The present disclosure relates to a 2-dimensional polymer nanosheet, a device including the nanosheet and a method of morphologically tunable preparing the nanosheet. Two-dimensional (2D) polymer nanosheets have been attracting immense attention owing to their potential applications in optical devices, membranes, and catalysis. A new crystalline polyacetylene is described that contains fluorenes and triisopropylsilyl side chains, which could self-assemble into sharp-edged 5-nm-thick square nanosheets with a narrow length dispersity of 1.01, by simple heating and aging in dichloromethane (DCM). The addition of tetrahydrofuran (THF) or chloroform to the heated polymer solution in DCM changed the morphology from square to rectangle. The aspect ratios increased linearly, from 1.0 to 10.6, according to the amount of THF or chloroform added, while maintaining narrow length dispersities less than 1.06. These unique fluorescent semiconducting nanosheets with tunable shapes exhibit high potential for optoelectronic applications.

Two-dimensional (2D) polymeric nanosheets have been widely used in optical devices, organic electronics, membranes, and catalysis owing to their unique ultrathin and flat morphology. Previously, these 2D nanosheets were prepared by the bottom-up self-assembly of block copolymers (BCPs) containing crystalline core blocks made of poly-(ethylene glycol), poly(ε-caprolactone), poly(L-lactide), hyperbranched poly(ether amine), poly-(ferrocenyl dimethylsilane) (PFS), or poly(p-phenylenevinylene) (PPV) and soluble corona blocks such as poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) or poly(2-vinylpyridine) (P2VP). Among the various 2D nanosheets, the Manners group has reported interesting examples of crystallization-driven self-assembly (CDSA) producing size-controlled hexagonal, rectangular-like, and diamond-shaped nanosheets from the assembly of PFS-b-P2VP seeds and PFS20[PPh2Me] I unimers. More recently, a unique semiconducting square nanosheet prepared by the CDSA of PPV-b-P2VP was reported, wherein the block ratio or polymer concentration determined the size. However, there has been no example of 2D nanosheets prepared from a simple homopolymer, especially conjugated one; it may be because controlling the crystallization of the core-forming homopolymer appears to be extremely challenging without a soluble corona.
Recently, the inventors have demonstrated the formation of large-area 2D nanosheets using poly(cyclopentenylene-vinylene) (PCPV) containing crystalline fluorene moieties and neohexyl side chains, which provided marginal solubility to the homopolymer. Interestingly, this homopolymer formed various 2D nanosheets spontaneously. However, the inventors were unable to control their precise shapes or sizes, presumably because of the kinetically trapped process (known as in situ nanoparticlization of conjugated polymer, INCP) leading to multistacked 2D nanosheets.

2-dimensional polymer nanosheets and method for morphologically tunable preparing the same


An automatic biological sample purification apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus is equipped with a magnetic field applying part, in which the magnetic field applying part for purifying biological samples and a heating part are integrally formed with each other so as to be movable up and down. A method of extracting a target substance from the biological sample using the automatic biological sample purification apparatus equipped with the magnetic field applying part is also disclosed.

Generally, a method using magnetic particles is widely used in order to isolate a target substance, such as nucleic acid and protein, from a biological sample. In this method, biochemical substances in the suspension state are rapidly attached to the fine magnetic particles having large surface areas, and the magnetic field is applied so as to collect the magnetic particles on which the target substance are attached, and then a solution thereof is removed. And various automatic equipments associated with this method have been developed.
Recently, an automated method using pipettes has been used widely.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,647,994 (claiming a priority date of Jun. 21, 1993) filed by Labsystems Oy describes various methods of separating the magnetic particles using a disposable pipette. These methods are prior arts for collecting the magnetic particles in the pipette like in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,702,950 and 6,187,270. And the construction elements thereof includes a tubular member serially connected to a jet channel, the jet channel defining a flow port at a free end of the tubular member and also having a diameter that is less than a diameter of a separation chamber; and a magnetic element disposed at one of a first location adjacent to the outer side of the separation wall and a second location within the separation chamber, wherein the magnetic element is adapted to be brought into such a state that magnetic particles will gather under the influence of magnetic field when disposed in a first location, or into such a state that the magnetic field no longer keeps the magnetic particles when disposed in a second location, and wherein the tubular member includes a second portion defining a cylindrical channel serially connected to the separation chamber on a side remote from the jet channel, the cylindrical channel receiving a movable piston thereby defining a suction cylinder for drawing liquid into the separation chamber and for removing the liquid from the separation chamber through the jet channel via the flow port.
A magnetic substance attracting/releasing control method proposed by Precision System Science Co. Ltd (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,702,950 and 6,231,814) has the same fundamental principle as in U.S. Pat. No. 5,647,994, except that a magnet is attached and detached in one direction of the pipette and thus magnetic field is controlled in one direction of a pipette tip. This magnetic substance attracting/releasing control method comprises the steps of: providing a pipette device having a liquid suction line including a liquid inlet end for sucking liquid containing the magnetic substance from a container and discharging the liquid through the liquid inlet end, and a magnet body or magnet bodies being detachably fitted to an external peripheral surface of the liquid suction line of the pipette device; the pipette device providing attracting/releasing control by absorbing and maintaining the magnetic substance contained in the liquid and attracted to the liquid suction line due to magnetism in the magnet body or bodies on an internal surface of the liquid suction line, the magnetic substance being maintained on the internal surface of the pipette device and also by releasing the magnetic substance from the liquid suction line by means of interrupting effect by magnetism in the magnet body or bodies so that the substance is discharged together with the liquid to outside of the liquid suction line through the liquid inlet end.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,187,270 (Roche Diagnostics GmbH), there is disclosed a method of separation of magnetic particles, in which a permanent magnet is approached to a disposable tip so as to attach the magnetic particles, thereby separating the magnetic particles from a solution. To this end, an apparatus for separation of the magnetic particles includes a pipette connected to a pump, a magnet, and a means for moving the magnet to the pipette side or the opposite side thereof. According to claim 1 of this patent, it is characterized in that a device for separating magnetic microparticles from a suspension in a liquid comprises a pipette having an inner wall, the pipette containing a suspension of magnetic microparticles in a liquid therein, as pipette contents, wherein the pipette is configured to be rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof; a pump connected to the pipette; a magnet exterior of the pipette and locatable to apply a magnetic field to at least part of the pipette contents to deposit the microparticles on the inner wall of the pipette; and moving means for causing relative movement of the pipette and the magnet to move at least one of them toward the other. According to claim 2 thereof, it is characterized in that the device comprises a pipette having an inner wall, the pipette containing a suspension of magnetic microparticles in a liquid therein as pipette contents; a pump connected to the pipette; a magnet exterior of the pipette and locatable to apply a magnetic field to at least part of the pipette contents to deposit the microparticles on the inner wall of the pipette; and moving means for causing relative movement of the pipette and the magnet to move at least one of them toward the other, wherein the magnet is configured to be movable around a longitudinal axis of the pipette. In the device of claim 2, the magnet is formed to be movable around the longitudinal axis of the pipette instead of the rotation of the pipette. And according to a third independent claim of this patent, it is characterized in that the pipette and magnet are movable relative to one another so that the magnetic field deposits microparticles on the inner wall in order to collect and eject magnetic microparticles deposited on the inner wall of the pipette in the pipette tip.
In these structures, there have been proposed methods of separating the magnetic particles from a solution using a disposable pipette and then suspending them in other solution. Herein, however, there is a serious problem that a lower end of the pipette may be clogged with the magnetic particles and thus an inaccurate result may be occurred frequently. Further, since a series of processes for separating a target substance from a biochemical mixed liquid is carried out in a pipette, it is difficult to uniformly maintain a suspension of a liquid, and also since alcohol is not completely removed even after a final step of cleaning alcohol, there is another problem that the alcohol is remained upon elution and thus may exert an influence on other post-process such as PCR.
In order to solve these problems, there has been developed again a special method in which a process of catching and collecting magnetic substances from a liquid is performed in a sample vessel instead of a pipette. The method in which a reaction is carried out in the sample vessel had been proposed already before.
Gen-Probe, Inc. also discloses a method of separating magnetically attractable particles from a fluid using a magnetic separation rack. The magnetic separation rack includes a plurality of test tube retaining portions, and a plurality of magnets arranged such that each magnet is alternately located at one side of the test tube. Herein, the magnet is arranged to one side of the test tube and at an upper portion thereof but not contacted with a bottom surface thereof. The magnetically labeled particles are attracted to the side of the test tube and then rinsed or removed with a liquid, thereby performing quantitative analysis thereof. However, since the magnetic particles in the test tube cannot sensitively response to the magnetic separation rack, there is a disadvantage in that the purification efficiency is deteriorated.
Amersham International plc had developed a method which can switch a magnet filed by moving a doughnut-shaped magnet vertically to a vessel (U.S. Pat. No. 5,897,783). And Beckman instruments, Inc. had developed an automatic purification apparatus for separating a magnetic substance from a sample using a magnetic plate (EP0479448). The magnetic plate is formed into a plate having a plurality holes through which a vessel can be inserted, and the automatic purification apparatus includes meaning for moving the magnetic plate up and down.
In case that the magnet has to be manufactured according to a certain shape and size, such as a doughnut and a plate, it is difficult to manufacture it and the manufacturing cost is increased. Thus, it is economically infeasible.
In case of using a commercially available rod magnet, it is advantageous to fabricate the apparatus. Gene-Trak systems had proposed a magnetic separation device using such the rod magnet (EP0317286). The magnetic separation apparatus includes base means having a plurality of orifices for receiving nonferrous containers adapted to contain magnetic particles; and a plurality of magnet means mounted on the said base spaced about the periphery of each receiving orifice wherein each of the said magnet means possess a north-south magnetic field orientation in a direction which is coplanar with a cross-sectional plane through the receiving orifices and wherein each of the north-south magnet fields of the magnet means are oriented in a common direction. However, in this system, there is not disclosed a method of minutely controlling up and down movements of the magnet means.
Meanwhile, temperature controlling in purification of a biological sample is one of the very important parameters. The optimal active temperature of protease K which is generally applied upon lysis is 55˜65, and the temperature controlling is essential in the purification. Further, after the final step of cleaning alcohol, it is preferable to completely dry and remove the alcohol. If the alcohol is not completely removed, other post-process such as PCR is influenced by the alcohol remained even after elution. Therefore, it is necessary to perform a high temperature treatment, thereby completely removing the alcohol.
Nevertheless, in the existing automatic purification apparatuses, temperature controlling means for improving the purification efficiency is not considered yet. Generally, the existing automatic systems which have been developed until now do not treat the lysis step at all which needs the temperature controlling. Even though the temperature controlling is carried out, the sample has to be moved to a new block in which the temperature controlling can be performed and then reacted therein. However, in this case, loss of the sample is inevitable due to the frequent movement of the sample.
Furthermore, in protein expression outside of cells, it is essential to control the temperature into 30˜40° C. and properly maintain the temperature for 3 hours or more. In a test tube, enzyme activity has to be occurred in all processes that RNA is synthesized from DNA and a protein is synthesized from the RNA. Herein, the above-mentioned reactions are carried out only when the temperature is maintained into 30˜40° C.
Also in case of using the above-mentioned pipettes, it is actually impossible to control the temperature due to its structural problem.
Therefore, in order to purify the biological sample using the magnetic particles, there is an increasing necessity for a new automatic purification apparatus in which the magnetic field is applied to the outside of a test tube, not a pipette and its up and down movement and temperature can be controlled and also which can be facilely fabricated.

Automatic biological sample purification apparatus equipped with magnetic filed applying part, method of extracting target substance from biological sample, and protein expression and purification method


[Object] To provide an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, a program, and a system capable of providing a more appropriate vehicle insurance by selecting a vehicle insurance in accordance with a current situation.

In the society in which automobiles have gained widespread use and a large number of people use automobiles on a daily basis, the convenience of transportation means is improved. Meanwhile, in the case where an accident occurs, the accident has a risk of specially severe danger to human life and body as well as an object in the surroundings. To promote the safety of automobiles, a variety of measures have been taken, but it is difficult to eliminate the risk of accidents. A variety of insurance systems have been thus developed for ampler and more secure compensation for an accident.
Regarding such an insurance system, for example, Patent Literature 1 below proposes a system that detects an operation state of a vehicle by a driver or a use state of a vehicle which means an equipment state or the like of equipment for protecting the body of a passenger, and further calculates an appropriate vehicle insurance fee by taking data regarding the maintenance or management of the vehicle into consideration.

Information processing apparatus, information processing method, program, and system

Abstract: [Solution] An information processing apparatus including: a selection section configured to select an insurance to be applied to a vehicle from one or more insurances calculated on a basis of a set vehicle insurance condition, attribute information of the vehicle and a user, and real-time characteristic information of the vehicle which includes movement route information.


The present invention relates to an electrical connector assembly comprising a plug connector and a spring operated secondary lock, being arranged movable on the plug connector housing between an open position and a locked position. The connector is further provided with tension springs, which are tensioned when the secondary lock is moved from the locked to the open position.

In many applications, the safe coupling of connectors is of high importance. For example, in the case of car safety systems, as for example airbag systems in passenger cars, the connectors used for the connection of an airbag to its ignition base have to be provided with reliable safety mechanisms. To ensure that the connectors cannot become loose unintentionally, secondary locking members are known to guarantee a safe mechanical coupling.
A typical example of an airbag squib connector provided with a secondary locking member is known from EP 1 207 591 B1. In this publication, an airbag plug connector is described comprising a plug connector housing with a plug in portion, which is adapted to be plugged into the corresponding receptacle of an airbag igniter or airbag squib. The plug part of the connector comprises a pair of locking arms, which are adapted to latch into a corresponding latching groove provided in the counter connector. To secure this latch type connection, the connector does further comprise a secondary locking member, also often denoted as connector position assurance device (CPA). This secondary lock is arranged moveable on the plug connector housing in mating direction of the plug connector between an open and a locked or closed position. In the open position, the secondary locking member projects to some extent from the upper surface of the plug connector and in this open position it is possible to mate the plug connector with the corresponding counter connector. After the mating process is complete, the secondary lock can be moved manually into the locked or closed position. In this locked position, locking legs provided on the secondary locking member prevent a release movement of the locking arms of the plug connector. From this prior art document it is also known to provide the secondary locking member with a mechanism, that prevents that the secondary member can be put into the locked position, if no counter connector is present, i.e. when the plug connector is not mated. This mechanism utilizes a spring arm with a step, which rests on a protrusion of the plug connector housing and prevents that the secondary lock can be brought into the locked position. Upon mating with the counter connector, this spring arm is deflected by a portion of the counter connector, so that upon full mating it is possible to move the secondary lock into the locked position, thereby securing the mated condition of the two connectors.
To facilitate the assembly of such plug connectors having secondary locking systems, spring actuated secondary locking mechanisms were developed. EP 1 540 778 B1 describes for example a plug-in connector comprising a secondary locking mechanism impinged by a spring force. In this publication a plug-in connector for airbag restraint systems is suggested, which comprises a secondary locking mechanism and four compression or pressure springs. The pressure springs are arranged, such that upon mating of the plug connector with the corresponding counter connector, the secondary lock is moved by the counter connector from the locked position to the open position against the pressure forces of the springs. At the end of the mating process, the secondary lock is suddenly released, and the four springs press the secondary lock back into the closed or locked position, thereby securing the mating process automatically.
The construction of this connector works very well, however, the skilled person is always trying to find improvements. It would be in particular desirable, to achieve a spring operated secondary locking mechanism, which is more compact in design and which is easier to assemble. The choice of pressure springs as in the prior art requires suitable guiding structures in the connector housing, since the compressed spring requires a spring buckling prevention. Further, since the pressure springs are loosely arranged in the corresponding guide structure, a risk exists, that these loose parts get lost during assembly and it is difficult to integrate the mounting of the springs in a fully automated assembly process.

Connector assembly with spring operated secondary lock


In a coupling arrangement for freely selectively switching through optical WDM (Wavelength Division Multiplex) signals, the input stage is formed with 1-x-m switching matrices, an optical signal with exactly one wavelength being fed to each 1-x-m switching matrix. In addition, the 1-x-m switching matrices and/or the space division multiplex switches of a central stage connected to the input stage are formed with semiconductor amplifiers (Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers). The coupling arrangement has the capability of switching through individual input signals in a non-blocking fashion to a plurality of output signals (multi-cast capability).

So called optical cross-connects make it possible to switch through optical WDM (Wavelength Division Multiplex) signals in a freely selectable, semipermanent fashion.
The subject matter of the application relates to a switching matrix for freely selectively switching through optical signals which are received on waveguides, which in each case have a given wavelength, onto output waveguides in which
the optical signals which are received on input waveguides can be switched through in the direction of a desired output waveguide by means of a multistage space division multiplex switching element, PA1 the space division multiplex switching element has an input stage and an output stage, and PA1 a plurality of optical signals which are output by the output stage and are switched through in the direction of the output waveguide can be converted in a signal-specific waveguide converter into optical signals with fixed wavelengths which are different from one another.
An arrangement which has the abovementioned features is known from the International Conference on Communications (ICC) 1993, Geneva, `Optical Path Layer Technologies to enhance B-ISDN Integrity`. In this arrangement, which is formed exclusively with space division multiplex switches, due to the design only one selecting through-connection, but not a multiple of a single optical signal, is possible in the input stage.

Non-blocking multi-cast WDM coupling arrangement


A device for lifting the abdominal wall for conducting endoscopic examinans and surgery within the abdominal cavity having a handling section and a spiral shaped section which is provided with at least one pitched winding, where the distal end of the spiral-shaped section is provided with a larger spiral diameter than the proximal side.

The present invention relates to a device for lifting the abdominal wall for conducting endoscopic examinations, such as surgery within the abdominal cavity. The device has a spiral-shaped section provided with at least one pitched winding and the one end of which is the distal end and which develops on the proximal side into a handling section.
Today, endoscopic instruments meeting ever greater demands for as minimal as possible trauma during surgery are increasingly employed in diagnosis and therapy within the human abdominal cavity. Within the framework of laparoscopy, in order to obtain the freedom of movement necessary for conducting examination and surgical procedures inside an abdominal cavity, the abdominal cavity is filled with gas. The intermediate space, the pneumoperitonium, forming between the internal organs and the abdominal wall due to the selective introduction of gas, has to be maintained over several hours depending on the difficulty and complexity of the surgery to be carried out.
Intra abdominal pressure maintained for an extensive period of time during surgery can lead to diminishment of breathing capacity and, furthermore, to the reduction of venous blood return flow. Moreover, the continuous introduction of gas into the human abdominal cavity, so-called insufflation, leads to slow hypothermia in the patient unless suited tempering of the insufflation gas is attended to during insufflation. In the event of continuous insufflation, hypoxia can set in due to hypoventilation as well as heart rhythm or expectoration disorders connected with the above-mentioned decreased venous return blood flow reduction. Further, intra abdominal pressure conditions can lead to increased vagus irritation due to extension of the peritoneum which, as the lung-stomach nerve, may impair the vegetative nervous system considerably.
Therefore, the question arises whether laparoscopic surgery is possible with reduced pneumoperitonium and whether reduction of intraabdominal pressure, generated and maintained by the insufflation procedure, possesses positive effects on the blood pressure dynamics and the respiratory cycle.
Within the scope of these examinations a number of instruments, with the aid of which the abdominal wall can be lifted manually, have become known as alternative to the aforementioned insufflation technique.
The article "Gasless Laparoscopy and Conventional Instruments" by R. S. Smith et, al., Journal Arch Surg. Vol. 128, Oct. 1993, pp. 1102 to 1107, describes a socalled laparolift system comprising a scissor-shaped mechanism which can be introduced into the abdominal cavity through the abdominal wall in a closed state. Inside the abdominal cavity the two scissor-like limbs can be expanded by means of an expansion mechanism. The two scissor-like limbs lift the abdominal wall from the internal organs by means of external drawing. The fillet like shape of the two scissor-like limbs puts much local strain on the abdominal wall due to the small surface of the support area of the limbs, which may damage the abdominal wall tissue. Furthermore, with lifting the scissor-like limbs, the scissor-like instrument offers only a small tent-like internal space in which endoscopic manipulations and examinations can be carried out only under difficult spatial conditions.
Although, in this manner the disadvantages connected with insufflation are avoided, the method does not ensure a large voluminous inflation of the abdominal cavity in which surgical measures can be conducted without hindering the surgeon.
In order to avoid the disadvantage of only a little expansion of the abdominal cavity achievable with the afore described scissor-like instrument, a spiral-like shaped stainless steel wire construction has been developed. The spiral-shaped state-of-the-art arrangement depicted in FIG. 1 is provided at its distal end E with an essentially centered and parallel to the spiral axis S shaped distal section which is designed on the distal side with a tapering material diameter. On the proximal side, the spiral-shaped section SA develops into a handling section HA, which preferably is composed of the same material as the spiral itself. Starting at the distal end of the spiral-like shaped instrument, the diameter of the spiral widens to a largest value at the point where the handling section HA of the instrument connects to the spiral-shaped section. The spiral-shaped section SA is largely a single winding pitched in the direction of the spiral axis S.
The distal end of the afore described instrument is introduced inside the abdominal cavity through an opening going through the abdominal wall and then is passed intra corporally under the abdominal wall by turning the remaining part of the spiral-shaped section. The handling section HA comprises a fillet St protruding vertically out of the abdominal wall and connected to the handle H. Due to vertical lifting, the inside of the abdominal wall lies on the outer periphery of the spiral-shaped winding and creates a space between the abdominal wall and the internal organs.
Compared to the preceding, scissor-shaped instrument known from the state of the art, the abdominal wall lies on the spiral-shaped section of the instrument over a large area, thereby considerably reducing the pressure strain on the tissue of the abdominal wall. In addition, the circular outer periphery of the spiral-shaped section permits lifting the abdominal wall spatially in such a manner that a larger cavity can be created inside the abdomen for conducting endoscopic surgery.
Apart from the advantages of the designed spiral-shaped instrument over the known methods for expanding the abdominal cavity, there are nonetheless drawbacks connected with it: in view of the fact that the diameter of the spiral widens from the distal end toward the proximal end, in the lifted state the abdominal wall is stretched relatively severely by the outer edge of the spiral, especially because in the area of the almost circular diameter of the spiral, the abdominal wall is lifted over a large area and pulled strongly downward at the edges. In this area, the very great curvature of the abdominal wall very badly strains the tissue. Tissue irritation which can lead to traumatic changes can occur at these sites especially during long surgery.
The centered disposal of the distal end of the spiral shaped section relative to the spiral axis makes this central area within the abdominal cavity not readily accessible for observation endoscopes and endoscopic surgical instruments.
The rigid design of the whole spiral-shaped fabricated instrument makes introduction into the abdominal cavity partly very complicated. In an advantageous manner, a trocar tube, which is pushed into a small opening in the abdomen through which the spiral-shaped section of the described "lifting tool" is guided, is used for the introduction of the distal end inside the abdominal cavity. Practice has shown that the threading into the trocar tube procedure has proven very complicated.
The object of the present invention is to further develop a device for lifting the abdominal wall for conducting endoscopic examinations including surgery inside the abdominal cavity, which device has a spiral-shaped section which is provided with at least one pitched winding and whose one end is the distal end and which develops on the proximal side into a handling section, in such a manner that the aforementioned drawbacks can be eliminated. In particular, the abdominal wall should not be exposed to increased tension during the lifting procedure so that any traumatic tissue changes can be ruled out. Furthermore, the device should create a freely accessible abdomen cavity for the endoscopic instruments so that the surgeon can carry out surgical measures as unimpeded as possible.
An element of the present invention is to develop a device for lifting the abdominal wall for conducting endoscopic examinations including surgery within the abdominal cavity, which device has a spiral-shaped section provided with at least one pitched winding on the distal end with a proximal end opening into a handle, in such a manner that the distal end of the spiral-shaped section in a vertical projection has a larger spiral diameter than the proximal side area of the spiral-shaped section. The distal end of the device may also be flexible.
The present invention is based on the idea that due to the invented shaping of the spiral-shaped section an outer contour which encases this section is created so that the abdominal wall lies on closely and evenly onto the external areas of the individual windings without being subject to major stretching. The outer contour encasing the spiral-shaped section is provided with a relatively dome-shaped outer contour due to which the abdominal wall is not pulled over any edges during lifting.
Widening the diameter of the spiral toward the distal end of the spiral-shaped section permits disposing the distal end required for the insertion procedure not centered to the spiral axis. This makes it possible that the central area of the abdominal cavity is freely accessible for endoscopic aids.
Furthermore, an element of the present invention is that it was understood that adding a flexible section at the distal end region of the device can facilitate the insertion procedure into a trocar tube specially provided in the abdominal cavity. The flexible section is preferably made of a NiTi alloy which is provided with form memory properties and, in addition, has a cross section which resembles a flattened wire. In this manner, the stability properties of the flexible section can be designed differently in various spatial directions.
In order to avoid tissue injury during the introduction procedure within the abdominal cavity, the distal end of the flexible section is rounded off or a ball-shaped element is attached thereto preventing boring into the tissue areas.

Device for lifting the abdominal wall for conducting endoscopic examinations including surgery

Fraunhofer Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.


A pharmaceutical composition comprising, as an active ingredient, a lens antigen which induces a lens cell damaging immune response or a microorganism capable of expressing a lens antigen which induces a lens cell damaging immune response. The pharmaceutical composition of the present invention containing, as an active ingredient, a lens antigen or a microorganism capable of expressing said antigen shows markedly superior inhibitory effects on the increase of an anti-lens protein antibody titer. Therefore, it most probably treats or prevents cataract effectively, and delays onset of cataract. Thus, the composition is extremely useful for cataract patients and reserve patients of cataract.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition containing, as an active ingredient, a lens antigen or a microorganism capable of expressing said antigen. More particularly, the present invention relates to an inhibitor to the increase of antibodies against a lens protein. The present invention further relates to an agent for the therapy, prophylaxis or retardation of onset of cataract.
2. Description of Related Art
Cataract is a serious disease associated with gradual loss of eyesight caused by a lens which became opaque due to various factors. It comes out with a symptom of paropsis caused by the opacity of the lens.
Cataract has so far been treated by the administration of various pharmaceutical agents. However, administration of such agents is not entirely satisfactory, partly because the etiology of cataract has not been fully elucidated. Consequently, the treatment of cataract today ultimately relies on surgical one. The surgical treatment comprises either removal of lens nucleus and lens cortex to the outside of the membrane of the lens, or enucleation of the entire opaque lens out from the eye. However, surgical treatments often induce complications and they are burdensome to patients, since incision and suture of the cornea are inevitable even when operated with the state-of-the-art surgery technique.
To sum, the etiology of cataract has not been fully elucidated and agents for therapy thereof are not satisfactory. A surgical treatment accompanies great burden on patients.


A method of treating injuries to or diseases of the central nervous system that predominantly affects glia and/or non-cholinergic neuronal cells characterized in that it comprises the step of increasing the active concentration(s) of insulin-like growth factor 1 and/or analogues thereof in the central nervous system of the patient. The present invention also provides therapeutic compositions comprising insulin-like growth factor 1 and/or analogues thereof for administration to a patient at or following a neural insult, which compositions are useful in minimizing damage to the central nervous system that would otherwise occur following the insult.

After asphyxial, traumatic, toxic, infectious, degenerative, metabolic, ischemic or hypoxic insults to the central nervous system (CNS) of man a certain degree of damage in several different cell types may result. For example periventricular leucomalacia, a lesion which affects the periventricular oligodendrocytes is generally considered to be a consequence of hypoxicischemic injury to the developing preterm brain (Bejar et al., Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol., 159:357-363 (1988); Sinha et al., Arch. Dis. Child., 65:1017-1020 (1990); Young et al., Ann. Neurol., 12:445-448 (1982)). Further cholinergic neuronal cell bodies are absent from most regions of the cortex in primates (Mesulam et al., Neurosci., 12:669-686 (1984)) and rats (Brownstein et al. in Handbook of Chemical Neuroanatomy, Classical Transmitters in the CNS, Bjorklund et al., eds., Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp. 23-53 (1984)). Damage to the cerebral cortex by trauma, asphyxia, ischemia, toxins or infection is frequent and may cause sensory, motor or cognitive deficits. Glial cells which are non-neuronal cells in the CNS are necessary for normal CNS function. Infarcts are a principle component of hypoxicischemic induced injury and less of glial cells is an essential component of infarction.
Diseases of the CNS also may cause loss of specific populations of cells. For example multiple sclerosis is associated with loss of myolin and oligodendrocytes, similarly Parkinson's disease is associated with loss of dopaminergic neurons. Some situations in which CNS injury or disease can lead to predominant loss of glia or other non-cholinergic cell types or infarction include: perinatal asphyxia associated with fetal distress such as following abruption, cord occlusion or associated with intrauterine growth retardation; perinatal asphyxia associated with failure of adequate resuscitation or respiration; severe CNS insults associated with near miss drowning, near miss cot death, carbon monoxide inhalation, ammonia or other gaseous intoxication, cardiac arrest, collapse, coma, meningitis, hypoglycaemia and status epilepticus; episodes of cerebral asphyxia associated with coronary bypass surgery; cerebral anoxia or ischemia associated with stroke, hypotensive episodes and hypertensive crises; cerebral trauma.
There are many other instances in which CNS injury or disease can cause damage to glia and non-cholinergic neurons of the CNS. It is desirable to treat the injury in these instances. Also, it is desirable to prevent or reduce the amount of CNS damage which may be suffered as a result of induced cerebral asphyxia in situations such as cardiac bypass surgery. To date, there has been no reference in the prior art to the manipulation of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) to prevent or treat CNS injury or disease leading to infarction or loss of glia and other non-cholinergic neuronal cells in vivo.
IGF-I is a polypeptide naturally occurring in human body fluids, for example, blood and human cerebral spinal fluid. Most tissues, and especially the liver, produce IGF-I together with specific IGF-binding proteins. IGF-I production is under the dominant stimulatory influence of growth hormone (GH), and some of the IGF-I binding proteins are also increased by GH. See Tanner et al., Acta Endocrinol., 84: 681-696 (1977); Uthne et al., J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., 39: 548-554 (1974)). IGF-I has been isolated from human serum and produced recombinantly. See, e.g., EP 123,228 and 128,733.
Various biological activities of IGF-I have been identified. For example, IGF-I is reported to lower blood glucose levels in humans. Guler et al., N. Engl. J. Med. 317: 137-140 (1987). Additionally, IGF-I promotes growth in several metabolic conditions characterized by low IGF-I levels, such as hypophysectomized rats Skottner et al., J. Endocr., 112: 123-132 (1987)!, diabetic rats Scheiwiller et al., Nature, 323: 169-171 (1986)!, and dwarf rats Skottner et al., Endocrinology 124: 2519-2628 (1989)!. The kidney weight of hypophysectomized rats increases substantially upon prolonged infusions of IGF-I subcutaneously. Guler et al., Proceedings of the 1st European Congress of Endocrinology, 103: abstract 12-390 (Copenhagen, 1987). The kidneys of Snell dwarf mice and dwarf rats behaved similarly. van Buul-Offers et al., Pediatr. Res., 20: 825-827 (1986); Skottner et al., Endocrinology, supra. An additional use for IGF-I is to improve glomerular filtration and renal plasma flow. Guler et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 86: 2868-2872 (1989). The anabolic effect of IGF-I in rapidly growing neonatal rats was demonstrated in vivo. Philipps et al., Pediatric Res., 23: 298 (1988). In underfed, stressed, ill, or diseased animals, IGF-I levels are well known to be depressed.
IGF-1 is thought to play a paracrine role in the developing and mature brain (Werther et al., Mol. Endocrinol. 4:773-778 (1990)). In vitro studies indicate that IGF-1 is a potent non-selective trophic agent for several types of neurons in the CNS (Knusel et al., J. Neurosci., 10(2):558-570 (1990); Svezic and Schubert, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 172(1):54-60 (1990)), including dopaminergic neurons (Knusel et al., J. Neurosci., 10(2):558-570 (1990)) and oligodendrocytes (McMorris and Dubois, J. Neurosci. Res. 21:199-209 (1988); McMorris et al., PNAS, USA, 83:822-826 (1986); Mozell and McMorris, J. Neurosci. Res. 30:382-390 (1991)). Methods for enhancing the survival of cholinergic neuronal cells by administration of IGF-1 have been described (Lewis, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,093,317 (issued Mar. 3, 1992)).
IGF-1 receptors are wide spread in the CNS (Bohannon et al., Brain Res., 444:205-213 (1988); Bondy et al., Neurosci., 46:909-923 (1992)) occurring on both glia (Kiess et al., Endocrinol., 124:1727-1736 (1989)) and neurons (Sturm et al., Endocrinol., 124:388-396 (1989)). These receptors mediate the anabolic and somatogenic effects of IGF-1 and have a higher affinity for IGF-1 compared to insulin (Hill et al., Neurosci., 17:1127-1138 (1986); Lesniak et al., Endocrinol., 123:2089-2099 (1988)). From 3 days after injury greatly increased levels of IGF-1 are produced particularly in the developing CNS (Gluckman et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 182(2);593-599 (1992); Yamaguchi et al., Neurosci. Lett. 128:273-276 (1991)). The effect of IGF-1 as a central neuroprotectant when administered after an insult (Gluckman et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 182(2);593-599 (1992)) (see experiments A and B) suggests a mode of action involving interference with the activated processes leading to cell death. Endogenous and exogenous IGF-1 stimulate peripheral nerve regeneration (Karje et al., Brain Res., 486:396-398 (1989)). IGF-1 has been shown to enhance ornithine decarboxylase activity in normal rat brains (U.S. Pat. No. 5,093,317).
It is an object of the invention to provide a method and/or medicament (therapeutic composition) for treating or preventing CNS damage which will go at least some way to meeting the foregoing desiderata in a simple yet effective manner or which will at least provide the public with a useful choice.


An objective of the invention is to provide a hair dye composition having sufficient decolorizing performance and dying performance without exhibiting any irritative odor, and also having an ability of imparting the hairs with an excellent smoothness.

Recently, a demand of changing the color of hairs to a lighter color is increased in response to the change in the consumer's mind, resulting in an expansion of the hair dye market.
A hair dye consists of a first agent containing an alkaline agent and an oxidation dye and a second agent containing an oxidant, and is used first by mixing the first and second agents upon coloring operation, and then applied onto hairs, allowed to stand, and then rinsed (see FIG. 1).
Conventionally, ammonia is employed usually as an alkaline agent. While the ammonia has sufficient decolorizing performance, dying performance and color-lasting performance, it exhibits an intense irritative odor, which gives a substantial discomfort upon coloring operation, sometimes causes an eye irritation. It also causes a stiffness on the hair occasionally after the coloring operation.
Accordingly, it was attempted to use an alkali having a reduced irritative odor instead of the ammonia. For example, a method employing a basic amino acid (JP-A-59-106413), a method employing a guanidium salt (JP-A-11-180837) and a method employing a carbonate (JP-B-7-59490) are well known.
However, any of these methods has an insufficient decolorizing performance and can not be successful in dying the hairs a light color tone, although it can overcome the problems associated with the irritative odor. It also has an insufficient dying performance, and suffers from a difficulty in dying the hairs a deep color, to which a solution has been desired.

Abstract: The aspect of the invention is a hair dye composition comprising:                a first agent containing an alkanolamine and an oxidation dye; and,        a second agent containing an oxidant,        wherein a higher alcohol and a quaternary ammonium salt cationic surfactant are contained in the first agent and/or the second agent;        wherein the molar ratio of the higher alcohol to the quaternary ammonium salt cationic surfactant is in the range of 3 to 15.

Abstract: In the composition described above, it is preferable that substantially no ammonia is contained.


A device, system, and method for communicating with a power inverter of an array of inverters includes transmitting a relay message from an inverter array controller to a relay inverter in response to failing to receive a response from at least one power inverter of the array. The relay inverter is configured to retransmit a message from the inverter array controller to a non-responsive power inverter of the array of inverters in response to receiving the relay message. The relay inverter may subsequently retransmit a reply received from the non-responsive power inverter to the inverter array controller or to another power inverter of the array of inverters.

Power inverters convert a DC input power to an AC output power. Some power inverters are configured to convert the DC input power to an AC output power suitable for supplying energy to an AC grid and, in some cases, an AC load coupled to the AC grid. One particular application for such power inverters is the conversion of DC power generated by an alternative energy source, such as photovoltaic cells ("PV cells" or "solar cells"), fuel cells, DC wind turbine, DC water turbine, and other DC power sources, to a single-phase AC power for delivery to the AC grid at the grid frequency.
In an effort to increase the amount of AC power generated, a large number of power inverters may be used in a single application to form an array of power inverters. In some implementations, each power inverter of the array is incorporated or otherwise associated with an alternative energy source (e.g., solar cell panel) to form an alternative energy source module such as a photovoltaic module. Such power inverters are generally referred to as "microinverters." Communication with each power inverter used in the application is often desirable to, for example, monitor the health or energy output of the power inverters. In some applications, a power inverter controller or manager may be used to control and manage the array of inverters.

Device, system, and method for communicating with a power inverter using power line communications


An authorization framework located external to an application may be invoked to determine user authorization for a requested application component. Small amounts of supplemental authentication code are added to application code to invoke provider modules within the authentication framework. The provider modules perform authorization functions outside of the application and return authorization results to the application. The functions include determining a user role, determining the permissions associated with the user role, comparing the role permissions to the security defined on the requested application component by a rule, and returning an authorization state to the authentication framework. The supplemental authentication code may invoke one or more providers through provider interfaces that translate requests to a particular provider. Using the provider based authorization framework, authorization for an application component is achieved externally without hard-coding authorization code within the application itself.

Enterprise applications that handle sensitive data need to provide security to protect this data. Typical security systems for an enterprise application provide security through user authentication and authorization. The authentication process identifies the user and confirms that the user logging into a system is associated with a particular account. User authorization relates to permissions associated with a particular account and specifies what a logged in user can do.
Most security systems implement authentication and authorization from within the application itself. Code implementing the authorization engine is usually hard-coded into the application. As the sophistication of the security and the amount of data secured has increased, the code within an application required to implement security has increased. These large code requirements use valuable memory and processing resources for applications and can affect performance of the application.

Modular enterprise authorization solution


A radio selective call receiver such as a pager that displays a remaining time for retaining data stored in a memory of the receiver on its LCD after removing the battery, providing a user with an easy and simple way of protecting for data. A count section of a decoder circuit counts the time period elapsing from removal of the battery to insertion of a replacement battery detected by a battery removal/insertion detection circuit using a reference clock. An operation section reads a message retentive time from a ID-ROM indicating the time allowed for retaining the message preset in the RAM after removing the battery and outputs an operation result obtained by subtracting the elapsed time from the message retentive time. A CPU receives output information of the operation section 6c and edits the output information conforming to the remaining time for retaining the message so as to be displayed on the LCD 8.

The present invention relates to a radio selective call receiver such as a pager and, more particularly, to one with a circuit for preventing data loss when replacing a battery.
The conventional radio selective call receiver of the above type is designed to allow for appropriate battery replacement in order to prevent suspension of reception operation as well as making full use of the battery. For example, JP-A110495/1993 relates to a receiver comprising low voltage detection means for detecting the battery voltage decline below a predetermined reference voltage, alarm means for providing a first alarm in response to a low voltage detection signal sent from the low voltage detection means and low voltage elapsed time display means for displaying the time elapsed from the first alarm to the present time so that the battery can be replaced at an appropriate time.
The above-described conventional radio selective call receiver displays the time elapsed from the first alarm indicating a low voltage condition to the present time on its display unit, calling for a user carrying the receiver (hereinafter referred to as a user) to replace the battery upon seeing the displayed elapsed time and gives a second alarm to notify the user if the battery has not been replaced yet after a predetermined time has passed. From the displayed elapsed time after the first alarm however, the user is not able to obtain information as to how much of the capacity of the battery is left to retain the data stored in a memory of the second receiver. As the alarm operation is likely to consume more power of the battery compared with the LCD display operation, the second alarm decreases the effective service life of the battery in use.

Radio selective call receiver such as a pager and method of displaying remaining time allowed for data retention after removal of a battery


A system and method that provide a hosted application and associated services for encoding, indexing, publishing and searching video media to content owners on a public network. The system and method allow the user interface to be customized and injected into the content-owner's website using dynamic HTML and template-based presentation mechanisms, thereby greatly enhancing the website's branding, advertising, and community building capabilities.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to the field of accessing and processing digital video on a network such as the Internet. More particularly, the invention relates to providing media content owners the capability to deliver media content to end users as an interactive experience.
2. Description of the Related Technology
A number of techniques have evolved in recent years as the Internet has grown in size and sophistication, including:                The use of web servers and HTML delivery to web browsers.        The use of the application-server model for connecting database information with web pages and interactive interfaces for end users.        The use of dynamically generated HTML that pulls information from a database to dynamically format HTML for delivery to the end user.        The use of a template language to merge database output with pre-formatted HTML presentations.        The use of 'cookies' to track individual user preferences as they interact with the web pages and applications.These and other related web technologies and techniques are in commonplace use and readily accessible on the Internet.
In addition to the technologies described above, video indexing technology has also emerged, herein referred to as 'video logging'. Video logging is a process that incorporates both automated indexing and manual annotation facilities to create a rich, fine-grained (in a temporal sense) index into a body of video content. The index typically consists of a combination of visual and textual indices that permit time-based searching of video content. The index may incorporate spoken text, speaker identifications, facial identifications, on-screen text, and additional annotations, keywords, and descriptions that may be applied by a human user executing the video logging application. The Virage VideoLogger is one example of this type of video logging technology that is commercially available.
The delivery of streaming media on the Internet requires the encoding of video content into one or more streaming video formats and efficient delivery of that content to the end users. Common streaming formats presently in use include RealVideo, Microsoft Windows Media, QuickTime, and MPEG. The video logging technology may coordinate the encoding of one or more of these formats while the video is being indexed to ensure that the video index is time-synchronized with the encoded content. The final delivery of media content to an end user is typically accomplished with a wide variety of video serving mechanisms and infrastructure. These mechanisms may include basic video servers (such as those from Real, Microsoft, and Apple), caching appliances (such as those from CacheFlow, Network Appliance, Inktomi, and Cicso), and content delivery networks (herein "CDN's", such as those from Akamai, Digital Island, iBeam, and Adero). These types of video serving mechanisms deliver media content to the end user.
Media content owners often wish to offer their content on the Internet for a variety of purposes, including commerce, community building, and to generate revenue through advertising and syndication mechanisms. The delivery of interactive, searchable, and personalized video content (for example video, Flash™, Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language or SMIL, and similar formats, herein collectively referred to as 'video') on the Internet is a difficult task to accomplish for a majority of content owners. It would require significant time and monetary investments in technical infrastructure as well as the expertise of Information Technology ("IT") professionals within the content owner's organization to achieve the desired business goals.
Among the important business criteria for success in this area is that the content owner retains total control over their content. It is beneficial for the content owners to have control over the presentation, delivery, access controls, and editorial-indexing aspects of their content at all times. Therefore, what is needed in the technology is a system whereby a service provider can offer a hosted application and associated services for encoding and indexing video media that achieves the content owner's business goals without requiring the existence of technical infrastructure and expertise within the content owner's own organization.

System and method for hosting of video content over a network


A method of producing high temperature parts by way of relatively low temperature sintering is disclosed. A powder is produced, for example by spray drying a slurry, in which particles of a high temperature material such as a ceramic are partially coated with a low temperature material such as a polymer. The powder is subjected to selective laser sintering, or another heat-based layerwise additive process, to form a green part where the ceramic particles are bound by the polymer. The green part is permeated with a cementing agent having high temperature properties when cured; the cementing agent binds the exposed ceramic surfaces in the green part. The polymer is then removed, leaving the high temperature part. Additional cementing agent, or another high temperature material, may then be added to the part after removal of the polymer.

A significant portion of the product design cycle of many modern manufactured products has generally been consumed by the time required to build and test prototype parts. Accordingly, many manufacturers operate fast turn-around shops for the producing of prototype parts useful in the development of the manufactured product. One popular method of producing prototype parts in such shops is the subtractive machining of a block of material until the part matches the dimensions in a mechanical design. As is well known, the accuracy with which the machined prototype part matches the design can widely vary, primarily according to the skill of the machinist. In addition, the ability of subtractive processing to produce parts of complex shape is limited, and the time required for the machining of the part can be quite lengthy. As such, the product design cycle depending upon subtractive machining of prototypes is often lengthy, delaying the time-to-market of the eventual manufactured product.
Accordingly, new methods for the producing of parts, especially prototypes, have been developed in recent years to enable the rapid manufacture of complex parts directly from computer-aided-design (CAD) data bases. In particular, additive processes for building up the parts from a material have recently become popular, such processes in contrast to subtractive processes which remove material from a block to form the part. One type of such an additive process is stereolithography, as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,575,330 and 4,929,402. Other processes for producing parts also selectively photopolymerize liquids, as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,031,120 and 4,961,154. Additive processes by which parts are produced by jetting of droplets of solidifiable material are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,059,266 and 4,665,492.
By way of further background, an additive powder-based process is described in Sachs, et al., "Three Dimensional Printing of Ceramic Shells and Cores for Metal Casting", presented at the 39th Annual Technical Meeting of the Investment Casting Institute (1991), pages 12:1 through 12:13. In the process described in this article, a part is produced in layerwise fashion from a powder. After the deposition of a layer of the powder, a binder is applied to selected locations of the layer to form a cross-section of the part, using technology similar to ink-jet printing. Additional layers of the powder are spread and similarly processed to build up the part, after which the unbound powder is removed to leave the part.
By way of further background, another additive process is described in Weiss, et al., "A Framework for Thermal Spray Shape Deposition: The MD.sup.* System", presented at the Solid Freeform Fabrication symposium (The University of Texas at Austin, August, 1991). This additive process utilizes thermal or plasma spraying of material, such as metals, through a mask to deposit a cross-section of a part. Support material (such as a lower melting point metal) is thermally sprayed through a complementary mask to fill in the layer, allowing overhangs of the primary material to be formed in subsequent layers.
A particularly successful and recently developed additive process is commonly referred to as selective laser sintering. According to the selective laser sintering process, a laser is scanned in raster fashion over a layer of fusible powder to fuse selected portions of the layer according to a cross-section of the desired part. After the fusing of the desired portions of a layer, another layer of powder is placed and similarly selectively fused, with fused portions of the later layer fusing to fused portions of the previous layer. Continued layerwise processing in this manner results in a part which can be quite complex in the three-dimensional sense. This method is described in detail in copending application Ser. No. 814,715, filed Dec. 30, 1991, now abandoned and in the above-referenced U.S. Pat. No. 5,076,869, issued Dec. 31, 1991, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,817 issued Jul. 30, 1990, all assigned to Board of Regents, The University of Texas System, and incorporated herein by this reference. The selective laser sintering method is also described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,863,538, issued Sep. 5, 1989, U.S. Pat. No. 5,017,753 issued May 21, 1991, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,938,816 issued Jul. 3, 1990, all also assigned to Board of Regents, The University of Texas System and incorporated herein by this reference.
By way of further background, copending applications Ser. No. 624,419 filed Dec. 7, 1990, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,156,697 issued on Oct. 20, 1992, Ser. No. 657,151 filed Feb. 19, 1991, and Ser. No. 692,172, filed Apr. 26, 1991, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,147,587 issued on Sep. 15, 1992, all also assigned to Board of Regents, The University of Texas System and incorporated herein by this reference, as well as the other referenced U.S. Patents noted hereinabove, each describe the selective laser sintering of various materials and combinations of materials such as plastics, waxes, metals, ceramics, and the like. In particular, the selective laser sintering method has been especially beneficial in the production of molds or cores useful in investment casting. For example, a part formed of a low-temperature wax by the selective laser sintering process may be used in the well-known "lost wax" method of forming an investment casting mold. In addition, the above-referenced copending applications Ser. No. 624,419, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,156,697 issued on Oct. 20, 1992 Ser. No. 657,151, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,147,587 issued on Sep. 15, 1992, and Ser. No. 692,172 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,182,170 issued on Jan. 26, 1993, each describe methods for producing parts from high temperature materials, and thus which may be useful in directly forming an investment casting mold.
In the selective laser sintering process, sufficient energy must be directed to the powder so as to cause it to fuse into the desired part cross-section. For most powders processed in this manner, including wax, plastic and metallic powders, the fusing mechanism is sintering, in which the surface tension of the irradiated powder overcomes its viscosity, such that the particles flow together and bond. As such, the temperature at which sintering occurs is substantially the melting or softening point of the powder material. For waxes and plastics, the melting point can be sufficiently low so that a low power laser (e.g., a 100 watt NdYAG laser) can sinter the material. For higher temperature materials, either higher power lasers must be used, or the temperature of the chamber in which the selective laser sintering process is carried out must be raised to near the sintering temperature. Accordingly, the production of parts of high melting point materials, such as ceramics useful as investment casting molds, is significantly more difficult than such production of lower melting point materials.
In addition, thermal gradient-related effects such as warpage and shrinkage must also be controlled in the selective laser sintering process, particularly for high temperature materials. Warpage has been observed in parts where a bottom flat surface curls up at the edges to become a curved surface, concave up. It is believed that such warpage is due to the thermal shrinkage of the sintered layer from its temperature during sintering to its post-sintering temperature, and, in some cases, the reduction in volume of a layer as it passes through the phase change from liquid to solid. The reduction in volume of a newly sintered layer, whether by phase change or by a drop in temperature, causes the top of the part to contract. The bottom of the part is thermally insulated by its immersion in unsintered powder and in previously sintered layers that have already contracted; as a result, contraction of the top layer induces stress that can curl the part. Furthermore, uneven cooling of the part during its layer-wise manufacture, for example where top layers of the part are cooled more quickly than bottom layers, has also been observed to cause warpage and curling.
Also as noted hereinabove, some materials tend to shrink in the consolidation from powder to a high density solid that occurs in the sintering process. Particularly for high temperature materials, such shrinkage causes undesirable loss of dimensional accuracy.
Because of these thermal effects, it is therefore desirable to perform the selective laser sintering at relatively low temperatures, so that the thermal gradients present in the system are controlled. However, such low temperature processing is not compatible with the desire to form high strength, high temperature parts, such as molds or cores for investment casting.
By way of further background, another method for producing parts of high temperature materials, such as high temperature ceramics and ceramic composites, utilizes a powder of polymer-coated ceramic, such as described in the above-referenced U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,076,869 and 4,944,817. As described in these Patents, after the formation of a part by flowing the polymer coating to bind particles of a high temperature material, the part is subjected to a post-process anneal, in which the polymer coating dissociates and the remaining particles of the high-temperature material sinter together and form the part. However, it has been observed that the particle sizes necessary for the selective laser sintering process can be too large to subsequently sinter in the post-process anneal, at least in a reasonable anneal time. In addition, the sintering temperature of important ceramic materials such as alumina and silica often exceeds the temperature available in conventional ovens.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method of producing parts having high melting points, by way of a low power energy beam.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a method in which the parts may be produced with a high degree of dimensional tolerance.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a method in which the ceramic, metal and metal/ceramic parts may be produced.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having reference to the following specification together with its drawings.

Method of producing high-temperature parts by way of low-temperature sintering


A chip card includes a semiconductor chip that contains at least one memory. In order to supply energy to the chip and to provide for bi-directional data transmission from and to the chip, both contacts and a device for contactless data transmission are provided. A triggerable switch device which is provided on the chip connects the memory either to the contacts or to the device for contactless data transmission as a function of a state of an output signal of a logic circuit connected to at least a voltage supply contact. The switch device assumes a position of repose when it is not triggered and in that position it connects the memory to the device for contactless data transmission, while only upon application of a voltage to the supply voltage contact, triggered by the logic circuit, does it connect the contacts to the memory.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a chip card having a semiconductor chip that contains at least one memory, contacts and a device for contactless data transmission for supplying energy to the chip and for bi-directional data transmission from and to the chip, and a triggerable switch device disposed on the chip for connecting the memory either to the contacts or to the device for contactless data transmission, depending on a state of an output signal of a logic circuit connected to at least a voltage supply contact.
One such chip card is already known from Published European Patent Application 0 424 726 A1. In that device, the logic circuit is constructed as a comparator having one input which is connected to the supply voltage contact. The other input of the comparator is connected, through a rectifier and smoothing network, to coils for contactless energy and data transmission. An output of the comparator operates as a function of voltages applied to its two inputs to trigger a multiplexer which operates as a function of the status of the output signal of the comparator to switch either the supply voltage and the signals of the contacts, or the supply voltage and the signals that have been derived from the signal received by the coils, to a microprocessor that is also connected to the multiplexer and has an associated memory.
Accordingly, in the known chip card, an automatic switchover to either the contacts or the coils is possible, depending on where the chip card has received its supply voltage from. However, one disadvantage of that device is that the memory is always connected to an input/output interface which furnishes the higher supply voltage. As a result, even if the chip card was inserted into a conventional card reader that has contacts, the multiplexer could be switched over by the application of a strong electromagnetic field, thus making misuse of the card possible. That is a problem, above all because in such combined cards, in which energy and data transmission can be carried out either through contacts or contactlessly through coils, and where those cards are used as debit cards, debiting of the card is normally carried out through the contactless transmission route, while incrementing the value of the card is carried out through the conventional transmission route, with contacts. That provides an inducement to swindlers to manipulate the card while it is inserted in a conventional card reader for charging.

Chip card with a contactless energy supply and data transmission devices


The present invention is to provide a connector having watertight between a cover and a housing, and preventing a filler from leaking out of fitting faces therebetween. The housing has a housing groove, at a side of the cover, defined with a first and second housing walls. The cover has a cover groove, at a side of the housing, defined with a first and second cover walls. When the cover is attached to the housing, a first and second thin end portions of the first and second cover walls enter into the housing groove to form a filling space of the filler around a connector block of the housing. The filler injected into the filling space expands and presses the first and second thin end portions to deform and closely abut the first and second housing walls.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connector for connecting an electric wire.
2. Description of the Related Art
A motor vehicle has a wire harness, which bundles a plurality of electric wires, for sending electric power and control signal to a variety of electronic devices. The wire harness has a connector at an end thereof for connecting to the variety of the electronic devices.
JP, 2001-76808, A discloses a waterproof connector utilized in a place, where rain water enters into, such as an engine room.
The waterproof connector is connected to a connector connected with the electronic devices in the engine room to send the control signal.
The waterproof connector includes a terminal connected with an end portion of an electric wire, a housing having a terminal receiver receiving the terminal, and a cover attached to the housing.
The housing and cover have box shapes and are made of an insulation synthetic resin. The attachment of the cover to the housing protects a connection portion of the terminal in the housing. The housing attached with the cover has a filling groove for a filler to be injected.
The filler injected into the connector keeps watertight between the cover and housing, and prevents the rain water from entering into the housing from outside the connector.
The connector with the housing and cover described above is resin molded and often causes a dimension error at the molding. Hence, when the cover is attached to the housing, a small gap occurs at a fitting face therebetween. In this situation, when the filler is injected into the filling groove, the filler leaks out of the gap.
The filler leaked out enters into the terminal receiver in the housing and causes a contact failure of the terminal. The filler may leak out to outside the housing and impair an appearance of the connector.


A hinge apparatus includes first and second hinge parts and a hinge pin assembly interconnecting the hinge parts. Cams on the hinge pin assembly are operatively associated for rotation with the hinge parts. Engaging surfaces of the cams provide dwell points during movement of the hinge parts relative to each other.

For opening and closing automobile passenger doors, it is desirable to provide hinge assemblies that create intermediate dwell points between the fully open and fully closed positions of the door. The dwell points prevent the door from swinging uncontrollably between the extreme positions. The dwell positions for the door enable ingress and egress of passengers in confined spaces, without requiring the door to be held. The dwell positions prevent the door from swinging fully open unintentionally, possibly striking another vehicle or a structure closely spaced from the door. The dwell positions hold the door from swinging closed, potentially striking an individual entering or leaving the automobile. The dwell positions also hold the door open at various angles for loading and unloading articles and things, by one person alone.
Known vehicle hinge systems with intermediate dwell points have been provided in a variety of assemblies. It is known to couple a more or less conventional hinge with a control arm having detents cooperating with a roller to provide the dwell points. It is also known to provide an integrated hinge with a check mechanism. An integrated hinge with a check mechanism providing intermediate dwell points is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,012,201. In this patent, spaced camming surfaces are resiliently tracked by rollers connected to a compression spring.
Known vehicle door hinge systems have a variety of disadvantages. Hinge assemblies having separate hinges and control arms can increase cost and prolong and complicate assembly procedures. Known integrated assemblies having a check mechanism integrated with the hinge apparatus have been complex, thereby complicating installation and service and increasing expense both for providing the integrated assembly and for installing the assembly during manufacture of a vehicle.
What is needed is a vehicle door hinge apparatus that controls door opening and door closing, providing intermediate dwell positions, and that is simple, reliable, inexpensive and easy to install.


A ball grid array (BGA) electronic component package having a configuration which is capable of improving mounting efficiency as well as preventing footprints from breaking away at circuit-connecting portions of the electronic component package. The BGA package has reinforcing bumps formed in an area located outward of a predetermined area in which conventional circuit-connecting bumps are arranged. Therefore, even if a shock is applied to the BGA package e.g. when a printed circuit board having the BGA package mounted thereon is carelessly dropped during the manufacturing work, at the outer or peripheral portion of the BGA package, which is most sensitive to such a shock, the shock is absorbed by the reinforcing bumps and reinforcing footprints which have no electrical connection with the circuitry of the electronic component package. Thus, the footprints formed on a mounting portion of the BGA package and those formed on the printed circuit board can be prevented from breaking away or being cracked.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a surface-mount package, a printed circuit board having the package mounted thereon, and a method of inspecting the assembled printed circuit board and package, and more particularly, to a ball grid array package, a printed circuit board having the ball grid array package mounted thereon, and a method of inspecting the assembled printed circuit board and ball grid array package.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, a ball grid array (hereinafter referred to as xe2x80x9cBGAxe2x80x9d) package, which is a key device in high-density mounting technology, has been applied to communications devices such as a portable telephone. Moreover, the BGA package is now starting to be applied to trunk communications devices. It is expected that the BGA package continues to be applied to a wider range of applications as an LSI (Large-Scale Integration) package, to replace the large-sized QFP (Quad Flat Package) with a fine lead pitch.
FIGS. 18(A) and 18(B) schematically show external configurations of a conventional BGA package. FIG. 18(A) is a side view, while FIG. 18(B) is a bottom view. The BGA package 200 has a package body 201 in which semiconductor chips are laminated, and the package body 201 has a bottom thereof formed with a plurality of footprints (pads) 202 on which respective ball-shaped solder bumps 203 are formed on the respective footprints 202.
The BGA package 200 is mounted on a printed circuit board by soldering the solder bumps 203 onto the printed circuit board.
FIG. 19 shows the BGA package 200 mounted on the printed circuit board. The printed circuit board 204 is formed with footprints 205 thereon to which the respective solder bumps 203 are soldered. In order to solder the BGA package 200 onto the printed circuit board 204, similarly to an operation for soldering typical surface-mount components, solder paste 206 is applied onto the respective footprints 205 by a screen printing process, and then the BGA package 200 is placed on the solder paste 206, followed by melting the solder paste 206 and the solder bumps 203 by the use of a heating apparatus.
In general, if the printed circuit board 204 having the BGA package 200 mounted thereon receives a shock e.g. when it is carelessly dropped while being handled, the printed circuit board 204 is distorted, which affects solder joints on the BGA package 200. Each terminal of the BGA package 200 has a larger solder joint area than that of conventional components having leads connected thereto, so that soldered joint strength between the solder bumps 203 and the footprints 205 is relatively high. This prevents the solder bumps 203 and the footprints 205 from breaking away from each other.
However, if joint strength between the package body 201 of the BGA package 200 and the respective footprints 202 or between a substrate surface of the printed circuit board 204 and the respective footprints 205 is low, forces generated by any distortion of the printed circuit board 204 are likely to crack some of the footprints 202, 205 or cause the same to break away from the package body 201 or the printed circuit board 204. It is known in the prior art when the printed circuit board 204 receives a shock, the solder bumps 203 in the outermost rows and columns are especially prone to such cracking and breakaway since vibrations, warping, expansion, and/or contraction, have the maximum effect at the edge or peripheral portions of the printed circuit board 204.
To overcome this problem, a method is conventionally employed in which a reinforcing adhesive 207 is applied to the outermost solder bumps 203 and its vicinity, as shown in FIG. 19, so as to securely join the outermost solder bumps 203, the package body 201, and the printed circuit board 204 to each other.
However, this method increases the number of manufacturing steps, resulting in degraded working efficiency. Moreover, when the BGA package 200 is defective, it is required to discard the printed circuit board 204 together with the package 200 rather than simply replace the package 200 with a new one. This results in the waste of materials as well as an increase in manufacturing costs.
Further, since it is impossible to judge by visual inspection whether any of the solder joints on the BGA package 200 is defective, the inspection of electrical connections of the solder joints is conventionally performed at an electronic testing stage of the manufacturing process. However, the conventional electronic test cannot detect either a breakaway or a crack of the footprint 202 or 205 unless there is a disconnection in any pattern connected to the solder bumps 203.
A first object of the present invention is to provide an electronic component package and a printed circuit board which are capable of improving working efficiency in mounting the electronic component package on the printed circuit board, and at the same time preventing a breakaway of footprints formed on the electronic component package for circuit connection.
The invention also provides a method of inspecting the printed circuit board, which is capable of detecting a defect, such as a breakaway and a crack, of footprints.
To accomplish the first object, according to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an electronic component package of ball grid array type. The electronic component package is characterized by comprising a plurality of circuit-connecting bumps formed in a predetermined area, and at least one reinforcing bump formed in an area located outward of the predetermined area, in a manner such that the at least one reinforcing bump is connectable to at least one reinforcing pattern formed on a printed circuit board.
The inspection method is characterized by comprising the steps of forming a bridge circuit between reinforcing bumps formed on the electronic component package, and reinforcing footprints formed on the printed circuit board in a manner such that the reinforcing bumps are connected to the reinforcing footprints, and detecting a change in a resistance value of the bridge circuit to thereby detect a defect of the printed circuit board.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention by way of example.

Electronic component package, printing circuit board, and method of inspecting the printed circuit board


A decorative paper which has the yellowing be inconspicuous even if the surface resin layer comprising the cross linked coating layer of the ionizing radiation curable resin is provided on the decorative paper is provided. The decorative paper of the present invention uses a yellow base paper colored yellow or a white base paper colored white, containing a cellulose based pulp 1 and a colorant 2, as a colored base paper 3, and a surface resin layer 4 is provided thereon. More preferably, a whole solid layer is laminated between the colored base paper and the surface resin layer, wherein the whole solid layer is a yellow whole solid layer comprising a yellow ink is provided in the case that the base paper is the yellow base paper, or a white whole solid layer comprising a white ink is provided in the case that the base paper is the white base paper. Moreover, a patterned ink layer is also provided below the surface resin layer in general.

Conventionally, for a decorative paper used for a building interior material (for example, a wall), a surface material of fittings (for example, a door) or furniture, or the like, the surface properties such as the wear resistance and the pollution resistance are required in general. Therefore, for example, Japanese Patent Application Publication (JP-B) No. Sho 49-31033 discloses a decorative paper, which is produced in such manner that a patterned ink layer is formed by printing on a base paper, thereafter an ionizing radiation curable resin paint of an unsaturated polyester pre-polymer is applied on the surface to form a coating layer as the outermost surface layer, and then the coating layer is cross linked and cured by an electron beam to form a surface resin layer.
In such case as described above of providing the decorative paper with the surface resin layer as the outermost layer, which is formed by cross linking a coating layer of an ionizing radiation curable resin comprising a monomer, a pre-polymer, or the like with the ionizing radiation such as an electron beam, a decorative paper having the excellent surface physical properties such as the wear resistance and the pollution resistance can be obtained owing to its high cross linkage.
The decorative paper provided with the surface resin layer as a cross linked coating layer of the ionizing radiation curable resin as mentioned above varies degree of cross linkage in the surface resin layer affected by the ionizing radiation, but it involves the problem of yellowing in any case nevertheless. In particular, the yellowing is conspicuous in the case of using the electron beam.
As to the reason for the yellowing, it was revealed that since the decorative paper uses a paper made of a cellulose based pulp as the base material (base paper), if it is irradiated with the ionizing radiation for cross linking and curing the surface resin layer, a radical (free radical) is generated by the energy (quantum) of the ionizing radiation, and triggered thereby, scission of the principal chain of the cellulose molecule is caused so as to produce a carboxyl group or a carbonyl group so that these groups have the absorption spectra in the short wavelength range of the visible light band ("Influence of the electron beam radiation on the paper quality (second edition)/novel method for providing the electron beam resistance to the paper", Japan Tappi Journal vol. 51, No. 6, published in June, 1997, page 945 to page 954).
Moreover, in the above-mentioned report, as the countermeasure for the yellowing, proposed is impregnation of the paper with an alcohol solution of an electron beam reactive monomer such as a tetraethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA), a polyethylene glycol dimethacrylate (PEGDMA), or the like for allowing the monomer to scavenge the radical generated at the time of the electron beam irradiation, and for cross linking or graft polymerizing the monomer with a cellulose molecule at the time of the electron beam irradiation.
This method is indeed one of the effective means for prevention of the base paper yellowing at the time of the ionizing radiation irradiation.
However, since a special chemical is used for the impregnation, cost of the base paper becomes higher thus being problematic. Moreover, it is effective for prevention of the yellowing, but not complete, and the yellowing can be conspicuous depending on amount of the electron beam irradiation, or depending on the kind of the design to be printed. The yellowing becomes problematic particularly in the following two cases.
(1) The case that the design and appearance of the decorative paper inherently cannot tolerate the yellowing.
Examples include: the case of requiring a pure white appearance; the case that the change of the hue itself becomes conspicuous by the yellowing such as pale blue, red, green, or the like; and the case that the base paper loses harmony with the patterned ink layer or the balance of the color mixture by the yellowing so that the designed appearance itself is changed.
(2) The case that the base paper yellowing itself can be tolerated, but change of the hue before and after the ionizing radiation irradiation becomes the obstacle in terms of the color tone administration of the decorative paper.
For example, in general, a process of printing a patterned ink layer to the base paper and a process of coating a surface resin layer and irradiating with an ionizing radiation are executed in different processing machines. In this case, the patterned ink layer is printed by administering the color tone so as to match the color tone with the standard color immediately after the printing process. However, in the case that the yellowing is generated by the ionizing radiation in the following surface resin layer coating process, the once matched color tone becomes unmatched. Moreover, the degree of the yellowing generates irregularity depending on the irregularity of the ionizing radiation irradiation condition, the irregularity of the base paper lot, the environmental humidity, or the like. Therefore, it is very difficult that the color tone is matched preliminarily at the printing process so as to be matched with the standard color after having the yellowing at the final process.
That is, an object of the present invention is to have the yellowing of the base paper by the ionizing radiation at the time of cross linking the coating layer inconspicuous even in the case that a decorative paper is designed to have a surface resin layer made of a cross linked coating layer of an ionizing radiation curable resin.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Decorative paper comprising a yellow cellulose-based substrate


Technologies for efficiently performing memory augmented neural network (MANN) update operations includes a device with circuitry configured to obtain a key usable to search a memory associated with a memory augmented neural network for one or more data sets. The circuitry is also configured to perform a stochastic associative search to identify a group of data sets within the memory that satisfy the key and write to the identified group of data sets concurrently to update the memory augmented neural network.

Currently, there is a significant focus on how to add long term memory to neural networks. One approach is using Memory Augmented Neural Networks (MANNs), such as Neural Turing Machines and Differential Neural Computers, which are based on differentiable trainable memory, in which the memory is separated from the neural network. The associative memory for MANNs is considered a "soft memory" and utilizing a MANN is not simple and is not at all like traditional memory access. In such systems, the memory is addressed by keys and is probabilistic and "blurred." If the desired key on a read operation matches one key 80%, and another key 20%, the read operation will return 80% of the first value combined with 20% of the second value. For writes, the degree of key match determines how "strong" the write is. For example, for an 80% match, then the new value will be 20% of the old value combined with 80% of the new value. In operation, to update data in a MANN, a compute device may locate a set of k data sets (e.g., rows) that most closely match a reference data set (e.g., a key) and assign a weight value to each of the k data sets based on the degree of similarity (higher value for closest match), by iteratively comparing each data set to the reference data set. Subsequently, a typical system will iteratively write updated data to particular parts of the k most closely matching data sets using their respective weight values. Performing the above operations is time and compute intensive and presents a bottleneck to the ability to efficiently utilize MANNs (e.g., for artificial intelligence applications).

Technologies for performing efficient memory augmented neural network update operations


A Rotigotine-containing composition having a matrix mixture system formed from a polyvinylpyrrolidone and a combination of an acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive with a silicone pressure-sensitive adhesive. The polyvinylpyrrolidone may be present in an amount of about 1-10% by weight in matrix mixture system. The acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive may be present in an amount of about 1-25% by weight in the matrix mixture system. The silicone pressure-sensitive adhesive may be present in an amount of about 65-98% by weight in the matrix mixture system. The composition further includes 1-40% of Rotigotine on the basis of the total weight of the composition. The composition provides improved properties in the solubility, release and initial penetration level of Rotigotine. Also disclosed is a transdermal patch that includes the Rotigotine-containing composition, as well as methods of manufacturing and using the Rotigotine-containing composition.

Rotigotine is a Non-Dihydroergotoxine D3/D2/D1 dopamine receptor agonist, and long-term research shows that it has therapeutic effects on a variety of central nervous system diseases and mental disorders. As currently known, Rotigotine has superior effects in regard to the treatment or mitigation of Parkinson's disease, Restless Legs Syndrome, schizophrenia, depression and the like, and to the preventive treatment of Parkinson's disease (WO2005/063237). In particular, the therapeutic and mitigative effects of Rotigotine on Parkinson's disease are supported by substantive animal model studies and clinical tests (Neurology, Vol. 65 Suppl1: S3-S5/movement disorders Vol. 9 No. 2 P147-154; ARCH NEUROL, Vol. 60, December 2003: 1721-28). Rotigotine was first formulated into oral formulations, but was then found to exhibit an overly high clearance and a relatively short duration of action after oral intake. Thus, it could hardly achieve a therapeutically effective plasma concentration or be practically used owing to the need for frequent drug administration (Neurology, Vol. 65 Suppl1: S3-S5). Consequently, people tried to formulate Rotigotine into transdermal patches.
WO99/49852 describes a transdermal drug delivery system comprising Rotigotine on the basis of an acrylate or silicone. The adhesive used in this system is an acrylate or silicone, which independently of the other, forms a system involving a single adhesive together with the active drug. The system comprising an acrylate as adhesive has a low drug release rate; the system comprising a silicone as adhesive has a small drug load and a relatively low initial drug release rate.
WO2002/089778 describes the use of a silicone-based transdermal therapeutic system in the manufacture of an anti-Parkinson's disease medicament. This transdermal therapeutic system comprises Rotigotine as active ingredient. However, said system has a low drug release rate, and particularly requires too long a period of time to achieve an effective dosage. Consequently, there exist the following two problems: 1. the transdermal patch has to be changed frequently, for example once per 24 hours or shorter, to achieve an effective plasma concentration, and this is contrary to the advantage of convenient use of the patch by a patient; 2. the transdermal patch has a relatively low initial penetration level such that it takes too long a period of time for the drug to take effect after the application of the patch, usually resulting in the delay of the control of a patient's state of illness.
The inventors have thoroughly investigated the inherent disadvantages of the existing Rotigotine transdermal delivery systems. After a lot of tests, the inventors have found out that a matrix mixture system formed from a combination of an acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive with a silicone pressure-sensitive adhesive, and polyvinylpyrrolidone which are present in a particular weight ratio is capable of sufficiently dissolving and releasing an effective amount of Rotigotine and of increasing the initial penetration level of Rotigotine. Thus, the Rotigotine releasing properties of the transdermal delivery system are improved. The present invention is hence finished.

Jiangsu Kangbeide Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd.