Provided are methods and kits for staining cervical cell sample by contacting the cervical cell sample with a Ficus elastics plant extract, staining the cervical cell sample with New Fuchsin, and staining the cervical cell sample with Light Green or Fast Green. Also provided are method of diagnosing a pre-malignant or a malignant cervical tumor in a subject, by staining the cervical cell sample and identifying at least one cervical cell having a red cytoplasm above a pre-determined threshold, wherein presence of the at least one cervical cell having the red cytoplasm above the pre-determined threshold is indicative of a non- or less-differentiated cell as compared to a normal cervical cell, thereby diagnosing the pre-malignant or a malignant cervical tumor in the subject.

The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to kits and methods of differential staining of cervical cancer cells and/or tissues.
Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women worldwide and is a leading cause of cancer-related death in women in underdeveloped countries. Worldwide, it is estimated that approximately 473,000 cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed each year, with about 253,500 deaths per year.
Routine cervical cancer screening of the population by cervical vaginal smears has significantly decreased the incidence of cervical cancer in Western countries. In the United States, in 1998, about 12,800 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer and about 4,800 died from the disease. The incidence (7 new cases per 100,000 women per year) and mortality in the US are about half those for the rest of the world.
Epidemiological research conducted in 2003 in the central and western regions of China showed that cervical cancer is becoming a major health hazard for women in the countryside, with nearly 100,000 cases of cervical cancer being diagnosed annually, with approximately 20,000 deaths in 2001.
Cervical cancer develops in the lining of the cervix by gradual abnormal changes of cervix cells. Changes include low, intermediate or high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), low or high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL), a condition that precedes cervical cancer, carcinoma in situ or invasive carcinoma. Invasive cervical cancer includes about 80% of squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) and about 20% of adenocarcinomas.
Cervical vaginal smears are scrapings from the female reproductive tract aimed at enabling the diagnosis of numerous types of atypia, some of neoplastic nature, others of pre-malignant nature, or other pathological processes. All types of cellular samples must be transferred to a slide, processed and stained in order to enable visualization by means of light microscopy.
At present, diagnostic cytology is typically based on a rather narrow set of staining methods and compositions such as alcohol-fixed Papanicolaou stain and the air-dried May-Grunwald-Giemsa (a version of which is known as Romanowsky) stain, while staining with hematoxylin and eosin, Shorr's staining for endocrine cytology and the Pappenheim method are more rarely used.
The Papanicolaou staining method was initially developed for analysis of vaginal smears [Papanicolaou and Traut, Am. Y. Obst. Gynecol. (1941) 42:193-206; Papanicolaou "Atlas of Exfoliative Cytology" Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press (1954)] and allows the differentiation of cell types of stratified and simple epithelia present in alcohol-fixed smears, with a detailed morphology of the nucleus and cytoplasm in normal and tumor cells. However, the Papanicolaou staining procedure, as well as all other cytological staining procedures, does not reveal any tinctorial selectivity for malignant cells, and the assessment of pathologically relevant traits is performed by means of interpretation of cellular morphology, which usually requires highly qualified and experienced cytopathologists.
The classical cytological techniques are in many cases supplemented by a group of technologies, which are based on compounds of high affinity and specificity, known as immunohistochemistry, immunocytochemistry or in situ hybridization. These technologies are used for detection of tumor markers of prognostic value (e.g., the p16INK4A and p14ARF markers, p16 protein), as well as the detection of other oncogenic expression features and nucleic acid sequences.
PCT Publication No. WO2007/102146 discloses a method of staining or pre-staining cells using an extract of a Ficus elastica plant, or active ingredients thereof, for the diagnosis of cancer or metabolic diseases.

Kits for and methods of differential staining of cervical cancer cells and/or tissues


A method includes generating a primary beam using light emitted by a light-source. The method includes generating a secondary beam using a portion of the light using a lens of a telescope. The lens includes one or more refraction elements positioned on a first surface of the lens, and the secondary beam is generated by diverting the portion of the light using the one or more refraction elements.

Optical communication systems, such as laser communication systems, may use a directed beam of light to communicate data over great distances (e.g., many miles) through free space (e.g., through the air or space). The beam of light may be generated by a first device (e.g., a first laser communication terminal) and may be received at a second device (e.g., another laser communication terminal) that is located remote of the first device. The first device and the second device may use the beam of light to establish two way communications for transmitting and receiving data. The second device may have difficulty locating the beam of light because the beam of light may have a narrow angular divergence. To increase the second device's ability to detect the beam of light, the first device may generate a beacon beam. Optical energy (i.e., light) for the beacon beam may be produced by: (1) a dedicated beacon optical source (e.g., a beacon beam light source) located adjacent to a main optical energy source (e.g., a laser); or (2) a portion of the optical energy produced by the main optical energy source (e.g., the laser) may be extracted for use in producing the beacon beam. In the second instance, a mechanical mount or bracket may position a lens within the path of the beam of light (e.g., light produced by the main optical energy source) to divert a portion of the beam of light. The mechanical mount or bracket may block a portion of the beam of light from being transmitted from the first device to the second device. The blocked portion of the beam of light reduces intensity of the beam of light.

Method for extracting optical energy from an optical beam


A system, method and apparatus including a logic module, preferably embodied as an electronic card that operates in combination with a PC to correct errors caused by deficiencies existing in logic residing on the PC's motherboard, such as the PC's BIOS. The preferred logic card includes a transceiver module, a memory module (e.g. an EPROM or Masked ROM) containing storage elements and executable code stored as pages. The preferred logic card also includes a page register module in communication with the transceiver and the memory, and a paging mechanism that cooperates with the page register and the transceiver for allowing only a predetermined number of bytes (pages) of executable code to be accessible for operation in the PC's main-memory in order to correct errors caused by deficiencies existing in logic residing on the PC's motherboard.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to IBM-type Personal Computers (PC), and more specifically to a logic module, preferably implemented as firmware, for implementing system changes on PC architecture computers.
2. Description of the Related Art
In 1981, IBM introduced a personal computer, aptly named the IBM Personal Computer or PC. The original IBM PC was built of many off-the-shelf non-proprietary components and was based on an "open" computer architecture. The architecture is described as "open" because IBM published its specifications to encourage other vendors to create software and add-in cards to foster the PC's market popularity. Many manufacturers began marketing personal computers with the open architecture and this became known as IBM PC-clones. Eventually, the combination of the IBM PC itself and the clones became known as simply PCs to distinguish them from Apple Computer Architecture which followed a completely different standard.
PCs made by many manufacturers have enjoyed considerable market success. From the PCs inception until about 1995 approximately 250-300 million IBM PC and PC-clones were manufactured worldwide. Some experts in the field estimate approximately 120-180 million of these PCs and clones are still in service. These pre-1995 (estimated date) PCs share a common problem due to deficiencies in low-level hardware and the PC's operating system. The most common shortcoming is that the program code running on a specialized "Basic Input Output System (BIOS)" chip within the PC that controls the computer's most basic operations fails to enable the system to maintain the correct date following 11:59:59 p.m. Dec. 31, 1999.
The invention described in this specification directly addresses this problem by providing a system and method for fixing system deficiencies, in low-level hardware or with components of the operating system that could also work to specifically address the date and time problem described above.

Logic module for implementing system changes on PC architecture computers


A vehicle has a frame, a motor, two front wheels, a first driveshaft operatively connected to the motor, and a first gear assembly operatively connected to the first driveshaft. The first gear assembly includes a first bevel gear operatively connected to the first driveshaft, a second bevel gear meshed with the first bevel gear, and a third bevel gear meshed with the second bevel gear. Two intermediate wheels are operatively connected to the second bevel gear. A second driveshaft is operatively connected to the third bevel gear. A second gear assembly is operatively connected to the second driveshaft. Two rear wheels are operatively connected to the second gear assembly.

All-terrain vehicles commonly have four wheels and a straddle seat adapted to accommodate a driver of the vehicle. Although the above arrangement is suitable for most recreational uses and some utilitarian uses for all-terrain vehicles, for some utilitarian uses, it could be practical for the vehicle to provide additional traction.
There is therefore a need for an all-terrain vehicle providing additional traction.


An ink cartridge for ink jet printers having an easy ink-complementing function that includes a reservoir for storing ink, an opening plate for controlling the drop-size of ink, an ink reserving elastic member disposed in the reservoir to reserve and feed ink, a cap for capping the reservoir, and a supplemental ink overflow preventing unit placed within the cap. The overflow preventing unit has an injection hole, and makes it possible to identify the supplemental ink overflowing around the injection hole and to automatically inject the overflow ink by self-gravity.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an ink cartridge for ink jet printers. More particularly, the present invention relates to an ink cartridge having an easy ink supplementing function when the supplemental ink is injected into the ink cartridge.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Typically, an ink jet printer is used to print characters or pictures on a plain paper by jetting ink. It uses an ink cartridge to jet ink. Exemplars of the contemporary practice include De Pricjcker et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,017,951, Photographic Processing Application With Replaceable Cassette, May 21, 1991) discussing a photographic image-forming apparatus with replaceable cassette including an exposure station. Inside a developing station, a silver halide developer liquid is applied to the imagewise exposed element. Mielnik et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,275,310, Vented, Non-reusable, Multi-dose Cartridge, Jan. 4, 1994) discusses a vented cartridge including a container having a top surface, a bottom surface, and side surfaces connected together to define a predetermined volume. A vent tube extends from the top surface and is positioned coaxially with the dip tube. An upper valve is positioned at the upper opening for closing the upper opening when the cartridge is oriented with the top surface facing down. A lower valve is positioned at the lower opening for closing the lower opening when the cartridge is oriented with the top surface facing up.
Harrold (U.S. Pat. No. 5,356,037, Lift And Drop Ratchet Stick Dispenser, Oct. 18, 1994) discusses a dispenser for liquids or solids. It includes a main hollow housing with side walls, an open base and an open top. A portion of the housing is tapered downwardly so as to permit upward movement and restrict downward movement of a displacable plate located within the housing. Plumadore (U.S. Pat. No. 4,515,463, Inclined Toner Flow Control System For Developing An Electrostatic Latent Image Upon An Electrophotographic Film, May 7, 1985) discusses a toner control system for liquid toner within a camera and processor apparatus. The film and electrode define a toner flow channel therebetween, whereby the flow of the liquid toner through the channel is able to be controlled and uniformly distributed over the electrode and film. In addition, gravity discharge of the toner from the channel is able to be accomplished without the need for special sealing devices to confine the toner within the toner cell. The controlled flow of the toner within the channel eliminates the need for substantial negative pressure or vacuum suction systems normally employed in conjunction with vertically oriented toner channels. From my study of these exemplars of the contemporary art, I find that there is a need for an improved and effective ink cartridge in which even when ink overflows, the ink does not externally run over but is sent into the ink cartridge.

Ink cartridge for ink jet printer having easy ink supplementing function


An apparatus and process for regenerating a liquid from a spent liquid containing sodium compounds created during kraft processing for pulping wood while simultaneously obtaining energy. Regeneration begins by gasifying said sodium compounds in a gasification reaction chamber at a temperature greater than the melting temperature of the sodium compounds and generating a gasification gas and salt melt. The gasification gas and salt melt are then directly cooled to a temperature greater than the dew point in the quenching chamber by spraying a cooling liquid which, in turn, causes gaseous condensate to form a bath in the quenching chamber which may also include water from kraft processing. The salt melt dissolves in the bath to produce an aqueous solution. This aqueous solution is then cooled and diluted with alkali liquid produced during the kraft process. Then the diluted aqueous solution is subjected to flashing and emerges as a regenerated liquid free of organic components to be used again in the wood pulping process. Simultaneously, the gasification gas from the quenching chamber is indirectly cooled thereby producing energy through at least one of steam and hot water and subsequently desulfurized.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a process for regenerating a liquid from a spent liquid, in particular, black liquor from the kraft process for pulping wood, while simultaneously obtaining energy.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the generally known kraft process, fragmented wood is pulped with a liquid that consists essentially of soda lye, sodium carbonate, sodium sulfide, sodium sulfate and other salts in order to obtain cellulose. The liquid used is enriched with organic components, for example, carbon, oxygen and hydrogen. A liquid known as black liquor is created, the dry material of which consists of approximately 30% to 40% by weight of soda lye and salts and approximately 60% to 70% by weight of organic material.
According to the prior art, the black liquor is evaporated in a boiler apparatus until its dry material or matter is less than or equal to approximately 80% by weight and then burned in a substantially pressure-free environment, so that the organic components can be used for energy and the sulfur containing compounds removed in the most substantially reduced form possible. For this purpose, the lower part of the boiler apparatus, where the salt melt develops, is operated in substoichiometric fashion. The salt melt, which consists of Na.sub.2 CO.sub.3, Na.sub.2 S and Na.sub.2 SO.sub.4, is dissolved with weak wash, a liquid containing NaOH that is created during the kraft process, and is discharged as green liquor.
In the subsequent caustification process, approximately 80% to 85% of the sodium carbonate is converted into calcium hydrogen carbonate and soda lye. After separation of the calcium hydrogen carbonate, a liquid known as white liquor is obtained. This white liquor is essentially an aqueous solution of soda lye, sodium sulfide, sodium carbonate and sodium sulfate which may be reused for wood pulping. The necessary ingredients of the white liquor are soda lye and sodium sulfide.
The method according to the prior art is subject to several disadvantages. One disadvantage associated with such conventional kraft processes is that no reduction occurs during the combustion of black liquor in the upper part of the boiler, which is operated in superstoichiometric fashion. As a result, the flue gas contains SO.sub.2 and Na.sub.2 SO.sub.4 pollutants which must be removed by expensive flue-gas purification measures, for example, flue-gas desulfurization and electric filters, before being emitted into the atmosphere. Furthermore, the salt melt also contains sodium sulfate and sodium thiosulfate, which are not removed in the subsequent processing steps and--since they are not needed during wood pulping--circulate as ballast or material in the kraft process.
Furthermore, during the combustion of black liquor at the usual temperatures of approximately 900.degree. C. to 1000.degree. C., only a negligible share of soda lye is created in the salt melt. However, soda lye is vital for the process of wood pulping. A majority of the required soda lye is obtained during the caustification process that follows combustion, and the rest must be added in the form of additional NaOH.
Another disadvantage of the kraft process in accordance with the prior art technique is that the chemically-bound heat of the black liquor is converted into steam at low boiler efficiency thereby making it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to produce a combustible gas.
World Intellectual Property Organization patent publication 93/02249 describes a process for the pyrolysis and partial combustion of liquids containing sodium compounds. In this process, pyrolysis and partial combustion occur in an uncooled, lined reaction chamber. This process is disadvantageous in that the lining material is damaged by the liquid melt created during the process as well as by the sulfurous crude gas, thereby reducing the serviceable life of the reactor lining. In addition, the subsequent removal of dry slag or cinder entails greater apparatus-related expense for separating the produced gas and salt particles and also raises the risk of caking and incrustation in the gas channel and salt remover.
European patent publication 0 459 962 A1 discloses a process that uses a quenching system for cooling the crude gas, so that the salts can be removed from the reactor as a dissolved solute. This proposed process has the disadvantage that, because of the longer contact time of the salts with the H.sub.2 O, CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 S in the crude gas prior to dissolution in water, chemical reactions result in undesirable carbonate formation. Furthermore, it is possible to obtain soda lye by gasification only to a limited extent, if at all.
Thus, all known processes for the thermal recovery of green liquor from black liquor have the disadvantage that either not enough Na.sub.2 CO.sub.3 is decomposed and not enough NaOH is formed during the thermal treatment, and/or that the formed soda lye reacts during the direct gas cooling with CO.sub.2 and carbonate is again formed. As a result, the required NaOH must either be obtained by caustification of Na.sub.2 CO.sub.3 or added to the kraft process as additional NaOH.

Process for regenerating a liquid created in the kraft process for pulping wood, while simultaneously obtaining high energy efficiency

Noell-KRC Energie und Umwelttechnik Niederlassung Freiberg


An output system includes a network device for performing an output on the basis of output data and an output data managing device for managing the output data, wherein: the network device and the output data managing device are communicably connected and the network device performs the output.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a system, a device, an apparatus, a program, and a method for performing the output of printing, etc. on the basis of output data, and particularly, relates to an output system, a network device, an output data managing device, an output program, an output data managing program, and an output method suitable for the improvement of security and the improvement of a degree of freedom for changing an output destination.
2. Related Art
When printing is performed by a network printer and the host terminal of a user exists in a place separated from the network printer, there is a possibility that the contents of a printed matter are seen by others while the user goes to the place of the network printer. There is a problem when a confidential document not desirous to be seen by others is printed. Therefore, it is desirably required to arrange a security function in the network printer.
For example, a printing system disclosed in JP-A-11-353137 and an image forming apparatus described in JP-A-2002-149385 are formerly known as techniques for improving the security of the network printer.
In the invention described in JP-A-11-353137, when a document is printed from a host terminal, a print command with a password number is first transmitted to the network printer. In the network printer, the received print command is developed to an image of a page in a frame memory, and is then data-compressed and accumulated. The user then actually comes to the arranging place of the network printer and inputs the password number to the network printer. At that time, print processing is started for the first time by using the accumulated compressed data. When the total amount of the compressed data exceeds the capacity of the accumulation in the network printer, the compressed data are deleted from the compressed data of a job previously accumulated.
In the invention described in JP-A-2002-149385, when a print job of a confidential print mode is received and no printable state is attained at present, this print job is transferred to another network printer. In this case, the print job is transferred in a compulsory print mode only in a case in which the network printer of a transfer destination is closely located and it is a state able to be immediately printed out. In contrast to this, when the network printer of the transfer destination is distantly located or no print-out operation can be immediately performed even in a close place, the print job is again transferred by the confidential print mode. Thus, even when a problem such as a paper jam, etc. is generated in the network printer requesting the print, the printed matter can be reliably acquired by another network printer.
However, in the invention described in JP-A-11-353137, when the password number is once inputted to the network printer, the printing is continued until the printing is completed. Therefore, when the situation arises that the user must separate from the place of the network printer on the way to the printing, a problem exists in that there is a possibility that the contents of the printed matter are seen by others.
Further, in the invention described in JP-A-2002-149385, when no printable state is attained at present, the print job is transferred to another network printer. Therefore, it is impossible to cope with a case in which the user must perform the printing by another network printer. Accordingly, in the print processing based on one print job, a problem exists in that the degree of freedom for changing the network printer as a printing destination is low.
Such a problem is not limited to the case for performing the printing by the network printer. For example, such a problem is similarly possible in a case in which a display device of a projector, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), etc. is connected to a network and display is performed by the display device, etc. For example, when the invention described in JP-A-11-353137 is applied to a system for performing display using the above projector and presentation is performed by using the projector and the situation arises that the user must separate from the projector on the way at any cost, etc., there is a fear that the problem that the contents of the presentation are freely seen by others is caused. Further, for example, when the invention described in JP-A-2002-149385 is applied to a system for performing display by using the above LCD and some information is intended to be referred by the LCD, the information is transferred to another LCD only when this LCD cannot be used due to a breakdown, etc. Therefore, when there is a request desirous to merely display the information by another LCD, there is a fear that the problem that this request cannot be satisfied is caused.

Output system, network device, output data managing device, output program and output data managing program, and output method


A novel plug connector is intended to improve the capability of triggering a consumer. The plug connector has a plug which has three contact blades, of which a first contact blade is connected to a first cable connection by means of a first electrical lead element, a second contact blade is connected to a second cable connection by means of a second electrical lead element, and a third contact blade is connected to the second electrical lead element by means of a third electrical lead element and via electric components; one connection cable, leading to the consumer, is soldered to each of the two cable connections. The multi-pole plug connector is especially suitable for electrically connecting an electric controller to an electric motor.

The invention is based on a multi-pole plug connector. A multi-pole plug connector is already known (German Patent DE 42 17 205 C2), in which two spring contacts are connected by soldering them to two separate conductor tracks of a ribbon cable, and a shielding choke is soldered into one of the conductor tracks. Such an embodiment does not allow variable triggering of an electric consumer.

Multi-pole connector having microtemperature fuse and resistor


Compositions comprising lipid carrier-CFTR nucleic acid complexes are disclosed.

Many genetic diseases are caused by the absence or mutation of the appropriate protein, for example as a result of deletions within the corresponding gene. One of the most common fatal genetic diseases in humans is cystic fibrosis (CF). Cystic fibrosis (CF), a spectrum of exocrine tissue dysfunction, which eventually leads to respiratory failure and death results from a mutation of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. The CFTR gene has now been to chromosome 7q31, and cloned. A 3 bp deletion, resulting in the loss of a phenylalanine residue at amino acid position 508, is present in approximately 70% of CF chromosomes, but is not seen on normal chromosomes. The other 30% of CF mutations are heterogeneous and include deletion, missense, and splice-site mutations. Transfection of even a single normal copy of the CFTR gene abolishes the CF secretory defect in CF cell lines, an observation which supports the feasibility of gene therapy for CF. These results demonstrate that expression of a wild-type CFTR transgene can exert a dominant positive effect in CF cells which concurrently express an endogenous mutant CFTR gene. Thus, expression of the wild-type CFTR transgene in the lungs of CF patients can correct the CF phenotype. However, to date, the inability to produce high level expression of transgenes in the lung by either aerosol or intravenous (iv) administration has precluded the use of gene therapy for the treatment of CF. Expression of a wild-type CFTR transgene in cells from CF patients corrects the chloride secretory defect, the primary biochemical lesion of CF. Chloride secretion is normalized in cells of CF patients despite the presence of the mutant CFTR protein, indicating that when wild-type and mutant CFTR proteins are coexpressed in cells, the wild-type CFTR is dominant.
To date, attempts to replace absent or mutated genes in human patients have relied on ex vivo techniques. Ex vivo techniques include, but are not limited to, transformation of cells in vitro with either naked DNA or DNA encapsulated in liposomes, followed by introduction into a suitable host organ ("ex vivo" gene therapy). The criteria for a suitable organ include that the target organ for implantation is the site of the relevant disease, the disease is easily accessible, that it can be manipulated in vitro, that it is susceptible to genetic modification methods and ideally, it should contain either non-replicating cells or cycling stem cells to perpetuate a genetic correction. It also should be possible to reimplant the genetically modified cells into the organism in a functional and stable form. A further requirement for ex vivo gene therapy, if for example a retroviral vector is used, is that the cells be pre-mitotic; post-mitotic cells are refractory to infection with retroviral vectors. There are several drawbacks to ex vivo therapy. For example, if only differentiated, replicating cells are infected, the newly introduced gene function will be lost as those cells mature and die. Ex vivo approaches also can be used to transfect only a limited number of cells and cannot be used to transfect cells which are not first removed from the body. Exemplary of a target organ which meets the criteria of in vivo gene transfer is mammalian bone marrow; mammalian lung is not a good candidate for ex vivo therapy.
Retroviruses, adenoviruses and liposomes have been used in animal model studies in attempts to increase the efficiency of gene transfer. Liposomes have been used effectively to introduce drugs, radiotherapeutic agents, enzymes, uses, transcription factors and other cellular effect into a variety of cultured cell lines and animals. In addition, successful clinical trials examining the effectiveness of liposome-mediated drug delivery have been completed. Several strategies have been devised to increase the effectiveness of liposome-mediated drug delivery by targeting liposomes to specific tissues and specific cell types. However, while the basic methodology for using liposome-mediated vectors is well developed, the technique has not been perfected for liposome-based transfection vectors for in vivo gene therapy. In the studies published to date, injection of the vectors either intravenously, intratracheally or into specific tissues has resulted in low but demonstrable expression, but the expression has generally been limited to one tissue, typically either the tissue that was injected (for example muscle); liver or lung where iv injection has been used; or lung where intratracheal injection has been used, and less than 1% of all cells within these tissues were transfected.
In vivo expression of transgenes has been restricted to injection of transgenes directly into a specific tissue, such as direct intratracheal, intramuscular or intraarterial injection of naked DNA or of DNA-cationic liposome complexes, or to ex vivo transfection of host cells, with subsequent reinfusion. Currently available gene delivery strategies consistently have failed to produce a high level and/or generalized transgene expression in vivo. Expression of introduced genes, either complexed to cationic vectors or packaged in adenoviral vectors has been demonstrated in the lungs of rodents after intratracheal (IT) instillation. However, IT injection is invasive and produces a non-uniform distribution of the instilled material; it also is too invasive to be performed repeatedly in humans. For CF patients wherein the defect is a primary life-threatening defect in the lung, it would be of interest to develop a non-invasive delivery technique which also results in deeper penetration of exogenous nucleic acid constructs into the lung than do other methods, and can be used to deposit the CFTR gene constructs throughout the distal airways, as well as transfecting both airway epithelial cell and airway sub-mucosal cell types. Where other organs in the CF patient are affected due to the presence of mutant CFTR gene, techniques for transformation of a wide variety of tissues would be of interest, in order to alleviate extrapulmonary organ dysfunction in CF patients.
Relevant Literature
EP 91301819.8 (publication number 0 446 017 A1) discloses full length isolated DNAs encoding cystic fibrosis transmembrance conductance regulator (CFTR) protein and a variety of mutants thereof. Transient expression of CFTR in transformed cultured COS-7 cells is also disclosed. Rich et al., Nature (1990) 347:358-363 and Gregory et al., Nature (1990) 347:382-386 disclosed expression of the cystic fibrosis transmembrance conductance regulator in cultured HeLa cells using a vaccinia virus vector. Yoshimura et al. disclose expression of the CFTR gene in mouse lung after intracheal administration of a plasmid containing the gene, either as naked DNA or complexed to lipofectin.
Brigham et al., Am. J. Med. Sci. (1989) 22:278-281, describes the in vivo transfection of murine lungs with the CAT gene using a liposome vehicle. Transfection was accomplished by intravenous, intracheal or intraperitoneal injection. Both intravenous and intratracheal administration resulted in the expression of the CAT gene in the lungs. However, intraperitoneal administration did not. See, also Werthers, Clinical Research (1991) 39:(Abstract).
Canonico et al., Clin. Res. (1991) 39:219A describes the expression of the human .alpha.-1 antitrypsin gene, driven by the CMV promoter, in cultured bovine lung epithelial cells. The gene was added to cells in culture using cationic liposomes. The experimenters also detected the presence of .alpha.-1 antitrypsin in histological sections of the lung of New Zealand white rabbits following the intravenous delivery of gene constructs complexed to liposomes. Yoshimura et al. disclose expression of the human cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator gene in mouse lung after intratracheal plasmid-mediated gene transfer.
Multiple approaches for introducing functional new genetic material into cells, both in vitro and in vivo have been attempted (Friedmann (1989) Science, 244:1275-1280). These approaches include integration of the gene to be expressed into modified retroviruses (Friedmann (1989) supra; Rosenberg (1991) Cancer Research 51(18), suppl.: 5074S-5079S); integration into non-virus vectors (Rosenfeld, et al. (1992) Cell, 68:143-155; Rosenfeld, et al. (1991) Science, 252:431-434); or delivery of a transgene linked to a heterologous promoter-enhancer element via liposomes (Friedmann (1989), supra; Brigham, et al. (1989) Am. J. Med. Sci., 298:278-281; Nabel, et al. (1990) Science, 249:1285-1288; Hazinski, et al. (1991) Am. J. Resp. Cell Molec. Biol., 4:206-209; and Wang and Huang (1987) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (USA), 84:7851-7855); coupled to ligand-specific, cation-based transport systems (Wu and Wu (1988) J. Biol. Chem., 263:14621-14624) or the use of naked DNA expression vectors (Nabel et al. (1990), supra); Wolff et al. (1990) Science, 247:1465-1468). Direct injection of transgenes into tissue produces only localized expression (Rosenfeld (1992) supra); Rosenfeld et al. (1991) supra; Brigham et al. (1989) supra; Nabel (1990) supra; and Hazinski et al. (1991) supra). The Brigham et al. group (Am. J. Med. Sci. (1989) 298:278-281 and Clinical Research (1991) 39 (abstract)) have reported in vivo transfection only of lungs of mice following either intravenous or intratracheal administration of a DNA liposome complex. An example of a review article of human gene therapy procedures is: Anderson, Science (1992) 256:808-813.
PCT/US90/01515 (Felgner et al.) is directed to methods for delivering a gene coding for a pharmaceutical or immunogenic polypeptide to the interior of a cell of a vertebrate in vivo. Expression of the transgenes is limited to the tissue of injection. PCT/US90/05993 (Brigham) is directed to a method for obtaining expression of a transgene in mammalian lung cells following either iv or intratracheal injection of an expression construct. PCT 89/02469 and PCT 90/06997 are directed to ex vivo gene therapy, which is limited to expressing a transgene in cells that can be taken out of the body such as lymphocytes. PCT 89/12109 is likewise directed to ex vivo gene therapy. PCT 90/12878 is directed to an enhancer which provides a high level of expression both in transformed cell lines and in transgenic mice using ex vivo transformation.
Debs et al. disclose pentamidine uptake in the lung by aerosolization and delivery in liposomes. Am Rev Respir Dis (1987) 135: 731-737. For a review of the use of liposomes as carriers for delivery of nucleic acids, see, Hug and Sleight, Biochim. Biophys. Acta. (1991) 1097:1-17; Straubinger et al., in Methods of Enzymology (1983), Vol. 101, pp. 512-527.

Mammalian transformation complex comprising a lipid carrier and DNA encoding CFTR

The Regents of the University of California


The invention provides methods for treating or preventing disorders associated with expression of BAFF comprising BAFF and fragments thereof, antibodies, agonists and antagonists.

The tumor-necrosis factor (TNF)-related cytokines are mediators of host defense and immune regulation. Members of this family exist in membrane-anchored forms, acting locally through cell-to-cell contact, or as secreted proteins capable of diffusing to more distant targets. A parallel family of receptors signals the presence of these molecules leading to the initiation of cell death or cellular proliferation and differentiation in the target tissue. Presently, the TNF family of ligands and receptors has at least 11 recognized receptor-ligand pairs, including: TNF:TNF-R; LT-α:TNF-R; LT-α/β:LT-β-R; FasL:Fas; CD40L:CD40; CD30L:CD30; CD27L:CD27; OX40L:OX40 and 4-1BBL:4-1BB. The DNA sequences encoding these ligands have only about 25% to about 30% identity in even the most related cases, although the amino acid relatedness is about 50%.
The defining feature of this family of cytokine receptors is found in the cysteine rich extracellular domain initially revealed by the molecular cloning of two distinct TNF receptors. This family of genes encodes glycoproteins characteristic of Type I transmembrane proteins with an extracellular ligand binding domain, a single membrane spanning region and a cytoplasmic region involved in activating cellular functions. The cysteine-rich ligand binding region exhibits a tightly knit disulfide linked core domain, which, depending upon the particular family member, is repeated multiple times. Most receptors have four domains, although there may be as few as three, or as many as six.
Proteins in the TNF family of ligands are characterized by a short N-terminal stretch of normally short hydrophilic amino acids, often containing several lysine or arginine residues thought to serve as stop transfer sequences. Next follows a transmembrane region and an extracellular region of variable length, that separates the C-terminal receptor binding domain from the membrane. This region is sometimes referred to as the "stalk". The C-terminal binding region comprises the bulk of the protein, and often, but not always, contains glycosylation sites. These genes lack the classic signal sequences characteristic of type I membrane proteins, type II membrane proteins with the C terminus lying outside the cell, and a short N-terminal domain residing in the cytoplasm. In some cases, e.g., TNF and LT-α, cleavage in the stalk region can occur early during protein processing and the ligand is then found primarily in secreted form. Most ligands, however, exist in a membrane form, mediating localized signaling.
The structure of these ligands has been well-defined by crystallographic analyses of TNF, LT-α, and CD40L. TNF and lymphotoxin-I (LT-I) are both structured into a sandwich of two anti-parallel β-pleated sheets with the "jelly roll" or Greek key topology. The rms deviation between the Cα and β residues is 0.61 C, suggesting a high degree of similarity in their molecular topography. A structural feature emerging from molecular studies of CD40L, TNF and LT-α is the propensity to assemble into oligomeric complexes. Intrinsic to the oligomeric structure is the formation of the receptor binding site at the junction between the neighboring subunits creating a multivalent ligand. The quaternary structures of TNF, CD40L and LT-α have been shown to exist as trimers by analysis of their crystal structures. Many of the amino acids conserved between the different ligands are in stretches of the scaffold β-sheet. It is likely that the basic sandwich structure is preserved in all of these molecules, since portions of these scaffold sequences are conserved across the various family members. The quaternary structure may also be maintained since the subunit conformation is likely to remain similar.
TNF family members can best be described as master switches in the immune system controlling both cell survival and differentiation. Only TNF and LTα are currently recognized as secreted cytokines contrasting with the other predominantly membrane anchored members of the TNF family. While a membrane form of TNF has been well-characterized and is likely to have unique biological roles, secreted TNF functions as a general alarm signaling to cells more distant from the site of the triggering event. Thus TNF secretion can amplify an event leading to the well-described changes in the vasculature lining and the inflammatory state of cells. In contrast, the membrane bound members of the family send signals though the TNF type receptors only to cells in direct contact. For example T cells provide CD40 mediated "help" only to those B cells brought into direct contact via cognate TCR interactions. Similar cell-cell contact limitations on the ability to induce cell death apply to the well-studied Fas system.
It appears that one can segregate the TNF ligands into three groups based on their ability to induce cell death. First, TNF, Fas ligand and TRAIL can efficiently induce cell death in many lines and their receptors mostly likely have good canonical death domains. Presumably the ligand to DR-3 (RAMP/WSL-1) would also all into this category. Next there are those ligands which trigger a weaker death signal limited to few cell types and TWEAK, CD30 ligand and LTa1b2 are examples of this class. How this group can trigger cell death in the absence of a canonical death domain is an interesting question and suggests that a separate weaker death signaling mechanism exists. Lastly, there are those members that cannot efficiently deliver a death signal. Probably all groups can have antiproliferative effects on some cell types consequent to inducing cell differentiation e.g. CD40. Funakoshi et al. (1994).
The TNF family has grown dramatically in recent years to encompass at least 11 different signaling pathways involving regulation of the immune system. The widespread expression patterns of TWEAK and TRAIL indicate that there is still more functional variety to be uncovered in this family. This aspect has been especially highlighted recently in the discovery of two receptors that affect the ability of rous sarcoma and herpes simplex virus to replicate as well as the historical observations that TNF has anti-viral activity and pox viruses encode for decoy TNF receptors. Brojatsch et al. (1996); Montgomery et al. (1996); Smith et al. (1994), 76 Cell 959-962; Vassalli et al. (1992), 10 Immunol. 411-452.
TNF is a mediator of septic shock and cachexia, and is involved in the egulation of hematopoietic cell development. It appears to play a major role as a mediator of inflammation and defense against bacterial, viral and parasitic infections as well as having antitumor activity. TNF is also involved in different autoimmune diseases. TNF may be produced by several types of cells, including macrophages, fibroblasts, T cells and natural killer cells. TNF binds to two different receptors, each acting through specific intracellular signaling molecules, thus resulting in different effects of TNF. TNF can exist either as a membrane bound form or as a soluble secreted cytokine.
LT-I shares many activities with TNF, i.e. binding to the TNF receptors, but unlike TNF, appears to be secreted primarily by activated T cells and some β-lymphoblastoid tumors. The heteromeric complex of LT-α and LT-β is a membrane bound complex which binds to the LT-β receptor. The LT system (LTs and LT-R) appears to be involved in the development of peripheral lymphoid organs since genetic disruption of LT-β leads to disorganization of T and B cells in the spleen and an absence of lymph nodes. The LT-β system is also involved in cell death of some adenocarcinoma cell lines.
Fas-L, another member of the TNF family, is expressed predominantly on activated T cells. It induces the death of cells bearing its receptor, including tumor cells and HIV-infected cells, by a mechanism known as programmed cell death or apoptosis. Furthermore, deficiencies in either Fas or Fas-L may lead to lymphoproliferative disorders, confirming the role of the Fas system in the regulation of immune responses. The Fas system is also involved in liver damage resulting from hepatitis chronic infection and in autoimmunity in HIV-infected patients. The Fas system is also involved in T-cell destruction in HIV patients. TRAIL, another member of this family, also seems to be involved in the death of a wide variety of transformed cell lines of diverse origin.
CD40-L, another member of the TNF family, is expressed on T cells and induces the regulation of CD40-bearing B cells. Furthermore, alterations in the CD40-L-gene result in a disease known as X-linked hyper-IgM syndrome. The CD40 system is also involved in different autoimmune diseases and CD40L is known to have antiviral properties. Although the CD40 system is involved in the rescue of apoptotic B cells, in non-immune cells it induces apoptosis. Many additional lymphocyte members of the TNF family are also involved in costimulation.
Generally, the members of the TNF family have fundamental regulatory roles in controlling the immune system and activating acute host defense systems. Given the current progress in manipulating members of the TNF family for therapeutic benefit, it is likely that members of this family may provide unique means to control disease. Some of the ligands of this family can directly induce the apoptotic death of many transformed cells e.g. LT, TNF, Fas ligand and TRAIL. Nagata (1997) 88 Cell 355-365. Fas and possibly TNF and CD30 receptor activation can induce cell death in nontransformed lymphocytes which may play an immunoregulatory function. Amakawa et al. (1996) 84 Cell 551-562; Nagata (1997) 88 Cell 355-365; Sytwu et al. (1996); Zheng et al. (1995) 377 Nature 348-351. In general, death is triggered following the aggregation of death domains which reside on the cytoplasmic side of the TNF receptors. The death domain orchestrates the assembly of various signal transduction components which result in the activation of the caspase cascade. Nagata (1997) 88 Cell 355-365. Some receptors lack canonical death domains, e.g. LTb receptor and CD30 (Browning et al. (1996); Lee et al. (1996)) yet can induce cell death, albeit more weakly. It is likely that these receptors function primarily to induce cell differentiation and the death is an aberrant consequence in some transformed-cell lines, although this picture is unclear as studies on the CD30 null mouse suggest a death role in negative selection in the thymus. Amakawa et al. (1996) 84 Cell 551-562. Conversely, signaling through other pathways such as CD40 is required to maintain cell survival. Thus, there is a need to identify and characterize additional molecules which are members of the TNF family thereby providing additional means of controlling disease and manipulating the immune system.
Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is a chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by the destruction of exocrine glands such as salivary and lacrimal glands, leading to symptoms of dry mouth (xerostomia) and eyes keratoconjunctivitis sicca). Jonsson et al. (2000) Sjogren's syndrome in Arthritis and allied conditions 1826-1849. SS is regarded as an autoimmune disease characterized by the presence of large mononuclear cell infiltrates in exocrine glands, B cell hyper-reactivity and various serum autoantibodies. Jonsson et al. (2000); Manoussakis et al. (1998) Sjogren's syndrome in The autoimmune diseases. Academic Press, 3814. SS can develop alone or in association with other autoimmune disorders such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Jonnson et al. (2000); Manoussakis et al. (1998).
Abnormal B cell activity is a predominant feature of SS, which is manifested by massive polyclonal B cell activation and elevated secretion of autoantibodies such as rheumatoid factors (RF), anti-Ro (SS-A), anti-La (SS-B) and anti-λ-fodrin autoantibodies. Jonnson et al. (2000); Manoussakis et al. (1998); MacSween et al. (1967) Ann. Rheum. Dis. 26: 402-411; Haneji et al. (1997) Science 276; 604-607. Intense B cell activity such as germinal center reactions occur in exocrine glands of some patients, placing them in a high risk category for the development of lymphomas. Jonsson et al. (2000); Stott et al. (1998) J. Clin. Invest. 102:938-946. However, the role of B cells and autoantibodies in the pathogenesis of SS still remains unclear.

BAFF, inhibitors thereof and their use in the modulation of B-cell response and treatment of autoimmune disorders


Provided are a droplet-discharging head, a droplet-discharging device, and a method for positioning head modules of the droplet-discharging head in which the job of adjusting head module installation positions can be easily performed. In an ink jet head (200) configured by linking multiple head modules (210) together, each head modules (210) is mounted on a base frame (212) supported by a head module support unit provided on the base frame (212). The mounting positions of the head modules (210) in an X-direction mounted on the base frame (212) are individually adjusted by X-directional mounting position adjustment unit. The amounts of displacement of the head modules (210) here are detected by displacement detection unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a droplet-discharging head, an image-forming device, and a method for positioning head modules of the droplet-discharging head. In particular, the present invention relates to a droplet-discharging head configured such that a plurality of head modules is arranged, an image-forming device, and a method for positioning head modules of the droplet-discharging head. The head modules have nozzle surfaces on which a plurality of nozzles is arranged.
2. Description of the Related Art
By discharging minute ink droplets of ink from the nozzles toward a recording medium, an ink jet recording apparatus is known as an image-forming device for forming an image on a recording medium.
The ink jet recording apparatus is roughly classified into a serial type and a line type. In the serial type, an ink jet head (droplet-discharging head) performs recording while reciprocating in a direction orthogonal to a conveying direction of the recording medium. In the line type, a head performs recording in a state where the head is fixed without movement. The ink jet head mounted on the serial-type ink jet recording apparatus is called a serial head, and the ink jet head mounted on the line-type ink jet recording apparatus is called a line head. The serial-type ink jet recording apparatus has an advantage in that it is possible to record an image on a recording medium with a large area by increasing a distance the carriage moves even when a size of the ink jet head is not increased. In contrast, the line-type ink jet recording apparatus is able to record an image on the entire region of the recording medium without shuttling the ink jet head in a main scanning direction, and thus there is an advantage in that it is possible to perform high-speed recording.
However, in the ink jet recording apparatus, a single image is represented by combining dots which are formed using ink discharged from the nozzles. Accordingly, in order to increase image quality, it is necessary to increase the number of pixels per one image by decreasing sizes of the dots. Hence, in the ink jet recording apparatus, by making the nozzles highly dense, it is possible to increase image quality.
However, in a case of the line head, when the number of nozzles increases, a problem arises in that yield may deteriorate or cumulative pitch error may increase. Therefore, JP2012-16904A and JP2005-329595A propose that a long ink jet head is produced by arranging a plurality of short ink jet heads (head modules).
Even when such a head gets out of order, it suffices that only the defective head module is replaced. Hence, there is an advantage in that an economical operation is possible.
However, a problem arises in that the ink jet head, which is configured such that a plurality of head modules is arranged as described above, is unable to record an image with high quality unless each head module is precisely positioned.
JP2012-930A proposes a method of positioning and mounting the head modules by forming pairs of convex portions and concave portions on the head modules and fitting the convex portions and the concave portions of the adjacent head modules to each other.
Further, JP2008-194972A proposes a method of positioning and mounting the head modules by connecting the adjacent head modules through connecting fittings.

Droplet-discharging head, image-forming device, and method for positioning head modules of droplet-discharging head


The present invention includes floating gate transistor structures used in non-volatile memory devices such as flash memory devices. In one embodiment, a system includes a CPU and a memory device including an array having memory cells having columnar structures and a floating gate structure interposed between the structures that is positioned closer to one of the structures. In another embodiment, a memory device includes an array having memory cells having adjacent FETs having source/drain regions and a common floating gate structure that is spaced apart from the source/drain region of one FET by a first distance, and spaced apart from the source/drain region of the opposing FET by a second distance. In still another embodiment, a memory device is formed by positioning columnar structures on a substrate, and interposing a floating gate between the structures that is closer to one of the structures.

Flash memory devices are high density, non-volatile memory devices having low power consumption, fast access times and low cost. Flash memory devices are thus well suited for use in a variety of portable electronic devices that require high density storage but cannot support a disk drive, or other mass storage devices due to high power consumption or the additional weight of such devices. An additional advantage of flash memory is that it offers in-circuit programmability. A flash memory device may thus be reprogrammed under software control while the device resides on a circuit board within an electronic device.
FIG. 1 is a flash memory cell 10 according to the prior art. The flash memory cell 10 has a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) structure that includes a substrate 12, a pair of source/drain regions 14, a floating gate 18 overlying a MOS channel region 16, and a control gate 20 overlying the floating gate 18. An oxide structure 22 separates the floating gate 18 from the channel region 16, and also separates the floating gate 18 from the control gate 20. For the device shown, the substrate 12 is doped with P-type impurities, and the source/drain regions 14 are doped with N-type impurities.
The memory cell 10 may be programmed by applying a sufficiently positive gate voltage VCG and a positive drain voltage VD to the device 10, while maintaining the source voltage VS at a zero, or ground potential. As charge is moved to the floating gate 18 from the source/drain region 14, the device 10 attains a logic state "0". Alternately, if little or no charge is present at the floating gate 18, a logic state corresponding to "1" is stored on the device 10.
To read the state of the device 10, a positive voltage VCG of predetermined magnitude is applied to the control gate 20, while VD is maintained positive. If the voltage applied to the control gate 20 is sufficient to turn the device 10 on, a current flows from one source/drain region 14 to the other source/drain region 14 that may be detected by other external circuits, thus indicating the logic state "1". Correspondingly, if sufficient charge exists at the floating gate 18 to prevent the device 10 from turning on, a logic state of "0" is read. A logic state may be erased from the device 10 by applying a positive source voltage VS to the source/drain region 14 while VCG is maintained at a negative potential. The device 10 attains a logic state "1" following an erase cycle.
Although the foregoing flash memory cell 10 is highly effective to store a logic state in a memory device, it has been observed that the programming efficiency of the memory cell 10 is degraded as the number of accumulated program/erase cycles increases. As a result, the cell 10 may fail after the number of program/erase cycles exceeds a limiting value, which is termed the endurance limit for the cell 10. Although the endurance limit is relatively unimportant in cases where the cell 10 is programmed only once, it may be a critical concern where the device 10 is erased and reprogrammed numerous times. The degradation of the programming efficiency is believed to result from hot electrons that become trapped in the relatively thin oxide layer separating the floating gate 18 from the substrate 12 during a programming cycle, which permanently damages the oxide layer. In addition, extremely high electric field strengths are generated during erase cycles that cause holes having relatively low momentum to become trapped in the oxide layer separating the floating gate 18 and the substrate 12. As the cell 10 is subjected to repeated program/erase cycles, the trapped holes accumulate in the oxide layer and thus cause the electric fields applied during a read cycle to be degraded.
The qualitative effects of degradation of the flash memory cell 10 are shown in FIGS. 2-4. FIG. 2 compares the performance of a non-cycled flash memory cell 10 with the performance of the cell 10 after it has been subjected to a substantial number of erase and programming cycles. As shown in FIG. 2, the source/drain current IDS for the cycled cell 10 is significantly lower that that obtained from a non-cycled cell 10 for a comparable fixed control gate voltage VCG. As a consequence, the determination of a logic state during a read cycle is adversely affected due to the lowered source/drain current in the cycled cell 10. This effect is further shown to FIG. 3, where the source/drain current IDS of the cell 10 is observed to steadily decrease as the number of cycles accumulates on the cell 10. FIG. 3 also shows that the endurance limit for the cell 10 may occur between approximately 105 and 106 cycles.
FIG. 4 shows the variation of a threshold voltage VT for the cell 10 as the number of program/erase cycles is increased. The threshold voltage VT is defined as the minimum required voltage to turn on a cell 10 during a read cycle. In FIG. 4, VT,1 corresponds the threshold value required to turn on the cell 10 when the floating gate of the cell 10 is charged (indicating logic state "0"), while VT,2 corresponds to the threshold value required to turn on the cell 10 when the floating gate 18 is not charged. The difference between the VT,1 and VT,2 values thus defines a threshold voltage "window", as shown in FIG. 4. As the cell 10 is subjected to cycling, the "window" becomes progressively smaller, so that it becomes more difficult to distinguish between the two logic states stored in the cell 10.
One prior art solution to the foregoing endurance limit problem is a flash memory cell having a floating gate asymmetrically positioned towards the source, with the control gate overlying the floating gate and also directly overlying the channel region of the cell, as disclosed in detail in an article by P. Pavan, et al., entitled "Flash Memories-An Overview", IEEE Proceedings, vol. 85, No. 8, pp. 1248-1271, 1997. Since the programming and erase functions occur in the portion of the channel region adjacent to the source, damage to the gate oxide is limited to only a portion of the channel region.
Although the foregoing flash memory cell arrangement achieves some increase in the endurance limit, the damage to the oxide layer underlying the floating gate eventually becomes excessive, so that it is no longer possible to read the logic state stored in the cell.
Another prior art flash memory cell includes a source region that is surrounded by an N− region to further protect the source junction of the cell from the large electric field strengths that arise when the cell is erased. One significant drawback present in this configuration is that the source and drain regions may not be interchanged to extend the endurance of the cell. Further, the asymmetrical arrangement adds to the overall fabrication costs of the flash memory device.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a flash memory device having an enhanced endurance limit.

Apparatus and method for trench transistor memory having different gate dielectric thickness


An inkjet printhead for use in a printer so that it can print onto a substrate at different print resolutions. The inkjet printhead has an array of nozzles, each nozzle having an ejection aperture and a corresponding actuator for ejecting printing fluid through the ejection aperture. A print engine controller sends print data to the array of nozzles in accordance with a designated print job. During use, the print engine controller can selectively reduce the print resolution by apportioning print data for a single nozzle between at least two nozzles of the array. The invention recognizes that some print jobs do not require the printhead's best resolution—a lower resolution is completely adequate for the purposes of the document being printed. This is particularly true if the printhead is capable of very high resolutions, say greater than 1200 dpi. By selecting a lower resolution, the print engine controller (PEC) can treat two or more transversely adjacent (but not necessarily contiguous) nozzles as a single virtual nozzle in a printhead with less nozzles. The print data is then shared between the adjacent nozzles—dots required from the virtual nozzle are printed by each the actual nozzles in turn. This serves to extend the operational life of all the nozzles.

To improve the resolution of printers, there are ongoing efforts to reduce the size of the individual nozzle structures. Smaller nozzles eject smaller ink drops that are closer together because of the reduced nozzle spacing on the printhead. Print resolution commonly measured as dots per inch (dpi), can also be improved by moving the nozzle array over the part of the media substrate several times. However, this comes at a heavy cost to print speed.
There are a great many difficulties associated with the fabrication of nozzles at a micron scale. One of major design concerns is the operational life of the individual nozzle. The microscopic structures in the nozzles are not robust and can fail from burning out (oxidation of metallic components), trapped air bubbles and so on. They are also more susceptible to problems such as clogging from paper dust, ink kogation and other contaminants.
In light of this, the design of inkjet printheads strives to maximize the operational life of the individual nozzles while reducing the nozzle size for greater print resolutions.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Printhead with multiple nozzles sharing single nozzle data


A composite anode for a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), comprising an anode support layer (ASL) of Ni—YSZ and an anode functional layer (AFL) of Ni—GDC, displays enhanced mechanical stability and similar or improved electrical efficiency to that of a Ni—GDC ASL for otherwise identical SOFCs. A SOFC employing the composite anode can be used for power generation at temperatures below 700° C., where the composite anode may include a second AFL of GDC disposed between the Ni—GDC layer and a GDC electrolyte.

Fuel cells combine oxygen and fuel to chemically generate electricity without combustion. Fuel cells are simple devices that contain no moving parts, consisting essentially of four functional elements: cathodes, electrolytes, anodes and interconnects. Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology has the distinct advantage over competing fuel cell technologies (e.g. molten carbonate, polymer electrolyte, phosphoric acid and alkali) because of an ability to use fuels other than hydrogen (such as methane, butane or even gasoline and diesel) and a relative insensitivity to CO that can act as a fuel for these cells, but acts as a poison to other fuel cell types. The general design of a SOFC is two porous electrodes separated by a ceramic electrolyte. The oxygen source, typically air, contacts the cathode, for example a lanthanum manganite doped strontium (LSM) or other conventional cathode material, to form oxygen ions upon reduction by electrons at the cathodes metal/metal oxide/oxygen triple phase boundary. The oxygen ions diffuse through the electrolyte material, which is typically a ceramic material that can function as an excellent conductor of oxygen ions at the temperatures at which the cells is used. The oxygen ions encounter the fuel at the anode forming, water, carbon dioxide (with hydrocarbon fuels), heat, and electrons, which are transported from the anode through interconnects to an external circuit and ultimately back to the cathode.
Although SOFCs are, in concept, simple, the identification of efficient materials for the components and design of effective components remain an enormous challenge. The materials not only require the necessary electrical properties, but must be chemically and structurally stable. State of the art SOFCs operate at temperatures of about 1000° C. to achieve sufficiently high current densities and power. The reactivity of the components, with each other and/or the oxygen and/or the fuel, and the inter-diffusion between components presents a challenge at the high temperatures. The thermal expansion coefficients of the materials must be sufficiently matched to minimize thermal stresses that can lead to cracking and mechanical failure. The air side of the cell must operate in an oxidizing atmosphere and the fuel side must operate in a reducing atmosphere.
One of the more common electrolyte materials for fuel cells is yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) which provides stabilized zirconia in the cubic structure at low temperatures and provides oxygen vacancies. Alternative to YSZ for low temperature cells, below 800° C., are doped cerium oxides and doped bismuth oxides. Although these materials have shown promise, neither is particularly robust mechanically in the reducing atmosphere at the anode. Bismuth oxide-based electrolytes have high oxygen ion conductivities that are sufficient for low temperature operations, but require high PO2 levels for sufficient thermodynamic stability. Low PO2 at the anode promotes bismuth oxide decomposition, which can result in failure of the SOFC. Cerium oxide based electrolytes have the advantage of high ionic conductivity in air and can operate effectively at low temperatures (under 700° C.). However, these electrolytes are susceptible to reduction of Ce+4 to Ce+3 on the anode, leading to electronic conductivity and a leakage current between the anode and cathode.
In addition to the need for a superior electrolyte, improvements to the anode and cathode are desirable. A significant improvement to an anode for SOFCs is disclosed in Wachsman et al. PCT Application Publication No. WO/2010/045329, which is incorporated herein by reference. However, although Wachsman et al. teaches the use of an anode functional layer (AFL) that improves the triple phase boundary between the anode, electrolyte, and fuel, the anode has limits to the range of useful operating conditions due to requirements for mechanical stability. Hence, an anode that permits the improved performance disclosed in Wachsman et al., but with even greater mechanical stability is a desirable goal.

Composite anode for a solid oxide fuel cell with improved mechanical integrity and increased efficiency

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.


This disclosure relates generally to software testing, and more particularly to a system and method for optimizing testing of software production incidents. In one embodiment, the method comprises analyzing an incident ticket using a machine learning algorithm to identify one or more keywords in the incident ticket, and identifying a location of the incident ticket based on the one or more keywords, a test workspace corresponding to the incident ticket based on the location, and a plurality of specific test cases corresponding to the incident ticket based on the test workspace. The identification leads to a first scenario and a second scenario. In the first scenario, the method further comprises initiating a learning process based on intelligence gathered from a manual processing of the incident ticket. In the second scenario, the method further comprises executing the plurality of specific test cases in a test environment.

In the current business environment, need for quality assurance of a software product is paramount to the success of Information Technology (IT) organizations. Quality assurance primarily involves testing of a software product at various stages of the software lifecycle to minimize defects. However, testing is a major factor driving overall cost of the project/program and anything done to reduce the cost of testing directly or indirectly results in cost saving to the project/program. In this context, automation in the area of software testing has grown and a lot of automation techniques are now available to increase efficiency and reduce cost. For example, these techniques include test cases automation to reduce cycle time, process automation to reduce overall schedule, automation of test cases when the requirements are being developed, parallel execution along with development when coding is being done, adding services that control the updating of test cases on change, change management and their impacts on testing and tools to fix them, and so forth. All these techniques involve reducing the time taken to overall testing, thereby reducing cost.
Additionally, the overall quality of any software product is determined based on the total production or post release defects that have leaked into the product. It is preferable to identify and correct defects as soon as possible in a software production so as not to adversely impact the customer experience or the organization's reputation and competitiveness. However, if the total number of production defects is very high, the time taken and cost involved for re-rollout of a product release or for fixing and testing the defects in the release is a challenge as testing imposes a big bottleneck. The main reason for above is time and cost incurred to manually identify right test cases to verify the fix, to manually execute the identified test cases for the given fix, and to manually identify regression test suite to make sure that the fix has not broken any other major functionalities.
A cost analysis shows that when a defect is leaked into production the cost of fixing that defect and testing the solution is the costliest. For example, if a defect that could have been detected in requirement phase is detected post release, then it would cost about 10-100 times more to fix than if the defect had been detected in the requirement phase itself. Further, if a defect is leaked to release after construction, then it would be 25 times costly to fix it. As stated above, this is mostly because of the retesting effort that is needed.
Existing software testing techniques do not completely address the issues stated above particularly with respect to production or post release defects. Existing techniques to test the production defects and/or to arrest production defects in customer environment involve manual processing and operations and are therefore time consuming and cost intensive. Moreover, there is no automated way to connect the various systems so as to optimize fixing and testing of software production defects. All these results in increased business spend for a particular release.

System and method for optimizing testing of software production incidents


A threat management domain controller is responsive to a computer-actionable threat management vector that includes a first computer-readable field that provides identification of at least one system type that is affected by a computer security threat, a second computer-readable field that provides identification of a release level for the system type and a third computer-readable field that provides identification of a set of possible countermeasures for a system type and release level. The threat management domain controller processes a threat management vector that is received for use by a domain of target computer systems, and transmits the threat management vector that has been processed to at least one of the target computer systems in the domain of target computer systems.

Computer systems are widely used for data processing and many other applications. As used herein, a "computer system" encompasses enterprise, application and personal computer systems, pervasive computer systems such as personal digital assistants, and embedded computer systems that are embedded in another device such as a home appliance that has another primary functionality.
As information technology continues to expand at a dramatic pace, computer systems are subject to larger numbers of security threats and vulnerabilities. System administrators may be overburdened with not only gathering and maintaining information on new vulnerabilities and patches, but may also need to wrestle with the task of determining what patches need to be applied and to what systems. A desire for computer systems to be kept current to known and developing security threats may produce a problem of enormous proportions.
Many vendors and independent developers have sough to create and develop ways in which computer system administrators can find out the current vulnerability stats of the their systems. In particular, vendor programs, utilities and locally generated scripts have been provided that can reveal specific information about computer systems. Thus, for example, Microsoft has provided a utility called HFNETCK, created by Shavlik, which scans host systems for missing patches. Moreover, Unix systems have built-in commands that can list operating system and patch level information. Several databases have also been created as repositories of information about computer systems, including IP addresses, operating system vendor version and possibly the latest patches applied.
For example, the Mitre Corporation (Mitre.org) has promulgated Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE), which anecdotally represent vulnerabilities and exposures using a text string with a chronological identification vector and free-form text. An example CVE is "CVE-2001-0507+free form text". Moreover, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has created an ICAT Metabase, which is a searchable index of information on computer vulnerabilities. Using CVE names, the ICAT Metabase vulnerability indexing service provides a short description of each vulnerability, a list of characteristics of each vulnerability (such as associated attack range and damage potential), a list of the vulnerable software names and version numbers, and links to vulnerability advisory and patch information. See icat.nist.gove/icat.cfm. Also, in the fourth quarter of 2002, Mitre launched the Open Vulnerability Assessment Language (OVAL) initiative, to extend the CVE concept to a common way of vulnerability testing.
The Open Web Application Security Project (owasp.org) is an open source community project that is developing software tools and knowledge-based documentation the helps secure Web applications and Web services. The VulnXML project of OWASP aims to develop an open standard data format for describing Web application security vulnerabilities. The project is focused on Web application security vulnerabilities. It focuses on building http transactions such as specific headers and requests. See the VulnXML Proof of Concept Vision Document, Version 1.1, Jul. 18, 2002.
The Patch Authentication and Dissemination Capability (PADC) project, sponsored by the Federal Computer Incident Response Center (FedCIRC), an office of the General Service Administration, first announced in November, 2002, addresses the more general case of application and operating system vulnerabilities. See, padc.fedcirc.gov. Although contracts have been awarded, PADC services is not presently available.
The OASIS Consortium (oasis-open.org) has announced plans to define a standard method of exchanging information concerning security vulnerabilities within Web services and Web applications. See, OASIS Members Collaborate to Address Security Vulnerabilities for Web Services and Web Applications, RSA Security Conference, 14 Apr. 2003.
The Vulnerability Intelligent Profiling Engine (VIPE) is based on technology by B2Biscom (b2biscom.it). VIPE includes two elements, a product and a service. The product is a combination of an inventor and patch management tool, which has as its major part of a central database containing all known vulnerabilities and patches for a large list of products. Another part of the database is populated with inventory information. A set of scripts has been developed. The service analyzes and correlates inventory with an existing vulnerability encyclopedia, and provides a knowledge-based approach for assessing vulnerabilities against specific supported operating systems.
Citadel Hercules Automated Vulnerability Remediation from Citadel Security Software (citadel.com) provides software that integrates with industry-leading vulnerability assessment tools and provides appropriate remedies for five classes of vulnerabilities, and a console where the administrator can review the vulnerabilities implied and apply the remedy to the correct system on a network. See, Citadel Hercules Automated Vulnerability Remediation Product Brochure, Citadel Security Software, Inc., 2003.
Finally, Symantec has an offering that compiles threat management information into a paid service. See, eweekcom/article2/0,4149,1362688,00.asp. DeepSight Alert Services are priced at $5K per year as described in enterprisesecurity.symantec.com/products/products.cfm?ProductID=160. Threat Management Services start at $15K per year, per user as described at enterprisecurity.symantec.com/content/displaypdf.cfm?pdfid=301.
In view of the above, security threat management currently may be a labor-intensive process wherein a computer system's operations staff individually screens security advisories, alerts and Authorized Program Analysis Reports (APARs) to determine their applicability. The operational staff then determines, through research, how to mitigate the threat or apply the remedy using manual techniques.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating conventional security threat management techniques. As shown in FIG. 1, new computer vulnerabilities and hacking tools are discovered by computer security experts 110 in a variety of roles. Similarly, APARs are provided by vendors 120. The computer vulnerabilities, hacking tools and APARs (often referred to as A3 (Advisories, Alerts, APARs) are typically vetted by appropriate security organizations such as Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT/CC), SysAdmin, Audity, Network and/or Security (SANS) institute personnel 130. Threat and vulnerability information is distributed by these organizations primarily via mailing lists 140 that are subscribed to by computer Security Systems Administration (SSA) staffs 150. Diligent SSAs may subscribe to multiple mailing lists 140, thus often receiving duplicate or potentially inconsistent information. SSAs then perform individual research to determine a course of action and how to carry it out. Commonly, they will use Web resources such as Mitre's CVE listing 160 and/or Oval database 170, and/or NIST's ICAT database 180, to manually collect information for countermeasure application. This may be highly inefficient and costly. Even commercially available vulnerability management products and services may not substantially improve efficiency.

Domain controlling systems, methods and computer program products for administration of computer security threat countermeasures to a domain of target computer systems


A modular device for an optical communication module configured to be coupled to an optical transmission medium. The modular device may include a first edge and a second edge and N number of electrical circuit channels between the first and second edges. Each electrical circuit channel may include at least one element configured to provide functionality for communicating optical signals through the optical transmission medium. The modular device may also have a width between the first and second edges so that each of the N number of electrical circuit channels of C number of modular devices aligns with one of P number of interface channels of an opto-electrical interface configured to be coupled to the optical transmission medium when C equals P/N and C is a whole number greater than zero.

Optical communication modules may be used to transmit optical signals over optical fibers. In some applications, optical fibers may be grouped to form optical fiber ribbon cables. Optical fiber ribbon cables may be used to transmit multiple optical signals in parallel. Transmitting multiple optical signals in parallel may increase data transfer rates between systems. Alternately or additionally, transmitting multiple optical signals in parallel may also provide a way for multiple dedicated communication channels to be established between components within the same or different systems.
As data transfer rates increase, dedicated communication channels become more standard, among other things, the number of optical fibers within optical fiber ribbon cables may also increase. Correspondingly, designs for optical communication modules that may be used to transmit and/or receive optical signal on the optical fibers of an optical fiber ribbon cable may change. In particular, a number of ports for an optical communication module that couple to individual optical fibers in optical fiber ribbon cables may also increase. An increase in the number of ports on optical communication modules may lead to multiple different form factors and/or configurations of optical communication modules.

Modular device for an optical communication module


Testing of an integrated circuit (10), configured of a plurality of flip-flops (14.sub.1 -14.sub.n), at least a portion of which are arranged in a scan chain (16.sub.1 -16.sub.k), is carried out by replacing each self-looping, non-scan chain flip-flop (14.sub.6) with an initializable non-scan flip-flop (64). The integrated circuit (10), including each initializable flip-flop (64) therein, is then initialized prior to placing the integrated circuit in a non-operational mode. During the non-operational mode, a first test vector is shifted through the scan chain flip-flops, causing each to shift out a bit previously latched therein. The integrated circuit (10) is then returned to an operational mode, after which time, a second test vector is applied to its inputs, causing a response to appear at its outputs, and also causing a bit to be shifted into each scan chain flip-flop. The response of the integrated circuit is compacted with the bits shifted from the scan chain flip-flops. By repeating this process for a predetermined number of cycles, a very high indication of the faults in the circuit can be had.

Digital integrated circuits are usually comprised of a large number of individual circuit elements which may be combinational in nature, such as a gate, or sequential in nature, such as a flip-flop. The testing of both the combinational and sequential circuit elements in an integrated circuit is performed by generating a pattern of test vectors and successively applying the vectors to the integrated circuit inputs. Depending on the pattern of the test vectors which are applied, the responses of the integrated circuit to the vectors can provide a very accurate indication of the faults that may be present.
Test vector selection, often referred to as test pattern generation, is a straightforward task for combinational circuit elements. However, for sequential circuit elements, test pattern generation is far more complex because of the need to propagate known values from element to element over time. To simplify the task of testing an integrated circuit containing a large number of sequential elements, there has been developed a technique known as "partial-scan testing" which is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,043,986, issued on Aug. 27, 1991, to V. D. Agrawal et al., and assigned to AT&T Bell Laboratories, the present assignee. As disclosed in that patent, partial-scan testing of an integrated circuit is practiced by first isolating a selected set of memory elements (e.g., flip-flops) within the integrated circuit and then coupling such elements in a chain. Each of the memory elements is chosen such that while the integrated circuit is in a test mode, substantially all feedback paths from an output of a chosen memory element to its input are less than a selected cycle length defined by the number of memory elements in the chain.
While in the test mode, test data is scanned into the chain of selected memory elements of the integrated circuit. Once the test data is entered, the integrated circuit is returned to a non-test mode so that the selected memory elements can respond to the previously-received test data in their usual manner. After a certain period of time, the test mode is re-entered, and the response of the selected memory elements is captured for analysis.
The partial-scan technique described in the Agrawal et al. patent can achieve very high fault coverage, even when as few as 10-30% of the memory elements are tested (i.e., scanned) in the manner described. However, partial-scan testing of individual integrated circuits carried by a circuit board is difficult to accomplish at a board level, or at a higher level, such as at a system or field level.
Thus, there is a need for a technique for testing an integrated circuit which allows for high fault coverage and also can be practiced in a built-in self-test mode on a circuit board level and beyond.

Partial-scan built-in self-test technique


A method of a user equipment (UE) for configuring a phase noise reference signal (RS) in an advanced communication system. The method comprises receiving, from a base station (BS), configuration information of the phase noise RS using a radio resource control (RRC) signal and downlink control information (DCI) through a hybrid signaling scheme including information of the phase noise RS; identifying an RS mapping pattern based on the configuration information of the phase noise RS signaled in the RRC and DCI through the hybrid signaling scheme; performing a channel estimation and phase tracking for a downlink channel in a scheduled bandwidth (BW) according to the identified RS mapping pattern; and receiving, from the BS, downlink data over the downlink channel in the scheduled BW.

A reference signal (RS) can be provided for facilitating demodulation on an antenna port. In orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems, the reference signal is mapped onto a NRSREs number of resource elements (REs) in a time-frequency resource unit. RS' s for multiple antenna ports can be orthogonally multiplexed time division multiplexing (TDM), frequency division multiplexing (FDM), code division multiplexing (CDM) or with a combination of a few of these multiplexing methods. When a CDM is applied, different orthogonal cover codes (OCCs) can be assigned for different antenna ports.

Method and apparatus for reference signal signaling for advanced wireless communications


System synchronization is achieved in a system of remote stations serving a particular cell site or base station by combining rf signals transmitted to the base station from the cell site with a reference signal to form a composite signal. This composite signal is used to modulate the output of a base station laser transmitter. The composite signal is transmitted to the remote station where the reference frequency is extracted and used to synchronize the rf circuits of the remote station. Special diagnostic features are built into the remote station transceivers so that equipment functioning may be monitored at the base station.

Increasing the capacity and improving cell radiation in a wireless and/or cellular radiotelephone system has traditionally required a splitting of the cell in which a new pattern of a greater number of smaller cells replaces the previously existing cell pattern. This arrangement requires the creation of many new cell sites which in turn requires the acquisition of real estate to locate the new cell sites and the replication of expensive cell site radio and switching equipment.
The need for new cell sites may be avoided by the use of remote transceiver stations all connected to an existing cell site or base station and distributed through out the existing cell. These remote transceiver stations function as `repeaters` or `radiators` in interconnecting mobile units and the cell sites or base stations. These remote stations handle rf signals sent to and from mobile radiotelephone units which they retransmit for communication with the base stations via fiber optics or other transmission media. In order to optimize the operation of the system it is necessary to provide system synchronization for the multiplicity of rf circuits of the remote stations.

Apparatus and method for synchronizing a plurality of remote transmission and receiving stations and providing automatic gain control of the synchronizing signal


An electronic system includes a controller that actively controls a rate of charging and discharging of an energy storage capacitor to maintain compatibility with a dimmer. The controller actively controls charging of a capacitor circuit in a switching power converter to a first voltage level across the capacitor circuit. The controller further allows the capacitor to discharge to obtain a second voltage level across the capacitor circuit. The second voltage level is sufficient to draw a current through a phase-cut dimmer to prevent the dimmer from prematurely resetting. The first voltage is sufficient to allow the capacitor to discharge to the second voltage level during each cycle of the line voltage.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to the field of electronics, and more specifically to power conversion with controlled capacitance charging that includes a dimmer attach state control.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many electronic systems utilize switching power converters to convert power from one source into power useable by a load. Additionally, many electronic systems also utilize dimmers that cause a controller of the switching power converter to modify output power delivered to the load depending on a dimming level. For example, in a lighting system, dimmers provide an input signal to a lighting system, and the load includes one or more light sources such as one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) or one or more fluorescent light sources. The dimming level from the dimmer causes the lighting system to adjust power delivered to a lamp, and, thus, depending on the dimming level, increase or decrease the brightness of the lamp. Many different types of dimmers exist. Many common analog based dimmers utilize a triode for alternating current ("triac") device to modulate a phase angle of each cycle of an alternating current ("AC") supply voltage. "Modulating the phase angle" of the supply voltage is also commonly referred to as "chopping" or "phase cutting" the supply voltage. Phase cutting the supply voltage causes the voltage supplied to a lighting system to rapidly turn "ON" and "OFF" thereby controlling the average power delivered to the lighting system.
FIG. 1 depicts a lighting system 100 that includes a phase cut dimmer 102. The phase-cut dimmer 102 can be any type of dimmer, such as a leading edge, trailing edge, or center-cut dimmer A triac-based leading edge dimmer is described in the Background section of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/858,164, entitled Dimmer Output Emulation, filed on Aug. 17, 2010, and inventor John L. Melanson. The lighting system 100 receives an AC supply voltage VSUPPLY from voltage supply 104. The supply voltage VSUPPLY, indicated by voltage waveform 202, is, for example, a nominally 60 Hz/120 V line voltage in the United States of America or a nominally 50 Hz/230 V line voltage in Europe. The phase-cut dimmer 102 phase cuts the input voltage VIN to generate the phase-cut input voltage VΦ—IN, and a full-bridge diode rectifier 106 rectifies the phase-cut input voltage VΦ—IN to generate the phase-cut, rectified, line input voltage VΦ—DIM.
The lighting system 100 also includes a controller 112 that generates a control signal CS0 to control the voltage VΦ—DIM into an output voltage VLED by a switching power converter 108. The switching power converter 108 can be any type of switching power converter. Many types of switching power converters exist. In general, switching power converters include a capacitor 114 or multiple additional capacitors (not shown) at the input of the switching power converter, a capacitor 116 within the switching power converter, and/or a capacitor 118 at the output of the switching power converter. For example, a first stage of a two stage switching power converter is typically a boost switching power converter but can also be a buck or transformer coupled stage. The second stage is, for example, a flyback, buck, or other topology, such as a resonant topology. Two stage switching power converters generally include a high frequency, electromagnetic interference capacitor at an input of the switching power converter and a link capacitor after the first stage. The capacitors store energy to smooth out the transfer of power to the load 110, and the amount of smoothing generally depends upon the capacitor size and switching power converter topology. Two stage switching power converters are flexible but generally include more components than single stage switching power converters. Thus, two stage switching power converters are generally more expensive.
A single stage switching power converter converts power directly from the phase-cut, rectified voltage VΦ—DIM into a direct current (DC) voltage for the LED(s) 110. Single stage switching power converters are, for example, flyback, buck, or boost-buck type switching power converters. The single stage switching power converters generally include one large, energy storage capacitor at location 118, and the size of the capacitor generally increases as efficiency of the LED(s) 110 increases due to the dynamic impedance of a high efficiency LED(s) 110. Peak-rectified type switching power converters include a large capacitor at the input of the switching power converter that stores energy for each cycle of the rectified voltage VΦ—DIM. Peak rectified switching power converters are generally relatively inexpensive. However, the power factor of a peak-rectified switching power converter is generally worse than other single stage and two stage switching power converters, and ripple stress on the energy storage capacitor tends to be relatively high. Additionally, compatibility between the switching power converter 108 and/or efficiency is also compromised when using conventional peak-rectified switching power converters.

Power conversion with controlled capacitance charging including attach state control