Disclosed are amino substituted steroids (XI) which contain 4-[1,3,5-triazin-2-yl]- or 4-[1,2,4-triazin-3-yl]- 1-piperazinyl group attached to the terminal carbon atom of the C.sub.17 -side chain which are useful as pharmaceutical agents for treating a number of conditions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to amino substituted steroids which are useful as pharmaceutical agents.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various amino (substituted) steroids are known with the amine substitution on either the steroidal ring system or on the side chain of the D-ring at C.sub.17.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,456,602 discloses steroidal 21-esters in which there is an amino function in the non-steroidal portion of the ester.
In the 3.alpha.-hydroxy series, U.S. Pat. No. 3,998,829 discloses 21-aminomethyl steroids and U.S. Pat. No. 3,983,111 discloses 21-amino steroids where the amino group is cyclized. These patents also disclose reduced A-ring steroids as well as steroids with a hydrogen atom at C.sub.17 and two hydrogen atoms at C.sub.11.
20-Amino steroids are known in the .DELTA..sup.4 -3-keto series with no substitution at C.sub.11 and C.sub.17, see Can. J. Chem., 47, 160 (1969); J. Med. Chem., 27, 1690 (1983); U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,377,584 and 4,191,759; Chem.-Biol. Interact., 46, 1 (1983); J. Steroid Biochem., 20, 1095 (1984); Inorg, Chim. Acta, 91, 257 (1984), with substitution at C.sub.11, see Steroids 35, 265 (1980) and Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 623, 280 (1980) as well as with substitution at both C.sub.11 and C.sub.17, see Steroids, supra.
20-Amino steroids are known in the .DELTA..sup.1,4 -3-keto series with an 11.beta.-hydroxyl substitution, see Steroids, supra, as well as with 11.beta.,17.alpha.-dihydroxy substitution, see Protides Biol. Fluids, 29, 393 (1982); J. Clin. Chem. Clin. Biochem., 22, 209 (1984); Eur. J. Biochem., 108, 47 (1980); J. Steroid Biochem., 14, 697 (1981), Nature (London) 279, 158 (1979) and Eur. J. Biochem., 131, 333 (1983) and with 11.alpha.,17.alpha.-dihydroxy substitution, see J. Clin. Chem. Clin. Biochem., 21, 69 (1983). U.S. Pat. No. 4,191,759 discloses 20-amino.DELTA..sup.1,4 -3-keto steroids without any substitution at the 11 position where the amine substituent is morpholine or piperazine.
21-Amino steroids are known in the .DELTA..sup.4 -3-keto series with no substitution at C.sub.11, see J. Org. Chem., 45, 3084 (1980); J. Org. Chem., 26, 1223 and 5052 (1961); J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 1, 502 (1972); Great Britain Patent 954,146 and its U.S. equivalent, U.S. Pat. No. 3,123,598; Austrian Patent 249,883; Arch. Biochem. Biophys., 182, 197 (1977) and Khim.-Farm. 2, 26 (1968). In addition 21-amino steroids are known in the .DELTA..sup.1,4 -3-keto series substituted with 11.beta.-hydroxyl, see Arch. Biochem. Biophys., 182, 197 (1977); Int. Conf. Chem. Botechnol. Biol. Act. Nat. Prod. 2, 135-49 (1981); Analyst (London) 98, 519 (1972); U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,705,150, 4,076,737 and 2,920,999; Nature, 191, 607 (1961); Hungarian Patent 150,350 and J. Org. Chem., 45, 3084 ( 1980). For example Hungarian Patent 150,350 discloses dipersolone, 11.beta.,17.alpha.-dihydroxy-21-(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)pregna-1,4-diene-3 ,20-dione. Further, U.S. Pat. No. 3,705,150 discloses 21-[N-(N'-methyl)piperazinyl]prednisolone.
German Patent 1,087,598 and U.S. Pat. No. 2,920,999 disclose simple 21-amino derivatives of .DELTA..sup.4 -3-keto steroids. The amines include both mono and bis substituted amines. In the cases where the amino group is disubstituted, the two substituents can be cyclized with the attached nitrogen atom to form a heterocyclic amino group (morpholine, pyrrolidine, piperidine, pyridine). The amines were chosen from the group consisting of amino, monoalkylamino, dialkylamino, phenylamino, pyridylamino, benzylamino, picolinylamino, N-alkyl-N-phenylamino, N-alkyl-N-pyridylamino, morpholinyl, pyrryl, pyrrolidyl, piperidino and C-alkylated piperidino, though only N-piperidino, N, N-diethyl and N-methyl-N-phenyl were exemplified. The amino steroids of the present invention while containing the steroid portion of the compounds of U.S. Pat. No. 2,920,999, contain more complex amines.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,144,446 discloses mono and bis quaternary ammonium salts of triethylenediamine. The amines and amino steroids of the present invention do not include triethylenediamine or other bridged amine, only 1-piperazinyl substituted amines.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,665,274 discloses pyridium salts of steroids. In the present invention R.sub.21 and R.sub.210 are taken together with the attached carbon atom to form a heterocyclic ring but not an aromatic ring.
Chem. Abst. 70, 115402v (1969) discloses amino steroids where the amines are morpholino, piperidino and dimethyl. The amines of the amino steroids of the present invention are much more complex than these three simple unsubstituted amines.
A number of 20-amino steroids are known where the 20-amino group is of the general type --NH--(CH.sub.2).sub.x --N(R.sub.1)(R.sub.2) where x is 2 or 3 and R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are methyl or ethyl. See, for example, Arch. Farmacol, Toxicol. 4, 265 (1978), Lipids, 2, 5 (1967), J. Med. Chem. 15, 1129 (1972), ibid 15, 1284 (1972), French Patent 90805, Lipids 11, 616 (1976), U.S. Pat. No. 3,558,608, Chem. Abst. 62, 14784a, ibid 64, 14573e, ibid 65, 2334d, ibid 56, 15583a, b, and i, ibid 57, 12574d, ibid 57, 6225d.
Many 20-amino and 21-amino steroids are known where the amino group is substituted with simple alkyl (C.sub.1 -C.sub.3), aryl (phenyl), simple aralkyl (benzyl), as well as substituents containing hetero atoms (sulfur), esters, acids, amino substituted alkyl, alcohols, ethynyl groups, etc. The amino steroids are known where the amine portion is either mono or disubstituted. In the cases where the amino group is disubstituted, the two substituents can be cyclized with the attached nitrogen atom to form a heterocyclic amino group. These simple cyclic and heterocyclic amines, see U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,523,942, 4,191,759 and 2,920,999, are unlike the complex amine substituents of the present invention. The known 21-amino substituted steroids include simple (substituted) cyclic amines such as 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazinyl [CA 65;20189g]; 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperidinyl [83544-11-0]; 4,4-dimethyl-1-piperazinyl 3-hydroxyethyl-1-piperidinyl, 4-hydroxy-1-piperidinyl, 4-carboxy-1-piperidinyl, 3-hydroxy-1-piperidinyl, 3-carboxy-1-piperidinyl, piperazinyl, bis(hydroxyethyl)amino, 4-acetyl-1-piperazinyl, 4-carboxaldehyde-1-piperazinyl, 1-piperidinyl, [Int. Conf. Chem. Biotechnol. Biol. Act. Nat. Prod. [Proc.] 1st. Vol. 2, p. 135, 1981]; 4-methyl-1-piperazinyl [Great Britain Patent 2,136,293]; 3,6-dihydro-2,6-dioxo-1(2H)-pyrimidinyl, 5-fluoro-3,6-dihydro-2,6-dioxo-1(2H)-pyrimidinyl, 5-fluoro-3,4-dihydro-2,4-dioxo-1(2H)-pyrimidinyl, 3,4-dihydro-2,4-dioxo-1(2H)-pyrimidinyl, 3,4-dihydro-5-methyl-2,4-dioxo-1(2H)-pyrimidinyl [J. Steroid Biochem. 9, 1155 (1978)]; and 4-morpholinyl [J. Chem. Soc. Perkin Trans I, 502 (1972)]. The 4-methyl-1-piperazinyl group is a common substitutent at the C.sub.21 position, see for example Int. Conf. Chem. Biotechnol. Biol. Act. Nat. Prod., 2, 135-49 (1981) [English] at Budapest, Hungary as abstracted in Chemical Abstracts 97(21), 182,723w (1982) which discloses various antiinflammatory 21-amino prednisolones such as 11.beta.,17.alpha.-dihydroxy-21-[4-methyl- 1-piperazinyl]pregna-1,4-diene-3,20-dione, DE 2,123,555 as abstracted in Chemical Abstracts 76(11), 59893r (1972) which discloses 11.beta.,17.alpha.-dihydroxy-21-[4-methyl-1-piperazinyl]pregna-1,4-diene-3 ,20-dione as being useful in the treatment of anaphylactic shock, Acta Pharm. Hung., 37(3) 97-107 (1967) as abstracted in Chemical Abstracts 67(12) 57273d (1967) which discloses 11.beta.,17.alpha.-dihydroxy-21-[4-methyl-1-piperazinyl]pregna-1,4-diene-3 ,20-dione and Khim.-Farm Zh., 2(11), 26-9 (1968) as abstracted in Chemical Abstracts 70, 115402v (1969) page 380 which discloses 17.alpha.-hydroxy-21-[4-methyl-1-piperazinyl]pregn-4-ene-3,20-dione as well as the 21-morpholino steroid.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,697,509 discloses .DELTA..sup.17(20) -21-quaternary amino steroid salts. The .DELTA..sup.17(20) -21-amino steroids (V) of the present invention include pharmaceutically acceptable salts, but not quaternary amine salts.
Japanese published application J8 5043068 discloses azepino(1,2,3-1H)-.beta.-carboline derivatives which inhibit lipid peroxidation and are useful in inhibiting the aging of living bodies.
Some of the free amines of the amino substituent of the amino substituted steroids (XI) of the present invention are known. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,492,696.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,146,234 (ARCHER) discloses 1-[(1-, 2- and 3-indolyl)-substituted piperazines which have anticonvulsant activity, which can be depicted as 1-, 2- or 3-indolinyl]-[alkyl].sub.0-6 -PIPERAZINE-X.sub.2.
While some of the free amines of the amino steroids of the present invention are known, such as 2-carboxy-1-piperidine [Aldrich, item P4,585-0], 4-(2-pyridinyl)piperazine [French Patent 7253 M], 4-(2-pyridinylmethyl)piperazine [European Patent application 49,683], 4-(6-methoxy-2-pyridinyl)piperazine [Canadian Patent 679,894], 4-(2-pyrimidinyl)piperazine [U.S. Pat. No. 4,409,223], 4-(3,6-dimethylpyrazinyl)piperazine [Canadian Patent 979,894], 4-(2-methoxy-phenyl)piperazine [Aldrich, item M2,260-1], 4-(4-methoxyphenyl)-piperazine [Aldrich item M2,300-4], 4-[(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)methyl]piperazine [French Patent 7031 M], 4-(4-fluorophenyl)piperazine [Aldrich, item 19,133-7], 4-[[4(dimethylamino)phenyl]methyl]piperazine [U.S. Pat. No. 4,421,753], 4-hydroxy-4-[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]piperazine [U.S. Pat. No. 3,936,464], (2-diethylaminoethyl)amine [Aldrich, item 12,694-2], [2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)ethyl]amine [ Aldrich, item D13,620-4], [2-(2,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-1-methylethyl]amine [J. Pharm. Sci. 60, 1232 (1971)], [2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)ethyl][[4-dimethylamino)phenyl]methyl]amine [Chem. Abst. 65:7001f] and (2-pyridinyl)methylamine [Aldrich, item A6,520-4], most are novel.
Great Britain Patent 1,345,640 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,835,132 generically disclose piperazinyl substituted pyrimidines including those where the substituents are morpholino, monoalkylamino, cycloalkyl, N-benzylpiperazino, --NEt.sub.2, --NHCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 OH and piperazino. Specifically disclosed are 4-[2-morpholino-6-ethylamino-4-pyrimidinyl]piperazine (named the same way the amines of the present invention are named), see Example 1 and 4-[4-morpholino-2-ethylamino-4-pyrimidinyl]piperazine, see Example 2.
Great Britain Patent 1,390,014 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,980,650 disclose 4-aminoquinazolines. The starting material for Example VI is 1-cyano-4-(2-furoyl)piperazine, N.tbd.C-piperazine-(2-furoyl). One of the amines of the present invention is 4-(2-furanylcarbonyl)piperazine, see PREPARATION A-3. The amine of the present invention differs from the prior art amine in that it does not have a cyano group and does not have a carbonyl group between the piperazine and the furoyl substituent.
Chem Abst. 85, 7802c (1976) discloses 4-(2-furoyl)piperazine, 4-(2-thienyl)piperazine and 4-(3-thienyl)piperazine. The present invention includes 4-(2-furanylcarbonyl)piperazine, see PREPARATION A-3. The amine of the present invention differs from the prior art compounds in that they do not include the thienyl moiety or do have a carbonyl group separating the piperazine from the furoyl group.
French Patent 1,413,722 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,325,496 and 3,374,173 disclose 2,4,6-triamino-substituted pyrimidines including bis(dialkylamino)piperidino substituted pyrimidine. The present invention includes piperazinyl substituted pyrimidines, not piperidino substituted pyrimidines.
Most of the steroidal 21-(hydroxy derivative) halo (bromine or iodine), mesylate or tosylate starting materials are known, such as
21-bromo-17.alpha.-hydroxypregna-4,9-diene-3,20-dione [U.S. Pat. No. 4,041,055 (Ex 59)], PA1 21-bromo-17.alpha.-hydroxypregn-4-ene-3,11,20-trione [J. Chem. Soc. B., 4, 748 (1970)], PA1 11.alpha.,21-dihydroxypregn-4-ene-3,20-dione [U.S. Pat. No. 4,013,688], PA1 21-bromo-17.alpha.-hydroxypregn-4-ene-3,20-dione [U.S. Pat. No. 4,500,461], PA1 21-bromopregn-4-ene-3,11,20-trione [U.S. Pat. No. 3,983,111], PA1 21-hydroxypregna-4,9(11),16-triene-3,20-dione [Tetrahedron Lett. 25, 2581 (1984)], PA1 21-iodopregna-4,9(11)-diene-3,20-dione [95288-91-8], PA1 21-bromopregn-4-ene-3,20-dione [J. Org. Chem., 50, 81 (1985), PA1 11.beta.,17.alpha.-dihydroxy-21-iodo-6.alpha.-methylpregna-1,4-diene-3,20-d ione [J. Pharm. Soc., 74, 365 (1985)], PA1 21-bromo-11.beta.,17.alpha.-dihydroxypregna-1,4-diene-3,20-dione [U.S. Pat. No. 3,856,956], PA1 17.alpha.-hydroxy-21-iodo-16.alpha.-methylpregna-1,4,9(11)-triene-3,20-dion e [U.S. Pat. No. 3,455,968], PA1 17.alpha.,21-dihydroxy-6.alpha.-methylpregna-1,4,9(11)-triene-3,20-dione [West German DE 3,322,120], PA1 17.alpha.-Hydroxy-21-iodopregna-1,4-diene-3,11,20-trione [J. Med. Chem., 28, 171 (1985)], PA1 21-bromopregna-1,4-diene-3,20-dione [Bull. Chem. Soc. Jpn. 58, 981 (1985)], PA1 17.zeta.,21-dihydroxypregna-1,4,9(11)-triene-3,20-dione [West German DE 3,322,120], PA1 17.alpha.,21-dihydroxy-16.beta.-methyl-5.alpha.-pregn-9(11)-ene-3,20-dione [U.S. Pat. No. 4,336,200] and PA1 21-bromo-3.alpha.,17.alpha.-dihydroxy-5.beta.-pregnane-11,20-dione [95044-38-5], however some are novel. PA1 (A) C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl, PA1 (B) C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 alkoxy, PA1 (C) furanyl, PA1 (D) --NR.sub.122 R.sub.123, where one of R.sub.122 and R.sub.123 is --H, methyl or ethyl and the other is --H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl or phenyl, PA1 (E) --X.sub.3 --X.sub.1, where X.sub.3 is --O-- or a valence bond, where X.sub.1 is phenyl optionally substituted with 1 through 2 --Cl, --Br, C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkoxy, --COOH, --NH.sub.2, C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkylamino, di(C.sub.1 -C.sub.3)alkylamino, where the alkyl groups are the same or different, 1-pyrrolidinyl-, 1-piperdinyl, 1-hexamethyleneimino-, 1-heptamethyleneimino-, C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 acylamino and --NH--CHO or with 1 --F or --CF.sub.3 ; PA1 (A) R.sub.21 is PA1 (B) R.sub.210 is PA1 (C) R.sub.21 and R.sub.210 are taken together with the attached nitrogen atom to form a heterocyclic ring selected from the group consisting of PA1 (A) C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl, PA1 (B) C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 alkoxy, PA1 (C) furanyl, PA1 (D) --NR.sub.122 R.sub.123, where one of R.sub.122 and R.sub.123 is --H, methyl or ethyl and the other is --H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl or phenyl, PA1 (E) --X.sub.3 --X.sub.1, where X.sub.3 is --O-- or a valence bond, where X.sub.1 is phenyl optionally substituted with 1 through 2 --Cl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkoxy, --NH.sub.2, C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkylamino, di(C.sub.1 -C.sub.3)alkylamino, where the alkyl groups are the same or different, 1-pyrrolidinyl-, 1-piperidinyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 acylamino and --NH--CHO; PA1 and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, PA1 and hydrates and solvates thereof; PA1 with the following overall provisos that: PA1 (I) one of R.sub.161 or R.sub.162 is taken together with one of R.sub.171 or R.sub.172 to form a second bond between C.sub.16 and C.sub.17, only when R.sub.10 is .alpha.-R.sub.101 :.beta.-R.sub.102, .alpha.-R.sub.103 :.beta.-R.sub.104, .alpha.-R.sub.107 :.beta.-R.sub.108 or .alpha.-R.sub.109 :.beta.-R.sub.1010, PA1 (II) R.sub.17 is .dbd.CH--(CH.sub.2).sub.p --NR.sub.21 R.sub.210, only when R.sub.10 is .alpha.-R.sub.101 :.beta.-R.sub.102, .alpha.-R.sub.103 :.beta.-R.sub.104, .alpha.-R.sub.107 :.beta.-R.sub.108 or .alpha.-R.sub.109 :.beta.-R.sub.1010, PA1 (III) R.sub.5 and R.sub.10 taken together are .dbd.CH--CH.dbd.C(OR.sub.3)--CH.dbd., only when R.sub.17 is .alpha.-R.sub.175 :.beta.-R.sub.176 or the 16,17-acetonide of a compound where R.sub.16 is .alpha.-OH:.beta.-H and R.sub.17 is .alpha.-OH:.beta.-C(.dbd.Z)--(CH.sub.2).sub.n --NR.sub.21 R.sub.210, and PA1 (IV) R.sub.5 is .alpha.-R.sub.57 :.beta.-R.sub.58, only when R.sub.17 is .alpha.-R.sub.175 :.beta.-R.sub.176 or .alpha.-OH:.beta.-C--(.dbd.Z)--(CH.sub.2).sub.n --NR.sub.21 R.sub.210, or the 16,17-acetonide thereof. PA1 (C) R.sub.21 and R.sub.210 are taken together with the attached nitrogen atom to form a heterocyclic ring selected from the group consisting of PA1 and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, PA1 and hydrates and solvates thereof. PA1 (C) R.sub.21 and R.sub.210 are taken together with the attached nitrogen atom to form a heterocyclic ring selected from the group consisting of PA1 and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, thereof, PA1 and hydrates and solvates thereof. PA1 21-[4-[3,6-bis(diethylamino)-2-pyridinyl]-1-piperazinyl]-16.alpha.-methylpr egna-1,4,9(11)-triene-3,20- dione and PA1 21-[4-[6-(ethylamino)-2-pyridinyl]piperazinyl]-16.alpha.-methylpregna-1,4,9 (11)-triene-3,20-dione. PA1 1-(4-methyl)-piperazinyl, [J-1] PA1 1-(4-acetyl)-piperazinyl, [J-2] PA1 1-(4-hydroxy)-piperidinyl [J-3] PA1 1-piperidinyl optionally substituted with 2-hydroxyethyl, [J-4] PA1 4-morpholino [J-5] PA1 17.alpha.-hydroxy-21-[4-(2-pyridinyl)-1-piperazinyl]pregna-4,9(11)diene-3,2 0-dione, PA1 21-[4-[2-amino-6-(diethylamino)-4-pyrimidinyl]-1-piperazinyl]-17.alpha.-hyd roxypregna-4,9(11)-diene-3,20-dione, PA1 17.alpha.-hydroxy-21-[4-[2,6-bis(diethylamino)-4-pyrimidinyl]-1-piperazinyl ]pregna-4,9(11)-diene-3,20-dione, PA1 21-[4-[2,6-bis(diethylamino)-4-pyrimidinyl]-1-piperazinyl]-17.alpha.-hydrox y-16.alpha.-methylpregna-1,4,9(11)-triene-3,20-dione, PA1 21-[4-(2-pyridinyl)-1-piperazinyl]pregna-1,4-diene-3,20-dione, PA1 21-[4-[2,6-bis(diethylamino)-4-pyrimidinyl]-1-piperazinyl]-11.alpha., 17.alpha.-dihydroxypregna-4-ene-3,20-dione, PA1 17.alpha.-hydroxy-16.alpha.-methyl-21-[4-[2,6-bis(1-pyrrolidinyl)-4-pyrimid inyl]-1-piperazinyl]-pregna-1,4,9(11)-triene-3,20-dione, PA1 17.alpha.-hydroxy-21-[4-[2,6-bis(1-pyrrolidinyl)-4-pyrimidinyl]-1-piperazin ly]-pregna-1,4,9(11)-triene-3,20-dione, PA1 16.alpha.-methyl-21-[4-[2,6-bis(1-pyrrolidinyl)-4-pyrimidinyl]-1-piperaziny l]pregna-1,4,9(11)-triene-3,20-dione, PA1 11.alpha.-hydroxy-16.alpha.-methyl-21-[4-[2,6-bis(1-pyrrolidinyl)-4-pyrimid inyl]-1-piperazinyl]-pregna-1,4-diene-3,20-dione, PA1 16.alpha.-methyl-21-[4-[2,6-bis(1-pyrrolidinyl)-4-pyrimidinyl]-1-piperaziny l]pregna-1,4-diene-3,20-dione, PA1 16.alpha.-methyl-21-[4-[2,6-bis(4-morpholino)-4-pyrimidinyl]-1-piperazinyl] pregna-1,4,9(11)-triene-3,20-dione, PA1 11.alpha.-hydroxy-16.alpha.-methyl-21-[4-[2,6-bis(4-morpholino)-4-pyrimidin yl]-1-piperazinyl]pregna-1,4-diene-3,20-dione, PA1 16.alpha.-methyl-21-[4-[2,6-bis(4-morpholino)-4-pyrimidinyl]-1-piperazinyl] pregna-1,4-diene-3,20-dione, PA1 21-[4-[3,6-bis(diethylamino)-2-pyridinyl]-1-piperazinyl]-16.alpha.-methylpr egna-1,4,9(11)-triene-3,20-dione, PA1 21-[4-[6-(ethylamino)-2-pyridinyl]piperazinyl]-16.alpha.-methylpregna-1,4,9 (11)-triene-3,20-dione, PA1 16.alpha.-methyl-21-[4-[4,6-bis(2-pyridinyl)-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl]-1-piperazi nyl]pregna-1,4,9(11)-triene-3,20-dione and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, hydrates and solvates thereof. PA1 16.alpha.-methyl-21-[4-[2,6-bis(1-pyrrolidinyl)-4-pyrimidinyl]-1-piperaziny l]-pregna-1,4,9(11)-triene-3,20-dione, PA1 21-[4-[6-(ethylamino)-2-pyridinyl]piperazinyl]-16.alpha.-methylpregna-1,4,9 (11)-triene-3,20-dione or PA1 21-[4-[6-(ethylamino)-2-pyridinyl]piperazinyl]-16.alpha.-methylpregna1,4,9( 11)-triene-3,20-dione.


To develop a dental magnetic attachment having stable adhesive properties and capable of being adhered and fixed in a position in an alveolar ridge side, which does not require one to perform sandblast processing during the use and does not form a space between a permanent magnet structure and a denture base even when it is used in an oral cavity over a long period of time. 80 to 100% of a surface of a cover as a shell of the permanent magnet structure of the dental magnetic attachment, except for a surface thereof coming contact with a keeper, is beforehand processed by a chemical or mechanical method so as to have a surface roughness such that a maximum roughness, Rmax is 5 to 15 xcexcm and that a ten-point average roughness, Rz is 3 to 8 xcexcm.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a dental magnetic attachment utilizing amagnetic attraction force. More particularly, the present invention relates to a dental magnetic attachment in which a surface of a shell of a permanent magnet structure to be adhered and fixed to an alveolar ridge side of a denture base is beforehand processed so as to have a prescribed roughness, thereby enabling one to adhere and fix the permanent magnet structure within the denture base, with a stable holding power.
2. Description of the Conventional Art
As a method for setting a partial or complete denture within an oral cavity, in recent years, employed is a method utilizing a magnetic attraction force acting between a permanent magnet and a soft magnetic material. That is, this method is a method in which a keeper made of a soft magneticmaterial is fixedly set in an alveolar ridge portion within an oral cavity, whereas a permanent magnet structure is adhered and fixed in a position opposite to the keeper in an alveolar ridge side of a denture base, thereby enabling one to set a denture utilizing a magnetic attraction force acting between the keeper and the permanent magnet structure. According to this method, not only the denture can be set within the oral cavity without any hindrance in the function and esthetics of the denture, but also placement and removal to be carried out for the purpose of cleaning up the denture and the like are easy. Thus, application examples thereof are increasing rapidly.
In general, the setting of the denture using such a dental magnetic attachment is carried out in the following manner. That is, a root member of a keeper, which is fixedly set on a back surface of a flat plate made of a soft magnetic material positioning inside an oral cavity, by means of casting to embedded alloys or other methods, the keeper being formed so as to have a longitudinal section in an approximately T-shape, is embedded and fixedly set within a tooth root or artificial tooth root of residual teeth in an alveolar ridge portion in the oral cavity; a permanent magnet structure is adhered and fixed in a hole provided in a denture base positioning opposite to the keeper, by an adhesive or a self-curing resin, in the alveolar ridge side of the denture base; and during setting a denture within the oral cavity, a magnetic attraction force acts between the keeper and the permanent magnet to set the denture such that it is not dropped easily, while during the removal, it can be easily taken out by applying a larger power then the magnetic attraction force.
As the permanent magnetic structure of the dental magnetic attachment to be used in such a way, employed are generally those which accommodated a permanent magnet within the inside, the surrounding thereof being covered by a shell made of a corrosion-resistant soft magnetic or non-magnetic metal. In order to set the denture stably, the metal material that is used for the shell is required to have superior corrosion resistance for resisting to the corrosion in an environment within the oral cavity. Accordingly, in general, as the corrosion-resistant soft magnetic material, employed are ferrite-based stainless steels such as 16 xcx9c18Cr xe2x80x94bal Fe (SUS430), 17xcx9c20Crxe2x80x941.75xcx9c2.5Mo-bal Fe (SUS444), and 28.5xcx9c32.0Crxe2x80x941.5xcx9c2.5Moxe2x80x94bal Fe (SUS447J1), and austenite-based stainless steels represented by SUS316L. And, exemplified are those in which the corrosion-resistant metal material covers the permanent magnet structure except for a surface thereof coming contact with the keeper, or the whole surface of the permanent magnet structure in a thickness such that the magnetic attraction force between the permanent magnet structure and the keeper is not influenced.
The permanent magnet structure of the dental magnetic attachment is limited in terms of the size because it is adhered within the denture base. In general, a pillar having a diameter of about 3 to 4 mm and a height of about 1.5 to 2 mm, or an approximately square pillar having one side of about 2 to 3 mm and another side of about 3 to 4 mm and having a height of about 1.5 to 2 mm, is formed, and then adhered and fixed for use in a hole provided in the alveolar ridge side of the denture base of the completed denture. In this case, the works at the dental clinical or dental laboratories are often carried out in an environment where saliva or sebum from fingers, or other substances lowering the adhesive capacity are readily attached to the surface of the permanent magnet structure. In the case where the adhesion works to the denture base are carried out in the state that foreign matters are attached to the surface of the permanent magnet structure, the adhesive strength between the permanent magnet structure and the denture base is markedly lowered, leading to formation of a space between the permanent magnet structure and the denture base. In this case, when the space is large, the saliva or remnants of food or the like invade into the space, resulting in a hygienic problem. As the case may be, the permanent magnet structure is corroded. In a more severe case, there occurs a problem that the permanent magnet structure is dropped from the denture base.
This is considered to occur by the following matter. That is, the denture is used under severe conditions such as a condition under which a large stress is repeatedly applied to a part of the denture base by mastication, or a condition under which the denture is influenced directly by a temperature difference due to the contact with foods and drinks. Accordingly, the space is gradually formed during the use over a long period of time, and hence, the above-described problem is inevitable from occurrence.
Thus, as means for improving the adhesive strength, the manufactures give instructions to dentists or dental technicians to carry out the operation such that the surface of the permanent magnet structure must be surely cleaned during the adhesion; and in order to make the adhesive or self-curing resin easy to attach to the surface of the shell, after sandblast processing, the surface of the shell is subjected to primer processing and then adhered with the adhesive or self-curing resin. As means for preventing the dropping, with respect to the permanent magnet structure, there are applied various improvements for imparting mechanical retention forms such as protrusions or grooves to the side surface of the shell, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 54958/1992 and 150156/1996.
By taking these means, not only the improvement in adhesive properties of the permanent magnet structure to the denture base is devised, but also the permanent magnet structure is less dropped from the denture base due to the mechanical retention. However, as described above, for a dentist or a dental technician, uniform sandblast processing of an extremely small permanent magnet structure is a difficult to perform and a complicated operation requiring a skill. In the case where the sandblast processing is insufficient, a satisfactory effect for improving the adhesive properties is not likely attained sufficiently. On the other hand, when the sandblast processing is carried out excessively, the shell is likely bored, resulting in a problem such that the permanent magnet is exposed. In addition, there is a problem that a dentist or a dental technician who does not have a sandblast-processing unit cannot perform such processing.
Thus, the present invention is aimed to develop a dental magnetic attachment having a stable adhesive capacity, which does not require a dentist or a dental technician to perform sandblast processing during the use and does not form a space between a permanent magnet structure and a denture base even when it is used in an oral cavity over a long period of time, by beforehand processing a surface of a shell of the permanent magnet structure to be adhered and fixed to an alveolar ridge side of the denture base so as to have a roughness at which an adhesive strength can be most effectively enhanced.
In order to achieve the above-described aim, we, the present inventors made extensive and intensive investigations. As a result, it has been found that in the case where a surface of a shell of a permanent magnet structure except for a surface thereof coming contact with a keeper is beforehand processed by a chemical or physical method so as to have a surface roughness such that a maximum roughness is 5 to 15 xcexcm and that a ten-point average roughness is 3 to 8 xcexcm, a primer surely penetrates into irregularities formed on the surface, so that the metal surface is activated; a chemical bond between the metal surface and an adhesive to be applied thereafter is effectively brought, thereby enabling to impart a stable adhesive strength; and the irregularities formed on the surface act effectively to enhance a mechanical retention force, leading to accomplishment of the present invention.
Specifically, the dental magnetic attachment according to the present invention is a dental magnetic attachment, which comprises a keeper comprising a soft magnetic material to be fixedly set in an alveolar ridge portion within an oral cavity; and a permanent magnet structure having a permanent magnet aligned inside a shell to be adhered and fixed in a position of an alveolar ridge side of a denture base opposite to the keeper, wherein 80 to 100% of a surface of the shell of the permanent magnet structure except for a surface thereof coming contact with the keeper has a surface roughness such that a maximum roughness, Rmax is 5 to 15 xcexcm and that a ten-point average roughness, Rz is 3 to 8 xcexcm.


Described here are a system and method for designing radio frequency (“RF”) pulses for parallel transmission (“pTx”) applications, and particularly pTx applications in magnetization transfer (“MT”) magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”). The concept of “SAR hopping” is implemented using a constrained optimization problem that simultaneously designs multiple RF sub-pulses to maximize power deposition in a bound proton pool while also minimizing local SAR across multiple bound proton pool excitation frequencies. This results in the set of RF waveforms that yield the best excitation profiles for all pulses while ensuring that the local SAR of the average of all pulses is below the regulatory limit imposed by the FDA. Pulses are designed simultaneously while constraining local SAR, global SAR, and peak voltage, explicitly.

The field of the invention is systems and methods for magnetic resonance imaging ("MRI") and nuclear magnetic resonance ("NMR"). More particularly, the invention relates to systems and methods for designing parallel transmission ("pTx") radio frequency ("RF") pulses for use in saturation of inhomogeneous broad lines in MRI and NMR.
There are many applications of MRI and NMR that require saturation of broad inhomogeneous lines. For example, in NMR "hole burning" experiments are commonly used to measure various properties of liquid and solid samples such as relaxation and molecular motion. In MRI, similar experiments are used, however for very different purpose. An interesting class of MRI experiments that involve saturation of broad inhomogeneous lines is magnetization transfer (MT). In the following we describe in more details the application of the present invention to MT MRI because it is an important application of the present invention and is an important class of experiments that can be used to image a variety of clinically important conditions. However, the invention is not limited to MT imaging using MRI. The invention is applicable to any application that requires saturation of broad inhomogeneous lines, MT imaging and saturation is simply a special case.
In the brain, a significant fraction of the spins in the bound pool are attached to myelin molecules that cover the axon of neurons. Therefore, MT pulses can be used to obtain indirect information about the myelin content of the brain, which is a crucial metric for assessing and staging white matter diseases, such as multiple sclerosis. MT pulses are also used in a recently developed form of spectroscopic imaging developed called chemical exchange saturation transfer ("CEST"). CEST is being investigated by dozens of research groups around the world and has shown promise for the in vivo quantification of pH, ATP concentration, and lactic acid concentration. Thus, CEST has applications for stroke, cancer, and imaging of gene expression via the reporter gene technique. Another clinical application of MT pulses is using them for background suppression techniques. For example, MT-based background suppression is widely used in time-of-flight angiography, which is one of the main applications of clinical MRI.
A significant limitation of saturation pulses, such as those used in MT MRI, is their large power consumption. In MT MRI, the saturation transfer effect is a relatively small effect (i.e., only a small fraction of the energy stored in the bound pool is transferred to the free water pool), so that large amounts of energy need to be "dumped" into the bound pool to detect significant changes in the magnetic resonance image. As a result, MT pulses need to be long and need to have a high amplitude. At ultra-high magnetic fields (e.g., greater than 3 Tesla), the duration and amplitude of these MT pulses cause a major problem of dramatically increasing the specific absorption rate ("SAR"). In hole burning experiments, where the goal is to saturate spectral frequency regions of a broad inhomogeneous lineshape, large saturation amplitudes need to be used as well, which result in large energy deposition in the sample or patient (SAR). SAR is a measure of the energy deposited in the patient by the MRI procedure and is limited by the Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") in the United States. These power limits are too restrictive for MT pulses to be used at ultra-high magnetic fields.
Thus, there remains a need to design MT and saturation pulses that have lower power requirements, such that the MT and saturation pulses can be used at ultra-high magnetic fields without exceeding regulatory or patient safety limits on SAR.

System and method for reducing specific absorption rate in magnetization transfer magnetic resonance imaging


Disclosed are a method and an apparatus for vertical continuous casting. The vertical continuous casting includes drawing a strand formed in a watercooled mold vertically downward therefrom, positioning light reduction pinch rollers just prior to the solidification completing point of the strand, and applying a light reduction force to the strand sufficient to compensate for contraction caused by solidification of the strand. By this procedure the formation of central cavities is prevented and central segregation is lessened. The light reduction pinch rollers are arranged to be adjustably positioned up and down along the strand, in order to compensate for fluctuations in the location of the solidification completing point of the strand.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to improvements in vertical continuous casting or the casting technique of obtaining cast pieces by drawing a strand formed in a water-cooled mold downward without incurvating, and then cutting the strand.
2. State of the Art
Nowadays, the continuous casting process holds an important position in a steel casting. However, the horizontal continuous casting process is somewhat problematical from a technical point of view. For such reasons it has only been tried in part. Accordingly, the curved and vertical continuous casting processes are overwhelmingly used today. The vertical continuous casting is disadvantageous because it requires equipment which has a high cost. Accordingly, the curved continuous casting process is predominately used. In this process a strand is incurvated (a water-cooled mold is structured so as to provide the curved strand) to extend horizontally, thereby keeping a height of the casting equipment within a certain limit. The strand extending horizontally is rectified to be straight with pinch rolls and cut with a frame cutter into cast pieces.
However, such a process comprising curved casting and horizontal rectification is not necessarily preferable for some special kinds of steel with respect to producing castings of sufficient quality. For example, the rectification operation often causes cracks on the strands of valve steel, high-speed steel and other steels. Accordingly, this kind of steel will have to be casted by the vertical continuous casting wherein a strand is formed without curvature in the water-cooled mold, drawn straightly downward and cut to cast pieces.
In the vertical continuous casting process, light reduction should be applied to the strand coming out of the water-cooled mold at a position immediately before an unsolidified portion disappears in the interior of the strand, whereby contraction of the strand due to solidification is compensated, and thus, formation of cavities at the center of the strand may be prevented, and center segregation is lessened as well. In this way cast pieces of better quality can be obtained.
However, in the case of some steels for which the application of light reduction is effective, different kinds of steels are usually produced in relatively small quantities. Therefore, the sectional size and the pertinent drawing speed of a strand varies. For such reasons, the optimal position at which the light reduction is to be applied, namely, the point at which the unsolidified portion of the strand disappears can vary from one strand to another.

Vertical continuous casting method and casting apparatus


An improved hand truck is provided for use on construction sites for lifting and transporting banded stacks of masonry products such as bricks and blocks. The hand truck includes a frame supported by a pair of wheels for movement along the ground and tiltable from a vertical position wherein a stack of masonry products can be engaged toward an inclined position wherein the stack can be transported. The frame supports a quickly and conveniently adjustable movable plate for use in supporting the individual units in the stack when the hand truck is in an inclined position and a pair of projecting tongs for insertion into openings in the stacks whereby the stacks can be lifted off the ground when the hand truck is tilted. The position of the tongs can also be quickly and conveniently adjusted both laterally and vertically to permit the tongs to be properly aligned with the openings in the stacks regardless of the relative spacing between the openings in the stacks and regardless of the height of the openings relative to the ground.

The invention relates to hand trucks and more particularly to hand trucks for use on a construction site for handling masonry products such as bricks or masonry blocks.
Masonry products are commonly delivered by motor truck to a construction site in units of approximately 400 or more. The units generally consist of approximately four subunits each of which contains approximately 100 bricks or blocks encircled and held together by a strapping tape. These subunits are commonly called a band. The bricks or blocks are arranged in the band to provide openings in the lower portion of the banded subunits to permit tongs of a lift truck to be inserted for lifting the banded subunit for transport to the work area from the point of truck unloading.
One of the problems with the transport of the stacks or bands is that the terrain of construction sites is such that the masonry products, upon unloading from the motor truck, are frequently positioned on unlevel ground. Furthermore, the bricks and other masonry products come in a variety of sizes such that the openings provided in the lower portion of the subunits or bands vary considerably in their positions. This makes it frequently necessary to adjust the vertical and horizontal position of the tongs relative to the ground. Such adjustment is time consuming and labor intensive. Due to the high cost of labor in the construction industry, such adjustment makes transportation of the banded units from the delivery site to the work areas a relatively time consuming and expensive operation. This is especially true when care is being exercised to avoid damage to the masonry products.


A workstation for calibrating a robotic instrument (42) has a distal tip (46) within an X-ray image space (35) of an X-ray modality (32). The workstation employs a calibration controller (50) for calibrating a remote center of motion (RCM) length of the robotic instrument (42) responsive to X-ray images (36) of different poses of the distal tip (46) of the robotic instrument (42) within the X-ray image space (35), and further employs a robotic instrument controller (40) for controlling a guidance of the robotic instrument (42) within the X-ray image space (35) from the RCM calibration. The robotic instrument (42) may include an endoscope whereby the calibration controller (50) is further employed to calibrate a focal length of the robotic instrument (42) responsive to the X-ray images (36) and one or more endoscope image(s) (48) of the X-ray image space (35) for controlling the guidance of the robotic instrument (42) within the X-ray image space (35) from the RCM/focal length calibrations.

Minimally invasive surgery is performed using elongated instruments inserted into the patient's body through small ports. The main visualization method during these procedures is an endoscope. In robotic guided minimally invasive surgery, one or more of the instruments is held and controlled by a robotic device, particularly the endoscope.
Specifically, the small ports that are placed on the patient's body are the only incision points through which the instruments and endoscope may pass to access the inside of the patient. As such, the instruments can rotate around these fulcrum points, but they cannot impose translational forces on the ports, as this would cause injury and harm to the patient. This is especially important for robotic guided surgery, as the robot may potentially exert large forces.
As such, some known robots implement what is known as a remote center of motion (RCM) at the fulcrum point by enforcing that only rotation may be performed at the port and all translational forces at the port are eliminated. This can be achieved by implementing a mechanical design which has a remote center of motion at a specific location in space, and then aligning that point in space with the port.
Once the endoscope is inserted into the patient's body and an appropriate location of RCM is selected, the robot can be controlled from endoscope images. To close that control loop, a mathematical transformation between image coordinates and robot joint space has to be established (referred to in the art as Image Jacobian). The entire process is referred to in the art as the system calibration and requires various steps such as camera and robot calibration. Furthermore, to provide full calibration, depth between the camera and the organ/object under consideration needs to be measured and such measurements are typically either from images or using special sensors.
Intraoperative X-ray imaging may be used to supplement endoscopy during the procedure. For example, for minimally invasive coronary bypass surgery, intraoperative X-ray is used to identify arterial sclerosis or to confirm revascularization. As this imaging modality uses ionizing radiation, it is beneficial for the patient and the operation room staff that the number of X-ray images acquired during the procedure is reduced.
In order to improve utility of both imaging modalities, the system has to allow target cross-identification between the modalities. For example, if an arterial stenosis is not visible in an endoscope image and is visible in an X-ray image, a method to integrate these images and depict the stenosis in the endoscope image would greatly improve the workflow and reduce both operation time and reduce likelihood of complications. Further, control of the endoscope from X-ray images would lead to better visualization and detection of targets outside of endoscope's field-of-view.
In order to perform all these integrations, a calibration of endoscope as well as calibration of the robot has to be performed. The process to calibrate a robot and endoscope in the operating theater is tied to various issues.
One issue is camera calibration is an additional step that needs to be performed prior to the surgery by a trained person. This process is time-consuming and error prone.
A second issue is, if the user changes some of the camera parameters during surgery (e.g., zoom), then the endoscope has to be removed from the patient and recalibrated which might not be acceptable as it would interrupt the workflow.
A third issue is, if the user moves endoscope relative to the robot (e.g., inserts deeper into the body to perform mechanical zoom with a common class of endoscope that do not have optical zoom), then the system has to be either recalibrated or the robot must utilize additional sensors.
A fourth issue is calibration may require depth information, which might be accessible using depth finding algorithms (e.g., shape from motion or similar), but those kind of measurements are usually noisy, which might cause instability.
These issues may reduce usability of the system and disturb the workflow which will lead to an increase of procedure cost and lower acceptance rate.

Image integration and robotic endoscope control in X-ray suite


An UPS (uninterruptible power system) includes an UPS power conditioning unit that provides conditioned AC power to a critical load. The UPS power conditioning unit includes a variable speed drive that operates in response to AC utility power or to a standby DC input by providing a motor drive signal. The UPS power conditioning unit further includes a motor-generator that operates in response to the motor drive output by providing the conditioned AC power to the critical load. In response to an outage in the utility AC power, standby DC power is provided by a standby DC power source that includes a variable speed drive and a flywheel motor-generator connected to the variable speed drive. Both the UPS power conditioning unit and the standby DC power source are initially operated in response to the utility AC power, the flywheel motor-generator storing kinetic energy in a rotating flywheel. When an outage occurs, the rotating flywheel continues to operate the flywheel motor-generator of the standby DC power source, causing the production of AC power which is rectified and provided as standby DC power to operate the variable speed drive of the UPS power conditioning unit until either the utility AC power outage is over or a standby emergency generator is brought on line.

The invention concerns an UPS (uninterruptible power system) without standby batteries, and more particularly, an UPS in which standby DC power is obtained from a flywheel-driven motor generator set.
Uninterruptible power systems specifically include batteries to provide DC power that keep the UPS operating when utility AC power is interrupted. The short amount of time that DC power must be provided is determined either by the duration of the utility AC power outage or by the length of time necessary to turn on and bring a standby generator up to speed. In the latter case, AC power generated by the standby emergency generator substitutes for the utility AC power.
It is well known that batteries are unreliable and subject to frequent, unpredictable failure. Further, when used to provide standby DC power in an UPS, batteries require constant monitoring and maintenance during their effective lifetimes and replacement when their effective lifetimes expire. For these reasons alone, batteries constitute an undesirable element of an UPS.
Further, most failures of utility AC power are of short duration, lasting only for a few cycles or a few seconds. Longer outages typically last for an extended period and may approach several hours in duration. Most UPS's include a standby emergency generator set that will typically start and attain operating performance levels within a period of ten seconds or less after failure of a utility AC power signal. Thus, the maximum time that an UPS runs on DC power provided by batteries is that 10-second period. In order to meet the load requirements of an UPS, battery systems are typically rated for a minimum of five minutes--4 minutes and 50 seconds longer than necessary.
Accordingly, there is manifold motivation for replacing batteries in an UPS system.

Uninterruptible power system with a flywheel-driven source of standby power


A method, system and computer program product for processing documents containing restricted information. One aspect concerns storing documents in a distributed but secure manner, for example using keysets.

The present invention relates to the field of storing and processing documents containing restricted information. Specifically, the present invention relates to the field of protecting restricted information in a document, while storing or processing the document at a minimally secure location.
Many organizations in European Union (EU) countries and the US have started outsourcing their data-storage, processing and entry operations to other organizations, which may be located in the EU and the US or at offshore locations such as India, China, Russia and Brazil.
Outsourcing operations relating to data processing and data entry may involve the transfer of documents containing restricted information. Restricted information is defined as information that cannot be disclosed to an unauthorized organization or to an unauthorized individual. Restrictions on the disclosure of restricted information may be based on customer-specific, contract-specific or regulation-specific requirements, or in accordance with industry best practices, for example.
Restricted information includes personally identifiable information that can be used to identify an individual. Personally identifiable information is protected by various Federal and European privacy regulations, which prohibit the transfer of personal information to a foreign country. Due to these regulations, documents containing restricted information relating to an individual cannot be transferred out of the country. Hence, many organizations cannot outsource the storage or data-processing operations of documents containing restricted information. Examples of personally identifiable information include, but are not limited to, names, phone numbers, e-mail addresses, Social Security Numbers (SSNs), driving license numbers, ethnicity, religion, and combinations thereof. Restricted information may also include information such as Internet Protocol (IP) addresses that may be used to locate individuals.
Other examples of restricted information include the financial data of companies, business transaction records, medical records of individuals, and so forth. The disclosure of such restricted information may result in financial or commercial loss to a company and loss of competitive advantage.
A document may include several data fields that may individually or collectively correspond to restricted information. For instance, data fields such as a SSN or a phone number, a credit card number, and so forth, individually correspond to the restricted information. Therefore, such data fields cannot be individually disclosed to a minimally secure entity.
Further, data fields such as the name and address of an individual collectively correspond to restricted information. Therefore, such data fields cannot be collectively disclosed to a minimally secure entity. However, they can be individually disclosed to the minimally secure entity.
The minimally secure entity may be an organization or one or more individuals in an organization, who are not allowed access to the restricted information.
Various methods are available for processing documents containing restricted information. These methods are based on disguise and encryption of data fields corresponding to restricted information in documents. Disguise operations can be implemented to protect mathematical and computational data in documents. However, they cannot be widely or commonly used to protect textual data in the documents. Encryption can be used to protect textual as well as mathematical and computational data in documents. Encrypted documents can be transferred to different locations for data-processing operations. However, these documents have to be decrypted before they can be processed. A minimally secure entity, performing data processing operations has access to the decryption code(s) for decrypting encrypted documents. Therefore, methods based on encryption do not allow the transfer of documents containing restricted information to a minimally secure entity that cannot be trusted with restricted information. In addition, the methods do not provide protection for restricted information in a situation wherein the encryption fails during the transfer of documents, or in a situation wherein the minimally secure entity's infrastructure is hacked by a malicious third party.
Therefore, there is a need for approaches which allow storage and processing of maximum content in documents containing restricted information, with a minimal security risk involved during the processing of the documents. Further, there is a need for approaches to protect the restricted information from a minimally secure entity that cannot be trusted with it. There is also a need for approaches that are effective in protecting the restricted information, even if the minimally secure entity's infrastructure is hacked by a malicious third party. In addition, there is a need for approaches that can be used to incorporate and automatically enforce the information sharing restrictions on documents containing restricted information.

Secure distributed storage of documents containing restricted information, via the use of keysets


The invention relates to a folding carton for the preservation and for the transport of goods with a reduced complexity, comprising a front wall element, a rear wall element, side wall elements connected to the front wall element and to the rear wall element by fold lines, a lid connected to the front wall element by a fold line, a base connected to at least one of the front wall element, the rear wall element and the side wall elements by a fold line and a separation flap element connected to one of the rear wall element and the side wall elements by a fold line, wherein the separation flap element comprises a plurality of flap sections, the flap sections by folding being arranged relative to each other in such a way that at least three compartments are formed.

Folding cartons of the type described above are for example used in the field of sales packages for mobile phones. Sales packages are generally put in master cartons and these master cartons are placed on pallets. In order to fit more pieces per pallet, it is important to make as small packages as possible.
The problem is that a sales package needs some sort of separator to separate the contents of the package, especially the mobile phone from its respective accessories, e.g. from the user guide, the charger and the battery. There are two types of separators known in the state of the art.
According to the first type the separators and corresponding compartments for the mobile phone, the user guide, the charger, the battery and the like are formed by trays. Such trays have several cavities, usually three or four, depending on the contents of the package. These cavities are separated by walls, which walls need space. Therefore, the problem when using trays is that relative large boxes are required. Another problem is that to form the final sales package, several parts of different materials, the box on one hand and the tray on the other hand, have to be fabricated which leads to relatively high production costs.
According to the second type of separators, the separators are part of folding cartons. Such folding cartons have the advantage of being relatively compact compared to boxes with trays. But the problem of existing folding cartons with folding carton separators for a mobile phone and the respective accessories, e.g. charger, battery, user guide and the like, is that they are relatively complex. When using such folding cartons, not only their fabrication is complex which leads to relatively high production costs, but also the opening action is difficult and time-consuming because of the complexity of the folding.

Folding carton and corresponding manufacturing machine


2n (n is an integer) projections are formed per half wavelength on the driving surface of a vibration member of a disclosed vibration driven motor. The vibration member has an A driving electrode group (A.sub.1 to A.sub.8) and a B driving electrode group (B.sub.1 to B.sub.8) polarized at a .lambda./2 pitch so as to alternately have opposing expansion/contraction polarities with respect to a wavelength .lambda. of a vibration wave to be excited, and .lambda./4-pitch vibration detection electrodes (S.sub.A, S.sub.B) and three ground common electrodes (G), which are arranged between the A and B electrode groups. The vibration detection electrodes (S.sub.A, S.sub.B) are arranged to have substantially loop positions of standing waves generated by the corresponding A and B driving electrode groups as their centers.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vibration driven motor for generating a travelling vibration wave on a vibration member by applying a voltage to an electro-mechanical energy conversion element, and for causing a relative movement between the vibration member and a member contacting the vibration member by frictional driving and, more particularly, to a high-precision type vibration driven motor.
2. Related Background Art
FIG. 4A is a plan view showing an electrode arrangement of a conventional vibration driven motor, and FIG. 4B is an exploded side view of a stator. As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, a common electrode surface of a thin annular electro-mechanical energy conversion element (e.g., a piezo-electric element) 101 is fixed to a vibration member 102 formed of an elastic member so as to constitute a stator. Projections for increasing the moving speed of a movable member and improving driving efficiency are arranged on the contact surface of the vibration member 102 with the movable member at equal intervals over the entire periphery at a rate of a plurality of projections per .lambda./2. Note that .lambda. is the wavelength of a vibration generated on the vibration member 102.
Electrodes on the other surface of the piezo-electric element 101 include an A driving electrode group (A.sub.1 to A.sub.8) and a B driving electrode group (B.sub.1 to B.sub.8) polarized at a .lambda./2 pitch so as to alternately have opposing expansion/contraction polarities with respect to the wavelength (.lambda.) of a vibration wave to be excited, and a .lambda./4-pitch vibration detection electrode S and two power supply ground electrodes G arranged between the A and B electrode groups.
When an AC voltage is applied to one of the A or B electrode groups, a standing wave having the wavelength .lambda., in which the central point of the electrode group and points separated from the central point at .lambda./2 intervals correspond to loop positions, and the central points of the loop positions correspond to node positions, is generated over the entire periphery of the vibration member 102. When an AC voltage is applied to only the other electrode group, a standing wave is similarly generated. In this case, the loop and node positions are shifted by .lambda./4 from the above-mentioned standing wave.
When AC voltages having the same frequency and a time phase difference=.pi./2 therebetween are simultaneously applied to the two electrode groups, two standing waves generated by the two groups are synthesized, and a progressive wave having the wavelength .lambda. of a flexural vibration propagating in the circumferential direction is generated on the vibration member 102. Thus, the distal ends of the projections, i.e., the contact surface of the vibration member 102 with the movable member drives a known movable member (not shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B) urged thereagainst.
In this conventional vibration driven motor, a driving circuit, in which one vibration detection electrode S is arranged in addition to the A and B driving electrode groups, and the frequency of the AC voltages to be applied to the driving electrode groups is automatically set to be a resonance frequency according to the detection output, thereby efficiently driving the vibration driven motor, is disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 61-157276.
Note that the positional relationship of the plurality of projections (five projections in FIG. 4B) per .lambda./2 of the vibration member 102 is not specified with respect to the electrode arrangement of the piezo-electric element 101 shown in FIG. 4B.
A vibration driven motor assembled with the conventional stator has high-output type performance, i.e., a rated rotation speed of 100 rpm, a torque of 4 kg.cm, and a rated output of 4 W or more. When this vibration driven motor was driven by a low output, e.g., at a rotation speed of 33.33 rpm and a torque of 1 kg.cm, required rotation nonuniformity precision, i.e., a required wow & flutter value of rotation could not be obtained, and it was found that rotation precision must be considerably improved.
It was also found that rotation precision varies depending on rotation directions.
Furthermore, it was confirmed that rotation precision varies depending on a difference in individual stators.


A method of accurately and consistently machining opposite sides of a plastic soft foam block to form a core of an automotive seat includes the step of routing a contour recessed into one side of the block, filling a cavity formed during the routing with a granular material, preferably material generated by the routing process, retaining the material with a covering as the block is inverted, and routing a second contour into the opposite side.

This invention concerns machining of soft plastic foam material. Such material is commonly used for the care of automotive seats, which are manufactured by molding in a well known manner.
Automotive seats are often reconfigured for the various car models. The design process involves constructing prototypes for testing and evaluation. Since the tooling for molding the seat core is very costly, the prototypes are constructed by other methods. Hand sculpting of blocks of soft foam has typically been done in this industry, but this approach does have limitations as to accuracy and consistency and is slow and requires painstaking attention. It is getting more difficult to obtain the services of suitably skilled and careful craftsman.
Machining of the foam by suitably programmed CNC machine tools has also been practiced but this has also presented problems in achieving the required accuracy at a reasonable cost.
One difficulty is created by the easily compressible characteristic of the soft polyurethane foam used for seat cores and the nature of the seat shape. A large block of plastic is machined on one side to remove material to form one side of the seat shape. The block is reversed and the opposite contour machined into the reverse side of the block. It has been discovered by the present inventor that minute deflections of the foam material caused by the forces imposed by the cutting tool creates significant inaccuracies in the contour machined on the reverse side after the first contour has been machined due to the slight but significant reduction in stiffness occurring as a result of the removal of some of the foam material from the side first machined. That is, deflections of the foam material away from the cutting tool causes inaccuracies in the contour sought to be machined into the block.
It is an object of the present invention to provided a low cost but consistently accurate method of machining soft plastic foam material.
The above recited object and other objects which will be appreciated upon a reading of the following specification and claims are achieved by carrying out automated routing on low cost CNC router table using a burr type contouring tool to route one side of block of soft foam material having its sides clamped on the table by angles secured to the table top. Upon completing of the machining of one side of the block, the resulting cavity is packed with a granular filler material, advantageously the granular material produced by machining the block. The packed machined side is then covered with sheet plastic to confine the material in the cavity when it is turned over to expose the opposite unmachined side of the block.
Routing of the contour into the opposite side then takes place, with the packing yielding satisfactory accuracy due to the enhanced stiffness of the upward facing side of the block.

Method of machining plastic soft foam blocks


A document transporter apparatus for use on an envelope inserter comprises a first track, for moving a first type of document, mounted to the envelope inserter, a second track, for moving a second type of document, mounted above the first track, and a mechanism for independently adjusting the width of each of the tracks to accommodate various document sizes.

1. Field of the Invention
Double-layered inserter tracks for an envelope inserter apparatus are provided that may be independently adjusted for width. To accommodate structural features of various types of documents that are to be placed in an envelope by the inserter apparatus, means are disclosed for transporting documents in a double-layered manner in which the width of each track is independently adjustable to a desired dimension, thereby permitting one sized document to be transported within the lower track and a different or same sized document to be transported within the upper track.
2. Description of the Background Art
A machine utilized in filling envelopes with desired items is termed an xe2x80x9cinserter.xe2x80x9d More specifically, an inserter places, inserts, or stuffs statements, inserts, and return envelopes into a send envelope. A statement is a document that is unique to each customer of a particular business such as a general billing service, utility company, cable company, and the like and is delivered to an inserter""s inserter track upstream of insert hoppers by appropriate paper handling equipment. Inserts are materials that are loaded into the inserter hopper to be pulled by a picking arm and are typically advertisements, regulatory notices, a return envelope, and similar items. In xe2x80x9cstuffingxe2x80x9d an envelope the items delivered to the envelope frequently travel within paired transporter tracks. Existing inserter transporter track systems are very limited in accepting and transporting items of various widths.
Many of the envelope inserters utilized by mailing facilities (bulk mailers and the like) for filling envelopes containing a statement (billing document and the like) and one or more inserts (notices, advertisements, and the like) are integrated into a system where sheets are collated, folded, and delivered into an inserter track (as opposed to another common type of inserter which pulls statements and inserts out of a suitable hoppers and individually xe2x80x9cstuffsxe2x80x9d the envelope with each item as it moves from hopper to hopper). For the first type of inserter, the statements of an inserting job can vary in folded size (commonly from 3xc2xdxe2x80x3xc3x976⅝xe2x80x3 up to 5xc2xdxe2x80x3xc3x978xc2xdxe2x80x3) and in fold type (C-fold, Z-fold, xc2xd-fold, and the like). Additionally, within any particular mailing job, the statements can vary in number of sheets (usually from one to 16 sheets or more). These variations in the statement can produce transport problems and directly influence the productivity of the inserter. One problem encountered is that the statement has a tendency to open up while being conveyed down the inserter track. With a conventional inserter, these statements will interfere with the inserter picking arms, which swing over the top to the track. If the arm contacts the statement a jam will occur and result in a damaged statement. Also, a statement which is opening up can cause problems with conveying the inserts since any selected inserts rest on top of the statement. If an insert is not controlled properly a jam will occur and result in damaged inserts and lost time. Another problem encountered with standard inserters is caused by the fact that insert sizes are often narrower in width than the statement. With a conventional inserter where all material to be inserted into an envelope is conveyed in the same track, it is required that the track be adjusted to accommodate the widest insert. Of course, this means that the narrow inserts are under less than desired control for optimum performance of the inserter. The subject invention overcomes the limitations of the prior track systems since it contains or holds the statements and prevents them from opening up during transport, allows inserts and statements to be guided by independent tracks, adjusts for the varying widths of folded statements, and adjusts for the varying width of inserts independent of the statement width.
Disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3, 965,644 illustrates a typical apparatus and method for mail preparation. Multiple insert stations supply paper documents that are assembled into a packet along an insert raceway. The assembled packet is then xe2x80x9cstuffedxe2x80x9d into a receiving envelope. A pocket bearing insert sheet is included in the insert documents.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,865,304 and 5,000,434 describe an insertion machine with an improved insert track. The description of typical inserter features and problems, found in ""304, column 1, line 1, through column 2, line 40, illustrates the initial rationale for the need of improved inserter components, such as inserter tracks. The width of an insert channel is adjustable by loosening a plurality of tension fasteners, positioned along the length of the insert channel, and sliding open or together the front and back fences (first and second edge guides). Each fastener holds both the front and back fences.
An apparatus for inserting material into envelopes is presented in U.S. Pat. No. 5,327,701. The apparatus utilizes first and second conveyor belts to transport insert materials and envelopes, respectively. Non-adjustable grooved members help direct the inserts in a desired path. Envelopes of different lengths are handled by means of adjusting clamps associated with the conveyor drive chain.
As with related patent ""701, immediately above, U.S. Pat. No. 5,406,771 shows an apparatus for inserting material into envelopes. Included is a radiation type detector for detecting buckling of the envelope or insert material during the insertion process.
As with related patents ""701 and ""771, immediately above, U.S. Pat. No. 5,487,254 also provides an apparatus for inserting material into envelopes. A distortion means is provided that partially opens the envelope for inserting material into the envelope.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,732,939 discloses a process for the continuous production of different types of printed products from different types of product parts. A compilation station assembles the printed product.
A sheet material inserter that has a controllable optical feed for sheet material and envelopes, via multiple station feeders, is found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,772,194. Short, guide elements interact with hold-down assemblies to guide the filling material in the direction desired.
The foregoing patents reflect the state of the art of which the applicant is aware and are tendered with the view toward discharging applicant""s acknowledged duty of candor in disclosing information which may be pertinent in the examination of this application. It is respectfully submitted, however, that none of these patents teaches or renders obvious, singly or when considered in combination, applicant""s claimed invention.
An object of the present invention is to provide a double-layered and width-adjustable transporter track system for moving documents towards a receiving envelope.
Another object of the present invention is to furnish a dual-layered track system for transporting documents comprising independently width-adjustable tracks displaced vertically from one another.
A further object of the present invention is to supply a document transporter device comprising a plurality of vertically displaced tracks in which each track is adjustable to a desired width.
Still another object of the present invention is to disclose means for transporting at least two streams of documents in which both a lower track and an upper track are independently width-adjustable.
Yet a further object of the present invention is to describe an apparatus for transporting two streams of documents in which both a lower track and an upper track are independently width-adjustable, wherein the lower track comprises variable-position front and rear rails and the upper track comprises a fixed-position front rail and a variable-position rear rail.
Yet an additional object of the present invention is to disclose an apparatus for transporting two streams of documents in which both a lower track and an upper track are independently width-adjustable, wherein the lower track comprises variable-position front and rear rails having top and bottom arms with retaining a gib positioned immediately above each bottom arm and the upper track comprises a fixed-position front rail and a variable-position rear rail.
Disclosed is a document transporter apparatus for use on an envelope inserter having an upper support surface. The subject apparatus comprises a first track, for moving a first type of document, mounted to the upper support surface. The first track further comprises a variable-position front rail having lower and upper legs and a variable-position rear rail having lower and upper legs with each document traveling within the lower and upper legs. The first track further comprises a gib strip secured immediately above each of the front and rear lower legs.
Additionally, included is a second track, for moving a second type of document, mounted above the first track. The second track comprises a fixed-position front rail and a variable-position rear rail with each second type of document traveling over these rails. Further included are a plurality of spacers positioned between the first and the second tracks.
The variable-position capability for each track is provided by width adjustment means on each of the first and the second tracks. A desired width between the front and rear rails for each of the first and the second tracks is selected independently. Usually, the width adjustment means comprises an elongated securing member extending through the first and second tracks and the spacers and mated into receiving apertures in the upper support surface. Preferably, the width adjustment means comprises a knob-headed screw extending through the first and second tracks and the spacers and mated within a threaded aperture in the upper support surface.
Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description that follows, when considered in conjunction with the associated drawings.

Double-layered width-adjustable inserter tracks


Memory allocation for fast platform hibernation and resumption of computing systems. An embodiment of an apparatus includes logic at least partially implemented in hardware, the logic to: dynamically allocate at least a first portion of a nonvolatile memory; in response to a command to enter the apparatus into a standby state, the logic to store at least a portion of a context data from a volatile memory to the dynamically allocated first portion of the nonvolatile memory; and in response to a resumption of operation of the apparatus, the logic to copy at least the portion of the context data from the first portion of the nonvolatile memory to the volatile memory, and to reclaim the first portion of the nonvolatile memory for dynamic allocation.

Computing systems may be transferred between various power states. In general, each power state provides for the powering down of certain elements of the computing system during period of inactivity. Lower states generally provide further power savings, but also require additional time to return to operation.
For example, power states may include states referred to as S-states, including S3 and S4. S3, sometimes referred to as Standby, Sleep, or Suspend to RAM, is a sleep state in which the operating system (OS) of a computing system saves the context of the system into physical memory (dynamic random access memory, or DRAM) and puts the computing system into a suspend state. In this operation, open documents and programs (applications) (or a portion thereof) that were used at the time of entering into S3 are also saved in DRAM during the suspend state. Further, contents of some chipset registers may also be written to DRAM. The physical memory (DRAM) may be referred to as main memory or system memory. During the S3 state, power is removed from the platform hardware, with the exception of the DRAM and a small amount of circuitry used to later wake the system. The S3 power state provides a relatively fast suspend and resume (wake) time due to its ability to save and restore OS context and previously used programs and documents from high-speed DRAM memory.
S4, sometimes referred to as Hibernate, Safe Sleep, or Suspend to disk, provides that the OS context and open documents and programs (or a portion thereof) are saved on nonvolatile memory such as a hard disk drive (HDD) rather than in fast DRAM memory, where nonvolatile memory allows for persistent storage of data. This allows for higher power savings than the S3 state because the DRAM is not kept powered, but with higher latencies due to slow read and write access times of the HDD.
However, the implementation of operations for a fast platform hibernate and resume operation utilizes a static allocation of storage of data in nonvolatile memory. The implementation of fast platform hibernation operates to reduce the amount of such memory available for other uses because of the reservation of a portion of such memory for fast platform hibernate and resume operation.


An apparatus for recording and reading a radiographic image formed by exposing a subject with radioactive rays includes a cooling device to cool a photostimulable phosphor containing iodine to a range of 250K to 300K. The cooled photostimulable phosphor is irradiated with radioactive rays so that radiographic energies corresponding to said radioactive rays are stored on the cooled photostimulable phosphor. The cooled photostimulable phosphor is stimulated with an exciting light so as to emit lights corresponding to the stored radiographic energies.

The present invention relates to a method for reading radiographic image information which is accumulated and stored in a radiographic image conversion panel having a photostimulable phosphor, and specifically to an efficient reading apparatus for radiographic image information.
A radiographic image such as an X-ray image is widely used for medical purposes. As a method to obtain the radiographic image, a radiographic method is used in which a fluorescent substance layer (fluorescent screen) is irradiated with radioactive rays passed through a subject, visible light is generated thereby, and a silver salt photosensitive material is irradiated with the visible light and developed like an ordinary photographing method. However, recently, a method has been invented in which the radiographic image information is obtained without using a radiographic film made of a silver salt photosensitive material. In this method, radioactive rays which have passed through a subject are absorbed into some kind of a fluorescent substance, then the fluorescent substance is excited by, for example, light or heat energy, thereby radiographic ray energy which is accumulated in the fluorescent substance by the foregoing absorption is irradiated as a fluorescent light, and the fluorescent light is detected, so that the image can be formed. Specifically, this method is disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,859,527, or Japanese Patent Specification Open to Public Inspection No. 12144/1980. In these specifications, a photostimulable phosphor is used, and a radiographic image conversion method in which visible light or infrared rays are used as excitation light, is disclosed as follows. A radiographic image conversion panel is used in which a photostimulable phosphor layer is formed on a support; the photostimulable phosphor layer is irradiated with the radioactive rays which have passed through a subject, and radiographic ray energy corresponding to radiographic ray transmittance of each portion of the subject is accumulated to form a latent image; then, the photostimulable phosphor layer is scanned by the foregoing stimulation excitation light, and thereby the radiographic ray energy which is accumulated in each portion of the radiographic image conversion panel is radiated and converted into light; and a light signal according to the intensity of the light is detected by a photoelectric conversion element such as a photo-multiplier, a photodiode, or the like so that radiographic image information can be obtained.
The radiographic image information thus obtained is not further processed, or image-processed when spatial frequency processing or gradation processing is conducted in a real time, and is outputted onto a silver salt film or a CRT to be visualized, or stored in an image memory such as a semiconductor memory, a magnetic memory, an optical disc memory or the like, and after that, it is read out as necessary from these image memories and outputted onto a silver salt film or a CRT to be visualized.
According to the foregoing radiographic image conversion method, a radiographic image having a lot of informations can be obtained by a smaller radiographic ray exposure amount than that by a conventional radiographic method. Accordingly, the radiographic image conversion method is extremely useful for direct radiographing such as X-ray radiographing which is used particularly for medical diagnosis.
However, the foregoing method has a problem in which radiographic ray energy, which is stored in a radiographic image information recording medium by radiographic ray radiation, is largely decreased as time goes by. (This phenomenon is called "fading".) Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, the intensity of the image signal is lowered as time passes from a time (t.sub.0) at which the image has been irradiated by a radioactive ray, to a time (t.sub.1 l) at which the radiographic image is read out by excitation light, or to a time (t.sub.2) at which the radiographic image has been read out. Here, (I.sub.0 I.sub.1)/I.sub.0 will be referred to as a fading value, where I.sub.0 is the signal intensity of the image signal at a time t.sub.0 at which the image has been irradiated, and I.sub.1 is the signal intensity at time t.sub.1.
That is, as time elapses from the time (t.sub.0) to the time (t.sub.1) from which radiographic image reading is started, the intensity of the image signal is lowered, and thereby a ratio of signal (S)/noise (N) is lowered, so that image quality of the radiographic image obtained as above is deteriorated. Further, as time elapses from the time (t.sub.0) to the time (t.sub.2) at which the image reading has been completed, the intensity of the obtained image signal is lowered, and thereby a difference between the magnitude of the image signal obtained at the start of reading and that of the image signal obtained at the completion of reading is caused, so that a uniform image can not be obtained.
To cope with this problem, a reading apparatus in which CsI:Na is used as a fluorescent substance layer and is maintained under the temperature of 180K is disclosed in (1) Japanese Patent Publication Open to Public Inspection No. 123829/1986.
Further, a reading apparatus in which the fluorescent substance layer is maintained under the temperature of 250K to 300K is disclosed in (2) Japanese Patent Publication Open to Public Inspection No. 180941/1988.
However, in the method (1) described above, a large cooling apparatus is necessary since the cooling temperature is extremely low, and thereby the reading apparatus becomes large and complicated.
Further, in the method (2), although it is described that fading is small in the practical low temperature region, the photostimulable phosphor which is used in this reading apparatus is only generally described in the publication, and only RbBr:Tl is disclosed as a specific example of the fluorescent substance with a superior property.
In view of the foregoing, the object of the present invention is to provide a radiographic image reading apparatus in which fading of a signal read out from an energy image accumulated in a radiographic image recording medium, is satisfactorily small in a practicable low temperature region, and a radiographic image of good quality can be obtained.


A display and operator control apparatus in a motor vehicle, which display and control apparatus can be used at least to display information from various driver assistance systems and to select functions which are associated with these driver assistance systems. At least one mode of operation in which a digital map display with specific display parameters is displayed and, in the process, at least one function can be selected. A changeover in respect of the possibility to select at least one other function can be activated and this changeover is not made from a fundamental basic display to the user even when a changeover is made between selectable functions, which may be separately displayed via buttons. Only one or more display parameters are changed, and therefore the display to the user can be adapted in an optimum manner.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a display and operating device in a motor vehicle, which device can be used at least for displaying information from different driver assistance systems and for selecting functions associated with said driver assistance systems.
Description of the Background Art
The term "driver assistance systems" can be understood broadly and are intended to support the driver in all traffic situations and enable relaxed and stress- and accident-free driving for the driver. Depending on use, a distinction is to be made in this regard between driver information systems (e.g., navigation and traffic reports), vehicle communication systems (e.g., vehicle/vehicle communication or communication between vehicles and infrastructure facilities), driver assistance systems for vehicle stabilization (e.g., anti-lock braking system ABS, electronic stabilization program ESP, and others), predictive driver assistance systems, which scan the vehicle surroundings with the help of omnidirectional vision sensors (e.g., parking assistance systems, adaptive cruise control ACC, and the like), and also driver's state recognition systems for an adaptive design of warnings and vehicle interventions.
A variety of driver assistance systems already occasionally used in current motor vehicles, however, often entails fundamental changes in the display of the information on generic display and operating devices for the user. For example, the displays and settings for driver assistance systems are not all shown on a digital navigation map, but often in a separate depiction of the surroundings. Thus, for the most part, there are different representations of the vehicle environment in HMI (Human-Machine Interface), which use different information encoding and operating principles. This is detrimental to user-friendliness.
It is known from the conventional art to prepare and display information or selectable functions of driver assistance systems according to the situation in order to distract the vehicle driver less greatly from the traffic situation.
Thus, for example, DE 100 52 654 A1, which is incorporated herein by reference, describes a method for controlling optical and acoustic information in a motor vehicle, in which method a driving situation detection is carried out depending on the data from driver assistance systems, and depending on this detection optical or acoustic information is provided, delayed, temporarily stored, or suppressed.
DE 101 53 987 A1, which corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 7,149,653, discloses an information system in a vehicle which generates information to be output depending on the driver's behavior or state.
Further, in current navigation systems the digital map is linked only with the function of destination guidance. If destination guidance is deactivated, the map shows the current position of the vehicle (vehicle cursor), and when destination guidance is active, information on the routes is shown. It is known in this regard to adjust the display as a function of the route (so-called intersection zoom).
Current navigation systems, moreover, allow the display of points of interest (POIs) on the navigation map, therefore, if applicable interesting or prominent points. In order not to display too many POIs simultaneously in a display detail, these are usually divided into categories (e.g., restaurants, gas stations, etc.), which must be selected separately, e.g., via a menu.

Display and interface for driver assistance apparatus in a motor vehicle


This invention provides a copper or copper alloy mold for continuous casting of steel characterized in that a nickel-boron alloy plating layer containing 0.06 to 0.3 wt. % of boron is formed on its interior surface.

The mold for continuous casting of steel is so designed that molten steel poured from its top end is solidified by cooling and the resulting product is withdrawn from its lower end in a continuous sequence. As such, from productivity points of view, the mold is required to have a long service life. The long-life continuous casting mold heretofore known is the one disclosed in Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 40341/1980. This mold comprises a copper or copper alloy body and as formed on the internal surface thereof which is to be exposed to molten steel, (A) an intermediate plating layer comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of nickel and cobalt and (B) a surface alloy plating layer formed from either 3 to 20 weight % of phosphorus or 2 to 15 weight % of boron or both and the balance of at least one member selected from the group consisting of nickel and cobalt. The reasons why this mold has a long life are allegedly as follows. One of the reasons is that the provision of said intermediate layer (A) serves to flatten the gradient of hardness between the copper or copper alloy mold body which is very low in hardness and the alloy layer (B) which has a high hardness to thereby increase the bond between the three members, viz the body metal, intermediate layer and alloy layer. The other reason is that the alloy layer has high resistances to heat and wear at high temperature.
As improved versions of the above-mentioned mold, there also are known the mold carrying a chromium plating layer in superimposition on said alloy layer (B) (Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 50734/1977) and the mold carrying an oxide layer as formed by oxidizing said alloy layer (B) (Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 50733/1977). The chromium plating layer and the oxide layer in these molds serve to preclude deposition of molten steel splashes evolved at the start of casting on the mold surface and eliminates chances for breakout troubles. Thanks to this feature and the above-mentioned increased intimacy of the three members, namely the mold body, intermediate layer and alloy layer and the high wear resistance of the alloy layer at high temperature, these molds have serviceable lives even longer than the life of the first-mentioned mold described in Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 40341/1980.
The above-mentioned molds carrying two or three protective layers essentially have an intermediate layer comprising at least one member of the group consisting of nickel and cobalt and, as disposed thereon, an alloy layer and, in the case of three-layer molds, further a chromium plating layer or an oxide layer, and, as such, require complicated manufacturing procedures and high production costs.


A method for removing nitrate ions from a solution is presented. The method includes providing a polymer comprising a protonated amine moiety and an anion derived from an acid having a pKa value greater than about 1. The method further includes contacting the polymer with the solution to bind at least a portion of the nitrate ions in the solution with the polymer, and form a polymer-nitrate complex. The method furthermore includes separating at least a portion of the polymer-nitrate complex from the solution.

The invention generally relates to methods and filters for removing nitrate ions from a solution. More particularly, the invention relates to methods and filters for removing nitrate ions from a solution using a polymer including a protonated amine.
Nitrate (NO3−) contamination in surface water and groundwater has become a concern on a global scale since it poses a threat to drinking water supplies and promoting eutrophication. High nitrate concentration in drinking water sources can lead to a potential risk to public health, which could result in many diseases, such as birth defects, spontaneous abortion, increased infant mortality, diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting, diabetes, hypertension, respiratory tract infections, changes in the immune system, and methemoglobinemia. Therefore, the World Health Organization (WHO) established the limit for nitrate in drinking water to 10 mg NO3−N/L. Nitrate contaminated water therefore has to be treated to meet the applicable regulation.
The technologies commonly used to remove or reduce NO3− in water treatment processes include chemical denitrification with zero-valent iron, ion exchange, reverse osmosis, electrodialysis, and biological denitrification. However, these current available technologies may not be cost-effective and may generate additional by-products.
Thus, there is a need for more efficient methods and filters to remove nitrate ions from water.

Method and filter for removing nitrate ions