System, method, and test strip for solid phase, electrochemical, quantitative analysis of analytes contained in biological fluid samples. Preliminary to analysis, a test sample solution can be applied to a sample collection pad associated with the solid phase test environment of the test strip. The test sample solution and a test kit reagent are thereby initially contacted, under assay conditions, within this solid phase test environment, and caused to migrate along a fluid pathway therein. Irrespective of the assay format (competitive assay, sandwich assay, etc.), a test kit reagent (e.g. labeled substance) and the analyte of interest (e.g. proteins, hormones or enzymes, small molecules, polysaccharides, antibodies, nucleic acids, drugs, toxins, viruses or virus particles, portions of a cell wall and other compounds which have specific or characteristic markers that permit their identification), either interact with one another to form a complex, or, alternatively, compete with one another for interaction with another test kit reagent, resulting in the concentration of an indicator substance within a delimited area of the solid phase. Thereafter, the delimited area of the test strip is subjected to electrochemical analysis and the results determined by monitoring an electrochemical transition in the form of an indicator, or derivative of the indicator (e.g. indicator species), by potentiostatic or potentiometric quantitative analysis (e.g. anodic stripping voltammetry). This electrochemical transition of the indicator has a characteristic electrical fingerprint that can be measured and which, when compared to a standard, can be correlated with the concentration of the analyte in the sample. This method is suitable for the determination/monitoring of therapeutic range of drugs (anti-convulsants drugs), determination of critical and potentially dangerous levels of endogenous materials which are indicative of disease states (prostate cancer), and numerous other applications presently requiring elaborate and time-consuming clinical laboratory analysis.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is directed to a system, test method and test strip for electrochemical quantitative analysis of one or more analytes in a test sample. More specifically, this invention is directed to an electrochemical quantitative analysis system for determination of an analyte (e.g. proteins, hormones or enzymes, small molecules, polysaccharides, antibodies, nucleic acids, drugs, toxins, viruses or virus particles, portions of a cell wall and other compounds which have specific or characteristic markers that permit their identification) within a solid phase (e.g. test strip) by measurement of electrochemical changes of label(s) associated with a labeled substance that can be correlated with the concentration of the analyte of interest. The test strip used in this analytical system includes a solid phase affinity chromatographic medium, having an electrochemical detection system associated therewith, within the fluid pathway through said medium. The inventions hereinafter set forth in detail are applicable to quantitative analysis of virtually any analyte, whose concentration can be correlated with an electroactive species of an electroactive substance that is capable of manifesting a change in electrical response within the electrochemical cell-like environment of the test strip of this invention.
2. Description of Prior Art
A. Immunodiagnostics
Immunochemical analysis for an analyte within a solid phase (test strip) generally involves an assay in which an analyte, in a liquid sample, and a labeled substance, interact with each other, or another reaction constituent. Within the context of the prior art, it is understood that a xe2x80x9clabeled substancexe2x80x9d can, thus, include (a) an analyte mimic that is labeled with an indicator, (b) a labeled ligand that is specific for interaction with the analyte of interest, or (c) a complex that is formed by interaction of (a) or (b) and yet another reaction constituent. The liquid containing the labeled substance and the analyte is then transferred to a porous film or membrane, where it is drawn by diffusion or capillary action along a fluid pathway of the membrane, and encounters one or more companion test kit reagents (at least one of which is immobilized within a definitive area thereof). This labeled substance and/or the analyte is thereafter captured by an immobilized companion test kit reagent at a test site to form a complex. If the complex is present in sufficient concentration, it produces a discernible change at such site. Where the indicator is a pigment, such as a metal (e.g. colloidal gold), or alternatively, a colored latex particle, the discernible change is generally visible to the naked eye.
The following patents are regarded as representative of this type of immunochromatographic assay. These patents are arranged in chronological order and no significance is to be attached to their order of discussion as to the patentability of the invention described and claimed herein.
Campbell et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,703,017 (assigned to Becton Dickinson) describes a test method for detection of an analyte with a xe2x80x9cdirectxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cparticulatexe2x80x9d indicator, specifically an indicator that can be visually detected with the naked eye, thus, making such test method acceptable for home diagnostic use; or, alternatively, in a clinical setting devoid of sophisticated analytical equipment. The direct indicator of choice is a liposome containing a pigment or equivalent colorant. The claimed test method is described as suitable for urine analysis of analytes (e.g. pregnancy test); and, thus, capable of detection of an elevated level of analyte. Accordingly, such assay is regarded as a semi-quantitative determination of the analyte of interest. Because the test involves a single step (e.g. application of the sample to the test strip), the test has become characterized in the art as a xe2x80x9cRapidxe2x80x9d test.
Rosenstein, U.S. Pat. No. 5,591,645 (assigned to Becton Dickinson) describes an immunochromatographic test method based upon the principles described in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,703,017 (to Campbell et al). The Rosenstein test device incorporates all of the test kit reagent in the xe2x80x9csame planexe2x80x9d of the test strip and contemplates applying the sample directly to the test strip to reconstitute the reagents contained therein and, thereby effect the desired analysis. The direct indicator of choice can be selected from a number of equivalent colorants, however, colloidal gold adsorbed to a binding protein (e.g. antibody or antigen) is generally preferred. The claimed test method is described as suitable for urine analysis of analytes (e.g. pregnancy test); and, thus, capable of detection of an elevated level of analyte or a semi-quantitative determination of the analyte of interest. Because the test also involves a single step (e.g. application of the sample to the test strip), the test has become characterized in the art as a xe2x80x9cRapidxe2x80x9d test.
Swanson et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,073,484 (assigned to Abbott laboratories) describes an immunochromatographic test method utilizing multiple test zones, with each zone arranged along a common linear fluid pathway. As the test sample and test kit reagents migrate along this fluid pathway, the analyte of interest (generally associated with a direct indicator) becomes bound to an immobilized companion reagent in each of the test zones. Each of the test zones is precalibrated in reference to a standard, and thus the appearance of color in specific test zone correlated with the concentration level of analyte in the sample. Accordingly, the concentration of the analyte in the sample can be estimated from the level of color development along the fluid pathway of the test device. Because the test also involves a single step (e.g. application of the sample to the test strip), the test has become characterized in the art as a xe2x80x9cRapidxe2x80x9d test.
May et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,602,040 (assigned to Unilever Patent Holdings) describes an immunochromatographic test method analogous to the test methods described in the Campbell et al and Rosenstein patents discussed above. One of principles differences identified and claimed by May et al, is the lyophilization of a sugar, along with the direct indicator, in the sample receiving site. The sugar addition is reportedly required to effect reconstitution of the lyophilized indicator and thus permit its interaction with the analyte in the sample.
With the limited exception of the adaptation of the foregoing Rapid Tests to detection of an elevated level of analyte, these Rapid Tests are generally unsuitable for precise quantitative monitoring an analyte level, or for the quantitative detection and differentiation of more than one analyte within a single test environment.
B. Instrumental Analysis
Analysis of fluid samples has also traditionally involved the use of instrumentation and the measurement of changes in electrical potential and/or current at given site/electrode. Typically, the electrical measurement is referenced to a second electrode, and a number of measurements made over a given interval and/or defined range of conditions.
The following patents are regarded as representative of this type of electrochemical analysis. These patents are arranged in chronological order and no significance is to attach to the order of discussion, or to their relative significance to the patentability of the invention described and claimed herein.
Wang U.S. Pat. No. 5,292,423 (assigned to New Mexico State University Technology Transfer Corp.) describes a method and apparatus for trace metal analysis of fluid samples (e.g. drinking water, blood, urine etc.) by means of initial adsorption of the trace metal from a fluid sample onto a screen printed carbon (working) electrode that had been pre-coated with mercury. The Wang test platform also employs at least one additional (reference) electrode. The electrode having the trace metal was, thereafter, subjected to analysis by either Anodic Stripping Voltammetry (ASV) or Potentiometric Stripping Analysis (PSA). The reported advantages of the Wang method and apparatus include the ability to adapt his invention to on-site field testing of sample fluids for suspected pollutants with a disposable testing device.
Brooks U.S. Pat. No. 5,753,517 (assigned to the University of British Columbia) describes a quantitative immunochromatographic assay utilizing an apparatus for detection of a particulate latex indicator in accordance with the procedures associated with so called RAMP(trademark) technology. According to Brooks et al., the RAMP(trademark) technology utilizes latex particles in a manner similar to enzymes in ELISA assays. In the RAMP(trademark) technology based analysis, a test strip, having two distinct fluorescent labeled indicators, is placed in a cartridge, and a fluid sample applied to the test strip. The analyte of interest interacts with one of the indicators forming a fluorescent complex which is captured in the test zone of the test strip, and while the second indicator remains in tact within the test strip, (so as to provide an internal standard). The RAMP(trademark) technology is, thus, capable of differentiation of the fluorescent complex from the internal standard, and the amount of analyte in the sample determined thereby.
Brooks et al. alternative system for performance of his analysis, contemplate the use of optical detection methods (light scattering) and measurement of changes in electrical conductivity or resistively. In one of the suggested alternatives, Brooks et al. contemplates (U.S. Pat. No. 5,753,517xe2x80x94col. 7, lines 7-19, inclusive) the quantitative measurement of the analyte of interest by the electrochemical detection of a released electroactive agents, such as bismuth, gallium or tellurium ions, from a complex associated with the analyte of interest. According to Brooks et al one of these alternatives involves the use of a chelating agent-protein conjugate as an indicator for the analyte of interest, and detection thereof contemplates the addition of an acidic solution for release the metal label as ions for later quantitation by anodic stripping voltammetry (as described by Hayes et al, Anal. Chem. 66:1860-1865 (1994).
The following published technical literature is regarded as representative of this type of electrochemical analysis. These papers are arranged in chronological order and no significance is to attach to their order of discussion, or to their relative significance to the patentability of the invention described and claimed herein.
Electrochemical techniques have provided challenges associated with affinity-chromatographic reactions, because of their stable and sensitive signal, lower level of detection limit, simple operation and cost-effectiveness. Pioneering studies by Henieman et al.(Hayes, F. H. et al., Anal. Chem., 66, 1860-1865 (1994)) illustrated the use of metal ion labels for heterogeneous immunoassays with Anodic Stripping Voltammetric (ASV) detection. Such immunoassays involved covalently linking chelating agent to a protein to serve as a chelon for the metal label. Following competitive equilibrium between the labeled and unlabeled protein for the antibody (immobilized on the surface of a polyester tube), the metal label was released and transferred to an electrochemical cell for an ASV detection with a hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE) and a deaerated solution. Similarly, Wang et al. (Wang J., Anal. Chem., 70, 1682-1685 (1998)) employed an antibody-coated, screen-printed sensor, performed the entire assay protocol directly on the surface of the disposable strip, and employed the highly sensitive potentiometric stripping mode for detecting the released metal ion label in microliter solutions. As desired for decentralized sensing applications, such an on-chip protocol offers several advantages compared to conventional ASV-based immunoassays, including simplified operation (e.g., the elimination of the separation and reagent volumes, elimination of toxic mercury drops, and a more sensitive stripping detection mode). The Wang et al. system requires relatively long incubation periods for pre-conditioning the sensor (prior to use) and for interaction with the sample; and, multiple washing steps, both of which make this method impractical and cumbersome.
It is the object of this invention to remedy the above and related deficiencies in the prior art.
More specifically, it is the principle object of this invention to adapt rapid affinity chromatographic electrochemical analysis to quantitative determination of analytes of interest.
It is another object of this invention to provide a system for electrochemical quantitative analysis of an analyte(s) within a solid phase test format that is comparable in ease of use to rapid immuchromatographic assays.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a system for electrochemical quantitative analysis of an analyte(s) within a solid phase test format involving a simplified means for detection of labels by potentiostatic or potentiometric measurement of changes within the solid phase that are attributable to the concentration(s) of label(s) within the test site.
It is still yet another object of this invention to provide a system for concurrent electrochemical quantitative analysis of a common test sample for multiple analytes within a solid phase test format involving a simplified means for detection of label(s) by stripping voltammetry
The above and related objects are achieved with the electrochemical quantitative analysis system, method and test strip of this invention for determination of the concentration of an analyte within a solid phase test environment. Initially, a test sample solution and a labeled substance are initially contacted, under assay conditions, within a solid phase test environment, and caused to migrate along a fluid pathway therein. Irrespective of the assay format (competitive assay, sandwich assay, etc.), the labeled substance is concentrated (bound) within a delimited area of the solid phase. Within the context of the system and analytical method of this invention, a xe2x80x9clabeled substancexe2x80x9d can include any suitable electroactive material that can be isolated within a delimited area of the solid phase, under assay conditions, or which can release an electroactive component within such delimited area, (also collectively hereinafter referred to as the xe2x80x9celectroactive speciesxe2x80x9d); and, such electroactive species thereafter, undergo an electrochemical transition (e.g. redox) incidental to electrochemical quantitative analysis. The observed measurement (transition) of the electroactive species can be directly or inversely related, (e.g. by comparison to a standard curve), to the concentration of the analyte of interest in the test sample.
The two principal types of electroanalytical measurements for determination of the concentration of the analyte of interest are potentiometric and potentiostatic. In each of these analytical protocols, two electrodes are required/involved, and a contacting sample (electrolyte) solution, which together constitute an electrochemical cell-like environment within the test strip. The electrode surface is, thus, the junction between the ionic conductor (e.g. electrolytes from the aqueous fluid sample, test kit reagents, etc.) and an electronic conductor. Within this electrochemical cell-like environment of the test strip, the electrode that responds to the analyte of interest (or an electroactive substance that is indicative of the analyte of interest), is termed the xe2x80x9cindicatorxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cworkingxe2x80x9d electrode, whereas the electrode that is maintained at a constant potential is termed the xe2x80x9creferencexe2x80x9d electrode (its response being independent of the sample solution).
In one of the embodiments of this invention, the immobilized labeled substance is contacted with a release reagent to initially cause the release/displacement of the label from the immobilized labeled substance within this delimited area. In the case of a metal label, for example, the released/displaced metal can be further reacted with mercuric ions in the release reagent solution, to form an amalgam on the surface of the working electrode within the delimited area of the solid phase. Thereafter, the delimited area of the affinity chromatographic test strip is subjected to potentiostatic measurement, by anodic stripping voltammetry of the label from the amalgam on the working electrode, which causes the label, to undergo yet a second electrochemical transition, (conversion of the label from the reduced form to the oxidized state). This second electrochemical transition of the label (from the reduced to the oxidized state) has a characteristic fingerprint that can be monitored and which, when compared to a standard curve, can correlate directly with the concentration of the analyte in the sample.
The stripped label from the amalgam and, thus, the analyte of interest, can be quantified by measurement of changes within the delimited area of the test strip by potentiostatic electrochemical techniques. The specifics of this electrochemical quantitative analysis, involve the application of an electrical potential to the delimited area, over a defined range of potentials, and the monitoring the rate of electron transfer (current) at each potential. The variation of electrical potential is analogous to the taking of a series of optical measurement of a colored indicator at varying the wavelengths. The electrical potential applied to the electrode drives (forces) the targeted electroactive species to gain or lose electrons (reduction or oxidation, respectively) at a given rate that is indicative of the concentration of such electroactive chemical species. Accordingly, the resultant current not only reflects the rate at which the electrons move across the electron/solution interface, but also (when compared to a standard), the concentration of the analyte in the test sample. These potentiostatic techniques can, thus, measure any chemical species that is electroactive, (e.g. that can be made to reduce or oxidize within the environment of an electrochemical cell)
One of the preferred designs of the test strip useful in the electrochemical quantitative analysis system of this invention has multiple components and multiple functional areas to (a) control the volume and rate of absorption of sample by the test strip; (b) accommodate the controlled interaction of the sample and a labeled substance with an immobilized binding substance within a delimited area of the test strip; (c) effect the separation of the labeled substance from the endogenous components of the sample; (d), the concentration of the labeled substance within a delimited area of the test strip for electrochemical processing; and, (e) the quantitative determination of the analyte of interest by electrochemical means.
In another of the preferred embodiments of the foregoing test strip design, the sample and the labeled substance can be combined within a bibulous pad (e.g., fiberglass) that is maintained in fluid communication with a solid phase affinity chromatographic test medium. Upon transfer of the sample thereto, the labeled substance is reconstituted, and the resultant labeled substance and/or a complex thereof which is formed with the analyte of interest, drawn into such test medium. As this fluid and its constituents, (e.g. sample, test kit reagent and reaction products thereof), diffuse into and within the affinity chromatographic test medium, the labeled substance becomes bound to a delimited area (also hereinafter xe2x80x9ctest sitexe2x80x9d) along this fluid pathway. Typically, this delimited area can be defined by means of an immobilized binding substance that is specific for interaction with the analyte, an analyte mimic or a complex of the analyte and/or a labeled ligand (e.g. by binding to an epitope on the analyte). As the analyte, analyte mimic or a complex of the analyte and/or a labeled ligand becomes increasingly concentrated at the test site, it can be measured and the amount thereof correlated with the analyte in the test sample.
The advantages of such controlled potential (potentiostatic) techniques include high sensitivity, selectively toward an electroactive species, a wide linear range, portable and low cost instrumentation and speciation capability.
In order to accommodate multiple functional components within the integral device of the preferred test strip design of this invention, all of the components are preferably arranged/mounted on a common support or backing layer (typically an inert plastic, e.g. Mylar). The substrate of this test device can be pre-printed with a conductive material to afford electrical contact (direct or inductive coupling) between the affinity chromatographic test medium of the test strip and an electrochemical analyzer that is configured to measure subtle electrical changes within the delimited areas in the test strip. As more fully set forth in the description of the Figures, which follows, this support layer is typically imprinted at two or more locations with a conductive material or metal salt, to form what are referred to hereinafter as xe2x80x9celectrodesxe2x80x9d. These electrodes are spatially arranged along the support layer to coincide with delimited areas of the solid phase medium. The electrode coincident with the delimited area of the test site is referred to as the xe2x80x9cworking electrodexe2x80x9d. Depending upon the electrochemical method of analysis, the test strip generally requires at least one additional (e.g. xe2x80x9creferencexe2x80x9d electrode) to form the plates of an electrochemical cell.
After having concentrated the labeled substance within the delimited area of the test site, it can be measured by a number of electrochemical techniques. As noted above, it may be desirable, preliminary to performing such measurement, to first isolate the label from the complex by xe2x80x9cpre-concentrationxe2x80x9d thereof on the working electrode. This xe2x80x9cpre-concentrationxe2x80x9d process can involve the release/displacement of the label from the complex and the capture of the label in a reduced form (e.g. amalgam) on the working electrode where it is more electrochemically available or active. Upon completion of this pre-concentration process, the resultant amalgam can be subjected to potentiostatic electrochemical quantitative analysis by anodic stripping voltammetry. In the context of this preferred analytical system (e.g. potentiostatic electrochemical quantitative analysis by anodic stripping voltammetry), the label is reoxidized, under electrochemical quantitative analytical conditions, and this electrochemical transition of the label (from the reduced to the oxidized state) is monitored. The current signal that is generated during this transition (peak and area) is dependent upon a number of system variables, the characteristics of the metal label and the electrode geometry. In each instance, however, these variables can be optimized by empirical adjustment; and, the analysis conditions tailored to correspond to standard curves which are used to correlate electrical signal response to analyte concentration. More specifically, FIG. 3 is a graphical depiction of current signal response of a bismuth/mercury amalgam on a carbon electrode to anodic stripping analysis over a range of concentrations (1 ng/ml to 50 ng/ml of pre-concentrated bismuth metal label). Similarly, FIG. 4 illustrates the variation in signal (current) intensity, as a function of the duration of xe2x80x9cpre-concentrationxe2x80x9d interval, (prior to electrochemical analysis). In the graphical depiction of this variable shown in FIG. 4, the longer the pre-concentration interval (which varied from 1 to 15 minutes) the greater the current signal intensity. Similar correlation/optimization in analytical process conditions is made for each of the labels that are selected and standard curves for each created, as appropriate, to correlate with the dynamic range of conditions likely to be encountered for a given analyte and over a range of concentration.

System for electrochemical quantitative analysis of analytes within a solid phase and affinity chromatographic test strip


A system providing real-time communication over an electronic communication network between two or more users includes a client application associated with each user, a first authentication application having authentication information for at least one user and associated with at least one of the client applications, and a messaging service application maintaining the connection status of all of the users. The first authentication application and the client applications associated with the first authentication application reside on a first private network in communication with a public network. A second authentication application associated with at least one of the client applications and having authentication information for at least one other user reside on a second private network in communication with public network. The authentication applications can receive authentication information from directory services of their private networks. Communication between the authentication applications and the messaging service application is preferably via a secure communications connection.

This invention is related in general to electronic communication and more specifically to a method, system, and software for facilitating real-time communications between two or more users.
Instant messaging software commonly used today. Instant messaging software allows users to exchange messages via an electronic communication network, including local-area networks and wide-area networks such as the Internet. Messages can be in the form of short text messages, data files, live voice and/or video, or any other information capable of being exchanged via an electronic network. Unlike e-mail, instant messages are generally expected to be received and processed by their recipients in real-time.
Currently, the majority of instant messaging software use is by consumers who use instant messaging for social purposes. However, an increasing number of businesses are incorporating instant messaging software into their enterprises. Businesses use instant messaging to reduce telecommunication costs across the organization, to increase personal productivity and efficiency, and to fill the communication gap between telephones and e-mail. Additionally, businesses can use instant messaging to provide an immediate, online "Presence" or "Status" that can be tied into other enterprise applications and services, such as customer support.
Instant messaging software is typically geared toward consumer use, and therefore lacks many additional features desirable for enterprise use. For example, typical instant messaging software lacks secure authentication, encrypted communication, and centralized configuration and integration with existing enterprise infrastructure. It is desirable to provide an instant messaging system tailored to enterprise use that rectifies these deficiencies and further provides additional benefits, such as the ability to interoperate with private instant messaging networks and one or more public instant messaging networks.

Centrally controllable instant messaging system


Many cleaners, are extremely hard on many plastic products causing environmental stress cracking. Small household articles made from a polymer alloy of a clear brittle styrenic acrylate, a rubbery block styrene-diene copolymer, and a ductile styrene-diene polymer when exposed to such cleaners have significantly less environmental stress cracking.

Many plastic articles suffer from poor environmental stress crack resistance. Typically on exposure to cleaners or oily or fatty materials the plastic suffers a significant loss in physical properties and may spontaneously develop cracks. "Environmentally friendly" is a term which is gaining wide use in industry and advertising. Generally it connotes a product having a good compatibility with the environment. Unfortunately "environmentally friendly" is much like beauty. It is in the eye of the beholder or a matter of perspective. While sodium carbonate based cleaners are environmentally friendly in the sense that they do not rely on organic solvents of strong bases or acids they have one drawback. They tend to be very hard on plastics and particularly on copolymers or alloys containing polymers of vinyl aromatic monomers and alkyl methacrylates.
In concurrent research Novacor Chemicals Inc. developed a polymer alloy which has outstanding toughness. There was nothing in the initial program which indicated that the alloy had any improved chemical properties such as environmental stress crack resistance to cleaners including those based on sodium bicarbonate. Applicants have discovered this unique property of the polymer.
The above noted polymer is the subject matter of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 654,058 filed Feb. 12, 1991.
The following is a list of references which applicants feel may be relevant to the composition of the new polymer alloy of the present invention.
Chemical Abstracts 109:171278v [Polym. Prepr. (Am. Chem. Soc., Div. Polym. Chem.) 1988, 29(2), 180-1] discloses that physical blends of block SBR (styrene content: 75.2 weight percent) and a copolymer of methyl methacrylate and styrene are partially compatible. The morphological and mechanical properties of the blend are strongly dependent on the molding/mixing process used to produce the blend. The SBR could only be toughened when the ideal morphology of the blend was obtained.
Chemical Abstracts 106:85901z [JP 61/200,151] discloses thermoplastic compositions comprising from 5 to 95 weight percent of a block copolymer and from 95 to 5 weight percent of a thermoplastic polymer (e.g. ABS). The block copolymer is derived from coupling an aromatic vinyl polymer block with an aromatic vinyl monomer-conjugated diene copolymer block. The subject thermoplastic compositions apparently have improved impact strength.
Chemical Abstracts 112:8285y [JP 61/291,610] discloses the use of "impact modifiers" for thermoplastic polymers. The modifiers are basically similar to the block copolymer disclosed by Chemical Abstracts 106:85901z.
Chemical Abstracts 99:196070j [JP 58/122,954] discloses improvement of anisotropy of a styrene hydrocarbon-conjugated diene block copolymer by blending it with a styrene-methacrylic ester copolymer. Such a blend, when extruded to form a molded plate, apparently possesses superior physical properties.
Chemical Abstracts 111:8522c [JP 01/45614] discloses high-impact styrene polymer compositions comprises a major amount of a styrene (50 to 90 weight percent)-conjugated diene (50 to 10 weight percent) block copolymer and a minor amount of a styrene-based polymer (e.g. styrene-methyl methacrylate copolymer).
The above art all discusses the physical or mechanical properties of similar alloys. However, none of the art suggests that such alloys could have any improved chemical properties.
It would be desirable to have a composition which possesses a combination of improved properties, including improved impact strength. Typically the alloys of the present invention should have a notched Izod impact strength of greater than about 0.5, preferably greater than 1.0 ft.lb./in. In a particularly preferred aspect of the present invention, the alloys may have a haze of less than 10, most preferably less than 5. It is also desirable to have such polymers which retain at least 80, more preferably 85% of their flexural, tensile, and Izod impact properties after exposure for 1 hour to a sodium bicarbonate based cleaner or a 75% solution of sodium bicarbonate. Most preferably the composition will not show visible stress cracks (small cracks) on exposure to sodium bicarbonate based cleaners or a 75% solution of sodium bicarbonate. Polymers or polymer alloys having the above properties are referred to in this specification as having good environmental stress crack resistance (ESCR).


A seaweed roll making apparatus (10) has a base plate (16) fixedly mounted on a base (12), a pair of first and second shafts (18, 20) disposed adjacent to opposite sides of the base plate (16), first and second gears (26a, 26b) fixed to respective ends of the first shaft (18), third and fourth gears (28a, 28b) fixed to respective ends of the second shaft (20), the first and third years (26a, 28a) meshing with each other and the second and fourth gears (26b, 28b) meshing with each other, a pair of first and second turn plates (22, 24) fixed respectively to the first and second shafts (18, 20), a third turn plate (34) angularly movably mounted on the second turn plate (24) and having cam members (38a, 38b) fixed thereto, and a frame (54) for shaping a bed (B) of rice to a predetermined thickness in a predetermined spatial range. The seaweed roll making apparatus does not require a high level of skill and experience on the part of the operator, can produce seaweed rolls of a constant quality which does not vary from operator to operator, needs no large installation space, requires a relatively easy maintenance service, and is inexpensive to manufacture.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for making a seaweed roll, known as "norimaki" which is one of the sushi varieties in Japan, by placing a seaweed sheet, a bed of rice, and a core material on a base plate and first through third turn plates and angularly moving the turn plates.
2. Description of the Related Art
In has been the customary practice to make a seaweed roll by successively placing a seaweed sheet, a bed of rice, and a core material, in the order named, on a bamboo rolling mat, and manually rolling them up. It requires a high level of skill and experience to make a desired seaweed roll of good appearance with the core material positioned in its center. The quality of seaweed rolls varies from person to person, and the efficiency of a process of manually making seaweed rolls is generally low.
Some professional sushi bars and sushi takeout shops have automatic seaweed roll making apparatus for mass-producing seaweed rolls. However, such automatic seaweed roll making apparatus take up a large installation space, require a complex maintenance service, are highly expensive, and fail to make seaweed rolls as efficiently as expected.


In a semiconductor device of a lead-on-chip structure, each of inner leads has a lower surface in direct contact with a principal surface of a semiconductor chip in a wiring bonding region, and the lower surface of each inner lead has a recess formed at a place different from the wiring bonding region. An adhesive double coated tape is accommodated in the recess of each inner lead for sticking the inner leads to the principal surface of the semiconductor chip. Each of bonding wires has one end connected to a corresponding electrode pad on the principal surface of the semiconductor chip and the other end connected to an upper surface of a corresponding inner lead within the wire bonding area.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device, and more specifically, to a semiconductor device having a lead-on-chip structure.
2. Description of Related Art
A semiconductor device having a lead-on-chip structure (called a "LOC structure" hereinafter) generally has an inner lead stuck through an adhesive tape on a semiconductor chip, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Pre-examination Publication No. JP-A-5-029528, the content of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety into this application (an English abstract of JP-A-5-029528 is available from the Japanese Patent Office, and the content of the English abstract of JP-A-5-029528 is also incorporated by reference in its entirety into this application).
Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a partially broken, diagrammatic perspective view of the prior art LOC structure semiconductor device disclosed by JP-A-5-029528. FIG. 2 is an enlarged diagrammatic partial sectional view of the prior art LOC structure semiconductor device shown in FIG. 1 and also shown in JP-A-5-029528. FIG. 3A is a further enlarged diagramrnatic partial sectional view of the prior art LOC structure semiconductor device shown in FIG. 1, showing an inner lead stuck on a semiconductor chip, and FIG. 3B is an enlarged diagrammatic partial plan view of the prior art LOC structure semiconductor device shown in FIG. 1, showing an inner lead stuck on a semiconductor chip in a portion shown in FIG. 3A.
The shown LSI packaae is generally designated with Reference Numeral 10, and includes a package body 12 formed of an epoxy resin. In the epoxy resin package body 12, a semiconductor chip 14 is encapsulated. A principal surface 14A of this semiconductor chip 14 is stuck to an insulative adhesive tape 16 to a lower surface of inner leads 18 which are integral with corresponding outer leads 20 (lead frame) extending outwardly from the package body 12- Each inner lead 18 is connected through a bonding wire 22 to a corresponding electrode pad 24 of the semiconductor chip 14. The adhesive tape 16 is constituted of a so called "pressure sensitive adhesive double coated tape". More specifically, the adhesive tape 16 is a polyimide double coated tape, which is as relatively thick as for example 0.1 mm, since the adhesive tape 16 has not only a function of sticking the inner leads to the semiconductor chip but also a function of fixing the inner leads relative to one another in the lead frame before the inner leads are stuck to the semiconductor chip.
In the above mentioned prior art LOC structure semiconductor device, since the adhesive tape 16 exists between the principal surface of the semiconductor chip 14 and a wire bonding portion of each inner lead, the wire bonding portion of each inner lead does not directly contact with the principal surface of the semiconductor chip 14, and on the other hand, the relatively thick adhesive tape 16 acts as a buffer member. When the bonding wire is bonding to the wire bonding portion of the inner lead, a heat and/or an ultrasonic wave applied for the wiling bonding is difficult to conduct or transfer, with the result that the bonding property of the bonding wire to the inner lead is often not satisfactory.

Semiconductor device of lead-on-chip structure


A memory cell capacitor (C3) of a DRAM is formed by use of a MIM capacitor which uses as its electrode a metal wiring line of the same layer (M3) as metal wiring lines within a logic circuit (LOGIC), thereby enabling reduction of process costs. Higher integration is achievable by forming the capacitor using a high dielectric constant material and disposing it above a wiring layer in which bit lines (BL) are formed. In addition, using 2T cells makes it possible to provide a sufficient signal amount even when letting them operate with a low voltage. By commonizing the processes for fabricating capacitors in analog (ANALOG) and memory (MEM), it is possible to realize a semiconductor integrated circuit with the logic, analog and memory mounted together on one chip at low costs.

The quest for higher functionality and higher performance is growing rapidly in a variety of types of information equipment including, but not limited to, mobile tools such as cellular phones, multimedia instruments such as game machines, personal computers or equivalents thereto. Under such circumstances, integrated circuits (referred to as LSI hereinafter) making up these apparatuses are more strictly required to offer higher performances in near feature, in terms of high integration, high-speed operability, low power and low cost.
It is the on-chip memory that attracts attention as one of the techniques for fulfilling this requirement. The on-chip memory as used herein refers to a memory device (simply called the memory hereafter) which integrates its memory part together with a logic circuit on an LSI chip. When compared to the case where the memory is designed in the form of a single separate LSI chip, it has been known that the onchip memory offers advantages which follow: improvements in LSI mount density owing to a decrease in number of chips, and high-speed/low-power operability due to data transmission on an LSI chip.
Presently main current memory cells for the onchip memory use are static random access memory (abbreviated as SRAM hereinafter) cells. In the SRAM cells, a cell which is made up of six transistors (referred to hereafter as 6T cell) is used in most cases. Other known cells include a dynamic type memory cell consisting of one transistor and one capacitor (noted as 1T1C cell hereafter). Memory cells of this type involve several types of known ones different in capacitor structure. A representative one is a memory cell that utilizes a capacitor having a 3D structure. Known examples of this are the trench type with a capacitor formed in a silicon substrate and the stack type with a capacitor separated from a substrate and formed thereover. An example of the former is recited in FIG. 7 on page 61 of "SPECTRUM" issued by the IEEE-USA, April, 1999. An example of the latter is found in the collection of draft papers of "1999 VLSI Technology Short Course" issued by IEEE-USA, page 90, FIG. 30. Additionally, as a different example from them, an exemplary 1T1C memory cell using a planar MOS capacitor is recited in FIG. 3 of U.S. Pat. No. 6,075,720. Furthermore, cells other than the 6T and 1T1C cells are also known. For example, in JP-A-5-291534 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,357,460, a cell is described which utilizes two transistors and one or two capacitors (referred to as 2T1C cell, 2T2C cell hereinafter). In addition, JP-A-9-12070 discloses therein a ferroelectric memory device with the switchability of 1T1C and 2T2C cells.
The 6T cell is structured from transistors only so that there is an advantage that additional steps with respect to the process for fabricating logic transistors are less in number. However, the cell area is large so that the capacity of a memory mountable on one LSI chip is limited. In contrast, the 1T1C cell is less in area than the 6T cell. Especially in those cells of the stack type and the trench type using 3D structured capacitors, it is possible to realize areas of about ⅛ or less than that of 6T cell. However, this results in an increase in process steps for fabrication of 3D structured capacitors; thus, there is a disadvantage that the cost becomes higher.
In the 1T1C cell using a MOS capacitor which is one of the above-noted prior known examples, the problem as to an increase in process step is avoidable because it is possible to fabricate capacitors at the same step as that for forming logic transistors. Obviously, memory cell transistors and capacitors are laid out side by side, and the capacitor shape also is planar; thus, it is said that a highly integrated on-chip memory is realizable when compared to 6T cells, although this cell is less in integration than the stack and trench cells.
In prior art on-chip memories having more than one capacitor, these stay merely at a level of technology which simplifies the manufacturing procedure by separately performing processes of a memory unit and a logic circuit unit or by simultaneously performing any sharable processes. For example, in JP-A-11-251647, a trench capacitor is used, which is a process unique to DRAMs.
In the circumstances stated above, a first goal or issue to be attained by the present invention is to realize an on-chip memory having a capacitor which takes advantage of the CMOS process of logic circuitry to thereby provide an onchip memory which highly satisfies the conflicting requirements for process cost reduction and integration. Furthermore, a second issue is to enable achievement of a low-voltage operation with 1V or below in the above-noted onchip memory. In addition, a third issue is to realize an on-chip memory suitable also for co-integration with not only digital logic circuitry but also analog circuitry. The first issue is deemed problematical even at the present time as described in the explanation of the prior art. And, the second and third issues are the ones that are expected to become important in the near future. The second and third issues will be explained below.
As well known, the supply voltage of LSIs is potentially lowered per process generation for purposes of miniaturization of circuit elements and achievement of low power operability. In logic LSIs, products of 1.5V or less have already been available in the marketplace. The quest for lower voltage is expected to further advance from now on, which in turn requires the on-chip memory also to operate with 1V or lower voltages. This can be said because if the memory unit fails to offer low-voltage operability then it becomes a must to supply different voltages to the logic unit and the memory unit, resulting in incapability to further lower the power consumption of the memory unit. Unfortunately, an operation at low voltages would result in occurrence of various problems. For instance, as well known, the amount of a read signal of a 1T1C cell is proportional to the power supply voltage. Accordingly, when reducing the operating voltage, it becomes difficult to acquire the read signal amount. To avoid this, it is required to lessen the number of memory cells on a bit line to thereby reduce the bitline capacitance or, alternatively, to enlarge the size of a capacitor to thereby increase the capacitance of such capacitor. However, any one of the both results in an increase in area, which spoils the high integrability. In addition, the operation of a sense amplifier also becomes difficult. In particular, with the prior art configuration, the operation at a voltage of about 1V or less is unrealistic. Accordingly, it is an important matter in the future to achieve a highly integrated onchip memory with low-voltage operability.
Additionally, the third issue will become important in the future by taking account of the following circumstance. As known under the name of "system-on-chip," the circuitry to be integrated on an LSI increases in scale. For example, as suggested in JP-A-11-2511647 and JP-A-2001-196561, it is no longer uncommon that analog and digital circuits are integrated together. While transistors are used in digital circuit, the analog circuit requires the use of certain circuit elements such as capacitors in addition thereto. Therefore, in the case of integrating an onchip memory of large capacity together with a large-scale digital circuit and analog circuit, various kinds of fabrication steps are added, resulting in occurrence of anxiety as to an increase in manufacturing process cost. Another anxiety lies in a decrease in performance, reliability or manufacturing yield due to the combination of different kinds of processes.

Semiconductor device having plural DRAM memory cells and a logic circuit and method for manufacturing the same


Provided is an ink composition for an inkjet print steel plate, an inkjet print steel plate using the same, and a method for producing an inkjet print steel plate. The ink composition comprises: a linear acrylate-based oligomer; a reactive acrylate-based monomer; an ultraviolet curable initiator; at least one selected from the group consisting of a dye and a pigment; and at least one selected from the group consisting of an antioxidant, an antifoaming agent, and a dispersant.

Conventional patterned printed steel plates can be divided into silkscreen printed steel plates and roll printed steel plates. However, such printed steel plates are not widely applied to products requiring high resolution or a variety of colors, and only repetitive patterns may be produced. In particular, in order to implement a variety of colors, a separate silkscreen frame or a separate etched roll is required for each color. In addition, it may be difficult to print each color on a precise location, resulting in a high defect rate.
However, when an inkjet printing process is used as a method of printing a steel plate, it may be difficult to ensure printability and adhesion of a conventional inkjet ink on a steel plate lacking absorptiveness.
Further, it may be difficult to ensure workability and a high degree of hardness at the same time. An ultraviolet (UV) curable resin solution may be used to print patterns having high resolution on a steel plate at high speed. However, it may be difficult to dispense a conventional UV-curable resin solution for coating a steel plate in the inkjet printing process due to high viscosity thereof. Therefore, a conventional UV-curable resin solution for coating a steel plate has poor applicability.

Ink composition for inkjet printed steel plate, inkjet printed steel plate using the same, and method for producing inkjet printed steel plate


An image processing apparatus accurately compensates a flare component. An image forming apparatus reads images in a first reading condition and a second reading condition in which flare less occurs, and includes: a reflectance assignment unit for assigning a reflectance to the first image in accordance with the distance between the first image and the second image; a color information arithmetic unit for obtaining color information about the first image read in the second reading condition; a flare component derivation unit for deriving a flare component of the second image based on the reflectance and the color information; and a flare component removing unit for removing a flare component of the second image read in the first reading condition, based on the second image read in the first reading condition and the flare component derived by the flare component derivation unit.

Field of Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus implemented in an image forming apparatus.
Description of Related Art
Heretofore, electrophotographic image forming apparatuses are known as multi-function printer (MFP) which incorporates the functionality of multiple devices such as printers, copying machines and so forth. This type of image forming apparatus performs calibration to adjust characteristics of the image forming apparatus for the purpose of realizing optimal color reproducibility. The calibration is a process of updating the gradation characteristics including densities and the like of respective colors, i.e., C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow) and K (black).
When performing calibration, a plurality of patches having different densities are used. The patch is an image formed on a sheet for use in measuring and correcting colors and optically read by a line sensor consisting of imaging devices arranged in a line.
However, depending upon the optical system, flare may be reflected on the patch. Accordingly, when the patch is greatly influenced by flare, the read value of the patch deviates from the correct value. It is considered as one of the causes of such flare generation that light reflected around the patch becomes stray light.
This can be solved, for example, by storing the flare amount when a predetermined pattern is output and compensating flare by the use of the stored flare amount (for example, refer to Japanese Patent Published Application No. 2011-191918). In accordance with the technique described in Japanese Patent Published Application No. 2011-191918, the stored flare amount is referred to in order to compensate flare disturbing the image data which is input. By this configuration, image data can be generated without influence of flare.
On the other hand, in the case where a color patch for color measurement and correction is located in the blank space bordering the printed area in which is printed user content which is changed for each printing, it cannot be estimated how much flare influences.
However, in accordance with the technique described in Japanese Patent Published Application No. 2011-191918, flare is compensated based on the flare amount obtained from the predetermined pattern. Accordingly, appropriate compensation cannot be conducted even if flare is compensated based on the flare amount obtained from the predetermined pattern. This prior art may thereby not be used to compensate influence of flare with a high degree of accuracy.
The present invention is made in order to solve such a prior art problem and used to provide an image processing apparatus capable of compensating a flare component with a high degree of accuracy.


A spectroscopic module includes a plurality of beam splitters; a plurality of bandpass filters disposed on one side in a Z direction with respect to the plurality of beam splitters; a light detector disposed on the one side in the Z direction with respect to the plurality of bandpass filters and includes a plurality of light receiving regions; a first support body supporting the plurality of beam splitters; a second support body supporting the plurality of bandpass filters; and a casing including a third wall portion integrally formed with the second support body. The first support body is attached to the third wall portion such that an outer surface of the first support body is in contact with an inner surface of the third wall portion in a state where the position is defined by a plurality of positioning pins and a plurality of positioning holes.

As a spectroscopic module that splits measurement light into light in a plurality of wavelength bands to detect the light in each of the wavelength bands, there is known a device in which a plurality of beam splitters and a plurality of bandpass filters are disposed in a casing (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-242117).

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A lever connector assembly has a stopping projection 35, which serves to hold a lever 30 in an initial position, and is located in such a position that it is distant from a trace described by a cam pin 12 as the cam pin 12 is inserted into a cam groove 34. When connectors 10 and 20 are in an initial fitting state, the cam pin 12 is inserted into the cam groove 34. Pivoting of the lever 30 results in a pressing member 13 engaging the stopping projection 35 and moving it outwards, to separate from the fitting groove 24. The amount of movement of the projection 35 is reduced compared with the prior art, and as a consequence frictional resistance to movement is lower.

A lever-type connector has a lever provided on one of two connector housings and has cam pins provided on the other connector housing, the cam pins fitting with cam grooves provided on the lever. The two connector housings are brought close to each other and the cam pins are located in the cam grooves. Then, the lever is pivoted and the connector housings are thereby brought even closer to each other, bringing them to a correctly fitted state. In this kind of connector, it is necessary to maintain the lever in an initial position in order to be able to locate the cam pins correctly into the cam grooves.
The means disclosed in Laid Open Publication JP6-275337 is one way of maintaining the lever in the initial position. As shown in FIG. 17 and FIG. 18 of this specification, a lever 1 has elastically bendable stopping projections 2 formed thereon. These stopping projections 2 pass into cam pin grooves 4 of a connector housing 3, thereby preventing movement of the lever 1 in the initial position. Further, as shown in FIG. 19, when the two connector housings 3 and 5 are fitted together, cam pins 6 enter cam grooves 7 and make contact with the stopping projections 2, thereby pushing out the stopping projections 2 from the cam pin grooves 4. As a result, the lever 1 becomes movable and can be pivoted to the closed condition.
In the conventional case, cam pins 6 are made to protrude deeply into the cam grooves 7 so as to serve as members for removing the stopping projections from the cam pin grooves 4. As a result, as shown in FIG. 19, the stopping projections 2 must bend very considerably and the opposing force generated due to the elastic recovery force of the stopping projection 2 is consequently large. This results in a deterioration of operability during the fitting of the connector housing and during the movement of the lever as a consequence of the friction forces.
The present invention has been developed after taking the above problem into account, and aims at limiting the bending of the stopping projections to the minimum necessary extent at the point when the lever becomes pivotable.


The present technology relates to genetic products the expression of which is associated with cancer diseases. The present technology also relates to the therapy and diagnosis of diseases in which the genetic products are expressed or aberrantly expressed, in particular cancer diseases.

The present technology relates to nucleic acids and encoded polypeptides which are expressed in cancers. The present technology also relates to agents which bind the polypeptides. The nucleic acids, polypeptides coded for by such nucleic acids and peptides derived therefrom, as well as related antibodies and cytolytic T lymphocytes, are useful, inter alia, in diagnostic and therapeutic contexts.
Despite interdisciplinary approaches and exhaustive use of classical therapeutic procedures, cancers are still among the leading causes of death.
More recent therapeutic concepts in cancer therapy aim at incorporating the patient's immune system into the overall therapeutic concept by using recombinant tumor vaccines and other specific measures such as antibody therapy. A prerequisite for the success of such a strategy is the recognition of tumor-specific or tumor-associated antigens or epitopes by the patient's immune system whose effector functions are to be interventionally enhanced.
Tumor cells biologically differ substantially from their nonmalignant cells of origin. These differences are due to genetic alterations acquired during tumor development and result, inter alia, also in the formation of qualitatively or quantitatively altered molecular structures in the cancer cells. Tumor-associated structures of this kind which are recognized by the specific immune system of the tumor-harboring host are referred to as tumor-associated antigens.
The specific recognition of tumor-associated antigens involves cellular and humoral mechanisms which are two functionally interconnected units: CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes recognize the processed antigens presented on the molecules of the MHC (major histocompatibility complex) classes II and I, respectively, while B lymphocytes produce circulating antibody molecules which bind directly to unprocessed antigens. The potential clinical-therapeutical importance of tumor-associated antigens results from the fact that the recognition of antigens on neoplastic cells by the immune system leads to the initiation of cytotoxic effector mechanisms and, in the presence of T helper cells, can cause elimination of the cancer cells (Pardoll, Nat. Med. 4:525-31, 1998).
Antibody based cancer therapies have been successfully introduced into the clinic and have emerged as the most promising therapeutics in oncology over the last decade. Eight antibodies have been approved for treatment of neoplastic diseases, most of them, however in lymphoma and leukemia (Adams G P, Weiner L M, Nat Biotechnol 23:1147-57, 2005).
One of the challenges to be mastered for the advent of the next generation of upgraded antibody-based cancer therapeutics is the selection of appropriate target molecules, which is the key for a favorable toxicity/efficacy profile.
The search for genes tightly silenced in the vast majority of healthy tissues moves into the focus of attention the intriguing observation that genes of the gametogenic and/or trophoblastic lineage are frequently ectopically activated and robustly expressed in human cancer. Based on phenotypical similarities between germ cells, pregnancy trophoblast and cancer cells, John Beard proposed as much as 100 years ago a "trophoblastic theory of cancer" (Beard J, Lancet 1:1758-63, 1902; Gurchot C, Oncology 31:310-3, 1975). The discovery of the sporadic production of chorionic gonadotropin, alpha-fetoprotein, CEA and other trophoblastic hormones by cancer cells provided the first molecules shared between neoplastic and trophoblastic cells (Acevedo H F et al., Cancer 76:1467-75, 1995; Dirnhofer S et al., Hum Pathol 29:377-82, 1998; Gurchot C, Oncology 31:310-3, 1975; Iles R K, Chard T, J Urol 145:453-8, 1991; Laurence D J, Neville A M, Br J Cancer 26:335-55, 1972). The concept was reignited by the inauguration of the steadily growing so-called cancer/germline (CG) class of genes, which represents more than 100 members, each expressed in a variety of tumor types. The observation that entire trophoblastic and gametogenic programs escape transcriptional silencing and are ectopically activated in cancer cells (Koslowski M et al., Cancer Res 64:5988-93, 2004; Simpson A J et al., Nat Rev Cancer 5:615-25, 2005) indicates that within this class of genes with exquisitely selective tissue distribution, appropriate targets for mAB therapy may be found.
It was the object of the present technology to provide target structures for a diagnosis and therapy of cancers. This object is achieved by the subject matter of the claims.

Identification of tumor-associated markers for diagnosing or monitoring ovarian cancer


The invention relates to a semiconductor memory module having a plurality of memory chips arranged in at least one row and at least one buffer chip which drives and receives clock signals and command and address signals to the memory chips and data signals to and from the memory chips via a clock, address, command and data bus inside the module and which forms an interface to an external primary memory bus. The semiconductor memory module has an even number of buffer chips arranged on it and all of the memory chips are connected to two respective buffer chips at least by one signal line type from a signal group and just to one of the two buffer chips by the remaining signal lines from the group. The sum of the electrical signal propagation times for the actuating signals via their lines from one buffer chip to a respective one of the memory chips and the electrical signal propagation times for the data signals from this memory chip to the other buffer chip during the read operation is the same for all of the memory chips, and control means for controlling the respective data write and read operation to or from the memory chips are provided in order to drive the clock signals and command and address signals in the same respective direction as the data signals via the bus inside the module when data are being written and read.

The invention relates to a semiconductor memory module having a plurality of memory chips arranged in at least one row and at least one buffer chip which drives and receives clock signals and command and address signals to the memory chips and data signals to and from the memory chips via a clock, address, command and data bus inside the module and which forms an interface to an external primary memory bus.
For very fast memory architectures with large scale integration, such as DDR-III DRAMs, "buffer chips" will be required in future. FIG. 1 illustrates such a memory system, in which the buffer chips 110, 210 situated on respective memory modules 100, 200 are connected in concatenated fashion to a primary memory bus 400 routed to a memory controller 300. On the buffer chips 110, 210, a switching arrangement S ensures that data are read from or written to the respective addressed memory module 100 or 200 only. The roman numerals I, II, III and IV denote individual memory groups with a respective plurality of memory chips situated in a row one behind the other on the memory modules 100 and 200. The buffer chips 110, 210 convert the "stub bus", as used today in DDR and DDR-II systems, into a type of hierarchical bus system in which only point-to-point or point-to-two-point connections now arise. Such connections allow data transfer rates of far beyond one Gbps. In addition, cascading allows a large number of buffer chips to be concatenated with one another and allows memory systems having a very large number of memory chips to be produced on just one primary memory bus 400.
FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic layout view of how a memory module (DIMM) having a buffer chip 110 (HUB) and eight memory chips can be designed internally. Clock signal lines shown in dashes and dots and command and address bus lines (CIA) shown in dashes are driven centrally by the buffer chip 110, are routed in succession to the memory chips 101, 102, . . . 108 (DRAMs) in a "fly-by topology" and are terminated at the end by terminations a1, a2, b1, b2 in order to avoid signal reflections. The data bus lines (DQ), shown by solid lines in FIG. 2, in the DRAMs are connected to the buffer chip 110 separately as point-to-point connections.
At the high frequencies at which future computer systems and hence their memory systems will be operated, the propagation time of the signals on the aforementioned connecting lines is of fundamental importance. In the text below, 200 ps for each link (buffer chip to DRAM and DRAM to DRAM) will respectively be assumed for these propagation times. From the buffer chip 110 to the first DRAM (for example 104), all of the signals (CLK, C/A, DQ, DQS) thus require 200 ps, and 800 ps to the fourth DRAM (for example 101). Since the clock signal CLK and the command and address signal C/A have the same propagation time, commands and addresses can be transferred without difficulty from the buffer chip 110 to the respective DRAM chip. A similar situation applies for transferring write data (DQ, DQS) to the DRAMs. From the point of view of the overall system, the fact that the actual write operation in the DRAMs respectively takes place at different times is only of minor importance.
When data are to be read from the DRAMs, the following problem arises: the propagation times of the CLK signals and of the C/A signals on the bus mean that the DRAM chips receive the read command at different times. The difference between the first and the last DRAM in our example is 600 ps. After a certain time, which will be assumed to be the same for all DRAMs, the DRAM chips start to return their data to the buffer chip 110. The propagation time from the DRAM chip to the buffer chip is now again dependent on the position of the DRAM chip on the memory module (DIMM), with the propagation time in this arrangement being longest for the DRAM chip which received the command last. For this reason, the data will arrive at the buffer chip 110 with a time delay, specifically with a respective delay amounting to twice the propagation time from the buffer chip 110 to the DRAM chip. From the first to the last data, 1200 ps=1.2 ns therefore elapse.
This time delay in the read data either limits the maximum operating frequency to values which are significantly below 800 MHz (=1.125 ns) or needs to be compensated for by a complicated circuit in the buffer chip, which will result in a further delay in the data, since the earliest data can be forwarded with a delay of at least 1.2 ns plus the processing time in the compensation circuit.
DE 102 06 060 A1 describes a memory system in which each memory module has a plurality of memory chips and a buffer chip arranged on it. In read mode, the clock signals and the read signals have the same direction of propagation. This memory system has further basic differences as compared with the present semiconductor memory module: first, the data signals are supplied to the memory chips on the modules directly from a memory controller via spur lines. The propagation times of the command and address signals and of the data signals vary. Similarly, the respective propagation times of the read and write data signals from the respective memory modules to the memory controller are different. Finally, the known memory system has synchronous clock control for all of the memory modules as a result of the clock signal WCLK generated by the memory controller, and synchronous generation of the read clock signal RCLK in each buffer chip in each memory module.


A method, apparatus and program product dynamically enlist a plurality of resources to be committed by a transaction during execution of the transaction and store information about each enlisted resource in the plurality of resources with the transaction in a transaction log, including information about a state of each resource, to facilitate recovery of the transaction. Enlisting and storing may be performed during the execution of the transaction, and the resources to be committed by the transaction may be unknown prior to execution of the transaction. By doing so, a more complete record of all the resources that were enlisted during runtime may be maintained.

Databases are used to store information for an innumerable number of applications, including various commercial, industrial, technical, scientific and educational applications. Many databases are relational databases, which organize information into formally-defined tables consisting of rows (i.e., records) and columns (i.e., fields), and which are typically accessed using a standardized language such as Structured Query Language (SQL). Database management systems (DBMS's) are the computer programs that are used to access the information stored in a database via searches or queries against the database, and to modify the information stored in the database.
Databases are often enlisted to process transactions. Transactions include indivisible operations that must be fully completed or must be fully aborted. A typical transaction is a banking transaction for moving money from one account to another. This transaction typically includes at least two indivisible operations such as removing money from one account and adding money to the other account. The operations are indivisible because both of them must be successfully completed to maintain the accuracy of the two accounts.
If all the operations are successfully completed, then the computer system "commits" the transaction, for example, via an SQL COMMIT statement. By committing, all the changes are made permanent in the database containing the account information. However, if an error occurs (e.g., due to a computer crash) and an operation cannot be completed, the computer system rolls back all of the operations, including any successfully completed operations, via an SQL ROLLBACK statement, to undue all the changes. As such, the database containing the account information may be restored to its known, original state prior to the transaction.
Many modern computer systems are distributed systems, and as such, transactions are also distributed. A typically distributed system is a client-server. The client-server is a type of distributed network architecture, which enables a client to make a request to a server. The client is often a single user computer or a program running on the same, while the server is often a multi-user computer or a program running on the same. After receiving the request, the server (e.g., an application server) will process the request and typically generate a response back to the client. A server is typically located remotely from a client and can process requests from multiple clients.
One type of distributed transaction processing architecture capable of being used in client-server systems is referred to as the X/OpenXA standard. In XA transactions, multiple resource managers on multiple clients interact with their associated XAResources, which are also on the clients, and a transaction manager on a server typically handles the execution of transactions. The transaction manager typically handles the execution of multiple transactions as part of a global transaction. In particular, the transaction manager enlists the XAResources, communicates with the resource managers about the XAResources, and maintains a serialized transaction log of all the XAResources that are enlisted. An XA resource is typically any resource that can be utilized with XA such as a database, main frame, messaging service, etc.
Typically each XAResource that is enlisted by a transaction is explicitly configured, with information about the XAResource (e.g., XAResource and XAResourceInfo) stored once in the transaction log of the transaction manager at the beginning when the XAResource is first enlisted and then the information is referenced each time the transactions enlist that XAResource. Regardless of the resources enlisted, all the operations must still be committed or rolled back. To ensure that this occurs, a two-phase commit (2PC) protocol is often implemented. In the first phase, the transaction manager orders the resource managers to prepare to commit the enlisted XAResources. Depending on whether or not all the resource managers are successful, the transaction manger tells the resource managers to commit or roll back the operations on the XAResources in the second phase. To complete the processing, the resource managers associated with the XAResources are inflated to invoke (a) prepare and (b) commit or rollback (i.e., 2PC). If committed, the resource managers then contact the XAResources and the specified operations (e.g., an SQL verb) are performed on the XAResources. This is generally illustrated in FIG. 4 with two XAResources (i.e., XA1 resource at connection conn1 and XA2 resource at connection conn2).
In case the transaction needs to be recovered, the transaction log may be utilized to determine which XAResources were enlisted. After they are identified, the resource managers associated with those XAResources may be contacted to perform 2PC on those resources. Specifically, the transaction manager stores a serializable factory that can be used to return the XAResource instances. The transaction manager serializes the factory and when required, inflates it, obtains a XAResource instance, and then calls 2PC.
However, often times a XAResource serves as a proxy for other XAResources and generally represents other XAResources. For example, the XAResource may be a virtual resource such as a virtual database that is partitioned across hundreds of separate computers (e.g., over a grid of thousands of server computers). Databases are often partitioned across many computers to improve efficiency, to perform maintenance of a portion of the database, etc. However, conventional techniques assume that the XAResource that was enlisted in the transaction log is the XAResource that will be utilized during execution. As such, XAResources represented by the resource in the transaction log are generally not included in the transaction log. Moreover, it may not be until runtime, after execution of the transaction has begun and at commit time that the exact XAResources that are being enlisted will be known and cannot be preconfigured, instead, only the proxy might be preconfigured. As such, this may cause errors, bottlenecks, and may hinder recovery of the transaction because there may be no record of the actual XAResources enlisted. Furthermore, even if some of these resources were known, it may not be efficient to try to configure all of them.
As an example, suppose there are ten resource managers associated with ten virtual databases that represent other resources. There is also a transaction and a subset of those virtual resources will be selected for the transaction. As such, the selected subset of virtual resources may be preconfigured, enlisted, and entered in the transaction log of the transaction manager. The transaction log typically does not indicate any of the other resources represented by the virtual resources that were enlisted. Moreover, the transaction manager will generally incorrectly operate under the impression that the resources in the transaction log are the only ones being utilized to execute the transaction. Even the resource managers associated with the selected subset of virtual resources generally have no way to determine which resources represented by the virtual resources were actually enlisted during runtime.
A need therefore exists for an improved manner of processing transactions, in particular, an improved manner of keeping track of the resources that are dynamically enlisted to execute a transaction and not known before runtime.

Storing information for dynamically enlisted resources in a transaction

International Business Machines Corporation


A cabinet for housing electronic plug-in cards has front and rear card baskets for inserting plug-in cards and first and second vertical backplanes. The front side of the first backplane faces the front of the cabinet and the front side of the second backplane faces the back of the cabinet. A distance piece connects the two backplanes and a counterbore is disposed in at least one of the rear sides of the two backplanes. The depth of the counterbore or the residual thicknesses of the backplane after drilling the counterbore is sized such that the distance between the front side of the second backplane and the front of the cabinet is a predetermined value. This ensures that the plug-in cards pushed onto the second backplane are completely received inside the rear card basket and the front plate of the plug-in cards ends flush with the rear card basket.

The invention relates to a cabinet for housing electronic plug-in cards that have a front, a back, a front card basket for inserting plug-in cards from the front and a rear card basket for inserting plug-in cards from the back. The cabinet further comprises a first vertical backplane with a front side and a rear side, wherein the first backplane is attached to the end of the front card basket such that its front side points to the front of the cabinet, and a second backplane with a front side and a rear side, wherein the second backplane is arranged in parallel and at a distance on the rear side of the first backplane such that the front side of the second backplane points to the back of the cabinet. Distance pieces connect the two backplanes with each other.
Such a cabinet is used for modular computer systems in the telecommunications industry. According to new or future standards for such modular computer systems such as Advanced TCA Extension, the rear card basket has the same size as the front card basket. As a result plug-in cards of the same size can be housed both in the front and in the rear card basket.
When installing the electronic components the first vertical backplane is initially screwed to the housing. Thereafter the second backplane is attached to the rear side of the first backplane by means of distance pieces. Then the plug-in cards are pushed onto the first or the second backplane in the front and the rear card basket.
When manufacturing the backplanes their thickness is subject to a manufacturing tolerance of approx. ±10%. Since the length of the distance pieces is also subject to a certain manufacturing tolerance, the distance between the front sides of the two backplanes mounted on top of each other comprises a correspondingly large overall tolerance. This tolerance is not acceptable for the majority of applications.
Due to the overall tolerance the mounting position of the second backplane in the cabinet varies considerably. When for example plug-in modules are pushed onto the second backplane, the varying overall tolerance in the worst case can have the effect of some plug-in cards protruding from the rear card basket. The front plates of the plug-in modules do then not finish flush with the rear card basket. As a result the cabinet may not be correctly closed on its back.
The document "Progress in Advanced TCA for Instrumentation, ATCA Summit 2012", on page 11 describes an arrangement of two backplanes, wherein the second backplane is attached on top of the first backplane with the aid of distance pieces. Both the first and the second backplane have plug-in cards of the same size inserted into them. Page 11 also shows cabinets into which such an arrangement is installed.
The document "ATCA Summit 2011, Advanced TCA Extensions PICMG 3.7 Mechanical", 2 Nov. 2012, Eike Waltz, on page 10 discloses a cabinet with two backplanes. The cabinet comprises a front and a rear card basket, wherein both card baskets are of the same size.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,239,528 B1 discloses a cabinet with a front card basket, a rear card basket and a midplane. The midplane is attached to the front card basket, which by means of connecting pieces is connected with the rear card basket. The connecting pieces comprise elongated slots by means of which the rear card basket can be moved relative to the front card basket. Variations in the thickness of the midplane can thus be compensated for by adjusting the rear card basket. This ensures that independently of the thickness tolerance of the midplane, plug-in cards mounted in the rear card basket cannot not protrude from the rear card basket.

Cabinet for housing electronic plug-in cards and method of assembly


A method for treating a sludge to be fed to a bioreactor for treating wastewater, or an anaerobic or aerobic sludge digester, the method comprising contacting the sludge with free nitrous acid.

Microbial processes play a central role in wastewater management. In particular, they underpin biological treatment of wastewater, the most cost-effective and environmentally friendly method for wastewater treatment.
A typical advanced wastewater treatment plant receives wastewater from sewage mains. The wastewater is first treated to remove large particulates (by screening, or passing through a primary settler, or both). The liquor then passes to bioreactors, where bacteria mineralise organic carbon (often referred to as biological oxygen demand or BOD) to CO2 and convert ammonia to nitrate, and in some cases further to nitrogen gas. Some bioreactors also achieve biological phosphorus removal. This process results in the growth of biomass. The biomass is then separated from the liquor, typically in a secondary settler.
The sludge from the secondary settler (which includes most of the separated biomass) is then treated in an anaerobic digester or an aerobic digester, sometimes together with primary sludge resulting from the settling process in the primary settler. In the anaerobic digester, the BOD of the sludge is converted to methane. Products from the anaerobic digester also include solids that may be disposed of and a liquid stream. In the aerobic digester, part of the organics in the sludge is mineralised thus achieving the stabilisation and a reduction of the sludge to be disposed of.
Variations around this general process described above also exist.
Bioreactors used for treating primary effluent can consist of aerobic, anoxic and even anaerobic zones/conditions. Throughout this specification, the term "bioreactor for treating wastewater" is used to refer to any reactor in which microorganisms utilise or catalyse conversion of wastewater stream components into other components. The bioreactor may be an aerobic bioreactor, an anaerobic bioreactor or an anoxic bioreactor, or it may be operated under two or more such conditions (typically in sequence, but different zones of a bioreactor may operate under different conditions, for example, a top part of a bioreactor may be operating under aerobic conditions and a bottom part of the bioreactor may be operating under anaerobic conditions.
In a typical wastewater treatment plant, both biological nutrient removal and energy recovery require organic carbon. The requirement for high-level nutrient removal from wastewaters has often seen the abolishment of the primary settler, to satisfy the carbon demand for nutrient removal in the downstream processes of the wastewater treatment plant. However, abolishing the primary settler eliminates an energy rich stream for anaerobic digestion. This reduces the energy yield of the plant and renders energy recovery through anaerobic digestion economically infeasible for small to medium-sized wastewater treatment plants.
One reason for the high demand of organic carbon feed for nutrient removal is biomass production. In this regard, in the bioreactor for treating wastewater, the reactions that are taking place are typically biologically driven. As a result, the microorganisms that catalyse these reactions grow and a substantial biomass is produced. These microorganisms assimilate a large amount organic carbon as biomass. Typically, 30 to 40% of the organic carbon fed to the bioreactor is assimilated by bacterial cells in the form of active bacterial cells and debris resulting from cell death and lysis, and is subsequently removed from the bioreactor as excess secondary sludge.
The secondary sludge is often supplied to an anaerobic digester in order to convert the BOD of the sludge to biogas containing methane. However, this large stream of secondary sludge, although containing large amounts of organic carbon, is poorly biodegradable. Pre-treatment of the sludge is required to break up bacterial cell walls to make its carbon more available for the reactions in the anaerobic digester, such as methane production, or in another bioreactor for treating wastewater as an external carbon source for denitrification.
Various methods have been developed to improve the bioavailability of this sludge stream. However, these methods are either energy intensive (such as thermal treatment, sonication, or ozonation) or consume large amounts of imported chemicals, such as acid, alkali or hydrogen peroxide. This incurs significant economic and environmental costs.


Disclosed herein is a jig for identifying a type of wheel nut and mounting the wheel nut, comprising a base plate provided with a plurality of sets of temporary assembly pins, wherein the plurality of sets of temporary assembly pins are classified depending on the kind of a vehicle.

Generally, in a vehicle assembly process, a wheel is assembled by fitting a wheel over a wheel assembly of a vehicle body that is moved on a shuttle and by coupling wheel nuts to the wheel assembly.
During the above process, workers use a tool, which is called a nut runner, to facilitate the process of coupling the wheel nuts to each wheel.
Workers must identify the kind of vehicle moving along the assembly line, select wheel nuts suitable for particular kinds of vehicle, and insert the selected wheel nuts into respective sockets of the nut runner.
In the conventional process of coupling the wheel nuts, however, workers must pay careful attention to correctly identify particular kinds of vehicle moving along the assembly line on the shuttle. In addition, excessive time is required to conduct preparation work of selecting wheel nuts corresponding to particular kinds of vehicle and inserting the wheel nuts into the respective sockets of the nut runner, thereby increasing the overall processing time. Also, workers may mistakenly couple incorrect kinds of wheel nuts to a vehicle.
There is thus a need for an improved tool that can mount wheel nuts to vehicles in a shortened time and a reliable manner.

Jig for identifying type of wheel nut and mounting the same


An input data correction method and apparatus for a navigation system that has a key filtering function to assist the user to determine possible entries for inputting data. The input data correction method includes the steps of displaying a keyboard screen, inputting data through alphanumeric keys on the keyboard screen, positioning a cursor to a location of a character of the input data that is desired to be changed, searching for candidate entries that match the input data if the character at the cursor location of the input data is changed, highlighting alphanumeric keys corresponding to the characters to change the character at the cursor location so that the input data after the change match with the candidate entries, and selecting one or more highlighted keys thereby changing the input data to the candidate entry.

A navigation system performs travel guidance for enabling a user to easily and quickly reach the selected destination. A typical example is a vehicle navigation system where a user's vehicle is equipped with a navigation function. Such a navigation system detects the position of the user or user's vehicle, and reads out map data pertaining to an area at the current vehicle position from a data storage medium, for example, a DVD (digital versatile disc), or a hard disc. Alternatively, such map data can be provided to the user from a remote server through a communication network such as Internet.
When a destination is set, the navigation system starts a route guidance function for setting a guided route from the start point to the destination. During the route guidance, the navigation system reads the nodes data from the data storage medium and successively stores the nodes data of road segments constituting the guided route in a map memory. In the actual traveling, the node series stored in the map memory is searched for a portion of the guided route to be displayed in a map display area of the monitor screen, and the portion of the guided route is highlighted to be clearly distinguished from other routes.
FIGS. 1A–1F show an example of procedure and screen display involved in the navigation system for specifying a destination and guiding the user to the destination. A main menu screen such as shown in FIG. 1A displays menu items including a "Destination" menu for entering the destination. When selecting "Destination", the navigation system displays a "Find Destination by" screen as shown in FIG. 1B for selecting an input method for specifying the destination. The "Find Destination By" screen lists various methods for selecting the destination including "Address" for specifying the city and address of the destination, "Intersection" for specifying the names of two streets which intersect with one another, and "Point of Interest" (POI) for selecting the programmed destination based on the name, category or telephone number. Other methods in the "Find Destination by" screen include "Recent Route" for specifying the destination based on the recent history of destinations saved in the navigation system, and "Address Book" for selecting the address of the destination from a prescribed address list stored in the system.
When selecting, for example, the "Point of Interest" method in FIG. 1B, the navigation system displays selection methods of point of interest (POI) either by "Place Name" or "Place Type" in FIG. 1C. The "Place Name" is to specify a name of POI, and the "Place Type" is to specify a category of POI. If the "Place Name" is selected in FIG. 1C, the navigation system shows an "Enter Place Name" screen such as shown in FIG. 1D. The screen of FIG. 1D is basically a keyboard for inputting the name in an input box on the monitor screen. The user inputs the name of the desired POI in the input box through the keyboard.
FIG. 1E shows a "Confirm Route" screen of the navigation system for confirming the destination. If the place name displayed is the correct destination, the user enters an "OK to Proceed" key to proceed to the next procedure. Then, the navigation system calculates and determines a guided route to the destination, i.e., the selected POI. After determining the guided route, the navigation system starts the route guidance as shown in FIG. 1F. Typically, the navigation system shows the intersection which is highlighted to show the next turn and a direction of the turn. Such route guidance by the navigation system is also given by voice instructions.
As noted above, typically, a user inputs an address or a name of a particular point of interest by using a keyboard as shown in FIG. 1D for setting a destination. In the case where the user has made a mistake in inputting the address or name of the destination, the user had to return to the point where the mistake is made in order to correct the mistake.
FIGS. 2A–2C show the process for correcting a wrong entry in such a situation. FIGS. 2A and 2B show an example of display where a user has inputted a place name "Joey Mobil" in a text window 27 through a keyboard 28. Suppose the correct place name is "Jody Mobil" and the user wants to correct the error. Thus, in this case, the user wants to change the letter "e" to "d".
In the conventional navigation system, the user has to delete the letters in the text window with use of a "delete" key to move the cursor backward to arrive at the letter "e" as shown in FIG. 2C. In other words, the letters that have been already inputted have to be deleted by this process even though most of them are correct. In this example, the letters "y Mobil" are erased even though all of them are correct. Namely, when the user has to correct the single letter, she has to re-type the rest of the letters.
There is also a situation where the user does not know the exact name of the destination. For example, the user wants to visit a particular gas station whose name is "Jody Mobil" in the above example, however, she knows only that the name ends with "Mobil". The user may know that the first word of the place name to visit starts with "Jo" and ends with the letter "y", but she is not certain whether it is "Joey", "Joay" or "Jody", etc. Thus, it is desirable for the user to know what a letter comes between them to specify the location to visit without repeatedly typing the correct letters.
Thus, what is needed is a navigation system having an improved key correction function for inputting text data which allows the user to move a cursor to a particular location where a mistake is made or correctness is not certain, and provides a feedback to the user by searching the possible letter from the database.

Data correction method and apparatus using key filtering function for entering data in navigation system