The present invention provides methods of regulating the destruction of mRNA molecules containing an AU-rich element (ARE), for example, methods of stimulating the degradation of an mRNA molecule encoding TNF-α, and methods of inhibiting the degradation of an mRNA molecule encoding GM-CSF. Also provided are methods for identifying compounds that regulate the destruction of mRNA molecules containing AREs.

The zinc finger protein family encompasses a broad variety of proteins with assorted functions. One relatively uncommon class of zinc finger proteins contains fingers of the Cys-Cys-Cys-His (SEQ ID NO:48) (CCCH) type, in which three cysteines and one histidine are thought to coordinate a single atom of zinc. Members of a very small subclass of the larger family of CCCH zinc finger proteins contain two tandem zinc fingers consisting of Cx8Cx5Cx3H (SEQ ID NO:47) (wherein "x" refers to variable amino acids), spaced exactly 18 amino acids apart. The prototype of proteins of this CCCH double zinc finger subclass is tristetraprolin (TTP), also known as TIS11 and Nup475. TTP is localized to the nucleus of quiescent fibroblasts, but is rapidly phosphorylated on serine residues and translocated to the cytosol after stimulation with serum or other mitogens. TTP is almost completely cytosolic in macrophages.
TTP-deficient mice appear normal at birth, but rapidly develop a wasting syndrome accompanied by erosive arthritis, dermatitis, alopecia, autoantibodies and myeloid hyperplasia. Essentially all of these inflammation-associated conditions can be prevented by the injection of monoclonal antibodies specific for mouse tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), one of the principal mediators of the inflammatory response in mammals.
In addition to its well known role in acute septic shock, TNF-α has been implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic processes such as autoimmunity, graft-versus-host disease, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, and the cachexia that accompanies cancer and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Anti-TNF-α therapies such as neutralizing antibodies against TNF-α and chimeric soluble TNF-α receptors have demonstrated efficacy against some of these conditions in clinical trials.
The present invention is based upon the discovery that the TTP tandem zinc finger domain alone (as well as the analogous domain from other TTP-related polypeptides) is sufficient to bind to an AU-rich element (ARE) within the 3′ untranslated region (UTR) of a TNF-α mRNA molecule, thereby targeting the TNF-α mRNA molecule for destruction. The present invention is further based upon the discovery that this mRNA turnover mechanism is not unique to TNF-α mRNA, as destruction of other mRNAs containing AREs, such as the mRNA that encodes granulocyte-macrophage stimulating factor (GM-CSF), is stimulated by the tandem zinc finger domain of TTP and TTP-related polypeptides. Accordingly, the invention provides functional fragments of TTP and TTP-related polypeptides, nucleic acids encoding such functional fragments, and methods of using the nucleic acids and polypeptide fragments to regulate (i.e., stimulate or inhibit) the destruction of mRNAs that contain an ARE. These methods may be used to treat diseases and conditions that are affected by polypeptides encoded by an mRNA molecule whose destruction is modulated by an ARE. The polypeptides and methods of the invention can also be used to identify compounds that regulate the activity of TTP and TTP-related polypeptides, and are therefore useful for regulating levels of mRNA encoding TNF-α, GM-CSF, and other mRNAs containing functional AREs, such as that encoding interleukin-3 (IL-3).

TTP-related zinc finger domains and methods of use

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services


A dampening solution composition for lithographic printing, which comprises (a) water, and (b) a compound (A) represented by the following formula (I). ##STR1## wherein R represents a methyl group, an ethyl group, an n-propyl group or an isopropyl group, and n represents an integer of 1 to 4, is disclosed.

Lithographic printing is a printing system in which printing is conducted using a printing plate with ink-receptive image areas and hydrophilic ink-repellant non-image areas. Namely, printing is conducted in such a manner that a dampening solution is applied to the surface of the printing plate. The solution is retained in the hydrophilic areas, but repelled by the ink-receptive image areas to which ink is to be applied. It is important for the ink and the dampening solution to be applied to the surface of the printing plate with a good ink-water balance to achieve successful printing. When the amount of the dampening solution applied to the surface of the plate is too large, ink is intensively emulsified and offset or failure in drying occurs. When the amount of the dampening solution is too small, ink adheres to the non-image areas and scumming occurs.
For better control of the balance between ink and the dampening solution, dampening solutions usually contain, in addition to water, about 10% by weight of isopropyl alcohol (IPA) to reduce surface tension, various hydrophilic materials such as gum arabic, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), citric acid and various surfactants, an acid such as phosphoric acid as an affinitizing agent to remove oxides on the surface of the plate and ammonium bichromate or nitrates as a corrosion inhibitor for the plate. When the dampening solutions containing IPA are used, good prints can be obtained, transfer of the dampening solution from a pan is good and as a result, water tolerance is increased and workability is improved. The reason of these advantages can be assumed as follows: (1) the wetting of the hydrophilic non-image areas of the plate becomes good and (2) the wetting of dampening rollers by the dampening solution is good and as a result, transfer of water from a pan to the form rollers and the plate is good. However, IPA is a flammable hazardous material. Hence, fire hazards are a concern. Further, IPA is harmful to the human body. Accordingly, a lithographic dampening solution without IPA has been desired.
To this end, JP-B-55-19757 (the term "JP-B" as used herein means an "examined Japanese patent publication") discloses dampening solutions for lithographic printing which contain polyalkylene oxide alkyl ether surfactants, JP-B-46-30323 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 3,547,632) discloses dampening solutions for lithographic printing which contain polyglycol and an anionic surfactant, and JP-A-63-25093 (the term "JP-A" as used herein means an "unexamined published Japanese patent application") (corresponding to EP-A-251621) discloses dampening solutions for lithographic printing which contain polyethylene oxide surfactants.
The surface tension can be certainly reduced by adding usually 0.1 to 0.5% by weight, based on the total weight of the solution, of the surfactant. However, the transfer of the dampening solutions from a pan is poor in comparison with those containing IPA and the wetting of the hydrophilic non-image areas of the plate is not satisfactory.

Dampening solution for lithographic printing


An armor panel for defeating a projectile strike including (a) a substantially planar core structure having spaced, generally parallel-planar strike and opposite faces, and elongate, circumsurrounding edge structure extending generally normally between these faces to define a perimeter for the core structure, (b) stranded core-wrap structure substantially fully enveloping the core structure, and possessing elongate, tension-load-bearing (TLB) strands which extend at angles relative to one another across the mentioned faces, and substantially parallel to one another in a distribution along the perimeter defined by the edge structure, and (c) a high-elastomeric coating which is distributed over at least those portions of the core-wrap structure which are disposed adjacent the strike face and the edge structure.

This invention pertains to an anti-projectile, anti-spall, anti-ricochet, trampoline-action armor panel. In particular, it pertains to such a panel which is formed preferably with a plural-layered armor core, or core structure, including a hardened-material tile strike layer, and a plurality of armoring back-up flexure, or flex, layers (or at least one such layer) arranged in a stack, with lateral edges in the stack bound against motion relative to one another. The panel of the invention further includes a load-managing, stranded, around-the-core enveloping core-wrap of a special nature, with a coating provided on the outside at least of the lateral edges and of the strike face of the panel, which coating is formed of a high-elastomer, self-puncture-healing and energy-dissipating material, which, as will be discussed, and among other things, enhances trampoline action in response to a projectile strike.
In further general terms, the panel is constructed preferably with a modular, tile-like configuration so that it can easily be organized with other modularly-related similar panels to form a protective shield on, adjacent, etc., a selected site or object. Appropriate attaching structure/mechanism may be suitably integrated into the panel during its construction, if desired, for enabling ready mounting and attaching of the panel in its intended operative location.
The mentioned back-up layers may be employed in different numbers depending upon the projectile threat level to which the panel's use is directed, and these back-up layers are preferably each formed with plural sub-layers of appropriately disposed aramid fibers, preferably in a fabric weave, which are suitably facially bonded internally to unify the layer. The hardened-material, preferably ceramic-tile, strike layer which defines the projectile strike side of the panel of this invention is preferably formed as a row-and-column array of smaller ceramic tile units. These tile units are disposed substantially in edge-adjacent-edge, slightly edge-spaced, lateral adjacency, with an appropriate, shock-absorbing, elastomeric binder resin disposed between these edges to maintain a desired slight amount of spacing between adjacent edges in order to minimize lateral telegraphing of impact shattering and fragmentation of one tile to its neighbors. This same resin is employed to bind the strike layer to one facial side of the stack of adjacent back-up layers, and the core-wrap structure to the opposite facial side of the back-up layer stack.
The edge binding, or anchoring, of the lateral edges of all of the back-up layers in the core of the panel of this invention via a suitable hot-melt adhesive effectively converts substantially the entire lateral edge perimeter (the perimetral boundary) of the back-up layer portion of the core into a non-relative-motion singularity. This singularity prevents these edges effectively from moving relative to one another during response to an impact, while at the same time permitting a kind of trampoline-like, broad-beam flexing across the broad expanses of all of the back-up layers collectively. The bound edge structure further accommodates interfacial sliding motion between the confronting faces (facial expanses) of these layers as a consequence of a projectile impact event. This edge-bound structure thus renders, or characterizes, a unique core arrangement which responds with what is referred to herein as trampoline-broad-beam, slide-face behavior. One way of thinking about, or visualizing, how this beam-like characterization/analogy attaches to the structure of the invention is to imagine viewing any number of transverse cross-sectional sections taken through the core stack of layers in any plane which effectively intersects the planes of these layers at right angles. Doing this, one will notice that what one sees in each of these view planes is an elongate, laminar, beam-like "section" with opposite ends effectively locked into unified and interconnected structures (the entire bound perimeter), and with central, laminar stretches between these ends bendable in response very much like what one would observe in the behavior of an elongate, double-end-supported beam structure in, for example, the frame of a building.
The stranded core-wrap structure employed herein is one wherein two, wrapped, fabric-like components are employed, each having what is referred to herein as a load-transmitting grain direction (a fiber-based direction) which is effectively defined by elongate, substantially parallel, elongate, tension-load-bearing (TLB) fibers, preferably aramid fibers. These elongate TLB fibers in each wrap component substantially parallel the grain direction of the component. The two wrap components are organized into overlapping adjacency with respect to one another in such a fashion that (a) their respective grain directions are disposed at angles, and preferably at right angles, relative to one another at the two locations where these two components extend across the broad faces of the panel of this invention, and (b), these same grain directions are aligned in a common direction along the lateral edges of the panel, and specifically in a common direction which extends substantially normally between what can be thought of as the planes of the strike and opposite faces of the finished panel.
Significantly, the portions of the core-wrap structure which lie adjacent the bound edges of the back-up layers are adhered thereto, and this arrangement aids, as will be explained, in the trampoline response action of the panel of the invention. Additionally, in the region where these two core-wrap components centrally cross and overlap one another, they are anchored to that side of the stack of back-up layers which faces away from the strike layer of ceramic tiles.
The mentioned high-elastomer coating, which may be applied to the entirety of the surface areas of all sides of the panel of this invention, but which in the specific embodiment described herein extends over only the strike side and the lateral edges of the disclosed panel, operates as a significant energy dissipater with respect to an impacting projectile, such as a bullet, a fragmentation shrapnel-like shard, etc. This elastomer coating also integrates mechanically with the core-wrap structure, as will be explained, and co-acts therewith, along with the edge-bound core-structure back-up layers, via the connections which exist between these layers and the core-wrap structure, to enhance the broad-beam trampoline-response behavior of the overall panel.
In testing and observing the responses of many panels constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention, we have observed that this panel not only is very effective in its role of defeating an incoming projectile threat, but also, after an impact has occurred, is strongly effective in preventing post-impact threat developments arising from spall. In other words, it does not allow the regeneration, so-to-speak, of fragmentation projectiles due, for example, to the breaking up of an incoming impacting projectile, or the breaking up of an internal armoring tile. Put another way, the panel appears to swallow/contain both impacting threat projectiles and the resulting internal fragments which may develop (as by bullet break-up and tile shattering) as a consequence of a received impact. The panel also is effective in greatly minimizing ricochets. Further, and as will be mentioned again later, the cooperative relationship which exists between the outer elastomer coating and the core-wrap structure, appears to handle an internal, blast-like, pressure-wave event, which immediately follows a projectile impact, in a unique outward-bulge-and-return manner.
All in all, the structure of the panel of this invention operates with a unique, broad-beam, trampoline-like and related actions which deal with a projectile impact through internal tile fragmentation to "burn" energy and break up a projectile, through energy dissipation occurring in the response provided by the elastomer layer, through broad-beam, trampoline-like flexure and yielding deflection which occurs in the behavior of the stacked assembly of the back-up layers included in the panel core, and through the bulge-and-return behavior just mentioned above. As will be seen, and as has been noted earlier, trampoline response is enhanced by the presence in the panel of the elastomer outer coating which is anchored to the panel edge regions in the immediately underlying core-wrap fabric structure.
Further, because of the unique edge-to-edge, resin-filled, shock-absorbing spacing which characterizes the strike layer of the employed hardened-material (ceramic) tile array, fragmentation of a directly hit tile effectively does not telegraph to its neighbors. Thus the armor panel of this invention has demonstrated a remarkable ability to receive and disable multiple, closely-spaced projectile impacts.
These and various other features and advantages which are offered by the invention will now become more fully apparent as the description which shortly follows is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
While those skilled in the art will recognize from the description of this invention which now follows that various specific materials may be employed in different regions of the structure of the present invention, there are certain preferred materials upon which we have settled, and we here identify those materials.


A method for state transition in voice systems including: generating one or more stackable state macros, each of the one or more stackable state macros including a plurality of commands; saving the current state before executing another macro; enabling restoring the previous state after a plurality of commands is completed, allowing a user to utter voice commands to restore the individual state of components or the voice systems as a whole to the previous state or to a known home state. The method further utilizes voice commands not specific to the current state and is used specifically for automatically controlling a plurality of components of a vehicle.

Field of the Invention
This invention relates to voice systems, and particularly to a method for generating, saving, and restoring stackable state macros in voice systems.
Description of Background
Currently, in-vehicle voice systems allow one or more users to speak individual commands in order to execute a single action that might otherwise require the use of a user's hands and/or eyes. For example, the voice commands "raise window" or "mute radio" may be recited by a user, and the user expects the system to execute such commands. However, these voice commands do not allow the ability to make a set of modifications to accommodate changes in the user's context.
For example, when a driver of a vehicle pulls up to a tollbooth, the driver may desire to perform the following tasks: turn the wipers off, roll down the driver's window, and turn off or mute the vehicle radio. Then, when the driver pulls back out of the tollbooth, the driver may desire to return all those actions back to a previous state.
Traditional systems allow one or more users to issue a series of commands to accomplish these goals and allow for the creation of a set of voice commands that each execute a series of actions prompted by the one or more users. Each user/system speech turn requires cognitive resources and introduces an opportunity for speech and/or recognition errors. One solution proposed by traditional systems is abstracting a set of system responses. However, proposed state transitions are problematic.
Considering the limitations of the aforementioned methods, it is clear that there is a need for an efficient method for generating, saving, and restoring stackable state macros in voice systems. This capability reduces the time it takes for a user to perform tasks, makes tasks more natural to the driver, and reduces cognitive demand on the driver.

Enhancing environment voice macros via a stackable save/restore state of an object within an environment controlled by voice commands for control of vehicle components


A cutting device especially designed for cutting up salad greens includes two blades, a rib and handles. The two blades are inter-secured to rotate together about a common axis, but are spaced apart from each other along the common axis. The rib is pivotably secured to the two blades so as to rotate about the common axis, and is curved in a direction of rotation so as to have a concave surface. The handles are integrated with the two blades and the rib to control the two blades and the rib to rotate simultaneously between open and closed positions. The concave surface of the rib is the lead surface when moving from the open position to the closed position, and the cutting edges of the two blades cross edges of the concave surface when moving from the open position to the closed position, so as to perform a cutting action.

When preparing and serving food, particularly salads and the like, it often is necessary to cut up (and/or chop) and serve the food from a bowl. Although there are conventional service utensils for serving food from a bowl, conventional knives and scissors are not well adapted for performing cutting in such a restricted environment. Specifically, the shape of traditional blades does not allow for easy maneuvering in the parabolic environment of a bowl. In addition, the curved sides of a bowl, as well as the materials of which a typical bowl is constructed, do not provide an ideal cutting surface for conventional blades.
The present invention addresses this problem by providing a cutting device with features that are particularly well suited for both cutting and serving food from a bowl, or other similar restricted environment. In particular, the kitchen shears of the present invention can have features such as one or more specially curved blades, curved ribs with cutting edges, and wing attachments for the blades and/or ribs, that allow for the scooping up of food in a bowl. Once scooped up by the device, one or more opposing blades can be put into motion, so as to cross the curved blade(s) and/or ribs, and cut the food. Thus, the present invention provides a way to scoop up food in a bowl that would otherwise be difficult to handle with a conventional knife, and support the food while the chopping of it is easily performed. Also, the chopping is easily performed regardless of the bowl's surface materials, since the device provides its own cutting surface. This makes cutting easier and protects the surface of the bowl.


A demonstration system for a peripheral such as a printer connects an external, non-volatile memory to the printer in place of the host computer. One such peripheral uses a peripheral cable containing a controller or formatter that includes a computer interface for communications with the host computer and an interface for memory accesses. The peripheral cable connects to the computer interface for communications with the host computer. The demonstration system employs a controller or formatter of the same type as used in the peripheral cable and connects the interface for reading from the external memory. The controller can load both demonstration code and demonstration data from the external memory and direct the peripheral to perform a demonstration.

A customer buying a computer peripheral such as a printer, a monitor, or a speaker system often wants to see a demonstration of the peripherals' capabilities. In particular, when choosing a printer, a customer is generally interested in the print quality, the speed of print operations, and the noise the printer makes. A customer could rely on pre-printed pages and a specification sheet as indications of the printer's capability, but the customer may be skeptical of the pre-printed material and may be unwilling to purchase a printer without seeing the printer in action. Accordingly, there is a general need for point-of-sale demonstrations of computer peripherals.
One technique for providing printer demonstrations is to include in a printer non-volatile memory that stores one or more demonstration pages and control circuitry for accessing and printing the stored demonstration pages at a customer's request. However, implementing the necessary control circuitry and memory for demonstrations adds cost to each printer without a corresponding improvement in performance.
Another technique for providing demonstrations is to connect a printer to a computer that controls the printer. This technique is often impractical at the point of sale because of the cost associated with having a computer dedicated to controlling printer demonstrations and technical complexities of controlling a large number of printers of different types. Additionally, customers typically would need to ask for help when activating the demonstration, and the complexity of the demonstration might present the printer unfavorably.
Yet another technique for providing printer demonstrations without burdening each printer with additional hardware is to construct a demonstration server having the minimum capabilities required to operate the printer. A demonstration server is basically a compact computer capable of little more than sending print images to printer. A disadvantage of constructing a demonstration server is the cost and development effort required to design the demonstration server, which is not a commercial product. The operation of the demonstration server can be simpler than a conventional computer operating a printer, but generally, the demonstration server would still require a separate power supply and space in the stores selling the printers.
A method for demonstrating the capabilities of a computer peripheral at the point of sale is desired that does not increase the cost of each peripheral, does not require significant design effort for production of a demonstration server that is not a commercial product, and does not require complex control systems, a power supply, or space at the point of sale.

Point-of-sale demonstration of computer peripherals

Avago Technologies Imaging IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.


A method for training a central artificial intelligence module (“AI module”) for highly or fully automated operation of a vehicle, the central AI module to translate input signals into output signals, and the translation is carried out using a processing chain that is adaptable by modifying values of internal processing parameters, wherein the training of the central AI module takes place by modifying the internal processing parameters based on further internal processing parameters of further AI modules, the further AI modules being in a plurality of vehicles and translating input signals into output signals in each case, and the translations taking place using processing chains that are able to be adapted by modifying values of further internal processing parameters, the further AI modules having been trained using input signals that are based on environment data acquired with using environment sensor systems installed in the vehicles.

The present invention relates to a method for training a central artificial intelligence module.
Conventional learning methods for artificial intelligence may include training a neural network based on environment data that are acquired by vehicles and centrally stored. Raw data from the vehicle sensors, which may possibly include sensitive information that restricts the privacy of the vehicle users, are used in the process.
In addition, learning methods are available in which an artificial intelligence intended for automated driving is trained in a vehicle on the basis of the environment data acquired by the vehicle. In order to compile a sufficient data quantity for training the artificial intelligence, the vehicle must travel an extremely high number of test kilometers.

Method for training a central artificial intelligence module


There is provided an optical mechanism including a substrate, an image chip, a light source and a securing member. The image chip and the light source are attached to the substrate. The securing member is secured to the substrate and includes a first containing space for accommodating the light source, a second containing space for accommodating the image chip and a blocking region between the first containing space and the second containing space.

1. Field of the Disclosure
This disclosure generally relates to an optical mechanism applied to wafer scale packaging and, more particularly, to an optical mechanism using an image sensor whose semiconductor structure is sealed by transparent materials in wafer scale packaging.
2. Description of the Related Art
Presently, the image sensor chip is manufactured by cutting a die from a silicon wafer and then sealing the die with various packaging technologies such as iDip, LGA or COB technology. These packaging technologies are well known to those skilled in the art and thus details thereof are not described herein.
A common feature of the image sensor chips packaged by the above packaging technologies is that the chips are covered by a black cavity and this is a general type of the chip package nowadays. To image sensor chips, this feature can block ambient light outside the package such that an image sensor chip may be directly applied to various applications, e.g. an optical mouse, after being packaged. The image sensor chip may be directly positioned and fixed at a desired height such that it is able to detect reflected light from a table surface to perform optical navigation.
However, with the development of the semiconductor fabrication technology, the wafer scale packaging has become a mature technology. In the wafer scale packaging, it may use transparent materials, e.g. glass or epoxy, to enclose the die to form a package structure; for example, Chip Scale Package (CSP) technology, Through-Silicon Via (TSV) technology and OPLGA technology may perform the packaging process by using transparent glass or epoxy to seal the die. Therefore in the application of an image sensor chip, this kind of chip package does not have a black cavity such that ambient light outside the image sensor chip may pass through the transparent glass or epoxy to influence the operation of the image sensor chip.
According, there is a need to provide a novel optical mechanism and positioning structure capable of being applied to a wafer scale packaging.

Wafer scale image sensor package and optical mechanism


An apparatus for displaying a driving state of a vehicle, a system including the same and a method thereof is provided. The apparatus includes a processor that determines a change in a state of a lane change assistance function and controls a step-by-step notification based on the change in the state of the lane change assistance function, and a display controlled by the processor to display the step-by-step notification based on the change in the state of the lane change assistance function.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
Recently, a system for assisting the driving of a vehicle such as an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) has been developed and spotlighted in the automobile industry.
Such an advanced driver assistance system assists the vehicle driving, rather than the driver, and assists the lane change of a vehicle or the like by using various sensors and advanced logic.
In particular, when the lane change of a vehicle is assisted, the state of a lane change function such as normal operation, restriction, interruption, and like is changed from time to time depending on a surrounding situation and a current state of the vehicle. In this case, there is a need to accurately inform the driver of the change in a state of the lane change function, thereby allowing the driver to response safely to it.

Apparatus for displaying driving state of vehicle, system including the same and method thereof


A mass spectrometer data dependent method and apparatus is introduced to alter scanning parameters based upon data acquired during that scan. Such a method an apparatus may include the identification of ion species of interest meeting user specified criteria so that a determination can be made as to whether or not the present scan is to be continued, terminated, or alternatively paused while such a decision is being made. Such a method of operation saves overall cycle time and allows examination of, for example, marker ion ratios for additional peptides that might otherwise be missed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of mass spectrometry, and more particularly to a mass spectrometer system and method that provides for one or more data dependent decisions to be made as to altering scan parameters based upon information acquired during the scan.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Data dependent experiments currently involve collecting a mass spectral scan and then performing one or more subsequent scans based upon the analysis of data in the first scan. Generally described, data-dependent acquisition involves using data derived from an experimentally-acquired mass spectrum in an "on-the-fly" manner to direct the subsequent operation of a mass spectrometer; for example, a mass spectrometer may be switched between MS and MS/MS scan modes upon detection of an ion species of potential interest. Utilization of data-dependent acquisition methods in a mass spectrometer provides the ability to make automated, real-time decisions in order to maximize the useful information content of the acquired data. Current systems and methods that provide for real time data dependent functionality include, but are not limited to: the Data Dependent Experiment™ (DDE) tool utilized by Thermo Finnigan LLC of San Jose, Calif., the Data Directed Analysis (DDA) tool by Waters Corporation (Micromass™) and the Information Dependant Acquisition™ (IDA™) system marketed by MDS Sciex Inc. and Applera Corporation.
Data-dependent acquisition methods may be characterized as having one or more input criteria, and one or more output actions. The input criteria employed for conventional data-dependent methods are generally based on parameters such as intensity, intensity pattern, mass window, mass difference (neutral loss), mass-to-charge (m/z) inclusion and exclusion lists, and product ion mass. The input criteria are employed to select one or more ion species that satisfy the criteria. The selected ion species are then subjected to an output action (examples of which include performing MS/MS or MS" analysis and/or high-resolution scanning). In one instance of a typical data-dependent experiment, a group of ions are mass analyzed, and precursor ion species having mass spectral intensities exceeding a specified threshold are subsequently selected as precursor ions for MS/MS analysis, which may involve operations of isolation, dissociation of the precursor ions, and mass analysis of the product ions.
Generally, a mass spectrometer configured to provide such data dependent analysis most often includes: an ion source to transform introduced molecules in a sample into ionized fragments; an analyzer to separate such ionized ions by their masses by applying electric and magnetic fields; and a detector to measure and thus provide data for identifying and calculating the abundances of each ion fragment present. Moreover, such a mass spectrometer system often can and does include a two-dimensional (2D) and/or a three-dimensional (3D) ion trap that enables the storage of ions over a large range of masses for relatively large periods of time. Once the ions are formed and stored, various known techniques can be performed for isolating the desired ions of interest and for conducting MS/MS or (MS)n experiments. In particular, MS/MS often involves fragmentation of an ion or ions of interest in order to obtained desired information regarding the one or more ions' structure.
The fragmentation process itself typically includes the use of an auxiliary voltage of low amplitude (e.g., up to about 20 volts at a duration of up to about tens of milliseconds) configured with a resonance frequency to match desired ions frequencies of motion, which in turn is determined by the main trapping RF field amplitude and the ions mass-to-charge ratio (m/z). Particular ions in resonance with such an auxiliary applied voltage take up the energy and their amplitude of motion grows. In an ideal quadrupole field, the amplitude of resonating ions grows linearly with time if the resonance voltage is continuously applied. As the amplitude increases, the kinetic energy of resonating ions also increases (i.e., as the square of the amplitude) and thus any collisions that occur with introduced neutral gas molecules or other ions become increasingly energetic. Eventually, the collisions which occur deposit enough energy into the molecular bonds of the resonating ions to cause bonds to break and thus cause fragmentation. The beneficial result of such a method is a desired mass spectrum for analysis.
However, a constraint that has continued to limit mass spectrometer apparatus that utilize such 2D and 3D ion trap mass analyzer instruments is that upon initiating a scan of the contents of the traps, a completion of the initiated scan may be unwarranted based upon information that is obtained during scanning. In particular, there are no commercially available systems in place to direct such a system to automatically stop an MS, (MS)n or MS/MS scan in progress or continue such scans based on interrogated (m/z) data provided during the scan itself.
Background information on a data dependent system that alternates between a fast scan (i.e., measurement scan) and a slow scan (i.e., a survey scan) based on a pre-scan map, is described and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,837,434, entitled, MASS SPECTROMETRY SYSTEM AND METHOD EMPLOYING MEASUREMENT/SURVEY SCAN STRATEGY," issued Jun. 6, 1989, to James, including the following, "A gas chromatography plus mass spectrometry system implements a scan strategy in which each full range scan alternates between a normal measurement mode and a survey mode based on a block/gap map made during the previous scan. Survey mode is used within regions that were determined in the previous scan to lack signal above a predetermined threshold. Spectral data is generated during measurement mode operation. Each scan serves both measurement and mapping functions in a way that avoids mass filter jumps, since each scan is monotonic over the entire scanning range."
Background information for a data dependent mass spectrometer system that enables peptidic analysis, is described and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,498,568, entitled, "REAL-TIME ANALYSIS OF MASS SPECTROMETRY DATA FOR IDENTIFYING PEPTIDIC DATA OF INTEREST," filed Apr. 29, 2005, to Overney et al., including the following, "A mass spectrometry system is described. The mass spectrometry system comprises: (a) a mass spectrometer; and (b) a controller connected to the mass spectrometer. The controller is configured to: (i) direct the mass spectrometer to acquire a precursor ion spectrum of a sample stream; (ii) analyze, in real-time, the precursor ion spectrum to determine whether a first evaluation criterion is satisfied; (iii) if the first evaluation criterion is satisfied, direct the mass spectrometer to acquire a product ion spectrum of the sample stream; (iv) analyze, in real-time, the product ion spectrum to determine whether a second evaluation criterion is satisfied; and (v) if the second evaluation criterion is satisfied, analyze the product ion spectrum to assign an identification to the product ion spectrum. For certain implementations, the controller allows automated, data-dependent acquisition of mass spectrometry data to improve the efficiency at which peptidic data of interest can be acquired."
Background information for a data dependent mass spectrometer system that provides for selection of various dissociation techniques, is described and claimed in PCT application WO/2008/025014 A2, entitled, "DATA-DEPENDENT SELECTION OF DISSOCIATION TYPE IN A MASS SPECTROMETER," published filed Aug. 25, 2006, to Schwartz et al., including the following, "Methods and apparatus for data-dependent mass spectrometric MS/MS or MSn analysis are disclosed. The methods may include determination of the charge state of an ion species of interest, followed by automatic selection (e.g., CAD, ETD, or ETD followed by a non-dissociative charge reduction or collision activation) based at least partially on the determined charge state. The ion species of interest is then dissociated in accordance with the selected dissociation type, and an MS/MS or MSn spectrum of the resultant product ions may be acquired."
Accordingly, a need exists for a mass spectrometer system that utilizes a data dependent method of altering the acquisition of a given scan by monitoring for ion species of interest during the scan so as to determine whether to continue or terminate the present scan in order to preserve overall cycle time and improve efficiency. The present invention is thus directed to such a need.


The object of the present invention is to provide an α-isomaltosylglucosaccharide-forming enzyme, process of the same, cyclotetrasaccharide, and saccharide composition comprising the saccharide which are obtainable by using the enzyme; and is solved by establishing an α-isomaltosylglucosaccharide-forming enzyme which forms a saccharide, having a glucose polymerization degree of at least three and having both the α-1,6 glucosidic linkage as a linkage at the non-reducing end and the α-1,4 glucosidic linkage other than the linkage at the non-reducing end, by catalyzing the α-glucosyl-transfer from a saccharide having a glucose polymerization degree of at least two and having the α-1,4 glucosidic linkage as a linkage at the non-reducing end without substantially increasing the reducing power; α-isomaltosyl-transferring method using the enzyme; method for forming α-isomaltosylglucosaccharide; process for producing a cyclotetrasaccharide having the structure of cyclo{66)-α-D-glucopyranosyl-(163)-α-D-glucopyranosyl-(166)-α-D-glucopyranosyl-(163)-α-D-glucopyranosyl-(16} using both the α-isomaltosylglucosaccharide-forming enzyme and the α-isomaltosyl-transferring enzyme; and the uses of the saccharides obtainable therewith.

There have been known saccharides composed of glucose molecules as constituent saccharides, for example, partial starch hydrolysates, produced from starches as materials, including amylose, amylodextrin, maltodextrin, maltoolicosaccharide, and isomaltooligosaccharide. Also, these saccharides are known to have usually reducing and non-reducing groups at their molecular ends and exhibit reducibility. In general, partial starch hydrolysates can be expressed with an index of dextrose equivalent (DE), a scale of reducing power based on the dry solid. Those with a relatively high DE value are usually known to have properties of a relatively low molecular weight, relatively low viscosity, strong sweetness and reactivity, easy reactivity with amino group-containing substances such as amino acids and proteins that may induce browning and unpleasant smell, and easily cause deterioration. To improve these defects, there has long been desired a method for lowering or eliminating the reducing power without altering glucose molecules as constituent saccharides of partial starch hydrolysates. For example, as disclosed in Journal of American Chemical Society, Vol. 71, pp. 353-358 (1949), it was reported that a method for forming α-, β-, and γ-cyclodextrins that are composed of 6-8 glucose molecules linked together via the α-1,4 glucosidic linkage by contacting amylases, derived from microorganisms of the species Bacillus macerans, with starches. Nowadays, these cyclodextrins are produced on an industrial scale and used in diversified fields using their inherent properties such as non-reducibility, tasteless, and enclosing ability. As disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Kokai Nos. 143,876/95 and 213,283/95 applied for by the same applicant as the present invention, it is known a method for producing trehalose, composed of two glucose molecules linked together via the α,α-linkage, by contacting a non-reducing saccharide-forming enzyme and a trehalose-releasing enzyme with partial starch hydrolysates such as maltooligosaccharide. At present, trehalose has been industrially produced from starches and used in different fields by using its advantageous non-reducibility, mild- and high quality-sweetness. As described above, trehalose having a glucose polymerization degree (DP) of two, and α-, β-, and γ-cyclodextrins having a DP of 6-8 are produced on an industrial scale and used in view of their advantageous properties, however, the types of non- or low-reducing saccharides are limited, so that more diversified saccharides other than these saccharides are greatly required.
Recently, a new type of cyclotetrasaccharide, composed of glucose units, was reported. European Journal of Biochemistry, Vol. 226, pp. 641-648 (1994) shows that a cyclic tetrasaccharide having the structure of cyclo{66)-α-D-glucopyranosyl-(163)-α-D-glucopyranosyl-(166)-α-D-glucopyranosyl-(163) -α-D-glucopyranosyl-(16} (may be called "cyclotetrasaccharide" throughout the specification) is formed by contacting a hydrolyzing enzyme, alternanase, with alternan linked with glucose molecules via the alternating α-1,3 and α-1,6 bonds, followed by crystallization in the presence of methanol as an organic solvent.
Cyclotetrasaccharide or a non-reducing saccharide having a cyclic structure, exhibits an inclusion ability to stabilize volatile organic compounds, and does not cause an amino carbonyl reaction, and therefore it is expected to be used and processed with lesser fear of browning and deterioration.
However, the material alternan and alternanase, which are needed for producing the saccharide, are not easily obtainable, and the microorganisms for their production are not easily available.
Under such conditions, the present inventors succeeded in producing cyclotetrasaccharide by contacting, as a material, a saccharide having the α-1,6 glucosidic linkage as a linkage of non-reducing end and having a glucose polymerization degree of at least three (may be called "α-isomaltosylglucosaccharide" throughout the specification) with an α-isomaltosyl-transferring enzyme which specifically hydrolyzes the α-isomaltosyl moiety and the resting glucosylsaccharide moiety and then transfers the α-isomaltosyl moiety to its acceptor to form cyclotetrasaccharide, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Nos. 149,484/2000 and 229,557/2000. The α-isomaltosyl-transferring enzyme is an enzyme which forms cyclotetrasaccharide from α-isomaltoglucosaccharide by α-isomaltosyl-transferring reaction and has the following physicochemical properties:
(1) Action                Forming cyclotetrasaccharide having the structure of cyclo{66)-α-D-glucopyranosyl-(163)-α-D-glucopyranosyl-(166)-α-D-glucopyranosyl-(163)-α-D-glucopyranosyl-(16} from a saccharide having a glucose polymerization degree of at least three and having both the α-1,6 glucosidic linkage as a linkage at the non-reducing end and the α-1,4 glucosidic linkage other than the above linkage;
(2) Molecular weight                Having a molecular weight of about 82,000 to about 136,000 daltons when determined on sodium, dodecyl sulfate (SDS) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE);
(3) Isoelectric point (pI)                Having a pI of about 3.7 to about 8.3 when determined on isoelectrophoresis using ampholine;
(4) Optimum temperature                Having an optimum temperature of about 45° C. to about 50° C. when incubated at a pH of 6.0 for 30 min;
(5) Optimum pH                Having an optimum pH of about 5.5 to about 6.5 when incubated at 35° C. for 30 min;
(6) Thermal stability                Having a thermostable range at temperatures of about 45° C. or lower when incubated at a pH of 6.0 for 60 min, and
(7) pH Stability                Having a stable pH range at about 3.6 to about 10.0 when incubated at 4° C. for 24 hours.
Referring to the material saccharides for cyclotetrasaccharide, it should desirably be produced from the abundant and low-cost starches, however, since α-isomaltosyl-transferring enzyme does not directly act on starches, the following procedure is actually employed: Starches are first converted into such an α-isomaltosylglucosaccharide having the above specified structure, for example, relatively-low molecular weight isomaltooligosaccharides such as panose and isomaltosylmaltose, and then subjected to the action of α-isomaltosyl-transferring enzyme to form cyclotetrasaccharide.
It was found that, when used panose as a material for cyclotetrasaccharide, the yield of the saccharide from the material is about 44% to the material, based on the weight of the dry solid (d.s.b.). Similarly, in the case of using isomaltosylmaltose as a material, the yield of cyclotetrasaccharide is about 31%, d.s.b., while in the case of using starches as a material, they should be contacted with enzymes such as α-amylase, starch debranching enzyme, β-amylase, and α-glucosidase to form relatively-low molecular weight isomaltooligosaccharides including panose, and the yield of cyclotetrasaccharide is quite as low as about 15%, d.s.b.
Although the actual production of cyclotetrasaccharide is feasible from starches even with such a low yield, the production cost may be increased. Under these circumstances, it is desired to establish a novel method for producing cyclotetrasaccharide in a relatively high yield using easily available materials such as starches.

α-isomaltosylglucosaccharide-forming enzyme, process and uses of the same

Kabushiki Kaisha Hayashibara Seibutsu Kagaku Kenkyujo


An inclination adjusting method adjusts an inclination of a probe card installed at a probe apparatus to make the probe card be in parallel with a mounting surface of a movable mounting table for mounting thereon an object to be inspected. The method includes: detecting an average tip height of multiple probes disposed at each of plural locations of the probe card by using a tip position detecting device; obtaining an inclination of the probe card with respect to the mounting table based on differences in the average tip heights detected from the plural locations of the probe card; and adjusting the inclination of the probe card based on the obtained inclination.

As for a technique for adjusting an inclination of a probe card, there is known, e.g., an adjusting mechanism for a probe card which is suggested in Patent Document 1 by the applicant of the present invention. In this technique, when electrical characteristics of an object to be inspected such as a semiconductor wafer W or the like are inspected by using a plurality of probes, needle tips of the probes provided at the probe card are imaged in several locations by using a camera, and heights of tip positions of the probes are detected. Based on the difference in the tip heights of the probes, the inclination of the probe card is obtained and, then, the inclination of the probe card is adjusted.
As a pre-processing for detecting the tip heights of the probes by using the camera, coordinates of a reference position of a wafer chuck 1 are obtained by moving the wafer chuck 1 via an XY table 2 and aligning a focus of a second camera 4 that has reached a probe center and a focus of a first camera 3 attached to the wafer chuck 1 with a target 5 attached to the wafer chuck 1, as shown in, e.g., FIG. 5A.
Next, the wafer chuck 1 moves from the reference position to a position below a probe card 6. As illustrated in FIG. 5B, the focus of the first camera 3 is aligned with a tip of a specific probe 6A of the probe card 6, thereby obtaining XYZ coordinates of a height of a tip position of the corresponding probe 6A. Then, the wafer chuck 1 moves to, e.g., three different locations, and the heights of tip positions of the probes 6A in the respective locations are obtained.
If the tip heights of the probes 6A are the same in four locations, it means that the probe card 6 has been levelly disposed so that the probe card 6 can be used for inspection without inclination adjustment. However, if the tip heights of the probes 6A are not the same in the four locations, the probe card 6 is made to be at a level with the mounting surface of the wafer chuck 1 by adjusting the inclination of the probe card 6 (level adjustment) based on the height differences, as can be seen from FIG. 5C. After the inclination of the probe card 6 is adjusted, as depicted in FIG. 5D, the tip heights of the probes 6A of the probe card 6 in the four locations are obtained, thus checking whether or not there exists height difference. When the height difference exists, the inclination of the probe card 6 is adjusted based on the height difference (see FIG. 5C). When all of the probes 6A become at a level with the wafer chuck 1, the level adjustment of the probe card 6 is completed.
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Laid-open Application No. 2005-140662
Since, however, the probe card 6 is provided with a plurality of probes 6A, the tip heights of the probes 6A are not necessarily the same. Namely, the probes 6A have variation in the heights of the tip positions thereof. For that reason, when the heights of tip positions of several representative probes 6A (e.g., four probes in four corners) are detected by using the first camera 3, the variation in the heights of the tip positions thereof affects the detection and, also, the height may be miscalculated due to residues of aluminum adhered to the needle tips, which adversely affects the adjustment of the probe card 6. Further, when the heights of the needle tip positions of the probes 6A are detected by using the first camera 3, a long period of time is required to align the focus of the camera with the needle tip of the probes 6A.

Probe card inclination adjusting method, inclination detecting method and storage medium storing a program for performing the inclination detecting method


A system and method to reduce the size of source code in a processing system are described. Multiple subgraph structures are identified within a graph structure constructed for multiple source code instructions in a program. Unifiable variables that are not simultaneously used in the source code instructions are identified within each subgraph structure. Finally, one or more unifiable instructions from a tine of a corresponding subgraph structure are transferred to a handle of the corresponding subgraph structure, each unifiable instruction containing one or more unifiable variables.

Increasingly, the size of compiled code has an impact on the performance and economics of computer systems. From embedded systems, such as cellular phones, to applets shipped over the World Wide Web, the impact of compile-time decisions that expand the size of the source code has a direct effect on cost and power consumption, as well as on the transmission and execution time of the code.
Several techniques have been proposed to reduce the size of the source code. One known technique turns repeated code fragments into procedures and is usually applied to intermediary code or even source code. However, this technique appears to miss repeated code fragments introduced during code generation. Another known technique reuses the common tail of two merging code sequences and is usually performed after code generation. However, syntactic mismatches seem to affect the efficiency of this technique.

System and method to reduce the size of source code in a processing system


A connector forms a connection by inserting a socket connector and a plug connector into a housing. The housing is configured by integrally forming a plug insertion recessed part and a socket insertion recessed part in an L shape. A socket terminal of the socket connector, which is inserted in a socket insertion recessed part, is connected to and pinched by a plug terminal of the plug connector, which is inserted in and attached to the plug insertion recessed part.

The light source lamp of, for example, a projector requires the application of a high voltage of 9-30 KV, and therefore a high voltage connector is used to connect the light source lamp to the power supply.
Attendant with the demand for a high voltage connector that has a high withstand voltage, there is a need to prevent surface leakage and space leakage from occurring.
Well-known examples of conventional high voltage connectors include the straight type shown in FIG. 9 and the L shaped type shown in FIG. 10, disclosed by Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-123894.
With a straight type connector 100 shown in FIG. 9, a plug pin 131 of a plug connector 130 and a socket terminal 141 of a socket connector 140 are connected in a straight line, as shown by the structure in FIG. 9(b), and the pull-out directions of wires 135, 145 are also oriented in a straight line; therefore, the wires 135, 145 inside the electronic equipment case are installed by bending them, and consequently there are problems in that not only is a large space required, but a large load is applied to the bent parts of the wires.
As shown in FIG. 10, a connector 200 has a structure wherein a wire crimping part of a plug pin 231 of a plug connector 230 is provided in a direction that is at a right angle to the plug pin 23 1, and a wire 235 is pulled out in the right angle direction and is connected to a socket terminal 241 of a socket connector 240. However, because the wire of the plug pin 231 is pulled out in a right angle direction, there are problems in that it is not only necessary to provide a cover 232 in order to prevent surface leakage at the wire crimping part 231 from occurring, but it is also necessary to secure a gap between the cover 232 and the plug connector 230 that extends over the distance of a surface, causing the length L0 of connector 200 to be extended.


A device in a server having a processor and a storage. The device has a protocol blind network path indication unit configured to obtain an indicator corresponding to a predetermined path to a data communication unit in the network using a destination address of a received data packet, an upstream communication unit configured to transmit a network protocol blind packet including the data packet and the indicator corresponding to the predetermined data path to the data communication unit in the network, a combiner configured to bind the indicator to the data packet received by the downstream communication unit, and a protocol blind correlation storage unit configured to provide information related to target addresses and indicators corresponding to a plurality of predetermined data paths in the network. The protocol blind network path indication unit obtains the indicator corresponding to a predetermined path by accessing the protocol blind correlation structure.

1. Field
The current disclosure relates to data communications, and particularly to scaling of addresses in communication networks.
2. Background
The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.
Mega data centers can currently serve hundreds of thousands virtual machines. As a result, in conventional data center architectures, forwarding databases in a data center network may need to store address information for a large number of virtual machines in the data center. The complexity of requirements of mega data centers is magnified when other operational factors are considered such as the need to periodically migrate virtual machines within a data center and to maintain a high bandwidth communications environment.

Scaling of virtual machine addresses in datacenters


A flocculation apparatus and method for treating colloidal suspensions. The apparatus includes a suspension inlet, a suspension outlet and an inner cone mounted centrally in a conical outer housing. The inner cone and/or the outer housing is rotatable relative to one another and a gap for through-flow of suspensions is present between the inner cone and the outer housing. In the method, continuously measuring a flock size distribution of a suspension stream passed into the flocculation apparatus is provided. Additionally provided is axially displacing the inner cone and/or outer housing as a function of the flock size distribution and the suspension volume flow rate.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a flocculation apparatus and method for treating colloidal suspensions.
2. Background Description
For improving specific properties of a suspension, for example, the dewaterability or thickenability, a flocculant and/or flocculation auxiliary is conventionally added to the suspension and the latter is worked-up mechanically in a flocculation apparatus. The flocculation itself is carried out in a rapid mixer unit so that flocks form. The flocks are formed in a flocculation apparatus, the resulting flocks being pelleted and rounded by shear forces and flock erosion, so that the desired properties of the flocks, for example, increase in the dewaterability or thickening, can be further improved. However, the shear forces must not be too great because then the flocks are then destroyed and the specific flock properties may deteriorate.
With the rapid mixer, the flocculant and/or flocculation auxiliary is dispersed in a suspension by turbulent flow movements. The formation and adsorption reaction times of the flocculation chemicals are very short, and homogeneous mixing-in of the substances must be ensured for optimizing the flock formation results.
The mixing-in of flocculants and/or flocculation auxiliaries is conventionally effected using stirred vessels or by using tubular reactors with plug flow, such as, for example, injection mixers, inline turbo mixers and pumps. Flock formation using a cylinder stirrer, for example, was investigated by M. Reiter, M. Schmidt and U. Wiesmann: The flow-through cylinder stirrer in the range of turbulent flow—an apparatus with interesting properties, V. T.- Verfahrenstechnik 14 (1980) No. 9, pages 578 to 582. In this investigation, the cylinder stirrer consisted of two coaxial cylinders, of which either the inner or the outer cylinder rotates or both cylinders rotate in the same direction or opposite directions at different speeds. It was found that the optimum energy input number is dependent on the residence time in the cylinder stirrer.
Sludge conditioning using a conical pelleting apparatus was described in A. Hemme, R. Polte, P. Ay: Pelleting flocculation—the alternative to conventional sludge conditioning in Aufbereitungs-Technik 36 (1995) No. 5, pages 226 to 235. The sewage sludge stream runs from the cone base downwards to the cone apex, and the flocculation auxiliary is introduced into the conical gap of the pelleting reactor. In the conical pelleting zone, the flock pellets roll in a circular manner on the pelleting surface. Only the mechanically stable pellets having a certain size and strength are discharged. The conditioning process is controlled by a conical stirrer for generating a circulation flow.
For the optimum conditioning of sewage sludges of varying quality and composition, taking into account other process parameters, it is necessary for the substantial parameters, such as, for example, particle size distribution, porosity or the specific surface area of the sewage sludge, to be reproducibly established.

Flocculation apparatus for treating colloidal suspensions

Clausthaler Umwelttechnikinstitut GmbH (CUTEC-Institute)


Compositions and methods for the therapy and diagnosis of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), including Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis, are disclosed. Illustrative compositions comprise one or more bacterial polypeptides, immunogenic portions thereof, polynucleotides that encode such polypeptides, antigen presenting cell that expresses such polypeptides, and T cells that are specific for cells expressing such polypeptides. The disclosed compositions are useful, for example, in the diagnosis, prevention and/or treatment of IBD.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to therapy and diagnosis of Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis (collectively referred to as Inflammatory Bowel Disease, or IBD). The invention is more particularly related to polypeptides comprising at least a portion of a protein that is recognized, and to which individuals with IBD mount an aberrant immune response, and to polynucleotides encoding such polypeptides. Such polypeptides and polynucleotides are useful in pharmaceutical compositions, e.g., vaccines, and other compositions for the diagnosis and treatment of IBD.
2. Description of the Related Art
Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis (collectively referred to as Inflammatory Bowel Disease or IBD) are chronic, inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. While the clinical features vary somewhat between these two disorders, both are characterized by abdominal pain, diarrhea (often bloody), a variable group of 'extra-intestinal' manifestations (such as arthritis, uveitis, skin changes, etc) and the accumulation of inflammatory cells within the small intestine and colon (observed in pathologic biopsy or surgical specimens).
IBD affects both children and adults, and has a bimodal age distribution (one peak around 20, and a second around 40). IBD is a chronic, lifelong disease, and is often grouped with other so-called "autoimmune" disorders (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis, type I diabetes mellitus, multiple sclerosis, etc). IBD is found almost exclusively in the industrialized world. The most recent data from the Mayo Clinic suggest an overall incidence greater than 1 in 100,000 people in the United States, with prevalence data in some studies greater than 1 in 1000. There is a clear trend towards the increasing incidence of IBD in the US and Europe, particularly Crohn's Disease. The basis for this increase is not presently clear. As such, IBD represents the 2nd most common autoimmune disease in the United States (after rheumatoid arthritis).
Treatment of IBD is varied. First line therapy typically includes salicylate derivatives (e.g. 5-ASA) given orally or rectally. Response rates in uncomplicated Crohn's Disease are approximately 40% (compared to 20% for placebo). Corticosteroids remain a mainstay in the treatment of patients with more "refractory" disease, despite the untoward side-effects. Newer treatment options include anti-metabolites (e.g. methotrexate, 6-mercaptopurine) and immunomodulators (e.g. Remicade—a chimeric human antibody directed at the TNFα receptor).
In spite of considerable research into therapies for these disorders, IBD remains difficult to diagnose and treat effectively. Furthermore, there are no clear laboratory tests that are diagnostic for IBD, nor are there suitable laboratory tests that serve as "surrogate marker" that are uniformly useful to follow the course of disease in patients. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for improved methods for detecting and treating such inflammatory bowel diseases. The present invention fulfills these needs and further provides other related advantages.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Compositions and methods for the therapy and diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease


An apparatus for treating reflux disease of a human patient. The apparatus comprising an implantable movement restriction device, having an outer surface that includes a biocompatible material. The movement restriction device is adapted to rest against and to be kept in place contacting the stomach fundus wall, without restricting food passage in the food passageway when implanted and in function, and without injuring the stomach fundus wall in a position between the patient's diaphragm and the cardia sphincter. The movement of the cardiac notch of the patient's stomach towards the patient's diaphragm is thereby restricted, when the movement restriction device is implanted, to thereby prevent the cardia from sliding through the patient's diaphragm opening into the patient's thorax. The movement restriction device is adapted to contact directly or indirectly the diaphragm muscle to prevent such sliding of the cardia through the patient's diaphragm, so as to maintain the supporting pressure against the patient's cardia sphincter muscle exerted from the patient's abdomen. The movement restriction device having a size, when implanted and in function such that the functional movement restriction device can be completely invaginated by the stomach fundus of the human patient, and of at least 125 mm3, and a circumference of at least 15 mm.

Obesity has been treated by gastric banding a band placed around the stomach to create a stoma, a restricted opening, to restrict the flow of food down to below the band. There has also been tried to use electrical stimulation of the stomach wall to cause the patient to feel satiety.
When the stomach gets distended the patient gets a feeling that the stomach is full.
Another prior art way of treating obesity is to insert a balloon-like object into the stomach of the patient. In this way, the patient is given the feeling of satiety much more quickly when eating, preventing excessive intake of food. However, these prior art balloon-like objects are subject to stomach acids, leading to their destruction within a couple of months of use.
An example of a prior art inflatable gastric device for treating obesity is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,246,893 to Berson. In this document, it is disclosed an abdominal method wherein an inflatable balloon is surgically implanted in the abdominal cavity of the patient adjacent to the stomach. An adjusting port is provided subcutaneously and the balloon is subsequently inflated by means of inserting a hypodermic needle through the skin of the patient into the adjusting port and introducing a fluid under pressure into the port for passage into the balloon to distend the upper abdomen, compressing the stomach and thereby producing a sense of satiety.
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), or acid reflux disease, is a chronic condition resulting in mucosal damage in the oesophagus produced by the recurring occurrence of acid reflux in the oesophagus. This is commonly due to transient or permanent changes in the barrier between the oesophagus and the stomach. This can be due to incompetence of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), transient LES relaxation, impaired expulsion of gastric reflux from the esophagus, or a hiatal hernia.
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease can be treated in a number of different ways. Treatments include, but are not limited to, both medical and surgical treatments. A standard surgical treatment, which sometimes is preferred over longtime use of medication, is Nissen fundoplication surgery, in which the upper curve of the stomach (the fundus) is wrapped around the LES to strengthen the sphincter and prevent acid reflux and to repair a hiatal hernia. The procedure is often done laparoscopically.
Another surgical treatment which has been used is the Anglechik prosthesis, in which a device formed like a horseshoe is placed around the oesophagus above the cardia. The intended effect is to prevent the cardia from slipping up into the thorax cavity. However, this device has a number of complications, including migrating through and damaging the oesophagus.
From experience with implantation of medical devices, it is known that sutures between an implanted device and human tissue will not hold over the long term. For long term implantation of a device, there are two possibilities to keep the device in place. A first solution has been to suture human tissue to human tissue, to thereby keep the device in place. A second approach has been to provide sutures holding a device in place in the short term and to allow in-growth of human tissue into the device for holding the device in place over the long term.
A problem with providing an implantable device associated with the oesophagus is that the outer surface of the oesophagus is only comprised of oesophagus muscle tissue, which is very easy to damage or migrate through. This is probably one reason why the Anglechik prosthesis described above has resulted in many complications, such as migration.
The stomach, on the other hand, has a serosa on its outside, thereby providing a much stronger membrane for suturing. Thus, suturing a device directly to the stomach wall provides a better result than suturing an implanted device to the oesophagus.
Today, there exists a need for a long term treatment of GERD that is more effective than prior treatments and which does not result in any severe complications.

Apparatus for treating obesity and reflux disease


A spread illuminating apparatus of side light type includes a transparent resin plate integrally composed of a light conductor plate portion and a housing frame portion, a light reflecting sheet, and a light source, wherein an opening for housing the light source is provided at a side portion of the transparent resin plate, slits are provided along a boundary between the light conductor plate portion and the housing frame portion, and wherein a gate for injecting resin into a molding die cavity for the transparent resin plate is positioned outside the boundary of the light conductor plate portion and the housing frame portion and is positioned also between the opening and one of slits which are provided toward the side portion of the transparent resin plate having the opening and which are located clear of the opening.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a spread illuminating apparatus of side light type, particularly a spread illuminating apparatus including a transparent resin plate integrally composed of a light conductor plate portion and a housing frame portion, to a transparent resin plate for use in a spread illuminating apparatus, and further to a method of injection-molding such a transparent resin plate.
2. Description of the Related Art
A liquid crystal display (LCD) device is characterized by a small thickness, a small occupation volume, a light weight and the like and is used extensively in various electric products, such as a mobile telephone and a personal computer.
Since a liquid crystal in the LCD device does not emit light by itself, an illuminating means is required when the LCD device is used at a place where a solar light or an illumination light is not fully available.
While the LCD device is requested to be further downsized, its display area is requested to be enlarged. In order to satisfy such requests at one time, the ineffective portion of a lighting means must be reduced, and also its power consumption is desired to be lowered, which is achieved by efficiently utilizing light from a light source.
Under the circumstance where downsizing and power consumption reduction are requested, a point light source such as a light emitting diode (LED) is used as a light source for an illuminating means, and also constituent members of an illuminating means, such as a light source, a light conductor plate and the like are positioned in place to efficiently utilize light emitted from the light source.
FIG. 9 shows a relevant portion of a conventional spread illuminating apparatus in which a rectangular light conductor plate 1 and LEDs 2, 2 disposed at a side surface 8 of the light conductor plate 1 are disposed in place inside a housing frame 7 made of a white resin. Protrusions 12a and 12c are provided at each of side surfaces 11 and 12 of the light conductor plate 1 orthogonal to the side surface 8 having the LEDs 2, 2, and recesses 20a and 20c are provided at each of two inner side surfaces of the housing frame 7 opposing the side surfaces 11 and 12 of the light conductor plate 1, wherein the light conductor plate 1 is firmly held in place inside the housing frame 7 such that the protrusions 12a and 12c of the light conductor plate 12 engage respectively with the recesses 20a and 20c of the housing frame 7 (refer, for example, to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-302485).
In the engagement structure described above, however, a predetermined gap is required between the side surface 11/12 of the light conductor plate 1 and the inner side surface of the housing frame 7, and light loss attributable to the gap must be made up for by some measures. The white resin of the housing frame 7 has a smaller reflectance than a reflection film to constitute a light reflecting sheet, such as an enhanced specular reflector (ESR) (refer, for example, to Japanese Patent Application published under No. H9-506837), and some action must be taken to make up for light loss attributable to this low reflectance.
When the apparatus described above is further reduced in thickness, its entire rigidity becomes insufficient, and also it is likely to happen that the protrusions 12a and 12c of the light conductor plate 1 disengage from the recesses 20a and 20c of the housing frame 7. FIG. 10 shows another conventional spread illuminating apparatus adapted to achieve a sufficient mechanical strength in the downsizing effort, which has an integrated structure of a light conductor plate portion 421 and a housing frame portion 422, where a pattern 426 is formed at a predetermined distance from light sources 410, 410 (refer, for example, to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-285171).
In the integrated structure described above, however, the housing frame portion 422 is to be made of a resin material of which the light conductor plate portion 421 is also made and which has a high optical transmittance, and therefore light is caused to leak from the housing frame portion 422. In consideration of the light leakage problem, grooves 425 are provided at portions of the light conductor plate portion 421 located close to the housing frame portion 422, and light emitted from the light source 410 and traveling in the light conductor plate portion 421 is totally reflected by the grooves 425.
Since polycarbonate or polymethylmethacrylate that is a common resin material for a light conductor plate has a refractive index of about 1.5 and has a relatively large critical angle, it may potentially happen that lots of lights emitted from the light source 410 and traveling in the light conductor plate impinge on the grooves 425 at an angle smaller than the critical angle of the resin material depending on the design of constituent members, and that the grooves 425 fail to adequately prevent the lights from leaking thus causing light loss.
Also, for preventing light leakage from the housing frame portion 422, a reflective film must be fixedly attached to the outer side surfaces of the housing frame portion 422 by some kind of method, and, for example, if a double face tape is used for fixed attachment, light is absorbed by the adhesive layers of the double face tape. Even if the reflective film can be fixedly attached without using a double face tape, light is inevitably absorbed and lost to some extent while traveling in the housing frame portion 422.
Further, when such the integrated structure (resin plate) as described above is made by injection molding, in view of a gate cutting process, an injection gate for filling resin in a molding die cavity is usually disposed at a portion of the molding die corresponding to an end of the housing frame portion 422 opposite to an end having the light sources 410, 410. In this case, the resin injected in the molding die cavity through the injection gate is caused to flow into a cavity segment for the light conductor plate portion 421 through paths each provided between adjacent two grooves 425 thus generating a plurality of resin flows which meet and interfere with one another inside the cavity segment thereby forming what are called "weld lines", and adverse effects are caused on the optical properties of the light conductor plate portion 421 thus formed.

Spread illuminating apparatus, transparent resin plate for use in spread illuminating apparatus, and method of injection-molding transparent resin plate


A surface treatment apparatus may include a first agitator, a second agitator, and a drive system configured to cause the second agitator to rotate concurrently with the first agitator, the drive system including at least a first magnetic gear and a second magnetic gear.

Powered devices, such as vacuum cleaners, have multiple components that each receive electrical power from one or more power sources (e.g., one or more batteries or electrical mains). For example, a vacuum cleaner may include a suction motor, a debris collector, and a surface cleaning head. The suction motor is fluidly coupled to both the debris collector and the surface cleaning head such that the suction motor can cause a suction force to be generated at the surface cleaning head. The generated suction force urges debris deposited on a surface to be cleaned (e.g., a floor) into entrainment with air passing through the surface cleaning head such that the debris can be deposited in the debris collector. In some instances, the debris collector may be configured to generate one or more cyclones therein such that at least a portion of the entrained debris can be separated from the airflow through cyclonic action.
The surface cleaning head may include one or more agitators (e.g., brush rolls) configured to engage the surface to be cleaned. The engagement between the surface to be cleaned and the agitators may dislodge debris from the surface to be cleaned such that the dislodged debris may become entrained within air flowing into the surface cleaning head. In some instances, the surface cleaning head may include additional components (e.g., one or more lights to illuminate an area to be cleaned).
The one or more agitators may extend within a suction chamber defined within the surface cleaning head. The suction chamber defines a cavity having an open end through which at least a portion of the one or more agitators extends. A separation distance between the open end and the surface to be cleaned impacts a suction force generated by the suction motor at the open end. As the separation distance increases, a suction force decreases, which may reduce a quantity of debris entrained within air flowing through the surface cleaning head. As the separation distance decreases, the suction force increases. If the separation distance is decreased too much, the suction motor could be damaged.
In some instances, the surface cleaning head may include one or more of the debris collector and/or suction motor. In other instances, the debris collector and suction motor may be separate from the surface cleaning head. For example, an upright section (e.g., a wand) may be pivotally coupled to the surface cleaning head and the suction motor and debris collector may be coupled to the upright section. By way of further example, the vacuum cleaner may include a moveable canister fluidly coupled to the surface cleaning head, wherein a flexible hose extends between the moveable canister and the surface cleaning head. The moveable canister can include the suction motor and the debris collector.

Drive system for a surface treatment apparatus and a surface treatment apparatus having the same


A vice for fly tying comprises a support disposed adjustably on a suitable base plate, a maintaining base attached on the support and provided with a fastening screw on its side surface, a revolving knob connected with the maintaining base at its rear end, a revolving base rotatively connected with the maintaining base at its rear end, through a through hole of the later by an axle bar of the revolving knob, and a holding member pivotally connected with the revolving base, through two pairs of movable connecting plates attached to both sides of the later and a connecting axle bar attached on its rear end portion. The holding member comprises an axial holding piece made of a magnetic inductive material and a movable holding piece, and is provided with a pair of adjusting screws at its rear portion and front portion, a magnet on an inner surface of the former piece, a spring held between the both inner surfaces of both pieces and a rubber ring wound centrally on both pieces, so that the fly hook can be exactly held between the both pieces of the jaw portion for fly tying.

This invention relates to a vice for tying a hook, particularly a fly used in fishing. More particularly the invention relates to a vice for tying a fly for fly-fishing, which can be easily centered on a hook in a manufacturing process of the fly, by inducing a magnetic field on an end portion of the vice, a so-called jaw portion, to set magnetically the fly hook into the jaw.
Customarily, a fly for fly fishing is manufactured by holding on a tying vice firstly the fly hook and thereafter, tying on the fly hook a material such as a bird feather or animal hair together with a thread, to make a suspected bait, which is alike to an aquatic insect.
In such manufacture of the fly, various vices have been proposed, such as in Published Japanese Patent Application Kokai 2001-112394. The vice is provided with a jaw on its extreme end portion which comprises a pair of holding portions, having double joint surfaces and differently sized multiple grooves on their surfaces, so that differently sized multiple hooks can be held in one of those grooves .
In this fly tying, generally the vice showed reasonable function, however, it has inconveniences and practical defects as follows.
Firstly, all fly hooks, which is respectively of different sizes and different forms, can not be held exactly with the vice, due to limitation of their width and length, even though differential sized multiple grooves are provided with either a pair of relative holding surfaces of the vice. If those hooks are held with the vice without any considerations, they may be damaged or broken away because unreasonable relations appear forcibly between the hooks and grooves respectively.
Secondly, an opening and closing operation of such a pair of holding surfaces is adjusted by sliding the holding member combined to the vice with an operation lever, so that the fly hook has to be fixed by moving the operation lever with one hand, and gripping the fly hook, by the other hand. Accordingly, it is very difficult to hold the fly hook at the proper position and in the proper direction, even if by the expert, to say nothing of the beginner, without a careful operation.
The vice can not also be regarded as a functional tying device because it can not execute a detailed fly tying operation, due to lack of a centering means for holding temporarily the hook and fixedly in the jaw.