater because employees or machines must handle and assemble multiple separate housing components during the construction of a single keyboard.
Recognizing this, keyboard manufacturers have attempted to reduce the number of components employed in their computer keyboards. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,876,415 granted to Clancy on Oct. 24, 1989 combines a portion of the keyboard enclosure with the backing plate to eliminate one structural layer of the housing. U.S. Pat. No. 4,760,217 granted to Suzuki on Jul. 26, 1988 proposes a similar structure in that a back portion of the enclosure also functions as the backing plate for the computer keyboard. However, both of these patents still require a mounting plate to support the keys in addition to the combination enclosure/backing plate.
Prior art keyboards have another disadvantage in that they are noisy to operate. When a computer key is depressed, the plastic key cap typically strikes the plastic or metal mounting plate. This plastic-to-plastic contact causes a "clicking" sound which is tolerable, but undesired.
A separate problem associated with conventional keyboards concerns switch contact designs. One prior art switch contact 30 is illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B. Switch contact 30 is formed in switch membrane 32, which includes an upper flexible layer 34, a spacer layer 36, and a lower, rigid or flexible layer 38. A first conductive pad 40 is provided on upper layer 34 and a second conductive pad 42 is provided on lower layer 38 to face first conductive pad 40. Spacer layer 36 separates conductive pads 40 and 42 to provide an insulative air gap therebetween. Conductive pads 40 and 42 thereby constitute switch contact 30.
When a transverse force F is applied to upper flexible layer 34 at switch contact 30 (FIG. 2B), first conductive pad 40 is brought into electrical contact with second conductive pad 42. Upper flexible layer 34 is deformed into a concave shape as shown and electrical contact between first and second conductive pads 40 and 42 is made at a single point 44.
The conventional switch contact of FIGS. 2A and 2B have an inherent drawback in that electrical contact is made initially only at a single point 44. Additional transverse force is often required to effectuate more surface contact between first and second conductive pads 40 and 42. This additional force is undesired because it contributes to user fatigue over a prolonged period of keyboard operation. A second drawback to this prior art switch contact is that foreign debris or particles may become lodged on conductive pads 40 and 42 at or near the point of contact 44, thereby preventing the desired electrical contact between these two conductive pads.
A second conventional switch contact design is illustrated in FIG. 3. A computer key 48 comprises a switch contact 50 constituted by conductive traces 52 and 54 which are spaced on a printed circuit board 58 in an adjacent, but electrically isolated, manner and conductive layer 56 mounted underneath collapsible dome 60. When computer key 48 is depressed, dome 60 buckles and conductive layer 56 is brought into an electrical contact with both conductive traces 52 and 54, thereby electrically shorting traces 52 and 54. U.S. Pat. No. 4,677,268, U.S. Pat. No. 4,760,217, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,814,561 all disclose computer keys similar to that shown in FIG. 3 in which conductive material is mounted to the dome to constitute part of the switch contact. The disadvantage of this switch contact construction is that dome sheets having conductive material fixed in individual domes are more expensive than dome sheets without the conductive material. Accordingly, a computer keyboard which incorporates the switch contact of FIG. 3 is relatively more expensive.
This invention provides a low cost keyboard having a minimum number of components. This invention also provides improved and low cost switch contacts for a computer key structure which substantially reduce problems associated with contamination.

Membrane computer keyboard and improved key structure


A communication device capable of transmitting data on a communications channel, the communications channel capable of being shared with a number of stations, the communication device being configured to determine a back-off period, the back-off period being a period of time for which the communication device delays transmission of data after determining that the communications channel is idle, wherein the communication device is configured to determine the back-off period in such a way as to favor a decrease in the back-off period in response to an increase in the number of stations.

In certain wired and wireless communication systems or networks, devices may transmit data over a communications channel (e.g. a band or channel of spectrum, also referred to as a "medium") only after sensing that the channel is not in use ("clear" or "idle"). However, if a plurality of devices that share a channel (for example, devices in a network) each try to transmit immediately after sensing that the channel is not currently in use, all the devices that were waiting for a clear channel may try to transmit at the same time immediately after the channel ceases to be busy. The resulting "collision" between the signals can prevent one or more of the devices from making a successful transmission.
To reduce the chance of such collisions, some wireless communication standards define a "Contention Window" (CW) scheme including a contention period, during which devices that want to transmit will wait, after sensing an open communications channel, before actually performing a transmission. The devices may wait for one or more additional periods along with the contention period. The total amount of time that the devices have to wait (i.e. delay their transmission) can be known as a "back-off period". According to one contention-based scheme, each device may choose a time period randomly, and wait until the channel has been idle for this time period before trying to transmit. The CW helps define the maximum period that the device should wait, e.g., the random time periods are chosen to be within the CW (e.g. between 0 and CW). If the resulting first transmission attempt is unsuccessful, the length of the contention, window can be repeatedly increased for subsequent retries, up to some maximum value, until a retry is successful, or until a maximal number of retransmissions is reached. The length of the contention window may be defined by a first value, denoted CWmin, which defines a maximum initial starting size of the CW (the initial length of the CW being randomly chosen between 0 and CWmin), and a second value, denoted CWmax, which defines the maximal size of the CW.
In some wireless networks, all devices including an access point (AP) contend for the medium. In some wireless communications standards, the AP has more favourable medium access parameters than other devices, e.g. non-AP stations (STAs). However, even the more favourable medium access parameters can be insufficient to mitigate the statistical probability of a STA gaining access to the medium before the AP in the case where there are many STAs contending for the medium. This can result in lowered throughput from the AP to STAs.
Thus there is a need for a mechanism that can help improve the throughput from the AP to STAs when there are many STAs contending for the medium. Additionally, there is need to improve the throughput from the STAs to the AP when there is a low number of STAs contending for the medium. There may also be a need to improve or control the throughput (in either direction) when factors other than the number of STAs in the network affect the throughput. Embodiments of the present invention can help to provide devices, methods and computer programs for transmitting data on a communications channel which, at least partially, can help overcome the abovementioned problems.


A method whereby a computing platform that uses geographic data that are spatially organized into parcels of a given size can specify a parcel block size larger than the given size. Thereafter, during runtime, the geographic data are accessed by the computing platform in groups of one or more parcels not larger than the parcel block size. According to one embodiment, at or after initialization of the computing platform, groupings of parcels corresponding to parcel blocks are determined. Each parcel block has a size larger than the maximum parcel size but not larger than a maximum parcel block size. Data identifying the groupings and the parcels corresponding thereto are stored on the computing platform and the data identifying the groupings and the parcels corresponding thereto are used to access all the parcels corresponding to a parcel block whenever geographic data in any one of the parcels are needed.

The present invention relates to geographic data used in navigation systems and more particularly the present invention relates to a way to use geographic data in a navigation system that provides improved performance.
Navigation systems (including navigation applications provided on other types of computing platforms such as general purpose computing platforms) use geographic data. Because navigation systems and navigation applications use geographic data in known ways, the geographic data can be organized and arranged so as to improve the performance of the navigation system or navigation application. Ways that geographic data can be organized and arranged to improve navigation system performance are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,974,419, 5,968,109, and 5,953,722, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein.
As described in the aforementioned patents, spatial data are divided into parcels. Each parcel contains data that represent geographic features (e.g., roads, intersections, points of interest, rivers, lakes, etc.) located within a geographic rectangular area. The amount of data in each parcel is constrained not to exceed a specified maximum parcel size. The process of dividing spatial data into parcels is referred to as "parcelization" and data that have been organized into parcels are referred to as being "parcelized." FIGS. 1–3 show the same geographic data parcelized using different maximum parcel sizes.
Spatially parcelized data are stored on various physical media, such as CD-ROM disks, DVD disks, hard drives, etc. Parcelized geographic data are accessed from such media and used by navigation systems and navigation applications.
Determining the best size to parcelize geographic data involves balancing several different factors. When a navigation system reads data from a medium into the memory of the navigation system (or other computing platform), there is overhead associated with each I/O operation. For example, it takes longer to read two 8K parcels separately from a CD-ROM disk than it does to read one 16K parcel. I/O performance is therefore degraded when average parcel size is too low.
On the other hand, during normal use of a navigation system, it is preferable to maintain several parcels of data in a buffer memory of the system at the same time. Some systems have limited memory resources. This imposes an upper limit on parcel size. If parcels are relatively large compared to the available buffer memory, relatively few parcels can be stored in the buffer memory at one time and therefore parcels may have to be discarded more frequently because the buffer space is needed for a different parcel. However, a discarded parcel may be needed a short time later and therefore the discarded parcel has to be re-read, thereby degrading performance.
Testing or analysis could suggest at what parcel size these two constraints are in balance and I/O performance is optimal. However, the best parcel size may vary from one hardware platform to another. A parcel size that is optimal for one platform could be sub-optimal for a different platform.
Accordingly, there is a need for a way to use geographic data in navigation systems to improve performance.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and system for accessing spatially organized geographic data in blocks


A signal processing device wherein an incoming one-bit digital audio signal is blocked by every predetermined bit-length block. Two consecutive blocked frames are compared and it is judged whether or not an integral value of each frame is a predetermined value. If a portion where coincidence between the frames and coincidence of the integral value continue for a predetermined period of time, mute processing is performed.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a signal processing device for performing mute processing on a sigma-delta modulated one-bit signal.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a number of cases with a digital audio source, such as, a compact disc (CD) or a digital audio tape (DAT), a perfectly silent portion partly exists between programs or during musical performance. In a state of playback pause, an audio signal is muted. In the silent portion, since a 16-bit digital audio signal is formed in the form of consecutive 0000h or consecutive low-level DC data, the data includes no noise data.
In a CD player or the like, a 16-bit digital audio signal is muted by using a signal processing device as shown in FIG. 1. That is, the time of a 0000h portion of a 16-bit digital audio signal supplied via an input terminal 51 is measured by a silence portion detecting circuit 52. If the measurement result is equal to or longer than a predetermined time period, the measured portion is regarded as "silence", and an analog audio signal supplied via a digital-to-analog (D/A) converter 53 and a filter and amplifier 54 is electrically muted by a muting circuit 55.
At the time of silence, noise generated by the D/A converter 53 and residual noise of a low-pass filter, a line amplifier and the like are not outputted. Therefore, the signal-to-noise ratio (hereinafter referred to as S/N ratio) may be improved.
Meanwhile, it has been recently considered to apply a one-bit audio signal obtained by performing sigma-delta (.SIGMA..DELTA.) modulation on an analog audio signal, to a recorder or data transmission of high sound quality. The one-bit audio signal obtained by .SIGMA..DELTA. modulation has a very high sampling frequency and a short data word length, specifically, a sampling frequency which is 64 times of 44.1 kHz and a data word length one bit, compared with a multi-bit digital signal having a sampling frequency of 44.1 kHz and a data word length of 16 bits which is used for conventional digital audio. Thus, the one-bit audio signal obtained by .SIGMA..DELTA. modulation is characterized by a wide transmissible frequency band. In addition, even though the signal is the one-bit signal obtained by .SIGMA..DELTA. modulation, a high dynamic range may be secured in a conventional audio band (20 kHz), which is a lower range with respect to an oversampling frequency of 64 times 44.1 kHz.
With the 16-bit digital audio signal, the consecutive 0000h portion may be regarded as a silence portion, as described above. However, in the case of the one-bit audio signal obtained by .SIGMA..DELTA. modulation, the only possible data is a positive maximum value or a negative maximum value without having a value equal to 0, and therefore the silence portion cannot be detected by the above-described technique.
In short, 1 of the one-bit audio signal represents a positive (+) maximum value while 0 represents a negative (-) maximum value. Thus, the intermediate value .+-.0 between these maximum values cannot be represented by any means. For example, consecutive one-bit audio signals 0 result in continuous output of the (-) maximum value. Therefore, when the one-bit audio signal is used, it is impossible to detect the silence portion and mute the output so as to improve the S/N ratio.
Thus, the present Applicant has proposed, in the U.S. patent Ser. No. 08/754270 (Filing date: Nov. 20, 1996), a technique for recording a one-bit mute signal onto a recording medium with respect to a recording device for the one-bit digital audio signal.
However, the above application discloses a method of recording a mute signal onto a recording medium but does not disclose any specific example relating to reproduction in which the one-bit digital mute signal recorded on the recording medium is extracted and muted.

Mute signal processing circuit for one-bit digital signal


A method of processing altitude measurements for an aircraft is disclosed. The method involves filtering raw altimeter data within an altimeter to substantially limit random variations in the altitude measurements for one or more altimeter measurement profiles.

Reliable navigation systems have always been essential for estimating position during flight. For example, traditional altimeter measurements determine the altitude of an aircraft above a fixed level by measuring air pressure (where air pressure decreases with an increase of altitude). A radar altimeter measures altitude by using the time for a radio signal to reflect from a surface (terrain) back to the aircraft. For example, the radar altimeter measures exact height during landing and when the aircraft (in particular, a rotary-wing aircraft) is in a hover mode. Radar altimeters are typically included as a component in various on-board avionics systems. In each on-board avionics system, the radar altimeter component informs an operator (pilot) that the aircraft is flying too low or that terrain is rising to meet the aircraft.
Traditionally, accepting a certain level of altimeter sensor noise is accommodated for when measuring altitude in conditions similar to those described above. As the complexity of aircraft operations (missions) increase, reducing this noise (jitter) becomes significant for ensuring a high level of measurement reliability. Traditional filtering methods that stabilize altitude measurements mainly rely on post-processed data. This post-processed data may not be responsive to rapid changes or random variations in the aircraft's altitude. Additionally, current filtering methods are generally not reflective of terrain conditions, mission status, and other operating modes where minimal noise levels are essential for proper altitude measurement processing.


Communications from digital content consumers may be entered on reader devices as social media posts. Rather than specifying a particular recipient, a consumer may enter a reserved keyword, such as @author, as the recipient. Upon submission, this keyword is automatically replaced with the recipient identifier, such as with the user identifier of the actual author of the currently rendered content item.

For many years, information and ideas have been primarily distributed using print media such as books and periodicals. In this environment, opportunities for interacting with authors and other creators have been rare.
With the widespread use of the Internet and other communication technologies, however, content such as books and movies are increasingly consumed on personal electronic devices that have electronic communications capabilities. These capabilities allow various types of enhancements to the traditional content consumption experience, many of which have not been realized or exploited.

Author interactions using online social networks


A method and device for using a set of APIs are provided. Some of the functions which used to be performed by software are now accelerated through hardware.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an application program interface (API), more specifically, the present invention relates to an API having access to hardware services for storage management applications. Yet more specifically, the present invention relates to a Virtualization Acceleration Application Programming Interface (VAAPI).
2. Description of the Related Art
Application program interface (API), also known as application programming interface) is known in the art. API can be considered as a set of specific methods prescribed by a computer operating system or by an application program, which a programmer who is writing an application program can make requests of the operating system or another application.
The explosive growth of storage networks is being driven by the collaboration of business computing and the need for business continuity. The storage data management silicon model makes the assumption that the next logical step in managing storage networks is to move some of the storage management functionality into the storage network with the implementation located in switches, routers, appliances, NAS and SAN attached arrays. This model envisions storage virtualization application implemented onto storage network nodes using specialized storage data management silicon to ensure that the node does not become a severe performance bottleneck to the network traffic flowing through it.
To implement storage virtualization in the network, the storage virtualization application is effectively split into two function components; the control path and the data path, as shown in FIG. 1. The control path is responsible for all of the control functions of virtualization; including setting up the configuration, changing the configuration, network and availability management, fault tolerance, and error recovery. The data path component is responsible for moving the I/O through the virtualization application.
The performance characteristics of the storage virtualization engine in this paradigm depends on the amount of the data path that is implemented in hardware. A silicon-assisted solution can significantly reduce latencies over software solutions and increase IOP performance many times.
Therefore, it is desiouse to have specialized APIs residing in the datapath. Further, it is desiouse to have a storage network I/O handling framework and a set of APIs for better performance.

Application program interface-access to hardware services for storage management applications


Books or brochures are produced by transporting a series of elongated piles of superimposed paper sheets longitudinally through at least one stitching station where the sheets of each pile are mechanically connected to each other, thereupon sideways through a folding station where the piles are folded midway between their long sides to constitute folded piles each having a spine and two exposed outermost sheets, and thereupon longitudinally and sideways through a laminating station wherein the folded piles are provided with rigid or semirigid covers which are glued to the outer sides of their outermost sheets. The folded piles are then advanced lengthwise through a backstripping station, are compressed subsequent to stacking, singularized, trimmed, stacked and thereupon subdivided into stacks of superimposed books or brochures.

The invention relates to improvements in methods of and in apparatus for making books, brochures and analogous articles (hereinafter called books for short). More particularly, the invention relates to improvements in methods of and in apparatus for making books from multiple-size folded piles of overlapping sheets which can be subdivided into discrete books.
It is already known to connect the sheets of successive piles of overlapping sheets to each other, to fold the piles so that each folded pile has two outermost sheets, to attach a cover to each outermost sheet, and to thereupon subdivide each pile into two or more discrete books.

Method of and apparatus for making books


A new and distinct variety of peach tree (Prunus persica) with the following combination of unique and desirable characteristics:. 1. Heavy and regular production of fruit; PA0 2. Production of very firm, white flesh fruit with good handling and shipping quality; PA0 3. Fruit that will stay firm on the tree 10 to 17 days after maturity (shipping ripe); PA0 4. Fruit with excellent flavor and eating quality; PA0 5. Middle season maturity of white flesh fruit; PA0 6. Fruit with an attractive red skin blush; and PA0 7. Vigorous, half open growth habit.

In the country of origin, Republic of Korea, the tree of this disclosure is believed to have been derived from the commercial variety `Yumyeong`, and within the subspecies dianthiflora (Dipp.); and, originated in Seomyun, Yunkikun, Chungnam, Republic of Korea. The appropriate botanical classification for this tree is believed to be Prunus persica. This subject tree is believed to be exceptional in a number of characteristics and will offer a further option to commercial growers of stone fruits in terms of fruit having large to very large size, firm flesh, clingstone, sweet, attractively colored fruit which has a comparatively high capacity to withstand handling, shipping and storage. Having the additional desirable fruit characteristics of heavy production of fruit with an extensive surface blush of red coloration, an attractive shape and pleasant, sweet taste, and earlier than normal harvest for fruit of large to extra large size, this tree promises to be a valuable new variety to industry and commerce. This tree further has the advantage of being mid to late-season in blooming so that it is less susceptible to late frosts than other locally adapted tree varieties. I am not aware of varieties which offer a similar or comparable combination of characteristics.


A cable has miniaturized, low-cost, highly-integrated wireless network access points embedded in the cable at periodic intervals along the length of the cable. Power conductors that run the length of the cable supply each of the access points with electrical power. Each access point has an antenna for receiving and transmitting radio signals. The antenna of an access point is encapsulated, along with the rest of the access point circuitry, underneath an insulating protective outer sheath of the cable. The cable includes conductors that are usable for a purpose other than deploying a wireless network. When the cable is physically installed (for example, in the wall or ceiling of a building) for the other purpose, the access points are simultaneously physically installed. The access points so installed can then be activated and used as part of a wireless network.

1. Field of Invention
A wireless network typically involves one or more wireless devices and one or more network-connected access points. When a wireless device comes within wireless communication range of an access point, a wireless communication link is established between the wireless device and the access point. The wireless device then communicates with and/or becomes part of the remainder of the network via the wireless communication link and the access point.
2. Discussion of Background
Promulgation of the IEEE 802.11 wireless local area network (WLAN) standard has contributed to the spread of wireless networking and an increase in corporate investment in wireless networking infrastructure. Access points and network cabling are now sometimes built into new office buildings as a matter of course because future wireless networking is expected within the building. In addition to the desire to provide wireless networking within buildings, there is an anticipated desire to extend wireless LAN connectivity to outdoor areas. Large areas of cities and corporate campuses may one day be covered with a grid of access points such that wireless LAN connectivity can be maintained as a wireless device moves across town or across campus.
At the same time that demand for wireless networking has been increasing, the size and per unit cost of access point circuitry has been decreasing. Over the last few years, access point circuitry has been integrated such that an access point can be realized with fewer and fewer components and integrated circuits. It is now envisioned circuit integration will progress to the point that the manufacturing cost of an access point will be a few dollars when purchased in volume. Despite the low per unit access point manufacturing cost, if access points and wireless networking are to become ubiquitous, the access points still need to be installed and wired together in buildings and in the out of doors. A solution that facilitates such ubiquitous installation of relatively inexpensive access points is desired.


Encoded information is provided about how an image is rendered. When the image is initially rendered, preselected colors are used. The image is re-rendered so that colors used to re-render the image encode information about how the image was originally rendered. For example, the colors for the re-rendered image indicate for each part of the image, the number of vertices included in that part of the image. Alternatively, the colors for the re-rendered image indicate for each part of the image, which type of primitive within a graphics library is used to re-render the first part of the image, or the colors for the re-rendered image indicate for each part of the image, scheduling path within the graphics library used to render that part of the image.

The present invention concerns software tools for analyzing operations of application programs and pertains particularly to the colorization of primitives within computer generated three dimensional (3D) graphics being re-rendered to a computer display in order to provide feedback to a user of the software tool.
Utilizing a 3D graphics library to develop a high performance 3D graphics application can be an extremely complex task. In order to achieve optimal performance of the graphics application, it is often required that a developer have an intimate knowledge of the graphics library which underlies the graphics application and into which the graphics application makes calls. Various tools have been developed in order to help developers effectively utilize graphics libraries.
For example, Silicon Graphics Inc., has made available a number of graphics performance analysis tools. These include, for example, the glprof analysis tool, the gldebug analysis tool, the ogldebug analysis tool, and Iris Performer tools. Using the glprof analysis tool it is possible to capture the IRIS GL application programming interface (API) calls used to generate a single image into a trace. IRIS GL graphics library is a 3D graphics library available from Silicon Graphics, Inc. The generated traces are stored in trace files. The traces may be replayed to re-render the graphics image. Also, different graphics configurations can be simulated to predict the utilization of the different stages of the graphics pipeline when re-playing the trace for these different configurations. Additionally, a limited set of rendering options can be overridden from the glprof analysis tool so that calls made in a captured trace can be ignored. The captured traces can also be replayed and timed to determine the maximum performance possible for the trace.
The gldebug analysis tool monitors IRIS GL API calls made by a graphics application. From these monitored calls, visual and textual representations of the current graphics state is shown. Also, using the gldebug analysis tool, API calls made by the graphics application can be saved in a C formatted file. Additionally, breakpoints can be set on API calls. If an appropriate debugger is active, the application source code will be shown for the breakpoint. Further, the gldebug analysis tool allows a user to select API calls to skip.
The ogldebug analysis tool operates similar to the gldebug analysis tool, but is used for the OpenGL API. OpenGL graphics library is a 3D graphics library product available from Silicon Graphics, Inc. Using the ogldebug analysis tool, API calls made by the graphics application are monitored. Textual representation of the current graphics state can be shown. Additionally, performance hints can be generated and information about graphics display lists can be generated.
For Iris Performer tools, also available from Silicon Graphics, Inc., instrumentation is built into the Iris Performer toolkit. This allows for the generation of numerous graphs and statistics. When using the Iris Performer tools, information is displayed in real time. No trace files are generated. Additionally, a user can change the color of specific primitives to highlight the screen size and locations of these primitives in the rendered image. In general, a primitive is a call into a graphics library which results in a particular shape being drawn on a display.

Primitive colorization of three dimensional graphics to provide feedback to a developer


Thiazolidinedione (TZD) and its pharmacologically active derivatives can be used, in combination with agonists of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), to treat non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, optionally with other therapies, by improving glycemic control while minimizing side effects, such as heart hypertrophy and elevated fed-state plasma glucose, which are associate with both TZD and GLP-1 monotherapies. Thus, the co-administration of TZD and GLP-1 helps regulate glucose homeostasis in Type II diabetic patients.

The present invention relates to a combination of a thiazolidinedione (TZD), with glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) or a GLP-1 agonist, which combination possesses desirable hormonal activity and can be used to regulate glucose homeostasis in patients suffering from non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (Type II diabetes).
Insulin resistance is a classic feature of many human disease conditions, such as Non-Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM), obesity, hypertension, aging, etc. Diabetes mellitus is a disorder of carbohydrate metabolism, characterized by hyperglycemia and glycosuria resulting from inadequate production or utilization of insulin. NIDDM is a form of diabetes where utilization of insulin is inadequate. It occurs predominantly in adults, in whom adequate production of insulin is available for use, yet a defect exists in insulin-mediated utilization and metabolism of glucose and peripheral tissues. For some people with diabetes, a mutation in the gene(s) coding for insulin, for insulin receptor and/or for insulin-mediated signal transduction factor(s) leads to ineffective insulin and/or insulin-mediated effects, impairing the utilization or metabolism of glucose.
Diabetes mellitus often develops from certain at risk populations; it is known that one such population is individuals with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). The usual meaning of impaired glucose tolerance is that it is a condition intermediate between frank, non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and normal glucose tolerance. IGT is diagnosed by a procedure wherein an affected person's postprandial glucose response is determined to be abnormal as assessed by two-hour postprandial plasma glucose levels. In this test, a measured amount of glucose is given to the patient and blood glucose level measured at regular intervals, usually every ½ hour for the first two hours and every hour thereafter. In a "normal" or non-IGT individual, glucose levels rise during the first two hours to a level less than 140 mg/dl and then drop rapidly. In an impaired individual (IGT) the blood glucose levels are higher and the dropoff level is at a slower rate. A high percentage of the impaired (IGT) population is known to progress to non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus.
The pathophysiology of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) consists of three major components, (1) peripheral insulin resistance; (2) increased hepatic glucose production; and (3) impaired insulin secretion. Intense research has been devoted to each of these areas, independently, in order to determine which abnormality is primary and which are secondary. The prevailing view is that a rational therapeutic pharmacological approach should involve intervention in the insulin resistance to improve glucose homeostasis. Suter et al., Diabetes Care 15: 193–203 (1992). As a result of the focus on individual abnormalities, several model therapies were developed to regulate glucose homeostasis in Type II diabetic patients.
When focussing on peripheral insulin resistance, the drug of choice is a thiazolidinedione, which is a type of insulin-sensitizing agent. Troglitazone (TRG), for example, is an orally active anti-diabetic agent of the thiazolidinedione chemical series. This drug has been shown to reverse insulin resistance in patients with NIDDM and impaired glucose tolerance, and can enhance insulin action in numerous genetic and acquired rodent models of insulin resistance. The antihyperglycemic effects of TRG result from its ability to increase insulin dependent glucose disposal and reduce hepatic glucose production. It is believed, by enhancing insulin action, TRG treatment results in euglycemia at a lower circulating insulin level. In this regard, studies in normal and diabetic rodents and human clinical trials have not revealed hypoglycemia as a complication of thiazolidinedione therapy. On the other hand, administration of these drugs to normal or insulin-deficient diabetic animals failed to alter plasma glucose or insulin or glucose tolerance, although insulin sensitivity was nevertheless increased.
The effects of TRG and other thiazolidinediones on glucose disposal are thought to result from insulin sensitization, indicating an absolute requirement for insulin. On the other hand, TRG does improve insulin sensitivity as assessed by the hyperinsulinemic clamp. Suter et al., supra. Dose-dependent effects of thiazolidinediones on plasma insulin and glucose tolerance have been demonstrated in mouse and rat models other than the GK rat model.
Inhibiting gluconeogenesis in vivo would result in a decrease in glycogen stores. Following TRG treatment, we presumably begin with a smaller amount of glycogen and therefore show a decrease in total hepatic glucose output. It is also possible that TRG has a direct effect on the glycogenolitic pathway. The exact biochemical mechanism responsible for this effect is still under investigation. In vivo and ex vivo data in the GK rat further support the possibility that the effects of this drug on liver and peripheral tissue may be independent and different in some respects.
Thiazolidinedione treatments are based on the assumption that if you focus on peripheral insulin resistance, increased hepatic glucose production and impaired insulin secretion will be alleviated in due course. Additionally, determining the optimal dose of TZD for increasing insulin sensitivity has been a difficult undertaking. There is an additional dilemma that, even at the optimum dose, TZD monotherapy causes heart hypertrophy in animal models. Smits et al., Diabetologia 38:116–121 (1995). This side effect renders TZD monotherapy an undesirable prophylactic measure in the treatment of Type II diabetes mellitus.
The other primary approach to treating Type II diabetes mellitus focuses on facilitating insulin secretion, using insulin secretion-potentiating agents. The endocrine secretions of the pancreatic islets are under complex control not only by blood-borne metabolites (glucose, amino acids, catecholamines, etc.), but also by local paracrin influences. The major pancreatic islet hormones (glucagon, insulin and somatostatin) interact amongst their specific cell types (A, B and D cells, respectively) to modulate secretory responses mediated by the aforementioned metabolites. Although insulin secretion is predominantly controlled by blood levels of glucose, somatostatin inhibits glucose-mediated insulin secretory responses. In addition to the proposed inter-islet paracrin regulation of insulin secretion, there is evidence to support the existence of insulinotropic factors in the intestine. For example, glucose taken orally is a much more potent stimulant of insulin secretion than is a comparable amount of glucose given intravenously.
By focussing primarily on secretion of endogenous insulin, this method relies on the assumption that peripheral insulin resistance and increased hepatic glucose production would be regulated by insulin secretion treatments alone. However, of equal importance to the effective treatment of non-insulin diabetes mellitus is insulin sensitization which is the promotion of glucose utilization by enhanced insulin action. Increasing insulin secretion and/or synthesis without decreasing insulin resistance has little effect on glucose utilization.
Attempts to address the multiple abnormalities associated with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus have called for the co-administration of GLP-1 in conjunction with glibenclamide, which is a sulphonylurea. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,631,224. Sulphonylurea derivatives stimulate insulin secretion without an effect on insulin synthesis. Sulphonylureas act by closure of ATP-dependent potassium channels and pancreatic beta-cells. This leads to depolarization of the plasma membranes with opening of voltage-dependent calcium channels with inflow of calcium ions. Calcium ions bind to calmodulin, leading to activation of insulin exocytosis in a similar manner to that found after stimulation with glucose. In contrast to earlier beliefs, some sulphonylureas, such as glibenclamide, may interact with human vascular ATP-dependent channels. This may have consequences for vascular responses during ischaemia, which are, at least in part, mediated by ATP-dependent potassium channels.
During ischaemia in experimental animals, it has been suggested that shortening of the action potential exerts a protection effect, thereby reducing contractility, oxygen demand and repercussion damage. Under these circumstances sulphonylureas such as glibenclamide may inhibit potassium channels in the ischaemic myocardium, and so prevent the shortening of the action potential. This may result in less coronary vasodilation, more tissue damage and more reperfusion arrhythmias.
In light of heart hypertrophy, which is a side effect of TZD and increased tissue damage resulting from sulphonylurea administration, a new approach to treating type II diabetes mellitus is needed. The new approach should be a multi-pronged approach to the pathophysiology of NIDDM, which is not limited to the treatment of only peripheral insulin resistance, or only impaired insulin secretion. The appropriate treatment would ameliorate peripheral insulin resistance, increase hepatic glucose production, and facilitate insulin secretion without heart hypertrophy and increased tissue damage.

Synergistic use of thiazolidinediones with glucagon-like peptide-1 and agonists thereof to treat metabolic instability associated with non-insulin dependent diabetes


Disclosed are methods of treating, inhibiting or preventing vascular thrombosis or arterial restenosis in a mammal. The disclosed methods include causing the mammal to inhale a therapeutically-effective concentration of gaseous nitric oxide (NO). Also disclosed are methods that include the administration of the following types of agents in conjunction with inhaled nitric oxide: compounds that potentiate the beneficial effects of inhaled nitric oxide, and antithrombotic agents that complement or supplement the beneficial effects of inhaled nitric oxide.

This invention relates to methods of treating, inhibiting or preventing vascular thrombosis and methods of treating, inhibiting or preventing arterial restenosis resulting from excessive intimal hyperplasia.
A thrombosis, i.e, the formation or presence of a blood clot within a blood vessel, may result from physical injury of an arterial wall by a vascular interventional procedure such as percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty ("PTCA"; a type of balloon angioplasty) or coronary bypass surgery. Thrombosis may also result from progression of a natural disease, such as atherosclerosis. Various agents, including aspirin, prostaglandin E.sub.1, selective thromboxane A.sub.2 inhibitors, selective thrombin inhibitors, platelet receptor GPIIb/IIIa blockers, tissue plasminogen activator, streptokinase, heparin and kistrin have been used as antithrombotics. See, e.g., Yasuda et al. (Circulation 83:1038 (1991)); and Gold et al., (Circulation (Supplement IV) 83:IV26 (1991)). Currently available antiplatelet agents include aspirin, ticlopidin, monoclonal antibodies, nitroglycerin and sodium nitroprusside.
Another unwanted result of arterial injury from vascular interventional procedures is arterial restenosis. For example, PTCA has been used extensively to open occluded arteries in both the coronary and peripheral vascular systems. Although initially successful in over 95 percent of cases, a gradual renarrowing or reocclusion process, known as restenosis, occurs within six months in 30 to 50 percent of the patients.
Vascular interventional procedures tend to damage the vascular wall. Such injury triggers the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells, resulting in intimal hyperplasia. This proliferation may be due in part to the effects of platelet-derived growth factors released by platelets which adhere to the site of arterial injury. Excessive intimal hyperplasia leads to restenosis, i.e., a re-narrowing of the arterial lumen. Thus, arterial restenosis can severely limit the long-term effectiveness of vascular interventional procedures.

Treatment of vascular thrombosis and restenosis with inhaled nitric oxide


A screen assembly for a vibratory screening machine including a frame, and a screen cloth on the frame having wires with a diameter D of between about 1.6.times.10.sup.3 micrometers and 17.8 micrometers with a peak to valley roughness R in micrometers which is between about R=0.333D and R=0.05D. A screen cloth for mounting on the frame having a range of dimensions as set forth above. A method of making a screen for a vibratory screening machine including the steps of providing a screen cloth having a wire of a diameter D of between about 1.6.times.10.sup.3 micrometers and 17.8 micrometers and roughing the surface of the wires to a peak to valley roughness which is between about R=0.333D and R=0.05D.

The present invention relates to an improved screen cloth and to a screen assembly which are used in a vibrating screening machine, and to a method of fabrication thereof.
By way of background, the vibrating screening machines of the type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,882,054 and other types of vibratory screening machines utilize screens of the type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,575,421 and also use other types of screens which are mounted in various types of frames.
The performance of a screen in a screening operation is determined by a combination of its "conveyance" and "conductance" under given conditions of vibration. Conveyance is the amount of solids or the feed at which the solids are moved or are being advanced forward on the screen during vibration. This is usually measured in inches per minute. Conductance is a measure of how easily the particles which are being screened pass through the screen. A combination of the conveyance and conductance determines the screen performance, and improved performance is usually accompanied by less blinding, that is, less clogging of the screen.
It has been found that if the wires of the screen which contacts the material being screened are toughened, both the conveyance and conductance of the screen are improved and blinding is lessened so that the screen performs better.

Screen and screen cloth for vibratory machine and method of manufacture thereof


Proposed is a highly reliable storage apparatus with fast access speed and low power consumption, as well as a controller and control method for controlling such a storage apparatus. This storage apparatus is equipped with a flash memory that provides a storage extent for storing data, a disk-shaped memory device with more data write cycles than the flash memory, and a cache memory with faster access speed than the flash memory. Data provided from a host system is stored in the cache memory, this data is read from the cache memory at a prescribed timing, data read from the cache memory is stored in the disk-shaped memory device, and, when a prescribed condition is satisfied, this data is read from the disk-shaped memory device, and the data read from the disk-shaped memory device is stored in the flash memory.

The present invention generally relates to a storage apparatus, a controller and a control method, and, in particular, can be suitably applied to a storage apparatus adopting a flash memory as its memory device.
Conventionally, a semiconductor memory or a hard disk drive is used as the memory device in storage apparatuses. A semiconductor memory boasts such benefits as fast access speed, compact size, low power consumption and high reliability, but also has a drawback in that the cost per unit bit is expensive. Meanwhile, a hard disk drive has drawbacks in comparison to a semiconductor memory such as slow access speed, bulky size, high power consumption and low reliability, but also is advantageous in that the cost per unit bit is dramatically cheaper than a semiconductor memory.
Thus, in recent years, hard disk drives have become mainstream as the memory device in a storage system, and technological innovation relating to hard disk drives has accelerated. As a result, the storage capacity per unit area in a hard disk drive has increased by leaps and bounds.
In addition, reliability, which was the weak point of hard disk drives, has improved due to the application of RAID (Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks) technology, and in recent years a large-scale storage system with a capacity of several TB has appeared in the market.
Meanwhile, in recent years, a flash memory as a semiconductor device enabling the free rewriting of data and which retains data even when the power is turned off is being widely used as a memory device. Pursuant to the diffusion of this flash memory, the cost per unit bit of flash memories is coming down.
Under the foregoing circumstances, it is anticipated that a storage apparatus equipped with a flash memory as the memory device will hit the streets in the future. By adopting the foregoing configuration, it is assumed that a storage apparatus with fast access speed and low power consumption can be realized.
Incidentally, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-21811 proposes a storage that consolidates a flash memory and a hard disk drive.

Storage apparatus, controller and control method


Disclosed is a laundry treating apparatus. The laundry treating apparatus includes a first treating apparatus having a first front panel disposed on a front face thereof and a first drum disposed therein for accommodating laundry, and a second treating apparatus disposed beneath the first treating apparatus to support the first treating apparatus. The second treating apparatus has a second front panel disposed on a front face thereof and a second drum disposed therein for accommodating the laundry. The laundry treating apparatus further includes a control panel disposed between the first front panel and the second front panel. The control panel is signally connected to the first treating apparatus and the second treating apparatus. The control panel is inserted between the first front panel and the second front panel, and is fixed by sliding in a lateral direction.

A laundry treating apparatus is an apparatus that puts laundry such as clothes, bedding, and the like into a drum to perform treatment necessary for the laundry, such as to remove contamination from the laundry or to dry the laundry.
When the laundry treating apparatus is constructed to remove the contamination from the laundry, the laundry treating apparatus may perform processes such as washing, rinsing, dehydration, drying, and the like. The laundry treating apparatuses may be classified into a top loading type laundry treating apparatus and a front loading type laundry treating apparatus based on a scheme of putting the laundry into the drum.
The laundry treating apparatus may include a cabinet defining an appearance of the laundry treating apparatus, a tub accommodated in the cabinet, a drum that is rotatably mounted inside the tub and into which the laundry is put, and a detergent supply that supplies detergent into the drum.
When the drum is rotated by a motor while washing-water is supplied to the laundry accommodated in the drum, dirt on the laundry may be removed by friction with the drum and the washing-water.
The detergent supply has a detergent supply function to improve a washing effect. In this connection, the detergent means a substance, such as fabric detergent, fabric softener, fabric bleach, and the like, that enhances the washing effect. Detergent in a powder form and detergent in a liquid form may be used as the detergent.
In one example, when the laundry treating apparatus is designed to dry the laundry, the laundry treating apparatus may remove moisture from the laundry by supplying dry air to the laundry.
The laundry treating apparatus may include a cabinet, a drum rotatably disposed inside the cabinet, heating means for heating or drying the air supplied to the laundry, and the like.
As the dry air is supplied to the laundry accommodated in the drum, the moisture present in the laundry may be evaporated and removed by the dry air, and water may be removed from the laundry.
In one example, a laundry treating apparatus is equipped with a plurality of treating apparatuses. The laundry treating apparatus includes a first treating apparatus as an upper treating apparatus and a second treating apparatus as a lower treating apparatus. In addition, a structure in which each of the first treating apparatus and the second treating apparatus has a manipulator and a display is disclosed.
However, the laundry treating apparatus discloses the structure in which the plurality of treating apparatuses distinguished from each other have respective manipulators and respective displays. In this case, a user must respectively identify states of the respective plurality of treating apparatuses, and must respectively manipulate the plurality of treating apparatuses. In addition, it may be disadvantageous for the user to operate the plurality of treating apparatuses in association with each other.
Therefore, in the laundry treating apparatus equipped with the plurality of treating apparatuses, it is an important task to improve a convenience of the user in identifying or manipulating the operation states of the plurality of treating apparatuses and to present an efficient arrangement relationship and a stable and effective coupling relationship of components of the plurality of treating apparatuses.


A method and apparatus for displaying time on a display panel having a plurality of segment type character display units are provided. Time is displayed in a first position on the display panel by activating a first group of segments in the character display units. The display of time is shifted on the display panel to a second position that is displaced from the first position by activating a second group of segments that is displaced from the first group of segments.

There are various types of digital display systems known in the art. In one type, individual light emitting elements, commonly called light emitting diodes (LED's) or the like, are arranged in a pattern in clocks and display boards. The individual LED's are turned on and off to display a given message or to show the time. In another type, a chemical material is sandwiched between two electrode plates where at least one of the plates has been etched with segments for displaying alpha and/or numeric symbols. The segments are activated by the selective application of an electric field to the selected segments.
Another type of display unit, called a liquid crystal display (LCD) is a thin flat display device made up of any number of color or monochrome pixels arrayed in front of a light source or light reflector. Each pixel of an LCD consists of a layer of perpendicular molecules aligned between two transparent electrodes, and two polarizing filters, the axes of polarity of which are perpendicular to each other. With no liquid crystal between the polarizing filters, light passing through one filter would be blocked by the electrodes. The surfaces of the electrodes that are in contact with the liquid crystal material are treated so as to align the liquid crystal molecules in a particular direction. Before applying an electric field, the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules is determined by the alignment at the surfaces. The surface alignment directions at the two electrodes are perpendicular and so the molecules arrange themselves in a helical structure, or twist. Because the liquid crystal is birefringent, light passing through one polarizing filter is rotated by the liquid helix as it passes through the liquid crystal layer, allowing it to pass through the second polarizing filter.
When a voltage is applied across the electrodes, a torque acts to align the liquid molecules parallel to the electric field, distorting the helical structure. This reduces the rotation of the polarization of the incident light and the device appears gray. If the applied voltage is large enough, the liquid crystal molecules are completely untwisted and the polarization of the incident light is not rotated at all as it passes through the liquid crystal layer. The incident light will then be polarized perpendicular to the second filter, and thus be completely blocked and the pixel appears black.
There are other types of display systems called photochromatic display systems and cataphoresis display systems. In some of these systems, as well as LCD's, backlighting has been added in order to aid the individual in reading the display when there is little artificial or natural light available.
Many types of electronic products utilize these types of displays for digital clock systems in such diverse applications as table and wall clocks, automobile clocks, microwaves, washing machines, VCRs and the like. Of these, the table and wall style mounted clocks are one of the more common in use. In the case of hotels, motels and other places the public frequents, these clocks generally have only one side, or face, for displaying the time. Thus, in the case of a hotel or motel where there are multiple beds, only one person can have the clock face facing them. If the other person wakes up in the night and desires to determine the time, they have to search for the clock and then turn it to face them in order to read the time. In addition, during the non-sleeping hours, the face of the clock is not always visible from persons located in various parts of the room, thereby requiring the user to reposition them selves in order to get a clear line of site at the clock face in order to read the time displayed on the clock.
In the case where there are multi-faced clocks, particularly in public places such as airports, train stations and the like, the multi-faced clocks are generally designed in one of two fashions. In one form, they are designed to look like the older style analog clocks that have a round face and two arms, one of which indicates the hour and the other the minutes. In this structure, the visual appearance of the multiple-faced clock has a symmetrical and pleasing appearance. In the other type of structure, where a digital display is utilized, the clocks are designed with clock faces that are parallel to each other such that only one display is viewable at a given time by a single viewer. The reason for this is that digital faced clocks are all right justified, meaning that the time shown is always shifted to the right hand side of the display. If multiple faces of a digital clock were visible simultaneously by a user, they would appear to be non-symmetrical and esthetically unappealing. As depicted in the prior art of FIG. 2, a right hand side of a clock face would depict the time right justified with a gap towards the front of the clock while the clock face on the left hand side of the clock would also depict the time as being right justified which would therefore leave a gap towards the rear side of the clock. Thus, digital clocks suffer the drawbacks of either having only one face presented to a user or a multi-faced digital clock that appears unsymmetrical and esthetically unappealing.
Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a digital multi-faced faced clock that provides for the display of time that appears centered relative to the time display panel.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a multi-faced digital clock wherein all of the clock faces are symmetrical with respect to each other clock face.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings.

Method and apparatus for displaying time on a display panel


The present invention relates to a laundry treatment apparatus. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the laundry treatment apparatus includes shield means that shields the gap between a plurality of laundry treatment apparatus main bodies and a gap between a laundry treatment apparatus main body and a pedestal. Accordingly, there is an advantage in that the market quality can be enhanced since the togetherness and beauty of products are improved. Furthermore, the shield means includes a fixed part that fixes the laundry treatment apparatus main body disposed on an upper side. Accordingly, there is an advantage in that the laundry treatment apparatus main body can be fixed in a stable way.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a laundry treatment apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to a laundry treatment apparatus, in which in the case where a plurality of laundry treatment apparatus main bodies or a laundry treatment apparatus main body and a pedestal are loaded, loaded matters can be stably fixed mutually and a gap therebetween can be shielded.
2. Discussion of Related Art
In general, a laundry treatment apparatus may be classified into a washing machine for removing pollutant adhered on clothes, bedclothes, and so on (hereinafter, referred to as "fabric") using water, a detergent, mechanical action, and the like, a drying machine that dries wet fabric using dried hot air heated by the heater, mechanical action, and so on, and a combination dry and washing machine serving as both the washing function and the dry function.
In the laundry treatment apparatus, a plurality of washing machines, drying machines, and combination dry and washing machines can be installed separately at different places. However, they are installed at the same place for the purpose of the continuity and convenience in its processing. Recently, there is a tendency that the plurality of washing machines are installed at the public facilities such as laundry rooms and residence halls.
The plurality of laundry treatment apparatuses may be installed in parallel right and left or may be installed up and down.
If the plurality of laundry treatment apparatuses are installed up and down with them being loaded, an installation area can be minimized and the utilization of the indoor space can be improved accordingly.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a laundry treatment apparatus in the related art. FIG. 2 is a front view of the laundry treatment apparatus in the related art.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the related art laundry treatment apparatus 1 includes a washing machine 2, and a drying machine 4 disposed on a top surface of the washing machine 2.
In general, the washing machine 2 is placed on the ground since it has a heavy weight and great vibration compared with the drying machine 4. In contrast, the drying machine 4 is disposed on a top surface of the washing machine 2 since it has a lightweight and small vibration compared with the washing machine 2.
If the washing machine 2 and the drying machine 4 are installed in up and down directions with them being loaded as described above, the installation area of the laundry treatment apparatus 1 can be minimized, so that the utilization of the indoor space can be improved. Furthermore, use convenience can be enhanced since the washing and dry operations of fabric can be performed coherently by the laundry treatment apparatus 1.
Therefore, in the laundry treatment apparatus 1, after a dirty fabric is input to the washing machine 2, it is washed cleanly by the washing machine 2. Wet fabric washed by the washing machine 2 is drawn from the washing machine 2 and is then input to the drying machine 4 for dry.
In the related art laundry treatment apparatus 1, however, a gap G of a predetermined distance is formed between the washing machine 2 and the drying machine 4. Not only height control legs 6 installed at the bottom of the drying machine 4 are seen, but also foreign substance, such as water and dust, is accumulated on the gap G. Accordingly, a problem arises because the beauty of the laundry treatment apparatus 1 is decreased.
More particularly, the togetherness of the washing machine 2 and the drying machine 4 is degraded because of the gap G between the washing machine 2 and the drying machine 4. This makes the installation structure of the laundry treatment apparatus 1 looks weak overall. Accordingly, it gives a feeling that the drying machine 4 may fall.
Furthermore, if foreign substance is accumulated on the gap G, the foreign substance is adhered to fabric while the fabric washed in the washing machine 2 is moved to the drying machine 4. Accordingly, there is a problem in that washed fabric is again polluted.


The present invention is directed to compositions for the treatment of respiratory infections caused by a bacteria selected from the group consisting of S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, H. parainfluenza, Burkholderia (Pseudomonas) cepacia, and a mixture thereof, comprising a binding inhibiting effective amount of the compound of Formula I, ##STR1## where R.sub.1 is H, (.beta.-1)GalNAc-, SO.sub.3 B (where B is H or a cation) or a sialic acid of Formula II; ##STR2## where R.sub.6, R.sub.7, R.sub.8, and R.sub.10 are each independently H, C.sub.1-6 acyl, lactyl, C.sub.1-6 alkyl, sulfate, phosphate, anhydro, a sialic acid of Formula II, (.alpha.-1)Fuc, (.beta.-1)Glc or (.beta.-1)Gal;. R.sub.9 is NH--C.sub.1-6 acyl, glycolylamido, amino or hydroxyl; and PA2 A is H or a cation;. R.sub.2 is H or (.alpha.-1)Fuc-; PA1 R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are each independently OH or NHAc; PA1 R.sub.5 is H, SO.sub.3 B (where B is H or a cation), or a sialic acid of Formula II as defined above; ##STR3## Y is a chemical bond or a linking group; Z is H or a multivalent support; PA1 m is 0 or 1; and PA1 p is an integer of 1 to 1,000; with the proviso that the compound is not Gal.beta.1-4-GlcNAc.beta.1-3-Gal.beta.1-4-Glc.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a method of treating bacterial infections caused by a bacteria selected from the group consisting of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenza, Hemophilus parainfluenza, Burkholderia (Pseudomonas) cepacia and a mixture thereof using an oligosaccharide, as well as a pharmaceutical composition containing same.
2. Discussion of the Background
S. pneumoniae, H. influenza, H. parainfluenza, and Burkholderia (Pseudomonas) cepacia are pathogenic bacteria associated with respiratory diseases such as pneumonia, bacterial bronchitis, conjunctivitis, sinusitis and otitis media. In each of these conditions, the bacteria colonizes the healthy tissue of the nasopharynx, conjunctiva, lung, bronchi or ear canal, establishing a large enough population to cause the disease. The bacteria adhere to the cell-surfaces, at specific receptor sites for the bacteria.
Conventional therapy has relied on administration of antibiotics, in order to alleviate the bacterial colonization. However, antibiotic therapy is subject to the development of antibiotic resistant strains, (and can ultimately generate "super bacteria") which would not be treatable with known antibiotics. A report issued by the American Society of Microbiology, in May of 1995, indicated that more and more infectious organisms are becoming untreatable with antibiotics and that steps must be taken to reverse this trend before a public health crisis occurs.
Researchers have studied the interactions of pathogenic bacteria with tissue receptors, responsible for adherence, and have identified specific carbohydrate sequences which can inhibit bacterial adherence.
Krivan et al U.S. Pat. No. 5,386,027, report binding inhibition of specific "opportunistic pathogenic bacteria", which are associated with respiratory tract infections, with compounds containing either an internal or terminal GalNAc.beta.1-4-Gal.beta.1-4-Glc sequence. The specific pulmonary pathogenic bacteria for which binding inhibition are reported are Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Haemophilus influenza, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli. The reference postulates that ganglioside GM1 is present in substantial amounts in human lung tissue and that pulmonary pathogenic bacteria require at least a terminal or internal GalNAc.beta.1-4-Gal, which is unsubstituted with sialyl residues.
Andersson et al J. Exp. Med. (1983), v. 158, p. 559-570, report binding inhibition studies on Streptococcus pneumoniae, and identify a disaccharide GlcNAc .beta.1-3-Gal.beta. as a specific glycoconjugate receptor. The reference reports that compound 3, NeuAc.alpha.2-3Gal.beta.1-4-GlcNAc.beta.1-3-Gal.beta.1-4-Glc-Cer had no effect at binding inhibition (page 564, first sentence under Table IV).
Rosenstein et al, Infection and Immunity (1992), vol. 60, no. 12, 5078-5084, report binding specificities for Pseudomonas aeruginosa M35 and Escherichia coli C600, isolated from cystic fibrosis patients for various oligosaccharide structures. Gal.beta.1-4-GlcNAc.beta.-3-Gal.beta.1-4-Glc was reported to have high binding activity while NeuAc.alpha.2-6-Gal.beta.1-4-GlcNAc.beta.1-3-Gal.beta.1-4-Glc showed no activity.
Ramphal et al, Infection and Immunity (1991) vol. 59, no. 2, p. 700-704, report binding inhibition studies for Pseudomonas aeruginosa to Type 1 (Gal.beta.1-3-GlcNAc) and Type 2 (Gal.beta.1-4GlcNAc) disaccharides. NeuAc.alpha.2-6-Gal.beta.1-4-GlcNAc.beta.1-3-Gal.beta.1-4-Glc is reported to have no activity in the direct adhesion assay.
Ginsburg et al U.S. Pat. No. 5,225,330 report a diagnostic device for absorbing microorganisms, using specific carbohydrate receptor sequences. The reference reports no activity for sialylparagoboside in binding inhibition of Mycoplasma pneumoniae (Table I, col. 11) but reports Escherichia coli inhibition of N-glycolylsialoparagloboside.
Feizi et al Biochemistry, 1994, 33, 6342-6349, report that NeuAc.alpha.2-6-Gal.beta.1-4-GlcNAc.beta.1-3-Gal.beta.1-4-Glc is not bound or is only negligibly bound by immunoglobulin E-binding protein, while NeuAc.alpha.2-3-Gal.beta.1-3-GlcNAc.beta.1-3-Gal.beta.1-4-Glc is strongly bound by this protein.
Magnani et al WO92/18610 report the use of sialyl-Lea.sup.a (Neu5Ac.alpha.2-3-Gal.beta.1-3[Fuc.alpha.1-4]GlcNAc) and sialyl-Le.sup.x (Neu5Aca2-3-Gal.beta.1-4[Fuc.alpha.1-3]GlcNAc) in inhibiting binding of malignant cells to endothelial cells both in vivo and in vitro.
Andersson et al J. of Infectious Diseases (1986), vol. 153, no. 2, 232-237, report that fractions of human milk inhibited the attachment of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenaze to human pharyngeal or buccal epithelial cells.
Accordingly, new methods of treating bacterial infections of a bacteria selected from the group consisting of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenza, Hemophilus parainfluenza, Burkholderia (Pseudomonas) cepacia and a mixture thereof, are being sought, which have a lower probability of generating antibiotic resistant strains. Anti-adhesion compounds are potentially useful candidates in this search.

Bacterial inhibition with an oligosaccharide compound