In order to reliably assist a driver in emergency detour steering without causing a jerking forward motion of the vehicle during normal operation, a vehicle motion control device includes: a risk potential estimator that estimates a risk potential of a vehicle based on input external information and vehicle information; a vehicle longitudinal motion controller that generates a longitudinal motion control command of the vehicle based on a vehicle lateral jerk and a predetermined gain; and a gain adjustor that adjusts the gain, in which the gain adjustor adjusts the gain based on the risk potential estimated by the risk potential estimator.

In recent years, various automatic braking control devices that prevent collisions by performing an automatic braking control independent of a braking operation of a driver, when there is a high possibility that a host vehicle collides with a control target such as a preceding vehicle, have been proposed and practically used. For example, in PTL 1 discloses a technique of an automatic braking control device based on intervention of automatic braking, which recognizes a control target in front of a host vehicle based on a front road environment captured by a camera, sets a braking intervention distance based on a relative relationship between the host vehicle and the control target, and determines execution of a braking control operation when the relative distance between the host vehicle and the control target is equal to or shorter than the braking intervention distance.
Further, PTL 2 discloses a vehicle motion control method in which an input lateral jerk (Gy_dot) of a vehicle is multiplied by a pre-stored gain (KGyV) which is determined from a velocity (V) and a lateral acceleration (Gy), a control command for controlling a longitudinal acceleration of a vehicle is generated based on a value obtained by the multiplication, and the generated control command is output. According to this method, a locus of a resultant acceleration vector (G) of the longitudinal acceleration and the lateral acceleration is subjected to vectoring so as to draw a smooth curve in a coordinate system in which the center of gravity of the vehicle is fixed, which is referred to as a G-vectoring control (GVC). According to the GVC, it is reported that emergency detour performance is considerably enhanced (NPL 1).


Data input from a host computer to a printer are stored in a first memory as page data. There can be set up an edit mode in which the data input from the host computer to the printer are edited and printed in the number of pages different from the number of pages which the data has had when the data is input. When this edit mode is set up, page data in the first memory is enlarged or contracted and edited in new page data. The new page data is stored in a second memory. The page data stored in the second memory is printed out by a printing mechanism in the printer.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a printer having an edit function which carries out enlargement or reduction for each page.
2. Discussion of Related Art
There have been conventionally adopted the following two methods in the case where contents of a plurality of pages are summarized and reduced to print them in one page, or contents of one page are enlarged to divide and print them in a plurality of pages. The first method is one in which contents are edited in accompaniment with reduction or enlargement so that the contents are brought into a desirable page constitution in a host computer in advance, and page data after the edit are input into a printer to carry out printing. The second method is one in which contents of a plurality of pages are first printed as usual by a printer, and thereafter a plurality of printed documents are joined together to carry out duplication in accompaniment with reduction, using a copying machine or carry out duplication in accompaniment with enlargement for a desirable page, and thereafter the documents are clipped to a desirable size and divided.
However, in the first method, it is necessary to prepare the above-mentioned edit function with a host computer. Moreover, the host computer is burdened heavily in terms of processing time. Furthermore, when data are transferred from the host computer to a printer, the transfer has been carried out based on a down-load system in which bit pattern data corresponding to each print image element are transferred. Accordingly, an amount of data to be transferred has been voluminous. Consequently, the transfer time for data becomes long, and the host computer is burdened heavily too.
Also, in the second method, a paper which has been once printed is subjected to manual processing, and then must undergo duplication. Consequently, it is a serious problem that not only a lot of time and labor is imposed on an operator, but also the picture quality of the printed matter is deteriorated by duplication.

Page printer capable of changing page size


In a fuel cell system of the present invention, a reformed gas generated in a reformer (R1) being activated is supplied to a fuel cell stack (F1), and an off-gas discharged from the fuel cell stack (F1) is supplied to a heat supply device (B2) provided for a reformer (R2) being deactivated. By activating at least one reformer (Rn), all of a plurality of reformers (Rn) can be warmed-up. Therefore, energy consumption in a standby state can be suppressed, and the fuel cell system can be started-up quickly in emergencies. The reformed gas may be supplied to the heat supply device (B2) instead of the off-gas.

Conventionally, backup power supplies are provided to address an electric power failure (blackout) in emergencies such as disasters in communication base stations, communication equipment such as data centers, hospitals, broadcast stations, etc. Among the backup power supplies, as a backup power supply using the fuel cell, there is known a configuration in which a fuel cell generates electric power using hydrogen stored in a hydrogen tank (see Patent Literature 1). The backup power supply having this configuration has an advantage that the fuel cell can be started-up (activated) quickly. However, when all of hydrogen inside of the hydrogen tank has been consumed, the hydrogen tank must be replaced. A work for replacing the hydrogen tank is burdensome and cost of the replacement of the hydrogen tank is needed. If catastrophe such as an earthquake, a typhoon, or a hurricane happens, a traffic network such as a road is cut, and the hydrogen tank will not be supplied. In this case, there is a possibility that the backup power supply does not work in the disasters in which backup power supplies are especially needed.
By comparison, there is a known a configuration in which the hydrogen tank is not used as the power supply using the fuel cell. As a typical fuel cell of this, there is a power supply which uses a fuel of a hydrocarbon based gas supplied by a gas utility (infrastructure of gas supply) according to a demand. In this fuel cell, typically, a reformer reforms the fuel of the hydrocarbon based gas to generate a reformed gas containing hydrogen as a major component, and the reformed gas is supplied to a fuel cell stack, which generates electric power (e.g., see Patent Literature 2).
An example of the fuel cell system having the above configuration will be specifically described. As shown in FIG. 10, in a fuel cell system 110, a fuel is supplied from a raw material supply line 101 to a reformer R0 via a desulfurization device D0 and a raw material supply device Bt by opening a raw material shut-off valve Va0. The reformer R0 reforms the fuel into a reformed gas containing hydrogen as a major component, and the reformed gas is supplied to a fuel cell stack F0 via a reformed gas supply line 102. After passing through the fuel cell stack F0, the reformed gas (off-gas) is supplied to a heat supply device B0 via an off-gas line 103 and a combustion gas valve Vb0. The heat supply device B0 combusts the off-gas to warm-up the reformer R0.
An oxidizing gas supply device S0 supplies air to the fuel cell stack F0 via an oxidizing gas supply line 104. The fuel cell stack F0 carries out power generation by causing the reformed gas and the air to be reacted with each other. Reference numeral 105 designates a reformed gas reuse line 105 for supplying hydrogen to the desulfurization device D0 including a hydrogenated desulfurization device. Reference symbol Vc0 designates a reformed gas reuse valve Vc0.

Fuel cell system and operation method thereof

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


The invention provides methods for the treatment of abnormal psychiatric states, particularly the negative symptoms of schizophrenia and extrapyramidal side effects (EPS) of antipsychotic drugs. The inventive methods relate to the administration of therapeutic cells (which produce dopamine or dopamine precursors) adhered to support matrices to subjects suffering from the negative symptoms of schizophrenia and/or EPS. The therapeutic cells may be coadministered with cells which protect the therapeutic cells from immune rejection and/or cells which produce neurotrophic factors which improve the viability of the therapeutic cells.

Disorders of the nervous system comprise a wide variety of conditions, and can generally be separated into "neurological disorders" and "psychiatric disorders". Neurological disorders can be characterized as the product of the death of nervous system cells. Examples of neurological disorders include Parkinson's Disease, which involves the death of dopaminergic neurons, Alzheimer's disease, in which cholinergic neurons are lost, and multiple sclerosis, in which neurons and glia are killed in an autoimmune process. Psychiatric disorders, on the other hand, are the result of dysregulation of neurons, which can result in abnormal levels of various neurochemicals and/or abnormal responsiveness to neurochemicals.
Psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, are major public health concerns. Schizophrenia, for example, affects approximately 2 million Americans. At any particular time, about 20% of the hospital beds in the U.S. are occupied by schizophrenic patients. The illness usually develops between adolescence and age 30 and is characterized by positive symptoms (delusions or hallucinations), negative symptoms (blunted emotions and lack of interest) and disorganized symptoms (confused thinking and speech or disorganized behavior and perception). Additionally, cognitive deficits are also frequently observed, particularly in elderly schizophrenia patients (Purohit et al., 1993, Biol. Psychiatry 33(4):255–260). For some patients, the disorder is lifelong, while others may have periodic episodes of psychosis.
The causes of schizophrenia are essentially unknown. Although it is believed to have a genetic component, environmental factors appear to influence the onset and severity of the disease. Neuropathological changes in schizophrenics may include enlargement of the lateral ventricles, cavities in the brain which are part of the cerebrospinal fluid system. Sometimes, there is a decrease in overall brain mass.
A number of animal models have been developed for schizophrenia, utilizing both non-primate (rat) and primate (monkey) animals. In one commonly used animal model of schizophrenia, phencyclidene (PCP) is chronically administered to the animal subjects, resulting in dysfunctions similar to those seen in schizophrenic humans (Jentsch et al., 1997, Science 277:953–955; Piercey et al., 1988, Life Sci. 43(4):375–385).
Several different theories have been developed regarding the etiology of schizophrenia, including the dopaminergic, glutamatergic, and cholinergic theories of schizophrenia. The dopamine hypothesis posits that positive symptoms result from excess function of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the mesolimbic area of the brain. This hypothesis is based largely on indirect, pharmacological evidence that (1) dopamine-antagonizing drugs are effective antipsychotic agents; (2) dopamine-mimicking drug exacerbate schizophrenic symptoms and (3) certain symptoms of acute paranoid schizophrenia can be elicited in non-schizophrenics by amphetamine, a drug that activates dopamine systems. Conversely, negative symptoms have been associated with regionally localized dopamine deficits in the prefrontal cortex.
The glutamate hypothesis is based, among other things, the actions of phencyclidine (PCP) in the brains of abusers. PCP, which induces a number of symptoms also found in schizophrenia, blocks the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, through which glutamate exerts some of its effects. Additionally, observations from the phencyclidine (PCP) animal model of schizophrenia, indicate that glutamate is dramatically increased in the brains of rats chronically dosed with PCP (Moghaddam et al., 1997, J. Neurosci. 17:2921). Inhibition of the rise in glutamate levels with a metabotropic glutamate receptor agonist blocked a variety of schizophrenia symptoms in PCP-dosed rats, including hyperactive behavior, head turning, and memory deficits (Moghaddan et al., 1998, Science 281:1349–1352).
Current treatments for schizophrenia include antipsychotic drugs; electric shock treatment for severe catatonia, depression, or elation; and psychotherapy. Antipsychotic drug treatments generally include both dopamine and acetylcholine antagonists (anticholinergics), although anticholinergics are generally used to treat extrapyramidal side effects (EPS) of commonly used dopamine antagonists, rather than the disorder itself. EPS induced by dopamine antagonists result from dopamine blockade in the striatum and include dyskinesias, especially tardive dyskinesia, which are characterized by uncontrolled movements. In most cases, tardive dyskinesia resolves following discontinuation of dopamine agonist drug therapy, but some patients continue to experience dyskinesia long after termination of dopamine antagonist therapy.
Clopazine, an antipsychotic that affects several receptor systems, is currently viewed as the "gold standard" of drug treatment for schizophrenia. However, although clopazine seems to ameliorate certain symptoms (e.g.; verbal fluency, reaction time and attention), it appears to have an adverse effect on higher level executive functions, such as working memory ability and visual memory. Goldberg et al. (1994) J. Clin. Psychiatry 55:9 (suppl. B). Moreover, many dopamine antagonist antipsychotic drugs are not as effective at controlling the "negative" symptoms, as compared to the "positive" symptoms of schizophrenia (Angrist et al., 1982, Psychopharm. 78:128–130).
U.S. Pat. No. 5,447,948 asserts that dopamine reuptake inhibitors are useful in treating schizophrenic patients suffering from negative symptoms. However, dopamine reuptake inhibitors oppose the effects of clopazine and other dopamine antagonists, potentially nullifying the activity of this group of drugs in the treatment of the positive symptoms of schizophrenia.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,618,531 describes methods of increasing the viability of cells which are administered to the brain or spinal cord of a mammalian subject by attaching the cells to a support matrix. It is indicated that the cells may be used to "neurological disorders," but not psychiatric disorders. As commonly understood in the art, "neurological disorders" are disorders of the nervous system which involve death or major dysfunction of cells of the nervous system, while "psychiatric disorders" involve the misregulation of cells of the nervous system. For example, Parkinson's disease, which involves the death and dysfunction of dopaminergic neurons, is a neurological disorder, while schizophrenia, which involves the misregulation of neurotransmitter levels, is a psychiatric disorder.
In sum, there remains a need in the art for an effective treatment of the symptoms of schizophrenia, particularly the negative symptoms of schizophrenia and cognitive defects associated with schizophrenia, which will not interfere with treatments for the positive symptoms of the disorder. Additionally, there exists a need in the art for an effective treatment for tardive dyskinesia and other EPS.


A communication apparatus operating under a back scattering system involving processes of QPSK modulation is provided. The apparatus includes: a first signal channel for acquiring a first reflected wave by getting an incoming radio wave directly reflected without wave passage through any phase shifter; a second signal channel for acquiring a second reflected wave having a phase shifted by π/2 relative to the phase of the first reflected wave through two-way wave passage through a first phase shifter alone; a third signal channel for acquiring a third reflected wave having a phase shifted by π relative to the phase of the first reflected wave through two-way wave passage through the first and a second phase shifter; and a fourth signal channel for acquiring a fourth reflected wave having a phase shifted by 3π/2 relative to the phase of the first reflected wave through two-way wave passage through the first through a third phase shifter.

RFID (radio frequency identification) is one typical means of locally usable wireless communication. RFID is implemented as a system primarily made up of tags and a reader, the reader reading information off each tag in noncontact fashion. Also called an ID system or a data carrier system, RFID is a recognition system that utilizes radio frequencies (radio waves). Communication between a tag and a reader/writer is effected by diverse methods including electromagnetic coupling, electromagnetic induction, and radio frequency communication (refer to Non-Patent Document 1)
An RFID tag is a device that contains specific identification information. In operation, the tag generates radio waves at a modulation frequency corresponding to the identification information upon receipt of radio waves on a particular frequency. The reader having read the RFID tag can determine its identity based on its oscillation frequency. It follows that an RFID-based system allows goods carrying RFID tags or owners of the goods to be identified using particular IDs written in the tags. At present, RFID is applied to numerous systems such as entry/exit management systems for managing people's comings and goings into and out of a controlled room, article identification systems deployed in the distribution industry, bill settlement systems at cafeterias, and theft prevention systems at retailers handling CDs and software products.
Illustratively, it is possible to build an IC chip having capabilities for data transmission and reception as well as data storage, a power source for driving the chip, and an antenna into a small-sized wireless identification apparatus in packaged form (refer to Patent Document 1). With this wireless identification apparatus in use, various items of data on goods and articles are transmitted via the antenna to receiving means of the IC chip. The transmitted data can be stored in a memory of the chip and can be output wirelessly to the outside via the antenna. This makes it possible for goods or articles carrying the chip to be tracked down and identified for their presence and location.
FIG. 9 shows a typical configuration of a conventional RFID system. Reference numeral 101 denotes an RFID tag constituted by a tag chip 102 and an antenna 103. The antenna 103 may illustratively be a half-wave dipole antenna. The tag chip 102 is made up of a modulation unit 110, a rectification/demodulation unit 112, and a memory unit 113.
A radio wave f0 transmitted from a tag reader 100 is received by the antenna 103 before being input to the rectification/modulation unit 110. The unit 110 rectifies the received radio wave f0 into a direct current that triggers a demodulation function. The radio wave is thus recognized as a readout signal from the tag 101. The power generated by reception of the radio wave f0 is also fed to the memory unit 113 and modulation unit 110.
The memory unit 113 reads ID information previously stored internally and sends the retrieved information to the modulation unit 110 as outgoing data. The modulation unit 110, composed of a diode switch 111, turns on and off the switching action repeatedly in keeping with a bit image of the outgoing data. More specifically, when the data is "1," the diode switch 111 is turned on to terminate the antenna at antenna impedance (e.g., at 50 ohms). At this point, the radio wave from the tag reader 100 is absorbed. When the data is "0," the diode switch 111 is turned off (i.e., opened) to terminate the antenna in an open state. At this point, the radio wave from the tag reader 100 is reflected and sent back to where it came from. The reflection-absorption pattern of the incoming radio wave represents data in what is known as the back scattering system. In this manner, the tag 101 can transmit its internal information without dissipating power.
The tag reader 100 is constituted by a host device 106 such as a PDA, a tag reader module 104, and an antenna 105 connected to the tag reader module 104.
The host device 106 sends a read command from the tag 101 to a communication control unit 119 via a host interface unit 120. Upon receipt of the read command from the host interface unit 120, the communication control unit 119 edits outgoing data in a predetermined manner, filters the edited data, and sends the filtered data to an ASK modulation unit 117 as a base band signal. The ASK modulation unit 117 carries out ASK (amplitude shift keying) modulation by use of a frequency f0 of a frequency synthesizer 116.
The frequency synthesizer 116 sets the frequency under control of the communication control unit 119. Generally, the transmission frequency to an RF tag is determined through hopping so as to reduce standing waves and multipath interference in the signal coming from the tag. A hopping command is also given by the communication control unit 119. An outgoing signal having undergone ASK modulation is forwarded to a circulator 114 before being emitted to the tag 101 from the antenna 105.
The tag 101 returns a signal at the same frequency as that of the signal coming from the tag reader 100 by the effect of reflection through back scattering (as described above). The returned signal is received by the antenna 105 of the tag reader 100 and input to a mixer 115. Because the mixer 115 admits the same local frequency f0 as that of the outgoing signal, a signal modulated by the tag 101 appears at the output of the mixer 115. A demodulation unit 118 demodulates data formed by 1's and 0's out of the signal and forwards the data to the communication control unit 119. The communication control unit 119 decodes the data so as to acquire ID data that was held in the memory unit 113 inside the tag 101, and transfers the ID date through the host interface unit 120 to the host device 106.
In the above-described setup, the tag reader 100 can read information from inside the tag 101. The tag reader 100 generally doubles as a tag writer that can be used to write the data designated by the host device 106 into the memory unit 113 in the tag 101.
Conventionally, the above-described kind of back scattering type wireless communication system tags has been applied mainly to the identification and recognition of articles and persons typically through the use of RFID tags. That is because the range of communication by the communication system has been limited to relatively short distances.
Meanwhile, back scattering type wireless communication has the potential for providing wireless transmission channels at a very low level of power dissipation as long as the communication distance is limited. Recent years have witnessed the advent of IC chips carrying memory functions thanks to improved packaging techniques, with the memory capacity getting larger over time. Such developments have aroused the needs not only for the communication of identification and recognition information over relatively short distances but also for general data transmission applications based on back scattering type communication.
However, conventional back scattering type communications systems have failed to offer high data transmission rates necessary for general applications. That is because they operate on the principle of ASK (amplitude shift keying) or BPSK (binary phase shift keying), i.e., modulation methods of relatively low bit rates.
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Hei 6-123773
[Non-Patent Document 1]
"RFID Handbook: the Principle and Applications of Noncontact IC Cards" (by Klaus Finkenzeller, translated into Japanese by Soft Kogaku Kenkyusho Ltd., and published by The Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun Ltd.).


An access fitting has a housing with a base and a cap located respectively on interior and exterior sides of the wall of a gas sampling bag. The base and cap are provided respectively with inner and outer ports aligned with an opening in the bag wall to provide a through passageway communicating with the interior of the bag. A septum is interposed between the cap and the exterior side of the bag wall. The septum has a hole therein and is slidably adjustable between an open position at which its hole is aligned with the through passageway, and a closed position at which its hole is removed from the through passageway and the through passageway is blocked by an imperforate segment of the septum. A tubular connector is received in the outer port, and is axially adjustable between an advanced position frictionally resisting sliding adjustment of the septum, and a retracted position accommodating such adjustment.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to gas sampling bags, and is concerned in particular with a new and improved fitting for sealing and gaining access to an opening in the bag wall.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The lowest cost and most commonly used gas sampling bags are fabricated from Tedlar with polypropylene access fittings. However, the reusability of such bags is limited due to gas adsorption on the surface of the Tedlar material, which could adversely affect sensitive testing of subsequent gas samples.
All perfluoroplastic gas sampling bags, i.e., those fabricated from perfluoroalkoxy (PFA), fluorinated ethlylene propylene (FEP) or polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE) are also available, but at a much higher cost, due primarily to their complicated and expensive access valves that are typically machined from perfluoroplastics or stainless steel. These materials resist surface adsorption of the gases being sampled, thus making is possible to use the sampling bags repetitively. However, this advantage is compromised by the limited septum life of the access fittings.


A single point quick disconnect spray bar is disclosed for movement between a connected position, in which the spray bar is operatively connected to a press frame, and a disconnected position. A mounting guide secured to the spray bar is engagable with the press frame and movably supports the spray bar in the disconnected position when so engaged. A closure member, having a first part affixed to a first end of the spray bar and a second end affixed to the press frame moves the spray bar into the connected position when the first and second parts are engaged. A method of connecting a spray bar is also disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a spray bar for use in a printing press and, more particularly, to a spray bar that may be connected and disconnected from the press quickly, without the need for external tools through manual intervention at only one end thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
It is well known in the art to use spray bars for applying a dampening fluid to either a dampening roller or an ink roller of a printing press. The conventional spray bar, which mounts onto the printing press, houses solenoids, nozzles, wiring, plumbing, as well as other components. Additionally, mounting rods and upper and lower covers are attached to the spray bar. When attaching the spray bar to the press, the electrical and fluid connections must be made, and both the left and right hand clamps which hold the mounting rods to the press frame must be tightened. Typically, the hand clamps are split collar clamps having a locking nut. A typical double line newspaper press has a spray bar weighing in the range of approximately 65 to 70 pounds.
When servicing the conventional spray bar, other than changing a nozzle, the entire bar must be removed from the press. This involves disconnecting the electrical connections from the spray bar, disconnecting the fluid supply system from the spray bar, removing a drainage line from spray bar, unclamping both the left and right hand clamps, and simultaneously lifting both ends of the spray bar from the press. Accordingly, it is clear that conventional spray bars have traditionally suffered from several disadvantages.
In particular, removal and connection of the spray bar is unduly complicated. Manual disconnection of the electrical and fluid connections increases the downtime of the press. Similarly, that the left and right clamps must both be undone further adds to the downtime of the press. Lastly, because the mounting rods and upper and lower covers are permanently affixed to the spray bar, the spray bar is often particularly heavy, making removal difficult.
Efforts have been made to simplify the maintenance of the spray bar. These advancements include providing the spray bar with the fluid and electrical connections at one end for plugging into a mating receptacle positioned on the press frame. After making the fluid and electrical connections, the bar is secured in place with a screw located on the opposite end of the bar. While such a spray bar has reduced to the downtime due to the manual connection and disconnection of the fluid and electrical supplies, this bar also has several drawbacks.
Specifically, alignment of the mating portions of the fluid and electrical connections can be difficult. Also, the screw used to secure the bar in place is typically not locking or torque limiting. Therefore, the screw may loosen causing the spray bar to fall from the press. Additionally, the use of a screw at one end of the bar places undue torque on the spray bar, possibly resulting in bending of the bar. Similarly, the screw places undue torque on the press frame as well. Lastly, an external tool usually is required to tighten the screw.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a single point quick disconnect spray bar.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a single point quick disconnect spray bar that is easily connected and disconnected.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a single point quick disconnect spray bar which is easily maintained.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a single point quick disconnect spray bar that is self aligning.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a single point quick disconnect spray bar that is secured to a press without the need for external tools.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a single point quick disconnect spray bar that is light in weight.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a single point quick disconnect spray that does not place undue torque on the bar or the press.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a single point quick disconnect spray bar that is secured to the press frame through manual intervention at only one end thereof.


Claimed is a somatostatin agonist according to formula (I),D-Phe-c(Cys-Tyr(I)-D-Trp-Lys-Val-Cys)-Thr-NH2,   (I)or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and uses thereof.

Somatostatin (SRIF), a tetradecapeptide discovered by Brazeau et al., has been shown to have potent inhibitory effects on various secretory processes in tissues such as pituitary, pancreas and gastrointestinal tract. SRIF also acts as a neuromodulator in the central nervous system. These biological effects of SRIF, all inhibitory in nature, are elicited through a series of G protein coupled receptors, of which five different subtypes have been characterized (SSTR-1 to SSTR-5). These five subtypes have similar affinities for the endogenous SRIF ligands but have differing distribution in various tissues. SRIF binds to each of the five distinct receptor (SSTR) subtypes with relatively high affinity.
SRIF produces a variety of effects, including modulation of hormone release, e.g., growth hormone, glucagon, insulin, amylin, and neurotransmitter release. Some of these effects have been associated with its binding to a specific SRIF receptor. For example, the inhibition of growth hormone has been attributed to the somatostatin type-2 receptor ("SSTR-2") (Raynor, et al., Molecular Pharmacol. 43:838 (1993); Lloyd, et al., Am. J. Physiol. 268:G102 (1995)), while the inhibition of insulin has been attributed to the somatostatin type-5 receptor ("SSTR-5") (Coy, et al. 197:366–371 (1993)). Activation of types 2 and 5 have been associated with growth hormone suppression and more particularly with GH secreting adenomas (acromegaly) and TSH secreting adenomas. Activation of type 2 but not type 5 has been associated with treating prolactin secreting adenomas.
As is well known to those skilled in the art, SRIF and analogs thereof are useful in the treatment of a great variety of diseases and/or conditions. An exemplary but by no means exhaustive list of such diseases and/or conditions would include: Cushings Syndrome (see Clark, R. V. et al, Clin. Res. 38, p. 943A, 1990); gonadotropinoma (see Ambrosi B., et al., Acta Endocr. (Copenh.) 122, 569–576, 1990); hyperparathyroidism (see Miller, D., et al., Canad. Med. Ass. J., Vol. 145, pp. 227–228, 1991); Paget's disease (see, Palmieri, G. M. A., et al., J. of Bone and Mineral Research, 7, (Suppl. 1), p. S240 (Abs. 591), 1992); VIPoma (see Koberstein, B., et al., Gastroenterology, 28, 295–301, 1990 and Christensen, C., Acta Chir. Scand. 155, 541–543, 1989); nesidioblastosis and hyperinsulinism (see Laron, Z., Israel J. Med. Sci., 26, No. 1, 1–2, 1990, Wilson, D. C., Irish J. Med. Sci., 158, No. 1, 31–32, 1989 and Micic, D., et al., Digestion, 16, Suppl. 1.70. Abs. 193, 1990); gastrinoma (see Bauer, F. E., et al., Europ. J. Pharmacol., 183, 55 1990); Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome (see Mozell, E., et al., Surg. Gynec. Obstet., 170, 476–484, 1990); hypersecretory diarrhea related to AIDS and other conditions (due to AIDS, see Cello, J. P., et al., Gastroenterology, 98, No. 5, Part 2, Suppl., A163 1990; due to elevated gastrin-releasing peptide, see Alhindawi, R., et al., Can. J. Surg., 33, 139–142, 1990; secondary to intestinal graft vs. host disease, see Bianco J. A., et al., Transplantation, 49, 1194–1195, 1990; diarrhea associated with chemotherapy, see Petrelli, N., et al., Proc. Amer. Soc. Clin. Oncol., Vol. 10, P 138, Abstr. No. 417 1991); irritable bowel syndrome (see O'Donnell, L. J. D., et al., Aliment. Pharmacol. Therap., Vol. 4., 177–181, 1990); pancreatitis (see Tulassay, Z., et al., Gastroenterology, 98, No. 5, Part 2, Suppl., A238, 1990); Crohn's Disease (see Fedorak, R. N., et al., Can. J. Gastroenterology, 3, No. 2, 53–57, 1989); systemic sclerosis (see Soudah, H., et al., Gastroenterology, 98, No. 5, Part 2, Suppl., A129, 1990); thyroid cancer (see Modigliani, E., et al., Ann., Endocr. (Paris), 50, 483–488, 1989); psoriasis (see Camisa, C., et al., Cleveland Clinic J. Med., 57 No. 1, 71–76, 1990); hypotension (see Hoeldtke, R. D., et al., Arch. Phys. Med. Rehabil., 69, 895–898, 1988 and Kooner, J. S., et al., Brit. J. Clin. Pharmacol., 28, 735P–736P, 1989); panic attacks (see Abelson, J. L., et al., Clin. Psychopharmacol., 10, 128–132, 1990); sclerodoma (see Soudah, H., et al., Clin. Res., Vol. 39, p. 303A, 1991); small bowel obstruction (see Nott, D. M., et al., Brit. J. Surg., Vol. 77, p. A691, 1990); gastroesophageal reflux (see Branch, M. S., et al., Gastroenterology, Vol. 100, No. 5, Part 2 Suppl., p. A425, 1991); duodenogastric reflux (see Hasler, W., et al., Gastroenterology, Vol. 100, No. 5, Part 2, Suppl., p. A448, 1991); Graves' Disease (see Chang, T. C., et al., Brit. Med. J., 304, p. 158, 1992); polycystic ovary disease (see Prelevic, G. M., et al., Metabolism Clinical and Experimental, 41, Suppl. 2, pp 76–79, 1992); upper gastrointestinal bleeding (see Jenkins, S. A., et al., Gut., 33, pp. 404–407, 1992 and Arrigoni, A., et al., American Journal of Gastroenterology, 87, p. 1311, (abs. 275), 1992); pancreatic pseudocysts and ascites (see Hartley, J. E., et al., J. Roy. Soc. Med., 85, pp. 107–108, 1992); leukemia (see Santini, et al., 78, (Suppl. 1), p. 429A (Abs. 1708), 1991); meningioma (see Koper, J. W., et al., J. Clin. Endocr. Metab., 74, pp. 543–547, 1992); and cancer cachexia (see Bartlett, D. L., et al., Surg. Forum., 42, pp. 14–16, 1991).
The variable sensitivity of acromegalic patients to the current clinically available SRIF agonists, octreotide and lanreotide, has already been underlined. (Ann Intern Med. 117:711–718 (1992); 3J Clin Endocrinol Metab 71:391–397 (1990)). An improved patient response has been reported using the long-lasting depot formulations of either octreotide or lanreotide (Flogstad A K, et al. 1997, J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 82:23–28; Caron P, et al., 1997, J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 82:18–22.). In these reports 70–80% of the acromegalic patients were considered to be controlled with these long-lasting SRIF agonists formulations. Such data were, in fact, biased due to preselection of patients already known to be responders through previous sc administration of octreotide. When such preselection is eliminated, the percentage of patients who achieve mean GH levels less than 2.5 μg/L with slow release lanreotide has been demonstrated in recent studies to be 50–60% (al-Maskari M, et al., 1996, Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 45:415–421.). Thus, about 40–50% of acromegalic patients remain partially or poorly controlled under the current SRIF agonist treatments.
In acromegaly, a quantitative loss of SRIF receptors explains the very poor or absent GH suppression in response to acute administration of octreotide or SRIF in 3 of 17 cases (Ikuyama S, et al, 1985 J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 61:666–67;. Reubi J C, Landolt A M, 1989, J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 68:844–850). Such a loss of SRIF receptors is seldom encountered and cannot fully explain the partial GH-suppressive effects of octreotide and lanreotide in vivo. In a subsequent study of 37 GH-secreting tumors, the density of SRIF receptors was poorly correlated to the GH-suppressive effects of octreotide in vivo (Bertherat J, et al. 1993, J Clin Endocrinol Metab 77:1577–1583.). Another hypothesis that could explain the partial GH-suppressive effects of octreotide or lanreotide in certain acromegalic patients comes from the identification of 5 SSTR subtypes (Patel Y C, Srikant C B, 1994, Endocrinology. 135:2814–2817.). In human tumors of various origins, specific patterns of SSTR subtype expression have been described (Eden P A, Taylor J E. 1993, Life Sci. 53:85–90; Schaer J C, et al., 1997, Int J Cancer. 70:530–537.). Among the GH-secreting adenomas, a consistent pattern of SSTR2 and SSTR5 mRNA expression has been identified (Greenman Y, Melmed S. 1994, J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 78:398–403; Greenman Y, Melmed S. 1994, J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 79:724–729; Miller G M, et al., 1995, J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 4:1386–1392; Murabe H, et al. 1996, J Neuroendocrinol. 8:605–610; Nielsen S, et al. 1998, J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 83:2997–3000; Panetta R, Patel Y C. 1995, Life Sci. 56:333–342; Reubi J C, et al., 1994, Cancer Res. 54:3455–3459). Previous studies have shown an inhibition of GH release using SSTR2-preferential agonists. However, an SSTR5-preferential agonist has also been shown to induce a significant inhibition of GH release in 7 of 15 GH-secreting tumors (Jaquet P, et al. 2000, J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 85:781–792) and 6 of 7 GH-secreting tumors (Shimon I, et al., 1997, J Clin Invest. 100:2386–2392; Shimon I, et al. 1997, J Clin Invest. 4:789–798.).
These data implicate the SSTR5 subtype in the inhibition of GH release in certain tumors. This hypothesis is confirmed in our study using the bispecific SSTR2- and SSTR5-preferential compound of formula (I). Indeed, when the tumors were only responsive to SSTR2 preferential analogs, this compound was unable to produce any additional effect on inhibition of GH release compared with octreotide. However, in the tumors equally responsive to both SSTR2 and SSTR5 agonists, the compound of formula (I) was significantly more potent than octreotide in the suppression of GH and PRL secretion. The comparison between dose-response inhibition of GH release with the compound of formula (I) and SRIF-14 showed that this compound more closely mimicked the effects of native SRIF by acting via both SSTR2 and SSTR5 subtypes.
From our data, two classes of tumors emerged among the GH-secreting adenomas. The first was a series of tumors characterized by high sensitivity to SRIF-14 and SSTR2-preferential agonists. These tumors presented the highest level of SSTR2 mRNA expression and had the highest GH-suppressive effect with octreotide. In the second class of tumors, the level of SSTR2 mRNA was low, and octreotide produced only partial inhibition of GH release. SRIF-14 was nevertheless able to suppress GH release, with a maximal suppressive effect similar to that of the first class of tumors, but at a 10-fold higher concentration. The presence of high levels of SSTR5 mRNA was associated with a potent suppressive effect of Compound B on GH release, more efficacious than that of the SSTR2 analogs. In these tumors, the bispecific SSTR2 and SSTR5 compound of formula (I) induced a suppression of GH release identical to that achieved by native SRIF. Thus in tumors deficient in the SSTR2 subtype presenting with a high SSTR5/SSTR2 ratio there may be a rescue through the SSTR5 subtype that mediates the suppression of GH release.
Other indications associated with activation of the SRIF receptor subtypes are inhibition of insulin and/or glucagon and more particularly diabetes mellitus, angiopathy, retinopathy, proliferative retinopathy, dawn phenomenon and nephropathy; inhibition of gastric acid secretion and more particularly peptic ulcers, enterocutaneous and pancreaticocutaneous fistula, Dumping syndrome, watery diarrhea syndrome, acute or chronic pancreatitis and gastrointestinal hormone secreting tumors; treatment of cancer such as hepatoma; inhibition of angiogenesis, treatment of inflammatory disorders such as arthritis; chronic allograft rejection; angioplasty; preventing graft vessel and gastrointestinal bleeding.
Additionally, the following references disclose the use of certain somatostatin analogs for the indications noted: U.S. Pat. No. 4,853,371—inhibiting the secretion of growth hormone, insulin, glucagon and pancreatic exocrine secretion; U.S. Pat. No. 5,147,856—restenosis; U.S. Pat. No. 5,411,943—hepatoma; U.S. Pat. No. 5,073,541—lung cancer; U.S. Pat. No. 5,504,069—inhibiting the accelerated growth of a solid tumor; U.S. Pat. No. 5,688,418—prolonging survival of pancreatic cells; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/089,410 filed Jul. 9, 1993—melanoma; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/854,941 filed May 13, 1997—decreasing body weight; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/854,943 filed May 13, 1997—insulin resistance and Syndrome X; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/855,311 filed May 13, 1997—hyperlipidemia; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/440,061 filed May 12, 1995—hyperamylinemia; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/852,221 filed May 7, 1997—hyperprolactinemia and prolactinomas; International Patent Application No. PCT/US97/14154—fibrosis.
It is preferred to have an analog which is selective for the specific SRIF receptor subtype or subtypes responsible for the desired biological response, thus, reducing interaction with other receptor subtypes which could lead to undesirable side effects. Further, because of the short half-life of native SRIF, various SRIF analogs have been developed, e.g., for the treatment of acromegaly, (Raynor, et al., Molecular Pharmacol. 43:838 (1993)).

Societe de Conseils de Recherches et d'Applications Scientifiques, SAS


A Re-user case for retaining a wound coil of filamentary material wherein first and second separate half-sections, each including mating projections and counterpart receptacles enabling the two sections to be releaseably joined and forming an enclosed case containing the wound coil and wherein the first and second half-sections are formed of injection molded impact resistant high intensity propylene; each of the half-sections including releasable locking members to join the first and second half-sections to one another to form the Re-user case; and the Re-user case including large and small diameter payout openings respectively accommodating a first payout tube for unwinding a coil of filamentary material or large diameter and a second payout tube for unwinding a coil of filamentary material of small diameter.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to re-usable cases for containing a package of wound electrical wire or cable for unwinding through a payout hole and payout tube and, more particularly, to such cases that are injection molded of impact- resistant, high density polyethylene in complementary attachable sections to provide two different sized ports for related sized payout tubes for paying out different sized electrical wire or cable and wherein the two-sections afford ease of insertion and removal of electrical wire or cable. The two sections are easily and readily attachable to form a contained re-user case with built in support feet enabling the re-user case to be set down at the work site and further including built in handles for easy portability of the re-user case.
2. Related Art
1.) U.S. Pat. No. 4,160,533; Kotzur et al.; xe2x80x9cContainer with Octagonal Insert and Corner Payoutxe2x80x9d; and assigned to the same assignee as the present application: A package of filamentary material wound in a figure-8 configuration with a radial hole extending from the central core space thereof to the outer periphery thereof is enclosed in a container having a perforated corner portion for unwinding the FM material. The winding is placed within a polygonally-sided insert having opposing sides engaging the outer periphery of the windings and including a payout tube inserted in the radial hole for feeding the inner end of the material. Opposite sides of the insert engage the inner surfaces of the container with the payout tube being aligned with the perforated corner portion. The bottom and upper surfaces of the container include intersecting cone sections for supporting the inner windings of the material.
2.) U.S. Pat. No. 5,979,812; Kotzur et al.; xe2x80x9cCoil with Large Payout Hole and Tube for Kinkless Payoutxe2x80x9d; and assigned to the same assignee as the present application: A paper or corrugated container is disclosed having a hingeable panel including an opening and a payout tube formed of container-type material and with an outer end opening conforming to the panel opening. A flap member extends from each of the openings and extends through and around the edges of the panel opening for supporting the payout tube with the panel in a closed position.
3.) U.S. Pat. No. 6,109,554; Kotzur et al.; xe2x80x9cCombined Fiber Containers and Payout Tubes and Plastic Payout Tubesxe2x80x9d; and assigned to the same assignee as the present application: A combined container and payout tube is shown in FIG. 10A wherein the container holds a wound coil of filamentary material and includes a payout hole extending from the inner coil to the outer coil. A serrated opening in a panel of the container is opened to allow the filamentary material to be removed from the container. The filamentary material is threaded through a payout tube incorporated as part of the container. The container is dimensioned in accordance with the diameter of the wound coil that is to be contained therein; and
4.) xe2x80x9cThe Reelex Re-Userxe2x80x9d; Advertisement of Windings circa 1990: A blow molded re-user container of impact resistant high density polyethylene for holding wound coils of electrical wire or cable which includes two identical half-sections each containing a cone extending from the center of the section into the central opening of the wound coil to maintain the shape of the coil and to limit movement thereof inside the re-user container. The re-user container is weather proof, portable (light weight) and affords the usual REELEX benefits, namely, non rotating spool, low tension and non-twist wind affording easy payout, no over-run and less scrap.
The Re-User cases of the invention are an improvement over that of the Reelex Re-User container described above (paragraph 4) and are constructed for containing wound electrical coils and cables for unwinding. The Re-User cases of the invention are injection molded of impact resistant high density polyethylene to improve the cost of manufacture. as opposed to a blow molding process used with the prior art Reelex Re-User Cases.
Additionally, the REELEX Re-User cases of the present invention do not utilize cones or the like to stabilize the wound coil.
Moreover, the two half-sections of the Re-User cases of the present invention use combined hinge and clamps to open and close the separate case sections and to secure each half-section to one other thereby enclosing the wound electrical wire or cable.
The Re-User case of the present invention accommodates new tube designs such as the EZ Tube and the Reelex II Tube.
The Re-User case of the present invention accommodates storage and payout of large diameter cable such as CAT 5, CAT 6, CAT 7 electrical cable through a large diameter payout tube and xe2x80x9cnormal-sizedxe2x80x9d electrical wire or cable through a smaller diameter payout tube. The payout tube for the large diameter electrical wire or cable is, for example, defined in U.S. Pat. Nos. #5,979,812 and #6,109,554 (referred to above) and the payout tube for xe2x80x9cnormal-sizedxe2x80x9d electrical wire or cable is defined, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. #4,022,399; Zajac; xe2x80x9cScrew-In Tube with Breakable Tabs for Coil of Flexible Material with Inner End Payoutxe2x80x9d; U.S. Pat. No. #4,057,203; Newsman et al.; xe2x80x9cPackage of Flexible Material with Oval Payout Tubexe2x80x9d; and U.S. Pat. No. #5,810,272; Wallace et al.; xe2x80x9cSnap-On Tube and Locking Collar for Guiding Filamentary Material Through a Wall Panel of a Container Containing Wound Filamentary Materialxe2x80x9d (all of the aforementioned patents being assigned to the same assignee as the present application, namely Windings,. Inc.).
Finally, the Re-User case of the present invention is designed to be weatherproof, sturdy, stackable, re-usable, portable and provide the usual benefits of the REELEX wind, i.e. non rotating spool, low tension and non-twist wind affording easy payout, no over-run and less scrap.
It is a primary object of the invention to provide a Re-User case for wound electrical coils or cable that is made of injection molded, impact-resistant, high density polyethylene.
It is a feature of the invention that the Re-User cases are light in weight.
It is an advantage of the invention that the Re-User cases are portable.
A further object of the invention is that the separate half-sections of the Re-User case are removably joined to one another to form the closed Re-User case.
A further feature of the invention is that the separate half-sections are clamped to one another by removable, plastic clamps.
A further advantage of the invention is that the clamped sections of the Re-User case are easily closed and opened by a simple rotation of the various clamps to engage preformed retaining members on opposing sections of the case.
Another object, feature and advantage of the invention is that the Re-User cases are optimally configured to be stored one on top of the other to reduce space.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a lower cost of manufacture than known Re-User cases.
Yet another feature of the invention is that the Re-User cases are made of injection molded polyethylene.
Yet another advantage of the invention is that the Re-User cases are durable and of high strength to withstand the rough and hard usage to which they are exposed in the field of their application.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide safe storage and kinkless, twistless payout of a wide diameter/size of wound, electrical wire or cable from a re-usable container made of light weight, durable material.
Yet another feature is that the Re-User case of the invention can easily be converted to store and payout either large or small diameter/size electrical cable or wire through either one of two different-sized payout tube openings.
Yet another advantage of the invention is that each Re-User case of the invention can store and payout a wide range of diameter of electrical wire or cable from the same Re-User case.


A process for measuring low levels of cadmium in blood and other biological specimens is provided without interference from high levels of alkali metal contaminants by forming an aqueous solution and without contamination by environmental cadmium absent the proteins from the specimen, selectively removing cadmium from the aqueous solution on an anion exchange resin, thereby removing the alkali metal contaminants, resolubilizing cadmium from the resin to form a second solution and analyzing the second solution for cadmium, the process being carried out in a cadmium-free environment.

This invention relates to the measurement of cadmium in biological specimens and more particularly to the detection and measurement of ultratrace cadmium levels in blood and other biological fluids.
Measurement of cadmium in blood, urine, tissue and other biological specimens at low levels is important for a number of reasons. Cadmium has a long biological half-life and the toxic effects of exposure are cumulative. Chronic exposure to cadmium can irreversibly damage the kidneys. Cadmium is now considered to be a potential carcinogen. Also, recent biomedical research suggests that low-level cadmium exposure from smoking may contribute to osteoporosis.
Cadmium in addition to lead may be found in the working environment, in ambient air, in drinking water, in tobacco smoke and in food. Certain foods may be the major contributors to human exposure to cadmium. Smoking may be an additional significant source of cadmium exposure. Because cadmium accumulates in humans from different sources, biological monitoring has become recognized as a desired way to estimate the total exposure and risks associated with cadmium.
The measurement of the level of toxic metals in human body fluids is often the best way of evaluating undue exposure, whether the source be industrial, environmental or iatrogenic. To be of any use in diagnosing and monitoring exposed individuals, analytical results generated must be reliable (i.e., accurate), and reproducible with time.
The determination of cadmium in biological samples is of considerable interest to health and research organizations. Studies have been conducted to measure and monitor cadmium (and other toxic substances) in body fluids. One study, as reported in "An Interlaboratory Comparison Programme For Several Toxic Substances in Blood and Urine" by Jean-Philippe Weber, in The Science of the Total Environment, (1988) 71, 111-123, was directed to the measurement of cadmium (and other toxic substances) in blood and urine as performed by a number of laboratories. Consistency in the measurements of cadmium even at levels above 5 .mu.g/L was difficult as indicated by the reported coefficients of variation in the order of 30-40%, with higher values for lower concentrations.
The most widely used analytical technique for measuring cadmium in blood and urine samples involves the steps of deproteination and direct analysis by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrophotometry (ETAAS). In general, this technique has provided acceptable consistency of results with samples having a cadmium concentration above about 5 .mu.g Cd/L.
One reason for the difficulty in measuring cadmium at levels of .ltoreq.5 .mu.g/L is that the deproteination or wet-ashing step in the above described technique removes cadmium from its organic environment but does not separate it from inorganic constituents. Sodium and potassium concentrations in normal blood are generally 10.sup.6 times greater than cadmium. When using electrothermal atomic absorption spectrophotometry (ETAAS) with deuterium background correction for the analysis of cadmium in blood, this inorganic environment contributes significantly to the inaccuracy and imprecision of the measurement. Another difficulty associated with measuring cadmium in blood arises from the presence of cadmium as an ubiquitous environmental contaminant. Control or avoidance of cadmium contamination by glassware, plastic ware, reagents and air is of utmost importance for proper accuracy.
In order to evaluate cadmium exposures in an environmental setting, it is important to measure cadmium at low levels (i.e., below about 0.5 .mu.g/L) in blood, urine and other biological specimens. Seawater is also an important medium for measuring cadmium content since cadmium may have an adverse effect on developing fish embryos. Data on cadmium levels, particularly in body fluids, and changes in those levels related to exposure to special environmental conditions, could be of considerable importance in providing early indications of medical problems. Since the toxic effects of exposure are reported to be cumulative, information of this type could also be particularly important in association with tests on young persons to determine early adverse exposure.
Accordingly, one object of this invention is a method of testing biological specimens for low cadmium concentrations. Another object of the invention is a method of testing biological fluids containing high values of alkali metal contaminants for cadmium. Yet another object of the invention is a method for testing biological fluids for low cadmium concentration with improved accuracy. These and other advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description.

Process for measuring low cadmium levels in blood and other biological specimens

The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy


A method of operating a user equipment for measuring non-contiguous carriers comprises: changing a position of a local oscillator to be in the middle of the non-contiguous carriers; measuring the carriers simultaneously; estimating a power level of an interferer in a gap in the non-contiguous carriers which creates image interference; and compensating the measurement dependent on the interferer power level and an image rejection factor.

Carrier aggregation is a technique available for increasing the bandwidth available for communication by employing simultaneously more than one carrier for communication by a single communication device. The carriers may be in different radio frequency bands, in which case they occupy portions of spectrum that are spaced apart, or may occupy contiguous portions of spectrum in a single radio frequency band, or a combination of both possibilities, occupying contiguous portions of different radio frequency bands. A further possibility is that the carriers occupy a single radio frequency band, but not all of the carriers occupy portions of spectrum that are contiguous, there being one or more gaps in the spectrum occupied by the carriers. The present disclosure addresses, in particular, such carrier aggregation in which the carriers are non-contiguous within a single frequency band.
Carrier aggregation has been introduced in release 8 of the 3GPP High Speed Downlink Packet Access protocol, commonly referred to as HSDPA. In release 8 (rel-8) of HSDPA, only two adjacent carriers can be aggregated. Release 9 (rel-9) introduces the possibility to schedule two carriers in two different bands, that is, one carrier in one band and one carrier in an other band, for example band I and band VIII. In release 10 (rel-10) up to four carriers can be aggregated which can be located in the same band, with a maximum of three adjacent carriers being considered, or in two different bands. In LTE, carrier aggregation has been introduced in rel-10. Up to rel-10, only the aggregation of contiguous portions of the spectrum is possible, within one band. With release 11 (rel-11), non-contiguous carrier aggregation is possible.
FIG. 1 illustrates some configurations of carriers which may be employed for non-contiguous carrier aggregation in the High Speed Downlink Pack Access (HSDPA) protocol. Referring to FIG. 1, eight scenarios A to H are represented, with scenarios A to C being applicable in Band I of HSDPA and scenarios D to H being applicable in Band IV of HSDPA. Each carrier occupies 5 MHz of spectrum, and the gap between those carriers that may be used for carrier aggregation is, 5 MHz, or a multiple of 5 MHz. In practice, the gaps may be occupied by carriers belonging to a different communications network. For the purpose of this document, such a carrier that occupies the gap will be referred to as an interferer, interference signal or an unwanted signal, as it carries no information intended for a receiver using the non-contiguous carriers for communication. In scenario A, two carriers separated by a 5 MHz gap are aggregated, and this configuration is denoted C-5-C. In scenario B, three carriers are aggregated with a gap of 5 MHz between the first and second carriers, which are the two carriers of lowest frequency, and this configuration is denoted C-5-CC. In scenario C, four carriers are aggregated with a 10 MHz gap between the first and second carriers, and this configuration is denoted C-10-CCC. Scenario D has an identical configuration to scenario A. Scenario E has three carriers with a 10 MHz gap between the first and second carrier, this configuration being denoted C-10-CC. Scenarios F and G both have four carriers and a central gap of 15 MHz and 20 MHz, being denoted, respectively, CC-15-CC and CC-20-CC, with the gap being between the second and third carriers. Scenario G has three carriers with a 20 MHz gap between the second and third carriers, which are the two carriers of highest frequency, and is denoted CC-20-C. Some of the configurations in FIG. 1 span 20 MHz or less, and others span more than 20 MHz.
Mobile communication networks which conform with the 3GPP LTE protocol can employ carrier spacings of 1.4, 3, 5, 10, 15 and 20 MHz, depending on the spectrum conditions and availability, and where such a network implements carrier aggregation, the gap between non-contiguous carriers can be an integer multiple of one of these spacings.
Also, user equipments (UEs) may implement both HSDPA and LTE technologies and hence reuse of the components between the two different radio access technologies (RATs) is highly desirable.
The gap between non-contiguous carriers may be occupied by a carrier transmitted by a different communication network, which may be regarded as an unwanted carrier with respect to a receiver receiving the non-contiguous carriers. Such an unwanted carrier may therefore also be regarded as an interference signal. Indeed, it is very likely that an interferer will be present in the gap. The interferer can be from a different operator that may deploy the same radio access technology (RAT) or another RAT in the gap. For example, scenario B in FIG. 1 is a typical scenario for Telecom Italia, and the gap is occupied by Vodafone. Moreover the assumption of similar power received in the wanted carrier and in the gap does hold true only when geographical co-location of the two operators is possible. This is not the case in practice for most of the operators deploying their network in the same area. So, whereas systems employing carrier aggregation may control the relative levels of the contiguous carriers, with non-contiguous carriers, the level of an interference signal in a gap may not be controllable by the system and may be relatively high.
In a wireless communication network employing carrier aggregation, the selection of carriers to be aggregated may be based on selection criterion that takes account of the signal quality of candidate carriers. For example, a mobile terminal may measure the quality of candidate carriers and report the result of the measurement to a network node, which can then employ the result in selecting the carriers to be aggregated.
In order to reduce the affect of an interference signal in a gap, a receiver may employ dual local oscillators and dual signal paths, with one local oscillator, mixer and filter being used for down-converting carriers which lie on one side of a gap, and a second local oscillator, mixer and filter being used for down-converting carriers which lie on the other side of the gap. Such a receiver can be complex, large, and have relatively high power consumption, in comparison with a receiver arranged for receiving only contiguous carriers.
In order to avoid a high complexity, increased size and higher power consumption of using dual local oscillators and dual signal paths, a receiver with a single local oscillator and single signal path may be tuned to each candidate carrier sequentially to measure signal quality. However, such a scheme can be slow, particularly where many candidate carriers are measured, or where the measurements takes place at intervals during time gaps in ongoing communication.
Consider an example for a configuration C1 x C2 C3 x x x x C4, where the UE camps on C4. For this example we make the assumption of a one LO UE. A signalling method, is summarised as follows:                1) A network node (NodeB or eNB) requests inter-frequency measurements on carriers C1, C2 and C3        2) The UE uses one measurement gap, that is, a time gap, during which it changes the position of the LO and does measurement on C1        3) The UE reports the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) and energy-per-chip to noise-plus-interference ratio (Ec/No) for C1        4) The UE uses one measurement gap during which it changes the position of the LO and does measurement on C2        5) The UE reports the RSSI and Ec/No for C2        6) The UE uses one measurement gap during which it changes the position of the LO and does measurement on C3        7) The UE reports the RSSI and Ec/No for C3
Note that each measurement is done on a 5 MHz bandwidth as it was done so far before HSDPA rel-8. With this method we need N gaps to measure each of the N carriers once.
We consider measurement methods in more detail using the example configuration C1 x C2 C3 x x x x C4 where the operator has the carriers C1, C2, C3, C4 and the UE is camped on C4. The term, 'x' denotes carriers belonging to other operators. In High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) each carrier is of 5 MHz. In LTE, the carriers can have the same or different bandwidths, for example any combination of 1.4, 3, 5, 10, 15 and 20 MHz carriers.
The signalling method used in the legacy for performing measurements on carriers on non-contiguous carrier aggregation scenario comprises:                The radio network node, for example a Radio Network Controller (RNC) in HSPA or eNodeB in LTE, requests the UE to make inter-frequency measurements on carriers C1, C2 and C3. The requirements are currently defined for two inter-frequency carriers in High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) and three inter-frequency carriers in LTE.        The UE reports the measurements for each carrier. For example, for a Universal Telecommunication System Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA) carrier the UE reports measurements of RSSI, Common Pilot Channel (CPICH) or Received Signal Code Power (RSCP); for HSPA, the UE reports measurements of CPICH or Ec/No; for LTE, the UE reports Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) or Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ).        In HSPA the UE uses one measurement gap pattern, also known as compressed mode pattern, for each carrier during which it changes the position of the LO and does a measurement on that carrier. In HSPA the UE reports the measurements on each inter-frequency carrier, for example on C1, C2 and C3, when the measurements are done.        In LTE the UE uses one measurement gap pattern for measuring on all inter-frequency carriers. During each gap, which is 6 ms, or effectively 5 ms due to frequency switching, typically a UE measures one carrier at a time. This means the UE adjusts the position of the LO to be centred on a carrier, for example C1, and does measurement on that carrier. In LTE the UE reports the measurements on each inter-frequency carrier, for example on C1, C2 and C3, when the measurements are done.
The measurements may be done by the UE on the serving as well as on neighbour cells over some known reference symbols or pilot sequences. Some measurements may also require the UE to measure the signals transmitted by the UE in the uplink. In a multi-carrier or carrier aggregation (CA) scenario, the UE may perform the measurements on the cells on the primary component carrier (PCC) as well as on the cells on one or more secondary component carriers (SCCs).
The measurements are done for various purposes. Some example measurement purposes are: mobility, positioning, self organising network (SON), minimisation of drive tests (MDT), operation and maintenance (O&M), network planning and optimisation. The measurements may also comprise cell identification, for example Physical Cell Identity (PCI) acquisition of the target cell, Cell Global Identity (CGI) or Evolved Cell Global Identity (ECGI) acquisition of the target cell, or system information acquisition of the target cell. The target cell can be of LTE or any inter-RAT cell. Examples of intra-frequency, inter-frequency and CA mobility measurements in LTE are RSRP and RSRQ. Examples of intra-frequency, inter-frequency and multi-carrier HSPA mobility measurements are: CPICH, RSCP, CPICH Ec/No and UTRA carrier RSSI. Examples of well known positioning UE measurements in LTE are Reference Signal Time Difference (RSTD) measurement and UE transmitter-receiver time difference measurement.
The measurements described above can be used to enable UE mobility. These measurements are also applicable for a UE camped on, or served by, a mobile relay.
There are two kinds of UE mobility states:
Low activity state mobility, for example cell selection and cell reselection
Connected state mobility, for example handover, cell change order, RRC connection release with re-direction, primary cell change, primary carrier change, and RRC connection re-establishment.
In LTE there is only one low activity mobility state, called idle state. In HSPA there are the following low activity states: Idle state; UTRA Registration Area Paging Channel (URA_PCH) state; Cell Paging Channel (CELL_PCH) state; and Cell Forward Access Channel (CELL_FACH) state. Nevertheless, in any low activity state the UE autonomously performs cell reselection without any direct intervention of the network. To some extent the UE behaviour in a low activity mobility state scenario could still be controlled by a number of broadcast system parameters and performance specification. In HSPA, the connected state is also known as the Cell Dedicated Channel (CELL_DCH) state since at least a dedicated channel (DCH) is in operation for at least the maintenance of the radio link quality.
Handover, on the other hand, is fully controlled by the network through explicit UE specific commands and by performance specification. Similarly the Radio Resource Control (RRC) re-direction upon connection release mechanism is used by the network to re-direct the UE to change to another cell, which may belong to the RAT of the serving cell or to another RAT. In this case the UE upon receiving the 'RRC re-direction upon connection release' command typically goes into an idle state, searches for the indicated cell or RAT, and accesses the new cell or RAT.
In both the low activity state and the connected state the mobility decisions are mainly based on the same kind of downlink neighbour cell measurements, which are described above.
Both Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) and Evolved UTRA Network (E-UTRAN) are frequency reuse-1 systems. This means the geographically closest or physical adjacent neighbour cells operate on the same carrier frequency. An operator may also deploy multiple frequency layers within the same coverage area. Therefore, idle mode and connected mode mobility in both WCDMA and E-UTRAN could be broadly classified into three main categories:
Intra-frequency mobility (low activity and connected states)
Inter-frequency mobility (low activity and connected states)
Inter-RAT mobility (low activity and connected states)
In intra-frequency mobility, the UE moves between the cells belonging to the same carrier frequency. This is the most important mobility scenario since it involves less cost in terms of delay as mobility measurements can be carried out in parallel with channel reception. In addition, an operator would have at least one carrier at its disposal that it would like to be efficiently utilised.
In inter-frequency mobility, the UE moves between cells belonging to different carrier frequencies but of the same access technology. This could be considered as the second most important scenario.
In inter-RAT mobility, the UE moves between cells that belong to different access technologies such as between WCDMA and Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) or vice versa, or between WCDMA and LTE or vice versa.
The most straightforward approach for receiving non-contiguous carriers is to use two separate receivers. However, there would be a cost benefit in facilitating a single-receiver UE implementation, for example, enabling re-use of LTE components and avoiding activating a second chain for configurations that could be supported with a single receiver. One possibility may be for operator A and operator B to perform some kind of joint coverage planning. Hence there may be prior knowledge that the situation of a relatively high power interferer in a gap between two non-contiguous carriers cannot occur. To allow this, it would seem necessary to specify the maximum power difference between wanted and unwanted carriers that can be tolerated by a single-receiver UE. In practice, it is only likely that this option can be considered if operator A and operator B cell sites are completely shared, so it does not cover all likely cases. Another approach would be to use network radio resource management (RRM) strategies to attempt to detect and avoid such a scenario. For example, the UE could be configured to two-carrier (2C) or single-carrier (1C) operation in locations where the operator B signal was too strong to allow non-contiguous four-carrier HSDPA (NC-4C-HSDPA) operation.
It could be beneficial for the UE to report that there is an imbalance condition RSCP, may not be suitable for this purpose, partly because operator A cannot provide to UEs, or know, a neighbour cell list for the operators on operator B spectrum, and partly because carrier RSSI rather than RSCP would be the relevant metric, especially as operator A is unaware of the loading of cells on operator B's spectrum. The carrier RSSI is measured over the entire carrier and not on a specific cell. Hence the UE does not require knowledge of the Physical Cell Identifier (PCI) or scrambling code used in the cells on the carrier.
Although inter-frequency detected set measurements of operator B's carrier could be considered, that is, measurements related to a carrier belonging to the detected or detectable set of carriers of operator B, the reporting of only one cell and the fact that load is unknown would be a significant limitation. A Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) of the serving cell may also give an indication of the presence of an interferer. However, the CQI is a short term metric and would require further averaging, for example in eNB, that is, eNodeB, to reflect the long term situation. This may delay the decision of the eNB to revert to an easier configuration, such as two carriers or a single carrier, which may cause some throughput degradation and some losses. Additionally, lub interface changes may be needed to provide information to the RNC to trigger mobility procedures based on CQI. The lub interface connects a Radio Network Controller (RNC) to a Node B base station.
Periodic inter-frequency RSSI reporting may be configured using existing measurement configuration mechanisms. Some possible issues are the number of carriers that can be monitored by the UE at the same time and the use of a maximum number of compressed mode gaps for the measurements. More significantly, the reporting rate in case of periodic reporting may need to be quite high to ensure a fast enough response to changing interference conditions to avoid call drop. The high reporting rate causes a high overhead in RRC signalling.


An operation execution system including a relay server configured, upon reception of setting information transmitted from a service providing server, to store the setting information in its server memory, such that the stored setting information is associated with device specifying information. In case where the relay server is not communicable with a device specified by the device specifying information, the relay server transmits the setting information stored in the server memory, to the device, when the device has become communicable with the relay server. The relay server, which receives result information from the device, associates the setting information corresponding to the result information that has not yet been received, with setting-unattempted-status information, and associates the setting information corresponding to the result information that has been received, with setting-attempted-status information.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an operation execution system and a relay server.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Conventionally, there is known an image processing system including MFP (Multi Function Peripheral), an authentication server and a plurality of service providing servers that are connected to one another via a network. In this image processing system, when the authentication server receives a user information from the MFP, a menu screen indicative of services corresponding to the user information is transmitted to the MFP. In such an image processing system, the transmission of the user information from the MFP to the authentication server is the prerequisite, namely, the power ON of the MFP is the prerequisite.

Operation execution system and relay server


Milled polymers are contacted with a liquid which dissolves selectively polystyrene and which separates by specific gravity polyolefins from PET and PVC. Then, at least one of the sorted polymers is converted into lower molecular weight products.

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the conversion of polymers, particularly the conversion of polymer waste, into industrially useful products. More particularly, it relates to the cracking of polymers mixtures into lower molecular weight products and into light hydrocarbons which can be recycled or used as raw material.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
The polymers are being produced in increasing amounts and most of them are used in the one-use packaging area.
However, the weak tendency of polymers for natural decomposition and the reduction of the number of available rubbish disposal sites lead to search for new directions to treat polymeric material packaging waste.
The incineration is a technique currently used for the treatment of domestic waste. Although it gives good results with polyolefins, due to their complete combustion which gives water and carbon dioxide, this technique is not suitable for other polymers which do not incinerate as well and tend to carbonize and to give off noxious vapors.
The recycling of polymers, as such, only applies for limited applications. Further, it is necessary, after collection, to make a prior sort depending on their nature.
There is thus a need for a polymer conversion process at large scale, particularly a conversion process including cracking mixed polymers waste into lower molecular weight products and into lighter hydrocarbons which can be recycled or used as raw material, for example for supplying oil refineries and petrochemical steam crackers.
The behavior of polymers at high temperature, if need be in the presence of catalysts or appropriate reactants, has been studied for many years and is well known for the person skilled in the art. Depending on the case, it results into depolymerization (for example, for polystyrene pyrolysis or polyethylene terephthalate methanalysis or hydrolysis) or decomposition (for example, during the catalytic treatment of polyethylene).
U.S. Pat. No. 4,151,216 discloses the catalytic cracking of polypropylene at 425.degree.-475.degree. C. on silica-alumina yielding a liquid fuel from 50.degree. C.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,143,086 discloses a fluidized bed catalytic cracking of amorphous polypropylene in the presence of a hydrocarbon feed yielding an effluent containing propylene.
European patent application 414 439 discloses the conversion of high molecular weight polymers into lower molecular weight product by heating the polymer (possibly dissolved) in contact with a zeolitic acid catalyst.
European patent application 276 081 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,584,421 disclose process for the decomposition of polyolefins into two steps; it consists in a thermal cracking followed by a catalytic cracking of the product coming from the first reaction.
However, these processes do not consider the treatment of different polymers mixtures and the resulting problems. It seems, therefore, very important and necessary at this time to have a simple process comprising a minimum amount of steps to treat polymer mixtures. The Applicant has now perfected an integrated process for the conversion of polymers, particularly suitable for the treatment of polymer waste, into industrial useful products.


There are provided low profile inductor and transformer windings, and methods for fabricating the same. An elongate conductive ribbon is wound in one continuous direction on a generally hourglass shaped mandrel to form the ribbon into a double conical helix having a plurality of spaced apart coils. A sheet of dielectric material having an orifice therethrough is threaded to the midpoint of the double conical helix. The two sides of the helix are then compressed into planes such that the coils in each side lie flat and engage the adjacent side of the sheet of dielectric material. A compound inductor winding can be fabricated from a continuous conductive ribbon wound into a plurality of double conical helixes joined end-to-end. After compression, the compound winding consists of a low profile stack of spiraled windings connected in series, but constituting only one continuous ribbon having no internal connections.

Modern electronic systems and particularly those using large scale integrated circuit technology require high efficiency, high current, and fast switching power supplies. At the same time, many applications for these electronic systems require that the power supplies be small and of low profile. Low profile packaging requires that as many components as possible be surface-mounted. Power supplies for such electronic systems invariably contain one or more inductors or transformers, which are often their physically largest components. Inductor and transformer size and shape, therefore, usually impose a constraint on reduction of the size and profile of a power supply. Conventional power supply inductors and transformers are large, bulky, and thus less than optimally compatible with surface mount technology and high density, low profile power supply packaging.
Previous attempt to reduce transformer and inductor coil profile, or height, have included the etching of copper windings directly onto a printed wiring board. However, because printed wiring board etchings are limited to material thicknesses of only 1 to 2 mils, these windings are very limited in current carrying capacity. Therefore, printed inductor and transformer windings have found very limited application, and are entirely unsuitable for modern, high current power supplies.
The high currents used in power supplies for modern, high density electronic systems also impose a reliability risk on power supply components. A particularly high risk resides in all integrated circuit or printed wiring board vias used to connect transformers or their internal windings to other components or to each other. A via is conventionally defined as a metal connection from a metallization layer to a conductive integrated circuit component or lower metal layer through an intervening layer of insulating material. Integrated circuit or printed wiring board vias are generally not capable of carrying high currents, and account for additional manufacturing costs.
Consequently, a need exists for small, low profile, high density, surface mounted inductor and transformer windings with a minimum number of internal and external connections through vias.


A vehicle turn signal malfunction warning system that alerts the vehicle driver when a turn signal indication is not cancelled after a predetermined time period comprises a modular housing that is plug-compatible with all standardized flasher units in use, requires no wiring to be connected to the turn signal system or to the vehicle electrical system. The system includes a full-wave rectifier connected across the inputs of the standard turn signal flasher, and is powered solely by the voltage derived from the turn signal system. The warning system includes a first time base circuit, a second time base circuit, a gating means, and a tone generator means. The first time base circuit is arranged to be fully charged by the first turn signal pulse through the full-wave rectifier, and to discharge approximately 2.5 seconds after the turn signal pulse train ends. The second time base circuit begins charging when the first time base is fully charged, and accumulates a charge until the first time base circuit resets. The cumulative charge of the second time base circuit is connected through a zener diode to a gate, and thence to an audible transducer. After the turn signal has operated for a predetermined time period, a sufficient number of turn signal pulses will have been generated to raise the voltage of the second time base circuit above the zener diode threshold, the gating means will switch on, and the audible warning will sound. Cancellation of the turn signal indication will immediately stop the audible warning.

Since 1954 all automobiles manufactured in the United States of America have been equipped with turn signaling means comprising flashing front and rear turn signal lamps. The turn signal circuit includes a thermal circuit interrupting device, a switching means, and indicating lamps at both sides of the front and rear of the exterior of the vehicle. Some vehicles use the brake and parking lamps for this purpose, and others utilize separate lamps. In either case, the circuit interrupting means operates in series with the lamps which are engaged by the signaling switching means.
The circuit interrupting means generally consists of a thermally operated bimetallic switch which is heated by the current of the signaling lamps to open the series circuit and temporarily extinguish the lamps until the switch cools and reestablishes contact. Thus when the interrupter is in the open circuit mode, the lamps are dark and the full battery voltage is present across the terminals of the interrupter, also known as a turn signal flasher unit. The turn signal flasher unit has become a standardized component for each major automotive manufacturer, generally comprising a cylindrical cannister having spade lug connectors which are received in a standardized plug receptacle within the vehicle.
The switching means for most turn signal systems includes a switch wand on the steering column, and a switch which detects rotation of the steering wheel indicative of a turn having been initiated and completed. Thus cancellation of a turn signal indication is generally accomplished automatically.
The driving public has come to rely on the indication of intent to turn or change lanes which is provided by flashing turn signals. A major problem occurs when the turn signal malfunctions and fails to cancel automatically. For example, the steering wheel rotation required to change lanes often may be insufficient to actuate the cancelling mechanism, and the turn indication may be sustained for many miles of highway driving. Although some turn signal systems generate a clicking sound or other audible indication of operation, this sound is often masked by the noise of highway driving, or vehicular audio entertainment systems, or the like.
A sustained turn signal indication that is erroneous may cause surrounding drivers to take actions which are unnecessary and potentially dangerous. For example, consider two oncoming vehicles approaching an intersection. One vehicle exhibits a right turn signal that is caused by a malfunctioning turn signal system, and the other driver intends to turn left. The driver turning left will assume that the oncoming vehicle is turning right, and that the way is clear to make the left turn. However, the oncoming vehicle travels straight through the intersection, and may collide with the left turning vehicle.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,754,256 discloses a audible turn signalling system which emits a click sound from a loudspeaker with each cycle of the flasher unit. This system, and others like it, operate whenever the turn signal operates, not just when the turn system malfunctions or sustains beyond the turn or lane change.
Clearly there is a need for a warning system which will inform the driver of a vehicle that a turn signal indication has not cancelled following a vehicle turn or lane change. It would be advantageous to retrofit existing vehicle turn signal system with such a warning system, and to provide a warning system that may be retrofit with a minimum of installation labor and wiring.

Vehicle turn signal malfunction warning system


Disposable chemical and biological protective garments have an internal film or coating of conductive and water absorbing inorganic salts which are antistatic agents activated by the internal humidity generated by the wearer.

Static charging of plastics is a problem when used in hospitals because of the presence of explosive gases such as ethers. Therefore, anti-static agents have either been incorporated into the plastic or sprayed on the external surface. In chemical protective garments, tear resistance and abrasion resistance are important so that incorporating the anti-static agents into the plastic is generally not employed because they weaken the plastic. Tear and abrasion resistance is important in military and firefighting protective garments so that a weakening of the plastic film is avoided. External and anti-static agents can be abraded off or inactivated by external chemicals reactions and can be generally less effective because they are not concentrated at the surface of the film or fabric where they are most needed.
It is generally assumed that interfacially active molecules of some anti static agents function by accumulating on the surface and are oriented with the hydrophobic part containing a paraffin chain extending into the plastic and a hydrophilic part pointing outwards where it is able to adsorb water on the surface. In consequence of their interfacially active character, antistatic agents decrease the phase boundary angle between water and plastic, thus allowing water to be uniformly distributed on the surface. A water film, whose thickness depends on the atmospheric humidity, forms on the plastics' surface, thus increasing the conductivity by means of an ion conduction process and dissipating static charge build-up. This also explains why the surface conductivity and hence the antistatic action progressively decrease with decreasing atmospheric humidity.
More recently it has been postulated that charge exchange, in addition to the ion conduction mechanism, is effected through a constant exchange of water between the surface and the environment. This would be in accord with the mechanism of air ionization. In contrast to this, however, the antistatic agent on the surface acts as a contact point for the charge exchange.
In addition, charge transfer can be accomplished by a proton shift. Antistatic agents bearing —CO2H, OH or NH2, —SO3H groups are able to associate in chain form via hydrogen bonding, and display antistatic activity even at low atmospheric humidity, unlike compounds which are able to form only intramolecular hydrogen bonds.
Many antistatic agents also show hygroscopic properties, thereby intensifying the attraction of water to the surface. At constant atmospheric humidity a hygroscopic compound combines more water at the surface and so increases the antistatic effectiveness.
Application of antistatic agents in the normal concentration range brings about a decrease in the surface resistivity from 1014–1016 to approximately 108–1010Ω. A further decrease is attainable only by increasing the surface conductivity.
Many antistatic agents in use today are classified as cationic, anionic, nonionic, and amphoteric compounds. The molecules have a hydrophilic part and a hydrophobic component. The hydrophobic part confers a certain compatability with the particular polymer and is responsible for anchoring the molecule on the surface while the hydrophilic part takes care of the binding and exchange of water on the surface.
A number of external agents are applied to the external surface of molded articles from aqueous or alcoholic solutions. Hygroscopic agents such as glycerin, polyols, and polyglycols, quaternary ammonium salts, sodium alkyl sulphonates and fatty acid monoglycerides appear to be the preferred choices for external antistatic activity.
The problem with external antistatic agents is their decreased activity in low humidity areas and under arid conditions. Moreover, external antistatic agents can be washed off, rubbed off, or inactivated by chemical agents.


A cylinder liner has an outer circumferential surface around which another metal is to be cast. The cylinder liner also has a plurality of protrusions disposed on the outer circumferential surface and having respective substantially conical undercuts or necks which are progressively spread outwardly from the outer circumferential surface. The protrusions have respective flat faces on the distal ends of the undercuts.

For example, cylinder blocks for use in automotive engines are made of an aluminum alloy for producing lighter engines. The cylinder blocks include cast-iron cylinder sleeves or liners (inserts) to provide wear-resistant inner surfaces against which pistons slide back and forth. Brake drums for automobiles also use cast-iron shoes (inserts).
When a metal, e.g., an aluminum alloy, is to be cast around a cast-iron insert, it is necessary that the cast-iron insert and the aluminum alloy be held in intimate contact with each other and that the aluminum alloy fill surface irregularities of the cast-iron insert. To meet such requirements, Japanese laid-open patent publication No. 2001-170755 discloses a cast-iron insert having surface irregularities whose maximum height ranges from 65 μm to 260 μm and whose average interval ranges from 0.6 mm to 1.5 mm.
According to the above publication, an aluminum alloy is cast around the outer peripheral surface of the cast-iron insert by a die-casting process to obtain a product where the aluminum alloy well fills the surface irregularities of the outer peripheral surface of the cast-iron insert and the cast-iron insert is held in highly intimate contact with the aluminum alloy.
To form the desired outer surface of the cast-iron insert, there is employed a facing material in the form of a suspension which contains a mixture of 20 weight % to 45 weight % of silica sand having an average particle diameter in the range from 0.05 mm to 0.5 mm, 10 weight % to 30 weight % of silica flour having an average particle diameter of 0.1 mm or less, 2 weight % to 10 weight % of a binder, and 30 weight % to 60 weight % of water.
After the inner surface of a heated mold is coated with the above facing material, the facing material is dried. When the facing material is dried, the facing material produces a vapor through holes therein, forming countless minute recesses in the inner surface of the mold. When molten cast iron is then poured into the mold, the produced cast-iron insert has an outer surface having spines corresponding to the recesses in the inner surface of the mold.
As shown in FIG. 9 of the accompanying drawings, a cast-iron insert 1 has an outer surface 3 having needle-like spines 2. When an aluminum alloy 4 is cast around the outer surface 3 of the cast-iron insert 1, a cast product 5 is produced. Since the outer surface 3 of the cast-iron insert 1 has a plurality of spines 2, the cast aluminum alloy 4 is prevented from being relatively displaced with respect to the cast-iron insert 1 in the directions indicated by the arrow A, and is subject to reduced residual stresses.
However, the cast-iron insert 1 peels off the aluminum alloy 4 in the directions indicated by the arrow B parallel to the spines 2. When the cast-iron insert 1 peels off the aluminum alloy 4, the cast-iron insert 1 is brought out of close contact with the aluminum alloy 4, and the area of contact between the cast-iron insert 1 and the aluminum alloy 4 is reduced, thus lowering the thermal conductivity of the cast product 5.
After the cast-iron insert 1 is manufactured by casting, the inner surface (sliding surface) of the cast-iron insert 1 needs to be machined. When the inner surface of the cast-iron insert 1 is machined, the outer surface 3 of the cast-iron insert 1 is clamped by a clamp mechanism.
Because the spines 2 project from the outer surface 3 of the cast-iron insert 1, the clamp mechanism has its clamping surface held in point-to-point contact with the tip ends of the spines 2. As a result, the area of contact between the clamping surface and the cast-iron insert 1 is relatively small. On account of the relatively small area of contact between the clamping surface and the cast-iron insert 1, the cast-iron insert 1 is not positioned accurately while the inner surface of the cast-iron insert 1 is being machined. Consequently, the inner surface of the cast-iron insert 1 cannot be machined accurately.

Cast-iron insert and method of manufacturing same