The present invention provides a novel phthalide compound represented by the following formula, which rapidly forms blue-blue black color with a developer when it is used as a recording material and, since a color image formed therewith has an intense absorption at 700.about.50 nm, it is usable for optical character reader; ##STR1## where R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 represent, independently, alkyl group having 6 or less carbon atoms; cycloalkyl group having 5 or 6 carbon atoms; aryl group; or heterocyclic ring connecting R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and N, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 represent, independently, alkyl group having 6 or less carbon atoms; cycloalkyl group having 5 or 6 carbon atoms; aryl group; a heterocyclic ring connecting R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and N, X.sup.1 .about.X.sup.3 represent, independently, hydrogen atom, alkyl group having 6 or less carbon atoms, alkoxy group having 6 or less carbon atom or halogen atom, X.sup.4 represents hydrogen atom, alkyl group having 6 or less carbon atoms, alkoxy group having 6 or less carbon atom, halogen atom or ##STR2##

The present invention relates to a phthalide compound represented by the formula (I): ##STR3## where R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 represent, independently, alkyl group having 6 or less carbon atoms; cycloalkyl group having 5 or 6 carbon atoms; aryl group; or heterocyclic ring connecting R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and N, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 represent, independently, alkyl group having 6 or less carbon atoms; cycloalkyl group having 5 or 6 carbon atoms; aryl group; or heterocyclic ring connecting R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and N, X.sup.1 .about.X.sup.3 represent, independently, hydrogen atom, alkyl group having 6 or less carbon atoms, alkoxy group having 6 or less carbon atom or halogen atom, X.sup.4 represents hydrogen atom, alkyl group having 6 or less carbon atoms, alkoxy group having 6 or less carbon atom, halogen atom or ##STR4## and a recording material using the phthalide compound.
Heretofore, since color images of a blue color forming phthalide compound (compound of the following formula (II)) or a black color forming fluoran compound (compound of the following formula (III)) used as color coupler for recording material has no absorption in a near infrared region, they can not be read by optical character reader: ##STR5##
Accordingly, as a color coupler having absorption in the near infrared region, there have been proposed various compounds in each of Japanese Patent Publication Sho 58-5940 (1983), Japanese Patent Laid-Open Sho 59-199757 (1984), 62-243653 (1987) and Japanese Patent Laid-Open Hei 2-138368 (1990).
However, they involve drawbacks in one of color of the compound itself, natural coloring (discoloration of the background), color forming density, light fastness of the background and light fastness of the image. In addition, many of them are difficult to be prepared and no satisfactory color coupler for infrared reading and recording material has yet been provided at present.
That is, the compound described in Japanese Patent Publication Sho 58-5940 (1983) (compound of the formula (IV)) is strongly colored yellow in the compound itself and shows intense natural coloring (discoloration of the background).
The compound described in the Japanese Patent Laid-Open Hei 2-138368 (1990) (compound of the formula (V)) also exhibits intense natural coloring (discoloration of the background). The compound described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Sho 59- 199757 (1984) (Compound of the formula (VI)) is colorless but not good in the color forming property, absorbance in the near infrared region and the stability of the color image.
Further, the compound described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Sho 62-243653 (1987) (compound of the formula (VII)) is colored yellow and also insufficient in the light fastness of the images. ##STR6##
The technical subject of the present invention is to overcome the foregoing drawbacks and provide a compound suitable as a color coupler for infrared reading and recording material.
In the present invention, it has been found that the phthalide compound of the general formula (I) described above is, unexpectedly has excellent properties such as solubility, coloration of the compound itself, hue of formed color, color forming property, absorbance in the near infrared region and image stability.

Phthalide compound and recording material using the compound


Methods for making glycoproteins, both in vitro and in vivo, are provided. One method involves incorporating an unnatural amino acid into a protein and attaching one or more saccharide moieties to the unnatural amino acid. Another method involves incorporating an unnatural amino acid that includes a saccharide moiety into a protein. Proteins made by both methods can be further modified with additional sugars.

The posttranslational modification of proteins by glycosylation can affect protein folding and stability, modify the intrinsic activity of proteins, and modulate their interactions with other biomolecules. See, e.g., Varki, A. (1993) Glycobiology 3:97-130. Natural glycoproteins are often present as a population of many different glycoforms, which makes analysis of glycan structure and the study of glycosylation effects on protein structure and function difficult. Therefore, methods for the synthesis of natural and unnatural homogeneously glycosylated proteins are needed for the systematic understanding of glycan function, and for the development of improved glycoprotein therapeutics.
One previously known approach for making proteins having desired glycosylation patterns makes use of glycosidases to convert a heterogeneous natural glycoprotein to a simple homogenous core, onto which saccharides can then be grafted sequentially with glycosyltransferases. See, e.g., Witte, K., et al., (1997) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 119:2114-2118. A limitation of this approach is that the primary glycosylation sites are predetermined by the cell line in which the protein is expressed. Alternatively, a glycopeptide containing the desired glycan structure can be synthesized by solid phase peptide synthesis. This glycopeptide can be coupled to other peptides or recombinant protein fragments to afford a larger glycoprotein by native chemical ligation, (see, e.g., Shin, Y., et al., (1999) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 121:11684-11689) expressed protein ligation, (see, e.g., Tolbert, T. J. and Wong, C.-H. (2000) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 122:5421-5428), or with engineered proteases. See, e.g., Witte, K., et al., (1998) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 120:1979-1989. Both native chemical ligation and expressed protein ligation are most effective with small proteins, and necessitate a cysteine residue at the N-terminus of the glycopeptide. When a protease is used to ligate peptides together, the ligation site must be placed far away from the glycosylation site for good coupling yields. See, e.g., Witte, K., et al., (1998) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 120:1979-1989. A third approach is to modify proteins with saccharides directly using chemical methods. Good selectivity can be achieved with haloacetamide saccharide derivatives, which are coupled to the thiol group of cysteine, (see, e.g., Davis, N. J. and, Fitsch, S. L. (1991) Tetrahedron Lett. 32:6793-6796; and, Macmillan, D.; et al., (2002) Org Lett 4:1467-1470), but this method can become problematic with proteins that have more than one cysteine residue.
Accordingly, a need exists for improved methods for making glycoproteins having a desired glycosylation pattern. The invention fulfills this and other needs, as will be apparent upon review of the following disclosure.


A method and apparatus operate an optical memory to perform bit-slice associative memory operations by storing a plurality of keywords to define a keyword database and accessing the database by means of one of the keywords. Preferably, the plurality of keywords are unique and are used to retrieve data which corresponds individually to the keywords. Operation of the memory is by identification of a keyword, the location of which is to be determined within the memory, for example for data retrieval. The identified keyword is then used effectively as a retrieval mask to access the plurality of keywords. The keyword database and its complement are stored in an optical device with the keyword to be retrieved and its complement being stored in recall optical devices. The keyword database or its complement is repetitively swept by shifting output columnar vectors by one bit position until all bit positions have been swept. Only identical keywords stored in the memory will result in light output during the last sweep with the light output identifying the row or rows which contain the keyword to be retrieved. The optical paths can be reduced and/or the use of complements can be eliminated by means of dual-rail coding and polarization techniques.

The present invention relates generally to optical computing and data processing systems and, more particularly, to apparatuses and methods of operating an optical memory to perform bit-slice associative memory operations.
The advantages of optical techniques over electronics have long been recognized and have lead to extensive use of optical devices in communications. As the size and speed limitations inherent in present electronic technology are imposing limits on computer development in terms of size reduction and operating speeds, optical techniques are being investigated to overcome the limits. Ideally, optics would initially be added to existing computer systems to perform such operations as storage and intercommunications among multiple processors but in smaller packages and in higher speed devices. Ultimately, optics would substantially replace electronics for performing computational operations in addition to storage and communications.
Thus, there is a need for optical operating systems which can be used in hybrid electronic/optical computers and ultimately in all optical computers.

Method and apparatus for operating a bit-slice keyword access optical memory


A plant variety of Hypericum perforatum producing stems of about 50 to 55 cm length with good rigidity, oppositely disposed branching and scattered spotted leaves.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Hypericum perforatum, commonly referred to as St. John's Wort, which is the result of selective breeding in Sangerhausen, Germany. The varietal denomination of the new variety is `Anthos`. The seed and pollen parents of the new variety are not known because it is a selection from among plants of Hypericum perforatum grown in a controlled planting which was discovered to possess distinctive characteristics.

Hypericum performatum plant named `Anthos`


A display device able to hold a drain potential of an output transistor functioning as a constant current source constant even in a sampling period of another circuit, able to suppress a change due to leakage of a gate potential of the output transistor, able to obtain a uniform current source free from variation in current value of an output stage, and able to display a high quality image without occurrence of uneven luminance toward a scanning end part, wherein for example a current sample and hold circuit finishing a sampling and holding operation during a period where the sampling and holding operation of its own stage is ended and another stage is performing a sampling and holding operation is configured so as to carry a constant current corresponding to a sampled current by a thin film transistor through a node by operating a leakage elimination circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention particularly relates to an organic electroluminescence (EL) display or other image display device comprising pixel circuits having electro-optical elements controlled in luminance by a current value arranged in a matrix, in particular a so-called active matrix type image display device wherein the value of the current flowing through an electro-optical element is controlled by an insulating gate type field effect transistor provided inside each pixel circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an image display device, for example, a liquid crystal display, an image is displayed by arranging a large number of pixels in a matrix and controlling a light intensity for every pixel in accordance with image information to be displayed. The same is true for an organic EL display etc., but an organic EL display is a so-called self light emitting type display which has light emitting elements in the pixel circuits and has the advantages that the viewability is high in comparison with a liquid crystal display, no backlight is required, a response speed is high, etc. Further, it greatly differs from a liquid crystal display etc. in the point that the luminance of each light emitting element is controlled by the value of the current flowing through it to give tones of the emitted colors, that is, the light emitting elements are current controlled types.
An organic EL display, in the same way as a liquid crystal display, may be driven by the simple matrix system and the active matrix system, but while the former is simple in structure, but has problems such as the difficulty of realization of a large scale and high definition display. For this reason, there has been active development of the active matrix system controlling the current flowing through the light emitting element inside each pixel circuit by an active element provided inside the pixel circuit, generally, a thin film transistor (TFT).
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the configuration of an organic EL display device employing the current driving system. This display device 1 has, as shown in FIG. 1, a pixel array 2 comprised of pixel circuits (PXLC) 2a arrayed in an m×n matrix, a horizontal selector (HSEL) 3, a write scanner (WSCN) 4, a drive scanner (DSCN) 5, data lines DTL1 to DTLn to which data signals selected by the horizontal selector 3 and in accordance with the luminance information are supplied, scanning lines WSL1 to WSLm selectively driven by the write scanner 4, and drive lines DSL1 to DSLm selectively driven by the drive scanner 5.
FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of an example of the configuration of a pixel circuit 2a of FIG. 1.
The pixel circuit 2a of FIG. 2 has p-channel thin film field effect transistors (hereinafter referred to as TFT) 11 to 14, a capacitor C11, and a light emitting element constituted by an organic EL element (OLED) 15. Further, in FIG. 2, DTL shows a data line through which the input signal is propagated as current. An organic EL element often has a rectification property, so is sometimes referred to as an organic light emitting diode (OLED). In FIG. 2 and the other figures, use is made of the symbol of a diode as the light emitting element, but in the following explanation, a rectification property is not always required from the OLED. In FIG. 2, a source of the TFT 11 is connected to a power supply potential VCC (supply line of power supply voltage VCC), while a cathode of the light emitting element 15 is connected to a ground potential GND. The pixel circuit 2a of FIG. 2 operates as follows.
At the time of writing an input signal (current signal) SI, the TFT 13 and the TFT 14 are held in a conductive state in the state holding the TFT 12 in a nonconductive state. Due to this, a current in accordance with the signal current flows through tthe drive transistor constituted by the TFT 11. At this time, a gate and a drain of the TFT 11 are electrically connected by the TFT 13 in the conductive state, and the TFT 11 is driven in a saturation region. Accordingly, the gate voltage corresponding to the input current is written based on the following equation 1 and held in the pixel capacitance constituted by the capacitor C11. Thereafter, the TFT 14 is held in the nonconductive state, and the TFT 12 is held in the conductive state. Due to this, a current in accordance with the input signal current flows through the TFT 12 and the light emitting element 15, whereby the light emitting element 15 emits light with a luminance in accordance with the current value. As described above, the operation for turning on the TFT 14 to transfer the luminance information given to the data line to the inside of a pixel will be referred to as "writing" below.
In this pixel circuit 2a, variation in a threshold value Vth and mobility μ of the drive transistor 11 are corrected.Ids=½·μ(W/L)Cox(Vgs−|Vth|)2  (1)
Here, μ indicates the mobility of the carrier, Cox shows a gate capacitance per unit area, W shows a gate width, L shows a gate length, Vgs shows a gate-source voltage of the TFT 11, and Vth indicates the threshold value Vth of the TFT 11.
In this system, a video signal is input as the current value Iin to the horizontal selector 3 of the panel. The input current signal is sampled and held at the horizontal selector 3. After all stages are sampled and held, the current value is simultaneously output to the data lines DTL to which the pixels are connected.
FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of the configuration of principal parts of the horizontal selector 3. The horizontal selector 3 has, as shown in FIG. 3, current sample and hold circuits 31-1, 31-2, . . . , and 31-n provided corresponding to the data lines DTL1, DTL2, . . . , and DTLn laid for every column of the matrix array of the pixel circuits and supplied with data signals in accordance with the luminance information and horizontal switches (HSWs) 32-1, 32-2, . . . , and 32-n formed by n-channel TFTs.
The current sample and hold circuit 31-1 has, as shown in FIG. 3, a TFT 33-1, TFT 34-1, TFT 35-1, a capacitor C31-1, and nodes ND31-1 and ND32-1. In the same way as the above, the current sample and hold circuit 31-1 has, as shown in FIG. 3, a TFT 33-2, TFT 34-2, TFT 35-2, a capacitor C31-2, and nodes ND31-2 and ND32-2. Then, although not illustrated, the current sample and hold circuit 31-n has a TFT 33-n, TFT 34-n, TFT 35-n, a capacitor C31-n, and nodes ND31-n and ND32-n.
The sample and hold operation of this horizontal selector 3 will be explained in relation to FIGS. 4A to 4M. Note that the SHSW of FIG. 4A shows a switch signal of the horizontal switch. Further, FIG. 4H shows a drain potential Vd331 of the first column TFT 33-1, FIG. 4I shows a drain potential Vd332 of the second column TFT 33-2, FIG. 4J shows a drain potential Vd33n of the n-th column TFT 33-n, FIG. 4K shows a potential VC111 of the first column capacitor C11-1, FIG. 4L shows a potential VC112 of the second column capacitor C11-2, and FIG. 4M shows a potential VC11n of the n-th column capacitor C11-n.
As shown in FIG. 4A, in a state where the switch signal SHSW is set at the low level and all horizontal switches HSW are turned off, as shown in FIGS. 4B and 4C, the sample and hold lines SHL31-1 and 32-1 to which the TFT 34-1 and TFT 35-1 of the first column current sample and hold circuit 31-1 are connected are set at the high level to place the TFT 34-1 and TFT 35-1 in the conductive state (turn them on). At this time, the input signal current Iin flows in the current sample and hold circuit 31-1. At this time, the TFT 33-1 is connected at a gate and a drain via the TFT 34-1, so operates in the saturation region. The gate voltage thereof is determined based on above equation 1 and, as shown in FIG. 4K, it is held in the capacitor C31-1. After the predetermined gate voltage is written into the capacitor C31-1, the sample and hold line SHL31-1 is set at the low level and the TFT 34-1 is placed in the nonconductive state. Thereafter, the sample and hold line SHL32-1 is placed in the low level, and the TFT 35-1 is placed in the nonconductive state.
Next, in the same way, as shown in FIGS. 4D and 4E, by making the sample and hold lines SHL31-2 and 32-2 to which the TFT 34-2 and TFT 35-2 of the second column current sample and hold circuit 31-2 are connected the high level, the TFT 34-2 and TFT 35-2 are placed in the conductive state (turned ON). At this time, the input signal current Iin flows through the current sample and hold circuit 31-2. At this time, the TFT 33-2 is connected at a gate and a drain via the TFT 34-2, so operates in the saturation region. The gate voltage thereof is determined based on the above equation 1 and, as shown in FIG. 4L, is held in the capacitor C31-2. After the predetermined gate voltage is written into the capacitor C31-2, the sample and hold line SHL31-2 is placed at the low level and the TFT 34-2 is placed at the nonconductive state, then the sample and hold line SHL32-2 is placed at the low level and the TFT 35-2 is placed at the nonconductive state. After this, the adjacent sample and hold circuits sequentially operate, and video signals Iin are point sequentially sampled and held in all circuits. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 4A, all stages of the horizontal switch HSW are simultaneously turned ON, the TFT 33-1 to TFT 33-n act as constant current sources, and, as shown in FIG. 5, the sampled and held current values are output to the data lines DTL1 to DTLn.
In the above horizontal selector 3, however, there is the disadvantage that the drain potential of a TFT 33(-1 to -n) functioning as a constant current source, particularly the drain potential of a TFT 33 for which a sample and hold operation was previously carried out falls, therefore it can not be held constant. This problem will be explained in further detail next.
Here, the potential of each node at the time of sampling and holding of the first column current sample and hold circuit 31-1 will be investigated. In the current sample and hold circuit 31-1, as shown in FIG. 6A, the TFT 35-1 is held in the nonconductive state to sample and hold the input current Iin. During this period, the TFT 33-1 is continuously on, so the drain potential of the TFT 33-1 (potential of the ND31-1) loses its supply source and falls to the ground potential GND level. At this time, note the TFT 34-1. The TFT 34-1 is turned off, and the gate potential corresponding to the current Iin is held in the capacitor C31-1.
However, due to the potential of the node ND31-1 dropping to the ground potential GND level, the TFT 34-1, as shown in FIG. 6B, ends up being supplied with the drain-source voltage Vds, and a leakage current flows through the TFT 34-1. Due to the leakage current flowing out from the capacitor C31-1, the gate voltage of the TFT 33-1 is reduced. Due to this, the gate-source voltage Vgs of the TFT 33-1 ends up being reduced from that at the time of the sampling and holding. Even if the horizontal switch HSW turns on and becomes the saturation state thereafter, only a current having a value smaller than the current Iin ends up flowing. This leakage amount is proportional to a leakage time.
The sample and hold circuit operates point sequentially as mentioned above, therefore the time during which the gate potential is held in each capacitor differs between a scanning start part and a scanning end part. Namely, as shown in FIGS. 4K to 4M, the holding time becomes longer at the scanning start part in comparison with the end part. For this reason, the leakage time becomes longer and the drop in the gate voltage becomes larger at the scanning start part in comparison with the scanning end part. That is, even with a single colored raster display over the entire screen, as shown in FIG. 7, the luminance ends up with gradation toward the scanning end part. Particularly, the leakage current is high in a TFT for driving an organic EL etc., so this problem conspicuously appears.
This problem can occur at any time when sampling a current regardless of the fact the display is an organic EL. For example, when sampling the current point sequentially and outputting the results all together, for the same reason, the current value of the output ends up differing between the sampling start part and the end part.


A gripped part structure of recording tape cartridges of different types housed in a same library, with each recording tape cartridge including a case housing therein recording tape, and two gripped parts that are gripped by a gripping mechanism of the library, wherein the gripped parts are formed in the case, and a distance from a side wall of the case facing the gripping mechanism of the library to the gripped parts, a height of the gripped parts in a thickness direction of the recording tape cartridge is identical for each recording tape cartridge regardless of the type of recording tape cartridge, and a distance between the gripped parts cartridge is identical for each recording tape cartridge regardless of the type of recording tape cartridge.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the structure of gripped parts disposed in a recording tape cartridge comprising a case within which is housed a single reel wound with magnetic tape mainly used as a recording and playback medium for computers and the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recording tape cartridges (e.g., magnetic tape cartridges) comprising a case within which is housed a single reel wound with magnetic tape mainly used as a recording and playback medium for computers and the like have conventionally been known. A leader member, such as a leader pin, a leader tape, or a leader block, is disposed at a leading end or free end of the magnetic tape. A pull-out mechanism disposed at a drive device pulls out the leader member through an opening in the recording tape cartridge and winds the magnetic tape fixed to the leader member around a take-up reel of the drive device.
A reel gear is annularly disposed in a bottom surface center of the reel, which is exposed through an open hole that penetrates a bottom surface of the recording tape cartridge. The reel is rotatingly driven by a drive gear disposed at a rotating shaft of the drive device meshing with the reel gear. Data is recorded on the magnetic tape, and data recorded on the magnetic tape is played back, by synchronously rotating the reel of the recording tape cartridge and the take-up reel of the drive device.
Recording tape cartridges of this structure are ordinarily housed in a storage called a library 70, as shown in FIG. 6. A desired recording tape cartridge 11 is automatically taken out by a gripping device, such as a robotic hand 60, conveyed to one of several drive devices 80, and loaded therein, where data is recorded and played back.
Namely, the robotic hand 60 is moveable vertically and horizontally along guide rails 66 and 68, and can be disposed to face each housing chamber 72 of the library 70 and loading ports 82 of the drive devices 80. Therefore, when the desired recording tape cartridge 11 is to be taken out from among many recording tape cartridges, the robotic hand 60 is first moved along the guide rails 66 and 68 to a position facing the desired recording tape cartridge 11.
As shown in FIG. 5, the robotic hand 60 is moved horizontally forward, claws 62 at a leading end of the robotic hand 60 are inserted into engagement portions or recesses 47 disposed at both side walls, which are substantially parallel to the direction of movement, of the recording tape cartridge 11, and a bottom surface on a rear wall side is supported at a planar support 64. Thus, the recording tape cartridge 11 is gripped by the robotic hand 60. Thereafter, the recording tape cartridge 11 is taken out from the housing chamber 72 of the library 70 by the robotic hand 60 moving horizontally rearward, and conveyed to the desired drive device 80. The recording tape cartridge 11 is loaded into the drive device 80 after it has been moved to a position facing the loading port 82 of the drive device 80.
In this manner, the recording tape cartridges are housed in the respective housing chambers 72 of the library 70, and loaded into the drive devices 80 by the robotic hand 60. However, the size of the outer shape, i.e., the length, width, and height of the recording tape cartridges differ per type of leader member, and when the library 70 is disposed for each different sized recording tape cartridge (i.e., for recording tape cartridges having different leader members), problems arise in terms of space and cost.
In a case where many different sized recording tape cartridges are housed in one library device 70 and the distance between the claws of the robotic hand cannot be adjusted, errors occur, such as the robotic hand being unable to sufficiently grip and dropping the recording tape cartridge, and sometimes the recording tape cartridge itself sustains damage. Even in an instance where the distance between the claws can be adjusted, it becomes necessary to adjust that distance between the claws per different sized recording tape cartridge. Therefore, there is a loss in labor time in conveying the recording tape cartridge from the library 70 to the drive device 80 and loading it therein.

Gripped part structure of recording tape cartridge


An empty medical bag which is heat sterilized and made of a matrix-phase polymer system. After heat sterilization at 121.degree. C., the inside surfaces do not adhere to each other.

Bags made of thermoplastic materials are usually not heat-sterilizable when empty since the inside surfaces of the bag, which have optimum sealing properties, are frequently in intimate contact with each other due to heat sterilization and even adhere to each other. With customary hot steam sterilization at a temperature of approximately 121.degree. C., such a clinging together of the inside surfaces of such bags is thus the rule such that only little liquid may be introduced into these bags, unless the liquid is added to the bag chamber under elevated pressure. However, even with such pressure treatment it is not possible to guarantee that tightly adhering points will be released.
To combat adhesion at relatively large areas of the surfaces, bag films have been mechanically pretreated in the prior art. Thus, for example, the surfaces have been roughened or raised points have been incorporated into the surfaces, for example, punctiform bumps, grooves, or ridges. The result is that the inside surfaces only cling to each other in a small surface area such that these areas are then released upon filling.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,211,144, for example, prevents the cohesion of the inside surfaces in that at least one of the inside surfaces is roughened by the use of a roller with an appropriately designed surface.
Etching or sandblasting are mentioned as other possibilities for roughening the surface such that there is no longer adhesion of the inside surfaces.
However, such treatment of the film surfaces is very time consuming and costly.
Consequently, medical bags are still primarily heat sterilized using the method whereby the bag is filled before sterilization with air or liquid such as water or already filled with the medical fluid to be used, and heat sterilization is then undertaken. Such a process is also disclosed in EP-A1-0 114 964. There, medical containers formed by sealing films made of a polymer mixture are described. Before sterilization, the containers are filled with air, water, or a medical fluid.


A system includes acquisition of a domain grammar, determination of an interpolated grammar based on the domain grammar and a base grammar, determination of a delta domain grammar based on an augmented first grammar and the interpolated grammar, determination of an out-of-vocabulary class based on the domain grammar and the base grammar, insertion of the out-of-vocabulary class into a composed transducer composed of the augmented first grammar and one or more other transducers to generate an updated composed transducer, composition of the delta domain grammar and the updated composed transducer, and application of the composition of the delta domain grammar and the updated composed transducer to an output of an acoustic model.

Computer-implemented speech recognition is becoming increasingly accurate. This accuracy suffers in the case of domain-specific audio such as audio generated during meetings. For example, the speech of meeting participants may include technical terms and meeting-specific jargon which are not easily recognized by generic language models, or base grammars. The use of meeting-specific language models, or domain grammars, which include such terms may improve the accuracy of meeting transcriptions. However, generation and usage of domain grammars for speech recognition presents several difficulties.
According to known speech recognition systems, an HCLG transducer is applied to the output of an acoustic model, where finite-state transducer G represents a domain grammar. Composition of transducer G with an HCL transducer requires substantial disk space, processing power and memory and is therefore typically impractical and unsuitably time-consuming.
Some systems factor grammar G into GS and GΔ such that G=GS*GΔ. GS is smaller than G and can be used to compose and optimize an HCLGS transducer offline. HCLGS and GΔ are then composed on-demand during decoding. Since the composition of GS and GΔ generates full grammar G, the resulting on-demand-composed transducer will be equivalent to the above-mentioned statically-composed HCLG transducer. Although the factoring of grammar G into GS and GΔ facilitates the composition and optimization of HCLGS, this pre-processing nevertheless consumes many minutes if not hours. Since a domain grammar might not become available until shortly before a meeting, and since prompt or contemporaneous meeting transcription is desired, current systems are unsatisfactory.

Online language model interpolation for automatic speech recognition


Methods and apparatuses pertaining to radar interference mitigation are described. A processor associated with an apparatus may generate a plurality of wave frames such that one or more aspects of the plurality of wave frames vary from one wave frame to another wave frame of the plurality of wave frames. Each of the plurality of wave frames may respectively include a plurality of chirps. A wireless transmitter associated with the apparatus may transmit the plurality of wave frames. A wireless receiver associated with the apparatus may receive one or more reflected waves comprising at least a portion of one or more of the wave frames reflected by an object. The processor may determine a distance between the object and the apparatus, a speed of the objet, or both, based on an analysis of the one or more reflected waves.

Unless otherwise indicated herein, approaches described in this section are not prior art to the claims listed below and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) are systems developed to automate, adapt and enhance vehicle systems for safety and better driving experience. A typical ADAS has a number of built-in safety features that help avoid collisions and accidents by alerting the driver to potential hazards or by taking over control of the vehicle at least partially and momentarily. Some vehicles equipped with ADAS may have radar systems that constantly sense real-time distance(s), relative velocity and angles between vehicles, thereby improving driving efficiency and safety. Radar systems are also deployed in autonomous driving vehicles.
Currently a majority of commercially available automotive radars use frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) modulation. There is, however, no regulation nor standard on mitigation of radar interference by radar systems of adjacent vehicles. As more and more vehicles introduced to the market will be equipped with ADAS having radar sensors, it is expected that interference will become more and more severe. For interference mitigation, currently, there is no solution for commercially available radars using FMCW waveforms. Moreover, various modulation schemes such as phase-modulated continuous-wave (PMCW) modulation typically require additional complexity, power consumption and cost in hardware.

Radar interference mitigation method and apparatus


A well treatment fluid and method uses an organic peroxide. An activator embodiment can lower an effective concentration of the peroxide to break the fluid. A weight ratio of activator:organic peroxide can be at least about 1:20 in one well treatment fluid embodiment. A peroxyester breaker embodiment can be used in a well treatment fluid and method. A breaker delay agent embodiment can control the polymer break window in a well treatment fluid and method using an organic peroxide. A breaker package embodiment used in a well treatment fluid and method can include an organic peroxide and an amine breaker delay agent having the formula RR1NR2 wherein R, R1 and R2 are independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, and combinations thereof.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art. Embodiments of this invention relate to compositions and methods used in treating a well, a subterranean formation penetrated by the well, or the like. In particular, embodiments relate to the viscosity reduction of polymer gels after use in hydraulic fracturing, sand control, workover operations, and the like. In particular, embodiments provide peroxide means to reduce the viscosity by reducing the molecular weight of the polymer, whether or not the polymer is crosslinked.
Hydraulic fracturing is a process for stimulating oil and gas wells by pumping gel-proppant slurries at high pressure into producing rock layers. Once the rock is cracked, the resulting fracture is propped open by the sand or other proppant carried by the slurry. This fracture serves as a highly conductive path for the oil or gas, and therefore increases the effective well-bore radius. Fluid viscosity can facilitate effective proppant placement during fracturing operations. Polysaccharides such as guar and guar derivatives have served as common viscosifying polymers. They are often crosslinked using borates or metallic crosslinkers such as zirconium and titanium to generate even higher viscosity.
Once a particular subterranean formation treatment operation is essentially complete, it generally becomes necessary to break, i.e. substantially reduce, the viscosity of the fluid, such as a polymer gel, by reducing the molecular weight of the polymer network forming the gel. This industry uses a variety of compounds to break the viscosity of fluids, including those defined in the broad categories of oxidizers and enzymes. The break mechanisms involved are generally complex, and poorly understood, and therefore breakers are oftentimes not adequately effective or easily usable. Control over the timing of viscosity reduction is highly desirable in subterranean treatment operations. Factors such as pump time, shut-in time, and wait time for workover fluids, drive the need to control the rate of breaking the viscosity.
Background references include: U.S. Pat. No. 5,447,199 disclosing controlled degradation of polymer based aqueous gels; U.S. Pat. No. 6,924,254 disclosing viscous well treating fluids and methods using a delayed viscosity breaker comprising pentanedione peroxide; U.S. Pat. No. 6,489,282 disclosing bleaching compositions comprising a peroxy carboxylic acid and a polymer system; LUPEROX® Organic Peroxides Peroxyesters Product Bulletin (2005); and LUPEROX® Organic Peroxides General Catalog—Americas (2004).


An upper/insole assembly for use in constructing an article of footwear includes an upper and an insole. The upper has an inner surface, an outer surface, a lateral peripheral flange, and a medial peripheral flange. The insole has a top surface, a bottom surface, a lateral peripheral edge, a medial peripheral edge, an arch portion, a phalangeal portion, and a heel portion. At least a portion of the lateral and medial peripheral flanges of the upper are stitched to the insole in the phalangeal and heel portions but they are not stitched to the insole through the arch portion. Additionally, the lateral peripheral flange of the upper is wrapped around the lateral peripheral edge of the insole in the arch portion and the medial peripheral flange of the upper is wrapped around the medial peripheral edge of the insole in the arch portion. Moreover, the lateral and medial peripheral flanges are secured to the bottom surface of the arch portion of the insole. An article of footwear includes the upper/insole assembly and a bottom component that includes an outsole component, a midsole component, and preferably at least one shank that provides support to the arch portion of the upper/insole assembly and article of footwear. At least a portion of the midsole component is fixed to the upper/insole assembly. A method for manufacturing an upper/insole assembly includes stretching an upper over a last such that a lateral peripheral flange and a medial peripheral flange of the upper extend past the edges of a lateral peripheral edge and a medial peripheral edge of an insole; adhesively securing an inner surface of the lateral peripheral flange to a bottom surface of an arch portion of the insole; adhesively securing an inner surface of the medial peripheral flange to the bottom surface of the arch portion of the insole; stitching the upper to a heel portion of the insole; and stitching the upper to a phalangeal portion of the insole.

The present invention relates to upper/insole assemblies for use in constructing articles of footwear that integrate stitchdown construction methods with athletic bottom components and methods for producing such articles of footwear and upper/insole assemblies.
Articles of footwear have been designed and worn by humans since very early in recorded history. Articles of footwear were initially designed to protect the tender bottom portion of the feet of wearers while walking or running over rough surfaces. Although the primary purpose of footwear remains basically unchanged, the various types of activity and surfaces in which humans run, walk, or stand on have led to an ever increasing diversity in the style and construction of footwear. Footwear construction and design have also focused on providing better ankle and arch support while retaining flexibility. Fashion and personal taste have also played significant roles leading to the increase in types of footwear.
Humans engage in a wide variety of physical activities. Some of these activities include walking, running, jogging, sprinting and other track and field events, backpacking, playing tennis, cross-training, golfing, playing soccer, and scuba diving. Footwear has been specifically designed for use in each of these activities. Methods for constructing footwear have been developed to provide the best characteristics necessary for the particular end use. Thus, methods for constructing boots, athletic shoes, waders, moccasins, slippers, dress shoes, and sandals have all developed.
While many different types of footwear have been designed for specific uses, there is still a need for articles of footwear that will adequately serve the needs of a wearer under varying conditions. For example, many boots are specifically made for activities associated with hiking or backpacking. While such articles of footwear are excellent for this type of activity, an owner of such a boot would probably not want to wear it while playing tennis or engaging in track and field activities due to the weight and decreased flexibility of such an article of footwear. A need still remains for articles of footwear that have improved characteristics which enable them to be better used over a variety of different activities.
One challenge associated with the design of footwear for use in various activities such as in cross-training is providing the necessary arch support while maintaining acceptable weight parameters. Thus, a need remains for an article of footwear for use in cross-training activities that has a reduced weight compared to conventional articles of such footwear yet which also provides adequate arch support. A need for a method for constructing such a reduced weight article of footwear also exists.
The present invention provides upper/insole assemblies, articles of footwear containing the upper/insole assemblies, and methods for manufacturing the upper/insole assemblies and articles of footwear.
An upper/insole assembly for use in constructing an article of footwear includes an upper and an insole. The upper includes an inner surface; an outer surface; a lateral peripheral flange; and a medial peripheral flange. The insole includes a top surface; a bottom surface; a lateral peripheral edge; a medial peripheral edge; an arch portion; a phalangeal portion; and a heel portion. At least a portion of the lateral and medial peripheral flanges of the upper of the upper/insole assembly are stitched to the insole in the phalangeal and heel portions, but the lateral and medial peripheral flanges are not stitched to the insole through the arch portion. The lateral peripheral flange of the upper is wrapped around the lateral peripheral edge of the insole in the arch portion and the medial peripheral flange of the upper is wrapped around the medial peripheral edge of the insole in the arch portion. Additionally, the lateral and medial peripheral flanges are secured to the bottom surface of the arch portion of the insole.
An article of footwear according to the present invention includes an upper/insole assembly as described in the preceding paragraph and a bottom component that includes an outsole component and a midsole component. At least a portion of the midsole component is fixed to the upper/insole assembly. In more preferred articles of footwear, the bottom component further includes at least one shank that provides support to the arch portion of the upper/insole assembly and article of footwear.
In still other preferred articles of footwear, the bottom component further includes a heel portion and substantially all the heel portion of the bottom component is stitched to the lateral and medial peripheral flanges of the upper through the heel portion of the insole component. In still other preferred articles of footwear, the bottom component also includes a phalangeal portion and substantially all the phalangeal portion of the bottom component is stitched to the lateral and medial peripheral flanges of the upper through the phalangeal portion of the insole component. In still other preferred articles of footwear according to the present invention, the bottom component includes a heel portion and a phalangeal portion and both portions are stitched to the lateral and medial peripheral flanges of the upper through the corresponding heel and phalangeal portions of the insole component.
In some preferred upper/insole assemblies for use in constructing an article of footwear, at least a portion of the lateral and medial peripheral flanges are wrapped around the lateral and medial peripheral edges of the phalangeal portion of the insole and are secured to the bottom surface of the phalangeal portion of the insole. Articles of footwear constructed using such preferred upper/insole assemblies include a bottom component having a midsole component, an outsole component, a heel portion, and a phalangeal portion and substantially all the heel portion of the bottom component is stitched to the lateral and medial peripheral flanges of the upper through the heel portion of the insole component. Additionally, the phalangeal portion of the bottom component is fixed to the phalangeal portion of the insole.
In still other preferred upper/insole assemblies, at least a portion of the lateral and medial peripheral flanges are wrapped around the lateral and medial peripheral edges of the heel portion of the insole and secured to the bottom surface of the heel portion of the insole. Articles of footwear constructed using such an upper/insole assembly include a bottom component having a midsole component, an outsole component, a heel portion and a phalangeal portion. In such articles of footwear, substantially all the phalangeal portion of the bottom component is stitched to the lateral and medial peripheral flanges of the upper through the phalangeal portion of the insole component and the heel portion of the bottom component is fixed to the heel portion of the insole.
In yet other preferred upper/insole assemblies, at least a portion of the lateral and medial peripheral flanges are wrapped around the lateral and medial peripheral edges of the heel and phalangeal portion of the insole and secured to the bottom surface of both the heel and the phalangeal portions of the insole. Articles of footwear constructed from such an upper/insole assembly include a bottom component having a midsole component, an outsole component, a heel portion and a phalangeal portion. In such articles of footwear, the phalangeal portion of the bottom component is fixed to the phalangeal portion of the bottom surface of the insole and the heel portion of the bottom component is fixed to the heel portion of the bottom surface of the insole. Additionally, the outer surface of the lateral and medial peripheral flanges of the upper contacts the top surface of the bottom component.
In yet other preferred upper/insole assemblies, the upper also includes a peripheral toe flange and a peripheral heel flange and the lateral peripheral flange, the medial peripheral flange, the peripheral toe flange and the peripheral heel flange together provide a flange substantially surrounding the perimeter of the upper. In more preferred upper/insole assemblies of this type, the peripheral flanges are wrapped around the lateral and peripheral edges of the insole and the inner surface of each of the peripheral flanges of the upper is secured to the bottom surface of the insole. Articles of footwear constructed using such upper/insole assemblies include a bottom component having a midsole component and an outsole component, and the bottom component is fixed to the bottom surface of the insole. Additionally, the bottom component contacts the outer surface of the peripheral flanges in such articles of footwear. and the inner surface of each of the peripheral flanges of the upper is secured to the bottom surface of the insole. Articles of footwear constructed using such upper/insole assemblies include a bottom component having a midsole component and an outsole component, and the bottom component is fixed to the bottom surface of the insole. Additionally, the bottom component contacts the outer surface of the peripheral flanges in such articles of footwear.
A method for manufacturing an upper/insole assembly for use in constructing an article of footwear, includes: stretching an upper over a last such that a lateral peripheral flange and a medial peripheral flange of the upper extend past the edges of a lateral peripheral edge and a medial peripheral edge of an insole; adhesively securing an inner surface of the lateral peripheral flange to a bottom surface of an arch portion of the insole; adhesively securing an inner surface of the medial peripheral flange to the bottom surface of the arch portion of the insole; stitching the upper to a heel portion of the insole and a phalangeal portion of the insole, but not to the arch portion of the insole.
A preferred method for manufacturing an article of footwear includes the procedure set forth in the preceding paragraph. In this method for manufacturing an article of footwear, the step of stitching the upper to the heel portion of the insole further includes stitching the upper to a heel portion of a bottom component having a midsole component and an outsole component, and the step of stitching the upper to the phalangeal portion of the insole further includes stitching the upper to a phalangeal portion of the bottom component.
Another preferred method for manufacturing an upper/insole assembly for use in constructing an article of footwear further includes adhesively securing a portion of the inner surface of the lateral and medial peripheral flanges of the upper to the bottom surface of the heel portion of the insole. Methods for manufacturing articles of footwear include following this procedure for manufacturing an upper/insole assembly and also include adhesively securing a heel portion of a bottom component having a phalangeal portion, an outsole component, and a midsole component to the bottom surface of the heel portion of the insole. Additionally, in this method for manufacturing an article of footwear, the step of stitching the upper to the phalangeal portion of the insole further comprises stitching the phalangeal portion of the bottom component to the upper.
Still another preferred method for manufacturing an upper/insole assembly for use in constructing an article of footwear further includes adhesively securing a portion of the inner surface of the lateral and medial peripheral flanges of the upper to the bottom surface of the phalangeal portion of the insole. Methods for manufacturing articles of footwear include following this method for constructing an upper/insole assembly and adhesively securing a phalangeal portion of a bottom component having an outsole component, a midsole component, and a heel portion to the bottom surface of the phalangeal portion of the insole. Additionally, the step of stitching the upper to the heel portion of the insole further comprises stitching the heel portion of the bottom component to the upper.
Yet another method for manufacturing an upper/insole assembly includes adhesively securing a portion of the inner surface of the lateral and medial peripheral flanges of the upper to the bottom surface of the heel and phalangeal portions of the insole. Methods for manufacturing an article of footwear include following this method for manufacturing an upper/insole assembly and adhesively securing a bottom component having an outsole component to the phalangeal and heel portions of the bottom surface of the insole.
In all preferred methods for manufacturing articles of footwear, the bottom component further includes at least one shank with peripheral flanges, and the method further includes adhesively securing the peripheral flanges of the shank to an arch portion of the upper.
Further objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings.

Footwear with integrated stitchdown/athletic bottom construction


A plastic container is formed by injection and blow molding wherein the injection molded body has an annular shoulder, an upper neck and a bottom wall with a central flat portion of substantially the same thickness as the wall of said body. An enlarged annular corner portion connects the bottom wall to the body and extends downwardly. The annular corner is sufficiently thick so as to form a substantially solid rim after bi-axial stretching during blow molding. The plastic parison for forming the container includes a body with an annular shoulder and an upper neck and also with the bottom wall having a central flat portion of substantially the same thickness as the body. The enlarged annular corner portion of the parison also connects to the body and extends downwardly to form a substantially solid rim. The thickness of the annular corner is sufficient to keep the annular corner from having a cavity formed in it during bi-axial stretching. In the method the molded body, annular shoulder, upper neck and the bottom wall are maintained with their relative thicknesses. The annular corner portion is sufficiently enlarged to form a substantially solid rim during stretching. The method is carried out so that the container exhibits the favorable characteristics of injection and blow molding. The blow molding is characterized by bi-axial stretching of the body and uni-axial stretching of the bottom wall. Heat is applied to the mold during blow molding and air is cycled in and out of the container for curing.

The use of plastic containers is continuing to grow at a rapid rate. In many marketing areas, such as in marketing of liquid or semi-liquid (viscous) cosmetics and related products, the plastic container is by far the container of choice. The plastic container, such as a bottle or jar, is not only non-breakable but can be molded so as to be more attractive than other containers. Attractive surface textures and embossed designs can easily be included as the container is formed. In addition, from a cost standpoint, plastic is very competitive with the other materials used for containers. One of the most popular containers for the marketing of cosmetic products, as well as other liquid, semi-liquid and cream products, is a blow molded container of a clear plastic, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
The most common approach for forming such containers is by straight blow molding of a parison in a mold. In the past, some smaller containers have been formed by straight injection molding, but in this case the shape of the container leaves much to be desired. For example, in a typical injection molding operation, the inherent mold taper and characteristic sink of the body side walls leaves the container with a somewhat distorted look. For this reason, the blow molding is the most popular process, with of course the parison for the blow molding operation being formed by injection molding. A typical approach for straight blow molding with the parison being formed by injection molding is illustrated in the Nishikawa et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,164,298, issued Aug. 14, 1979. As set forth in this patent and others, this approach is to provide a relatively large container from a relatively small parison. As a result of the blow molding, the body side wall and the bottom are substantially stretched and are relatively thin. The entire container is formed from a single tubular parison (see FIG. 4 of the '298 patent).
In the approach taught by the '298 patent, the technique leaves much to be desired where an annular rim on the bottom of the container is desired. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, according to these prior art teachings, there is necessarily a hollow ring formed in the annular rim (see rim 3). Furthermore, the body of the container is very thin and this provides difficulty in handling due to the tendency of the side wall to collapse when squeezed or simply picked-up for use.
On the other hand, containers that are injection molded do not suffer these problems since the size of the molding cavity determines the thickness of all parts, including the side wall of the body. While others that have recognized this benefit have tried to solve the problem of mold taper and sink when injection molding so far it has not been accomplished. Especially for certain containers, such as bottles or jars for cosmetic products, there is thus a need for combining the best concepts of injection molding and blow molding into a single inventive approach wherein the finished container retains the favorable characteristics of both an injection molded and a blow molded container. That is, a container that can be made with a body having a strong and stable body and side wall, and an equally strong bottom wall and enlarged annular corner portion. The corner portion should also be free of the characteristic hollow ring that typically results from a straight blow molding operation.

Injection/blow molded plastic container and method


Package or container product filling apparatus that can easily be disassembled for cleaning and reassembled comprises a hopper and manifold to supply a plurality of package dosing filling tubes in turn insertable in multiple packages simultaneously. The manifold supplies a plurality of flexible tubes leading to a plurality of bellows type reciprocable dosing pumps. The dosing pumps in turn supply product through flexible tubes to the filling tubes. Any parts through which product passes or contacts are simply connected requiring no tools for disassembly or assembly. The bellows chambers and check valves of the dosing pumps are constructed of inexpensive plastic and discarded when the apparatus is disassembled for cleaning because they are relatively difficult to clean with absolute assurance that no product remains to contaminate a subsequent different product. The remaining mechanical portions of the dosing pumps do not contact the product. The metal portions of the apparatus comprising the hopper, manifold and filling tubes simply rest in brackets or holes and are simply lifted out or inserted in to disassemble or assemble respectively. The flexible tubes are smoothwalled plastic and therefore may be cleaned or discarded with disassembly as desired. The apparatus also includes externally actuated means to suck back product at the lower ends of the filling tubes to prevent dribble between filling cycles. The suck back means does not contact the product and therefore does not require disassembly for cleaning.

The field of the invention pertains to dosing apparatus for the automatic filling of preformed packages with liquid or highly viscous materials and, in particular, to apparatus that can be adjusted for weight or volume without spillage and can be quickly disassembled, cleaned and reassembled.
Examples of the preformed packages to which the apparatus is particularly suited are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,717,046 and German invention document DE 3143 671 A1 wherein a separable top or tongue may be torn off to provide the dispensing outlet for the package, however, the disclosure below is not limited to the particular packages disclosed in these publications. Rather, the filling apparatus may be used to fill a wide variety of preformed cartons, plastic bottles and glass bottles.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,382,644 illustrates bag or package filling apparatus as a part of a bag forming and filling machine. In this machine the bags or packages are raised on fixtures to insert nozzles of the filling apparatus into the packages and the packages are filled before the packages are again lowered. Belgian invention publication No. 547082 discloses a package forming and filling sequence wherein open top formed packages are filled from hoppers that travel with the packages. The hoppers have filling tubes depending therefrom which enter the packages during the filling operation.

Adjustable stroke multiple package filling apparatus


An oleophilic molybdenum compound comprising an aliphatic amine group and a heteropolyanion group containing at least one molybdenum atom as a polyatom is disclosed. The oleophilic molybdenum compound is a catalyst precursor capable of being changed, in the hydroconversion reaction system, to a catalyst having excellent catalytic activity in hydroconversion of a hydrocarbon feedstock to a hydrocarbon product having a decreased molecular weight. The oleophilic molybdenum compound is efficiently produced from an aliphatic amine and a heteropolyacid.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an oleophilic molybdenum compound for use in hydroconversion of a hydrocarbon, and a method for producing the same. More particularly, the present invention is concerned with a novel oleophilic molybdenum compound comprising an aliphatic amine group and a heteropolyanion group, which compound is a catalyst precursor capable of being changed, in the hydroconversion reaction system, to a catalyst having excellent catalytic activity in hydroconversion of a hydrocarbon feedstock to a hydrocarbon product having a decreased molecular weight. The present invention is further concerned with a method for efficiently producing the novel oleophilic molybdenum compound from an aliphatic amine and a heteropolyacid.
2. Discussion of Related Art
A hydroconversion is now widely being conducted, in which a hydrocarbon feedstock, particularly a feedstock of a heavy hydrocarbon, such as heavy crude oil, distillation residual oil, tar sand extract oil, shale oil and coal, is converted to a light hydrocarbon having a low molecular weight. In the hydroconversion of a hydrocarbon feedstock, first, the hydrocarbon is thermally cracked to form hydrocarbon radicals. These hydrocarbon radicals are favorably bonded with hydrogen atoms to produce a hydrocarbon having a decreased molecular weight. At the same time, polycondensation of these radicals unfavorably occurs to produce polycondensates, such as coke and asphaltene. These polycondensates are likely to remain in a reaction apparatus, especially in a reaction zone of the apparatus, to thereby cause coking and choking phenomena which hinder the advancement of the hydroconversion reaction. Various catalysts have been proposed, which are expected to exert various activities, including not only an activity of suppressing the above-mentioned unfavorable polycondensation of hydrocarbon radicals while suppressing extreme generation of gases, such as methane, ethane, propane and butane, but also an activity of simultaneously attaining a content decrease with respect to heteroatoms, such as atoms of sulfur, nitrogen and oxygen, heavy metals, such as vanadium and nickel, and ash as contained in the hydrocarbon feedstock and an activity of attaining a hydrogenation of a hydrocarbon so as to modify the properties of the hydrocarbon. These activities of the catalyst are hereinafter frequently referred to simply as "hydroconversion activities".
The conventional reaction systems for the hydroconversion of a heavy oil are classified into three types, i.e., a fixed bed reaction system, an ebullated bed reaction system and a dispersion (suspension) reaction system, depending on how the catalyst is used. Of these, a dispersion reaction system, in which a dispersible metal compound is added as a hydroconversion catalyst or as a precursor thereof to a hydrocarbon feedstock, is preferred from the viewpoint of its suitability for effective hydroconversion of a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock. Accordingly, a large variety of dispersible metal compounds have been proposed for use in the dispersion reaction system.
Most of such dispersible metal compounds contain a metal element selected from transition metal elements of Group V, Group VI and Group VIII of the periodic table. In particular, the most representative element contained in such dispersible metal compounds is a molybdenum element capable of exerting a high catalytic activity in the form of a sulfide or a sulfide-like compound when it is incorporated in a hydrocarbon reaction system. Further, various proposals have been made with respect to the molybdenum compounds which are added as a catalyst precursor to a hydrocarbon feedstock The proposed catalyst precursors include a heteropolyacid containing molybdenum atoms as polyatoms.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,134,825, 4,431,520 and 4,606,809 discloses proposals, in which a heteropolyacid containing molybdenum atoms as polyatoms is used in the same way as other metal compounds for the hydroconversion of a hydrocarbon. Further, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,196,072, 4,637,870 and 4,637,871 disclose the use of a heteropolyacid containing molybdenum or tungusten atoms as polyatoms, optionally together with phosphoric acid. In these U.S. patents, the heteropolyacid is added in the form of a solid or an aqueous solution.
Moreover, U.S. Pat. No. 4,770,764 discloses an additive obtained by mixing an aqueous heteropolyacid solution with a powdery carbonaceous substance in the anticipation that a high dispersion of the heteropolyacid in a hydrocarbon oil is attained by virtue of the activity of the carbonaceous substance powder as a carrier.
The heteropolyacid containing molybdenum atoms as polyatoms is a characteristic cluster compound having a single anion structure. In view of this structure, it can be anticipated that the heteropolyacid is suitable for use as a molybdenum catalyst precursor. However, despite such anticipation, the heteropolyacid is hydrophilic and oleophobic, so that it has high solubility in a hydrophilic solvent, such as water, an alcohol and an ether, but it is insoluble in a hydrocarbon oil. Therefore, it is difficult to attain a high dispersion of the heteropolyacid in a hydrocarbon feedstock only by adding to the hydrocarbon feedstock the heteropolyacid in the form of a solid or a solution thereof in a hydrophilic solvent. As a result, the hydroconversion activity of the heteropolyacid is unsatisfactory in the dispersion reaction system.
Despite the above various proposals hitherto made, any stable, continuous flow process which is completely satisfactory from the technical and practical viewpoints, has not yet been realized in the hydroconversion of a heavy hydrocarbon to a more valuable light hydrocarbon at a high conversion ratio, for example, a hydroconversion of a feedstock of vacuum distillation residual oil having a boiling point of 538.degree. C. (1000.degree. F.) or above to a hydrocarbon fraction having a boiling point of lower than 538 .degree. C. at a conversion ratio as high as 80%. The reason for the non-realization of such a continuous flow process is that when a hydroconversion at a high conversion ratio is attempted, the amount of polycondensates, such as coke and asphaltene, formed by side reactions is increased so that coking and choking phenomena attributed to adhesion and deposition of a portion of the polycondensates inside a reaction apparatus, particularly a reaction zone of the apparatus become extreme, and that effective measures have not been found for the suppression of such coking and choking phenomena.

Oleophilic molybdenum compound for use in hydroconversion of a hydrocarbon and a method for producing the same


Batch pasteurizers are disclosed for processing milk, colostrum and other dairy products. The pasteurizers comprise inner drums to contain the processed liquid, an outer drum surrounding same and providing an annular space for retaining a heating fluid (heated by an electrical heater), a helical coil to carry cooling fluid through the heating fluid, a motorized pump or impeller to agitate the treated liquid to optimize heat transfer, and a control system to switch the heater on and off, actuate cooling liquid flow and optionally, at least partially drain the heating fluid to provide a temperature/time profile and close temperature tolerance, all of which produce pasteurized products with adequate levels of immunoglobulins to provide newborn animals with sufficient immune function.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to apparatus for pasteurizing or heat treating fluid products for consumption by animals or humans.
2. Description of the Relevant Art
Since the dawn of history, various methods and apparatus have been devised for the heat treatment of foodstuffs for human and animal consumption, including cooking, pasteurization and sterilization. Both pasteurization and sterilization have been used with milk and related products. U.S. Pat. No. 4,310,476 provides in columns 1 to 5 an extensive discussion of pasteurization and sterilization of milk, which is incorporated herein by reference. Column 30 of the same patent identifies legal U.S. standards for milk pasteurization, which are also incorporated by reference.
Dairy farmers and other producers of foodstuffs such as milk are often required to transport their produce to central plants for processing including pasteurization or sterilization and packaging. In less advanced countries, modern processing plants may be unavailable or inaccessible, so that dairy products must be utilized locally, with whatever processing is available. Excess milk and related products may be used on the farm for feeding calves or other livestock, but may spoil or transmit disease if not pasteurized. There is an apparent need for economical apparatus for pasteurizing such milk or related products on site to permit safe use for feeding calves and the like. There is also a need for simple and economical apparatus for processing milk at or near the source in less advanced countries for both human and animal consumption.
Numerous patents disclose methods and apparatus for sterilizing or pasteurizing food directly or enclosed in containers. A number of these patents are disclosed in the background section of Applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 6,276,264. Additional patents relevant to the present invention are discussed below.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,788,871 discloses a probe for monitoring temperature and pressure in a thin-walled plastic container (i.e., a food container) which is undergoing a pasteurizing or sterilizing operation in suitable apparatus. The apparatus includes a pressurized vessel connected to water circulation and temperature control means.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,519,189 discloses the use of an external pump, heater and control apparatus for heating a drum (and contents to be heated) by circulating heated water (or other liquid) through a bath in a tub surrounding the drum.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,437,295 discloses a "lotion heating system" including an open container holding a closed bottle of lotion in a bath of water, the container, bath and lotion bottle being heated by an electrical heater with multiple levels of heating power.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,773,795 discloses an electric warming device using a "P.C." Heating element and a water bath. Thermostatic temperature control is discussed.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,479,423 discloses a "Continuous-Flow Apparatus For Pasteurizing Batches of Product," including heating and cooling coils in heat-exchange contact with a conduit for milk or other products to be pasteurized. The apparatus includes a cleaning system.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,671,662 discloses a pasteurizer for food products including a tank having an agitator to agitate the liquid therein, the agitator being set into a recess at the bottom of the tank and powered by an external motor.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,977,521 discloses an electric heater for a chafer, normally including a chafing dish, wherein the heater is positioned against the bottom of the chafing dish by a spring.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,189,440 discusses a continuous flow pasteurizer comprising a first tank and a second tank interconnected by a pasteurization conduit. Fluids are heated to a desired temperature in a first section of the conduit and held at this temperature while flowing through a second section of the conduit.
Most of these patents disclose apparatus and methods for the continuous processing of milk or other foodstuffs, and most of these systems are complicated and expensive. There remains a need for simple, economical apparatus for batch processing of various types of milk and components thereof on dairy farms and the like.
While it has long been known that pasteurization is an important tool in preventing the spread of disease through milk and other food products, pasteurization of colostrum has been a more delicate matter. Colostrum is known as the "first milk" of most mammals. It is extremely high in nutritional content, but more importantly, it carries the first "vaccine" for the newborn in the form of various immunoglobulins (Ig). These proteins confer immunity to the newborn by being absorbed directly into their bloodstream. Adequate levels of these immunoglobulins (Ig) must be consumed by the newborn at a very early age, usually within hours of birth. Due to the high level of protein in the form of Ig, the pasteurization procedure must be carried out in a manner which preserves these proteins while still adequately pasteurizing. There has been some success in this field over the past couple of decades, but a commercial unit has not been widely available to do quantities large enough for the average dairy.
The drawbacks of current systems include the following: Many pasteurizers are high temperature short time (HTST) systems that rapidly bring the product to a high temperature, hold it there for a short time and then rapidly cool the product once again. These systems cause rapid degradation of the Ig, often lowering the level below that required to impart immunity to the newborn. Also at these high temperatures, the end product is greatly thickened in consistency. This thickening prevents delivery of the colostrum to the newborn animal. For these reasons, these HTST systems will not handle the product well and often become plugged to the point of requiring disassembly for cleaning them. Other manufacturers have designed thermos systems in hot water baths and small table top models that will pasteurize the colostrum by bringing it to a lower temperature and holding it there for a longer period of time. While this methodology does a much better job of preserving the Ig, there are still considerable drawbacks. These systems are typically labor intensive due to the lack of automation. The operator must keep the product stirred for even heating. The temperature control is often primitive and involves hand held thermometers or loosely calibrated thermostats such as those used on an electric skillet. The other main disadvantage is the small volume that most of these will handle. Two gallons seems to be the capacity of some of the larger units. The average cow will yield more than this in her first milking, which makes the unit once again labor intensive for most cow (bovine) or goat (caprine) dairies. There is a particular need for a pasteurizer which can optimize the use of this scarce resource.


In one embodiment, the present invention includes a computer-implemented method comprising monitoring a first condition of an in-memory database. An in-memory data store stores an in-memory database. The method further comprises determining whether the first condition of the in-memory database meets a first defined criterion. If the first condition of the in-memory database meets the first defined criterion, the in-memory database is stored in a persistent data store as a storage based database. If a received query is a query of the storage based database, the query is executed using the storage based database. Metadata of the in-memory database is mapped into a metadata repository if the in-memory database is stored in the in-memory data store. Metadata of the in-memory database is remapped in the metadata repository if the in-memory database is stored in the persistent data store as the storage based database.

The present invention relates to computing, and in particular, to systems and methods for processing hybrid co-tenancy in a multi-database cloud.
Enterprise application software companies provide in-memory applications to customers via the cloud. Operating in-memory databases in the cloud face severe obstacles due to the size of memory that the database consumes. An operational tenant concept for a database with large memory consumption is difficult and always includes performance or security compromises. Hence, the cost of operations is very high.
One problem associated with this approach is that tenancy of large data consumers in an in-memory database is handled by swapping the unused tables out to a persistency layer (e.g., disk) and swapping the tables back into the in-memory database when they are needed. This swapping may take some time. It is generally desirable for customers to process their databases in the cloud without long delays. However, because service level agreements or other constraints may limit performance of the customers, some swapping to the persistency layer may be agreed to. Consequently, there exists a need for improved systems and methods for processing databases in a cloud. The present invention addresses this problem, and others, by providing systems and methods for processing multiple databases in a cloud.

Processing hybrid co-tenancy in a multi-database cloud