A refrigerant supplied from a refrigerant supply pipe flows into a first space, being a passage of the refrigerant, from a space between first stage and second stage rotor disks. The refrigerant supplied to the first space is guided to second, third and forth spaces through a gap between a spindle bolt and a bolt hole, during which the rotor disks are warmed up or cooled. In the second stage rotor disk, a refrigerant through hole axially penetrating this rotor disk is provided near the center thereof. The refrigerant flowing into the first space passes through the refrigerant through hole to flow into the second space, to thereby promote the convection in the first, second, third and fourth spaces and equalization of temperatures in the rotor disks.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a gas turbine and a turbine rotor that uses vapor as a refrigerant for heating components.
2. Description of the Related Art
A technique for cooling heating components, such as a rotor blade, a rotor disk, or a stator blade in a gas turbine, by using vapor instead of air as a refrigerant, is now being used, in order to increase the thermal efficiency in the gas turbine. This is due to the following reasons. The specific heat at constant pressure of dry vapor is cp=1.86 kJ/kgK under a normal condition, which is a value almost twice as large as the specific heat at constant pressure of the air, wherein cp=1.00 kJ/kgK. Therefore, vapor has a large heat capacity and a high endothermic effect as compared with air of the same mass. Hence, when vapor is used as the refrigerant, the cooling efficiency can be increased as compared when using air, and the turbine inlet temperature of the combustion gas can be increased, thereby permitting an improvement in thermal efficiency.
In conventional air cooling, air from a compressor is used as a refrigerant for the rotor and stator blades of the turbine. However, when this compressed air is used for cooling, the work that can be obtained from the turbine decreases. If vapor is used instead of the air, the cooling air for the rotor and stator blades can be saved, and hence the work which can be recovered by the turbine increases by this amount, such that the work that can be obtained from the turbine can be increased.
FIG. 11 is a cross section view that shows a turbine rotor in a conventional gas turbine. In the gas turbine using vapor cooling, for a period of time after starting the gas turbine, the turbine rotor and stator blades and a rotor disk 250a are warned up or cooled by the compressed air generated by the compressor. This is because a certain period of time is required from the start-up of the gas turbine, in order to generate vapor sufficient for cooling these turbine rotor and stator blades and the rotor disk 250a by a heat recovery vapor generator (HRSG), using the exhaust gas from the gas turbine. When sufficient vapor is generated, the refrigerant is changed from the compressed air to the vapor.
The refrigerant for rotor disks 250a to 250d flows in such a manner that the refrigerant from a refrigerant supply pipe 225 for cooling the turbine rotor blade flows into a space between the rotor disks 250a and 250b, and then flows to spaces B, C, and D through a gap between a spindle bolt 260 and a bolt hole 262, to warm up or cool the rotor disks 250a to 250d. However, there is little convection of the refrigerant in spaces A to D, and hence time is required to warm up or cool the rotor disks 250a to 250d, thereby causing a problem in that the start-up of the gas turbine is delayed.
Further, the refrigerant flows from between the spindle bolt 260 and the bolt hole 262 in spaces A to D, but since the convection of the refrigerant in spaces A to D is of a small amount, the temperature only changes in the vicinity thereof, and the temperature change is slow. Therefore, a radial temperature distribution occurs in the rotor disks 250a to 250d. This transitional temperature distribution is not always uniform with respect to the circumferential direction, so as to cause temperature nonuniformity, and hence a thermal bend occurs in the turbine rotor 200. As a result, there is the possibility that the spindle vibrations of the rotor increase, to cause a trip (stoppage) of the gas turbine.

Gas turbine and turbine rotor for a gas turbine


Disclosed are nucleic acid segments comprising synthetically-modified genes encoding Coleopteran-toxic B. thuringiensis δ-endotoxins. Also disclosed are methods of using these genes for the recombinant expression of polypeptides, the preparation of vectors containing the genes, and methods for transforming suitable host cells.

1.1 Field of the Invention
This invention relates to transformed host cells and vectors which comprise nucleic acid segments encoding genetically-engineered, recombinant Bacillus thuringiensis δ-endotoxins which are active against Coleopteran insects.
1.2 Description of the Related Art
Almost all field crops, plants, and commercial farming areas are susceptible to attack by one or more insect pests. Particularly problematic are Coleopteran and Lepidopteran pests. For example, vegetable and cole crops such as artichokes, kohirabi, arugula, leeks, asparagus, lentils, beans, lettuce (e.g., head, leaf, romaine), beets, bok choy, malanga, broccoli, melons (e.g., muskmelon, watermelon, crenshaw, honeydew, cantaloupe), brussels sprouts, cabbage, cardoni, carrots, napa, cauliflower, okra, onions, celery, parsley, chick peas, parsnips, chicory, peas, chinese cabbage, peppers, collards, potatoes, cucumber, pumpkins, cucurbits, radishes, dry bulb onions, rutabaga, eggplant, salsify, escarole, shallots, endive, soybean, garlic, spinach, green onions, squash, greens, sugar beets, sweet potatoes, turnip, swiss chard, horseradish, tomatoes, kale, turnips, and a variety of spices are sensitive to infestation by one or more of the following insect pests: alfalfa looper, armyworm, beet armyworm, artichoke plume moth, cabbage budworm, cabbage looper, cabbage webworm, corn earworm, celery leafeater, cross-striped cabbageworm, european corn borer, diamondback moth, green cloverworm, imported cabbageworm, melonworm, omnivorous leafroller, pickleworm, rindworm complex, saltmarsh caterpillar, soybean looper, tobacco budworm, tomato fruitworm, tomato hornworm, tomato pinworm, velvetbean caterpillar, and yellowstriped armyworm. Likewise, pasture and hay crops such as alfalfa, pasture grasses and silage are often attacked by such pests as armyworm, beef armyworm, alfalfa caterpillar, European skipper, a variety of loopers and webworms, as well as yellowstriped armyworms.
Field crops such as canola/rape seed, evening primrose, meadow foam, corn (field, sweet, popcorn), cotton, hops, jojoba, peanuts, rice, safflower, small grains (barley, oats, rye, wheat, etc.), sorghum, soybeans, sunflowers, and tobacco are often targets for infestation by insects including armyworm, asian and other corn borers, banded sunflower moth, beet armyworm, bollworm, cabbage looper, corn rootworm (including southern and western varieties), cotton leaf perforator, diamondback moth, european corn borer, green cloverworm, headmoth, headworm, imported cabbageworm, loopers (including Anacamptodes spp.), obliquebanded leafroller, omnivorous leaftier, podworm, podworm, saltmarsh caterpillar, southwestern corn borer, soybean looper, spotted cutworm, sunflower moth, tobacco budworm, tobacco hornworm, velvetbean caterpillar,
Bedding plants, flowers, ornamentals, vegetables and container stock are frequently fed upon by a host of insect pests such as armyworm, azalea moth, beet armyworm, diamondback moth, ello moth (hornworm), Florida fern caterpillar, Io moth, loopers, oleander moth, omnivorous leafroller, omnivorous looper, and tobacco budworm.
Forests, fruit, ornamental, and nut-bearing trees, as well as shrubs and other nursery stock are often susceptible to attack from diverse insects such as bagworm, blackheaded budworm, browntail moth, california oakworm, douglas fir tussock moth, elm spanworm, fall webworm, fruittree leafroller, greenstriped mapleworm, gypsy moth, jack pine budworm, mimosa webworm, pine butterfly, redhumped caterpillar, saddleback caterpillar, saddle prominent caterpillar, spring and fall cankerworm, spruce budworm, tent caterpillar, tortrix, and western tussock moth. Likewise, turf grasses are often attacked by pests such as armyworm, sod webworm, and tropical sod webworm.
Because crops of commercial interest are often the target of insect attack, environmentally-sensitive methods for controlling or eradicating insect infestation are desirable in many instances. This is particularly true for farmers, nurserymen, growers, and commercial and residential areas which seek to control insect populations using eco-friendly compositions.
The most widely used environmentally-sensitive insecticidal formulations developed in recent years have been composed of microbial pesticides derived from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis. B. thuringiensis is a Gram-positive bacterium that produces crystal proteins or inclusion bodies which are specifically toxic to certain orders and species of insects. Many different strains of B. thuringiensis have been shown to produce insecticidal crystal proteins. Compositions including B. thuringiensis strains which produce insecticidal proteins have been commercially-available and used as environmentally-acceptable insecticides because they are quite toxic to the specific target insect, but are harmless to plants and other non-targeted organisms.
1.2.1 δ-Endotoxins
δ-endotoxins are used to control a wide range of leaf-eating caterpillars and beetles, as well as mosquitoes. These proteinaceous parasporal crystals, also referred to as insecticidal crystal proteins, crystal proteins, Bt inclusions, crystaline inclusions, inclusion bodies, and Bt toxins, are a large collection of insecticidal proteins produced by B. thuringiensis that are toxic upon ingestion by a susceptible insect host. Over the past decade research on the structure and function of B. thuringiensis toxins has covered all of the major toxin categories, and while these toxins differ in specific structure and function, general similarities in the structure and function are assumed. Based on the accumulated knowledge of B. thuringiensis toxins, a generalized mode of action for B. thuringiensis toxins has been created and includes: ingestion by the insect, solubilization in the insect midgut (a combination stomach and small intestine), resistance to digestive enzymes sometimes with partial digestion actually "activating" the toxin binding to the midgut cells, formation of a pore in the insect cells and the disruption of cellular homeostasis (English and Slatin, 1992).
1.2.2 Genes Encoding Crystal Proteins
Many of the δ-endotoxins are related to various degrees by similarities in their amino acid sequences. Historically, the proteins and the genes which encode them were classified based largely upon their spectrum of insecticidal activity. The review by Höfte and Whiteley (1989) discusses the genes and proteins that were identified in B. thuringiensis prior to 1990, and sets forth the nomenclature and classification scheme which has traditionally been applied to B. thuringiensis genes and proteins: cryI genes encode lepidopteran-toxic CryI proteins. cryII genes encode CryII proteins that are toxic to both lepidopterans and dipterans. cryIII genes encode coleopteran-toxic CryIII proteins, while cryIV genes encode dipteran-toxic CryIV proteins, etc. Based on the degree of sequence similarity, the proteins were further classified into subfamilies; more highly related proteins within each family were assigned divisional letters such as CryIA, CryIB, CryIC, etc. Even more closely related proteins within each division were given names such as CryIC1, CryIC2, etc.
Recently a new nomenclature was developed which systematically classifies the Cry proteins based upon amino acid sequence homology rather than upon insect target specificities. This classification scheme, including most of the known toxins but not including allelic variations in individual polypeptides, is summarized in Table 1.
TABLE 1KNOWN B. THURINGIENSIS δ-ENDOTOXINS,GENBANK ACCESSION NUMBERS,AND REVISED NOMENCLATUREANewOldGenBank Accession #Cry1Aa1CryIA(a)M11250Cry1Aa2CryIA(a)M10917Cry1Aa3CryIA(a)D00348Cry1Aa4CryIA(a)X13535Cry1Aa5CryIA(a)D17518Cry1Aa6CryIA(a)U43605Cry1Ab1CryIA(b)M13898Cry1Ab2CryIA(b)M12661Cry1Ab3CryIA(b)M15271Cry1Ab4CryIA(b)D00117Cry1Ab5CryIA(b)X04698Cry1Ab6CryIA(b)M37263Cry1Ab7CryIA(b)X13233Cry1Ab8CryIA(b)M16463Cry1Ab9CryIA(b)X54939Cry1Ab10CryIA(b)Cry1Ac1CryIA(c)M11068Cry1Ac2CryIA(c)M35524Cry1Ac3CryIA(c)X54159Cry1Ac4CryIA(c)M73249Cry1Ac5CryIA(c)M73248Cry1Ac6CryIA(c)U43606Cry1Ac7CryIA(c)U87793Cry1Ac8CryIA(c)U87397Cry1Ac9CryIA(c)U89872Cry1Ac10CryIA(c)AJ002514Cry1Ad1CryIA(d)M73250Cry1Ae1CryIA(e)M65252Cry1Ba1CryIBX06711Cry1Ba2X95704Cry1Bb1ET5L32020Cry1Bc1CryIb(c)Z46442Cry1Bd1CryE1Cry1Ca1CryICX07518Cry1Ca2CryICX13620Cry1Ca3CryICM73251Cry1Ca4CryICA27642Cry1Ca5CryICX96682Cry1Ca6CryICX96683Cry1Ca7CryICX96684Cry1Cb1CryIC(b)M97880Cry1Da1CryIDX54160Cry1Db1PrtBZ22511Cry1Ea1CryIEX53985Cry1Ea2CryIEX56144Cry1Ea3CryIEM73252Cry1Ea4U94323Cry1Eb1CryIE(b)M73253Cry1Fa1CryIFM63897Cry1Fa2CryIFM63897Cry1Fb1PrtDZ22512Cry1Ga1PrtAZ22510Cry1Ga2CryIMY09326Cry1Gb1CryH2Cry1Ha1PrtCZ22513Cry1Hb1U35780Cry1Ia1CryVX62821Cry1Ia2CryVM98544Cry1Ia3CryVL36338Cry1Ia4CryVL49391Cry1Ia5CryVY08920Cry1Ib1CryVU07642Cry1Ja1ET4L32019Cry1Jb1ET1U31527Cry1Ka1U28801Cry2Aa1CryIIAM31738Cry2Aa2CryIIAM23723Cry2Aa3D86084Cry2Ab1CryIIBM23724Cry2Ab2CryIIBX55416Cry2Ac1CryIICX57252Cry3Aa1CryIIIAM22472Cry3Aa2CryIIIAJ02978Cry3Aa3CryIIIAY00420Cry3Aa4CryIIIAM30503Cry3Aa5CryIIIAM37207Cry3Aa6CryIIIAU10985Cry3Ba1CryIIIBX17123Cry3Ba2CryIIIBA07234Cry3Bb1CryIIIB2M89794Cry3Bb2CryIIIC(b)U31633Cry3Ca1CryIIIDX59797Cry4Aa1CryIVAY00423Cry4Aa2CryIVAD00248Cry4Ba1CryIVBX07423Cry4Ba2CryIVBX07082Cry4Ba3CryIVBM20242Cry4Ba4CryIVBD00247Cry5Aa1CryVA(a)L07025Cry5Ab1CryVA(b)L07026Cry5Ba1PS86Q3U19725Cry6Aa1CryVIAL07022Cry6Ba1CryVIBL07024Cry7Aa1CryIIICM64478Cry7Ab1CryIIICbU04367Cry8Aa1CryIIIEU04364Cry8Ba1CryIIIGU04365Cry8Ca1CryIIIFU04366Cry9Aa1CryIGX58120Cry9Aa2CryIGX58534Cry9Ba1CryIXX75019Cry9Ca1CryIHZ37527Cry9Da1N141D85560Cry10Aa1CryIVCM12662Cry11Aa1CryIVDM31737Cry11Aa2CryIVDM22860Cry11Ba1Jeg80X86902Cry12Aa1CryVBL07027Cry13Aa1CryVCL07023Cry14Aa1CryVDU13955Cry15Aa134 kDaM76442Cry16Aa1cbm71X94146Cry17Aa1cbm71X99478Cry18Aa1CryBP1X99049Cry19Aa1Jeg65Y08920Cry20Aa1U82518Cry21Aa1I32932Cry22Aa1I34547Cyt1Aa1CytAX03182Cyt1Aa2CytAX04338Cyt1Aa3CytAY00135Cyt1Aa4CytAM35968Cyt1Ab1CytMX98793Cyt1Ba1U37196Cyt2Aa1CytBZ14147Cyt2Ba1"CytB"U52043Cyt2Ba2"CytB"AF020789Cyt2Ba3"CytB"AF022884Cyt2Ba4"CytB"AF022885Cyt2Ba5"CytB"AF022886Cyt2Bb1U82519aAdapted from: http://epunix.biols.susx.ac.uk/Home/Neil_Crickmore/Bt/index.html1.2.3 Bioinsecticide Polypeptide Compositions
The utility of bacterial crystal proteins as insecticides was extended beyond lepidopterans and dipteran larvae when the first isolation of a coleopteran-toxic B. thuringiensis strain was reported (Krieg et al., 1983; 1984). This strain (described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,766,203, specifically incorporated herein by reference), designated B. thuringiensis var. tenebrionis, is reported to be toxic to larvae of the coleopteran insects Agelastica alni (blue alder leaf beetle) and Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Colorado potato beetle).
U.S. Pat. No. 5,024,837 also describes hybrid B. thuringiensis var. kurstaki strains which showed activity against lepidopteran insects. U.S. Pat. No. 4,797,279 (corresponding to EP 0221024) discloses a hybrid B. thuringiensis containing a plasmid from B. thuringiensis var. kurstaki encoding a lepidopteran-toxic crystal protein-encoding gene and a plasmid from B. thuringiensis tenebrionis encoding a coleopteran-toxic crystal protein-encoding gene. The hybrid B. thuringiensis strain produces crystal proteins characteristic of those made by both B. thuringiensis kurstaki and B. thuringiensis tenebrionis. U.S. Pat. No. 4,910,016 (corresponding to EP 0303379) discloses a B. thuringiensis isolate identified as B. thuringiensis MT 104 which has insecticidal activity against coleopterans and lepidopterans.
1.2.4 Molecular Genetic Techniques Facilitate Protein Engineering
The revolution in molecular genetics over the past decade has facilitated a logical and orderly approach to engineering proteins with improved properties. Site specific and random mutagenesis methods, the advent of polymerase chain reaction (PCR™) methodologies, and related advances in the field have permitted an extensive collection of tools for changing both amino acid sequence, and underlying genetic sequences for a variety of proteins of commercial, medical, and agricultural interest.
Following the rapid increase in the number and types of crystal proteins which have been identified in the past decade, researchers began to theorize about using such techniques to improve the insecticidal activity of various crystal proteins. In theory, improvements to δ-endotoxins should be possible using the methods available to protein engineers working in the art, and it was logical to assume that it would be possible to isolate improved variants of the wild-type crystal proteins isolated to date. By strengthening one or more of the aforementioned steps in the mode of action of the toxin, improved molecules should provide enhanced activity, and therefore, represent a breakthrough in the field. If specific amino acid residues on the protein are identified to be responsible for a specific step in the mode of action, then these residues can be targeted for mutagenesis to improve performance
1.2.5 Structural Analyses of Crystal Proteins
The combination of structural analyses of B. thuringiensis toxins followed by an investigation of the function of such structures, motifs, and the like has taught that specific regions of crystal protein endotoxins are, in a general way, responsible for particular functions.
Domain 1, for example, from Cry3Bb and Cry1Ac has been found to be responsible for ion channel activity, the initial step in formation of a pore (Walters et al., 1993; Von Tersch et al., 1994). Domains 2 and 3 have been found to be responsible for receptor binding and insecticidal specificity (Aronson et al., 1995; Caramori et al., 1991; Chen et al. 1993; de Maagd et al., 1996; Ge et al., 1991; Lee et al., 1992; Lee et al., 1995; Lu et al., 1994; Smedley and Ellar, 1996; Smith and Ellar, 1994; Rajamohan et al., 1995; Rajamohan et al., 1996; Wu and Dean, 1996). Regions in domain 2 and 3 can also impact the ion channel activity of some toxins (Chen et al., 1993, Wolfersberger et al., 1996; Von Tersch et al., 1994).
1.3 Deficiencies in the Prior Art
Unfortunately, while many laboratories have attempted to make mutated crystal proteins, few have succeeded in making mutated crystal proteins with improved lepidopteran toxicity. In almost all of the examples of genetically-engineered B. thuringiensis toxins in the literature, the biological activity of the mutated crystal protein is no better than that of the wild-type protein, and in many cases, the activity is decreased or destroyed altogether (Almond and Dean, 1993; Aronson et al., 1995; Chen et al., 1993, Chen et al., 1995; Ge et al., 1991; Kwak et al., 1995; Lu et al., 1994; Rajamohan et al., 1995; Rajamohan et al., 1996; Smedley and Ellar, 1996; Smith and Ellar, 1994; Wolfersberger et al., 1996; Wu and Aronson, 1992).
For a crystal protein having approximately 650 amino acids in the sequence of its active toxin, and the possibility of 20 different amino acids at each position in this sequence, the likelihood of arbitrarily creating a successful new structure is remote, even if a general function to a stretch of 250-300 amino acids can be assigned. Indeed, the above prior art with respect to crystal protein gene mutagenesis has been concerned primarily with studying the structure and function of the crystal proteins, using mutagenesis to perturb some step in the mode of action, rather than with engineering improved toxins.
Collectively, the limited successes in the art to develop synthetic toxins with improved insecticidal activity have stifled progress in this area and confounded the search for improved endotoxins or crystal proteins. Rather than following simple and predictable rules, the successful engineering of an improved crystal protein may involve different strategies, depending on the crystal protein being improved and the insect pests being targeted. Thus, the process is highly empirical.
Accordingly, traditional recombinant DNA technology is clearly not routine experimentation for providing improved insecticidal crystal proteins. What are lacking in the prior art are rational methods for producing genetically-engineered B. thuringiensis crystal proteins that have improved insecticidal activity and, in particular, improved toxicity towards a wide range of lepidopteran insect pests.

Coleopteran-resistant transgenic plants and methods of their production


In an optical wavelength converting method in which light from a laser oscillator that oscillates coherent light of an inherent wavelength λ is employed as incident light, and is made to input to a nonlinear optical crystal, and light having a wavelength of ½λ is radiated, the wavelength of the incident light is 1000 nm or less, and the peak power density of the incident light is 0.1–10 fold greater than the peak power density that provides the maximum conversion efficiency. The nonlinear optical crystal is heated to and maintained at 200–600° C. Prescribed fundamental waves are input to a first crystal and a second crystal sequentially. The first crystal has a higher bulk damage threshold value with respect to the fundamental waves than that of the second crystal. The second crystal has a higher effective nonlinear constant with respect to the fundamental waves than that of the first crystal.

When employed as the light source for recording data into or reading data out from a recording medium, short-wavelength laser light has the advantage of enabling an increased recording density. In addition, short-wavelength laser light is also advantageous when employed in material processing applications, as its heat effects are small and it makes precision processing possible. Short-wavelength laser light is also being used such as a light source in the medical field, and a lithography light source for a very large-scale integrated circuit.
Thus, short-wavelength laser light is desired in many diverse fields. Accordingly, there has been a demand for a small, lightweight, long-lasting light source that stably radiates short-wavelength laser light.
However, a suitable light source that radiates light having a wavelength of 500 nm or less has not been conventionally available. For example, while semiconductor lasers are known that can radiate laser light having wavelengths of up to 400 nm, these devices have been problematic because of their extremely low output.
Excimer lasers are available as examples of short-wavelength large-output lasers. These lasers were first realized in 1970 by Basov et al in the former Soviet Union using a method of exciting liquid xenon (Xe) with an electronic beam. In 1976, these lasers were successfully oscillated using electric discharge pumping. In excimer lasers of this type, i.e., employing electric discharge pumping, ultraviolet light is generated by compounds such as ArF (193 nm), KrF (248 nm), or XeCl (308 nm) in an ultraviolet pulse repetition oscillating laser, amplified using an optical resonator, and then output as laser light. Application of excimer lasers has been much anticipated in fields such as polymer ablation, surface reforming, marking, thin film formation, medical product manufacturing, and isotope separation. However, when pulse lasers which repeatedly generate several hundred pulses per second are used as excimer lasers, they can only generate a 10−9 second pulse light every 10−2 seconds. That is, the duration during which the laser is being generated is extremely short compared to the interval, so that application of excimer lasers in a deposition process or the processing steps employed in the aforementioned fields is problematic. Furthermore, excimer lasers are also problematic with respect to the short lifespan of the gas medium, difficulty in reducing the size of the laser device, poor maintenance, high operational costs, employment of toxic gases, etc. Thus, the practical utilization of semiconductor lasers, etc. that can generate light in the ultraviolet region at room temperature, stably and over a long period of time, has yet to be realized.
There has therefore been increased research activity in recent years in the area of nonlinear optical elements such as second harmonic-wave generating (SHG) elements. SHG elements generate light having one-half the wavelength of the incident light so that, for example, light in the ultraviolet region can be generated using laser light in the infrared region. Thus, the industrial value of this technology in various fields of application is extremely large.
Conventionally known crystals employed as wavelength converting elements like SHG elements include KTP (KTiOPO4) disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. Hei 3-65597, and BBO (β-BaB2O4), CLBO (CsLiB6O10), LBO (LiB3O5), and KDP (KH2PO4), etc. disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. Sho 63-279231.
However, in the case of a wavelength converting element employing KTP, not only is it difficult to increase the size of the crystal, but the refractive index varies inside the crystal. Accordingly, even in the case of KTP elements that are cut from a single crystal, the refractive indices will differ from one another. As a result, the phase matching angles differ, making it difficult to realize a wavelength converting element that is highly precise. Further, since pores are readily generated in a KTP type crystal, it is difficult to supply a large amount of high-quality KTP crystals.
In addition, while converting elements employing BBO or CLBO have high conversion efficiency, they are problematic with respect to resistance to moisture and laser damage, and output destabilization due to two photon absorption.
In converting elements employing LBO, the shortest SHG wavelength (second harmonic wave) is 277 nm, so that the wavelength conversion range is narrow. For this reason, these devices cannot generate the fourth harmonic wave (266 nm) of an Nd:YAG laser. Further, another disadvantage is that a large crystal is not possible.
In converting elements employing KDP, phase mismatching arises due to the effects of heat absorbed at a high repetition rate. Accordingly, these elements cannot be used unless a low repetition rate of 100 Hz or less is employed. In addition, at a high repetition rate, the threshold for damage is extremely low. Accordingly, it is difficult to employ this device in laser oscillators used in manufacturing or industrial applications that are employed at repetition rates exceeding 1 kHz.
The present applicant therefore previously proposed a wavelength converting method employing an LB4 (Li2B4O7) single crystal as a converting element (Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 8-250523).
This LB4 single crystal is highly transmissive with respect to a wide range of wavelengths and incurs little damage from the laser light. Further, a large crystal with excellent quality can be manufactured easily. In addition, this LB4 single crystal is superior with respect to workability, low deliquescence, and excellent ease of handling. In addition, this crystal has a long lifespan.
Accordingly, a small, lightweight, inexpensive optical converting element can be realized using LB4 that can be operated stably over a long period of time, has a long lifespan, and excellent workability.
The conversion efficiency of a wavelength converting element is determined mainly by the inherent physical properties of the crystal, such as its nonlinear optical constant and the tolerance zone for the phase matching angle. An LB4 single crystal has the disadvantage of low conversion efficiency when compared to BBO and CLBO. For this reason, it was felt that an LB4 single crystal with its low conversion efficiency was not suitable for use as a wavelength converting element for radiating light in the ultraviolet region.
In order to improve the low conversion efficiency and obtain radiated light of a high average output, a variety of technical methods can be employed. Conventionally employed methods include, for example, increasing the peak power density of the incident light by using a lens to converge the incident light; increasing the crystal length; using a plurality of wavelength converting crystals; and employing as the light source a laser oscillator that has high quality beam characteristics, i.e., little beam spreading at high outputs.
However, improving the conversion efficiency using these types of technical methods has had the following limitations.
First, in the method for increasing the peak power density of the incident light by converging the incident light with a lens, the peak power density cannot be increased limitlessly; rather, consideration must be given to laser damage from the incident light.
In other words, an antireflection film to reduce reflection is typically coated onto the end face of the crystal element in the wavelength converting element. However, in general, this antireflection film's resistance to damage by the laser is not all that sufficient, so that damage can be incurred if the peak power density of the incident light is high. In addition, when the light is input at a high peak power density, it is possible for the crystal element itself to suffer dielectric breakdown. Accordingly, the wavelength converting element's laser damage threshold, including the characteristics of the antireflection film, must be taken into consideration, and appropriate limits then applied to the peak power density of the incident light.
In addition, even in the case where high conversion efficiency is obtained by increasing the peak power density of the incident light, nonlinear optical crystals have the unique problem of two photon absorption. This is a phenomenon whereby, as a result of two photon absorption by the crystal itself, a donut-shaped hole opens up in the center of the radiated light beam pattern, leading to extremely unstable output. Two photon absorption can strengthen in proportion to the square of the beam intensity of the radiated light. Thus, heating within the crystal from absorption can have a large effect, particularly at the high intensity beam center, causing the refractive index to vary and disrupting phase matching.
Note that for the purpose of protecting nonlinear crystals from moisture, or to perform phase matching using temperature, it has been the conventional practice to heat and maintain nonlinear optical crystals at 40–200° C.
When a lens is used to converge incident light, spreading of the incident beam increases. As a result, the tolerance zone for the phase matching angle is exceeded, and conversion efficiency decreases.
In the case of the method in which crystal length is increased, the tolerance zone for the phase matching angle narrows and absorption by the crystal increases when the crystal is made longer. Once a specific length has been exceeded, there is a tendency for the conversion efficiency to gradually become saturated. In addition, strain arises in the beam pattern from walk-off when the crystal becomes longer. Thus, this crystal lengthening approach, as well, cannot be deemed entirely effective.
In the method employing a plurality of individual wavelength converting crystals, a beam passes through a crystal without undergoing wavelength conversion is reused by being made to input to the next crystal. In this method, not only does the conversion efficiency increase, but an increased output may be expected from the effects of interference between wavelength converted light generated by the plurality of individual crystals. However, when there is broad spreading of the incident light beam, or when the beam diameter is small in this method, it is not possible to obtain a sufficient interference effect.
In the case of the method in which a laser oscillator having high quality beam characteristics is employed as the light source, use of a beam that experiences little spreading at high power is certainly ideal from the perspective of increasing conversion efficiency. However, it is difficult to make this type of oscillator at low cost.
Further, as an additional problem, as explained above, while use of various nonlinear optical crystals as converting elements is known, a method has not yet been achieved that enables second harmonic waves and other such high power sum frequency waves to be obtained with good efficiency.
In other words, in order to obtain high power sum frequency waves like second harmonic waves, it is first necessary to employ a converting element that can achieve a high conversion efficiency. Secondly, in order to enable conversion of high power incident light, it is necessary to use a converting element that possesses high resistance to damage from the incident light.
However, it is generally the case that nonlinear optical crystals that have high conversion efficiency have poor resistance to damage, while nonlinear optical crystals that are highly resistant to damage have poor conversion efficiency. Thus, a nonlinear crystal equipped with both sufficient conversion efficiency and resistance to damage has not been available.
The present invention was conceived in view of the above-described problems and is directed to the provision of an optical wavelength converting method, and to an optical wavelength converting system, program and medium, which enable production of an all solid state ultraviolet laser oscillator that stably achieves a high conversion efficiency using a nonlinear optical crystal, lithium tetraborate single crystal LB4 for example, and is durable with respect to practical applications (first problem).
The present invention is further directed to the provision of an optical wavelength converting method, an optical wavelength converting system, and a laser oscillating system that compensate for the restrictive conditions of the nonlinear optical crystals that can be employed and are capable of obtaining high power sum frequency waves such as second harmonic waves with good efficiency (second problem).

Optical wavelength conversion method, optical wavelength conversion system, program and medium, and laser oscillation system


A suspension system for a boom of an agricultural particulate material distribution system comprises an inclined strut extending from the boom upwardly and inwardly to a suspension element at the tank. The suspension element comprises a plate attached to the rear wall of the tank and projecting outwardly to the side of the tank on which is mounted a pivot lever having a lower end attached to the plate and an upper end carrying a swivel for attachment to the strut. A gas bag spring is located in a hole in the plate so as to accommodate shock loads applied to the lever from the boom. A self leveling switch increases and decreases pressure in the gas bag spring to maintain a required orientation of the boom and to move the boom to a raised position for avoiding obstacles and for folding.

Many machines of this type have a boom which is in effect substantially fixed relative to the center vehicle section without the possibility of suspension movements. This arrangement however severely limits the length of the boom which is available and the speed of operation of the machine. Attempts have been made to provide an improved suspension arrangement which allows an increase in boom length and/or an increase in vehicle speed.
One solution for this problem is to provide significantly improved suspension for the center vehicle section so that the center vehicle section moves upwardly and downwardly at a relatively slow rate in response to changing the ground level thus reducing the shock loading to the boom. This technique is currently being used widely on liquid sprayers.
However in machines for spreading particulate material, the use of suspension of the vehicle is undesirable to allow increased loads and the only suspension is that provided by large "floater" tires.
As shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,052,627 issued Oct. 1, 1991 of the present inventor and a brochure showing a commercial arrangement of the patented machine manufactured by Ag-Chem, an arrangement is provided in which each boom is individually pivotally mounted on the center vehicle section for upward and downward movement about a horizontal axis parallel to the direction of movement of the vehicle. Each boom is supported by an elongate cable having an inner end attached to the center section at a height above the boom downwardly and outwardly to a position on the boom spaced from the center section so as to communicate the loading from the boom upwardly and inwardly to the center section. Although the patent does not show the coupling of the support member to the vehicle, this is effected in the commercial machine by a generally horizontal sway bar connected to the center section by a pair of pivotal links which interconnects the two booms and provides suspension movement by swaying back and forth across the vehicle. This arrangement provides very little suspension in the vertical direction but simply allows the boom to remain at a required height despite tilting of the center vehicle section in a side-to-side direction. One problem with this arrangement is the difficulty of accommodating the sway bar at the tank.
The height of the boom in this arrangement is controlled by actuating a cylinder which is connected in the inclined support member so it can be moved in to raise the outer end of the boom and let out to lower the outer end of the boom. This arrangement also has the disadvantage that when the boom is moved to a folded transport position, the height of the boom can be different on different occasions so that the boom moves to different positions when folded and can miss the intended locking position.
Simple tension springs in the inclined cable do not operate satisfactorily since the springs do not absorb energy so that the booms, after a shockload, continue to oscillate and thus convert the single shock into a series of repeated smaller shocks which are equally damaging to the boom structure.
Another technique used on a liquid sprayer which has been proposed is that of mounting the two booms for common vertical movement on a slide arrangement which allows vertical suspension sliding movement of the booms relative to the vehicle. A gas bag spring operating in the vertical direction between the sliding boom assembly and the center section provides resilience for the suspension movement of the booms.
The demands of increased vehicle capacity, increased vehicle speed and increased spreading width have significantly increased loads on the booms so that breakage and damage to booms has become a limiting factor in the operation of such machines.

Agricultural vehicle with spring suspension of a boom


The dynamic, predictive information system and method assigns shipping assets (drivers-tractors-trailers) from carriers to transport orders by shippers. Computer databases hold shipping asset data. Specific transport orders are electronically joined to specific driver-tractor-trailer combinations. A search and sort routine produces resulting records based upon proximity, trailer type, proximity of the joined driver-trailer combination, carrier service region and pick-up and delivery date constraints. The sort is by price or performance indicators which are pre-selected shipper ranges matched to historical shipping data from carriers. The system books the carrier, the driver-tractor-trailer combination and the shipper to transport order with an electronic communications phase. In a truck lane scenario, the system joins a specific driver and a specific tractor and a non-specific trailer to a specific transport order. GPS data and electronic shipping document data from PDAs with the drivers is logged into the system and is viewable by the participants.

In the transportation industry, vehicles transporting goods typically are identified as shipping assets. Shipping assets include truck drivers, tractors, trailers, containers, ships, railcars and airplanes. These shipping assets can sometimes be rearranged such that drivers operate different tractors and the driver-tractor combinations are sometimes coupled to different trailers at different times for different routes. In other instances, drivers are permanently assigned tractors. In some of these situations, the drivers may have a financial interest in the tractor which they use to haul loads. Further, in some instances, the drivers, tractors and trailers are permanently combined, linked, joined or associated with each other and are viewed as a singular shipping asset when special transport needs (for example, radioactive goods or large sized goods such as cranes) must be shipped from point to point. Special tractors must be coupled to special trailers to haul special goods. Sometimes, the drivers must have special skills. One type of permanently joined driver-tractor-trailer combination is called a "straight truck."
In any economic environment, it is necessary to efficiently transport and deliver goods from distribution centers, ports, warehouses and other locations to retail stores, other warehouses and further ports and airports. The timing and scheduling of shipping assets and the scheduling of those assets to match transport needs of customers is a challenge. About 94% of independent carriers (companies employing shipping assets) have less than 30 trucks. Approximately 20-25% of these assets, that is, a driver-tractor-trailer combination, travel over routes without a full load or are completely empty. The transit of empty trucks is not an efficient use of shipping assets. Further, the matching of a customer's need to ship goods from point to point within a designated time frame (both the pick-up day, time and location and the delivery day, time and location) with available shipping assets at the most reasonable price and/or performance (historical on-time delivery percentage and/or an absence of delivery/shipment problems) is a challenge. There is a need to provide and manage logistics for the transport of goods and the efficient use of shipping assets.

Dynamic and predictive information system and method for shipping assets and transport


The present disclosure provides methods and apparatus for associating carriers in a wireless communication network. One embodiments provides a method in a wireless terminal device. The wireless terminal device is configurable with a plurality of carriers for communication with one or more network nodes of a wireless network. The plurality of carriers comprise a first carrier operated by a first network node of the wireless network located at a first cell site. The method comprises: responsive to a determination that a second carrier of the plurality of carriers is operated by the first network node or a second network node of the wireless network that is located at the first cell site: obtaining one or more measured values for one or more radio characteristics for the first carrier; and utilizing the one or more measured values to transmit a wireless radio message over the second carrier.

The Narrow Band Internet of Things (NB-IOT) is a radio access technology for cellular internet of things (IOT), based to a great extent on a non-backward-compatible variant of Evolved UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA). NB-IOT is intended to address various problems, including improved indoor coverage, support for massive numbers of low throughput devices, low delay sensitivity, ultra-low device cost, low device power consumption and (optimized) network architecture.
The NB-IOT carrier bandwidth (Bw2) is 200 KHz. For comparison, examples of operating bandwidth (Bw1) of Long Term Evolution (LTE) are 1.4 MHz, 3 MHz, 5 MHz, 10 MHz, 15 MHz, 20 MHz etc.
NB-IOT supports the following deployment scenarios:                'Stand-alone operation'. In this mode, the NB-IoT system (and particularly communications between a wireless terminal device and a radio access node) utilizes or operates in its own, dedicated spectrum. In such a mode, therefore, NB-IOT communications operate on any carrier frequency which is neither within the carrier of another system nor within the guard band of another system's operating carrier. The other system can itself utilize NB-IOT or any other radio-access technology e.g. LTE. For example, the dedicated spectrum may utilize spectrum currently being used by GERAN systems as a replacement for one or more GSM carriers.        'Guard band operation'. In this mode, the NB-IOT system utilizes or operates in the unused resource blocks within the guard-band of a carrier using a different radio access technology (such as an LTE carrier guard band). The term "guard band" may also interchangeably be called "guard bandwidth". For example, in the case of an LTE bandwidth of 20 MHz (i.e. Bw1=20 MHz or 100 resource blocks), the NB-IOT spectrum can be placed anywhere outside the central 18 MHz but within 20 MHz of the overall LTE bandwidth, i.e. within the 1 MHz bands at the upper and lower edges of the LTE bandwidth.        'In-band operation'. In this mode, the NB-IoT system utilizes or operates in resource blocks within a carrier utilizing a different radio access technology (such as within an LTE carrier). "In-band operation" may also interchangeably be called "in-bandwidth operation". For example, in a LTE bandwidth of 50 RBs (i.e. Bw1=10 MHz or 50 RBs), NB-IOT in-band operation may utilize one resource block (RB) within the 50 RBs.
In NB-IOT, downlink (DL) transmissions are based on orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) with 15 kHz subcarrier spacing and the same symbol and cyclic prefix durations as for legacy LTE (i.e. as defined in Release 13 of LTE standards) for all operational scenarios listed above: standalone, guard-band, and in-band. For uplink (UL) transmission, both multi-tone transmissions (based on a 15 kHz subcarrier spacing on single carrier FDMA) and single tone transmissions (with either 3.75 kHz or 15 kHz subcarrier spacing) are supported.
In NB-IOT, anchor and non-anchor carriers are defined. In a DL anchor carrier, the UE assumes that synchronization signals and system information signals (such as narrowband primary synchronization signal (NPSS), narrowband secondary synchronization signal (NSSS), narrowband physical broadcast channel (NPBCH) and system information blocks for the narrowband (SIB-NB)) are transmitted on the downlink. In a DL non-anchor carrier the UE does not assume that such synchronization signals and system information signals (e.g. NPSS, NSSS, NPBCH and SIB-NB) are transmitted on the downlink. On the anchor carrier, signals are transmitted on a certain subframe or subframes in every frame (e.g. #0, #4, #5) and another certain subframe or subframes (e.g. #9) in every other frame. The anchor carrier subframes transmitting NPBCH/SIB-NB may also contain narrowband reference signals (NRS). The non-anchor carrier contains NRS and UE specific signals such as narrowband physical downlink control channel (NPDCCH) and narrowband physical downlink shared channel (NPDSCH).
Resources for the non-anchor carrier are configured by the network node (e.g. a radio access node such as an eNB or similar). For example, the eNB may signal a bitmap of DL subframes using information elements (DL-Bitmap-NB) which are treated as a non-anchor carrier. The anchor carrier and/or non-anchor carrier may typically be operated or served by the same network node e.g. by the serving cell. But the anchor carrier and/or non-anchor carrier may also be operated or served by different network nodes. The configuration of the non-anchor carriers may be sent via dedicated signaling to the UE or broadcasted in the cell in System Information. The latter option may be used when the non-anchor carrier is to be used in idle mode, e.g. for paging and random access. An example of how the broadcasted non-anchor configuration can look like is shown below. Note that the details of the configuration (e.g. parameter names, mandatory/optional parameters, etc) are still being discussed in 3GPP and parts of the carrier configuration in the example below may therefore still change.                SystemInformationBlockTypeX-NB
The IE SystemInformationBlockTypeX-NB contains radio resource configuration for paging and random access procedure on non-anchor carriers.
SystemInformationBlockTypeX-NB information element-- ASN1STARTSystemInformationBlockTypeX-NB-r14 ::= SEQUENCE {dl-CarrierConfigList-r14DL-CarrierConfigCommonList-NB-r14OPTIONAL, -- NeedORul-CarrierConfigList-r14UL-CarrierConfigCommonList-NB-r14OPTIONAL, -- NeedOR<cut>...}DL-CarrierConfigCommonList-NB-r14 ::=SEQUENCE (SIZE (1.. maxNonAnchorCarriers-NB-r14)) OFDL-CarrierConfigCommon-NB-r14UL-CarrierConfigCommonList-NB-r14 ::=SEQUENCE (SIZE (1.. maxNonAnchorCarriers-NB-r14)) OFUL-CarrierConfigCommon-NB-r14<cut>-- ASN1STOP
The random access procedure may be used for one or more purposes, e.g. initial access (particularly for UEs in the RRC_IDLE state), accessing resources for initiating a UE- or network-originated call, resynchronization of UL transmissions, scheduling request, positioning etc. In NB-IoT, random access messages may be transmitted by the UE on the anchor carrier or a non-anchor carrier. The physical random access channel (PRACH) for NB-IoT is called narrowband PRACH (NPRACH).
The resources available for NPRACH transmission may be provided to the UE in the NB-IoT system information blocks e.g. in system information block 2-NB (SIB2-NB) or in a dedicated channel via radio resource control (RRC). The resources may comprise one or more of: a random access preamble (e.g. time and frequency resources), NPRACH starting time, NPRACH resource periodicity etc. Examples of time—frequency resources are subcarriers, subframes etc. The UE may also acquire additional parameters such as the number of repetitions per NPRACH preamble transmission, maximum the number of NPRACH attempts etc.
The UE can perform only contention based random access according to the latest versions of the NB-IOT standards defined in in Rel-14. However, non-contention based random access may be allowed in future. A non-contention based random access or contention free random access can be initiated by the network node e.g. eNodeB. The eNodeB may initiate a non-contention based random access either by sending a message in a DL control channel or by indicating it in an RRC message. The eNodeB can also instruct the UE to perform a contention based random access.
In order to select appropriate random access resources, the UE may determine the coverage level associated with the carrier on which the random access transmission is to be made, also interchangeably referred to as the coverage enhancement (CE) level. For example, for a transmission on the anchor carrier, the UE may determine the CE level based on a path loss (PL) estimated between the UE and the network node operating the anchor carrier. The PL in turn is based on a measurement of the signal received over the anchor carrier (e.g. the narrowband received signal received power, NRSRP), e.g. PL=PNRS−NRSRP [dB]; where PNRS is the transmit power of the narrow band reference signal (NRS), which is used by the UE for measuring NRSRP. The parameter, PNRS, may be signaled to the UE by the network node.

Methods and apparatus for associating carriers in a wireless communication network


A routing system is provided for intelligent routing of instant messages between clients connected to a data network and customer service representatives connected to the network. The system comprises at least one instant message server and at least one intermediate server connected to and addressable on the network, the intermediate server capable of routing and accessible to the instant message server. Clients connecting to the instant message server through instant message software assert a connection link advertised by the instant message server to establish bi-directional communication between the client machine and the intermediate server. In preferred application, the intermediate server interacts with the client for identification of client and client software. The client request is then routed to an appropriate customer service representative running compatible software according to enterprise rules establishing an active instant message connection between the client and the selected customer service representative.

In the field of telephony communication, there have been many improvements in technology over the years that have contributed to more efficient use of telephone communication within hosted call-center environments. Most of these improvements involve integrating the telephones and switching systems in such call centers with computer hardware and software adapted for, among other things, better routing of telephone calls, faster delivery of telephone calls and associated information, and improved service with regard to client satisfaction. Such computer-enhanced telephony is known in the art as computer-telephony integration (CTI).
Generally speaking, CTI implementations of various design and purpose are implemented both within individual call-centers and, in some cases, at the telephone network level. For example, processors running CTI software applications may be linked to telephone switches, service control points (SCP), and network entry points within a public or private telephone network. At the call-center level, CTI-enhanced processors, data servers, transaction servers, and the like, are linked to telephone switches and, in some cases, to similar CTI hardware at the network level, often by a dedicated digital link. CTI processors and other hardware within a call-center is commonly referred to as customer premises equipment (CPE). It is the CTI processor and application software is such centers that provides computer enhancement to a call center.
In a CTI-enhanced call center, telephones at agent stations are connected to a central telephony switching apparatus, such as an automatic call distributor (ACD) switch or a private branch exchange (PBX). The agent stations may also be equipped with computer terminals such as personal computer/video display units (PC/VDU) so that agents manning such stations may have access to stored data as well as being linked to incoming callers by telephone equipment. Such stations may be interconnected through the PC VDU by a local area network (LAN). One or more data or transaction servers may also be connected to the LAN that interconnects agent stations. The LAN is, in turn, typically connected to the CTI processor, which is connected to the call switching apparatus of the call center.
When a call arrives at a call center, whether or not the call has been pre-processed at an SCP, typically at least the telephone number of the calling line is made available to the receiving switch at the call center by the network provider. This service is available by most networks as caller-ID information in one of several formats such as Automatic Number Identification (ANI). Typically the number called is also available through a service such as Dialed Number Identification Service (DNIS). If the call center is computer-enhanced (CTI), the phone number of the calling party may be used as a key to access additional information from a customer information system (CIS) database at a server on the network that connects the agent workstations. In this manner information pertinent to a call may be provided to an agent, often as a screen pop on the agent's PC/VDU.
In recent years, advances in computer technology, telephony equipment, and infrastructure have provided many opportunities for improving telephone service in publicly switched and private telephone intelligent networks. Similarly, development of a separate information and data network known as the Internet, together with advances in computer hardware and software have led to a new multimedia telephone system known in the art by several names. In this new systemology, telephone calls are simulated by multimedia computer equipment, and data, such as audio data, is transmitted over data networks as data packets. In this system the broad term used to describe such computer-simulated telephony is Data Network Telephony (DNT).
For purposes of nomenclature and definition, the inventors wish to distinguish clearly between what might be called conventional telephony, which is the telephone service enjoyed by nearly all citizens through local telephone companies and several long-distance telephone network providers, and what has been described herein as computer-simulated telephony or data-network telephony. The conventional systems are referred to herein as Connection-Oriented Switched-Telephony (COST) systems, CTI enhanced or not.
COST telephony is not limited to wired, or land-line systems, but may include wireless network systems as well. The purpose of the definitions here is to distinguish clearly between data-packet systems, which share available bandwidth, and non-packet systems, which use dedicated connections or channels.
The computer-simulated, or DNT systems are familiar to those who use and understand computers and data-network systems. Perhaps the best example of DNT is telephone service provided over the Internet, which will be referred to herein as Internet Protocol Network Telephony (IPNT), by far the most extensive, but still a subset of DNT. DNT systems may also include wireless sub-systems.
Both systems use signals transmitted over network links. In fact, connection to data networks for DNT such as IPNT is typically accomplished over local telephone lines, used to reach points in the network such as an Internet Service Provider (ISP). The definitive difference is that COST telephony may be considered to be connection-oriented telephony. In the COST system, calls are placed and connected by a specific dedicated path, and the connection path is maintained over the time of the call. Bandwidth is basically assured. Other calls and data do not share a connected channel path in a COST system. A DNT system, on the other hand, is not dedicated or connection-oriented. That is, data, including audio data, is prepared, sent, and received as data packets over a data-network. The data packets share network links, and may travel by varied and variable paths.
In addition to Internet protocol (IPNT) calls, a DNT center may also share other forms of media with customers accessing the system through their computers. E-mails, video mails, fax, file share, file transfer, video calls, and so forth are some of the other forms of media, which may be used. This capability of handling varied media leads to the term multimedia communications center. A multimedia communications center may be a combination CTI and DNT center, or may be a DNT center capable of receiving COST calls and converting them to a digital DNT format. The term communication center will replace the term call center hereinafter in this specification when referring to multi-media capabilities.
In systems known to the inventors, incoming IPNT calls are processed and routed within an IPNT-capable communication center in much the same way as COST calls are routed in a CTI-enhanced call-center, using similar or identical routing rules, waiting queues, and so on, aside from the fact that there are two separate networks involved. Communication centers having both CTI and IPNT capability utilize LAN-connected agent-stations with each station having a telephony-switch-connected headset or phone, and a PC connected, in most cases via LAN, to the network carrying the IPNT calls. Therefore, in most cases, IPNT calls are routed to the agent's PC while conventional telephony calls are routed to the agent's conventional telephone or headset. Typically separate lines and equipment must be implemented for each type of call weather COST or IPNT.
Due in part to added costs associated with additional equipment, lines, and data ports that are needed to add IPNT capability to a CTI-enhanced call-center, companies are currently experimenting with various forms of integration between the older COST system and the newer IPNT system. For example, by enhancing data servers, interactive voice response units (IVR), agent-connecting networks, and so on, with the capability of conforming to Internet protocol, call data arriving from either network may be integrated requiring less equipment and lines to facilitate processing, storage, and transfer of data.
With many new communication products supporting various media types available to businesses and customers, a communication center must add significant application software to accommodate the diversity. For example, e-mail programs have differing parameters than do IP applications. IP applications are different regarding protocol than COST calls, and so on. Separate routing systems and/or software components are needed for routing e-mails, IP calls, COST calls, file sharing, etc. Agents must then be trained in the use of a variety of applications supporting the different types of media.
Keeping contact histories, reporting statistics, creating routing rules and the like becomes more complex as newer types of media are added to communication center capability. Additional hardware implementations such as servers, processors, etc. are generally required to aid full multimedia communication and reporting. Therefore, it is desirable that interactions of all multimedia sorts be analyzed, recorded, and routed according to enterprise (business) rules in a manner that provides seamless integration between media types and application types, thereby allowing agents to respond intelligently and efficiently to customer queries and problems.
More recently, communications companies have been developing ways to add a new IPNT medium to multimedia options for communication. This newer medium is the well-known instant message (IM) service. Instant messaging enables online or network connected parties to generate and deliver text messages to one another over the network. The inventors have incorporated IM technology within a communication center environment in order to provide more efficient solutions to challenges such as the ability to communicate current communication center status to customers attempting to reach the center for service for example.
Older call-centers relying on COST communication techniques simply play recorded messages, the recordings informing the customers of the status of an agent being called. More advanced communication centers, including multimedia centers, have more extensive automated services in place for interacting with customers in the event that no agents are available. Most of these services are, however, IVR driven and inform callers of options, as well as status of those persons the callers are attempting to connect with.
Challenges that have been addressed using IM technology include communicating estimated call-waiting times. In prior art, this is accomplished using IVR interaction. A customer must invest the time and suffer the inconvenience of placing a call to the communication center in order to receive the status information. As described above, this information is made available through IVR interaction in prior art systems.
One network-based system known to the inventor enables users of the system to obtain current agent-status information related to agents of an information-source facility connected to the network before initiating contact with the agent or agents of the information-source facility. The system comprises a status-server node connected to the information-source facility (communication center) and to the network, an interface-server node connected to the status node and to the network, the status-server node accessible to the interface node, a user-operated network-capable appliance connected to the network, the interface node accessible to the network-capable appliance, and a software application distributed on at least the status and interface server nodes, the software application enabling distribution of the agent-status information to the user-operated appliance.
The user operating the network-capable appliance connects to the network and accesses the interfacing server node and requests the agent-status information, the agent-status information is then accessed from the status server node connected to the communication center by the interfacing server node and delivered to the requesting user over the operating network.
The system, in one aspect, uses instant message presence protocol (IMPP) technology compatible with a formal protocol such as IMMP-IETF RFC 2778 and is described in disclosure included herein and referenced by Ser. No. 09/710,042 in the cross-reference section above. Such a system saves phone costs for customers and/or agents as well as reduces utilization requirements of communication-center interface technologies such as IVR technology.
An enhancement to this system enables communication center agents using the system also to obtain current status information related to clients of an information-source facility connected to the network in order to optimize callback connection success from the agents to the monitored clients.
Also known to the inventor and referenced in the cross-reference section as Ser. No. 09/766,271 is a similar system that further provides a self-service interface for clients of a communication or information center that enables the client to determine agent states without calling the center, publish his or her own state without requiring the center to initiate a call, and perform a variety of business-related tasks at the center without requiring any agent interaction.
The system utilizes an IMPP capable application for enabling a client to interact with communication-center resources through an interactive client interface component operable by the client for posting client data and for receiving and displaying agent and interaction data from the communication center.
A brokering component is also provided for managing client and communication center data and communication, and, additionally, a status monitoring and reporting component is provided for monitoring and reporting communication center and client status. The application is characterized in that a client using the user interface is enabled to access and alter communication center data, and also to initiate live interaction with the communication center. The application is described in relation to Internet uses and system architecture as well.
In the area of IPNT outside of secure environments, Instant Messaging Presence Protocol IMPP has become a rapidly growing and popular form of communication. Active communication using standard IM messaging is enabled when connected IMPP users have downloaded and installed software from an IMPP service provider. Once the users are connected online, text typed in a senders dialog box is instantly viewable by a recipient.
There are many service providers offering IMPP service on the Internet today. Two of the most popular providers are MSN™ Messenger Service and AOL™ Instant Messenger. Despite the extreme popularity and growth of IMPP systems, a security standard has not yet been established for the instant communication method. Therefore, companies that want to use IM for private communication, whether internally between agents or between agents and clients, must either design a completely new IMPP system from the ground up or trust AOL or MSN enough to send all traffic (including sensitive information) through their networks.
As a result, the contributions referenced above as prior art, if third-party hosted, must be significantly tooled to provide adequate security and presence protocol as it applies to communication center guidelines or, if proprietary, completely created from scratch as a communication-center-controlled service requiring client (customer) subscription and full software provision.
A secondary challenge in implementing a secure IMPP service in a communication center environment is that most third-party provided systems are not compatible with each other requiring a third-party host, such as a communication center to incorporate all of the software and hardware requirements to host multiple services used by clients. In this environment it becomes difficult for agents to respond in an ordered and coherent fashion especially if bombarded with multiple IMs from differing services.
Therefore, what is clearly needed is a system that allows controlled and intelligent routing of IMs to individual CSRs (agents) working as a group of active agents wherein intelligent rules and constraints are applied for ordering and in some cases structuring the communication sequences.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and apparatus for intelligent routing of instant messaging presence protocol (IMPP) events among a group of customer service representatives

Genesys Telecommunications Laboratories, Inc.


A dynamic time-evolution Boltzmann machine capable of learning is provided. Aspects include acquiring a time-series input data and supplying a plurality of input values of input data of the time-series input data at one time point to a plurality of nodes of the mode. Aspects also include computing, based on an input data sequence before the one time point in the time-series input data and a weight parameter between each of a plurality of input values of input data of the input data sequence and a corresponding one of the plurality of nodes of the model, a conditional probability of the input value at the one time point given that the input data sequence has occurred. Aspects further include adjusting the weight parameter so as to increase a conditional probability of occurrence of the input data at the one time point given that the input data sequence has occurred.

The present invention relates generally to computer based learning, and more specifically to, methods and system for learning a model corresponding to time-series input data a program product.
It has been known that machine learning using Boltzmann machines can achieve high performance in classification of still images or the like. Such Boltzmann machines applied to time-series data, namely, dynamic Boltzmann machines, have been proposed. However, learning is a challenge in Boltzmann machines that consider such time evolution, and this challenge hinders Boltzmann machines from being applied to time-series prediction or the like.

Apparatus and method for learning a model corresponding to time-series moving image/video input data

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A toggle connector for connecting the conductors of two or more wires includes a base and two interconnected leaves which may be forced into an over-toggle position to clamp the conductors to each other.

Mechanical connectors for electrically connecting the conductors of two or more wires have in the past commonly taken the form of a metal barrel which may be fitted over the conductors and compressed or two clamp halves which may be clamped together by a bolt or other fastener to retain and maintain electrical contact between the conductors. While these connectors serve their intended purposes, a common drawback is that the connectors do not include a means of providing a reserve clamping force which would compensate for movement of the conductors or relaxation of the clamping force by such factors as temperature changes or permanent deformation of the material comprising the conductors or the connector.
It is desired to provide an inexpensive connector which may be easily applied to the conductor portions of wires to provide an electrical connection between the wires and which would include a reserve, spring-type force to compensate for factors which would tend to decrease the force with which the conductors were originally clamped.

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company


A disposable diaper utilizing graphics to visually confirm whether the waist elastics are properly cut or cut off. A disposable diaper has a skin-facing side and a non-skin-facing side defining front and rear waist members, and includes an inner sheet lying on the skin-facing side, an outer sheet lying on the non-skin-facing side, waist elastics interposed between the inner and outer sheets and extending under a potential contractility in a transverse direction of the front and rear waist members, front and rear inelastic regions in which none of the waist elastics is present and graphic sheets having graphics adapted to be visually recognized through the outer sheet. End portions of the waist elastics interposed between the graphic sheets and the outer sheet extend from the outside of the graphic sheets across opposite side edges of the respective graphic sheets into the respective graphic sheets.

Conventionally, disposable diapers including front and rear waist members adapted to cover the wearer's waist are known. For example, JP 2006-525858 A (PTL 1) discloses front and rear waist members respectively having an inner sheet lying on the skin-facing side, an outer sheet lying on the non-skin-facing side and, between the inner sheet and the outer sheet, waist elastics and graphic sheets formed with the graphics.
The waist elastics are attached under tension in a body-cross direction between the inner and outer sheets.
In this disposable diaper, the waist elastics are cut off in the regions in which the graphic sheets are set so that no contractile force might be exerted on the graphic sheets. By cutting off the waist elastics, the graphic displaying regions are free from the contractile force of the waist elastics and, in consequence, the graphics should not get wrinkled and become less-visible.


The electric power supply system includes a first terminal that electric power is supplied thereto from a first power supply to operate, a second terminal that is connected to the first terminal and that electric power is supplied thereto from a second power supply to operate, and a controller that controls electric power supply so as to supply electric power from the first terminal to the second terminal based on the operation state of the first terminal.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an electric power supply system, a terminal, an electric power supply method, and a computer readable medium storing a program.
2. Related Art
The related art which realizes stable operation of the whole system by managing the amount of power consumption of an apparatus connected to a network is disclosed.

Electric power supply system, terminal, electric power supply method and computer readable medium


A micro-electro-mechanical device including a first substrate; a first contact disposed on a first surface of the substrate; a piezoelectric actuator disposed over the first surface of the substrate; a second contact coupled to the actuator and disposed in proximity to the first contact; a gap control mechanism disposed between the substrate and the actuator for limiting movement of the first contact relative to the second contact. In the exemplary embodiment, the gap control mechanism is a gap control stop constructed of dielectric material. In practice, plural stops are used. In the exemplary embodiment, plural thermosonic bonds are used to connect the actuator to the first substrate. A second substrate is disposed over the piezo-electric actuator. The second substrate has wells over the bonds to facilitate application of a bonding tool to the bonds. The gap control mechanism provides consistent height control between a flipped chip and its base substrate without exposing the assembly to high temperatures.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electrical and electronic components, circuits and devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to electrical and electronic components implemented with micro-electro-mechanical (EMS) devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various electrical and electronic devices are being implemented in MEMS technology. MEMS technology offers lower losses than conventional implementations of discrete components. Unfortunately, for certain types of components such as variable capacitors, prior MEMS designs have not taken full advantage of the low loss potential of MEMS technology. These prior approaches have been somewhat lossy due to parasitic effects associated with the actuation mechanism of the MEMS devices.
Further, prior MEMS designs have used electrostatic actuation and bimetal strip approaches. Unfortunately, electrostatic attraction is impractical for a variable capacitor implementation and the bimetal approach has been found to be too slow and requires too much power.
Hence, a need existed in the art for an improved variable capacitor design implemented with MEMS technology. This need was met by the teachings of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/294,413 entitled MICRO ELECTRO-MECHANICAL SYSTEM DEVICE WITH PIEZOELECTRIC THIN FILM ACTUATOR, filed Nov. 14, 2002 by J. Park et al., the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference. This application discloses and claims a radio frequency MEMS device with a piezoelectric thin film actuator disposed over a substrate and conductive bumps which serve as spacers. In one embodiment, the device is disclosed as being usable as a tunable capacitor in which the inter-electrode spacing between a conducting path electrode and an RF path electrode is controllably varied by an actuator beam in order to selectively vary the capacitance between the electrodes.
These devices, known as 'flip-chips' due to the upside down orientation thereof relative to conventional designs, are typically assembled by screen printing solder paste or conductive epoxy and reflowed at temperatures above 150 degrees Celsius. Unfortunately, these methods cannot be used in applications requiring strict control of the height gap between the flip chip and the substrate that the flip chip is mounted on. The height is not controlled well because the volume of paste or solder has too much variability and a consistent height cannot be achieved. This is particularly problematic with respect to the construction of tunable capacitors.
Most attempts at controlling the height requirement have involved efforts to develop better, more consistent bumps or by controlling the volume of screen-printed material. The bump process is a process that involves many variables that are difficult to control. Bumps are often plated using pulse plating and checked quite often to achieve optimal height. As an alternative, the bumps are lapped afterward to a specific height. This can yield a very uniform bump-to-bump height, but it does not compensate for the variation of volume of the screen printed solder paste or conductive epoxy.
The screen-printed material depends greatly on the tolerances of either the machined stencil or the emulsion on the screen. Laser machined or chemical etch stencils will typically have a tolerance of +/−0.001 mil., which can result in great volume changes if the opening in the stencil is small such as 0.004″. Emulsion screens provide inconsistent volume deposition because of the screen mesh that impedes the flow of material.
Another approach is to assemble the flip chip using thermal compression of the entire chip onto malleable pads. This method yields devices that assemble well at temperatures above 150 degrees Celsius, but the pad height is still difficult to control.
Hence, while the above-referenced application addresses the need in the art, a need remains in the art for an RF MEMS design that is easier to manufacture and an improved associated manufacturing method.

Micro-electrical-mechanical device and method of making same


The actuator (ACT) is intended to be linked to phase (AC-H) and neutral (AC-N) conductors. It comprises a motor (MOT) provided with windings (W1, W1), a capacitor (CM) disposed between two ends of the windings and the terminals of which form a first (P1) and a second (P2) phase terminal. It includes a switch (TR) controlled by an electronic unit (CPU) to link the common end of the windings to the neutral conductor, at least one pair of diodes (D1, D2; D3, D4), the diodes of one and the same pair being connected by an electrode of the same type to a resistive circuit (RA, RB, RC, DZ1, DZ2) connected to the neutral conductor, the other electrode of each diode being respectively linked to the first and second phase terminals and means (CS1, CS2) of detecting the state of conduction of the diodes.

A single-phase induction motor comprises a first winding and a second winding, these two windings presenting a common point linking one end of each winding. The other end of the first winding is linked to the first phase terminal and the other end of the second winding is linked to the second phase terminal. A motor capacitor CM is disposed between these two other ends. Thus, depending on whether a voltage is applied between the first phase terminal and the common point or between the second phase terminal and the common point, either the capacitor is placed in series with the second winding and the motor rotates in a first direction, or the capacitor is placed in series with the first winding and the motor rotates in a second direction. The winding that is in series with the capacitor is qualified as auxiliary and the other is then qualified as main.
A first problem arises with such an actuator when it comprises a single controlled switch, the latter being disposed on the neutral conductor and being used in particular to automatically cut off the motor power supply when an obstacle is detected or when a particular position is reached. In practice, when this switch is open, the voltage at the terminals of the motor capacitor is zero since no current is flowing in the auxiliary winding. The second phase terminal then takes a potential equal to that of the first phase terminal when the switch controlling the motor links the phase of the mains to the first terminal P1. It is therefore not possible to identify the nature of the control command applied.
This can seem to have no effect: however, when the controlled switch is closed, the motor necessarily rotates in the direction imposed by the position of the control switch. In practice, if the motor is fitted with a load detection system (for example, by analyzing the motor torque), it is important for the control electronics of the motor to recognize the control command applied in order to choose accordingly the control thresholds or algorithms. In practice, these thresholds or algorithms can differ depending on whether the load is driven (for example, the raising of a roller blind) or driving (for example, the lowering of a roller blind).
A second problem arises when this controlled switch is closed: when the motor is powered in a direction, it is essential to be able to identify an abrupt operation of the control switch from the first position to the second position. Such a reversal of the power supply leads to both a major overcurrent and a mechanical jolt provoking premature wear of the components.

Actuator for operating a roller blind and method of operating such an actuator


This invention provides for polypeptides that have surprising anti-angiogenic activity. These peptides are derived from Saposin B, a previously known protein involved in the hydrolysis of sphingolipids. In addition, methods of treating mammals with these anti-angiogenic polypeptides are provided, as well as the pharmaceutical compositions used to treat. Furthermore, the polypeptides of this invention can be used in fusion proteins, wherein the fusion proteins also comprise cell targeting or cytotoxic moieties. Also provided is the receptor to which these polypeptides bind.

Not Applicable.
Angiogenesis is the formation of new blood vessels from existing blood vessels. To initiate the angiogenic process, biochemical signals stimulate protease secretion from, among other cell types, endothelial cells lining the lumen of the vessel. The secreted proteases degrade the basement membrane and the endothelial cell layer protrudes through the hole created in the basement membrane. If the biochemical signals are continuously present, the migrating endothelial cells undergo mitosis and divide. The dividing cells form a sprout through the vessel wall. Again, if the angiogenic stimulus remains, the sprouts merge to form capillary loops which later mature into new blood vessels.
Under normal circumstances of wound healing, fetal and embryonic development and formation of the corpus luteum, endometrium and placenta, the initial angiogenic signals subside and other, secondary, signals predominate to turn off the angiogenic process. However in disease states such as cancer, angiofibroma, neovascular glaucoma, arteriovenous malformations, nonunion fractures, arthritis and other connective tissue disorders, Osler-Weber syndrome, atherosclerotic plaques, psoriasis, corneal graft neovascularization, pyogenic granuloma, retrolental fibroplasia, diabetic retinopathy, scleroderma, hemangioma, trachoma, vascular adhesions and hypertrophic scars, the local concentration of angiogenic signals never decreases and new blood vessels continuously form, supplying the diseased tissue with nutrients. This allows the tumor or diseased tissue to grow.
In cancer, undesired angiogenesis provides a steady supply of nutrients to the tumor. This allows the tumor to grow as well as metastasize. However, in addition to a general tumor growth-supporting role, some tumors are highly angiogenic. For example, Kaposi""s Sarcoma (KS) is a tumor characterized by unregulated growth of blood vessels. It is, in fact, an angiogenic tumor. Currently, the treatment of Kaposi""s Sarcoma, like most tumors, is based on chemotherapy. However, most chemotherapeutic agents are universally harmful to all dividing cells; cancerous or not. Thus, there is a need for compounds that will reduce the angiogenesis required for many disease states, including cancer and specifically, Kaposi""s Sarcoma. This invention surprising meets these and other needs.
A surprising discovery of this invention is that Saposin B, previously known as a protein involved in the hydrolysis of sphingolipids has potent anti-angiogenic and antitumoral activity. In addition, this protein has been found to have anti-proliferative and anti-migratory activity against endothelial cells. Even more surprising was the discovery that the activity against tumor and endothelial cells was conserved in cryptic polypeptides as small as five amino acids. These small polypeptides can now be used either in vitro as well as in vivo as anti-angiogenic and anti-tumor agents.
One embodiment of this invention is an isolated polypeptide of about 5 to about 80 amino acids in length and comprising a contiguous amino acid sequence DX1CX2D. X1 and X2 can be any amino acid. In one aspect of this embodiment, the isolated polypeptide is between 7 and 50 amino acids in length. In another embodiment, the isolated polypeptide is between 11 and 50 amino acids in length. In yet another embodiment, the isolated polypeptide is between 5 and 40 amino acids in length. In yet another embodiment, the isolated polypeptide is between 7 and 40 amino acids in length. In yet another embodiment, the isolated polypeptide is between 11 and 40 amino acids in length. In yet another embodiment, the isolated polypeptide is between 5 and 30 amino acids in length. In yet another embodiment, the isolated polypeptide is between 7 and 30 amino acids in length. In yet another embodiment, the isolated polypeptide is between 11 and 30 amino acids in length. In yet another embodiment, the isolated polypeptide is between 5 and 20 amino acids in length. In yet another embodiment, he isolated polypeptide is between 7 and 20 amino acids in length. In yet another embodiment, the isolated polypeptide is between 11 and 20 amino acids in length.
In further embodiments, X1 is a valine or a conservatively modified variant thereof or X2 is a glutamine or a conservatively modified variant thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the polypeptide will comprise the contiguous amino acid sequence DVCQD (SEQ ID NO:28).
In yet another embodiment, the isolated polypeptide specifically binds to an antibody raised against Saposin B. In a preferred embodiment, the polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence substantially identical to that shown in SEQ ID NO:2 beginning at position 2. In a most preferred embodiment, the polypeptide comprises at least 5 contiguous amino acids, or conservatively modified variants thereof, said contiguous amino acids having an amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:2, beginning at position 2.
In still another embodiment, the isolated polypeptide comprises R-DVCQD-Rxe2x80x2; wherein R is from 0 to about 6 contiguous amino acids; and wherein Rxe2x80x2 is from 0 to about 59 contiguous amino acids (SEQ ID NO:49). In a preferred embodiment, the polypeptide comprises R-XDVCQD-Rxe2x80x2; wherein R is selected from the group consisting of Aa1-Aa2-Aa3-Aa4-Aa5, Aa2-Aa3-Aa4-Aa5, Aa3-Aa4-Aa5, Aa4-Aa5 and Aa5. Aa1, Aa2, Aa3, Aa4 and Aa5 or no amino acid are selected from the group consisting of amino acids; X is selected from the group consisting of G, A, S and T; and wherein Rxe2x80x2 is from 0 to about 59 contiguous amino (SEQ ID NO:45) acids. In a more preferred embodiment (SEQ ID NO:46), Aa1 is a glutamine or a conservative substitution thereof, Aa2 in a proline or a conservative substitution thereof, Aa3 in a lysine or a conservative substitution thereof, Aa4 in an aspartic acid or a conservative substitution thereof, or Aa5 in a asparagine or a conservative substitution thereof.
In another embodiment, Rxe2x80x2 is selected from the group consisting of Aa12-Aa13-Aa14-Aa15-Aa16, Aa12-Aa13-Aa14-Aa15, Aa12-Aa13-Aa14, Aa12-Aa13 and Aa12, or no amino acid, wherein Aa12, Aa13, Aa14, Aa15 and Aa16 are selected from the group consisting of amino acids (SEQ ID NO:47). In a preferred embodiment (SEQ ID NO:48), Aa12 is a cysteine or a conservative substitution thereof, Aa13 is an isoleucine or a conservative substitution thereof, Aa14 is an glutamine or a conservative substitution thereof, Aa15 is a methionine or a conservative substitution thereof, or Aa16 is a valine or a conservative substitution thereof.
In a most preferred embodiment, the isolated polypeptide has the amino acid sequence GDVCQDCIQMV (SEQ ID NO:19).
In another embodiment of this invention, a receptor is provided wherein the receptor specifically binds to Saposin B and is found on the surface of cells selected from the group consisting of KS Y-1, SLK, HUVEC and murine endothelial cells. In a preferred embodiment, the receptor is recombinantly expressed.
In another embodiment, a method of treating a mammal is provided, wherein said organism has a pathological condition associated with undesired angiogenesis. The method comprises administering to the mammal an amount of an isolated polypeptide comprising a contiguous amino acid sequence DX1CX2D, wherein X1 and X2 are selected from the group consisting of amino acids, wherein the amount of polypeptide effective to reduce angiogenesis. In a most preferred embodiment, the mammal is human and the isolated polypeptide is Saposin B.
In a more preferred embodiment, the pathological condition to be treated is cancer. In the most preferred embodiment, the cancer is Kaposi""s Sarcoma. Administration of the isolated polypeptide is selected from the group consisting of subcutaneous, intramuscular, intravenous, intra-arterial, intrabronchial, parenteral, transdermal, intraocular, rectal, vaginal, intranasal, sublingual and intralesional. In the most preferred embodiment, the administration is selected from the group consisting of intralesional and transdermal.
In yet another embodiment, a pharmaceutical composition in unit dosage form is provided, the composition comprising one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients, and an amount of a polypeptide comprising a contiguous amino acid sequence DX1CX2D, wherein X1 and X2 are selected from the group consisting of amino acids. The polypeptide is effective to treat or prevent undesired angiogenesis in an animal or patient to whom one or more unit doses of said composition are administered. In this embodiment, it is preferred the unit dosage form be a solution comprising said polypeptide.
In still another embodiment, a fusion protein is provided, wherein the fusion protein comprises a polypeptide of a contiguous amino acid sequence DX,CX2D, wherein X1 and X2 are selected from the group consisting of amino acids. The second moiety of the fusion protein is a cell targeting moiety. The cell targeting moiety and the polypeptide have functional activity independent of each other. In a more preferred embodiment, the cell targeting moiety is a protein. In a most preferred embodiment, the protein is an antibody. In a further refinement, the antibody is a monoclonal antibody. In yet another refinement, the antibody is a single chain Fv antibody.
In one embodiment of this invention, another fusion protein is provided, wherein the fusion protein comprises a polypeptide of a contiguous amino acid sequence DX1CX2D, wherein X1 and X2 are selected from the group consisting of amino acids. The fusion protein also comprises a cytotoxic moiety. The cytotoxic moiety and said polypeptide have functional activity independent of each other. In a preferred embodiment, the cytotoxic moiety is a protein. In a more preferred embodiment, the protein is a bacterial toxin. In a most preferred embodiment, the bacterial toxin is from Diphtheria, particularly the B chain of Diptheria toxin.
In a related embodiment, the bacterial toxin is from Pseudomonas, in particular Pseudomonas exotoxin. In the most preferred of this embodiment, the Pseudomonas exotoxin is selected from the group consisting of recombinant PE38 and PE40.

Inhibitors of angiogenesis and tumor growth