An image forming apparatus has a photosensitive member for carrying an image, an exposure device for exposing the photosensitive member to form a latent image on the same, a development device for developing the latent image on the photosensitive member with a toner to form a toner image, a transfer member carrier for supporting and conveying a transfer member to a transfer position on the phtosensitive member, a first conveyance mechanism for conveying the transfer member to the transfer carrier member, and a second conveyance mechanism for conveying the transfer member to the first conveyance mechanism. A cancellation mechanism is provided to cancel a transfer member conveying force of the first conveyance mechanism after a leading end of the transfer member conveyed by the first conveyance mechanism has been supported on the transfer member carrier. A trailing end of the transfer member passes through a nip of the second conveyance mechanism during a period of time when the transfer member conveying force of the first conveyance mechanism is canceled by the cancellation mechanism and when the exposure device is not operating. In this arrangement, vibration generated when the transfer member is conveyed to the transfer member carrier by the first and second conveyance mechanisms is prevented from affecting the latent image formation made by the exposure device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile machine or a copying machine and, more particularly, to a multiple image forming apparatus in which an image is formed on a transfer member carried by a transfer member carrier.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, image forming apparatuses have been used in which a toner image formed on a photosensitive drum is transferred to a transfer member carried and transported by a transfer drum to complete image formation. FIG. 14 shows an example of such conventional image forming apparatuses.
The process of the recording operation of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 14 will be described in detail. When the apparatus starts operating, one of recording paper sheets is fed from a paper feeder unit and is conveyed to register rollers 102 by pre-conveyance rollers. At this time, the register rollers 102 are stopped. The conveyance operation of the pre-conveyance rollers is continued for a short time after the moment at which the leading end of the recording paper sheet is brought into abutment against the register rollers 102. When the recording paper sheet forms a predetermined loop (hereinafter referred to as "pre-register loop"), the pre-conveyance rollers are stopped.
Thereafter, the register rollers 102 and the pre-conveyance rollers are rotated in synchronization with an image recording start signal to feed the recording paper sheet onto a transfer drum 101. This operation is performed to enable an image to be formed at a predetermined position on the recording paper sheet.
On the other hand, a latent image is formed on a photosensitive drum 100 by performing image exposure with laser light E on the basis of an image signal. This latent image is developed with a toner.
The recording paper sheet is conveyed to an image transfer position T while being supported on the transfer drum 101, and the toner image on the photosensitive drum 100 is recorded by being transferred onto the surface of the recording paper sheet. The recording paper sheet is supported on the transfer drum 101 by one of several possible methods, i.e., an electrostatic attraction method, an air suction method and the like.
If in the thus-arranged apparatus a difference occurs between the speeds of the photosensitive drum 100 and the transfer drum 101, a deterioration is caused in the quality of the resulting image, that is, the transferred image is expanded or contracted or is blurred by rubbing. Ordinarily, to avoid this problem, the two drums are driven by the same drive source and, more preferably, the two drums are linked and the driving force is directly transmitted to them so that the speed difference therebetween is minimized.
If there is a difference between the recording paper conveying speed of the register rollers 102 and the peripheral speed of the transfer drum 101, a problem described below arises. If the recording paper conveying speed of the register rollers 102 is lower than the peripheral speed of the transfer drum 101, the recording paper sheet pulls the transfer drum 101 to change the speed of this drum after being supported thereon. It is also possible that, in the worst case, the recording paper sheet peels off the transfer drum 101.
Conversely, if the recording paper conveying speed of the register rollers 102 is higher than the peripheral speed of the transfer drum 101, the recording paper sheet starts forming a loop between the register roller 102 and the transfer drum 101 to cause and increase a force of pressing the transfer drum 101. When this force exceeds a certain magnitude, the speed of the transfer drum 101 is changed. This change causes a change in the speed of the photosensitive drum 100 linked to the transfer drum 101, resulting in expansion or contraction of the latent image formed during sheet conveyance.
To cope with this problem, a method has generally been practiced in which the recording paper conveying speed of the register rollers 102 is set slightly higher than the peripheral speed of the transfer drum 101 at the stage of designing so that there is no possibility of the recording paper conveying speed of the register roller 102 being lower than the peripheral speed of the transfer drum 101 with respect to any dispersion in certain part accuracy ranges. This is because only a small relative reduction in the recording paper conveying speed of the register rollers results in a considerable deterioration in image quality while a relative increase in the recording paper conveying speed in certain allowance is negligible.
A mechanism for setting the recording paper sheet free by separating a pair of register rollers 102 from each other has also been provided. This is intended to separate the register rollers 102 before a loop of the recording paper sheet between the register rollers 102 and the transfer drum 101 (hereinafter referred to as "post-register loop") formed by earlier registration pushes the transfer drum 101 (this separating operation hereinafter referred to as "register release") in order to increase the looping space so that the force of the recording paper sheet in the looping state is reduced.
However, the recording paper conveying speeds of the pre-register rollers and the register roller 102 are ordinarily set to the same speed because the pre-register rollers and the register rollers 102 simultaneously convey the same sheet for a certain period of time. Accordingly, the recording paper conveying speed of the pre-conveyance rollers is slightly higher than the peripheral speed of the transfer drum 101 and, therefore, a loop is also formed and increased between the pre-conveyance rollers and the transfer drum 101. This loop ceases to exist instantaneously when the trailing end of the recording paper sheet passes the pre-conveyance rollers. Then, the force acting on the transfer drum 101 changes abruptly to cause a change in the speed of the transfer drum 101. The shock of such a change may also be transmitted to the photosensitive drum 100 to affect the latent image during the formation on the photosensitive drum 100.
By considering this problem, a method may be used in which the pre-register or post-register looping space is maximized so that the curvature of the loop is reduced if the amount of loop is constant. However, it is difficult to provide such a large looping space and to limit the increase in the overall size of the apparatus. On the other hand, there is a limitation upon simply reducing the amount of loop since a certain effect of use of the loop must be achieved.
Recently, apparatuses having more complicated sheet feeder units have generally been developed. Such apparatuses require an elongated and complicated sheet path from the feeder unit to the register rollers. Under such circumstances, variation in sheet conveyance speed tends to increase and a certain amount of loop is indispensable also for absorbing variation in sheet conveyance speed.
A mechanism for removing the recording paper conveying speed may be provided for the pre-register rollers as well as for the register rollers to prevent occurrence of vibration when the trailing end of the recording paper sheet passes the pre-register rollers, as disclosed in EP 0 480 454 A2. Use of such a mechanism, however, necessitates an increase in manufacturing cost and is also disadvantageous in terms of space factor.


A die-cutting device is herein disclosed for performing slots perpendicular to the feeding direction of paperboard sheets used for making boxes, which is mounted on a supporting framework which can be driven in a cross direction with respect to the longitudinal feeding direction of the paperboard sheets.

The present invention relates to an improved paperboard sheet die-cutting device.
A lot of paperboard sheet die-cutting devices have been already designed, for performing the cutting operations on paperboard sheets, for making paperboard boxes and the like.
However, prior paperboard sheet die-cutting devices are affected by several drawbacks, the main of which is that they are not operatively flexible and, moreover, are rather complex construction-wise.

Die-cutting device for performing slots perpendicular to the feeding direction of box-forming paperboard sheets


A polyimide resin or composite may be pretreated by heating a reaction mixture that initially includes an aromatic diamine monomer, an end cap monomer, and an aromatic dianhydride monomer to a temperature between about 250.degree. C. and about 300.degree. C. for a period sufficient to completely imidize the reaction mixture to an imide resin without substantial crosslinking. A crosslinked reinforced polyimide composite article may be fabricated by heating a plurality of prepregs to a first temperature between about 250.degree. C. and about 300.degree. C. for a first period sufficient to completely imidize the prepreg without substantial crosslinking. Each prepreg has a plurality of reinforcing fibers and a reaction mixture. The prepregs are stacked in a desired orientation to form a laminated structure before or after heating to the first temperature and further heated at a superatmospheric pressure to a second temperature for a second period to form a crosslinked reinforced polyimide composite article by consolidating the prepregs and crosslinking the imide resin in the prepreg.

Crosslinked polyimide high temperature composites and resins are useful in the aerospace industry and other industries because they are lightweight, high strength, high temperature materials. They are made by heating a reaction mixture of polymerizable monomeric reactants (PMR) to form an oligomeric imide resin in a pretreatment step. The imide resin may be further heated to crosslink it into a thermosetting polyimide resin. If desired, the crosslinking can be done under pressure to consolidate the imide resin into a polyimide resin article of a desired shape.
The reaction mixture used to make the imide resin includes an aromatic diamine monomer, an end cap monomer, and an aromatic dianhydride monomer. The aromatic dianhydride monomer may be used as either the aromatic dianhydride, a diester-diacid of the aromatic dianhydride, or a tetra acid of the aromatic dianhydride.
The pretreatment step, which forms the imide resin, generates and removes volatile gases that would otherwise form internal voids and surface blisters in the finished articles. Voids and blisters are undesirable because they detract from the physical properties and thermo-oxidative stability of the consolidated polyimide materials. Some references, including U.S. Pat. No. 4,197,339 to Paul et al., teach that up to about 10 volume percent (vol. %) voids in the final product are acceptable.
A conventional pretreatment step includes heating a reaction mixture from room temperature to about 204.degree. C. (400.degree. F.). For example, the reaction mixture may first be heated to 93.degree. C. (200.degree. F.) for one hour, then heated to 149.degree. C. (300.degree. F.) for another hour, and finally heated to 204.degree. C. (400.degree. F.) for two additional hours. Heating the reaction mixture to these temperatures provides energy to activate imidization reactions that generate most of the volatiles without activating crosslinking reactions. Substantial crosslinking during pretreatment is undesirable because crosslinked materials are more difficult to consolidate than materials that are not crosslinked. Because crosslinking can begin at temperatures higher than 204.degree. C. (400.degree. F.) and is likely to occur at temperatures higher than about 250.degree. C. (482.degree. F.), conventional pretreatments are done at temperatures no higher than 204.degree. C. The pretreatment step is frequently done under a vacuum to facilitate removal of the volatiles. Following a conventional pretreatment, the imide resin is considered capable of consolidation and crosslinking with no further evolution of volatiles.
Experience has shown, however, that polyimide materials prepared by a conventional pretreatment method often do not consolidate properly because of additional volatiles generated during consolidation. As a result, polyimide materials made with a conventional pretreatment can have high void fractions, inadequate physical properties, poor thermooxidative stability, and may be prone to blistering. These problems could be prevented if a pretreatment method capable of removing more volatiles from the reaction mixture was available. Additionally, to eliminate the inconvenience of using a vacuum system, it would be desirable if any new pretreatment method could remove volatiles without the use of a vacuum.
Accordingly, what is needed in the industry is a method of pretreating polyimide reaction mixtures that is capable of removing more volatiles than conventional pretreatment methods without the need to use a vacuum.

Fabricating crosslinked polyimide high temperature composites and resins


Method and apparatus for determining nets among nodes in a circuit board that includes applying a potential to a reference conducting surface oriented with respect to the board; measuring a parameter of an electrical response at a node of interest; and comparing the measurements to determine a plurality of nets among the nodes. The tentative net list developed from the measured parameters is then verified using continuity testing.

Circuit boards, especially computer system boards, are complex structures wherein nodes on either side of the board are conductively linked into a multiplicity of "nets." The word "net" is used herein to refer to a set of nodes on the board that are in conductive communication. Boards typically are comprised of a sandwich of layers, some conductive, some insulating. The nets may extend through, or on, either surface or any layer. Complex systems, such as personal computers, utilize multi-layer boards, including various power and ground planes and numerous interconnect layers, all of which are separated by insulating layers.
Upon occasion it becomes useful to determine, independently from any design specifications or other information, the actual nets on a board or a portion of a board. Such information might be useful, for instance, for the purpose of verifying that actual nets agree with the design specifications or for reverse engineering. While a simple visual inspection is easiest, the traces, or means of conductive communication on the interconnect layers between the nodes, are largely indecipherable visually when a multi-layer board is utilized. The interconnect layers are not visible through the insulating layers and so simple visual tracing is impossible.
The existing method used to determine nets among nodes of interest on a circuit board is implemented by applying a source of voltage to one node and connecting sequentially every other node of interest with a current sensing probe to determine whether the circuit closes. If the circuit closes, the two nodes are part of the same net. This is commonly referred to as a continuity test or buzzing out a board.
The problem with the above technique is that, for one sequential pass over the board, no information is gained as to the proper net of the nodes where no current is detected. One sequential pass results in the determination of only one net. Determining a second net thus requires a second pass over the remaining nodes of interest, applying the voltage source to one of the remaining nodes. This procedure must be performed in an iterative loop until all of the nodes have been examined. Given the complexity of modern circuit boards, this can be a very lengthy process. It is therefore clearly desirable to have a technique to speed up the process.


Novel oxidized thiophospholipids are provided herein, as well as methods for producing same, and uses thereof in treating or preventing an inflammation associated with endogenous oxidized lipids and related conditions. Exemplary oxidized thiophospholipid according to embodiments described herein have the formula:

The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to novel oxidized thiophospholipids and to methods employing oxidized thiophospholipids for treating or preventing an inflammation associated with endogenous oxidized lipids. The methods of the present embodiments can be utilized in treating or preventing inflammation associated diseases and disorders such as, for example, atherosclerosis and related disorders, autoimmune diseases or disorders, and proliferative diseases or disorders.
Oxidized phospholipids, including etherified derivatives, have been previously described as useful in the treatment of medical conditions such as, for example, cardiovascular diseases, cerebrovascular diseases and inflammatory diseases and disorders.
Thus, International Patent Application No. PCT/IL2004/000453 (Publication No. WO 04/106486) describes oxidized lipids for prevention and treatment of inflammation associated with endogenous oxidized lipids. An exemplary such compound is described and known as CI-201 (also referred to in the art as VB-201).
In addition, International Patent Application No. PCT/IL01/01080 (Publication No. WO 02/41827) describes oxidized lipids for prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis and related diseases.
International Patent Application No. PCT/IL05/000735 (Publication No. WO 06/006161) describes synthetic routes applicable for industrial preparation of therapeutically beneficial oxidized phospholipids without the use of column chromatography.
Additional background art includes International Patent Application Nos. PCT/IL02/00005 (Publication No. WO 02/053092) and PCT/IL08/000,013 (Publication No. WO 08/084,472).

Oxidized thiophospholipid compounds and uses thereof

Abstract: wherein X1, X2, A1, A2, B′, B″, D′ and D″ are as described herein.


The present invention is a self-assembling material comprised of stacks of lipid bilayers formed in a columnar structure, where the assembly process is mediated and regulated by chemical recognition events. The material, through the chemical recognition interactions, has a self-regulating system that corrects the radial size of the assembly creating a uniform diameter throughout most of the structure. The materials form and are stable in aqueous solution. These materials are useful as structural elements for the architecture of materials and components in nanotechnology, efficient light harvesting systems for optical sensing, chemical processing centers, and drug delivery vehicles.

The present invention relates to a composition of lipid molecules and, more particularly, to a self-assembling material composed of lipid molecules induced, via chemical recognition, into a columnar structure with self-limiting dimensions and method of making.
Self-assembling materials are formed from single molecular or ionic components that have complementary interactions (both repulsive and attractive) to bring about the spontaneous formation of ordered supramolecular structures. In particular, liquid crystalline materials produce a myriad of supramolecular structures that can be tailored through their molecular geometry, functionality, and environmental conditions (e.g., salt concentration, temperature, and solvents). Lyotropic liquid crystalline materials, such as the lipid molecules, create vesicular, lamellar, and micellar structures in the aqueous phase (Ringsdorf, H.; Schlarb, B.; Venzmer, J. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 1988, 27, 113). The current and potential uses of such materials include models for cellular membranes and drug delivery vehicles. Block copolymers also can generate unique self-assembled structures in solvents, very similar to lipid molecules. However, their sheer size and chemical complexity can generate new structures and dimensions not previously observed with the lipids. Thermotropic liquid crystalline materials also form highly organized assemblies in two- and three-dimensions, forming discotic, lamellar, hexagonal, and cubic structures.
Although the liquid crystalline materials form highly ordered structures in both two- and three-dimensions, the materials do not exhibit any ability to self-regulate growth. Biological materials show numerous examples of structures that self-regulate growth, such as skeletal systems, tissue, virus particles, among others (Alberts, B.; Bray, D.; Lewis, J.; Raff, M.; Roberts, K.; Watson, J. D. Molecular Biology of The Cell; third ed.; Garland Publishing: New York, 1994). Known systems of lipid bilayer assemblies use ion complexation or molecular recognition at the membrane surface to form supramolecular aggregates with hierarchical structure. Examples include bilayer structures formed through bilayer-DNA (Radler, J. O.; Koltover, I.; Saldift, T.; Safinya, C. R. Science 1997, 275, 810) or bilayer-actin (Wong, G. C. L.; Tang, J. X.; Lin, A.; Li, Y.; Janmey, P. A.; Safinya, C. R. Science 2000, 288, 2035) complexation, metal ion coordination (Constable, E. C.; Meier, W.; Nardin, C.; Mundwiler, S. Chem. Comm. 1999, 1483), or biotin-streptavidin molecular recognition (Chiruvolu, S.; Walker, S.; Israelachvili, J.; Schmitt, F.-J.; Leckband, D.; Zasadzinski, J. A. Science 1994, 264, 1753). In none of these cases do the self-assembled material exhibit any ability to self-limit growth in any dimension.
Self-assembled materials with self-limiting dimensions can have use in a variety of applications for nanotechnology, which include scaffolding for device building, highly oriented structures for light harvesting, nano-scale chemical processing units, and unique drug delivery systems. Such materials are described in Waggoner et al. (Waggoner, T. A.; Last, J. A.; Kotula, P. G.; Sasaki, D. Y. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2001, 123, 496–497).


A system and method for increasing the use of frequency licenses in a cellular, multipoint wireless access system with non-mobile customer sites. The cell coverage of a base station is divided into sectors, for example 4, and orthogonal polarization between adjacent sectors is employed. For bi-directional communication uplink and downlink signals within each sector also employs orthogonal polarization.

Traditionally, cellular wireless communication systems have focused on mobile telephony and wireless local area network (LAN) communications. In such systems a base station at a fixed location has an omni-directional antenna for bi-directional communication with a mobile terminal as it travels throughout the cell area covered by the base station. The terminal also has an omni-directional antenna to enable reception of communication regardless of location within the cell. Omni-directional receivers tend to be relatively polarization insensitive.
Microwave radio frequencies in the GHz range are being allotted to wireless service providers through allocated frequency licenses. A license will conventionally cover a frequency range and the licensee will attempt to optimize utilization of the range through frequency multiplexing (so-called frequency plans) whereby the frequency range is subdivided into narrow bands or channels. Notwithstanding this subdivision it is to a licensee's advantage to optimize utilization of each frequency within the allocated frequency range.
In broadband communication of the type contemplated by the present invention, for example asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) networks, both the base station which serves as an ATM switch and usually the customer or user at a remote site are in a fixed location. This factor allows the utilization of directional transceivers at both the base station and the remote site.

Use of sectorized polarization diversity as a means of increasing capacity in cellular wireless systems


An operator interface unit, includes a housing with a first electrical port having a first pair of terminals to be connect to a pair of network wires of the locomotive, and a second pair of terminals to be connected to a power source. A display and input device are on the housing. A transceiver assembly wirelessly communications with the ECP system. A controller assembly is connected to the first electrical port, the display, the input device and the transceiver assembly, and wherein the controller assembly is a node on the network via one of the first electrical port and the transceiver assembly. A portable assembly includes a battery source in a container which irremovably houses the operator interface unit.

The present invention relates generally to railway pneumatic brake systems and, more specifically, to a wireless display unit for an interface between a pneumatic train brake control system and a train of electrically controlled pneumatic (ECP) brake equipped cars.
The freight train industry in the U.S. is transitioning from a completely pneumatically-controlled train to a train having ECP brake equipment on their cars. For the foreseeable future, not all locomotives will have the capability of interfacing with an ECP equipped train. They do not have the ability to provide the necessary power or electric control signals to the individual cars nor to control the brake pipe as required by the ECP cars. As presently configured, the train brake pipe is maintained at its charged value and is only used as a pneumatic back-up for failure of the ECP electrical control signals.
To meet this demand, various systems have been suggested. A limp-in control arrangement for ECP systems is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,286,913. An interface which provides the appropriate level of power to the ECP trainline is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,217,126. A locomotive to ECP brake conversion system which provides the appropriate power and control signals to the car trainline is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,189,980. Another interface system is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,676,229.
The present interface system includes a housing with a first electrical port having a first pair of terminals to be connect to a pair of network wires of the locomotive, and a second pair of terminals to be connected to a power source. A display and input device are on the housing. A controller assembly is connected to the first pair of terminals as a node on the network, is connected to be powered by the second pair of terminals, is connected to drive the display and is connected to receive inputs from the input device. A transceiver for wireless communication with the ECP system is connected to an adapter which is also connected to the first pair of terminals to interface the transceiver to the controller assembly via the network.
The controller assembly has a second electrical port connected to the first and second pairs of terminals of the first electrical port. A cut-out circuit connects the second pair of terminal to the second electrical port of the controller and disconnects the second pair of terminal and the second electrical port if the voltage at the second pair of terminals is below a predetermined voltage.
The adapter and display are connected to be powered by the controller assembly at a second voltage lower than a first voltage at the second pair of terminals. The controller assembly includes a power port for providing the second voltage. The display and the adapter each include a power port, and a splitter connects the power port of the controller assembly to the power ports of the display and the adapter.
The first electrical port includes a third pair of terminals connected to each other. Auding a battery assembly includes a first and a second battery and a connector for matting with the first electrical port and having two pairs of positive and negative terminals connected to positive and negative terminals of a respective battery. The positive terminal of the connector of the first battery and the negative terminal of the connector the second battery mate with the second pair of terminals of the first electrical port. The positive terminal of the connector of the second battery and the negative terminal of the connector the first battery mate with the third pair of terminals of the first electrical port, thereby the batteries being in series to the second pair of terminals.
The connector of the battery assembly includes a third pair of terminals connected to each other; wherein when the connector is mated with a dual battery charger, the third pair of terminals activates the charger. The battery assembly is in a container having a third electrical port including the two pairs of positive and negative terminals connected to positive and negative terminals of a respective battery, and the connector mates with the first and third electrical ports. The container includes a compartment to removable accommodate the operator interface unit and the connector.
Another includes a housing with a first electrical port having a first pair of terminals to be connect to a pair of network wires of the locomotive, and a second pair of terminals to be connected to a power source. A display and input device are on the housing. A transceiver assembly wirelessly communications with the ECP system. A controller assembly is connected to the first electrical port, the display, the input device and the transceiver assembly, and wherein the controller assembly is a node on the network via one of the first electrical port and the transceiver assembly.
A portable operator interface includes a container having a lid and an external first electrical port. A battery source in the container electrically is connected to the first electrical port. An operator interface unit is removable housed in the container and has a display, an input device, a transceiver, a second electrical port and an antenna port. An antenna is removable housed in the container and has a connector for mating with the antenna port. A cable is removable housed in the container and has a pair of connectors for mating with the first and second electrical ports respectively.
These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention, when considered in conjunction with accompanying drawings.


It is an object of the present invention to obtain a labeled protein, and specifically, to separate a labeled protein and the same unlabeled protein. There is provided a labeled protein including: a protein to be labeled having a target protein, at least one or more affinity interaction domains for binding to an affinity support, and at least one or more labeling sites; and a labeling reagent binding to at least one of the labeling sites; wherein the affinity of the labeled protein for the affinity support is difference from that of the protein to be labeled for the affinity support.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a labeled protein for obtaining the labeled protein in high purity and a method for obtaining the same. More specifically, the invention relates to a labeled antibody useful for diagnostic application and a purification method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
A labeled protein including a labeled antibody is used for diagnosis of lesions such as cancer. The labeled protein includes a protein binding to a molecule specifically present in a lesion part, and as a labeling substance, a signal-generating part which enables detection from the outside of the living organism or a chemical modifier which modifies physical and chemical properties of the protein. Since the labeled protein binds to the specific molecule and the labeling substance sends a signal, the detection of the signal enables the present/absence of the specific molecule and the amount and location information thereof to be obtained.
Upon using the labeled protein as a diagnosis agent or a contrast agent, an unlabeled protein mixed therewith causes competitive inhibition and thereby decreases the detection sensitivity. Therefore, a method for separating and purifying a labeled protein is desired.
However, it is difficult to separate a labeled protein and an unlabeled protein after labeling. In particular, when a low molecular compound such as fluorescent dye and water-soluble oligo (ethylene glycol) is used as a labeling reagent, the separation becomes further difficult. This is because labeling with a low molecular compound does not make a large difference between the labeled substances before and after labeling in the physical and chemical properties (a molecular size, hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity, an electric charge, etc.).
Size exclusion chromatography, ion-exchange chromatography and hydrophobic chromatography can be used to separate a labeled protein. However, in the case of labeling with a low molecular compound, it is not easy to separate a labeled protein and an unlabeled protein even with these chromatography methods, and detailed investigation of conditions is necessary. In stead of size exclusion chromatography, an antibody against a labeling reagent can be used for separation of a labeled protein. However, this method is not versatile because the antibody is not always available.
As a method for purifying a labeled protein, a method for separating a labeled protein from an unlabeled protein using hydrophobic chromatography (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H09-325142, separation purification method with a hydroxyapatite column (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H02-002937) are reported.

Labeled protein and method for obtaining the same


A process for preparing nitrogen-containing isotropic pitch, comprising the steps of mixing a petroleum heavy oil, a nitrating reagent and water to prepare a homogeneous dispersion, thereby contacting the petroleum heavy oil with the nitrating reagent in the homogeneous dispersion state to prepare a crude nitrated heavy oil, and subjecting the crude nitrated heavy oil to refining, thermal polymerization and vacuum distillation. According to the process of the invention, a petroleum heavy oil containing a large amount of light oil components and being liquid at ordinary temperature, from which pitch has been hardly prepared conventionally, is used as a starting material for preparing pitch, and there can be obtained nitrogen-containing isotropic pitch of homogeneity and high quality having a desired softening point of from a low softening point to a high softening point, though such pitch was unable to be obtained so far.

Isotropic pitches are used for preparing various isotropic carbon materials, for example, isotropic pitch based carbon fibers, activated carbon fibers (ACF) and conductive carbon materials.
The isotropic pitches have been conventionally prepared by processes in which petroleum heavy oils such as catalytically cracked (FCC) residual oils as starting materials are subjected to heat treatment or blowing method using oxygen or ozone.
In these processes for preparing pitch, however, if a petroleum heavy oil containing light oil components is used as a starting material, these light oil components are eliminated before the thermal polymerization reaction proceeds, and therefore the yield of pitch is very low. Especially when a heavy oil which contains a large amount of light oil components and which is liquid at ordinary temperature is used, the yield of pitch becomes extremely low, and preparation of pitch is practically impossible. On that account, the petroleum heavy oil containing a large amount of light oil components was unable to be used as a starting materiel of pitch for preparing carbon materials and such heavy oil has been conventionally used only as a heavy oil blending component.
It is known that the isotropic pitches are nitrated before carbonizing or graphitizing them in the preparation of carbon materials. Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 302217/1993 discloses technique relating to a process for preparing low-viscosity pitch for matrix, comprising the steps of spinning ordinary isotropic pitch to form fibrous pitch and nitrating the fibrous pitch in a solid-liquid phase.
In this technique, however, the starting pitch is made fibrous by spinning and the nitration reaction is carried out in the solid-liquid phase in order to conduct an uniform nitration, that is, a procedure of spinning the starting pitch to make it fibrous is necessary, and therefore the process is complicated.
Further, the pitch for matrix obtained by this process has a low softening point and a low viscosity, so that this pitch cannot be applied, as it is, to uses other than the use for matrix, in which a high softening point is required.
For raising the softening point, there is known a method of heat-treating low-viscosity pitch having been subjected to nitration reaction, so as to polymerize the pitch. In the nitration reaction in the solid-liquid phase in the conventional process, however, there is limitation on the degree of nitration, and hence isotropic pitch sufficiently nitrated cannot be obtained. If the isotropic pitch thus insufficiently nitrated is heat-treated, polymerization reaction does not satisfactorily proceed and isotropic pitch having a desired softening point cannot be obtained.
The present inventors have earnestly studied in view of such circumstances of the prior art as mentioned above, and they have found that, by a process comprising the steps of mixing a petroleum heavy oil, particularly a petroleum heavy oil containing a large amount of light oil components, with a nitrating reagent and water to give a homogeneous dispersion, nitrating the heavy oil in the homogeneous dispersion state, then refining the nitrated heavy oil and thermally polymerizing the heavy oil, a petroleum heavy oil can be uniformly nitrated and polymerized with inhibiting elimination of the light oil component. The present inventors have made further improvement and accomplished the present invention.

Process for preparing nitrogen-containing isotropic pitch and nitrogen-containing isotropic pitch


The invention provides a composition comprising at least the following components: A) a first composition comprising a first ethylene/α-olefin block copolymer consisting of ethylene and C4-C8 α-olefin comonomer; and where the first composition has a density from 0.87 g/cc to 0.90 g/cc, and a melt index (I2) from 6.0 to 20.0 g/10 min; B) at least one filler that is capable of being excited by an alternating electromagnetic field at a frequency greater than, or equal to 10 MHz; C) at least one flame retardant selected from the group consisting of i) from 30.0 to 50.0 wt % of one or more non-halogen, inorganic flame retardant compounds, based on the weight of the composition; and ii) from 8.0 to 30.0 wt % of one or more halogen-containing flame retardant compounds, based on the weight of the composition; and D) at least one polar polymer.

Polymer-coated fabrics are flexible composite materials, comprising the coating (polymer layer) and the substrate (fabric layer), adhered together through a specific coating process. The polymer coating imparts properties on the fabric, such as printing of graphics, impermeability to dust particles, liquids, and gases. The polymer coating can also improve existing physical properties, such as tear and abrasion resistance. The fabric component generally determines the tear and tensile strength, elongation and dimensional stability. However, many properties are determined by a combination of both these components. The base-fabric and the polymer must be carefully selected, by a thorough consideration of the properties required in the finished article.
Radio frequency (RF) weldability and excellent Flame Retardancy are required for many of coated fabric applications. The flexible PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is a common coating material for coated fabric applications, due to the Excellent RF weldability and inherent flame retardancy. Vinyl (PVC) coated polyester is the most common material used on the market today for various applications. Other compositions are described as follows.
International Publication No. WO2013/096705 discloses a method of forming a polyolefin-based article that includes the following: (a) incorporating, into a polyolefin formulation, a filler that is capable of being excited by a high frequency electromagnetic field; (b) forming a substrate from the polyolefin formulation, the substrate having at least one surface; and (c) subjecting the surface of the polyolefin substrate to the high frequency electromagnetic field, under conditions, such that the substrate is welded to a second surface of the polyolefin substrate, or to a surface of a second polyolefin substrate, to form a polyolefin-based article. The polyolefin formulation comprises a zeolite that is ion exchanged with sodium, calcium, or potassium, in an amount of at least five weight percent, based on weight of the polyolefin formulation; and a base polymer selected from the group consisting of the following: (a) a homogeneously branched, linear or substantially linear ethylene/α-olefin copolymer having a density from 0.865 to 0.905 grams per cubic centimeter, and a melt index (measured at 190° C. at 2.13 kilograms) from 0.5 to 30 grams per 10 minutes, (b) a homogeneously branched propylene/α-olefin copolymer having a density from 0.863 to 0.885 grams per cubic centimeter, and a melt flow rate (measured at 230° C. at 2.13 kilograms) from 2 to 30 grams per 10 minutes, or (c) a combination thereof; and where the base polymer has a melting temperature below 100° C. The polyolefin substrate exhibits a cohesive welding failure and a weld strength, for a 10 mil (0.254 millimeter) thickness, that is greater than 7 pounds per inch (1.23 Newtons per millimeter), at a welding time of less than, or equal to, six seconds, to form a polyolefin-based article.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,336,173 discloses the blends of polyolefins and fiber-forming polymeric carbonamide, to form an electronic-weldable fabric. U.S. Pat. No. 5,627,223 discloses a composition comprising a polyolefin, a thermoplastic starch, and a coupling agent (for example, an ionic compound) to produce a high-frequency-welded article. U.S. Pat. No. 6,100,335 discloses polymeric compositions based on blends of propylene polymer, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), and organic peroxide, for use for high-frequency weldable sheets.
U.S. Publication 2004/0077791 discloses a high-frequency weldable, thermoplastic rubber composition comprising the following: (A) a thermoplastic rubber comprising (i) a rubber; and (ii) a thermoplastic polyolefin homopolymer or copolymer; and (B) a polar-modifier, in an amount effective to render the thermoplastic rubber composition high-frequency weldable, and wherein the polar modifier is selected from the group consisting of the following: (i) thermoplastic polyurethane resins in an amount of at least about 25 wt %, (ii) chlorinated polyolefin resins, (iii) copolymers of ethylene and vinyl acetate, (iv) terpolymer of styrene, butadiene and acrylonitrile, or (v) mixtures thereof.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,399,396 discloses RF-weldable multi-layered films, which have a barrier layer and a seal layer. The composition of the seal polymer layer is polymer derived of ethylene and ethylenically unsaturated ester (vinyl acetate (VA) or acrylate). The seal layer has an anti-block matted surface. U.S. Pat. No. 5,135,785 discloses pouches and films which contain of at least one barrier layer of a polyolefin, and at least one seal layer of ethylene-vinyl acetate. The seal layers are disclosed as weldable using radio frequency welding.
International Publication No. WO 93/24568 discloses a polymer article prepared by the process comprising the steps of: (1) blending polymer composition comprising the following: (A) at least one ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, (B) at least one propylene ethylene copolymer, and (C) (1) from about 0.01% to about 5%, by weight, of a cross-linking agent, (2) from about 0.1% to about 35%, by weight, of one or more polymers selected from: (i) at least one co-, or terpolymer of at least one vinyl aromatic compound, (ii) at least one co-, or terpolymer of an alpha-olefin, and at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of an acrylic acid, an acrylic ester, a vinyl silane, and a vinyl alcohol, (iii) at least one polyolefin other than a propylene homopolymer or a propylene-ethylene copolymer, (iv) at least one polyetheramide block copolymer, (v) at least one ionomer, (vi) at least one oxidized polyolefin wax, or mixtures of (1) or (2); and forming the polymer composition into the article. The polymer articles are disclosed as being radio frequency weldable.
JP10219048A (English Abstract) discloses a polypropylene composition comprising the following: (A) 0.1-5 pts.wt. of metal oxide particles, (B) 0.1-5 pts.wt. of ion-substituted zeolite and (C) 100 pts.wt. of polypropylene. The composition is disclosed as having high frequency welding property, an antibacterial property, and a UV light-shielding property, and capable of exhibiting excellent light transmittance, by adding ultrafine zeolite particles and ultrafine metal oxide particles as crystal nucleus-forming agents to polypropylene resin.
WO2002/088229 discloses an HF responsive composition comprising the following: (A) a molecular sieve material, and (B) at least one interpolymer comprising (i) polymer units derived from at least one aliphatic olefin monomer having from 2 to 20 carbon atoms; and (ii) polymer units derived from (a) at least one vinyl or vinylidene aromatic monomer, or (b) from at least one sterically hindered aliphatic or cycloaliphatic vinyl or vinylidene monomer, or (c) from a combination of at least one vinyl or vinylidene aromatic monomer and at least one sterically hindered aliphatic or cycloaliphatic vinyl or vinylidene monomer, and optionally (d) polymer units derived from at least one ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable monomer, other than that derived from (a), (b) or (c).
There is an increasing need to replace materials that are perceived as less "environmentally safe," like PVC, with those that are more "environmentally safe," such as olefin-based polymers. However, olefin-based polymers are typically non-polar polymers, and therefore, are not radio frequency active. Also olefin-based polymers typically have high fuel numbers, which makes them very flammable. There is a further need to develop olefin-based compositions which are RF weldable and have good flame retardancy (for example, can pass a stringent flame retardancy test such as NFPA 701). These needs have been met by the following invention.

High frequency weldable ethylene-based polymer compositions with good flame retardancy