The invention relates to a method of performing an optical measurement on a sample, such as an ellipticity measurement. The sample is irradiated with a polarized irradiation beam and a return beam is linearly polarized. The irradiation or return beam is modulated with a birefringence modulator, such as a photoelastic modulator, in accordance with a primary modulation signal. The return beam is directed onto a multichannel detector. Typically the detector is a slow detector, such as a CCD, having a response time greater than a period of the primary modulation signal. Detection values are generated simultaneously at each detection element and processed to determine a plurality of measurements. Various measurement techniques are described, including detector signal averaging over gated intervals; a design employing coherent modulation of the gain of an ICCD , and a modulator-coherent flash lamp design.

Ellipsometers have been used for a number of years in measurements of thin films. In particular, ellipsometers have been used in the measurement of oxide and other layers on semiconductors. Ellipsometers analyse the ellipticity induced by reflection from a surface, measuring two parameters. This technique enables much more precise measurements than are possible using reflectometry measurements, for example.
A simple ellipsometer includes a light source which produces a beam of light which passes through a polarizer, forming a beam of light which is plane—polarised or has another well-defined polarisation state. The light source may be a laser or LED for single wavelength measurements, or a white light source for spectroscopic measurements. The beam passes through a retarder (sometimes referred to as a compensator) before striking the surface of a sample. The reflected light passes through a second polarizer (usually called the analyser) and enters a light detector. The light detector is usually a photodiode or a photomultiplier. An ellipsometer with a single photodiode or photomultiplier detector is a single channel ellipsometer.
The retarder may rotate. Alternatively, a birefringence modulator may be used. This modulator is typically a photoelastic modulator which includes an element with a birefringence dependent on the strain applied to it. A periodic strain is applied by a piezoelectric transducer, so that the birefringence is modulated at a high frequency (angular frequency ω0) usually in a mechanical resonance mode. Retarders may also be liquid crystal polarising devices.
A single channel birefringence-modulator ellipsometer has a sensitivity which is typically 100 times more than that of a common rotating-component ellipsometer. The ellipsometer has one detector. It achieves its very high sensitivity by using coherent lock-in amplifier detection operating at ω0 and 2ω0. This puts the electronics into a low noise region and the coherent detection of the lock-in with both frequency and phase eliminates noise signals which are not coherent with the modulator. Further, the modulation element undergoes mechanical resonance without motion of the centre of mass, and this eliminates motion of the light beam on the detector which often causes residual stray signals in the rotating-component design.
The usual configuration for a birefringence-modulator ellipsometer is Source, P, M, Sample, A, Detector, where P, M, and A are respectively the Polariser, Modulator and Analyser (sometimes it is used with the modulator following the sample). In the usual configuration the Polariser and Analyser are oriented at 45° and the modulator is parallel or perpendicular to the s direction (the s direction being parallel to the surface of the sample and perpendicular to the plane of incidence). ThenI=I0rs2{1+ρ2+2ρ2 cos(Δ+δ)}  (1)
Here I0 is the incident intensity, I the intensity following the Analyser, rs the magnitude of the s amplitude reflectivity, ρ and Δ are the parameters of the reflected polarisation ellipse, ρ the magnitude and Δ the phase angle, δ the modulator phase shift which varies with time as δ=δ0 sin ω0t. The expression can be expanded to readI∝1+ρ2+2ρ cos Δ cos δ−2ρ sin Δ sin δI∝1+ρ2+2ρ cos Δ{J0(δ0)+2J2(δ0)cos 2ω0t+ . . . }−2ρ sin Δ{2J1(δ0)sin ω0t+2J3(δ0)sin 3ω0t+ . . . }  (2)
Here J0, J1, J2 . . . are integer Bessel Functions dependent on the amplitude of the modulator phase shift δ0 and the series sums continue to higher order. The three lowest frequency terms are:the dc component Idc∝1+ρ2 cos (ΔJ0(δ0))  (3)the ac component at angular frequency ω0 Iω0∝2ρ(ΔJ1(δ0))sin ω0t  (4)the ac component at angular frequency 2ω0 I2ω0∝2ρ cos (ΔJ1(δ0))cos 2ω0t  (5)
Lock-in amplifiers tuned to ω0 and 2ω0 output the amplitudes of the ω0 and 2ω0 signals. The ratios ac(ω0)/dc and ac(2ω0)/dc provide two expressions for ρ and Δ from which these two parameters may be obtained. The ratios simplify if δ0 is chosen so that J0(δ0)=0, when
      x    =                            ac                                (                          2                                            ω                o                                      )                          /        dc            =                        2                    ρcos                                                              Δ                          1          +                      ρ            2                                ,      y    =                            ac                                (                          ω              o                        )                          /        dc            =                                    2                        ρsin                                                                          Δ                                1            +                          ρ              2                                      .
Ellipsometers may be used in an imaging mode, where a multichannel array detector such as a CCD is used. In this case a rotating modulator has been used and a set of CCD images are recorded at different orientations of the retarder, which can then be analysed to form images of x and y, or ρ and Δ, over the illuminated sample area.
It would be desirable to use the beneficial features of a birefringence modulator (high stability modulation and little or no motion of the centre of mass) in such an ellipsometer. The frame rate of multichannel CCD detectors is typically in the range 20 to 200 frames per second, while the modulation frequency ω0 of a typical birefringence modulator is around 50 kHz. It is not possible to follow the rapidly changing modulated signal using an otherwise suitable detector.
A multi-detector ellipsometer is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,757,671. The detectors used are photodiodes, with the signals from all detectors being multiplexed to a single analog/digital converter. The signal is subsequently Fourier decomposed. The x and y signals are not measured at the same time. This method is not readily extendable to a large number of channels.
A multichannel or multi-detector spectroscopic ellipsometer based on a birefringence modulator is an example of another desirable instrument. Here multichannel detectors could measure all colours at the same time. A straight forward method to achieve this would consist of many single channels detectors each with their associated two lock-in amplifiers. Such an instrument would be very bulky. Multichannel CCD detectors are again too slow to follow the modulation signals.

Method of performing optical measurement on a sample


Disclosed are various embodiments for computing 2-body statistics on graphics processing units (GPUs). Various types of two-body statistics (2-BS) are regarded as essential components of data analysis in many scientific and computing domains. However, the quadratic complexity of these computations hinders timely processing of data. According, various embodiments of the present disclosure involve parallel algorithms for 2-BS computation on Graphics Processing Units (GPUs). Although the typical 2-BS problems can be summarized into a straightforward parallel computing pattern, traditional wisdom from (general) parallel computing often falls short in delivering the best possible performance. Therefore, various embodiments of the present disclosure involve techniques to decompose 2-BS problems and methods for effective use of computing resources on GPUs. We also develop analytical models that guide users towards the appropriate parameters of a GPU program. Although 2-BS problems share the same core computations, each 2-BS problem however carries its own characteristics that calls for different strategies in code optimization. Accordingly, various embodiments of the present disclosure involve a software framework that automatically generates high-performance GPU code based on a few parameters and short primer code input.

Handling analytical workloads efficiently is a major challenge in today's scientific domains. Recent studies show increasing interest in developing database systems for handling scientific data. Traditional database management systems (DBMSs) still fall short of algorithms and strategies to satisfy the special needs of scientific applications, which are very different from those in traditional databases in their data types and query patterns. In addition, design of efficient algorithms for data query and analysis are still the main challenge in scientific areas. In addition, support of complex mathematical functions in DBMS have become an active research area.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Computing 2-body statistics on graphics processing units (GPUs)


A collimator holder in the form of a glass or ceramic block that has precisely machined holes formed in the block to receive respective collimator assemblies. Each collimator assembly includes an optical fiber attached to a GRIN lens by a ferrule. Optionally, each collimator assembly can include a glass tube that surrounds at least the lens and optionally part or all of the ferrule. The lens or the tube is inserted into the hole and bonded therein by an epoxy. The block, together with the collimator assemblies installed, is bonded to the bottom surface of a crystal assembly thereby forming an electro-optic sensor. The crystal assembly can include one or more polarizing beam splitters, an electro-optic crystal, and a prism, configured to sense a current through a current-carrying cable or a voltage between the cable and another potential.

An electro-optical sensor is composed of multiple pieces, such as one or more polarizing beam splitters, an electro-optical crystal, prisms, a collimator assembly, and so forth. Light produced by a light source, such as a light emitting diode, is carried by one or more optical fibers, which are conventionally connected by corresponding ferrules to a gradient-index (GRIN) lens, and this collimator assembly is then bonded to, for example, the polarizing beam splitter (PBS) where the incoming light from the light source is polarized in a linear direction. It is important that the collimator assembly be aligned very precisely relative to the surface of the PBS to which it is bonded because the components of the electro-optical sensor (e.g., the ferrule and the GRIN lens) are sensitive to temperature, and thus will move according to their respective thermal expansion coefficients. These movements can occur at dissimilar rates, causing the fiber optic assembly to become slightly out of alignment or to bend as the electro-optical sensor is exposed to a range of temperatures. In the case of a voltage electro-optical sensor, for example, these movements can create undesired effects on the incoming light that are difficult to distinguish from the applied electric field (e-field) of interest. In other words, the light can be affected in such a way as to create a "phantom" applied voltage that can distort accurate measurements of the voltage between a current carrying cable and another potential, such as ground, thereby reducing the accuracy of the electro-optical sensor over its operational lifetime. A similar undesired
Moreover, when bonding or adhering the GRIN lens to the PBS, there is a relatively small surface area between the bonding surfaces, which is constrained by the cross-sectional area of the GRIN lens. Thus, the GRIN lens must be very accurately bonded to the PBS, such as at precisely orthogonal, with very tight tolerances for error to ensure a high accuracy of current or voltage sensing by the electro-optical sensor. Moreover, the bonding strength of the interface between the GRIN lens and the PBS is constrained by the surface area available on the end of the exposed GRIN lens. Eliminating these two constraints will improve the overall accuracy of the electro-optical sensor, particularly over its operational lifetime.
The alignment problems are multiplied as the number of collimator assemblies increase. For two collimator assemblies, each must be attached to the corresponding input and output polarizing beam splitters in a very precise manner, so that both are as parallel to one another as tolerances allow. Thus, not only must each collimator assembly be bonded to the PBS at precisely an orthogonal angle, all collimator assemblies must be precisely parallel to one another as well along the length of the GRIN lens and ferrule, for maximum accuracy. After each collimator assembly is bonded, precise measurements need to be made to accurately align the next collimator assembly to the PBS and relative to the other already bonded collimator assemblies. This process is tedious and prone to producing mismatches from one electro-optical sensor to another.
What is needed is a collimator holder for an electro-optical sensor that overcomes these and other problems.

Collimator holder for electro-optical sensor


A low complexity, high performance trellis decoder adapts the complexity of the trellis decoding process based on a current condition of the communications system. A trellis structure of nodes and branches is developed to decode the sequence of symbols received over a communications channel. Each set of nodes in the trellis represents the possible values of a received symbol at one time instant. Each branch defines a specific transition between nodes at different time instants, and each branch has an associated branch metric or weight. A linkage of branches between the nodes and the trellis defines a path through the trellis that represents one possible symbol sequence, and an accumulated metric/weight is generated for each possible path through the trellis. A variable number M survivor paths through the trellis is determined based on their accumulated path metric/weights. The value of the variable M depends on the current condition of the communications system. Once the value of M is adapted to the current condition, the sequence of received symbols is decoded using M survivor paths through the trellis.

In coded data communications, encoded symbols are transmitted over a communications channel, (e.g., a radio frequency communications channel), which is subject to various types of distortion such as co-channel and adjacent channel interference, noise, dispersion, fading, weak signal strength, etc. Trellis coding is one technique used to encode sequences of symbols to be transmitted, and in the process, introduces memory to the transmitted signal. Because of the introduced memory, the transmitted signal at any instant of time depends on previously transmitted signals. Therefore, in order to demodulate the received signal and recover the transmitted symbols, the decoding process must be performed taking into account the whole sequence of symbols.
The preferred method of symbol sequence decoding is maximum likelihood sequence estimation (MLSE) which offers a mechanism for decoding the transmitted signal optimally in the sense of minimizing the probability of error. In the MLSE method, the received sequence of signals is compared with every possible sequence of symbols that could have been transmitted. The particular sequence out of all of the possible sequences that best matches the received sequence of signals is chosen as the decoded sequence. If the length of the transmitted symbol sequence is N symbols long and there are Q possible values that each symbol can take, then the MLSE pattern matching scheme tries to determine the best match from among Q.sup.N possible sequences. However, even for modest values of Q and N, the number of potential MLSE search sequences is too complex for implementation.
One simplified solution for performing the MLSE search is provided by the well known Viterbi algorithm. To understand the Viterbi algorithm, the search problem is represented as a method of searching a trellis. FIG. 1 illustrates a simple trellis where each transmitted symbol can take one of four values. Each trellis node corresponds to one value of the transmitted symbol and is often referred to as a state. At each time instant/stage, in the trellis there are four nodes defining a four-state trellis. The set of nodes repeats for each transmitted symbol period. Transitions between nodes are called branches, and each branch is associated with a possible symbol that could have been transmitted. This structure of nodes (states) and branches (symbols) defines the trellis.
A metric or weight is formed for each branch which indicates the likelihood of the symbol corresponding to that branch being part of the true received symbol sequence. An example of a metric is the squared, absolute difference between a received signal sample and a corresponding estimate of the sample formed using the symbol associated with that branch. This metric is referred to as the squared Euclidean distance metric. A linkage of branches through the nodes forms a path. The path with the best accumulated metric (i.e., the smallest sum of the branch metrics) is chosen, and the symbols corresponding to the branches of the chosen path are output as the decoded symbols.
To streamline the search procedure, the Viterbi algorithm retains only the branch into each node/state having the best/optimal (i.e., lowest) metric and discards the remaining branches into that node/state. This best branch selection procedure significantly reduces the number of possible paths through the trellis. Then, from those possible paths, the Viterbi algorithm selects the path through the trellis that produces the minimum overall distance. Since it is only necessary to retain as many paths as there are nodes, i.e., there is only one path per state, the paths that remain at each state/node are called "survivors". The Viterbi algorithm is a recursive technique that traces an optimal path of survivors through the trellis.
The main problem with the Viterbi algorithm is that its complexity grows exponentially with the number of states (memory) of the transmitted, trellis-coded signal. With the number of states being expressed as Q.sup.N and with Q as the number of possible values a symbol can take, N represents the memory or dependence of a symbol on other symbols. A "memory of N" implies that each symbol depends on N other symbols, e.g., previous symbols. This complexity can be reduced using what is known as the M-algorithm or T-algorithm, both of which further restrict the number of states retained for decoding. In the basic M-algorithm, for each time instant in the trellis, the number of survivors is restricted to a fixed integer number M. The M-algorithm chooses the M most likely states based on the accumulated path metrics. The survivor states having larger accumulated path metrics are discarded. Another variant of the M-algorithm is to retain the best (as defined by the accumulated path metrics) M-paths through the trellis rather than M states. Hence, the M-algorithm restricts the search through the trellis to a fixed number of states M at any time instant in the trellis. Unfortunately, if the selected value for M is too small, there is a high probability of retaining the wrong M states for decoding which results in a high error probability. On the other hand, if the selected value of M is too large, the decoding procedure becomes unduly complex.
The T-algorithm retains only those states which have an associated metric that is below a predetermined threshold (T). Like the M-algorithm, the choice of the fixed threshold T is critical in order to achieve satisfactory performance without undue complexity. In practice, the selection of a threshold T for a particular communications application that is suitable for all or most conditions encountered in that application is quite difficult.
The problem with a fixed M or a fixed T is that the communications channel, over which encoded symbols are transmitted, received, and then decoded, changes. In radio frequency communications, the radio channels exhibit constantly changing parameters because of fading, multipath dispersion, adjacent channel interference, co-channel interference, noise, etc. In order to compensate for worst case scenarios for a communications channel, the value of M for the M-algorithm or the value of T for the T-algorithm must be set to a relatively large number in order to have a sufficient number of states available to satisfactorily decode the symbols under such worst case channel conditions. However, this is an inefficient decoding approach because for a large percentage of the time, the channel condition may be quite good, and a much smaller number of states is all that is needed to satisfactorily decode the received signal.
What is needed therefore is a trellis decoding procedure with reduced complexity that can adapt the number of survivor paths or states in the trellis based upon one or more conditions of the communications system. In radio communication applications, and especially battery operated, portable radios, transmit power is at a premium. However, lower transmit power may result in poor decoding performance at the receiver. There is also a need to reduce the transmit power of fixed transceivers like base station/repeaters to minimize adjacent channel interference. But this reduction is only feasible if receivers can accurately and efficiently decode the signals transmitted at lower power.

Method and apparauts for symbol decoding


A compound of general formula (1)

Living organisms are constantly exposed to a wide variety of external stress, and usually maintain homeostasis against such stress by control mechanisms such as the endocrine system. However, it is known that excessive stress sometimes causes not only mental health disorders but also physical stress reactions, which cause cerebrovascular disorders, heart diseases, digestive diseases, and even a decrease in immunity. On the other hand, cells are also exposed to internal and external stress at the cell level. Representative examples include viral infection, nutritional deficiency (deficiency of amino acids, sugars, lipids and the like), ischemia, heat shock and oxidative stress.
The endoplasmic reticulum is an important intracellular organelle involved protein synthesis. Nuclear-transcribed mRNAs are translated into proteins, which are taken up into the endoplasmic reticulum and folded correctly with the help of chaperones, and then secreted from the endoplasmic reticulum. However, when a molecule containing an inappropriate amino acid is involved, protein is incorrectly folded. Incorrectly folded proteins are processed by ERAD (ER-associated degradation), but when it exceeds processing capacity, abnormal proteins increase and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is induced.
As shown in FIG. 1, it has turned out that incorrectly folded abnormal proteins increase in the endoplasmic reticulum due to environmental disturbance of the endoplasmic reticulum such as by viral infection, nutrient deficiency (amino acids, sugars, lipids), ischemia, heat shock and oxidative stress. This is called endoplasmic reticulum stress. It has been shown that the cells maintain their healthy condition by controlling endoplasmic reticulum function in response to environmental changes and adapting to the stress through endoplasmic reticulum stress response (UPR) when cells are exposed to endoplasmic reticulum stress. However, it has also become clear that when the endoplasmic reticulum stress response is disrupted, proteins are incorrectly folded and this results in the loss of function of the proteins necessary for the maintenance of life, and leads to a disease.
As shown in FIG. 2, by confirming the increase in the expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress markers, it is being clarified that endoplasmic reticulum stress or the disruption of endoplasmic reticulum stress response (UPR) is involved in the onset of various diseases (Non-patent Documents 5 to 12). For example, it is becoming understood that when cell dysfunction or cell death occurs due to severe endoplasmic reticulum stress, diseases such as diabetes, arteriosclerosis, neurodegenerative disease, autoimmune disease and cancer may develop. On the other hand, it has also been found that by enhancing the endoplasmic reticulum stress response (UPR), proliferative capacity is acquired even under a stressed condition, which leads to the development of cancer.
As shown in FIG. 3, there are mainly 3 pathways in the activation mechanism of endoplasmic reticulum stress response. In the 3 pathways, the accumulation of unfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum is sensed by the activation of the endoplasmic reticulum stress transmission proteins (receptors), which are Ire1 (Inositol requiring enzyme 1), ATF6 (Activating transcription factor 6) and PERK (PKR-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase), respectively, and the information is transmitted to the cytosol and nucleus, and the endoplasmic reticulum stress response (UPR) is activated.
When the production of unfolded protein exceeds the protein folding capacity in the endoplasmic reticulum, a response to reduce this load on the endoplasmic reticulum takes place by first stopping protein synthesis (translational repression). This is controlled by the phosphorylation of eIF2α (eukaryotic initiation factor 2α subunit) necessary for translation initiation, by PERK.
PERK also targets transcription factor ATF4 and promotes the translation of ATF4. ATF4 binds to cis-factor AARE and induces the transcription of a series of genes to adapt cells to short-term stress.
Next, a molecular chaperone that carries out protein folding is induced in order to increase the protein folding capacity in the endoplasmic reticulum. This is mainly controlled by the activation of ATF6 by its cleavage into ATF6(N). XBP1 is a target gene of ATF6, and it is also a target of Ire1.
Furthermore, in order to remove the unfolded protein accumulated in the endoplasmic reticulum, the endoplasmic reticulum associated degradation (ERAD) is promoted in which the unfolded protein is exported from the endoplasmic reticulum to the cytosol for degradation by an ubiquitin proteasome system. This is mainly controlled by selective splicing of XBP1 (X-box-binding protein 1) by Ire1 into an active transcription factor.
When cells have disorders in which endoplasmic reticulum stress is unable to be removed even by means of such adaptive responses, they are eliminated by apoptosis, such as by inducing the expression of the proapoptotic transcription factor CHOP (C/EBP homologous protein).
Recently, drug discovery targeting endoplasmic reticulum stress response and integrated stress response has attracted attention (Patent Documents 1 to 3). For example, a low molecular weight compound. Salubrinal, has been identified by a search for a compound that avoids neuronal cell death caused by endoplasmic reticulum stress. Salubrinal reduces endoplasmic reticulum stress by suppressing the dephosphorylation of eIF2α (by accelerating the phosphorylation of eIF2α), and suppressing the synthesis of proteins that become unfolded proteins (Non-patent Document 4).
A chemical chaperone, which is a low molecular weight compound that complements or assists the function of the original molecular chaperone (protein chaperone) has been considered as therapeutic method giving thought to relieving endoplasmic reticulum stress. 4PBA and its improved form, TUDCA, have been reported so far to improve pathological conditions such as insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes model mice (Non-patent Document 3). 4PBA and TUDCA have no effect unless administered in large amounts, however, Azoramide, which has an antidiabetic effect at a lower concentration, has been recently reported.
Drug discovery research targeting the endoplasmic reticulum stress response and integrated stress response has developed accordingly, however, there are only little knowledge as to the core structure necessary to create compounds that can be used for the prevention or treatment of various diseases (metabolic disorders, cranial nerve diseases, cancer, immune diseases, etc.).

Endoplasmic reticulum stress regulator comprising benzothiazoimidazolyl compound

Abstract: A compound of general formula (1)

Abstract: [wherein:        R1 and R2, which are the same or different, each represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a lower alkyl group, a lower cycloalkyl group, a lower alkanoyl group, a halogen substituted lower alkyl group, a lower alkoxy group, a halogen substituted lower alkoxy group, a cyano group, a cross-linked methylenedioxy group, an ethylenedioxy group, a propylenedioxy group, a lower alkylthio group, a lower alkylsulfonyl group, a carboxyl group, a lower alkoxycarbonyl group, a lower alkylamide group, a lower alkylamino alkylene amide group, an amino group, an alkylamino group, a hydroxy group, a functional group represented by general formula (2), or a functional group represented by general formula (3)—CONH(CH2)p—R3  (2)        [wherein R3 represents a di-lower alkylamino group, a morpholino group, a piperidino group, a 2-methyl-piperidino group, or a 2-oxo-pyrrolidinyl group; p represents an integer from 2 to 6];

Abstract: [wherein, R4 represents a lower alkyl group];        m and n each represent an integer from 0 to 3;        the term lower represents a carbon number of 1 to 6; and        the halogen atom represents a fluorine, chlorine or bromine atom] can inhibit endoplasmic reticulum stress to a greater extent as compared to known chemical chaperones. The compound thus can be used suitably as an agent for preventing, ameliorating or treating various diseases that are caused by endoplasmic reticulum stress.


A tape drive data storage apparatus incorporates an error recovery system that is dynamically controlled to perform knowledge-based error recovery in accordance with a novel error recovery method. As the tape drive apparatus performs read and/or write data transfer operations on a tape medium loaded in the tape drive, an error recovery knowledge base is generated representing a tape map of ECC error correction locations on the tape medium. If error recovery is initiated and it is determined from the tape map that one or more error clustering thresholds have been reached in one or more selected regions of the tape medium, appropriate error recovery action is taken depending on whether a data read or data write operation is underway. If read (or write) data is being processed, the error recovery procedures performed by the error recovery system can be selectively modified in the affected tape medium regions to address the expected cause(s) of the data error. If write data is being processed, the affected tape regions can be demarked so that data is not written thereon during subsequent write operations. In this way, error recovery and data transfer operations can be tailored based on knowledge that localized media defects have been found.

The present invention is directed generally to the recording and retrieval of digital information on magnetic tape, and more particularly to methods and procedures for minimizing errors occurring during data transfer operations.
Conventional tape drive data storage apparatus employ various error correction and recovery methods to detect and correct data errors which, if left unresolved, would compromise the integrity of information read from or written to the magnetic tape media. Events which can lead to data errors include defects on the media, debris between the tape head and the media, and other conditions that interfere with head/media data transfer operations.
Error correction and recovery may be thought of as two distinct operations that are employed at different stages of error processing. Error correction is conventionally implemented using error correction coding (ECC) techniques in which random host data to be placed on a tape medium is encoded in a well-defined structure by introducing data-dependent redundancy information. The presence of data errors is detected when the encoded structure is disturbed. The errors are corrected by making minimal alternations to reestablish the structure. ECC error correction is usually implemented "on-the-fly" as data is processed by the tape drive apparatus. The well-known Reed-Solomon code is one cyclic encoding scheme which has been proposed for ECC error correction. Other encoding schemes are also known in the art.
Error recovery occurs when ECC error correction is unable to correct data errors or when thresholds for allowable error correction are exceeded. The error recovery process usually requires stopping the tape and reprocessing a data block in which an error was detected. Typical error recovery procedures include tape refresh operations wherein a tape is wound to its end and brought back to the error recovery point, tape backhitch or "shoeshine" operations wherein a tape is drawn back and forth across the tape head, backward tape read operations, tape tension adjustment operations and tape servo adjustment operations, to name a few.
In prior art error recovery systems, it is common to perform a preprogrammed sequence of error recovery procedures in response to data errors that result in error recovery. In many cases, however, one or more error recovery procedures may not be required. For example, errors caused by localized tape defects or track fading due to debris adhering to either the tape media or the read/write heads can affect tracks for long stretches of tape as debris is dragged along. Errors of this type can often be resolved by reversing tape motion and dislodging the debris. In that case, other error recovery procedures may be unnecessary.
Prior art error recovery systems also lack the ability to avoid repetition of error recovery procedures in areas of the tape media where error activity is likely to reoccur. Error recovery is performed each time an error results in the affected area. This leads to data processing inefficiencies which could be potentially minimized if information about error prone media areas was known in advance.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a system and method for recording and retrieving digital information on a tape wherein data error conditions are anticipated and resolved in an efficient manner. Rather than perform a preprogrammed sequence of error recovery procedures, it would be desirable to tailor error recovery to the immediate cause of the data error. Moreover, it would be further advantageous if data errors could be predicted so that appropriate action could be taken to minimize the occurrence and/or effects of such errors.

Apparatus and method for dynamically performing knowledge-based error recovery

International Business Machines Corporation


A method and apparatus for pausing a video presentation in a recordable disc medium device is provided wherein the recordable disc medium device utilizes its capability to read data at a variable rate to increase the overall average bit rate. The disc medium device can record the video presentation on the disc medium at a selected location and can periodically interrupt this recording to read from the disc medium a portion of the recorded video presentation. Additionally, the recordable disc medium device can vary the rotational speed of the disc medium to enable the disc medium device to alternate between reading and recording. While the speed of the disc medium is varying, the recordable disc medium device can read recorded data at a variable bit rate. This process increases the overall average bit rate thus enabling the disc medium device to playback and record the video presentation seamlessly.

1. Technical Field
The inventive arrangements relate generally to methods and apparatus providing advanced operating features for audio only, video only and both video and audio programs recorded on disc media, for example recordable digital video discs, hard drives and magneto optical discs.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various devices have been developed to enable consumers to record video and/or audio programs for later presentation. Such devices include tape recorders, video cassette recorders, recordable compact discs, and most recently, recordable digital video discs (DVD). Hard drives and magneto optical discs have also been used.
A DVD that can be recorded on only once, and thereafter is essentially a DVD read only memory, is referred to by the acronym DVD-R. The acronym DVD-R is also used generally to refer to the write-once, or record-once, technology. Several formats are available for DVD's to be recorded on, erased and re-recorded; that is, overwritten or rewritten. These are referred to by the acronyms DVD-RAM, DVD-RW and DVD+RW. As of this time no uniform industry standard has been adopted. The acronyms DVD-RAM, DVD-RW and DVD+RW are also used generally to refer to the respective rewritable technologies. Reference herein to rewritable DVD technology, devices and methods is generally intended to encompass all of the standards which are now being used, as well as those which may be developed in the future.
In many cases, the program presentations are recorded in the viewer's absence for presentation at a later, more convenient time. This is referred to as time shifting the program. At other times, the viewer may be called away while he is watching a program that is not being recorded. If the viewer owns a conventional video cassette recorder, the viewer may begin recording the program during the interruption. The viewer, however, must wait until the program is completed to watch the remainder of the program in a proper time sequence. A further complication is that the time to complete the recording can be excessive depending on the length of the broadcast. This can result in the viewer ignoring the interruption or missing significant portions of the program.
To overcome this problem, a DVD video recorder can incorporate a pause feature. When activated, this setting, similar to other conventional video recording machines, allows the viewer to record incoming video. Significantly, however, when the pause resume feature is activated, the DVD video recorder jumps back to that portion of the program where the pause was initiated to commence playback yet the recorder continues to record incoming video. As a result, a viewer, if interrupted for any number of reasons, can watch a program in its entirety without having to wait for the original broadcast to end.
Although it may appear to be simultaneous, the DVD recorder cannot read and write data at the same time. Thus, to achieve seamless playback, the DVD recorder must alternate between recording data on the disc and reading this data. The time allotted for either reading or writing data is determined, at least in part, by the limited size of the DVD recorder's data buffers. As a consequence, the recorder must constantly switch between reading and writing to avoid buffer overflow or underflow. The DVD recorder, however, cannot read or write data during these transitions. Therefore, this process of alternating between reading and writing data causes a significant decrease in the combined average bit rate associated with the reading and writing process. This presents a significant problem in that a relatively high average bit rate for reading and writing must be maintained in order to provide seamless playback.

DVD recorder pause feature utilizing variable read rate


A load driving apparatus related to an LED lamp and a method thereof are provided. The load driving apparatus includes a PWM-based power converter and a determination circuit. The PWM-based power converter is coupled to the LED lamp, and is configured to: generate a DC operation voltage of the LED lamp; and control a current flowing through the LED lamp in response to a dimming signal, so as to adjust a brightness of the LED lamp. The determination circuit is coupled to the PWM-based power converter and the LED lamp, and is configured to: receive the DC operation voltage; and stop conducting the DC operation voltage to the LED lamp in case that a lamp-off condition of the LED lamp is satisfied.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates to a load driving apparatus. Particularly, the invention relates to a load driving apparatus related to a light-emitting diode (LED) lamp and a method thereof.
2. Related Art
In the past two decades, engineers dedicated to develop new illumination light sources. The European Union specifically makes a "rainbow project", and provides four conditions requiring the new illumination light source to satisfy, which are respectively high efficiency, energy saving, pollution-free, natural light simulation.
Since a light-emitting diode (LED) has the above advantages, and is incomparable relative to a conventional illumination light source (for example, an incandescent lamp and a fluorescent lamp), the LED is regarded as the most valuable "green" light source in the 21st century, and replaces the incandescent lamp and the fluorescent lamp to become a leading product in the market.
Regarding an LED lighting device having a pulse width modulation (PWM)-based structure and a dimming function, a driving device therein that is used for providing an operation voltage to an LED lamp generally turns off the LED lamp by directly pulling down the operation voltage of the LED lamp, so as to achieve the purpose of lamp-off.
However, the conventional technical manner/solution for lamp-off probably causes malfunction or failure of a PWM controller in the driving device (due to that a working voltage supplied to the PWM controller is lower than an under voltage lockout (UVLO) voltage of the PWM controller), which results in a fact that the LED lamp cannot be again turned on after it is turned off unless the PWM controller in the driving device is restarted (for example, high voltage (HV) start).
In order to resolve the problem that the LED lamp cannot be again turned on after it is turned off, a feasible solution is to increase winding turns of a transformer corresponding to the working voltage of the PWM controller in the driving device, though a voltage regulator circuit has to be additionally configured to provide the working voltage required by the PWM controller. In this way, not only additional power loss is produced to reduce conversion efficiency, additional cost thereof is also high.
On the other hand, under a design condition that the PWM controller does not have a latch over current protection (OCP) function, once the LED lamp is shorted, the PWM controller periodically/intermittently outputs a PWM signal with a very short duty cycle (since it is easy to reach an OCP point built in the PWM controller) to switch a power switch transistor in the driving device, which causes unnecessary and repetitive high power loss.

Load driving apparatus related to light-emitting diode lamp and method thereof


A direction sensitive counting and switching device has an optical system which includes a convex lens and a passive infrared detector composed of sensor elements arranged in at least one double row. The detector is disposed on one side of the convex lens for detecting radiation transmitted along a beam path from persons or objects moving through a detection area of the detector located on the other side of the convex lens and producing output signals in response to the detected radiation. A preamplifier is coupled to the detector for producing amplified output signals from the output signals. An evaluation circuit is coupled to the preamplifier for processing the amplified output signals of the sensor elements and, if the amplified output signals permit a conclusion as to directional movement of a person or object in the detection area of the detector, initiates a counting or a switching process which contains information about direction of movement of the respective person or object in the detection area.

The invention relates to a direction sensitive counting and switching device comprising an optical system. The optical system includes a passive infrared detector that has sensor elements for detecting radiation transmitted along a beam path from persons or objects moving through a detection area of the detector and producing output signals in response to the detected radiation. A preamplifier coupled to the detector produces amplified output signals from the output signals from the sensor elements. A subsequently connected evaluation circuit initiates a counting and switching process from the output signals emitted by the sensor elements. The counting and switching process contains information about the direction of movement of a respective person or object.
Direction selective counting and switching devices are employed to count persons and/or objects that move or are moved in different directions. They furnish additional information about the direction of movement of the detected persons and/or objects.
According to the prior art, the counting and the determination of the direction of moving persons/objects has been realized in the past as follows:
When photoelectric barriers are employed, at least two beam transmitters and receivers are attached at each location to be monitored. A precise determination of moving objects/persons is possible only if they cross these barriers in succession.
For traffic monitoring, a loop technology is often employed. For this purpose, induction loops are installed in all traffic lanes. The high installation costs and the traffic impairment caused during the installation of the induction loops are disadvantageous.
Image processing devices are also suitable for a determination of the number and direction of moving objects. However, since these devices pick up signals from moving and non-moving objects, the costs for computer image processing are very high and the devices are therefore relatively expensive.
European Patent 0,287,827 discloses a direction selective pyrodetector which is composed of a sensor equipped with at least two sensor elements for different detection directions and is employed for the detection and velocity determination of moving objects. Since vehicles traveling next to one another are not resolved individually, an accurate count is not possible here.
Another solution, disclosed in European Patent 0,245,842 provides that a plurality of pyroelectric sensor elements are disposed within a mirror of spherical-parabolic shape and it thus becomes possible to perform a detection that is independent of motion and direction. The drawbacks are that objects moving next to one another are not detected individually, the complicated mirror is too expensive for many applications and the frequent requirement for small, unobtrusive detection systems is not met.
According to German Patent 3,407,462 it is possible to realize, for example, a door opener by means of two mutually at least partially covering infrared sensors which have a radiation sensitive surface corresponding to the shape of the desired field of view. Such a door opener does not record persons passing by the door; it responds only to persons directly approaching the door. Thus the door opener is direction selective in only one direction.
Further, German Unexamined Published Patent Application DE-OS 3,225,264 discloses an infrared motion sensor which switches on the illumination of hallways, lobbies, etc. for a predetermined time if persons move through the detection area of the motion sensor. The use of this solution, for example, as a light switch in homes is not possible since, although the illumination in a room is switched on when a person enters it, the light is switched off again at the end of the predetermined period of time if the person in the room does not continue to move.
German Patent 3,623,792 discloses a device employs a plurality of individual infrared sensors that are arranged behind one another in the direction of passage and next to one another transversely to the direction of passage to determine the number of persons and their direction of movement within a room to be monitored or in a passageway. Since the individual sensors have very large fields of view, this device cannot be employed in cases where only very narrow or small fields of view can be realized. Moreover, the use of individual sensors prevents this device from being miniaturized.
In public transportation systems, the number of passengers is analyzed primarily by photoelectric barriers, pressure sensors and sensitive floorboards.
In connection with the use of photoelectric barriers, two radiation transmitters and two radiation receivers are installed at each door of the public transportation means. The successive passage through both photoelectric barriers initiates a counting process which corresponds to the direction of movement of the passenger. Since, however, persons moving closely next to one another cannot be reliably detected individually and objects carried by passengers, such as umbrellas and handbags, are frequently counted as well, a precise determination of the number of passengers is not possible.
In buses, pressure sensors are known to be used at their shock absorbers. Since the number of passengers is determined from the weight of the bus, the determination of their number is not very precise. The pressure sensors cannot be employed in streetcars and railroad trains because of the high weight of the vehicles themselves.
German Unexamined Published Patent Application DE-OS 3,832,428 discloses a device of the above mentioned type. In this device, however, it is not exclusively the moving objects or persons but also non-moving targets within the detection area that are evaluated so that the results are imprecise.

Multi-sensor doubled row direction sensitive counting and switching device

Iris GmbH I.G. Infrared & Intelligent Sensors


A decision block is incorporated into a circuit design to provide hardening against single event upset and to store data. The decision block includes a storage element that stores data as long as inputs to the decision block remain constant. The decision block receives a first data input and second data input from redundant logic blocks or from logic blocks designed to provide complementary outputs. The decision block provides an output that is at a same logic level as the first data input if the two data inputs are at expected logic levels during normal operating conditions (i.e., no disturbances). The decision block provides an output that is at a same logic level as a previous output of the decision block if the two data inputs are not at expected logic levels during normal operating conditions.

Single Event Effects (SEE) are disturbances in an active semiconductor device caused by a single energetic particle. One type of SEE is a single event upset (SEU). SEU is a radiation-induced error in a semiconductor device caused when charged particles lose energy by ionizing the medium through which they pass, leaving behind a wake of electron-hole pairs, forming a parasitic conduction path. The parasitic conduction path causes a false transition on a node. The false transition, or glitch, propagates through the semiconductor device and ultimately results in the disturbance of a node containing state information, such as an output of a latch or register.
Typically, an SEU is caused by ionizing radiation components in the atmosphere, such as neutrons, protons, and heavy ions. The ionizing radiation components are abundant in space, even at commercial flight altitudes. Additionally, an SEU can be caused by alpha particles from the decay of trace concentrations of uranium and thorium present in some integrated circuit packaging. As another example, an SEU may be caused by detonating nuclear weapons. When a nuclear bomb is detonated, intense fluxes of gamma rays, x-rays, and other high energy particles are created.
Some semiconductor devices are designed to operate in conditions that expose the devices to energetic particles. These devices are typically modified to be hardened against SEE. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,753,694 describes obtaining SEU immunity by constructing a logic element with a redundant set of inputs and using two copies of each logic element to provide redundant outputs. When the redundant inputs agree, then the output of the logic element implements the logic function. However, when the redundant inputs disagree, then the output of the logic element is disconnected or tri-stated, which preserves the previous output value. U.S. Patent Application Serial. No. 2002/0175713 describes a similar method for hardening a device against SEE in which an output of the logic element is disconnected upon detection of an SEU. U.S. Pat. No. 6,753,694 and Patent Application Serial No. 2002/0175713 both rely on capacitance to store output data.
It would be beneficial to design a semiconductor device so that it can operate in conditions that expose the device to energetic particles and reliably store data. The present invention relies on a logical latching mechanism to store output data in addition to providing radiation hardness.

Redundancy circuits hardened against single event upsets


A system for monitoring financial threats includes: at least one central processing unit and system memory that causes the system to: receive information about a threat associated with a financial services device; identify a type of the threat; identify a location associated with the threat; and notify one or more customers associated with the financial services device based upon the type or the location of the threat.

Financial threats are prevalent in both today's online and real-world environments. These threats take various forms. For example, a "skimmer" is a device used by thieves at automated teller machines (ATMs) and other card locations to steal account information. These skimmer devices mimic typical slots that accept ATM cards and credit cards. When a customer places his or her card into the skimmer device, the device reads the account information on the card and stores that information for later use by the thieves who placed the skimmer device. The customer usually does not even know that his or her card information has been compromised. Other threats, such as robbery, fire/natural disaster/structural emergency, suspicious activity, proximal criminal activity or other events that threaten public safety, are also possible.


A medical chair has a cranium position regulating device and a pelvis-and-knee position regulating device for respectively regulating the positions of the cranium and pelvis of a subject who sits on a seat. The cranium position regulating device and the pelvis-and-knee position regulating device have structures in which they butt against both right and left sides of the cranium and the pelvis, respectively, to cause both planes centered in a right-and-left direction of the cranium and the pelvis to be in a same central plane which extends in the direction of gravity. An ideal condition of the body of the subject in which vertical and horizontal balances are achieved against the force of gravity can be achieved to ensure physiological curvature of vertebrae and the condition can be maintained.

A human body ideally exists by nature in a condition where the human body is balanced vertically and horizontally against the force of gravity. The condition where the human body is balanced against the force of gravity is fundamentally realized by interrelation among 206 to 208 bones. At present, there has been proposed no medical treatment apparatus nor medical treatment method for synthetically pursuing the balance of a human body based on understanding the roles and conditions of the bones.
Conventionally, when various measurements are to be performed by using various dental diagnostic apparatuses, for example, the measurements are usually performed by using a medical chair having a tiltable back plate (for example, see Japanese Patent Publication (Kokai) No. HEI9-51924) in a condition where the subject lies on the back plate of the treatment table which is made horizontal.
In order to measure the shapes of the dental arches and occlusion of the maxilla and mandible of the human body, for example, the subject in such a condition bites an articulating sheet which is produced by applying a coloring agent such as carbon to both faces of a base material such as paper, and the states of the dental arches and occlusion of the subject are checked on the basis of the change in color of portions of the articulating sheet which are in contact with the teeth. In this case, however, the obtained states of the dental arches and occlusion are only those in the condition where the subject lies or is inclined backwards. Therefore, it is impossible to correctly know the states of the dental arches and occlusion.
In order to solve the problem, a method of detecting dental occlusion, and an articulating sheet have been proposed in which temporally fixing means such as a metal core wire is integrated with the articulating sheet, and the measurement for dental occlusion is performed in a condition where the articulating sheet is temporally fixed to teeth or a dental arch of a subject, so that the dental occlusion of the subject in a natural condition can be measured (for example, see Japanese Patent Publication (Kokai) 2003-38524).
However, it was found by the study of the inventors of the invention that the dental occlusion of a subject cannot be correctly known even when the dental occlusion examining method using the articulating sheet disclosed in the above-identified patent publication is used. This is caused because, when the subject in a natural condition where the subject naturally sits on a chair or stands bites the articulating sheet, for example, the subject unconsciously senses a point which becomes into contact with the sheet at the earliest timing (premature contact), and the brain causes the positions of the cranium and the cervical vertebrae to be displaced so as to achieve a balance of the occlusal plane in the front-and-aft and right-and-left directions. Even when the articulating sheet is bitten in such a displaced condition of the cranium and the cervical vertebrae and the bitten result is examined, the occlusal condition cannot be correctly known.
It has been ascertained in studies for long years by the inventors of the invention that such dental arches and occlusal condition can be correctly known when the motions of various regions of the subject are regulated in a condition where the horizontal and vertical balances between the cranium and the cervical vertebrae are achieved.


The present invention provides a SON coordination method, device, and system, and the method includes: obtaining a coordination parameter of a self organizing network function; and coordinating running of the self organizing network function according to the coordination parameter. The coordination parameter of the SON function is obtained before running of a current SON function, so as to use the obtained coordination parameter to coordinate the running of the SON function. In this way, the running of the current SON function may cooperate and coordinate with another SON, thereby avoiding a conflict, more efficiently, more smoothly, and lower repeatedly solving a network problem, improving network application efficiency, or reducing wrong adjustment of a network parameter caused by wrong judgment, which affects user service experience, so as to achieve an object of reducing an operating cost, and improving an utilization rate of an equipment and funds.

A self organizing network (SON) is a key standardization thematic work of the 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) standard organization in the R8/9/10 work phase, and a core idea of the SON is to reduce conventional manual operation and reduce maintenance cost of a network operator through automatic processes in stages such as network planning, deployment, optimization, and maintenance.
The SON is a set of many automation functions. In practical applications, when a network problem (such as troubleshooting) is being solved or when a network is being optimized, not a single SON function may be invoked, but more often multiple SON functions are collaboratively invoked, and the invocation form may be, for example, invocation in sequence, or parallel invocation, which is not limited in one form.
Due to a similar operation scope, a similar operation parameter, and the like between or among SON functions, each of the SON functions may face a mutual coordination problem. For example, a conflict occurs, a network problem is solved repeatedly, and degradation of network performance affects user experience.
Therefore, a SON coordination technology is needed, so as to solve the mutual coordination problem caused by collaborative invocation of an existing SON.

Self organizing network coordination method, device, and system


A vehicle radiator support structure which includes a plurality of upper holding members each attached to an upper shroud member which is one of a plurality of structural members of a vehicle body and configured to hold an upper portion of a radiator in such a manner as to restrict a horizontal relative displacement thereof. At least one pair of lateral elastic members is each attached to a respective one of right and left lateral portions of the radiator. At least one pair of lateral engagement members is each attached to another one of the structural members other than the upper shroud member and configured to come into contact engagement with at least an upper portion of a respective one of the lateral elastic members.

Heretofore, in automotive vehicles, a vibration damping technique, so-called "dynamic damper", has been employed which is intended to reduce vibration and noise in a front portion of a vehicle body arising from vehicle traveling, wherein a member having a certain level of weight and mounted on the front portion of the vehicle body, such as a radiator or a battery, is utilized as an inertial mass, thereby achieving a reduction in vibration and others in the front portion of the vehicle body.
In this technique, when a radiator is utilized as an inertial mass so as to obtain a dynamic damper effect, it is common practice to use a support structure as illustrated in FIG. 7, wherein upper and lower portions of a radiator 101 are mounted, respectively, to two structural members 103, 104 of a vehicle body through a plurality of elastic mounts 102 serving as a spring for absorbing or damping vibrations in vehicle up-down, right-left and front-rear directions.
Meanwhile, as means to improve drivability of an automotive vehicle, particularly, a sporty vehicle, lowering the center of gravity of the vehicle is effective. For this purpose, it is conceivable to reduce a weight of an upper portion of the vehicle body by reducing a plate thickness of a structural member constituting the upper portion.
However, in the above conventional radiator support structure, if a plate thickness of a structural member for supporting the upper portion of the radiator is reduced, radiator supporting rigidity of the structural member is deteriorated, so that the structural member is liable to fail to bear a load, particularly, an upward moving load, of the radiator, resulting in difficulty in sufficiently obtaining the dynamic damper effect.
Further, there has been known a structure in which right and left lateral portions of a radiator are mounted to a vehicle body through a plurality of elastic mounts, as disclosed, for example, in JP 06-055942A. In the conventional structure disclosed in this patent document, one pair of support base plates are disposed in such a manner as to sandwich therebetween opposite lateral portions of a radiator in a vehicle width direction, wherein at least one pair of elastic mounts provided to protrude from the respective lateral portions of the radiator in the vehicle width direction are fittingly inserted, respectively, into at least one pair of support tube portions each provided in a respective one of the support base plates, whereby the radiator is supported by the support base plates through the elastic mounts. Thus, in an operation of mounting the radiator to a vehicle body, it is necessary to install the radiator to the vehicle body, after attaching the support base plates to the respective lateral portions of the radiator. However, during the installation, it is necessary to use a special jig for retaining a posture of the support base plates or the radiator. Thus, the installation of the radiator to the vehicle body has not been easy.


A feeding apparatus for a rock drilling machine (8). The feeding apparatus comprises a feeding cylinder (5) movable with respect to the feeding apparatus and a connecting cylinder (6) arranged around the feeding cylinder (5) movably in its longitudinal direction. To add a new drill pipe to a drill string, the drilling machine (8) is displaced by means of the connecting cylinder (6) and during the drilling movement by means of the feeding cylinder (5).

The invention relates to an apparatus for feeding a rock drilling machine in extension rod drilling, comprising at least one feeding cylinder and a piston provided with a two-sided piston rod, and pressure fluid conduits for feeding pressure fluid into pressure fluid spaces in the feeding cylinder and away therefrom, the feeding cylinder being mounted in the feeding apparatus in such a way that the piston is longitudinally immovable with respect to the feeding apparatus and the feeding cylinder is movable in the feeding direction with respect to the piston; a second piston immovable in the longitudinal direction of the feeding cylinder and a separate connecting cylinder displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the feeding cylinder with respect to the second piston and the feeding cylinder, said second piston and said connecting cylinder being arranged around the feeding cylinder; and pressure fluid conduits separate from the pressure fluid conduits of the feeding cylinder for feeding pressure fluid into the pressure fluid spaces in the connecting cylinder to the different sides of the second piston for displacing the connecting cylinder with respect on feeding cylinder, the drilling machine being connected to the connecting cylinder.
In long-hole or extension rod drilling, several drill rods or pipes are attached to each other in succession to achieve the desired drill hole length. Successive drill rods or pipes are interconnected by means of threads. In order to add a new drill rod or pipe, the drilling machine is detached from the preceding drill rods and the new rod is positioned therebetween and fastened by rotating the drilling machine. In the prior art arrangements the drilling machine is displaced by the same feeding device both during the drilling process and when attaching or detaching drill rods or pipes. The feeding device displaces the drilling machine in a desired direction, depending on whether a new rod is to be attached to or detached from the drill string. A problem therewith is that the length of the displacing movement cannot be adjusted when closing or opening threads as there are no provisions for such adjustment. One well-known solution to the problem is to use various sensors which detect the movements of the drilling machine with respect to the feeding beam. In automatic and computer-controlled drilling in particular, the required sensing operations cause extra work in terms of control and required connections in order to ensure successful drilling. Long-hole drilling equipments generally comprise a hydraulic telescope cylinder provided with a rod or pipe fixed in the direction of travel of the drilling machine, a displacing cylinder connected to the drilling machine being movable on this rod or pipe. It is known to use in the feeding apparatus telescopically interconnected displacing cylinders comprising several superimposed cylinders so connected that they all move simultaneously when pressure fluid is fed. This kind of arrangement is known from SE Published Specification 311130, which discloses two different embodiments of the telescope cylinder. In these embodiments, the drilling machine is displaced in its longitudinal direction by feeding pressure fluid through one feed conduit into cylinder spaces within the structure of the telescope cylinder, so that all the cylinders move simultaneously, whereby the cylinder construction is extended, or when pressure fluid is fed into the other pressure fluid conduit, the cylinder construction is shortened.
A similar arrangement is disclosed in FI Patent Application 852051, in which two cylinders are positioned one upon the other on a fixed arm. When pressure fluid is fed through pressure fluid conduits formed in the fixed arm and conduits formed in the cylinders, both cylinders move simultaneously in either direction, depending on through which end of the fixed arm the pressure fluid is fed.

Apparatus for feeding a drilling machine in extension rod drilling


A method for temporarily preventing automatic gear shifting in a vehicle, comprising the steps of: preventing gear shifting as long as a traction control system indicates that at least one driven wheel is spinning, calculating a vehicle acceleration, calculating a value of a derivative of the acceleration or a value indicative of a difference between the vehicle acceleration and a previously calculated vehicle acceleration, and preventing gear shifting for a predetermined time, if the value is equal or higher than a predetermined value. A system, a computer program, a computer program product and an electronic control unit for performing the method are also disclosed.

An automatic gearbox for a vehicle is typically controlled by a gearbox ECU (Electronic Control Unit), which controls gear selection so as to achieve an engine operation considered appropriate. A set of parameters and indicators may be considered when determining an initiation of a gear change. Such a set typically comprises the vehicle speed and an indication of whether a TCS (Traction Control System) is activated or not. The TCS typically comprises wheel-speed sensors and an ABS (Antilock braking system)/TCS-ECU. The ABS/TCS-ECU inter alia controls the wheel brake for a driven wheel which shows a tendency to spin and/or adapts the engine torque to a drive torque which can be transferred to the road, so that the vehicle retains its stability.
Especially when driving uphill on a smooth or slippery road or when cornering, the driven wheels may spin. The TCS is therefore activated and a message is sent to the gearbox ECU from the ABS/TCS-ECU that the TCS is activated. If the gearbox ECU detects that the TCS is activated, a gear change, such as an undesired upshift when driving uphill, is prevented in order to not cause inconvenience for the driver as well as disturbing queues of other vehicles behind the vehicle. This is especially true if the vehicle is heavy, such as a truck or a bus, which generally has a longer acceleration time than an ordinary car. U.S. Pat. No. 6,490,516-B1 discloses a method wherein an electronic gear control receives signals from a TCS.
Unfortunately, sometimes an undesired gear change is initiated anyway although one of the driven wheels has started to spin. The reason for this may be that the TCS is slow and the message informing that the TCS is activated arrives too late to the gearbox ECU.


A cationically polymerizable composition containing a cationically polymerizable compound and a cationic polymerization initiator, wherein a total content of a cationic compound, a metal compound and a strong acid compound contained in the cationically polymerizable composition is in the range of 1 to 500 ppm by weight based on the total weight of the cationically polymerizable composition.

Heretofore, known as quick drying printing ink have been ink compositions for actinic radiation curable ink-jet ink (hereinafter also referred to as ink compositions), which undergo polymerization via exposure to actinic radiation such as ultraviolet radiation, resulting in ink curing. The above radically polymerizable ink compositions have exhibited problems in which curing is retarded in the presence of oxygen.
In recent years, proposed have been ink compositions which undergo cationic polymerization via exposure to actinic radiation. Proposed as above cationically polymerizable ink compositions have been those which are composed of oxetane compounds, cationic photopolymerization initiators, and pigments, and if desired, to which epoxy compounds are added (refer, for example, to Patent Document 1). A cationic polymerization reaction is initiated in the presence of cations generated from cationic polymerization initiators via exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Consequently, polymerization is not hindered by oxygen, and specifically, no practical limit exists in which it is inevitable to perform the reaction in an inactive ambience. Advantages are exhibited in which it is possible to quickly perform the reaction in air and to achieve excellent polymerization.
However, when cationically polymerizable compounds such as oxetane compounds or epoxy compounds are stored for an extended period of time in a state in which cationic polymerization initiators are incorporated, cations may be formed from the above cationic polymerization initiators even though ultraviolet radiation is shielded. Thereby, problems have occurred in which cationically polymerizable compounds are subjected to polymerization initiation, resulting in an increase in viscosity and gelling.
Proposed as one method to overcome the drawbacks described above is a method (refer, for example, to Patent Document 2) in which one or at least two types of guanidine based compounds, thiazole based compounds, benzothiazole based compounds, thiazole carboxylic acid based compounds, sulfenamide based compounds, thiourea based compounds, imidazole based compounds, benzimidazole based compounds, and alkylphenyl sulfide based compounds are incorporated in a composition composed of cationic polymerization catalysts and cationically polymerizable organic materials, both being essential components, whereby it is possible to improve stability at room temperature (being pot life) of the above compositions.
Further, methods are proposed (refer, for example, to Patent Documents 3-5) in which basic compounds such as hydroxides or carbonates of alkali metals or alkali earth metals, basic inorganic compounds such as alcolates, basic organic compounds such as amine or other nitrogen containing basic compounds, or water are incorporated in oxetane compounds, whereby storage stability is improved without degrading ring opening polymerization properties.
However, when cationic polymerization initiators are incorporated in cationically polymerizable compounds, the addition of the basic compounds, described above, does not sufficiently improve storage stability. Specifically, in the case of a mixed system in which cationically polymerizable compounds are blended with oxetane compounds and alicyclic epoxy compounds, gel is formed due to the fact that the reactivity of the oxetane compound is markedly enhanced in the presence of cationic polymerization initiators, compared to the case in which oxetane compounds are individually present. As a result, at present, it is not possible to obtain sufficient improved effects for storage stability.
Further, in order to overcome the drawbacks as described above, an increase in the added amount of the above guanidine based compounds and basic compounds overcomes the drawback of gelling, while a further drawback in which curability is degraded occurs, whereby it has been difficult to simultaneously achieve both storage stability and curability. Further, some of guanidine based compounds and basic compounds, described above, are harmful. In view of adaptability to environment, it is not preferable to incorporate such harmful substances in a large amount in composition.                (Patent Document 1) JP A No. 8-143806 (claims and examples)        (Patent Document 2) JP-A No. 8-283320 (claims and examples)        (Patent Document 3) JP-A No. 2000-186079 (claims and examples)        (Patent Document 4) JP-A No. 2000-327672 (claims and examples)        (Patent Document 5) JP-A No. 2003-252979 (claims and examples)

Cationically polymerizable composition, actinic radiation curable ink-jet ink, and production method of cationically polymerizable composition


A pico cell wireless LAN and pre-emptive roaming algorithm is provided to allow mobile devices in the WLAN to hand-off to another different access point quickly and efficiently. Once associated with an access point (AP), the mobile device receives information about neighboring APs that may be available for hand-off during roaming (or insufficient signal strength). Signal strength of the associated AP is continuously monitored and if signal strength from the associated AP falls below a threshold, the mobile device measures signal strength of the neighboring APs in the list, ranks them, and selects an AP for hand-off. AP load and other information may be used to rank the neighboring APs. The mobile device hands-off to (or associates with) one of the neighboring APs, if appropriate. Hand-offs are attempted in order or rank.

Current wireless systems or networks are configured with cells having relatively large coverage areas. In an application in which there are high number of users who may roam often within a small coverage area, current wireless techniques may not be applicable due to co-channel interference issues and faster than normal requirements for a hand-off.
Accordingly, there is needed a WLAN architecture in small area/high density/fast roaming applications having pico small cells and method for preemptively recognizing potential hand-off scenarios in a mobile device and applying a fast hand-off routine or process for fast hand-offs.

Pico cell wireless local area network (WLAN)


A processing assembly includes a processing tank having a processing path through which a photosensitive material to be processed travels. The tank includes a processing path length adjusting mechanism which forms a part of the processing path and is capable of adjusting a length of the processing path between at least a first predetermined length and a second predetermined length which is different than the first predetermined length. This provides for a versatile processing tank that is adjustable between a normal processing path length for normal photoprocessing and a shorter processing path length for processing applications in which a shorter processing path length is sufficient.

The processing of photographic material involves a series of steps such as developing, bleaching, fixing, washing and drying. These steps involve the conveyance of a continuous web of film or cut sheets of film or photographic paper sequentially through a series of stations or tanks, with each one containing a different processing liquid appropriate to the processing step at that station.
Conventional processing tanks are of a fixed size and therefore have a fixed processing path length. In some cases, a shorter processing path length or less chemicals are adequate to process photosensitive material. The use of conventional processing tanks having fixed processing path lengths to process photosensitive material in a process in which a shorter processing path length is adequate results in a waste of processing solution, as well as an increased processing time.

Process tank having an adjustable processing path length and method of adjusting the same


According to the invention, waste materials containing amido-carboxylic acid esters, which are generated during the preparation of phenyl ester salts, can be converted into amido-carboxylic acids. The recovered amido-carboxylic acid is then useful in the preparation of additional phenyl ester salt by the original preparation process or other processes known in the art. The process of the invention combines a waste material containing amido-carboxylic acid esters with an aqueous solution of a strong acid having a pH less than about 1 to form a mixture. The process heats the mixture to a temperature of at least 90xc2x0 C. and maintains the mixture at that temperature for a time sufficient to hydrolyze the amido-carboxylic acid esters to amido-carboxylic acids. Sufficient base is the added to adjust the pH of the mixture to greater than about 2. The mixture is then maintained at a temperature of at least 80xc2x0 C. for a time sufficient to allow phase separation of the aqueous and organic phases within the mixture. The organic phase and the aqueous phase are then separated and the amido-carboxylic acids recovered from the organic phase.

This invention relates to a process for recycling amido-carboxylic acid esters into amido-carboxylic acids. More particularly, the invention relates to the recycling of waste materials that are produced during the preparation of a phenyl ester salt bleach activators. These waste materials typically contain amido-carboxylic acid esters which, through the invention, may be converted into amido-carboxylic acids. These amido-carboxylic acids may then be recycled and used to prepare the phenyl ester bleach activators.
Hypochlorite and hydrogen peroxide are well known for their bleaching properties. As a bleaching agent in laundry detergents, hydrogen peroxide has the advantage of being safe to use with many fabric dyes. However, hydrogen peroxide bleaches are not effective at temperatures below 50xc2x0 C. This limits their use as most laundering is carried out at temperatures below about 40xc2x0 C. For this reason, various peroxyacids were developed as alternative bleaching agents for use in laundry detergents. The peroxyacids were generally found to be effective bleaching agents at the lower laundering temperatures. Because of their chemical instability and potential safety hazards, however, peroxyacids themselves are generally unsuitable for storage and handling.
Bleach activators were developed to address storage and handling concerns associated with peroxyacids. Bleach activators have the ability to hydrolyze under laundering conditions, effectively producing peroxyacids, even at lower temperatures, e.g. below 40xc2x0 C. By perhydrolyzing bleach molecules, bleach activators enhance the activity, and thus the cleaning ability, of a laundry detergent. Bleach activators have the further advantage of being stable when stored in solid form at room temperature. These properties permit the use of bleach activators in a wide variety of laundry detergents and other cleaning formulations.
An important class of bleach activators is phenyl ester salts. An effective bleach activator, phenyl ester salts readily react with bleach to form the corresponding peroxyacid. Exemplary phenyl ester salts, which are used as bleach activators, are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,634,551; 4,852,989; 5,391,780; 5,393,905; 5,393,901; 5,414,099; 5,466,840; 5,523,434; 5,650,527; and 5,717,118; as well as in published PCT applications WO 94/18159, WO 95/07883, WO 96/16148, and WO 99/09004. These U.S. Patents and published PCT applications are incorporated herein in their entirety.
Generally, phenyl ester salts are compounds of formula (I) or (II):
In formula (I) or (II), R1 is selected from C1-C22 alkyl, C2-C22 alkenyl, C2-C22 alkynyl, C3-C22 cycloalkyl, and C6-C14 aryl. Preferably, R1 is selected from C6-C10 alkyl, and C6-C10 aryl.
R2 and R5 are each independently selected from hydrogen, C1-C22 alkyl, C2-C22 alkenyl, C2-C22 alkynyl, C3-C22 cycloalkyl, and C6-C14 aryl. Alternatively, in formula II, R2 and R5, together with the nitrogen carrying them, form a C3-C10 heterocycle. This heterocycle may or may not contain additional heteroatoms selected from: nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, or phosphorous. Preferably, R2 is hydrogen, and R5 is selected from hydrogen, C6-C10 alkyl, and C6-C10 aryl.
R3 and R4 are each independently selected in each instance from hydrogen, C1-C10 alkyl, C2-C10 alkenyl, C2-C10 alkynyl, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, and C6-C10 aryl. The R3 and R4 groups, together with the carbon carrying them, may form a C3-C10 cycloalkyl group. This cycloalkyl group may or may not contain heteroatoms selected from: nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, or phosphorous. Preferably, R3 and R4 are independently selected in each instance from hydrogen and methyl.
The substituent Y on the phenyl ring is selected from SO3xe2x88x92M+, CO2xe2x88x92M+, SO4xe2x88x92M+, and N+(R7)3Xxe2x88x92. M represents a cation, and may be selected from hydrogen, ammonium and alkali metal atom. R7 in each instance is independently a C1-C4 alkyl group. X is an anion, and may be selected from a halide, hydroxide, methylsulfate, or acetate ion. Preferably, Y is selected from SO3xe2x88x92M+, and CO2xe2x88x92M+; where M is a sodium ion.
The phenyl ring may also be further substituted with 1 to 4 other substituents. The substituents may be electron-withdrawing or electron-donating groups. The substituents may, for example, be chosen to adjust the perhydrolysis rate, to adjust the hydrophilic/hydrophobic nature of the phenyl ester salt, or to adjust the solubility of the phenyl ester salt. Possible groups include, but are not limited to, hydroxyl, halogen, C1-C10 alkyl, C2-C10 alkenyl, C2-C10 alkynyl, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, and C1-C10 alkoxy, and amino groups. When the phenyl ester salts are to be used as bleach activators, it is also desirable to have electron-withdrawing groups on the phenyl ring, to facilitate perhydrolysis or bleach activation.
The value of xe2x80x9cmxe2x80x9d is 0 or 1 and represents the presence or absence of an amido group in the compound. Acceptable values for xe2x80x9cnxe2x80x9d may range from about 0 to 20, and preferred values for xe2x80x9cnxe2x80x9d include from about 0 to about 6.
Phenyl ester salts can be prepared in various ways. For example, sodium nonanamidohexanoyloxybenzenesulfonate can be prepared by reacting a C9 fatty acid with caprolactam to form 6-nonanoylamidohexanoic acid. Sodium p-hydroxybenzenesulfonate and acetic anhydride is then reacted with the 6-nonanoylamidohexanoic acid in a solvent to form sodium nonanamidohexanoyloxybenzenesulfonate. This reaction scheme is shown below in Scheme 1:
Notable by-products from the synthesis of phenyl ester salts include various polyamido acids (nonanamido[hexanamido]-n-hexanoic acid), sodium nonamidohexanolyloxybenzenesulfonate, and sodium nonanoyloxybenzenesulfonate. Purification of phenyl ester salts, such as by solvent crystallization, produces a waste stream containing a substantial amount of amido esters. Further waste is created when a substandard phenyl ester salt is produced and cannot be economically purified further. Although U.S. Pat. No. 5,393,901 discloses a method of maximizing recovery and recycling reactants in a process for preparing amido-carboxylic acids, it does not disclose any methods of recycling these waste materials.
Recycling such waste material into useful materials and ultimately into a purified phenyl ester salt would reduce both the waste disposal costs and costs associated with the overall preparation of phenyl ester salts and detergent formulations. Accordingly, there exists a need to recycle waste materials containing amido-carboxylic acid esters into amido-carboxylic acids that may be used to prepare phenyl ester salts.
In view of the industry""s need to recycle waste materials containing amido-carboxylic acid esters waste, the invention offers valuable processes for recycling such waste. Accordingly, the invention relates to a process for recycling amido-carboxylic acid esters into amido-carboxylic acids. The process combines a waste material containing amido-carboxylic acid esters with an aqueous solution of a strong acid having a pH  less than about 1 to form a mixture. The process heats the mixture to a temperature and for a time sufficient to hydrolyze the amido-carboxylic acid esters to amido-carboxylic acids. Sufficient base is added to adjust the pH of the mixture to  greater than about 2. The mixture is then maintained at a temperature below reflux for a time sufficient to allow phase separation of the liquid aqueous and organic phases within the mixture. The organic phase is then separated from the aqueous phase and the amido-carboxylic acids recovered from the organic phase.

Process for recycling amido-carboxylic acid esters into amino-carboxylic acids


The invention relates to a hybridization oven or incubator, and more particularly to a rotisserie and carousel/retainer system for use therein. The rotisserie includes a spindle that is readily removable from the oven, having a first end received in an annular bracket and a second end received annular bracket with an upper slot for passage of the spindle into the bracket. The carousel clip system includes a thin metal carousel plate preferably formed of a stainless steel and having a plurality of ears bent perpendicular to the carousel plate and having a detent aperture therein. A plurality of bottle retainers are removably attached to the carousel plate, the retainers having a base channel adapted to receive the ears of the carousel plate and further including a resilient arm having a detent projecting into the channel and deflectable during insertion of the ear into the channel, the detent entering the detent aperture of the ear under the bias of the resilient arm to removably retain the clip on the ear of the carousel plate.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a rotisserie for use in an incubator or hybridization oven. In one of its aspects, the invention relates to bottle retainers for attachment to the rotisserie. In another of its aspects, the invention relates to a structure for attaching the bottle retainers to a carousel of the rotisserie. In a further aspect, the invention relates to a structure for mounting and removing the rotisserie from the incubator or hybridization oven.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hybridization ovens, or incubators, including a rotisserie mechanism are well known in the art. An example of a rotisserie mechanism in an incubator is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,380,662 to Robbins et al. The rotisserie mechanism is a chain driven spindle with eccentrically mounted wheels carrying a plurality of clips secured to the wheels by fasteners. The clips are formed of stainless steel or anodized aluminum, and have resilient arms for releasably holding sample bottles within the incubator as the rotisserie rotates.
There are a number of problems with the prior art metal clips. One problem is that the metal edges are often sharp. As a result, when sample bottles are either placed or removed from the metallic clips, lab gloves have a tendency to rip or tear as they rub against the sharp edges.
Another problem is that sample bottles come in different sizes and are used in different combinations as the application dictates. Therefore, the incubator must be adaptable to different bottles; different sizes of bottles will generally require different clips to securely hold them without breaking them. In the Robbins et al. ""662 incubator, the clips are not adaptable to a wide range of bottle sizes, nor are they easily removable from the rotisserie mechanism. As a result, use of the incubator for different sizes or combinations of sample bottles requires modification or replacement of the rotisserie.
A third problem results even when sample bottles of the same size are used. Over time, the clips have the tendency to lose their capability to retain sample bottles as springiness/biasing capabilities are reduced through use.
It would be advantageous to have a rotisserie mechanism that provided for ready substitution or replacement of the rotisserie within the oven, or, preferably, ready substitution of the clips carried by the rotisserie. Such a rotisserie mechanism would lack sharp edges, be readily adaptable to sample bottles of different sizes, and to different combinations of sample bottles.
The invention relates to a rotisserie assembly for carrying fluid-containing receptacles along a generally circular path about an axis of rotation, comprising a spindle extending along the axis of rotation, at least one generally circular carousel mounted on the spindle, at least one bottle retainer comprising a bottle retainer base mounting a pair of spaced resilient arms and defining a retainer for a fluid-containing receptacle of a first size, and a detent mechanism mounted between the bottle retainer base and the carousel for removably mounting the bottle retainer to the carousel between a first attached position and a second detached position. The clip is formed from a non-metallic material with non-sharp edges to avoid potential ripping or tearing to lab gloves as sample bottles are inserted and removed from the rotisserie. In a preferred embodiment the clips are formed from a flame-retardant fiberglass reinforced nylon 6/6 material sold under the trade name RTP 201 FR, having the ability to withstand temperatures of 60 degrees Celsius for prolonged periods and up to 110 degrees Celsius and higher for brief periods of time without losing their ability to provide appropriate biasing to hold the sample bottles in a secure orientation.
Another embodiment of the invention comprises a plurality of bottle retainers in a selection of sizes, each bottle retainer comprising a base and a pair of resilient arms defining a retainer for a fluid-containing receptacle, wherein the resilient arms of each bottle retainer are configured to retain a fluid-containing receptacle of one of a number of different sizes, and wherein the bottle retainers are adapted to be removably mounted to the carousel.
The invention is further directed to the bottle retainer, comprising a base portion and opposing arcuate resilient arms connected to the base portion, wherein the base portion has at least one of a socket and a clip and the carousel has the other of the socket and the clip, the socket and clips adapted to selectively engage one another in a removable fashion. One of the socket and clip has a detent adapted to engage a shoulder of the other of the socket and clip, whereby the selective removal of the clip from the socket is accomplished by disengaging the detent from the shoulder.

Hybridization oven/incubator rotisserie and bottle retainer system


The present invention is related to a novel method for oxidizing or splitting nucleic acids at specific points on a complementary nucleic acid segment using a dinuclear copper-based compound of Formula I. Additionally, the present invention is related to a novel treatment of cancer, tumors, and cancer cells using a dinuclear copper-based compound of formula I or a naked ligand of Formula II.

A number of transition metal complexes have been found to be able to differentiate between double- vs. single-stranded DNA or B vs. Z helical forms of DNA through noncovalent recognition. This selectivity is primarily due to the binding of the transition metal complex in either the major or minor groove of duplex structures or in association with the nucleobases in unpaired strands. The electron-rich character of the nucleobases often makes them strong ligands for metals and efficient targets of oxidation. Guanine has been shown to have the highest affinity for coordination to transition metal ions and it is also the most easily oxidized, followed by adenine, cytosine and thymine (in order of ease of oxidation). Although base oxidation can be highly specific and directed to one site, strand scission has been shown to result from base oxidation only after treatment with subsequent heat and alkaline conditions.
Some complexes that exhibit direct strand cleavage in conjunction with sequence specificity are bleomycin.Fe(II) and the metallointercalator, [Rh(phen)2phi]3+. Although there is both a structural and a sequence requirement in each of these cases, the recognition criteria are not sufficiently unique to limit the number of target sites in DNA. Scission may be targeted specifically to one site by incorporating known DNA recognition elements into the ligand suprastructure of a well-characterized nucleolytic agent such as EDTA.Fe(II), which, when underivatized, promotes oxidative cleavage of DNA in a random fashion without nucleotide sequence selectivity. While this approach localizes cleavage to a site where the recognition element binds to DNA, the reaction is rarely constrained to a single nucleotide. Strand cleavage frequently extends over more than 5 bases. A longstanding goal of considerable interest has been to construct transition metal complexes that can mediate base oxidation and strand scission targeted to a single base with a significantly high level of recognition such that cleavage occurs at a limited number of sites along a target polynucleotide.
Most investigations focusing on oxidative strand scission of DNA by transition metals have typically relied on mononuclear complexes. Among these complexes, bis(1,10-phenanthroline)copper, [Cu(OP)2]2+, has been studied extensively due to its high nucleolytic efficiency. The cleavage pattern induced by [Cu(OP)2]2+ is predominantly sequence-neutral, although some variability in intensity due to local perturbations of DNA structure affects its efficiency. Also a slight, but distinct, preference for cleavage at 5′-AT-3′ and 5′-GT-3′ sites has been observed. Otherwise, [Cu(OP)2]2+ like EDTA.Fe(II) may be conjugated to binding elements such as proteins and complementary sequences of RNA or DNA that possess affinity for specific sites on DNA. Still, multiple sites adjacent to the locus of recognition are typically oxidized by these complexes even when tethered to a DNA recognition element.

Dinuclear copper-based compound and ligand for nucleic acid scission and anticancer treatment