The aqueous dispersion comprising (A) abrasive grains, (B) at least one compound selected from the group consisting of 2-bromo-2-nitro-1,3-propanediol, 2-bromo-2-nitro-1, 3-butanediol, 2,2-dibromo-2-nitroethanol, and 2,2-dibromo-3-nitrilopropionamide, and (C) an organic component other than the compounds of component (B) is disclosed. The aqueous dispersion has no problem of rotting even if stored or used in a neutral pH region and produces an excellent polished surface with almost no dishing or scratches, when applied particularly to the STI process for manufacturing of semiconductor devices.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an aqueous dispersion for chemical/mechanical polishing.
2. Description of Background Art
The storage capacity of memory devices has remarkably increased with the increase in the degree of integration, multilayer wiring, and the like of semiconductor devices. This is supported by the progress in microfabrication technologies. However, there are problems such as an increased chip size in spite of using multilayer wiring and the like and an increased cost for production of chips because of an increased number of production steps due to the progress in microfabrication technologies. In this situation, a chemical/mechanical polishing technology has been introduced into the polishing step of processed films and the like in manufacturing semiconductor devices. The technology has attracted attention. Many microfabrication technologies such as flattening have been put into practice by applying the chemical/mechanical polishing technology.
A shallow trench isolation (STI) technology is known as such a microfabrication technology, for example (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 8-22970, for example). Various aqueous dispersions for chemical/mechanical polishing used for the microfabrication technology have been proposed. To improve polishing performance of such aqueous dispersions, organic additives are frequently added. The organic additives, however, easily rot the aqueous dispersions. To avoid this problem, a component that can make the aqueous dispersion strongly acidic or strongly alkaline, or can suppress rotting of the aqueous dispersions is added. Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2002-45681, for example, discloses a method of adding hydrogen peroxide and the like to suppress the rotting. Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 3-197575 discloses a method of adding tetraalkylammonium chloride, tetraalkylammonium hydroxide, or the like to an aqueous dispersion containing colloidal silica as a bactericidal agent.
However, since aqueous dispersions for chemical/mechanical polishing containing ceria particles which are frequently employed in the STI technology are usually used in a neutral pH region, there is a limitation to suppression of rotting by adjusting pH. In addition, since the effect of hydrogen peroxide as an antiseptic agent does not last long, rotting may begin in an aqueous dispersion feeding device in the continuous use for about one week. If a conventionally known antiseptic agent is added to such an aqueous dispersion, the polished surface may be damaged by scratches and dishing, even if an antiseptic effect is exhibited.
The present invention has been completed to solve the above problem and has an object of providing an aqueous dispersion for chemical/mechanical polishing which does not rot even if used in a neutral pH region, produces almost no damages such as scratches and dishing on the polished surface, and can sufficiently flatten the surface.

Aqueous dispersion for chemical/mechanical polishing


An integrated circuit cast on a single die having a plurality of receivers in a receiver region, a plurality of transmitters in a transmitter region, and a spatial separation region having a plurality of n-type and p-type subregions disposed on the single die to separate the transmitter region from the receiver region. The pn-junctions between the n-type and p-type subregions are reverse-biased thereby reducing or eliminating coupling of noise and crosstalk between the transmitter and receiver is reduced.

Fiber-optic communication devices typically use a transmit channel and a receive channel to allow communications with many of today's computer and electronic systems. The use of integrated circuits has allowed communication devices to be manufactured in smaller and smaller modules. Generally speaking, integrated circuits are very susceptible to electromagnetic noise and will not function properly if a large amount of noise is present near the integrated circuit. This is particularly noticeable in an integrated circuit with a receive channel. As such, care must be taken to ensure noise will not interfere with a fiber-optic communication module having both a transmitter and a receiver (transceiver).
In the past, a manufacturer, in order to ensure proper operation, designed a transceiver with two separate integrated circuit chips in the module. One integrated circuit was designed for the transmitter and one integrated circuit was designed for the receiver. Furthermore, each integrated circuit could be designed to have more than one transmitter or receiver on the chip, i.e., a multichannel device. Particularly problematic, however, was designing an integrated circuit with both a transmit channel and a receive channel on the same integrated circuit, i.e. a single die.
The common perception of the past was that a transmitter was too noisy to be included on the same integrated circuit as a noise-sensitive receiver. Consequently, most transceiver modules are able to accomplish an acceptable level of operation with only a transmitter and a receiver on two physically separate integrated circuits. An example of such a multichannel device is described in detail in A Si Bipolar Laser Diode Driver/Receiver Chip Set for 4-channel 5 Gb/s Parallel Optical Interconnection, Nagahori et al., ISSCC, Gigabit Optical Communications II Conference Journal, February 2001.
Furthermore, digital circuitry, such as clocked logic circuitry, was typically omitted from receiver circuits because as stated above receiver circuits are very sensitive to noise. Therefore, standalone receiver chips typically didn't have the functionality that digital circuitry offers.

Integrated multichannel laser driver and photodetector receiver


A signal-transmission-line structure includes a substrate, a through-silicon via (TSV) trench, a conductive substance, at least a conductor wire, and a dielectric layer. The substrate has a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other. The TSV trench is formed in the first surface of the substrate and extends along the first surface. The bottom surface of the TSV trench is located between the first surface and the second surface of the substrate. The TSV trench is filled with the conductive substance to form a transmission line. The conductor wire is located above the transmission line. The dielectric layer is located on the first surface of the substrate, and separates the conductor wire from the transmission line.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a structure design of a microstrip line, and more particularly to a signal-transmission-line structure and an electronic device using the same.
2. Related Art
Currently, along with the rapid development and broad requirements of wireless communications technologies such as a wireless network, a mobile phone, a Global Positioning System (GPS), and a digital television, designing and manufacturing of a high-speed digital circuit have become an extremely hot electronic technology in the field of communications. Generally, most high-speed digital circuits apply microstrips or striplines for signal transmission, so as to transmit high-speed digital signals. Nowadays, various circuit board structures used for transmitting high-speed digital signals have been developed in the field of electronics.
In a conventional signal-transmission-line structure, two corresponding metal layers are formed respectively in two surfaces of a dielectric layer. In order to provide preferable signal transmission, the two metal layers have to be separated by at least a specific distance (that is, the dielectric layer has a specific thickness), for example, 2 μm. However, in a 65 nm CMOS process, for example, two metal layers are at most separated by 3 μm (which is a possible distance between a lowest metal layer and a highest metal layer); and in a 28 nm CMOS process, two metal layers are at most separated by 1.5 μm. The electronic device tends to be lighter, thinner, shorter, and smaller; however, to maintain the signal quality, the size of the signal-transmission-line structure is difficult to be further reduced, and therefore, the overall volume of the electronic device is limited. On the other hand, in an advanced process, metal layers and oxide layers are increasingly thinner. That induces higher resistance and higher capacitance, which makes lower Characteristics impedance (Z0) to make the design of the transmission line much more difficult.

Signal-transmission-line structure and electronic device using the same


An integrated circuit (IC) measures a voltage at an interface of the IC. The IC comprises voltage reference, comparator, and control circuits. The voltage reference circuit provides reference voltages responsive to a control input. The comparator circuit compares a first reference voltage with a voltage at the interface. The control circuit receives an output of the comparator and adjusts the control input to provide a second reference voltage closer to the voltage at the interface. A method for measuring voltage at an IC interface comprises generating a first reference voltage, monitoring the voltage at the interface from within the IC, comparing the first reference and interface voltages, generating a second reference voltage responsive to a result of the comparing, replacing the first reference voltage with the second reference voltage, and repeating until an applied reference voltage is substantially equal to the voltage at the interface.

Currently, integrated circuits (ICs) are incapable of measuring voltages of their input and/or output (I/O) signals. Determining such I/O voltages requires expensive and highly specialized equipment and can be time consuming. Therefore, there is a need for improved systems and methods, which address these and/or other shortcomings of the prior art.

Testing input/output voltages in integrated circuits


A tower for a pipe laying system comprises a frame with a leg to support the frame, and a winch support integrally formed with the leg. The winch support is able to receive and support a winch and/or winch components. The winch support can be formed in a lower portion of the tower leg.

Subsea pipelines are often used in many different ways, for example in the oil and gas industry for transport of the oil and gas from offshore locations to production centres, for transporting electrical current, optical signals, information, etc. The pipelines may be either of a flexible or rigid type, and to lay such pipelines, pipeline laying vessels are often used. Pipeline laying vessels will often employ a ramp or tower to support and guide the pipeline during the laying process. The tower may be fixed, but more often is pivotable to allow the pipeline to be laid at different angles. Some examples of pipeline laying systems employing a tower include, but are not limited to, flex-lay, reel-lay, J-lay and multi-lay systems.
For a flex-lay system, a flexible pipeline is stored on reels, carousels or baskets on board the vessel. During the laying process, the pipeline is spooled from its storage location to the tower top and then lowered via the tower into the sea and down to the seabed.
For the reel-lay system, a pipeline is prepared onshore where long lengths of rigid pipe are welded together to form a continuous pipeline. The pipeline is tested and coated before being spooled onto a reel which is then stored on board the pipe laying vessel. During the laying process, the pipeline is spooled from its storage reel to the tower top, straightened and then lowered via the tower down to the seabed.
For a J-lay system, sections of rigid pipeline are stored on board the vessel. During the laying process, sections are lifted to be aligned with the tower and each other, where they are welded together, tested and coated. In this way, the sections are interconnected so as to form a continuous pipeline which is lowered towards the seabed.
A multi-lay system is a flexible system which may combine any or all of the previously mentioned pipe laying methods on a single vessel i.e. flex-lay, reel-lay and J-lay.
Each of these systems typically use a tower with traction winches which are mounted onto the tower legs (FIG. 1). The tower mounted traction winches can be used for different purposes, including to provide the wire rope tension for the abandon and recovery ("A&R") systems.
Currently, a traction winch is an independent sub system which is typically attached to the tower through various pin and sliding clamp type arrangements, although other methods of attachment are also possible. The pins and clamps concentrate the forces into localized areas and require dedicated, locally stiffened, mounting points. There is also a degree of structural inefficiency, since the tower leg fabrication and the winch frame fabrication work independently and have no load sharing capability.


A balanced, de-coupled seal assembly for use in a bellows seal having a mating rotating seal assembly, wherein the seal is used for sealing a process fluid along a rotatable shaft extending from a machine body. The seal assembly includes a seal ring, a seal ring shell mating with and de-coupled from the seal ring, and a flexible O-ring between the seal ring and the seal ring shell. The O-ring is provided at a location so to balance the seal ring and seal ring shell under both normal and reverse pressure conditions and to prevent the process fluid from leaking between the seal ring and the seal ring shell.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a seal, and more specifically to a bellows seal having a balanced, de-coupled seal ring and seal ring shell.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Pumps, especially those in refineries and chemical plants, often handle difficult-to-seal liquids, including propane, butane, and other unstable, combustible, or toxic liquids. These liquids can cause short seal life and undesirable product leakage, prompting the passage of state health and safety pump emission regulations.
FIG. 5 shows a conventional bellows seal. A stationary assembly of the seal includes a stationary seal ring 200 fitted against a stationary seal ring shell 202 using a press fitting or a thermal shrink fitting technique, and a bellows 206 attached to a side of seal ring shell 202 opposite seal ring 200. Press fitting or thermal shrink fitting provides a very tight interference fit between stationary seal ring 200 and seal ring shell 202, wherein stationary seal ring 200 is radially and axially fixed to seal ring shell 202. In press fitting, mating parts, on which the outer dimension of the interior member is the same as or slightly greater than the interior dimension of the exterior member, are forced together. In shrink fitting, the parts are joined by contracting (shrinking) the interior part by cooling and inserting the interior part into the exterior part. Subsequent expansion of the interior part by its return to ambient temperature ensures a tight fit. Alternatively, the parts are joined by expanding the exterior part by heating and inserting the interior part into the exterior part. Subsequent contraction of the exterior part by its return to ambient temperature ensures a tight fit.
The interference fit between stationary seal ring 200 and stationary seal ring shell 202, acts as a secondary static seal prohibiting sealed process fluid from leaking between stationary seal ring 200 and stationary seal ring shell 202. Also, the contact friction between stationary seal ring 200 and stationary seal ring shell 202 caused by the interference fit prohibits relative circumferential movement of stationary seal ring 200 with respect to stationary seal ring shell 202. However, in order for this to occur, the friction between stationary seal ring 200 and stationary seal ring shell 202 must be greater than the rubbing friction created between the seal ring face and its mating rotating seal ring 204. Further, the interference fit between stationary seal ring 200 and stationary seal ring shell 202 prevents relative axial movement of stationary seal ring 200 with respect to stationary seal ring shell 202. To prohibit axial movement, however, the friction force between stationary seal ring 200 and stationary seal ring shell 202 must be greater than any axial forces exerted on stationary seal ring 200 at radially-extending surfaces of stationary seal ring 200 that are exposed to the hydrostatic pressure of the process fluid.
The interference fit between stationary seal ring 200 and stationary seal ring shell 202 also produces unwanted stresses in stationary seal ring 200 that cause seal ring face distortion, i.e., the seal ring face is twisted or bent. In bellows seal applications, however, it is preferred that the stationary seal ring be free from such face distortions. For example, in pump applications operating under normal pressure conditions, it is necessary for the seal ring to have a flat face. If a facially distorted seal ring is used in such applications, then the seal ring experiences unusual wear, shortening the life of the seal ring.

Bellows seal having balanced, de-coupled seal ring and seal ring shell


A method for determining the surface quality of a substrate passing from an initial state into a converted state during a conversion process including the steps of acquiring first information relating to surface defects detected on the initial substrate, acquiring second information relating to surface defects detected on the converted substrate, of processing the first information and the second information, and of classifying the converted substrate as a function of the first acquired information relating to the surface defects detected on the initial substrate and as a function of the second acquired information relating to the surface defects detected on the converted substrate.

The present invention relates to a method for determining the surface quality of a substrate. This substrate passes from an initial state into a converted state. The invention also relates to a substrate-converting machine for converting an initial substrate and obtaining a converted substrate. The substrate-converting machine is part of a packaging production line.
In the packaging industry, a production line delivers a converted product produced from an initial substrate introduced at the start. The substrate may be a virgin substrate. More often than not, the virgin initial substrate may undergo a conversion process, for example by being printed on in a printing process, or in embossing, creasing and/or cutting operations, in order to obtain blanks or boxes corresponding to the packaging when it is laid out flat.
The initial substrate in the form of a reel undergoing a conversion process may have already previously undergone one or more prior treatments and then been reconditioned, for example in the form of a new reel. In this case, an insetting operation is necessary for the following conversion process.
The converting machine comprises one or more elements. Each of these elements is capable of giving rise to various defects on the surface of the converted substrate, leading to quality concerns for the packaging produced.
Checking the print quality proves to be a necessary operation when the packaging manufacturer wishes to be able to ensure that a production batch will not be spoiled by defects. These defects are assessed according to various acceptability criteria, but the selection of packaging is mainly made according to a quality level criterion chosen as a function of the product that has to be packaged.
Checking the substrate after conversion, before or after cutting, with close observation of the converted substrate, of the blanks or of the boxes, is still currently carried out by eye. The operator searches for all the types of defect, for example those associated with printing, and adjusts the settings of the converting machine as a result, so as to eliminate or limit these defects, preferably as quickly as possible.
This checking is increasingly frequently carried out automatically on the production line. The blanks or boxes that do not comply with the minimum requirements of printing and/or cutting and/or creasing and/or embossing quality in relation to a sample considered to be free of defects are ejected before they are stacked in the receiving station. The device for automatically detecting defects is located following the final converting element, before the ejection station and before the cutting station.
In the case of what is known as a reel-to-reel application, that is to say one starting from a reel of initial substrate and leading to another reel, of converted substrate, a converted substrate which does not comply with the minimum requirements of printing and/or creasing and/or embossing quality in relation to a sample considered to be free of defects is identified and may be singled out.

Method for determining the surface quality of a substrate and associated machine for converting the substrate


Customer virtual local area networks (C-VLANs) connecting multiple LAN segments are set up through a provider network (12). Provider edge bridges (PEs) are coupled to customer edge bridges (CEs) to provide a transparent link between LAN segments. To determine whether a backdoor link is used in the C-VLAN topology, PEs monitor MAC address from a predetermined time after a TCN is received to determine if there are contradictory addresses or new addresses relative to the existing MAC address tables (or forwarding databases) that are indicative of a backdoor link. If so, an unlearning message is sent to bridges in the provider domain. In another embodiment, CEs set a snoop bit to indicate which TCNs must be snooped.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates in general to electronic communications and, more particularly, to virtual local area networks.
2. Description of the Related Art
One of the most important application of metropolitan area networks (MANs) is their use in virtual local area networks (VLANs), where a provider network transparently connects multiple local area networks (LANs), typically spanning over multiple customer locations. By connecting to a provider MAN, the customer can create a wide-area network (WAN) without purchasing or maintaining expensive equipment.
Many VLANs are implemented using a spanning tree protocol, such as an IEEE 802.1D protocol. A spanning tree protocol is used to resolve the problem of traffic loops. In a layer 2 (L2) or similar protocol, there is a single path between any two endpoints. Frames are passed from source to destination through a series of transparent bridges, each of which learns how to forward incoming frames of data by "snooping" the frames and associating media access control (MAC) addresses (destination address) with specific ports in an internal file. The internal file is described herein as the MAC address table, although other structures, such as a forwarding database structure, can be used as well.
If an incoming frame has a known MAC address (a MAC address that can be found in the bridge's MAC address table), the bridge will forward the frame at the port specified by the table. If an incoming frame has an unknown MAC address (one that is not found in the bridge's table), then the bridge broadcasts the frame to all of its active (unblocked) ports. The bridge then associates the MAC address with the successful port for future reference. The process of determining the relationships between end host address and the bridge's ports is referred to as learning.
An important aspect of the simplicity of the VLAN is that the customer can implement the VLAN as if the provider network simply provides one or more links between bridges. Accordingly, the spanning tree software of the VLAN only accounts for bridges on the customer's premises. The spanning tree software is responsible for eliminating redundant paths between any two end nodes, while maintaining complete connectivity. To eliminate loops (redundant paths), various ports of the bridges in a VLAN are blocked by the spanning tree software.
When changes are made to the topology of the customer's VLAN, topology change notifications (TCNs) are sent to other bridges in the customer VLAN, since the topology changes may necessitate flushing of the MAC address tables ("unlearning"), due to changes in the paths by the spanning tree software.
Topology changes in the Customer VLAN can also require changes in the MAC address tables in the bridges of the provider network. A previous proposal allows snooping on all TCNs generated within the customer domain, and taking action indiscriminately. Each time a TCN is generated, the provider domain unlearns (flushes the MAC table of each bridge) and re-learns all the addresses. Re-learning the MAC address at each bridge is a costly and time-consuming operation.
Therefore, a need has arisen for an efficient method of taking action inside the provider domain responsive to TCNs received from the customer domain.

Method and apparatus for updating provider domain due to customer TCNs


An aquatic transportation, storage, and distribution system, including one or more storage containers and a guide structure. The storage container is capable of retaining one or more items therein and is configured to selectively vary the buoyancy thereof to urge the storage container to float up or sink down within an aquatic environment. The guide structure is supported at least partially within the aquatic environment and includes at least one non-horizontal segment. The storage container is configured to interact with the at least one segment as the storage container is urged to float up or sink within the aquatic environment such that the storage container is moved along the guide structure and is routed to a specified extraction point for retrieval from the aquatic environment.

Warehouses traditionally function as storage and distribution facilities that operate to receive items from manufacturers, vendors, other warehouses, etc., store the items in designated storage spaces, and, as needed, output the items for delivery to manufactures, consumers, retail stores, other warehouses, etc. Such warehouses are typically expansive buildings with a vast system of storage apparatuses such as, for example, racks, shelves, bins, etc., that are spread out over large distances and/or multiple levels. In order to store or retrieve a particular item, the storage location must be identified and, thereafter, the items transported to or retrieved from that storage location. The items may be stored and/or retrieved manually by workers, e.g., on-foot, semi-automatically by workers, e.g., using a forklift, or automatically, e.g., using a robotic system. One or more input docks enable the receipt of items for storage in the warehouse, and one or more output docks, different from or the same as the input docks, enable the distribution of items from the warehouse.
The growth of online marketplaces as well as the seemingly infinite number of different items capable of being purchased through online marketplaces has led to increasingly larger and more complex warehouses to accommodate the increased volume and variety of items required to be stored and distributed. Such warehouses require large amounts of usable real estate and significant capital expenditure in terms of the building itself, storage apparatuses, and tracking and transport systems within the warehouse. The need to continually track and transport items within, to, and from the warehouse, as well as the increased utilities demand for lighting, powering equipment, temperature regulation, etc., also results in relatively high operating costs for such warehouses.
There is thus a need for transportation, storage, and distribution solutions that do not require vast amounts of usable real estate and have reduced capital expenditure and operating costs.

Apparatuses, systems, and methods for aquatic transportation, storage, and distribution


A tissue paper storage and scenting apparatus having an interior chamber sized to accommodate from multiple rolls of tissue paper in a sealed environment ventilated through an upper portion of the apparatus which is receptive to fragrance producing materials. The tissue paper is maintained in a highly fragrant environment so as to provide a scent to the stored tissue rolls while preventing unwanted bathroom odors from spoiling the tissue paper. The instant invention further provides for scenting of the bathroom environment thereby forming a combination storage container and scenting mechanism that can be placed on a counter or along the floor providing ease of access to a bathroom guest.

Tissue paper holders are common fixtures found in the home, business or commercial bathrooms. The tissue roll allows a consumer to simply remove tissue as necessary by unwinding the tissue roll as it is held on a spindle. Nearly all bathrooms have at least one tissue paper dispensing mechanism designed to hold a single roll of tissue paper. The problem that arises, to which this invention addresses, is when a replacement tissue roll is necessary. While a housekeeper or owner of the home may know where additional tissue rolls are stored, the situation does arise when a guest to the home is using the facilities when a tissue roll has expired. The guest may need to search closets and cabinets to find a replacement roll. Should the facilities be used frequently, it is quite possible that the last person may not notice the lack of tissue paper leading to a precarious if not embarrassing situation.
One method of addressing the problem is to dispose of a partially expired tissue roll before all the paper is used to prevent an inadequate supply. Alternatively, additional tissue rolls may be placed near the water closet or on a counter top. Placement of extra tissue rolls around the bathroom is unsightly and may lead to spoiling of the tissue paper due to its natural absorbing ability to pick up moisture and odors as later described.
To address these problems various teachings have been made in the prior art such as U.S. Pat. No. 3,316,040 which discloses a storage unit for tissue rolls having a cylindrical shaped body with a frontal door that can be raised to access rolls placed therein. A cover to the storage unit allows for insertion of tissue rolls to maintain supply.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,440,974 issued to Resch discloses a toilet paper humidifier housing that allows for the dispensing of tissue paper. The Resch device requires the use of a liquid to cause saturation of lining walls and does not teach the use of a storage device or scenting device wherein the dry scent material is placed above the stored tissue rolls.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,413,049 discloses a tissue roll holder having a locking mechanism for positioning rolls. The locking mechanism is inserted through the spindle wrapping aperture of the tissue roll.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,177,958 discloses a tissue roll holder and dispensing mechanism having a cylindrical tower to accommodate multiple tissue rolls. A support shelf allows the tower to further operate as a tissue dispenser.
Various design patents also disclose toilet paper tissue roll storage containers. Design U.S. Pat. Nos. 201,099; 307,086; 314,301; and 330,984 all set forth ornamental shapes for tissue roll holders and/or dispensers.
While the prior art addresses the need for storage of multiple tissue rolls, none of the prior art discloses the problems created with storing tissue paper after it is removed from its shipping package. The aforementioned storage devices require the tissue rolls to be removed from its packaged condition and placed into a storage device for subsequent use. While the availability of the tissue roll for subsequent use is a well documented benefit, a disadvantage is the absorbing qualities of the tissue paper having the ability to absorb unwanted foul bathroom odors. Should bathroom odors be absorbed, the odor can be released over a period of time as the tissue roll is dispensed.
Manufacturers of tissue roll paper acknowledge this situation by producing pre-scented tissue rolls. The fragrance is stronger than what would be commonly absorbed in a bathroom thus providing a nice scent to paper. However, once the tissue roll is unpacked the fragrance will begin to dissipate in the surrounding environment. Should the scented tissue rolls be stored in an unsealed container such as the aforementioned devices, the scent may completely dissipate before use. In addition, many of the pre-scented fragrances are objectionable to those consumers with a sensitive sense of smell.
Thus what is needed in the art is an apparatus having the ability to store multiple tissue paper rolls in an attractive container providing ease of accessibility and fresh scenting.

Tissue paper scenting and storage apparatus


A system and method for identifying an object in an electronically acquired image that includes at least one two-dimensional array of pixels. A plurality of one-dimensional gradient runs oriented along a common direction in the two-dimensional array of pixels is identified. A second-order set of gradient runs is formed by selecting a group of previously identified one-dimensional gradient runs. Each of the one-dimensional gradient runs in the group has a pixel that is offset along an axis perpendicular to the common direction from a pixel in a neighboring one-dimensional gradient run in the group. The object is identified in the array using the second-order set of gradient runs.

The general problem of using electronic computers to analyze and interpret electronically acquired imagery involves the analysis of images that are represented by a multiplicity of individual brightness samples distributed geometrically in space. These samples are often called pixels. Each pixel represents a numerical measurement of luminosity within a small solid angle with respect to the camera. In many cases, the problem of interpreting images composed of such multiplicities of pixels is identical to the problem of associating groups or subsets of pixels within the image with physical objects within the field of view of the camera or imaging instrument which made the image.
In many cases, the great majority of pixels within a given image bear little or no useful information. The information bearing pixels within a practical image will often be those pixels which fall along the boundaries of physical objects within the image, or along the boundaries of component parts of objects within the image.
Prior art methods of boundary discovery use first and second derivatives of image brightness, in conjunction with one or more threshold levels, to transform a raw image into an "edge-enhanced" image. This "enhanced" image is then passed as input to subsequent steps in the processing algorithm. Some of these methods, such as the Canny Edge Detection Operator, use directional filters (or kernels) to emphasize edge feature in certain directions.
The present disclosure describes an improvement to such prior art methods.

Method and system for identifying an object in an electronically acquired image


A system, device, and methods for monitoring and responding to information needs of users in an urban grid or local map area. The system is a platform to virtualize an urban space, provide map overlayers with local data content, and allow users to access personalized content having relevance based on proximity, location, time, and keyword search criteria such as guest entries, local ties recent user internet activity, time of day, special events related to a user's profile, appointments in a user's calendar, traffic conditions, destinations along a user's footpath having possible significance, schedules and routes for transit, taxi or rental information for visitors, environmental conditions, and the like. In a second embodiment, the system may be expanded to assist guests with parking and traffic management issues.

Urban environments, when scaled to the people who live work and visit there, can be very secure and satisfying as places that offer endless opportunities for exploration and making connections. Many persons prefer to live and work in a city because of the wide range of resources that are offered. But first time visitors, commuters, and residents not familiar with a locale will miss or not appreciate much of the richness in an urban neighborhood, particularly given the bustle and hubbub of traffic and signage that is a sort of chaos or veil behind which the real city lives. Distributed access to digital information offers the opportunity to pierce that veil, and readily accessible local information that is sorted for relevance according to the needs of a guest offers a way to empower visitors, revitalize downtown economic development, foster small business, and improve the efficiency of cities in providing for people's needs.
Efforts have been made to focus on developing intelligent infrastructure. Potential applications have include parking control, dispatch of emergency services, detection of the sound of gunshots, and so forth. However substantial improvements are needed to avoid the expense of large scale capital investment in hardware, and the inherent capabilities already built into mobile devices have not been fully realized because pieces of a "closed loop" that would tie users into the smart grid are still missing.
For example, parking spaces are valuable resources, particularly in urban cores and in parking complexes such as airports, shopping centers, or sports arenas. Parking space use affects traffic, deliveries, pollution, gas mileage, and alternate transportation options. A parking space administrator desires to manage parking spaces for a broad constituency with multiple and sometimes conflicting needs. But currently, parking control is a very inefficient and chaotic process, as vehicles circle looking for available parking spaces and drivers negotiate a jungle of bewildering signs and regulations. FIG. 1 illustrates the disorder inherent in this process, which has developed by accretion and at times seems to lack any organizing principle whatsoever. This stressful situation certainly contributes to heart and lung diseases worldwide, and is in need of a remedy.
In its most malignant form, rows of traffic lights function asynchronously through the grid, so that when one is green, the next one is red, thereby limiting traffic movement to a slow drip of a few cars at a time. According to recent figures, the work involved in synchronizing traffic lights for a small urban core costs several hundred thousand dollars, and the synchronicity achieved decays rapidly. Efforts to coordinate the actions of individuals engaged in parking could lead to improvements in overall traffic flow, but has never been attempted, and is difficult to contemplate how it might work and what the outcome would be.
While efforts have been made, these limitations are illustrated for example in US Pat. Publ. Nos. 2012/0092190 and US2012/0127308 to Xerox, of which some of the concepts for "smart cities" have been implemented in Riverside, Calif.
Better optimization can also improve parking fee collection, which is a significant source of revenue for some venues. But without employing work crews to attend to the signage and enforce the regulations, limited or no capacity exists to make changes to parking space usage or pricing, and post special or temporary restrictions. In most cities and event centers, large bureaucracies exist to manage and control parking and change occurs at the pace of annual budget cycles. At this time, no ability exists to remotely coordinate parking needs with drivers, monitor usage, and revise posted parking regulations when needed, in real time.
Thus, there is a need in the art for an apparatus and system to monitor and access urban resources that overcomes the above disadvantages and offers resources to city administrators and to guest users to minimize inefficiencies and to optimize the urban experience. An optimal solution addresses needs of both vehicles and pedestrians.

Intelligent urban communications portal and methods


In the method for parameterizing at least one receiving device and a receiving device for a radio station, a plurality of decorrelated signals are received by an intelligent antenna device. Antenna weighting factors for suppressing received disturbances and channel coefficients for balancing out the differences in transit time of different signal components of a received signal are determined simultaneously. During a training sequence, test data present in the receiving device is rated in a channel model with channel coefficients and received test data is rated with antenna weighting factors and superposed to form antenna data or model variables. The minimizing of the deviation of antenna data and model variables is performed with the exclusion of the trivial solution. The method is suitable in particular for base stations in mobile radio systems.

The present invention relates to a method of parameterizing a receiving device with an assigned intelligent antenna device in a radio system and to a receiving device or a radio station having at least one receiving device.
In a radio system, information is transmitted from a transmitting radio station to a receiving radio station. This information reaches the receiving radio station in the form of received signals. Due to diverse external influences, the received signals reach the receiving radio station via a number of paths. The signal components corresponding to the various paths arrive at the receiving radio station at successive points in time. In the receiving radio station there is then the problem of equalizing these signal components, which may be additionally influenced by further disturbing components, correcting the errors and decoding the transmitted information.
A radio station has an antenna device, which may be, as known from R. Roy, T. Kailath, "Esprit--Estimation of Signal Parameters Via Rotational invariance Techniques", IEEE Transactions on acoustics, speech and signal processing, Vol. 37, No. 7, July 1989, pages 984-995, an intelligent antenna device that has a plurality of antenna elements, and a receiving device, which performs the evaluation of the received signals. For the evaluation of the received signals, parameters are determined within the receiving device. These parameters are, for example, antenna weighting factors, which rate the individual received signals of the antenna elements of an intelligent antenna device, and channel coefficients known from W. Koch, "Optimum and sub-optimum detection of coded data disturbed by time-varying intersymbol interference", IEEE Proceedings 1990, pp. 1679. These channel coefficients, used in a channel model, serve the purpose of suitably superposing the various successively arriving signal components of a received signal.
It is also known to feed the antenna data, obtained from the received signal by transmission into the baseband and analog/digital conversion, and also to feed the channel coefficients to a detector, which equalizes the antenna data and performs the error correction. The symbols of the signals reconstructed in the output of the detector are then decoded in a decoder, for example a Viterbi decoder.
It is also known from mobile radio systems, see M. Mouly, M.-B. Pautet, "The GSM System for Mobile Communications", 49, rue Louise Bruneau, F-91120 Palaiseau, France, pages 231-237, to use so-called training sequences in order to adjust receiving radio stations. At predetermined points in time, the transmitting radio station transmits a sequence of digital data, which is known to the receiving radio station, that is, the data is present in undistorted form in the receiving radio station.

Method of parameterizing a receiving device, and also a corresponding receiving device and radio station


In a semiconductor device having I.sup.2 L gate, on a first conducting type semiconductor layer, a first semiconductor region with a second conducting type and a wider band gap than that of the semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor region with a second conducting type and a narrower band gap than that of the semiconductor layer are formed, and on the second semiconductor region, a third semiconductor region with the first conducting type is formed.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor device, and particularly relates to a semiconductor device having I.sup.2 L (Integrated Injection Logic) gate.
Since, as well known, the I.sup.2 L gate is a bipolar circuit and a simply structured logic circuit which does not need isolation of transistors, it is possible to reduce power consumption and to increase integration density, and the gate has been widely used for the semiconductor integrated circuits.
A conventional I.sup.2 L gate structure will simply be explained with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view showing an I.sup.2 L gate device structure and FIG. 4 is an equivalent circuit diagram thereof.
As shown in FIG. 3, on an N.sup.+ type silicon substrate 1, an N type epitaxial layer 2 is deposited, and on the epitaxial layer 2, P type impurity diffusion layers 3 and 4 are formed respectively. Further, two N type impurity diffusion layers 5 are formed in a region of the impurity diffusion layer 4. In the Figure, the hatching region shown by reference numeral Tr1 constitutes a PNP type lateral transistor. Also, the hatching region shown by reference numeral Tr2 constitutes an NPN type transistor whose direction is reversed to that of a usual planar type transistor. As apparent from the Figure, a base region and a collector region of the lateral PNP transistor Tr1 are also used for an emitter region and a base region of the reverse NPN transistor Tr2 respectively, so that the isolation and the wiring of each transistor are omitted.
As shown in FIG. 4, the lateral PNP transistor Tr1 is operated as a constant current source and the direction of the collector current is changed by the voltage applied to terminal B. Namely, when a low level voltage is applied to the terminal B, the collector current of the transistor Tr1 flows to an input terminal B side and the reverse NPN transistor Tr2 becomes an OFF state so that a high level voltage is outputted to collector terminals C.sub.1 and C.sub.2. On the contrary, when a high level voltage is applied to the terminal B, the collector current of the transistor Tr1 flows to the base of the transistor Tr2 and the transistor Tr2 becomes an ON state so that a low level voltage is outputted to the collector terminals C.sub.1 and C.sub.2. Thus, the I.sup.2 L gate is basically an inverter, but gates such as OR, NOR etc. can be constituted by combining it.
However, such structured conventional gate has the following problems.
This kind of logic gate is expected to have as high speed operation as possible. Therefore, a way of reducing base resistance by increasing the impurity concentration in the base region is considered, but since the conventional I.sup.2 L gate is structured by homojunction of silicon crystal, when the impurity concentration in the base region is increased too much, reverse injection of carriers (holes in the NPN transistor and electrons in the PNP transistor) from the base region to the emitter region is increased and the injection efficiency in the emitter is lowered. As a result, the current gain (h.sub.FE) is disadvantageously decreased. Since in the conventional I.sup.2 L gate, the impurity concentration in the base region cannot be too increased, high speed operation could not be easily realized.

Semiconductor device having I.sup.2 L gate with heterojunction


The present invention relates to compounds of Formula I: wherein A is (CH2)m-Q-(CH2)n, wherein each CH2 may be independently substituted with one or more substitution selected from the group consisting of: hydroxy, halo, alkoxy, lower alkyl, amino, aminoalkyl, alkylamino, alkenyl, and alkynyl; B is a 5 or 6 membered heteroaryl, or aryl, optionally saturated, or optionally substituted with R1, R2, or R12; X is selected from the group consisting of: N and C; and Y and Z are independently selected from the group consisting of: N, C, CH, CR3, S, and O; compositions comprising such compounds, intermediates thereof, methods of making such compounds, and methods for treating cancer, inflammation, and inflammation-associated disorders, such as arthritis.

The following description of the background of the invention is provided to aid in the understanding the invention, but is not admitted to be or describe prior art to the invention.
NF-κB is a ubiquitous transcription factor that plays a prominent role in the activation of the immune system and in stress responses by regulating the transcription of many early, inducible genes including proinflammatory cytokines, adhesion molecules, growth factors, enzymes, and receptors (Ghosh S., May, M. J., and Kopp. E (1998) Annu. Rev. Immunol. 16, 115-260; Zandi, E., and Karin, M. (1999) Mol. Cell. Biol. 19, 4547-4551; Karin, M. (1999) J. Biol. Chem. 274, 27339-27342). Specificity of gene expression is determined at a cellular level by a diverse array of external stimuli such as bacterial products including LPS, as well as cytokines, most importantly tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) and interleukin-β (IL1β). Through the synergistic interaction with other transcription factors, further specificity can be achieved while maintaining enormous potential to coordinately induce a large number of functionally related genes. NF-κB is composed of homo and heterodimers of the Rel protein family and is sequestered in an inactive form in the cytoplasm by members of the IκB family of inhibitory proteins (Ghosh S., May, M. J., and Kopp. E (1998) Annu. Rev. Immunol. 16, 115-260; Zandi, E., and Karin, M. (1999) Mol. Cell. Biol. 19, 4547-4551; Karin, M. (1999) J. Biol. Chem. 274, 27339-27342). IκBs mask the nuclear localization signal on NF-κB, preventing nuclear translocation and hence DNA binding to the promoter regions of responsive genes. Stimulation of cells with an agonist that activates NF-κB leads to a series of biochemical signals, ultimately resulting in the phosphorylation, ubiquitinylation, and degradation of IκBs, thereby releasing NF-κB for nuclear translocation (Ghosh S., May, M. J., and Kopp. E (1998) Annu. Rev. Immunol. 16, 115-260; Zandi, E., and Karin, M. (1999) Mol. Cell. Biol. 19, 4547-4551; Karin, M. (1999) J. Biol. Chem. 274, 27339-27342). Recently, two IκB kinases (IKK1 or IKKα and IKK2 or IKKβ), which phosphorylate IκBs and thereby initiate their degradation, have been cloned and characterized by a number of laboratories (Ghosh S., May, M. J., and Kopp. E (1998) Annu. Rev. Immunol. 16, 115-260; Zandi, E., and Karin, M. (1999) Mol. Cell. Biol. 19, 4547-4551; Karin, M. (1999) J. Biol. Chem. 274, 27339-27342). The catalytic subunits, IKK1 and IKK2, are similar structurally as well as enzymatically and exist as a heterodimer in a large protein complex referred to as the IKK signalsome (Regnier, C., Song, H., Gao, X., Goeddel, D., Cao, Z. and Rothe, M. (1997) Cell 90, 373-383; DiDonato, J. A., Hayakawa, M., Rothwarf, D. M., Zandi, E. and Karin, M. (1997) Nature 388, 548-554; Mercurio, F., Zhu, H., Murray, B. W., Shevchenko, A., Bennett, B. L., Li, J. W., Young, D. B., Barbosa, M., Mann, M., Manning, A. and Roa, A. (1997) Science 278, 860-866; Zandi, E. Rothwarf, D. M., Delhase, M., Hayadawa, M and Karin, M. (1997) Cell 91, 243-252; Woronicz, J. D., Gao, X., Cao, Z., Rothe, M. And Goeddel, D. V. (1997) Science 278, 866-869). A third protein, NEMO (IKKγ, IKKAP1), is a regulatory adapter protein necessary for IKK activation and kinase activity (Yamaoka, S., Courtois, G., Bessia, C., Whiteside, S. T., Weil, R., Agou, F., Kirk, H. E., Kay, R. J., and Ireal, A. (1998) Cell 93, 1231-1240; Rothwarf, D. M., Zandi, E., Natoli, G., Karin, M. (1998) Nature 395, 297; Mercurio, F., Murray, B. W., Shevchenko, A., Bennet, B. L., Young, D. B., Li, J. W., Pascual, G., Motiwala, A., Zhu, H., Mann, M and Manning, A. M. (1999) Mol. Cell. Biol. 2, 1526-1538). IKK1 and IKK2 are co-expressed in most human adult tissues as well as in different developmental stages of mouse embryos (Regnier, C., Song, H., Gao, X., Goeddel, D., Cao, Z. and Rothe, M. (1997) Cell 90, 373-383; DiDonato, J. A., Hayakawa, M., Rothwarf, D. M., Zandi, E. and Karin, M. (1997) Nature 388, 548-554; Mercurio, F., Zhu, H., Murray, B. W., Shevchenko, A., Bennett, B. L., Li, J. W., Young, D. B., Barbosa, M., Mann, M., Manning, A. and Roa, A. (1997) Science 278, 860-866; Zandi, E. Rothwarf, D. M., Delhase, M., Hayadawa, M and Karin, M. (1997) Cell 91, 243-252; Woronicz, J. D., Gao, X., Cao, Z., Rothe, M. and Goeddel, D. V. (1997) Science 278, 866-869; Hu, M. C. T., and Wang, Y. (1998) Gene 222, 31-40). This kinase complex appears to represent a critical, common denominator in the activation of NF-κB in a number of signal transduction pathways stimulated by a variety of agonists including cytokines, such as TNFα and IL1β, microbial products such as LPS and viral proteins such as TAX, as well as phorbol esters, oxidizing agents and serine/tyrosine phosphatases (Ghosh S., May, M. J., and Kopp. E (1998) Annu. Rev. Immunol. 16, 115-260; Zandi, E., and Karin, M. (1999) Mol. Cell. Biol. 19, 4547-4551; Karin, M. (1999) J. Biol. Chem. 274, 27339-27342).
IKK1 (also termed IKKα; Regnier, C., Song, H., Gao, X., Goeddel, D., Cao, Z. and Rothe, M. (1997) Cell 90, 373-383; DiDonato, J. A., Hayakawa, M., Rothwarf, D. M., Zandi, E. and Karin, M. (1997) Nature 388, 548-554; Mercurio, F., Zhu, H., Murray, B. W., Shevchenko, A., Bennett, B. L., Li, J. W., Young, D. B., Barbosa, M., Mann, M., Manning, A. And Roa, A. (1997) Science 278, 860-866) was cloned simultaneously by standard biochemical purification of the IκB kinase activity from TNFα stimulated HeLa S3 cells and by its interaction with the MAP3K, NF-κB inducing kinase (NIK), in a yeast two-hybrid screen. IKK1 was identified as the previously cloned serine-threonine kinase, CHUK (Connelly, M. and Marcu, K. (1995) Cell. Mol. Biol. Res. 41, 537-549). IKK1 (also termed IKKα) is an 85 kDa, 745 amino acid protein that contains an N-terminal serine/threonine kinase catalytic domain, a leucine zipper-like amphipathic helix, and a C-terminal helix-loop-helix domain. IKK2 (also termed IKKβ) was also cloned by standard biochemical purification, copurifying with IKK1 from TNFα stimulated HeLa S3 cells as well as by being identified in the public database from an EST clone with sequence homology to IKK1 (Mercurio, F., Zhu, H., Murray, B. W., Shevchenko, A., Bennett, B. L., Li, J. W., Young, D. B., Barbosa, M., Mann, M., Manning, A. and Roa, A. (1997) Science 278, 860-866; Zandi, E. Rothwarf, D. M., Delhase, M., Hayadawa, M and Karin, M. (1997) Cell 91, 243-252; Woronicz, J. D., Gao, X., Cao, Z., Rothe, M. And Goeddel, D. V. (1997) Science 278, 866-869). IKK2 is an 87 kDa, 756 amino acid protein with the same over all topology as IKK1 except for the addition of an 11 amino acid extension at the C-terminus. IKK1 and IKK1 are 52% identical overall with 65% identity in the kinase domain and 44% identity in the protein interaction domains in the C-terminus. Data obtained using transient mammalian expression analysis, by in vitro translation experiments and by coexpression in a baculoviral system reveals that IKK1 and IKK2 associate preferentially as a heterodimer through their leucine zipper motifs. Although homodimers have also been described in these systems, the heterodimer is thought to be the physiologic form of the kinase in mammalian cells (Zandi, E. Rothwarf, D. M., Delhase, M., Hayadawa, M and Karin, M. (1997) Cell 91, 243-252; Li, J., Peet, G. W., Pullen, S. S., Schembri-King, J., Warren, T. C., Marcu, K. B., Kehry, M. R., Barton, R. and Jakes, S. (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 30736-30741). Finally, NEMO (also termed IKKγ) contains three α-helical regions including a leucine zipper, interacts preferentially with IKK2 and is required for activation of the heterodimeric kinase complex perhaps by bringing other proteins into the signalsome complex (Yamaoka, S., Courtois, G., Bessia, C., Whiteside, S. T., Weil, R., Agou, F., Kirk, H. E., Kay, R. J., and Ireal, A. (1998) Cell 93, 1231-1240; Rothwarf, D. M., Zandi, E., Natoli, G., Karin, M. (1998) Nature 395, 297; Mercurio, F., Murray, B. W., Shevchenko, A., Bennet, B. L., Young, D. B., Li, J. W., Pascual, G., Motiwala, A., Zhu, H., Mann, M and Manning, A. M. (1999) Mol. Cell. Biol. 2, 1526-1538).
The kinase activities of IKK1 and IKK2 are regulated by phosphorylation and require an intact leucine zipper (LZ) for dimerization as well as an intact helix-loop-helix (HLH) domain, which can exert a positive regulatory effect on kinase activity even when it is expressed in trans with the remainder of the IKK protein (Regnier, C., Song, H., Gao, X., Goeddel, D., Cao, Z. and Rothe, M. (1997) Cell 90, 373-383; DiDonato, J. A., Hayakawa, M., Rothwarf, D. M., Zandi, E. and Karin, M. (1997) Nature 388, 548-554; Mercurio, F., Zhu, H., Murray, B. W., Shevchenko, A., Bennett, B. L., Li, J. W., Young, D. B., Barbosa, M., Mann, M., Manning, A. and Roa, A. (1997) Science 278, 860-866; Zandi, E. Rothwarf, D. M., Delhase, M., Hayadawa, M and Karin, M. (1997) Cell 91, 243-252; Woronicz, J. D., Gao, X., Cao, Z., Rothe, M. and Goeddel, D. V. (1997) Science 278, 866-869; Dehase, M., Hayakawa, M., Chen, Y., and Karin, M. (1999) Science 284, 309-313). Both IKK subunits contain a canonical MAPKK activation loop motif near the N-terminus which is the target for phosphorylation and activation of kinase activity by MAP3Ks such as NIK and MEKK1, although the physiologic regulation by these two upstream kinases awaits further characterization (Zandi, E., and Karin, M. (1999) Mol. Cell. Biol. 19, 4547-4551; Karin, M. (1999) J. Biol. Chem. 274, 27339-27342; Karin, M., and Delhase, M. (1998) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 95, 9067-9069). Finally, phosphorylation of serines in the C-terminus of IKK2 results in a decrease in IKK activity and it is postulated to be responsible for the transient kinase activity seen after stimulation of cells with an agonist (Dehase, M., Hayakawa, M., Chen, Y., and Karin, M. (1999) Science 284, 309-313).
IKK2 demonstrates a more potent kinase activity compared to IKK1 using IκBα or IκBβ as a substrate (Mercurio, F., Zhu, H., Murray, B. W., Shevchenko, A., Bennett, B. L., Li, J. W., Young, D. B., Barbosa, M., Mann, M., Manning, A. and Roa, A. (1997) Science 278, 860-866; Zandi, E. Rothwarf, D. M., Delhase, M., Hayadawa, M and Karin, M. (1997) Cell 91, 243-252; Woronicz, J. D., Gao, X., Cao, Z., Rothe, M. and Goeddel, D. V. (1997) Science 278, 866-869; Dehase, M., Hayakawa, M., Chen, Y., and Karin, M. (1999) Science 284, 309-313). Mutations of the phospho-acceptor serine residues within the MAPKK activation loop alters IKK2 kinase activity; the serine to alanine substitutions result in decreased kinase activity whereas the serine to glutamic acid substitutions result in a constitutively active kinase. Similar alanine mutations in IKK1 do not result in a decreased stimulation of total IKK activity in response to TNFα or ILL1β (Dehase, M., Hayakawa, M., Chen, Y., and Karin, M. (1999) Science 284, 309-313). IKK2 being the dominant kinase activity within the IKK complex is further supported by the analysis of fibroblasts from mice deficient in IKK1 or IKK2. Fibroblasts lacking IKK1 retain full IKK activity in response to cytokines and could activate NF-κB. In contrast, fibroblasts lacking IKK2 do not exhibit IKK activity when stimulated with cytokines nor do they activate NF-κB. Furthermore, the phenotypes of each IKK knock out is unique with IKK1 deficiency resulting in skin and skeletal defects and IKK2 knock out being embryonic lethal due to hepatocyte apoptosis (Li, Q., Antwerp, D. V., Mercurio, F., Lee, K., and Verma, I. M. (1999) Science 284, 321-325; Takeda, K., Tekeuchi, O., Tsujimura, T., Itami, S., Adachi, O., Kawai, T., Sanjo, H., Yoshikawa, K., Terada, N, and Akira, S. (1999) Science 284, 313-316; Hu, Y., Baud, V., Delhase, M., Zhang, P., Deerinck, T., Ellisman, M., Johnson, R., and Karin, M. (1999) Science 284, 315-320; Li, Q., Lu, Q., Hwang, J. Y., Buscher, D., Lee, K., Izpisua-Belmonte, J. C., and Verma, I. M. (1999) Gene and Development 13, 1322-1328; Tanaka, M., Fuentes, M. E., Yamaguchi, K., Durnin, M. H., Dalrymple, S. A., Hardy, K. L., and Goeddel, D. V. (1999) Immunity 10, 421-429).
It is well-known that NF-KB plays a key role in the regulated expression of a large number of pro-inflammatory mediators including cytokines such as IL-6 and IL-8, cell adhesion molecules, such as ICAM and VCAM, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Such mediators are known to play a role in the recruitment of leukocytes at sites of inflammation and in the case of iNOS, may lead to organ destruction in some inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. The importance of
NF-κB in inflammatory disorders is further strengthened by studies of airway inflammation including asthma in which NF-κB has been shown to be activated. This activation may underlie the increased cytokine production and leukocyte infiltration characteristic of these disorders. In addition, inhaled steroids are known to reduce airway hyper responsiveness and suppress the inflammatory response in asthmatic airways. In light of the recent findings with regard to glucocorticoid inhibition of NF-κB, one may speculate that these effects are mediated through an inhibition of NF-κB. Further evidence for a role of NF-κB in inflammatory disorders comes from studies of rheumatoid synovium. Although NF-κB is normally present as an inactive cytoplasmic complex, recent immunohistochemical studies have indicated that NF-κB is present in the nuclei, and hence active, in the cells comprising rheumatoid synovium. Furthermore, NF-κB has been shown to be activated in human synovial cells in response to stimulation with TNF-α. Such a distribution may be the underlying mechanism for the increased cytokine and eicosanoid production characteristic of this tissue. See Roshak, A. K., et al., J. Biol. Chem., 271, 31496-31501 (1996).
The NF-κB/Rel and IκB proteins are also likely to play a key role in neoplastic transformation. Family members are associated with cell transformation in vitro and in vivo because of overexpression, gene amplification, gene rearrangements, or translocations (Gilmore T D, Trends Genet 7:318-322, 1991; Gillmore T D, Oncogene 18:6925-6937, 1999; Rayet B. et al., Oncogene 18: 6938-6947, 1991). In addition, rearrangement and/or amplification of the genes encoding these proteins are seen in 20-25% of certain human lymphoid tumors. In addition, a role for NF-κB in the regulation of apoptosis, cell cycle progression, invasion, and metastasis has been reported (Bours V. et al., Biochemical Pharmacology 60:1085-1090, 2000) strengthening the role of this transcription factor in the control of cell proliferation. The inhibition of NF-κB has been shown to potentiate TNF- and cancer therapy through increased apoptosis (Wang C-Y et al., Science 274:784-787, 1996; Wang C-Y et al., Nat Med 5:412-417, 1999). It has also been shown that human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV1) infected cells (the etiological agent of an aggressive malignancy of activated CD4+ T lymphocytes), IKKα and IKKβ are expressed constitutively, which normally function in a transient manner (Chu Z-L et al., J of Biological Chemistry 273:15891-15894, 1998). The HTLV1 transforming and transactivating protein (Tax) has been shown to bind MEKK1 and increases the activity of IKKβ to enhance phosphorylation of serine residues in IκBα that lead to its degradation.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,940,418 to R. Hamilton describes tricyclic 4,5-dihydrobenz[g]indazole-3-carboxylic acids as antiinflammatory agents.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,803,193 to Kanda et al, describes spiro[3-alkyl-1-aryl[1]benzopyrano[4,3-c]pyrazole-4(1H),9′-[9H]fluorenes as heat sensitive recording materials.
V. Colota et al (J. Med. Chem., 33, 2646 (1991)) describe tricyclic heteroaramatic systems, including 1-aryl-pyrazolo[4,5-c]quinolin-4-ones, 1-aryl-pyrazolo[4,5-c][1,8]naphthyridin-4-ones, and 1-aryl-[1]benzopyrano[3,4-d]pyrazol-4-ones for CNS applications. F. Melani et al [J. Med. Chem., 29, 291 (1986) also describe 1-phenyl-pyrazolo[4,5-c]quinolines for CNS applications.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,816,467 and 5,206,258 to Doria et al describe (2-cyano-3-(1,4-dihydro)-1-phenyl-[1]benzothiopyrano [4,3-c]pyrazol-3-yl)-3-oxo-propanamides as immunomodulators. G. Doria et al (Farmaco, 46, 843 (1991)) also describe the immunomodulating activity of pyrazolylpropanamides, and specifically ethyl[1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1,4-dihydro-[1]benzothiopyrano[4,3-c]pyrazole]-3-carboxylate. British patent 2,227,741 describes related benzopyrano[4,3-c]pyrazoles and benzothiopyrano[4,3-c]pyrazoles. European application No. 347,773 similarly describes such fused pyrazole compounds, and specifically α-cyano-N,1-bis(4-fluorophenyl)-β-oxo-1H-[1]benzothieno[3,2-c]pyrazole-3-propanamide. U.S. Pat. No. 5,260,328 to Doria et al describes 2-cyano-3-(1,4-dihydro)-1-phenyl-[1]benzothiopyrano[4,3-c]pyrazol-3-yl)-3-oxo-propanamides for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,678,499 to Pasteris et al describes 1-aryl-indenopyrazol-4-one-5-sulfonamides as having herbicidal activity. Specifically, 1-phenyl-indenopyrazol-4-one-5-sulfonamide and 1,4-dihydro-N-[[(4-methoxy-6-methyl-2-pyrimidinyl)amino]carbonyl]-3-methyl-1-[4-(methylsulfonyl)phenyl]-4-oxo-indeno[1,2-c]pyrazole-5-sulfonamide are described.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,547,975; 5,565,482; 5,670,532; and 5,886,016 to Talley et al. describe benzopyranopyrazolyl derivates for the treatment of inflammation. Fravolini, A. et al., describes substituted pyrazolyl compounds having anti-inflammatory activity (Farmco, Ed. Sci 33:855-856, 1978).

Substituted pyrazolyl compounds for the treatment of inflammation


A semiconductor device includes a three or more-stage semiconductor charge pump. The capacitance of a pumping capacitor that increases and decreases the potential of a final-stage node on the output side is larger than that of a pumping capacitor that increases and decreases the potential of another-stage node.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device. More specifically, the invention relates to a multistage Dickson charge pump.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, the decrease in the voltage applied to a gate oxide film has strongly been demanded as the gate oxide film has been thinned in accordance with a decrease in device size. Because of this demand, the logic gate power supply voltage suddenly lowers. For example, a power supply voltage of 2.5V has been used in the 0.25 μm gate length generation complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS), whereas a power supply voltage of 1.2V has been used in the 70 μm gate length generation CMOS.
There is a circuit block that requires a negative voltage or a voltage higher than the logic gate power supply voltage, such as a word-line boost power supply of a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), a write power supply of an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), a write power supply of an anti-fuse, and a back gate power supply of a vacuum treatment (VT)-CMOS. This circuit block utilizes characteristics that are hard to benefit from the effect of device shrinkage, such as cutoff characteristics of transistors, band gap characteristics of semiconductors, and back gate characteristics thereof. The decrease in power supply voltage does not therefore advance unlike the logic gate power supply voltage described above. For example, the voltage of the word-line boost power supply voltage is 3.5V in the 0.25 μm generation DRAM, whereas it is 3.0V in the 90 nm generation DRAM. The write power supply voltage of the EEPROM is as constant as approximately 10.0V. The back gate power supply of the VT-CMOS requires a negative voltage of −1.0V or lower and a voltage that is obtained by boosting the logic gate power supply voltage by 1.0V or higher in order to benefit from the effect of an adequate reduction in cutoff current.
To achieve a high-voltage (boost-voltage) power supply or a negative-voltage power supply, a boost power supply circuit is mounted in an integrated circuit. Usually, a charge pump, which does not require any inductor that makes it difficult to save space, is often used as the boost power supply circuit mounted in the integrated circuit. The voltage of the logic gate power supply decreases and so does the supply power voltage, whereas the acquired output voltage does not decrease. The output voltage, which is twice or more as high as the supply power voltage, is often demanded. A Dickson charge pump is effective in this demand (see, for example, J. F. Dickson, "On-Chip High-Voltage Generation in NMOS Integrated Circuits Using an Improved Voltage Multiplier Technique," IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits, June, 1976, Vol. SC-11, PP. 374-378).
As a difference between the supply power voltage and the output voltage becomes wide, the stage of a charge pump increases in number. However, the Dickson charge pump has the problem that its efficiency decreases as its stage increases (the output current decreases and the current consumption of a power supply circuit increases) (see, for example, Toru Tanzawa and Tomoharu Tanaka, "A Dynamic Analysis of the Dickson Charge Pump Circuit," IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, August, 1997, Vol. 32, No. 8, PP. 1231-1240). When an extremely high output voltage of, e.g., 10.0V is required like the voltage of the write power supply of the EEPROM and that of the write power supply of the anti-fuse, the withstand voltage of a device that configures a boost power supply circuit, especially a pumping capacitor having a large device area causes a problem.
FIG. 8 shows a configuration of a prior art Dickson charge pump. This charge pump has a four-stage configuration to allow an output voltage (boost voltage) of about 6.0V to be generated upon receipt of a supply power voltage of 2.5V.
In the prior art Dickson charge pump, five diode elements 115a to 115e are connected in series between a high-potential power supply (external power supply) 111 and an output power supply (terminal) 113. These diode elements 115a to 115e are arranged in the forward direction. One electrode of each of pumping capacitors 117a to 117d is connected to its corresponding node between a cathode terminal of one of the diode elements 115a to 115e and an anode terminal of another one of the diode elements. The pumping capacitors 117a to 117d are of the same size (capacitance c). A first clock signal Φ1 is applied to the other electrode of each of the pumping capacitors 117b and 117d, while a second clock signal Φ2 is applied to the other electrode of each of the pumping capacitors 117a and 117c. The first clock signal Φ1 is generated by a CMOS inverter circuit 119a that receives a square clock signal Φ, and the second clock signal Φ2 is generated by a CMOS inverter circuit 119b that receives the first clock signal Φ1. On the other hand, two capacitors 123a and 123b are connected in two stages (in series) between the output power supply 113 and a ground potential 121. The external power supply 111 is connected to a node between the capacitors 123a and 123b.
FIGS. 9A to 9D illustrate an operation of the charge pump shown in FIG. 8. In order to describe the charge pump in simple language, the five diode elements 115a to 115e are compared to lock gates, and the supply power voltage of the external power supply 111, the intermediate nodes of the diode elements 115a to 115e, and the potential (output voltage) of the output power supply 113 are compared to the water levels of lock chambers partitioned by the lock gates.
FIG. 9A shows step 1 in which a first lock gate 115a′ corresponding to the first diode element 115a connected to the external power supply 111 is open. The water level of a first lock chamber 116a partitioned by the first lock gate 115a′ and a second lock gate 115b′ corresponding to the second diode element 115b becomes equal to the level of the supply power voltage (2.5V) of the external power supply 111. A third lock gate 115c′ corresponding to the third diode element 115c is also open, and the water levels of second and third lock chambers 116b and 116c are equal to each other. These water levels correspond to the intermediate potential (4.25V) between the supply power voltage (2.5V) of the external power supply and the potential (6.0V) of the output power supply 113 such that they can be imagined easily. A fifth lock gate 115e′ corresponding to the fifth (final-stage) diode element 115e connected to the output power supply 113 is open. The water level of a fourth lock chamber 116d partitioned by the fifth lock gate 115e′ and a fourth lock gate 115d′ corresponding to the fourth diode element 115d becomes equal to the level of the potential (6.0V) of the output power supply 113.
The water bottom of the second lock chamber 116b and that of the fourth lock chamber 116d are raised. This means that the potential of the first clock signal (D shown in FIG. 8 is 2.5V. The heights from the water bottoms of the lock chambers 116a to 116d to the water surfaces thereof correspond to their respective voltages applied to the pumping capacitors 117a to 117d shown in FIG. 8. More specifically, in the operating state of step 1, a voltage of 2.5V, a voltage of 1.75V, a voltage of 4.25V, and a voltage of 3.5V are applied to the first, second, third, and fourth pumping capacitors 117a, 117b, 117c, and 117d, respectively.
FIG. 9B shows step 2 that indicates the moment when the potential of the first clock signal Φ1 becomes 0V and that of the second clock signal Φ2 becomes 2.5V. For easy understanding, FIG. 9B shows a water level of each of the lock chambers 116a to 116d when all the lock gates 115a′ to 115e′ corresponding to the five diode elements 115a to 115e are closed and all the lock chambers 116a to 116d are isolated from one another. Since the charge pump shown in FIG. 8 is configured by the diode elements 115a to 115e of passive elements, the state of step 2 shifts to that of step 3 shortly.
FIG. 9C shows step 3 in which the potentials of the first and second clock signals Φ1 and Φ2 are stabilized after an adequate time elapses after the potential of the first clock signal Φ1 becomes 0V and that of the second clock signal Φ2 becomes 2.5V. The fourth lock gate 115d′ opens, and the water levels of the third and fourth lock chambers 116c and 116d become equal to each other (5.13V). The second lock gate 115b′ opens; and the water levels of the first and second lock chambers 116a and 116b become equal to each other (3.38V). The highest voltage of 5.13V is applied to the fourth lock chamber 116d, or the fourth pumping capacitor 117d.
FIG. 9D shows step 4 in which the potential of the first clock signal Φ1 becomes 2.5V and that of the second clock signal Φ2 becomes 0V. These potentials are stabilized again in the state of step 1.
Recent integrated circuits may utilize the technology to form two different transistors that differ in thickness of oxide film on a single chip. For example, a logic gate (not shown) is configured by a transistor of a thin oxide film and its power supply voltage is decreased to about 1.2V. On the other hand, a memory device such as a DRAM and an EEPROM and an analog circuit or an input/output (I/O) circuit is configured by a transistor having a thick oxide film. The withstand voltage generated from the latter transistor is at most 2.5V to 3.3V. If a high voltage of 6.0V is directly applied to a gate oxide film, the gate oxide film is likely to be broken. To avoid this, the capacitors 123a and 123b are connected in series to the output power supply 113 as shown in FIG. 8.
The above capacitor 123a is a decoupling capacitor provided as an output load between power supplies. A decoupling capacitor is usually provided between the output power supply 113 and the ground potential 121. However, the capacitor 123a is provided between the output power supply 113 and the external power supply 111. The decoupling capacitor is generally configured by a MOS capacitor. With this configuration, the with-stand voltage of 6.0V or higher, which is originally required by the gate oxide film, can be decreased to 3.5V(=6.0V−2.5V).
The capacitor (decoupling capacitor) 123b is provided between the external power supply 111 and the ground potential 121. The output power supply 113 can tightly be coupled to the ground potential 121 through the capacitors 123a and 123b. Consequently, the noise of the output voltage is reduced and the potential is stabilized.
If the capacitor 123b between the external power supply 111 and the ground potential 121 is configured by a MOS capacitor and mounted in an integrated circuit, its coupling strength will be reduced by more than half as compared with the capacitor 123a that is directly connected to the ground potential 121. In most cases, however, the capacitance of the capacitor 123b can be compensated with an external capacitor or the parasitic capacitance of another circuit mounted in the integrated circuit. Thus, the problems that noise becomes extremely high and the area for the decoupling capacitor increases do not occur.
When the charge pump shown in FIG. 8 is so controlled that the external supply voltage is 2.5V and the output voltage is 6.0V, the highest voltage of 5.13V is applied to the final-stage pumping capacitor 117d. When the pumping capacitor is configured by a MOS capacitor, the voltage applied to the gate oxide film needs to be lowered. To do this, the final-stage pumping capacitor 117d can be configured by two MOS capacitors (capacitance c) 117d−1 and 117d−2 which are connected in series, as shown in FIG. 10.
However, the voltage at both ends of the pumping capacitor 117d increases and decreases in response to the first clock signal Φ1. It is thus difficult to compensate for the voltage of an intermediate node between the two MOS capacitors 117d−1 and 117d−2 that are connected in series. In other words, the intermediate node does not have an intermediate potential due to the influence of leakage current and parasitic capacitance and thus the effect of a decrease in the voltage applied to the gate oxide film cannot be expected. The series-connection of the MOS capacitors reduces the effective capacitance of the pumping capacitor 117d by half. Accordingly, the capability of current supply of the charge pump lowers. To compensate for this, a MOS capacitor whose area is doubled is needed. This increases not only the layout area but also the power consumption as the parasitic capacitance becomes larger.
When the final-stage pumping capacitor to which the highest voltage is applied is configured by the MOS capacitors as described above, the voltage applied to the gate oxide film needs to be lowered. A search has been made for an effective method for lowering the voltage.

Semiconductor device including a three or more stage semiconductor charge pump


A three-bladed impeller providing a cooling airflow in air, with increased heat-dissipating efficiency and reduced noise includes a hub and three blades, the blades are arranged around the hub. Each blade is arched along its axial length from the front of fan to the back and also arched radially from the hub end of each blade to the outside tip. The back edge of each blade includes first and second slots, arranged alternately, the width of each first slot is λ1, the width of each of each second slot is λ2, the comparative sizes between λ2 and λ1 are in a ratio range of 1.6:1 to 1.8:1 (λ2:λ1).

When a fan rotates around a central axis, a linear velocity of airflow at base end of each blade adjacent to a hub is less than a linear velocity of airflow at the tip of the blade away from the hub, which will cause uneven velocity distribution of airflow across the fan. As a result, the amount of airflow at the base end of the blade is less than that at the tip end of the blade.
A pressure difference may be generated at these different positions on the blade due to the difference in the amount of airflow. Such pressure difference may cause turbulence along a direction perpendicular to the central axis and prevent air continuously flowing out of the fan. The unregulated turbulence and mainstream airflow collide with each other to form a vacuum area, resulting in generation of vortexes and noise, and heat dissipation performance of the fan is reduced.

Impeller with improved heat dissipation performance and reduced noise and heat dissipation fan having the same


2-Phenyl-3-(1H-pyrrol-2-yl)acrylonitrile compounds useful for controlling parasites in animals and methods of treatment of parasite infestation in animals using the compounds are disclosed.

The control of animal parasites is essential, especially in the areas of food production and companion animals. Existing methods of treatment and parasite control are being compromised due to growing resistance to current commercial parasiticides, such as the benzimidazoles and ivermectins. The discovery of more effective ways to control animal parasites is therefore imperative.
The literature has reported several derivatives of the 2-phenyl-3-(1H-pyrrol-2-yl)acrylonitrile ring system, that are based on Formula 1,
wherein R1 is not aryl or heteroaryl. These include 3-(2-pyrrolyl)-2-(4,5-dimethoxy-2-nitrophenyl)acrylonitrile and 3-(1-methyl-2-pyrrolyl)-2-(4,5-dimethoxy-2-nitrophenyl)acrylonitrile, described in J. Org. Chem., 30, 1965, 2553;3-(2-pyrrolyl)-2-(4-substitutedphenyl)acrylonitrile and 3-(1-methyl-2-pyrrolyl)-2-(4-substitutedphenyl)acrylonitrile derivatives. The para substituent is H, Me, MeO, Cl and NO2, described in J. Heterocyclic Chem., 23, 1986, 1747; 3-(2-pyrrolyl)-2-(4-substitutedphenyl)acrylonitrile and 3-(1-methyl-2-pyrroly)-2-(4-substitutedphenyl)acrylonitrile derivatives. The para substituent is H, Me, MeO, Cl and NO2, described in J. Liquid Chromatography, 7, 1984, 2631; 3-(2-pyrrolyl)-2-(phenyl)acrylonitrile, described in Tetrahedron, 45, 1989. 3-(2-pyrrolyl)-2-(4-substitutedphenyl)acrylonitrile and 3-(1-methyl-2-pyrrolyl)-2-(4-substitutedphenyl)acrylonitrile derivatives. The para substituent is H, Me, MeO, Cl and NO2, as described in Journal of Organic Chemistry, 1958, 23, 711-14;Some general synthetic routes to compounds of this type, such as 3-(2-pyrrolyl)-2-(phenyl)acrylonitrile, have been described (see, Journal of Organic Chemistry, 1958, 23, 711-14, cited above).
However, previously reported methods of using compounds of this type are limited to cough suppression and the materials sciences, e.g., as light absorbing agents, including, 3-(2-pyrrolyl)-2-(4,5-dimethoxy-2-nitrophenyl)acrylonitrile, and
3-(1-methyl-2-pyrrolyl)-2-(4,5-dimethoxy-2-nitrophenyl)acrylonitrile, as described by U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,370,063, 3,381,006, 3,454,586, 3,467,670 and 3,491,114, and as photosensitive dyes, as described by JP5100264 and JP6190165. JP 6190165 describes 3-(2-pyrrolyl)-2-phenylacrylonitrile derivatives that contain nitro and/or amino substituent at the para position of the phenyl ring and the 5 position of the pyrrole. In particular, cough suppression is the only biological activity reported for phenyl pyrrole acrylonitriles of Formula 1, wherein R1 is not aryl or heteroaryl [Compt. Rend., 259, 1964, 4716-18, describing 3-(1-ethyl-2-pyrrolyl)-2-(phenyl)acrylonitrile].
The citation of any reference herein should not be construed as an admission that such reference is available as "prior art" to the instant application.

Control of parasites in animals by the use of parasiticidal 2-phenyl-3-(1H-pyrrol-2-yl)acrylonitrile derivatives


An Rf device (100) that comprises unique MEMS RF transmission and circuit components (104–106) that are integrated together on a semiconductor chip (101) to form the RF device (100). These MEMS components (104–106) are monolithically formed on the chip (101) and are also reconfigurable on the chip (101).

Recent progress in monolithically fabricated RF devices has made it possible for implementation of chip-scale integrated RF devices. However, due to the low output power of solid-state sources and high losses in tuning and switching components, achievement of high-power or high-sensitivity RF devices is still a challenge. To develop complete RF devices, reconfigurable RF components and circuit components with low losses and high Q-factors are needed. Since MEMS components provide fast actuation due to their small size, low insertion losses, and high Q-factors due to their direct electrical connections, they have become an increasingly attractive option for constructing RF devices.

MEMS transmission and circuit components


An online system identifies seed users of high value to a sponsored content provider. Characteristics of the seed users are identified, and additional users having a threshold measure of similarity to the seed users are identified based on the characteristics. A score is determined for each of the additional users based on the measure of similarity. The seed users are placed in an initial tier of a tiered set of users for the sponsored content, and the additional users are placed in additional tiers of the tiered set of users based upon the determined scores such that each additional tier includes those users of the additional users having a specified range of determined scores, the tiers of the tiered set of users ranked according to the determined scores of users within each tier.

This disclosure relates generally to online systems storing identity information for users, and in particular to grouping users into tiers based upon a computed similarity score to a group of seed users.
Certain online systems, such as social networking systems, allow their users to connect to and to communicate with other online system users. Users may create profiles on such an online system that are tied to their identities and include information about the users, such as interests and demographic information. The users may be individuals or entities such as corporations or charities. Because of the increasing popularity of these types of online systems and the increasing amount of user-specific information maintained by such online systems, an online system provides an ideal forum for entities to increase awareness about products or services by presenting sponsored content to online system users.
Presenting sponsored content to users of an online system allows an entity sponsoring the content to gain public attention for products or services and to persuade online system users to take an action regarding the entity's products, services, opinions, or causes. Generally, these entities each have websites accessible to online system users. However, these entities generally do not have access to the identity information that an online system, such as a social networking system, stores and associates with users, which can be a wealth of valuable targeting information about these users. This limitation of the information available to entities providing sponsored content makes it difficult for them to effectively identify sponsored content to provide to the online system for presentation to various users and to identify which group of users is the optimal to target with this sponsored content.
In other words, the entity is limited in its ability to most efficiently target the sponsored content as the entity has less ability to identify those users of the online system that would respond in a cost effective way to the sponsored content, e.g., those users who would provide a positive return on investment that the entity makes in presenting the sponsored content to the user.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Grouping users into tiers based on similarity to a group of seed users


An actuating device comprises an LED actuating module. Said LED actuating module comprises a micro-programmed control unit (MCU), an actuator, a VF-value detection module, a PN-junction temperature acquisition module and an LED lamp unit. The MCU determines the current value matched with the LED lamp unit based on the VF value detected by the VF-value detection module and the temperature value detected by the PN-junction temperature acquisition module, and then determines the width of the PWM pulse output to the actuator according to the current value, and the actuator actuates an LED to operate at the matched current value.

An LED semiconductor luminescent device comprises a semiconductor light-emitting diode (LED), a nixie tube, a symbol tube, a *-shaped tube and a dot matrix display screen (hereinafter referred to as a "matrix tube") and the like. In fact, each light-emitting unit in the nixie tube, the symbol tube, the *-shaped tube and the matrix tube is a light-emitting diode.
The performance of an LED is determined by parameters of the LED and some key parameters relevant to an LED are as follows: (1) allowable power dissipation Pm, which refers to the maximum value of the product of the forward DC voltage allowed to be applied on both ends of the LED and the passing-through current. If the value is exceeded, the LED becomes hot and can be damaged. (2) Maximum forward DC current IFm, which refers to the allowable maximum forward DC current. If the value is exceeded, diodes can be damaged. (3) Inverse peak voltage VRm, which refers to the allowable inverse peak voltage. If the value is exceeded, the light-emitting diode can be broken down and damaged. (4) Operating temperature topm, which refers to the range of the environment temperature for normal operation of light-emitting diodes, and if the temperature of the operating environment is beyond the temperature range, the light-emitting diodes cannot operate properly and the efficiency is greatly reduced. (5) Forward operating current If, which refers to the forward current value when the light-emitting diode emits light normally. In actual use, the IF should be selected below 0.6·IFm as required. (6) Forward operating voltage VF, and the operating voltage given in the parameter list is achieved with the given forward current and usually measured when IF=20 mA. The light-emitting diode has the forward operating voltage VF within 1.4˜3V. When the external temperature rises, the VF decreases. (7) V-I characteristics, wherein the relationship between voltage and current of a light-emitting diode is that when the forward voltage is just below a given value (called a threshold value), the current becomes extremely low and the LED cannot be lighted up. When the voltage exceeds the value, the forward current rises rapidly and progressively along with the voltage and the LED is lighted up.
Currently, at home and abroad, the LED is activated by means of constant voltage or constant current. No matter under numerical control or simulation control, when a constant-current and constant-voltage LED actuating power supply is equipped to actuate the LED lamp unit, the constant-voltage or constant-current control technology is adopted during operation no matter how great the VF value of the LED lamp unit is changed, that is, the output voltage and current coincide with the rated values of the lamp unit; however, the VF-values of LED lamp units are different from those of different manufacturers, especially the VF-value consistency is much poorer for the LED lamp units from those of the factories with a less advanced packaging technology. And after lamp beads completely different in the VF-value consistency constitute a lamp unit, the VF-values quickly drift and decrease under the impact of the temperature, but the existing LED power supplies all have constant voltage or constant current, so it is completely impossible to adjust the output current and voltage according to the serious drift of the VF-value when the LED lamp unit is exposed to a high temperature, thus forcing the LED lamp unit to operate under the condition of low VF voltage and constant current. As a result, the PN-junction temperature of the LED continues to rise to speed up light depreciation, aging and color temperature deviation of the LED lamp unit.
For example, in time of constant-current actuation, when the output voltage and current of an LED actuating power supply is 36V and 2.4 A respectively, the output power should be 86 W; when the temperature rises and the VF-value deceases, the output voltage has tiny changes: 30V, and the output power is 72 W. The LED lamp unit's temperature continues rising to cause continuous VF-value falling due to the 2.4 A constant-current actuation, while the actual luminous flux of the LED lamp unit is greatly reduced due to lowering of the VF-value, thus speeding up light depreciation, flickering and color temperature deviation of the LED lamp beads when a constant current passes through. In time of constant-voltage actuation, when the output voltage and current of the LED actuating power supply are is 36V and 2.4 A respectively, the output power should be 86 W; when the temperature rises and the VF-value decreases, the output voltage is always adjusted to be 36V via the feedback regulation function of the constant-voltage actuator, while the output current rises to 2.6 A instead, and the output power also rises to be 93.6 W. The continuous rising of the PN-junction temperature of the LED lamp unit results in continuous decreasing of the VF-value, the current further rises because of the feedback regulation function of the constant-voltage circuit, with the consequence that the power continuously kept out of limits, which results in burning of the LED lamp unit.


A modified polynucleotide has a different base sequence in at least one codon from a wild-type base sequence encoding a horseradish peroxidase polypeptide. The usage frequency of the modified codon of the polynucleotide corresponds to the codon usage frequencies of three filamentous fungal species in Humicola, Aspergillus, and Trichoderma. The polynucleotide is capable of expressing the polypeptide to be encoded in a filamentous fungus.

Horseradish peroxidase is widely used as one of enzymes for detection in various tests such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunohistostaining method, Southern blotting method, and western blotting method. Moreover, the peroxidase has also been widely used as an enzyme for clinical inspection kits recently.
In general, peroxidases are widely present in the plant kingdom such as white radish (Raphanus sativus), sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas), wheat (Triticum spp.), Japanese horseradish (Eutrema japonica), and horseradish. For the reason that the peroxidase content in horseradish is high, or other reasons, horseradish is preferably used in industrial productions.
Meanwhile, horseradish peroxidase includes multiple enzymes such as acidic, neutral, and basic isozymes. Furthermore, the peroxidase content and the composition ratio of these isozymes greatly vary depending on: the properties of the soil where the horseradish is cultivated, the type and the amount of a fertilizer added, weather, harvesting time, and so forth. In addition, in a method for producing a peroxidase, a plant is destroyed and the peroxidase is purified from a great variety of contaminants. From the foregoing, the quality of a peroxidase purified from a horseradish is not always the same. In other words, most of horseradish peroxidase products used widely at present are mixtures of a large number of isozymes. In the majority of cases, the ratio is different from lot to lot. When such a horseradish peroxidase product is used to perform various measurements, for example, ELISA, a serious problem occurs that it is difficult to obtain stable measurement results because the results vary among production lots.
Moreover, horseradish that serves as the raw material requires a long period for cultivation and accordingly has a yield that varies depending on the weather. In addition, recently, a concern has been growing regarding a situation that horseradish supply might become short for reasons of: low cultivation efficiency, alternate farming to cereals for bioethanol having a higher demand, and the like. Hence, there is a great potential need for horseradish peroxidases that can be supplied steadily.
A conceivable method for overcoming the aforementioned problems of horseradish peroxidase is mass production by microorganisms using genetic recombination techniques. The use of microorganisms not only enables mass culture within a short period, but also enables steady supply without influence from the weather. Moreover, the use of genetic recombination techniques enables a single expression of a target peroxidase in a large amount. This makes it possible to avoid a problem of isozyme contamination.
The DNA sequence and the amino acid sequence of peroxidase C1a, one of main isozymes of horseradish peroxidase, have been revealed (see NPL 1). Moreover, using a gene encoding peroxidase C1a, the expression in Escherichia coli, yeast, and tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) plant cells has been studied. However, the expression amount is as small as 0.11 mg/L in Escherichia coli (see NPL 2), 5.3 mg/L in yeasts (see NPL 3), and 3 mg/L in tobacco plant cells (see NPL 4). The productivity is quite low and impractical. From the foregoing, it has been desired to develop a recombinant organism capable of mass production of horseradish peroxidase, and a method for producing horseradish peroxidase using the recombinant organism.

Method for producing horseradish peroxidase recombinant protein using filamentous fungus