A carding plate comprising a base plate having a concave and cylindrically shaped supporting surface adapted to receive a thin metal plate, onto which a plurality of parallely arranged saw-tooth wire segments are fixed. The so formed sub-assembly is clampingly held on the supporting surface by clamping strips, which are designed to be screwed to the base plate such that they exert a pressure on opposite edges of the metal plate.

This invention relates to a carding plate comprising a support provided with a supporting surface in the form of a hollow cylinder and sawtooth wire sections supported adjacent one another on this supporting surface as the card clothing.
In known carding plates, the sawtooth wire sections are directly applied and attached to the supporting surface by a special process. When the card clothing is worn out or damaged by external influences, the carding plate has to be reclothed in a special workshop because its construction does not allow the necessary repair work to be carried out in the spinning mill.


Apparatus having a plurality of signal channels, a plurality of stopwatch circuits and a plurality of time lapse displays interconnected so that the relative time lapses in a series of related occurrences can be displayed.

1. Field of the Invention:
The present invention relates to electronic time monitoring equipment and in particular to such equipment that displays elapsed intervals between timed occurrences.
2. Description of the Prior Art:
Electronic stop watch circuits are known, operable for both start and stop functions by electrical pulses. It is also known to attach monitoring equipment to production machinery on the occurrence or lack of occurrence of predetermined events. Time monitoring equipment is also known and used to determine the rate of events such as the rate of production of manufactured items. There are also a number of specialized custom built monitors used for checking start up sequences of some types of complex equipment with connections to abort the sequence if a fault is detected.


Systems and methods are disclosed for managing a communication and control of power components. The system includes a parallel bus and plural peripheral devices. Each peripheral device is connected to the parallel bus. The system also includes a control module that is connected to the parallel bus, the control module including memory that stores control data and telemetry data associated with each peripheral device, and an interface that controls access to addressable locations in memory over the parallel bus.

Modular electronic systems can use digital control to optimize operation, coordinate multiphase operation, manage power sequencing, provide programmable voltages, provide current sharing, report status and telemetry, and manage faults. For example, in a modular system having a power component, one known approach uses a centralized power system controller with non-volatile storage for control parameters. A second known approach uses non-volatile storage in each key power element.
In the first approach, the central controller initializes key power elements in the system at start-up, which can delay start-up and reduce fault tolerance. This approach also can involve high fan-out on the control bus that connects to key power elements in the system.
The second approach can involve manufacturing complexity and high cost because every power component includes non-volatile memory. Moreover, key power elements in the power system can operate at relatively high temperatures that can degrade the lifetime and reliability of the non-volatile memory.

Managing communication and control of power components

BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.


A computer-implemented method, a computer program product, and a computer system for infrastructure resource provisioning using trace-based workload temporal analysis. An infrastructure provider receives, from an on-premises infrastructure, scheduler traces of the on-premises infrastructure, one or more scenarios, one or more goals, and one or more constraints of resource deployment on the on-premises infrastructure. The infrastructure provider performs trace-based workload temporal analysis, based on the scheduler traces, the one or more scenarios, the one or more goals, and the one or more constraints. The infrastructure provider generates one or more options of provisioning infrastructure resources, based on the trace-based workload temporal analysis. The infrastructure provider provisions the on-premises infrastructure with the infrastructure resources for running high performance computing (HPC) applications, based on a selection from the one or more options by an on-premises infrastructure administrator.

The present invention relates generally to infrastructure resource provisioning, and more particularly to infrastructure resource provisioning using trace-based workload temporal analysis for high performance computing.
High performance computing applications are being moved from traditional high performance computing centers to infrastructure (or cloud) providers. Typically, system administrators who want to setup an environment similar to their on-premises infrastructure counterpart have no tooling available that assist in this task. The system administrators need to pick resources at the Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) layer and adjust such resources over time. If the resources picked is underutilized, this process may generate resource waste. If not enough resources are provisioned, this process may result in bad Quality of Service (QoS) for users.

Infrastructure resource provisioning using trace-based workload temporal analysis for high performance computing

International Business Machines Corporation


A method for powering a cooling unit. The method including applying electromagnetic (EM) radiation to a complex, where the complex absorbs the EM radiation to generate heat, transforming, using the heat generated by the complex, a fluid to vapor, and sending the vapor from the vessel to a turbine coupled to a generator by a shaft, where the vapor causes the turbine to rotate, which turns the shaft and causes the generator to generate the electric power, wherein the electric powers supplements the power needed to power the cooling unit.

The generation of electricity generally involves harnessing energy and using that energy to operate a generator. At times, the energy used to operate the generator is created using a combustion process. For example, natural gas, coal, fuel oil, certain types of biomass, or some other suitable fuel may be combusted to generate heat. The combustion of the fuel may occur in a boiler, where the resulting heat is combined with fluid (commonly water) to generate vapor (commonly steam). Once the vapor reaches a certain temperature, the vapor may be channeled through a turbine coupled to the generator. Air conditioners and cooling systems run on electricity and are known to strain the electricity supply during peak hours.

Cooling systems and hybrid A/C systems using an electromagnetic radiation-absorbing complex


A method of reducing the aggregate content in a preparation having a target protein includes contacting the preparation with an aryl anion to form a mixture and contacting the mixture with at least one electropositive solid to remove excess aryl anion.

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to methods for enhancing purification of proteins, including antibodies. They particularly relate to methods for reducing the level of aggregates and can be combined with methods of cell culture harvest clarification. They further relate to integration of these capabilities with other purification methods to achieve a desired level of protein purity.
Aggregate removal is an important aspect of protein purification. It has been shown that low concentrations of the yellow fluorescent heterocyclic dye ethacridine reduces aggregate content of antibody preparations, and that this result may be the result of chromatin removal (Gan et al J. Chromatography A 1291 (2013) 33-40). Ethacridine has a long history as a protein precipitating agent.
The aryl anionic dye Methyl Blue is used for histological staining and has been used to mediate electron transfer in microbial fuel cells. Methyl blue is also known by the names Cotton Blue, Helvetia Blue, and Acid Blue 93. The reagent has not been employed in the field of protein fractionation.

Methods for reducing aggregate content of protein preparations by treatment with aryl anions

AGENCY FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH


The invention involves methods and materials for treating and preventing non-invasive fungus-induced mucositis. Specifically, the invention involves administrating an antifungal agent such that it contact mucus in an amount, at a frequency, and for a duration effective to prevent, reduce, or eliminate non-invasive fungus-induced rhinosinusitis. This invention also provides methods and materials for diagnosing non-invasive fungus-induced rhinosinusitis and culturing non-invasive fungus from a mammalian mucus sample as well as specific antifungal formulations and medical devices for treating and preventing non-invasive fungus-induced rhinosinusitis. In addition, the invention provides methods and materials for treating and preventing other non-invasive fungus-induced mucositis conditions such as chronic otitis media, chronic colitis, and Crohn""s disease. Further, the invention involves methods and materials for treating and preventing chronic asthma symptoms.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates to methods and materials involved in the treatment and prevention of non-invasive fungus-induced inflammation of mucosal tissue as well as asthma symptoms.
2. Background Information
Mucositis, the inflammation of mucosal tissue, is a serious medical problem that affects millions of people worldwide. For example, conservative estimates indicate that between 20 to 40 million Americans suffer from chronic rhinosinusitis, an inflammation of the nasal cavity and/or paranasal sinuses.
For the most part, the cause of chronic rhinosinusitis is unknown. In a small percentage of patients, however, non-invasive fungal organisms living within mucus seem to be involved. Patients having this condition, now known as allergic fungal sinusitis (AFS), were first described in the early 1980""s (Miller J W et al., Prod. Scot. Thor. Soc. 36:710 (1981) and Katzenstein A L A et al., J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 72:89-93 (1983)). Specifically, about three to eight percent of chronic rhinosinusitis cases requiring surgery because of nasal obstruction caused by polyp formation have been classified as AFS. Briefly, AFS is diagnosed by the presence of inspissated mucus in the nasal-paranasal cavities. Typically, this mucus contains clumps or sheets of necrotic eosinophils, Charcot-Leyden crystals, and non-invasive fungal hyphae. In addition, patients with AFS typically have a history of nasal-paranasal polyposis and may have undergone multiple surgeries. Inflammation can affect all nasal-paranasal cavities, but also can be asymmetric involving only one side. Computed topography (CT) scans of patients with AFS have a characteristic appearance and often reveal bone erosion in adjacent structures. Indeed, destruction of bones adjacent to the sinuses and nasal areas ranging from 19 percent to 80 percent has been reported.
Although fungal organisms seem to be the causative agent of AFS, successful treatment remains lacking. Currently, AFS patients as well as most chronic rhinosinusitis patients receive surgical treatment with or without steroid therapy. Surgery helps clear the nasal-paranasal cavities when obstructed by polyps and steroid therapy helps control inflammatory responses that seem to be causing tissue and bone destruction. Unfortunately, patients treated with surgery alone almost always experience recurrent rhinosinusitis symptoms and additional polyp growth. In addition, prolonged use of steroids is associated with significant side effects and steroid therapy removal also leads to recurrent episodes of rhinosinusitis. For these reasons, people suffering from chronic rhinosinusitis conditions typically experience repeated cycles of intense inflammation, surgery, and steroid therapy followed by recurrent intense inflammation. Thus, neither surgery nor steroid therapy is particularly effective or desirable as a long-term treatment for chronic rhinosinusitis conditions.
The present invention relates generally to methods and materials for treating and preventing non-invasive fungus-induced mucositis. The term xe2x80x9cmucositisxe2x80x9d as used herein means an inflammation, as opposed to an infection, of a mucus membrane. This invention is based on the discovery that the condition known as AFS can be treated successfully by using an antifungal agent in an amount, at a frequency, and for a duration effective to reduce inflammation caused by the presence of fungal organisms within nasal-paranasal mucus. In addition, this invention is based on the discovery that using an antifungal agent in an amount, at a frequency, and for a duration effective to maintain a reduced level of fungal organisms within nasal-paranasal mucus can prevent AFS symptoms. Specifically, the invention involves administering an antifungal agent to a mammal such that the antifungal agent contacts the mammal""s mucus and reduces the presence of fungal organisms in mucus. In addition to being the only known method for successfully treating and preventing AFS, the use of an antifungal agent is particularly advantageous to a patient when compared to other currently available medical approaches to AFS such as surgical treatments and steroid therapies. Such medical approaches can have side effects, can be costly, and may be associated with patient discomfort.
This invention is also based on the discovery that most, if not all, chronic rhinosinusitis conditions have a fungal etiology and that most, if not all, cases of chronic rhinosinusitis can be treated by using an antifungal agent in an amount, at a frequency, and for a duration effective to reduce the presence of fungal organisms within nasal-paranasal mucus. In addition, using an antifungal agent in an amount, at a frequency, and for a duration effective to maintain a reduced level of fungal organisms within nasal-paranasal mucus can prevent chronic rhinosinusitis symptoms.
This discovery is contrary to the current understanding of chronic rhinosinusitis and has far-reaching implications within medicine. For example, numerous medical research articles report that about three to eight percent of chronic rhinosinusitis cases requiring surgery are AFS, a rhinosinusitis condition having a non-invasive fungal etiology. In fact, less than 150 cases of AFS have been reported in the literature over the past 15 years. It is noted that the lack of appreciation for the non-invasive fungal etiology of chronic rhinosinusitis conditions may have occurred since affected individuals are frequently found to have bacterial infections (i.e., invasive bacteria). Presumably, tissue damage caused by non-invasive fungus-induced inflammation results in a higher occurrence of bacterial infections in those damaged areas. Thus, overlaying bacterial infections in affected individuals could have masked the underlaying cause, fungal organisms within mucus.
For the purpose of this invention, the term xe2x80x9cnon-invasive fungus-induced rhinosinusitisxe2x80x9d includes AFS as well as any other nasal-paranasal mucositis condition having a non-invasive fungal etiology.
Treating and preventing non-invasive fungus-induced rhinosinusitis, whether diagnosed as AFS or any other rhinosinusitis condition having a non-invasive fungal etiology, by using an antifungal agent circumvents the need for surgical treatments and steroid therapies that cause significant pain and suffering to the patient. Moreover, the use of antifungal agents to treat and prevent non-invasive fungus-induced rhinosinusitis actually directs treatment against the etiological agent (i.e., fungus), unlike surgical treatments, steroid therapies, and antibacterial treatments.
The term xe2x80x9cchronicxe2x80x9d as used herein refers to afflictions present for at least three months. It is to be understood that afflictions that are treated as described herein and become asymptomatic can be classified as chronic. Thus, chronic afflictions can be symptomatic or asymptomatic.
This invention is also based on another, equally significant, discovery that chronic asthma symptoms can be treated and prevented successfully by using an antifungal agent in an amount, at a frequency, and for a duration effective to reduce the presence of fungal organisms within airway mucus. It is also apparent from the present discoveries that antifungal agents can be administered directly to the lung airways for the treatment of chronic asthma. Again, these discoveries are contrary to the current understanding of chronic asthma and have far-reaching clinical implications. Taken together, these significant breakthroughs can potentially allow large populations to experience happier, healthier, and more productive daily lives.
Specifically, the invention provides methods and materials for treating and preventing a wide variety of mucoinflammatory diseases by using an antifungal agent. The use of an antifungal agent is a safe and highly effective treatment approach that involves mucoadministering an antifungal agent in an amount, at a frequency, and for a duration effective to reduce, prevent, or eliminate a non-invasive fungus-induced mucositis. The term xe2x80x9cmucoadministrationxe2x80x9d as used herein refers to any type of administration that places an administered agent in contact with mucus. This invention also provides specific antifungal formulations that can be applied to the various parts of a mammal that contain mucus. In addition, the invention provides medical devices that can be used to apply antifungal formulations. These devices are particularly advantageous since they can be used by an individual to administer an effective dose of a specific antifungal formulation to the appropriate area of the body. Further, the invention provides improved methods and materials for collecting and culturing fungal organisms from mucus samples. These culturing techniques can be used to monitor the number of fungal species within mucus during a particular antifungal treatment regimen. In addition, these fungus collecting and culturing methods and materials are useful for identifying the genotype and phenotype of specific fungal organisms that cause non-invasive fungus-induced mucositis. The identification and characterization of non-invasive fungal organisms found in a particular individual""s mucus can assist clinicians in determining proper treatment and prophylactic approaches. For example, this information can help determine the specific antifungal agent, amount, mode of administration, and number of applications to be used as well as possible combinatorial therapies that may include other medications and procedures such as steroids, antibacterial agents, and surgery.
In general, the invention features a method for treating a mammal (e.g., human) having non-invasive fungus-induced rhinosinusitis. This method involves directly mucoadministering to at least a portion of the mammal""s nasal-paranasal anatomy a formulation in an amount, at a frequency, and for a duration effective to reduce or eliminate non-invasive fungus-induced rhinosinusitis. This formulation contains an antifungal agent or a plurality of antifungal agents and can be in a solid, liquid, or aerosol form (e.g., a powder, crystalline substance, gel, paste, ointment, salve, cream, solution, suspension, partial liquid, spray, nebulae, mist, atomized vapor, aerosol, and tincture). In addition, the formulation can be in a form suitable for self-mucoadministration by a human.
Further, the formulation can contain a pharmaceutically acceptable aqueous vehicle (e.g., saline and water). For example, a liquid form of the formulation can contain about 0.00001 percent to about 20 percent of an antifungal agent as determined by antifungal agent weight per aqueous vehicle volume. In addition, the formulation can contain about 0.01 ng to about 1000 mg of an antifungal agent (e.g., amphotericin B) per liter in some embodiments of the invention, or about 1 ng to about 500 mg of an antifungal agent per liter in other embodiments of the invention, or about 100 mg of an antifungal agent per liter in still other embodiments of the invention. In addition, an effective amount of these aqueous formulations can be about 0.01 mL to about 1 L of formulation per nostril in some embodiments of the invention, or about 5 mL to about 100 mL of formulation per nostril in other embodiments of the invention, or about 40 mL of formulation per nostril in still other embodiments of the invention. Alternatively, an effective amount of a formulation can be about 0.01 ng to about 1000 mg of an antifungal agent per kg of body weight of the mammal in some embodiments of the invention or about 1 ng to about 500 mg of an antifungal agent per kg of body weight of the mammal in other embodiments of the invention. The effective amount of a formulation can change or remain the same during an effective duration. The effective frequency of direct mucoadministration can be from about four times a day to about once every other week in some embodiments of the invention, or from about twice a day to about once a week in other embodiments of the invention, or about twice a day in still other embodiments of the invention. In addition, the effective frequency of direct mucoadministration can be greater than once a day, or greater than once a week. The effective duration can be greater than about 7, 14, 30, 60, or 90 days.
The mammal can be atopic or nonatopic and can be immunocompetent or immunocompromised. In addition, the non-invasive fungus-induced rhinosinusitis can be characterized by polyp formation or polypoid change. The non-invasive fungus-induced rhinosinusitis also can be a chronic condition. Mucoadministration can be an irrigation of at least a portion of the nasal-paranasal anatomy with a liquid form of the formulation. Alternatively, the mucoadministration can involve applying an aerosol form of the formulation to at least a portion of the nasal-paranasal anatomy. An antifungal agent can be in a solid, liquid, or aerosol form. In addition, an antifungal agent can be a polyene macrolide, tetraene macrolide, pentaenic macrolide, fluorinated pyrimidine, imidazole, azole, triazole, halogenated phenolic ether, thiocarbamate, allylamine, sterol inhibitor, and an agent that interpolates fungal cell wall components. Such antifungal agents include amphotericin B, flucytosine, ketoconazole, miconazole, itraconazole, fluconazole, griseofulvin, clotrimazole, econazole, terconazole, butoconazole, oxiconazole, sulconazole, saperconazole, voriconazole, ciclopirox olamine, haloprogin, tolnaftate, naftifine, terbinafine hydrochloride, morpholines, nystatin, natamycin, butenafine, undecylenic acid, Whitefield""s ointment, propionic acid, and caprylic acid. In addition to containing an antifungal agent, the formulation can contain, without limitation, a pharmaceutically acceptable aqueous vehicle, pharmaceutically acceptable solid vehicle, steroid, mucolytic agent, antibacterial agent, anti-inflammatory agent, immunosuppressant, dilator, vaso-constrictor, decongestant, leukotriene inhibitor, anti-cholinergic, anti-histamine, therapeutic compound, and combinations thereof.
The method can also involve administering a second formulation that contains, without limitation, an antifungal agent, antibacterial agent, steroid, mucolytic agent, anti-inflammatory agent, immunosuppressant, dilator, vaso-constrictor, decongestant, leukotriene inhibitor, anti-cholinergic, anti-histamine, therapeutic compound, or combination thereof. Likewise, the method can involve an additional step after the direct mucoadministration. This additional step can be a prophylactic mucoadministration of a prophylactic formulation to the mammal in an amount, at a frequency, and for a duration effective to prevent non-invasive fungus-induced rhinosinusitis. This prophylactic formulation also contains an antifungal agent and can be in a solid, liquid, or aerosol form (e.g., powder, crystalline substance, gel, paste, ointment, salve, cream, solution, suspension, partial liquid, spray, nebulae, mist, atomized vapor, aerosol, tincture, pill, capsule, tablet, and gelcap). In addition, the prophylactic mucoadministration can be a direct or indirect mucoadministration. For example, the prophylactic mucoadministration can be an irrigation of at least a portion of the nasal-paranasal anatomy with a liquid form of the prophylactic formulation, an application of an aerosol form of the prophylactic formulation to at least a portion of the nasal-paranasal anatomy, or an oral administration of the prophylactic formulation to the mammal in the form of a solid or liquid.
It will be understood that each of the additional features of the invention described above can be applied to the following additional embodiments and aspects of the invention. For example, methods for prophylactically treating a mammal at risk for developing non-invasive fungus-induced rhinosinusitis, and methods for treating asthma, may utilize a formulation in which the antifungal agent is about 0.00001 percent to about 20 percent by weight or volume of a formulation, and so forth.
In another embodiment, the invention features a method for prophylactically treating a mammal at risk for developing non-invasive fungus-induced rhinosinusitis. This method involves mucoadministering to the mammal a formulation in an amount, at a frequency, and for a duration effective to prevent non-invasive fungus-induced rhinosinusitis. This formulation contains an antifungal agent.
Another embodiment of the invention features a method for treating a mammal having non-invasive fungus-induced rhinosinusitis. This method involves the steps of identifying (e.g., diagnosing) the mammal, and directly mucoadministering a formulation to at least a portion of the nasal-paranasal anatomy of the mammal in an amount, at a frequency, and for a duration effective to reduce or eliminate non-invasive fungus-induced rhinosinusitis. This formulation contains an antifungal agent.
Another embodiment of the invention features a method for prophylactically treating a mammal at risk for developing non-invasive fungus-induced rhinosinusitis. This method involves the steps of identifying the mammal (e.g., diagnosing), and mucoadministering a formulation to at least a portion of the nasal-paranasal anatomy of the mammal in an amount, at a frequency, and for a duration effective to prevent non-invasive fungus-induced rhinosinusitis. This formulation contains an antifungal agent.
In another aspect, the invention features a method for treating a mammal having asthma. This method involves directly mucoadministering to at least a portion of the airways (e.g., nasal-paranasal airways and lung airways) of the mammal a formulation in an amount, at a frequency, and for a duration effective to reduce or eliminate asthma symptoms. This formulation contains an antifungal agent. The direct mucoadministration can be the irrigation of the nasal-paranasal anatomy of the mammal with a liquid form of the formulation. Alternatively, the direct mucoadministration can be the inhalation of the formulation through the mammal""s mouth or nose. In addition, the method can involve an additional step after the direct mucoadministration. This additional step can be the prophylactic mucoadministration of a prophylactic formulation to the mammal in an amount, at a frequency, and for a duration effective to prevent asthma symptoms. This prophylactic formulation also contains an antifungal agent.
In another embodiment, the invention features a method for prophylactically treating a mammal at risk for developing asthma. This method involves mucoadministering to at least a portion of the airways (e.g., nasal-paranasal airways and lung airways) of the mammal a formulation in an amount, at a frequency, and for a duration effective to prevent asthma symptoms. This formulation contains an antifungal agent.
Another embodiment of the invention features a method for treating a mammal having asthma. This method involves the steps of identifying (e.g., diagnosing) the mammal, and directly mucoadministering a formulation to at least a portion of the airways (e.g., nasal-paranasal airways and lung airways) of the mammal in an amount, at a frequency, and for a duration effective to reduce or eliminate asthma symptoms. This formulation contains an antifungal agent.
Another embodiment of the invention features a method for prophylactically treating a mammal at risk for developing asthma. This method involves the steps of identifying the mammal (e.g., diagnosing), and mucoadministering a formulation to at least a portion of the airways (e.g., nasal-paranasal airways and lung airways) of the mammal in an amount, at a frequency, and for a duration effective to prevent asthma symptoms. This formulation contains an antifungal agent.
In another aspect, the invention features a method for treating a mammal having non-invasive fungus-induced intestinal mucositis (e.g., chronic colitis and Crohn""s disease). This method involves mucoadministering to the mammal a formulation in an amount, at a frequency, and for a duration effective to reduce or eliminate non-invasive fungus-induced intestinal mucositis symptoms. This formulation contains an antifungal agent and can be in the form of a regulated release capsule (e.g., pH or time regulated release capsule). The mucoadministration can be the oral application of the formulation within the digestive tract of the mammal. Alternatively, the mucoadministration can be the application of the formulation within the digestive tract of the mammal by way of an enema.
In another embodiment, the invention features a method for prophylactically treating a mammal at risk for developing non-invasive fungus-induced intestinal mucositis (e.g., chronic colitis and Crohn""s disease). This method involves mucoadministering to the mammal a formulation in an amount, at a frequency, and for a duration effective to prevent non-invasive fungus-induced intestinal mucositis symptoms. This formulation contains an antifungal agent.
In another aspect, the invention features a method for treating a mammal having non-invasive fungus-induced otitis media. This method involves mucoadministering to the mammal a formulation in an amount, at a frequency, and for a duration effective to reduce or eliminate non-invasive fungus-induced otitis media. This formulation contains an antifungal agent. The mucoadministration can be the application of the formulation within the middle ear of the mammal. For example, a liquid form of the formulation can be used to irrigate the middle ear if the tympanic membrane is elevated or not intact. Alternatively, a formulation can be injected into the middle ear or a myringotomy can be used to penetrate the tympanic membrane. In addition, myringotomy tubes can be used to bypass the tympanic membrane. Further, a formulation can be mucoadministered to the middle ear through the nose and eustachian tube.
In another embodiment, the invention features a method for prophylactically treating a mammal at risk for developing non-invasive fungus-induced otitis media. This method involves mucoadministering to the mammal a formulation in an amount, at a frequency, and for a duration effective to prevent non-invasive fungus-induced otitis media. This formulation contains an antifungal agent.
In another aspect, the invention features an article of manufacture that contains packaging material (e.g., boxes, wrappings, vials, and other containers) and a formulation contained within the packaging material. This formulation contains an antifungal agent. The packaging material contains a label or package insert indicating that the formulation can be directly mucoadministered to at least a portion of the nasal-paranasal anatomy of a mammal having non-invasive fungus-induced rhinosinusitis in an amount, at a frequency, and for a duration effective to reduce or eliminate non-invasive fungus-induced rhinosinusitis.
In another embodiment, the invention features an article of manufacture that contains packaging material and a formulation contained within the packaging material. This formulation contains an antifungal agent and the packaging material contains a label or package insert indicating that the formulation can be mucoadministered to at least a portion of the nasal-paranasal anatomy of a mammal at risk for developing non-invasive fungus-induced rhinosinusitis in an amount, at a frequency, and for a duration effective to prevent non-invasive fungus-induced rhinosinusitis.
Another embodiment of the invention features an article of manufacture that contains packaging material and a formulation contained within the packaging material. This formulation contains an antifungal agent. The packaging material contains a label or package insert indicating that the formulation can be directly mucoadministered to at least a portion of the airways of a mammal having asthma in an amount, at a frequency, and for a duration effective to reduce or eliminate asthma symptoms.
Another embodiment of the invention features an article of manufacture that contains packaging material and a formulation contained within the packaging material. This formulation contains an antifungal agent and the packaging material contains a label or package insert indicating that the formulation can be mucoadministered to at least a portion of the airways of a mammal at risk for developing asthma in an amount, at a frequency, and for a duration effective to prevent asthma symptoms.
Another embodiment of the invention features an article of manufacture that contains packaging material and a formulation contained within the packaging material. This formulation contains an antifungal agent. The packaging material contains a label or package insert indicating that the formulation can be mucoadministered to a mammal having non-invasive fungus-induced intestinal mucositis in an amount, at a frequency, and for a duration effective to reduce or eliminate non-invasive fungus-induced intestinal mucositis symptoms.
Another embodiment of the invention features an article of manufacture that contains packaging material and a formulation contained within the packaging material. This formulation contains an antifungal agent and the packaging material contains a label or package insert indicating that the formulation can be mucoadministered to a mammal at risk for developing non-invasive fungus-induced intestinal mucositis in an amount, at a frequency, and for a duration effective to prevent non-invasive fungus-induced intestinal mucositis symptoms.
Another embodiment of the invention features an article of manufacture that contains packaging material and a formulation contained within the packaging material. This formulation contains an antifungal agent. The packaging material contains a label or package insert indicating that the formulation can be mucoadministered to a mammal having non-invasive fungus-induced otitis media in an amount, at a frequency, and for a duration effective to reduce or eliminate non-invasive fungus-induced otitis media symptoms.
Another embodiment of the invention features an article of manufacture that contains packaging material and a formulation contained within the packaging material. This formulation contains an antifungal agent and the packaging material contains a label or package insert indicating that the formulation can be mucoadministered to a mammal at risk for developing non-invasive fungus-induced otitis media in an amount, at a frequency, and for a duration effective to prevent non-invasive fungus-induced otitis media symptoms.
In another aspect, the invention features the use of an antifungal agent for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment or prevention of non-invasive fungus-induced rhinosinusitis.
In another embodiment, the invention features the use of an antifungal agent for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment or prevention of asthma symptoms.
Another embodiment of the invention features the use of an antifungal agent for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment or prevention of non-invasive fungus-induced intestinal mucositis.
Another embodiment of the invention features the use of an antifungal agent for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment or prevention of non-invasive fungus-induced otitis media.
In another aspect, the invention features an antifungal formulation containing an antifungal agent, a flavoring, and water. The water constitutes at least about 50 percent of the formulation. For example, the water can constitute at least about 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, or 99 percent of the formulation.
In another embodiment, the invention features an antifungal formulation containing itraconazole and water. The itraconazole is dissolved in the formulation at a concentration greater than about 25 xcexcg per mL. For example, the itraconazole can be dissolved in the formulation at a concentration greater than about 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, or 180 xcexcg per mL. In addition, the water constitutes at least about 50 percent of the formulation. For example, the water can constitute at least about 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, or 99 percent of the formulation. The formulation also can contain polyethylene glycol (e.g., PEG-200, PEG-400, PEG-800, etc.). The formulation also can contain flavoring (e.g., peppermint oil, cherry flavoring, syrup, and the like).
In another embodiment, the invention features an antifungal formulation containing itraconazole and water. The itraconazole is suspended in the formulation at a concentration greater than about 25 xcexcg per mL. For example, the itraconazole can be suspended in the formulation at a concentration greater than about 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, or 180 xcexcg per mL. In addition, the water constitutes at least about 50 percent of the formulation. For example, the water can constitute at least about 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, or 99 percent of the formulation. The formulation also can contain polyethylene glycol (e.g., PEG-200, PEG-400, PEG-800, etc.). The formulation also can contain flavoring (e.g., peppermint oil, cherry flavoring, syrup, and the like).
In another embodiment, the invention features an antifungal formulation containing an antifungal agent, a flavoring, and water. The water constitutes at least about 50 percent of the formulation. For example, the water can constitute at least about 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, or 99 percent of the formulation. In addition, the antifungal agent can be amphotericin B, ketoconazole, saperconazole, voriconazole, flucytosine, miconazole, fluconazole, griseofulvin, clotrimazole, econazole, terconazole, butoconazole, oxiconazole, sulconazole, ciclopirox olamine, haloprogin, tolnaftate, naftifine, terbinafine hydrochloride, morpholines, nystatin, natamycin, butenafine, undecylenic acid, Whitefield""s ointment, propionic acid, and caprylic acid.
In another aspect, the invention features a method of making an antifungal formulation. The formulation contains itraconazole and water. The itraconazole is dissolved in the formulation at a concentration greater than about 25 xcexcg per mL. For example, the itraconazole can be dissolved in the formulation at a concentration greater than about 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, or 180 xcexcg per mL. The water constitutes at least about 50 percent of the formulation. For example, the water can constitute at least about 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, or 99 percent of the formulation. The method includes adding the water to a stock solution containing the itraconazole.
In another aspect, the invention features a method for culturing fungus from a mammal""s mucus. The method includes (1) contacting the mucus with a mucolytic agent to reduce the viscosity of the mucus, (2) separating the fungus from the reduced-viscosity mucus, (3) contacting the separated fungus with fungus growth medium to form a fungus culture, and (4) incubating the fungus culture such that the separated fungus grows.
In another aspect, the invention features a method for obtaining a fungal antigen. The method includes (1) contacting a mammal""s mucus with a mucolytic agent to reduce the viscosity of the mucus, (2) separating fungus from the reduced-viscosity mucus, (3) contacting the separated fungus with fungus growth medium to form a fungus culture, (4) incubating the fungus culture such that the separated fungus grows, and (5) isolating the antigen from the cultured fungus.
In another aspect, the invention features a method for producing a fungus-specific antibody. The method includes (1) contacting a mammal""s mucus with a mucolytic agent to reduce the viscosity of the mucus, (2) separating fungus from the reduced-viscosity mucus, (3) contacting the separated fungus with fungus growth medium to form a fungus culture, (4) incubating the fungus culture such that the separated fungus grows, (5) isolating a fungal antigen from the cultured fungus, and (6) immunizing an animal with the fungal antigen to produce the antibody.
In another aspect, the invention features a nasal mucus collecting apparatus. The apparatus contains a collection retainer, a collection tube, and a connecting portion. The collection retainer is suitable for retaining mucus. The collection tube extends from the collection retainer and defines a distal end and a lumen such that mucus can traverse the lumen from the distal end of the collection tube to the collection retainer. The collection tube is generally flexible over at least a portion of the tube""s length such that the collection tube can be selectively manipulated into a desired configuration by a practitioner during a collection procedure. The collection tube further is generally malleable such that the collection tube generally retains the desired configuration until the practitioner manipulates the collection tube to conform to a different configuration. The connecting portion extends from the collection retainer and defines a second lumen that communicates with the interior of the collection retainer. The connecting portion is adapted to receive a vacuum source. In addition, the apparatus can further contain a valve that adjusts the opening of the second lumen. The collection retainer can be removable from the collection tube and the connection portion.
In another aspect, the invention features a pharmaceutical composition containing an antifungal agent.
In another embodiment, the invention features a pharmaceutical composition containing an antifungal agent and an mucolytic agent.
Another embodiment features a pharmaceutical composition containing an antifungal agent and a steroid.
Another embodiment features a pharmaceutical composition containing an antifungal agent and a decongestant.
Another embodiment features a pharmaceutical composition containing an antifungal agent and an antibiotic.
Another embodiment features a pharmaceutical composition containing an antifungal agent and an anti-inflammatory.
Another embodiment features a pharmaceutical composition containing an antifungal agent and an anti-histamine.
Another embodiment features a pharmaceutical composition containing an antifungal agent and an anti-cholinergic.
Another embodiment features a pharmaceutical composition containing an antifungal agent and a leukotriene inhibitor.
In another aspect, the invention features a composition for treating an immune response to fungus in a mammal, characterized by an agent configured for direct mucoadministration to the mucus of the mammal and having antifungal means for eliminating or reducing the fungus below a threshold level wherein the fungus ceases to activate eosinophile migration to the affected area.
In another aspect, the invention features a pharmaceutical composition for treating a fungal related condition in the nasal-sinus anatomy, pulmonary anatomy, ear anatomy, or intestinal anatomy of a mammalian patient, said composition comprising an effective dose of an anti-fungal as described herein.
In another aspect, the invention features a pharmaceutical composition for treating a fungal related condition in the nasal-sinus anatomy, pulmonary anatomy, ear anatomy, or intestinal anatomy of a mammalian patient, said composition comprising an effective dose of an anti-fungal and at least one other agent or inhibitor as described herein.
In another aspect, the invention features a pharmaceutical composition for treating a fungal related condition in the nasal sinus anatomy, pulmonary anatomy, ear anatomy, or intestinal anatomy of a mammalian patient, said composition comprising an effective dose of an anti-fungal suitable for long term use within the nasal-sinus anatomy.
In another aspect, the invention features a medication for treating sinusitis, asthma, otitis media, or colitis of a patient, comprising a mucolytic agent; and an anti-fungal compound as described herein.
In another aspect, the invention features an irrigation medication for treating an inflamed nasal area, lung area, ear area, or intestinal area of a patient, the inflamed nasal area, lung area, ear area, or intestinal area being caused by the presence of a fungus, the medication comprising effective doses of an antifungal compound and a steroid as described herein.
In another aspect, the invention features an irrigation medication for treating an inflamed nasal area, lung area, ear area, or intestinal area of a patient, the inflamed nasal area, lung area, ear area, or intestinal area being caused by the presence of a fungus, the medication comprising effective doses of an antifungal compound and a mucolytic agent.
In another aspect, the invention features an irrigation medication for treating an inflamed nasal area, lung area, ear area, or intestinal area of a patient, the inflamed nasal area, lung area, ear area, or intestinal area being caused by the presence of a fungus, the medication comprising effective doses of a steroid and a mucolytic agent as described herein.
In another aspect, the invention features an irrigation medication for treating an inflamed nasal area, lung area, ear area, or intestinal area of a patient, the inflamed nasal area, lung area, ear area, or intestinal area being caused by the presence of a fungus, the medication comprising effective doses of an antifungal compound, a steroid, and a mucolytic agent as described herein.
In another aspect, the invention features an irrigation medication for treating an inflamed nasal area, lung area, ear area, or intestinal area of a patient, the inflamed nasal area, lung area, ear area, or intestinal area being caused by the presence of a fungus, the medication comprising an effective dose of at least one medicine selected from the group consisting of an antifungal compound, a steroid, a mucolytic agent, and any combination thereof as described herein.
Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, suitable methods and materials are described below. All publications, patent applications, patents, and other references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. In case of conflict, the present specification, including definitions, will control. In addition, the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.
Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, and from the claims.

Methods and materials for treating and preventing inflammation of mucosal tissue

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research


The display and applicator container for waxy products comprise a body of substantially oval shape in cross-section and having a bearing surface, and a cap having to be tightly closed and containing a sealing gasket in correspondence with the bearing surface of the body. The sealing gasket is made by a cover fitted inside the cap by centering and latching members. The cover defines an annular housing fitting over a lip of the body, and formed from an inner rib defined by a tapered inner wall of the cover. The body contains an apertured piston and has a bottom defining an open sheath for introduction in liquid form of a waxy material through the apertured piston so as to be moulded as a cake. The open sheath is closed by a driving member for the piston.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display and applicator container for waxy products, which are solid at room temperature, for example waxy products such as cosmetic products of the deodorant type, household products such as shoe polish, wax and the like.
Some of the above waxy products contain volatile agents and, consequently, the container has to ensure their preservation, i.e. to avoid that these volatile agents will come in contact with the ambient atmosphere during the storage or placement of the container.
2. Brief Description of Prior Art
The applicant has already disclosed a packing device with an oval shape in section and comprising a cap of same shape for such waxy products.
This packing device is typically disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,844,269 to Lucas.
In the above mentioned packing device, there is provided a cap comprising a lid with a sealing gasket, corresponding to a bearing surface of the body of the packing device, which body forms lateral studs cooperating with bearing surfaces defined by lugs of the cap so that the sealing gasket is compressed on the bearing surface. The sealing gasket is preferably formed as a single piece.
The device according to the above patent makes possible to disengage the lid by first turning it so that it will escape from retaining abutments. In a variant of embodiment, the lid is latched by legs of a yoke which extends into a latching groove.

Display and applicator container for waxy products


Performance and capability improvements of computer devices that provide digital images of heatmap visualizations for datasets are provided via both systems and methods. A value-color spectrum is correlated to the dataset via a multi-pass rendering. The multi-pass rendering yields a two-channel mask, which is applied to a map to show the dataset in a heatmap visualization on that map, and may be continually used as the map is manipulated by a user. User interface tools are also provided to enable a user to specify a custom value-color spectrum, how the dataset is to be aggregated, the area of effect for a data point in the visualization, the strength of effect for a data point in the visualization, and which specifies how a dataset will be visually represented in a heatmap.

Data may be presented to users via a variety of systems and methods that use myriad formats. One such format is a heatmap, which applies various colors to a map or map object to show variations in values associated with a location or object on the map. For example, traffic flow on roads may be illustrated as various colors of the roads in a data visualization application, where red signifies heavy traffic, yellow mild traffic, and green low traffic. Heatmaps use data that include location information, which may be signified by latitude and longitude values, addresses, map-specific coordinates (Cartesian, polar, etc.), and object identifiers (e.g., the Empire State building, Interstate 40 from mile marker 386 to mile marker 389, school district 5) that can be correlated to coordinates or ranges of coordinates.


The instant invention is directed to the use of a pharmaceutical composition containing an effective amount of adenosine or an adenosine analog or derivative as an agent useful in the treatment of hormone-independent cancers, such as prostate cancer. The invention is also directed to diagnostic uses of these compounds to determine effective treatment regimes for specific tumors, a process for screening for new, therapeutically useful analogs of these compounds, and the use of these compounds in facilitating the extraction of intracellular components.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a method for treating hormone-independent cancers via the use of purinergic receptor agonists, diagnostic uses of these compounds to determine effective treatment for specific tumors, a process for screening for new potent analogs of these compounds, and the use of these compounds in facilitating the extraction of intracellular components from cells.
2. Description of Related Art
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men and the second most common cause of cancer death in men in the United States (J. F. Fraumeni, Jr. et al. in Principles and Practice of Oncology, 3rd edition, 1989, V. T. DeVita, Jr., S. Hellman, and S. A. Rosenberg, eds., J. B. Lippincott, Philadelphia). Approximately 50% of patients are presented with metastatic disease. The only existing treatment for metastatic disease is hormonal therapy, which is not curative. Thus, metastatic disease is uniformly fatal.
Hormonal therapy, which consists of different approaches to blocking the action of androgen on the prostate tumor, is effective in controlling only the growth of tumor cells that depend on androgen for growth (hormone-dependent tumor). Unfortunately, hormone-dependent tumor inevitably progresses to more advanced hormone-independent tumor, which cannot be controlled by current treatment modalities: surgery and radiation therapy are not curative for advanced metastatic disease, and advanced prostatic cancer is not responsive to conventional chemotherapy. New approaches are needed for the treatment of this neoplasm, and any treatment advance would have a significant public health impact.

Use of purinergic receptor agonists as antineoplastic agents

The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services


An apparatus and method generates a stream of atomized fluid for applying a substantially uniform coating of atomized fluid to a surface, such as the application of a liquid flux coating to circuit boards. An ultrasonic atomizer discharges a conical spray pattern of atomized fluid, and an air horn discharges a stream of air intersecting the path of the atomized stream of fluid for entraining the atomized stream of fluid within the stream of air. Two air jets are located on either side of the ultrasonic atomizer relative to each other, and each discharges a low pressure jet of air in a direction substantially opposite to the direction of the other. Each jet of air in turn shears the conical spray pattern of atomized fluid into a respective plume of atomized fluid. The two plumes of atomized fluid are then entrained into the moving sheet of air discharged by the air horn, thus forming a substantially uniform linear dispersion of atomized fluid for coating a surface with the atomized fluid.

Piezoelectric ultrasonic atomizers have been used in industrial applications to deliver a fine spray or mist for coating surfaces. One such atomizer is shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,337,896 to Berger et al. Manufacturers often require such atomizers to be able to coat large surfaces at a time, and to coat the surfaces both completely and uniformly. One attempt to meet these requirements has been to increase the atomizing surface area of the atomizer. The geometric contour of the atomizing surface of an ultrasonic atomizer influences the spray pattern and density of the particles developed by atomization, and by increasing the atomizing surface area, the fluid flow rate can be increased. Thus, the atomizing surface area can be increased, for example, by providing a flanged tip, i.e. a tip of increased cross-sectional area, which includes the atomizing surface, and the spray pattern and density of the atomizer can be further affected by selecting the contour of the tip.
Known atomizers typically utilize a flanged tip which directs the fluid to the surface to be coated in a cylindrical or conical spray pattern. The cylindrical or conical spray patterns, however, invariably create nonuniform concentrations of the atomized fluid on the surface to be coated. Typically, higher concentrations of the atomized fluid are collected on the coated surface in the central area of the conical or cylindrical spray pattern in comparison to the outermost areas, thus forming a nonuniform coating on the surface. These atomizers also typically do not have the ability to apply a substantially uniform stream of atomized fluid to a surface at selected, variable widths.

Apparatus and method for applying a stream of atomized fluid


Signal propagation times TA1, TA2, TA3 . . . of respective pin selection paths of a pin selection device that selectively connects output pins of a semiconductor device testing apparatus to a timing measurement device are measured in advance, and the measured values are memorized. At the time of timing calibration, calibration pulses are transmitted to a timing calibrators via respective test pattern signal transmission paths and respective pin selection paths to measure delay time values T1, T2, T3, - - - of respective channels. The known values TA1, TA2, TA3, - - - are subtracted from the measured values T1, T2, T3, - - - , respectively. A timing calibration is performed by adjusting delay time values of the timing calibrators of the respective test pattern signal transmission paths such that each of the respective differences between the TA1, TA2, TA3, - - - and the measured values T1, T2, T3, - - - become a constant value TC.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a timing calibration method of a semiconductor testing apparatus and also relates to a semiconductor device testing apparatus having the timing calibration function which can test a semiconductor device including memories, logic circuits and the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 7 shows a briefly illustrated generally known semiconductor device testing apparatus. The semiconductor device testing apparatus comprises a computer system 10 operating as a controller of the semiconductor device testing apparatus, a pattern generator 11, a pin data selector 12, a waveform formatter group 13, a timing calibrator group 14, a driver group 15, an output pin group 16, a device power supply source 17, a logical comparator 18, a failure analysis memory 19. A semiconductor device under test which is hereinafter referred to as DUT is turned into its operating state upon receipt of a power supply voltage from the device power supply source 17, and test pattern signals (TPS) delivered to the output pin group 16 are supplied to input pins or input/output pins for both signal input and output use of DUT.
The pattern generator 11 outputs test pattern data (TPD) for a plurality of channels. These test pattern data are distributed to the respective input pins as respective pin data for DUT.
The waveform formatter group 13 includes waveform formatters (13-1, 13-2, 13-3, - - - ) the number of which is sufficient to cover the number of channels corresponding to the input pins of DUT. When a plurality of DUTs are simultaneously tested, waveform formatters, the number of which is equal to the number of devices multiplied by the number of channels, are to be provided. Each test pattern data distributed as each pin data is shaped to a test pattern signal (TPS) having a waveform that meets standard requirements (for example, amplitude value) of the semiconductor device to be tested DUT, and this test pattern signal is delivered via the timing calibrator group 14 (14-1, 14-2, 14-3, - - - ) and the driver group 15 (15-1, 15-2, 15-3, - - - ) to the output pin group 16 (P1, P2, P3, - - - ).
Now, hereinafter each signal transmission channel through which each test patter signal is delivered from the waveform formatter, via the timing calibrator and the driver to each output pin, is referred to as a test pattern signal transmission path of each channel of the semiconductor device testing apparatus.
In the case where DUT is a memory, the test pattern signal at the output pin is applied to input terminal of DUT and is written or stored in the memory of DUT. The test pattern signal thus written in DUT is then read out therefrom at its output terminal as output data (OPD) which is in turn compared with an expected value data (EPD) by the logical comparator 18.
When a discordance is detected by the logical comparator 18, an address of the memory at which the discordance is detected, the test pattern by which the discordance is caused, and the like are stored in the failure analysis memory 19, and are utilized in a failure analysis, a failure relief processing, or the like.
Among test items of a semiconductor device to be tested DUT, there is a test for inspecting response characteristics of DUT, which includes, for example, an inspection of a marginal phase range in which DUT can maintain its operable condition by shifting the phase of the test pattern signal to be applied to an input terminal of DUT toward advancing direction or delaying direction from a reference phase position by varying timing of a timing signal generated by a timing generator (although not shown in the drawings), or another inspection of a marginal timing delay in an output timing of the read out data from a timing at which a read command signal is applied to DUT.
When the test of this type is performed, it is necessary that respective signal propagation time values for respective test pattern signal transmission paths each being constituted by a waveform formatter, a tuning calibrator, and a driver should be aligned to have a same constant value. A work for aligning the respective signal propagation time values of respective test pattern signal transmission paths to a constant value is referred to as a timing calibration. In order to perform this timing calibration mode, there is provided a specific arrangement including the timing calibrator group 14, a pin selection device 21, and a timing measurement device 22.
FIG. 8 shows a previously developed testing apparatus within a facility of the Assignee of the present invention which shows a connection state of the testing apparatus in its timing calibration mode, wherein the pin selection device 21 is connected to a group 16 of output pins P1, P2, P3, - - - , and any one of the output pins in their output pin group 16 is selectively connected by the pin selection device 21 to the timing measurement device 22.
As the timing measurement device 22 for use in the timing calibration mode, for example, an oscilloscope or any timing measurement means usually equipped in a semiconductor device testing apparatus of this type can be used.
In the timing calibration mode of the testing apparatus as shown in FIG. 8, the pattern generator 11 generates a timing calibration pulse data, TPD which is designed to form a timing calibration pulse PT having a predetermined constant duration period at the respective waveform formatters.
The pin data selector 12 distributes the timing calibration pulse data TPD, from the pattern generator to the respective waveform formatters (13-1, 13-2, - - - ), so that the timing calibration pulse (PT) is generated by each of the respective waveform formatters and is transmitted through respective test pattern signal transmission paths to the respective output pins (P1, P2, - - - ), respectively.
Now assuming one of the output pins, for example, P1 in FIG. 8 as a reference output pin.
The timing calibration pulse signals (PT) having the constant duration period as shown in FIG. 9 is transmitted to the predetermined reference output pin, P1 in FIG. 8 via a reference test pattern signal transmission path which is composed of a series connection circuit of a waveform formatter 13-1, a timing calibrator 14-1, and a driver 15-1, and is then selectively transmitted to the timing measurement device 22 by a pin selection device 21.
FIG. 10 shows an example of internal circuit structure of the pin selection device 21. In this example, there is shown a case of circuit structure in which the reference output pin P1 of the output pin group 16 can be connected to the output terminal TOU by switching operations of relay switches RS1-1 through RS4-1. In the example of FIG. 10, there is shown a state that the relay switches RS1-1, RS 2-1, RS3-1 and RS4-1 are connected to a contact side (a), which is referred to as a pin selection path for the reference output pin P1 in the pin selection device 21.
In the case of using an oscilloscope as the timing measurement device 22, a rising timing of the thus transmitted timing calibration pulse PT is measured using a scale on the lateral X axis that is a time axis on the display screen (OSD) of the oscilloscope, and that scale position is determined as a reference phase position (RPP). (See FIG. 9) The timing calibration pulses (PT) are transmitted to the respective remaining output pins P2, P3, - - - via the corresponding test pattern signal transmission paths and also selectively connected one after another to the oscilloscope. The corresponding delay time values of the timing calibrators 14-2, 14-3, - - - in the respective test pattern signal transmission paths for the remaining output pins P2, P3, - - - other than the reference output pin P1 are adjusted to perform the timing calibration such that a rising timing of the outputted pulse sequence at each one of the remaining output pins is accorded with the reference phase position (RPP).
The characteristic of this pin selection device 21 is that a consideration is made such that whenever any one of the output pins P1-P16 is selected, the line length of the pin selection path from each of the output pins P1-P16 to the output terminal TOU should become equal to each other, and hence even if any one of the output pins P1-P16 is selected, the delay time value in the pin selection device is equal to a constant value.
Moreover, signal conductors in the pin selection device 21 are formed by printed wiring, and is constructed in micro-strip-line structure so that specific characteristic impedance can be obtained in order to especially prevent a waveform of a high-speed pulse signal from being deteriorated.
However, it is difficult to make all of the signal propagation delay time values of those pin selection paths equal to a constant value, and in reality, a slight difference in delay time value might inevitably occurs between the pin selection paths.
If it is assumed that a difference in the delay time value might exist between the pin selection paths in the pin selection device 21, this time difference is erroniously added to or included into the timing calibration value which is determined by and set forth in the timing calibrators 14 when the timing calibration is completed. Hence, in this case, there is a drawback that the internal difference in the delay time values of the pin selection paths of the pin selection device 21 is summed as a timing error into the timing calibration value.
FIG. 11 shows the above stated drawback. In FIG. 11, a reference sign TS represents a constant delay time value to which the respective delay time values of the respective channels are to be adjusted equally. As assumed before, the respective pin selection paths for the respective output pins have their delay time values (TA-1, TA-2, TA-3, - - - ) which are slightly different from each other.
In the calibration mode, however, the delay time values of the respective remaining channel are adjusted to be equal to the constant time TS by adjusting the respective calibrators 14-1, 14-2, 14-3, - - - .
As it is seen in FIG. 11, within the constant time length TS, the breakdowns of the delay time values of respective channels are sums of corresponding delay time values (TX1, TX2, TX3, - - - ) caused by the respective signal transmission paths of the semiconductor device testing apparatus and corresponding delay time values (TA1, TA2, TA3, - - - ) (hatched portions) caused by the respective pin selection paths in the pin selection device 21. If the delay time values TA2, TA3 . . . caused by the respective pin selection paths for the remaining output pins P2, P3, - - - in the pin selection device 21 are either longer or shorter than that (TA-1) of the reference pin selection path, time differences caused by delay time value dispersion of the respective pin selection paths in the pin selection device 21 are reflected in the delay time values (TX2, TX3, - - - ) caused by the respective test pattern signal transmission paths for the remaining output pins.
Therefore, in the state that the pin selection device 21 is detached after the timing calibration, the delay time values (TX1, TX2, TX3, - - - ) caused by the respective test pattern signal transmission paths include the delay time value differences of the pin selection device 21 respectively, and hence it can hardly be said that the timing calibration is correctly performed.
Further, as the pin selection device 21, in addition to the configuration shown in FIG. 10, there may be another pin selection device having a structure wherein a probe is utilized which is movable in X-Y-Z orthogonal directions by an X-Y-Z orthogonal driving mechanism, and an input terminal of the timing measurement device 22 is connected to the output pin group 16 by the probe. Even in the pin selection device having this structure, when the probe is moved in X-Y-Z directions, the curvature of the cable (coaxial cable) connecting the probe to the timing measurement device changes. There occurs a phenomenon that the delay time value of the cable is changed due to the change of the curvature, and hence there is a problem similar to that of the case described above.
It is an object of the present invention to propose a timing calibration method of a semiconductor device testing apparatus by which the problem described above is solved and the signal propagation delay time value differences in the pin selection device 21 are not reflected as errors in the timing calibration of the semiconductor device testing apparatus, and to propose the semiconductor device testing apparatus that has an arrangement on board for materializing this calibration method.
In order to achieve the above object, in the first aspect of the present invention, there is proposed a timing calibration method for a semiconductor device testing apparatus comprising a plurality of test pattern signal transmission paths through which test pattern signals are transmitted to output pins and testing a semiconductor device under test using the thus transmitted test pattern signals, wherein the timing calibration method comprises the steps of: selectively connecting the respective output pins one after another to a timing measurement device through respective pin selection paths which are provided to correspond to the output pins, respectively; measuring by means of the timing measurement device signal propagation delay time values through the respective pin selection paths and storing the measured values in a memory; measuring by means of the timing measurement device total signal propagation delay time values through respective series connections each of which is constituted of one of the test pattern signal transmission paths and one of the pin selection paths corresponding to the respective output pins; subtracting the memorized values of the respective pin selection paths from the corresponding total signal propagation delay time values to thereby obtain difference delay time values; and adjusting delay time values of timing calibrators in the respective test pattern signal transmission paths such that those respective difference delay time values corresponding to all the output pins accord with a predetermined value whereby calibrating difference in signal propagation delay time values of the respective test pattern signal transmission paths.
In the second aspect of the present invention, there is proposed a timing calibration method in a semiconductor device testing apparatus comprising a plurality of test pattern signal transmission paths through which test pattern signals are transmitted to output pins and testing a semiconductor device under test using the thus transmitted test pattern signals, wherein the timing calibration method comprises the steps of: selectively connecting the respective output pins one after another to a timing measurement device through respective pin selection paths which are provided to correspond to the output pins, respectively; measuring by means of the timing measurement device signal propagation delay time values through the respective pin selection paths and storing the measured values in a memory; determining one of the output pins as a reference output pin and calculating deviation values between the delay time value as a reference value through the pin selection path for the reference output pin and respective delay time values through remaining pin selection paths for remaining output pins other than the reference output pin; measuring by means of the timing measurement device total signal propagation delay time vales through respective series connections each of which is constituted of one of the test pattern signal transmission paths and one of the pin selection paths; calculating deviation values between the total signal propagation delay time value for the reference output pin and the respective total signal propagation delay time values; and adjusting signal propagation delay time values of timing calibrators in the respective test pattern signal transmission paths for the remaining output pins such that those deviation values of the total delay time values for the respective remaining output pins accord with the corresponding deviation values, respectively whereby calibrating difference in signal propagation delay time values of the respective test pattern signal transmission paths.
In the third aspect of the present invention, there is proposed a semiconductor device testing apparatus having a timing calibration mode comprising: a pattern generator; a pin data selector distributing pin data including test pattern data, address signals and control signals, and outputted from the pattern generator to respective pin channels corresponding to output pins waveform formatters each shaping from the pin data distributed thereto by the pin data selector a test pattern signal having a waveform that meets standard requirements of a semiconductor device under test; timing calibrators calibrating signal propagation delay time values through respective rest pattern signal transmission paths connected to the respective waveform formatters; drivers transmitting the test pattern signals outputted from the respective timing calibrators to the output pins to which a semiconductor device under test is coupled; a computer system controlling operations of the testing apparatus; a timing measurement device measuring applied timings of the test pattern signals applied to the respective output pins; and a pin selection device connected to the output pins in a timing calibration mode and forming pin selection paths which selectively connect the respective output pins one by one to the timing measurement device; wherein said computer system comprises: memory means for storing therein signal propagation delay time values through the respective pin selection paths; subtraction means for subtracting the stored delay time values through the respective pin selection paths from corresponding total delay time values measured by means of the timing measurement device through respective series connections of the test pattern signal transmission paths and the pin selection paths corresponding to the respective output pins; and timing control means for controlling the signal propagation delay time values of the respective timing calibrators such that difference delay time values obtained as results of the subtraction means are converged to a predetermined constant value.
In the fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a semiconductor device testing apparatus having a timing calibration mode comprising: a pattern generator; a pin data selector distributing pin data including test pattern data, address signals and control signals, and outputted from the pattern generator to respective pin channels corresponding to output pins; waveform formatters each shaping from the pin data distributed thereto by the pin data selector a test pattern signal having a waveform that meets standard requirements of a semiconductor device under test; timing calibrators calibrating signal propagation delay time values through respective rest pattern signal transmission paths connected to the respective waveform formatters; drivers transmitting the test pattern signals outputted from the respective timing calibrators to the output pins to which a semiconductor device under test is coupled; a computer system controlling operations of the testing apparatus; a timing measurement device measuring applied timings of the test pattern signals applied to the respective output pins; and a pin selection device connected to the output pins in a timing calibration mode and forming pin selection paths which selectively connect the respective output pins one by one to the timing measurement device; wherein said computer system comprises: memory means for storing therein signal propagation delay time values through the respective pin selection paths; calculation means for calculating deviation values between the stored delay time value of the pin selection path stored in the memory means for one of the output pins which is determined as a reference output pin and the respective delay time values of the pin selection paths stored in the memory means for remaining output pins other than the reference output pin; and timing control means for controlling the delay time values of the respective timing calibrator such that deviation values between the total signal propagation delay time value for the reference output pin and the respective total signal propagation delay time values for the remaining output pins accord with the corresponding deviation values, respectively, whereby calibrating difference in signal propagation delay time values of the respective test pattern signal transmission paths.

Timing calibration method and semiconductor device testing apparatus having timing calibration function


A dispenser with self-closing cap allows opening of said cap, dispensing of contents from said dispenser and closing of said cap using only one hand.

Anglers often add split shot of various weights to the end of their fishing lines. A split shot is typically a BB-size lead pellet with a groove for attachment to a line.
Split shot are available to anglers in different style containers. FIG. 1 illustrates one such container wherein container lid 12 is shown offset from container 11 for the purpose of illustration.
Container 11 comprises a series of sector shaped compartments to house split shot of different sizes. A closed-off sector in said container is the home position for rotatable container lid 12. Said lid comprises a solid disc except for a single sector opening.
In order to access a split shot the angler rotates container lid 12 so that the sector opening of said lid aligns with the sector compartment of container 11 which contains the split shot of the desired size. In this operation one hand holds said container while the other hand rotates said container lid.
Container 11 is then inverted to dispense the split shot into the hand not holding said container. Often, undesirably, more than a single split shot is dispensed. The unwanted split shot must then be picked up and put back into said container. This requires using the same hand which is holding the desired split shot.
The hand holding the desired split shot then rotates lid 12 back to its home location on container 11, the position where the open sector of said lid lines up with the closed-off sector of said container.
In this process, the split shot can easily be dropped, especially if said split shot is very tiny or if use of the hands is impaired by the cold, wetness, or other reasons such as arthritis or neuropathy of the hand.
Another issue with this type of device is that if the angler neglects to fully return the lid back to its home location, split shot will accidentally pour out of the container while said container is being returned to a pocket or, worse, left open dangling on a vest or shirt attachment.
Yet another issue is that not all the sizes of split shot offered in the commercially available containers are desired by the angler for his or her type of angling. The undesired split shot are needlessly carried around and go to waste.
The basic issue with this prior art device is that two hands are required to access the split shot. The multiple manual operations required to open and close the lid and dispense the split shot significantly increase the risk of dropping the selected split shot or, much worse, the entire split shot container.
Split shot are also available in container types different from the one shown in FIG. 1. Plastic compartment boxes with hinged lids as well as plastic bags containing split shot are also available to the angler. Both the split shot box with hinged lid and the plastic bag suffer the same deficiency as the previously discussed container with rotatable lid, namely, two hands are required to access a split shot. The issues addressed above remain.
Said issues are overcome in dispenser 21, shown in FIG. 2[.], said dispenser allowing access to split shot using only one hand.
Dispenser 21 comprises cap 22, tube 23, base 24, as shown in FIG. 2, and elastic cord 25 shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b.
Elastic Cord 25 maintains cap 22 in place atop tube 23 by the tension in said cord.
Removal of said cap from said tube requires retracting said cap out of said tube a distance equal to the difference in length between stem 27 and the starting point of chamfer 28 on said stem. For access to a split shot contained within said tube, said cap is then laterally displaced, thereby exposing a fully open aperture of said tube at tube top 29. This is shown in FIGS. 4a-4e wherein the progressive steps of cap removal are shown.
In use, tube 23 is grasped in the hand with the little finger of said hand pressing the lower end of said dispenser against the lower end of the palm of said hand while the index finger and thumb of said hand press against cap shoulder 26. See FIG. 8.
In the same motion just employed for dislodging said cap from said tube, said cap is pushed laterally away from the opening of said tube and restrained from returning to its housed position within said tube by maintaining light lateral force on said cap. Split shot can then be dispensed from said tube.
The grasp on said cap is then released allowing said cap to automatically snap back into said tube by way of the spring tension in elastic cord 25.
Thus, the operations of cap opening, split shot dispensing, and closing of said cap are performed using only one hand. Further, said cap removal involves little more than a flick of the fingers and is performed essentially instantaneously. There is little risk of dropping the acquired shot or said dispenser because many hand manipulations are not required. There is no unscrewing or rotation of dispenser lids or separate dispenser components to drop.
If more than one split shot is accidentally dispensed from said tube, said shot can be scooped out of the palm containing said shot using the tube itself as a convenient efficient scoop to scoop up and return said shot to said container. Again, only one hand is involved in performing this operation.
With dispenser 21 only those split shot sizes desired by the angler need to be carried. Different size split shots desired by the angler can be carried in a set of said dispensers.
Said dispensers can be refilled economically and without waste through bulk purchases of the desired split shot sizes.
The use of only one hand for accessing and dispensing split shot is a distinct advantage for the angler since said angler's hands are normally occupied with other related tasks. The angler has to simultaneously hold the rod and reel, hold the end of the line where the split shot will be clamped, hold the selected split shot between two fingers, and hold pliers or angler's hemostat for clamping the split shot onto the line.
The above example addresses the dispensing of split shot for angling but applications of the dispenser extend into other areas, as well: arts and crafts for the dispensing of beads; industrial assembly for the storage and dispensing of small screws, washers, nuts, and other hardware items; in the medical area for the storage and dispensing of pills, and, with certain adaptations, the storage and dispensing of creams, gels or other viscous fluids.

Abstract: In the first embodiment, said dispenser comprises a cap, tube, base and elastic cord internally disposed between said cap and said base.

Abstract: In a second embodiment said dispenser incorporates a D-ring attachment into the dispenser of the first embodiment.

Abstract: Multiple dispensers of the first embodiment can be transported and stored on one's person in a caddy with integral matching boreholes to receive said dispensers.

Abstract: Multiple dispensers of the second embodiment can be grouped on a split ring much as keys on a keyring.

Abstract: In a third embodiment the cap of said dispenser incorporates an O-ring which guards the contents of said container against moisture or allows the storage and dispensing of gels, creams or other viscous fluids.

Abstract: Said dispenser finds application in diverse areas; for example, in fly fishing for the dispensing of split shot; in the work shop for dispensing of small screws, washers, and related hardware; in the arts and craft field for the dispensing of beads, and in the medical field for the dispensing of pills.


A magnetic recording medium in which a seedlayer includes an aluminum-containing intermetallic nitride for improved performance.

Magnetic thin film recording disks are commonly manufactured by a s of sputtering processes in an environment of low pressure inert gases. A disk is commonly comprised of a substrate made of nickel phosphorus (NiP) or ceramic glass, an optional magnetic seedlayer, a non-magnetic underlayer made of either pure chromium (Cr) or a chrome alloy (CrX), covered by a magnetic layer made of a cobalt (Co)-based alloy. A protective layer made of sputtered carbon is typically used on top of the magnetic layer and an organic lubricant may be used on top of the protective layer.
A seedlayer is used, especially on glass substrates, to control the grain size of the layers subsequently deposited on it. The ideal seedlayer helps to increase the signal to carrier noise ratio of the recording medium. In addition, the seedlayer provides a template to improve the film texture, decrease inter-granular coupling and enhance magnetic properties.
The present invention is directed to the field of magnetic recording media in which a seedlayer includes an aluminum-containing intermetallic nitride for improved performance. Intermetallic alloys are compounds of ordered alloy phases formed between two or more metallic elements where the different atomic species occupy specific sites in the crystal lattice. On a phase diagram an intermetallic alloy appears as an intermediate phase that exists over a narrow range of compositions.
A first aspect of the invention is directed to a magnetic recording medium precursor comprising a substrate and a seedlayer comprising an aluminum-containing intermetallic nitride supported by the substrate. A non-magnetic underlayer may be supported by the seedlayer and a magnetic layer may be supported by the underlayer to create a magnetic recording medium.
Another aspect of the invention is directed to a method for making a magnetic recording medium precursor including depositing a seedlayer, comprising an aluminum-containing intermetallic nitride on a substrate. A non-magnetic underlayer may be deposited over the seedlayer and a magnetic layer may be deposited over the underlayer to create the magnetic recording medium.
The use of an aluminum-containing intermetallic nitride seedlayer provides a buffer layer for the underlayer to grow on. This seedlayer helps refine the underlayer and magnetic layer grain size so to improve the performance of the media. The use of the aluminum-containing intermetallic nitride seedlayer is believed to help develop a favorable in-plane texture in the non-magnetic underlayer and in the magnetic layer itself. The seedlayer is also believed to lead to an increase in the in-plane coercivity and remnant magnetization thus improving the parametric performance of the media.
Deposition of the seedlayer may be accomplished by sputtering. A first sputtering technique reactively sputters an aluminum-containing intermetallic alloy in an atmosphere of argon and nitrogen. The Ar:N atomic ratio can vary widely, such as from about 1:10 to about 1:1. A second sputtering technique uses a sputtering target of a desired intermetallic nitride composition in an atmosphere of argon. The amount of nitrogen in the target will commonly range from about 1 to 50% atomic. Other sputtering gases, such as methane and oxygen, or a combination thereof, may also be used. Other techniques for depositing an aluminum-containing intermetallic nitride as the seedlayer may also be used.

Magnetic recording medium with aluminum-containing intermetallic nitride seedlayer and method


A method, system and computer program product for filtering systematic differences from wafer evaluation parameters provides an efficient visual display and numerical map technique for observing wafer-level process variation. Measurement data is gathered from electronic circuits at multiple positions within multiple regions on one or more wafers and parameters are computed from the measurement data, which may be the measurement data values themselves. The set of parameters is filtered for expected systematic variation by computing a set of normalization values from the set of parameters and normalizing the data according to the normalization values. The normalized parameter set is then either presented in a visual display, e.g., by color mapping, or arranged in a numerical map of parameter value by location.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to wafer characterization methods and measurements, and more particularly to a method, system and computer program product for isolating circuit or block level systematic differences from wafer measurement data and/or evaluation parameters computed therefrom.
2. Description of Related Art
Study of wafer-level measurement data variation, and/or evaluation parameters computed from measurement data, provides insight into several process mechanisms that cause significant differences in operation of circuits fabricated on a wafer. In particular systematic variations in etching and anneal processes across the wafer are typically independent of the systematic variations due to imaging processes, which cause variation on a particular basis. Characteristics of the wafer itself also may cause variation across the wafer. It is desirable to visualize and also to numerically characterize the wafer-level variation, so that processes and materials that cause such variation can be more uniformly controlled. Further, it is useful in debug of the design of circuits to eliminate such wafer-level variation as a source of a functionality or performance problem, for example when differences in performance are noted between multiple cores on a die. Once process variation is eliminated as a potential cause, then the design can be evaluated as to the underlying cause.
Within a given die, measurement data may be available from differing circuits that have differing features, e.g., circuits designed to measure different circuit parameters and/or functional circuits having different characteristics, but nonetheless exhibit variation due to the systematic wafer-level variation. Even if different circuits within a die are provided for measuring the same circuit parameter per-die and per-reticle systematic variations will typically be present. For the above reasons, a total collection of measurement data in general, and a visual display of the measurement data values or parameters computed from the measurement data values more specifically, typically yields a poor result in that all of the variation other than the wafer level variation contributes to visual and numerical "noise" that masks the wafer-level variation in other variation.
Therefore, existing techniques for visualizing and numerically mapping wafer-level variation typically either provide a display or map of one value per reticle, which may be aggregated and normalized, or may represent an individual circuit. Other visual displays and numerical maps present only the variation level per-reticle. Other systems that attempt to remove reticle level variation from wafer-level variation require generation of complex models that introduce error and are computationally and storage-allocation intensive.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide an efficient method, system and computer program product for providing a display and/or numerical map of wafer-level variation that has been filtered to remove reticle/die level systematic variation and/or circuit level systematic differences and variation.

Techniques for filtering systematic differences from wafer evaluation parameters


An omnidirectional light emission LED lamp, comprising an electrical connector, a connecting piece, at least two translucent cover and LED light-emitting elements fixed on the translucent covers. The plurality of translucent covers interconnects and encloses into an overall lampshade shape, and a channel is enclosed between the translucent covers. Openings at the two ends of the channel are in communication with the outside, the connecting piece is fixed on the translucent covers at least one end of the channel, a cavity is formed within the connecting piece, the cavity is in communication with the channel, and ventilation holes in communication with the outside are provided on the connecting piece. The LED lamp implements 360 degree omnidirectional illumination, and has high light-emitting efficiency, good heat dissipation performance and a long service life. In addition, lampshades having various lengths and shapes may be assembled according to requirements, processing is facilitated, and the range of applications is wide.

In recent years, various performance of the illuminating LED lamp has been improved considerably due to the continuous development of the LED technology. The LED lamp has become the trend in the future of the light source since it has a number of advantages such as long lifetime, high luminous efficiency, no UV radiation and lower energy consumption.
However, unlike the incandescent lamp and the like which could implement 360 degree omnidirectional illumination, the LED light source has directivity, so its illuminating effect, to a certain extent, is impacted when it replaces traditional light source such as the incandescent lamp or the like as a light source, especially when the LED is manufactured to be a daylight lamp having a traditional tube-shape, for example the "LED daylight lamp" disclosed in the Chinese patent publication number CN102022651A. This LED daylight lamp comprises a lampshade, LED light source components, an LED driving component, two end caps and a heat dissipating housing. The lampshade is connected to the heat dissipating housing, and the two end caps cover the lampshade and the heat dissipating housing which have been connected at their two ends respectively. The cross sections of the lampshade and the heat dissipating housing are both arc-shaped, and the lampshade and the heat dissipating housing form a chamber in which the LED light source components and the LED driving component are located. In this LED daylight lamp, the LEDs have to be arranged within a plane so as to meet the requirements for their heat dissipation. Thus, its light emitting area could merely cover 180 degree rather than 360 degree (i.e., it emits light from a plane instead of emitting light omnidirectionally), although it has a long straight tube-shape like the daylight lamp. Therefore, the LED daylight lamp in the prior art could not implement 360 degree omnidirectional illumination while meeting the requirements for the heat dissipation since the heat dissipating area and the light emitting area are contradictory.


The present invention provides a process for producing a variety of unsaturated carbamic acid derivatives from corresponding unsaturated carbamates by substitution reaction. The present invention provides a process for producing unsaturated carbamic acid derivatives, comprising reacting an unsaturated carbamate represented by ##STR1## wherein R represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, R.sup.1 represents a residue of an alcohol from which an OH group is removed,. with an alcohol, a primary or secondary amine or an oxime at a temperature of 80.degree. to 150.degree. C. to substitute the --OR.sup.1 group in the formula (A).

The present inventors have already proposed carbamic acid esters represented by: ##STR2## wherein R represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, R.sup.1 represents a residue of an alcohol from which an OH group is removed,
and also proposed their applications (Japanese Kokai Publications 61-275259, 61-275260 and 61-275270 corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 4,935,413).
Japanese Kokai Publication 4-66563 (corresponding to EP-A 465,162) discloses a one step synthesis method wherein the unsaturated carbamic acid esters are prepared by reacting methacrylamide and chloroformic acid ester. However, the chloroformic acid esters are unstable and a few kind of them can be used therefor.
Japanese Kokai Publication 61-275259 also provides a process for producing the unsaturated carbamic acid esters wherein a compound having an isocyanate group, represented by: ##STR3##
(wherein R is the same as mentioned above), is reacted with alcohols. The isocyanate compound, however, is too reactive to control and treat the reaction.

Production of unsaturated carbamic acid derivative