The electric double-layer capacitor of the present invention comprises an electrolyte solution comprising γ-butyrolactone as the solvent and a coated electrode. The coated electrode is produced by using water as the solvent, and prepared by coating a slurry onto a current collector, wherein the slurry consists of an electrode material which is the solute, an electrically conductive auxiliary agent, and an elastomer having an expansion rate of 50% or less in γ-butyrolactone at 85° C. after 100 hours as the binding agent. For example, a styrene-butadiene elastomer is employed as the elastomer. Because expansion rate in γ-butyrolactone is low, deterioration of internal resistance does not occur. Styrene-butadiene elastomer is easy to handle since water can be used as the solvent for the slurry.

The electric double-layer capacitor has a structure where a capacitor element impregnated with an electrolyte solution is housed in a metal case and open ends thereof are sealed. The capacitor element is formed by winding or laminating polarized electrodes, which is prepared by providing a polarized electrode layer on the surface of a metal foil such as aluminum, with a separator interpositioned in between.
This electric double-layer capacitor attempts improvement of power density by reducing the thickness of the electrode in applications of power supply for motor drive of electric vehicles and hybrid cars, or power application for regenerative energy storage on braking. For this purpose, better thinning can be attempted with a coated electrode prepared by coating a slurry electrode using latex etc. as the binder onto a current collector compared to a sheet electrode prepared by forming an electrode into a sheet using polytetrafluoroethylene etc. as the binder and adhering this onto a current collector.
This coated electrode comprises an electrode material as a base material, a conductive auxiliary agent, a binding agent (binder) for binding the base material and the electrically conductive auxiliary agent, and further, a dispersing agent used for dispersing the base material and the electrically conductive auxiliary agent in water and slurring.
As electrode materials employed as cathodes/anodes, activated carbon, polyacene, or the like can be used. For activated carbons, for example, resin-based carbons such as phenol resins, plant-based carbons such as coconut shell, coal/petroleum pitch cokes, and mesocarbonmicrobeads (MCMB) etc. are activated and employed. For electrically conductive auxiliary agents, ketjen black, acetylene black, and natural/artificial black lead etc. are employed. For dispersing agents, hydroxymethylethylcellulose (HMEC), hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), and carboxymethylcellulose-sodium salt (CMC-Na) are employed. For binding agents, it is preferred to use latexes of acrylic elastomers which are water-based binding agent that allow easy handling. Water is used as the solvent for stirring the polarized electrode material and the electrically conductive auxiliary agent.
Furthermore, high capacity and superior long-term reliability is demanded for electric double-layer capacitors, and carbonate solvents such as propylene carbonate or acetonitrile have been used as the electrolyte solution for conventional electric double-layer capacitors. According to this, it is said that an electric double-layer capacitor having high capacity as well as superior high temperature load can be obtained for use at 60° C.
However, in an electrolyte solution that employs carbonate solvent, there is a problem that the internal pressure of the container housing the polarized electrode and electrolyte solution increases due to carbon monoxide (CO) gas generated from the degradation of the solvent under high temperatures. For this reason, 60° C. was the limit, and there was a problem that it cannot deal with use at further higher temperatures of 70-85° C. At the same time, there is an attempt to enable use at 70° C. by employing γ-butyrolactone (See Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2001-217150).
However, when life test at 85° C. is performed on an electric double-layer capacitor having a coated electrode that employs an electrolyte solution comprising triethylmethylammoniumtetrafluoroborate (TEMABF4) and γ-butyrolactone (GBL) as the solvent, activated carbon as the base material, ketjen black as the electrically conductive auxiliary agent, and acrylic elastomer (e.g. acrylnitrile rubber) as the binding agent, it was found that increase in the internal resistance (DCIR) of the capacitor was large.
In other words, as shown in FIG. 4, loading experiments spanning 500 hours at each temperatures of 60° C., 70° C., and 85° C. were performed for each of the coated electrode and the sheet electrode to measure the change in capacity and internal resistance, and it was found that only the internal resistance of the coated electrode at 85° C. was significantly deteriorated in property.
From this knowledge, that is, paying attention to the difference in the expansion rates of binders for the coated electrode and the sheet electrode in solvent, the expansion rates of binding agent ingredients in the electrolyte solution were measured. For the measurement method, as shown in FIG. 5, an acrylic elastomer dissolved in a predetermined solvent was casted onto a plate to form a thin film, and this was dried to produce a binding agent film having a diameter of 20 mm.
This binding agent film was immersed in an electrolyte solution comprising γ-butyrolactoneat each of 20° C., 60° C., 70° C., and 105° C. for 200 hours, and then thickness and diameter thereof were measured to determine the expansion degree of the binding agent film. FIG. 6 is a graph showing the expansion rate of the binding agent film after electrolyte solution immersion. According to this test result, it was found that when using an electrolyte solution comprising γ-butyrolactone (GBL) as the solvent, the expansion degree of the acrylic elastomer in the high temperature region was larger compared to when using an electrolyte solution comprising propylene carbonate (PC) or acetonitrile (AN) as the solvent.
The object of the present invention is to provide an electric double-layer capacitor, in which even when a coated electrode comprising an electrode material and an electrically conductive auxiliary agent bound by a binding agent using water as the solvent is employed with respect to an electrolyte solution comprising γ-butyrolactone, deterioration of property can be prevented even at a temperature range of approximately 85° C.
In addition, the object of the present invention is to provide a current collector for electric double-layer capacitor and an electric double-layer capacitor that prevents deterioration of properties even at a temperature range of approximately 85° C. in an electric double-layer capacitor that employs an electrolyte solution comprising a fluorine-containing anion.

Electric double-layer capacitor, and current collector for electric double-layer capacitor


A method and a device for operating a drive unit provide a switch between half-engine operation and full-engine operation. A switch takes place between two operating states of a first component of the drive unit as a function of a first performance quantity of the drive unit. A switch takes place between two operating states of a second component of the drive unit as a function of a second performance quantity of the drive unit. A check is performed whether switching between two operating states of the second component results in a shift of the first performance quantity over a switching threshold for switching between two operating states of the first component, and if so, the switch between the two operating states of second component is delayed until a switch between the two operating states of first component has occurred.

In conventional methods for operating a drive unit of a vehicle, the drive unit including an engine as a first component and a transmission as a second component, the drive unit is operated as a function of the engine speed in different operating states of the engine having different engine configurations. In a first configuration, the engine is operated in a full-engine operation, for example, and in a second configuration in a half-engine operation, for example. Furthermore, the drive unit is operated as a function of the engine speed in different operating states of the transmission having different transmission configurations. The different operating states of the transmission differ regarding the transmission ratio, i.e., the gear. Switching between full-engine operation and half-engine operation takes place as a function of the engine speed. Switching between different transmission ratios also takes place as a function of the engine speed.

Method and device for operating a drive unit


An automatic variable transmnission, and a hydraulic pressure control system for the same, have a structure which can be installed in both rear and front wheel drive vehicles. The transmission includes: a torque converter which is connected to an output shaft of an engine and which converts and transfers torque from the engine; an input shaft connected to the output shaft of the torque converter; first and second planetary gearsets which are located between the input shaft and an output shaft; a first clutch which selectively locks a sun gear of the second planetary gearset to the input shaft; a second clutch which selectively locks the input shaft to the planetary pinion gear carrier of the first planetary gearset; a third clutch for selectively connecting the input shaft with a sun gear of the first planetary gearset; a first brake for selectively restricting the rotation of the sun gear of the first planetary gearset; a second brake for restricting rotation of both the ring gear of the second planetary gearset and the planetary pinion gear carrier of the first planetary gearset; and a one-way clutch to limit the rotational direction of the ring gear of the second planetary gearset and the planetary pinion gear carrier of the first planetary gearset.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an automatic variable transmission, and more particularly to an automatic variable transmission and hydraulic control system thereof having a structure which can be installed in either a front or rear wheel drive vehicle.
2. Background of the Related Art
Typically, a vehicle having a front engine and rear wheel drive has a transmission mounted at the front of the vehicle, and a driveline which transfers power to the rear wheels. Accordingly, the vehicle has a power transfer system wherein the power of the engine is transferred to the rear axle. This power transfer system is different from a power transfer system of an automatic variable transmission of a front engine, front wheel drive vehicle.
The power transfer system used with an automatic variable transmission in a front engine, front wheel drive vehicle is generally utilized for small cars. Typically such a system is arranged laterally with the engine (arranged along the width direction of the vehicle). This is commonly referred to as a transverse mounted engine and transmission. When power from an output shaft of the transmission is transferred to the drive wheels, the power must pass through a differential gear unit. Typically, the differential unit is not centered between the drive wheels. As a result, the length of connecting shafts passing from the differential gear unit to the front drive wheels is unequal. For this reason, ordinarily a structure is used in which the power transmitted from the main output shaft of the transmission is returned by a counter-shaft that is parallel with the main shaft. The power passes from the counter-shaft to a final driving pinion gear provided at an end portion of the counter-shaft and then to a final driving gear engaged with the final driving pinion so as to be transferred to a differential gear unit. Alternatively, power from the engine is first transferred to a rear side of the transmission device. The power is then transferred through an intermediate shaft gear to the differential gear unit. Since the automatic variable transmission of a vehicle having a transverse mounted structure is limited by the lateral size of the automobile, a lateral miniaturization is desired.
In order to solve the above problem, Japanese Patent Publication No. Sho-59-34049 discloses an automatic variable transmission with four forward speeds having only two planetary gears instead of the conventional three planetary gears.
In the transmission disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. Sho-59-34049, a one way clutch is utilized only for first gear. Therefore, a shifting into 4th gear or shifting out of 4th gear requires operation of multiple separate frictional elements. When the application/release of the frictional elements is not properly timed, there is an abrupt rise of the engine speed, and an interlock of the transmission mechanism, whereby a large transmission shock is generated. Therefore, it is necessary to precisely control the timing of the application of hydraulic pressure of the control system and speed variation of both frictional elements so that such a problem does not occur. Such a control system becomes complicated.
In order to solve such a problem, Japanese Patent Publication No. Sho-60-117866 of Nissan Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha offers a gear transmission mechanism with two one-way clutches. Such a transmission includes numerous coaxially provided sets of planetary gears.
In the transmission disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. Sho-60-117866, application of a first hydraulic clutch causes a reactionary force of normal rotation to be received by the transmission casing through a first one-way clutch, a first hydraulic clutch, and a second one-way clutch. In this state, a power transfer path of the planetary gear is set to a low speed step selection state. By selectively coupling the first hydraulic clutch and a second hydraulic clutch that is coaxially provided in parallel to a planetary gear, the power transfer path of the planetary gearset is set to a medium speed step selection state through an opening of the above-described second one-way clutch. The power transfer path of the planetary gear can be set to a high speed step selection state through an opening of the first and second one-way clutches, and by a coupling of a hydraulic brake and the second clutch. However, the addition of the second one-way clutch makes the automatic variable transmission larger in an axial direction, which makes it more difficult to mount the transmission on a front engine, front wheel drive vehicle, regardless of whether the transmission has only two planetary gears.
In order to solve the above-described problem, the first embodiment of Japanese Patent Publication Sho-62-233543 discloses a structure in which a one-way clutch is arranged around a planetary gear near a separate hydraulic clutch. The automatic variable transmission is of a type where a one-way clutch is added. The above-described hydraulic clutch is arranged around the one way clutch.
In such a transmission, when a first forward speed is selected a first hydraulic clutch is coupled such that a normal reactionary force generated in accordance with power transfer of the automatic variable transmission reaches the transmission casing through a first one-way clutch, the first hydraulic clutch and a second one-way clutch. In this state, when a first hydraulic brake or a second hydraulic clutch is selectively coupled, and the second one-way clutch is opened, a medium speed step is selected. In addition, when the first hydraulic clutch is coupled, a predetermined hydraulic brake and a second hydraulic clutch are coupled, and the first and second one-way clutches are opened, a high speed state is selected.
A conventional automatic variable transmission as described above will be more concretely explained with reference to FIG. 1.
As shown in FIG. 1, a front planetary gearset 53 and a rear planetary gearset 54 are coaxially provided between a coaxially arranged input shaft 51 and an output shaft 52. A front sun gear 53S is selectively connected to the casing by a band brake B/B, such as the above described hydraulic brake. The front sun gear 53S is also connected to the input shaft 51 by a reverse clutch R/C.
A front pinion gear carrier 53C supporting a front pinion gear 53P is coupled to the input shaft 51 by a high clutch H/C, such as the above-described second hydraulic clutch. The front pinion gear carrier 53C is selectively coupled to the casing by a low reverse brake LR/B, and is selectively coupled to a rear ring gear 54R by an over running clutch OR/C and a forward one-way clutch. The overrunning clutch OR/C and the forward one-way clutch FO/C are arranged in series.
The front pinion gear carrier 53C may also be selectively coupled to the rear ring gear 54R by a forward clutch F/C, which is arranged in parallel to the over running clutch OR/C and the forward one way clutch FO/C. In addition, the forward one way clutch FO/C is arranged so that the rear ring gear 54R may rotate in the same direction as the input shaft 51 and the front pinion gear carrier 53C. The forward one way clutch FO/C is made such that when the rear ring gear 54R is rotated at a high speed by the front pinion gear carrier 53C in same direction, the forward one way clutch FO/C is opened so that relative rotation of both is allowed.
Further, the rear pinion gear carrier 54C supporting the rear pinion gear 54P is coupled to the front ring gear 53R and the output shaft 52.The rear sun gear 54S is coupled to the input shaft 51.
Since, however, the conventional automatic variable transmission described as above uses a band brake, a servo hydraulic mechanism is required to operate the band brake. This can be a problem because exact time control is required for application of a hydraulic pressure to smoothly operate the band brake. Moreover, since the hydraulic pressure servo mechanism is added to the automatic variable transmission, a weight and manufacturing cost of the automatic variable transmission is increased. The extra weight decreases the fuel efficiency of a vehicle utilizing the transmission.
The structure of an automatic variable transmission that attempts to solve the above-described problem is shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view showing a structure of the automatic variable transmission, and FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a power transferring path of the automatic variable transmission shown in FIG. 2.
The automatic variable transmission has four forward speeds and one reverse speed, and includes a fluid torque converter 62 which is connected with an output shaft of an engine. The transmission also includes a first planetary gear unit 71 and second planetary gear unit 72, which are provided between the fluid torque converter 62 and an output shaft. The transmission further includes three clutches C11, C12, C13 for selectively coupling power from the above-described fluid torque converter 62 to elements of the planetary gearsets. The transmission also includes three brakes B11, B19, B13 for selectively coupling elements of above-described planetary gearsets to the transmission casing. The transmission further includes a first one way clutch F11 for restricting a rotational direction of the first sun gear 71S of the first planetary gear unit 71; and a second one way clutch F12 for restricting a rotational direction of the second ring gear 72R of the second planetary gear unit 72.
The automatic variable transmission operates in a second forward speed when a second brake B12 or a first brake B11 are applied while the first clutch C11 is engaged. Here, the second brake B12 is for an engine brake, and is activated by sliding along splines formed on an exterior surface of a locking force transferring member 65 and an interior surface of a transmission casing 66 under the urging of a piston 64. As a result, a rotation of the sun gear 71S of the first planetary gear unit 71 is locked by a rotational motion of a first hub assembly 67.
Furthermore, the sun gear 72S of the second planetary, gear unit 72 receives power from the second hub assembly 68 when the first clutch C11 is engaged. This causes the planetary pinion gear 72P, which is engaged with the sun gear 72S, to rotate with the sun gear 72S. The planetary pinion gear 72P, which is engaged with the ring gear 72R, tends to rotate the ring gear 72R in the same direction as the planetary pinion gear 72P. However, the second one way clutch F12 restricts the rotation of the ring gear 72R, and the ring gear 72R rotates in the same rotational direction as the planetary pinion gear carrier 71C of the first planetary gear unit 71.
The ring gear 71R of the first planetary gear unit 71 is connected with and rotates in the same direction as planetary pinion gear carrier 72C. Since the sun gear 71S of the first planetary unit 71 is locked to the transmission casing by an operation of the second brake B12 or the first one way clutch F11, the planetary pinion gear 71P of the first planetary gear unit 71, which is engaged with the ring gear 71R, rotates and orbits in the same rotational direction as the planetary pinion gear carrier 72C.
The operating elements of the planetary gear units 71 and 72 are controlled by operation of the frictional operating elements noted above, e.g., the first, second and third clutches C11, C12, C13, the first, second and third brake B11, B12, B13 and the first and second one-way clutches F11, F12, such that power from the fluid torque converter is transmitted to create four forward speeds and one reverse speed.
In the conventional automatic variable transmission as described above, however, three brakes are used in order to obtain the four forward speeds and the one reverse speed. A piston is required to operate each brake, and a separate one way clutch is used for obtaining two of the forward speeds. This makes the structure complicated, and increases manufacturing costs.
Further, because the structure of the transmission is complicated, the hydraulic control system for operating each frictional operating element requires expensive solenoid valves or complicated electronic control logic. This further increases the complexity of the system and the manufacturing costs.

Automatic variable transmission and hydraulic control system thereof


A lateral IGBT has a n-source layer and a p-contact layer both in contact with a source electrode. The source layer has a trunk adjacent to a channel region under a gate electrode, and a plurality of branches extending from its trunk to the source electrode to be in contact with the source electrode. The contact layer has a trunk in contact with the source electrode, and a plurality of branches extending from its trunk to the source layer trunk The source layer branches and the contact layer branches have shapes complementary with each other and are alternately arranged. The source layer trunk has a width La in an X direction (channel direction), which satisfies a condition, 0.5 .mu.m<La<2 .mu.m.

The present invention relates to a high voltage semiconductor device, and particularly to a high voltage semiconductor device including an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT).
In recent years, research and development have been eagerly conducted on a technique for forming both a high voltage semiconductor device and a peripheral driving circuit for driving the device on the same substrate. The technique allows the whole system to be compact or highly integrated and to decrease its manufacturing cost.
There is a known method of fabricating a semiconductor device, using a silicon layer adhered to a substrate through an insulating film, i.e., silicon on an insulator (SOI), in order to achieve a high breakdown voltage. With this technique, the insulating film shears a loaded voltage, thereby improving its breakdown voltage. Further, with this technique, a high voltage semiconductor device and a low voltage peripheral driving circuit can be arranged on a substrate and separated by a trench. In other words, the high voltage semiconductor device and the peripheral driving circuit can be arranged on the same substrate, thereby allowing the whole system to be compact and inexpensive.
High voltage semiconductor devices should perform a high current output and a low loss output. In light of the high current output, it is preferable for the devices to be of the bipolar type. However, in light of controllability, since peripheral driving circuits perform a voltage output, it is preferable for the devices to be of the MOS type. IGBTs are known as -one type of high voltage semiconductor device, which satisfy the above two points. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure of a conventional lateral IGBT.
This device has a silicon substrate 70 having a surface covered with an oxide film 81. An n-base layer 74 having a high resistance is formed on the oxide film 81, and a p-base layer 79 is formed in a surface of the n-base layer 74.
In a surface of the p-base layer 79, an n-source layer 78 having a low resistance, and a p-contact layer 77 having a low resistance and arranged in contact with the n-source layer 78, are formed. A source electrode 76 is arranged in contact with the n-source layer 78 and the p-contact layer 77.
A gate electrode 76 is arranged through a gate insulating film 80 on the p-base layer 79 between the n-source layer 78 and the n-base layer 74. A gate electrode 75 is provided with a stepped portion, as shown in FIG. 13, such that the electrode 75 functions as a field plate.
An n-buffer layer 72 is formed in the surface of the n-base layer 74, and separated from the p-base 5 layer 79 by a certain distance. A p-drain layer 73 having a low resistance is formed in a surface of the n-buffer layer 72. A drain electrode 82 is arranged in contact with the p-drain layer 73.
When the lateral IGBT described above is turned on, the gate electrode 75 is supplied with a gate voltage, which is positive to the source electrode 76 and is higher than a threshold voltage. When such a gate voltage is applied to the gate electrode 75, an n-channel is formed in the surface of the p-base layer 79 under the gate insulating film 80, and electrons are injected from the n-source layer 78 into the n-base layer 74 through the n-channel.
With the injection of electrons into the n-base layer 74, holes are injected from the p-drain layer 73 into the n-base layer 74 through the n-buffer layer 72. As a result, electrons and holes are accumulated in the n-base layer 74 and cause conductivity modulation, thereby decreasing the resistance of the n-base layer 74. It follows that the main electric current, i.e., drain current, comes to flow, while ON-resistance is kept low, and the device is turned on.
On the other hand, when the device is turned on, a gate electrode 75 is supplied with a gate voltage less than the threshold voltage. When such a gate voltage is applied to the gate electrode 75, the n-channel in the surface of the p-base layer 79 disappears, and electrons stop being injected from the n-source layer 78 into the n-base layer 74. Holes remaining in the n-source layer 78 are exhausted through the p-base layer 79 and the p-contact layer 77 to the source electrode 76. As a result, the main electric current becomes zero, and the device is turned off.
However, the above described IGBT has the following problems.
In an ON-state, a difference is brought about between a voltage drop caused by a hole current laterally flowing in the p-base layer 79 and a voltage drop caused by an electron current laterally flowing in the n-source layer 78. Due to this voltage difference, a p-n junction formed by the p-base layer 79 and n-source layer 78 or by the p-contact layer 77 and n-source layer 78 is forward-biased. When the forward bias becomes larger than the built-in voltage of the p-n junction, a parasitic transistor is turned on. In this case, a latch-up occurs and makes it impossible to turn off the device by a gate voltage for causing the main current to be zero. Further, such a lateral IGBT formed on an SOI substrate entails a problem in that it is apt to break down when driven with no load, i.e., its short-circuit withstand capability is low.


Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for adapting formats of data queries into a generic format. A query requesting data stored in a business objects data source is received. The query has a generic format and includes parameters that describe a computer interface implementation configured to execute the query to identify the requested data. Based on the one or more parameters, the computer software interface implementation is identified. The interface implementation specifies an interface-specific query format. The query is converted from the generic query format into the interface-specific query format, and provided to the computer software interface implementation. The interface implementation executes the interface-specific query and obtains the requested data in an interface-specific results format. This data is converted into a generic results format, and provided in response to receiving the query.

Business organizations perform operations, transactions, and business processes using computer software applications, for example, enterprise software. Using enterprise software, a business organization can process large quantities of data distributed across many business objects data sources. For example, a business objects data source can be a computer-readable repository connected to computer systems that implement the enterprise software through wired or wireless networks, for example, the Internet. The data items can be stored in the data sources in one or more of multiple formats, for example, flat files, Structured Query Language (SQL) databases, spreadsheets, comma-separated value (CSV) files, and other business intelligence artifacts.
The enterprise software can enable users to obtain all or portions of the data items stored in one or more business objects data sources, and to analyze the obtained data items to make business-related decisions. For example, to analyze data items stored in one or more of the business objects data sources, a user can specify types of data items, such as metadata associated with the data items, which the user prefers to view. The user can provide the specified types of data items to a query designer. In a design phase, the query designer can design a query (for example, an SQL query) that incorporates the metadata of the data items that the user has specified. The designed query can then be executed on the multiple business objects data sources across which the data items are distributed to identify the data items that satisfy the query. The data items can be retrieved and presented to the user, for example, in the form of one or more business reports.
Computer software applications can be configured to execute operations to setup, configure, and execute a query. Specifically, the applications can be configured based on the underlying business software applications that are executed to retrieve data from the business objects data sources. In some situations, multiple computer software applications that each is configured to execute a query may need to be independently configured to adapt to the underlying business software applications. In addition, developers who use such applications may also need to be trained to use each computer software application.

Generalizing formats of business data queries and results


Method of preparing a lipoprotein modified by incorporation of at least one lipophilic active substance other than a triglyceride, characterized by incorporation of said active substance into an emulsion of a lipid phase in a continuous aqueous phase, by adding to the emulsion, with stirring, an original lipoprotein and at least one lipid transfer protein, allowing the mixture to incubate, and, using known methods, isolating the lipoprotein into which the active substance is incorporated; a lipoprotein thus obtained, and pharmaceutical or cosmetic composition containing such a modified lipoprotein.

It is known that one of the current objectives of pharmaceutical research is to direct drugs to the target organs and/or cells in order to enhance therapeutic efficacy while reducing side effects. One of the means of achieving this objective consists of binding the drug to a molecule, a macromolecule for example, able to play the role of carrier (or "vector") of the drug and bring it specifically to the target organ or target cells.
A number of macromolecules or molecule combinations such as liposomes, nanocapsules, DNA, lectins, antibodies, and lipoproteins have already been used or proposed as biologically active carrier substances.
It is known that lipoproteins constitute an important group of serum proteins comprising a lipid core surrounded by an envelope containing in particular phospholipids and specific proteins (apolipoproteins).
Lipoproteins are the systems that store and carry lipids, particularly cholesterol.
It is known that lipoproteins are classified by density. A distinction is made between:
chylomicrons which are particles with densities less than 0.96; PA1 very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) with densities between 0.96 and 1.006 g/cm.sup.3 PA1 low-density lipoproteins (LDL) with densities between approximately 1.019 and 1.063; PA1 high-density lipoproteins (HDL) with densities between approximately 1.063 and 1.21.
Lipoproteins have marked tropism for various cells that have apolipoprotein receptors; in addition, in certain cases, they may be captured by cells in the reticuloendothelial system (phagocytic cells).
Hence it can be seen that lipoproteins are capable of being useful drug carriers. It has already been proposed to use lipoproteins, LDLs in particular, as drug vectors (see, for example, International Patent Application PCT No. WO 86/07540 and European Patent Application No. 0277849).
The low-density lipoproteins (LDLs), which have been the most studied as drug vectors, are spherical particles with diameters of approximately 20 nm. Each particle has a core composed of about 1500 cholesterol ester molecules and an envelope composed of cholesterol, phospholipids, and apolipoproteins (apolipoprotein B or apo B).
Mammal cells have receptors that recognize apo B and bind the LDLs to their surfaces. After binding to the membrane surface of the cells, the LDLs are internalized by endocytosis and carried to the lysosomes where they are broken down to meet the needs of the cell, particularly its cholesterol needs.
If native LDLs, i.e. LDLs that are not chemically modified, are used, the LDL-drug complex behaves like the native LDLs, namely it remains in the bloodstream for two to three days and is recognized by cells that have the apo B receptor (S. M. Brown and J. L. Goldstein, Science, 232, 34-47, 1986). This is the case for cancer cells which have a high level of apo B receptor.
It is also known that chemically modified lipoproteins (acetylates, acetoacetylates, oxide compounds, lactosylates, etc.) are recognized and captured by cells in the reticuloendothelial system, particularly by macrophages. Here again, the (chemically modified) lipoprotein-drug complex behaves in the organism like the original modified lipoprotein and is captured by macrophages through the intermediary of the acetylated LDL receptor (scavenger receptor) (see, for example, J. M. Shaw et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA Vol. 85, pp. 6112-6116 (1988) and M. K. Bijsterbock et al., Molecular Pharmacology, 36, pp. 484-486 (1989)).
In the organism, the transfer of triglycerides and of cholesterol esters and phospholipid between the various classes of lipoproteins (LDLs, VLDLs, HDLs, and chylomicrons) is carried out by proteins known as transfer proteins which have a higher density than lipoproteins, and which are accordingly contained in the residue of ultracentrifuged human or animal plasma after separation of the lipoproteins. Such a centrifugation residue constitutes the fraction known as LPDS (lipoproteindeficient serum), which has in particular the properties of the transfer protein it contains. Some of these transfer proteins have already been isolated and described (see, for example, A. S. Jarnagin et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. Vol. 84, pp. 1854-57 (1987); Kato et al., J. Biol. Chem. (US), 264, No. 7, 4082-4087 (1989); and Bastiras and Calvert, J. Chromatogr. Biomed. Appl. 383, No. 1, pp. 27-34 (1986)).
Transfer proteins are capable of providing, for example, transport of triglycerides from the VLDLs to the LDLs. They are also capable of transporting triglycerides from artificial triglyceride emulsions to LDLs (see, for example, E. Granot et al., Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 833, pp. 308-315 (1985)).
It has now been discovered that the proteins contained in LPDS are also capable of transporting lipophilic biologically active substances in vitro, other than triglycerides and cholesterol esters, particularly nonphysiologic drugs, from lipid emulsions containing such lipophilic substances to lipoproteins, with these substances being incorporated into the lipoproteins.
This process of incorporation of biologically active substances into lipoproteins is useful because it avoids the use of undesirable substances such as detergents, and thanks to the use of natural transfer agents, it avoids any alteration of LDL biological activity.

Method of preparing a lipoprotein modified by incorporation of a lipophilic active substance


A multi-cell communication system comprises at least a first base station and first terminal and a second base station and second terminal. When the first and second base stations need to perform interference control, the first terminal may relay a message related to the interference control between the first base station and the second base station. That is, the first terminal may transfer a message related to the interference control from the first base station to the second base station, and a message related to the interference control from the second base station to the first base station. As such, the first base station and the second base station can transmit/receive messages that are for performing interference control via the first terminal.

1. Field
The following description relates to technologies that may overcome adverse effects resulting from interference occurring between cells.
2. Description of Related Art
Recently, interests in a multi-cell communication system have increased. For example, a multi-cell communication system may include at least two macro cells, and may include a macro cell and a small-sized cell including a small base station, for example, a femto base station, a pico base station, and the like.
Generally, terminals included in a coverage area of the femtocell may be more efficiently served by the femto base station that is positioned at an adjacent location, and thus, it is possible to improve a transmission rate. When the macro cell includes a portion of or the entire femtocell, interference may occur between the macro cell and the femtocell. The interference may cause adverse effects to both the macro cell and the femtocell.
Attempts to resolve these adverse effects resulting from the interference between the macro cell and the femtocell gives rise to complicated issues. In particular, technologies for interference control are in development to overcome the above adverse effects. The technologies may be embodied into various types, for example, an optimal resource scheduling, a transmit power control such as a dynamic spectrum management, an interference alignment, an interference treated as noise (ITN), an interference neutralization, a multi-antenna transmit, and the like.

Multi-cell communication system that performs interference control using relay of terminal


Diagnostic devices for detecting the presence of an analyte in a sample are provided. Devices of the present invention comprise a means for inducing a pressure differential on a sample to direct the sample to a test surface. In one embodiment, the means for inducing a pressure differential on a sample to direct the sample to a test surface comprises a syringe that can be used to draw a sample from an opening to a test surface. In other embodiments, the device also provides means for diluting a sample. In yet other embodiments, the device also provides a means.

Diagnostic devices are used to detect an analyte in a sample. The present invention relates to diagnostic devices and methods. In one particular embodiment, the present invention relates to diffraction-based diagnostic devices that can be used to detect one or more analytes present in a medium by detecting diffraction of an analyte/binder complex. These diffraction-based devices comprise a surface upon which is printed in a pattern a binder. Upon attachment of analyte to the binder that is printed in a pattern on the surface, diffraction of light that is transmitted through or reflected off of the printed surface occurs via the physical dimensions and defined placement of the binder.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,992,385 to Godfrey, et al. describes a method of preparing a diffraction grating from a thin polymer film for subsequent use as a sensing device. The sensing device described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,992,385 requires the use of a spectrophotometric technique to detect changes in the device's optical properties due to analyte binding. The device and method described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,992,385 require a complex detection method to detect changes in the diffraction pattern because changes in a diffraction pattern are more subtle than the qualitative determination that is made to determine whether a diffraction image is formed or is not formed.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,196,350 to Backman et al. describes an optical detection method for detecting the presence of specific ligands. The method described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,196,350 is an optical detection method for detecting specific ligands that requires a mask comprising slits to produce a diffraction pattern. An immunoassay device is placed between the mask and light source, so that binding by an analyte causes a change in the diffraction or interference pattern caused by the mask. Again, this method also requires a complex detection method to detect changes in a diffraction pattern and confirm the presence of a ligand.
International Publication No. WO 94/13835 describes a method and a system to detect biological macromolecules via diffraction of light from a probe of predetermined dimensions that diffracts light in a known pattern. The probe comprises an active surface that is able to highly concentrate the macromolecules relative to their concentration in the sample solution. The method and the system described in WO 94/13835 also require the use of a complex detector and an analyzer in order to detect changes in the diffraction pattern produced by the probe.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,261,519 describes a diagnostic device for measuring the concentration of an analyte in a sample. The device comprises a sample port at one end for introducing a sample. The device also comprises a bladder at the other end that must be depressed, inserted into a liquid sample and released to draw a sample. The device described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,261,519 does not further draw the sample past a test site to clear the test site so that diffraction or non-diffraction at the test site can be determined.
The methods, systems and devices discussed above do not provide a means for directing a sample to a test surface and then clearing the test surface of sample so that diffraction or non-diffraction can be determined. Furthermore, the prior art fails to provide a device in which a user of the device can control the position of a sample with in the device. What is needed is a simple, easy to use method, system and device for detecting an analyte that provides a means for directing a sample to a test surface and then clears the test surface of enough sample so that diffraction, and binding, can be accurately determined and allows a user of the device to control movement and incubation or reaction time of a sample within the device.


A capsule filling machine is provided which is characterized in that contents substance m is force fed into a body B accommodated and held in a body pocket 221 using a force feeding screw 33 to fill the contents substance m.

The present invention relates to a capsule filling machine by which an empty capsule composed of a cap and a body temporarily coupled to each other is transported while the posture thereof is controlled to an erected state with the cap directed upwardly and, during the transportation, the empty capsule is separated into the cap and the body and contents substance is filled into the body, whereafter the cap and the body are coupled to each other again to produce a filled capsule product, and more particularly to a capsule filling machine by which, even when it fills contents substance which is very low in bulk density and very inferior in fluidity or formability such as crushed substance of weeds, grass or tea leaves or silicon dioxide and which it is difficult for a conventional filling machine to fill by a fixed amount with certainty, it can be filled by a fixed amount with certainty to obtain a filled capsule product stably.
Conventionally, filled capsule products such as pharmaceutical capsules as medicine or so-called health foods formed from capsules filled with various foods are produced by automatically filling contents substance into capsules using a capsule filling machine.
Usually, a capsule filling machine is constructed such that a hard empty capsule composed of a cap and a body temporarily coupled to each other is transported while the posture thereof is controlled to an erected state wherein the cap is directed upwardly and, during the transportation, the empty capsule is separated into the cap and the body and contents substance is filled into the body, whereafter the cap and the body are coupled to each other again to produce a filled capsule product.
In this instance, as means for filling contents substance into the body of the empty capsule in a state wherein the cap and the body thereof are separate from each other, a system wherein various contents substance of various kinds of powder and so forth are formed into a predetermined rigid material and charged as such into the capsule body (the official gazette of Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 3-7388) or another system wherein contents substance in the form of powder or granule is flown into the capsule body by vibrations or the like (the official gazette of Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 4-58340) is adopted.
However, the conventional capsule filling machine cannot sometimes exhibit a sufficient performance depending upon the type of contents substance.
In particular, contents substance to be filled into a capsule may assume various forms, and a large number of kinds of contents substances which are inferior in formability or fluidity are present. For example, contents which are low in bulk density and inferior in formability and fluidity such as silicon dioxide powder which is used as a medicine or an additive to food cannot be efficiently filled by a predetermined amount into a capsule by the conventional capsule filling machine described above by which contents substance is filled by the system wherein it is formed once and charged as such into the capsule body or the system wherein vibrations are applied to contents substance so that the contents substance is flowed into the capsule body. Further, although, in recent years, applications of hard capsules in the field of so-called nutritional foods other than applications to the medicine have been and are increasing, since the properties of nutritional foods are more various than the medicine, many nutritional foods are difficult to fill into a capsule using the conventional capsule filling machine described above. Also, many nutritional foods are very low in bulk density and have little formability or fluidity such as, for example, crushed substance of weeds, grass or tea leaves, and it is almost impossible for the conventional capsule filling machine described above to fill such nutritional foods into a capsule to stably produce a filled capsule product of a fixed content.
The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances described above, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a capsule filling machine by which, even where contents substance is low in bulk density and inferior in formability and fluidity, it can be filled well into a capsule and a filled capsule product of a fixed content can be produced with certainty.
In order to attain the object described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a capsule filling machine which includes a cap transport member having a cap pocket in the form of a through-hole for accommodating a cap of a capsule and a body transport member having a body pocket for accommodating a body of the capsule and wherein the cap transport member is placed on the body transport member such that the cap pocket and the body pocket are registered with each other and an empty capsule in a condition wherein the cap and the body are temporarily coupled to each other is accommodated into and transported in a capsule pocket formed from the cap pocket and the body pocket in an erected state wherein the cap is directed upwardly, and then, during transportation of the empty capsule, the cap and the body are separated from each other in the capsule pocket and the cap is held in the cap pocket while the body is held in the body pocket, whereafter the cap transport member and the body transport member are separated from each other once and contents substance is filled into the body accommodated in the body pocket of the body transport member, and then the cap transport member is placed onto the body transport member such that the cap pocket and the body pocket are registered with each other and the cap and the body are coupled to each other within the capsule pocket formed from the cap pocket and the body pocket to produce a filled capsule product, characterized in that it comprises a contents substance filling member including a force feeding screw disposed in a chamber having a lower end opening disposed above the body transport member, and when the cap transport member and the body transport member are separated from each other, contents substance is force fed and filled into the body accommodated in the body pocket of the body transport member by the contents substance filling member.
In particular, the capsule filling machine of the present invention fills contents substance such as medicine or foods into a capsule body, which is separate from a cap and is accommodated and held in the body pocket of the body transport member, by the contents substance filling unit disposed on the body transport member and couples the capsule body to the cap again to obtain a filled capsule product such as a pharmaceutical capsule or capsule foods.
In this instance, in the present invention, the contents substance filling unit used includes the force feeding screw disposed in the chamber so that contents substance supplied into the chamber is compulsorily force fed into the capsule body by the force feeding screw.
Accordingly, with the capsule filling machine of the present invention, even if the contents substance to be filled into a capsule is low in bulk density and inferior in formability and fluidity, it can be compulsorily force fed and filled into the capsule body by the force feeding screw, and filled capsule products in which a predetermined amount of contents substance is filled can be produced stably and with certainty.


The invention relates to a titanium oxide-based polymer composition. The inventive composition comprises a TiOx(OH)y(H2O)z(x+y−+z=3) titanium oxide-based polymer in the form of a gel or sol. Said polymer, which has a one-dimensional (1D) structure, is made from concentrically-wound fibers having a periodicity which is deduced from the spacing between said fibers, of between 3.5 Å and 4 Å. Each fiber comprises TiO6octahedrons and each TiO6octahedron shares two opposite edges with two adjacent octahedrons (2.times.2.92 Å) in order to form infinite chains which develop along the axis of a fiber. According to the invention, two adjacent chains form double lines as a result of the shared edges (2.times.3.27 Å). The inventive polymer is suitable for use as a photosensitive element in a photovoltaic cell, such as a sunscreen for a window.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a polymer composition based on titanium oxide, to its use as a semiconductor element in a photovoltaic cell, and to a method for preparing it.
2. Description of the Related Art
Photovoltaic cells convert solar energy into electricity by exploiting the photovoltaic effect that exists at the interface of a p-n junction between two semiconductors. Semiconductors based on silicon have been used, but the high cost of the raw material is not favorable to the industrial development of such cells. Silicon has therefore been replaced with titanium oxide TiO2 which is an inexpensive semiconductor and has stable photocatalytic properties. Its applications in the photovoltaic field are, however, limited, as it absorbs only within a narrow range of the solar spectrum, owing to a wide bandgap. This range corresponds to the UV part and covers less than 10% of the entire solar spectrum. One solution consists in covering the surface of the titanium oxide with a photosensitizer in order to extend its photoactivity range into the region of the solar spectrum. This technique has been employed using a ruthenium polypyridinic complex as photosensitizer (U.S. Pat. No. 5,084,365) and it has allowed efficiencies of around 12% to be achieved. The cells containing, as semiconductor, titanium oxide activated by a photosensitizer have a production cost less than that of the photovoltaic cells of the prior art. However, their operating lifetime, which is about 10 years, is considerably shorter than that of single-crystal silicon cells (which is around 20 years), and their efficiency is lower.

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (C.N.R.S.)


An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form a measurement image on a sheet along a main scanning direction, a fixing unit configured to fix the measurement image onto the sheet, a first calculation unit configured to cause a measuring unit to output a measured value at a predetermined point of measurement on the measurement image, a feeding unit to rotate the sheet 90 degrees and feed the sheet, the sheet to pass through the fixing unit again, and the measuring unit to output measured values at a plurality of points of measurement, and calculate a first correction coefficient from first and second measured values at the point of measurement, a correction unit configured to correct the measured values with the first correction coefficient, and a second calculation unit configured to calculate a second correction coefficient for correcting an unevenness in the main scanning direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of correcting unevenness of an image in a main scanning direction.
2. Description of the Related Art
An image forming apparatus may provide various image qualities such as grainness, uniformity in a plane, character quality, and reproducibility (including color stability). Such image qualities provided by an electrophotography image forming apparatus may be influenced by uneven electrification caused by degradation of a charger which electrostatically charges a photosensitive drum, uneven exposure of a laser scanner, for example, configured to form an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive drum, uneven development by a developing device which develops an electrostatic latent image or the like.
These unevennesses may cause uneven density and/or uneven color in a main scanning direction (orthogonal to a sheet conveying direction for forming an image on a sheet), which may disadvantageously deteriorate uniformity in a plane.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-163216 proposes a technology (main-scanning shading correction) of outputting a sheet on which a plurality of test patterns are printed in a main scanning direction and measuring color densities of the test patterns with a handy densitometer, for example, to correct an uneven density in the main scanning direction.
On the other hand, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-58565 discloses a method of performing such main-scanning shading correction by using a color sensor internally mounted in an image forming apparatus.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-58565 discloses a technology of forming a band-shaped test pattern based on an equal image signal value in a main scanning direction of a sheet. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-58565 further discloses a technology of rotating a sheet having a test pattern 90 degrees, setting it to a feeding unit, refeeding the sheet, and measuring the test pattern by using a color sensor within an image forming apparatus.
However, the disclosure in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-58565 measures a test pattern after the sheet having the test pattern passes through a fixing unit twice since the sheet is rotated 90 degrees is refed to measure the test pattern with a color sensor. This may cause an error in measured value because the color value and color density value of the test pattern may change through the two fixing steps.
A special conveying path may be provided to prevent a test pattern from passing through a fixing unit twice, which however may increase the size of the image forming apparatus.


A control apparatus to which plural power devices are connected via a communication line. The power devices send data indicating a self-diagnostic result to the control apparatus by serial communications via the communication line. A CPU ignores serial communication data when a low-voltage detection circuit detects an abnormal drop in power source voltage. A period for ignoring data is set to time at which a completion of serial communication with all the power devices is determined by counting the number of communications by a counter. Even in case where an influence by the drop in power source voltage remains after recovery of the power source voltage due to communication delay, data that may includes abnormality is ignored and only self-diagnostic data with high reliability is used.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a control apparatus for conducting serial communication with a plurality of electronic devices thereby constitutes an electronic control system, and a self-diagnostic method in the electronic control system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a configuration as shown in FIG. 11 is used in various control. In a field so-called mechatronics, for example, a plurality of power devices 1, 2, 3 of No.1 to No.3 are used for driving various actuators by electronic control. Each power device 1, 2, 3 can pass a current to a motor or a solenoid to generate driving force, or pass a current to a heater to generate heat. Such an electronic control system 10 is controlled by a program operation by a CPU 12 of a control apparatus 11. Connections between the control apparatus 11 and the power devices 1, 2, 3 are made through a communication line 13. In case in which each power device 1, 2, 3 drive an actuator by a large current of, for example, several amperes or more, the power devices 1, 2, 3 are placed in the vicinity of the actuator and are separated from the control apparatus 11. The power devices 1, 2, 3 maybe integrated with the control apparatus 11 or placed close to the control apparatus 11, but this causes that each power device 1, 2, 3 is distant from the actuator and a driving output of a large current is sent over a long distance. In case in which connections between the control apparatus 11 and the power devices 1, 2, 3 in a distant position are made through the communication line 13 and data necessary for control is transmitted by serial communication, the number of communication lines 13 can be reduced.
In order to perform control with high reliability by the electronic control system 10 shown in FIG. 11, there may be provided a function of performing self-diagnosis for determining whether or not an abnormal operation is occurring before each power device 1, 2, 3 actually drives and controls the actuator or in a proper timing during the control. For example, in the electronic control system 10 which is mounted in an automobile and performs various control, a self-diagnostic result is sent from each power device 1, 2, 3 to the control apparatus 11 through serial communication and the whole self-diagnosis or operation monitoring of the electronic control system 10 is performed by the control apparatus 11. The electronic control system 10 mounted in an automobile is operated by receiving electric power supply from a power source system of the automobile. At a time of an abnormal drop in power source voltage, a reliable operation cannot be performed. As a measure to this, a low-voltage detection circuit 14 is provided and a preset fail-safe operation is performed when the abnormal drop in power source voltage supplied from a battery 15 is detected.
As shown in FIG. 12, when the power source voltage drops abnormally and becomes less than or equal to a low-voltage detection level set in the low-voltage detection circuit 14 at time t0, the low-voltage detection circuit 14 gives a low-voltage detection signal, which indicates that the power source voltage drops abnormally, to the CPU 12 At this time, if the control apparatus 11 is receiving data about a self-diagnostic result from the power device No.2 through the communication line 13, subsequently, data from the power device No.3 and data from the power device No.1 are sequentially received. Since the data from the power device No.2 is received when the low-voltage detection signal indicates abnormal state, there is a possibility that a self-diagnostic function performs wrong detection. Thus, the data from the power device No.2 is cleared. When the power source voltage recovers to the low-voltage detection level or more at time t1, the low-voltage detection signal changes to indicate a normal state.
JP-A-9-282028 discloses a self-diagnosis about the electronic control system. This prior art discloses an idea for performing a self-diagnosis by varying a power source to determine whether or not an input device such as a sensor has failed.
In the configuration shown in FIG. 11, even when an abnormal drop in power source voltage is detected and data indicating a self-diagnostic result received by serial communication is made invalid during occurrence of abnormality, it takes time to complete sending the data, which may includes wrong detection affected by the power source voltage abnormality and is sent from all the power devices 1, 2, 3, due to a sending delay. Thus, even when the low-voltage detection signal returns from abnormal state to normality state subsequent to time t1, there is a possibility that abnormal data is received in the control apparatus 11, causing harm to self-diagnosis of the electronic control system 10.

Control apparatus and self-diagnostic method for electronic control system


An artificial peptide having an amino acid sequence which corresponds to a naturally occurring amino acid sequence of a HIV comprising an epitope and which further has two cysteine residues located on each side of said epitope, and further having a sulphur bridge between said two cysteine residues, which has been formed by a chemical oxidation step, is described.. Furthermore, an artificial antigen which reacts with antibodies induced by a HIV is described. Said antigen mainly consists of an artificial peptide according to the invention.. Additionally, a method of detecting antibodies induced by a HIV in a sample of body fluid, wherein said sample is subjected to an immunoassay, especially ELISA, and wherein an artificial antigen according to the invention is used as a diagnostic antigen, is described. A diagnostic immunoassay kit for said method is also described.. Finally, a vaccine composition comprising, as an immunizing component, at least one antigen according to the invention, is described.

The acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a sexually transmitted disease that can also be transmitted through contaminated blood or blood products. It is caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV, previously called HTLV-III) which infects and is latently harboured in T4-lymphocytes and monocytes (Wong-Staal, F. and Gallo, R. C.: Human T-lymphotropic retroviruses. Nature 317:395-403, 1985). The chronically HIV-infected individual may in turn transmit HIV, most often by sexual contact. During infection, the immune response deteriorates and AIDS develops in 50-70% of the cases. The fate for the remainder of infected persons is not yet known. When AIDS develops it is lethal and characterised by opportunistic infection, Kaposi sarcoma, other tumors and/or neurological disease.
To diagnose an HIV infection, virus is isolated or the antibody response is measured. Virus isolation is successful in 30-50% of asymptomatic HIV infected persons, and in 90-100% of patients who developed AIDS. The antibody response is composed of immunoglobulins directed to the various structural and enzymatic components of HIV. They include the virus envelope proteins glycoprotein (gp)120, the transmembrane protein gp41 and their precursor gp160, the interior structural group antigens p24, 17 and 7/9 and their precursor p 55, the enzymes reverse transcriptase (RT) p65/51 and endonuclease p32 and protease. Antibodies to proteins of the regulatory regions of the HIV genome also develop. The correct identification of an HIV-infected person depends on the type(s) of immunoglobulin (Ig) he produces and on the correct composition of antigens used in the immunoassay.
One common way to establish a diagnosis through antibody detection is to screen serum samples by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (Sarngadharan, M. G., Popovic, M., Bruch, L., Schupbach, J. and Gallo, R. C.: Antibodies reactive with human T-lymphotropic retroviruses (HTLV-III) in the serum of patients with AIDS. Science 224:506-508, 1984; Schupbach, J., Haller, O., Vogt, M., Luthy, R., Joller, H., Oelz, O., Popovic, M., Sarngadharan, M. G. and Gallo, R. C.: Antibodies to HTLV-III in Swiss patients with AIDS and pre-AIDS and in groups at risk for AIDS. The New Engl. J. Med. 312:265-270, 1985). Wells of microplates coated with viral antigens are reacted with the serum samples under investigation, washed, and antihuman Ig added. The latter reagent is labelled with an enzyme. After washing, the enzyme labelled antihuman Ig remains only if specific antiviral Ig was present in the serum sample. It is visualized by addition of a substrate for the enzyme and the color reaction quantified in a spectrophotometer. To verify this positive ELISA reaction, the serum sample is then added to e.g. Western blots which contain electrophoretically separated virus subcomponents. An immunoreaction on the Western blot will show whether Ig is reactive with the bands characteristic of viral subcomponents. Usually two different and characteristic bands are required to establish a definite diagnosis of HIV antibody.
The reliability of HIV antibody detection is dependent on the reagents of the ELISA plate. Lysates of infected cells may contain cellular contaminants, causing false positive serological reactions (Saag, M. S. and Britz, J.: Asymptomatic blood donor with a false positive HTLV-III western blot. The New Engl. J. Med. 314:118, 1985, Martin, P. W., Burger, D. R., Caouette, S. and Goldstein, A. S.: Importance of confirmatory tests after strongly positive HTLV-III screening tests. The New Engl. J. Med. 314:1577, 1986). Viral lysates usually have an over-representation of gag proteins and less envelope proteins which may cause false negative reactions. In addition to native viral lysates, recombinant-produced polypeptides have been produced (Ghrayeb, J., Kato. I., McKinney, S., Huang, J. J., Chanda, P. K., Ho. D. D., Sarngadharan, M. G., Chang, T. W. and Chang, N. T.: Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III) core antigens: synthesis in Escherichia coli and immunoreactivity with human sera. DNA 5:93-99, 1986; Chang, T. W., Kato, I., McKinney, S., Chanda, P., Barone, A. D., Wong-Staal, F., Gallo, R. C. and Chang, N. T.: Detection of antibodies to human T-cell lymphotropic virus-III (HTLV-III) with an immuno-assay employing a recombinant Escheria coli-derived viral antigenic peptide. Bio/Technology 3:905-909, 1985). The specificity and sensitivity of these assays are good, but not 100% (Chang, T. W. et al. ibid; Deinhardt, F., Eberle, J. and Gurtler, L.: Sensitivity and specificity of eight commercial and one recombinant anti-HIV ELISA tests. Lancet: 40, 1987).
The envelope protein gp120 varies between isolates (Wong-Staal, F. et al, ibid; Weiss, R. A., Clapham, P. R., Weber, J. N., Dalgleish, A. G., Lasky, L. A. and Berman, P. W.: Variable and conserved neutralization antigens of human immunodeficiency virus. Nature 324:572-575, 1986) and consequently peptides from them are not usually recommendable as ELISA antigens. Antibodies to gp41 have instead been considered the most sensitive diagnostic criterion of HIV infection (Sarngadharan, M. G., et al, ibid; Schupbach, J., et al, ibid). gp41 contains regions that are well conserved between various isolates. Antibodies to p24 disappear with progressive disease (Lange, J. M. A., Paul, D. A., Huisman, H. G., de Wolf, F., van der Berg, H., Coutinho, R. A., Danner, S. A., van der Noordaa, J. and Goudsmit, J.: Persistent HIV antigenaemia and decline of HIV core antibodies associated with transition to AIDS. British. Med. J. 293:1459-1461, 1986) but are the ones which appear early. Regarding known antibody responses, a combination of measuring anti p24 and anti gp41 should therefore be the most reliable for all circumstances.
Performing Western blot is time consuming and expensive. To produce reliable antigens for use in ELISA seems preferable. No single assay has so far obtained 100% specificity and sensitivity (Deinhardt, F., et al, ibid; Lange, J. M. A., et al, ibid).
Recently, Gnann, J. W., et al (Journal of Virology, Aug. 1987, p. 2639-2641) identified a 12-amino-acid peptide derived from gp41 of HIV, that was recognized by 100% of the sera from HIV-infected sera. The described peptide contained two cystein residues, and the authors stated that they provide evidence that disulfide bond formation plays a key role in the antigenic conformation of the epitope. However, no such evidence was presented. The authors assumed that the peptide had cyclized spontaneously, and they attempted to prove it by reducing the alleged disulfide bond, but they failed. Instead they synthesized another 12-amino-acid peptide in which they had substituted serine for one of the cysteines, and when this was tested it reacted with only 2 of 22 HIV-positive test sera. The authors conclude that the presence of both cysteine residues is essential for the antigenic conformation of the epitope, possibly via formation of disulfide bonds. They have not proved that they had a disulfide bond in the investigated peptide, what they have done is to show that cysteine is better than serine in the specified position of said peptide. The existence of two cysteines in a peptide is not equivalent to a cyclic structure. The cyclization demands a defined chemical step, namely oxidation, and the result can be method dependent. If spontaneous cyclization occurs it is often incomplete and accompanied by polymerization.
In primary HIV disease, antibody tests may be negative during a period (Marlink, R. G., Allan, J. S., McLane, M. F., Essex, M., Anderson, K. C. and Groopman, J. E.: Low sensitivity of ELISA testing in early HIV Infection. The New Engl. J. Med. 315:1549, 1986).
The development of a single rapid, sensitive and specific assay for detecting antibodies to HIV, also at an early stage of infection, is most desirable.

Peptides, artificial antigens and immunoassay kits


The different advantageous embodiments provide a system for managing license utilization comprising a client system, a number of message transport servers, and a number of license management servers. The client system is configured to generate a number of messages having information about usage associated with a project code or a business unit. The number of message transport servers replicates the number of messages. The number of messages is transmitted to a message transport server in the number of message transport servers. The message transport server receiving the number of messages replicates the number of messages to each message transport server. The number of license management servers has a number of license management services configured to listen for updates from the number of message transport servers. The updates are the number of messages replicated across the number of message transport servers.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates generally to a management system for data processing systems and more particularly to a management system service suite for license utilization with data processing systems.
2. Background
Software applications typically require a user to possess a software license to use the given application. A software license is a contract governing the usage or redistribution of software. These software licenses are associated with an agreement of use that restricts the user to a certain type of use for the given application.
With proprietary software, a software license generally grants the holder to use one or more copies of the software application. The ownership of the software remains with the software publisher, and only use of the software according to the terms of the license is permitted by an end-user.
Software licenses can be costly, limiting the number of licenses for a particular type of software application that a given business or company may be able to afford. As such, software applications are often limited to a certain number of users or certain number of systems in keeping with the number of licenses purchased by the end-user from the software publisher.
Different business units or project groups may need to utilize software applications at different times and with varying degrees of use. Some units or groups may require less use of a given application than other units or groups. The groups or units who use the given application for a greater period of time should bear a greater portion of the cost for the license. However, most businesses do not have a way to track or manage this usage information.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to have a method and apparatus that addresses one or more of the issues discussed above.

License utilization management system service suite


An anti-theft device for a package is a two-part securing mechanism for packages. The first part is a ball that is attached to the package at the order processing facility. The second part is a matching locking rod with an integral locking mechanism. This locking rod is in turn securely fastened onto a stationary object like a railing, porch post, or other fixed object. The look may be opened by use of a key.

In the typical business day, millions of parcels and items are delivered around the world. While computerized tracking, customer databases, and electronic scanning has greatly increased productivity and reduced mistakes, one weak link remains the final delivery point, as large packages are often simply left on front porches of unattended residences. It is simply not possible to be at home when a package is delivered anymore, as many residences often receive several packages a day.
Unfortunately, the criminal element is always present and such packages are often simply stolen. Package theft is an epidemic, and costs shippers, carriers, and customers several billion dollars annually. Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which large and oversize parcels can be safely and securely delivered to the intended recipient with reduced opportunity for theft without the recipient being present. The development of anti-theft device for a package fulfills this need.