The apparatus and method relates to an automatic dispenser for dispensing portions of a product such as ice cream from a supply comprising a coiled tubular casing in which the ice cream is encased. The end of the casing is fed into the apparatus and, as the apparatus operates, moves through to the exit. The casing with its encased ice cream is pulled through the apparatus and pinched at uniform intervals by a first pinching mechanism following which utilizing a second pinching mechanism, the casing with its encased ice cream is further pinched to a thickness of only the casing at the same uniform intervals. The casing with the encased ice cream is then drawn past a cutting device which opens the casing so that a portion defined by sequential pinched segments is dispensed and the casing removed by a scrap spool mechanism.

The teachings of prior related U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,762,483 and 4,830,864 issued to the inventor of the present invention are incorporated herein by reference. As will be seen from later description, the present invention represents an improvement upon the teachings of the inventions of the prior patents.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,762,483 is for an Apparatus for Packaging and Dispensing Ice Cream and The Like. Patent '483 describes a machine which measures and cuts off a portion of a frozen food product which is packaged in a coiled tubular casing. The mechanism for cutting off the product is a thin blade which is linearly actuated much in the fashion of a guillotine. The separated portion of a frozen food or similar product, is then transferred by a scoop device to a receiving container.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,830,864 is for a Method for Packaging and Dispensing Ice Cream and the Like. The '864 patent is a division of the '843 patent and deals with the preparatory process of packaging the frozen food product into the casing to be subsequently handled by the dispensing machine of the '483 patent.
The idea of packaging and dispensing products from a disposable casing is a practical one for commercial establishments and for automated, consumer-operated equipment as well. A difficulty encountered with the mechanism of the '483 patent is that the mechanical components, particularly the cutting device and the scoop moving components, come into direct contact with the food product. This product contact means there is a significant cleaning requirement. Since the product being cut and served is intended to be a food product, a sanitation concern exists. Cleaning is required periodically to keep the parts in condition to function, and, if a change in product were to occur, to prevent unwanted product mixing.
The prior patents noted are directed primarily to handling and dispensing ice cream and the like. The present invention is likewise applicable to ice cream, and additionally is recognized as possibly being useful in dispensing controlled portions of other food and non-food products.
The method of constricting a product packed within a casing has been done before, particularly with sausages. Such a method and apparatus is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,049,108 to Georg Staundenrausch. In the '108 patent, a strand of sausage filled casing is rotated about its axis as it is constricted by a pair of rotating constrictor elements. As will be seen, the apparatus and method of the present invention does not rotate the strand and adds the steps of forming the cased product, slitting the casing and winding the slit casing while dispensing the ice cream product. In addition, it has been observed that sausage is typically packed in edible casing which tends to adhere to the meat product.
It is recognized according to the present invention that a product such as ice cream or the like has certain mechanical characteristics, significantly that of being malleable. Thus, ice cream, for example, can be deformed with a moderate amount of pressure. When deformation results in a product such as ice cream being compressed to a relatively thin cross section, the compressed section will have low tensile strength and will readily and spontaneously separate a portion defined by two spaced apart compressed sections. With these properties, more or less, a commodity or product such as ice cream when encased in a compressible tubular casing will function according to the processes of the invention disclosed.
Therefore, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus capable of dispensing measured portions of a product such as ice cream packaged in a disposable casing.
It is an additional objective of the present invention to provide a dispensing apparatus for dispensing ice cream or the like, the operative parts of which do not come into intimate contact with the product.
It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a dispensing method and apparatus in which the supply of product such as ice cream or the like, can be quickly and efficiently replaced.
The foregoing and other objectives will become apparent from the disclosure that follows.

Apparatus and method for dispensing defined portions of ice cream or a like deformable product


The present invention relates generally to a nucleic acid molecule encoding, or complementary to a nucleic acid molecule encoding, a polypeptide which confers, enhances, or otherwise facilitates resistance to a nematode in a plant cell. The nucleic acid molecule of the present invention is useful in the isolation of related nematode resistance, or nematode resistance-like genetic sequences, from other plants. Furthermore, the present invention provides for the generation of plants carrying non-endogenous nematode resistance, or nematode resistance-like genetic sequences, said plants exhibiting enhanced tolerance to parasitic nematodes and related pathogens.

Improvements in recombinant DNA technology have produced dramatic changes to the agricultural industry, in particular the approaches taken to improve crop productivity. A major concern is the effect of plant pests, such as plant parasitic nematodes, on productivity. Generally, plant parasitic nematodes invade a wide range of food, fibre and ornamental plants, causing damage to different plant tissues with varying severity on productivity. Parasitic nematodes cost the agriculture and horticulture industries approximately U.S. $78 billion per annum.
Plant parasitic nematodes are broadly classified as either migratory ectoparasites, sedentary ectoparasites, migratory ectoendoparasites, migratory endoparasites, or sedentary endoparasites, on the basis of their feeding patterns. Most crop damage is caused by sedentary endoparasites, for example the cyst nematodes heterodera sp. and Globodera sp. and the root knot nematodes meloidogyne sp., through their devastating effect on root structures. Juvenile nematodes invade the plant root and migrate to the vascular tissue where they induce a multinucleate feeding structure or syncitium from which the nematode feeds.
The most cost-effective and sustainable method for control of plant pests is the development of resistant plants. However, the development of this method of control in relation to parasitic nematodes has faced many difficulties. For example, bioassays for nematodes, such as the cereal cyst nematode, are long and labour intensive. Although natural resistance to plant parasitic nematodes occures in certain plant genotypes, the molecular basis of resistance was hitherto unknown. In particular, the molecular characteristics of a gene encoding a polypeptide which confers nematode resistance on a plant, has not been a straightforward procedure. Furthermore, until the present invention, even the chromosomal localisation of nematode resistance genes and genetic markers for nematode resistance, were unknown.

Genetic sequences conferring nematode resistance in plants and uses therefor

Common Wealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation

Grains Research and Development Corporation


Disclosed is a metal separator for a solid oxide regenerative fuel cell coated with a conductive spinel oxide film. In the conductive spinel oxide film, yttrium is added to a manganese-cobalt spinel oxide to suppress growth of an insulating oxide film on the surface of the metal separator and volatilization of metal. In the conductive oxide film coated on the metal separator, yttrium is segregated at the grain boundaries of the spinel so that migration of oxygen through the grain boundaries can be suppressed. Therefore, the surface of the metal separator can be protected from exposure to the atmosphere and water vapor when the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell is operated at high temperature. In addition, poisoning of electrodes by metal volatilization from the surface of the metal separator and growth of an insulating oxide film on the surface of the metal separator can be prevented. Therefore, the stability of the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell stack can be markedly improved.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a metal separator for a solid oxide regenerative fuel cell coated with a conductive spinel oxide film. More specifically, the present invention relates to a metal separator for a solid oxide regenerative fuel cell coated with a conductive spinel oxide film in which yttrium is added to a manganese-cobalt spinel oxide to suppress growth of an insulating oxide film on the surface of the metal separator and volatilization of metal, and a method for producing the metal separator coated with the conductive spinel oxide film.
2. Description of the Related Art
A unitized regenerative fuel cell (URFC) is an energy conversion and storage system that can work both as a fuel cell and as a water electrolyzer. Since the commercialization of fuel cells, unitized regenerative fuel cells (URFCs) have attracted considerable attention as next-generation fuel cells and have been emerging as the most promising topics playing a leading role in fuel cell research.
A unitized regenerative fuel cell (URFC) operates both in a fuel cell mode and in an electrolyzer mode. Electrical energy is produced in the fuel cell mode, which is the same as the operation mode of an existing fuel cell. In the electrolyzer mode, the URFC supplies electrical energy to electrolyze water as a byproduct of the fuel cell reaction into hydrogen and oxygen. The regenerated hydrogen and oxygen are supplied to the fuel cell to produce electrical energy. This is the very core of URFC technology. Due to the use of regenerated hydrogen, the utilization efficiency of hydrogen energy of the URFC is estimated to be significantly higher by about 10-15% than that of an existing fuel cell.
A solid oxide regenerative fuel cell (SORFC) using a ceramic membrane as an electrolyte is considered the most efficient type of URFC. In the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell, a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) for clean energy conversion with high efficiency is integrated with a solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) for hydrogen production, which operates in the reverse mode to the SOEC. The solid oxide regenerative fuel cell is capable of high capacity supply power and hydrogen production/storage/utilization. Due to these advantages, the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell is suitable for stable supply of non-uniform low-quality power of renewable energy on demand. That is, the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell can use excess power of renewable energy to produce and store hydrogen when power demand is low, and can use the stored hydrogen as a fuel to supply power when power demand is high. In comparison with a regenerative fuel cell, the solid oxide regenerative fuel cell operating at a relatively high temperature of 800° C. is advantageous from thermodynamic and kinetic aspects and possesses relatively high efficiency and performance. Under such circumstances, reaction problems between materials, development of new materials, improvement of electrode characteristics, stack fabrication, and evaluation of operating tests are emerging as key issues in research and development.
However, performance deterioration of a variety of elements when exposed to high temperatures is the most serious obstacle to the commercialization of solid oxide regenerative fuel cells. Particularly, metal separators tend to be more susceptible to oxidation than ceramic materials. This tendency leads to poor performance of stacks, which is a very serious situation. In an SORFC stack, a metal separator electrically connects a cathode of one cell to an anode of another cell and serves and separates the two electrodes to prevent mixing of air and hydrogen. An Fe—Cr alloy as a main material for the metal separator is highly resistant to heat and oxidation. However, when the Fe—Cr alloy is exposed to an oxidizing atmosphere, i.e. air or water vapor, at a temperature as high as 800° C. at which a solid oxide regenerative fuel cell is operated, for a long time, an insulating oxide film with high electrical resistance grows on the metal surface, resulting in increased electrical resistance and performance deterioration of the stack.
When the Fe—Cr alloy comes into contact with oxygen at high temperature, a highly volatile chromium oxide (CrOX) is formed and the chromium (Cr) atoms are volatilized from the metal and deposited on the surface of electrodes, resulting in a reduction in the number of reaction sites of the electrodes and performance deterioration of the electrodes.
In an attempt to prevent growth of an insulating oxide film and minimize performance deterioration of a solid oxide regenerative fuel cell stack by chromium poisoning, research is being conducted on a technique for coating a conductive oxide film on the surface of a metal separator to prevent direct contact between the metal separator and atmospheric oxygen. However, current techniques for coating conductive oxide films suffer from limitations because the conductive oxide films are not dense enough to block gas permeation and are very difficult to form on metals.

Metal separator for solid oxide regenerative fuel cell coated with conductive spinel oxide film, method for producing the same and solid oxide regenerative fuel cell including the same

KOREA INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY


The invention is embodied in a soft magnetic thin film article comprising an iron--chromium-nitrogen (Fe--Cr--N) based alloy and methods for making such article. The soft magnetic thin film article is formed using an iron--chromium--nitrogen based alloy with tantalum in one embodiment and with at least one of the elements titanium (Ti), zirconium (Zr), hafnium (Hf), vanadium (V), molybdenum (Mo), niobium (Nb) or tungsten (W) in another embodiment. The article is formed such that the alloy has a relatively high saturation magnetization (e.g., greater than approximately 15 kG) and a relatively low coercivity (e.g., less than approximately 2.0 oersteds) in an as-deposited condition or, alternatively, with a very low temperature treatment (e.g., below approximately 150.degree. C.). The inventive films are suitable for use in electromagnetic devices, for example, in microtransformer cores, inductor cores and in magnetic read-write heads.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to thin films of magnetically soft alloys. More particularly, the invention relates to articles comprising these alloys.
2. Description of the Related Art
Soft magnetic thin films are useful in modern, high-frequency, electromagnetic devices as a field-amplifying component, e.g., in the read-write head for magnetic disk memories in computers or as a core in microtransformers and inductors. Among the desired properties of these films are relatively high saturation magnetization (4.pi.M.sub.s), low coercivity (H.sub.c), high permeability, high electrical resistivity and corrosion resistance. Various applications of soft magnetic thin films are described, for example, in books Magnetic Thin Films by R. F. Soohoo, Harper and Row, 1965; Thin Ferromagnetic Films by M. Prutton, Butterworth, 1964; and in articles C. R. Sullivan and S. R. Sanders, IEEE Trans. on Power Electronics, Proc. 24th Annual Power Electronics Specialists Conf., p. 33-40, June 1993; and T. Yachi et al., IEEE Trans. Magn. 28, 1969-1973 (1992).
Among the known soft magnetic thin films, nickel--iron (Ni--Fe) based films such as 80% Ni-20% Fe (permalloy) are used most widely because of excellent magnetic properties and zero magnetostriction characteristics. Fe-based films such as iron--tantalum (Fe--Ta), iron--zirconium (Fe--Zr) and iron--hafnium (Fe--Hf) alloys generally exhibit higher saturation magnetization of 15-20 kilogauss (kG) as compared to about 10 kG for the 80% Ni permalloy films (see, e.g., N. Kataoka et al., Japanese J. Appl. Phys. 28, L462-L464, 1989, Trans. Jap. Inst. Metals 31, 429, 1990), however, they exhibit poorer soft magnetic properties and require post-deposition heat treatment.
To obtain improved soft magnetic properties, nitrogen-containing films of these Fe-based alloys such as iron--tantalum--nitrogen (Fe--Ta--N) have been prepared. See, for example, E. Haftek et al., IEEE Trans. Magn. 30, 3915-3917 (1994); N. Ishiwata et al., J. Appl. Phys. 69, 5616 (1991); J. Lin et al., IEEE Trans. Magn. 30, 3912-3914 (1994); and G. Qiu et al., J. Appl. Phys. 73, 6573 (1993). However, although desirable magnetic softness with a coercivity, H.sub.c, of less than approximately 2 oersted (Oe), which is desirable for microtransformer applications, is obtainable in these nitrogen-containing films, it is apparent from the aforementioned articles that such desirable soft magnetic properties are difficult to obtain in the as-deposited films, but are possible after post-deposition heat treatment at high temperatures.
However, such heat treatment of deposited films is an additional processing step that needs to be avoided if possible, not only from the manufacturing cost point of view but also because of the complications of having to expose to high temperature various other components and materials in the devices. As a result of high temperature exposure, some of these components can be damaged, e.g., decomposition of polymers or polyimide insulating films, diffusion-induced chemical changes or damages, stress problems caused by thermal expansion mismatch of different materials.
Therefore, it is desirable for the required soft magnetic properties in the films to be obtained in the as-deposited condition, or at the worst, with a very low temperature heat treatment below approximately 150.degree. C. where damage to polymers such as polyimide is kept relatively low. This application discloses new soft magnetic films with such desirable characteristics. Also, it is desirable to improve the corrosion/oxidation resistance of the Fe-rich thin films, as the oxides of iron and iron-rich alloys generally exhibit substantially reduced magnetic saturation. This application discloses thin films with improved corrosion resistance.

Articles comprising magnetically soft thin films


An encoder generating encoded data. The encoder comprising an analysis unit for analysing portions of data to be encoded, and for directing the portions to one or more encoding units, the encoding units are operable to encode the data portions to generate encoded data. The one or more encoding units are operable to employ mutually different encoding algorithms when encoding the one or more portions. At least one encoding unit of the one or more encoding units is operable to compute data values present in each portion received thereat, to sub-divide the data values into at least two sets, to compute at least one aggregate value for a given set derived from the data values present in the given set. A corresponding decoder for decoding data generated by the encoder executes an inverse of encoding steps employed in the encoder.

There are many contemporary known methods of encoding data (D1) to generate encoded data (E2), and also decoding the encoded data (E2) to generate decoded data (D3). Nevertheless, there is a lack of a method of encoding data which is suitable for a broad range of content represented by the data (D1) to be encoded, for example still images, video content, audio content or graphics data. Such encoding has as its primary aim to generate encoded data (E2) that is more compact than corresponding data (D1) to be encoded. Moreover, there is also a lack of a corresponding decoder for decoding such encoded data (E2).
Image encoding methods such as JPEG ("Joint Photographic Experts Group", namely lossy DCT-based coding, wherein "DCT" is an abbreviation for Discrete Cosine Transform), JPEG2000 ("Joint Photographic Experts Group", namely wavelet-based encoding) and WebP (image format encoding which employs both lossy and lossless compression during encoding) are known to be well adapted for compressing natural image content, but are less suitable for compressing text or images whose colours are described by only a few colour values and whose content has a relatively high spatial frequency component. An alternative known method of encoding data is referred to as GIF ("Graphics Interchange Format") and employs a palette-based compression algorithm which is well adapted to encode images that can be presented with a relatively small number of colour values required to render the images, for example 256 colour values; however, if the images to be encoded by GIF algorithms include natural objects having subtle spatially-gradual colour variations, GIF creates undesirable artefacts which are noticeable in corresponding decoded GIF images. Known contemporary PNG encoding ("Portable Networks Graphics", lossless encoding) is generally similar to GIF encoding and provides more options for encoding image data, but is not nevertheless well adapted for images which contain a small range of colour values. Other known encoding methods employ text encoding using OCR ("Optical Character Recognition") in combination with encoding characters; OCR is sometimes an appropriate method to employ, but is sensitive to positioning of text within an image, tilting of the text within the image, a font of the text and also an object in which the text is located; additionally, OCR can potentially require considerable processing power for its implementation.
More recently, scientific publications have proposed further alternative encoding methods which are suitable for encoding data that is in a bi-level block data sequence format; details of these scientific publications are provided in Table 1.
TABLE 1Encoding methods for encoding data in a bi-level block data sequence format.Title of publicationAuthorsPublication details"A bi-level block codingLi Tan andProceedings of the 2008 IAJC-IJMEtechnique for encodingJean JiangInternational Conference, Internationaldata sequences with sparseJournal of Modern Engineering (IJME), paperdistribution"185, ENT 201.ISBN 978-1-60643-379-9"Lossless compression ofS. D. Stearms,IEEE Transactions on Geoscience andwaveform data forL. Tan, andRemote Sensing,efficient transmission andN. MagotraVol. 31, no. 3, pp 645-654, May 1993storage""A block coding techniqueG. Zeng andIEEE Transactions on Acoustics, Speech andfor encoding sparse binaryN. AhmedSignal Processing,patterns"Vol. 37, no. 5, pp 778-780, May 1989
Aforesaid known methods of encoding data, and corresponding known methods of decoding such encoded data, are not well adapted for a broad range of content represented by the data, despite the known methods employing a wide range of mutually different approaches. Despite considerable research over many years to evolve more efficient encoding algorithms to provide improved data compression, namely an issue of great importance to communication systems handling streamed video content, an optimal encoding method has yet to be devised.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,151,409 ("Methods for Compressing and Reconstructing a Color Image in a Computer System"; Applicant—National Science Council, Taipei, Taiwan) recites a method of compressing a colour image, namely by employing visual block pattern truncation coding (VBPIC), in which conventional block truncation coding (BTC) serves to encode an original image. The method defines an edge block according to human visual perception. In an event that a difference between two quantized values of BTC in a block is larger than a threshold value which is defined by visual characteristics, the block will be identified as an edge block. In an edge block, the bitmap is adapted to compute block gradient orientation and to match the block pattern.
The method is only barely suitable for an image that contains only 4×4 blocks which further contain either a DC level or a clear edge at an angle of 90° or 45°. Moreover, the method is capable of removing noise, or is capable of removing details when the mask does not hit the target exactly. Furthermore, the method is not at all suitable for coding text or texture, and is not suitable for coding patterns that cannot be expressed with a straight line, or that have a different direction from multiples of 45°.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,668,932 ("Digital Video Data Compressions Technique", Applicant—Microsoft Corporation) recites an alternative technique for compressing digital video data that provides improved compression relative to conventional block compression techniques. In the alternative technique, image data is broken down into cells and iteratively compressed. The cells are compressed using compression formats that are most appropriate for the contents of the cells. A determination is first made whether or not a cell is substantially identical to a succeeding cell in a previous frame. If the cell is substantially identical to the cell in the previous frame, the cell is encoded in compressed form as a duplicate of the previous cell. Moreover, solid-colour compression approaches and eight-colour compression approaches may be integrated into the compression technique.
Thus, the method uses a bit mask which conveys whether a given pixel being processed belongs to a higher value, namely brighter pixels, or to a lower value, namely dimmer pixels, for each block, cell or sub-block. Moreover, the method attempts to encode entire images.
Published PCT application WO 00/19374 ("Compressing and Decompression Image Data with 4-level Block Coding", Applicant—Silicon Graphics Inc.) recites a method and an apparatus for compressing and uncompressing image data. Optionally, the method of compressing a colour cell comprises steps of:
(i) defining at least four luminance levels of the colour cells;
(ii) generating a bitmask for the colour cells, wherein the bitmask has a plurality of entries each corresponding to a respective one of the pixels, and each of the entries for storing data identifying one or the luminance levels associated with a corresponding one of the pixels;
(iii) calculating a first average colour of pixels associated with a first one of the luminance levels;
(iv) calculating a second average colour of pixels associated with a second one of the luminance levels; and
(v) storing the bitmask in association with the first average colour and the second average colour.
Optionally, the colour cell includes a matrix of 4×4 pixels, the bitmask includes 32-bits, and each of the colour values include I6-bits, such that a compression rate of 4-bits per pixel is achievable. The method is applicable to compress texture data, such that the texture data is capable of being more efficiently cached and moved during texture mapping; compression of luminance, intensity and alpha textures are also possible to be achieved.
Moreover, aforementioned known coding methods have various shortcomings which makes them unsuitable for a wide spectrum of types of data.


Disclosed herein are methods of treatment of autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) as well as clinical assays for detection of autoimmune disease activity in patients utilizing the involving a PD1 ligand.

Autoimmune diseases occur when an organism's immune system fails to recognize some of the organism's own tissues as "self" and attacks them as "foreign." Normally, self-tolerance is developed early by developmental events within the immune system that prevent the organism's own T cells and B cells from reacting with the organism's own tissues. Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) cell surface proteins help regulate these early immune responses by binding to and presenting processed peptides to T cells.
This self-tolerance process breaks-down when autoimmune diseases develop. In such diseases, the organism's own tissues and proteins are recognized as "autoantigens" and are attacked by the organism's immune system. For example, multiple sclerosis is believed to be an autoimmune disease, which occurs when the immune system attacks the myelin sheath, whose function is to insulate and protect nerves. It is a progressive disease characterized by demyelination, followed by neuronal and motor function loss. Rheumatoid arthritis ("RA") is also believed to be an autoimmune disease, which involves chronic inflammation of the synovium in joints with infiltration by activated T cells, macrophages and plasma cells, leading to a progressive destruction of the articular cartilage. It is the most severe form of joint disease. The nature of the autoantigen(s) attacked in rheumatoid arthritis is poorly understood, although collagen type II is a candidate.
Some believe that multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis are inherited disorders because these diseases occur more frequently in individuals carrying one or more characteristic MHC class II alleles. For example, inherited susceptibility for rheumatoid arthritis is strongly associated with the MHC class II DRB1 *0401, DRB 1 *0404, or DRB 1*0405 or the DRB1*0101 alleles. The human leukocyte antigens (HLA) are found on the surface of cells and help determine the individuality of tissues from different persons. HLA genes are located within the MHC on chromosome 6 The MHC region expresses a number of distinctive classes of molecules in various cells of the body, the genes being, in order of sequence along the chromosome, the Class I, II and III MHC genes. The Class I genes consist of HLA genes, which are further subdivided into A, B and C subregions. The Class II genes are subdivided into the DR, DQ and DP subregions. The MHC-DR molecules are the best known; these occur on the surfaces of antigen presenting cells such as macrophages, dendritic cells of lymphoid tissue and epidermal cells. The Class III MHC products are expressed in various components of the complement system, as well as in some non-immune related cells.
Another example of an autoimmune disease is Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), or lupus, which is a debilitating autoimmune disease characterized by the presence of an array of autoantibodies, including antibodies to double stranded DNA, to nuclear protein antigens and to ribonucleoproteins. SLE affects approximately 1 in 2000 individuals (U.S. 1 in 700 women). The disease primarily affects young women, with a female-to male ratio of approximately 9:1.
Systemic lupus can affect almost any organ or system of the body. Systemic lupus may include periods in which few, if any, symptoms are evident ("remission") and other times when the disease becomes more active ("flare"). Most often when people mention "lupus," they are referring to the systemic form of the disease.
Corticosteroids are the mainstay in treating systemic autoimmune disorders. Life threatening, severely disabling manifestations of SLE are treated with high doses of glucocorticoids. Undesirable effects of chronic glucocorticoids include an array of prominent adverse effects such as cushingoid habitus, central obesity, hypertension, infection, capillary fragility, hirsutism, accelerated osteoporosis, cataracts, diabetes mellitus, myopathy and psychosis. In addition to corticosteroid toxicity, patient compliance to a dosage regimen also poses a serious problem.
Cytotoxic agents are also used for controlling active disease, reducing the rate of disease flares, and reducing steroid requirements. Undesirable side effects of the latter include bone marrow suppression, increased infections with opportunistic organisms, irreversible ovarian failure, alopecia and increased risk of malignancy.
Programmed death 1 (PD-1), an inhibitory receptor expressed on activated lymphocytes, is thought to be involved in autoimmune diseases, such as SLE. PD-1 has two ligands: PD-1 ligand 1 (PD-L1), which is expressed broadly on hematopoietic and parenchymal cells, including pancreatic islet cells; and PD-L2, which is restricted to macrophages and dendritic cells.
SLE is an inflammatory disease for which to date there is no definitive diagnostic tool, treatment or cure. The disease results in acute and chronic complications. The only current treatments available are palliative, aimed at relieving acute symptoms and preventing chronic complications, often with profound side effects. The need for new detection methods and treatments for autoimmune diseases, such as SLE are manifest.

Detection and treatment of autoimmune disorders

The Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center


A method and device are disclosed for opportunistic compression of routing segment identifiers. In one embodiment, the method includes participating in routing of a first data packet through a first node in a network, and subsequently entering into an arrangement with an adjacent node in the network. The first data packet includes a first plurality of routing segment identifiers, and additional data packets to be routed through the first node also include the first plurality of routing segment identifiers. The arrangement entered into includes representation of the first plurality of routing segment identifiers by a single compression identifier. The method further includes participating in routing of at least one of the additional data packets using the compression identifier instead of the first plurality of routing segment identifiers. In an embodiment, the device includes one or more network interfaces and a processor configured to perform the steps of the method.

Network nodes are capable of receiving and forwarding packets being sent through a communications network. A network node may take the form of one or more routers, one or more bridges, one or more switches, one or more servers, or any other suitable communications processing device. A packet, which may also be referred to as a "message" herein, is a formatted unit of data that typically contains control information and payload data. Control information may include, for example: address information, error detection codes like checksums, and sequencing information. Control information is typically found in packet headers and trailers, and payload data is typically found in between the headers and trailers.
One type of control information included with a packet is routing information used to make packet forwarding decisions. In some cases this routing information includes identifiers for separate portions of the path to be taken by the packet.

Opportunistic compression of routing segment identifier stacks


Techniques and apparatuses are described for reducing a flicker effect of multiple light sources in an image captured with an imaging device. A lighting frequency associated with each of the multiple light sources is detected and prioritized relative to a flicker effect upon the image to identify at least a first-prioritized lighting frequency and a second-prioritized lighting frequency. A first exposure-time factorization set is determined for the first-prioritized lighting frequency, and a second exposure-time factorization set is determined for the second-prioritized lighting frequency. An exposure time of the imaging device is adjusted to an exposure time identified in the first exposure-time factorization set that matches, or aligns near-to-matching, an exposure time identified in the second exposure-time factorization set.

Complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) sensors are commonly used by digital cameras and digital video cameras to create images. Typically, the image-capture process uses a rolling-shutter method in which a still image, or frame of a video, is captured by exposing, sampling, and reading out pixels sequentially in a scan line, rather than all at once. Additionally, each scan line of the image is sampled at a slightly different time with a uniform exposure time.
Certain light sources that are powered by an electrical alternating current (AC) flicker at the given AC frequency. This light flicker, in combination with the CMOS sensor rolling shutter and an exposure time that differs from the light flicker, causes the resulting image or video captured by the CMOS sensor to have a noticeable banding or flicker effect in the recorded image, typically in the form of darker or shadowed zebra-like lines across the image, or darker moving lines across a video recording.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Reducing a flicker effect of multiple light sources in an image


In some embodiments, a method, apparatus and system to generate an interrupt by monitoring an external interface are presented. In this regard, an interrupt agent is introduced to communicate over a serial interface with an input/output (I/O) extender and to save a relevant status of the I/O extender in a memory. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed.

Interrupts typically use signal traces to signal a system or component (such as a chipset) that a peripheral component needs to be serviced, perhaps because of a change in status. Software interrupt routines typically service these interrupts by inquiring into the details of the peripheral component by reading status registers and taking appropriate actions. There are currently objectives in the electronics industry to reduce signal traces where possible to reduce costs and to reduce system response times to improve performance.

Method, apparatus and system to generate an interrupt by monitoring an external interface


The present invention has as its object to provide a compact optical scanning apparatus of high performance. So, in the present invention, an optical scanning apparatus comprised of two or more reflecting mirrors is of a construction in which the optical characteristics of the mirrors are made different from each other, and an unevenness in light quantity on a surface to be scanned is corrected.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an optical scanning apparatus for use in an image forming apparatus such as a laser beam printer or a digital copying machine.
2. Related Background Art
An optical scanning apparatus heretofore used in an image forming apparatus such as a laser beam printer or a digital copying machine directs a beam emitted from a light source to a deflecting element by incidence optical means, causes the beam deflected by the deflecting element to be imaged into a spot shape on a photosensitive drum surface which is a surface to be scanned by scanning optical means, and optically scans on the photosensitive drum surface with the beam.
In such an optical scanning apparatus, the beam emitted from the light source is converted into substantially parallel light beam by a collimator lens or the like, and in order to effect an optical face tangle error correction, the beam converted in substantially parallel light is formed into a linear image near a deflecting surface by a cylindrical lens. The photosensitive drum surface is scanned with the beam deflected by the deflecting surface of the deflector at a substantially constant speed by a scanning lens, and forms a spot.
In FIG. 9 of the accompanying drawings, the reference characters 1a, 1b, 1c and 1d designate light source means, each of which comprises, for example, a semiconductor laser. The reference characters 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d denote cylindrical lenses, each of which has predetermined refractive power in only a sub-scanning direction. Each of the light source means 1 and the cylindrical lenses 2 constitutes an element of incidence optical means.
The reference numeral 3 designates a light deflector as a deflecting element, and it comprises, for example, a rotating polygon mirror, and is rotated at a constant speed in the direction of arrow A by driving means (not shown) such as a motor. The reference numeral 11 denotes three fθ lenses having an fθ characteristic, and in a sub-scanning cross section, they bring the vicinity of the deflecting surfaces 3a and 3b of the light deflector 3 and the vicinity of photosensitive drum surfaces 100a, 100b, 100c and 100d as surfaces to be scanned into a conjugate relation to thereby have an optical face tangle error correcting function.
Also, in order to make the image forming apparatus compact, a return mirror for folding an optical path is disposed downstream of the deflector to thereby achieve compactness.
In the above-described conventional optical scanning apparatus, since a scanning lens is constituted by glass lens, usually an antireflection coat is provided on the surface of the lens and surface reflection does not occur, that is, it is difficult for an unevenness in light quantity on the surface to be scanned to occur.
The scanning lens is recent years, however, is constituted by a plastic lens and is designed to achieve a lower price and higher performance. In an optical scanning apparatus comprised of such a plastic-lens, it is generally difficult to provide an antireflection coat on the surface of the lens and therefore, there occurs unevenness in light quantity on the surface to be scanned caused by Fresnel reflection on the surface of the lens being changed by a scanning angle.
In order to solve these problems, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H2-35413, it is known to set the reflectance of a return mirror so that reflectance near an optical axis and off-axis reflectance may differ from each other, and correct the unevenness in light quantity on the surface to be scanned. Also, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H7-294837, there is known a technique of converting linearly polarized light into elliptically polarized light on this side of deflecting means, and correcting the unevenness in light quantity on the surface to be scanned, and as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,084,696, there is known a technique of changing the transmittance of an optical material to thereby correct the unevenness in light quantity on the surface to be scanned.
In an optical scanning apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H2-35413, however,
(1) consideration is given only to the reflecting characteristic depending on a polarizing direction,
(2) consideration is given only to the unevenness in light quantity due to the transmittance of the interior of the lens, and
(3) there is disclosed only a technique when a single return mirror is used in an optical path, and therefore, nothing is stated clearly about an unevenness in light quantity caused by surface reflection when the scanning lens is formed of plastics, and the correction of an unevenness in light quantity when there are two or more return mirrors in the optical path. Also, the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H7-294837 further requires optical members, and in the technique disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,084,696, it is foreseen that the optical material is expensive, and by any of these techniques, it is difficult to construct an inexpensive optical scanning apparatus.


A semiconductor device includes first and second active regions. Each active region includes a plurality of fin protrusions and a recessed area disposed between the fin protrusions. A plurality of gate structures are disposed on each of the plurality of fin protrusions. A semiconductor layer is disposed in each recessed area. A distance between the gate structures of the first active region is the same as a distance between the gate structures of the second active region, and a height difference between a bottom surface of the semiconductor layer of the first recessed area and a top surface of each of the fin protrusions of the first active region is smaller than a height difference between a bottom surface of the semiconductor layer of the recessed area of the second active region and a top surface of each of the fin protrusions of the second active region.

Technical Field
Embodiments of the inventive concept relate to a semiconductor device and an electronic system including the same.
Discussion of Related Art
A FinFET describes a nonplanar, double-gate transistor built on a silicon on insulator substrate. The conducting channel of a FinFET transistor is wrapped by a thin silicon "fin", which forms the body of the device. As semiconductor devices are highly integrated, discrete devices, such as FinFET transistors, are being used in integrated circuits of the semiconductor devices. Carrier mobility in a FinFET transistor may be increased by forming epitaxial layers at both sides of a channel area of the conductive channel.


Compounds of formula I: ##STR1## where: R.sub.10 is a group represented by formula (A), (B), or (C): ##STR2## and the other substituents are as defined in the specification; and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts are inhibitors of prostaglandin G/H synthase and are anti-inflammatory and analgesic agents.

Cross-reference to Related Application
This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/018,672, filed May 30, 1996.
1. Field of the invention
This invention relates to anti-inflammatory and analgesic compounds; especially to certain 3-aroylbenzylpyridazinones derivatives, pharmaceutical compositions containing them, methods for their use and methods for preparing these compounds.
2. Description of the Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 3,752,826 (Carson) discloses 5-aroylpyrrol-2-ylalkanoic acids and derivatives useful as anti-inflammatory agents.
European Patent Application Publication No. 0 071 399 (Syntex (U.S.A.) Inc.) discloses 2-benzyl-5-phenylpyrrolidine derivatives and analogs useful as cardiovascular agents and bronchodilators.


The invention relates to a device for cancelling notes of value, comprising a transport unit for transport of the notes of value, and a printing unit having a print head for imprinting a printing area of a note of value located on a print side. Further, the device comprises a sorting gate for diverting notes of value between three transport paths, and a control unit for controlling the sorting gate. The device further comprises a sensor unit for determination of the orientation of a note of value, and an intermediate storage for intermediate storage of notes of value, wherein a second transport path connects the sorting gate with the intermediate storage, and a third transport path connects the sorting gate with the printing unit.

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
1. Technical Field
The invention relates to a device for cancelling notes of value, comprising a transport unit for transport of the notes of value and a print unit having a print head for imprinting a note of value with a cancellation print image. Further, the device comprises an intermediate storage for intermediately storing notes of value.
2. Discussion
In devices for handling notes of value to which also checks may be input, checks are stored in an intermediate storage after their authenticity has been verified and information imprinted thereon has been read out. After all notes of value which were input together have been received in the intermediate storage, a user is asked to confirm a displayed information containing information on the notes of value intermediately stored. If such a confirmation is made by the user the checks received in the intermediate storage are transported to a value note cassette and are stored therein. Prior to this, the checks removed from the intermediate storage are imprinted by printing a cancellation print image on a predetermined printing area on a print side of the checks, in order to thus make sure that the checks are not processed a further time.
A printing device for imprinting the checks with a cancellation print image is, for example known from document DE 10 2005 003 198 A1. From document EP 0 690 791 B1 a document printing device is known comprising an assessment unit which, on the one hand side, scans the presence of a print monitor symbol via a monitoring mark scanning means, and on the other hand assesses the result of the scan.
As mentioned above, the printing area on which a cancellation print image is to be printed is fixed. In particular, such a printing area is provided on one side of the check only, such that the orientation, i.e. the side of the check which faces a print head of the printing unit defines the side of the check that is actually imprintable. One possibility to make sure that each of the checks supplied is imprintable, regardless of its orientation, is providing at least two print heads, wherein the latter are arranged on opposite sides of the transport path along which the checks are transported so that the checks are imprintable regardless of their orientation. What is problematic in this case is that two print heads must be provided, which is, one the one hand, cost-intensive, and which, on the other hand, requires much space.
An alternative conceivable possibility is providing a print head which is movably supported such that it is movable between the two sides of the transport path and the printing area of a check is imprintable, regardless of the orientation of said check. What is problematic also in this case is that a complex elaborated support is necessary which, one the one hand, requires much space, and on the other hand causes high costs.
A further conceivable possibility is that only checks which are input to the device with correct orientation are processed and imprinted by means of the printing unit. Checks which are input in a misoriented manner are returned to the user. What is problematic herein is that this results in less ease of use for the user since he/she must pay attention to the orientation in which the checks are input and must input possibly returned checks one more time.


Described are preferred sanitary cleaning devices that include a disposable cleaning head portion and a handle portion. The cleaning head is releasably connectable to the handle portion. The handle portion includes a pair of elongate rods laterally spaced relative to one another and capable of deflection toward one another. The rods present prongs that are selectively received within and removed from apertures provided in the cleaning head. To attach the cleaning head to the handle, the rods are deflected, for example by compressing a grip area, and the prongs are positioned adjacent the receiving apertures, and thereafter the rods are released. This causes the prongs to be received within the apertures, to connect the cleaning head to the handle. Preferred devices of the invention are advantageous in that the user need not touch the cleaning head or adjacent areas expected to contact materials from the toilet to achieve connection and removal of the head from the handle. Preferred devices also incorporate handle and attachment features with relatively smooth surfaces, minimizing their capacity to become soiled. In this fashion, more sanitary cleaning operations and storage features are provided.

The present invention relates generally to cleaning devices, and in one particular aspect, to a cleaning device having a disposable head and which is useful for cleaning toilet bowls or the like.
As further background, a number of devices are known to facilitate cleaning toilet bowls and other relatively unsanitary areas. Conventional toilet bowl brushes are made of a plastic brush, and a handle permanently secured thereto. After use of the brush, it is typically rinsed within the toilet and stored for later use. This practice can be relatively unsanitary since the brush can harbor germs and oftentimes retain an undesirable odor. This is also true of conventional storage compartments for such brushes which often become similarly fouled.
Some efforts have been made in the past to develop toilet cleaning devices that are more convenient to use. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,094,559 describes a cleaning device having a cleaning pad with a scrubbing layer on one side and a blotting layer on the other. The cleaning pad is inverted between scrubbing and blotting positions in a rotational operation. The cleaning pad can include packets of cleaning solution contained therein which can be ruptured to release a cleaning agent.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,092,013 describes a disposable toilet seat wipe apparatus that has a premoistened cleansing pad coupled to a plunger extending outwardly from a carrying container for the cleansing pad. The cleansing pad "blossoms" outwardly from the end of the container.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,025,524 discloses another toilet seat wiping apparatus in which a cleansing pad blossoms out over the end of a rod about which it is originally folded and compressed.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,067,194 describes a cleaning device having a shaft and a wiper member at the end of the shaft. A pocket-shaped disposable wiper is received on the wiper member. The disposable wiper is fabricated of paper or paper-like material and is flushed away after cleaning.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,852,201 describes a toilet bowl cleaner including a packet containing a cleaning composition and a holder for the packet. The packet attaches to the holder through a pocket on the packet which is slidable over a tongue member of the holder so that the outer flap of the pocket can be clamped to the holder through a lock mechanism. The lock mechanism includes a snap lock having a pair of spaced apart resilient fingers which cooperate with the leading edge of the head portion of the holder to provide a snap fit.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,601,081 discloses a disposable utensil for cleaning toilet seats that includes an absorbent pad mounted on a handle. The pad is impregnated with a cleaning agent, and the overall unit is packaged in an air-tight covering. This covering is removed, the device used, and then disposed of in its entirety.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,457,038 discloses a permanent handle for disposable brush or mop head. The engagement between the handle and the head is frictional between a cylindrical member on the head and the cylindrical handle. An internal plunger is present in the handle and can be actuated to dislodge the mop head from the handle during a disposal operation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,075,033 discloses a cup-shaped cleaning web attached to an elongated handle having a compressible sponge attached to the end of the handle. The sponge is forced into the cup-shaped web under compression, which holds it in place. A plunger internal to the handle can be actuated to dislodge the web from the sponge for disposal after cleaning.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,031,673 describes a cleaning device for toilet bowls that has a disposable pad containing a cleaning compound. The pad is attached to the end of a holder that has a spade-shaped end that is bifurcated and thus in its relaxed position presents an opening. The pad is clamped in this opening as the plunger handle is drawn upwardly thus causing the bifurcated spade portion to compress, and clamp an upper surface of the pad.
EP 1183980A2 discloses a toilet brush having a hollow cylindrical body and a disposable brush. The brush has grooves that cooperate with stems that can be displaced horizontally by depressing pushbuttons on the side of the body to provide an attach/detach function.
Despite these prior efforts to develop improved cleaning devices useful for cleaning toilet areas, the remains a need for cleaning devices having better sanitary operation, relatively simple design, and less potential to retain undesired germs or odor. The present invention is addressed to these needs.

Sanitary cleaning device with disposable cleaning head


A device for circulating heat along a side wall of a cooking vessel, a cooking vessel comprises such device, and a method of using such device. The device can be constructed as part of the cooking vessel or can be an accessory that attaches to different sized cooking vessels via adjusting means. Specifically, the device comprises a skirt-like body extending from the side of the cooking vessel that directs heat to circulate along an underside of the body and over the side wall of the cooking vessel, thereby heating the side wall of the cooking vessel. The device can further comprise diffusers, a bottom portion with a plurality of openings, and a heat shield.

A vast amount of energy is consumed by modern civilization, forcing nations to expend considerable resources into conserving energy. The U.S. government encourages industries to produce energy efficient appliances and awarding an Energy Star designation to appliances that exceed industry efficiency averages. Yet, energy can be also conserved utilizing simple techniques and specially configured tools.
One large source of energy usage is cooking. Typically, a conventional cooking vessel (e.g., pots, pans, casseroles, etc.) is heated from a heat source such as a stove top burner which heats the bottom of the vessel. This in turn, cooks the contents therein. This heating process is somewhat inefficient when used with a standard pot or pan, because much of the heat escapes to the sides, between the cooking vessel and the burner, and into the atmosphere. All of these factors cause energy loss and make heating the vessel difficult. To avoid some heat loss, cooking vessels are manufactured from heat-conducting materials that heat up fast and maintain heat. However, such cooking vessels become dangerous as they get extremely hot, and the problem of heat loss into the atmosphere is not minimized.
Heat-conserving accessories are also available. For example, constricting rings, which are placed on the stove top and, are widely available. The ring collects and directs around the burner heat to the vessel located above the burner, which prevents heat from escaping to the sides. These accessories, however, can become hazardous since pressure tends to build up inside of them. In addition, these accessories are inefficient because they block oxygen from the burner flame and are difficult to configure for different types of stoves.
Other heat conserving accessories, such as heat distributing plates, are also known in the art. They are generally made of a single heat-conducting material or two layers of material with a hollow inner space which traps heat. The plates are placed between the cooking vessel and the stove burner to capture the heat and distribute it along the cooking vessel's bottom surface. These plates, however, take a considerable amount of time to cool off and are often made of heavy materials that are not ideal for easy maneuverability in a kitchen.
Accordingly, a need exists for a cooking accessory which improves the heating efficiency of stove tops, allowing cooking vessels to heat faster and save energy. Additionally, a need exists for a cooking accessory which is safely operable and user friendly.


Described are embodiments directed to an apparatus that is adapted to be mounted on a vehicle with a fifth wheel. The apparatus allows a towing hitch to be attached to the vehicle which allows the vehicle to tow other vehicles. The apparatus includes an elongated beam with a forward portion, middle portion, and rearward portion and a kingpin connected to the middle portion of the beam and adapted to engage a fifth wheel. A mounting pin with a first end and a second end is connected to the rearward portion of the beam and is substantially perpendicular to the elongated beam. The apparatus further includes strut braces connected to either end of the mounting pin and that extend at an angle away from the mounting pin. The strut braces are also connected to leveling assemblies which are adapted to connect to a frame of the vehicle and are adapted to change the vertical position of the rearward portion of the beam.

Conventional tow trucks are designed to lift and tow a vehicle (e.g., an automobile) in a known manner. The disadvantage of a conventional tow truck is that it is specialized only for towing vehicles. Instead of tow trucks, specialized vehicles, such as a tractor trailer, are used to pull trailers for purposes such as transport of goods and other items. These specialized vehicles have a device known as a "fifth wheel" to permit coupling to a trailer in a conventional fashion. The trailer is equipped with a kingpin that engages with the fifth wheel. In normal operation, a significant downward force is applied to the fifth wheel by the weight of the trailer under tow and the contents, if any, of the trailer.
Past attempts have been made to provide a towing vehicle that is capable of operation as a normal tow truck (i.e., lifting and towing a vehicle) as well as operation with a fifth wheel. Such devices are disclosed by way of example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,823,735 and 6,036,428. In those references, a towing adapter is attached to the fifth wheel of the tow vehicle. That is, an adapter is mounted on the tow vehicle and coupled to the tow vehicle's fifth wheel to permit the tow vehicle to operate as a conventional tow truck. This technique allows the tow vehicle to be used both for conventional towing and for towing a trailer via the fifth wheel.
However, because of the position of the kingpin in devices disclosed in the noted patents, a mechanism needs to be implemented to prevent upward force from being applied to the fifth wheel. As a result, some of the disclosed devices include link members coupled between the towing frame and the vehicle frame to resist upward force of the kingpin with respect to the fifth wheel. In some embodiments the link members are made from chains and binders. When the frame twists or moves from side to side, the link members on one side tighten and the link members on the other side slack. The side to side movement results in the chains used as the link members breaking.
It is with respect to these and other considerations that embodiments of the present invention have been made. Also, although relatively specific problems have been discussed, it should be understood that embodiments of the present invention should not be limited to solving the specific problems identified in the background.


The invention relates to novel conjugates of tetrasaccharides, preferably of sialyl-Lewis X (SLeX) and sialyl-Lewis A (SLeA), having improved activity as inhibitors of cell adhesion, a process for the preparation of these compounds, and their use as pharmacological active compounds and as diagnostics and pharmaceuticals which contain these conjugates.

The invention relates to novel conjugates of tetrasaccharides, preferably of sialyl-Lewis X (SLeX) and sialyl-Lewis A (SLeA), with improved action as inhibitors of cell adhesion, a process for the preparation of these compounds, and their use as pharmacological active compounds and as diagnostics, and pharmaceuticals which contain these conjugates.
The circulation of blood cells, e.g. leucocytes, neutrophils, granulocytes and monocytes is, on a molecular plane, a multistage, very complex process which is only known in individual steps (Review: T. A. Springer, Cell 76, 301-314, 1994).
The most recent research results showed that the recirculation of the lymphocytes crucial in immune monitoring and the localization of neutrophils and monocytes at inflammatory foci respond to very similar molecular mechanisms. Thus in acute and chronic inflammatory processes adhesion of the leucocytes to endothelial cells and migration into the inflammatory focus and into the secondary lymphatic organs occurs.
This process involves numerous specific signal molecules, e.g. interleukins, leucotrienes and tumor necrosis factor (TNF), receptors coupled to their G protein and in particular tissue-specific cell adhesion molecules, which guarantee a specifically controlled recognition of the immune and endothelial cells. The most important adhesion molecules involved in this process, which in the following will be designated as receptors, include the selectins (E-, P- and L-selectins), integrins and the members of the immunoglobulin superfamily.
The three selectin receptors determine the starting phase of leucocyte adhesion. E-selectin is expressed on endothelial cells a few hours after stimulation, for example by interleukin-1 (IL-1) or tumor necrosis factor .alpha. (TNF-.alpha.), while P-selectin is stored in blood platelets and endothelial cells and is presented on the cell surfaces after stimulation by thrombin, peroxide radicals or substance P among others. L-selectin is continuously expressed on leucocytes.
It is today generally recognized that the tetrasaccharides sialyl-Lewis X (SLeX) and sialyl-Lewis A (SLeA) which occur on cell membranes as substructures of glycosphingolipids and glycoproteins, can function as ligands for all three selectin receptors. (Review: A. Giannis, Angew. Chem. 106, 188, 1994): ##STR1## The regioisomeric compound sialyl-Lewis A is closely related to the X type and binds to selectin receptors with comparable affinity. The A type arises from the X type by simple exchange of the "side chains" on the central N-acetylglucosamine unit: ##STR2##
The course of a number of acute and chronic disorders is unfavorably affected by the excessive adhesion of leucocytes and their infiltration into the tissue affected. These include, for example, rheumatism, reperfusion injuries such as myocardial ischemia/infarct (MI), acute pneumonia after operative intervention, traumatic shock and stroke, psoriasis, dermatitis, ARDS (adult respiratory distress syndrome) and the restenosis occurring after surgical intervention (for example angioplasty).
A very promising therapeutic starting point is therefore the attempt to employ the tetrasaccharides SLeX/A in various administration forms or mimetics thereof having a modified structure as antagonists for the modulation or suppression of excessive leucocyte adhesion and to employ them for the alleviation or cure of said disorders.
The natural ligand having the structure of SLeX has already been successfully used in animal experiments in P-selectin-dependent lung injuries (M. S. Mulligan et al., Nature 1993, 364, 149) and in myocardial reperfusion injuries (M. Buerke et al., J. Clin. Invest. 1994, 93, 1140). In primary clinical trials in acute pneumonia the compound should be employed in a dose of 1 to 2 grams per day per patient (communication of Cytel Corp./La Jolla (CA.) in the 2nd Glycotechnology Meeting/CHI in La Jolla/USA on May 16-18th 1994). This high dose of active compound is in agreement with the, as is known, weak affinity of the natural SLeX/A ligands for the selectin receptors. Thus SLeX in all known in vitro test systems inhibits cell adhesion to selectin receptors only at a relatively high concentration in the range of IC.sub.50 =1 to 3 mM.
In some publications, meanwhile, efforts to obtain more strongly binding antagonists by structural variation of the ligand have been reported. The variation of the fucose and neuraminic acid units until now regarded as crucial for the structure-activity relationship (B. K. Brandley et al., Glycobiology 1993, 3, 633 and M. Yoshida et al., Glycoconjugate J. 1993, 10, 3), however, did not afford any significantly improved inhibition values. Only on variation of the glucosamine unit (replacement of GlcNAc by glucose and azido and amino groups in the 2-position of GlcNAc) could a significantly increased affinity to the E-selectin receptor be achieved. The IC.sub.50 data of these compounds which can be prepared by complete de novo synthesis should be 0.12 mM (compared with 1.2 to 2.0 mM for SLeX) for the inhibition of the adhesion of HL-60 and U-937 cells with E-selectin. A disadvantage, however, is that the binding to L- and P-selectins at >5 mM is severely impaired (Dasgupta et al., poster presentation of Glycomed Inc. on the occasion of the conference in La Jolla in 5/94).
In another in vitro test system, in which, with reversal of the natural physiological conditions, the soluble receptor construct E-selectin-IgG (instead of the corresponding receptor construct in immobilized form, which would more likely be comparable with the natural situation on endothelial cells) binds to the immobilized ligands and is displaced by potential inhibitors, in the system E-selectin-IgG/immobilized BSA-SLeA a 36-fold higher affinity was found for the ligand with N-acetyl-glucosamine deacetylated in the 2-position.
Apart from a restricted comparability of this artificial test system with the situation in vivo, i.e. the inhibition of the adhesion of cells which express the natural ligands SLeX/A, this result remains restricted to the E-selectin receptor, for with the P-selectin receptor only weak inhibition effects were found at inhibitor concentrations of about 1 mM (R. M. Nelson et al., J. Clin. Invest. 1993, 91, 1157).
The prior art on the binding affinity of modified SLeX/A structures to selectins is referred to in Pharmacochem. Libr. 1993, 20 (Trends in Drug Research), pages 33-40.
Modified ligands of the SLeX/A structural type, which are mainly derived from the lactose and from the lactosamine basic structure and could be employed, inter alia, as potential selectin antagonists, are claimed in several patent applications, in particular in the international publications
WO 91/19501, WO 91/19502, WO 92/02527, WO 93/10796, PA0 WO 94/00477, WO 92/18610, WO 92/09293, WO 92/07572, PA0 WO 92/16640, WO 92/19632, WO 93/17033, WO 93/23031, PA0 WO 92/22301, WO 92/22563, WO 92/22564, WO 92/22565, PA0 WO 92/22661, WO 92/22662, WO 93/24505, WO 93/24506.
SLeX/A derivatives or mimetics having clearly improved affinity for the E-selectin and for the P-selectin receptor in vitro have still not been described. What are remarkable, however, are indications that multivalent ligands could have a higher binding affinity compared with monovalent ligands: thus an enzymatically prepared, complex nonasaccharide binds 5 times better (IC.sub.50 =0.4 mM) to E-selectin as a potentially divalent ligand than the monomeric SLeX ligand. On closer analysis, this value, however, does not represent a convincing multivalent effect: if it is considered that the IC.sub.50 value calculated per ligand is actually only 0.8 mM, then no significant improvement was actually achieved (S. A. DeFrees et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1993, 115, 7549).
A further possibility for the multiple presentation of the SLeX/A ligands consists in the introduction of (co)polymerizable side chains or in the binding of a suitable SLeX precursor to a multifunctional polymer. The first variant leads to artificial polymer conjugates, for example to polyacrylamides, which are unsuitable as pharmaceuticals on account of their physiological intolerability. In the literature, this procedure was described for polyacrylamide conjugates of the Lewis X trisaccharide (S.-I. Nishimura et al., Macromolecules 1994, 27, 157). The process can also be applied to SLeX, SLeA and analogs in which the sialic acid has been replaced by sulfate (E. Nifantev, Lecture, Glycotechnology Meeting, La Jolla, May 16th-18th, 1994).
The second variant, in which SLeX derivatives are reacted with a reactive polymer to give multifunctional, biocompatible and physiologically tolerable polymer conjugates, is described in EP 0 601 417. In this publication reference is also made in detail to the prior art on carbohydrate polymer conjugates.
An inherent disadvantage of these carbohydrate polymer conjugates with respect to their utility as pharmaceuticals lies in the polymer nature of active compounds of this type: in each synthetic batch a new type of product is obtained which is characterized by a differing molecular weight distribution and by a variable coating density of the carbohydrate ligand bound to the polymer.
In WO 94/00477, it is proposed to prepare multivalent compounds by reductive amination of the oxime adducts of ligands of the structural type (1), which are present as free oligosaccharides (i.e. R.sup.1 .dbd.OH), with peptides or proteins. This process, however, has serious disadvantages, as the SLeX ligand is severely modified by the ring opening of the first carbohydrate unit at the reducing end (GlcNAc or Glc). Additionally, as in the polymer conjugates mentioned, only inexactly defined and uncharacterizable mixtures are to be expected. This is shown plainly in the example described hypothetically in WO 94/00477, in which using a 10,000-fold excess (1 mmol) of useful oligosaccharide a coupling to the tripeptide Lys-Tyr-Lys on the analytical scale of 0.1 .mu.mol of Lys-Tyr-Lys tripeptide is proposed. After carrying out analytical separation processes, the possibility of an analysis by means of mass spectroscopy is mentioned, according to which mixtures of mono-, di- and trivalent carbohydrate conjugates are expected.
Low molecular weight compounds are therefore desirable having an unequivocal empirical formula and defined molecular weight and having a distinctly increased receptor affinity. Compounds are particularly desirable which simultaneously meet all the requirements mentioned and moreover can be prepared on the preparative scale (gram amounts) in efficient synthetic processes.
The object of the invention is to provide low molecular weight carbohydrate receptor blockers, a simple process for their preparation, and pharmaceuticals prepared from these which meet the requirements mentioned.
This object is achieved according to the invention by the simple coupling of oligosaccharides which can be carried out in a few steps and in high yields, preferably with SLeX/A structures, to mono- and trifunctional precursors to give novel carbohydrate conjugates. The useful oligosaccharide component can be employed stoichiometrically or in a small excess of 1 to 10 mol % per active group and preferably in unprotected form.
Surprisingly, in the synthetic route according to the invention to trivalent carbohydrate conjugates, only small amounts of the divalent by-products are formed, which can be separated off easily from the desired main products.
The finding is additionally surprising that the novel conjugates bind to E- and P-selectins more strongly than the natural ligand of the formula (1). The agonistic and antagonistic action of the compounds according to the invention can be employed for the prophylaxis, therapy and diagnosis of disorders which are characterized by excessive cell-cell adhesion.

Carbohydrate conjugates as inhibitors of cell adhesion


The present system provides a mechanism which provides mechanical locking of an apparatus, with fluid pressure-driven unlocking and an actuating force when an intended level of such pressure has been reached. The present system thus mechanically locks an apparatus against premature actuation caused by, for example, shock or vibration, until it is subjected to a level of pressure intended to actuate it. The present system is suitable for incorporation in any apparatus taking advantage of its ability to utilize fluid pressure to remove a mechanical block at an intended level of pressure and impart an actuating force.

1. Field of the System
This system relates to the field of fluid pressure-driven mechanisms.
2. Background Art
There are a number of situations and circumstances which require the locking of an apparatus against movement until the occurrence of an anticipated event or the presentation of a certain condition for which the apparatus is intended and in which there is an available source of force (for example, atmospheric or hydrostatic pressure) which may be employed to unlock and actuate the apparatus. For example, it may be necessary to lock a triggering mechanism in an automatic flotation device, or in an automatic release mechanism for lifeboats, liferafts, or emergency position indicating radio beacons, against inadvertent actuation due to shock or vibration while not in the water until the device is immersed in water, or until it is immersed to an intended depth, or until a triggering event or circumstance has occurred. Similarly, it may be necessary to lock a triggering mechanism in an automatic parachute opening device against inadvertent actuation due to shock or vibration until the device reaches an intended altitude, or until a triggering event or circumstance has occurred. Such locking may be provided by the presence of a mechanical block against movement of an actuating member of such triggering mechanisms. Such a mechanical block must be subsequently removed to enable actuation of such triggering mechanisms.

Fluid pressure actuating mechanism with mechanical lock


A physical configuration of cables connecting a monitoring apparatus to a human patient, where said patient and his immediate surroundings define a potentially infectious contaminated zone. The configuration provides for the monitor and main trunk cable to lie outside of the contamination zone, and one or more serial cables connect to the trunk cable and enter the contamination zone to provide contact with the patient. This physical configuration prevents contamination of the monitor and trunk cable, so they may be reused on successive patients, while lightweight and inexpensive serial cables contacting the patient and his contamination zone may be disposable. Examples of monitoring various physiological variables are provided to exemplify the universal concept of such physical configuration. Adaptation for wireless transmission is also described.

Ill patients require surveillance of essential information relating to the patient's condition. Such information may relate to physiologic or anatomic functions or status. Apparatus which perform this surveillance function are referred to as monitoring systems. The most common signal employed for continuous surveillance is the electrocardiogram (ECG). Other physiologic functions that can be monitored include, but are not limited to temperature, blood pressure, respiration, blood oximetry, cardiac bio-impedance, and others. The system comprises an electronic monitor console connected to one or more cables, which terminate with a sensor device interfaced with the patient.
The most common location for the electronic monitor console is at the patient's bedside, but the patient may reside on a reclining chair, stretcher, gurney, operating-room table, or other similar modality, with the electronic monitor console similarly nearby. Often the patient can reach out and touch the electronic monitor console. One or more cables connect the electronic console to the patient to convey information from the patient. Such cables are most often electrical/electronic lines, but may also be pneumatic, hydraulic, or fiber-optic, consistent with the information being conveyed from patient to electronic console. Henceforth, in the description below, the term cable shall be broadly defined as the means of conveying such signals from the patient to the monitor console. Thus, the term cable could mean an electrical cable, a pneumatic cable, a fiber-optic cable, or other, depending on the application.
The modality that will be employed as the paradigm for initial description of a system configuration is the ECG, followed by analogous applications to temperature and blood pressure. The ECG is a wave-form depicting the time-varying difference in electrical potential between two points on the surface of the skin. Electrical connection to the skin is provided by a conductive electrode connected to a conductive wire; the simplest arrangement consists of the two active electrodes whose potential difference is to be measured, and a third electrode serving as a ground or reference electrode. This arrangement provides one ECG signal or lead; each additional lead requires an additional electrode with attached conductive wire. Since it is often desirable to monitor several ECG leads, it is common to have four or more electrodes with wires grouped as a packaged assembly.
To limit and control the transfer of infectious agents within the hospital environment, these electrodes with attached wires are frequently discarded after each patient use, since they are considered to be contaminated by the patient and not suitable for transfer to another ill individual. Being disposable, the electrode-wire assembly employs wires of minimal length which lie entirely on the patient or on his bed. Hereafter, we may refer to such wires as serial wires, since they are in series with the trunk cable, which then extends to the input connector of the electronic monitoring console. Thus, a bundled group of wires may constitute a cable and be denoted as the serial cable, so named as it is in series with the trunk cable. A connecting means, such as a metallic pin, located at the proximal end of each wire within the serial cable, couples to a multiple-input yoke at the distal end of a permanent trunk cable. Other connecting means may be possible. Of note, the terms proximal and distal are referenced to the electronic monitor console, proximal being closer to the console and distal being further away, in the direction of the patient.
The trunk cable extends all the way to the electronic monitor console to which it couples via a substantial multiple-conductor connector. Thus, the trunk cable contains multiple shielded wire conductors within its entire length and terminates in a multiple pin-receptive yoke at its distal end, and a substantial multiple-conductor connector at its proximal end, which is inserted into the input receptacle of the monitor console. Parenthetically, it is again noted that cables which are pneumatic, hydraulic, fiber-optic, or of a non-electronic nature will require respectively-appropriate connectors.
The trunk-cable is a relatively expensive component of the monitoring system and is not considered a disposable item, but is reused continuously through the sequence of patients to be interfaced with the monitor over time. The trunk-cable conspicuously reaches from the monitor console to the patient's bed, is contacted frequently by the patient, his bedclothes and linens, and is also handled frequently by caregivers at the patient's bedside. Thus, the trunk-cable is exposed directly to multiple sources of microbial contamination, and can transmit same to the subsequent sequence of patients for whom the monitoring system is employed.
Nosocomial infections are a major cause of in-hospital morbidity and responsible for large increases in hospital costs, for which reimbursement is not given. Hence, hospitals have intensely addressed causes of such hospital-acquired infection and have identified potential culprits. Among such sources of contamination and transmission of microbes are trunk-cables for ECG and trunk-cables for other monitored parameters, such as previously mentioned temperature, blood pressure, respiration, blood oximetry, bio-impedance, and others. Many hospitals attempt to reduce the virulence of trunk-cables by frequent wiping with anti-microbial disinfectants, but microbial cultures of trunk-cables have revealed such cleansing to be of limited value and not adequate for the objective. Hence, contamination of trunk cables remains a serious problem, contributing to the transmission of infective agents from one patient to another.

Configuration of cables for monitoring systems


A deactivated reforming catalyst comprising a type L zeolite containing a Group VIII noble metal may be regenerated and have enhanced dispersion by a method involving contacting the catalyst with oxygen and water at elevated temperatures, contacting the catalyst at elevated temperatures with a source of chlorine such as HCl or Cl.sub.2, and preferably oxygen and water, contacting the catalyst at elevated temperatures with oxygen and optionally water, and contacting the catalyst at elevated temperatures with hydrogen and optionally water to reduce the catalyst. Preferably the noble metal is platinum.

Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method of regenerating and enhancing the dispersion of moderately or severely deactivated reforming catalysts consisting of one or more Group VIII noble metals supported on zeolites, preferably a catalyst consisting of platinum on potassium-exchanged zeolite L. The regenerated catalyst herein exhibits improved activity and activity maintenance for light naphtha aromatization over the non-treated material.

Method of regenerating deactivated catalysts


A collision avoidance system is configured to be installed in a vehicle, and includes a speed sensing unit to sense a speed of the vehicle, a distance sensing unit to sense a distance between the vehicle and a nearby object, an EPB unit to decelerate the vehicle, and a control unit to compute a length of collision time after which the vehicle is predicted to collide with the object according to the speed of the vehicle and the distance between the vehicle and the object, and to control the EPB unit to decelerate the vehicle when the collision time is not longer than a brake time length.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a collision avoidance system and method for vehicles.
2. Description of the Related Art
During driving, especially when parking or driving in reverse gear, since it is difficult for a driver to pay attention to all directions due to limited driver's field of view, collision accidents may happen. How to avoid vehicle collisions is always a goal in the industry.
Conventional vehicle collision avoidance techniques are passive safety warning techniques that generate warning to attract the driver's attention when the vehicle is close to an object. Recently, active brake assist techniques have been developed. The active brake assist techniques usually employ a hydraulic brake control system or an electronic stability program (ESP) cooperating with a distance sensor, resulting in higher costs and complicated control.

Collision avoidance system and method for vehicles


A portable accessory for attachment to an archer's bow to provide stability while aiming, shooting and setting bow sights. An all-thread rod [G] screwed into the hand grip [T] of the bow has a device [M, L, K, J and H] for rotating an adjustable shaft [S] on a plane parallel to the plane of the hand grip and bow string. The shaft is composed of 2 tubes [A1 and A2] of differing diameters, adjustable in length by telescoping in and out and is locked in a selected position with a thumb screw [B]. The shaft has a brace [D] attached to the end farthest from the hand grip. The brace also rotates and may rest on the archer's body, on the ground or on an overhead object such as a tree branch.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to an archery bow, and more particularly to an adjustable arm to steady the bow during use, to aid in setting sight pins and bow sights and to enable the archer to maintain a full draw for longer periods of time.
2. Description of Prior Art
In the sport of archery, it is necessary for the archer to hold the bow steady during aiming and release of an arrow and while setting sight pins and bow sights. In hunting, it is necessary for the archer to maintain a full draw while tracking the prey. In recent years, very elaborate bow have been designed, some having compound strings and aiming devices attached thereto. Such bows are relatively heavy and are difficult for the archer to maintain steady. Various devices, such as counterweights and the like, have been proposed to assist the archer.
For example, Reis in U.S. Pat. No. 4,674,472 shows a hip rest consisting of a fixed rod capable of extension through a turn buckle type mechanism. Leidy, U.S. Pat. No. 3,880,136 discloses a steady rest that attaches to the hand and wrist of the archer and includes a member which contacts the archer's jaw. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,290,407 to Damron, a combination guide tube and chin/jaw bone butt is taught. U.S. Pat. No. 3,667,444 to Depatie et al. shows a brace for positioning a bow. U.S. Pat. No. 4,491,123 to Wirtz and U.S. Pat. No. 3,599,621 to Serobell show stabilizers rotatable in the bow plan. However, none of these prior art devices are capable of attaching to the pre-drilled threaded taps found on most better bows, permit a quick and easy extension with a thumb screw, allow for swivel motion to adjust to the archer's body, or allow for bracing on the ground or on an overhead object such as a tree. Thus there is a need for a device which will easily attach to the bow, provide the archer with more comfort, permit a quick and easy extension, permit bracing on the ground or overhead, and be easily removed without damage to the bow.


Shim assembly configured to be positioned in a wheel assembly to correct alignment and formed of a plurality of flat, tapered elements securable together and positionally adjustable one relative to the other with selectable orientation of the tapers, preferably rotatably secured for mutual angular movement of the elements around an axis, indicia to display the angular relationship of the elements and of the shim assembly orientation, such that the taper of the elements add or subtract to establish the overall composite taper of the shim assembly with the indicia displaying such composite taper and/or providing orientation points for positioning of the shim assembly in a wheel assembly to correct alignment.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates broadly the wheel alignment for vehicles, and more particularly to tapered shim elements configured to be secured together into a shim assembly which can be positioned as a single, unitary component to alter and correct the relative position of an axle or spindle and, ultimately, of a wheel carried on such axle or spindle.
2. Related Art
The concept of utilizing one or more thin, identical tapered shim elements interposed substantially perpendicular to the axis of an axle or spindle is old and well developed. Much effort has been expended with limited success to minimize the differing embodiments of such shim elements required to fit numerous vehicle models and to provide fine and accurate correction of a wide range of misalignment conditions. Also, emphasis has been placed at simplifying both selection of the appropriate corrective taper and actual installation of the tapered shim element under confined and difficult circumstances.
Such tapered shim elements are employed in two fundamentally differing but related vehicle structures, i.e. at a steerable front wheel, and at a fixed rear wheel. When used at a steerable wheel, the tapered shim element can be rotated around the wheel axis when adjusting camber such that the taper is orthogonally resolved into camber and toe components. When the appropriate camber correction is realized, the toe component can be easily accommodated by the toe correction mechanism provided at steerable wheels, i.e. tie rod length adjustment. However, at fixed rear wheels the toe and camber must both be set by selecting a tapered shim element of just the proper taper, and resolving the camber and toe components to precisely correct both of the alignment settings. In practice this means the shim element must have a single proper taper, and that such taper must be properly oriented relative to toe and camber. Otherwise, two independent shim elements may be needed and stacked with the taper of one shim element oriented to correct toe and with the taper of the other oriented to correct camber.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,037,680 and 4,195,862 describe tapered shim elements adapted to correct the camber of driven, steerable wheels. Each describes a selection of tapered shim elements from which a choice can be made to correct wheel camber. The latter patent discusses color coded, filled polymer shim elements which seal when stacked with the taper axis (that which extends from the thin to the thick end of the shim element) in a vertical alignment.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,684,150 describes a set of twelve shim elements, each of a different taper, which have a series of notches at the periphery thereof. By selecting a shim element of an appropriate taper, and by positioning the shim element with the appropriate vertical orientation, both camber and toe can be corrected. The open notches allow the shim element to be repositioned without complete removal of the wheel mount. For greater correction, the shim elements can be stacked.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,872,699 discloses a set of shim elements of differing tapers having a series of frangible tabs around the periphery thereof. By breaking out selected tabs the shim elements can be configured to fit bolt patterns with differing vertical orientations of the shim elements. A comprehensive template system for determining breakout patterns is presented.
Ingalls Alignment Products has marketed a set of "808 Shims" consisting of two identical one and one-half degree tapered shim elements for use with fixed rear wheels. For corrections requiring other than a single one and one-half degree shim element, two individual shim elements are installed stacked in accord with a chart utilizing numerical markings imprinted in each shim element.
U.S. Pat. No. 774,042 discusses an early attempt to use two independent tapered members to correct alignment. However, no means for correlating measured misalignment and tapered member setting are suggested. Thus the concept, which appears to rely on eyeball corrections, would not be appropriate for modern vehicles.

Multi-element wheel alignment shim assembly, and method of use