Disclosed is a method to limit infection by an immunodeficiency virus. The method includes inhibiting an immunodeficiency virus protein which regulates apoptosis in cells. Also disclosed are methods to identify compounds that regulate cellular inhibitors of apoptosis in cells infected with an immunodeficiency virus and compounds identified thereby.

It has been well-demonstrated that the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) causes immunodeficiency in its host via an ongoing, virally induced process. Several studies have shown that HIV-infected individuals have actively replicating virus throughout all stages of disease. In addition, the level of viral RNA in the peripheral blood is a predictor of time until disease onset. In general, a higher viral load equates to faster disease progression. These observations suggest that the virus is responsible for the depletion of CD4.sup.+ T cells and the destruction of the immune system. Less well understood is the mechanism by which HIV depletes its host of CD4.sup.+ T cells. One hypothesis is that the virus may kill the CD4.sup.+ T cell that it infects.
The lymphoid organs of infected individuals have been identified as the preferred location and continuous source of viral infection. In addition, the sensitive technique of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has revealed high levels of virus in plasma and in peripheral blood cells throughout all stages of infection. These studies have provided evidence for a relationship between the levels of HIV RNA and disease progression, and argue strongly for a direct role of HIV replication in the pathogenesis of AIDS.
Studies of HIV cytopathicity using immortalized cell lines in culture, suggest that HIV infection directly kills CD4.sup.+ T cells and that, depending on the HIV strain studied, this killing is either by single-cell lysis or by syncytia formation. Furthermore, in vitro cytopathicity of primary viral isolates (that is, virus cultured directly from an infected individual) increases with disease progression. Thus, the ability of the virus to kill cells in vitro correlates with the progression to AIDS.
Of particular relevance is the fact that T lymphoblasts infected by HIV in vitro have been shown to die, or more precisely, undergo programmed cell death or apoptosis. Apoptosis is a regulated mechanism of cell suicide that is critical to many physiological processes, including T cell development and normal immune function. Apoptosis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from HIV-seropositive individuals has been previously described. Interestingly, previous studies show apoptosis of CD4.sup.+ T cells, and the majority of them also show apoptosis of CD8.sup.+ T cells.
Apoptosis has been described in animal models of AIDS, including macaques infected with a pathogenic strain of SIV, cats infected with feline immunodeficiency virus, and mice with murine AIDS (MAIDS). In addition, studies have documented the absence of apoptosis and anergy in SIV-infected African green monkeys and in HIV-infected chimpanzees, animals that support long-term productive infection, but that do not develop AIDS-like disease. The correlation between apoptosis and the development of AIDS suggests an etiological role for apoptosis in AIDS.
Although fourteen years have passed since identification of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) as the cause of AIDS, it is still not known how HIV kills its primary target, the T cell that carries the CD4 antigen. Thus, there remains a need to develop an effective reagent and therapy for the treatment of HIV infected CD4.sup.+ T cells.

Screening methods for the identification of compounds that modulate apoptosis in immunodeficiency virus infected cells

National Jewish Medical and Research Center


A computerized voting information system that encompasses one or more voting stations, at least one tabulation center and certification center, and a plurality of voters so as to automatically verify, manipulate, interchange, and manage all data and information that is needed by the voting stations to determine if a particular voting card is authentic and a voter is entitled to cast his/her vote, by tabulation centers to perform the tabulation of the casted votes, by certification centers to guarantee the authenticity of the voting cards and the legitimacy of the card holders, and by voters to prove their identity and voting eligibilities.

The computerized voting information system, which includes means to automatically verify, collect and interchange voting data and information, encompasses networked hardware components and distributed software programs and will be used by a variety of voting entities in connection with the process of certifying voters, determining the eligibility of voters, compiling and tabulating the casted votes, and providing a secure operations scheme for the voting system.
The intended purpose of the invention is to help solve several problems that are experienced by our society with respect to the voting process: low attendance rates, increasing administrative & operations costs, time consuming tabulation tasks, inconvenience for voters, lost time from work, rigid voting guidelines, and inadequate security protection. This invention provides solutions to these problems while automating the operational tasks that are associated with the voting process, streamlining the activities of certifying all voters, and making the same and most updated data and information available to all voting entities and related representatives in a real-time manner, whenever requested and/or any voting activity was performed with respect to that data and information. As evidence of the date of conception of this invention, the appropriate Disclosure Document No. 317274 was forwarded by the inventor Richard P. Sehr on Sep. 8, 1992 to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Heretofore, a variety of voting machines and systems, such as in U.S. Pat. No. 4,641,240 issued to R. F. Shoup Corporation, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,774,665 granted to Data Information Management Systems, Inc., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,189,288 issued to Texas Instruments Incorporated, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,218,528 granted to Advanced Technological Systems, Inc. and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,278,753 which was issued to Charles V. Graft, III, have been proposed. These proposals relate to a variety of specialized, dedicated voting apparatus or integrated systems settings that still rely on the existing paper-based voting environment or centralized, on-line networks.
None of these systems of the prior art, however, provide an effective solution to the problems of how to enlist the majority of eligible voters during election years and/or other voting events, to control the costs associated thereof, and to implement cost efficient security schemes. The limitations of these systems center around the fact that these systems are merely an efficient enhancement to the existing voting environment with hardware apparatus, which are dedicated to a particular voting task, or with on-line systems solutions, which lead to ever increasing communications costs. The systems proposals of the prior art also do not address the questions of (1) What specific cost savings do the systems facilitate, (2) How the systems will function in a stand alone configuration, (3) How the systems will interface with incompatible, proprietary platforms, (4) How and when the systems will handle the exchange of data and information in a real-time manner, (5) What are the privacy concerns and security requirements that are needed, and (6) How the systems will adopt to future needs and developments. Accordingly, there still is a need for a system that provides answers to these issues.

Computerized voting information system having predefined content and voting templates


A coating composition comprising a crosslinkable binder in an organic solvent, the binder composed of acrylic and polyester polyols plus a crosslinking agent, the polyester polyol containing a component derived from one or both of: a residue of dimer fatty acid and polyol, or residue of a polyacid and dimer alcohol, the composition being useful for coating metallic substrates.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention concerns a metal-coating composition containing acrylic polyol(s), polyester polyol(s) and a crosslinking agent.
2. State of the Art
The coating composition of this invention is useful primarily on metallic-substrates, particularly on vehicles such as automobiles and trucks. Such coating will protect the substrate and provide an attractive aesthetic finish. A typical vehicle has several coating layers. The substrate is typically first coated with an inorganic rust-proofing zinc or iron phosphate layer over which is applied an electrocoated primer or repair primer. Optionally, a primer surfacer can be employed for better appearance and improved adhesion. A pigmented basecoat or colorcoat is next applied over the primer. A typical basecoat or colorcoat may contain metallic flakes to provide a metallic finish. To protect and preserve the aesthetic qualities of the color finish, a clear (unpigmented) topcoat is often applied over the pigmented basecoat to protect the basecoat even on prolonged weathering. Clearcoats are predominantly based on a technology where the binders are hydroxy functional acrylics crosslinked with alkoxylated melamine formaldehyde adducts. The coatings are typically baked at .+-.130.degree. C. after application wet-on-wet on a basecoat. Because of severe field complaints, the automobile coating industry is asking for improved scratch resistance of the clearcoats.
The composition of this invention has been found to provide particularly desirable scratch-resistance to the metallic substrate coating art. This improvement is in addition to attributes of good weatherability, chemical-resistance, water-resistance, etch-resistance and mechanical characteristics. This improved package of properties derives from the interrelationship of the selected acrylic and polyester polyols and the crosslinker selected for use therewith. Most particularly, the improved properties are derived from the dimer acid/alcohol component of the polyester polyol as will be described in more detail hereafter.


A photoelectric converting device includes plurality of charge storage type photoelectric converting elements which are divided into a plurality of groups. A plurality of monitoring sections are respectively provided for the divided photoelectric converting element groups to output monitor signals corresponding to amounts of lights received by the photoelectric converting element groups. A first charge storage interruption section interrupts the charge storage operation of a corresponding one of the photoelectric converting element groups in a case where the monitor signal has reached a preset value after the photoelectric converting elements started the charge storage operation. A second charge storage interruption section forcedly interrupts the charge storage operation of the photoelectric converting element groups in a case where the charge storage operation is not interrupted by the first charge storage interruption section when a preset time has elapsed after the charge storage operation was started. A correcting section corrects an output of each of the plurality of photoelectric converting element groups to make the outputs of the photoelectric converting elements continuous in a case where the charge storage operations of the plurality of photoelectric converting element groups are interrupted at different timings by the first charge storage interruption section.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a wide-field AF camera capable of setting a distance measuring area (focusing area) in a desired position in a photographing image plane and detecting the point of focus, and more particularly to a photoelectric converting device therefor.
2. Description of the Related Art
As an example of a conventional photoelectric converting device, a photoelectric converting device having a monitoring photo detector arranged near and in the same plane as a charge storage type image sensor to control the integral time of the image sensor is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,410,258.
When the area of an image sensor is enlarged to attain the wide-field distance measurement, the luminance distribution of wide dynamic range cannot be covered by use of only a single monitoring photo detector. Therefore, a method of dividing the image sensor into a plurality of blocks, providing monitoring photo detectors for the respective blocks and independently controlling the integral times thereof is considered. However, with this method, since a signal becomes discontinuous at the boundary portion between the blocks, the point of focus cannot be detected when a distance measuring area (focusing area) is set to lie over the two blocks.
The above problem is explained in more detail with reference to FIGS. 23A to 23D. FIGS. 23A to 23D show a case of wide-field line AF.
Assuming that four blocks of pixel groups (1), (2), (3) and (4) are provided as the focusing areas as shown in FIG. 23A, an actual light component shown in FIG. 23B is obtained. FIG. 23C shows an output obtained in a case where all of the focusing areas (1), (2), (3) and (4) are processed by use of the same integration controlling element. FIG. 23D shows an output obtained in a case where all of the focusing area blocks (1), (2), (3) and (4) are processed by use of respective integration controlling elements. When a main object lies in A or B, the dynamic range of the signal is determined by an amount of light of (4) which has no relation with the main object A or B in the case of FIG. 23C so that the precision of the point-of-focus detection will be lowered. In the case of FIG. 23D, since the light amounts in the focusing areas (1), (2), (3) and (4) are controlled to optimum values, there occurs no problem when the main object is B, but when the main object is A, since the light amounts in the focusing areas (1) and (2) are not continuous, the actual light distribution cannot be reproduced.

Photoelectric converting device having a plurality of monitoring means for detecting point of focus with high precision for focusing area lying over a plurality of blocks


Novel dye/polymer compositions are disclosed, which when used in connection with fiber optic devices, provide a uniform spectral response across a broadband wavelength region. The dye/polymer compositions contain an infrared absorbing dye having an absorption maximum from about 900 to about 1300 nm. One or more polar olefin copolymers containing monomers derived from polar olefins having an ester, benzene, or halogen substitutent attached, is/are chemically bonded to the dye. Optionally, a detached polar olefin copolymer may be blended with the dye-appended copolymer. Also disclosed is a broadband optical device comprising the novel dye/polymer compositions formed over an optical fiber. Improvements in the uniformity of spectral response and performance are observed across a wavelength band. Variable optical attenuators, switches, shutters, and couplers can be designed which incorporate the dye/polymer compositions. The invention is particularly useful in the 1500-1700 nm wavelength band.

The present invention relates to dye-appended polymeric materials for use in broadband fiber optic device applications.
Dense wavelength division multiplexed (DWDM) optical networks increase their transmission capacity by employing multiple co-propagating, discrete, wavelength channels, each carrying independent data streams. Broadband fiber optic devices, such as variable attenuators, couplers, and switches having a controllable spectral response, are critical components of DWDM systems. Currently, DWDM systems operate in the 1550 nm spectral region because of the availability of optical amplifiers containing erbium-doped optical fibers. However, as amplifier technology develops, and capacity demands increase, DWDM systems are expected to expand their spectral extent and increase their channel density.
Optical power, as it propagates in a single-mode optical fiber, or any other waveguide or bulk material, experiences dispersion, i.e. differing wavelengths propagate at different speeds. In an optical fiber, modal extent and phase velocity are affected by both the dispersion of the coupling material and the dispersion of the waveguide causing the light to pass through at different speeds. Thus, across a given wavelength region, differences between the dispersions of the material and waveguide through which light propagates can result in nonuniform spectral performance of fiber-based devices.
Dispersion is often represented in terms of a material""s refractive index (n) as a function of optical wavelength (xcex), i.e. as n(xcex). In dispersive materials, the refractive index of the material changes with wavelength. The relevant parameter when describing modal dispersion or multimode distortion in optical fibers is the effective mode dispersion, neff(xcex), which, in simple waveguide geometries, can be calculated using the material dispersion of the fiber""s cladding and core, nclad(xcex) and ncore(xcex), respectively, and geometric parameters. The relationships between dispersion, refractive index, wavelength, and spectral performance for fiber optic devices and polymer overlays are fully disclosed in copending commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/139,457 filed Aug. 24, 1998.
As represented herein, xe2x80x9cneff(xcex)xe2x80x9d refers to the effective mode dispersion for a silica glass optical fiber having a core with a slightly raised refractive index relative to the surrounding cladding. The term xe2x80x9cdispersionxe2x80x9d refers to the slope of the line formed from a plot of a material""s change in refractive index versus change in wavelength. Although all materials are dispersive to some extent, a hypothetical material exhibiting no dispersion would be represented as a horizontal line (slope=0). The greater the dispersion, the steeper the slope (negative or positive). The slope of neff(xcex) is negative, and thus, a single mode optical fiber is dispersive.
Fiber-based devices frequently exhibit spectrally non-uniform performance, which is undesirable in many broadband device applications. Examples include side-polished fiber (SPF)- and tapered fiber-based attenuators wherein a coupling oil (nD=1.456 at 27.9xc2x0 C.) placed on the optical fiber induces power loss (attenuation), as disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,966,493. However, the attenuation is not uniform across the spectral region because the dispersion of the oil, noil(xcex), is mismatched to that of the fiber, neff(xcex), ie. the slope of noil(xcex) differs from that of neff(xcex). By contrast, if the dispersions were matched, corresponding dispersions would be approximately parallel, and the attenuation would be almost constant or substantially uniform across the wavelength band with only small variations being observed. Thus, a plot of attenuation (dB) vs. wavelength would result in a substantially horizontal line (slope=0) indicating uniform spectral response for dispersion-matched materials.
As disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 5,966,493, certain organic polymers having an index of refraction close to that of the fiber can be applied to the exposed surface of a SPF optic (or a tapered fiber optic) for use in variable optical attenuators. Such polymers exhibit a change in refractive index proportional to a change in temperature. OPTI-CLAD(copyright)145, which is available from Optical Polymer Research, Inc. is an example of such a polymer. Although the refractive index of such organic polymer materials can be altered at a given wavelength to match that of the fiber, the use of these polymers is limited in broadband applications because of the dispersion mismatch between the polymer and the fiber across the wavelength band of interest.
One solution to these problems of dispersion-mismatch and nonuniform spectral response is provided in the aforementioned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/139,457, which discloses the use of polar polyolefin copolymers having certain infrared absorbing dyes incorporated therein. Surprisingly, use of these novel materials permits dispersion to be controlled from very large differences to almost no difference in dispersion between the dye/polymer composition and the fiber optic. The refractive index of the dye/polyolefin formulations disclosed in the application can also be altered to match or differ from that of the optical fiber. These dispersion-controlled, refractive index-controlled dye/polymer compositions are particularly useful in the fabrication of spectrally uniform fiber optic devices such as VOAs, couplers, and switches for use in broadband applications, such as in the 1500-1600 nm region, where control of spectral response is important.
Although the dye-doped polymer compositions disclosed in the above patent application provide an excellent solution to the dispersion matching problem for the aforementioned devices, rigorous efforts have continued with the goal of developing even better materials. For example, due to the limited solubility of the dye, attention to the amount of dye introduced into these polymers is particularly important. Phase separation of the dye from the polymer may occur if the weight percentage ranges disclosed in the application are not adhered to. Thus, it would be advantageous to develop dye/polymeric materials having improved thermal stability and phase stability. Such formulations should exhibit greater long term reliability and improved durability making them even more commercially valuable. In addition, if solubility concerns can be eliminated, then it may be possible to use other polymers, not previously employed, in the formulations. At the same time, it remains important to maintain a uniform spectral response across a broad wavelength range.
The present invention meets the aforementioned needs and is based on the unexpected discovery that certain dye-appended polymeric materials, in which the dye and polymer are chemically bonded together, eliminate solubility issues associated with doped systems. Thus, phase separation of the dye from the polymer is no longer a concern, and larger amounts of dye can be incorporated into the compositions. The present compositions provide improved control/correction of dispersion mismatch between the polymer and the fiber optic, and therefore, spectral flatness across a given wavelength band. In addition, because the issue of phase separation has been eliminated, polymers free of any dye can also be added to the dye-appended polymers of the present invention to obtain an even better (more uniform) spectral response over a broader wavelength range (e.g., 1500 nm to 1700 nm). Thus, the novel dye-appended polymer formulations of the present invention with and without additional copolymers mixed therein are particularly useful in the fabrication fiber optic devices exhibiting spectrally uniform performances, such as variable optical attenuators (VOA)s, couplers, shutters, and switches. Furthermore, the present dye-appended polymeric compositions can be used at longer wavelengths, up to about 1700 nm.
Accordingly, in one aspect, the present invention is a dye/polymer composition comprising:
(a) an infrared absorbing dye component having an absorption maximum from about 900 to about 1300 nm; and
(b) a copolymer component comprising at least one appended polar olefin copolymer chemically bonded to the dye component through a linking moiety attached to one chain end of the copolymer. Each appended polar olefin copolymer comprises monomeric units derived from two or more polar olefins having an ester, benzene or halogen substituent attached thereto.
Exemplary component concentrations are from about 0.2 to about 10% by weight of the infrared absorbing dye component and from about 90 to about 99.8% by weight of the copolymer component. The copolymer component optionally includes a detached polar olefin copolymer mixed with the dye-appended polymer, such that the aforementioned weight percentage of the copolymer component also includes that of the detached copolymer. In the detached copolymer, the monomeric units are also derived from two or more polar olefins having an ester, benzene or halogen substituent attached thereto.
Considering both embodiments, the dye/polymer composition of the present invention therefore contains:
from about 10 wt.% to about 100 wt. % of the dye-appended polar olefin copolymer, which comprises the dye moiety chemically bonded to one or more of the appended polar olefin copolymers through a linking moiety); and
from about 0 to about 90 wt. % of the detached polar olefin copolymer.
In another aspect, the present invention is an optical device comprising a portion of an optical fiber through which optical energy can propagate. The portion of the optical fiber has a surface through which at least some of the optical energy can be extracted, and the novel dye/polymer composition overlies this surface. The spectral response of the optical device across a wavelength band of interest may be controlled by controlling the material dispersion relative to the effective mode dispersion. For uniform spectral response, the material dispersion substantially matches the effective mode dispersion.

Dye-appended polymers for broadband fiber optic devices


An electrical assembly comprises a mounting bracket lift assembly and an electrical center. The electrical center is attached to the mounting bracket lift assembly for plugging wiring harness end connectors into the electrical center. The electrical center comprises a lower housing, a circuit board sub-assembly, an upper housing, electrical components such as fuses and relays that plug into the upper housing and a cover. The circuit board sub-assembly includes a power bus bar that provides a power path for the various electrical circuits of the vehicle via the circuit components carried on the circuit board. Three power bus bars that are configured, oriented and located to reduce the foot print of the electrical center and/or to improve the dissipation of heat generated by the electrical center are disclosed.

This invention relates to electrical center and more particularly to an electrical center that has a circuit board and a power bus bar.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,032,752 issued to Gary C. Detter et al. Jun. 11, 1991 discloses an electrical distribution center for a vehicle electrical system that includes stacked circuit arrays of varying current capacity located between an upper housing and a lower housing each having terminal access holes for receiving terminals formed on pre-stamped metal circuit elements. The electrical terminals are selectively connected to either electrical or electronic devices carried on top of the upper housing or to wiring connectors connected to the outer surface of the lower housing. The pre-stamped metal circuit elements are removably mounted in recesses in a plurality of stacked electrical insulation boards supported within the lower housing.
The electrical distribution center includes a power bus that includes an ear portion that is adapted to be connected to a battery cable. The power bus is a stamped plate of electrically conductive material that has a plurality of high capacity male terminals that supply power to one side of respective high capacity fuses, the other sides of which are connected to various electrical circuits of the vehicle via the wiring connectors. The stamped plate of the power bus is sandwiched between electrical/insulting boards. See also U.S. Pat. No. 6,077,102 issued to James William Borzi et al. Jun. 20, 2000.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,215,555 issued to Kouichi Takagi May 8, 2007 discloses an electrical distribution center for a vehicle in which a bus bar structure plate has a mounting region as shown in FIG. 1. The mounting region is adhered to the bottom of a control circuit board as shown in FIG. 5. Electronic devices are then mounted on the bus bar structure plate through holes in the control circuit board as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Terminal portions are then bent up from the structure plate as shown in FIG. 8 and the bus bar structure plate is then severed at several locations as shown in FIG. 2A or 2B or 2C to form a circuit body structure which is then installed in a case as shown in FIG. 9.
The electrical centers illustrated in the patents discussed above are both characterized by a power bus bar that lies flat against a circuit board. The power bus bars generate heat during use which must be dissipated in some fashion through conduction, radiation and/or convection. In some instances dissipation of the heat generated by the power bus bars does not require any special consideration. However, in other instances, dissipation of the heat generated by the bus bars can require special measures. For instance, the electrical center disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,215,555 issued to Kouichi Takagi incorporates a large aluminum heat sink to dissipate heat as shown in FIG. 10 of the patent.

Electrical center with vertical power bus bar


Perfluoroelastomer compositions of improved processability are provided which have reduced levels of ionized or ionizable polymer endgroups.

Perfluoroelastomers (elastomeric perfluoropolymers) are polymeric materials which exhibit outstanding high temperature tolerance and chemical resistance. Consequently, such compositions are particularly adapted for use as seals and gaskets in systems in which elevated temperatures and/or corrosive chemicals are encountered. The outstanding properties of perfluoropolymers are largely attributable to the stability and inertness of the copolymerized perfluorinated monomer units which make up the major portion of the polymer backbone, e.g., tetrafluoroethylene and perfluoro(alkyl vinyl) ethers. In order to completely develop elastomeric properties, perfluoropolymers are typically crosslinked, i.e. vulcanized. To this end, a small percentage of cure site monomer is copolymerized with the perfluorinated monomer units. Cure site monomers containing at least one nitrile group, for example perfluoro-8-cyano-5-methyl-3,6-dioxa-1-octene, are especially preferred. Such compositions are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,281,092 and 4,394,489; and in International Application WO 95/22575.
A recently-developed class of perfluoroelastomers having carbonyl-containing functional groups is disclosed in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/755,919, entitled "Fast-curing Perfluoroelastomer Compositions", filed Nov. 25, 1996. These polymers are characterized by having carbonyl-containing functional groups, including carboxyl groups, carboxylate groups, carboxamide groups, and mixtures thereof. Preferably, the carbonyl-containing functional groups are endgroups generated as a result of persulfate initiation of the polymerization reaction and the reaction is carried out in the absence of sulfite or bisulfite reducing agents. The carbonyl-containing perfluoroelastomers exhibit outstanding cure characteristics but they are difficult to process in certain end-uses because of their relatively high viscosity. A method for decreasing viscosity of the carbonyl-containing perfluoroelastomers would permit use of these materials in a wider variety of end-use applications.

Perfluoroelastomer composition having improved processability


It is an object to provide a novel material that can quickly form metal silver even at a low temperature of approximately 210° C. or less. This serves as a metal silver forming material that includes a silver β-ketocarboxylate. By heating this forming material, it is possible to form metal silver quickly even at a low temperature of approximately 210° C. or less. Examples of the silver β-ketocarboxylate include silver isobutyrylacetate, silver benzoylacetate, silver acetoacetate, silver propionylacetate, silver α-methylacetoacetate, and silver α-ethylacetoacetate.

Silver metal is widely used as a recording material and printing plate material, and it also is used as a high conductivity material due to its excellent conductivity. A general method for producing silver metal is to heat silver oxide, which is an inorganic substance, in the presence of a reducing agent. Specifically, silver oxide powder is dispersed in a binder and a reducing agent is added thereto to prepare a paste, and the paste is then applied to a base material or the like and heated. In this way, the silver oxide is reduced by heating in the presence of a reducing agent, and the silver metal that is produced by this reduction fuses to form a film that includes silver metal.
However, the problem with the use of silver oxide as a material for forming silver metal is that it requires a reducing agent as well as a very high processing temperature of approximately 300° C. Moreover, if the silver metal is to be used as conducting material, then it is necessary to use finer silver oxide particles in order to lower the resistance of the film that is formed.
On the other hand, recently there have been reported methods of forming silver metal using organic acid silver instead of inorganic compounds as mentioned above. An example of an organic acid silver that has been reported is silver behenate (Patent Document 1), and silver stearate and silver α-ketocarboxylate also have been reported as new materials for forming silver metals (Patent Documents 2 and 3).    Patent Document 1: JP 2003-191646 A    Patent Document 2: JP H10-183207 A    Patent Document 3: JP 2004-315374 A

Silver β-ketocarboxylate, material comprising the same for forming silver metal, and use thereof

Osaka Industrial Promotional Organization


A method and apparatus for adjusting nip width based on the measured hardness of a fuser roll in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include receiving an identification of media type, receiving a signal to measure fuser roll hardness, positioning a fuser roll hardness measurement unit onto the fuser roll, measuring the fuser roll hardness, and adjusting the nip width based on the measured fuser roll hardness and received media type identification.

Disclosed herein is a method for adjusting nip width based on the measured hardness of a fuser roll in an image production device, as well as corresponding apparatus and computer-readable medium.
The nip width is the measured arc distance created by the intersection of a soft fuser roll and a hard pressure roll in an image production device, such as a printer, copier, multi-function device, etc, which enables heat transfer and pressure needed to fuse prints. If the nip width is not set properly, toner is improperly melted and pressed (fused) against the paper resulting in image quality defects. In addition, improper nip setting can result in excessive wear of the fuser roll surface which results in image quality defects in the form of areas containing unacceptable differential gloss.
An accurate and consistent nip width increases fuser roll life by helping to minimize edge wear on the roll. It has been shown that uneven and excessive nip settings, inboard to outboard, result in accelerated edge wear. The nip width is supposed to be checked and adjusted with every fuser roll replacement. This measurement is not always done and combined with roll Durometer varying significantly from batch to batch, the roll nip widths are frequently incorrectly set. In addition, as the fuser roll ages the softness of the rubber changes resulting in less-than-optimum nip widths.

Method and apparatus for adjusting nip width based on the measured hardness of a fuser roll in an image production device


Methods and systems for controlling optical power attenuation are provided. A method comprises periodically measuring an optical power of an optical signal received by an optical receiver and periodically measuring a first attenuation control signal voltage. When the optical power measurement is outside a target power range, the method continues with calculating a target voltage necessary to maintain the optical power measurements at a target power level; calculating a second attenuation control signal based on the target voltage, wherein the second attenuation control signal is calculated to provide an over-damped transient response that maintains the second attenuation control signal within a usable range of a variable optical power attenuator; applying a second attenuation control signal voltage based on the second attenuation control signal to the variable optical power attenuator; and adjusting attenuation of the optical signal based on the second attenuation control signal voltage.

One of the major challenges of installing and operating optical data communications systems, such as those often used to communicate data within cellular networks, is maintaining optical power levels within the power windows required for optical receivers to correctly function. One way the communications industry has handled this requirement is by installing fixed inline optical power attenuators in the physical layer of an optical communications system. However, problems arise in this solution because every network facility is different in terms of optical power loss due to equipment and varying fiber optic cable lengths. To implement the fixed optical power attenuator solution, network operators must deploy technicians to manually take optical power measurements at one location while calibrating attenuators at other locations. Besides the high implementation and operational expenses associated with fixed inline attenuators, their presence in the physical layer of a communications network create additional points for introducing contamination and network failures.
For the reasons stated above and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the specification, there is a need in the art for improved methods and systems for optical power window control.


An electrically operated, particle detecting, or characterizing, sensor structured as a thin film multilayer sandwich. Three or more electrodes are deposited onto thin layers of film, and stacked to form the sandwich. A representative stacking arrangement provides a pair of stimulated electrodes spaced apart from an intermediate measurement electrode by insulating layers of thin film. A fluid conducting channel, having an axis perpendicular to the film layers, provides electrolytic electrical communication between the three electrodes. Contact pads, arranged to permit electrical interrogation of the electrodes by electrical circuitry, are desirably arranged for access to electrical interrogation probes from a single side of the sensor. Certain sensors may be included in single-use, disposable cartridges adapted for analysis by an interrogation platform.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to sensors of the type based upon measurable electrical properties. It is particularly directed to an improved thin film sensor for detecting or characterizing small particles that are suspended in a transport fluid.
2. State of the Art
Pioneering work in particle detection by measuring impedance deviation caused by particles flowing through a small aperture between two containers of electrically conductive fluids is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,656,508 to W. H, Coulter. The inventor's name is now associated with the principle of particles causing a change in electric impedance as they occlude a portion of the aperture. Since publication of his patent, considerable effort has been devoted to developing and refining sensing devices operating under the Coulter principle. Relevant US patents include U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,376,878 to Fisher, 6,703,819 to Gascoyne et al., 6,437,551 to Krulevitch et al., 6,426,615 to Mehta, 6,169,394 to Frazier et al., 6,454,945 and 6,488,896 to Weigl et al., 6,656,431 to Hall et al., and 6,794,877 to Blomberg et al. All of the above-referenced documents are hereby incorporated by reference, as though set forth herein in their entireties, for their disclosures of technology and various sensor arrangements.


The present invention relates to heavy duty liquid compositions containing non-proteolytic enzyme or enzymes and comprising (a) a capsule which comprises a proteolytic enzyme and (b) a composite polymer which in turn comprises a hydrophilic portion and hydrophobic polymer core particles.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to heavy duty liquid detergent compositions which contain a novel encapsulation system. In particular, the invention relates to compositions containing non-proteolytic enzymes and further containing capsules which capsules comprise
(1) proteolytic enzymes (which if not encapsulate would degrade the non-proteolytic enzymes in the composition); and PA0 (2) a composite polymer which comprises hydrophobic core particles to which are chemically and/or physically attached hydrophilic polymer or polymers. The proteolytic enzymes are entrapped within the composite polymer. PA0 (1) proteolytic enzyme and PA0 (2) a composite polymer as described in greater detail below. PA0 (1) unsaturate, preferably mono-unsaturated, C.sub.1-6 acids, ethers, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones or esters such as monomers of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, maleic acid, vinyl-methyl ether, vinyl sulphonate or vinylalcohol obtained by hydrolysis of vinyl acetate, acrolein; PA0 (2) cyclic units, unsaturated or comprising other groups capable of forming inter-monomer linkages, such as saccharides and glucosies, alkoxy units and maleic anhydride; PA0 (3) glycerol or other saturated polyalcohols.
2. Prior Art
It is well known in the art that heavy duty liquid detergents provide a hostile environment for non-proteolytic enzymes. The enzymes may be denaturated, for example, by surfactants in the composition or subject to proteolytic digestion by protease enzymes in the composition. A number of methods are known in the art for protecting an stabilizing enzymes or other components in such heavy duty liquids from denaturation or from proteolytic digestion. Typically, stability from proteolytic digestion is accomplished by reducing proteolytic activity (i.e., inhibiting the enzyme). This reduces proteolysis and results in better stability of the non-proteolytic enzyme.
A number of patents teach the use of a combination of a polyol an a boron compound as an enzyme stabilization system. Thus, Canadian Patent No. 1,092,036 (Hora et al), for example, discloses enzymatic liquid detergents containing 4-25% polyol and boric acid (or boron equivalent) in a weight ratio of polyol to boris acid less than 1; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,404,115 to Tai teaches the combination of alkalimetal sulphite an/or polyol as an enzyme stabilizing system.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,518,694 to Shaer teaches the use of carboxylic acids as enzyme stabilizers an U.S. Pat. No. 5,073,292 teach the stabilization of proteins using specified proteins (i.e., proteins containing quaternary nitrogen substituents).
U.S. Pat. No. 5,080,163 to Aronson et al. teaches a composition for stabilizing proteolytic and non-proteolytic enzymes using a stabilizing system comprising a polyol and a boron compound wherein the compounds react with one another and the polyol has define first and second binding constants.
None of these references teaches or suggests the use of compositions with non-proteolytic enzymes wherein capsules are used to encapsulate protease enzyme and thereby protect the non-proteolytic enzymes in the compositions.
Yet another way of stabilizing an enzyme is by physically separating the enzyme from the medium causing degradation. U.S. Pat. No. 4,906,396 to Falholt et al., for example, teaches coating the enzyme in a hydrophobic substance such as silicone oil and which substance is sufficiently fluid or friable to be disrupted under normal conditions of use.
Many references also teach the encapsulation of sensitive components which are released at a desirable time subsequent to encapsulation. None of these references, however, teach the capsules of the invention or the encapsulation of a protease specifically to protect non-proteolytic enzymes in solution from the protease.
European Patent Application No. 266,796 (assigned to Showa Denko), for example, teaches water-soluble microcapsules comprising an enzyme, preferably dissolved or dispersed in a water-containing hydroxy compound and coated with water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) or partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohol as the coating material. There is no teaching or suggestion of a composite polymer comprising network formed by hydrophilic polymer or polymers chemically and/or physically attaching to the hydrophobic particles and in which system or network proteolytic enzymes is entrapped. Thus proteolytic attack on other enzymes in the composition is prevented or delayed. In addition, the PVA used in the Showa Denko reference, in contrast to the PVA which could be used as the hydrophilic polymer of the subject invention, has an average degree of polymerization in the range of 200-3000 and a percent hydrolysis not less than 90%, preferably not less than 95%. It is said that if the percent hydrolysis of PVA is lower than 90%, the microcapsule is not stable and will dissolve during storage in a water-containing liquid detergent. This is probably not surprising in that there is nothing to stabilize the capsule other than a cross-linking agent, i.e., there is no teaching or suggestion of hydrophobic "core" particles comprising an ethylenically unsaturated group to which the hydrophilic polymers can affix, chemically or physically, to form an entrapping network.
That is, the encapsulating polymer of this reference comprises only the use of a water soluble polymer (i.e., PVA) rather than an entrapping polymer which is a composite emulsion copolymer comprising both water-soluble (i.e., hydrophilic attaching polymer) and water insoluble (i.e., hydrophobic particles to which hydrophilic polymers attach) components or domains. The use of a totally water soluble polymer does not provide optimal resistance to water. Such polymers are also more difficult to process than the composite polymers of this invention. Finally, at the levels of hydrolysis for PVA taught in this reference (i.e. greater than 90%, preferably greater than 95%), it is difficult to dissolve the capsule or polymer at ambient temperatures and the protected component is only partly release upon dilution. Moreover, the reference does not allow the option of using less hydrolyzed PVA because, although the less hydrolyzed PVA will dissolve more readily when diluted, such a PVA is too water sensitive and would fail to protect the component during storage.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,906,396 to Falholt et al. teaches an enzyme dispersed in a hydrophobic substance. Again, there is no teaching or suggestion of a polymer which is a composite emulsion copolymer comprising both water soluble and water insoluble components.
EP 1,390,503 (assigned to Unilever) teaches a polymer which dissolves when the ionic strength of the liquid decreases upon dilution. Further, there is no teaching of a polymer system comprising a composite emulsion polymer which in turn comprises a hydrophilic portion (i.e., hydrophilic polymer or polymers) chemically and/or physically attached to a hydrophobic core portion (i.e., hydrophobic particles) to form an entrapping emulsion polymer in which the enzyme component is trapped.
Takizawa et al. (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,777,089 and 4,908,233) teach the use of a microcapsule which comprises a "core" material (i.e., the protected material is the core) coated with a single water soluble polymer (which polymer undergoes phase separation by the action of an electrolyte in the compositions). Again, there is no teaching or suggestion of a composite emulsion polymer comprising a hydrophilic portion chemically or physically attached to hydrophobic core particles and used to entrap proteolytic enzymes. Such a composite polymer having both a hydrophilic and hydrophobic portion offers significant advantages over the solely water-soluble encapsulating polymers of the reference in that it entraps the enzyme an slows migration of harsh components from outside the capsule (so that protease itself is not degraded) as well as slows migration of the protease to non-proteolytic enzymes outside the capsule.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,842,761 to Rutherford teaches compositions and methods for controlled release of fragrance-bearing substances (perfumes) wherein the compositions comprise a water-soluble and a water-insoluble (both normally solid) polymer an a perfume composition, a portion of the perfume composition being incorporated in the water-soluble polymer and a portion incorporated in the water-insoluble polymer. The two polymers are physically associated with each other in such a manner that one is in the form of discrete entities in a matrix of the other. The particles of this reference have a particle size of between 100-3000 microns in contrast to the capsules of the invention which have a particle size of under 100 microns. In addition, the capsules are formed by intermixing water soluble and water insoluble polymer under high shear resulting in a different capsule system than the emulsion polymer capsule of the subject invention.
Applicants co-pending U.S. Ser. No. 07/766,477 teaches a water soluble polymer used to encapsulate particles made of an emulsifiable mixture of a fragrance and a wax. The waxes use are hydrocarbons such as paraffin wax and microcrystalline wax. These waxes differ from the core hydrophilic particles of the invention. Moreover, the core is not simply in wax material enveloping the perfume but an intimate mixture of the wax and perfume which differs completely from the core particles of the subject invention which may stand alone. In fact, the enzymes of the subject invention are not inside the hydrophobic core particles at all. Finally, the encapsulated material of the reference is released by heat trigger whereas release of the material of the invention is dilution triggered.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,115,474 to Vasilliades discloses a hydroxy containing polymer shell grafted onto a water soluble core. The hydroxy shell is cross-linked with a formaldehyde condensation product and will therefore not release upon dilution by water. Moreover, the reference does not refer to entrapped sensitive materials which can be release. Indeed, the capsule is intended to be a load bearing capsule which is not even subject to release upon application of pressure.
None of these patents teach capsules comprising the specific composite emulsion polymers of the invention in any composition, let alone in heavy duty liquid compositions.
Thus, there is a need in the art for heavy duty liquid compositions containing non-proteolytic enzymes (e.g., lipases, cellulases) and further containing capsules comprising novel composite polymers which can both stabilize proteolytic enzymes and keep them from degrading the non-proteolytic enzymes, and yet readily break down to release the enzymes in use (e.g., in diluted aqueous medium, especially at ambient temperatures).
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide heavy duty liquid compositions containing non-proteolytic enzymes that incorporate capsules comprising a novel composite polymer that can stabilize and isolate proteolytic enzymes (so they don't destabilize non-proteolytic enzymes in solution) while simultaneously being able to deliver the enzymes in a controlled and reproducible manner when the composition is diluted with water during use.

Heavy duty liquid detergent compositions containing non-proteolytic enzymes comprising capsules comprising proteolytic enzyme and composite polymer


The invention is a method of administering therapeutic iodine for treating a disorder in a mammal. The invention comprises a step of feeding said mammal an effective amount of an oxidant for an iodine species and an iodine reductant which will cause oxidation-reduction reactions upon contact with the gastric juices present in the stomach of the mammal. This is done such that molecular iodine is generated in vivo at a ratio of molecular iodine to total iodine of above at least about 0.65. The invention also discloses a non-aqueous pharmaceutically acceptable carrier with said oxidant and reductant having the ability to cause oxidation-reduction reactions upon contact with the gastric juices present in the stomach of said mammal and in an amount sufficient to generate molecular iodine, in vivo, at a ratio of molecular iodine to total iodine of above at least about 0.65.

Iodine, including organically bound iodine, inorganic iodine and molecular iodine, i.e. I.sub.2, has been used to treat human diseases. Iodine-containing compounds have been employed extensively as expectorants. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,187,294; 4,338,304 and 4,394,376 disclose compositions containing protein-bound iodine for the treatment of hypercholesteremia, diabetes and hyperlipemia. U.S. Pat. No. 4,259,322 discloses tuberculosis medication containing sodium iodide. Most recently, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,816,255; 5,171,582; 5,250,304 and 5,389,385 disclose compositions of "elemental iodine" (I.sub.2) in water for oral administration in humans to treat a variety of human diseases. U.S. Pat. No. 5,589,198 discloses the benefits of using elemental iodine or "iodine metal" with pharmaceutically acceptable carriers in the treatment of fibrocystic breast syndrome.
Much of the prior art literature refers to "iodine" in an imprecise manner. The word iodine has been used in the literature to refer to several distinct chemical species that contain iodine atoms. Many different compounds with distinct and materially different properties contain iodine. For example, the literature on iodine disinfection clearly shows that the biocidal efficacy of diverse iodine species is profoundly different; molecular iodine (I.sub.2) is an active biocide while iodide (I.sup.-) has no biocidal activity. Traditional beliefs in the field of toxicology (R. C. Haynes Jr and F. Murad, "Thyroid and Antithyroid Drugs" in Goodman and Gilman's the Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, Eds. A. G. Gilman et al., 7.sup.th ed., pp. 682-815, 1985, W. B. Saunders, Philadelphia) have held that molecular iodine and iodide have identical toxicity profiles; however, no direct experimental data was used to support this assumption. In fact, the toxicity and therapeutic efficacy of these different species of iodine could vary dramatically just as their biocidal activity does. Unfortunately, the pharmaceutical literature on iodine has not drawn distinctions between the properties of the many different chemical species that contain iodine atoms.
The most serious concern for administration of an iodine pharmaceutical relates to the potential for toxic reactions. In this regard, it is believed that iodide is the form of iodine responsible for "iodide poisoning" or "iodism." There is no way of predicting which patient will react unfavorably to iodide, and an individual may vary in their sensitivity to iodide from time to time. A series of symptoms can result from iodism. Symptoms can include burning in the mouth and throat; soreness of the teeth and gum; increased salivation; coryza, irritation of the respiratory tract; cough; headache; enlarged glands; inflammation of the pharynx, larynx and tonsils; skin lesions; gastric irritation; diarrhea; fever; anorexia and depression; and severe and sometimes fatal eruptions (ioderma) may occur. In essence, human consumption of iodide at levels in excess of the range (0.150 to 1.0 mg/day) established by FDA researchers (J. A. Pennington, "A review of iodine toxicity reports", J. Am. Dietetic Assoc., Vol. 90, pp. 1571-1581) presents a health risk.
The only scientific studies on the relative oral toxicity of molecular iodine and iodide was performed during the early 1990s (Karla Thrall, Ph.D. Thesis, "Formation of Organic By-Products Following Consumption of Iodine Disinfected Drinking Water", Summary and Conclusion Section, Oregon State University, Department of Chemistry, 1992). The weight of a mammals thyroid is one key diagnostic measure used to evaluate the toxicity of an iodine composition. Subchronic administration of iodide to male rats increased their thyroid weight at an iodide concentration of 10 mg/kg; molecular iodine did not effect thyroid weight even at concentrations of 100 mg/kg (Sherer et al., Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Vol. 32, pp. 89-101, 1991). This study by Sherer did not measure an increase in the steady state levels of thyroid hormones until animals were exposed to repeated daily doses of molecular iodine at 10 mg per kilogram of body weight. It can be concluded from these studies that iodide can effect thyroid weight in mammals at concentrations that are 10 fold less than a comparable effect from molecular iodine. Another way to state this is that it required ten time more molecular iodine than iodide to effect animal thyroid function with an orally administered iodine composition.
The human body contains approximately 18 to 20 mg of iodine. Iodine is an essential component of thyroxine and tri-iodothyronine. These hormones are essential for the maintenance of normal metabolic activity and they have an effect on almost every mammalian tissue. Excess iodine can lead to an imbalance in thyroid hormones. The reduced toxicity on the thyroid gland exhibited by molecular iodine as compared to iodide in the studies by Sherer et al. has important implications for design of an oral iodine pharmaceutical. These studies indicate that, all other factors being equal, molecular iodine is a preferred form of iodine for an oral drug. This would be especially true for disease states that require chronic administrations of said iodine pharmaceutical.
An early observation of the association of thyroid/iodine with the human female breast was made in 1896, by Dr. Beatson, who treated metastatic breast cancer using desiccated thyroid in large doses. Desiccated thyroid contains an abundance of protein-bound iodine. An early association of an iodine deficiency state and benign breast dysplasia was reported in 1966 by a clinician who reported a 71% improvement rate in women with dysplastic mastodynia treated with iodine (Vishnyakova V. V. et al., "On the Treatment of Dyshormonal Hyperplasia of Mammary Glands", Vestin. Sakad. Med. Mauk. S.S.S.R., Vol. 21:p. 19, 1966). Treatment of mammary dysplasia using traditional Chinese medicines like Sargassum, which contains a high iodide concentration, has provided cure rates of 65.4 percent. Ghent (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,389,385 and 5,589,198) explored the use of elemental iodine treat a variety of human diseases. The scientific literature provides clear evidence that iodine in several different forms is an effective therapeutic against many different mammalian diseases.
Animal models of fibrocystic breast syndrome have been studies for over 40 years. Several studies provide evidence that indicates iodine can reverse this condition. Studies in humans have shown improvement or complete elimination of fibrocystic breast syndrome after several months of iodine therapy. Other mammalian disease states that have been treated with iodine include ovarian cysts, premenstrual syndrome, breast cancer and endometriosis.
For convenience, certain terms employed in the specification, examples, and appended claims are defined below.
The term "molecular iodine" as used herein, refers to diatomic iodine, which is represented by the chemical symbol I.sub.2, which exists in a liquid.
The term "elemental iodine" as used herein, refers to solid diatomic iodine, which is represented by the chemical symbol I.sub.2.
The term "iodide" or "iodide anion" refers to the species which is represented by the chemical symbol I.sup.31. Suitable counter-ions for the iodide anion include sodium, potassium, calcium, and the like.
The term "triiodide" refers to the species which is represented by the chemical symbol I.sub.3.sup.-. It is recognized by one skilled in the art that triiodide is formed from the interaction of one iodide anion and one molecule of molecular iodine under the laws of mass action and that triiodide rapidly dissociates into one iodide anion and one molecule of molecular iodine.
The term "total iodine" as used herein, refers to the following iodine species: molecular iodine, iodide, organically complexed forms of iodine, covalently bound forms of iodine, iodite, triiodide, polyiodides containing more than 5 atoms of iodine and elemental iodine.
The term "rate of iodine generation" as used herein, refers to the rate at which molecular iodine is formed in a liquid environment.
The term "ratio of molecular iodine" as used herein, refers to the ratio of molecular iodine (I.sub.2) to all other iodine species such as iodide, triiodide and polyiodides containing more than 5 atoms of iodine or total iodine.
Elemental iodine is sold commercially as blue-black crystals with a high metallic luster. The major difficulty with the preparation of a suitable oral composition of molecular iodine is related to the basic physical chemistry of this element. All solid forms of elemental iodine sublime readily to generate a violet-colored vapor. In fact, atmospheric iodine is a major component of global iodine cycling. Unfortunately, the facile sublimation of elemental iodine introduces an inherent instability which precludes its use, per se, as the active ingredients in a pharmaceutical preparation. Other chemicals are combined in some form with elemental iodine in order to provide stable preparations that contain molecular iodine. There are three different types or categories of oral iodine compositions that have been used to treat disease states in mammals: (1) organically bound iodine including both covalent binding and hydrophobic/ionic complexes, (2) inorganic iodine and (3) aqueous molecular iodine.
Organic iodine compounds, which have been used "off-label" as nutritional iodine supplements, are designed for use in the area of radiographic contrast mediums (radiopaque compounds). For instance, lymphography is used to detect and evaluate abnormalities of the lymphatic system and as a guide to surgical dissection of lymph nodes. Iodine-based radiopaque compounds are likewise employed in several different diagnostic procedures, i.e. cholecystography, myelography, urography, angiographycholangiography. A number of different organic iodine compounds have been used for this purpose including .beta.-(4-hydroxy-3,5-diiodophenyl)-.alpha.-phenylpropionic acid, .beta.-(3-amino-2,4,6-triiodophenyl)-.alpha.-ethylpropionic acid, iodophenylundecylate, 3,5-diacetamido-2,4,6-triiodo-benzoate, 3,5-diacetamido-2,4,6-triiodo-benzoic acid, and ethiodized oil. The iodine atoms in these compounds are covalently bound to organic molecules. Other forms of organic iodine have been used as therapeutics including protein-bound iodine, desiccated thyroid and iodine metabolically incorporated into chicken eggs.
Inorganic iodine compositions that have been used as oral therapeutics include sodium or potassium iodide; tincture of iodine or Lugol's solution; and organic iodides that yield iodide. Aqueous compositions of these species inherently contain a very low and/or unpredictable ratio of molecular iodine to total iodine. In fact, these compositions usually contain less molecular iodine on a molar basis than other forms of iodine. For instance, Lugol's solution contains approximately 129,000 ppm of total iodine but only 170 ppm of molecular iodine or a ratio of 0.0013.
Pure aqueous solutions of molecular iodine do not exist in commerce. Molecular iodine is known to be unstable in water and this instability is a function of pH. Molecular iodine is hydrated by water and, in an aqueous system, undergoes the series of reactions shown below in equations 1 to 3. EQU I.sub.2 +H.sub.2 O=HOI+I.sup.- +H.sup.+ ( 1) EQU 3HOI=IO.sub.3.sup.- +2I.sup.- +3H.sup.+ ( 2) EQU I.sub.2 +I.sup.- =I.sub.3.sup.- ( 3)
It is not possible to make and bottle a stable aqueous solution that contains at least a molecular iodine ratio of 0.65. For clinical applications, this limitation has previously been addressed by preparing aqueous solutions of iodine immediately prior to use and then consuming them. Elemental iodine dissolves very slowly in water. The long time necessary to dissolve elemental iodine causes the loss of some nascently formed molecular iodine due to its reaction with water as shown in equation 1 above. As a result, there are problems of consistency and ease of use with this method. Compositions that contain several different pharmacologically active agents with diverse toxicity profiles are not preferred as pharmaceutical agents.
An ideal drug produces its desired effect in all patients without causing toxic effects. The relationship between the desired and undesired effects of a drug is termed its therapeutic index or selectivity. The therapeutic index for a drug is frequently represented as the ratio of the median toxic dose to the median effective dose. In clinical studies, drug selectivity is often expressed indirectly by summarizing the pattern and nature of adverse effects produced by therapeutic doses of the drug and by indicating the proportion of patients with adverse side effects. Each separate iodine species should be considered to be a unique drug entity since they have been shown to have different oral toxicity and therapeutic index profiles. Therefore, a preferred "iodine" therapeutic is a composition wherein the all or an overwhelming majority of the total iodine atoms present are in the desired form.
The prior art demonstrates that molecular iodine is an effective therapeutic agent in a number of disease states. For instance, Eskin et al. (Biological Trace Element Research, Vol. 49, pp. 9-18, 1995) demonstrated that molecular iodine is "distinctly more effective in diminishing ductal hyperplasia and perilobular fibrosis in the mammary glands than iodide". The scientific literature also indicates that the oral toxicity of iodide is greater than that for molecular iodine. Another way to state this is to say that the prior art in animals and humans demonstrates that the most therapeutic form of iodine, when administered orally, is molecular iodine; also, the least toxic form of iodine when administered orally is molecular iodine. Therefore, the prior art indicates that all of the iodine in a preferred oral iodine pharmaceutical should be molecular iodine. This distinction in toxicity is especially important for a treatment regime that requires chronic dosing. As a practical matter it is acceptable to limit the potential for toxicity due to iodide to a safe range. In order to accomplish this latter objective it is necessary to limit the concentration of iodide by weight to no more than 1,000 ug/day of iodide when administered chronically and preferably it should provide no more than 150 ug/day and most preferably it should provide no more than 50 ug/day.
Since the toxicity of an oral pharmaceutical iodine drug is directly related to the ratio and concentration of the different iodine species present; the known instability of the I.sub.2 species presents a challenge to the development of an oral iodine pharmaceutical composition with a preferred therapeutic index. This application describes methods to overcome the problems that exist with the prior art in the delivery of molecular iodine in an acceptable stable oral pharmaceutical.

Methods and pharmaceutical compositions for oral delivery of molecular iodine


A position measuring apparatus includes (a) a sleeve that has an open first end and a second end opposite the first end, (b) a guide pin guided at least partly in the sleeve, (c) a spring, (d) a linear magnetic field sensor and (e) a magnet disposed adjacent to the linear magnetic field sensor. To avoid wear even in the presence of large temperature fluctuations, the magnet is disposed on a face of the guide pin facing the second end of the sleeve, and the spring is disposed between the second end of the sleeve and the magnet such that the spring urges the magnet against the guide pin.

Position measuring apparatuses are used, for example, in gear actuators, for the purpose of sensing the position of a gear rod of a gearbox associated with the gear actuator. A disadvantage of conventional position measuring apparatuses is that they wear with time and deliver less accurate measured position data. This is the case, in particular, if the position measuring apparatus is exposed to large temperature fluctuations.


A horseshoe adapted to be attached to the hoof of a horse comprises a body having a U-shaped configuration, the body including a ground engaging surface, a hoof engaging surface, and a convex outer and a concave inner side wall, the side walls extending between the surfaces, and a continuous sequence of separate wedges in the form of V-shaped projections for improving traction of the horseshoe are integrally formed and extend outwardly from the convex outer side wall. An open sided swedge is provided in the ground engaging surface of the body.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the art and science of horseshoeing, and more particularly, to a tooth system that integrally formed on and is a part of a performance horseshoe to provide improved traction to the horse when running.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Horseshoes come in a variety of sizes and shapes depending on the type of horse and activity for which the horse is to be engaged. Generally horseshoes are U-shaped and conform to the circumference of the hoof with two branches emanating from the toe area and projecting beyond the heel. Typically, the horseshoe is nailed to the hoof.
A suitable gripping device which improves the grip between the horse's hoof and the contacting surface and spreads shock over the hoof is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,636,695, issued Jun. 10, 1997 to Watson, Jr., et al, the specification of which is specifically incorporated herein by reference.
While the Watson gripping device is suitable, it has been found that a desirable horseshoe would also provide side traction to enable the horse to travel straighter, and keep its leg under itself when running around bends, barrels and the like.
Accordingly, an object of this invention is the provision of an improved horseshoe which prolongs wear of the shoe in the toe area, introduces quicker groundbreaking resulting in a faster gate, and provides side traction allowing the horse to travel straighter keeping its leg under itself when running around bends, barrels etc. when the horse is involved in racing and other competitive activities.


There are provided a cam plate (5) that rotates in an unlocking direction and a locking direction, and a locking shaft (8) that moves between a locking position where rotation of a steering shaft is prevented and an unlocking position where the rotation of the steering shaft is permitted by rotation of the cam plate (5). The cam plate (5) is provided with a steering lock preventing unit (20) through a spring (22). The steering lock preventing unit (20) holds the locking shaft (8) in the unlocking position. A ball (23) moves on a moving surface (24) of a motor unit (4) opposed to the cam plate (5) by rotation of the cam plate (5). A projecting wall (25) is provided on the moving surface (24) at a position before the unlocking position in a range where the ball (23) moves from the locking position to the unlocking position.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-154674 discloses a conventional electric steering locking apparatus of this kind. This electric steering locking apparatus mainly includes a cam member that rotates in an unlocking direction and a locking direction by driving operation of a drive source, a locking member that follows a sliding surface of the cam member and moves between a locking position where the rotation of a steering shaft is locked and an unlocking position where the rotation of the steering shaft is permitted, a spring that biases the locking member toward the locking position, and a steering lock preventing unit that holds the locking member in the unlocking position.
The steering lock preventing unit includes a holding lever connected to an operation knob through a connection member. When the holding lever enters an engaging groove of the locking member located in the unlocking position, the locking member is locked.
With the above configuration, while a vehicle is parked, the locking member is located in the locking position and the steering shaft is locked. Thus, the vehicle can be theftproof during parking.
When a parked vehicle is to be driven, the cam member rotates in the unlocking direction by the driving operation of the drive source, the locking member is brought into the unlocking position, and the rotation of the steering shaft is permitted. When the locking member is located in the unlocking position, the holding lever of the steering lock preventing unit enters into the engaging groove of the locking member, and the locking member is locked so as not to move to the locking position. With this configuration, even when an external force toward the locking position is applied to the cam member or the locking member due to abrupt vibration or the like during running, it is possible to prevent the locking member biased by the spring from moving toward the locking position to lock the steering shaft.


A method for forming a top seal on a carton being conveyed along a processing path on a form, fill and seal packaging machine using a top sealer including opposing sealing jaws is provided. The carton includes top fin panels configured for sealing to one another to form a top seal. The method includes actuating a first control valve to provide communication between a first pressurized fluid source and a first port of an actuator for moving the actuator toward a first position. The actuator is operatively connected to the sealing jaws to move the sealing jaws in a clamping direction while moving toward the first position. A second control valve is actuated to inhibit fluid escape from the actuator through a second port of the actuator to inhibit movement of the sealing jaws in the clamping direction.

Conventional paperboard cartons for liquid food products are commonly constructed from paperboard sheets coated with a film of a heat sealable, waterproof thermoplastic material such as polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride or polypropylene. When heated, this plastic film becomes tacky, so that sheets thus coated and heated can be sealed together by being squeezed tightly together. The coated sheets are initially cut into flat carton blanks. These blanks are subsequently folded into a generally rectangular open-ended configuration, then are closed at one end by forming a bottom end wall via folding and sealing bottom end closure panels which extend integrally from the four side walls of the carton blank. The cartons can then be filled and sealed with a gabled or flat-folded top.
Automated carton filling apparatus are frequently used to automatically form, fill and seal cartons. Automated mechanical systems (e.g., a top sealer and a bottom sealer) are frequently utilized to fold and/or seal the tops and/or bottoms of the cartons. Due to the rates of speed of production, such systems can be noisy. Pneumatically driven systems have been proposed to reduce noise during operation.


Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for concurrently performing address translation data lookups for use by an emulator. On a first thread, a first lookup is performed for address translation data for use by an emulator. On a second thread, a second lookup for the address translation data is concurrently and speculatively performed. The address translation data from a successful lookup from either the first lookup or the second lookup is used to map a simulated physical address to a virtual address of the emulator. For example, the first thread can perform a translation lookaside buffer lookup while the second thread concurrently and speculatively performs a page table entry lookup for the address translation data.

Emulators allow software developers to test software that is targeted for particular devices without having the actual device at hand. For example, an emulator can be used to simulate how a particular software program designed for a personal digital assistant or phone device will look and operate without loading it on a physical device. Behind the scenes, emulators emulate the memory management unit of the processor of a respective device. This means that addresses inside the emulator must be translated to addresses on the host compiler. A particular software program typically runs slower using an emulator as opposed to running the program on the native device.

Hardware memory management unit simulation using concurrent lookups for address translation data


A weapons system (10) with at least one barrel (12) is provided, wherein the barrel is arranged on a weapon carrier (14) which is mounted by trunnions (16) between cradle supports (18), and its elevation is adjustable. A separate ammunition container (26, 28), which is connected to the corresponding barrel (12) by an ammunition feed canal (22, 24), is associated with the barrel (12). The ammunition feed canal (22, 24) has a rigid first canal partial section (36, 44) and a rigid second canal partial section (38, 46), which are connected to one another via arc-shaped connection end sections (40, 42; 48, 50). The connection end sections (40, 42; 48, 50) are provided at the corresponding trunnion (16) such that the connection between the barrel (12) and the associated ammunition container (26, 28), and consequently excellent ammunition feed, are guaranteed in any desired elevation position.

To reach a high firing rate with such a weapons system, unhindered, rapid ammunition feed is required. Ammunition feed presents no problems in the case of weapons systems with stationary barrels, but the situation is different in the case of weapons systems with barrels with adjustable elevation or height. Therefore, the firing rate of weapons systems of the latter type, i.e., weapons systems with barrels with adjustable elevation, still leaves something to be desired. Moreover, in the case of weapons systems with elevation-adjustable barrels, the highest firing rate is not available immediately, but only after a certain start-up phase, which can be considered to be another shortcoming of the prior-art weapons systems.


A signaling assembly is disclosed and which includes a reflective substrate having opposite first and second surfaces; an electromagnetic radiation emitter for emitting visibly discernible electromagnetic radiation and which is borne by the second surface of the reflective substrate; and a light channeling assembly positioned near the electromagnetic radiation emitter, and which directs the emitted visibly discernible electromagnetic radiation in a direction where it may be viewed from a location which is forward of one of the first and/or second surfaces of the reflective substrate.

The beneficial effects of employing auxiliary signaling assemblies have been disclosed in various United States Patents including U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,014,167; 5,207,492; 5,355,284; 5,361,190; 5,481,409; 5,499,169; 5,528,422; 6,005,724; and 6,257,746, as well as U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 10/124,213 and 10/283,715 all of which are incorporated by reference herein. The mirror assemblies disclosed in some of these patents teach the use of various dichroic mirrors which are operable to reflect a broad band electromagnetic radiation, within the visible light portion of the spectrum, while simultaneously permitting electromagnetic radiation having wavelengths which reside within a predetermined spectral band to pass therethrough. As disclosed in this earlier prior art, these same dichroic mirrors remain an excellent visual image reflector, that is, achieving luminous reflectance which is acceptable for automotive, and other industrial applications, while simultaneously achieving an average transmittance in the predetermined spectral band which is suitable for use as a visual signal at a wide range of distances and for various purposes.
While all of these prior art devices have worked with some degree of success, various shortcomings have been uncovered which have detracted from their wide spread use. Among the several shortcomings which have impeded commercial introduction has been the manufacturing costs associated with applying the rather complex optical coatings which are necessary to form the dichroic mirrors that are employed in these several devices.
Still further, other mirror products have been introduced which diverge, to some degree, from the use of dichroic mirrors. These devices however, when built in accordance with their teachings, have been unable to provide the same performance characteristics as provided by the prior art which employs dichroic mirrors. Still further, other prior art references have described devices which attempt to provide the same functional benefits as described in these earlier patents. These references describe all manner of mirror housing modifications, where for example, lamps are located in various orientations to project light into predetermined areas both internally and/or beside the overland vehicle and to further provide auxiliary signaling or warning capability. Examples of these patents include U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,583,155; 4,646,210; 4,916,430; 5,059,015; 5,303,130; 5,371,659; 5,402,103; 5,497,306; and 5,436,741 to name but a few.
In addition to the shortcomings associated with fabricating a suitable dichroic coating for use in mirror assemblies as described in the prior art, the extensive modifications required by some designs as described in the before mentioned patents typically allow significant amounts of ambient light to enter the housing or lamp enclosure thereby reducing the perceived contrast level and thus the effectiveness of these signaling devices. Further, federal regulations also restrict the distance a mirror housing can protrude from the side of an overland vehicle, thus the associated mirror housings have limited volume. Consequently, the amount of internal space which is normally available when these same housings are employed is quite limited. Therefore, the size, weight, and perceived contrast level of an enclosed light emitting assembly employed in such signaling devices have become significant factors in the development and commercial introduction of a suitable product.
To address these and other perceived shortcomings in the prior art, U.S. Pat. No. 6,005,724 disclosed a novel mirror assembly which employed a mirror substrate which is fabricated by using conventional techniques, and which includes a primary mirror surface region which reflects less than about 80% of a given band of visibly discernable electromagnetic radiation; and a secondary region adjacent thereto and through which electromagnetic radiation may pass. In mirrors of this design, the average reflection of the mirror coating is greater than about 50%. This novel invention resulted in significant decreases in the manufacturing costs for devices of this type. Still further, the perceived safety advantages of using such auxiliary signaling devices has now been well established, inasmuch as these same signaling assemblies provide a convenient means whereby an operator may signal vehicles which are adjacent to, and rearwardly oriented relative to an overland vehicle equipped with same, of their intention, for example, to change lanes, turn, or perform other vehicle maneuvers which would be of interest to vehicles traveling adjacent thereto.
A signaling assembly which achieves these and other advantages is the subject matter of the present application.


The invention provides a next generation decision support system that includes highly adaptive sensors, transport, and models to enable time critical decision making. The decision support model of the system is progressive so that not all input parameters need to be available to produce model prediction output. Input parameters of the model with the largest first order derivative values are given highest priority in data acquisition and transmission. The parameters acquired at the sensors are stored in progressive data representation formats, which later on are progressively transmitted to the decision support server. Progressive data representation, progressive transmission, and progressive model are thus three key elements that need to be integrated together. The present invention presents a method and an apparatus that form an optimized process including the three elements subject to the decision making utility function.

Today's distributed information gathering systems for decision support are often designed and parameterized with fixed targets, fixed precision, fixed transmission intervals, and fixed decision models. Such systems are good for constant surveillance of a fixed phenomenon. For example, the NASA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launched in 1995 observes the Sun and the solar wind. SOHO takes photos of the Sun at various spectra at fixed time intervals (avg. 18 mins) and transmits the digitized signals to ground stations at a fixed resolution for scientific studies. Science models are then built with the parameters based on SOHO specifications. For example, a model to detect corona mass ejection from a sequence of photos of the Sun assumes SOHO specification of 18 min acquisition intervals and 512 by 512 pixel resolution. Studies and model-building are largely one-way with no possibility of feeding back instructions to the satellite in real time. Scientists thus cannot instruct SOHO to focus on a corner of the Sun for better observation of corona mass ejection, for example.
As new generations of information gathering systems evolve, sensors are better equipped with processing and communication capabilities to receive and process instructions. Those intelligent sensors can be instructed to auto-focus on the areas of interest and perform on-line retargeting. Such capabilities are crucial for observing fast-changing phenomena such as forest fires and volcano eruptions. Information collected can be used in real-time decisions for early warning and disaster relief. Nevertheless, the new generation sensors continue to have limitations in computational power, storage space, electricity usage, communication bandwidth and so on. These limitations pose constraints on the whole end-to-end information gathering and decision support system.
For time critical missions, the main objectives of the information gathering and decision support systems are:    1. Achieve the highest model prediction quality when all the information required is returned  and analyzed at the server (e.g. ground station or decision making assistant);    2. Achieve the highest model prediction quality at any time when data is only partially returned to the server.
The first objective is stemmed from traditional decision support systems that are built on acquiring complete sets of data. The second objective addresses the need of time urgency and emphasizes that decisions may be made based on partial information—the best prediction from partially available data. As new data streams in, the server system may refine its predictions continuously and adaptively.
There are many challenges to constructing a continuously adaptive decision support system. Due to various acquisition, processing, storage and transmission limitations, it may be impossible to acquire the entire collection of data at the highest resolution possible. Processing constraints pose difficulties in processing the data in time and transmitting the results to the decision maker. Potentially huge amounts of data (1 TB a day from Terra Satellite) are a burden to its storage, search and retrieval.
The next generation decision support system must achieve the above objectives given the limitations. Clearly the traditional approach is infeasible in most occasions. The new system must be adaptive in resource (processing, storage, transmission) consumption and only use resources to obtain maximal model prediction quality. The present invention is a proposed solution to the development of the next generation decision support system.

Method and apparatus for generating progressive queries and models for decision support

International Business Machines Corporation


A buffer for a programmable device has source current circuitry, sink current circuitry, one or more input nodes, one or more output nodes, and switch circuitry. The source current circuitry can be programmably controlled to generate a plurality of different total source currents, and the sink current circuitry can be programmably controlled to generate a plurality of different total sink currents. The one or more input nodes can receive one or more input signals, and the one or more output nodes can present one or more output signals. The switch circuitry can selectively apply at least one of a total source current and a total sink current to the one or more output nodes based on the one or more input signals.

Because they are programmable, FPGAs can be configured (i.e., programmed) to support different signal and data processing applications. In order to support different types of applications, FPGAs can be designed with different types of I/O buffers, each different type designed to handle the voltage swing associated with a different I/O standard.


A circuit for controlling load switch is disclosed in the present invention. The circuit is applied to a load circuit which includes a load switch and a working element. The circuit includes a first comparator, a second comparator, and a third comparator. When an inductance current achieves the average current, the first comparator triggered to conduct a first switch. When the inductance current achieves a default ripple current, the second comparator is triggered to conduct a second switch. When either one of the first switch and the second switch is conducted, the load switch is turned off to make a variable voltage be increased. When the first switch is conducted, a capacitance voltage of a controlled capacitance is increased to increase a turned-off time. When the second switch is conducted, the capacitance voltage is decreased to decrease the turned-off time to control the load switch.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a circuit for controlling load switch, and more particularly related to a circuit for controlling load switch by using three comparators and two switches to adjust the average current.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a conventional integrated light emitted diode (LED) circuit. As shown, the conventional integrated LED circuit PA1 includes a load circuit PA11 and a driver circuit PA12. The load circuit PA11 is a LED circuit, and further includes a voltage source PA111, a full bridge rectifier circuit PA112, a resistor PA113, a diode PA114, a capacitor PA115, at least a LED PA116, an inductor PA117, a first switch PA118, a resistor PA119, a capacitor PA120, and a capacitor PA121.
The full bridge rectifier PA112 is coupled to the voltage source PA111 and coupled to the resistor PA113, the diode PA114, the capacitor PA115, and the LED PA116. The inductor PA117 has one end coupled to the diode PA114 and the drain of the first switch PA118 and another end coupled to the capacitor PA115 and the LED PA116. The resistor PA119 is coupled to the source of the first switch PA118 and also to CS pin of the driver circuit PA12. The capacitor PA120 is coupled to the resistor PA113 and also to VCC pin of the driver circuit PA12. The capacitor PA121 is coupled to COMP pin of the driver circuit PA12. The first switch PA118 is coupled to OUT pin of the driver circuit PA12.
As the first switch PA118 is conducted, an average circuit Ia is generated flowing through the LED PA116 and an inductor current Ib is generated flowing through the inductor PA117. In general, operation mode of the load circuit PA11 is decided by on time of the first switch PA118, which controls the increasing and decreasing of the inductor current Ib. The average of the peak value and the valley value of the inductor current Ib is the average current Ia. The above mentioned operation modes mainly include continuous conduction mode (CCM), discontinuous conduction mode (DCM), and boundary conduction mode (BCM), which are decided by the charging/discharging action of the inductor current Ib.
However, each of the operation modes has both advantage and disadvantage. Take the CCM mode for example, CCM mode has the advantage of small input and output ripple, small total harmonic distortion (THD) and Electra Magnetic Interference (EMI), and easier to executing filtering task, however, due to the restriction of circuit design of the load circuit PA11 in present, it is necessary to set the switching frequency or the switching time of the load switch under CCM mode. Once the setting is completed, as the inductance of the inductor PA117 has a significant change, a large ripple current would be generated even though the average current Ia is still stable. Thus, the LED with higher withstand current is needed such that the cost of the LED PA116 would be increased and thus the need to improve the technology in present exists.