HfO2 films and ZrO2 films are currently being developed for use as capacitor dielectric films in 85 nm technology node DRAM. However, these films will be difficult to use in 65 nm technology node or later DRAM, since they have a relative dielectric constant of only 20-25. The dielectric constant of such films may be increased by stabilizing their cubic phase. However, this results in an increase in the leakage current along the crystal grain boundaries, which makes it difficult to use these films as capacitor dielectric films. To overcome this problem, the present invention dopes a base material of HfO2 or ZrO2 with an oxide of an element having a large ion radius, such as Y or La, to increase the oxygen coordination number of the base material and thereby increase its relative dielectric constant to 30 or higher even when the base material is in its amorphous state. Thus, the present invention provides dielectric films that can be used to form DRAM capacitors that meet the 65 nm technology node or later.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to semiconductor devices and manufacturing methods therefore, and more particularly relates to a technique that can be advantageously applied to semiconductor devices employing capacitors, such as dynamic random access memory (DRAM), and to manufacturing methods therefore.
2. Description of the Related Art
Increasing the integration density of a semiconductor device including an LSI, such as DRAM, requires reducing the size of the capacitors in the device. However, these capacitors must still store the amount of charge required for properly reading a memory to prevent soft errors. That is, in order to enhance the integration density of a semiconductor device (such as DRAM), it is necessary to increase the amount of charge amount per unit area stored on the capacitors. As the minimum feature size of DRAM has been reduced, it has become increasingly difficult to ensure capacitors having a sufficient storage capacitance. To overcome this problem, efforts have been made to use a high dielectric constant material as a capacitor dielectric film. Examples of such materials include Al2O3 (having a relative dielectric constant of approximately 9), HfO2 (having a relative dielectric constant of approximately 20-25), ZrO2 (having a relative dielectric constant of approximately 20-25), and Ta2O5 (having a relative dielectric constant of approximately 25). These materials are intended to replace SiO2 (having a relative dielectric constant of approximately 4) and Si3N4 (having a relative dielectric constant of approximately 7), which have been used as capacitor dielectric films.
Further, in the case of gigabit generation DRAMs, which have a critical dimension (or minimum feature size) of 0.1 μm or less, the capacitors must have a three-dimensional shape even if they are formed of a high dielectric constant material, in order to store an increased amount of charge. (Examples of such three-dimensional capacitors include trench capacitors and stacked capacitors.) Therefore, it is necessary to deposit the dielectric film by CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition), which is a superior technique in terms of covering step portions (or uneven portions). That is, in order to manufacture gigabit generation DRAM, it is essential to establish and use an appropriate deposition technique (based on CVD), as well as using a high dielectric constant material having good electrical characteristics. It should be noted that ALD (Atomic Layer Deposition) is a type of CVD and is used to form a dielectric film by alternately supplying an organometallic material and an oxidant.
Conventional DRAMs have employed capacitors having an MIS (Metal-Insulator-Semiconductor) structure in which the lower electrode is made up of a polysilicon film. However, the MIS structure is disadvantageous in that it is difficult to reduce the EOT (Effective Oxide Thickness) of the dielectric film, since an SiO2 layer grows at the interface between the lower electrode and the dielectric film during formation of the film and during the postheat treatment and reduces the effective storage capacitance. Therefore, in order to achieve an EOT of 1.5 nm or less, a capacitor must have an MIM (Metal-Insulator-Metal) structure in which the lower electrode is formed of a metal material to eliminate any parasitic capacitance. It should be noted, however, that the above SiO2 layer formed at the interface between the lower electrode and the dielectric film in the MIS capacitor structure contributes significantly to reduction of the leakage current although its capacitance (parasitic capacitance) reduces the storage capacitance, as described above. On the other hand, since the MIM capacitor structure does not have such an SiO2 layer, the dielectric film itself must be formed to have a reduced leakage current. However, it is not easy to implement such a dielectric film forming method. An exemplary conventional MIM capacitor structure that can be applied to DRAM is the TiN/Al2O3/TiN structure in which the upper and lower electrodes are made up of a TiN film and the dielectric film is formed of Al2O3. Further, MIM capacitor structures using an HfO2 dielectric film or an HfO2 aluminate dielectric film (a laminated structure of HfO2 and Al2O3) have been investigated for use in the next generation DRAM.
According to the International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors (ITRS), 65 nm technology node DRAM requires capacitors having an EOT of 0.8 nm or less. If the minimum allowable physical thickness of the dielectric film is assumed to be 6 nm to reduce the direct tunneling current, the dielectric film must have a relative dielectric constant of higher than 30 to have an EOT of 0.8 nm or less.
Since Al3O3 films (which are currently used in DRAM) have a relative dielectric constant of only approximately 9, they cannot be used in 65 nm technology node DRAM. HfO2 films (which are currently being developed to meet the 85 nm technology node) and HfO2 aluminate films are also difficult to use in 65 nm technology node DRAM, since HfO2 films have a relative dielectric constant of only 20-25 and HfO2 aluminate films have a relative dielectric constant intermediate between those of HfO2 and Al2O3 films. (The actual value of the relative dielectric constant of each HfO2 aluminate film depends on its composition.) That is, there are no capacitor dielectric materials currently available that meet the 65 nm-technology node.
It is expected that 85 nm technology node DRAM will have an MIM capacitor structure in which the upper and lower electrodes are made up of a TiN film and the dielectric is formed of HfO2 or HfO2 aluminate. Therefore, it is desirable that 65 nm technology node DRAM capacitors also employ TiN electrodes to maintain technical consistency. With TiN electrodes, the dielectric must be made of a material that is more stable in oxide form than TiO2. That is, if the dielectric material has a larger free energy of oxide formation than TiO2 (for example, if it is Ta2O5), the dielectric film (or material) oxidizes the TiN electrodes, resulting in reduced effective capacitance and/or increased leakage current. Therefore, it may be preferable to use a dielectric material having a lower free energy of oxide formation than TiO2 (that is, having a higher absolute free energy value of oxide formation than TiO2), such as Al2O3, HfO2, or ZrO2 to stabilize the interface. Since the relative dielectric constant of Al2O3 is low (approximately 9), it is desirable to develop a dielectric material that includes as a base material HfO2 or ZrO2, which have a high relative dielectric constant (20-25).
That is, to meet the 65 nm technology node, DRAM capacitors must be formed of a dielectric material that has a relative dielectric constant of higher than 30 and that includes as a base material HfO2 or ZrO2, which are more stable in oxide form than TiO2.
As is known, post-treating an amorphous HfO2 film at approximately 400° C. crystallizes the film and stabilizes its monoclinic phase. Further, the relative dielectric constant of an HfO2 film depends on its crystalline structure; namely, the relative dielectric constant of the monoclinic phase is 16-18, that of the cubic phase is 29, and that of the tetragonal phase is 70 (see Physical Review, vol. B65, 2002, page 233106 (Nonpatent Document 1)). That is, the relative dielectric constant of an HfO2 film decreases from 20-25 to 16-18 when the film crystallizes from its amorphous phase to monoclinic phase. A phase diagram indicates that: the low-temperature stable phase of HfO2 is the monoclinic phase; and HfO2 undergoes the phase transition from the monoclinic phase to the tetragonal phase at 1750° C., and the phase transition from the tetragonal phase to the cubic phase at 2700° C. (see Journal of American Ceramic Society, vol. 58, 1975, page 285 (Nonpatent Document 2)). That is, HfO2 occurs only as a monoclinic phase at present semiconductor process temperatures; it cannot exist as a cubic or tetragonal phase in a thermal equilibrium state at these temperatures.
It was recently reported that heat-treating HfO2 doped with 4 or more at. % Y2O3 at approximately 600° C. stabilizes the cubic phase and thereby increases the relative dielectric constant to approximately 27 (see Applied Physics Letters, vol. 86, 2005, page 102906 (Nonpatent Document 3)). This research was undertaken to use a Y2O3-doped HfO2 film as a gate insulating film. It is already known that doping ZrO2 with Y2O3 stabilizes the cubic phase at low temperature. Therefore, it is thought that the same mechanism caused the stabilization of the HfO2 low-temperature stable phase (i.e., the cubic phase).


A plurality of acceptance messages associated with a first scheduled event having a scheduled event time are received. Each of the plurality of acceptance messages are associated with a respective user. A schedule conflict of a user associated with an acceptance message of the plurality of acceptance messages is identified. Responsive to identifying the schedule conflict, a probable attendance is calculated from the plurality of acceptance messages.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to an improved data processing system and in particular to a method and computer program product for an electronic calendar system. Still more particularly, the present invention provides a method and computer program product for an electronic calendar system adapted to evaluate conflicts in calendar events.
2. Description of Related Art
An electronic calendar system is designed to maintain useful information for a user. Electronic calendar systems allow maintenance of a personal schedule of activities such as meeting appointments, teleconference schedules, and the like.
Conventional electronic calendar systems allow users to send electronic invitations to other users and for a user receiving an electronic calendar invitation to either accept or decline the invitation. An invitation typically includes a description of the event, a location of the event, and a scheduled start and end time of the event. An invitation decline message may be returned to the user that issued the invitation when the invitation is declined by an invited user. Likewise, an invitation acceptance message may be returned to the user that issued the invitation when the user accepts the invitation. When a user accepts an invitation, the scheduled event is recorded in the electronic calendar of the accepting user. Additionally, a record of the calendar of the user that issued the invitation is updated to reflect the expected attendance by the accepting user. Accordingly, the calendar of the user that issued the invitation includes an indication of the number of users that have accepted the invitation and the inviting user can plan for the event in response to the anticipated attendance.
A user may sometimes receive invitations for conflicting or concurrently scheduled events. Often, the user will accept an invitation to multiple events that conflict, such as concurrently scheduled events. In such an instance, the user is unable to attend one or more events to which the user has accepted an invitation. Thus, users that have planned for events according to the number of invitation acceptances do not have an accurate indication of the number of attendees that will actually attend the event.
Thus, it would be advantageous for an electronic calendar system to provide an indication of an anticipated attendee count based on the number of invitation acceptances provided in response to an issued invitation. It would further be advantageous to provide an electronic calendar system that provides an anticipated attendee count based on a number of accepted invitations that conflict with other invitation acceptances.

Method, computer program product, and data processing system for estimating a number of attendees of a scheduled event in an electronic calendar system

International Business Machines Corporation


A method of fabricating a semiconductor device including at least one of the following steps: forming an oxide layer on and/or over a silicon substrate. Forming a first photoresist pattern on and/or over the oxide layer. Forming a trench by etching the oxide layer and the substrate using the first photoresist pattern as a mask. Removing the first photoresist pattern. Filling the trench with a trench oxide layer. Planarizing the trench oxide layer. Forming an etch stop layer on and/or over the trench oxide layer. Forming a second photoresist pattern on and/or over the etch stop layer. Etching the etch stop layer and the trench oxide layer using the second photoresist pattern as an etch mask. Removing the second photoresist pattern and the etch stop layer.

Aspects of semiconductor technology have focused on increasing the integration of semiconductor devices (e.g., achieving smaller scale devices). The trend toward such small scale devices may require reinforcing inter-element isolation in order to reduce the distances between semiconductor devices.
One method of isolating semiconductor devices electrically is forming a local oxidation (LOCOS) layer. A shortcoming of the LOCOS layer is that a bird's beak may occur at an edge of the field oxide layer because oxygen penetrates into a lateral side of the pad oxide layer from a bottom of the nitride layer used as a mask in the selective oxidation of the silicon substrate. The length of the bird's beak may extend the field oxide layer into an active area. Consequently, the electric characteristics of the transistor may be diminished.
Therefore, there is an increase in demand for a field oxide layer capable of occupying a small area but maintaining good isolation capability. Trench type field oxide layer, particular shallow trench isolation (STI), has been employed. STI may require selectively etching a portion of semiconductor substrate to form a trench for device isolation and filling the trench with an insulating layer.
Meanwhile, in order to obtain small scale devices the width of a trench provided within a substrate is decreased while increasing its depth. Because the decreased width and increased depth of the trench raise an aspect ratio of the trench, step coverage is degraded when depositing a trench insulating layer. An entrance of the trench is blocked before a deep portion of the trench is filled with the insulating layer. This shortcoming results in the reduction of filling the trench with the trench oxide layer.
As illustrated in example FIG. 1, voids (A) can be generated due to the degraded gap-fill capability in filling the trenches with an insulator. If void (A) is generated within a trench oxide layer, it is exposed in the course of planarization of the trench oxide layer to interrupt the planarization. Moreover, if polysilicon deposited for forming an electrode later intrudes void (A), leakage current may be generated which diminishes the characteristics of the semiconductor device.

Method of fabricating semiconductor device


An optical recording medium includes a substrate, a recording layer formed on the substrate and a transparent protective layer applied to the recording layer. By reducing the thickness of the transparent protective layer to less than 1 mm, it is possible to make the numerical aperture (NA) of an objective lens larger. This structure can achieve a high recording density. Such a thin transparent protective layer causes signal degradation due to dust adhered to the surface of the recording layer and the generation of frequent errors. However, such frequent errors can be corrected by specifying the interleave length and the number of parity symbols added to a code word that constitutes the product code.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical recording medium and an optical read/write apparatus and, more particularly, to an improvement in the recording density of the optical recording medium.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Optical recording technology has been widely used in the high density recording of digital information. Representative of this technology is the compact disc (trademark of Philips and Sony) used for an optical recording medium. The compact disk is now being used as a read only memory for a computer. The optical compact disk is protected by a transparent protective layer having a thickness of 1.2 mm. Further, the optical compact disc halving densely recorded information uses a powerful error correction code and accordingly is compatible with any other medium.
The International Standard 9171 has specified the optical disk for use in an external memory of a computer. There are two types of the Standards of A format and B format. An optical disk of either type can read and write information through the transparent protective layer of 1.2 mm thickness with an objective lens in a numerical aperture (NA) of 0.55. A process of reading and writing information is executed through the transparent protective layer which acts as a protective layer. A laser beam for reading and writing information is focused through the transparent layer of 1.2 mm thickness. Since the laser beam is well defocused on the surface of the transparent layer, dust adhered to the surface does not result in signal-drop-out which causes an inaccurate reading of a disk so long as the dust is not large. The dust size is surely lower than 0.2 mm under the usual environment. The laser is focused with a objective lens in a numerical aperture of 0.55 through the transparent layer having a refractive index of 1.5 and forms a laser beam in a diameter of about 1 mm at the surface of the optical recording medium. The dust having a size lower than 0.2 mm does not prevent the laser beam from focusing and reading correctly. Further, the optical disk employs an error correction code named as a reed-solomon code (RS code). Either of the A format and B format uses the RS code generated at the Galois Field-GF (2.sup.8). One byte is made one symbol which is one unit of the RS code. The A format has 520 bytes (520 symbols) arranged at 104 rows and 5 columns at two dimensions. The 104 symbols in a column direction are added with parities of 16 symbols and form the RS code (120,104). Such a long RS code is named as a Long Distance Code (LDC). An information added with the parity can be read sequentially in a row direction from the first row to the 120th row and recorded sequentially on the recording medium. Each symbol in a column direction of the RS code can be arranged at every interval of five symbols on the recording medium. A process to arrange each symbol of a code word at intervals on the recording medium is named as a interleave. The A format mentioned above has an interleave length of five. On the other hand, the B format has an information of 528 bytes arranged at 44 rows and at 12 columns in two dimensions. The RS code (14,12) can be formed by 12 symbols in a row direction added with 2 symbols of parity. The RS code (48,44) can be set up by 44 symbols in a column direction added with 4 symbols of parity. A product code (PC) having a parity added with a row direction and column direction has a correcting power lower than that of the LDC but can obtain a high correcting power by executing an alternate correction at the row direction and the column direction. The detailed explanation on the data correction operation is disclosed in "A VLSI Design of a Pipeline Reed-Solomon Decoder" IEEE Transactions on Computers, vol. c-34, No. 5 by H. M. Shao and others.
In connection with an optical disk, a laser having a wave length of L forms a spot diameter of L/NA. The spot diameter limits the recording density. A objective lens having a higher numerical aperture results in a higher recording density. However, an objective lens having a higher numerical aperture can not always make a laser beam substantially smaller because the laser beam focused through a transparent layer 1.2 mm thickness easily generates aberration for the inclined recording disk. A transparent layer in a lower thickness can make smaller the aberration due to the inclined disk. The transparent protective layer in a thickness lower than 1 mm results in an appreciable degradation of a signal due to the dust adhered to the surface of the transparent protective layer. There are so many errors that the conventional error correction code can not correct the errors. Especially, the B format having only 4 symbols of parity added may erroneously correct a code word including errors which can not essentially be corrected with another code word when the transparent protective layer having a lower thickness generates frequent errors.
The erroneous correction is a problem which can not be neglected for high density recording.

Optical recording medium having thin protective layer and two-dimensionally aligned code words and recording/reproducing apparatus employing the same

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprises an ultrasonic probe configured to transmit ultrasound to a test body and receive an echo signal, an image generation unit configured to generate a plurality of tomograms with respect to the test body based on the echo signal, an image memory configured to record the generated tomograms, and a control processor. The control processor performs control such that image processing of extracting a microstructure is performed, using correlation between a tomogram stored in the image memory and a tomogram corresponding to a position of the ultrasonic probe at that point in time. The microstructure-extracted image is displayed on the display part in a predetermined form.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and program for extracting and displaying a minute structure in a living body organ from an echo signal of tissue.
2. Description of the Related Art
In ultrasonic diagnosis, heart beats and fetal movements can be displayed in real time through a simple operation of placing an ultrasonic probe over the surface of a body. Since ultrasonic diagnosis has a high level of safety, ultrasonic diagnostic tests can be performed repeatedly. Further, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is smaller than other diagnostic apparatuses employing X-rays, CT, and MRI, for example. Thus, ultrasonic diagnosis is a simple and easy diagnostic scheme, allowing the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus to be easily moved to the bedside for diagnosis, for example.
Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses vary greatly depending on the kind of functions equipped therein. Among compact types, ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses which can be carried with one hand have been developed. Unlike the use of X-rays, for example, ultrasonic diagnosis is free from the influence of exposure to radiation, and can be used in obstetrics or home medical care, for example.
One of ultrasonic diagnoses offering various advantages as described above is early diagnosis for breast cancer. It is known that microcalcifications occur in breast tissue with a high frequency as a sign of breast cancer. One or more microcalcification lesions are topically scattered. Since calcium is higher in hardness than body tissue, calcium reflects ultrasound well. Microcalcification lesions should therefore have high brightness on an image. In actuality, however, when an image is observed by the eye, it is said that microcalcification lesions even with the size of approximately several hundred microns are difficult to be detected.
On an ultrasonic image, interference fringes called a speckle pattern, which is caused by random interference of ultrasound, may occur. A speckle pattern is used for diagnosis of cirrhosis.
A speckle pattern closely resembles microstructures which are often overlooked in a diagnosis for breast cancer, and can be confusing image information for diagnosis in some cases. Thus, in a diagnosis for breast cancer, there is a need for removal of a speckle pattern.
In view of the above-described circumstances, techniques such as spatial compounding, a constant false alarm rate (CFAR) process, and similarity filtering. The spatial compounding is a process of superimposing transmission and reception signals from different directions and smoothing speckles. The CFAR process is a process of subtracting a neighboring average of brightness from the target pixel, and uses the subtracted result to extract high-brightness portions. The similarity filtering is a process of removing speckles using its statistical properties. As well as the above-described techniques for removal of speckle patterns, in fields other than the ultrasonic diagnosis, various attempts to automatically recognize microcalcifications have been reported mainly as applications of X-ray diagnosis images.
The mammary gland, which is a target of a diagnosis, has a complex structure especially in the lactiferous duct, for example, and is not a homogenous organ in nature. Thus, according to the conventional filtering process, upon detection of microcalcifications, the mammary gland structure is also extracted as a structure, and the two cannot be distinguished sufficiently.
Since structures such as the lactiferous duct are clearly larger than microcalcifications, the two can sometimes be distinguished by the eye even if the lactiferous duct remains after the filtering process. However, the inventors have often experienced difficulties in making such a distinction in research. In particular, when only a part of the mammary gland structure remains, the remaining mammary gland structure may look similar to microcalcifications, since the mammary gland structure is shown as dots on an image after the filtering process.
Furthermore, a speckle pattern on an image may vary randomly. In such a case, even after performing a predetermined speckle reduction process, speckles remain, which makes it difficult to distinguish between the remaining speckles and calcified parts.
In view of such circumstances, Japanese Patent KOKAI Publication No. 2007-313114 discloses the following technique. That is, Japanese Patent KOKAI Publication No. 2007-313114 discloses an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for image processing of extracting a microstructure using a first ultrasonic image and a second ultrasonic image determined based on the position of the first ultrasonic image, comprising an image processing means for generating a microstructure-extracted image by performing a microstructure extraction process of calculating a difference from a maximum pixel value of a reference region in the second ultrasonic image including a spatially corresponding pixel, with respect to each pixel in the first ultrasonic image, and display means for displaying the microstructure-extracted image in a predetermined form.
According to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent KOKAI Publication No. 2007-313114, by using spatial three-dimensional information instead of a slice of a tomogram in signal processing, continuous structures such as the mammary gland and microstructures such as microcalcified parts are accurately distinguished, and the microstructures can be extracted.
An ultrasonic probe used in the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent KOKAI Publication No. 2007-313114 is capable of ultrasonically scanning a three-dimensional region of a test body. Accordingly, ultrasonic probes used in the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent KOKAI Publication No. 2007-313114 include an ultrasonic probe (referred to as a mechanical 4D ultrasonic probe) with a configuration in which a vibrator mechanically vibrates in an orthogonal direction of its arranging direction and a three-dimensional region is ultrasonically scanned, and an ultrasonic probe (referred to as a real-time 3D ultrasonic probe) with a configuration in which a three-dimensional region is ultrasonically scanned by electric control using two-dimensional vibration elements arranged two-dimensionally.
In the mechanical 4D ultrasonic probe, the test body is three-dimensionally scanned by the vibrator circuit. The tester can therefore automatically acquire a plurality of two-dimensional tomograms only by making the main body of the ultrasonic probe contact the test body. Further, an accurate distance between the cross-sections can also be detected from the controlled vibration rate. In the real-time 3D ultrasonic probe, on the other hand, a three-dimensional region can be ultrasonically scanned in principle in a time same as that required for acquiring the conventional two-dimensional tomograms.
Because of the size and weight, however, the mechanical 4D ultrasonic probe has problems of difficulty in scanning for capturing a minute structure and insufficiency in real-time properties. Further, the real-time 3D ultrasonic probe conceivably requires further time for development.
Accordingly, under the present circumstances, a technique by which a diagnosis result of a clinically permissible level (at which a microstructure can be extracted), using a conventional 1D ultrasonic probe (including a 1.5D ultrasonic probe) as an ultrasonic probe, is strongly desired. In other words, a technique by which a desired microstructure-extracted image can be obtained in real time using a 1D ultrasonic probe, which is the most common ultrasonic probe, is desired.

Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and program


The present invention provides the complete genomic sequence of a novel human coronavirus, coined as human coronavirus-HKU1 (“CoV-HKU1”), isolated in Hong Kong. The virus belongs to the order Nidovirales of the family Coronaviridae, being a single-stranded RNA virus of positive polarity. Further study on nasopharyngeal aspirates from patients with community-acquired pneumonia has revealed that there are two genotypes, genotype A and genotype B, for this virus. In addition to the genomic sequences of these two genotypes, the invention provides the deduced amino acid sequences of the complete genome of the CoV-HKU1. The nucleotide sequences and deduced amino acid sequences of the CoV-HKU1 are useful in preventing, diagnosing and/or treating the infection by CoV-HKU1. Furthermore, the invention provides immunogenic and vaccine preparations using recombinant and chimeric forms as well as subunits of the CoV-HKU1 based on the nucleotide sequences and deduced amino acid sequences of the CoV-HKU1.

Since no microbiological cause has been identified in a significant proportion of patients with respiratory tract infections (Macfarlane, J. T. et al., 1993, Prospective study of aetiology and outcome of adult lower-respiratory-tract infections in the community, Lancet 341:511-514; Ruiz, M., S. et al., 1990, Etiology of community-acquired pneumonia: impact of age, comorbidity, and severity, Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 160:397-405), research has been conducted to identify possible novel agent(s). Of the three novel agents identified in the recent three years, including human metapneumovirus (Van den Hoogen, et al., 2001, A newly discovered human pneumovirus isolated from young children with respiratory tract disease, Nat. Med. 7:719-724), Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) coronavirus (SARS-CoV) (Peiris, J. S. et al., 2003, Coronavirus as a possible cause of severe acute respiratory syndrome, Lancet 361:1319-1325) and human coronavirus NL63 (HCoV-NL63) (Fouchier, R. A. et al., 2004, A previously undescribed coronavirus associated with respiratory disease in humans, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 101:6212-6216; van der Hoek, et al., 2004, Identification of a new human coronavirus, Nat. Med. 10:368-373), two were coronaviruses. Coronaviruses possess the largest genome of about 30 kb among all RNA viruses. As a result of the unique mechanism of viral replication, coronaviruses have a high frequency of recombination.
Based on genotypic and serological characterization, coronaviruses were divided into three distinct groups, with human coronavirus 229E (HCoV-229E) being a group 1 coronavirus and HCoV-OC43 a group 2 coronavirus (Lai, M. M. et al., 1997, The molecular biology of coronaviruses, Adv. Virus Res. 48:1-100). They account for 5-30% of human respiratory tract infections. In late 2002 and 2003, the epidemic caused by SARS-CoV affected over 8000 people with 750 deaths (for example, Peiris, J. S. et al., 2003, Clinical progression and viral load in a community outbreak of coronavirus-associated SARS pneumonia: a prospective study, Lancet 361:1767-1772). We have also reported the isolation of SARS-CoV-like viruses from Himalayan palm civets, which suggested that animals could be the reservoir for the ancestor of SARS-CoV (Guan, Y. et al., 2003, Isolation and characterization of viruses related to the SARS coronavirus from animals in southern China, Science 302:276-278). On the basis of genome analysis, SARS-CoV belongs to a fourth group of coronavirus, or alternatively, a distant relative of group 2 coronaviruses (Eickmann, M. et al., 2003, Phylogeny of the SARS coronavirus, Science 302:1504-1505; Marra, M. A. et al., 2003, The Genome sequence of the SARS-associated coronavirus, Science 300:1399-1404; Rota, P. A. et al., 2003, Characterization of a novel coronavirus associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome, Science 300:1394-1399; Snijder, E. J. et al., 2003, Unique and conserved features of genome and proteome of SARS-coronavirus, an early split-off from the coronavirus group 2 lineage, J. Mol. Biol. 331:991-1004; Yeh, S. H. et al., 2004, Characterization of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus genomes in Taiwan: molecular epidemiology and genome evolution, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 101:2542-2547). Recently, a novel group 1 human coronavirus associated with respiratory tract infections, HCoV-NL63, has been discovered, and its genome sequenced (37).
In January, 2004, a 71-year-old Chinese man was admitted to hospital because of fever and chills for two days associated with sore throat, rhinorrhoea, productive cough with purulent sputum, headache and nausea. He had history of pulmonary tuberculosis more than 40 years ago complicated by cicatrization of right upper lobe and bronchiectasis with chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonization of airways. He was a chronic smoker and also had chronic obstructive airway disease, hyperlipidemia, and asymptomatic abdominal aortic aneurysm. He had just returned from Shenzhen of China three days before admission. During his three-day trip to Shenzhen, he had no history of contact with or consumption of wild animals. On admission, his oral temperature was 37.6° C. Physical examination showed tracheal deviation to the right and inspiratory crackles over the anterior left lower zone. His haemoglobin level was 14.7 g/dL, total white cell count 12.1×109/L, with neutrophil 9.7×109/L, lymphocyte 1.6×109/L and monocyte 0.5×109/L, and plate count 303×109/L. His liver and renal function tests were within normal limits. Chest radiograph showed right upper lobe collapse and new patchy infiltrates over the left lower zone. Blood culture was performed. Empirical oral amoxicillin/clavulanate and azithromycin were commenced. Nasopharyngeal aspirates for direct antigen detection for respiratory viruses, RT-PCR for influenza A virus, human metapneumovirus and SARS-CoV, and viral cultures were negative. Sputum for bacterial culture only recovered P. aeruginosa. Sputum for mycobacterial culture was negative. Blood culture was negative. Paired sera for antibodies against Mycoplasma, Chlamydia, Legionella, and SARS-CoV did not show any rise in antibody titres. His fever subsided two days after admission. His cough improved and he was discharged after five days of hospitalization. Amoxicillin/clavulanate and azithromycin were continued for a total of seven days. The present inventors were the group involved in the investigation of this patient. All tests for identifying commonly recognized viruses and bacteria were negative in these patients. The etiologic agent responsible for this disease was not known until the complete genome of CoV-HKU1 from this patient by the present inventors as disclosed herein. Further studies disclosed herein have revealed that CoV-HKU1 is a human coronavirus and there are, at least, two (2) genotypes, A and B, within CoV-HKU1. The invention is useful in both clinical and scientific research applications.

Human virus causing respiratory tract infection and uses thereof


An improved ram assembly for a blowout preventer having a design that permits the seals of the ram assembly to be located in the working area and out of the way of threads or other rough/jagged surfaces that could damage the seals in the event of failure of the blowout preventer, such as if the threaded connection fails and the rams are suddenly pushed outwards. The ram assembly can also have a pin-and-groove mechanism that permits the rams to rotate when in the closed/sealing position to account for a misaligned rod. Further, the ram heads of the ram assembly can have a sufficient length such that they remain supported by the bonnet and ram bores of the blowout preventer against radial deflection, relative to the ram bore, when in the closed position and exposed to wellbore pressure. Additionally, the actuators of the ram assembly remain axially stationary during use.

A blowout preventers (BOPs) are commonly located on oil and gas wellheads used to seal, control, and monitor the operation of oil and gas wells and prevent the uncontrolled release of crude oil, natural gas, or other wellbore fluids therefrom
Blowout preventers are designed to protect against sudden wellbore pressure increases and uncontrolled flow emanating from a well reservoir into the wellbore (e.g. a formation kick), such as during drilling. Kicks can lead to a potentially catastrophic event known as a blowout. When a kick, or influx of formation fluid into the wellbore, occurs, the BOP units are actuated to a closed position, either manually or via an automated system. Closing the BOP seals the wellhead therebelow to prevent the flow of fluids or gases out of the wellbore. Once the wellbore has been sealed by the BOP, action can be taken to counteract the kick, such circulating fluid into the wellbore via production tubing to reduce the pressure differential between the wellbore and reservoir. If the integrity of the well is intact, wellbore operations may then be resumed.
In addition to controlling downhole pressure and selectively preventing the flow of oil and gas thereby, blowout preventers are intended to prevent wellbore rods or tubing (e.g. drill pipe, sucker rods, coiled tubing, and the like), tools, and drilling fluid from being forced out of the wellbore in the event of a blowout. BOPs can also be used to fluidly seal the well when downstream equipment is removed or disassembled for servicing. As such, BOPs are critical to the safety of crew, equipment, and environment.
Various types of BOPs are used for various situations. Blind ram BOPs have opposing square-head rams that are designed to seal a wellbore that does not contain a rod string or tubular. Pipe ram or rod ram BOPs have opposing ram heads each comprising a semi-circular cut-out to seal wellbores that have a rod or tubular, such as a string of sucker rods connected end to end and having a polished rod at an upper end of the string, extending therethrough. The opposing ram heads can be actuated to seal with each other and form a complete circumferential seal with the rod therebetween.
BOPs typically consist of a pressure housing with at least one pair of opposing rams actuable between a retracted open or retracted position, wherein the wellbore is not sealed, and a closed or sealing position, wherein the rams seal against each other, the BOP housing, and the rod (if present) extending therethrough to seal the wellbore below the rams. The BOP housing can further comprise outlets that are used for connection to fluid lines, for example to receive production fluid. Typical ram assemblies are secured to the BOP housing by removable bonnets. Unbolting the bonnets from the housing permits maintenance of the BOP and the replacement or substitution of rams. The bonnets typically have seals such that wellbore fluid and pressure cannot escape the BOP housing via the interface between the bonnet and housing.
With reference to FIG. 1, BOP housings typically have a main axial bore for connection in-line with the wellbore, and two or more ram guide cavities or ram bores oriented substantially perpendicularly to the main bore. Opposing rams residing in respective ram bores are actuated to translate axially within the ram bores between the open and closed positions. For rod BOPs, an inward end of the engaging face of each ram has a semicircular cut-out or channel, fit with annular, semi-circular seals, to ensure that a fluid tight seal is created between the rams and the exterior surface of the rod when the rams are in the closed position. The rams are rotatably connected to threaded ram shafts/rods engaged with threads of the bonnet. The ram shafts can be rotated to actuate the rams in the manner of a screw jack. Torque from turning the ram shafts by wrench or hand wheel is converted to linear motion of the ram shafts and the rams coupled thereto. The rams are thereby actuated between the open and closed positions. Such screw jack type operation provides enough mechanical advantage for the rams to overcome downhole pressure and seal the wellbore annulus, with the aid of a pressure balancing port in the ram body.
The ram shafts are sealed with the bonnet to prevent wellbore fluid and pressure from escaping out of the ram assembly in the event the ram seals fail. For example, ram assemblies commonly have a gland seal located at the radially outer end of the bonnet to seal between the ram shaft and bonnet bore. However, if the ram assembly fails in a manner such that the rams are suddenly pushed outwards, for example in the event that the threaded connection between the ram shaft and bonnet fails, the threads of the ram shaft may move through and damage the gland seal, potentially permitting wellbore fluid to escape to the surrounding environment.
Additionally, in some situations, the rod may not be perfectly parallel with the main bore of the BOP. In turn, the ram heads may not engage fully with the rod, as they will not be square with the rod when they are actuated to the closed position. This misalignment can result in ineffective sealing and damage over time to the ram, seals, ram bore, or other components of the BOP.
Moreover, conventional BOP ram heads are relatively short, which can result in the rams "lifting" when engaged with the rod and under wellbore pressure. Specifically, when the rams are in the closed position, wellbore pressure in the main bore below the rams may cause the rams to deflect upwards, resulting in a situation where the bottom edge of the rams are closer to the tubular than the upper edge of the rams. This creates a gap that becomes wider towards the upper edge of the rams. The seals may extrude into the gap under wellbore pressure, which can compromise the sealing engagement between the rams and the rod.
Stuffing boxes are also common components on wellheads, comprising a generally tubular housing having sealing elements located in a bore of the stuffing box, the sealing elements configured to seal with a polished rod extending therethrough to prevent wellbore fluids from escaping thereby. During operation of a pumpjack at surface connected to the polished rod, wherein the polished rod is reciprocated for many cycles, the polished rod may become bent or otherwise deviated from the central axis of the stuffing box bore. Such deviated polished rods may place excessive force on one side of the sealing elements, resulting in premature wear and/or damage to the sealing elements or polished rod. To accommodate for deviation of the polished rod, some stuffing boxes are adjustable in order to align the stuffing box bore with the deviated rod. Such adjustable stuffing boxes typically comprise an upper section, containing the sealing elements, and a lower section, the upper section and lower section capable of becoming misaligned. The lower section is typically mounted to the wellhead stack, and the upper section is adjustably mounted to the lower section. The lower section may also have an enlarged bore to accommodate the deviated polished rod therein.
While adjustable stuffing box designs are capable of accommodating deviated polished rods, they add significant height to the wellhead stack. Pump jacks are usually designed on a case-by-case basis to operate with wellhead stacks up to a certain height. Should components such as adjustable stuffing boxes be added that increase the height of the wellhead stack beyond the maximum height at which the pump jack is capable of operating, the pump jack must be lifted to accommodate the new wellhead height. This requires a significant amount of labour and time, which may lead to prolonged periods during which hydrocarbons cannot be produced from the well. Further, the use of separate adjustable stuffing boxes introduces an additional leak point of the wellhead stack between the upper and lower sections of the stuffing box.
There remains a need for a BOP whose seals will not be damaged in the event of a failure of the BOP, and that will permit an effective sealing engagement with a rod extending therethrough even in cases where the rod is misaligned with the main bore of the BOP.
Further, there is a need for a BOP compatible with a stuffing box capable of accommodating deviated polished rods that may be installed on a wellhead without substantially increasing the height thereof and/or requiring lifting of the pumpjack.


An anode and mounting bracket assembly is designed to seat quickly and easily on cylindrical or tubular underwater structures. The anodes span between end plates which include notches or recesses in which the tubular structure seats. The recesses include bell-mouth openings for ease of positioning. Each plate includes a pivoting gate including a saddle receiving the structure. Each plate also includes pointed bolts aimed over-center the gate pivots. When the brackets are positioned on the tubular structure the gates swing to a closed or locked position, the tightening of the bolts locks the gates closed. In such locked over-center position the gates block the bell-mouth openings of the plate recesses. The pointed bolts provide good electrical contact and the assembly may be easily removed by loosening the bolts to clear the gates. The assembly is then pulled from the structure.

Galvanic or sacrificial anodes are widely used for cathodic corrosion protection of underwater structures. Such sacrificial anodes create the galvanic current which protects the submerged structure, and are designed to corrode sacrificially. They accordingly must be properly electrically connected to the structure and replaced at the end of their design life. Submerged structures such as pipelines, offshore platforms, piers, pilings, or marine risers, can be very deep, and such anodes are normally installed by divers, submersibles or remotely operated vehicles. Divers, submersibles, such as manned submarines, or sophisticated remotely controlled robotic submersibles are extremely expensive to operate, and this is particularly true as the depth increases. The latter systems use robotic arms and even a diver has less than normal dexterity, particularly in a diving suit at significant depth. Such restraints also make many tools or power tools difficult to use.
In addition to the constraints of the submersible, or vehicle, environmental factors such as currents, visibility, bottom condition or bottom changes, bottom time, and many other factors, all make the placement and replacement of anodes difficult.
Many such submerged structures are cylindrical, such as tubular pilings or risers, the legs or braces of a platform, or the pipeline itself. The diameter of the tubular structures may vary widely as well as the orientation. Such structure near the bottom may have limited access due to sediment build up. Thus the complete surface may not be exposed or available for the mounting or replacement of an anode.
Accordingly, to address these concerns, it would be desirable to have an anode and bracket assembly mounting system which will quickly lock onto a cylindrical or tubular structure in a centralized and proper position, usually parallel to the axis of the structure and spaced from the surface, while at the same time making a reliable low resistance electric contact with the structure. It is also desirable to have an anode and bracket assembly mounting system which can as easily be removed from the structure.


A lower cost meter comprised of an inner housing constructed out of a high permeable material surrounded by an outer housing constructed out of a lower cost, lower permeable material. A port is placed in the outer housing that runs down to the surface of the inner housing to detect the rotation of a rotational component that rotates inside the meter as fluid or gas flows through the meter. A sensor is placed in the port to detect rotation of the rotational component through the lower permeable material inner housing. The lower cost meter can be used for any application for measuring fluid or gas, and may be used in a service station environment for measuring fuel or vapor in vapor recovery applications.

Liquid meters are used for a variety of applications where it is desired to measure the flow rate or volume of a given fluid or gaseous material. Some are positive displace meters, meaning that a volume of liquid is displaced by the meter and thus the volume of the liquid passing through the meter is known. Other meters are inferential meters, meaning that the actual displacement of the liquid or gaseous material is not measured. An inferential meter uses some other characteristic other than actual displacement to measure flow rate or volume. Inferential meters sometimes have advantages over positive displacement meters, including smaller size. For either type of meter, it may be important to find methods of reducing the cost of the meter.
One example of a positive displacement meter is known as an axial meter, like that described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,447,062. The axial meter described in this patent measures the volume of a fluid or gaseous material by determining the number of rotations of the interlocked spindles inside the housing of the meter. The meter is comprised of a housing that defines a flow path. Interlocked spindles, which are rotating components. Inside the flow path rotate as liquid passes through the housing. Each rotation of a spindle displaces a known volume through the meter. A magnetic detector in the form of an exciter disk is used to detect the rotation of the spindles like that described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,250,151. Other types of detectors, such as a Hall-effect sensor, may also be countersunk into the housing of the meter to detect the rotation of the spindles as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,397,686.
One example of an inferential meter is known as a turbine flow meter, like that described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,689,071. The turbine flow meter described in this patent measures the flow rate of a fluid or gaseous material by determining the number of rotations of a turbine rotor located inside the flow path of the meter. The turbine rotors are rotating components. The meter is comprised of a hollow housing that includes a turbine rotor on a shaft inside the flow path created by the housing. The housing is constructed out of a high permeable material, such as stainless steel.
In the example of the positive displacement and inferential meter above that includes sensors in the meter housing, as m enters the inlet port of the meter, the material passes through the rotating component causing the rotating component to rotate. The rotation of the rotating component is sensed by a sensor As the rotating component rotates, the sensor causes a a pulse stream to be generated in response. The pulses occur at a repetition rate (pulses per second) proportional to rotation of the spindles or turbine rotor and hence proportional to the measured volume and/or rate of material flow.
In some meters, the sensor is countersunk in a port that is drilled into the housing to be placed in close proximity to the rotating component for detection of rotation. However, the port that contains the sensor does not extend all the way through the housing to the inner portion so that the sensor is not exposed to the flow path. The sensor detects the rotation of the rotating components through the housing using an electrical or magnetic signal. Since the housing is constructed out of a high permeable material, the sensor must detect the rotation of the spindles or rotor vanes through the housing of the meter. One method to reduce the cost of the meter is to use a lower costhousing material since the housing material comprises a large majority of the material used in the meter. However, less costly materials, such as aluminum for example, have a low permeability thereby making it difficult or impossible for the sensor to detect the rotation of the rotating components through housing.
Therefore, it is desirable to find a technique to use a lower cost, lower permeable material for the housing of a meter without disturbing the performance of the sensor.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Electrical cables are joined end-to-end within an elongate, imperforate, expandable jointing body. A tubular-shaped mounting tool is inserted into an end of the jointing body and supports at its forward end a separable, forwardly tapered extension cone whose maximum outer diameter substantially corresponds to the desired expanded inner diameter of the jointing body. The mounting tool is inserted into the jointing body when the mounting tool is inserted into the jointing body. A handle rearwardly of the cone permits its removal from the jointing body but the jointing body itself maintains its position so as to maintain an expanded opening in the end of the jointing body. Thereafter, removal of the mounting tool seals the cable joint as a result of contraction of the cross-section area of the jointing body.

When jointing a cable, the conductors of two cable ends are joined together by means of a connector, the respective cores having first been freed from the surrounding insulation. The joint with the exposed connector must then be insulated. This insulation is usually carried out by means of a prefabricated jointing body of rubber. Known jointing bodies are usually designed with substantially cylindrical shells. The jointing body itself is provided with a continuous cylindrical hole, wherein the hole in a natural, non-elongated state, has an inside diameter somewhat smaller than the outside diameter of the insulation on the cable which is to be joined. This is necessary for the elastic jointing body, after the jointing operation, to embrace the insulation of the cable ends in order to obtain a tightly fitting joint.
When a jointing operation is to be carried out, the work is initiated by moving the jointing body to a position of rest over one of the cable cores. The cable ends are prepared, which means exposure of the conductors to be joined and removal of the insulation screens, and the conductors are joined together. The jointing is usually carried out with a ferrule, which by mechanical deformation brings the ferrule into contact with the conductors. Afterwards, the jointing body is brought to a centered position over the joint. The connector sometimes has a larger diameter than the cores and can therefore constitute an obstacle to positioning the jointing body right across the joint.
Moving a jointing body over the exterior of a cable without expanding the jointing body in advance is difficult and means that the jointing body can only be used on a cable with a well-defined outside diameter adapted to the size of the jointing body. The tolerance range for variation of outside diameters of cables, for which a certain jointing body can be used, becomes very limited because a very considerable force is required to move the jointing body along the cable. Certain known jointing bodies must be expanded in order for the jointing body to be moved into position, partly over one of the cable cores prior to the work with jointing of the conductors, partly to be able afterwards to center the jointing body over the joint.
It is known to expand the jointing body from the factory on an inner carrier in the form of a thin pipe, which may be built up of a plastic tape which is wound into a pipe, the jointing body thus covering the plastic pipe like a cover. The jointing body with its carrier pipe has then been given an inside diameter which is larger than both the outside diameter on the cable to be joined and any connectors in the joint, whereby the jointing body can easily be fitted on the cable according to the above. After returning the jointing body over the joint, the expanding plastic pipe is removed by making the end or ends of the plastic tape, from which the pipe is formed, accessible and withdrawable from the interior of the jointing body, the jointing body thus collapsing and surrounding the joint. The disadvantage of this arrangement is that the jointing body will be expanded for a long time and then there is a risk that the rubber settles and possibly loses its re-sealing power, or that the storage time of the jointing body becomes limited. A further disadvantage is that the amount of material required to manufacture the carrier is considerable.
Another known jointing body is made as a cylindrical tube of rubber surrounded by a cylindrical shell of shrinking hose, to which the rubber tube is applied, whereby the rubber tube is kept stretched. The jointing body is applied over the joint, as described above, whereupon the rubber body surrounds the joint when the shrinking hose is heated, at which time the expanding forces of the shrinking hose are eliminated, whereby the re-sealing forces of the rubber tube around the cable cores and the joint are released. One of the disadvantages of this type of jointing is that heat must be supplied to the jointing body and further that the rubber component of the jointing body is expanded during the entire storage time of the jointing body.
The object of the present invention is to provide a jointing body which does not need to be expanded until being used, and to show that this can be achieved by means of a jointing method which utilizes an inexpensive and partially reusable mounting tool for expanding the jointing body.


A window arrangement including a scanning area in a scanner through which document is moved and scanned; a window mounted in the scanning area through which scanning light passes onto document to be scanned; a locating device adapted to hold the window in the scanning area; and a pick-up device fastened to one end of the window through which the window can be pulled away from the locating device out of the scanning area for a maintenance work.

The present invention relates to a window arrangement of a scanner, and more particularly to the arrangement of a window on a sheet-feed style or handy scanner which permits the window to be conveniently detached from the scanner for cleaning.
A variety of image sensors have been developed for picking up image of document and converting it into corresponding electrical signal. These image sensors are commonly used in optical scanners. A regular sheet-feed style scanner generally comprises a window disposed at the scanning area through which scanning light passes onto document to be scanned. This window protects the image sensor (for example charge coupled device) from dust. Because the window is disposed on the outside over which document passes, it tends to be covered with dust, moisture, dirt, etc. However, because the window is fixedly secured in place, it cannot be conveniently removed from the scanner for cleaning. If to clean the inner of the scanner base, the scanner must be dismantled so that the inner side of the window can be cleaned. However, dismantling the scanner is not an easy job. Further, when cleaning the inside of the scanner, the internal mechanism of the scanner may be damaged. If to deliver the scanner to a repair center for maintenance, the maintenance cost is high.


A veil for a swimsuit bottom includes a body composed of a fabric material and configured to cover a portion of a bottom of the swimsuit; and a fastener secured to a top of the body and configured to engage with a top edge of the bottom of the swimsuit. The fastener being configured to removably secure the body to the bottom.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a veil, and more particularly, to a veil configured to removably secure to a bottom portion of a two-piece swimsuit.
2. Description of Related Art
Two-piece swimsuits, such as a bikini, tankini, and the like, are well known in the art and are common articles of clothing among women during, for example, swimming activities, sun bathing, and/or social events.
FIG. 1 depicts a back view of a conventional two-piece swimsuit 101 comprising a top portion 103 and a bottom portion 105. In the exemplary embodiment, the bottom portion 105 (hereinafter referred to as a "bottom") is configured to cover the majority of the user's waist and buttocks. However, it should be understood that the swimwear bottom 105 is manufactured in various shapes and sizes. A common feature with conventional swimwear bottoms 105 is that the edge 107 that wraps around the periphery of the woman's waist.
It should be understood that in some scenarios, the user becomes insecure with the amount of skin exposure when wearing the two-piece swimsuit. For example, in social events, the user may feel that the exposure is inappropriate. Although great strides have been made in the area of swimwear, many shortcomings remain.
While the swimsuit veil and method of use of the present application is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiment disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present application as defined by the appended claims.


The invention provides a crystallizing method and an apparatus for producing a biopolymer capable of simplifying operations for taking out a produced crystal and mounting the crystal onto a crystal structure analyzer, thereby improving efficiency in the operations as well as reducing a labor burden. A crystallizing apparatus for producing a biopolymer crystal from a solution containing a biopolymer includes a crystal-growing chip 10 made of a material allowing electromagnetic waves to permeate through the chip, and in which a circular frame 16 is formed to retain a droplet 20 of a solution containing a biopolymer and a biopolymer crystal 28 produced in the droplet.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a crystallizing method for producing a biopolymer crystal, which is typically represented by a protein, and a crystallizing apparatus for use in implementing the method.
2. Background Art
Making clear a three-dimensional structure of a biopolymer, which is typically represented by a protein, not only enables to elucidate physiological functions in vivo of the biopolymer, but also is extremely useful from the viewpoint of achieving rational development of medicines (drug design). As a practical method for analyzing a three-dimensional structure of the biopolymer, an NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) method and an X-ray crystal structure analysis method have been heretofore known. From the standpoint of analysis, the X-ray crystal structure analysis method in which there is no restriction in molecular weight of biopolymer is considered to be especially effective in the future. In this X-ray crystal structure analysis method, however, it is essential to prepare a single biopolymer crystal for conducting the required analysis. Moreover, to improve a resolution in the structure analysis, it is required to form a single crystal having a good crystallinity.
As a method for preparing a single biopolymer crystal, for example, a protein, a vapor diffusion method is commonly employed these days. In a sitting drop vapor diffusion method, as shown in FIG. 14, an aqueous solution 1 containing a small amount of protein of about 1 μl is dropped into a concave part 3 within a well solution retention plate 2 (in a hanging drop vapor diffusion method, an aqueous solution 1 containing a small amount of protein is dropped onto a surface being a lower face side of a cover glass 6 and adhered thereto). Further, a precipitant 5 is received in an inner bottom portion of a container-shaped concave part (well) 4, and a top opening of the container-shaped concave part 4 is closed tightly by the cover glass 6. In this manner, the aqueous solution 1 containing the protein comes to a supersaturated state due to evaporation of moisture in the course of time, and eventually a crystal 7 of protein is precipitated within the foregoing aqueous solution 1.
After obtaining the protein crystal 7, the crystal 7 is subject to analysis of crystal structure. For performing the crystal structure analysis, a diffraction intensity measurement of the crystal is conducted using an X-ray diffraction measurement apparatus. Therefore, it is required to take the crystal 7, which has grown in the aqueous solution 1, out of the concave part 3 of the well solution retention plate 2. For this purpose, in one of prior arts, first as shown in FIG. 15(a), the protein crystal 7 is picked up from within the concave part 3 along with a part of the aqueous solution 1 with the use of a tool 8 equipped with a nylon ring, which is generally referred to as a nylon loop (of which diameter is approximately 1 mm or less). Normally, this operation is carried out manually under a microscope. As shown in FIG. 15(b), the protein crystal 7 is held along with the aqueous solution 1. Subsequently, although not shown, after moisture of the aqueous solution 1, which is retained within the ring of the tool 8, is substituted by a defrost, the tool 8 holding the protein crystal 7 and the defrost 1′ is mounted into a mounting tube 9. Then, the defrost 1′ is quickly frozen in order to protect the crystal 7 and, thereafter, as shown in FIG. 15(c), the protein crystal 7, which is held within the ring of the tool 8, is irradiated with an X-ray to carry out measurement of a diffraction intensity.
To produce a biopolymer crystal being typically represented by a protein and to conduct an X-ray diffraction measurement of the obtained crystal, the above-mentioned method has been heretofore commonly utilized. In this conventional method, when the protein crystal 7 has grown within the aqueous solution 1, to provide the foregoing crystal 7 for conducting an X-ray crystal structure analysis, it is necessary to take each individual crystal 7 out of the concave part 3 of the well solution retention plate 2, and further mount the crystal 7 into the dedicated mounting tube 9. However, since this operation is normally carried out manually, several problems exist in that in the case of conducting the crystal structure analysis of a great deal of protein crystal, this operation is extremely inefficient and requires a lot of time as well as a larger amount of labor of an operator.
Additionally, in a method utilizing a heterogeneous nucleation in which method a crystal nuclear of a protein is formed and grown on a surface of a solid substrate, the crystal grows in the state of being adsorbed onto the surface of the solid substrate. Accordingly, in the case where the crystal has grown up to be a large size of crystal, because entire lower face of the crystal is adhered to the substrate, a further problem exists in that the crystal is broken and cracked therein at the time of taking out the crystal, eventually making it impossible to subject the crystal to the crystal structure analysis.

Method and equipment for producing biopolymer crystal


The present invention relates to a control system for use with industrial systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to an automated supervisory control system for providing decisions in relation to operation of one or more industrial plants or factories.

Many conventional oil and gas operations, as well as chemical processes, use one or more pieces of rotating equipment or machines such as compressors, and water and oil pumps. Other conventional industrial plants or factories may include many different types of industrial machine or manufacturing units such as: compressors in air compressor stations, weaving machines in textile factories, furnaces in steel or other metalwork plants, and photolithography tools in semiconductor manufacturing. Examples of industrial plants and factories are: air compressor systems, power generation systems (like thermal power plants which may include gas and steam turbines), steel plants, air and natural gas compressor stations in transmission and distribution gas systems, textile factories, semiconductor manufacturing plants, food and drink manufacturers, and automotive plants.
These pieces of equipment and machines can consume significant amounts of energy to move fluids, the fluids including water and oil. The pieces of equipment and machines may also be operable to increase the pressure of gases, which may typically include natural gas and air.
Such pieces of equipment and machines are conventionally powered either by electrical motors, gas or steam turbines.
Any reduction in performance or efficiency of the pieces of equipment and machines can be extremely costly for any owners of the pieces of equipment and machines, both in terms of maintenance costs and lost revenue owing to inefficient operation. Additionally, manufacturing plants conventionally have other objectives apart from reducing operational costs such as: maximise production, reduce work in progress, reduce inventory level and improve customer service. Customer service may include ensuring the delivery of products when they are promised to be delivered. Manufacturers are usually required to keep high service levels and/or meet certain performance criterion which are typically defined by metrics such as the percentage of products delivered on time. However, manufacturers may stock a lot of product as a result, to ensure that they achieve these high service levels. Excessive stored product can be a wasted resource, however. An optimal scenario may be to have high service levels with only a minimal stock level.
Maintenance can also lead to total shutdown of a particular piece of equipment or machine, and production may cease as a consequence. Although some maintenance is planned or scheduled in advance, for example based on maximum operational hours or best practices based on previous experience, maintenance is typically performed without considering the impact of the maintenance on the operation of specific pieces of equipment and machines, or the aggregate of the pieces of equipment and machines, in the long term.
Further, employing a maintenance strategy influenced by one or more operational conditions, for example using a corrective maintenance approach whereby the maintenance happens only after the machine fails, means that a machine may fail unexpectedly during production and so the production will need to stop until the machine is repaired. Alternatively, another machine, which may have different efficiency characteristics, can replace the failed machine while the failed machine is being repaired—but this can then impact upon the overall or aggregate efficiency or throughput of the operation.
Some or all of the above factors can result in significant reduction in efficiency, owing to the variable efficiency of each pieces of equipment or machine and hence misallocated workflows or tasking, along with maintenance requirements which do not take such workflows or taskings into account.
The conventional maintenance approaches for industrial machines in industrial plants and factories have historically been corrective and time based maintenance. The former means that a machine is maintained after failure is realised, the latter means that the machine is maintained in predefined periods.
Predictive analytic methods have been developed which can estimate the expected time taken or the probability distribution of the time taken until the failure of a machine. This type of analysis provides information to the end-user of the machines which would help them to take better maintenance decisions of their assets. However, the end-user is left to take ad-hoc decisions such as of what type of maintenance to carry out and when. The aforementioned approaches are limited and are still expected to lead to inefficient operation and maintenance. The planning and scheduling of the operational and maintenance actions requires several decisions to be taken under various and uncertain parameters for example volatile demands, changing market prices and changing electricity prices which makes it hard or impossible to take the best decisions which could minimise total costs or maximise production.

Abstract: Aspects and/or embodiments seek to provide an automated supervisory control system for providing and/or automating decisions in relation to operation of one or more industrial plants and factories.


A key case includes a top plate slidably mounted on two rails on a bottom plate, and a key is movably received in a space between the two rails. A first block is connected to an end of a blade portion of the key and has a stop which is engaged with a push member on an underside of the top plate so that when the top plate is pushed, the blade portion of the key extends out from an opening defined in an end of the key case. The first block is connected with a first spring member that can pull the key back to its original position. Two push bars each have a first protrusion to be engaged with two notches of the first block to position the key. The two push bars can be pivoted to release the first protrusions from the notches to allow the key to be pulled back by the first spring member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a key case in which a key is retractably received therein.
2. The Prior Arts
A conventional key generally includes a blade portion and a bow portion, the blade portion includes serration and warding so as to be inserted into a key hole and a user holds the bow portion to rotate the key to unlock a lock. The total length of the conventional key is the sum of the blade portion and the bow portion, and the length of the conventional key is too long to be easily stored. The serration of the blade portion is sharp so that if the key is simply put into a pocket or purse, the sharp serration might scrub objects such as cellular phone or MP3. Although there is a bag for storing the keys in the market, the bag is bulky and not convenient to be carried and stored. Besides, the key bag has to be long enough to receive the length of the bow portion and the blade portion. The user has to open the bag and then pick the correct one of the keys to unlock the door, and then the key is re-stored into the bag and zip the bag again. The procedures take time.
The present invention is to provide a key case wherein the key is retractably stored in the case and does not have the bow portion so that the length of the unit of the key case and the key is shorter. The blade portion can be pushed out by pushing a top plate of the key case, and the key is received into the case by operation of two push bars.