The present invention relates to emulsion compositions for starting a reformer of a fuel cell system. In particular, the invention includes emulsion compositions comprising hydrocarbon fuel, water and alkoxylated alcohol surfactants for starting a reformer of a fuel cell system.

The present invention relates to compositions for use at start-up a reformer of a fuel cell system. In particular, this invention includes emulsion compositions comprising hydrocarbon fuel, water and surfactant for use at start-up of a reformer of a fuel cell system.
Fuel cell systems employing a partial oxidation, steam reformer or autothermal reformer or combinations thereof to generate hydrogen from a hydrocarbon need to have water present at all times to serve as a reactant for reforming, water-gas shift, and fuel cell stack humidification. Since water is one product of a fuel cell stack, during normal warmed-up operation, water generated from the fuel cell stack may be recycled to the reformer. For start-up of the reformer it is preferable that liquid water be well mixed with the hydrocarbon fuel and fed to the reformer as an emulsion. The current invention provides emulsion compositions suitable for use at start-up of a reformer of a fuel cell system.

Alkoxylated alkyl ester and alcohol emulsion compositions for fuel cell reformer start-up

ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company


A semiconductor memory device includes an address latch unit suitable for consecutively latching first refresh addresses, which correspond to successively-activated word lines, from consecutively received addresses for word lines to be activated in response to word line hit signals identifying the successively-activated word lines; an address comparison unit suitable for generating a comparison result signal by comparing the previously latched first address with the currently latched first address; a refresh control unit suitable for selecting a first refresh operation corresponding to the currently latched first address, and a second refresh operation corresponding to a second address in response to the comparison result signal, and a refresh command signal; and a refresh operation unit suitable for performing the first and second refresh operations on memory cells therein according to the selection of the refresh control unit.

1. Field
Various exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a semiconductor design technology and, more particularly, to a semiconductor memory device that performs refresh operations and a refresh control system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Semiconductor memory devices such as double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR SDRAM) include memory banks for storing data and each memory bank includes memory cells. Each memory cell has a cell capacitor and a cell transistor and the semiconductor memory device stores data by charging or discharging the cell capacitor.
It would be ideal if the charge in the capacitor remained constant. However, the charge stored in the cell capacitor varies due to voltage differences between the semiconductor memory device and peripheral circuits. That is, the electrical charge may leak from a charged capacitor or be unintentionally charged when it should remain discharged. This unwanted charging and discharging may result in the loss of data. To combat this concern, semiconductor memory devices perform refresh operations to keep their charges at intended levels and prevent the loss of stored data.
The degree of integration of memory devices is constantly increasing and this means the size of memory cells and memory banks have to decrease as well. Also, the distance between memory cells and their corresponding word lines is also decreasing. This has resulted in an increase in electrical phenomena that affect the memory cell charges. For instance, there may be electrical coupling effects between adjacent word lines.
In a semiconductor memory device, word lines must become active (increase or decrease in voltage) to read or write from/to memory cells. As the distance between word lines decreases, this coupling effect is intensified and memory cells connected to adjacent word lines may have their charge (voltage level) influenced due to the coupling effect. Since data is stored by the charge, this may result the loss of data.
To prevent loss of data, memory cells are refreshed to keep the memory cell charges at or near their intended levels. This must be before the charge in the memory cells has been lost. However, it should not been done more than necessary as refresh operations deteriorate the operating efficiency of semiconductor memory devices. Therefore, much effort is spent on perfecting refresh operations to ensure data is accurately maintained while keeping the memory device operating as efficiently as possible.

Semiconductor memory device and refresh control system


A container for collecting liquid for transport, includes a shell having a port adapted for receiving tubing and configured to define a chamber that has a window in an exterior surface of the shell. The window is so positioned that when a wicking material, which is adapted to be applied against a particular source of moisture and which is so dimensioned that when the wicking material is received within the shell and applied through the window to the particular source of moisture, the shell is at least partially closed so that when tubing is inserted through the port into the shell chamber and the shell is otherwise closed a partial vacuum can be created within the shell chamber to draw moisture into the shell chamber through the wicking material for collection as a liquid within the shell chamber for transport from the shell chamber via the tubing. A wicking material applicator includes a material having openings and formed to define an extended hollow framework about which the wicking material can be, or is, disposed.

The invention generally pertains to using wicking material to collect liquid for transport and is particularly directed to a container that can be used to so collect a liquid, such as urine, from the body of a person or an animal in such a manner that the liquid can be readily transported from the container as the liquid is being collected, and is also directed to a wicking material applicator for use with such a container.
A container for collecting urine and transporting the collected urine voided from a person's body is described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,287,508 to Robert A. Sanchez. The container described in said patent is made of plastic or some other material and defines a chamber for collecting urine. The container is closed, except for having an array of openings through which urine can be drawn into the chamber for collection and at least one outlet port through which urine can be drawn away from the chamber by a transport tube inserted into the chamber. The exterior of the container is configured for enabling a moisture-wicking article to be secured over the array of openings and for enabling the secured moisture-wicking article to be disposed in contact with the region of a female body surrounding the urethral opening. A vacuum pump is attached to the transport tube in order to create a partial vacuum in the chamber in order to draw urine into the chamber for collection of the urine and in order to draw the collected urine away from the chamber.

Using wicking material to collect liquid for transport


A frequency modulator includes a reference frequency oscillator, a voltage controlled oscillator provided with a control input terminal and a modulation input terminal, a frequency divider for dividing an output of the voltage controlled oscillator, a phase comparator for generating an output signal corresponding to a phase difference between an output of the reference frequency oscillator and an output of the divider, a first filter having an input terminal and an output terminal, the input terminal thereof being connected to an output terminal of the phase comparator, while the output terminal thereof being connected to the control input terminal of the voltage controlled oscillator, and a second filter having an input terminal and an output terminal, the input terminal being inputted a modulating signal and the output terminal being connected to the modulation input terminal of the voltage controlled oscillator. The second filter has a lower amplitude characteristics in a low frequency range within a modulation frequency band than that in a high frequency range within the same.

The present invention relates to a frequency modulator provided with a phase locked loop controlling part.
A phase locked loop (hereinafter will be simply called as PLL) is used to obtain a number of various frequency signals with a good frequency stability from a single reference frequency source. This phase locked loop is often used as a local oscillator in a radio equipment, in recent years. When performing a frequency modulation (FM) on a transmitted carrier, these is often adopted a direct frequency modulating method such that modulating signals are superimposed upon a controlling voltage which controls the output frequency of a voltage-controlled oscillator (hereinafter simply called as VCO) of a PLL.
The following provides a description of a conventional frequency modulator, referring to an accompanying drawing. FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a conventional frequency modulator comprising a PLL.
In FIG. 8, reference numeral 1 denotes a reference signal generator. Used as the reference signal generator is, in general, a generator having a relatively high frequency-stability such as a crystal oscillator or the like. A phase comparator 2 outputs a signal proportional to a phase difference between two signals inputted there to. Reference numeral 3 denotes a low-pass filter, which may be made up of passive elements only, or of an active filter which comprises an active element such as a transistor or the like. Reference numeral 4 is a VCO, the frequency of which is varied in proportion to an input signal voltage, as shown in FIG. 10. A frequency divider 5 divides an input signal to output the divided signal to the phase comparator 2.
Hereinafter will be described an operation of the conventional frequency modulator having the above structure. A part of output signals from the VCO 4 are divided by the frequency divider 5. The phase comparator 2 compares a phase of an output signal from the frequency divider 5 with a phase of a reference signal from the reference signal generator 1. A phase difference signal outputted from the phase comparator 2 is fed back as a control voltage of the VCO 4 through the low-pass filter 3. The control voltage (an output voltage from the low-pass filter) drops, when the phase of the output signal from the divider 5 is leading ahead of the phase of a reference signal from the reference signal generator 1. To the contrary, the control voltage rises, when the phase of the output signal from the divider 5 lags behind the phase of the reference signal from the reference signal generator 1. Such a rise and fall of the control the VCO voltage is effective to control so that a phase difference between the phase of the output signal from the divider 5 and the phase of the reference signal from the reference signal generator 1 may be maintained constant. The phase difference, therefore, becomes constant in a steady-state, and a frequency of the output signal from the divider 5 and a frequency of the reference signal from the reference signal generator 1 are brought into conformity with each other. Accordingly, the following relationship is established: EQU fo=N.multidot.fr
where
fo: an output frequency of the VCO 4; PA0 N: a dividing ratio of the divider 5; and PA0 fr: a reference frequency of the reference signal generator.
An output signal having a frequency fo, which is an integral multiple of the reference frequency fr, may be obtained by varying the dividing ratio N of the divider 5.
In this frequency modulation, a modulating signal from the outside, e.g., an external voice signal, is superimposed upon a controlled input voltage of the VCO 4 so that a frequency generated from the VCO 4 is forced to be varied by the externally inputted signal.
However, the PLL is a negative fed-back circuit to keep the frequency of the VCO 4 constant, as described above. If a gain of the loop of the PLL is sufficiently large and the loop is stable, the frequency is little varied when a modulating signal is superimposed upon the controlled input voltage of the VCO 4. Here, the gain means a gain of an open loop transfer function. This open loop transfer function is the transfer function between a controlled input of the VCO and the output of the low-pass filter 3, when the controlled input of the VCO 4 is cut from the output of the low-pass filter.
Owing to the low pass filter 3, the gain of the transfer function is large in a low frequency range, getting smaller as the frequency becomes higher. A frequency at which a gain of the open loop transfer function is 1 is called a gain crossover frequency. A frequency modulation may therefore be performed on a modulating signal of a frequency equal to or higher than a crossover frequency, having a gain 1 or less. A general radiotelephone is designed to have a gain crossover frequency of about 300 Hz, at which a gain of the open loop transfer function is 1. In such a radiophone, the oscillation frequency of the VCO 4 is modulated in a voice band of about 300 Hz or higher.
To the contrary, a low frequency region cannot be modulated. An affect of a modulating signal added to the VCO 4 returns to an input of the VCO 4 through the divider 5, the phase comparator 2 and the low-pass filter 3. This acts as a negative feedback in a low frequency range, namely, acts to suppress the frequency deviation by the modulation (to suppress it not to depart from the frequency N.multidot.fr), leading thus to quite low modulation sensitivity.
In the gain crossover frequency (in the vicinity of 300 Hz, for example), phase delay due to the low-pass filter 3 operates as positive feedback to emphasize frequency deviation by the modulation, in which case a peak sometimes appears in the vicinity of the gain crossover frequency of the loop, as shown in FIG. 9. It is desirable that the frequency characteristics in modulation sensitivity be flat within a voice signal band. In order to eliminate such a peak in a conventional manner, it is necessary to set the loop gain at a smaller value and to precisely adjust values of respective elements in the low-pass filter 3 to drop the gain crossover frequency, whereby a frequency of the peak may become lower than that of the voice signal band. However, if the gain crossover frequency is dropped, a period of time required to change the frequency is increased. That is, a period of time from changing the dividing ratio of the divider 5 to when the oscillated frequency of the VCO 4 is focused within a range of tolerance deviation of the steady-state value and becomes stabilized, becomes longer. There is thus a disadvantage that a time period required to change the channel in a radiotelephone or the like is increased even if a peak is lowered close to the gain crossover frequency.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


An applicator for dispensing a product comprises an exterior top surface, an exterior sidewall, and a base. The applicator has a chamber which constitutes a reservoir for holding the product to be dispensed. The reservoir has top wall, a bottom wall and a side wall. The applicator has an orifice for dispensing product, and the orifice connects the top surface to the top wall. The chamber has a disk capable of traveling through the chamber forcing product through the orifice as it travels through the chamber. The disk has a product contact surface that contacts a major portion of the top surface when the travel of the disk is complete so that product remaining in the chamber is minimized.

The present invention relates to an improved cosmetic applicator such as a lipstick dispenser, eye shadow dispenser, concealer containing a skin color covering material, etc. The present invention has particular applicability as a lipstick dispenser that provides the consumer the benefit of reducing the risk of broken or damaged lipsticks as well as providing the consumer with a dispenser that permits the user to remove significantly more of the product than conventional dispensers.
For centuries people have been applying decorative materials to their bodies. Evidence shows that the ancient Egyptians applied paints to their bodies especially around their eyes, perhaps to protect them from the sun. Socially, in ancient Egypt, hairstyle and cosmetics distinguished the various social classes from each other. In Greece and Rome particular hairstyles were signs of social standing, age and marital status. After Rome fell the use of cosmetics in Western Europe virtually disappeared until the Crusaders brought perfumes, hair dyes and other beauty products back to Europe. During the Renaissance, a pale look that was achieved by the use of heavy powders was a badge of class and became a longtime status symbol. In France, men and women competed with each other in personal adornment. Various powders, perfumes, wigs, and beauty marks were the rage of the aristocracy. One theory has it that the heavy makeup that was applied was an effort to hide the effects of disease particularly small pox that was endemic to the area. In the Americas, native American tribes, long before the arrival of Columbus, used war paints extracted from fruits, particularly berries, and vegetables. Native Americans used animal fats to coat their bodies and protect them from harsh weather. Over the centuries lip coverings have been used to enhance the color of lips. In addition, many people apply various unguents, balms, salves and moisturizers to their lips to soften them and to enhance them.
Lip products can be applied in a variety of ways and are packaged to assist the application of the product. As a result, there are a variety of dispensers on the market. One common way that lipsticks have been sold is in stick or rod form in a dispenser that has a rotatable base and a screw type mechanism for raising from the dispenser for application by the consumer. In these types of dispensers the lipstick material is held in a cup or base in the shape of a short length of tubing that is sealed at one end. The cup or base is typically up to about 0.5xe2x80x3 in height. Since the lipstick material held in these dispensers is only a couple inches high, the cup or base constitutes, in the consumers mind at least, a significant portion of the purchased product. The material in the base is usually thrown away when the portion of the stick above the base has been worn away from use. Many consumers, in an attempt to stretch a few more applications out of the applicator or because they ran out before they were able to purchase a replacement will use their fingertips, a tissue or other means to get at the remainder. This is messy process and not very satisfactory to the consumer.
Another common problem with lip applicators is the issue of breakage of the stick when too great a force is applied, either during application or due to misuse. It is not uncommon for a user of lipsticks to report that from time to time in the haste of application or otherwise, the extended stick of lip material was inadvertently broken off during use. Not surprisingly this breakage usually occurs during the early stages of use by the consumer when the product has hardly been used which creates great dissatisfaction with the product. Similarly, it is not unusual for the raised stick to be damaged inadvertently, or by small children and others who have gotten access to the product. There are many instances where the stick has been smudged, smashed or otherwise ruined due to mishandling.
Some manufacturers of lip products seek to avoid the problems with applicators and the breakage issues of a stick type product by supplying a brush to apply the lip product. Brushes can give a better lip covering than the traditional stick particularly where a professional is applying the product. However, brushes are usually more difficult to use. Because of the flexibility of the brush bristles, it is sometimes difficult to apply the lip covering with a brush. Another problem with brushes is that the application of a lip covering with a brush is a two-handed operation that makes it difficult to apply the lip product in some common situations. When applying the product with a brush, one hand holds the reservoir containing the lip product while the other hand is usually needed to apply it to the lips.
One patent that attempts to solve the problems with stick lip products U.S. Pat. No. 5,772,347 to Gueret. Gueret discloses a dispenser for applying a liquid to pasty consistency material. The patent shows a complex valving arrangement in a container for applying a product. The container is provided with a horizontal disk on a threaded member that causes the disk to rise when the base is turned. The disk forces the product out through a valve and to a plurality of orifices in the tip of the container. The top of the container is oblique to resemble the angle given to many lipsticks that are currently sold. Although this patent solves the breakage problem of stick shaped lipsticks, it does not solve the wastage issue. Where the traditional lipstick has a base, in which the lipstick is placed that causes wastage, the Gueret device""a complex head piece is also a potential source of product waste. The design of the dispensing valve of Gueret is such that significant amounts of material remain in the dispenser when the disk finishes its travel along the threaded rod. In addition, as seen in FIG. 1 of the patent the dispenser""s shoulder and neck area have a diameter that is less than the diameter of the disk preventing complete travel of the disk and leaving significant amount of product in the dispenser. It is not uncommon for the consumer who perceives that there is unused product remaining in the dispenser to attempt to open the dispenser. This, at a minimum can be a messy procedure and at its worse can cause injury, particularly if a sharp object is used to open the dispenser.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a dispenser for products that is designed so the possibility of breakage of the product as it extends from the dispenser is eliminated.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a dispenser for products that is designed so that significant amounts of product do not remain in the dispenser after use of the dispenser is complete.


A hydraulically driven industrial machine having a variable displacement type hydraulic pump adapted to take in and pressurized working oil from an working oil tank, a hydraulic actuator to be driven by pressurized working oil delivered from the hydraulic pump through a control valve to perform a predetermined job, a variable return oil cooling means capable of cooling return oil from the hydraulic actuator at a varying cooling rate, an operational load detection means adapted to detect an operational load factor of the hydraulic actuator, and a control means adapted to vary the return oil cooling rate on the basis of an operational load factor detected by the operational load detection means.

1. Field of the Art
This invention relates to hydraulically driven industrial machines including construction machines such as hydraulic power shovel type excavators or the like, and more particularly to a hydraulically driven industrial machine which is capable of effectively controlling temperature of working oil in a hydraulic circuit system to perform various jobs in an energy-saving manner.
2. Technical Background
As an example of hydraulically driven industrial machine, there are construction machines which are equipped with a digging mechanism like a hydraulic power shovel excavator to carry out a ground excavating operation. A hydraulic circuit on a construction machine of this sort normally includes a variable displacement type hydraulic pump driven from an engine to pressurize working oil which is taken in from a working oil tank. Through a control valve, pressurized working oil delivered by the hydraulic pump is supplied to hydraulic actuators including hydraulic cylinders and hydraulic motors to drive these hydraulic actuators. As a result, various operating components of the machine, like a vehicle drive mechanism, a swing mechanism and a working tool, are put in operation to carry out intended jobs. Return oil from hydraulic actuators is sent back to the working oil tank through the control valve for recirculation. Therefore, a suction conduit is connected between the hydraulic pump and the working oil tank, while a delivery or discharge conduit is connected between the hydraulic pump and the control valve. The control valve is connected to the respective hydraulic actuators by way of paired supply and drain conduits. Further, the control valve is connected to the working oil tank by way of a return oil conduit. Thus, the hydraulic circuit is arranged to constitute a closed circuit as a whole.
In operation, heat is generated by hydraulic actuators. As a result, working oil which flows through hydraulic conduits of the closed circuit is heated up, making it necessary to let return oil from hydraulic actuators cool down. For this purpose, usually an oil cooling means is provided in the afore-mentioned oil return passage. As a working oil cooling means, construction machines usually employ an oil cooler which is an assembly of a large number of narrow pipes and a cooling fan which sends forth cooling air toward the oil cooler.
The cooling fan is driven by an engine, so that the number of revolutions of the cooling fan is varied depending upon the number of revolutions of the engine, affecting the cooling effect of the oil cooler on return oil. In order to overcome this problem, Patent Literature 1 below discloses an oil cooler employing an independent hydraulic motor for driving a cooling fan free from influences of the engine speed. In this case, the hydraulic motor for driving a cooling fan is constituted by a variable displacement hydraulic motor which is adapted to drive the cooling fan at a speed which is determined in relation with a detected temperature of working oil to maintain the oil temperature at a target level.
Patent Literature 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 2000-130164

Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.


This invention relates to the glycoprotein v gene. Specifically, this invention discloses the sequence and structure of the glycoprotein v gene and the amino acid sequence of the glycoprotein v polypeptide. In addition, the evolutionary relationship of the glycoprotein v gene with other glycoproteins is described and several uses of the isolated glycoprotein v gene are shown.

Platelets arise from the fragmentation of megakaryocytes, which are large polyploid bone marrow cells produced by several cycles of chromosomal duplication without cytoplasmic division (Handin (Wilson et. al., eds) in Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine 12th edition (1991)). Once free of the marrow space, approximately 2/3 of the platelets circulate freely, while approximately 1/3 are sequestered in the spleen. Circulating platelets last for 7 to 10 days, after which they are removed by phagocytic cells. A decrease in platelet mass stimulates megakaryocytopoiesis, resulting in an increase in the number, size and ploidy of the megakaryocytes.
Platelet receptors which mediate platelet adhesion and aggregation are located on the two major platelet surface glycoprotein complexes. These complexes are the glycoprotein Ib-IX complex which facilitates platelet adhesion by binding von Willebrand factor (vWF), and the glycoprotein IIb-IIIa complex which links platelets into aggregates by binding to fibrinogen. Patients with the Bernard Soulier syndrome, a congenital bleeding disorder, show deficient platelet adhesion due to a deficiency in the glycoprotein Ib-IX complex which binds vWF, mild thrombocytopenia, and large lymphocoid platelets.
Glycoprotein v (GPV) is a major (.apprxeq.12,000 molecules/platelet), heavily glycosylated platelet membrane protein (Mr 82,000) (Modderman et. al. J. Biol. Chem. 267: 364-369). Earlier reports showing that GPV was a peripheral protein (Berndt and Phillips J. Biol. Chem 256: 59-65) were presumably due to the release of GPV from the membrane by calpain during the purification procedure. Exposure of platelets to thrombin liberates a 69 kDa soluble fragment termed GPVf1 (Phillips and Poh-Agin, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 75: 940-947). This, and its absence in the Bernard-Soulier syndrome (Clemetson) et. al., J. Clin. Invest. 70: 304-311 (1982); Nurden et. al., J. Clin. Invest. 67: 1431 (1981); Berndt et. al., Blood 62: 800-807 (1983)), led to the suggestion that GPV may be involved in the thrombin-induced activation response (Berndt and Phillips J. Biol. Chem 256: 59-65 (1981)). Recent experiments show that GPV can interact non-covalently with the GPIb-IX complex (Modderman et. al. J. Biol. Chem. 267: 364-369) 1992, a complex formed by the non-covalent association of GPIb (consisting of GPIb.alpha., a 145 kDa protein, disulfide linked to GPIb.beta., a 24 kDa protein) with GPIX (a 22 kDa protein). The binding sites for von Willebrand factor and for thrombin on the GPIb-IX complex have been localized on GPIb.alpha. (Wicki and Clemetson Eur. J. Biochem. 153: 1-11 (1985); Vicente et. al., J. Biol. Chem. 265: 274-280 (1990)). Since thrombin is now known to activate platelets by cleaving the thrombin receptor (Vu et. al., Cell 64 1057-1068 (1991)), a G-protein coupled receptor, it is unknown whether thrombin cleaves GPV incidently as a consequence of thrombin binding to GPIb.alpha., or whether this cleavage has a physiological role.
The amino acid sequences of GPIb.alpha., GPIb.beta., and GPIX have been deduced from their cDNA and genomic sequences (Lopez et. al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84: 5614-5619 (1987); Wenger et. al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 156: 389-395 (1988); Lopez et. al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85: 2135-2139 (1988); Hickey, et. al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86: 6733-6777 (1989); Hickey and Roth J. Biol. Chem 268: 3438-3443 (1993)). Analysis of the primary amino acid sequence of GPIb.alpha., GPIb.beta., and GPIX has revealed a common evolutionary origin for the three proteins, as they contain one or more homologous 24 amino acid leucine-rich domain. These domains are also found in a large family of leucine-rich glycoproteins (LRG) including leucine-rich .alpha.2 GP, proteoglycan core, fibromodulin, human lutropin-chorio gonatropin receptor and RNAse inhibitor, and toll protein and chaoptin found in Drosophila (reviewed in Roth Blood 77: 5-19 (1991)). Recently, analysis of partial peptide sequences obtained from purified platelet GPV suggested that GPV is also a member of the LRG family (Shimomura et. al., Blood 75: 2349-2356 (1990); Roth et. al., Biochem Biophys. Res. Commun 170: 153-161 (1990)).
GPV is a very specific marker for the megakaryocytic cell lineage. A monoclonal antibody specific for GPV (SW16) was recently shown to bind exclusively to platelets (Modderman et. al., J. Biol. Chem. 267: 364-369 (1992)). SW16 did not bind to red cells, leukocytes, endothelial cells, or cell lines such as HEL or MEG-01 which are known to express platelet megakaryocyte markers.


Provided is an epoxy resin composition comprising a crystalline epoxy resin (A) and an amorphous epoxy resin as an essential component, wherein the crystalline epoxy resin (A) being uniformly dispersed in the amorphous epoxy resin (B) as a crystallite. The epoxy resin composition has a high softening point, hardly causes blocking during the storage and has an excellent handling property.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an epoxy resin composition, which is superior in workability and useful for adhesives, paints, insulation materials and electrical/electronic materials (e.g. laminated plate, etc.), particularly useful for encapsulating electronic devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
For encapsulation of semiconductors such as LSI, IC, transistor, etc., economically useful transfer molding of an epoxy resin composition has recently been carried out. In this case, a softening point of the resin composition is important in view of handling. The resin composition having a low softening point sometimes causes blocking during the storage to result in deterioration of the workability. Therefore, the composition is stored generally with cooling in a refrigerator, but there has been a problem that the productive efficiency is poor.

Epoxy resin composition and method for producing the same


There is provided a dimensionally accurate insulating substrate in which plane direction-wise shrinkage is practically zero and shrinkage variations are small. The insulating substrate includes a laminated body composed of at least two kinds of insulating layers made of crystallizable glass ceramics. The crystallization temperature of crystallizable glass contained in the first insulating layer is lower than the softening point of crystallizable glass contained in the second insulating layer. The difference in thermal expansion coefficient between the first and second insulating layers is preferably 2×10−6/° C. or below.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an insulating substrate, which is suitable for use as a circuit board, and a manufacturing method for the insulating substrate, and a multilayer wiring board and a manufacturing method for the multilayer wiring board.
2. Description of the Related Art
While multilayer wiring boards using ceramics as their insulating substrates have conventionally been in wide use, in keeping with the recent demand for multilayer wiring boards provided with various functions, multilayer wiring boards fabricated by the use of a combination of ceramics materials of different types have been proposed to date. For example, there are known a multilayer wiring board that offers high strength by using a combination of a low-strength ceramic insulating layer and a high-strength ceramic insulating layer, and a multilayer wiring board that allows incorporation of a high-capacitance capacitor by using a laminated body composed of low-dielectric constant insulating layers having sandwiched therebetween a high-dielectric constant insulating layer.
In such a multilayer wiring board, to prevent generation of cracks and delamination in ceramics materials, in general, the selection and control of the characteristics of insulating-layer materials are made carefully to make the ceramic insulating layers of different types uniform in terms of firing shrinkage and thermal expansion coefficient.
Moreover, in order to carry out a reduction of costs for manufacturing a multilayer wiring board and enhancement of the dimensional accuracy of an electrode formed on a multilayer wiring board (insulating substrate) or highly accurate mounting of constituent components, it has recently been demanded that the firing shrinkage of an insulating substrate should be reduced in the plane direction (X-Y direction) thereof, and warpage and deformation resulting from shrinking-behavior variations occurring in the course of firing should be suppressed. Unfortunately, multilayer wiring boards of a related art, however, failed to meet such a demand.
In order to satisfy such a requirement, the following methods have been developed in recent years. Namely, on the one hand, in accordance with a so-called pressure-firing technique, an unfired laminated body composed of insulating green sheets (inclusive of a plurality of sheets to be formed into insulating layers of different types) is fired while being pressurized through an Al2O3 sintered plate so as to increase the degree of firing shrinking in the thickness direction (Z direction) thereof. Thereby, a wiring board having a desired insulating substrate is fabricated. On the other hand, on the surface of a green-sheet laminated body is disposed an unfired ceramic layer which will not be sintered at a temperature at which the laminated body is burned, so that the green-sheet laminated body is arrested by the unfired ceramic layer. Thereby, the shrinking of the laminated body is so controlled that it occurs only in the thickness direction thereof. Afterwards, the unfired ceramic layer is removed (for example, refer to U.S. Pat. No. 2,554,415). In either method, a conductor paste for forming a wiring pattern is applied to the surface of the green sheet, or is charged inside the green sheet. Then, by firing the laminated body, an insulating substrate and a wiring conductor layer can be obtained at the same time (co-firing).
However, these methods have encountered the following problems. Namely, the former adopting the pressure-firing technique necessitates not only a warpage-free Al2O3 sintered plate but also specially-devised pressurizing means, whereas the latter exploiting the arresting action of the unfired ceramic layer (restrictive firing) necessitates a step for removing the unfired ceramic layer after the firing process is over, which is liable to result in an undesirable increase in the number of manufacturing process steps.
In light of the foregoing, the following circuit board manufacturing method has been proposed to date (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication JP-A 2002-261443). Namely, in firing a laminated body composed of two kinds of insulating green sheets having different firing shrinking starting temperatures at one time, their firing shrinking starting temperatures are so controlled that, at the point in time when one green sheet having a higher firing shrinking starting temperature begins to shrink, the other green sheet having a lower firing shrinking starting temperature has already arrived at 90% or more of a predetermined final firing volume shrinking amount. This makes it possible to suppress dimensional changes in a resulting circuit board.
In the circuit board manufacturing method disclosed in JP-A 2002-261443, in firing a laminated body composed of two kinds of ceramic moldings having different firing shrinking starting temperatures at one time, it is necessary to control their firing shrinking starting temperatures in such a manner that, at the point in time when one insulating layer having a higher firing shrinking starting temperature begins to shrink, the other insulating layer having a lower firing shrinking starting temperature has already arrived at 90% or more of a predetermined final firing volume shrinking amount. This makes it possible to suppress dimensional changes in a resulting circuit board. However, on the negative side, this method pays heed only to the control of firing shrinking starting temperatures. This could give rise to problems such as occurrence of appreciable shrinking-behavior variations under restriction and a failure of ensuring sufficiently low shrinkage.
According to the manufacturing method disclosed in JP-A 2002-261443, dimensional-change control can be exercised with ease. However, only with this advantage, it is difficult to ensure that the plane direction-wise shrinkage of the substrate becomes practically zero, or undesirable shrinkage variations are inevitable. Furthermore, in forming the green sheet having a higher firing shrinking starting temperature and the green sheet having a lower firing shrinking starting temperature, while the characteristics of the sheet materials can be changed according to purposes, it is necessary to make adjustment to the shrinking behaviors of the sheets individually. This imposes limitations on material design and thus the characteristics of materials cannot be changed greatly. Accordingly, in order to attain improved capability more effectively, another insulating green sheet which is free from shrinking-behavior limitations needs to be prepared for use. Moreover, in a wiring conductor layer obtained by restrictive firing, its plane direction-wise shrinkage is restrained as with the case of the substrate. It is thus inevitable that most of the total necessary firing shrinkage of the wiring conductor layer will be compensated for by the thickness direction-wise shrinkage thereof. As a result, asperities tend to appear at the interface between the wiring conductor layer and the insulating layer, in consequence whereof there results an increased conductor resistance and poor interface conductivity. This leads up to electrical characteristic degradation in a resulting insulator layer with a built-in capacitor or the like function.
Also proposed is the following method (for example, refer to JP-A 2002-290037). Namely, in firing a laminated body composed of two kinds of ceramic moldings having different firing shrinking starting temperatures and a wiring layer at one time, the volume shrinkage and shrinking starting temperature of a conductor layer is so controlled as to prevent cracks and delamination from occurring in the vicinity of the interface of the conductor layer.
However, in recent years, circuit boards have been becoming increasingly lower in profile and yet higher in performance. As a natural consequence of this trend, slimness has been sought after in a ceramic molding for use therein, and correspondingly the volumetric ratio of a conductor layer present in the ceramic molding to the ceramic molding has been increasing. In the end, the ceramic molding and the conductor layer have been prone to vary in firing shrinking behavior, which leads up to appreciable warpage. This problem was taken no notice of in JP-A 2002-261443 and JP-A 2002-290037.

Insulating substrate and manufacturing method therefor, and multilayer wiring board and manufacturing method therefor


A location and retention component is provided for positively locating an overspeed guard and retaining a centrifugal actuator at an optimum positional relationship relative to each other. The system includes a first and second retention element removably engagable to the output shaft of a motor and axially fixable to the shaft at corresponding locations to maintain the optimum positional relationship. The first retention element serves as a positive stop for assembling the overspeed guard on the motor shaft, while the second retention element ensures that the centrifugal actuator is properly placed within the overspeed guard.

Electric motors having stators with separate start windings and run windings typically employ centrifugal actuators to control the energization of the two windings. The start winding is energized during start up of the motor, or when the speed of the motor falls below a specified operating speed, so as to create a rotating field in the motor stator and to apply sufficient torque to the motor rotor for starting purposes. However, once the motor has accelerated to a desired operating speed, or a pre-determined percentage of the desired operating speed, the rotor is able to follow the alternations of the magnetic field created by the run windings and the start winding is no longer needed. At this point in the motor's operation the centrifugal actuator automatically switches over energization of the start winding to the run winding.
Usually, the start winding is not intended for continuous use and may fail if not de-energized during normal operation of the motor. Conventionally, a switch referred to as a motor starting switch is provided in the motor for energizing the start winding only during start up of the motor and for de-energizing the start winding once the motor has attained its desired operating speed. A centrifugal actuator is typically employed in switching the motor windings between their start winding and run winding. The centrifugal actuator is mounted on the motor shaft for rotation with the shaft, and is responsive to the speed of the motor shaft for switching the windings between the start winding and the run winding, and vice versa.
A typical centrifugal actuator is disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 3,609,421, of Hildebrandt, issued Sep. 28, 1971, and assigned to the assignee of the present application and incorporated herein by reference. Basically, the centrifugal actuator includes a main body that is mounted to the electric motor shaft for rotation with the shaft. A sleeve is mounted on the main body for axially reciprocating movement of the sleeve over the main body between first and second positions of the sleeve relative to the shaft. The sleeve has an annular flange that projects radially outwardly from the sleeve. The annular flange is positioned on the shaft adjacent an electric switch. The switch completes a circuit through the start winding and the run winding of the motor in response to the sleeve moving between its respective first and second axially displaced positions on the shaft.
The sleeve and its annular flange are biased toward the first position of the sleeve on the shaft by a pair of springs. The springs extend transversely across opposite sides of the motor shaft and are connected between a pair of levers positioned on opposite sides of the motor shaft. The levers are mounted on the body of the actuator for pivoting movement of the levers relative to the body. Each of the levers is formed as bell cranks having one end connected to the sleeve and the opposite end connected to a weight mounted on the lever. Each of the levers has an intermediate projection that is received in a slot formed in opposite, radially outward portions of the actuator body. The projections engaging in the slots function as the pivot connections of the levers to the body. The pair of springs exert a biasing force on the levers pulling the weighed ends of the levers radially inwardly, and thereby bias the actuator sleeve toward its first position relative to the shaft.
When rotation of the shaft and the centrifugal actuator reaches a pre-determined speed, the centrifugal force exerted on the weighed ends of the levers causes the weighted ends to move radially outwardly against the bias of the pair of springs. This in turn causes the opposite ends of the levers engaging the actuator sleeve to move the sleeve from its first axial position relative to the shaft to its second axial position relative to the shaft. This movement of the sleeve and its annular flange automatically switches the windings of the stator from energization of the start winding to energization of the run winding of the motor. When the speed of rotation of the shaft falls below the pre-determined speed, the pair of springs pull the weighted ends of the levers radially inwardly, thereby causing the opposite ends of the levers to move the actuator sleeve from its second position relative to the shaft to its first position relative to the shaft. This in turn causes the annular flange of the actuator sleeve to switch the motor windings from energization of the run winding back to energization of the start winding.
Centrifugal actuators of the type described above and disclosed in the above referenced patent are relatively inexpensive to manufacture and, thus are employed on electric motors in many different applications. However, in some applications of electric motors their shafts are at times subjected to increased speeds over that possible by energizing the run winding of the motor, creating an overspeed condition in the centrifugal actuator.
One example of an operative environment in which an overspeed condition of the actuator can occur is in electric motors that drive augers used to transfer grain from one location to another. During operation, the drive augers may encounter resistance that generates a build-up of torsional tension in the motor shaft. In some cases, the drive auger may be stopped by an impediment, which in turn stops the rotation of the motor shaft. When the motor is turned off to free the auger, the torsional tension built up in the drive shaft will function as a torsion spring as it unwinds causing the motor shaft to spin in the opposite direction at an increased rate of speed above the running speed of the motor. This increased speed of rotation at times causes the centrifugal actuator mounted on the motor shaft to rotate at such a high rate of speed that the levers and springs will fly apart from the actuator body potentially damaging the electric motor and requiring replacement or repair of not only the centrifugal actuator, but also the electric motor.
Attempts at preventing this overspeed condition of the centrifugal actuator from damaging the electric motor have included the development of a plastic cup-shaped guard that is mounted on the motor shaft adjacent the centrifugal actuator with a cylindrical side wall of the guard surrounding the actuator. However, these prior art guards have required more complex tooling and assembly processes which results in higher production costs. What is needed is a lower cost overspeed guard that prevents component parts of the centrifugal actuator from separating from the actuator and potentially damaging the electric motor controlled by the actuator. In addition, certain overspeed guards cannot always be accurately mounted to the motor drive shaft. Success of the overspeed guard depends upon accurate placement of the guard so that the overspeed guard will properly interact with the centrifugal actuator.


Disclosed is an infusion preparation for nutrient supply use. It comprises a sugar, amino acids, electrolytes and a fat emulsion. It has an excellent shelf life without causing precipitation, denaturation and the like in spite of the simultaneous presence of these components. Also disclosed is a container filled with infusion liquids comprising a first and a second compartments separated from each other by a separation means, wherein an infusion liquid containing a fat emulsion and a sugar is included in the first compartment and another infusion liquid containing amino acids and electrolytes is included in the second compartment. Further disclosed are an infusion preparation comprising a fat emulsion and a sugar, and an infusion preparation comprising amino acids and electrolytes. An infusion preparation containing a sugar, amino acids, electrolytes and a fat emulsion can be obtained easily and aseptically upon use, by simply removing a separation means attached to the container and mixing the two infusion liquids.

Intravenous infusion is carried out for the purpose of supplying nutrients to maintain a patient's life when oral or nasal feeding is impossible or insufficient, when the digestion and absorption functions of the patient are in a poor state even if such a feeding means can be carried out, or when the passage of food through the digestive tract makes the patient's condition or disease more serious.
Examples of commercially available infusion preparations include a sugar infusion liquid which contains reducing sugars and the like, an amino acid infusion liquid which contains essential amino acids and the like, an electrolyte infusion liquid which contains electrolytes and the like, a fat emulsion which contains a plant oil emulsion and the like, and a vitamin mixture. These infusion preparations are appropriately selected depending on the condition of the patient and are mixed upon use.
However, mixing these preparations at the time of their use requires complex handling and, above all things, raises the problem of microbial contamination. With the aim of overcoming such problems, various infusion preparations in which some of the aforementioned ingredients are mixed in advance have been proposed. Infusion preparations which contain sugars, amino acids, electrolytes and fat emulsions, all being essential nutrients to be supplied, are especially useful from a clinical point of view.
However, since these sugar liquids, amino acid liquids, electrolyte liquids and fat emulsion are different from one another in terms of the conditions for their stable existence, various problems arise when they are mixed and the mixture becomes useless in many cases.
For example, because of its unstable nature, a fat emulsion is apt to form bulky fat particles and to cause phase separation (creaming) when mixed with other infusion liquids. In particular, divalent cations in an electrolyte infusion liquid cause aggregation and disintegration of fat emulsion particles.
In the case of an electrolyte infusion liquid, since it contains calcium and phosphoric acid as essential components to maintain the balance of electrolytes, it is apt to form calcium phosphate by the reaction of calcium with phosphoric acid and therefore to generate turbidity and precipitation. In order to prevent the formation of turbidity and precipitation, such an electrolyte infusion liquid is usually adjusted to a low pH value (less than pH 5). whe n such a electrolyte infusion liquid is mixed with an amino acid infusion liquid, the pH of the mixture increases to the amino acid pH value because of the strong buffer action of amino acids, thus requiring a large quantity of acidic materials (for example, hydrochloric acid, acetic acid and the like) to keep the pH value at a low level. However, acid materials can be used only in a limited amount because a large quantity of a cid spoils the balance of the i nfusion components. As a consequence, the pH value of the mixture of electrolyte and amino acid infusion liquids cannot be lowered to a satisfactory l evel, thus r esulting in the generation of turbidity and precipitation at the time of heat sterilization of the mixture.
In addition, when a mixture of an amino acid infusion liquid with a sugar infusion liquid is sterilized by heating, considerable coloring occurs due to the Maillard's reaction.
As described above, it is difficult to prepare a storable infusion preparation which contains a sugar, amino acids, electrolytes and a fat emulsion in advance, because mixing these different types of infusion liquids or emulsions ca uses various problems such as precipitation, phase separation, denaturation, coloring and the like. Because of these problems, a fat emulsion, a sugar infusion liquid, an amino acid infusion liquid and an electrolyte infusion liquid are ordinarily mixed upon use. As a consequence, an infusion preparation which contains a sugar, amino acids, electrolytes and a fat emulsion and can be stably stored has been desired.


A distributed processing system 100 includes: a plurality of application servers 1031 to 103n that execute a plurality of applications 1321 to 132n and detect a communication state between a client 105 and the applications 1321 to 132n; a load distribution control server 101 that decides a communication path between the client 105 and the applications 1321 to 132n on a basis of the communication state detected by the application servers 1031 to 103n to perform load distribution; and an intermediate communication apparatus 102 that transfers flow data between the client 105 and the application servers 1031 to 103n.

With the development of the Internet in recent years, a usage pattern of connecting to a plurality of application servers located in a data center, a company network or the like from a client in a remote place to use applications in the application servers continues to increase. With an increase of such a usage pattern, a load on an application server executing applications has increased year by year. To cope with this, a general available method is to arrange a plurality of application servers for load distribution while improving the scalability thereof. In order to improve the scalability of application servers, there arises a need to perform load distribution of the communications between the client and the applications among a plurality of application servers by using an intermediate communication apparatus.
Meanwhile, a data relay apparatus is known, which collects load information on a server as well as on a path from the data relay apparatus to the server and selects a path between a client and the server on the basis of this load information (e.g., see PTL 1).

Distributed processing system and distributed processing method


A microprocessor includes a processing unit, an address bus connected to an addressable memory space, and executes instructions from an instruction set for accessing the addressable memory space. The addressable memory space is for a lower memory area and an extended memory area. The instruction set includes a first instruction group for accessing the lower memory area, and a second instruction group that is distinct from the first instruction group for accessing the extended memory area.

The memory used by microprocessors or microcontrollers generally comprises a plurality of memory locations, wherein each location may be used for storing data. For read or write access to a memory location, the microprocessor generates an address corresponding to the memory location and sends it over the address bus connecting the microprocessor to the memory. Consequently, a memory address should be composed of a sufficient number of bits for uniquely identifying each memory location accessible by the microprocessor. For example, a 64-kilobyte memory would require a 16-bit address for each memory location in the memory to be uniquely identified.
As the size of memories tend to increase at a constant cost, there is a need for increasing the size of the addressable space accessible by the microprocessor. For this purpose, the microprocessor should be provided with an address bus having the corresponding number of lines, which unavoidably leads to an increase in the microprocessor's complexity both in its structure and in its command register.
For increasing the microprocessor's addressable space without substantially enlarging its structure, it has already been suggested to integrate a page or segment register within the microprocessor's processing unit for storing the additional most significant bits. These bits are concatenated (i.e., linked together) with the addresses generated by the processing performed by the microprocessor.
However, for this approach to be implemented, additional commands have to be added to the microprocessor's command register to manage the page or segment register. In addition, this approach leads to a division of the space addressable by the microprocessor into relatively isolated blocks and introduces additional constraints in the compilers.
Another approach includes using indexes which are added to the addresses manipulated by the processing unit of the microprocessor. This results in a rather heavy additional processing for only a slight increase in the addressable space.

Microprocessor having an extended addressable space


A gradient index measuring apparatus includes a device for generating a first light beam and a second light beam having coherence, a sample provided on a first optical path along which the first light beam travels, a device for combining the first light beams traveling along the first optical path, transmitted through the sample, with the second light beam traveling along a second optical path, and a device for measuring interference fringes produced by the combination of the first and second light beams to calculate a gradient index of the sample from its measured value. Thus, the gradient index measuring apparatus is capable of measuring the gradient index provided in a radial direction in particular, with a high grade of accuracy, of a gradient index lens, and allows the measurement of asymmetry of the gradient index. Whereby, the quality of the measured sample is determined and the information of the measured asymmetry can be used as tolerance data in the design.

a) Field of the Invention:
This invention relates to a gradient index measuring apparatus utilizing the interference of light waves for measuring the gradient index of a sample and, more particularly, to an apparatus for measuring the asymmetry of the gradient index in a gradient index lens.
b) Description of the prior art:
In the past, where an interferometer is used to measure the gradient index of a sample, a method has been adopted that, as set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,842,408, the contour of interference fringes caused by the gradient index of the sample is measured and, based on the resultant information of phase distribution, a reduced equation is used to calculate the gradient index. The gradient index measured by such a method involves a conversion error and consequently, it is necessary to take account of the error as a tolerance in designing an optical system using a gradient index optical element on the basis of the measured value. In the prior art, when an optical system is designed in which an optical element having the gradient index radically, namely, concentrically in particular, is employed as a lens, consideration should be taken of, in addition of the tolerance, the influence of the asymmetry of the gradient index caused about the center of the lens on its properties. However, the method and apparatus for measuring the asymmetry of the gradient index have been unavailable in the past.
For inhomogeneity, an apparatus is known for measuring the inhomogeneity of a refractive index in homogeneous glass (strictly speaking, it also has inhomogeneity), for instance. This apparatus is such that homogeneous glass, both surfaces of which are ground into parallel plane surfaces, is placed in the interferometer, the parallel plane surfaces are normally irradiated with light, and the interference fringes of wave fronts of the transmitted light are observed, thereby measuring the inhomogeneity [J. Schwider et al., APPLIED OPTICS, Vol. 24, No. 18, pp. 3059-3061 (1985)]. According to the apparatus, the inhomogeneity of the sample can be measured in which the refractive index is not distributed homogenously. However, the interference fringes caused by the wave fronts transmitted through the homogenous glass merely represent a state of the deflection of light attributable to the inhomogeneity, whereas those appearing in measuring the sample with the gradient index include the information on the gradient index, such as a phase shift attributable to the thickness of the sample, as well as on the inhomogeneity of the refractive index. Hence, such interference fringes cannot bring about only the information on the inhomogeneity of the refractive index, that is, on the asymmetry of the gradient index. Since the proper method and apparatus for measuring the asymmetry of the gradient index have been unavailable, the quality of the sample has been unable to be determined in the measurement of the gradient index or the design.


A walking foot for a sewing machine includes a presser foot having a pair of supported portions, an upper feed dog feeding workpiece cloth in synchronization with vertical movement of a needlebar, a supporting member fixed to a lower end of the presser bar and having a pair of engagement supporting portions supporting the presser foot, a swinging supporting mechanism engaging the engagement supporting portions with the supported portions from horizontally outside respectively so that the presser foot is supported on the supporting member so as to be swingable, and a disengaging mechanism moving at least one of the engagement supporting portions horizontally outward from an engagement position where the engagement supporting portion is in engagement with the supported portion of the presser foot, thereby being capable of switching the engagement supporting portion to a disengagement position where the engagement supporting portion is disengaged from the supported portion.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a walking foot which is attached to a lower end of a presser bar in a sewing machine so as to be located at an upper side of workpiece cloth, thereby feeding the workpiece cloth placed at an upper side of a needle plate in synchronization with a feed dog provided on a sewing bed.
2. Description of the Related Art
In quilting, two pieces of workpiece cloth are sewn so as to be combined together with cotton being stuffed therebetween using a sewing machine. In this case, an operator conventionally attaches a walking foot to a lower end of a presser bar of the sewing machine so that the upper workpiece cloth is fed by the walking foot in synchronization with the lower workpiece cloth, whereupon the upper workpiece cloth can be prevented from sewing slippage relative to the lower workpiece cloth.
For example, JP-A-H03-143475 discloses a cloth feeding device for a sewing machine comprising a holder having side plates covering right and left sides thereof, an operating lever which is mounted on the holder so as to be vertically movable, an upper feed dog mounted on the holder and a presser foot which is mounted on an engagement shaft supported on arm portions of side plates so as to be swingable. In quilting, the operating lever is swung upward in synchronization with rise of the needle bar so that the upper feed dog is lowered thereby to press the workpiece cloth from above. In this state, the upper feed dog is actuated to feed the upper workpiece cloth in synchronization with a lower feed dog, whereupon the upper workpiece cloth can be prevented from sewing slippage relative to the lower workpiece cloth.
It is desired that a plurality of types of presser feet used in the walking foot should be prepared according to sewing manners of quilting and types of workpiece cloth so that sewing can be carried out while the presser foot is changed by the operator to a suitable one according to a sewing manner and a type of workpiece cloth. In the above-described cloth feeding device, however, the side plates have the right and left arm portions supporting the presser bar at both sides of the latter so that the presser bar is swung. Since the side plates are fixed to the holder, there is a problem that the presser foot cannot be changed to another one.


A coupling bioreactor in the form of a tower type seal structure filled with a suspended carrier. A water inlet pipe, an air inlet pipe, and a first microporous aerator are arranged at the bottom of the coupling reactor. The water inlet pipe is connected to a water distributor. The air inlet pipe is connected to the first microporous aerator. A gas inlet pipe and a second microporous aerator are arranged at the middle part of the coupling bioreactor and are connected with each other. An annular overflow weir is arranged at the upper part of the coupling bioreactor and is connected to a water outlet pipe. A gas outlet pipe is arranged at the top of the coupling bioreactor. The ratio of the height to the diameter of the coupling bioreactor is between 3 and 10.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a biological device and a method for purifying malodorous gas and wastewater, and more particularly to a coupling bioreactor and a method for purifying malodorous gas and wastewater.
Description of the Related Art
Malodorous gas treatment is an important process in environmental pollution control. Two typical methods for treating malodorous gas include a physicochemical method and a biological method. The physicochemical method involves a complicate process and device, high operation cost, but a low efficiency. The biological method has a high efficiency of treatment, wide application, simple process, and low cost, thereby being a main technology in treating malodorous gas.
Typical biological treatments for malodorous gas include biotrickling filtration, biological filtration, bioscrubber, and biological aeration. The biotrickling filtration includes filling an inert filler into a biotrickling filter, that is, a reactor; inoculating microbes and controlling a proper condition for biofilm culturing on the inert filler; covering a surface of the inert filler by the biofilm; and meanwhile continuously spraying nutrient solution necessitated by metabolism of the microbes on the filler by using a circulation system. When the malodorous gas passes through the filler in the coupling bioreactor, pollutants are degraded by microbes. The biotrickling filtration has high load, and is highly controllable, so that it has been the most widely used biological treatment for malodorous gas.
However, problems, such as a large pressure fall, biomass accumulation, and blockage of the filler, exist in actual operation of the biotrickling filter. Furthermore, to ensure the normal growth of the microbes, nutrient solution is required to spray on the filler, during which a water film is easily formed on the surface of the filler and thus the water-insoluble substances are difficult to be utilized by the microbes. Thus, the selection and arrangement of the filler, the performance optimization, and the coupling bioreactor structure have been the focuses of the researchers in the field to improve the efficiency of the biotrickling filter.

Coupling bioreactor and method for purifying malodorous gases and wastewater


A method, computer program product, and system for dynamic change of a password under a brute force attack. A computer processor monitors a password protected account. A frequency of access attempts to the account is determined and in response to the frequency of access attempts exceeding a first threshold, a brute force password attack against the account is determined. A quantity of consecutive unsuccessful access attempts is tracked and responsive to the unsuccessful access attempts exceeding a second predefined threshold, a new password of the account is acquired, in which the new password follows a more complex set of password generation rules than the current password. An encrypted message regarding the new password is sent to a user of the account, the password of the account is reset to the new password, and the quantity of consecutive unsuccessful attempts to access the account is reset to zero.

Access to digital resources, accounts, and devices are identified by user names and are protected by user-selected passwords. As computing speed and capability advances, the likelihood of computer programs to systematically 'guess' at passwords to access a user's account or other resource has significantly improved, especially if multiple devices executing automatic programs are used to target access to a specific computer-based account.
Systematic computer attacks on computer accounts or devices are known as a brute force attack and utilizes rapidly applying permutations of words and characters to break into an account protected by a password. Success often depends on the amount of computing power to rapidly navigate through the permutations, and the amount of time available to access the target account, resource, or device. Increases in processor speed, number of processors per computer and use of multiple computing devices targeting the same password without intervention, significantly increases the probability of success.

Dynamic protection from detected to brute force attack

International Business Machines Corporation


A multiaxes roll type of crusher comprises four rolls. The four rolls respectively have teeth for directly crushing materials. There would be virtually 6 pairs of rolls in mathematically. There are really at least three relations given for crushing. Raw materials are crushed with a first crushing-relation to be of smaller size. Such crushed materials are secondly crushed with a second crushing-relation and a third crushing-relation to be of still smaller size. The first roll and the second roll can rotate in reversely opposite directions. The third roll and the fourth roll can rotate in reversely opposite directions. The reverse rotations cancel the crushing-relations. The flow of the crushed materials are controlled by a flow controlling means, which opens and closes the path between the third roll and the fourth roll. The opened flow controlling means does not obstruct the flow of foreign materials between the third roll and the fourth roll.

2-axes roll types of crushers for crushing raw stones are known. One 2-axes roll type of crusher has one pair of rolls. The rolls have the respective teeth on the respective cylindrical surfaces thereof. Stones are crushed between the teeth of the roll on the one side and the teeth on the other side, both sets of teeth being continually oncoming during the rotation.
Also known are 4-axes roll types of crushers, each of which has two pairs of rolls. Stones are crushed by one pair of rolls to be of smaller size. Such crushed stones are further crushed by the other pair of rolls to be of still smaller size. Such a known crusher has only two crushing relations, those being the one crushing-relation of one pair of rolls and the other crushing-relation of the other pair of rolls.
Nowadays, roll types of crushers are frequently utilized at construction sites where materials such as concrete are crushed to be recycled. Such materials often include heterogeneous materials such as iron.
It is more desirable that there are crushing-relations among four rolls rather than two crushing-relations so that the crushing efficiency is higher. It is further desirable that foreign materials are smoothly removed without the machines being stopped.


A cell-based screen is reported can be used to identify specific receptor-binding compounds in a combinatorial library of peptoids (N-alkylglycine oligomers) displayed on beads. This strategy was applied to the isolation of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 2 (VEGFR2)-binding peptoids, which were optimized to create lead compounds with high affinity for VEGFR2. One of these peptoids was shown to be an antagonist of VEGF-VEGFR2 interaction and receptor function.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to fields of peptide and peptoid chemistry, molecular biology and cell biology. More particularly, the present invention relates to peptidomimetics that antagonize the VEGF receptor and inhibit angiogenesis as well as methods with which to identify said antagonists. In particular, such inhibitors may find use in the treatment of diseases such as cancer and macular degeneration.
2. Description of Related Art
Monoclonal antibodies that antagonize the formation of various hormone receptor interactions are used widely in the clinic. For example, Remicade, and Adalimumab are anti-arthritic antibodies that block binding of Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-α to its cognate receptor and thus reduce inflammation (Taylor, 2003). Avastin (Gerber and Ferrara, 2005), a Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF)-binding antibody, prevents VEGF from docking with VEGF Receptor 2 (VEGFR2) (Hicklin and Ellis, 2005), a key step in the angiogenic cascade (Folkman, 1990) that is critical to support solid tumor survival and proliferation (Dvorak, 2002; Millauer et al., 1993; Zeng et al., 2001). Avastin is employed widely in the treatment of various tumors (Hurwitz et al., 2004; Johnson et al., 2004) and, more recently, to block blood vessel formation in "wet" macular degeneration (Ambresin and Mantel, 2007). While therapeutic monoclonal antibodies are obviously of great value, they are not without drawbacks. They are relatively difficult and expensive to manufacture in large quantities, there is some problem with immune reactions (Stevenson, 2005), though this has been minimized by humanization (Mateo et al., 2000).
Thus, it would be of great interest to develop relatively small, easily manipulable synthetic compounds that display antibody-like affinity and specificity for a given receptor, but which could be made cheaply and be easily tailored to carry cargo of various sorts. Unfortunately, it has traditionally proven difficult to isolate small molecule antagonists of protein-protein interactions, particularly those involving large, shallow interaction surfaces typical of hormone receptor complexes (Whitty and Kumaravel, 2006). While many examples are known of small molecules that act as agonists or antagonists of integral membrane receptors, these generally act by alternative mechanisms, for example as inhibitors of the ligand-activated kinase activity of the receptor (Cabebe and Wakelee, 2006; Ciardiello et al., 2003; Thomas, 2003). On the other hand, there are several examples of receptor- or hormone-binding peptide antagonists (D'Andrea et al., 2006). This is not surprising, since peptides are much better able to mimic the natural binding partner of a hormone or receptor than is a classical small molecule. In a few cases, these peptide antagonists have been developed into clinically useful compounds (Liu et al., 2007) but this approach to drug development is severely limited by the sensitivity of peptides to proteolysis. However, there remains a need in the field to develop agents that are able to antagonize those proteins involved with angiogenesis, particularly in the context of pathologic conditions that require the development of new blood vessels.

The Board of Regents of the University of Texas System


A method of recovering metals and producing a secondary slag from base metal smelter slag produced by a copper or nickel smelter includes mixing the smelter slag with at least one reducing agent selected from the group consisting of carbon, calcium carbide, ferrosilicon and aluminum, said carbon and calcium carbide (if present) being from about 1% to about 40% by weight of the slag and said aluminum (if present) being from about 2% to about 35% by weight of the slag and with from zero to about 70% calcium oxide by weight of the slag, heating the mixture aluminothermically if Al is present as reducing agent above the melting point to reduce the smelter slag to a metal alloy containing iron and possibly silicon and aluminum, depending on the quantity of aluminum added to the smelter slag, and heavy metals such as copper, nickel and cobalt which were in the smelter slag and thereby also producing a secondary slag containing at least one compound selected from the group consisting of calcium silicate, calcium aluminate, fused alumina and calcium iron aluminum silicate, and separating the metal alloy from the secondary slag.

Copper and nickel concentrates are usually processed in smelters, which melt the concentrate to a form of metal containing matte and a slag essentially composed of iron silicate containing often small, but also--depending on the furnace operation--sometimes significant amounts of valuable metals, such as copper, nickel, and cobalt.
In Canada, smelters produce over 12 million tons of iron silicate slags. Since 1900, some uses for these slags have been found, such as for rail ballast, road base and backfill, but such known uses have not been sufficient to utilize the amount of slag produced. Considerable research has been carried out to attempt to lessen the amount of metals lost in the slag and/or recover these metals from the slag. So far as is known, no economically viable process has been found to recover these lost metals, and as a result large slag heaps have accumulated adjacent to the smelters.
As water pollution control standards have developed, it has been found that the large slag heaps are leaching unacceptably high amounts of heavy metals, and mining companies are seeking acceptable solutions to this growing problem. Also, environmental authorities are demanding that plans be filed with the appropriate government agencies to provide commitments for long term permanent solutions to this problem. It is therefore an objective of the invention to provide a method of treating base metal smelter slags to recover metals and to produce a secondary slag that is environmentally safe and can readily be utilized in other industries, such as in the cement industry.

Method of recovering metals and producing a secondary slag from base metal smelter slag


A device for emergency towing of vessels. The device has a structure and function for storage where active parts are protected against adverse external influence, thereby making the device ready for use without the risk of jamming or other malfunctions. The device can be easily and rapidly activated, and the towing wire can be extended even on a dead ship. The device includes a braking arrangement in which the braking of the towing wire can be conducted with an increasing braking effect, from no braking to complete braking of the extended towing wire.

With increasing seabound transport of oil and similar products, the requirement for safety measures to avoid contamination in disasters is increasing. It is now required that larger vessels have to be provided with emergency towing facilities, which can be operated on a "dead" ship, when other equipment is not operating.
There are several known ways of storing emergency towing wires. One of these is a winch drum arranged at the ships side with a wire guided though a hawsehole, and ready for extension. The exposed wire end is inappropriate for equipment which is in a state of readiness a long time. Additionally, the braking systems of known winch drums have not been satisfactory. None of the prior art has allowed an easy initial extension and heavy braking at the end of the uncoiling operation.


When different types of image storage apparatus such as an image sensing apparatus and an external image processing apparatus such as a printer are connected, in order to eliminate an operation error by an operator, cumbersome operation, and so forth by enabling to automatically perform optimum direct signal processing, whether control relation between the image storage apparatus and the external image processing apparatus is a first type in which a memory in the image storage apparatus is accessed directly from the external image processing apparatus, or a second type in which processing in the external image processing apparatus can be controlled by a controller of the image storage apparatus is determined in initial communication when the image storage apparatus is connected to the external image processing apparatus, and a processing procedure for processing an image in the image storage apparatus by the external image processing apparatus is changed based on the result of the determination.

Conventionally, for printing an image sensed by a digital image sensing apparatus such as a digital camera, image data is downloaded to a computer such as a personal computer on a temporary basis, and is then outputted to a printer connected to the computer using an application for printing the image.
In the above technique, the user retrieves list information and file names of images based on information displayed on a display using an application on the computer, and selects output data to print the data. Recently, on the other hand, a color print system allowing digital image data to be transferred from a digital camera directly to a color printer without using a PC and printed by the color printer, so called a photo direct (PD) printer in which a memory card installed in a digital camera and storing picked-up images is inserted directly in a color printer so that the picked-up images stored in the memory can be printed, and the like have been developed.
Since the specifications and the operation method of the digital camera are different for each manufacturer, desired is a photo direct printer apparatus capable of accommodating digital cameras of various kinds of manufacturers upon transferring image data from the digital camera directly to the printer to print the data. For the printer apparatus allowing a digital camera of each manufacturer to be connected directly thereto to print data, it is required that print information optionally set in each camera should be matched to the print conditions in the printer apparatus.

Image storage apparatus, external image processing apparatus, control method for image storage apparatus and control method for external image processing apparatus


A process for producing a synthesis gas having carbon monoxide and hydrogen from the reduction of carbon dioxide with natural gas or lower hydrocarbons having methane as a main component and oxygen and steam over catalyst composed of nickel and, as promotors, alkali metal and alkaline earth metal component supported on silicon-containing support such as zeolite, silica, silicate and silica-alumina which are stable under reaction condition is disclosed. This process characterized in that the catalytic activity and performance property are improved by supporting alkali metal, alkaline earth metal and nickel oxide from metal salts having low melting point uniformly on silicon-containing support having high surface area by solid-state reaction. The amounts of adding alkali metal, alkaline earth metal and nickel are 0.01 to 10% by weight, 1 to 20% by weight and 1 to 20% by weight, respectively. The present invention is conducted in the temperature range from 600.degree. C. to 1000 .degree. C., and under a pressure of normal pressure to 20 atm, and gas hourly space velocity of 1,000 to 500,000/hour.

A steam reforming process utilizing catalysts, which produce a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, so called a synthesis gas, by using steam as an oxidant for methane which is a major component of natural gas has been already developed and industrialized. The synthesis gas made by the steam reforming of methane is applicable to Fischer-Tropsch synthesis which is a process for synthesizing ammonia and hydrocarbon, and to a process for producing oxygen-containing compound like methanol. However, this steam reforming process to give a synthesis gas has problems that the molar ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide in obtained synthesis gas mixture is restricted to 3:1 or more. Thus it is difficult to apply the process to raw material for oxygen-containing compound and Fischer-Tropsch synthesis due to the small content of carbon monoxide. Therefore, a synthesis gas having high content of carbon monoxide which can be applicable variously not only to Fischer-Tropsch synthesis but also to hydroformylation and carbonylation is highly demanded. Another problem of steam reforming is the deactivation of the catalyst due to coke formation from methane at high temperature. In particular, it is known that deactivation of catalyst due to coke formation is severe in case of nickel catalyst which is representative steam reforming catalyst. Accordingly, in order to inhibit the coke formation owing to methane, steam and methane as reactant gases have been used in a molar ratio of 4:1 or more in practical processes, but an excessive steam can also cause deactivation of catalyst since it accelerates sintering of metals which are active component of the catalyst.
Recently, technologies to control the amount of carbon dioxide to meet a worldwide movement to control total amount of carbon dioxide have been studied in many ways in order to prevent the global warming owing to green house effect wherein carbon dioxide is pointed out as its main suspicious component.
In case of producing a synthesis gas by replacing steam with carbon dioxide in the reforming reaction of methane, a ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide in the reforming reaction using carbon dioxide is low as compared with that of the steam reforming reaction and this ratio can be controlled within wide range from 0.5:1 to 2:1 when a molar ratio of carbon dioxide to methane is changed. However, this process can cause catalyst deactivation due to severe coke formation on catalyst surface as in the steam reforming.
To alleviate the problem of coke formation, U.S. Pat. No. 5,068,057 suggested use of noble metal catalysts. In the specification, it was reported that in case of using commercially available Ni catalyst as steam reforming catalyst in converting carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide, the conversion reaction was ceased in less than two hours because the blockage of reactor tube was occurred due to both accumulation of coke and degradation of catalyst structure. Moreover, Pt/alumina and Pd/alumina catalysts were suggested as active catalysts in the conversion reaction of carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide using hydrocarbon.
International laying-open WO 92 11,199 (1992) disclosed that alumina supported noble metal catalysts such as iridium, rhodium and ruthenium had high activity and long life. But the above noble metal catalysts had a problem of high price.

Process for producing a synthesis gas from carbon dioxide

Korea Research Institute of Chemical Tech.