An apparatus and methods are provided for treating a workpiece such as a shoe component. The workpiece treating apparatus preferably includes a transporter for transporting a workpiece along a predetermined path of travel and a storage device for storing a plurality of predetermined parameters of each of a plurality of workpieces. A workpiece identifier is positioned responsive to the storage device for identifying the workpiece during travel along the predetermined path. A workpiece treatment applicator is positioned adjacent the transporter and responsive to the workpiece identifier for applying a treatment a workpiece being transported along the predetermined path of travel. A workpiece treatment position determiner preferably is positioned responsive to the workpiece identifier for continuously determining the position of the workpiece treatment applicator along a predetermined trajectory during treatment of the workpiece.

Over the years, a variety of systems have been developed for tracking and treating components of products during manufacture of the products such as in an assembly operation. These workpiece tracking and treating systems include, for example, component assembly, bonding, surface roughing, trimming, shaping, cutting, and adhesive applying in the shoe manufacturing process. Some examples of such systems in the shoe manufacturing industry can be seen in Japanese Patent Document 5-337002 by Reader et al. titled "Bonding Method In Shoe Manufacturing Machine And Bonding Machine For Practicing The Method," U.S. Pat. No. 4,866,802 by Stein et al. titled "Roughing Machine For Footwear (sic) Upper Assemblies And A System That Includes The Roughing Machine But Typically Includes As Well Other Machines Ahead Of And Following," and U.S. Pat. No. 5,261,958 by Davies titled "Adhesive Applying Machine."
Additionally, workpiece tracking and treating systems have included cameras for identifying a workpiece, for determining the three dimensions of a workpiece, and for applying a treatment to a workpiece. These workpieces include not only shoe components, but also include, for example, circuit board components, various machine components, computer components, semiconductor components, automobile components, various containers, and tools. Examples of these systems can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,506,682 by Pryor titled "Robot Vision Using Targets," U.S. Pat. No. 5,280,436 by Kubota et al. titled "Method For Measuring Three-Dimensional Position Of Object To Be Captured And Method For Capturing The Object," U.S. Pat. No. 5,280,542 by Ozeki et al. "XYZ Coordinates Measuring System," and U.S. Pat. No. 5,110,615 by Maiorca et al. titled "Method For Dispensing Viscous Materials A Constant Height Above A Workpiece Surface."
Despite the advancement of these systems over the years, much of the focus of these advancements have been on more sophisticated imaging systems such as using high speed processing for cameras and developing complex XYZ coordinates for identifying the unit being tracked, flaws in the unit being tracked, or locating a portion of the unit being tracked for assembly or other purposes such as in a production process. Nevertheless, these systems fail to provide a simplified and effective control of the treatment of the units or workpieces upon which a desired operation is to be accomplished.
Further, for a variety of reasons, the shoe industry has been hesitant to adopt systems for tracking and controlling shoe components. A portion of this hesitance can be attributable to the custom nature of shoes in general. Shoes, for example, are manufactured in a variety of sizes and shapes. Like various clothing fashions, shoe styles change rapidly throughout the year, and shoe manufacturers must quickly adapt to these new styles and trends or else risk losing significant market share.

Workpiece treating apparatus and method of treating same


A mechanism for controlling the reciprocating movement of knives associated with rocking hooks connected to the heddle frames of a weaving machine which mechanism includes a pair of rotatable drums oriented parallel to the path of movement of the knives. Each drum includes two profiled grooves in the surface thereof in which tracking members associated with the knives are cooperatively guided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to heavy dobbies used for forming the shed in weaving machines of very large width, of the type particularly employed for manufacturing tubular fabrics adapted for the production of endless dry felts or filters for the paper-making industry.
2. History of Related Art
Due to the very considerable amplitude of the stroke of the heddle frames associated with these dobbies, the conventional open-shed systems cannot be used and closed-shed dobbies must be employed in which each frame moves downwardly or upwardly from a mean position corresponding to the point of crossing of the assembly of the frames.
FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings schematically shows the general arrangement of the heavy closed-shed dobbies of conventional type. Each of the heddle frames CL mounted on the weaving machine is connected by a system of rods 1 to a corresponding oscillating lever 2, articulated at 2a on a fixed frame. Opposite pivot point 2a. each lever 2, provided with a stop 2b. supports a double rocking hook 3 which is pivotally controlled by pushers of a reading mechanism of the dobby in order to come selectively into engagement with one or the other of two actuation knives 4, which, suitably guided horizontally, are controlled in order to simultaneously move reciprocally in opposite directions.
Actuation of the assembly of the double hooks 3 by the reading mechanism is effected when the two knives 4 lie in a central position in which the levers 2 are oriented vertically. It will be understood that, depending on whether a hook cooperates with one or the other of the knives 4, the corresponding frame CL moves vertically upwardly or downwardly from the position corresponding to the closure of the shed.
The mechanism for controlling the two knives 4 includes, at each of the opposite ends thereof, a connecting rod 5 articulated on one of the knives and on a balance beam 6 adapted to oscillate about a support pin 7. Each of the two balance beams 6 is equipped with two rollers 6a and 6b which roll on tracks 8a and 8b of a complementary cam 3 fitted on a shaft 8c. The shaft is driven in continuous rotation, via a transmission shown schematically at 9, by a motor of the weaving machine.
It will be readily understood that, although such a mechanism makes it possible to impart to the two knives the desired reciprocating movement, its operation at the high speeds now required of weaving machines becomes random, particularly due to the length of the kinematic chain, which includes a large number of articulating elements. Defects in weaving are, therefore, relatively frequent.
It is an object of the present invention to overcome this drawback.

Knife control mechanism for a weaving loom


An electronic ballast (10) for powering at least one gas discharge lamp (20) comprising an AC-to-DC converter (100), an inverter (200), an output circuit (300), and an inverter protection circuit (400). Inverter protection circuit (400) includes a high voltage detection circuit (500), a no-load detection circuit (600), and a latch circuit (700), and is operable to turn off the inverter (200) in response to removal or failure of the gas discharge lamps. Inverter protection circuit (400) is well-suited for use in ballasts that power multiple, parallel-connected lamps and maintains operation of inverter (200) under a partially-loaded condition in which at least one operational lamp is present and each of the failed lamps has at least one open filament.

Electronic ballasts typically include an inverter that provides high frequency current for efficiently powering gas discharge lamps. Inverters are generally classified according to their topology (e.g., half-bridge or push-pull) and the method used to control commutation of the inverter switches (e.g., driven or self-oscillating). In many types of electronic ballasts, the inverter is a driven half-bridge in which two alternately conducting power transistors are used to provide a square wave output voltage. The square wave output voltage of the inverter is processed by a resonant output circuit that provides high voltage for igniting the lamps, as well as a magnitude-limited current for powering the lamps.
When the lamps fail, are removed, or otherwise cease to operate in a normal fashion, it is highly desirable that the inverter be shut down or shifted to a different mode of operation. This is necessary in order to minimize power dissipation, reduce heating in the ballast, and protect the inverter transistors from damage due to excessive voltage, current, and heat. Circuits that shut down or alter the operation of the inverter in response to lamp removal or failure are customarily referred to as inverter protection circuits.
One known type of inverter protection circuit monitors the resonant output circuit for overvoltage and correspondingly turns the inverter driver circuit off if the voltage exceeds a certain level. This approach is not attractive for those ballasts in which the lamps are "direct coupled" in series with the resonant circuit, since removal or failure of the lamps actually opens the resonant circuit and thereby prevents the development of high voltage in the resonant circuit. However, even with the resonant circuit open, the inverter continues to operate, resulting in unnecessary power dissipation in the inverter switches.
Another known approach utilizes a current path through the lamp filaments to detect lamp removal or failure. This approach alone is inadequate for those situations in which a lamp fails to operate in a normal manner, but its filaments remain intact, such as what occurs with "degassed" and "diode mode" lamps. Furthermore, if multiple lamps are present, and if a single current path through the filaments of all the lamps is used, the inverter is shut down even if only one filament of one lamp fails but the remaining lamps are operational and with their filaments intact. This is unnecessary and undesirable, since it is preferred to have the inverter continue to operate so that the remaining operational lamps may continue to provide illumination, thus obviating any urgent need for replacement of the single failed lamp.
It is therefore apparent that a need exists for an inverter protection circuit for a driven half-bridge type inverter that provides protection of the inverter switches and other ballast components under various lamp failure modes, such as lamp removal or a degassed lamp, but that allows the inverter to continue to operate when at least one operational lamp is present and when the failed lamps present no danger to the inverter. Such a circuit would represent a considerable advance over the prior art.

Electronic ballast with inverter protection circuit


An iron-based sintered alloy having improved thermal and mechanical strength is provided. The iron-based sintered alloy with dispersed hard particles comprises: a matrix comprising, by weight, 0.4 to 2% silicon (Si), 2 to 12% nickel (Ni), 3 to 12% molybdenum (Mo), 0.5 to 5% chromium (Cr), 0.6 to 4% vanadium (V), 0.1 to 3% niobium (Nb), 0.5 to 2% carbon (C), and the reminder of iron (Fe); and hard particles comprising 60 to 70% molybdenum (Mo), 0.3 to 1% boron (B), 0.1% or less carbon (C), and the reminder of iron (Fe). The hard particles are dispersed in the matrix in an amount in the range of 3 to 20% based on the entire alloy. They are sintered to produce the iron-based sintered alloy. Addition of boron into the ferromolybdenum hard particles enhances the wettability of the ferromolybdenum hard particles to prevent the hard particles from falling off the matrix. Thus, the adhesive property between the matrix and the hard particles is improved, thereby enhancing the thermal and mechanical strength of the iron-based sintered alloy.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an iron-based sintered alloy with dispersed hard particles, and more particularly, to an iron-based sintered alloy with dispersed hard particles suitable for a valve seat of an automobile engine.
2. Description of the Related Art
The combustion temperature of an automobile engine has been increasing as the power of the automobile engine increases, or as clean fuel such as LPG (Liquid Petroleum Gas) or CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) is used for reducing environmental load. Thus valve seats of engine components tend to be subjected to larger thermal and mechanical loads. To address the problems caused by the increased thermal load, materials such as, for example, chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), and tungsten (W) are added to the raw material of an iron-based sintered alloy to enhance the strength of valve seats at high temperature. The strength required for the increased mechanical load can be enhanced by means of high pressure compacting, cold forging, powder forging, high temperature sintering, and the like. However, since the thermal and mechanical loads on a valve seat of an engine component are still increasing, it is conceivable that an engine will generate thermal and mechanical loads that conventional iron-based sintered alloys may not resist. For example, the thermal conductivity of the alloy can be enhanced through copper infiltration in which a low melting point material such as copper (Cu) is infiltrated into the internal pores of an iron-based sintered alloy, so that the thermal load on the valve seat can be reduced. However, the strength of the infiltrated iron-based sintered alloy is disadvantageously lowered by means of the infiltrated copper. In addition, secondary sintering is required to pack the alloy after primary sintering, thereby increasing the production cost.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 5-93241, the present inventors have proposed iron-based sintered alloys having enhanced strength in which hard particles comprising molybdenum (Mo), carbon (C), and iron (Fe) are dispersed in an iron (Fe)-molybdenum (Mo)-nickel (Ni)-carbon (C) matrix. This publication discloses a technique for improving wear resistance through mixing boron (B) with the matrix to promote sintering and to form borides. Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 9-53158 discloses iron-based sintered alloys with dispersed hard phase having enhanced strength through dispersion of hard particles comprising chromium (Cr), molybdenum (Mo), cobalt (Co), carbon (C), silicon (Si), and iron (Fe) in an iron (Fe)-molybdenum (Mo)-chromium (Cr)-nickel (Ni)-carbon (C) matrix, and also having improved wear resistance at high temperatures through formation of high-alloy phases through diffusion. Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2000-73151 discloses iron-based sintered alloys with dispersed hard particles having improved wear resistance at high temperatures through dispersion of one or both of hard particle comprising chromium (Cr), molybdenum (Mo), cobalt (Co), carbon (C), silicon (Si), and iron (Fe) and hard particle comprising molybdenum (Mo), carbon (C), and iron (Fe) in an iron (Fe)-molybdenum (Mo)-chromium (Cr)-nickel (Ni)-vanadium (V)-carbon (C) matrix.
In an iron-based sintered alloy, a hard particle serves as a source of alloy elements, and also enhances deformation resistance at high temperatures. However, a hard particle such as a cobalt-based particle or a nickel-based particle serving as an alloy-source softens or hardens the alloy due to excessive alloying through diffusion of the alloy elements into a matrix. Also, a hard particle composed of intermetallic compounds, ceramics, carbides, oxides, and the like enhances the deformation resistance of the matrix, but has poor adhesive property (wettability) with the matrix, so that the hard particle tends to easily fall off the alloy matrix. The hard particles described above may deteriorate the wear resistance of the iron-based sintered alloy.
By dispersing hard particles of ferromolybdenum (Fe—Mo) composed of molybdenum and iron in a matrix containing silicon, nickel, molybdenum, chromium, vanadium, niobium, carbon, and iron, the wear resistance can be improved through a paving stone effect. However, since the diffusivity of molybdenum in the iron-based matrix is low, only the region around the added ferromolybdenum hard particles is strengthened, while the other regions are not strengthened. Further, since the bonding between the ferromolybdenum particles and the iron-based matrix is weak, the ferromolybdenum particles may easily fall off the iron-based matrix.

Iron-based sintered alloy with dispersed hard particles


The invention provides a method of diagnosing Alzheimer's disease. The method utilizes presenilin-1, whose level is found to be substantially decreased in Alzheimer's patients. Included in the invention are diagnostic kits for Alzheimer's disease and methods of screening for effective therapeutics for the disease. The invention also provides a method of studying the function and regulation of presenilin-1 in brain by the use of primate retinoblastoma cells.

This invention relates to diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a devastating impairment of cognitive function prevalent in individuals generally forty-five or older. The cause of AD is not known, nor is there a treatment for AD. However, AD is the first common disease for which allelic variation or mutations at multiple genetic loci are linked to the development of disease in affected families (Roses, Annu. Rev. Med. 47: 387, 1996; Schellenberg, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 92: 8552, 1995). The majority (70-80%) of heritable, early-onset AD maps to chromosome 14 and appears to result from one of more than 20 different amino-acid substitutions within presenilin-1 (PS1) (Schellenberg et al., Science, 258: 668, 1992; Alzheimer's Disease Collaborative Group, Nature Genet, 11: 219, 1995; Sobi et al., Lancet., 346: 439, 1995; Van Broeckhoven, Nature Genet., 11: 230, 1995; Wasco et al., Nature Med., 1: 848, 1995; Sherrington et al., Nature, 375: 754, 1995), the product of the recently identified S182 gene (Sherrington et al., 1995). A similar, although less common, AD-risk locus on chromosome 1 encodes the highly homologous presenilin-2 (Levy-Lahad et al., Science, 269: 970, 1995; Levy-Lahad et al., Science, 269: 973, 1995; Li et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 92: 12180, 1995; Rogaev et al., Nature, 376: 775, 1995). Several amino-acid substitutions have been identified within PS2 that appear to be causative for early-onset AD (Levy-Lahad et al., Science, 269: 973, 1995; Li et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 92: 12180, 1995; Rogaev et al., Nature, 376: 775, 1995). Based upon mRNA detection, the presenilins appear to be ubiquitously expressed, suggesting that they are housekeeping proteins required by many cell types.
The two mammalian presenilins share 67% amino-acid identity and apparently belong to a larger gene-family of multimembrane spanning proteins that includes the C. elegans spe-4 and sel-12 genes. Mutations in the spe-4 gene disrupt the formation of a Golgi-derived storage and delivery organelle required for spermatogenesis in the nematode (L'Hernault et al., J. Cell Bio., 119: 55, 1992). SEL-12 has been shown to facilitate signaling by lin-12, a member of the Notch family of transmembrane receptors critical for cell surface to nucleus signaling during development (Levitan et al., Nature, 377: 351, 1995). A possible ER and/or Golgi localization of epitope-tagged constructs overexpressed in cultured cells and a similar immunolabeling pattern reported in mouse pyramidal neurons are consistent with the presenilins being integral membrane proteins found within compartments of the secretory pathway (Kovacs et al., Nature Med., 224: 224, 1996; Moussaoui et al., FEBS Letters, 383: 219, 1996). This, in conjunction with the spe-4 phenotype and the known importance of membrane proteins and their compartmentalization in AD, has led to the conjecture that the presenilins play a role in membrane protein trafficking and/or processing along the secretory pathway (Kovacs et al., Nature Med., 224: 224, 1996; Pellegrew et al., in Alzheimer disease, eds. R. D. Terry, R. Katzman, and K. L. Bick, Raven Press, New York, 1994; Harrison, Lancet, 346: 388, 1995). However, no direct evidence currently exists ascribing such a function to the presenilins, nor is there evidence suggesting any specialized role for presenilins in the brain. Finally, the broad distribution of the identified AD-causing mutations throughout PS1 and PS2 has yet to suggest any clear mechanistic link between these mutations and the disease process (Van Broeckhoven, Nature Genet., 11: 230, 1995).

Use of presenilin-1 for diagnosis of alzheimers disease


An electronic cigarette atomizer employing a vertical ceramic atomizing unit, the atomizing unit (6) includes a ceramic atomizing rod (61) made from a ceramic material, a heating wire (62) wound around the ceramic atomizing rod (61), and a lead wire (63) connected to both ends of the heating wire (62); the ceramic atomizing rod (61) is vertically disposed in an atomizing seat (5), an upper-end surface of the ceramic atomizing rod (61) is in direct contact with a cigarette liquid permeation sheet (4) and can absorb and conduct electronic cigarette liquid from the cigarette liquid permeation sheet (4) to a portion around which the heating wire (62) is wound. The electronic cigarette atomizer of the present invention employs a plurality of vertical ceramic atomizing units (6), which gives an atomization effect of a large smoke volume and avoids the production of a burnt odor.

Traditional tobacco-type cigarettes contain tar, which is easily inhaled during smoking, posing significant health hazards. Electronic cigarettes produce smoke by heating a cigarette liquid with an atomizer. As the electronic cigarette liquid does not contain any tar, electronic cigarettes are gradually used as a replacement for traditional cigarettes.
In order to increase the amount of smoke inhaled in one puff of an electronic cigarette, an atomizer with dual heating wires are employed. Due to space limitations, the atomizers with dual-heating wires in existing electronic cigarettes usually adopt an arrangement in which the dual-heating wires are provided at the same central axis in the atomizer chamber. Air flowing into such a structure needs to pass through the two heating wires consecutively; it is not able to be in contact with the two heating wires simultaneously. As a result, the atomization effect is reduced. In addition, an atomizing core or atomizing rod in existing atomizing units is generally made from a soft material such as a fiber material. When in frequent use, the atomizing rod is prone to burning and deformation due to a high temperature generated by the atomizing unit. Consequently, the atomizing unit is not in sufficient contact with the air flow, affecting the atomization of the electronic cigarette liquid. In addition, the deformation of the atomizing rod may also lead to the burning of the atomizing seat, which produces a burnt odor, damaging user experience.

Electronic cigarette atomizer employing vertical ceramic atomizing unit


A server system receives a plurality of comments on a post in an online service, receives feedback on respective comments of the plurality of comments from users of the online service and retrieves feedback weights for the users. The server system ranks the plurality of comments using the feedback and feedback weights and provides the plurality of comments, ordered in accordance with the ranking, for display.

Social networks and instant messaging programs on electronic devices provide a convenient means of communication between individuals. Social networking has been growing in popularity, and has become a prominent form of communication (e.g., photos, videos, news, advertisements). Sorting through large amounts of data to distinguish important posts, comments, or feedback can become cumbersome.

Methods and systems for ranking comments on a post in an online service


A CCD of a digital camera has high sensitive main pixels for depicting gradations in low and middle brightness portions of a subject, and low sensitive sub pixels for depicting gradations in high brightness portions of the subject. Main pixel image signals from the main pixels have a larger signal level than sub pixel image signals from the sub pixels. The main pixel image signals are attenuated by an attenuator to have the same signal level as the sub pixel image signals. The attenuated main pixel image signals and the sub pixel image signals are amplified by an amplifier with the same gain. The amplified main and sub pixel image signals are digitalized and composed to generate composite image data.

As an imaging apparatus with a solid state imaging device, such as CCD or CMOS, digital cameras have been widely used. The solid state imaging device is provided with a plurality of pixels that store or accumulate electric charges in accordance with the quantity of light incident on the individual pixel. The charges stored in the respective pixels are taken as analog image signals. Because the image signals have a low signal level at the output of the imaging device, they are amplified by an amplifier circuit in the digital camera. The amplified image signals are digitalized, and subjected to image processing, such as a gamma-correction, white-balance correction and an image quality correction. The processed digital image signals are written on a storage medium like a memory card.
The digital cameras have a disadvantage that their dynamic range is not sufficiently wide. This is because the pixels of the imaging device cannot store the electric charges any more after the stored amount reaches a saturation level, as shown in FIG. 12. As a result, so far as the subject brightness is so low that the charge storage amount is less than the saturation level, the charge storage amount corresponds to the subject brightness, so that the obtained image signal has a level corresponding to the subject brightness, enabling reproducing the tone in the image. But when the subject brightness is so high that the charge stored in the pixel reaches the saturation level, the pixel cannot store the charges any more and the image signal values of the saturated pixels stop at the maximum even through the subject brightness is higher. Then, corresponding image pixels look white and do not reproduce gradations in highlight portions of the subject, which is so-called clipped highlight.
To solve this problem, an imaging apparatus has been suggested for example in Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 2003-218343, that is provided with high sensitive main pixels and low sensitive sub pixels to widen the dynamic range by composing image signals from the main pixels and the sub pixels. As the main pixels are high sensitive, image signals from the main pixels have large values in a shorter exposure time, so they are suitable for reproducing gradations in a low brightness range. On the contrary, as the sub pixels are low sensitive, they would not instantly be saturated with charges even while the subject brightness is high, so they are suitable for reproducing gradation in a high brightness range. Therefore, composing the image signals from the main and sub pixels achieves a wider dynamic range.
Because the main pixels have a higher sensitivity than the sub pixels, image signals from the main pixels, hereinafter called the main pixel image signals, have larger signal values or a higher signal level than image signals from the sub pixels, hereinafter called the sub pixel image signals, when they are taken under the same conditions.
Since the prior imaging apparatus has only a signal amplifier, the main pixel image signals and the sub pixel image signals are amplified at the same gain, the rate of amplification. As a result, the sub pixel image signals are not sufficiently amplified while the gain is set at a value for amplifying the main pixel image signals to proper levels. If the gain is set at a value for amplifying the sub pixel image signals to proper levels, the main pixel image signals are excessively amplified.


A communication apparatus used in a digital cordless telephone system, such as a personal headphone system (PHS) having a local base station and a local mode subscriber, in which, if the local mode subscriber is set for use in the local mode, the local mode subscriber can respond to signals of the public mode. If the local base station receives incoming call signals of the public mode from a public base station, the received call signals are transferred from the local base station to the local mode subscriber. This enables the incoming call signals from the public base station to be received via the public base station by the local mode subscriber even if the latter is in the local mode. If, with the local mode subscriber set to the local mode, the local base station receives incoming call signals of the public mode from the public base station, the local base station transmits the call signals to the local mode subscriber. If the local base station receives call signals from the local mode subscriber, the call signals are transmitted by the local base station to the public base station. This enables the communication in the public mode to be had by the local mode subscriber via the local base station even if the local mode subscriber is set to the local mode.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a communication apparatus and a communication method used in a digital cordless telephone system, such as a personal headphone system (PHS).
2. Description of the Related Art
Among communication apparatus used in, for example, the digital cordless telephone system, there are an apparatus having the function of a local base station with reset to other communication equipments, and a local mode subscriber, as a communication equipment having the function of communicating with the local base station.
In such communication apparatus, the subscriber usually can be selectively used for a public mode or for a local mode. The public mode is a mode for the subscriber to have communication of the information via a public base station, which is a radio station installed for public use. This public mode is used when the subscriber is used outdoors independently. The local mode is such a mode in which the communication of the information by the subscriber is had via an equipment installed in, for example, a domicile, as a local base station, that is in which the subscriber is used in the domicile in the vicinity of the local base station.
Heretofore, the local mode subscriber cannot be used for the public mode and the local mode simultaneously, such that it has been necessary to select whether the local mode subscriber should be used in the public mode or in the local mode. That is, in the conventional communication apparatus, it has been necessary to set the subscriber for use in the public mode or in the local mode depending on the state in which it is used.
Thus the subscriber of the conventional communication apparatus cannot receive incoming call signals of different modes. For example, if, in the conventional communication apparatus, the local mode subscriber is set for use in the local mode, it has not been possible with the local mode subscriber to respond to the incoming call signal of the public mode.

Communication apparatus and communication method


OsK1 is a 38-residue peptide with 3 disulphide bridges and is found in the venom of the scorpion Orthochirus scrobiculosus. It is potently active on voltage-gated K+ channels Kv1.1, Kv1.2 and Kv1.3, and moderately active on the type 1 intermediate-conductance Cat2+-activated channel KCa3.1. Derivatives of OsK1, particularly involving truncation or point mutations, have been developed to enhance the activity against and selectivity for the Kv1.3 channel. This renders the derivatives likely candidates for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis. Such use may be alone or in combination therapy with maurotoxin, another scorpion toxin.

OsK1 is a 38-residue peptide with 3 disulphide bridges and is found in the venom of the scorpion Orthochirus scrobiculosus. It is one of a number of short chain scorpion toxins which contain between 29 and 39 amino acid residues, are crosslinked by 3 or 4 disulphide bridges and are active on several potassium channel subtypes, both voltage gated and calcium activated. These short chain scorpion toxins have been classified by Tytgat et al., Trends Pharmacol. Sci., 20(11), 444-447, 1999. OsK1 is a group 3 toxin and is shown below in Table 1 along with the other group 3 toxins and one group 6 toxin, Maurotoxin (MTx).
TABLE 13.1 KTxGVEINVKCSGSPQCLKPCKDA-GMR-FGKCMNR-KCHCTPK 3.2 AgTx2GVPINVSCTGSPQCIKPCKDA-GMR-FGKCMNR-KCHCTPK 3.3 AgTx3GVPINVPCTGSPQCIKPCKDA-GMR-FGKCMNR-KCHCTPK 3.4 AgTx1GVPINVKCTGSPQCLKPCKDA-GMR-FGKCING-KCHCTPK 3.5 KTx2VRIPVSCKHSGQCLKPCKDA-GMR-FGKCMNR-KCDCTPK 3.6 BmKTxVGINVKCKHSGQCLKPCKDA-GMR-FGKCING-KCDCTPK 3.7 OsK1GVIINVKCKISRQCLEPCKKA-GMR-FGKCMNG-KCHCTPK 3.8 Bs6GVPINVKCRGSPQCIQPCRDA-GMR-FGKCMNG-KCHCTPQ 6.2 MTxVSCTGSKDCYAPCRKQTGCPNA-KCINK-SCKCYGC
Both the mammalian voltage-gated K+ channel Kv1.3 and the type 1 intermediate-conductance Ca2+-activated channel KCa3.1 (also referred to as IK1) are expressed in immune T-cells. Their relative abundance at the T-cell surface depends on the state of lymphocyte activation and differentiation. The potassium channel phenotype varies during the progression from the resting to the activated T-cell state, and from naive to effector memory T-cells. Therefore, blockers of these channel types possess potent immunomodulatory properties that could be beneficial in the treatment of human diseases, such as multiple sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease of the central nervous system, characterised by progressive demyelination and axonal damage caused by reactive autoimmune lymphocytes. Activation and proliferation of these cells (effector memory T-cells) relies upon Kv1.3 channels (and possibly IK1 channels), and can be blocked by Kv1.3 channel blockers. Demyelination also involves unmasking of the Kv1.1 and Kv1.2 subtypes, which provokes leak currents and a decrease in nervous transmission (by altering the action potential).
We have found that OsK1, alone amongst the short chain scorpion toxins, is potently active on Kv1.1, Kv1.2 and Kv1.3 channels, and moderately active on IK1. It would be desirable to find synthetic peptides which retain or enhance this property- or part of this property- and/or block more potently the IK1 subtype.
Such derivatives may also be useful against other human disorders, such as graft rejection, rheumatoid arthritis, bone degradation, and cancer (abnormal cell proliferation).


A pair of metallic components, such as a pair of metallic structural components for a vehicular body and frame assembly, are permanently joined using a magnetic pulse welding process. Initially, a first metallic component is provided having a first aperture that is formed through a first side and a second aperture having a hollow cylindrical flange portion that is formed through a second side. A second metallic component is provided having a surface that extends at an angle relative to the flange portion. The angled surface may be provided in the form of either an enlarged region or a reduced region on the second metallic component. The first and second metallic components are arranged such that the flange portion of the first metallic component overlaps the surface of the second metallic component. A magnetic pulse welding process is performed to cause the flange portion of the first metallic component and the angled surface of the second metallic component to engage one another and become permanently joined.

This invention relates in general to methods for forming joints between metallic components, such as a joint between a pair of metallic structural components for use in a vehicular body and frame assembly. In particular, this invention relates to an improved method for permanently joining such a pair of metallic structural components using magnetic pulse welding techniques.
Many land vehicles in common use, such as automobiles, vans, and trucks, include a body and frame assembly that is supported upon a plurality of ground-engaging wheels by a resilient suspension system. The structures of known body and frame assemblies can be divided into two general categories, namely, separate and unitized. In a typical separate body and frame assembly, the structural components of the body portion and the frame portion of the vehicle are separate and independent from one another. When assembled, the frame portion of the assembly is resiliently supported upon the vehicle wheels by the suspension system and serves as a platform upon which the body portion of the assembly and other components of the vehicle can be mounted. Separate body and frame assemblies of this general type are found in most older vehicles, but remain in common use today for many relatively large or specialized use modern vehicles, such as large vans, sport utility vehicles, and trucks. In a typical unitized body and frame assembly, the structural components of the body portion and the frame portion are combined into an integral unit that is resiliently supported upon the vehicle wheels by the suspension system. Unitized body and frame assemblies of this general type are found in many relatively small modem vehicles, such as automobiles and minivans.
Traditionally, the structural components of such vehicular body and frame assemblies have been formed exclusively from steel alloys. Steel alloys are relatively high strength materials, and it is relatively easy to permanently join steel alloy structural components using traditional welding techniques, such as gas metal arc welding. Unfortunately, steel alloys are also relatively heavy materials. Thus, there has been a movement to form some or all of the structural components of these vehicular body and frame assemblies from lighter weight materials, such as aluminum alloys. Such aluminum alloys and other materials are both strong and lightweight and, therefore, are usually regarded as desirable substitutes for steel alloys in vehicular body and frame assemblies. However, it has been found to be relatively difficult to permanently join such structural components using traditional welding techniques.
Magnetic pulse welding is a well known process that can be used to permanently join two metallic components, such as a pair of metallic structural components for a vehicular body and frame assembly. Magnetic pulse welding is particularly advantageous because it can readily and permanently join components that are formed from different metallic materials. Typically, a magnetic pulse welding process is performed by initially disposing the end portions of first and second metallic components in a concentric, axially overlapping relationship. An electromagnetic inductor or coil is provided for generating an intense magnetic field either within or about the axially overlapping portions of the first and second metallic components. When this occurs, a large pressure is exerted on one of the first and second metallic components, causing it to move toward the other of the first and second metallic components at a high velocity. If the electromagnetic inductor is disposed about the exterior of the two metallic components, then the outer metallic component is deformed inwardly into engagement with the inner metallic component. If, on the other hand, the electromagnetic inductor is disposed within the interior of the two metallic components, then the inner metallic component is deformed outwardly into engagement with the outer metallic component. In either event, the high velocity impact of the first and second metallic components cause them to become permanently joined or welded.
In order to facilitate the performance of the magnetic pulse welding process, it is usually desirable to orient the overlapping end portions of first and second metallic components at a predetermined angle relative to one another (i.e., not parallel to one another). This predetermined angle of orientation, as well as other parameters of the magnetic pulse welding process, will vary with the sizes, shapes, materials, and other characteristics of the two metallic components to be joined together. Thus, it would be desirable to provide an improved method for permanently joining a pair of metallic components, such as a pair of metallic structural components for use in a vehicular body and frame assembly, that orients the overlapping end portions of the first and second metallic components at this predetermined angle relative to one another to facilitate the performance of the magnetic pulse welding process.

Method of permanently joining first and second metallic components


A process for converting a 2,9-dimethylquinacridone compound into a pigment, which comprises pouring a solution of a crude 2,9-dimethylquinacridone compound in sulfuric acid into continuously flowing water to form a fine precipitate, recovering said precipitate by filtration, washing it with water, adding it to a lower alcohol having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and heating the resultant mixture to 60.degree.-200.degree. C.

As a process for producing a crude 2,9-dimethylquinacridone compound, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 36-13833 discloses a production process in which 2,9-dimethyl-6,13-dihydroquinacridone is oxidized in an alkaline alcoholic solvent in the presence of sodium nitrobenzenesulfonate or sodium polysulfide, or Japanese Patent Publication No. 38-26487 discloses a production process in which 2,5-di(p-toluidino)terephthalic acid is heated in polyphosphoric acid. A 2,9-dimethylquinacridone compound is known to be a substance in a solid form when it is a crude one. However, the following is also known. It is not much useful as a pigment when it is used directly. When its powder is used as a component for a coating composition, there is only obtained a product which is inferior from the commercial point of view. That is, this product is poor in dispersibility, liable to degenerate due to heat and light, unstable in a solvent, and dull in color tone. Attempts have been hitherto made to convert this substance into a useful pigment for obtaining 2,9-dimethylquinacridone having a desirable color tone.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 41-11348 discloses a treatment method in which a crude substance is pretreated, or not pretreated, with a solvent such as dimethylformamide, a lower alcohol, dimethylsulfoxide or xylene, and milled with a ball mill while it is immersed in a solvent such as xylene. It has been already revealed that 2,9-dimethylquinacridone is converted into two different crystal forms by this treatment. One having the first crystal form is obtained when the above pretreatment is not carried out, and it is called a blue color tone pigment. One having the second crystal form is obtained through the above pretreatment, and it is called a yellow color tone pigment. These pigments in these crystal forms are both stable at high temperatures, and particularly, the yellow color tone pigment is stable at high temperatures even in the presence of a solvent. However, these pigments obtained by the above pigment-forming method are both non-uniform in particle size, and when used in a coating composition, they have no satisfactory dispersibility.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 41-11348 proposes a third crystal form. One having this crystal form is obtained by adding a glycol, finely milled common salt and flakes-shaped common salt to a crude substance of 2,9-dimethylquinacridone or the yellow color tone pigment described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 41-11348 and milling with a milling apparatus to cause extreme shear deformation. However, it is required to fully mix common salt in an amount 2.25-15 times the weight of the pigment and a glycol in an amount 0.75 to 3 times the weight of the pigment with the pigment, and in this case, a considerable amount of energy is required. Further, after the milling, it is required to separate the added common salt and glycol by washing. Thus, the above pigment is not suitable for commercial production.
For producing 2,9-dimethylquinacridone, in Japanese Patent Publication No. 44-22419, Japanese Patent Publication No. 52-43497 and Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 55-48250, 2,9-dimethylquinacridone is synthesized from 2,5-di(p-toluidino)terephthalic acid as a raw material in the presence of polyphosphoric acid or polyphosphoric acid ester as a solvent or a cyclization agent, and then separated while preventing the solidification of polyphosphoric acid by adding a lower alcohol, whereby 2,9-dimethylquinacridone is recovered as aggregates of fine particles. This product is treated by stirring and heating it in a lower alcohol such as isobutanol to produce a blue color tone pigment. However, it is very difficult to recover or treat the used polyphosphoric acid, and the above method is not suitable for industrial production.
Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 55-116758 discloses a method for obtaining a pigment in which 2,9-dimethylquinacridone is dried and milled beforehand together with a milling aid such as alum, the milled product is slurried in sulfuric acid to dissolve the milling aid, the slurry is filtered and the resultant pigment is washed with water and dried. However, the pigment obtained by this method has a defect that it is nonuniform in particle size and that it has therefore poor fluidity when used in a coating composition.
In general, when 2,9-dimethylquinacridone is used as a coloring material in a coating composition or a colorant, its properties extremely vary depending upon its crystal form and particle size. It therefore constitutes an important technique to control the crystal state and particle size thereof. In the most optimum crystal form of 2,9-dimethylquinacridone as a pigment for a coloring material, 2,9-dimethylquinacridone is required to have the form of crystal grains having a length:width average ratio of 2:1-5:1 and a specific surface area of 50-90 m.sup.2 /g and is required to have a crystal spacing and relative intensity of a so-called blue color tone pigment when measured by X-ray diffractometry. The blue color tone pigment and yellow color tone pigment are disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 41-11348, and the crystal spacings and relative intensities thereof by X-ray diffraction are as shown in Table 1.
TABLE 1 ______________________________________ Yellow color tone pigment Blue color tone pigment Interplane Intensity Interplane Intensity distance (A) (%) distance (A) (%) ______________________________________ 16.0 100.0 17.2 100.0 3.35 67 3.34 73 6.43 55 6.39 53 3.51 21 8.3 30 8.0 24 3.74 17 3.97 14 ______________________________________
For obtaining specific crystal forms as coloring materials, a variety of crystal transformation treatments are carried out. Since, however, there are many crystal forms concerning 2,9-dimethylquinacridone, it is liable to have a mixture of different crystal forms depending upon slight differences in production conditions. For achieving purity of the crystal state, therefore, 2,9-dimethylquinacridone is once brought into a molten state to collapse its crystal states and then crystallized under specific treatment conditions. In this method, a product having a high crystal purity can be obtained, and a pigment having excellent properties and color tone as a coloring material can be obtained. As a typical method for bringing the crystal into a molten state, an acid paste treatment method is available. In this method, 2,9-dimethylquinacridone is once dissolved in concentrated sulfuric acid and the resultant solution is poured into water to precipitate it. This method is excellent, since it is simple and easy in operation and the production cost required by it is low. However, since a sulfuric acid solution has a high viscosity on the other hand, the diffusion of the solution into water is slow when poured into water, and 2,9-dimethylquinacridone having high crystallizability sometimes causes the growth of an undesirable crystal form at this time. As a result, the undesirable crystal form and undesirable crystal grains sometimes remain at a step of growing a specific crystal thereafter, thereby to deteriorate the crystal purity.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a process for producing a 2,9-dimethylquinacridone pigment which contains no crystal form or crystal grains undesirable as a coloring material and has a high crystal purity.

Process for converting 2,9-dimethylquinacridone compound into pigment


A non-slip resilient unitary attachment designed for use on a standard wire hanger. The attachment is shaped or molded with a non-uniform diameter of a resilient rubber or foam rubber or similar material that will deform temporarily to lend itself to better retention of small to medium sized straps typically identified on woman's clothing i.e., camisoles, spaghetti-strapped tops, tank tops. The hanger attachment will be somewhat less than equal to the length of one of the shoulder support bars of the wire hanger. The hanger attachment will be split or cut longitudinally, half the diameter of the hanger attachment, with a tape-backed adhesive placed within the slit of the hanger attachment to close the slit and mechanically maintain its position without other restraints. Two hanger attachment units, left and right respectively, are required for each wire garment hanger

A common occurrence with the re-use of wire hangers typically provided by dry-cleaners and similar garmet cleaning services is the difficulty to place clothing with off the shoulder, small and delicate straps on these hangers without resulting in these clothes slipping off the hanger. Many devices have been designed in an attempt to remedy this problem in a utilitarian method as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,644,521 B1; 3,866,810; 6,012,620; 5,718,362; 5,197,639; 5,056,694; 6,213,359B1; 6,126,049; 4,160,516; 4,944,436. These attachments are produced from a variety of materials from paper, rigid plastic, foam and other related resilient materials.
For Example:
U.S. Pat. No. 6,644,521 B1 FIG. 4, is made from a resilient material initially flat, cut into a specific pattern to provide for a left and right shoulder support connected by a center section with a central slit to allow for the hook of the hanger to penetrate the support and prevent shifting of the device, once attached. Furthermore, the attachment is loosely folded over the arms of the wire hanger with no true engagement of the left and right shoulder support. This allows for the clothing to dislodge the attachment during the positioning and removal of clothing. This device is designed to prevent creasing of the shoulder straps against the small diameter wire hanger.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,866,810 FIG. 3, illustrates a two-piece device which is made from a thermoformed rigid material. One piece is bedded into the complimentary piece and has an asymmetrical shape, larger at the hook-end and narrower at the terminal-end of the shoulder support. The hook-end has a perforation to allow the central hook of the hanger to penetrate the attachment. The device operates best with a multi-angled downwardly sloping shoulder support for the proper engagement of the central positioned attachment. The device is to be positioned longitudinally and laterally left and right to engage the bend of the wire at the junction of the shoulder support bar and horizontal support bar. The device, once positioned provides a significantly large surface area to prevent creasing, however, does not address the issue of lateral slippage sufficiently, resulting in retention of garment only by frictional contact. If shifting of wire hanger should occur, as would typically be observed with proper use of the hanger, the garment shoulder strap would be free to slide down the attachment. Finally, the breadth of the attachment makes it impractical for efficient storage of garments on the closet hanger rod.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,733,016 FIG. 1, is a rigid thermoplastic attachment to be applied to the upper and lower supporting wires with an internally locking mechanism and end notches to maintain the intended positioning. This device is non-resilient and provides an indent on the upper surface for shoulder strap retention. The complexity of production would make this attachment no longer affordable or reasonable for use on a disposable wire hanger.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,012,620 and 6,012,620B1 FIG. 2, represents a linear elongated single foam attachment with a slit and perforation for the wire hanger hook respectively. The attachment must be stretched over the ends of the lateral most aspects of the hanger for proper securement. Although this design is most similar and is principally designed to prevent creasing of garment shoulder area, it has inherent flaws. Its size, by design, is large and difficult to package. While stretching the attachment over the hanger there is a possibility of tearing the attachment ends, which the foam attachment would no longer maintain its intended position as foam has a tendency to return to its pre-positioned shape. This design would be heavily reliant on uniformity of hanger construction and size, whereas a shorter or longer horizontal support could render it useless or ineffective. The single unit embodiment as described, will occupy a greater space within the closet while on the closet hanger rod, ultimately reducing available space in said closet due to hanger attachment abutment. Due to the fact that the wire hanger is extremely inexpensive and quite often free, the invention is similarly inexpensive and the concern of reusability is of little concern thus should be considered disposable. Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 6,012,620B1 is a flocked variant to the original patent requiring additional steps in manufacturing and consequently higher manufacturing costs in order to increase frictional retention of clothing.
As previously discussed, there are numerous varieties of wire hanger attachments of the purpose of clothing retention and crease/deformation prevention. Each design addresses one or more aspects of the aforementioned purpose, however, the complexity of use, assembly, cost of manufacture, reliability once secured to the wire hanger and affording the greatest potential to retain the clothing once positioned on the said wire hanger has not been demonstrated as of yet.
The principle design and utility is simplicity of manufacture, assemblage, and use, at the most cost effective procurement. This design addresses all of the aforementioned and will ultimately be infinitely adjustable for clothing of adult and children alike. While being fun, novel in shape and use of colors in a way to enhance the appearance of the closet.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.


The present invention is directed to novel B7-H3-binding molecules capable of binding to human and non-human B7-H3, and in particular to such molecules that are cross-reactive with B7-H3 of a non-human primate (e.g., a cynomolgus monkey). The invention additionally pertains to B7-H3-binding molecules that comprise Variable Light Chain and/or Variable Heavy Chain (VH) Domains that have been humanized and/or deimmunized so as to exhibit a reduced immunogenicity upon administration to recipient subjects. The invention particularly pertains to bispecific, trispecific or multispecific B7-H3-binding molecules, including bispecific diabodies, BiTEs, bispecific antibodies, trivalent binding molecules, etc. that comprise: (i) such B7-H3-binding Variable Domains and (ii) a domain capable of binding to an epitope of a molecule present on the surface of an effector cell. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions that contain any of such B7-H3-binding molecules, and to methods involving the use of any of such B7-H3-binding molecules in the treatment of cancer and other diseases and conditions. The invention also particularly pertains to a molecule that comprises the human B7-H3 binding domain of a humanized anti-human B7-H3 antibody conjugated to at least one drug moiety (a “B7-H3-ADC”). The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions that contain such B7-H3-ADCs, and to methods involving the use of any of such B7-H3-ADCs in the treatment of cancer and other diseases and conditions.

The growth and metastasis of tumors depends to a large extent on their capacity to evade host immune surveillance and overcome host defenses. Most tumors express antigens that can be recognized to a variable extent by the host immune system, but in many cases, an inadequate immune response is elicited because of the ineffective activation of effector T cells (Khawli, L. A. et al. (2008) "Cytokine, Chemokine, and Co-Stimulatory Fusion Proteins for the Immunotherapy of Solid Tumors," Exper. Pharmacol. 181:291-328).

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A mechanical harvester for harvesting produce with a core planted in a field is provided. The mechanical harvester includes a chassis, a positioning apparatus, a decoring device, and a transport assembly. The positioning apparatus is connected to the chassis and configured to position the produce in the ground for harvesting and decoring. The decoring device is connected to the positioning apparatus and configured to sever the core of the produce while the produce is in the ground. The transport assembly is connected to the chassis and configured to lift the cut produce from the ground and transport the cut produce to a processing unit or a storage container.

1. Field
The present disclosure generally relates to mechanically harvesting and decoring agricultural products, and, more particularly, to a mechanical harvester for harvesting and mechanically removing the core from produce planted in a field, the produce having a core, such as iceberg lettuce, romaine lettuce, and cabbage.
2. Description of Related Art
Romaine lettuce, iceberg lettuce, and cabbage are commercially planted as seeds or seedlings in rows in a field. Because these types of produce tend to be somewhat irregular and delicate, commercial harvesting of these produce is generally a manual process.
Conventionally, the harvesting process involves several steps. First, a field worker harvests the produce using a harvesting knife, by cutting the stem of the produce planted in the ground. Next, the field worker removes the core and any remnant amount of stem. The field worker then places the harvested produce on a moving platform for subsequent processing and packing. This decoring step is performed by field workers, who are preparing the harvested produce for commercial packaging (e.g., for prepackaged salad mixes).
This labor-intensive decoring step often requires a worker with an experienced eye to remove the core so as to maximize the desirable portions and minimize the waste portions of the harvested produce. A poorly cut produce will result in too much waste material remaining attached to the produce, or too many desirable portions ending up in waste.

Decoring mechanism with mechanized harvester


The present disclosure provides a water floating object treatment device for sewage treatment, including water pump, motor, round box, butt joint hole, liquid inlet pipe, electric adjusting valve, pneumatic controller, round frame, slurry pump, round tube, three-blade long plate, fan-shaped scraping plate, fine screw rod, guide sliding rod, wire brush bristle, assembling hole, fine-hole filter plate, strip hole, round plate, air cylinder, rubber round block, fan-shaped hole, threaded hole, and sliding hole. The present disclosure is reasonable in design, and function of filtering water in a treatment tank is realized. By replacing and installing the fine-hole filter plates with different sizes of holes, different degrees of filter effects are achieved. Meanwhile, the filtered water can be injected into corresponding treatment tank.

Urban domestic sewage discharge is a main pollution source of Chinese urban water. Domestic sewage treatment is heavy in current and future urban water-saving and urban water environment protection work. It is necessary to make construction of domestic sewage treatment facility as an important content of urban infrastructure and is an urgent matter.
Certain inconveniences exist in cleaning of floating impurities in sewage. Conventional filter structures are mostly single-layer filter structures, which have low filter efficiency and lack multi-faceted filter structures for performing high-efficiency filtration. Meanwhile, impurities are absorbed on the filter structures such that corresponding filter structures of the conventional filter structures are generally required to be disassembled to remove the impurities, operation of which is tedious and time-consuming. Moreover, the removed impurities are required to be transported by means of corresponding tools such as forklifts, and so on. If the impurities are not cleaned in time, the removed impurities are hardened together due to doped sludge, so that it causes difficulty in subsequent re-cleanings. Thus, the present disclosure provides a water floating object treatment device for sewage treatment to solve above problems.

Water floating object treatment device for sewage treatment


Techniques and tools for encoding enhancement layer video with quantization that varies spatially and/or between color channels are presented, along with corresponding decoding techniques and tools. For example, an encoding tool determines whether quantization varies spatially over a picture, and the tool also determines whether quantization varies between color channels in the picture. The tool signals quantization parameters for macroblocks in the picture in an encoded bit stream. In some implementations, to signal the quantization parameters, the tool predicts the quantization parameters, and the quantization parameters are signaled with reference to the predicted quantization parameters. A decoding tool receives the encoded bit stream, predicts the quantization parameters, and uses the signaled information to determine the quantization parameters for the macroblocks of the enhancement layer video. The decoding tool performs inverse quantization that can vary spatially and/or between color channels.

Engineers use compression (also called coding or encoding) to reduce the bit rate of digital video. Compression decreases the cost of storing and transmitting video by converting the video into a lower bit rate form. Decompression (also called decoding) reconstructs a version of the original video from the compressed form. A "codec" is an encoder/decoder system.
Generally, much of the bit rate reduction from compression is achieved through quantization. According to one possible definition, quantization is a term used for an approximating non-reversible mapping function commonly used for lossy compression, in which there is a specified set of possible output values, and each member of the set of possible output values has an associated set of input values that result in the selection of that particular output value. A variety of quantization techniques have been developed, including scalar or vector, uniform or non-uniform, with or without dead zone, and adaptive or non-adaptive quantization.
In many implementations, an encoder performs quantization essentially as a biased division of an original data value by a quantization factor. One or more quantization parameters (QPs) indicate the quantization factor for purposes of inverse quantization of the data value. For inverse quantization, often implemented as a multiplication operation, an encoder or decoder reconstructs a version of the data value using the quantization factor indicated by the QP(s). Quantization typically introduces loss in fidelity to the original data value, which can show up as compression errors or artifacts in the results of decoding.
Most scalable video codecs split video into a base layer and an enhancement layer. The base layer alone provides a reconstruction of the video at a lower quality level and/or a lower resolution, and the enhancement layer can be added to provide extra information that will increase the video quality. Many single-layer digital video coding standards today allow for QPs to vary spatially in the base layer. This feature allows encoding to adapt to the macroblock characteristics and thus achieve better perceptual quality for a given rate.
While the above described techniques provide acceptable performance in some instances of scalable video coding, none of them provide the advantages and benefits of the techniques and tools described below.

Adaptive quantization for enhancement layer video coding


The invention relates to a steam generator, which consists of a combustion chamber (1), a radiation part (2) and a convection part (3) and which has at least two vertical gas passes (4, 5) following the combustion chamber (1), in each case with a 180.degree. deflection of the flue gas (12), the combustion chamber (1) and the gas pass (4) being separated from one another by means of a first partition (14) and the two gas passes (4, 5) being separated from one another by means of a second partition (6). It is defined in that the second partition (6) is designed, at its lower end, in such a way that the passage area for the flue gas (12) from the vertical pass (4) with downward flow to the vertical pass (5) with upward flow has a variable value over the width, the passage area being smaller in the middle than on the outside. The secondary flow occurring during deflection is thereby reinforced, in the wall region the vortices of said secondary flow rotating opposite to the direction of the main flow deflection. The discharge of dust is considerably improved in this way.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a steam generator with integrated dust separator, the steam generator consisting of a combustion chamber, a radiation part and a convection part and having at least two vertical gas passes following the combustion chamber, each with 180.degree. gas deflection.
2. Discussion of Background
At the present time, the boilers used for garbage incineration plants (GIP) in Central European countries are preferably those in which the gas flowing out of the combustion chamber flows via a first empty pass with downward flow into a second empty pass with upward flow and subsequently into a horizontal bunching pass. In addition to these horizontal steam generators, vertical steam generators for garbage incineration plants are also known, these usually being of the 3-pass or 4-pass type (K. J. Thome-Kozmiensky: Thermische Abfallbehandlung [Thermal Waste Treatment]. EF Verlag fur Energie und Umwelttechnik GmbH, 1994, Pages 390 to 402). Grate furnaces with a connected multipass boiler are also often employed in the incineration of solids, such as wood and biomass. In the empty passes, inter alia, fly ash is separated and discharged. Fly ash is a problem material, particularly in garbage incineration, since fly ash is highly contaminated and has to be disposed off as special garbage.
The empty passes of steam generators have hitherto been designed predominantly as rectangular ducts, their longitudinal sections being largely identical.
Whilst importance has hitherto only been attached to an operationally reliable discharge of the dust which falls from the walls by being cleaned off or by flaking off, the quantity of dust at the end of the boiler has in the meantime become a quality feature for incineration and the boiler and has to be guaranteed to the customer.
In the furnaces described above, a relatively large amount of dust (2-5 g/Nm.sup.3) is carried along from the combustion chamber. This high dust fraction is undesirable since it causes the following problems:
The dust settles on the heating surfaces, so that these have to be overdimensioned correspondingly. Moreover, they have to be built in such a way that they can be cleaned by tapping or soot blasting. PA1 In the gas scrubbing plant downstream of the boiler, costly electrostatic filters and washers have to be used for dedusting. PA1 In the horizontal part of the boiler, the precipitated dust is conducive to the catalytic formation of dioxin. This reaction (Denovo synthesis) takes place when gas containing oxygen and chlorine fractions comes into contact, at a temperature of between 250 and 500.degree. C. and with a dwell time of several seconds, with a catalyst (in the present case, the dust acts as a catalyst). Flue gas and dust, which are virtually free of dioxin after incineration, become dioxin-containing again below 500.degree. C. as a result of this Denovo synthesis. PA1 The dumping of dioxin-containing dust is a costly environmental problem. PA1 The scrubbing of dioxin-containing waste gases is highly complicated.
Recent tenders demand a dust content of crude gases of 1-2 g/Nm.sup.3 which can no longer be adhered to by means of firing measures alone. For a "high dust-SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction)" plant (NOx catalysts are arranged upstream of flue gas scrubbing and upstream of the electrostatic filter), even a dust content of <1 g/Nm.sup.3 is required, since, because of this arrangement, the flue gas denitrogenation reactor is loaded with dust and has only a reduced service life.
DE 28 05 671 A1 and EP 0 177 667 A1 disclose devices for improving the flow deflection of flue gases in a multipass boiler, in which devices guide plates or n-bladed blade cascades are arranged in the region of the deflection of the vertical pass. These are designed in such a way that, as far as possible, no breakaways (less pressure loss, fewer dust deposits) occur. As compared with steam generators having vertical passes without such guide plates or guide cascades in the deflection region, these solutions regarding the gas flows, although constituting an improvement, are nevertheless completely unsuitable in terms of effective dust separation.
EP 0 748 647 A1 discloses a method and an apparatus for reducing the dust content in steam generators having at least two vertical passes of the type described above. The method is defined in that, in the region of gas deflection from the vertical pass with downward flow to the vertical pass with upward flow, dust separation at this point is improved by the provision of flow-calmed zones and the dust is discharged directly from this region. The corresponding apparatus is defined in that, in these regions, the front wall and/or rear wall of the steam generator is of double-walled design, the flow-calmed zones, in which the dust is separated effectively, being located between the two walls. In a design variant, the partition between the vertical passes is bent in its lower region in the direction of the vertical pass with downward flow, so that the cross-sectional area of the gas duct is reduced in this region.
The disadvantage of such a solution, however, is that the additional fittings (second inner wall with baffle plates) are at risk of becoming clogged.

Steam generator with integrated dust separator


A method is described for taking a three-dimensional virtual model of the dentition and associated anatomical structures of a patient and isolating individual teeth from the rest of the anatomical structure, e.g. gums, to thereby produce individual, virtual three-dimensional tooth objects. The individual tooth objects can be displayed on the display of an orthodontic workstation and moved independently from each other, and thereby form the basis of planning treatment for the patient. The individual, virtual three-dimensional tooth objects are created by comparing the virtual model of the dentition to virtual, three-dimensional template teeth that are stored in memory in a process described in detail herein. The template teeth can include roots as well as crowns. The template teeth can be stored objects acquired from some external source or alternatively developed from a database of patient scans. Virtual three-dimensional brackets are also stored in the memory of the workstation. The virtual brackets can be placed on the virtual teeth and moved relative to the teeth as needed in a preliminary step in treatment planning.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of orthodontics. More particularly, the invention relates to a computerized method of creating individual, virtual, three-dimensional tooth models from three-dimensional information of a patient's dentition and a template object. The individual tooth models provide the basis for a computerized, interactive, and orthodontist-controlled treatment planning for a patient suffering from a malocclusion.
2. Description of Related Art
Orthodontics is a field of medicine concerned with the treatment of a patient suffering from a malocclusion or crooked teeth. The traditional approach for correcting the malocclusion is to bond brackets to the teeth and place an orthodontic archwire in the slots of the brackets. The bracket and archwires comprise a force system that causes the teeth to move in a desired fashion to correct the malocclusion. Recently, new types of force systems are coming into vogue, including a series of transparent, removable aligning devices manufactured by Align Technologies.
In dentistry and orthodontics, precise knowledge of a patient's dentition is desirable. The key to efficiency in treatment and maximum quality in results is a realistic simulation of the treatment process. Today's orthodontists have the possibility of taking plaster models of the upper and lower jaw, cutting the cast into single tooth models and sticking these tooth models into a wax bed, lining them up in the desired position, the so-called set-up. This approach allows for reaching a perfect occlusion without any guessing. The next step is to bond a bracket at every tooth model. This would tell the orthodontist the geometry of the wire to run through the bracket slots to receive exactly this result. To make sure that the brackets will be bonded at exactly this position at the real patient's teeth, small templates for every tooth would have to be fabricated that fit over the bracket and a relevant part of the tooth and allow for reliable placement of the bracket at the patient. To increase efficiency of the bonding process, another option would be to transfer each single bracket onto a model of the malocclusion and then fabricate one single transfer tray per jaw that covers all brackets and relevant portions of every tooth. Using such a transfer tray guarantees a very quick and yet precise bonding.
However, it is obvious that such an approach requires an extreme amount of time and labor, and this is the reason why it is limited to scientific environments like orthodontic schools and universities. The normal orthodontist does not fabricate set-ups; he places the brackets directly at the patient to the best of his knowledge, uses an off-the-shelf wire and hopes for the best. While at the beginning of treatment things generally run well as all teeth start to move at least into the right direction, at the end of treatment a lot of time is lost by adaptations and corrections required due to the fact that the end result has not been properly planned at any point of time. For the orthodontist this is still preferable over the lab process described above, as the efforts for the lab process would still exceed the efforts that he has to put in during treatment. And the patient has no choice and does not know that treatment time could be significantly reduced if proper planning was done.
Systems have been proposed in the prior art for scanning the dentition to thereby obtain more precise information about the dentition. U.S. Pat. No. 4,837,732 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,575,805 to Brandestini and Moermann propose a scanning system for in vivo, non-contact scanning of teeth for restorative dentistry. The patents describe a procedure for optically mapping a prepared tooth with a non-contact scan-head. The scan-head delivers the contour data, converted to electrical format, to be stored in a memory. A computer reads the memory following a line scan pattern. A milling device is slaved to follow this pattern by means of position control signals and mills an implant for the prepared tooth cavity. U.S. Pat. No. 5,372,502 to Massen et al. describes an optical probe for measuring teeth that works on the similar principle. As noted in the Massen et al. patent, the Brandestini et al. technique is difficult to use when there are large variations in surface topography since such large jumps displace the pattern by an amount larger than the phase constant of the pattern, making it difficult to reconstruct the pattern of lines. Furthermore, precise knowledge of the angle of incidence and angle of reflection, and the separation distance between the light source and the detector, are needed to make accurate determinations of depth.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,027,281 to Rekow et al. describes a scanning method using a three axis positioning head with a laser source and detector, a rotational stage and a computer controller. The computer controller positions both the rotational stage and the positioning head. An object is placed on a rotating stage and the laser beam reflects from it. The reflected laser beam is used to measure the distance between the object and the laser source. X and Y coordinates are obtained by movement of the rotational stage or the positioning head. A three-dimensional virtual model of the object is created from the laser scanning. The '281 patent describes using this scanning method for scanning a plaster model of teeth for purposes of acquiring shape of the teeth to form a dental prosthesis. The system of the '281 patent is not particularly flexible, since it requires the object to be placed on the rotational stage and precise control of the relative position of the object and the positioning head is required at all times. It is unsuited for in vivo scanning of the teeth.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,431,562 to Andreiko et al. describes a method of acquiring certain shape information of teeth from a plaster model of the teeth. The plaster model is placed on a table and a picture is taken of the teeth using a video camera positioned a known distance away from the model, looking directly down on the model. The image is displayed on an input computer and a positioning grid is placed over the image of the teeth. The operator manually inputs X and Y coordinate information of selected points on the teeth, such as the mesial and distal contact points of the teeth. An alternative embodiment is described in which a laser directs a laser beam onto a model of the teeth and the reflected beam is detected by a sensor. The patent asserts that three-dimensional information as to teeth can be acquired from this technique but does not explain how it would be done. Neither of the techniques of Andreiko have met with commercial success or acceptance in orthodontics. Neither technique achieves in vivo scanning of teeth. Moreover, the video technique does not produce complete three-dimensional information as to the teeth, but rather a limited amount of two-dimensional information, requiring significant operator input. Even using this technique, additional equipment is required even to describe the labial surface of a tooth along a single plane.
In a system such as proposed by Brandestini et al. above, the resulting scanning of the dentition would present both the tooth structure and associated anatomical structures, such as gingival tissue and bone. While this information may be useful for evaluating the current situation, or even designing an implant, it is not directly useable in orthodontic treatment planning since the teeth are not represented as individual objects. Rather, the tooth surfaces are merely part of one continuous surface, including gingival tissue. Orthodontists conceptualize teeth as individual tooth objects that can be moved independently, and the data provided by a scanner of Brandestini et al. do not distinguish between teeth and other objects captured by the scanner.
The present invention solves this problem by providing methods and apparatus for separating individual teeth from other structures in a three-dimensional virtual model. The individual teeth are three-dimensional virtual tooth objects that can be moved or positioned independently from each other. Moreover, the individual tooth objects can be displayed on a computer workstation in context with virtual, three-dimensional orthodontic appliances, such as brackets, archwires, retainers, and transparent removable aligning devices. The individual virtual tooth objects are thus a highly useful tool in orthodontic treatment planning, monitoring, and diagnosis.
The invention is useful for creating individual, virtual three-dimensional tooth models from virtually any source of three-dimensional information of a patient's dentition. For example, the invention will work with CAT scan or laser scanning as the scanning system. The 3-D data can also be obtained from a hand-held optical scanner, such as that described in the above-cited Brandestini et al. patents or something similar. A presently preferred scanning system is described that provides for highly accurate, easy to use, hand-held in-vivo scanning of teeth.

Method and workstation for generating virtual tooth models from three-dimensional tooth data


A method for removing a surface protrusion projecting from a layer of a first material deposited on a surface of a substrate. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a layer of a second material is applied on the layer of first material. A sufficient quantity of the second material is removed to expose the surface protrusion. The first material exposed through the surface protrusion is then removed.

Processes for depositing a thin film layer on a substrate are known in the art. An example of one such process is physical vapor deposition (PVD). Inherent in the PVD process is the formation of surface protrusions on the thin film during deposition of the material forming the thin film. These surface protrusions can be many times the size of components to be later deposited on the thin film. As a result, the surface protrusions may project into layers of material formed on the thin film layer. In such cases, the surface protrusions may result in an unwanted short circuit between the thin film layer and a layer formed on top of the thin film layer. For example, in the baseplate of a field emission display (FED), such surface protrusions could result in a short circuit between the thin film layer on which emitters are formed and an extraction grid positioned above the emitters. This is true because a surface protrusion can have a height which is much greater than the height of an insulating layer positioned between the thin film layer and the extraction grid.
Various techniques have been attempted in the prior art in an effort to alleviate the adverse effects of surface protrusions. First, the parameters of the PVD process have been adjusted to try and prevent formation of the surface protrusions. This technique has not been entirely successful in that some surface protrusions are inherently formed during the PVD process. Given that some surface protrusions are formed, chemical-mechanical planarization (CMP) has been utilized to try and remove these protrusions from the thin film layer. When CMP is used directly on the thin film layer, however, the larger surface protrusions sometimes break lose and scratch the surface of the thin film layer. These scratches can result in unacceptably large areas of the thin film being unsuitable for the formation of the desired components.
In view of the problems associated with these processes for removing surface protrusions from a thin film, it is desirable to develop a process which removes the surface protrusions from the thin film without detrimentally affecting the surface of the thin film layer.

Method of removing surface protrusions from thin films


A control apparatus for a range changeover device checks whether an actual range agrees with a target range. If the actual range differs from the target range, the control apparatus performs vehicle driving force restriction control irrespective of a presence/absence of abnormality in a range changeover operation. The control apparatus may restrict an engine output power by closing a throttle valve of the engine to around an idle position, thereby restricting the vehicle driving force.

Vehicles are controlled electronically more and more in recent years. For example, in JP 2004-125061A, a gear shift range changeover operation by a gearshift lever of an automatic transmission is detected by a switch, etc. Based on the detection signal, an electric actuator such as an electric motor is controlled so that a range of a shift range changeover device is changed over to a target range selected or instructed by a driver of a vehicle. This is a shift-by-wire range changeover control system.
Furthermore, in JP 2004-125061A, abnormal operation of a vehicle is prevented at the time of failure of the automatic transmission. That is, an actual shift range of the automatic transmission is detected and the detected range is compared with the target range selected by the driver. The presence/absence of abnormality of the automatic transmission is determined based on whether the detected actual range agrees with the target range. When abnormality is determined, a driving power transfer system from the engine side to the driving wheel side is interrupted, so that the output power of the engine is not transmitted to the driving wheel.
The shift range is changed over to the target range, after the driver makes a target range changeover operation and the motor is driven to effect the changeover. As a result, a range changeover delay is caused in correspondence to a motor drive time from an instruction of the changeover of the target range to a completion of an actual changeover. Therefore, it becomes necessary not to determine the presence/absence of abnormality for a predetermined wait period after the target range is changed over. This predetermined wait period is set longer than a changeover operation delay period in the range changeover device. The presence/absence of abnormality in the automatic transmission is thus determined after the predetermined wait period elapses by checking whether the actual range is the same as the target range.
In such abnormality determination, a detection delay is caused until the abnormality is detected after the target range is changed over. This detection delay corresponds to at least a range changeover operation delay time. Therefore, it is impossible to restrict the vehicle from abnormal operation during the abnormality detection delay, when the abnormality actually arises.
Even when the range changeover device operates normally according to a changeover in the target range, an accelerator pedal is sometimes pressed down for engine acceleration before the range changeover to the target range is completed. In this instance, with the previous range before the range changeover, that is, a range which the driver does not want any more, the engine output power may increase and vehicle driving force may increase. Thus, it is likely that the vehicle operates abnormally, although the driver does not expect such an operation.

Control apparatus for shift range changeover device


The present invention provides an isolated nucleic acid sequence encoding a human heme-regulated initiation factor 2 alpha kinase. In addition, the invention provides a method for inhibiting protein synthesis, inducing cellular differentiation, or inhibiting infection in human cells by administering an effective amount of a heme-regulated initiation factor 2 alpha kinase to the cells. Methods are also provided for modulating heme-regulated initiation factor 2 alpha kinase activity and determining the level of heme-regulated initiation factor 2 alpha kinase expression.

Heme controls the synthesis of protein in reticulocytes. In heme-deficiency, there is diminished initiation of protein synthesis. The principal mechanism of the inhibition of initiation of protein synthesis is the phosphorylation of the alpha-subunit of the eukaryotic initiation factor 2, eIF-2 alpha. In addition to heme-deficiency, oxidized glutathione (GSSG) and low levels of double stranded RNA inhibit initiation by promoting phosphorylation of eIF-2 alpha.
The translation of mRNA in eukaryotic cells occurs in the cytoplasm. In the first step of initiation, free 80 S ribosomes are in equilibrium with their 40 S and 60 S subunits. In the presence of eIF-3, 40 S subunits bind the eIF-3 and eIF-4C to form a 43 S ribosomal complex; the binding of eIF-3 and eIF-4C to the 40 S subunit inhibits the joining of the 60 S subunit.
In the next step, eIF-2 binds GTP and the initiator tRNA, Met-tRNA f, in a ternary complex. The binding by eIF-2 is specific for both guanine nucleotides and for Met-tRNA f. The ternary complex now binds to the 43 S ribosomal complex to form the 43 S preinitiation complex. The 43 S preinitiation complex binds mRNA in an ATP-dependent reaction in which eIF-4A, eIF-4B, and eIF-4F form a complex with the mRNA. The product of the binding of mRNA to the 43 S structure is bound close to the ribosome and the AUG initiator codon is downstream from the cap structure.
The joining of the 48 S preinitiation complex and the 60 S subunit is catalyzed by eIF-5 which has a ribosome-dependent GTPase activity. The joining reaction is accompanied by the release of the initiation factors eIF-3 and eIF-4C, eIF-2 is translocated to 60 S subunit as a binary complex, eIF2-GDP. The product of the joining reaction is the 80 S initiation complex. Formation of the active 80 S initiation complex is the final step in initiation. The Met-tRNA f is positioned in the P (peptidyl) site on the ribosome for the start of polypeptide elongation.
The sequence of steps in the process of initiation affords several opportunities for regulation. These include the recycling of eIF-2 after its release as the eIF-2-GDP complex; the formation of the ternary complex; and the relative affinities of mRNAs for eIF-2 and for eIF-4A, 4B, and -4F in determining the relative rates of translation of the mRNAs.
Heme-deficiency inhibited initiation of protein synthesis is characterized by a brief period of control linear synthesis, followed by an abrupt decline in this rate and by disaggregation of polyribosomes, associated with a decrease in the formation of the eIF-2-Met-tRNA f -GTP ternary complex and the 40 S-eIF-2Met-tRNA f-GTP 43 S initiation complex. The fundamental mechanism for the inhibition is the activation of cAMP independent protein kinases that specifically phosphorylate the 38-kDa alpha-subunit of eIF-2 (eIF-2 alpha). Dephosphorylation of eIF-2 alpha accompanies the recovery of protein synthesis upon addition of hemin to inhibited heme-deficient lysates.
The heme-regulated eukaryotic initiation factor 2 alpha (eIF-2 alpha) kinase, also called heme-regulated inhibitor (HRI), plays a major role in this process. HRI is a cAMP-independent protein kinase that specifically phosphorylates the alpha subunit (eIF-2 alpha) of the eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF-2). Phosphorylation of eIF-2 alpha in reticulocyte lysates results in the binding and sequestration of reversing factor RF, also designated as guanine nucleotide exchange factor or eIF-2B, in a RF-eIF-2 (alpha P) complex; the unavailability of RF, which is required for the exchange of GTP for GDP in the recycling of eIF-2 and in the formation of the eIF-2-Met-tRNA f-GTP ternary complex, resulting in the cessation of the initiation of protein synthesis.
Although the mechanism of regulation of protein synthesis by HRI has been extensively studied, little is known about the structure and regulation of HRI itself. Chen, J.-J., et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., USA 88:315–319 (1991) previously reported the amino acid sequences of three tryptic peptides of heme-reversible HRI. HRI peptide P-52 contains the sequence -Asp-Phe-Gly-, which is the most highly conserved short stretch in conserved domain VII of protein kinases as presented by Hanks, et al., Science 241:42–52 (1988). The N-terminal 14 amino acids of HRI peptide P-74 show 50–60% identity to the conserved domain IX of kinase-related transforming proteins. These findings are consistent with the autokinase and eIF-2 alpha kinase activities of HRI. As reported by Pal et al., Biochem. 30:2555–2562 (1991), this protein appears to be erythroid-specific and antigenically different in different species.
In view of the activity and relationships of HRI to other protein kinases involved in cellular transformation, it would be advantageous to have the nucleic acid sequence encoding HRI. However, since the gene is only expressed during a very limited time period, i.e., during erythroid differentiation, and in an extremely minuscule amount, this was not a simple process. Moreover, even though three peptides isolated by tryptic digest had been sequenced, it was not clear if these were from HRI or from a contaminant of the HRI preparation. Obtaining a library containing a full length HRI cDNA is also difficult.
Chen et al. have disclosed the nucleotide sequence for DNA encoding HRI from rabbit reticulocytes. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,690,930 and 5,525,513. However, due to differences between species, compounds which may affect the activity of the rabbit HRI may not have the same effect on human HRI. Therefore, to use HRI in humans or to identify compounds which affect the activity of human HRI, it is essential that isolated human HRI can be produced and that the sequence of human HRI is determined.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a nucleic acid sequence encoding human HRI.

Human heme-regulated initiation factor 2-alpha kinase


In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a first insulator, and conductors and second insulators alternately provided on the first insulator. Each second insulator of the second insulators has a first side face adjacent to one of the conductors via a first air gap, a second side face adjacent to one of the conductors via a second air gap, first lower faces in contact with the first insulator, and second lower faces provided above the first insulator via third air gaps.

When interconnects adjacent to one another are formed, it is considered to form air gaps between the interconnects to reduce the capacitance between the interconnects. An example of such interconnects is bit lines in a NAND memory. When the air gaps are formed between the interconnects, it is desirable to use such a method of forming the air gaps that can further largely reduce the capacitance between the interconnects. The same holds true for the case where the air gaps are formed between conductors other than the interconnects.

Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same


In known photographic processing apparatus, pumps are used to recirculate and re cycle processing solutions thereby producing the desired agitation of the processing solutions. However, such pumps are normally mounted externally to the processing tank and are connected thereto by means of an arrangement of flexible pipes. Described herein Is a modular processing tank arrangement in which the pumps are mounted integrally with the module. This means that the module can be removed as a whole without having to disconnect a large number of pipes.

This invention relates to photographic processing apparatus and is more particularly concerned with processing racks for use in such apparatus.
Published international patent application WO91/19226 (based on British patent application 9012860.4) discloses photographic processing apparatus in which a series of low volume processing tanks are provided. Each tank comprises a complete module or rack which can be removed from the apparatus for repair or maintenance. This arrangement enables the apparatus down-time to be minimized as the module or rack under repair is simply replaced with an identical operational module or rack.
In such apparatus, problems associated with non-uniform processing of the photographic material may be encountered due to local differences in the concentration of the processing solution. Agitation of the processing solution appears to provide one solution to this problem.
In other known photographic processing apparatus, pumps are used to recirculate and recycle processing solutions thereby producing the desired agitation of the processing solutions. However, such pumps are normally mounted externally to the processing tank and are connected thereto by means of an arrangement of flexible pipes. Submersible pumps mounted at the bottom of the processing tank and impellors may also be used to provide the necessary agitation.