A method and apparatus for autodiscriminating and decoding any of a plurality of 1D linear bar code symbols which use different 1D symbologies and of 2D matrix bar code symbols which use different 2D finder patterns and 2D symbologies. A processor stores a plurality of 1D decoding programs, a plurality of 2D decoding programs, and a parameter table that specifies which of said programs are to be enabled. During 1D autodiscriminating, the processor makes not attempt to decode unknown symbols in accordance with 1D decoding programs that are not enabled. During 2D autodiscrimination, the processor makes not attempt to decode unknown 2D symbols in accordance with 2D decoding programs that are not enabled.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to hand held optical reading devices, and is directed more particularly to a hand held optical reading device configured to be controlled with use of a local host processor.
2. Description of the Prior Art
One dimensional optical bar code readers are well known in the art. Examples of such readers include readers of the SCANTEAM(copyright) 3000 Series manufactured by Welch Allyn, Inc. Such readers include processing circuits that are able to read one dimensional (1D) linear bar code symbologies, such as the UPC/EAN code, Code 39, etc., that are widely used in supermarkets. Such 1D linear symbologies are characterized by data that is encoded along a single axis, in the widths of bars and spaces, so that such symbols can be read from a single scan along that axis, provided that the symbol is imaged with a sufficiently high resolution along that axis.
In order to allow the encoding of larger amounts of data in a single bar code symbol, a number of 1D stacked bar code symbologies have been developed, including Code 49, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,794,239 (Allais), and PDF417, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,340,786 (Pavlidis, et al). Stacked symbols partition the encoded data into multiple rows, each including a respective 1 Dbar code pattern, all or most all of which must be scanned and decoded, then linked together to form a complete message. Scanning still requires relatively high resolution in one dimension only, but multiple linear scans are needed to read the whole symbol.
A third class of bar code symbologies, known as two dimensional (2D) matrix symbologies, have been developed which offer orientation-free scanning and greater data densities and capacities than their 1D counterparts. 2D matrix codes encode data as dark or light data elements within a regular polygonal matrix, accompanied by graphical finder, orientation and reference structures. When scanning 2D matrix codes, the horizontal and vertical relationships of the data elements are recorded with about equal resolution.
In order to avoid having to use different types of optical readers to read these different types of bar code symbols, it is desirable to have an optical reader that is able to read symbols of any of these types, including their various subtypes, interchangeably and automatically. More particularly, it is desirable to have an optical reader that is able to read all three of the above-mentioned types of bar code symbols, without human intervention, i.e., automatically. This in turn, requires that the reader have the ability to automatically discriminate between and decode bar code symbols, based only on information read from the symbol itself. Readers that have this ability are referred to as xe2x80x9cautodiscriminatingxe2x80x9d or having an xe2x80x9cautodiscriminationxe2x80x9d capability.
If an autodiscriminating reader is able to read only 1D bar code symbols (including their various subtypes), it may be said to have a 1D autodiscrimination capability. Similarly, if it is able to read only 2D bar code symbols, it may be said to have a 2D autodiscrimination capability. If it is able to read both 1D and 2D bar code symbols interchangeably, it may be said to have a 1D/2D autodiscrimination capability. Often, however, a reader is said to have a 1D/2D autodiscrimination capability even if it is unable to discriminate between and decode 1D stacked bar code symbols.
Optical readers that are capable of 1D autodiscrimination are well known in the art. An early example of such a reader is the Welch Allyn SCANTEAM(copyright) 3000, manufactured by Welch Allyn, Inc.
Optical readers, particularly hand held optical readers, that are capable of 1D/2D autodiscrimination are less well known in the art, since 2D matrix symbologies are relatively recent developments. One example of a hand held reader of this type which is based on the use of an asynchronously moving 1D image sensor, is described in copending, commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,773,806, which application is hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference. Another example of a hand held reader of this type which is based on the use of a stationary 2D image sensor, is described in copending, commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/914,833, which is also hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference.
Optical readers, whether of the stationary or movable type, usually operate at a fixed scanning rate. This means that the readers are designed to complete some fixed number of scans during a given amount of time. This scanning rate generally has a value that is between 30 and 200 scans/sec for 1D readers. In such readers, the results of successive scans are decoded in the order of their occurrence.
Prior art optical readers operate relatively satisfactorily under conditions in which the data throughput rate, or rate at which data is scanned and decoded, is relatively low. If, for example, the scanning rate is relatively low and/or the data content of the bar code or other symbol is relatively small, i.e., the scanner is operating under a relatively light decoding load, the decoding phase of the reading process can be completed between successive scans. Under these conditions scan data can be accurately decoded without difficulty.
Readers of the above-described type have the disadvantage that, if they are operated under relatively heavy decoding loads, i.e., are required to rapidly scan symbols that have a relatively-high data content, the tracking relationship or synchronism between the scanning and decoding phases of the reading process will break down. This is because under heavy decoding loads the decoding phase of a read operation takes longer than the-scanning phase thereof, causing the decoding operation to lag behind the scanning operation. While this time lag can be dealt with for brief periods by storing the results of successive scans in a scan memory and decoding the results of those scans in the order of their occurrence when the decoder becomes available, it cannot be dealt with in this way for long. This is because, however large the scan memory, it will eventually overflow and result in a loss of scan data.
One set of solutions to the problem of maintaining the desired tracking relationship between the scanning and decoding phases of the reading process is described in previously mentioned copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/914,833. Another set of solutions to the problem of maintaining the desired tracking relationship between the scanning and decoding phases of the reading process is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,463,214, which issued on the parent application of the last mentioned copending patent application.
Generally speaking, the latter of these two sets of solutions to the above-discussed tracking problem involves the suspension of scanning for brief periods in order to assure that the scanning process does not pull too far ahead of the decoding process. The former of these two sets of solutions to the above-discussed tracking problem, on the other hand, involves the skipping over of one or more sets of scan data, in favor of more current scan data, if and to the extent necessary for tracking purposes, in combination with the use of two or more scan data memories to minimize the quantity of scan data that is skipped.
Prior to the present invention, no consideration has been given to accomplishing scan-decode tracking in conjunction with 1D/2D autodiscrimination, i.e., as cooperating parts of a single coordinated process. This is in spite of the fact that the 1D/2D autodiscrimination is known to involve heavy decoding loads of the type that give rise to tracking problems. Thus, a need has existed for an optical reader that combines a powerful tracking capability with a powerful 1D/2D autodiscrimination capability.
As new and/or improved 1D and 2D bar code symbologies, and as additional 1D and 2D decoding programs come into widespread use, previously built optical readers may or may not be able to operate therewith. To the extent that they cannot operate therewith, such previously built optical readers will become increasingly obsolete and unusable.
Prior to the present invention, the problem of updating optical readers to accommodate new bar code symbologies and/or new decoding programs has been dealt with by manually reprogramming the same. One approach to accomplishing this reprogramming is to reprogram a reader locally, i.e., on-site, by, for example, replacing a ROM chip. Another approach to accomplishing this reprogramming is to return it to the manufacturer or his service representative for off-site reprogramming. Because of the expense of the former and the time delays of the latter, neither of these approaches may be practical or economical.
The above-described problem is compounded by the fact that, if an optical reader is not equipped to operate as a tracking reader, it may not be possible to reprogram it to use an autodiscrimination program that is designed to be executed in conjunction with tracking. This is because the autodiscrimination program may include steps that require the tracking feature to prevent data from overflowing the scan memory and being lost. Alternatively, the scan rate may be decreased, although this reduction will adversely affect performance when low data content symbols are read. Thus, a need has existed for an optical reader that can be reprogrammed economically in a way that allows it to realize the full benefit of the 1D/2D autodiscrimination and tracking features, among others.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an optical scanning and decoding apparatus and method, suitable for use with bar code readers, bar code scanning engines, and portable data terminals (PDTs), which combines improved scanning-decoding and autodiscrimination features in the context of an apparatus and method which also provides improved menuing and reprogramming features.
In accordance with the menuing feature of the invention, there is provided an improved apparatus and method which enables a user to determine the current operating mode of an optical reading apparatus, and to rapidly and conveniently change that operating mode to optimize it for operation under then current conditions. The menuing feature, for example, enables the user, via a machine readable table of pre-recorded menu symbols, to command the reader to communicate with a host processor using one of a number of protocols, to command the reader to format the decoded output according to host processor requirements, or to command the reader to report to the host processor any of a plurality of types of information about the current operating state of the reader, such as the version of software then being used, the code options that are then being used, and even a complete listing of the reader""s parameter table. If a suitable printer is available, the complete status of a first reader may be output as a machine readable menu symbol that other, similarly equipped readers may read and use to reconfigure themselves for operation in the same manner as the first reader.
In accordance with the reprogramming feature of the invention, there is provided an improved apparatus and method by which an optical reader may be reprogrammed from a source external to the reading apparatus, with or without the participation of a user. This external source may be either on-site, i.e., located at the same local facility as the reader, or off-site, i.e., located at a remote facility that is coupled to the local facility only via a transmission line or computer network. When actuated, the reprogramming feature enables a reader to reprogram itself, either in whole or in part, and thereby become able to operate with operating software of the latest type. Depending on the application, the reprogramming of the reader may be initiated either by a host processor external to the reader, as by a command issued via the reader""s communication port, or by a user initiated command issued as a part of the above-mentioned menuing process.
In accordance with another aspect of the reprogramming feature, a local host processor may be configured to carry out reprogramming of an optical reader or another type of portable data terminal. In a reprogramming subroutine according to the invention a local host processor can be made, at the selection of a user, to replace an entire main program and parameter table of a reader, or else one of either a main program or a parameter table of an operating program individually.
In accordance with another subprogram of a local host processor, the local host processor can be made to edit a parameter table. When this subprogram is selected the user may either edit the parameter table that is stored in a memory device of the reader or else edit a parameter table stored in a memory device in communication with the local host processor. After editing, the user may write the edited parameter table to the reader""s memory device, write the edited parameter to the a bulk storage device for later use, or print or display the edited parameter table. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, an optical reader of the invention may be made to receive a component control instruction from a host processor which is transmitted in response to a user input command to remotely control an optical reader. In accordance with this aspect of the invention, the optical reader is made to execute a component control instruction substantially on receipt thereof. In one embodiment, execution by an optical reader of a component control instruction has the same effect as a reader trigger being manually pulled.
In accordance with the present invention, there is also provided an optical scanning and decoding apparatus and method which includes improved scanning-decoding and autodiscrimination features, either or both of which may be used in conjunction with, and/or under the control of, the above-described menuing and reprogramming features. In other words, the autodiscrimination feature of the invention is made available to the user on a menu selectable or reprogrammable basis to speed up and/or update the decoding phase of the scanning and decoding process. Together, these features enable the reading apparatus of the invention to read and decode a wide range of optically encoded data symbols at an improved data throughput rate.
When a reader is one in which the scan engine cannot be readily started and stopped, or in which such starts and stops impose unacceptable delays or produce user perceptible flicker, the present invention preferably operates in one of the tracking relationships described in previously mentioned copending application Ser. No. 08/914,833. One of these tracking relationships is a Skip Scan tracking relationship in which the results of one or more scans may be skipped over entirely in favor of more recently produced scan results. Another is a Decode On Demand tracking relationship in which decoding is suspended briefly as necessary to allow a scan then in progress to be completed. The latter relationship is ordinarily not preferred, but is still useful when the reader is such that its scan memory is able to store only two complete blocks of scan data.
When the reader is one in which the scan engine can readily be stopped, the present invention may operate in the tracking relationship described in previously mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 5,463,214. With this, xe2x80x9cScan On Demandxe2x80x9d tracking relationship, scanning is suspended briefly as necessary to prevent scanning and decoding from becoming uncorrelated with one another.
In the preferred embodiment, the reader includes an algorithm that is able to accommodate any of the above-described scanning-decoding relationships, among others. Which of them is actually used will vary from reader to reader depending upon the size and type of memory and the type of scan engine used thereby, and may be changed from time to time.
The present invention also contemplates and provides for at least one scanning-decoding relationship which does not fall within the meaning of the above-defined tracking relationships. One of these non-tracking relationships is a xe2x80x9cOne Shotxe2x80x9d relationship or mode in which a single scan is followed by a single decoding attempt and then a stoppage. Such scanning-decoding events may be initiated by respective single actuations of a manual trigger. Because of its inherently discontinuous nature, the use of the One Shot mode implies the non-use of any of the above-mentioned tracking modes.
Two other such scanning-decoding relationships are referred to herein as the xe2x80x9cRepeat Until Donexe2x80x9d relationship or mode and the xe2x80x9cRepeat Until Stoppedxe2x80x9d relationship or mode. With the Repeat Until Done relationship, scanning and decoding operations follow one after another until a successful decode occurs, and are then discontinued. With the Repeat Until Stopped relationship, scanning and decoding operations follow one after another and continue, even after sets of decoded data are stored or output, until instructed to stop by the release of the trigger or by the readersxe2x80x2 program. Because of their repetitive nature, the use of Repeat Until Done and Repeat Until Stopped modes are usable both in conjunction with the above-described tracking modes and independently of those tracking modes. As a result, the Repeat Until Done and Repeat Until Stopped modes may be implemented as user selectable non-tracking relationships or as tracking relationships.
In embodiments that use the auto discrimination feature of the invention, there is provided a method and apparatus by which a plurality of different symbols of a multiplicity of different types may be scanned and decoded in a manner that is optimized for a particular application, on either a menu selectable or a reprogrammable basis. When all of the symbols to be autodiscriminated are known to be 1D symbols, for example, the data throughput rate may be increased by structuring the autodiscrimination feature of the invention so that no attempt is made to decode 2D symbols, or vice versa. When, on the other hand, the symbols to be autodiscriminated are known to all be of (or all not to be of) a few types, whether 1D or 2D, the data throughput rate may be increased by structuring the autodiscrimination feature so that all but a few (or only a few) 1D and/or 2D symbologies are disabled, i.e., so that no attempt is made to decode them. Other possible autodiscrimination options include not decoding or not outputting data for symbols that encode messages that are too long or too short to be of interest in a particular application. In accordance with the invention, any of these options may be chosen and changed as necessary to achieve the highest possible data throughput rate.
Because of the large number of different combinations of distinct operational states that are made possible thereby, the apparatus and method of the invention will be seen to have a protean quality that not only makes it usable in a large number of different applications, but also enables it to continue to remain so usable as new functions, new bar code symbologies and new and updated decoding programs are developed in the future.


A method of fabricating a microlens array, the method comprising the steps of: compressing a shape memory polymer substrate with a predetermined load; indenting the shape memory polymer substrate to form an array of micro-indents; immersing the shape memory polymer substrate in a solvent capable of causing stress-enhanced swelling in the shape memory polymer substrate such that the array of micro-indents forms a corresponding array of micro-protrusions on the shape memory polymer substrate due to the stress-enhanced swelling of the micro-indents; and heating the shape memory polymer substrate to form at least one curved surface of the shape memory polymer substrate under the micro-protrusion array.

The design of conventional cameras is based on bionic study of the vertebrate eye (single-aperture optics), which can provide a faithful rendering of the visual world with a high resolution. However, it is difficult to obtain a wide field of view and extract motion-related information by such vision systems.
In contrast to the vertebrate eye, the insect compound eye consists of a curved microlens array which comprises a plurality of microlenses provided on a curved surface. This is very efficient for local and global motion analysis over a large field-of-view (FOV) although it offers a comparatively lower resolution.
The advantages of a microlens array (or compound eye) which comprises a plurality of microlenses provided on a curved surface include: a very large FOV, high motion sensitivity, accurate and fast navigation in three-dimensional (3D) dynamic environments, small volume, light weight, nearly infinite depth-of-field (DOF) AND SO ON. The microlens array (MLA) is a useful optical element with wide applications in liquid crystal display, wavefront sensor, image recorder, optical signal processing, and interconnection, etc.
Due to the above-mentioned advantages, an artificial vision system based on a compound MLA will be a radically different alternative to conventional cameras and will provide more efficient visual ability for large FOV imaging and motion analysis.
The fabrication of MLAs in a low cost, highly efficient and highly reliable way is of great interest to many engineering applications. A number of methods have been reported so far. Apart from conventional injection moulding, fluidic lens, slow tool servo method and roller imprinting are some among others. All of these methods are more applicable for larger sized lenses (i.e., where lens diameters are in the millimeter and above scale). It is difficult to make micro sized lenses (i.e., with a diameter less than 100 μm) due to reasons, such as high flow resistance during micro-scale injection moulding (i.e. filling in micro channel/mould), difficulties in master mould fabrication, soft lithography, ultraprecision machining and position control for 3D and micro-scale device fabrication, and expensive and complex procedure for microlens fabrication by conventional semiconductor processing methods.
Some special techniques have been developed for fabricating small sized lens arrays, such as ink-jet printing, soft lithography, electrohydrodynamic instability method, and some novel liquid/solvent approaches, etc. However, all these methods require the fabrication of a pre-patterned mould/mask by semiconductor processing techniques (e.g. lithography and etching), which is expensive and complicated.
The fabrication of compound microlens arrays which comprise a plurality of microlenses provided on a curved surface in a simple and cost-effective way is therefore still in great demand.

Microlens array and a method of fabricating thereof


An arc welding device according to an embodiment carries out welding while repeatedly generating a short circuit state and an arc state between a consumable electrode and a welding member. The arc welding device includes a detection unit and an adjustment unit. The detection unit detects at least one of a length of a short circuit generation period of this time and a length of an arc generation period of this time. The adjustment unit adjusts an increase rate of a short circuit current in a short circuit generation period of next time according to at least one of the length of the short circuit generation period and the length of the arc generation period detected by the detection unit.

Many welding methods for suppressing sputtering and carrying out stable welding have been proposed from the prior art in a gas shield arc welding using a consumable electrode.
In a method for controlling an arc welding device, the length of an arc generation period of one time is detected, an output voltage of a welding power supply in the next arc generation period is reduced proportional to the length of the detected arc generation period, and a welding current in the next arc generation period is increased inversely proportional to the length of the arc generation period of one time in an aim of enhancing the response speed and rapidly recovering the stable welding state is known. A technique described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 4028075 is related to such prior art.
In the conventional welding control method, however, the welding current (broken line portion of FIG. 4) for opening the short circuit during the welding often does not have the short circuit current waveform appropriate for the welding state since the increase rate thereof is constant every time, as with the waveforms of the welding current and the welding voltage illustrated in FIG. 4. Thus, the short circuit may not be normally opened and an abnormal short circuit may occur, and the welding may become unstable.
The sputtering may occur greatly by setting the increase rate of the short circuit current to a large value in advance taking into consideration the lack of heat input and the response to when the welding becomes unstable.

Arc welding device and arc welding system


An apparatus for projecting a spatial image in which the spatial image with a background is projected into a space through a projection unit is discussed. The apparatus according to an embodiment includes a receiving unit to receive a spatial image and a background image, a display unit to display the spatial image and the background image and to project light, a control unit to control the display unit to display the spatial image and the background image, and a spatial image projection unit to project the spatial image and the background image by transmitting or reflecting the light. Thus, a spatial image may be viewed from every direction, and the spatial image may be projected to different positions according to images and a background image may be displayed at the same time. In addition, a user may perform interaction such as reaching of hands into the projected image.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention relate to an apparatus for projecting a spatial image, and more particularly, to an apparatus for projecting a spatial image in which the spatial image with a background is projected into a space through a projection unit.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Unlike two-dimensional images, spatial images render depth. Humans can sense a three-dimensional effect when a spatial image is viewed through both eyes.
Apparatuses for projecting a spatial image provide viewers with a three-dimensional effect that has the same realism as a physical object, by projecting the spatial image.
The spatial image is projected by applying 3D display technologies using, for example, polarization, shutter glasses, parallax barrier, lenticular lenses, and the like, but these methods require a user to wear specially-designed glasses in order for the user to see the 3D images or provide a restricted viewing angle even if the glasses are not required.
Another method for projecting a spatial image is a volume method using a spinning screen, in which the 3D image can be viewed from every direction but the image cannot be touched since the image is present on a screen.

KWANGWOON UNIVERSITY INDUSTRY-ACADEMIC COLLABORATION FOUNDATION


Substantially pure dimers of Apolipoprotein Al-Milano (Al-M/APO Al-M) isolated and characterized from plasma are provided. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising the Apo Al-M/Apo Al-M are also provided. Apolipoprotein Al-M dimer can be produced in a recombinant Escherichia coli system or collected from plasma from Apolipoprotein Al-Milano carriers. Atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases can be treated with the dimer. Medicaments containing the dimer can also be used for preventing thrombosis in different clinical circumstances, both at the arterial and at the venous level. The dimer can also act as a prodrug for the monomer.

The clear correlation between elevated levels of serum cholesterol and the development of coronary heart disease (CHD) has been repeatedly confirmed, based on epidemiological and longitudinal studies. The definition, however, of complex mechanisms of cholesterol transport in plasma, has allowed the recognition of a selective function of circulating lipoproteins in determining the risk for CHD.
There are, in fact, four major circulating lipoproteins: chylomicrons (CM), very low density (VLDL), low density (LDL) and high density (HDL) lipoproteins. While CM constitute a short-lived product of intestinal fat absorption, VLDL and, particularly, LDL are responsible for cholesterol transport into tissues, including for example, the arterial walls. In contrast, HDL are directly involved in the removal of cholesterol from peripheral tissues, carrying it back either to the liver or to other lipoproteins, by a mechanism known as "reverse cholesterol transport" (RCT).
The "protective" role of HDL has been confirmed in a number of studies (e.g. Miller et al. Lancet, 1977:965-968 and Whayne et aL Atherosclerosis 1981;39:411-419). In these, the elevated levels of LDL, less so of VLDL, seem to be clearly associated with an increased cardiovascular risk, whereas high HDL levels seem to confer cardiovascular protection. The protective role of HDL has been further strongly supported by the in vivo studies, showing that HDL infusions into rabbits may hinder the development of cholesterol induced arterial. lesions (Badimon et al, Lab. Invest. 60, 455-61, 1989)) and/or induce regression of same (Badimon et al, J Clin Invest. 85, 1234-41, 1990).
Recent interest in the study of the protective mechanism/s of HDL has been focussed on apolipoprotein Al (Apo Al), the major component of HDL. High plasma levels of Apo Al are associated with reduced risk of CHD and presence of coronary lesions (Maciejko et al,. N Engl J Med 1983;309:385-389, Sedlis et al,. Circulation 1986;73:978-984).
Plasma Apo Al is a single polypeptide chain of 243 amino acids, whose primary sequence is known (Brewer et al, Biochem Biophys Res Commun 1978;80:623-630). Apo Al is synthesized as a 267 amino acid precursor in the cell. This pre-pro-apoliprotein is processed by N-terminal cleavage first intracellularly where 18 amino acids are lost and then with a further cleavage of 6 amino acids in the plasma or the lymph by the activity of specific proteases.
The major structural requirement of the Apo Al molecule is believed to be the presence of repeat units of 11 or 22 amino acids, presumed to exist in amphipathic helical conformation (Segrest et al, FEBS Lett 1974;38:247-253). This structure allows for the main biological activities of Apo Al, i.e. lipid binding and lecithin cholesterol acyl transferase (LCAT) activation.
Another recently described property of Apo Al is its antiviral activity. This has been reported from in vitro studies and is exerted both against Herpes virus strains (Srinivas R V et al,, Virology, 1756, 48-57, 1990) and also against the Human Immunodeficiency virus, HIV, (Owe et al,., J Clin Invest, 86, 1142-50, 1990). This activity seems to be exerted by way of an interaction between amphipatic helical portions of Apo Al and envelope glycoproteins of the viruses.
In vitro studies indicate that complexes of Apo Al and lecithin can promote the efflux of free cholesterol from cultured arterial smooth muscle cells (Stein. et al,. Ciochem Biophys Acta 1975;380:106-118). By this mechanism HDL can also reduce the proliferation of these cells (Yoshida et al, Exp Mol Pathol 1 984;41 :258-266).
More recently, the infusion of Apo Al or of HDL in experimental animals has been shown to exert significant biochemical changes, as well as to reduce the extent and severity of atherosclerotic lesions. After an initial report by Maciejko and Mao (Arteriosclerosis 1982;2:407a), Badimon et al, (see the two quoted studies above) found that they could significantly reduce the extent of atherosclerotic lesions (-45%) and their cholesterol ester content (-58,5%) in cholesterol-fed rabbits, by infusing HDL (d=1.063-1.325 g/ml). They also found that the infusions of HDL led to a close to a 50% regression of established lesions. It was able to be shown also (Esper et al. Arteriosclerosis 1987;7:523a) that infusions of HDL can markedly change the plasma lipoprotein composition of Watanabe rabbits with inherited hypercholesterolemia, which develop early arterial lesions. In these, HDL infusions can more than double the ratio between the protective HDL and the atherogenic LDL.
The potential of HDL to prevent arterial disease in animal models has been further stimulated by the observation that Apo Al can exert a fibrinolytic activity in vitro (Saku et al, Thromb Res 1985;39:1-8). Ronneberger (Xth Int Congr Pharmacol, Sidney 1987, p 990) demonstrated that extractive Apo Al can increase fibrinolysis in beagle dogs and in Cynomologous monkeys. A similar activity can be noted in vitro on human plasma. This author was able to confirm a reduction of lipid deposition and arterial plaque formation in Apo Al treated animals.
The apolipoprotein Al-Milano (Apo Al-M) is the first described molecular variant of human Apo Al (Franceschini et al, J Clin Invest 1980;66:892-900). It is characterized by the substitution of Arg 173 with Cys (Weisgraber et al, J Biol Chem 1983;258:2508-2513). The mutant apoprotein is transmifted as an autosomal dominant trait and 8 generations of carriers have been identified (Gualandri et al, Am J Hum Genet 1984;37:1083-1097).
The status of the Apo Al-M carrier individual is characterized by a remarkable reduction in HDL-cholesterol level. In spite of this, the affected subjects do not apparently show any increased risk of arterial disease; indeed, by examination of the genealogic tree it appears that these subjects may be "protected" from atherosclerosis.
The mechanism of the possible protective effect of Apo Al-M in the carriers seems to be linked to a modification in the structure of the mutant apolipoprotein, with the loss of one alpha-helix and an increased exposure of hydrophobic residues (Francheschini et al,. J Biol Chem 1985;260:1632-1635). The loss of the tight structure of the multiple alpha-helices leads to an increased flexibility of the molecule, which associates more readily with lipids, compared to normal Al. Moreover, apolipoprotein/lipid complexes are more susceptible to denaturation, thus suggesting that lipid delivery is also improved in the case of the mutant.
The therapeutic use of the apolipoprotein Apo Al-M mutant is presently limited by the lack of a method allowing the preparation of said apolipoproteins in sufficient amount and in a suitable form.
Another very specific feature of the Apo Al-M, is its capacity to form dimers with itself and complexes with Apo All, in both cases because of the presence of the Cys residue. From studies of blood fractions containing a mixture of Apolipoproteins, there were indications, showing that the presence of dimers and complexes in the circulation may be responsible for the increased elimination half-life of these in the carriers, recently described in clinical studies (Gregg et al,. NATO ARW on Human Apolipoprotein Mutants: From Gene Structure to Phenotypic Expression, Limone SG, 1988).
Apo Al-M dimers (Apo Al-M/Apo Al-M) act as an inhibiting factor in the interconversion of HDL particles in vitro (Franceschini et al, J Biol Chem 1990;265:12224-12231).
Earlier studies of mixtures containing the dimer have been based on Apo Al-M separated from natural blood from persons with Apo Al-M, which has thus only been obtainable in small quantities.
The difficulty of producing Apo Al and particularly Apo Al-M from plasma fractionation is quite considerable (Franceschini et al, J Biol Chem 1985;260:16321-16325). The isolation and production cannot be done on a big scale, as only a small amount of the raw material is available. Furthermore, there are several risks associated with plasma fractionation products, such as contamination with infectious agents. It is essential that this is avoided.
Attempts have been made to produce human Apo Al, by way of the recombinant DNA technology. In the European patent publication No. 0267703 the preparation of Apo Al from E.coli is described. The process describes a chimeric polypeptide where the Apo Al moiety is fused to the N-terminal amino acid residues of beta-galactosidase or to one or more IgG-binding domains of Protein A, or to the pro sequence of human Apo Al.
The expression of Apo Al and Apo Al-M in yeast strains and the use of the produced components in the treatment of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases is disclosed in WO90/12879. The genes encoding the Apo Al and Apo Al-M were provided with DNA-sequences encoding a yeast-recognizable secretion and processing signals fused upstream to the gene for the mature proteins. A modified MF-alpha-1-leader sequence was used in which the last residues were: HisGlySerLeuAspLysArg.

Dimer of molecular variant of apolipoprotein and processes for the production thereof


This gallium nitride-based compound semiconductor light emitting device includes an n-type semiconductor layer, a light emitting layer, and a p-type semiconductor layer that are composed of gallium nitride-based compound semiconductors and are deposited in that order on a substrate, and further includes a negative electrode and a positive electrode that are in contact with the n-type semiconductor layer and the p-type semiconductor layer, respectively, wherein the positive electrode has a translucent electrode composed of a three-layer structure including a contact metal layer that contacts at least the p-type semiconductor layer, a current diffusion layer provided on the contact metal layer and having conductivity greater than that of the contact metal layer, and a bonding pad layer provided on the current diffusion layer, and a mixed positive electrode-metal layer including a metal that forms the contact metal layer is present in a positive electrode side surface of the p-type semiconductor layer.

GaN-based compound semiconductor materials have recently attracted attention as semiconductor materials for short wavelength light-emitting devices. GaN-based compound semiconductors are formed on substrates composed of sapphire single crystals, various other oxides, or III-V compounds by a method such as metalloorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) or molecular beam epitaxy (MBE).
One of the characteristics of GaN-based compound semiconductor materials is having low current diffusion in the horizontal direction. Although this is thought to be due to the presence of large numbers of dislocations penetrating from the substrate to the surface in epitaxial crystals, the details of this are not fully understood. Moreover, in p-type GaN-based compound semiconductors, the resistivity is higher than the resistivity of n-type GaN-based compound semiconductors, there is hardly any horizontal spreading of current in the p layer in the case in which metal is simply deposited on the surface thereof, thereby in the case of adopting an LED structure having a pn junction, light is only emitted downward directly beneath the positive electrode.
Consequently, current diffusivity is enhanced by electron beam irradiation or high-temperature annealing to lower the resistivity of the p layer. However, the cost of a device for electron beam irradiation is extremely high, making it incompatible with production costs. In addition, it is difficult to uniformly process the wafer surface. In the case of high-temperature annealing as well, although it is necessary to employ a process at a temperature of 900° C. or higher in order to yield remarkable effects, there is the risk of decomposition of the crystal structure of the GaN and deterioration of reverse voltage characteristics caused by the elimination of nitrogen.
In addition, it has also been proposed to deposite Ni and Au at 10 nm each on the p layer for use as the positive electrode, and carry out alloying treatment in an oxygen atmosphere to promote lower resistance of the p layer as well as form a translucent and ohmic positive electrode (see, for example, Japanese Patent No. 2803742).
However, alloying treatment in an oxygen atmosphere causes the formation of an oxide layer on the surface of the exposed n-type GaN layer, and has an ohmic effect on the negative electrode. Moreover, Au/Ni electrodes that have been subjected to alloying treatment in an oxygen atmosphere have mesh structures, resulting in increased susceptibility to the occurrence of emission unevenness, reduced mechanical strength and the need to provide a protective film, which in turn leads to increased production costs. Moreover, since the Ni is heat treated in an oxygen atmosphere, when Ni oxides cover the surface and a pad electrode is formed on the translucent electrode, it has weak adhesive strength thereby preventing the obtaining of bonding strength.
In addition, it has also been proposed to form a Pt layer on the p layer for use as the positive electrode followed by heat treatment in an atmosphere including oxygen to simultaneously carry out resistance reduction and alloying treatment of the p layer (see, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. H11-186605).
However, since this method also involves heat treatment in an oxygen atmosphere, it has the same problems as those described above. Moreover, although the translucent electrode must be considerably thin (5 nm or less) to obtain a satisfactory translucent electrode with Pt alone, this results in an increase in the electrical resistance of the Pt layer. Thus, even if resistance of the Pt layer is reduced by heat treatment, current spreading is poor and emission of light is not uniform, leading to an increase in forward voltage (VF) as well as a decrease in emission intensity.

Gallium nitride-based compound semiconductor light emitting device


A structure comprising a first fixed unit and at least a second unit encompassing the fixed unit, whereby the second unit is located so as to be able to slide transversely relative to the axis of the fixed unit in order to extend the internal volume of the structure. The floor of the movable unit comprises an horizontal section and a pivotable section connected to the horizontal section by means of an horizontal hinge. The extendable structure can be moved in the form of a trailer or a semi-trailer or is transportable in the form of a container.

The present invention relates to a rigid construction which offers an extendible internal space and which, if required, can be moved in the form of a trailer or semitrailer or be transported in the form of a container.
Activities in various fields such as culture, sport, medicine, civil defense and education sometimes require the temporary use of a confined space offering a useful volume that is adequate and in any case greater than would be provided by a bus, a coach, a semitrailer or a container for example. Examples which may be cited are a mobile medical clinic, a mobile command centre, a travelling cinema, a travelling exhibition room, a mobile dispensary and the like.
In the present state of the art, the requisite useful spaces can be produced by erecting constructions of flexible material, for example a tent, or by erecting constructions of rigid material, for example huts, single-storey constructions, containers and the like. The erection of constructions of this kind necessitates numerous handling operations and does not quickly offer the final space required for the desired use.
To extend the useful space requires an amount of manpower which may be considerable (for example pitching a tent), the execution of preparatory construction work (for example casting a solid bed or plinths beneath huts) or many often difficult handling operations (for example assembling and adjusting containers).

Espace Mobile International S.A., in short "E.M.I.-S.A."


A system and method are provided for electronically managing remote review of documents that are stored on a central repository. The remote review system advantageously enables a remote reviewer, lacking repository access, to remotely review and record decisions in respect to documents stored in the repository and then electronically integrate those remotely made decisions back into the repository. In this way, the inventive system and method promotes efficiency and consistency in responding to document requests for legal purposes.

The present invention relates generally to a system and method for electronically managing remote review of documents for legal purposes. More specifically, the invention relates to an improved system and method for permitting stand-alone remote review of the documents while providing integration with a repository where the documents are electronically stored.
Legal matters often involve massive volumes of information that must be organized and categorized in response to particular inquiries or issues, such as litigation pleadings, business transactions, government regulations, etc. The information is typically managed by a centralized organization, such as a legal department or group therein having document coordinators. Managing this documentary information often requires the review and input of persons remote or external to the centralized organization, such as other attorneys, business persons, or experts. The remote reviewers are typically requested to provide their opinion or decision on the categorization and treatment of the information for a particular legal matter, for example, such as to produce or not produce in response to a discovery request. At times there may be numerous remote reviewers reviewing numerous sets or subsets of documents whose decisions must be recorded. Also, conflicting decisions must be identified and reconciled with each other. It must also be ensured that the decisions of the remote reviewers are correctly matched back to the exact same document or version of the document for which their input is being sought.
Existing methods for remote document review are time-consuming and not easily managed, tracked, recorded and reconciled. For example, the central document coordinator identifies a set of documents from the central repository needing external review. The external reviewers are typically located remote from the central document repository and are barred from accessing the repository in order to protect integrity of the documents stored in the repository. Thus, the coordinator prepares paper copies of the documents for review and sends them out to each of the remote reviewers for their stand-alone, external review. The coordinator manually ensures that the information sent for review is appropriately restricted, such as by removing privileged documents or portions thereof. The coordinator also has to somehow indicate the decisions that are requested for each of the documents, by manually creating a letter or other type of notice to the reviewer for the documents. The coordinator has no convenient way to track the status of the outstanding remote review requests.
Under existing review methods, the remote reviewers return the paper documents together with a particular decision—such as produce, do not produce, mark as privileged, defer to another reviewer, etc. . . . The returned documents are not necessarily in any particular order. As to each document, the coordinator must identify and resolve any conflicting decisions of different remote reviewers and any conflicts with prior decisions stored in the repository. This is typically done document by document—such as by manually sorting the documents or using a crude spreadsheet listing the documents and all of the current and prior decisions. The coordinator must also manually transfer any redactions and decisions onto the centralized document copy for the particular legal matter. Typically there is no historical record of decisions by the remote reviewer except in the paper file of that particular legal matter or as marked on the reviewer's document copy. Thus, the same or related reviewer may review the same documents for the same or a similar inquiry over and over again—sometimes even inadvertently being inconsistent with their prior decisions. Furthermore, other than the coordinator handling the specific legal matter, no other coordinator has ready access to decisions that have been made on a particular document by a remote reviewer except by finding and reviewing the paper documents for the other related legal matter. This can be especially problematic for documents that have been previously categorized as privileged.
In some instances, due to the time-consuming tracking effort involved, the final decision of the last remote reviewer may not necessarily be logged back into the central repository and recorded with the particular document and legal matter.
Thus, it is desirable to be able to easily identify, restrict, transmit, and track the documents sent to a remote reviewer, and to readily integrate the review decisions back into a centralized document repository. Further, it is desirable to easily match the decisions back to the correct document in the repository as well as to identify and reconcile any conflicting review decisions against prior decisions made as to the documents. It is also desirable to be able to easily identify any missing or otherwise deficient or incomplete decisions by the reviewers. Additionally, it is desirable to maintain the integrity of the documents stored in the centralized repository as well as easily record and store the historical review decisions in respect to the documents.

System and method for electronically managing remote review of documents


A method and system for generating an image database for multifeatured objects. The invention uses one or more three-dimensional representations of multifeatured objects of the same generic type as the object to be identified to generate as many images as desired. These images are used to populate an image database that may be used for training and/or identification purposes.

Image databases have a variety of uses. In one important use, systems that identify objects of a particular generic type may acquire recognition capability through "training" based on a database of photographs of such objects; by "training" is meant creation and refinement of a system, such as a series of probes, that facilitate search and matching. Alternatively, the database may be used directly as a reference set for comparison without training. In either case, the photographs are analyzed to yield empirically-determined properties which serve as probes for the objects to be identified. For any particular identification to be performed, the efficacy depends, in part, on how well the image database actually spans the type of object and the conditions under which the photographs were taken. For example, when trying to identify a target human face, the reliability of the identification depends on whether the database includes photographs of individuals who resemble the target taken with pose and lighting conditions that correspond to that of the target face.
A key limitation of conventional identification training systems is that they rely on existing photographs. In situations where the existing photographs include individuals taken with poses and lighting which correspond, even approximately, to those of the target, the training database may yield effective probes. However, when the database photographs do not include such images, the database will be less useful, since it will not contain images that resemble the target. Conventional training systems are usually unable to remedy this problem without appropriate photographic data corresponding to the target. Often, photographs taken from a standard pose are available, but the target view is from a non-standard pose. Using the example of a human face again, if the database contains mainly front-view photographs, a captured front view of the target will be identifiable, but a side view may not be. If a database of side view photographs is not available, the system may fail to identify the target.
Since conventional training systems rely on existing sources of imagery, they may be forced to combine images of many individual examples of the class of object to be identified in order to obtain a large enough database from which to draw statistically reliable probes. This has the effect of making the probes more generic, since they now detect features common to a set of objects rather than to an individual object. This can present a problem when identification of a particular individual object is desired.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a practical approach that creates an image database that can be used effectively for identification purposes when available photographic data is inadequate.

Generation of image database for multifeatured objects


An Si—O containing hydrogenated carbon film as an optical film has a refractive index in a range from at least 1.48 to at most 1.85 for light of 520 nm wavelength and an extinction coefficient of less than 0.15 for light of 248 nm wavelength, wherein the refractive index and the extinction coefficient are decreased with energy beam irradiation. By utilizing such an Si—O containing hydrogenated carbon film, it is possible to provide various types of optical elements and an optical device including the same.

Various optical thin films are used so as to control light in the optical fields such as information communication, information recording, image pickup, and image display. Oxide thin films such as SiO2 and TiO2 and fluoride thin films such as MgF2 are used as typical optical thin film materials, and these are utilized for antireflection films, mirrors, filters, and others. Moreover, diffractive optical elements to which optical thin films are applied are used for various applications.
The diffractive optical elements are mainly classified into a relief type and a refractive index modulated type. The relief-type diffractive optical element is formed by alternately arranging local regions of a relatively large thickness and local regions of a relatively small thickness. In other words, a diffraction phenomenon appears because of a phase difference in lights which is caused by a difference in light paths between light passing through a medium of a convex portion corresponding to the local region of the relatively large thickness and light passing through the air in a concave portion corresponding to the local region of the relatively small thickness. Such a relief-type diffractive optical element can be formed by performing processes such as photolithography and etching on a surface of an optically transparent material such as quartz.
The refractive index modulated-type diffractive optical element is formed by alternately arranging local regions of a relatively large refractive index and local regions of a relatively small refractive index. A diffraction phenomenon appears because of a phase difference caused by a difference in light paths between lights that respectively pass through the local regions having different refractive indices. The refractive index modulated-type diffractive optical element can be formed by irradiating a material such as a Ge-doped silica glass or a photopolymer with an energy beam such as an ultraviolet ray or visible light so as to change (modulate) the refractive index of the material. Recently, an example of a refractive index modulated-type diffractive optical element utilizing a transparent diamond-like carbon (DLC) film has been proposed as disclosed in Patent Document 1 of Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2004-163892.
In comparison with the relief-type diffractive optical element that requires fine concavities and convexities to be formed, the refractive index modulated-type diffractive optical element has advantages in that its fabrication process is relatively simple and its flat surface prevents contaminants from adhereing thereto, and other advantages. However, it is difficult to greatly change the refractive index of conventional optical materials, and for example, a Ge-doped silica glass has a possible refractive index change Δn as small as approximately 0.001, and photopolymers also have a possible refractive index change Δn as small as approximately 0.08.
Here, an amount Δn of refractive index change in a refractive index modulated-type diffractive optical element directly gives influence on the diffraction efficiency. That is, the diffraction efficiency can be enhanced when the amount Δn is larger. In comparison with the relief-type diffractive optical element, therefore, the refractive index modulated-type diffractive optical element is greatly limited in designing thereof in the case of using an optical material having a small Δn.
In this respect, Patent Document 1 discloses a transparent DLC film in which Δn can be increased up to 0.5, thereby enhancing flexibility in designing the optical device. The refractive index of the DLC film can be increased by energy beam irradiation. As the energy beam, it is possible to use a corpuscular beam such as an ion beam, an electron beam, or a neutron beam, or an electromagnetic wave such as an ultraviolet ray, an X-ray, or a gamma ray. Using an ultraviolet ray among these energy beams is most preferable from the viewpoint of throughput, ease in handling, device cost, and the like when industrial application is contemplated.    Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2004-163892    Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 7-333404    Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2004-341541    Patent Document 4: Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 8-72193    Patent Document 5: Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-202356    Patent Document 6: Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 11-345419    Patent Document 7: Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2006-39303    Patent Document 8: Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-195919    Patent Document 9: Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 8-313845    Patent Document 10: Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-326666    Patent Document 11: Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 10-96807    Patent Document 12: Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2000-235179    Patent Document 13: Pamphlet of WO2005/088364    Patent Document 14: Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-66324    Patent Document 15: Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2006-53992    Patent Document 16: Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 6-27398    Patent Document 17: Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2006-30840    Non-Patent Document 1: "Technique of Ultraprecision Machining and Mass Production of Microlens (Array)" published by TECHNICAL INFORMATION INSTITUTE CO., LTD., Apr. 28, 2003, pp. 71-81.    Non-Patent Document 2: OPTRONICS, (2001), No. 11, pp. 149-154    Non-Patent Document 3: O plus E, Vol. 25, No. 4, 2003, pp. 385-390    Non-Patent Document 4: OPTRONICS, (2001), No. 11, pp. 143-148    Non-Patent Document 5: Large Area Display edited by Nobuo Nishida, KYORITSU SHUPPAN CO., LTD., published in 2002    Non-Patent Document 6: Applied Optics, Vol. 41, 2002, pp. 3558-3566    Non-Patent Document 7: ITE Technical Report, Vol. 20, 1996, pp. 69-72

Si-O containing hydrogenated carbon film, optical device including the same, and method for manufacturing the Si-O containing hydrogenated carbon film and the optical device


A nitrogen-containing bicyclic compound of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof (wherein the symbols have the same meanings as described in the specification).

Cyclic nucleotides such as cyclic adenosine-3′,5′-monophosphate (c-AMP) and cyclic guanosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (c-GMP) are concerned with intracellular signal transduction molecules as second messengers. These cyclic nucleotides are degraded by a group of hydrolases generally called phosphodiesterase PDE isozyme) into inactive 5′-AMP and 5′-GMP, respectively.
Up to date, the presence of 11 families of PDE1 to PDE11 has been confirmed (see Current Opinion in Cell Biology, 12, 174-179 (2000)). PDE isozymes have differences in specificity and affinity to substrates, i.e. c-AMP and c-GMP, cell distribution and tissue distribution, etc., and each isozyme has different function in vivo.
Among these PDEs, PDE7 is a phosphodiesterase which has specific affinity to cAMP, and it is reported that it is not inhibited by rolipram, which is a PDE4 inhibitor specific to PDE4 (see J. Biol. Chem., 268, 12925 (1993)). PDE7 is important in activation of T-cells and it is implied that it is useful for the prevention and treatment of T cell-dependent diseases (see Science, 283, 848 (1999)). Also, PDE7 is expressed in airway epitheliocytes, and so it is also implied that it is probable that PDE7 is effective for the diseases in airway (see Am. J Respir. Cell Mol. Biol., 20, 292 (1999)).
Therefore, a drug which inhibits PDE7 is thought to be useful for the prevention and/or treatment of various diseases, i.e. autoimmune diseases (ulcerative colitis, Crohn's diesaes, rheumatism, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, collagenosis, etc.), inflammatory diseases (obstructive pulmonary diseases, sepsis, pancreatitis, sarcoidosis, nephritis, hepatitis, enteritis, etc.), allergic diseases (asthma, allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, seasonal conjunctivitis, atopic dermatitis, etc.), rejection of an organ transplant, graft versus host diseases (GVHD), diabetic diseases, osteoporosis, bone fracture, restenosis, arteriosclerosis, obesity, ischemic reperfusion injury, depression, Parkinson's diseases, dementia, leukemia, etc.
Isoquinoline derivatives are known as follows: for example, in JP63-280069(A), it is disclosed that a compound of formula (A)
(wherein AA is benzo or thieno and R2A and R3A are independently hydrogen or (C1-5)alkyl, or taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached to form 5 or 6 membered carbocycle and R11A is (C1-4)alkyl, halogen, hydroxy and mA is 0, 1, 2 or 3 when AA is benzo, DA is IbA, etc.:
R1A is hydrogen, (C1-10)alkyl etc, R5′A is hydrogen or (C1-4)alkyl, R4A is (C1-4)alkoxy or —NR9AR10A (wherein R9A and R10A are independently hydrogen, C1-12 branched or unbranched alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl, etc., or R9A and R10A are taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached to form pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, morpholinyl or piperazinyl, etc.)) has heart-protecting activity (groups are extracted for description).
Khim. Geterotsikl. Soedin., 946-949, 7, (1994) discloses a compound of 2-(3,3-dimethyl-3,4-dihydro-(2H)-isoquinoline-1-ylidene)-1-phenylmethan-1-one (Reg No. 163769-77-5).
The specification of WO 02/010135 discloses that a compound of formula (B)
(wherein the explanation of groups are as described in the specification of WO02/010135.) has a cannabinoid (CB) 2 receptor agonizing activity, but no description is found on PDE7 inhibitory activity therein.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Nitrogen-containing bicyclic compounds and drugs containing the same as the active ingredient

Abstract: The compound of formula (I) has an inhibitory activity against PDE7 and it is useful for the prevention and/or treatment of various diseases, i.e. autoimmune diseases (ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, rheumatism, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, collagenosis, etc.), inflammatory diseases (obstructive pulmonary disease, sepsis, pancreatitis, sarcoidosis, nephritis, hepatitis, enteritis, etc.), allergic diseases (asthma, allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, seasonal conjunctivitis, atopic dermatitis, etc.), rejection of organ transplants, serious graft versus host disease (GVHD), diabetic disease, osteoporosis, bone fracture, restenosis, atherosclerosis, obesity, ischemic reperfusion injury, depression, Parkinson's disease, dementia, leukemia, etc.


A terminal for mating with a blade contact includes a planar bottom extending between a front end and a rear end. A slot is formed in the planar bottom for receiving the blade contact, and the slot includes a front edge and a rear edge. Deflectable beams extend from the bottom across the slot for engaging the blade contact. At least one beam extends at least partially across the slot from the front edge and at least one beam extends at least partially across the slot from the rear edge. The beams are configured to engage opposite sides of the blade contact when the blade contact is mated with the terminal.

The subject matter herein relates generally to terminals, and more particularly, to low profile terminals for electronic modules.
These electronic control modules may comprise various electronic components. A wire harness or lead frame is used for electrically interconnecting the various components of the control module with other components of an electronic system utilizing the control module. The wire harness or lead frame may be provided in an housing or interconnecting module that is enclosed within the control module. Automobile systems such as a transmission system, braking system, airbag system and the like are examples of systems that utilize electronic modules to control and/or monitor the performance of the system.
In the example of the transmission control system, various components of the transmission control system, such as solenoids, thermistors, pressure switches, sensors, and the like, are interconnected by one or more interconnecting modules. Conventional control modules typically use one of two types of interconnecting modules, namely an overmolded leadframe or a wire harness. Both types of conventional interconnecting modules have disadvantages. For example, wire harnesses include many wires with terminals or connectors at the ends of the wires for connecting to contacts of the various components of the transmission system. The connections between the connectors and the components are made in place, typically be hand, once the components are assembled within the vehicle. When many connections are required, the task of connecting each of the terminals to the components is time intensive and costly. Additionally, space constraints make the assembly difficult. Furthermore, when assembled, the terminals of the wire harness extend from the component in a direction generally away from the component, which adds to the overall height of the assembly. Thus, space is required around the component to accommodate the connectors of the wire harness, which may be undesirable as space within an engine compartment, for example, is limited.
Transmission control modules that use overmolded leadframe type interconnecting modules for interconnecting the various components of the transmission control system have been implemented to address the space constraints typical of automotive applications, as overmolded leadframes typically have a low profile (e.g. additional height measured above the corresponding components). The overmolded leadframes include conductors in the form of copper traces that are routed within the interconnecting modules in a predetermined arrangement to mate with multiple, and potentially all, of the components of the transmission control system. The conductors have mating areas that mate with the contacts of the various components. The conductors are overmolded, forming an assembly that may be attached to one or more of the components to make simultaneous connection with various contacts of the components. Overmolded leadframes are not without disadvantages however. For example, there are often multiple steps of mold modification in order to properly orient each of the conductors for connection to the various contacts. For example, the leadframe is typically manufactured in multiple steps, where various conductors of the leadframe are initially connected to one another for stability during a first overmolding step. The conductors are separated from one another in another step so that the circuits do not short circuit. One or more overmolding steps are then performed to finalize the overmold. Because the overmolding process is complex, the overall cost to manufacture such overmolded leadframe interconnecting modules is high, especially as compared to a wire harness interconnecting module.
A further problem encountered with the use of overmolded leadframes is that the overmolded leadframes are designed specifically for mating with a particular combination of components of the transmission control module. Any change in the configuration of the components or the addition of other components would result in an entire redesign of the overmolded leadframe. Such redesigns are very costly in terms of retooling of the dies and molds needed to manufacture the overmolded leadframe interconnecting module. The molds and dies are specific to one particular application.
Accordingly, a need remains for interconnecting modules that may be manufactured in a cost effective way. Additionally, a need remains for electronic modules that have a low profile. A need remains for interconnecting modules that may be installed in an efficient manner.


A dishwasher and a method for controlling the same, performing a main washing cycle depending upon an amount of food residue on used dishes or a pollution level thereof, are disclosed. The method includes supplying washing water to the dishwasher, detecting for an N number of times a pollution level of the supplied washing water during a preliminary washing cycle, and comparing the detected pollution levels with a reference pollution level, and carrying out a main washing cycle depending upon a comparison result between the detected pollution levels and the reference pollution level.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a dishwasher, and more particularly, to a dishwasher and a method for controlling the same. Although the present invention is suitable for a wide scope of applications, it is particularly suitable for controlling a washing cycle in accordance with a pollution level of dishes to be washed, thereby enhancing washing efficiency of the dishwasher.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
A dishwasher is an appliance removing residues remaining on used dishes and thoroughly washing the dishes. As shown in FIG. 1, a dishwasher generally includes a water tank 8 holding water supplied from a faucet 7, and a washing water jet 9 spraying the water in the tank to dishes to be washed. The water held in the water tank 8 is supplied to the washing water jet 9 through a washing motor 3a, and the water sprayed by the washing water jet 9 is held back into the water tank 8. The dishwasher also includes a water supply valve 3b for controlling the amount of water supplied from the faucet 7, and a drainage valve (not shown) for draining the water within the dishwasher.
The related art dishwasher performs washing cycles based on the commands of a user and cannot control its washing cycles in accordance with the amount of food residue remaining on the used dishes or pollution level thereof. Accordingly, there are limitations in effectively washing the dishes.

Dishwasher and method for controlling the same


The invention of the present application relates to a method for obtaining antibodies directed against a carbohydrate moiety contained in a carbohydrate peptide conjugate, by administering to a subject a composition containing a carbohydrate peptide conjugate and collecting the antibodies directed against the said carbohydrate moiety from a serum previously obtained from the subject.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to the field of immunotherapy and more particularly to a glycoconjugate, a composition and vaccine comprising the same and to the use thereof for enhancing the immune response and notably in cancer therapy and in therapeutic of infection caused by pathogenic agent against whom a humoral or a cellular immune response is necessary. The invention relates also to a diagnosis kit and a method for diagnosis of cancer.
2. Prior Art/Relevant Literature
As a result of aberrant glycosylation, cancer-associated carbohydrate antigens are exposed at the surface of tumor cells whereas they are hidden in normal cells (Ref. 1). Recent advances in immunology and in the identification of tumor specific antigens have renewed the interest for the development of cancer vaccines, and these exposed glycosidic B-cell epitopes have been considered as attractive targets for immunotherapy named "Active Specific Immunotherapy" (ASI) by Longenecker (Ref. 2). This approach involves immunization with a defined antigen to elicit a specific immune response to that antigen and could represent an alternative to the conventional cancer therapies.
Among the large number of known tumor markers, the Tn (a-GalNAc-Ser/Thr). the T* (b-Gal-(1→3)-a-GalNAc-Ser/Thr) and the sialosyl-Tn (a-NeuAc-(2→6)-a-GalNAc-Ser/Thr) antigens have been extensively studied since they are expressed on mucin-type glycoproteins by the majority of adenocarcinomas (Ref. 3), Indeed, several studies have shown some protection against tumors after immunization with these glycosidic antigens, in experimenital or clinical studies. These tumour associated carbohydrates are relevant markers for cancer diagnostic and prognosis (Ref. 34). Using desialyated red blood cells, which are rich in T and Tn determinants, Springer observed a long-term effective protection against recurrence of human breast carcinoma (Ref. 3c, Ref. 4). An other group investigated the potential of ASI with desialylated ovine submaxillary mucin (d-OSM), which contains high density of the Tn epitope; their studies showed that this antigen provided a good protection and a long-term survival in mice with mammary carcinoma (Ref. 5). Partially-d-OSM also gave efficient protection against human colon carcinoma (Ref. 6). Ratcliffe et al. were the first to use a synthetic tumor-associated antigen, a T antigen-protein conjugate, to stimulate an efficient immune response in rabbits (Ref. 7). Thereafter Longenecker extensively studied similar synthetic carbohydrate hapten conjugates and found that they induce an increased survival of mice grafted with mammary carcinoma cells (Ref. 8, and of patients with ovarian cancers (Ref. 9). Similar studies of the same group have further shown an increased protection of patients suffering from breast cancer (Ref. 10) or melanoma (Ref. 11) after respective administration of sialosyl Tn- or the GM2 ganglioside-protein conjugates. On the other hand, Toyokuni et al. generated an anti-tumor antibody response in mice after immunization with a Tn antigen coupled either to OSA (Ovine Serum Albumin) or to a synthetic lipopeptide (Ref. 12). This last result was interesting since it was the first example of a small synthetic carbohydrate antigen that generates an immune response against a tumor associated carbohydrate antigen, without the use of a macromolecular carrier or adjuvants.
These studies suggested that carbohydrate antigens are appropriate candidates for anti-tumor vaccine development. However, carbohydrate antigens do not possess T-cell epilope and therefore induce only weak T cell-independent antibody response. Several approaches have been explored to increase the immunogenicity of such carbohydrates. The use of biological material which expresses clusters of antigens on a protein backbone (like desialylated red blood cells or OSM) is a possibility. But the most widely used approach is to conjugate the carbohydrate to a carrier protein, such as Bovine serum albumin (BSA) or Keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH).
Although these immunogens have shown some promise, protein carriers display major disadvantages. The grafted epitope represents only a small part of the total conjugate and it is distributed at random on the carrier surface. Therefore, immune responses to the carrier molecule may result in a low level of the desired antibodies as compared to the total amount of antibodies produced. Moreover, these conjugates present ambiguity in both composition and structure and they do not always induce reproducible immune response. Recent advances in the total synthesis of oligosaccharides expressed by tumour cells (Ref. 35. Ref. 36) open new possibilities for such achievement. However, haptenic molecules such as carbohydrates require their association in more complex structures to stimulate immune responses. The use of traditional protein conjugates raises the problem of hapten-specific suppression (Ref. 37. Ref. 38), and their poorly defined chemical composition and structure may limit their efficacy.
Until now, as for chemically defined structures, dendrimeric poly-lysine backbones, which will be described in more detail later in the present specification, have been widely used for presenting peptides (Ref. 14). However, to our knowledge, there is only one preliminary attempt of their utilisation for presenting carbohydrates to the immune system (Ref. 16). This latter reference teaches the synthesis of three sialylated multiple antigen peptides having tetanus toxin T-cell epitopes. However a response against the T cell epitope only was obtained, but not against the B cell epitope. A similar strategy was also recently published (Ref. 17) where the authors coupled mixtures of natural polysaccharides obtained from Streptococcus and Saccharomyces to a Multiple Antigenic Peptidic system.
Thus, there still exist a need for a new conjugate circumventing the drawbacks mentioned above of the prior art constructions which has a chemically defined structure, is capable of stimulatiny both the antibody response and the T response when administered in a human or animal body while avoiding undesired immune responses.

Multiple antigen glycopeptide carbohydrate, vaccine comprising the same and use thereof


A process for the production of methyl isobutyl ketone from acetone and hydrogen utilizing a catalytic distillation column reactor. The reactions take place in a reaction zone with the reaction products being removed from the reaction zone and unreacted acetone being refluxed. The equilibrium is thus continuously disturbed allowing for greater than equilibrium conversion of acetone.

Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the production of methyl isobutyl ketone, an important industrial solvent. The invention relates in particular to a process for producing methyl isobutyl ketone. According to the invention, there is provided a process for producing methyl isobutyl ketone, which process comprises introducing acetone and hydrogen into a treatment zone; subjecting the acetone to catalytic distillation in the treatment zone in the presence of the hydrogen to convert at least some of the acetone to methyl isobutyl ketone; and withdrawing methyl isobutyl ketone from the treatment zone.

Production of MIBK using catalytic distillation technology


A closed loop refrigerant expansion system with a tube and shell condenser is provided with a control which, upon shutdown, causes the flow of refrigerant to reverse from the evaporator to the condenser to thereby both reduce the amount of refrigerant vapor passing to the condenser and increase the amount of liquid refrigerant in the condenser to thereby reduce the maximum temperature load in the condenser. Reverse flow can be made to occur either by reversing the direction of the refrigerant pump or opening a bypass valve around the pump.

Closed loop vapor expansion systems normally include, in serial flow relationship, a pump, an evaporator or boiler, a turbine, and a condenser, with a working fluid being circulated therein. A common approach for the evaporator and condenser is to use a tube and shell structure with the working fluid passing through one and another medium passing through the other, in heat exchange relationship therewith. In the case of the condenser, it is common to pass the hot refrigerant vapor from the turbine through the shell while cooling water is passed to the tubes from the cooling tower.
A condenser tube and shell heat exchanger comprises a shell with the plurality of tubes passing therethrough, with the tubes often being constructed with materials dissimilar from the shell. The use of copper in the tubes is often preferred because of its superior heat transfer characteristics, resistance to corrosion, or ease of use in manufacturing. However, because of the differences in the vessel and the tube materials, and their associated expansion coefficients, stress is created in such structures by their exposure to different temperatures and/or temperature difference from the manufacturing reference conditions. That is, at higher temperatures the thermal expansion of copper tubes will be substantially greater than that of steel in the vessel walls, and thereby create thermal stress in the structure.
The problem of thermal stress becomes more serious during periods of emergency shut down when the cooling water is no longer flowing through the condenser, but, because of the continued heat transfer and vaporization within the evaporator, hot refrigerant vapor continues to flow into the condenser, elevating the material temperatures

Active stress control during rapid shut down


A three-dimensional printing system includes a print bed and a shelf insertion mechanism for inserting a shelf of one or a plurality of auxiliary shelves into a print volume between the print bed and a printer head. A printer assembly is configured to deposit layers of material within the print volume to form one or more objects on a support platform, the support platform including the print bed or an auxiliary shelf that is inserted into the print volume by the shelf insertion mechanism. A controller is configured to control the shelf insertion mechanism to insert an auxiliary shelf between the print bed and a printer head of the system after formation of the objects on that support platform by the printer assembly is complete.

Three-dimensional printing may refer to any of a broad range of technologies for creating three dimensional objects. In three-dimensional printing, material is "printed" layer by layer on a print bed in a three-dimensional print volume or volume within a printing chamber. Three-dimensional printing is often referred to as "additive manufacturing" since material is added to a growing object (as opposed to subtractive methods such as numerical controlled machining or other machining techniques). Specifications for the printed object are generated as a digital model, e.g., using computer-aided design software.
It is often advantageous to plan a printing session such that the three-dimensional printing chamber is filled with as many printed parts as possible. Depending on the printing technology that is employed, greater throughput may be obtained with less intervention on the part of an operator. For example, the printer may operate throughout a night or another period when operators are not present, such that the printed objects may be ready for removal from the printing chamber in the morning or when the operator returns. In some cases, the printing chamber is heated to an operating temperature prior to printing. Since this heating requires both time and energy, printing many objects during a single printing session, rather than in several sessions, may reduce the time and energy required.
In powder-bed three-dimensional printing technologies, a printed object is built up by depositing successive layers of powder. After a layer of powder is deposited, part of the layer is treated, e.g., by heating or by addition of a binder, to form a cross section of the object to be printed. As successive layers are deposited, successive cross sections of the object are formed. It may be noted that when the powder is a plastic material, multiple objects may be formed, separated from one another by powder that is not formed into the object. However, when the powder is a metallic material or otherwise forms dense objects, the printed objects may sink into the powder such that subsequently deposited layers may be offset from the previously printed sections. Thus, the object may not be printed as planned unless it is supported by a solid base. When additional support is needed, the additional support may interfere with filling the three-dimensional print volume.
In some applications of three-dimensional printing, other considerations may preclude printing of objects above other objects. For example, where an exact form of an upper surface of the object is critical, no additional objects may be printed above that surface in order to avoid possible marring of the surface when printing the additional objects. For example, some producers of dental crowns using metal powder three-dimensional printing technologies may refrain from utilizing the entire three-dimensional print volume since the upper surface of the crown must be precise Similar limitations occur when printing plastic using fused deposition modeling (FDM) technology, and in stereolithographic printing with photopolymers.


The invention relates to nucleic acids covalently coupled to electrodes via conductive oligomers. More particularly, the invention is directed to the site-selective modification of nucleic acids with electron transfer moieties and electrodes to produce a new class of biomaterials, and to methods of making and using them.

The invention relates to nucleic acids covalently coupled to electrodes via conductive oligomers. More particularly, the invention is directed to the site-selective modification of nucleic acids with electron transfer moieties and electrodes to produce a new class of biomaterials, and to methods of making and using them.
The detection of specific nucleic acids is an important tool for diagnostic medicine and molecular biology research. Gene probe assays currently play roles in identifying infectious organisms such as bacteria and viruses, in probing the expression of normal genes and identifying mutant genes such as oncogenes, in typing tissue for compatibility preceding tissue transplantation, in matching tissue or blood samples for forensic medicine, and for exploring homology among genes from different species.
Ideally, a gene probe assay should be sensitive, specific and easily automatable (for a review, see Nickerson, Current Opinion in Biotechnology 4:48-51 (1993)). The requirement for sensitivity (i.e. low detection limits) has been greatly alleviated by the development of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and other amplification technologies which allow researchers to amplify exponentially a specific nucleic acid sequence before analysis (for a review, see Abramson et al., Current Opinion in Biotechnology, 4:41-47 (1993)).
Specificity, in contrast, remains a problem in many currently available gene probe assays. The extent of molecular complementarity between probe and target defines the specificity of the interaction. Variations in the concentrations of probes, of targets and of salts in the hybridization medium, in the reaction temperature, and in the length of the probe may alter or influence the specificity of the probe/target interaction.
It may be possible under some limited circumstances to distinguish targets with perfect complementarity from targets with mismatches, although this is generally very difficult using traditional technology, since small variations in the reaction conditions will alter the hybridization. New experimental techniques for mismatch detection with standard probes include DNA ligation assays where single point mismatches prevent ligation and probe digestion assays in which mismatches create sites for probe cleavage.
Finally, the automation of gene probe assays remains an area in which current technologies are lacking. Such assays generally rely on the hybridization of a labelled probe to a target sequence followed by the separation of the unhybridized free probe. This separation is generally achieved by gel electrophoresis or solid phase capture and washing of the target DNA, and is generally quite difficult to automate easily.
The time consuming nature of these separation steps has led to two distinct avenues of development. One involves the development of high-speed, high-throughput automatable electrophoretic and other separation techniques. The other involves the development of non-separation homogeneous gene probe assays.
PCT application WO 95/15971 describes novel compositions comprising nucleic acids containing electron transfer moieties, including electrodes, which allow for novel detection methods of nucleic acid hybridization.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide for improved compositions of nucleic acids covalently attached to electrodes and at least one other electron transfer moiety.
In one aspect, the present invention provides methods for detecting the presence of a target sequence in a nucleic acid sample. The methods comprises applying a first input signal comprising an AC component and a non-zero DC component to a hybridization complex comprising at least a target sequence and a first probe single stranded nucleic acid. The hybridization complex is covalently attached to a first electron transfer moiety comprising an electrode, and a second electron transfer moiety. The presence of the hybridization complex is detected by receiving an output signal characteristic of electron transfer through said hybridization complex.
In an alternative aspect, the invention provides methods as above wherein a first input signal comprising an AC component at a first frequency and a non-zero DC component is applied to a hybridization complex, and then a second input signal comprising an AC component at least a second frequency and a non-zero DC component is applied, such that the presence of the hybridization complex can be detected.
In a further aspect of the invention, the methods utilize a first input signal comprising an AC component and a first non-zero DC component applied to a hybridization complex, followed by a second input signal comprising said AC component and at least a second non-zero DC component.
In an additional aspect, the invention provides methods that utilize a first input signal comprising an AC component at a first voltage amplitude, and a second input signal comprising said AC component at a second voltage amplitude applied to the hybridization complex.
In an additional aspect, the invention provides methods utilizing hybridization complex comprising a single stranded nucleic acid covalently attached to both a first electron transfer moiety comprising an electrode, and a second electron transfer moiety, and a target sequence hybridized to said single stranded nucleic acid.
In a further aspect, the hybridization complexes comprise a single stranded nucleic acid covalently attached via a conductive oligomer to a first electron transfer moiety comprising an electrode, and a target sequence hybridized to said single stranded nucleic acid, and a second electron transfer moiety.
In a further aspect, the invention provides apparatus for the detection of target nucleic acids in a test sample, comprising a test chamber comprising a first and a second measuring electrode, wherein the first measuring electrode comprises a covalently attached conductive oligomer covalently attached to a single stranded nucleic acid, and an AC/DC voltage source electrically connected to the test chamber.
In an additional aspect, the invention provides apparatus comprising a test chamber comprising a first and a second measuring electrode, wherein the first measuring electrode comprises a covalently attached single stranded nucleic acid comprising a covalently attached second electron transfer moiety, and an AC/DC voltage source electrically connected to the test chamber.

AC methods for the detection of nucleic acids


A novel method of manufacturing a novel recording media is disclosed. The manufacturing method includes obtaining a substrate having an inside diameter and an outside diameter and creating a radial profile of an intensive property, such as Hc, of a multilayer magnetic layer containing at least a first magnetic layer and a second magnetic layer deposited on the substrate, from the inside diameter to the outside diameter by forming a radial profile of an extensive property, such as MrT or T, of either the first magnetic layer or the second magnetic layer from the inside diameter to the outside diameter.

In a magnetic media, digital information (expressed as combinations of "0's" and "1's") is written on tiny magnetic bits (which themselves are made up of many even smaller grains). When a bit is written, a magnetic field produced by the disk drive's head orients the bit's magnetization in a particular direction, corresponding to either a 0 or 1. The magnetism in the head in essence "flips" the magnetization in the bit between two stable orientations.
A plot of the magnitude of magnetization or flux density as a function of applied magnetic field is called a hysteresis loop. A typical hysteresis loop is shown in FIG. 1. In this case, a magnetic field H has been applied to a sample of magnetic material, and the component of magnetization in the direction of H has been plotted. Such a loop could be directly plotted, for example, by an instrument often used in the analysis of magnetic materials called a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The VSM mechanically oscillates a magnetic sample in a static magnetic field, measuring the component of M in the direction of H as H is slowly varied in magnitude.
Another common method of producing hysteresis loops is by placing the sample in a long solenoid. The solenoid creates a rapidly oscillating magnetic field H. The sample flux density is read from a small pickup loop placed near the sample. Since even without a sample, the pickup coil will pick up the field of the solenoid, two identical pickup coils are used with the sample mounted inside one of them. The signal is the difference between the output of the two coils.
In FIG. 1, starting in zero H field with a demagnetized sample, the field is gradually increased in the positive H direction. The path the magnetization initially takes, the initial magnetization curve, is 0-a-b-c. The initial slope is called the initial susceptibility χi. If one was plotting B versus H instead of M versus H, the initial slope would be called the initial permeability. The maximum value of magnetization reached is called the saturation magnetization, Ms, where application of additional H will yield no appreciable increase in M. When the field is now reduced and reversed, the magnetization will take the path around the loop labeled c-d-e-f-c. The value of M at zero field on this major loop is called the remnant magnetization Mr. The value of H for zero magnetization on this major loop is called the coercive force or coercivity Hc. The early part of the initial magnetization curve from 0 to a is nearly linear and is reversible. The next section, from a to b, is irreversible. The final section from b to c is reversible again. These features of the hysteresis loop depend on the domain wall motion and magnetization rotation.
Ferromagnetic materials are divided into two broad classes: soft magnetic materials and hard materials. Hard magnetic materials show low initial permeability (or susceptibility) and high coercive force. FIG. 1 shows a hysteresis loop that is characteristic of a hard magnetic material that might be used for disk media or for a permanent magnet application. Soft magnetic materials exhibit high initial permeability (or susceptibility) and also low coercive force. FIG. 2 shows a hysteresis loop that is characteristic of a soft magnetic material that might be used for a transformer or a magnetic head application.
FIG. 3 shows values for permeability and coercive force for some representative magnetic materials. Supennalloy and 78 Pennalloy may be considered soft magnetic materials, and Alnico V and ferroplatinum may be considered hard magnetic materials. This figure shows a rather clear inverse relationship between penneability and coercivity. It also should be noted that both of these parameters vary over a remarkably large range-five to six orders of magnitude.
The ease of magnetization or demagnetization of a magnetic material depends on the crystal structure, grain orientation, the state of strain, and the direction of the magnetic field. The magnetization is most easily obtained along the easy axis of magnetization but most difficult along the hard axis of magnetization. A magnetic material is said to posses a magnetic anisotropy when easy and hard axes exist. On the other hand, a magnetic material is said to be isotropic when there are no easy or hard axes. A magnetic material is said to possess a uniaxial anisotropy when the easy axis is oriented along a single crystallographic direction, and to possess multiaxial anisotropy when the easy axis aligns with multiple crystallographic directions.
"Anisotropy energy" is the work against the anisotropy force to turn magnetization vector away from an easy direction. For example, a single crystal of iron, which is made up of a cubic array of iron atoms, tends to magnetize in the directions of the cube edges along which lie the easy axes of magnetization. A single crystal of iron requires about 1.4×105 ergs/cm3 (at room temperature) to move magnetization into the hard axis of magnetization from an easy direction, which is along a cubic body diagonal.
Important magnetic properties, such as coercivity (Hc), remnant magnetization (Mr) and coercive squareness (S*), which are crucial to the recording performance of the Co alloy thin film depend on the degree of uniformity of the composition and microstructure of the film. Particularly, in high-density recording media, an important bulk property is coercivity (Hc) besides remnant magnetization-thickness product (MrT), where Mr is the remnant magnetization and T is the film or layer thickness. (In this application, "T" refers to thickness, not temperature.) With the rapid growth in recording areal density, the uniformity of Hc throughout the disk is desired because any non-uniformity could cause degradation in the read-write performance of the finished magnetic media, which in turn could affect the product yields at both media component level, and at the finished drive product level. For further improvement of the magnetic properties, this invention proposes a novel process for fabricating novel disk media having substantially uniform Hc throughout the disk media.

Method to improve coercivity radial profile in magnetic recording media and product thereof