A method and device for determining the disposition, traits or characteristics of human test subjects. Several sets of statements are formulated, each set being related to at least one trait. The statements in a set are divided into two groups which contain several pairs of complementary statements, each pair probing the same point from different perspectives. A test subject provides responses from a multiple choice menu. The responses are considered on a group basis and a weight factor is assigned to each response. Templates are used in which the assigned weighting factors for each response are marked. A score is added up for each group of statements. The sum of points for a given trait, for example, communicative attitudes which are addressed by one statement group, are plotted on an indexed polar coordinate system. Similarly, points derived for the complementary group which deals with the same trait but from a different perspective, i.e., statements that focus on the non-communicative attitudes of the subject, are plotted on another corresponding coordinate system. The polar vectors which represent each trait are vectorially added and the midpoint of the resultant vector is found. The arithmetic average of the vectors provides the value of a radius of a circle which is centered on the mid point of the resultant vector. The circle defines sectors between the axes of the coordinate system. From this, the test subject's traits such as empathy, willingness to learn and sociability, as well as aggressiveness, selfishness, etc., can be determined.

The present invention relates to a psychotechnological method and device for detecting the traits of human test subjects.
It is desirable to be able to classify individuals according to their traits so that the optimal working place and job functions may be found for them. If carried out successfully, individuals will be satisfied and will be remunerated in accordance with their actual capabilities and demonstrated performance.
Qualification tests and examinations of this type have existed for decades and are constantly being refined. They include psychotechnological procedures which are carried out in order to determine the disposition of such test subjects, in order to establish their suitability, in accordance with the objectives which are set forth above.
The method according to the present invention provides an improvement over known methods which is characterized in that several complexes or sets of statements are formulated, each set being divided into two complementary statement groups. The first of the two groups probes one human trait from one perspective, while the second group contains statements which probe the same human trait from a different, complementary perspective. The test subject is asked to comment by selecting an answer from a list of three or more possible responses. The test subject is judged by his or her responses. The responses are weighted groupwise by means of predetermined weighting factors which produce response scores which are added together per group to provide a group test score. The group test scores associated with the first group of each set are plotted on the numerically graduated axes of a multi-axial polar coordinate system having enough axes to cover the number of complexes or sets of statements. Analogously, the group test scores associated with the second group of each set, which deal with the complementary statements, are plotted on another corresponding polar coordinate system. The values which the test provides are used for evaluating the test subject.
The invention further includes an apparatus for carrying out the foregoing method. The apparatus includes at least one of the following implements:
(A) statement sheets; PA1 (B) evaluation templates; PA1 (C) graduated or indexed polar coordinate system networks with coordinate axes which represent human qualities or traits.
The invention will be explained below by reference to an embodiment thereof in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Psychotechnological testing method and device therefor


Arrays of light emitting diodes, and LED printbars and electrophotographic marking machines that use arrays of light emitting diode, that have active area geometries that produce compact irradiance profiles. Compact irradiance profiles are achieved by placing the diode electrodes along the outer periphery of the light emitting active areas. When used with gradient index lenses, such light emitting diodes produce light spots having more compact irradiance profiles. When such light emitting diodes and gradient index lenses are incorporated into LED printbars, and when those printbars are used in expose stations of electrophotographic marking machines, improved composite images can result.

Electrophotographic marking is a well-known method of copying or printing documents. Electrophotographic marking is performed by exposing a substantially uniformly charged photoreceptor with a light image representation of a desired document. In response to that light image the photoreceptor discharges, creating an electrostatic latent image of the desired document on the photoreceptor's surface. Toner particles are then deposited onto that latent image, forming a toner image. That toner image is then transferred from the photoreceptor onto a substrate such as a sheet of paper. The transferred toner image is then fused to the substrate, usually using heat and/or pressure, thereby creating a copy of the desired image. The surface of the photoreceptor is then cleaned of residual developing material and recharged in preparation for the production of another image.
The foregoing broadly describes black and white electrophotographic marking. Electrophotographic marking can also produce color images by repeating the above process for each color of toner that is used to make the composite color image. For example, in one color process, referred to as the REaD 101 process (Recharge, Expose, and Develop, Image On Image), a charged photoreceptor is exposed to a light image which represents a first color, say black. The resulting electrostatic latent image is then developed with black toner particles to produce a black toner image. A recharge, expose, and develop process is repeated for a second color, say yellow, then for a third color, say magenta, and finally for a fourth color, say cyan. The various color toner particles are then placed in superimposed registration so that a desired composite color image results. That composite color image is then transferred and fused onto a substrate.
One way of exposing a photoreceptor is to use an LED (light emitting diode) printbar-based exposure station. Such exposure stations are generally comprised of an elongated array of LEDs and an array of gradient index lenses that focus the light from the LEDs onto the photoreceptor. One goal of an LED print-bar based exposure station is the production of compact irradiance distributions on the photoreceptor. Deviating from compact distributions tends to increase bluriness and noise in the resultant printed image. FIG. 1 illustrates the spatial relationship between a light emitting diode 10 of an LED printbar, lens elements 12 of a gradient-index lens array, and a light spot 14 produced on a photoreceptor 15. To achieve high resolution (usually measured in spots per inch, or SPI) an LED printbar will typically have a large number of individual LEDs. Each LED images a small section, referred to as a pixel, of the latent image. By selectively driving the individual LEDs according to input video data a desired latent line is exposed. By moving the photoreceptor as lines are exposed a two-dimensional latent image results.
As shown in FIG. 1, the gradient index lens array is positioned between the light emitting diodes of the LED array and the photoreceptor. Gradient index lens arrays, such as those produced under the trade name "SELFOC" (a registered trademark in Japan that is owned by Nippon Sheet Glass Company, Ltd.) are comprising of bundled gradient index optical fibers, or rods, reference U.S. Pat. No. 3,658,407. That patent describes a light conducting rod made of glass or synthetic resin which has a cross-sectional refractive index distribution that varies parabolically outward from the center of the rod. Each rod acts as a focusing lens for light introduced at one end. Relevant optical characteristics of gradient index lens arrays are described in an article entitled "Optical properties of GRIN fiber lens arrays: dependence on fiber length", by William Lama, Applied Optics, Aug. 1, 1982, Vol. 21, No. 15, pages 2739-2746. That article is hereby incorporated by reference.
Ideally, light from a light emitting diode produces a narrow, well-defined latent image on the photoreceptor. This requires that the photoreceptor be exposed with a narrow light spot having sufficient power to fully expose the photoreceptor. A measure of the width of the light spot is the full width half maximum (FWHM) distance, the distance between the light spot's half power points. FIG. 2 illustrates various irradiance profiles from the light emitting diode 10 of FIG. 1. Assuming that the light emitting diode 10 has an exemplary active area geometry 16, the light emitting diode emits light with a radiance distribution profile 18. That light passes through the gradient index lens elements 12, which impart a spreading function 20 to the light. The result is an irradiance profile 22 that can be characterized by a FWHM distance 24, the distance between the half power points.
While LED printbar based exposure stations are generally successful, they have problems. One problem relates to degradations in irradiance profiles caused by light emitting diodes having less than ideal active area geometries. FIG. 3 illustrates the irradiance profiles from a light emitting diode having an active area geometry 26 that is less than ideal because an electrode 36 divides the active area into two sections The light emitting diode then emits light with a radiance distribution profile 28 that is distorted. That light passes through a gradient index lens array, which again imparts a spreading function 20 to the light. The result is an irradiance profile 30 having a FWHM distance 32 that is significantly greater than the FWHM distance 24 of FIG. 2.
The result of the greater FWHM distance is a wider irradiance profile than is desired. Therefore, LED printbars having light emitting diodes with geometries that produce a more compact radiance profile would be beneficial. Even more beneficial would be electrophotographic marking machines that use LED printbars having light emitting diodes with a geometry that produces a more compact radiance profile.

High resolution printbar pixel geometries


A faceplate cover includes a window to view circuit indicia. The window is transparent, and allows a user to view indicia which may be present on a receptacle or other device contained in an electrical box. The window is attached to the main panel of the faceplate cover. The faceplate cover and window may be injection molded separately and assembled, or formed utilizing a two shot process.

Conventional faceplate covers are generally placed over wall apertures to protect a user from accidentally contacting an electrical circuit, as well as to beautify the wall aperture. Faceplates typically have apertures formed therein to allow switches, receptacles, phone jacks, data ports, video connectors and the like to pass through. With so many kinds of receptacle, switches and ports routed through wall apertures, it has become increasingly difficult to determine the routing, or type of circuit, that is being covered by a faceplate.
One such solution has been to attach removable labels to the outside of the faceplate cover at the time it is installed. The drawback to this exterior labeling schema is, for example, that the labels can fall off, the labels are not attractive, or the labels do not accurately reflect the nature of the wiring.
Another labeling solution is to use faceplates having permanently marked indicia. For example, if the receptacle is a ground fault circuit interrupter, or GFCI, the faceplate cover can be imprinted with "GFCI PROTECTED". However, these are costly specialty items that need to be ordered ahead of time, and real-time changes to wiring plans during the buildout of a space can lead to the need for faceplates having different pre-marked indicia.
With the increase in the number of wired outlets in the home and office, for example, phone/data lines for computers, etc., it is becoming increasingly important to properly label and identify the nature of the receptacle or access port. Many of the wires are labeled with attached tags, or labels placed directly on the receptacle, jack, port, or the like, which are hidden behind faceplate covers.
Examples of prior art receptacles and faceplates are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,594,206 to Klas et al., 5,212,899 to Fandreyer, 5,180,886 to Dierenbach et al., 4,479,317 to Hanna, 2,625,759 to Koepke, and 1,930,610 to Despard.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a faceplate cover that will allow rapid identification of a receptacle, jack, port and the like following installation of the faceplate cover. Additionally, there exists a need for rapid identification of the circuitry behind a faceplate cover. This invention addresses these needs as well as other needs, which will become apparent from this disclosure.


Acridinium compounds represented by the general formula (I) where A is an intervening group which does not have activity for binding with a specific binding substance, Z is a labelling active group which has activity for binding with a specific binding substance, R.sup.1 is a halogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group; R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are each a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, an alkoxy group, a nitro group, a halogen atom or a carbonyl group, and Y is a counter ion. The acridinium compounds may form conjugates with specific binding substances. The acridinium compounds have high emission efficiency and stability and, hence, are useful as chemiluminescence labelling agents.

This invention relates to acridinium compounds and conjugates thereof. More particularly, the invention relates to acridinium compounds that are useful as chemiluminescent labelling agents because of their high emission efficiency and stability, as well as conjugates of such acridinium compounds and specific binding substances.
Acridinium esters have high emission efficiency and hence are useful as chemiluminescent labelling agents. In order for certain compounds to be practically useful as chemiluminescent labelling agents, it is generally essential that said compounds be highly stable in solution.
It is generally held that if the molecules of acridinium esters, taken as a whole, assume a planar structure on account of resonance, the strong electron withdrawing property of the acridinium ring causes electrons to be localized on the acridinium ring and, hence, the carbon atoms in the carbonyl group tend to become so much deficient of electrons that the esters are vulnerable to nucleophilic attack and, hence, labile. Under these circumstances, Unexamined Published Japanese Patent Application (kokai) Nos. Sho 63-101368 and Hei 3-501772 have disclosed acridinium esters that have an active group capable of binding with proteins and the like in the phenyl group or the 2-position of an acridinium group and which have a methyl group in the N-10 position, as well as a methyl group in the 2,6-position of the phenyl group.
Unexamined Published Japanese Patent Application (kokai) No. Hei 1-199949 teaches an acridinium ester having an active group capable of binding with proteins and the like in the N-10 position of the acridinium ring. The binding active group said acridinium ester has in the N-10 position is a bulky substituent such as a carboxymethyl group and, hence, steric hindrance is created between each of the hydrogen atoms in the 4,5-position of the acridinium ring and the substituents of nitrogen, rendering it difficult for the acridinium ring to assume a planar structure by itself; in this respect, the acridinium ester under consideration differs basically from the class of compounds that have a methyl group in the N-10 position and it would be advantageous from a stability viewpoint.
The acridinium esters which are taught in Unexamined Published Japanese Patent Application (kokai) Nos. Sho 63-101368 and Hei 3-501772 have another problem in that the functional group that has activity for binding with proteins and the like is bound to the benzene ring which is a leaving group, thereby putting considerable constraints when modifying the benzene ring. Further, the functional group having binding activity is highly reactive in itself and, hence, considerable difficulty is involved in the synthesis of these acridinium esters. In contrast, the acridinium ester which is taught in Unexamined Published Japanese Patent Application (kokai) No. Hei 1-199949 has activity for binding with proteins and the like in the N-10 position of the acridinium ring but it does not have any functional group for binding with proteins and the like in the leaving group. Therefore, it is fairly easy to modify the leaving group and, at the same time, the ester can be synthesized by a simple method since the only extra step that need be performed is to introduce the binding group at the final stage of synthesis. Because of these advantages, the acridinium ester under consideration has great utility in practical applications.
However, the acridinium ester compound that is specifically taught in Unexamined Published Japanese Patent Application (kokai) No. Hei 1-199949 is phenyl 10-carboxymethylacridinium-9-carboxylate bromide; since the benzene ring as a leaving group has no substituent, this compound has only low stability in solution and difficulty has been encountered with using it in practice as a labelling agents of specific binding substances.

Acridinium compounds and conjugates thereof


A light-sensitive silver halide photographic material comprising a support and provided thereon at least one silver halide emulsion layer containing a pyrazolo azole magenta dye-forming coupler represented by general formula M-I; ##STR1## (wherein Z represents a group of non-metallic atoms necessary to complete a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring which may have a substituent; X represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent capable of being split off upon reaction with an oxidation product of a color developing agent; and R represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent), to said silver halide emulsion layer an elementary sulfur having been added at an arbitrary timing before the formation of said silver halide emulsion layer on said support.

When a dye image is formed using a silver halide light-sensitive color photographic material, an aromatic primary amine color developing agent is oxidated when it reduces silver halide in an exposed light-sensitive silver halide color photographic material, thereby the resultant oxidation product reacts with a coupler preliminarily contained in the light-sensitive silver halide color photographic material so as to form a dye. Usually, in such an image forming system, a color reproduction technique based on the subtractive color process is used, wherein the light-sensitive silver halide color photographic material used comprises the blue-sensitive, green-sensitive, and red-sensitive silver halide emulsion layers correspondingly have yellow-dye forming, magenta-dye forming, and cyan-dye forming couplers, i.e. couplers whose sensitivities complementary to the color sensitivities of these emulsion layers.
The couplers useful for forming the yellow dye image include acylacetanilide couplers; and the couplers useful for forming the magenta dye image include pyrazolone, pyrazolobenzimidazole, pyrazolotriazole, and indazolone couplers; while the examples of the commonly used cyan dye image forming couplers include phenol and naphthol couplers.
The so-obtained image is required to be stable even when exposed to light for a long time, or even when stored under a high temperature or high humidity. Especially, a silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material (hereinafter referred to as color photographic material) which does not cause yellow stain (hereinafter referred to as Y-stain) in the nondye-image portion has been a long-felt demand in the art.
As compared with the yellow and cyan couplers magenta couplers are liable to cause more significant Y-stain by light, moisture, or heat in the non-dye-image portion, as well as fading caused by light in the dye-image portion, and this disadvantage often incurs a problem.
The couplers commonly used for forming magenta dye images are 1,2-pyrazolo-5-ones. The magenta dyes formed from the 1,2-pyrazolo-5-one magenta couplers have disadvantages in having secondary spectral absorption in the vicinity of 430 nm, in addition to the primary spectral absorption in the vicinity of 550 nm which leads to poor color reproduction. Therefore, various studies have been conducted to solve this problem.
The magenta coupler having an anilino group on the 3 position of 1,2-pyrazolo-5-one, which exhibits less significant secondary absorption, and known to be useful in obtaining color images for print. The related techniques are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 2,343,703, and British Patent No. 1,059,994.
These magenta couplers are disadvantageous as they are significantly inferior in the image preservability, especially, in the stability of dye images to light, as well as in larger magnitude of Y-stains in the non-dye image portion.
Other means proposed for limiting the above-mentioned secondary absorption of magenta couplers in the vicinity of 430 nm are magenta couplers such as pyrazolobenzimidazole couplers in British Patent No. 1,047,612; indazolone couplers in U.S. Pat. No. 3,770,447; and pyrazolotriazole couplers in U.S. Pat. No. 3,725,067, British Patent Nos. 1,252,418, and 1,334,515. The dyes formed from these couplers are advantageous in terms of color reproduction, as compared with the previously mentioned dyes formed from 1,2-pyrazolo-5-ones having an anilino group on the 3 position, in having the secondary absorption in the vicinity of 430 nm, and in posing relatively small Y-stain due to light, heat, or moisture, in the non-dye image portion.
However, these couplers are found to have a serious drawback, that is, the gradation of resultant images significantly fluctuate depending on the exposure illumination intensity. It is well known fact that even with a constant exposure amount, the sensitivity of the light-sensitive material greatly varies depending on change in illumination intensity. Correspondingly, various countermeasures have been taken, for example, by changing an exposure amount in compliance with expected sensitivity change, and this drawback does not pose a problem that inhibits common use of the light-sensitive material.
If a light-sensitive material poses significantly great gradation fluctuation depending on exposure illumination intensity (hereinafter referred to as illumination dependency of gradation), this drawback poses a fatal defect to the light-sensitive material. The light-sensitive materials have different gradation designed to comply with the nature of their applications. When such materials are exposed in a practical operation, the suitable exposure illumination intensity naturally varies depending on the exposure conditions; more specifically, the brightness on a subject, in the case of the materials for picture-taking; and in the case of print material, the difference in image density resultant from overexposure or underexposure of the film bearing original image. With the light-sensitive material whose gradation having greater illumination dependency, the resultant gradation will deviate from the allowable range of designed gradation.
As a result, some scenes may have excessively hard gradation, thereby details especially in low density and high density areas can be missing, or some scenes may have excessively soft gradation and may be dull. In both cases, the quality of the light-sensitive material is significantly jeopardized.
In the case of print light-sensitive material, various print sizes are available. Commonly used sizes range from the smallest format known as "E size" to the whole sheet size. Usually, a user prints several scenes onto a small-sized photographic paper, and then the user selects preferable scenes and enlarges them to larger size prints. In this course, the film bearing the original image is the same regardless of the size of a print paper, larger or smaller. Additionally, the intensity of the light source cannot be readily intensified. Therefore, it is unavoidable that when an original image is enlarged onto a large-sized print, the exposure illumination intensity relative to the print light-sensitive material is inappropriately low. As a result, with a light-sensitive material whose gradation being significantly dependent on exposure illumination intensity, the larger print will have poor image quality and fail to satisfy the user, even this type of material may provide good image quality with a smaller print.
As described earlier, an improved exposure apparatus can cope with sensitivity change corresponding to exposure illumination intensity, to an extent not adversely affecting practical exposure operations. However, measures including improved apparatuses such as exposure apparatuses have difficulties in coping with gradation change. Therefore, it is necessary to improve illumination dependency of gradation, by means of improved light-sensitive materials.
One method to improve illumination dependency of gradation, the use of iridium compounds, is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication Open to Public Inspection (hreinafter referred to as Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication) Nos. 97648/1986, and 954/1987.
However, once such a compound is added in an amount enough to ensure its effect, adverse effects often occur as evidenced by desensitization, and deteriorated pressure-resistance of the light-sensitive material. Therefore, the use of such compounds has limitation.
Additionally, if the previously mentioned pyrazolotriazoles are used in conjunction, fogging readily occurs. And this disadvantage poses problems that hinder practical use of this method.

Silver halide light-sensitive photographic material


A fixing device for rod body has a base body with a through hole formed in the center thereof, a grommet body arranged to be inserted into the through hole of the base body, and a pin body arranged to be pushed into an inner hole of the grommet body to expand the grommet body. The grommet body is interlinked with one side edge of the base body through a holder portion for holding the rod body, the pin body is interlinked with another side edge of the base body through a hinge portion, and a temporary fixing device is provided between the grommet body and the through hole of the base body. When the rod body is held by the holder portion and the grommet body is inserted into the through hole of the base body, the grommet body is temporarily fixed to the base body by the temporary fixing device. When the pin body is pushed into the inner hole of the grommet body with the grommet body being inserted in a mounting hole of an objective member, the base body is regularly fixed to the objective member by expansion of the grommet body.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to improvements in a fixing device for fixing a rod body such as a pipe or a tube to an objective member such as a panel.
2. Related Background Art
An example of the fixing device of this type is the one as shown in Japanese Laid-open Utility Model Applications No. 57-190904 and No. 60-16078.
The conventional fixing device has a main body formed in an annular shape capable of holding a rod body inside and separated at the both ends, and flanges extending from the both ends of the main body and having a through hole. In practical use, the rod body is retained inside the main body and, while keeping the two flanges superimposed, the tip of a bolt is inserted through the through holes of each flange into a through hole of a panel being an objective member. Then a nut is coupled with the tip of the bolt on the back surface side of the panel, whereby the rod body can be fixed to the panel.
Accordingly, the conventional fixing device had an advantage that the rod body was able to be firmly fixed to the panel because of the use of bolt and nut, whereas it also had big problems that the number of parts was naturally increased and, particularly, that the fixing work of the rod body to the panel required great effort.


Disclosed is the use of 9H-acridin-2-one and 11H-dibenz-[b,f][1,4]oxazepin-8-one compounds as mediators suitable for the electrochemical regeneration of the co-enzymes dihydronicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH), dihydronicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) or analogs thereof.

Analytical methods that combine the selectivity of enzymes with the sensitivity of amperometric detection are of interest to the diagnostic industry. The reduction of the nicotinamide co-enzymes (NAD and NADP) is particularly important because they are produced in reactions catalyzed by dehydrogenases. Dehydrogenase catalyzed reactions according to the equation: ##STR1## play an important role in biological cells and analytical reactions. Several hundred different dehydrogenases are known which selectively catalyze the conversion of different substrates into products. When the substrate is oxidized, the coenzymes NAD.sup.+ and NADP.sup.+ are reduced to NADH and NADPH respectively. These co-enzymes are a necessary element in the reaction due to their ability to act with the enzymes to form an energy-transferring redox couple.
The co-enzymes NAD.sup.+ and NADP.sup.+ are expensive chemicals making their regeneration by reoxidation to their original state imperative if they are to be economically used in low cost, disposable, analytical devices. The NADH is oxidized directly at different base electrode materials only with high overvoltages on the order of 1 volt. However, a decrease in this over-voltage can be obtained by the immobilization of functionalities on the electrode surface which mediate the electron transfer from NADH to the electrode. Such mediators are typically selected from materials which may be reoxidized electrochemically without excessive overvoltages rendering them useful as an auxiliary system for electrochemical regeneration. Various mediator compounds suitable for this purpose are known. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,490,464 there are mentioned, by way of background, mediators such as phenazine methosulphate (PMS); phenazine ethosulphate (PES); thionine and 1,2-benzoquinone. This patent goes on to describe electrodes which are modified to catalyze the oxidation of NADH, NADPH or analogs thereof by imparting to the electrode surface as mediator a condensed aromatic ring system comprising at least three and preferably four or more condensed aromatic rings with or without heteroatoms. More particularly, this reference describes the electron exchange with the co-enzyme or analog thereof by structural elements comprising one of either alkyl phenazinium ions, phenazinium ions, phenazinones, phenoxazinium ions, phenoxazinones, phenothiazinium ions or phenothiazinones.
Fulty et al provide a literature review of various mediators, which they describe as "electron shuttles", which provide redox coupling between the electrode and the redox center of the co-enzyme in Analytical Chimica Acta. 140 (1982) Pp. 1-18. Perhaps the best known mediators for use on graphite electrodes are phenothiazinium and phenoxazinium salts such as Meldola's Blue (II): ##STR2##
In J. Electroanal. Chem., 287 (1990) Pp. 61-80, there is described a chemically modified graphite electrode for oxidation of reduced NAD based on the phenothiazine derivative 3-.beta.-naphthoyl-toluidine blue O (III): ##STR3##
Persson et al have published a comparative study of some 3,7-diaminophenoxazine derivatives for the electrocatalytic oxidation of NADH in J. Electroanal Chem., 292 (1990) 115-138.
In U.S. Pat. 4,810,636, there are described 7-hydroxy-9H-acridin-2-one chromagens which have been derivatized at the 7-hydroxy position with an enzymatically cleavable group and substituted at the 9-position with alkyl or aryl groups.

Mediators suitable for the electrochemical regeneration of NADH, NADPH or analogs thereof


A video processing circuit replaces an applied voltage designated by the video signal and applied to a first pixel with a predetermined third voltage, in the case that the applied voltage is lower than the third voltage, the first pixel is abutted on a predetermined application boundary, and the first pixel is surrounded by a risk boundary determined in accordance with a tilt azimuth direction of the liquid crystal on at least two sides.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a technology for reducing failure on display in a liquid crystal panel.
2. Related Art
Liquid crystal panels have a configuration in which one of a pair of substrates has pixel electrodes corresponding to respective pixels arranged in a matrix, the other substrate has a common electrode disposed so as to be common to all of the pixels, and a liquid crystal is sandwiched between each of the pixel electrodes and the common electrode. In such a configuration, when a voltage corresponding to a grayscale level is applied and held between each of the pixel electrodes and the common electrode, the orientational state of the liquid crystal is defined every pixel, and thus, the transmittance or the reflectance is controlled. Therefore, it can be said that in the configuration described above, only the component out of the electrical field acting on the liquid crystal molecules having a direction (or the opposite direction) from the pixel electrode to the common electrode, namely the direction perpendicular (vertical) to the surface of the substrate makes a contribution to the display control.
Incidentally, as the pixel pitch of the liquid crystal panel is narrowed due to miniaturization and improvement in definition, an electric field generated between the pixel electrodes adjacent to each other, namely the electrical field in a direction (lateral direction) parallel to the surface of the substrate, is generated, and further the influence thereof is becoming nonnegligible. When a lateral electrical field is applied to the liquid crystal to be driven by an electrical field in a vertical direction such as a vertical alignment (VA) liquid crystal or a Twisted Nematic (TN) liquid crystal, there arises a problem that orientation failure (reverse tilt domain) of the liquid crystal is caused to thereby cause failure on display.
In order for reducing the influence of the reverse tilt domain, there are proposed a technology (see, e.g., JP-A-6-34965, FIG. 1) of devising a structure of a liquid crystal panel such as to define the shape of the light blocking layer (an opening section) corresponding to the pixel electrode, a technology (see, e.g., JP-A-2009-69608, FIG. 2) of clipping the video signal equal to or higher than a set value when the average brightness value obtained from the video signal is equal to or lower than a threshold value under the determination that the reverse tilt domain is generated, and so on.
However, the technology of reducing the reverse tilt domain by the structure of the liquid crystal panel has disadvantages that the aperture rate is apt to be lowered, and that the technology is not applicable to the liquid crystal panels having already been manufactured without devising the structure. On the other hand, the technology of clipping the video signal equal to or higher than the set value has a disadvantage that the brightness of the image displayed is limited uniformly to the set value.

Video processing circuit, liquid crystal display device, electronic apparatus, and video processing method


Provided is a composition for producing astringin among metabolites of polydatin, wherein the astringin may be mass-produced by oxidizing the polydatin using a CYP102A1 chimera and mutants thereof as a catalyst, the CYP102A1 chimera being produced by fusing a reductase domain of a wild-type CYP102A1 which is a bacterial cytochrome P450 enzyme, with a heme domain of a CYP102A1 mutant.

Polydatin which is known as stilbenoid-based drug has effects on anti-oxidant, anti-aging, anti-virus, neuroprotective action, and anti-inflammatory action. Polydatin is a stilbenoid glucoside, and is a derivative of resveratrol, and the stilbenoid-based drug such as polydatin is known to be metabolized by CYP1A2 and CYP1B1 which are cytochrome P450 enzymes present in human liver. However, metabolic pathways and metabolites of polydatin have not been specifically known so far.
The cytochrome P450 enzyme is present throughout all living organisms including archaea, bacteria, fungi, plants, animals, and human, and corresponds to a large family consisting of enzymes serving as catalysts promoting various oxidation reaction (http://drnelson.uthsc.edu/CytochromeP450.html).
P450 is significantly various in view of kinds, and may function as catalysts for a wide range of substrates, thereby having a potential for being effectively useful as a biological catalyst in production of fine chemicals such as pharmaceutical products. However, despite the potential usefulness, P450 enzymes have problems in being used as a biological catalyst due to low stability, catalytic activity, and availability.
P450 is capable of being used to synthesize drug metabolites, in particular, chiral metabolites by a simple, highly efficient, and environment-friendly method, wherein the synthesis of the chiral metabolites is not suitably performed by chemical methods, but needs to use an enzyme. If the drug acts as a prodrug, the drug is converted to a biologically active metabolite by P450s of the human liver when the drug metabolizes after administration. Here, in order to conduct research into drug efficacy, toxic, pharmacokinetics, and the like, of active metabolites produced from the prodrugs, a large amount of pure metabolites are needed. Further, when the metabolites themselves have biological activities, direct administration of the metabolites in vivo may provide big benefits, such that technique for mass-producing the metabolites is significantly important.
However, there are a lot of problems in chemically synthesizing pure metabolites. In addition, as an alternative thereof, a human P450 enzyme is used, but it is technically almost impossible to directly separate only P450 enzymes from a human sample. Further, even in the case of animal-derived P450, it is difficult to perform pure-separation, and enzyme activity is also low. In order to solve the problems, there was an attempt to produce metabolites using human P450 which is heterologously expressed in E. coli or insect cells, but the attempt has problems such as limited stability, a slow response rate, high cost and low productivity.
As another method, there was a method using bacterial P450 enzymes which are engineered to have catalytic activity, and a possibility that P450 enzymes capable of functioning on various substrates are appropriately usable for producing biotechnological metabolites by using the engineered enzymes has been reported.
Therefore, the present inventors conducted research into pathways and metabolites of polydatin, found bacterial P450 chimera enzyme capable of selectively producing specific metabolites among the metabolites of polydatin, and completed the present invention.

Industry Foundation of Chonnam National University


A temperature control method in a rapid heat treatment apparatus comprising simulatively heating dummy wafers in a process tube and previously detecting and grasping by temperature sensors a wafer temperature rising pattern, a heater temperature rising pattern and an internal atmosphere temperature rising pattern, arranging wafers to be processed in the process tube, detecting a temperature of each zone and that of each heater element by the temperature sensors, upon heating the wafers, and controlling each heater element on the basis of the detected temperatures and the wafer, heater and internal atmosphere temperature rising patterns by a controller to rapidly and uniformly raise the temperature of each wafer until the temperature of the wafers in each zone reaches the intended one and becomes stable.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to method and apparatus for controlling temperature in a rapid furnace.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various kinds of heat treatment apparatus are used to form a diffusion layer, silicon oxide and nitride films on each semiconductor wafer and glass substrate in them. The CVD, oxide film forming and heat diffusion treatment apparatuses are used in the course of making semiconductor devices, for example.
Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. Hei 3-82016, for example, discloses a heat treatment apparatus of the vertical type in which a plurality of wafers are processed in a batch. When this apparatus is to be used to apply impurities diffusing process to the wafers, supply and exhaust openings of the vertical heat treatment furnace are closed by shutters and the wafers are loaded together with the boat into the process tube. When the inside of the process tube is then heated to a process temperature by heaters and process gas as introduced into the process tube, process gas acts on the wafers to diffuse impurities into them.
As integrated circuits are made higher in their process speed and their integration is also made higher, it is asked that the depth of diffusing impurities into the surface of each wafer is made as small as possible. In order to control this impurities diffusing depth, it is needed that the wafers are heated to a temperature (or 1000.degree. C., for example) higher than the intended one and that their predetermined temperature gradient, that is, the time during which they are kept at the intended temperature (or 500.degree. C., for example) and their temperature falling time are controlled by forced cooling. Conventionally, fans were arranged in supply and exhaust openings of the vertical heat treatment furnace for this purpose to forcedly introduce cooling air into the space between the process tube and the outer housing through the supply openings.
When the wafers are forcedly cooled by the fans in this manner, however, the temperature of the wafers becomes remarkably different from that of the heater (more specifically, the temperature of the thermocouple arranged in the heater section) and it thus takes a long time (20 minutes) that the wafers and the heater are cooled to same temperature (25.degree. C.). As shown in FIG. 1, therefore, the heater is forcedly air-cooled to lower heater temperature T.sub.H to 500.degree. C. by the fan for an initial cooling period C.sub.1 starting after the heater power source is turned off, and the ON-OFF operation of the fan is then repeated to control the heater temperature T.sub.H at about 500.degree. C. for an another cooling period C.sub.2 following the initial one C.sub.1. This ON-OFF operation of the fan is repeated until wafer temperature T.sub.W falls to 500.degree. C. Conventionally, the ON-OFF operation of the fan must be frequently carried out as described. In addition, temperature dropping control takes a long time. The productivity of wafers is thus lowered.
Further, a plurality of wafers are processed at the same time in the vertical heat treatment furnace of this kind. Therefore, wafers located at upper (top), center or lower (bottom) portion (zone) are made different in temperature from those located at other zones. The productivity of wafers is thus lowered.
In a heat treatment apparatus disclosed by Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. Hei 4-186616, a uniformly-heating member made of SiC is interposed between a heating resistance and the process tube to prevent the wafers from being heated to temperatures quite different at the top, center and bottom zones in the process tube. This uniformly-heating member serves to uniformly apply heat to all of the wafers in the process tube and also to prevent unnecessary matters spread from the heating resistance and a heat insulator from entering into the process tube.
A heater element made of FeCrAl alloy is usually used as the heating resistance in the heat treatment apparatus. The FeCrAl alloy heater element has a surface load of about 2 W/cm.sup.2 at 1200.degree. C. Recently, however, a heat treatment apparatus capable of attaining a temperature raising and dropping speed of at least 30.degree. C./minute (more preferably 100.degree. C./minute (at temperature raising time) and 60.degree. C./minute (at temperature dropping time)) is expected and attention is now paid to molybdenum disilicide which has a surface load (of 20 W/cm.sup.2) larger than that of the FeCrAl alloy heater element.
When the uniformly-heating member is interposed between the wafers and the heating resistance, however, the temperature raising speed of the wafers is made lower for the initial period. In addition, the uniformly-heating member makes it more difficult for infrared rays emitted from the heating resistance to enter into the process tube through it.
When no uniformly-heating member is used, metal ions such as Fe, Cu and Na caused from the heating resistance and its support enter into the process tube through the quartz-made wall thereof to thereby contaminate the wafers in the tube by heavy metal.

Method and apparatus for controlling temperature in rapid heat treatment system


The present invention provides for an anti-theft system which is located within a fluid line. This anti-theft system will control the directional flow of the hydraulic fluid in the fluid line. The system of the present invention includes a control panel and a blockage means. The control panel permits for an authorized person to activate or deactivate the anti-theft system. Upon activation or deactivation, a signal is transmitted to a motor via an electrical cable. The motor will activate or deactivate the blocking means.

Auto theft is a problem in the United States reaching epidemic proportions. Auto theft costs the American public countless dollars in damages. Vehicles are stolen and shipped off to remote destinations to be resold or taken to "chop shops" to be striped to their parts and then the parts are resold. Other vehicles are stolen by thrill seekers to be used for joy riding and thereafter the vehicle set ablaze or otherwise severely damaged to destroy any evidence of the identity of the thief.
Many anti-theft devices have been conceived in order to combat this serious problem. However, none of the anti-theft device conceived to date have the particular combination of features as the anti-theft system of the present invention.
Many common devices make use of sensors to detect either door openings or car vibrations. Upon detection of an adverse event, these devices attract attention to the compromised vehicle by making noise such as sounding an alarm or the vehicle's horn, and flashing the lights of the vehicle. This noise being intended to frighten the would-be thief away.
Other anti-theft devices are designed to forcefully lock the steering mechanism into place thereby preventing the vehicle from being operative. These anti-theft devices, although having some effect, are easily by-passable by an enterprising thief.
Anti-theft devices which draw attention to the vehicle can be defeated simply by disconnecting the power source of the alarm by disconnecting the cars battery. Thereafter, the alarm can be disconnected or the horn disabled and the thief is free to reconnect the battery and pursue his craft.
The proliferation of false alarms has made the public largely immune to the noise generated from these alarms thereby permitting the thief to accomplish his task with minimal attention.
The steering disabling device as well as the noise making device are unable to prevent the vehicle from being towed away. A thief can simply arrive by tow truck, pick up his intended booty and haul it off rendering the above theft prevention devices impotent.
The present invention overcomes the above short comings. The present invention is designed to set the vehicles brakes into a locked position thereby making the vehicle impossible to drive or tow.


An image forming apparatus, including: a head, having plural heating elements arranged in line, for forming an image on an image forming medium by transmitting ink, which an ink ribbon has, to the image forming medium; a scanner for moving the heating element in relation to the image forming medium; an input system for inputting image data wherein the image data includes data corresponding to an image; a searcher for searching split lines of the image, according to the image data, so that a space between an edge portion of the image and a discontinued image portion on the image or between a discontinued image portion and its adjoining discontinued image portion is not more than a width of the ink ribbon; and a controller for controlling the head and the scanner so that a portion of the image in the space, between an edge portion of the image and a discontinued image portion on the image or between a discontinued image portion and its adjoining discontinued image portion, is formed by one scanning path of the head.

The present invention relates to an image forming method, and in particular, to a method to form an image from an ink ribbon through thermal transfer.
Since images obtained through photographing by a digital camera can easily be processed on a personal computer, for example, it has become popular that a composite photograph, obtained by a user through addition of arbitrary characters or symbols, is outputted by an ink jet printer or a thermal transfer printer.
On the other hand, high quality images are formed by conventional silver halide photography, and they are used together with digital prints accordingly. Further, there has been developed a technology to form a digital image on a silver halide photograph.
Incidentally, as a prior art to compound characters with images on a silver halide photograph, there is known a technology, for example, wherein images from a negative film and characters are compounded by using a transmission-type original prepared by a computerized photo-typesetting machine. In this technology, however, it is not possible to form characters in a metallic color. If it was possible to form characters by the use of a metallic color on a silver halide photograph, beautiful hybrid images would be obtained from quality images and characters.
To meet this demand, there has been developed a technology to add characters to a silver halide photograph through melt thermal transfer from an ink ribbon (TOKKAIHEI No. 9-292686). This technology makes it possible, for example, to add arbitrary comments in a metallic color, to a silver halide photograph on which an image of a subject is formed.
However, there is a problem which is peculiar to the occasion of forming metallic color images in the technology. For example, when an image is smaller than the width of the ink ribbon, an evaporation layer on the ink ribbon corresponding to that image can be transferred collectively onto a silver halide photograph through melt thermal transfer, which makes it possible to form a flat image that is beautiful like the surface of a polished metal.
On the other hand, when an image is larger than the width of the ink ribbon, an evaporation layer on the ink ribbon corresponding to that image can not be transferred collectively onto a silver halide photograph through melt thermal transfer, which makes it necessary to split the image to be smaller than the ink ribbon width to transfer the image. However, when splicing the split images, there is caused a small step on the spliced portion. This step is as small as about 1 .mu.m and is hardly sensed when touched, but it is seen as a clear line when the metallic color image is reflected. The line formed on the metallic color image which looks like the surface of the polished metal may deteriorates quality of the image.
On the contrary, when the width of the ink ribbon is made to be larger than the size of the photograph, it seems to be possible to transfer an image to be transferred totally and collectively, and thereby to eliminate the spliced portion on the image. However, an image requiring a total ink ribbon hardly exists, and most images are considered to require only a part of the ink ribbon, which makes ink ribbons to be wasted exceedingly to increase cost of an image. When the width of the ink ribbon is made to be large, on the other hand, there is caused the problem that the thermal head needs to be greater, and the size and cost of a printer are also increased. In addition, there sometimes is an occasion where an ink ribbon needs to be used sparingly.


Systems and methods are described herein for activating internet of things (IoT) devices, and other non-carrier provided devices, to data and other communication plans associated with a subscriber of a telecommunications carrier. The systems and methods may generate and publish a single API that, when called by an IoT device (e.g., an associated activation client for the IoT device) receives information associated with the IoT device and activates the IoT device to the subscriber's plan.

Typically, when a subscriber of a cell phone plan wishes to add a device (e.g., a tablet) to his/her current plan, the subscriber visits a retail store associated with a carrier providing the cell phone plan for the subscriber. At the retail store, which may be, for example, a carrier-specific store or a big box store, the subscriber may meet with a customer representative to select a specific device, select one or more eligible calling and/or data plans, and activate the device (e.g., add a line for the device) to the subscriber's current plan. However, the typical scenario may suffer from a variety of drawbacks, such as when a subscriber wishes to add devices not provided by the carrier, among other things.
The drawings have not necessarily been drawn to scale. Similarly, some components and/or operations may be separated into different blocks or combined into a single block for the purposes of discussion of some of the embodiments of the present technology. Moreover, while the technology is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are described in detail below. The intention, however, is not to limit the technology to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the technology is intended to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the technology as defined by the appended claims.

Single interface for activating IoT devices to network data plans


A process for determining the presence of a particular nucleic acid sequence in a test sample comprising. (a) chemically modifying nucleic acids in the test sample either to introduce a label or a reactive site in a manner that supports their hybridizability, PA1 (b) contacting under hybridization conditions the chemically modified sample nucleic acids with a hybridizable nucleic acid probe which either, when the sample nucleic acids have been modified to introduce a label, carrys a reactive site or, when the sample nucleic acids have been modified to introduce a reactive site, is labeled, PA1 (c) contacting the solution resulting from step (b) with a immobilized form of a reactive partner to the reactive site to form a stable bond with the reactive site on the sample nucleic acids or the probe, respectively, PA1 (d) separating the resulting immobilized fraction from the remaining solution, and PA1 (e) determining the presence of the label in the separated immobilized fraction or a decrease in the label in the remaining solution.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a novel way of running tests to determine the presence of particular nucleic acid sequences in test samples and to novel probes useful therefor.
2. Background Information
The application of two non-overlapping DNA probes for hybridization has been disclosed in PCT patent application No. 83/01459, European patent application Nos. 0070687 and 0070685. PCT No. 83/01459 and 0070687 disclose the application of two non-overlapping hybridization probes for the detection of a particular polynucleotide sequence in a test sample. One of the probes is fixed to a solid support prior to hybridization. Although this method eliminates the problem of electrophoretic separation of nucleic acids before hybridization, the process is slow because of the heterogeneous phases utilized.
European publication No. 0070685 discloses a homogeneous phase two probe assay with a non-radiative transfer method. This method needs sophisticated equipment to monitor hybridization. The background cannot be eliminated because of brownian motion, some nonspecific reactions, and because the concentration of the unhybridized probes present in solution is always very high compared to the hybridized probes.
A heterogenous system involving two probes, one of which is immobilized, is described in application Ser. No. 815,694, filed Jan. 21, 1986, now abandoned in favor of application Ser. No. 07/052,634, filed May 20, 1987 and Ranki et al, Gene, 21, 77-85, (1983). The probes can be DNA, RNA, mixed nucleic acids or oligonucleotides. There are disclosed tests for particular nucleic acid sequences, such as that indicating sickle cell anemia, for example, by contacting the sample with two probes. The immobilized probe, otherwise identified as a separation probe, is immobilized on a support such as nitrocellulose. The other probe, identified as the detection probe, carries a label for ultimate assay. Both probes include different nucleic acid fragments, both complementary to a different portion of the test sequence if present in the test sample. The sample and probes are mixed, subjected to hybridizing conditions and, if the sample contains the right sequence, its nucleic acid will serve as a bridge between the two probes. Thereby the label of the labeled probe will become attached to the solid support. The support is removed and then "read" for the presence of the label.
The probes can be such that the label on the solid support will indicate either a positive or negative result with regard to the condition to be detected. In addition to sickle cell anemia, the test can be for any other genetic condition, e.g., thalassemia, Tay-Sachs, etc. An identical procedure can also be followed for the detection of bacteria or viruses in test samples.
While such process produces satisfactory results, it was desired to speed up the diagnostic process, without the disadvantages attending the homogeneous two probe assay noted hereinabove.
A homogeneous system involving two probes has been described in patent application Ser. No. 704,130, filed Feb. 21, 1985, now pending. This method uses two non-overlapping probes, one of which is labelled for detection and the other for the separation of the hybrid. The assay takes place in a homogeneous solution and the hybrid is subsequently separated by an immobilization reaction with a solid support and the separation probe.
Australian Patent Specification 40,310/85 concerns the use of an azide group to label probes. The Australian Patent Specification discloses the use of two probes involved in a single assay.

Solution-phase single hybridization assay for detecting polynucleotide sequences


A method for controlling the rotation speed of a slave drive is described, where a reference rotation speed and a reference position is provided to a controller. The controller determines an estimated acceleration curve for the slave drive based on an instantaneous rotation speed, an instantaneous position and a maximum rotation-speed-dependent acceleration of the slave drive. The estimated acceleration curve for the slave drive is hereby determined so that after a compensation time, the rotation speed of the slave drive is equal to the reference rotation speed and the position of the slave drive is also equal to an expected reference position, which is determined by the controller based on the reference position, the reference rotation speed and the compensation time.

The present invention relates to a method for controlling the rotation speed of a slave drive, and also to a controller for a slave drive carrying out the method and a machine with a slave drive controlled by such controller.
Nothing in the following discussion of the state of the art is to be construed as an admission of prior art.
A method for controlling the rotation speed is disclosed, for example, in European patent publication no. EP 0 704 781 A, which describes a drive for, for example, a machine tool, which is controlled so as to minimize contour errors by matching a feed rate to the reference rotation speed at a predetermined point in time.
Although conventional rotation speed control methods operate satisfactorily, they are unable to completely eliminate residual contour errors, in particular, if the reference rotation speed is provided to the controller not only once, but continuously.
It would therefore be desirable and advantageous to provide an improved method for controlling the rotation speed, which obviates prior art shortcomings and is able to specifically eliminate residual contour errors of slave drives.

Method for controlling a rotation speed of a slave drive, a corresponding controller and a corresponding machine


A friction fit mounting bracket for use in construction of structures employing metal stud frames which when joined form an angled relationship. The friction fit mounting bracket is formed to receive the longitudinal edge of adjacent metal studs in a friction held relationship for position and holding those studs in a vertical relationship at a selected angle therebetween. One embodiment of the mounting bracket includes a multi-part structure formed from metal or plastic.

The invention relates generally to wall board construction used in erecting of plasterboard wall structures and the like from metal stud structures and particularly to the joining of angled segments of metal stud wall frame structures and is in the nature of an improvement to this type of construction.
A corner stay is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 825,523 issued to Henry H. Dewey on Jul. 10, 1908 for use in connecting two adjacent walls of boxes or trunks positioned at 90.degree.. There is no teachings in the Dewey patent for use at other angles other than 90.degree.. There is no teaching for the interconnecting of studs but rather only panel sections. The Dewey corner stay is undesirable for use in modern construction methods because studded wall structures are enclosed by wall board or the like and outer surfaces of the corner stays of Dewey are not smooth for receiving an over lay structure. Further, Dewey teaches securing the corner stay to the panels.
A method for interconnection panels at various angles including obtuse angles is taught by U.S. Pat. No. 4,297,940 issued to Truman D. Hainline on Nov. 3, 1981 for joining pairs of adjacent wall panels filled with sound absorbing material. "U" shaped end caps are attached to the adjacent wall panels and are connected together along at least one edge. The end attachment of the adjacent wall panels and end caps attachment thereto require considerable assembly at the job sight and when completed have a considerable difference in surface elevation between the outer edge of the end caps and the adjacent walls. This space is not suitable for the purpose intended for use of the pre-assembled bracket of the invention, namely, to provide a smooth plaster wall surface after adjacent wall joiner.
Various other means and methods of interconnecting wall panels and the like at 90.degree. or 180 are taught by U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,363,164; 3,206,806; 3,349,533; 3,962,840; 3,995,402; 4,147,001, and 4,254,600. None of these references are directed to the joining of adjacent metal studs or the positioning of adjacent studs at angles between 90.degree. and 180.degree..
There has not been provided a novel construction bracket designed to hold two adjacent metal studs at a selected angle therebetween of other than 90.degree. and 180.degree. until the emergence of the present invention.

Angle bracket for attachment of metal studs


A permanently deactivatable security tag and method to create a permanently deactivatable security tag to eliminate tag pollution caused by reactivated tags reentering a store premises and setting off false alarms. The security tag includes a frangible conductive portion that fractures due to stress applied on the frangible conductive portion from a hardened substrate located on the tag. The hardened substrate induces stress to the frangible conductive portion located adjacent to the edge of the hardened substrate as the tag is flexed and bent. The fracture of the frangible conductive portion of the tag results in a shifting and/or disabling of the predetermined frequency of the security tag.

The present disclosure relates to a security tag and method for creating a security tag that permanently deactivates. The permanently deactivatable security tag eliminates false alarms causing tag pollution from occurring in retail stores.
Electronic article surveillance (EAS) includes the tracking and/or detecting the presence or removal of retail items from either inventory or a retail establishment. EAS is achieved by applying, an EAS element, as part of a security tag, to the item or its packaging and when the security tags are exposed to a predetermined electromagnetic field (e.g. pedestals and/or gate located at a retail establishment exit), they activate to provide some type of alert and/or supply data to a receiver or other detector. The security tag works primarily with radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic field disturbance sensing electronic security systems.
EAS soft labels are often introduced and applied to clothing. The FAS soft label typically includes a resonant circuit with as coil coupled to a capacitor. The EAS security element is tuned to a predetermined frequency and if one attempts to remove a garment, containing, the soft label on or within, from a store, an alarm triggers as the tag passes through a surveillance field created by a transmitter, located between pedestals at the store exit, tuned to the same frequency. The alarm goes off as the EAS element resonates, providing an output signal detected by a receiver, also located in the pedestals.
When a customer purchases a garment, comprising the soft label, the soft label is deactivated at the retail counter, before the EAS tag moves through the pedestals, so as not to set off the alarm. Deactivation occurs by inducing voltage to the tag from a deactivation device so as to change and/or destroy the detection frequency resonance, such that the security tag is no longer detected as an active security tag by the security system. The voltage applied from the deactivation device induces a short about a preferred area of the capacitor plates in the EAS circuit. This in turn short's the tag's resonant circuit. As an example, tags may include a weak link created by forming a dimple in the tag which brings more closely together capacitor plates formed by the metallization of two different parts of the tag's resonant circuit located on opposite sides of the tag substrate, thereby allowing electrical breakdown at moderate power levels. Such a breakdown causes a short circuit between the two capacitors. The shorted circuit deactivates the tag, allowing the customer to move through the alarm pedestals without setting off the alarm. However, the short in the tag may only be temporary.
Often, motion and contortion of the tag may physically open the short between the capacitor plates in the tag, resulting in a reactivated resonant security tag. Often, after sale, neither the retailer nor consumer removes the soft label from within the sold garment. This is usually due to installation by a manufacturer of the tag to a garment in either a hidden or hard-to-get-to location so that potential shoplifters won't seek out the tag and remove before passing through the alarm pedestals. Wearing the garment, and thus bending or flexing the garment at or around the location of the soft tag can break and open any shorts between the capacitor plates caused by deactivation. A garment, having a reactivated tag, presents a problem for retail stores, that being the same store in which the garment was purchased or other stores, because the alarm pedestals sense the reactivated tag when the garment is introduced into the store. These reactivated tags, located in formerly bought clothing causes various false alarms, resulting in tag pollution in the store. This results in confusion for retailers and retail security over the nature of the alarm.
What is needed is a permanently deactivatable security tag and method for constructing a permanently deactivatable security tag to eliminate tag pollution, caused by for example, the reactivation of EAS soft tags and their introduction into a store. A permanently deactivatable security tag would reduce the number of false alarms. Thus, retailers and retail security might then be confidently assured that an alarm event is due to a legitimate theft taking place. Also the permanently deactivatable security tag would allow for the continued neglect by consumers and retailers in having to find and remove soft tags from clothing after purchase.


A method for casting a hollow core concrete product with a substantially horizontal slipform casting process, where concrete mass is fed at least in one feeding stage through a limited cross-section (5, 6, 7) moving progressively along with the cast, and at least one core is formed in the concrete product to be cast with a core forming member (4), wherein the thickness of webs between the cores of the product to be cast are changed during the slipform casting process by changing the width of the at least one core forming member (4). The invention also relates to such an apparatus and a core forming member.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates to casting of prefabricated concrete products with a substantially horizontal slipform casting process, where the concrete mix is fed at least in one step though a limited cross-section moving progressively along with the cast.
2. Description of Related Art
Several different slipform casting methods and devices are known in the art. The two main slipform casting methods for casting concrete products are extruder and slipformer methods. In the extruder method concrete mix is fed in a single feeding stage from a concrete mass container to feed screws which feed screws extrude the concrete mix to a slipform casting mold defined by upper surface of a casting bed and side and top plates of a casting machine. When casting hollow core slabs, the feed screws are followed by core forming mandrels forming the cores in form of longitudinal voids in the concrete product to cast. The compacting of the concrete product to be cast is achieved by vibrating and/or leveling motion of the side and top plates, and the forming of the cores is secured by back-and-forth compacting motion of an entity formed of the feed screw and the attached core mandrel. The casting machine moves along the casting bed driven by reaction force from the feed screws extruding the concrete mass and optionally with an additional drive motor. The ready cast product remains on the casting bed as the casting progresses.
In the slipformer casting method concrete mix is fed in at least two feeding stages from a concrete mass container to a slipform casting mold. In the first feeding stage concrete mass is fed to a lower portion of the casting mold formed by a top surface of a casting bed and side plates of a casting machine. The first feed stage of concrete mix is followed by vibrating shoes and core forming mandrels that by vibrating the concrete mix compacts the cast concrete mix and form the final shape of the lower part of the concrete product to be cast. In the second feeding stage concrete mix is fed onto the end portions of the core forming mandrels and on the previously cast concrete mix for casting the upper portion of the product to be cast, after which the concrete mix is compacted with a vibrating plate defining the upper surface of the slipform casting mold and located at the rear part of the casting machine. The ready cast product remains on the casting bed as the casting progresses.
Slipform casting is generally used for casting long products with uniform cross-section, such as massive or hollow core slabs, which are cut to predefined lengths after the concrete is cured.
Patent publication EP 1 843 882 B1 discloses a slipform casting method and apparatus for casting concrete products with cores, where the thickness of the cast concrete product can be changed by changing the height of the core forming mandrel and the location of the top plate of the slipform casting mold during the casting process. The disclosed apparatus may also be used to cast products with different thicknesses.
In concrete hollow core slabs thickness of the webs between the cores is one of the main features defining a shear stress capacity for the slab, especially in the end areas of the slab, which end areas are generally used for providing support for the slab in buildings.
The thickness of the webs between the cores is thus dimensioned based on the maximum shear stresses affecting the end areas of the slab. These maximum shear stresses do not affect the central area of the slab, but since the core forming members forming the hollow cores and the webs in the slab cannot be changed in slipform casting machines during the casting process, the webs have uniform thickness throughout the cast slab. This causes increased weight and decreased load capacity, for example, for the slabs.
One known solution for increasing the strength of the end areas of a hollow core slab is to fill the ends of the cores with concrete mass after the slipform casting process and thus add concrete in the critical areas of the slab. This however increases the use of concrete mass and slows down the manufacturing process.

Method, apparatus and hollow core forming member for casting concrete products by slipform casting


An equestrian saddle includes a tree made of a substantially rigid material and defining a substantially vertical longitudinal center plane, a seating surface for the user, which is associated to the tree, and a pair of flaps arranged on opposite sides from the vertical plane and connected to the tree in a connection area proximate to the seating surface. Each flap includes at least one edge element having an outer surface with a relatively high friction coefficient for providing a grip on the user's leg. Each of the edge elements at least partially extends toward the connection area and is made of a material having a greater stiffness than the flaps for locally increasing resistance to wear caused by the user's leg rubbing thereon.

In the field of animal tack elements, equestrian saddles are known to be used, which are designed to be placed on the back of a horse or an equine in general, for improving comfort and safety of the user as he/she sits during riding,
Generally, saddles comprise a tree, which is placed in contact with the back of the animal, and is adapted to define a seating surface for the user, and a pair of lateral elements, typically known as flaps, which are directly connected to the tree on opposites side thereof.
The flaps are designed for the user to lie his/her legs thereon, thereby preventing direct contact between the legs and the sides of the animal.
Equestrian saddles are often equipped with gripping members at the lower edge of the flaps, for improving the grip of the user's leg to the saddle when riding.
Particularly, the gripping members may be paddings, coatings or shock-absorbing inserts sewn to the flaps.
A first drawback of this type of saddle consists in the particularly reduced size of the gripping members, which can promote contact with the user's leg only when the latter is substantially straight.
These members afford a considerably reduced or almost no grip when the user's legs are bent, like in the equestrian discipline of hurdle jumping.
Furthermore, these gripping members are usually made of a homogeneous and resilient material, which is different from the material of which flaps are made, to improve grip at the user's legs.
Nevertheless, the use of a homogeneous and resilient material may cause folding or crinkling of the flap edge as the user's legs move thereon, which may affect the overall comfort of the saddle, and be a nuisance for the saddled animal.
Furthermore, another drawback of this type of saddle is that these gripping members do not protect the lower portion of the flaps from the wear caused by the user's leg rubbing thereon.


A method for managing a virtual infrastructure is described. The method includes: generating a configuration information model representing a virtual infrastructure based on known virtual machines and network settings thereon; querying one or more sources of truth other than the known virtual machines, wherein the one or more sources of truth includes a data storage that stores at least one data object that answers a particular question; and comparing the data from the one or more sources of truth with a store of configuration model information, wherein the configuration model information comprises a time stamp and a source identifier; based on the comparing, generates a set of rules; and based on the set of rules, updates the configuration information model.

In a network environment, allowing a user to have a consistent view of the operating environment requires information from a variety of sources. Sometimes these sources overlap in terms of the information available, and arbitrary decisions may need to be made about where the information to present to the user comes from.
When a user logs in to a system, the user is able to manage objects associated with that system. The user may be granted different sets of privileges on those objects having to do with the ability to view, update, remove, or operate on those objects.
For instance, a user may have a view of a virtual environment on the network. You can either query each host, each VM or query server that manages all of the hosts and virtual machines. You are liable to get some duplicate and some different information from each source.
What is needed is a process for sourcing and compositing information for a user so that the user has a consistent view of his environment.

Compositing data model information across a network


A foldable walker is described which includes a bridge member comprising an elongated rod which is mounted at its first end to a side member of the walker and received at its second end through an aperture in a locking member carried on the front of the walker. The elongated rod has a recessed portion near its second end. The locking member is adapted to receive the second end of the elongated rod and engage or selectively dis-engage said rod in response to movement of a button member at the top of the locking member.

Although foldable walkers have been known for many years, there has not heretofore been suggested a foldable walker having simple and effective locking means for maintaining the walker in open position when used and permitting the walker to be readily folded for storage or transport. Other foldable walkers have been described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,996,070 and 3,945,389.

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Data compression and key word recognition may be provided. A first pass may walk a text string, generate terms, and calculate a hash value for each generated term. For each hash value, a hash bucket may be created where an associated occurrence count may be maintained. The hash buckets may be sorted by occurrence count and a few top buckets may be kept. Once those top buckets are known, a second pass may walk the text string, generate terms, and calculate a hash value for each term. If the hash values of terms match hash values of one of the kept buckets, then the term may be considered a frequent term. Consequently, the term may be added to a dictionary along with a corresponding frequency count. Then, the dictionary may be examined to remove terms that may not be frequent, but appeared due to hash collisions.

In information theory, data compression or source coding is a process of encoding information using fewer bits than an unencoded representation would use through use of specific encoding schemes. For example, a text could be encoded with fewer bits if one were to accept the convention that the word "compression" be encoded as "comp." One conventional instance of compression with which many computer users are familiar is the "ZIP" file format, which, as well as providing compression, acts as an archiver, storing many files in a single output file.
As with any communication, compressed data communication only works when both the sender and receiver of the information understand the encoding scheme. For example, a text makes sense only if a receiver understands that it is intended to be interpreted as characters representing the English language. Similarly, compressed data can only be understood if the decoding method is known by the receiver.
Compression is useful because it helps reduce the consumption of expensive resources, such as memory or transmission bandwidth. On the downside, compressed data must be decompressed to be viewed (or heard). This extra decompression processing may be detrimental to some applications. For instance, a compression scheme for video may require expensive hardware for the video to be decompressed fast enough to be viewed as it is being decompressed (the option of decompressing the video in full before watching it may be inconvenient, and requires storage space for the decompressed video). Data compression schemes therefore involves trade-offs among various factors, including memory, the degree of compression, the amount of distortion introduced (if using a lossy compression scheme), and the computational resources required to compress and decompress the data.

Two-pass hash extraction of text strings


A steering device for directing passage of a remote portion of a length of wire, preferably a guide wire for use in percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. The steering device includes a releasable gripping mechanism for releasably gripping a proximate portion of the length of wire. The gripping mechanism includes and opposing gripping surfaces which cooperate to grip the proximate portion of the length of wire therebetween when said gripping mechanism is manipulated by the exertion of a translational force so that it is in a gripping position and the device grips the length of wire.

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty has recently become well known in the art as a delicate and artful procedure which has revolutionized medical treatment of atherosclerotic stenosis in arteries. The use of a catheter to dilate an atherosclerotic stenosis in blood vessels was first disclosed in 1964 by Dotter and Judkins. These investigators reported the development of a series of coaxial tapered dilating catheters that could be placed percutaneously through femoral artery atherosclerotic obstructions. The technique was subsequently modified by Gruntzig, who developed the balloon catheter concept. Today, balloon angioplasty is widely used to treat arterial stenosis or arterial blockages in lieu of more invasive procedures such as coronary artery bypass grafting, vascular surgery and the like.
Coronary angioplasty is now a very well known procedure. The utility of the present invention will be described in relation to coronary angioplasty although it has applications as a steering device for angioplasty of any vessel, as well as for other medical procedures involving steering a distal end of an elongated wire or strand by manipulating a proximal portion of the strand.
In the initial stages of a coronary angioplasty, a guiding catheter is inserted into the femoral artery in the groin. The guiding catheter is subsequently passed through the femoral artery into the aorta and over the aortic arch, and then maneuvered into the ostium of the coronary artery under fluoroscopic guidance. In order to dilate a coronary artery stenosis, a balloon catheter is directed through the guiding catheter and into the coronary artery until the deflated balloon is positioned across the stenosis. The balloon is then briefly inflated, thereby expanding the stenosis and relieving the blood vessel of the obstruction.
In order to guide the balloon catheter to the location of the stenosis, the balloon catheter is equipped with a guide wire which extends well beyond the distal end of the balloon catheter. The initial step in inserting the balloon catheter into the coronary artery involves advancing the guide wire beyond the guiding catheter and into the coronary artery under fluoroscopic guidance. After the guide wire is in place in the coronary artery, it is used to guide the balloon catheter into position by sliding the balloon catheter along the guide wire. In order to direct the guide wire successfully into position within the coronary artery without causing injury to the lining thereof, precise control of the guide wire is required. To provide such precise control, steering devices have been developed which allow precise rotational control of a J-tip which is generally provided at the distal end of the guide wire. Because the guide wire has extremely limited rotational flexibility, rotation of the steering device will generally result in a corresponding rotation of the J-tip. Because the guide wire must have considerable linear flexibility in spite of the need for limited rotational flexibility, workers in the field note that one may retain good control of the forward movement of the guide wire during insertion into the coronary artery by limiting the distance between the location of the steering device on the guide wire and the hub at the proximal end of the balloon catheter. If the distance between the steering device and the hub of the balloon catheter is relatively large, the control afforded the operator will be diminished because of the increased tendency for the guide wire to bend in a position between the steering device and the hub of the balloon catheter. Therefore, it is important that the distance between the steering device and the hub of the balloon catheter always be minimized. Preferably, this distance will be limited to 2-3 centimeters. Therefore, when the guide wire is being inserted into the coronary artery, the steering device must be repositioned on the guide wire as the guide wire is inserted further and further into the artery. Because this is a very delicate and artful procedure, it is very important for the operator to have as much control of the guide wire as possible. Furthermore, as the operator advances the guide wire, he or she must simultaneously watch a fluoroscopic monitor. Most operators have also found that they must hold the hub of the balloon catheter with one hand as they grasp the steering device with the other hand in order to direct the guide wire. Although the prior art steering devices which are presently available to workers in the field provide for adequate rotational control of the guide wire, it is tedious and distracting to advance the guide wire using these devices because it is necessary to use two hands to reposition them on the guide wire, and the operator's attention is necessarily diverted away from the monitor at a time when the operator needs to be particularly attentive.
The prior art steering devices generally used in the field of angioplasty today comprise a two-piece disposable plastic device having a collet-type gripping mechanism wherein a cap is screwed down over a plurality of flanges which are thereby tightened down upon the guide wire providing a tight grip thereof. Unfortunately, in order to loosen the grip of the steering device, the operator must use two hands. One hand is required to grasp the main body portion of the steering device, while the other hand unscrews the cap portion to loosen the collet-type mechanism. When the steering device is repositioned on the guide wire, both hands are again required to tighten the screw cap so that the manipulation of the guide wire may be continued. It will be appreciated that using both hands to loosen and then tighten the steering device on the guide wire every time the guide wire is advanced 2-3 centimeters can become a very tedious and cumbersome requirement.
The present invention addresses these and other problems associated with the use of a steering device for percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and related medical procedures requiring control of a guide wire or other elongated strand-like tools. The present invention also offers other advantages over the prior art and solves other problems associated therewith.

One-handed percutaneous transluminal angioplasty steering device and method


A pharmaceutical vial containing a quantity of an injectable drug intended to be withdrawn by introducing a hypodermic needle through the vial neck, the vial being rendered tamper-evident by means of a stretched elastic member which will rupture when penetrated by a needle, to make visible the needle insertion within the vial.

Incidences of drug abuse of controlled substances are of course in general so well documented and of such common knowledge that they need not be discussed further. However, what is not so well known and may be shocking to the uninitiated is the ever increasing drug abuse in hospitals and clinics involving the theft of injectable drugs. This theft is almost exclusively by staff members for their personal use to satisfy an addiction.
These injectable drugs are typically marketed in vials having a liquid-tight stopper through which a hypodermic needle may be introduced to withdraw a measured dosage from a larger quantity of liquid drug preparation contained within the vial. While these drug-containing vials are routinely kept under lock and key with only selected clinicians having authority to access the drug supply, it is nevertheless an ever increasing fact that the procedures intended to safeguard the accessibility to the drug closet are not sufficient to keep out the drug users who of course are highly motivated to support their habit.
When they do gain access, they will frequently attempt to hide the invasion of the drug supply by replenishing the stolen quantity with an aqueous solution. This compounds the seriousness of the matter since it in turn means that a patient requiring a given dosage, e.g. a narcotic to relieve pain, will in fact receive a diluted or attenuated dosage instead.
There is accordingly a great need in hospitals and clinics for tamperproof injectable pharmaceutical vials and, failing that, for tamperevident pharmaceutical vials which will provide non-reversible visible evidence of tampering by the introduction of a needle to withdraw a dosage from within.


In a method of forming a pattern and a method of forming a capacitor, an oxide layer pattern having an opening is formed on a substrate. A conductive layer is formed on the oxide layer pattern and the bottom and sidewalls of the opening. A buffer layer pattern is formed in the opening having the conductive layer, the buffer layer pattern including a siloxane polymer. The conductive layer on the oxide layer pattern is selectively removed using the buffer layer pattern as an etching mask. A conductive pattern having a cylindrical shape can be formed on the substrate. The method of forming a pattern may simplify manufacturing processes for a capacitor and a semiconductor device, and may improve their efficiencies.

A capacitor employed in an electronic device, for example, a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) device, can include a lower electrode, a dielectric layer and an upper electrode. In order to improve the capacitance of a memory device having the capacitor, increasing the electric capacitance of the capacitor can be important. Thus, the capacitor can have a flat shape so as to have a large capacitance; however, the shape of the capacitor has gradually changed to a box shape or a cylindrical shape to have a relatively large aspect ratio, for example, because the area of a unit cell of the DRAM device recently has reduced as integration of the DRAM device has increased to the giga-size range.
A cylindrical capacitor typically includes a lower electrode having a cylindrical shape. A buffer layer pattern may be used in a node-separation process to form the lower electrode having the cylindrical shape, and examples of materials that may be used for the buffer layer pattern include an oxide, a photosensitive material, etc.
In order to form the buffer layer pattern including an oxide, a buffer oxide layer can be formed through an oxide deposition process, and then the buffer oxide layer can be etched through an etch-back process or a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process. As a result, forming the buffer layer pattern can take a long time for the deposition process and the etching process. Additionally, a void may be formed in the buffer layer pattern. An atomic layer deposition (ALD) process can be required to form a buffer layer pattern without the void.
In order to form the buffer layer pattern including a photosensitive material, a photoresist film is formed. Thereafter, an exposing process, a developing process using a developing solution, a cleaning process and a baking process are typically sequentially performed on the photoresist film. High-cost exposure devices can be needed to form the buffer layer pattern. Furthermore, a baking process to harden the photoresist film at a temperature more than about 270° C. may be needed. A photoresist film hardened through a high temperature baking process may not be easily removed through a plasma ashing process.
Moreover, the lower electrode of the buffer layer pattern may be damaged while the ashing process and the cleaning process are performed. The buffer layer pattern may not be easily removed by a conventional ashing process, and residue of the buffer layer pattern that remains in an opening may serve as a resistance that causes the capacitor to malfunction. In order to improve the efficiency of the ashing process for removing the buffer layer pattern, an oxygen plasma ashing process may be performed at a temperature of about 150° C. to about 250° C. However, a high temperature ashing process may deteriorate and/or oxidize the lower electrode so the capacitor may not have a desired electric capacitance.

Methods of forming a pattern and methods of manufacturing a capacitor using the same


A method of pad etch which removes an anti-reflective coating over a conductor in an integrated circuit is disclosed herein. The method includes providing a mask layer, stabilizing the mask layer, and providing a high temperature etch to remove the anti-reflective coating.

Integrated circuits (ICs), such as, ultra-large scale integrated (ULSI) circuits, can include as many as one million transistors or more. The ULSI circuit can include complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) field effect transistors (FETS). The transistors can include semiconductor gate structures disposed between drain and source regions. The drain and source regions are typically heavily doped with a P-type dopant (boron) or an N-type dopant (phosphorous).
Structures of metal or other conductive materials can be included in ICs to interconnect transistors or make connections to transistors from other devices. For example, an IC can include several layers (metal 1, metal 2, etc.) of conductive lines, each being a composition of several metal materials. The conductive lines are insulated from each other by interlevel dielectric layers (ILD 1, ILD 2, etc). The last (uppermost) layer of conductive lines is covered by a final insulating material. In the fabrication process, this last conductive layer, or "topside stack", must be exposed at specific sites to make appropriate connections to the IC (a pad etch). Generally, the final insulating material is etched to expose portions of the top surface of the layer, or "pad", of the topside stack.
The conductive lines may be covered with a titanium nitride (TiN) anti-reflective coating (arc). A TiN arc on top of the conductive lines serves two purposes: 1) as an anti-reflective coating for lithography and 2) as a via etch stop. The final metal layer (the topside stack) typically is coated with thinner TiN since it only has to serve as an anti-reflective coating, not an etch stop. A thinner TiN is beneficial on the final metal layer because during a pad etch all of the TiN must be removed to ensure high quality bonding. In some instances, a thick TiN layer is necessary during pad etch for other reasons (e.g., yield issues, non-standard flows, pad opens for sample wafer electrical test during a process flow). With thicker TiN, it is necessary to remove additional TiN for high quality bonding.
One prior method of removing thick TiN is using increased temperature during the etching process. The TiN etch rate is a strong function of temperature. Allowing the wafer to reach temperatures greater than approximately 110.degree. C. will accelerate the TiN etch rate. However, using such temperatures can damage the photoresist, making the photoresist very difficult to remove.
Thus, there is a need for a pad etch process for removing thick TiN under the topside stack. Further, there is a need for removing TiN at a much higher rate. Even further, there is a need for stabilizing the photoresist such that the photoresist can withstand elevated temperatures.

Pad etch process capable of thick titanium nitride arc removal