In a laser beam source for projecting laser pulses, having a laser-active medium (10), a controllable pump device (11) for exciting the medium (10), a resonator (13) for inducing oscillation of the medium (10), which resonator has an end mirror (14) and an output mirror (15) with an orientation axially parallel to the medium (10), for the sake of projecting laser pulses of constant pulse energy immediately upon release of the laser beam source, one of the resonator mirrors (14) is pivotably supported and is pivoted out of its resonator position and back into its resonator position by an actuator (19) at selectable times (FIG. 1).

The invention is based on a laser beam source for projecting laser pulses, in particular for machining material.
Such laser beam sources, embodied for instance as flash lamp- or diode-pumped solid-state lasers, are used among other purposes in machining material, for instance for welding, drilling or cutting (H. Hügel, "Strahlwerkzeug Laser", Teubner-Verlag, Stuttgart, 1992). In it, a controllable shutter following the laser beam source and used for protection purposes is synchronized with the control of the pump device in such a way that first the shutter opens, and then the pulse-controlled flash lamps or diodes excite (pump) the laser-active medium, which in the case of the solid-state laser is the laser crystal. This sequence is maintained in order to prevent the closed shutter from being burned by the laser pulses, but as a consequence of it, in the first laser pulses projected after the activation of the pump device there are fluctuations in the pulse energy, which are caused by the thermal transient-response process of the laser-active medium. These fluctuations in energy have a very adverse effect on the machining process, especially in single-pulse machining, for instance in welding or drilling.


A drug delivery apparatus and method for delivering a drug locally to internal body tissue. The invention contemplates positioning a drug delivery device in a body passageway or within body tissue and then selectively introducing a selected drug so that it is transported across a drug transport wall of the device for direct contact with the passageway wall or body tissue. A further aspect of the present invention involves treating a dilated vessel in the area of a stenotic lesion with a fixative or other drug to render the vessel biologically inert and to form a biological stent or prevent restenosis using specifically selected drugs. A still further aspect of the present invention involves treating a tumor or local or regional tissue mass with antitumor sensitizing agents, biological modifiers, antibiotics or other types of drugs by delivery of the drug to the tumor or tissue area directly or through the passageway wall.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a drug delivery apparatus and method, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for selectively and locally delivering a drug to internal body tissue.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Many techniques currently exist for delivering drugs or other medicaments to body tissue. These include, among possible others, oral administration, injection directly into body tissue such as through an intramuscular injection or the like, topical or transcutaneous administration where the drug is passively absorbed, or caused to pass, into or across the skin or other surface tissue and intravenous administration which involves introducing a selected drug directly into the blood stream.
Except for topical or transcutaneous administration, the above drug delivery systems tend to be systemic. In other words, administration of the drug is delivered throughout the body by the blood stream.
Over the past several years, the pursuit of devices for localized drug delivery has become exceedingly more intense as the advantages of this method of therapy over systemic drug administration have become apparent. Because many diseases affect a specific site or organ within the body, it is advantageous to preferentially treat the affected area. This avoids high systemic drug levels which may result in adverse side effects and concentrates therapeutic agents in the local area where they are needed. By treating just the diseased tissue, the total quantity of drug used may be significantly reduced, and hence the cost of therapy, especially when using newer genetically engineered drugs. Moreover, local drug delivery may allow for the use of certain effective therapeutic agents which have previously been considered too toxic or nonspecific to use systemically.
Several devices have been developed for the purpose of accessing specific body lumens or passageways (i.e., blood vessels, gastrointestinal tract, urinary tract) and delivering therapeutic agents transmurally to specific subregions of tissue. A double-balloon catheter has been used to administer agents to the area confined by the balloons. A disadvantage of this system is that drugs may be lost through communicating vessels between the balloons. Alternatively, a perforated balloon has been developed to deliver agents directly into the vessel wall. A major disadvantage with both of these systems in certain desired applications is that the drug is delivered radially in all directions.
In some therapeutic applications, it can be advantageous to deliver the drug only to one radial section of the vessel or passageway. For example, localized neoplasia in the gastrointestinal, urinary or reproductive tracts often encompass only a portion of the lumenal circumference. The ducts of the prostate gland communicate with the floor of the urethra; therefore, it would be more efficient to deliver agents (antibiotics, anticancer agents) toward the ducts which access the prostate than to circumferentially deliver across the prostatic urethra.
Therefore, a need exists for a drug delivery apparatus providing radially restricted delivery of a drug or medicant to a localized area of internal body tissue.


Cover assemblies, capable of being locked and unlocked by means of a key, are configured to be placed over the connectors at each end of an external computer system cable. When these cover assemblies are locked in place, the cable cannot be unplugged from the connector ports of the system devices. When these cover assemblies are unlocked, they can be removed from the cable, and the cable can then be unplugged from the connector ports.. A first type of cover assembly is designed to operate with a connector which is fastened in place in its plugged position by means of a pair of screws, while a second type of cover assembly is designed to operate with a connector which is fastened in place by means of a pair of rotatable wire bails. These cover assemblies may also be used to prevent access to connector ports to which cables are not attached by locking in place terminators commonly used on such ports, or by locking in place shells configured for this purpose, if such terminators are otherwise not required.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to providing data security by preventing access to the circuits extending from a unit.
2. Description of the Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 4,669,281 (Young) shows a system in which data security is achieved by locking a cover in place over a locking structure attached to a connector. The connector is of a type which has two faces oriented in opposite directions, one of which can be attached to another cable while the other is attached to a system unit. A number of electrical contacts in the two faces are wired to each other and to wires in a cable extending from the body of the connector between the two faces. After the cable is attached to the system unit by means of a first pair of screws extending through the connector, with the first connector face plugged into an external port of the system unit, the locking structure is fastened over the second connector face with a second pair of screws operating in threaded holes in the first pair of screws. Then a cover is slid over the locking structure and locked in place.
The Young reference discloses a device which can only be used with the unusual type of connector described above. The device described in the present invention is configured for use with more common kinds of connectors having a wire cable extending from the body of the connector in a direction opposite to that of a single face having electrical contacts. While in the device disclosed in the Young reference the locking structure and cover are fastened in place over the second connector face, in the configurations described in the present application, the locking structure and cover are fastened in place over the cable extending from the connector. The Young reference disclosed device requires that the locking structure must be fastened in place by additional screws before the cover is installed, both of the configurations described herein use the hardware provided to hold the connector in place on the system unit for this purpose. In 15 the first embodiment described in this application, this function is provided by slipping a pair of slotted tabs under the heads of screws otherwise used to hold the connector in place. In the second embodiment this function is provided by a pair of tabs operating under a pair of rotatable bails otherwise used to hold the connector in place.
Our application Ser. No. 762,142, filed concurrently herewith and having a common assignee and entitled "Means for Locking Cables and Connector Ports" describes modifications to devices and to cable assemblies to allow the locking of the cables to the devices by means of the locking mechanisms holding the device covers in place. The invention described herein may be used as an optional upgrade, i.e. the locking covers of this invention can be installed on a system, without modification to the system or its cable assemblies.
Our application Ser. No. 762,138, filed concurrently herewith and assigned to the same assignee as this application and entitled "Device-port Locking Covers" describes locking covers configured to be used on unused external device ports where a terminator (a connector wherein certain contacts are interconnected contacts) is not required. The invention described herein is configured to be used where an external cable or a terminator is connected to a port. The specific circuitry within a device determines whether it is required at an unused external port.


The present invention relates to salts of azelastine having improved solubility in water. The salts of the present invention are prepared by reacting azelastine with acetic acid, gluconic acid, lactic acid or malic acid. A pharmaceutical composition may be prepared containing an azelastine salt and a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier or diluent therefor. The pharmaceutical composition is useful in the treatment of allergies, asthma, inflammatory and psoriasis disorders and provides a cytoprotective effect.

Azelastine is a phthalazinone derivative having the following structural formula: ##STR1##
The chemical designation of azelastine is 4-(4-chlorobenzyl)-2-(perhydro-1 methylazepine-4-yl)-1-(2H) phthalazinone. Azelastine is particularly useful in asthma prophylaxis. Azelastine also has anti-allergic and antihistaminic properties, see German Patent No. 21 64 058.
Azelastine dissolves to the extent of 0.005% in water at 20.degree. C.
Previously used salts of azelastine display the following solubility in water at 20.degree. C.:
hydrochloride 1% PA0 embonate 0.0015% PA0 acetate: 116.degree.-118.degree. C. gluconate: 61.degree.-66.degree. C. PA0 lactate: 139.degree.-140.degree. C. malate: 154.degree.-155.degree. C. PA0 azelastine gluconate: 0.1-50, preferably 1-50 percent by weight PA0 azelastine acetate: 0.1-20, preferably 1-20 percent by weight PA0 azelastine lactate: 0.1-20, preferably 1-20 percent by weight PA0 azelastine malate: 0.1-5, preferably 1-3 percent by weight
Other salts of azelastine have the following solubilities:
______________________________________ succinate phosphate solubility maleate in water at 20.degree. C. citrate ca. 1% methane sulphonate fumarate toluene sulphonate under 1% benzene sulphonate tartrate ______________________________________
The solubilities quoted, as well as the marked dependence of solubility on temperature, result in the salts not being suitable for the preparation of pharmaceutical formulations having a higher content of dissolved azelastine. The preparation of locally applied formulations, in particular those with a limited water content (for example emulsion ointments and creams as well as gels) call for the availability of more highly concentrated aqueous solutions in order to provide the required amounts of active substances to the skin or mucous membrane.

Salts of azelastine having improved solubility


Aspects of the present invention relate to a perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) media stack and methods for fabricating the same. The PMR media stack has a novel grain isolation initiation layer (GIIL) and/or a novel exchange-break layer (EBL) that can improve the signal-to-noise performance of the PMR media stack. The PMR media stack includes a substrate, a soft underlayer on the substrate, an interlayer positioned on the soft underlayer, and a grain isolation initiation layer (GIIL) positioned on the interlayer, a magnetic layer positioned on the GIIL, and an exchange break layer (EBL) positioned on the magnetic layer. The GIIL and/or EBL includes a CoCrRu-oxide.

Perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) has been used to increase the areal recording density of magnetic storage media. A PMR media stack generally includes a substrate, an antiferromagnetic coupled soft magnetic underlayer (AFC-SUL), a seed layer, an intermediate layer, a grain isolation initiation layer (GIIL) and a magnetic layer stack, in that order. The magnetic layer stack includes a number of magnetic layers separated by a number of exchange-break layers (EBLs) or exchange-control layers (ECLs). The GIIL can enhance magnetic decoupling of the magnetic layers, and the EBLs help to reduce the coercivity (Hc) and saturation field (Hs) of the PMR media stack as a whole. Reduction of intergranular magnetic coupling of the magnetic layers is desirable because it can improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the PMR media stack.

Perpendicular recording media with grain isolation initiation layer and exchange breaking layer for signal-to-noise ratio enhancement


A (photo)thermographic material is provided, capable of being used to produce a lithographic printing plate, comprising a support, a hydrophobic thermosensitive layer and a hydrophilic surface adjoining the hydrophobic thermosensitive layer, the thermosensitive layer containing an ingredient A, for example a substantially light-insensitive organic silver salt, which upon negative or positive image-wise heating reacts with at least one other ingredient B, for example a reducing agent therefor, in thermal working relationship therewith, producing a moiety which changes the adhesion between the thermosensitive layer and an adjoining hydrophilic surface to an extent such that negative or positive image-wise separation of the hydrophobic thermosensitive layer from the adjoining hydrophilic surface is enabled.

Lithography is a process in which printing takes place from a plate with specially prepared surfaces, some areas of which are capable of accepting lithographic ink, whereas other areas, when moistened with water, are incapable of accepting the ink. The areas of the medium being printed which accept ink from those plate areas which have accepted ink, form the printing image areas, while those in contact with those plate areas unable to accept ink, form the background areas. For the purposes of the present invention areas of the lithographic plate capable of accepting the ink will be referred to as hydrophobic and those incapable, after prewetting with water, of accepting this ink will be referred to as hydrophilic.
In the art of negative-working lithography, printing plates are produced in which image areas of the plates are incapable, after prewetting with water, of accepting the oily and greasy lithographic ink (hydrophilic) and non-image areas are capable of accepting this ink (hydrophobic). Two variants are possible depending on whether the surface of the plate before image-wise treatment is hydrophobic or hydrophilic. In the variant in which the surface of the plate before image-wise treatment is hydrophobic, image-wise treatment renders the image areas hydrophilic, whereas in the variant in which the surface of the plate before imaging is hydrophilic, image-wise treatment corresponding to the negative of the image renders the non-image areas hydrophobic.
In the art of positive-working lithography, printing plates are produced in which image areas are capable of accepting the oily and greasy lithographic ink (hydrophobic) and non-image areas are incapable, after prewetting with water, of accepting this ink (hydrophilic). Two variants are also possible depending on whether the surface of the plate before image-wise treatment is hydrophobic or hydrophilic. In the variant in which the surface of the plate prior to image-wise treatment is hydrophobic, image-wise treatment corresponding to the negative of the image renders the non-image areas hydrophilic, whereas in the variant in which the surface of the plate before image-wise treatment is hydrophilic, the image-wise treatment renders the image-areas hydrophobic.
Image-wise treatment, or image-wise treatment corresponding to the negative of the image, for the production of lithographic printing plates can be carried out using actinic radiation, ionized radiation or heat, or a combination thereof in combination with appropriate processing of the plates.
The use of thermographic or photothermographic materials in the production of lithographic printing plates opens the possibility of using dry development techniques, which have the advantage, over conventional processes requiring development with externally applied (wet) developers, of being entirely dry processes developable without additional ingredients.
Thermal imaging or thermographic processes utilizing the reduction of substantially light-insensitive organic heavy metal salts by organic reducing agents to heavy metal particles upon the application of heat, are entirely dry processes developable without additional ingredients. Furthermore, such systems can be rendered photosensitive by the incorporation of a photosensitive agent capable after exposure of catalyzing the thermal reduction of the organic heavy metal salts by the reducing agents.
A process for forming an image is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,210,711, comprising the image-wise exposure of a photosensitive image-forming material composed of a support and a layer of a thermoplastic photosensitive composition which is not adhesive at ordinary temperatures, heating the exposed photo-sensitive material in intimate contact with a peeling development carrier sheet at least one surface of which is composed of a thermoplastic material not adhesive at ordinary temperature to a temperature above the softening temperature of at least one of the photo-sensitive composition layer and the peeling development carrier-sheet from the photo-sensitive image-forming material at about or below the heating temperature thereby to form the exposed or unexposed area of the photo-sensitive composition layer on the peeling development sheet, and the corresponding unexposed or exposed area on the support, respectively as a separate image wherein the photo-sensitive composition contains a photosensitive polyhalogen compound, a photosensitive quinone, a photosensitive polymer, a silver halide or an organic silver salt.
A thermographic lithographic printing plate is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,685,993 with a composition comprising a complex of a heat fusible phenolic resin and a high molecular weight water-soluble poly-ether, -amine or -amide polymer, and an organic silver salt oxidizing agent for the resin, the composition undergoing a visible change upon heating to form ink-receptive image areas.
The difference in ink-receptive behaviour of image and non-image areas in prior art thermographic processes for the production of lithographic plates is insufficient to yield high quality prints. Furthermore, such lithographic plates have sub-optimal printing properties e.g. insufficient ink-acceptance in the hydrophobic areas of the lithographic plate, low printing endurance etc.

Thermographic and photothermographic materials for producing lithographic printing elements and processes therefor


Disclosed is a color liquid display (LCD) employing a transmissive color liquid display panel. The display includes a complementary color light emitting diode, which is one of a cyan light emitting diode (21C), emitting cyan light, a yellow light emitting diode, emitting yellow light, and a magenta light emitting diode, emitting magenta light, in addition to light emitting diodes emitting three prime colors, as a light source. The display also includes a complementary color filter, having at least one of a cyan filter CFC having a transmission wavelength range corresponding to the cyan light, a yellow filter CFY having a transmission wavelength range corresponding to the yellow light and a magenta filter CFM having a transmission wavelength range corresponding to the magenta light, in addition to a tristimulus color filer, as a color filter (19).

Among standard color spaces for computer display, there is the sRGB standard prescribed by IEC (International Electro-technical Commission). This standard gives a definition on the relationship between a video signal RGB and the calorimetric values by having chromaticity points of three prime colors of red (R), green (G) and blue (B) coincide with the colorimetric parameters of Rec.709 recommended by ITU-R (International Telecommunication Union Radio communication). In a display apparatus, complying with this sRGB standard, if a video signal RGB is applied, the colorimetrically same color may be displayed.
Meanwhile, with a picture unit, receiving and displaying the color information, captured by a camera or a scanner, such as a display or a printer, it is essential to demonstrate the received color information accurately. For example, if a camera has captured the color information accurately, but a display demonstrates the color information only inappropriately, color reproduction performance of the system on the whole is deteriorated.
In a current standard monitor device, the display is prescribed by the color gamut of the sRGB standard. In actuality, there are many colors beyond the color gamut of sRGB, such that there are object colors that cannot be represented by a standard monitor device complying with the sRGB standard. For example, with a halide film used in a camera, or with a digital camera printer, the range of sRGB has already been exceeded. If the broad dynamic range is procured, and an image pickup operation is carried out correctly, there are produced object colors that cannot be represented on a standard monitor device of the sRGB standard.
The sYCC, having a color space broader than that of sRGB, has been adopted as a standard by business circles, in order to cope with the color gamut which has become broader. The sYCC has derived, from the sRGB, the luminance difference color difference separation space, using ITU-R BT.601,which is the international standard of a transformation matrix from RGB to YCC as defined for high vision television. The color gamut of sYCC is broader as the color space, such that, with the sYCC, the color outside sRGB can be represented.
On the other hand, in the NTSC system, adopted as the broadcast system for color television, the bandwidth is broader than in sRGB. If sYCC is to be implemented, the color gamut on the display with sYCC needs to be equivalent to or even exceed that of the NTSC system on a display.
On the other hand, a TV receiver of an extremely thin thickness, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a plasma display panel (PDP), has been developed and put to practical use, to take the place of the cathode ray tube (CRT) which has long been used since the start of TV broadcasting. In particular, a color liquid crystal display, employing a color liquid crystal display panel, is expected to become popular at a rapid rate because it permits driving with low power consumption and the large-sized color liquid crystal display panel has become less expensive.
As for the color liquid crystal display apparatus, the backlight system, in which a transmissive color liquid crystal display panel is illuminated from its backside with a backlight device to display a color picture, is in the mainstream. The light source, preferentially used for the backlight device, is a CCFL (Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp), emitting white light using a fluorescent tube.
In general, in a transmissive color liquid crystal display apparatus, a color filter, employing a tristimulus filter of spectral characteristics, shown for example in FIG. 1, made up of a blue filter CFB0(460 nm), a green filter CFG0(530 nm) and a red filter CFR0(685 nm), where the numbers entered in parentheses denote the peak transmission wavelength of each filter, is provided from one pixel of the color liquid crystal display panel to another.
On the other hand, the white light, emitted from a three-wavelength CCFL, used as a light source for a backlight device of the color liquid crystal display apparatus, has a spectrum shown in FIG. 2, such that it contains light of different intensities in a variety of wavelengths.
Hence, there is a problem that the color reproduced by the combination of the backlight device, having such CCFL, emitting the light of three wavelength ranges, as light source, and the color liquid crystal display panel, having the color filter, described above, is rather poor in color purity.
FIG. 3 shows the color reproducing range of the color liquid crystal display apparatus, including the backlight device, having the above-described three-wavelength CCFL as a light source. Specifically, FIG. 3 depicts an xy chromaticity diagram of the XYZ color system, as prescribed by the Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage (CIE).
As may be seen from FIG. 3, the color reproducing range of the color liquid crystal display apparatus, having the backlight device, employing the CCFL as light source, is narrower than the color reproducing range provided for by the standard of the NTSC (National Television System Committee) system adopted as the color television broadcasting system. That is, the former color reproducing range may not be said to cope sufficiently with the current television broadcasting.
On the other hand, there is a fear that the CCFL, containing mercury in the phosphorescent tube, may have an ill effect on the environment. Hence, a demand is raised for a light source that may take the place of the CCFL as a light source of the backlight device. With the development of the blue light emitting diode, the light emitting diodes, emitting light of three prime colors, namely red light, green light and blue light, are now in order. Thus, with the use of the light emitting diodes as light source for the backlight device, the color light obtained by the color liquid crystal display panel may be improved in color purity, and hence it may be expected that the color reproducing range may be made as broad as or even broader than the color reproducing range provided for by the NTSC system.


Gaming-related displays present text and graphics viewable with a special visual aid, e.g., a camera phone. The visual aid provides an interface allowing the player to interact with, and be engaged by, the gaming machine and the gaming environment. The text and graphics shown on the visual aid may provide information that adds to the player's experience. For example, a gaming system includes a gaming terminal for a wagering game. The gaming terminal includes a light-emitting area emitting a predetermined pattern of invisible light having wavelengths outside the visible electromagnetic spectrum. The gaming system also includes a visual aid including a sensor and a visual aid display. The visual aid detects, with the sensor, the pattern of invisible light, converts the pattern of invisible light into a pattern of visible light having wavelengths inside the visible electromagnetic spectrum, and displays the pattern of visible light on the visual aid display.

Gaming terminals, such as slot machines, video poker machines and the like, have been a cornerstone of the gaming industry for several years. Generally, the popularity of such machines among players is dependent in part on the intrinsic entertainment value of the machine relative to other available gaming options. The popularity of machines may be enhanced, for example, by employing more sophisticated and/or interactive audiovisual features.

Infrared displays for human interfaces viewable by camera


In a method of measuring a surface voltage of an insulating layer, the number of times that surface voltages are measured in a depletion region increases so that precise data about the depletion region may be obtained. The number of times that the surface voltages are measured in an accumulation region and an inversion region decreases so that the data about the depletion region may be rapidly obtained.

1. Technical Field
This disclosure relates to a method of measuring a surface voltage of an insulating layer and more particularly, to a method of measuring a surface voltage of an insulating layer by supplying charges to the insulating layer.
2. Description of the Related Art
A measuring device for measuring a surface voltage of an insulating layer may include a probe and a gun. To measure the surface voltage, the insulating layer is typically placed under the probe and the gun.
During a light state when the insulating layer is irradiated with light, a predetermined amount of positive charges is repeatedly applied to the insulating layer so that a surface charge amount of the insulating layer may be increased by a discrete amount with each application. The gun may repeatedly supply the predetermined amount of the positive charges onto the insulating layer by using the probe.
In addition, the first surface charge amount of the insulating layer may be measured each time that the positive charges are supplied onto the insulating layer. Here, the probe may measure the first surface charge amount of the insulating layer.
Thereafter, during a dark state when the insulating layer is not irradiated with light, the surface charge amount of the insulating layer may reset to an initial state that was measured before the positive charges were initially supplied to the insulating layer.
Thereafter, during another light state, the predetermined amount of positive charges is repeatedly applied to areas of the insulating layer that were not provided with light during the first light state so that the surface charge amount of the insulating layer may be increased by a discrete amount with each application. In addition, a second surface charge amount of the insulating layer is measured each time that the positive charges are supplied onto the insulating layer.
Thereafter, the first surface charge amount is compared with the second charge amount so that data concerning an accumulation region, a depletion region, and an inversion region of the insulating layer may be obtained. The accumulation region is a region where the first surface voltage is substantially the same as the second surface voltage, the depletion region is a region where a difference between the first surface voltage and the second surface voltage increases, and the inversion region is a region where the difference between the first surface voltage and the second surface voltage is constantly maintained at a predetermined positive value.
In general, the depletion region has information concerning an interface trap density, a flat band voltage, and a total charge amount. Thus, the depletion region is more important than the accumulation region and the inversion region.
However, when the same amount of the positive charges are supplied in the depletion region as well as the accumulation region and the inversion region, the time required to measure the surface charge of the insulating layer may be unfortunately long.
When the predetermined amount of positive charge is decreased to reduce the number of times that the first and second surface charges of the insulating layer are measured, the time required for measuring the surface charge of the insulating layer may also decrease. However, the number of times that the first and second surface charges of the insulating layer are measured may be reduced in the depletion region as well as the accumulation region and the inversion region. Thus, it becomes difficult to obtain precise data about the depletion region.
Embodiments of the invention address these and other disadvantages of the related art.

Method of measuring a surface voltage of an insulating layer


The invention provides materials and methods for promoting weight loss or preventing weight gain and for treating diabetes and associated metabolic disorders. In particular, the invention provides novel glucagon analogue peptide compounds effective in such methods. The compounds may mediate their effect by having, for example, increased selectivity for the GLP-1 receptor compared to human glucagon.

Obesity and diabetes are globally increasing health problems and are associated with various diseases, particularly cardiovascular disease (CVD), obstructive sleep apnea, stroke, peripheral artery disease, microvascular complications and osteoarthritis.
About 250 million people worldwide suffer from diabetes, and by 2025 it is estimated that 380 million will have diabetes. Many have additional cardiovascular risk factors, including high/aberrant LDL and triglycerides and low HDL.
Cardiovascular disease accounts for about 50% of mortality in people with diabetes, and the morbidity and mortality rates relating to obesity and diabetes underscore the medical need for efficacious treatment options.
Preproglucagon is a 158 amino acid precursor polypeptide that is differentially processed in the tissues to form a number of structurally related proglucagon-derived peptides, including glucagon (Glu), glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) and oxyntomodulin (OXM). These molecules are involved in a wide variety of physiological functions, including glucose homeostasis, insulin secretion, gastric emptying and intestinal growth, as well as regulation of food intake.
Glucagon is a 29-amino acid peptide that corresponds to amino acids 53 to 81 of pre-proglucagon, and has the following amino acid sequence (written using conventional three-letter amino acid abbreviations): His Ser-Gln-Gly-Thr-Phe-Thr-Ser-Lys-Tyr-Leu-Asp-Ser-Arg-Arg-Ala-Gln-Asp-Phe-Val-Gln-Trp-Lue-Met-Asn-Thr (SEQ ID NO:86). The amino acid sequence of glucagon written using conventional one-letter amino acid abbreviations is: HSQGTFTSDYSKYLDSRRAQDFVQWLMNT (SEQ ID NO:86).
Oxyntomodulin (OXM) is a 37-amino acid peptide which includes the complete 29-amino acid sequence of glucagon with an octapeptide carboxy-terminal extension. The latter extension consists of amino acids 82 to 89 of pre-proglucagon, having the sequence Lys-Arg-Asn-Arg-Asn-Asn-Ile-Ala and termed "intervening peptide 1" or IP-1; the full sequence of human oxyntomodulin is thus His-Ser-Gln-Gly-Thr-Phe-Thr-Ser-Asp-Tyr-Ser-Lys-Tyr-Leu-Asp-Ser-Arg-Arg-Ala-Gln-Asp-Phe-Val-Gln-Trp-Leu-Met-Asn-Thr-Lys-Arg-Asn-Arg- Asn-Asn-Ile-Ala (SEQ ID NO:87).
The major biologically active fragment of GLP-1 is produced as a 30-amino acid, C-terminally amidated peptide that corresponds to amino acids 98 to 127 of pre-proglucagon.
Glucagon helps maintain the level of glucose in the blood by binding to glucagon receptors on hepatocytes, causing the liver to release glucose—stored in the form of glycogen—through glycogenolysis. As these stores become depleted, glucagon stimulates the liver to synthesize additional glucose by gluconeogenesis. This glucose is released into the bloodstream, preventing the development of hypoglycemia. Additionally, glucagon has been demonstrated to increase lipolysis and decrease body weight.
GLP-1 decreases elevated blood glucose levels by improving glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. It also promotes weight loss, primarily through decreasing food intake.
Oxyntomodulin is released into the blood in response to food ingestion and in proportion to meal calorie content. The mechanism of action of oxyntomodulin is not well understood. In particular, it is not known whether the effects of the hormone are mediated exclusively through the glucagon receptor and the GLP-1 receptor, or through one or more as-yet unidentified receptors.
Other peptides have been shown to bind and activate both the glucagon and the GLP-1 receptor (see, e.g., Hjort et al, Journal of Biological Chemistry, 269, 30121-30124, 1994) and to suppress body weight gain and reduce food intake (WO 2006/134340; WO 2007/100535; WO 2008/101017).
Among the amino acid residues in the sequence of native glucagon, the residues and positions 3 and 4 (Gln and Gly, respectively, in native human glucagon), respectively, appear to be rather generally regarded as not being susceptible to substitution without loss of physiological activity. However, the present inventors believe that the observed, relatively facile deamidation of the Gln residue at position 3 of native glucagon is to a large extent associated with the presence of the sterically small Gly residue in the neighbouring 4 position. It would thus be highly desirable to be able to substitute, inter alia, one or both of the residues at positions 3 and 4 and still be able to achieve peptides possessing useful physiological activity.


A survivor path memory circuit and a Viterbi decoder with the circuit for saving the memory amounts. The Viterbi decoder includes a branch metric generator, an ACS (Add-Compare-Select) unit, a survivor path memory circuit and a decoding unit. The survivor path memory circuit includes survivor paths and decision bit paths. Each survivor path has multiplexers connected in series and each multiplexer outputs the selected data to next multiplexer and to another multiplexers of another survivor paths. Each decision bit path has register node connected in series, receives a decision bit signal generated from the ACS unit, and outputs delayed signal to the multiplexers of the corresponding survivor path. The data flow direction for the survivor paths is opposite to the data flow direction for the decision bit paths. Because the registers in the survivor paths are replaced by the registers in the decision bit paths, the survivor path memory circuit uses less memory, if the number of the decision bit paths is smaller than the number of the survivor paths.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a survivor path memory circuit, and more particularly to a survivor path memory circuit used in a Viterbi decoder, in which the registers of survivor paths are replaced with the registers of decision bit paths so that the memory requirement for the survivor path memory circuit is reduced.
2. Description of the Related Art
A PRML (Partial Response Maximum Likelihood) system is used to retrieve EFM (Eight-to-Fourteen Modulation) signals from CD (Compact Disc)/DVD (Digital Versatile Disk). In the PRML system, a Viterbi decoder is usually used to realize the maximum likelihood detection.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a conventional Viterbi decoder. Referring to FIG. 1, the Viterbi decoder includes a branch metric generator 11, an add-compare-select (ACS) unit 12, a survivor path memory circuit 13, and a decoding unit 14. The branch metric generator 11 calculates the branch metrics corresponding to each branch according to the received data, and outputs branch metrics to the ACS unit 12. The branch metric generator 11 calculates the distance, such as mean-square-distance, between the received data and the estimated data of the branch. For each state, the ACS unit 12 adds the branch metrics with the related state metrics to generate the candidate state metrics, compares and selects the minimum candidate state metric as the new state metric. The decision bit of the ACS unit 12, indicating the decision result of the state-metric selection, is sent to the survivor path memory circuit 13. According to the decision bit, the survivor paths of the survivor path memory circuit 13 are updating to keep consistent with the selected result of related state metrics. The survivor memory circuit 13 restores the decoded results corresponding to each state, and the decoding unit 14 executes the majority vote for the ending bits of all survivor paths to decide the decoded result.
FIG. 2 is a data flow chart (DFC) of a conventional two-state trellis diagram for a survivor path memory circuit. As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of registers D are employed to store the output value generated from the multiplexers Mux and output data to the multiplexers of next stage. Each decision bit of the ACS unit 12 is simultaneously connected to all the multiplexers of a set of survivor path in order to select the multiplexer's signal.
In the CD/DVD application, the recording signal with EFM/EFM+modulation, called the EFM signal, has the property of run length limited (RLL) that the minimum run length of an EFM signal is 3T, where T is a recording unit length. According to the RLL of the EFM signal, a simplified trellis diagram is obtained to build a PRML system for decoding the EFM signal, as shown in FIG. 3. The trellis diagram in FIG. 3 has six states, including state S0(000), state S1(001), state S2(011), state S3(100), state S4(110), and state S5(111). The states of (010) and (101) are invalid and not listed due to the minimum run length of 3T. In addition, state S1(001), state S2(011), state S3(100) and state S4(110) only have a branch.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a part of the Viterbi decoder using the trellis diagram of FIG. 3. Referring to FIG. 4, the Viterbi decoder includes an ACS unit 22, a survivor path memory circuit 13, and a decoding unit 14. Since the trellis diagram has been simplified, the ACS unit 22 only includes two ACS processors 221 and 222, two adders 231, 232, and six registers 225 to 230. Also, since the trellis diagram has been simplified, only the survivor paths 0 and 5 in the survivor path memory circuit 13 include multiplexers, and data from other survivor paths 1 to 4 are just delayed by the registers and then transferred to another survivor path memory or multiplexers. Each stage of the survivor path memory circuit 13 related to one decoding cycle contains six registers to store the output values generated from the multiplexers in the survivor path memory circuit 13, in which the number of register equals to the number of the state in the trellis, where a decoding cycle means that the Viterbi decoder decodes 1 bit data. The decoding unit 14 utilizes a majority vote circuit to vote, among the data output from the six paths, the majority data as the decoded data.
FIG. 5 is a data flow chart showing the survivor path memory circuit of FIG. 4, where a node means an operation and an edge means a connection with the delay latency labeled on it. As shown in FIG. 5, the survivor path memory circuit includes a plurality of multiplexers Mux and registers (path memory) D, 2D and 3D, wherein each of the registers D represents a register that is delayed by one decoding cycle (stage), each of the registers 2D represents a register that is delayed by two decoding cycles, and each of the registers 3D represents a register that is delayed by three decoding cycles. The two decision bits output from ACS unit 22 are inputted to the multiplexers of two sets of survivor paths of the survivor path memory circuit 13, respectively.
Since a memory is utilized to store data in each path within each cycle and the multiplexer in each path receives the same decision bit signal, the memory usage in each path may be effectively reduced if the timing of the selection signal for the multiplexers can be rearranged.

Survivor path memory circuit and Viterbi decoder with the same


A spray tip for discharging a controlled liquid spray distribution is provided. The spray tip includes a spray tip body having an inlet end for connection to a pressurized liquid supply. The spray tip body includes a first fluid chamber having a first longitudinal axis and a second fluid chamber in fluid communication with the first fluid chamber and having a second longitudinal axis that extends transversely relative to the first longitudinal axis. A pair of discharge orifices are formed in the spray tip body. Each discharge orifice has a downstream side with a deflector surface for directing liquid discharging from the chamber. Each discharge orifice intersects the second fluid chamber adjacent a respective end thereof so as to define a pocket extending downstream of the deflector surface.

Spray nozzle assemblies are known, such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,275,340 assigned to the same assignee as the present invention, that include a deflector flange which enhances liquid particle breakdown and directs the spray pattern in a transverse direction. Such spray nozzles do not necessarily require pressurized air pre-atomization of the liquid flow stream. These spray nozzles have particular utility in spraying agricultural chemicals because they do not generate extremely fine liquid particles. Nozzles that produce extremely fine liquid particles are generally unsuited for agricultural applications because the discharging spray can be subject to undesirable drifting. Nevertheless, even with nozzles specifically designed for agricultural applications it can be difficult to effect complete coverage of a crop canopy by the downwardly directing spray because the spray often has difficulty achieving good penetration of the crop canopy.


A liquid ejection apparatus and a sensor unit are capable of reducing the amount of mist adhering to an optical element. The liquid ejection apparatus includes a carriage including an ejection head mounted thereon for ejecting a liquid, and a sensor unit accommodating an optical element attached to the carriage, wherein the sensor unit has a first opening and a second opening which is communicated with the first opening and forms a light path between the optical element and the medium.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid ejection apparatus and a sensor unit.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a liquid ejection apparatus which applies a liquid to a medium by ejecting the liquid from an ejection port of a liquid ejection head and conveying the medium while moving a carriage carrying the liquid ejection head, the structure has been known in which a sensor is attached as a sensor unit to the carriage.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-62222 discloses the structure in which an optical element (sensor) composed of a light emitting element and a light receiving element is attached to a carriage so that light emitted from the light emitting element to a medium and reflected by the medium is received at the light receiving element.
When ink droplets are ejected from the ejection port of the liquid ejection head, mist may be generated along with ink droplets applied to the medium. Adhesion of mist to the light emitting element or the light receiving element may induce change in the amount of light emitted from the light emitting element, and change in the amount of light received at the light receiving element, thereby deteriorating detection accuracy of the sensor.

Liquid ejection apparatus and sensor unit


A rain detection system generates an operation signal for operating a wiper system on a window based on a detected window condition. The rain detection system includes a detection mechanism for intermittently detecting an amount of liquid on the window, a calculation mechanism for calculating an increase rate of the amount of the liquid detected in a detection operation by the detection mechanism and a determination mechanism for determining the window condition based on the increase rate calculated by the calculation mechanism. The determination mechanism distinguishes difference between condensation on the window and rain based on the detected liquid on the window.

A conventional wiper system disposed on a vehicle has a selection of wiping speeds for wiping operation such as an intermittent mode, a low speed mode, a high speed mode, a stop mode (i.e., an off mode) and the like. A driver of the vehicle chooses an appropriate operation mode according to an amount of rain falling on a windshield of the vehicle (refer to a Japanese Patent Document JP-A-2002-283968).
The conventional wiper system includes a rain detection system to automatically control the wiping operation. The rain detection system picks up the amount of rain in a detection area on the windshield. The detection system uses a light source (e.g., a light emitting diode (LED)) coupled with a sensor (e.g., a photo diode (PD)) to intermittently pick up a light reflected from a raindrop. The amount of rain on the windshield is determined by measuring a reflection rate of the light against the emitted amount of the light from the light source.
The reflection rate is determined, for example, by comparing a measurement of an output voltage from the PD in a rain against a measurement of an output voltage from the PD in a fine weather.
The rain detection system may include a prism for redirecting a light from the light source and to the sensor, and the prism may have a heater for preventing condensation of water in an atmosphere from forming thereon.
The conventional wiper system automatically increases a wiping speed when the amount of rain on the windshield increases. That is, the operation mode is changed from an intermittent operation mode (INT mode) or a low speed mode (LO mode) to a high speed mode (HI mode). However, the conventional wiper system mistakenly determines condensation of water on the windshield as an increased amount of rain when the vehicle enters a space such as a tunnel or the like. In this case, the conventional wiper system needlessly changes the operation mode of the wiper system to the HI mode for the sake of coping with the mistakenly detected increased amount of rain.
Further, the conventional wiper system causes discomfort of the driver in the tunnel or the like because of the needlessly changed operation mode toward a higher speed (e.g., to the HI mode). That is, a change of the operation mode, i.e., an increase of the wiping speed, is felt unnecessary to the driver in the tunnel when disturbance of visibility by the condensation on the windshield is not severe.

Rain detection system and method of controlling the same


Systems and methods provide a supplemental mobile communication device that allows use of a host communication device with a network different from that associated with the host device, e.g., a network of a different service provider or that is otherwise restricted to the host device. The system may include a supplemental mobile communication device having a transmitter selectively communicating with a plurality of host devices associated with a different wireless network. The system may further include a processor configured to compare a service plan associated with the supplemental mobile communication device with a service plan associated with the host device, and selectively route communications initiated by a user interface of the host device through one of the first and second communication networks based upon at least the comparison of the first and second service plans.

Communication service providers invest in the communication networks they provide to their customers in order to ensure high quality voice and data transmission. However, differences in quality and performance between the networks of service providers may not be apparent to customers who do not have previous experience or access to quality and/or performance data regarding the networks. Furthermore, the rapid expansion of wireless networks has resulted in a large number of first-time users and customers who have little knowledge of performance and quality differences between wireless networks. Accordingly, it is difficult for service providers to gain a clear marketing advantage based upon network performance alone.
By contrast, new communication devices used on these networks are proliferating rapidly and are often accompanied by comprehensive advertising campaigns that bring a great deal of attention to the new features and advantages offered by each of the devices. Accordingly, communication service providers have recently employed the strategy of pursuing exclusive agreements with manufacturers of certain communication devices to distinguish themselves from competitors in the marketplace. Accordingly, the market for new communication devices such as wireless smartphones is rapidly expanding as manufacturers try to develop the most popular devices that will bring the greatest value to such agreements.
Many service providers may typically pair new devices with contractual obligations that require the customer to purchase a service contract for a defined period of time, perhaps even several years, thereby guaranteeing the service provider a revenue stream for at least the life of the contract. While demand for new devices may generally be sufficient enough that a significant number of customers are nonetheless willing to agree to such terms in order to obtain the newest and best devices, many of the customers eventually wish to purchase a newer device before their service contract ends. These customers are usually limited to the selection offered by their service provider in order to avoid substantial penalty fees for early cancellation of their service contract.
Accordingly, many customers would prefer to be able to use new communication devices offered by different service providers on other networks available to them, for example those provided by service providers with which they already have an active service plan.

Supplemental mobile communication device