The present disclosure is directed to a single-sided deck clip that allows an approach to deck board installation with hidden fasteners, and without grooving both edges of a deck board. By not grooving edges, perimeter trim can include one square finished edge on ending pieces. The single-sided clip allows for attaching fasteners through the clip at an angle that penetrates both a deck board and an underlying joist, thus providing a positive connection of decking to joist framing below. In another embodiment, a clip magazine is disclosed that stores, supplies, and assists in installation of single-sided deck clips and fasteners. The clip magazine can hold a plurality fasteners and single-sided deck clips. The magazine allows the single-sided clips and fasteners to be positioned relative to the deck board, and allows fasteners to be aligned with a single-sided clip, and pushed into a deck board during installation.

Property owners have numerous decking system options when designing a new deck, or when updating an existing deck. These decking systems generally include a fastener to ensure that deck boards get securely attached to underlying joists. Some such example fasteners include screws, nails, or staples. In some cases, securing deck boards includes driving a fastener through the face of deck boards. This means that the top, or head, of fasteners remain visible. The visibility of these fasteners can detract from the natural beauty of the material chosen for deck boards, and worse yet, become increasingly unsightly overtime. For example, metal fasteners have a tendency to rust and to also discolor adjacent deck boards. Moreover, fasteners may loosen overtime and become a safety hazard to persons walking across the deck. More recent decking systems and methods seek to secure decking boards to joists without driving a fastener through the face of deck boards.


Provided herein are compositions comprising purified antibodies and fragments thereof that are specifically immunoreactive to only human leukocyte antigen E (HLA-E) but not to other HLA Ia and HLA-Ib alleles. Also provided are methods of their making and diagnostic and therapeutic applications. The monospecific HLA-E antibodies are highly specific and can be used for diagnosing or localizing the presence of HLA-E on normal or diseased cells or tissues. The monospecific HLA-E antibodies can also be used for cancer therapies, likely through regulation of the CD94/NKG2a on Cytotoxic and/or Natural Killer T cells.

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules include highly polymorphic classical HLA class Ia (HLA-A: 1729 alleles with 1,264 proteins; HLA-B: 2329 alleles, 1786 proteins; and HLA-Cw: 1291 alleles, 938 proteins) and least polymorphic non-classical HLA-Ib (HLA-E: 10 alleles, 3 proteins; HLA-F: 22 alleles, 4 proteins; and HLA-G: 47 alleles, 15 proteins), based on information published in October 2011 in EBML-EBI website at www<dot>ebi<dot>ac<dot>uk</>imgt</>hla</>stats<dot>html.
Each HLA molecule consists of a heavy chain (HC) of about 346 amino acids in length. An HC consists of three extracellular domains (α1, α2 & α3), a transmembrane domain and a C-terminal cytoplasmic domain. In some cases, the HC is non-covalently linked to β2-microglobulin ("β2 m"), which is about 99 amino acids in length.
HLA-E was first discovered in 1987; see, for example, Geraghty et al., 1987, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 84: 9145-9149; and Koller et al., 1988, J. Immunol. 141: 897-904. One of the functions of HLA-E is to present peptides to CD8+ T-lymphocytes. The peptides presented include but are not limited to (1) All leader sequence peptides of HLA-Ia antigens, namely HLA-A, HLA-B and HLA-Cw and (2) peptides from (a) Heat Shock Proteins (Hsp-60), (b) cytomegalovirus (CMV), (c) Epstein Barr Virus (EBV); (d) Influenza virus, (e) Salmonella enteric and (f) Mycobaterium glycoproteins (Iwaszko and Bogunia-Kubik, 2011 Arch Immunol Ther Exp. 59(5):353-367).
The HLA-E gene is expressed in resting T-lymphocytes. It is also commonly expressed by cells such as endothelial cells, immune cells (B-, T-lymphocytes, NK cells, monocytes and macrophages), and trophoblasts. Most importantly, HLA-E is overexpressed in tumor cells, possibly caused by malignant transformation of human tissues. See, for example, Marin R et al., 2003 Immunogenetics. 54:767-775; Wischhusen J et al., 2005, J Neuropathol Exp Neurol. 64:523-528; Derré L et al., 2006. J. Immunol. 177:3100-3107; Mittelbronn, et al., 2007 J. Neuroimmunol. 189: 50-58; Goncalves et al. 2008, Stangl et al., 2008, Cell Stress Chaperones 13(2):221-230; Levy et al., 2009, Innate Immun. 15(2):91-100; Hanak L et al., 2009, Med Sci Monit. 15(12):CR638-643; Sensi M, et al., 2009, Int Immunol. 21(3):257-268; de Kruijf E M et al., 2010 J. Immunol. 185:7452-7459; Kren L et al., 2010 J. Neuroimmunol. 220:131-135; Kren L et al., 2011 Neuropathology 31:129-134; Kren L et al., 2012 Diagnostic Pathology 7:58; Kren L, et al., 2012 Pathology: Research and Practice 208: 45-49; Allard M et al., 2011 PLoS One. 6(6):e21118; Benevolo M, et al., 2011, J Transl Med. 9:184; Gooden M et al., 2011, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 108:10656-10661; and Silva T G et al., 2011, Histol Histopathol. 26:1487-1497; each of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
Increased cellular expression of HLA-E induces the release of HLA-E in circulation (e.g., Derré L et al., 2006. J. Immunol. 177:3100-3107). For example, soluble HLA-E (sHLA-E) is found in the sera or plasma of patients with immune-mediated vascular diseases, Kawasaki Disease, a systemic pediatric vasculitis, as well as in normal individuals (e.g., Lin et al., 2009 Arthritis & Rheumatism 60(2): 604-610).
The soluble HLA-E (sHLA-E) may be found without β2m. In intact HLA-E, the presence of β2m can mask some of the peptides sequences of the sHLA-E heavy chain that would be otherwise exposed and become immunogenic. In other words, some of the peptide sequences of sHLA-E have lost immunogenic capacity due to association with β2m.
Several monoclonal antibodies to HLA-E are available commercially. They include MEM-E/02, MEM-E/06, MEM-E/07, MEM-E/08, mAb 3D12 and mAb DT9. These anti-HLA-E monoclonal antibodies were used for cancer diagnosis based on their assumed specificity for HLA-E. See, for example, Shimizu et al., 1988, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 85:227-231; Menier et al., 2003, Hum Immunol. 64(3):315-326; Gooden M et al., 2011, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 108:10656-10661; Stangl et al., 2008, Cell Stress Chaperones 13(2):221-230; Allard M et al., 2011 PLoS One. 6(6):e21118; Levy et al., 2009, Innate Immun. 15(2):91-100; and Sensi M, et al., 2009, Int Immunol. 21(3):257-268; each of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
These known anti-HLA-E monoclonal antibodies, however, have been shown to cross-react with other antigens. For example, Ravindranath et al. showed that MEM-E/02 antibodies bind A*2402, B*1301, B*1401, B*1502, B*1513, B*1801, B*3501, B*3701, B*4001, B*4006, B*4101, B*4403, B*4501, B*4601, B*5601, B*7301, B*7801, B*8201, Cw*0102, Cw*0304, Cw*0501, Cw*0602, Cw*0701, Cw*1802 at 1/300 dilution. In the same study, MEM-E/06 antibodies were shown to bind B*1401, B*4006, B*4101, B*8201, Cw*0501, Cw*0802, Cw*0701, Cw*1802 at 1/300 dilution. MEM-E/07 and E/08 also antibodies were to bind B*1301, B*3801, B*4006, B*4101 (E/07 only), B*8201 (E/07 only), Cw*0501, Cw*0701, Cw*1802 at 1/300 dilution. MEM-E/07 and MEM-E/08 were shown to react reasonably well with HLA-G. In addition, an anti-HLA-E murine mAb 3D12 also reacted with several HLA Class Ia alleles. See, for example, Ravindranath et al., 2010, Mol. Immunol. 47: 1121-1131 and Ravindranath et al., 2010, Mol. Immunol. 47.1663-1664. Further, it was reported that yet another anti-HLA-E mAb, mAb DT9 strongly reacted with HLA-A*8001, N*1301, B*3501, B*4006 and B*7301. See, e.g., Shimizu et al., 1988, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 85:227-231; which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
The cross reactivity of anti-HLA-E mAbs to HLA-A, -B or -Cw is possibly due to recognition of shared epitopes found between HLA-E and HLA-Ia alleles (Table 1). See, Ravindranath et al., 2010, Mol. Immunol. 47. 1663-1664; and Ravindranath et al., 2010, J. Immunol. 185: 1935-1948.
CD94 and NKG2a receptors are present on CD8+ T lymphocytes and Natural Killer T Cells. When an HLA-E binds to CD94 and NKG2a receptors on CD8+ T cells and NKT cells, incoming activation signals of T cells are dampened by recruitment of phosphatases like SHP-1 to the signal transducing synapse, which results in decreased effector functions (e.g., Rodgers and Cook, 2005, Nat Rev Immunol 5:459; Chang W C et al., 2005, Int J Gynecol Cancer 15:1073; and Lanier L L, 2005, Annu Rev Immunol 23:225). In other words, in the absence of activating signals, the CD8+ cells remain paralyzed, unless the proliferation of activated CD8+ T cells are augmented to exceed interaction with HLA-E expressing cells.
In contrast to overexpression of HLA-E, loss of MHC class Ia expression is known to occur in several cancers including primary and metastatic melanoma. Thus, loss of MHC class Ia expression and increased CD94/NKG2-A/B expression are linked with tumor progression (Vetter et al., 2000 J. Invest. Dermatol. 114: 941-947).
In general, the events taking place in the tumor microenvironment can be summarized as follows: CD8+ Cytotoxic T cells (CTLs) and NKT cells infiltrate tumor tissue to destroy tumor cells. CD8+ CTLs release IFN-γ after infiltrating into tumor cells. IFN-γ induces overexpression of HLA-E. HLA-E epitopes functions as a major ligand for CD8+ Cytotoxic Lymphocytes (CTL) and the Natural Killer T cell (NKT) inhibitory receptor CD94/NKG2A (FIGS. 1A and 1B). CD8+ T cells with CD94/NKG2A are more in tumor tissues than in peripheral blood. Both overexpression of CD94, NKG2a & HLA-E may vary with the stages of cancer, from primary to lymph node & organ metastasis.
Survival curves in ovarian cancer have been compared in relation to the expression of HLA-E in tumor and CD8+ on T cells (Gooden M et al 2011. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 108(26):10656-10661). Patients with high levels of tumor infiltrating CD8+ T cells survive significantly (p<0.04) higher than those with low CD8+ T cells. The survival of patients is significantly (p<0.001) higher when high CD8+ T cells co-exist with tumor cells with low level of expression of HLA-E. However, the survival of patients with high CD8+ T cells are much lowered to the level of low CD8 T cells.
One of the salient strategies to overcome HLA-E-mediated inactivation of CTLs/NKTs is to block HLA-E on the tumor cell surface with antibodies designed to block only and specifically HLA-E. These antibodies have the potential to prevent with the ligand-receptor interaction between tumor cells expressing HLA-E and CD94 and NKG2a receptors on CD8+ T cells and NKT cells.
Whether HLA-E blocking HLA-E specific monoclonal antibodies are capable of any other immunomodulatory functions deserves to be elucidated before chimeric or humanized monoclonal antibodies are introduced into the patients.
What is needed are truly monospecific antibodies that that have no reactivity to other human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I antigens except HLA-E. Such monospecific antibodies would be more reliable and invaluable for immunodiagnosis of HLA-E in normal and pathological tissue samples overexpressing HLA-E.

Diagnostic and therapeutic potential of HLA-E monospecific monoclonal IgG antibodies directed against tumor cell surface and soluble HLA-E


The invention concerns compositions comprising (a) from about 20 wt % to about 80 wt % of a polymer component; (b) from about 10 wt % to about 70 wt % of a flame retardant component; and (c) from about 0.01 wt % to about 5 wt % of an acid component; wherein the combined weight percent value of all components does not exceed 100 wt %; wherein all weight percent values are based on the total weight of the composition; and wherein the composition has: (i) a thermal conductivity of at least about 1.5 W/mK for through plane thermal conductivity; (ii) flame retardancy of at least VI at 0.8 mm using the UL94 test standard; and (iii) melt volume flow rate of at least 10 g/cm3 using ASTM D 1238.

Currently there are significant needs for polymer composites that are thermally conductive and flame retardant. Typically, thermal conductivity of polymer composites can be realized by addition of thermal conductive fillers into polymer resins. In order to obtain high thermal conductivity, high loading of thermally conductive fillers will typically be applied in polymer composites. This high loading makes addition of a flame retardant package into the composites much more difficult and negatively impacts the mechanical performance of thermal conductive polymer composites due to the high level of filler addition. Furthermore, high filler loading causes poor flow properties, which makes molding or other processing of the composite difficult. There is a need in the art for thermally conductive polymer composites that are flame retardant and have good flow properties.

Flame retardant thermally conductive polymer compositions with good flow property and uses thereof


A process for hydrotreating coker kerosene is described. Instead of a post treat reactor, a smaller trim reactor zone which operates at a lower pressure than the post treat reactor is used downstream of the product stripper. The trim reactor uses a noble metal catalyst to reduce the BI of the stripped product to less than about 150, and desirably in the range of about 50 to about 100.

The delayed coker process converts the residue from heavy, high sulfur crudes into transportation fuels. The kerosene stream from the coker process is known as coker kerosene. It comprises hydrocarbons in the range of C9 to C20 and has a boiling point in the range of about 140° C. to about 320° C. It has a T5 point of 150° C. and a T95 point of 295° C. measured according to ASTM D86.
Coker kerosene contains high levels of sulfur (e.g., about 2 to about 5 wt %) and nitrogen (e.g., about 600-1000 wppm). Coker kerosene has to be hydrotreated to reduce the levels of sulfur and nitrogen before it can be treated in a separation unit, such as Molex™ to separate the n-paraffins from the non-normal hydrocarbons. The feed specifications for the Molex™ process include a sulfur level of less than 1 wppm, and a maximum nitrogen level of 0.5 wppm. Kerosene also contains olefins, and the olefins are saturated during the hydrotreating process. Another feed specification for the Molex™ process is a bromine index (BI) in the range of less than about 150.
In order to meet the sulfur, nitrogen, and BI specifications for a coker kerosene feed, severe hydrotreating at pressure in the range of about 7.6 MPa(g) (1100 psig) to about 8.3 MPa(g) (1200 psig) is required.
However, it is preferable to hydrotreat at the lowest possible pressure to reduce the capital cost of the unit. The sulfur and nitrogen specifications can be met at lower pressures, e.g., in the range of about 4.8 MPa(g) (700 psig) to about 6.2 MPa(g) (900 psig). However, the BI specification cannot be met by hydrotreating at that pressure.
Normally, a post treat reactor loaded with a hydrotreating catalyst is installed downstream of the main hydrotreating reactor to obtain the required BI. The post treat reactor has to operate at sufficiently high pressure and catalyst volume to meet the BI. Due to equilibrium limitations, the temperature of the post treat reactor needs to be in the range of about 250° C. and 350° C. to ensure that the required olefin saturation is obtained to meet BI requirement.
Even with the post treat reactor, it is not always possible to obtain BI values in the range of 50-100.
There is a need for lower cost processes to upgrade coker kerosene.

Hydrotreating coker kerosene with a separate trim reactor


A memory device and method for storing bits in a memory array is provided. In one preferred embodiment, a memory device is provided comprising a plurality of memory cells that are in a first digital state and can be switched to a second digital state. A plurality of bits to be stored in the memory array are provided, and if the plurality of bits comprise more bits in the second digital state than in the first digital state, the plurality of bits are inverted before being stored in the memory array. In another preferred embodiment, a memory device is provided comprising a memory array and bit inversion circuitry. In yet another preferred embodiment, a plurality of bits are inverted before being stored in a memory array if the plurality of bits comprise more bits in a non-preferred digital state than in a preferred digital state.

In some memory arrays, an initial state of a memory cell is known before a write operation. For example, the initial state of a write-once memory cell is its un-programmed state (e.g., Logic 1). During a write operation, the initial state of a memory cell is switched to a different state when that memory cell is programmed with a value different from that represented by its initial state (e.g., Logic 0). Often, data to be stored in a memory array includes bits that are of the same value as the initial state of the memory cells. Although storage of those bits does not involve switching the digital state of a memory cell, with some programming methods, the same amount of programming time is spent storing those bits as is spent storing bits of the opposite value. By not taking advantage of the known initial state of the memory array, bandwidth and power are unduly consumed.
There is a need, therefore, for a memory device and method that can be used to improve write bandwidth and power for memories with known initial states.
The present invention is defined by the following claims, and nothing in this section should be taken as a limitation on those claims.
By way of introduction, the preferred embodiments described below provide a memory device and method for storing bits in a memory array. In one preferred embodiment, a memory device is provided comprising a plurality of memory cells that are in a first digital state and can be switched to a second digital state. A plurality of bits to be stored in the memory array are provided, and if the plurality of bits comprise more bits in the second digital state than in the first digital state, the plurality of bits are inverted before being stored in the memory array. In another preferred embodiment, a memory device is provided comprising a memory array and bit inversion circuitry. In yet another preferred embodiment, a plurality of bits are inverted before being stored in a memory array if the plurality of bits comprise more bits in a non-preferred digital state than in a preferred digital state. Other preferred embodiments are provided, and each of the preferred embodiments described below can be used alone or in combination with one another.
The preferred embodiments will now be described with reference to the attached drawings.

Memory device and method for dynamic bit inversion


A method and apparatus for measuring a characteristic of a fading signal received using a two or more branch diversity receiver is presented. This fading characteristic is generally proportional to the speed of the user. In a first embodiment the number of times the antenna branches change in a selection diversity process is counted, and the result is scaled for imbalance between the branches. The output of a fading quality estimator, indicative of the fading and generally proportional to the speed, is thereby obtained.

In a communication system such as Cellular or PCS (Personal Communications Services) systems, signals are transmitted between base stations and subscribers using an RF (radio frequency) carrier. There are many propagation effects that will affect such signals in urban, suburban and rural environments, and these include multipath and log normal fading mechanisms. There are also many methods to improve the quality of a received signal, including the use of high gain antennas, handoff between cells (macro-diversity), and diversity reception with two or more antennas at a base station or subscriber (micro-diversity). Generally, handoff between cells produces improvement to log normal or shadow fading, i.e. that fading produced by signal interactions from obstructions or blockages that reduce the effective coverage of the cell.
Multipath or fast fading is produced by the random scattering of radio signals in a cluttered environment in which the signals reflecting and diffracting from a variety of surfaces relatively near the receiver combine at the antenna of the receiver forming a Rayleigh or Rician signal fading profile. Generally, to combat multipath, two antennas are used, spaced apart enough to obtain nearly independent samples of the multipath faded signals (e.g., signals 10 and 11 of FIG. 1) and these signals are applied to a diversity receiver. Common types of diversity include switched, selection, equal gain, and max ratio combining, and generally require two or more antennas which are separated in space or polarization.
One goal of using diversity receive antennas is to reduce the degrading effect of the large variations in signal strength characteristic of multipath fading by selecting the best antenna for reception, until another antenna becomes better. The effect of this is that the active antenna (i.e., currently in use) will be continually changing since the motion of the user or the environment will cause the absolute signal level on each antenna to change, e.g. as shown by signals 10 and 11 in FIG. 1. Both the motion of the subscriber and the motion of the environment (i.e. vehicles and pedestrians in motion, trees moving in the wind, etc.) will produce variations in the instantaneous signals seen at each antenna. In fact, a user might be stationary, and the signal could still exhibit dynamic multipath fading due to the motion around the user. Environmentally induced fluctuations in the multipath signal can generally be considered to have the same effect as signal fluctuations caused by the subscriber's movement since approximately the same receiver degradation due to signal fading would occur.
While the use of diversity does improve the quality of signal reception, it accomplishes this improvement using signal strength information, but typically not any specific information about the characteristics of the fading channel and environment. Some prior approaches have attempted to derive such information, but these have been measurements off a single branch (e.g., counting zero crossings and using slope detection) with some degree of complexity in additional circuitry being required. Such determinations have been limited in their quality, and subject to inaccuracies (e.g., when a branch goes into a deep fade).
Finally, the beneficial effects of diversity will be at their maximum when there is no branch imbalance between the paths to the two antennas. This means that when each antenna receives the same average power, as averaged over approximately 20 wavelengths in a scattered environment, the branches are said to be balanced. When the two paths or branches are not balanced, i.e. if there is extra attenuation in one path due to an obstruction, or blockage, or due to polarization effects, etc., then the benefit from diversity is reduced. This is illustrated by FIG. 2, where signal 20 is received with substantial attenuation with respect to signal 21.
A need, therefore, remains for an improved method for estimating characteristics of a fading signal, including those indicative of subscriber speed, while minimizing system complexity and cost, and preferably considering branch imbalances and other known factors.

Method and apparatus for estimating a signal fading characteristic


An apparatus for electrosurgical incision of a stricture within or adjacent to a body lumen, which comprises an electrically conducting, deflectable wire associated with an introducer for introducing the apparatus into the body lumen, wherein a proximal portion of the wire is deflectable outwardly relative to the introducer, and a source of RF electric current connected to the wire whereby RF electric current may be transmitted through the wire when it is in the deflected position.

Various instruments for performing surgical cutting operations in body lumens, for example, blood vessels, are known in the art.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,909,781 discloses a flexible catheter for opening obstructions in a blood vessel including an annular, rotatable cutter having a flexible coil spring body positioned at one end of a thin, flexible, cylindrical tube adapted for insertion in the vessel.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,030,201 discloses an expandable atherectomy catheter device having an expandable cutting head consisting of deformable cutting members to remove an atheroma or blood clot from a blood vessel.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,071,424 discloses a catheter atherotome comprising a plurality of elongate cutting blades disposed within a catheter for removing plaque from the interior wall of an artery.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,074,871 discloses another form of catheter atherotome having an expansable cutter head at the distal end of a catheter.
All of the above instruments utilize mechanical cutters to remove obstructions in blood vessels.
It is also known to remove obstructions by electrosurgery, i.e., by the use of an electrode, which may or may not be in the form of a sharp blade, which conducts RF electrical energy.
Thus, U.S. Pat. No. 5,057,107 discloses a RF ablation catheter for removing athero-stenotic lesions in blood vessels including a pair of electrodes which create an electric arc for effecting cutting upon application of RF voltage.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,080,660 discloses an electrosurgical electrode having a conductor from which a RF electrical signal is generated, which conductor is surrounded by a sheath having a longitudinal slit to expose the conductor over the region where a surgical procedure is desired.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,163,938 discloses a high-frequency electrosurgical treating device comprising a wire for high-frequency incision in combination with an endoscope. The device is typically used for papillo-sphincterotomy.
The present invention is predicated upon the concept of using an electrosurgical device to perform an incision procedure on the prostate.
Transurethral incision of the prostate (TUIP) is a less traumatic procedure than transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), the most common operation for benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). For selected patients TUIP has been found by some urologists to be as effective as TURP, with the advantage that it permits a shorter hospital stay and is associated with fewer complications and undesirable effects.
TUIP is typically performed with a cold (unpowered) knife. It has now been found that the use of an electroctrosurgical (ES) knife, particularly a monopolar electrosurgical knife, powered by radio-frequency (RF) electrical energy from an electrosurgical unit (ESU) makes a cutting operation easier, more direct, and thus less traumatic, than cutting with an unpowered knife. Moreover, use of a RF powered knife permits the convenient application of coagulating power for hemostasis.
However, conventional ES knives are not well adapted for TUIP. The urethra is an elongated, narrow tube about one centimeter in diameter, and the prostate extends radially outward from the urethra and needs to be incised to a depth of up to four centimeters. Accordingly, the instrument should have a configuration with a low profile for atraumatic passage through the urethra, but be adapted to be redeployed into a configuration appropriate for the TUIP procedure. An instrument which satisfies these requirements and also has other advantages is provided by the present invention.


The invention relates to a process for deblocking substantially a blocked, detectably labeled oligonucleotide by contacting the blocked detectably labeled oligonucleotide with an effective amount of a nucleophilic amino compound under conditions that result in substantial deblocking of the oligonucleotide, thereby giving the substantially deblocked oligonucleotide.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to processes for the substantial deprotection or deblocking of labeled oligonucleotides by use of an amino reagent such as ammonia.
2. Related Art
A variety of solid phase oligonucleotide synthesis techniques are known to those skilled in the art. Such techniques include phosphoramidite, phosphotriester, phosphodiester, phosphite and H-phosphonate methods and the like, each of which is generally known in the field of molecular biology. For example, the b-cyanoethyl phosphoramidite method is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,458,066 issued to Caruthers, et al., entitled xe2x80x9cProcess for Preparing Polynucleotides,xe2x80x9d which is incorporated herein by reference.
The phosphoramidite based synthesis of oligonucleotides requires the protection of the exocyclic amino groups. The most commonly used protecting groups for this purpose are benzoyl for the 6-amino of adenine and 4-amino of cytosine and isobutyroyl for 2-amino of guanine. Oligonucleotides are synthesized on solid support using nucleoside phosphoramidites where the amino groups are protected as shown below.
After the synthesis is completed the oligonucleotide is cleaved from the support and these protecting groups are removed by hydrolysis at high temperatures using concentrated ammonium hydroxide. After hydrolysis, the ammonium hydroxide has to be evaporated in order to obtain the desired oligonucleotide.
The use of hot concentrated ammonium hydroxide for the removal of these protecting groups has restricted the modified bases that can be used to those that can withstand these harsh conditions. For modified oligos such as dye containing oligos, heating in ammonium hydroxide cannot be used since the dyes are not stable under these conditions. In general, dye labeled oligos are deprotected by treatment with ammonium hydroxide at room temperature for over 24 hours or require special reagents for this purpose. See U.S. Pat. No. 4,965,349. Alternatively, oligos may be prepared using phosphoramidite having easily removable protecting groups which do not require the use of hot concentrated ammonium hydroxide. See Boal, J. H. et al., Nucl. Acids Res. 24:3115-3117 (1996).
The standard method where deprotection with concentrated ammonium hydroxide is done at reduced temperature results in incomplete deprotection and over all low quality of dye labeled oligonucleotides. Often this requires tedious purification which results in low yield.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,965,349 describes a method of hydrolyzing base-labile linking groups between a solid phase support and oligonucleotides with a reagent comprising a lower alcohol, water and a non-nucleophilic hindered alkylamine. According to this patent, this cleavage reagent preserves the fluorescent characteristics of rhodamine dyes during cleavage from the solid support.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,514,789 describes a method for the cleavage and deprotection of newly synthesized oligonucleotides from solid supports with a gaseous cleavage/deprotection reagent such as gaseous ammonia, ammonium hydroxide vapors, and methylamine.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,518,651 describes a method for the cleavage and deprotection of insolubilized and protected oligonucleotides using an alkyl amine, e.g. t-butylamine and methylamine. According to this patent, the deprotection and cleavage of the oligonucleotides occurs at room temperature and in less than about 90 min.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,738,829 describes a method for the cleavage and deprotection of oligonucleotides from solid supports which involves incubation of the immobilized oligonucleotides with gaseous ammonia or ammonium hydroxide vapors. According to this patent, the method lends itself to the use of supports such as microtiter plates that can be used to perform up to 96 individual synthetic processes.
Glenn Research of Sterling Virginia offers phenoxyacetyl protected dA, 4-isopropylphenoxylacetyl protected dG and acetyl protected dC which can be used to prepare oligonucleotides. According to Glenn Research""s web site, these monomers can be used with sensitive labeling reagents such as TAMRA, Cy5(copyright) and HEX since cleavage and deprotection can be carried out in 2 hours at room temperature with ammonium hydroxide or 0.005 M potassium carbonate in anhydrous methanol. In addition, according to this web site, it is possible to deprotect oligonucleotides containing acetyl protected dC monomers by treatment with ammonium hydroxide/methylamine for 10 min at 65xc2x0 C. or less.
We have now found that the use of nucleophilic amino compounds under pressure and high temperature is an effective way to deprotect dye labeled oligos. The dye labeled oligos deprotected in this manner are fully deprotected and are of high quality. In addition, the process is simple and saves time, reducing the deblocking (processing) time from approximately 28 hours to 1 hour.
The invention relates to a process for deblocking a detectably labeled oligonucleotide comprising contacting the blocked detectably labeled oligonucleotide with an effective amount of a nucleophilic amino compound under conditions that result in the deblocking of the oligonucleotide, thereby giving the deblocked oligonucleotide.

Method for deblocking of labeled oligonucleotides


The present invention relates to a coating composition for polyester film capable of printing on all types of printers with liquid and dry toners. The coating composition comprising of a combination of polyethylene carboxylic acid dispersion and homopolymer or copolymer of polyacrylate dispersion and/or homopolymer or copolymer of polyvinyl acetate dispersion, wherein acrylate and/or acetate content be is in the range of 1 to 50% of carboxylic acid content in the dispersion.

Digital printing is an effective method of image transfer which is currently getting popular as it automates and streamlines the printed image without much operator intervention. Image is formed on the imaging surface by use of a uniform electrostatic charge distribution throughout the surface. The electrostatic charge can be created by the corona and the print image is developed by applying toner which adhere to the surface and develop the image. Common digital printing presses available in market are from HP indigo, Kodak, Xerox, Canon, Ricoh Konica etc.
Digital printers usually use either liquid or dry toners for printing. Liquid ink is used by HP indigo. HP indigo follows offset process where ink is transferred from photo imaging cylinder to offset cylinder and then to the substrate. Dry toner based ink is used by Konica Minolta and Xerox Digital. Konika Minolta talks about using low temperature fusion Simitri HC toners to give a offset finish where fixing temperature requires to be as low as 150° C. as mentioned in their U.S. Pat. No. 8,304,157 and Xerox uses low melt EA (Emulsion Aggregrates) dry ink technology which also fuses with substrate at low temperature.
It is well known that electrostatic properties depend upon the nature of the substrate. For any machine working by electrostatic function, electrostatic properties are of atmost importance. It is well known fact if any substrate comes in contact with any other substrate or material coefficient of friction, static properties etc art important to determine the easy movability of the substrate. These properties can be easily determined by simple testing instruments.
Substrates to be printed are fed into the printing press in either sheet form or in roll form. In sheet form, the sheets are put in a tray and sheets either slide or are picked one by one or any other method known in the art and sent to the printing section for printing. For easy sliding and picking, minimization of static charge is of foremost importance. If the substrate has high static, it will not slide easily or be picked up easily or multiple sheet will be picked or slide together. In roll form, the substrate from the unwinder moves to printer and after printing rolls move to the winder roll.
The substrate is later further processed as per requirement.
The U.S. Pat. No. 7,279,513 describes coatings for paper consisting of Ethylene Acrylic Acid (EAA) for digital printing. This patent specifically discloses EAA coating over paper only and fails to disclose combination of EAA and vinyl acetates or acrylates coatings be applied over the oriented polyester film. A drawback of using EAA coating over film is of static charge. EAA has high static charge hence, cannot be used in all types of digital printing processes due to poor runability. EAA Coated films are coated by off-line method and EAA coating has been mentioned only for HP Indigo printers which use liquid toners.
It is an object of the present invention to overcome the difficulties presently encountered in the art of providing the coated oriented polyester film which is capable of receiving both liquid as well as dry toners on all types of the printers.
The inventive film exhibits properties that are significantly different from those of another coated polyester film where the film is coated by acrylic, copolyester or polyurethanes. The other coated polyester films are printed by using engraved cylinders. The inventive film is used for electrostatic printing. In the electrostatic printing process, the printing is done by means of electrostatic charge. The present invention relates to an oriented polyester film, having electrostatic printing characteristics and is capable of printing on all types of electrostatic printers with liquid and dry toners such as Xerox iGen digital printing press, digital indigo HP ink systems, Ricoh Digital Press, Canon digital press, Kodak Digital press etc.


A method for producing a semiconductor component with the following steps. A semiconductor chip is provided having electrical contacts in a contact making region. A housing including a rear plate and a side area is provided and surrounds the semiconductor chip. A first compliant buffer layer is applied on a rear plate. The semiconductor chip is applied to the first compliant buffer layer, and a second compliant buffer layer is applied to and around the semiconductor chip except in the contact making region. A contact passage plate is provided with an opening over the contact areas and the contact passage plate is fixed to the second compliant buffer layer.

In large scale integrated and greatly miniaturized semiconductor components, the problem that occurs to an intensified extent after said components have been mounted on printed circuits (printed circuit boards) is that in the event of temperature fluctuations, on account of the different thermal expansion coefficients of the materials involved, strong mechanical stresses occur within the component and between the component and the printed circuit board. FIG. 5 shows a customary design of such a miniaturized semiconductor module. The semiconductor component 1 is connected to the printed circuit board 2 by its electrical contacts 5. The semiconductor chip 3 in turn is connected to the interposer 12 by means of electrical contacts 14, the semiconductor chip being bonded to the interposer for the purpose of mechanical stabilization by means of an underfiller 13. The semiconductor chip 3 is furthermore encapsulated with an encapsulation 15. The interposer 12 as carrier is often also completely encapsulated as well.
Owing to temperature fluctuations or variations, mechanical stresses occur in the known component forms on account of the different thermal expansion coefficients of the different materials. FIG. 6 illustrates this in greater detail. The semiconductor chip 3 has a lower thermal expansion coefficient α than the interposer 12, which is produced from a different material. On account of the different expansion of the semiconductor chip and of the interposer, a strong mechanical stress 16 is transmitted via the underfiller 13, which is necessary for mechanical fixing and stabilization, and generated in the interposer 12. In order that a connection fracture of the electrical contacts 14 does not arise here, the thermal expansion coefficient of the interposer must already be adapted to the semiconductor chip. However, printed circuit boards 2 that are usually used have a thermal expansion coefficient that is greatly different from semiconductor chips. Therefore, the interposer 12, which is already under mechanical stress, exerts a strong mechanical stress 17 on the printed circuit board 2 via the electrical contacts 5 strained by said interposer. In the extreme case, this strong mechanical strain can lead to a deformation of the printed circuit board, which, particularly in the case of double-sided populations of printed circuit boards, may lead to the fracture of electrical contacts 5 and thus to the destruction of the electronic apparatus. If the deformation does not immediately lead to fracture in the choice of many instances of strain and strain relief it will then lead to fatigue of the material of the electrical contacts 5, which then again ultimately leads to the fracture thereof and limits the service life. Moreover, the high degree of different expansion, and thus the mechanical strain, of the semiconductor component in itself, that is to say on the one hand between semiconductor chip and interposer, and a semiconductor chip and encapsulation—in which a strain 18 is again induced—on the other hand, leads to fatigue of the electrical contacts 14, as a result of which the electrical contacts within the semiconductor components 1 may also be destroyed.
Direct placement of a semiconductor chip onto a printed circuit board only by means of bumps, in order to prevent mechanical stresses or transmissions thereof from interposed layers, does not achieve the goal either since a stable mechanical connection between the semiconductor chip and the printed circuit board cannot be produced by this means. Moreover, adhesive bonding of a chip by means of bumps with an underfiller, for example in the form of a resist, would here only carry the direct strains from the semiconductor chip to the printed circuit board. This would again result in deformation of the printed circuit board, with the abovementioned difficulties. In particular, in the case of printed circuit boards populated on both sides, it would lead to a destruction of circuits situated on one side of a printed circuit board or of the electrical contacts of said circuits.
In order that electronic circuits with a sufficiently long life can nevertheless be produced, complicated and thus expensive housing constructions are necessary for semiconductor components.

Method of producing a semiconductor component having a compliant buffer layer


A method of initiating communication between a ground station and a mobile handset through a satellite beam includes the steps of transmitting a forward signal indicative of a fixed geographic area covered by each of a plurality of satellites on at least a periodic basis. The location of said mobile handset is registered by storing at least one variable geographic value associated with said forward control signal at said mobile handset. A reverse signal is transmitted from said mobile handset to said ground station which is indicative of a geographic area where said mobile handset was located during registration. At least one variable geographic value associated with said reverse signal is stored in a database accessible to said ground station. The mobile handset determines whether a currently transmitted forward signal matches said variable geographic value stored. If a match is not found, the current location of said mobile handset is re-registered. The ground station determines which of said satellite beams should initiate a call signal to said mobile handset based upon said variable geographic value stored in said database for said mobile handset.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to mobile satellite communications systems and, more particularly, to a mobile handset tracking and paging system for a mobile communications system in which the mobile handsets communicate directly with sub-geosynchronous satellites.
2. Discussion
Geosynchronous satellite constellations are less than ideal for use in mobile communications systems in which mobile handsets communicate directly with the orbiting satellites. Launching the satellites into geosynchronous orbit is more costly than lower orbits. Mobile handset transmitter power requirements become greater with increasing orbital distances from the earth. Transmission delays are prohibitively long, especially when the mobile handset communicates with another mobile handset, requiring transmission to geosynchronous orbit and back twice.
Proposed mobile satellite communications systems include mobile handsets which communicate directly with a sub-geosynchronous satellite constellation including a plurality of satellites. Such sub-geosynchronous satellites have lower launch costs, relatively low-power transmitters, and acceptable transmission delays. Each satellite handles a coverage region and divides the coverage region into adjacent subregions. The coverage region of one satellite slightly overlaps the coverage region of another satellite such that earth landmasses are completely covered by the sub-geosynchronous satellite constellation. Each satellite includes antennas which can generate multiple focused beams which may slightly overlap to handle the coverage region of the satellite. If the satellite is orbiting at sub-geosynchronous altitudes, areas covered by each satellite are changing, in contrast with geosynchronous satellite constellations in which coverage regions remain relatively fixed. In addition, mobile users are also changing position with time.
When a first fixed or mobile handset user wishes to initiate a call with a second mobile handset user, the mobile satellite communications system must page the second mobile handset using individual focused beams covering every subregion in which the second mobile handset user might be located. If the mobile communications system is ultimately to be global in scope, it must be assumed that the second mobile handset user might potentially be located anywhere on the earth. Accordingly, it may be possible that more than one satellite would need to be used to page a mobile user.
Paging the second mobile handset user with all of the individual focused beams for one or more satellites in the sub-geosynchronous satellite constellation would be extremely wasteful of both satellite power and bandwidth. Even in a more restricted mobile communications systems, paging the mobile user with most or all of the individual focused beams covering a large region, such as a country or state, would similarly be wasteful of both satellite power and bandwidth. Requiring the mobile user to transmit a signal to a satellite on a periodic basis to allow the communication system to readily locate the mobile handset is also wasteful. As battery-powered mobile handsets are quickly becoming the cellular phone of choice, unnecessary transmissions could substantially reduce available power which is needed by the user for normal telephone communication.
Therefore, a system which can track the mobile user with sufficient accuracy to reduce the number of individual focused beams used to page the mobile user, and consequently reducing bandwidth allocated to paging, is desirable.

User paging for mobile satellite communications


A water sampling device has a rigid body, a top lid, extension members, a horizontal member, a spring, a rod, at least one polymer membrane and a bottom lid. The top lid has a shaft attached to it and the shaft traverses through the horizontal member. The bottom lid is connected to the rod upon which the at least one polymer membrane is attached perpendicularly. The water sampling device undergoes two different stages of lid opening and closing while in operation of collecting water sample to concentrate diversified bacteria from different water depths. The top lid, the shaft and the spring co-operate with the rigid body and the horizontal member such that in a first state, the top lid seals the top end opening while in a second state allows fluid to flow to an inside portion of the rigid body.

Marine environment is rich in microbial resources, which can provide range of novel bioactive compounds like enzymes, secondary metabolites etc. It has also remarkable bioremediation capabilities. Study of marine bacteria is important as they play a crucial role in decomposition of organic matter and cycling of nutrients. But our knowledge of marine bacterial diversity is critically limited. In addition to that, pollution monitoring of seawater with respect to bacterial diversity is very important to understand its quality. It is a challenging task to isolate maximum types of bacteria from these water samples as bacterial concentration in the seawater as well as other sources are very low. In addition to that depth wise bacterial diversity study of marine water is very important. In general, the depth-related gradient of physical and chemical properties provides niches for a wide variety of metabolically diverse microorganisms in marine water. Bacterial distribution in the marine water is not uniform throughout different water depths. Factors affecting this distribution are carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous limitations, temperature, light, pressure and salinity etc. At air-water interface of seawater, bacterial concentration is more and it decreases as depth increases. Hence, there bacterial diversity profiling of different seawater depth is important.
In general filtration is a common method to concentrate the bacteria before plating. However, during filtration process, small size bacteria can escape through the filter and also the barophobic bacteria might get damaged during this process. Therefore majority of the time when diversity study is performed with filtration method, many species do not appear in the result. Further, water sample generally collect for bacterial diversity study comprises small volume which might not represent all the types of bacteria. Various materials viz. ceramic, polymers are used for the preparation of these membranes. However, the simplicity in preparation in cost effective manner using particular type of membrane is very difficult. There are many kinds of bacteria which have been recovered from different membranes.
Reference may be made to a patent CN101864386A, wherein it describes a method for enriching seawater bacteria by asepsis cellulose filter membrane. This enrichment method uses sterilized syringe and a syringe needle type filter. The asepsis cellulose filter membrane is put in a sterilized filer and seawater is filled into the filter by the syringe and enriching seawater bacteria. The cellulose filter membrane enriched with seawater bacteria is kept on a culture medium and cultivated subsequently. In this patent external efforts are needed to collect the bacteria.
Reference may be made to a patent CN102175632A, wherein it describes a bacterial detection method, which comprises a sampling method in which the test sample is passed through a hollow fiber filtration unit for trapping bacteria and/or bacterial metabolites in hollow fiber membranes which get accumulated in the filter unit. Again the sampling method is filtration based. Using this method, certain types bacteria may be missed which cannot withstand applied pressure or can pass through the pore of the membrane.
Reference may be made to an existing techniques which is used to collect samples of seawater involve immersing an open ended tube, like a Niskin bottle, to the required depth and then manually triggering spring-loaded caps at both ends of the tube, to close the tube and capture the sample. The tube is typically let down into the sea at the end of a line and, when the required depth is reached, a weight (messenger) is dropped down the line to trigger closure. The closed tube can then be drawn back and the seawater sample transferred to a flask for analysis. The open end of the glass tube is not sealed; therefore there is a chance of both water and atmospheric contamination. In addition to that, containers used for that purpose is of massive size to withstand pressure differential between an evacuated container and the ambient water pressure which are needed for great depths. Sterilization of the containers is very difficult.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide improved underwater sampling device and methods.

Device for collecting water sample to concentrate diversified bacteria from different water depth

COUNCIL OF SCIENTIFIC & INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH


A 3D semiconductor memory device includes a semiconductor substrate, a source line, a gate line and a plurality of memory cells connected in series. The semiconductor substrate has a protruding portion. The source line is disposed in the semiconductor substrate and partially extending below the protruding portion. The gate line is configured to surround and cover the protruding portion and electrically separated from the source line and the protruding portion. The memory cells are disposed on the semiconductor substrate and connected in series to the protruding portion at a top surface thereof.

Technical Field
The disclosure in generally relates to a high-density memory device method for fabricating a memory device, and more particularly to a memory device with a three dimensional (3D) memory cells array and the method for fabricating the same.
Description of the Related Art
As the development of electrical technology, semiconductor memory devices have being broadly applied to various electronic products, such as MP3 players, digital cameras, notebooks, cell phones, etc. In order to accommodate the rising demand for reducing the size of the electronic products and improving the operation speed thereof, a 3D memory device having a higher density memory and excellent electrical characteristics, e.g. reliability in data storage and high operating speed, has been provided.
A typical 3D semiconductor memory device has a 3D memory cells array using surrounding gate transistor (SGT) configured in a multi-layer stack structure and a plurality of string select line (SSL) transistors connected in series with the 3D memory cells array. In order to reduce the size of the 3D semiconductor memory device to provide a higher density memory, it is necessary not only to reduce the size of the SGT but also to reduce the size of the SSL transistors. However, the SSL transistors conventionally implemented by field effect transistors (FET) having horizontally oriented gate which occupy large footprint and may limit the size reduction of the 3D semiconductor memory device.
Recently, bipolar junction transistors or diodes having smaller lateral footprint are applied to taking the place of the conventional horizontally oriented gate FET to serve as the SSL transistors of the 3D semiconductor memory device. However, it is hard to control the bipolar junction transistors or the diodes in a multi-bit operation due to the fact that the characteristic electrical current-voltage (I/V) curve is exponential.
Therefore, there is a need of providing an improved 3D semiconductor memory device and method for fabricating the same to obviate the drawbacks encountered from the prior art.

Three dimensional memory device and method for fabricating the same


An adjustable saddle for a horse or other animal includes a pommel with substantially opposed lower ends, a seat member connected to the pommel and a pair of substantially opposed gripping members comprising flexible panels configured to contact the flanks of the animal. The panels have rearward portions fastened to the seat member and forward portions which are substantially free of contact with the seat member. An adjustment means connects at least one of the forward portions to the pommel. The adjustment means is configured to cause the panels to flex between a retracted position where the gripping members are relatively widely spaced and a gripping position where the gripping members are relatively closely spaced together. The gripping position provides gripping action against the upper body of the animal when the saddle is in use.

Attempts have been made in saddle designs to comfortably fit varying shapes and sizes of horses without either causing discomfort to the horse or elaborate adjustment of the saddle. It is known that a horse may outgrow a given saddle and that one saddle fitting one particular horse may not necessarily be comfortably fitted to another horse.
Attempts have been made in the prior art to produce a saddle tree design which accommodates different horses. Examples include saddle trees made of flexible materials, in an attempt to provide a single saddle which may comfortably fit a range of horse sizes. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,343,674 and 5,435,116 disclose saddle trees having a pair of laterally spaced apart flexible synthetic elongate members connected by a spanning member and a seat element.
In another example U.S. Pat. No. 5,884,459 discloses a saddle tree having a pair of elongate bearing members connected to the saddle tree substantially along its entire length by pivotable mounting means. The elongate bearing members are removable and interchangeable to accommodate different sizes of horses.


Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, computer program product, and a computer system for recommending one or more bend locations on a flexible display. According to one embodiment, the display is flexible and transparent, and the display includes at least one sensor. A set of data is received from the at least one sensor. Based on the received set of data the system detects whether, ambient light is reflected off the display at an angle directed at a first user. The system then determines a bend line location, wherein the bend line is a location to bend the display to obstruct reflected light from reaching the first user and sends an alert to the first user identifying the bend line location.

The present invention relates generally to the field of displaying content, and more particularly to adjusting a transparent and flexible display to improve readability.
Transparent and flexible display screens are becoming more widespread. Many devices such as laptops, tablets, portable gaming consoles, TV's and mobile phones are utilizing such display screens. Devices which utilize a transparent display provide a user with the ability to view content on the display while maintaining a transparent nature. Further transparent and flexible displays allow a user to (1) bend and fold a display screen at different locations as well as (2) see what is on the display screen while still being able to see through the screen. Due to the transparent nature of such a devices, content on the display may become difficult to read in certain lighting conditions.

Dynamic display adjustment on a transparent flexible display

International Business Machines Corporation


A magneto-resistive memory cell and a method of forming the memory cell, includes a substrate, a single crystalline semiconductor diode formed in the substrate; and a first thin film conductor recessed in the substrate, and a second thin film conductor formed above a magnetic tunnel junction formed on the diode. The diode and the first thin film conductor share a non-planar common surface, such that the metal tunnel junction is a predetermined distance from the thin film conductor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a nonvolatile memory device used for computer main storage, and more particularly to a nonvolatile memory array that use magnetic memory elements as the individual memory cells.
2. Description of the Related Art
Magnetic random access memory (MRAM or typically referred to as xe2x80x9cMagRamxe2x80x9d) technology is a solid state tunnel junction using magnetic electrodes, and is useful as a storage mechanism. The storage mechanism relies on the relative orientation of the magnetization of two electrodes, and on the ability to discern this orientation by electrical means.
MRAM arrays include an array of magnetic memory cells positioned at the intersections of wordlines and bitlines.
Generally, each cell includes a magnetically changeable or xe2x80x9cfreexe2x80x9d region, and a proximate magnetically reference region, arranged into a magnetic tunnel junction (xe2x80x9cMTJxe2x80x9d) device (e.g., the term xe2x80x9creference regionxe2x80x9d is used broadly herein to denote any type of region which, in cooperation with the free or changeable region, results in a detectable state of the device as a whole).
Generally, the principle underlying storage of data in such cells is the ability to change the relative orientation of the magnetization of the free and reference regions by changing the direction of magnetization along the easy axis (xe2x80x9cEAxe2x80x9d) of the free region, and the ability to thereafter read this relative orientation difference.
More particularly, an MRAM cell is written by reversing the free region magnetization using applied bi-directional electrical currents and resultant magnetic stimuli via its respective bitline and wordline.
The MRAM cell is later read by measuring the resultant tunneling resistance between the bitline and wordline, which assumes one of two values depending on the relative orientation of the magnetization of the free region with respect to the reference region. If the free region is modeled as a simple elemental magnet having a direction of magnetization which is free to rotate but with a strong preference for aligning in either direction along its easy axis (+EA or xe2x88x92EA), and if the reference region is a similar elemental magnet but having a direction of magnetization fixed in the +EA direction, then two states (and therefore the two possible tunneling resistance values) are defined for the cell: aligned (+EA/+EA) and anti-aligned (xe2x88x92EA/+EA).
The resistance of the tunnel junction can assume one of two distinct values with no applied stimulus (e.g., there is a lack of sensitivity of resistance to applied field below the easy axis flipping field strength +/xe2x88x92Hc).
For example, if the applied easy axis field exceeds +/xe2x88x92Hc, then the cell is coerced into its respective high resistance (anti-aligned magnetization of the free region with respect to the reference region) or low resistance (aligned magnetization of the free region with respect to the reference region) state.
Thus, in operation as a memory device, the MRAM device can be read by measuring the tunneling resistance, thereby to infer the magnetization state of the storage layer with respect to the fixed layer. The MRAM can be written by reversing free layer magnetization using external magnetic fields or the magnetic stimuli resulting from bitline and wordline currents. If the free layer is imagined as a simple elemental magnet which is free to rotate but with a strong energetic preference for aligning parallel to the X axis, and if the pinned layer is a similar elemental magnet but frozen in the +X direction, then there are only two states possible for the device (e.g., aligned and not-aligned).
The crosspoint magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) magneto-resistive memory cell requires a diode (e.g., specifically a diode formed in a thin film of semiconductor material or thin film diode (TFD)) in series with each magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) memory element. Then, the sense current flows through only one memory element instead of through N elements, as in conventional series architecture magneto-resistive (M-R) memories. This is advantageous in increasing the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) by a factor of N at the same sense power (or alternatively decreasing the sense power by N squared at an equal SNR.
A key feature of the crosspoint MTJ M-R memory cell is that each memory element is located at the intersection of two metal thin-film wires (TFW), and the memory element electrically contacts both of the TFWs. This design feature makes possible high density very-large-scale-integrated (VLSI) magneto-resistive memory arrays.
The coincidence of write currents in each of the two metal TFWs causes the free magnetic layer of the memory element to switch to a desired state. Switching the free magnetic layer of the selected memory element occurs without changing the state of the memory elements that are in contact with only one of the two TFWs. The write currents change the selected MTJ resistance state, and are on the order of milli-Amperes in both of the two metal TFW conductors. Accordingly, the lower conductor should be physically close to the MTJ for efficiency in generating the required magnetic field to change the MTJ resistance state.
However, a problem is that the MTJ and the lower conductor have not been in close proximity.
Further, since the sensing operation is a resistance measurement, any series resistance or low conductivity switch in series with the sense current path will detract from the signal.
An alternative structure locating the diode coplanar with the silicon substrate has been disclosed in xe2x80x9cMRAM Cell With Remote Diodexe2x80x9d, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/116,261, Assignee""s Docket No. AM9-98-025, invented by RE. Scheuerlein, commonly assigned and incorporated herein by reference, which uses metal TFWs having a conventional (square or rectangular) cross-section, and uses a diode formed in the surface of the Si wafer substrate. A vertical connection from the diode up to the lower electrode of the MTJ is located beside the lower metal conductor TEW, which causes the cell area to be larger than a DRAM cell.
However, such a MRAM cell occupies a larger area, and achieves a lower areal density. The uniformity of the electrical characteristics (such as the on resistance) of the switch/diode is required for good memory arrays. The thin film diodes (TFDs) have greater variations due to their manufacturing and inherent materials variations, which reduces the manufacturing yield of arrays of cells using TFD, and therefore increases the cost.
In view of the foregoing and other problems of the conventional systems, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a high conductivity diode with high rectification (IF/IR, where IP and IR are respectively the diode forward and reverse bias currents).
Another object of the present invention is to provide a diode which has a minimum total resistance.
Yet another object of the invention is to provides an MRAM cell which occupies a lesser area, and which achieves a higher areal density than the conventional cell mentioned above.
In a first aspect of the invention, a diode is located below the metal TFW, and both the diode and the recessed metal TFW share a non-planar common surface (e.g., also described as a surface with a vertical extent).
With this diode configuration, the MTJ can be in very close proximity to the lower conductor. In the crosspoint MTJ memory cell the diode was formed above the write current conductor, and could only be a thin film diode and thin film diodes have inferior rectification (e.g.,IF/IR) as compared to single crystal Si diodes. In the present invention, the diode is made in a single crystalline semiconductor, as shown in FIG. 1 and as described below. Additionally, in the crosspoint MTJ memory, the diode has been formed above the write conductor, and the MTJ was separated from the conductor by the diode.
The present invention improves upon the MRAM cell with remote diode (which is larger than a DRAM cell) because here the diode location is automatically self-aligned with the recessed metal line, and because the present cell occupies an area of approximately 1 metal pitch by 1 metal pitch. Therefore, high areal density arrays of the present structure are easily fabricated, and the areal density may exceed that of a typical DRAM cell.
In another aspect of the present invention, as shown for example, in FIGS. 2A-2H, a stepwise method is provided to form the above-described structure.
In yet another aspect, a V-groove structure is formed as shown for example in FIGS. 4B-4C.
Hence, the present invention places the MTJ and the lower conductor in close proximity.
In the method of the invention, one set of conductors is buried within the silicon and each intersection point of each buried conductor is surrounded by a layered diode so that electrical connection to the MTJ is from each buried conductor and through the surrounding (e.g., buried) diode.
Further, the buried diode has more uniform electrical characteristics than the TFD.

Diode connected to a magnetic tunnel junction and self aligned with a metallic conductor and method of forming the same

International Business Machines Corporation


A method for plasma etching of silicon nitride using a mixture of trifluoromethane and oxygen in a ratio of approximately 8 to 1 to selectively etch silicon nitride in preference to silicon dioxide and photoresist, resulting in critical dimension gain.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a method for etching silicon nitride on a semiconductor wafer, and more particularly to a method for etching silicon nitride which permits critical dimension gain by preferential plasma etching of silicon nitride over silicon dioxide and photoresist with a mixture of CHF3 and O2.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
Semiconductor processing often involves patterning a relatively thick layer of silicon nitride coating a relatively thin layer of silicon dioxide supported upon a silicon wafer substrate. The nitride layer is covered with a photoresistant material, and this masking layer is patterned with apertures in accordance with the desired silicon nitride pattern. Such a process is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,484,979 (Stocker), which discloses a two-step method for patterning silicon nitride in a multifaceted etching chamber without penetrating through the underlying silicon dioxide layer. In the first step, relatively fast etching is accomplished through reactive ion etching (RIE) using trifluoromethane (CHF3) and oxygen (O2) in ratios of 1:1 to 5.7:1. In a second etching step, silicon nitride is more selectively etched with respect to silicon dioxide and photoresist, using a mixture of oxygen to CHF3 which is at least 9:1. Stocker accomplishes high selectivity of nitride to oxide etching in this second etch step, and thereby minimizes widening of apertures in the nitride layer (i.e. minimizes loss of linewidth control).
Barber et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,966,870, describe selective reactive ion etching of silicon nitride over borophosphosilicate glass and titanium disilicide using a CHF3/O2 mixture. Baldi et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,897,365, teach a method for reducing bird beaks (oxide wedges) formed during a planox process using selective etching of silicon nitride over silicon oxide with reactive ion etching using a CHF3/CO2 mixture. Silicon nitride patterning with photoresist and reactive ion etching of silicon nitride is well known to those skilled in the art, and the disclosures of Stocker, Barber et al. and Baldi et al. describe the such processes in substantial detail.
It is the primary object of the present invention to provide an improved method for removal of silicon nitride from a semiconductor substrate.
Another object to the present invention is to provide an improved method for removal of silicon nitride in preference to photoresist and silicon oxide in the processing of a semiconductor substrate.
A further object to the present invention is to provide a silicon nitride etch process which results in critical dimension gain.
Briefly, the preferred embodiment of the present invention is a method for plasma etching of silicon nitride using a mixture of trifluoromethane and oxygen in a ratio of approximately 8 to 1 to selectively etch silicon nitride in preference to silicon dioxide and photoresist.

Silicon nitride etch process with critical dimension gain


A mobile lock with a retractable cable. The mobile lock includes an integral wireless locator system that can precisely locate the mobile device in real-time if stolen with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) (i.e., a drone, etc.) The wireless locator system also automatically send messages (e.g., e-mail, text, instant messages, voice, etc.) and make automatic posts to social networking sites (e.g., FACEBOOK, TWITTER, etc.) and social shopping sites (CRAIG'S LIST, E-BAY, etc.) that the mobile device has been stolen.

Bicycles are typically ridden to a location and left by a rider. The bicycles are typically locked to a stationary objects such a bike racks, poles, trees, benches, etc. to prevent theft.
There are several problems associated bicycles locks. One problem is that the lock has to be purchased separately from the bicycle. Another problem is that a rider of a bicycle has to remember to carry the bicycle lock with them. Another problem is that many bicycle locks are heavy and cumbersome to carry around. Another problem is that a "one-size fits all" bike lock does not work for certain types of bicycle. Another problem is that many locks are subject to destruction with tools such as bolt cutters, torches, etc. allowing a bicycle to be stolen when the lock is destroyed.
There have been attempts to solve some of the problems associated with bicycle locks. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,969,914 that issued to Dennen discloses "A hinged cord locking device is adapted to be clamped onto the support bar of an article to be locked such as one of the frame bars of a bicycle. The cord may be withdrawn from a spring retractable reel, wrapped around a stationary object and the locking bolt on free end of the cord locked in a locking channel in the hinged body portion of the device to thereby affix the article to the object. The hinged body portions rotatably support the two piece cable reel which is positively interlocked with the body portions to prevent removal thereof from the support bar. The locking channel is defined by the two body portions such that insertion of the locking bolt into the channel locks the cord to the body portions, the hinged body portions together and the cable reel to the body portions. When so locked, the locking device cannot be removed by opening or sliding axially off a support bar."
U.S. Pat. No. 4,028,916 that issued to Pender discloses "A key operated locking unit is permanently attached to a bicycle frame member. A flexible tether has one end permanently secured to the bicycle locking unit and has a plug-in lock element on its free end adapted to enter a receiver on the locking unit after first being looped around a stationary anchoring member and around part of the bicycle frame. Locking of the bicycle becomes essentially a one hand operation in the shortest possible time."
U.S. Pat. No. 4,044,577 that issued to Horlacher discloses "An automatic anti-theft device or lock is secured to a support of a portable apparatus to secure the apparatus against theft. The lock has two mating halves secured together to form a shatter-proof casing. One casing half includes a hollow spindle integral with the inside wall of the casing half, a retractile reel mounted on the spindle with a cable secured at one end thereto and wrapped around the reel. The second free end of the cable extends through one wall of the casing. The second casing half mounts a lock mechanism having a rotatable lock member which extends into the spindle when the casing halves are joined. The free end of the cable includes a lock cylinder which aligns with the rotatable lock member when it is inserted into the first casing half, and is secured by the rotatable lock member. The first casing member includes a slidable latch which is spring-biased to a first position to engage and latch the reel against rotation. The latch may be moved against the spring bias when the free end of the cable is not engaged in the casing to allow the reel to move and the cable to be extended or retracted. When the cable is at the desired extended position, the latch is released to secure the reel and the lock cylinder is inserted into the casing which prevents the latch from being moved from the first position. The cable is secured around some immovable object before it is inserted into the casing."
U.S. Pat. No. 4,126,024 that issued to Timmons discloses "This disclosure encompasses a cable lock which is particularly suited for securing a bicycle. The lock employs a continuous cable which is wound around a cylinder which is contained in a housing. One end of the cable enters the side wall of the cylinder and exits through an open end. The other end passes out through a hole in the housing. A spring, wound around another portion of the cylinder, maintains a spring load on the cable. Thus, retraction of the cable is possible upon extension and release thereof. The ends of the cable are fashioned into loops which are of a size to maintain it outside of the housing. In the locked condition, the loops are secured by a padlock. A mounting bracket as well as a flange with an opening for storing a padlock is also provided."
U.S. Pat. No. 4,970,882 that issued to Arrendondo discloses "A locking apparatus suitable for securing a bicycle and which can be mounted on a bicycle frame. The apparatus includes a housing containing a pair of axially aligned independently rotatable cable storage reels. Retractable cables are fixed at one end to each reel and exit the housing through apertures in the external wall. Each cable can be separately dispensed through its respective aperture and can be of sufficiently length to secure the bicycle to a stationary object or to be threaded through the frame, the spokes of the wheel, and around a post or other permanently affixed object, with the two free ends of the cable being fastenable to each other by a combination lock, padlock, or other locking means."
U.S. Pat. No. 5,270,681 that issued to Jack discloses "A bicycle and bicycle elements theft alarm apparatus which can be attached to a bicycle assembly to activate an alarm member on unauthorized movement, theft of elements of the object, and entire theft of the object. The bicycle theft alarm apparatus includes a housing assembly having an alarm assembly and a control circuit assembly mounted therein. The alarm assembly includes 1) an actuator key pad assembly operable with a secret code for operation thereof; 2) a wheel release actuator member to indicate unauthorized removal of a bicycle support wheel assembly; 3) a seat release actuator member to indicate unauthorized removal of a bicycle support seat assembly; 4) a cable motion detector assembly operable to detect unauthorized detachment from an immovable object used as an anchor member; and 5) a motion detector assembly operable to detect unauthorized vertical or lateral movement of the bicycle assembly."
U.S. Pat. No. 5,598,727 that issued to White discloses "A lock for a bicycle or the like comprises a first fixed casing member which is adapted to be secured to the frame member of a bicycle or the like and a second casing member which is movable relative to the first casing member. The first casing member is cup-shaped and is provided with frame mounting means on the outer surface of the cup wall. A raised boss extends from the base of the cup-shaped member. The second casing member is adapted to fit into the first casing member and to engage with the boss in such a manner that the second member is rotatable with respect to the first member. One end of a wire or cable is secured to the second casing member and the wire or cable is wound around the periphery of the second member. The other end of the wire or cable extends through a slot in the side wall of the first casing member. A lock is provided with which the other end of the wire or cable is engageable and a coil spring is arranged to act on the second casing member, to cause it to rotate with inspect to the first casing member to draw the wire or cable into the first casing member by being wound around the periphery of the second member as the latter is rotated by the coil spring. Visual and audible alarm means are desirably provided which are arranged to be activated if the wire or cable is pulled or cut."
U.S. Pat. No. 5,678,435 that issued to Hodson discloses "A bicycle locking mechanism is provided including a tubular member which may form part of a bicycle frame, such as the tubular seat post, for example, and an elongated, collapsible, securing element for securing the bicycle frame to an object such as a post or bicycle rack. The elongated, collapsible, securing element has first and second ends and is collapsed in size to a length which is no greater than the length of the tubular member. The securing element fits substantially within the tubular member, when not in use, and is of sufficient length when withdrawn from the tubular member to wrap around an object for securing the bicycle frame thereto. A hinge pin assembly is provided for attaching the first end of the securing element to the tubular member. The securing element may be an elongated, interconnected, linkage assembly or it may consist of a flexible cable."
U.S. Pat. No. 8,065,895 that issued to Andersen discloses "A bicycle lock device for public use is disclosed. The device is comprised of an enclosure, a retractable reel with a retractable cable, a lock/unlock device having a first member attached to the cable free end, and a second member secured in the enclosure, and a lock control device. The user accesses the device by inserting a payment such as a coin or credit card in a user interface of the device. If the payment is accepted, the user then enters a user-specified key code in a keypad on the lock control device. The lock control device unlocks the lock/unlock device. The retractable cable may then be extended. The user weaves the cable through the bicycle components and then enters the cable free end into the lock/unlock device, thereby locking the lock/unlock device and securing the bicycle. When the user later enters the key-code, the device unlocks the cable."
U.S. Published Application No. 20100200630 published by Yu discloses "An adapting apparatus for mounting an accessory equipment on a bicycle is disclosed. The adapting apparatus comprises: a base having a mounting mechanism, a securing mechanism and a lock; an adaptor detachably mounted to the mounting mechanism of the base, the adaptor having an adapting mechanism for connecting to an accessory equipment; and a securing member detachably connected to the base through the securing mechanism and fastened to a portion of a bicycle; wherein, the lock, the mounting mechanism and the adaptor being configured such that the adaptor can be detached from the mounting mechanism only when the lock is unlocked."
U.S. Published Application No. 20110012729 published by Hess discloses "A portable alarm device includes a portable enclosure, a wireless communication system disposed in the portable enclosure and configured to receive a signal from a monitoring device. The device further includes a processor in communication with the wireless communication system and wherein the processor is configured to initiate an alert when the signal indicates that the portable enclosure is beyond a pre-determined distance from the monitoring device."
However, none of these solutions solves all the problems associated with bicycle locks. Thus, it would be desirable to solve some of the problems associated with bicycle locks.


Crystalline N-acetylmuramyl-L-.alpha.-aminobutyryl-D-isoglutamine monohydrate useful as an adjuvant for vaccines and as an immunostimulant.

N-[2-acetamido-3-O-(D-ethyl-1-carbonyl)-2-deoxy-D-glucose]-L-alanyl-D-isogl utamine (muramyldipeptide or MDP) was proposed in 1974-1975 (Ellouz, et al., Biochem, Biophys. Res. Comm., 59, 317 (1974) and Merser, et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm., 66, 1316 (1975) to be the minimal structure required to express the full spectrum of adjuvant activity when substituted for mycobacteria in Freund's complete adjuvant. Since that time, considerable synthetic efforts, coupled with bioassays have resulted in chemical modifications of MDP with improved immunoadjuvant properties and reduced toxicity.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,082,736, issued Apr. 4, 1978 to Jones, Moffatt and Nestor, describes a family of compounds which are useful as immunological adjuvants. One of the compounds encompassed within the scope of that patent is N-acetylmuramyl-L-.alpha.-aminobutyryl-D-isoglutamine. This compound is particularly useful as an adjuvant for vaccines, but previously was known only in its amorphous form. In this form, the compound suffered disadvantages of being hygroscopic and chemically reactive at high temperatures. These disadvantages presented certain handling, storage and formulation problems.
It has now been found that the compound N-acetylmuramyl-L-.alpha.-aminobutyryl-D-isoglutamine (ABU-MDP) can be prepared as a crystalline monohydrate. This novel crystalline monohydrate is substantially more stable under heat and humidity than is amorphous ABU-MDP and thus overcomes the previous disadvantages of the amorphous ABU-MDP. The new crystalline monohydrate is useful as an adjuvant for vaccines and as an immunostimulant.

Crystalline form of N-acetylmuramyl-L-.alpha.-aminobutyryl-D-isoglutamine


An object of the present invention is to provide a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell having excellent resistance to deterioration, excellent self-extinguishability or incombustibility, and excellent discharge properties at low temperatures, a deterioration inhibitor for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell which can improve resistance to deterioration, and an additive for a non-aqueous electrolyte which can improve self-extinguishability or incombustibility.

In the prior art, nickel-cadmium cells have been mainly used as secondary cells, especially for memory backup for audiovisual and information devices such as personal computers and VTRs, and for power sources for operating them. Recently, great attention has been paid to the use of non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cells, which have the advantages of high voltage and high energy density and exhibit excellent self-dischargability, as substitutes for the nickel-cadmium cells. Various attempts have been carried out to develop the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cells, and some non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cells are available on the market. For example, majority of notebook-sized personal computers, cellular phones, and the like is operated by such non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cells.
In these non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cells, carbon (hard carbon or soft carbon) is often used as a material for forming negative electrodes, and various types of organic solvents are used as electrolytes in order to reduce risk caused at the time of forming lithium on the negative electrodes, and to increase the operating voltage.
Further, in non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cells for cameras, alkali metals (especially lithium metal and lithium alloys) and the like are used as the material for the negative electrodes, and aprotic organic solvents such as ester-containing organic solvents are generally used as the electrolytes in view of reducing risk, which is caused when the alkali metals greatly react with water.
Although the performance of non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cells of these types is high, a problem arises in that the high performance cannot be maintained for a long time since the cells easily deteriorate. Thus, there has been a strong demand for the development of a technique which can inhibit deterioration of the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cells and keep various properties of the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cells high for a long time.
Further, the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cells have the following safety problems. One problem is that the alkali metals (especially lithium metal and lithium alloys) used as the material for the negative electrodes in the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cells are highly reactive with water, and therefore, when water enters the cells which are not completely sealed, there is a high risk of the negative electrode material in the cells reacting with water to generate hydrogen or catch fire. Another problem is that the melting point of the lithium metals is low (about 170° C.), and therefore, when a large electric current flows abruptly when a short-circuit occurs, very dangerous situations, such as the cells becoming abnormally exothermic and melting, are caused. Still another problem is that, as the cells generate heat, the electrolyte containing as a main component the above-mentioned organic solvent vaporizes and decomposes to generate gas, and the cells burst and catch fire due to the generated gas.
In order to solve these problems, for example, a technique for providing a safety mechanism in cylindrical cells has been proposed (Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun, Ltd., Electronic Technology, Vol. 39, No. 9, 1997), in which the safety mechanism is designed as follows. When the temperature of a cylindrical cell rises when there is a short-circuit or an overcharge and the inner pressure thereof is thereby increased, a safety valve starts to operate and, at the same time, electrode terminals are ruptured to thereby prevent excess current in a predetermined amount or more from running through the cell.
However, the safety mechanism does not always work correctly or, that is, the safety mechanism is not always reliable. When the safety mechanism does not work correctly, excess current may flow through the cell, thereby overheating the cell and causing dangerous situations such as ignition of the cell. Therefore, the safety mechanism proposed is still problematic.
In order to solve the above problem, in place of safety measures taken by providing accessory parts such as the aforementioned safety valve, there is a demand for development of a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell essentially having high safety.
A first object of the present invention is to provide a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell which has excellent resistance to deterioration, in which the interface resistance of the non-aqueous electrolyte is low, and which has excellent discharge properties at low temperatures, while maintaining characteristics and the like required for a cell.
A second object of the present invention is to provide a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell which has excellent self-extinguishability or incombustibility, in which the interface resistance of the non-aqueous electrolyte is low, and which has excellent discharge properties at low temperatures, while maintaining characteristics and the like required for a cell.
A third object of the present invention is to provide a deterioration inhibitor for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell which, by being added into the non-aqueous electrolyte in the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell, can prevent deterioration of the non-aqueous electrolyte, can lower the interface resistance of the non-aqueous electrolyte, and which can give excellent discharge properties at low temperatures, while maintaining characteristics required for a cell, such as charge and discharge capacity.
A fourth object of the present invention is to provide an additive for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell which, by being added into the non-aqueous electrolyte in the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell, can give self-distinguishability or incombustibility and excellent discharge properties at low temperatures to the non-aqueous electrolyte, and which can lower the interface resistance of the non-aqueous electrolyte, while maintaining characteristics and the like required for a cell.

Non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell and, deterioration-preventing agent for non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell and additive for non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell for use therein

Abstract: The non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell has a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and, in a first aspect, a non-aqueous electrolyte containing at least 2% by volume and less than 20% by volume of a phosphazene derivative, and a supporting salt, and, in a second aspect, a non-aqueous electrolyte containing at least 20% by volume of the phosphazene derivative, and the supporting salt. The deterioration inhibitor for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell and the additive for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell are added to the non-aqueous electrolyte of the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell and contain at least the phosphazene derivative.