A method, via a processor, of forecasting energy usage including selecting a plurality of reference days with at least one feature matching a corresponding feature of a day to be forecasted and filtering the plurality of reference days with a humidity filter to identify at least one matching reference day. The at least one matching reference day is associated with a correlation coefficient greater than or equal to a minimum correlation coefficient, and a minimum number of humidity values within a range of corresponding humidity values of the day to be forecasted. The method also includes retrieving energy load values and corresponding temperature values corresponding to the at least one matching reference day, calculating a plurality of regression coefficients of a polynomial equation linking the temperature values to the energy load values, and calculating and storing a forecasted load value of the day to be forecasted according to the polynomial equation.

Forecasting electrical power usage can be desirable to an entity for planning and budgetary purposes. For example, a manufacturer may desire to forecast power usage for a factory to determine an amount of money to budget for such usage. Similarly, a company may desire to forecast its power usage in order to negotiate a rate contract with a utility supplying the electrical power.
Demand for electrical power (the energy usage, or load, on the electrical system) at any point in time is dependent upon weather factors such as temperature, humidity, wind, and precipitation (with reducing dependence in the order specified and temperature affecting the load most significantly). Load is also influenced by other factors such as the day of the week, or if the day is a holiday or other day of atypical load. For example, a factory likely will demand a higher load on a work day, when it is producing goods, and demand a lower load on weekends and holidays when there is no production. Using regression methods it is possible to identify a mathematic relationship that allows the load to be forecasted if a forecasted temperature at a specific time is known. The accuracy of the forecast can be increased if other factors such as the humidity and any special characteristics of the day (e.g., the day of the week, holiday, etc.) are taken into account in selecting reference data points (e.g., reference days).
Since statistical methods are used to create the model that would represent the relationship between load and temperature, the accuracy of the model depends upon not only the number of data points used to create the model but also the statistical relevance of those data points to the model. The accuracy of a load data forecast depends upon the accuracy of the statistical model developed to represent a relationship between load and temperature. The accuracy of the statistical model in turn depends upon the quality of the reference days used to create the model.
Reference days may have similar overall humidity profiles to the day to be forecasted (as determined by correlating humidity measurements of a reference day to predicted humidity values of the day to be forecasted). However the reference days may have extremely different humidity values and hence may not be good predictors for the day to be forecasted. Also, it may be difficult or impossible to differentiate one reference day from another in terms of its quality as a predictor based only on a correlation coefficient with respect to the day to be forecasted. For example, a group of reference days with humidity profiles similar to the day to be forecasted may fall into any of the following categories:                very similar humidity values and very similar humidity profile to the day to be forecasted;        somewhat similar humidity values and somewhat similar humidity profiles to the day to be forecasted; and        similar overall humidity profiles but extremely different humidity values to day to be forecasted.
Reference days with very similar humidity values and very similar humidity profiles to the day to be forecasted are the best predictors to use in developing a model to forecast load data. Reference days with somewhat similar humidity values and somewhat similar humidity profiles to the day to be forecasted can be useful to develop the model, but only if a large enough number of reference days with very similar humidity values and very similar humidity profiles cannot be found. However it is difficult to differentiate between these three categories, as a humidity profile only gives a linear trend of the humidity values of a historical day compared to the day to be forecasted. Individual humidity values of the historical day can be very dissimilar to a corresponding humidity value of the day to be forecasted, even if the overall linear trends are similar. What is needed is a way to differentiate between reference days with very similar humidity values and profiles from days with somewhat similar humidity values and profiles, as well as a way to exclude days with similar humidity profiles and extremely dissimilar humidity values. The present disclosure is directed to addressing these and other needs and solving these and other problems.

Progressive humidity filter for load data forecasting


Provided is a carboxy-modified synthetic isoprene polymer latex for dip molding use, which is produced by the graft polymerization of a synthetic isoprene polymer with a monomer having a carboxyl group in an aqueous phase and contains at least one anionic surfactant, wherein a carboxy-modified synthetic isoprene polymer that constitutes the carboxy-modified synthetic isoprene polymer latex has a tetrahydrofuran-insoluble content of 30 wt % or more.

Conventionally, it is known that dip molded article which is to be used by contacting the human body such as a nipple, a balloon, gloves, balloon and a sack or so can be obtained by dip molding the composition for a dip molding which comprises latex of natural rubber (Patent document 1). However, latex of natural rubber comprises proteins which causes an allergy reaction to human body, thus it was difficult to use as the dip molded article which directly contacts with the biological mucosa or organs without carrying out a deproteinization treatment. Therefore, as the gloves used for the surgery, the gloves made of synthetic isoprene polymer has been considered, however the gloves made of synthetic isoprene polymer has poor tear strength compared to that made of natural rubber. As the gloves used for the surgery, it is required not to break during the medical treatment in order to protect the doctors from the infection, thus the gloves made of the synthetic isoprene polymer is demanded to have a tear strength equal or stronger than the natural rubber.

Latex for molding use, composition for dip molding use, and dip-molded article


The present invention provides a kit for attaching a manually operated wheelchair to a motorized scooter having a seating apparatus and supporting structure and a floor, comprising: (a) a motorized scooter attachment angle iron, wherein the angle iron comprises: (i) a vertical wall; and (ii) a horizontal wall, the horizontal wall forming approximately a right angle to the vertical wall, wherein the horizontal wall has at least two embedded elongated slots; (b) an angle iron attachment adjustable bar, wherein the adjustable bar comprises (i) a left elbow shaped tubular segment having a horizontally oriented bottom end and a vertically oriented top end; (ii) a right elbow shaped tubular segment having a horizontally oriented bottom end and a vertically oriented top end; and (iii) a straight middle tubular segment having a diameter larger than the left segment and the right segment, so as to permit the left segment to insert into a left end of the middle tubular segment and so as to permit the right segment to insert into a right end of the middle tubular segment; and (c) a pair of tubular adapters, wherein each adapter comprises (i) an elbow connecting bottom end, capable of attaching to the vertically oriented top end; and (ii) a concave top end, wherein the concave top end is generally perpendicular to the elbow connecting bottom end and wherein the concave top end is open on top.

The invention generally relates to wheelchairs, and in particular it relates to a device for securely attaching a manually operated wheelchair to a motorized scooter.
Americans are living longer now than ever before thanks to medical technological advances and increased health awareness. As the population grows older, more and more people are experiencing the often cruel ravages inflicted by the aging process. Senior citizens often suffer from varying degrees of impaired mobility and consequently experience difficulties in getting around. Moreover, impaired mobility is not limited to the elderly. To the contrary, many individuals from all age groups cope with this phenomenon every day on a temporary or permanent basis. These people are routinely confronted with numerous problems that cannot be envisioned, much less fully understood, by the majority of the population that is fortunate enough to have all of their physical faculties intact. Fortunately, manually operated and mechanized wheelchairs are commercially available to those in need.
Manually operated wheelchairs are significantly less expensive than their motorized counterparts and are consequently in much wider use. An elderly or disabled consumer can purchase a manually operated wheelchair for a few hundred dollars but must spend about six thousand to seven thousand dollars to acquire a motorized version. However, certain disadvantages are typically associated with utilizing manually operated wheelchairs. Most notably, the user must expend a lot of physical effort rotating the outside wheels of the device in order to travel from one location to another. Thus, the user generally becomes tired and weary in a relatively short period of time. The user often requires another person to push the wheelchair in which he sits to complete long excursions, an untenable or at least uncomfortable predicament. Hence, there is a pressing need for a method of effectively converting a manually operated wheelchair to an affordable motorized wheelchair by securely attaching it to a scooter. U.S. Pat. No. 3,921,744 to Benoit et al. ("Benoit") teaches a wheelchair with a detachable drive means. However, a user must exert considerable energy attaching and detaching the drive means to the wheelchair of Benoit. U.S. Pat. No. 4,386,672 to Coker ("Coker") discloses battery-powered electric drive unit that detachably connects to a conventional wheelchair. However, the drive unit of Coker is highly complex and has little practical utility. U.S. Pat. No. 4,892,166 to Gaffney ("Gaffney") teaches a device for coupling a front wheel unit of a motorized wheelchair with a rear wheel unit to obtain an assembled motorized wheelchair. However, the device of Gaffney is useless with manually operated wheelchairs. U.S. Pat. No. 5,050,695 to Kleinwolterink ("Kleinwolterink") discloses a unit that is adapted to easily attach to a conventional wheelchair and convert it to a motorized wheelchair. However, the unit of Kleinwolterink is excessively bulky and very cumbersome. U.S. Pat. No. 5,494,126 to Meeker ("Meeker") teaches an apparatus and method for attaching a motorized wheel to a manually operated wheelchair. However, the apparatus and method of Meeker are extraordinarily complex and impractical. U.S. Pat. No. 5,826,670 to Nan ("Nan") discloses a detachable propulsive device for a wheelchair. However, the device of Nan does not provide an area in which the user can rest his feet while riding. U.S. Pat. No. 6,231,283 B1 to Stowers ("Stowers") teaches an apparatus that anchors a vehicle such as a wheelchair in place. However, the apparatus of Stowers does not transport a wheelchair user from one location to another.
While these devices may be suitable for the particular purposes employed, or for general use, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as disclosed hereafter.

Motorized scooter wheelchair attachment device


An object of the invention is to improve a ventilation line opening/closing means of a fuel tank which interrupts a ventilation line from the fuel tank to a canister during fuel supply so as to restrict the fuel level when the tank is full, and which opens the ventilation line during traveling of a vehicle. This invention provides a ventilation line opening/closing means of a fuel tank, comprising a float valve provided in a ventilation line for introducing gas of the fuel tank into a canister so as to control ventilation, wherein a fuel receiving portion of return fuel including escape holes is integrally formed on a lower portion of a vent shut-off valve, so that the vent shut-off valve is opened by return fuel from the engine during operation of the engine, and that the vent shut-off valve is closed by the force of a spring during a stop of the engine.

1. Industrial Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a ventilation line opening/closing means of a fuel tank which interrupts a ventilation line to a canister during fuel supply so as to restrict the fuel level when the tank is full (to prevent overfilling), and which opens the ventilation line during traveling of a vehicle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Prevention of diffusion of automobile fuel into the atmosphere concerns the recent regulations for preventing air pollution, and is an important issue.
In a fuel tank of an automobile, vaporization of liquid fuel is activated by, for example, an increase in temperature, and accordingly, an internal pressure of the tank is increased. As the pressure becomes higher, there is more risk that fuel vapor will leak to the environment due to penetration or outflow, which results in air pollution as well as fuel loss. Moreover, when the tank internal pressure is high, there is more danger of a fire accident at the time of collision.
In order to release excessive fuel vapor into the canister, the resistance of the ventilation line is decreased to prevent the tank internal pressure from increasing. On the basis of this idea, various kinds of fuel vapor discharge valves and tank internal pressure control apparatus have been suggested, for example, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,044,389, 5,044,397 and 5,065,782.

Ventilation line opening/closing means of fuel tank


A semiconductor module includes a multilayer board, a first circuit element mounted on the multilayer board, a second circuit element stacked on the first circuit element, an interposer board, provided between the first circuit element and the second circuit element, which includes an antenna conductor, a passive element, mounted on the multilayer board, which is connected to the antenna conductor, and a molded resin layer which seals the respective elements. The antenna conductor is structured by a spiral-shaped wiring pattern and the both ends of the antenna conductor are connected to the passive element via a bonding wire. The antenna conductor functions as a loop antenna with the passive element inserted.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor module and, more particularly, to a semiconductor module having a plurality of stacked circuit elements and a mobile apparatus mounting the semiconductor module thereon.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, a packaging technology known to realize smaller size and functional sophistication for circuit devices used in electronic equipment is a multilayer stack structure (multi-chip package structure) capable of mixed packaging of a plurality of circuit elements. With circuit devices of multilayer stack structure, however, mixed packaging by stacking, for instance, a circuit element comprising an analog circuit and a circuit element comprising a digital circuit may present problems. For example, the high-frequency noise (noise containing high-frequency components) occurring in the circuit element having a digital circuit operating at high speed can be propagated to the circuit element having an analog circuit which is likely to be affected by the noise, and thereby interferes with the performance of the circuit element having the analog circuit. This destabilizes the operation of the circuit device, thus lowering the reliability thereof.
As a countermeasure to such noise propagation, for example, a technology is known wherein noise propagation between circuit elements is intercepted by inserting a heat-transmitting conductor (metallic plate), which is held at ground potential, between a semiconductor chip comprising an analog circuit (circuit element having an analog circuit) and a semiconductor chip comprising a digital circuit (circuit element having a digital circuit).
Also, a technology is known wherein an aerial circuit (antenna) of metallic wiring, which is provided in the outer periphery of an electromagnetic radiation source (a circuit element having a digital circuit), absorbs unwanted radiation (noise) therefrom, thus controlling the noise propagation from the electromagnetic radiation source.
With the method according to the former known technology, however, potential variation can occur within the plane of the metallic plate due to the noise (especially the noise containing high-frequency components) propagating from the circuit element having a digital circuit to the metallic plate. And during the process of the potential variation propagating to a grounding link (ground point) via the metallic plate, the potential variation can enter as noise into the circuit element having an analog circuit which is in the propagation path.
The method according to the latter known technology may be effective if the circuit element having a digital circuit and the circuit element having an analog circuit are placed side by side on the same plane. But it may not function effectively to control noise in the vertical direction between the circuit elements if a multilayer stack structure is employed with the circuit elements provided with antennas in the outer periphery thereof stacked one on top of the other.

Semiconductor module and mobile apparatus


A semiconductor device includes an insulating substrate and a TFT element disposed on the substrate. The TFT element includes a gate electrode, a gate insulating film, a semiconductor layer, and a source electrode and a drain electrode arranged in that order on the insulating substrate. The semiconductor layer includes an active layer composed of polycrystalline semiconductor and a contact layer segment interposed between the active layer and the source electrode and another contact layer segment interposed between the active layer and the drain electrode. The source and drain electrodes each have a first face facing the opposite face of the active layer from the interface with the gate insulating layer and a second face facing an etched side face of the active layer. Each contact layer segment is disposed between the active layer and each of the first and second faces of the source or drain electrode.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same and, more particularly, to a technique that is effective in application to a thin film transistor (TFT) liquid crystal display panel having a driver circuit therein and a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Background Art
Heretofore, TFT elements have been widely used in IC chips, such as a central processing unit (CPU) and a memory, and in semiconductor devices, such as a liquid crystal display panel.
The TFT elements each have a laminated structure including an insulating substrate having a first surface, on which a gate electrode, a gate insulating film, a semiconductor layer (semiconductor film), and a source electrode and a drain electrode are arranged. The TFT elements are broadly divided into a top-gate type and a bottom-gate type according to the order of lamination of those layers. The top-gate TFT element includes, in series, the insulating substrate, the semiconductor layer, the gate insulating film, and the gate electrode. The bottom-gate TFT element includes, in series, the insulating substrate, the gate electrode, the gate insulating film, and the semiconductor layer.
A liquid crystal display panel, one of semiconductor devices, includes a first substrate, a second substrate, and a liquid crystal material disposed between the first and second substrates. One of the first and second substrates is made of, for example, glass. The glass substrate, serving as an insulating substrate with a first surface, has on the first surface a plurality of scanning signal lines, a plurality of video signal lines, a plurality of TFT elements arranged in a matrix, and pixel electrodes arranged in a matrix.
The liquid crystal display panel having the TFT elements further includes a driver circuit for generating scanning signals to be supplied to the scanning signal lines and a driver circuit for generating video signals to be supplied to the video signal lines. Each driver circuit is constructed as, for example, a driver IC in chip form. A semiconductor package, such as a chip on film (COF) package or a tape carrier package (TCP), provided with the driver IC is typically connected to a substrate (hereinafter, a TFT substrate) having the scanning signal lines thereon.
However, some of recent liquid crystal display panels have a structure in which the above-described driver circuits are arranged outside a display area in the TFT substrate (insulating substrate) in addition to the scanning signal lines. In other words, the liquid crystal display panel (TFT substrate) includes the driver circuits.
To form a bottom-gate TFT element in a semiconductor device, in many cases, amorphous semiconductor, e.g., amorphous silicon (a-Si) has been used for an active layer constituting a semiconductor layer. However, the use of polycrystalline semiconductor, e.g., polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si), as the active layer of the semiconductor layer has increased in recent semiconductor devices in order to achieve high-speed operation.

Display device and method of manufacturing the same


In a device for controlling the fuel quantity supplied to an internal combustion engine via a fuel supply line and an injection nozzle which includes a nozzle needle and an actuator for controlling the position of the nozzle needle, wherein a sensor for the detection of injection parameters is provided which supplies injection parameter data to a control unit for determining, on the basis of the sensor data, control parameters for the actuator of the injection nozzle, the sensor is a mass flow sensor arranged in the fuel supply line.

The invention relates to a device for controlling the fuel quantity supplied to an internal combustion engine, including an injection nozzle needle and means for controlling the position of the valve needle and a sensor for determining the injection parameters.
An accurate metering of the injection of fuel to an internal combustion engine, in particular in the pilot quantity range of 1 mm3, makes it possible to influence exactly the subsequent combustion processes dependent on this injection, for example, an accurate control of combustion to achieve high efficiencies, at the same time with low pollutant values and noise generation, or else the compensation of aging effects. For this purpose, characteristic maps have hitherto been filed, which contain corresponding desired values for the fuel quantity. At the same time, the injection nozzles are subject to the highest possible requirements as to manufacturing tolerances, thus leading to high production costs. Moreover, aging effects cannot be leveled out or can be leveled out only inadequately by the characteristic maps.
DE 199 45 677 C1 discloses an injection nozzle of an internal combustion engine, a sensor for through flow measurement being arranged in the inner space of said injection nozzle. The sensor has a conductor track, the resistance of which is measured. As is known, this resistance is temperature-dependent and therefore changes as a function of the stream or flow velocity of the flowing fuel.
Furthermore, DE 199 45 673 A1 discloses a generic device, in which a sensor for measuring the fuel through flow and/or other state parameters of the fuel is provided in the inner space of the injection nozzle or in the space outside the latter. The sensor is coupled to a control loop for controlling the injection quantity.
It is the object of the invention to provide a simple device which can be easily produced and by means of which an improved determination of control parameters for the control member of an injection nozzle is provided.

Device for controlling and/or regulating the fuel quantity supplied to an internal combustion engine


An improved port replicator for sharing peripheral devices between a portable computer and a desktop computer. The improved docking station including a docking station provides the ability to connect the ports of the two computers as well as to share peripherals between the computers. These interconnections are accomplished by means of a switch mechanism on the improved docking station and port replicator. The improved docking station and port replicator is realized by connecting a custom 50-pin cable between a desktop computer and docking station. The docking station includes a custom adapter for transferring the desired electrical signals from the desktop to either a portable computer at the docking station, the peripheral devices connected to the docking station, or to both the portable computer and the peripheral devices.

1. The Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to docking stations and port replicators that are used to attach peripheral devices to portable computers. More particularly, this invention concerns a port replicator for selectively attaching peripheral devices to either a portable computer or a desktop computer, i.e., the invention concerns a port replicator that allows for the sharing of peripheral devices between a portable computer and a desktop computer.
2. The Background Art
It is known in the art to use docking stations and port replicators to attach a set of peripheral devices to a portable or laptop computer. When in use, a docking station will have a set of peripheral devices connected to it. In addition, the docking station has a bay for receiving or mechanically coupling to a portable computer. The bay allows the portable computer to be easily connected to or removed from the docking station. When the portable computer is connected to the docking station, the portable computer is electrically connected to the docking station and has access to the peripheral devices that are connected to the docking station.
Docking stations usually provide slots for expansion cards and bays for CD-ROMs and hard drives. Some docking stations have multimedia speakers and a stand or platform for an external monitor to sit upon. Other peripheral devices that can be connected to a docking station are the following: a keyboard, a mouse, a printer, small system computer interface (SCSI) devices, personal computer memory card international association (PCMCIA) adapters, token ring connections, ethernet connections, and other standard computer networking devices. These standard interconnection devices are acknowledged within this application to represent those standards which exist at the date of filing of the present application. In addition, recent developments in docking stations provide means for "hot docking."
Hot docking occurs when a portable computer remains powered on as it is connected to a docking station. The portable computer will acquire complete access to the peripheral devices immediately upon connection to the docking station. Hot docking is desirable because the portable computer does not need to be re-booted to obtain access to the peripherals.
Like docking stations, port replicators are used to attach a set of peripheral devices to a portable or laptop computer. However, port replicators tend to be smaller than docking stations and are not as readily expandable as a docking station. Port replicators perform essentially the same function as a docking station. It is often difficult to distinguish between a docking station and a port replicator. Port replicators will commonly provide connections for the following peripheral devices: a monitor, a keyboard, a mouse, a printer, SCSI devices, PCMCIA devices, ethernet connections, token ring connections, or any combination thereof. Thus, the name "port replicator" is often used interchangeably with the name "docking station."
Also known in the art is a desktop computer used as a docking station. Although this system eliminates the need for a separate docking station or port replicator, a drawback is that the system requires a complex combination of cables and software. Another drawback is that the system requires that a portable computer have a 25-pin parallel port to function with the desktop computer docking station, otherwise, the portable computer will not be compatible with the system. These systems are also known to be susceptible to timing problems and are extremely unreliable.
Although docking stations and port replicators are desirable for the ease with which they enable a user to attach peripherals to a portable computer, the docking stations and port replicators of the prior art lack the ability to share peripherals between a portable computer and a desktop. Thus, docking stations are inconvenient for users of both a portable computer and a desktop computer.
For example, a docking station is undesirable when a user desires to use the same printer for both the portable computer and the desktop computer. To switch the printer from the portable computer to the desktop computer is inconvenient. It requires that the user unplug the printer cable from the docking station and then plug the printer cable into the printer port of the desktop computer. When a user desires to quickly switch the printer from the portable computer to the desktop computer, changing a cable connection can be annoying, time consuming, and sometimes extremely difficult for the user. The cables are often underneath tables or desks and difficult to access. In addition, some users are unfamiliar with computer peripherals and do not understand which cable to unplug and where the cable should be connected.
Of current interest is an improved port replicator that overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art. The present invention is a port replicator that connects a set of peripheral devices to both a portable computer and a desktop computer. Unlike the software handshaking of a network, the port replicator for sharing peripherals provides manually selectable hardware connections for a single set of peripheral devices. Additionally, although devices exist that allow a monitor, keyboard, and mouse to be shared between multiple central processing units (CPUs), until the present invention, no device has been made that provides a means for sharing peripherals between a portable computer and a desktop computer. The port replicator for sharing peripherals overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art and provides a means to selectively connect a set of peripheral devices to both a desktop and a portable computer.

Docking station including a port replicator for sharing peripherals between a portable computer and desktop computer


An aliphatic ketone polymer composition having during melt processing improved melt stabilization against significant cross linking and reduced discoloration wherein the composition has in addition to the aliphatic ketone polymer an additive stabilizer comprising a polyol such as sorbitol and an aluminum hydroxide, or an alumina hydrogel, or decomposition products thereof such as pseudo-boehmite. The additive is present in an amount of about 0.01 to about 10.0 weight % based on the weight of ketone polymer and additive.

The class of polymers of carbon monoxide and olefins has been known for some time. U.S. Pat. No. 2,495,286 (Brubaker) discloses such polymers of relatively low carbon monoxide content in the presence of free radical initiators, e.g., peroxy compounds. G.B. 1,081,304 discloses similar polymers of higher carbon monoxide content in the presence of alkylphosphine complexes of palladium compounds as catalyst. U.S. Pat. No. 3,694,412 (Nozaki) extended the reaction to produce linear alternating polymers in the presence of arylphosphine complexes of palladium moieties and certain inert solvents.
More recently, the class of linear alternating polymers of carbon monoxide and at least one ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon, now known as polyketones or ketone polymers, has become of greater interest. U.S. Pat. No. 4,880,903 (VanBroekhoven, et al.) discloses a linear alternating ketone terpolymer of carbon monoxide, ethylene, and other olefinically unsaturated hydrocarbons, such as propylene. Processes for production of the polyketones typically involve the use of a catalyst composition formed from a compound of a Group VIII metal selected from palladium, cobalt or nickel, the anion of a strong non-hydrohalogenic acid and a bidentate ligand of phosphorus, arsenic or antimony. U.S. Pat. No. 4,843,144 (VanBroekhoven, et al.) discloses a process for preparing polymers of carbon monoxide and at least one ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon using the preferred catalyst comprising a compound of palladium, the anion of a non-hydrohalogenic acid having a pKa of below about 6 and a bidentate ligand of phosphorus. U.S. Pat. No. 4,880,903 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,843,144 are hereby incorporated by reference.
The resulting polymers are relatively high molecular weight materials having established utility as premium thermoplastics in the production of shaped articles, such as containers for food and drink and parts for the automotive industry, which are produced by processing the polyketone according to well known methods.
However, such polymers are susceptible to cross-linking reactions during melt processing such as extrusion and injection molding. Considerable research and development has been expended to improve the melt stability of polyketones. One such stabilizer is disclosed in European patent EP 629663 in which pseudo-boehmite [ALO(OH)] is disclosed to improve melt stabilization and which is incorporated herein by reference. The addition of up to 1 weight % of pseudo-boehmite substantially reduces cross linking during melt processing. Unfortunately, compounds based on polyketones and pseudo-boehmite show some discoloration during melt processing.

Melt and color stabilization of aliphatic polyketones


An apparatus for the positioning of a clamp-on flow measuring device on a containment, which has a medium flowing through it. The apparatus includes at least two ultrasonic transducers, which emit measuring signals into the containment and/or receive measuring signals from the containment, a positioning unit for the variable positioning of the ultrasonic transducers on the containment, a control/evaluation unit, which calculates from predetermined process and/or system variables a characteristic, desired variable of the measuring signals and which determines on the basis of a comparison of the calculated, desired variable with the corresponding, measured, actual variable, whether the ultrasonic transducers are optimally positioned or whether the position of the ultrasonic transducers need to be changed, and an indicating unit, which indicates to operating personnel a required change of position and/or the direction in which a change of position needs to be made.

Clamp-on, ultrasonic, flow measuring devices are used often in process and automation technology. They permit contactless determination of volume flow rate and/or mass flow rate of a medium in a containment, especially in a pipeline. Additionally, they have the advantage that they can be placed externally on the pipeline. Clamp-on, ultrasonic, flow measuring devices are described, for example, in EP 0 686 255 B1, U.S. Pat. No. 4,484,478 or U.S. Pat. No. 4,598,593.
The known ultrasonic measuring devices work either by the Doppler principle or the travel-time-difference principle. In the case of the travel-time-difference principle, the different travel times of the ultrasonic measuring signals in the direction of flow, and counter to the direction of flow, of the medium are exploited. To this end, the ultrasonic measuring signals are alternatingly emitted, respectively received, in the direction of flow, and counter to the direction of flow, of the medium. On the basis of the travel-time-difference of the ultrasonic measuring signals, the flow velocity can be determined, and, with that and known diameter of the pipe, the volume flow rate of the medium, or, with known density, the mass flow rate of the medium.
In the case of the Doppler principle, ultrasonic measuring signals of predetermined frequency are coupled into the flowing medium. The ultrasonic measuring signals reflected in the medium are evaluated. On the basis of a frequency shift occurring between the ultrasonic measuring signal which was coupled into the medium and the reflected ultrasonic measuring signal, likewise the flow velocity of the medium, or the volume and/or mass flow rate, can be determined. The use of flow measuring devices working according to the Doppler principle is only possible, when, present in the medium, are air bubbles or contaminants, on which the ultrasonic measuring signals are reflected. Thus, the use of ultrasonic flow measuring devices using the Doppler principle are rather limited, compared to ultrasonic flow measuring devices using the travel-time-difference principle.
In the case of clamp-on, ultrasonic, flow measuring devices working according to the travel-time-difference principle, the ultrasonic measuring signals are radiated at a predetermined angle into the containment in which the medium is located. In order that as large a part as possible of the energy radiated from an ultrasonic transducer into the containment be received in the other ultrasonic transducer, the two ultrasonic transducers must have a defined separation from one another. The particular positions of the ultrasonic transducers on the containment depends on the inner diameter of the pipeline and on the velocity of sound in the medium. As further application parameters, with which relatively large errors can be associated, the wall thickness of the pipeline and the velocity of sound in the material of the pipeline can be named.
Depending on application, still another source of error can arise in the case of clamp-on flow measuring devices, such error coming from temperature changes of the medium or the environment. An ultrasonic transducer usable for a clamp-on flow measuring device contains at least one piezoelectric element (producing the ultrasonic measuring signals) and a coupling wedge. The coupling wedge is usually made of plastic and serves, on the one hand, to radiate the ultrasonic measuring signals at a defined angle into the pipe and, on the other hand, for impedance matching. The ultrasonic measuring signals produced in a piezoelectric element are conducted via the coupling wedge, or lead-in member, and the pipe wall, into the liquid medium. Since the velocities of sound in a liquid and in plastic differ from one another, the ultrasonic waves are refracted in passing from one medium into the other. The angle of refraction is determined by Snell's Law, i.e. the angle of refraction depends on the ratio of the propagation velocities of the two media. In general, with wedges, or lead-in members, of plastic, a good impedance matching can be achieved; however, the velocity of sound in plastic shows a relatively strong temperature dependance. Typically, the velocity of sound in plastic changes from about 2500 m/s at 25□C to about 2200 m/s at 130□C. In addition to the change of the travel time of the ultrasonic measuring signals caused by the temperature in the plastic of the coupling wedge, the direction of propagation of the ultrasonic measuring signals also changes in the flowing medium. Both changes thus affect measurement accuracy unfavorably in an ultrasonic flow measuring device working according to the travel-time-difference method. In order to keep measurement accuracy at a constant, high level, corrections of the positions of the ultrasonic transducers are, therefore, required. The angular positioning of the ultrasonic transducers is fixedly predetermined in the case of the known flow measuring devices. For the purpose of initial mounting or in the case of later application changes, it is necessary, due to the above considerations, to be able to adjust the separation of the two ultrasonic transducers with respect to one another in a defined manner. For this purpose, usually one of the two ultrasonic transducers is shifted relative to the other, until that position is found, in which the intensity of the measuring signals received from the ultrasonic transducers is maximum. Once the optimum separation of the two ultrasonic transducers has been determined in this 'trial and error' technique, the two ultrasonic transducers are locked tight on the pipe wall in the determined positions. This method is, understandably, relatively time consuming. For simplifying the relative movement of the ultrasonic transducers, mechanical positioning aids are used, such as millimeter scales or perforated rail. A positioning aid working with a perforated rail is described, for example, in EP 0 974 815 A1.
Added to this is the fact that some of the application parameters, which, especially in the case of a clamp-on flow measuring device, are needed for exact determination of the volume flow rate, are only in the rarest cases known with sufficient accuracy—or, the determination of these parameters is rather complicated. While the determination of the outer diameter of the pipeline scarcely offers any problems, the exact determination of the wall thickness of the pipeline can be quite problematic. In many cases, moreover, neither the velocity of sound in the material of the pipeline, nor the velocity of sound in the medium, is exactly known.

Device for positioning a clamp-on flowmeter on a container


An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet, a housing configured to accommodate therein the image forming unit, a reading device, which is provided above the housing, and which is configured to read a content on the sheet, a protruding part, which protrudes from a side surface of the housing, and which is positioned within an outer edge of the reading device projected on a virtual horizontal plane when the protruding part is projected on the virtual horizontal plane, and a wireless board for a wireless communication, at least a part of the wireless board being arranged within the protruding part.

There has been proposed an image forming apparatus which can be connected to a computer and the like through a wireless board by wireless communication. The wireless board is mounted to main body frames.
The main body frames are strength members provided at both sides in a horizontal direction with an image forming unit being interposed therebetween, and are provided to hold the image forming unit. In the related-art image forming apparatus, the main body frames are made of metal. For this reason, the wireless board is arranged at a notched part formed by notching a part of the main body frames.

Wireless communication device configuration in an image forming apparatus


A cladding-pumped fiber structure, suitable for use as a laser, provides for efficient clad-to-core energy transfer. The outside interface of the pump-clad is constructed from a rod-shaped preform by local melt-displacement using an open flame.

1. Field of the Invention
Cladding-pumped fiber structures such as lasers and amplifiers.
2. Description of Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 5,418,880, May 23, 1995 is representative of the relevant art. The cladding pumped laser is an answer to the need for a high-power fiber laser. It relies on a multi-mode (pump) cladding for accepting and transferring pump energy to an active core along the length of the device through the core-clad interface. Energy is guided within the pump cladding by a second cladding of lower index of refraction. The configuration is likely to be used in fiber amplifiers as well as in fiber lasers.
The structure was immediately recognized as promising, and attention was soon directed to design optimization. Communication fiber had not been designed for the purpose. The need for more effective introduction of pump energy into the cladding, e.g. from a laser array, led to use of claddings of enlarged cross-section. The usual, circularly symmetrical, design used for communication fiber was no assurance of effective clad-to-core energy transfer, as it produced pump modes of helical paths which did not cross the clad-to-core interface. Reconsideration of fundamental parameters such as index profile were restudied as well. See, Optics Commun., vol. 99, pp. 331-335 (1993).
U.S. Pat. No. 4,815,079, Mar. 21, 1989, improves coupling efficiency by either of two approaches. In the first, the core is placed off-center within an otherwise circularly symmetric structure. The second uses a high aspect-ratio rectangular pump cladding enclosing a centrally-located core. Both increase incidence of interface crossings by pump modes, and improve transfer efficiency. In common with other suggested structures, a second (outer) clad of lower index than that of the first (pump) clad, guides pump energy within the multi-mode pump clad.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,418,880, largely directed to structures for effectively coupling the output of a diode array into the pump cladding, also considers non-circular inner cladding designs. It proposes any of various polygonally shaped pump claddings--three-, four- and six-sided, some regular, some irregular--within outer claddings of low-index organic polymer. The design objective is uniform distribution of pump energy across the fiber cross section, assuring effective transfer.
Asymmetric structures are difficult to align and to splice to conventional transmission fiber. Rectangular and other irregular polygonal cross-sections also pose a problem. By all accounts, regular polygonal pump claddings deviate least from circularly symmetric structures and are preferred.
The structures of these patents do improve clad-to-core coupling efficiency, but fabrication is problematic. Manufacture of off-center preforms and procedures for drawing from such preforms do not use established technology. Fabrication of polygonal preforms from conventional round preforms by grinding and polishing is costly. Strength may be compromised--incidence of breakage under stress is increased by jagged surface features retained from machining.


A stencil printing apparatus for wrapping a master around an outer circumferential surface of a plate cylinder to perform printing, the stencil printing apparatus being capable of preventing the occurrence of abnormal images or afterimage phenomenon which causes confidential information leakage, without increasing cost or causing any problems. This stencil printing apparatus has time measuring means for measuring a leaving time during which the apparatus is left stand, and when a plate discharge command is output before the leaving time exceeds a first predetermined time while the master is wrapped around the outer circumferential surface, the stencil printing apparatus is shifted to a standby state after the master is discharged from the outer circumferential surface.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a stencil printing apparatus which wraps a master around a plate cylinder to perform printing, and more specifically to a technology for preventing the occurrence of abnormal images and the occurrence of confidential information leakage associated with the afterimage phenomenon caused by degenerated ink.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a simple printing method, digital heat-sensitive stencil printing has been conventionally known. This allows a thermal head having a plurality of heat generators to come into contact with a master obtained by sticking a thermoplastic resin film and a porous support together, conveys the master using conveying means such as a platen roller while pulsely energizing the heat generating elements, to thereby heat-melt punch a perforated image on the thermoplastic resin film of the master on the basis of image information. Thereafter, the perforated master is wrapped around a porous circular plate cylinder, and a sheet is pressed against the outer circumferential surface of the plate cylinder by means of a press roller or other pressing means to thereby cause ink that is supplied to the inner circumferential surface of the plate cylinder to bleed from the perforation part of a plate cylinder and the perforated part of the master, and to transfer the ink to the sheet to obtain a printed image on the sheet.
In the stencil printing apparatus used in the above-described stencil printing, generally the standby state is held while the master of a preceding plate is wrapped around the plate cylinder, during the period between the time when the printing is ended and the time when the next plate-making operation instruction is issued. The reason is to prevent the occurrence of the following problems when the plate cylinder is left stand for a long time after the master is released: (1) foreign matters might adhere to the exposed outer circumferential surface of the plate cylinder, causing an image failure; (2) the surface layer of the ink might be exposed to the air, changing the ink composition and deteriorating the image quality; and (3) the user of the stencil printing apparatus might mess his/her hands and cloth when detaching the drum from the apparatus main body.
However, letting the apparatus stand for a predetermined amount of time or more while the printed master is wrapped therearound causes a change in ink composition between the perforated section and non-perforated section of the wrapped master. The main example of the ink used in stencil printing is an emulsion ink in which water is dispersed in oil. A change in the composition of this ink hardly occurs between the perforated section and non-perforated section of the wrapped master because, when this ink adheres to the master, the ink remaining on the non-perforated section of the master is protected by the master so that it is not exposed to the air, while the ink remaining on the perforated section of the master is easily exposed to the air and thereby the aqueous phase component of the ink composition evaporates significantly, reducing the ink viscosity and making the ink watery. The difference in the change in ink composition becomes notable as the time for letting the apparatus stand passes, and when the time for letting the apparatus stand exceeds a predetermined time period, the ink of the changed composition creates an afterimage (particularly on the part with a photographic image) when the next plate-making and printing operation are performed, whereby image failures might occur on the first tens of images and some information might leak due to the fact that the contents of the previous original can be inferred from the afterimage.
When, on the other hand, the apparatus is left stand for a relatively short time and the predetermined period is not exceeded, it is understood that letting the apparatus stand while the printed master is wrapped therearound does not affect the next plate-making and printing, but a method for performing detailed control of the presence or absence of a master around the plate cylinder in accordance with the elapsed time has not yet been proposed for the mechanism for generating the afterimage phenomenon.
For these drawbacks described above, Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. S62-30117 (Prior Art 1), for example, discloses a technology in which a security protection mode is provided to prevent the confidential information from leaking a master used in printing, wherein the master of a preceding plate is discharged during the security protection mode to wrap an unprocessed master around a plate cylinder. Also, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-213039 (Prior Art 2) discloses a technology for preventing the clogging with ink that is caused by leaving a plate cylinder having a master of a preceding plate wrapped therearound for a long time, wherein in the case where the final printing operation is not the confidential plate-making operation, the master on the plate cylinder is discharged after a predetermined time period has elapsed since the final printing operation and an unprocessed master is wrapped around the plate cylinder. Moreover, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-153477 (Prior Art 3), for example, discloses a technology for securely preventing a third party from reproducing an image using a used master when the security protection mode is set, wherein when the security protection mode is set a master is discharged from a plate cylinder upon completion of a printing operation and a state where the plate cylinder has no master is maintained. Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2007-55073 (Prior Art 4), for example, discloses a technology for preventing a master from adhering to a plate cylinder due to ink solidification, wherein when a user does not request for plate discharge upon completion of a printing operation a plate-discharging operation is performed automatically.
In the technologies disclosed in Prior Art 1 and Prior Art 2 above, although the effects of these technologies are acknowledged, the problem in these technologies is that a new unprocessed master is required and two masters are actually necessary for printing because an extra plate of master is spent in each printing.
In the technology disclosed in Prior Art 3 above, the plate-discharging operation is performed immediately when the security protection mode for protecting confidential information is set; which prevents an operator from performing additional printing of his/her original and, due to the exposed outer circumferential surface of the plate cylinder even for a short time in which the afterimage phenomenon does not usually occur, foreign matters adhere to the outer circumferential surface of the plate cylinder and cause an image failure, or the surface layer of the ink is exposed to the air, changing the ink composition and deteriorating the image quality. Moreover, a hand or cloth of the operator might be contaminated when detaching the plate cylinder from the apparatus main body.
The technology disclosed in Prior Art 4 above is designed for preventing a master from sticking to the outer circumferential surface of the plate cylinder, so that the plate-discharging operation can be securely performed even when the operator forgets to instruct the apparatus to perform the plate-discharging operation, and so that the operator can secure an extra time for performing printing again by providing a time difference until the plate-discharging operation is performed. However, a master will not be wrapped around the outer circumferential surface of the plate cylinder unless the operator issues a plate-making instruction after performing printing, hence the same problems as the abovementioned "Prior Art 3" occur.
Although a certain effect of each of the conventional technologies is acknowledged in not only the cases that are not aimed at reducing the occurrence of the afterimage phenomena but also the cases aimed at reducing the occurrence of the afterimage phenomena, each conventional technology has the elements that cause the problems, such as the increase in cost of spending masters, cost increase caused by adding new members, decrease in efficiency of an additional printing job, which is caused by frequent plate-discharging operations, and image failure and contamination caused by exposing the plate cylinder.


A fishing rod carrying backpack for holding fishing rods. The backpack includes a bottom portion having a bottom panel and a perimeter side wall. A front panel and a spaced apart pair of side panels are upwardly extended from the upper edge of the perimeter side wall. The bottom portion, the front panel and the side panels define an interior space for holding fishing rods therein. Upper and lower cover panels are coupled to one of the side panels and detachably attached to the other side panel to help hold fishing rods in the interior space.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to backpacks and fishing rod carriers and more particularly pertains to a new fishing rod carrying backpack for holding fishing rods.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of backpacks and fishing rod carriers is known in the prior art. More specifically, backpacks and fishing rod carriers heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 4,529,112; U.S. Pat. No. 4,372,073; U.S. Pat. No. 5,275,316; U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,173; U.S. Pat. No. 5,154,332; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,406,291.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new fishing rod carrying backpack. The inventive device includes a bottom portion having a bottom panel and a perimeter side wall. A front panel and a spaced apart pair of side panels are upwardly extended from the upper edge of the perimeter side wall. The bottom portion, the front panel and the side panels define an interior space for holding fishing rods therein. Upper and lower cover panels are coupled to one of the side panels and detachably attached to the other side panel 20 to help hold fishing rods in the interior space.
In these respects, the fishing rod carrying backpack according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of holding fishing rods.

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An automated machine program generator (10) and a method for optimizing the manufacture of articles. The automated machine program generator (10) includes a data repository editor (11), a table parameter editor (13), and an optimizer editor (14). The data repository editor (11) collects data from various sources. The data is transformed and placed in a table (12). If necessary, the data in the table (12) is modified by the table parameter editor (13). The modified data is optimized by the optimizer editor (14) and transferred to a piece of equipment (15) for manufacturing the article.

The present invention relates, in general, to manufacturing optimization and, more particularly, to optimizing the manufacture of electronic components.
The manufacture of electronic components such as semiconductors requires many process steps and many different types of equipment. Each step and type of equipment introduces variation into the manufacturing process that decreases the yield of the semiconductor devices. For example, a first processing step may include a photolithographic step that is performed in a piece of equipment manufactured by one manufacturer. A subsequent processing step may include a photolithographic step that is performed in a piece of equipment that is manufactured by another manufacturer. Another processing step may require another piece of photolithographic equipment that is manufactured by the same or different manufacturers as the first two pieces of photolithographic equipment. Each of these pieces of photolithographic equipment have different tolerances that are typically unaccounted for in the manufacture of products such as semiconductor components.
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to have a method and a structure capable of allowing the fabrication of these devices without introducing large errors between different pieces of equipment. It would be of further advantage for the method to be portable, user friendly, and capable of improving cycle times as well as yields.

Method for manufacturing a semiconductor component and automatic machine program generator therefor


A rotary switch shower with a handheld component has a waterway connected to a water outlet eccentrically arranged on a first counterface of the connecting end of the handheld component. The handheld component includes: an outlet component with an essential body, at least two outlet terminals, and a plurality of independent cavities. The outlet terminals are assembled on the essential body and communicate with the independent cavities respectively. Every independent cavity is has a water inlet on the second counterface of the essential body. The water inlets are assigned along an arc whose center is at the rotation axis. The essential body can be rotatably assembled to the handheld component, and switching of the waterways is achieved by rotating the handheld component, so that a water inlet is chosen to communicate with the water outlet, and then a independent cavity is chosen to communicate with the waterway.

The shower has been widely used in the daily life. The utility model ("multifunctional bilateral nozzle massage", application number CN96249528.0) discloses a bilateral nozzle massage, which comprises a handle, a nozzle shell with two outlet face, a two-way control interlock switch which is arranged in the nozzle shell and controls the switch of the nozzle's different water feature. However, a two-way control interlock switch is needed to be arranged on its shell, it makes the manufacturing processes complex, and the user can not switch different water features directly; and additional parts are needed to be arranged in its outlet terminals to achieved different outlet effects, for example, the roll balls is arranged in one lateral face, and the spongiform flexible body and a plurality of water outlet holes are arranged in another lateral face, it makes the manufacturing processes complex and the product design can not be light and thin.

Rotary switch shower and its control method

XIAMEN SOLEX HIGH-TECH INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.


Compositions including as active ingredients cyclical hydroxylamines of the formula (I) are usefull for treating and preventing pathologies concerned with over production of oxygen-centered free radicals and as foodstuff and cosmetic additives for preventing lipoperoxydation. ##STR1##

More specifically, this invention relates to certain cyclical hydroxylamines, to the synthesis thereof, and to compositions containing said compounds, such as pharmaceutical compositions adapted to the therapeutical use in the treatment of all those pathologies concerned with production, or an excess production, of oxygen-centered free radicals; the invention further relates to cosmetic compositions having anti-free radical activities, to the use of said cyclical hydroxylamines as additives to avoid rancidity of foodstuffs and deterioration of cosmetic products, and as a diagnostic means (marker) to reveal the status (of oxidative and/or inductive stress) at high carcinogenic risk and held responsible of other pathologies.
A number of normal and/or pathological processes are known in the course of which the formation of reactive radical species takes place. As a result of the general position of oxygen in aerobic organisms and also in human beings, as well as its high availability in accepting single electrons, the oxygen-centered free radicals very often are the protagonists of cellular reactions in physiopathology.
A plurality of conditions are also known to be capable of increasing the radical production within cells, such as a change in oxygen tension (in hyschemia, riperfusion, shock, transplants), lack of A, E vitamins, aging, administration of drugs of certain classes (halogen-alcanes, chemotherapy drugs, carcinogenic drugs, ethanol, paracetamol, etc.). There are also a plurality of conditions which increase the oxygen production in extra-cellular spaces, such as conditions arising from acute inflammatory states (infections, burns), chronic inflammatory states (rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colites, vasculites); immune disorders, immunocomplex pathologies, etc.
Moreover, antioxidant enzymes are also known for use as pharmacological agents and particularly it is known to use superoxide dismutase (SOD) in order to limit the excess production of said free radicals. This enzyme, of endogenous type, is capable of transforming the superoxide anion into oxygen and hydrogen peroxide, which will be later eliminated by catalase and peroxidase. This solution however has got quite a few problems arising from the poor stability of said enzyme the half life of which, once injected intravenously, ranges from about 6-8 minutes for the most commonly used form (Cu, Zn-SOD) to a few hours (Mn, PEG-SOD). Importantly, said enzymes, both native or modified, are obtained by cloning human genes and have activities modified by site-specific mutagenesis, which however involves high production costs.
A further disadvantage relevant to the use of said enzyme is the impossibility of achieving suitable concentrations of enzyme in the body areas where protection is required. To eliminate the above drawback, it is necessary to administer said enzyme in high and discontinuous dosages. However, since administration is intravenous, it is easy to understand that this methodology is not convenient.
Further, SOD, because of its large molecular dimensions, will not enter the intracellular environment, unless phagocytized by endothelial cells.
Although in order to obviate said problem, an attempt has been made to encapsulate the enzyme in specific vesicles having lipidic nature (the so-called `liposomes`) so as to make the passage easier through the double lipoproteinic layer of biological membranes, further problems have arisen related to the bio-technological process of realization and also to the difficulty of said liposomes to reach certain body areas through thin capillaries, in which the high blood flow rate do not allow a proper absorption of said liposomes into the specific tissue.
It is also known to coat liposomes with specific antibodies which will recognize the tissue where protection is required. This however introduces new limitations due to the high cost involved in preparing said antibodies.
It is also known to employ metal chelates, such as Mn; but besides dissociating very easily, said chelates have the further disadvantage of catalyzing undesirable redox processes in cells and also exhibit high affinity to proteins and amino acids.
A further disadvantage in the use of metal chelates is that said chelates may lose their activity upon binding to plural cellular components.
From scientific literature there is known oxane (2-ethyl-2,5,5-trimethyl-3-oxazolidonoxyl) which is currently the molecule with the best characteristics for acting as a `capturing agent` for superoxide.
Said oxanic derivative however has the drawback of being poorly lipophilic, which does not allow it, when administered, to readily pass through the double lipoproteinic layer of the biological membranes. In addition said derivative exhibits high synthesis costs.

N-Hydroxypiperidines as superoxide radicals scavengers


A printing apparatus that is capable of performing a printing process efficiently. The printing apparatus is capable of two-sided printing. A reception unit receives image data. A printing unit prints an image on a sheet based on the image data received. A timer unit measures elapsed time. A control unit instructs the printing unit to print a first side of a first sheet. The control unit decides whether printing of a second side of the first sheet or printing of a first side of a second sheet will be instructed following the printing of the first side of the first sheet based on whether the reception unit receives image data that should be printed on the first side of the second sheet before the elapsed time measured by the timer unit reaches a predetermined time period after instructing the printing unit to print the first side of the first sheet.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to printing apparatuses enabling two-sided printing and, in particular, relates to a printing apparatus performing a two-sided printing process at high speed, a control method therefore, and a storage medium storing a control program therefor.
Description of the Related Art
When performing two-sided printing using a plurality of sheets, a printing apparatus sequentially obtains a print data corresponding to each page from a first page, generates image processing data by performing an image process on the obtained print data, and prints the image processing data on front and back sides of each sheet. There is known two-sided printing (hereinafter referred to as "normal two-sided printing") by which a print data corresponding to each page is printed on back and front side of each sheet in the order of page 2, page 1, page 4, page 3, page 6, and page 5. Moreover, there is also known two-sided printing (hereinafter referred to as "high-speed two-sided printing") by which a print data corresponding to each page is printed in the order of page 2, page 4, page 1, page 6, page 3, and page 5 in order to shorten printing waiting time resulting from conveyance of sheets in printing (for example, see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2002-337417 (JP 2002-337417A)).
Basically, printing on each sheet is started after image processing data that will be printed on a sheet is generated. However, in the high-speed two-sided printing, since priority is given to improvement in efficiency of the conveyance of each sheet and each sheet is conveyed regardless of an order of obtaining print data, an image processing data corresponding to a certain sheet may not be generated by the time when printing on the certain sheet is started. In this case, a printing-process error occurs and a sheet in printing stays in the printing apparatus, for example. That is, in the high-speed two-sided printing, when an image processing data corresponding to a sheet is not generated at the start time of printing on the sheet concerned, the printing process enters into a suspended state (for example, see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2010-173186 (JP 2010-173186A)).
Accordingly, the technique of JP 2010-173186A deteriorates efficiency of the printing process when generation of the image processing data takes time.

Printing apparatus enabling two-sided printing, control method therefor, and storage medium storing control program therefor


The embodiments described herein provide a digital-to-analog converter (DAC). The DAC implements a stepped return-to-zero (RZ) pulse scheme, where the DAC output includes the superposition of multiple time-offset RZ pulses. In one embodiment, the DAC includes a first switching element, a second switching element, a current source, and a current sink. The first switching element generates first RZ pulses, and the second switching element generates second RZ pulses, where the second RZ pulses are time-offset from the first RZ pulses. The first RZ pulses and second RZ pulses are combined to provide stepped RZ pulse output signal.

In many modern electronics applications, it is desirable to convert a digital value to an analog signal. For example, digital-to-analog converters (DACs) are commonly used in the feedback path of analog-to-digital converters (ADCs). In some ADCs, sigma-delta modulation (or alternatively, delta-sigma modulation) is used to reduce the effect of quantization error and improve signal-to-noise ratio (SNR).
Some ADCs utilize continuous-time sigma-delta modulators, that is, sigma-delta modulators constructed using continuous-time circuitry. Continuous-time sigma-delta modulators can be clocked at higher sampling frequencies which improves the performance of the sigma-delta ADC.
In practice, however, a high-speed sigma-delta ADC can be limited in performance by the DACs in the feedback path. For example, some sigma-delta ADCs utilize a DAC in the feedback path that uses a return-to-zero (RZ) pulse scheme. Other sigma-delta ADCs utilize a DAC in the feedback path that uses a non-return-to-zero (NRZ) pulse scheme.
In general, a DAC using an RZ pulse scheme can provide better immunity to inter-symbol interference compared to a DAC using a NRZ pulse scheme. However, a DAC using an RZ pulse scheme is more susceptible to the effects of clock jitter than DAC using a NRZ pulse scheme. Furthermore, a DAC using an RZ pulse scheme can have increased slew rate requirements compared to a DAC using a NRZ pulse scheme. For these reasons there continues to be a need for DACs that can be used in ADCs while providing relatively good immunity to clock jitter, inter-symbol interference, and while having reduced slew rate requirements.

Return-to-zero digital-to-analog converter with overlapping time delayed pulse generation


An endocavity RF coil assembly for an MRI apparatus includes a reusable probe (30). The reusable probe has a sealed hollow outer housing or cover having a closed distal end and an open proximate end (83). The distal end is formed to fit into a cavity of a subject being examined. An active RF coil element (62) is connected with a circuit board located within the outer housing. The housing includes a plurality of ABS plastic pieces (64, 66, 74; 100, 102, 108) that have mating surfaces that are surface treated to break polymer chains at the surface. An epoxy (132) bonds to the polymer chain ends to connect the pieces. An over-molded form (82) is connected to the proximate end (83) of the outer cover or housing. The over-molded form (82) is arranged such that it seals the proximate end (83) of the outer cover (100) closed. In order to make the coil assembly more assuredly sterilizable, the epoxy completely fills the seams and optionally forms a projection bead (134) in order to smooth over and assure crevice free junctions. Crevices can shelter microbes from liquid and gaseous sterilants jeopardizing assurance that the sterilization process killed all the microbes.

The present invention relates to the magnetic resonance imaging arts. It finds particular application in conjunction with medical magnetic resonance imaging systems and will be described with particular reference thereto. It is to be appreciated, however, that the present invention may also find application in conjunction with other types of magnetic resonance imaging systems, magnetic resonance spectroscopy systems, and the like.
In magnetic resonance imaging, a substantially uniform main magnetic field is generated within an examination region. The main magnetic field polarizes the nuclear spin system of a subject being imaged within the examination region. Magnetic resonance is excited in dipoles which align with the main magnetic field by transmitting radio frequency excitation signals into the examination region. Specifically, radio frequency pulses transmitted via a radio frequency coil assembly tip the dipoles out of alignment with the main magnetic field and cause a macroscopic magnetic moment vector to precess around an axis parallel to the main magnetic field. The precessing magnetic moment, in turn, generates a corresponding radio frequency magnetic signal as it relaxes and returns to its former state of alignment with the main magnetic field. The radio frequency magnetic resonance signal is received by the radio frequency coil assembly, and from the received signals, an image representation is reconstructed for display on a human viewable display.
In certain medical MRI applications, it is advantageous to perform imaging scans over a limited field of view and depth of penetration of specific regions of the patient being examined. Such regions may include the anus, the prostate, the cervix, and other regions associated with internal cavities of a patient. RF receive coils of the intracavitary or endocavitary type are generally used to image these regions as the proximity of the coils in such applications provides improved signal-to-noise ratio over a limited field of view and depth of penetration.
Previously, intracavitary or endocavitary RF receive coils made use of an active RF coil element contained within an inflatable non-permeable balloon. An electrical cable interfaced the active RF coil to external electrical circuitry that was used to interface the coil with the magnetic resonance imaging system. The device would be inserted into a cavity associated with the region of interest, for example a patients rectum, and the balloon would then be inflated. Finally, the external electrical interface would be used to tune and match the coil to the MRI system. Typically, such endocavitary coils were disposable and would not be reused for multiple scans. Additionally, the active RF coil element was not rigidly formed, and as such, each individual probe had to be tuned and matched.
Another previous form of an endocavitary probe was reusable for a limited number of times before disposal. This form employed a loose latex sheathing or over cover which was disposed after each patient. However, the device was reused for only a limited number of times.
Other types of reusable coils are constructed of medical grade plastic. Such coils are subject to surface disinfection after each use. Coils which are encased in the plastic are typically immersed in a liquid disinfectant or sterilant, such as alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or the like after each use.
Because these coils come in contact with mucus membranes and blood barriers, high level disinfection or sterilization are desirable. Heat sterilization tends to degrade plastic parts and may harm on board electronics. Balloons are particularly sensitive to heat degradation. The coils are often constructed of multiple pieces of plastic, and thus has seams where the pieces meet. Microscopic organisms can become lodged in these crevices where liquid sterilants cannot assuredly eliminate them.
The present invention contemplates a new and improved endocavity RF coil assembly for an MRI apparatus which overcomes the above referenced disadvantages and others.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an endocavity RF coil assembly for an MRI apparatus is provided. The endocavity RF coil assembly includes a reusable probe. The reusable probe includes a hollow outer housing having a closed distal end and an open proximate end. The distal end is formed to fit into a cavity of a subject being examined. An active RF coil element is rigidly formed about an internal sleeve which is located within the distal end of the outer cover. A tuning and matching circuit disposed within the outer cover on the proximate end side of the active RF coil element is arranged on a printed circuit board and attached to the active RF coil element. An over-molded form is connected to the proximate end of the outer cover. The over-molded form is arranged such that it seals the proximate end of the outer cover closed. The probe includes an epoxy coating.
In accordance with a more limited aspect of the present invention, the endocavity RF coil assembly includes a non-magnetic magnetic RF cable connected to the tuning and matching circuit. The non-magnetic RF cable extends out of the open proximate end of the outer cover through the over-molded form to a preamplifier of the MRI apparatus. The RF cable has an outer cable insulation and a an MR compatible and biocompatible outer jacket extruded over the outer cable insulation.
In accordance with a more limited aspect of the present invention, the over-molded form and the outer jacket of the RF cable are both made out of a PVC plastic which forms a seal therebetween.
In accordance with a more limited aspect of the present invention, the internal sleeve and the outer housing are made form a medical grade ABS plastic.
In accordance with a more limited aspect of the present invention, the endocavity RF coil assembly includes a plurality of grooves cut into the outer surface of the outer housing at a proximate end. The grooves are arranged to completely encircle the outer cover such that a portion of the over-molded form is embedded therein sealing the connection between the over-molded form and the outer housing.
In accordance with a more limited aspect of the present invention, some of the plurality of grooves are arranged with flat surfaces such that the over-molded form embedded therein prevents the over-molded form from rotating with respect to the outer housing.
In accordance with a more limited aspect of the present invention, the over-molded form is a polyhedron having a plurality of sides. The plurality of sides are each indexed with a representative indicia that indicates the orientation of the active RF element within the subject being examined.
In accordance with a more limited aspect of the present invention, the over-molded form is in the shape of a sphere.
In accordance with a more limited aspect of the present invention, the probe includes material which emits a limited magnetic resonance signal which is used to track the position of the probe relative to the subject being examined.
In accordance with a more limited aspect of the present invention, the printed circuit board is positioned and electronic components are located thereon such that image anomalies caused thereby are eliminated.
One advantage of the present invention is that the probe is reusable.
Another advantage of the present invention is that it can be manufactured to meet the electrical and mechanical required compliance standards such as UL 544 and IEC 601.
Another advantage of the present invention is that external circuitry for performing tuning and matching adjustments on a per-patient basis is eliminated.
Another advantage of the present invention is the prevention of the ingress of fluids into the interior of the reusable probe.
Another advantage of the present invention is the protection of subjects from RF burn.
Yet another advantage resides in the ease of sterilization.
Still further advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading and understanding the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments.

Easily decontaminated MRI endocavity coils


The invention provides a synthetic phytase polynucleotide which is optimized for expression in plants and which encodes at thermotolerant phytase, as well as isolated thermotolerant phytase enzyme. Also provided are feed or food products comprising a thermotolerant phytase, and transgenic plants which express the thermotolerant phytase. Further provided are methods for making and using thermotolerant phytases, e.g., a method of using a thermotolerant phytase in feed and food processing.

Phytases (myo-inositol hexakisphosphate phosphohydrolase: EC 220.127.116.11) are enzymes that hydrolyze phytate (myo-inositol hexakisphosphate) to myo-inositol and inorganic phosphate. The enzymes are known to be valuable feed additives. At the close of the twentieth century, annual sales of phytase as an animal feed additive were estimated to be $100 million and growing.
Poultry and pig diets are currently based primarily on cereals, legumes, and oilseed products. About two-thirds of phosphorus (P) present in these feedstuffs occur as phytates, the salts of phytic acid (myo-inositol hexakisphosphate, InsP6) (Jongbloed et al., 1993). Phytate phosphorus in plants is a mixed calcium-magnesium-potassium salt of phytic acid that is present as chelate and its solubility is very low (Pallauf and Rimbach, 1997). Phosphorus in this form is poorly digestible/available for monogastric animals such as human, swine, and poultry.
For the utilization of phytate phosphorus and minerals and trace elements bound in phytic acid complexes, hydrolysis of the ester-type bonded phosphate groups of phytic acid by phytase is necessary (Rimbach et al., 1994). Phytases belong to a special group of phosphatases which are capable of hydrolyzing phytate to a series of lower phosphate esters of myo-inositol and phosphate. Two types of phytases are known: 3-phytase and 6-phytase, indicating the initial attack of the susceptible phosphate ester bond. Although monogastric animals lack sufficient phytase to effectively utilize phytate phosphorous, many fungi, bacteria and yeasts produce phytase that can be used to supplement animal rations.
The beneficial effects of supplementary phytases on phosphorus digestibility and animal performance have been well documented (Mroz et al., 1994; Kornegay et al., 1996; Rao et al., 1999; Ravindran et al., 1999). However, most of these studies have been performed on an ad hoc basis with often only superficial information of the enzymes provided as marketing strategies by the manufacturers. The efficacy of any enzyme preparation depends not only on the type, inclusion rate and level of activity present, but also on the ability of the enzyme to maintain its activity in the different conditions encountered through the gastrointestinal tract and the conditions used for the pre-treatment of a food or feed formulation.
Although numerous phytases are available for use as supplements, many of the enzymes have certain disadvantages. For example, many of the currently used phytases lose activity during feed pelleting process due to heat treatment. Additionally, many of the currently used phytases are not adequate in diets containing low levels of supplemental calcium phosphate. In addition, in many instances, there is a high cost of production associated with the microbially expressed enzymes.
Thus, what is needed is a phytase with improved properties for animal feed and food processing as well as an economical procedure for producing the phytase. One method of producing a more economical phytase would be to use recombinant DNA techniques to produce transgenic plants or plant organs capable of expressing phytase which could then be added as such to animal feed or human food for direct consumption. Alternatively, the phytase could be extracted and, if desired, purified for the desired application.


The invention is a device for removably blocking a central-front part of a ski boot to a ski platform for actuating a Telemark technique. The boot sole (51) forms, at a bottom thereof, two lateral edges, internal and external (52A, 52B). A plate (1) is blockable to the ski platform, a blocking device (17, 18) constrained to the plate, which bear at least two ratchets. The ratchets are associated with the bottom of the boot supported by the plate, to corresponding edges of the internal edge (52A) and external edge (52B). An activator (16, 24) for the blocking device is supported by the plate, defining two configurations of the blocking device, respectively inoperative (11), with a disengagement of the ratchets from the corresponding edges (52A, 52B) and operative (12), with a blocking of the two edges against the plate (1).

As is known, Telemark is a classic and elegant technique for curving or halting with skis, which has returned to popularity in cross-country skiing. This consists of bringing the external ski forward when curving, bringing one ski in front of the other and placing the body weight on it, while the knee of the internal leg is flexed up to brushing the ski, and the arms are spread so as to facilitate balance.
Devices are known that can be used only with corresponding boots.
The boots, in the rear part of the sole, form a transversal recess that defines a projection, with two seatings fashioned in the toe-piece of the sole.
These devices are constituted by a ratchet system to which two arms are connected, activatable by levers, for example a maneuvering lever and a safety lever hinged to the ski upstream with respect to two abutments that are complementary to the seatings.
The skier couples the seatings of the sole with the abutments. Following this, the ratchet is positioned at the projection position.
In a known way, intervention is made in order on the maneuvering lever and the safety lever, with a consequent forced enveloping of the projection by the ratchet. This leads to the removable blocking to the ski of the central-front part of the boot, the heel of the boot being de-constrained from the ski.
The drawback of the above devices derives from the fact that it is necessary to realize boots that can receive them, with the consequent costs this incurs.
Further devices are known that comprise an abutment formed by a plate blockable to the ski, against which the front part of the boot abuts, with two tie-rods, developing either by a side of or below the boot positioned on the plate, being subjected upstream to an activating device and connected downstream to a sort of jaw destined to embrace the lower-rear part of the boot.
The tie-rods are tensioned by use of the activating device. In this way the boot is constrained to the plate but the relative notch is disengaged therefrom.
The constructional complications of the devices described above are evident.

Device for removably blocking a central-front part of a ski boot to a platform of a ski for actuating the telemark technique


This circuit includes an output stage consisting of a current source SCE 52 and a current sink SNK 51 having an identical construction. A reference signal is applied to a D-type flipflop 40A and a local oscillator signal is applied to another flipflop 40B of the same type. The output 28 (27) of the flipflop 40A (40B) triggers a control circuit 30A (30B) whose output C-SCE (C-SNK) controls the current source SCE (SNK). The inputs of a logic gate 60 are connected to the control circuits 30A, 30B, and the gate supplies an inactive state reset signal to the flipflops 40A and 40B and the control circuits 30. Bias voltages which are common for the control circuits are generated by a circuit 20 which also fixes the elementary output current of the charge pump.

The invention relates to a charge-pump circuit intended for use in a frequency control loop of a frequency synthesizer provided with a local oscillator and a reference oscillator, said charge-pump circuit comprising an integration capacitor, a controlled output pull-up current-source and a controlled output pull-down current source.
The invention also relates to an integrated circuit comprising a charge-pump circuit.
The invention further relates to a radiowave receiver comprising a synthesizer with a charge pump, for example, a radio or television receiver, or a radio-telephone (all types: GSM, DECT, CT2, etc.).
A charge-pump circuit as described in the opening paragraph is known from the document U.S. Pat. No. 5,184,028 (Don W. Zobel).
The frequency control loop of a frequency synthesizer comprises a charge pump which serves in known manner for pull-up or pull-down of a capacitor whenever it detects a phase error in one sense or another between the local oscillator signal and the reference oscillator signal. The charge pump is thus used for compensating phase deviations. Its operation is critical with a view to noise, because the error signal is used as frequency reference for processing the useful signal.
Ideally, the current sources of the charge pump supply current pulses of a very short duration, for example, of the order of several nanoseconds, of a controlled amplitude and a great spectral purity. If the result of the summation of the two pulses with an equal amplitude but an opposite polarity is zero, this is not equally the case for their summation in terms of noise. Certain noise contributions are correlated between the two sources and their sum is zero. Other parts are due to independent noise mechanisms whose noise values are added. This residue limits the quality of the signal from the oscillator.

Charge-pump circuit intended for use in a frequency control loop of a frequency synthesizer


Certain olefins such as ethylene, .alpha.-olefins and cyclopentene can be polymerized by using catalyst system containing a nickel or palladium .alpha.-diimine complex, a metal containing hydrocarbylation compound, and a selected Lewis acid, or a catalyst system containing certain nickel[II] or palladium[II] compounds, an .alpha.-diimine, a metal containing hydrocarbylation compound, and optionally a selected Lewis acid. The process advantageously produces polyolefins useful for molding resins, films, elastomers and other uses.

Polyolefins are important items of commerce, many thousands of tons being produced annually. They are useful in many applications depending upon their particular properties, for instance as molding resins, fibers, films useful in packaging and/or electronics, elastomers, and many others. There are many known polymerization processes for producing polyolefins, but given the importance of these polymers, improved processes are constantly being sought.
L. K. Johnson, et. al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., vol. 117, p. 6414-6415 (1995), and L. K. Johnson, et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., vol. 118, p. 267-268 (1996) describe the polymerization of olefins using certain .alpha.-diimine complexes. Neither of these references describes a polymerization process using the starting materials described herein.


A semiconducting ceramic having negative resistance-temperature characteristics and a critical temperature consisting essentially of a rare-earth transition element oxide which is an oxide of a combination of samarium and nickel, wherein the samarium is partially replaced with Ln which is at least one other element selected from the group consisting of bismuth and rare-earth elements excluding lanthanum and cerium.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to semiconducting ceramic compounds which have negative resistance-temperature characteristics with critical temperatures.
2. Description of the Related Art
Negative temperature coefficient semiconducting ceramics (hereinafter referred to as NTC ceramics) whose electrical resistance is high at room temperature and drops with temperature increase are known in the prior art. Examples of materials for producing such NTC ceramics are oxides of transition elements which have a spinel crystalline structure and mainly contain a few elements selected from aluminum, manganese, iron, nickel, cobalt and copper, as well as cobalt-containing rare-earth oxides which have a perovskite crystalline structure and mainly contain LaCoO.sub.3.
NTC ceramic devices produced by forming electrodes on each piece of an NTC ceramic material consisting essentially of the oxides of some of the aforementioned transition elements are used as rush current preventing devices for switching regulators or for the protection of motors or halogen lamps, or as temperature-sensitive devices for temperature sensing or for detecting the surface of a liquid, for instance. On the other hand, NTC ceramic devices produced by forming electrodes on each piece of an NTC ceramic material consisting essentially of a cobalt-containing rare-earth oxide are commonly used as rush current preventing devices for switching regulators or for the protection of motors or halogen lamps, for instance.
Also known in the prior art are critical temperature resistor semiconducting ceramics (hereinafter referred to as CTR ceramics) whose electrical resistance sharply drops beyond specific temperatures. Examples of materials for producing such CTR ceramics are vanadium dioxide (VO.sub.2) and nickel-containing rare-earth oxides, the latter including SmNiO.sub.3, NdNiO.sub.3, PrNiO.sub.3 and EuNiO.sub.3, for instance.
CTR ceramic devices produced by forming electrodes on each piece of a CTR ceramic material consisting essentially of VO.sub.2 are used as temperature-sensing devices for fire-alarm systems.
Although the aforementioned NTC ceramics composed essentially of the oxides of some of the transition elements and the NTC ceramics consisting essentially of the cobalt-containing rare-earth oxides have negative resistance-temperature characteristics, neither of them exhibit critical temperatures at which their resistance sharply drops. It has therefore been necessary to use the conventional NTC ceramic devices together with a controlling microcomputer circuit when applying them to on-off switching operations, and this has resulted in large component sizes and high costs of materials.
While the CTR ceramics consisting essentially of VO.sub.2 have the characteristic that their resistivity drops from 10.sup.4 ohm-centimeters to 10 ohm-centimeters in a temperature range of 60.degree. C. to 80.degree. C., they are not in a stable phase at room temperature. This develops a problem in that these CTR ceramics can be destroyed when brought into contact the air or moisture. Furthermore, since their critical temperatures are restricted within the range of 60.degree. C. to 80.degree. C., their applications are limited to temperature-sensing devices for fire-alarm systems.
The resistance of the CTR ceramics consisting essentially of the aforementioned nickel-containing rare-earth oxides sharply drops beyond specific temperatures (metal-to-semiconductor phase transition temperatures) as discussed in a paper presented by J. B. Torrance, et al. (FIGS. 1 and 2 on page 8,210 of Physical Review B45 14!, 1990) Such characteristics of the CTR ceramics, particularly SmNiO.sub.3, NdNiO.sub.3 and PrNiO.sub.3, are also discussed in a paper presented by P. Lacorre, et al. (FIG. 4 on page 225 of Solid State Chemistry, 1991)
Although these papers give resistance values of different samples in ohms at about their phase transition temperatures, neither of them indicates specific shapes of the samples. It is therefore impossible to know their resistivities or conductivities, especially at room temperature (25.degree. C.), from these papers. The inventors of the present invention analyzed the crystalline structures of the same samples using the X-ray diffraction method and succeeded in identifying NdNiO.sub.3 and PrNiO.sub.3 in the samples. An analysis of the sample containing SmNiO.sub.3 revealed a diffraction pattern seemingly produced by SmNiO.sub.3, but there was found a diffraction pattern of NiO as well. Therefore, it was impossible to determine that the CTR characteristics of that sample were caused by SmNiO.sub.3 alone.
Substituting lanthanum (La) for 30% of neodymium (Nd) contained in NdNiO.sub.3 reduces its phase transition temperature from -70.degree. C. to -170.degree. C. as discussed in a paper presented by J. B. Garcia-Munoz, et al. (FIG. 1 on page 15,198 of Physical Review B5 21!, 1995) However, it is not certain whether the phase transition temperature can be altered by substituting a rare-earth element rather than lanthanum (La) for the neodymium (Nd).

Semiconducting ceramic compounds having negative resistance-temperature characteristics with critical temperatures