A display screen lighter and a display screen detection device are provided. The display screen lighter comprises a mainboard, a switching board and an electrostatic discharge assembly, wherein the mainboard comprises a mainboard signal connecting port and is configured to generate a detection signal for electrically testing a display screen to be detected; the adapter plate comprises an adapter signal connecting port and is configured to transmit the detection signal to the display screen to be detected; the static charges releasing assembly comprises a signal transmission structure and a electrostatic discharge structure, the signal transmission structure is respectively and electrically connected with the mainboard signal connecting port and the display screen binding structure to form a plurality of signal channels, and the electrostatic discharge structure and the display screen to be detected are connected between the signal channels and the grounding terminal in parallel to discharge static charges in the display screen to be detected into the grounding terminal through the electrostatic discharge structure.

With the development of the times, the narrow frame design is deeply favored by users, and in consideration of the problem of wiring space, the thin film transistors in the gate driving circuits on two sides of the display screen are also changed from a double-gate structure in the display screen with a wider frame to a single-gate structure, but because the thin film transistors of the single-gate structure have poor antistatic capability, when the display screen is subjected to an electrical performance test (Cell ET), noise waves of detection signals and power supply selection can generate static charges, and when the voltage of the static charges is greater than the breakdown voltage of the display screen, the static charges can be transmitted to the display screen through the internal wiring of the lighting machine to the Pin, so that the thin film transistors and other elements in the display screen are damaged, and the defects are caused, and the yield of products is reduced.

Display screen lighter and display screen detection device

Ordos Yuansheng Optoelectronics Co., Ltd.


A modular power distribution system, comprising a client device configured to be inserted into a host device, and having a series of independently configurable electrical connections and predetermined electrical connections connecting the host device, the client device, and a cable to deliver power from the cable to a peripheral of the client. A modular power distribution system, comprising a host device having first and second compartments, the second compartment being dimensioned to automatically align the client electrical coupler with the host electrical coupler and form a protective barrier while the client electrical coupler is in contact with the host electrical coupler. A modular power distribution system comprising a multi-gang host device and a client assembly, and having a series of independently configurable electrical connections and predetermined electrical connections connecting the multi-gang host device, the client assembly, and a cable(s) to deliver power from the cable the client assembly.

Consumer level technologies have advanced tremendously since electricity had become a common utility over a century ago, contributing to the evolution of electrical appliances and devices in terms of variety and quality of materials, abundant improvements in engineering and manufacturing standards, and generational growth in functional versatility, especially with the integration of electronics and addition of network connectivity.
During the same period, the methodology of delivering electrical power to its utilization points within buildings have evolved little. Hardware form factor of presently utilized wiring systems has remained virtually unchanged and typically includes a series of electrical cables, which are interconnected via cable junction boxes and distribute electrical power to end use devices via electrical outlet boxes, which receive and host various electrical equipment, such as receptacles, switches, light bulb sockets, and compatible electrical outlet inserts.
The process of installing and servicing of electrical outlet equipment has not evolved either, bound by the physical architecture of the wiring systems. The process still requires skillful labor to sort through an entanglement of stiff wires crammed in an electrical box and manually perform a sequence of tasks, such as wire splicing and precision fitting of equipment inside electrical boxes, while managing hazards of electrocution due to exposed conductors and terminals and given the limited space for maneuvering within an electrical box housing and mounting fixtures.
Furthermore, electrical power distribution systems are still governed by codes and standards, which were designed in the last century and have impeded modernization of the electrical outlet devices: the regulations stipulate that functional purpose of electrical outlets are preassigned at time of construction and are permanently installed in predetermined spots within a building interior with little or no regard to the preferences of an end user.
In addition, power distribution infrastructure has been considered a passive segment and functionality of its hardware components deemed to be static, leaving little space for any innovation and causing short-term and long-term operational inefficiencies. One example of such inefficiencies is the wasteful utilization of labor resources: the existing construction standards compel an electrician to repeatedly perform similar set of tedious tasks by hand, for each installation of an electrical outlet, as there is no alternative with an automation solution for this process. Another example is the unjustifiably high level of costs of ensuring reliability and safety of wiring systems, when compared to modern standards elsewhere in a construction process. Although tightly regulated and requiring a trained professional with certified knowledge of applicable codes and standards, the job of building and servicing electrical systems is prone to human errors, especially when interconnecting complex electrical circuits. Such errors may quickly lead to disproportionally more expensive corrective measures than the cause, such as having to tear down and replacing an entire drywall partition just to fix a small wiring mistake.
The disparity in evolution of the end-use electrical devices and the underlying infrastructure that delivers electrical power to those devices has led to a technological gap between these two domains, rendering legacy power infrastructures increasingly inadequate in serving the modern and forthcoming technological demands. There is an ongoing progress in the development of consumer technology products, which require use of electricity, ranging from portable gadgets and household appliances to computerized home control systems and electrified motorized vehicles. The emerging technology innovations continue to be launched onto the outdated platforms and are forced to comply with relic codes and standards, designed to serve last century's industries; thus, impeding the adoption of innovations and creating inefficiencies in the utilization of resources.
There is a need for modernizing physical architecture of power distribution infrastructures, improving safety practices, and setting new standards of interconnecting wiring system components, allowing to speed up adoption of new and upcoming technology solutions at consumer level.


A cartridge for evaluating the volume of an aliquot of liquid is described. The cartridge can have one or more well tabs that pivot into a position in which liquid dispensed into a corresponding well is placed in contact with a capillary and surface tension draws the liquid from the well into the capillary. Comparison of the liquid-air interface with markings on or near the capillary, can reveal the volume of liquid dispensed. One or more additional features, such as well tabs that are stable in a substantially vertical orientation and/or a groove for protecting and/or self-aligning the capillary can ensure that the device operates properly.

Pipettes and robotic liquid transfer systems are crucial to the life sciences. The liquids, which may be samples, reagents, buffers, chemicals, or other liquids, must be mixed in precise ratios for sample preparation or analysis, or for desired end products. The accuracy of the experiment or the quality of the data or products is dependent upon the precision of the liquid transfer volumes.
There is a need for evaluating the volumes of liquids dispensed by the pipettes and robotic liquid transfer systems. For that reason, many laboratories insist upon periodic calibration of the pipettes and robotic liquid transfer systems. Calibration is a tedious process and the pipettes or robotic systems cannot be used for their intended purpose during the calibration process. In most cases, the pipettes have to be sent to a calibration service, and they are not available for use for two or more days.


The washing apparatus has a frame body to be filled with a cleaning liquid. The frame body is rotated within a casing by a drive motor. The frame body has an inner periphery having a wavy patterned surface. An inner diameter D of the frame body is set to more than or equal to 600 mm and less than or equal to 850 mm. The frame body is rotated so that a peripheral speed of the inner periphery is more than or equal to 28 m/min and less than or equal to 57 m/min. A height h of the wave form is set to more than or equal to 2.0% and less than or equal to 9.0% of the inner diameter D, and a pitch p of the wave form is set to more than or equal to 2.0% and less than or equal to 9.0% of a peripheral length L of an imaginary circle having a diameter of the inner diameter D.

As a method of washing clothes made from wool for example, a washing method called dry cleaning has widely been known. The dry cleaning is a method of cleaning clothes using a petroleum solvent or an organic solvent as a cleaning liquid. The dry cleaning is the washing method capable of preventing loss of shapes shrinkage, swelling, and the like of the clothes while washing clothes conveniently. This is one of reasons of the widespread of the dry cleaning.
More specifically, contaminations adhering to clothes are usually of water-soluble contaminations such as sweat, foods, and mud. In order to perfectly clean such water-soluble contaminations, it is necessary to wash the clothes with water. However, when clothes made from wool are washed with water, scales formed on a surface of fibers (wool) are damaged to change a fabric to a felt-like one. When the fabric becomes feltish, the clothes are hardened to loose the original texture and to be difficult to wear. However, when a petroleum solvent or the like is used as the cleaning liquid, the above-described fabric change does not occur. Therefore, the dry cleaning has widely been employed as a clothes-washing method.
However, in a case where the petroleum solvent is used as the cleaning liquid, the water-soluble contaminations adhering to the clothes are not cleaned perfectly, and yellowing and the like of the clothes can occur later on. That is, the dry cleaning is employed for the purpose of avoiding the risk of damage on clothes even when it is necessary to wash the clothes with water in order to perfectly clean the contaminations of the clothes.
Washing methods employed for conventional washing apparatuses can be divided into two types. One of them is a washing method utilizing a rotating current of a washing liquid (see, for example, Patent Publication 1), and the other is a washing method utilizing a mechanical force (see, for example, Patent Publications 2 and 3).
With the washing method utilizing the rotating current of the cleaning liquid, a washing tub is rotated about a rotation shaft disposed in a substantially vertical direction. In such a washing tub, the cleaning liquid is rotated in a substantially horizontal direction. Clothes are cleaned by means of the rotating current of the cleaning liquid. On the other hand, with the washing method utilizing the mechanical force, a washing tub is rotated about a rotation shaft disposed in a substantially horizontal direction. In such a washing tub, clothes placed therein are moved upward along an inner wall surface of the washing tub and then fall down. The clothes are cleaned by means of impact caused when the clothes fall on the inner wall surface of the washing tub. That is, with the washing method utilizing the rotating current of the cleaning liquid, the contaminations are separated when the clothes are twisted round by means of the rotating cleaning liquid. On the other hand, with the washing method utilizing the mechanical force, the contaminations are separated by means of the impact applied on the clothes. In both washing methods, burden on the fabrics is large, and, though a certain cleaning effect is achieved by the washing methods, the fabrics are steadily damaged.
Conventional washing apparatuses and washing methods are disclosed in Patent Publications 1 to 12 listed below. Particularly, Patent Publication 4 (JP-A-4-61893) discloses a washing method for flipping a laundry article by means of a jet current and a washing machine for performing the washing method. As disclosed in Patent Publication 4, the washing machine is provided with an outer barrel (1) and an inner barrel (4). The laundry article is placed in the inner barrel (4), and the outer barrel (1) is filled with a washing liquid. A propelling wing (18) is disposed in a space communicated with an interior of the outer barrel (1). When the propelling wing (18) is rotated, a strong swirling current of the washing liquid is generated in the outer barrel (1). The laundry article is twisted round by the swirl of the washing liquid, so that the contaminations are cleaned.    Patent Publication 1: JP-A-2002-58892    Patent Publication 2: JP-A-2003-260290    Patent Publication 3: JP-A-2001-269495    Patent Publication 4: JP-A-4-61893    Patent Publication 5: JP-A-4-164494    Patent Publication 6: JP-A-9-248395    Patent Publication 7: JP-A-9-276582    Patent Publication 8: JP-A-6-238086    Patent Publication 9: JP-A-11-169579    Patent Publication 10: JP-A-60-246790    Patent Publication 11: JP-UM-B-35-31858    Patent Publication 12: JP-A-11-267391

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A communication network for transporting calls, where a service provision entity adds user identification information to call data of a call being set up by a non-dialable virtual subscription such that the subscriber behind the call being set up by the non-dialable virtual subscription may be identified at the network switching layer. This increases the manageability of the network and provides advantages for call interception.

Presently, telephone networks have come into use, which provide so-called intelligent network (IN) functions. One such intelligent network function is the possibility of so-called virtual subscriptions. This will be explained in connection with FIG. 3 FIG. 3 schematically shows a network 1 and physical or real subscriptions 2, which correspond to subscribers. Physical or real subscriptions are associated with a physical or logical line to the network. In other words, the physical or real subscription is associated with a predetermined access point to the network, be it a physical line as in a PSTN or be it a logical access point as in a mobile telephone system. As already mentioned, each such access-based subscription is directly associated with a subscriber.
Beyond this well-known arrangement that consists of physical subscriptions and a network for routing calls between these physical subscriptions, intelligent network functions provide new possibilities, such as virtual subscriptions, in which a subscriber has a subscription that is not associated with an access, however said subscription appears to the other subscriptions like a physical or real subscription.
This is accomplished by providing processing means in switch nodes of the network, which react to specific triggering methods in calls. Such triggering methods may use numbers that are placed in front of regular calling numbers, i.e. similar to the form of an area code. When the component in a switching node that is responsible for recognizing specific triggering numbers detects such a number, a predetermined process is initiated, e.g. contacting a specific entity that handles the service functions in the network. This specific entity may then invoke the service corresponding to the detected triggering number and perform corresponding actions. Other triggering methods may use the calling party number or the incoming route the call takes to the switch.
With respect to the above-mentioned virtual subscriptions, one may distinguish between dialable and non-dialable subscriptions, as indicated in FIG. 4a and FIG. 4b. FIG. 4a schematically represents a non-dialable virtual subscription, which means that the subscription is designed for outgoing calls, i.e. can only place calls. In other words, the subscriber to this non-dialable virtual subscription may only place calls, but no one can call this subscription from the network.
FIG. 4b shows a schematic illustration of a dialable virtual subscription, which means that the subscription is only designed for incoming calls, i.e. the subscriber to this subscription may only receive calls using a number known in the public number plan.
An example for a non-dialable subscription is an account-calling-card or a credit-card-calling service, where a subscriber dials a specific access number (this action invokes the service), and then the service itself collects an account number & PIN (personal identification number) in order to authenticate the virtual subscriber, thereafter the service helps place a call for the subscriber and performs a corresponding billing operation. As can be seen, the subscriber may only use this service to place calls, but cannot receive calls from other subscribers to the network. Examples for dialable subscriptions are free-phone and premium-rate-services. It should be noted that there may also exist services that are a combination of dialable and non-dialable subscriptions, such as so-called universal personal telecommunication (UPT), in which a subscriber to this service may both place and receive calls through the virtual subscription.
The possibilities of intelligent network functions are not restricted to virtual subscriptions, i.e. services associated with subscribers, but also extend to operations conducted by and for the network operator. Examples of this are the use of specific calling numbers or other information in a call for gathering statistical information for the benefit of the network provider. As an example, an intelligent network operation may be triggered by a specific area code during a specific period of time during the day, such that the network provider may evaluate how many calls are directed towards that area during that given period of time.
While the above-described intelligent network services and possibilities greatly increase the performance of the network, they also make the management more complicated, because the number of possible situations in the network greatly increases.
One aspect accompanying network management is that of lawful call interception. The inclusion of call interception functions in networks is required by law in many countries, in order to enable to a state agency such as the police to lawfully intercept calls in the network under predetermined conditions. The classical call interception method is access-based, i.e. calls of a specific subscriber are intercepted by monitoring the switching node at that subscriber's access point to the network. Another interception method is number-based, i.e. specific numbers trigger an interception routine in a given switching node carrying the interception function. Another method involving IN includes that a service control function (see later description of FIG. 1) sends an indication to a service switching function, that monitoring should take place. Such interception methods are e.g. described in WO 98/36548 and WO 97/41678. WO 98/36548 describes providing a database in a network component, in which relevant telecommunication data on subscribers to be monitored are stored and can be transmitted to one or more monitoring authorities. It is also mentioned to provide monitoring profiles. WO 97/41678 describes a process for monitoring a communications line, in which the call number of a subscriber who is to be under surveillance is characterized by an indication given to an agency authorized to monitor calls, and a three-way-conference-call is set up involving the subscriber under surveillance, a second party calling or being called, and the agency authorized to monitor the calls.
EP 0 792 074 describes a method of providing a service in a switched telecommunication system and a suitable message interceptor. This document generally describes the concept of an intelligent network IN and the possibility of providing specific services that are generated under certain trigger conditions, e.g. translating a called number into a different number. EP 0 792 074 also specifically mentions the concept of automated call interception, in which call attempts from a list of subscribers are automatically intercepted.
WO 97 25828 describes a cellular telecommunications system having selectively associatable usage parameters. It discusses the possibility of providing a virtual subscription, which means that a user can select any available cellular terminal and make an outgoing call, in contrast to the conventional cellular system, in which a specific subscription is always associated with a specific terminal. The system of virtual subscriptions is created by having three separate registers, one associated with a user, one with a subscription and one with a terminal.
WO 97 42784 relates to a method and apparatus for facilitating law enforcement agency monitoring of cellular telephone calls. This document specifically addresses the problem that in some cellular systems the signaling protocols only transport two numbers in connection with the set-up of a cellular call. Often, this means that there is no identification of the calling party in the call set-up signaling information. In the event that the called party triggers a monitoring procedure by e.g. the police, this means that it is not possible to identify the caller.
In order to overcome this problem, WO 97 42784 suggests using the fact that a billing operation for the calling party takes place, and that this billing operation can be used to identify the calling party.


A high-density non-volatile memory array. In one aspect of the invention, a memory array circuit includes a plurality of word lines, a plurality of bit-lines, and a plurality of memory cell transistors. The gate of each memory cell transistor is connected to one of the word lines, and the drains and sources of each memory cell transistor are connected only to the bit-lines.

High density non-volatile memory arrays are used to store digital data for computer systems and other electronic devices. In such memory arrays, reference lines are used in addition to bit-lines and word lines to store digital data through selection transistors of the array and to access the data during read operations. Active/diffusion is typically used to connect the selection transistors to such reference lines. For example, FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a classical read-only memory (ROM) cell 10, including a reference line 12 to ground.
With dimensions of transistors continually decreasing in new products and devices, the resistance of such active/diffusion reference lines is increasing significantly. A resulting undesired voltage drop between the reference line and the selection transistor is therefore also increasing, and the operation margins in which a correct read operation can be performed are drastically reduced. Also, supply voltages are decreasing, further reducing the read margins of the memory array. This makes the reading scheme in memory arrays more critical, since there is a greater risk of read failures.
Current designs deal with these potential read operation problems in various ways. A ROM cell typically uses an NMOS or PMOS transistor. As shown in the schematic illustration of a memory cell transistor 14 of FIG. 2, each memory cell transistor has a word line (row) 16, a bit-line (column) 18, and a reference line (rl) 20. The word line 16 connects all the gates of all the transistors on the same row of the array. The bit-line 18 connects all the drains (or the sources) of all the transistors on the same column of the array. The reference line 20 is common to several cells and is connected to the source (or the drain) of each transistor.
Table 1 provides an example of content of a memory having 5 word lines (Li−2, . . . , Li+2) and 5 bit-lines (Bj−2, . . . , Bj+2). This memory content is used as an example for all the memory array embodiments described herein.
TABLE 1Content of the cellBj − 2Bj − 1BjBj + 1Bj + 2Li + 201101Li + 101001Li10100Li − 100110Li − 210111
A reference line can be implemented either horizontally or vertically relative to the rows and columns of the memory array. FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a ROM array 30 having horizontal reference lines 32 parallel to horizontal word lines 33. In the memory array example 30, each horizontal word line 33 and vertical bit-line 36 intersect at a memory cell transistor 34, where disconnected inactive transistors provide a "1" value, and active transistors having connected source and drain terminals provide a "0" value. Each two adjacent cells 34 share the same reference line 32. Thus, one extra line is required for use as the reference line, for every two rows of transistors. A bit-line 36 is connected to the source (or the drain) of a cell transistor if the content is "0", or the bit-line 36 is not connected to the cell transistor if the content of the cell is "1."
In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the reference lines 32 can be implemented as active/diffusion lines or as metal lines. When using active/diffusion reference lines, additional columns are regularly inserted in the array to connect an active/diffusion reference line to a vertical metal reference line in order to reduce the active/diffusion resistance in the line. This solution, however, increases the area of the memory array. Metal reference lines can alternatively be used, which reduce the voltage drop across the reference lines, but still increase the area of the cell due to the more restrictive design rules required by metal lines.
Vertical metal reference lines can be used generally in two different designs. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of one example of a prior art classical design, an array 40 having vertical bit-lines 44 and reference lines 42. Each cell transistor of one word line i shares its drain (and/or source) with the cell transistor on the next adjacent word line i+1 and/or i−1. To program a "0" in the array, the source and drain of a cell are connected between the target bit-line 44 to be read and an adjacent reference line 42. To program a "1" in the array, the source and drain of the cell are connected together on the target bit-line 44 to be read or to an adjacent reference line 42, depending on the last programmed cell (i.e., the line 42 or 44 connected to is the same line to which the tied source or drain of the last adjacent programmed cell is connected). This design reduces the voltage drop of the reference lines 42 but considerably increases the area of the cell, as there is one additional reference line 42 for each bit-line 44.
A second design of a memory array having vertical reference lines can also be used. One example of the second design is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,917,224, and is illustrated in the schematic diagram of FIG. 5 as array 60. Each reference line 62 is shared between two different bit-lines 64. As in the classical design, each cell transistor of one word line i shares its drain (and/or source) with the cell transistor on the next adjacent word line i+1 and/or i−1. To program a "0" in the array, the source and drain of a cell are connected between the target bit-line 64 to be read and an adjacent reference line 62. To program a "1" in the array, the source and drain of the cell are connected together on the target bit-line 64 to be read or to an adjacent reference line 62, depending on the last adjacent programmed cell. This approach reduces the voltage drop of the reference lines, but increases the area of the cell, as there is still n/2 more reference lines 62 for each n bit-lines.
Accordingly, a high-density non-volatile memory array allowing more robust reading operations than existing designs while having the same or reduced physical area would be desirable in many applications.


The present invention provides T cell receptors (TCRs) having the property of binding to SLLMWITQC-HLA-A*0201, the SLLMWITQC SEQ ID NO:126 peptide being derived from the NY-ESO-1 protein which is expressed by a range of tumor cells. The TCRs have a KD for the said peptide-HLA complex of less than or equal to 1 μM and/or have an off-rate (koff) of 1×10−3 S−1 or slower.

The SLLMWITQC (SEQ ID NO:126) peptide is derived from the NY-ESO-1 protein that is expressed by a range of tumours (Chen et al., (1997) PNAS USA 94 1914-1918). The Class I HLA molecules of these cancerous cells present peptides from this protein, including SLLMWITQC (SEQ ID NO:126). Therefore, the SLLMWITQC (SEQ ID NO:126)-HLA-A2 complex provides a cancer marker that TCRs can target, for example for the purpose of delivering cytotoxic or immuno-stimulatory agents to the cancer cells. However, for that purpose it would be desirable if the TCR had a higher affinity and/or a slower off-rate for the peptide-HLA complex than native TCRs specific for that complex.


A method of filtering beverages and other liquids. To avoid the considerable ecoproblems encountered with the filter aids of known procedures, which must be thrown away, the filtering active structure of the inventive filter aids is maintained so that they may be reused as often as required. A mixture of filter aids of varying morphological and physical components is used, and constitutes a minimum of two components, namely one component of specifically heavy, chemically stable metal and/or metal oxide and/or carbon particles of fibrous and/or granular structure, and a further component, for building up the filter cake and increasing its volume, of synthetic and/or cellulose fibers having a fiber length of 1 to 5000 .mu.m and a fiber thickness of 0.5 to 100 .mu.m. To increase the filtering efficiency of the filter cake of the aforementioned components, a further component may be added that comprises fibrillated or fanned out synthetic and/or cellulose fibers, preferably having a fiber length of 500 to 5000 .mu.m and a fiber thickness of 0.5 to 20 .mu.m. The components are intensively mixed to form a homogeneous mixture, and are dosed to the liquid that is to be filtered.

The present invention relates to a method of filtering beverages and chemical, pharmaceutical, or similar liquids by separating insoluble particles, including those having colloidal structures, out of the liquid, whereby various filter aid components are dosed to the untreated, i.e. showing cooler sludges, liquid (unfiltered matter) for forming a filter cake by deposition; thereafter, the solid matter particles retained in the filter cake after having been deposited are rinsed out and the filter aids as well as possibly added stabilizers are regenerated for reuse.
For the filtration of liquids, especially suspensions that contain solid matter, it is known to use in addition to the actual filter, for example the mechanical filter elements of a vessel filter, filter aids. In cases of suspensions containing a small amount of solid material, these filter aids are intended for facilitating the formation of a filter cake that is removable from the surface of the filter elements, or in cases of slimy solid matter, is intended to loosen up the very tight cake that is formed. The filter aids are added directly to the suspension that is to be filtered and are deposited to form a cake for the preliminary clarification of the unfiltered matter (deposition filtration). Common filter aids are cellulose, silica gel, diatomite, perlites, charcoal, wood dust, and similar materials. These filter aids work altogether physically-mechanically, and thus do not change the chemical composition of the liquid and are insoluble. During deposition of the filter aids, numerous capillaries are formed in the filter cake that are small enough to retain the solid material, but are also numerous enough to ensure an optimum permeability. Classical filters for the preliminary clarification are frame or vessel filters; the filter aids used in such filters are useless after being exhausted or used up, and must be thrown away and sanitized as waste.
In cases where this preliminary clarification (preliminary filtration) alone does not provide the high requirements with regard to quality, for example in the case of high-quality beverages such as beer or wine, including such requirements as so-called gloss quality or the biological preservability, there is provided in addition a final clarification, a so-called sterilization or degermination filtration. For this purpose, layer frame filters or plate-like arranged filter elements in vessel filters, filter layers that are covered on both sides in filter modules, and/or membrane filters are used. As raw materials for layer filters or filter sheets, organic and inorganic materials that are generally fibrous or granular are used, for example celluloses of wood, cotton, synthetic fibers, kieselguhrs, perlites, .alpha.-alumina, as well as kaolin. In this connection, kieselguhrs serve to increase the filtration activity and perlites serve for loosening the lamellar structure and hence to increase the pore volume or sludge volume. Since both of these materials are floury, they weaken the mechanical stability of the filter bed, so that in the case of pressure thrusts or surges, for example due to mistreatment or misoperation, the filter sheets, particularly in the case of sterilization filtration, can break through, thereby greatly impairing the quality of the filtration. For the sake of safety, frequently provided downstream of such filters, i.e. on the sterile side, are in addition sterile filters having a fine pore size and a real screening efficiency, for example membrane filters having limber or resilient materials. In order to reduce the environmental impact of the useless filter aids that result in large quantities from the heretofore known procedures, and that must be stored in dumps at considerable expense, procedures for prolonging the exposure times of these filter aids have become known. DE-OS 36 26 378 discloses a procedure for the deposition filtration of beverages, in accordance with which a chemically regeneratable filtering material of powdery alumina is used.
In the PCT application publication number WO86/05511, a procedure for the final clarification and stabilization of liquids containing polyphenols and/or proteins is described, where the liquid that is to be reclarified and stabilized is preclarified by means of a centrifuge, is then mixed with a mixture of filter aids that retains very fine sludge material and stabilizers that absorb polyphenols and proteins, whereupon this is transferred as a suspension into a device that is suitable for the retention of solid material. The solid material cake that is built up in this device is regenerated after the conclusion of the treatment of the liquid in order to recover the filter aids and the regeneratable stabilizing material. This is accomplished with a 1 to 2% hydrous NaOH solution at a temperature of 50.degree. to 60.degree. C. In so doing, the known filter aid components, namely diatomites, cellulose fibers and/or granules, for example polyamides, halogenated polyethylene and/or polypropylene, especially fluoridated polyethylene, are used.
With the known filtering agents used in this procedure, the filtration-active structure thereof changes so much during the chemical regeneration that the filtration characteristics are to a great extent negatively influenced and the permeability and filtration intensity of the filter aids change, so that after a certain time of exposure, disposal thereof is required. Another filtering procedure on the market uses a self-contained filter that comprises two covers and, depending upon the filtration capacity, has several filter elements. These filter elements could be shifted on lifting rods via a special lifting device. For the preliminary and/or final clarification, cellulose, perlites, diatomite, and synthetic fibers are used that can be flushed onto the horizontal filter elements with warm water. A regeneration is effected with chemical agents outside of the filtering device. Also with this known procedure, the used filter aids must, despite extended exposure time, be disposed of as waste at considerable expense.
EP 0 031 522 B1 discloses a procedure for filtering beverages, particularly beer, according to the precoat filtration process, according to which as filter aid an agent is used that fully or partially consists of fibers of practically pure silicic acid with a staple length of approximately 30 to 7000 .mu.m and a diameter of approximately 4 to 20 .mu.m. The silicic acid is gained by dry spinning hydrous silicate of sodium and treating the gained sodium water glass fibers for converting the sodium silicate into silicic acid with hydrogen ion containing acid or saline solutions. In so doing, a filter aid can also be used that contains fibers of silicic acid to which up to 50% by weight of fiber shortcut of organic fibers have been added.
DE-AS 10 10 058 discloses that for a procedure for making a filter aid for beer or the like, degreased aluminum plate-like powder is treated in hot water in such a way that it covers itself with a boehmite coat. An aluminum plate-like powder treated in this way is supposed to provide alone or in combination with guhrs or other filter aids an improvement of the biological quality and the gloss quality of beer or the like.
Proceeding from the state of the art according to the aforementioned PCT application WO86/05511, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method or procedure for filtering beverages and chemical, pharmaceutical, or similar liquids in the general way described above, according to which the filtering-active structure of the filter aid used is maintained during its regeneration, the filtering characteristics remain unchanged despite repeated use, and the environment-polluting disposal of the filter aid is eliminated.

Method of filtering beverages and chemical, pharmaceutical, or similar liquids

Schenk-Filterbau gesellschaft mit beschrankter


A power system for connecting a power source, an energy storage unit and a grid includes a power inverter, an energy storage power converter and a controller. The power inverter is electrically coupled to the power source through a DC bus and converts DC power from the DC bus to AC power output to the grid. The power converter is electrically coupled between the DC bus and the energy storage unit and stores power in the energy storage unit and discharges power from the energy storage unit. The controller controls the power converter to store excess power from the power source that cannot be output to the grid in the energy storage unit, and control the energy storage power converter to discharge power stored in the energy storage unit to the power inverter to output to the grid.

Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to power systems, and more specifically, to methods and systems for extracting excess power for storage in an energy storage unit and discharging power from the energy storage unit in a power system comprising interconnected power assets.
Electric power conversion devices and associated control systems may be used to interface various energy resources. For example, a power system can include a variety of interconnected distributed energy resources (e.g., power generators and energy storage units) and loads. The power system may also connect to a utility grid or a microgrid system. The power system employs the electric power conversion to convert power between these energy resources (e.g., AC/DC, DC/DC, AC/AC and DC/AC).
Power systems may be designed to supply power, regulate power and transfer power from one source to another with one potential goal being to provide uninterrupted power to one or more loads of a power grid. It is desirable to provide power in the most efficient manner possible, so that the maximum possible amount of energy generation is used. However, topology limitations and design requirements can be limitations the energy generation that is ultimately used.
A power system may be designed with an energy storage unit such as battery energy storage or flywheel energy storage. The energy storage unit may be utilized to store energy from a renewable energy source, such as a solar array or a wind turbine. Energy from a grid, such as a utility grid or another microgrid, may also be available for storage in energy storage units.
When the power source of an energy storage system is a renewable source such as wind energy or solar energy, multiple power converters can be employed to supply energy. The power converters may include power inverters to convert the power supplied by the renewable source to alternating current (AC) for supplying the power to, e.g., an AC grid and/or AC loads, and DC/DC converters to convert the power supplied by the renewable source to, e.g., DC loads and/or energy storage units such as batteries or flywheels. These power converters may have limitations that prevent them from extracting the full power available from the renewable power source, in which case the power converter may be referred to as operating in a "curtailed" or "clipped" fashion. The excess power that is curtailed or clipped due to the design limitations can be lost, leading to less efficient power generation.

Method and system for extracting excess power


An output driver for driving a pad includes a pull-up circuit and a pull-down circuit. The pull-up circuit includes first, second and third first-type transistors. The first and second first-type transistors are commonly controlled by a first logic signal. The third first-type transistor is connected in parallel to the second first-type transistor. The pull-down circuit includes first, second and third second-type transistors. The first and second second-type transistors are commonly controlled by a second logic signal. The third second-type transistor is connected in parallel to the second second-type transistor. The pull-up circuit is configured such that a response speed of the first first-type transistor to the first logic signal is lower than that of the second first-type transistor to the first logic signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an output apparatus, an output driver and a level shifting system.
2. Description of the Related Art
An integrated circuit is generally divided into a core portion and an input/output (I/O) portion. The I/O portion bridges the communication to the external for the core portion. In addition to transmitting core signals generated by the core portion to outside the integrated circuit via a pad, the I/O portion also needs to transmit external signals sent from the external to the pad further to the core portion for processing.
It is required that the operating voltage of the core portion be reduced with demands of the increasing operating speed and power saving effect of electronic products. Similarly, to increase the transmission efficiency of external signals between integrated circuits, the driving voltage of new-generation external signals is also lowered. Take a double-data-rate three synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR3 SDRAM) for example. The specified operating voltage of the DDR3 SDRAM is 1.5V, whereas the operating voltages of the DDR1 and DDR2 SDRAMs are 2.5V and 1.8V, respectively. In the latest DDR4, the operating voltage is reduced to even as low as 1.2V.
Two devices can be manufactured from a semiconductor wafer by a conventional semiconductor manufacturing process—a core device and an I/O device. For example, it is essential that the reliability of the core device be ensured under all kinds of operating voltage combinations when all conducting nodes (e.g., the gate, drain and source) operate under a 1.1V voltage. Further, it is essential that the reliability of the I/O device be ensured under all kinds of operating voltage combinations when all conducting nodes (e.g., the gate, drain and source) operate under a 1.5V voltage. For example, when the I/O device and the core device are both MOS devices, the gate oxidation layer in the I/O device is thicker than the gate oxidation layer in the core device. In comparison, the core device has a faster speed and a larger driving capability, while the I/O device has better robustness for withstanding a higher voltage stress.
FIG. 1 shows a conventional output apparatus 100, which is applicable to DDR3 and is an I/O portion in an integrated circuit. The output apparatus 100 drives a pad 102, and is powered by power lines Vddio and Vssio having 1.5V and 0V voltages, respectively. The output apparatus 100 includes a level shifting circuit 106, a high buffer circuit 108H, a low buffer circuit 108L, and an output driver 110. For speed and power-saving considerations, a core circuit 104 adopts a core device, and is powered by core power lines Vddcore and Vsscore having 1.1V and 0V voltages, respectively. The output apparatus 100 adopts an I/O device. In the output driver 100, implemented by I/O devices with smaller driving capabilities and being required to satisfy DDR3 driving capability specifications, a pull-up PMOS PH and a pull-down NMOS NL occupy a considerable amount of a silicon area.
In the prior art, it is proposed that a core device be utilized in the conventional output driver to reduce the silicon area required. FIG. 2 shows another conventional output driver 120 for replacing the output driver 110 in FIG. 1. In the output driver 120, PMOS PH1 and PH2 as well as NMOS NL1 and NL2 are implemented by core devices. Control gates of the PMOS PH2 and the NMOS NL2 are respectively connected to power lines Vbp and Vbn having 0.4V and 1.1V voltages, respectively. A control gate of the PMOS PH1 receives a logic signal Sp, whose high and low logic levels are 1.5V and 0.4V, respectively. A control gate of the NMOS NL1 receives a logic signal Sn, whose high and low logic levels are 1.1V and 0V, respectively. The high logic level refers to a voltage level of a signal when the signal is logic "1", and the low logic level refers to the voltage of the signal when the signal is logic "0". The PMOS PH1 and PH2 are connected in series, and the NMOS NL1 and NL2 are connected in series. Such series structure prevents the core devices (the PMOS PH1 and PH2 as well as the NMOS NL1 and NL2) originally operating at a 1.1V operating voltage from potential damages caused by the stress of an excessive operating voltage (1.5V).
In the output driver 120, parasitic capacitance between the control gate of the PMOS PH2 and the pad 102 is quite large. To prevent capacitance coupling from causing an unstable voltage of the power line Vpb when a signal change occurs at the pad 102, the control gate of the PMOS PH2 needs to be connected to a large decoupling capacitor 122. Similarly, the control gate of the NMOS NL2 also needs to be connected to a large decoupling capacitor 124 to mitigate influences that the signal change at the pad 102 poses on the voltage of the power line Vbn. The decoupling capacitors 122 and 124 also occupy a considerable amount of the silicon area.

Output apparatus, output driver, and level shifting system


Methods for treatment of diseases and disorders related to transducin β-like protein 1 (TBL1) activity, including myeloproliferative neoplasia, chronic myeloid leukemia, and acute myeloid leukemia.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. It presents complex challenges for the development of new therapies. Cancer is characterized by the abnormal growth of malignant cells that have undergone a series of genetic changes that lead to growth of tumor mass and metastatic properties.
Transducin β-like protein 1 (TBL1) family of proteins has been shown to be involved in the transcriptional activator by acting as a co-regulator exchange factor. The TBL1 family is composed of TBL1X, TBL1Y and TBLR1 proteins. These proteins are components of the SMRT-nuclear receptor/co-repressor (N-CoR) complex where they act to exchange the co-repressors and co-activators on the complex. SMRT and NCoR are large co-repressor proteins that are involved in the transcriptional repression by many different nuclear receptors. TBL1 family of proteins forms a reversible complex with NCoR/SMRT to act as a transcriptional activator for nuclear receptors.
Beta-catenin (β-catenin) is part of a complex of proteins that constitute adherens junctions (AJs). AJs are necessary for the creation and maintenance of epithelial cell layers by regulating cell growth and adhesion between cells. β-catenin also anchors the actin cytoskeleton and may be responsible for transmitting the contact inhibition signal that causes cells to stop dividing once the epithelial sheet is complete.
Wnt/β-catenin pathway has been shown to play a role in cancer. Recent studies have shown that TBL1 is able to bind to β-catenin and recruit the complex to Wnt responsive promoters to activate specific transcriptional program. It has also been shown that TBL1 is required for β-catenin to actively transcribe target genes. Further, TBL1 appears to protect β-catenin from ubiquitination (a post-translational modification by certain enzymes) and degradation. However, the mechanism of the interaction between TBL1 and β-catenin is unknown.
Aberrant β-catenin signaling plays a important role in tumorigenesis. In particular, colorectal cancer is estimated to have greater than 80% mutations in the β-catenin pathway, leading to unregulated oncogenic signaling. Aberrant β-catenin signaling has been shown to be involved in various cancer types, including melanoma, breast, lung, liver, gastric, myeloma, and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Further, aberrant Wnt/β-catenin signaling has been found in a large number of other disorders, including osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, polycystic kidney disease, diabetes, schizophrenia, vascular disease, cardiac disease, hyperproliferative disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases. Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are a closely related group of hematological malignancies in which the bone marrow cells that produce the body's blood cells develop and function abnormally. The three main myeloproliferative neoplasms are Polycythemia Vera (PV), Essential Thrombocythemia (ET) and Primary Myelofibrosis (PMF). A gene mutation in JAK2 is present in most PV patients and 50% of ET and PMF patients. The beta catenin pathway is activated in MPN in many cases and required for survival of these cells.
Chronic Myeloid Leukemia is a form of leukemia characterized by the increased and unregulated growth of predominantly myeloid cells in the bone marrow and the accumulation of these cells in the blood that contain the "Philadelphia chromosome", where a piece of chromosome 9 and a piece of chromosome 22 break off and trade places to form the bcr-abl fusion gene. CML has activation of several other oncogenic pathways including the beta catenin pathway which is required for CML cell growth.
Accordingly, there is a need for agents that are able interrupt the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and inhibit the deregulated activity of this pathway for the treatment, diagnosis and prevention of β-catenin pathway-related disorders and diseases.

Methods for treatment of diseases and disorders related to transducin β-like protein 1 (TBL1) activity, including myeloproliferative neoplasia and chronic myeloid leukemia


Disclosed are compositions comprising neutral, negatively and positively charged glycolipids phospholipids derived from lecithin, particularly lecithin fractions, and dilutions of lecithin or lecithin fractions. Also disclosed are methods for the preparation of such compositions, dosage units comprising these compositions, and methods of treatment of warm-blooded animals, preferably humans, with such compositions. These compositions are individually, collectively and selectively useful in the treatment of bacterial, viral, and skin infections and diseases.

Novel processes have been discovered for the preparation of novel lecithin derived glycolipids and phospholipids. Those lecithin derived glycolipids and phospholipids and dilutions thereof, as well as lecithin dilutions, and the dosage unit forms which have been discovered are useful in the treatment of a wide range of diseases. These lecithin fractions and dilutions have superior purity and pharmacological capabilities. Methods of treatment of warm-blooded animals using either or both the products of these methods and/or specific lecithin dilutions have also been discovered.
Shinitzky et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,474,773, disclose lipid extracts obtained from egg yolk or soybean which are said to be useful for treating various diseases and physiological conditions as well as a process for the fractionation of lipids. The fractionation is effected by dissolving a lipid extract in a suitable solvent, evaporating the solvent to almost complete dryness, precipitating a fraction of the dissolved lipids by the addition of an organic solvent, and recovering the desired fraction from the supernatant. Three preferred methods of fractionation are exemplified. The first method involves dissolving the lipid extract in chloroform, evaporating to near dryness, and precipitating by the addition of acetone. The supernatant is removed and is evaporated to near dryness, leaving a fraction of about 5 weight percent of the untreated extract as the active lipid. The second method mixes a natural lipid source with acetone to remove excess undesired lipids. The precipitate is treated again with acetone, and the supernatant is collected and is evaporated to complete dryness, leaving the desired fraction which is about 10 to 15 weight percent of the initial quantity of the lipid source. In the third method, a natural lipid source is mixed with acetone to remove excess undesired lipid. The precipitate is treated again with acetone, and the supernatant is collected and is cooled below 0.degree. C. at which time the active lipid (about 10 to 15 weight percent of the initial quantity of the lipid source) is precipitated and is collected.
Chang et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,563,354, disclose alcohol-soluble fractions of vegetable lecithin which are suitable for use as emulsifiers for oil-in-water emulsions. These fractions are well-tolerated when used for parenteral nutrition. The Chang et al. extraction process includes a preliminary purification of the lecithin which involves dissolving the lecithin in a solvent such as hexane, and precipitating the lecithin through the use of acetone. The precipitated lecithin is then extracted with an alcohol at a temperature ranging from -20.degree. C. to slightly elevated temperatures in order to extract the alcohol-soluble portion of the lecithin. The extraction may be repeated multiple times. The filtrate(s) from the alcohol extraction step(s) are combined and are chilled to about -20.degree. C. for about 24 hours to produce a precipitate. Any solids which separate are removed by filtration and are discarded. The resulting filtrate is freed of solvent under vacuum and is again dissolved in alcohol. The resulting solution is chilled, again utilizing a temperature of about -20.degree. C. for about 24 hours. The precipitate is then removed by filtration and is discarded. The resulting filtrate again is treated under vacuum to remove solvent, and the residue is precipitated from acetone to yield the alcohol-soluble soybean phospholipid fraction.
U.K. Patent Publication No. 2,004,741 illustrates a composition which is said to be useful in treating baldness, burns and various viral complaints and which contains cholesterol, an unsaturated fatty acid, and a phosphoamino-lipid. The phosphoamino-lipid utilized in the composition may be egg lecithin or vegetable lecithin.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 55/50859 discloses a method for refining lecithin from, for example, soybean oil, by adding propylene glycol to extract the oil and using an aqueous organic acid to coagulate the lecithin. The extraction is practiced at below 80.degree.C.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 55/054861 also deals with a method for treating crude lecithin-containing oil by adding propylene glycol, mixing to extract the lecithin, adding a group II metal chloride, mixing, and separating the coagulated lecithin.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 62/246525 relates to a pharmacological lecithin mixture which is prepared by suspending phosphatidyl choline, phospholipid mixture and neutral lipid in an alcohol solvent, filtering, and removing the solvent. This lecithin mixture contains at least 75 weight percent phosphatidyl choline, 5 to 13 weight percent of an ethanol amine and phosphatidic acid-containing phospholipid mixture, and 0 to 20 weight percent of neutral lipid. The lecithin mixture is derived from animal or vegetable sources such as seeds, fruit, egg yolk, soybean, and the like and is useful as a medicine for arteriosclerosis, hyperlipemia, liver diseases, heart attack, and the like.
European Patent Application No. 0,213,724 relates to a lipid mixture for membrane fluidization consisting of about 7 parts by weight of neutral lipids and about 3 parts by weight of phospholipids. The phospholipids consist of phosphatidyl choline, phosphatidyl ethanol amine, and neutral lipids consisting essentially of glycerides.
European Patent Application No. 0,214,055 discloses an artificial surfactant which is a mixture of dipalmitoyl phosphatidyl choline, distearoyl phosphatidyl choline and soybean lecithin. Soybean lecithin is a well-known adjuvant for intravenous preparations, and the soybean lecithin utilized in EPO '055 has a molecular weight of about 780.
European Patent Application No. 0,239,729 relates to polyprenyl alcohol-containing injections comprising certain polyprenyl alcohols and lecithin as an essential ingredient. The addition of a lecithin increases activity of the polyprenyl alcohol in in vivo applications.
Tayot, U.S. Pat. No. 4,415,733, discloses ganglioside derivatives which are products of partial deacylation of gangliosides. Free amino groups are demonstrated by a positive reaction in a ninhydrin test, are mobile in chromatograph on a thin silica gel layer in the chloroform-butanol-water system (60:32:7), and exhibit specific affinity properties of the gangliosides from which they are derived. The derivatives are able to couple to solid supports by amino groups that have appeared during partial deacylation without loss of specific affinity properties. Tayot also relates to a process of preparing these activated ganglioside derivatives while retaining their biological properties. The activated gangliosides are treated with an aqueous base solution at a temperature between 0.degree. and 120.degree. C. The lower temperatures require more basic medium. The reaction time for partial deacylation varies from 30 minutes to 24 hours. The transformation is reflected by the appearance of at least an -NH.sub.2 function resulting from partial hydrolysis of the N-acetyl or N-acyl function in sufficient number to allow fixing by the known methods, but limited enough to maintain the biological properties of the gangliosides.
Alving et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,416,872, disclose a method for the prophylaxis and the chemotherapeutic treatment of malaria with antimalarial compositions comprising either a glycolipid alone, a glycoprotein encapsulated within a liposome, or an 8-aminquinoline drug and a glycoconjugate contained within a liposome. The liposome (exclusive of the glycoconjugate constituent) may contain a combination of (1) a phospholipid and cholesterol or (2) a phospholipid, cholesterol and a negatively or positively charged (lipophilic) amphipathic compound. Glycolipids having a terminal glucose or galactose moiety are said to be effective when incorporated within the liposomes. The amphipathic component, by way of example, can be diacetyl phosphate or stearylamine to impart charge to the liposomes. Glycolipids having a terminal glucose or galactose moiety are said to be effective when incorporated within the liposomes.
Dingerdissen et al., U.S. Patent No. 4,694,069, disclose glycopeptide AAD-609 antibiotics which are structurally and biologically related to the AAD-216 antibiotics. The AAD-609 antibiotic varies from AAD-216 antibiotic in that the sugar moiety within the glycolipid radical is glucosamine rather than aminoglucuronic acid. Pharmaceutical compositions containing at least one of the AAD-609 factors and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier are discussed as well. The compositions may additionally contain other active antibacterial agents.
Graves, U.S. Pat. No. 4,829,009, discloses matrix layers suitable for solid phase immunoassays useful in eliminating false positives. Graves provides a means for verification of the effectiveness of such matrix layers and for maximizing their effectiveness, as well as for quantitation of background noise. Generally, the noise reduction component will provide an anionic barrier and therefore will be a negatively charged material, preferably a macromolecule. Any negatively charged (at neutral pH) protein, glycoprotein, polyamino acid or other natural or synthetic macromolecule could be used as a noise reduction component. Graves also includes a method of designing a protocol to determine simultaneously the values of three parameters--sensitivity ratio, signal to noise ratio, and noise balance ratio--which collectively influence the matrix index.
Kojima et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,871,540, disclose a process for producing a biologically active substance of plant origin, having interferon-inducing activity. The substance is said to be useful for preventing and treating, for example, aesthema, rhintitis, B-type hepatitis, AIDS and other allergic diseases and immunological insufficiencies. The active substance is said to be capable of inhibiting the formation of IgE antibodies, promoting the formation of IgG and IgM antibodies and having interferon inducing activity, polyclonal B lymphocyte activating activity, mitogenic activity, adjuvant activity and anti-tumor activity.
Hakomori, U.S. Pat. No. 4,876,199, relates to hybridoma cell lines that produce monoclonal antibodies which differentially recognize glycolipids with mono-, di- and trifucosylated type 2 chain structures. These monoclonal antibodies are said to be useful for detecting specific types of tumor cells in the diagnosis and the treatment of human cancer.
Stolze and Khaden, Institute of Virology, "Apparent Lack of Neutralizing Antibodies in Aleutran Diseases Is Due to Masking of Antigenic Sites by Phospholipids", Academic Press, Inc., 1987, discuss neutralization of Aleutian disease virus by phospholipids.
Nakashima et al. "Inhibitory Effect of Glycosides Like Saponin From Soybean on the Infectivity of HIV In Vitro, AIDS Vol. 3, p. 655-658 (1989), describe soybean saponins isolated from the soybean seeds which were investigated for their antiviral activity on HIV in vitro, using an HTLV-1-carring cell line, NT-4. One of the saponins (identified as saponin B1) completely inhibited HIV-induced cytopathic effects and virus-specific antigen expression six (6) days after infection at concentrations greater than 0.5 milligrams per milliliter. Another saponin (identified as saponin B2) also inhibited HIV infection, although less potently. Both saponins are reported to have had no directed effect on the reverse transcriptase activity of HIV. Saponin B1 was reported to have also inhibited HIV-induced cell fusion in the MOLT-4 cell system.
The present applicants believe that the activity described by Nakashima et al. is limited to in vitro activity. The present applicants have found that the in vivo activity of the presently described lecithin fractions and dilutions is dependent upon at least some phospholipid content residing in the lecithin fractions and/or dilutions.
The present applicants have found that as the content of phospholipid with its complexing agents is reduced, the in vivo activity is also reduced.

Lecithin fractions and dilutions, methods for their preparation and pharmacological uses thereof


An apparatus for treating a patient. The apparatus includes a catheter having a distal end and a proximal end. The distal end has an orifice through which a fluid can flow. The distal end has a port through which the fluid can flow. The port is adjacent to but apart from the orifice. The apparatus includes a mechanism for controlling the size of the port that is open. The controlling mechanism is disposed over the port and able to close the port. An apparatus for treating a patient. The apparatus includes a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end having an orifice through which a fluid can flow. The distal end has an end marker disposed about the orifice which appears in an image of an imaging device. An apparatus for treating a patient. The apparatus includes a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end having an orifice through which fluid can flow. The catheter has an axis. The distal end has a plurality of holes having an elongate shape disposed essentially in parallel with the axis of the catheter with smooth edges so blood cells are not damaged as they pass through the holes. A method for treating a patient. The method includes the steps of inserting a catheter in a vessel. Then there is the step of opening a port in the catheter disposed adjacent an orifice in the distal end of the catheter so blood can flow through the port and the orifice.

The present invention is related to a transseptal cannula. More specifically, the present invention is related to a transseptal cannula having a-port and an orifice where the orifice can access the left atrium of the heart and the port can access the right atrium of the heart.
For temporary and particularly emergency problems such as surgery, or holding a potential transplant patient until a natural heart is available, there is a need for simple equipment in a hospital that can be quickly connected to the patient without surgical intervention and that can provide bypass time to the patient.
The present invention provides for a quick and a relatively simple way for providing assistance to the heart and its operation. The present invention allows for the access of the left atrium as well as the right atrium simultaneously, or separately, depending on the needs of the patient and the determinations of the physician.
An apparatus for treating a patient. The apparatus comprises a catheter having a distal end and a proximal end. The distal end has an orifice through which a fluid can flow. The distal end has a port through which the fluid can flow. The port is adjacent to but apart from the orifice. The apparatus comprises a mechanism for controlling the size of the port that is open. The controlling mechanism is disposed over the port and able to close the port.
An apparatus for treating a patient. The apparatus comprises a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end having an orifice through which a fluid can flow. The distal end has an end marker disposed about the orifice which appears in an image of an imaging device.
An apparatus for treating a patient. The apparatus comprises a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end having an orifice through which fluid can flow. The catheter has an axis. The distal end has a plurality of holes having an elongate shape disposed essentially in parallel with the axis of the catheter with smooth edges so blood cells are not damaged as they pass through the holes.
A method for treating a patient. The method comprises the steps of inserting a catheter in a vessel. Then there is the step of opening a port in the catheter disposed adjacent an orifice in the distal end of the catheter so blood can flow through the port and the orifice.
The present invention pertains to a method for accessing the heart of a patient. The method comprises the steps of inserting a guide wire into a vessel of a patient to a right atrium of the heart. Then there is the step of threading the guide wire through an orifice of a catheter. Next there is the step of moving the catheter with a needle disposed in the catheter along the guide wire to the right atrium so only the needle and guide wire and catheter are in the vessel and the needle and guide wire are simultaneously in the catheter. Then there is the step of moving the guide wire out of the orifice but keeping the guide wire in the catheter simultaneously with the needle. Next there is the step of moving the needle through the orifice. Then there is the step of puncturing a septum of the heart with the needle and catheter and moving the catheter into a left atrium of the heart. Next there is the step of removing the needle and guide wire from the catheter.
The present invention pertains to a method for accessing the heart of a patient. The method comprises the steps of inserting a guide wire into a vessel of a patient to a right atrium of the heart. Then there is the step of threading the guide wire through an orifice of a catheter. Next there is the step of moving the catheter with a needle disposed in the catheter along the guide wire to the right atrium. Then there is the step of moving a needle into the catheter so only the needle and guide wire and catheter are in the vessel and the needle and guide wire are simultaneously in the catheter. Next there is the step of moving the guide wire out of the orifice. Then there is the step of moving the needle through the orifice. Next there is the step of puncturing a septum of the heart with the needle and catheter and moving the catheter into a left atrium of the heart. Then there is the step of removing the needle from the catheter.

Method and apparatus for treating a patient


An array of individual and autonomous modules are deployed in a region to be surveilled. Each module, contained in an air dropable bomblet, includes a GPS system for determining the exact location of the deployed module. The module also includes an rf receiver and transmitter, as well as an atomic clock circuit for providing highly precise time and clocking signals, with operation of the module circuitry being governed by a control computer. The computers of the modules are individually programmed such that the modules of the array collectively operate as a distributed phased array antenna system, but without any hardwired interconnection between the modules. In another embodiment a single receiver is utilized and the apparatus operates on the frequency set of the GPS system.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention in general relates to a distributed phased array antenna arrangement and more particularly to a randomly distributed array for battlefield surveillance and rf counter measures.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a tactical warfare situation it is often desired to conduct a surveillance of a region so as to detect and neutralize the land or air weapons of an enemy. Large scale phased array radar systems are tools which fulfill these requirements however, under certain battlefield conditions it is impractical to deploy large detection equipment into a zone for this purpose because of their vulnerability to detection and denial.
Further, during various operations it would be desirable for friendly forces to communicate results of battlefield surveillance with one another without revealing the exact location of the transmitters to an enemy. Spread spectrum communication systems are often used for this purpose.
The present invention provides for a distributed phased array antenna system which can be deployed in a relatively covert manner to accomplish the above objectives, with minimal chance of being detected.


A wheel assembly for use with carts employs a sleeve element as an intermediate member between a central axle and both the wheel and the cart body. The sleeve element has an inner recess shaped to receive an end portion of the axle and a first external surface for rotatably engaging within a hole in the cart such that a part of the sleeve element functions as a bearing disposed between the axle and the hole. The sleeve element also has a resilient catch element for retaining it within the hole such that the axle is prevented from moving longitudinally while being free to rotate relative to the cart body. The sleeve element also provides a substantially cylindrical external surface for rotatable mounting of the wheel. The sleeve element simultaneously retains the axle in a defined axial position relative to the cart body, maintains a defined spacial relationship between the wheel and the cart body, and guarantees reliable freedom of rotation by allowing rotation of both of the axle relative to the cart body and of the wheel relative to the axle. The sleeve element also renders the entire wheel assembly a simple manually assembled "snap-fit".

The present invention relates to push-carts and the like and, in particular, it concerns a wheel assembly which is both strong and easily assembled for use with such carts.
It is known to provide a wide variety of carts, trolleys, baby carriages, storage boxes and wheel barrows for domestic, garden and travel use. For convenience of reference, all such devices will be referred to collectively as "carts". Most carts have one or more axle rotatably mounted within the body of the cart, with a pair of wheels attached to opposite ends of the axle. The wheels are typically attached by welding or bolting, both labor intensive and thus expensive assembly techniques.
A further shortcoming of carts in which wheels are rigidly attached to a common axle is lack of maneuverability. Since the wheels cannot turn independently, such a cart is inconvenient for even gentle cornering, and incapable of turning on the spot. The familiar single wheel design conventionally preferred for wheel barrows, on the other hand, is highly maneuverable, but suffers from a lack of stability.
In order to improve the maneuverability of carts having paired-wheels, it is possible to mount the wheels so as to be rotatable with respect to the axle. However, such a construction raises further structural and assembly complications since both travel of each wheel along the axle and of the axle within the cart body must be prevented to ensure smooth operation.
There is therefore a need for a low cost, easily assembled wheel assembly which allows independent rotation of each wheel.


Methods of forming capacitors and resultant capacitor structures are described. In one embodiment, a capacitor storage node layer is formed over a substrate and has an uppermost rim defining an opening i into an interior volume. At least a portion of the rim is capped by forming a material which is different from the capacitor storage node layer over the rim portion. After the rim is capped, a capacitor dielectric region and a cell electrode layer are formed over the storage node layer. In another embodiment, a capacitor storage node layer is formed within a container which is received within an insulative material. A capacitor storage node layer is formed within the container and has an outer surface. A layer of material is formed within less than the entire capacitor container and covers less than the entire capacitor storage node layer outer surface. The layer of material comprises a material which is different from the insulative material within which the capacitor container is formed. After the capacitor storage node layer and the layer of material are formed, a capacitor dielectric functioning region is formed which is discrete from the layer of material and operably proximate at least a portion of the capacitor storage node layer outer surface. A cell electrode layer is formed over the dielectric functioning region and the layer of material.

The present invention relates to methods of forming capacitors and to resultant capacitor structures.
As integrated circuitry dimensions continue to shrink, challenges are posed with respect to the techniques through which integrated circuit structures are formed. For example, with very small device dimensions, unwanted conductive particles present during fabrication can cause undesired shorting should they come into contact with, and not be adequately removed from integrated circuitry being formed. One type of integrated circuit structure is a capacitor. Such capacitors are typically used in dynamic random access memory circuitry. Undesired shorting can take place if such conductive particles are allowed to undesirably contact the capacitor storage nodes of such capacitors.
Accordingly, this invention arose out of concerns associated with providing improved methods of forming integrated circuitry which reduce the risk of undesired particles shorting the resultant integrated circuitry structures. In particular, this invention arose out of concerns associated with providing improved methods of forming capacitors, and resultant capacitor constructions.
Methods of forming capacitors and resultant capacitor structures are described. In one embodiment, a capacitor storage node layer is formed over a substrate and has an uppermost rim defining an opening into an interior volume. At least a portion of the rim is capped by forming a material which is different from the capacitor storage node layer over the rim portion. After the rim is capped, a capacitor dielectric region and a cell electrode layer are formed over the storage node layer.
In another embodiment, a capacitor storage node layer is formed within a container which is received within an insulative material. A capacitor storage node layer is formed within the container and has an outer surface. A layer of material is formed within less than the entire capacitor container and covers less than the entire capacitor storage node layer outer surface. The layer of material comprises a material which is different from the insulative material within which the capacitor container is formed. After the capacitor storage node layer and the layer of material are formed, a capacitor dielectric functioning region is formed which is discrete from the layer of material and operably proximate at least a portion of the capacitor storage node layer outer surface. A cell electrode layer is formed over the dielectric functioning region and the layer of material.
In another embodiment, a capacitor container is formed within an insulative material over a substrate. A capacitor storage node is formed within the container and has an uppermost surface and a side surface joined therewith. A protective cap is formed over the uppermost surface. A dielectric layer is formed over at least some of the side surface and protective cap. A cell electrode layer is formed over the side surface of the capacitor storage node.


A cup for administering medicine is provided. The cup allows for the separate storage of a first fluid and a second fluid. When a child or adult drinks from the cup, the two fluids are mixed with one another in order to help mask the taste of one of the fluids should that fluid have an undesirable taste. The cup includes a cup body that defines a chamber for holding the first fluid, and the cup has a lid adapted to engage the cup body. The cup body and the lid are in fluid communication with one another to allow the first fluid to be dispensed. The cup also has a container adapted to be located inside of the cup body and configured for holding the second fluid. The container and the lid are in fluid communication with one another to allow the second fluid to be dispensed.

Medicine for children is often provided in a liquid form in order to aid a parent in administering the medicine to the child. Unfortunately, medicine often has an unpleasant taste, and children will refuse to take the medicine. A child will associate the use of a spoon, syringe, or medicine dropper with the administration of medicine, and its associated unpleasant taste, and will subsequently resist a parent's attempts to administer the medicine. Additionally, a child may learn the taste, smell, color, and overall appearance of medicine and decline taking the medicine regardless of how the medicine is presented.
Attempts have been made to encourage children into taking medicine by disguising the medicine or administering process. For instance, a child may be given a cup with a see-through portion that allows the child to view an attractive looking drink inside of the cup. However, the bottom of the cup has a hidden chamber that holds liquid medicine. One end of a straw is placed into fluid communication with the medicine in the hidden chamber, and the other end of the straw is presented to the child. The child may take a sip from the straw and think he or she is drinking the attractive looking drink in the cup, but the child will actually be drinking medicine directly from the hidden chamber. While this arrangement may initially fool the child, the child will become wise to this trick and subsequently refuse to drink from the cup since the taste will be of the unpleasant tasting medicine.
Medicine may also be administered to a child by mixing the medicine with a beverage that the child likes. For instance, medicine may be mixed with a particular type of juice that a child is familiar with and enjoys. Administering medicine in this type of manner may be problematic for some types of medicine in that the medicine will become disadvantageously diluted upon mixing. Also, inaccurate dosing will occur if the child only drinks some of the contents of the cup. In such an instance, the parent will not know the amount of medicine that was actually consumed by the child and the amount left in the cup.
Accordingly, a cup that allows a parent to know the amount of medicine actually delivered to the child and that masks the unpleasant taste of the medicine from the child would be useful.

Cup for administering medicine to a child