A method of forming a pattern includes the steps of forming a first layer by applying an organic material on a layer to be processed, forming a second layer which can be treated with an organic metal reagent and has a thickness in the range from 30 to 100 nm by applying a material which can be treated with an organic metal reagent on the first layer, selectively forming in the second layer a portion which cannot be treated with an organic metal reagent, treating with an organic metal reagent the portion of the second layer which can be treated with an organic metal reagent, and removing the portion which cannot be treated with an organic metal reagent and a portion of the first layer which is located thereunder.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of forming a pattern, and more particularly, to a method of forming a fine pattern having a width of at most 0.2 .mu.m by forming two resist layers.
2. Description of the Background Art
In order to process a layer required to be processed, an insulating film, for example, in forming a semiconductor device, a method of forming a resist pattern of a single resist layer and processing an insulating film according to the resist pattern is generally used. In order to process an insulating film having many stepped portions, however, a method of forming a first resist layer as a flattening layer on the insulating film, forming a second resist layer on the first resist layer, and forming a resist pattern in the second resist layer has been often used. The methods disclosed in the following documents (i) to (vii) have been known as such a method of forming a pattern using two resist layers.
(i) J. Vac. Sci. Technol., B11(6), November/December 1993, pp. 2789.about.2793(1993) PA1 (ii) J. Vac. Sci. Technol., B12(6), November/December 1994, pp. 3919.about.3924(1994) PA1 (iii) J. Vac. Sci. Technol., B13(6), November/December 1995, p. 2366.about.2371 (1995) PA1 (iv) SPIE, Vol. 2438, pp. 762.about.774 (1995) PA1 (v) SPIE, Vol. 2437, pp. 308.about.330 (1995) PA1 (vi) Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 3-188447 PA1 (vii) Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 4-301646 PA1 (i) forming a first layer by applying an organic material on a layer to be processed; PA1 (ii) forming a second layer having a thickness in the range from 30 to 100 nm by applying a material which can be treated with an organic metal reagent on the first layer, wherein organic metal is metal which has been bonded to carbon and the metal includes silicon; PA1 (iii) selectively forming in the second layer a portion which cannot be treated with an organic metal reagent; PA1 (iv) treating with an organic metal reagent the second layer except the portion which cannot be treated with an organic metal reagent; and PA1 (v) removing the portion which cannot be treated with an organic metal reagent and a portion of the first layer which is located thereunder. PA1 (i) forming a first layer by applying an organic material on a layer to be processed; PA1 (ii) forming a second layer having a thickness in the range from 30 to 100 nm by applying a material which can be treated with an organic metal reagent on the first layer; PA1 (iii) selectively directing light to the second layer; PA1 (iv) turning a portion of the second layer which has been exposed to the light into a portion which cannot be treated with an organic metal reagent by heating the second layer; PA1 (v) treating with an organic metal reagent the second layer except the portion which cannot be treated with an organic metal reagent; and PA1 (vi) removing the portion which cannot be treated with an organic metal reagent and a portion of the first layer which is located thereunder. PA1 (i) forming a first layer by applying an organic material on a layer to be processed; PA1 (ii) forming a second layer having a thickness in the range from 30 to 100 nm by applying a material which can be treated with an organic material reagent on the first layer; PA1 (iii) selectively directing light to the second layer to turn a portion of the second layer which has been exposed to the light into a portion which cannot be treated with an organic metal reagent; PA1 (iv) treating with an organic metal reagent the second layer except the portion which cannot be treated with an organic metal reagent; and PA1 (v) removing the portion which cannot be treated with an organic metal reagent and a portion of the first layer which is located thereunder. PA1 (i) forming a first layer by applying a first organic material on a layer to be processed; PA1 (ii) forming a second layer having a thickness in the range from 30 to 100 nm by applying a second organic material on the first layer; PA1 (iii) selectively forming in the second layer a portion which can be treated with an organic metal reagent; PA1 (iv) treating with an organic metal reagent the portion which can be treated with an organic metal reagent; and PA1 (v) removing the second layer except the portion which can be treated with an organic metal reagent and a portion of the first layer which is located under the second layer except the portion which can be treated with an organic metal reagent. PA1 (i) forming a first layer by applying a first organic material on a layer to be processed; PA1 (ii) forming a second layer having a thickness in the range from 30 to 100 nm by applying a second organic material on the first layer; PA1 (iii) selectively directing light to the second layer to turn a portion of the second layer which has been exposed to the light into a portion which can be treated with an organic metal reagent; PA1 (iv) turning the second layer except the portion which can be treated with an organic metal reagent into a portion which cannot be treated with an organic metal reagent by heating the second layer; PA1 (v) treating with an organic metal reagent the portion which can be treated with an organic metal reagent; and PA1 (vi) removing the portion which cannot be treated with an organic metal reagent and a portion of the first layer which is located thereunder. PA1 (i) forming a first layer by applying a first organic material on a layer to be processed; PA1 (ii) forming a second layer having a thickness in the range from 30 to 100 nm by applying a second organic material on the first layer; PA1 (iii) selectively directing light to the second layer; PA1 (iv) turning a portion of the second layer which has been exposed to the light into a portion which can be treated with an organic metal reagent by heating the second layer; PA1 (v) treating with an organic metal reagent the portion which can be treated with an organic metal reagent; and PA1 (vi) removing the second layer except the portion which can be treated with an organic metal reagent and a portion of the first layer which is located under the second layer except the portion which can be treated with an organic metal reagent. PA1 (i) forming a first layer by applying a first organic material on a layer to be processed; PA1 (ii) forming a second layer having a thickness in the range from 30 to 100 nm by applying a second organic material on the first layer; PA1 (iii) turning the entire second layer into a layer which can be treated with an organic metal reagent; PA1 (iv) selectively directing light to the second layer which can be treated with an organic metal reagent to turn a portion of the second layer which has been exposed to the light into a portion which cannot be treated with an organic metal reagent; PA1 (v) treating with an organic metal reagent the portion of the second layer which can be treated with an organic metal reagent; and PA1 (vi) removing the portion which cannot be treated with an organic metal reagent and a portion of the first layer which is located thereunder.
The methods disclosed in the documents (i) to (v) will now be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
FIGS. 55 to 60 are cross sectional views showing a conventional method of forming a pattern.
Referring to FIG. 55, a lower resist layer 302 is formed as a flattening layer on a layer 301 to be processed.
Referring to FIG. 56, an upper resist layer 303 is formed on a surface of lower resist layer 302. Since the surface of lower resist layer 302 is flat, upper resist layer 303 has an almost uniform thickness (0.20 to 0.22 .mu.m).
Referring to FIG. 57, light with a wavelength of 248 nm shown by arrows 304 is directed to upper resist layer 303, whereby upper resist layer 303 partially becomes an exposed region 305.
Referring to FIG. 58, upper resist layer 303 and exposed region 305 in FIG. 57 are heated, whereby a layer 306 which cannot be silylated (hereinafter referred to as un-silylatable layer) and a layer 307 which can be silylated (hereinafter referred to as silylatable layer) are formed.
Referring to FIG. 59, un-silylatable layer 306 and silylatable layer 307 in FIG. 58 are made in contact with gas containing silicon atoms, whereby silylatable layer 307 is turned into a silylated layer 308.
Referring to FIG. 60, un-silylatable layer 306 and lower resist layer 302 located thereunder in FIG. 59 are etched with oxygen plasma shown by arrows 310. On the other hand, a surface of silylated layer 308 reacts with oxygen plasma shown by the arrows 310 to be an oxide film 309. This oxide film 309 serves as a shielding film against oxygen plasma. Therefore, silylated layer 308 and lower resist layer 302 located thereunder will not be etched.
A conventional pattern is thus formed.
In recent years, elements constituting a semiconductor device have been miniaturized. In addition, with increase in the integration degree of a semiconductor device, a pattern formed in resist has been required to be so fine as to have a width of at most 0.20 .mu.m. Problems which occur when such a fine pattern is formed by a conventional method will now be described.
FIGS. 61 to 64 are cross sectional views illustrating a conventional method of forming a fine pattern. Referring to FIG. 61, a lower resist layer 302 is formed as a flattening layer on a layer 301 to be processed. An upper resist layer 303 having a thickness in the range from 0.20 to 0.22 .mu.m is formed on lower resist layer 302. Light with a wavelength of 248 nm shown by arrows 304 is directed to a portion of upper resist layer 303, whereby an exposed region 305 is formed. A width (W.sub.1 in the figure) of exposed region 305 is at most 0.20 .mu.m. Furthermore, a distance (W.sub.2 in the figure) between exposed regions 305 is also at most 0.20 .mu.m.
Referring to FIG. 62, upper resist layer 303 and exposed region 305 in FIG. 61 are heated, whereby an un-silylatable layer 306 and a silylatable layer 307 are formed.
Referring to FIG. 63, un-silylatable layer 306 and silylatable layer 307 in FIG. 62 are made in contact with gas containing silicon atoms, whereby silylatable layer 307 is turned into a silylated layer 308. At this time, silylated layer 308 swells. If a distance between silylated layers 308 is large, swelling of silylated layers 308 will not cause problems. When the distance between silylated layers 308 is at most 0.20 .mu.m, however, silylated layers 308 join with each other as a result of swelling as shown in FIG. 63.
Referring to FIG. 64, since silylated layers 308 join with each other, a portion of lower resist layer 302, which should be etched away, remains unetched, so that a desired pattern cannot be formed.
Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 63, silylated layer 308 is thicker in the center thereof and becomes thinner towards the end thereof as a result of swelling. Therefore, the end of silylated layer 308 might be etched during dry etching by oxygen plasma. The end of silylated layer 308 might not be etched. The size of a pattern in the case where the end of silylated layer 308 is etched is a different from that in the case where the end of silylated layer 308 is not etched on a nanometer order.
If the size of a pattern is large, such an error on a nanometer order will not cause problems, but when a resist pattern having a size of at most 0.20 .mu.m is to be formed, such an error on a nanometer order will cause problems.
In addition, a conventional method of forming a pattern causes other problems. FIG. 65 is a cross sectional view used for illustration of reflection (halation) of light from a stepped portion of a layer to be processed. Referring to FIG. 65, a lower resist layer 302 is formed on a layer 301 to be processed. An upper resist layer 303 is formed on lower resist layer 302. Light shown by arrows 304 in the figure is directed to a portion of upper resist layer 303, whereby an exposed region 305 is formed. At this time, light shown by the arrow 304 is reflected by a stepped portion of layer 301. Therefore, a region 330 which should not be exposed to light is exposed to light, so that a desired pattern cannot be formed.


The present invention is a general structural member assembly. A basic structural unit of the present invention has two adjacent shafts, both further having a cross sectionally triangular shape with a longitudinal side completely or substantially mostly removed to form legs. The leg ends are formed or machined such that they present two outward surfaces generally parallel to the open face of a first adjacent shaft. The outward surfaces of the leg ends are then positionally fixed, albeit with some flexible movement in some embodiments, to generally have a parallel and longitudinal interface with the longitudinal outside edges of a solid side of a second shaft. A stacked assembly may be formed from the structural members capable of sediment retention or accumulation.

This invention relates to structural members. This invention also relates to erosion control systems, and more particularly, to a composite of substantially parallel elements connected therefore.
In a previously filed application, an invention was disclosed relating to rods and shafts which are suitable for use in the construction of tapered and parallel edged fishing rods, golf shafts, yacht masts, sailboard masts and the like.
Fishing rods, golf shafts, yacht masts, sailboard masts, and the like are generally constructed of fibre-resin composites or metal in the form of solid rods or tubes. Hollow composite rods are accepted as being superior in performance to solid composite rods in light weight uses but they are delicate and easily damaged. Solid metal rods and metal tubes are generally inferior in flexural characteristics to the composite rods. It will be apparent to the skilled person that the teaching of rod or shaft construction in the above arts may be effectively applied to other heavier, industrial or civil engineering uses as well.
Tapered, tubular composite rods require expensive, accurately ground metal mandrels to produce the taper necessary for the desired performance and there are considerable difficulties in manufacturing with uniform wall thickness. An attempt to overcome to some extent the problems associated with tubular rod manufacture from composite materials is the subject of U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,582,758 and 5,229,187 (referred to herein respectively as Bruce and Walker and McGinn), the enabling teaching of which are incorporated herein. Both patents relate to the provision of rods of polygonal cross-section formed by a plurality of elements of certain geometrical cross-section. Bruce and Walker describes that each of the elements has a base part of a fibre reinforced plastic material and an apex of part of a rigid plastic material foam.
McGinn, on the other hand, adopted a method of using T-sections made from fibre reinforced plastic material. The method by which the joints of the top ends of T-sections in McGinn are joined is shown in FIG. 5 of that patent. It is seen that the top ends of the T-sections must be molded or machined to a relatively small tolerance to accommodate matching of the several faces of the T-sections to each other. Both these rods, while they solve wall thickness variation problems and obviate the need for expensive mandrels for forming are difficult to make in the required thickness.
Bruce and Walker experience difficulties in the required stiffness for heavy load application such as are encountered in deep sea fishing and similar application without resorting to excessive composite wall thickness. The technology applied by McGinn addresses the stiffness required in heavy load application, but the mere nature of this technology reduces the ability to make the rods flexible for fly rod application in the various line weights required. Neither invention has adequately addressed the problem of torque encountered in small structures such as golf shafts.
The problem is severe in the case of Bruce and Walker. The McGinn technology has gone some way to addressing this problem with sufficient torque being removed from fishing rods to make them user acceptable. However, the problem of torque is highlighted when both products are used as golf shafts. Any torque in the shafts alters the angle of the golf club head when it comes in contact with the ball, which is unacceptable to the playing golfing public.
It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide a rod, shaft, etc., which obviates or at least minimizes the aforementioned disadvantages of conventional rods and those of Bruce and Walker and McGinn.
Erosion prevention and control systems are useful for minimizing erosion around underwater structures, including pipes, pilings, bridges and cables, that rely on the seabed for support and also for minimizing coastal shoreline and beach erosion, as well as retaining the finer silts and muds of wetlands. Methods and devices for preventing underwater bed and shoreline and wetlands erosion are known. Some of these devices, such as breakwaters and groynes, although relatively time intensive and expensive to install, are effective in minimizing shoreline erosion and are generally constructed from rock, concrete, rubble mounds and other hard body materials. Other devices, primarily used for erosion control on seabed structures, operate by increasing viscous drag on the underwater current, thereby reducing the velocity of the current and of the particulate transported by the current. This causes some of the particulate to settle out of the current and to be deposited in or around the erosion control system. The precipitated particles form a berm in and around the erosion control system. Typical of those devices that increase viscous drag on the current are buoyant frond elements or artificial seaweed or some other viscous drag element. The viscous drag elements are generally secured to the a silted surface (i.e., a seabed or riverbed) via some type of anchor line.
As the cross sections of the hydraulic passages in the viscous drag materials decrease, the amount of drag on the viscous drag elements increases. The structural strength of such materials must be increased to withstand the drag required which is sufficient to disrupt laminar flow of the silt bearing or erosion causing water flow. The ability of the viscous drag elements in prior art appear to rely on greater weight than necessary to obtain the desired sediment precipitation. However, these factors lead to the enhanced ability to build higher berms of precipitated particles. For coastal shoreline applications it is essential to have high berms which will form submerged, wide-crested breakwaters which, optimally, reach a height of 80% of the depth of the water. For wetlands sediment retention, the extremes of hurricane driven water flows to extremely low and constant velocity water flows must be accommodated to retain sediment.
With respect to sediment in having substantially the grain size of sand beaches, waves travel by pressure and move in an oscillating fashion to strike and wash across the beach surface. The forward and backward motions of the water, moving just above the bottom of the sea, are unsymmetrical, with the forward motion being stronger and of shorter duration than the backward motion. The carrying capacity for suspended solids in the moving water is generally proportional to the velocity of the flow. That velocity of flow can be regulated or influenced by environmental and/or man-made barriers. Thus, when the velocity of the flow is sufficiently reduced, deposition or precipitation of suspended solid matter occurs.
The best protection against shoreline erosion is a wide beach since that environment causes the waves to break, thereby dissipating the wave energy before the erosion of the shoreline can occur. Normally, beaches grow seaward by deposition of sand from longshore currents and new sand brought from offshore by the formation of a ridge and runnel system perpendicular to the beach. Long waves of small amplitude serve to replenish the shoreline, while short storm waves of high amplitude erode the shoreline.
Experience has shown that natural sandbars provide excellent protection against destructive wave forces. Consequently, attempts have been made to simulate sandbar action by constructing artificial barriers parallel to the shoreline. Such barriers have been unsuccessful because high velocity water currents typically scour and undermine their foundations, causing the barriers to fail and to lose their effectiveness.
The present invention is a general structural member assembly. Two embodiments of a basic structural unit of the present invention have two adjacent shafts, both further having a cross sectionally triangular shape with a longitudinal side completely or substantially mostly removed. The xe2x80x9copenxe2x80x9d side, i.e., the side completely or substantially mostly removed, in cross section presents two xe2x80x9clegxe2x80x9d ends, i.e., the ends distal to the vertex of the longitudinal sides that at structurally intact and maintain the vertex of the two solid sides and such that the legs are approximately equal in length. The leg ends are formed or machined such that they present two outward surfaces generally parallel to the open face of a first adjacent shaft. The outward surfaces of the leg ends are then positionally fixed, albeit with some flexible movement in some embodiments, to generally have a parallel and longitudinal interface with the longitudinal outside edges of a solid side of a second shaft. Additional shafts may be added in this open side opposed to solid side basic assembly unit to form a single joined polygonal shaft assembly where all of the open sides are enclosed with a solid side, the additions proceeding in a circular fashion to form a polygonal cross section of exceptional strength and torsional resistance. Where a more extensive structure is desired, additional whole or partial sections of these joined polygonal shafts may be joined along one or more of their solid faces longitudinally along the solid faces of a first joined polygonal shaft, or portion thereof, at least preserving one basic structural unit of an open side positionally fixed to a closed side.
In the first of the two above embodiments, the open side completely lacks any portion of the longitudinal face of the triangular cross section of the adjacent shafts. The second of the two above embodiments comprises two short opposing extensions from the ends of the solid sides without such in the first embodiment, such that a short portion of the open side is formed along those legs to improve flexing strength.
In a third embodiment of a basic structural unit, two adjacent shafts also have open sides, a first adjacent shaft having solid sides and legs similar to those of the first embodiment except that an outside facing solid side has a cross section first length that is longer than that of the joined polygon enclosed solid side by about the thickness of a solid side. A second adjacent shaft also has an outside facing solid side of about the same cross section length and leg surface as that of the first adjacent leg. The joined polygon enclosed solid side of the second adjacent shaft also has the same length as its outside facing solid side, although it is further extended from its leg end in a direction such that the leg surface of the shortened leg of the first adjacent shaft presses in a force transmitting connection on an inside surface of the extension of the second adjacent shaft in an assembled arrangement as a basic structural unit. The assembled and combined cross section length of the shortened joined polygon enclosed solid side of the first adjacent shaft with the thickness of the extension of the joined polygon enclosed solid side of the second adjacent shaft then presents an outside surface of the extension as a leg surface effective with the leg surface of the outside facing solid side of the first adjacent shaft to then fixedly oppose the outside surface of a joined polygon enclosed solid side of another adjacent shaft such as that of the second adjacent shaft.
It is a further improvement of the present three basic structural units to provide single layer or laminar binding around the outside facing solid sides of a joined polygonal shaft assembly without any further securement, gluing, welding, bolting, soldering or the like between the adjacent shafts such that the adjacent shafts remain in positions sufficiently fixed to effect the support required of their application. This wrapped, un-secured embodiment is useful when sliding flexure of the adjacent shafts are desired, especially when a type of bending or twisting force is not so great as to break down the surrounding support.
It is a further improvement of the present three basic structural units to provide a single bonded axial connection to the central axis of the joined polygonal shafts, whereby the bonding may be accomplished with glues, expoxies, weld connections, solder or other methodologies (such as bolting and piercing/riveting methods) appropriate for securement of the central axis formed by the zone of leg ends of the joined polygon enclosed solid sides. Such joined polygonal shafts may then be bundled and secured together or with other longitudinal supports about their periphery such as described in the previous paragraph.
It is a further improvement of the present three basic structural units to provide bonding as described in the previous paragraph is provided only for the interface between the leg surface of the outside facing solid side and the abutting vertex zone of the joined polygon enclosed solid side of the adjacent shaft. A joined polygon shaft of this embodiment thus comprises an outer edge of longitudinally bonded adjacent shafts while leaving free for sliding movement the zone of leg ends of the joined polygon enclosed solid sides during flexing or torsional movement.
It is a further improvement of the present invention to combine the wrapping securement, central axis or outside facing seam bonding in combination with each other to obtain specific performance characteristics of flexing and torsional response. For example, the combination of a wrapping securement and the central axis bonding permits some slidable flexion in the interface between the leg surface of the outside facing solid side and the abutting vertex zone of the joined polygon enclosed solid side of the adjacent shaft while stiffening the overall structure with a non-bonding sleeve under the stiffening wrapping securement.
It is yet another embodiment of the present invention to form joined polygonal shafts with at least three or more sides. Any of the basic structural units are easily adapted to form joined polygonal shafts of any number of cross section outside solid sides so long as that number is three or more.
Additional inventive supports for the basic structural units comprise inserts into or fills for the void between the outer face of a joined polygon enclosed solid side of a first adjacent shaft and the inside faces of a the outside facing solid side and a joined polygon enclosed solid side of a second adjacent shaft, forming a longitudinal void with a roughly triangular shape. Longitudinal support inserts or fills into this void may have a cross section shape of a plane, triangle, circle (or oblate), separate solid rods, solid fill (urethane foam, epoxy, solder or metal), or fusible structurally supportive material. Appropriately smaller adjacent shafts of the present invention are also adaptable to be inserted alone or in a nesting relationship as longitudinal support for insertion into such a longitudinal void. Another class of inventive supports comprise planar inserts longitudinally interposed between and along the outer face of the joined polygon enclosed solid side of a first adjacent shaft and the leg surfaces of a second adjacent shaft. It has been found in prototype models of this planar insert embodiment that very thin, even flexible plastic material may comprise the basic structural unit while providing a planar insert bonded to the outer face of a joined polygon enclosed solid side that creates a joined polygon shaft of superior strength.
The basic structural units of the present invention may be used in such a wide number of applications that the types of additional supports described in the preceding paragraph may be applied separately or in combination along the length of any single longitudinal void. For example, in an antenna, ship mast or hull, or building joist where variable strength, flexibility and resistance to torsion may be desirable, a nested set of smaller adjacent shafts in one section of the longitudinal void may be easily reduced to an identical set of such supports less the innermost nested adjacent support shaft.
In an embodiment using the structural member of the invention in an assembly for soil or sediment retention and accumulation, the structural member of FIG. 8 comprises a lattice type material, preferably a swaged or expanded metal grating. Such metal grating is well known in the art for supporting persons or similar loads. It is known that such grating is often specified with respect to the grate opening formed on expansion of a slotted metal sheet. The grate openings intended for use in this embodiment are from xc2xc inch to 2 inches, and more preferably from about xc2xd inch to 1 inch. Upon first consideration, the open, apparently non-sediment retaining structure of the swaged or expanded metal grating would cause the skilled person to disregard such materials for sediment retention or accumulation. However, the mere skilled person does not have the benefit of knowledge of the present structural member as shown in FIG. 8. The structural member of FIG. 8 of this embodiment is optimally joined horizontally side by side with other such members to form a first layer and may receive on its upper side and in parallel relationship to the first layer a second or greater number of layers of such structural members, thereby creating a sediment retaining or accumulating stacked assembly. It is preferred that the stacked assembly be anchored in any of several methods for securing the stacked assembly such that it will generally lie with its structural members normal to the flow of water across a sediment surface, i.e., if on a beach, the structural members would generally be parallel with the coastline at that location. Such anchoring comprises methods such at securing each end of the stacked assembly with a rope or ropes or chain or chains to single or multiple posts driven into the subsurface sufficiently deep to maintain the desired relationship of the stacked assembly to the water flow through the several types of wind and weather to which the sediment surface is exposed. The stacked assembly has proven effective in causing precipitation and capture of sand and sediment from ocean waves sufficient to cause berm formation on an open beach. Such a result is highly surprising in light of the teaching in the prior art to form substantial wall structures to reach substantial heights or height limited structures of lesser bulk. The present invention permits formation of a stacked assembly with almost no height limit, as the structural strength contributed by the structural members permits the relatively open frame structure of the swaged or expanded grating. In a specific experiment, a structural member was formed with an element cross section side of about 6 inches and using axc2xd inch swaged metal grate to form all the elements of the structural member as in FIG. 8. A single layer of the structural members was subjected to a water flow from a 3 inch fire hose supplied from a typical water mainxe2x80x94the single layer prevented any pressurized water flow from passing to the other side of the single layer. The swaged metal grating provides twisted surfaces on the grating forcing laminar flow into locally turbulent regions that then impinge on each other without requiring wide and substantial surface area that the skilled person would expect to be required for obtaining the objects of this stacked assembly embodiment.

Structural member for composite assembly device and method for erosion control and sediment retention


Magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJ) suitable for spin transfer torque memory (STTM) devices, include perpendicular magnetic layers and one or more anisotropy enhancing layer(s) separated from a free magnetic layer by a crystallization barrier layer. In embodiments, an anisotropy enhancing layer improves perpendicular orientation of the free magnetic layer while the crystallization barrier improves tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) ratio with better alignment of crystalline texture of the free magnetic layer with that of a tunneling layer.

STTM devices are non-volatile memory devices that utilize a phenomenon known as tunnelling magnetoresistance (TMR). For a structure including two ferromagnetic layers separated by a thin insulating tunnel layer, it is more likely that electrons will tunnel through the tunnel layer when magnetizations of the two magnetic layers are in a parallel orientation than if they are not (non-parallel or antiparallel orientation). As such, an MTJ can be switched between two states of electrical resistance, one state having a low resistance and one state with a high resistance. The greater the differential in resistance, the higher the TMR ratio (RAP−RP/RP*100 where RP and RAP are resistances for parallel and antiparallel alignment of the magnetizations, respectively) and the more readily a bit can be reliably stored in association with the MTJ resistive state. The TMR ratio of a given MTJ is therefore an important performance metric of an STTM.
For an STTM device, current-induced magnetization switching is used to set the bit states. Polarization states of one ferromagnetic layer are switched relative to a fixed polarization of the second ferromagnetic layer via the spin transfer torque phenomenon, enabling states of the MTJ to be set by application of current. Upon passing a current through the fixed magnetic layer, angular momentum (spin) of the electrons is polarized along the direction of the magnetization of the fixed layer. These spin polarized electrons transfer their spin angular momentum to the magnetization of the free layer and cause it to precess. As such, the magnetization of the free magnetic layer can be switched by a pulse of current (e.g., in about 1 nano-second) exceeding a certain critical value with magnetization of the fixed magnetic layer remains unchanged as long as the current pulse is below a higher threshold attributable to a different geometry, an adjacent pinning layer, different coercivity (Hc), etc.
MTJs with magnetic electrodes having a perpendicular (out of plane of substrate) magnetic easy axis have a potential for realizing higher density memory than in-plane variants. Generally, perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) can been achieved in the free magnetic layer in the presence of interfacial perpendicular anisotropy established by an adjacent layer, such as MgO, when free magnetic layer is sufficiently thin. This structure however is associated with greater thermal instability, which can significantly shorten the non-volatile lifetime of a memory element. PMA can also be achieved through coupling to a strongly perpendicular film disposed adjacent to the free layer. While thermal stability is improved with this structure, TMR ratio tends to be low due to crystal mismatch.
Perpendicular MTJ structures and formation techniques capable of achieving both a high TMR ratio and good thermal stability are therefore advantageous.

Perpendicular MTJ stacks with magnetic anisotrophy enhancing layer and crystallization barrier layer


A vehicle glove box door latch assembly includes a housing with a central opening formed therein and a latch handle positioned substantially within the central opening. The latch handle is operative to actuate unlatching of the latch assembly. A utility hook is positioned substantially within the central opening and pivotally connected to the housing for pivotal movement between a stowed position within the central opening and a use position extended from the central opening. The utility hook is pivotable independently of the latch handle.

Vehicle glove box door assemblies typically comprise a plurality of plastic components, including a bin, a door, and a latch assembly for selectively latching the glove box in the closed position. Such assemblies typically do not include any kind of utility hook or hanger for hanging various items, such as purses.
It is desirable to provide a utility hook on a glove box door assembly in a manner in which glove box door operation is not interfered with, and in which the aesthetic appearance of the glove box door assembly is not adversely affected.

Glove box door latch assembly with utility hook


The present utility model discloses an electroluminescent element driving apparatus, which mainly resolves the problems caused by insufficient supplying of an electric power to affect the service life of the apparatus in the prior art. The electroluminescent element driving apparatus disclosed by the present utility model includes a power supply, a controlling IC, an electroluminescent element driving unit, a electroluminescent cell comprised of an electroluminescent element, and a charging unit connected to the power supply. The power supply continually storage's electric power while it supplies the power to the controlling IC and the electroluminescent element driving unit, respectively, the controlling IC supplies a flash to at least one electroluminescent element driving unit, the electroluminescent element driving unit transmits a signal having the flash to the electroluminescent cell, and the electroluminescent cell displays the signal having the flash. Since the electroluminescent element driving means disclosed by the present utility model includes the charging unit, although the electroluminescent element will consumes much power, a battery may be charged by exterior when its electricity is lack, thereby it may be reused. Thus, the present utility model advantageously eliminates the problems of lack of the electric power and a shorting life when applied to a flashing equipment.

The flashing devices are widely used on shoes, clothes or backpacks for purposes of decoration and warnings to ensure safety of the users. The working principle of electroluminescent: the fluorescent material excited by alternating current electric field emits high efficient cold light that contains no ultraviolet rays, that is, the alternating electric field generated by the alternating voltage imposed on the electrodes excites the electrons, the excited electrons knock the fluorescent material and causes the jump, change or compounding of the energy levels of the electrons which then emits high efficient cold light. The phenomenon is called electroluminescence. Electroluminescent elements are developed according to the above principle. Having a full range of colors, electroluminescent elements are widely used as LCD back light source, in clock, watch, toys, electronic giftware, Christmas lights, advertisement signs, emergency marker lights, door signs and plates, vehicle license plates, instruments and meters and night lights and so forth.
A flash driving device of the existing technology is shown in FIG. 1, which is composed of power supply, controlling IC, electroluminescent element driving unit, and electroluminescent element. The power supply feed the controlling IC and the electroluminescent element driving unit, the controlling IC supplies a flash to electroluminescent element driving unit which in turn drives the cell to display flash according to the signals of controlling IC.
The physical luminescence of the electroluminescent element requires alternating (AC) voltage as its working voltage, the optimum range of which under current technical standards is from 50V to 110V, with the frequency range from 400 Hz to 1200 Hz. This imposes a high demand on the DC power supply which needs to be converted to AC voltage to drive the electroluminescent element. Most flash devices use batteries as power supply due to limited installation spaces on the articles like shoes and clothes and the limited weight of the device themselves. When DC 3-6V is raised to AC50-110V, there exists the problem of the conversion efficiency which prevents the unchargeable batteries from having a satisfactory service life, thus the application of the colorful electroluminescent elements in the flash devices failed to reach its ideal potential.

Electroluminescent element driving apparatus


A reflective liquid crystal display device includes a pair of substrates and a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween. The liquid crystal layer includes a liquid crystal material and a dichroic dye contained therein, and long axis of liquid crystal molecules near the substrate is substantially parallel to the substrate. A plurality of parameters of the reflective liquid crystal display device are set so that a product K.sub.M cd of a value K.sub.M, a dye concentration c and a thickness d of the liquid crystal layer satisfies the following relationship: EQU 3.0S.sup.2 -7.3S+5.7.ltoreq.K.sub.M cd.ltoreq.14.7S.sup.2 -15.1S+6.15. wherein, the value K.sub.M is a value defined by absorption coefficients for linearly-polarized light substantially parallel to and perpendicular to the liquid crystal molecules, and an order parameter S of the liquid crystal layer.

1. Field Of The Invention
The present invention relates to a reflective liquid crystal display device which realizes a bright display.
2. Description Of The Related Art
A liquid crystal display device is a non-light-emitting device which conducts a display by modulating light ambient and incident upon the device. Therefore, power consumption in a liquid crystal display device is low. Moreover, it is thin and lightweight. Having such excellent characteristics, it has been widely used in information display apparatuses such as watches, calculators, computer terminals, word processors, TVs and the like.
In recent years, as represented by the coined phrase "advanced information society", an ever-increasing amount of information has been distributed and circulated. Accordingly, there has been an increasing demand by individuals for personal collection and selection of information. Under such a circumstance, there has been a widely recognized need for a portable information apparatus for personal use such as a PDA. Such an apparatus has been longed for and is now positively developed.
In such a portable information apparatus, an information display device as a man-machine interface plays an important role and is considered the key device for the apparatus. Such a display device of the portable information apparatus is required to be thin, light weight, capable of displaying a great volume of information, superior in visibility, and low in power consumption. A liquid crystal display device has been developed which is expected to meet these requirements.
Particularly, a reflective liquid crystal display device can be a suitable display device since it efficiently uses ambient light, thereby sufficiently exhibiting a low power consumption characteristic which is inherent in liquid crystal display devices.
However, when TN or STN mode, the currently preferred display modes, is employed in a reflective liquid crystal display device which incorporates no backlight, two polarizers are required to be provided in the device; hereby resulting in a dark display. Therefore, the TN or STN mode can be employed only in a black and white reflective liquid crystal display device, but it has not been employed in a color reflective liquid crystal display device, since a color reflective liquid crystal display device has to be necessarily provided with a color filter as well as the polarizers and, therefore, a practical brightness cannot be achieved.
Thus, conventionally, a guest-host mode (also referred to as the "GH mode", hereinafter) has been mainly employed in the color reflective liquid crystal display device. In this display mode, a dichroic dye is dissolved in a liquid crystal material as a solvent, and a display is conducted utilizing the anisotropy of the absorption coefficient of the dichroic dye. Thus, a color display can be realized, without any polarizer or color filter, by controlling the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules with an applied electric field and thereby simultaneously changing the orientation of the dye molecules.
For a conventional reflective GH display device, improvement of display characteristics such as contrast and brightness of the display has been discussed while simplifying the manner the liquid crystal molecules are oriented in the presence or absence of an applied voltage. However, the improvement of the characteristics may not have been adequately discussed based on the conventional theory since, in practice, the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules changes in a more complicated manner as a voltage is applied in an actual liquid crystal display device.

Guest-host reflective liquid crystal display device with a particular relationship between the concentration of dichroic dye and the cell thickness


The present invention relates to a feed roller (1) by means of which a felled tree (2) trunk is fed into a timber harvester for delimbing. The apparatus comprises a drive wheel (4) and at least one transmission means (5) arranged at the outer circumference of and controlled by the drive wheel, the transmission means having engagement plates (3) provided with gripping means (14). The apparatus efficiently equalizes surface pressure exerted on the tree (2) trunk, even though the drive wheel is without cushioning rubber material. The transmission means (5) arranged on the drive wheel (4) is longer than the wheel perimeter. Consequently, the transmission means is arranged to form a plane surface between the drive wheel and the tree trunk, whereby a continuous surface pressing evenly against the tree trunk is formed on the wood side in the apparatus.

The invention relates to a feed roller for guiding a tree trunk advantageously in a timber harvesting machine, the feed roller comprising a drive wheel, at least one transmission means arranged at the outer circumference of and controlled by the drive wheel, the transmission means having engagement plates provided with gripping means.
This apparatus is in general used for feeding a cut tree trunk into the timber harvester for delimbing.
In the Nordic countries, so-called feller heads are currently in general use in timber harvesting, previously these apparatuses were also known as single-grip harvesters. The apparatus has means for felling, delimbing and cutting a tree. When working with this kind of feller head, the tree is gripped and felled with felling means of the apparatus. After felling, the tree is in general delimbed by feeding the tree trunk through a ring formed by various knife-like blades, whereby the branches become detached from the trunk when hitting the blades. In order that delimbing were sufficiently efficient, the feller head must, however, get as firm a hold as possible on the surface of the trunk when it is fed towards the blades of the apparatus. On the other hand, in order to prevent wood from being damaged by means pressing the trunk, when the trunk is being fed through the feller head, the means pressing the trunk must provide an even contact surface with wood. In addition, the even contact surface must be provided for a variety of trunk diameters.
For the above reasons, various anti-skid solutions have been developed which equalize surface pressures and thus damage wood less, and adapt to the surface better. These kinds of solutions are disclosed, for instance, in Finnish Patents 55,103, 82,898, 84,445 and 97,785 and in Finnish Patent Applications 931062, 942708, 952262 and in Finnish Utility Model 1150.
In various anti-skid solutions which equalize surface pressures, separate anti-skid devices have conventionally been attached to a rubber coated wheel. Hence the anti-skid devices yield when coming into contact with a wood surface by sinking into the rubber coating of the wheel and thus equalize the pressure exerted on wood. In these apparatuses, various chains, nets or plates with optional welded gripping means, are generally used as anti-skid devices.
The currently used rubber wheels have, however, considerable drawbacks, which have not been solved so far. The rubber coating on a conventional wheel absorbs, for example, some of the feeding energy exerted on the tree trunk, and consequently more power is needed to drive the wheel. However, increased power leads to warming up of the wheel and the rubber coating thereon. Warming up is disadvantageous, since it leads to changes in the external dimensions of the wheel, which in turn causes constant inaccuracy in measuring timber which is handled with the feller head.
The warming up of the conventional rubber coated wheel also causes softening in the rubber coating, causing the mechanic anti-skid devices arranged on the wheel to sink more readily into the rubber and wear the rubber coating rapidly, which shortens the wheel's service life. Thus the conventional rubber coated wheel has to be re-coated often, which on one hand is expensive and on the other hand causes disadvantageous down-time in the use of the timber harvesting machine.


The invention provides compositions comprising formula 1 steroids, e.g., 16α-bromo-3β-hydroxy-5α-androstan-17-one hemihydrate and one or more excipients, including compositions that comprise a liquid formulation comprising less than about 3% v/v water. The compositions are useful to make improved pharmaceutical formulations. The invention also provides methods of intermittent dosing of steroid compounds such as analogs of 16α-bromo-3β-hydroxy-5α-androstan-17-one and compositions useful in such dosing regimens. The invention further provides compositions and methods to inhibit pathogen replication, ameliorate symptoms associated with immune dysregulation and to modulate immune responses in a subject using the compounds. The invention also provides methods to make and use these immunomodulatory compositions and formulations.

BrEA and its preparation from the steroid compound 3β-hydroxyandrost-5-en-17-one (dehydroepiandrosterone or DHEA) have been described (see, e.g., J. Org. Chem. 1962 27:2937-2938). Methods to prepare DHEA and other steroids and their biological properties have been described, see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,833,793, 2,911,418, 3,148,198, 3,471,480, 3,976,691, 4,268,441, 4,427,649, 4,542,129, 4,666,898, 4,956,355, 5,001,119, 5,043,165, 5,077,284, 5,028,631, 5,110,810, 5,157,031, 5,162,198, 5,175,154, 5,277,907, 5,292,730, 5,296,481, 5,372,996, 5,387,583, 5,407,684, 5,424,463, 5,461,042, 5,478,566, 5,506,223, 5,518,725, 5,527,788, 5,527,789, 5,532,230, 5,559,107, 5,562,910, 5,583,126, 5,585,371, 5,587,369, 5,591,736, 5,593,981, 5,610,150, 5,635,496, 5,641,766, 5,641,768, 5,656,621, 5,660,835, 5,686,438, 5,696,106, 5,700,793, 5,707,983, 5,709,878, 5,710,143, 5,714,481, 5,728,688, 5,736,537, 5,744,462, 5,753,237, 5,756,482, 5,776,921, 5,776,923, 5,780,460, 5,795,880, 5,798,347, 5,798,348, 5,804,576, 5,807,848, 5,807,849, 5,811,418, 5,824,313, 5,824,668, 5,824,671, 5,827,841, 5,837,269, 5,837,700, 5,843,932, 5,846,963, 5,859,000, 5,872,114 and 5,872,147; German patent numbers 2035738 and 2705917; PCT publication numbers WO 95/21617, WO 97/48367, WO 98/05338, WO 98/50040, WO 98/50041, WO 98/58650; European publication number 0020029; Ben-David, et al., Proc. Soc. Expt. Biol. Med. 1967 125:1136-1140, Coleman et al., Diabetes 1982 31:830, Oertel, et al., J. Steroid Biochem. 1972 3:493-496, Pashko, et al., Carcinogenesis 1981 2:717-721, Schwartz et al., Nutr. Cancer 1981 3:46-53; Dyner et al., J. Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes 1993 6:459-465; A. A. Afanasii and Y. A. Titov, Total Steroid Synthesis, Plenum Press, New York, 1970, see, e.g., p 1-304.
The use DHEA and other steroids in various applications have been described, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,869,090, 5,863,910, 5,856,340, 5,824,668, 5,804,576, 5,753,237, 5,714,481, 5,709,878, 5,407,684, 5,206,008, 5,077,284, 4,978,532, 4,898,694, 4,542,129, 3,711,606 and 3,710,795. U.S. Pat. No. 4,956,355 and PCT publication number WO 97/48367, have described the use of BrEA and certain steroid compounds to treat certain virus or bacterial infections, such as human immunodeficiency virus ("HIV") infection.
Various biological effects and/or metabolic conversions of steroid compounds have also been described, e.g., Batta et al., J. Biol. Chem. 1986 25:127-133, Belli et al., Liver 1991 11:162-169, Bhattacharjee et al., Anal. Biochem. 1992 201:233-236, Blake et al., Int. J. Peptide Protein Res. 1982 20:97-101, 1986 25:127-133, Bonaventura, Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 1978 131:403-409, Bucala et al., J. Steroid Biochem. 1986 25:127-133, Carey et al., Biochem. 1981 20:3637-3648, Chen et al., Carcinogenesis 1999 20:249-254, Chen et al., Carcinogenesis 1998 19:2187-2193, Chow et al., Antisense Res. Dev. 1994 4:81-86, Citro et al., Dis. Colon Rectum 1994 37(2 Suppl):5127-5132, Cleary, Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med. 1991 196:8-16, Cleary, Int. J. Biochem. 1990 22:205-210, Crawford et al., Lab. Invest. 1994 71:42-51, Danenberg et al., Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 1992 36:2275-2279, Dotzlaw et al., Cancer Res. 1999 59:529-532, Falany et al., J. Steroid Biochem. Mol. Biol. 1994 48:369-375, Faredin et al., J. Investigative Dermatol. 1969 52:357-361, Galigniana et al., Mol. Pharmacol. 1999 55:317-323, Goto et al., J. Chromatogr. 1983 276:289-300, Grenot Biochem. 1992 31:7609-7621, Hofbauer et al., Life Sci. 1999 64:671-679, Huijghebaert et al., J. Lipid Res. 1986 27:742-752, Hurd et al., Oncogene 1999 18:1067-1072, lida et al., J. Lipid Res. 1995 36:628-638, Jellinck et al., Steroids 1967 10:329-346, Jonsson et al., J. Pediatr. Gastroenterol. Nutr. 1995 20:394-402, Kalimi et al, Mol. Cell. Biochem. 1994 131:99-108, Kramer et al., J. Biol. Chem. 1994 269:10621-10627, LaRochelle et al., Steroids 1984 43: 209-217, Liao et al., Carcinogenesis 1998 19:2173-2180, Lillienau et al., J. Clin. Invest. 1992 89:420-431, Loria, Psychoneuroendocrinology 1997 22:S103-S108, Luscher et al Mol. Immunol. 1983 20:1099-1105, Manna et al., J. Biol. Chem. 1999 274:5909-5918, Marschall et al., J. Biol. Chem. 1989 264:12989-12993, Medh et al., Cancer Res. 1998 15:3684-3693, Mohan et al., Steroids 1992 57:244-247, Munoz de Toro et al., J. Steroid Biochem. Mol. Biol. 1998 67:333-339, Padgett et al., J. Neuroimmunol. 1998 84:61, Padgett et al., Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 1995 774:323, Padgett et al., J. Immunol. 1994 153:1544-1552, Pashko et al., Carcinogenesis 1984 5:463-466, Pashko et al., Carcinogenesis 1981 2:717, Petrylak et al., J. Clin. Oncology 1999 17:958-967, Podesta et al., Steroids 1996 61:622-626, Regelson et al., Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 1994 719:564, Schmassmann et al., Gastroenterology 1993 104:1171-1181, Schmassmann et al., Hepatology 1990 11:989-996, Schreiber et al., Lancet 353:459-461, Schreiber, Neth. J. Med. 1998 53:S24-31, Schwartz et al., Cancer Res. 1988 48:4817, Shahidi et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 1999 254:559-565, Steer et al., Ann. Rheum. Dis. 1998 57:732-737, Suzuki et al., Steroids 1998 63:672-677, Suzuki et al., Steroids 1996 61:296-301, Swaan et al., Bioconjugate Chem. 1997 8:520-525, Tang et al, Anticancer Drug Res. 1998 13:815-824, Thomas et al., J. Steroid Biochem. 1986 25:103-108, Utsumi et al., Cancer Res. 1999 59:377-381, Vanden Heuvel, J. Nutr. 1999 129(2S Suppl.):5755-5805, Wang et al., Endocrinology 1998 139:3903-3912, Wong et al., J. Biol. Chem. 1999 274:5443-5453, Xie et al., Endocrinology 1999 140:219-227, Yen et al., Lipids 1977 12:409-413, Zackheim et al., Arch. Dermatology 1998 134:949-954, Zhang et al., Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1991 1096:179-186, Zhu et al., Carcinogenesis 1988 19:2101-2106.
Compositions containing BrEA that were used to deliver the compound to cells or cell extracts usually included a significant amount of water. Such compositions contained solvents such as dioxane or dimethylsulfoxide ("DMSO"), which contained water, or an aqueous cyclodextrin solutions to facilitate compound delivery to cells, see, e.g., J. Pharmacol Exp. Ther. 1998, 285:876-83, Cancer Res. 1986 46:3389-95, Carcinogenesis 1985 6:333-35, Carcinogenesis 1981 2:717-721, Carcinogenesis 1981 2:683-86. Such compositions are typically delivered to animals by injection or to cells in tissue culture by addition to cell culture medium. European publication number EP 429 187 describes formulations that contain DHEA or BrEA and polyvinylpyrrolidone and crosslinked polyvinylpyrrolidone. Some of these compositions may have undesired or suboptimal properties. For example, solvents such as dioxane, DMSO or chloroform are generally not preferred or suitable parenteral excipients, particularly for human use. Formulations that contain BrEA or related steroids and that have improved properties, e.g., lower toxicity, improved chemical stability or desirable characteristics for large-scale synthesis are needed.
Mammalian immune responses to infections or other conditions are often characterized by responses mediated by different effector cell populations. In some situations, helper T cells designated Th1 in the murine system, facilitate immune effector functions that are typically dominated by cell-mediated responses. In other cases, helper T cells designated Th2 cells facilitate immune effector functions that are typically dominated by humoral responses. A vigorous Th1 response is usually desirable to help clear infections or to slow the progression of an infection. When a subject's immune response is biased to, or dominated by, a Th2-type response, the cytokines associated with the Th2 response tend to suppress the immune system's capacity to mount a vigorous Th1 response at the same time. The converse is also generally true. When mammalian immune responses begin to result in an increasing Th2 response, the Th1 response to the same condition tends to weaken. Insufficient Th1 responses may be associated with progression of some infections or other conditions, see, e.g., M. Clerici and G. M. Shearer, Immunol. Today 14:107-111, 1993; M. Clerici and G. M. Shearer, Immunol. Today 15:575-581, 1994. The invention provides compounds and compositions useful to enhance Th1 immune responses.
Hemopoiesis is the formation and development of the various types of blood cells and their progenitor cells. Mature cells are found in circulation or tissues such as the lymph nodes or the thymus. Many of the stem cells that give rise to mature forms reside in the bone marrow, although some may circulate in the blood for some time. Clinical blood cell deficiencies such as thrombocytopenia, neutropenia or erythropenia can arise from causes such as impaired hemopoiesis or abnormal loss or destruction of mature or immature blood cells.
Thrombocytopenia ("TP"), abnormally low platelet counts, can arise from impaired platelet production, sequestration of platelets in the spleen or abnormal loss of circulating platelets. Impaired production can result from causes such as chemotherapies or radiation therapies. Abnormal loss of circulating platelets is often associated with autoreactive antibodies that bind to platelets and reduce their life span. These underlying causes give rise to the various clinical forms of TP, such as autoimmune neonatal TP, immune thrombocytopenic purpra, radiation induced TP, chemotherapy induced TP and amegakaryocitic TP.
A number of treatment options are available and the selection of a treatment typically depends on the source of the disorder and its severity. Treatments include administering one or more of glucocorticoid steroids (e.g., prednisone, prednisolone), human IgG antibodies, anti-Rh(D)+ antibodies for Rh(D)+ patients, an androgen such as danazol, vinca alkaloids (e.g., vincristine, vinblastine), thrombopoietin and immunosuppresants (e.g., azathioprine, cyclophosphamide). Splenectomy is also indicated, for example when first line treatments fail. The goal of treatment is typically to increase platelet counts to 20,000 mm−3 or more typically to at least about 50,000 mm−3 and to maintain these levels.
Although the treatment options to increase platelet levels are generally known, they usually have a number of drawbacks. For example, infusion of IgG antibodies is not always effective and the treatment is relatively expensive. Other treatments, such as prednisone are also not always effective and they typically are discontinued or tapered off after several weeks due to toxicity or unwanted side effects. Splenectomy, which is relatively expensive and invasive, is also not always effective.
The sources of thrombocytopenia and treatment options have been described. See, e.g., Hematology—Basic Principles and Practice, 3rd edition, R. Hoffman, E. J. Benz Jr. et al., editors, Churchill Livingstone, N.Y., 2000 (see, e.g., Chapters 126-129 and 131 at pages 2096-2154 and 2172-2186), PCT publication WO 200035466.
Neutropenia ("NP"), is considered to exist clinically when neutrophils drop to below a level considered normal. NP can arise from impaired production of neutrophil precursors or mature neutrophils, movement of neutrophils from the circulation to tissue, abnormal circulating neutrophil loss or a combination of these causes. Impaired neutrophil production can be acquired from, e.g., treatment with a cytotoxic or cytostatic drug, chemotherapy, radiation therapy or an autoimmune response. The abnormal loss of circulating neutrophils in autoimmunity is associated with autoreactive antibodies that bind to the cells and reduce their life span. These underlying causes give rise to the various clinical forms of NP, such as postinfectious NP, drug-induced NP, autoimmune NP, or chronic idiopathic NP.
The sources of NP and treatment options have been described. See, e.g., Hematology—Basic Principles and Practice, 3rd edition, R. Hoffman, E. J. Benz Jr. et al., editors, Churchill Livingstone, N.Y., 2000 (see, e.g., Chapters 19, 41, 51, 79, 134 and 137 at pages 297-331, 720-762, 939-979, 1443-1500, 2220-2248 and 2257-2263).
The use of 3β-hydroxyandrost-5-ene-17-one, 3β,17β-dihydroxyandrost-5-ene and other steroids to modulate immune functions or to stimulate myelopoiesis has been described, see, e.g., M. H. Whitnall et al., Int'l. J. Immunopharmacology 2000 22:1-14. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,162,198, 5,206,008, 5,292,730, 5,407,684, 5,461,042, 5,461,768, 5,478,566, 5,585,371, 5,635,496, 5,641,766, 5,753,237, 5,837,269, 5,885,977 and 5,919,465, PCT publication nos. WO93/20696 and WO99/25333.1. Porsova-Dutoit et al., Physiological Res. 2000 49(Suppl. 1):543-556, R. L. Jesse et al., Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 1995 774:281-290 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,532,230, 5,811,418 and 5,846,963 discuss the capacity of 3β-hydroxyandrost-5-ene-17-one, its 3-sulfate derivative and other steroids to affect platelet and neutrophil aggregation or their adhesion to endothelial cells.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,908,358 and 4,902,681 describe the capacity of compounds such as 5α-pregnan-3,20-dione, cortexolone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone and 16α-methylprogesterone to inhibit the clearance of antibody-coated cells from circulation in disorders such as immune thrombocytopenic purpura or immune hemolytic anemia.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,532,230, 5,686,438, 5,753,640 and 5,811,418 and J. Bratt and M. Heimburger, Scand. J. Rheumatol. 1999 28:308-313 describe the capacity of compounds such as 3β,7β-dihydroxyandrost-5-ene-17-one, prednisolone, and 3β-hydroxyandrost-5-ene-17-one to limit tissue damage in ischemic tissues by inhibiting adhesion of cells such as neutrophils to endothelial cells or to treat pulmonary hypertension.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,859,000 describes the capacity of compounds such as 3β,7β-dihydroxyandrost-5-ene-17-one and 3β-hydroxyandrost-5-ene-17-one to reduce mast cell mediated allergic reactions.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,763,433 and PCT publication WO 96/35428 describe the capacity of compounds related to dehydroepiandrosterone and 16α-halodehydroepiandrosterone to modulate immune responses and to treat conditions certain immune related conditions such as systemic lupus erythematosus.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,925,630, 5,939,545 and 5,962,443 describe the capacity of 19-nur-pregnane steroids, 3α-hydroxy-5α-pregnan-20-one and related steroids to modulate certain neurological activities such as hypothalamic function and GABA receptor activity.
Some proteins such as interleukin-6 ("IL-6"), erythropoietin ("EPO") and thrombopoietin ("TPO") have been examined for their capacity to enhance various aspects hemopoiesis, e.g., Hematology—Basic Principles and Practice, 3rd edition, R. Hoffman, E. J. Benz Jr. et al., editors, Churchill Livingstone, N.Y., 2000 (see, e.g., Chapter 14 at pages 154-202), O. J. Borge et al., Blood 1996 88:2859-2870, M. Cremer et al., Ann. Hematol. 1999 78:401-407, Y. Sasaki et al., Blood 1999 94:1952-1960, U.S. Pat. No. 5,879,673. Recombinant IL-6 was shown in model systems to affect platelet counts in peripheral circulation, e.g., Stahl et al., Blood 1991 78:1467-1475, although significant toxicities are associated with its administration to humans, e.g., Andus et al., FEBS Lett. 1987 221:18, J. Gauldie et al., P.N.A.S. U.S.A. 1987 84:7251-7255, T. Geiger et al., Eur. J. Immunol. 1988 18:717-721. The IL-6 molecule has been described in detail, e.g., publication no. WO 88/00206. Administration of proteins is typically expensive, given factors such as the complexity of producing pharmaceutical grade material.
The capacity of various compounds or agents such as deuterium oxide, lithium and butyrate to affect or to participate in biological functions of cells such as neutrophils has been described. See, e.g., M. F. Tsan and R. M. Turkall, Inflammation 1982 6:387-396, M. Nakamura et al., Exp. Cell Res. 1976 102:429-431, P. Blier et al., Int. Clin. Psychopharmacol. 1998 13:137-140, N. Turkozkan et al., Int. J. Biochem. 1993 25:1501-1504, L. V. Deriy et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 2000 275:241-246, M. T. Elghetany et al., Leuk. Res. 1997 21:801-806, E. Brandt et al., J. Leukocyte Biol. 2000 68:125-130, M. Boussac and J. Garin, Electrophoresis 2000 21:665-672, M. Niwa et al., Life Sci. 2000 18:1525-1534, D. A. Moulding et al., J. Leukocyte Biol. 1999 65:875-882 and D. Moulding et al., Biologicals 1996 24:301-306.
There is a current need for cost-effective pharmaceutical agents or treatment methods that are more effective in treating deficiencies of blood cells or reducing their symptoms. The present invention provides therapeutic agents and treatment methods to treat hemopoiesis deficiencies and disorders such as TP and NP. The agents and methods are thus useful to reduce one or more symptoms associated with any of these conditions. Also, the use of the invention agents and methods can be combined with one or more conventional treatments for these disorders.


A pair of clamps for supporting the rear fender of a motorcycle. Each clamp has two portions, one portion having a curved member extending therefrom, and both portions having recesses formed in each portion that, when the portions are brought together and aligned, form a channel dimensioned to grip the motorcycle frame securely just behind and below the seat. The curved members follow the rear fender upwardly and rearwardly from the frame and are bolted thereto with spacers between the fender and each curved member. Additional support and stability is obtained by one or more members that run from one curved member to the other under the seat transversely to the curved members.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to supports for the rear fenders of motorcycles.
2. Discussion of Background:
There are a number of existing supports for a rear fender of a motorcycle. The most common are in the form of struts attached to the rear axle, including the well-known "sissy" bar. Some, however, are attached to a portion of a motorcycle other than the axle. These are routinely fastened by welding or by drilling holes directly into the frame for bolting the support to the frame.
Morioka, however, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,458,909, discloses a front fender support fastened to the front forks using clamps with flanges for bolt holes and bolts.
Although welding and bolting to the frame will provide strong support, the strength of such fastening means is not the only consideration. The integrity of the frame and the overall appearance of the motorcycle with the support are also important considerations. In order to understand why, one must appreciate that motorcycles are not simply a form of transportation or a vehicle for recreational use. Some motorcycles have intrinsic value over and above their vehicular uses to aficionados and collectors. For example, Harley-Davidson motorcycles have a long and interesting history, and are known as a brand of motorcycle distinctive in sound and appearance. A great deal has been written about the image, history, artistic value and cult following surrounding Harley-Davidson motorcycles, which are coveted in the United States and abroad.
Vintage Harley-Davidson motorcycles in mint condition are exceptionally valuable. The frame alone of such a vintage motorcycle commands a premium price if its integrity has not been compromised by bolting or welding. Prior to about 1965, the frames of Harley-Davidson motorcycles were rigid, with two members of the frame extending downward and rearward from the seat on both sides of the rear wheel to the rear axle. The fender projected above the rear wheel rearward from just below the seat.
If additional seating on the rear fender or support on the rear fender for baggage is desired, a strut or "sissy" bar is welded or bolted between the axle and the fender. However, struts interfere with the clean lines of the original machines, where nothing appeared between the axle and the fender.
On newer motorcycles, supports are provided from the frame following the curve of the fender. These are permanently attached to the frame at the factory. However, applicant is not aware of the appreciation of the problem presented to owners of older, vintage Harley-Davidson motorcycles or, indeed of any rigid-frame motorcycle, where the owner does not want to compromise the integrity of the original frame and does not want to interfere with the lines of the motorcycle, but wants to provide additional support for the rear fender.


A key structure which is capable of giving a woody appearance to the key, and increasing the freedom of mounting at least one functional part formed as a separate part from the key structure, while maintaining excellent machinability. An upper plate has an increased width part corresponding to an end of a white key toward a player. In the key structure, a wood part is secured to the lower surface of at least the increased width part of the upper plate, and has an increased width part having substantially the same width as the increased width part of the upper plate. The key structure is mountable in a keyboard apparatus, for functioning as a white key pivotally moved by key-depressing operation. A recess is formed in a part of the wood part including the increased width part, which opens downward and has a width (W0) not less than 50% and not more than 80% of the width (B0) of the increased width part of the wood part.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a key structure which is applied to a key having a wood part, and a keyboard apparatus including the key structure.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, key structures are known which are mounted in a keyboard apparatus and function as a key pivotally moved by key depression and for which wood or the like is used, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Registration Publication No. 2514485 and Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2903959. In such a woody key structure, a wood material is used at least for a so-called "visible part" which is visible from the outside during both performance and non-performance, and the key structure presents a woody appearance and hence a high-quality appearance.
However, the conventional key structures have the following problems:
(1) Functional parts for realizing the key operation of each key (e.g. a key return spring, a key switch actuator, a key retainer), and other functional parts for urging the key and a hammer against respective pivots associated therewith, such as a spring having an S shape in side view, are usually provided between the key and a frame of the keyboard apparatus. Therefore, to arrange these functional parts, it is necessary to secure a certain amount of mounting space mainly in a vertical direction.
To this end, if the key structure is of a general resin-made type, it is easy to form a complicated shape, and therefore it is also easy to secure the mounting space for the functional parts. However, the woody key structure usually has its shape formed by machining, e.g. by being cut out of solid wood. Therefore, it is not easy to secure the mounting space for the functional parts. This makes it necessary to set wide spacing between the key and the frame, so that the total height of the keyboard apparatus becomes high, which is contrary not only to the demand for reduction of the size, but also to the demand for reduction of the weight since the amount of wasteful wood part increases.
(2) Further, in general, to provide functional parts formed separately from the key structure, such as a key guide, a sensor, and an LED, on the keyboard apparatus, it is necessary to provide recesses for accommodating such functional parts in the keyboard apparatus. Particularly in the case of woody key structures, it is sometimes necessary to provide such recesses in the wood part thereof. However, if the recesses are small, the dimensions and types of functional parts which can be mounted are limited, which lowers the freedom of mounting.
On the other hand, the key guide needs to have sufficient strength to fully perform its function, and particularly, it is preferable to design the key structure such that the width in the direction of juxtaposition of keys is increased, and the width of the associated recess for the key guide needs to be increased accordingly.
However, if the width of such a recess formed in the wood part is too large, the thickness of side walls of the wood part of the key structure, i.e. the thickness of portions between the recess and key side surfaces is reduced. If the thickness is reduced to about 1 mm, special working means, such as attachment of a reinforcing plate, has to be provided during machining of the woody part for adjustment of the key width, or it becomes difficult to machine wood under proper cutting conditions suited to the machining of the wood.
Further, normally, lubricant is provided between the key guide and the recess, for reduction of sliding frictions. However, if the lubricant is directly applied to the recess formed in the wood part, there arises not only the problem that the lubricant enters the wood part to discolor the wood part, but also the problem that the lubricant eventually stops functioning properly due to dispersion and deterioration thereof.
(3) By the way, in the woody key structure, the wood part is disposed on the top surface of an elongated key base body or on the lower surface of an upper plate member, and fixed to the key base body and/or the upper plate member by an adhesive. Further, in the case where a front butt end member is disposed at a front end (an end toward the player) of the key structure corresponding to the front butt end of the key, it can be envisaged that the front butt end member is provided in fixed relation to the upper plate member or bonded to the front end face of the wood part by an adhesive.
However, the wood part expands and contracts or deforms due to changes in environmental conditions (humidity, temperature, aging, etc.), and therefore, if the key base body and the front butt end member are formed integrally with each other, or they are formed in separate bodies but substantially in contact with each other when the key structure is manufactured, the two members may interfere with each other due to expansion and contraction or deformation of the wood part, which degrades the fixation of the wood part to the two members, and in the worst case, separation of them occurs. Further, in a keyboard apparatus having an upper plate member, if the wood part is secured to the upper plate member and at the same time the front butt end member is provided in fixed relation to the upper plate member, the fixation of the wood part to the upper plate member is degraded due to expansion and contraction, or deformation of the wood part. If the fixation of the wood part to the upper plate member, the key base body, or the front butt end member is degraded, the front end of the key can become faulty. Thus, required durability of the key cannot be ensured.
Further, a keyboard apparatus in general is provided with a limiting member, such as a stopper, for limiting a key depression end position. The limiting member is preferably provided at a location where the front end of each key is brought into contact therewith so as to provide the highest limiting effect. However, if the limiting member is disposed below the front end of the key and the front butt end member is disposed in contact with the limiting member, the fixation of the wood part to the front butt end member is degraded due to a shearing force applied between the front butt end member and the wood part as the key depressing operation is repeatedly carried out. Moreover, in the case where the keyboard apparatus has an upper plate member, if the wood part is secured to the upper plate member, and at the same time the front butt end member is provided in fixed relation to the upper plate member, the fixation of the wood part to the upper plate part is degraded due to the repeated key depressing operations. When the fixation of the wood part to the upper plate member or the front butt end member is degraded, the front end of the key can become faulty. Thus, required durability of the key cannot be ensured. On the other hand, if the limiting member is disposed at a location closer to the rear end of the key so as to prevent the key from being brought into contact with the front butt end member, the limiting function is weakened due to a change in the lever ratio, which makes it difficult to perform a proper limiting operation.
Furthermore, in addition to giving a woody appearance, the minimizing of the area where the wood part is disposed contributes not only to saving of the expensive material but also to reduction of the weight of the key itself, and therefore it is essential to design the key structure while considering the relationship between the front butt end member and the wood part in view of these merits.
(4) By the way, there is also conventionally known a key structure applied to keys of a keyboard apparatus, in which wood is used as a base material and the surface (top) of the base material as the depressing surface of the key is coated with resin or the like. However, although the key structure having resin or the like coated on the surface of the base material gives a high-grade texture due to the wood being used as the base material, this key structure is more difficult to machine compared with the resin-based key structure, and therefore it is difficult to manufacture key structures uniform in quality at low costs.
(5) Further, wooden keys originally designed for acoustic pianos are often also used for manufacturing the woody key structure, since they are easily available. The key structure is normally provided with not only a pivot about which the key is moved and a guided mechanism for being guided by a key operation guide, but also an engaging part ("associated element-engaging part" or "key functional part") for driving an associated element, such as a mass member or a key switch, and an engaging part for engaging an associated element. However, if these engaging parts are made of wood, high machining tolerances cannot be required of driving sections thereof, due to the limited accuracy of woodworking. On the other hand, if the key structure is made of resin or the like as a one-piece member including the pivot and the engaging parts, a woody appearance cannot be obtained at all, and further, the touching feeling tends to be adversely affected since the rigidity of the resin key is lower compared with the wooden key.
(6) Further, in this type of key structure, "the associated element-engaging parts" and "the key functional parts" are also often formed at the wood part by machining the same, and therefore the freedom of design concerning the functions and shapes thereof is low, and the machining accuracy is low with lots of limitations on machining. This makes it difficult to exhibit the key functions with high accuracy.


An automated device that separates out desired shells from a batch of mixed shells. The device allows an operator to gather all spent shells from a shooting range, for example, where many different caliber bullets have been fired, and have all the shells separated by size, or caliber. The preferred embodiment provides for includes a container with adjustable slots in four of the container's sides. An electric motor is also provided that is used to rotated the slotted container. The selected shells fall through the slots into a shell catcher. The sides can be removed and replaced, to adjust the slot size, or container sides with adjustable slots can be provided.

The present invention relates generally to the field of ammunition suppliers and more specifically to a device for separating shell casings by size.
A bullet that is fired out of a pistol or rifle consists of a projectile, a shell casing, or shell, gunpowder and a primer. The gunpowder is contained within the shell, and is ignited by the primer, which is housed in the base of the shell. The pistol, or rifle, includes a hammer and firing pin that is used to strike and ignite the primer. Semi-automatic pistols and rifles are very popular because they automatically eject the shell after the projectile, or round, has been fired. After a busy day at a shooting range, it is not unusual for hundreds of spent shells to be found on the ground. Shells are traditionally made of brass and typically retain their original shape after the bullet has been fired. In order to conserve a natural material and save money, it is common practice in the field to re-use spent shells. Empty shells can be gathered off the floor of an indoor target range, for example, and re-loaded to produce another bullet. Re-loading a shell comprises replacing the primer in the base of the shell, adding the proper amount of gunpowder through the open top of the shell, and seating the projectile in the top of the shell so that a seal is formed. However, bullets come in many different sizes, or caliber, and not all shooters use the same caliber weapon. So, the shells that are gathered off the floor of a shooting range at the end of the day will likely consist of shells of many different sizes. Since a .45 caliber projectile will not fit into the shell for a .22 caliber weapon, the shells must first be sorted by size before re-loading can be begin.
What is needed in the field is an automated device that accepts shells of many different sizes and sorts the shells according to size.


A compatibility module manages compatibility issues between software applications installed on a computing device by intervening with installation of incompatible software applications to ensure compatibility problems are resolved. In one embodiment, an information control module stores compatibility information for a plurality of software applications, and this information describes how to resolve compatibility problems among the software applications. A search module searches for compatibility information, and a testing module analyzes the compatibility information to determine whether installation of a first software application on a computing device is compatible with the plurality of software applications installed on the computing device. Finally, an installation control module regulates the installation based on the result of the compatibility analysis.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains in general to computer software compatibility, and more specifically to techniques for managing compatibility issues between software application installers.
2. Background Art
Computer system users frequently face compatibility problems when installing software on their computers. Software application installers have a unique problem of not being able to be updated or changed after the software has been released to the public. Typically, software application installers reside on a compact disc (CD) and are not "patchable" or cannot be modified once they have been distributed to the public. However, newer software application installers that are released can have unforeseen compatibility problems with older software application installers, which can often only be solved by expensive technical support calls or user work-around solutions.
A software application installer may have a bug, for example, that causes problems in the functionality of another previously installed software application. An install bug in a 2004 software application might affect the installation of a 2005 version of the software application. However, once the 2004 software application has been shipped to users, the bug cannot be easily fixed. Similarly, a bug in the new 2005 software application that was missed during testing may prevent the installation of the 2005 software over the 2004 software. Additionally, software bugs can cause compatibility problems between products that are different but share components (e.g., a firewall application and an antivirus application). With the growing number of permutations of software applications, it is inevitable that there will be many of these types of issues that software testing cannot prevent.
Some current installer technologies have a mechanism to prevent installation of older software applications over newer applications, but these technologies have several limitations. For example, these technologies may be somewhat effective in preventing an older version of a software application from installing over a newer version, but will be unable to handle compatibility problems between two products that are different but share some components (e.g., an antivirus software application and a firewall software application). These current installer technologies are also static and typically reside on CDs, and thus cannot be modified or "patched" in any way once the software application installer has been shipped to users. In addition, these current installer technologies are not very flexible or user-friendly. Instead of providing software applications with the opportunity to fix issues caused by incompatibilities, the installer technologies either allow the installation that will cause a problem or completely block the installation. User frustration results in either case.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for a technique that will allow effective management of compatibility issues between software application installers, that will permit problems to be resolved after the software application has been shipped, and that will allow the installation to attempt to correct the problem rather than just completely blocking the installation.

Securely hooking installations for compatibility with other applications


An integrated circuit including a signal line layout is disclosed. A signal line layout may include a number of signal lines configured for conveying a number of signals. The signal line layout may further include a number of shield lines. Each signal line of the number of signal lines may be positioned adjacent a first shield line and a second shield line of the number of the shield lines. Further, first shield line may extend a length of an adjacent signal line and the second shield line may extend less than a length of the adjacent signal line. An electronic system including circuitry having one or more signal line layouts, and methods of forming signal line layout are also described.

Integrated circuits (ICs) are continuously being made smaller as demand for portability, computing power, memory capacity, and energy efficiency in modern electronics grows. Therefore, the size of IC constituent features, such as electrical devices and interconnect line widths, is also decreasing continuously.
The trend of decreasing feature size is evident in memory circuits or devices such as dynamic random access memory ("DRAM"), flash memory, nonvolatile memory, static random access memory ("SRAM"), ferroelectric ("FE") memory, logic gate arrays and so forth. For example, DRAM typically comprises millions of identical circuit elements, known as memory cells. In general, a memory cell typically includes two electrical devices: a storage capacitor and an access field effect transistor. Each memory cell is an addressable location that can store one binary digit ("bit") of data. A bit can be written to a cell through the transistor and read by sensing charge on the storage electrode from the reference electrode side. By decreasing the sizes of constituent electrical devices and the conductive lines that access them, the sizes of the memory devices incorporating these features can be decreased.
However, the decreasing size of ICs and the spacing between conductive lines of ICs may lead to increased interference between conductive lines and decreased signal integrity. Accordingly, a trade-off exists between size and performance of ICs.

Signal line layouts including shields, and related methods, devices, and systems


A client device receives streaming content from a host device. The streaming content is placed in one or more buffers prior to processing. Monitoring as to the capacity and fullness of the buffers is performed at the client device and information is sent to the host device. The host device adjusts the rate or flow of the streaming content based on the information provided by the client device.

Multi-media content or digital content (content) streaming, such as the streaming of audio, video, and/or text media content is becoming increasingly popular. The term "streaming" is typically used to indicate that the content is provided by a server or host device over a network to a client device (i.e., a media playback device implemented as any of a variety of conventional computing devices, such as a desktop PC, a notebook or portable computer, a cellular telephone or other wireless communications device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a gaming console, an IP set-top box, a handheld PC, and so on). In general, the client device renders (e.g., plays or displays) the streaming content as the content is "simultaneously" received from the host, rather than waiting for all the content or the entire "file" to be delivered.
When content is "streamed" over a network, it is typically streamed in data packets. Such data packets may be in a format defined by a protocol such as real time transfer protocol (RTP), and communicated over another format such as user datagram protocol (UDP). Furthermore, such data packets may be compressed and encoded when. streamed from the host device. The data packets are then decompressed and decoded at the client device.
The data packets may be received by the client device in the order that they are transmitted by the host device; however in certain cases data packets may not be received or received in a different order. Furthermore, there may be some uncertainty as to the rate or flow of received data packets. The data packets may arrive or be received at a faster rate than the client device can render the data packets, or they may not arrive fast enough (i.e., the data packets are not arriving fast enough for the client device to render them). In particular, when streaming is performed, the data packets may not necessarily be transmitted in real-time rate. The data packets may be transmitted faster or slower than real-time rate.
A client device typically uses buffers to store received data packets prior to processing. Such buffers have limited storage and depending on the rate that the packets are received, buffer overflow (from receiving data packets too fast) or buffer underflow (from not receiving data packets fast enough) may occur. If data packets arrive at too fast a rate, client buffers may overflow and data packets may not be processed. If the data packets are not received fast enough or in a timely manner, glitches or breaks are experienced by a user. For example, if multimedia content is streamed to and not received fast enough by the client device, the user sees glitches or breaks in the presented multimedia content. Furthermore, when an overflow or underflow situation is detected, there may be a need to synchronize clocks at the client device and host device in order to correct the problem. Generally, it is already too late to correct the overflow problem after it has already occurred. However, by synchronizing the clocks, the problem may be prevented from occurring again. Or if it is done early enough, it can prevent the problem from occurring. Overflow and underflow may occur for a number of reasons including device clock drift and network congestion.
Accordingly, a need exists to regulate data packet flow or streams from a host device to a client device that may or may not incorporate clock recovery at the host device and the client device.


Disclosed are compounds of Formula 1, N-oxides, and salts thereof,

The control of plant diseases caused by fungal plant pathogens is extremely important in achieving high crop efficiency. Plant disease damage to ornamental, vegetable, field, cereal, and fruit crops can cause significant reduction in productivity and thereby result in increased costs to the consumer. Many products are commercially available for these purposes, but the need continues for new compounds which are more effective, less costly, less toxic, environmentally safer or have different sites of action.
Certain N-phenyl amines have been previously described. World Patent Publication WO 05/033095 discloses amine derivatives of Formula i as fungicides
wherein, inter alia, each of R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R8, R9 and R10 are independently H, halogen or alkyl; and each of R6, R7 and R11 are independently H or alkyl. World Patent Publication WO 04/084634 discloses amine derivatives of Formula ii as fungicides
wherein, inter alia, A and A′ are both N or A and A′ are both CH or A is CH and A′ is N; each of R3, R4, R5 and R6 are independently H, halogen or alkyl; R2 is H or alkyl; and R1 is hydrazino or optionally substituted amino. World Patent Publication WO 01/93682 discloses amine derivatives of Formula iii as fungicides
wherein, inter alia, each of R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are independently H, halogen or alkyl; and R6 is hydrazino or optionally substituted amino.
The amines of the present invention are not disclosed in these publications.

Abstract: wherein                R1, R2, R9a, R9b, G, W, X, Y, and Z are as defined in the disclosure.

Abstract: Also disclosed are compositions containing the compounds of Formula 1 and methods for controlling plant disease caused by a fungal pathogen comprising applying an effective amount of a compound or a composition of the invention.


The present invention is a pressure release tool for a button head lubrication fitting. The tool comprises a handle assembly securely engaged with the body portion of the tool. The bottom section of the tool is adapted to securely engage with the top of the button head lubrication fitting.

The present invention relates to a pressure release tool for a button head fitting. One of the basic procedures required in good valve maintenance is the replacement of corroded or damaged button head lubrication fittings. Generally, the button head lubrication fitting screws into a lubricated plug valve.
The majority of lubricated valves are designed with either one or two internal check valves which are located in the valve beneath the button head lubrication fitting. If these internal check valves are present and holding pressure, it is possible to remove the button head lubrication fitting from the valve and replace it with a new one. In the past it was impractical to be sure the internal check valves were holding pressure or not. The present invention provides a safety tool for the removal of button head lubrication fittings when the internal check valves are holding pressure.

Button head lubrication fitting pressure release tool