A corrosion inhibition package for use with an aqueous acid composition, said package comprising: a terpene; a cinnamaldehyde or a derivative thereof; at least one amphoteric surfactant; and a solvent. Also disclosed are compositions comprising said corrosion inhibitor package. Preferably, the corrosion inhibition package meets the environmental requirements for classification as yellow according to the Norwegian North Sea offshore drilling regulatory requirements.

In the oil & gas industry, stimulation with an acid is performed on a well to increase or restore production. In some instances, a well initially exhibits low permeability, and stimulation is employed to commence production from the reservoir. In other instances, stimulation or remediation is used to further encourage permeability and flow from an already existing well that has become under-productive.
Acidizing is a type of stimulation treatment which is performed above or below the reservoir fracture pressure in an effort to restore or increase the natural permeability of the reservoir rock. Acidizing is achieved by pumping acid into the well to dissolve typically limestone, dolomite and calcite cement between the sediment grains of the reservoir rocks or to treat acid soluble scale accumulation.
There are three major types of acid applications: matrix acidizing, fracture acidizing, and breakdown acidizing (pumped prior to a fracturing pad or cement operation in order to assist with formation breakdown (reduce fracture pressures, increased feed rates), as well as clean up left over cement in the well bore or perforations. A matrix acid treatment is performed when acid is pumped into the well and into the pores of the reservoir formation below the fracture pressure. In this form of acidization, the acids dissolve the sediments formation and/or mud solids that are inhibiting the permeability of the rock, enlarging the natural pores of the reservoir while creating wormholes and stimulating flow of hydrocarbons to the wellbore. While matrix acidizing is when pressures are maintained below the fracture gradient, fracture acidizing involves pumping highly pressurized acid into the well above the formation fracture gradient, physically fracturing the reservoir rock allowing the acid to etch the permeability inhibitive sediments. This type of acid treatment forms channels or fractures and etches through which the hydrocarbons can flow. In some instances, a proppant is introduced into the fluid which assists in propping open the fractures, further enhancing the flow of hydrocarbons into the wellbore.
There are many different mineral and organic acids used to perform an acid treatment on wells. The most common type of acid employed on wells to stimulate production is hydrochloric acid (HCl), which is useful in stimulating carbonate reservoirs.
Some of the major challenges faced in the oil & gas offshore industry from using hydrochloric acid include the following: extremely high levels of corrosion (which is countered by the addition of 'filming' type corrosion inhibitors that are typically themselves toxic and harmful to humans, the environment and equipment and thus affect the classification rating or use in many offshore jurisdictions (such as the North Sea). Reactions between acids and various types of metals can vary greatly but softer metals, such as aluminum and magnesium, are very susceptible to major effects causing immediate damage. Hydrochloric acid produces Hydrogen chloride gas which is toxic (potentially fatal) and corrosive to skin, eyes and metals. At levels above 50 ppm (parts per million) it can be Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health (IDHL). At levels from 1300-2000 ppm death can occur in 2-3 minutes.
The inherent negative effects (organic sterility, poisoning of wildlife, personnel exposure, high corrosion, hazardous fumes etc.) of HCl and the highly toxic and dangerous corrosion inhibitors added to reduce this corrosion can, in the event of an unintended or accidental release, on surface or down hole into water aquifers or other sources of water are devastating which can cause significant pH reduction of such and can substantially increase the toxicity and could potentially cause a mass culling of aquatic species and potential poisoning of humans or livestock and wildlife exposed to/or drinking the water. An unintended release at surface can also cause a hydrogen chloride gas plume to be released, potentially endangering human and animal health. This is a common event at large storage sites when tanks split or leak. Typically if near the public, large areas need to be evacuated post event and a comprehensive, expensive to implement, emergency evacuation plan need to be in place prior to approval of such storage areas. Because of its acidic nature, hydrogen chloride gas is also corrosive, particularly in the presence of moisture. A method to overcome gas fuming is by utilizing novel synthetic or modified acids which have an ability to greatly minimize this drawback all the while maintaining the efficiency of the acid downhole.
The inability for acids, and blends of such, to biodegrade naturally without neutralizing the soil results in expensive cleanup-reclamation costs for the operator should an unintended release occur. Moreover, the toxic fumes produced by mineral & some organic acids are harmful to humans/animals and are highly corrosive and/or produce potentially explosive vapours. Transportation and storage requirements for acids are restrictive and taxing in such that you must haul the products in acid approved tankers or intermediate bulk containers (IBC) that are rated to handle such corrosive products. As well, the dangers surrounding exposure by personnel handling the blending of such corrosive/dangerous products limits their use/implementation. Some if not most of these problems have been greatly minimized through the use of synthetic acids as mentioned above.
Another concern is the potential for human or environmental exposure incidents on locations due to high corrosion levels of acids causing storage container failures and/or deployment equipment failures i.e. coiled tubing or fracturing iron failures caused by high corrosion rates (pitting, cracks, pinholes and major failures). Other concerns include: downhole equipment failures from corrosion causing the operator to have to execute a work-over and replace down hole pumps, tubing, cables, packers etc.; inconsistent strength or quality level of mineral & organic acids; potential supply issues based on industrial output levels; high levels of corrosion on surface pumping equipment resulting in expensive repair and maintenance levels for operators and service companies; the requirement of specialized equipment that is purpose built to pump acids greatly increasing the capital expenditures of operators and service companies; and the inability to source a finished product locally or very near its end use; transportation and onsite storage difficulties.
Extremely high corrosion and reaction rates with temperature increase causes conventional acids to "spend/react or become neutral" prior to achieving its desired effect such as deeply penetrating an oil or gas formation to increase the wormhole or etched "pathway" effectively to allow the petroleum product to flow freely to the wellbore. As an example, hydrochloric acid can be utilized in an attempt to free stuck drill pipe in some situations. Prior to getting to the required depth to dissolve the formation that has caused the pipe/tubing to become stuck many acids spend or neutralize due to increased bottom hole temperatures and greatly increased reaction rate, so it is advantageous to have an alternative that spends or reacts more methodically allowing the slough to be treated with a solution that is still active, allowing the pipe/tubing to be pulled free.
When used to treat scaling issues on surface due to water contamination, conventional acids are exposed to human and mechanical devices as well as expensive pumping equipment causing increased risk for the operator and corrosion effects that damage equipment and create hazardous fumes. When mixed with bases or higher pH fluids or even water, acids will create a large amount of thermal energy (exothermic reaction) causing potential safety concerns and equipment damage, acids typically need to be blended with fresh water (due to their intolerance of highly saline water, causing potential precipitation of minerals) to the desired concentration requiring companies to pre-blend off-site as opposed to blending on-site with field/produced water thereby increasing costs associated with transportation.
Conventional mineral acids used in a pH control situation can cause rapid degradation of certain polymers/additives requiring increased loadings or chemicals to be added to counter these negative effects. Many offshore areas of operations have very strict regulatory rules regarding the transportation/handling and deployment of acids causing increased liability and costs for the operator. When using an acid to pickle tubing or pipe, very careful attention must be paid to the process due to high levels of corrosion, as temperatures increase, the typical additives used to control corrosion levels in acid systems begin to degrade very quickly (due to the inhibitors "plating out" on the steel) causing the acids to become very corrosive and resulting in damage to downhole equipment/tubulars.
Acids perform many actions in the oil & gas industry and are considered necessary to achieve the desired production of various petroleum wells, maintain their respective systems and aid in certain drilling operational functions (i.e. freeing stuck pipe, filter cake treatments). The associated dangers that come with using mineral acids are expansive and tasking to mitigate through controls whether they are chemically or mechanically engineered. The required addition of corrosion inhibitor systems that are toxic, incompatible with anionic additives, contain hazardous materials such as quaternary amines, which are thought to be the chemical group responsible for anaphylactic reactions along with other negative human effects. Any corrosion inhibitor that is effective in HCl or modified and synthetic acids is advantageous. Eliminating or even simply reducing the negative effects of acids while maintaining their usefulness is a struggle for the industry due to the limited availability of friendlier, effect corrosion inhibitor systems. As the public demand for the use of cleaner/safer/greener products increases, companies are looking for alternatives that perform the required function without all or most of the drawbacks associated with the use of conventional mineral acids. Some of the problems raised above have been greatly mitigated through the implementation and use of novel synthetic and modified acids and corrosion inhibitors. However, even some of those synthetic and modified acid compositions comprise certain chemicals which prohibit their use in certain environments, namely the corrosion inhibitor components.
Offshore, and now many onshore (European areas as an example) oil and gas operations are highly regulated or becoming highly regulated due to the environmental and human exposure concerns which arise from their operations and the potential for spills and water table contamination. The complexity of drilling and completing offshore and onshore wells is compounded by both safety issues for workers on such work sites and production platforms, facilities as well as environmental concerns. In most all cases and jurisdictions approved offshore corrosion inhibitor and/or acid systems will meet or exceed the required toxicity and biodegradation parameters for onshore use, even in highly restricted areas.
Many countries bordering the waters where offshore drilling and production is routinely carried out have implemented a number of regulations aimed at minimizing the environmental impact of this practice. These regulations include the ban on certain types of chemicals which may be harmful to marine life and the environment or have overall toxicity levels that could be harmful to humans, animals or the environment in general. In order to overcome these very restrictive regulations, many oil companies employ very costly containment programs for the handling of certain chemicals such as acids with common corrosion inhibitors which have a wide array of uses in the industry of oil and gas exploration and production along within other industries.
Norwegian offshore drilling regulations are amongst the most stringent on the planet. The regulatory authorities routinely carry out monitoring of the water column in each of the 11 offshore regions of Norwegian waters.
This monitoring involves the measurement and tracking of pollutants or biological effects of pollutants, using caged or wild-caught organisms. This allows the regulatory authorities to assess the impact of offshore drilling on the marine fauna. In concert with these intense regulatory monitoring activities, the approval of offshore chemicals is another aspect that is intensely controlled. Currently there are only two companies in the world that have a fully classified "Yellow" corrosion inhibitor system by the Norwegian authorities, NEMS.
In addition to the water column monitoring, the regulatory body takes sediment samples from the seabed to assess the pollution which does not enter fishes and other organisms. These physical and chemical sediment testing seek to quantify: the total organic matter (TOM); grain size distribution; hydrocarbons and synthetic drilling fluids; metals; and radioactivity.
The chemicals are classified according three main criteria: persistence (lack of biodegradation, liability to bioaccumulate and toxicity.
Many of the issues related with offshore oil and gas exploration and production stem from the fact that the conditions under which this is carried out are substantially different than those encountered in the same types of operations carried out onshore.
Acidic compositions and corrosion inhibitors conventionally used in various oil and gas operations can reach temperatures of up to 130° C. and above. At these temperatures, their reactivity is exponentially increased and, as such, their effectiveness or even their ability to be utilized is greatly decreased. Corrosion is the major concern at high temperatures and is difficult and expensive to control with additional, currently available chemistry.
Modified and synthetic acids developed and currently patented are aimed at, but not limited too, increasing personnel safety, reducing corrosion effects, reducing environmental damage, retarding the reaction and diffusion rate, increasing worm-holing efficiency (reducing competing wormholes) and reducing the toxicity profile of HCl. Additionally, there is the risk of wellbore and/or formation damage due to uncontrolled solubilized mineral precipitation due to an increase in the pH caused mainly by the formation of ammonia during the decomposition phase from urea-hydrochloride based systems. The advent of more advanced synthetic or modified acids is intended on providing usage at higher temperatures while still maintain the performance, safety and environmental advantages and benefits of a urea-HCl modified or synthetic acid system, but ultimately at these higher temperatures it is most often desirable to utilize additional or purpose developed corrosion inhibition packages and/or components to control corrosion of exposed steel and minimize negative effects on elastomers and the formation itself. In that respect, even short exposure times at high temperature are more damaging to steel than longer exposure times at lower temperatures. In keeping with the industrial shift, there is also a strong desire to develop corrosion packages which are more "environmentally friendly and more effective" than conventional or currently available systems.
EP patent application 1 724 375 A2 discloses an aqueous organic acid composition containing a terpene as corrosion inhibitor intensifier said to be especially suitable for use in acidizing subterranean formations and wellbores. The composition is said to substantially reduce the corrosive effects of the acidic solution on metals in contact with the acidic solution. Suitable terpenes are said to include carotene, limonene, pinene, farnesene, camphor, cymene and menthol.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,765,021 teaches an aqueous treatment composition for inhibiting corrosion and acid attack on metallic surfaces that comprises a thiourea organic derivative, a polyalkoxylated terpene nonionic surfactant and an acid. It is stated that the invention also relates to a process for cleaning industrial metallic equipment, in particular heat exchangers in which a heat transfer fluid, generally based on air or on water, flows, with a view to cleaning them and removing scale and other soiling.
US patent application no. 2003/0166472 discloses a well treatment microemulsion that is formed by combining a solvent-surfactant blend with a carrier fluid. In preferred embodiments, the solvent-surfactant blend includes a surfactant and a solvent selected from the group consisting of terpenes and alkyl or aryl esters of short chain alcohols. The description states that the disclosed well treatment microemulsion can be used in well remediation, stimulation and hydrogen sulfide mitigation operations.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,323,417 teaches a method of treatment for inhibiting sulfur-based corrosion or scaling or for removing scaling from a surface including inhibiting corrosion caused by sulfur-containing materials, reducing corrosion caused by sulfur-containing materials, inhibiting scaling caused by sulfur-containing materials in gas, liquid or solid phase or any combination of multiple phases of materials, reducing scaling caused by sulfur-containing materials, and removing scaling caused by sulfur-containing materials. The method involves contacting sulfur-containing materials with a composition containing a turpentine liquid, wherein said turpentine liquid comprises α-terpineol, β-terpineol, β-pinene, and p-cymene.
US patent application no. 2006/0264335 A1 discloses an aqueous organic acid composition containing a terpene as corrosion inhibitor intensifier is especially suitable for use in acidizing subterranean formations and wellbores. It is stated that the composition substantially reduces the corrosive effects of the acidic solution on metals in contact with the acidic solution. Suitable terpenes are said to include carotene, limonene, pinene, farnesene, camphor, cymene and menthol.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,074,289 B2 discloses a method of inhibiting corrosion of a surface in contact with a corrosive environment encountered in oil and gas operations. The method includes contacting the surface with a composition comprising a quaternary nitrogen-containing corrosion inhibitor. The patent teaches the use of such inhibitor at levels ranging from 0.1 to 8%.
Despite the various known corrosion inhibition packages and components, there is still a need for corrosion inhibition packages for use with HCl, modified and synthetic acid compositions in the oil industry which can be used over a range of applications, that are formulated to be useful for synthetic and modified acid systems and still be effective with conventional acids such as HCl and can be used at high temperatures (i.e. ˜130° C.) without having its components degrade, phase out of solution while having a superior safety and environmental profile over known packages and components during use across a broad range of temperatures. Moreover, it is desirable to have corrosion inhibition packages that do not undermine the advantages of environmentally and personnel-friendly acid compositions such as various synthetic and modified acid compositions which have far fewer deleterious effects than typical conventional mineral and some organic acids.
Certain corrosion inhibitors components such as propargyl alcohol are undesirable in offshore and on-shore application such as in the North Sea as it is classified red in Norwegian waters and moreover has a poor performance on the popular Cr-13 alloys since it tends to allow the pitting of the surface. Surfactants are desirable when used in combination with corrosion inhibitors but they also carry their own set of issues, as they have in general a high acute fish toxicity and lower biodegradability (less than 60% in seawater). In light of those drawbacks, short chain non-ionic surfactants are typically preferred, because they typically exhibit better acute fish toxicity. However, a disadvantage of short chain non-ionic surfactants is that they usually have lower dispersion ability. Therefore, it is much more difficult and, in some cases, not possible to disperse a relatively hydrophobic corrosion inhibition component (such as citral or also cinnamaldehyde or other terpenes) with a nonionic surfactant.
In light of the prior art, the inventors have formulated corrosion inhibiting compositions capable of overcoming at least one of the drawbacks of known acidic compositions. It was surprisingly discovered that the corrosion inhibition packages according to the present invention exhibit stability when combined with acidic compositions under exposure to elevated temperature (up to and above 130° C.) as well as being compatible with anionic additives. This consequently makes them useful in various industries using acids at these temperatures including, but not limited to, the oil and gas industry.


A plate cylinder adapted for a rotary printing press has a cylinder jacket and a recess followed by a clamping channel which extend at least approximately parallel to the rotational axis of the plate cylinder inside the cylinder jacket. The printing plate has a leading end and a trailing end which are both secured inside the recess. A trailing end region of the printing plate includes two parallel bent edges extending transverse to the rotational direction of the plate cylinder. One bent edge is formed by a section of printing plate fitting against the cylinder jacket and another section of the printing plate that projects into the clamping channel which together enclose approximately a right angle. The other bent edge is formed by the section of printing plate projecting into the clamping channel and an end section of the printing plate extending through the clamping channel.

The invention relates to a device for mounting a printing plate on a plate cylinder for a rotary printing press, wherein the leading end and the trailing end of the printing plate are secured inside a recess in the plate cylinder jacket that extends nearly parallel to the rotational axis of the plate cylinder.
It is known to secure a folded edge of a rotating printing plate inside a recess, extending across the width of the plate cylinder and arranged parallel to the rotational axis, and to subsequently wind the printing plate around the cylinder jacket by turning the plate cylinder. The recess, positioned parallel to the rotational axis and also referred to as a plate-mounting channel, ends in an axis-parallel bore with a therein disposed rotating spindle. This spindle functions to grip and clamp-in the printing plate along the back edge,
Different devices permitting an automatic securing and ejecting of printing plates are known in the field of sheet printing. The disadvantage of such devices is that they require a large-angle gap in the cylinder jacket.

Device for mounting a printing plate on a plate cylinder for a rotary printing press


A wireless communication system includes a first communication device and multiple second communication devices. The first communication device includes a first transmitting unit that transmits control information to instruct a resource in a shared band to the second communication device by using a resource in a dedicated band. Each of the second communication devices includes a determining unit and a second transmitting unit. The determining unit determines whether the resource in the shared band is idle. When the resource in the shared band is idle, the second transmitting unit transmits data by using the resource in the shared band specified in the control information after transmitting a predetermined signal to the shared band. When receiving the predetermined signal from other second communication device, the second transmitting unit transmits data by using the resource in the shared band even when the resource in the shared band is busy.

In recent years, it has been discussed about a next generation wireless communication technology to further increase the speed, the capacity, and the like in wireless communication in a wireless communication system such as a mobile telephone system. For example, in the communication standard called LTE (Long Term Evolution), a technique of performing communication by using a carrier wave of a frequency band requiring a license (LC: Licensed Band Carrier) and a carrier wave of a frequency band not requiring a license (UC: Unlicensed Band Carrier) has been contemplated. The technique is called LAA (Licensed Assisted Access).
In LAA, when a terminal device is to perform uplink transmission to a base station device, the base station device transmits a UL (UpLink) grant to request data transmission to the terminal device through a licensed band. When receiving the UL grant from the base station device through the licensed band, the terminal device performs LBT (listen before talk) to perform carrier sense in an unlicensed band. When the resource in the unlicensed band specified in the UL grant is idle, the terminal device transmits data to the base station by using the resource in the unlicensed band specified in the UL grant. Prior art examples are disclosed in R. Ratasuk, M. Uusitalo, N. Mangalvedhe, A. Sorri, S. Iraji, C. Wijting, and A. Ghosh, "License-Exempt LTE Deployment in Heterogeneous Network", Proceeding of International Symposium on Wireless Communication Systems (ISWCS) 2012, August 2012.
The unlicensed band is also used by other LTE companies or in other systems such as a wireless LAN. Therefore, when the terminal device transmits data, the unlicensed band that is specified in the UL grant received from the base station device is not necessarily idle. Accordingly, when the unlicensed band that is specified in the UL grant received from the base station device is busy, the terminal device does not perform transmission. Thus, the throughput in the uplink from the terminal device to the base station device decreases.


An accumulator arm for a felling head has inner and outer arms which are hydraulically driven open and closed. The inner and outer sides of the outer arm are curved away from an accumulation pocket and toward a harvesting arm, wherein the accumulator arm can be pulled around a newly cut tree to add the tree to the accumulation pocket with a lesser amount of hydraulic force and with lesser damage to the trees.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to forestry equipment, and in particular to a feller buncher for felling and accumulating trees.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Felling heads are widely used in the logging industry for accumulating in a vertical position several freshly cut trees prior to laying down the bundle at once, to be transported to roadside by a skidder or forwarder. The felling head is mounted to a heavy duty vehicle, such as a drive to tree or swing to tree wheeled or tracked vehicle, for high efficiency logging. Examples of feller buncher and associated felling heads are shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,813,308; 5,816,299; 6,068,035; 6,173,973; and 6,374,877 which are incorporated by reference for their description of the construction and operation of such devices.
One type of felling head uses a large saw blade disc having peripheral cutting teeth. The disc is rotated in a horizontal plane below a butt plate, with the teeth exposed at the front of the butt plate. As successive trees are cut, harvesting arms are actuated to pull the tree into an accumulation pocket while at the same time an accumulator arm is withdrawn from the accumulation pocket and then moved behind or brought around the bundle of accumulated trees to add the newly cut tree to the bundle. See, for example, the prior art felling head 10 which is illustrated in FIGS. 1-4. Here, an accumulator arm 16, comprising an inner arm 26 pivotally coupled to a frame of the feller 20 at axis 23 and an outer arm 30 pivotally coupled to a distal end of the inner arm 26 at an axis 38, holds cut trees T2-T4 in an accumulation pocket 17. The outer arm 30 is typical of prior art accumulator arms, and has a relatively straight arm configuration for retaining the trees T2-T4 in the pocket 17. Although a straight arm configuration is shown, it is also known in the prior art to provide accumulator arms which curve toward the accumulation pocket 17, so as to interface with the accumulated stems with a concave surface, and present a convex surface to newly cut trees which are being moved into the accumulation pocket.
Referring still to FIGS. 1-4, a cut tree T1, cut by blade 12, is supported on the butt plate 14 and held in place by one or more pivotable harvesting arms 18, which retains the tree T1 against the accumulator arm 16. To add the tree T1 to the existing bundle of trees T2-T4, the hydraulic cylinder 22 is initially activated to enclose the tree T1 between the accumulator arm 16 and the harvesting arm 18 as shown in FIG. 1. To move the tree T1 to the accumulation pocket 17, the hydraulic cylinder 22 is activated to rotate the inner arm 26 outward, as shown in progression in FIGS. 2-4, causing the spring loaded or hydraulically biased outer arm 30 to pivot about the axis 38 (against the bias of the spring or hydraulic cylinder) and to be retracted from the accumulation pocket 17, as seen in FIG. 4. The accumulator arm 16 can then be driven in the opposing direction by the hydraulic cylinder 22 to position the accumulator arm 16 behind the tree T1 to form a bundle of trees T1-T4 in the accumulation pocket 17.
As the arm 16 is driven around the tree T1, the straight arm contacts the tree T1 at a contact point which is offset from a line drawn through the center of the tree, and specifically offset in the direction of the pivot point of the arm. The force applied to the tree by the arm, therefore, has a significant component that tends to drive the tree toward the axis of rotation of the arm, opposite the desired direction that would facilitate withdrawal of the arm part of the tree. Because of this force component, a significant amount of energy is wasted in withdrawing the arm around the tree.
While accumulator arms such as the one shown are generally successful in accumulating trees in an accumulation pocket, as can be seen in FIGS. 1-4, when a new tree is cut and held against the accumulator arm 16, it is difficult for the arm to pull out behind the newly clamped tree T1. Referring particularly to FIGS. 2 and 3, as the outer arm 30 is withdrawn behind the tree, the distance between the edge of outer arm 30 adjacent the tree T1 and the edge of the harvesting arm 18 adjacent T1 decreases as the arm 16 is withdrawn, such that the outer side of the accumulator arm is forced against the cut tree T1 and harvesting arm 18. The arm 16 therefore is pushed against the newly cut tree against the resistive force of the harvesting arm 18, and a significant force and a corresponding expenditure of energy is required to push the harvesting arm 18 over the spring force or hydraulic relief pressure biasing it as the accumulator arm 16 is forced out. This procedure is not only energy intensive, but can also result in damage to the cut tree. Furthermore, when the accumulator arm 16 is configured as shown or with an outer arm curved toward the pocket 17, the outer arm 30 can also become trapped or jammed by a newly cut tree. In this situation, although the inner arm 26 is fully open, the outer arm 30 is unable to withdraw from the bundle. When this occurs, the operator must either try to rearrange the load by jerking the head, or drop the load, both of which are time consuming and hard on the equipment.


A boat seat having particular utility for canoes, the seat having a platform pivotably connected to a brace which has a brace first end region connected to the boat, and a brace second end region supported on or affixed to the shell of the boat. The platform can be maintained in a horizontal position or in an inclined position. For traditional canoes the brace first end region is attached to a thwart of the canoe. For collapsible canoes having a skin supported by a frame having stringers supported by ribs, the seat has a brace support. The brace support and the brace are supported by a base having a cross support and a supplemental cross support which traverse several stringers to distribute loads, and a retaining element which maintains the cross support and the supplemental cross support in a spaced apart relationship. A guiding element is engaged with the base and the frame to allow sliding motion therebetween. Fore and aft straps which connect the base to ribs of the canoe maintain the base in close proximity to the stringers and limit the sliding motion.

Seats for canoes have traditionally spanned the full width of the canoe and have been attached to the gunwales of the canoe. These seats are comfortable for sitting, but result in a relatively high center of gravity, reducing stability. To improve stability and control of the canoe, canoeists frequently kneel. Moving from a sitting position to a kneeling position requires a substantial effort, since the legs must be tucked under the seat. In the kneeling position, the canoeist rests on the edge of the seat and this position can cause discomfort; additionally, having legs under the seat can cause a risk of entrapment if the canoe capsizes.
Pedestal seats, disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,257,590 and 5,320,060, have in part overcome the problem of discomfort in the kneeling position; however, they do not provide for an alternate sitting position. Also, pedestal seats are not well suited for collapsible canoes, since attachment of the seat to the canoe can be difficult and the seat itself is a bulky unit to transport.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,357,894 teaches the use of a seat which provides for adjustment of the longitudinal position of the seat in order to adjust the trim of a canoe, which is helpful in providing greater control of the canoe. The seat of the '894 patent has a saddle for support of the user which is slidably mounted to a brace and can be locked at incremental positions along the brace. The brace is connected at either end to the thwarts of the canoe, and the saddle thus provides only one position for support of the user. This position appears to be a compromise position which allows sitting or kneeling, but which does not appear ideally suited for either, and certainly does not provide for substantially lowering the center of gravity of the user for increased stability. Additionally, because the seat must be connected to the thwarts of the canoe, the device is not well suited to use in a collapsible canoe.


A method and apparatus is provided for measuring underdeposit localized corrosion rate of a metal structure under differential flow conditions encountered in actual cooling water systems. A first electrode defining a slow flow electrode is immersed in an electrolytic liquid. A second electrode defining a fast flow electrode is also immersed in the electrolytic liquid. Different fluid dynamic conditions are created on the slow flow and fast flow electrodes. There are three (3) techniques for obtaining measurement from a differential flow cell so as to determine the underdeposit localized corrosion rate due to differential flow conditions. In one embodiment, the different fluid dynamic conditions are created by rotating the slow flow electrode at a first speed and by rotating the fast flow electrode at a second speed which is higher than the first speed.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to corrosion monitoring and measuring apparatuses and more particularly, it relates to a method and apparatus for monitoring reliably and realistically the localized corrosion rate of metals exposed to an aerated electrolytically conductive liquid environment. In particular, the present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for measuring underdeposit corrosion rate or metal corrosion rate under tubercles in cooling water systems.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As is generally known in industrial and commercial systems having a metal part which comes in contact with an electrolytic fluid, a major problem is localized corrosion, for instance pitting or crevice attack, because such corrosion will occur intensely in one particular location and may cause perforations in the structural member carrying the electrolytic fluid. Obviously, these perforations may cause leaks which require shutting down of the entire industrial system so that repairs can be made. As a result, the useful life of the structural member will be shortened. Pitting/localized corrosion is typically far more of a concern than general corrosion since general corrosion occurs essentially at a constant rate over an entire surface and will not cause a potentially dangerous leak in a short period of time as in the case of localized corrosion.
Therefore, there has arisen a need for corrosion monitoring systems for the purpose of estimating the residual service life of the structural member. Further, in industrial systems for cooling water treatment application there is an urgent demand for monitoring effectively and realistically the performance of a given chemical treatment program for controlling localized corrosion.
There are known in the prior art various corrosion monitoring apparatuses for determining general and/or localized corrosion rates. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,660,249 issued on May 2, 1972, to C. R. Townsend, there is disclosed a method and apparatus for determining both the general or average corrosion rate and the pitting tendency of a metal exposed to an electrolyte which utilizes a corroding electrode, a reference electrode, and an auxiliary electrode. The corroding electrode is made 10 mv positive relative to the reference electrode and is then made 10 mv negative relative thereto. The anodic and cathodic currents which flow through a circuit including the corroding electrode and the auxiliary electrode are then averaged to produce an indication of the general or average corrosion rate. The difference between such anodic and cathodic currents is determined in order to provide the pitting tendency or pitting index of the system.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,878,064 issued on Apr. 15, 1975, to A. Weisstuch and C. E. Schell III, there is disclosed a method and apparatus for measuring pitting corrosion tendencies of metals exposed to an electrolytic liquid which has a Cathode, an Anode, a Reference Electrode, and an Auxiliary Electrode positioned in the electrolytic liquid. The open circuit potential between the Cathode and Reference Electrode is impressed upon a capacitor. By means of a two-position switch, an operational amplifier then causes the potential of the Anode, in a circuit including the Reference Electrode, Auxiliary Electrode (or the electrode previously used as the Cathode) and an Ammeter, to be equal to the open circuit cathode-reference electrode potential. The amplifier provides the necessary current of either polarity so as to achieve this equality. The polarization current flowing through the Ammeter is read and a qualitative indication of the pitting tendency is obtained.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,575,678 issued on Mar. 11, 1986, to K. Hladky teaches a corrosion monitoring apparatus for monitoring the corrosion of a metal part which includes the part defining a first electrode in contact with an electrolyte and a second electrode in contact with the electrolyte but electrically insulated from the first electrode. A high input impedance voltmeter is connected across the first and second electrodes. The low frequency voltage between the electrodes is observed. This voltage is a low frequency noise signal. The amplitude values of the signal are measured and subjected to an averaging computation yielding data indicating the corrosion rate of the first electrode and the nature of the corrosion.
U.S Pat. No. 5,045,775 issued on Sept. 3, 1991, to M. L. White and H. Leidheiser, Jr. teaches a system for monitoring and measuring the corrosion reaction of metals in an environment. The system includes a sample corrosion element of substantially the same material as the structure to be monitored, a galvanic cell for generating an electric signal indicative of the corrosion on the corrosion element, and a monitor for receiving and storing the generated signal. The system is designed to incorporate corrosion products and environmental contaminants in order to simulate actual, localized conditions on a particular area of a civil engineering structure exposed to atmospheric corrosion.
PCT application No. WO 87/07022 filed May 11, 1987, to D. A. Eden et al. describes a method and apparatus for detecting and measuring localized corrosion of a metal surface which includes an array of electrodes fabricated from the same material as the metallic surface and exposed to the same corrosion conditions as the metallic surface. The coupling current between the array of electrodes is measured, and the electrochemical current noise originating in the electrode array is measured. The two measurements are compared to provide an output indicative of the degree to which corrosion is localized. Further, the apparatus also includes means for providing a resistive/impedance noise related output based upon an electrochemical potential noise and the electrochemical current noise. The output indicative of the degree to which corrosion is localized and the resistive/impedance noise output are compared to provide a second output indicative of the rate of localized corrosion.
However, all of the prior art corrosion monitoring systems discussed have their drawbacks and none of them can provide realistic and effective monitoring of localized corrosion. It has been realized by previous experience that it is of critical importance to have the capability of monitoring both the initialization and the propagation stages of localized corrosion. Further, earlier studies have established that all of the cooling water treatment programs (i.e., stabilized phosphate, zinc containing programs, and alkaline phosphate programs) achieve their corrosion protection function by forming a compact layer of inhibitors on the metal surface in the formation process and thus the protective quality of the film depends on fluid dynamic conditions.
By realizing that the existence of different fluid dynamic conditions is an inherent property of any actual cooling water system, the inventor has developed a method and apparatus for measuring underdeposit localized corrosion rate of carbon steel and cast iron structures under differential flow conditions encountered in actual cooling water systems. This apparatus allows for the capability of evaluating a chemical treatment program against the initialization and the propagation of underdeposit localized corrosion.

Method and apparatus for measuring underdeposit localized corrosion rate or metal corrosion rate under tubercles in cooling water systems


An automatic panel cutting and edge seaming system includes a series of side edge cutting and seaming assemblies that receive a fabric material and trim and sew seams along the side edges of the fabric material to form a desired width panel. Puller rolls pull the material through the side edge cutting and seaming assemblies and feed the trimmed and seamed fabric material to a cross-cut sewing assembly. After a sufficient length of fabric material has been fed to form a desired size panel, the cross-cut sewing assembly is engaged to cut and seam the end of the panel.

In the manufacture of textiles, and in particular bedding, the sewing operations traditionally have been extremely labor intensive, manual operations that generally require highly skilled workers for cutting, sewing, finishing and assembling textile articles such as mattresses, foundation sets or other, similar articles. The more labor intensive the sewing operation and the greater the skill required of the operator(s) to cut, finish and assemble the components thereof, the greater the cost and the slower the production of such articles. For example, in the manufacture of mattresses, and especially in forming pillow-top or Euro-top type mattresses, a top panel that generally includes multiple fabric and/or cushion/foam layers, generally is cut to a desired size or length, such as for a king, queen, twin or other size mattress, and then is generally sewn to a flanging material. The panel then is applied over a spring set for the mattress, with the flanging material being pulled down over the side edge of the spring set and hog-ringed or stapled to a spring to secure the top panel of the mattress thereto. Thereafter, a border typically is attached about the sides of the mattress, covering the flanging material and springs, and a lower panel is attached, after which a tape edge is applied along the edges or seams between the top and bottom panels and the border.
Currently, there exist automatic systems that enable workers to measure, cut and sew borders, attachment gussets and other parts of a mattress or foundation. The drawback of such automated equipment, however, is that it typically has been limited in the type and number of sewing operations that can be performed. In addition, many operations in a bedding plant are often separated or spread apart so that the components typically are formed, cut and then compiled or transported to the next station for further processing or for storage until they can be finished and/or attached to other bedding components as needed. Such separation of the sewing or finishing stations is often due to the limited amount of space in the plant and ultimately leads to manufacturing inefficiencies.
Accordingly, it can be seen that a need exists for a system for finishing panels such as for mattresses, foundations, etc., that addresses the foregoing and other related and unrelated problems in the art.

Automatic panel cutting and seaming system


A conduit with a terminal end, wherein proximate to the terminal end is an orifice plate, wherein the orifice plate has at least one orifice with at least one perimeter, and the at least one perimeter is in a fractal pattern, wherein the conduit can be a nozzle assembly for a flow, wherein examples of a nozzle assembly include a fuel injector, a shower head, a faucet head, and a nozzle head, wherein proximate to the terminal end of each nozzle is the orifice plate with a fractal pattern that provides a downstream spray pattern.

Fluid atomization is a key component of many industrial processes. In order to atomize fluid flowing through a pipe one may utilize what is commonly referred to as the Venturi effect, that is, the reduction in fluid pressure that results when a fluid flows through a constricted section of pipe. A common and cost effective device used to create this effect is the orifice plate. A standard single hole orifice causes a pressure drop across the orifice thereby inducing the Venturi effect which then my be used to atomize the fluid. In practice, the degree of atomization is dictated by the magnitude of the pressure drop. A larger pressure drop gives better atomization. Recent studies have indicated that new orifice geometries may be more effective in producing larger pressure changes. Fractal geometries have been studied under steady-state flow conditions but not in an orifice at the terminal end of a pipe.
The standard singular circular orifice has been in place for over a hundred years. This invention introduces a complete geometric shift in orifice design. Here we propose a new design using a self-similar multi-scale pattern of multiple orifice holes. The benefits here are two-fold: The self-similar structure of multiple holes increases the perimeter to area ratio of the effective orifice. This in turn, increases the cross-sectional area of what is referred to as the boundary layer (a phenomenon that exists in any confined viscous fluid flow) which decreases the effective area of the orifice while maintaining the same mean flow velocity. Thus a larger pressure drop is achieved for the same orifice area. On the other hand, the multi-scale design of the orifice will induce a multi-scale turbulent structure in the fluid flow. The increase in turbulent intensity further lowers the downstream pressure which produces a larger pressure differential. Hence, there are two independent physical mechanisms leading to increased pressure drop and thus better atomization.
Orifice plates having a fractal pattern have been used for metering fluid flow. The orifice plates have been used to decrease the turbulence after the orifice plate, as well as provide decreased pressure drop across the orifice plate using a fractal pattern, when compared to a pinhole orifice. There is no suggestion in any of the above-cited references that such metering plates would provide improved atomization of fluid when used at high pressure-drop conditions at the terminus of a conduit.


A surface acoustic wave apparatus includes a first filter and a second filter, which are integrated into one package, and, filter signal terminals of the first and second filters are connected to package signal terminals of the package through different paths which are insulated from each other. A signal line extended from filter signal terminals is connected to one common terminal outside the package. The signal line and the common terminal define a coupling section. An inductance device is connected in parallel to the coupling section as a matching circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to surface acoustic wave apparatuses and communication apparatuses, and more particularly, to a surface acoustic wave apparatus for use in, for example, a surface acoustic wave multiplexer and a communication apparatus including such a surface acoustic wave apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Surface acoustic wave apparatuses are provided with a surface acoustic wave device which utilizes a surface acoustic wave propagating along a surface of a piezoelectric member, and are used for delay lines, filters, resonators, and other apparatuses. Since surface acoustic waves have shorter wavelengths than electromagnetic waves, it is easy to reduce the size of surface acoustic wave apparatuses. Therefore, surface acoustic wave apparatuses are used for filters provided in high-frequency circuits, for example, in portable telephones.
Recently, mobile-communication units such as portable telephones have been required to be made more compact and to have a lower profile. Therefore, surface acoustic wave apparatuses must also be made more compact and to have a lower profile. In portable telephones, to perform transmission and receiving at different frequency bands with the use of one antenna, surface acoustic wave apparatuses have been increasingly used as multiplexers (branch filters).
An example of a surface acoustic wave apparatus used for a surface acoustic wave multiplexer is disclosed in (i) Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 05-167388. In this technology, as shown in FIG. 17, a plurality of surface acoustic wave resonators (hereinafter referred to simply as resonators) is provided to define ladder-type surface acoustic wave filters (hereinafter referred to as filters) and two of such filters are connected in parallel to define a multiplexer.
More specifically, in the multiplexer, ladder-type filters Fi and Fii each formed by alternately connecting series resonators S and a parallel resonator P are provided, and the filters are connected in parallel at a common terminal To. The filter Fii has higher pass-band frequencies than the filter Fi. If the multiplexer is used for a communication apparatus, the filter Fii is used as a receiving filter and the filter Fi is used as a transmission filter.
When two surface acoustic wave filters define a multiplexer as described above, the following filter characteristic (impedance characteristic) is required for the filter Fi. The filter Fi must have an impedance that is close to that of the entire circuit in the pass band and a much higher impedance than that of the entire circuit in a blocking band, which is the pass band of the filter Fii. Since it is not easy for conventional transversal surface acoustic wave filters to have such a filter characteristic, the circuit structure of the entire multiplexer is complicated.
In contrast, in the device disclosed in the above-described publication (i), since resonators Si and Sii that are disposed closest to the common terminal are series resonators connected in series, the series resonators are used to match the impedance characteristics of the filters and also for phase adjustment in the entire multiplexer. Therefore, the impedance is much higher than the circuit impedance in the blocking bands, other than the pass band, to achieve the required impedance characteristic.
In the multiplexer having the above-described structure, in the pass band of one filter, the other filter functions as a capacitive device connected in parallel. When an inductance device L having an inductance to cancel the capacitance of the capacitive device (the other filter) is connected in parallel close to the common terminal To, as shown in FIG. 17, the capacitive-device function of the other filter is canceled and matching is provided, for example, at 50Ω.
An example of a filter defining a parallel capacitive device, as described above, used for a multi-terminal-pair surface acoustic wave filter is disclosed in (ii) Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 10-313229. In this filter, an inductance device is connected in parallel close to a common terminal for matching. In addition, the surface acoustic wave filter is designed so as to be parallel-resonant with the parallel inductance device. Only a single inductance device is provided as a matching circuit to prevent an effect of the other filter.
In the above-described conventional devices, the above-described matching is obtained theoretically. When such a surface acoustic wave multiplexer is integrated into one package for compactness and mounted as a device, however, matching cannot be sufficiently made due to a series parasitic component.
Specifically, when a multiplexer having the above-described structure is integrated into one package and mounted, as shown in FIG. 18, a series parasitic impedance component Z0 caused by striplines connected to the filters Fi and Fii is formed between the signal terminals of the filters Fi and Fii and a matching circuit (parallel inductance device L) at the common-terminal side. If such a parasitic component is included, the impedance of the multiplexer is shifted toward a lower-impedance side. Matching cannot be achieved with only the inductance device L being provided.
More specifically, it is assumed that matching is made at 50Ω in the pass band fi of the filter Fi without additionally providing the filter Fii or the matching circuit. Since the filter Fii functions as a capacitive device in its pass band fii, the impedance characteristic of the filters Fi and Fii, viewed from a connection point P0 where the filters are connected, is obtained by the filter Fi having a matching of 50Ω and a parallel capacitor.
In an admittance chart, the admittance of the filter Fi is changed from a point A to a point B, as shown in FIG. 19. In the admittance chart, since an upper semi-circle indicates an inductive admittance, and a lower semicircle indicates a capacitive admittance, the admittance of the filter Fi is capacitive on an equal-conductance circle.
Therefore, if the above-described series parasitic impedance component Z0 is not present between the connection point P0 and the inductance device L, matching could be made at 50Ω in the filter Fi by providing the inductance device L only. As a result, in the admittance chart shown in FIG. 19, the admittance of the filter Fi is changed from the point B to the point A by setting the inductance of the inductance device L to an appropriate value.
Actually, the above-described series parasitic impedance component Z0 is present between the filter Fi and the inductance device L, as shown in FIG. 18. Therefore, the phase is shifted toward a lower impedance side. In the admittance chart shown in FIG. 19, the admittance of the filter Fi is changed from the point B to a point C on an equal-susceptance circle D. Consequently, matching cannot be achieved at 50Ω by providing only the inductance device L. The admittance of the filter Fi can be changed only on the equal-susceptance circle D.
To solve the foregoing problem caused by the parasitic component, it is necessary to provide, in addition to the parallel inductance device L, another matching device, such as a series capacitive device or a series stripline, as a matching circuit. As a result, the number of matching devices is increased, and the size of the multiplexer is increased.

Surface acoustic wave apparatus and communication apparatus


A system includes a first DC rail configured to be coupled to a first terminal of a first energy storage device (e.g., a battery), a second DC rail configured to be coupled to a first terminal of a second energy storage device (e.g., an ultracapacitor), and a plurality of converter legs coupled between the first and second DC rails and including at least one first converter leg configured to be coupled to a second terminal of the first energy storage device and at least one second converter leg configured to be coupled to second terminal of the second energy storage device. The system further includes a switch configured to couple and decouple the second terminals of the first and second energy storage devices. The at least one first converter leg and the at least one second converter leg provide different current capacities to deal with differences in power density of the energy storage devices.

The inventive subject matter relates to power converter devices and methods of operating the same and, more particularly, to converter devices for use with energy storage devices, such as batteries and capacitors.
Electro-mechanical and electronic systems are commonly powered by energy storage devices, such as a batteries and capacitors. Such energy storage devices may have different performance characteristics. For example, high energy density storage devices such as batteries may provide relatively high storage capacity and desirable output voltage characteristics, but may be undesirably limited in the rate at which they can be charged and discharged. High power density storage devices such as ultracapacitors may be capable of relatively high charge and discharge rates, but may have limited capacity and undesirable voltage characteristics.

Hybrid energy storage system and methods


The invention provides a monoclonal antibody, a fragment thereof, or a molecular complex thereof that binds to an extracellular domain of an EphA2 receptor molecule, wherein binding of the monoclonal antibody or fragment thereof to the EphA2 receptor molecule present in the membrane of a cancer cell favorably alters activity of the EphA2 receptor molecule. The invention further relates to methods of making and using the monoclonal antibodies, fragments, and molecular complexes regarding the same. The monoclonal antibodies of the present invention target the extracellular domain of EphA2 and operate to redirect the function of EphA2 to selectively block the growth and invasiveness of metastatic cells. The invention thus makes possible therapeutic strategies that optimally target metastatic cells while preventing collateral damage to normal tissues.

Metastasis is the leading cause of cancer death. Once cancer has spread to and beyond regional lymph nodes, complete eradication of the tumor by surgical intervention is nearly impossible (S. A. Rosenberg, Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology, V. T Devita, S. Hellman and S. A. Rosenberg, Eds. (Lippincott-Raven, Philadelphia, 1997), p. 295). Instead, the whole body must be treated with radiation or chemotherapy, which are notoriously toxic to normal cells and tissues (V. T. Devita, Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology, V. T. Devita, S. Hellman and S. A. Rosenberg, Eds. (Lippincott-Raven, Philadelphia, 1997), p. 333). These facts underscore the need to identify the fundamental causes of metastasis and to translate this information into more effective and less toxic therapies. In spite of recent advances in studies of the basic mechanisms of metastasis, relatively little of this progress has translated into therapeutic approaches that minimize damage to normal tissues.
Metastasis
Recent investigation reveals that micrometastatic tumors can disseminate throughout the body long before cancer is first detected (D. E. Henson, et al, Current Opinion in Oncology 11:419, 1999) (I. J. Fidler, Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology, V. T. Devita, S. Hellman and S. A. Rosenberg, Eds. (Lippincott-Raven, Philadelphia, 1997), p. 135). This fact underscores the need to identify the causes of micrometastasis, with the ultimate goal of translating this information into new therapies. Growth and survival of benign and metastatic cells are differentially regulated by extracellular matrix (ECM) adhesion (J. A. Lawrence, et al., World Journal of Urology 14:124, 1996). Specifically, the growth and survival of benign epithelial cells requires cell attachment the basal laming. At the biochemical level, ECM anchorage generates signals that are necessary for growth and survival (E. Ruoslahti, Advances in Cancer Research 76:1, 1999). Consequently, the growth and survival of benign cells are compromised when they detach from the basement membrane or are transplanted into a foreign microenvironment (S. M. Frisch, et al., Current Opinion in Cell Biology 9:701, 1997). In contrast, metastatic cells grow and survive independent of changes in the local microenvironment (J. A. Lawrence et al., 1996). Unfortunately, most studies of metastatic cell growth and survival rely upon monolayer cell culture and thus fail to exploit important differences between normal and metastatic cells. Indeed, increasing evidence reveals that monolayer culture does not reliably model tumor cell behavior in vivo (J. A. Lawrence et al., World Journal of Urology 14:124 (1996) (V. M. Weaver, et al., Semin Cancer Biol 6:175, 1995).
Cancer Cell Signaling
Cancer is a disease of aberrant signal transduction. Aberrant cell signaling overrides anchorage-dependent constraints on cell growth and survival (J. S. Rhim, et al., Critical Reviews in Oncogenesis 8:305, 1997; R. Patarca, Critical Reviews in Oncogenesis 7:343, 1996; R. K. Malik, et al., Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 1287:73, 1996); (W. G. Cance, et al., Breast Cancer Res Treat 35:105, 1995). Tyrosine kinase activity is induced by ECM anchorage and indeed, the expression or function of tyrosine kinases is usually increased in malignant cells (J. S. Rhim, et al., Critical Reviews in Oncogenesis 8:305, 1997; W. G. Cance, et al., Breast Cancer Res Treat 35:105, 1995; T. Hunter; Cell 88:333, 1997). Based on evidence that tyrosine kinase activity is necessary for malignant cell growth, tyrosine kinase have been targeted with new therapeutics (A. Levitzki, et al., Science 267:1782, 1995; B. S. Kondapaka, et al., Molecular & Cellular Endocrinology 117:53, 1996; D. W. Fry, et al., Current Opinion in Biotechnology 6: 662, 1995). Unfortunately, obstacles associated with specific targeting to tumor cells often limits the application of these drugs. In particular, tyrosine kinase activity is often vital for the function and survival of benign tissues (A. Levitzki, et al., Science 267:1782, 1995). To minimize collateral toxicity, it is critical to identify and then target tyrosine kinases that are selectively overexpressed in tumor cells.
New technologies to identify tyrosine kinases that are overexpressed or functionally altered in metastatic carcinoma cells are available (M. S. Kinch, et al., Hybridoma 17:227, 1998). Strategies were used to generate monoclonal antibodies against tyrosine kinases and their substrates in avian fibroblasts (S. B. Kanner, et al., Proc Nad Acad Sci USA 87:3328, 1990; J. R. J. Glenney, et al., J Cell Biol 108:2401, 1989). A small number of antigens were identified in these earlier studies. RIMMS immunization strategy was used to increase the breadth and sensitivity of monoclonal antibody production to generate monoclonal antibodies against tyrosine kinases in human breast carcinoma cells (Kinch et al., 1997, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for the RIMMS method). RIMMS involves repetitive immunizations with low-dose antigen into multiple sites, all of which are proximal to draining lymph nodes. An abbreviated course of immunization promoted affinity maturation while minimizing immunodominance. RIMMS allowed us to isolate numerous monoclonal antibodies that recognize tyrosine kinases and their substrates in metastatic cells. The antibodies were screened for antigens that were differentially expressed in non-transformed versus metastatic epithelial cells. Two antibodies, D7 and B2D6, were identified that recognized an antigen that was grossly overexpressed and functionally altered on breast and prostate cancer cells (N. D. Zantek, et al, Cell Growth & Differentiation 10:629, 1999; J. Walker-Daniels, et al, Prostate 41: 275, 1999). The antigen was identified with a phage-expression library as the EphA2 tyrosine kinase.
EphA2
EphA2 is a 130 kDa receptor tyrosine kinase that is expressed in adult epithelia, where it is found at low levels and is enriched within sites of cell-cell adhesion (N. D. Zantek, et al, Cell Growth & Differentiation 10:629, 1999; R. A. Lindberg, et al., Molecular & Cellular Biology 10: 6316, 1990). This subcellular localization is important because EphA2 binds ligands (known as Ephrins A1 to A5) that are anchored to the cell membrane (J. G. Eph Nomenclature Committee (Flanagan, N. W. et al., Cell 90, 403 (1997; N. W. Gale, et al., Cell & Tissue Research 290: 227, 1997). The Ephrin ligands, in turn, can bind any of 8 different EphA family kinases. The primary consequence of ligand binding is EphA2 autophosphorylation (R. A. Lindberg, et al., 1990). However, unlike other receptor tyrosine kinases, EphA2 retains enzymatic activity in the absence of ligand binding or phosphotyrosine content (N. D. Zantek, et al, 1999). Consequently, we define ligand-mediated "activation" as increased EphA2 phosphotyrosine content (N. D. Zantek, et al., 1999). Because most Eph kinase family members are expressed in the embryonic nervous system (E. B. Pasquale, Current Opinion in Cell Biology 9:608, 1997), investigators studying Eph kinases have largely overlooked EphA2, which is primarily on adult epithelial cells (R. A. Lindberg, et al., 1990). Studies of EphA2 have been further limited by a lack of reagents and model systems.

EphA2 monoclonal antibodies and methods of making and using same


Anti-pinch point device for imaging platforms are disclosed. The stationary imaging platform includes a slidable cradle and fixed shroud adjacent both sides of the slidable cradle. An inventive overlay is configured for mounting on a slidable cradle. The inventive overlay moves with the slidable cradle. Elongated perimeter regions of the inventive overlay have elongated ridges formed on the underside thereof adjacent the outer edges of the elongated perimeter regions. The elongated ridges serve to prevent objects from becoming pinched between the inventive overlay and the fixed shroud.

FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional computer tomography ("CT") scanner 100. CT scanner 100 includes an x-ray source mounted on a movable ring, gantry 22. Gantry 22 includes an array of x-ray detectors mounted opposite the x-ray source. A patient lies on a cradle 30 that moves through gantry 22. Cradle 30 is supported by stationary imaging platform 40. Gantry 22 is rotated so that the x-ray source and detectors revolve around the patient, while the patient is moving through gantry 22 on cradle 30. Each rotation of gantry 22 generates a two-dimensional x-ray slice of the patient. As the patient moves through gantry 22 the x-ray slice images are stored. The x-ray slices are combined together to form three-dimensional images of the patient and/or a particular organ of the patient.
The top surface of cradle 30 has a semi-tubular shape. In some situations, it is desirable to have a patient lying on a flat surface rather than a semi-tubular surface. FIG. 2 illustrates an overlay 50 designed to lay on a cradle 30. Overlay 50 has a flat upper surface and thus provides a flat upper surface for a patient to lie on. Overlay 50 moves with cradle 30 as cradle 30 moves in and out of gantry 22. Often, stationary imaging platform 40 will include a fixed shroud 45. A problem arises when overlay 50 is placed on cradle 30, a pinch point is formed between overlay 50 and fixed shroud 45. It is possible that a patient's fingers could get caught between the underside of the overlay 50 and fixed shroud 45 as overlay 50 is moving in or out of gantry 22.
FIG. 3 illustrates one approach to solving this problem. Foam strips 60 are placed lengthwise along the underside of overlay 50 adjacent the edges to reduce the space between fixed shroud 45 and overlay 50. The reduction in space is designed to prevent objects from becoming pinched between fixed shroud 45 and overlay 50. One problem with this approach is that foam is not very resilient. The foam can be easily torn, distorted, or lose its adhesion to overlay 50. An additional problem with this approach is that the foam is difficult to clean. Often during a CT scan a variety of fluids may be present. For example, a patient may be receiving intravenous fluids. Or, a patient may be receiving iodine or a radioactive dye to assist with imaging during the CT scan. These fluids could be spilled on overlay 50, and therefore on foam strips 60. Additionally, even if no external fluids are present, an ill patient may vomit or urinate during the CT scan. Foam strips 60 would absorb these fluids. It is difficult to sufficiently sterilize foam strips 60.
What is needed is a different solution to address the pinch point that forms between fixed shroud 45 and overlay 50.

Anti-pinch point devices for imaging platforms


Disclosed herein is a method for manufacturing a semiconductor package. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a method for manufacturing a semiconductor package includes: preparing a rectangular frame having a plurality of quadrangular holes; attaching a plurality of semiconductor chips and the frame on one surface of a tape; forming a molding part on the tape to cover the semiconductor chip and the frame; peeling the tape; forming a resin layer at a portion at which the tape is peeled; and forming a wiring on the resin layer to be connected to the semiconductor chip.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a semiconductor package.
2. Description of the Related Art
To cope with the increase in demand for light, small, high-speed, multi-functional, and high-performance electronic products, a technology of packaging a semiconductor chip has been developed.
Generally, a semiconductor package is manufactured by first cutting a wafer along a scribe line to be separated into individual semiconductor chips and packaging the individual semiconductor chips.
Recently, a method for manufacturing the package by performing a packaging process in the wafer state without first cutting the wafer and then finally cutting the wafer along the scribe line has been proposed.
A wafer level package (WLP) or a semiconductor chip scale package (CSP) has been developed to provide another solution for a directly attached flip chip device.
A wafer level package (WLP) technology is a technology of implementing miniaturization, weight reduction, high performance, and the like.
An embedded type of wafer level package enables a manufacturing of the wafer level package having a fan-out form in which an external connection terminal may be disposed in a package larger than a size of the semiconductor chip.

Method for manufacturing semiconductor package


The invention relates to a method for implementing user-driven adaptation of a ranking of navigation elements of a client application. The navigation elements are provided for use by the client application as part of search results in reply to search queries issued by the client application. A search service executes search queries, a ranking infrastructure provides a ranking model for ranking search results as well as a ranking training component for updating the ranking model. The user-driven adaptation is received from a navigation adaptation component of the client application and used by a ranking adaptation component of the search service for updating the training data. The ranking adaptation component invokes the ranking training component to calculate an updated ranking model using the updated training data.

The present disclosure relates to the field of electronic data processing and, more specifically, to implement a user-driven adaptation of a ranking of navigation elements of a client application.
Client applications, also referred to as search-based applications, may rely on a search service to identify and retrieve information that is required for the functionality of the client application, like content and navigation elements. The client application sends during runtime search queries to the search service and retrieves the information that is required, e.g., for rendering application views from search results of the search queries. The application views present the content and the navigation elements retrieved from the search service to a user of the client application.

User-driven adaptation of rankings of navigation elements

International Business Machines Corporation


A composition for use in a battery electrode including lithium-sulfur particles coated with a transition metal species bonded to a sulfur species. Methods and materials for preparing such a composition. Use of such a compound in a battery.

Sulfur-based cathodes are promising candidates for next-generation, high-energy batteries because of the high specific capacity (1675 mAh/g) and low cost of the active materials. However, lithium-sulfur battery technology faces a number of challenges that currently limits its widespread adoption. Among those challenges is the issue of polysulfide dissolution, which degrades battery performance through the loss of cathode active material and a rapid reduction in energy capacity.
In contrast to traditional lithium-ion based cathode materials, whereby lithium intercalates into a rigid host framework such as a layered oxide material (e.g., LiCoO2), lithium-sulfur based cathodes utilize a conversion mechanism for energy storage. In lithium-sulfur based cathodes a chemical reaction occurs between the lithium migrating from the anode and the sulfur in the cathode. One of the advantages of conversion electrodes is the potential for higher energy density as a result of being able to use most, if not all, of the available oxidation states of the sulfur. Another advantage is the elimination of a host framework that is electrochemically inactive.
There are two different potential initial states for a Li—S battery. In the first, the cathode initially contains Li2S, which corresponds to the discharged state. In the second, the cathode initially contains S, which corresponds to the charged state. Manufacturing a battery with its cathode initially in the discharged state has distinct advantages over manufacturing one in which the cathode begins in the charged state. In particular, one advantage is the lower cost of the cathode materials. Li2S is less expensive than pure Li and pure S. Another advantage is the use of superior anode materials such as high-capacity silicon anodes instead of lithium.
Furthermore, beginning with S in the cathode (charged state) typically requires the use of lithium metal anodes. While lithium is a promising anode material, the formation of dendrites on the anode during extended cycling limits the cycle life of the battery and imposes significant safety concerns.
Silicon based anodes can provide an alternative to lithium anodes, but a silicon based anode requires that the source of lithium be contained within the cathode. Present lithium-sulfur cathode materials do not meet this requirement. On the other hand, Li2S based cathodes allow for the use of high-capacity silicon anodes instead of lithium anodes.
Another major challenge for lithium-sulfur batteries is polysulfide dissolution: a process whereby reaction of the lithium with sulfur in the cathode produces a number of different lithium-sulfur compounds, such as Li2S8, Li2S6, Li2S4, Li2S2, Li2S. These reaction products are known as polysulfides and, with the exception of Li2S, are typically soluble in the electrolyte solutions of lithium batteries. The dissolution of polysulfides into the electrolyte solution allows for migration of these species to the anode and subsequent reaction with the anode, which forms a layer of Li2S on the surface and results in an irreversible loss of active sulfur material. This coating limits the usable capacity of the battery and contributes to a rapid capacity fade within the first several cycles. In fact, cycle-life is typically limited to less than 50 cycles for lithium-sulfur based cells.
These and other challenges can be addressed by certain embodiments of the invention described herein

Lithium sulfide cathode material with transition metal coating


Disclosed is an organic light-emitting display device comprising: a pixel region wherein an organic light-emitting device comprised of a first electrode, an organic thin film layer and a second electrode is formed; a first substrate comprising a non-pixel region encompassing the pixel region; a second substrate disposed on the upper of the first substrate to be overlapped with the pixel region and a portion of the non-pixel region; and a plurality of frits provided between the first substrate and the second substrate and formed in parallel at spaced intervals along the peripheral portion of the pixel region, wherein the first substrate is bonded to the second substrate by the plurality of frits. Even in the case that a portion of the frit is delaminated due to a partial defection thereof, its encapsulation state can be maintained as it is by being encapsulated with the frit in a multi structure and even in the case that a substrate with a large diameter is used, the width and height of the frit do not need to increase.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to organic light-emitting display devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to packaging of organic light-emitting display devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, an organic light-emitting display device comprises a substrate comprising a pixel region and a non-pixel region, and a container or a substrate opposed and disposed to the substrate and bonded to the substrate with sealant such as epoxy for encapsulation.
In the pixel region of the substrate a plurality of organic light-emitting devices are formed between a scan line and a data line in the form of a matrix. The organic light-emitting devices comprise an anode electrode and a cathode electrode; and an organic thin film layer comprising a hole transporting layer, an organic light-emitting layer and an electron transporting layer, which are formed between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode.
However, since the organic light-emitting device includes organic material, it may be vulnerable to oxygen and since the cathode electrode is made of metal material, it is easily oxidized by moisture in the air to possibly deteriorate its electrical characteristics and/or light-emitting characteristics. To prevent this, a moisture absorbent material may be mounted on a container manufactured in the form of a can or cup made of metal material or a substrate of glass, plastic, etc., in the form of powder, or coated or adhered thereto in the form of a film, thereby removing moisture that penetrates from the surroundings.
However, the method of mounting the moisture absorbent material in the form of a powder has problems that include such things as manufacturing process complications, material and process cost increases, increased thickness of a display device, and difficulty in applying to a front light-emitting display configuration. Also, the method of coating or adhering the moisture absorbent in the form of a film has problems in that it is limited in its ability to remove moisture and the adhesive force between the sealant and the substrate may become weakened due to possible outgassing during the curing process, lowering the durability and the reliability of the device.
Therefore, in order to solve such problems, there has been proposed a method of encapsulating an organic light-emitting device by forming a sidewall with frit. International Patent Application No. PCT/KR2002/000994 (May 24, 2002) discloses an encapsulation container wherein a side wall is formed with a glass frit and method of manufacturing the same. U.S. Pat. No. 6,998,776 discloses a glass package encapsulated by adhering a first and a second glass plates with a frit and method of manufacturing the same. Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-0084380 (Sep. 6, 2001) discloses a frit frame encapsulation method using laser. Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-0051153 (Jun. 28, 2002) discloses a packaging method of encapsulating and adhering an upper substrate and a lower substrate with a frit layer using laser.
When using a method of encapsulating a light-emitting device with a frit, after bonding a sealing substrate to which a frit is applied to the substrate on which the light-emitting device is formed, the frit is melted and adhered to the substrate by irradiating laser thereon. However, if the laser is not irradiated at a constant power and speed, the frit may be bonded to the substrate in a state where the frit is not completely melted so that the interface adhesive force between the frit and the substrate may be partially weakened. If the frit is delaminated in the defective portion, it may cause an infiltration of oxygen or moisture.
Also, when a substrate with a large diameter is used for manufacturing a large screen, the width and height of the frit may need to be increased. In this case, in order to melt and adhere the frit to the substrate, a laser with a high power may need to be irradiated thereto. However, if the laser power is increased, the frit may be cracked by the high heat, or since high heat is transferred to the light-emitting device in a portion adjacent to the frit, the function of the light-emitting device may be lost or degraded.
The discussion of this section is to provide a general background of organic light-emitting devices and does not constitute an admission of prior art.


A self-threading take-up magazine for a strip material comprises a magazine casing having an interior chamber, a winding core rotatable within the interior chamber to wind the strip material onto the core, and guide means for directing the strip material along the interior chamber towards the winding core to permit the strip material to be threaded to the core. According to the invention, the magazine casing has a web guide portion which is moveably connected to a remaining portion of the magazine casing for opening movement into the interior chamber to extend to the winding core to constitute the guide means and for closing movement out of the interior chamber away from the winding core to make room for the strip material to be wound onto the core.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to the field of magazines or cartridges, and in particular to self-threading take-up magazines for flexible strip materials.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Self-threading take-up magazines for strip materials are generally well known. Typically, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,578,283, issued Dec. 11, 1951, , and U.S. Pat. No. 4,060,210, issued Nov. 29, 1977, a self-threading take-up magazine comprises a magazine casing having an interior chamber, a winding core or hub rotatable within the interior chamber to wind the strip material onto the core, and guide means for directing a leading end of the strip material along the interior chamber to the winding core to permit the strip material to be threaded to the core. The guide means is pivotally mounted within the interior chamber for movement away from the winding core by the increasing diameter of the strip roll as the strip material is wound onto the core.
Problem to be Solved by the Invention
In the prior art magazines such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,578,283 and 4,060,210 the guide means rests against the outermost convolution of the strip roll as the strip material is wound onto the winding core. This disadvantageously may cause the formation of pressure marks along the strip material.
Also, the guide means is an additional part to be pivotally mounted within the interior chamber of the magazine housing.


A respiratory therapy device generates a flow of breathable gas for therapy. The apparatus may include a flow generator in a housing to generate the breathable gas flow. The flow generator may have an operating voltage for such operations. The device may include a battery pack that is engageable with the housing. The battery pack may be configured to power the flow generator and may include a stand-by circuit configured to switch between stand-by and operating modes. The stand-by circuit may be configured to provide a stand-by operations voltage while in the stand-by mode that is less than an operating voltage of the flow generator and may be configured to detect current demand of the flow generator with the stand-by operations voltage while in stand-by mode such as for enabling an increase voltage from the battery pack to produce the operating voltage in the operating mode for the flow generator.

Respiratory devices, such as positive airway pressure (PAP) devices, or ventilators have been implemented to provide various therapies such as the following.
Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy has been used to treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). The hypothesis is that continuous positive airway pressure acts as a pneumatic splint and may prevent upper airway occlusion by pushing the soft palate and tongue forward and away from the posterior oropharyngeal wall. Such positive airway pressure may be automatically adjusted to different levels upon detection of different sleep disordered breathing events. Similarly, pressures may be modified in synchrony with patient respiration, such as by providing higher pressure(s) during inspiration and lower pressure(s) during expiration for patient breathing comfort.
Non-invasive ventilation (NW) provides ventilator support to a patient through the upper airways to assist the patient in taking a full breath and/or maintain adequate oxygen levels in the body by doing some or all of the work of breathing. The ventilator support is provided via a patient interface. NIV has been used to treat CSR, OHS, COPD, MD and Chest Wall disorders.
Invasive ventilation (W) provides ventilatory support to patients that are no longer able to effectively breathe themselves and is provided using a tracheostomy tube.
Ventilators may control the timing and pressure of breaths pumped into the patient and monitor the breaths taken by the patient. The methods of control and monitoring patients typically include volume-cycled and pressure-cycled methods. The volume-cycled methods may include among others, Pressure-Regulated Volume Control (PRVC), Volume Ventilation (VV), and Volume Controlled Continuous Mandatory Ventilation (VC-CMV) techniques. The pressure-cycled methods may involve, among others, Assist Control (AC), Synchronized Intermittent Mandatory Ventilation (SIMV), Controlled Mechanical Ventilation (CMV), Pressure Support Ventilation (PSV), Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), or Positive End Expiratory Pressure (PEEP) techniques.
One example PAP device used for treating sleep disordered breathing is the S9 Sleep Therapy System, manufactured by ResMed. Ventilators such as the ResMed Stellar™ Series of Adult and Paediatric Ventilators may provide support for invasive and non-invasive non-dependent ventilation for a range of patients for treating a number of conditions such as but not limited to NMD, OHS and COPD.
The ResMed Elisée™ 150 ventilator and ResMed VS III™ ventilator may provide support for invasive and non-invasive dependent ventilation suitable for adult or paediatric patients for treating a number of conditions. These ventilators provide volumetric and barometric ventilation modes with a single or double limb circuit.
A typical PAP system may include a PAP Device, such as a ventilator, an air circuit, a humidifier, a patient interface, and data management.
Examples of respiratory apparatuses include ResMed's S9 AutoSet™ PAP device and ResMed's Stellar™ 150 ventilator. PAP devices or ventilators typically comprise a flow generator, such as a motor-driven blower or a compressed gas reservoir, and are configured to supply a flow of air or other breathable gases to the airway of a patient. In some cases, the flow of air or other breathable gases may be supplied to the airway of the patient at positive pressure. The outlet of the PAP device or the ventilator is connected via an air circuit to a patient interface such as those described above.
Respiratory therapy systems (e.g. ventilators or PAP systems) typically include a respiratory therapy device, an inlet filter, a patient interface, an air circuit connecting the respiratory therapy device to the patient interface, various sensors and a microprocessor-based controller. The patient interface may include a mask or a tracheostomy tube as described above. The flow generator may include a servo-controlled motor, volute and an impeller that forms a blower. In some cases a brake for the motor may be implemented to more rapidly reduce the speed of the blower so as to overcome the inertia of the motor and impeller. The braking can permit the blower to more rapidly achieve a lower pressure condition in time for synchronization with expiration despite the inertia. In some cases the respiratory therapy device may also include a valve capable of discharging generated air to atmosphere as a means for altering the pressure delivered to the patient as an alternative to motor speed control. The sensors may measure, amongst other things, any of motor speed, mass flow rate and outlet pressure, such as with a pressure transducer or the like. The apparatus may optionally include a humidifier and/or heater elements in the path of the air delivery circuit. The controller may include data storage capacity with or without integrated data retrieval and display functions.
Respiratory devices, or respiratory therapy devices, such as positive airway pressure (PAP) devices or high airflow treatment devices that generate airflow to be directed at patient upper airways, may continually draw power from a consistent power source during operation. Such consistent power sources typically include mains power, such as is found at alternating current (AC) outlets typically found within residences, businesses, and hospitals. However, there are times when mains power is unavailable. For example, mains power may be unavailable when there is a power failure or when a user of the respiratory device is not near an AC outlet.
It may be desirable to develop respiratory devices, such as any of the therapy devices described herein to have a greater degree of portability.

Power supply for respiratory therapy device


This invention is a constant current, noninverting, voltage amplifier powered by a single polarity of electrical power with respect to a ground potential. In a preferred embodiment, the amplifier consists essentially of a single transistor having a reference voltage applied to a base input thereof and an analog video signal coupled via a resistor to an emitter of the transistor. Also coupled to the emitter is a constant current source, with a collector of the transistor coupled to a monitor.

There are many occasions where it is necessary to regenerate or otherwise restore computer video signals to their transmitted amplitudes. In one such instance, when analog VGA video and keyboard signals are routed between one of a plurality of computers and a single monitor and keyboard by switching equipment, such as the Commander module manufactured by Cybex Corporation of Huntsville, Ala., analog VGA video levels routed thereby may be reduced and high frequency components of the signal attenuated by switching circuitry inside the Commander module.
In another instance, where analog video and other data signals are coupled to or between workstations via relatively long conductors, similar signal losses occur. In order to compensate for these signal losses, it is generally necessary to regenerate voltage amplitude of the video and data signals prior to inputting them to a monitor and other peripheral devices. Typically, such regeneration is done by a pair of transistors coupled in a common emitter configuration, with the first transistor inverting the signal and the second transistor reinverting the signal in order to provide noninverted voltage amplification. While this type of amplifier requires power of a single polarity and ground, DC coupling of the amplifiers is generally difficult to implement and not particularly stable.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a video and data regeneration circuit that is simple in construction and which possesses a voltage gain factor sufficient to boost a weak analog video signal to a conventional, usable amplitude.
Additionally, it is an object of this invention to provide a single transistor, noninverting, constant current voltage amplifier with controlled gain disposed to operate with a single polarity source of DC power with respect to ground and which is configurable to be a high frequency amplifier, a bandpass or tuned amplifier, a broadband amplifier, or a low frequency amplifier, each having a significantly high gain factor in their amplifying regions.