A data storage disk drive system uses a no-ID disk architecture. The disk is formatted by mapping the disk in the desired format and allocating the defective regions to defective sectors. The list of defective sectors is then stored in a table. The user may selectively perform this format operation without the need to perform an AC erase of the entire disk and/or a write of all data sectors on the disk.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to no-ID data storage disk drive systems and more particularly to data sector formatting operations in such systems.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In data storage systems such as magnetic disk drives, digital information is magnetically stored upon a surface of a magnetic medium such as a magnetic storage disk in a set of concentric circular patterns called tracks. The digital information is represented by selectively polarizing the surface of the disk. When this information is read back from the disk, the magnetic polarization of the medium is sensed and converted to an electrical output signal. The read and write operations are performed by read/write electronics in conjunction with a read/write head which flies over the surface of the rotating disk and provides an output signal.
Typically, storage disks of a disk drive are stacked in a disk stack which are mounted for rotation together on a single spindle. Each side of each disk in the disk stack has a surface which is usually used to store information. Each surface of a disk in the disk stack is usually exposed to at least one head responsible for reading and writing information on that particular surface. Typically, all the magnetic heads are mounted on actuator arms and move in tandem over the surfaces of the disk so that they are all at the same approximate disk radius at the same time.
In order to accurately move a magnetic head to a desired track and position the head over that track a servo system is utilized. The servo system performs two distinct functions known as the "seek" or "access" function and the "track following" function. During the seek operation the servo system moves a read/write head to a selected track from a previous track or from a parked position as quickly as possible. When the head reaches the desired track, the servo system begins a track following operation in which it accurately positions the head over the center line of the selected track and maintains the head in that position as successive portions of the track pass by the head.
During a seek operation the actuator arm where the head is located is moved as fast as possible so as to minimize the time required for that operation. Since the seek time is one of the most important factors considered in measuring the overall performance of disk drives, it is essential to minimize the time it takes for carrying out the seek operation.
In order to read and write data from the correct location in the disk stack, the data sectors in the disk stack are identified by cylinder address, head address and sector address (CHS). A cylinder identifies a set of specific tracks on the disk surfaces in the disk stack which lie at equal radii and are, in general, simultaneously accessible by the collection of heads. The head address identifies which head can read the data and therefore identifies the disk surface on which the data is located. Each track within a cylinder is further divided into sectors for storing data and servo information.
Many modern disk drives use a concept known as zone bit recording (ZBR) as taught by Hetzler in U.S. Pat. No. 5,210,660, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention, in which the disk surface is divided into radial zones and the data is recorded at a different data rate in each zone. The addition of zones requires expansion of the cylinder, head, sector (CHS) identification scheme to a zone, cylinder, head, sector (ZCHS) identification scheme.
Some disk drives have servo information only on a dedicated surface on one disk in the disk stack. However, many modern disk drives use a servo architecture known as sectored servo (also referred to as sector servo) as taught by Hetzler in U.S. Pat. No. 5,210,660 where servo information is interspersed with the data stored on each disk surface. The servo sector in sectored servo architecture contains position data on each track to help the magnetic head stay on that track. This approach is preferred because it can be implemented at low cost without extra components beyond those required for storing data and because it provides the servo information at the data surface which is being accessed, thereby eliminating all thermal sources of track misregistration (TMR).
The use of either sectored servo or dedicated servo surface architectures and the implementation of either of the two are well known to those skilled in the art.
There are also a number of methods used to format disk files, one of which is fixed block architecture (FBA) method which is used in both dedicated servo disk files and sectored servo disk files. In an FBA formatted disk file, each disk track is divided into a number of equal sized segments, and each segment is divided into sectors containing servo information, identification information (ID), and data.
FIG. 1 shows a typical segment 9 of a track on a FBA formatted disk utilizing sectored servo architecture. Segment 9 comprises sequentially a servo sector 10, an identification (ID) region 11 and a data sector 12. Servo sector 10 further comprises information such as write/read and speed field 15, address mark (AM) field 16 and position error signal (PES) field 17. The ID region 11, which is written onto the disk during the format operation contains specific information concerning the data sector 12 which can be used during normal operation, either writing or reading, to identify the succeeding data sector 12. The ID region 11 typically comprises a read/write and speed field 18, VCO sync field 19 encoder/decoder flush field 20, sync byte 21, and ID and CRC field 22. The data sector 12 typically comprises fields 23-26 which correspond to the ID fields 18-21 and data and ECC field 27. In a disk file having an ID region, the CHS/ZCHS information (otherwise known as logical block address (LBA)) is typically recorded on the data ID field 22 immediately proceeding the data sector.
Recently, a new method and system has been developed to increase capacity of disk drives known as the no-ID format and the disk drive systems utilizing no-ID format are commonly referred to as no-ID disk drive systems. This format has been taught by Best et al in U.S. Pat. No. 5,438,559 and assigned to the assignee of the present invention. For no-ID disk drives implementing a sector servo architecture, a full track number identifier in the position field in the servo sector of a given track is used in combination with a defect map to uniquely identify the requested data sectors and thereby completely eliminate the use of ID regions.
Once a disk drive completes the required seek operation to the cylinder and head identified, or to the zone, cylinder and head identified, the recording channel scans the desired data sector by examining the servo sector associated with each data sector as it passes under the head. When the appropriate data sector is found, the data is read and the operation is completed.
One problem encountered with disk drive systems (both ID and no-ID) has been that the data sector format operation is time consuming, expensive, and does not allow for ease of reformatting. The complete disk format operation consists of writing the servo sectors, data sectors and ID sectors (in the case of ID drives) along the concentric tracks of the magnetic recording disk. Typically, the entire operation is performed by the manufacturer, however, the customer may also do a data sector format operation.
The complete disk formatting process at the time of manufacture starts with a blank magnetic disk in a disk drive system. The servo sectors are then written using specialized machinery known as servo writers. The servo writers help to exactly position the magnetic head while it is writing the servo sectors. It is very important that the servo sectors be accurately positioned since they are used to position the head along the track during operation of the disk drive. The servo sectors are typically written at some specified angular distance from one another along the same track such that the servo sectors radially align with the corresponding sectors on adjacent tracks.
After the servo sectors are written, the entire disk surface is tested for defective regions. This is accomplished by writing the entire area of the disk with a surface analysis test (SAT) pattern using the transducer heads of the disk drive. The heads are then used to read the entire area just written. 1f the heads are unable to read from a particular region of the disk, that area is designated as a defective region. These defective regions are mapped by reference to their track position and their circumferential distance from a reference index mark on the disk. Typically the reference index mark is included in one of the radially aligned servo marks. Information on the location of the defective regions as well as other operational information which is needed by the drive is then written in a special reserved area of the disk drive. Typically the reserved area is in the outer most cylinders of the disk. At this point, the reserved area is the only portion of the disk on which the entire tracks have been completely formatted. Typically the reserved area is unaccessible to the user for purposes of writing or reading user data.
This next portion of the formatting operation is known as the data sector formatting process and is concerned only with the portion of the disk which is to be devoted to user data. In other words, the reserved area is not effected.
Next, the drive uses its transducer head to do an AC erase along each data track. The AC erase writes a frequency which is outside the band width of the typical data encountered by the read/write electronics. The AC erase is typically done at a frequency of less than 10 Hz or greater than 50 MHZ. The purpose of the AC erase is to clean up the magnetic disk to eliminate any local anomalies and gives the disk a more uniform distribution of magnetic domains.
After the AC erase, the next step, in the case of an ID drive, is to write the ID sectors and the data sectors. As explained above, the ID fields contain information on the addresses of the data sectors which follow. During the initial format operation, the data sectors are generally written with fixed patterns, usually binary zeros. In a disk drive with a regular transducer head, the ID and data sectors for each track are written on the same revolution of the disk. In other words, one revolution of the disk is needed to write all of the ID and data sectors of a single track.
In the case of an ID drive which uses an MR head, the ID and data sectors may have to be written separately. This is due to the fact that the read and write elements of an MR head are slightly offset in the radial direction from one another and it is therefore desirable that the ID sectors be offset along the radial direction relative to the data track halfway in between the read and write elements. In order to offset the ID sectors, the ID sectors and data sectors are written on separate revolutions of the disk. In other words, it takes two revolutions to write all the ID and data sectors of a single track.
In the case of a no-ID drive, after the AC erase step, the data sectors alone are written with fixed patterns, usually binary zeros. Id sectors are not recorded.
Today's disk drives are approaching six thousand (6,000) tracks per disk surface. The drives have at least two surfaces and sometimes many more. If one revolution and sometimes two revolutions are required to data format a single track of one data surface it is readily apparent that the data sector format operation may take a considerable amount of time. Current drives may require one half hour to an hour and one half for data sector formatting.
What is needed is a disk drive which may be data sector formatted quickly and inexpensively.

No-ID data storage disk drive data sector formatting system and method

International Business Machines Corporation


An assembly for locking a handle to an implement head having convergent bores for mounting the handle. The assembly includes a handle mountable to one head bore with a transverse aperture located adjacent one end of the handle. A locking plug includes a locking pin. When the locking plug is mounted to the other head bore, the locking pin projects into the handle aperture, thereby locking the handle to the head. A flexible restraint may bridge the locking plug and handle.

This invention relates generally to an assembly for attaching handles to an implement head such as a broom head. More particularly, the invention relates to an assembly for threadably attaching a handle to an implement head and locking the handle so that it cannot be detached from the head during usage.
A standard implement for which the invention has applicability comprises a separable, elongated handle and one of a variety of implement heads, including brooms, mops, squeegees, etc. For a push broom, the head is made up of bristles and a rigid bristle supporting base, with the base often made of wood, plastic, light metal or other rigid material. The head typically has two predefined, centrally located holes or mounting bores through its upper surface in angularly offset relationship for receiving one end of the handle. One hole is located on a front side of the head and the second hole is located on an opposite side of the head. This allows the handle to be switched from one hole to the other such as, for example, when the bristles become worn in one pushing direction. The holes are typically threaded to allow engagement with the end of the handle which has complementary threads.
While the threaded attachment of the handle to the head provides a functional implement, several inherent problems are present with this arrangement. During use, the threaded attachment between the handle and head routinely loosens due to a force producing a torque imbalance wherein the head is urged to pivot about the handle. If not constantly tightened, the head may become completely separated from the handle. Over tightening of the handle can lead to stripped threads on the handle or within the mounting bore. The distribution and transport of assembled push brooms, with their heads jutting from their handles, is cumbersome and awkward. Shipment of assembled brooms also requires additional valuable cargo or container space compared to shipment of unassembled brooms. Displaying assembled push brooms for retail merchandising and sale presents similar handling and space requirement problems.


The door latch includes a support bracket adapted to be mounted on the interior surface of an outer screen or storm door, an elongated bolt slidably and rotatably carried in a guideway on the support bracket, and a transversely extending handle on the bolt which extends through a slot in the guideway and is somewhat longer than the spacing between the outer door and an inner door. When the handle is in a generally horizontal operating position, the slot permits the bolt to slide freely between a latching position wherein the outer end is received in a keeper on the door frame and an unlatched position wherein the bolt is retracted from the keeper. Detent recesses located at the opposite ends of the slot permit the handle to be rotated downwardly to a generally vertical non-operating position when the bolt is in either the latching or unlatched positions and prevent sliding of the bolt unless the handle is rotated to the operating position. The handle cannot be rotated to the operating position for unlatching the bolt any time inner door is closed.

The invention relates to latches and, more particularly, bolt latches for doors and the like.
Outer screen doors or storm doors for homes commonly are provided with some sort of inside locking mechanism which ordinarily can be easily forced open from the outside or conveniently unlatched from the outside after the glass or screen in the door has been broken through. Consequently, these locking mechanisms are not particularly effective as a deterent to a burglar and provide very little additional security.
Bolt type latches are widely used as inside door locks because of their simple operation, low cost and effectiveness. Such latches typically include a rod or bolt mounted on a support bracket for rotational and longitudinal movement by a knob or handle on the bolt. The support bracket usually includes a slotted guideway through which the handle projects and the guideway has detents which receive the handle and serve to prevent movement of the bolt from the latching position to unlatched position, and vice versa, unless the handle is rotated to a generally horizontal position. Exemplary prior art constructions for bolt latches are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,403,065 (Engert), issued July 2, 1946 and 2,543,171 (Jaden), issued Feb. 27, 1951.
Bolt latches are not particularly effective as inside locks for outer screen or storm doors because a burglar can open the outer door by simply breaking through the glass or screen in the vicinity of the latch, reach through the opening and rotate the handle to a horizontal or operating position, and slide the bolt to the unlatched position.


A drawer block of a support system, the drawer block including at least one drawer accommodation including a housing defining a receptacle, a drawer including a lock having an actuator and a mechanism configured to lock the drawer in the receptacle of the drawer accommodation, and a receiver assembly that is electrically connected to the actuator and configured to convert an opening signal to an opening instruction for the actuator.

Drawer blocks may be mounted to support systems, such as support heads of medical care units. Such drawer blocks include one or more drawers. The drawers are either typically individually or commonly lockable in a fixed configuration by a central locking mechanism. Locking takes place by a mechanical lock and a key. The key must be available to open the one or more drawers. In order to limit unauthorized access to the one or more drawers, duplication of the key is typically minimized, but the key will still need to be provided to authorized persons.
Trolleys having several drawers may be used to store medicine and medical devices. A particular drawer can be unlocked by inputting a code via a keyboard. However, in some cases, the drawers are located in a single housing, and the arrangement of the drawers within the housing cannot be changed. Accordingly, rearrangement of such a support system is generally not possible, thereby preventing a desirable (e.g., ergonomic) arrangement of the drawers.

Locking systems for drawer blocks of support systems


A product dispensing apparatus of a coin operated type is provided with a housing having a product delivery compartment attached thereto. A frame structure is rotatably mounted within the housing and has a plurality of product column assemblies mounted in a carousel arrangement. Each of the product column assemblies has a set of shelves, each shelf pivotally attached thereto and oriented one above another in each column for allowing a product to be placed thereon for dispensing, one at a time. A radially extending partition wall is disposed on each side of each set of shelves for preventing the product from being moved off of the shelf. Each of the shelves is a generally pie section shaped configuration with side wing members that fold so that such shelves do not become wedged between the partition walls when they drop towards a product dispensing position. A motor is provided for turning the carousel for selection of particular product desired and a delivery system is provided for delivering the product upon insertion of the proper amount of money into the machine and pushing a delivery button.

In the type of vending machine shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,589,556 and 3,767,081, there are a plurality of rows of shelves, each row of shelves being actuated by a separate actuating mechanism. One of the common ways of actuating a machine of this type is to use a separate solenoid or a separate motor for each row of shelves. This is, however, an expensive thing to do and for that reason becomes an economic problem.
There are carousel vending machines in the prior art of a type which have a plurality of vertical rows of product and including structure for turning the rows about a central axis for selection and dispensing of the desired product for example as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,644,371; 1,835,605; 2,208,298; 3,179,289 and 4,069,943, but it has not become practical to combine the type of vending machine shown in U.S. Patent No. 3,589,556 with a carousel arrangement because there are certain problems which have not been overcome. One of these problems is that in using a carousel type of vending machine having a plurality of shelves pivotally attached and releasable there must necessarily be a close tolerance between the partition separating the rows of shelves and each set or row of shelves to prevent the product from falling between the shelf and the partition. This becomes a real problem in a carousel type of arrangement, since a pie shaped shelf is dictated by the carousel arrangement and such a shelf cannot drop properly to release the product because the wider portions of the pie shaped shelf catch on the partition as it begins to drop, thereby preventing such dropping of the shelf as is required. Consequently, there is a need for structures to alleviate this problem.
Another problem associated with the carousel type of vending machine when vertically disposed rows of shelves are used is that it is necessary for the rows to be viewed, preferably by using a motor to rotate the carousel and then to stop it at rather precise positions. Heretofore this problem has not been solved sufficiently to make such a machine commercially practical. Consequently, there is a need for structures to solve this problem.
Still another problem associated with this type of machine is a way to easily and positively set the prices for the product in each of the vertical rows of shelves. Accordingly, there is also a need for structures to solve this problem.


The present invention relates to an arrangement for adaptive bit recovery, and to an apparatus for reading from and/or writing to recording media using such arrangement. According to the invention, an arrangement for adaptive bit recovery including an adaptive equalizer and an adaptive partial response maximum likelihood detector further includes an overflow control block for the adaptive equalizer for monitoring one or more of the adaptation coefficients and/or a state violation checker for monitoring the allowed states and indicating state violations as well as and a noise detector for detecting larger deviations of the target values.

Recently techniques have been developed for a channel adaptive recovery of data from optical recording media. However, due to the multitude of possible media types, e.g. Compact Disk, Digital Versatile Disk, Blu-ray Disk, and many other types, and the fact that some recording media types are not protected by a housing, a stronger monitoring of the adaptive processes is required. For this purpose several solutions were proposed to implement a reliable data retrieval processing. One solution is depicted in FIG. 1. A high frequency data stream HF captured from a recording medium is sampled and quantized in an analog-to-digital converter 1, resampled to the data channel clock rate by a sample rate converter 4, and fed to a bit recovery block 11 dealing with the channel adaptation. The channel clock for the resampling is recovered in a clock recovery block 10, which typically includes a phase locked loop 3 preceded by an equalizer 2. The data for this equalizer 2 is either received directly from the analog-to-digital converter 1 or as phase information from the bit recovery block 11. The obtained data and the clock are transmitted to a demodulator 9, which sends the demodulated data to error correction processing (to ECC).
The bit recovery block includes an adaptive equalizer 8 and an associated coefficient updating block 7, which uses the least mean square (LMS) algorithm and weights the output of the adaptive equalizer 8 with the recovered data after filtering by a target filter 5. Due to the increased intersymbol interference of current modulation schemes for channels of optical recording media a partial response maximum likelihood detector 6 is provided for detecting the most likely data from the incoming data stream. Since the channel modulation generally uses a run-length limited coding scheme it is common to employ a Viterbi decoder 6.
More recently it has been proposed to provide an adaptive Viterbi detector 14 as shown in FIG. 2. In this case, while monitoring the output of the Viterbi detector 15, i.e. the recovered data bits, the target values against which the likelihood of the possible data bit is measured are updated by a target value updating block 17. This is realized by comparing a best case value, i.e. the most likely value, with the data fed into the adaptive Viterbi decoder 15. A slicer 12 is provided for roughly eliminating DC components, which are not caused by the modulation but by data coupling. This is the digital counterpart of a decoupling capacitor trimmed for the lowest frequencies. The higher order DC component caused by the modulation changes on run-length time frames and is tackled in the equalizer 8. A state detector 16 follows the Trellis diagram of the Viterbi decoder 15 by monitoring the bit combinations. The Trellis diagram will be explained further below with reference to FIG. 9. For example, the subsequently detected bits '++−' (i.e. bit order '1 1 0' or state '4') only allow a transition to a following state '3'. From state '2' the transition may be to states '4' and '5'. If an invalid transition is detected in the target update block 17 this target is not updated with the value of the corresponding input sample, which should actually give a closer match to the correct signal.
However, adaptive processes tend to become unstable and counteractive under certain circumstances like initialization or when dealing with errors in the data stream caused by scratches or fingerprints. Therefore, it has been proposed to introduce an auxiliary detector 20 to improve the adaptation performance of the bit recovery block 11 under such conditions and to meet high speed data detection requirements. A scheme of such an arrangement is shown in FIG. 3. The auxiliary detector 20 includes a pre-equalizer 21, a data pre-slicer 22, a non-linear equalizer 23, and a bit detector 24. This auxiliary detector 20 basically slices the bit information out of the center of the resampled hf data. The detector 20 has certain limitations considering run-length dependent parasitic DC-components, and tends to misdetect the shorter run-length data bits. Nevertheless, the auxiliary detector 20 outperforms the Viterbi detector 14 when dealing with corrupted data regions on a recording medium and does not have the detection latency immanent to the filter length and path memory depth used in the Viterbi bit detection path 14. An event logic 25 as indicated in FIG. 3 decodes the data sample transition as above zero, zero or below zero and passes this information to the clock recovery block 10 (not shown here) together with the corresponding phase value.
When dealing with several types of recording media and channels (e.g. DVD+RW, DVD-RW etc.) a high degree of flexibility is required for the adaptation processes. Some flexibility can still only be provided by a system reconfiguration initiated by a host control, but some flexibility is already within the scope of hardware implementation, due to the increased integration level of very large scale integrated circuits (VLSI).
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved arrangement for adaptive bit recovery allowing a reliable bit detection exceeding the performance of common data detection processors.


A method of constructing a pump island protector to alleviate continuous maintenance required for a deteriorating existing steel pump island base, and a pump island protector constructed by the method. Using an adjustable form system and the combination of stainless steel members and new concrete, the existing pump island is re-wrapped with the stainless steel member and the new concrete.

The present invention relates generally to a method of constructing a pump island protector to alleviate continuous maintenance required for a deteriorating existing steel pump island base, and a pump island protector constructed by such a method.
More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of constructing a pump island protector to alleviate continuous maintenance required for a deteriorating existing steel pump island base and higher portions disposed on the base, and to a pump island protector constructed be such method.
It is a desideratum of the present invention to avoid the animadversions of conventional techniques for dealing with deterioration of existing pump island bases and/or higher portions disposed on such bases.

Methods of constructing a pump island protector, and a pump island protector formed by such methods


A human monoclonal antibody, which has prophylactic and therapeutic effect to infectious diseases caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa of serotypes A and H classified under the Japanese Committee's Classification, and the epitope of which is located at the common structure in the O-antigen of Pseudomonas aeruginosa of serotypes A and H. A hybridoma producing said human monoclonal antibody, and processes for preparing said hybridoma and antibody are also provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a human monoclonal antibody to Pseudomonas aeruginosa (hereinafter referred to as "P. aeruginosa"), and its production and use. More particularly, it relates to a human monoclonal antibody, which can recognize a partial structure of O-antigen common to A and H serotype strains of P. aeruginosa, and which shows a binding property to P. aeruginosa of various strains of different serotypes, and its use. It also relates to a hybridoma capable of producing the antibody, and a process for the production of the antibody. The human monoclonal antibody of the invention is useful for prevention and treatment of infectious diseases caused by P. aeruginosa. It is also useful for diagnosis of infectious diseases caused by P. aeruginosa.
2. Description of Related Art
Bacteria causing infectious diseases, i.e. prophlogistic bacteria, are varied with development and change of antibiotics as clinically used. As a result, infectious diseases with bacteria originally having only low pathogenicity or virulence may increase. Thus, P. aeruginosa is currently one of the major pathogenic bacteria causing infectious diseases, of which serious symptoms often lead patients to death, particularly when their immunological competence is low due to continuous administration of immunosupressants, suffering from cancer or burn or the like.
Among various preventive or therapeutic methods for bacterial infections, the most prevailing one is chemotherapy by the use of antibiotics or antimicrobial agents. In fact, there have been developed various antibiotics including streptomycin, kanamycin, penicillin, cephalosporin, etc., which are sensitive to almost all Gram-positive bacteria (e.g. Staphylococci) and Gram-negative bacteria (e.g. E. coli) and produce a prominent clinical effect. However, there are known only few medicinal products active against to P. aeruginosa. Even those medicianl products act on P. aeruginosa only bacteriostatically and not bacteriocidally. Thus, they do not clinically exhibit any remarkable therapeutic effect.
The other preventive or therapeutic method is antibody therapy comprising administration of immunoglobulin. This method is often performed in association with chemotherapy and nowdays attracts much attention as a substitute for chemotherapy. A serum of high antibody titer can be obtained by active immunization of animals such as horse or rabbit, and antibody therapy can be made by administration of such serum. In fact, its remarkable therapeutic effect was proved on experimental infections using various animals. It is known from the cases of diphtheria toxin and viper toxin that antibody therapy using sera originated from animals is quite effective even on human beings. However, introduction of a heterogenous protein obtained from animals into a human body may cause such a serious side-effect as anaphylaxis or any other allergic reaction. It is thus highly desired to develop human immunoglobulin having a high antibody titer against bacteria and showing a prominent therapeutic effect on bacterial infections.
Conventional human immunoglobulin preparations are manufactured by collecting blood from healthy persons or bacteria-infected patients, subjecting the blood to fractionation to obtain an immunoglobulin fraction, purifying the immunoglobulin fraction and eliminating agglutinating materials therefrom by addition of ethylene glycol, treatment with protease, sulfonization, DEAE-column chromatography, etc., followed by formulation of the resulting product into intramuscularly or intravenously injectionable preparations. These preparations are advantageous in not causing anaphylaxis or any other side-effect as seen on administration of immunoglobulin originated from animals but they have some drawbacks. One such drawback is that their antibody titer against bacteria is low so that a sufficient therapeutic effect can not necessarily be produced. Another drawback is that their stable supply with a high antibody titer in a large amount is difficult, because they are manufactured using blood collected from healthy persons or bacteria-infected patients and the constant and continuous obtainment of sera having a high antibody titer is quite hard. A further drawback is that they may be contaminated with hepatitis virus (e.g. HB virus), Adult T cell leukaemia virus (ATLV, HTLV), etc., because the blood as the starting material is obtained from a number of unknown persons. In order to overcome these drawbacks, production of a human monoclonal antibody having a strongly protective effect on the infections with P. aeruginosa is highly desirable.
When an antibody is bound to the surface layer of a bacterial body, the phagocytosis of a macrophaze on the bacterial body is accelerated (i.e. acceleration of phagocytosis due to opsonization), or the lysis of the bacterial body by a complement takes place. As the target antigen at the surface layer of the bacterial body of P. aeruginosa, there are known lipopolysaccharide (LPS), outer membrane protein, flagellum, pilus, etc. Of these, Sawada et al. reported that a far large amount of a mouse monoclonal antibody recognizing the outer membrane protein is required in combatting bacteria as compared with a mouse monoclonal antibody which recognizes LPS (J. Infect. Dis., 150, 570-576 (1984)).
LPS consists of O-polysaccharide which represents O-antigen, an outer core oligosaccharide being common among species to some extent, an inner core oligosaccharide, of which component of saccharide, i.e. heptose or 2-keto-3-deoxyoctonate (KDO), is generally almost common to all enterobacteria, and lipid A. The O-polysaccharide antigen locating at the outermost surface of a bacterial cell consists of repeating units of 2 to 5 sugar residues, and its structure varies to a large extent. The structures of almost all O-antigens of the standard serotype strains of P. aeruginosa have already been determined (Eur. J. Biochem., 106, 643-651 (1980); ibid., 125, 229-237 (1986); ibid., 150, 541-550 (1985); ibid., 155, 659-669 (1986); ibid., 167, 549-561 (1987)).
Because determination of the structure of O-antigen by chemical analysis requires a lot of time and labor, antisera or mouse monoclonal antibodies against the O-antigens from the standard strains are employed for the classification of the strains of P. aeruginosa. Namely, an unknown strain of P. aeruginosa is classified in accordance with an immunological reactivity with known antibodies or antisera. This classification is known as a serotype, and typical examples of the serotype classification are as follows: Types 1 to 17 according to the classification by Homma et al. (Japan J. Exp. Med., 44, 1, (1974)); Types 1 to 7 according to the classification by Fisher et al (J. Bacteriol., 98, 835 (1969)); Types A to M according to the classification by Nippon Ryokunoh-kin Kenkyukai Kesseigatabetsu Kento Iinkai (Committee of Study on Serotype Classification, Japanese Study Group on Pseudomonas aeruginosa (hereinafter referred to as "Japanese Committee") (Japan J. Exp. Med., 45, 329 (1976)); Types 1 to 17 according to the classification by International Antigenic Typing System (IATS), etc. These classifications and their cross-relations are shown in Table 1 (Japan J. Exp. Med., 46, 329 (1976)).
TABLE 1 ______________________________________ Serotype classification of P. aeruginosa Japanese Commitee Homma et al ITATS Fisher et al 1976 1974 1983 1969 ______________________________________ A 1 3 -- B 2, 7, 13, 16 2, 5, 16 3, 7 C 3 8 6 D 4 9 -- E 5 11 2 F 6 4 -- G 8 6 1 H 9 10 5 I 10 1 4 J 11 15 -- K 12 13 -- L 14 -- -- M 15, 17 -- -- -- -- 7, 12, 14, 17 -- ______________________________________
It is known that the antibody specific to a certain O-antigen shows a strong preventive or therapeutic effect for P. aeruginosa infections of the serotype to which said O-antigen belongs but does not show any effect against P. aeruginosa in other serotypes. Consequently, for the production of prophylactic and therapeutic preparations by the use of the O-antigen specific monoclonal antibody, it is necessary to broaden its binding spectrum by mixing (hereinafter referred to as "cocktailing") plural monoclonal antibodies, respective antibodies being specific to respective O-antigens in different serotypes. However, the use of plural monoclonal antibodies necessitates the increase of production steps such as cultivation of antibody-producing cell lines, and purification of the monoclonal antibody therefrom makes the entire process very complicated, thereby raising problems in productivity and production cost, etc.
As stated above, the monoclonal antibody against outer membrane protein, like conventional antibodies against LPS core, is not sufficiently effective, although the binding spectra of the former is fairly broad in P. aeruginosa. Therefore, elimination of the problems as seen in production of the cocktail preparation comprising the anti O-antigen monoclonal antibodies is highly desirous. Namely, if one could produce a monoclonal antibody which specifically recognizes an O-antigen and exerts a significant prophylactic and therapeutic effective against infections caused by P. aeruginosa, while exerting a broad binding spectra to a large number of serotype strains, the cocktail preparation comprising said antibody may possibly require least numbers of other monoclonal antibodies. In other words, production of the cocktail preparation usable for a wide range of the serotype strains could be accomplished, even if it comprises least numbers of such monoclonal antibodies.
Fukuda et al. made a report on a specific human monoclonal antibody reactive with several O-antigens of P. aeruginosa (WO88/04669). However, this report only demonstrated that the monoclonal antibody binds to two types of LPS derived from different serotype standard strains of P. aeruginosa, and is still silent on whether said monoclonal antibody can specifically recognize the O-antigen in LPS. Further, on the basis of the reactivity shown with regard to one or two LPS derived from standard strains of P. aeruginosa, it is hardly difficult to conclude that such monoclonal antibody has a specific binding property to other strains within the same serotype. More specifically, Fukuda et al disclosed in their report eleven species of the monoclonal antibody (HPs 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12), each being reactive to the LPS derived from standard strains of P. aerusinosa in Types D and I, E and F, A and L, G and H, E and F, and A and F, but no disclosure was made to the monoclonal antibody capable of specifically recognizing either LPS in Types A and H, particularly O-antigen therein.
Likewise, Zweerink et al. reported that they established a human monoclonal antibody which could bind to LPS of P. aeruginosa in serotypes B and C (corresponding to types 3, 6 and 7 according to Fisher's serotype classification) (Infect., Immun., 56, 1873-1879 (1988); JP-A-63-107999). Similar to the report by Fukuda et al., this report is suggestive of a certain antigen in LPS, which their monoclonal antiobdy specifically recognizes, but so far no specific disclosure was made on that antigen.

Human monoclonal antibody, and its production and use

Sumitomo Pharmaceuticals Company, Limited


The invention discloses a Selective Laser Melting forming device for multiple metal powder materials. Technical solutions adopted are as follows: a collector container, a build cylinder and a feed container are provided on a lower portion of a process chamber; leveling oil cylinders for the substrate are mounted in the build cylinder; a recoater bracket in the process chamber is slidably mounted on a slide rail; a recoater is fixed on a lower portion of the recoater bracket; a compaction roller is simultaneously mounted on the recoater bracket; a stress sensor is provided under the compaction roller; an electron microscope for collecting the porosity of the spread powder and the product and a melting pool monitoring Charge Coupled Device camera; a laser scanning system, a directional heating laser system and an alarm device are provided on a top portion of the process chamber.

A 3D printing technology is a technology that is opposite to the conventional material processing method and constructs a 3D object by overlapping materials layer by layer based on 3D Computer Aided Design (CAD) model data. The 3D printing is based on a 3D model, takes materials like a high molecular plastic, a photosensitive resin, a metal powder and a film coating powder as raw materials and implements the manufacturing of the 3D model in a principle of overlapping the materials layer by layer. The 3D printing technology is a combination of a CAD, a mechanical automation and other technologies, such that the manufacturing process is simplified, a development period of a new product is shortened and the development cost and risk are reduced. It is considered as a third industrial revolution.
In the technical field of the 3D printing, an SLM forming technology is one of the technologies with the most development potential. It directly melts a metal powder using a high-energy beam laser and forms a high-performance metal part. During the SLM forming process, a 3D model of a part is designed on a computer first, then the 3D model is sliced and layered to obtain Two-Dimensional (2D) contour data of each cross section, and thereafter a processed data is imported to a forming device. When the forming device works, a feed container is first lifted to a certain height, a layer of the powder is spread on a build cylinder uniformly by a recoater, and the computer controls a 2D scanning trace of a laser beam according to a prototype slicing model such that a metal powder material is selectively melted and solidified to form a layer of the part. After the contour of this layer is scanned completely, the above steps are repeated to perform laser melting forming of a next layer till the whole part is processed completely to form a 3D metal part. The technology can manufacture a metal product with a complex shape, makes a formed part have good performance and high precision and therefore has important applications in fields such as medicine, aerospace and military.
At present, during the SLM forming process, there still exists the following problems to be solved.
{circle around (1)} A substrate is difficult to level automatically. To reduce the warping deformation of the part, the product is generally sintered on the substrate such that the product and the substrate are formed into one whole structure. Currently, the substrate is mainly leveled manually by a feeler gauge, so an adjustment process is troublesome, the accuracy is low and the forming efficiency is reduced.
{circle around (2)} The porosity of the spread powder and the product is difficultly monitored. During the forming process, the internal porosity of the spread powder and the product directly affects a property of the product. Currently, during the SLM forming process, the internal porosity of the spread powder and the product cannot be detected. If there are more unqualified pores inside the product, the forming will be performed again, such that not only the forming efficiency is reduced, but the material is also wasted.
{circle around (3)} During the forming process, the melting pool is difficultly monitored. During the forming process, the stability of the melting pool directly affects the dimensional accuracy and the mechanical performance of the formed product. During the SLM forming process, the melting pool is largely affected by factors such as a laser power, a beam scanning speed, a gas component, an air flow, a material performance and a layer thickness. Hence, there is a need for a monitoring system to have a fast shooting speed and a relatively large data volume and to implement signal processing. The common monitoring devices cannot implement real-time monitoring.
{circle around (4)} The formed part is easy to occur warping deformation. During the forming process, a thin-walled portion of the formed part is cooled rapidly, such that an internal temperature is distributed non-uniformly, the warping deformation of the formed part is caused easily, the product performance is reduced or even a waste part is formed; and thus, the rate of finished products is reduced.

SLM forming device for multiple metal powder materials


An air-conditioning system according to the present invention includes plural air-conditioning apparatuses which air-condition the same space, and a controller which includes a communication unit, a data collection unit and a determination unit. The communication unit communicates with the plural air-conditioning apparatuses via a communication line. The data collection unit collects air-conditioning data including information indicating an air-conditioning efficiency from each of the plural air-conditioning apparatus via the communication unit. The determination unit determines one of the air-conditioning apparatuses which has the lowest air-conditioning efficiency, as a low-efficiency air-conditioning apparatus, based on the collected air-conditioning data, reduces the load on the low-efficiency air-conditioning apparatus, and causes one or ones of the plural air-conditioning apparatuses which are other than the low-efficiency air-conditioning apparatus, to bear an amount of load by which the load on the low-efficiency air-conditioning apparatus is reduced.

Of air-conditioning systems, air-conditioning systems are present which are made up of an air-conditioning apparatus which includes an indoor unit and an outdoor unit, and a controller which collects operation information on the air-conditioning apparatus from the air-conditioning apparatus through communication. In some cases, the controller is capable of controlling the plural air-conditioning apparatuses. Such a controller is connected to the plural air-conditioning apparatuses such that it can communicate therewith, and collects operation information on each of the air-conditioning apparatuses from each air-conditioning apparatus.
In a computer room or a similar space, a large number of servers are installed. In order to remove heat generated from those servers, and keep the temperature of the room at a constant level, the above air-conditioning system including the plural air-conditioning apparatuses is provided in the computer room. In order to keep the temperature of the computer room at a constant level, the controller controls the operations of the plural air-conditioning apparatuses.
If a further server or servers is added to the computer room, an air-conditioning apparatus or apparatuses are also added in accordance with the number of added servers. In the case where the computer room has been operated for many years, there is a case where an air-conditioning apparatus having been operated for ten and several years and a latest air-conditioning apparatus coexist in the room. Because of a technical progress of air-conditioning apparatuses, in general, the latest model of air-conditioning apparatuses have a higher coefficient of performance (COP) than those of old models of air-conditioning apparatuses. In the case where an air-conditioning system including air-conditioning apparatuses having different COPs performs control to keep the temperature of a computer room at a constant level, an air-conditioning apparatus having a lower COP consumes a larger amount of power than an air-conditioning apparatus having a higher COP, though the loads on the air-conditioning apparatuses are equivalent to each other.
Patent literature 1 discloses an example of an air-conditioning system including plural outdoor units having different COPs. To be more specific, patent literature 1 discloses the following technique: with respect to three outdoor units, an operation-capability distribution table for determining priorities for operating them based on the COP characteristics, maximum COPs and capacities of them is prepared in advance, and in accordance with a required load, based on the operation-capability distribution table, the load is distributed to two outdoor units having higher priorities, and the operation of the remaining outdoor unit is made in a stopped state. In such a manner, an outdoor unit or units having a higher priority are started, to thereby achieve a high efficient operation.

Air-conditioning system, air-conditioning control method, and non-transitory computer readable medium storing program


A rear wheel is provided with a steering characteristic such that a vehicle runs on a cornering path with a longitudinal center line of the vehicle substantially aligned with a tangential line of the cornering path throughout cornering movement. A fail judge device is provided for judging when a rear wheel steering device failure is present in light of a criterion based on a rear wheel steering. A criterion change device is also provided for changing the criterion between a transitional cornering condition, in which the vehicle is in an initial stage of a cornering movement just after a steering operation and before a cornering force acting on the vehicle body reaches a substantial value, and a steady cornering condition, in which the cornering force has reached the substantial value. A reverse phase control can be properly performed without failure judgment. This assures that a desirable driving feeling is provided for the driver when cornering as well as improved safety.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a rear wheel steering device in which a rear wheel is steered in accordance with a front wheel.
2. Description of the Related Art
As commonly known, a so called 4 wheel steering (4WS) vehicle is provided with a rear wheel steering device for steering the rear wheel in accordance with a steering wheel operation as well as a front wheel steering device.
In the rear wheel steering device, it has been generally proposed that the rear wheel be steered in the opposite direction to the front wheel when the vehicle speed is lower than a predetermined value (speed responsive type) or when the steering angle for the front wheel is greater than a predetermined value (steering angle responsive type).
In the 4WS vehicle, the rear wheel steering characteristic is determined so as not to produce so called head-in and head-out of the vehicle in which the vehicle head portion significantly comes off from the turning path of the vehicle. In other words, the rear wheel steering characteristic is determined such that a longitudinal center line of the vehicle moves along a tangential line of the cornering path of the vehicle wherein a vehicle body slip angle .beta. is zero.
A conventional rear wheel steering device can provide a cornering characteristic in which vehicle body slip angle .beta. is zero in a steady cornering condition after a steering operation. When the driver operates the steering wheel for cornering, the vehicle experiences a transitional cornering condition just after the steering operation by the driver before the vehicle reaches the steady cornering condition. In the transitional cornering condition, the vehicle is not subjected to a side force high enough to cause the vehicle body to be moved substantially perpendicular to the tangential line of the cornering path.
Thus, the vehicle moves obliquely from the tangential line of the cornering path at the initial stage of the cornering movement. This affects the driving feeling of the driver badly.
In view of this, it has been proposed that the rear wheel be steered in a direction opposite to the front wheels (reverse phase control) for a moment just after the steering operation by the driver. This facilitates a responsive yawing of the vehicle and produces a proper cornering force even in the initial stage of the cornering movement. Therefore, it is possible for the vehicle to move along the cornering path in the transitional condition as well as the steady cornering condition.
Meanwhile, it has been proposed that the 4WS be provided with a fail safe system in which an abnormality is detected when a steering ratio of the rear wheel to the front wheel is increased beyond a predetermined zone; such a system is proposed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2-43674. The fail safe system functions to detect the abnormality of the rear steering device quickly to improve the safety of the 4WS vehicle, for example by switching from the 4WS condition to 2WS condition.
In the conventional fail safe system for the rear wheel steering device, generally, the rear wheel steering is prohibited in the direction opposite to the front wheel when the vehicle speed is relatively high or when the steering angle of the front wheel is relatively small. On the other hand, under the reverse phase control, the rear wheel steering in the opposite direction to the front wheel steering is prohibited irrespective of the vehicle speed and the front wheel steering angle as far as the vehicle is in the transitional cornering condition which occurs for a certain period just after the steering operation is made. Therefore, where the rear wheel steering device is provided with both the conventional fail safe system as mentioned above and the reverse phase control system, there is a fear that the fail safe system will detect erroneously an abnormality of the rear wheel steering device when the rear wheel is steered in the direction opposite to the front wheel in accordance with the reverse phase control.


An airflow treatment device configured to be installed inline in the ductwork of an air handling system (e.g., HVAC system) in a manner that is substantially free of obstructing the airflow through the ductwork or requiring any supplemental power to treat the airflow passing by the treatment device. The disclosed airflow treatment device can also be maintained substantially free of any interruptions, disassembly or downtime to the air handling system after initial inline installation of the disclosed device. In one arrangement, the airflow treatment device is capable of accepting a threaded odor neutralizer container at its base. Ductwork need only be disassembled once to attach the disclosed device inline in the airflow path of the ductwork. When the odor neutralizing agent needs replenished, the container can be detached from the device, replenished, and reattached to the device free of disruption to the air flow of the air handling system.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems and, more particularly, to devices that treat airflow through the ductwork, hoses or the like of HVAC systems.
2. Description of Related Art
It is common to employ one or more devices in homes, buildings, and other enclosed spaces to treat the air being inhaled by inhabitants in various manners. As one example, various types of odor management (e.g., neutralizing or elimination) systems have been utilized in which an air flow is moved past a product which may be vaporized, either by evaporation or sublimation, in order to distribute the vaporized product throughout the surrounding environment to neutralize, treat, purify and/or freshen the air and/or the like. For instance, some odor management systems are installed "inline" in the ductwork or hosing of an HVAC system so that activation of the HVAC system (e.g., including triggering of the blower fan in the HVAC system) simultaneously initiates activation of the odor neutralizing or elimination system.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An output buffer, in accordance with the present invention includes a first driver circuit for coupling a first voltage to an output when the first driver circuit is turned on, and a second driver circuit for coupling a second voltage to the output when the second driver circuit is turned on. An input connects to the first and second driver circuits for turning the first and second driver circuits on and off according to a first input signal. An adjustment circuit is coupled to the first and second driver circuits for adjusting the strength of the first and second driver circuits according to a data pattern, the data pattern including the first input signal and input signals of a plurality of output buffers. Also, included is a method for adjustment of driver strength of the output buffer.

1. Technical Field
This disclosure relates to semiconductor devices and more particularly, to an adjustable strength driver circuit for off chip drivers used in semiconductor memories and a method of adjustment.
2. Description of the Related Art
Semiconductor memories, such as dynamic random access memories (DRAMs), include an off chip driver (OCD) or an output buffer which provide a signal to be sent off the semiconductor chip during operation. A memory chip often includes an array of output buffers to permit simultaneous output of multiple databits. When several of the drivers of the array of buffers are in operation, the rise and/or fall time of the outgoing signals are slowed down. This is true for signals driven off the memory chip. The slow down is caused primarily by power and ground supply noise, and the resulting decrease in a gate to drain voltage (V.sub.gs) and drain to source voltage (V.sub.ds) of driver transistors of the buffer array. The load at the output is driven by less overdrive voltage V.sub.gs and less voltage difference V.sub.ds between source and drain of the driving transistor.
In DRAMs, there are typically between 4 to 32 output buffers, arranged in an array, and having a dedicated power supply. Package parasitics include inductances of a lead frame and a bond wire and capacitive loads including internal and external output loads as indicated in FIG. 1. When, as a worst case, a majority of output buffers have to drive data of a same polarity (either "0" or "1", single-sided), this causes a decrease of V.sub.gs and V.sub.ds. over the driving transistor. This slows down the rising or falling edge of the output signal and results in a lower speed performance of the DRAM. Although the rising or falling edge delay may be compensated for by increasing the width of the driving transistor, this cannot be performed dynamically and may therefore violate maximum slew rates in best cases.
Referring to FIG. 1, a typical output buffer 10 is shown having parasitic load 12 and capacitive loads 13 and 15 associated with lead frame and bond wire. Output buffer 10 includes two driving transistors 14 and 16. Transistor 14 is driven by an n-logic signal while transistor 16 is driven by a p-logic signal. Transistor 14 has a source coupled to a first supply voltage (i.e., VSSD) while transistor 16 has a source coupled to a second supply voltage (VDDQ). When n-logic drives transistor 14 (which is an NFET pull transistor) to drive node OUT low, node 2 will temporarily bounce up (dI/dt noise, i.e., <U=L.E-backward.dI/dt where <U; is voltage variation caused by parasitic inductances L and dI/dt is the derivative of the current with respect to time). This voltage change caused by the inductance is not negligible and may significantly contribute to the decrease in V.sub.gs and V.sub.ds for transistor 14. When a majority of output buffers in an array drive the same data (1's or 0's), this effect is further enhanced and causes a slowing down of the signal's OUT falling edge because V.sub.gs and V.sub.ds decrease further. Output timings become data pattern dependent resulting in reduced timing margins especially when the DRAM chip is operated at high frequencies.
Therefore, a need exists for an output buffer which dynamically adjusts the drive strength according to a data pattern to be output from an array of output buffers in its vicinity.

Adjustable strength driver circuit and method of adjustment


A vapor phase growth apparatus includes a reactor, a plurality of flow paths, a cap, and an attachment. The reactor has an inlet through which vapor phase growth gas is introduced therein. The plurality of flow paths extend from the inlet to the outside of the inlet 8a. The cap has an introduction passage. The attachment has a branch path connectable to the introduction passage, and is attached to the cap. The branch path is branches in a tournament-tree shape from the introduction passage side toward the downstream side of the material gas, so that the branched paths are connected to the corresponding flow paths. Thus, a vapor phase growth apparatus capable of improving uniformity of the film thickness of an epitaxial layer grown on a substrate with high cost effectiveness, is provided.

With miniaturization of a semiconductor integrated circuit, a pattern formed on a semiconductor substrate, which is a base of the semiconductor integrated circuit, is miniaturized, and thus such a semiconductor substrate is required to have higher qualities. In particular, the requirement for flatness is particularly increased among various qualities required for semiconductor substrates. Among semiconductor substrates, an epitaxial wafer, which is suitable for various applications, needs to have both flatness of a substrate and flatness of an epitaxial layer. The flatness of the epitaxial layer significantly depends on film thickness distribution of the epitaxial layer. Therefore, in order to satisfy the required flatness of the epitaxial layer, it is necessary to improve uniformity of film thickness distribution of the epitaxial layer.
At present, a single-wafer-processing type vapor phase growth apparatus is used for manufacturing an epitaxial wafer having a diameter of 300 mm. Such a vapor phase growth apparatus is roughly composed of: a mechanism which supplies material gas for growing an epitaxial layer on a substrate; a reactor which grows an epitaxial layer on the substrate by using the supplied material gas; and a mechanism which discharges the gas from the reactor. The material gas supplying mechanism includes an injection cap (hereinafter referred to as "cap"), a baffle, and an injection insert (hereinafter referred to as "insert") in order from the upstream side of the material gas. The cap has a space through which the material gas passes when the material gas is introduced into the reactor. The baffle is a plate-shaped member sandwiched between the cap and the insert, and has a plurality of through-holes which guide the material gas in the cap to the insert. The through-holes adjust the flow of the material gas toward the insert. The insert includes a plurality of flow paths which guide the material gas having passed through the through-holes of the baffle, to an inlet to the reactor. The material gas is guided to the reactor through these members. The reactor, to which the material gas is introduced, includes: an inlet which communicates with the reactor and into which the material gas from the upstream side flows; an outlet which is located above the inlet and closer to the reactor than the located of the inlet, and reaches inside the reactor; a passage connecting the inlet and the outlet; and a step portion located inside the passage. The material gas guided from the insert to the inlet of the reactor climbs over the step portion in the passage that reaches inside the reactor, and is guided into the reactor. The guided material gas is caused to react on the substrate, whereby an epitaxial layer is grown on the substrate. The gas generated through reaction of the material gas in the reactor and the unreacted material gas are discharged from the reactor by the gas discharging mechanism.
In order to grow an epitaxial layer whose film thickness distribution is made more uniform by using the single-wafer-processing-type vapor phase growth apparatus as described above, it is most important to guide uniform flow of the material gas onto the surface of the substrate in the reactor. In the present single-wafer-processing-type vapor phase growth apparatus, the flow of the material gas once introduced into the cap is changed to desired flow by the baffle, and then the material gas flows into the plurality of (e.g., ten) flow paths in the insert. However, the flow of the material gas itself, formed through the baffle is dominated by pressure balance in the cap, so that the speed corresponding to the diameter of each through-hole of the baffle cannot be obtained. Furthermore, since the flow of the material gas finely divided through the baffle passes through the insert to be guided onto the substrate, the flow of the material gas depends on the number of the flow paths in the insert. Therefore, variations in speed corresponding to the number (e.g., 10) of the flow paths of the insert are caused in the material gas that flows in the in-plane direction of the substrate, and speed distribution of the material gas introduced onto the substrate is determined based on the situation. Meanwhile, the material gas introduced into the inlet of the reactor climbs over the step portion in the passage communicating with the reactor, and is guided into the reactor. Thus, the flow of the material gas is influenced by the shape of the step portion. Specifically, the step portion located in the passage includes: a first surface which curves like an arc around an axis extending in the vertical direction on the reactor side, and opposes the inlet of the passage; and a second surface extending from an upper end of the first surface to the outlet of the passage. Therefore, the flow of the material gas introduced into this passage is biased outward in the width direction of the passage due to the first surface when the material gas is about to climb over the step portion. Accordingly, the speed distribution of the material gas, which has been controlled outside the reactor, is changed before the material gas is introduced into the reactor, which makes it difficult to minutely control the speed distribution of the material gas introduced onto the substrate. Because of the structural restriction on the vapor phase growth apparatus and the difficulty in controlling the speed distribution of the material gas, it is difficult to satisfy evenness of the film thickness distribution of the epitaxial layer needed in the epitaxial wafer used for advanced device.
In order to satisfy evenness of film thickness distribution, the shape of a top dome, which is one of components constituting a ceiling of the reactor, has been optimized. This optimization results in overall improvement of the film thickness distribution in the epitaxial layer grown on the substrate. However, the speed of the material gas, which is introduced through the insert in the in-plane direction of the substrate, still has a plurality of variations corresponding to the flow paths in the insert. If an epitaxial layer is grown by the material gas having such variations in speed on, for example, a substrate rotating around the axis extending in the vertical direction, the variations in the speed of the material gas causes concentric variations in the film thickness of the epitaxial layer. Since an epitaxial wafer having such variations in film thickness cannot satisfy the required flatness, it is necessary to reduce the variations in the speed of the material gas supplied onto the substrate.
Therefore, the flow paths formed in the cap have been improved to make the speed of the material gas introduced onto the substrate uniform. For example, as for flow paths, in a cap, communicating with a plurality of outlets located on the downstream side (reactor side) of the cap, flow paths joined in a tournament-tree shape toward the upstream side of the cap are adopted, as described in Patent Document 1. Thus, the material gas is distributed while flowing from the upstream side toward the downstream side in the cap, whereby variations in the speed of the material gas supplied from the respective outlets of the cap can be improved. As a result, film thickness distribution of the epitaxial layer grown on the substrate is effectively improved.
However, when a cap having flow paths in a tournament-tree shape as described in Patent Document 1 is manufactured, advanced techniques, such as shaving of a stainless-steel material and diffusion bonding, are required, resulting in an increase in cost. When such a cap is used, another component corresponding to the cap is required. For example, an insert having flow paths as many as the tournament tree-shaped flow paths of the cap is required. In addition, it is necessary to extensively modify the components constituting the passage (the passage having the step portion) communicating with the inside of the reactor into which the material gas is introduced from the insert. Along with this modification, the top dome, which is a component constituting the ceiling of the reactor, needs to be modified, and moreover, a base ring, which is a component to be a base of the reactor, needs to be modified. In addition, when the base ring is modified, man-hours for lifting the base ring up and down are also needed. Therefore, when a cap having tournament tree-shaped flow paths as described in Patent Document 1 is used, much cost and labor are required for manufacture and replacement of necessary components. Some of vapor phase growth apparatuses to be operated do not manufacture a high-quality epitaxial wafer used for advanced device. Therefore, such a cap requiring much cost and labor cannot be easily applied to all vapor phase growth apparatuses.
Meanwhile, in Patent Documents 2 and 3, a quartz member, which is relatively easy to be machined, is used as a member for guiding material gas into a reactor.

Vapor phase growth apparatus, method of manufacturing epitaxial wafer, and attachment for vapor phase growth apparatus


A system for monitoring one or more downhole parameters. The system includes a downhole base gauge configured to receive power from a surface power drive and to communicate data with a surface computing device and a plurality of downhole remote sensors coupled to the base gauge in series and configured to generate data indicative of one or more observable parameters. The base gauge is further configured to query one of the remote sensors and, in response to such a query, the remote sensor is configured to transmit data indicative of the observable parameter associated with that sensor to the base gauge.

Some oil and gas production rigs employ an artificial lift electrical submersible pump (ESP) to increase pressure within a reservoir to thereby encourage oil to the surface. When the natural drive energy of the reservoir is not sufficient to push the oil to the surface, artificial lift is employed to recover more production. If an ESP fails during operation, the ESP must be removed from the pumping environment and replaced or repaired, either of which results in a significant cost to an operator.
In various applications, sensors or other detectors are used to monitor aspects of the pumping system, for example to detect or predict pumping system failure, or to provide surveillance engineers with a richer observable dataset upon which to make decisions regarding pumping system operation. In some cases, a base gauge may serve as a "hub" between surface monitoring equipment and one or more remote sensors positioned along the ESP string. However, the downhole environment is space constrained with respect to the ability to provide connectors to more than a small number of remote sensors. Further, the base gauge is often incapable of providing sufficient power for more than a small number of remote sensors.


The invention discloses a percutaneous puncture and dilation visible irrigation-suction system and a method of using the same. The system comprises a main tube, which is contiguous with the sheath tube and has an end for an endoscope insertion. The sheath tube comprises an inner sheath and an outer sheath joined together in a sleeve type. There is a space between inner and outer sheath. The inner sheath is connected to main tube, together building a channel via which the endoscope is inserted and withdrawn. The sheath tube is connected to main tube after completing puncture and dilation, then endoscope system is introduced for observation and operation. The present invention provides a percutaneous puncture and dilation visible irrigation-suction system and a method of using the same, with a continuous controllable visible negative pressure aspirator, achieving high irrigation and powerful suction efficiency, as well as clear endoscopic view.

Generally, during the traditional percutaneous endoscopic procedures, such as minimally invasive percutaneous nephrolithotomy, irrigation fluid with a predetermined safe pressure and flow is perfused into intrarenal pelvicaliceal system through the working channel of the endoscopy. The reasons are as follows:
1. Artificially dilating the pelvicaliceal system to expose the surgical area;
2. Washing the surgical area to maintain a clear endoscopic vision;
3. Cleaning the surgical area and clearing the bacteria or endotoxins;
4. Flushing out the substances like fragmented stones by the different pressure between internal and external renal when withdraw the endoscope.
At the beginning of traditional percutaneous endoscopic procedures, such as minimally invasive percutaneous nephrolithotomy, a proper size percutaneous puncture tract should be established at first as needed. Meanwhile, an endoscope matched with the percutaneous puncture tract should also be selected. During the procedure, further percutaneous puncture tract dilation would be carried out, or multiple percutaneous puncture tracts would be used, if needed.
The primary intraoperative complications of traditional percutaneous endoscopic procedures, such as minimally invasive percutaneous nephrolithotomy, are as follows:
1. Sepsis. Although the irrigation pressure and flow could be set within a safe range on the irrigation pump, maintaining low intraoperative intrarenal pressure was mainly achieved by evacuating fluid via the space between the percutaneous puncture access sheath and the endoscope, or by discharging fluid through percutaneous puncture access sheath to external body when withdraw the endoscope. If irrigation pressure beyond the upper limit of predetermined safe parameter persistently, especially when infectious diseases coexist, sepsis will remarkably increase.
2. Residual stones. When the irrigation pressure is lower than intrarenal pressure, the unbalance between irrigation and evacuating fluid would cause unclear in traoperative field visibility, and subsequently the difficulty of procedures would increase, which lead to residual stones or more sessions required.
3. Bleeding.

Percutaneous puncture and dilation visible irrigation-suction system and method of using the same

The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University

Hangzhou Hawk Photoelectric Instrument Co., Ltd.


A collapsible environmental chamber in which bread dough may be placed during rising, the chamber including umbrella-like ribs between which fabric panels are positioned, each fabric panel having a skirt depending beneath the straight line between adjacent leg ends whereby the chamber in its expanded condition will have a skirt portion lying loosely adjacent a supporting surface to prevent drafts from entering the interior of the chamber during the bread rising process.

Yeast dough that rises before being baked must stand for a period of time while yeast acts to decompose sugar. The decomposition of sugar generates carbon dioxide which produces the bubbles or open spaces within the dough which ultimately give the baked product its texture. Frequently the dough must be knocked down after it rises and permitted to rise again, perhaps several times before the dough is finally ready to bake.
The rising process is very sensitive to ambient conditions. It should take place at a temperature in the range of 75-90 degrees F. and in an environment that is fairly humid. The environment in which the dough riser should also have uniform conditions throughout.
Particularly dough should rise away from drafts which may cool the environment generally or cause one portion of the body of dough to be cooler than other portions. Bread having good and uniform texture requires careful attention to the environment in which the dough rises.
The dough for bread baked at home typically is placed in a baking pan or a bowl which is covered with a cloth which in turn is placed in a warm environment such as in a bowl of hot water, near a heating vent or in an oven. The ambient conditions in the kitchen of an ordinary home will vary from season to season, from day to day and even from day to night so that skill is required to produce uniform conditions in which the dough rises.
Environmental chambers to create the correct conditions for dough to rise are known. Mostly, these environmental chambers are in the form of boxes and many are equipped with controls for temperature and humidity. However, in an ordinary, home kitchen it is important to conserve storage space and it is very desirable for a baking implement such as an environmental chamber to consume a small amount of space when it is stored. Collapsible chambers which occupy a small volume when stored but expand to enclose a large volume when in use are known. Some of these prior collapsible chambers employ an umbrella-like structure and others are supported by legs or ribs that fold. Weiss U.S. Pat. No. 4,210,073 discloses one such environmental chamber which comprises ribs or legs that support panels of flexible, foldable material that can be stretched over the ribs or legs to form an enclosed chamber but can be folded between them when the chamber is collapsed. A problem with a collapsible chamber such as disclosed in the Weiss patent is that when it is standing on a support surface, such as a tabletop or a work counter, the tightly stretched fabric or other foldable material between adjacent legs creates a space between the support surface and the lowest extremity of the foldable, flexible material forming the panel. FIG. 2 of the Weiss patent exemplifies the problem of permitting drafts to enter the environment control chamber in this way. Thus, it is desirable for home use to have a collapsible environmental chamber that can maintain an elevated temperature environment within it and which fits tightly enough against a support surface to exclude drafts from its interior.

Environment control chamber with safety switch


This invention concerns an isolated and purified polypeptide capable of acting as a guanylyltransferase and methyltransferase comprising capping enzyme of flavivirus (CEF). The invention also concerns the use of such polypeptide to identify biologically active molecule wich can be used in the treatment or the prevention of diseases resulting from Flavivirus infection.

The cap is a unique structure found at the 5′-end of viral and cellular eukaryotic mRNA (1). This cap is critical for both mRNA stability and binding to the ribosome during translation. mRNA capping is a co-transcriptional modification resulting from a series of three chemical reactions (2). The 5′-triphosphate of the mRNA is first converted to a diphosphate by an RNA triphosphatase. The second reaction is a transfer of a GMP moiety from GTP to the 5′-diphosphate RNA by the guanylyltransferase (capping enzyme) to yield G5′-ppp5′-N. In general, this reaction involves a covalent attachment of the a-phosphate of GTP to the e-NH2 group of a lysine residue to yield a phosphoramide (P—N) bond with the concomitant release of pyrophosphate. In a third reaction utilizing S-adenosyl-L-methionine as the methyl donor, the transferred guanosine moiety is methylated by a methyltransferase at its N7 position to yield 7MeG5′-ppp5′-N (cap 0 structure). In some instances, a second methyl transfer reaction methylates the 2′-OH of the first nucleotide 3′ to the triphosphate bridge to yield 7MeG5′-ppp5′-N2′0Me (cap 1 structure) and it is the case for the mRNA Dengue virus.
Many viruses replicate in the cytoplasm of their eukaryotic host. Since cellular RNA capping is localized in the nucleus, these viruses often encode their own capping enzymes while relying on the host translation machinery for gene expression. Although the physical organization of the capping apparatus has diverged in cellular and viral systems, eukaryotic cellular and DNA virus guanylyltransferases have been grouped into a superfamily of covalent nucleotidyltransferases on the basis of structural and mechanistic features (3).
The crystal structure of the DNA virus PBCV-1 (Chlorella virus) guanylyltransferase in complex with GTP has illuminated the structural and mechanistic determinants of guanylyl transfer in this enzyme family (4). Covalent attachment of GMP to the enzyme is a hallmark of guanylyltransferase activity in this family. Unlike DNA viruses, however, the classification and mechanism of RNA virus guanylyltransferases is elusive. Only a few guanylyltransferase activities from RNA viruses have been assigned to viral proteins because they do not share obvious amino acid sequence homology with covalent nucleotidyltransferases. The sole example of a structurally defined RNA virus guanylyltransferase is the crystal structure of the Reovirus core at 3.6 Å resolution comprising the λ2 subunit (5). However, it is a double strand-RNA virus, and not a single strand-RNA virus. As RNA capping is essential for several viruses (6), it is a potential target for antiviral design.
The guanosine analogue Ribavirin is a broad spectrum antiviral agent discovered about thirty years ago (7). Its mechanism of action has remained controversial (8). Like most nucleoside analogues, Ribavirin is phosphorylated at its 5′-position upon penetration into the cell. Ribavirin 5′-monophosphate is a potent inhibitor of the cellular enzyme inosine 5′-monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMP-DH). This inhibition results in depletion of the intracellular guanosine nucleotide pool which feeds capping and polymerase enzymes of both viral and cellular origin. Consequently, the Ribavirin-depressed guanosine nucleotide pool may exert an indirect antiviral effect because viral enzymes would not compete advantageously for guanosine nucleotide with cellular enzymes. In addition, Ribavirin nucleotides might have a viral target, such as RNA capping, responsible for the observed antiviral effect (reviewed in (8)), but direct evidence for this mechanism was lacking. Elucidation of the Ribavirin mechanism of action has been plagued by the possible involvement of both direct and indirect mechanisms.
Viruses from the Flaviviridae family are sensitive to Ribavirin (9, 10). The genus Flavivirus comprises important human pathogens such as West Nile, Dengue and Yellow Fever viruses. These mosquito-borne viruses are currently expanding their distribution over the world. West Nile virus introduction in North America may be an important milestone in the evolving history of this virus, as exemplified with recent outbreaks in the New-York area (11). The Camargue area in France has re-witnessed West Nile virus infection of horses after 40 years. Likewise, Dengue virus, an agent responsible for hemorrhagic fever, is infecting more than 50 million persons annually with an increasing incidence in tropical areas around the world.
The Flavivirus single-stranded RNA genome is of positive polarity, and capped with a cap 1 structure (12). The guanylyltransferase has not yet been identified. Structural insights into viral RNA capping and its inhibition may reveal a putative target for Ribavirin and help the identification and design of inhibitors directed against Flaviviruses. Once identified, such inhibitors will be useful in the treatment of diseases resulting from Flavivirus infection.
This invention discloses an isolated and purified polypeptide capable of acting as a guanylyltransferase and methyltransferase comprising capping enzyme of flavivirus (CEF). The polypeptide of the invention comprises a N-terminal module (subdomain 1), a SAM-binding core (subdomain 2), and a C-terminal sequence (subdomain 3) located between subdomains 1 and 2, and forming the bottom of a narrow cleft. The subdomain 1 of the polypeptide of the invention starts with a helix A1-turn-helix A2 motif. The subdomain 2 polypeptide of the invention is comprised of a twisted mixed β-sheet comprising 7 β-strands (β1 to β7) and 5 helices (α1 to α5) and its subdomain 3 is positively charged.
The polypeptide of the invention is designated "CEF" (Capping Enzyme of Flavivirus). This invention provides the general structure of CEF. The amino acid sequences of three CEFs—for the Dengue virus, the West Nile Virus, and Yellow Fever Virus—are also disclosed and these sequences are respectively represented by SEQ ID No. 1, SEQ ID No. 2 and SEQ ID No. 3 in the sequence listing in the appendix.
The invention relates to polypeptides homologous to a polypeptide whose amino acid sequence is represented by SEQ ID No. 1, SEQ ID No. 2 or SEQ ID No. 3. More particularly, the invention relates to polypeptides which have at least about 95% homology with amino acid sequences represented by SEQ ID No. 1, SEQ ID No. 2 or SEQ ID No. 3.
The invention also concerns a nucleic acid molecule comprising or constituted of an encoding nucleic sequence for a polypeptide capable of acting as a guanylyltransferase and methyltransferase comprising capping enzyme of flavivirus (CEF). The invention also concerns nucleotide sequences derived from the above sequences, for example, from the degeneracy of the genetic code, and which encode for proteins having characteristics and properties of CEF.
The invention includes polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies directed against a polypeptide of the invention, a derivative or a fragment thereof. These antibodies can be prepared by known methods. The antibodies are useful in identifying new CEF or the homologues of this enzyme in other virus belonging to the flavivirus genus.
The invention also concerns a vector comprising at least one molecule of the nucleic acid above, advantageously associated with adapted control sequences, together with a production or expression process in a cellular host of the CEF of the invention or a fragment thereof. The preparation of these vectors as well as the production or expression in a protein host of the invention can be carried out by molecular biology and genetic engineering techniques well known to the one skilled in the art.
An encoding nucleic acid molecule for a polypeptide capable of acting as a guanylyltransferase and methyltransferase comprising capping enzyme of flavivirus (CEF) or a vector according to the invention can also be used to transform animals and establish a line of transgenic animals. The vector used is chosen in function of the host into which it is to be transferred. It can be any vector such as a plasmid. Thus, the invention also relates to cellular hosts expressing a polypeptide capable of acting as a guanylyltransferase and methyltransferase comprising capping enzyme of flavivirus (CEF) obtained in conformity with the preceding processes.
The invention also relates to nucleic and oligonucleotide probes prepared from the molecules of nucleic acid according to the invention. These probes, marked advantageously, are useful for hybridisation detection of CEF in other viruses of the Flavivirus genus. According to prior art techniques, these probes are put into contact with a biological sample. Different hybridization techniques can be used, such as Dot-blot hybridisation or replica hybridisation (Southern technique) or other techniques (DNA chips). Such probes constitute the tools making it possible to detect similar sequences quickly in the encoding genes of different virus of the Flavivirus genus. The oligonucleotide probes are useful for PCR experiments, for example, in a diagnostic sense.
The invention can also be useful in methods for determining the inhibitory power of a biologically active compound acting as a competitive inhibitor of GTP comprising:                a) incubating CEF with radiolabeled GTP,        b) adding selected different concentrations of the biologically active compound,        c) assaying resulting radiolabeled CEF-GTP complex produced from the incubation,        d) quantifying an amount of radiolabeled CEF-GTP complex produced from the assay,        e) comparing the amount to a binding affinity constant of GTP to CEF, and        f) determining the inhibitory power of the biologically active compound.
More particularly, the incubating step in the methods of the invention is conducted at about 52 μM of GTP. Selected different concentrations of GTP are about 0 μM, about 10 μM, about 20 μM, about 50 μM, about 100 μM, about 200 μM, about 300 μM, about 500 μM, and about 800 μM. Assaying in the methods of the invention comprises UV-crosslinking of α-32P-GTP to CEF.
The invention relates to methods for selecting an inhibitory biologically active compound capable of reducing CEF binding to GTP as an antiviral pharmaceutical agent comprising selecting biologically active compounds with a binding affinity higher than the binding affinity constant of GTP to CEF.
The biologically active compound which can be used in the methods of the invention can be a nucleoside, a nucleoside analogue or a non-nucleoside molecule, for example.
We discovered that the triphosphate form of acyclovir and a vectorized form of acyclovir 5′-monophosphate are good inhibitors of the CEF enzyme. Thus, the invention concerns the use of acyclovir 5′-triphosphate or a vectorized form of acyclovir 5′-monophosphate for preparing a medicine useful in treating or preventing diseases resulting from Flavivirus infection. The terms "vectorized form" relates to any vector capable of transporting acyclovir 5′-monophosphate to a particular cell such as an infected cell and to introduce acyclovir 5′-monophosphate into the cell. All kinds of vectors known by those skilled in the art can be used in the invention.

Capping enzyme of flavivirus and utilization of this protein in a process to test drugs with antiviral properties

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, C.N.R.S.