Methods for depositing, at a very high deposition rate, a biaxially-textured film on a continuously moving metal tape substrate are disclosed. These methods comprise: depositing a film on the substrate with a deposition flux having an oblique incident angle of about 5° to about 80° from the substrate normal, while simultaneously bombarding the deposited film using an ion beam at an ion beam incident angle arranged along either a best ion texture direction of the film or along a second best ion texture direction of the film, thereby forming the biaxially-textured film, wherein a deposition flux incident plane is arranged parallel to a direction along which the biaxially-textured film has a fast in-plane growth rate. Superconducting articles comprising a substrate, a biaxially-textured film deposited on said substrate by said methods above; and a superconducting layer disposed on the biaxially-textured film are also disclosed.

1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of second-generation superconductors. More specifically, it relates to a process for depositing, at a very high rate, a biaxially-textured film on a continuously moving metal substrate tape. Even more specifically, it relates to a process wherein a film is deposited on a substrate with a deposition flux having an oblique incident angle, while simultaneously being bombarded by an ion beam at an ion beam incident angle arranged along either a best ion texture direction (BITD) or a second best ion texture direction of said film, thereby forming a biaxially-textured film, wherein the deposition flux incident plane is arranged parallel to the direction along which the biaxially-textured film has a fast in-plane growth rate.
2) Prior Art
Second-generation superconducting tapes, such as those based on Y1Ba2Cu3O7-δ (YBCO) films, are being developed to carry large amounts of electrical current without electrical resistance. Such second-generation, high temperature superconductors (HTS) typically comprise biaxially-textured (narrow out-of-plane and in-plane grain orientation distributions) layers deposited on a metal substrate, such as a flexible metal tape. It is known that the biaxially-textured layer enables high current densities (Jc) in YBCO films, among others.
The effects of grain boundary characteristics on current transmission have been demonstrated for YBCO films (Dimos et al. (1988) Phys. Rev. Lett. 61:219; and Dimos et al. (1990) Phys. Rev. Lett. 41:4038). For clean, stoichiometric boundaries, critical current density appears to be determined primarily by grain boundary misorientation.
Several attempts have been made to grow sharply textured YBCO films having high critical current densities on flexible metal tapes. In one approach, a biaxially-textured layer was deposited using ion beam assisted deposition (IBAD) on a Ni-based alloy tape, such as Hastelloy® (S. R. Foyltn et al., IEEI Transactions on Applied Superconductivity 9 (1999) pp. 1519). The IBAD of a buffer layer of yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) was the first demonstrated process to achieve biaxially-textured layers, and has produced several of the longest and best performing YBCO superconductors. It is generally accepted that texture development in IBAD-YSZ is based on a growth competition mechanism. As a result, one disadvantage of this method is that thick layers must be grown in order to achieve good in-plane texture. Typically, biaxially-textured layers that are more than about 1,000 nm thick achieve in-plane textures of less than 15° full-width-at-half-maximum (FWHM). This problem is further exacerbated by the very low deposition rate (about 0.1 nm per second) needed to grow high quality IBAD-YSZ. The combination of thick films and low deposition rates necessitates long deposition times (typically hours) to grow a biaxially-textured layer with a thickness greater than about 1,000 nm. Therefore, this process may not be suitable for rapid, large-scale industrial applications.
IBAD of magnesium oxide (MgO) has been used to achieve very good biaxial texture in films about 10 nm thick using a deposition rate of about 0.1 nm/second (J. R. Groves et al., Proc. 2001 Intl. Workshop on Superconductivity, Honolulu, Hi. (Jun. 24-27, 2001), p. 3). This IBAD-MgO process, as such, could be about 100 times faster than IBAD-YSZ. However, this IBAD-MgO method requires at least three additional layers in the buffer structure; the first is an amorphous seed layer, the second is a thick homo-epitaxially grown MgO layer, and the third is yet another layer for better lattice matching with YBCO. By requiring three additional layers, additional time and effort are needed to process the buffer structure in IBAD-MgO. Furthermore, the biaxial texture of MgO is very sensitive to the roughness of the underlying substrate, as well as other factors. Therefore, it may be difficult to achieve high yields in the manufacture of IBAD-MgO-based layers.
Inclined substrate deposition (ISD) without the assistance of ion beam bombardment has been shown to achieve high deposition rates (K. Hasegawa et al, Proc. of 16th ICEC/ICMC, Amsterdam: Elsevier Science (1997), p. 1077; and M. Bauer et al. IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity 9 (1999) p. 1502). These high deposition rates can minimize the time needed for coating long wires. However, the quality of film produced by ISD is poor compared to the quality produced using IBAD, and the c-axis in these ISD layers is tilted off surface normal. This makes the critical current density (Jc) anisotropic, and the critical current decreases greatly along the tilt direction. The films deposited by this ISD method tend to have a rough surface with a pattern similar to "roofing tiles."
In an additional approach, ion beam nanotexturing (ITEX) of YSZ has been shown to produce biaxially-textured YSZ in a matter of a few minutes (R. P. Reade et al., Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 80, No. 8 (2002) p. 1352). ITEX is similar to IBAD, except that in the ITEX method, an amorphous YSZ layer is first deposited, then an oblique ion (Ar+) beam at an angle of about 55° is used to bombard the amorphous film with O2 in a chamber. The result is a crystalline texture in the top surface of the amorphous layer. This method is very rapid, but results in a very poor in-plane texture of about 45°. An in-plane texture of about 15° or less is necessary in order to achieve good properties in the YBCO layer when deposited upon the biaxially-textured layer.
Fast ion beam assisted deposition of cerium oxide (CeO2) biaxially-textured layers (Fast IBAD) has been shown to achieve much higher deposition rates than IBAD-YSZ (X. Xiong et al., "Rapid Deposition of Biaxially-Textured CeO2 Buffer Layers on Polycrystalline Nickel Alloy for Superconducting Tapes by Ion Assisted Pulsed Laser Deposition", Physica C, 336 (2000) 70). In fast IBAD, the deposition rate is similar to the ISD method, but fast IBAD results in a better film quality, and the c-axis (z-axis) is not tilted off normal in the fast IBAD conductors as it is in the ISD-based conductors. However, the Jc obtained by this fast IBAD method is not as good as that of IBAD-YSZ. The texture of the biaxially-textured layer, especially the texture of YBCO deposited via fast IBAD, requires further improvement.
Thus, there is a need in the art for novel and robust processes for depositing, at a very high deposition rate, a biaxially-textured film on a continuously moving metal tape. Such processes should increase the deposition rate by at least ten times the conventional deposition rate of IBAD-YSZ of about 0.1 nm/second, resulting in a deposition rate of about 1.0 nm/second or greater. Such processes should substantially reduce production times. Such processes should result in grain alignment on a large-scale basis. Such processes should be used to develop manufacturing facilities for producing kilometer lengths of HTS-coated conductors at price and performance levels needed for numerous applications. Such processes should result in a high population of low-angle grain boundaries.

Biaxially-textured film deposition for superconductor coated tapes


A seed planting unit provides a manifold connecting a vacuum to multiple metering disks. The manifold includes valves to sequentially connect the manifold branches to the seed unit so as to moderate the peak air flow necessary to be handled by the vacuum source reducing horsepower drain and cost of the vacuum source itself.

The present invention relates to seed planters for dispensing individual seeds at a controlled rate into a seed furrow, and specifically to seed planters that employ vacuum systems for metering the seeds.
Seed planters dispense seeds at a controlled rate into a seed furrow as a planter is advanced along the ground. In a typical arrangement, a tractor is coupled to tow a tool bar to which is attached, in a parallel spaced part relationship, a plurality of planting units.
Each planting unit typically includes a seed hopper holding seeds and communicating with a seed meter for dispensing seeds at a controlled rate as the planting unit moves over the ground. The planting unit may include on its lower surface a furrow opening disk for opening a furrow for the seeds, a furrow closing disk for closing the furrow about the seeds, and a trailing wheel that tamps down the earth about the furrow.
The seed metering unit must pick individual seeds from the hopper and deliver them between the furrow opening disk and the furrow closing disk at a controlled rate. One method of accomplishing this task with seeds of different sizes and shapes uses a disk with a plurality of openings that rotates past a seed chamber. A vacuum draws air through the openings in the disk to trap individual seeds within each opening for delivery into a second location for release.
The vacuum for the seed metering device may be provided, for example, by a blower driven by an hydraulic motor attached to the hydraulic system of the tractor. The motor is sized to provide a sufficient vacuum pressure at an air flow rate that might be anticipated when each disk for each planting unit is empty of seeds, and therefore under a condition of minimum back resistance to the blower. After seeds begin to fill the holes, a lower flow rate is required.


A communication transceiver transmits a power-controlled first signal responsive to received power control commands and transmits one or more additional signals at variable power gains relative to the transmit power of the first signal based on reception quality feedback received for the additional signals. Thus, a mobile station may transmit a traffic channel at a variable power gain relative to its pilot signal power and vary that gain responsive to reception quality feedback received by it for the traffic signal. Of course, the mobile station may float more than one traffic channel using variable gains and may use different variable gains for each one. Further, the mobile station may float one or more non-pilot channels relative to the pilot or relative to another channel, while transmitting one or more fixed gain channels. Similar variable power gain may be employed at network base stations for forward link signals.

The present invention generally relates to wireless communication networks, and particularly relates to power control in such networks.
Wireless communication networks typically employ some form of closed-loop power control for the communication signals going between base stations and the mobile stations being supported by those base stations. In particular, the typical Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network uses forward and reverse link power controls to control transmission powers by base stations on the forward link and by mobile stations on the reverse link. For example, network base stations must receive signals on the reverse link from mobile stations at signal strengths sufficient to permit data reception at tolerable error rates. However, to reduce each mobile station's contribution to overall reverse link interference, the network controls each mobile station such that it on average transmits at no higher power than is required to achieve the targeted received signal strength at one or more network base stations.
In a typical approach, the network employs both "inner" and "outer" loop reverse link power control. Inner loop power control involves relatively fast, ongoing power control adjustments of the mobile station's reverse link transmit power by the network. For example, in CDMA networks configured according to IS-2000 standards, inner loop control is based on the network streaming power control commands to the mobile station at up to 800 Hz, i.e., one power control command every 1.25 ms.
In response to each received command, the mobile station adjusts its pilot signal power upward or downward by a defined incremental step, depending on whether the received command was an up or a down command. A given base station supporting the mobile station determines whether to send an up or a down command based on the signal strength of the mobile station's signal as received at the base station. In particular, the typical base station monitors the received signal strength of the mobile station's pilot signal relative to a target value and sends an up command if the received signal strength is below the target, or sends a down command if the received signal strength is above the target. Because the typical mobile station is configured to transmit all of its reverse link signals, e.g., traffic channel and/or control channel signals, at defined ratios of pilot signal power, the up and down commands from the network cause the mobile station to increase and decrease, respectively, the power, of all its reverse link signal transmissions.
Outer loop reverse link power control runs at a slower rate and involves adjusting the inner loop signal strength target at the base station up or down based on some other reception parameter. Commonly the Frame Error Rate (FER) of the mobile station's traffic channel signal provides the metric for adjusting the inner loop target. For example, if the FER is low compared to a 1% (or other) target error rate, the base station may adjust the inner loop target downward. Conversely, if the FER exceeds the target error rate, the base station may adjust the inner loop target upward. In this manner, the base station's inner loop provides rapid closed-loop control of the mobile station's transmit power to maintain the as-received signal strength of the mobile station's pilot signal at or around a target value, while outer loop control provides a slower adjustment mechanism to ensure that the target value yields tolerable data error rates.
For certain types of forward link channels, e.g., dedicated traffic channels, similar inner and outer loop control mechanisms are embodied at the mobile stations. Thus, a given mobile station streams up/down power control commands to the network based on whether it receives a particular signal, e.g., a traffic channel signal, from the network at a signal strength above or below a target value. Further, the mobile station adjusts the target value up or down based on, for example, a FER of data received on the traffic channel signal.

Secondary link power control in a wireless communication network


A control loop (10) for producing an output signal with a stable nominal frequency is provided. The control loop includes inputs for reference (11) and oscillator (25) output signals, a beat frequency generator (12) for producing a signal with a frequency that is the difference between the oscillator and reference signal frequencies, an ADC (14) to convert the beat frequency to a digital beat frequency signal, an estimator (17) for estimating the frequency or phase of the beat signal, an adder (18) for combining an offset and modulation signal and the estimated frequency or phase of the beat signal into an added signal, and a DAC (23) for generating an analogue control signal for controlling the oscillator output frequency.

Control loops, in the form of frequency or phase lock loops (FLL/PLL), provide frequency adjustable output signals that are kept at a stable nominal frequency through a feedback arrangement. Such control loops are used in a range of telecommunications applications, for example in FM modulators, FM demodulators and frequency synthesisers.
The resolution of the adjustment of these control loops is often limited to relatively large discrete steps. For example, in an integer PLL with a fixed frequency reference signal, and a divider in the feedback path, the output frequency can only be adjusted to a multiple of the reference frequency by adjusting the divider value. Therefore, it is not possible to adjust the output frequency to an arbitrarily fine resolution. To increase the output frequency resolution, it is possible to use a divider that facilitates a larger division ratio in conjunction with a lower reference frequency. One of the drawbacks of this approach is that the smaller the reference frequency, the longer it takes the FLL/PLL to achieve lock.
One solution is to use a reference signal source that has an adjustable output frequency as an input to an integer or fractional N PLL. In this way the reference frequency can be increased by a small amount while coarse frequency adjustment in the integer N PLL is appropriate to achieve a fast phase lock time. The reference frequency source must be finely adjusted for the overall system to acquire frequencies between these coarse frequency steps caused by changing the dividers in the integer or fractional N PLL.

Frequency and/or phase lock loops with beat frequency estimation


Studies of call center activities are performed by using a tool having timer buttons for timing call activities during a live or recorded call. Code values are assigned to specific activities and activity subtypes. The calls are assigned to a plurality of reviewers who gather data using the tool. Reviewer data is consolidated into a master database. The data is normalized with agent performance ratings. The normalized data is analyzed statistically to determine leverage points for improvement.

Call centers are used to provide services of a wide variety. For example, a company may use a call center to service customers around the world and around the clock.
In order to manage and improve the efficiency or performance of a call center, supervisors and others monitor the telephone calls. Various methods of monitoring and gathering data during monitoring have been devised to assist in this essential management task.
Clare et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,465,286 describe a system for supervising an automatic call distribution (ACD) telephone system. The ACD routes incoming calls to agents. However, certain agents may be unavailable to take a call due to unexpected delays in handling another call, change of shift or the like. Calls are therefore queued. A supervisor can monitor the size of the queues, length of time the oldest ACD call has been waiting to be answered or other call data and take action to assign additional agents to take calls, shift agents from other groups, shift agents from making outbound calls to taking incoming ACD calls. Clare describes a system for displaying agent activities, agent data, and agent status on a map representation and in a directory listing. The system also predicts pending abandonment of queued calls and the potential financial impact of pending loss of calls.
Maloney et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,818,907 describe a method and system for monitoring the performance of a call center agent by determining a number of calls or length of time within an interval for such monitoring. The system automatically records the performance of the agent at this time with or without notifying the agent. A supervisor may later listen to and annotate the recording.
Stuart et al. in US Published Application US2001/0032120 A1 describe a method for evaluating the efficiency of a call agent by collecting call handling data for that agent, collecting cost data for that agent, and computing a cost based performance indicator from the handling data and cost data.
Masami et al. in their abstract of Japanese published patent application JP2003298748A describe a call center analyzing system. A person in charge of analysis has a terminal with a data storing unit and an analysis database. The data storing unit collects telephone call information and telephone reception information and stores these in the database as call center information. The terminal analyzes this information. Using this system, the person in charge of analysis can quickly analyze the call center information.
Judkins et al in U.S. Pat. No. 6,707,904 describe a method and system for collecting and reporting information on a call center operation, to a supervisor. A supervisor computer is connected to an ACD server and a structured query language (SQL) server having a database for call center statistics. At predetermined time intervals, the system automatically detects using the ACD server whether an agent is taking a call, completed a call but not yet indicated availability to take another call (wrap time) and the like, and forwards this to the supervisor computer. Real time reports are generated and displayed to a supervisor. At predetermined time intervals, statistical data related to agents and call center operation is sent from the SQL server and database to the supervisor computer to obtain historical reports of call center operation.
Prabhaker et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 6,711,253 describe a system for analyzing call center operations data. The system retrieves the data from a memory unit and processes it to determine agent composition and occupancy information. Agent groups that share a common skill are identified. The system generates reports indicating the agent composition and occupancy information.
Despite the above developments, there remains a need for improved methods of studying the operation of a call center and identifying areas for productivity improvements. It is believed that such methods would constitute a significant advancement in the call center management arts.

International Business Machines Corporation


Methods and kits for DNA repair are provided. The methods and kits described herein repair multiple types of DNA damage. The kit may include a plurality of enzymes to repair a greater variety of lesions than any single enzyme is capable of repairing. Repair of damaged DNA may include releasing damaged bases from the DNA strand, nicking the DNA at the damaged sites, translating the nicks via 5′-3′ exonuclease activity, and sealing the nicks. The enzymes employed in the repair process may then be heat-inactivated, thereby obviating a purification process. The repaired DNA may then be analyzed using a variety of DNA analysis methods.

The invention relates generally to forensic analysis, and, more specifically, to repair of damaged nucleic acid sequences.
In criminal investigations, investigators often look for physical evidence left behind at the scene of a crime to link a suspect to the crime. For example, physical evidence has traditionally included fingerprints, hairs, fibers, and so forth. A modern forensic analysis of physical evidence may include analysis of evidence, such as blood or other bodily fluids, which contains deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or ribonucleic acid (RNA) specimens. Forensic laboratories analyze DNA and/or RNA samples in an attempt to determine the identity of the person to whom the sample belongs. For example, in criminal forensics, a subject may leave blood or other evidence containing DNA at the scene of the crime. By determining from whom the DNA evidence came, the government can use such evidence in court to prosecute a suspect.
DNA analysis performed at forensic laboratories may be hampered by DNA samples that have been exposed to uncontrolled environmental conditions. Environmentally damaged samples may contain shortened DNA fragments (i.e., double-stranded breaks in the DNA), which are refractive to standard analysis methods, or may contain somewhat intact DNA with single-stranded nicks and lesions. Some examples of damaging exposure include acid and heat exposure, which leads to missing bases and/or apurinic and apyrimidinic sites (AP sites); ionizing radiation and electrophilic agents, including alkylating agents, which modify bases or the sugar backbone; oxidative damage, which leads to altered bases; and UV irradiation, which produces cyclobutane dimers. In the event of such damage, the DNA sample often cannot be analyzed effectively and thus cannot be used as evidence in criminal prosecutions.

Method and kits for repairing nucleic acid sequences


An arrangement is provided for a telescope feeder of a rock-drilling machine, having two telescopic portions, between which is connected an extension cylinder so that the rock-drilling machine moves along one telescopic portion. The extension cylinder comprises a separate adjusting piston, which is mounted movably around the piston rod so that it can move irrespective of the piston of the extension cylinder. Three cylinder spaces are thus formed inside the extension cylinder and to each cylinder space is connected a separate channel for pressure medium, so that the adjusting piston can be displaced to a desired position.

The invention relates to an arrangement for a telescope feeder of a rock-drilling machine, a feed beam of which feeder consists of two telescopic portions moving mutually in their longitudinal direction, between which portions is connected an extension cylinder, inside which moves a piston in such a way that the extension cylinder is connected to one telescopic portion and the piston rod is connected to the other telescopic portion in order to displace those portions with respect to each other, whereby the rock-drilling machine moves along one telescopic portion by means of a separate feed cylinder.
Telescope feeders are used in a rock-drilling machine in a situation when it is necessary to drill holes of different lengths in different circumstances, owing to which a long feed beam cannot always be used. In such a telescope feeder, the feed beam consists of two feed beam portions moving in their longitudinal direction with respect to each other, whereby for drilling with the shortest drill rod is only needed a motion of the drilling machine with respect to one feed beam portion, but for drilling with drill rods longer than that the feed motion consists both of the motion of the drilling machine along one feed beam portion and of a mutual motion of the feed beam portions.
One problem with the known solutions is that when the feed beam portions are displaced with respect to each other, their position cannot be accurately determined without complicated measuring devices. A consequence of this is that the feed motion is difficult to control and it causes extra work and inconveniences. On the other hand, for drilling holes of predetermined lengths a continuous measurement of drill rod motion is required, which also is difficult and demands a continuous observation on the part of the driller.
The object of the present invention is to provide such an arrangement for a telescope feed beam of a rock-drilling machine by which the feed length can be easily arranged as desired and locked thereto in such a way that no measuring steps are necessary after the first setting before the length of the drill rod or the depth of the hole to be drilled is changed. The arrangement according to the invention is characterized in that the extension cylinder comprises separate adjusting piston mounted movably around the piston rod so that it can move irrespective of the piston of the extension cylinder, whereby three separate cylinder spaces are formed inside the extension cylinder, and that to each cylinder space is connected a separate channel for pressure medium, whereby the adjusting piston can be displaced to a desired position with respect to the extension cylinder or the piston and it can be locked thereto.
The essential idea of the invention is that the extension cylinder between the feed beam portions comprises a separate adjusting piston, which can move around the piston rod of the cylinder in the longitudinal direction of the cylinder, whereby three spaces for pressure medium are formed in the cylinder and whereby the flow of pressure fluid into one of these spaces or out of it can be closed in such a way that the adjusting piston restricts the stroke length of the piston of the extension cylinder to a desired dimension. In this manner it is possible to adjust the length of motion between the beam portions of the telescope feed beam in such a way that the desired drilling length is achieved.
The invention will be described in more detail below in connection with the attached drawings.

Arrangement for a telescope feeder of a rock-drilling machine


A noise reducing device includes a housing defining an expansion chamber therein and having a longitudinal axis along the length of the expansion chamber and a tool port in fluid communication with the expansion chamber, the tool port being oriented transversely relative to the longitudinal axis so as to cause fluid directed from the tool port to the expansion chamber to whirl about the expansion chamber.

1. The Field of the Invention
This application relates generally to noise reducing devices. In particular, this application discusses noise reducing devices for use with pneumatically operated tools, such as pneumatic percussive drills.
2. The Relevant Technology
The process of converting energy stored in compressed air into motion for powering a pneumatic tool generates a significant amount of noise as the spent air (exhaust) is exhausted. In particular, pneumatic tools are operated by compressed air that enters a sealed chamber, exerts pressure on an internal piston, and causes the piston to move forward and back repeatedly. As spent compressed air is exhausted from the sealed chamber, the compressed air expands rapidly causing a loud noise. Often, the operation of pneumatic tools requires a close proximity between the tool and an operator, and the noise generated by the tool can be loud enough to be potentially harmful the operator.
There are many approaches to reduce the noise from these devices. A common approach is a muffler consisting of an expansion chamber into which the exhaust flows and expands before venting to the atmosphere. Such designs take various geometric shapes including cylindrical, kidney-shaped, and rectangular. Another approach includes incorporating a series of internal chambers within an expansion chamber to allow the exhaust to progressively expand. The series of internal chambers can be made of metal alloys, polymers, composite, elastomeric, or foamed sound-absorbing materials.
While such approaches offer some improvement in noise reduction, they may be very complex and include several intricate parts that must be manufactured and fitted together at a significant cost. Many approaches use bulky devices that can obstruct the mobility and operation of the pneumatic tools with which they are used. Other approaches can restrict air flow and, thereby, result in reduced performance of the pneumatic tool. Additionally, given the close proximity of pneumatic tools and their operators, the noise reduction of current approaches is often insufficient to acceptably reduce the damaging and/or painful noise levels.
The subject matter claimed herein is not limited to embodiments that solve any disadvantages or that operate only in environments such as those described above. Rather, this background is only provided to illustrate one exemplary technology area where some examples described herein may be practiced

Noise reducing device for a pneumatic tool


A method of edge bevel rinse. First, a wafer having a coating material layer disposed thereon is provided. A light beam is optically projected on the wafer to form a reference pattern. The reference pattern defines a central region, and a bevel region surrounding the central region on the surface of the wafer. Subsequently, the coating material layer positioned in the bevel region is removed according to the reference pattern.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of edge bevel rinse, and more particularly, to a method that optically projects a reference pattern on a wafer for accurately controlling the position of medicament injection, and therefore can remove a coating material layer positioned in a bevel region of the wafer.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The photolithography process plays a very important role in semiconductor and micro electro-mechanic system (MEMS) manufacturing. Normally, the number of photolithography processes somehow reflects the complexity of semiconductor devices or MEMS devices, and therefore the yield of the photolithography process is crucial to the quality of the devices.
A photolithography process generally includes three steps, which are photoresist coating, exposure, and development. Since photoresist coating is the initial step, it directly affects the yield of successive processes. For the photoresist coating process, the photoresist layer coated on a wafer must have a uniform thickness, and normally this step is carried out by spin coating technique. In a spin coating process, the wafer is mounted on a spindle of a spin coating apparatus, and the photoresist layer is applied to the wafer when the wafer is spinning. By virtue of centrifugal force, the photoresist layer is supposed to be uniformly distributed on the surface of the wafer. Practically, the photoresist layer positioned in a central region of the wafer has a uniform thickness, however, the photoresist layer positioned in a bevel region tends to pile up. This phenomenon is known as edge bead. The photoresist piling up in the bevel region is unfavorable to successive processes, and may cause contamination inside the apparatus. As a result, an edge bevel rinse process is generally required to remove the photoresist layer positioned in the bevel region.
Please refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a conventional method of edge bevel rinse using a semi-automatic coating apparatus. As shown in FIG. 1, a wafer 10 is mounted on a platform 22 of a semi-automatic coating apparatus 20. The platform 22 is structurally connected to a spindle 24, so that the wafer 10 can spin at a certain rate when processed. When a spin coating process is carried out, a photoresist layer 12 will be formed on the surface of the wafer 10. As previously described, the wafer 10 includes a central region and a bevel region, and photoresist tends to pile up in the bevel region. Therefore, chemical medicament has to be injected in the bevel region to resolve the photoresist layer 12, so as to draw off the photoresist layer 12 positioned in the bevel region by centrifugal force. The operator who operates an injector 26, nevertheless, has a problem in accurately injecting the chemical medicament in the bevel region because there is no viewable interface between the central region and the bevel region. In such a case, the yield of the edge bevel rinse process is frequently degraded for many reasons e.g. an inexperienced operator or a visional bias.


An apparatus for cutting wooden piles underwater and a method of use are disclosed. The apparatus has a frame and brace configured for engaging a pile. A pressure medium activated cutting device is connected to the frame and oriented at an angle such that a pile can be cut at a point below the bottom surface. The frame and brace are placed on opposite sides of the pile and connected to each other with a chain or cable. The apparatus has lines attached thereto and the other ends of the lines are attached to a boat or other flotation device. Using the disclosed apparatus to remove pilings causes significantly less turbidity than devices or methods currently available. Additionally, using the disclosed device also eliminates the need to decontaminate silt removed from the water using the currently available methods or devices.

Underwater removal of wooden piles has always been a difficult problem in waterfront maintenance and clearance projects. Typical pile removal methods are time consuming, hazardous, and often require large support equipment. Removal of wooden piles from waterfront structures during demolition or repair is normally accomplished by one of two methods. The first method is to remove the pile by pulling on it with a heavy crane. This is done by either using the crane to extract the pile completely, or pulling the pile from side-to-side until it breaks off at the mud line. This method limits the operation to work locations accessible by crane.
The second method is to physically cut the pile off at the mud line. Blasting, sawing, and shearing are common techniques used for cutting.
Shear type cutters typically operate by sliding two blades together in either a sliding guillotine motion or scissors type motion. The shear type cutter has several distinct advantages over blasting or the chain and reciprocating saws: since there are no high speed rotating or reciprocating blades, the shear type cutter is safer to operate.
A number of devices have been patented which relate to the problem of cutting elongated devices such as trees or piles in underwater environments. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,667,515, issued to Corey, discloses an apparatus that has a base with a guide adapted for receiving a pile, the base being adapted for reciprocal movement with respect to the pile, connectors affixed to the base for suspending the base in a substantially horizontal plane, a blade having a pair of opposite extremities, one of the extremities being pivotably mounted to the base, an actuator having a fixed member and a movable member, the fixed member being pivoted to the base and the movable member being pivotably mounted to the other extremity of the blade, the blade being swept across the guide when the actuator is engaged and being retracted away from the guide when the actuator is disengaged. When the pile cutter is lowered to the base of a pile, the guide being positioned about the pile for restricting the lateral movement of the base with respect to the pile, the actuator is engaged causing the blade to shear the pile at its base.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,707,008, entitled "Tree-Handling Method And Airborne Apparatus," issued to Bannister, provides a gear-driven, cable operated device for cutting trees in remote locations. U.S. Pat. No. 3,056,267, issued to McRee, discloses of a dragline operated device and a method for removing from submerged sites portions of piles previously driven at their lower end into the water bed and having cap ends exposed above the water line. A frame is used that can be laterally shifted to a position poised above the pile with an opening through the frame in alignment with the cap of the pile. The frame is then lowered, making the frame captive to the pile. The frame is then guided to the mud line and the pile is severed at the mud line.
A forest harvester is the subject of U.S. Pat. No. 3,638,693. The machine described in that patent is intended for separating standing trees. The apparatus is a wheeled A-frame type device that supports an open-ended gripping member.
In U.S. Pat. No. RE 31,481, an apparatus is disclosed having an elongated frame including tree clamping jaws supported at one end and a shear-type cutting blade supported from the frame for movement therealong between an inactive position remote from the jaws and an active position cooperative with the jaws to shear a tree member clampingly engaged by the jaws.
A grab-type tree harvester is the subject of U.S. Pat. No. 4,537,236, which discloses the use of a pair of open-ended jaws to clamp the tree. A frame is connected to a lifting means through a rotating means in a manner such that the frame is adapted to rotate about a substantially vertical axis. The frame comprises grab means which are selectively moved by actuation means to an opened or closed position. Roller means for pulling a felled tree through the grab means is provided and at least one means for pruning a felled tree is also disclosed.
A hydraulically operated device for cutting trees, logs and the like is the subject of U.S. Pat. No. 3,270,787. That apparatus shows a hydraulic linked arm supported by a tractor with a pair of open-ended jaws at the distal end of the linkage.
While the devices identified above, and other devices in the prior art, work adequately to cut piles or trees at or above the bottom of a body of water, many water quality regulations now require that wooden piles be removed from at least the first two feet below the bottom of the water body. This is generally accomplished by removing the mud and silt from around the pile with some type of suction device and cutting the pile with a chain saw. Generally, the use suction device causes a significant increase in the turbidity of the water around the pile by stirring up the loose silt on the bottom, and the use of a chain saw causes saw dust particles to be released in the water body. Additionally, the material removed from around the pile is often contaminated with industrial chemicals and it either must be decontaminated before disposal or disposed in a facility licensed to accept contaminated material. For the purpose of this application, the bottom surface of any body of water will be referred to as the "mud line" throughout this document.
Therefore, there is a need for a device or apparatus that will allow wooden piles to be removed underwater, wherein such piles are removed beneath the mud line. Such a device that could remove piles without a significant increase in water turbidity and without necessitating the removal of mud or silt would be a substantial improvement over the prior art.

Underwater pile cutting apparatus and method of use


A fastening system for medical devices includes a column-shaped interface profile (1) having a lens-shaped cross section with at least one convexly shaped, longer front surface (2) and with two shorter lateral surfaces (3), which are parallel to one another and pass over into the longer front surface (2) via a tappet-shaped projection (4) each. A clamping device (6), fits the longer front surface (2) of the interface profile (1) with the two tappet-shaped projections (4) in a positive-locking manner for fastening medical devices. The clamping device (6) has a concavely shaped outer surface and is provided with clamping jaws (8) that can be set on one side or on both sides for detachable fixation on the interface profile (1). This construction offers the possibility of receiving medical devices and accessories on up to a maximum of four sides simultaneously, especially also via standardized rail elements (7).

Various fastening systems for medical devices have become known. For example, a device stand with at least one column for carrying a great variety of means, in which the column can be connected to extension arms with rollers by means of an attachment fitting, appears from DE 198 59 473 B4.
A fastening system for mechanical or electric control components of a medical means at a third object became known from DE 198 38 593 A1, wherein a self-lockingly operating clamping mechanism is provided, which cooperates with a rod-shaped counterpart such that the control component can be fixed at the counterpart in such a way that it is secured against displacement.


The invention discloses a method for controlling fish reproduction, the method comprises the following steps of: A, constructing a recombinant gene CMV-eGFP-SV40-CMV-Ga14-SV40 and establishing a GAL4 transgenic zebrafish line; B, constructing a recombinant gene CMV-RFP-SV40-UAS-antisense dnd and establishing a uas-antisensednd transgenic zebrafish line; and C, hybridizing by taking homozygous transgenic fish of the two lines as parents, and the hybrid generation fish was sterility. The method of the present invention takes a strategy that two fertilizable lines hybridized but hybrid generation is sterility, establishing a novel method with a universal meaning for controlling fish fertility; The method solves the contradiction of the reproductively sterility of fish and the hereditability of characters in a reproduction operation research and can be effectively applied to cultivation of new fish specie and population control.

Growth rate, meat quality and other traits are the main goals for improving fish varieties, and reproductive and developmental characteristics of fish have a very close relationship with these important traits. The Fish Energy Biology Research indicates that once the reproductive development of fish is controlled, their uptake of food will be more efficiently converted to the development of somatic cells, thus promotes growth. Many trout become poor in meat quality after the discharge of sex products when gonad maturation; while fish with less gonad development has higher content of essential amino acids, flavor amino acids in their muscle tissues. Therefore, the implementation of reproductive and developmental regulation of fish is an important guidance for cultivating new lines of cultured fish with excellent traits.
Since the advent of the first batch of transgenic fish (Zhu Z, Li G, He L, et al. Novel gene transfer into the fertilized eggs of goldfish (Carassius auratus L. 1758). Z angew Ichthyol, 1985, 1:31-34.), with the purpose of providing sources of high-quality food proteins, more than 30 kinds of transgenic fish have been successfully developed. Transgenic fish having been genetically modified has excellent traits as fast growth, high feed conversion efficiency, freeze and cold resistance, and strong disease resistance and the like. However, so far there is not a single case of industrial farming of transgenic fish, the bottleneck factor that restricts the industrialization of transgenic fish is the concern on its potential ecological risk. The potential ecological risk of transgenic fish is substantially closely related to its reproductive characteristics from a scientific view. The control of transgenic fish reproduction can fundamentally solve the potential ecological risk of transgenic fish (Hu Wei, Wang Yaping & Zhu Zuoyan. Progress in the evaluation of transgenic fish for possi-ble ecological risk and its containment strategies. Science in China Ser C-Life Sci. 2007, 50:573-579.).
GnRH antisense transgenic strategy is currently the preferred technique to control the reproduction of transgenic fish (Maclean N, Laight R J. Transgenic fish: an evaluation of benefits and risks. Fish and Fisheries, 2000, 1:146-172). The technique firstly represses the expression of GnRH gene which is related to fish gonadal development or sexual maturation by antisense transgene such that its gonadal development is inhibited, and reproduction of transgenic fish is controlled; on this basis, the technique restores the physiological fertility of unfertilized transgenic fish, and finally obtains fertility controllable transgenic fish without ecological risk.
However, even if a transgenic fish with complete infertile gonads is obtained by the use of said technique, it is in logical view an incomprehensible paradox how to transfer the "infertility" trait of the transgenic fish to the offspring and establish a line and is difficult to achieve in genetically view. Although it is theoretically possible to recover the physiological fertility of sterile transgenic fish through the artificial supply of exogenous hormones, it is found by relevant studies that the expression of GnRH gene of fish in the fish brain can start as early as the first day of fertilization and development, the laboratory to which the present inventors belonged has found that a supplement of exogenous GnRH gene at this stage will have an inhibition role in the embryonic development and the growth of juvenile fish, these restrictions make the success rate for fertility restoration very low. Moreover, even few sterile transgenic fish has its physiological fertility restored, the amount of sperms or eggs produced are very small, which is unable to meet the needs of large-scale production.
Gal4/UAS system has the potential to become an ideal inducible gene expression system used in the regulation of fish reproduction and development. Galactose regulated upstream promoter element Gal4 is a yeast transcriptional activator similar to the prokaryotic lactose operon, Gal4 protein has both DNA-binding domain and transcriptional activating domain. Upstream activat sequence UAS is another sequence in yeast that is similar to the enhancer sequence in higher eukaryotes. Gal4 activates the transcription of the downstream gene connected to UAS only when UAS is recognized, and has a strong specificity and controllability for the inducible expression of genes (Marnie E. Halpern, Jerry Rhee, Mary G. Goll, Courtney M. Akitake, Michael Parsons, and Steven D. Leach. Gal4/UAS Transgenic Tools and Their Application to Zebrafish. Zebrafish, 2008, 5 (2):97-110.).
Primordial germ cells are the precursor cells of germ cells, dead end (dnd) gene has an important role in the survival and migration of primordial germ cells (Gilbert Weidinger et al. dead end, a Novel Vertebrate Germ Plasm Component, Is Required for Zebrafish Primordial Germ Cell Migration and Survival, Current biology, 2003, (13):1429-1434.), the inhibition on the expression of dead end (dnd) gene can inhibit the normal migration of primordial germ cells, thereby inhibiting the formation and maturation of germ cells.
Zebrafish (Danio rerio) is currently a model fish that is widely used in the study of developmental biology, aquatic biotechnology and the like (Westerfield M. 1993. The Zebrafish Book: A Guide for the Laboratory Use of Zebrafish (Brachydanio rerio). University of Oregon Press, Eugene, Oreg.). It has guiding significance for the establishment of fish on-off reproduction technology, the breed of excellent farmed varieties of economic gonadal abortive fish and the control of exotic fish populations in the natural environment, etc. by taking zebrafish as a model to explore new methods for controlling fish reproduction.

Controllable on-off method for fish reproduction

INSTITUTE OF HYDROBIOLOGY, CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES


A projectile for a surface-to-surface weapon to combat a target from the top. The projectile includes a warhead; a propulsion system for accelerating the projectile directly after the projectile is placed in flight; a stabilizing guide assembly; a sensor for detecting a target in a longitudinal and lateral direction; and a pulse generator for turning the projectile about its center of gravity. The projectile additionally includes electronics for activating the warhead and for controlling the propulsion system and the pulse generator. A control unit rotates independently of the shaped charge warhead and houses the sensor, pulse generator and electronics. The pulse generator is arranged offset with respect to the sensor in the circumferential direction of the control unit. The electronics actuates the pulse generator in response to the sensor detecting a target, at a given distance ahead of such target, to produce a measured and radially directed control pulse to pivot the projectile so that it is aimed directly at the top of the target. The propulsion system additionally includes a drive assembly which is fired to accelerate the projectile toward a target, immediately after the projectile has been pivoted toward the target by the pulse generator. A mechanism is provided for preventing a restoring force generated by the ambient air from returning the projectile to the direction of flight existing prior to being pivoted.

The present invention relates to a weapon such as an antitank weapon to combat a tank from the top. In such a weapon, the projectile includes a shaped charge warhead, a propulsion means located in the tail section of the projectile for accelerating the projectile directly after the projectile is placed in flight, a stabilization guide means, a sensor means for detecting the target, and a solid state guide pulse generator for turning the projectile about its center of gravity.
Such an antitank weapon is disclosed in German Offenlegungsschrift [laid-open patent application] No. 2,830,859 and serves the purpose of combating a tank from the top so as to hit its roof sections, since frontal and lateral armor protection has been augmented considerably. For this purpose, the antitank projectile is in the form of a rocket and pivots, during its flight over the target, into a position where it is oriented from the top to the bottom so as to detonate its shaped charge in a vertical position at a distance above the tank.
The drawback of this defensive weapon is that the effectiveness of the shaped charge at the target depends on the attainable combat distance and is drastically reduced by a continuous horizontal movement during fly-over. In such a fly-over, the shaped charge will have only something similar to a spreading effect on the target, which may reduce its power up to 50%.
Another significant drawback of the prior art antitank weapon is that the course is detected by a magnetic type sensor which is operable only at comparatively short distances. Due to the fact that the magnetic field of the earth is deformed only within close range of the tank, the response accuracy of the sensor decreases by more than 50% at a range up to 4 m and it may lie even below 20% at distances greater than 5 m. Thus, tanks moving laterally away from the target direction during the flight of the projectile may possibly no longer be covered by the sensor. Moreover, if the projectile flies past the side of the tank, it remains ineffective in any case since its explosive charge is in a vertical detonation position.
Additionally, the known antitank projectile requires a complicated control device to guide it. For example, a plurality of pulse generators are necessary to turn the projectile into the vertical position.

Antitank weapon for combating a tank from the top


A method includes providing a shape memory polymer in a permanent shape, where the permanent shape is at least part of a predetermined part shape, converting the shape memory polymer from the permanent shape into a temporary shape, where the temporary shape is more open than the permanent shape. The method further includes spraying a material onto at least one surface of the shape memory polymer in its temporary shape and reverting the shape memory polymer, having the material on the at least one surface, back to the permanent shape.

Various automotive and/or aerospace parts including, for example, structural parts, internal cabin parts, and/or the like may be formed using conventional molding processes. One example of such a process includes reaction injection molding (RIM). In some instances, the RIM process may be used to form a part directly. Another example of a conventional molding process includes structural reaction injection molding (SRIM). In some instances, the SRIM process may be used in conjunction with a preform to form a reinforced part. Although suitable for forming parts having simple or even relatively complex shapes or geometries, forming more intricate parts (e.g., parts having one or more intricate features) using the RIM or the SRIM processes may, in some instances, be a challenge such as, for example, with maintaining dimensional targets and/or tolerances of the formed part.


An improved stop-leak formulation containing ground plant root material, glycol, and water is provided. The formulation can contain other additives such as corrosion inhibitors, lubricating agents, and the like. The stop-leak formulations exhibit significantly improved storage stability. Over extended storage periods, the plant root powder remains readily dispersible in the glycol/water mixture. Generally the stop-leak formulations contain 1 to 50 parts by weight plant root powder, 20 to 80 parts by weight glycol, and 100 parts by weight water. One preferred stop-leak formulation contains 15 to 30 parts by weight ginger root powder, 35 to 55 parts by weight diethylene glycol, and 100 parts by weight water.

Various plant root materials have been used as stop-leak additives since the early 1950s. For example, U.S. Pat. Re. No. 24,094 (based on U.S. Pat. No. 2,580,719) provides a stop-leak product containing ground plant roots and a water soluble cutting oil. This formulation, while effective in stopping leaks in an automobile radiator system, has significant drawbacks. Most importantly, this stop-leak product must be essentially anhydrous. If water is present in the formulation, the plant root material agglomerates and settles to the bottom of the container, thereby rendering it essentially unsuitable for its intended purpose. Thus, traces of water present in the formulation (whether in the formulation as originally manufactured or entering the formulation during storage) could significantly reduce the effective storage life of the product. Once the plant root material agglomerates and settles to the bottom of the container it cannot be readily dispersed in the soluble oil and, even if dispersed, it may not be effective in stopping leaks.
Several approaches have been taken to overcome the problems associated with the water sensitivity of the ground plant root and soluble oil formulations. U.S. Pat. No. 2,935,189 describes a packaging system whereby the plant root powder is mixed with soluble oil and then compressed and extruded as pellets. The pellets are then coated with polyvinyl alcohol to act as a binder and protective coating. The binder coating, about three or four mils thick, is soluble in water but insoluble in oil. The binder-coated pellets are then placed in a suitable container containing oil. In theory, the binder coating protects the active ingredients until the container contents are placed in a leaking radiator at which time the water in the radiator dissolves the binder coating. The released plant root powder is then available to stop the leak. Unfortunately, water present in the container or entering the container over time can attack or dissolve the binder coating and reach the water sensitive components. Thus, this approach reduces but does not eliminate problems associated with water sensitivity of the plant root stop-leak products. Stop-leak pellets produced in this manner still lack a sufficiently long shelf life. In addition, the volume of soluble oil required to produce and package these binder-coated pellets is significant and can, therefore, present a significant environmental problem for the use and disposal of such products. U.S. Pat. No. 3,034,998 describes a similar stop-leak formulation containing ground nut shells, castor oil, and polyvinyl alcohol. And U.S. Pat. No. 3,616,896 describes an elaborate package whereby one compartment contains the stop-leak material (i.e., plant root powder) and a second compartment contains an antifreeze liquid. The contents of two compartments are mixed together just prior to adding the formulation to a cooling system at the point of use.
Stop-leak pellets prepared by the process of U.S. Pat. No. 2,935,189 or by similar processes are currently available in the marketplace for adding to the cooling system of an automobile. The two-compartment system of U.S. Pat. No. 3,616,896 does not appear to have been widely accepted or used in the marketplace. The stop-leak pellets with the binder coating, although an improvement over previous stop-leak products, have not eliminated the problems associated with water sensitivity and have increased the environmental problems associated with use and ultimate disposal of such products.
Others have attempted to solve the water sensitivity problems associated with the ground plant root materials by preparing, storing, and selling the stop-leak product in the form of dry pellets. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,322,548, 4,348,235, and 4,662,940 describe stop-leak formulations in the form of a dry pellet containing ginger rhizome flour, ground nut shells, and various other components. One or two of the dry pellets were to be added to the automobile system. Consumer acceptance of the dry pellet product has not been high.
Other stop-leak products have been developed using active ingredients other than the plant root materials. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,692,549 describes a stop-leak formulation containing flax meal, graphite powder, and aluminum powder as the active ingredients. And U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,439,561 and 4,524,158 use fibrillated fibers as the active ingredient. Preferred fibrillated fibers included synthetic polymers such as poly(imino-1,4-phenyleneiminoterephthaloyl). And U.S. Pat. No. 4,872,911 describes the use of tri-dimensional cross-linked superabsorbent hydrogels. These active ingredients and the stop-leak formulations containing them are generally more expensive than stop-leak products containing readily available plant root powders.
It is desirable, therefore, to provide stop-leak formulations containing plant root materials as the active ingredient and which are not water sensitive. It is also desirable to provide a stop-leak formulation with a long shelf life. It is also desirable to provide a stop-leak material which is essentially oil free. The stop-leak formulations of the present invention satisfy these requirements.

Stop-leak formulations with improved storage stability


A turbine system is provided having a first turbine casing and a second turbine casing, the first and second turbine casings together defining an inner wall. The turbine system further includes a first attachment flange extending from a surface of the first turbine casing within the inner wall and a second attachment flange extending from a surface of the second turbine casing within the inner wall. The first attachment flange defines a first aperture and the second attachment flange defines a second aperture. A pin extends through the first aperture and into the second aperture.

Turbine systems are widely utilized in fields such as power generation. By way of example, a conventional gas turbine system generally includes a compressor, a combustor, and a turbine. Further, a conventional gas turbine includes a rotor with various rotor blades mounted to disks in the compressor and turbine sections thereof. Each blade includes an airfoil over which a pressurized working fluid flows.
During operation of a turbine system, the working fluid, such as air, must be supplied to the system. The working fluid may enter the system through a filter house and flow from the filter house through a duct system and through an inlet casing of the turbine system to, e.g., a compressor. The inlet casing of the turbine system may generally include an inner wall and an outer wall, connected by one or more inlet struts. The inner and outer walls may have a tapered cylindrical shape, such that they define a generally annular inlet duct therebetween. The inlet duct may allow the working fluid to flow from e.g., the filter house and duct system therethrough to the compressor of the turbine system.
The inlet of the turbine system may be assembled as an upper half and a lower half. Generally, the upper and lower halves may be bolted together along an outside surface of the outer wall. Additionally, within the inner wall, at the forward end, or upstream end, the upper half of the inlet may be bolted to the lower half of the inlet. Such a configuration can attach the upper and lower halves of the inlet casing without affecting the aerodynamics of the generally annular inlet duct.
However, due to the space constraints within the inner wall, it may be impractical to use bolts and/or tools to attach the upper and lower halves of the inlet towards the aft end, or downstream end. Accordingly, the turbine system may include one or more dowels extending vertically from the bottom half of the inner wall towards the aft end, the dowels being configured to mate with a corresponding aperture in the upper half of the inner wall.
During operation of the turbine system, however, such a configuration may not be able to efficiently transfer forces exerted on the lower half of the inner wall to the upper half of the inner wall. Accordingly, the forces exerted on the lower half of the inner wall may mainly be transferred to the outer wall through the inlet struts in the lower half of the inlet. The inlet struts in the lower half of the inlet thus may need to be designed to accommodate all of such forces.
Therefore, a casing for a turbine system capable of more efficiently sharing applied loads of the turbine system would be beneficial. More particularly, an inlet casing capable of more efficiently sharing applied loads between the upper and lower halves of the inlet casing would be particularly useful.

Gas turbine casing load sharing mechanism


The present invention is related to a biochip and a biomolecular detection system using the same. In particular, the biomolecular detection system is capable of detecting biological molecules (biomolecules) such as DNA or protein at a high speed. The biochip comprises a supporting structure, conductive materials aligned vertically on, and associated with, the supporting structure, and biomolecule probes operably linked to the conductive materials. The biomolecular detection system using the biochip may precisely detect biomolecules as well as the density of the biomolecules.

Many contemporary methods of molecular biology, including nucleic acid hybridization analysis and protein binding analysis, utilize "biochips" or arrays of probe biomolecules ("probes") to bind and detect target biological species ("targets") in complex sample systems. Most commonly in these methods, a sample is simply placed onto the surface of the array and targets contained in the sample passively diffuse toward and bind with the probes immobilized on the support. A fusion of biotechnology, nanotechnology, and micro electro mechanical system (MEMS) technology has led to new technology. For example, biochips and DNA chips have been developed, and are being commercialized in an array formation.
Recently, the concept of Lab-on-a-Chip (LOC) has been introduced to integrate all processes performed in labs into a biochip. The processes include pre-treatment, derivatization, separation, detection, and analysis of various samples such as biological samples, e.g., blood, urine, cells, or saliva, natural substances, chemicals, food, or medicines. DNA-LOCs and protein-LOCs, into which all these lab processes are integrated, are being developed.
Moreover, a carbon nanotube has been used as a major component of a miniaturized cathode-ray tube and applied in various fields. For example, carbon-based nanotubes may be used to fabricate nano-sized microscopy probes. Also, stable iodine-doped carbon nanotubes have been fabricated by doping carbon nanotubes with iodine and fabricated nano-sized metallic nanoscale fibers.
In addition, electrochemiluminescent ruthenium complexes using functional group biomolecule-modified nanotubes have been fabricated. Also, carbon nanotubes have been used in developing high-density and large-capacity biosensors.
A conventional biochip may be fabricated by synthesizing a single strand of DNA on a desired region of a substrate or by spotting a pre-manufactured single or double strand of DNA on a predetermined region of a substrate. However, there is a high possibility that the biomolecular probes to be attached will be aligned randomly on the substrate. Furthermore, the density of the biomolecular probes in a region of the substrate where the biomolecular probes hybridize may be low. Therefore, it is difficult to analyze target DNA precisely.

Biochip and biomolecular detection system using the same


A shift knob structure having a press button 5 with an improved pressing operation. In order to prevent a looseness at the press button 5, a knob main body 1 of the shift knob structure is comprised of the press button 5 for use in operating a detent rod 7, and of a press button installing member 4 in which the press button 5 is movable toward or away from the detent rod 7. The press button 5 has a guide projection 5c at its circumferential part. The press button installing member 4 is formed with a guide groove 4g having a first width part 4g1 and a fourth width part 4g4 to which a guide projection 5c is engaged at the inner wall of the cylinder part 4d.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a shift knob structure in which a pressing operation of a press button fitted to a shift knob of a shift lever installed in an automobile is improved.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional shift knob structure has been disclosed, for example, in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. Hei 2-140065. In the conventional shift knob structure, a steel ball, a spring and a sliding member are used to eliminate a looseness of the pressing button and improve an operating characteristic of the pressing button.
However, the conventional shift knob has some problems in that the number of component parts and the number of assembling steps of the component parts are increased and their cost is increased due to the fact that separate members, such as a steel ball, a spring and a sliding member or the like, are installed at a detent button.


A method and a communication device detect a service signal and include a converter having a first input which is connected to a communication channel for communicating with a network. An input device is connected to a second input of the converter for providing input signals to the converter. An echo canceller receives the input signals to form a replica of echo present in output signals from the converter for cancelling the echo and forming modified output signals. An output device is connected to an output of the echo canceller for receiving the modified output signals, and a service signal detector is connected to the output of the echo canceller.

The invention relates to telephony equipment having:
an input for receiving useful signals to be transmitted on an outgoing transmission channel, and an output for delivering useful signals received on a return transmission channel, said outgoing and incoming transmission channels being coupled to a telephone line by coupling means,
a service signal detector for detecting service signals transmitted by a telephone exchange on the telephone line and which may be superposed on useful signals.
The invention also relates to a detection method of detecting service signals transmitted to such telephony equipment by a telephone exchange, said service signals which may be superposed on useful signals.
The invention finds interesting applications in the field of telephone transmissions, for example, for implementing services such as the call signal for informing a user who is already on the line that someone else tries to contact him.
Recommendation ETS 300 778-1 by the ETSI (European Telecommunications Standard Institute) notably describes the procedure which is implemented for this purpose between a called party and the telephone exchange on which he depends. This procedure is summarized in FIG. 1. When the telephone exchange 1 receives a call having the called party 2 for its destination, it sends a service signal named CAS (Call Alert Signal) onto the telephone line 3. The called party 2 detects this signal, cuts off the audio channels and sends a DTMF (Dual Tone Multi Frequency) digit xe2x80x9cDxe2x80x9d to the telephone exchange 1. Upon reception of this DTMF xe2x80x9cDxe2x80x9d, the telephone exchange 1 sends the co-ordinates of the calling party (name, telephone number . . . ) to the called party via FSK (Frequency Shift Keying) modulation. Thereafter, the running telephone communication is re-established.
Japanese patent abstract no. 08214055 notably describes a telephone receiving circuit suitable for operating in a CAS detection mode and in an FSK detection mode for implementing such procedure.
The essential problem posed for the detection of service signals, notably CAS signals, is the following. When the service signal is likely to be superposed on other signals, it is necessary to utilize less stringent detection criterions (notably the criterions relating to frequency, duration, signal level . . . ) to ensure the detection thereof whatever the level of these other signals. But when less stringent criterions are used, one runs the risk of false detections, that is to say, detections of service signals in a useful signal (somebody""s voice in the case of a CAS service signal).
It is an object of the invention to propose telephony equipment and a service signal detection method which provide an efficient solution to this problem.
For this purpose, a telephone according to the invention and as defined in the opening paragraph is characterized in that it comprises an echo canceller for cancelling the echo of useful signals coming from said input which come back on said output, the service signal detector being connected between the echo canceller and said output at least when the telephony equipment is on-line.
Similarly, a service signal detection method according to the invention and as described in the opening paragraph is characterized in that it comprises the use of an echo canceller for cancelling the echo of the useful signals coming from said input which come back on said output, and carrying out said detection on the signals produced on the output of the echo canceller.
Thus, the service signal detector neither receives the signals sent by the parties nor the echo of the signal sent by the called party which comes back on the return channel when said coupling means and the telephone line are not properly adapted as regards impedance. The detection criterions used may thus be more stringent which diminishes the risk of false detections and considerably improves the reliability of the system.

Use of an echo canceller for the detection of CAS signals


An abnormality determination apparatus of a throttle control system calculates an integrated value of a deviation between an actual throttle angle and a target throttle angle. The abnormality determination apparatus determines existence or nonexistence of an abnormality in the throttle control system by comparing the integrated value with an abnormality determination value. The abnormality determination value is changed so that the abnormality determination value becomes smaller in a low-speed traveling period than in a high-speed traveling period. Thus, in the low-speed traveling period, in which an influence of the abnormality in the throttle control system on an operating state of an engine becomes larger than in the high-speed traveling period, the abnormality in the throttle control system can be detected and failsafe processing can be started in an early stage of the abnormality.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates a throttle system abnormality determination apparatus for determining existence or nonexistence of an abnormality in a throttle control system, which controls a throttle valve of an internal combustion engine, or in parts related to the throttle control system.
2. Description of Related Art
A certain internal combustion engine mounted to a vehicle has an electronic throttle control system for electronically controlling a throttle angle (an opening degree of a throttle valve) TH. The system includes a throttle motor for driving the throttle valve. The system calculates a target throttle angle based on an amount of manipulation of an accelerator and others, and senses an actual throttle angle by a throttle position sensor. Thus, the system controls the throttle motor to make the actual throttle angle follow the target throttle angle.
An abnormality determination apparatus for the above throttle control system disclosed in Japanese Patent Gazette No. H07-74623 (page 1, etc.) (Patent Document 1) calculates an integrated value DEV of a deviation between the actual throttle angle and the target throttle angle and compares the integrated value DEV with a predetermined abnormality determination value. Thus, the abnormality determination apparatus determines existence or nonexistence of an abnormality in the throttle control system. The abnormality determination apparatus of Patent Document 1 changes the abnormality determination value in accordance with temperature of the throttle motor when the apparatus determines the existence or nonexistence of the abnormality. Thus, the abnormality determination apparatus avoids erroneous determination due to a delay in response, which is caused when the temperature of the throttle motor is low.
Generally, if it is determined that the abnormality exists in the throttle control system, the abnormality determination apparatus of the throttle control system performs failsafe processing for turning off energization of the throttle motor and for compulsorily holding the throttle angle at a predetermined throttle angle by a spring and the like. For instance, the predetermined throttle angle is an angle at which an air intake quantity necessary for the vehicle to travel to a safe place can be ensured.
Generally, the target throttle angle becomes smaller in a low-speed traveling period (in which a vehicle travels at a low speed) than in a high-speed traveling period (in which the vehicle travels at a high speed). Therefore, even if an amount of abnormal operation of the actual throttle angle TH due to the abnormality in the throttle control system is the same, a ratio of the deviation of the actual throttle angle with respect to the target throttle angle becomes greater in the low-speed traveling period than in the high-speed traveling period. Therefore, a ratio of a change in an operating state of an internal combustion engine (for instance, a ratio of a change in a vehicle speed Vs) caused by the abnormal operation of the actual throttle angle is apt to increase in the low-speed traveling period.
In the abnormality determination performed by the throttle control system of Patent Document 1, the abnormality determination value becomes constant when the temperature of the throttle motor becomes constant after warming up of the engine finishes. Therefore, the abnormality determination value shown by a double-dashed line FLD′ in FIG. 4 used in the high-speed traveling period is also used in the low-speed traveling period. In FIG. 4, a broken line THtgt indicates the target throttle angle. In FIG. 4, a solid line THact′ indicates the actual throttle angle of the throttle control system of Patent Document 1, and a solid line DEV′ is the integrated value of the deviation between the target throttle angle THtgt and the actual throttle angle THact′. If an abnormality in which the actual throttle angle THact′ increases with respect to the target throttle angle THtgt occurs in the throttle control system of Patent Document 1, it will be determined that the abnormality exists at a time point t1 when the integrated value DEV′ exceeds the abnormality determination value FLD′, which is the same as the abnormality determination value FLD′ used in the high-speed traveling period, even in the low-speed traveling period. Then, the failsafe processing will be started. A flag FLAG′ indicating the existence of the abnormality is set at 1 at the time point t1 as shown by a solid line f′ in FIG. 4. However, as explained above, the abnormality in the throttle control system occurring in the low-speed period has a significant influence on the operating state of the engine. Therefore, the rate of the increase in the vehicle speed Vs due to the abnormal operation of the actual throttle angle THact′, which is performed during a period from a time point when the abnormality is generated to the time point t1 when it is determined that the abnormality exists, is increased as shown by a solid line v′ in FIG. 4. As a result, there is a possibility that a vehicle driver feels deterioration of drivability such as acceleration shock.

Throttle system abnormality determination apparatus


A rotor blade includes a removable blade tip section which is mounted to an outboard rotor blade section by mechanically mounting a tip spar to a main blade spar with a spar interface section which bridges a butt joint between the blade spar and the tip spar. The spar interface section is mounted within the blade spar and the tip spar with a multiple of threaded fasteners which are under shear load during rotor blade rotation.

The present invention relates to a rotary wing aircraft rotor blade, and more particularly to a replaceable tip section therefor.
Conventional rotary wing aircraft rotor blades often include an anhedral tip section of a selected sweep, taper, and form to improve the blade performance. Anhedral tip sections increase hover performance and lift capabilities of a rotary wing aircraft on which the blades are fitted without increasing the structural features of the main rotor hub and spindle.
Rotor blade tip sections are subjected to the greatest stresses/strains due to aerodynamic forces, and concomitantly experiences the greatest structural degradation due to wear and abrasion (due to the high rotational velocity of the main rotor blade tip), during operation of the helicopter main rotor assembly. These forces are only increased upon a tip section which utilizes an anhedral or other non-straight form.
Typically, only a very end portion of a main rotor blade tip is designed to be replaceable since the tip portion is most susceptible to damage caused by erosion and solid object strikes. The replaceable portion is typically the outermost straight section comprising a blade station length of approximately eight inches. The length of the replaceable portion of conventional rotor blade tip sections is generally limited by the strength of the attachment joint. The aforementioned anhedral tip end geometry will typically contain a dihedral bend, anhedral bend or some combination of both along with a rearward sweep. Conventional construction arrangements for such tip geometry has been to have the airfoil transition and bend be integral to the primary blade structure. The replaceable blade portion has been limited to the outermost portion of the rotor blade outboard of the complex anhedral tip geometry. The structure for an anhedral bend rotor tip section includes the structural upper and lower airfoil blade skins and shaped honeycomb core that is integrally bonded to the inboard section of the blade during the primary blade assembly. The bonded joint between the primary blade structure or spar and the structural tip end skins may be later augmented with mechanical fasteners to produce a redundant joint. This approach makes replacement of the complex geometry portion of the blade tip relatively difficult while requiring extensive labor in a significant manufacturing facility type to accomplish replacement.
Recent main rotor blade development work to improve performance has determined that geometry shapes and airfoil cross-section of the blade tip end does offer significant benefit to helicopter mission requirements. One dilemma is that a single tip end geometry will not satisfy all mission profiles. An aircraft with a heavy lift mission profile may be best suited with a different tip end geometry than a helicopter that with a mission profile for high speed forward flight and so on and so forth.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a replaceable rotor blade tip section that is applicable to anhedral form, minimizes the number of structural components, yet may be readily replaced to tailor the main rotor blade tip end geometry to accommodate mission requirements.

Mission replaceable rotor blade tip section


A microwave or terahertz and neutron radiation type detector, which uses an orbitron as a radiation source. The detector may have a polarity switching apparatus to enable the orbitron to selectively change from between short wave to neutron emission functions. A highly compact and lightweight identifier of explosives and other chemicals, which may be so small and light as to be hand held, and which is effective at stand-off distances, is thereby provided.

Explosives and other objectionable substances such as narcotics and polluting contaminants have long presented challenges regarding their early detection. In particular, explosives have been the subject of detection systems in recent times. Chemical detection of airborne traces of substances and imaging of apparatus which can potentially carry explosives have been developed and put into practice. However, these technologies have their limitations.
Explosives detection using THz and microwave radiation techniques is known, although this is in its infancy. Current devices tend to be large, underpowered, and have high input requirements. It is also known to provide explosives detectors which work at what has been called stand-off distances. However, devices which accomplish these functions have hereto for been large and not readily carried about. Such devices are suitable for stationary applications, such as security screening of persons entering protected facilities and premises, but are generally impractical for mobile applications wherein the apparatus is moved to different sites.

Orbitron based stand-off explosives detection


A method and system for integrating an object-based application with a version control system. Selected objects of an application such as a database are converted to individual text files and written to a temporary folder. The individual text files are then exported from the temporary folder to a version control system, whereby the version control system manages the files for developers and other developers according to its capabilities. Developers can check in individual objects for revising, whereby the text file corresponding to the checked-in object is exported by the version control system to a temporary folder and the data therein converted back into data in the object. An application program interface is provided to facilitate communication between application programs and the version control program for importing and exporting the text files and exchanging other related information.

In many programming environments, it is typical that one or more teams of developers work on various portions of a program. For example, several developers may be responsible for developing a user interface in the C programming language, while others may be responsible for the other aspects of a program. As the individual developers revise their respective files, it is highly important to carefully track each of the files and versions thereof, e.g., if no control is kept, another developer will possibly overwrite, revise or interface with an old version of a file rather than the latest new version. As is apparent, without such control, a project can quickly become completely confused.
To help manage the control of file versions, computer-based version control systems such as Microsoft.RTM. Corporation's Visual SourceSafe have been developed. In general, version control systems manage groups of files, particularly text files. For example, among other features, the Visual Sourcesafe product tracks versions of files, allowing the developer to see which files are checked out, view a history of changes, visually compare differences, add files, check out the latest version of a file or revert and use an earlier version, even one which had been deleted. Visual SourceSafe lets developers check the file back in when changes, if any, are ready. In this manner, each member in a development team is aware of the status of the various component parts of a program, thereby coordinating a project, preventing confusion and allowing recovery if something goes wrong.
At the same time, application programs such as Microsoft.RTM. Corporation's Access database program output files consisting of many developer-created objects, including tables, queries, forms, reports, macros and modules. For a given database application, all of these objects are stored in a single binary file, (e.g., filename.mdb). In part, this is because some of the objects have complex interdependencies on one another, i.e., a change to one object impacts another.
As a result, although the various objects in a database application are often worked on by one or more teams of developers, the database application is not able to take advantage of the primary functionality of a version control system. More particularly, because the database objects are all stored in a combined (binary) file, the individual objects of a database cannot be individually tracked, checked in or checked out. As a result, the logistical problems that version control systems are designed to alleviate are present in database and other object-based applications, but such applications cannot leverage the features provided thereby.

Method and system for integrating an object-based application with a version control system


A switching system having a plurality of positions for separating or interconnecting a generator, a network transformer, and a starter device, the system including a circuit breaker for the generator and a busbar disconnector for separating or interconnecting the generator and the network transformer, and a starter disconnector for separating or interconnecting the generator and the starter device. The busbar disconnector includes a first fixed contact and a first moving contact that co-operates by sliding with the first fixed contact, the first fixed contact and the first moving contact being integrated with the circuit breaker of the generator. The starter disconnector includes a second fixed contact and a second moving contact that co-operates with the second fixed contact by rotation. This organization remains economical to implement even for applications in which the generator is an alternator in a combined cycle or a gas turbine power station.

Such a system is already known from European patent document No. 0 567 773. In that known switching system, the busbar disconnector and the starter disconnector are designed as a single three-position disconnector having three fixed contacts and a moving contact which needs to be implemented in the form of a rotary blade. Although economical at relatively low currents, such an organization becomes expensive to implement for nominal currents starting at 6300 A, because of the special adaptation required for the rotary blade at such a nominal current value. Such a nominal current value is typical for an alternator in a power station of the gas turbine or combined-cycle type.

Switching system including a current-injecting disconnector integrated in a circuit breaker for a generator


A process is described for rapid preparation of pure sulfo-N-hydroxysuccinimides. The process may comprise the steps of:. a) esterifying a sulfo-succinic acid to form a diester first product, and PA1 b) reacting said diester first product with hydroxylamine to form a sulfo-N-hydroxy succinimide.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for the synthesis of sulfo-N-hydroxy succinimide salts, novel reduced-impurity or impurity-free salts, and intermediate succinic diester sulfonate salts.
2. Background of the Art
Sulfo-N-hydroxy succinimides (often referred to as "Sulfo-NHS" or "S-NHS"), including the acid and salt counterparts, have a wide range of utility in a number of broad commercial areas, including but not limited to reagents for the manufacture of biotinylation reagents, oil well drilling agents, chemical and biological assay reagents, crosslinking agents for organic biological systems or polymer systems, side chain modifying agents, solubilizing agents, reactants, markers, and the like. The class may be generally represented by the formula below, representing the central nucleus of sulfo-N-hydroxysuccinimides: ##STR1## Wherein X.sup.+ is a cation and R is H or an organic group.
The compounds may also be described by the formula below, representing the central nucleus: ##STR2## Wherein X.sup.+ is a cation and R is H or an organic group, or especially any organic group formed from a compound R--OH wherein R--OH is an acid, and the OH (hydroxyl) which, when symbolically extracted leaves the group R-- to form an ester in the compound. Examples of preferred R--OH compounds are acetic acid, LC-biotin suberic acid, biotin, suberic acid, 4-N-maleimidomethyl!-cyclohexane-1-carboxylic acid, and the like. The 2- and 3- positions on the central nucleus may also be substituted. The cation may be H.sup.+, monovalent cations (such as H.sup.+, Na.sup.+, Li.sup.+, K.sup.+, NH.sub.4.sup.+, C.sub.s.sup.+, other inorganic cations, organic cations, etc.), or polyvalent cations (including divalent cations) in which the remaining charge is satisfied by other anions (e.g., halides, nitrates, sulfates, phosphates, etc.) or forms a bis- or tris- configuration with other Sulfo-NHS anions. This class of compounds is relatively expensive, mainly because of the expensive synthetic procedures which must be taken to obtain the product. Existing synthetic procedures must not only use a large number of reagents and involve a large number of synthetic steps, but the procedures involve the use of large volumes of solvents and different solvents which must be stripped after various steps as well as at the end of the procedure. The process cost involved in recapturing and stripping of the solvents is quite significant, and with increasing environmental concerns, the requirements for avoiding release of solvents into the atmosphere have become more strict and therefore more costly.
A typical synthetic process for the synthesis of sulfo-N-hydroxysuccinimide salt is known to follow the following route:
Maleic anhydride: ##STR3## is reacted with furan: ##STR4## to form a Diels-Alder reaction product: ##STR5##
This intermediate product is extremely hazardous and special precautions are required in its handling. Workers must be protectively clothed and may even be required to wear full closure protective gear (e.g., full body suits), including self-contained helmets and at least filters, if not self-contained air supplies. The crystals formed are hazardous to the eyes and are easily propelled and carried by air currents. Even removal of protective garments can be hazardous because of clinging crystalline product which can be put into the air by movement of the clothing. The Diels-Alder product is then reacted with hydroxylamine (e.g., from the hydrochloride salt). ##STR6## This step is done with potassium hydroxide and methanol (precipitating potassium as potassium chloride) producing an N-Hydroxy succinimide adduct: ##STR7##
This product is usually washed in toluene and hexane. The N-hydroxy succinimide adduct is then reacted at the hydroxyl group. This reaction is performed by combining the adduct with phenylchloroformate EQU C.sub.6 H.sub.5 O.sub.2 CC1
(which is a strong lachrymator) in various combinations of triethylamine, dichloromethane, toluene and hexane and sometimes dimethyl formamide to produce the next intermediate product: ##STR8##
This intermediate product is in turn dissolved in a hydrocarbon solvent, e.g., a non-polar hydrocarbon solvent (e.g., decane) and heated to elevated temperature to form the next intermediate by removal of the protecting group. ##STR9##
The temperature is elevated to about 170.degree. C., which is above the flashpoint for decane (46.degree. C.). The literature also shows the use of nitrobenzene as the solvent in this step. The reaction product tends to be a black, tarry product as result of using this commercially difficult step. t-Butyl catechol may be used as an antioxidant in this step.
This last intermediate is then reacted with sodium metabisulfite in ethanol to form the sodium salt of sulfo-N-hydroxysuccinimide, which is precipitated as an amorphous solid from aqueous methanol, isopropanol, and washed with acetone: ##STR10## wherein X.sup.+ is any cation.
This product is produced in about 95-98% purity as an amorphous solid. Even after repeated purification, there is a clear presence of the succinimide counterpart: ##STR11## in the final product. Overall yield of the process from the original maleic anhydride is about 25-28% theoretical, and the complete time of the process is about 50 days. Numerous solvent strips must occur, and a kilogram of product is usually produced in reaction vessels of fifty liters or more.
It therefore can be seen that the entire synthetic route is complex, has toxicity, environmental and hazard concerns throughout, is expensive, and is time consuming. Improved methods of synthesis are clearly desirable.
The methyl diester of sulfosuccinate has been reported in the literature, mainly as a copolymer or coating composition, as shown in FR 2 292 314 (copolymer); JP 87-83257 (corrosion inhibitor); JP 88-307097 (alkali metal alkylsuccinates in coatings and adhesives); and JP 89-84305 (anticlouding compositions of the sodium salt of dimethylsuccinate).
In copending U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 08/932,851, titled "PREPARATION OF SULFO-N-HYDROXY SUCCINIMIDE SALTS," filed the same day as this application in the names of Marty Wilkes and Martin Bremmer bearing Attorneys Docket Number SLWK 544.005US1, the salt of a sulfonated succinic acid is cyclized (e.g., with a Blanc reaction), then converted to novel sulfonated hydroxamic acids by reaction with hydroxylamine, and the novel hydroxamic acid is then cyclized (e.g., by dehydration) to the sulfo-N-hydroxysuccinimide salt. This is a substantially improved method of synthesis over the prior art, but any other advance over the prior art is also useful.

Preparation of sulfo-N- hydroxy succinimide salts with intermediate formation of diester